bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Acoustic Recording Devices to Survey Northern Bobwhite Populations
Authors: Wilhite Nathan G. , Howell Paige E. , Martin James A.
Published: February 2020

Reliable methods for monitoring wildlife populations are paramount to effective conservation and management. There are a variety of available techniques that vary in cost and feasibility. We field‐tested a commercially available acoustic recording device (ARD) in July and August of 2018 with the goal of standardizing the process of surveying northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations using acoustic data. We projected bobwhite covey calls from programmable speakers, and analyzed recordings manually and with automatic recognition software. We manually detected 48% of projected covey calls with the furthest detection at 241 m. We developed an automatic classifier using Kaleidoscope Pro (Wildlife Acoustics Inc.), which detected 31% of the manually detected covey calls. The automatic classifier was ineffective, so we used manual analysis to acquire measurements for call strength and background noise at each visible covey call spectrogram signature. Detection probability declined as distance from the ARD increased and background noise increased. However, in our study system, there was no effect of vegetation structure on detection probability. Our results provide a blueprint for evaluating ARDs for application to wildlife monitoring. We believe ARDs can be used to evaluate northern bobwhite occupancy at fine scales and may potentially be useful in estimating autumn densities for setting harvest regulations. We encourage the evaluation of other software recognition programs and the relationship between covey call detection and landscape structure. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Associations between individual factors, environmental factors, and outdoor independence in older adults
Authors: Schehl Barbara , Leukel Joerg
Published: February 2020

The degree to which individuals can accomplish outdoor activity by themselves or require support is an important facet of successful aging. While prior research focuses on participation in outdoor activity, understanding of older adults’ outdoor independence is limited. We adopt an ecological approach to examine the role of individual factors and environmental factors in explaining outdoor independence. Our sample comprised older adults aged 65 + living in a medium-sized city in Germany (N = 1070). The results show that being male, younger, and healthier was positively associated with outdoor independence, while living together was not. Further, outdoor independence decreased with higher levels of perceived environmental barriers. This negative association was moderated such that it was stronger for the less healthy and older participants. Based on our empirical findings, we offer insights for policy makers, urban planners, and community groups to design age-friendly communities and consequently facilitate outdoor independence among older adults.
Does Parents’ Union Instability Disrupt Intergenerational Advantage? An Analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Smith-Greenaway Emily
Published: February 2020

The long arm of childhood, with its wide-ranging influence on individuals’ life chances, highlights the importance of understanding the determinants of health in early life. Research has established that parents’ education is a major determinant of childhood health, but children across the globe increasingly experience their parents’ divorce and subsequent remarriage, raising questions of whether union instability alters these intergenerational processes. Does divorce and remarriage interfere with parents’ education benefiting their young children’s health? I explore this question in sub-Saharan Africa, a world region where parents’ education plays a major role in protecting children against severe health risks, and where young children commonly experience parental divorce and remarriage. Moreover, sub-Saharan Africa features distinct family lineage systems, affording an opportunity to explore this question in both majority matrilineal and patrilineal contexts. Analyses of Demographic and Health Survey data on 271,292 children in 30 sub-Saharan African countries offer no evidence that the high levels of union instability in the region will weaken the health benefits of parents’ education for future generations. Following divorce, children benefit from their biological parents’ education to the same degree as children with married parents—a finding that is consistent across lineage contexts. Moreover, stepfathers’ education corresponds with pronounced health benefits for their coresident stepchildren, particularly in patrilineal regions where these children benefit less dramatically from their mothers’ education. Together, the study results offer a renewed sense of the importance of parents’—including stepfathers’—education for early childhood health across diverse family structures.
Experimental Study of Double-Acting Pneumatic Cylinder
Authors: Jiménez M. , Kurmyshev E. , Castañeda C.E.
Published: February 2020

In this article, the dynamics of a double-acting pneumatic actuator was experimentally studied. To understand the details of dynamics and provide experimental data for further modeling and numerical simulation of actuators, a special test bench was designed. The bench includes a high-resolution linear encoder as well as a dSPACE 1104 data acquisition board, that permits high-frequency sampling to identify important features in the measured data at different source pressures; it also incorporates two pressure sensors, a solenoid valve, a push button, and a measuring interface to automate the acquisition of data. High precision measurements of the time of displacement and position of the moving elements, piston rod or cylinder body, allowed us to calculate velocity and acceleration. We found that the velocity of the moving element is near constant in a major part of the stroke. The recording of the dynamics of upstream and downstream pressures in the pneumatic cylinder chambers at different source pressure levels permitted us to calculate the force exerting by the piston and to explain the kinematics of the moving element. The matching of the upstream and downstream pressure plots with the displacement of the moving element allowed us to establish the instant when the moving starts, and this way evaluates such an important feature as the static friction force between the piston and cylinder body. Various scenarios were used in the experiments, including the fixing of the piston rod, which allow the cylinder body to move or vice versa, the horizontal or vertical position of the pneumatic cylinder and the forward or backward stroke movement. The results obtained with the proposed experimental bench provide essential information on the dynamics of a double-acting pneumatic cylinder that can be included in the mathematical model of the cylinder and used in mobile robotics.
TRACES OF PHILOLOGY IN MID-REPUBLICAN LATIN POETRY
Authors: Sciarrino Enrica
Published: February 2020

