bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social interactions change with season and age in Northern Bald Ibis
Authors: Puehringer-Sturmayr Verena , Stiefel Tanja , Kotrschal Kurt , Kleindorfer Sonia , Frigerio Didone
Published: October 2020

Understanding the association between an individual’s position within a social network and its sex and age across seasons can be useful information for conservation management. For example, identifying the social position of females within a group can provide insights into reproductive potential, while the position of juveniles may be related to survival and hence recruitment potential. In the present study, we used social network analysis to investigate the effects of season, sex, age and reproductive partner on social interactions in the endangered Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita). Via focal sampling we recorded the social behaviour of 39 individually marked, free-flying birds for 4 months over two seasons (autumn, winter). We observed the occurrence of affiliative and agonistic interactions and estimated proximity between colony members. We found that (1) individuals were in proximity with more colony members in winter than in autumn, and affiliative interactions occurred more often in winter, (2) older individuals occupied more central positions in the proximity network irrespective of sex, (3) males engaged more than females in agonistic interactions, whereas females received more affiliative interactions than males irrespective of age, and (4) most affiliative interactions occurred between former or potentially prospective reproductive partners. Our findings suggest that social relationships could modulate inter-individual distance and there may be sex-related differences in the investment into pair bond maintenance. Overall the findings of sex- and age-related differences in behaviour and social position contribute to understanding factors associated with breeding success and mortality risk in an endangered bird species.
Kann die Saatgutbehandlung mit dem Safener Cyprosulfamid die Verträglichkeit von Isoxaflutole in Mais steigern, die Unkrautbekämpfung verbessern und die Wirkstoffmenge verringern?
Authors: Gerhards Roland , Santel Hans-Joachim
Published: October 2020

Herbizide Wirkstoffe werden in kommerziellen Produkten manchmal mit Safenern kombiniert, um die Verträglichkeit des Herbizids für die Kulturpflanze zu gewährleisten. Dabei regen Safener meist die Metabolisierung von Herbiziden in der Kulturpflanze an. Das Herbizid Isoxaflutole (IFT) wird in Mais mit dem Safener Cyprosulfamid (CSA) als Co-Formulierung angewendet. In dieser Arbeit wurde untersucht, ob CSA auch zeitlich getrennt von IFT als Saatgutbehandlung den Mais vor Herbizidschäden durch IFT schützen kann und ob die Unkrautbekämpfung in diesem Fall höher ist als bei der Co-Formulierung, weil die Unkräuter durch die Saatbehandlung nicht mit CSA in Kontakt kommen.

Es wurden von 2016–2018 insgesamt fünf Topfversuche als randomisierte, vollständige Blockanlage mit 15 Wiederholungen durchgeführt. Dabei wurde IFT ohne CSA, mit CSA als Co-Formulierung und mit CSA-Beize in der einfachen und doppelten Feldaufwandmenge im 2‑Blatt-Stadium von Mais appliziert und 28 Tage nach der Applikation die Herbizidschäden an Mais und Unkräutern bonitiert und die Sprosslänge und Trockenmasse der Maisstängel gemessen.

In allen Versuchen reagierte Mais sensibel mit Bleichungen an den Blättern auf IFT mit bis zu 62 % Schäden. Die Kombination von IFT und CSA reduzierte den vom Herbizid verursachten Schaden signifikant. Die schützende Wirkung von CSA war stärker, wenn der Safener simultan mit dem Herbzid gespritzt wurde (5–10 % Schaden) als bei Beizanwendung (15–25 % Schaden). Im Mittel aller Versuche war die Sprosslänge des mit der der Co-Formulierung von IFT und CSA behandelten Maises auf dem Niveau der unbehandelten Kontrolle und höher als in den IFT-Behandlungen. Die Beizvariante mit 100 g/ha IFT zeigte die längsten Sprosse. Der Safener konnte die herbizidbedingte Reduktion der Trockenmassebildung nur teilweise verhindern. Die Behandlungen mit IFT ohne Zusatz des Safeners zeigten die niedrigsten Sprossmassen der Maisstängel. Die Bekämpfung von Amaranthus retroflexus, Echinochloa crus-galli und Setaria viridis gelang in allen Behandlungen zu 100 %. Nur gegen Stellaria media war die Bekämpfung ohne Safener besser als mit CSA-Beize (92 % Bekämpfungsrate) und Co-Formulierung (79 %).

Mit der Saatgutbeizung können ca. 80 % des Safeners gegenüber der Co-Formulierung eingespart werden.
Expertise development in volumetric image interpretation of radiology residents: what do longitudinal scroll data reveal?
Authors: van Montfort Dorien , Kok Ellen , Vincken Koen , van der Schaaf Marieke , van der Gijp Anouk , Ravesloot Cécile , Rutgers Dirk
Published: October 2020

The current study used theories on expertise development (the holistic model of image perception and the information reduction hypothesis) as a starting point to identify and explore potentially relevant process measures to monitor and evaluate expertise development in radiology residency training. It is the first to examine expertise development in volumetric image interpretation (i.e., CT scans) within radiology residents using scroll data collected longitudinally over five years of residency training. Consistent with the holistic model of image perception, the percentage of time spent on full runs, i.e. scrolling through more than 50% of the CT-scan slices (global search), decreased within residents over residency training years. Furthermore, the percentage of time spent on question-relevant areas in the CT scans increased within residents over residency training years, consistent with the information reduction hypothesis. Second, we examined if scroll patterns can predict diagnostic accuracy. The percentage of time spent on full runs and the percentage of time spent on question-relevant areas did not predict diagnostic accuracy. Thus, although scroll patterns over training years are consistent with visual expertise theories, they could not be used as predictors of diagnostic accuracy in the current study. Therefore, the relation between scroll patterns and performance needs to be further examined, before process measures can be used to monitor and evaluate expertise development in radiology residency training.
Vascular Events, Vascular Disease and Vascular Risk Factors—Strongly Intertwined with COVID-19
Authors: Scutelnic Adrian , Heldner Mirjam R.
Published: October 2020

Purpose of review

To elucidate the intertwining of vascular events, vascular disease and vascular risk factors and COVID-19.

