bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heritable genetic variation but no local adaptation in a pine-ectomycorrhizal interaction
Authors: Downie Jim , Silvertown Jonathan , Cavers Stephen , Ennos Richard
Published: February 2020

Local adaptation of plants to mycorrhizal fungi helps determine the outcome of mycorrhizal interactions. However, there is comparatively little work exploring the potential for evolution in interactions with ectomycorrhizal fungi, and fewer studies have explored the heritability of mycorrhizal responsiveness, which is required for local adaptation to occur. We set up a reciprocal inoculation experiment using seedlings and soil from four populations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) from Scotland, measuring seedling response to mycorrhizal inoculation after 4 months. We estimated heritability for the response traits and tested for genotype × environment interactions. While we found that ectomycorrhizal responsiveness was highly heritable, we found no evidence that pine populations were locally adapted to fungal communities. Instead, we found a complex suite of interactions between pine population and soil inoculum. Our results suggest that, while Scots pine has the potential to evolve in response to mycorrhizal fungi, evolution in Scotland has not resulted in local adaptation. Long generation times and potential for rapid shifts in fungal communities in response to environmental change may preclude the opportunity for such adaptation in this species, and selection for other factors such as resistance to fungal pathogens may explain the pattern of interactions found.
Bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen: viel Zustimmung, aber auch große Ablehnung
Authors: Schupp Jürgen
Published: February 2020

Das bedingungslose Grundeinkommen wird schon seit vielen Jahren diskutiert. Es soll Probleme lösen, die durch den demografischen Wandel, die Digitalisierung und Automation entstehen können. Dabei sind in Hinblick auf die Details ganz unterschiedliche Konzepte Grundlage für die Diskussion. So ist nicht geklärt, welche Höhe ein solches Grundeinkommen haben sollte, welche Sozialleistungen dadurch ersetzt werden können und vor allem, wie es zu finanzieren ist. In der Praxis wurde es als Feldexperiment in Finnland durchgeführt. Hier wurde vor allem die Frage gestellt, inwieweit das Grundeinkommen bei Arbeitslosen Arbeitsanreize auslöst oder schwächt.
Voucher für Glasfaseranschlüsse: Warum Bund und Länder auf sie verzichten sollten
Authors: Gerpott Torsten J.
Published: February 2020

Seit einigen Jahren wird von verschiedenen Seiten empfohlen, nachfrageseitig den Ausbau von Glasfaseranschlüssen in Deutschland mit „Gigabit-Vouchern“ staatlich zu subventionieren. Solche Gutscheine weisen jedoch erhebliche Nachteile auf. Bundes- und Landesregierungen sollten sie deshalb nicht einsetzen.
Contrast-free high-resolution 3D magnetization transfer imaging for simultaneous myocardial scar and cardiac vein visualization
Authors: López Karina , Neji Radhouene , Mukherjee Rahul K. , Whitaker John , Phinikaridou Alkystis , Razavi Reza , Prieto Claudia , Roujol Sébastien , Botnar René
Published: February 2020

Objective

To develop a three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution free-breathing magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) sequence for contrast-free assessment of myocardial infarct and coronary vein anatomy.

Materials and methods

Two datasets with and without off-resonance magnetization transfer preparation were sequentially acquired to compute MTR. 2D image navigators enabled beat-to-beat translational and bin-to-bin non-rigid motion correction. Two different imaging sequences were explored. MTR scar localization was compared against 3D late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in a porcine model of myocardial infarction. MTR variability across the left ventricle and vessel sharpness in the coronary veins were evaluated in healthy human subjects.

Results

A decrease in MTR was observed in areas with LGE in all pigs (non-infarct: 25.1 ± 1.7% vs infarct: 16.8 ± 1.9%). The average infarct volume overlap on MTR and LGE was 62.5 ± 19.2%. In humans, mean MTR in myocardium was between 37 and 40%. Spatial variability was between 15 and 20% of the mean value. 3D whole heart MT-prepared datasets enabled coronary vein visualization with up to 8% improved vessel sharpness for non-rigid compared to translational motion correction.

Discussion

MTR and LGE showed agreement in infarct detection and localization in a swine model. Free-breathing 3D MTR maps are feasible in humans but high spatial variability was observed. Further clinical studies are warranted.
The New Biology as an Example of Newspeak: The Case of Polish Zoology, 1948–1956
Authors: Strządała Agata
Published: February 2020

The “New Biology” that arose in the Eastern Block during Stalinist times was based on the idea of the heritability of acquired characteristics. In rejecting the paradigm of Mendelian chromosome genetics as well as science-based farming, the New Biology led to a deterioration of scientific life and the free exchange of ideas. In imposing Lysenko’s ideas onto zoology, the New Biology adopted the totalitarian language of Newspeak, which dominated public discourse in communist countries. Newspeak had several defining elements: a limited dictionary, strong valuations, binary oppositions, the magical function of language, militarization, and ritualization of language. In this study, the concept of Newspeak is used to analyze primary sources (publications, speeches, and conference discussions) in Polish zoology in the period between 1948 and 1956. Once the practice of Newspeak began to wane, so did the New Biology that had been founded on this specific ritualistic language.
Opto-thermal Radiometry for Detection of Surface Contamination
Authors: Zhang X. , Bontozoglou C. , Xiao P.
Published: February 2020

