bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The controversial debate on the role of water reservoirs in reducing water scarcity
Authors: Kellner Elke
Published: February 2021

Reservoirs are built worldwide for a higher water supply in dry periods by storing water temporarily in wet periods. Recent socio‐hydrology studies hypothesized, by creating “supply–demand cycles”, that reservoirs can lead indirectly to counterintuitive dynamics such as more water scarcity and a higher economic and social vulnerability. This opinion argues that reservoirs are part of co‐evolutionary processes with natural, social, and engineered elements and therefore, water scarcity need to be analyzed within socio‐political interactions. Aspects such as (a) institutions; (b) governance processes; (c) social–ecological factors; (d) narratives of water scarcity; and (e) powerful economic interests are essential to understand feedback mechanisms between reservoirs and water scarcity and to hypothesize long‐term phenomena such as water scarcity. Neglecting these interactions could lead to biased research agendas, misleading conclusions, and adverse effects on the transformation process toward sustainability. Given the complexity of social–ecological systems, the diversity and critical capacity of inter‐ and transdisciplinary work is crucial to further advance the study of unintended side effects of reservoirs or — more general — the study of socio‐hydrology.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water
Uncovering targets of the Leader protease: Linking RNA‐mediated pathways and antiviral defense
Authors: Saiz Margarita , Martinez‐Salas Encarnacion
Published: February 2021

RNA viruses have developed specialized mechanisms to subvert host RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) favoring their own gene expression. The Leader (L) protein of foot‐and‐mouth disease virus, a member of the Picornaviridae family, is a papain‐like cysteine protease that self‐cleaves from the polyprotein. Early in infection, the L protease cleaves the translation initiation factors eIF4GI and eIF4GII, inducing the shutdown of cap‐dependent translation. However, the cleavage sites on the viral polyprotein, eIF4GI, and eIF4GII differ in sequence, challenging the definition of a consensus site for L targets. Identification of Gemin5 and Daxx proteolytic products in infected cells unveiled a motif centered on the RKAR sequence. The RBP Gemin5 is a member of the survival of motor neurons complex, a ribosome interacting protein, and a translation downregulator. Likewise, the Fas‐ligand Daxx is a multifunctional adaptor that plays key roles in transcription control, apoptosis, and innate immune antiviral response. Remarkably, the cleavage site on the RNA helicases MDA5 and LGP2, two relevant immune sensors of the retinoic acid‐inducible gene‐I (RIG‐I)‐like receptors family, resembles the L target site of Gemin5 and Daxx, and similar cleavage sites have been reported in ISG15 and TBK1, two proteins involved in type I interferon response and signaling pathway, respectively. In this review we dissect the features of the L cleavage sites in essential RBPs, eventually helping in the discovery of novel L targets.

This article is categorized under:

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease

Translation > Translation Regulation
Cross‐talk between autophagy and sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Barve Gaurav , Manjithaya Ravi
Published: February 2021

Unicellular organisms, like yeast, have developed mechanisms to overcome environmental stress conditions like nutrient starvation. Autophagy and sporulation are two such mechanisms employed by yeast cells. Autophagy is a well‐conserved, catabolic process that degrades excess and unwanted cytoplasmic materials and provides building blocks during starvation conditions. Thus, autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis at basal conditions and acts as a survival mechanism during stress conditions. Sporulation is an essential process that, like autophagy, is triggered due to stress conditions in yeast. It involves the formation of ascospores that protect the yeast cells during extreme conditions and germinate when the conditions are favorable. Studies show that autophagy is required for the sporulation process in yeast. However, the exact mechanism of action is not clear. Furthermore, several of the core autophagy gene knockouts do not sporulate and at what stage of sporulation they are involved is not clear. Besides, many overlapping proteins function in both sporulation and autophagy and it is unclear how the pathway‐specific roles of these proteins are determined. All these observations suggest that the two processes cross‐talk. Individually, some key features from both the processes remain to be studied with respect to the source of membrane for autophagosomes, prospore membrane (PSM) formation, and closure of the membranes. Therefore, it becomes crucial to study the cross‐talk between autophagy and sporulation. In this review, the cross‐talk between the two pathways, the common protein machineries have been discussed.
Tracking and Traceability
Authors: Van der Gouw Lex
Published: February 2021

The ability to trace a cellular product from donor to patient and vice versa is essential for the patient’s safety. Uniform product description as well as standardization of product labelling is necessary to ensure adequate tracking and tracing of cellular products.

Also, with the increasing use of automated systems, accurate and unambiguous electronic transfer of product information is critical.

