bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of parasitoid host preference and performance in response to an invasive host acting as evolutionary trap
Authors: Kruitwagen Astrid , Beukeboom Leo W. , Wertheim Bregje , van Doorn G. Sander
Published: July 2022

The invasion of a novel host species can create a mismatch in host choice and offspring survival (performance) when native parasitoids attempt to exploit the invasive host without being able to circumvent its resistance mechanisms. Invasive hosts can therefore act as evolutionary trap reducing parasitoids' fitness and this may eventually lead to their extinction. Yet, escape from the trap can occur when parasitoids evolve behavioral avoidance or a physiological strategy compatible with the trap host, resulting in either host‐range expansion or a complete host‐shift. We developed an individual based model to investigate which conditions promote parasitoids to evolve behavioral preference that matches their performance, including host‐trap avoidance, and which conditions lead to adaptations to the unsuitable hosts. The model was inspired by solitary endo‐parasitoids attacking larval host stages. One important aspect of these conditions was reduced host survival during incompatible interaction, where a failed parasitization attempt by a parasitoid resulted not only in death of her offspring but also in host killing. This non‐reproductive host mortality had a strong influence on the likelihood of establishment of novel host–parasitoid relationship, in some cases constraining adaptation to the trap host species. Moreover, our model revealed that host‐search efficiency and genetic variation in host‐preference play a key role in the likelihood that parasitoids will include the suboptimal host in their host range, or will evolve behavioral avoidance resulting in specialization and host‐range conservation, respectively. Hence, invasive species might change the evolutionary trajectory of native parasitoid species, which is important for predicting biocontrol ability of native parasitoids towards novel hosts.
Green‐up selection by red deer in heterogeneous, human‐dominated landscapes of Central Europe
Authors: Sigrist Benjamin , Signer Claudio , Wellig Sascha D. , Ozgul Arpat , Filli Flurin , Jenny Hannes , Thiel Dominik , Wirthner Sven , Graf Roland F.
Published: July 2022

The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) assumes that herbivores cope with the trade‐off between digestibility and biomass in forage by selecting vegetation at intermediate growth. The green wave hypothesis (GWH) extends the FMH to suggest how spatiotemporal heterogeneity in plant quality shapes migratory movements of herbivores. Growing empirical support for these hypotheses mainly comes from studies in vast landscapes with large‐scale habitat heterogeneity. It is unclear, however, to what extent ungulates surf green waves in human‐altered landscapes with small‐scale heterogeneity in terms of land use and topography. We used plant phenological proxies derived from Sentinel 2 satellite data to analyze the habitat selection of 93 collared red deer (Cervus elaphus) in montane and alpine habitats. Using a step selection analysis, we investigated how plant phenology, that is, the instantaneous rate of green‐up (IRG) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and a set of variables describing topography and human presence influenced red deer resource selection in open habitats. We learned that red deer selected areas with high biomass at green‐up and avoided habitats with possible exposure to human activity. Additionally, landscape structure and topography strongly influenced spatial behavior of red deer. We further compared cumulative access to high‐quality forage across migrant strategies and found migrants gained better access than residents. Many migratory individuals surfed the green wave, and their surfing behavior, however, became less pronounced with decreasing distance to settlements. Within the constraints of topography and human land use, red deer track spring green‐up on a fine spatiotemporal scale and follow the green wave across landscapes in migration movements. Thus, they benefit from high‐quality forage even in human‐dominated landscapes with small‐scale heterogeneity and vegetation emerging in a heterogenic, dynamic mosaic.
Are short‐read amplicons suitable for the prediction of microbiome functional potential? A critical perspective
Authors: Heidrich Vitor , Beule Lukas
Published: July 2022

Taxonomic marker gene analysis allows uncovering taxonomic profiles of microbial communities at low cost, making it omnipresent in microbiome research. There is an ever‐expanding set of tools to extract further biological information from this kind of data. In this perspective, we enunciate several concerns regarding the biological validity of predicting functional potential from taxonomic profiles, especially when they are generated by short‐read sequencing. The taxonomic resolution of marker genes, intragenomic variability of marker genes, and the compositional nature of microbiome data are discussed. Combining actual measurements of microbiome functions with predicted functional potentials is proposed as a powerful approach to better understand microbiome functioning. In this context, the significance of predicted functional potentials for generating and testing hypotheses is highlighted. We argue that functions of microbiomes predicted from microbiome DNA read count data generated by short‐read amplicon sequencing should not serve as the only basis to draw biological inferences.
Oral Reading Fluency of College Graduates: Toward a Deeper Understanding of College Ready Fluency
Authors: Rasinski Timothy , Galeza Abbey , Vogel Lauren , Viton Brittany , Rundo Heather , Royan Emma , Nemer Shaheen Randa , Bartholomew Monica , Kaewkaemket Chotika , Stokes Faida , Young Chase , Paige David
Published: July 2022

