bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel pollen analogue technique shows bumblebees display low floral constancy and prefer sites with high floral diversity
Authors: Martínez-Bauer Angélica Elizabeth , Chadwick Fergus J. , Westmoreland Aaron J. , Lander Tonya A.
Published: July 2021

Context

There have been dramatic global declines in pollinating insects. A common land management intervention to support wild pollinators is to plant non-crop flowering plants (‘pollinator planting’). However, there are limited data on which species or spatial arrangement of planting provide maximum benefit to wild pollinators.

Objectives

Here we investigate which flowering species and locations are visited by free-foragingBombus terrestris(buff-tailed bumblebees) in species-rich semi-natural grassland and woodland.

Methods

Two study nests of buff-tailed bumblebees were established in Wytham Woods, UK. Pollen analogue pigments were sprayed on open flowers in the study area over a period of two months, with unique colours used to identify separate sections of the study area. Pollen load analysis was used to identify forage species and foraging locations.

Results

Bumblebees showed low flower constancy, visiting five flower species per trip on average, and as a group the sampled bumblebees visited 36 of the 49 plant species identified in study area surveys. Many individuals foraged in multiple, spatially-discrete locations during single trips.

Conclusions

The positive relationship between floral diversity and pollen load species diversity, and the positive relationship between site floral diversity and frequency of visitation, suggest behavioural strategies that maximize the diversity of flower species visited, in line with theenergetic costs and benefits hypothesis. This supports recommendations for pollinator plantings with high species diversity, potentially spread across many small forage areas across the landscape.
Individual, Familial and Social Environment Factors associated with Religiosity among Urban High School Students
Authors: Sârbu Emanuel-Adrian , Lazăr Florin , Popovici Alexandru-Filip
Published: July 2021

Background

Adolescence is a time when beliefs and values are developed and when the influences of the significant others take shape in the life of the future young adult and manifest themselves in affecting the level of religiosity. Apart from other factors, the relationship between adolescents and parents is essential for understanding the development of religiosity. Although numerous studies show an association between the religiosity of parents and adolescents’ beliefs and practices, there is a need for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of religious socialization within the family.

Purpose

This study seeks to explain how adolescents’ religious beliefs and participation relates to the religiosity of significant others, relationship with their parents and other individual factors such as gender and parents’ education and occupation.

Methods

As part of the Youth in Europe programe, a questionnaire-based study was conducted in 108 randomly selected classes from 84 high-schools in Bucharest, Romania. Data from 2604 respondents was used to identify the factors associated with religiosity at the individual, familial and social environment level of high school students.

Results

The main findings reveal that adolescents with better relationships with their parents are more religious in terms of religious beliefs and religious participation than those with lesser relationships. Girls show a higher level of individual religiosity than boys, but boys attend more often religious services. Furthermore, adolescents coming from families with lower socioeconomic status have higher scores on religious beliefs, but they score lower on religious participation.

Conclusions and Implications

Adolescents’ religiosity relates to/associates with many variables, being a dynamic process. Its understanding resides in studying the complexity of relationships that shape the development of religious belief and behavior.
Screening Tools for Mental Disorders Among Female Refugees: a Systematic Review
Authors: Donnelly Orla , Leavey Gerard
Published: July 2021

Female refugees are particularly vulnerable to mental disorders but assessment may be complex and challenging. Various screening tools have been developed for this population, but little is known about their usefulness. The main aim is to examine the literature on the effectiveness of screening tools for mental health problems among female refugees.

Systematic review of PubMed, PsycINFO and Embase to locate all published work. Comprehensive search terms were used and inclusion and exclusion criteria were formulated.

The initial search yielded 877 articles, of which 757 were removed after titles and abstracts were reviewed. Then, 121 full-text versions of articles were examined and 96 excluded according to the criteria. A total of 25 articles were included in this systematic review in accordance with the PRIMSA guidelines. Twenty screening tools were evaluated.

There is a lack of tools used to screen refugee women, and in particular those in emergency settings. Cultural factors may not be accounted for in the development of screening instruments. Further research in this field can help inform public health policies to address social, educational and occupational inclusion for refugee women in different contexts.
Two-stage improved Grey Wolf optimization algorithm for feature selection on high-dimensional classification
Authors: Shen Chaonan , Zhang Kai
Published: July 2021

