bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MRI characteristics in treatment for cerebral melanoma metastasis using stereotactic radiosurgery and concomitant checkpoint inhibitors or targeted therapeutics
Authors: Rauch Maximilian , Tausch Daniel , Stera Susanne , Blanck Oliver , Wolff Robert , Meissner Markus , Urban Hans , Hattingen Elke
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Combination therapy for melanoma brain metastases (MM) using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and immune checkpoint-inhibition (ICI) or targeted therapy (TT) is currently of high interest. In this collective, time evolution and incidence of imaging findings indicative of pseudoprogression is sparsely researched. We therefore investigated time-course of MRI characteristics in these patients.

Methods

Data were obtained retrospectively from 27 patients (12 female, 15 male; mean 61 years, total of 169 MMs). Single lesion volumes, total MM burden and edema volumes were analyzed at baseline and follow-up MRIs in 2 months intervals after SRS up to 24 months. The occurrence of intralesional hemorrhages was recorded.

Results

17 patients (80 MM) received ICI, 8 (62 MM) TT and 2 (27 MM) ICI + TT concomitantly to SRS. MM-localization was frontal (n = 89), temporal (n = 23), parietal (n = 20), occipital (n = 10), basal ganglia/thalamus/insula (n = 10) and cerebellar (n = 10). A volumetric progression of MM 2–4 months after SRS was observed in combined treatment with ICI (p = 0.028) and ICI + TT (p = 0.043), whereas MMs treated with TT showed an early volumetric regression (p = 0.004). Edema volumes moderately correlated with total MM volumes (r = 0.57; p < 0.0001). Volumetric behavior did not differ significantly over time regarding lesions’ initial sizes or localizations. No significant differences between groups were observed regarding rates of post-SRS intralesional hemorrhages.

Conclusion

Reversible volumetric increases in terms of pseudoprogression are observed 2–4 months after SRS in patients with MM concomitantly treated with ICI and ICI + TT, rarely after TT. Edema volumes mirror total MM volumes. Medical treatment type does not significantly affect rates of intralesional hemorrhage.
Interval prediction algorithm and optimal scenario making model for wind power producers bidding strategy
Authors: Heydari Azim , Memarzadeh Gholamreza , Astiaso Garcia Davide , Keynia Farshid , De Santoli Livio
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, renewable energies are important sources for supplying electric power demand and a key entity of future energy markets. Therefore, wind power producers (WPPs) in most of the power systems in the world have a key role. On the other hand, the wind speed uncertainty makes WPPs deferent power generators, which in turn causes adequate bidding strategies, that leads to market rules, and the functional abilities of the turbines to penetrate the market. In this paper, a new bidding strategy has been proposed based on optimal scenario making for WPPs in a competitive power market. As known, the WPP generation is uncertain, and different scenarios must be created for wind power production. Therefore, a prediction intervals method has been improved in making scenarios and increase the accuracy of the presence of WPPs in the balancing market. Besides, a new optimization algorithm has been proposed called the grasshopper optimization algorithm to simulate the optimal bidding problem of WPPs. A set of numerical examples, as well as a case-study based on real-world data, allows illustrating and discussing the properties of the proposed method.
Russian prefixed verbs as constructional schemas
Authors: Monakhov Sergei
Published: March 2021

This study tests the morphological gradience theory on Russian prefixed verbs. With the help of a specially designed experiment, in which participants were asked to evaluate the semantic transparency of a prefixed nonse verb given in minimal context, as well as to semanticise it by suggesting an existing Russian verb with the same prefix, we offer evidence that these verbs can be analysed as constructional schemas and that the degree of their morphological decomposition depends upon the different levels of activation of their sequential and lexical links. We prove that speakers of Russian are very sensitive to the etymological connection between verb prefixes and the prepositions they are related to. Thus, prefix-stem constructions with prefixes that correspond to prepositions are more likely to be morphologically decomposed, while prefix-stem constructions with prefixes that do not relate to prepositions tend to be regarded as single lexical units. Moreover, the general, highly abstract semantics of Russian prefix-stem constructions, especially of those that retain their ‘prepositional’ meaning, is undoubtedly accessible to language users, which is confirmed by the fact that the interpretability of these constructions is affected by priming.
What School Factors are Associated with the Success of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Students? An Empirical Investigation Using PISA Data
Authors: Agasisti Tommaso , Avvisati Francesco , Borgonovi Francesca , Longobardi Sergio
Published: March 2021

Many school-level policies, such as school funding formulae and teacher allocation mechanisms, aim at reducing the influence of students’ low socio-economic condition on academic achievement. Benchmarks and indicators based on large-scale international assessments can be used to measure academic success and identify if and when disadvantaged students are successful. We build on such work and develop a new method for identifying a cross-country comparable metric of the academic success of socio-economically disadvantaged students using data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). We estimate the prevalence of successful disadvantaged students in 56 countries, as well as changes over time between 2006 and 2015. In addition, we focus on the PISA 2015 edition and explore school factors associated with the probability that disadvantaged students will be successful academically in a subsample of 18 countries. Findings reveal that successful disadvantaged students attend schools with a better disciplinary climate and that provide additional time for instruction in key subjects.
Context-sensitivity and the Preface Paradox for credence
Authors: Kauss Dominik
Published: March 2021

