bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Routine Application of the Second-generation Neuroendocrine Markers ISL1, INSM1, and Secretagogin in Neuroendocrine Neoplasia: Staining Outcomes and Potential Clues for Determining Tumor Origin
Authors: Juhlin Carl Christofer , Zedenius Jan , Höög Anders
Published: August 2020

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) have traditionally been identified via expression of proteins associated to the regulation of secretory vesicles and granules. We report the clinical usage of the “second-generation” proteins ISL LIM homeobox 1 (ISL1), INSM transcriptional repressor 1 (INSM1), and secretagogin (SECG) as immunohistochemical markers of neuroendocrine differentiation since their introduction in clinical routine and compare the results with the established proteins chromogranin A (CGA) and synaptophysin (SYP). In total, 161 tumors, including 139 NENs and 22 “non-NENs” (unrelated tumors with an initial suspicion of NEN), were informatively stained for ISL1, and subsets were also interrogated for INSM1 and/or SECG. Diffuse or focal positive immunoreactivity was noted for ISL1 in 91/139 NENs (65%) and in 6/22 (27%) non-NENs, for INSM1 in 76/85 NENs (89%) and in 2/5 (40%) non-NENs, and for SECG in 49 out of 64 NENs (77%) and in 0/5 non-NENs (0%). Generally, ISL1, INSM1, and SECG exhibited sensitivities in line with or slightly below that of CGA and SYP—largely attributable to tissue-specific patterns regarding tumoral origin. Moreover, for pancreatic and small intestinal NENs, the two largest subgroups, ISL1 staining results were consistent irrespectively of tumor source and WHO grade. We verify previously suggested immunohistochemical schemes of neuroendocrine markers of first- and second-generations to facilitate the diagnostic process for NENs and confirm that the second-generation neuroendocrine markers display tissue-specific patterns. We therefore recommend their implementation in tertiary endocrine pathology centers, not least to aid in the identification of primary tumors when analyzing metastases.
Avoiding Rice-Based Cadmium and Inorganic Arsenic in Infant Diets Through Selection of Products Low in Concentration of These Contaminants
Authors: Shi Zhengyu , Carey Manus , Davidson Emily , Meharg Caroline , Meharg Andrew A.
Published: August 2020

Cadmium in the diet is of concern as it is a renal toxicant and a carcinogen, with a half-life in the body measured in decades. Inorganic arsenic is a chronic carcinogen. For many subpopulations, rice and rice products may be the dominate source of cadmium and inorganic arsenic. In particular, rice porridge, cereal and cake are widely used to feed infants (children < 4.5 years old). In the EU standards for cadmium infant foods in general has been set at 40 μg/kg w.wt., and for inorganic arsenic in rice-based infant foods the standard is 100 μg/kg w.wt.. Here we report cadmium and inorganic arsenic concentrations in rice products marketed for infants, and rice containing products that infants may eat but that are not specifically designated for infants. It was found that while rice-based infant foods conformed to the standards, their non-infant food (generic) analogues did not. Non-infant rice crackers and puffed rice cereals, in particular, had concentrations above these standards for both cadmium and inorganic arsenic. Polished pure rice grain purchased in the UK, but sourced from different countries, was also problematic. Basmati, Italian, Spanish and Thai rice, either exceeded one or the other of the cadmium and inorganic arsenic safety thresholds for infants, or both. Egyptian rice grain was particularly low for both toxins. Therefore, if those responsible for infants want to lower exposure to cadmium and inorganic arsenic, they should stick to foods specifically labeled for infants, or carefully source low cadmium and inorganic arsenic rice-based products that are not specifically labeled as being for infant consumption, or minimize exposure to rice-based foods.
In-silico identification and differential expression of putative disease resistance-related genes within the collinear region of Brassica napus blackleg resistance locus LepR2’ in Brassica oleracea
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Rashed , Ferdous Mostari Jahan , Park Jong-In , Robin Arif Hasan Khan , Natarajan Sathishkumar , Jung Hee-Jeong , Kim Hoy-Taek , Nou Ill-Sup
Published: August 2020

Blackleg disease, caused by Leptosphaeria maculans, greatly affects the production of cabbage (Brassica oleracea). However, definitive R-gene(s) are yet to be identified in this crop. In contrast, a number of R-loci have been identified in A- or B-genome crops. Identification of few resistant cabbage genotypes indicates the presence of R-genes in this C-genome crop. High ancestral synteny between Brassica genomes suggests that the collinear regions of known A- or B-genome R-loci may also contain functional R-genes in the C-genome. Strong resistance was observed in the cotyledons of cabbage inbred line SCNU-98 against two L. maculans isolates, 03–02 s and 00–100 s. We investigated the collinear region of the Brassica napus blackleg resistance locus LepR2’ in B. oleracea since both isolates of L. maculans contain corresponding avirulence genes. The locus was collinear to a 5.8 Mbp genomic segment of B. oleracea chromosome C09 containing 13 genes that have putative disease resistance-related domains. High expression of genes Bo9g117290 and Bo9g111510 against isolate 00–100 s, and high expression of genes Bo9g126150 and Bo9g111490 against both isolates in the resistant-line SCNU-98 indicate their putative roles in blackleg resistance, which remained to be functionally verified. This work enhances our understanding of R-gene-mediated resistance to blackleg in cabbage.
The Association Between Grip Strength Measured in Childhood, Young- and Mid-adulthood and Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes in Mid-adulthood
Authors: Fraser Brooklyn J. , Blizzard Leigh , Buscot Marie-Jeanne , Schmidt Michael D. , Dwyer Terence , Venn Alison J. , Magnussen Costan G.
Published: August 2020

