bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling social distancing mechanisms via a fish-robot hybrid interaction
Authors: Romano Donato , Stefanini Cesare
Published: March 2021

Pathogen transmission is a major limit of social species. Social distancing, a behavioural-based response to diseases, has been regularly reported in nature. However, the identification of distinctive stimuli associated with an infectious disease represents a challenging task for host species, whose cognitive mechanisms are still poorly understood. Herein, the social fishParacheirodon innesi, was selected as model organism to investigate animal abilities in exploiting visual information to identify and promote social distancing towards potentially infected conspecifics. To address this, a robotic fish replica mimicking a healthyP. innesisubject, and another mimickingP. innesiwith morphological and/or locomotion anomalies were developed.P. innesiindividuals were attracted by the healthy fish replica, while they avoided the fish replica with morphological abnormalities, as well as the fish replica with an intact appearance, but performing locomotion anomalies (both symptoms associated with a microsporidian parasite infestingP. innesiand other fish). Furthermore, the fish replica presenting both morphology and locomotion anomalies in conjunction, triggered a significantly stronger social distancing response. This confirms the hypothesis that group living animals overgeneralize cues that can be related with a disease to minimize transmission, and highlights the important role of visual cues in infection risk contexts. This study prompts more attention on the role of behavioural-based strategies to avoid pathogen/parasite diffusion, and can be used to optimize computational approaches to model disease dynamics.
Optimized realization of Bayesian networks in reduced normal form using latent variable model
Authors: Gennaro Giovanni Di , Buonanno Amedeo , Palmieri Francesco A. N.
Published: March 2021

Bayesian networks in their Factor Graph Reduced Normal Form are a powerful paradigm for implementing inference graphs. Unfortunately, the computational and memory costs of these networks may be considerable even for relatively small networks, and this is one of the main reasons why these structures have often been underused in practice. In this work, through a detailed algorithmic and structural analysis, various solutions for cost reduction are proposed. Moreover, an online version of the classic batch learning algorithm is also analysed, showing very similar results in an unsupervised context but with much better performance; which may be essential if multi-level structures are to be built. The solutions proposed, together with the possible online learning algorithm, are included in a C++ library that is quite efficient, especially if compared to the direct use of the well-known sum-product and Maximum Likelihood algorithms. The results obtained are discussed with particular reference to a Latent Variable Model structure.
Development of accurate classification of heavenly bodies using novel machine learning techniques
Authors: Wierzbiński Michał , Pławiak Paweł , Hammad Mohamed , Acharya U. Rajendra
Published: March 2021

The heavenly bodies are objects that swim in the outer space. The classification of these objects is a challenging task for astronomers. This article presents a novel methodology that enables an efficient and accurate classification of cosmic objects (3 classes) based on evolutionary optimization of classifiers. This research collected the data from Sloan Digital Sky Survey database. In this work, we are proposing to develop a novel machine learning model to classify stellar spectra of stars, quasars and galaxies. First, the input data are normalized and then subjected to principal component analysis to reduce the dimensionality. Then, the genetic algorithm is implemented on the data which helps to find the optimal parameters for the classifiers. We have used 21 classifiers to develop an accurate and robust classification with fivefold cross-validation strategy. Our developed model has achieved an improvement in the accuracy using nineteen out of twenty-one models. We have obtained the highest classification accuracy of 99.16%, precision of 98.78%, recall of 98.08% and F1-score of 98.32% using evolutionary system based on voting classifier. The developed machine learning prototype can help the astronomers to make accurate classification of heavenly bodies in the sky. Proposed evolutionary system can be used in other areas where accurate classification of many classes is required.
Nachhaltiges Wachstum: Braucht Deutschland ein Investitionsprogramm?
Authors:   ZG Überblick
Published: March 2021

Der Wirtschaftseinbruch bedingt durch die Corona-Pandemie trifft in Deutschland auf einen Strukturwandel, der speziell durch die notwendige Digitalisierung und Dekarbonisierung sowie den demografischen Wandel getrieben ist. Einerseits wird kurzfristig durch das Corona-Konjunkturpaket und den EU-Aufbaufonds auf die Krise reagiert. Andererseits werden eine seit längerem existierende Investitionslücke sowie Hemmnisse hinsichtlich der Abrufung vorhandener Mittel bemängelt. Die Autor:innen diskutieren, welche fiskalischen Spielräume vorhanden sind, sowie auf welche Weise und in welche Bereiche öffentliche Investitionen in Deutschland getätigt werden müssten, um nachhaltiges Wirtschaftswachstum zu ermöglichen.
Boden, der vergessene Produktionsfaktor
Authors: Löhr Dirk , Olah Norbert , Huth Thomas
Published: March 2021

In der seit 2009 andauernden Niedrigzinsphase ging der Anteil der Kapitaleinkommen am Volkseinkommen zurück. Da sich der Anteil des Faktors Arbeit nicht wesentlich veränderte, gewann der Produktionsfaktor Boden an Bedeutung. In der Volkswirtschaftlichen Gesamtrechnung spiegelt sich dies jedoch nicht wider, da der Boden dort nicht gesondert ausgewiesen wird. Mithilfe des Henry-George-Theorems wird versucht, eine Methode zu entwickeln, die den Anteil des Faktors Boden quantifiziert. Der explizite Ausweis des Bodeneinkommens in der Volkswirtschaftlichen Gesamtrechnung könnte dazu beitragen, die Rolle dieses vernachlässigten Faktors zu korrigieren.
Das Bodenwertmodell für die Grundsteuer: Unzulänglichkeiten und mögliche Alternativen
Authors: Graf Gerhard
Published: March 2021

