bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A bivariate life distribution and notions of negative dependence
Authors: Bhuyan Prajamitra , Ghosh Shyamal , Majumder Priyanka , Mitra Murari
Published: February 2020

Bivariate life distributions used to model negative dependence typically possess certain limitations; in particular, the correlation coefficient takes values in a restricted subrange of . We construct a new bivariate life distribution to remedy this. Properties of the proposed distribution are studied. It is shown that the distribution satisfies most of the popular notions of negative dependence prevalent in the literature. Stress–strength reliability bounds are obtained, and parameter estimation methodology has been discussed. Performance of the estimators are compared through a simulation study.
Preparation of Photo‐Crosslinking Starch Colloidal Particles
Authors: Zhang Rongli , Chu Fangwen , Hu Yunqin , Hu Huiling , Hu Yulong , Liu Huan , Huo Chaofei , Wang Hao
Published: February 2020

A photo‐crosslinking cinnamic acid‐modified starch (CA‐St) copolymer is synthesized through an esterification reaction using 4‐dimethylaminopyridine and 1‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐3‐ethylcarbodiimide as catalysts. The structure of the CA‐St is confirmed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. Using the nanoprecipitation method, the photo‐crosslinking CA‐St copolymer is aggregated into colloidal particles (CPs). The formation process and photo‐crosslinking of CA‐St CPs are evaluated in terms of size distribution, and ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry. The scanning electron microscopy shows that the CA‐St CPs comprise spherical particles with a diameter of approximately 410 nm. This type of photo‐crosslinking CP has potential applications in nano‐ and biotechnology fields.
Experimental investigation of the behavior of concrete‐filled high‐strength glass fiber‐reinforced polymer tubes under static and cyclic axial compression
Authors: Aslani Farhad , Deghani Ayoub , Gunawardena Yasoja
Published: February 2020

This experimental study investigated the load–displacement behavior, ultimate strength, and failure modes of hollow and concrete‐filled high‐strength glass fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubes under static and cyclic axial compression. For this purpose, pultruded GFRP tubes were used which contained fibers oriented at 0°, +45°, and −45° to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. Self‐compacting concrete (SCC) was used for in‐filling the hollow GFRP tubes. The main parameters considered in the test program were the tube cross‐section, column length, and cyclic loading range. A total of 28 specimens of lengths equal to either 0.5 or 1.5 m were tested under static and cyclic axial compressive loading. The experimentally obtained load–displacement and load‐axial/hoop strain behaviors are discussed in this paper. It was verified that in‐filling the GFRP tubes with concrete can enhance their axial strength and stiffness, though it is not able to prevent the brittle nature of the failure. Hollow GFRP tubes displayed linear‐elastic behavior with a constant axial stiffness up to failure under both static and cyclic loading, while the concrete‐filled specimens exhibited a bilinear load–displacement behavior with the change in stiffness occurring at the point at which the GFRP tube starts to act as a confining jacket. Under cyclic loading, the concrete‐filled specimens suffered degradation in axial stiffness with the rate of deterioration decreasing with increasing number of cycles. However, a consistent relationship between the cyclic load range magnitude and number of cycles to failure could not be found using the experimentally obtained data.
Next-to-leading-order QCD and electroweak corrections to triple-W production with leptonic decays at the LHC
Authors: Dittmaier Stefan , Knippen Gernot , Schwan Christopher
Published: February 2020

Abstract

We present a calculation of the next-to-leading-order QCD and electroweak corrections to WWW production with leptonically decaying W bosons at the LHC, fully taking into account off-shell contributions, intermediary resonances, and spin correlations. The contributions of the quark-antiquark-induced electroweak correction to typical fiducial cross sections at the LHC are of the order of 5–8 % and grow to tens of percent in the high-energy tails of distributions. We observe strong cancellations among the positive quark-photon and negative quark-antiquark-induced electroweak corrections. In addition to results based on full 2 → 6/7-particle next-to-leading-order matrix elements, we present a calculation based on the triple-pole approximation, which expands the matrix elements around the poles of three simultaneously resonant W bosons. The triple-pole approximation performs particularly well for integrated cross sections and for differential cross sections that are insensitive to off-shell effects, such as angular and rapidity distributions.
Improved global fit to Non-Standard neutrino Interactions using COHERENT energy and timing data
Authors: Coloma Pilar , Esteban Ivan , Gonzalez-Garcia M.C. , Maltoni Michele
Published: February 2020

Abstract

We perform a global fit to neutrino oscillation and coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering data, using both timing and energy information from the COHERENT experiment. The results are used to set model-independent bounds on four-fermion effective operators inducing non-standard neutral-current neutrino interactions. We quantify the allowed ranges for their Wilson coefficients, as well as the status of the LMA-D solution, for a wide class of new physics models with arbitrary ratios between the strength of the operators involving up and down quarks. Our results are presented for the COHERENT experiment alone, as well as in combination with the global data from oscillation experiments. We also quantify the dependence of our results for COHERENT with respect to the choice of quenching factor, nuclear form factor, and the treatment of the backgrounds.
Polyneuropathie im Alter
Authors: Löscher W. N. , Iglseder B.
Published: February 2020