Recent findings

Strokes are a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Vascular risk factors are important drivers of strokes. There are unmodifiable vascular risk factors such as age and ethnicity and modifiable vascular risk factors. According to the INTERSTROKE study, the 10 most frequent modifiable vascular risk factors are arterial hypertension, physical inactivity, overweight, dyslipidaemia, smoking, unhealthy diet, cardiac pathologies, diabetes mellitus, stress/depression and overconsumption of alcohol. Also, infection and inflammation have been shown to increase the risk of stroke. There is high-quality evidence for the clinical benefits of optimal primary and secondary stroke prevention. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a new perspective to this field. Vascular events, vascular disease and vascular risk factors—and COVID-19—are strongly intertwined. An increased risk of vascular events—by multifactorial mechanisms—has been observed in COVID-19 patients. Also, a higher rate of infection with COVID-19, severe COVID-19 and bad outcome has been demonstrated in patients with pre-existing vascular disease and vascular risk factors.

At present, we suggest that regular interactions between healthcare professionals and patients should include education on COVID-19 and on primary and secondary vascular prevention in order to reduce the burden of disease in our ageing populations.
An improved simulated annealing algorithm based on residual network for permutation flow shop scheduling
Authors: Li Yang , Wang Cuiyu , Gao Liang , Song Yiguo , Li Xinyu
Published: October 2020

The permutation flow shop scheduling problem (PFSP), which is one of the most important scheduling types, is widespread in the modern industries. With the increase of scheduling scale, the difficulty and computation time of solving the problem will increase exponentially. Adding the knowledge to intelligent algorithms is a good way to solve the complex and difficult scheduling problems in reasonable time. To deal with the complex PFSPs, this paper proposes an improved simulated annealing (SA) algorithm based on residual network (SARes). First, this paper defines the neighborhood of the PFSP and divides its key blocks. Second, the Residual Network (ResNet) is used to extract and train the features of key blocks. And, the trained parameters are stored in the SA algorithm to improve its performance. Afterwards, some key operators, including the initial temperature setting and temperature attenuation function of SA algorithm, are also modified. After every new solution is generated, the parameters trained by the ResNet are used for fast ergodic search until the local optimal solution found in the current neighborhood. Finally, the most famous benchmarks including part of TA benchmark are selected to verify the performance of the proposed SARes algorithm, and the comparisons with the-state-of-art methods are also conducted. The experimental results show that the proposed method has achieved good results by comparing with other algorithms. This paper also conducts experiments on network structure design, algorithm parameter selection, CPU time and other problems, and verifies the advantages of SARes algorithm from the aspects of stability and efficiency.
Right Atrial Thrombus in Transient in a COVID-19 Patient: Clinical Echocardiographic Features—Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Abool Maaly Cheikh A. , Al Suwaidi Jassim , Khatib Mohamad Yahya , Alzaeem Hakam
Published: October 2020

A 54-year-old male is admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia and received prophylactic anticoagulation. On day 8, the patient rapidly deteriorated requiring urgent endotracheal intubation. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed large right atrial thrombus in transient, resulting in pulmonary embolism and severe RV failure; fibrinolytic therapy was not effective and the patient passed away.
Z-domain modeling of peak current mode control for full-bridge DC-DC buck converters
Authors: Wang Xiaohong , Huang Qisong , Zhang Bo , Chen Di , Guan Quanxue
Published: October 2020

Traditional local-averaged state-space modeling for peak current mode (PCM) controls fails to explain the subharmonic oscillation phenomenon when the spectrum is higher than half of the switching frequency. To address this problem, this paper presents a small-signal modeling method in the z-domain, and builds a discrete linear model for the current loop of a full-bridge DC-DC converter. This discrete model is converted into a second-order continuous model that is able to represent the system performance with a wider frequency range. A frequency-domain analysis shows that this model can be used to explain the subharmonic oscillations and unstable characteristics. This provides an engineering guideline for the practical design of slope compensation. The effectiveness of the proposed modeling method has been verified by simulation and experimental results with a prototype working in the Buck mode.
Outcomes of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia and unsuccessful cytogenetic analysis undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Nampoothiri Ram Vasudevan , Chen Shiyi , Pasic Ivan , Al-Shaibani Zeyad , Lam Wilson , Michelis Fotios V. , Kim Dennis (Dong Hwan) , Viswabandya Auro , Gerbitz Armin , Lipton Jeffrey Howard , Kumar Rajat , Mattsson Jonas , Law Arjun Datt
Published: October 2020

Objective/Background:

Unsuccessful cytogenetic (US) analysis at baseline has been reported to be a poor prognostic feature in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We conducted this study to examine the prognostic impact of UC/inconclusive cytogenetic analysis on outcomes in patients with AML undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo HSCT).

