bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Switching‐Modulated Phase Change Memory Realized by Si‐Containing Block Copolymers
Authors: Park Tae Wan , Park Woon Ik
Published: November 2021

The phase change memory (PCM) is one of the key enabling memory technologies for next‐generation non‐volatile memory device applications due to its high writing speed, excellent endurance, long retention time, and good scalability. However, the high power consumption of PCM devices caused by the high switching current from a high resistive state to a low resistive state is a critical obstacle to be resolved before widespread commercialization can be realized. Here, a useful approach to reduce the writing current of PCM, which depends strongly on the contact area between the heater electrode and active layer, by employing self‐assembly process of Si‐containing block copolymers (BCPs) is presented. Self‐assembled insulative BCP pattern geometries can locally block the current path of the contact between a high resistive film (TiN) and a phase‐change material (Ge2Sb2Te5), resulting in a significant reduction of the writing current. Compared to a conventional PCM cell, the BCP‐modified PCM shows excellent switching power reduction up to 1/20 given its use of self‐assembled hybrid SiFexOy/SiOx dot‐in‐hole nanostructures. This BCP‐based bottom–up process can be extended to various applications of other non‐volatile memory devices, such as resistive switching memory and magnetic storage devices.
Benzannulation Reactions: A Case for Perspective Change From Arene Decoration to Arene Construction
Authors: Swami Bhawna , Yadav Deepak , Menon Rajeev S.
Published: November 2021

Benzannulation reactions involve construction of a benzene ring from acyclic precursors. This class of reactions offer a versatile and often superior alternative to aromatic substitution for construction of substituted arenes. Selected pioneering and recent reports of various benzannulation reactions are categorised and discussed in this review.
Pd(0)‐Catalyzed Deacylative Allylations (DaA) Strategy and Application in the Total Synthesis of Alkaloids
Authors: Kundu Sourav , Munda Mintu , Nandi Rhituparna , Bisai Alakesh
Published: November 2021

Natural product synthesis has been the prime focus for the development of new carbon‐carbon bond forming transformations. In particular, the construction of molecules with all‐carbon quaternary centers remain one of the most facinating targets. In this regard, transition‐metal catalyzed processes have gained imporatnce owing to their mild nature. Towards this, Pd(0)‐catalyzed decarboxylative allylations (DcA) is worth mentioning and has emerged as a convenient method for synthesis of molecules even in their enantioenriched form. However, in order to have a flexible approach that facilitate rapid production of derivatives by utilizing commercially available allyl alcohols, the concept of Pd(0)‐catalyzed deacylative allylations (DaA) methodology gains popularity. In these reactions, the transfer of an acyl group has a functional role in activating the allylic alcohol (proelectrophile) toward reaction with Pd(0)‐catalysts. We present here an Account on newly conceptualized deacylative allylations (DaA) methodology and its applications in the synthesis of various intermediates and building blocks. Further, its potential in the total synthesis of naturally occurring alkaloids have been summarized in this personal account.
Single‐nucleotide mosaicism in citrus: Estimations of somatic mutation rates and total number of variants
Authors: Perez‐Roman Estela , Borredá Carles , López‐García Usach Antoni , Talon Manuel
Published: November 2021

Most of the hundreds of citrus varieties are derived from spontaneous mutations. We characterized the dynamics of single‐nucleotide mosaicism in a 36‐yr‐old clementine (Citrus ×clementina hort. ex Tanaka) tree, a commercial citrus whose vegetative behavior is known in detail. Whole‐genome sequencing identified 73 reliable somatic mutations, 48% of which were transitions from G/C to A/T, suggesting ultraviolet (UV) exposure as mutagen. The mutations accumulated in sectorized areas of the tree in a nested hierarchy determined by the branching pattern, although some variants detected in the basal parts were also found in the new growth and were fixed in some branches and leaves of much younger age. The estimate of mutation rates in our tree was 4.4 × 10−10 bp−1 yr−1, a rate in the range reported in other perennials. Assuming a perfect configuration and taking advantage of previous counts on the number of total leaves of typical clementine trees, these mutation determinations allowed to estimate for the first time the total number of variants present in a standard adult tree (1,500–5,000) and the somatic mutations generated in a typical leaf flush (0.92–1.19). From an evolutionary standpoint, the sectoral distribution of somatic mutations and the habit of periodic foliar renewal of long‐lived plants appear to increase genetic heterogeneity and, therefore, the adaptive role of somatic mutations reducing the mutational load and providing fitness benefits.
David Hugh Roberts
Authors: Davies Gareth , Roeder Peter
Published: November 2021

An enlightened leader, he was an amenable boss who provided his staff with friendship and support. Despite having an ebullient character, he was a private man at heart.
Introduction to weather derivatives
Authors: Bemš Július , Aydin Caner
Published: November 2021

The weather is one of the factors that may have an impact on the countries' economies. There are two main hedging ways against unexpected weather conditions: weather derivatives and weather insurances. During the last two decades, companies started to use weather derivatives against weather issues, especially in the energy and agriculture sectors. Starting from weather derivatives' first launch, their transaction volumes at the exchange and over‐the‐counter markets have increased. In addition to the increasing dependency of the economies on the weather, providing the weather derivative contracts with a reasonable premium amount is another reason which helps to have this positive trend. Since weather derivatives have similar parameters and rules with classical financial derivatives, it is possible to use the same pricing approaches for financial and weather derivatives. Monte–Carlo simulation, based on random number generation, is one of the existing methods of pricing derivative contracts. A difference between simulated values and really occurred data is the base point of the expected payoff or price of the contract. The current article introduces weather derivatives and shows two different approaches to their pricing, where one of them requires deeper statistical analysis. Adding the statistical analysis into the consideration, defining the relation between each data value, helps to provide better estimation and less volatility. Having less volatility can provide more accurate estimations and reasonable prices that are affordable and desired by the companies.

