bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anthropogenic influence on water quality and phytoplankton diversity of upper Ganga basin: A case study of Ganga River and its major tributaries
Authors: Malik D. S. , Sharma M. K. , Sharma Arvind K. , Kamboj Vishal , Sharma Amit K.
Published: May 2021

Water quality plays a vital and key role in estimating the diversity and abundance of phytoplankton in freshwater ecosystem. The water quality of freshwater body is rapidly deteriorating by various anthropogenic activities and diverse emancipations from the population growth, urbanization, and industrialization. The aim of present research work was to estimate the anthropogenic influence on water quality and phytoplankton diversity of upper Ganga basin. The water quality and plankton diversity of a Ganga River and its major tributaries was studied between September 2018 and September 2020 in eight sampling stations. Some physico‐chemical parameters like turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and biological oxygen demand showed a slight increase in sampling stations 7 and 8. Multi‐correlation was calculated between physico‐chemical parameters and phytoplankton density. Totally 31 genera of phytoplankton were recorded and represented by five groups, Bacillariophyceae (14 genera), Chlorophyceae (11 genera) Myxophyceae (4 genera), Euglenophyceae (1 genera), and Xanthophyceae (1 genera). Dissolved oxygen showed a direct influence on the distribution of plankton and also showed a positive correlation with phytoplankton diversity. Finally, it can be concluded that human activities including River bed mining, construction of Dam, and barrages had negatively impacted the water quality and phytoplankton diversity. Still, these kinds of activities to be checked regularly and can be controlled.
Metal‐ligand cooperative activation of HX (X=H, Br, OR) bond on Mn based pincer complexes
Authors: Krieger Annika M. , Sinha Vivek , Kalikadien Adarsh V. , Pidko Evgeny A.
Published: May 2021

Reversible dissociation of H−X bond (M−L+H−X→M(X)‐L(H);
) is an important step during pre‐activation, catalysis and possible deactivation of acid‐base cooperative pincer based transition metal catalysts (M−L). Herein we carried out a high‐throughput computational investigation of the thermodynamic stability of different adducts in various functionalized Mn(I) based pincer complexes. We used a combination of density functional theory (DFT) and density functional tight binding (DFTB) calculations to analyze
of >700 (M(X)‐L(H)) intermediates based on functionalized variants of four pincer type ligand scaffolds derived from PCP, CNC, PNP and SNS ligands. We discovered linear scaling relations between
of various species. Strongest correlations were found between species of similar size and chemical nature e. g.
correlated best with
and worst with
. Such scaling relations can be useful for property based screening of catalysts and selection of (co)solvent/substrate/base for optimized reaction conditions. We also investigated the influence of the ligand backbone and the functionalization of donor and backbone sites in the ligand. Our analysis reveals the crucial role of the second coordination sphere functionalization for the reactivity of the complexes with impact in some cases exceeding that of the variation of the functional groups directly attached to the donor atoms.
A User Guide for the Identification of New RiPP Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Using a RiPPER-Based Workflow
Authors: Moffat Alaster D. , Santos-Aberturas Javier , Chandra Govind , Truman Andrew W.
Published: May 2021

In recent years, genome mining has become a powerful strategy for the discovery of new specialized metabolites from microorganisms. However, the discovery of new groups of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) by employing the currently available genome mining tools has proven challenging due to their inherent biases towards previously known RiPP families. In this chapter we provide detailed guidelines on using RiPPER, a recently developed RiPP-oriented genome mining tool conceived for the exploration of genomic database diversity in a flexible manner, thus allowing the discovery of truly new RiPP chemistry. In addition, using TfuA proteins of Alphaproteobacteria as an example, we present a complete workflow which integrates the functionalities of RiPPER with existing bioinformatic tools into a complete genome mining strategy. This includes some key updates to RiPPER (updated to version 1.1), which substantially simplify implementing this workflow.
Hamiltonian charges in the asymptotically de Sitter spacetimes
Authors: Kolanowski Maciej , Lewandowski Jerzy
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We generalize a notion of ‘conserved’ charges given by Wald and Zoupas to the asymptotically de Sitter spacetimes. Surprisingly, our construction is less ambiguous than the one encountered in the asymptotically flat context. An expansion around exact solutions possessing Killing vectors provides their physical meaning. In particular, we discuss a question of how to define energy and angular momenta of gravitational waves propagating on Kottler and Carter backgrounds. We show that obtained expressions have a correct limit as Λ → 0. We also comment on the relation between this approach and the one based on the canonical phase space of initial data at ℐ+.
Cuts and isogenies
Authors: Frellesvig Hjalte , Vergu Cristian , Volk Matthias , von Hippel Matt
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We consider the genus-one curves which arise in the cuts of the sunrise and in the elliptic double-box Feynman integrals. We compute and compare invariants of these curves in a number of ways, including Feynman parametrization, lightcone and Baikov (in full and loop-by-loop variants). We find that the same geometry for the genus-one curves arises in all cases, which lends support to the idea that there exists an invariant notion of genus-one geometry, independent on the way it is computed. We further indicate how to interpret some previous results which found that these curves are related by isogenies instead.
Seiberg-Witten map for D-branes in large R-R field background
Authors: Ma Chen-Te
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We obtain a Seiberg-Witten map for the gauge sector of multiple Dp-branes in a large R-R (p − 1)-form field background up to the first-order in the inverse R-R field background. By applying the Seiberg-Witten map and then electromagnetic duality on the non-commutative D3-brane theory in the large R-R 2-form background, we find the expected commutative diagram of the Seiberg-Witten map and electromagnetic duality. Extending the U(1) gauge group to the U(N) gauge group, we obtain a commutative description of the D-branes in the large R-R field background. This construction is different from the known result.
Correction to: Cyclically stretched ACL fibroblasts emigrating from spheroids adapt their cytoskeleton and ligament-related expression profile
Authors: Gögele Clemens , Hoffmann Christina , Konrad Jens , Merkel Rudolf , Schwarz Silke , Tohidnezhad Mersedeh , Hoffmann Bernd , Schulze-Tanzil Gundula Gesine
Published: May 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-021-03472-1
Effect of 1 mg/kg oral prednisolone on biochemical analytes in ten dogs: a cross-over study
Authors: Pettersson Helena , Ekstrand Carl , Hillström Anna , Lilliehöök Inger
Published: May 2021

