bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurospora from Natural Populations: Population Genomics Insights into the Life History of a Model Microbial Eukaryote
Authors: Gladieux Pierre , De Bellis Fabien , Hann-Soden Christopher , Svedberg Jesper , Johannesson Hanna , Taylor John W.
Published: January 2020

The ascomycete filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa played a historic role in experimental biology and became a model system for genetic research. Stimulated by a systematic effort to collect wild strains initiated by Stanford geneticist David Perkins, the genus Neurospora has also become a basic model for the study of evolutionary processes, speciation, and population biology. In this chapter, we will first trace the history that brought Neurospora into the era of population genomics. We will then cover the major contributions of population genomic investigations using Neurospora to our understanding of microbial biogeography and speciation, and review recent work using population genomics and genome-wide association mapping that illustrates the unique potential of Neurospora as a model for identifying the genetic basis of (potentially adaptive) phenotypes in filamentous fungi. The advent of population genomics has contributed to firmly establish Neurospora as a complete model system and we hope our review will entice biologists to include Neurospora in their research.
Population Genomics on the Fly: Recent Advances in Drosophila
Authors: Haudry Annabelle , Laurent Stefan , Kapun Martin
Published: January 2020

Drosophila melanogaster, a small dipteran of African origin, represents one of the best-studied model organisms. Early work in this system has uniquely shed light on the basic principles of genetics and resulted in a versatile collection of genetic tools that allow to uncover mechanistic links between genotype and phenotype. Moreover, given its worldwide distribution in diverse habitats and its moderate genome-size,Drosophilahas proven very powerful for population genetics inference and was one of the first eukaryotes whose genome was fully sequenced. In this book chapter, we provide a brief historical overview of research inDrosophilaand then focus on recent advances during the genomic era. After describing different types and sources of genomic data, we discuss mechanisms of neutral evolution including the demographic history ofDrosophilaand the effects of recombination and biased gene conversion. Then, we review recent advances in detecting genome-wide signals of selection, such as soft and hard selective sweeps. We further provide a brief introduction to background selection, selection of noncoding DNA and codon usage and focus on the role of structural variants, such as transposable elements and chromosomal inversions, during the adaptive process. Finally, we discuss how genomic data helps to dissect neutral and adaptive evolutionary mechanisms that shape genetic and phenotypic variation in natural populations along environmental gradients. In summary, this book chapter serves as a starting point toDrosophilapopulation genomics and provides an introduction to the system and an overview to data sources, important population genetic concepts and recent advances in the field.
Avian Population Genomics Taking Off: Latest Findings and Future Prospects
Authors: Delmore Kira E. , Liedvogel Miriam
Published: January 2020

Birds are one of the most recognizable and diverse groups of organisms on earth. This group has played an important role in many fields, including the development of methods in behavioral ecology and evolutionary theory. The use of population genomics took off following the advent of high-throughput sequencing in various taxa. Several features of avian genomes make them particularly amenable for work in this field, including their nucleated red blood cells permitting easy DNA extraction and small, compact genomes. We review the latest findings in the population genomics of birds here, emphasizing questions related to behavior, ecology, evolution, and conservation. Additionally, we include insights in trait mapping and the ability to obtain accurate estimates of important summary statistics for conservation (e.g., genetic diversity and inbreeding). We highlight roadblocks that will need to be overcome in order to advance work on the population genomics of birds and prospects for future work. Roadblocks include the assembly of more contiguous reference genomes using long-reads and optical mapping. Prospects include the integration of population genomics with additional fields (e.g., landscape genetics, phylogeography, and genomic mapping) along with studies beyond genetic variants (e.g., epigenetics).
Population Genomics of the House Mouse and the Brown Rat
Authors: Ullrich Kristian K. , Tautz Diethard
Published: January 2020

Mice (Mus musculus) and rats (Rattus norvegicus) have long served as model systems for biomedical research. However, they are also excellent models for studying the evolution of populations, subspecies, and species. Within the past million years, they have spread in various waves across large parts of the globe, with the most recent spread in the wake of human civilization. They have developed into commensal species, but have also been able to colonize extreme environments on islands free of human civilization. Given that ample genomic and genetic resources are available for these species, they have thus also become ideal mammalian systems for evolutionary studies on adaptation and speciation, particularly in the combination with the rapid developments in population genomics. The chapter provides an overview of the systems and their history, as well as of available resources.
Data Management and Summary Statistics with PLINK
Authors: Chang Christopher C.
Published: January 2020

PLINK is a versatile program which supports data management, quality control, and common statistical computations on matrices of genomic variant calls, in a computationally efficient manner. In population genomics, it is frequently used to take care of the “basics,” so they do not need to be reimplemented when a new type of analysis needs to be performed on such a matrix. I describe several of these basic operations, and discuss uses and pitfalls.
polyDFE: Inferring the Distribution of Fitness Effects and Properties of Beneficial Mutations from Polymorphism Data
Authors: Tataru Paula , Bataillon Thomas
Published: January 2020

