bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of active movement in fungal ecology and community assembly
Authors: Bielčik Miloš , Aguilar-Trigueros Carlos A. , Lakovic Milica , Jeltsch Florian , Rillig Matthias C.
Published: November 2019

Movement ecology aims to provide common terminology and an integrative framework of movement research across all groups of organisms. Yet such work has focused on unitary organisms so far, and thus the important group of filamentous fungi has not been considered in this context. With the exception of spore dispersal, movement in filamentous fungi has not been integrated into the movement ecology field. At the same time, the field of fungal ecology has been advancing research on topics like informed growth, mycelial translocations, or fungal highways using its own terminology and frameworks, overlooking the theoretical developments within movement ecology. We provide a conceptual and terminological framework for interdisciplinary collaboration between these two disciplines, and show how both can benefit from closer links: We show how placing the knowledge from fungal biology and ecology into the framework of movement ecology can inspire both theoretical and empirical developments, eventually leading towards a better understanding of fungal ecology and community assembly. Conversely, by a greater focus on movement specificities of filamentous fungi, movement ecology stands to benefit from the challenge to evolve its concepts and terminology towards even greater universality. We show how our concept can be applied for other modular organisms (such as clonal plants and slime molds), and how this can lead towards comparative studies with the relationship between organismal movement and ecosystems in the focus.
Algorithms for joint activity–attenuation estimation from positron emission tomography scatter
Authors: Berker Yannick , Schulz Volkmar , Karp Joel S.
Published: November 2019

Background

Attenuation correction in positron emission tomography remains challenging in the absence of measured transmission data. Scattered emission data may contribute missing information, but quantitative scatter-to-attenuation (S2A) reconstruction needs to input the reconstructed activity image. Here, we study S2A reconstruction as a building block for joint estimation of activity and attenuation.

Methods

We study two S2A reconstruction algorithms, maximum-likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) with one-step-late attenuation (MLEM-OSL) and a maximum-likelihood gradient ascent (MLGA). We study theoretical properties of these algorithms with a focus on convergence and convergence speed and compare convergence speeds and the impact of object size in simulations using different spatial scale factors. Then, we propose joint estimation of activity and attenuation from scattered and nonscattered (true) emission data, combining MLEM-OSL or MLGA with scatter-MLEM as well as trues-MLEM and the maximum-likelihood transmission (MLTR) algorithm.

Results

Shortcomings of MLEM-OSL inhibit convergence to the true solution with high attenuation; these shortcomings are related to the linearization of a nonlinear measurement equation and can be linked to a new numerical criterion allowing geometrical interpretations in terms of low and high attenuation. Comparisons using simulated data confirm that while MLGA converges largely independent of the attenuation scale, MLEM-OSL converges if low-attenuation data dominate, but not with high attenuation. Convergence of MLEM-OSL can be improved by isolating data satisfying the aforementioned low-attenuation criterion. In joint estimation of activity and attenuation, scattered data helps avoid local minima that nonscattered data alone cannot. Combining MLEM-OSL with trues-MLEM may be sufficient for low-attenuation objects, while MLGA, scatter-MLEM, and MLTR may additionally be needed with higher attenuation.

Conclusions

The performance of S2A algorithms depends on spatial scales. MLGA provides lower computational complexity and convergence in more diverse setups than MLEM-OSL. Finally, scattered data may provide additional information to joint estimation of activity and attenuation through S2A reconstruction.
Mental health in Malawi
Authors: Lilford Philippa
Published: November 2019

This is a reflective essay about the time I spent volunteering in mental healthcare in Malawi, prior to commencing my psychiatry training. The burden of illness I saw was enormous and the resources very limited; however, I describe some particular experiences where we were able to deliver excellent care, and which made me reflect about mental health services in low-income countries in general. Details of the patients discussed in this essay have been fully anonymised.
How to promote ‘discipline without tough love’ during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Suzuki Shunji
Published: November 2019

Background: In Japan, the effect of education using the leaflet ‘Discipline Without Tough Love’ on mothers during caring for their infants have been reported. We examined the effect of this education on pregnant Japanese women.

Methods: The present study was a prospective investigation of all Japanese women with singleton pregnancies who visited our hospital for a perinatal visit at 20-23 weeks’ gestation between November 2017 and March 2018 and gave birth at ≥ 37 weeks’ gestation at our hospital. We examined the maternal feelings (bonding situation) to babies of women who received the leaflet in comparison with that in women who did not receive it during the health check-up performed routinely at one month after delivery using the Japanese version of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale.

Results: There were no significant differences in maternal feelings for their babies between the two groups of women.

Conclusions: We did not identify any effect of health consultations cased on ‘Discipline Without Tough Love’ during pregnancy on maternal feelings toward babies at one month after delivery. A further study to enlighten pregnant women about parenting without corporal punishment will be needed in Japan.

