bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The dynamics of entropy in the COVID-19 outbreaks
Authors: Wang Ziqi , Broccardo Marco , Mignan Arnaud , Sornette Didier
Published: September 2020

With the unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic, mathematical modelling of epidemics has been perceived and used as a central element in understanding, predicting, and governing the pandemic event. However, soon it became clear that long-term predictions were extremely challenging to address. In addition, it is still unclear which metric shall be used for a global description of the evolution of the outbreaks. Yet a robust modelling of pandemic dynamics and a consistent choice of the transmission metric is crucial for an in-depth understanding of the macroscopic phenomenology and better-informed mitigation strategies. In this study, we propose a Markovian stochastic framework designed for describing the evolution of entropy during the COVID-19 pandemic together with the instantaneous reproductive ratio. Then, we introduce and use entropy-based metrics of global transmission to measure the impact and the temporal evolution of a pandemic event. In the formulation of the model, the temporal evolution of the outbreak is modelled by an equation governing the probability distribution that describes a nonlinear Markov process of a statistically averaged individual, leading to a clear physical interpretation. The time-dependent parameters are formulated by adaptive basis functions, leading to a parsimonious representation. In addition, we provide a full Bayesian inversion scheme for calibration together with a coherent strategy to address data unreliability. The time evolution of the entropy rate, the absolute change in the system entropy, and the instantaneous reproductive ratio are natural and transparent outputs of this framework. The framework has the appealing property of being applicable to any compartmental epidemic model. As an illustration, we apply the proposed approach to a simple modification of the susceptible–exposed–infected–removed model. Applying the model to the Hubei region, South Korean, Italian, Spanish, German, and French COVID-19 datasets, we discover significant difference in the absolute change of entropy but highly regular trends for both the entropy evolution and the instantaneous reproductive ratio.
Critical appraisal of tobacco dependence treatment guidelines
Authors: El Hajj Maguy Saffouh , Jaam Myriam , Sheikh Ali Saba Abdal Salam , Saleh Rana , Awaisu Ahmed , Paravattil Bridget , Wilby Kyle John
Published: September 2020

Background Tobacco use is a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of tobacco use dependence are of varied scope and quality, making it challenging for users to select and apply recommendations. Objective The study objective is to identify and critically appraise the quality of existing clinical practice guidelines for tobacco cessation. Setting The study occurred between collaborative academic institutions located in Qatar and New Zealand. Methods A systematic literature search was performed for the period 2006–2018 through the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, National Guideline Clearing House, Campbell Library, Health System Evidence, Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Practice Database, Academic Search Complete, ProQuest, PROSPERO, and Google Scholar. Relevant professional societies’ and health agencies’ websites were also searched. Two reviewers independently extracted and assessed guidelines’ quality using Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument. Main outcome measure Standardized domain scores according to the AGREE II instrument. Results 7741 hits were identified. After removing duplicates and screening, 24 guidelines were included. Highest guideline quality was for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline with an overall ranking score of 87.56% and least quality was for Japanese Circulation Society Joint Working Group with an overall score of 29.34%. Domain 4 of AGREE II (clarity of presentation) had the highest average quality score (70.95%), while the lowest average quality scores were for Domain 2 (Rigour of Development) (50.21%) and Domain 5 (Applicability) (45.05%). Conclusion Seven guidelines were judged to be of high quality (overall score of ≥ 70%). Future guidelines for tobacco dependence treatment should use rigorous methods of development and provide applicable recommendations.
Kindergarten pre-reading skills predict Grade 9 reading comprehension (PISA Reading) but fail to explain gender difference
Authors: Manu Mari , Torppa Minna , Eklund Kenneth , Poikkeus Anna-Maija , Lerkkanen Marja-Kristiina , Niemi Pekka
Published: September 2020

One of the aims for compulsory education is to diminish or alleviate differences in children’s skills existing prior to school entry. However, a growing gender gap in reading development has increasingly been documented. Regrettably, there is scant evidence on whether differences between genders (favouring girls) have their roots in pre-reading skills or whether determining mechanisms are related to factors to do with schooling. We examined the extent to which pre-reading skills assessed in Kindergarten (age 6) predict reading comprehension in Grade 9 (age 15) and, whether the gender difference in reading comprehension can be explained by gender differences in the Kindergarten pre-reading skills. A sample of 1010 Finnish children were assessed on letter knowledge, phonological awareness, rapid naming, vocabulary, and listening comprehension in Kindergarten and on reading comprehension using PISA Reading tasks in Grade 9. Path models showed that gender as well as Kindergarten pre-reading skills except for phonological awareness were significant predictors of reading comprehension in Grade 9 accounting for 28% of the variance. There were gender differences in most of the measures, but the prediction model estimates were similar for boys and girls except that for boys, letter knowledge was a somewhat stronger predictor of reading comprehension than for girls. The gender effect on reading comprehension was only partially mediated via pre-reading skills. The findings suggest that Kindergarten pre-reading skills are powerful predictors of reading comprehension in Grade 9, but the gender difference found in PISA Reading in Finland does not appear to be pronounced in Kindergarten but rather emerges during the school years.
From Fingers to Faces: Visual Semiotics and Digital Forensics
Authors: Leone Massimo
Published: September 2020