Reading fluency has been identified as a critical competency for reading success. Accurate and automatic word recognition, one component of fluency, is normally assessed through reading rate (Oral Reading Fluency—ORF). While norms for ORF exist through grade 8, norms beyond grade 8 are largely unknown. The present study attempted to establish ORF norms associated with successful adult readers (college graduates), thus establishing a ceiling ORF target range for success in fluency. Results indicate that a word recognition accuracy range of 98–100% and an automaticity range of 138–158 words read correctly per minute on high school level reading material are associated with average performance by college graduates. Results are discussed in terms of implications for monitoring students' progress in fluency in the secondary grades and beyond.
A qualitative interview study of the attitudes toward reproductive options of people with genetic visual loss
Authors: Redgrave Sophie , McNeill Alisdair
Published: July 2022

In the United Kingdom (U.K), 2.19 million people are affected by visual loss. Monogenic causes of visual loss include retinal dystrophies, optic neuropathies, and congenital glaucoma. A variety of reproductive options are available to adults with genetic visual loss to permit them to have an unaffected child. Prenatal diagnostic testing (PND) via amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is possible, provided the causal genetic variants are known in the family. We report a qualitative interview study of people with genetic causes of visual loss to explore their attitudes toward reproductive options. Participants reported a range of challenges associated with living with genetic conditions associated with visual loss. These had the potential to shape attitudes to reproductive options. Participants expressed enthusiasm for genetic testing, as it enabled them to understand if relatives might be affected by the visual loss. Decisions around reproductive options were recognized as challenging and highly personal. Positive opinions of PGT were reported, as it permitted conception of a child without the genetic cause of visual loss while avoiding the need for the termination of pregnancy. The provision of accessible information resources on genetics and reproductive options was reported to be important.
A novel mutation of X‐linked recessive deafness gene POU3F4 in a boy with congenital deafness
Authors: Yu Rong , Wang Kai , Xiong Yuanping , Jiang Hongqun
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To report an interstitial deletion of Xq21.1 in chromosome X in a boy with congenital deafness.

Methods

The proband underwent a thorough physical examination and a detailed audiological and temporal bone computed tomography (CT) scan. Cochlear implantation was performed on the proband, and follow‐up was conducted. High throughput sequencing and copy number analysis was made of peripheral blood samples from the proband, family members, and control subjects.

Results

Sensorineural hearing loss was present in the boy and temporal bone CT scan showed a bilateral incomplete partition type III anomaly (IP‐III). Q21.1 (79.40–83.32 Mb) of chromosome X in the proband had a copy number deletion with a fragment size of about 3.92 Mb. Categories of auditory performance scores and SIR scores of the cochlea in this child improved after surgery.

Conclusion

Through the analysis of POU3F4, a novel mutation site with potentially pathogenic significance was found.

Level of Evidence: 5.
Treatment of overactive bladder in men: Is it really different?
Authors: Shapiro Katherine K. , Brucker Benjamin M.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Overactive bladder (OAB) in men is a topic that is gaining increasing attention as there is a wider understanding that OAB is not a female condition. There are several treatments; however, data in male populations are lacking compared to female cohorts. The high likelihood of concomitant benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) adds to the complexity of the treatment algorithm. The overlap in urinary storage symptoms also makes the interpretation of the literature challenging.

Methods

Articles that evaluated men with OAB and men with OAB and BPH/BPO were evaluated and assessed.

Results

Behavioral interventions can offer a significant benefit to male patients with OAB. Medical therapies that have been studied in men with OAB include anticholinergics, beta‐3 agonists, and phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibits. These agents can be offered in addition to alpha‐blockers for men with coexisting BPH/BPO. The literature on Onabotulinumtoxin‐A and neuromodulation modulation in the male population is growing and shows promising results.

Conclusion

Male OAB is complex; however, there is a growing body of literature to help guide treatments. Many treatments are available and they have shown considerable success.
Metabolic dysfunction and obesity‐related cancer: Beyond obesity and metabolic syndrome
Authors: Karra Prasoona , Winn Maci , Pauleck Svenja , Bulsiewicz‐Jacobsen Alicja , Peterson Lacie , Coletta Adriana , Doherty Jennifer , Ulrich Cornelia M. , Summers Scott A. , Gunter Marc , Hardikar Sheetal , Playdon Mary C.
Published: July 2022

Objectives: The metabolic dysfunction driven by obesity, including hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, increases risk for developing at least 13 cancer types. The concept of “metabolic dysfunction” is often defined by meeting various combinations of criteria for metabolic syndrome. However, the lack of a unified definition of metabolic dysfunction makes it difficult to compare findings across studies. This review summarizes 129 studies that evaluated variable definitions of metabolic dysfunction in relation to obesity‐related cancer risk and mortality after a cancer diagnosis. Strategies for metabolic dysfunction management are also discussed.

Methods

A comprehensive search of relevant publications in MEDLINE (PubMed) and Google Scholar with review of references was conducted.

Results

Metabolic dysfunction, defined as metabolic syndrome diagnosis or any number of metabolic syndrome criteria out of clinical range, inflammatory biomarkers, or markers of metabolic organ function, has been associated with risk for, and mortality from, colorectal, pancreatic, postmenopausal breast, and bladder cancers. Metabolic dysfunction associations with breast and colorectal cancer risk have been observed independently of BMI, with increased risk in individuals with metabolically unhealthy normal weight or overweight/obesity compared with metabolically healthy normal weight.