Standardization comprises several elements which together will form an ‘information environment’. Together with electronic standards such as ISBT128 and Eurocode, this will further enhance safety, accuracy and efficiency in tracking and tracing cellular products.
Document Development, Implementation, Review, Archive, and Disposal
Authors: van Sinderen Nick
Published: February 2021

The challenges in setting up a document management system are both technical and organizational. Both need to be addressed to achieve success. Time is required to make a thorough inventory of system requirements, whether electronic or paper-based, and to organize the team that will maintain the system. It is crucial that key stakeholders are involved from the beginning and that they see the value of the quality system in improving clinical care. Routine use by all staff will prevent it from being seen as a burdensome additional imposition due to the need for JACIE accreditation. When fully implemented, the documents and policies become a readily accessible, clinically relevant, educational resource that improves patient care.
Qualification and Validation
Authors: Monteleone Renza , Klarmann Dieter
Published: February 2021

Qualification and validation are integral components of the quality risk management system. Decisions about the scope and extent of qualification and validation should be based on detailed and documented risk assessments performed by the key transplant program personnel (collection/processing/clinical) who are responsible for critical aspects of the relevant operations over the life cycle of the product or process.
Outcome Analysis
Authors: Emmett Anne
Published: February 2021

To understand and hence improve the positive impact of any healthcare activity, procedure or intervention, it is essential that there is an objective analysis of the activity, procedure or intervention based on predetermined standards.

In the field of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, outcome analysis is the process by which the results of a transplant procedure are formally assessed. It includes a series of reviews for evaluating the effectiveness of the health care provided and for identifying the most promising therapies and transplant approaches, given the available medical evidence and healthcare resources.

Outcome analysis allows the transplant team to understand the effects of their practice and improve quality. Its relevance is due to transplant involving high treatment-related risk, significant practice variations, and continual practice developments – for example, recent developments in CAR-T and IEC therapies.

The main aim of this chapter is to discuss how to find outcome data and how and when to present it. This will need to be adapted to the local programme.
Personnel Requirements Including Job Descriptions
Authors: Tepebasi Songul , Kozanoglu Ilknur
Published: February 2021

Personnel are one of the most important parts of the quality management system within any haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy programme. Two main steps establish the quality management activities in relation to personnel. The first step is the creation of a well-defined organisational chart; the second step is the appointment of the correct employee for the correct job and responsibilities, with opportunities for continuous development of their competencies. Job descriptions for personnel should not be limiting and should support continuous professional development. In addition, accurate and frequent communication will increase cooperation within cellular therapy centres, minimise margins of error and contribute positively to patient care.
Eigenbranes in Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity
Authors: Blommaert Andreas , Mertens Thomas G. , Verschelde Henri
Published: February 2021

Abstract

It was proven recently that JT gravity can be defined as an ensemble of L × L Hermitian matrices. We point out that the eigenvalues of the matrix correspond in JT gravity to FZZT-type boundaries on which spacetimes can end. We then investigate an ensemble of matrices with 1 ≪ N ≪ L eigenvalues held fixed. This corresponds to a version of JT gravity which includes N FZZT type boundaries in the path integral contour and which is found to emulate a discrete quantum chaotic system. In particular this version of JT gravity can capture the behavior of finite-volume holographic correlators at late times, including erratic oscillations.
Completeness and complementarity for μ → eγ, μ → $$ e\overline{e}e $$ and μA → eA
Authors: Davidson S.
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Lepton Flavour Violation (LFV) is New Physics that must occur, but is stringently constrained by experiments searching for μ ↔ e flavour change, such as μ → eγ, μ →$$ e\overline{e}e $$
e

e
¯

e
or μ → e conversion. However, in an Effective Field Theory(EFT) parametrisation, there are many more μ ↔ e operators than restrictive constraints, so determining operator coefficients from data is a remote dream. It is nonetheless interesting to learn about New Physics from data, so this manuscript introduces “observable-vectors” in the space of operator coefficients, which identify at any scale the combination of coefficients probed by the observable. These vectors have an overlap ≳ 10−3 with most of the coefficients, and are used to study whether μ → eγ, μ →$$ e\overline{e}e $$
e

e
¯

e
and μ → e conversion give complementary information about New Physics. The appendix gives updated sensitivities of these processes, (and a subset of τ → ℓ decays), to operator coefficients at the weak scale in the SMEFT and in the EFT below mW.
Stability Estimates for Phase Retrieval from Discrete Gabor Measurements
Authors: Alaifari Rima , Wellershoff Matthias
Published: February 2021

Phase retrieval refers to the problem of recovering some signal (which is often modelled as an element of a Hilbert space) from phaseless measurements. It has been shown that in the deterministic setting phase retrieval from frame coefficients is always unstable in infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces (Cahill et al. in Trans Am Math Soc Ser B 3(3):63–76, 2016) and possibly severely ill-conditioned in finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces (Cahill et al. in Trans Am Math Soc Ser B 3(3):63–76, 2016). Recently, it has also been shown that phase retrieval from measurements induced by the Gabor transform with Gaussian window function is stable under a more relaxed semi-global phase recovery regime based on atoll functions (Alaifari in Found Comput Math 19(4):869–900, 2019). In finite dimensions, we present first evidence that this semi-global reconstruction regime allows one to do phase retrieval from measurements of bandlimited signals induced by the discrete Gabor transform in such a way that the corresponding stability constant only scales like a low order polynomial in the space dimension. To this end, we utilise reconstruction formulae which have become common tools in recent years (Bojarovska and Flinth in J Fourier Anal Appl 22(3):542–567, 2016; Eldar et al. in IEEE Signal Process Lett 22(5):638–642, 2014; Li et al. in IEEE Signal Process Lett 24(4):372–376, 2017; Nawab et al. in IEEE Trans Acoust Speech Signal Process 31(4):986–998, 1983).
Fine mapping of a thrips resistance QTL in Capsicum and the role of diterpene glycosides in the underlying mechanism
Authors: van Haperen Pauline , Voorrips Roeland E. , van Kaauwen Martijn , van Eekelen Henriëtte D. L. M. , de Vos Ric C. H. , van Loon Joop J. A. , Vosman Ben
Published: February 2021