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed all adults undergoing Allo HSCT for AML from January 2011 to August 2019. Patients with any documented cytogenetic abnormalities were excluded. Baseline characteristics and transplant outcomes were compared between patients with normal cytogenetics and those with UC.

Results:

Overall, 243 AML patients (median age, 55 years; 55.1% female) were included. UC were reported in 79 patients, whereas 164 patients had a normal karyotype. The two groups were similar to each other in terms of baseline demographics, treatment received, and transplant related variables. There was no difference between patients with UC and normal cytogenetics in terms of relapse-free survival (66 months vs. 42 months, p = .53) or overall survival (OS; 77 months vs. 76 months, p = .72). Survival parameters remained similar even in subgroup analysis based on NPM1 and FLT3 mutation status. Significant predictors of OS after Allo HSCT in AML patients with UC were increased age at time of Allo HSCT (hazard ratio [HR] = −1.049; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.005–1.095), favorable (NPM1Mut/FLT3wt) mutation profile (HR = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.01–0.84), neutrophil engraftment < 17 days, and absence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (HR = 3.27; 95% CI, 1.20–8.60).

Conclusion:

Outcomes after Allo HSCT are comparable between AML patients with UC analysis and patients with normal cytogenetics even after stratification based on molecular risk factors. Allogeneic Allo HSCT may mitigate the poor prognosis of UC analysis in patients with AML.
SWAPO’s Struggle Children and Exile Home-Making: the Refugee Biography of Mawazo Nakadhilu
Authors: Williams Christian A.
Published: October 2020

Mawazo Nakadhilu is a former refugee born to a Namibian father and a Tanzanian mother near Kongwa, Tanzania, in 1972. Her biography illuminates how people have made homes in Southern African exile and post-exile contexts. Williams traces Mawazo’s story from her Tanzanian childhood through her forced removal to SWAPO’s Nyango camp to her “repatriation” to Namibia. In so doing, he highlights tensions that have not previously been addressed between exiled liberation movements and their members over family situations. Moreover, he stresses the value of biographical work focused on aspects of refugees’ lives that tend to be overlooked in nationalist discourse.
Refugees, Identity, and the Limits to Inclusion: Revisiting Landlord-Stranger Reciprocity Relations in Contemporary Liberia
Authors: Bedert Maarten
Published: October 2020

Refugees in sub-Saharan Africa residing among host communities experience the need to articulate belonging in order to generate a greater sense of security. Based on the individual life stories of Ivorian refugees in Northeastern Liberia in 2011, Bedert finds that local patterns of integration between landlords and strangers are foregone by the bureaucratic identity of refugees as imposed by the international community. In addition, local integration is not self-evident, as it entails a degree of reciprocity and mutual recognition. In the eyes of landlords, strangers are evaluated based on what they can bring to the table.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among Swiss hospital workers: Results of a prospective cohort study
Authors: Kohler Philipp P. , Kahlert Christian R. , Sumer Johannes , Flury Domenica , Güsewell Sabine , Leal-Neto Onicio B. , Notter Julia , Albrich Werner C. , Babouee Flury Baharak , McGeer Allison , Kuster Stefan , Risch Lorenz , Schlegel Matthias , Vernazza Pietro
Published: October 2020

In this prospective cohort of 1,012 Swiss hospital employees, 3 different assays were used to screen serum for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seropositivity was 1%; the positive predictive values of the lateral-flow immunoassay were 64% (IgG) and 13% (IgM). History of fever and myalgia most effectively differentiated seropositive and seronegative participants.
Understanding the distribution of positiveLegionellasamples in healthcare-premise water systems: Using statistical analysis to determine a distribution forLegionellaand to support sample size recommendations
Authors: Nagy Dylan J. , Dziewulski David M. , Codru Neculai , Lauper Ursula L.
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To significantly fit a statistical distribution to the proportion of positiveLegionellasamples in a series of water samples from multiple facility-premise water systems.

Design:

Statistical fit test.

Setting:

A hospital and associated long-term care facility (LTCF) in New York State, as well as temporal and culture data from a deidentified hospital site supplied by one of the vendor laboratories.

Methods:

Culture samples (n = 1,393) were segmented into 139 test cycles with roughly 10 samples in each. The proportion of positive samples was standardized to 25 total samples per test to give a distribution of discrete values. These values were analyzed for fit with the following discrete distributions: Poisson, negative binomial, geometric, and zero-inflated Poisson.

Results:

The zero-inflated Poisson distribution fitted to the copper–silver ionization (CSI)-treated and untreated test cycles indicates that 88% of the expected positive proportions should occur by the 30% cutoff (rounded up to 8 positive samples among 25 total samples), similar to the 93% expectation for just CSI-treated test cycles. The other treatment in these data (chlorine dioxide) was not effective in treatingLegionellain the sampled buildings, and if there is an underlying distribution to these specific test cycles, it is not the zero-inflated Poisson distribution.

