bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges facing indicators to become a universal language for sustainable urban development
Authors: Ruan Fang‐Li , Yan Liang
Published: July 2021

Urban development plays a role in global progress, but its sustainability is still a pressing issue. Indicators are a kind of powerful tool for addressing issues about urban sustainability and have gained increasing attention. However, making them become a universal “language” to solve this global issue is still challenging and controversial. This paper firstly summarizes 1442 indicators in the previous 47 urban sustainability studies. Then, based on the discussion of deficiencies in framing, conceptualizing, labeling, and digitalizing urban sustainability, we propose challenges facing indicators to become a universal language for sustainable urban development. Accordingly, this paper calls for an indicator dictionary, established by a particular global organization, constructed standardized and applied localized.
Nanoparticle Assembly in High Polymer Concentration Solutions Increases Superlattice Stability
Authors: Lee Margaret S. , Alexander‐Katz Alfredo , Macfarlane Robert J.
Published: July 2021

Polymer nanocomposites are made by combining a nanoscale filler with a polymer matrix, where polymer‐particle interactions can enhance matrix properties and introduce behaviors distinct from either component. Manipulating particle organization within a composite potentially allows for better control over polymer‐particle interactions, and the formation of ordered arrays can introduce new, emergent properties not observed in random composites. However, self‐assembly of ordered particle arrays typically requires weak interparticle interactions to prevent kinetic traps, making these assemblies incompatible with most conventional processing techniques. As a result, more fundamental investigations are needed into methods to provide additional stability to these lattices without disrupting their internal organization. The authors show that the addition of free polymer chains to the assembly solution is a simple means to increase the stability of nanoparticle superlattices against thermal dissociation. By adding high concentrations (>50 mg mL−1) of free polymer to nanoparticle superlattices, it is possible to significantly elevate their thermal stability without adversely affecting ordering. Moreover, polymer topology, molecular weight, and concentration can also be used as independent design handles to tune this behavior. Collectively, this work allows for a wider range of processing conditions for generating future nanocomposites with complete control over particle organization within the material.
Cryogenic Electron Microscopy for Resolving DNA Nanostructures and Their Complexes
Authors: Pan Muchen , Shi Jiye , Wang Lihua , Fan Chunhai , Liu Xiaoguo
Published: July 2021

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo‐EM) reconstructs 3D morphologies of nanoparticles from tens of thousands of their 2D projection images, revealing the in situ morphologies. Cryo‐EM is a widely used technique for precise structure determination in the field of biology, material science, and chemistry. In the past decades, cryo‐EM has drawn growing attention in DNA nanotechnology, which uses DNA strands as self‐assembly building blocks to construct various uniform DNA nanostructures ranging from several to hundreds of nanometers. DNA nanotechnology allows one to create complex yet programmable architecture. At early stage, only gel electrophoresis is used to evaluate the successful folding of DNA nanostructures, judging from their diverse migration rates. Thereafter, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) become two of the most widely adopted techniques; however, they only provide sample surface or projection information. To better understand and guide the design of DNA nanostructures, the demand for characterization of sufficient structural information increases rapidly, which cryo‐EM can satisfy. Herein, typical 3D DNA‐assembly structures are collected, and the workflow of the cryo‐EM technique on these structures is illustrated, and how cryo‐EM improves structural characterization and guides the design optimization of DNA nanostructures is summarized.
Impact of aggregate content and tube thickness on semi‐lightweight aggregate concrete filled steel tube subjected to uniaxial compression
Authors: Du Bin , Zhao Lin‐Ru , Xiang Tian‐Yu , Zhao Fu‐Chao
Published: July 2021

Artificial lightweight aggregates (LWA) generally can be more deformable in lateral expansion than that of natural crushed stone. Therefore, concrete made of LWA can exhibit a higher Poisson effect, and this characteristic could be advantageously used in the confined elements. In the present study, experimental research on behaviors of semi‐lightweight aggregate concrete filled steel tube (LWACFT) under axial compression is performed, in which the key parameters such as the volume content of LWA and the thickness of steel tube are involved. The results showed that the bearing capacity of LWACFT columns is influenced by the compressive strength and Poisson effect of LWAC in dual‐facets. With a rational LWA volume fraction, the bearing capacity of LWACFT columns is not less than that of traditional CFT. Furthermore, the experimental results of bearing capacity are compared with the results by current design codes. With the volume content of LWA and the steel thickness as the variable, the modified and simplified models have been proposed to predict the axial load versus strain curves and the bearing capacity of LWACFT columns. The research results have demonstrated that the predicted results by the model proposed in this study agree well with the experimental ones.
Effect of routine first‐trimester combined screening for pre‐eclampsia on small‐for‐gestational‐age birth: secondary interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Guy G. P. , Leslie K. , Diaz Gomez D. , Forenc K. , Buck E. , Bhide A. , Thilaganathan B.
Published: July 2021