Background

Although low child and adult grip strength is associated with adverse cardiometabolic health, how grip strength across the life course associates with type 2 diabetes is unknown. This study identified the relative contribution of grip strength measured at specific life stages (childhood, young adulthood, mid-adulthood) with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes in mid-adulthood.

Methods

Between 1985 and 2019, 263 participants had their grip strength measured using an isometric dynamometer in childhood (9–15 years), young adulthood (28–36 years) and mid-adulthood (38–49 years). In mid-adulthood, a fasting blood sample was collected and tested for glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Participants were categorized as having prediabetes or type 2 diabetes if fasting glucose levels were ≥ 5.6 mmol or if HbA1c levels were ≥ 5.7% (≥ 39 mmol/mol). A Bayesian relevant life course exposure model examined the association between lifelong grip strength and prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Results

Grip strength at each time point was equally associated with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes in mid-adulthood (childhood: 37%, young adulthood: 36%, mid-adulthood: 28%). A one standard deviation increase in cumulative grip strength was associated with 34% reduced odds of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes in mid-adulthood (OR 0.66, 95% credible interval 0.40, 0.98).

Conclusions

Greater grip strength across the life course could protect against the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Strategies aimed at increasing muscular strength in childhood and maintaining behaviours to improve strength into adulthood could improve future cardiometabolic health.

Video abstract
Autoregulation in Resistance Training: Addressing the Inconsistencies
Authors: Greig Leon , Stephens Hemingway Ben Hayden , Aspe Rodrigo R. , Cooper Kay , Comfort Paul , Swinton Paul A.
Published: August 2020

Autoregulation is a process that is used to manipulate training based primarily on the measurement of an individual’s performance or their perceived capability to perform. Despite being established as a training framework since the 1940s, there has been limited systematic research investigating its broad utility. Instead, researchers have focused on disparate practices that can be considered specific examples of the broader autoregulation training framework. A primary limitation of previous research includes inconsistent use of key terminology (e.g., adaptation, readiness, fatigue, and response) and associated ambiguity of how to implement different autoregulation strategies. Crucially, this ambiguity in terminology and failure to provide a holistic overview of autoregulation limits the synthesis of existing research findings and their dissemination to practitioners working in both performance and health contexts. Therefore, the purpose of the current review was threefold: first, we provide a broad overview of various autoregulation strategies and their development in both research and practice whilst highlighting the inconsistencies in definitions and terminology that currently exist. Second, we present an overarching conceptual framework that can be used to generate operational definitions and contextualise autoregulation within broader training theory. Finally, we show how previous definitions of autoregulation fit within the proposed framework and provide specific examples of how common practices may be viewed, highlighting their individual subtleties.
Electrochemical Approaches for Material Conservation: Experimental and Theoretical Insights Using a Biopolymer
Authors: Pais Mikitha , Rao Padmalatha
Published: August 2020

Maltodextrin (MLD) is introduced as a novel, potent green inhibitor for the corrosion control of zinc in 0.1 sulfamic acid. The corrosion and inhibition studies were done by electrochemical techniques such as potentiodynamic polarisation measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique. Conditions were optimised to get maximum inhibition efficiency by varying the concentration of the inhibitor in the temperature range of 303–323 K. Activation and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated and discussed in detail. Suitable mechanism was proposed for corrosion and inhibition process. Surface characterisation was done by SEM, EDX and AFM techniques before and after the addition of inhibitor. The density functional theory calculations were performed and compared with experimental observations. Results indicated that inhibition efficiency increased with the temperature and inhibitor concentration. Maximum inhibition efficiency was found to be 62.3% for the addition of 0.4 g L−1 MLD. Theoretical calculations confirmed the experimental observations.
The Clash of Powers in Poland’s Rule of Law Crisis: Tools of Attack and Self-Defense
Authors: Matczak Marcin
Published: August 2020

Many people must be wondering how it is possible that Poland, not so long ago hailed for its exemplary transition from a communist dictatorship to a liberal democracy, could have so swiftly descended into authoritarianism via a crisis in the rule of law. The majority of commentators point to the size and ferocity of the attack on those mechanisms meant to safeguard the rule of law, whereas few focus on the weakness of their defence. This article attempts to redress that imbalance. The crucial facts of the Polish crisis are first presented, and the nature of both the attacks on the rule of law in Poland and the measures taken in its defence are then presented. In describing their defence, this article not only draws on Nicholas Barber’s concept of the self-defence of institutions, but attempts to improve upon it in the light of the Polish crisis. Further in the article, I argue that one of the reasons for the success of the assault on the rule of law is the formalistic legal mindset that is prevalent among Polish lawyers. This mindset is characterized by a reductionism of the interpretative premises to be applied when deciding constitutional cases. This reductionism is conspicuous in the application of bright-line rules with no consideration of general constitutional principles. I argue that the development of a robust, non-formalistic methodology of legal decision-making is a prerequisite for a successful defence of the rule of law.
Die bundesdeutsche Wehrpflichtaussetzung durch Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. Alles eine Frage des Narrativs?
Authors: Schummers Timo
Published: August 2020

