bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Setting the tree-ring record straight
Authors: Ludescher Josef , Bunde Armin , Büntgen Ulf , Schellnhuber Hans Joachim
Published: September 2020

Tree-ring chronologies are the main source for annually resolved and absolutely dated temperature reconstructions of the last millennia and thus for studying the intriguing problem of climate impacts. Here we focus on central Europe and compare the tree-ring based temperature reconstruction with reconstructions from harvest dates, long meteorological measurements, and historical model data. We find that all data are long-term persistent, but in the tree-ring based reconstruction the strength of the persistence quantified by the Hurst exponent is remarkably larger ($$h\cong 1.02$$

h
≅
1.02

) than in the other data ($$h=$$

h
=

0.52–0.69), indicating an unrealistic exaggeration of the historical temperature variations.We show how to correct the tree-ring based reconstruction by a mathematical transformation that adjusts the persistence and leads to reduced amplitudes of the warm and cold periods. The new transformed record agrees well with both the observational data and the harvest dates-based reconstructions and allows more realistic studies of climate impacts. It confirms that the present warming is unprecedented.
Hypoxic stress increases NF-κB and iNOS mRNA expression in normal, but not in keratoconus corneal fibroblasts
Authors: Stachon Tanja , Latta Lorenz , Seitz Berthold , Szentmáry Nóra
Published: September 2020

Background

Keratoconus (KC) is associated with oxidative stress and hypoxia and as several times discussed, potentially with inflammatory components. Inflammation, hypoxia, and oxidative stress may result in metabolic dysfunction and are directly linked to each other. In the current study, we investigate the effect of hypoxia through NF-κB signaling pathways on iNOS, hypoxia-induced factors (HIF), ROS, and proliferation of normal and KC human corneal fibroblasts (HCFs), in vitro.

Methods

Primary human KC-HCFs and normal HCFs were isolated and cultured in DMEM/Ham’s F12 medium supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum. Hypoxic conditions were generated and quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to examine NF-κB, iNOS, HIF, and PHD2 expression in KC and normal HCFs. ROS level was analyzed using flow cytometry and proliferation by BrdU-ELISA.

Results

Hypoxia increased NF-κB mRNA and protein expression in normal HCFs, but in KC-HCFs NF-κB mRNA and protein expression remained unchanged. Hypoxic conditions upregulated iNOS mRNA expression of normal HCFs, but iNOS mRNA expression of KC-HCFs and iNOS protein expression of both HCF types remained unchanged. Hypoxia downregulated HIF-1α and HIF-2α mRNA expression in normal and KC-HCFs. PHD2 mRNA expression is upregulated under hypoxia in KC-HCFs, but not in normal HCFs. PHD2 protein expression was upregulated by hypoxia in both HCF types. Total ROS concentration is downregulated in normal and KC-HCFs under hypoxic conditions. Proliferation rate of KC-HCFs was upregulated through hypoxia, but did not change in normal HCFs.

Conclusions

Hypoxia increases NF-κB and iNOS mRNA expression in normal HCFs, but there does not seem to be enough capacity in KC-HCFs to increase NF-κB and iNOS mRNA expression under hypoxia, maybe due to the preexisting oxidative stress. HIF and PHD2 do not show altered iNOS regulation under hypoxic conditions in KC-HCFs, and therefore do not seem to play a role in keratoconus pathogenesis. An increased proliferation of cells may refer to compensatory mechanisms under hypoxia in KC. Understanding the mechanism of the altered regulation of NF-κB and iNOS in KC-HCFs will provide better insight into the potential inflammatory component of the KC pathogenesis.
Descriptive analysis of low versus elevated intracranial pressure on cerebral physiology in adult traumatic brain injury: a CENTER-TBI exploratory study
Authors:   CENTER-TBI High Resolution (HR ICU) Sub-Study Participants and Investigators, Zeiler Frederick A. , Ercole Ari , Cabeleira Manuel , Stocchetti Nino , Hutchinson Peter J. , Smielewski Peter , Czosnyka Marek
Published: September 2020

Background

To date, the cerebral physiologic consequences of persistently elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) have been based on either low-resolution physiologic data or retrospective high-frequency data from single centers. The goal of this study was to provide a descriptive multi-center analysis of the cerebral physiologic consequences of ICP, comparing those with normal ICP to those with elevated ICP.

Methods

The Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) High-Resolution Intensive Care Unit (HR-ICU) sub-study cohort was utilized. The first 3 days of physiologic recording were analyzed, evaluating and comparing those patients with mean ICP < 15 mmHg versus those with mean ICP > 20 mmHg. Various cerebral physiologic parameters were derived and evaluated, including ICP, brain tissue oxygen (PbtO2), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), pulse amplitude of ICP (AMP), cerebrovascular reactivity, and cerebral compensatory reserve. The percentage time and dose above/below thresholds were also assessed. Basic descriptive statistics were employed in comparing the two cohorts.