The possible evolutionary trajectories a population can follow is determined by the fitness effects of new mutations. Their relative frequencies are best specified through a distribution of fitness effects (DFE) that spans deleterious, neutral, and beneficial mutations. As such, the DFE is key to several aspects of the evolution of a population, and particularly the rate of adaptive molecular evolution (α). Inference of DFE from patterns of polymorphism and divergence has been a longstanding goal of evolutionary genetics.

provides a flexible statistical framework to estimate the DFE and α from site frequency spectrum (SFS) data. Several probability distributions can be fitted to the data to model the DFE. The method also jointly estimates a series of nuisance parameters that model the effect of unknown demography as well data imperfections, in particular possible errors in polarizing SNPs. This chapter is organized as a tutorial for . We start by briefly reviewing the concept of DFE, α, and the principles underlying the method, and then provide an example using central chimpanzees data (Tataru et al., Genetics 207(3):1103–1119, 2017; Bataillon et al., Genome Biol Evol 7(4):1122–1132, 2015) to guide the user through the different steps of an analysis: formatting the data as input to , fitting different models, obtaining estimates of parameters uncertainty and performing statistical tests, as well as model averaging procedures to obtain robust estimates of model parameters.
MSMC and MSMC2: The Multiple Sequentially Markovian Coalescent
Authors: Schiffels Stephan , Wang Ke
Published: January 2020

The Multiple Sequentially Markovian Coalescent (MSMC) is a population genetic method and software for inferring demographic history and population structure through time from genome sequences. Here we describe the main program MSMC and its successor MSMC2. We go through all the necessary steps of processing genomic data from BAM files all the way to generating plots of inferred population size and separation histories. Some background on the methodology itself is provided, as well as bash scripts and python source code to run the necessary programs. The reader is also referred to community resources such as a mailing list and github repositories for further advice.
Coalescent Simulation with msprime
Authors: Kelleher Jerome , Lohse Konrad
Published: January 2020

Coalescent simulation is a fundamental tool in modern population genetics. The library provides unprecedented scalability in terms of both the simulations that can be performed and the efficiency with which the results can be processed. We show how coalescent models for population structure and demography can be constructed using a simple Python API, as well as how we can process the results of such simulations to efficiently calculate statistics of interest. We illustrate ’s flexibility by implementing a simple (but functional) approximate Bayesian computation inference method in just a few tens of lines of code.
Fashioning Cosmology: Franco Burgersdijk as the Author of the Dutch Tractatus de sphaera
Authors: Buning Marius
Published: January 2020

In 1625, the highest authorities in the province of Holland prescribed the use ofDe sphaerain all the regional Latin schools. For the occasion, they decided that a new edition of the famous text by Johannes de Sacrobosco was needed, primarily to purify the textbook of its “barbaric” Latin. The task of editing the text was assigned to Leiden professor Franco Burgersdijk. In what follows, I situate Burgersdijk’s 1626 edition ofDe sphaerain the broader context of Leiden Aristotelianism, discussing the relationship between religion, educational practices, and astronomy in the first decades of Dutch independence. Teasing out some of the differences with the other contemporary manuals circulating on the market, I argue that Burgersdijk’s version of Sacrobosco’s textbook must be seen as an attempt to make the Dutch less dependent on Catholic literature and modes of knowledge production.
A Lathe and the Material Sphaera: Astronomical Technique at the Origins of the Cosmographical Handbook
Authors: Oosterhoff Richard J.
Published: January 2020

Even though cosmographers loved to drape their discipline in the ancient dignity of Ptolemy, actual manuals of cosmography often depended on Johannes de Sacrobosco’s medieval introduction to spherical astronomy. In fact, certain strains of cosmography shared organization, principles, and even visual apparatus with Sacrobosco’sSphaeraand its growing commentary tradition, to the extent that these cosmographies can be seen as themselves commenting on theSphaera. This paper traces the origins of certain Renaissance cosmographical handbooks to the commentary on theSphaeraby Lefèvre d’Étaples and his colleagues at Paris around 1495. By focusing on the visual elements of this commentary, its instructions for calculating techniques, and the emergence of the “lathe” model of the “material sphere,” this chapter argues that one of the mixed mathematical genres now seen as most characteristic of the Renaissance—cosmography—in fact was based on a medieval textbook.
Francesco Capuano di Manfredonia
Authors: Nenci Elio
Published: January 2020

One of the most important commentaries on Sacrobosco’sTractatus de sphaerawas written by Francesco Capuano da Manfredonia and printed toward the end of the year 1499 in Venice. Capuano was professor of Astronomy at Padua and had already published a commentary on Peuerbach’sTheoricae planetarumin 1495. He subsequently entered into the ranks of the Lateran Canons Regular, taking the name Giovanni Battista. Later editions of his commentary on Sacrobosco’sTractatus(Venezia, 1518 and 1531) were published under the name Giovanni Battista Capuano and contain a revisited text of that work. The two different redactions of the commentary on theSphaeraallow us to illustrate the radical transformation the text underwent. The two redactions of the prologue that opens the commentary are compared.
Conrad Tockler’s Research Agenda
Authors: Valleriani Matteo , Citron Nana
Published: January 2020