Die im Jahr 2010 vom damaligen Bundesminister der Verteidigung, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU), ergriffene Initiative zur Aussetzung der allgemeinen Wehrpflicht stellte eine Zäsur dar, die nur von den wenigsten Beobachtern zuvor erwartet worden war. Schließlich brach die ein Jahr später beschlossene Aussetzung des Wehrdienstes mit einer politisch-militärischen Kontinuitätslinie, die in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland seit 1956 Bestand hatte. Der vorliegende Beitrag wählt eine narrationsanalytische Perspektive, um zu untersuchen, inwiefern es zu Guttenberg durch die Verwendung zusammenhängender sprachlich-erzählerischer Muster gelang, das lange als politisches Tabuthema geltende Vorhaben schlussendlich als „Wehrrechtsänderungsgesetz 2011“ durchzusetzen. Ziel ist es, die erzählerischen Kontinuitäten, aber auch (überraschenden) Wendungen aufzuzeigen, die es ermöglichten, einen für die militärische Zukunft Deutschlands bedeutsamen Politikwechsel zu vollziehen. Dabei wird ersichtlich werden, dass zu Guttenberg für sein Vorhaben anfangs insbesondere finanzpolitische Argumente anführte, während später vor allem sicherheits- sowie gesellschaftspolitische Begründungsstrukturen bedeutungstragend wurden.
Polypharmacy, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants, but not antipsychotics, are associated with increased falls risk in UK care home residents: a prospective multi-centre study
Authors: Izza Madeline A. D. , Lunt Eleanor , Gordon Adam L. , Gladman John R. F. , Armstrong Sarah , Logan Pip
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Falls and polypharmacy are both common in care home residents. Deprescribing of medications in residents with increased falls risk is encouraged. Psychotropic medications are known to increase falls risk in older adults. These drugs are often used in care home residents for depression, anxiety, and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. However, a few studies have explored the link between polypharmacy, psychotropic medications, and falls risk in care home residents.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of residents from 84 UK care homes. Data were collected from residents’ care records and medication administration records. Age, diagnoses, gender, number of medications, and number of psychotropic medications were collected at baseline and residents were monitored over three months for occurrence of falls. Logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of multiple medications and psychotropic medication on falls whilst adjusting for confounders.

Results

Of the 1655 participants, mean age 85 (SD 8.9) years, 67.9% female, 519 (31%) fell in 3 months. Both the total number of regular drugs prescribed and taking ≥ 1 regular psychotropic medication were independent risk factors for falling (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.06 (95% CI 1.03–1.09, p < 0.01) and 1.39 (95% CI 1.10–1.76, p < 0.01), respectively). The risk of falls was higher in those taking antidepressants (p < 0.01) and benzodiazepines (p < 0.01) but not antipsychotics (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

In UK care homes, number of medications and psychotropic medications (particularly antidepressants and benzodiazepines) predicted falls. This information can be used to inform prescribing and deprescribing decisions.
Flexural Performance of Steel–FRP Composites for Automotive Applications
Authors: Lin Ye , Min Junying , Teng Hao , Lin Jianping , Hu Jiahao , Xu Nanjie
Published: August 2020

The design of hybrid structure offers an attractive solution to enhance strength and structural stiffness as well as to achieve lightweight effect and cost reduction. The applications of steel–FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) composites in transportation and civil engineering have been comprehensively reviewed. In order to apply hybrid structures to car body parts such as B-pillar, flexural performance of steel–FRP composites is investigated by means of three-point bending test in this study. An analytical model is deduced to calculate the initial stiffness, the bending load and the energy absorption of steel–FRP composites. Steel–CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced polymer) and steel–AFRP (aramid fiber-reinforced polymer) composites are experimentally studied and discussed. The results demonstrate that the steel–FRP composites exhibit significantly higher load-carrying capabilities and initial stiffnesses along with larger energy absorptions in the bending process compared to the single steel sheet.
Ethical Subjectivism and Expressivism
Authors: Sinclair Neil
Published: August 2020

Ethical subjectivists hold that moral judgements are descriptions of our attitudes. Expressivists hold that they are expressions of our attitudes. These views cook with the same ingredients – the natural world, and our reactions to it – and have similar attractions. This Element assesses each of them by considering whether they can accommodate three central features of moral practice: the practicality of moral judgements, the phenomenon of moral disagreement, and the mind-independence of some moral truths. In the process, several different versions of subjectivism are distinguished (simple, communal, idealising, and normative) and key expressivist notions such as 'moral attitudes' and 'expression' are examined. Different meanings of 'subjective' and 'relative' are examined and it is considered whether subjectivism and expressivism make ethics 'subjective' or 'relative' in each of these senses.
Divine Ideas
Authors: Ward Thomas M.
Published: August 2020