Results

185 patients were included, with 157 displaying a mean ICP below 15 mmHg and 28 having a mean ICP above 20 mmHg. For admission demographics, only admission Marshall and Rotterdam CT scores were statistically different between groups (p = 0.017 and p = 0.030, respectively). The high ICP group displayed statistically worse CPP, PbtO2, cerebrovascular reactivity, and compensatory reserve. The high ICP group displayed worse 6-month mortality (p < 0.0001) and poor outcome (p = 0.014), based on the Extended Glasgow Outcome Score.

Conclusions

Low versus high ICP during the first 72 h after moderate/severe TBI is associated with significant disparities in CPP, AMP, cerebrovascular reactivity, cerebral compensatory reserve, and brain tissue oxygenation metrics. Such ICP extremes appear to be strongly related to 6-month patient outcomes, in keeping with previous literature. This work provides multi-center validation for previously described single-center retrospective results.
Antibody response and the clinical presentation of patients with COVID-19 in Croatia: the importance of a two-step testing approach
Authors: Rode Oktavija Đaković , Kurolt Ivan-Christian , Puljiz Ivan , Čivljak Rok , Balent Nataša Cetinić , Laškaj Renata , Tiljak Mirjana Kujundžić , Mikulić Radojka , Markotić Alemka
Published: September 2020

According to anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroresponse in patients with COVID-19 from Croatia, we emphasised the issue of different serological tests and need for combining diagnostic methods for COVID-19 diagnosis. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG ELISA and IgM/IgG immunochromatographic assay (ICA) were used for testing 60 sera from 21 patients (6 with severe, 10 moderate, and 5 with mild disease). The main clinical, demographic, and haemato-biochemical data were analysed. The most common symptoms were cough (95.2%), fever (90.5%), and fatigue and shortness of breath (42.9%). Pulmonary opacities showed 76.2% of patients. Within the first 7 days of illness, seropositivity for ELISA IgA and IgG was 42.9% and 7.1%, and for ICA IgM and IgG 25% and 10.7%, respectively. From day 8 after onset, ELISA IgA and IgG seropositivity was 90.6% and 68.8%, and for ICA IgM and IgG 84.4% and 75%, respectively. In general, sensitivity for ELISA IgA and IgG was 68.3% and 40%, and for ICA IgM and IgG 56.7% and 45.0%, respectively. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody distributions by each method were statistically different (ICA IgM vs. IgG, p = 0.016; ELISA IgG vs. IgA, p < 0.001). Antibody response in COVID-19 varies and depends on the time the serum is taken, on the severity of disease, and on the type of test used. IgM and IgA antibodies as early-stage disease markers are comparable, although they cannot replace each other. Simultaneous IgM/IgG/IgA anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing followed by the confirmation of positive findings with another test in a two-tier testing is recommended.
Evaluation of three commercial assays for SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection in upper respiratory tract samples
Authors: Liotti Flora Marzia , Menchinelli Giulia , Marchetti Simona , Morandotti Grazia Angela , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Posteraro Brunella , Cattani Paola
Published: September 2020

The increasing COVID-19 widespread has created the necessity to assess the diagnostic accuracy of newly introduced (RT-PCR based) assays for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in respiratory tract samples. We compared the results of the Allplex™ 2019-nCoV assay with those of the Simplexa™ COVID-19 Direct assay and the Quanty COVID-19 assay, respectively, all performed on 125 nasal/oropharyngeal swab samples of patients with COVID-19 suspicion. Fifty-four samples were positive, and 71 were negative with the Allplex™ assay, whereas 47 of 54 samples were also positive with the Simplexa™ assay. The Quanty assay detected 55 positive samples, including the 54 positive samples with the Allplex™ assay and 1 sample that was Allplex™ negative but Simplexa™ positive. Using a consensus result criterion as the reference standard allowed to resolve the eight samples with discordant results (one Allplex™ negative and seven Simplexa™ negative) as truly false negative. Interestingly, a Spearman’s negative association was found between the viral RNA loads quantified by the Quanty assay and the CT values of RT PCRs performed with either the Allplex™ assay or the Simplexa™ assay. However, the strength of this association was higher for the Allplex™ assay (N gene, ρ = − 0.92; RdRP gene, ρ = − 0.91) than for the Simplexa™ assay (ORF1ab gene, ρ = − 0.65; S gene, ρ = − 0.80). The Allplex™ 2019-nCoV, the Simplexa™ COVID-19 Direct, and the Quanty COVID-19 assays yielded comparable results. However, the role these assays might play in future clinical practice warrants larger comparison studies.
Nonsurgical periodontal therapy with/without 980 nm diode laser in patients after myocardial infarction: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Samulak Renata , Suwała Mariusz , Dembowska Elżbieta
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible benefits (in terms of periodontal status improvement and periodontal bacteria count reduction) of using 980 nm diode laser in the treatment of periodontitis in patients after myocardial infarction. Thirty-six patients under 65 years of age (mean: 56.3 ± 7.9) with periodontitis, 6 weeks to 6 months after myocardial infarction, were recruited for the study. The control group (n = 18) received SRP (scaling, root planing and polishing) while the test group (n = 18) received SRP followed by laser therapy of the periodontal pockets with 980 nm diode laser, 1 W, continuous wave mode, 20 s per tooth side. Procedures were repeated twice at 5–7 day intervals. Microbiological and periodontal examination, including periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP) and plaque control record (PCR), were performed before treatment, 2 weeks and 3 months after treatment. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with Identifier: NCT04145557, 29.10.2019 “retrospectively registered”. Additional use of laser resulted in a significant reduction in pockets with PPD ≥ 7 mm (p = 0.0151). The diode laser reduced total bacteria count (p = 0.0154) and delayed recolonisation during a 3-month observation period. A significant increase in the number of Capnocytophaga gingivalis was observed in the control group (p = 0.048). Additional use of the diode laser after SRP had no significant effect on BOP, CAL and PCR. Within the limitations of our study, we can conclude that 980 nm diode laser can be a useful tool in the treatment of periodontitis in patients after myocardial infarction.
Opportunities for caries prevention using an ion-releasing coating material: a randomised clinical study
Authors: Örtengren Ulf , Lehrkinder Anna , Safarloo Aram , Axelsson Jasmine , Lingström Peter
Published: September 2020