Objective

To evaluate the impact of a first‐trimester combined screening program for pre‐eclampsia, based on the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) algorithm, on the rate of small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) at birth and adverse pregnancy outcome.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of data obtained from a London tertiary hospital between January 2017 and March 2019. The data were derived from a secondary analysis of the cohort evaluated in a clinical‐effectiveness study on the implementation of a first‐trimester screening program for pre‐eclampsia. The cohort included 7720 women screened according to the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) risk‐based approach and 4841 women screened by the FMF multimodal approach, which combines maternal risk factors, blood pressure, pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A and uterine artery Doppler indices. The care package for the FMF‐screened group included 150‐mg aspirin prophylaxis, ultrasound scans at 28 and 36 weeks' gestation and scheduled delivery at 40 weeks. Outcome measures included the rates of SGA neonates at birth, admission to the neonatal unit, intrauterine demise, neonatal death and hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy assessed by interrupted time series analysis (ITSA).

Results

There was no significant difference in the rates of intrauterine demise, neonatal death and hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy between the FMF‐screened and NICE‐screened cohorts. ITSA showed a significant reduction in the rate of term SGA birth < 10th percentile at 21 months following implementation of the FMF screening program, with a relative effect reduction of 45.1% (P = 0.004). However, there was no significant relative effect reduction in term SGA birth < 5th or < 3rd percentile.

Conclusions

First‐trimester combined screening for pre‐eclampsia based on the FMF algorithm accompanied by a care package including serial ultrasound scans for growth evaluation and elective birth from 40 weeks' gestation resulted in a significant 45% relative effect reduction in term SGA birth < 10th percentile but did not affect term SGA birth < 5th or < 3rd percentile. Further screening strategies to detect and improve the outcome of cases with SGA birth < 5th percentile need to be considered. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis of ovaries from high and low egg‐laying Lingyun black‐bone chickens
Authors: Zhang Qianyun , Wang Pengfei , Cong Guanglei , Liu Meihua , Shi Shourong , Shao Dan , Tan Benjie
Published: July 2021

Egg‐laying rate is mainly determined by ovarian function and regulated by the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis; however, the mechanism by which the ovary regulates the egg‐laying rate is still poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in the transcriptomes of the ovary of Lingyun black‐bone chickens with relatively high and low egg‐laying rates and screen candidate genes related to the egg‐laying rate. RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐Seq) was conducted to explore the chicken transcriptome from the ovarian tissue of six Lingyun black‐bone chickens with high (group G, n = 3) and low (group D, n = 3) egg‐laying rates. The results showed that 235 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the chickens with high and low egg‐laying rates; among them, 209 DEGs were up‐regulated and 26 DEGs were down‐regulated. Gene Ontology analysis showed that the up‐regulated 209 DEGs were enriched in 50 GO terms and the down‐regulated 26 DEGs were enriched in 40 GO terms. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that up‐regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in 25 pathways and down‐regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in three pathways. Among the pathways, we found the longevity regulating pathway‐multiple species pathway, Estrogen signalling pathway and PPAR signalling pathway may have an essential function in regulating the egg‐laying rate. The results highlighted DEGs in the ovarian tissues of relatively high and low laying Lingyun black‐bone chicken and identified essential candidate genes related to the egg‐laying rate, thereby providing a theoretical basis for improving the egg‐laying rate of Lingyun black‐bone chicken.
Application of fracture mechanics for the characterization of poly(vinyl chloride) pipes. II. Evaluation of a ring‐type specimen for fracture mechanics testing
Authors: Rodolfo Antonio , John Vanderley M.
Published: July 2021

An unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (U‐PVC) pipe sample used in infrastructure applications in Brazil (nominal diameter DN 100, outside diameter 110 mm) was evaluated according to different fracture mechanics methodologies, including essential work of fracture (EWF) and other fracture toughness parameters such as the stress intensity factor and plane strain energy release rate . This pipe sample was also tested for the quality of processing (degree of gelation) via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tensile strength. The comparative evaluation of different specimen configurations—curved specimens in three‐point bending (CTPB) and full rings in tension (SNRT), in thicknesses varying from 5 to 30 mm, showed initial evidence of the suitability of ring‐type specimens for the evaluation of EWF and . Results also indicate that the full ring geometry, at least in the present experimental setup, presents some drawbacks probably due to the storage of large amounts of elastic energy throughout the test. This fact leads to relevant deviations in both load–displacement behavior and results for strain energy release rate (), and the results found here will guide future research using full and split rings in different loading modes and improved experimental setups. It was also confirmed that the value of , determined by a modified Charpy test, is independent of the type of specimen tested, as long as the test mode and specimen width are the same. Both the experimental value of and the estimated value for the plane strain stress intensity factor () showed excellent agreement with values reported for other U‐PVC compositions.
Gastrointestinal tract perforation during endoscopy in three cats: A retrospective case series
Authors: Ferreira Aida , Calleja Shaun , Anderson Davina , Murtagh Kevin , Watson Natalie
Published: July 2021