At some point in the early second century CE Suetonius set out to compose biographies of important Roman literary figures. The largest surviving section of this work—known as theDe Grammaticis et Rhetoribus—opens with what is generally considered an account of the early beginnings of philology in Rome.
PHILOSOPHERS AND CITIZENS ON THE AREOPAGUS: LUCIAN'S PROSE TRILOGY
Authors: Pass David Blair
Published: February 2020

The lively discussion of the relationship between rhetoric and philosophy, the presentation of a theory of writing dialogues that combine elements from different genres and a dramatic frame that presents this theory in an Athenian setting as philosophical schools such as the Stoa and the Academy explain to the citizens their contributions to civic virtue make theTwice Accusednot only one of the most important dialogues for understanding Lucian's project but also one of the most important literary treatments of the reception of philosophy in Athens and the status of philosophy in the Imperial period. Because many of the philosophical elements Lucian uses to create his drama—common arguments, well-known attitudes and standard portraits—are conventional, the creativity and originality of the work consists in the combination of these elements and juxtaposition of different scenes and frames; understanding each scene and its significance depends on establishing its relationship to other scenes. This paper will examine the role theTwice Accusedplays as part of a trilogy of dialogues together with theSale of Livesand theFisherman; the trilogy presents a reflection on the introduction of philosophy and a progressive analysis of the attitudes between citizens and philosophers in the Athenian civic context. Considering the three as a trilogy not only reveals a central tragic intertext but also illuminates the way that the methodological statement at the end of theTwice Accusedcompletes the schema connecting attitudes towards the philosophical tradition to Athenian topography by moderating the extremes of the previous two dialogues and explaining the role of philosophical writing as a mediating force between the demands of philosophy and the needs of the larger civic community.
Effect of a newly synthesized quinoline-based compound (PPQ-8) on murine schistosomiasis mansoni
Authors: Taman A. , Alhusseiny S.M. , Saleh N.E. , Youssef M.Y. , Mansour B. , Massoud M. , El-Beshbishi S.N.
Published: February 2020

Schistosomiasis represents a public health problem and praziquantel is the only drug used for treatment of all forms of the disease. Thus, the development of new anti-schistosomal agents is of utmost importance to increase the effectiveness, reduce side effects and delay the emergence of resistance. The present study was conducted to report the therapeutic efficacy of PPQ-8, a new synthetic quinoline-based compound against Schistosoma mansoni. Mice were treated with PPQ-8 at day 49 post infection using two treatment regimens (20 and 40 mg/kg). Significant reductions were recorded in hepatic (62.9% and 83.6%) and intestinal tissue egg load (57.4% and 73.5%), granuloma count (75.4% and 89.1%) and diameter (26.2% and 47.3%), in response to the drug regimens, respectively. In addition, both treatment regimens induced significant decrease in liver (23.3% and 32.8%) and spleen (37.5% and 45.3%) indices. Also, there were significant reductions in mature ova, total worm and female count, which were more prominent with the higher dose. The reduction in the level of nitric oxide in the liver by both therapeutic regimens to 22.5% and 47.2% indicates the anti-oxidant activity of PPQ-8. Bright field microscopic examination of worms recovered from infected and PPQ-8-treated mice showed nearly empty intestinal caeca with no observable changes in the tegument. Our findings hold promise for the development of a novel anti-schistosomal drug using PPQ-8, but further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to elucidate the possible mechanism/s of action and to study the effect of PPQ-8 on other human schistosomes.
A note on Gollier's model for a collective pension scheme
Authors: Schumacher Johannes M.
Published: February 2020

Gollier proposed in 2008 a model for the analysis of pension schemes that is helpful to focus attention on the impact of intergenerational risk sharing and on the role of the participation constraint. He uses the model to analyze the relative attractiveness of a collective scheme with respect to schemes that may be implemented by individuals for themselves. The analysis makes use of an assumption concerning the ownership rights of investment returns realized by generations that are between career start and retirement at the time of the transition from an individual to a collective system. The present paper investigates the consequences of adopting an alternative assumption. In a calibration exercise, the increase of the effective rate of return obtained by switching from an existing ‘autarky’ scheme to an infinite-horizon ‘collective’ scheme is found to be 8 basis points, as opposed to 72 basis points as reported by Gollier. Additionally, the effects are considered of changes in the specification of agents' preferences, aiming to express the specific nature of retirement income provision in the second pillar. The Black–Scholes assumptions are used to model the economic environment, so that many results can be obtained in closed form.
Causes of fever in Gabonese children: a cross-sectional hospital-based study
Authors: Fernandes José Francisco , Held Jana , Dorn Magdalena , Lalremruata Albert , Schaumburg Frieder , Alabi Abraham , Agbanrin Maradona Daouda , Kokou Cosme , Ben Adande Abel , Esen Meral , Eibach Daniel , Adegnika Ayola Akim , Agnandji Sélidji Todagbé , Lell Bertrand , Eckerle Isabella , Henrichfreise Beate , Hogan Benedikt , May Jürgen , Kremsner Peter Gottfried , Grobusch Martin Peter , Mordmüller Benjamin
Published: February 2020

