bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of prosody awareness training on the intelligibility of Iranian interpreter trainees in English
Authors: Yenkimaleki Mahmood , van Heuven Vincent J.
Published: March 2020

The present study investigates the effect of prosodic feature awareness training on the intelligibility of speech produced by Iranian interpreter trainees. Two groups of student interpreters were formed. All were native speakers of Farsi who studied English translation and interpreting at the BA level. Participants took a pretest of speaking skills before starting the program so that their speech intelligibility level was rated. The control group listened to authentic audio tracks in English and discussed their contents, watched authentic English movies, discussed issues in the movies in pairs in the classroom. The experimental group spent part of the time on theoretical explanation of, and practical exercises with, English prosody. Students then took a posttest in speaking skills so that the effect of treatment on the intelligibility of their speech could be assessed. The results show that the prosody awareness training significantly improved the students’ speech intelligibility.
Rhotics in Shipibo-Konibo Spanish
Authors: Elias-Ulloa Jose Alberto
Published: March 2020

This chapter presents a phonetic study of the trill /r/ and the tap /ɾ/ in Shipibo-Konibo Spanish, examines their characteristics, and compares them to those found in monolingual Peruvian Amazonian Spanish. The study shows that L2 Shipibo-Konibo Spanish is not a uniform phenomenon, but rather is comprised of different varieties defined by speakers’ levels of proficiency and type of Spanish with which they are in contact. It identifies speakers of Type-I, who do not have a high level of proficiency in Spanish; speakers of Type-II, who show an advanced level as a result of their contact with rural Amazonian Spanish; and speakers of Type-III, who also have a high level of proficiency in Spanish that results from contact with urban monolingual Spanish.
The interaction of social factors in the acoustically gradient realization of intervocalic /d/ in Border Uruguayan Spanish
Authors: Waltermire Mark , Gradoville Michael
Published: March 2020

Along the Uruguayan-Brazilian border, Spanish exhibits phonological influence from Portuguese, including the realization of intervocalic /d/ as a stop. Using conversational data from 40 bilinguals, we analyze tokens of intervocalic /d/ acoustically using a consonant-vowel intensity ratio according to multiple social factors and their interactions. The results suggest that, while interactions are present (with stops being favored by Portuguese-preferring professional females), the main effects of social factors predominate. Younger speakers are moving away from the use of stop-like productions and toward the pan-Hispanic norm of variation between approximants and deletion. Portuguese-preferring speakers make greater use of stop-like variants, as do females, which is explained by the linguistic behaviors of the four women who produced /d/ with the highest intensity ratios.
Exploring focus extension in Mapudungun and Chilean Spanish intonational plateaus
Authors: Rogers Brandon M.A.
Published: March 2020

Notions that Mapudungun, a polysynthetic agglutinating isolate spoken in modern-day Chile, has had any linguistic influence on Chilean Spanish outside of lexical loanwords have met stiff resistance (e.g., Alonso, 1953); however, recent studies (e.g., Sadowsky, 2013) suggest that Mapudungun’s influence on Chilean Spanish may be more profound than previously asserted. The current study examines a unique intonational “plateau” pattern documented in Rogers (2013). Similar patterns occur in Mapudungun and the data demonstrate that Mapudungun intonational plateaus and Chilean Spanish intonational plateaus behave very similarly at different prosodic, syntactic, and pragmatic levels. This study proposes that the plateau patterns in both languages are a mechanism of focus extension, and that Mapudungun introduced this unique pragmatic device into Chilean Spanish intonational phonology.
The Spanish sound system and intonation in contact with Galician
Authors: Regueira Xosé Luís , Fernández Rei Elisa
Published: March 2020

This exploratory study presents an approach to the phonetic models of Galician Spanish (GS) by means of a small sample of six female speakers with different linguistic profiles. We analyze the production of stressed vowels, final unstressed vowels, and some intonation contours. Unlike earlier descriptions, we do not find direct transfer from Galician to the GS phonetic system. Our results show: (1) The disappearance of the Galician seven vowel system and some examples of hybridization in wh-question intonation, both of which could be seen as signs of change in GS; and (2) The reduction of the final vowels and direct transfer from Galician to GS in yes-no questions, both of which could suggest preservation of the covert prestige of Galician.
Semantics in generative grammar
Authors: Cipriani Enrico
Published: March 2020

I provide a critical survey of the role that semantics took in the several models of generative grammar, since the 1950s until the Minimalist Program. I distinguish four different periods. In the first section, I focus on the role of formal semantics in generative grammar until the 1970s. In Section 2 I present the period of linguistic wars, when the role of semantics in linguistic theory became a crucial topic of debate. In Section 3 I focus on the formulation of conditions on transformations and Binding Theory in the 1970s and 1980s, while in the last Section I discuss the role of semantics in the minimalist approach. In this section, I also propose a semantically-based model of generative grammar, which fully endorses minimalism and Chomsky’s later position concerning the primary role of the semantic interface in the Universal Grammar modelization (Strong Minimalist Thesis). In the Discussion, I point out some theoretical problems deriving from Chomsky’s internalist interpretation of model-theoretic semantics.
La saillance en français et en chinois
Authors: Hou Jiaqi , Landragin Frédéric
Published: March 2020