Key message

A major thrips resistance QTL inCapsicumwas fine-mapped to a region of 0.4 Mbp, and a multidisciplinary approach has been used to study putative underlying mechanisms.

Resistance to thrips is an important trait for pepper growers. These insects can cause extensive damage to fruits, flowers and leaves on field and greenhouse grown plants worldwide. Two independent studies inCapsicumidentified diterpene glycosides as metabolites that are correlated with thrips resistance. In this study, we fine-mapped a previously defined thrips resistance QTL on chromosome 6, to a region of 0.4 Mbp harbouring 15 genes. Two of these 15 candidate genes showed differences in gene expression upon thrips induction, when comparing plants carrying the resistance allele in homozygous state to plants with the susceptibility allele in homozygous state for the QTL region. Three genes, including the two genes that showed difference in gene expression, contained a SNP that was predicted to lead to changes in protein structure. Therefore, these three genes, i.e. an acid phosphatase 1 (APS1), an organic cation/carnitine transporter 7 (OCT7) and an uncharacterized locus LOC107874801, are the most likely candidates for playing a role in thrips resistance and are a first step in elucidating the genetic basis of thrips resistance inCapsicum. In addition, we show that the diterpene glycoside profiles did not differ between plants with the resistance and susceptibility allele for the chromosome 6 QTL, suggesting that these compounds do not play a role in the resistance conferred by the genes located in the major thrips resistance QTL studied.
The bone microstructure from anterior cruciate ligament footprints is similar after ligament reconstruction and does not affect long-term outcomes
Authors: Stolarz Mateusz , Rajca Jolanta , Cyganik Paulina , Karpe Jacek , Wrobel Zygmunt , Binkowski Marcin , Humpa Filip , Janik Małgorzata , Czyzewski Damian , Kwiatkowski Zbigniew , Ficek Krzysztof
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of the bone tissue microstructure from the footprints of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and its impact on late follow-up outcomes in patients who undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Methods

The records of 26 patients diagnosed with a completely torn ACL who underwent ACLR were collected. During the surgery performed using the Felmet method, bone blocks from the native ACL footprints were collected. The primary measurements of the bone microstructure were made using a microtomographic scanner. In late follow-up examinations, a GNRB arthrometer was used.

Results

There was no significant difference in the bone microstructure assessed using micro-CT histomorphometric data according to the blood test results, plain radiographs, age or anthropometric data. There was no difference in the bone volume/total volume ratio or trabecular thickness in the area of the native ACL footprints. Routine preoperative examinations were not relevant to the quality of the bone microstructure. The elapsed time from an ACL injury to surgery had no relevance to the results of arthrometry.

Conclusion

The similarities in the microstructure of bone blocks from ACL footprints from the femur and tibia allow the variable use of these blocks to stabilize grafts in the Felmet method. The bone microstructure is not dependent on the time from injury to surgery. Histomorphometric values of the structure of the femoral and tibial ACL footprints have no impact on the long-term stability of the operated knee joint.

Trial registration

The approval of the Bioethics Committee of the Silesian Medical Chamber in Katowice, Poland (resolution 16/2014) was given for this research.

Level of evidence

II.
Safety profile of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapies (CAR-T) in clinical practice
Authors: Bonaldo Giulia , Montanaro Nicola , AlbertoVaccheri  , Motola Domenico
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Two chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies have been approved in the United States (USA) in 2017 and Europe (EU) in 2018: axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel. They contain the patient’s own T cells, which are extracted, genetically modified, and reinfused. Alongside the good efficacy results, the assessment of safety profile of these new therapies represents a great challenge. Our aim was to analyze the reports of the adverse drug reactions (ADR) after CAR-T administration as occurred in the real clinical setting.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational study, collecting all the reports in EU (EudraVigilance, EV) and US (FAERS) databases of ADRs regarding axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel. Both descriptive and statistical analyses were performed, the latter by using Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR).

Results

A total number of 1426 reports of suspected ADRs were retrieved in EudraVigilance and FAERS. Patients’ reported age reflected the age range for which the drugs are approved (18–64 years for axicabtagene ciloleucel and patients aged under 25 years for tisagenlecleucel). The most reported event was cytokine release syndrome (CRS), 185 events for tisagenlecleucel and 462 for axicabtagene ciloleucel in FAERS and 137 and 498, respectively, in EudraVigilance. A disproportionality was found comparing axicabtagene ciloleucel with tisagenlecleucel for the above-mentioned event: EV ROR 2.47, 95% CI 2.22–2.74, FAERS 1.89, 1.70–2.10.