Ion-releasing materials (containing fluoride and boron, for example) have shown caries-preventive effects in vitro. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of multi-ion-releasing coating material on pH stabilisation, plaque accumulation and the bacterial composition of dental plaque during a time period of 90 days. The null hypothesis tested here was that the evaluated material would not show any differences in pH stabilisation, plaque accumulation or bacterial composition compared with control material.

The study was carried out as a double-blind, split-mouth, randomised, controlled clinical trial in 28 volunteers. Over the evaluation period (days 4, 30, 60 and 90), pH measurements, plaque index and plaque sampling for bacterial analyses were conducted in a calibrated, standardized manner. The study received ethical permission and was carried out in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration.

A significant difference was observed, with less plaque accumulation over time in the subjects in whom the ion-releasing material was applied in comparison to the non-active group. No significant difference was evident in terms of either pH stabilisation or plaque levels of mutans streptococci.

The null hypothesis relating to plaque accumulation was rejected, with a lower plaque index shown for the test group up to 60–90 days. No adverse effects during the observation period were observed. Since the studied cohort was healthy from a caries perspective, more clinical studies are needed to further evaluate the caries-prevention potential of the ion-releasing material in other patient groups.
Spawning strategies in cypriniform fishes in a lowland river invaded by non-indigenous European barbel Barbus barbus
Authors: Gutmann Roberts Catherine , Britton J. Robert
Published: September 2020

Spawning strategies of lowland river fishes include single spawning, where reproduction generally occurs in early spring to provide 0+ fish with an extended growth season through the summer, but with a high risk of stochastic mortality events occurring, such as early summer floods. This risk can be reduced by multiple or protracted spawning strategies, where 0+ fish are produced over an extended period, often into mid-summer, but with the trade-off being a shorter growth season. The spawning strategies of cypriniform fish were explored in the River Teme, a spate river in Western England, which has non-indigenous European barbel Barbus barbus present. Sampling 0+ fish in spring and summer and across three spawning periods, B. barbus, chub Squalius cephalus and minnow Phoxinus phoxinus always revealed multiple spawning events, with 0+ fish of < 20 mm present in samples collected from June to August. Fish below 20 mm in August remained relatively small by the end of their growth season (October). For dace Leuciscus leuciscus, only single spawning events were evident, but with 0+ dace always being relatively large. Therefore, multiple spawning appears to be a common strategy that provides resilience in 0+ fish against stochastic mortality events in lowland rivers.
Some algorithmic results for finding compatible spanning circuits in edge-colored graphs
Authors: Guo Zhiwei , Broersma Hajo , Li Ruonan , Zhang Shenggui
Published: September 2020

A compatible spanning circuit in a (not necessarily properly) edge-colored graph G is a closed trail containing all vertices of G in which any two consecutively traversed edges have distinct colors. Sufficient conditions for the existence of extremal compatible spanning circuits (i.e., compatible Hamilton cycles and Euler tours), and polynomial-time algorithms for finding compatible Euler tours have been considered in previous literature. More recently, sufficient conditions for the existence of more general compatible spanning circuits in specific edge-colored graphs have been established. In this paper, we consider the existence of (more general) compatible spanning circuits from an algorithmic perspective. We first show that determining whether an edge-colored connected graph contains a compatible spanning circuit is an NP-complete problem. Next, we describe two polynomial-time algorithms for finding compatible spanning circuits in edge-colored complete graphs. These results in some sense give partial support to a conjecture on the existence of compatible Hamilton cycles in edge-colored complete graphs due to Bollobás and Erdős from the 1970s.
Political borders impact associations between habitat suitability predictions and resource availability
Authors: Tschumi Matthias , Scherler Patrick , Fattebert Julien , Naef-Daenzer Beat , Grüebler Martin U.
Published: September 2020

Context

By linking species of conservation concern to their abiotic and biotic requirements, habitat suitability models (HSM) can assist targeted conservation measures. Yet, conservation measures may fail if HSM are unable to predict crucial resources. HSM are typically developed using remotely sensed land-cover classification data but not information on resources per se.