Nous proposons dans cet article une analyse multifactorielle et contrastive de la notion de saillance, telle qu’elle s’applique aux entités du discours et détermine l’interprétation référentielle d’une anaphore. En observant les phénomènes de saillance en français et en chinois, notre but est de montrer que la saillance est influencée par une multitude de facteurs, de manière plus ou moins comparable dans les deux langues. Nous classons ces facteurs selon leur nature syntaxique, sémantique, textuelle ou pragmatique. Notre approche contrastive permet d’illustrer que, si plusieurs divergences – qui sont souvent corrélées avec les différences typologiques des deux langues – s’observent au niveau syntaxique, de nombreux facteurs de saillance dérivent plutôt de principes cognitifs généraux.
When the audience changes
Authors: Zlatnar Moe Marija , Žigon Tanja
Published: March 2020

Much is expected to change when a work of fiction is translated from one language and culture to another, but the intended reader is not. This paper deals with the issue of the change of the intended reader from adult to child/adolescent in translations of fiction from English into Slovene. The intended reader is most likely to change in translations of comics/cartoons, fantasy, and realistic fiction with child or animal protagonists. The reasons for the change can be both textual and extra-textual: on the one hand, books are categorized as children’s books by libraries, award boards and marketers, as well as by the publisher’s choice of translator, while, on the other hand, individual translation decisions on the microlevel can help move a book from one category to another.
Napping in high‐performance athletes: Sleepiness or sleepability?
Authors: Gupta Luke , Morgan Kevin , North Courtney , Gilchrist Sarah
Published: March 2020

Daytime napping is a common practice in high‐performance athletes, and is widely assumed to reflect sleepiness arising from sports‐related sleep debt. The possibility that athlete naps may also be indicative of ‘sleepability’, a capacity to nap on demand that is only weakly related to homeostatic sleep pressure, has not previously been tested. The present study compared daytime sleep latencies in high‐performance athletes and non‐athlete controls using a single nap opportunity model. Elite (n = 10), and sub‐elite (n = 10) athletes, and non‐athlete controls (n = 10) attended the laboratory for a first adaption trial, and a subsequent experimental trial. Subjective sleepiness was assessed using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) at 14:00, 14:30 and immediately prior to a 20‐minute nap opportunity at 15:00. Sleep latencies were measured using polysomnography, and defined as the time from lights out to the first epoch of any stage of sleep (N1, N2, N3, REM). In unadjusted comparisons with non‐athlete controls, elite athletes showed significantly shorter sleep latencies in both the adaptation (p < 0.05) and experimental trials (p < 0.05). These significant differences were maintained in models controlling for pre‐trial KSS scores and pre‐trial total sleep time (all p < 0.05). Sleep latency scores for sub‐elite athletes showed similar trends, but were more labile. These results are consistent with a conclusion that, among elite athletes, napping behaviour can reflect sleepability and may not necessarily result from nocturnal sleep disruption and daytime sleepiness.
Distinguishing between chemical bonding and physical binding using electron localization function (ELF)
Authors: Koumpouras Konstantinos , Larsson J Andreas
Published: March 2020

To distinguish between chemical bonding and physical binding is usually simple. They differ, in the normal case, in both interaction strength (binding energy) and interaction length (structure). However, chemical bonding can be weak (e.g. in some metallic bonding) and physical binding can be strong (e.g. due to permanent electrostatic moments, hydrogen binding, etc) making differentiation non-trivial. But since these are shared-electron or unshared-electron interactions, respectively, it is in principle possible to distinguish the type of interaction by analyzing the electron density around the interaction point(s)/interface. After all, the former should be a contact while the latter should be a tunneling barrier. Here, we investigate within the framework of density functional theory typical molecules and crystals to show the behaviour of the electron localization function (ELF) in different shared-electron interactions, such as chemical (covalent) and metallic bonding and compare to unshared-electron interactions typical for physical binding, such as ionic, hydrogen and Keesom, dispersion (van der Waals) binding and attempt to categorise them only by the ELF and the electron population in the interaction region. It is found that the ELF method is not only useful for the characterization of covalent bonds but a lot of information can be extracted also for weaker types of binding. Furthermore, the charge integration over the interaction region(s) and tracing the ELF profile can reveal the strength of the bonding/binding ranging from the triple bonds to weak dispersion.
Concept design of a high power superconducting generator for future hybrid-electric aircraft
Authors: Filipenko Mykhaylo , Kühn Lars , Gleixner Thomas , Thummet Martin , Lessmann Marc , Möller Dirk , Böhm Matthias , Schröter Andreas , Häse Kerstin , Grundmann Jörn , Wilke Markus , Frank Michael , Hasselt Peter van , Richter Johannes , Herranz-Garcia Mercedes , Weidermann Christian , Spangolo Arestid , Klöpzig Markus , Gröppel Peter , Moldenhauer Stefan
Published: March 2020

