bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gray Whale Sex, Reproductive Behavior, and Social Strategies
Authors: Swartz Steven L. , Lang Aimee , Burdin Alexander , Calambokidis John , Frouin-Mouy Héloïse , Martínez-Aguilar Sergio , Rodríguez-González Fabian , Tenorio-Hallé Ludovic , Thode Aaron , Urbán-Ramírez Jorge , Weller David W.
Published: September 2023

Gray whale sexual behavior and copulation are observed throughout their range. The most prominent period for reproductive behavior is during the southward migration from summer feeding areas to wintering areas where some breeding occurs and calves of the year are reared. The seasonal migrations of gray whales are believed to function, in part, to bring together individuals that are otherwise widely distributed during the period of estrus to facilitate mating and reproduction. Sexual behaviors and sexual strategies for this species appear to align closely with those of balaenid (not rorqual) whales, although such comparisons need further investigation. Gray whales are polygynandrous (multi-mate) breeders. There does not appear to be female choice of mates, as groups of numerous females and males aggregate, and multiple copulations occur. Female estrus begins in mid-November and continues to early December; females may undergo a second estrus, extending into February, if they fail to conceive during their first cycle. Male gray whales have large testes and concomitantly produce large volumes of sperm, so they are believed to be sperm competitors; that is, they rely on multiple copulations (and sperm volume) to produce offspring. Multiple copulations with different males during the female estrus period may increase the likelihood that the timing of conception results in the birth of a calf approximately 13 months later near or in the wintering area(s). Mating bouts can last for minutes to hours, interspersed with surface-active-social-sexual behavior. Some all-male groups have been observed with erect penises engaged in social-sexual behavior in the absence of any females. Instances of male aggression toward postpartum females with calves of the year, sometimes resulting in injury or death, have been reported. As a result of dedicated long-term research in the past several decades, the state of knowledge on gray whale reproduction has greatly expanded and updated information on this topic is summarized in this chapter.
Cetacean Sociality, Reproduction, and Conservation
Authors: Mesnick Sarah L. , Reeves Randall R. , Wade Paul R. , Brakes Philippa , Hersh Taylor A.
Published: September 2023

The world’s cetaceans (like most of biodiversity) are in crisis, and the need for well-informed conservation action has never been greater. Scientific advancements over the last few decades have provided much insight on the reproductive anatomy, physiology, and behavior of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Our goal in this chapter is to link scientific findings to practical actions that will improve resilience and conservation prospects of cetaceans. We provide an overview of human activities and their impacts on cetacean reproduction and review the progress (or lack thereof) toward conserving species, with a particular focus on those for which sociality and culture may be important to population recovery. For all cetaceans, it is important to preserve or, where necessary and feasible, reestablish the ecological, demographic, and social conditions that allow the animals to reproduce successfully in their natural environment. The better we understand and integrate knowledge concerning cetacean reproductive health into conservation strategies, the better the chances of achieving species recovery, protecting biodiversity, and preventing future extinctions.
Play, Sexual Display, or Just Boredom Relief?
Authors: da Silva Vera M. F. , Spinelli Lucas G.
Published: September 2023

Cetaceans use objects and interact with conspecifics for play and socializing, often exhibiting complex behaviors that we do not understand. A few seconds of activity on the water’s surface rarely indicates intraspecific behaviors and interactions. What has already been described chiefly for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) has been extrapolated to other species, with little information on river dolphins despite their accessibility. In this chapter, we review what is known about sexually related behaviors in different contexts, such as learning, play, sexual display, aggression, and boredom (weariness and restlessness through a lack of interest) among cetacean species, especially the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis).
SSMB Radiation
Authors: Deng Xiujie
Published: September 2023

Having discussed the methods to form and preserve microbunching in the last two chapters, now we present the theoretical and numerical study of the average and statistical property of coherent radiation from SSMB. Our results show that a kW-level average power quasi-continuous-wave EUV radiation can be obtained from an SSMB ring, provided that an average current of 1 A and bunch length of 3 nm microbunch train can be formed at the radiator which is assumed to be an undulator. Together with its narrowband feature, the EUV photon flux can reach$$10^{15}\sim 10^{16}$$1015∼1016phs/s within a 0.1 meV energy bandwidth, which is three orders of magnitude higher than that in a conventional synchrotron source, allowing sub-meV resolution in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and providing new opportunities for fundamental physics research. In the theoretical investigation, we have generalized the definition and derivation of the transverse form factor of an electron beam which can quantify the impact of its transverse size on coherent radiation.
Interactions between diurnal winds and floodplain mosaics control the insect boundary layer in a river corridor
Authors: Sukhodolov Alexander N. , Manfrin Alessandro , Larsen Stefano , Shumilova Oleksandra O. , Monaghan Michael T. , Tockner Klement
Published: September 2023