Conclusions:

In a well-maintained or well-treated premise water distribution system, ~30% or lower proportion of positiveLegionellasamples should occur. Anything above that cutoff is either very unlikely or not expected at all and indicates a problem in the water system.
Redescription of †Yanosteus longidorsalis Jin et al., (Chondrostei, Acipenseriformes, †Peipiaosteidae) from the Early Cretaceous of China
Authors: Hilton Eric J. , Grande Lance , Jin Fan
Published: October 2020

The family †Peipiaosteidae contains the genera †Peipiaosteus, †Stichopterus, †Spherosteus, †Yanosteus, and †Liaosteus, all from Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous deposits of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Although the family has taxonomically expanded since it was first established for †P. pani Liu and Zhou, 1965, the amount of detailed comparative data for many of the taxa involved is lacking. In this paper, we describe the osteology of the monotypic genus †Yanosteus from the Yixian Formation (Early Cretaceous) of China largely on the basis of a newly prepared, well-preserved specimen. †Yanosteus is characterized by a series of infraorbital ossicles (a characteristic of the family), a broad, rounded palatopterygoid, a robust dentary, an extremely small opercle and a subopercle with distinctly long and rounded anterior process and a posteriorly scalloped margin, a broad and weakly forked caudal fin, an elongate dorsal fin with more than 160–178 fin rays (diagnostic for the genus), and a short but well-formed pectoral fin spine. We use the results of this study to discuss the characters of the †Peipiaosteioidei and the diversity of †peipiaosteioids.
Integrals of functions containing parameters
Authors: Corless Robert M. , Jeffrey David J. , Stoutemyer David R.
Published: October 2020

Calculus students are taught that an indefinite integral is defined only up to an additive constant, and as a consequence generations of students have assiduously added ‘+C’ to their calculus homework. Although ubiquitous, these constants rarely garner much attention, and typically loiter without intent around the ends of equations, feeling neglected. There is, however, useful work they can do, work which is particularly relevant in the contexts of integral tables and computer algebra systems. We begin, therefore, with a discussion of the context, before returning to coax the constants out of the shadows and assign them their tasks.
The granite porphyry hidden in the Shuangjianzishan deposit, southern Great Xing’an Range, NE China: geochronology, isotope geochemistry and tectonic implications
Authors: Wei Wei , Lv Xin-Biao , Wang Xiang-Dong
Published: October 2020

The Shuangjianzishan vein-type Ag-Pb-Zn deposit in the southern Great Xing’an Range (GXR), NE China, is hosted in the slate of the Lower Permian Dashizhai Formation intruded by granite porphyry. In this paper, U–Pb zircon ages and bulk-rock and isotope (Sr, Nd, Pb and Hf) compositions are reported to investigate the derivation, evolution and geodynamic setting of this granite porphyry. It is closely associated with Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization in the southern GXR and contains important geological information relating to regional tectonic evolution. Laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon U–Pb dating yields an emplacement age of 131 ± 1 Ma for the granite porphyry. Bulk-rock analyses show that the Shuangjianzishan granite porphyry is characterized by high Si, Na and K contents but low Mg and Fe contents, and that the enrichment of Zr, Y and Ga suggests an A-type granite affinity. Most of the studied samples have relatively low 87Sr/86Sr values (0.70549–0.70558), with positive ϵNd(t) (0.71–0.88) and ϵHf(t) (4.9–6.9) values. The Sr–Nd isotope modelling results, in combination with the young TDM2 ages of Nd and Hf (850–864 and 668–778 Ma, respectively), reveal that the Shuangjianzishan granite porphyry may be derived from the melting of mantle-derived juvenile component, with minor lower crustal components; this finding is also supported by Pb isotopic compositions. Considering the widespread presence of granitoids with coeval volcanic rocks and regional geology data, we propose that the Shuangjianzishan granite porphyry formed in a post-orogenic extensional environment related to the upwelling of asthenospheric mantle following the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean.
Alexithymia in autism: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with social-communication difficulties, anxiety and depression symptoms
Authors: Oakley Bethany F. M. , Jones Emily J. H. , Crawley Daisy , Charman Tony , Buitelaar Jan , Tillmann Julian , Murphy Declan G. , Loth Eva ,   The EU-AIMS LEAP Group
Published: October 2020

Background

Alexithymia (difficulties in identifying and describing emotion) is a transdiagnostic trait implicated in social–emotional and mental health problems in the general population. Many autistic individuals experience significant social-communication difficulties and elevated anxiety/depression and alexithymia. Nevertheless, the role of alexithymia in explaining individual variability in the quality/severity of social-communication difficulties and/or anxiety and depression symptoms in autism remains poorly understood.

Methods

In total, 337 adolescents and adults (autism N = 179) were assessed for alexithymia on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and for social-communication difficulties, anxiety and depression symptoms. A total of 135 individuals (autism N = 76) were followed up 12–24 months later. We used regression models to establish cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between alexithymia, social-communication difficulties, anxiety and depression symptoms.