Conrad Tockler, alias Noricus, was a university professor in Leipzig at the beginning of the sixteenth century andRector magnificusof the university from 1512 on. He was a physician adept at astrological medicine and was also a fairly skilled mathematician. His publication list begins in 1502 with aLibellus de sole, a commented reprint of Marsilius Ficinus’s homonimous work. Tockler also authored two different commented editions of Johannes de Sacrobosco’sTractatus de sphaera. In his view, cosmological knowledge was directly connected with his medical activities via astrology.

The paper reconstructs the intellectual context in which Tockler was active with the aim to understand how much he can be considered innovative, or whether he was in truth a late expression of an already declining late Medieval knowledge system that unified astronomy, astrology, and medicine in form of a structure pivoted around cosmological knowledge.
John of Glogów
Authors: Barker Peter
Published: January 2020

John of Glogów taught at Kraków from 1468 until his death. He wrote on grammar, logic, medicine and especially astronomy, including a commentary on Johannes de Sacrobosco’sSphaera(1506). An unusual feature of his Sacrobosco commentary is the extended use of the three-dimensional orb models popularized in Peuerbach’sTheoricae novae planetarum(Nuremberg 1474) and also used by Glogów’s colleague Albert of Brudzewo. To situate Glogów’s work, I describe the development of celestial orbs in astronomy by Islamicate followers of Ptolemy and their European reception. Early modern Europeans debated the physical reality of eccentrics, epicycles, and the corresponding orbs with the followers of Averroes. After reviewing Glogów’s criticisms of Sacrobosco, I conclude that he clearly sides with Ptolemy, Peuerbach and Brudzewo against Averroes. His work shows that astronomers after Peuerbach attributed physical reality to their theories, and claimed increasing autonomy for mathematical sciences against physics.
Sacrobosco’s Sphaera in Spain and Portugal
Authors: Crowther Kathleen M.
Published: January 2020

This paper analyzes sixteenth-century commentaries on Johannes de Sacrobosco’sSphaerain Portuguese and Spanish. Between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, there were more translations of theSphaerainto Castilian and Portuguese than into all other European vernaculars combined. A major reason for the interest inSphaeratranslations in Spain and Portugal was that the basic astronomical and geographical knowledge contained in this text could be used for navigation. Because of their enormous interests in overseas exploration and colonization, Iberian monarchs supported the development of cosmography, a subject that combined mathematics, astronomy, and geography. The astronomical information in theSphaerawas also valued on the Iberian Peninsula for its applications to astrology. Finally, theSphaerawas critical to a Christian education because it taught readers to appreciate the wonders of God’s creation. Spanish and Portuguese commentaries on Sacrobosco’sSphaerareflect this mix of practical, political, and spiritual concerns.
Solar Photochemistry in Flow
Authors: Cambié Dario , Noël Timothy
Published: January 2020

In recent years, photochemistry has been a highly active research field. This renaissance is linked to the upsurge of photoredox catalysis, a versatile platform for synthetic methodologies using visible light photons as a traceless reagent. In contrast with UV, visible light constitutes almost half of the ground solar irradiance, making the use of solar light in chemistry a sustainable and viable possibility. However, the direct use of sunlight to power chemical reactions is still little explored. This can be explained by both the hurdles associated with solar radiation (e.g., its variability, irreproducibility, high IR content, etc.) and the need for a specialized photoreactor. Most of these issues can be tackled with technological solutions, and especially with the recourse to flow chemistry. Flow chemistry goes hand in hand with photochemistry thanks to the uniform irradiation it provides to the reaction. Furthermore, a continuous-flow reactor can be easily integrated with different solar collectors (including compound parabolic concentrators and luminescent solar concentrators) and constitutes the most efficient approach to solar photochemistry. After a description of the characteristics of the solar radiation relevant to chemistry, this chapter critically describes the different type of solar photoreactors and their applications in synthetic organic chemistry. Finally, an outlook on the future of solar photochemistry in flow is included.
Affektregime der Primatologie
Authors: Shah Mira
Published: January 2020

Affekte im Feld lassen sich in den Forschungsmemoiren der Primatologie, wie in den letzten beiden Teilen diskutiert, auf mindestens zweierlei Ebenen untersuchen: Es lässt sich erstens nach der Qualität von Affekten in der Forschung fragen und der epistemologische Wert von Emotionen in Forschungsprozessen aus dem Berichten über die daran beteiligten Prozesse herausarbeiten. Zweitens kann anhand der Darstellung von herausfordernden Erfahrungen aus dem Forschungskontext der affektpoetologische Zusammenhang von Form und Emotionalität beleuchtet werden. Die Thematisierbarkeit von Affektivität in der Forschung und die affektive Darstellung von Forschungserfahrungen sind jedoch beide drittens abhängig von dem, was zeitgenössisch denk- und darstellbar ist. Wie im Folgenden aufzuzeigen sein wird, sind die primatologischen Forschungsmemoiren nicht unabhängig von ihren jeweiligen gesellschaftlichen, kulturellen, politischen und/oder wissenschaftlichen Kontexten zu betrachten, denn diese geben in Form verschiedener Regime vor, ob, wie und wann von Emotionalität berichtet werden kann.
Digitale Epidemiologie
Authors: Brockmann Dirk
Published: January 2020