The aim of this work is to conduct a proof-of-concept study on detection of surface contamination by biological and chemical agents using opto-thermal transient emission radiometry (OTTER). OTTER is an infrared remote sensing technology that has been developed in our research group for skin measurements. It is based on the measurement of laser-induced transient thermal emission spectra in the infrared fingerprint region, and has advantages of non-contact, non-invasive, spectroscopic in nature, and can work on arbitrary surfaces of any materials. In this paper, two types of experiments were conducted, different ingredients on the surface of a sample material and different ingredients on the skin surface. The results show that by measuring the OTTER signal at different detection wavelengths, e.g., 6.05 μm, 6.48 μm, 7.79 μm, 8.5 μm, 9.5 μm, 11.5 μm, 13.1 μm, it is possible to differentiate from skin and skin with different ingredients on the surface. The next step is to develop mathematical models and analytical algorithms to quantify the ingredient concentration on the surface.
Scheduling in data gathering networks with background communications
Authors: Berlińska Joanna
Published: February 2020

In this work, we study scheduling in star data gathering networks with background communications. The worker nodes of the network hold datasets that have to be transferred directly to the base station. The communication speed of each link changes with time, due to other applications using the network, independently of the speeds of other links. Our goal is to gather all data within the minimum time. We show that while the preemptive version of this problem can be solved in polynomial time, the non-preemptive variant is strongly NP-hard. We propose for it an exact exponential algorithm based on dynamic programming, several polynomial time heuristics and local search algorithms. Theoretical performance guarantees and the existence of dominance relations between the heuristics are studied. The performance of the proposed algorithms is also tested in a series of computational experiments.
The development of soil organic carbon under young black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) trees at a post-mining landscape in eastern Germany
Authors: Kanzler Michael , Böhm Christian , Freese Dirk
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of short rotation alley cropping systems (SRACS) to improve the soil fertility of marginal post-mining sites in Brandenburg, Germany. Therefore, we annually investigated the crop alleys (AC) and black locust hedgerows (ABL) of a SRACS field trail under initial soil conditions to identify the short-term effects of tree planting on the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its degree of stabilization by density fractionation. We detected a significant increase in SOC and hot-water-extractable organic C (HWEOC) at ABL, which was mainly restricted to the uppermost soil layer (0–10 cm). After 6 years, the SOC and HWEOC accumulation rates at ABL were 0.6 Mg and 46 kg ha−1 year−1, which were higher than those in the AC. In addition, comparatively high stocks of approximately 4.6 Mg OC and 182 kg HWEOC ha−1 were stored in the ABL litter layer. Density fractionation of the 0–3 cm soil layer at ABL revealed that the majority of the total SOC (47%) was stored in the free particulate organic matter fraction, which was more than twice that of the AC. At the same time, a higher and steadily increasing amount of SOC was stored in the occluded particulate organic matter fraction at ABL, which indicated a high efficiency for SOC stabilization. Overall, our findings support the suitability of black locust trees for increasing the soil fertility of the reclaimed mining substrate and, consequently, the high potential for SRACS to serve as an effective recultivation measure at marginal sites.
Equilibrium: an elasticity controller for parallel tree search in the cloud
Authors: Kehrer Stefan , Blochinger Wolfgang
Published: February 2020

Elasticity is considered to be the most beneficial characteristic of cloud environments, which distinguishes the cloud from clusters and grids. Whereas elasticity has become mainstream for web-based, interactive applications, it is still a major research challenge how to leverage elasticity for applications from the high-performance computing (HPC) domain, which heavily rely on efficient parallel processing techniques. In this work, we specifically address the challenges of elasticity for parallel tree search applications. Well-known meta-algorithms based on this parallel processing technique include branch-and-bound and backtracking search. We show that their characteristics render static resource provisioning inappropriate and the capability of elastic scaling desirable. Moreover, we discuss how to construct an elasticity controller that reasons about the scaling behavior of a parallel system at runtime and dynamically adapts the number of processing units according to user-defined cost and efficiency thresholds. We evaluate a prototypical elasticity controller based on our findings by employing several benchmarks for parallel tree search and discuss the applicability of the proposed approach. Our experimental results show that, by means of elastic scaling, the performance can be controlled according to user-defined thresholds, which cannot be achieved with static resource provisioning.
Bioavailability of aspirin in fasted and fed states of a novel pharmaceutical lipid aspirin complex formulation
Authors: Angiolillo Dominick J. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Lanza Frank , Deliargyris Efthymios N. , Prats Jayne , Fan Weihong , Marathi Upendra
Published: February 2020