The reduction of emission is a key goals for the aviation industry. One enabling technology to achieve this goal, could be the transition from conventional gas turbines to hybrid-electric drive trains. However, the requirements concerning weight and efficiency that come from applications like short range aircraft are significantly higher than what state-of-the-art technology can offer. A key technology that potentially allows to achieve the necessary power and volume densities for rotating electric machines is superconductivity. In this paper we present the concept of a high power density generator that matches the speed of typical airborne turbines in its power class. The design is based on studies that cover topology selection and further electromagnetic, HTS, thermal, structural and cryogenics aspects. All domains were analyzed by means of analytical sizing and 2D/3D FEA modeling. With the help of our digital twin that is a synthesis of these models, we can demonstrate for the first time that under realistic assumptions on material properties gravimetric power densities beyond 20 kW kg−1 can be achieved.
Phononic loss in superconducting resonators on piezoelectric substrates
Authors: Scigliuzzo Marco , Bruhat Laure E , Bengtsson Andreas , Burnett Jonathan J , Roudsari Anita Fadavi , Delsing Per
Published: March 2020

We numerically and experimentally investigate the phononic loss for superconducting resonators fabricated on a piezoelectric substrate. With the help of finite element method simulations, we calculate the energy loss due to electromechanical conversion into bulk and surface acoustic waves. This sets an upper limit for the resonator internal quality factor Q
i. To validate the simulation, we fabricate quarter wavelength coplanar waveguide resonators on GaAs and measure Q
i as function of frequency, power and temperature. We observe a linear increase of Q
i with frequency, as predicted by the simulations for a constant electromechanical coupling. Additionally, Q
i shows a weak power dependence and a negligible temperature dependence around 10 mK, excluding two level systems and non-equilibrium quasiparticles as the main source of losses at that temperature.
Research on the preparation and properties of foamed PP/wood flour composites
Authors: Wang Suwei , Chen Ke , Xue Ping , Jia Mingyin
Published: March 2020

In order to improve the toughness of the wood-polymer composites, the microcellular structure was introduced to the polypropylene (PP) based wood-polymer composites by the technology of continuous extrusion in this article. In order to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the samples further, the content of both wood flour (WF) and the chemical blowing agent were investigated. Besides, the compound foaming agents were also applied in the process of extrusion. According to the experimental results, the addition of WF contributed to increase both the softening temperatures and the apparent densities of the samples, and the best mechanical properties and microcellular structure were obtained when the mass ratio of WF to PP increased to 3/7. In addition, compared with the granular blowing agent, the powdered foaming agent showed a great advantage in dispersion, which helped to improve the bubble morphology and the mechanical strengths of the samples. Furthermore, the minimum bubble size and the maximum bubble density were both achieved at the powder content of 1 phr.
Coexisting structural phases in the catalytically driven growth of rock salt GdN
Authors: Shaib Ali , Natali Franck , Chan Jay R , Ullstad Felicia , Holmes-Hewett William F , Miller Jackson D , Ruck Ben J , Trodahl Harry J
Published: March 2020

We present a study of polycrystalline thin films of the rock salt rare earth nitride GdN grown on amorphous fused silica at ambient temperature with varying N2 pressure. X-ray diffraction measurements show a strong (111) preferential orientation for all N2 pressure and the signature of a secondary phase of GdN that develops as the N2 pressure decreases. The secondary phase is found to have a smaller lattice parameter than the near-stoichiometric GdN. Raman spectroscopy, electrical and magnetic results support the coexistence of such mixed-phase samples with the lattice distortion originating from nitrogen vacancies. Significantly the magnetic data show an increase of the ferromagnetic onset temperature as the secondary phase develops, without affecting the soft ferromagnetic character of GdN.
How I Diagnose Low-Grade Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Authors: Siddon Alexa J , Hasserjian Robert P
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of myeloid neoplasms that are often difficult to diagnose due to their pathologic and clinical heterogeneity. The key features of MDS are peripheral blood cytopenias, ineffective hematopoiesis manifesting as morphologic dysplasia, and clonal genetic abnormalities. The most difficult diagnostic dilemmas often arise in low-grade MDS cases (lacking excess blasts), which can be difficult to distinguish from other causes of cytopenia. This distinction requires the integration of information from the peripheral blood (both CBC parameters and morphology), bone marrow morphology, genetic studies, and interrogation of the clinical record to exclude secondary causes.

Methods

We discuss the approach to the diagnosis of low-grade MDS (cases lacking increased blasts), including a diagnostic algorithm and two illustrative cases.

Results

The appropriate use of ancillary studies is important to support or dispute the likelihood of low-grade MDS in conjunction with the findings of morphologic dysplasia. Interpreting the results of cytogenetics and next-generation sequencing can be challenging and must incorporate the emerging knowledge of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential.