Digitale Epidemiologie ist ein relativ neues, rapide wachsendes Forschungsgebiet. Die technologische Revolution des letzten Jahrzehnts, die globale Vernetzung, der Informationsaustausch über soziale Medien und insbesondere die nahezu gesamtgesellschaftliche Nutzung mobiler Endgeräte ermöglichen es, individuenspezifische Daten mit einer Auflösung zu erfassen, die noch vor einigen Jahren unmöglich erschien. Diese Daten werden in der digitalen Epidemiologie untersucht, um epidemiologische Fragen besser beantworten zu können.

Dieser Artikel liefert einen Überblick. Es werden verschiedene Aspekte der digitalen Epidemiologie diskutiert. An Beispielen wird erläutert, wie epidemiologische und bioinformatische Daten auf interaktiven Internetplattformen zusammengeführt werden, wie durch Analyse der Inhalte und des Informationsaustauschs über soziale Medien und Netzwerke wichtige Erkenntnisse gewonnen werden und wie mithilfe mobiler Endgeräte in natürlichen Experimenten Kontakt- und Proximitätsnetzwerke rekonstruiert werden, um die Dynamik direkt übertragbarer Infektionskrankheiten besser verstehen, beschreiben und vorhersagen zu können.

Es wird erklärt, wieso die moderne Netzwerktheorie, aber auch Methoden des maschinellen Lernens und künstliche Intelligenz bei der Analyse sehr großer Datensätze wichtige Werkzeuge sind und wie traditionelle, statistische Ansätze der Infektionsepidemiologie durch diese neuen Methoden ergänzt werden.

Die ethischen Herausforderungen im Bereich Datenschutz, Datensicherheit und Persönlichkeitsrechte werden schließlich diskutiert. Konzepte und Wege, personenbezogene Verhaltensdaten einerseits nutzbar zu machen und andererseits die Datenhoheit jedes Einzelnen zu wahren, werden skizziert.
Whole body vibration training during allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation—the effects on patients’ physical capacity
Authors: Pahl Antonia , Wehrle Anja , Kneis Sarah , Gollhofer Albert , Bertz Hartmut
Published: January 2020

Patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) experience a considerable decline in physical and psycho-social capacity. Since whole body vibration (WBV) is known to efficiently stimulate the neuromuscular system and enhance cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in frail individuals, we hypothesized that WBV would maintain various physical and psychological capacities in patients during alloHCT. Seventy-one patients were randomly allocated to either an intervention group (IG) doing WBV or an active control group (CG) doing mobilization exercises five times per week. We determined peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and maximum power, maximum strength, functional performance, body composition, quality of life (QoL), and fatigue. Tests were carried out before conditioning therapy, at hospital discharge and at day ± 180 (follow-up). As 18 patients did not participate in post-intervention assessment and follow-up data from 9 patients was not collectible, per-protocol (PP) analysis of 44 patients is presented. During hospitalization, WBV maintained maximum strength, height, and power output during jumping, as well as reported QoL, physical functioning, and fatigue level compared with mobilization. At follow-up, relative VO2peak(p = 0.035) and maximum power (p = 0.011), time and power performing chair-rising test (p = 0.022;p = 0.009), and reported physical functioning (p = 0.035) significantly increased in the IG, while fatigue decreased (p = 0.005). CG’s body cell mass and phase angle had significantly decreased at follow-up (p = 0.002;p = 0.004). Thus, WBV might maintain maximum strength, functional performance, QoL, and fatigue during alloHCT, while cardiorespiratory fitness might benefit from accelerated recovery afterwards.
A novel mutation in the mouse Pcsk1 gene showing obesity and diabetes
Authors: Muhsin Nor I. A. , Bentley Liz , Bai Ying , Goldsworthy Michelle , Cox Roger D.
Published: January 2020