Results

Autistic individuals reported significantly higher alexithymia than comparison individuals (p < 0.001, r effect size = 0.48), with 47.3% of autistic females and 21.0% of autistic males meeting cut-off for clinically relevant alexithymia (score ⩾61). Difficulties in describing feelings were particularly associated with current self-reported social-communication difficulties [p < 0.001, β = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44–0.67] and predicted later social-communication difficulties (p = 0.02, β = 0.43, 95% CI 0.07–0.82). Difficulties in identifying feelings were particularly associated with current anxiety symptom severity (p < 0.001, β = 0.54, 95% CI 0.41–0.77) and predicted later anxiety (p = 0.01; β = 0.31, 95% CI 0.08–0.62).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that difficulties in identifying v. describing emotion are associated with differential clinical outcomes in autism. Psychological therapies targeting emotional awareness may improve social-communication and anxiety symptoms in autism, potentially conferring long-term benefits.
ESTIMATION OF VOLATILITY FUNCTIONS IN JUMP DIFFUSIONS USING TRUNCATED BIPOWER INCREMENTS
Authors: Kim Jihyun , Park Joon Y. , Wang Bin
Published: October 2020

In this article, we introduce and analyze a new methodology to estimate the volatility functions of jump diffusion models. Our methodology relies on the standard kernel estimation technique using truncated bipower increments. The relevant asymptotics are fully developed, allowing for the time span to increase as well as the sampling interval to decrease, and accommodate both stationary and nonstationary recurrent processes. We evaluate the performance of our estimators by simulation and provide some illustrative empirical analyses.
PREDICTIVE PROCESSING OF IMPLICIT CAUSALITY IN A SECOND LANGUAGE
Authors: Kim Hyunwoo , Grüter Theres
Published: October 2020

Implicit causality (IC) is a well-known phenomenon whereby certain verbs appear to create biases to remention either their subject or object in a causal dependent clause. This study investigated to what extent Korean learners of English made use of IC information for predictive processing at a discourse level, and whether L2 proficiency played a modulating role in this process. Results from a visual-world eye-tracking experiment showed early use of IC information in both L1 and L2 listeners, yet the effect was weaker and emerged later in the L2 group. None of three independent and intercorrelated proficiency measures modulated L2 listeners’ processing behavior. The findings suggest that L2 listeners are able to engage in prediction during real-time processing at a discourse level, although they did so to a more limited extent than native speakers in this study. We discuss these findings in light of similar evidence from other recent work.
Flint Kids Cook: positive influence of a farmers’ market cooking and nutrition programme on health-related quality of life of US children in a low-income, urban community
Authors: Saxe-Custack Amy , LaChance Jenny , Hanna-Attisha Mona , Dawson Chantel
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To examine changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among youth who participated in Flint Kids Cook, a 6-week healthy cooking programme for children, and assess whether changes in HRQoL were associated with changes in cooking self-efficacy, attitude towards cooking (ATC) and diet.

Design:

Pre-post survey (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Block Kids Food Screener, 8-item cooking self-efficacy, 6-item ATC) using child self-report at baseline and programme exit. Analysis involved paired sample t-tests and Pearson’s correlations.

Setting:

Farmers’ market in Flint, Michigan, USA.

Participants:

Children (n 186; 55·9 % female, 72·6 % African American) participated in Flint Kids Cook from October 2017 to February 2020 (mean age 10·55 ± 1·83 years; range 8–15).

Results:

Mean HRQoL summary score improved (P < 0·001) from baseline (77·22 ± 14·27) to programme exit (81·62 ± 14·43), as did mean psychosocial health summary score (74·68 ± 15·68 v. 79·04 ± 16·46, P = 0·001). Similarly, physical (P = 0·016), emotional (P = 0·002), social (P = 0·037), and school functioning (P = 0·002) improved. There was a correlation between change in HRQoL summary score and change in ATC (r = –0·194, P = 0·025) as well as change in cooking self-efficacy (r = –0·234, P = 0·008). Changes in HRQoL and psychosocial health summary scores were not correlated with dietary changes, which included decreased added sugar (P = 0·019) and fruit juice (P = 0·004) intake.

Conclusions:

This study is the first to report modest yet significant improvements in HRQoL among children and adolescents who participated in a healthy cooking programme. Results suggest that cooking programmes for youth may provide important psychosocial health benefits that are unrelated to dietary changes.
‘Devenir compositeur’: Notes on the Insertion of Argentine Composers in the Contemporary French Music Scene (1970–2000)
Authors: LIUT MARTIN
Published: October 2020

This article studies a group of nineteen Argentinean composers who settled in Paris between 1970 and 2000. In addition to social and political factors of Argentine history – including the last military dictatorship (1976–83) and the 1989 period of ‘hyperinflation’ (1989) – these composers wanted to develop their careers in a professional field with the history, size, and diversity of Paris. Since the 1970s, France began a strong state policy supporting the arts; this action promoted a process of internationalization of Paris's artistic life. Contemporary music was viewed by participants and creators as an open and cosmopolitan space. Although the paradigm of autonomy suggests that nationality is less relevant than the individuality of each composer, the latter continues to function as an identity marker and, therefore, as a classification strategy both in France and in Argentina.
Cardiovascular risk factors in those born preterm – systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Andraweera Prabha H. , Condon Bradley , Collett Gemma , Gentilcore Stefania , Lassi Zohra S.
Published: October 2020