Dyspeptic symptoms are common with aspirin and clinicians frequently recommend that it be taken with food to reduce these side effects. However, food can interfere with absorption, especially with enteric-coated aspirin formulations. We evaluated whether food interferes with the bioavailability of a new, pharmaceutical lipid-aspirin complex (PL-ASA) liquid-filled capsule formulation. In this randomized, open label, crossover study, 20 healthy volunteers fasted for ≥ 10 h and then randomized as either “fasted”, receiving 650 mg of PL-ASA, or as “fed”, with a standard high-fat meal and 650 mg of PL-ASA 30 min later. After a washout of 7 days, participants crossed over to the other arm. The primary outcome was comparison of PK parameters of the stable aspirin metabolite salicylic acid (SA) between fasted and fed states. Mean age of participants was 36.8 years and 55% were male. The ratios for the fed to fasted states of the primary SA PK parameters of AUC0−t and AUC0−∞ were 88.7% and 88.8% respectively, with 90% confidence intervals between 80 and 125%, which is consistent with FDA bioequivalence guidance. Mean peak SA concentration was about 22% lower and occurred about 1.5 h later in the fed state. Food had a modest effect on peak SA levels and the time required to reach them after PL-ASA administration, but did not impact the extent of exposure (AUC) compared with intake in a fasted state. These data demonstrate that PL-ASA may be co-administered with food without significant impact on aspirin bioavailability.

Clinical Trial Registration:http://www.clinicaltrials.gov Unique Identifier: NCT01244100
A fast, simple, high efficient and one-step generation of composite cucumber plants with transgenic roots by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation
Authors: Fan Yinglun , Xu Fenglin , Zhou Huizhen , Liu Xinxin , Yang Xinyue , Weng Kaixia , Sun Xinlu , Lyu Shanhua
Published: February 2020

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation is widely used in different species with various purposes. The development of composite plants (wild-type shoot with transgenic roots) has been a milestone for functional characterization of genes. Previously, composite plants were generated by two steps from inducing of hairy roots to growing in the growth medium. Hairy roots were induced in an induction medium and the growth of composite plants generated were in another different growth medium. The composite plants produced was subject to transplanting. Here, we describe an improved and optimized protocol for generation of composite plant achieved by one-step in cucumber, which has not been reported previously in living plants. Incubation of explants post inoculation to induce transgenic roots and the growth of rooted explants were in the same medium. The primary root of 5-day-old seedling was excised and the slant cut of residual hypocotyl with 1 cm length was inoculated with A. rhizogenes harboring the desired gene construct followed by directly planted into a pot with wet sterile vermiculite. More than 90% of the infected seedlings can produce positive transgenic root. In addition, we further used the one-step transformation protocol to analyze the function of Arabidopsis YAO promoter. The result indicated that pYAO::GUS was highly conserved expression in whole root and high activity in the root tips. Therefore, a fast, expedient, high efficient, and one-step transformation method of composite cucumber produced is established, which is suitable for promoter functional analysis and other root-related events.
TLRs and RAGE are elevated in carotid plaques from patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Authors: Olejarz Wioletta , Głuszko Alicja , Cyran Agata , Bednarek-Rajewska Katarzyna , Proczka Robert , Smith David F. , Ishman Stacey L. , Migacz Ewa , Kukwa Wojciech
Published: February 2020

Background

There is growing evidence that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) promotes vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. Pathways that mediate this pathology may include Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) which play a significant role in proinflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to measure the expression of the above-mentioned receptors in relation to OSA severity in carotid plaques obtained during open endarterectomy.

Methods

This prospective study included patients with a sleep study prior to surgery and a plaque specimen obtained during standard open endarterectomy. Immunohistochemistry of TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, TLR9, RAGE, HMGB1, and NF-κB was performed on atherosclerotic plaques from carotid arteries of patients with and without OSA.

Results

There were 46 patients (22 women, mean age 73.2 ± 1.3 years): 14 control patients, 13 with mild, 11 with moderate, and 8 with severe OSA. The expression of all TLRs and RAGE increased proportionately with increasing OSA severity. The largest differences between patients with severe OSA and no OSA were found for TLR2 (2.88 ± 0.35 vs. 1.27 ± 0.47,p< 0.001), TLR4 (2.88 ± 0.35 vs. 1.64 ± 0.5,p< 0.001), TLR9 (2.38 ± 0.52 vs. 1.45 ± 0.52,p< 0.01), and RAGE (2.5 ± 0.53 vs. 1.82 ± 0.6,p< 0.05).

Conclusion

TLR2, TLR4, TLR9, and RAGE expression was significantly increased in carotid plaques of patients with moderate-to-severe OSA when compared with control patients with no OSA and those with mild OSA. TLR and RAGE-mediated pathways may play a significant role in OSA-dependent atherogenesis.
Assessing environmental impacts of large centralized wastewater treatment plants with combined or separate sewer systems in dry/wet seasons by using LCA
Authors: Rashid Siti Safirah , Liu Yong-Qiang
Published: February 2020