The proprotein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 1 (PCSK1/PC1) protein processes inactive pro-hormone precursors into biologically active hormones in a number of neuroendocrine and endocrine cell types. Patients with recessive mutations in PCSK1 exhibit a complex spectrum of traits including obesity, diarrhoea and endocrine disorders. We describe here a new mouse model with a point mutation in the Pcsk1 gene that exhibits obesity, hyperphagia, transient diarrhoea and hyperproinsulinaemia, phenotypes consistent with human patient traits. The mutation results in a pV96L amino acid substitution and changes the first nucleotide of mouse exon 3 leading to skipping of that exon and in homozygotes very little full-length transcript. Overexpression of the exon 3 deleted protein or the 96L protein results in ER retention in Neuro2a cells. This is the second Pcsk1 mouse model to display obesity phenotypes, contrasting knockout mouse alleles. This model will be useful in investigating the basis of endocrine disease resulting from prohormone processing defects.
Implementing a Clostridium difficile testing algorithm and its effect on isolation duration and treatment initiation: a pre- and post-implementation study
Authors: Vogelzang Erik Hans , Lankelma Jacqueline Marleen , van Mansfeld Rosa , van Prehn Joffrey , van Houdt Robin
Published: January 2020

A proportion of patients suspected of Clostridium difficile infection are unnecessarily placed in contact isolation. By introducing a random-access glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) test for C. difficile, we aimed to reduce isolation time. In addition, we investigated whether the result of the toxin A&B enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was associated with the decision to initiate antibiotic treatment against C. difficile. This retrospective pre- and post-implementation study was from June 3, 2016, to June 4, 2018. Pre-implementation, only a NAAT was performed. In the post-implementation period, a GDH test was performed; if positive, a toxin A&B EIA followed the same day and subsequently a NAAT. Contact isolation for CDI was discontinued when the GDH test was negative. Median time in isolation was 50.8 h pre-implementation (n = 189) versus 28.0 h post-implementation (n = 119), p < 0.001. The GDH test had a negative predictive value of 98.8% (95% CI 97.9–99.4). In 7/31 (22.6%) patients with a positive NAAT and GDH test and a negative toxin A&B EIA, no antibiotics against C. difficile were initiated versus 4/28 (14.3%) patients who were NAAT, GDH and toxin A&B EIA positive. Introducing a random-access screening test resulted in a significant decrease in patient isolation time. The GDH test had a high negative predictive value making it suitable to determine whether contact isolation can be discontinued. Furthermore, the result of a toxin A&B EIA had limited added value on the percentage of patients in whom antibiotic treatment against C. difficile was initiated.
Global citizenship education at the crossroads: Globalization, global commons, common good, and critical consciousness
Authors: Torres Carlos Alberto , Bosio Emiliano
Published: January 2020

This article-dialogue addresses current criticisms of global citizenship and challenges frequent misinterpretations of Global Citizenship Education (GCE), while discussing what it means to educate for critical global citizenry in an increasingly multicultural world. It starts by considering the phenomena of globalization and the UN Global Education First Initiative (GEFI), which aims at furthering global citizenship, to highlight the relationship between GCE, “global-peace”, global commons, and common good. Building on the assumption that GCE should be about learners’ emancipation toward critical consciousness, the dialogue concludes drawing a parallel between the “mission” of GCE in contemporary educational institutions and Paulo Freire’s notion of critical consciousness.
Characterization of a mine legacy site: an approach for environmental management and metals recovery
Authors: Dinis Maria de Lurdes , Fiúza António , Futuro Aurora , Leite Alexandre , Martins Diogo , Figueiredo Janine , Góis Joaquim , Vila Maria Cristina
Published: January 2020

The characterization of historical mine tailings provides important information for land-management decisions, in particular when considering potential reprocessing activities or the development of an environmental protection program. In addition, outcomes from such characterization may define the scope for a more detailed investigation. The present work describes the characterization of the waste material from the Cabeço do Pião tailings impoundment performed within the project ReMinE: Improve Resource Efficiency and Minimize Environmental Footprint. The purpose of the work was to investigate alternative mine waste management options such as the extraction of valuable resources from an environmental liability. The study involved the collection of 41 samples at different locations at two different depths, physical and chemical characterization of the wastes, natural leaching tests, and potential for acid generation. The results showed that, apart from the potential instability of the dyke (with an average slope of 35°), the drained solutions flowing by percolation contain very small particles with high arsenic contents that are being incorporated into the river sediments. In addition, these very fine-grained materials are available for the transport by the wind creating secondary sources of environmental contamination. This data is fundamental for economic and environmental assessment of the two main alternatives, reprocessing or removal.
Risks and benefits of pasture irrigation using treated municipal effluent : a lysimeter case study, Canterbury, New Zealand
Authors: Gutierrez-Gines Maria Jesus , Mishra Minakshi , McIntyre Cameron , Chau Henry Wai , Esperschuetz Juergen , McLenaghen Roger , Bourke Mike P. , Robinson Brett H.
Published: January 2020