In recent years, evolutionary algorithms have shown great advantages in the field of feature selection because of their simplicity and potential global search capability. However, most of the existing feature selection algorithms based on evolutionary computation are wrapper methods, which are computationally expensive, especially for high-dimensional biomedical data. To significantly reduce the computational cost, it is essential to study an effective evaluation method. In this paper, a two-stage improved gray wolf optimization (IGWO) algorithm for feature selection on high-dimensional data is proposed. In the first stage, a multilayer perceptron (MLP) network with group lasso regularization terms is first trained to construct an integer optimization problem using the proposed algorithm for pre-selection of features and optimization of the hidden layer structure. The dataset is compressed using the feature subset obtained in the first stage. In the second stage, a multilayer perceptron network with group lasso regularization terms is retrained using the compressed dataset, and the proposed algorithm is employed to construct the discrete optimization problem for feature selection. Meanwhile, a rapid evaluation strategy is constructed to mitigate the evaluation cost and improve the evaluation efficiency in the feature selection process. The effectiveness of the algorithm was analyzed on ten gene expression datasets. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm not only removes almost more than 95.7% of the features in all datasets, but also has better classification accuracy on the test set. In addition, the advantages of the proposed algorithm in terms of time consumption, classification accuracy and feature subset size become more and more prominent as the dimensionality of the feature selection problem increases. This indicates that the proposed algorithm is particularly suitable for solving high-dimensional feature selection problems.
A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Wild Castor Provides New Insights into its Adaptive Evolution in Tropical Desert
Authors: Lu Jianjun , Pan Cheng , Fan Wei , Liu Wanfei , Zhao Huayan , Li Donghai , Wang Sen , Hu Lianlian , He Bing , Qian Kun , Qin Rui , Ruan Jue , Lin Qiang , Lü Shiyou , Cui Peng
Published: July 2021

Wild castor grows in the high-altitude tropical desert of the African Plateau, a region known for high ultraviolet radiation, strong light, and extremely dry condition. To investigate the potential genetic basis of adaptation to both highland and tropical deserts, we generated a chromosome-level genome sequence assembly of the wild castor accession WT05, with a genome size of 316 Mb, a scaffold N50 of 31.93 Mb, and a contig N50 of 8.96 Mb, respectively. Compared with cultivated castor and other Euphorbiaceae species, the wild castor exhibits positive selection and gene family expansion for genes involved in DNA repair, photosynthesis, and abiotic stress responses. Genetic variations associated with positive selection were identified in several key genes, such as LIG1, DDB2, and RECG1, involved in nucleotide excision repair. Moreover, a study of genomic diversity among wild and cultivated accessions revealed genomic regions containing selection signatures associated with the adaptation to extreme environments. The identification of the genes and alleles with selection signatures provides insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the adaptation of wild castor to the high-altitude tropical desert and would facilitate direct improvement of modern castor varieties.
The Intricacies of Dicta and Dissent
Authors: Duxbury Neil
Published: July 2021

Common-law judgments tend to be more than merely judgments, for judges often make pronouncements that they need not have made had they kept strictly to the task in hand. Why do they do this? The Intricacies of Dicta and Dissent examines two such types of pronouncement, obiter dicta and dissenting opinions, primarily as aspects of English case law. Neil Duxbury shows that both of these phenomena have complex histories, have been put to a variety of uses, and are not amenable to being straightforwardly categorized as secondary sources of law. This innovative and unusual study casts new light on – and will prompt lawyers to pose fresh questions about – the common law tradition and the nature of judicial decision-making.
Creating an amateur press corps of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to cover breaking science and improve lay-writing skills
Authors: McGhee Kimberly , Loucks Tammy , Champlin Sheila , Greseth Matthew , Traktman Paula
Published: July 2021

The Science Writing Initiative for Trainees is a science communications internship program for biomedical graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at the Medical University of South Carolina. Interns serve as an amateur press corps, writing news stories and press releases about recent high-impact research articles. Since 2016, 25 interns have written more than 100 EurekAlert! press releases that have received more than a half million views. Interns learn to explain science across the translational spectrum and to convey findings in plain language to a lay audience, serving as ambassadors for science.
Congress and Community: Coresidence and Social Influence in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1801–1861
Authors: MINOZZI WILLIAM , CALDEIRA GREGORY A.
Published: July 2021

Legislators often rely on cues from colleagues to inform their actions. Several studies identify the boardinghouse effect, cue-taking among U.S. legislators who lived together in the nineteenth century. Nevertheless, there remains reason for skepticism, as legislators likely selected residences for reasons including political similarity. We analyze U.S. House members’ residences from 1801 to 1861, decades more than previously studied, and show not only that legislators tended to live with similar colleagues but also that coresidents with divergent politics were more likely to move apart. Therefore, we deploy improved identification strategies. First, using weighting, we estimate that coresidence increased voting agreement, but at only half of previously reported levels. Consistent with theoretical expectations, we find larger effects for weaker ties and those involving new members. Second, we study legislators who died in office, estimating that deaths increased ideological distance between survivors and deceased coresidents.
Rethinking Rape Culture: Revelations of Intersectional Analysis
Authors: KESSEL ALISA
Published: July 2021

Mainstream feminist discourse typically defines rape culture as the normalization of aggressive male sexual violence against women, a definition that emerged out of radical feminist analysis of patriarchy in the 1970s but that does not reflect the intersectionality of sexual violence. I argue that conceptual analysis of rape culture must explore other dimensions of power in addition to patriarchy, such as white supremacy, heteronormativity, and capitalist exploitation. An intersectional analysis reveals how myths, discourses, and practices of rape culture sustain white male control over all subordinates of white heteropatriarchy by evolving and expanding to apply to any group that threatens white heteropatriarchal control. This essay traces the emergence of the idea of rape culture in the United States, offers an alternative intersectional account of rape culture, and uses this alternative account to analyze a 2013–14 news story involving Florida State University student and football player Jameis Winston and Florida State University student Erica Kinsman.
Which anthropometric measurement is better for predicting survival of patients with cancer cachexia?
Authors: Ge Yi-Zhong , Ruan Guo-Tian , Zhang Kang-Ping , Tang Meng , Zhang Qi , Zhang Xi , Song Meng-Meng , Zhang Xiao-Wei , Yang Ming , Shen Xian , Xu Hong-Xia , Song Chun-Hua , Wang Chang , Shi Han-Ping
Published: July 2021