Prednisolone is used for treatment of inflammatory, allergic, neoplastic, and immune-mediated diseases in dogs. As a glucocorticoid, prednisolone has biochemical effects, which may interfere with the interpretation of biochemistry test results. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of prednisolone treatment in an anti-inflammatory dose on common biochemical analytes in dogs and to evaluate the clinical relevance of the changes. Ten beagle dogs, enrolled in a cross-over study, were treated with oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg 24 h) for 10 days. Blood samples were collected at day 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 16, and 20. Data was analyzed using a general linear model with time and treatment as fixed factors. Pairwise comparisons were done between prednisolone and control period for each dog and sampling. Significant results were further evaluated for clinical relevance using laboratory-specific reference intervals and reference change values (RCVs), when available. Statistically significant changes were observed for ALP activity and iron concentration, which increased to levels exceeding the RCV, and several results were outside reference intervals. Phosphate and bile acids increased significantly, while amylase, lipase, and cholesterol decreased significantly, but with mean/median results remaining within reference intervals. Anti-inflammatory prednisolone treatment did not induce significant changes in ALT, GLDH, GGT, cPLI, glucose, or calcium. Treatment with an anti-inflammatory dose of prednisolone induced changes in several analytes. Only the increases in ALP and iron were of such magnitude that they are expected to affect the clinical interpretation of test results.
Sex differences in pharmacological treatment of major depressive disorder: results from the AMSP pharmacovigilance program from 2001 to 2017
Authors: Seifert Johanna , Führmann Fabienne , Reinhard Matthias A. , Engel Rolf R. , Bernegger Xueqiong , Bleich Stefan , Stübner Susanne , Rüther Eckart , Toto Sermin , Grohmann Renate , Sieberer Marcel , Greil Waldemar
Published: May 2021

Data on drug prescription for outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) suggest women are more likely to be treated with psychotropic drugs, while data on sex differences regarding pharmacological treatment of psychiatric inpatients are currently not available. Drug utilization data from the program “Drug Safety in Psychiatry” (German: Arzneimittelsicherheit in der Psychiatrie, AMSP) of 44,418 psychiatric inpatients with MDD were analyzed for sex differences between 2001 and 2017. Sex differences were analyzed using relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Time trends were analyzed by comparing the first (2001–2003) with the last time period (2015–2017). In general, men and women were equally likely to use psychotropic drugs. Monotherapy was more common in men. Women were more likely to utilize ≥ 4 psychotropic drugs. Antidepressant drugs (ADDs) were the most prescribed drug class. Men had a higher utilization of noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (RR 1.15; 95% CI 1.12–1.19), especially mirtazapine (RR 1.16; 95% CI 1.12–1.19), but also of other ADDs such as bupropion (RR 1.50; 95% CI 1.35–1.68). Males had a slightly higher utilization of second-generation antipsychotic drugs (RR 1.06; 95% CI 1.03–1.09) and were less often treated with low-potency first-generation antipsychotic drugs (RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.83–0.90). Tranquilizing (e.g., benzodiazepines; RR 0.89; 95% CI 0.86–0.92) and hypnotic drugs (e.g., Z-drugs; RR 0.85; 95% CI 0.81–0.89) were less utilized in the treatment of male patients. Not all sex differences were stable over time. More sex differences were detectable in 2015–2017 than in 2001–2003. Findings suggest that certain psychotropic drugs are preferred in the treatment of men vs. women, however, sex differences found in this study are not as large as in ambulatory settings. To make evidence-based sex-specific recommendations in the treatment of MDD, differences in drug response and tolerability need to be further researched.
Robust cross-country comparison of children meeting 24-HR movement guidelines: an odds solution for binary effect efficiency measures
Authors: Eckermann Simon , Willan Andrew R. , Okely Anthony , Tremblay Mark S. , Coelli Tim
Published: May 2021

Aim

International comparisons of public health measures relative to observed best practice are increasingly important for evaluating community health promotion strategies and policies such as meeting or not meeting public health guidelines. This study aimed to identify methods enabling robust evaluation with such binary effect measures at a population level.