The causes of infections in pediatric populations differ between age groups and settings, particularly in the tropics. Such differences in epidemiology may lead to misdiagnosis and ineffective empirical treatment. Here, we investigated the current spectrum of pathogens causing febrile diseases leading to pediatric hospitalization in Lambaréné, Gabon. From August 2015 to March 2016, we conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, hospital-based study in a provincial hospital. Patients were children ≤ 15 years with fever ≥ 38 °C and required hospitalization. A total of 600 febrile patients were enrolled. Malaria was the main diagnosis found in 52% (311/600) patients. Blood cultures revealed septicemia in 3% (17/593), among them four cases of typhoid fever. The other causes of fever were heterogeneously distributed between both bacteria and viruses. Severe infections identified by Lambaréné Organ Dysfunction Score (LODS) were also most often caused by malaria, but children with danger signs did not have more coinfections than others. In 6% (35/600) of patients, no pathogen was isolated. In Gabon, malaria is still the major cause of fever in children, followed by a bacterial and viral disease. Guidelines for both diagnosis and management should be tailored to the spectrum of pathogens and resources available locally.
MicroRNA-141-3p and microRNA-200a-3p regulate α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated melanogenesis by directly targeting microphthalmia-associated transcription factor
Authors: Itoh Tomohiro , Fukatani Kanako , Nakashima Ayaka , Suzuki Kengo
Published: February 2020

In recent years, it has been reported that non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs, act as melanogenesis-regulating molecules in melanocytes. We found that the expression levels of miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p were decreased significantly by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) stimulation in mouse melanocyte B16-4A5 cells, as demonstrated by a miRNA array. Overexpression of miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p in B16-4A5 cells suppressed melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity. Moreover, both miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p showed direct targeting of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor using a luciferase reporter assay. Furthermore, topical transfection of miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p to three-dimensional reconstructed human skin tissue inhibited α-MSH-stimulated melanin biosynthesis. Taken together, our findings indicate that downregulation of miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p during the α-MSH-stimulated melanogenesis process acts as an important intrinsic signal. This result is expected to lead to the development of miRNA-based whitening therapeutics.
Permanent porosity and role of sulfonate groups in coordination networks constructed from a new polyfunctional phosphonato-sulfonate linker molecule
Authors: Wöhlbrandt Stephan , Igeska Angela , Svensson Grape Erik , Øien-Ødegaard Sigurd , Ken Inge A. , Stock Norbert
Published: February 2020

The new linker molecule (H2O3PCH2)2N-CH2C6H4SO3H, bearing both –PO3H2 and –SO3H groups, was employed for the synthesis of new coordination polymers (CPs).
Hydrogenation of ethylene over palladium: evolution of the catalyst structure byoperandosynchrotron-based techniques
Authors: Bugaev Aram L. , Usoltsev Oleg A. , Guda Alexander A. , Lomachenko Kirill A. , Brunelli Michela , Groppo Elena , Pellegrini Riccardo , Soldatov Alexander V. , van Bokhoven Jeroen A.
Published: February 2020

We study a carbon-supported palladium-based catalyst during the hydrogenation of ethylene to ethane in a wide range of partial pressures of ethylene and hydrogen.
Enhanced electrochemical performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 with a 3D-SiO2 framework by a new negative pressure immersion method
Authors: Zhao Meng , Xu Yue , Ren Peijia , Zuo Yinze , Su Weiming , Tang YueFeng
Published: February 2020

By an original negative pressure treatment method, a 3D-SiO2 framework is formed inside LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, which can significantly improve its electrochemical performance.
Hexahydroxytriphenylene for the synthesis of group 13 MOFs – a new inorganic building unit in a β-cristobalite type structure
Authors: Leubner S. , Bengtsson V. E. G. , Inge A. K. , Wahiduzzaman M. , Steinke F. , Jaworski A. , Xu H. , Halis S. , Rönfeldt P. , Reinsch H. , Maurin G. , Zou X. , Stock N.
Published: February 2020

Highly porous three-dimensional Al- and Ga-MOFs with radical catecholate linker molecules were synthesized and characterized by electron diffraction, molecular simulation, Rietveld refinement and N2sorption measurements.
Cu@Ag core–shell nanoparticle with multiple morphologies: a simple surfactant‐free synthesis and finite element simulation
Authors: Liang Mengfan , Zhu Yan , Sun Shuhong
Published: February 2020