No relevant studies have yet been conducted to explore which measurement can best predict the survival time of patients with cancer cachexia. This study aimed to identify an anthropometric measurement that could predict the 1-year survival of patients with cancer cachexia. We conducted a nested case–control study using data from a multicentre clinical investigation of cancer from 2013 to 2020. Cachexia was defined using the Fearon criteria. A total of 262 patients who survived less than 1 year and 262 patients who survived more than 1 year were included in this study. Six candidate variables were selected based on clinical experience and previous studies. Five variables, BMI, mid-arm circumference, mid-arm muscle circumference, calf circumference and triceps skin fold (TSF), were selected for inclusion in the multivariable model. In the conditional logistic regression analysis, TSF (P = 0·014) was identified as a significant independent protective factor. A similar result was observed in all patients with cancer cachexia (n 3084). In addition, a significantly stronger positive association between TSF and the 1-year survival of patients with cancer cachexia was observed in participants aged > 65 years (OR: 0·94; 95 % CI 0·89, 0·99) than in those aged ≤ 65 years (OR: 0·96; 95 % CI 0·93, 0·99; Pinteraction = 0·013) and in participants with no chronic disease (OR: 0·92; 95 % CI 0·87, 0·97) than in those with chronic disease (OR: 0·97; 95 % CI 0·94, 1·00; Pinteraction = 0·049). According to this study, TSF might be a good anthropometric measurement for predicting 1-year survival in patients with cancer cachexia.
Hyperemesis gravidarum and vitamin K deficiency: a systematic review
Authors: Nijsten Kelly , van der Minnen Loïs , Wiegers Hanke M.G. , Koot Marjette H. , Middeldorp Saskia , Roseboom Tessa J. , Grooten Iris J. , Painter Rebecca C.
Published: July 2021

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, can lead to vitamin deficiencies. Little is known about HG-related vitamin K deficiency. We aimed to summarise available evidence on the occurrence of HG-related vitamin K deficiency and corresponding maternal and neonatal complications. A systematic review was conducted, searching Medline and EMBASE from inception to 12 November 2020. We identified 1564 articles, of which we included fifteen in this study: fourteen case reports (n21 women) and one retrospective cohort study (n109 women). Nine out of twenty-one women reported in case reports had a prolonged prothrombin time (PT). The cohort study measured PT in 39/109 women with HG, of whom 10/39 women (26 %) had prolonged PT. In total, 30–50 % women received vitamin K supplementation after vitamin K deficiency had been diagnosed. Four case reports (n4 women) reported corresponding maternal complications, all consisting of coagulopathy-related haemorrhage. Nine case reports (n16 neonates) reported corresponding neonatal complications including intracranial haemorrhage (n2 neonates) and embryopathy (n14 neonates), which consisted of Binder phenotype (n14 neonates), chondrodysplasia punctata (n9 neonates) and grey matter heterotopia (n3 neonates). In conclusion, vitamin K deficiency and related complications occur among women with HG. In our systematic review, we were unable to assess the incidence rate.
TOPOLOGY OF 1-PARAMETER DEFORMATIONS OF NON-ISOLATED REAL SINGULARITIES
Authors: DUTERTRE NICOLAS , MOYA PÉREZ JUAN ANTONIO
Published: July 2021

Let
$f\,{:}\,(\mathbb R^n,0)\to (\mathbb R,0)$
be an analytic function germ with non-isolated singularities and let
$F\,{:}\, (\mathbb{R}^{1+n},0) \to (\mathbb{R},0)$
be a 1-parameter deformation of f. Let
$ f_t ^{-1}(0) \cap B_\epsilon^n$
,
$0 < \vert t \vert \ll \epsilon$
, be the “generalized” Milnor fiber of the deformation F. Under some conditions on F, we give a topological degree formula for the Euler characteristic of this fiber. This generalizes a result of Fukui.
Clients’ perceptions of the quality of post-abortion care in eight health facilities in Dakar, Senegal
Authors: Baynes Colin , Diadhiou Mohamed , Lusiola Grace , O’Connell Kate , Dieng Thierno
Published: July 2021