This Element defends a version of the classical theory of divine ideas, the containment exemplarist theory of divine ideas. The classical theory holds that God has ideas of all possible creatures, that these ideas partially explain why God's creation of the world is a rational and free personal action, and that God does not depend on anything external to himself for having the ideas he has. The containment exemplarist version of the classical theory holds that God's own nature is the exemplar of all possible creatures, and therefore that God's ideas of possible creatures are in some sense ideas of himself. Containment exemplarism offers a monotheism fit for metaphysics, insofar as it is coherent, simple, and explanatorily powerful; and offers a metaphysics fit for monotheism, insofar as it leaves God truly worthy of the unconditional worship which Christians, along with Jews and Muslims, aspire to offer to God.
Using a process improvement approach to identifying barriers to research in a CTSA hub environment
Authors: Grabenstetter Douglas , Rashid Ramez , Whittle Jeff
Published: August 2020

For the past 4 years, as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) grant award number UL1TR001436, the Clinical Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin (CTSI) has used process engineering approaches to identify and understand barriers that local researchers and other stakeholders face when engaging in clinical and translational science. We describe these approaches and present preliminary results. We identified barriers from published and unpublished work at other CTSA hubs, supplemented by surveys and semi-structured interviews of CTSI faculty. We then used a multifaceted approach to organize, visualize, and analyze the barriers. We have identified 27 barriers to date. We ranked their priority for CTSI to address based on the barrier’s impact, the feasibility of intervention, and whether addressing the barrier aligned with CTSI’s institutional role. This approach provides a systematic framework to scope and address the “barriers to research problem” at CTSI institutions.
EHR phenotyping for research recruitment: Researcher, IRB, and physician perspectives on approaches to contacting patients
Authors: Beskow Laura M. , Brelsford Kathleen M. , Hammack-Aviran Catherine M.
Published: August 2020

Introduction:

Failure to achieve accrual goals is a common problem in health-related research. Electronic health records represent a promising resource, offering the ability to identify a precisely defined cohort of patients who meet inclusion/exclusion criteria. However, challenges associated with the recruitment process remain and institutional policies vary.

Methods:

We interviewed researchers, institutional review board chairs, and primary care physicians in North Carolina and Tennessee. Questions focused on strategies for initiating contact with potentially eligible patients, as well as recruitment letters asking recipients to opt in versus opt out of further communication.

Results:

When we asked about initiating contact with prospective participants, qualitative themes included trust, credibility, and established relationships; research efficiency and validity; privacy and autonomy; the intersection between research and clinical care; and disruption to physician–researcher and physician–patient relationships. All interviewees said it was acceptable for researchers to contact patients through their physicians; most said it was acceptable for researchers to contact patients directly. Over half chose contact through physicians as more appropriate. Regarding recruitment letters, qualitative themes included the quality of the participant pool; privacy and control; research efficiency and representativeness; and patients’ opportunity to make their own decisions. All interviewees said asking recipients to opt in to further communication was acceptable; nearly all said opt out was acceptable. Similar proportions chose each approach as more appropriate.

Conclusions:

Comparing these results to our previous research with patients reveals potential differences in stakeholder perspectives. We offer suggestions for developing balanced approaches that respect patients and facilitate the advancement of science.
Laboratory-based study of novel antimicrobial cold spray coatings to combat surface microbial contamination
Authors: Lucas M.D.I. , Botef I. , Reid R. G. , van Vuuren S. F.
Published: August 2020

Objective:

To investigate the touch-contact antimicrobial efficacy of novel cold spray surface coatings composed of copper and silver metals, regard to their rate of microbial elimination.

Design:

Antimicrobial time-kill assay.

Setting:

Laboratory-based study.

Methods:

An adapted time-kill assay was conducted to characterize the antimicrobial efficacy of the developed coatings. A simulated touch-contact pathogenic exposure to Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and the yeast Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), as well as corresponding resistant strains of gentamicin-methicillin–resistant S. aureus (ATCC 33592), azlocillin-carbenicillin–resistant P. aeruginosa (DSM 46316), and a fluconazole-resistant C. albicans strain was undertaken. Linear regression modeling was used to deduce microbial reduction rates.

Results:

A >7 log reduction in microbial colony forming units was achieved within minutes on surfaces with cold spray coatings compared to a single log bacterial reduction on copper metal sheets within a 3 hour contact period. Copper-coated 3-dimensional (3D) printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) achieved complete microbial elimination against all tested pathogens within a 15 minute exposure period. Similarly, a copper-on-copper coating achieved microbial elimination within 10 minutes and within 5 minutes with the addition of silver powder as a 5 wt% coating constituent.