Registration: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials 1030190112; registered on 5 October 2019.
Application of behavioral economics principles to reduce injectable contraceptive discontinuation in rural Ethiopia: A stratified-pair, cluster-randomized field trial
Authors: Karim Ali Mehryar , Guichon Dana , Yihun Bantalem Yeshanew , Zemichael Nebreed Fesseha , Lorenzana Karina , Barofsky Jeremy , Betemariam Wuleta
Published: November 2019

Background: Contraceptive prevalence in Ethiopia jumped from 6% in 2000 to 36% in 2016, mainly due to increased injectable method use. However, discontinuation rates among injectable users were high (38%). Given that the public sector is the major source for injectable contraceptives, John Snow Inc. (JSI) in collaboration with ideas42 worked with Ethiopia’s flagship Health Extension Program to apply behavioral design to mitigate discontinuation of injectable contraceptives.

Methods: We applied behavioral economics insights to mitigate the discontinuation of injectable contraceptives. This process created an intervention package, consisting of a health worker planning calendar, a client counseling job aid, and client appointment cards. A stratified-pair cluster-randomized field trial tested the effectiveness of the intervention. The study area included two districts from the four regions where JSI was implementing a family planning program. One district from each region was randomly allocated to the intervention arm. Women visiting health posts to use injectable contraceptives were enrolled in the study. Regression methods, adjusted for study design, participants’ backgrounds, and contextual factors, estimated the intervention’s effect on discontinuation rates.

Results: A behavioral design methodology was feasibly implemented in a rural, low-resource setting in Ethiopia. The resultant intervention package was successfully delivered in 19 satellite health posts in four districts. Intervention adherence was high for the appointment cards and counseling job aid, but not for the planning calendar. The injectable discontinuation rate was 10.8 % (95% confidence interval: 2.2, 19.3) points lower in the intervention area compared to the control area during the post-intervention follow-up survey.

Conclusion: The use of two tools informed by behavioral economics —the appointment card and counseling job aid—effectively decreased injectable discontinuation even with the presence of other health system bottlenecks. Behavioral economics insights and the behavioral design methodology have the potential to enhance family planning programs in Ethiopia and elsewhere.
Randomized, double-blinded, controlled non-inferiority trials evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of fractional doses of Yellow Fever vaccines in Kenya and Uganda
Authors: Kimathi Derick , Juan Aitana , Bejon Philip , Grais Rebecca F. , Warimwe George M. ,   YEFE and NIFTY vaccine trials teams
Published: November 2019

Introduction: Yellow fever is endemic in specific regions of sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas, with recent epidemics occurring on both continents. The yellow fever vaccine is effective, affordable and safe, providing life-long immunity following a single dose vaccination. However, the vaccine production process is slow and cannot be readily scaled up during epidemics. This has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to recommend the use of fractional doses as a dose-sparing strategy during epidemics, but there are no randomized controlled trials of fractional yellow fever vaccine doses in Africa.

Methods and analysis: We will recruit healthy adult volunteers, adults living with HIV, and children to a series of randomized controlled trials aiming to determine the immunogenicity and safety of fractional vaccine doses in comparison to the standard vaccine dose. The trials will be conducted across two sites; Kilifi, Kenya and Mbarara, Uganda. Recruited participants will be randomized to receive fractional or standard doses of yellow fever vaccine. Scheduled visits will include blood collection for serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before vaccination and on various days – up to 2 years – post-vaccination. The primary outcome is the rate of seroconversion as measured by the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT50) at 28 days post-vaccination. Secondary outcomes include antibody titre changes, longevity of the immune response, safety assessment using clinical data, the nature and magnitude of the cellular immune response and post-vaccination control of viremia by vaccine dose.

Ethics and dissemination: The clinical trial protocols have received approval from the relevant institutional ethics and regulatory review committees in Kenya and Uganda, and the WHO Ethics Review Committee. The research findings will be disseminated through open-access publications and presented at relevant conferences and workshops.

Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02991495 (registered on 13 December 2016) and NCT04059471 (registered on 15 August 2019).
Imaging Strategies and Outcomes in Children Hospitalized with Cervical Lymphadenitis
Authors: Desai Sanyukta , Shah Samir S , Hall Matt , Richardson Troy E , Thomson Joanna E , Network. for the Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings (PRIS)
Published: November 2019

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to describe variation in imaging practices and examine the association between early imaging and outcomes in children hospitalized with cervical lymphadenitis.

METHODS

This multicenter cross‐sectional study included children between two months and 18 years hospitalized with cervical lymphadenitis between 2013 and 2017. Children with complex chronic conditions, transferred from another institution, and with prior hospitalizations for lymphadenitis were excluded. To examine hospital‐level variation, we calculated the proportion of children at each hospital who received any imaging study, early imaging (conducted on day 0 of hospitalization), multiple imaging studies, and CT imaging. Generalized linear or logistic mixed effects models examined the association between early imaging and outcomes (ie, multiple imaging studies, surgical drainage, 30‐day readmission, and length of stay) while accounting for patient demographics, markers of illness duration and severity, and clustering by hospital.