Conclusion

CRS represents the major problem with the administration of CAR-T therapies. Our analysis has not revealed new ADRs; however, it supports the safety profile of CAR-T with new data from real clinical setting.
Deep learning for accurately recognizing common causes of shoulder pain on radiographs
Authors: Grauhan Nils F. , Niehues Stefan M. , Gaudin Robert A. , Keller Sarah , Vahldiek Janis L. , Adams Lisa C. , Bressem Keno K.
Published: February 2021

Objective

Training a convolutional neural network (CNN) to detect the most common causes of shoulder pain on plain radiographs and to assess its potential value in serving as an assistive device to physicians.

Materials and methods

We used a CNN of the ResNet-50 architecture which was trained on 2700 shoulder radiographs from clinical practice of multiple institutions. All radiographs were reviewed and labeled for six findings: proximal humeral fractures, joint dislocation, periarticular calcification, osteoarthritis, osteosynthesis, and joint endoprosthesis. The trained model was then evaluated on a separate test dataset, which was previously annotated by three independent expert radiologists. Both the training and the test datasets included radiographs of highly variable image quality to reflect the clinical situation and to foster robustness of the CNN. Performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, the thereof derived AUC as well as sensitivity and specificity.

Results

The developed CNN demonstrated a high accuracy with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.871 for detecting fractures, 0.896 for joint dislocation, 0.945 for osteoarthritis, and 0.800 for periarticular calcifications. It also detected osteosynthesis and endoprosthesis with near perfect accuracy (AUC 0.998 and 1.0, respectively). Sensitivity and specificity were 0.75 and 0.86 for fractures, 0.95 and 0.65 for joint dislocation, 0.90 and 0.86 for osteoarthrosis, and 0.60 and 0.89 for calcification.

Conclusion

CNNs have the potential to serve as an assistive device by providing clinicians a means to prioritize worklists or providing additional safety in situations of increased workload.
Pharyngeal Pouch Surgery in Octo‐ and Nonagenarians is Safe and Effective: A Multicentre Comparative Cohort Study
Authors: Afzal Mohamed , Liu David S. , Bright Tim , Watson David I. , Devitt Peter G. , Thompson Sarah K.
Published: February 2021

Background

Surgery is the only effective treatment strategy for a symptomatic pharyngeal pouch. However, octo‐ and nonagenarians are often denied referral to a surgeon because of perceived increased risks. Here, we compare the outcomes of pharyngeal pouch surgery in octo‐ and nonagenarians with patients under 80 years‐of‐age and determine the factors which predict post‐operative complications and improvement in swallowing.

Methods

Analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent pharyngeal pouch surgery across seven hospitals over 15 years.

Results

In total, 113 patients (≥80 years‐of‐age: 27, <80 years‐of‐age: 86) underwent endoscopic or open pharyngeal pouch surgery. Despite more comorbidities and a longer hospital stay (median: one extra day), patients ≥80 years‐of‐age had comparable operative time, complication profile, intensive care admission, emergency reoperation, and revisional pouch surgery as their younger counterparts. Furthermore, the severity of complications was not significantly different between the two age cohorts. No surgical mortality was recorded. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that diverticulectomy combined with cricopharyngeal myotomy independently predicted higher rates of complications (OR: 4.53, 95% CI: 1.43–14.33, p = 0.010), but also greater symptomatic improvement (OR: 4.36, 95% CI: 1.50–12.67, p = 0.007). Importantly, a greater proportion of octo‐ and nonagenarians experienced improved swallowing than patients <80 years‐of‐age (96.3% vs. 74.4%, p = 0.013). Moreover, advanced age was not predictive of post‐operative complications on multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Pharyngeal pouch surgery in octo‐ and nonagenarians is safe and effective. Surgical correction in this age group alleviates symptoms and improves quality‐of‐life for most patients. These patients should not be denied surgery on the basis of advanced age alone.
Olfactory impairment in men and mice related to aging and amyloid-induced pathology
Authors: Tzeng Wen-Yu , Figarella Katherine , Garaschuk Olga
Published: February 2021

Olfaction, or the sense of smell, is one of the most ancient senses in men and mice, important for a large variety of innate and acquired behaviors. Clinical data reveal an early impairment of olfaction during normal aging and in the course of neurodegenerative diseases, but the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms remain obscure. In the current review, we compare different aspects of the aging- and Alzheimer’s disease related impairment of olfaction in men and mice, aiming at the identification of common morbidities and biomarkers, which can be analyzed in detail in the appropriate mouse models. We also identify common, often interdependent (patho)physiological pathways, including but not limited to extracellular amyloid depositions, neuroinflammation, ɛ4 allele of the apolipoprotein E, CNS insulin resistance, and the impairment of adult neurogenesis, to be targeted by basic and clinical research.
The effect of high-frequency rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on the resolution of response, semantic and task conflict in the colour-word Stroop task
Authors: Parris Benjamin A. , Wadsley Michael G. , Arabaci Gizem , Hasshim Nabil , Augustinova Maria , Ferrand Ludovic
Published: February 2021

