bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The harder they fall, the bigger they become: tidal trapping of strings by microstate geometries
Authors: Martinec Emil J. , Warner Nicholas P.
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We consider the fate of a massless (or ultra-relativistic massive) string probe propagating down the BTZ-like throat of a microstate geometry in the D1-D5 system. Far down the throat, the probe encounters large tidal forces that stretch and excite the string. The excitations are limited by the very short transit time through the region of large tidal force, leading to a controlled approximation to tidal stretching. We show that the amount of stretching is proportional to the incident energy, and that it robs the probe of the kinetic energy it would need to travel back up the throat. As a consequence, the probe is effectively trapped far down the throat and, through repeated return passes, scrambles into the ensemble of nearby microstates. We propose that this tidal trapping may lead to weak gravitational echoes.
Can communication with social robots influence how children develop empathy? Best-evidence synthesis
Authors: Pashevich Ekaterina
Published: April 2021

Social robots are gradually entering children’s lives in a period when children learn about social relationships and exercise prosocial behaviors with parents, peers, and teachers. Designed for long-term emotional engagement and to take the roles of friends, teachers, and babysitters, such robots have the potential to influence how children develop empathy. This article presents a review of the literature (2010–2020) in the fields of human–robot interaction (HRI), psychology, neuropsychology, and roboethics, discussing the potential impact of communication with social robots on children’s social and emotional development. The critical analysis of evidence behind these discussions shows that, although robots theoretically have high chances of influencing the development of empathy in children, depending on their design, intensity, and context of use, there is no certainty about the kind of effect they might have. Most of the analyzed studies, which showed the ability of robots to improve empathy levels in children, were not longitudinal, while the studies observing and arguing for the negative effect of robots on children’s empathy were either purely theoretical or dependent on the specific design of the robot and the situation. Therefore, there is a need for studies investigating the effects on children’s social and emotional development of long-term regular and consistent communication with robots of various designs and in different situations.
Occupational reintegration after severe burn injury: a questionnaire study
Authors: Vorstandlechner Vera , Langthaler Daniel , Ebenberger Katharina , Pittermann Anna , Ihra Gerald , Rath Thomas , Nedomansky Jakob , Muschitz Gabriela , Radtke Christine , Fochtmann-Frana Alexandra
Published: April 2021

Background

As a consequence of improved survival rates after burn injury occupational reintegration of burn survivors has gained increasing significance. We aimed to develop a precise patient questionnaire as a tool to evaluate factors contributing to occupational reintegration.

Material and methods

A questionnaire comprising 20 questions specifically evaluating occupational reintegration was developed under psychological supervision. The single-center questionnaire study was implemented in patients with burn injuries who were admitted to the 6‑bed burn intensive care unit (BICU) of the General Hospital of Vienna, Austria (2004–2013). The questionnaire was sent to burn survivors of working age (18–60 years) with an abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) of 6 or greater, a total burn surface area (TBSA) of 15% or greater, and a BICU stay of at least 24 h.

Results

A total of 112 burn survivors met the inclusion criteria and were contacted by mail. Of the 112 patients 11 (10%) decided to participate in the study and 218/220 questions (99%) in 11 patients were answered. Out of 11 patients 7 (64%) reported successful return to work and 4 of 11 (36%) did not resume their occupation. Advanced age, longer BICU and hospital stays, higher TBSA, burn at work, lower education, and problems with esthetic appearance seemed to impair patients’ return to their occupation.

Conclusion

When implementing the questionnaire, severely burned patients with higher age, lower education, and longer hospital and BICU stay seemed at high risk for failed reintegration in their profession after burn injury.
Young Children’s Nutrition During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Comparative Study
Authors: Bahatheg Raja Omar
Published: April 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries took precautionary steps to save their citizens by initiating a lockdown and stopping all social activities by closing schools, companies, entertainment places, markets, gardens, and other social gathering places. As children stayed at home with no physical activities, their weight may have increased. The purpose of this study was to examine the link between fast food, sugars, or soft drinks and the ongoing domestic lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. This phenomenon was studied in three different cities from three different countries (Saudi Arabia, Britain, and Turkey) from the perspective of children’s parents. The study sought to address three research questions regarding children’s well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown period. First, was children’s nutrition affected during this period? Second, did children's weight increase? Third, were there any statistically significant differences in children’s dietary patterns based on their gender and nationality? A questionnaire was administered to 330 parents of children aged four to seven years in the three targeted countries. The study found that most parents cared about their children's nutrition and prepared food at home (96.1%) during the lockdown. Sixty-three percent of parents indicated that children did not gain weight. Additionally, differences in children’s nutritional systems were found between Saudi and Turkish children; the nutritional system of the Turkish children was better than that of Saudi children during the lockdown. Additionally, there were statistically significant differences in children’s nutrition due to gender, with better nutrition for boys than for girls.
MCDM Application of the Third Vote
Authors: Tangian Andranik
Published: April 2021