Conclusion

Metabolic dysfunction is a key risk factor for obesity‐related cancer, regardless of obesity status. Nonetheless, a harmonized definition of metabolic dysfunction will further clarify the magnitude of the relationship across cancer types, enable better comparisons across studies, and further guide criteria for obesity‐related cancer risk stratification.
Ethnic disparities in liver fat accumulation in school‐aged children
Authors: de Groot Jasmin M. , Geurtsen Madelon L. , Santos Susana , Jaddoe Vincent W. V.
Published: July 2022

Objective

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a different prevalence in adults from different ethnic groups. This study examined whether these ethnic differences originate in early life and could be explained by early‐life factors.

Methods

This observational study was embedded in a population‐based prospective cohort study from fetal life onward among 2,570 children born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Information about prepregnancy, pregnancy, and childhood factors, as well as childhood BMI, was obtained from questionnaires and physical examinations. Liver fat was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging at age 10 years.

Results

Median liver fat fraction was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.2%‐5.3%), and NAFLD prevalence was 2.8%. Children from a Turkish background had the highest median liver fat percentage (2.5%, 95% CI: 1.2%‐10.7%) and NAFLD prevalence (9.1%). Children of Cape Verdean, Dutch Antillean, Surinamese‐Creole, or Turkish background had a higher total liver fat fraction compared with children with a Dutch background (p < 0.05). After controlling for early‐life factors, these differences persisted only in children with a Turkish background.

Conclusions

Prevalence of liver fat accumulation and NAFLD differs between ethnic subgroups living in the Netherlands, especially for those with a Turkish background. Early‐life factors have a strong influence on these associations and may hold clues for future preventive strategies.
Meta‐analysis of patient risk factors associated with post‐bariatric surgery leak
Authors: Spiro Calista , Bennet Simon , Bhatia Kiron
Published: July 2022

Objective

Modifiable risk factors such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic steroid use and smoking, have been shown in observational studies to negatively affect surgical outcomes. The purpose of this study is to identify and determine the effect of modifiable risk factors on post‐operative bariatric surgery leak, as pre‐operative risk modification has been shown to reduce the impact on complications.

Methods

Electronic literature searches of MEDLINE, PUBMED, OVID and Cochrane Library databases were performed, including a manual reference check, over the period of 2010 and 2020. 620 articles were screened according to the PRISMA protocol.

Results

Twenty articles were included in the meta‐analysis of risk factors. Significant risk factors and the associated effect sizes include: 1. Smoking with an overall OR of 1.31 [1.06, 1.61] and an OR of 1.72 [1.44, 2.05] in Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) patient cohorts; 2. Diabetes with an overall OR of 1.23 [1.08, 1.39] and an OR of 1.33 [1.02, 1.73] in Roux‐en‐Y patient cohorts; 3. Chronic kidney disease with an overall OR of 2.41 [1.62, 3.59] and 4. Steroid use with an overall OR of 1.57 [1.22, 2.02]. Non‐significant risk factors include hypertension with an OR of 0.85, 1.83, OSA with an OR of 1.08 [0.83, 1.39] and hyperlipidemia with an OR of 0.80 [0.61, 1.04]. Combined SG and Roux‐en‐Y patient cohorts with hyperlipidemia have shown a protective effect of 0.78 [0.65, 0.94].

Conclusions

Significant risk factors for leak post bariatric surgery are smoking in all patients and particularly SG patients, diabetes for all patients and particularly Roux‐en‐Y patients, and CKD and chronic steroid for all patients. Hyperlipidemia in two combined patient cohorts (SG and Roux‐en‐Y) appears to have a weak protective effect.
Knowledge of returning wildlife species and willingness to participate in citizen science projects among wildlife park visitors in Germany
Authors: Ostermann‐Miyashita Emu‐Felicitas , König Hannes J. , Pernat Nadja , Bellingrath‐Kimura Sonoko Dorothea , Hibler Sophia , Kiffner Christian
Published: July 2022

Successful conservation efforts have led to recent increases of large mammals such as European bison Bison bonasus, moose Alces alces and grey wolf Canis lupus and their return to former habitats in central Europe. While embraced by some, the recovery of these species is a controversial topic and holds potential for human‐wildlife conflicts. Involving the public has been suggested to be an effective method for monitoring wildlife and mitigating associated conflicts.

To assess two interrelated prerequisites for engaging people in Citizen Science (CS)—knowledge of returning species and respondents' readiness to participate in CS activities for monitoring and managing these species—we conducted a survey (questionnaire) in two wildlife parks located in different states of Germany. Based on 472 complete questionnaires, we developed generalized linear models to understand how sociodemographic variables and exposure to the species affected visitors' knowledge of each species, and to investigate if sociodemographic variables and knowledge influenced the likelihood of visitors to participate in CS activities.

Almost all visitors were aware of the returning wolf population, while knowledge and awareness about bison and moose were significantly lower. Knowledge of the two herbivores differed geographically (higher knowledge of moose in the north‐eastern state), possibly indicating a positive association between exposure to the species and knowledge. However, models generally performed poorly in predicting knowledge about wildlife, suggesting that such specific knowledge is insufficiently explained by sociodemographic variables.