This case series describes a possible link between perforation during gastrointestinal tract (GIT) endoscopy in cats and a specific underlying condition. GIT endoscopy is commonly performed in cats, with a total of 254 endoscopies performed at a UK referral centre from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019. During this period, three cases were reported to have GIT perforation in conjunction with the procedure. All three cases described were diagnosed with alimentary lymphoma of varying location and histological grade. One case suffered colonic perforation and was euthanased, while the other two underwent exploratory coeliotomy. Both surgeries were successful. Of the cats that underwent surgery, one was diagnosed with lymphoplasmocytic inflammation at the perforation site and low‐grade/small cell lymphoma distally, and subsequently treated with prednisolone and chlorambucil, while the other was diagnosed with intermediate‐grade lymphoma at the perforation site, and the owners elected for euthanasia upon diagnosis.
Getting Started
Authors: Marois Guillaume , KC Samir
Published: July 2021

This chapter sets the stage before building the microsimulation model. First, we describe proprieties of the microsimulation model that will be built. The model is time-based, discrete-time and stochastic. We then describe properties of a multistate model that will be converted into a microsimulation model and we show how building a synthetic base population that consists of the individuals that will be projected. We finally explain how to set up the workspace in SAS.
On the conformal symmetry of exceptional scalar theories
Authors: Farnsworth Kara , Hinterbichler Kurt , Hulík Ondřej
Published: July 2021

Abstract

The DBI and special galileon theories exhibit a conformal symmetry at unphysical values of the spacetime dimension. We find the Lagrangian form of this symmetry. The special conformal transformations are non-linearly realized on the fields, even though conformal symmetry is unbroken. Commuting the conformal transformations with the extended shift symmetries, we find new symmetries, which when taken together with the conformal and shift symmetries close into a larger algebra. For DBI this larger algebra is the conformal algebra of the higher dimensional bulk in the brane embedding view of DBI. For the special galileon it is a real form of the special linear algebra. We also find the Weyl transformations corresponding to the conformal symmetries, as well as the necessary improvement terms to make the theories Weyl invariant, to second order in the coupling in the DBI case and to lowest order in the coupling in the special galileon case.
The universality of Hughes-free division rings
Authors: Jaikin-Zapirain Andrei
Published: July 2021

Let$$E*G$$E∗Gbe a crossed product of a division ringEand a locally indicable groupG. Hughes showed that up to$$E*G$$E∗G-isomorphism, there exists at most one Hughes-free division$$E*G$$E∗G-ring. However, the existence of a Hughes-free division$$E*G$$E∗G-ring$${\mathcal {D}}_{E*G}$$DE∗Gfor an arbitrary locally indicable groupGis still an open question. Nevertheless,$${\mathcal {D}}_{E*G}$$DE∗Gexists, for example, ifGis amenable orGis bi-orderable. In this paper we study, whether$${\mathcal {D}}_{E*G}$$DE∗Gis the universal division ring of fractions in some of these cases. In particular, we show that ifGis a residually-(locally indicable and amenable) group, then there exists$${\mathcal {D}}_{E[G]}$$DE[G]and it is universal. In Appendix we give a description of$${\mathcal {D}}_{E[G]}$$DE[G]whenGis a RFRS group.
A comparison between Asians and Caucasians in the dimensions of the femoral isthmus based on a 3D-CT analysis of 1189 adult femurs
Authors: Thiesen Darius M. , Ntalos Dimitris , Korthaus Alexander , Petersik Andreas , Frosch Karl-Heinz , Hartel Maximilian J.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

For successful intramedullary implant placement at the femur, such as nailing in unstable proximal femur fractures, the use of an implant that at least reaches or exceeds the femoral isthmus and yields sufficient thickness is recommended. A number of complications after intramedullary femoral nailing have been reported, particularly in Asians. To understand the anatomical features of the proximal femur and their ethnic differences, we aimed to accurately calculate the femoral isthmus dimensions and proximal distance of Asians and Caucasians.

Methods

In total, 1189 Asian and Caucasian segmented 3D CT data sets of femurs were analyzed. The individual femoral isthmus diameter was precisely computed to investigate whether gender, femur length, age, ethnicity or body mass index have an influence on isthmus diameters.

Results

The mean isthmus diameter of all femurs was 10.71 ± 2.2 mm. A significantly larger diameter was found in Asians when compared to Caucasians (p < 0.001). Age was a strong predictor of the isthmus diameter variability in females (p < 0.001, adjusted r2 = 0.299). With every year of life, the isthmus showed a widening of 0.08 mm in women. A Matched Pair Analysis of 150 female femurs showed a significant difference between isthmus diameter in Asian and Caucasian femurs (p = 0.05). In 50% of the cases the isthmus was found in a range of 2.4 cm between 16.9 and 19.3 cm distal to the tip of the greater trochanter. The female Asian femur differs from Caucasians as it is wider at the isthmus.