Compared to discharge into waterways, land application of treated municipal effluent (TME) can reduce the need for both inorganic fertilizers and irrigation. However, TME irrigation may result in the accumulation of phosphorus (P) or trace elements in soil, and increased salinity and sodicity, which could damage soil structure and reduce infiltration. TME irrigation can also result in groundwater contamination through nitrate leaching or surface water contamination through runoff. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing TME irrigation rates on quantity and quality of leachate and pasture growth in a lysimeter experiment using a Fluvial Recent soil and a Fragic Pallic soil. Pasture growth in the lysimeters was up to 2.5-fold higher in the TME treatments compared to the non-irrigated treatments. There were no signs of toxicity or accumulation of B, Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, As, and Zn. TME significantly increased the concentration of P and Na in the pasture. Nitrogen leaching from the lysimeters was negligible (< 1 kg/ha−1 equiv.) in all treatments, but mineral N accumulated in the soil profile of the highest application rate (1672 mm/yr). Although more P was added than removed in pasture, the rate of accumulation indicated that over a 50-year period, P will still be within the current New Zealand thresholds for grazed pastures. Sodium accumulated in the soil columns in all the TME treatments. The rate of accumulation was not proportional to the TME application rate, indicating that Na was moving down through the soil profile and leaching. Results indicate a low to moderate risk of sodicity in soil or toxicity in plants caused by Na.
Against the Received Wisdom: Why the Criminal Justice System Should Give Kids a Break
Authors: Morse Stephen J.
Published: January 2020

Professor Gideon Yaffe’s recent, intricately argued book, The Age of Culpability: Children and the Nature of Criminal Responsibility, argues against the nearly uniform position in both law and scholarship that the criminal justice system should give juveniles a break because on average they have different capacities relevant to responsibility than adults. Professor Yaffe instead argues that kid should be given a break because juveniles have little say about the criminal law, primarily because they do not have a vote. For Professor Yaffe, age has political rather than behavioral significance. The book has many excellent general analyses about responsibility, but all are in aid of the central thesis about juveniles, which is the central focus of this essay review. After addressing a few preliminary issues, the essay discusses Professor Yaffe’s negative argument against the validity of the behavioral difference rationale for giving juveniles a break. If the negative case fails, which the essay argues it does, then the only issue is whether the book’s alternative is desirable. Again, the essay argues that it is not, and concludes by offering three positive arguments for the traditional rationale: (1) coherence and simplicity; (2) a benignly definitional argument that survives the negative argument and supports giving juveniles a break in the exceedingly unlikely event that the empirical assumptions of the traditional rationale are proven incorrect; and (3) a proposal for individualization of the culpability assessments of juveniles so that the criminal justice system blames and punishes them proportionately to their culpability.
On the main components of landscape evolution modelling of river systems
Authors: Nones Michael
Published: January 2020

Currently, the use of numerical models for reproducing the evolution of river systems and landscapes is part of the day-by-day research activities of fluvial engineers and geomorphologists. However, despite landscape evolution modelling is based on a rather long tradition, and scientists and practitioners are studying how to schematize the processes involved in the evolution of a landscape since decades, there is still the need for improving the knowledge of the physical mechanisms and their numerical coding. Updating past review papers, the present work focuses on the first aspect, discussing six main components of a landscape evolution model, namely continuity of mass, hillslope processes, water flow, erosion and sediment transport, soil properties, vegetation dynamics. The more common schematizations are discussed in a plain language, pointing out the current knowledge and possible open questions to be addressed in the future, towards an improvement of the reliability of such kind of models in describing the evolution of fluvial landscapes and river networks.
Ein achtsamer Blick auf den Achtsamkeits-Hype
Authors: Schindler Simon
Published: January 2020

Achtsamkeit liegt sowohl in der psychologischen Forschung als auch in vielen gesellschaftlichen Bereichen im Trend. Dieser Artikel wirft einen achtsamen Blick auf den aktuellen Forschungsstand. Dabei werden zum einen diverse methodische Limitationen bei der empirischen Untersuchung von Achtsamkeit deutlich, wodurch valide Aussagen über tatsächliche Effekte nach wie vor nur begrenzt möglich sind. Zum anderen wird eine Forschungslücke bei möglichen unerwünschten Auswirkungen identifiziert. So sind negative Konsequenzen beispielsweise auf interpersoneller und moralischer Ebene theoretisch plausibel herleitbar. Insgesamt kann ein Bedarf an weiterer Forschung konstatiert werden.
Pemafibrate, a New Selective PPARα Modulator: Drug Concept and Its Clinical Applications for Dyslipidemia and Metabolic Diseases
Authors: Yamashita Shizuya , Masuda Daisaku , Matsuzawa Yuji
Published: January 2020

Purpose of Review

Reduction of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by statins, ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors has been shown to significantly reduce cardiovascular events risk. However, fasting and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia as well as reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) remain as residual risk factors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). To treat patients with hypertriglyceridemia and/or low HDL-C, drugs such as fibrates, nicotinic acids, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been used. However, fibrates were demonstrated to cause side effects such as liver dysfunction and increase in creatinine levels, and thus large-scale clinical trials of fibrates have shown negative results for prevention of ASCVD. The failure could be attributed to their low selectivity and potency for binding to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α. To resolve these issues, the concept of selective PPARα modulator (SPPARMα) with a superior balance of efficacy and safety has been proposed and pemafibrate (K-877) has been developed.