It’s intuitively plausible to suppose that there are many things that we can be rationally certain of, at least in many contexts. The present paper argues that, given this principle of Abundancy, there is a Preface Paradox for (rational) credence. Section 1 gives a statement of the paradox, discusses its relation to its familiar counterpart for (rational) belief, and points out the congeniality between Abundancy and broadly contextualist trends in epistemology. This leads to the question whether considerations of context-sensitivity might lend themselves to solving the Preface for credence. Sections 2 and 3 scrutinize two approaches in this spirit—one mimicking Hawthorne’s (2002) Semantic Contextualist approach to an epistemic version of the Preface, the other one analogous to Clarke’s (2015) Sensitivist approach to the doxastic version—arguing that neither approach succeeds as it stands.
Lifelong exercise is associated with more homogeneous motor unit potential features across deep and superficial areas of vastus lateralis
Authors: Jones Eleanor J. , Piasecki Jessica , Ireland Alex , Stashuk Daniel W. , Atherton Philip J. , Phillips Bethan E. , McPhee Jamie S. , Piasecki Mathew
Published: March 2021

Motor unit (MU) expansion enables rescue of denervated muscle fibres helping to ameliorate age-related muscle atrophy, with evidence to suggest master athletes are more successful at this remodelling. Electrophysiological data has suggested MUs located superficially are larger than those located deeper within young muscle. However, the effects of ageing and exercise on MU heterogeneity across deep and superficial aspects of vastus lateralis (VL) remain unclear. Intramuscular electromyography was used to record individual MU potentials (MUPs) and near fibre MUPs (NFMs) from deep and superficial regions of the VL during 25% maximum voluntary contractions, in 83 males (15 young (Y), 17 young athletes (YA), 22 old (O) and 29 master athletes (MA)). MUP size and complexity were assessed using area and number of turns, respectively. Multilevel mixed effects linear regression models were performed to investigate the effects of depth in each group. MUP area was greater in deep compared with superficial MUs in Y (p<0.001) and O (p=0.012) but not in YA (p=0.071) or MA (p=0.653). MUP amplitude and NF MUP area were greater, and MUPs were more complex in deep MUPs from Y, YA and O (all p<0.05) but did not differ across depth in MA (all p>0.07). These data suggest MU characteristics differ according to depth within the VL which may be influenced by both ageing and exercise. A more homogenous distribution of MUP size and complexity across muscle depths in older athletes may be a result of a greater degree of age-related MU adaptations.
A review on tramadol toxicity: mechanism of action, clinical presentation, and treatment
Authors: Nakhaee Samaneh , Hoyte Christopher , Dart Richard C. , Askari Masoumeh , Lamarine Roland J. , Mehrpour Omid
Published: March 2021

Aims

As an analgesic that acts upon the central nervous system (CNS), tramadol has gained popularity in treating moderate to severe pain. Recently, it has been increasingly reported as a drug of misuse with intentional overdoses or intoxications. This review focuses on tramadol intoxication in humans and its effects on different systems.

Subject and method

This narrative review provides a comprehensive view of the pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, and incidence of tramadol toxicity with an in-depth look at its side effects. In addition, the main approaches to the management of tramadol poisoning are described.

Results

Tramadol poisoning can affect multiple organ systems: gastrointestinal, central nervous system (seizure, CNS depression, low-grade coma, anxiety, and over time anoxic brain damage), cardiovascular system (palpitation, mild hypertension to life-threatening complications such as cardiopulmonary arrest), respiratory system, renal system (renal failure with higher doses of tramadol intoxication), musculoskeletal system (rhabdomyolysis), endocrine system (hypoglycemia), as well as, cause serotonin syndrome. Seizure, a serious nervous disturbance, is more common in tramadol intoxication than with other opioids. Fatal tramadol intoxications are uncommon, except in ingestion cases concurrent with other medications, particularly CNS depressants, most commonly benzodiazepines, and ethanol.

Conclusion

With the increasing popularity of tramadol, physicians must be aware of its adverse effects, substantial abuse potential, and drug interactions, to weigh its risk–benefit ratio for pain management. Alternative therapies might be considered in patients with a previous overdose history to reduce risks for adverse outcomes.
Biosynthesis of the Tricyclic Aromatic Type II Polyketide Rishirilide: New Potential Third Ring Oxygenation after Three Cyclization Steps
Authors: Alali Ahmad , Zhang Lin , Li Jianyu , Zuo Chijian , Wassouf Dimah , Yan Xiaohui , Schwarzer Philipp , Günther Stefan , Einsle Oliver , Bechthold Andreas
Published: March 2021