Post-abortion care (PAC) integrates elements that are vital for women’s survival after abortion complications and their ability to meet their subsequent fertility intentions. Currently, the utilization of PAC among women in need remains too low, particularly in settings where unsafe abortion is an appreciable cause of maternal mortality. Interventions have aimed at addressing unmet need; however, these still require information on the extent to which women value different aspects of PAC. This paper presents such evidence from Dakar, Senegal. Exit interviews with 729 PAC clients in 2018 at eight health facilities obtained information on patient characteristics, content of services received and women’s perceptions of the quality of care, both overall and according to subject-specific domains. These domains reflect aspects of PAC that are relevant to clients’ satisfaction: accessibility, facility environment, information and counselling, family planning, provider technical competence and readiness and client–staff interaction. Ordinal logistic regression models were estimated to identify factors that were associated with women’s rating of overall quality of care (on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being lowest). Predictors that were significantly associated with the outcome were used in a multivariate ordinal logistic regression model that estimated the probability of positive differences in the outcome associated with women’s classification of each predictor. Women reported a mean rating of 3.7 for overall quality of care. The lowest domain-specific rating was for quality of information and counselling (mean=2.4) and the highest was for client–staff interaction (mean=3.8). Factors associated with clients’ higher odds of being more satisfied with PAC were: physical comfort during the procedure, recall of counselling on treatment procedure, privacy, perceived availability of supplies and medicines, facility admission process, facility cleanliness, waiting time, clarity of counselling and access to different contraceptive methods. Interventions that target these factors may improve the utilization of PAC in Dakar, Senegal.
Estimates of abundance and biomass of cephalodia and their relationship to nitrogen deposition in some British populations ofLobaria pulmonaria(L.) Hoffm.
Authors: Pentecost Allan
Published: July 2021

Internal cephalodia ofLobaria pulmonariawere examined in two British locations, one in western Scotland (Isle of Skye) and the other in England (Cumbria, Lake District), sites which were predicted to have contrasting levels of fixed nitrogen deposition. Cephalodia were found to occupy a small proportion of the total biomass averaging (<1%) in both areas. Modelled nitrogen deposition in the sites in Cumbria was 3–6 times higher than in the Skye sites but the cephalodium relative biomass was not significantly different. It is suggested that local climatic and topographic effects might have reduced the estimated rate of nitrogen deposition at the former sites.
Unravelling into war: trust and social preferences in Hobbes’s state of nature
Authors: Schaefer Alexander , Sohn Jin-yeong
Published: July 2021

According to Hobbes, individuals care about their relative standing in a way that shapes their social interactions. To model this aspect of Hobbesian psychology, this paper supposes that agents have social preferences, that is, preferences about their comparative resource holdings. Introducing uncertainty regarding the social preferences of others unleashes a process of trust-unravelling, ultimately leading to Hobbes’s ‘state of war’. This Trust-unravelling Model incorporates important features of Hobbes’s argument that past models ignore.
Biogeographic and fragmentation-related research biases on antbirds and non-flying small mammals in Brazil
Authors: Candelária Lana P. , Zucchetto Mayara , Gonçalves Stela R.A. , Braga Gisele da S.F. , Izzo Thiago J. , Teixido Alberto L.
Published: July 2021

Major biogeographic and taxonomic biases are recurrent in biological surveys, including fragmentation studies. Detecting biases and subsequent gaps is crucial to steer future research and suitable conservation policies. We evaluated biogeographic and fragmentation-related biases on antbirds and non-flying small mammals in Brazil, two oversampled and vulnerable taxonomic groups, by surveying papers in the Scielo and the Web of Science. We found 566 articles published from 1945 to 2018, including 55 and 43 fragmentation studies for antbirds and small mammals, respectively. Considering the species richness for each group across the Brazilian biomes, the number of publications for small mammals tended to disproportionately increase while increasing richness. The Atlantic Forest, the most degraded and densely populated biome, contained the highest number of publications. However, the Amazon included a disproportionately high number of papers considering its low population density. Conversely, non-forest biomes such as the Caatinga, Pampa and Pantanal were mostly overlooked. Our results show that research effort for small mammals and antbirds in Brazil is biogeographically biased. We call future research to consider more studies across non-forest biomes and vast unexplored areas within forest biomes to overcome major knowledge gaps on diversity, distribution and ecology of antbirds and small mammals in Brazil.
Predicting respiratory failure for COVID-19 patients in Japan: a simple clinical score for evaluating the need for hospitalisation
Authors: Yamada Gen , Hayakawa Kayoko , Matsunaga Nobuaki , Terada Mari , Suzuki Setsuko , Asai Yusuke , Ohtsu Hiroshi , Toyoda Ako , Kitajima Koji , Tsuzuki Shinya , Saito Sho , Ohmagari Norio
Published: July 2021

Predicting the need for hospitalisation of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is important for preventing healthcare disruptions. This observational study aimed to use the COVID-19 Registry Japan (COVIREGI-JP) to develop a simple scoring system to predict respiratory failure due to COVID-19 using only underlying diseases and symptoms. A total of 6873 patients with COVID-19 admitted to Japanese medical institutions between 1 June 2020 and 2 December 2020 were included and divided into derivation and validation cohorts according to the date of admission. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to create a simple risk score model, with respiratory failure as the outcome for young (18–39 years), middle-aged (40–64 years) and older (≥65 years) groups, using sex, age, body mass index, medical history and symptoms. The models selected for each age group were quite different. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the simple risk score model were 0.87, 0.79 and 0.80 for young, middle-aged and elderly derivation cohorts, and 0.81, 0.80 and 0.67 in the validation cohorts. Calibration of the model was good. The simple scoring system may be useful in the appropriate allocation of medical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The economic effects of government spending: using expectations data to control for information
Authors: Hall Matthew , Thapar Aditi
Published: July 2021