Conclusions

In absolute values, the proximal isthmus distance did not show much variation but is more proximal in Asians. The detailed data presented may be helpful in the development of future implant designs. The length and thickness of future standard implants may be considered based on the findings.
Receiving threatening or obscene messages from a partner and mental health, self-harm and suicidality: results from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey
Authors: McManus Sally , Bebbington Paul E. , Tanczer Leonie , Scott Sara , Howard Louise M.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Threatening or obscene messaging is repeated, unwanted texts, emails, letters or cards experienced by the recipient as threatening or obscene, and causing fear, alarm or distress. It is rarely examined as an aspect of intimate partner violence. We describe the prevalence of exposure to threatening/obscene messaging from a current or ex-partner; characteristics of victims; and associations with other forms of violence and abuse, mental disorder, self-harm, and suicidality.

Methods

Cross-sectional probability-sample survey of the general population in England aged 16 + . Multivariable regression modelling tested associations between receipt of threatening/obscene messaging and current common mental disorder, past-year self-harm and suicidality.

Results

Threatening/obscene messages were received from a current/ex-partner by 6.6% (95%CI: 5.9–7.3) of adults who had been in a relationship; 1.7% received these in the past year. Victims were more likely to be female, under 35, single or divorced, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and to have experienced other forms of sexual and partner violence and abuse. Those who received threatening/obscene messages in the past year were more likely to experience common mental disorder (adjusted odds ratio 1.89; 1.01–3.55), self-harm (2.31; 1.00–5.33), and suicidal thoughts (2.00; 1.06–3.78).

Conclusion

Threatening/obscene messaging commonly occurs in the context of intimate partner violence. While often occurring alongside sexual and physical violence, messaging has an additional association with mental disorder and suicidality. Routine enquiry in service settings concerning safety, including those working with people who have escaped domestic violence, should ask about ongoing contact from previous as well as current partners. This should include asking about messaging, as well as other forms of potentially technology-enabled abuse which may become increasingly common.
The effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the demand for health care and on mortality: evidence from COVID-19 in Scandinavia
Authors: Juranek Steffen , Zoutman Floris T.
Published: July 2021

We study the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against COVID-19 on the allocation of scarce resources in the hospital sector in Scandinavia. Denmark and Norway imposed strict NPIs, but Sweden followed an extraordinarily lenient approach. We use an event study to compare COVID-19 hospitalizations, intensive-care (ICU) patients, and deaths in Sweden with Denmark and Norway. The outcome variables initially follow a common trend, but diverge 2–3 weeks after lockdown. Both the timing of the effect and the similarity in the trend between Denmark and Norway are highly consistent with a causal effect of the lockdown. We use our event study to build a counterfactual model that predicts the outcome variables for Denmark and Norway if they had followed Sweden’s approach. In the absence of strict NPIs, the peak number of hospitalizations would have been 2.5 (3.5) times as large in Denmark (Norway). Overall, Denmark (Norway) would have had 334 (671) percent more hospital-patient days, 277 (379) percent more ICU-patient days, and 402 (1015) percent more deaths. The benefit of lockdown in terms of healthcare and mortality costs amounts to between 1 and 4 (0.9 and 3.5) percent of GDP in Denmark (Norway).
Agile methodologies applied to Integrated Concurrent Engineering for spacecraft design
Authors: Álvarez J. M. , Roibás-Millán E.
Published: July 2021

In recent years, space projects have evolved to faster and more variable projects. To adjust the design processes in accordance, new work methodologies arise, as the Concurrent Engineering (CE). This working discipline is characterized by collaborative design and the flux of information being improved by working in a dedicated environment. CE has been recently adopted by space industry for the preliminary design phase of spacecrafts and other space systems. However, this methodology does not envisage tasks prioritization, which is a fundamental aspect to achieve an optimal design solution with an efficient allocation of resources. In this work a variation of CE discipline by applyingAgilemethodologies (in which the aspect of task prioritization is essential), is proposed.Agilemethodologies allow the proper distribution of the design effort depending on the project priorities, the state of the design and the requirements, in a continuous process to improve the design solution. The general aspects of the proposed method are presented and applied to the design of a space mission, the results being analysed and compared with to the classical CE process in order to outline its differences and similarities with CE andAgilemethodologies and show its potential for a new environment for space project design.
Approximation Theorems for the Schrödinger Equation and Quantum Vortex Reconnection
Authors: Enciso Alberto , Peralta-Salas Daniel
Published: July 2021

We prove the existence of smooth solutions to the Gross–Pitaevskii equation on $$\mathbb {R}^3$$