Our model, which explained stated willingness in CS indicated that younger participants and those with higher knowledge scores in the survey were more willing to engage in CS activities.

Overall, our analyses highlight how exposure to large mammals, knowledge about wildlife and human demographics are interrelated—insights that are helpful for effectively recruiting citizen scientists for wildlife conservation.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Performance degradation assessment of the three silicon PV technologies
Authors: Adar Mustapha , Najih Youssef , Chebak Ahmed , Mabrouki Mustapha , Bennouna Amin
Published: July 2022

This study investigates seasonal performance and assesses the annual degradation rates (RD), of three types of silicon‐based PV module technologies, using four statistical methods, namely, linear regression (LR), classical seasonal decomposition (CSD), Holt‐Winters exponential smoothing (HW), and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) on a 5‐year temperature‐corrected DC‐performance ratio time series. The lowest performance degradation rates being exhibited are found for the polycrystalline silicon (pc‐Si) system with a RDvalues confined between 0.23%/year and 0.36%/year. The RDvalues provided by the four statistical methods to the monocrystalline silicon (mc‐Si) PV modules range from 0.40%/year to 0.77%/year. The values attributed to the annual performance degradation rate of PV modules of amorphous silicon technology typically range from 0.31%/year to 0.57%/year.
An endotracheal tumour in a 59‐year‐old man with chronic cough and episodic haemoptysis
Authors: Bouanzoul Mohammed Amine
Published: July 2022

Key message

Endotracheal paraganglioma is a rare disease, with less than 20 cases reported globally. We present images of a patient with endotracheal paraganglioma unveiled following chronic cough and episodic haemoptysis.
Combinatorial methods for dynamic gray‐box SQL injection testing
Authors: Garn Bernhard , Zivanovic Jovan , Leithner Manuel , Simos Dimitris E.
Published: July 2022

This work presents an extended and enhanced gray‐box combinatorial security testing methodology for SQL injection vulnerabilities in web applications. We propose multiple new attack grammars modelling SQLi attacks against MySQL‐compatible databases, each one targeting a different injection context. Additionally, these grammars are also dynamically refined at the beginning of each attack against an endpoint of a web application, as a further optimization of the used attack model by taking into account the specifics of the generated query of that endpoint. Our goal is to enhance existing combinatorial approaches for detecting SQL injection vulnerabilities. The newly developed methodology is implemented in a prototype security testing tool called SQLInjector+, which is an extension of an earlier prototype developed by us in prior work. This improved tool can attack (i.e. test) any web application that uses a MySQL‐compatible database management system. We evaluate our revised approach and improved prototype tool in a case study comprising of different kinds of web applications to which SQLi is a potential security threat. The case study contains the well‐known verification framework WAVSEP among other five real‐world web applications and one web application firewall. Our generated attack vectors, constructed via combinatorial methods applied to our improved and dynamically optimized attack grammars, are capable of injecting every known vulnerable endpoint in WAVSEP and also of finding new vulnerable parameters in some of the real‐world applications investigated in this paper. Our approach performs equally well or better when compared with existing state‐of‐art of SQL injection security testing tools (sqlmap, w3af, wapiti and fuzzdb) across all tested web applications in the case study.
3D Mapping of Winter Lightning in Japan with an Array of Discone Antennas
Authors: Wang Daohong , Wu Ting , Huang Haitao , Yang Junchen , Yamamoto Kazuo
Published: July 2022

We have developed a 3D lightning mapping system with an array of Discone Antennas working in the medium frequency‐high frequency (MF‐HF) bands. This system is called discone antenna lightning mapping array (DALMA) and has been deployed in Hokuriku area of Japan for the 3D mapping of winter lightning. Radio waves in the MF‐HF bands are rarely used for lightning 3D mapping due to large noises in these frequency bands. However, we have demonstrated in this paper that by using a wideband antenna, 3D mapping in the MF‐HF bands can also produce satisfactory results. We have analyzed two lightning flashes with complicated features observed in the last winter. In the first flash, we have successfully mapped an upward leader triggered by a negative cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning from a tall tower. In the second flash, we have successfully mapped a fast downward leader preceding an intense return stroke. Finally, we have also discussed the advantages of DALMA compared with other 3D mapping systems in LF or very high frequency (VHF) bands. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Are we missing an opportunity to improve neonatal outcomes in preterm twins?
Authors: Meller C. H. , Izbizky G. H. , Aiello H. A. , Otaño L.
Published: July 2022

Linked article: This Correspondence comments on Khalil and Reed. Click here to view the article.
Adducts of Diaminophosphines with Organoboranes
Authors: Dunaj Tobias , Feil Christoph M. , Nieger Martin , Gudat Dietrich
Published: July 2022

