bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multivariate analysis of oriental apple (Malus orientalis Uglitzk.) based on phenotypic and pomological characterizations
Authors: Moradi Younes , Khadivi Ali , Mirheidari Farhad
Published: March 2022

Oriental apple (Malus orientalis Uglitzk.) is rich in valuable traits, such as later blooming, adaptation to a wider array of habitats, and capacity for longer storage of the apples, that should be considered important to the genetic makeup of the domestic apple. Here, the morphological diversity of this species was evaluated. There were significant differences among the accessions studied as revealed by the recorded traits. Ripening date ranged from late April to mid‐May. Fruit skin ground color showed strong diversity, including light cream, cream, yellow, light green, and green‐white. Also, fruit skin over color was highly variable, including white, cream, yellow, light green, and green‐white. Fruit weight ranged from 3.45 to 16.74 g. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed 13 PCs which contributed to 83.30% of total variance and fruit‐related characters were the most effective traits for separating and identifying the studied accessions. The Ward dendrogram reflected the similarities and dissimilarities among the accessions based on the qualitative and quantitative variables measured. A high phenotypic diversity within the collected material of M. orientalis was indicated. The diversity existing in the indigenous wild M. orientalis could further add new genetic information in the global gene pool of Malus species. The present study confirmed the necessity of preserving this unique genetic resource and continuing its study no matter the fact that in practice.
Weathering the storm alone or together: Examining the impact of COVID‐19 on sole and partnered working mothers
Authors: Dionisi Angela M. , Smith Chelsie J. , Dupré Kathryne E.
Published: March 2022

Sole employed mothers and their families face numerous challenges. Yet, the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID‐19 pandemic may be adding additional risk to the already precarious day‐to‐day reality of this population. Thus, we examine the implications of this crisis for the mental health and job‐related well‐being of both sole and partnered working mothers. Participants were 206 mothers who continued to work during the pandemic. A moderated mediation model was analyzed. Work‐family conflict (WFC) during the pandemic differentially related to mothers’ parenting stress, based on romantic partnership status; when mothers were sole parents, the relationship between WFC and parenting stress was exacerbated. Moreover, this stress mediated the relationship between WFC and both poor mental health and decreased work engagement for sole employed mothers. Findings broaden our understanding of the implications of the COVID‐19 pandemic for sole and partnered employed mothers, and how this crisis may be increasing disparities between working sole‐parent and dual‐partner families.
Unhoused and unhireable? Examining employment biases in service contexts related to perceived warmth and competence of people experiencing houselessness
Authors: Martinez Larry R. , Smith Nicholas A. , Snoeyink Megan J. , Noone Breffni M. , Shockley Alex
Published: March 2022

Lack of safe and stable housing is a pernicious and growing social concern, and stereotypes about individuals experiencing houselessness are generally quite negative. Little scholarly work has examined housing insecurity and its associated stereotypes in employment contexts. The purpose of the current research was to examine, in the context of the hospitality industry, whether housing status influences hiring managers' perceptions of hireability (Study 1) and customers' evaluations of an organization and its employees (Study 2) using the stereotype content model. Across two experimental studies, we assessed participant attitudes toward individuals experiencing houselessness. In Study 1, we instructed 148 hotel managers to listen to a hypothetical job interview with either an unhoused or housed job applicant, and then complete measures of hireability. In Study 2, we instructed 139 hotel customers to observe a hypothetical interaction with either an unhoused or housed employee, and then evaluate the employee and the organization. Study 1's findings suggested an indirect effect of housing status on perceived hireability through warmth, and this indirect relationship was moderated by gender. Men who were houseless were rated lower in warmth, and thus lower in hireability, than non‐houseless men or women regardless of their housing status. However, houseless men were perceived by customers as warmer than non‐houseless men as employees, driving higher evaluations of the organization and the employee (Study 2). Hiring initiatives targeted at providing short‐term housing for unhoused employees will benefit employees, employers, and the larger communities they encompass.
Structural equation modeling of the influence of primary school teachers' demographics on their psychosocial work hazards
Authors: Ugwuanyi Christian S. , Okeke Charity C. , Okeke Chinedu I. O.
Published: March 2022