We present a new methodology that uses professional forecasts to estimate the effects of fiscal policy. We use short-term forecasts to better identify exogenous shocks to government spending by controlling for anticipatory information already in the public domain. We use longer-term forecasts to net out expectations from the future path of other variables, which improves accuracy and efficiency by focusing on more precise measures of the impact of shocks. We show that this improves the statistical fit relative to both local projection methods and vector autoregression-based analyses that do not control for the entire future path of expectations.
Atomic-resolution Probing of Anion Migration in Perovskites with In-situ (S)TEM
Authors: Deng Yu , Zhang Ruopeng , Ciston Jim , Bustillo Karen C , Ophus Colin , Minor Andrew
Published: July 2021

Perovskites are promising functional materials for their optoelectronic properties and anion migration plays a key role in their functional performance [1-3]. By using in-situ (S)TEM mechanical and electrical testing in conjunction with 4D-STEM [4,5], we directly observed/probed anion migration in perovskites at atomic resolution (see Figure 1). Here, we studied the mechanism for the anion migration in perovskites such as (PbZr)TiO3 and BaTiO3, which is induced under the mechnaicl/electrical loading. To avoid the influence of the electron beam, we carried out the in-situ (S)TEM study at 60kv with low dose. And to avoid the possible strong size effect and the substrate (interface) influence, we prepared free-standing sub-micrometer single-crystalline structures to perform the experiments. Corresponding EDS and EELS examinations were performed to measure the local chemical change with applied stress and electrical currents. Our observations revealed the coexistence of multiple phase structures and hierarchical domain structures, as well as the greatly enhanced anion drifting and diffusion at the charged domain walls (Figure 2) and phase boundaries. The complex interaction between the local domain evolution and phase transition has been discussed. Based on above investigations, a model for anion migration in perovskire under mechanical/electrical loading has been presented.
Understanding the Effects of Graphene Coating on the Electrostatic Field at the Tip of an Atom Probe Tomography Specimen
Authors: Exertier Florant , Wang Jiangting , Fu Jing , Marceau Ross KW
Published: July 2021

As a three-dimensional characterization method, atom probe tomography can provide key information that other methods cannot offer. Conductive coatings have proved to be an effective way for biological samples, and nonconductive samples in general, to be analyzed using voltage-pulsed atom probe tomography. In this study, we analyzed the effects of graphene coating on an electrically conductive material and were able to confirm the detection of carbon atoms. We compare quantitative electrostatic field metrics for a single-coated and a multi-coated specimen and measure both a reduced voltage after graphene coating and lowered charge-state ratios for different ion species, suggesting a lowered evaporation field related to the graphene coating. This information will be instructive for future studies on graphene-coated, nonconductive biological specimens.
Analytical STEM Investigations of Nozzle Vane Surfaces after Turbine Engine Operation
Authors: Swadźba Radosław , Mendala Bogusław , Dvořáček Ondřej
Published: July 2021

The scope of this work includes detailed microstructural investigations using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy of the oxide scales and deposits formed on nozzle ring vanes made of IN713LC alloy during the operation of an auxiliary power unit under real conditions. The paper presents the differences of oxidation processes between the suction and the pressure sides of the vanes. It has been shown that in the pressure side of the vane, where a greater flow of exhaust gases from the combustion chamber is present, the oxidation process is accompanied by a deposition of among others (i.a.) Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, and P, while on the suction side of the vane, the thermal stresses and the mechanical loading most likely lead to a cracking of the oxide scale. A segregation of Cr, Ni, Ta, and Ti to the boundaries of α-Al2O3 grains is observed, which may indicate their diffusion from a metal to a gas atmosphere.
Altered neurodevelopmental DNA methylation status after fetal growth restriction with brain-sparing
Authors: Richter Anne E. , Bekkering-Bauer Iris , Verkaik-Schakel Rikst Nynke , Leeuwerke Mariëtte , Tanis Jozien C. , Bilardo Caterina M. , Kooi Elisabeth M. W. , Scherjon Sicco A. , Bos Arend F. , Plösch Torsten
Published: July 2021

It is under debate how preferential perfusion of the brain (brain-sparing) in fetal growth restriction (FGR) relates to long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. Epigenetic modification of neurotrophic genes by altered fetal oxygenation may be involved. To explore this theory, we performed a follow-up study of 21 FGR children, in whom we prospectively measured the prenatal cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) with Doppler sonography. At 4 years of age, we tested their neurodevelopmental outcome using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. In addition, we collected their buccal DNA to determine the methylation status at predefined genetic regions within the genes hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF1A), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), erythropoietin (EPO), EPO-receptor (EPOR), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 2 (NTRK2) by pyrosequencing. We found that FGR children with fetal brain-sparing (CPR <1, n = 8) demonstrated a trend (0.05 < p < 0.1) toward hypermethylation of HIF1A and VEGFA at their hypoxia-response element (HRE) compared with FGR children without fetal brain-sparing. Moreover, in cases with fetal brain-sparing, we observed statistically significant hypermethylation at a binding site for cyclic adenosine monophophate response element binding protein (CREB) of BDNF promoter exon 4 and hypomethylation at an HRE located within the NTRK2 promoter (both p <0.05). Hypermethylation of VEGFA was associated with a poorer Performance Intelligence Quotient, while hypermethylation of BDNF was associated with better inhibitory self-control (both p <0.05). These results led us to formulate the hypothesis that early oxygen-dependent epigenetic alterations due to hemodynamic alterations in FGR may be associated with altered neurodevelopmental outcome in later life. We recommend further studies to test this hypothesis.
Autismus: Ein Überblick über Lernvoraussetzungen und Fördermaßnahmen
Authors: Wittwer Jörg
Published: July 2021