Rishirilides are a group of PKS II secondary metabolites produced by Streptomyces bottropensis Gö C4/4. Biosynthetic studies in the past have elucidated early and late steps of rishirilide biosynthesis. This work is aiming to solve the remaining steps in the rishirilide biosynthesis. Inactivation of the cyclase gene rslC3 in Streptomyces bottropensis resulted in an interruption of rishirilide production. Instead, accumulation of the tricyclic aromatic galvaquinones was observed. Similar results were observed after deletion of rslO4. Closer inspection into RslO4 crystal structure in addition to site-directed mutagenesis and molecular dynamic simulations revealed that RslO4 might be responsible for quinone formation on the third ring. The RslO1 three-dimensional structure shows a high similarity to FMN-dependent luciferase-like monooxygenases such as the epoxy-forming MsnO8 which acts with the flavin reductase MsnO3 in mensacarcin biosynthesis in the same strain. The high sequence similarity between RslO2 and MsnO3 suggests that RslO2 provides RslO1 with reduced FMN to form an epoxide that serves as substrate for RslO5.
Immigrants’ Labour Market Disadvantages Across Western Europe: the Role of Composition and Context
Authors: Damelang Andreas , Ebensperger Sabine , Stumpf Felix
Published: March 2021

This paper examines why some Western European countries are more successful in integrating immigrants into the labour market than others. Using data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), we show how the country-specific immigrant composition and context of reception contribute to immigrants’ disadvantages across receiving countries. Because the data provide extensive information about relevant characteristics that were often considered unobservable, we can comprehensively model the immigrant composition in receiving countries. We find considerable cross-country differences in immigrants’ disadvantages, both in terms of employment and occupational status. Multivariate analyses highlight that a large part of this variation is explained by differences in immigrant compositions, whereas we find little evidence for context effects. Counterfactual simulations corroborate that the extent to which countries succeed with integrating immigrants into the labour market strongly depends on the composition of the immigrants that they receive.
Grounding behaviours with conversational interfaces: effects of embodiment and failures
Authors: Kontogiorgos Dimosthenis , Pereira Andre , Gustafson Joakim
Published: March 2021

Conversational interfaces that interact with humans need to continuously establish, maintain and repair common ground in task-oriented dialogues. Uncertainty, repairs and acknowledgements are expressed in user behaviour in the continuous efforts of the conversational partners to maintain mutual understanding. Users change their behaviour when interacting with systems in different forms of embodiment, which affects the abilities of these interfaces to observe users’ recurrent social signals. Additionally, humans are intellectually biased towards social activity when facing anthropomorphic agents or when presented with subtle social cues. Two studies are presented in this paper examining how humans interact in a referential communication task with wizarded interfaces in different forms of embodiment. In study 1 (N = 30), we test whether humans respond the same way to agents, in different forms of embodiment and social behaviour. In study 2 (N = 44), we replicate the same task and agents but introduce conversational failures disrupting the process of grounding. Findings indicate that it is not always favourable for agents to be anthropomorphised or to communicate with non-verbal cues, as human grounding behaviours change when embodiment and failures are manipulated.
Effects of Infectious Diseases on Population Dynamics of Marine Organisms in Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Jesse Jerelle A. , Agnew M. Victoria , Arai Kohma , Armstrong C. Taylor , Hood Shannon M. , Kachmar Mariah L. , Long Jessie T. , McCarty Alexandra J. , Ross Morgan O. , Rubalcava Kasondra D. , Shaner Jacob , Tanaka Sakura , Wood Lindsay , Schott Eric J. , Wilberg Michael J.
Published: March 2021

Diseases are important drivers of population and ecosystem dynamics. This review synthesizes the effects of infectious diseases on the population dynamics of nine species of marine organisms in the Chesapeake Bay. Diseases generally caused increases in mortality and decreases in growth and reproduction. Effects of diseases on eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) appear to be low in the 2000s compared to effects in the 1980s–1990s. However, the effects of disease were not well monitored for most of the diseases in marine organisms of the Chesapeake Bay, and few studies considered effects on growth and reproduction. Climate change and other anthropogenic effects are expected to alter host-pathogen dynamics, with diseases of some species expected to worsen under predicted future conditions (e.g., increased temperature). Additional study of disease prevalence, drivers of disease, and effects on population dynamics could improve fisheries management and forecasting of climate change effects on marine organisms in the Chesapeake Bay.
Assessment of the naturalness and anthropogenic transformation of the habitats of small mountain streams in different climate zones
Authors: Kijowska-Strugała Małgorzata , Wiejaczka Łukasz , Cebulski Jarosław , Płaczkowska Eliza , Rączkowska Zofia , Prokop Paweł , Zou Qiang , Guo Yongqiang , Hu Jiang
Published: March 2021

The study compares the quality of the habitats of mountain streams in sections without visible human integration and those permanently transformed by human activity between mountain areas in different climate zones. Three mountain streams with small catchments (10–20 km2) characterized by different natural conditions were selected for the research. The selected streams are Bystrzanka (Beskid Niski, Polish Carpathians), Peshok (Darjeeling Himalaya in India), and Fanshen (Hengduan Shan in China). Field studies were carried out using the British River Habitat Survey (RHS) method. Habitat quality was analyzed based on the following indicators: Habitat Quality Assessment (HQA) and Habitat Modification Score (HMS). The obtained results indicated that sections of mountain streams located in upper catchment areas show greater habitat naturalness in relation to stream sections in lower areas. This results from the greater variety and number of natural hydromorphological elements in streams and the close vicinity of channels. In both upper and lower stream sections, regardless of the degree of naturalness and anthropopressure, the same RHS attributes have the greatest impact on the HQA and HMS values. Similar regularities in the degree of naturalness and anthropogenic modifications of the habitat between the upper and lower reaches of streams can be also expected in other mountain areas, apart from areas not affected by human activities.
Variations of surface water quality in selected tidal creeks of Sagar Island, Indian Sundarban eco-region: a multivariate approach
Authors: Basu Sanghamitra , Bhattacharyya Subarna , Gogoi Pranab , Dasgupta Suryasis , Das Sanjoy Kumar
Published: March 2021