Recent Findings

Pemafibrate, one of SPPARMsα, was synthesized by Kowa Company, Ltd. for better efficiency and safety. Clinical trials in Japan have established the superiority of pemafibrate on effects on serum triglycerides (TG) reduction and HDL-C elevation as well safety. Although available fibrates showed worsening of liver and kidney function test values, pemafibrate indicated improved liver function test values and was less likely to increase serum creatinine or decrease estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Very few drug-drug interactions were observed even when used concomitantly with statins. Furthermore, pemafibrate is metabolized in the liver and excreted into the bile, while many of available fibrates are mainly excreted from the kidney. Therefore, pemafibrate can be used safely even in patients with impaired renal function since there is no significant increase in its blood concentration. A large-scale trial of pemafibrate, PROMINENT, for dyslipidemic patients with type 2 diabetes is ongoing.

Pemafibrate is one of novel SPPARMsα and has superior benefit-risk balance compared to conventional fibrates and can be applicable for patients for whom the usage of existing fibrates is difficult such as those who are taking statins or patients with renal dysfunction. In the current review, all the recent data on pemafibrate will be summarized.
Gender Norms, Sexuality and Post-socialist Identity: Does Migration Matter?
Authors: Gewinner Irina
Published: January 2020

This article problematizes gender norms, sexuality and post-socialist individual cultural legacy by focusing on attitudes towards gendered sexual initiation and related family formation in migrant Russian-speaking women in Germany. It represents the results of a study that investigates whether and how norms of sexual maturity, adulthood and sexual behavior undergo a change or preservation in women after a migration episode and adjustment to a new cultural environment. By doing so, this piece of research scrutinizes the norms of (sexual) maturity, mostly associated with sexual debut and accompanied interpersonal experiences, common for individuals who underwent socialization in the (post-) socialist period and are now living in Germany. Drawing on primary data stemming from online discussions with Russian-speaking first generation migrant women in Germany, this study addresses not only individual cultural understandings of sexuality, adulthood and sexual behavior, but also gives implications on the revival of ‘traditional values’ in post-socialist contexts. This research, thus, contributes to the debate on how far cultural norms can transform through a change of the geographical context.
Evidence-based follow-up in lung cancer?
Authors: Ng Caecilia , Pircher Andreas , Augustin Florian , Kocher Florian
Published: January 2020

In 2012 approximately 410,000 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer and about 353,000 lung cancer deaths were registered in the European Union. Although lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, advances in detection and treatment have increased the likelihood of long-term survival. In patients receiving definitive curative treatment for lung cancer guidelines suggest follow-up of patients using clinical and radiological examinations over a certain period of time. However, standards differ and there are no generally accepted follow-up recommendations. Aim of this short review is to summarize the currently available knowledge and guidelines regarding surveillance of patients receiving definitive lung cancer treatment.
A new formula for the length of a closed curve
Authors: Charytanowicz Katarzyna , Cieślak Waldemar , Mozgawa Witold
Published: January 2020

In this article we present a new formula for the length of a closed curve involving a double integral of a certain potential function. This formula is based on the construction of pedal curves, and it turns out that the integral taken over the interior of a pedal curve does not depend on the choice of a pedal point. First, using the notion of support function we derive the expression for the perimeter of oval. Next, we extend our formula to arbitrary smooth simple plane closed curves of the class $$C^2$$

C
2

, but to this aim we needed to use an appropriate notion of an interior of pedal curve. Since the pedal curve of a smooth simple plane closed curve can be fairly complicated and have self-intersections and overlapping parts, we introduce and essentially use a notion of its interior based on the winding numbers and orientations of certain closed parts of the pedal curve forming its partition. At the end of the paper we propose a number of topics for further considerations, also conjecturing that our formula holds for any plane curve having its pedal curve with respect to some point.
Brewery sludge quality, agronomic importance and its short-term residual effect on soil properties
Authors: Alayu E. , Leta S.
Published: January 2020

Wastewater sludge generated from agro-industrial wastewater treatment plants is accepted as a good option for land application as a soil conditioner and substitute mineral fertilizers. However, the quality of the sludge sometimes posed a threat to the surroundings. The objective of the study is to evaluate the biochemical characteristics and fertilizer potential of brewery wastewater sludge for agricultural reuse. A field experiment was conducted in a randomized block design array with three replications using brewery wastewater sludge, and nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur (NPS) containing commercial fertilizer along with control treatments. The result showed that sludge application significantly increased average above biomass production by 5.7% and 37.2% over the NPS and control plots, respectively. Also, the sludge-amended plot produced more grain yield of maize with 26.8% greater than the control. The brewery sludge temporary residual effect analysis revealed that the addition of the sludge led significant changes in soil pH reduction and soil electrical conductivity, total phosphorus, total nitrogen and total potassium increment as compared to others and background concentration. Similarly, lead and fecal coliform concentrations in the sludge-amended soil showed 150% and 24.4% increments, respectively, over the control. In general, the preliminary sludge temporary residual effect analysis showed an encouraging outcome on soil basic properties and maize crop productivity. Conversely, future long-term study is essential to monitor the effect of soil salinity, heavy metal and pathogen contaminations on soil and crop production.
A novel behavioural INTErvention to REduce Sitting Time in older adults undergoing orthopaedic surgery (INTEREST): results of a randomised-controlled feasibility study
Authors: Aunger Justin Avery , Greaves Colin J. , Davis Edward T. , Asamane Evans Atiah , Whittaker Anna C. , Greig Carolyn Anne
Published: January 2020