Rainfall can affect influent flow rate and compositions of wastewater, and thus further affect wastewater treatment performance and the effluent quality. This study aims to study the influence of rainfall on the environmental impacts of centralized wastewater treatment plants. The correlations between rainfall, and influent flow rate and compositions of wastewater in wet and dry seasons with two sewer systems, i.e. combined and separate sewer systems, were primarily established. Environmental impacts were assessed with life cycle assessment (LCA) to understand the temporal environmental burdens in wet and dry seasons. Functional units as per m3 treated wastewater (FU1) and as per kg PO43-eq. removed (FU2), respectively, were used to evaluate impacts of wastewater treatment to the environment. Strong correlation between rainfall and the influent flow rate was found in the wastewater treatment plants with either a combined sewer system (with Pearson correlation coefficient r at 0.66) or a separate sewer system (with r at 0.84), where r represents the strength of the association between two variables. The rainfall effect is more obvious on the eutrophication potential and global warming potential than on other environmental indicators while sewer system, i.e. combined or separate, seems not important in the two cases studied. Both wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) show a lower environmental burden in the wet season than in the dry season partially due to the dilution of wastewater by using FU1. The WWTP receiving high strength wastewater, however, demonstrates higher environmental impacts in the wet season by using FU2 than FU1, due to the less efficient treatment caused by heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, it is found that environmental impacts from the WWTP receiving low strength wastewater have no difference when using either FU1 or FU2. The results indicate that the environmental burdens particularly eutrophication and global warming caused by WWTPs are dependent on the correlations of rainfall intensity with wastewater quantity and quality instead of combined or separate sewer system. This could be used to guide a stricter control of eutrophication in a more sensitive season in more vulnerable receiving waters.
Thermally enhanced shale gas recovery: microstructure characteristics of combusted shale
Authors: Cao Yuan-Hao , Chen Wei , Wang Teng-Xi , Yuan Yin-Nan
Published: February 2020

Recently, thermal recovery technologies such as combustion have been studied for shale gas recovery. Thus, understanding of the microstructure of combusted shale is essential for evaluating the effects of thermal treatment on shale gas transport capacity. In this study, the effect of combustion on shale microstructure changes was investigated. Firstly, different-sized shale samples were combusted at 450 °C for 30 min. Afterward, shale microstructure properties including surface topographies, porosity and permeability of the raw and combusted shale samples were measured and compared. It was found that the pore volume and specific surface area increased after combustion, especially for small pulverized samples. According to surface topography obtained from atomic force microscope, more rough surfaces were obtained for the combusted shale due to larger pores and generation of thermal fractures caused by the removal of organic matter. Based on the mercury intrusion porosimetry measurements, the porosity of the shale samples increased from 2.79% to 5.32% after combustion. In addition, the permeability was greatly improved from 0.0019 to 0.6759 mD, with the effective tortuosity decreased from 1075.40 to 49.27. As a result, combustion treatment can significantly improve the gas transport capacity.
Ensuring center quality, proper patient selection and fair access to chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy: position statement of the Austrian CAR-T Cell Network
Authors: Greinix Hildegard T. , Attarbaschi Andishe , Girschikofsky Michael , Greil Richard , Holter Wolfgang , Neumeister Peter , Peters Christina , Petzer Andreas , Rudzki Jakob , Schlenke Peter , Schmitt Clemens A. , Schwinger Wolfgang , Wolf Dominik , Worel Nina , Jaeger Ulrich
Published: February 2020

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) are a novel form of cellular immunotherapy for patients with hematologic and oncologic malignancies. Known side effects of these approved cellular immunotherapies are cytokine release syndrome, immune-cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome, cytopenias, infections and long-lasting B cell aplasia. Safe administration of CAR-T cell therapy requires thorough patient selection and patient care in qualified CAR-T cell centers.
Risk Transfer for Populations in Precarious Urban Environments
Authors: Sarmiento Juan Pablo , Torres-Muñoz Ana María
Published: February 2020

This study explores risk transfer options that precarious and marginal urban communities could use to protect themselves from future damages and losses generated by socio-natural hazards and disasters at the individual and community levels. The design is framed within an evidence-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy and follows the case study research approach. We analyze the 2018 Neighborhood Approach for DRR programming evaluation carried out in four Latin American cities’ informal settlements and review relevant risk transfer experiences aimed at vulnerable populations. We calculate the pure risk premium for the four cases selected, using a previous catastrophe risk assessment for earthquakes and landslides. We propose three risk transfer options based on our analysis: (1) voluntary collective insurance; (2) structural reinforcement with a comprehensive housing insurance; and (3) hybrid parametric insurance. Risk transfer mechanisms conventionally focus on residual risk management. Here, due to the precariousness of the analyzed urban settings, the proposed alternatives go beyond the management of just residual risk to positively impact the beneficiaries’ quality of life and the reduction of the built environment’s physical vulnerability in the short and medium terms. Our study proposes a prospective estimation of future risk despite the limitations of data availability. This study opens a window to new approaches and proposes a systematic process to design DRR policy aimed at the poor and vulnerable strata of society.
Laser powder bed fusion of 30CrNiMo8 steel for quenching and tempering: examination of the processability and mechanical properties
Authors: Zumofen Livia , Kirchheim Andreas , Dennig Hans-Jörg
Published: February 2020