Conclusions:

In response to the global need for alternative solutions for infection control and prevention, these effective antimicrobial surface coatings were proposed. A longitudinal study is the next step toward technology integration.
Late Miocene remains from Venta del Moro (Iberian Peninsula) provide further insights on the dispersal of crocodiles across the late Miocene Tethys
Authors: Delfino Massimo , Luján Àngel H. , Abella Juan , Alba David M. , Böhme Madelaine , Pérez-Ramos Alejandro , Tschopp Emanuel , Morales Jorge , Montoya Plini
Published: August 2020

The dispersal of Crocodylus from Africa to Europe during the Miocene is not well understood. A small collection of cranial fragments and postcranial elements from the latest Miocene (6.2 Ma) site of Venta del Moro (Valencia, Spain) have previously been referred to Crocodylus cf. C. checchiai Maccagno, 1947 without accompanying descriptions. Here we describe and figure for the first time the crocodylian remains from Venta del Moro, which represent at least two individuals. Our comparisons indicate that this material clearly does not belong to Diplocynodon or Tomistoma—the only two other crocodylians described so far for the European late Miocene. The material is only tentatively referred to cf. Crocodylus sp. because the apomorphies of this genus are not preserved and a referral to C. checchiai cannot be supported on a morphological basis. However, it is likely that this late Miocene species, originally described from Libya (As Sahabi) and later identified also in Kenya, could have dispersed across the Mediterranean Basin multiple times and colonized the southern areas of Mediterranean Europe, as evidenced by several Crocodylus or Crocodylus-like remains described during the past years.
FROM LAND AND SEA: OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF DIRECTLY DATING DOG REMAINS ON POLYNESIAN ISLANDS
Authors: Cramb Justin , Hadden Carla S
Published: August 2020

Recent archaeological excavations on Rakahanga Atoll, Northern Cook Islands, produced one of the earliest examples of dog (Canis familiaris) remains found on East Polynesian atolls. Direct dating of these and other Pacific Island fauna by AMS is complicated by a number of factors. (1) The animals’ diets may consist of marine and terrestrial protein. (2) Marine 14C is itself a mix of carbon pools with localized offsets that vary over time and space. (3) The region is potentially impacted by inter-hemispheric mixing of atmospheric 14C. Stable isotope analysis of gelatin extracted from dog teeth was used to estimate marine/terrestrial dietary components and paired terrestrial and marine samples were used to constrain local atmospheric and marine carbon offsets. The dates were modeled as a phase in a Bayesian chronological framework using mixed calibration curves. The resulting models confirm the presence of dogs on Rakahanga shortly after the initial colonization of the region and suggest that dogs were among the species that accompanied voyagers as they discovered and settled new islands. These methods can be applied to accurately date any marine-influenced terrestrial vertebrate remains in Remote Oceania.
Political Advertising Online and Offline
Authors: FOWLER ERIKA FRANKLIN , FRANZ MICHAEL M. , MARTIN GREGORY J. , PESKOWITZ ZACHARY , RIDOUT TRAVIS N.
Published: August 2020

Despite the rapid growth of online political advertising, the vast majority of scholarship on political advertising relies exclusively on evidence from candidates’ television advertisements. The relatively low cost of creating and deploying online advertisements and the ability to target online advertisements more precisely may broaden the set of candidates who advertise and allow candidates to craft messages to more narrow audiences than on television. Drawing on data from the newly released Facebook Ad Library API and television data from the Wesleyan Media Project, we find that a much broader set of candidates advertises on Facebook than television, particularly in down-ballot races. We then examine within-candidate variation in the strategic use and content of advertising on television relative to Facebook for all federal, statewide, and state legislative candidates in the 2018 election. Among candidates who use both advertising media, Facebook advertising occurs earlier in the campaign, is less negative, less issue focused, and more partisan than television advertising.
Effects of dietary terrestrial oils supplemented with l-carnitine on growth, antioxidant capacity, lipid metabolism and inflammation in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea)
Authors: Li Xueshan , Chen Qiang , Chen Qiuchi , Mai Kangsen , Ai Qinghui
Published: August 2020

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary terrestrial oils (TO) supplemented with l-carnitine on growth performance, biochemical and antioxidant response, lipid metabolism and inflammation in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). Three iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic experimental diets were formulated with FO (fish oil, the control group), 75 % TO (75 % FO was substituted by the oil mixture with equal amounts of soyabean oil, linseed oil and pork lard) and 75 % TOC (75 % TO supplemented with 800 mg/kg l-carnitine). Compared with the control group, feed efficiency ratio and specific growth rate were significantly increased in fish fed diets with 75 % TO and 75 % TOC. Hepatic lipid content, serum TAG level, LDL-cholesterol level and the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes (tnfα and ifnγ) were significantly increased in fish fed the diet with 75 % TO compared with the control group. However, the supplementation of 800 mg/kg l-carnitine in the 75 % TO diet repressed hepatic lipid content, serum LDL-cholesterol level and the mRNA expression of tnfα and ifnγ in fish compared with fish fed the diet with 75 % TO. Total antioxidant capacity, the activity of superoxide dismutase, the mRNA expression of cpt-I and the activity of CPT-I were significantly increased in fish fed the diet with 75 % TOC compared with 75 % TO. In conclusion, these results suggested that the supplementation of 800 mg/kg l-carnitine in the diet with TO mixture could increase growth, antioxidant capacity and fatty acid oxidation and decrease the expression of inflammatory genes in large yellow croaker.
Relativistic longitudinal self-compression of ultra-intense Gaussian laser pulses in magnetized plasma
Authors: Purohit Gunjan , Rawat Priyanka , Kothiyal Pradeep , Sharma Ramesh Kumar
Published: August 2020