Sagar Island in Indian Sundarbans is bestowed with numerous tidal creeks providing a suitable home to its inherent aquatic biota. The present study investigated the variation in the surface water quality in selected tidal creeks of Sagar Island, Indian Sundarbans to understand the present status of water quality for wildlife propagation and fisheries. Ten water parameters were taken into consideration for analysis on monthly basis from four stations (tidal creeks) from September 2015 to August 2016. One-way ANOVA showed five parameters (water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and chemical oxygen demand) varied significantly between seasons (p ≤ 0.05). Factor analysis exhibited four factors explaining 53.21% total variance in the observed data. Salinity and turbidity showed a maximum annual range of variations followed by dissolved oxygen. The fluctuations of physicochemical parameters throughout the year hinted toward the ever-changing nature of the estuarine ecosystem with possible human-induced impacts. Pronounced variation in turbidity seemed to be the effect of ferrying/transportation, monsoonal runoff and other human-induced activities. In the present study, water parameters viz., water temperature, dissolved oxygen and turbidity were the deterministic parameters influencing the variables in the system. The other important parameters were found to be COD, BOD3 and nitrate concentrations during the study period. The study shall provide baseline information in formulating the management measures in terms of water quality in wildlife propagation and fisheries.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and cognitive stimulation, combined and alone, in treating individuals with mild Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Devita Maria , Masina Fabio , Mapelli Daniela , Anselmi Pasquale , Sergi Giuseppe , Coin Alessandra
Published: March 2021

Backgrounds

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) and cognitive stimulation (CS) are the standard pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of these treatments, alone or combined, on the neuropsychological profiles of patients with AD.

Methods

Forty participants were assigned to three groups receiving either only AChEI (n = 14), AChEI + CS (n = 15), or only CS (n = 11). Cognition was evaluated at baseline and after three months. Linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate differences among the treatments in terms of changes in the patients’ neuropsychological profiles.

Results

Results, although preliminary because of the small sample size, suggest that a general improvement was found in patients who received AChEI + CS and those who received only CS compared with those who received only AChEI. Interestingly, individuals who received only CS showed a significant improvement in immediate memory recall than those who received only AChEI. Furthermore, the group receiving AChEI + CS showed an improvement in delayed recall than the other two groups.

Discussion

The combination of AChEI and CS seems to have the greatest benefit for patients with mild AD. More interestingly, CS alone is more effective than AChEI alone, even in improving memory, considered to be the “lost” cognitive domain in AD.
Working Relationally with Adolescents Who Have Experienced Complex Interpersonal Trauma: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Authors: Amari Nicola , Mahoney Adam
Published: March 2021

The study explores practitioners’ experiences of working with adolescents with complex interpersonal trauma. Five mental health professionals were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to identify themes related to the research question. Three superordinate themes emerged: “The distance-relationship dynamic”; “The unknown self”; “Practitioners’ presence”. Participants reported the fragility of their relationships with clients, enhanced awareness of their professional and personal identity, and highlighted the importance of meeting their clients as persons. Results are discussed within the literature that considers the role of the person of the therapist to foster therapeutic change. Future research could explore the role of therapeutic distance, the interplay between transference-countertransference and attachment dynamics, and the relevance of practitioners’ playfulness with traumatised youth. Finally, this study proposes a model of use of self as “compassion-in-action” to express practitioners’ ‘response-ability’ to their clients’ trauma as commitment to social justice.
Review on basic income (BI): its theories and empirical cases
Authors: Yang Jiaqi , Mohan Geetha , Pipil Supriya , Fukushi Kensuke
Published: March 2021

A basis of fundamental knowledge of different basic income approaches (BI) is essential to be elaborated for enhancing the prevalent debates on BI as an important solution on social transformation. Aiming to contribute to the current knowledge gaps and future research agendas on BI, this paper elaborates on BI theories and BI empirical cases, linkage, and gaps between these two parts. A total of 152 pieces of literature on BI theories and BI empirical cases were intensively reviewed, which includes BI definitions, positive and negative conceptual impacts of BI argued to bring to human society from social, economic, and policy-and-governance perspectives, as well as the implementation and the outcomes of 15 selected BI empirical cases. Our findings indicate that BI definitions remain imprecise, and the BI empirical cases are implemented in diverse ways. We also identified that many conceptual impacts of BI were not achieved in the reviewed BI empirical cases. We further argue that the policy environment for implementing BI has not been entirely created at present, and a key issue  is that the ambiguity between the BI theories and BI empirical cases causes difficulties to generate widely agreed principles guiding the implementation of BI. This paper suggests that future studies on BI should focus more on revising existing BI definitions which need to be simplified, detailed, and unified, generating universal principles guiding the implementation of BI, and developing indicators measuring BI's consequences.
Nucleation in continuous flow cooling sonocrystallization for coiled capillary crystallizers
Authors: Schmalenberg Mira , Weick Lena K. , Kockmann Norbert
Published: March 2021