Identification is a primary need of societies. It is even more central in law enforcement. In the history of crime, a dialectics takes place between felonious attempts at concealing, disguising, or forging identities and societal efforts at unmasking the impostures. Semiotics offers specialistic skills at studying the signs of societal detection and identification, including those of forensics and criminology. In human history, no sign more than the face is attached a value of personal identity. Yet, modern forensics realizes that the face can mislead and, inspired by eastern models (China, Japan, India), adopts fingerprinting. In the digital era, however, fingerprinting first goes digital, then it is increasingly replaced by facial recognition. The face is back in digital AI forensics, together with a tangle of sociocultural biases. Semiotics can play a key role in studying their surreptitious influence.
Does integration play a role? Academic self-concepts, self-esteem, and self-perceptions of social integration of elementary school children in inclusive and mainstream classes
Authors: Lohbeck Annette
Published: September 2020

The concept of inclusion is based on the assumption that integrating students with SEN into regular (mainstream) classes would enhance students’ performance due to a more stimulating and demanding environment. However, research investigating the effects of inclusive education on students’ academic self-concepts has been scarce. For this reason, the present study aimed to examine the specific relationships and differences for math and verbal self-concepts, self-esteem, and self-perceptions of social integration using two samples of elementary school students from grades 2–4: One group of students attended inclusive classes (n = 178), whilst the other group attended mainstream classes (n = 188). In addition, measurement invariance across classroom setting and possible mediator effects of self-esteem were tested. Results provided support for strong invariance across classroom setting. All constructs were positively correlated with each other. In both math and verbal domains, self-esteem and self-perceptions of social integration proved to be significant predictors of academic self-concepts. Self-esteem was more highly pronounced in younger children, while there were no effects of classroom setting on academic self-concepts. Self-esteem became a significant mediator of the relationships between self-perceptions of social integration and academic self-concepts. No group differences in math and verbal self-concepts, self-esteem, and self-perceptions of social integration were evident.
Facilitating the learning process in parallel computing by using instant messaging
Authors: Guerrero-Higueras Ángel Manuel , Sánchez-González Lídia , Conde-González Miguel Ángel , Castejón-Limas Manuel
Published: September 2020

Parallel Programming skills may require a long time to acquire. “Think in parallel” is a skill that requires time, effort, and experience. In this work, we propose to facilitate the students’ learning process in parallel programming by using instant messaging. Our aim was to find out whether students’ interaction through instant messaging tools is beneficial for the learning process. In order to do so, we asked several students of an HPC course of the Master’s degree in Computer Science of the University of León to develop a specific parallel application, each of them using a different application program interface: OpenMP, MPI, CUDA, or OpenCL. Even though the used APIs are different, there are common points in the design process. We encouraged students to interact with each other by using Gitter, an instant messaging tool for GitHub users. Our analysis of the communications and results demonstrate that the direct interaction of students through the Gitter tool has a positive impact on the learning process.
Set and revealed preference axioms for multi-valued choice
Authors: Peters Hans , Protopapas Panos
Published: September 2020

We consider choice correspondences that assign a subset to every choice set of alternatives, where the total set of alternatives is an arbitrary finite or infinite set. We focus on the relations between several extensions of the condition of independence of irrelevant alternatives on one hand, and conditions on the revealed preference relation on sets, notably the weak axiom of revealed preference, on the other hand. We also establish the connection between the condition of independence of irrelevant alternatives and so-called strong sets; the latter characterize a social choice correspondence satisfying independence of irrelevant alternatives.
Estimating Arterial Cyclic Strain from the Spacing of Endothelial Nuclei
Authors: Rowland E.M. , Bailey E.L. , Weinberg P.D.
Published: September 2020

Background

The non-uniform distribution of atherosclerosis within the arterial system is widely attributed to variation in haemodynamic wall shear stress. It may also depend on variation in pressure-induced stresses and strains within the arterial wall; these have been less widely investigated, at least in part because of a lack of suitable techniques.

Objectives

Here we show that local arterial strain can be determined from impressions left by endothelial cells on the surface of vascular corrosion casts made at different pressures, even though only one pressure can be examined in each vessel. The pattern of pits in the cast caused by protruding endothelial nuclei was subject to “retro-deformation” to identify the pattern that would have occurred in the absence of applied stresses.

Methods

Retaining the nearest-neighbour pairs found under this condition, changes in nearest-neighbour vectors were calculated for the pattern seen in the cast, and the ratio of mean changes at different pressures determined. This approach removes errors in simple nearest-neighbour analyses caused by the nearest neighbour changing as deformation occurs.