This article is categorized under:

Energy Systems Economics > Economics and Policy

Energy Systems Economics > Systems and Infrastructure
M5-brane sources, holography, and Argyres-Douglas theories
Authors: Bah Ibrahima , Bonetti Federico , Minasian Ruben , Nardoni Emily
Published: November 2021

Abstract

We initiate a study of the holographic duals of a class of four-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 superconformal field theories that are engineered by wrapping M5-branes on a sphere with an irregular puncture. These notably include the strongly-coupled field theories of Argyres-Douglas type. Our solutions are obtained in 7d gauged supergravity, where they take the form of a warped product of AdS5 and a “half-spindle.” The irregular puncture is modeled by a localized M5-brane source in the internal space of the gravity duals. Our solutions feature a realization of supersymmetry that is distinct from the usual topological twist, as well as an interesting Stückelberg mechanism involving the gauge field associated to a generator of the isometry algebra of the internal space. We check the proposed duality by computing the holographic central charge, the flavor symmetry central charge, and the dimensions of various supersymmetric probe M2-branes, and matching these with the dual Argyres-Douglas field theories. Furthermore, we compute the large-N ’t Hooft anomalies of the field theories using anomaly inflow methods in M-theory, and find perfect agreement with the proposed duality.
Surgical Safety Checklist Use and Post‐Caesarean Sepsis in the Lake Zone of Tanzania: Results from Safe Surgery 2020
Authors: Wurdeman Taylor , Staffa Steven J. , Barash David , Buberwa Ladislaus , Eliakimu Eliudi , Maina Erastus , Maongezi Sarah , Meara John G. , Munyonyela William , Mushi Rahma , Reynolds Cheri , Strader Christopher , Varallo John , Washington Leonard , Zurakowski David , Alidina Shehnaz , Kapologwe Ntuli A.
Published: November 2021

Background

Maternal sepsis accounts for significant morbidity and mortality in lower income countries, and caesarean delivery, while often necessary, augments the risk of maternal sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Safe Surgery 2020 surgical safety checklist (SSC) implementation on post‐caesarean sepsis in Tanzania.

Methods

We conducted a study in 20 facilities in Tanzania's Lake Zone as part of the Safe Surgery 2020 intervention. We prospectively collected data on SSC adherence and maternal sepsis outcomes from 1341 caesarian deliveries. The primary outcome measure was maternal sepsis rate. The primary predictor was SSC adherence. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate independent associations between SSC adherence and maternal sepsis.

Results

Higher SSC adherence was associated with lower rates of maternal sepsis (<25% adherence: 5.0%; >75% adherence: 0.7%). Wound class and facility type were significantly associated with development of maternal sepsis (Wound class: Clean‐Contaminated 3.7%, Contaminated/Dirty 20%, P = 0.018) (Facility Type: Health Centre 5.9%, District Hospital 4.5%, Regional Referral Hospital 1.7%, P = 0.018). In multivariable analysis, after controlling for wound class and facility type, higher SSC adherence was associated with lower rates of maternal sepsis, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.17 per percentage point increase in SSC adherence (95% CI: 0.04, 0.79; P = 0.024).

Conclusions

Adherence to the SSC may reduce maternal morbidity during caesarean delivery, reinforcing the assumption that surgical quality interventions improve maternal outcomes. Future studies should continue to explore additional synergies between surgical and maternal quality improvement.
Weather and food availability additively affect reproductive output in an expanding raptor population
Authors: Nägeli Melanie , Scherler Patrick , Witczak Stephanie , Catitti Benedetta , Aebischer Adrian , van Bergen Valentijn , Kormann Urs , Grüebler Martin U.
Published: November 2021