Reactions of chlorodiaminophosphines (R2N)2PCl (R=Et, iPr) with organoborohydrides M[BR′nH4‐n] (M=Na, Li; n=1–3; R′=alkyl, Ph, CN) proceed via H/Cl metathesis to furnish secondary phosphines and boranes which may either combine to afford isolable donor‐acceptor adducts (R2N)2P(H)−BR′nH3‐n, coexist without any sign of mutual interaction, or give rise to mixtures comprising both a labile phosphine borane and its constituents in a temperature dependent equilibrium. Stable phosphine complexes of BH2CN and BH2Ph react with KN(SiMe3)2 under PH‐bond metalation to afford spectroscopically detectable diaminophosphide boranes whose usability as nucleophilic building blocks is illustrated by trapping one specimen in a PC‐bond formation reaction with an alkyl halide. The selectivity of the individual H/Cl‐metathesis and electrophilic substitution steps as well as the thermal stability of the various reaction products depend subtly on the Lewis acidity of the borane fragment and on steric factors. Several complexes of (iPr2N)‐substituted phosphines with cyano‐ and phenylborane were characterized by single‐crystal XRD.
Conclusion
Authors: Barbrook-Johnson Pete , Penn Alexandra S.
Published: July 2022

This chapter concludes the book by reflecting on what we have learnt writing it and presenting some of our more general takeaway lessons for your systems mapping practice.
System Dynamics
Authors: Barbrook-Johnson Pete , Penn Alexandra S.
Published: July 2022

This chapter introduces System Dynamics, a well-established method to developing full simulations of dynamic systems. We introduce the method and how it can be used to move from conceptual models to ‘stocks and flows’ models and simulations. We describe the steps involved in doing System Dynamics and consider common issues and tricks of the trade. We reflect on what the method is good and bad at and present a brief history of use and debates in the field. Finally, we give some advice on getting started yourself and point to some useful resources.
See-Through Captions in a Museum Guided Tour: Exploring Museum Guided Tour for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People with Real-Time Captioning on Transparent Display
Authors: Suzuki Ippei , Yamamoto Kenta , Shitara Akihisa , Hyakuta Ryosuke , Iijima Ryo , Ochiai Yoichi
Published: July 2022

Access to audible information for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) people is an essential component as we move towards a diverse society. Real-time captioning is a technology with great potential to help the lives of DHH people, and various applications utilizing mobile devices have been developed. These technologies can improve the daily lives of DHH people and can considerably change the value of audio content provided in public facilities such as museums. We developed a real-time captioning system called See-Through Captions that displays subtitles on a transparent display and conducted a demonstration experiment to apply this system to a guided tour in a museum. Eleven DHH people participated in this demonstration experiment, and through questionnaires and interviews, we explored the possibility of utilizing the transparent subtitle system in a guided tour at the museum.
Organisation im Krisenmodus
Authors: Frommer Jana-Andrea , Epple Günther
Published: July 2022

Während der Flüchtlingssitutation 2015 und 2016 ergaben sich eine Vielzahl an Überforderungs- und Überlastungsmomenten für die Akteure, die an der Lagebewältigung beteiligt waren. Dies betraf unter anderem die Informationsgewinnung, die Personalressourcen, die (technische) Ausstattung sowie die teilweise neu entstandenen Aufgabenfelder und Arbeitsweisen. Gleichzeitig bieten die dabei gemachten, vielfältigen Erfahrungen und die daraus gewonnen Erkenntnisse ein erhebliches Lernpotential, um für zukünftige (krisenhafte) Ereignisse gewappnet zu sein. Ziel krisenresistenter Organisationen ist es, insbesondere bereits bewährte sowie neue Strategien und Maßnahmen möglichst schnell in geordnete Strukturen zu überführen. Neben der Vorbereitung durch Dokumentation, Aufbereitung und Übung erfolgreicher Ad-hoc Maßnahmen, sind dabei auch die notwendigen Strukturen für einen hürdenlosen Kommunikations- und Netzwerkaufbau nach innen und außen zu berücksichtigen.
Wissen in Krisen- und Katastrophenlagen: Umgang mit Erfahrungen aus der Praxis
Authors: Olfermann Elisabeth , Bhatti Sarah
Published: July 2022

Im Bevölkerungsschutz spielen Erfahrungswerte und Wissen eine große Rolle. Diese bilden u. a. die Basis für Entscheidungen in zukünftigen Einsätzen, gelingende Konzepte sowie Lösungsstrategien. Dieses Kapitel widmet sich dem Umgang mit Wissen im Rahmen von Krisen und Einsätzen und nimmt dabei eine besonders praxisnahe Perspektive ein, durch die sowohl organisationsspezifische als auch -übergreifende Erfahrungen wiedergegeben sowie Handlungsimpulse aufgezeigt werden.
Vocal Fatigue als Indikator für komplexe Stimmstörungen – eine diagnostische und therapeutische Herausforderung
Authors: Stappenbeck L. E. , Bartel S. , Brockmann-Bauser M.
Published: July 2022

Eine alltagseinschränkende, pathologische Stimmermüdung (Vocal Fatigue) wird v. a. bei BerufssprecherInnen (z. B. LehrerInnen) zunehmend beobachtet und als Indikator für komplexe Stimmstörungen betrachtet. Da bislang wenig systematische Studien zu diesem Phänomen existieren, fehlt bislang eine einheitliche Diagnostik. Anhand der Kasuistik eines Berufssprechers werden Möglichkeiten einer strukturierten Erhebung von Vocal Fatigue vorgestellt und im Hinblick auf ihre laryngoskopischen, instrumentell akustischen („performance fatigue“) und subjektiven Merkmale („perceived fatigue“) diskutiert. Zudem wird eine Abgrenzung zu den Modellen Vocal Effort, Vocal Demand und Vocal Demand Response nach Hunter et al. (2020) vorgenommen.
Contestations in urban mobility: rights, risks, and responsibilities for Urban AI
Authors: Sawhney Nitin
Published: July 2022