Objectives

While a certain land-cover class may correlate with crucial resources in the area of calibration, political boundaries can abruptly alter these associations. We investigate this potential discrepancy in a well-known study system highly relevant for farmland bird conservation.

Methods

We compared land cover, land-use intensity and resource availability between plots of highest habitat suitability for little owls (Athene noctua) among two neighbouring, but politically separated areas (i.e. south-western Germany vs. northern Switzerland).

Results

Land cover and land-use richness did not differ between German and Swiss plots. Yet there were marked differences in terms of land-use intensity and the availability of resources. Land-use intensity was significantly higher and resource availability lower in Swiss compared to German plots.

Conclusions

While accounting well for remotely sensed data such as land cover, HSM may fail to predict land-use intensity and resources across borders. The relationship between geodata used as proxies and ecologically relevant resources may differ according to history, policies and socio-cultural context, constraining the viability of HSM across political borders. This study emphasises the need for fine-scale resource assessments complementing landscape-scale suitability models. Conservation measures need to consider the availability of crucial resources and their socio-economic moderators to be effective.
Skew Gaussian processes for classification
Authors: Benavoli Alessio , Azzimonti Dario , Piga Dario
Published: September 2020

Gaussian processes (GPs) are distributions over functions, which provide a Bayesian nonparametric approach to regression and classification. In spite of their success, GPs have limited use in some applications, for example, in some cases a symmetric distribution with respect to its mean is an unreasonable model. This implies, for instance, that the mean and the median coincide, while the mean and median in an asymmetric (skewed) distribution can be different numbers. In this paper, we propose skew-Gaussian processes (SkewGPs) as a non-parametric prior over functions. A SkewGP extends the multivariateunified skew-normaldistribution over finite dimensional vectors to a stochastic processes. The SkewGP class of distributions includes GPs and, therefore, SkewGPs inherit all good properties of GPs and increase their flexibility by allowing asymmetry in the probabilistic model. By exploiting the fact that SkewGP and probit likelihood are conjugate model, we derive closed form expressions for the marginal likelihood and predictive distribution of this new nonparametric classifier. We verify empirically that the proposed SkewGP classifier provides a better performance than a GP classifier based on either Laplace’s method or expectation propagation.
Helping when the desire is low: Expectancy as a booster
Authors: Kossowska Małgorzata , Szumowska Ewa , Szwed Paulina , Czernatowicz-Kukuczka Aneta , Kruglanski Arie W.
Published: September 2020

One might assume that the desire to help (here described asWant) is the essential driver of helping declarations and/or behaviors. However, even if desire to help (Want) is low, intention to help may still occur if the expectancy regarding the perceived effectiveness of helping is high. We tested these predictions in a set of three experimental studies. In all three, we measured the desire to help (Want) and theExpectancythat the aid would be impactful for the victim; in addition, we manipulatedExpectancyin Study 3. In Studies 1 and 3, we measured the participants’ declaration to help while in Study 2, their helping behavior was examined. In all three studies, we used variations of the same story about a victim. The results supported our hypothesis. Thus, the studies help to tease apart the determinants of helping under conditions of lowered desire to do so, an issue of great importance in public policymaking.
Preformulation Studies of a Stable PTEN-PDZ Lipopeptide Able to Cross an In Vitro Blood-Brain-Barrier Model as a Potential Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Lalatsa Aikaterini , Sun Yujiao , Gamboa Jose Ignacio , Knafo Shira
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Amyloid β (Aβ) drives the accumulation of excess Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome 10 (PTEN) at synapses, inducing synaptic depression and perturbing memory. This recruitment of PTEN to synapses in response to Aβ drives its interaction with PSD95/Disc large/Zonula occludens-1 (PDZ) proteins and, indeed, we previously showed that an oligo lipopeptide (PTEN-PDZ) capable of blocking such PTEN:PDZ interactions rescues the synaptic and cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Hence, the PTEN:PDZ interaction appears to be crucial for Aβ-induced synaptic and cognitive impairment. Here we have evaluated the feasibility of using PTEN-PDZ lipopeptides based on the human/mouse PTEN C-terminal sequence, testing their stability in biological fluids, their cytotoxicity, their ability to self-assemble and their in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Myristoyl or Lauryl tails were added to the peptides to enhance their cell permeability.

Methods

Lipopeptides self assembly was assessed using electron microscopy and the thioflavin T assay. Stability studies in mouse plasma (50%), intestinal washing, brain and liver homogenates as well as permeability studies across an all human 2D blood-brain barrier model prepared with human cerebral endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) and human astrocytes (SC-1800) were undertaken.

Results

The mouse lauryl peptide displayed enhanced overall stability in plasma, ensuring a longer half-life in circulation that meant there were larger amounts available for transport across the BBB (Papp0-4h: 6.28 ± 1.85 × 10−6 cm s−1).

Conclusion

This increased availability, coupled to adequate BBB permeability, makes this peptide a good candidate for therapeutic parenteral (intravenous, intramuscular) administration and nose-to-brain delivery.