Das periphere Nervensystem ist im Laufe des Alternsprozesses Veränderungen unterworfen. So kommt es unter anderem zu einer Abschwächung von Muskeleigenreflexen und Propriozeption. Davon abzugrenzen sind Polyneuropathien als krankhafte Veränderungen des peripheren Nervensystems. Die jährliche Inzidenz von Polyneuropathien wird auf 118/100.000 geschätzt, die Prävalenz liegt bei etwa 1 %, für ältere Populationen werden 7 % angegeben. Die Ursachen sind vielfältig und ähnlich den Ursachen von Neuropathien des jüngeren Alters: Neben metabolischen, immunvermittelten, hereditären, toxischen und infektiösen Ätiologien können Polyneuropathien Ausdruck von Systemerkrankungen sein. Entsprechend der Altersverteilung der verschiedenen Ursachen sind Neuropathien im Zusammenhang mit Diabetes, monoklonalen Gammopathien und Malignomen im Alter häufiger. Allerdings nimmt der Anteil der kryptogenen Neuropathien, also ohne eindeutige Ursache, mit dem Alter zu. Bei alten Menschen führen Polyneuropathien zu einer zusätzlichen Beeinträchtigung der Mobilität und einem erhöhten Sturzrisiko, was auch die Abklärung funktioneller Fähigkeiten erforderlich macht.
Infektionen mit dem humanen Immundefizienzvirus bei Kindern in Deutschland, 1999–2016
Authors: Marcus U. , Beck N.
Published: February 2020

Hintergrund

Mutter-Kind-Übertragungen von humanem Immundefizienz Virus (HIV) sind durch antiretrovirale Therapie der Schwangeren und weitere medizinische Maßnahmen (Sectio-Entbindung, Postexpositionsprophylaxe beim Neugeborenen, Stillverzicht) verhinderbar. Weiterhin erfolgende Übertragungen sind überwiegend Folge mangelhafter Umsetzung der bekannten wirksamen Maßnahmen. Stand und Probleme bei der Erreichung einer Eliminierung von Mutter-Kind-Übertragungen von HIV in Deutschland werden beschrieben.

Methoden

Hauptquelle der Daten sind pseudonymisierte Meldedaten des HIV-Melderegisters am Robert Koch-Institut (RKI). Mittels einer intensivierten Surveillance für HIV-Meldungen zu Kindern werden Angaben zum Geburtsland, zum mütterlichen Herkunftsland und zur Kenntnis und zum Management der mütterlichen HIV-Infektion in der Schwangerschaft bei seit 1999 geborenen, mit HIV infizierten Kindern erhoben.

Ergebnisse

Bis Ende 2018 wurden bei zwischen dem 01.01.1999 und dem 31.12.2016 geborenen Kindern im Alter unter 15 Jahren in Deutschland 331 HIV-Diagnosen gemeldet. Bei 313 war eine Mutter-Kind-Übertragung der wahrscheinlichste Übertragungsweg. Von diesen 313 Kindern wurden 162 (52 %) in Deutschland geboren, aber nur 26 % der Mütter waren deutscher Herkunft. Die HIV-Übertragungshäufigkeit bei in Deutschland geborenen Kindern sank von 1,8/100.000 Lebendgeburten im Zeitraum 1999–2007 auf 0,8/100.000 im Zeitraum 2008–2016. Bei 59 % der in Deutschland geborenen Kinder war der HIV-Status der Mutter den betreuenden Ärzt*innen zum Zeitpunkt der Geburt nicht bekannt.

Schlussfolgerung

Ein fehlendes HIV-Testangebot für die Schwangere war Hauptursache für Übertragungen bei bis 2007 geborenen Kindern; bei später geborenen Kindern waren die Gründe vielfältiger und hingen oft mit mütterlicher Migration und Zugangsbarrieren in das Versorgungssystem zusammen.
Maximum product of spacings prediction of future record values
Authors: Volovskiy Grigoriy , Kamps Udo
Published: February 2020

A spacings-based prediction method for future upper record values is proposed as an alternative to maximum likelihood prediction. For an underlying family of distributions with continuous cumulative distribution functions, the general form of the predictor as a function of the estimator of the distributional parameters is established. A connection between this method and the maximum observed likelihood prediction procedure is shown. The maximum product of spacings predictor turns out to be useful to predict the next record value in contrast to likelihood-based procedures, which provide trivial predictors in this particular case. Moreover, examples are given for the exponential and the Pareto distributions, and a real data set is analyzed.
On the finiteness of the derived equivalence classes of some stable endomorphism rings
Authors: August Jenny
Published: February 2020

We prove that the stable endomorphism rings of rigid objects in a suitable Frobenius category have only finitely many basic algebras in their derived equivalence class and that these are precisely the stable endomorphism rings of objects obtained by iterated mutation. The main application is to the Homological Minimal Model Programme. For a 3-fold flopping contraction $$f :X \rightarrow {\mathrm{Spec}\;}\,R$$

f
:
X
→

Spec

R

, where X has only Gorenstein terminal singularities, there is an associated finite dimensional algebra $$A_{{\text {con}}}$$