Background

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent condition in older adults that causes many patients to require a hip or knee replacement. Reducing patients’ sedentariness prior to surgery may improve physical function and post-operative outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a pragmatic randomised-controlled feasibility study with 2:1 allocation into intervention or usual care groups. The intervention, based on Self-Determination Theory, involved techniques to reduce sedentary behaviour, including motivational interviewing, setting of behavioural goals, and more. The primary outcome was feasibility, assessed using mixed methods. We included exploratory measures to inform a future definitive trial, such as ActivPal3 accelerometry to measure movement, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Basic Psychological Needs, and cardiometabolic biomarkers. Assessments were at baseline, 1-week pre-surgery, and 6-week post-surgery.

Results

We recruited 35 participants aged ≥ 60 years approximately 8 weeks before hip or knee arthroplasty. Participant uptake rate was 14.2%, and retention rate 85.7%. Participants were very satisfied with the study which was found to be feasible with some modifications. Exploratory within-group comparisons found that the intervention has potential to improve SPPB by 0.71 points from baseline to pre-surgery, a clinically significant increase, and reduce sedentary time by up to 66 min d−1.

Conclusion

In this older surgical population, it is feasible to use behavioural techniques to displace sedentary time to activity and to conduct a trial spanning the period of surgical intervention. This may improve physical function and surgical outcomes. The INTEREST intervention is now ready for evaluation in a full-scale randomised-controlled trial.

Registration

This trial was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov on 13/11/2018. ID: NCT03740412.
Depression mediates cutaneous body image and facial appearance dissatisfaction in insomnia
Authors: Akram Umair , Irvine Kamila
Published: January 2020

This study examined the relationship between dissatisfaction with cutaneous body image and facial appearance with symptoms of insomnia whilst incorporating the mediating role of anxiety and/or depression after accounting for co-morbid sleep disorder symptoms. Participants (n = 241) completed online measures assessing insomnia symptoms, anxiety and depression symptoms, and satisfaction with cutaneous body image and facial appearance. Symptoms of insomnia were independently related to greater dissatisfaction with cutaneous body image and facial appearance in univariate analyses. However, linear regression analyses determined these relationships to be partially mediated by depression, but not anxiety. Expanding on prior research, these findings suggest that whilst increased symptoms of insomnia may influence dissatisfaction with cutaneous and facial features, these relationships may be partially attributed to the experience of depressive symptoms often co-morbid with both insomnia and dermatological complaints. Treatment approaches for individuals with insomnia may benefit from targeting and improving negatively appraised aspects of physical self-perception.
Electrospinning of ABS nanofibers and their high filtration performance
Authors: Jiang Shaohua , Schmalz Holger , Agarwal Seema , Greiner Andreas
Published: January 2020

Acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) is a commercial polymer for widely industrial applications due to its good mechanical and physical properties. However, there are only countable reports regarding its fibers from electrospinning. Comprehensive investigation on its optimized electrospinning parameters is missing. Herein, ABS fibers with different fiber diameters were produced by electrospinning. The electrospinning conditions, including the solvents, solution concentrations and amounts of different salt additives, have been comprehensively investigated. The morphologies of electrospun ABS fibers are studied by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Different fiber diameters and coating densities are applied for filtration applications, which showed excellent filtration performance. The filtration efficiency of up to 99%, low pressure drop of < 30 Pa, and high filtration quality factor of up to 0.477 are achieved from the electrospun ABS fibers coated on microfibrous polypropylene substrates. In addition, the electrospun ABS fibers also shows good thermal stability and other applications such as oil/water separation.
DUALITY OF (2, 3, 5)-DISTRIBUTIONS AND LAGRANGIAN CONE STRUCTURES
Authors: ISHIKAWA GOO , KITAGAWA YUMIKO , TSUCHIDA ASAHI , YUKUNO WATARU
Published: January 2020

As was shown by a part of the authors, for a given $(2,3,5)$-distribution $D$ on a five-dimensional manifold $Y$, there is, locally, a Lagrangian cone structure $C$ on another five-dimensional manifold $X$ which consists of abnormal or singular paths of $(Y,D)$. We give a characterization of the class of Lagrangian cone structures corresponding to $(2,3,5)$-distributions. Thus, we complete the duality between $(2,3,5)$-distributions and Lagrangian cone structures via pseudo-product structures of type $G_{2}$. A local example of nonflat perturbations of the global model of flat Lagrangian cone structure which corresponds to $(2,3,5)$-distributions is given.