Results

The accuracy, precision and robustness of the approach were validated using simulations. The method was implemented using confocal microscopy of casts of the rabbit aorta made at systolic and diastolic pressures; results agreed well with the ratio of the macroscopic dimensions of the casts.

Conclusions

Applying the new technique to areas around arterial branches could support or refute the hypothesis that the development of atherosclerosis is influenced by mural strain, and the method may be applicable to other tissues.
Doppelmoral hält besser: Die Politik mit der Solidarität in der Externalisierungsgesellschaft
Authors: Lessenich Stephan
Published: September 2020

In der wissenschaftlichen Selbstbeschreibung des europäischen Wohlfahrtsstaats ist eine Erzählung dominant, die ihn als – wenn auch national unterschiedlich ausgeprägte – weltweit einzigartige Form der Institutionalisierung sozialer Solidarität versteht, die seit den 1980er-Jahren durch die neoliberale Transformation (gleichsam von außen) in Gefahr geraten sei. Der Beitrag setzt dieser Erzählung eine andere entgegen: Auch schon vor der „neoliberalen Revolution“ lebte das europäische Solidaritätsarrangement davon, dass es auf Kosten eines gesellschaftlichen „Außen“ organisiert wurde und systematisch Dritte schädigte. Solidarität in den europäischen „Externalisierungsgesellschaften“ funktioniert nur als exkludierende Solidarität: Sie ist durch strukturelle soziale Schließungen nach innen, insbesondere aber – vermittelt über die Institution der „citizenship“ – nach außen charakterisiert. Insofern zeichnet sich der europäische Wohlfahrtsstaat durch eine fundamentale normative Selbstüberschätzung aus: Indem er „Solidarität“ eindimensional als nationalgesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt ausbuchstabiert, verfährt er tatsächlich nach einem doppelten moralischen Standard.
Self-adaptive potential-based stopping criteria for Particle Swarm Optimization with forced moves
Authors: Bassimir Bernd , Schmitt Manuel , Wanka Rolf
Published: September 2020

We study the variant of Particle Swarm Optimization that applies random velocities in a dimension instead of the regular velocity update equations as soon as the so-called potential of the swarm falls below a certain small bound in this dimension, arbitrarily set by the user. In this case, the swarm performs a forced move.
In this paper, we are interested in how, by counting the forced moves, the swarm can decide for itself to stop its movement because it is improbable to find better candidate solutions than the already-found best solution. We formally prove that when the swarm is close to a (local) optimum, it behaves like a blind-searching cloud and that the frequency of forced moves exceeds a certain, objective function-independent value. Based on this observation, we define stopping criteria and evaluate them experimentally showing that good candidate solutions can be found much faster than setting upper bounds on the iterations and better solutions compared to applying other solutions from the literature.
Fast interactive CFD evaluation of hemodynamics assisted by RBF mesh morphing and reduced order models: the case of aTAA modelling
Authors: Biancolini Marco Evangelos , Capellini Katia , Costa Emiliano , Groth Corrado , Celi Simona
Published: September 2020

The medical digital twin is emerging as a viable opportunity to provide patient-specific information useful for treatment, prevention and surgical planning. A bottleneck toward its effective use when computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques and tools are adopted for the high fidelity prediction of blood flow, is the significant computing cost required. Reduced order models (ROM) looks to be a promising solution for facing the aforementioned limit. In fact, once ROM data processing is accomplished, the consumption stage can be performed outside the computer-aided engineering software adopted for simulation and, in addition, it could be also implemented on interactive software visualization interfaces that are commonly employed in the medical context. In this paper we demonstrate the soundness of such a concept by numerically investigating the effect of the bulge shape for the ascending thoracic aorta aneurysm case. Radial basis functions (RBF) based mesh morphing enables the implementation of a parametric shape, which is used to build up the ROM framework and data. The final result is an inspection tool capable to visualize, interactively and almost in real-time, the effect of shape parameters on the entire flow field. The approach is first verified considering a morphing action representing the progression from an average healthy patient to an average aneurismatic one (Capellini et al. in Proceedings VII Meeting Italian Chapter of the European Society of Biomechanics (ESB-ITA 2017), 2017; Capellini et al. in J. Biomech. Eng. 140(11):111007-1–111007-10, 2018). Then, a set of shape parameters, suitable to consistently represent a widespread number of possible bulge configurations, are defined and accordingly generated. The concept is showcased taking into account the steady flow field at systolic peak conditions, using ANSYS®Fluent®and its ROM environment for CFD and ROM calculations respectively, and the RBF MorphTM software for shape parametrization.
Chronic Memantine Treatment Ameliorates Behavioral Deficits, Neuron Loss, and Impaired Neurogenesis in a Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Stazi Martina , Wirths Oliver
Published: September 2020