Subject and methods

Conventional efficiency comparisons of binary effect proportions are problematic due to a lack of consistency with alternate framing of resulting relative risks. In this paper, we illustrate such inconsistent efficiency measures comparing the proportion of school age children (9–11 years) meeting or not meeting integrated movement guidelines (IMGs) across the 12 countries from the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) study. IMGs jointly consider physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviours. An odds method is developed to enable consistent efficiency comparison with alternative framing of binary effects.

Results

A novel odds solution to relative risk problems arising with conventional efficiency comparison of binary effects with alternative framing is shown to provide consistent efficiency measures relative to best practice. Furthermore, this technical advancement is shown to extend to consistent indirect comparison and evidence translation.

Conclusion

Robust methods for international cross-country comparison of binary effect measures such as meeting or not meeting guidelines are identified with a novel odds ratio method. This novel solution is particularly important for health promotion evaluation of IMGs given the need for consistent comparison in evaluating practice evidence of what works now and consistent evidence translation of treatment effects as and when they emerge.
Do different response formats affect how test takers approach a clinical reasoning task? An experimental study on antecedents of diagnostic accuracy using a constructed response and a selected response format
Authors: Schauber Stefan K. , Hautz Stefanie C. , Kämmer Juliane E. , Stroben Fabian , Hautz Wolf E.
Published: May 2021

The use of response formats in assessments of medical knowledge and clinical reasoning continues to be the focus of both research and debate. In this article, we report on an experimental study in which we address the question of how much list-type selected response formats and short-essay type constructed response formats are related to differences in how test takers approach clinical reasoning tasks. The design of this study was informed by a framework developed within cognitive psychology which stresses the importance of the interplay between two components of reasoning—self-monitoring and response inhibition—while solving a task or case. The results presented support the argument that different response formats are related to different processing behavior. Importantly, the pattern of how different factors are related to a correct response in both situations seem to be well in line with contemporary accounts of reasoning. Consequently, we argue that when designing assessments of clinical reasoning, it is crucial to tap into the different facets of this complex and important medical process.
VEP-based acuity estimation: unaffected by translucency of contralateral occlusion
Authors: Heinrich Sven P. , Strübin Isabell , Bach Michael
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Visual evoked potential (VEP) recordings for objective visual acuity estimates are typically obtained monocularly with the contralateral eye occluded. Psychophysical studies suggest that the translucency of the occluder has only a minimal effect on the outcome of an acuity test. However, there is literature evidence for the VEP being susceptible to the type of occlusion. The present study assessed whether this has an impact on VEP-based estimates of visual acuity.

Methods

We obtained VEP-based acuity estimates with opaque, non-translucent occlusion of the contralateral eye, and with translucent occlusion that lets most of the light pass while abolishing the perception of any stimulus structure. The tested eye was measured with normal and artificially degraded vision, resulting in a total of 4 experimental conditions. Two different algorithms, a stepwise heuristic and a machine learning approach, were used to derive acuity from the VEP tuning curve.

Results

With normal vision, translucent occlusion resulted in slight, yet statistically significant better acuity estimates when analyzed with the heuristic algorithm (p = 0.014). The effect was small (mean ΔlogMAR = 0.06), not present in some participants, and without practical relevance. It was absent with the machine learning approach. With degraded vision, the difference was tiny and not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The type of occlusion for the contralateral eye does not substantially affect the outcome of VEP-based acuity estimation.
Privacy Enhancing Techniques in the Internet of Things Using Data Anonymisation
Authors: Ren Wang , Tong Xin , Du Jing , Wang Na , Li Shancang , Min Geyong , Zhao Zhiwei
Published: May 2021

The Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial 4.0 bring enormous potential benefits by enabling highly customised services and applications, which create huge volume and variety of data. However, preserving the privacy in IoT and Industrial 4.0 against re-identification attacks is very challenging. In this work, we considered three main data types generated in IoT: context data, continuous data, and media data. We first proposed a stream data anonymisation method based on k-anonymity for data collected by IoT devices; and then privacy enhancing techniques for both continuous data and media data were proposed for different IoT scenarios. The experiment results show that the proposed techniques can well preserve privacy without significantly affecting the utility of the data.
The late modernist community in the late socialistic block of flats: the issue of urban neighbourhood vitality in Poland
Authors: Nowak Marek , Siatkowski Andrzej
Published: May 2021