A
con

known as the contraction algebra. As a corollary of our main result, there are only finitely many basic algebras in the derived equivalence class of $$A_{\text {con}}$$

A
con

and these are precisely the contraction algebras of maps obtained by a sequence of iterated flops from f. This provides evidence towards a key conjecture in the area.
Modulation of value-based decision making behavior by subregions of the rat prefrontal cortex
Authors: Verharen Jeroen P. H. , den Ouden Hanneke E. M. , Adan Roger A. H. , Vanderschuren Louk J. M. J.
Published: February 2020

Rationale

During value-based decision-making, organisms make choices on the basis of reward expectations, which have been formed during prior action-outcome learning. Although it is known that neuronal manipulations of different subregions of the rat prefrontal cortex (PFC) have qualitatively different effects on behavioral tasks involving value-based decision-making, it is unclear how these regions contribute to the underlying component processes.

Objectives

Assessing how different regions of the rodent PFC contribute to component processes of value-based decision-making behavior, including reward (or positive feedback) learning, punishment (or negative feedback) learning, response persistence, and exploration versus exploitation.

Methods

We performed behavioral modeling of data of rats in a probabilistic reversal learning task after pharmacological inactivation of five PFC subregions, to assess how inactivation of these different regions affected the structure of responding of animals in the task.

Results

Our results show reductions in reward and punishment learning after PFC subregion inactivation. The prelimbic, infralimbic, lateral orbital, and medial orbital PFC particularly contributed to punishment learning, and the prelimbic and lateral orbital PFC to reward learning. In addition, response persistence depended on the infralimbic and medial orbital PFC. As a result, pharmacological inactivation of the infralimbic and lateral orbitofrontal cortex reduced the number of reversals achieved, whereas inactivation of the prelimbic and medial orbitofrontal cortex decreased the number of rewards obtained. Finally, using simulated data, we explain discrepancies with a previous study and demonstrate complex, interacting relationships between conventional measures of probabilistic reversal learning performance, such as win-stay/lose-switch behavior, and component processes of value-based decision-making.

Conclusions

Together, our data suggest that distinct components of value-based learning and decision-making are generated in medial and orbital PFC regions, displaying functional specialization and overlap, with a prominent role of large parts of the PFC in negative feedback processing.
Evaluation of the CT Scan as the First Examination for the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Strategy for Acute Cholecystitis
Authors: Martellotto S. , Dohan A. , Pocard M.
Published: February 2020

Background

The CT scan has supplanted the abdominal ultrasound for emergency examinations. A comparison of CT scan and ultrasound performance for the diagnosis and management of acute cholecystitis in acute care was proposed. The hypothesis is that the CT scan may be sufficient for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, which would allow faster progress to surgery.

Methods

The retrospective study of consecutive patients operated for acute cholecystitis or gallbladder distension with pre‐operative imaging within 48 h in one centre.

Results

Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 341 cholecystectomies were performed in our centre. The analysis involved 120 patients. Ultrasound had better sensitivity than the CT scan, respectively, 79.4% [70.5–86.6] and 52.3% [42.5–62.1], but less specificity, with 61.5% [31.6–86.1] and 92.3% [64.0–99.8], respectively. However, there was a significant difference in favour of the CT scan for the diagnosis of complicated cholecystitis (p 0.004). The positive likelihood ratio of complicated cholecystitis is better at CT scan (7.8) [2.7–23.1] than in ultrasound (1.0) [0.1–9.7]. CT scan and ultrasound are equivalent for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, but CT scan is more efficient for the diagnosis of complicated cases (Youden index J 0.3 vs 0.001).

Conclusion

It is possible to place the surgical indication of cholecystectomy on the only data of the CT scan. We propose a decision‐making algorithm that uses the CT scan to make the diagnosis and decide on emergency treatment for complicated cases or that allows us to propose a delayed surgery for simple cholecystitis.
Iterative particle matching for three-dimensional particle-tracking velocimetry
Authors: Rubbert A. , Schröder W.
Published: February 2020

A new evaluation scheme for double exposure three-dimensional particle-tracking velocimetry is proposed. Its main feature, a robust multi-pass matching algorithm, is presented and validated by investigating its performance when applied to a synthetic data set. To evaluate real measurement data, the approach is supplemented by an iterative triangulation scheme, in which the resulting particle positions are validated through the matching algorithm. The comparison with tomographic particle-image velocimetry data shows good agreement. The proposed algorithm allows this approach to be applied to volumetric measurements with seeding densities exceeding standard particle-tracking applications. Therefore, it can serve as a drop-in replacement for tomographic particle-image velocimetry at significantly reduced computational cost.

Graphic abstract
Validation of a fast prognostic score for risk stratification of normotensive patients with acute pulmonary embolism
Authors: Hobohm Lukas , Becattini Cecilia , Konstantinides Stavros V. , Casazza Franco , Lankeit Mareike
Published: February 2020

Background

Recent studies demonstrate an improved prognostic performance of the 2014 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) algorithm for risk stratification of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) compared to the 2008 ESC algorithm. The modified FAST and Bova scores appear especially helpful to identify PE patients at intermediate-high risk.