Emerging evidence demonstrates a link between preterm birth (PTB) and later life cardiovascular disease (CVD). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare conventional CVD risk factors between those born preterm and at term. PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and EMBASE databases were searched. The review protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018095005). CVD risk factors including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index, lipid profile, blood glucose, and fasting insulin among those born preterm (<37 weeks’ gestation) were compared with those born at term (≥37 weeks’ gestation). Subgroup analyses based on gender, age, gestational at birth (<32 weeks’ gestation and <28 weeks’ gestation), and PTB associated with small for gestational age or average for gestational age were also performed. Fifty-six studies provided data on 308,987 individuals. Being born preterm was associated with 3.26 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.08 to 4.44) higher mean SBP and 1.32 mmHg (95% CI: 0.61 to 2.04) higher mean DBP compared to being born at term. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that SBP was higher among (a) preterm compared to term groups from early adolescence until adulthood; (b) females born preterm but not among males born preterm compared to term controls; and (c) those born at <32 weeks or <28 weeks compared to term. Our meta-analyses demonstrate higher SBP and DBP among those born preterm compared to term. The difference in SBP is evident from early adolescence until adulthood.
The Hmong and the Communist Party of Thailand: A Transnational, Transcultural and Gender-Relations-Transforming Experience
Authors: Baird Ian G.
Published: October 2020

Beginning in the early 1960s—and especially by the end of the decade—a large number of the ethnic Hmong people in Thailand aligned themselves with the Communist Party of Thailand (CPT). By the 1970s, most of the CPT's “liberated areas” were located in remote, mountainous areas populated by Hmong people. In this paper, I situate Hmong involvement in CPT through the literature related to the multi-ethnic connections being made through the organisation of armed groups and argue that Hmong involvement with the CPT was transnational, transcultural and gender-relations-transforming. The first Hmong Thai to join the CPT was recruited in neighbouring Laos. Other Hmong in Thailand heard about the CPT through radio broadcasts from Laos in Hmong language. Furthermore, many of the early CPT recruits travelled from their homes in Thailand for political and military instruction at a basic training centre called A-30, which was located somewhere in northern Laos near the border with China. There, most Hmong CPT recruits learned to speak, read and write central Thai language. Hmong CPT also started to meaningfully interact with other Thais, including those from northeastern and southern Thailand and Chinese Thais from Bangkok. Later, those deemed to have particular potential were sent to study in China or in Vietnam for specific military training. Some Hmong sent their children to study with the CPT; others went on their own. The Hmong also interacted with people from other communist movements in Southeast Asia.
Der Inno-Lehre
Authors: Stasewitsch Elena , Kauffeld Simone
Published: October 2020

Zusammenfassung. Der Inno-Lehre wurde angelehnt an den Center-of-Excellence-Ansatz und an den aktuellen Diskurs über innovative Hochschullehre entwickelt, um das Innovationsklima in der Hochschullehre zu messen. 162 Lehrende und 585 Studierende verschiedener deutschsprachiger Hochschulen haben den Inno-Lehre ausgefüllt. Mit Hilfe einer explorativen Faktorenanalyse und Analyse der Itemkennwerte wurde eine 12-faktorielle Struktur des Inno-Lehre festgelegt. Die faktorielle Struktur des Inno-Lehre konnte durch eine konfirmatorische Faktorenanalyse bestätigt werden. Der Inno-Lehre korreliert positiv mit Skalen zur Studien- und Leistungszufriedenheit von Studierenden und gibt so Hinweise auf die konvergente Validität. Zwischen dem Inno-Lehre und Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen der Organisationsangehörigen zeigen sich keine bzw. geringe Korrelationen, was im Sinne der diskriminanten Validität interpretiert werden kann. Zusammenfassend ermöglicht der Inno-Lehre die standardisierte und ökonomische Erfassung des lehrbezogenen Innovationsklimas.
The Impact on the Ozone Layer of a Potential Fleet of Civil Hypersonic Aircraft
Authors: Kinnison Douglas , Brasseur Guy P. , Baughcum Steven L. , Zhang Jun , Wuebbles Donald
Published: October 2020

The aeronautical community is currently researching technology that might lead to commercial hypersonic aircraft that would cruise at Mach 5–8 in the middle or upper stratosphere and would transfer passengers from London to New York or from Los Angeles to Tokyo in just a couple of hours. Depending on the engine technology to be adopted, these aircraft will potentially release substantial amounts of water vapor and nitrogen oxides around 30–40 km altitude. We show here that the operation of a large fleet of such aircraft could potentially deplete considerable amounts of ozone in the stratosphere, which would lead to a substantial increase in biologically damaging ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface. The calculations are based on a specific emission scenario, which carries large uncertainties but can easily be scaled to account for the type of aircraft engine to be eventually adopted, improved technology to be expected, and the size and operation conditions of the future aircraft fleet.
Prepare Scientists to Engage in Science‐Policy
Authors: von Schneidemesser Erika , Melamed Megan , Schmale Julia
Published: October 2020

There is a dire need for deeper science‐policy engagement to face recent developments such as entering into the Anthropocene and our dependence as a species on technological and scientific advancements. However, there is a lack of preparedness and training of scientists about what science‐policy engagement is and how to get involved, with substantial discrepancies globally. We present four gaps and possible solutions to those gaps to better train and prepare scientists to engage in science‐policy. (1) Frame science‐policy as a system. The framing of a science‐policy interface is misleading. A better framing is the science‐policy system, in which two processes, science and policy, are under the influence of each other. (2) Teach the science‐policy system. Scientists should have a basic understanding of what the science‐policy system is, and the implications that has for their research. (3) Engage in the science‐policy system. Make the research on science‐policy more readily accessible to the users and share experiences and lessons learned from those that have engaged in science‐policy to foster greater engagement. (4) Value engagement in the science‐policy system. Scientific institutions need to place greater value on science‐policy engagement by setting up structures, award systems, and incentives for scientists to engage science‐policy.
Converging on Solutions to Plan Sustainable Cities
Authors: Wuebbles Donald , Sharma Ashish , Ando Amy , Zhao Lei , Rigsbee Carolee
Published: October 2020