Cu@Ag nanoparticles with multiple morphologies were prepared using the galvanic exchange method with surfactant‐free in air. The thermal stability of as‐prepared nanoparticles was evaluated by thermo‐gravimetric analysis and the morphology evolution of the sample as conductive ink was investigated by using a scanning electron microscope. In the meantime, the optical properties of synthesised nanoparticles were simulated by the finite‐element method. It is feasible for Cu@Ag nanoparticles to be applied as a conductive.
The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs
Authors: Stock S. , Kemmer J. , Reffert S. , Trifonov T. , Kaminski A. , Dreizler S. , Quirrenbach A. , Caballero J. A. , Reiners A. , Jeffers S. V. , Anglada-Escudé G. , Ribas I. , Amado P. J. , Barrado D. , Barnes J. R. , Bauer F. F. , Berdiñas Z. M. , Béjar V. J. S. , Coleman G. A. L. , Cortés-Contreras M. , Díez-Alonso E. , Domínguez-Fernández A. J. , Espinoza N. , Haswell C. A. , Hatzes A. , Henning T. , Jenkins J. S. , Jones H. R. A. , Kossakowski D. , Kürster M. , Lafarga M. , Lee M. H. , López González M. J. , Montes D. , Morales J. C. , Morales N. , Pallé E. , Pedraz S. , Rodríguez E. , Rodríguez-López C. , Zechmeister M.
Published: February 2020

Context. The nearby ultra-compact multiplanetary system YZ Ceti consists of at least three planets, and a fourth tentative signal. The orbital period of each planet is the subject of discussion in the literature due to strong aliasing in the radial velocity data. The stellar activity of this M dwarf also hampers significantly the derivation of the planetary parameters.

Aims. With an additional 229 radial velocity measurements obtained since the discovery publication, we reanalyze the YZ Ceti system and resolve the alias issues.

Methods. We use model comparison in the framework of Bayesian statistics and periodogram simulations based on a method by Dawson and Fabrycky to resolve the aliases. We discuss additional signals in the RV data, and derive the planetary parameters by simultaneously modeling the stellar activity with a Gaussian process regression model. To constrain the planetary parameters further we apply a stability analysis on our ensemble of Keplerian fits.

Results. We find no evidence for a fourth possible companion. We resolve the aliases: the three planets orbit the star with periods of 2.02 d, 3.06 d, and 4.66 d. We also investigate an effect of the stellar rotational signal on the derivation of the planetary parameters, in particular the eccentricity of the innermost planet. Using photometry we determine the stellar rotational period to be close to 68 d and we also detect this signal in the residuals of a three-planet fit to the RV data and the spectral activity indicators. From our stability analysis we derive a lower limit on the inclination of the system with the assumption of coplanar orbits which is imin = 0.9 deg. From the absence of a transit event with TESS, we derive an upper limit of the inclination of imax = 87.43 deg.

Conclusions. YZ Ceti is a prime example of a system where strong aliasing hindered the determination of the orbital periods of exoplanets. Additionally, stellar activity influences the derivation of planetary parameters and modeling them correctly is important for the reliable estimation of the orbital parameters in this specific compact system. Stability considerations then allow additional constraints to be placed on the planetary parameters.
Probabilistic direction-dependent ionospheric calibration for LOFAR-HBA
Authors: Albert J. G. , van Weeren R. J. , Intema H. T. , Röttgering H. J. A.
Published: February 2020

Direction-dependent calibration and imaging is a vital part of producing radio images that are deep and have a high fidelity and highly dynamic range with a wide-field low-frequency array such as LOFAR. Currently, dedicated facet-based direction-dependent calibration algorithms rely on the assumption that the size of the isoplanatic patch is much larger than the separation between bright in-field calibrators. This assumption is often violated owing to the dynamic nature of the ionosphere, and as a result, direction-dependent errors affect image quality between calibrators. In this paper we propose a probabilistic physics-informed model for inferring ionospheric phase screens, providing a calibration for all sources in the field of view. We apply our method to a randomly selected observation from the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey archive, and show that almost all direction-dependent effects between bright calibrators are corrected and that the root-mean-squared residuals around bright sources are reduced by 32% on average.
Nadroparin Plus Compression Stockings versus Nadroparin Alone for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Cerebellopontine Angle Tumour Excisions: A Cohort Study
Authors: Koopmans Raoul J. , Cannegieter Suzanne C. , Koot Radboud W. , Vleggeert-Lankamp Carmen L. A.
Published: February 2020

Background Both compression stockings and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) are used for the prevention of post-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumour excisions.

Objective In an attempt to optimise the prophylactic treatment in these patients, we compared LMWH (nadroparin) plus compression stockings to nadroparin as single therapy.

Methods Patients undergoing CPA tumour excision in the period between January 2014 and November 2015 received nadroparin as a single therapy. Patients treated since November 2015 received, in addition to this therapy, peri-operative compression stockings as VTE prophylaxis due to a change in protocol. VTE was defined as symptomatic deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and was confirmed via radiological imaging or autopsy.

Results A total of 146 consecutive patients were reviewed. Treatment groups were comparable with respect to demographics and risk factors. Six of the 60 patients (10.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.8–20.5) receiving nadroparin single therapy developed symptomatic VTE. One out of 86 patients (1.2%; 95% CI 0–6.3) treated with combination therapy developed VTE (p = 0.019) with a risk difference of 8.8% (95% CI 1.43–19.0). In comparison to combination therapy, nadroparin single therapy showed a relative risk of 8.6 (95% CI 1.1–69.6).