When choosing among alternatives, group members may have various preferences regarding the properties of a solution being sought. Since the properties partially do and partially do not meet their collective wishes, the alternatives are in fact better or worse representatives of the collective will. This idea is implemented in the so-called Third Vote election method aimed at enhancing policy representation, and we show how to use it for collective multi-criteria decision making. To be specific, we consider an example of a committee charged with naming a campus library when neither plurality vote nor Condorcet method nor Borda count gives a unique solution. The committee members have differing opinions, such as whether the library should reflect the national affiliation, be named after a great man, relate to sciences, and so forth. Balancing opinion on these issues, the proposed library names are evaluated and the optimal compromise is found.
Exploring sustainability potentials in vineyards through LCA? Evidence from farming practices in South Africa
Authors: Russo V. , Strever A. E. , Ponstein H. J.
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Following the urgency to curb environmental impacts across all sectors globally, this is the first life cycle assessment of different wine grape farming practices suitable for commercial conventional production in South Africa, aiming at better understanding the potentials to reduce adverse effects on the environment and on human health.

Methods

An attributional life cycle assessment was conducted on eight different scenarios that reduce the inputs of herbicides and insecticides compared against a business as usual (BAU) scenario. We assess several impact categories based on ReCiPe, namely global warming potential, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, terrestrial toxicity, freshwater toxicity, marine toxicity, human carcinogenic toxicity and human non-carcinogenic toxicity, human health and ecosystems. A water footprint assessment based on the AWARE method accounts for potential impacts within the watershed.

Results and discussion

Results show that in our impact assessment, more sustainable farming practices do not always outperform the BAU scenario, which relies on synthetic fertiliser and agrochemicals. As a main trend, most of the impact categories were dominated by energy requirements of wine grape production in an irrigated vineyard, namely the usage of electricity for irrigation pumps and diesel for agricultural machinery. The most favourable scenario across the impact categories provided a low diesel usage, strongly reduced herbicides and the absence of insecticides as it applied cover crops and an integrated pest management. Pesticides and heavy metals contained in agrochemicals are the main contributors to emissions to soil that affected the toxicity categories and impose a risk on human health, which is particularly relevant for the manual labour-intensive South African wine sector. However, we suggest that impacts of agrochemicals on human health and the environment are undervalued in the assessment. The 70% reduction of toxic agrochemicals such as Glyphosate and Paraquat and the 100% reduction of Chlorpyriphos in vineyards hardly affected the model results for human and ecotoxicity. Our concerns are magnified by the fact that manual labour plays a substantial role in South African vineyards, increasing the exposure of humans to these toxic chemicals at their workplace.

Conclusions

A more sustainable wine grape production is possible when shifting to integrated grape production practices that reduce the inputs of agrochemicals. Further, improved water and related electricity management through drip irrigation, deficit irrigation and photovoltaic-powered irrigation is recommendable, relieving stress on local water bodies, enhancing drought-preparedness planning and curbing CO2 emissions embodied in products.
Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder: Recent Experimental, Neurobiological Studies, and Implications for Future Research and Treatment
Authors: Krause-Utz Annegret , Frost Rachel , Chatzaki Elianne , Winter Dorina , Schmahl Christian , Elzinga Bernet M.
Published: April 2021

Purpose of Review

The aim of this review article is to give an overview over recent experimental neurobiological research on dissociation in borderline personality disorder (BPD), in order to inform clinicians and to stimulate further research. First, we introduce basic definitions and models that conceptualize dissociation from a transdiagnostic perspective. Then, we discuss recent findings in BPD.

Recent Findings

Stress-related dissociation is a key symptom of BPD, closely linked to other core domains of the disorder (emotion dysregulation, identity disturbances, and interpersonal disturbances). The understanding of neurobiological correlates of dissociation across different psychiatric disorders (e.g., dissociative disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder) is steadily increasing. At the same time, studies explicitly focusing on dissociation in BPD are still scarce.

There is evidence for adverse effects of dissociation on affective-cognitive functioning (e.g., interference inhibition), body perception, and psychotherapeutic treatment response in BPD. On the neural level, increased activity in frontal regions (e.g., inferior frontal gyrus) and temporal areas (e.g., inferior and superior temporal gyrus) during symptom provocation tasks and during resting state was observed, although findings are still diverse and need to be replicated. Conceptual differences and methodological differences in study designs and sample characteristics (e.g., comorbidities, trauma history) hinder a straightforward interpretation and comparison of studies. Given the potentially detrimental impact of dissociation in BPD, more research on the topic is strongly needed to deepen the understanding of this complex clinical condition.
Intron 4–5 hTERT DNA Hypermethylation in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Frequency, Association with Other Clinico-pathological Features and Prognostic Relevance
Authors: Ricci Costantino , Morandi Luca , Ambrosi Francesca , Righi Alberto , Gibertoni Dino , Maletta Francesca , Agostinelli Claudio , Corradini Angelo Gianluca , Uccella Silvia , Asioli Silvia , Sessa Fausto , La Rosa Stefano , Papotti Mauro Giulio , Asioli Sofia
Published: April 2021