The question of the big-city neighbourhood seems important due to the discussion on the condition of modern cities. The issue is centred on the problems of sustainable development and designing social relations. The problem of the neighbourhood in relation to various forms of residence triggers a discussion rooted in the classic issues of sociology as a discipline. In the proposed article, the researchers address the problem of the late socialistic block of flats, attempting to diagnose the condition of the modern urban community in the developmental context of Central Europe, based on the neoclassic concept of ‘spatially determined social circle’. The text introduces the issues of ‘socialist modernism’ using the available Central European literature. In the research part, the data obtained from an online survey on the subject conducted in 2019 in three Polish cities and from a nationwide online survey on the same subject are statistically analysed. The linear regression analysis suggested the relative vitality of the block form of residence, whose sources are both economic and social. The problem of traditional forms of accommodation and urban neighbourhoods has become a hotly debated political issue that triggers a scientific reflection on the phenomena of integration and disintegration in cities. In this context, the issue of the vitality of the forms of housing seems important not only for diagnosis purposes but also for predictions for the forthcoming decades. The case to be analysed herein is that of the late socialistic block of flats (LSBF) in Central and Eastern European countries, which for some is an anachronistic form of residence whereas for others is a partial solution to the insufficient market dynamics intended to meet people’s housing needs. In this context, we ask four questions based on a hypothesis regarding LSBF urban neighbourhood vitality in Poland. The first question is a partly theoretical question based on the conceptualisation of social circles: To what extent does living in an LSBF modify one’s sense of belonging to a social circle? The second question concerns the empirical findings regarding the LSBF neighbourhood: What is the neighbourhood assessment related to declared residence in an LSBF? The third question concerns more specific subjects related to the LSBF neighbourhood: To what extent does living in an LSBF affect the declared depth of neighbourly relations? The fourth and last question relates to the notion of vitality of the LSBF neighbourhood: Does the length of residence in an LSBF impact the interactions between the neighbours therein? The questions concerning the present-day LSBF cannot be answered without historical references to the concept of the city of socialist modernism. It is only from the genetic perspective dating back to several decades that we can understand the dynamics of the process, which has been marked by a few fundamental tribulations.
Income Status and Life Satisfaction
Authors: FitzRoy Felix R. , Nolan Michael A.
Published: May 2021

The importance of both income rank and relative income, as indicators of status, has long been recognised in the literature on life satisfaction and happiness. Recently, several authors have made explicit comparisons of the relative importance of these two measures of income status, and concluded that rank dominates to the extent that reference income becomes insignificant in regressions including both these explanatory variables, and that even absolute or household income, otherwise always positively related to happiness, may lose statistical significance. Here we test this hypothesis with a large UK panel (British Household Panel Survey and Understanding Society) for 1996–2017, split by age and retirement status, and find, contrary to previous results, that rank, household income and reference income are all usually important explanatory variables, but with significant differences between subgroups. This finding holds when rank is in its often-used relative form, and also with absolute rank.
Nonlinear dynamics of a basketball rolling around the rim
Authors: Antali Mate , Havas Vince , Hogan S. John , Stepan Gabor
Published: May 2021

We analyse the dynamics of a basketball which rolls around the rim of a basketball hoop. The rolling steady motions are determined, and we investigate falling, slipping, and instability. The qualitative behaviour of the global dynamics is analysed and the possible trajectories are categorised. We investigate the effect of initial conditions which cause the basketball to fall inside or outside the basket or to remain on the rim.
Perceived risk of lock-in in the front-end phase of major transportation projects
Authors: Cantarelli Chantal C. , Oglethorpe David , van Wee Bert
Published: May 2021

Lock-in is defined as the tendency to continue with an inefficient decision or project proposal. The front-end phase is critical to project success, yet most studies have focused on lock-in in the implementation phase. Moreover, little is known about the way in which decision-makers perceive the risk of lock-in. In this paper we identify determinants of lock-in in the front-end phase and we reveal decision-makers’ perceptions of risk of lock-in. Our findings show that risk attitudes towards lock-in vary with the level of risk aversion. However, this is not sufficiently acute to drive the level of regret needed to avoid lock-in. This implies that decision-makers do not accurately assess the risk of lock-in and as such their risk perceptions are a mediating factor in the formation of lock-in. Based on escalation of commitment, path dependency, and prospect theory, the main contribution lies in providing a more comprehensive understanding of lock-in in the front-end phase.
Post-Traumatic Outcomes among Survivors of the Earthquake in Central Italy of August 24, 2016. A Study on PTSD Risk and Vulnerability Factors
Authors: Pino Olimpia , Pelosi Annalisa , Artoni Valentina , Mari Massimo
Published: May 2021