2018 wurde das bisherige Verfahren der Grundsteuererhebung als verfassungswidrig erklärt. Den Bundesländern ist bis Ende 2024 Zeit für eine Neukonzeption der Grundsteuer eingeräumt worden. Baden-Württemberg hat eine Vorreiterrolle eingenommen und sich auf ein Bodenwertmodell festgelegt, das aber Ungleichbehandlungen nicht vermeiden kann und Gefahr läuft, als verfassungswidrig eingeordnet zu werden. Entsprechendes gilt auch für das Flächenmodell. Eine Alternative könnte eine Beteiligung der Gemeinden an der Einkommens- und Umsatzsteuer sein.
Disease-Relevant Single Cell Photonic Signatures Identify S100β Stem Cells and their Myogenic Progeny in Vascular Lesions
Authors: Molony Claire , King Damien , Di Luca Mariana , Kitching Michael , Olayinka Abidemi , Hakimjavadi Roya , Julius Lourdes A. N. , Fitzpatrick Emma , Gusti Yusof , Burtenshaw Denise , Healy Killian , Finlay Emma K. , Kernan David , Llobera Andreu , Liu Weimin , Morrow David , Redmond Eileen M. , Ducrée Jens , Cahill Paul A.
Published: March 2021

A hallmark of subclinical atherosclerosis is the accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC)-like cells leading to intimal thickening and lesion formation. While medial SMCs contribute to vascular lesions, the involvement of resident vascular stem cells (vSCs) remains unclear. We evaluated single cell photonics as a discriminator of cell phenotype in vitro before the presence of vSC within vascular lesions was assessed ex vivo using supervised machine learning and further validated using lineage tracing analysis. Using a novel lab-on-a-Disk(Load) platform, label-free single cell photonic emissions from normal and injured vessels ex vivo were interrogated and compared to freshly isolated aortic SMCs, cultured Movas SMCs, macrophages, B-cells, S100β+ mVSc, bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and their respective myogenic progeny across five broadband light wavelengths (λ465 - λ670 ± 20 nm). We found that profiles were of sufficient coverage, specificity, and quality to clearly distinguish medial SMCs from different vascular beds (carotid vs aorta), discriminate normal carotid medial SMCs from lesional SMC-like cells ex vivo following flow restriction, and identify SMC differentiation of a series of multipotent stem cells following treatment with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF- β1), the Notch ligand Jagged1, and Sonic Hedgehog using multivariate analysis, in part, due to photonic emissions from enhanced collagen III and elastin expression. Supervised machine learning supported genetic lineage tracing analysis of S100β+ vSCs and identified the presence of S100β+vSC-derived myogenic progeny within vascular lesions. We conclude disease-relevant photonic signatures may have predictive value for vascular disease.

Graphical abstract
Roles Played by YY1 in Embryonic, Adult and Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Martinez-Ruiz Gustavo Ulises , Morales-Sanchez Abigail , Pacheco-Hernandez Angel Francisco
Published: March 2021

Accumulating evidence strongly indicates that the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) leads to the emergence of worse clinical scenarios, such as chemo- and radiotherapy resistance, metastasis, and cancer recurrence. CSCs are a highly tumorigenic population characterized by self-renewal capacity and differentiation potential. Thus, CSCs establish a hierarchical intratumor organization that enables tumor adaptation to evade the immune response and resist anticancer therapy. YY1 functions as a transcription factor, RNA-binding protein, and 3D chromatin regulator. Thus, YY1 has multiple effects and regulates several molecular processes. Emerging evidence indicates that the development of lethal YY1-mediated cancer phenotypes is associated with the presence of or enrichment in cancer stem-like cells. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate whether and to what extent YY1 regulates the CSC phenotype. Since CSCs mirror the phenotypic behavior of stem cells, we initially describe the roles played by YY1 in embryonic and adult stem cells. Next, we scrutinize evidence supporting the contributions of YY1 in CSCs from a number of various cancer types. Finally, we identify new areas for further investigation into the YY1-CSCs axis, including the participation of YY1 in the CSC niche.

Graphical Abstract
Depth Determınatıon From Gravıty Data Usıng Radıal Amplıtude Spectrum: The Dikili (İzmir) Geothermal Area
Authors: Timur Emre , Sarı Coşkun
Published: March 2021

The Dikili geothermal area, in the northern part of Izmir province, is one of the best known geothermal areas in Western Anatolia. This study attempts to analyze and interpret Bouguer gravity data to determine average structural depth values and assess geothermal resources using the Radial Amplitude Spectrum Method (RASM), based on 2D Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis. We selected four different areas to apply the method. The greatest advantage of this method over the conventional power spectrum method is that it can determine the mean depth from 2D FFT spectra, not using a single cross-section taken in one direction. Thus, the user can select an area rather than a direction and average depth can be determined more accurately. The results show that average depth values of the top of the reservoir vary between 314 and 640 m in the region.
Private-label sustainable supplier selection using a fuzzy entropy-VIKOR-based approach
Authors: Zhang Jun , Li Linze , Zhang Jing , Chen Liping , Chen Guojiao
Published: March 2021