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin tumor with neuroendocrine differentiation, mainly affecting elderly population or immunocompromised individuals. As methylation of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (mhTERT) has been shown to be a prognostic factor in different tumors, we investigated its role in MCC, in particular in intron 4–5 where rs10069690 has been mapped and recognized as a cancer susceptibility locus. DNA methylation analysis of hTERT gene was assessed retrospectively in a cohort of 69 MCC patients from the University of Bologna, University of Turin and University of Insubria. Overall mortality was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Royston-Parmar models. High levels of mhTERT (mhTERThigh) (HR = 2.500, p = 0.015) and p63 (HR = 2.659, p = 0.016) were the only two clinico-pathological features significantly associated with a higher overall mortality at the multivariate analysis. We did not find different levels of mhTERT between MCPyV (+) and (−) cases (21 vs 14, p = 0.554); furthermore, mhTERThigh was strongly associated with older age (80.5 vs 72 years, p = 0.026), no angioinvasion (40.7% vs 71.0%, p = 0.015), lower Ki67 (50 vs 70%, p = 0.005), and PD-L1 expressions in both tumor (0 vs 3%, p = 0.021) and immune cells (0 vs 10%, p = 0.002). mhTERT is a frequently involved epigenetic mechanism and a relevant prognostic factor in MCC. In addition, it belongs to the shared oncogenic pathways of MCC (MCPyV and UV-radiations) and it could be crucial, together with other epigenetic and genetic mechanisms as gene amplification, in determining the final levels of hTERT mRNA and telomerase activity in these patients.
Compact textile UWB antenna with hexagonal for biomedical communication
Authors: Parameswari S. , Chitra C.
Published: April 2021

This paper introduces a small-sized, low profile, planar and flexible ultra-wide band (UWB) antenna using Jeans, a textile material as the substrate. A novel shape of hexagonal slot in rectangular step shape patch with partial ground plane is developed with bandwidth of 12 GHz is proposed. It is the primary approach in using natural textile as the substrate for UWB antenna which operated in a wide range of bandwidth. The UWB antenna is designed for short range applications including wireless body area network (WBAN), which is the current revolution with growing demands in wireless sensor networks. The antenna operates from 2.8 to 10.9 GHz, which is a suitable candidate for WBAN operation.
A snapshot in time: a 1-month review of all referrals to paediatric liaison psychiatry services in Dublin following emergency department presentation
Authors: McNicholas Fiona , Parker Sorcha , Barrett Elizabeth
Published: April 2021

Introduction:

An emerging picture has seen increasing numbers of young people with mental health crisis attend paediatric emergency departments in Ireland. Following paediatric review, many are referred to in-house paediatric liaison psychiatry (PLP) services. This pilot study describes referral patterns and practice over a 1-month period across three Dublin centres.

Methods:

Case notes of all referrals to PLP were reviewed to extract relevant clinical and administrative data. For those admitted, costs associated with length of stay were estimated. Clinical profile, management and intra-hospital pathway differences were explored.

Results:

Fifty-nine young people under 16 years presented to one of the three EDs with an acute MH presentation. The sample consisted of 39 females (66%) with a mean age of 13.7 years. The majority (n = 34, 58%) presented out of hours. A substantial portion of youths presenting (n = 37, 63%) were admitted, and had a mean duration of stay of 4.51 days. There were differences between hospitals in terms of frequency of presentation with self-harm, admission rates and length of stay.

Discussion:

Different PLP service configuration, staffing and funding streams may explain some of the differences observed across centres, although the findings should be interpreted with caution given the limited sample size. Standardisation of service provision and management is needed for PLP services. Additional community CAMHS resourcing is needed to support the development of alternative pathways for youth in need of urgent MH review.
Multi-sensor remote sensing to map glacier debris cover in the Greater Caucasus, Georgia
Authors: Holobâcă Iulian-Horia , Tielidze Levan G. , Ivan Kinga , Elizbarashvili Mariam , Alexe Mircea , Germain Daniel , Petrescu Sorin Hadrian , Pop Olimpiu Traian , Gaprindashvili George
Published: April 2021

Global warming is causing glaciers in the Caucasus Mountains and around the world to lose mass at an accelerated pace. As a result of this rapid retreat, significant parts of the glacierized surface area can be covered with debris deposits, often making them indistinguishable from the surrounding land surface by optical remote-sensing systems. Here, we present the DebCovG-carto toolbox to delineate debris-covered and debris-free glacier surfaces from non-glacierized regions. The algorithm uses synthetic aperture radar-derived coherence images and the normalized difference snow index applied to optical satellite data. Validating the remotely-sensed boundaries of Ushba and Chalaati glaciers using field GPS data demonstrates that the use of pairs of Sentinel-1 images (2019) from identical ascending and descending orbits can substantially improve debris-covered glacier surface detection. The DebCovG-carto toolbox leverages multiple orbits to automate the mapping of debris-covered glacier surfaces. This new automatic method offers the possibility of quickly correcting glacier mapping errors caused by the presence of debris and makes automatic mapping of glacierized surfaces considerably faster than the use of other subjective methods.
Segregation, Integration, and Death: Evidence from the Korean War
Authors: Huff Connor , Schub Robert
Published: April 2021