RESULTS

Among 10,014 children with cervical lymphadenitis, 61% received early imaging. There was hospital‐level variation in imaging practices. Compared with children who did not receive early imaging, children who received early imaging presented increased odds of having multiple imaging studies (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.0; 95% CI: 2.6‐3.6), surgical drainage (aOR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1‐1.4), and 30‐day readmission for lymphadenitis (aOR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2‐1.9), as well as longer lengths of stay (adjusted rate ratio 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1‐1.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Children receiving early imaging had more resource utilization and intervention than those without early imaging. Our findings may represent a cascade effect, in which routinely conducted early imaging prompts clinicians to pursue additional testing and interventions in this population.
Regulatory Spillovers in Common Audit Markets
Authors: Duguay Raphael , Minnis Michael , Sutherland Andrew
Published: November 2019

We find that Sarbanes–Oxley (SOX) had two significant effects on the audit market for nonpublic entities. The first short-run effect stems from inelastic labor supply coupled with an audit demand shock from public companies. As a result, private companies reduced their use of attested financial reports in bank financing by 12%, and audit fee increases for nonprofit organizations (NPOs) more than doubled. The second long-run effect was a transformation in the audit supply structure. After SOX, NPOs were less likely to match with auditors most exposed to public companies, whereas auditors increasingly specialized their offices based on client type. Audit market concentration for NPOs dropped by more than one-half within five years of SOX and remained at this level through the end of our sample in 2013, whereas the number of suppliers increased by 26%. Our results demonstrate how regulation directed at public companies generates economically important spillovers for nonpublic entities.

This paper was accepted by Suraj Srinivasan, accounting.
Advanced practitioners in gastrointestinal nursing
Authors: Harrison Penny
Published: November 2019

Penny Harrison, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at De Montfort University, Leicester, discusses the advanced nurse practitioner role
Silicone-based adhesive removers for preventing peristomal skin complications caused by mechanical trauma
Authors: Tielemans Chantal , Voegeli David
Published: November 2019

Peristomal skin complications (PSCs) are reported by 77% of people with a stoma, with a serious impact on their quality of life, as well as on healthcare resources. PSCs are usually caused by irritant contact dermatitis from stoma effluent or skin stripping from mechanical trauma to the stratum corneum caused by removal of the ostomy appliance. The risk of mechanical trauma is higher in neonates, young infants and older adults, who have more fragile, friable skin. The incidence and impact of PSCs can be reduced with an appropriate appliance change routine. Mechanical trauma is reduced by minimising the frequency of appliance changes and using an adhesive remover wipe or spray. In adults with a stoma, silicone-based solvents are considered the first choice, as they are skin-friendly and sting-free, and they release the adhesive from the skin quickly and evaporate within seconds, without leaving a residue. However, for neonates, wipes and specialist paediatric oil-based adhesive removers are advised instead. The efficacy of adhesive removers, and silicone-based solvents in particular, at maintaining skin integrity and reducing discomfort has been reported by both stoma care nurses and people with a stoma.
Clinical Digest
Authors: O'Flynn Sinéad Kelly
Published: November 2019

Sinéad Kelly O'Flynn, Clinical Research Nurse, Cork, Ireland, provides a brief overview of recently published articles on wound, ostomy and continence care
Research roundup: November 2019
Authors: Odd Dawn , Seal Joanne
Published: November 2019

In this section, a range of brief synopses of recently published articles that may be of interest to health visitors is presented. The aim of this roundup is to provide an overview, rather than a detailed summary, of the research papers selected. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided.
Perinatal mental health provision across the UK
Authors: Hancock David
Published: November 2019

A critical report has found that many new mothers still do not know where to turn for help and support with their mental health. Dave Hancock looks into the implications for health visitors and service provision around the country
Development of an all Wales Health Visitor Observation and Assessment of the Infant tool
Authors: Holland Amanda
Published: November 2019

The Health Visitor Observation and Assessment of the Infant (HOAI) was introduced throughout Wales as a key intervention within the Healthy Child Wales Programme, launched by the Welsh Government in 2016. It is an approach used by health visitors in Wales to observe and assess an infant's physical development and emotional wellbeing. This article discusses the findings of the first phase of a research project aimed at developing an evidence-informed tool to guide and standardise health visiting practice when implementing and recording the HOAI. It will go on to explore health visitors' views of the current HOAI aids and the development of a HOAI tool. Phase one results indicate mixed views among health visitors relating to the accessibility, desirability and usability of current HOAI aids. A clear theme emerged relating to participants' desire for a HOAI tool that is user friendly, clear, concise and avoids duplication.
A family of nurses
Authors: Oldman Crystal
Published: November 2019

Health visitors play a major part in supporting and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of families with young children, and their role must be recognised and valued, says Crystal Oldman
Irradiation of intraerythrocytic Plasmodium berghei with a fractionated dose of gamma rays does not effectively reduce the infectivity in mice Mus musculus
Authors: Syaifudin Mukh , Nurhayati Siti , Darlina Darlina , Lusiyanti Yanti , Kisnanto Teja
Published: November 2019