Conclusions

The role of pathologists in integrating data from multiple sources in the diagnosis of low-grade MDS is evolving and becoming increasingly complex; in this challenging diagnostic setting, it is important to feel comfortable with uncertainty and maintain a conservative approach.
Women’s Work-Family Histories and Cognitive Performance in Later Life
Authors: Ice Erin , Ang Shannon , Greenberg Karra , Burgard Sarah
Published: March 2020

Long-term exposures to the stress and stimulation of different work, parenting, and partnership combinations might influence later life cognition. We investigated the relationship between women’s work-family life histories and cognitive functioning in later life. Analyses were based on data from women born between 1930 and 1957 in 14 European countries, from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2004–2009) (n = 11,908). Multichannel sequence analysis identified 5 distinct work-family typologies based on women’s work, partnership, and childrearing statuses between ages 12 and 50 years. Multilevel regressions were used to test the association between work-family histories and later-life cognition. Partnered mothers who mainly worked part-time had the best cognitive function in later life, scoring approximately 0.63 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18, 1.07) points higher than mothers who worked full-time on a 19-point scale. Partnered mothers who were mainly unpaid caregivers or who did other unpaid activities had cognitive scores that were 1.19 (95% CI: 0.49, 1.89) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.20, 1.66) points lower than full-time working mothers. The findings are robust to adjustment for childhood advantage and educational credentials. This study provides new evidence that long-term exposures to certain social role combinations after childhood and schooling are linked to later-life cognition.
Flower orientation in Gloriosa superba (Colchicaceae) promotes cross-pollination via butterfly wings
Authors: Daniels Ryan J , Johnson Steven D , Peter Craig I
Published: March 2020

Background and Aims

Complex modifications of angiosperm flowers often function for precise pollen placement on pollinators and to promote cross-pollination. We explore the functional significance of the unusually elaborate morphology of Gloriosa superba flowers, which are divided into one hermaphrodite meranthium and five male meranthia (functional pollination units of a single flower).

Methods

We used controlled pollination experiments, floral measurements, pollen load analyses and visitor observations in four populations of G. superba in South Africa to determine the breeding system, mechanism of pollination and role of flower in the promotion of cross-pollination.

Key Results

We established that G. superba is self-compatible, but reliant on pollinators for seed production. Butterflies, in particular the pierid Eronia cleodora, were the primary pollinators (>90 % of visitors). Butterflies brush against the anthers and stigma during nectar feeding and pollen is carried on their ventral wing surfaces. Butterfly scales were positively correlated with the number of pollen grains on stigmas. We demonstrate that the styles were orientated towards clearings in the vegetation and we confirm that the highest proportion of initial visits was to hermaphrodite meranthia pointing towards clearings.

Conclusions

The flower morphology of G. superba results in effective pollen transfer on the wings of butterfly visitors. The style-bearing hermaphrodite meranthium of the flowers orientates towards open spaces in the vegetation, thus increasing the probability that butterflies land first on the hermaphrodite meranthium. This novel aspect of flower orientation is interpreted as a mechanism that promotes cross-pollination.
VirusCircBase: a database of virus circular RNAs
Authors: Cai Zena , Fan Yunshi , Zhang Zheng , Lu Congyu , Zhu Zhaozhong , Jiang Taijiao , Shan Tongling , Peng Yousong
Published: March 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed long noncoding RNAs critical in diverse cellular activities and multiple human diseases. Several cancer-related viral circRNAs have been identified in double-stranded DNA viruses (dsDNA), yet no systematic study about the viral circRNAs has been reported. Herein, we have performed a systematic survey of 11 924 circRNAs from 23 viral species by computational prediction of viral circRNAs from viral-infection-related RNA sequencing data. Besides the dsDNA viruses, our study has also revealed lots of circRNAs in single-stranded RNA viruses and retro-transcribing viruses, such as the Zika virus, the Influenza A virus, the Zaire ebolavirus, and the Human immunodeficiency virus 1. Most viral circRNAs had reverse complementary sequences or repeated sequences at the flanking sequences of the back-splice sites. Most viral circRNAs only expressed in a specific cell line or tissue in a specific species. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the viral circRNAs from dsDNA viruses were involved in KEGG pathways associated with cancer. All viral circRNAs presented in the current study were stored and organized in VirusCircBase, which is freely available at http://www.computationalbiology.cn/ViruscircBase/home.html and is the first virus circRNA database. VirusCircBase forms the fundamental atlas for the further exploration and investigation of viral circRNAs in the context of public health.
Redundancy-weighting the PDB for detailed secondary structure prediction using deep-learning models
Authors: Sidi Tomer , Keasar Chen
Published: March 2020

Motivation

The Protein Data Bank (PDB), the ultimate source for data in structural biology, is inherently imbalanced. To alleviate biases, virtually all structural biology studies use nonredundant (NR) subsets of the PDB, which include only a fraction of the available data. An alternative approach, dubbed redundancy-weighting (RW), down-weights redundant entries rather than discarding them. This approach may be particularly helpful for machine-learning (ML) methods that use the PDB as their source for data. Methods for secondary structure prediction (SSP) have greatly improved over the years with recent studies achieving above 70% accuracy for eight-class (DSSP) prediction. As these methods typically incorporate ML techniques, training on RW datasets might improve accuracy, as well as pave the way toward larger and more informative secondary structure classes.