Insect flight along river corridors is a fundamental process that facilitates sustainable succession and diversity of aquatic and terrestrial insect communities in highly dynamic fluvial environments. This study examines variations in the thickness of the insect boundary layer (i.e., the pre-surface atmosphere layer in which air velocity does not exceed the sustained speed of flying insects) caused by interactions between diurnal winds and the heterogenous habitat mosaics in the floodplain of a braided river. Based on advective–diffusive theory, we develop and test a semi-empirical model that relates vertical flux of flying insects to vertical profiles of diurnal winds. Our model suggests that, in the logarithmic layer of wind, the density of insect fluxes decreases exponentially with the altitude due to the strong physical forcing. Inside the insect boundary layer, the insect fluxes can increase with the altitude while the winds speed remains nearly constant. We suggest a hypothesis that there is a close correspondence between the height of discontinuity points in the insect profiles (e.g. points with abrupt changes of the insect flux) and the displacement heights of the wind profiles (e.g. points above which the wind profile is logarithmic). Vertical profiles were sampled during three time-intervals at three different habitat locations in the river corridor: a bare gravel bar, a gravel bar with shrubs, and an island with trees and shrubs. Insects and wind speed were sampled and measured simultaneously over each location at 1.5-m intervals up to approximately 17 m elevation. The results support our working hypothesis on close correspondence between discontinuity and displacement points. The thickness of the insect boundary layer matches the height of the discontinuity points and was about 5 m above the bare gravel bar and the gravel bar with shrubs. Above the island, the structure of the insect boundary layer was more complex and consisted of two discontinuity points, one at the mean height of the trees’ crowns (ca. 15 m), and a second, internal boundary layer at the top of the shrubs (ca. 5 m). Our findings improve the understanding of how vegetation can influence longitudinal and lateral dispersal patterns of flying insects in river corridors and floodplain systems. It also highlights the importance of preserving terrestrial habitat diversity in river floodplains as an important driver of both biotic and abiotic (i.e., morphology and airscape) heterogeneity.
Korrelation zwischen Komorbiditäten und Veränderungen des Lungenparenchyms im CT des Thorax bei Patienten mit COVID-19-Pneumonie
Authors: Nadem Boueini Nima , Haage Patrick , Abanador-Kamper Nadine , Kamper Lars
Published: September 2023

Hintergrund und Ziel der Arbeit

Die pulmonale Manifestation von COVID-19 wird anhand standardisierter CT-morphologischer Kriterien beschrieben. In dieser Studie untersuchten wir mögliche Assoziationen zwischen dem CT-morphologischen Infiltratmuster bei COVID-19-Pneumonie und typischen Komorbiditäten sowie dem klinischen Verlauf.

Methoden

Wir analysierten klinische Daten und pulmonale Bildgebung von 61 Patienten mit positivem PCR-Test. Die pulmonalen Veränderungen wurden kategorisiert und auf Zusammenhänge mit vorbestehenden Komorbiditäten und dem klinischen Verlauf überprüft.

Ergebnisse

Im Vergleich zu Patienten mit untypischen Infiltratmustern (2/19, 10,5 %) wurden 25 Patienten mit typischen Infiltratmustern (25/42, 59,5 %) signifikant häufiger intensivmedizinisch behandelt (p < 0,001). Außerdem erhielten Patienten mit typischen Infiltratmustern im Vergleich zu Patienten mit untypischen Infiltratmustern häufiger eine nichtinvasive Beatmung (12/42, 28,6 %, p = ,040) und High-flow-Therapie (8/42, 19 %, p = 0,041). Die Mortalität war ebenfalls höher bei Patienten mit typischen Infiltratmustern, wobei 15 Patienten (15/42, 35,7 %) im Verlauf verstarben verglichen mit nur einem Patienten mit untypischem Infiltratmuster (1/19, 10,5 %, p = 0,012). Es konnte kein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen spezifischen Komorbiditäten und dem resultierenden Infiltratmuster nachgewiesen werden.

Diskussion

Patienten mit einem typischen COVID-19-Infiltratmuster werden häufiger intensivmedizinisch behandelt und weisen eine höhere Mortalität auf. Weitere Analysen mit größeren Patientenkollektiven sind notwendig, um spezifische Risikofaktoren für eine typische COVID-19-Pneumonie zu identifizieren.
Aging effects on the viscoelastic behaviour of products by fused deposition modelling (FDM) made from recycled and wood-filled polymer resins
Authors: Patti Antonella , Acierno Stefano , Cicala Gianluca , Acierno Domenico
Published: September 2023

In this work, we analyse the thermal aging effects on the thermo-mechanical properties of bio-based specimens realized using fused deposition modelling technology. For the investigations, three commercial filaments made of polylactide acid (PLA) were used. The first filament was a pure virgin PLA (B-PLA); the second one was made from recycled waste production, PLA (R-PLA), and the third one was wood-filled PLA (W-PLA). Such materials were extruded under pre-optimized conditions and thermally aged in an oven at 70 °C. The as-prepared specimens were subjected to dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The experimental results are presented in terms of storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E"), tan delta, and absorption spectra at different aging periods (0, 50, 70, 130, 175 days). For B-PLA and R-PLA, the thermal aging results in a decrease in both storage and loss moduli and in an increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg). On the contrary, for the W-PLA the storage modulus increases with the aging time, while the Tg remains constant. The IR spectra support the hypothesis of a degradation mechanism involving hydrolysis and/or hydrogen atom transfer. Based on these observations, we conclude that heat treatments always lead, through polymer degradation and structural changes, to more stable structures. The presence of wood particles slows down the aging process and makes the final products more durable.
Epidemiologie, Diagnostik und Therapie der Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-Hyperaktivitäts-Störung (ADHS) im höheren Lebensalter
Authors: Praus Peter , Moldavski Alexander , Alm Barbara , Hennig Oliver , Rösler Michael , Retz Wolfgang
Published: September 2023