Most workers, especially teachers experience one form of psychosocial work hazards or the other. In the Nigerian context, there is a high prevalence of psychosocial work hazards and no study has been conducted to ascertain the influence of teachers’ demographics on their psychosocial work hazards. This study explored the influence of primary school teachers’ demographics on their psychosocial work hazards using the structural equation modeling approach. Drawing from the tenets of Job‐Demand‐Control‐Support theory, a correlational survey research design was used, using a sample of 254 primary school teachers, and the study was based on a quantitative research approach. The study's data were gathered utilizing a 28‐item questionnaire adapted from the 30‐item Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire developed by Kristensen and coworkers in 2005. The internal consistency reliability index of the questionnaire items was 0.74. The data were analyzed using a combination of frequency, percentage, chi‐square test of independent samples, hierarchical multiple regression analysis, and structural equation modeling. It was revealed that demographic characteristics of teachers correlated with their psychosocial work hazards. However, it was found that only the age and location of the teachers had significant (p < .05) relationships with their psychosocial work hazards. The age and location of the teachers are significant determinants of their psychosocial work hazards. This our findings call for more research on the subject matter as some recent studies have documented that other demographics of teachers had significant relationships with psychosocial work hazards. It was therefore recommended that teachers’ demographics should be considered as important factors in the recruitment of teachers.
Comparison of biochemical composition of commercial sea cucumbers, Apostichopus japonicus and Parastichopus californicus, under the same culture conditions
Authors: Jiang Senhao , Tong Xinyu , Jiang Yuhao , Wu Linxin , Li Li , Ma Ruiting , Xue Jipeng , Jiang Congbing
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Apostichopus japonicus and Parastichopus californicus are two of the most important and profitable commercial sea cucumbers along the North Pacific coast. This study compared the body wall production rate (BWPR), proximate composition, amino acid, fatty acid, trace element and vitamin composition, and nonspecific immune enzyme activities of A. japonicus and P. californicus cultured in an artificial pond.

RESULTS

The BWPR, crude fat and ash content in the body walls of A. japonicus and P. californicus showed remarkable differences (P < 0.05). For the 18 amino acids tested, differences in the contents of 15 were significant (P < 0.05) between the two species, except for threonine, methionine and histidine, and their first limiting amino acids were both methionine+cysteine. There were seven saturated and ten unsaturated fatty acids in their body walls, and except for 18:1 and 20:1, the content differences of the other 15 fatty acids were all significant (P < 0.05). Furthermore, between the two sea cucumbers, differences in the content of seven trace elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni, Se) and six vitamins (B1, B3, B5, B9, C, E) were significant (P < 0.05). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) also showed distinct differences (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There are greater differences in the biochemical compositions and contents between A. japonicus and P. californicus, each with its own unique quality advantages. A. japonicus and P. californicus have high nutritional value, which are both the superior sea cucumbers. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Maternal vitamin D status in relation to infant BMI growth trajectories up to 2 years of age in two prospective pregnancy cohorts
Authors: Amberntsson Anna , Bärebring Linnea , Winkvist Anna , Lissner Lauren , Meltzer Helle Margrete , Brantsæter Anne Lise , Papadopoulou Eleni , Augustin Hanna
Published: March 2022

Background

Early childhood growth can affect the child's health status later in life. Maternal vitamin D status has been suggested to affect early childhood growth. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the role of maternal vitamin D status on growth trajectories during infancy. By using growth mixture modeling (GMM), maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy can be investigated in relation to different classes of infant growth trajectories.

Objectives

To examine the association between maternal 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and classes of infant body mass index (BMI) growth trajectories.

Methods

Mother–child pairs were included from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa,n= 2522) and the Swedish GraviD cohort (n = 862). Maternal 25OHD in pregnancy was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Children's weights and heights were registry‐based. GMM identified classes of infant BMI growth trajectories up to 2 years. The association between maternal 25OHD and infant BMI class by cohort was estimated using a log‐link generalized linear model. Mixed model analysis estimated the pooled association including both cohorts.

Results

Two infant BMI classes were identified, stable normal and stable high. In MoBa, maternal 25OHD <50 and 50–75 nmol/L were associated (RR 2.70, 95% CI 1.26–5.77 and RR 2.56, 95% CI 1.20–5.47) with a higher risk of the infant stable high BMI class, compared with 25OHD >75 nmol/L. In GraviD, no association was found. In pooled analysis, maternal 25OHD ≤75 nmol/L was non‐significantly associated with a higher risk of the stable high BMI growth class.

Conclusions

Maternal 25OHD ≤75 nmol/L may be associated with a higher class of BMI growth trajectory during infancy.
Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Interfaces for Spin Injection into Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene
Authors: Martin Pascal , Dlubak Bruno , Seneor Pierre , Mattana Richard , Martin Marie‐Blandine , Lafarge Philippe , Mallet François , Della Rocca Maria Luisa , Dubois Simon M.‐M. , Charlier Jean‐Christophe , Barraud Clément
Published: March 2022

Spintronics is a quantum technology which aims at adding the spin quantum degree of freedom to conventional CMOS electronics. Since the discovery of the giant magneto‐resistance in 1988, considered as the birth of this field, spintronics continues flooding the market with plethora of devices used in everyday life applications such as hard drive read heads or magnetic random‐access memories, and so on. From a fundamental research perspective, the field is still blooming bringing post‐CMOS perspectives technologically closer to the reality with, for instance, prototypes of all‐spin‐logic circuits and neuromorphic chips. To sustain this intense research activity, a quest for new platform materials is also taking place not only to enhance existing performances but also to generate novel functionalities. In this vein, carbon nanostructures such as molecules, graphene, and carbon nanotubes are among the most sought‐after materials. In this review, spin transport experiments in carbon nanotubes and graphene are first detailed and then, the necessity to consider new hybrid interfaces are highlighted for a better control of the spin injection at the quantum device level.
Efficient estimation of indirect effects in case‐control studies using a unified likelihood framework
Authors: Satten Glen A. , Curtis Sarah W. , Solis‐Lemus Claudia , Leslie Elizabeth J. , Epstein Michael P.
Published: March 2022