Malaria infection kills more than one million human every year, mainly under-5-year-old children, including in South East Asian nations. Gamma radiation given at a single dose is commonly used to create the attenuated Plasmodium parasites to get vaccine materials. However, there is no study on the infectivity of parasites after fractionated γ-radiation. This study aimed to assess the infectivity of parasites after irradiated with fractionated γ-rays in mice. A number of Plasmodium bergheithat was irradiated in two fractions of 100 and 50 Gy, 100 and 75 Gy; and 100 and 100 Gy within 5 minutes of interval time was injected intraperitoneally into 12 mice. Mice injected with unirradiated parasites (0 Gy) served as a control group. The parasitemia level of intraerythrocytic parasites in each group was observed at days post injection up to 20 days by making Giemsa stained thin blood smears and observed under the microscope. Results showed that fractionation radiation did not effectively attenuate the parasites where they still grew in blood of mice, except for 100+75 Gy. There are no significant differences among the treatment groups (p0.05). This is different from irradiation at the single dose that resulted in almost completely attenuated parasites mainly the dose of 150 Gy. This implicating that irradiation of gamma rays at a single dose is a better way to mitigate parasites than fractionation dose as the infectivity of irradiated parasites were lower compared to that of fractionated dosage. Keywords: Malaria vaccine, Gamma radiation, Fractionation, Parasitemia
Distribution and length-weight relationships of Hilsa shad Tenualosa ilisha in the Bilah River, Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatera Province, Indonesia
Authors: Machrizal Rusdi , Khairul Khairul , Nasution Juliana , Dimenta Rivo H. , Harahap Arman
Published: November 2019

Hilsa shad Tenualosa ilishais of the indigenous fish species and the icon of the Labuhanbatu Regency, Indonesia. Presently, a very limited study was done in this species. Hence, the purpose of this study was to analyse the distribution and growth patterns based on the length-weight relationship of Hilsa shad T. ilishaon Bilah River, Labuhanbatu District, Sumatera Utara Province, Indonesia. Sampling was carried out for 3 months starting in February-April 2019 with the exploration method. Determination of sampling locations based on information from local fishermen. Analysis of distribution data used the Morisita index and growth patterns used the Linear Allometric Model (LAM). The analysis results of Hilsa shad distribution indicated that these fish were distributed in groups/clustered with the Morisita index value of 2.211-2.314. The growth pattern of the fish was negative allometric with a value of b3. Correlation analysis showed that DO was closely related to distribution (r2=0.661), meanwhile, light penetration was closely related to growth patterns (r2=0.914). It is concluded that the distribution of Hilsa shad fish in the Bilah River was in groups or clustered, with a negative allometric growth pattern. Keywords: Hilsa Shad, distribution, growth pattern, Tenualosa ilisha
Gas Sensing Properties of ZnO-SnO2 Nanocomposite
Authors: Kumar Pushpendra , Kumar Deepak
Published: November 2019

In present study, ZnO-SnO2 nanocomposite was synthesized by co-precipitation method and its sensing properties with respect to carbon monoxide gas were investigated. X-ray diffraction pattern shows the exhaustive evolution of hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO and rutile phase of SnO2. Morphological study was done by FE-SEM and optical characterization was done by UV-visible spectrophotometer. To study the sensing properties, material was layered on conducting substrate and resistance was recorded in the presence of air and CO gas at different operating temperature. Sensing responses of
pure ZnO and ZnO-SnO2 composite was also compared. ZnO-SnO2 showed much enhanced response along with better response and recovery time compared to pure ZnO.
Depolymerization of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Wastes
through Glycolysis using Lewis Acidic Bentonite Catalysts
Authors: Jeya Gopal , Anbarasu Murugan , Dhanalakshmi Ravikumar , Vinitha Viswanathan , Sivamurugan Vajiravelu
Published: November 2019

In the present investigation, the authors explored the depolymerization of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) beverage bottles using glycolysis (transesterification) catalyzed by Al3+, Fe3+ and Zn2+ impregnated bentonite catalysts. Heterogeneous catalysts such as clay, zeolite, alumina etc. preferred over homogeneous catalysts, thus we focused on the development of solid acid catalysts based on economically viable clay catalysts. The desired Lewis acidic nature was introduced by wet impregnation method at variable metal ion to clay ratio such as 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 wt. %.
The effect of metal-ion loading on the surface area, pore volume and crystalline nature of the bentonite has been evaluated by nitrogen adsorption and desorption studies and XRD. The PET wastes collected from post-consumer beverage bottles were depolymerized using ethylene glycol as a glycolyting agent afforded bis(2-hydroxy ethyl)terephthalate (BHET) in 85-90 % yield under optimized conditions. The yield of BHET was observed to be increasing with increase in Lewis acidic metal ions loading from 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % as well as increase in catalysts to PET ratio. Among the catalysts, Al3+ and Zn2+-bentonite catalysts showed higher yield of BHET up to 90 % at 4 and 5 wt. % loading of metal-ion.
Students with Acquired Brain Injury
Authors: Zirkel Perry A.
Published: November 2019