Zusammenfassung. Autistische Schülerinnen und Schüler besitzen häufig geringere schulische Kompetenzen als nicht-autistische Schülerinnen und Schüler. Zugleich bestehen große Unterschiede in den schulischen Kompetenzen zwischen autistischen Schülerinnen und Schülern. Nicht selten weisen sie schulische Kompetenzen auf, die niedriger sind, als es aufgrund ihrer kognitiven Fähigkeiten zu erwarten wäre. Um zu verstehen, welche Faktoren das Lernen autistischer Schülerinnen und Schüler beeinflussen, wird in diesem Artikel ein Überblick über die Lernvoraussetzungen autistischer Schülerinnen und Schüler gegeben. Der Überblick zeigt, dass es autistischen Schülerinnen und Schülern schwerfallen kann, Vorwissen abzurufen und in Lernsituationen aktiv anzuwenden, Lernprozesse aufgrund von Einschränkungen in den exekutiven Funktionen angemessen zu steuern, verbale und visuelle Informationen im Arbeitsgedächtnis zu verarbeiten, kognitive und metakognitive Lernstrategien spontan anzuwenden, sich mit Lerninhalten auseinanderzusetzen, die nicht ihren eigenen Interessen entsprechen, und lernabträgliche Emotionen mittels geeigneter Strategien zu regulieren. Um autistische Schülerinnen und Schüler im Lernen zu unterstützen, werden Fördermaßnahmen zu den einzelnen Lernvoraussetzungen vorgestellt. Implikationen für Forschung und Praxis werden diskutiert.
Ebenen der genetischen Analyse komplexer Phänotypen am Beispiel der Anorexia nervosa und der Varianz des Körpergewichts
Authors: Hirtz Raphael , Zheng Yiran , Rajcsanyi Luisa S. , Libuda Lars , Antel Jochen , Peters Triinu , Hebebrand Johannes , Hinney Anke
Published: July 2021

Zusammenfassung. Genetische Varianten beeinflussen die Gewichtsregulation und die Entwicklung von Essstörungen. Zunächst haben familienbasierte, sogenannte formalgenetische Studien den erblichen Anteil an der Gewichtsregulation und an der Ätiologie von Essstörungen beleuchtet. In einer Vielzahl von Studien zeigten sich sowohl für die Varianz des Körpergewichts als auch für die Entstehung von Essstörungen Erblichkeitsschätzer (Heritabilitätsraten) von über 50 %. Mit diesem Wissen begab man sich in den 90er-Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts auf die Suche nach den zugrundeliegenden Genen (genauer: genetischen Varianten), die das Körpergewicht, das Essverhalten oder beide Phänotypen auf Grundlage geteilter Mechanismen beeinflussen. Zunächst wurden Kandidatengenstudien durchgeführt. Dabei untersuchte man auf Grundlage unterschiedlicher, v. a. aber pathophysiologisch plausibler Überlegungen Gene mit hoher Relevanz für die untersuchten Phänotypen. Dieser Ansatz war für Essstörungen nicht sehr erfolgreich, für die Gewichtsregulation konnte eine Handvoll Gene identifiziert werden. Verbunden mit großen methodischen Fortschritten in der genetischen Forschung und v. a. der Etablierung sogenannter genomweiter Assoziationsstudien (GWAS) Anfang der 2000er-Jahre konnten bislang über 1000 Varianten/Genorte detektiert werden, die das Körpergewicht beeinflussen. Für die Essstörung Anorexia nervosa (AN) sind aktuell acht solcher Genorte beschrieben. Diese Ergebnisse, aber auch aktuelle Ansätze zu phänotypübergreifenden Analysen lassen Einblicke in die komplexe Regulation des Körpergewichtes zu und haben zudem unerwartete Pathomechanismen für AN aufgezeigt.
Eddy Killing in the Ocean
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: July 2021

Solving the case of ocean eddy death could help climate modelers better represent the effect of wind.
A Multivariate Conditional Probability Ratio Framework for the Detection and Attribution of Compound Climate Extremes
Authors: Chiang Felicia , Greve Peter , Mazdiyasni Omid , Wada Yoshihide , AghaKouchak Amir
Published: July 2021