R

3

that feature arbitrarily complex quantum vortex reconnections. We can track the evolution of the vortices during the whole process. This permits to describe the reconnection events in detail and verify that this scenario exhibits the properties observed in experiments and numerics, such as the $$t^{1/2}$$

t

1
/
2

and change of parity laws. We are mostly interested in solutions tending to 1 at infinity, which have finite Ginzburg–Landau energy and physically correspond to the presence of a background chemical potential, but we also consider the cases of Schwartz initial data and of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation on the torus. In the proof, the Gross–Pitaevskii equation operates in a nearly linear regime, so the result applies to a wide range of nonlinear Schrödinger equations. Indeed, an essential ingredient in the proofs is the development of novel global approximation theorems for the Schrödinger equation on $$\mathbb {R}^n$$

R

n

. Specifically, we prove a qualitative approximation result that applies for solutions defined on very general spacetime sets and also a quantitative result for solutions on product sets in spacetime $$D\times \mathbb {R}$$

D
×
R

. This hinges on frequency-dependent estimates for the Helmholtz–Yukawa equation that are of independent interest.
Liver Transplantation for Non‐Resectable Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Varley Rebecca , Tarazi Munir , Davé Madhav , Mobarak Shahd , Stott Martyn C. , Baltatzis Minas , Satyadas Thomas
Published: July 2021

Backgrounds

Colorectal liver metastases were historically considered a contraindication to liver transplantation, but dismal outcomes for those with metastatic colorectal cancer and advancements in liver transplantation (LT) have led to a renewed interest in the topic. We aim to compare the current evidence for liver transplantation for non‐resectable colorectal liver metastases (NRCLM) with the current standard treatment of palliative chemotherapy.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of proportions was conducted following screening of MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS and CENTRAL for studies reporting liver transplantation for colorectal liver metastases. Post‐operative outcomes measured included one‐, three‐ and five‐year survival, overall survival, disease‐free survival and complication rate.

Results

Three non‐randomised studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting a total of 48 patients receiving LT for NRCLM. Survival at one‐, three‐ and five‐years was 83.3–100%, 58.3–80% and 50–80%, respectively, with no significant difference detected (p = 0.22, p = 0.48, p = 0.26). Disease‐free survival was 35–56% with the most common site of recurrence being lung. Thirteen out of fourteen deaths were due to disease recurrence.

Conclusion

Although current evidence suggests a survival benefit conferred by LT in NRCLM compared to palliative chemotherapy, the ethical implications of organ availability and allocation demand rigorous justification. Concomitant improvements in the management of patients following liver resection and of palliative chemotherapy regimens is paramount.
The effects of long-term moderate exercise and Western-type diet on oxidative/nitrosative stress, serum lipids and cytokines in female Sprague Dawley rats
Authors: Semeraro Maria Donatella , Almer Gunter , Kaiser Melanie , Zelzer Sieglinde , Meinitzer Andreas , Scharnagl Hubert , Sedej Simon , Gruber Hans-Jürgen , Herrmann Markus
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Regular exercise reduces obesity and the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, health-promoting benefits of physical activity are commonly associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Here, we tested whether constant moderate exercise is able to prevent or attenuate the oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and serum lipids in lean and obese rats.

Methods

Four-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats received standard or a high-fat diet. Animals were subjected to a physical activity protocol, consisting of 30 min forced treadmill exercise for 5 consecutive days per week during 10 months. Baseline and sedentary (non-exercised) rats were used as controls. Lipids, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, nitric oxide metabolites, and pro- and anti-inflammatory markers were measured in blood collected upon euthanasia.

Results

At variance to young baseline control rats, 14-month-old animals fed normal diet had increased plasma lipid levels, including total cholesterol and triglycerides, which were further elevated in rats that consumed a high-fat diet. While treadmill exercise did not lower the amount of serum lipids in standard diet group, forced physical activity reduced non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in response to high-fat diet feeding. Exercised rats fed standard diet or high-fat diet had lower abundancy of nitric oxide metabolites, which coincided with increased levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Accordingly, the amount of nitric oxide metabolites correlated inversely with oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and homo-arginine. Exercise significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines in high-fat diet fed rats only.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that regular exercise alters the equilibrium between oxidative and anti-oxidative compounds and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Accelerating Mountain Forest Dynamics in the Alps
Authors: Thom Dominik , Seidl Rupert
Published: July 2021