Graphical Abstract
Between Bonds and Bridges: Evidence from a Survey on Trust in Groups
Authors: Braesemann Fabian , Stephany Fabian
Published: September 2020

In every social transaction there is an element of trust. The degree to which we trust others, called generalized trust, is assumed to benefit from interaction with different social groups. In the trust literature, it is opposed by particularized trust, which represents our mutual confidence in individuals close to us, for example, family members and friends. This study, based on a survey with 634 university students from Austria, questions the strict dichotomy between the two trust types. Our results advocate for a third, group determined type of trust. This additional trust dimension is measured by the number of groups individuals participate in. It changes fluently between particularized and generalized trust, depending on measures of group context, like frequency of interaction or group size. Our findings show that generalized trust increases with the number of groups one feels belonging to. People with less diverse social interaction, however, have more trust in their peers than in strangers.
Self-efficacy for instructional leadership: relations with perceived job demands and job resources, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and motivation to quit
Authors: Skaalvik Cecilie
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this study was to explore associations between school principals’ self-efficacy for instructional leadership, their perceptions of work-related demands and resources, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and motivation to leave the principal position (quit). Four hundred and forty-seven principals in elementary school and high school participated in a survey study. Data were analyzed by means of confirmatory factor analyses and SEM analyses. Self-efficacy for instructional leadership was negatively associated with the perception of all job demands and positively associated with the perception of all job resources in the study. In the SEM analysis, the associations between (a) self-efficacy and (b) emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and motivation to quit were indirect, mediated through the perception of job demands and job resources.
Provenance- and life-history stage-specific responses of the dwarf shrub Calluna vulgaris to elevated vapour pressure deficit
Authors: Ibe Karin , Walmsley David , Fichtner Andreas , Coners Heinz , Leuschner Christoph , Härdtle Werner
Published: September 2020

Climate change may alter microscale-effective ecosystem properties such as atmospheric water vapour pressure, but consequences for plant growth are insufficiently understood. Within a northwest German heathland an open-top chamber experiment was established to analyse the effects of elevated vapour pressure deficit (eVPD) on growth responses of Calluna vulgaris considering both plant origin (Atlantic (AP), sub-Atlantic (SAP), sub-Continental (SCP)) and life-history stage (1-year vs. 10-year old plants). We hypothesised that the plants’ sensitivity to eVPD decreases (i) from AP to SCP and (ii) with progressing life-history stage. Elevated VPD caused a provenance-specific decrease of shoot increment whilst aboveground biomass productivity remained unaffected. AP and SAP responded with increasing belowground biomass δ13C signatures to eVPD, whereas δ13C values decreased for SCP. Moreover, eVPD increased and decreased belowground biomass δ13C signatures of 1- and 10-year old plants, respectively. These responses to eVPD were related to differences in morphological-chemical traits and the plants’ trait plasticity in response to eVPD. SCP showed the highest aboveground tissue mass density and significantly increased tissue C:N ratios under eVPD. One-year old plants had a tenfold higher shoot:root ratio than 10-year old plants, making young plants more sensitive to eVPD. Our findings demonstrate that the atmospheric water status affects the morphology and physiology of Calluna independent of the soil water status. The results have implications for the conservation of heathlands under climate change: (i) SCP may constitute an appropriate ecotype for assisted migration-approaches, and (ii) management needs to weigh different options for heathland rejuvenation.
A Hybrid Model-Based Adaptive Framework for the Analysis of Climate Change Impact on Reservoir Performance
Authors: Biglarbeigi P. , Strong W. A. , Finlay D. , McDermott R. , Griffiths P.
Published: September 2020

Climate change and population growth have influenced social and physical water scarcity in many regions. Accordingly, the future performance of water storage reservoirs, as one of the fundamental elements in the water resource management, are anticipated to be affected by climate change. This study reports on a framework that can model Reliability-Resiliency-Vulnerability (RRV) measures of water reservoirs in the context of climate change. The framework first develops a hydrological model of a reservoir system using its historical data. The model is then optimised to minimise the water deficit and flooding around the catchment area of the reservoir. The resulting optimal policies are simulated back to the model considering the GCMs. Finally, RRV indices are calculated. RRV indices are effective measures for defining the performance of reservoir systems. Reliability is defined as the probability of the failure of the system, Resiliency is defined as the time needed for the system to go back to its satisfactory state once it entered the failure state, and Vulnerability is defined as the “magnitude of the failure” of a system. The proposed framework has been applied to a reservoir system located in the south-west of Iran on the Dez river. The results show climate change may increase the reliability and resiliency of the system under study while increasing its vulnerability. Therefore, the output of this framework can also provide supplementary information to authorities and decision-makers to inform future water management and planning policies.
3D printing filament as a second life of waste plastics—a review
Authors: Mikula Katarzyna , Skrzypczak Dawid , Izydorczyk Grzegorz , Warchoł Jolanta , Moustakas Konstantinos , Chojnacka Katarzyna , Witek-Krowiak Anna
Published: September 2020