Methods

We validated the prognostic performance of the modified FAST score compared to other scores for risk stratification in a post-hoc analysis of 868 normotensive PE patients included in the prospective Italian Pulmonary Embolism Registry. In-hospital adverse outcome was defined as PE-related death, mechanical ventilation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation or administration of catecholamines.

Results

Overall, 27 patients (3.1%) had an adverse outcome and 32 patients (3.7%) died. The rate of an adverse outcome was highest in the intermediate-high risk classes of the 2019 ESC algorithm (7.5%) and the modified FAST score (5.3%) while the Bova score failed to discriminate between intermediate-low and intermediate-high-risk patients. Patients classified as intermediate-high risk by the 2019 ESC algorithm (Odds Ratio [OR], 4.2 [95% CI, 1.9–9.0]) and modified FAST score (OR, 2.8 [1.3–6.2]) had a higher risk of an adverse outcome compared to patients classified by the Bova score (OR, 1.6 [0.7–3.7]). The c-index was higher for the 2019 ESC algorithm and the modified FAST score (AUC, 0.69 [0.58–0.79] and 0.67 [0.59–0.76]) compared to the Bova score (AUC, 0.64 [0.55–0.73]).

Conclusions

The 2019 ESC algorithm provided the best prognostic performance, but also the modified FAST score accurately stratified normotensive PE patients in different risk classes while the Bova score failed to identify patients at highest risk.

Graphic abstract
Niacin-mediated rejuvenation of macrophage/microglia enhances remyelination of the aging central nervous system
Authors: Rawji Khalil S. , Young Adam M.H. , Ghosh Tanay , Michaels Nathan J. , Mirzaei Reza , Kappen Janson , Kolehmainen Kathleen L. , Alaeiilkhchi Nima , Lozinski Brian , Mishra Manoj K. , Pu Annie , Tang Weiwen , Zein Salma , Kaushik Deepak K. , Keough Michael B. , Plemel Jason R. , Calvert Fiona , Knights Andrew J. , Gaffney Daniel J. , Tetzlaff Wolfram , Franklin Robin J. M. , Yong V. Wee
Published: February 2020

Remyelination following CNS demyelination restores rapid signal propagation and protects axons; however, its efficiency declines with increasing age. Both intrinsic changes in the oligodendrocyte progenitor cell population and extrinsic factors in the lesion microenvironment of older subjects contribute to this decline. Microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages are critical for successful remyelination, releasing growth factors and clearing inhibitory myelin debris. Several studies have implicated delayed recruitment of macrophages/microglia into lesions as a key contributor to the decline in remyelination observed in older subjects. Here we show that the decreased expression of the scavenger receptor CD36 of aging mouse microglia and human microglia in culture underlies their reduced phagocytic activity. Overexpression of CD36 in cultured microglia rescues the deficit in phagocytosis of myelin debris. By screening for clinically approved agents that stimulate macrophages/microglia, we have found that niacin (vitamin B3) upregulates CD36 expression and enhances myelin phagocytosis by microglia in culture. This increase in myelin phagocytosis is mediated through the niacin receptor (hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2). Genetic fate mapping and multiphoton live imaging show that systemic treatment of 9–12-month-old demyelinated mice with therapeutically relevant doses of niacin promotes myelin debris clearance in lesions by both peripherally derived macrophages and microglia. This is accompanied by enhancement of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell numbers and by improved remyelination in the treated mice. Niacin represents a safe and translationally amenable regenerative therapy for chronic demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Decoding identity from motion: how motor similarities colour our perception of self and others
Authors: Coste Alexandre , Bardy Benoît G. , Janaqi Stefan , Słowiński Piotr , Tsaneva-Atanasova Krasimira , Goupil Juliette Lozano , Marin Ludovic
Published: February 2020

For more than 4 decades, it has been shown that humans are particularly sensitive to biological motion and extract socially relevant information from it such as gender, intentions, emotions or a person’s identity. A growing number of findings, however, indicate that identity perception is not always highly accurate, especially due to large inter-individual differences and a fuzzy self-recognition advantage compared to the recognition of others. Here, we investigated the self-other identification performance and sought to relate this performance to the metric properties of perceptual/physical representations of individual motor signatures. We show that identity perception ability varies substantially across individuals and is associated to the perceptual/physical motor similarities between self and other stimuli. Specifically, we found that the perceptual representations of postural signatures are veridical in the sense that closely reflects the physical postural trajectories and those similarities between people’ actions elicit numerous misattributions. While, on average, people can well recognize their self-generated actions, they more frequently attribute to themselves the actions of those acting in a similar way. These findings are consistent with the common coding theory and support that perception and action are tightly linked and may modulate each other by virtue of similarity.
miRNA repertoire and host immune factor regulation upon avian coronavirus infection in eggs
Authors: Kemp Vera , Laconi Andrea , Cocciolo Giulio , Berends Alinda J. , Breit Timo M. , Verheije M. Hélène
Published: February 2020