Memantine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist possessing neuroprotective properties, belongs to the small group of drugs which have been approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While several preclinical studies employing different transgenic AD mouse models have described beneficial effects with regard to rescued behavioral deficits or reduced amyloid plaque pathology, it is largely unknown whether memantine might have beneficial effects on neurodegeneration. In the current study, we assessed whether memantine treatment has an impact on hippocampal neuron loss and associated behavioral deficits in the Tg4-42 mouse model of AD. We demonstrate that a chronic oral memantine treatment for 4 months diminishes hippocampal CA1 neuron loss and rescues learning and memory performance in different behavioral paradigms, such as Morris water maze or a novel object recognition task. Cognitive benefits of chronic memantine treatment were accompanied by an amelioration of impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Taken together, our results demonstrate that memantine successfully counteracts pathological alterations in a preclinical mouse model of AD.
The Analysis of Predictors of Retirement Preferences over Time
Authors: Pilipiec Patrick , Groot Wim , Pavlova Milena
Published: September 2020

Due to rapid demographic ageing and to sustain its pension system, the Netherlands recently initiated a pension reform that increased the retirement age, with the intention to increase labour force participation among older workers. However, there is little evidence on the preferences of workers concerning their retirement age, and on how these preferences have changed over time. To identify personal and work-related determinants of the preference toward earlier or later retirement, and how these determinants and preferences have changed over time. We use data from three consecutive measurements (waves) of a large Dutch panel. Ordered logit regression is used to investigate the predictors of retirement preferences. Analyses are performed for two groups; all workers and a subsample of workers aged 50 years or older. Furthermore, the analyses are performed for each wave separately and for the combined dataset. A preference for later retirement is primarily related to university education, high job satisfaction, and high income. Age is only positively related to later retirement among older workers. Earlier retirement is preferred by female workers and workers living with a partner. The preference toward an earlier retirement age has increased over time. The preferences toward retirement can be primarily explained by personal characteristics, job satisfaction, and net income. Furthermore, with the increase in the retirement age defined by current legislation, the preference for an earlier retirement age has increased over time.
Dynamic Regulation of JAK-STAT Signaling Through the Prolactin Receptor Predicted by Computational Modeling
Authors: Mortlock Ryland D. , Georgia Senta K. , Finley Stacey D.
Published: September 2020

Introduction

The expansion of insulin-producing beta cells during pregnancy is critical to maintain glucose homeostasis in the face of increasing insulin resistance. Prolactin receptor (PRLR) signaling is one of the primary mediators of beta cell expansion during pregnancy, and loss of PRLR signaling results in reduced beta cell mass and gestational diabetes. Harnessing the proliferative potential of prolactin signaling to expand beta cell mass outside of the context of pregnancy requires quantitative understanding of the signaling at the molecular level.

Methods

A mechanistic computational model was constructed to describe prolactin-mediated JAK-STAT signaling in pancreatic beta cells. The effect of different regulatory modules was explored through ensemble modeling. A Bayesian approach for likelihood estimation was used to fit the model to experimental data from the literature.

Results

Including receptor upregulation, with either inhibition by SOCS proteins, receptor internalization, or both, allowed the model to match experimental results for INS-1 cells treated with prolactin. The model predicts that faster dimerization and nuclear import rates of STAT5B compared to STAT5A can explain the higher STAT5B nuclear translocation. The model was used to predict the dose response of STAT5B translocation in rat primary beta cells treated with prolactin and reveal possible strategies to modulate STAT5 signaling.

Conclusions

JAK-STAT signaling must be tightly controlled to obtain the biphasic response in STAT5 activation seen experimentally. Receptor up-regulation, combined with SOCS inhibition, receptor internalization, or both is required to match experimental data. Modulating reactions upstream in the signaling can enhance STAT5 activation to increase beta cell survival.
Adult Stress Promotes Purinergic Signaling to Induce Visceral Pain in Rats with Neonatal Maternal Deprivation
Authors: Hu Shufen , Sun Qian , Du Wan-Jie , Song Jian , Li Xin , Zhang Ping-An , Xu Ji-Tian , Xu Guang-Yin
Published: September 2020