How does the design of military institutions affect who bears the costs of war? We answer this question by studying the transformative shift from segregated to integrated US military units during the Korean War. Combining new micro-level data on combat fatalities with archival data on the deployment and racial composition of military battalions, we show that Black and white soldiers died at similar rates under segregation. Qualitative and quantitative evidence provides one potential explanation for this counterintuitive null finding: acute battlefield concerns necessitated deploying military units wherever soldiers were needed, regardless of their race. We next argue that the mid-war racial integration of units, which tied the fates of soldiers more closely together, should not alter the relative fatality rates. The evidence is consistent with this expectation. Finally, while aggregate fatality rates were equal across races, segregation enabled short-term casualty discrepancies. Under segregation there were high casualty periods for white units followed by high casualty periods for Black units. Integration eliminated this variability. This research note highlights how enshrining segregationist policies within militaries creates permissive conditions for either commanders' choices, or the dictates and variability of conflict, to shape who bears war's costs.
Legibility and External Investment: An Institutional Natural Experiment in Liberia
Authors: Christensen Darin , Hartman Alexandra C. , Samii Cyrus
Published: April 2021

We address a debate over the effects of private versus customary property rights on external investment. Despite political economists’ claims that external investors favor private property rights, other experts argue that customary systems enable large-scale “land grabs.” We organize these competing claims, highlighting trade-offs due to differences in legibility versus the ability to displace existing landholders under both systems. We study a natural experiment in Liberia, where law codifies parallel private and customary property rights systems. We use this institutional boundary and difference-in-differences methods to isolate differential changes in external investment under the different property rights systems following the global food crisis of 2007–08. We find a larger increase in land clearing where private property rights prevailed, with such clearing related to more concession activity. Qualitative study of a palm oil concession reveals challenges external investors confront when navigating customary systems.
Pool or Duel? Cooperation and Competition Among International Organizations
Authors: Clark Richard
Published: April 2021

International organizations (IOs) increasingly pool resources and expertise. Under what conditions do they pool rather than compete when their activities overlap? Drawing on elite interviews, I argue that even though many cooperation decisions are made by staff possessing high degrees of autonomy from member state principals, IOs are more likely to pool resources when their leading stakeholders are geopolitically aligned. Regardless of whether member states directly oversee the negotiation of these arrangements, staff design policies that are amenable to major stakeholders. I test this argument with regression analysis of an original data set that documents patterns of co-financing and information sharing among IOs in the development issue area. I further supplement these tests with an elite survey experiment deployed via LinkedIn to bureaucrats from various development IOs. Across the board, I find evidence consistent with my theory.
Transnational blindness: International institutions and refugees’ cross-border activities
Authors: Betts Alexander , Omata Naohiko , Sterck Olivier
Published: April 2021

The Dollo Ado refugee camps, located close to the Ethiopian-Somali border, have been a major focus for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)'s attempts to build livelihoods for refugees and the host community. The context presents an analytical puzzle: despite the importance of cross-border activity to refugees’ socioeconomic lives, such transnational activity has been institutionally invisible to and hindered by the international agencies seeking to assist them. The article explores how and why refugees’ cross-border activities have been systematically ignored by international institutions. As a theoretical starting point, it draws upon the post-development literature, and notably the work of James Ferguson, which explores how international institutions frequently misunderstand the agency and strategies of their subject populations. However,contraFerguson's predominantly Foucauldian methodological and epistemologically approach, the article adopts a mixed methods approach, and emphasises the agency of aid workers, bureaucratic politics, and political economy in its account of the disjuncture between international institutions’ state-centric livelihoods programmes and refugees’ own cross-border economic strategies.
Obviously undergoing change: Adverbs of evidentiality across time and space
Authors: Tagliamonte Sali A. , Smith Jennifer
Published: April 2021

Increasingly globalized communication networks in the modern world may influence traditional patterns of linguistic change: in contrast to an orderlysequentialpathway of change, more recently a number of “mega trends” have been identified, which acceleratesimultaneouslyin time and space. The rise ofobviouslywithin the cohort of adverbs of evidentiality—naturally, evidently, clearly,andof course—may be one such trend. To examine this possibility, we conduct a large-scale sociolinguistic analysis of c12,000 adverbs of evidentiality across over thirty communities in the UK and Canada. The results reveal parallel development across time and space:obviouslyadvances rapidly among individuals born in the 1960s in both countries. The rise ofobviouslyillustrates key attributes that are beginning to emerge from other rapidly innovating features: “off the shelf” changes that (1) are easily borrowed, (2) receptive to global trends, but (3) exhibit parallel patterns as the change progresses.
Akutes traumatisches Central-Cord-Syndrom: Ätiologie, Pathophysiologie, klinische Manifestation und Behandlung
Authors: Tosic Lazar , Voglis Stefanos , Bellut David , Sprengel Kai , Regli Luca , Stienen Martin N.
Published: April 2021