Nucleation in continuously operated capillary coiled cooling crystallizers is experimentally investigated under the influence of ultrasound. It was found that there is no sharp boundary but rather a transition zone for nucleation under sonication. For this purpose, a tube with an inner diameter of 1.6 mm and a length of 6 m was winded in a coiled flow inverter (CFI) design and immersed into a cooled ultrasonic bath (37 kHz). The CFI design was chosen for improved radial mixing and narrow residence time distribution, which is also investigated. Amino acid l-alanine dissolved in deionized water is employed in a supersaturation range of 1.10 to 1.46 under quiet and sonicated conditions. Nucleation is non-invasive detected using a flow cell equipped with a microscope and camera.

Graphical abstract

Since the interest and demand for small-scale, continuous crystallization increases, seed crystals were generated in a coiled tube via sonication and optically investigated and characterized. No distinct threshold for nucleation could be determined in a wide range of supersaturations of l-alanine in water
Application of Mussell-derived biosorbent to remove NH4+ from aqueous solution: Equilibrium and Kinetics
Authors: Nguyen Van Quang , Van Huu Tap , Sy Hung Le , Nguyen Thi Mai Linh , Nguyen Dac Kien
Published: March 2021

Mussel shells are often considered an abundant waste with no use. This study shows that the employment of mussel shells as a biosorbent for ammonium from water environment is completely possible. By using batch experimental method, optimal conditions for the ammonium adsorption onto mussel shells were determined. Specifically, those include a pH level of 8, contact time of 90 min, an initial ammonium concentration of 40 mg/l and the adsorbent dose of 700 mg/25 ml. With such operating conditions, experiments in laboratory aqueous solutions resulted in a maximum adsorption capacity of 2.33 mg/g, corresponded by 46.575% of efficiency. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were well described with the Freundlich isothermal model, suggesting a heterogeneous adsorption process occurring on multilayers and both the pseudo-first-order and the pseudo-second-order, implying that the operational fundament was based on chemisorption. Analyses regarding SEM, EDS and FTIR were also implemented to identify the morphology, composition and functional groups of the adsorbent.
Predicting the effect of the rib pitch on thermal performance factor of small channels plate heat exchangers fitted with Y and C shapes obstacles
Authors: Chtourou Sirine , Djemel Hassene , Kaffel Mohamed , Baccar Mounir
Published: March 2021

This study presents a numerical analysis of a laminar counter flow inside small channels plate heat exchanger fitted with Y and C shape obstacles. Using the Computational Fluid Dynamics CFD, an advanced and modern simulation technique, the influence of the geometrical parameters (such as geometry, rib pitch) on the flow characteristics, the thermal and the hydrodynamics performance of the PHE (plate heat exchanger) is investigated numerically. The main goal of this work is to increase the flow turbulence, enhance the heat transfer and the thermal efficiency by inserting new obstacles forms. The computational domain is a conjugate model which is developed by the Computer Aided Design CAD software Solidworks. The results, obtained with Ansys Fluent, show that the presence of the shaped ribs provides enhancement in heat transfer and fluid turbulence. The CFD analysis is validated with the previous study. The non-dimensional factors such as the Nusselt number Nu, the skin friction factor Cf and the thermo-hydraulic performance parameter THPP are predicted with a Reynolds number Re range of 200–800. The temperature and the velocity distribution are presented and analyzed. The Y ribs and the C ribs offer as maximum THPP values respectively about 1.44 and 2.6 times of a smooth duct.
State Surveillance, Political Policing and Counter-Terrorism in Britain
Authors: Solomon Vlad
Published: March 2021

The formation of state surveillance and the emergence of institutionalized political policing in late Victorian and Edwardian Britain.
Quakers in the British Atlantic World, c.1660–1800
Authors: Sahle Esther
Published: March 2021

Examines the two largest Quaker communities in the early modern British Atlantic World, and scrutinizes the role of Quaker merchants and the business ethics they followed.
Suppressing Piracy in the Early Eighteenth Century
Authors: Wilson David
Published: March 2021

Shows how Britain and its empire was not a strong centralised imperial state and that it was only through manifold activities taking place in different colonial centres with varied colonial arrangements that the surge in piracy in this period was contained and reduced.
A Fast Estimator for Binary Choice Models with Spatial, Temporal, and Spatio-Temporal Interdependence
Authors: Wucherpfennig Julian , Kachi Aya , Bormann Nils-Christian , Hunziker Philipp
Published: March 2021

Binary outcome models are frequently used in the social sciences and economics. However, such models are difficult to estimate with interdependent data structures, including spatial, temporal, and spatio-temporal autocorrelation because jointly determined error terms in the reduced-form specification are generally analytically intractable. To deal with this problem, simulation-based approaches have been proposed. However, these approaches (i) are computationally intensive and impractical for sizable datasets commonly used in contemporary research, and (ii) rarely address temporal interdependence. As a way forward, we demonstrate how to reduce the computational burden significantly by (i) introducing analytically-tractable pseudo maximum likelihood estimators for latent binary choice models that exhibit interdependence across space and time and by (ii) proposing an implementation strategy that increases computational efficiency considerably. Monte Carlo experiments show that our estimators recover the parameter values as good as commonly used estimation alternatives and require only a fraction of the computational cost.
Early Cretaceous crust–mantle interaction linked to rollback of the Palaeo-Pacific flat-subducting slab: constraints from the intermediate–felsic volcanic rocks of the northern Great Xing’an Range, NE China
Authors: Jing Jia-Hao , Yang Hao , Ge Wen-Chun , Dong Yu , Ji Zheng , Jing Yan , Bi Jun-Hui , Zhou Hong-Ying
Published: March 2021