Aktuelle Studien belegen eine vergleichsweise hohe Prävalenz der Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-Hyperaktivitäts-Störung (ADHS) bis ins höhere Lebensalter. Ältere Betroffene leiden unter einer hohen Belastung mit psychiatrischer und somatischer Komorbidität sowie erheblichen Einschränkungen ihres psychosozialen Funktionsniveaus und subjektiven Wohlbefindens. Die differenzialdiagnostische Abgrenzung gegenüber neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen ist besonders in dieser Altersgruppe schwierig. Die vorliegende narrative Übersichtsarbeit will den aktuellen Wissensstand zur Epidemiologie der ADHS im höheren Lebensalter und zu möglichen Zusammenhängen zwischen ADHS und dem Risiko für Neurodegeneration zusammenfassen. Darüber hinaus werden Empfehlungen zur Diagnostik der ADHS im höheren Lebensalter und Behandlungsoptionen dargestellt.
Effect of using reclaimed water via furrow and subsurface drip systems under alternate partial root-zone irrigation mechanism on crops growth and soil properties
Authors: Hashem Mahmoud S. , Guo Wei , Qi Xue-Bin , Li Ping , She Ying-jun , Cui Jiaxin , Li Tong
Published: September 2023

The growing population in the face of water scarcity inevitably necessitates the quest for alternative sources of irrigation water, which integrates them with irrigation strategies for improved agricultural productivity to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. A three-year field experiment was conducted in 2017, 2018, and 2019 to investigate the effect of water quality (reclaimed water (RW) and clean water (CW)), irrigation techniques (subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) and furrow irrigation (FUI)), irrigation methods (full irrigation (FI) and alternate partial root-zone irrigation (APRI) (70% ETc)), and their interactions on the fresh fruit yield (FY), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of tomatoes. Further, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and organic matter (OM) of soil were evaluated. The experiments were undertaken over three growing spring seasons in a greenhouse at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Henan Province, China. Throughout the three years of this study, the yield, the IWUE, and the NUE values of all treatments under RW were higher than those corresponding values under CW. The trend was the same under SDI as it was under FUI. Statistical analyses revealed that there was no significant effect (P > 0.05) of water quality, irrigation technique, and irrigation methods on the soil EC, pH, and OM over the three years. In addition, the interaction between the different experimental factors over the three years of the study was not significant. In conclusion, the application of RW under SDI can result in saving CW and increasing productivity without any negative effect on the investigated soil properties. Furthermore, when RW-SDI is used in conjunction with APRI, it can result in increasing IWUE.
Corallivory on small Porites colonies increases with coral colony size but is reduced by macroalgal associational refuge
Authors: Srednick G. , Edmunds P. J.
Published: September 2023

Numerous tropical macroalgae provide associational refuge to other benthic organisms, presumably due to their physical structure and/or production of chemical metabolites. One feature determining their effectiveness as an associational refuge is likely to be the size of the organism benefitting from the refuge. Using a manipulative experiment in the back reef of Moorea, French Polynesia, we tested if the macroalga Turbinaria ornata provided an associational refuge from fish corallivores for small colonies of massive Porites spp., and how this differed with colony size (20–100 mm diameter). Tissue loss through corallivory increased with colony size but was ~ 72% less for Porites colonies associated with T. ornata versus colonies separated from this macroalga, while dense macroalgae beds on contemporary reefs negatively impact the recruitment, growth and survival of corals, small colonies of Porites appear to benefit, through reduced corallivory, by associating with the macroalga Turbinaria. This association may come at a cost (e.g., reduced growth) and should be the focus of future research.
Prognostic value of pretreatment inflammatory markers in localised prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy
Authors: Grogg Josias Bastian , Rizzi Gianluca , Gadient Jana , Wettstein Marian Severin , Affentranger Andres , Fankhauser Christian Daniel , Eberli Daniel , Poyet Cédric
Published: September 2023

Purpose

There is growing evidence of an association between inflammatory processes and cancer development and progression. In different solid tumor entities, a pronounced inflammatory response is associated with worse oncological outcome. In this study, we aim to evaluate the prognostic role of clinically established pretreatment inflammatory markers in patients with localised prostate cancer (PCa) before radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods

A total of 641 men met our inclusion criteria and were followed prospectively for a median of 2.85 years. Univariable logistic and Cox regression analysis were performed to analyse associations between preoperative inflammatory markers and tumor characteristics, and biochemical recurrence free survival (BRFS).