Mediation models are a set of statistical techniques that investigate the mechanisms that produce an observed relationship between an exposure variable and an outcome variable in order to deduce the extent to which the relationship is influenced by intermediate mediator variables. For a case‐control study, the most common mediation analysis strategy employs a counterfactual framework that permits estimation of indirect and direct effects on the odds ratio scale for dichotomous outcomes, assuming either binary or continuous mediators. While this framework has become an important tool for mediation analysis, we demonstrate that we can embed this approach in a unified likelihood framework for mediation analysis in case‐control studies that leverages more features of the data (in particular, the relationship between exposure and mediator) to improve efficiency of indirect effect estimates. One important feature of our likelihood approach is that it naturally incorporates cases within the exposure‐mediator model to improve efficiency. Our approach does not require knowledge of disease prevalence and can model confounders and exposure‐mediator interactions, and is straightforward to implement in standard statistical software. We illustrate our approach using both simulated data and real data from a case‐control genetic study of lung cancer.
Geometrical‐, Electronic‐ and Optical Properties of Vanadium Dioxide: A Theoretical Perspective from Meta‐GGA SCAN
Authors: Varadwaj Arpita , Miyake Takashi
Published: March 2022

Meta‐GGA (SCAN, and SCAN‐rVV10) density functionals were used to determine the lattice constants, cell‐volume and ‐density, phase‐stability, bandgaps and dielectric functions of experimentally recognized non‐magnetic VO2 in the monoclinic (M1) and rutile (R) phases. Our results suggest that these functionals can adequately predict the most important geometrical and optoelectronic properties of VO2 that are not only in excellent agreement with experiment but also better than those reported using GGA and GGA+U. In specific, we have shown that SCAN‐rVV10 correctly predicts the preferential energy stability of low‐temperature monoclinic phase over the high‐temperature rutile phase of VO2, in agreement with the experimental latent heat of phase transition between the two phases (44.45 meV). A bandgap of approximately 0.58 eV for VO2(M1) was obtained with the two meta‐GGA functionals, which is also consistent with experiment (0.6–0.7 eV). Although the meta‐GGA predicted absorption peaks of the imaginary part of the dielectric function in the near infrared region has displayed reasonable match with experiment, it overestimated the absorption peaks in the visible region. Our results suggest that the degree of exchange and electron‐electron correlation incorporated in meta‐GGA SCAN, and its van der Waals analogue, SCAN‐rVV10, is appropriate in reproducing the experimentally observed V–V chain features that are linked with the insulator‐to‐metal phase transition. The optical dielectric features computed with GGA and meta‐GGA were compared with many‐body theory (at the G0W0 (RPA) and G0W0‐BSE level(s)) and discussed.
Hysteresis‐Free Planar Perovskite Solar Module with 19.1% Efficiency by Interfacial Defects Passivation
Authors: Vesce Luigi , Stefanelli Maurizio , Castriotta Luigi A. , Hadipour Afshin , Lammar Stijn , Yang Bowen , Suo Jiajia , Aernouts Tom , Hagfeldt Anders , Di Carlo Aldo
Published: March 2022

In few years, perovskite solar devices have reached high efficiency on lab scale cells. Upscaling to module size, effective perovskite recipe and posttreatment are of paramount importance to the breakthrough of the technology. Herein this work, the development of a low‐temperature planar n–i–p perovskite module (11 cm2 aperture area, 91% geometrical fill factor) is reported on, exploiting the defect passivation strategy to achieve an efficiency of 19.1% (2% losses stabilized) with near‐zero hysteresis, that is the most unsolved issue in the perovskite photovoltaic technology. The I/Br (iodine/bromide) halide ion ratio of the triple‐cation perovskite formulation and deposition procedure are optimized to move from small area to module device and to avoid the detrimental effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent. The organic halide salt phenethylammonium iodide (PEAI) is adopted as surface passivation material on module size to suppress perovskite defects. Finally, homogeneous and defect‐free layers from cell to module with only 8% relative efficiency losses, high reproducibility, and optimized interconnections are scaled by laser ablation methods. The homogeneity of the perovskite layers and of the full stack was assessed by optical, morphological, and light beam–induced current (LBIC) mapping characterizations.
Distributed fiber optic sensors for measuring strains of concrete, steel, and textile reinforcement: Possible fields of application
Authors: Zdanowicz Katarzyna , Gebauer Daniel , Koschemann Marc , Speck Kerstin , Steinbock Oliver , Beckmann Birgit , Marx Steffen
Published: March 2022