Late Mesozoic igneous rocks are important for deciphering the Mesozoic tectonic setting of NE China. In this paper, we present whole-rock geochemical data, zircon U–Pb ages and Lu–Hf isotope data for Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks from the Tulihe area of the northern Great Xing’an Range (GXR), with the aim of evaluating the petrogenesis and genetic relationships of these rocks, inferring crust–mantle interactions and better constraining extension-related geodynamic processes in the GXR. Zircon U–Pb ages indicate that the rhyolites and trachytic volcanic rocks formed during late Early Cretaceous time (c. 130–126 Ma). Geochemically, the highly fractionated I-type rhyolites exhibit high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous to weakly peraluminous characteristics. They are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) but depleted in high-field-strength elements (HFSEs), with their magmatic zircons ϵHf(t) values ranging from +4.1 to +9.0. These features suggest that the rhyolites were derived from the partial melting of a dominantly juvenile, K-rich basaltic lower crust. The trachytic volcanic rocks are high-K calc-alkaline series and exhibit metaluminous characteristics. They have a wide range of zircon ϵHf(t) values (−17.8 to +12.9), indicating that these trachytic volcanic rocks originated from a dominantly lithospheric-mantle source with the involvement of asthenospheric mantle materials, and subsequently underwent extensive assimilation and fractional crystallization processes. Combining our results and the spatiotemporal migration of the late Early Cretaceous magmatic events, we propose that intense Early Cretaceous crust–mantle interaction took place within the northern GXR, and possibly the whole of NE China, and that it was related to the upwelling of asthenospheric mantle induced by rollback of the Palaeo-Pacific flat-subducting slab.
Building Healthy Children: A preventive intervention for high-risk young families
Authors: Demeusy Elizabeth M. , Handley Elizabeth D. , Manly Jody Todd , Sturm Robin , Toth Sheree L.
Published: March 2021

The Building Healthy Children (BHC) home-visiting preventive intervention was designed to provide concrete support and evidence-based intervention to young mothers and their infants who were at heightened risk for child maltreatment and poor developmental outcomes. This paper presents two studies examining the short- and long-term effectiveness of this program at promoting positive parenting and maternal mental health, while preventing child maltreatment and harsh parenting. It also examines the intervention's sustained effect on child symptomatology and self-regulation. At baseline, young mothers and their infants were randomly assigned to receive BHC or Enhanced Community Standard. Families were assessed longitudinally across four time points. Data were also collected from the child's teacher at follow-up. Mothers who received BHC evidenced significant reductions in depressive symptoms at mid-intervention, which was associated with improvements in parenting self-efficacy and stress as well as decreased child internalizing and externalizing symptoms at postintervention. The follow-up study found that BHC mothers exhibited less harsh and inconsistent parenting, and marginally less psychological aggression. BHC children also exhibited less externalizing behavior and self-regulatory difficulties across parent and teacher report. Following the impactful legacy of Dr. Edward Zigler, these findings underline the importance of early, evidence-based prevention to promote well-being in high-risk children and families.
Subthreshold personality disorder: how feasible is treatment in primary care?
Authors: Barber William , Apps Frances , Strauss Clara , Startup Helen , Couche Juliet
Published: March 2021

Individuals with subthreshold borderline personality disorder (BPD) are commonly encountered in primary care settings, yet the psychological treatments they receive are rarely tailored to their needs. In an effort to capture and treat this group of individuals in a targeted and meaningful way, some primary care settings offer Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving – Emotional Intensity (STEPPS-EI). This evaluation sought to assess the feasibility of STEPPS-EI within NHS primary care services. Employing an uncontrolled design, the evaluation examined recruitment, retention, effectiveness and group appraisal. Findings supported three out of four evaluation objectives for feasibility: uptake of the group was high at 74%, the group was well received by the group and significantly effective at reducing symptoms of BPD, depression and anxiety. However, retention rates were low, with only 43% classed as ‘completers’ of the programme. The results indicate preliminary evidence for STEPPS-EI as a potentially feasible intervention with possible modification to enhance retention and avenues for further study.

Key learning aims

After reading this paper, the reader will be aware of:

(1)

Recent developments in the classification and diagnosis of personality disorder leading to the conceptualisation of subthreshold presentations.

(2)

The feasibility of conducting a primary care intervention for individuals with emotional intensity difficulties.

(3)

The preliminary beneficial outcomes of utilising a primary care intervention for individuals with emotional intensity difficulties.