Results

Median age at RP was 64 years. Gleason Score (GS) 7a (263, 41%) was the most prevalent histology, whereas high-risk PCa (≥ GS 8) was present in 156 (24%) patients. Lympho-nodal metastasis and positive surgical margin (PSM) were detected in 69 (11%) and 180 (28%) patients, respectively. No statistically relevant association could be shown between pretreatment inflammatory markers with worse pathological features like higher tumor stage or grade, nodal positive disease or PSM (for all p > 0.05). Additionally, pretreatment inflammatory markers were not associated with a shorter BRFS (p > 0.05). Known risk factors (tumor grade, tumor stage, nodal positivity and positive surgical margins) were all associated with a shorter BRFS (for all p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

In this large prospective cohort, preoperative inflammatory markers were not associated with worse outcome.
Coexistence of DOPG model membranes and $$\beta$$-aescin micelles: a combined scattering and NMR study
Authors: Gräbitz-Bräuer Friederike , Dargel Carina , Geisler Ramsia , Fandrich Pascal , Sabadasch Viktor , Porcar Lionel , Mix Andreas , Hellweg Thomas
Published: September 2023

The saponin $$\beta$$
β
-aescin is well known for its self-aggregation above the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and its interaction with model membranes made of zwitterionic phospholipids including the formation of mixed bicelle systems. In this study, we investigate the interaction of $$\beta$$
β
-aescin with small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) made of the negatively charged lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DOPG). The study is conducted at a pH value at which aescin is negatively charged as well, and mixtures up to an aescin content of 50 mol% (equivalent to a molecular ratio of 1:1) were investigated, so that the cmc of aescin is exceeded by far. Analysis of the system by scattering and NMR methods was performed with respect to two reference systems made of the bare components: DOPG SUVs and aescin micelles. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) was used to determine molecular correlation distances for both kinds of molecules, and small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering (SANS and SAXS) revealed a structural picture of the system, which was further confirmed by diffusion-ordered nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (DOSY-NMR). Contrary to the expected solubilization of the DOPG membrane, most probably none- or only weakly-interacting, separated DOPG SUVs and aescin micelles were found. The study additionally highlights the importance of using independent methods to characterize a rather complex colloidal system in order to obtain a complete picture of the structures formed.
Health utility assessments in individuals undergoing diagnostic and surveillance colonoscopy: improved discrimination with a cancer-specific scale
Authors: Bulamu Norma B. , Chen Gang , McGrane Ellen , Cock Charles , Young Graeme P. , Symonds Erin L.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To compare the sensitivity and discriminant validity of generic and cancer-specific measures for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for individuals undergoing diagnostic or surveillance colonoscopy for colorectal cancer.

Methods

HRQoL was assessed using EQ-5D-5L (generic), and EORTC QLQ-C30 (cancer-specific) scales, 14 days after (baseline) and one-year following colonoscopy (follow-up). Utility scores were calculated by mapping EORTC-QLQ-C30 onto QLU-C10D. Differences between participants with different indications for colonoscopy (positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT), surveillance, or symptoms) and colonoscopy findings (no polyps, polyps, or cancer) were tested using Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis H tests. Sensitivity was assessed by calculating the ceiling effects (proportion reporting the best possible level).

Results

246 adults completed the survey, including those undergoing colonoscopy for symptoms (n = 87), positive FOBT (n = 92) or surveillance (n = 67). Those with symptoms had the lowest HRQoL at both baseline and follow-up, with differences observed within the HRQoL domains/areas of role function, appetite loss and bowel function on the QLU-C10D. No differences were found in HRQoL when stratified by findings at colonoscopy with both measures or when comparing baseline and follow-up responses. Participants reporting full health with EQ-5D-5L (21% at baseline and 16% at follow-up) still had problems on the QLU-C10D, with fatigue and sleep at baseline and with role function and fatigue at follow-up.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing colonoscopy for symptoms had lower HRQoL compared to surveillance or positive FOBT. The cancer-specific QLU-C10D was more sensitive and had greater discriminant ability between patients undergoing colonoscopy for different indications.
Highly surface-selective nitration of cellulose nanofibers under mildly acidic reaction conditions
Authors: Saito Yasuko , Okada Ken , Endo Takashi , Sakakibara Keita
Published: September 2023

Cellulose nitrate (CN) is used in numerous industrial materials, such as propellants, lacquers, and plastics, exploiting its highly flammable, hydrophobic, and plastic characters. The downsizing of cellulose nitrate fibers may enhance their properties. Although a direct nitration of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) is a prospective method for preparing nanosized CN materials, it is difficult because of the susceptibility of CNF to acids. In the previous study, we prepared nitrated cellulose nanofibers (NCNFs) using never-dried CNFs and relatively dilute H2SO4, obtaining a high yield and degree of substitution. In this study, we describe a novel highly surface-selective nitration method using dried CNFs. To prevent the acid hydrolysis of the CNFs, mildly acidic conditions (acetic acid/acetic anhydride/HNO3) were used instead of the conventional mixed-acid systems. Solid- and gel-state NMR studies revealed that the original crystalline structure of the produced NCNF core was retained, even after nitration, whereas the cellulose molecules on the NCNF surface were completely converted to cellulose pernitrates. The NCNFs exhibited morphologies comprising thin nanofiber diameters of approximately 10–50 nm with high specific surface areas of approximately 260 m2 g–1. Thus, unique core–shell NCNFs were prepared, potentially leading to the development of CNF derivatives with novel applications and functions.