Zusammenfassung. Das akute traumatische Central-Cord-Syndrom (ATCCS) stellt eine Rückenmarkverletzung mit unverhältnismässig stärkerer motorischer Beeinträchtigung der oberen als der unteren Extremitäten, Blasenfunktionsstörung und unterschiedlich starkem sensorischem Verlust unterhalb des Niveaus der Läsion dar. Der Mechanismus des ATCCS ist am häufigsten eine traumatische Hyperextensionsverletzung der Halswirbelsäule auf dem Boden einer zugrunde liegenden Spondylose und Spinalkanalstenose. Das mittlere Alter beträgt 53 Jahre, und am häufigsten sind die Segmente C4–Th1 betroffen. Neben Anamnese und klinischer Untersuchung wird die definitive Diagnose mittels Magnetresonanztomografie gestellt. Hierbei zeigt sich typischerweise eine T2-hyperintense Läsion im betroffenen Rückenmarkssegment. Eine chirurgische Dekompression (und Fusion) des betroffenen Segments ist sinnvoll, um erneuten Traumata des Rückenmarks und einer Progredienz der klinischen Symptome vorzubeugen. Patientinnen und Patienten, die an einem ATCCS erkranken und entsprechend behandelt wurden, haben in der Regel eine gute Prognose.
CME/Antworten: Borrelien-Manifestationen am Bewegungsapparat
Authors: Fiore Vittorio , Rakusa Julia , Fehr Thomas , Wick Jürg
Published: April 2021

Zusammenfassung. Die Lyme-Borreliose ist die häufigste durch Vektoren übertragene Krankheit in der Schweiz und die Lyme- Arthritis die häufigste Manifestation der Borreliose im Spätstadium. Sie stellt sich als Monoarthitis oder Oligoarthritis in grossen Gelenken dar, wobei das Kniegelenk am häufigsten betroffen ist. Das klinische Bild zusammen mit einer positiven Serologie oder Polymerasekettenreaktionen aus Synovialflüssigkeit/Gewebe bestätigt die Diagnose. Wenn in der Anamnese kein Zeckenstich oder Erythema migrans vorliegt, kann die Diagnosestellung aufgrund der vielen Differenzialdiagnosen eine Herausforderung sein. Die Erstbehandlung ist eine verlängerte Therapie mit oralen Antibiotika.
Modeling Profiles of Micrometeorological Variables in a Tropical Premontane Rainforest Using Multi‐Layered CLM (CLM‐ML)
Authors: Song Jaeyoung , Miller Gretchen R. , Cahill Anthony T. , Aparecido Luiza Maria T. , Moore Georgianne W.
Published: April 2021

This study updates the multi‐layered Community Land Model (CLM‐ml) for hillslopes and compares predictions from against observations collected in tropical montane rainforest, Costa Rica. Modifications are made in order to capture a wider array of vertical leaf area distributions, predict CO2 profiles, account for soil respiration, and adjust wind forcings for difficult topographic settings. Test results indicate that the modified multi‐layer CLM model can successfully replicate the shape of various micrometeorological profiles (humidity, CO2, temperature, and wind speed) under the canopy. In the single‐layer models (CLM4.5 and CLM5), excessive day‐to‐night differences in leaf temperature and leaf wetness were originally noted, but CLM‐ml significantly improved these issues, decreasing the amplitudes of diurnal cycles by 67% and 47%. Sub‐canopy considerations, such as canopy shapes and turbulent transfer parameters, also played a significant role in model performance. More importantly, unlike single layer models, the results that CLM‐ml produces can be compared to variables measured within the canopy to provide far more detailed diagnostic information. Further observations and model developments, aimed at reflecting surface heterogeneity, will be necessary to adequately capture the complexity and the features of the tropical montane rainforest.
Dextral Strike‐Slip and Normal Faulting During Middle Miocene Back‐Arc Extension and Westward Anatolia Extrusion in Central Greece
Authors: Faucher Agathe , Gueydan Frédéric , Jolivet Marc , Alsaif Manar , Célérier Bernard
Published: April 2021

The present‐day Aegean tectonic configuration is marked by the interplay between Hellenic slab rollback and Anatolian extrusion, explaining the formation of extensional basins and dextral strike‐slip faults. We aim to constrain middle Miocene activity of dextral strike‐slip and normal faults in Central Greece with structural analysis and low‐temperature data. We show that onshore middle Miocene basins are controlled by both NW‐striking normal faults and NE‐striking dextral strike‐slip faults. E‐striking normal faults developed during the Plio‐Quaternary inside pre‐existing NW‐striking fault zones. Stress tensor calculations show that in the middle Miocene, NW‐striking normal faults and NE‐striking dextral faults are compatible, confirming their coeval activity. In contrast, the Plio‐Quaternary stress tensor suggests an almost N‐S radial extension, which is not compatible with NE‐striking dextral faults in Central Greece. Apatite fission‐track data additionally constrain middle Miocene local cooling near NW‐striking normal faults. They also support a difference in the amount of exhumation between Central Greece and the Cyclades, likely accommodated by the Pelagonian dextral strike‐slip fault. We propose that in the middle Miocene, the co‐existence of dextral strike‐slip and normal faults is associated with an almost N‐S extension related to trench retreat and an E‐W compression related to westward extrusion of Anatolia. The progressive trench curvature during rollback implies block rotation, accommodated by the Pelagonian fault, and subsequent normal fault and extensional stress rotation. During the Plio‐Quaternary, a change in extensional direction from NE‐SW to N‐S implies the formation of E‐striking normal faults inside NW‐striking fault zones, defining oblique rift systems.
Discovery of a novel RORγ antagonist with skin-restricted exposure for topical treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis
Authors: Liu Suxing , Liu Dong , Shen Ru , Li Di , Hu Qiyue , Yan Yinfa , Sun Jiakang , Zhang Fengqi , Wan Hong , Dong Ping , Feng Jun , Zhang Rumin , Li Jing , Zhang Lianshan , Tao Weikang
Published: April 2021