Climate change alters forest development pathways, with consequences for ecosystem services and biodiversity. As the rate of warming increases, ecosystem change is expected to accelerate. However, ecosystem dynamics can have many causes unrelated to climate (for example, disturbance and stand development legacies). The compound effects of multiple drivers remain largely unclear. Here, we assessed forest dynamics over 28 years at Berchtesgaden National Park (BGNP), Germany, quantifying the spatiotemporal patterns and unraveling the drivers of forest change. We analyzed high-density forest inventory data, consisting of three consecutive censuses of 3759 permanent sample plots (132,866 tree records in total). We used semi-variograms to analyze spatial patterns of change, and boosted regression trees to quantify the effect of 30 covariates on changes in nine indicators of forest structure and composition. Over the 28 years investigated, the forests of BGNP were becoming denser, structurally more complex, and more species rich. Changes in forest structure were more pronounced and spatially correlated on the landscape than changes in tree species composition. Change rates of all indicators increased over time, signifying an acceleration of forest dynamics since the 1980s. Legacies and climate were the most important drivers of change, but had diverging impacts. Although forest change accelerated with increasing temperature, high legacy levels typical for late development stages dampened it. We here provide evidence for accelerating forest dynamics in mountain forests of the Alps, with potentially far-reaching consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem processes. We highlight that unmanaged forest development toward old-growth conditions could counteract climate-mediated acceleration of forest change.
Traditional forest-related knowledge and agrobiodiversity preservation: the case of the chagras in the Indigenous Reserve of Monochoa (Colombia)
Authors: Hernandez Marentes Maria Alejandra , Venturi Martina , Scaramuzzi Silvia , Focacci Marco , Santoro Antonio
Published: July 2021

Chagras are complex agroforestry systems developed by indigenous populations of the Amazon region based on shifting agriculture, as part of a system that includes harvesting of wild fruits and plants, hunting and fishing. During the centuries, thanks to their traditional knowledge, indigenous populations have developed a deep relationship with the surrounding environment, as, living in remote places, they must be self-sufficient. The result is the chagra, a system whose cycle is based on seven basic steps to establish a successful and sustainable system, starting from place selection and ending with the abandonment of the plot after harvesting of the products. After the abandonment, the forest starts to grow again to allow the agroecosystem to recover and to take advantage of the residual vegetal material to avoid erosion. The paper takes into consideration the Indigenous Reserve of Monochoa in Colombia as an example of how traditional knowledge can support a rich biodiversity conservation. Moreover, differently from other parts of the world where there is a growing contrast between indigenous communities and protected areas, in the Indigenous Reserve of Monochoa local communities have been recognized as the owners of the land. Results highlighted the crucial role of the indigenous communities for biodiversity conservation. The preservation and adaptation of traditional knowledge and practices, a decentralized autonomous governance system demonstrates that local communities not only can be part of ecosystems with unique biodiversity, but that they can represent the main actors for an active conservation of biodiversity. Agroforestry systems based on traditional forest-related knowledge can therefore be an effective alternative to biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation based on strict nature protection where humans are perceived as a negative factor.
Labelling the past: data set creation and multi-label classification of Dutch archaeological excavation reports
Authors: Brandsen Alex , Koole Martin
Published: July 2021

The extraction of information from Dutch archaeological grey literature has recently been investigated by the AGNES project. AGNES aims to disclose relevant information by means of a web search engine, to enable researchers to search through excavation reports. In this paper, we focus on the multi-labelling of archaeological excavation reports with time periods and site types, and provide a manually labelled reference set to this end. We propose a series of approaches, pre-processing methods, and various modifications of the training set to address the often low quality of both texts and labels. We find that despite those issues, our proposed methods lead to promising results.
Temperature Variability and the Macroeconomy: A World Tour
Authors: Donadelli Michael , Jüppner Marcus , Vergalli Sergio
Published: July 2021

This paper uses historical monthly temperature level data for a panel of 114 countries to identify the effects of within year temperature level variability on productivity growth in five different macro regions, i.e., (1) Africa, (2) Asia, (3) Europe, (4) North America and (5) South America. We find two primary results. First, higher intra-annual temperature variability reduces (increases) productivity in Europe and North America (Asia). Second, higher intra-annual temperature variability has no significant effects on productivity in Africa and South America. Additional empirical tests indicate also the following: (1) rising intra-annual temperature variability reduces productivity (even thought less significantly)in both tropical and non-tropical regions, (2) inter-annual temperature variability reduces (increases) productivity in North America (Europe) and (3) winter and summer inter-annual temperature variability generates a drop in productivity in both Europe and North America. Taken together, these findings indicate that temperature variability shocks tend to have stronger adverse economic effects among richer economies. In a production economy featuring long-run productivity and temperature volatility shocks, we quantify these negative impacts and find welfare losses of 2.9% (1%) in Europe (North America).
Adaptation assessment of drought tolerance in maize populations from the Sahara in both shores of the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Maafi Oula , Revilla Pedro , Álvarez-Iglesias Lorena , Malvar Rosa Ana , Djemel Abderahmane
Published: July 2021