Results

This study compares the SSP performances of deep-learning models trained on either RW or NR datasets. We show that training on RW sets consistently results in better prediction of 3- (HCE), 8- (DSSP) and 13-class (STR2) secondary structures.

Availability and implementation

The ML models, the datasets used for their derivation and testing, and a stand-alone SSP program for DSSP and STR2 predictions, are freely available under LGPL license in http://meshi1.cs.bgu.ac.il/rw.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Deep brain stimulation modulates directional limbic connectivity in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Fridgeirsson Egill Axfjord , Figee Martijn , Luigjes Judy , van den Munckhof Pepijn , Schuurman P Richard , van Wingen Guido , Denys Damiaan
Published: March 2020

Deep brain stimulation is effective for patients with treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder. Deep brain stimulation of the ventral anterior limb of the internal capsule rapidly improves mood and anxiety with optimal stimulation parameters. To understand these rapid effects, we studied functional interactions within the affective amygdala circuit. We compared resting state functional MRI data during chronic stimulation versus 1 week of stimulation discontinuation in patients, and obtained two resting state scans from matched healthy volunteers to account for test-retest effects. Imaging data were analysed using functional connectivity analysis and dynamic causal modelling. Improvement in mood and anxiety following deep brain stimulation was associated with reduced amygdala-insula functional connectivity. Directional connectivity analysis revealed that deep brain stimulation increased the impact of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex on the amygdala, and decreased the impact of the amygdala on the insula. These results highlight the importance of the amygdala circuit in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and suggest a neural systems model through which negative mood and anxiety are modulated by stimulation of the ventral anterior limb of the internal capsule for obsessive-compulsive disorder and possibly other psychiatric disorders.
Theorizing Dependency Relations in Small Media
Authors: Semujju Brian
Published: March 2020

The paper questions the pervasive western intellectual universalism which disregards Global South imaginations for generalized approaches. Using field data from Uganda about Community Audio Towers (CATs), the western-generated community media theory is interrogated, accentuating its failure to account for the intricate relationship between the individual, society, and small media. To cover the gap, the Small Media System Dependency theory is herein introduced as a geocultural response to lack of theory from the South.
Straw decreased N2O emissions from flooded paddy soils via altering denitrifying bacterial community compositions and soil organic carbon fractions
Authors: Wang Ning , Luo Jia-Lin , Juhasz Albert L , Li Hong-Bo , Yu Jian-Guang
Published: March 2020

Straw return is widely applied to increase soil fertility and soil organic carbon storage. However, its effect on N2O emissions from paddy soil and the associated microbial mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, wheat straw was amended to two paddy soils (2% w/w) from Taizhou (TZ) and Yixing (YX), China, which were flooded and incubated for 30 d. Real-time PCR and Illumina sequencing were used to characterize changes in denitrifying functional gene abundance and denitrifying bacterial communities. Compared to unamended controls, straw addition significantly decreased accumulated N2O emissions in both TZ (5071 to 96 mg kg–1) and YX (1501 to 112 mg kg–1). This was mainly due to reduced N2O production with decreased abundance of major genera of nirK and nirS-bacterial communities and reduced nirK and nirS gene abundances. Further analyses showed that nirK-, nirS- and nosZ-bacterial community composition shifted mainly along the easily oxidizable carbon (EOC) arrows following straw amendment among four different soil organic carbon fractions, suggesting that increased EOC was the main driver of alerted denitrifying bacterial community composition. This study revealed straw return suppressed N2O emission via altering denitrifying bacterial community compositions and highlighted the importance of EOC in controlling denitrifying bacterial communities.
Glyphosate-based herbicide affects the composition of microbes associated with Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
Authors: Gómez-Gallego Carlos , Rainio Miia J , Collado M Carmen , Mantziari Anastasia , Salminen Seppo , Saikkonen Kari , Helander Marjo
Published: March 2020

Here, we examined whether glyphosate affects the microbiota of herbivores feeding on non-target plants. Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) were reared on potato plants grown in pots containing untreated soil or soil treated with glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH). As per the manufacturer's safety recommendations, the GBH soil treatments were done 2 weeks prior to planting the potatoes. Later, 2-day-old larvae were introduced to the potato plants and then collected in two phases: fourth instar larvae and adults. The larvae's internal microbiota and the adults’ intestinal microbiota were examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The beetles’ microbial composition was affected by the GBH treatment and the differences in microbial composition between the control and insects exposed to GBH were more pronounced in the adults. The GBH treatment increased the relative abundance of Agrobacterium in the larvae and the adults. This effect may be related to the tolerance of some Agrobacterium species to glyphosate or to glyphosate-mediated changes in potato plants. On the other hand, the relative abundances of Enterobacteriaceae, Rhodobacter, Rhizobium and Acidovorax in the adult beetles and Ochrobactrum in the larvae were reduced in GBH treatment. These results demonstrate that glyphosate can impact microbial communities associated with herbivores feeding on non-target crop plants.
Technology-Mediated Communication in Familial Relationships: Moderated-Mediation Models of Isolation and Loneliness
Authors: Burholt Vanessa , Windle Gill , Gott Merryn , Morgan Deborah Jane
Published: March 2020