The layer-by-layer principle of additive manufacturing technology laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) opens up completely new possibilities in the design and manufacturing of lightweight and efficient gear components. For example, integration of contour conform cooling and lubrication channels into gear components can increase their service life and reduce lubricant consumption. Steels for quenching and tempering and case hardening steels are commonly used materials for gear components. However, the availability of these alloys for LPBF processing is still limited. In particular, the 30CrNiMo8 steel for quenching and tempering is frequently used for gear wheels. This specific alloy is largely unknown regarding LPBF processing and remains challenging, because of its susceptibility to cracking and the high temperature gradients that occur during the LPBF process. Therefore, this study focuses on the LPBF processing of 30CrNiMo8 powder material including process parameter evaluation and material characterization. Additionally, effects of the heat treatment on the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Within this study the 30CrNiMo8 has been processed successfully with a density of well above 99.5% leading to promising mechanical properties. A more homogenous microstructure has been achieved with quenching and tempering, compared to the as-build state.
Integrated watershed revitalization: the experience of the Mersey Basin Campaign
Authors: Kim Joon Sik , Batey Peter W. J.
Published: February 2020

The collaborative partnership approach has been used extensively in the practice of integrated river basin management across the world for at least the last two decades. This is despite the fact that there has been widespread acknowledgement that partnership working has operational difficulties, especially in the face of political inequality in a real-life context. This paper draws on the results of a research project investigating a concrete example of collaborative partnerships, the Mersey Basin Campaign, a government-sponsored 25-year initiative that aimed to improve water quality and the waterside environments of the Mersey River Basin. This research explores how the Campaign came to be formed, how it was organized and how partnership projects were implemented. The mechanism of the partnership service delivery is developed under three headings: consensus building, facilitation and open participation. The analysis of the results shows that governance and leadership partnership arrangements, which have evolved over time to reflect changing political and institutional environments, are critical for the implementation of watershed partnerships. The results from revisiting the practice of the Mersey Basin Campaign should be of assistance to planners to improve governance of watershed partnerships.
Costume Play and Young Adults’ Socio-Economic Insertion Pathways in Japan
Authors: Truong Alexis H. , Gaudet Stéphanie
Published: February 2020

This article shows how young adults’ cultural practices in Japan have become a social trajectory whose study is essential to understanding the life journeys of youths. Costume play, orkosupure, is a form of popular culture mediation that facilitates young people’s social integration and fosters their sense of belonging. Studying these practices helps to better understand and define the changing importance of leisure in Japan in young people’s lives, in particular since the collapse of the economic bubble. Based on life stories and participant observation, we analyze the interweaving of these leisure practices and life courses. Our analysis helps to understand the symbolic and social roles of these activities in practitioners’ lives in the form of three pathway types. On the professional path, young people’s cultural practices open doors to employment. On the enchanted path, kosupure practices function above all in “response” to a society perceived by some young adults as “conformist”. On the contingency path, these practices facilitate social insertion. To conclude, we discuss these practices as cultural mediation tools that support young people’s cultural citizenship.
Young adolescents’ responsiveness to sexual communication with their mother: Distinguishing diverse intentions
Authors: Sears Heather A. , Robinson Brett S. , Byers E. Sandra
Published: February 2020

Introduction

It is unlikely that parents can have effective sexuality discussions with their adolescent if the adolescent is not responsive to their efforts. We evaluated young adolescents’ intentions of being responsive to sexual communication with their mother and whether youths who were likely, ambivalent, or unlikely to be responsive differed on their characteristics, features of previous sexual communication, and features of the mother‐adolescent relationship.

Methods

Participants were 259 Canadian adolescents (12–14 years; 53% girls) who received and returned a survey by mail. They completed measures of responsiveness intentions, expected outcomes of sexual communication, extent of past sexual communication, the frequency with which mothers encouraged questions and provided information about sexuality topics, open communication, and mothers’ provision of warmth, structure, and autonomy support.

Results

We found that 37% of adolescents were likely to be responsive to sexual communication with their mother, 34% were ambivalent, and 29% were unlikely to be responsive. Youths’ responsiveness intentions were general rather than topic‐specific. A discriminant analysis showed that only features of previous sexual communication separated all three groups whereas specific mother‐adolescent relationship features (open communication and structure) and one adolescent characteristic (expected outcomes) separated the unlikely group from the other groups.

Conclusions

Young adolescents' intentions of being responsive to sexual communication from their mother are diverse yet general in nature. Mothers' engagement in sexual communication appears essential for youths' openness to these discussions. Enhancing specific mother‐adolescent relationship features and youths’ outcome expectations may shift adolescents who are resistant to sexuality discussions to being more sure.
Peer‐relationship patterns and their association with types of child abuse and adolescent risk behaviors among youth at‐risk of maltreatment
Authors: Yoon Dalhee
Published: February 2020

Introduction

This study investigates underlying patterns of peer relationships using diverse concepts (i.e., peer dynamics, peer popularity, and deviant peer affiliation). It also examines whether the patterns of peer relationships differ by type of child abuse, as well as the association between peer relationships and adolescent risk behaviors.