Graphical abstract
Electro-assisted filtration of microfibrillated cellulose: the impact of the degree of fibrillation
Authors: Hjorth Anna , Vøllo Kristiansen Anna , Øvrebø Hans Henrik , Theliander Hans
Published: September 2023

Efficient dewatering is necessary to achieve an economically sustainable large-scale production of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) because the low solids content of the final product (< 3 wt.%) results in high costs related to transportation and storage, and problems for products with water incompatibility. Mechanical dewatering is preferred to thermal drying due to its lower energy demand, but MFC has a very high filtration resistance, which implies that an excessive filter area is necessary. Thus, to improve the dewatering, electro-assisted filtration may be used. In this study a bench-scale dead-end filter press was modified and the electro-assisted filtration of MFC, with two degrees of fibrillation, was investigated. The impact of the degree of fibrillation was clear when either pressure or electric field were applied separately. It was more challenging to dewater MFC with a higher degree of fibrillation using conventional filtration due to a greater surface area being subjected to the liquid flow. The opposite was found when using an electric field alone: the more fibrillated material has a higher surface charge and thereby is impacted more by the electric field. A combination of pressure and electric field resulted in a greatly improved dewatering rate, but no significant difference could be observed between the two qualities. After dewatering, the water retention value was slightly decreased, but the material still showed a gel-like behaviour, although the network strength was slightly reduced, as seen by a reduction in yield stress, storage and loss moduli. This was plausibly due to a decrease in the surface area and/or deformed network.
Perceptions of urban green infrastructures for climate change adaptation in Lausanne, Switzerland: unveiling the role of biodiversity and planting composition
Authors: Doussard Claire , Delabarre Muriel
Published: September 2023

This interdisciplinary study addresses the gap in understanding the perceptions of individuals regarding the role of urban green infrastructures (UGIs) in climate change adaptation, particularly with respect to biodiversity and planting composition. While climate-responsive design strategies commonly focus on increasing permeable green spaces and canopy coverage, the explicit consideration of biodiversity remains limited. By introducing a novel analytical framework, we investigate how residents in Lausanne, Switzerland, assess the impact of biodiversity and planting composition on the potential of UGIs to adapt cities to climate change. Through a questionnaire-based survey (N = 527) and the use of photomontages and statistics, we examine the perceived potential of biodiverse versus uniform planting compositions to address climate change adaptation in Lausanne. Our findings demonstrate that respondents perceive biodiverse planting compositions as more successful strategies, attributing greater importance to trees in adaptation efforts, while overlooking the contributions of biodiverse herbaceous and shrub strata and soil permeability. Additionally, site characteristics associated with specific urban conditions significantly influence these perceptions. This evidence is subsequently discussed in two ways. Firstly, our analytical framework contributes to assessing the potential of UGIs in climate change adaptation, shedding light on the significance of planting composition. Secondly, the research emphasizes the need to transition from conventional climate-responsive approaches to more nuanced and sensitive methodologies that consider the multifaceted aspects of biodiversity. Such an approach holds promise for advancing the understanding of UGIs in climate change adaptation and informs future research directions.
Determining the willingness to link climate and trade policy
Authors: Lumkowsky Marcel , Carlton Emily K. , Victor David G. , Dannenberg Astrid
Published: September 2023

Analysts have long advocated a linkage between international cooperation on climate change and trade measures, such as border tariffs, as a means of enforcing agreements to achieve deeper cooperation. Nevertheless, it has remained difficult to evaluate whether policy makers will allow such linkages and whether linking climate and trade would, in reality, yield beneficial effects to international cooperation. Working with a large sample of climate experts who are highly experienced in climate diplomacy and policy, we elicited how they view the legitimacy and usefulness of linking trade and climate and what factors can explain those views. We find that experts from richer countries, especially Europe, are more likely to see linkage as legitimate and effective. These experts are particularly likely to favor universal border adjustments (UBAs) that apply to all countries to level the economic playing field, rather than trade measures that define an exclusive “club” of countries making extra efforts to cut emissions while punishing non-club members. This finding reveals tensions between a shift in academic thinking about the value of club-based strategies—including clubs that use border measures for enforcement—and what climate policy experts see as valuable. European experts are particularly likely to favor UBAs and they are also least likely to see risks in implementing trade measures. In general, countries with high quality national institutions see lower risks in using trade measures to enforce greater cooperation on climate change. A particularly robust finding is that experts who perceive their home country’s emissions reduction pledge as ambitious are more likely to see risks from using trade measures. While these are the countries that could benefit the most from using trade measures, they are also the countries that are offering the most under the existing Paris Agreement. Experts seem to be increasingly aware of the dissonance between the voluntarism of the Paris Agreement and growing political pressures to apply trade measures. We also find the attributes of experts, such as training and career experience, can affect their assessments. In some models, experts with economic or business backgrounds are more likely to favor trade measures while those with careers in natural science, diplomacy, and national government are less sanguine. Our results suggest that diverging views on the need for trade-based enforcement are robust, associated with important attributes of countries such as their commitments, and likely to persist—suggesting that policy strategies favoring the use of trade measures must pay close attention to the conditions that will determine where and how trade measures can be implemented. Experts from many countries that are the biggest supporters of the Paris approach to climate cooperation also doubt the legitimacy of trade measures.
Privacy in Early Childhood Education and Care: The Management of Family Information in Parent–Teacher Conferences
Authors: Solberg Janne
Published: September 2023