Climate change will exacerbate the food, energy, water, health, and equity challenges that urban communities face, but cities also have opportunities to improve sustainability and outcomes.
Plasma Convection in the Terrestrial Magnetotail Lobes Measured Near the Moon's Orbit
Authors: Cao Xin , Halekas Jasper S. , Chu Feng , Kistler Michael , Poppe Andrew R. , Glassmeier Karl‐Heinz
Published: October 2020

In order to study the plasma convection in the deep magnetotail lobes near lunar orbit, we investigated ions originating from the tenuous exosphere and surface of the Moon, which are measured by the Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of Moon's Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS) spacecraft. Directly measuring the plasma convection in the tail lobes is difficult, due to the typically large positive spacecraft potential. In this work we show that in the terrestrial magnetotail near the Moon, the convection velocity can be estimated by measuring the velocity of lunar ions. Determining what factors control the lobe convection is important in understanding the linkage between the upstream conditions and the dynamics of the tail lobes. Based on systematic analysis of multiple ARTEMIS observations and OMNI data, we find that the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and magnetospheric activity plays an important role in controlling plasma convection in the near‐Moon lobes.
Comparative Study of Cloud Liquid Water and Rain Liquid Water Obtained From Microwave Radiometer and Micro Rain Radar Observations Over Central China During the Monsoon
Authors: Zhang Wengang , Xu Guirong , Xi Baike , Ren Jing , Wan Xia , Zhou Lingli , Cui Chunguang , Wu Dongqiao
Published: October 2020

We investigated the cloud liquid water (CLW) and rain liquid water (RLW) during weak precipitations (rain rate below 12 mm/h) using microwave radiometer and microrain radar measurements collected by the Integrative Monsoon Frontal Rainfall Experiment over central China in 2018. The CLW path increased sharply from 0.6 to 4.1 mm for precipitation clouds. RLW path presented a similar trend, although it had a larger correlation coefficient with rain rate. Precipitation efficiency reached up to ~50% and then clearly decreased as precipitation weakened. Because weak precipitation is mostly formed in stable nimbostratus, CLW content (CLWC) during precipitation tends to has a quasi‐normal distribution with mode at 0.38 g/m3, whereas RLW content (RLWC) shows a positively skewed distribution with mode at 0.06 g/m3. Normalized CLWC initially increases then decreases with height in nonprecipitation clouds but varies slightly in precipitation clouds due to relatively monodispersed droplets in the weaker convective motion. CLWC derived from millimeter‐wave cloud radar (MMCR) shows similar vertical distribution but with larger values. The mean normalized CLWCs are 0.06 and 0.38 g/m3 for nonprecipitation and precipitation clouds, respectively. RLWC varies slightly with height with a mean of 0.22 g/m3 because both the collision and breakup of raindrops are weak. A case study showed different distributions and vertical structures of CLWC and RLWC in various stages of precipitation. Thicker clouds result in larger CLWC and RLWC, which will cause greater rain rate. This qualitatively explains relationships among cloud thickness, CLW, RLW, and rain rate in precipitation during the monsoon.
SHP2 is a multifunctional therapeutic target in drug resistant metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Chen Hao , Libring Sarah , Ruddraraju Kasi Viswanatharaju , Miao Jinmin , Solorio Luis , Zhang Zhong-Yin , Wendt Michael K.
Published: October 2020

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is an extremely recalcitrant disease capable of bypassing current targeted therapies via engagement of several growth promoting pathways. SH2 containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) is an oncogenic phosphatase known to facilitate growth and survival signaling downstream of numerous receptor inputs. Herein, we used inducible genetic depletion and two distinct pharmacological inhibitors to investigate the therapeutic potential of targeting SHP2 in MBC. Cells that acquired resistance to the ErbB kinase inhibitor, neratinib, displayed increased phosphorylation of SHP2 at the Y542 activation site. In addition, higher levels of SHP2 phosphorylation, but not expression, were associated with decreased survival of breast cancer patients. Pharmacological inhibition of SHP2 activity blocked ERK1/2 and AKT signaling generated from exogenous stimulation with FGF2, PDGF, and hGF and readily prevented MBC cell growth induced by these factors. SHP2 was also phosphorylated upon engagement of the extracellular matrix (ECM) via focal adhesion kinase. Consistent with the potential of SHP2-targeted compounds as therapeutic agents, the growth inhibitory property of SHP2 blockade was enhanced in ECM-rich 3D culture environments. In vivo blockade of SHP2 in the adjuvant setting decreased pulmonary metastasis and extended the survival of systemic tumor-bearing mice. Finally, inhibition of SHP2 in combination with FGFR-targeted kinase inhibitors synergistically blocked the growth of MBC cells. Overall, our findings support the conclusion that SHP2 constitutes a shared signaling node allowing MBC cells to simultaneously engage a diversity of growth and survival pathways, including those derived from the ECM.
The lncRNA LOC102549805 (U1) modulates neurotoxicity of HIV-1 Tat protein
Authors: Torkzaban Bahareh , Natarajaseenivasan Kalimuthusamy , Mohseni Ahooyi Taha , Shekarabi Masoud , Amini Shohreh , Langford T. Dianne , Khalili Kamel
Published: October 2020