Background and Objectives

We examined whether technology-mediated communication has functional or emotional equivalence to face-to-face (FtF) contact in familial relationships, by scrutinizing the effects of phone, text/e-mail, and video contact on isolation and loneliness.

Research Design and Methods

We tested whether FtF contact with a relative would mediate the pathway between proximity to family and (i) isolation and (ii) loneliness. We then tested hypotheses that telephone, text/e-mails, and video contact would moderate this mediated pathway. We compared models for younger (<75) and older (≥75) cohorts, expecting to observe moderation effects for text/e-mail and video contact in the younger cohort only. Data were drawn from Wave 2 of CFAS Wales (United Kingdom) study (N = 2,099).

Results

Proximity to a relative had a significant indirect effect on isolation and loneliness through the mediating variable FtF contact. Phone and text/e-mail contact moderated the effect of FtF contact on isolation for all samples. None of the technologies moderated the impact of FtF contact on loneliness for the full sample. Telephone contact had a moderating influence on loneliness for the younger cohort only. Video calls had no significant moderation effect.

Discussion and Implications

Telephone and text/e-mail contact have functional equivalence to FtF contact in familial relationships. None of the forms of technological communication have emotional equivalence to the “gold standard” of embodied presence. The study demonstrates the importance of theorizing about the pathways to isolation and loneliness to better understand the likelihood of implementing successful interventions using technology-mediated communication within families.
Analysis of a model for the formation of fold-type oscillation marks in the continuous casting of steel
Authors: Devine K M , Vynnycky M , Mitchell S L , O’Brien S B G
Published: March 2020

This paper investigates the different possible behaviours of a recent asymptotic model for oscillation-mark formation in the continuous casting of steel, with particular focus on how the results obtained vary when the heat transfer coefficient ($m$), the thermal resistance ($R_{mf}$) and the dependence of the viscosity of the flux powder as a function of temperature, $\mu _{f}\left ( T\right ),$ are changed. It turns out that three different outcomes are possible: (I) the flux remains in molten state and no solid flux ever forms; (II) both molten and solid flux are present, and the profile of the oscillation mark is continuous with respect to the space variable in the casting direction; (III) both molten and solid flux are present, and the profile of the oscillation mark is discontinuous with respect to the space variable in the casting direction. Although (I) gave good agreement with experimental data, it suffered the drawback that solid flux is typically observed during actual continuous casting; this has been rectified in this work via alternative (II). On the other hand, alternative (III) can occur as a result of hysteresis-type phenomenon that is encountered in other flows that involve temperature-dependent viscosity; in the present case, this manifests itself via the possibility of multiple states for the oscillation-mark profile at the instants in time when solid flux begins to form and when it ceases to form.
Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2015–18 in Tunisia, Kenya and Morocco: data based on CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints
Authors: Torumkuney D , Hammami A , Mezghani Maalej S , Ayed N Ben , Revathi G , Zerouali K , Elmdaghri N , Gachii A K , Morrissey I
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To determine antibiotic susceptibility of community-acquired respiratory tract infection (CA-RTI) isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae collected in 2015–18 from Tunisia, Kenya and Morocco.

Methods

MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints.

Results

S. pneumoniae isolates from Tunisia (n = 79), Kenya (n = 44) and Morocco (n = 19) and H. influenzae isolates (n = 74) from Tunisia only were collected and analysed. Low antibiotic susceptibility was observed in S. pneumoniae from Tunisia, with >90% susceptible only to the fluoroquinolones (all breakpoints), penicillin (CLSI IV and EUCAST high-dose) and ceftriaxone (CLSI, EUCAST high-dose and PK/PD breakpoints). In addition, isolate susceptibility in Kenya was >90% to amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (CLSI and PK/PD breakpoints). Antibiotic activity was highest in Morocco, where ≥89.5% of pneumococci were susceptible to most antibiotics, excluding trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (68.4% by CLSI or PK/PD and 79%–84.2% by EUCAST), macrolides (79%–84.2% by all breakpoints) and cefaclor (0% by EUCAST and 52.6% by PK/PD). The majority (≥86.5%) of H. influenzae isolates from Tunisia were susceptible to most antibiotics by all available breakpoints, except ampicillin and amoxicillin (almost one-third were β-lactamase positive), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (51.4%–56.8%), cefaclor (1.4% by PK/PD), cefuroxime (4.1% by EUCAST), macrolides (1.4%–2.7% by PK/PD) and cefdinir (66.2% by PK/PD). The application of different EUCAST breakpoints for low and higher doses for some of the antibiotics (amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, penicillin, ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) allowed, for the first time in a SOAR study, the effect of raising the dosage on susceptibility to be quantified.