In recent decades, private labels have been the focus of great development in retail due to their price advantage and consumer-oriented production. With growing customer awareness of safety and health, private-label sustainable supplier selection has become a strategic issue for many retailers. Although there are many studies on supplier selection issues and evaluation methods, studies on the sustainability and consumption sectors are rather limited. Therefore, a novel three-phase MCDM model for private-label supplier selection compliance with sustainability criteria is proposed. First, the Delphi method is used to construct a criteria system based on a detailed literature review. Then, an integrated weight algorithm is suggested, in which objective weights are based on attributes’ entropy measurements, and subjective weights are derived from decision-makers’ preferences. Eventually, during evaluation, a fuzzy set extended in VIKOR is exploited by considering the vagueness of decision makers’ expressions. The results from a case study then show that green packaging and labelling, relationship with manufacturing brand, order flexibility, and product traceability are the most important criteria in retail private-label supplier selection. The flexibility and reliability of the proposed model are also demonstrated in a practical case of supplier evaluation.
Corporate Governance of Banks and Financial Institutions: Economic Theory, Supervisory Practice, Evidence and Policy
Authors: Hopt Klaus J.
Published: March 2021

Banks are special, and so is the corporate governance of banks and other financial institutions. Empirical evidence, mostly gathered after the financial crisis, confirms this. Banks practicing good corporate governance in the traditional, shareholder-oriented style fared less well than banks having less shareholder-prone boards and less shareholder influence. The special governance of banks and other financial institutions is firmly embedded in bank supervisory law and regulation. Most recently there has been intense discussion on the purpose of (non-bank) corporations. For banks stakeholder governance and, more particularly, creditor or debtholder governance is more important than shareholder governance. The implications of this for research and reform are still uncertain. A key problem is the composition and qualification of the board. The legislative task is to enhance independent as well as qualified control. The proposal of giving creditors and even supervisors a special seat in the board is not convincing. Other important special issues of bank governance are for example the duties and liabilities of bank directors in particular as far as risk and compliance are concerned, but also the remuneration paid to bank directors and senior managers or key function holders. Claw-back provisions, either imposed by law or introduced by banks themselves, exist already in certain countries and are beneficial. Much depends on enforcement, an understudied topic.
Local Variation in Gendered Family Policy Use: Evidence of Local Gender Contracts?
Authors: Haandrikman Karen , Duvander Ann-Zofie , Webster Natasha A.
Published: March 2021

A central and unique part of Sweden’s family policy programme is care leave that working parents can use when children are sick and cannot attend (pre)school. The gender-equal policy entails that parents may divide the leave as they see fit. However, mothers and fathers do not share care leave equally and care leave patterns may vary geographically. The aim of this paper is to examine the interaction between gendered care leave and geographical context using the theory of gender contracts. We ask how geographical variation in fathers’ share of care leave varies by scale, and how both individual factors and geographical determinants, representing local gender contracts, are associated with fathers’ share of care leave. Distinctive from previous work, we use geocoded full-population register data and individualized neighbourhoods at multiple scales in order to be able to better measure contextual effects on care leave use. We find substantial spatial variation in fathers’ share of care leave, with clustering depending on scale level. Using the nearest 200 fathers with young children, a factor analysis summarizes local gender contracts into three factors labelled as elite, marginalization and private sector. Results show that especially living in local gender contract areas identified as “marginalized” positively affects fathers’ share of care leave. Living in the most segregated neighbourhoods has substantial effects on fathers’ share of care leave, but overall, neighbourhood effects are moderate. A gender contract perspective shows negotiations resulting from locally clustered gendered norms and relative resources between partners influence who stays home with sick children.
Perspective: Covid-19; emerging strategies and material technologies
Authors: Ahmed Jubair , Alenezi Hussain , Edirisinghe Ursula , Edirisinghe Mohan
Published: March 2021

It will be remembered in history as the event that brought the world together with science and technology; the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed for decades worth of progression in both healthcare policies and technology development. It has been a show of unprecedented global health policies ranging from the legal requirement for public facemask use to the use of tough movement restrictions that has bought the world’s economy to its knees. Here, we observe the impact of national lockdowns, facemask usage, and their effect on infection rates. It is clear that healthcare policies alone cannot tackle a pandemic. There is a huge pressure to develop personal protective equipment that not only has the capacity to prevent transmission but also has the ergonomics to be worn for long durations. In this work, we reveal our views and thoughts on the healthcare policies and developing materials and technology strategies that have contributed to reduce the damage of the pandemic, coming from the perspectives of materials scientists and a UK National Health Service consultant doctor.
Were the Ancient Coast Salish Farmers? A Story of Origins
Authors: Lyons Natasha , Hoffmann Tanja , Miller Debbie , Martindale Andrew , Ames Kenneth M. , Blake Michael
Published: March 2021