Chronic visceral pain is one of the primary symptoms of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects up to 15% of the population world-wide. The detailed mechanisms of visceral pain remain largely unclear. Our previous studies have shown that neonatal maternal deprivation (NMD) followed by adult multiple stress (AMS) advances the occurrence of visceral pain, likely due to enhanced norepinephrine (NE)-β2 adrenergic signaling. This study was designed to explore the roles of P2X3 receptors (P2X3Rs) in the chronic visceral pain induced by combined stress. Here, we showed that P2X3Rs were co-expressed in β2 adrenergic receptor (β2-AR)-positive dorsal root ganglion neurons and that NE significantly enhanced ATP-induced Ca2+ signals. NMD and AMS not only significantly increased the protein expression of P2X3Rs, but also greatly enhanced the ATP-evoked current density, number of action potentials, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration of colon-related DRG neurons. Intrathecal injection of the P2X3R inhibitor A317491 greatly attenuated the visceral pain and the ATP-induced Ca2+ signals in NMD and AMS rats. Furthermore, the β2-AR antagonist butoxamine significantly reversed the expression of P2X3Rs, the ATP-induced current density, and the number of action potentials of DRG neurons. Overall, our data demonstrate that NMD followed by AMS leads to P2X3R activation, which is most likely mediated by upregulation of β2 adrenergic signaling in primary sensory neurons, thus contributing to visceral hypersensitivity.
Predictors and Outcomes of Neurological Deterioration in Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Results from the TICH-2 Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Law Zhe Kang , Dineen Rob , England Timothy J , Cala Lesley , Mistri Amit K , Appleton Jason P , Ozturk Serefnur , Bereczki Daniel , Ciccone Alfonso , Bath Philip M , Sprigg Nikola ,   on behalf of TICH-2 investigators
Published: September 2020

Neurological deterioration is common after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We aimed to identify the predictors and effects of neurological deterioration and whether tranexamic acid reduced the risk of neurological deterioration. Data from the Tranexamic acid in IntraCerebral Hemorrhage-2 (TICH-2) randomized controlled trial were analyzed. Neurological deterioration was defined as an increase in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) of ≥ 4 or a decline in Glasgow Coma Scale of ≥ 2. Neurological deterioration was considered to be early if it started ≤ 48 h and late if commenced between 48 h and 7 days after onset. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors and effects of neurological deterioration and the effect of tranexamic acid on neurological deterioration. Of 2325 patients, 735 (31.7%) had neurological deterioration: 590 (80.3%) occurred early and 145 (19.7%) late. Predictors of early neurological deterioration included recruitment from the UK, previous ICH, higher admission systolic blood pressure, higher NIHSS, shorter onset-to-CT time, larger baseline hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage, subarachnoid extension and antiplatelet therapy. Older age, male sex, higher NIHSS, previous ICH and larger baseline hematoma predicted late neurological deterioration. Neurological deterioration was independently associated with a modified Rankin Scale of > 3 (aOR 4.98, 3.70–6.70; p < 0.001). Tranexamic acid reduced the risk of early (aOR 0.79, 0.63–0.99; p = 0.041) but not late neurological deterioration (aOR 0.76, 0.52–1.11; p = 0.15). Larger hematoma size, intraventricular and subarachnoid extension increased the risk of neurological deterioration. Neurological deterioration increased the risk of death and dependency at day 90. Tranexamic acid reduced the risk of early neurological deterioration and warrants further investigation in ICH. URL:https://www.isrctn.com Unique identifier: ISRCTN93732214
Assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on the hydrology at catchment scale: modelling approach including prediction of future drought events using drought indices
Authors: Afzal M. , Ragab R.
Published: September 2020

In this study, the Distributed Catchment-Scale Model, DiCaSM, was used to study the impact of climate change on the hydrology of the Eden catchment, north east of Scotland. As a first step, the model was successfully calibrated and validated for a 42 years period. The DiCaSM model was then used to study the impact of climate change on the water availability. Data from the UKCP09 Climate change scenarios for the 2010–2039, 2040–2069 and 2070–2099 periods, considering three gas emission scenarios (low, medium and high), were applied. The results indicated that the greatest decrease in streamflow and groundwater recharge was projected to happen under the high emission scenarios towards the end of the century, i.e. between 2070 and 2099. This would mainly be due to the summers becoming drier. Meanwhile, the projected increase in winter precipitation did not contribute much towards groundwater recharge due the projected increases in evapotranspiration and soil moisture deficit.

The following drought indices were calculated and were found to be effective in predicting different types of droughts: the Standardized Precipitation Index, SPI, and the Standardized Precipitation Evaporation Index, SPEI, the Reconnaissance Drought Index, RDI, the modified adjusted RDI, the Soil Moisture Deficit, SMD and the Wetness Index, WI. The findings of the study have broader implications in water resources management considering the future changes in climate.
Geochemical evaluation of Khami Group oils in the South Dezful Embayment, Iran
Authors: Alizadeh Bahram , Jahangard Amir Abbas , Alipour Majid , Gandomi Sani Ahmadreza
Published: September 2020