Previous work investigating the effect of rTMS of left Dorso-Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) on Stroop task performance reports no changes to the Stroop effect but reduced reaction times on both congruent and incongruent trials relative to sham stimulation; an effect attributed to an enhanced attentional (or task) set for colour classification. The present study tested this account by investigating whether, relative to vertex stimulation, rTMS of the left DLPFC modifies task conflict, a form of conflict that arises when task sets for colour classification and word reading compete, given that this particular type of conflict would be reduced by an enhanced task set for colour classification. Furthermore, the present study included measures of other forms of conflict present in the Stroop task (response and semantic conflict), the potential effects on which would have been hidden in previous studies employing only incongruent and congruent stimuli. Our data showed that left DLPFC stimulation had no effect on the magnitude of task conflict, nor did it affect response, semantic or overall conflict (where the null is supported by sensitive Bayes Factors in most cases). However, consistent with previous research left DLPFC stimulation had the general effect of reducing reaction times. We, therefore, show for the first time that relative to real vertex stimulation left DLPFC stimulation does not modify Stroop interference. Alternative accounts of the role of the left DLPFC in Stroop task performance in which it either modifies response thresholds or facilitates responding by keeping the correct response keys active in working memory are discussed.
Geometrically exact elastoplastic rods: determination of yield surface in terms of stress resultants
Authors: Herrnböck Ludwig , Kumar Ajeet , Steinmann Paul
Published: February 2021

This work addresses the determination of yield surfaces for geometrically exact elastoplastic rods. Use is made of a formulation where the rod is subjected to an uniform strain field along its arc length, thereby reducing the elastoplastic problem of the full rod to just its cross-section. By integrating the plastic work and the stresses over the rod’s cross-section, one then obtains discrete points of the yield surface in terms of stress resultants. Eventually, Lamé curves in their most general form are fitted to the discrete points by an appropriate optimisation method. The resulting continuous yield surfaces are examined for their scalability with respect to cross-section dimensions and also compared with existing analytical forms of yield surfaces.
Use of platelet-rich fibrin for the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Miron Richard J. , Moraschini Vittorio , Fujioka-Kobayashi Masako , Zhang Yufeng , Kawase Tomoyuki , Cosgarea Raluca , Jepsen Soren , Bishara Mark , Canullo Luigi , Shirakata Yoshinori , Gruber Reinhard , Ferenc Döri , Calasans-Maia Monica Diuana , Wang Hom-Lay , Sculean Anton
Published: February 2021

Objectives

This study aims to compare the treatment outcomes of periodontal intrabony defects by using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with other commonly utilized modalities.

Materials and methods

The eligibility criteria comprised randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the clinical outcomes of PRF with that of other modalities. Studies were classified into 10 categories as follows: (1) open flap debridement (OFD) alone versus OFD/PRF; (2) OFD/bone graft (OFD/BG) versus OFD/PRF; (3) OFD/BG versus OFD/BG/PRF; (4–6) OFD/barrier membrane (BM), OFD/PRP, or OFD/enamel matrix derivative (EMD) versus OFD/PRF; (7) OFD/EMD versus OFD/EMD/PRF; (8–10) OFD/PRF versus OFD/PRF/metformin, OFD/PRF/bisphosphonates, or OFD/PRF/statins. Weighted means and forest plots were calculated for probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and radiographic bone fill (RBF).

Results

From 551 articles identified, 27 RCTs were included. The use of OFD/PRF statistically significantly reduced PD and improved CAL and RBF when compared to OFD. No clinically significant differences were reported when OFD/BG was compared to OFD/PRF. The addition of PRF to OFD/BG led to significant improvements in CAL and RBF. No differences were reported between any of the following groups (OFD/BM, OFD/PRP, and OFD/EMD) when compared to OFD/PRF. No improvements were also reported when PRF was added to OFD/EMD. The addition of all three of the following biomolecules (metformin, bisphosphonates, and statins) to OFD/PRF led to statistically significant improvements of PD, CAL, and RBF.

Conclusions

The use of PRF significantly improved clinical outcomes in intrabony defects when compared to OFD alone with similar levels being observed between OFD/BG and OFD/PRF. Future research geared toward better understanding potential ways to enhance the regenerative properties of PRF with various small biomolecules may prove valuable for future clinical applications. Future research investigating PRF at histological level is also needed.