Were the ancient Coast Salish farmers? Conventional anthropological wisdom asserts that the ethnographically known communities of the Northwest Coast of North America were “complex hunter-fisher-gatherers” who lacked any form of concerted plant food cultivation and production. Despite decades of extensive ethnobotanical and paleoethnobotanical study throughout the Pacific Northwest demonstrating the contrary, this “classic anomaly” is still a cornerstone of anthropological and archaeological canons. The recent discovery of a spectacularly preserved wetland wapato (Indian potato,Sagittaria latifolia) garden, built 3,800 years ago in Katzie traditional territory near Vancouver, British Columbia, has helped recast this picture, alongside evidence for other forms of resource management practiced by Northwest Coast peoples. This article examines “origins of agriculture” stories from three distinctive perspectives: Coast Salish Katzie people who cultivated wapato for millennia; settlers who colonized the Fraser River Delta historically, bringing with them their own ideas about what constitutes farming; and archaeologists, who are challenged by these data to reevaluate their own understandings of these cultural constructs. These perspectives have critical bearing on the historical appropriation of lands and waterways by settler communities in British Columbia as well as contemporary questions of sovereignty and stewardship in this region and well beyond.
Prediction of aircraft estimated time of arrival using machine learning methods
Authors: Basturk O. , Cetek C.
Published: March 2021

In this study, prediction of aircraft Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) is proposed using machine learning algorithms. Accurate prediction of ETA is important for management of delay and air traffic flow, runway assignment, gate assignment, collaborative decision making (CDM), coordination of ground personnel and equipment, and optimisation of arrival sequence etc. Machine learning is able to learn from experience and make predictions with weak assumptions or no assumptions at all. In the proposed approach, general flight information, trajectory data and weather data were obtained from different sources in various formats. Raw data were converted to tidy data and inserted into a relational database. To obtain the features for training the machine learning models, the data were explored, cleaned and transformed into convenient features. New features were also derived from the available data. Random forests and deep neural networks were used to train the machine learning models. Both models can predict the ETA with a mean absolute error (MAE) less than 6min after departure, and less than 3min after terminal manoeuvring area (TMA) entrance. Additionally, a web application was developed to dynamically predict the ETA using proposed models.
Management of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in the Post-International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial Era: A Single-Centre Prospective Series
Authors: Wong Alexander D. , Alubankudi Rufus , Jarrett Judith , Huynh Thien J. , Dmytriw Adam A. , Pickett Gwynedd E.
Published: March 2021

Background:

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT) reported reduced morbidity in patients treated with endovascular coiling versus surgical clipping. However, recent studies suggest that there is no significant difference in clinical outcomes. This study examines the outcomes of either technique for treating aSAH during the 15 years post-ISAT at a Canadian quaternary centre.

Methods:

We reviewed prospectively collected data of patients admitted with aSAH from January 2002 to December 2017. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was compared at discharge, 6 months and 12 months’ follow-up using univariate and multivariable ordinal logistic regression. Post-operative complications were assessed using binary logistic regression.

Results:

Two-hundred and eighty-seven patients were treated with coiling and 95 patients with clipping. The mean age of clipped patients was significantly younger, and hypertension was significantly commoner in coiled patients. A greater proportion of coiled aneurysms were located in the posterior circulation. No difference in the odds of having a favourable GOS was seen between patients who were clipped versus coiled at any of follow-up time points on univariate or multivariable analysis. In both treatment groups, patient recovery to independence (GOS 4–5) was seen from discharge to 6 months, but not from 6 to 12 months’ follow-up, without difference between clipping and coiling.

Conclusion:

These real-world findings suggest clipping remains an effective and important treatment option for patients with aSAH who do not meet ISAT inclusion criteria. The results can assist in clinical decision-making processes and understanding of the natural recovery progression of aSAH.
A Mixed-Methods Study After Multiple Disasters: September 11, 2001, World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks and Hurricane Sandy
Authors: Garrey Sascha K. , Ogunyemi Aminotu A. , Gargano Lisa M.
Published: March 2021

Objective:

The aim of this study was to use a mixed-method analysis to investigate the associations between qualitative themes found in written responses and quantitative reported level of stress after Hurricane Sandy.

Methods:

A survey was conducted among World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees 5-12 mo after Hurricane Sandy. This study included 1202 participants who completed the free-response section and answered the question on how stressful their experiences were with Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath. Content analysis was used to generate qualitative data. Mixed-methods analysis was performed using a 1-way analysis of variance test for bivariate comparisons of qualitative thematic codes and the quantitative outcome of mean Sandy stress scores.

Results:

Seven themes emerged from the qualitative analysis. The themes of lack of information, negative emotional response, and financial stress had higher quantitative mean Sandy stress scores compared with other themes. The theme of patriotism/gratitude had an overall lower quantitative Sandy stress scores than other themes.