Representing a sequel to a similar snapshot in mid-2010, this article provides an updated overview of the judicial and administrative case law concerning students with traumatic

and nontraumatic brain injury from pre-K to grade 12.  The scope is limited to cases under the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the pair of disability-based civil rights statutes, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The cases include not only hearing/review officer and court decisions but also state education agency and Office for Civil Rights complaint investigation reports available in the only national database, LRP’s SpecialEdConnection®. The analysis focuses on the frequency and outcomes these published rulings, with the discussion extending to the empirical limitations and professional implications of the findings.
Los derechos de los niños, niñas y adolescentes
Authors: Bácares Jara Camilo
Published: November 2019

Una vez apareció la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño (CDN) en 1989, la producción académica e institucional subsiguiente se centró sobre todo en promocionarla y en celebrarla. A excepción de unas contadas miradas que la discutieron y la declararon incapaz de cumplir con las promesas auguradas, las razones relacionadas con su pobre impacto queda­rían relegadas del debate y de las publicaciones so­bre la materia. A raíz de este panorama, este artículo de reflexión propone al lector un somero repaso por cinco hechos sociales de índole jurídico, político, económico, cultural y epistemológico que crecieron paralelamente a la CDN y que han sido determinan­tes para su concreción pasiva o para la baja intensi­dad que ha tenido en el día a día de los niños, niñas y adolescentes en América Latina.
La lectura en voz alta como estrategia para la comunicación adulto-niño en la escuela
Authors: Valencia Chaves Elsa Ivonne , Martínez Alzate Alexandra
Published: November 2019

La materia Vivencia Escolar, dictada en segundo se­mestre de la licenciatura en Pedagogía Infantil de la Universidad Distrital, gira en torno al campo problé­mico denominado comunicación adulto-niño, en el cual confluyen la práctica y las demás asignaturas establecidas para el semestre. Por esto, las estudian­tes deben desarrollar un trabajo de campo con niños de instituciones escolares distritales que posibilite explorar esas formas de comunicación existentes entre los niños con sus pares, sus maestros y ellas. Este ejercicio pedagógico se desarrolla a través de la lectura en voz alta (LVA) como eje trasversal, par­tiendo de los intereses y necesidades de formación de los niños; así como los conocimientos, intereses pedagógicos y aprendizajes de formación de nuestras estudiantes. La LVA se constituye así en una estrate­gia que media otros procesos, ya que es un espacio comunicativo real en el que pueden relacionarse con sus iguales y los adultos.
“BENANG MERAH” PENALARAN HUKUM, ARGUMENTASI HUKUM DAN PENEGAKAN HUKUM
Authors: Qodri Miftahul
Published: November 2019

Saat ini pemahaman dan pengetahuan tentang logika, penalaran hukum semakin dibutuhkan oleh semua kalangan. Kebutuhan ini dirasakan tidak hanya bagi kaum akademisi dalam bidang filsafat dan ilmuhukum tetapi juga seluruh masyarakat yang setiap hari berhadapan dengan persoalan-persoalan hukum, khususnya bagi penegak hukum dalam hal mengambil keputusan dalam penegakan hukum. Penalaran hukum sebagai bagian dari penalaran pada umumnya memiliki sejumlah karakteristik yang berbeda, baik itu pada kaidah-kaidah penalaran yang tepat seperti hukum-hukum berpikir, hukum-hukum silogisme, ketentuan tentang probabilitas induksi, dan kesesatan informal penalaran. Penalaran hukum bukanlah jenis penalaran yang berbeda dan terpisah dari logika sebagai ilmu tentang bagaimana berpikir secara tepat (sebagai salah satu cabang filsafat), akan tetapi sama dengan jenis penalaran pada umumnya, hanya saja penalaran hukum mempelajari tentang bagaimana menerapkan kaidah-kaidah berpikir menurut ketentuan logika dalam bidang hukum.
Changing demand for general skills, technological uncertainty, and economic growth
Authors: Tanaka Masashi
Published: November 2019

We develop a simple growth model featuring individuals’ choices between general and specific skills, endogenous technological innovation, and a government subsidy for education. The two types of skills differ by their productivity and transferability: general skills are transferable across firms, while each firm-specific skill has a productivity advantage in the firm. Firms face uncertainty in their innovation activities, and the resulting heterogeneity in their labor demand makes the transferability of general skill valuable. We theoretically show that as a country catch up to the world technology frontier, firms invest more in innovation activities. This rises firms’ technological uncertainty and, thus, their demands for general skills increases. As a result, especially in more advanced economies, education subsidies may enhance GDP by increasing the supply of general skills. Using aggregated data for 12 European OECD counties, we calibrate the model and compare the theoretical prediction with the data. In cross-country comparisons, we find that the returns on general skills and the impact of general education expenditure on GDP are higher in countries with higher total factor productivity. These findings support our theoretical argument of the positive relationship between firms’ demand for general skills and countries’ stages of development.
Behavioral Theory of Repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma: Generous Tit-For-Tat Strategy
Authors: Matsushima Hitoshi
Published: November 2019