Clinical relevance

The use of PRF in conjunction with OFD statistically significantly improved PD, CAL, and RBF values, yielding to comparable outcomes to OFD/BG. The combination of PRF with bone grafts or small biomolecules may offer certain clinical advantages, thus warranting further investigations.
Ist eine Impfpflicht gegen das Coronavirus nötig?
Authors: Wein Thomas
Published: February 2021

An die Zulassung der SARS-CoV-2-Impfstoffe knüpft sich die Hoffnung, die Pandemie schnellstmöglich überwinden zu können. Befragungen zeigen jedoch eine begrenzte Impfbereitschaft, die für eine Herdenimmunität eventuell nicht ausreicht. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird spieltheoretisch untersucht, wie die einzelne Impfentscheidung im Hinblick auf das Impfverhalten der anderen ausfällt. Es zeigt sich, dass sich impfen zu lassen keine dominate Strategie ist. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit sich impfen zu lassen, nimmt jedoch mit den langfristigen Kosten der Pandemie zu. Demnach könnte die Impfbereitschaft erhöht werden, wenn die Politik stärker über die Folgekosten aufklären würde. Dann könnte eine Impfpflicht vermieden werden.
Farmer views on climate change—a longitudinal study of threats, opportunities and action
Authors: Sorvali Jaana , Kaseva Janne , Peltonen-Sainio Pirjo
Published: February 2021

Any new policy measure aiming to mitigate climate change and support adaptation in agriculture is implemented at the farm scale. This makes a farmer the key actor. This study aimed to understand farmers’ climate change views and reveal how farmers see their role, responsibilities and possibilities to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Furthermore, this study aimed to assess how various background variables and values associate with farmers’ views in order to have novel and comprehensive on farmers’ perspectives on climate change. Short-term changes in views were studied with a longitudinal framework. In total, 4401 farmers in Finland answered a standardized e-mail survey in spring 2018. A total of 2000 of them responded again in spring 2020. The respondents differed in gender, age, education, farming system, farm type, farm organization, farm size, revenue and region. The farmers were not a uniform group of citizens, and their views on climate change varied widely. For a Nordic, boreal zone country like Finland, climate change will bring not only challenges but also opportunities that may even strengthen the agricultural production. Such a “two-sided coin” causes confusion for farmers as indicated by this study. Climate change–induced risks often dominate the public dialogue with farmers. This study emphasizes the need for better balance between risks and opportunities not only in the dialogue with farmers but also with policy makers and all public discussion. Acknowledging farmers’ views in planning the future climate policies for agricultural sector is elemental to ensure success in farm-scale implementation.
The rise and fall of diseases: reflections on the history of population health in Europe since ca. 1700
Authors: Mackenbach Johan P.
Published: February 2021

This essay explores the amazing phenomenon that in Europe since ca. 1700 most diseases have shown a pattern of 'rise-and-fall'. It argues that the rise of so many diseases indicates that their ultimate cause is not to be sought within the body, but in the interaction between humans and their environment. In their tireless pursuit of a better life, Europeans have constantly engaged in new activities which exposed them to new health risks, at a pace that evolution could not keep up with. Fortunately, most diseases have also declined again, mainly as a result of human interventions, in the form of public health interventions or improvements in medical care. The virtually continuous succession of diseases starting to fall in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries suggests that the concept of an “epidemiological transition” has limited usefulness.
Reaction of selected potato varieties to Clavibacter sepedonicus infestation under changing weather conditions
Authors: Gryń Grzegorz , Pietraszko Milena , Przewodowski Włodzimierz , Franke Katarzyna , Nowakowski Mirosław , Nowakowski Mateusz
Published: February 2021

The results of the studies carried out over the last 50 years have not provided a clear answer to questions concerning the interaction betweenClavibacter sepedonicus(Cs), potato and the environment. The reason is insufficient knowledge of the biology of the causal agent of ring rot, problems of research methodology and the influence of many environmental and biotic factors on the degree of plant infestation. The research conducted in the years 2013–2016 in the Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute – National Research Institute concerned the determination of the influence of weather conditions, involved the influence of temperature and Sielianinov hydrothermal coefficient on the development of Cs bacteria in stems and progeny tubers, as well as the occurrence of disease symptoms on plants and in tubers of eight potato varieties. It was found that genotype had the greatest impact on leaf and tuber infestation, while weather conditions were less significant. The results of correlation analysis indicate that the weight of tubers of plants infected by Cs increased statistically significantly with increases in air and soil temperature. On the other hand, air and soil temperature in the initial vegetation period did not significantly affect the number of potato plant tubers infested by Cs. In a 4-year experiment, it was not shown how air and soil temperature and the Sielianinov hydrothermal coefficient affected the degree of potato leaf and tuber infestation. In most cases, potato infestation by Cs caused a decrease in yield.
A new two-nested-game approach: linking micro- and macro-scales in international environmental agreements
Authors: Distefano Tiziano , D’Alessandro Simone
Published: February 2021

This study investigates the effectiveness of international environmental agreements (IEAs) and how it might be affected by the development of pro-environmental behaviour among households and firms. We propose a new framework based on a two-nested-game approach composed by: (1) a one-shot game with two asymmetric countries that negotiate the international abatement target, and (2) an evolutionary game which describes the economic structure resulting from agents’ interactions. These two games are nested because the initial economic structure determines the welfare of each country, and thus the outcome of Game 1 which, in turn, is embedded in Game 2, modifies the agents’ pay-off and the economic structure thereof. Numerical simulation outcomes suggest three key messages. First, we find that global solutions do not automatically produce the expected effects irrespective of any free-riding assumption. Second, extreme climate risks might not lead to a high abatement target in the event of marked cross-country inequality. Third, adverse consumers’ environmental attitudes might hamper the success of an IEA. The above observations entail that governments should not simply impose environmental laws. Rather, top-down policies and bottom-up interventions should be coordinated; otherwise, they might fail if undertaken in isolation.