Families have a right to privacy, but we know little about how the public–private boundary is negotiated at the micro level in educational settings. Adopting ethnomethodology, the paper examines how talk about the home situation was occasioned and managed in ten parent–teacher conferences in early childhood education and care (ECEC), with a special focus on the ECEC teacher’s strategies for eliciting family information. The paper demonstrates a continuum of interactional practices which, in various degrees, make parents accountable for providing family information. The analysis shows that parents both volunteer and provide the pursued information, thus actively orienting to the norm of visibility in child rearing. However, although both parties orient to questioning and fishing as business as usual, the parents’ accounts sometimes had an excusing quality or they adopted a reserved communication style, suggesting a certain ambivalence as well. The paper outlines different ways of understanding the present partnership ideal in parent–teacher teacher cooperation with implications for the negotiation of privacy. The paper also addresses training, which can contribute to staff and student reflections on the management of the public–private boundary.
Primary school students’ understanding of the manifestations of technology
Authors: Lind Johan , Davidsson Eva , Lundström Mats
Published: September 2023

Research on students’ perceptions and understanding of technology has shown that students have a narrow view of technology: for example, technology is often manifested in students’ descriptions as artefacts or objects. This study investigates the ways in which students’ understanding of how technology is manifested expands during a series of classroom activities in technology. The study was conducted at a compulsory primary school with eight-year-old students. The data (video and audio recordings) were collected in small-group interactions and in whole-class discussions. In the interactions, the students utilised self-taken photographs to visualise their understanding and perception of technology’s manifestations: object, activity, volition, and knowledge (Mitcham in Thinking through technology. The path between engineering and philosophy, The University of Chicago Press, 1994). Based on their prior knowledge, the students perceived technology as contemporary electrical artefacts. As they engage in a technology project, they develop and expand their understanding of how technology is manifested, as well as relate different manifestations to one another. The findings indicate that students achieve a more advanced understanding of technological manifestations compared to only discussing each manifestation of technology separately.
Microhabitat requirements of the uncompahgre fritillary butterfly (Boloria improba acrocnema) and climate change implications
Authors: Williams Andrea N. , Alexander Kevin D.
Published: September 2023

The Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly (Boloria improba acrocnemaGall LF, Sperling FAH (1980) A new high altitude species of Boloria from southwestern Colorado (Nyphalidae), with a discussion of phenetics and hierarchical decisions. J Lepidopterists’ Soc 34:230–252 1980) was listed as federally endangered in 1991 and is considered a habitat indicator for alpine ecosystem health. They are found on patches ofSalix nivalisin isolated habitats of the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA. Here, we estimated historicalB. i. acrocnemaabundance from annual distance sampling (2003–2020) at seven sub-colonies and sampled current (July 2021) measurements of herbaceous coverage, soil moisture content, and slope, aspect, and elevation at 700 sample sites. We used regression models to test the effects of these microhabitat characteristics on historical abundance. Our results show that increases in slope from 11° to 31°, individual coverage of five alpine plant species (S. nivalis,Geum rossii,Phacelia sericea,Noccaea fendleri, andLewisia pygmaea), and soil moisture content between 0.09 m3/m3and 0.38 m3/m3positively influence butterfly abundance. However, increases in elevation, bare ground coverage, and presence ofSalix planifolia,Aster alpinus,Antennaria media, andAndrosace chamaejasmewere correlated with lower abundance estimates.

Implications for insect conservationEffects of climate change which decrease coverage of these alpine plant species, allow encroachment of lower elevation species, or reduce soil moisture will decreaseB. i. acrocnemaabundance. These results emphasize the extinction risk ofB. i. acrocnemadue to range limitations and prolonged drought conditions in the Western U.S. By defining additional resource requirements ofB. i. acrocnema, we can model climate effects on survivorship and consider nearby microhabitats that may be habitable by this endangered species.
A bundle-type method for nonsmooth DC programs
Authors: Kanzow Christian , Neder Tanja
Published: September 2023