Conclusion Adding compression stockings to peri-operative nadroparin, as a prophylactic strategy for thromboembolic complications in patients undergoing surgical intervention for CPA tumours, was associated with a significant reduction in the occurrence of VTE.
Anisotropies of galaxy ellipticity correlations in real and redshift space: angular dependence in linear tidal alignment model
Authors: Okumura Teppei , Taruya Atsushi
Published: February 2020

Investigating intrinsic alignments (IAs) of galaxy shapes is important not only to constrain cosmological parameters unbiasedly from gravitational lensing but also to extract cosmological information complimentary to galaxy clustering analysis. We derive simple and useful formulas for the various IA statistics, including the intrinsic ellipticity–ellipticity correlation, the gravitational shear–intrinsic ellipticity correlation, and the velocity–intrinsic ellipticity correlation functions. The angular dependence of each statistic is explicitly given, namely the angle between the line-of-sight direction and the separation vector of two points. It thus allows us to analyse anisotropies of baryon acoustic oscillations encoded in the IA statistics, and we can extract the maximum cosmological information using the Alcock–Paczynski and redshift-space distortion effects. We also provide these formulas for the intrinsic ellipticities decomposed into E and B modes.
Increased Mortality With Delayed and Missed Switch to Second-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in South Africa
Authors: Bell Gorrod Helen , Court Richard , Schomaker Michael , Maartens Gary , Murphy Richard A.
Published: February 2020

Background:

After failure of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the public sector, delayed or missed second-line ART switch is linked with poor outcomes in patients with advanced HIV.

Setting:

We investigated delayed or missed second-line ART switch after confirmed virologic failure in the largest private sector HIV cohort in Africa.

Methods:

We included HIV-infected adults with confirmed virologic failure after 6 months of nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-based ART. We estimated the effect of timing of switch on the hazard of death using inverse probability of treatment weighting of marginal structural models. We adjusted for time-dependent confounding of CD4 count, viral load, and visit frequency.

Results:

Five thousand seven hundred forty-eight patients (53% female) with confirmed virologic failure met inclusion criteria; the median age was 40 [interquartile range (IQR): 35–47], advanced HIV was present in 48% and the prior duration of nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-based ART was 1083 days (IQR: 665–1770). Median time to confirmation of virologic failure and to second-line switch was 196 (IQR: 136–316) and 220 days (IQR: 65–542), respectively. Switching to second-line ART after confirmed failure compared with remaining on first-line ART reduced risk of subsequent death [adjusted hazard ratio: 0.47 (95% confidence interval: 0.36 to 0.63)]. Compared with patients who experienced delayed switch, those switched immediately had a lower risk of death, regardless of CD4 cell count.

Conclusions:

Delayed or missed switch to second-line ART after confirmed first-line ART failure is common in the South African private sector and associated with mortality. Novel interventions to minimize switch delay should be tested and not limited to those with advanced disease at treatment failure.
Quality of conflict management in construction project context
Authors: Zhu Fangwei , Wang Linzhuo , Yu Miao , Yang Xiaotian
Published: February 2020

Purpose

A growing number of studies have become focused on managing conflict more effectively and comprehensively in the construction industry. However, little research has aimed to operationalize all the facets related to the quality of conflict management that are necessary in governing conflict management. The purpose of this article is to propose a new model measuring the quality of conflict management in a construction project context that is not only inclusive but also practical.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this research gap, the authors used the measurement theory to investigate a series of studies, and then, developed a scale to operationalize the concept of quality of conflict management in a project context.

Findings

The findings show five dimensions to the quality of conflict management: satisfactory resolution outcome, integrated resolution process, conflict prevention, fairness perception, and post-conflict effect.

Originality/value

The research findings contribute to conflict management theory by providing the conceptualization and operationalization of conflict management quality. Practitioners will benefit from this article by understanding effective and efficient ways of managing conflicts in construction projects.
Habitat selection of an old‐growth forest specialist in managed forests
Authors: Ettwein A. , Korner P. , Lanz M. , Lachat T. , Kokko H. , Pasinelli G.
Published: February 2020

Old‐growth forest specialists are among the species most affected by commercial forestry. However, it is often unclear whether such species can persist and what their habitat needs are in managed forests. We investigated habitat selection of one such old‐growth forest specialist, the white‐backed woodpeckerDendrocopos leucotos, a species highly dependent on dead wood and typically found in primeval forests. Our aim was to understand factors affecting occupancy probability in managed forests in Central Europe, based on detection/non‐detection data in 62 squares of 1 km2in 2015 and 2016. We used occupancy models to comparea prioriexpectations about the relationships between occupancy and habitat characteristics at two spatial scales while accounting for imperfect detection. Occupancy was best explained by a proxy for food availability at a large (1 km2) scale and increased with the abundance of emergence holes produced by saproxylic beetles on standing and lying dead wood. Furthermore, occupancy was positively related to the mean diameter at breast height of live trees and standing dead wood at a small scale (0.25 km2with high amounts of dead wood). Detection probability was negatively related to time of day, date and number of accessible survey points, and positively related to the number of observers. Our results demonstrate that detailed knowledge about a species’ foraging ecology is important for its effective conservation as surrogate criteria such as dead wood availability might not reflect the key factors required. For white‐backed woodpeckers, it is important that the available dead wood is sufficiently colonized by saproxylic beetles, and for the conservation of the species, the habitat requirements of saproxylic beetles thus have to be taken into account as well.
Impact of epicardial adipose tissue and catheter ablation strategy on biophysical parameters and ablation lesion characteristics
Authors: Zipse Matthew M. , Edward Justin A. , Zheng Lijun , Tzou Wendy S. , Borne Ryan T. , Sauer William H. , Nguyen Duy T.
Published: February 2020