Graphic abstract
Investigating Emotional Body Posture Recognition in Adolescents with Conduct Disorder Using Eye-Tracking Methods
Authors: Martin-Key Nayra A. , Graf Erich W. , Adams Wendy J. , Fairchild Graeme
Published: February 2021

Adolescents with Conduct Disorder (CD) show deficits in recognizing facial expressions of emotion, but it is not known whether these difficulties extend to other social cues, such as emotional body postures. Moreover, in the absence of eye-tracking data, it is not known whether such deficits, if present, are due to a failure to attend to emotionally informative regions of the body. Male and female adolescents with CD and varying levels of callous-unemotional (CU) traits (n = 45) and age- and sex-matched typically-developing controls (n = 51) categorized static and dynamic emotional body postures. The emotion categorization task was paired with eye-tracking methods to investigate relationships between fixation behavior and recognition performance. Having CD was associated with impaired recognition of static and dynamic body postures and atypical fixation behavior. Furthermore, males were less likely to fixate emotionally-informative regions of the body than females. While we found no effects of CU traits on body posture recognition, the effects of CU traits on fixation behavior varied according to CD status and sex, with CD males with lower levels of CU traits showing the most atypical fixation behavior. Critically, atypical fixation behavior did not explain the body posture recognition deficits observed in CD. Our findings suggest that CD-related impairments in recognition of body postures of emotion are not due to attentional issues. Training programmes designed to ameliorate the emotion recognition difficulties associated with CD may need to incorporate a body posture component.
The nitrogen bioextraction potential of nearshore Saccharina latissima cultivation and harvest in the Western Gulf of Maine
Authors: Grebe G. S. , Byron C. J. , Brady D. C. , Geisser A. H. , Brennan K. D.
Published: February 2021

In-water remediation strategies, implemented in conjunction with traditional watershed management, could help minimize the impact of excess nitrogen (N) on marine ecosystems. Seaweed farming and harvesting may have potential as in-water N remediation tools in the Western Gulf of Maine (WGoM), but more understanding of the associated spatial and temporal variability is needed. In this study, Saccharina latissima was grown and collected from four WGoM sites in 2016–2019 and analyzed for tissue N content and stable isotopes. The source of N taken by the kelp was not obvious from monthly nor interannual mean δ15N measured in the kelp tissue, and the interannual means were significantly different between sites in the same bay. Mean kelp biomass across all sites and years was 9.84 (± 2.53)–14.84 kg (wet weight) per meter of longline at time of harvest (late May–early June). Nitrogen content of the S. latissima tissue was 1.04–3.82% (± 0.22) (dry weight) throughout the growing season and generally decreased through the spring. Using these results, we estimated that harvesting a hypothetical hectare of S. latissima after 6–7 months of cultivation in the WGoM would have the potential to remove 19.2 (± 4.8)–176.0 (± 7.7) kg N ha−1, depending on the density of longlines. The wide ranges of both biomass at time of harvest, and δ15N and percent N content in the kelp tissue, highlight the need for site-specific pilot studies, even within a specific bay, prior to implementing kelp aquaculture as an in-water tool for N bioextraction.
A Critique of the Model of Gender Recognition and the Limits of Self-Declaration for Non-Binary Trans Individuals
Authors: Nirta Caterina
Published: February 2021

This article considers the model of recognition in the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA) and, through a critique of the value of stability pursued through this legislation, argues that recognition as a model is incompatible with the variety of experiences of non-binary trans-identified individuals. The article then moves on to analyse self-declaration, part of the proposed reform recently dismissed by the Government. While self-declaration contains provisions that would minimise the length of the process of recognition as well as the level of intrusiveness and stigma associated with it, this analysis highlights some fundamental theoretical concerns with its over-reliance on the strict dialectical logics on recognition and its structural inability to account for and respond to the challenges posed by non-binary trans individuals.
Understanding measure-driven algorithms solving irreversibly ill-conditioned problems
Authors: Sawicki Jakub , Łoś Marcin , Smołka Maciej , Schaefer Robert
Published: February 2021