The joint effects of interacting environmental factors on key demographic parameters can exacerbate or mitigate the separate factors’ effects on population dynamics. Given ongoing changes in climate and land use, assessing interactions between weather and food availability on reproductive performance is crucial to understand and forecast population dynamics. By conducting a feeding experiment in 4 years with different weather conditions, we were able to disentangle the effects of weather, food availability and their interactions on reproductive parameters in an expanding population of the red kite (Milvus milvus), a conservation-relevant raptor known to be supported by anthropogenic feeding. Brood loss occurred mainly during the incubation phase, and was associated with rainfall and low food availability. In contrast, brood loss during the nestling phase occurred mostly due to low temperatures. Survival of last-hatched nestlings and nestling development was enhanced by food supplementation and reduced by adverse weather conditions. However, we found no support for interactive effects of weather and food availability, suggesting that these factors affect reproduction of red kites additively. The results not only suggest that food-weather interactions are prevented by parental life-history trade-offs, but that food availability and weather conditions are crucial separate determinants of reproductive output, and thus population productivity. Overall, our results suggest that the observed increase in spring temperatures and enhanced anthropogenic food resources have contributed to the elevational expansion and the growth of the study population during the last decades.
Developing an e-learning course on the use of PRO measures in oncological practice: health care professionals’ preferences for learning content and methods
Authors: Sztankay Monika , Wintner Lisa M. , Roggendorf Sigrid , Nordhausen Thomas , Dirven Linda , Taphoorn Martin J. B. , Verdonck-de Leeuw Irma M. , Velikova Galina , Bottomley Andrew , Kulis Dagmara , Kachel Timo , Schmidt Heike ,   on behalf of the EORTC Quality of Life Group
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Implementation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in clinical routine requires knowledge and competences regarding their use. In order to facilitate implementation, an e-learning course for health care professionals (HCPs) on the utilisation of European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) PROMs in oncological clinical practice is being developed. This study aimed to explore future users’ educational needs regarding content and learning methods.

Methods

The sequential mixed methods approach was applied. A scoping literature review informed the guideline for qualitative interviews with HCPs with diverse professional backgrounds in oncology and cancer advocates recruited using a purposive sampling strategy. An international online survey was conducted to validate the qualitative findings.

Results

Between December 2019 and May 2020, 73 interviews were conducted in 9 countries resulting in 8 topic areas (Basic information on PROs in clinical routine, Benefits of PRO assessments in clinical practice, Implementation of PRO assessments in clinical routine, Setup of PRO assessments for clinical application, Interpretation of PRO data, Integration of PROs into the communication with patients, Use of PROs in clinical practice, Self-management recommendations for patients based on PROs) subsequently presented in the online survey. The online survey (open between 3 June and 19 July 2020) was completed by 233 HCPs from 33 countries. The highest preference was indicated for content on interpretation of PRO data (97%), clinical benefits of assessing PRO data (95.3%) and implementation of routine PRO data assessment (94.8%). Regarding learning methods, participants indicated a high preference for practical examples that use a mixed approach of presentation (written, audio, video and interactive).

Conclusion

Educational needs for an integration of PROs in communication in clinical care and coherent implementation strategies became evident. These results inform the development of an e-learning course to support HCPs in the clinical use of EORTC PRO measures.
Small area estimation of socioeconomic indicators for sampled and unsampled domains
Authors: Burgard Jan Pablo , Morales Domingo , Wölwer Anna-Lena
Published: November 2021

Socioeconomic indicators play a crucial role in monitoring political actions over time and across regions. Income-based indicators such as the median income of sub-populations can provide information on the impact of measures, e.g., on poverty reduction. Regional information is usually published on an aggregated level. Due to small sample sizes, these regional aggregates are often associated with large standard errors or are missing if the region is unsampled or the estimate is simply not published. For example, if the median income of Hispanic or Latino Americans from the American Community Survey is of interest, some county-year combinations are not available. Therefore, a comparison of different counties or time-points is partly not possible. We propose a new predictor based on small area estimation techniques for aggregated data and bivariate modeling. This predictor provides empirical best predictions for the partially unavailable county-year combinations. We provide an analytical approximation to the mean squared error. The theoretical findings are backed up by a large-scale simulation study. Finally, we return to the problem of estimating the county-year estimates for the median income of Hispanic or Latino Americans and externally validate the estimates.
Oral bioavailability reveals an overestimation of the toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric particulate matter
Authors: Sánchez-Piñero Joel , Gómez-Meijide Paula , Concha-Graña Estefanía , Moreda-Piñeiro Jorge , Muniategui-Lorenzo Soledad , López-Mahía Purificación
Published: November 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric particulate matter have adverse effects on human health, yet total PAH concentrations should overestimate the toxicity compared to the bioavailable amount of PAHs. To explore this hypothesis, we measured PAHs oral bioavailability in vitro in particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter lower than 10 µm (PM10) using a test that mimics the human digestive system. This assay combines the use of simulated gastrointestinal fluids and a dialysis membrane to simulate intestinal absorption. Results show that oral PAH bioavailability was below 5%, with fluorene, anthracene, acenaphthene and phenanthrene as the most bioavailable PAHs. Data suggest no carcinogenic risk of oral bioavailable PM10-bound PAHs following a health risk assessment via inhalation-ingestion by using benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent carcinogenic concentration and hazard indexes. To our best knowledge, this is the first research study of in vitro oral bioavailability estimation of PM10-associated PAHs.
PD-L1 blockade exhibits anti-tumor effect on brain metastasis by activating CD8+ T cells in hematogenous metastasis model with lymphocyte infusion
Authors: Masuda Chinami , Morinaga Mamiko , Wakita Daiko , Yorozu Keigo , Kurasawa Mitsue , Sugimoto Masamichi , Kondoh Osamu
Published: November 2021