The article describes measurements of strains of concrete, steel and textile reinforcement with distributed fiber optic sensors (DFOS). The technology of distributed strain measurements gains currently increasing attention within the civil engineering field and indeed the DFOS can be applied in various measurement scenarios providing results and insights which were not possible before. Within this article, the fibers and adhesives that are most commonly used are compared and several measurement scenarios and their results are described, including precise strain measurements with high resolution as well as measurements on large‐scale specimens. Concrete strains were measured in a multiaxial compression stress state and also during setting and hardening and in flexural tests. Strains of the steel and textile reinforcement were monitored along the bond zone and also in flexural tests. Finally, cracking patterns were observed and compared with digital image correlation methods. Validated examples of applications of DFOS in laboratory work are described.
Cosmological constraints on dark scalar
Authors: Ibe Masahiro , Kobayashi Shin , Nakayama Yuhei , Shirai Satoshi
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We discuss cosmological constraints on a dark scalar particle mixing with the Standard Model Higgs boson. We pay particular attention to the dark scalar production process when the reheating temperature of the Universe is very low, which allows us to give a conservative limit on the low-mass scalar particle. We also study the effect of the self-interaction of the dark scalars and find this has a significant impact on the cosmological constraints. We obtain the most conservative cosmological constraint on the dark scalar, which is complementary to accelerator experiments and astrophysical observations.
Flow cytometry based-FRET: basics, novel developments and future perspectives
Authors: Lim JiaWen , Petersen Moritz , Bunz Maximilian , Simon Claudia , Schindler Michael
Published: March 2022

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a widespread technology used to analyze and quantify protein interactions in multiple settings. While FRET is traditionally measured by microscopy, flow cytometry based-FRET is becoming popular within the last decade and more commonly used. Flow cytometry based-FRET offers the possibility to assess FRET in a short time-frame in a high number of cells thereby allowing stringent and statistically robust quantification of FRET in multiple samples. Furthermore, established, simple and easy to implement gating strategies facilitate the adaptation of flow cytometry based-FRET measurements to most common flow cytometers. We here summarize the basics of flow cytometry based-FRET, highlight recent novel developments in this field and emphasize on exciting future perspectives.
Felix Martin Oberländer (1851–1915) und sein Beitrag zur Wissenschafts- und Fachentwicklung von Urologie und Venerologie
Authors: Moll Friedrich H.
Published: March 2022

Während die Erinnerungskultur zu Maximilian Nitze innerhalb der deutschen Urologie gut entwickelt ist, bleibt das Wissen um Felix Martin Oberländer unscharf, obwohl er das Zentralblatt für die Krankheiten der Harn- und Sexualorgane herausgab, den Vorsitz bei der Gründung der alten Deutschen Gesellschaft für Urologie e. V. (DGU) im Jahre 1906 führte und später nach ihm ein Wissenschaftspreis der DGU benannt wurde.
Phase Transitions for $$\phi ^4_3$$
Authors: Chandra Ajay , Gunaratnam Trishen S. , Weber Hendrik
Published: March 2022

We establish a surface order large deviation estimate for the magnetisation of low temperature $$\phi ^4_3$$

ϕ
3
4

. As a byproduct, we obtain a decay of spectral gap for its Glauber dynamics given by the $$\phi ^4_3$$

ϕ
3
4

singular stochastic PDE. Our main technical contributions are contour bounds for $$\phi ^4_3$$

ϕ
3
4

, which extends 2D results by Glimm et al. (Commun Math Phys 45(3):203–216, 1975). We adapt an argument by Bodineau et al. (J Math Phys 41(3):1033–1098, 2000) to use these contour bounds to study phase segregation. The main challenge to obtain the contour bounds is to handle the ultraviolet divergences of $$\phi ^4_3$$

ϕ
3
4

whilst preserving the structure of the low temperature potential. To do this, we build on the variational approach to ultraviolet stability for $$\phi ^4_3$$

ϕ
3
4

developed recently by Barashkov and Gubinelli (Duke Math. J. 169(17):3339–3415, 2020).
Zeros of the i.i.d. Gaussian Laurent Series on an Annulus: Weighted Szegő Kernels and Permanental-Determinantal Point Processes
Authors: Katori Makoto , Shirai Tomoyuki
Published: March 2022

On an annulus $${{\mathbb {A}}}_q :=\{z \in {{\mathbb {C}}}: q< |z| < 1\}$$

A
q

:
=

{
z
∈
C
:
q
<
|
z
|
<
1
}

with a fixed $$q \in (0, 1)$$

q
∈
(
0
,
1
)

, we study a Gaussian analytic function (GAF) and its zero set which defines a point process on $${{\mathbb {A}}}_q$$