An integrated geochemical study, including GC, GC–MS and stable carbon isotope analyses, was conducted on a suite of oil samples from the Khami Group reservoirs to provide new insights into the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous petroleum system in the South Dezful Embayment. Possible source rocks were also characterized using Rock–Eval pyrolysis to address the likely potential source rocks. The oil samples representing four major reservoirs (Surmeh, Fahliyan, Gadvan and Dariyan) constitute a single genetic oil family according to bulk and biomarker parameters. High API (> 38°), highly saturated hydrocarbons (Sat > 65%), very low asphaltene content (Asp < 2%) and raised saturates/aromatics ratio (Sat/Aro > 2) are the bulk diagnostic characteristics of the studied oils implying more dominant terrigenous nature of the precursor organic matter. The predominance of C29 regular steranes (~ 40%), presence of C29Ts as well as very low gammacerane (< 10%) and moderate C35/C34 homohopane (< 1) are consistent with the mixed marine–terrigenous dysoxic organic matter input. The oils are assumed to be originated from Early Cretaceous source rocks at the peak of the oil generation window in a kitchen area located to the south of the studied region (i.e., the Binak–Borazjan Trough). The hydrocarbons were migrated from this kitchen to the structurally shallow-seated reservoirs in the center and west of the Kharg-Mish local paleo-high. The Khami Group reservoirs are not effectively sealed by the thin Hith anhydrites, and the Kazhdumi Formation finally trapped the migrated hydrocarbons. This study improves our knowledge regarding one of the active petroleum systems in the South Dezful Embayment, enhancing petroleum exploration success by navigating further drillings into the more prosperous targets.
Extension of the taxonomic coverage of the family GH126 outside Firmicutes and in silico characterization of its non-catalytic terminal domains
Authors: Kerényiová Lenka , Janeček Štefan
Published: September 2020

The family GH126 is a family of glycoside hydrolases established in 2011. Officially, in the CAZy database, it counts ~ 1000 sequences originating solely from bacterial phylum Firmicutes. Two members, the proteins CPF_2247 from Clostridium perfringens and PssZ from Listeria monocytogenes have been characterized as a probable α-amylase and an exopolysaccharide-specific glycosidase, respectively; their three-dimensional structures being also solved as possessing catalytic (α/α)6-barrel fold. Previously, based on a detailed in silico analysis, the seven conserved sequence regions (CSRs) were identified for the family along with elucidating basic evolutionary relationships within the family members. The present study represents a continuation study focusing on two particular aims: (1) to find out whether the taxonomic coverage of the family GH126 might be extended outside the Firmicutes and, if positive, to deliver those out-of-Firmicutes proteins with putting them into the context of the family; and (2) to identify the family members containing the N- and/or C-terminal extensions of their polypeptide chain, additional to the catalytic (α/α)6-barrel domain, and perform the bioinformatics characterization of the extra domains. The main results could be summarized as follows: (1) 17 bacterial proteins caught by BLAST searches outside Firmicutes (especially from phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes) have been found and convincingly suggested as new family GH126 members; and (2) a thioredoxin-like fold and various leucine-rich repeat motifs identified by Phyre2 structure homology modelling have been recognized as extra domains occurring most frequently in the N-terminal extensions of family GH126 members possessing a modular organization.
Mission impossible completed: unlocking the nomenclature of the largest and most complicated subgenus of Cortinarius, Telamonia
Authors: Liimatainen Kare , Niskanen Tuula , Dima Bálint , Ammirati Joseph F. , Kirk Paul M. , Kytövuori Ilkka
Published: September 2020

So far approximately 144,000 species of fungi have been named but sequences of the majority of them do not exist in the public databases. Therefore, the quality and coverage of public barcode databases is a bottleneck that hinders the study of fungi. Cortinarius is the largest genus of Agaricales with thousands of species world-wide. The most diverse subgenus in Cortinarius is Telamonia and its species have been considered one of the most taxonomically challenging in the Agaricales. Its high diversity combined with convergent, similar appearing taxa have earned it a reputation of being an impossible group to study. In this study a total of 746 specimens, including 482 type specimens representing 184 species were sequenced. Also, a significant number of old types were successfully sequenced, 105 type specimens were over 50 years old and 18 type specimens over 100 years old. Altogether, 20 epi- or neotypes are proposed for recently commonly used older names. Our study doubles the number of reliable DNA-barcodes of species of C. subgenus Telamonia in the public sequence databases. This is also the first extensive phylogenetic study of the subgenus. A majority of the sections and species are shown in a phylogenetic context for the first time. Our study shows that nomenclatural problems, even in difficult groups like C. subgenus Telamonia, can be solved and consequently identification of species based on ITS barcodes becomes an easy task even for non-experts of the genus.
An extension of the structured singular value to nonlinear systems with application to robust flutter analysis
Authors: Iannelli Andrea , Lowenberg Mark , Marcos Andrés
Published: September 2020

The paper discusses an extension of $$\mu$$
μ
(or structured singular value), a well-established technique from robust control for the study of linear systems subject to structured uncertainty, to nonlinear polynomial problems. Robustness is a multifaceted concept in the nonlinear context, and in this work the point of view of bifurcation theory is assumed. The latter is concerned with the study of qualitative changes of the steady-state solutions of a nonlinear system, so-called bifurcations. The practical goal motivating the work is to assess the effect of modeling uncertainties on flutter, a dynamic instability prompted by an adverse coupling between aerodynamic, elastic, and inertial forces, when considering the system as nonlinear. Specifically, the onset of flutter in nonlinear systems is generally associated with limit cycle oscillations emanating from a Hopf bifurcation point. Leveraging $$\mu$$
μ
and its complementary modeling paradigm, namely linear fractional transformation, this work proposes an approach to compute margins to the occurrence of Hopf bifurcations for uncertain nonlinear systems. An application to the typical section case study with linear unsteady aerodynamic and hardening nonlinearities in the structural parameters will be presented to demonstrate the applicability of the approach.
Marriage and Union Formation in the United States: Recent Trends Across Racial Groups and Economic Backgrounds
Authors: Bloome Deirdre , Ang Shannon
Published: September 2020