Brain metastases are common complication in cancer patients. Immune checkpoint inhibitors show therapeutic benefits also in patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases. However, their antitumor effects on metastatic tumors and their underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study we investigated the antitumor effect of anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody on metastatic brain tumors and evaluated immune responses during treatment. We employed a hematogenous brain metastasis xenograft model using immunodeficient mice with murine lymphocyte infusions. A human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line stably expressing NanoLuc® reporter (Nluc-H1915) was inoculated from the internal carotid artery of SCID mice. After metastases were established (24 days after inoculation), splenocytes prepared from H1915-immunized BALB/c mice were injected intravenously and mouse IgG or anti-PD-L1 antibody treatment was started (day 1). Evaluated by Nluc activity, tumor volume in the brain on day 14 was significantly lower in anti-PD-L1-treated mice than in mouse IgG-treated mice. Furthermore CD8+ cells were primarily infiltrated intratumorally and peritumorally and anti-PD-L1 treatment induced a significantly higher proportion of Granzyme B (GzmB)+ cells among CD8+ T cells. The antitumor effect of anti-PD-L1 antibody on brain metastasis is thought to be achieved by the enhanced activation of infiltrated CD8+ T cells into metastatic brain tumor. These results suggest that anti-PD-L1 antibody-containing regimens may be promising treatment options for cancer patients with brain metastases.
Educational usage of Facebook and academic achievement in distance university students: Mediated by basic needs satisfaction
Authors: Yotyodying Sittipan , Dettmers Swantje , Erdal Kerstin , Jonkmann Kathrin
Published: November 2021

Facebook has been widely used among students, not only for socializing, but also for educational purposes. However, it is much less clear whether educational usage of Facebook would be beneficial for student academic achievement, especially in distance education. This paper examined whether different types of educational usage of Facebook would be differentially connected with academic achievement of distance university students. Unlike previous studies, we distinguished between the quantity and the quality of educational usage of Facebook: The former is concerned with time spent, while the latter includes three types of educational utilities offered by Facebook (communication, collaboration, and resource sharing). Taking a self-determination theory perspective, we also examined whether the connection between different types of educational usage of Facebook and academic achievement would be mediated by basic needs satisfaction in distance study. A total of 274 distance university students participated in an online survey. A path analysis demonstrated that different types of educational usage of Facebook and academic achievement were not directly associated. However, a mediation analysis showed that competence need satisfaction (and no other needs) fully mediated some linkages: time spent to achievement, communication to achievement, and resource sharing to achievement. Findings and implications of this paper are discussed.
Cohen–Macaulay binomial edge ideals and accessible graphs
Authors: Bolognini Davide , Macchia Antonio , Strazzanti Francesco
Published: November 2021

The cut sets of a graph are special sets of vertices whose removal disconnects the graph. They are fundamental in the study of binomial edge ideals, since they encode their minimal primary decomposition. We introduce the class of accessible graphs as the graphs with unmixed binomial edge ideal and whose cut sets form an accessible set system. We prove that the graphs whose binomial edge ideal is Cohen–Macaulay are accessible and we conjecture that the converse holds. We settle the conjecture for large classes of graphs, including chordal and traceable graphs, providing a purely combinatorial description of Cohen–Macaulayness. The key idea in the proof is to show that both properties are equivalent to a further combinatorial condition, which we call strong unmixedness.
The Immune Deficiency and Dysregulation Activity (IDDA2.1 ‘Kaleidoscope’) Score and Other Clinical Measures in Inborn Errors of Immunity
Authors: Seidel Markus G. , Tesch Victoria K. , Yang Linlin , Hauck Fabian , Horn Anna Lena , Smolle Maria Anna , Quehenberger Franz , Benesch Martin
Published: November 2021

Quantifying the phenotypic features of rare diseases such as inborn errors of immunity (IEI) helps clinicians make diagnoses, classify disorders, and objectify the disease severity at its first presentation as well as during therapy and follow-up. Furthermore, it may allow cross-sectional and cohort comparisons and support treatment decisions such as an evaluation for transplantation. On the basis of a literature review, we provide a descriptive comparison of ten selected scores and measures frequently used in IEI and divide these into three categories: (1) diagnostic tools (for Hyper-IgE syndrome, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome), (2) morbidity and disease activity measures (for common variable immune deficiency [CVID], profound combined immune deficiency, CTLA-4 haploinsufficiency, immune deficiency and dysregulation activity [IDDA], IPEX organ impairment, and the autoinflammatory disease activity index), and (3) treatment stratification scores (shown for hypogammaglobulinemia). The depth of preclinical and statistical validations varies among the presented tools, and disease-inherent and user-dependent factors complicate their broader application. To support a comparable, standardized evaluation for prospective monitoring of diseases with immune dysregulation, we propose the IDDA2.1 score (comprising 22 parameters on a 2–5-step scale) as a simple yet comprehensive and powerful tool. Originally developed for use in a retrospective study in LRBA deficiency, this new version may be applied to all IEI with immune dysregulation. Reviewing published aggregate cohort data from hundreds of patients, the IDDA kaleidoscope function is presented for 18 exemplary IEI as an instructive phenotype–pattern visualization tool, and an unsupervised, hierarchically clustered heatmap mathematically confirms similarities and differences in their phenotype expression profiles.
Sex-specific connectivity modelling for brown bear conservation in the Carpathian Mountains
Authors: García-Sánchez M. Pino , González-Ávila Sergio , Solana-Gutiérrez Joaquín , Popa Marius , Jurj Ramon , Ionescu Georgeta , Ionescu Ovidiu , Fedorca Mihai , Fedorca Ancuta
Published: November 2021