This study investigates infinitely repeated games of a prisoner’s dilemma with additive separability in which the monitoring technology is imperfect and private. Behavioral incentives indicate that a player is not only motivated by pure self-interest but also by social preference such as reciprocity, and that a player often becomes naïve and selects an action randomly due to her cognitive limitation and uncertain psychological mood as well as the strategic complexity caused by monitoring imperfection and private observation. By focusing on generous tit-for-tat strategies, we characterize a behavioral version of Nash equilibrium termed behavioral equilibrium in an accuracy-contingent manner. By eliminating the gap between theory and evidence, we show that not pure self-interest but reciprocity plays a substantial role in motivating a player to make decisions in a sophisticated manner.
Using character N-grams to explorediachronic change in medieval English
Authors: Buckley Kevin , Vogel Carl
Published: November 2019

This paper applies character N-grams to the study of diachronic linguistic variation in a historical language. The period selected for this initial exploratory study is medieval English, a well-studied period of great linguistic variation and language contact, whereby the efficacy of computational techniques can be examined through comparison to the wealth of thorough scholarship on medieval linguistic variation. Frequency profiles of character N-gram features were generated for several epochs in the history of English and a measure of language distance was employed to quantify the similarity between English at different stages in its history. Through this a quantification of internal change in English was achieved. Furthermore similarity between English and other medieval languages across time was measured allowing for a measurement of the well-known period of contact between English and Anglo-Norman French. This methodology is compared to traditional lexicostatistical methods and shown to be able to derive the same patterns as those derived from expert-created feature lists (i.e. Swadesh lists). The use of character N-gram profiles proved to be a flexible and useful method to study diachronic variation, allowing for the highlighting of relevant features of change. This method may be a complement to traditional qualitative examinations.
Fine details of a larger picture: Proto-Sakishima*auand*aodiphthongs
Authors: Jarosz Aleksandra
Published: November 2019

Using comparative evidence from the three Sakishima (South Ryukyuan) languages, Miyakoan, Yaeyaman and Dunan, this paper postulates a reconstruction of two Proto-Sakishima *a-initial diphthongs,*aoand*au, and argues that this distinction was carried over to Proto-Miyakoan and Proto-Yaeyaman. The number of vocabulary items traceable to Proto-Sakishima*auis scarce and almost exclusively involves morphologically complex forms, mostly verbs, making the*aoand*audistinction one easy to omit or disregard as random sound change irregularities. Furthermore, most of the modern Sakishima regiolects have lost the distinction between*aoand*au, Tarama-Miyakoan being the only one that consistently maintains the original distinction in all relevant areas of vocabulary and not just verbs, reflecting*aoas /au/ or /oː/ and*auas /uː/. Positing Proto-Sakishima*aoand*auin accordance with the Tarama reflexes begets new insights concerning the *o > *uraising in Sakishima as well as in Ryukyuan in general, thus confirming the slow gradualness of the process and hinting at the chronology of the changes related to this raising. It also reveals a number of specifics concerning the diachrony of Sakishima verb systems, especially the development of conclusive verb forms, thus explaining the apparent discrepancy in*auand*aoreflexes in the regiolects of Miyako and Yaeyama.
The cGMP system: components and function
Authors: Hofmann Franz
Published: November 2019

The cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling system is one of the most prominent regulators of a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes in many mammalian and non-mammalian tissues. Targeting this pathway by increasing cGMP levels has been a very successful approach in pharmacology as shown for nitrates, phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors and stimulators of nitric oxide-guanylyl cyclase (NO-GC) and particulate GC (pGC). This is an introductory review to the cGMP signaling system intended to introduce those readers to this system, who do not work in this area. This article does not intend an in-depth review of this system. Signal transduction by cGMP is controlled by the generating enzymes GCs, the degrading enzymes PDEs and the cGMP-regulated enzymes cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels, cGMP-dependent protein kinases and cGMP-regulated PDEs. Part A gives a very concise introduction to the components. Part B gives a very concise introduction to the functions modulated by cGMP. The article cites many recent reviews for those who want a deeper insight.
Antioxidative, antimitotic, and DNA-damaging activities of Garcinia kola stem bark, Uvaria chamae root, and Olax subscorpioidea root used in the ethnotherapy of cancers
Authors: Popoola Temidayo D. , Awodele Olufunsho , Babawale Folashayo , Oguns Oluwatoyin , Onabanjo Olawale , Ibanga Imaobong , Godwin Henry , Oyeniyi Tosin , Fatokun Amos A. , Akinloye Oluyemi
Published: November 2019