This article presents a preliminary study of the longitudinal self-compression of ultra-intense Gaussian laser pulse in a magnetized plasma, when relativistic nonlinearity is active. This study has been carried out in 1D geometry under a nonlinear Schrodinger equation and higher-order paraxial (nonparaxial) approximation. The nonlinear differential equations for self-compression and self-focusing have been derived and solved by the analytical and numerical methods. The dielectric function and the eikonal have been expanded up to the fourth power of r (radial distance). The effect of initial parameters, namely incident laser intensity, magnetic field, and initial pulse duration on the compression of a relativistic Gaussian laser pulse have been explored. The results are compared with paraxial-ray approximation. It is found that the compression of pulse and pulse intensity of the compressed pulse is significantly enhanced in the nonparaxial region. It is observed that the compression of the high-intensity laser pulse depends on the intensity of laser beam (a0), magnetic field (ωc), and initial pulse width (τ0). The preliminary results show that the pulse is more compressed by increasing the values of a0, ωc, and τ0.
Inertial fusion without compression does not work either with or without nanoplasmonics
Authors: Földes I. B. , Pokol G. I.
Published: August 2020

A recently published scheme for inertial fusion based on instantaneous heating of an uncompressed fuel is criticized. It is shown that efficient fusion and “time-like” fusion burn propagation cannot be realized due to the low nuclear reaction cross-sections. The suggested use of nanospheres inside the volume of the target to support the fast heating of the fuel is also questioned.
COVID-19: relationship between atmospheric temperature and daily new cases growth rate
Authors: Rouen A. , Adda J. , Roy O. , Rogers E. , Lévy P.
Published: August 2020

Purpose: The novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)) first appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and rapidly spread across the globe. Since most respiratory viruses are known to show a seasonal pattern of infection, it has been hypothesised that SARS-CoV-2 may be seasonally dependent as well. The present study looks at a possible effect of atmospheric temperature, which is one of the suspected factors influencing seasonality, on the evolution of the pandemic. Basic procedures: Since confirming a seasonal pattern would take several more months of observation, we conducted an innovative day-to-day micro-correlation analysis of nine outbreak locations, across four continents and both hemispheres, in order to examine a possible relationship between atmospheric temperature (used as a proxy for seasonality) and outbreak progression. Main findings: There was a negative correlation between atmospheric temperature variations and daily new cases growth rates, in all nine outbreaks, with a median lag of 10 days. Principal conclusions: The results presented here suggest that high temperatures might dampen SARS-CoV-2 propagation, while lower temperatures might increase its transmission. Our hypothesis is that this could support a potential effect of atmospheric temperature on coronavirus disease progression, and potentially a seasonal pattern for this virus, with a peak in the cold season and rarer occurrences in the summer. This could guide government policy in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres for the months to come.
Antral follicular count and its relationship with ovarian volume, preantral follicle population and survival, oocyte meiotic progression and ultrastructure of in vitro matured bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes
Authors: de Vasconcelos Gisvani Lopes , Maculan Renata , da Cunha Ellen Vasconcelos , Silva Anderson Weiny Barbalho , Batista Ana Liza Souza , Donato Mariana Aragão Matos , Peixoto Christina Alves , Silva José Roberto Viana , de Souza José Camisão
Published: August 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between antral follicular count (AFC) and ovarian volume (OV), preantral follicular population and survival, meiotic progression and ultrastructure of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) after in vitro maturation. In experiment 1, the relationship between AFC and preantral follicle population and survival was evaluated by classical histology. In experiment 2, the relationship among AFC, OV, ability of oocytes to resume meiosis and ultrastructure of in vitro matured bovine COCs was studied. A positive correlation (P < 0.05) between AFC and the numbers of healthy primordial, degenerate and total follicles was observed, as well as with healthy secondary follicles and total follicles. The numbers of grades I and II oocytes in ovaries of high AFC class were higher compared with those with intermediate or lower AFC. After in vitro maturation, COCs from ovaries of high AFC had a higher percentage of oocytes in metaphase II compared with those of intermediate and low AFC (P < 0.0001). Ovaries of intermediate AFC had a higher percentage of oocytes in metaphase II compared with ovaries with low AFC (P < 0.0001). The proportion of oocytes in metaphase I, telophase I and anaphase I in COCs from ovaries of intermediate AFC (26.04%) was higher (P < 0.05) compared with that seen in COCs of ovaries with high (8.55%) and low (14.15%) AFC. No differences in the ultrastructure of oocytes were seen. In conclusion, after in vitro maturation, cow ovaries with high AFC have higher numbers of oocytes that reach in metaphase II (MII), but they also have higher numbers of degenerated primordial and primary follicles.
Emotion Recognition and Traffic-Related Risk-Taking Behavior in Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: van den Berg Nils S. , Reesink Fransje E. , de Haan Edward H.F. , Kremer Hubertus P.H. , Spikman Jacoba M. , Huitema Rients B.
Published: August 2020