Drought is the main stress for agriculture, and maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm from the Sahara has been identified as potential source of drought tolerance; however, information about adaptation of semitropical maize germplasm from the Sahara to temperate areas has not been reported. Our objective was assessing the adaptation of maize germplasm from Saharan oases as sources of drought tolerance for improving yield and biomass production under drought conditions in temperate environments. A collection of maize populations from Saharan oases was evaluated under drought and control conditions in Spain and Algeria. Algerian populations were significantly different under drought for most traits, and the significant genotype × environment interactions indicated that drought tolerance is genotype-dependent, but tolerance differences among genotypes change across environments. Based on yield, the Algerian maize populations PI527474, PI527478, PI527472, PI527467, PI527470, and PI527473 would be appropriate sources of drought tolerance for temperate environments. Concerning biomass production, the most interesting populations were PI527467, PI542685, PI527478, and PI527472. These Saharan populations could provide favorable alleles for drought tolerance for temperate breeding programs, and could also be used for studying mechanisms and genetic regulation of drought tolerance.
Anthropomorphized artificial intelligence, attachment, and consumer behavior
Authors: Hermann Erik
Published: July 2021

The increasing humanization and emotional intelligence of AI applications have the potential to induce consumers’ attachment to AI and to transform human-to-AI interactions into human-to-human-like interactions. In turn, consumer behavior as well as consumers’ individual and social lives can be affected in various ways. Following this reasoning, I illustrate the implications and research opportunities related to consumers’ (potential) attachment to humanized AI applications along the stages of the consumption process.
Complexities underlying the breeding and deployment of Dutch elm disease resistant elms
Authors: Martín Juan A. , Domínguez Jorge , Solla Alejandro , Brasier Clive M. , Webber Joan F. , Santini Alberto , Martínez-Arias Clara , Bernier Louis , Gil Luis
Published: July 2021

Dutch elm disease (DED) is a vascular wilt disease caused by the pathogensOphiostoma ulmiandOphiostoma novo-ulmiwith multiple ecological phases including pathogenic (xylem), saprotrophic (bark) and vector (beetle flight and beetle feeding wound) phases. Due to the two DED pandemics during the twentieth century the use of elms in landscape and forest restoration has declined significantly. However new initiatives for elm breeding and restoration are now underway in Europe and North America. Here we discuss complexities in the DED ‘system’ that can lead to unintended consequences during elm breeding and some of the wider options for obtaining durability or ‘field resistance’ in released material, including (1) the phenotypic plasticity of disease levels in resistant cultivars infected byO. novo-ulmi; (2) shortcomings in test methods when selecting for resistance; (3) the implications of rapid evolutionary changes in currentO. novo-ulmipopulations for the choice of pathogen inoculum when screening; (4) the possibility of using active resistance to the pathogen in the beetle feeding wound, and low attractiveness of elm cultivars to feeding beetles, in addition to resistance in the xylem; (5) the risk that genes from susceptible and exotic elms be introgressed into resistant cultivars; (6) risks posed by unintentional changes in the host microbiome; and (7) the biosecurity risks posed by resistant elm deployment. In addition, attention needs to be paid to the disease pressures within which resistant elms will be released. In the future, biotechnology may further enhance our understanding of the various resistance processes in elms and our potential to deploy trees with highly durable resistance in elm restoration. Hopefully the different elm resistance processes will prove to be largely under durable, additive, multigenic control. Elm breeding programmes cannot afford to get into the host–pathogen arms races that characterise some agricultural host–pathogen systems.
Data privacy preservation algorithm with k-anonymity
Authors: Mahanan Waranya , Chaovalitwongse W. Art , Natwichai Juggapong
Published: July 2021

With growing concern of data privacy violations, privacy preservation processes become more intense. The k-anonymity method, a widely applied technique, transforms the data such that the publishing datasets must have at least k tuples to have the same link-able attribute, quasi-identifiers, values. From the observations, we found that, in a certain domain, all quasi-identifiers of the datasets, can have the same data type. This type of attribute is considered as an Identical Generalization Hierarchy (IGH) data. An IGH data has a particular set of characteristics that could utilize for enhancing the efficiency of heuristic privacy preservation algorithms. In this paper, we propose a data privacy preservation heuristic algorithm on IGH data. The algorithm is developed from the observations on the anonymous property of the problem structure that can eliminate the privacy constraints consideration. The experiment results are presented that the proposed algorithm could effectively preserve data privacy and also reduce the number of visited nodes for ensuring the privacy protection, which is the most time-consuming process, compared to the most efficient existing algorithm by at most 21%.
Assessment of the Rationality of Gender Studies from the Perspective of Bocheński’s Concept of Philosophical Superstition
Authors: Kieliszek Zdzisław
Published: July 2021