A bundle method for minimizing the difference of convex (DC) and possibly nonsmooth functions is developed. The method may be viewed as an inexact version of the DC algorithm, where each subproblem is solved only approximately by a bundle method. We always terminate the bundle method after the first serious step. This yields a descent direction for the original objective function, and it is shown that a stepsize of at least one is accepted in this way. Using a line search, even larger stepsizes are possible. The overall method is shown to be globally convergent to critical points of DC programs. The new algorithm is tested and compared to some other solution methods on several examples and realistic applications.
The Social Environment Matters for Telomere Length and Internalizing Problems During Adolescence
Authors: Kertes Darlene A. , Clendinen Cherita , Duan Ke , Rabinowitz Jill A. , Browning Christopher , Kvam Peter
Published: September 2023

Depression and anxiety symptoms are on the rise among adolescents. With increasing evidence that cellular aging may be associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, there is an urgent need to identify the social environment context that may moderate this link. This study addresses this research gap by investigating the moderating role of the social environment on the relation between telomere length and emotional health among adolescents. Participants were 411 non-Hispanic (88.56%) Black (100%) adolescents (M = 14.23 years, SD = 1.85, female = 54%) in a major metropolitan city. Youth and parents reported on an array of social risk and protective factors, and youth provided DNA samples for telomere length measurement. Results demonstrated that the association of telomere length and anxiety symptoms was stronger among youth with higher perceived stress or lower school belongingness, and the association of telomere length with depressive symptoms was stronger under conditions of higher parent inter-partner psychological aggression. The results enhance our understanding of the complex associations between biological aging, the social environment, and mental health in adolescence.
Impact of the metabolic syndrome on prevalence and survival in motor neuron disease: a retrospective case series
Authors: Oh Jee Eun , Oh Jee Ah , Demopoulos Mary , Clark Karen M , Phillips Matthew CL
Published: September 2023

Metabolic dysfunction is an important factor in the pathogenesis of motor neuron disease, but its prevalence and association with survival in this disorder is unknown. We hypothesized that patients with motor neuron disease would show a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared to the general New Zealand population, and that metabolic syndrome would be associated with worsened survival. We undertook a retrospective analysis in 109 motor neuron disease patients diagnosed and treated at Waikato Hospital from 2013 to 2020. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Survival was defined as the date of initial symptom onset to the date of death. Of 104 eligible patients, 34 patients (33%) had metabolic syndrome (33% of Europeans, 46% of Māori). Mean survival in motor neuron disease patients with metabolic syndrome was significantly reduced compared to patients without metabolic syndrome (38 vs. 61 months, P = 0.044), with a 5-year survival rate of 21% for the former and 38% for the latter (P = 0.012). Compared with the general New Zealand population, metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent amongst motor neuron disease patients in the Waikato region and it is associated with worsened survival. Metabolic dysfunction may be a key factor underlying the pathogenesis of motor neuron disease.
Anatomy of the “deathly silence”: Slovenian newspapers in Carniola and the pre-March censorship
Authors: Dović Marijan
Published: September 2023

The media landscape of the Habsburg Monarchy in the pre-March period was relatively meagre. In Carniola and other Austrian crownlands with a Slovenian population, the opportunities for literary development were limited: this is well evidenced by the ban on the publication of Slavinja in mid-1820 as well as by the many conflicts Krajnska čbelica (‘The Carniolan Bee’) had with censorship in the early 1830s. The modesty of literary activity in Slovenia at this time is often related to the low level of education and literacy among the population, discontinuity in the development of literary culture, and the general underdevelopment of the emerging Slovenian literary and media systems. However, imperial censorship also decisively contributed to this state of affairs. This article therefore outlines the functioning of the pre-March censorship apparatus at the state and local levels, showing how the censorship office in Vienna (headed by the count Josef Sedlnitzky) systematically blocked attempts to establish Slovenian-language periodicals (Slavinja, Slovenske novice ‘Slovenian News’ with its supplement Zora ‘The Dawn’, and Ilirske novice ‘Illyrian News’ with its supplement Ilirski Merkur ‘The Illyrian Mercury’) and how local factors were involved in these processes. It is argued that the power to ban a newspaper had a much stronger impact on the Slovenian press than the activities of local or state censorship. In particular, the long struggle to establish Kmetijske in rokodelske novice (‘Agricultural and Handicraft News’) between 1838 and 1843 testifies to the early tendency of the imperial censorship apparatus to block the respective national(ist) agendas.
The Auditory Agnosias: a Short Review of Neurofunctional Evidence
Authors: Miceli Gabriele , Caccia Antea
Published: September 2023

Purpose of Review

To investigate the neurofunctional correlates of pure auditory agnosia and its varieties (global, verbal, and nonverbal), based on 116 anatomoclinical reports published between 1893 and 2022, with emphasis on hemispheric lateralization, intrahemispheric lesion site, underlying cognitive impairments.

Recent Findings

Pure auditory agnosia is rare, and observations accumulate slowly. Recent patient reports and neuroimaging studies on neurotypical subjects offer insights into the putative mechanisms underlying auditory agnosia, while challenging traditional accounts.