Conclusions

Low antibiotic susceptibility was observed in S. pneumoniae from Tunisia, but susceptibility was higher in isolates from Kenya and highest in those from Morocco. H. influenzae from Tunisia were highly susceptible to most antibiotics. These factors are important in decision making for empirical therapy of CA-RTIs.
Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2016–18 in Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and the Philippines: data based on CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints
Authors: Torumkuney D , Van P H , Thinh L Q , Koo S H , Tan S H , Lim P Q , Sivhour C , Lamleav L , Somary N , Sosorphea S , Lagamayo E , Morrissey I
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To determine antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae isolates collected from community-acquired respiratory tract infections (CA-RTIs) in 2016–18 in four Asian countries.

Methods

MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints.

Results

In total, 260 S. pneumoniae and 258 H. influenzae isolates were tested. Pneumococci from Vietnam (n = 161) were the least susceptible, with rates of susceptibility >90% for fluoroquinolones by CLSI breakpoints, ∼60% for amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ceftriaxone but <14% for most other agents. Pneumococcal isolates from Cambodia (n = 48) and Singapore (n = 34) showed susceptibilities ranging from ∼30% for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and oral penicillin to 100% for fluoroquinolones. Among isolates of H. influenzae from Cambodia (n = 30), the Philippines (n = 59) and Singapore (n = 80), rates of susceptibility using CLSI breakpoints were >90% for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cephalosporins [except cefaclor in Singapore (77.5%)], macrolides and fluoroquinolones; for isolates from Vietnam (n = 89) the rates of susceptibility were >85% only for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (95.5%), ceftriaxone (100%) and macrolides (87.6%–89.9%). Susceptibility to other antibiotics ranged from 7.9% (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) to 57.3%–59.6% (fluoroquinolones) and 70.8% (cefixime). The application of different EUCAST breakpoints for low and higher doses for some of the antibiotics (amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, penicillin, ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) allowed, for the first time in a SOAR study, the effect of raising the dosage on susceptibility to be quantified. A limitation of the study was the small sample sizes and only one or two sites participating per country; however, since susceptibility data are scarce in some of the participating countries any information concerning antibiotic susceptibility is of value.

Conclusions

Antibiotic susceptibility varied across countries and species, with isolates from Vietnam demonstrating the lowest susceptibility. Knowledge of resistance patterns can be helpful for clinicians when choosing empirical therapy options for CA-RTIs.
Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2015–17 in Latin America (Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica): data based on CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints
Authors: Torumkuney D , Smayevsky J , Relloso M S , Sucari A , Pennini M , Brilla E , Vilches V , De la Cruz Y , Morrissey I
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To determine antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae isolates from community-acquired respiratory tract infections (CA-RTIs) collected in 2015–17 from Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica.

Methods

MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints.

Results

A total of 170 S. pneumoniae and 218 H. influenzae isolates were collected at five centres in Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica in 2015–17. Small S. pneumoniae isolate numbers from Costa Rica (n = 2) meant that these could only be included in the penicillin susceptibility analysis; they were excluded from further country analyses. Around one-third of pneumococcal isolates from Argentina and two-thirds from Chile were non-susceptible to penicillin by CLSI oral or EUCAST low-dose IV breakpoints, but most (≥89%) were susceptible by CLSI IV or EUCAST high-dose breakpoints. Amongst pneumococci from Argentina, about 80% or more were susceptible to most other antibiotics except cefaclor (all breakpoints), cefixime (PK/PD breakpoints), cefuroxime (EUCAST breakpoints) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (CLSI and PK/PD breakpoints). S. pneumoniae isolates from Chile showed significantly lower susceptibility (P < 0.05) using CLSI breakpoints compared with those from Argentina for many of the antibiotics tested. Among isolates of H. influenzae from Latin America, more than 90% were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (high dose), cefixime, cefpodoxime, ceftriaxone and fluoroquinolones, irrespective of the breakpoints used. The application of different EUCAST breakpoints for low and higher doses for some of the antibiotics (amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, penicillin, ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) allowed, for the first time in a SOAR study, the effect of raising the dosage on susceptibility to be quantified.

Conclusions

Antibiotic susceptibility of H. influenzae isolates was generally high in the Latin American countries studied; however, susceptibility profiles varied for S. pneumoniae by country and depending on the breakpoints used, especially for cefaclor. These factors are important in decision making for empirical therapy of bacterial infections.
Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2016–17 in Ukraine: data based on CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints
Authors: Torumkuney D , Bratus E , Yuvko O , Pertseva T , Morrissey I
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To determine antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae isolates from community-acquired respiratory tract infections (CA-RTIs) collected in 2016–17 from Ukraine.