Family formation in the United States has changed dramatically: marriage has become less common, nonmarital cohabitation has become more common, and racial and economic inequalities in these experiences have increased. We provide insights into recent U.S. trends by presenting cohort estimates for people born between 1970 and 1997, who began forming unions between 1985 and 2015. Using Panel Study of Income Dynamics data, we find that typical ages at marriage and union formation increased faster across these recent cohorts than across cohorts born between 1940 and 1969. As fewer people married at young ages, more cohabited, but the substitution was incomplete. We project steep declines in the probability of ever marrying, declines that are larger among Black people than White people. We provide novel information on the intergenerational nature of family inequalities by measuring parental income, wealth, education, and occupational prestige. Marriage declines are particularly steep among people from low-income backgrounds. Black people are overrepresented in this low-income group because of discrimination and opportunity denial. However, marriage declines are larger among Black people than White people across parental incomes. Further, most racial differences in marriage occur among people from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Family inequalities increasingly reflect both economic inequalities and broader racial inequalities generated by racist structures; in turn, family inequalities may prolong these other inequalities across generations.
The Effects of Enhanced Enforcement at Mexico’s Southern Border: Evidence From Central American Deportees
Authors: Flores Fernanda Martínez
Published: September 2020

Immigration enforcement cooperation between final-destination and transit countries has increased in the last decades. I examine whether the Southern Border Plan, an immigration enforcement program implemented by the Mexican government in 2014, has curbed intentions of unauthorized migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to migrate to the United States. I use the announcement of the Southern Border Plan to implement a difference-in-differences approach and compare the evolution of short-run intentions to engage in additional unauthorized crossings of Central American (treatment group) relative to Mexican deportees (comparison group). The findings suggest that increased enforcement in Mexico decreases the likelihood of attempting repeated unauthorized crossings.
Driving lesson or driving test?: A metaphor to help faculty separate feedback from assessment
Authors: Brand Paul L. P. , Jaarsma A. Debbie C. , Van der Vleuten Cees P. M.
Published: September 2020

Although there is consensus in the medical education world that feedback is an important and effective tool to support experiential workplace-based learning, learners tend to avoid the feedback associated with direct observation because they perceive it as a high-stakes evaluation with significant consequences for their future. The perceived dominance of the summative assessment paradigm throughout medical education reduces learners’ willingness to seek feedback, and encourages supervisors to mix up feedback with provision of ‘objective’ grades or pass/fail marks. This eye-opener article argues that the provision and reception of effective feedback by clinical supervisors and their learners is dependent on both parties’ awareness of the important distinction between feedback used in coaching towards growth and development (assessment for learning) and reaching a high-stakes judgement on the learner’s competence and fitness for practice (assessment of learning). Using driving lessons and the driving test as a metaphor for feedback and assessment helps supervisors and learners to understand this crucial difference and to act upon it. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure that supervisor and learner achieve a clear mutual understanding of the purpose of each interaction (i.e. feedback or assessment). To allow supervisors to use the driving lesson—driving test metaphor for this purpose in their interactions with learners, it should be included in faculty development initiatives, along with a discussion of the key importance of separating feedback from assessment, to promote a feedback culture of growth and support programmatic assessment of competence.
Nickel nanoparticles supported by commercial carbon paper as a catalyst for urea electro-oxidation
Authors: Coelho Izabella F. , Barbosa Joseane R. , Liu Liying , Nogueira Cauê de S. C. , Franceschini Dante F. , Ponzio Eduardo A. , Silva Júlio César M. , Xing Yutao
Published: September 2020

Nickel nanoparticles supported by commercial carbon paper (CP) are prepared by pulsed laser deposition with deposition time of 3, 6, and 12 min as a catalyst for urea electro-oxidation. The surface conditions and the morphologies of the prepared electrodes have been characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Urea electro-oxidation reaction in KOH solution on the Ni/CP electrodes is investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results show that the electrode with less Ni nanoparticle agglomeration shows higher peak current density, which was achieved in the 3 min deposition samples when normalized by electroactive surface areas. However, the highest current normalized by the area of the carbon paper was achieved in the 6 min deposition sample due to the larger quantity of Ni nanoparticles. All the samples show good stability. Our results suggest that the low density, low cost, and environmental friendly CP can be used as support for Ni nanoparticle as a catalyst for urea electro-oxidation. It thus has great potential for many applications involving urea oxidation, such as wastewater treatments.
The Effects of Social Labels on the Allocation of Resources to Equivalent Stimuli: Does One Rotten Apple Spoil the Whole Barrel?
Authors: Keenan Mickey , Schenk Jacqueline , Coyle Caleb , Reid Lauren , Gallagher Stephen
Published: September 2020