(4)

Potential issues for participants and providers of primary care programmes with future direction for improvement and implementation.
Heute fange ich wirklich an!
Authors: Höcker Anna , Engberding Margarita , Rist Fred
Published: March 2021

Jeder schiebt dann und wann einmal etwas Unangenehmes auf. Aber ab wann wird das Aufschieben zum Problem? Prokrastination ist das wiederholte und unnötige Aufschieben alltäglicher und auch persönlich wichtiger Aufgaben, obwohl eigentlich Zeit zu ihrer Erledigung zur Verfügung gestanden hätte. Dieser Ratgeber wendet sich an Menschen, die unzufrieden mit ihrer Arbeitsdisziplin sind und die lernen möchten, ihre Arbeit besser zu organisieren und effektiver zu gestalten. Die beschriebenen psychologischen Methoden wurden systematisch entwickelt und evaluiert und haben bereits vielen hundert Betroffenen geholfen. Der Ratgeber hilft Betroffenen, Aufschiebeverhalten und Prokrastination besser zu verstehen. Er klärt darüber auf, unter welchen Bedingungen es entsteht und warum es so schwer ist, damit aufzuhören. Den Schwerpunkt des Bandes bildet die Darstellung eines Anti-Prokrastinationsprogrammes. Dieses liefert konkrete Anleitungen zur Selbstbeobachtung und Selbststeuerung, mithilfe derer Betroffene ein individuelles Störungsmodell erarbeiten können und, daran angepasst, Strategien zur Verhaltensänderung umsetzen können. Das Programm leitet Betroffene dazu an, ihre Arbeitszeiten und ihr Arbeitspensum realistisch zu planen, rechtzeitig mit dem Arbeiten zu beginnen, stabile Arbeitsgewohnheiten zu entwickeln, effektiv zu arbeiten, sich mit ihrem persönlichen Arbeitsstil wohl zu fühlen und ihre Freizeit wieder ohne schlechtes Gewissen genießen zu können. Zahlreiche Arbeitsmaterialien unterstützen die Umsetzung der Strategien im Alltag.
Global Ocean Sediment Composition and Burial Flux in the Deep Sea
Authors: Hayes Christopher T. , Costa Kassandra M. , Anderson Robert F. , Calvo Eva , Chase Zanna , Demina Ludmila L. , Dutay Jean‐Claude , German Christopher R. , Heimbürger‐Boavida Lars‐Eric , Jaccard Samuel L. , Jacobel Allison , Kohfeld Karen E. , Kravchishina Marina D. , Lippold Jörg , Mekik Figen , Missiaen Lise , Pavia Frank J. , Paytan Adina , Pedrosa‐Pamies Rut , Petrova Mariia V. , Rahman Shaily , Robinson Laura F. , Roy‐Barman Matthieu , Sanchez‐Vidal Anna , Shiller Alan , Tagliabue Alessandro , Tessin Allyson C. , van Hulten Marco , Zhang Jing
Published: March 2021

Quantitative knowledge about the burial of sedimentary components at the seafloor has wide‐ranging implications in ocean science, from global climate to continental weathering. The use of 230Th‐normalized fluxes reduces uncertainties that many prior studies faced by accounting for the effects of sediment redistribution by bottom currents and minimizing the impact of age model uncertainty. Here we employ a recently compiled global data set of 230Th‐normalized fluxes with an updated database of seafloor surface sediment composition to derive atlases of the deep‐sea burial flux of calcium carbonate, biogenic opal, total organic carbon (TOC), nonbiogenic material, iron, mercury, and excess barium (Baxs). The spatial patterns of major component burial are mainly consistent with prior work, but the new quantitative estimates allow evaluations of deep‐sea budgets. Our integrated deep‐sea burial fluxes are 136 Tg C/yr CaCO3, 153 Tg Si/yr opal, 20Tg C/yr TOC, 220 Mg Hg/yr, and 2.6 Tg Baxs/yr. This opal flux is roughly a factor of 2 increase over previous estimates, with important implications for the global Si cycle. Sedimentary Fe fluxes reflect a mixture of sources including lithogenic material, hydrothermal inputs and authigenic phases. The fluxes of some commonly used paleo‐productivity proxies (TOC, biogenic opal, and Baxs) are not well‐correlated geographically with satellite‐based productivity estimates. Our new compilation of sedimentary fluxes provides detailed regional and global information, which will help refine the understanding of sediment preservation.
New Measurement of the Vertical Atmospheric Density Profile From Occultations of the Crab Nebula With X‐Ray Astronomy Satellites Suzaku and Hitomi
Authors: Katsuda Satoru , Fujiwara Hitoshi , Ishisaki Yoshitaka , Yoshitomo Maeda , Mori Koji , Motizuki Yuko , Sato Kosuke , Tashiro Makoto S. , Terada Yukikatsu
Published: March 2021