Context

Romania is currently one of the best-connected landscapes, with high-quality habitats and a high density of brown bears. However, regional development measures are needed for the nation’s economic growth, and without responsible government actions, these measures pose a threat to brown bear connectivity, a vital pillar of the entire Carpathian region. Despite having important implications for the species conservation, bears sex-specific behaviour has been overlooked in connectivity assessments.

Objectives

The study’s main goals were to (i) develop sex-specific distribution and connectivity models, (ii) assess the movement patterns differences between females and males, and (iii) identify high-quality areas to be secured for species connectivity conservation.

Methods

We designed a methodological framework based on interdisciplinary approaches and modelling tools for landscape connectivity combined with novel spatial analysis. Telemetry data of sixteen bears (females and males) were utilized to predict habitat selection (MaxEnt), and circuit-theoretic approaches (Circuitscape) were applied to identify the potential movement corridors of both sexes and high-priority areas.

Results

The obtained results provided new evidence on the uneven movement patterns and pathways used by males and females in the study region. Males’ movement preferences were related to river shores and dense forest coverage areas, avoiding urban areas, while females were predicted to move across forested and open areas and were more tolerant to human‐modified areas. Three high-quality areas were delineated for both sexes, and connectivity conservation efforts are needed due to the vicinity of anthropic pressures.

Conclusions

This study depicts the usefulness of combining interdisciplinary approaches and provides planners, managers, and decision-makers with practical solutions to address sustainable design and management within the intervened landscapes. Using separate female and male spatial models for leading management and conservation measures, setting connectivity targets within environmental and impact assessments while adopting conservation easements could secure a safety network for biodiversity conservation in the Carpathians.
Counterfeit patronage: human values, counterfeit experience and construal level
Authors: Bian Xuemei , Tantiprapart Yanisa , Chryssochoidis George , Wang Kai-Yu
Published: November 2021

Counterfeit-related studies have revealed motivational drives for counterfeit consumption. Little is known concerning the implications of consumers’ enduring and normative beliefs about proper standards of conduct as the determinants of counterfeit patronage. Drawing on the Schwartz theory of human values, experience literature and construal level theory, this research investigates counterfeit patronage by addressing three crucially important questions: (1) what personal values determine counterfeit patronage; (2) how do these relationships vary as a function of counterfeit experience and (3) how do values have power in eliminating counterfeit consumption? Two studies provide robust evidence that self-transcendence values mitigate counterfeit patronage when consumers’ counterfeit experience is low. We also demonstrate that consumers who endorse self-transcendence values more exhibit higher levels of construal, which results in reduced counterfeit patronage.
DNA repair protein DNA-PK protects PC12 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis involving AKT phosphorylation
Authors: Cardinale Alessio , Saladini Serena , Lupacchini Leonardo , Ruspantini Irene , De Dominicis Chiara , Papale Marco , Silvagno Francesca , Garaci Enrico , Mollinari Cristiana , Merlo Daniela
Published: November 2021

Background

Emerging evidence suggest that DNA-PK complex plays a role in the cellular response to oxidative stress, in addition to its function of double strand break (DSB) repair. In this study we evaluated whether DNA-PK participates in oxidative stress response and whether this role is independent of its function in DNA repair.

Methods and results

We used a model of H2O2-induced DNA damage in PC12 cells (rat pheochromocytoma), a well-known neuronal tumor cell line. We found that H2O2treatment of PC12 cells induces an increase in DNA-PK protein complex levels, along with an elevation of DNA damage, measured both by the formation of γΗ2ΑX foci, detected by immunofluorescence, and γH2AX levels detected by western blot analysis. After 24 h of cell recovery, γΗ2ΑX foci are repaired both in the absence and presence of DNA-PK kinase inhibitor NU7026, while an increase of apoptotic cells is observed when DNA-PK activity is inhibited, as revealed by counting pycnotic nuclei and confirmed by FACS analysis. Our results suggest a role of DNA-PK as an anti-apoptotic factor in proliferating PC12 cells under oxidative stress conditions. The anti-apoptotic role of DNA-PK is associated with AKT phosphorylation in Ser473. On the contrary, in differentiated PC12 cells, were the main pathway to repair DSBs is DNA-PK-mediated, the inhibition of DNA-PK activity causes an accumulation of DNA damage.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results show that DNA-PK can protect cells from oxidative stress induced-apoptosis independently from its function of DSB repair enzyme.