Most attribution studies tend to focus on the impact of anthropogenic forcing on individual variables. However, studies have already established that many climate variables are interrelated, and therefore, multidimensional changes can occur in response to climate change. Here, we propose a multivariate method which uses copula theory to account for underlying climate conditions while attributing the impact of anthropogenic forcing on a given climate variable. This method can be applied to any relevant pair of climate variables; here we apply the methodology to study high temperature exceedances given specified precipitation conditions (e.g., hot droughts). With this method, we introduce a new conditional probability ratio indicator, which communicates the impact of anthropogenic forcing on the likelihood of conditional exceedances. Since changes in temperatures under droughts have already accelerated faster than average climate conditions in many regions, quantifying anthropogenic impacts on conditional climate behavior is important to better understand climate change.
Winter Snow Depth on Arctic Sea Ice From Satellite Radiometer Measurements (2003–2020): Regional Patterns and Trends
Authors: Lee Sang‐Moo , Shi Hoyeon , Sohn Byung‐Ju , Gasiewski Albin J. , Meier Walter N. , Dybkjær Gorm
Published: July 2021

Retrieval of snow depth on sea ice from satellite measurements has been challenging especially for multiyear ice. In this study, January‐February‐March monthly averaged snow depth was estimated during the 2003–2020 period from satellite radiometer measurements by combining recently developed retrieval methods for freeboard and snow‐ice thickness ratio. A good agreement between snow depth from this study and that from Operational IceBridge measurements demonstrates that reliable snow depth can be estimated from satellite measurements. From the analysis of wintertime snow depth estimated from this study, a reduction of mean snow depth compared to the modified Warren climatology is noted over the entire Arctic Ocean. In addition, this study found geographically different snow depth trends: positive for multiyear ice area and negative for the other areas. Average snow depth interannual variability on multiyear ice ranges between 3 to 5 cm while smaller variability is found on first‐year ice.
Comparison of Biotite Elastic Properties Recovered by Spherical Nanoindentations and Atomistic Simulations — Influence of Nano‐Scale Defects in Phyllosilicates
Authors: Lanin Eril Suhada , Sone Hiroki , Yu Zheng , Liu Qitong , Wang Bu
Published: July 2021

Phyllosilicate minerals, due to their sheets structure and morphology, are known to cause anisotropy in bulk rock properties and make the bulk rock more compliant. Accurately characterizing the micromechanical behavior of phyllosilicate minerals from laboratory observations, which eventually translates to the bulk rock behavior, is still challenging due to their fine‐grained nature. Recent advances in atomistic simulations open the possibility of theoretically investigating such mineral mechanical behavior. We compare the elastic properties of biotites recovered by spherical nanoindentation with those predicted from density functional theory (DFT) simulations to investigate to what extent theoretical predictions reproduce actual phyllosilicate properties. Spherical nanoindentation was conducted using schist rocks from Poorman Formation, South Dakota, USA, to recover continuous indentation stress‐strain curves. Loading in the layer‐normal orientation shows an average indentation modulus () of about 35 GPa, while loading in the layer‐parallel orientation gives a higher average of about 95 GPa. To facilitate comparison, the elastic stiffness constants (cij) determined from DFT were converted to indentation modulus () using solutions proposed in this study. The majority of the nanoindentation modulus results are below the values inferred from the simulation results representing ideal defect‐free minerals. We suggest that crystal defects present at the nano‐scale, potentially ripplocations, are the dominant cause of the lower indentation modulus recovered from nanoindentation compared to those inferred from DFT simulations. Results highlight the importance of acknowledging the defects that exist down to the nano‐scale as it modifies the mechanical properties of phyllosilicates compared to its pure defect‐free form.
Solving the inverse problem of time independent Fokker–Planck equation with a self supervised neural network method
Authors: Liu Wei , Kou Connie Khor Li , Park Kun Hee , Lee Hwee Kuan
Published: July 2021

The Fokker–Planck equation (FPE) has been used in many important applications to study stochastic processes with the evolution of the probability density function (pdf). Previous studies on FPE mainly focus on solving the forward problem which is to predict the time-evolution of the pdf from the underlying FPE terms. However, in many applications the FPE terms are usually unknown and roughly estimated, and solving the forward problem becomes more challenging. In this work, we take a different approach of starting with the observed pdfs to recover the FPE terms using a self-supervised machine learning method. This approach, known as the inverse problem, has the advantage of requiring minimal assumptions on the FPE terms and allows data-driven scientific discovery of unknown FPE mechanisms. Specifically, we propose an FPE-based neural network (FPE-NN) which directly incorporates the FPE terms as neural network weights. By training the network on observed pdfs, we recover the FPE terms. Additionally, to account for noise in real-world observations, FPE-NN is able to denoise the observed pdfs by training the pdfs alongside the network weights. Our experimental results on various forms of FPE show that FPE-NN can accurately recover FPE terms and denoising the pdf plays an essential role.
Transcriptomics differentiate two novel bioactive strains of Paenibacillus sp. isolated from the perennial ryegrass seed microbiome
Authors: Li Tongda , Mann Ross , Kaur Jatinder , Spangenberg German , Sawbridge Timothy
Published: July 2021