In recent times, the issue of plastic recycling has become one of the leading issues of environmental protection and waste management. Polymer materials have been found an application in many areas of daily life and industry. Along with their extended use, the problem of plastic wastes appeared because, after withdrawal from use, they became persistent and noxious wastes. The possibility of reusing polymeric materials gives a possibility of valorization—a second life—and enables effective waste utilization to obtain consumable products. The 3D printing market is a well-growing sector. Printable filaments can be made from a variety of thermoplastic materials, including those from recycling. This paper focuses on a review of the available literature on the production of filaments for 3D printers from recycled polymers as the alternative to present approach of central selective collection of plastics. The possibility of recycling of basic thermoplastic materials and the impact of processing on their physicochemical and mechanical properties were verified (Lanzotti et al. 2019). In addition, commercially available filaments produced from recycled materials and devices which allow self-production of filaments to 3D printing from plastic waste were reviewed.
Evolutionary oligopoly games with cooperative and aggressive behaviors
Authors: Bischi Gian Italo , Lamantia Fabio
Published: September 2020

We propose an oligopoly model where players can choose between two kinds of behaviors, denoted as cooperative and aggressive, respectively. Each cooperative agent chooses the quantity to produce in order to maximize her own profit as well as the profits of other agents (at least partially), whereas an aggressive player decides the quantity to produce by maximizing his own profit while damaging (at least partially) competitors’ profits. At each discrete time, players face a binary choice to select the kind of behavior to adopt, according to a proportional imitation rule, expressed by a replicator equation based on a comparison between accumulated profits. This means that the behavioral decisions are driven by an evolutionary process where fitness is measured in terms of current profits as well as a weighted sum of past gains. The model proposed is expressed by a nonlinear two-dimensional iterated map, whose asymptotic behavior describes the long-run population distribution of cooperative and aggressive agents. We show under which conditions one of the following long-run behaviors prevails: (i) all players choose the same strategy; (ii) both behaviors coexist according to a mixed stationary equilibrium; and (iii) a self-sustained (i.e. endogenous) oscillatory (periodic or chaotic) time pattern occurs. The influence of memory and that of the levels of cooperative/aggressive attitudes on the dynamics are analyzed as well.
The role of dedicated biocontainment patient care units in preparing for COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks
Authors: Flinn Jade B. , Hynes Noreen A. , Sauer Lauren M. , Maragakis Lisa L. , Garibaldi Brian T.
Published: September 2020

In response to the Ebola outbreak of 2014–2016, the US Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) established 10 regional treatment centers, called biocontainment units (BCUs), to prepare and provide care for patients infected with high-consequence pathogens. Many of these BCUs were among the first units to activate for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient care. The activities of the Johns Hopkins BCU helped prepare the Johns Hopkins Health System for COVID-19 in the 3 domains of containment care: (1) preparedness planning, education and training, (2) patient care and unit operations, and (3) research and innovation. Here, we describe the role of the JH BCU in the Hopkins COVID-19 response to illustrate the value of BCUs in the current pandemic and their potential role in preparing healthcare facilities and health systems for future infectious disease threats.
Findings from an in-Depth Annual Tree-Ring Radiocarbon Intercomparison
Authors: Wacker L , Scott E M , Bayliss A , Brown D , Bard E , Bollhalder S , Friedrich M , Capano M , Cherkinsky A , Chivall D , Culleton B J , Dee M W , Friedrich R , Hodgins G W L , Hogg A , Kennett D J , Knowles T D J , Kuitems M , Lange T E , Miyake F , Nadeau M-J , Nakamura T , Naysmith J P , Olsen J , Omori T , Petchey F , Philippsen B , Bronk Ramsey C , Prasad G V Ravi , Seiler M , Southon J , Staff R , Tuna T
Published: September 2020

The radiocarbon (14C) calibration curve so far contains annually resolved data only for a short period of time. With accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) matching the precision of decay counting, it is now possible to efficiently produce large datasets of annual resolution for calibration purposes using small amounts of wood. The radiocarbon intercomparison on single-year tree-ring samples presented here is the first to investigate specifically possible offsets between AMS laboratories at high precision. The results show that AMS laboratories are capable of measuring samples of Holocene age with an accuracy and precision that is comparable or even goes beyond what is possible with decay counting, even though they require a thousand times less wood. It also shows that not all AMS laboratories always produce results that are consistent with their stated uncertainties. The long-term benefits of studies of this kind are more accurate radiocarbon measurements with, in the future, better quantified uncertainties.
IntCal20 Tree Rings: An Archaeological Swot Analysis
Authors: Bayliss Alex , Marshall Peter , Dee Michael W , Friedrich Michael , Heaton Timothy J , Wacker Lukas
Published: September 2020

We undertook a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of Northern Hemisphere tree-ring datasets included in IntCal20 in order to evaluate their strategic fit with the demands of archaeological users. Case studies on wiggle-matching single tree rings from timbers in historic buildings and Bayesian modeling of series of results on archaeological samples from Neolithic long barrows in central-southern England exemplify the archaeological implications that arise when using IntCal20. The SWOT analysis provides an opportunity to think strategically about future radiocarbon (14C) calibration so as to maximize the utility of 14C dating in archaeology and safeguard its reputation in the discipline.
The impact of sarcopenia and decrease in skeletal muscle mass in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer during FOLFIRINOX therapy
Authors: Uemura Shinya , Iwashita Takuji , Ichikawa Hironao , Iwasa Yuhei , Mita Naoki , Shiraki Makoto , Shimizu Masahito
Published: September 2020