Cities today are dynamic urban ecosystems with evolving physical, socio-cultural, and technological infrastructures. Many contestations arise from the effects of inequitable access and intersecting crises currently faced by cities, which may be amplified by the algorithmic and data-centric infrastructures being introduced in urban contexts. In this article, I argue for a critical lens into how inter-related urban technologies, big data and policies, constituted as Urban AI, offer both challenges and opportunities. I examine scenarios of contestations in urban mobility, defined broadly to include equitable access, movement, and liberty to engage with the socio-cultural, political, and urban fabric of cities. I anchor my arguments through a framework of rights, risks, and responsibilities for critically examining and configuring the roles, values and ethical implications for all stakeholders including human, AI and non-human entities within an urban ecosystem. As a way forward, I examine the European Commission’s proposed regulations on AI systems through an illustrative case study of an automated parking control system introduced by the City of Amsterdam. In moving beyond the city to broader urban ecosystems, I highlight the role of engaging Indigenous perspectives for designing and reconciling the implications of equitable and sustainable Urban AI ecosystems in the future.
Guideline-directed medical therapy is similarly effective in heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Straw Sam , Cole Charlotte A. , McGinlay Melanie , Drozd Michael , Slater Thomas A. , Lowry Judith E. , Paton Maria F. , Levelt Eylem , Cubbon Richard M. , Kearney Mark T. , Witte Klaus K. , Gierula John
Published: July 2022

Aims

Current guidelines recommend that disease-modifying pharmacological therapies may be considered for patients who have heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). We aimed to describe the characteristics, outcomes, provision of pharmacological therapies and dose-related associations with mortality risk in HFmrEF.

Methods and results

We explored data from two prospective observational studies, which permitted the examination of the effects of pharmacological therapies across a broad spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The combined dataset consisted of 2388 unique patients, with a mean age of 73.7 ± 13.2 years of whom 1525 (63.9%) were male. LVEF ranged from 5 to 71% (mean 37.2 ± 12.8%) and 1504 (63.0%) were categorised as having reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 421 (17.6%) as HFmrEF and 463 (19.4%) as preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Patients with HFmrEF more closely resembled HFrEF than HFpEF. Adjusted all-cause mortality risk was lower in HFmrEF (hazard ratio [HR] 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74–0.99); p = 0.040) and in HFpEF (HR 0.61 (95% CI 0.52–0.71); p < 0.001) compared to HFrEF. Adjusted all-cause mortality risk was lower in patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF who received the highest doses of beta-blockers or renin-angiotensin inhibitors. These associations were not evident in HFpEF. Once adjusted for relevant confounders, each mg equivalent of bisoprolol (HR 0.95 [95% CI 0.91–1.00]; p = 0.047) and ramipril (HR 0.95 [95%CI 0.90–1.00]; p = 0.044) was associated with incremental reductions in mortality risk in patients with HFmrEF.

Conclusions

Pharmacological therapies were associated with lower mortality risk in HFmrEF, supporting guideline recommendations which extend the indications of these agents to all patients with LVEF < 50%.

Graphic abstract

HFmrEF more closely resembles HFrEF in terms of clinical characteristics and outcomes. Pharmacological therapies are associated with lower mortality risk in HFmrEF and HFrEF, but not in HFpEF.
The Impacts of Animal Farming: A Critical Overview of Primary School Textbooks
Authors: Fonseca Rui Pedro
Published: July 2022

Based on a sample of 46 Portuguese schoolbooks, this study aims to understand how factory-farmed animals are presented in such books across the themes of food and health, the environment and sustainability, and animal welfare. It examines whether schoolbooks address the importance of reducing the consumption of animal-based products for a healthy diet, whether plant-based diets are recognized as healthy, whether animal welfare and agency are considered, and whether the livestock sector is indicated as a major factor in environmental degradation. The findings show that schoolbooks present animals as essential for economic activities and human nutrition. Recommendations on reducing the consumption of animal-based products in consideration of the environment, sustainability and human health are very rare. Animal production is presented as benign, and the agency and welfare of factory-farmed animals are simply not addressed.
Occurrence of antibiotics and bacterial resistance genes in wastewater: resistance mechanisms and antimicrobial resistance control approaches
Authors: Mutuku Christopher , Gazdag Zoltan , Melegh Szilvia
Published: July 2022