Central Italy suffered from the earthquake of 2016 resulting in great damage to the community. The purpose of the present study was to determine the long-term traumatic outcomes among the population. A preliminary study aimed at obtaining the Italian translation of the first 16 item of HTQ IV part [1] which was administered, 20 months after the disaster, at 281 survivors. In backward stepwise logistic regressions models, we estimated among the respondent’s characteristics and event-related variables the best predictors of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed a HTQ five-factors solution as best model, with satisfactory indexes of fit. HTQ held a positive correlation with both the SQD-P (r = .65,p < .05) and SQD-D subscales (r = .47, p < .05). ROC analysis suggested an area of .951 (95% CI = .917–.985) for the PTSD prediction. Basing on sensibility (.963) and specificity (.189), the best cut-off of 2.0 allowed discriminating for PTSD positive cases. After 20 months of the earthquake, the estimate prevalence of PTSD among the survivors is of 21.71% with a consistent and graded association between exposure variables and vulnerability factors (gender, age, exposure to death and home damage) and PTSD symptoms.
Applications of Hückel-Su-Schrieffer-Heeger method
Authors: Kwapisz Jan H. , Stolarczyk Leszek Z.
Published: May 2021

The equilibrium carbon-carbon (C-C) bond lengths inπ-electron hydrocarbons are very sensitive to the electronic ground-state characteristic. In the recent two papers by Stolarczyk and Krygowski (J Phys Org Chem, 34:e4154,e4153, 2021) a simple quantum approach, the Augmented Hückel Molecular Orbital (AugHMO) model, is proposed for the qualitative, as well as quantitative, study of this phenomenon. The simplest realization of the AugHMO model is the Hückel-Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (HSSH) method, in which the resonance integralβof the HMO model is a linear function the bond length. In the present paper, the HSSH method is applied in a study of C-C bond lengths in a set of 34 selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This is exactly the set of molecules analyzed by Riegel and Müllen (J Phys Org Chem, 23:315, 2010) in the context of their electronic-excitation spectra. These PAHs have been obtained by chemical synthesis, but in most cases no diffraction data (by X-rays or neutrons) of sufficient quality is available to provide us with their geometry. On the other hand, these PAHs are rather big (up to 96 carbon atoms), and ab initio methods of quantum chemistry are too expensive for a reliable geometry optimization. That makes the HSSH method a very attractive alternative. Our HSSH calculations uncover a modular architecture of certain classes of PAHs. For the studied molecules (and their fragments – modules), we calculate the values of the aromaticity index HOMA.
The COVID-19-Related Lockdown in Qatar: Associations Among Demographics, Social Distancing, Mood Changes, and Quality of Life
Authors: Megreya Ahmed M. , Latzman Robert D. , Al-Ahmadi Aisha M. , Al-Dosari Nasser F.
Published: May 2021

The worldwide spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the absence of medical treatment and vaccination, the delayed onset of symptoms, and the rapid human-to-human transmission have led the vast majority of countries to impose strict social distancing procedures. Whereas it appears that social distancing is an effective strategy for mitigating spread, it may also result in a variety of unintended negative consequences to individuals’ psychological well-being and mental health. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the present study examined associations among some demographic variables (gender, age, marital and working statuses, and having a family member or a friend infected with COVID-19), acceptance of social distancing, mood changes, and quality of life (QoL) in Qatar, a high-income Middle Eastern Arabic-speaking country. Older, married, and working participants were more accepting of social distancing than younger, unmarried, and non-working participants, respectively. Participants indicated that, during this time, they became more distressed, upset, scared, irritable, nervous, and afraid, and less inspired and determined. In a stark contrast, more individuals indicated that they became more interested, alert, and attentive, whereas higher percentages of participants reported feeling less guilty, hostile, and ashamed. Social distancing correlated positively with negative affect, whereas social avoidances correlated positively with positive affect and with physical, psychological, social, and environmental QoL. Finally, positive affect correlated positively, and negative affect correlated negatively, with these four domains of QoL. These results highlight the need for public health and clinical providers to consider peoples’ psychological well-being and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Die Ordnung der Empfehlung
Authors: Unternährer Markus
Published: May 2021

Empfehlungssysteme sind Ordnungstechnologien des Digitalen. Sie bestimmen, welche Filme, Songs oder Artikel uns in welcher Reihenfolge angezeigt werden. Oftmals scheinen Empfehlungen zu personalisieren: „Ich sehe etwas ganz anderes als du.“ Der Artikel zeigt, dass auf der algorithmischen Hinterbühne gerade nicht singularisiert, sondern relationiert wird. Ich beschreibe vier Typen von Empfehlungssystemen, die Nutzerinnen von Webseiten, Streamingdiensten oder Apps auf unterschiedliche Weisen mit anderen Nutzerinnen und Dingen (Filme, Songs, Artikel etc.) in Beziehung setzen. Popularitätsmetriken unterstellen eine pauschale Relevanz für alle; stereotypisierende Verfahren beruhen auf kategorialer Relationierung; inhaltsbasierte Verfahren und Collaborative Filtering relationieren Nutzerinnen und Dinge über Matchings, eine spezifische Variante des Vergleichs, die die paarweisen (Ähnlichkeits‑)Relationen von Nutzerinnen und Dingen vergleichen. In der digitalen Ökonomie dienen Empfehlungssysteme dazu, „good matches“ zwischen Unternehmen, Nutzerinnen, Dingen (und Dritten) zu generieren.
Reading-impaired children improve through text-fading training: analyses of comprehension, orthographic knowledge, and RAN
Authors: Nagler Telse , Zarić Jelena , Kachisi Fenke , Lindberg Sven , Ehm Jan-Henning
Published: May 2021