A
q

called the zero point process of the GAF. The GAF is defined by the i.i.d. Gaussian Laurent series such that the covariance kernel parameterized by $$r >0$$

r
>
0

is identified with the weighted Szegő kernel of $${{\mathbb {A}}}_q$$

A
q

with the weight parameter r studied by McCullough and Shen. The GAF and the zero point process are rotationally invariant and have a symmetry associated with the q-inversion of coordinate $$z \leftrightarrow q/z$$

z
↔
q
/
z

and the parameter change $$r \leftrightarrow q^2/r$$

r
↔

q
2

/
r

. When $$r=q$$

r
=
q

they are invariant under conformal transformations which preserve $${{\mathbb {A}}}_q$$

A
q

. Conditioning the GAF by adding zeros, new GAFs are induced such that the covariance kernels are also given by the weighted Szegő kernel of McCullough and Shen but the weight parameter r is changed depending on the added zeros. We also prove that the zero point process of the GAF provides a permanental-determinantal point process (PDPP) in which each correlation function is expressed by a permanent multiplied by a determinant. Dependence on r of the unfolded 2-correlation function of the PDPP is studied. If we take the limit $$q \rightarrow 0$$

q
→
0

, a simpler but still non-trivial PDPP is obtained on the unit disk $${\mathbb {D}}$$
D
. We observe that the limit PDPP indexed by $$r \in (0, \infty )$$

r
∈
(
0
,
∞
)

can be regarded as an interpolation between the determinantal point process (DPP) on $${{\mathbb {D}}}$$
D
studied by Peres and Virág ($$r \rightarrow 0$$

r
→
0

) and that DPP of Peres and Virág with a deterministic zero added at the origin ($$r \rightarrow \infty $$

r
→
∞

).
“Mushrooms (and a cow) are A Means of Survival for Us”: Dissimilar Ethnomycological Perspectives among Hutsuls and Romanians Living Across The Ukrainian-Romanian Border
Authors: Stryamets N. , Mattalia G. , Pieroni A. , Sõukand R.
Published: March 2022

Sustainable forest management highlights the multipurpose use of all forest resources, including the use of wild mushrooms, by a variety of forest users and especially for rural livelihoods. To achieve sustainable forest management, among others, decision-makers and forest managers need to identify the important elements for the livelihoods of local communities dependent on forests. Therefore, our aim is to analyse the importance of contemporary use of wild mushrooms for daily livelihoods in rural areas of the Carpathian Mountains by comparing two ethnic groups, Hutsuls and Romanians, living in a similar ecological environment and formerly belonging to the historical region of Bukovina, but currently split by the border between Ukraine and Romania which have different governments and economic situations. One hundred and twenty-one face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted in the summers of 2018 and 2019. We compared the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of Romanians and Hutsuls living, respectively, in lowlands and mountain areas on both sides of the border. Our results demonstrated the homogenous use of mushroom species for cultural purposes (e.g. ritual foods). Yet, we detected a remarkable difference in the role mushrooms play in providing income: Hutsuls in Ukraine use forest products as a main (rarely additional) source of income, while Romanian Hutsuls use them solely as additional income. Romanians on both sides considered mushrooms mainly as food and did not sell them (probably due in part to less abundance in the area). We also documented the fear of local residents that forest management and protected areas could suppress the right to collect wild mushrooms. The use of mushrooms is an important aspect of local TEK and needs to be considered as a part of sustainable forest management and as a means of poverty reduction in the region.
Generating greenhouse gas cutting incentives when allocating carbon dioxide emissions to shipments in road freight transportation
Authors: Kellner Florian
Published: March 2022

Road freight transportation accounts for a great share of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In order to provide a common methodology for carbon accounting related to transport activities, the European Committee for Standardization has published the European Norm EN-16258. Unfortunately, EN-16258 contains gaps and ambiguities and leaves room for interpretation, which makes the comparison of the environmental performance of different logistics networks still difficult and hinders the identification of best practices. This research contributes to the identification of particularly meaningful principles for the allocation of GHG to shipments in road freight transportation by presenting an analytical framework for studying the performance of the EN-16258 allocation schemes with respect to accuracy, fairness, and the GHG minimizing incentive. In doing so, we continue previous studies that analyzed two important aspects of the EN-16258 allocation rules: accuracy and fairness. This study provides further insights into this allocation problem by investigating the incentive power of the different allocation schemes to opt for the GHG minimal way of running a road freight network. First, we complement the list of transport scenarios introduced in prior studies and present two novel scenarios. Second, we carry out a series of numerical experiments to compare the EN-16258 allocation rules with respect to accuracy, fairness, and the GHG minimizing incentive. We find that the results may differ significantly for the two scenarios, suggesting a case-by-case recommendation. This is particularly interesting because the first scenario confirms the results of the prior studies, while the second scenario rather contradicts them.
Influence of a proinflammatory state on postprandial outcomes in elderly subjects with a risk phenotype for cardiometabolic diseases
Authors: Schönknecht Yannik Bernd , Crommen Silke , Stoffel-Wagner Birgit , Coenen Martin , Fimmers Rolf , Stehle Peter , Egert Sarah
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Low-grade inflammation in obesity is associated with insulin resistance and other metabolic disturbances. In response to high-energy meal intake, blood concentrations of inflammatory markers, glucose and insulin rise. The aim of this study was to examine whether a basal inflammatory state influences postprandial responses.