Graphical Abstract
The impact of poor medication knowledge on health-related quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease: a mediation analysis
Authors: Zipprich Hannah M. , Mendorf Sarah , Schönenberg Aline , Prell Tino
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to determine how limited medication knowledge as one aspect of health literacy contributes to poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Methods

Demographical data, PD-specific data (MDS-Unified Parkinson’s Disease-Rating Scale, Nonmotor symptom scale), and data about depressive symptoms (Beck’s depression inventory), cognition (Montreal cognitive assessment), HRQoL (Short-Form Health Questionnaire-36, SF-36), and medication knowledge (names, time of taking, indication, dosage) were assessed in 193 patients with PD. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), multivariate analysis of covariance, and mediation analyses were used to study the relationship between medication knowledge and HRQoL in combination with different mediators and covariates.

Results

Overall, 43.5% patients showed deficits in at least one of the 4 knowledge items, which was associated with higher age, number of medications per day and depression level, and poorer cognitive function, motor function, and lower education level. Using one-way MANOVA, we identified that medication knowledge significantly impacts physical functioning, social functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, and role limitations due to emotional problems. Mediation models using age, education level, and gender as covariates showed that the relationship between knowledge and SF-36 domains was fully mediated by Beck’s Depression Inventory but not by Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Conclusions

Patients who expressed unawareness of their medication did not necessarily have cognitive deficits; however, depressive symptoms may instead be present. This concomitant depressive symptomatology is crucial in explaining the contribution of nonadherence and decreased medication knowledge to poor quality of life.
Do teachers’ cultural beliefs matter for students’ school adaptation? A multilevel analysis of students’ academic achievement and psychological school adjustment
Authors: Schotte Kristin , Rjosk Camilla , Edele Aileen , Hachfeld Axinja , Stanat Petra
Published: November 2021

Based on two large-scale studies from Germany, we examined how different types of teachers’ cultural beliefs are related to immigrant students’ school adaptation. Specifically, we investigated the relationship of teachers' multicultural beliefs appreciating cultural diversity, their egalitarian beliefs focusing on all students' similarities and their assimilationist beliefs that immigrant students should conform to the mainstream context with immigrant students' academic achievement and psychological school adjustment as indicators of their school adaptation. We also explored all of these associations for non-immigrant students. Study 1 used data on the multicultural, egalitarian, and assimilationist beliefs of German language (NTeachers = 220) and mathematics (NTeachers = 245) teachers and on students’ achievement and feelings of helplessness in German language classes (NStudents = 2606) and mathematics classes (NStudents = 2851) as well as students’ school satisfaction. Study 2 analyzed data on teachers’ multicultural and egalitarian beliefs (NTeachers = 456) and students’ achievement and self-concept in mathematics (NStudents = 4722). Overall, multilevel analyses revealed no relationship between teachers’ cultural beliefs and any of the indicators of immigrant and non-immigrant students’ school adaptation. These findings challenge the notion that overall, teachers’ cultural beliefs effectively translate into students’ school adaptation.
Recent progresses of quantum confinement in graphene quantum dots
Authors: Li Si-Yu , He Lin
Published: November 2021

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) not only have potential applications on spin qubit, but also serve as essential platforms to study the fundamental properties of Dirac fermions, such as Klein tunneling and Berry phase. By now, the study of quantum confinement in GQDs still attract much attention in condensed matter physics. In this article, we review the experimental progresses on quantum confinement in GQDs mainly by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). Here, the GQDs are divided into Klein GQDs, bound-state GQDs and edge-terminated GQDs according to their different confinement strength. Based on the realization of quasi-bound states in Klein GQDs, external perpendicular magnetic field is utilized as a manipulation approach to trigger and control the novel properties by tuning Berry phase and electron-electron (e-e) interaction. The tip-induced edge-free GQDs can serve as an intuitive mean to explore the broken symmetry states at nanoscale and single-electron accuracy, which are expected to be used in studying physical properties of different two-dimensional materials. Moreover, high-spin magnetic ground states are successfully introduced in edge-terminated GQDs by designing and synthesizing triangulene zigzag nanographenes.
Methodological sensitivities for co-producing knowledge through enduring trustful partnerships
Authors: Greenaway Alison , Hohaia Holden , Le Heron Erena , Le Heron Richard , Grant Andrea , Diprose Gradon , Kirk Nicholas , Allen Will
Published: November 2021

Indigenous ways of caring for the environment have long been marginalised through research methodologies that are blind to a range of ways of knowing the world. Co-production of knowledge across Indigenous knowledge systems and Western scientific approaches is receiving attention both internationally and within the science system in Aotearoa New Zealand. Addressing power asymmetries as part of the co-production process is also slowly gaining recognition. Those involved in knowledge co-production initiatives must support learning about different world views, ways of knowing and accounting for the environment, while also enabling learning of the many biases and assumptions built into methodologies. This deliberation is needed, so non-Indigenous researchers can form enduring trustworthy partnerships and contribute to co-production initiatives. Presented here are insights shared by a cohort of environment research practitioners who have been deliberating on co-production occurring across knowledge systems in Aotearoa New Zealand. Originating from analysis of interviews undertaken about relationships recreational groups have with Te Urewera (forested hill country in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand), this paper depicts a layered reflection on how non-Māori (primarily but not exclusively) across Aotearoa New Zealand are learning to be manuhiri (those being welcomed on arrival to a place by the Indigenous people of that place). As a contribution to this collective learning, a set of methodological sensitivities are proposed as support for research amidst changing relationships with places. Doing so we aim to contribute to reflexive and decolonising encounters with Indigenous approaches to environmental care.
What have we known so far for fluorescence staining and quantification of microplastics: A tutorial review
Authors: Liu Shengdong , Shang Enxiang , Liu Jingnan , Wang Yining , Bolan Nanthi , Kirkham M. B. , Li Yang
Published: November 2021