Objectives:

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Huntington’s disease, inevitably lead to impairments in higher-order cognitive functions, including the perception of emotional cues and decision-making behavior. Such impairments are likely to cause risky daily life behavior, for instance, in traffic. Impaired recognition of emotional expressions, such as fear, is considered a marker of impaired experience of emotions. Lower fear experience can, in turn, be related to risk-taking behavior. The aim of our study was to investigate whether impaired emotion recognition in patients with NDD is indeed related to unsafe decision-making in risky everyday life situations, which has not been investigated yet.

Methods:

Fifty-one patients with an NDD were included. Emotion recognition was measured with the Facial Expressions of Emotions: Stimuli and Test (FEEST). Risk-taking behavior was measured with driving simulator scenarios and the Action Selection Test (AST). Data from matched healthy controls were used: FEEST (n= 182), AST (n= 36), and driving simulator (n= 18).

Results:

Compared to healthy controls, patients showed significantly worse emotion recognition, particularly of anger, disgust, fear, and sadness. Furthermore, patients took significantly more risks in the driving simulator rides and the AST. Only poor recognition of fear was related to a higher amount of risky decisions in situations involving a direct danger.

Conclusions:

To determine whether patients with an NDD are still fit to drive, it is crucial to assess their ability to make safe decisions. Measuring emotion recognition may be a valuable contribution to this judgment.
“WE’RE JUST SEPARATE FROM EVERYBODY”
Authors: Leo Aaron
Published: August 2020

Recent scholarly work has explored the experiences of racialization among Muslim immigrants in the United States. Such work has challenged a static view of race strictly tied to phenotype by highlighting the significance of culture and religion to racial ascription as well as the varied ways individuals respond to their own racialized position. While valuable, much of this scholarship has analyzed the racialization of Muslim immigrants as it relates to Whiteness thereby neglecting their relationship with other racialized minorities such as African Americans. Moreover, such work has focused on culture and religion without discussing the role that social class plays in the process of racialization. This article seeks to address these gaps by drawing on ethnographic data gathered among a group of Muslim newcomer youth in an urban, multiracial high school in upstate New York. The findings presented here show how these youth are racialized along cultural and religious lines yet actively respond to this process in various ways. In addition, participants articulated racializing comments towards African Americans with significant class connotations. Despite the tensions between Muslim newcomers and African Americans, moments of solidarity were evident and drew attention to the potential for establishing cross-racial alliances.
RING THE ALARM
Authors: Clark Jelisa S.
Published: August 2020

In this research, I use theories of framing and social construction to investigate how race and gender are featured in national news coverage of the school-to-prison pipeline, and how policies and practices funnel students from school to the criminal justice system. Results indicate that there are three primary narratives surrounding the school-to-prison pipeline. The first is a narrative that harsh disciplinary practices in schools are irrational and negatively impact all students. The second narrative crafts the school-to-prison pipeline as a social problem for all Black students irrespective of gender. The final narrative emphasizes the impact of exclusionary discipline on Black boys. Each of these narratives functions to erase the experiences of Black girls. Ultimately, I argue that we need to take a more intersectional approach to school discipline policies and take into account how Black women and girls are situated within popular and policy discussions.
Linguistic Assimilation Does Not Reduce Discrimination Against Immigrants: Evidence from Germany
Authors: Choi Donghyun Danny , Poertner Mathias , Sambanis Nicholas
Published: August 2020

Many western liberal democracies have witnessed increased discrimination against immigrants and opposition to multiculturalism. Prior research identifies ethno-linguistic differences between immigrant and native populations as the key source of such bias. Linguistic assimilation has therefore been proposed as an important mechanism to reduce discrimination and mitigate conflict between natives and immigrants. Using large-scale field experiments conducted in 30 cities across Germany – a country with a high influx of immigrants and refugees – we empirically test whether linguistic assimilation reduces discrimination against Muslim immigrants in everyday social interactions. We find that it does not; Muslim immigrants are no less likely to be discriminated against even if they appear to be linguistically assimilated. However, we also find that ethno-linguistic differences alone do not cause bias among natives in a country with a large immigrant population and state policies that encourage multiculturalism.
COVID-19-Schutzmaßnahmen in der stationären Altenpflege
Authors: Fischer Florian , Raiber Lea , Boscher Claudia , Winter Maik H.-J.
Published: August 2020