Conclusions:

Qualitative and mixed-methods research on mental health outcomes after a disaster add new depth and findings to the existing literature. Using such methodologies to identify modifiable factors, such as improving communication during a disaster, may confer better mental health outcomes after a disaster.
Groups with infinite FC-center have the Schmidt property
Authors: KIDA YOSHIKATA , TUCKER-DROB ROBIN
Published: March 2021

We show that every countable group with infinite finite conjugacy (FC)-center has the Schmidt property, that is, admits a free, ergodic, measure-preserving action on a standard probability space such that the full group of the associated orbit equivalence relation contains a non-trivial central sequence. As a consequence, every countable, inner amenable group with property (T) has the Schmidt property.
TAUTOLOGICAL RINGS AND STABILISATION
Authors: RANDAL-WILLIAMS OSCAR
Published: March 2021

We construct a ring homomorphism comparing the tautological ring, fixing a point, of a closed smooth manifold with that of its stabilisation by S2a×S2b.
The Kampala Convention and the Protection of Persons Internally Displaced by Harmful Practices in Africa
Authors: Adeola Romola
Published: March 2021

Arguably the least discussed root cause of internal displacement, harmful practices are a prevalent concern in many African societies. The explicit mention of harmful practices is one of the many innovations of the Kampala Convention and reinforce its forward-looking, context-specific focus on Africa. This article argues that the convention has an absolute prohibition of harmful practices. This is an important starting point from which to discuss the content of states’ obligation to set measures for preventing harmful practices. However, in the event that displacement occurs due to these practices, it is important that protection, humanitarian assistance and durable solutions are provided. This article argues that states must set measures for ensuring that non-state actors are held accountable in the event that they orchestrate harmful practices. In fostering compliance, this article argues that there is an important role for institutions beyond the state, particularly those emphasized under article 14 of the convention.
Quality assessment of artisanal cheeses in the northwest region of Paraná
Authors: Castilho Ana Carolina B. , Stafussa Ana Paula , Ribeiro Jéssica Caroline B. , dos Santos Pozza Magali S. , Tormo Hélène , Madrona Grasiele S.
Published: March 2021

Artisanal unripened cheeses produced in northwestern Paraná, Brazil, were studied for microbiological quality and sensory quality. The cheeses analyzed showed high counts of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms and S. aureus. However, even with the results showing poor microbiological quality, from a sensory point of view, consumers considered cheeses acceptable (high acceptance index). The results may indicate that there is still a lack of training and knowledge of production procedures to reduce microbiological contamination of artisanal cheese produced in northwestern Paraná.
Impact of caloric test asymmetry on response to treatment in vestibular migraine
Authors: Liu Y F , Dornhoffer J R , Donaldson L , Rizk H G
Published: March 2021

Objective

This study aimed to examine the association between caloric asymmetry and response to treatment in patients with vestibular migraine.

Method

Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores were compared between patients with less than and more than 25 per cent asymmetry (using Cohen effect size) in a cohort of definite vestibular migraine patients who underwent caloric testing between August 2016 and March 2019.

Results

A total of 31 patients (mean age: 48.7 ± 20.0 years; mean follow up: 9.1 ± 8.1 months) were included. Mean caloric asymmetry was 15.1 ± 15.6 per cent, with 6 (19.4 per cent) patients having asymmetry more than 25 per cent. Overall, patients experienced significant improvement in Dizziness Handicap Inventory total (d = 0.623 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.007, 1.216)), emotional domain (d = 0.635 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.019, 1.229)) and functional domain (d = 0.769 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.143, 1.367)) but not physical domain (d = 0.227 (95 per cent confidence interval, −0.370, 0.815)) scores. Patients with more than 25 per cent asymmetry had no significant improvement in Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores, whereas those with less than 25 per cent asymmetry had significant improvement in Dizziness Handicap Inventory functional domain scores only (d = 0.636 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.004, 1.244)).

Conclusion

Vestibular migraine patients with peripheral vestibular weakness on caloric testing may be less likely to improve after treatment compared with those without.
Codifying Credit: Everyday Contracting and the Spread of the Civil Code in Nineteenth-Century Mexico
Authors: Lurtz Casey Marina
Published: March 2021

Between the 1870s and the 1910s, municipal court officials in southernmost Mexico recorded contracts regarding small debts and credits in what they labeled libros de conocimientos. While only very rarely citing Mexico's new civil codes of the 1870s and 1880s, the contracts contained in these registers regularly engaged with the kinds of agreements, guarantees, and enforcement mechanisms laid out in the code. They also capture an active, if still elusive, quotidian credit market for the far from well-to-do. This article uses these registers to trace the creation and evolution of Mexico's civil code from the periphery of the country rather than its center. By looking at the ways farmers, smalltime merchants, housewives, and laborers made use of its forms and norms, we can see how liberal economic policy permeated society through use. The determination of everyday people to make good on the protections and possibilities of liberalized fiscal policy cemented that policy in everyday practice.
Reputation on the (green) line: revisiting the ‘Plaza moment’ in United Nations peacekeeping practice, 1964–1966
Authors: Tudor Margot
Published: March 2021

Appointing a United Nations (UN) mediator to work in tandem with the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in March 1964 led to fundamental shifts in how the UN Secretariat inner circle orientated the organisation’s presence in Cyprus. The escalating crisis between the two communities in Cyprus and political pressure from UN member states to respond before Cold War superpower nations became engulfed, prompted the creation of UNFICYP and the recruitment of a UN mediator on 4 March 1964. This article argues that the UN leadership intended to restore member state trust following the controversial Congo mission (ONUC) and expand the organisation’s diplomatic agency through the innovation of deploying the dedicated mediator alongside the armed mission. However, the success of the meditator was diplomatically limited by the localised dynamics of the Cyprus conflict and the willingness of the Guarantor parties to surrender their sovereign imaginaries of post-colonial Cyprus. Ultimately, the experiment in field-based mediation forced the UN Secretariat leadership to acknowledge the incompatibility of appeasing all member states on one hand whilst leading field-based political negotiations with the other.
Frau Doktor, kennen Sie die Rote Reishefe? Fallberichte und Literaturübersicht
Authors: Rau Monika , Köppel-Fürer Karin , Knechtle Beat
Published: March 2021