Garcinia kola (GK) stem bark, Uvaria chamae (UC) root, and Olax subscorpioidea (OS) root are components of various indigenous/traditional anticancer regimens. It is, therefore, possible that they might combat oxidative stress and impair cellular proliferation linked to carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated the antioxidative, mito-depressive, and DNA-damaging activities of the three plant extracts in order to provide further mechanistic insights into their potential anticancer roles in documented cancer remedies that include them. Antioxidative properties were investigated in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging assays and an animal model of drug (cisplatin)-induced oxidative stress. The Allium cepa assay and the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay were used to assess mito-depressive and DNA-damaging activities. GK and OS showed significantly higher antioxidant activities in the DPPH assay than ascorbic acid; OS had the lowest IC50 of the three plants in the NO assay, comparable to that of ascorbic acid. Pretreatment with the extracts produced an ameliorative and protective effect against the cisplatin-induced oxidative stress as shown by inhibition of lipid peroxidation and improved or restored reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels. In the Allium test, the three extracts produced significant decreases in root growth and also significant cytotoxicity as evidenced by decreased mitotic index. Each of the extracts also showed significantly increased tail DNA (%) in the SCGE assay, indicating the significant DNA-damaging effect. Taken together, this study demonstrates the possible chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic potentials of the three study extracts, which may explain the roles of their source plants in traditional remedies in the therapy of cancers.
Medical problems in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis and their therapy
Authors: Suprapti Budi , Nilamsari Wenny Putri , Rachmania  , Widodo  , Alderman Chris
Published: November 2019

Background

It was reported that hemodialysis (HD) with either a new or reused dialyzer raises medical problems that require therapeutic regimens. This study aimed to investigate the medical problems and their management in patients undergoing HD.

Methods

This study was conducted by prospectively observing patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing HD. The incidence of medical problems and the treatment given were recorded.

Results

Among 351 cases of HD, medical problems occurred in 15.7% of cases, including hypotension as the most dominant, followed by muscle cramps, shivering, headache, asphyxia, fever, chest pain, and pruritus. Hypotension was ameliorated with intravenous 40% dextrose and normal saline. Muscle cramps were overcome with 40% dextrose, normal saline, methampyrone, and calcium gluconate. Shivering was managed by warming the patients followed by intravenous methampyrone, 40% dextrose, and normal saline. Meanwhile, headache was reduced by paracetamol or intravenous methampyrone and 40% dextrose. Fever was treated by intravenous methampyrone or oral paracetamol. Pruritus was managed by intravenous dexamethasone and diphenhydramine.

Conclusions

Medical problems occurring during HD are prevalent and need immediate therapy. Pharmacists and clinicians should work in collaboration to improve the patients’ quality of life.
Causal Social Construction
Authors: Kõiv Riin
Published: November 2019

In the social constructionist literature, little has been said about what it means for social factors to cause X in such a way that X would count as causally socially constructed. In this paper, I argue that being caused by social factors – and thus being causally socially constructed – is best defined in terms of a contrastive counterfactual notion of causation. Unlike some plausible alternatives, this definition captures what is at stake in actual social constructionist debates. It makes transparent which factors the truth of a causal constructionist claim may depend on. By doing so, it sheds light on what the disagreements over whether X is causally socially constructed may turn on. It also helps us to see under which condition the claim that X is socially causally constructed is compatible with the claim that X is caused by biological factors.
From waste/residual marine biomass to active biopolymer-based packaging film materials for food industry applications – a review
Authors: Novak Uroš , Bajić Marijan , Kõrge Kristi , Oberlintner Ana , Murn Janja , Lokar Krista , Triler Karin Veronika , Likozar Blaž
Published: November 2019

Waste/residual marine biomass represents a vast and potentially underexplored source of biopolymers chitin/chitosan and alginate. Their isolation and potential application in the development and production of bio-based food packaging are gaining in attractiveness due to a recent increment in plastic pollution awareness. Accordingly, a review of the latest research work was given to cover the pathway from biomass sources to biopolymers isolation and application in the development of active (antimicrobial/antioxidant) film materials intended for food packaging. Screening of the novel eco-friendly isolation processes was followed by an extensive overview of the most recent publications covering the chitosan- and alginate-based films with incorporated active agents.
Zivil-militärische Stabilisierung als Handlungsfeld im internationalen Krisenmanagement – eine Bilanz
Authors: Schroeder Robin
Published: November 2019

Die Stabilisierung von Krisengebieten als zivil-militärische Querschnittsaufgabe ist ein Schwerpunkt der deutschen Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik. Während die Zuständigkeiten von militärischen und auch polizeilichen Kräften in diesem Zusammenhang klar umrissen sind, blieb die genaue Bedeutung ziviler Stabilisierung lange ungeklärt. Erst nach langjährigen Erfahrungen in Afghanistan und anderen Einsatzländern entwickelte sich schrittweise ein genaueres Konzept von Stabilisierung. Mit den sogenannten Leitlinien der Bundesregierung von 2017 wurde Stabilisierung als strategisches Konzept erstmalig auch in einem deutschen sicherheitspolitischen Grundsatzdokument verankert. Die Bundesregierung steht nun vor der Aufgabe, dieses Konzept gemeinsam mit internationalen Partnern in Krisengebieten systematisch zu implementieren und gleichzeitig die Zielsetzung und Wirkungslogik von Stabilisierung nach innen und außen zu vermitteln.
Weit genug gedacht? Drei Jahre PeaceLab im Rückblick
Authors: Brockmeier Sarah , Rotmann Philipp
Published: November 2019