Clinical success of IL-17/IL-23 pathway biologics for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis suggests that targeting RORγt, a master regulator for the proliferation and function of Th17 cells, could be an effective alternative. However, oral RORγ antagonists (VTP43742, TAK828) with high systemic exposure showed toxicity in phase I/II clinical trials and terminated development. To alleviate the potential safety concerns, identifying compounds with skin-restricted exposure amenable for topical use is of great interest. Systematic structure activity relationship study and multi-parameter optimization led to the discovery of a novel RORγ antagonist (SHR168442) with desired properties for a topical drug. It suppressed the transcription of IL-17 gene, leading to reduction of IL-17 cytokine secretion. It showed high exposure in skin, but low in plasma. Topical application of SHR168442 in Vaseline exhibited excellent efficacy in the imiquimod-induced and IL-23-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation mouse models and correlated with the reduction of Th17 pathway cytokines, IL-6, TNFα and IL-17A. This work demonstrated restricted skin exposure of RORγ antagonist may provide a new topical treatment option as targeted therapeutics for mild to moderate psoriasis patients and may be suitable for the treatment of any other inflammatory disorders that are accessible locally.
Anthropogenic drought dominates groundwater depletion in Iran
Authors: Ashraf Samaneh , Nazemi Ali , AghaKouchak Amir
Published: April 2021

Using publicly-available average monthly groundwater level data in 478 sub-basins and 30 basins in Iran, we quantify country-wide groundwater depletion in Iran. Natural and anthropogenic elements affecting the dynamics of groundwater storage are taken into account and quantified during the period of 2002–2015. We estimate that the total groundwater depletion in Iran to be ~ 74 km3 during this period with highly localized and variable rates of change at basin and sub-basin scales. The impact of depletion in Iran’s groundwater reserves is already manifested by extreme overdrafts in ~ 77% of Iran’s land area, a growing soil salinity across the entire country, and increasing frequency and extent of land subsidence in Iran’s planes. While meteorological/hydrological droughts act as triggers and intensify the rate of depletion in country-wide groundwater storage, basin-scale groundwater depletions in Iran are mainly caused by extensive human water withdrawals. We warn that continuation of unsustainable groundwater management in Iran can lead to potentially irreversible impacts on land and environment, threatening country’s water, food, socio-economic security.
Providing an optimized model to detect driver genes from heterogeneous cancer samples using restriction in subspace learning
Authors: Ebadi Ali Reza , Soleimani Ali , Ghaderzadeh Abdulbaghi
Published: April 2021

Extracting the drivers from genes with mutation, and segregation of driver and passenger genes are known as the most controversial issues in cancer studies. According to the heterogeneity of cancer, it is not possible to identify indicators under a group of associated drivers, in order to identify a group of patients with diseases related to these subgroups. Therefore, the precise identification of the related driver genes using artificial intelligence techniques is still considered as a challenge for researchers. In this research, a new method has been developed using the subspace learning method, unsupervised learning, and with more constraints. Accordingly, it has been attempted to extract the driver genes with more precision and accurate results. The obtained results show that the proposed method is more to predict the driver genes and subgroups of driver genes which have the highest degree of overlap due to p-value with known driver genes in valid databases. Driver genes are the benchmark of MsigDB which have more overlap compared to them as selected driver genes. In this article, in addition to including the driver genes defined in previous work, introduce newer driver genes. The minister will define newer groups of driver genes compared to other methods the p-value of the proposed method was 9.21e-7 better than previous methods for 200 genes. Due to the overlap and newer driver genes and driver gene group and subgroups. The results show that the p value of the proposed method is about 2.7 times less than the driver sub method due to overlap, indicating that the proposed method can identify driver genes in cancerous tumors with greater accuracy and reliability.
Differential proteomics of tobacco seedling roots at high and low potassium concentrations
Authors: Dai Lin-jian , Liu Yu-kun , Zhu Chong-wen , Zhong Jun
Published: April 2021