Methods

A randomized crossover trial was performed in 60 participants with a cardiometabolic risk phenotype (age 70 ± 5 years; BMI 30.9 ± 3.1 kg/m2). Each participant consumed three different iso-energetic meals (4300 kJ): a Western diet-like high-fat meal (WDHF), a Western diet-like high-carbohydrate meal (WDHC) and a Mediterranean diet-like meal (MED). Blood samples were collected when fasted and hourly for 5 h postprandially and analyzed for glucose, insulin, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and endothelial adhesion molecules. Based on fasting serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, participants were assigned to a high inflammation (CRP ≥ 2.0 mg/L; n = 30) or low inflammation (CRP < 2.0 mg/L; n = 30) group, and postprandial outcomes were compared.

Results

Plasma IL-6, glucose and serum insulin increased after all meals, while IL-1β and endothelial adhesion molecules were unchanged. The high inflammation group had higher fasting and postprandial IL-6 concentrations than the low inflammation group, although the IL-6 response slope was similar between groups. In response to the WDHC meal, participants in the high inflammation group experienced a higher glycaemic response than those in the low inflammation group.

Conclusion

A basal proinflammatory state results in higher absolute fasting and postprandial IL-6 concentrations, but the increase in IL-6 relative to basal levels is not different between high and low inflammation groups. Elevated glycaemic response in the high inflammation group may be due to inflammation-induced short-term insulin resistance.

The trial was registered at http://www.germanctr.de and http://www.drks.de under identifier DRKS00009861 (registration date, January 22, 2016).
The genetic and phenotypic landscapes of Usher syndrome: from disease mechanisms to a new classification
Authors: Delmaghani Sedigheh , El-Amraoui Aziz
Published: March 2022

Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common cause of deaf–blindness in humans, with a prevalence of about 1/10,000 (~ 400,000 people worldwide). Cochlear implants are currently used to reduce the burden of hearing loss in severe-to-profoundly deaf patients, but many promising treatments including gene, cell, and drug therapies to restore the native function of the inner ear and retinal sensory cells are under investigation. The traditional clinical classification of Usher syndrome defines three major subtypes—USH1, 2 and 3—according to hearing loss severity and onset, the presence or absence of vestibular dysfunction, and age at onset of retinitis pigmentosa. Pathogenic variants of nine USH genes have been initially reported: MYO7A, USH1C, PCDH15, CDH23, and USH1G for USH1, USH2A, ADGRV1, and WHRN for USH2, and CLRN1 for USH3. Based on the co-occurrence of hearing and vision deficits, the list of USH genes has been extended to few other genes, but with limited supporting information. A consensus on combined criteria for Usher syndrome is crucial for the development of accurate diagnosis and to improve patient management. In recent years, a wealth of information has been obtained concerning the properties of the Usher proteins, related molecular networks, potential genotype–phenotype correlations, and the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the impairment or loss of hearing, balance and vision. The advent of precision medicine calls for a clear and more precise diagnosis of Usher syndrome, exploiting all the existing data to develop a combined clinical/genetic/network/functional classification for Usher syndrome.
Verifiable strategy synthesis for multiple autonomous agents: a scalable approach
Authors: Gu Rong , Jensen Peter G. , Poulsen Danny B. , Seceleanu Cristina , Enoiu Eduard , Lundqvist Kristina
Published: March 2022

Path planning and task scheduling are two challenging problems in the design of multiple autonomous agents. Both problems can be solved by the use of exhaustive search techniques such as model checking and algorithmic game theory. However, model checking suffers from the infamous state-space explosion problem that makes it inefficient at solving the problems when the number of agents is large, which is often the case in realistic scenarios. In this paper, we propose a new version of our novel approach called MCRL that integrates model checking and reinforcement learning to alleviate this scalability limitation. We apply this new technique to synthesize path planning and task scheduling strategies for multiple autonomous agents. Our method is capable of handling a larger number of agents if compared to what is feasibly handled by the model-checking technique alone. Additionally, MCRL also guarantees the correctness of the synthesis results via post-verification. The method is implemented in UPPAAL STRATEGO and leverages our tool MALTA for model generation, such that one can use the method with less effort of model construction and higher efficiency of learning than those of the original MCRL. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach on an industrial case study: an autonomous quarry, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the methods.
Acute Stress Reaction in Combat: Emerging Evidence and Peer-Based Interventions
Authors: Adler Amy B. , Gutierrez Ian A.
Published: March 2022

Purpose of Review

This paper highlights the topic of combat-related acute stress reactions (ASRs) in service members. Specifically, we contrast ASRs with related psychiatric conditions, report the estimated prevalence of ASRs for soldiers deployed to combat, and discuss how team members can effectively respond to these reactions.