Early intervention for children with reading impairments is crucial in order to achieve reading improvements and avoid school failure. One line of reading intervention research focuses on the experimental manipulation of reading rate through a text-fading training approach. Considering relevant reading-related predictors (i.e., orthographic knowledge and rapid automatized naming; RAN), we aim at evaluating the text-fading training’s efficiency for a sample of German reading-impaired third graders (n = 120). The purpose of the present study was to examine (1) the predictive value of orthographic knowledge and RAN and their contribution of explained variance in comprehension performance during training, (2) text-fading training effects on reading rate and comprehension in a pre-post comparison, and (3) (lasting) text-fading training effects at word and sentence level in a pre-post-follow-up design. Results of structural models indicated RAN to be significantly related to comprehension performance for the experimental group, whereas no sufficient regression weight was found for orthographic knowledge. A reverse pattern was found for the self-paced group. No significant improvements regarding reading rate and comprehension were revealed for the experimental group after training. However, significant positive effects on word and sentence level at post-test time point indicate stronger reading improvements for the experimental compared to the control group. The retention of training gains was indicated at sentence-level reading 6 months after the training. Possible explanations for the presented positive training effects as well as the mixed results for reading rate, comprehension, and follow-up preservation are discussed.
Evaluation of the in vitro antibacterial activity of some essential oils and their blends against Staphylococcus spp. isolated from episodes of sheep mastitis
Authors: Fratini Filippo , Giusti Margherita , Mancini Simone , Pisseri Francesca , Najar Basma , Pistelli Luisa
Published: May 2021

Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci are among the major causes of mastitis in sheep. The main goal of this research was to determine the in vitro antibacterial activity of several essential oils (EOs, n 30), then five of them were chosen and tested alone and in blends against staphylococci isolates. Five bacteria were isolated from episodes of ovine mastitis (two S. aureus and three S. xylosus). Biochemical and molecular methods were employed to identify the isolates and disk diffusion method was performed to determine their antimicrobial-resistance profile. The relative percentage of the main constituents in the tested essential oils and their blends was detected by GC-EIMS analysis. Antibacterial and bactericidal effectiveness of essential oils and blends were evaluated through minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). All of them showed sensitivity to the used antimicrobials. The EOs with the highest antibacterial activity were those belonging to the Lamiaceae family characterized by high concentrations of thymol, carvacrol and its precursor p-cymene, together with cinnamon EO, rich in cinnamaldehyde. In terms of both MIC and MBC values, the blend composed by Thymus capitatus EO 40%, Cinnamomum zeylanicum EO 20%, Thymus serpyllum EO 20% and Satureja montana EO 20% was found to be the most effective against all the isolates. Some essential oils appear to represent, at least in vitro, a valid tool against ovine mastitis pathogens. Some blends showed a remarkable effectiveness than the single oils, highlighting a synergistic effect in relation to the phytocomplex.
Friss oder stirb! Erweiterung des Substratspektrums von P. putida
Authors: Löwe Hannes , Kremling Andreas , Pflüger-Grau Katharina
Published: May 2021

The gram-negative bacteriumPseudomonas putidais of increasing interest for industrial applications due to its intrinsic resistance to a broad range of stresses, its metabolic versatility, and the availability of genetic tools. Our group aims to introduce new metabolic pathways by genetic engineering to further expand the metabolic spectrum of this microorganism. Here, we summarize the process of engineering a sucrose consuming strain ofP. putida, the obstacles found on the way, and how they were overcome to achieve a stable phenotype.
A new dynamic masking technique for time resolved PIV analysis
Authors: Lombardi Valentina , Rocca Michele La , Prestininzi Pietro
Published: May 2021

Time resolved PIV encompassing moving and/or deformable objects interfering with the light source requires the employment of dynamic masking (DM). A few DM techniques have been recently developed, mainly in microfluidics and multiphase flows fields. Most of them require ad-hoc design of the experimental setup, and may spoil the accuracy of the resulting PIV analysis. A new DM technique is here presented which envisages, along with a dedicated masking algorithm, the employment of fluorescent coating to allow for accurate tracking of the object. We show results from measurements obtained through a validated PIV setup demonstrating the need to include a DM step even for objects featuring limited displacements. We compare the proposed algorithm with both a no-masking and a static masking solution. In the framework of developing low cost, flexible and accurate PIV setups, the proposed algorithm is made available through a freeware application able to generate masks to be used by an existing, freeware PIV analysis package.