Background

Epicardial adipose (EA) tissue may limit effective radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Objectives

We sought to evaluate the lesion formation of different ablation strategies on ventricular myocardium with overlying EA.

Methods

Bovine myocardium with EA was placed in a circulating saline bath in an ex vivo model. Open‐irrigated (OI) RFA was performed, parallel to the myocardium, over fat at 50 W for variable RF durations, variable contact force, catheter configurations (unipolar RF vs bipolar RF), and catheter irrigants (normal saline vs half‐normal saline). Ablation was also performed with a needle‐tipped ablation catheter (NTAC), perpendicular to the myocardium.

Results

Increasingly thick EA attenuated lesion size regardless of ablation strategy.

RF applied with longer durations and increasing CF produced larger lesion volumes and deeper lesions with ablation over EA more than 3 mm but was unable to produce measurable lesions when EA less than 3 mm. Similarly, ablation with half normal saline irrigant created slightly deeper lesions than bipolar RF and unipolar RF with normal saline as EA thickness increased, but was unable to produce measurable lesions when EA more than 3 mm. Of all ablation strategies, only NTAC produced effective lesion volumes when ablating over thick (>3 mm) EA.

Conclusions

While EA attenuates lesion depth and size, relatively larger, and deeper lesions can be achieved with longer RFA duration, higher CF, half normal saline irrigant, and, to a greater extent, by utilizing bipolar RF or NTAC, but only over thin adipose (<3 mm). Of those catheters/strategies tested, only NTAC was able to effectively deliver RF over thick (>3 mm) EA with this model.
Effects of microalgal diet on the population growth and fecundity of the cyclopoid copepod Paracyclopina nana
Authors: Dayras Paul , Bialais Capucine , Lee Jae‐Seong , Souissi Sami
Published: February 2020

This study investigated the effects of seven microalgal diets, including single‐species diets of Rhodomonas salina (R), Tisochrysis lutea (T), and Pavlova lutheri (P), two‐species diets (R + T, T + P, and R + P), and a three‐species diet (R + T + P), on the cyclopoid copepod Paracyclopina nana growth, stage composition, and ovigerous female size and fecundity. Experiments were conducted in 10‐L beakers starting with nauplii from a 300‐L culture population. After 15 days of feeding, the R + T diet induced the greatest total population growth, particularly for copepodites and all female stages (preadult females, females, and ovigerous females). The R diet followed by R + T also generated the greatest individual size and clutch sizes in ovigerous females. Overall results show that the diets leading to the highest total population growth and clutch sizes in P. nana included R. salina. Conversely, P. lutheri was not a very effective microalga to enhance P. nana productivity in culture. Current results are the first to show that R. salina is a suitable microalga for production of P. nana for use as live food for marine fish larval aquaculture.
Management strategies to minimize the use of synthetic chemical acaricides in the control of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1888) in an area highly favourable for its development in Argentina
Authors: Nava S. , Rossner M. V. , Torrents J. , Morel N. , Martinez N. C. , Mangold A. J. , Guglielmone A. A.
Published: February 2020

The aim of this work was to test the efficacy of winter–spring control strategies against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1888) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in an area highly favourable for its development in Argentina. Control schemes using three or four annual applications of synthetic acaricides were evaluated. Furthermore, the dynamics of the non‐parasitic phases of R. microplus were analysed to provide a framework for the application of pasture spelling as a tool for tick control. The treatment schemes provided appropriate levels of efficacy against R. microplus and also prevented the occurrence of the major peak in abundance of this tick in autumn. A significant overall effect against R. microplus can be achieved when the control strategies tested in this study are applied within the area most ecologically favourable for this tick in Argentina. Analysis of the dynamics of the non‐parasitic phase of R. microplus indicates that the spelling period required to achieve a significant reduction of larvae in pastures fluctuates between 12 and 17 weeks if spelling is initiated in spring or early summer, but between 20 and 28 weeks if spelling is started in late summer, autumn or winter.
Subchondral lucencies of the proximal tibia in 17 horses
Authors: Santschi Elizabeth M. , Whitman Jeremy L. , Prichard Michael A. , Lopes Marco A. F. , Pigott John H. , Brokken Matthew T. , Jenson Paul W. , Johnson Christopher R. , Morrow Chris , Brusie Robert W. , Juzwiak James S. , Morehead James P.
Published: February 2020

Objective

To describe subchondral lucencies (SCL) in the equine proximal tibia, several treatment options, and clinical outcomes.

Study design

Retrospective study.

Animals

Seventeen horses with proximal tibial SCL.