The effects of high potassium and normal potassium treatments on protein expression in roots of flue-cured tobacco plant HKDN-5 at the seedling stage were analyzed by an unlabeled protein quantification technique. The results showed that 555 proteins were differentially expressed (245 proteins were down-regulated and 310 proteins were up-regulated) in high potassium treatment compared with normal potassium treatment. Differentially expressed proteins were involved in 96 metabolic pathways (42 metabolic pathways, 21 synthetic pathways as well as catabolic pathways, including fatty acid metabolism, phenylpropane biosynthesis, ketone body synthesis and degradation, and butyric acid metabolism. Root processing of high potassium concentrations leads to increases in the synthesis of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and acyl-coenzyme-A synthetase. Additional proteomic differences observed in tobacco roots grown in high potassium include proteins involved with genetic information processing as well as environmental sensing. Examples include RNA helicase, ABC transporters and large subunit GTPases. These up-regulated differentially expressed proteins function mainly in protein translation, ribosome structure and protein synthesis. This indicates that under high potassium treatment, root protein synthetic processes are accelerated and substance metabolism pathways are enhanced; thus, providing the material and energetic basis for root growth.
Author Correction: Vertical migration by bulk phytoplankton sustains biodiversity and nutrient input to the surface ocean
Authors: Wirtz Kai , Smith S. Lan
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Author Correction: Incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality in Korean patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Ryu Hyunjin , Kim Jayoun , Kang Eunjeong , Hong Yeji , Chae Dong‑Wan , Choi Kyu Hun , Han Seung Hyeok , Yoo Tae Hyun , Lee Kyubeck , Kim Yong‑Soo , Chung Wookyung , Oh Yun Kyu , Kim Soo Wan , Kim Yeong Hoon , Sung Su Ah , Lee Joongyub , Park Sue K. , Ahn Curie , Oh Kook‑Hwan ,   Representing KNOW‑CKD Study Group
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Post-synthesis modification of slide-ring gels for thermal and mechanical reconfiguration
Authors: Dikshit Karan , Bruns Carson J.
Published: April 2021

Post-synthetic modifications of slide-ring gels derived from cyclodextrin–PEG polyrotaxanes yield thermally responsive ring-functionalized hydrogels, as well as macroscopic reconfiguration of gel shape and composition by a cut-and-paste approach.
Oxidation of Pd(ii) with disilane in a palladium-catalyzed disilylation of aryl halides: a theoretical view
Authors: Zhang Jing , Liu Shihan , Zhang Tao , Liu Tao , Lan Yu
Published: April 2021

DFT calculations were employed to study the mechanism of the Pd-catalyzed disilylation reaction of aryl halides, accompanying the discussion of the oxidizing ability of disilane and aryl halides.
Organophosphorus decorated lithium borate and phosphate salts with extended π-conjugated backbone
Authors: Delgado Rosario Emalyn , Rectenwald Michael F. , Gaffen Joshua R. , Rheingold Arnold L. , Protasiewicz John D.
Published: April 2021

Several new bifunctional salts, Li[B(DPN)2], Li[B(DPN)(ox)] and Li[P(DPN)3], have been prepared from the phosphorus(v)-containing chelating ligand 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene-1,4-(tetraethyl)bis(phosphonate) (H2-DPN).
Predicting human touch sensitivity to single atom substitutions in surface monolayers for molecular control in tactile interfaces
Authors: Nolin Abigail , Licht Amanda , Pierson Kelly , Lo Chun-Yuan , Kayser Laure V. , Dhong Charles
Published: April 2021

We control the sense of touch through materials chemistry. To find tactile materials, we developed methods to screen materials and found that humans could distinguish surface monolayers which differed by a single atom substitution.
A Systematic Review of Research on Augmentative and Alternative Communication Interventions for Children Aged 6–10 in the Last Decade
Authors: Langarika-Rocafort Argia , Mondragon Nahia Idoiaga , Etxebarrieta Gorka Roman
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this systematic review was to identify, appraise, and critically synthesize the latest available evidence on the effects of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)-based interventions on communication skills in children aged between 6 and 10 years with mixed diagnoses.

Method

MEDLINE (OVID), PsycINFO (EBSCO), ERIC (ProQuest), SCIELO (WOS), Teacher Reference Center (EBSCO), and Education Database (ProQuest) were searched. The studies were independently selected by two reviewers for the purposes of the review. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed, and characteristics and results of the studies were extracted.

Results

This review included 14 studies from a total of 1,204 found through an electronic search. The AAC interventions studied were effective at improving various outcomes in children with mixed diagnoses. Interventions that focused on narrative skills were the most common type. When considering the quality of the studies, the independence of assessors, data analysis, replication, and generalization of interventions were the weaker areas.

Conclusions

Interventions analyzed in this review improve communication skills, including phonological awareness, vocabulary, requesting, and developing narrative skills in children aged between 6 and 10 years with mixed diagnoses. The results of one study also indicate that the acquisition of skills using an AAC method is superior when the child prefers the method.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14462256
Self-calibration and robust propagation of photometric redshift distribution uncertainties in weak gravitational lensing
Authors: Stölzner B. , Joachimi B. , Korn A. , Hildebrandt H. , Wright A. H.
Published: April 2021