Graphic abstract
Exosomal miR-486-5p derived from human placental microvascular endothelial cells regulates proliferation and invasion of trophoblasts via targeting IGF1
Authors: Ma Ruixia , Liang Zhijiang , Shi Xiaomei , Xu Linli , Li Xiaowei , Wu Jinhua , Zhao Lina , Liu Guocheng
Published: May 2021

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious complication of pregnancy. Exosomes are known to be upregulated in PE. In this study, we sought to investigate the effect of miR-486-5p from human placental microvascular endothelial cells, on the function of trophoblast cells. To investigate the function of human placental microvascular endothelial cell (HPVEC)-derived exosomes on trophoblast cells, HPVECs were treated with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). The separation efficiency of exosomes was determined by transmission electron microscopy, nanosight and Western blot. Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU staining, wound-healing, and transwell assay were performed to detect the effect of exosomally transferred miR-486-5p inhibitor on proliferation, migration and invasion of trophoblast cells. MiRDB and dual-luciferase report assay were used to find the target of miR-486-5p. Our data revealed that miR-486-5p was significantly upregulated in H/R-treated HPVEC-Exo, and miR-486-5p was enriched in HPVEC-Exo. miR-486-5p inhibitor carried by HPVEC-Exo significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of trophoblast cells. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) was found to be the target of miR-486-5p, and IGF1 overexpression notably reversed the effect of miR-486-5p inhibitor from HPVEC-Exo on trophoblast cell function. In summary, H/R-treated HPVEC-derived exosomally expressing miR-486-5p inhibitor significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of trophoblast cells via downregulation of IGF1. The findings from the present study may be useful in the development of treatments for PE.
Integrated pest management: good intentions, hard realities. A review
Authors: Deguine Jean-Philippe , Aubertot Jean-Noël , Flor Rica Joy , Lescourret Françoise , Wyckhuys Kris A.G. , Ratnadass Alain
Published: May 2021

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides an illustration of how crop protection has (or has not) evolved over the past six decades. Throughout this period, IPM has endeavored to promote sustainable forms of agriculture, pursued sharp reductions in synthetic pesticide use, and thereby resolved myriad socio-economic, environmental, and human health challenges. Global pesticide use has, however, largely continued unabated, with negative implications for farmer livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and the human right to food. In this review, we examine how IPM has developed over time and assess whether this concept remains suited to present-day challenges. We believe that despite many good intentions, hard realities need to be faced. 1) We identify the following major weaknesses: i) a multitude of IPM definitions that generate unnecessary confusion; ii) inconsistencies between IPM concepts, practice, and policies; iii) insufficient engagement of farmers in IPM technology development and frequent lack of basic understanding of its underlying ecological concepts. 2) By diverting from the fundamental IPM principles, integration of practices has proceeded along serendipitous routes, proven ineffective, and yielded unacceptable outcomes. 3) We show that in the majority of cases, chemical control still remains the basis of plant health programs. 4) Furthermore, IPM research is often lagging, tends to be misguided, and pays insufficient attention to ecology and to the ecological functioning of agroecosystems. 5) Since the 1960s, IPM rules have been twisted, its foundational concepts have degraded and its serious (farm-level) implementation has not advanced. To remedy this, we are proposing Agroecological Crop Protection as a concept that captures how agroecology can be optimally put to the service of crop protection. Agroecological Crop Protection constitutes an interdisciplinary scientific field that comprises an orderly strategy (and clear prioritization) of practices at the field, farm, and agricultural landscape level and a dimension of social and organizational ecology.
Abdominal Pain in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review
Authors: Lanyi Julia , Flynn Christopher , Mannion Arlene , Maher Leanne , Naughton Katie , Leader Geraldine
Published: May 2021

The aim of this study was to review the existing literature on abdominal pain in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Systematic search of four databases (PsycINFO, ERIC, PubMed, MEDLINE) identified 13 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Articles were analyzed for common themes, including the prevalence of abdominal pain and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, associations between abdominal pain/GI symptoms and behavioral and emotional concerns, associations between abdominal pain/GI symptoms, and other comorbid disorders and treatment options based on gut bacteria, diet, and probiotics. Reasons for varying prevalence rates, persistence of symptoms over time, comorbidities, and different treatment options are discussed. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are also discussed.
Highly Stretchable Shape Memory Self-Soldering Conductive Tape with Reversible Adhesion Switched by Temperature
Authors: Wang Mengyan , Zhang Quan , Bo Yiwen , Zhang Chunyang , Lv Yiwen , Fu Xiang , He Wen , Fan Xiangqian , Liang Jiajie , Huang Yi , Ma Rujun , Chen Yongsheng
Published: May 2021

Highlights

Shape memory self-soldering tape used as conductive interconnecting material.

Perfect shape and conductivity memory performance and anti-fatigue performance.

Reversible strong-to-weak adhesion switched by temperature.