Methods

Medical record and radiograph review. Follow‐up was obtained via examination and radiography when possible and by telephone and race records when required. The median duration of follow‐up was 20 months (range, 0–48).

Results

Proximal tibial SCL were associated with lameness in 14 of 17 horses. Subchondral lucencies were primary in 11 horses and secondary to an ipsilateral medial femoral condyle SCL in six horses. One foal with a primary SCL was euthanized because of osteomyelitis. Six horses ≤1 year old with primary SCL were managed with exercise restrictions only; SCL in three horses without lameness decreased in size, whereas three horses with lameness did not improve. One young horse treated with surgical debridement failed to improve and was euthanized. Lameness resolved in three horses with primary tibial SCL treated with screw fixation. Screw fixation of secondary SCL in five horses led to a reduction in SCL size and degree of lameness.

Conclusion

Primary tibial SCL healed with rest in 3 non‐lame young horses with small SCL, but was not successful in lame horses with larger SC. Radiographic size and associated lameness improved or resolved with screw fixation in primary and secondary proximal tibial SCL.

Clinical significance

Primary tibial SCL that did not cause lameness healed with conservative management, but persistent primary and secondary tibial SCL required screw fixation to reduce lameness.
Design and Implementation of an Escape Analysis in the Context of Safety-Critical Embedded Systems
Authors: Lang Clemens , Stilkerich Isabella
Published: February 2020

The use of a managed, type-safe language such as Standard ML, Ada Ravenscar, or Java in hard real-time and embedded systems offers productivity, safety, and dependability benefits at a reasonable cost. Static software systems, that is systems in which all relevant resource entities such as threads and their priorities, for instance, and the entire source code are known ahead of time, are particularly interesting for the deployment in safety-critical embedded systems: Code verification is rather maintainable in contrast to dynamic systems. Additionally, static analyses can incorporate information from all software and system layers to assist compilers in emitting code that is well suited to an application on a particular hardware device. It was shown in the past that a program composed in type-safe Java in combination with a static system setup can be as efficient as one that is written in C [30], which is still the most widely used language in the embedded domain. Escape analysis (EA) is one of several static-analysis techniques. It supports, for instance, runtime efficiency by enabling automated stack allocation of objects. In addition, Stilkerich et al. [27, 28] have argued that EA enables further applications in safety-critical embedded systems such as the computation of memory classes stated in the
Real-Time Specification for Java
(RTSJ) [6]. EA can be applied to any programming language but the quality of its results greatly benefits from the properties of a type-safe language. Notably, embedded multicore devices can positively be affected by the use of EA. Thus, we explore an ahead-of-time (AOT) escape analysis in the context of the KESO JVM featuring a Java AOT compiler targeting (deeply) embedded (hard) real-time systems.
Interventions for Couples
Authors: Bradbury Thomas N. , Bodenmann Guy
Published: February 2020

Because relationship discord and dissolution are common and costly, interventions are needed to treat distressed couples and to prevent distress among vulnerable couples. We review meta-analytic evidence showing that 60–80% of distressed couples benefit from behavioral and emotion-focused approaches to couple therapy, but we also note that treatment effects are weaker in actual clinical practice than in controlled studies, dissipate following treatment for about half of all couples, and may be explained by factors that are common across models. Meta-analyses of prevention programs reveal reliable but smaller effects, reflecting a need to know more about whether and how communication mediates effects, about how risk and diversity moderate effects, and about how technology-enabled interventions can reduce attrition in vulnerable populations. Interventions for couples are improving and expanding, but critical questions remain about how and for whom they work.
Thermomechanical Fatigue Behavior of Spray-Deposited SiCp/Al-Si Composite Applied in the High-Speed Railway Brake Disc
Authors: Li Wei , Chen Huitao , Zuo Lu , Chen Jian , Xu Dongliang , He Jianjun , Li Cong , Peng Zhuoyin , Ren Yanjie , Zhang Sheng-de
Published: February 2020

The thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) behaviors of spray-deposited SiCp-reinforced Al-Si alloy were investigated in terms of the size of Si particles and the Si content. Thermomechanical fatigue experiments were conducted in the temperature range of 150-400°C. The cyclic response behavior indicated that the continuous cyclic softening was exhibited for all materials, and the increase in SiC particles size and Si content aggravated the softening degree, which was attributed to dislocation generation due to differential thermal contraction at the Al matrix/Si phase interface or Al matrix/SiC particle interface. Meanwhile, the TMF life and stress amplitude of SiCp/Al-7Si composites were greater than those of Al-7Si alloy, and increased with the increasing SiC particle size, which was associated with “load sharing” of the direct strengthening mechanism. The stress amplitude of 4.5μmSiCp/Al-Si composite increased as the Si content increased; however, the influence of Si content on the TMF life was not so significant. The TMF failure mechanism revealed that the crack mainly initiated at the agglomeration of small-particulate SiC and the breakage of large-particulate SiC, and the broken primary Si and the exfoliated eutectic Si accelerated the crack propagation.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Face Validity of the Functional Mobility Assessment into Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: Paulisso Debora C. , Cruz Daniel M. C. , Allegretti Ana Luiza C. , Schein Richard M. , Costa Jacqueline D. , Campos Lays C. B. , Schmeler Mark R.
Published: February 2020