HIV-1 Tat is a potent neurotoxic protein that is released by HIV-1 infected cells in the brain and perturbs neuronal homeostasis, causing a broad range of neurological disorders in people living with HIV-1. Furthermore, the effects of Tat have been addressed in numerous studies to investigate the molecular events associated with neuronal cells survival and death. Here, we discovered that exposure of rat primary neurons to Tat resulted in the up-regulation of an uncharacterized long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), LOC102549805 (lncRNA-U1). Our observations showed that increased expression of lncRNA-U1 in neurons disrupts bioenergetic pathways by dysregulating homeostasis of Ca2+, mitigating mitochondrial oxygen reduction, and decreasing ATP production, all of which point mitochondrial impairment in neurons via the Tat-mediated lncRNA-U1 induction. These changes were associated with imbalances in autophagy and apoptosis pathways. Additionally, this study showed the ability of Tat to modulate expression of the neuropeptide B/W receptor 1 (NPBWR1) gene via up-regulation of lncRNA-U1. Collectively, our results identified Tat-mediated lncRNA-U1 upregulation resulting in disruption of neuronal homeostasis.
Alpha-synuclein is involved in manganese-induced spatial memory and synaptic plasticity impairments via TrkB/Akt/Fyn-mediated phosphorylation of NMDA receptors
Authors: Ma Zhuo , Liu Kuan , Li Xin-Ru , Wang Can , Liu Chang , Yan Dong-Ying , Deng Yu , Liu Wei , Xu Bin
Published: October 2020

Manganese (Mn) overexposure produces long-term cognitive deficits and reduces brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. However, it remains elusive whether Mn-dependent enhanced alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) expression, suggesting a multifaceted mode of neuronal toxicities, accounts for interference with BDNF/TrkB signaling. In this study, we used C57BL/6J WT and α-Syn knockout (KO) mice to establish a model of manganism and found that Mn-induced impairments in spatial memory and synaptic plasticity were related to the α-Syn protein. In addition, consistent with the long-term potentiation (LTP) impairments that were observed, α-Syn KO relieved Mn-induced degradation of PSD95, phosphorylated CaMKIIα, and downregulated SynGAP protein levels. We transfected HT22 cells with lentivirus (LV)-α-Syn shRNA, followed by BDNF and Mn stimulation. In vitro experiments indicated that α-Syn selectively interacted with TrkB receptors and inhibited BDNF/TrkB signaling, leading to phosphorylation and downregulation of GluN2B. The binding of α-Syn to TrkB and Fyn-mediated phosphorylation of GluN2B were negatively regulated by BDNF. Together, these findings indicate that Mn-dependent enhanced α-Syn expression contributes to further exacerbate BDNF protein-level reduction and to inhibit TrkB/Akt/Fyn signaling, thereby disturbing Fyn-mediated phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor GluN2B subunit at tyrosine. In KO α-Syn mice treated with Mn, spatial memory and LTP impairments were less pronounced than in WT mice. However, the same robust neuronal death was observed as a result of Mn-induced neurotoxicity.
Astrocytes regulate brain extracellular pH via a neuronal activity-dependent bicarbonate shuttle
Authors: Theparambil Shefeeq M. , Hosford Patrick S. , Ruminot Iván , Kopach Olga , Reynolds James R. , Sandoval Pamela Y. , Rusakov Dmitri A. , Barros L. Felipe , Gourine Alexander V.
Published: October 2020

Brain cells continuously produce and release protons into the extracellular space, with the rate of acid production corresponding to the levels of neuronal activity and metabolism. Efficient buffering and removal of excess H+ is essential for brain function, not least because all the electrogenic and biochemical machinery of synaptic transmission is highly sensitive to changes in pH. Here, we describe an astroglial mechanism that contributes to the protection of the brain milieu from acidification. In vivo and in vitro experiments conducted in rodent models show that at least one third of all astrocytes release bicarbonate to buffer extracellular H+ loads associated with increases in neuronal activity. The underlying signalling mechanism involves activity-dependent release of ATP triggering bicarbonate secretion by astrocytes via activation of metabotropic P2Y1 receptors, recruitment of phospholipase C, release of Ca2+ from the internal stores, and facilitated outward HCO3− transport by the electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter 1, NBCe1. These results show that astrocytes maintain local brain extracellular pH homeostasis via a neuronal activity-dependent release of bicarbonate. The data provide evidence of another important metabolic housekeeping function of these glial cells.
Reconstructing the electrical structure of dust storms from locally observed electric field data
Authors: Zhang Huan , Zhou You-He
Published: October 2020

While the electrification of dust storms is known to substantially affect the lifting and transport of dust particles, the electrical structure of dust storms and its underlying charge separation mechanisms are largely unclear. Here we present an inversion method, which is based on the Tikhonov regularization for inverting the electric field data collected in a near-ground observation array, to reconstruct the space-charge density and electric field in dust storms. After verifying the stability, robustness, and accuracy of the inversion procedure, we find that the reconstructed space-charge density exhibits a universal three-dimensional mosaic pattern of oppositely charged regions, probably due to the charge separation by turbulence. Furthermore, there are significant linear relationships between the reconstructed space-charge densities and measured PM10 dust concentrations at each measurement point, suggesting a multi-point large-scale charge equilibrium phenomenon in dust storms. These findings refine our understanding of charge separation mechanisms and particle transport in dust storms.