With practical interest in the future applications of next-generation electronic devices, it is imperative to develop new conductive interconnecting materials appropriate for modern electronic devices to replace traditional rigid solder tin and silver paste of high melting temperature or corrosive solvent requirements. Herein, we design highly stretchable shape memory self-soldering conductive (SMSC) tape with reversible adhesion switched by temperature, which is composed of silver particles encapsulated by shape memory polymer. SMSC tape has perfect shape and conductivity memory property and anti-fatigue ability even under the strain of 90%. It also exhibits an initial conductivity of 2772 S cm−1 and a maximum tensile strain of ~ 100%. The maximum conductivity could be increased to 5446 S cm−1 by decreasing the strain to 17%. Meanwhile, SMSC tape can easily realize a heating induced reversible strong-to-weak adhesion transition for self-soldering circuit. The combination of stable conductivity, excellent shape memory performance, and temperature-switching reversible adhesion enables SMSC tape to serve two functions of electrode and solder simultaneously. This provides a new way for conductive interconnecting materials to meet requirements of modern electronic devices in the future.
Duct Acoustics
Authors: Dokumacı Erkan
Published: May 2021

foundations of duct acoustics to the acoustic design of duct systems, through practical modeling, optimization and measurement techniques. Discover in-depth analyses of one- and three-dimensional models of sound generation, propagation and radiation, as techniques for assembling acoustic models of duct systems from simpler components are described. Identify the weaknesses of mathematical models in use and improve them by measurement when needed. Cope with challenges in acoustic design, and improve understanding of the underlying physics, by using the tools described. An essential reference for engineers and researchers who work on the acoustics of fluid machinery ductworks.
Domestic Culture in Early Modern England
Authors: Buxton Antony
Published: May 2021

This book is a detailed study of the domestic life of the early modern, non-elite household, focussing on the Oxfordshire market town of Thame. Going beyond the exploration of the domestic economy and trends in living standards and consumption, it shows how close examination of the material context within which the household operated can provide evidence of its habitual activities, the relationships between its members, and the values that informed both. The book uses a familiar source, the probate inventory, supplemented by other contemporary written and pictorial evidence, to reveal how activities in the household were directly related to the agricultural, mercantile, and social environment. It illustrates the variable and shifting nature of social relationships and shows how the early modern household was part of the wider economic and social narrative of modernism and how it responded to altered modes of production and consumption, social allegiances, and ideologies.

Offering new perspectives to reinvigorate the discussion of domestic relationships and rigorously examine the vexed question of change, Domestic Culture in Early Modern England will be of interest to scholars and postgraduate students of material culture as well as historians of the household and family more generally. Antony Buxton lectures on design history, material and domestic culture for the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford and other institutions. He has published articles in various scholarly journals and holds a PhD from the University of Oxford.
The Church and Vale of Evesham, 700-1215
Authors: Cox David
Published: May 2021

Provides a fine contribution to the rich history of the region, showing Evesham's place in the life of the medieval kingdom of England. Professor Ann Williams. In c.701, a minster was founded in the lower Avon Valley on a deserted promontory called Evesham. Over the next five hundred years it became a Benedictine abbey and turned the Vale of Evesham into a federation of Christian communities. A landscape of scattered farms grew into one of open fields and villages, manor houses and chapels. Evesham itself developed into a town, and the abbots played a role in the affairs of the kingdom. But individual contemplation and prayer within the abbey were compromised by its corporate aspirations. As Evesham abbey waxed ever grander, exerting a national influence, it became a ready patron of the arts but had less time for private spirituality. The story ends badly in the prolonged scandal of Abbot Norreis, a libertine whose appetites caused religion to collapse at Evesham before his own sudden downfall. This book integrates the evidence of archaeology, maps, and documents in a continuous narrative that pays as much attention to religious and cultural life as to institutional and economic matters. It provides a complete survey over one of the most important and wealthy Benedictine abbeys and its landscape, a stage on which was enacted the tense interplay of lordship andprayer. Dr David Cox, FSA, was until his retirement county editor of the Victoria History of Shropshire and lecturer at Keele University.
Archery and Crossbow Guilds in Medieval Flanders, 1300-1500
Authors: Crombie Laura
Published: May 2021

The notion of "guilds" in civic society might conjure images of craft guilds, the organisations of butchers, bakers or brewers set up to regulate working practises. In the towns of medieval Flanders, however, a plethora of guilds existed which had little or nothing to do with the organisation of labour, including chambers of rhetoric, urban jousters and archery and crossbow guilds. This isthe first full-length study of the archery and crossbow guilds, encompassing not only the great urban centres of Ghent, Bruges and Lille but also numerous smaller towns, whose participation in guild culture was nonetheless significant. It examines guild membership, structure and organisation, revealing the diversity of guild brothers - and sisters - and bringing to life the elaborate social occasions when princes and plumbers would dine together. The most spectacular of these were the elaborate regional shooting competitions, whose entrances alone included play wagons, light shows and even anelephant! It also considers their social and cultural activities, and their important role in strengthening and rebuilding regional networks. Overall, it provides a new perspective on the strength ofcommunity within Flemish towns and the values that underlay medieval urban ideology. Laura Crombie gained her PhD from the university of Glasgow; she is currently a Research Associate in the Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York.