Methods

MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST (dose-specific) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints.

Results

A total of 177 viable clinical isolates, including 78 S. pneumoniae and 99 H. influenzae, were collected. Overall, ∼98% of S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to penicillin by CLSI IV or EUCAST high-dose breakpoints and 73.1% were susceptible by CLSI oral or EUCAST low-dose IV breakpoints. Susceptibility rates of 76.9%–100% were observed for most antibiotics by all breakpoints except trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (41%–69.2%) and cefaclor, which showed the greatest difference between breakpoints: 0% by EUCAST, 28.2% by PK/PD and 73.1% by CLSI. All S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid by CLSI and PK/PD breakpoints. H. influenzae isolates were almost all β-lactamase negative (90.9%). One isolate was β-lactamase negative and ampicillin resistant (BLNAR) by CLSI and four isolates were BLNAR by EUCAST criteria. Susceptibility of isolates was high (≥90.9%) by CLSI breakpoints for all antibiotics tested except trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (61.6%). Susceptibility using EUCAST breakpoints was similar for ampicillin (90.9%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (95%) but was low for cefuroxime (oral), where only 10.1% of isolates were susceptible. All S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae isolates were susceptible to the fluoroquinolones by all breakpoints. Susceptibility to ceftriaxone was also 100% for H. influenzae and ≥91% for S. pneumoniae isolates by all breakpoints. The application of different EUCAST breakpoints for low and higher doses for some of the antibiotics (amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, penicillin, ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) allowed, for the first time in a SOAR study, the effect of raising the dosage on susceptibility to be quantified.

Conclusions

Antibiotic susceptibility in these respiratory tract pathogens was generally high in Ukraine. These data are important for empirical therapy choices in the treatment of CA-RTIs.
Conservation Agreements: Relational Contracts with Endogenous Monitoring
Authors: Gjertsen Heidi , Groves Theodore , Miller David A , Niesten Eduard , Squires Dale , Watson Joel
Published: March 2020

This article examines the structure and performance of conservation agreements, which are relational contracts used across the world to protect natural resources. Key elements of these agreements are (1) they are ongoing arrangements between a local community and an outside party, typically a nongovernmental organization (NGO); (2) they feature payments in exchange for conservation services; (3) the prospects for success depend on the NGO engaging in costly monitoring to detect whether the community is foregoing short-term gains to protect the resource; (4) lacking a strong external enforcement system, they rely on self-enforcement; and (5) the parties have the opportunity to renegotiate at any time. A repeated-game model is developed and utilized to organize an evaluation of real conservation agreements, using three case studies as representative examples. (JEL D74, D86, Q20, Q56)
Parental Efficacy and Control Questionnaire in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Preliminary Validation
Authors: Pai Ahna L H , Chardon Marie L , Mara Constance A , Basile Nathan L , Schwartz Lisa A , Phipps Sean
Published: March 2020

Objective 

Develop and evaluate the preliminary validity of a self-report measure of parents’ treatment-related efficacy and control, Parental Efficacy and Control Questionnaire-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (PECQ-HCT), in a pediatric HCT sample.

Methods 

Participants included 185 parents of children (≤12 years old) receiving HCT participating in a larger, longitudinal study. Parents completed the PECQ-HCT as well as measures of social problem-solving skills, collective family efficacy, family beliefs, and parental distress.

Results 

Exploratory factor analysis results indicated that a 37-item four-factor model was the best fitting and most theoretically sound, χ2(df = 1,596) = 14,089.95, p < .01, comparative fit index = 0.92, Tucker–Lewis Index = 0.90, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.07. Preliminary subscale scores demonstrated adequate internal consistency as well as good content and criterion-related validity.

Conclusions 

If replicated using a confirmatory factor analysis in a separate sample, these findings suggest that the four-factor PECQ-HCT measure may be useful for measuring HCT-related parental efficacy and perceived control.
Layered journeys: Experiences of fragmented journeys among young Afghans in Greece and Norway
Authors: LØnning Moa Nyamwathi
Published: March 2020

This article focuses on the fragmented journeys towards and within Europe among a group of young people originating from a country marked by war and conflict. It explores how the journey towards Europe may be part of a complex migration history that leads to layered journeys. I use the term ‘layered journeys’ to refer to multidimensional and multi-experiential journeys in which past, present and future experiences of mobility are intertwined. They may include multiple stages and various statuses. The article is based on ethnographic fieldwork, creative methods and life-history interviews. It focuses on a case study of a group of young Afghan males who arrived in Greece and Norway between 2008 and 2015, looking at their journeys in the context of mobility, undocumentedness and return. Young Afghans have represented the largest group of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers arriving in Europe between 2008 and 2018. While the last decade saw a considerable increase in the number of young Afghans arriving in Europe, migration itself is not a new phenomenon in the Afghan context. Afghanistan has a long history of migratory movements as part of livelihood and survival strategies, of which the past four decades of war and conflict in Afghanistan and its resulting millions of refugees are part.