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a coronavirus with great economic impact on the poultry industry, causing an acute and highly contagious disease in chickens that primarily affects the respiratory and reproductive systems. The cellular regulation of IBV pathogenesis and the host immune responses involved remain to be fully elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as a class of crucial regulators of numerous cellular processes, including responses to viral infections. Here, we employed a high-throughput sequencing approach to analyze the miRNA composition of the spleen and the lungs of chicken embryos upon IBV infection. Compared to healthy chicken embryos, 13 and six miRNAs were upregulated in the spleen and the lungs, respectively, all predicted to influence viral transcription, cytokine production, and lymphocyte functioning. Subsequent downregulation of NFATC3, NFAT5, SPPL3, and TGFB2 genes in particular was observed only in the spleen, demonstrating the biological functionality of the miRNAs in this lymphoid organ. This is the first study that describes the modulation of miRNAs and the related host immune factors by IBV in chicken embryos. Our data provide novel insight into complex virus-host interactions and specifically highlight components that could affect the host’s immune response to IBV infection.
Antagonistic interactions between predator and prey: mobbing of jaguars (Panthera onca) by white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari)
Authors: Rampim Lilian E. , Sartorello Leonardo R. , Fragoso Carlos E. , Haberfeld Mario , Devlin Allison L.
Published: February 2020

Ambush predators rely on stealth to successfully secure prey. Mobbing is a rarely observed anti-predation strategy used by group-living prey species whereby several individuals distract or harass a predator until it either ends the pursuit or leaves the area. Herein, we present three unique cases of white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) mobbing jaguars (Panthera onca) in the wild. White-lipped peccaries and jaguars co-occur within the study area, a large-scale ecotourism and working cattle ranch in the Brazilian Pantanal. Two cases of mobbing were recorded by video camera trap during routine surveys, and a third case was directly observed by one of the authors during telemetry triangulation of a GPS-collared individual jaguar. Our observations provide direct empirical evidence of antagonistic behavioral interactions between jaguars and white-lipped peccaries that have previously been limited to anecdotes within academic literature. We discuss the implications of this behavioral interaction for the proximate and ultimate fitness of both predator and prey.
Approximation of stability radii for large-scale dissipative Hamiltonian systems
Authors: Aliyev Nicat , Mehrmann Volker , Mengi Emre
Published: February 2020

A linear time-invariant dissipative Hamiltonian (DH) system $\dot x = (J-R)Q x$ẋ=(J−R)Qx, with a skew-Hermitian J, a Hermitian positive semidefinite R, and a Hermitian positive definite Q, is always Lyapunov stable and under further weak conditions even asymptotically stable. By exploiting the characterizations from Mehl et al. (SIAM J. Matrix Anal. Appl. 37(4), 1625–1654, 2016), we focus on the estimation of two stability radii for large-scale DH systems, one with respect to non-Hermitian perturbations of R in the form R + BΔCH for given matrices B, C, and another with respect to Hermitian perturbations in the form R + BΔBH,Δ = ΔH. We propose subspace frameworks for both stability radii that converge at a superlinear rate in theory. The one for the non-Hermitian stability radius benefits from the DH structure-preserving model order reduction techniques, whereas for the Hermitian stability radius we derive subspaces yielding a Hermite interpolation property between the full and projected problems. With the proposed frameworks, we are able to estimate the two stability radii accurately and efficiently for large-scale systems which include a finite-element model of an industrial disk brake.
The influence of environmental and spatial factors on benthic invertebrate metacommunities differing in size and dispersal mode
Authors: Ptatscheck Christoph , Gansfort Birgit , Majdi Nabil , Traunspurger Walter
Published: February 2020

Understanding the drivers of species distribution is an important topic in conservation biology and ecology, pertaining to species traits like dispersal strategies and species–environment interactions. Here we examined the drivers of benthic species distribution at 20 sections of a second-order stream network. Environmental and spatial factors and the dispersal modes of the organisms were considered. We expected that species with aerial dispersal capabilities like insects would be less restrained by distance between sites and thus mostly affected by environmental factors. In contrast, we hypothesized that completely benthic species would mainly be affected by spatial factors due to limited dispersal. However, microscopic species like nematodes characterized by a high passive dispersal potential may be less limited by spatial factors. When using redundancy analyses and subsequent variance partitioning, the included variables explained 24% (insects), 24% (non-flying macrobenthos), and 32% (nematodes) of the variance in the respective community composition. Spatial factors mainly explained the species composition of all tested groups. In contrast with other larger species, nematodes were characterized by fine-scale patterns that might have been induced by random processes (e.g., random distribution and priority effects). Our study showed that dispersal processes are crucial in shaping benthic communities along streams albeit the relatively small sampling area (max. distance between sampling sites: 2 km). The demonstration of spatial factors as important drivers of the species distribution of passively dispersing benthic organismal groups highlights the role played by connectivity in determining species distribution patterns in river systems.
Representations of Pacific Islands and climate change in US, UK, and Australian newspaper reporting
Authors: Shea Meghan M. , Painter James , Osaka Shannon
Published: February 2020