Sarcopenia, defined as decrease in skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and strength, might be associated with reduced survival. We investigated the impact of sarcopenia and decrease in SMM in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer during FOLFIRINOX (FX) therapy. Consecutive sixty-nine patients who received FX were evaluated. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) (cm2/m2) was used to evaluate SMM. The cut-off value of sarcopenia was defined as SMI <42 for males and <38 for females, based on the Asian Working Group for sarcopenia criteria. Sarcopenia was diagnosed in thirty-three (48 %) subjects. Comparison of baseline characteristics of the two groups (sarcopenia group: non-sarcopenia group) showed a significant difference in sex, tumour size and BMI. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events with grades 3–5 and progression-free survival (PFS) during FX between the two groups (PFS 8·1 and 8·8 months; P = 0·88). On the multivariate analysis, progressive disease at the first follow-up computed tomography (hazard ratio (HR) 3·87, 95 % CI 1·53, 9·67), decreased SMI ≥ 7·9 % in 2 months (HR 4·02, 95 % CI 1·87, 8·97) and carcinoembryonic antigen ≥ 4·6 (HR 2·52, 95 % CI 1·10, 6·11) were significant risk factors associated with poor overall survival (OS), but sarcopenia at diagnosis was not. OS in patients with decreased SMI of ≥7·9 % and <7·9 % were 10·9 and 21·0 months (P < 0·01), respectively. In conclusion, decrease in SMM within 2 months after the initiation of chemotherapy had significantly shorter OS, although sarcopenia at diagnosis did not affect OS. Therefore, it might be important to maintain SMM during chemotherapy for a better prognosis.
Trade, Finance, and Industry in the Development of Indian Capitalism: The Case of Tata
Authors: Raianu Mircea
Published: September 2020

This article rethinks the relationship between trade and industry in the development of Indian capitalism, focusing on Tata, pioneers in textile and steel production. It shows how two little-known affiliated trading companies, R.D. Tata & Co. in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Kobe, and Tata Limited in London, played a crucial intermediary role in securing financing and market access for the parent firm in Bombay while simultaneously increasing its exposure to the effects of global crises. Tata's ultimately dominant position in a protected national economy was due to the contingent failure of these trading companies rather than a foregone conclusion.
Modeling cow somatic cell count using sensor data as input to generalized additive models
Authors: Anglart Dorota , Hallén-Sandgren Charlotte , Waldmann Patrik , Wiedemann Martin , Emanuelson Ulf
Published: September 2020

This research paper presents a study investigating if sensor data from an automatic milking rotary could be used to model cow somatic cell count (composite milk SCC: CMSCC). CMSCC is valuable for udder health monitoring and individual cow udder health surveillance could be improved by predicting CMSCC between routine samplings. Data regularly recorded in the automatic milking rotary, in one German dairy herd, were collected for analysis. The cows (Holstein-Friesian, n = 372) were milked twice daily and sampled once weekly in afternoon milkings for 8 weeks for CMSCC. From the potential independent variables, including quarter conductivity, milk flow, blood in milk, kick-offs, not milked quarters and incomplete milkings, new variables that combined quarter data were created. Past period records, i.e. lags, of up to seven days before the actual CMSCC sampling event were added in the dataset to investigate if they were of use in modeling the cell count. Univariable generalized additive models (GAM) were used to screen the data to select potential independent variables. Furthermore, several multivariable GAM were fitted in order to compare the importance of the potential independent variables and to explore how the model performance would be affected by using data from various number of days before the CMSCC sampling event. The result of the model selection showed that the best explanation of CMSCC was provided by the model incorporating all significant variables from the variable screening for the seven preceding days, including the day of the CMSCC sampling event. However, using data from only three days before the CMSCC sampling event is suggested to be sufficient to model CMSCC. Variables combining conductivity quarter data, together with quarter conductivity, are suggested to be important in describing CMSCC. We conclude that CMSCC can be modeled with a high degree of explanation using the information routinely recorded by the milking robot.
Home range and habitat selection of captive-bred and rehabilitated cape vultures Gyps coprotheres in southern Africa
Authors: Jobson Ben , Wolter Kerri , Jordan Lara , Monadjem Ara , Rowcliffe J. Marcus
Published: September 2020

Following the continual decline of the Cape vulture Gyps coprotheres since the 1960s, captive breeding and rehabilitation programmes have been established to reinforce populations across southern Africa. This study examines the spatial ecology of captive-bred and rehabilitated vultures following release. Our analysis used 253,671 GPS fixes from 20 captive-bred and 13 rehabilitated birds to calculate home range sizes using kernel density estimation. We found that home range size did not differ significantly between captive-bred and rehabilitated birds. The location of home ranges differed: captive-bred birds showed greater site fidelity, remaining close to their release site, whereas rehabilitated birds dispersed more widely across the species' native range. By remaining close to their release site within a protected area, captive-bred birds had a significantly higher per cent of their GPS fixes within protected areas than did rehabilitated birds. Despite fidelity to their release site, captive-bred birds demonstrated innate capabilities for natural foraging behaviours and the same habitat selection strategy as rehabilitated individuals. These findings suggest that captive breeding and reinforcement of populations at declining colonies could provide localized benefits. Future long-term studies should seek to analyse survivorship and identify the breeding behaviour of these captive-bred birds once they reach sexual maturity.
Re-thinking and re-positioning ‘being in the moment’ within a continuum of moments: introducing a new conceptual framework for dementia studies
Authors: Keady John David , Campbell Sarah , Clark Andrew , Dowlen Robyn , Elvish Ruth , Jones Lesley , Kindell Jackie , Swarbrick Caroline , Williams Sion
Published: September 2020