Methods

This study included a sample of 659 youth (328 boys, 331 girls) at‐risk of maltreatment, primarily low‐income and living in the U.S. Peer dynamics were assessed using five separate components (self‐report). Peer popularity was measured using teacher's estimation of child's peer status. Deviant peer affiliation was assessed using a modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior and Monitoring the Future Survey. Each type of abuse was assessed at age 12 using a self‐report method. Self‐reported adolescent sexual risk behaviors and substance use were assessed at age 16.

Results

Latent class analysis identified 4 distinct patterns: 1) Friendly, with prosocial peer groups (10.2%); 2) Socially ignored, with prosocial peer groups (55.2%); 3) Severely antisocial peer groups (6.8%); and 4) Moderately antisocial peer groups (27.8%). Among all types of child abuse, emotionally abused youth were more likely to be involved in severely antisocial peer groups. Additionally, youth in the severely antisocial peer groups were more likely to exhibit adolescent risk behaviors.

Conclusions

These findings argue clearly for the need to gain a deeper understanding of the role played by peer relationships, and of the effect of emotional abuse on the likelihood of membership in severely antisocial peer groups.
Child Helpers
Authors: Lancy David F.
Published: February 2020

In most of the worlds' distinct cultures, children – from toddlerhood – eagerly volunteer to help others with their chores. Laboratory research in child psychology supports the claim that the helper “stage” is biologically based. This Element examines the development of helping in varied cultural contexts, in particular, reviewing evidence for supportive environments in the ethnographic record versus an environment that extinguishes the drive to be helpful in WEIRD children. In the last section, the benefits of the helper stage are discussed, specifically the development of an ability to work and learn collaboratively.
Cut and project sets with polytopal window I: Complexity
Authors: KOIVUSALO HENNA , WALTON JAMES J.
Published: February 2020

We calculate the growth rate of the complexity function for polytopal cut and project sets. This generalizes work of Julien where the almost canonical condition is assumed. The analysis of polytopal cut and project sets has often relied on being able to replace acceptance domains of patterns by so-called cut regions. Our results correct mistakes in the literature where these two notions are incorrectly identified. One may only relate acceptance domains and cut regions when additional conditions on the cut and project set hold. We find a natural condition, called the quasicanonical condition, guaranteeing this property and demonstrate by counterexample that the almost canonical condition is not sufficient for this. We also discuss the relevance of this condition for the current techniques used to study the algebraic topology of polytopal cut and project sets.
Free minimal actions of countable groups with invariant probability measures
Authors: ELEK GÁBOR
Published: February 2020

We prove that for any countable group $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$, there exists a free minimal continuous action $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}:\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}\curvearrowright {\mathcal{C}}$ on the Cantor set admitting an invariant Borel probability measure.
Physical health trajectories of young people commenced on clozapine
Authors: O’Donoghue B. , Mujanovic A. , Young S. , Bridson T. , Mora L. , Bismark M. , Cocks J. , Siskind D. , McGorry P.
Published: February 2020

Objectives:

Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic medication, but it has the highest propensity for metabolic side effects. A clozapine clinic was established within an early intervention for psychosis service to facilitate the timely commencement of clozapine and to manage the associated adverse effects. This study describes the changes in the weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure after 6 months in young people commenced on clozapine.

Method:

This was a prospective cohort study of all young people, aged 15–24 years, commenced on clozapine within an early intervention service in Melbourne, Australia, between 01.04.2016 and 30.06.2018. Continuous data were analyzed with pairedt-test and categorical with Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results:

Twenty-six young people received 6 months of treatment with clozapine, of whom the mean age was 19.8 years (s.d.±3.1) and 66.7% were male. After 6 months, the mean weight gain was 5.1 kg (s.d.±10.1 kg) and over half (53.8%) gained clinically significant weight. The proportion of young people classified as either overweight or obese rose from 69.2% to 88.5% (p= 0.006). The proportion of young people with a waist circumference above the recommended parameters increased from 57.9% to 78.9% (p= 0.008). Hypertension was present in 30%, and after 6 months, 45% had hypertension (p= 0.64). Metformin was prescribed to 34.6%, typically to those with the greatest and most rapid weight gain.

Conclusion:

Among young people with treatment resistant psychosis, clozapine is associated with significant metabolic side effects in the early stages of commencement. More interventions aimed at attenuating this weight gain are needed.
Resistive accretion flows around a Kerr black hole
Authors: Shaghaghian M.
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we present the stationary axisymmetric configuration of a resistive magnetised thick accretion disc in the vicinity of external gravity and intrinsic dipolar magnetic field of a slowly rotating black hole. The plasma is described by the equations of fully general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) along with the Ohm’s law and in the absence of the effects of radiation fields. We try to solve these two-dimensional MHD equations analytically as much as possible. However, we sometimes inevitably refer to numerical methods as well. To fully understand the relativistic geometrically thick accretion disc structure, we consider all three components of the fluid velocity to be non-zero. This implies that the magnetofluid can flow in all three directions surrounding the central black hole. As we get radially closer to the hole, the fluid flows faster in all those directions. However, as we move towards the equator along the meridional direction, the radial inflow becomes stronger from both the speed and the mass accretion rate points of view. Nonetheless, the vertical (meridional) speed and the rotation of the plasma disc become slower in that direction. Due to the presence of pressure gradient forces, a sub-Keplerian angular momentum distribution throughout the thick disc is expected as well. To get a concise analytical form of the rate of accretion, we assume that the radial dependency of radial and meridional fluid velocities is the same. This simplifying assumption leads to radial independency of mass accretion rate. The motion of the accreting plasma produces an azimuthal current whose strength is specified based on the strength of the external dipolar magnetic field. This current generates a poloidal magnetic field in the disc which is continuous across the disc boundary surface due to the presence of the finite resistivity for the plasma. The gas in the disc is vertically supported not only by the gas pressure but also by the magnetic pressure.
Kato–Matsumoto-type results for disentanglements
Authors: Peñafort Sanchis G. , Zach M.
Published: February 2020