Pacific Islands often exemplify climate change vulnerability, yet little scholarship has probed how these representations translate to the media. This study examines newspaper articles about Pacific Islands and climate change in American, British, and Australian newspapers from 1999 to 2018, analyzing volume, content, and dominant narratives. These quantitative results are complemented by semi-structured interviews with journalists as well as Pacific stakeholders who engage with the media. Reporting on Pacific Islands and climate change focuses heavily on who and what are at risk from climate impacts; reporting on solutions is less frequent and dominated by discussions of migration. This overemphasis on vulnerability potentially downplays the importance of the resiliency and action of Pacific Island communities and positions the Pacific as a site for climate catastrophe, rather than climate justice. However, recent reporting may be moving away from overarching narratives of vulnerability, motivating continued research into these depictions and how they promote or discourage climate action.
Genetic diversity and biogeographic determinants of population structure in Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Ktze
Authors: de Sousa Valderês Aparecida , Reeves Patrick A. , Reilley Ann , de Aguiar Ananda Virginia , Stefenon Valdir Marcos , Richards Christopher M.
Published: February 2020

Araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia(Bert.) O. Ktze) is a primarily dioecious species threatened with extinction that plays an important social and economic role especially in the southern region of Brazil. The aim of this work is to investigate the diversity and likely determinants of genetic lineages in this species for conservation management. For this, a collection of 30-year-old Araucaria was used. Accessions collected from 12 sites across the species range were analyzed, with ten individuals per site. The SSR genotyping was conducted with 15 loci and the data were analyzed using several complementary approaches. Descriptive statistics among sampling sites were used and diversity was partitioned non-hierarchically to estimate the size and composition of genetic clusters using a Bayesian assignment method. To explore possible biological implications of differences between Niche Models and habitat suitability, a series of statistical procedures were used, and tests were carried out using the software ENM Tools and Maxent. Populations from the southernmost zone showed higher genetic variation and a lower inbreeding coefficient compared to the northernmost zone, which may correlate with their isolation. A positive relation between genetic differentiation and geographic distance was observed. Two genetic groups (southernmost and northernmost zones) were evident. The Niche modelling showed separate ranges for each genetic lineage suggesting that differences in selection pressure may be playing a role in the apparent differentiation and may be adaptive. Finally, an evident correlation was observed between genetic data and habitat suitability. The two distinct groups observed must be considered as independent units for conservation and hybridization in breeding programs.
Is Immediate Processing of Presupposition Triggers Automatic or Capacity-Limited? A Combination of the PRP Approach with a Self-Paced Reading Task
Authors: Schneider Cosima , Bade Nadine , Janczyk Markus
Published: February 2020

Informally speaking, presuppositions are meaning components which are part of the common ground for speakers in a conversation, that is, background information which is taken for granted by interlocutors. The current literature suggests an immediate processing of presuppositions, starting directly on the word triggering the presupposition. In the present paper, we focused on two presupposition triggers in German, the definite determinerthe(Germander) and the iterative particleagain(Germanwieder). Experiment 1 replicates the immediate effects which were previously observed in a self-paced reading study. Experiment 2 then investigates whether this immediate processing of presuppositions is automatic or capacity-limited by employing the psychological refractory period approach and the locus of slack-logic, which have been successfully employed for this reason in various fields of cognitive psychology. The results argue against automatic processing, but rather suggest that the immediate processing of presuppositions is capacity-limited. This potentially helps specifying the nature of the involved processes; for example, a memory search for a potential referent.
Factors Associated with Anemia Status Among Children Aged 6–59 months in Ghana, 2003–2014
Authors: Shenton Luke M. , Jones Andrew D. , Wilson Mark L.
Published: February 2020

Background

In 2008, 78% of Ghanaian children under 5 years old were anemic versus 48% of children globally. In this study, we identified proximal and distal determinants of severe–moderate anemia and mild anemia related to socioeconomic status, nutrition, and health access.

Methods

Using data from the 2003, 2008, and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS), the odds of severe–moderate anemia and mild anemia compared to no anemia, in relation to various hypothesized risk factors, were assessed using a multivariable, multinomial logistic regression, which accounted for survey design.

Results

From among 7739 households sampled, severe–moderate anemia was found in approximately 52%, 56%, and 40% of children during 2003, 2008, and 2014, respectively. The proportion of children diagnosed as not anemic was 26% in 2003, 22% in 2008, and 33% in 2014. There are large disparities in anemia prevalence among regions and between urban and rural areas. In 2014, children who were younger (aged 6–24 months), had a recent fever, were from poorer families, and whose mothers were less educated had greater odds of being severely–moderately anemic. These results remained significant when controlling for other risk factors. Predictors of anemia in Ghana remained relatively consistent among the three time periods when the GDHS was administered.

Conclusions

The prevalence of anemia in Ghana among children aged 6–59 months has remained unacceptably high. To reduce anemia in these children, the Ghanaian government should concentrate on educating women through both the traditional school system and antenatal care visits.
Motivation by gamification: Adapting motivational tools of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) for peer-to-peer assessment in connectivist massive open online courses (cMOOCs)
Authors: Danka István
Published: February 2020