Dieser Artikel zieht eine erste Bilanz der fachöffentlichen Debatte zu den Leitlinien „Krisen verhindern, Konflikte bewältigen, Frieden fördern“ der Bundesregierung im „PeaceLab2016“ sowie weiteren vertieften Diskussionen über Sicherheits-, Justiz- und Aufarbeitungsfragen. Leitlinien wie Debatte, so die Analyse, zeigen mit einigen Ausnahmen die gleichen Strategiedefizite in der deutschen Friedens- und Sicherheitspolitik auf: Bundesregierung wie Fachcommunity setzen vage oder keine Ziele, nennen kaum Prioritäten und entwickeln wenig oder keine Länder- bzw. themenspezifischen Strategien. Um dieses Strategiedefizit anzugehen, sollte die Bundesregierung Weißbuch und Leitlinien in Zukunft in einem gemeinsamen Strategiedokument für eine ganzheitliche Außen-, Entwicklungs- und Sicherheitspolitik bündeln. Dadurch kämen auch die „Friedenscommunity“ und die „Sicherheitscommunity“ stärker miteinander ins Gespräch.
Conceptions and discourses of linguistic justice: Some illustrations from the Scottish context
Authors: McLeod Wilson
Published: November 2019

This article considers the example of Scotland in order to examine the ways in which issues, arguments and claims that implicate linguistic justice are framed and presented in public discourse and in different kinds of practical contexts. It takes a positive rather than normative approach, identifying and analysing the main issues and lines of argument that have emerged in practice, rather than testing a particular theoretical understanding of linguistic justice. The article examines the key principles and understandings that underpin the current policy regime and the nature of provision for particular languages in Scotland, especially the autochthonous Scottish Gaelic language, which receives particular concern from policy-makers but also attracts controversy. Other important language varieties include Scots; Polish, Urdu, Punjabi and Chinese; and British Sign Language. Anomalies and inconsistencies are identified and analysed in relation to provision for different languages in different fields, disparities that often have political or ideological ramifications and require to be understood in the distinct Scottish socio-political context. In the final section, the article addresses in the position of different languages in the Scottish education system, attempting to discern the extent to which greatly varying levels of provision for different kinds of languages can be understood in terms of linguistic justice.
Pattern Separation and Source Memory Engage Distinct Hippocampal and Neocortical Regions during Retrieval
Authors: Stevenson Rebecca F. , Reagh Zachariah M. , Chun Amanda P. , Murray Elizabeth A. , Yassa Michael A.
Published: November 2019

Detailed representations of past events rely on the ability to form associations between items and their contextual features (i.e., source memory), as well as the ability to distinctly represent a new event from a similar one stored in memory (i.e., pattern separation). These processes are both known to engage the hippocampus, although whether they share similar mechanisms remains unclear. It is also unknown if, and in which region(s), activity related to these processes overlaps and/or interacts. Here, we used high-resolution fMRI to examine the contributions of hippocampal subfields and neocortical areas to pattern separation and source memory with an experimental paradigm that concurrently tested both. During encoding, male and female human subjects incidentally studied items in one of four quadrants on the screen. During test, they viewed repeated items (targets), similar items (lures), and new items (foils) and were asked to indicate whether each item was old, similar, or new. Following each item judgment, subjects were asked to indicate the quadrant in which the original stimulus was presented. Thus, each lure trial had a lure discrimination component (taxing pattern separation) and a location judgment (source memory). We found two main response profiles: (1) pattern separation-related signals in DG/CA3 and perirhinal cortex and (2) source memory signals in posterior CA1, parahippocampal cortex, and angular gyrus. Whole-brain voxelwise analysis revealed that activity related to lure discrimination and source memory was largely nonoverlapping. These findings suggest that distinct processes underlie the retrieval of pattern separated item representations and recollection of source information.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTRecalling past events with detail and accuracy depends on the ability to remember the contextual features of an event (i.e., source memory) as well as the ability to distinguish among similar events in memory (i.e., pattern separation). Previous work has shown that these processes are behaviorally dissociable (e.g., people can have clear memory for context but misidentify people or items). However, both processes engage the hippocampus, and it is unclear whether they rely on shared or distinct neural mechanisms. Here, we used high-resolution fMRI to concurrently assess hippocampal and neocortical activity related to source memory and pattern separation. We found that activity related to these processes was largely nonoverlapping, shedding light on two complementary but distinct mechanisms supporting episodic memory.