Introduction. The Functional Mobility Assessment (FMA) measures satisfaction with mobility devices in daily life. However, in Brazil, there is a lack of instruments which measure functional mobility. Objective. We aim to report the cross-cultural adaptation process and face validity of the FMA for use in Brazil. Methods. Two international guidelines were used in the cross-cultural adaptation process. Two independent translators translated the instrument from English to Brazilian Portuguese, and the two versions were reconciled. Two different translators back translated this reconciled version, and an expert committee analysed the resulting synthesis. For face validity, the FMA was applied with 24 participants, divided into two groups, users with disabilities (n=12) and occupational therapy students (n=12), to verify their understanding of each item of the instrument. Results. The cross-cultural adaptation of the FMA was concluded, and its face validity presented that both groups understood most or completely all instrument items. Conclusion. The Brazilian version of FMA is now available in Brazilian Portuguese and has face validation. Further studies should test its psychometric properties.
Prognostic value of kallikrein-related peptidase 12 (KLK12) mRNA expression in triple-negative breast cancer patients
Authors: Gong Weiwei , Liu Yueyang , Preis Sarah , Geng Xiaocong , Petit-Courty Agnes , Kiechle Marion , Muckenhuber Alexander , Dreyer Tobias , Dorn Julia , Courty Yves , Magdolen Viktor
Published: February 2020

Background

The serine protease KLK12 belongs to the human fifteen-member family of kallikrein-related peptidases. Differential expression accompanied by either increased or decreased enzymatic activity has been linked to several diseases including cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a very aggressive subgroup of breast cancer with high tumor recurrence rates and poor patient prognosis. Here, we quantified the KLK12 mRNA expression levels in tumor tissue of TNBC patients and analyzed their prognostic value.

Methods

In the present study, KLK12 mRNA expression in tumor tissue of TNBC patients (n = 116) was determined by quantitative real-time PCR assay. The association of KLK12 mRNA levels with clinical parameters, and patients’ outcome was analyzed using Chi-square tests, Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Results

Positive, but low KLK12 mRNA levels were detected in about half of the cases (54 out of 116; 47%), the other samples were negative for KLK12 mRNA expression. No significant association was observed between KLK12 mRNA levels and clinicopathological variables (age, lymph node status, tumor size, and histological grade). In univariate Cox analyses, positive KLK12 mRNA expression was significantly associated with shortened disease-free survival (DFS; hazard ratio [HR] = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.19–3.78, p = 0.010) as well as overall survival (OS; HR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.04–3.50, p = 0.037). In multivariable Cox analysis, including all clinical parameters plus KLK12 mRNA, the latter - together with age - remained an independent unfavorable predictive marker for DFS (HR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.28–4.24, p = 0.006) and showed a trend towards significance in case of OS (HR = 1.80, 95% CI = 0.96–3.38, p = 0.066).

Conclusions

Positive KLK12 expression is remarkably associated with shortened DFS and OS, suggesting that KLK12 plays a tumor-supporting role in TNBC.
Recognition of Spatial Distribution of CNT and Graphene in Hybrid Structure by Mapping with Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Microscopy
Authors: Paddubskaya Alesia , Rutkauskas Danielis , Karpicz Renata , Dovbeshko Galina , Nebogatikova Nadezhda , Antonova Irina , Dementjev Andrej
Published: February 2020

The shape of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectral line depends on the ratio of the vibrational and electronic contributions to the third-order susceptibility of the material. The G-mode (1590 cm−1) of graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibits opposite features in the CARS spectrum, showing “dip” and “peak,” respectively. Here, we consider the CARS spectra of graphene and carbon nanotubes in terms of Fano formalism describing the line shapes of CARS resonances. We show that imaging at only 1590 cm−1 is not sufficient to separate the constituents of a composite material consisting of both graphene and CNTs. We propose an algorithm to map the graphene and CNTs in a composite material.
Computed tomography evaluation of extensive intravenous angioleiomyoma: a case report
Authors: Sun Rui , Guan Hongwei , Li Hui , Bai Yixuan , Wang Fei , Li Changzhong
Published: February 2020

Background

Uterine angioleiomyoma is a rare variant of leiomyoma, and the main therapy is complete surgery. This study introduces the benefit of three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction for preoperative preparation.

Case presentation

A 50-year-old woman presented because of chest distress after activity, with worsening symptoms. After examination, the final diagnosis was uterine angioleiomyoma. The tumour originated in the uterus; grew into the right iliac vein; coursed along the iliac vein, inferior vena cava, and right atrium; and finally invaded the right ventricle. To best complete the surgery, a multidisciplinary surgery was selected. Before the surgery, a three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction model was created to assess the tumour status, and this model enabled the surgery to be completed successfully.

Conclusion

Three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction is of great significance for the preoperative diagnosis of uterine angioleiomyoma and the formulation of surgical treatment plans. Based on its vivid images, surgeons can perform operations more effectively and safely.