In the first decade of the 21st century, distance learning (usually subject to course fees and resulting in formal certification) was complemented by free-of-charge open learning courses with unlimited numbers of participants and no final certificate. Termedmassive open online courses(MOOCs), these soon fell into different categories, depending on their concept. Among them areconnectivistmassive open online courses (cMOOCs) which emphasise a collaborative approach to learning. However, while initial enrolment is indeed massive, completion rates are very low and cMOOCs notoriously lack an appropriate method of evaluating learning progress and motivational resources. The author of this article suggests that one way of addressing this problem might be to adapt motivational formative assessment tools used in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) to cMOOCs. He argues that some characteristics of MMORPGs can be effectively incorporated in cMOOCs, thus benefiting from the motivational potential of MMORPGs. He cautions, however, that even if MMORPGs (and ongoing, low-stakes formative assessment in general) are motivational, they can only be applied to cMOOCs if the idea of formative assessment is not in tension with connectivist principles. Hence, the author argues for their compatibility, and builds on peer-to-peer assessment as a solution for resource allocation problems with low instructor–learner ratio.
Pierre Bourdieu on social transformation, with particular reference to political and symbolic revolutions
Authors: Fowler Bridget
Published: February 2020

This article challenges what is now the orthodoxy concerning the heritage of Bourdieu (1930–2002): namely, the judgement that his distinctive sociological innovation has been his theory of social reproduction, and that he has failed to provide a necessary theory of social change. Yet Bourdieu consistently claimed to offer a theory of social transformation as well as accounting for continuities of power. Indeed, he provides two substantive keys for an understanding of historical transformation—first, a theory of prophets (religious or secular) as the authors of heresies or “symbolic revolutions” that dispel current doxa; second, a theory of the “corporatism of the universal”: the role of intellectuals or other educated professionals in pursuit of social justice and other universalistic goals. Moreover, Bourdieu fuses his theories of “symbolic revolutions” with a materialist analysis of their social preconditions, including a fresh account of social crises. Crises—war, famine, recession, and especially the intensified precarity of the educated—have, for him, a profound impact, both within differentiated fields and across fields. Conflicts that become effectivelysynchronizedacross fields acquire great resonance within the wider field of power, particularly due to hysteresis or “maladjusted habitus.” Indeed, the appearance of crises, together with new prophetic heresies, leads the subordinate classes to question the taken-for-granted order of things and to orchestrate their resistance. Alongside his corpus of published writings, this article draws widely on Bourdieu’s posthumously published lectures. These cast a distinctive new light on how his well-known conceptual instruments can aid us in the study of historical change. They also expand on how social science itself might be used to facilitate progressive social movements.
A Multiwavelength Analysis of the Long-duration Flare Observed on 15 April 2002
Authors: Kepa Anna , Sylwester Barbara , Sylwester Janusz , Mrozek Tomasz , Siarkowski Marek
Published: February 2020

We present a multiwavelength analysis of the long-duration flare observed on 15 April 2002 (soft X-ray peak time at 03:55 UT, ). This flare occurred on the disk (S15W01) in NOAA 9906 and was observed by a number of space instruments including the Extreme-Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO/EIT), the RESIK spectrometer onboard the Coronas-F spacecraft, and the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). We have performed a complex analysis of these measurements and studied the morphology and physical parameters characterizing the conditions in flaring plasmas. The 195 Å SOHO/EIT images have been used to study evolution of flaring loops. Analysis of RHESSI data provided the opportunity for a detailed analysis of hard X-ray emission with 1 keV energy resolution. We have used Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) observations for isothermal interpretation of the X-ray measurements. Temperature diagnostics of the flaring plasma have been carried out by means of a differential emission measure (DEM) analysis based on RESIK X-ray spectra. The DEM distributions were calculated based on two methods: Withbroe–Sylwester (WS) and differential evolution (DE). Both of the approaches provided similar results. We obtained two-component DEM distributions independent of the evolutionary flare phase. We found that the amount of energy of thermal plasma for this flare is of the order of 1030 ergs. The values obtained by assuming an isothermal plasma model are lower than those determined from the differential emission measure distributions.
Personality Disorders in Older Adults: a Review of Epidemiology, Assessment, and Treatment
Authors: Penders Krystle A.P. , Peeters Inge G.P. , Metsemakers Job F.M. , van Alphen Sebastiaan P.J.
Published: February 2020

Purpose of Review

The aim of the paper is reviewing recent literature on the epidemiology, assessment, and treatment of personality disorders (PDs) among older adults (≥ 60 years).

Recent Findings

Since 2015, 12 primary empirical studies have been published addressing PDs in older adults; 3 addressing epidemiological aspects, 6 on assessment, 2 exploring both epidemiology and assessment, and 1 examining treatment. PD research in older adults is steadily growing and is predominantly focused on assessment. The studies showed that PDs were rather prevalent ranging from 10.6–14.5% in community-dwelling older adults, to 57.8% in nursing home–residing older adults. The Severity Indices of Personality Problems-Short Form, Gerontological Personality disorders Scale, and Assessment of DSM-IV Personality Disorders turned out to be promising instruments for assessing PDs in later life. Furthermore, schema therapy seems to be a feasible and effective intervention.