The studies reported here examine how participants distribute resources to arbitrary stimuli in an equivalence class after one stimulus is given a social label. In Experiment 1, two 3-member equivalence classes were established with nonsense syllables (Class 1: A1 (ZID), B1 (YIM), C1 (FAP) and Class 2: A2 (VEK), B2 (RIX), C2 (KUD)) using matching-to-sample training. A social function was then assigned to B1 only, using the simple verbal statement "YIM is a Good person." Next, participants were instructed to allocate tokens to stimuli in whatever way they consider appropriate. In general, the percentage distribution of tokens allocated to Class 1 was greater than those allocated to Class 2. Participants were then informed that a mistake had been made “Sorry I have made a mistake. YIM was actually a bad person not a good person.” Participants were again asked to allocate tokens. In general, results showed a reduction in the distribution of tokens allocated to Class 1, with a relatively higher decrease for B1, and an increase in the distribution allocated to Class 2. Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1 with the addition of a baseline assessment of token distribution prior to examining the effects of adding a social function to B1. During this baseline, the distribution of tokens was relatively similar across both classes. When social functions were added, marked differences occurred in the distribution depending on whether YIM was described as a “Good” or a “Bad” person. Results are discussed regarding transfer of function and its relevance to experimental social psychology.
Shifting social norms to reduce open defecation in rural India
Authors: GAURI VARUN , RAHMAN TASMIA , SEN IMAN K.
Published: September 2020

Toilet ownership in India has grown in recent years, but open defecation can persist even when rural households own latrines. There are at least two pathways through which social norms inhibit the use of toilets in rural India: (1) beliefs/expectations that others do not use toilets or latrines or find open defecation unacceptable; and (2) beliefs about ritual notions of purity that dissociate latrines from cleanliness. A survey in Uttar Pradesh, India, finds a positive correlation between latrine use and social norms at baseline. To confront these, an information campaign was piloted to test the effectiveness of rebranding latrine use and promoting positive social norms. The intervention targeted mental models by rebranding latrine use and associating it with cleanliness, and it made information about growing latrine use among latrine owners more salient. Following the intervention, open defecation practices went down across all treatment households, with the average latrine use score in treatment villages increasing by up to 11% relative to baseline. Large improvements were also observed in pro-latrine beliefs. This suggests that low-cost information campaigns can effectively improve pro-latrine beliefs and practices, as well as shift perceptions of why many people still find open defecation acceptable. Measuring social norms as described can help diagnose barriers to reducing open defecation, contribute to the quality of large-scale surveys and make development interventions more sustainable.
Fear of Contagion: One of the Most Devious Enemies to Fight During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Baldi Enrico , Savastano Simone
Published: September 2020

An impressive reduction in emergency department patient attendance was observed during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic coupled with an increase in the burden of patients with respiratory failure compared with the same period in 2019. These data are in line with the reduction in the hospital admissions rate for acute coronary syndrome observed during the COVID-19 outbreak, probably due to the patients’ fears of being infected during a hospital stay. All these factors may have contributed to the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurrence increase observed during the same period. The OHCAs rate increase can recognize 2 great sets of causes: the infection-related and the pandemic-related ones. If the first recognizes different underlying mechanisms that can be dealt with more and more effectively as evidence accumulates, we must remember also the latter: the fear of in-hospital contagion and the willingness not to further burden the health system, which can prevent some citizens from the activation of the emergency medical services (EMS) even in the case of symptoms suspected for time-dependent diseases, resulting in at-home deterioration until the OHCA occurrence. Information campaigns during pandemic must focus also on the importance of EMS early activation in case of real need to prevent COVID-19 from being a disease that kills at home.
Islam as a Civilizational Threat: Constitutional Identity, Militant Democracy, and Judicial Review in Western Europe
Authors: Hilal-Harvald Malthe
Published: September 2020

Multiple laws and regulations in Western Europe have been enacted on the premise that headscarves and face veils constitute an existential threat to the constitutional identity of the respective legal systems. Thus, the logic of militant democracy as a justification for restricting fundamental rights have been applied in order to restrict the freedom to manifest one’s religion. Yet, the politicymakers claiming to defend the constitutional identity through militant democracy have not been able to prove the existence of a concrete, imminent threat against the state from the women who wear headscarves or face veils. Nonetheless, the European judiciaries have taken the political claim at face value and allowed the restrictions without compelling the political decision-makers to provide substantive justifications. Thus, the cases of headscarves and face veils offer a prism, through which we can study fundamental paradoxes of liberal democracy and constitutionalism.