We consider the possible disentanglements of holomorphic map germs f: (ℂn, 0) → (ℂN, 0), 0 < n < N, with nonisolated locus of instability Inst (f). The aim is to achieve lower bounds for their (homological) connectivity in terms of dim Inst (f). Our methods apply in the case of corank 1.
On the non-divisorial base locus of big and nef line bundles on K3[2]-type varieties
Authors: Rieß Ulrike
Published: February 2020

We approach non-divisorial base loci of big and nef line bundles on irreducible symplectic varieties. While for K3 surfaces, only divisorial base loci can occur, nothing was known about the behaviour of non-divisorial base loci for more general irreducible symplectic varieties. We determine the base loci of all big and nef line bundles on the Hilbert scheme of two points on very general K3 surfaces of genus two and on their birational models. Remarkably, we find an ample line bundle with a non-trivial base locus in codimension two. We deduce that, generically in the moduli spaces of polarized K3[2]-type varieties, the polarization is base point free.
On theL∞-maximization of the solution of Poisson's equation: Brezis–Gallouet–Wainger type inequalities and applications
Authors: Harutyunyan Davit , Mikayelyan Hayk
Published: February 2020

For the solution of the Poisson problem with anL∞right hand side\begin{cases} -\Delta u(x) = f (x) & {\rm in}\ D, \\ u=0 & {\rm on}\ \partial D \end{cases}we derive an optimal estimate of the form\|u\|_\infty\leq \|f\|_\infty \sigma_D(\|f\|_1/\|f\|_\infty),where σDis a modulus of continuity defined in the interval [0, |D|] and depends only on the domainD. The inequality is optimal for any domainDand for any values of$\|f\|_1$and$\|f\|_\infty .$We also show that\sigma_D(t)\leq\sigma_B(t),\text{ for }t\in[0,|D|],whereBis a ball and |B| = |D|. Using this optimality property of σD, we derive Brezis–Galloute–Wainger type inequalities on theL∞norm ofuin terms of theL1andL∞norms off. As an application we deriveL∞−L1estimates on thek-th Laplace eigenfunction of the domainD.
Optimising the follow-up of adult coeliac disease with a clinical-based score to identify patients in need of a histological reassessment: a retrospective single centre study
Authors: Harder Gaia , Schiepatti Annalisa , Biagi Federico , Borrelli de Andreis Federica , Agazzi Simona , Gabrielli Gian Marco , Klersy Catherine
Published: February 2020

Follow-up modalities for adult coeliac patients remain controversial. Non-invasive markers to identify coeliac patients on a gluten-free diet (GFD) with persistence of villous atrophy (VA) are still lacking. We aim to develop a score to stratify coeliac patients on a GFD according to their risk of having persistent VA and to tailor follow-up modalities accordingly. The clinical notes of over 700 coeliac patients attending our unit (September 1999–November 2018) were retrospectively examined. A total of 273 patients on a GFD with a histological follow-up performed 12–24 months after diagnosis were selected. We developed a bivariable model based on diet adherence and clinical response evaluated by previously validated methods. A four-level score (0·5, 1·5, 3, 4) was obtained. Patients on a strict GFD and with good clinical conditions (score 4) have a very low risk of persistence of VA (2 (95 % CI 1, 5) %). Conversely, the risk is very high (46 (95 % CI 25, 68) %) in patients with poor adherence to a GFD and unsatisfactory clinical response (score 0·5). A score of 1·5 (poor GFD adherence and persistent well-being) is linked with a high risk (23 (95 % CI 14, 36) %). Risk is intermediate (6 (95 % CI 3, 10) %) in patients scoring 3 (strict GFD and no/partial clinical improvement). Three patients who developed complications belonged to this scenario. Patients at low risk of persistent VA can be followed-up non-invasively, whereas a biopsy should be repeated in those at high/very high risk. Case-by-case evaluation is needed in patients at intermediate risk. Studies on a larger sample size are required to confirm these data.
Urine metabolome alterations in malnutrition and the impact of glycerol or rumen-protected choline chloride supplementation in advanced pregnant ewes
Authors: Guo Changzheng , Xue Yanfeng , Yin Yuyang , Xuan Haipeng , Hu Fan , Mao Shengyong
Published: February 2020