Zusammenfassung. Wir stellen Fälle von Patientinnen und Patienten mit erhöhtem Gesamtcholesterin vor, die eine alternative Therapie zur herkömmlichen Medikation der Cholesterin-Senkung anwenden wollten. Bei allen Personen konnte eine Verbesserung des Lipidprofils festgestellt werden, wobei alle das aus Roter Reishefe hergestellte Produkt sehr gut vertragen haben. Nebenwirkungen konnten nicht festgestellt werden. Die Patientinnen und Patienten, die dieses Produkt aus rot fermentiertem Reis einnehmen, wählen bewusst ein alternatives Mittel aus dem Bereich der Phytotherapie, weil sie meist schon mehrere schulmedizinische Medikamente einnehmen müssen und nicht mehr bereit sind, ein weiteres Medikament dieser Art zu verwenden. Ein weiterer Grund ist, dass sie die Nebenwirkungen nicht mehr in Kauf nehmen möchten, unter denen sie bei der Einnahme eines gängigen Lipidsenkers gelitten haben.
Lumbale Rückenschmerzen und eine Sehstörung – eine alarmierende Differenzialdiagnose
Authors: Meier Egle , Kaczala Gregor
Published: March 2021

Zusammenfassung. Unter den vielen Ursachen akuter Rückenschmerzen kommt die Aortendissektion vergleichsweise selten vor, geht jedoch mit hoher Mortalität einher. Trotz Fortschritten der nicht-invasiven Diagnostik wird die korrekte Diagnose bei weniger als der Hälfte der Fälle gestellt. Aufgrund der Malperfusionssyndrome beinhaltet das klinische Bild ein breites Spektrum verschiedenartiger Symptome, die auf andere Erkrankungen hindeuten können und so die Diagnosestellung erschweren. Dieser Fall beleuchtet die Bedeutung einer detaillierten Anamnese und sorgfältigen klinischen Untersuchung sowie der unverzüglichen nicht-invasiven Diagnostik, damit die Prognose und die Überlebenschancen verbessert werden können.
CME/Antworten: Riskanter Alkoholkonsum im Alter
Authors: Schnoz Domenic , Suter Paolo M.
Published: March 2021

Zusammenfassung. Schädlicher Alkoholkonsum im Alter ist für viele Patient_innen und unser Gesundheitssystem eine grosse Bürde. Exzessiver Alkoholkonsum wird oft stigmatisiert und nicht angesprochen, obwohl bei Früherkennung gute therapeutische Erfolgsaussichten bestehen. Hausärzte/Hausärztinnen und Allgemeinmediziner_innen haben eine Schlüsselrolle in der (Früh-)Erkennung, Einleitung von erfolgversprechenden Behandlungsmassnahmen und nachhaltigen Begleitung der Patient_innen mit konsequenter Rebound-Prophylaxe bei Anzeichen von einem Rebound-Risiko. Einen idealen Einstieg zur Therapie in der Praxis stellt die «Kurzintervention» dar. Das praktische Vorgehen der einzelnen Komponenten der Kurzintervention und Empfehlungen werden diskutiert.
CME-EKG 68/Antworten: Der Einfluss des Geschlechts bei Herzrhythmusstörungen
Authors: Markendorf Susanne , Saguner Ardan M. , Brunckhorst Corinna B.
Published: March 2021

Zusammenfassung. Bei Herzrhythmusstörungen bestehen geschlechterspezifische Unterschiede, insbesondere aufgrund der Unterschiede im Hormonhaushalt von Frauen und Männern. Frauen haben eine höhere Herzfrequenz als Männer und eine kürzere Refraktärzeit in fast allen Herzstrukturen, ausser den Ventrikeln. Dies ist insbesondere beim Auftreten paroxysmaler supraventrikulärer Tachykardien objektivierbar. Die Inzidenz einer dualen Leitungsphysiologie im AV-Knoten ist bei Männern und Frauen zwar gleich hoch, Frauen entwickeln jedoch deutlich häufiger manifeste AV-Knoten Reentrytachykardien als Männer. Eine akzessorische Leitungsbahn zwischen Vorhof und Ventrikel ist bei Männern öfter embryonal angelegt, bei diesen tritt entsprechend häufiger eine manifeste AV-Reentrytachykardie auf. Die fokale atriale Tachykardie tritt bei Männern und Frauen ungefähr gleich oft auf. Kenntnis über diese geschlechterspezifischen Unterschiede sind bei der Diagnostik einer Herzrhythmusstörung von grosser Bedeutung, weshalb wir mit diesem Artikel genauer darauf eingehen möchten.
Organic Biogeochemistry in West Mata, NE Lau Hydrothermal Vent Fields
Authors: Lin H.‐T. , Butterfield D. A. , Baker E. T. , Resing J. A. , Huber J. A. , Cowen J. P.
Published: March 2021