Recent Findings

Although not regarded as a clinical disorder, ASRs can have a significant impact on high-risk occupations like the military in which impaired functioning can imperil team members and others. Based on self-report, 17.2% of soldiers who have deployed to combat report having experienced a possible ASR. To our knowledge, this is the first such prevalence estimate.

The prevalence of ASRs underscores the need for improved prevention, management, and recovery strategies. Peer-based intervention protocols such as iCOVER may provide a useful starting point to address ASRs in team members.
Tragic Choices and the Virtue of Techno-Responsibility Gaps
Authors: Danaher John
Published: March 2022

There is a concern that the widespread deployment of autonomous machines will open up a number of ‘responsibility gaps’ throughout society. Various articulations of such techno-responsibility gaps have been proposed over the years, along with several potential solutions. Most of these solutions focus on ‘plugging’ or ‘dissolving’ the gaps. This paper offers an alternative perspective. It argues that techno-responsibility gaps are, sometimes, to be welcomed and that one of the advantages of autonomous machines is that they enable us to embrace certain kinds of responsibility gap. The argument is based on the idea that human morality is often tragic. We frequently confront situations in which competing moral considerations pull in different directions and it is impossible to perfectly balance these considerations. This heightens the burden of responsibility associated with our choices. We cope with the tragedy of moral choice in different ways. Sometimes we delude ourselves into thinking the choices we make were not tragic (illusionism); sometimes we delegate the tragic choice to others (delegation); sometimes we make the choice ourselves and bear the psychological consequences (responsibilisation). Each of these strategies has its benefits and costs. One potential advantage of autonomous machines is that they enable a reduced cost form of delegation. However, we only gain the advantage of this reduced cost if we accept that some techno-responsibility gaps are virtuous.
Slice Thickness Optimization for the Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscopy 3D Tomography of Hierarchical Nanoporous Gold
Authors: Shkurmanov Alexander , Krekeler Tobias , Ritter Martin
Published: March 2022

The combination of focused ion beam (FIB) with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), also known as FIB-SEM tomography, has become a powerful 3D imaging technique at the nanometer scale. This method uses an ion beam to mill away a thin slice of material, which is then block-face imaged using an electron beam. With consecutive slicing along the z-axis and subsequent imaging, a volume of interest can be reconstructed from the images and further analyzed. Hierarchical nanoporous gold (HNPG) exhibits unique structural properties and has a ligament size of 15–110 nm and pore size of 5–20 nm. Accurate reconstruction of its image is crucial in determining its mechanical and other properties. Slice thickness is one of the most critical and uncertain parameters in FIB-SEM tomography. For HNPG, the slice thickness should be at least half as thin as the pore size and, in our approach, should not exceed 10 nm. Variations in slice thickness are caused by various microscope and sample parameters, e.g., converged ion milling beam shape, charging effects, beam drift, or sample surface roughness. Determining and optimizing the actual slice thickness variation appear challenging. In this work, we examine the influence of ion beam scan resolution and the dwell time on the mean and standard deviation of slice thickness. After optimizing the resolution and dwell time to achieve the target slice thickness and lowest possible standard deviation, we apply these parameters to analyze an actual HNPG sample. Our approach can determine the thickness of each slice along the z-axis and estimate the deviation of the milling process along the y-axis (slow imaging axis). For this function, we create a multi-ruler structure integrated with the HNPG sample.
The Three Faces of Populism in Power: Polity, Policies and Politics
Authors: Caiani Manuela , Graziano Paolo
Published: March 2022

In this article, we explore the consequences of the increasing presence of both left- and right-wing populist parties in government, critically reflecting on the recent scholarship on the topic, underlining promising venues for future research and outlining a conceptual framework which constitutes the background of this special issue entitled ‘Populism in Power and its Consequences’. Our main contribution is empirical, since – by reflecting on the various articles hosted in the special issue – we assess the impact of populist parties in government on politics, polities and various policy domains. We also provide an account of potential moderating factors of the influence of populists in government, focus on different ideological underpinnings of types of populisms (left-wing and right-wing) and discuss their relevance. We conclude by identifying four possible scenarios for European populist parties in governments: radicalization, compromise and moderation, splintering, or loss.
Corrigendum: Dynamics of a susceptible—infected—susceptible epidemic reaction—diffusion model
Authors: Deng Keng , Wu Yixiang
Published: March 2022

This corrigendum corrects a result in [1].
Spatial modeling of dyadic geopolitical interactions between moving actors
Authors: Kim Sangyeon , Liu Howard , Desmarais Bruce
Published: March 2022