Antimicrobial pharmaceuticals are classified as emergent micropollutants of concern, implying that even at low concentrations, long-term exposure to the environment can have significant eco-toxicological effects. There is a lack of a standardized regulatory framework governing the permissible antibiotic content for monitoring environmental water quality standards. Therefore, indiscriminate discharge of antimicrobials at potentially active concentrations into urban wastewater treatment facilities is rampant. Antimicrobials may exert selective pressure on bacteria, leading to resistance development and eventual health consequences. The emergence of clinically important multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria in untreated hospital effluents and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has been linked to the continuous exposure of bacteria to antimicrobials. The levels of environmental exposure to antibiotics and their correlation to the evolution and spread of resistant bacteria need to be elucidated to help in the formulation of mitigation measures. This review explores frequently detected antimicrobials in wastewater and gives a comprehensive coverage of bacterial resistance mechanisms to different antibiotic classes through the expression of a wide variety of antibiotic resistance genes either inherent and/or exchanged among bacteria or acquired from the reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater systems. To complement the removal of antibiotics and ARGs from WWTPs, upscaling the implementation of prospective interventions such as vaccines, phage therapy, and natural compounds as alternatives to widespread antibiotic use provides a multifaceted approach to minimize the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
On how defining and measuring a channel bed elevation impacts key quantities in sediment overloading with supercritical flow
Authors: Eslami Hasan , Yousefyani Hooshyar , Yavary Nia Mohsen , Radice Alessio
Published: July 2022

The manuscript presents the results of an aggradation experiment performed in a laboratory channel with supercritical flow. The channel was fed with a stationary sediment load exceeding the transport capacity of the flow in the initial condition, thus inducing sediment aggradation and an increase of the bed slope. The experiment is part of a laboratory campaign mimicking sediment overloading in mountain rivers, a process that can determine increased hydraulic risk levels at key spots. A crucial issue in measuring sediment aggradation is the definition and determination of the bed elevation, this issue being quite relevant in experiments with a relatively large transport capacity, where a thick bed-load layer exists and hinders the possibility to determine with confidence a reference bed elevation. The determination of the bed elevation, in turn, impacts the quantification of a number of properties, including the initial sediment transport capacity of the flow, temporal scales of the aggradation process, water depth and Froude number. The manuscript presents a sensitivity analysis of the results to two extreme definitions for the bed elevation: the first one locates the bed at the upper edge of the bed-load layer, while the second one at the lower edge of the bed-load layer where the particles do not move. The presentation of the two alternatives is focused on the experimental methods they use, consistently with the intent of the special issue. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the definition of the bed elevation also has a major impact on numerical models of the process. The experimental results have been reproduced numerically, demonstrating that the calibration parameters returning a best fit are also impacted significantly by how the bed is defined. The preferred definition for analyzing an experimental campaign is locating the bed below the bed-load layer.
Astrocyte-Derived TNF-α-Activated Platelets Promote Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Regulating the RIP1/RIP3/AKT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Li Wei , Liu Dengping , Xu Jiaqi , Zha Jun , Wang Chen , An Jianzhong , Xie Zhanli , Qiao Shigang
Published: July 2022

Ischemic stroke is a clinical syndrome caused by the disruption of blood flow into cerebral tissues and is associated with high disability and mortality rates. Studies have established the pathological role of platelets in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, although the underlying mechanism of action remains largely unclear. In this study, we created an I/R mouse model via middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) and analyzed the transcriptomic profiles of the ipsilateral and contralateral cortices using RNA-seq. We found that cerebral I/R injury induced platelet invasion and accumulation in the cerebral cortex by stimulating TNF-α secretion from activated astrocytes in the ischemic region, while TNF-α expression enhanced platelet reactivity through the RIP1/RIP3/AKT pathway. Furthermore, the inoculation of TNF-α-stimulated platelets aggravated I/R injury in mice, whereas the administration of anti-TNF-α antibodies at the onset of reperfusion alleviated ischemic damage. The RNA-seq results further showed that AP-1 transcriptionally activated TNF-α in the I/R-injured cortex by directly binding to the promoter region. These findings provide novel insights into the pathological role of platelets activated by reactive astrocyte-derived TNF-α in cerebral I/R injury.
Macroscopic superlubricity of potassium hydroxide solution achieved by incorporating in-situ released graphene from friction pairs
Authors: Liang Hongyu , Chen Xinjie , Bu Yongfeng , Xu Meijuan , Zheng Gang , Gao Kaixiong , Hua Xijun , Fu Yonghong , Zhang Junyan
Published: July 2022

Graphene (G), as a typical two-dimensional material, is often used as an additive for liquid lubricants. However, graphene is mostly added to liquid lubricants in a one-time manner in friction; it mainly exists in the form of multilayer agglomerated structures due to the π−π stacking between graphene sheets, making it unable to fully exert the synergistic lubrication function. Herein, we propose a new macroscopic superlubric system of graphene/potassium hydroxide (G/KOH) solution; and the graphene additive involved is exfoliated in-situ from graphene/epoxy (G/EP) friction pair by friction, continuously providing freshly-peeled graphene into KOH solution and minimizing the adverse effects of graphene agglomeration. Moreover, the in-situ produced graphene additive has thinner thickness and better anti-aggregation ability, which provide more graphene to accommodate OH−, form more stacked sandwich structures of OH−/graphene/OH− between friction pairs (i.e., equivalent to a moving pulley block with more wheels), and finally realize superlubricity. This study develops a new liquid superlubric system suitable for alkaline environments, and at the same time proposes a new way to gradually release graphene additives in situ, rather than adding them all at once, deepening the understanding to liquid superlubricity mechanism, and paving the experimental foundation for the practical application of macroscopic superlubricity.
Traveling through an Ocean of Wonders: Muḥammad RabīʿsSafīna-yi Sulaymānīand Southeast and East Asian Geography
Authors: Calzolaio Francesco
Published: July 2022