In recent years, the issue of the determinants of human gender identity has been lively discussed. In such discussions, there are numerous supporters of the belief that a person’s gender identity does not depend directly on a given individual’s biological endowment withsex, but is the result of various socio-cultural circumstances in which a given person lives. This view began to gain popularity in the scientific community in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is now considered paradigmatic in the rapidly evolving interdisciplinary study of cultural gender development, which is commonly referred to asgender studies. Representatives of gender studies often present the findings obtained in the course of their research as brilliant and modern. However, when viewed through the concept of philosophical superstition, authored by the Polish logician Józef Maria Bocheński (1902–1995), it can be concluded that the proponents of gender studies significantly exaggerate the intellectual momentum of their conclusions and postulates. Furthermore, one can even say that according to Bocheński’s concept of philosophical superstition, gender studies is a discipline which only creates a semblance of rationality (truth). This is because gender studies fail all six criteria which, as Bocheński maintains, distinguish beliefs, views, and theories which are manifestly irrational from those which are not philosophical superstitions. The article consists of three parts. In the first part, Bocheński’s concept of philosophical superstition is discussed and, in particular, the criteria are outlined which, in Bocheński’s opinion, allow one to identify philosophically superstitious thinking. This section also provides examples of philosophically superstitious beliefs, views and theories that fall under each of the criteria. In the second part, gender studies are characterized in terms of the basic assumptions adopted within this trend, as well as its theses and postulates. The third part of the article is devoted to the assessment of gender studies with the use of criteria which, according to Bocheński, make it possible to distinguish theories, beliefs and views without the hallmarks of rationality from those that are not philosophically superstitious.
Pure cross-anisotropy for geotechnical elastic potentials
Authors: Niemunis Andrzej , Staszewska Katarzyna
Published: July 2021

The pure cross-anisotropy is understood as a special scaling of strain (or stress). The scaled tensor is used as an argument in the elastic stiffness (or compliance). Such anisotropy can be overlaid on the top of any elastic stiffness, in particular on one obtained from an elastic potential with its own stress-induced anisotropy. This superposition does not violate the Second Law. The method can be also applied to other functions like plastic potentials or yield surfaces, wherever some cross-anisotropy is desired. The pure cross-anisotropy is described by the sedimentation vector and at most two constants. Scaling with more than two purely anisotropic constants is shown impossible. The formulation was compared with experiments and alternative approaches. Static and dynamic calibration of the pure anisotropy is also discussed. Graphic representation of stiffness with the popular response envelopes requires some enhancement for anisotropy. Several examples are presented. All derivations and examples were accomplished using the algebra program Mathematica.
Role of CMR Imaging in Diagnostics and Evaluation of Cardiac Involvement in Muscle Dystrophies
Authors: Blaszczyk Edyta , Gröschel Jan , Schulz-Menger Jeanette
Published: July 2021

Purpose of Review

This review aims to outline the utility of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with different types of muscular dystrophies for the assessment of myocardial involvement, risk stratification and in guiding therapeutic decisions.

Recent Findings

In patients suffering from muscular dystrophies (MD), even mild initial dysfunction may lead to severe heart failure over a time course of years. CMR plays an increasing role in the diagnosis and clinical care of these patients, mostly due to its unique capability to precisely characterize subclinical and progressive changes in cardiac geometry, function in order to differentiate myocardial injury it allows the identification of inflammation, focal and diffuse fibrosis as well as fatty infiltration. CMR may provide additional information in addition to the physical examination, laboratory tests, ECG, and echocardiography.

Further trials are needed to investigate the potential impact of CMR on the therapeutic decision-making as well as the assessment of long-term prognosis in different forms of muscular dystrophies. In addition to the basic cardiovascular evaluation, CMR can provide a robust, non-invasive technique for the evaluation of subclinical myocardial tissue injury like fat infiltration and focal and diffuse fibrosis. Furthermore, CMR has a unique capability to detect the progression of myocardial tissue damage in patients with a preserved systolic function.
Autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus caused by a novel missense mutation in AVP gene in a large Italian kindred
Authors: Marzocchi Carlotta , Cantara Silvia , Sagnella Alfonso , Castagna Maria Grazia , Capezzone Marco
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Familial neurohypophysial diabetes insipidus (FNDI), commonly caused by autosomal dominant arginine vasopressin (AVP) mutations, is a rare condition in which vasopressin fails in regulating body’s level of water with final polyuria and polydipsia. Genetic testing in familial cases of FNDI should be carry out to ensure adequate treatments and avoid disease manifestations especially in infants.

Methods

In this study, we investigated three-generations of a large Italian family with clinical diagnosis of familial central diabetes insipidus for the presence of potential pathogenic mutations in the AVP gene.

Results

We identified a heterozygous missense mutation (c.154 T > A; p.C52S) in AVP gene in all affected members studied of a large Italian family. In silico tools were used to investigate the pathogenic role of the mutation and three-dimensional protein structure predicted that the p.C52S impairs disulfide bridges formation resulting in misfolding of the protein.

Conclusions

This is the first study that identified a novel missense p.C52S mutation as causative of central diabetes insipidus in a large Italian pedigree.