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Schutzmaßnahmen zur Eindämmung der COVID-19-Pandemie waren mit Isolationsmaßnahmen in der stationären Altenpflege verbunden. Aufgrund der bekannten negativen Auswirkungen von sozialer Isolation auf die Gesundheit wurden jedoch Diskussionen um die ethische Legitimation und Verhältnismäßigkeit dieser Maßnahmen geführt. Ziel: Der Beitrag soll darstellen, in welcher Form in pflegewissenschaftlichen Publikationen der Diskurs zu COVID-19-Schutzmaßnahmen stattgefunden hat und welche inhaltlichen Aspekte dabei thematisiert wurden. Methoden: Es wurde ein Mapping Review in PubMed durchgeführt. Alle Beitragsformen wissenschaftlicher Publikationen zur pflegerischen Versorgung älterer Menschen wurden berücksichtigt. Die Ergebnissynthese erfolgte in Form einer quantitativen Inhaltsanalyse zentraler inhaltlicher Aspekte. Ergebnisse: Insgesamt zeigen die 38 in die Synthese aufgenommenen Beiträge, dass sich nur ein kleiner Teil der wissenschaftlichen Publikationen zur COVID-19-Pandemie mit Personen in der stationären Langzeitversorgung auseinandersetzt. Zwar werden in der Hälfte der Beiträge kritische Aspekte der Isolation bedingt durch die Schutzmaßnahmen vor der COVID-19-Pandemie benannt, jedoch werden nur selten konkrete Maßnahmen benannt, um gegen die entstehenden negativen Effekte durch die Isolation anzugehen. Schlussfolgerungen: Es bedarf weiterer Aktivitäten in Forschung und Pflegepraxis, um den Bedürfnissen und Bedarfen der Pflegebedürftigen gerecht zu werden und auch in einer Sondersituation wie der COVID-19-Pandemie Eigenverantwortung und Selbstbestimmtheit zu ermöglichen.
Pflege in Zeiten von COVID-19: Onlinebefragung von Leitungskräften zu Herausforderungen, Belastungen und Bewältigungsstrategien
Authors: Hower Kira Isabel , Pfaff Holger , Pförtner Timo-Kolja
Published: August 2020

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung / Ziel: Angesichts der dynamischen Entwicklungen und Folgen der COVID-19-Pandemie für die Versorgung Pflegebedürftiger stellen sich folgende Fragen: Wie nehmen Leitungskräfte von Pflegeeinrichtungen Herausforderungen wahr, wie belastet sind sie und wie bewältigen sie diese? Methoden: Per E-Mail wurden bundesweit Leitungskräfte aus ambulanten und stationären Pflege- und Hospizeinrichtungen online befragt. Geschlossene Fragen wurden deskriptiv, offene inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Von 4333 angeschriebenen Einrichtungen lagen von 525 vollständige Informationen vor. Die Sorge vor Infektionen, Beschaffung von Schutzausrüstung, Hygienevorschriften, Widersprüchlichkeit und Intransparenz von Informationen sowie Richtlinien und Einnahmeausfälle zählen zu den größten pandemiespezifischen, sich bedingenden Herausforderungen, und führen zu einer Belastungskaskade. Rund 40 % der Befragten sind unsicher, ob sie diese bewerkstelligen können. Das Wohlbefinden und Präsentismusverhalten hat sich den Befragten zufolge seit Pandemieausbruch verändert. Finanzielle und strukturelle Maßnahmen, die Stärkung des sozialen Zusammenhalts und Aufklärung wurden als Bewältigungsstrategien der Krise genannt. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen einen Anstieg von Herausforderungen und veranschaulichen pandemiebedingte und sich gegenseitig bedingende Belastungen. Diese werden vornehmlich durch Mehrarbeit und einen Zusatzaufwand, vor allem auf Seiten der Leitungskräfte, bewältigt. Unklar bleibt, welche langfristigen Folgen aus der Belastungssituation zu erwarten sind.
Organizational Attachment
Authors: Feeney Justin R. , Gellatly Ian R. , Goffin Richard D. , Inness Michelle
Published: August 2020

Abstract. There is a trend to view workplace relationships through the lens of attachment theory. We developed and validated a 7-item Organizational Attachment Scale (OAS). In Study 1, we recruited 957 participants, who filled out study materials at three separate times. The OAS preserved the two-factor solution in traditional attachment measures – anxious attachment and avoidant attachment – and was invariant across time. In Study 2, we recruited 400 participants who completed the OAS in addition to several other surveys. The OAS was conceptually unique from Richards and Schat’s (2011) Co-Worker Attachment Scale (CWAS). The OAS incrementally predicted organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and organizational identity beyond the CWAS. Additionally, the OAS incrementally predicted organizational citizenship behavior and counterproductive work behavior beyond the CWAS.
Daily Experiences of Commuting Strain and Self-Control at Work and at Home
Authors: Wiese Bettina S. , Chaillié Olivia , Noppeney Ruth , Stertz Anna M.
Published: August 2020

Abstract. The study investigates how commuting strain affects daily self-control capacities at work and at home. Irritability (i.e., increased readiness to express negative emotions when facing frustration) and concentration (i.e., a cognitive control capacity that relies on attention) were used as indicators of (impaired) self-control. Based on 5-day diary data from N = 185 train commuters, we found that on days with a strenuous ride from home to work, commuters indicated higher irritability and lower concentration capacity at work. On days with higher strain during the work-to-home ride, commuters reported to be more irritable back home. Moreover, commuters with low emotional stability turned out to be more affected by commuting strain but only if considering self-control impairment at home.