Global auditory agnosia frequently results from bilateral temporal damage. Verbal auditory agnosia strictly correlates with language-dominant hemisphere lesions. Damage involves the auditory pathways, but the critical lesion site is unclear. Both the auditory cortex and associative areas are reasonable candidates, but cases resulting from brainstem damage are on record. The hemispheric correlates of nonverbal auditory input disorders are less clear. They correlate with unilateral damage to either hemisphere, but evidence is scarce. Based on published cases, pure auditory agnosias are neurologically and functionally heterogeneous. Phenotypes are influenced by co-occurring cognitive impairments. Future studies should start from these facts and integrate patient data and studies in neurotypical individuals.
Integration of a drying and pyrolysis system in a green biorefinery: biochar product quality and impacts on the overall energy balance and climate footprint
Authors: Ravenni G. , Thomsen T. P. , Smith A. M. , Ambye-Jensen M. , Rohde-Nielsen K. T. , Henriksen Ulrik B.
Published: September 2023

Green biorefineries can support the reduction of soybeans imports to Europe, by producing protein-rich animal feed from alternative feedstock such as perennial grass and legume species. Once the protein-rich green juice is extracted, a fiber-rich pulp is left as a residue. This work investigates the thermochemical processing of the pulp via pyrolysis as an option to improve the energy balance and climate footprint of a green biorefinery, by producing non-fossil energy and a high-value biochar product. Laboratory-scale pyrolysis and biochar activation were carried out on pulp samples obtained from different perennial species, different pressing method, and maturity at harvest. The results highlighted the importance of the activation stage to obtain a porous biochar, potentially suitable as animal feed additive. The effects on the overall energy balance and climate impact of the system following the integration of pulp drying and pyrolysis, plus a possible activation step for the biochar, were evaluated with a techno-environmental assessment. The pulp sample composition had only limited influence on the climate impact potentials identified. In all cases, it was found that the integration of a combined drying-pyrolysis-activation system in the green biorefinery may provide substantial additional climate benefits but also that the magnitude of these is strongly dependent on the substitution use-value of the energy products.
Glasgow prognostic score for assessing the efficacy of whole-brain radiation therapy in cases of recursive partitioning analysis class 2 and class 3 multiple brain metastases: a retrospective study
Authors: Ishikawa Yojiro , Umezawa Rei , Yamamoto Takaya , Takahashi Noriyoshi , Takeda Kazuya , Suzuki Yu , Kishida Keita , Omata So , Teramura Satoshi , Ito Kengo , Yamada Takayuki , Jingu Keiichi
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) may not be beneficial for patients with brain metastases (BMs). The Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) is a suggested prognostic factor for malignancies. However, GPS has never been assessed in patients with BMs who have undergone WBRT. The purpose of this study was to determine whether GPS can be used to identify subgroups of patients with BMs who have a poor prognosis, such as recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) Class 2 and Class 3, and who will not receive clinical prognostic benefits from WBRT.

Materials and methods

A total of 180 Japanese patients with BMs were treated with WBRT between May 2008 and October 2015. We examined GPS, age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), RPA, graded prognostic assessment (GPA), number of lesions, tumor size, history of brain surgery, presence of clinical symptoms, and radiation doses.

Results

The overall median survival time (MST) was 6.1 months. seventeen patients (9.4%) were alive more than 2 years after WBRT. In univariate analysis, KPS ≤ 70 (p = 0.0066), GPA class 0–2 (p = 0.0008), > 3 BMs (p = 0.012), > 4 BMs (p = 0.02), patients who received ≥ 3 Gy per fraction (p = 0.0068), GPS ≥ 1 (p = 0.0003), and GPS ≥ 2 (p = 0.0009) were found to significantly decrease the MST. Patients who had brain surgery before WBRT (p = 0.036) had a longer survival. On multivariate analysis, GPS ≥ 1 (p = 0.008) was found to significantly decrease MST.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that GPS ≥ 1 indicates a poor prognosis in patients undergoing WBRT for intermediate and poor prognosis BMs.
Influence of the process parameters on the grinding result in continuous generating grinding of cutting tools
Authors: Denkena Berend , Bergmann Benjamin , Wolters Philipp , Gärtner Niklas
Published: September 2023

Continuous generating grinding processes have largely replaced discontinuous profile grinding processes in gear manufacturing due to their higher productivity. On order to transfer the advantage of the productivity benefits of this process to tool grinding, the continuous generating grinding was adapted to the manufacture of cutting tools. However, this novel approach of using continuous generating grinding processes for tool grinding has not been widely investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the influence of cutting speed, feed and radial depth of cut on the process result and thus to generate initial knowledge for the process design. Subsequently, the influence of these parameters on the grinding worm wear as well as on the cutting edge quality and surface properties of the ground milling tools are investigated. The results show that an increase of the radial depth of cut leads to a reduction of the process time by the factor of four without significantly influencing the wear of the grinding worm tooth. Furthermore, an increase of the cutting speed only leads to an increase in the initial wear of the grinding worm after the dressing process. For this reason, the cutting speed offers the potential to further increase the productivity of the process. The microgeometry of the cutting edge of the ground milling tool is mainly affected by the feed and the macro geometry by the feed and radial depth of cut.