Paenibacillus species are Gram-positive bacteria that have been isolated from a diverse array of plant species and soils, with some species exhibiting plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities. Here we report two strains (S02 and S25) of a novel Paenibacillus sp. that were isolated from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) seeds. Comparative genomics analyses showed this novel species was closely related to P. polymyxa. Genomic analyses revealed that strains S02 and S25 possess PGP genes associated with biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilisation and assimilation, as well as auxin production and transportation. Moreover, secondary metabolite gene cluster analyses identified 13 clusters that are shared by both strains and three clusters unique to S25. In vitro assays demonstrated strong bioprotection activity against phytopathogens (Colletotrichum graminicola and Fusarium verticillioides), particularly for strain S02. A transcriptomics analysis evaluating nitrogen fixation activity showed both strains carry an expressed nif operon, but strain S02 was more active than strain S25 in nitrogen-free media. Another transcriptomics analysis evaluating the interaction of strains with F. verticillioides showed strain S02 had increased expression of core genes of secondary metabolite clusters (fusaricidin, paenilan, tridecaptin and polymyxin) when F. verticillioides was present and absent, compared to S25. Such bioactivities make strain S02 a promising candidate to be developed as a combined biofertiliser/bioprotectant.
Tailoring the effect of antithrombin-targeting therapy in haemophilia A using in silico thrombin generation
Authors: de Laat-Kremers Romy M. W. , Ninivaggi Marisa , van Moort Iris , de Maat Moniek , de Laat Bas
Published: July 2021

Factor (F) VIII deficiency causes bleeding in haemophilia A patients because of the reduced formation of procoagulant enzyme thrombin, which is needed to make the blood clot. We measured the dynamics of coagulation in haemophilia A patients by measuring thrombin generation (TG). Additionally, we quantified the procoagulant process of prothrombin conversion and anticoagulant process of thrombin inhibitor complex formation. In haemophilia A, prothrombin conversion is severely reduced, causing TG to be low. Nevertheless, the thrombin inactivation capacity of these patients is comparable to that in healthy subjects, leading to a severe imbalance between procoagulant and anticoagulant processes and a subsequent increased bleeding risk. A novel therapy in haemophilia A is the targeting of anticoagulant pathway, e.g. thrombin inhibitor antithrombin (AT), to restore the haemostatic balance. We simulated the effect of AT reduction on TG in silico. Lowering AT levels restored TG dose-dependently and an AT reduction of 90–95% led to almost normal TG in most patients . However, the variation in response to AT reduction was large between patients, indicating that this approach should be tailored to each individual patients. Ideally, TG and thrombin dynamics simulation could in the future contribute to the management of patients undergoing AT targeting therapy.
A novel procedure for stabilization of azide in biological samples and method for its determination (HS-GC-FID/FID)
Authors: Wachełko Olga , Zawadzki Marcin , Szpot Paweł
Published: July 2021

Sodium azide is an old poison with toxicity comparable to potassium cyanide. It would seem to be completely forgotten however, between 2000 and 2020, the number of intentional ingestions and murders committed with sodium azide significantly increased. Furthermore, due to its extreme instability, sodium azide is difficult to detect, which poses an additional risk when used to commit a crime. In this study, the epidemiology of sodium azide exposures between 1920 and 2020 was investigated. For the determination the azide concentration in biological samples, a simple, precise and selective headspace gas chromatography method (HS-GC-FID/FID) was developed and fully validated. The limit of quantification was 0.65 µg/mL; and the limit of detection was 0.35 µg/mL; precision and accuracy did not exceed 20%. The stability study was conducted for various biological fluids (urine, bile, blood, gastric content) for 91 days in the refrigerator (4 °C) and the method for stabilization of azide was presented. The addition of a mixture of borax and sodium fluoride (w/w3:1) to the test tubes can stabilize this poison. The described unique technique of collecting the biological samples poses a great potential for azide detection in clinical and toxicology laboratories even long time after human exposure to this substance.
Ceftizoxime loaded ZnO/l-cysteine based an advanced nanocarrier drug for growth inhibition of Salmonella typhimurium
Authors: Bacchu M. S. , Ali M. R. , Setu M. A. A. , Akter S. , Khan M. Z. H.
Published: July 2021

l-Cysteine coated zinc oxide (ZnO) nano hollow spheres were prepared as a potent drug delivery agent to eradicate Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. typhimurium). The ZnO nano hollow spheres were synthesized by following the environmentally-friendly trisodium citrate assisted method and l-cysteine (L-Cys) conjugate with its surface. ZnO/L-Cys@CFX nanocarrier drug has been fabricated by incorporating ceftizoxime with L-Cys coated ZnO nano hollow spheres and characterized using different techniques such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) etc. Furthermore, the drug-loading and encapsulation efficiency at different pH levels was measured using UV–vis spectrometer and optimized. A control and gradual manner of pH-sensitive release profile was found after investigating the release profile of CFX from the carrier drug. The antibacterial activity of ZnO/L-Cys@CFX and CFX were evaluated through the agar disc diffusion method and the broth dilution method, which indicate the antibacterial properties of antibiotics enhance after conjugating. Surprisingly, the ZnO/L-Cys@CFX exhibits a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 5 µg/ml against S. typhimurium is lower than CFX (20 µg/ml) itself. These results indicate the nanocarrier can reduce the amount of CFX dosed to eradicate S. typhimurium.