The paper helps to understand the essence of stochastic population-based searches that solve ill-conditioned global optimization problems. This condition manifests itself by presence of lowlands, i.e., connected subsets of minimizers of positive measure, and inability to regularize the problem. We show a convenient way to analyze such search strategies as dynamic systems that transform the sampling measure. We can draw informative conclusions for a class of strategies with a focusing heuristic. For this class we can evaluate the amount of information about the problem that can be gathered and suggest ways to verify stopping conditions. Next, we show the Hierarchic Memetic Strategy coupled with Multi-Winner Evolutionary Algorithm (HMS/MWEA) that follow the ideas from the first part of the paper. We introduce a complex, ergodic Markov chain of their dynamics and prove an asymptotic guarantee of success. Finally, we present numerical solutions to ill-conditioned problems: two benchmarks and a real-life engineering one, which show the strategy in action. The paper recalls and synthesizes some results already published by authors, drawing new qualitative conclusions. The totally new parts are Markov chain models of the HMS structure of demes and of the MWEA component, as well as the theorem of their ergodicity.
Considering Diversity in (Special) Education: Disability, Being Someone and Existential Education
Authors: Reindal Solveig Magnus
Published: February 2021

Discussions on diversity and disability in dialogue with special educationalists and philosophers of education are not often found in the research literature. Researchers within disability studies have been critical towards the enterprise of special education and vice versa, and the language they use is often different, as they draw on various subject fields. In this article, I bring these fields of research together and draw on research from the philosophy of education, special education and Disability Studies. My argument is that a language of diversity needs to be embedded in a language about educational ends and other fundamental questions discussed in the philosophy of education, and not solely in discussions within the field of inclusive education, as is often found in the research literature relating to special education. I argue that the language of diversity related to disability should be embedded in the language of the person, being someone. In order to build my argument, I sketch out three distinctions: disability and impairment, education as cultivation versus an existential education and the distinction between being someone and being something. I argue that an understanding of diversity and the case of disability within the framework of (special) education should preferably be: (1) interpreted within a social relational model of disability, drawing on an adjusted capabilities approach, (2) an existential educational paradigm and (3) seeing the person as someone, and not as something that is associated with a series of facts that happen to relate to what we call persons.
Explicating the concept of epistemic rationality
Authors: Eder Anna-Maria A.
Published: February 2021

A characterization of epistemic rationality, or epistemic justification, is typically taken to require a process of conceptual clarification, and is seen as comprising the core of a theory of (epistemic) rationality. I propose to explicate the concept of rationality. It is essential, I argue, that the normativity of rationality, and the purpose, or goal, for which the particular theory of rationality is being proposed, is taken into account when explicating the concept of rationality. My position thus amounts to an instrumentalist position about theories of epistemic rationality. Since there are different purposes, or goals, for which theories of rationality are proposed, the method of explication leaves room for different characterizations of rationality. I focus on two such (kinds of) purposes: first, the purpose of guiding the formation (or maintenance) of doxastic states and, second, the purpose of assessing (the formation or maintenance of) doxastic states. I conclude by outlining a pluralistic picture concerning rationality.
Autopsy findings in drivers and passengers from fatal motor vehicle collisions: limited differences in injury patterns and toxicological test results
Authors: Breen Jan Mario , Næss Pål Aksel , Gaarder Christine , Stray-Pedersen Arne
Published: February 2021

We performed a retrospective study of the injuries and characteristics of occupant fatalities in motor vehicle collisions in southeast Norway. The goal was to provide updated knowledge of injuries sustained in modern vehicles and detect possible differences in injury pattern between drivers and passengers. Forensic autopsy reports, police, and collision investigation reports from 2000 to 2014 were studied, data extracted and analyzed.

A total of 284 drivers, 80 front-seat passengers, and 37 rear-seat passengers were included, of which 67.3% died in front collisions, 13.7% in near-side impacts, 13.5% in rollovers and 5.5% in other/combined collisions. Overall, 80.5% died within one hour after the crash. The presence of fatal injuries to the head, neck, thorax and abdomen were observed in 63.6%, 10.7%, 61.6% and 27.4% respectively. All occupants with severe injuries to the head or neck had signs of direct impact with contact point injuries to the skin or skull. Injuries to the heart and spleen were less common in front-seat passengers compared to drivers. Seat belt abrasions were more common and lower extremity fractures less common in both front-seat and rear-seat passengers compared to drivers. Blood alcohol and/or drug concentrations suggestive of impairment were present in 30% of all occupants, with alcohol more often detected among front-seat passengers compared to drivers.

Few driver-specific and passenger-specific patterns of injury could be identified. When attempting to assess an occupant’s seating position within a vehicle, autopsy findings should be interpreted with caution and only in conjunction with documentation from the crash scene.
Quantitative Monitoring of the Fermentation Process of a Barley Malt Mash by Benchtop 1H NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Burkhardtsmaier Pia , Pavlovskaja Kristina , Maier Dennis , Schäfer Stephanie , Salat Ulrike , Schmidt Magnus S.
Published: February 2021

In order to investigate benchtop NMR spectroscopy as a monitoring tool for fermentation processes, we used a barley malt mash and took various samples over time and analysed them by NMR spectroscopy with 3-(trimethylsilyl)-2,2,3,3-tetradeuteropropionic acid sodium salt (TSP-d4) as an internal standard for the quantification of ethanol and validated the results by two different enzymatic standard test kits for ethanol analysis. We could show that the results between NMR spectroscopy and test kits were consistent with NMR having a much lower standard deviation. Finally, we discussed the applicability of the method as well as the possibility to quantify various other substances.