TheSafīna-yi Sulaymānī(The Ship of Sulaymān), one of the foremost Persian travelogues from the Safavid period, includes a geographic description of East and Southeast Asia centered on the Indian Ocean. While theSafīnais well-known to scholars, secondary literature on this part of the book is scant and often characterizes it as incoherent and devoid of value. This paper challenges this interpretation through providing a new reading of this text. By casting it in a comparative framework with earlier books of wonders, this paper argues that the geographic section of theSafīnaarticulates an original view of the Indian Ocean resulting from the encounter between the traveler's observations and experiences and the Islamic tradition of wonders, theʿajāʾib. As such, it encapsulates one of the central intellectual developments in early modern knowledge production, i.e., the tension between independent inquiry (taḥqīq) and imitation of earlier authorities (taqlīd).
What are the limits across major animal production systems for tolerable animal welfare, disease, climate and environmental vulnerabilities and how do we measure them?
Authors: Alders Robyn , Rushton Jonathan
Published: July 2022

Animal agriculture is in the spotlight as commentators and researchers assess its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, emerging infectious disease, environmental degradation, non-communicable food-related diseases and inadequate animal welfare. To date, however, research has largely failed to explore the significant differences between livestock species and the range of production systems under which they are raised. There is an absence of validated classification systems that are based on ontological processes. In many areas of the world, traditional livestock raising practices have survived for thousands of years and continue to date, yet they are under pressure with human population pressure, land and water use. In the 20th century, intensive livestock production systems were hailed as economic successes with environmental externalities largely ignored. Moving forward what constitutes ‘tolerable’ animal agriculture in a changing world facing multiple existential threats? Do the limits vary across geographies, production systems and cultures? If they do, how can these differences be measured? How might these limits contribute to defining associated sustainable and circular bioeconomies?
Biased Interviewer Assessments of Respondent Knowledge Based on Perceptions of Skin Tone
Authors: Enders Adam M. , Thornton Judd R.
Published: July 2022

A rich literature documents the effects of survey interviewer race on respondents’ answers to questions about political issues and factual knowledge. In this paper, we advance the study of interviewer effects in two ways. First, we examine the impact of race on interviewers’ subjective evaluations of respondents’ political knowledge. Second, we substitute measures of respondent/interviewer racial self-identification with interviewer perceptions of respondent skin tone. We find that white interviewers subjectively rate black respondents’ knowledge lower than do black interviewers, even controlling for objective knowledge measures. Moreover, we identify a negative relationship between relative skin tone and interviewer's assessment of knowledge. Subsequent analyses show a linear relationship between subjective knowledge assessments and the difference between respondent and interviewer skin tone. We conclude with a discussion of the impact of colorism on survey administration and the measurement of political attitudes and democratic capabilities.
Three spatially separate records confirm the presence of and provide a range extension for the giant pangolin Smutsia gigantea in Kenya
Authors: Sandri Tommy , Okell Claire , Nixon Stuart , Matthews Naomi , Omengo Fred , Mathenge James , Ndambuki Stephen , Challender Daniel W.S. , Chepkwony Richard , Omondi Patrick , Ngene Shadrack , Cain Bradley
Published: July 2022

Pangolins are some of the most overexploited but least studied mammals. The giant pangolin Smutsia gigantea is the largest of the eight pangolin species, measuring up to 180 cm in length and weighing up to 40 kg. It is a nocturnal, solitary species that occurs at low densities and little is known regarding its biology and ecology. It is distributed widely across the rainforests and forest savannah mosaics of equatorial Africa but its exact range extent is unknown. Apart from a single record in Kenya predating 1971, the eastern limit of its range was thought only to extend to central Uganda and western Tanzania. Here we present three spatially separate records confirming the presence of this species in Kenyan Afromontane forests. The three records are c. 120 km apart and c. 500 km east of the nearest confirmed giant pangolin population in Uganda. These records represent a significant range extension for the species and highlight the biodiversity and conservation importance of the Afromontane forests of western Kenya.
Reforesting Roman Africa: Woodland Resources, Worship, and Colonial Erasures
Authors: McCarty Matthew M.
Published: July 2022

Despite a range of literary and archaeological evidence for the importance of forests in Roman Africa, these marginal lands and their marginalised populations have been almost entirely ignored or downplayed by modern scholarship, leading to tortured interpretations of a range of material. This article asks two questions, one historical, the other historiographic: what role did the forests of Africa Proconsularis play in the economies and productive imaginaries of the region's inhabitants? And why have the products, labour and labourers of sylvan industries been largely written out of modern accounts? After drawing together evidence and proxies for the centrality of Africa's pine forests to a range of lifeways, cultural practices and economies — including their fundamental (and overlooked) role in providing the pitch that lined the exported amphorae that drove North Africa's economic boom — I argue that French colonial practices around forests led to their erasure from histories of Roman Africa.