Understanding the fate and toxicity of microplastics (MPs, < 5 mm plastic particles) is limited by quantification methods. This paper summarizes the methods in use and presents new ones. First, sampling and pretreatment processes of MPs, including sample collection, digestion, density separation, and quality control are reviewed. Then the promising and convenient staining procedures and quantification methods for MPs using fluorescence dyes are reviewed. The factors that influence the staining of MPs, including their physicochemical properties, are summarized to provide an optimal operation procedure. In general, the digestion step is crucial to eliminate natural organic matter (NOM) to avoid interference in quantification. Chloroform was reported to be the most appropriate solvent, and 10–20 μg/mL are recommended as optimal dye concentrations. In addition, a heating and cooling procedure is recommended to maintain the fluorescence intensity of MPs for two months. After staining, a fluorescence microscope is usually used to characterize the morphology, mass, or number of MPs, but compositional analysis cannot be determined with it. These fluorescence staining methods have been implemented to study MP abundance, transport, and toxicity and have been combined with other chemical characterization techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. More studies are needed to focus on the synthesis of novel dyes to avoid NOM’s interference. They need to be combined with other spectroscopic techniques to characterize plastic composition and to develop image-analysis methods. The stability of stained MPs needs to be improved.
The effect of audio-support on strategy, time, and performance on reading comprehension in secondary school students with dyslexia
Authors: Knoop-van Campen C. A. N. , ter Doest D. , Verhoeven L. , Segers E.
Published: November 2021

The use of adequate reading comprehension strategies is important to read efficiently. Students with dyslexia not only read slower and less accurately, they also use fewer reading comprehension strategies. To compensate for their decoding problems, they often receive audio-support (narration written text). However, audio-support linearly guides readers from beginning to end through texts, possibly hindering the use of reading comprehension strategies in expository texts and negatively impacting reading time and reading comprehension performance. We examined to what extent audio-support affects reading comprehension strategies, reading times, and reading comprehension performance in 21 secondary school students with dyslexia and 22 typically developing controls. Participants were provided with three types of assignments (summarizing, open-ended questions, statement questions) in each condition (written text with and without audio-support). SMI RED-500 eye tracker captured eye movements during reading. The standard deviation of the weighted fixation duration times on the three paragraphs was considered indicative of the disparity of readers’ attention within the text. Following a discrimination based on experts’ reading behavior and hand-coded validation, these scores visualized whether students used the intensive reading strategy (reading whole text) or selective reading strategy (focusing on part of the text). In open-ended assignments, students divided their attention more over the whole text instead of focusing on one specific part when audio was added. In addition, audio-support increased reading time in students with and without dyslexia in most tasks, while in neither of the tasks audio-support affected reading comprehension performance. Audio-support impacts reading comprehension strategy and reading time in all students.
Feinstaubbelastung und Lebenserwartung in Deutschland
Authors: Prinz Aloys , Richter David J.
Published: November 2021

Die Feinstaubbelastung steht immer wieder im Mittelpunkt umwelt- und gesundheitspolitischer Diskussionen. Empirische Analysen, auch solche in diesem Bereich, die nicht auf individuellen Experimentaldaten beruhen, können als ökologische „real life“-Studien kleine Bausteine zum Verständnis der Zusammenhänge von Feinstaubbelastung und deren Gesundheitsfolgen zur Verfügung stellen. In diesem Beitrag wird deskriptiv untersucht, ob in Deutschland eine Korrelation von Feinstaubbelastung und Lebenserwartung zu finden ist. Dazu werden auf Kreisebene nach den Messbereichen Hintergrund und Verkehr differenzierte Daten von Feinstaubmessstationen der Jahre 2002 bis 2016 verwendet. Als weitere Kovariate der Lebenserwartung werden auf Kreisebene das verfügbare Einkommen pro Kopf und die Abiturientenquote berücksichtigt. Darüber hinaus werden Siedlungseigenschaften (städtische bzw. ländliche Gebiete) sowie ein nichtlinearer Zeittrend in die Untersuchung einbezogen. Die Niveauschätzungen ergeben einen negativen Zusammenhang für die Feinstaubbelastung im westdeutschen Hintergrundbereich. Darüber hinaus zeigt sich ein negativer Zusammenhang zwischen der Veränderung von Feinstaubbelastung und der Veränderung der Lebenserwartung für den westdeutschen Verkehrsbereich, der jedoch aufgrund der Datenlage als unsicherer anzusehen ist. Letzteres ist aufgrund der Besonderheiten dieses Bereichs (tages- und jahreszeitlich bedingte Variationen des Verkehrsflusses; Änderung der Feinstaub-Exposition der Bevölkerung innerhalb kurzer Entfernungen u. v. m.) nicht überraschend. Für Ostdeutschland konnten keine statistisch signifikanten Zusammenhänge gefunden werden. Die für Gesamtdeutschland gefundene Korrelation zwischen Feinstaubbelastung im Hintergrundbereich und durchschnittliche Lebenserwartung liegt bei 0,037 Jahre pro 1 $$\upmu$$
μ
g/m$${}^{3}$$