The impact of submarine hydrothermal systems on organic carbon in the ocean—one of the largest fixed carbon reservoirs on Earth—could be profound. Yet, different vent sites show diverse fluid chemical compositions and the subsequent biological responses. Observations from various vent sites are to evaluate hydrothermal systems' impact on the ocean carbon cycle. A response cruise in May 2009 to an on‐going submarine eruption at West Mata Volcano, northeast Lau Basin, provided an opportunity to quantify the organic matter production in a back‐arc spreading hydrothermal system. Hydrothermal vent fluids contained elevated dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon (POC), and particulate nitrogen (PN) relative to background seawater. The δ13C‐POC values for suspended particles in the diffuse vent fluids (−15.5‰ and −12.3‰) are distinct from those in background seawater (−23 ± 1‰), indicative of unique carbon synthesis pathways of the vent microbes from the seawater counterparts. The first dissolved organic nitrogen concentrations reported for diffuse vents were similar to or higher than those for background seawater. Enhanced nitrogen fixation and denitrification removed 37%–89% of the total dissolved nitrogen in the recharging background seawater in the hydrothermal vent flow paths. The hydrothermal plume samples were enriched in POC and PN, indicating enhanced biological production. The total “dark” organic carbon production within the plume matches the thermodynamic prediction based on available reducing chemical substances supplied to the plume. This research combines the measured organic carbon contents with thermodynamic modeled results and demonstrates the importance of hydrothermal activities on the water column carbon production in the deep ocean.
Wave Modulation of Flows on Open and Closed Reefs
Authors: Lindhart M. , Rogers J. S. , Maticka S. A. , Woodson C. B. , Monismith S. G.
Published: March 2021

Using observations, numerical models, and theory, we explore a framework to classify reefs as open or closed based on their dynamics. While the concepts of open and closed reefs are used widely in studies of coral reef hydrodynamics and are generally based on geometry, there is no consensus on what qualifies as open and closed. With observations from Ofu, American Samoa, we show that the reef flat exhibits two different dynamical regimes depending on tidal and wave forcing. Flow over this reef flat resembles a classic one‐dimensional barrier reef flow during low tide, where wave setup creates a cross‐reef pressure gradient which forces flow on the flat. On high tide, however, flow on the flat is oblique to the crest, and at times directed offshore. We reproduce this behavior in an idealized numerical model of a fringing reef. We classify open reefs as a condition where an onshore, wave‐generated pressure gradient is balanced by friction, and closed reefs as a condition where an onshore radiation stress gradient is opposed by an offshore pressure gradient. Results from the fringing reef model show that the system transitions between open and closed behavior over a tidal cycle. Results from an additional barrier reef numerical model exhibits almost exclusively open reef behavior, for which we derive a simple theoretical model. We argue that classifying reefs as open or closed based on their dynamics, rather than geometry, is a more meaningful approach to comparing reefs and predicting their dynamical response to wave and tidal forcing.
Atmospherically Forced and Chaotic Interannual Variability of Regional Sea Level and Its Components Over 1993–2015
Authors: Carret Alice , Llovel William , Penduff Thierry , Molines Jean‐Marc
Published: March 2021

Satellite altimetry data have revealed a global mean sea level rise of 3.1 mm/yr since 1993 with large regional sea level variability. These remote data highlight complex structures especially in strongly eddying regions. A recent study showed that over 38% of the global ocean area, the chaotic variability may hinder the attribution to the atmospheric forcing of regional sea level trends from 1993 to 2015. This study aims to complement this work by focusing on the atmospherically forced and chaotic interannual variability of regional sea level and its components. At interannual time scales, variability can hamper the detection of regional sea level trends. A global 1/4° ocean/sea‐ice 50‐member ensemble simulation is analyzed to disentangle the imprints of the atmospheric forcing and of the chaotic ocean variability on the interannual variability of regional sea level and of its steric and manometric components over 1993–2015. The atmospherically forced and chaotic interannual variabilities of sea level mainly have a steric origin, except in coastal areas. The chaotic part of the interannual variability of sea level and its components is stronger in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans than in the Indian Ocean. The chaotic part of the interannual variance of sea level and of its steric component exceeds 20% over 48% of the global ocean area; this fractional area reduces to 26% for the manometric component. These results confirm the substantial imprint of the chaotic interannual variability on sea level components, questioning in several regions the attribution of their observed evolution to atmospheric causes.
Evolution and Features of Dust Devil‐Like Vortices in Turbulent Rayleigh‐Bénard Convection—A Numerical Study Using Direct Numerical Simulation
Authors: Giersch S. , Raasch S.
Published: March 2021