Despite promising findings, there is an urgent need for studies addressing PDs in older adults, especially studies investigating epidemiological aspects and treatment options. Furthermore, new areas of interest arise such as PDs in other settings, and behavioral counseling.
Correction to: Core transcriptional signatures of phase change in the migratory locust
Authors: Yang Pengcheng , Hou Li , Wang Xianhui , Kang Le
Published: February 2020

In the original publication the photo of the gregarious adult locust in Fig. 1A is incorrect. The correct photo of adult migratory locust is provided in this correction.
Impostorism in third-year medical students: an item analysis using the Clance impostor phenomenon scale
Authors: Levant Beth , Villwock Jennifer A. , Manzardo Ann M.
Published: February 2020

Introduction Impostorism, feelings of distrust in one’s abilities and accomplishments despite evidence to the contrary, is frequent in medical students and negatively affects student wellness. Methods The aspects of impostorism that were most prevalent in medical students during the transition from the preclinical to clinical phases of their training were assessed using an anonymous, voluntary 60-item survey that included the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) and a 2-item burnout assessment administered in October-November 2018. Ratings of individual CIPS items were compared between items for the entire sample and in subpopulations of students. The correlation of individual CIPS items with CIPS total score was also determined. Results A total of 127 of 215 (59%) surveyed students responded, with 112 completing the CIPS with mean score of 63.0 ± 14.6 (moderate-to-frequent impostor feelings). Ratings of individual CIPS items differed significantly between items. Responses also differed depending on gender and perceived burnout or depersonalization. Discussion Third-year medical students identified most strongly with items related to unfounded fear of failure, hesitance to share recognition before it is announced, remembering failures rather than successes, believing themselves less capable than others, and worrying about succeeding. In contrast, attribution of accomplishments to luck was not prominent for these students. Responses to certain items also differed depending on gender and perceived burnout or depersonalization, but not self-reported under-represented minority status. This observation may inform the development of interventions tailored to foster wellness as students negotiate the transition from the preclinical to clinical phases of their training.
On the identification of finite non-group semigroups of a given order
Authors: Monsef M. , Doostie H.
Published: February 2020

Identifying finite non-group semigroups for every positive integer is significant because of many applications of such semigroups are functional in various branches of sciences such as computer science, mathematics and finite machines. The finite non-commutative monoids as a type of such semigroups were identified in 2014, for every positive integer. We here attempt to identify the finitecommutative monoidsand finitecommutative non-monoidsof a given integer$$n=p^\alpha q^\beta$$n=pαqβ, for every integers$$\alpha , \beta \ge 2$$α,β≥2and different primespandq. In order to recognize the commutative monoids, we present a class of 2-generated monoids of a given order, and for the commutative non-monoids of order$$n=p^\alpha q^\beta,$$n=pαqβ,we give the minimal generating set. Moreover, we prove that there are exactly$$(p^{\alpha }-2)(q^{\beta }-2)$$(pα-2)(qβ-2)non-isomorphic commutative non-monoids of order$$p^\alpha q^\beta$$pαqβ. The identification of non-group semigroups for the integers$$p^{2\alpha }$$p2αand$$2p^\alpha$$2pαis achieved. The automorphism groups of these groups are specified as well. As a result of this study, an interesting difference between the abelian groups and the commutative semigroups of order$$p^2$$p2is presented.
Open Geospatial Tools for Movement Data Exploration
Authors: Graser Anita , Dragaschnig Melitta
Published: February 2020

Movement data exploration presents a significant challenge due to the heterogeneity of movement datasets and analysis tasks. Furthermore, there is a lack of established tools for the exploratory analysis of movement data, as well as a lack of literature on best practices for applying corresponding concepts using commonly available data analysis tools. To address this gap, we present three open-source technology stacks for the exploratory analysis of movement data and discuss their capabilities and limitations.
Exercise in Thermal Inversions: PM2.5 Air Pollution Effects on Pulmonary Function and Aerobic Performance
Authors: Wagner Dale R. , Brandley Daniel C.
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Wintertime thermal inversions can lead to the accumulation of small particulate matter (PM2.5). Despite an association between respiratory hospital admissions and elevated PM2.5 levels, many people continue to exercise outdoors during inversions. This study compared pulmonary function and exercise performance during periods of low and high ambient PM2.5 concentrations.

Methods

Forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were measured outdoors before and after two 3200 m running time trials: one with low ambient PM2.5 (0.6–14.7 microgram·m-3), and the other during high PM2.5 (19.1–42.5 micrograms·m-3). A 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS) administered postexercise quantified subjective ratings of respiratory discomfort.

Results

The PM2.5 differential between trials was ≥18 micrograms·m-3 for 10 healthy runners. Despite feeling more respiratory discomfort ( P=0.044) during the bad air trial (VAS: 4.6±1.8 cm) compared with the good air trial (VAS: 2.9±1.8 cm), the 3200 m run time (low PM2.5: 13:54±1:34 min:s; high PM2.5: 14:07±1:44 min:s) was not different ( P=0.261) between trials. Postexercise forced vital capacity was not significantly different ( P=0.846) between the low (4.86±1.00 L) and high (4.84±0.95 L) PM2.5 conditions. Similarly, the difference in postexercise forced expiratory volume in 1 s was not significant ( P=0.750) between trials (4.22±0.89 L vs 4.23±0.85 L).

Conclusions

Neither run time nor pulmonary function of healthy adults were adversely affected by an acute bout of exercise in elevated ambient PM2.5, equivalent to yellow or orange on the air quality index.