Political actors often interact spatially, and move around. However, with a few exceptions, existing political research has analyzed spatial dependence among actors with fixed geographic locations. Focusing on fixated geographic units prevents us from probing dependencies in spatial interaction between spatially dynamic actors, which are common in some areas of political science, such as sub-national conflict studies. In this note, we propose a method to account for spatial dependence in dyadic interactions between moving actors. Our method uses the spatiotemporal histories of dyadic interactions to project locations of future interactions—projected actor locations (PALs). PALs can, in turn, be used to model the likelihood of future dyadic interactions. In a replication and extension of a recent study of subnational conflict, we find that using PALs improves the predictive performance of the model and indicates that there is a clear relationship between actors’ past conflict locations and the likelihood of future conflicts.
What Kind of Identity is Partisan Identity? “Social” versus “Political” Partisanship in Divided Democracies
Authors: RUCKELSHAUS JAY
Published: March 2022

Many scholars blame partisan polarization for collapsing politics into social life. But these diagnoses lack any sophisticated theoretical basis for distinguishing “social” from “political” forms of identity. This article offers such a framework, providing better grounding for evaluating polarization. Drawing on work on the politics of difference, I first argue that the harms of polarized partisanship mirror long-standing criticisms of essentialist social identities, including the constriction of agency and reduction of compromise. I then show how a more political form of partisan identity could not only mitigate these concerns but also positively contribute to democracy through the promotion of civic republican ideals of active citizenship. I conceptualize partisan identity between the view of the social-identity literature (partisanship as cultural identity) and an idealizing tendency within some recent normative views (partisanship without identity), offering a novel evaluation of polarization and a conceptual map useful for both empirical and normative scholars.
Variation of lacustrine carbonate deposition in the Eocene Dongying Depression and its comparison with Holocene environments
Authors: Wu Jing , Liang Chao , Yang Renchao , Xie Jun
Published: March 2022

The sedimentary characteristics and preservation potential of lacustrine carbonates provide fundamental information on climate change. The lacustrine carbonate deposition in the Eocene Dongying Depression was investigated using a combination of mineralogical, petrological and geochemical analyses. Micritic calcite/dolomite, granular calcite, columnar calcite, calcareous shell fragments and reworked detrital calcite were identified. Varying patterns of carbonates (VPC) including lithofacies, geochemical indicators and carbonate distribution were revealed in the Dongying Depression: (i) carbonates hardly precipitate in the nearshore area (average 12 wt %); (ii) carbonate content is high (average 53 wt %) in the shallow lake and (iii) gradually decreases to reach a minimum (average 24 wt %) in the deeper part of the lake. Comparison of VPC in four Holocene lakes (the Qinghai Lake and Barkol Lake in China, Oro Lake in Canada and Montcortès Lake in Spain) with the Dongying Depression suggests that four distinct lake stages were developed, namely the terrigenous clastic/gypsum-rich, carbonate-rich, carbonate-decreasing and carbonate-poor stages. A depositional model of lacustrine carbonates influenced by detrital influx, climate, palaeoproductivity and salinity is developed. This study contributes to the understanding of the genetic mechanisms of lacustrine carbonate deposition to reconstruct environmental changes.
Reflections on the sequence of musical development
Authors: Swanwick Keith
Published: March 2022

The sequence of musical development is revisited. The origins of the underlying and evolving theory are considered, along with organisation and classification of the data of children’s compositions. The cumulative and recursive nature of the spiral is re-emphasised, and the dynamic relationship between the left and right side is clarified. The essential qualitative nature of the study is asserted and some possibilities for the future are considered, along with a two-dimensional model for curriculum and student evaluation based on spiral-related outcomes and the musical activities that promote and sustain them.
Living with the spiral: a duoethnographic perspective
Authors: McCullough Lis , Finney John
Published: March 2022

The authors of this article met on a Master of Arts (MA) music education course a month before the Swanwick Tillman Sequence of Musical Development was published. The course was a portal to an exciting range of literature, with the Swanwick Tillman spiral providing a long-term source of discussion and reflection as our careers have diverged and converged over the intervening years. This paper takes the form of a duoethnographic conversation in which we summarise and reflect on that ongoing synergistic discussion, showing the influence the spiral has had within our particular situations.
Reaching out to early-career astrobiologists: AbGradE's actions and perspectives
Authors: Nauny Philippe , Cassaro Alessia , Kopacz Nina , Noack Lena , Palabikyan Hayk , Pinna Silvana , Price Alex , Stavrakakis Hector A. , Taubner Ruth-Sophie
Published: March 2022

Astrobiology Graduates in Europe (AbGradE, pronounced ab-grad-ee) is an association of early-career scientists working in fields relevant to astrobiological research. Conceptualized in 2013, it was initially designed as a mini-conference or workshop dedicated to early-career researchers, providing a friendly environment where early-career minds would be able to present their research without being intimidated by the possibility of facing a more traditional audience, composed mainly of senior scientists. Within the last couple of years, AbGradE became the first point of call for European, but also for an increasing number of non-European, early-career astrobiologists. This article aims to present how AbGradE has evolved over the years (in its structure and in its way of organizing events), how it has adapted with the COVID-19 pandemic, and what future developments are considered.