Dust devils are convective vortices with a vertical axis of rotation that are made visible by entrained soil particles. These soil particles contribute to the atmospheric aerosol input, influencing the Earth radiation budget. Quantifying this contribution requires reliable information about the statistics of dust devils, their formation process, and how they are maintained. In the past, this information was mainly derived from field experiments and large‐eddy simulations (LESs). Field experiments suffer from the erratic occurrence of dust devils and the limited area that can be monitored reliably. In LESs, dust devils cannot be resolved completely, especially close to the ground. Additionally, they are affected by numerical features of surface boundary conditions, as well as subgrid‐scale models in an unknown way. To mitigate these limitations, we employ direct numerical simulations (DNSs) to improve our understanding of dust devils. We comprehensively investigate the statistics and structure of dust devils for Rayleigh numbers up to 1011using DNS of Rayleigh‐Bénard convection between two plates for the first time. We find that dust devil‐like structures occur in DNS with Rayleigh numbers much lower than in the atmosphere (≥107). These results support previous DNS studies in which vortices with vertical axes were observed but not further investigated. The dust devil statistics strongly depend on the Rayleigh number and velocity boundary conditions, but depend little on the aspect ratio of the model domain. Simulated dust devils show very similar properties to convective vortices analyzed in LESs of the atmospheric boundary layer.
Response of Gross Primary Productivity to Drought Time‐Scales Across China
Authors: Sun Shaobo , Du Wenli , Song Zhaoliang , Zhang Dongbo , Wu Xiuchen , Chen Baozhang , Wu Yuntao
Published: March 2021

Drought largely affects terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP) by its duration (i.e., drought time‐scales). However, the large‐scale impact of drought time‐scales on GPP is still not well understood, partly due to limited understanding of ecological processes and difficulties in quantifying drought time‐scales. Here, we examined the responses of GPP to drought in China during the last four decades, using state‐of‐the‐art GPP data estimates and a multiscalar drought metric. Most of the GPP data suggested that the time‐scales at which drought has the largest influence on annual GPP (dominant drought time‐scales) were well related to climate region and vegetation type. The GPP responded to drought more rapidly in arid regions than that in semiarid and subhumid regions, with a mean dominant drought time‐scale of 15 and 20 months, respectively; as plants in arid regions can rapidly adapt to water shortage through physiological strategies, while, in semiarid and subhumid regions plants usually can withstand a degree of water deficits. In a humid region, GPP did not rapidly respond to drought, probably because the high soil water availability buffered the effect of drought. In addition, most of the GPP estimates suggested that grasslands and croplands tended to respond to drought at shorter time‐scales than that of forests, shrublands, and sparse vegetation. The study highlights the importance of improving the effects of water availability on vegetation activity and further consideration of vegetation adaptability to drought in both remote sensing GPP algorithms and parameterizations of current terrestrial ecosystem models.
Spectral Analysis of Vertical Temperature Profile Time‐Series Data in Yellowstone Lake Sediments
Authors: Sohn Robert A. , Harris Robert N.
Published: March 2021

We use yearlong vertical temperature profile time‐series (seven thermistors at evenly spaced depth intervals from 10 to 70 cm) from five sites in and around the Deep Hole thermal area, southeast of Stevenson Island, Yellowstone Lake, to investigate heat and mass fluxes across the lake floor. The records demonstrate that thermal gradients in surficial sediments are modulated by a rich spectrum of bottom water temperature variations generated by hydrodynamic processes, and that sites inside the thermal area also respond to hydrothermal variations. We develop and implement a new method for estimating the sediment effective thermal diffusivity and pore fluid vertical flow rate that exploits the full spectrum of observed temperature variations to generate the parameter estimates, uncertainties, and metrics to assess statistical significance. Sediments at sites outside thermal areas have gradients of ∼7.5°C/m, in situ thermal diffusivities of ∼1.6 × 10−7 m2/s consistent with highly porous (80–90%) siliceous sediments, and experience hypolentic flow in the upper ∼20 cm. Sites inside the Deep Hole thermal area exhibit considerable spatial and temporal variability, with gradients of 1–32°C/m, and higher thermal diffusivities of ∼2–12 × 10−7 m2/s, consistent with hydrothermal alteration of biogenic silica to clays, quartz, and pyrite. Upward pore fluid flow at these sites is observed across multiple depth intervals, with maximum values of ∼3 cm/day. The observed spatial and temporal variability within the thermal area is consistent with upward finger flow combined with short wavelength convection within the porous sediments above a steam reservoir.
Grain‐Size Distribution and Propagation Effects on Seismic Signals Generated by Bedload Transport
Authors: Lagarde Sophie , Dietze Michael , Gimbert Florent , Laronne Jonathan B. , Turowski Jens M. , Halfi Eran
Published: March 2021

Bedload transport is a key process in fluvial morphodynamics, but difficult to measure. The advent of seismic monitoring techniques has provided an alternative to in‐stream monitoring, which is often costly and cannot be utilized during large floods. Seismic monitoring is a method requiring several steps to convert seismic data into bedload flux data. State‐of‐the‐art conversion approaches exploit physical models predicting the seismic signal generated by bedload transport. However, due to a lack of well‐constrained validation data, the accuracy of the resulting inversions is unknown. We use field experiments to constrain a seismic bedload model and compare the results to high‐quality independent bedload measurements. Constraining the Green's function (i.e., seismic ground properties) with an active seismic survey resulted in an average absolute difference between modeled and empirically measured seismic bedload power of 11 dB in the relevant frequency band. Using generically estimated Green's function parameters resulted in a difference of 20 dB, thus highlighting the importance of using actual field parameters. Water turbulence and grain hiding are unlikely to be the cause of differences between field observations and our analysis. Rather, they may be either due to the inverted model being particularly sensitive to the coarse tail of the grain‐size distribution, which is least well constrained from field observations, or due to the seismic model underestimating effects of the largest grains.