The objective of this study was to explore the metabolic profiles of pregnancy malnutrition induced by feed restriction (FR) and the counteracting effects of glycerol and rumen-protected choline chloride supplementation. Two feeding trials were conducted. In the first experiment, twenty pregnant Hu sheep carrying multiple fetuses with a gestation period of 108 d were randomly divided into two groups. The ewes in the control (CON) group were offered 100 % of their nutritional requirements as recommended by the National Research Council (NRC), while the FR group was offered 30 % of feed intake of CON for 15 d. In the second experiment, eighteen pregnant Hu sheep were offered a feed intake comprising 30 % of the NRC-recommended nutritional requirements twice daily. The sheep were randomly divided into three groups: the FR group in the second experiment (FR2), with no supplementation, the glycerol (GLY) group, which received 40 ml of glycerol per d, and the rumen-protected choline chloride (RPC) group, which received 10 g of rumen-protected choline chloride per d for 9 d. In the first experiment, the urine metabolome of sixteen ewes showed significant difference between the CON group and FR group. Compared with the CON group, FR decreased the level of d-glucose, lactic acid, levoglucosan, α-ketoglutarate, phosphohydroxypyruvic acid, glucose 6-phosphate and the methyl donors, while increasing the level of pyruvate, fumaric acid and carnitines in urine. Both the GLY and RPC treatments counteracted some of these changes and modulated the urine metabolome in advanced pregnant ewes suffering from malnutrition.
“Why Sit Ye Here and Die”? Counterhegemonic Histories of the Black Female Intellectual in Nineteenth-Century America
Authors: FRASER REBECCA J. , GRIFFIN MARTYN
Published: February 2020

This paper examines the work and lives of black female activist intellectuals in the years before the formation of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACWC) in 1896. Looking deeper at arguments originally made by Maria Stewart concerning the denial of black women's ambitions and limiting potential in their working lives, the analysis employs the work of the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci, in particular his notion of the intellectual, to help reflect on the centrality of these black women in the development of an early counterhegemonic movement.
Reproductive efficiency in the developing world
Authors: Ross John , Jain Anrudh K
Published: February 2020

This study proposes a measure of reproductive losses starting from conception to age 15 as an assessment of childbearing ‘efficiency’. It is suggested that losses are due to miscarriages, abortions, stillbirths and deaths to age 15. Data were drawn from various sources for seven regions embracing 129 developing countries. Mortality is an important loss in severely disadvantaged regions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, but the abortion rates are lower there. This is reversed in the more advanced regions, where mortality is low but abortion rates are higher. Total losses numerically depend upon the rates in combination with the numbers of conceptions. The general ‘efficiency’ in moving from conception to a surviving child aged 15 was estimated. The abortion component of wastage has apparently not improved over time, but the mortality component has done so. Abortion rates are found to drive reproductive efficiency downwards; but efficiency is positively correlated with contraceptive use once abortion is controlled for. This implies that as efficiency is improved more couples gain confidence to turn to contraceptive use to avoid unplanned pregnancies and births.
Cabo Verde and the MCA foreign aid programme
Authors: Resende-Santos João
Published: February 2020

In 2005, Cabo Verde became the second African country to receive the new foreign aid programme of the USA, the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). It was among the few recipients of a second grant. Foreign aid has always been a controversial and hotly contested issue, and the MCA is no exception. This paper, based partly on personal experience with the programme, provides a critical examination of the nature, process and implementation of the MCA grants in Cabo Verde. The country had campaigned aggressively for the grants. The MCA not only financed important public investments, it was debt-free and without conditionalities. However, even while it allowed more leeway over its use and implementation compared with other aid programmes, it engendered its own challenges.
Biometric identification technologies and the Ghanaian ‘data revolution’
Authors: Thiel Alena
Published: February 2020

In the global effort to strengthen national identification systems (SDG 16.9), biometric identification technologies and civil registration systems have been associated with different motives and applications, thus fuelling their competition for public attention and resources. The case of Ghana illustrates how these alternative systems, along with further sources of personal data, have recently been integrated into the larger political vision of a centralised, national population data system. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, the paper traces the difficulties and institutional negotiations that accompany this integration into a centralised population data infrastructure. Acknowledging how sets of actors, infrastructures and power relations are layered onto each other to unintended effects, the article describes the historical process of institutional and infrastructural harmonisation in the production of biometric population registers in Ghana.
Homo adorans:exitus et reditusin theological anthropology
Authors: Arcadi James M.
Published: February 2020

Thinking with and beyond Alexander Schmemann, this essay constructs a theological anthropology that conceives of humans as standing as priests at the centre of the cosmos. Within theexitus et reditusframework of neoplatonic thinking, the cosmos proceeds from and returns to the one God. Recent biblical theology has interpreted theimago Deiin a royal-functional sense. However, this essay argues for a priestly-functional interpretation of theimago Deithat comports better with the conceptual schema of Genesis 1–2 when read through anexitus et redituslens. Ramifications for worship and work follow the constructive portion of the essay.