This article draws upon six social research studies completed by members of the Dementia and Ageing Research Team at The University of Manchester and their associated networks over an eight-year period (2011–2019) with the aim of constructing a definition of ‘being in the moment’ and situating it within a continuum of moments that could be used to contextualise and frame the lived experience of dementia. Using the approach formulated by Pound et al. (2005) in synthesising qualitative studies, we identified this continuum of moments as comprising four sequential and interlinked steps: (a) ‘creating the moment’, defined as the processes and procedures necessary to enable being in the moment to take place – the time necessary for this to occur can range from fleeting to prolonged; (b) ‘being in the moment’, which refers to the multi-sensory processes involved in a personal or relational interaction and embodied engagement – being in the moment can be sustained through creativity and flow; (c) ‘ending the moment’, defined as when a specific moment is disengaged – this can be triggered by the person(s) involved consciously or subconsciously, or caused by a distraction in the environment or suchlike; and (d) ‘reliving the moment’, which refers to the opportunity for the experience(s) involved in ‘being in the moment’ to be later remembered and shared, however fragmentary, supported or full the recall.
MATTERS OF TASTE: THE LUTHERAN MARKET FOR SACRED MUSIC IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
Authors: Frandsen Mary E.
Published: September 2020

Many studies have been devoted to the producers of Lutheran music in seventeenth-century Germany – composers, editors, publishers and printers. Little attention, however, has been paid to the tastes and preferences of the consumers of this music. This article represents the first study of this subject, and draws on music inventories and account books to examine the Lutheran market for sacred music during this period. It presents a number of key findings, all of which relate to purchasing patterns: that community members donated a considerable amount of music to Lutheran institutions; that music prices remained quite stable for decades; that Lutherans cultivated the older motet alongside the newer sacred concerto throughout much of the century; that Lutherans sought out music by Italians and northern Catholics as well as by Lutherans; and that after c. 1640, the composer Andreas Hammerschmidt dominated the Lutheran market for sacred music, outselling all of his contemporaries.

For Frederick Gable and Jeffrey Kurtzman,

longtime mentors, colleagues and friends
Design and Function Realization of Nuclear Power Inspection Robot System
Authors: Zhonglin Zhang , Bin Fu , Liquan Li , Encheng Yang
Published: September 2020

The particularity of nuclear power plant environment requires that the nuclear power inspection robot must be remote control operation. The main purpose of the inspection robot is to carry out inspection, prevention, reporting, and safety emergency operation on the instruments, so as to provide guarantee for the safe operation of the nuclear power plant. Based on the representative configuration of nuclear power robot at home and abroad, this paper develops a small and lightweight nuclear power plant inspection robot, including walking mechanism, lifting mechanism, operating mechanism, image acquisition, information communication and control system, etc., to carry on the statics analysis to the key components of the inspection robot and verify that the stiffness and strength of the mechanical structure meet the requirements of lightweight design. Modal analysis is carried out to verify that the motor does not cause resonance when working. The kinematic model of the robot has been established and can provide the theoretical basis for the controller design. A hierarchical control system based on LabVIEW upper computer monitoring and control operation interface is established, which uses adaptive fuzzy Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control to simulate the walking control, and then realizes the control of walking mechanism through software programming, and the adaptive fuzzy PID control has better effect than the conventional PID control. The S-type acceleration and deceleration algorithm is used to realize the accurate control of the position location of the lifting mechanism. Finally, combined with the experiment of 5MS robot comprehensive experimental platform, it is proved that the inspection robot can realize remote control function operation.
The syntax of something: Evaluative affordances ofnogetin Danish construction grammar
Authors: Levisen Carsten
Published: September 2020

This paper explores ‘the evaluativenogetconstruction’ in Danish. The construction consists ofnoget‘something’ juxtaposed by a noun in an evaluative frame such as e.g.Det er noget pjat, ‘It’s nonsense’. With a starting point in cross-linguistic studies onsomething, the paper moves on to explore core members of this evaluative class in Danish, providing a detailed semantic analysis of the construction’s core configurations. The affordance ofnoget‘something’ to mean ‘something bad’ is a key to understanding the construction, and from this general premise the class of evaluatives take off in multiple negative directions, providing a snapshot of the Danish linguaculture of evaluation. The paper argues for a Cultural Construction Grammar that can bring together the lexicogrammatical integrationism of construction grammar approaches with the linguacultural holism of the research in ethnosyntax. The goal is to provide high-definition analysis of complex, language-specific constructions in a simple, globally translatable metalanguage.