3

 PM$${}_{10}$$

10

.
Stability and change in longitudinal patterns of antisocial behaviors: The role of social and emotional competencies, empathy, and morality
Authors: Nasaescu Elena , Zych Izabela , Ortega-Ruiz Rosario , Farrington David P. , Llorent Vicente J.
Published: November 2021

Studies show that different types of antisocial behaviors share similar risk and protective factors related to particular social, emotional and moral competencies. Nevertheless, little is known about the longitudinal relation of social, emotional and moral competencies with patterns of antisocial behaviors in youth. The present study aimed to discover the longitudinal relations between social and emotional competencies, empathy, moral emotions, moral disengagement, and perceived moral disengagement induced by parents, and the patterns of antisocial behaviors and change in these patterns over time. A sample of 898 Spanish students aged between 9 and 17 was followed up for one year. Self-reported data were analyzed using latent transition analyses and multinomial regressions. Results showed that age, several mechanisms of moral disengagement, perceived parental moral disengagement induction, and several social and emotional competencies predicted offenders outside of school and highly antisocial and victimized patterns, including their stability over time. Moreover, males at early ages and perceived parental moral disengagement induction predicted the high bullying victimization pattern. Being a male, with high victim dehumanizing and blaming, predicted stability of the high bullying victimization pattern. Being a male, early ages, and low responsible decision-making predicted changes from the high bullying victimization pattern to the low antisocial pattern. Results are discussed emphasizing the need to conduct prevention and intervention programs from a comprehensive perspective promoting social, emotional and moral competencies. This study could have useful implications for prevention and intervention focused on decreasing risk and increasing protective factors.
Posttreatment Strategy Against Hypoxia and Ischemia Based on Selective Targeting of Nonnuclear Estrogen Receptors with PaPE-1
Authors: Wnuk A. , Przepiórska K. , Pietrzak B. A. , Kajta M.
Published: November 2021

Newly synthesized Pathway Preferential Estrogen-1 (PaPE-1) selectively activates membrane estrogen receptors (mERs), namely, mERα and mERβ, and has been shown to evoke neuroprotection; however, its effectiveness in protecting brain tissue against hypoxia and ischemia has not been verified in a posttreatment paradigm. This is the first study showing that a 6-h delayed posttreatment with PaPE-1 inhibited hypoxia/ischemia-induced neuronal death, as indicated by neutral red uptake in mouse primary cell cultures in vitro. The effect was accompanied by substantial decreases in neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration in terms of LDH release and Fluoro-Jade C staining of damaged cells, respectively. The mechanisms of the neuroprotective action of PaPE-1 also involved apoptosis inhibition demonstrated by normalization of both mitochondrial membrane potential and expression levels of apoptosis-related genes and proteins such as Fas, Fasl, Bcl2, FAS, FASL, BCL2, BAX, and GSK3β. Furthermore, PaPE-1-evoked neuroprotection was mediated through a reduction in ROS formation and restoration of cellular metabolic activity that had become dysregulated due to hypoxia and ischemia. These data provide evidence that targeting membrane non-GPER estrogen receptors with PaPE-1 is an effective therapy that protects brain neurons from hypoxic/ischemic damage, even when applied with a 6-h delay from injury onset.
Wie erleben und bewältigen Lehrende der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung Folgen der Corona-Pandemie?
Authors: Wißhak Susanne , Hochholdinger Sabine
Published: November 2021

Die qualitative Studie geht der Frage nach, wie Lehrende in der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung die Folgen der Corona-Pandemie im Hinblick auf die damit einhergehenden Unsicherheiten und professionellen Anforderungen erlebten und bewältigten. Ausgehend von Kompetenzmodellen für Lehrende in der Weiterbildung wurden die Veränderungen ihrer beruflichen Situation betrachtet, die veränderten Anforderungen mit Blick auf die Digitalisierung sowie ihre Selbstregulations- und Bewältigungsstrategien. Zu diesem Zweck werteten wir 22 textbasierte Beiträge einer Webparade vom Spätsommer 2020 mittels der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse aus. Es zeigte sich, dass die Lehrenden nach anfänglicher Verunsicherung proaktiv und pragmatisch reagierten und die Digitalisierung als Lerngelegenheit annahmen. Für den Erwerb der erforderlichen Kompetenzen scheinen sie sich mittels Online-Trainerausbildungen und auf informellen Wegen fortzubilden. Aus didaktischer Sicht scheint die Digitalisierung Vorteile für bedarfsorientierte und wirksame Weiterbildung zu bieten, bei gleichzeitigen Schwierigkeiten, die aus der physischen Distanz vor allem für die Interaktion und Beziehungsgestaltung resultieren. Implikationen für die individuelle Professionalisierung der Lehrenden unter Pandemiebedingungen werden diskutiert.