We present new measurements of the vertical density profile of the Earth's atmosphere at altitudes between 70 and 200 km, based on Earth occultations of the Crab Nebula observed with the X‐ray Imaging Spectrometer onboard Suzaku and the hard X‐ray Imager onboard Hitomi. X‐ray spectral variation due to the atmospheric absorption is used to derive tangential column densities of the absorbing species, that is, N and O including atoms and molecules, along the line of sight. The tangential column densities are then inverted to obtain the atmospheric number density. The data from 219 occultation scans at low latitudes in both hemispheres from September 15, 2005 to March 26, 2016 are analyzed to generate a single, highly averaged (in both space and time) vertical density profile. The density profile is in good agreement with the Naval‐Research‐Laboratory's‐Mass‐Spectrometer‐Incoherent‐Scatter‐Radar‐Extended (NRLMSISE‐00) model, except for the altitude range of 70–110 km, where the measured density is ∼50% smaller than the model. Such a deviation is consistent with the recent measurement with the SABER aboard the TIMED satellite (Cheng et al., 2020, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11040341). Given that the NRLMSISE‐00 model was constructed some time ago, the density decline could be due to the radiative cooling/contracting of the upper atmosphere as a result of greenhouse warming in the troposphere. However, we cannot rule out a possibility that the NRL model is simply imperfect in this region. We also present future prospects for the upcoming Japan‐US X‐ray astronomy satellite, X‐Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), which will allow us to measure atmospheric composition with unprecedented spectral resolution of ΔE ∼ 5 eV in 0.3–12 keV.
Data‐Driven Simulation of Rapid Flux Enhancement of Energetic Electrons With an Upper‐Band Whistler Burst
Authors: Saito S. , Kurita S. , Miyoshi Y. , Kasahara S. , Yokota S. , Keika K. , Hori T. , Kasahara Y. , Matsuda S. , Shoji M. , Nakamura S. , Matsuoka A. , Imajo S. , Shinohara I.
Published: March 2021

The temporal variation of the energetic electron flux distribution caused by whistler mode chorus waves through the cyclotron resonant interaction provides crucial information on how electrons are accelerated in the Earth's inner magnetosphere. This study employs a data‐driven test‐particle simulation which demonstrates that the rapid change of energetic electron distribution observed by the Arase satellite cannot be simply explained by a quasi‐linear diffusion mechanism, but is essentially caused by nonlinear scattering: the phase trapping and the phase dislocation. In response to upper‐band whistler chorus bursts, multiple nonlinear interactions finally achieve an efficient flux enhancement of electrons on a time scale of the chorus burst. A quasi‐linear diffusion model tends to underestimate the flux enhancement of energetic electrons as compared with a model based on the realistic dynamic frequency spectrum of whistler waves. It is concluded that the nonlinear phase trapping plays an important role in the rapid flux enhancement of energetic electrons observed by Arase.
ULF Wave Driven Radial Diffusion During Geomagnetic Storms: A Statistical Analysis of Van Allen Probes Observations
Authors: Sandhu J. K. , Rae I. J. , Wygant J. R. , Breneman A. W. , Tian S. , Watt C. E. J. , Horne R. B. , Ozeke L. G. , Georgiou M. , Walach M.‐T.
Published: March 2021

The impact of radial diffusion in storm time radiation belt dynamics is well‐debated. In this study we quantify the changes and variability in radial diffusion coefficients during geomagnetic storms. A statistical analysis of Van Allen Probes data (2012–2019) is conducted to obtain measurements of the magnetic and electric power spectral densities for Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) waves, and corresponding radial diffusion coefficients. The results show global wave power enhancements occur during the storm main phase, and continue into the recovery phase. Local time asymmetries show sources of wave power are both external solar wind driving and internal sources from coupling with ring current ions and substorms. Wave power enhancements are also observed at low L values (L < 4). The accessibility of wave power to low L is attributed to a depression of the Alfvén continuum. The increased wave power drives enhancements in both the magnetic and electric field diffusion coefficients by more than an order of magnitude. Significant variability in diffusion coefficients is observed, with values ranging over several orders of magnitude. A comparison to the Kp parameterized empirical model of Ozeke et al. (2014) is conducted and indicates important differences during storm times. Although the electric field diffusion coefficient is relatively well described by the empirical model, the magnetic field diffusion coefficient is approximately ∼10 times larger than predicted. We discuss how differences could be attributed to data set limitations and assumptions. Alternative storm‐time radial diffusion coefficients are provided as a function of L* and storm phase.
High‐Energy Radiation From Natural Lightning Observed in Coincidence With a VHF Broadband Interferometer
Authors: Urbani M. , Montanyà J. , van der Velde O. A. , López J. A. , Arcanjo M. , Fontanes P. , Romero D. , Roncancio J. A.
Published: March 2021

This work presents the first simultaneous X‐ray measurements from natural lightning in coincidence with a very high frequency (VHF) broadband interferometer. During an observational campaign in north‐central Colombia, five intense X‐ray bursts were detected from negative stepped leaders and two X‐ray emissions from a dart leader. Thanks to the high angular and time resolution of the interferometer, it was possible to locate the origin of high‐energy radiation during the lightning leader propagation. We study the correlation with VHF pulses and the two‐dimensional speed of the leader channels. A strong temporal correspondence has been observed between the high‐energy emissions and the most intense VHF pulses, which suggests the runaway electrons as a shared mechanism. The observations show that an X‐ray burst can have multiple high‐energy sources belonging to different leader branches, that can be several hundreds of meters apart. Therefore, from a spatial point of view, not a unique origin has to be searched, but an extensive origin of the X‐ray burst should be considered. We hypothesize similar conclusions in particular for downward TGFs and maybe for TGFs in general.