We present a method that accurately propagates residual uncertainties in photometric redshift distributions into the cosmological inference from weak lensing measurements. The redshift distributions of tomographic redshift bins are parameterised using a flexible modified Gaussian mixture model. We fit this model to pre-calibrated redshift distributions and implement an analytic marginalisation over the potentially several hundred redshift nuisance parameters in the weak lensing likelihood, which is demonstrated to accurately recover the cosmological posterior. By iteratively fitting cosmological and nuisance parameters arising from the redshift distribution model, we perform a self-calibration of the redshift distributions via the tomographic cosmic shear measurements. Our method is applied to KV450 data, which comprises a combination of the third data release of the Kilo-Degree Survey and the VISTA Kilo-Degree Infrared Galaxy Survey. We find constraints on cosmological parameters that are in very good agreement with the fiducial KV450 cosmic shear analysis and investigate the effects of the more flexible model on the self-calibrated redshift distributions. We observe posterior shifts in the medians of the five tomographic redshift distributions of up to Δz ≈ 0.02, which are, however, degenerate with an observed decrease in the amplitude of intrinsic galaxy alignments of about 10%.
Diversity of nuclear star cluster formation mechanisms revealed by their star formation histories
Authors: Fahrion K. , Lyubenova M. , van de Ven G. , Hilker M. , Leaman R. , Falcón-Barroso J. , Bittner A. , Coccato L. , Corsini E. M. , Gadotti D. A. , Iodice E. , McDermid R. M. , Martín-Navarro I. , Pinna F. , Poci A. , Sarzi M. , de Zeeuw P. T. , Zhu L.
Published: April 2021

Nuclear star clusters (NSCs) are the densest stellar systems in the Universe and are found in the centres of all types of galaxies. They are thought to form via mergers of star clusters such as ancient globular clusters (GCs) that spiral to the centre as a result of dynamical friction or through in situ star formation directly at the galaxy centre. There is evidence that both paths occur, but the relative contribution of either channel and their correlation with galaxy properties are not yet constrained observationally. Our aim was to derive the dominant NSC formation channel for a sample of 25 nucleated galaxies, mostly in the Fornax galaxy cluster, with stellar masses between Mgal ∼ 108 and 1010.5 M⊙ and NSC masses between MNSC ∼ 105 and 108.5 M⊙. Using Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer data from the Fornax 3D survey and the ESO archive, we derived star formation histories, mean ages, and metallicities of NSCs, and compared them to the host galaxies. In many low-mass galaxies, the NSCs are significantly more metal poor than their hosts, with properties similar to GCs. In contrast, in the massive galaxies we find diverse star formation histories and cases of ongoing or recent in situ star formation. Massive NSCs (> 107 M⊙) occupy a different region in the mass–metallicity diagram than lower-mass NSCs and GCs, indicating a different enrichment history. We find a clear transition of the dominant NSC formation channel with both galaxy and NSC mass. We hypothesise that while GC accretion forms the NSCs of the dwarf galaxies, central star formation is responsible for the efficient mass build up in the most massive NSCs in our sample. At intermediate masses both channels can contribute. The transition between these formation channels seems to occur at galaxy masses Mgal ∼ 109 M⊙ and NSC masses MNSC ∼ 107 M⊙.
Valorisation des déchets ligno-cellulosiques pour la préparation d’un nouveau matériau composite PVC/farine des noyaux de dattes
Authors: Sahi Samira , Djidjelli Hocine , Touazi Souad , Boukerrou Amar
Published: April 2021

Afin de limiter l’utilisation des énergies fossiles et de valoriser les déchets ligno-cellulosiques, les composites à fibres naturelles s’inscrivent dans un contexte favorable qui permettra de répondre à des enjeux environnementaux, économiques et sociaux grâce à leurs propriétés de faible coût, faible densité, renouvelables et de biodégradabilité. L’objectif de cette étude est de développer un nouveau matériau composite constitué d’une matrice thermoplastique, le polychlorure de vinyle (PVC), renforcée par des fibres naturelles à base des noyaux de dattes (FND) avec des taux de charge allant de 10 à 40 % massique. Différentes techniques d’analyses ont été utilisées pour étudier les propriétés mécaniques, morphologiques et la perméabilité d’eau des échantillons obtenus. Les résultats enregistrés indiquent que la contrainte à la rupture diminue avec l’augmentation du taux de charge en FND tandis que la rigidité augmente. L’analyse morphologique par microscopie électronique à balayage (MEB) montre une meilleure dispersion pour de faible taux de charge en FND. Une très faible absorption d’eau a été enregistrée.
New cosmic ray observations at Syowa Station in the Antarctic for space weather study
Authors: Kato Chihiro , Kihara Wataru , Ko Yukino , Kadokura Akira , Kataoka Ryuho , Evenson Paul , Uchida Satoru , Kaimi So , Nakamura Yoshiaki , Uchida Herbert Akihito , Murase Kiyoka , Munakata Kazuoki
Published: April 2021

Muon detectors and neutron monitors were recently installed at Syowa Station, in the Antarctic, to observe different types of secondary particles resulting from cosmic ray interactions simultaneously from the same location. Continuing observations will give new insight into the response of muon detectors to atmospheric and geomagnetic effects. Operation began in February, 2018 and the system has been stable with a duty-cycle exceeding 94%. Muon data shows a clear seasonal variation, which is expected from the atmospheric temperature effect. We verified successful operation by showing that the muon and neutron data are consistent with those from other locations by comparing intensity variations during a space weather event. We have established a web page to make real time data available with interactive graphics (http://polaris.nipr.ac.jp/cosmicrays/).