bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasmid fitness costs are caused by specific genetic conflicts enabling resolution by compensatory mutation
Authors: Hall James P. J. , Wright Rosanna C. T. , Harrison Ellie , Muddiman Katie J. , Wood A. Jamie , Paterson Steve , Brockhurst Michael A.
Published: October 2021

Plasmids play an important role in bacterial genome evolution by transferring genes between lineages. Fitness costs associated with plasmid carriage are expected to be a barrier to gene exchange, but the causes of plasmid fitness costs are poorly understood. Single compensatory mutations are often sufficient to completely ameliorate plasmid fitness costs, suggesting that such costs are caused by specific genetic conflicts rather than generic properties of plasmids, such as their size, metabolic burden, or gene expression level. By combining the results of experimental evolution with genetics and transcriptomics, we show here that fitness costs of 2 divergent large plasmids inPseudomonas fluorescensare caused by inducing maladaptive expression of a chromosomal tailocin toxin operon. Mutations in single genes unrelated to the toxin operon, and located on either the chromosome or the plasmid, ameliorated the disruption associated with plasmid carriage. We identify one of these compensatory loci, the chromosomal genePFLU4242, as the key mediator of the fitness costs of both plasmids, with the other compensatory loci either reducing expression of this gene or mitigating its deleterious effects by up-regulating a putative plasmid-borne ParAB operon. The chromosomal mobile genetic element Tn6291, which uses plasmids for transmission, remained up-regulated even in compensated strains, suggesting that mobile genetic elements communicate through pathways independent of general physiological disruption. Plasmid fitness costs caused by specific genetic conflicts are unlikely to act as a long-term barrier to horizontal gene transfer (HGT) due to their propensity for amelioration by single compensatory mutations, helping to explain why plasmids are so common in bacterial genomes.
dRTEL1 is essential for the maintenance of Drosophila male germline stem cells
Authors: Yang Ying , Kong Ruiyan , Goh Feng Guang , Somers W. Gregory , Hime Gary R. , Li Zhouhua , Cai Yu
Published: October 2021

Stem cells have the potential to maintain undifferentiated state and differentiate into specialized cell types. Despite numerous progress has been achieved in understanding stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, many fundamental questions remain unanswered. In this study, we identify dRTEL1, theDrosophilahomolog of Regulator of Telomere Elongation Helicase 1, as a novel regulator of male germline stem cells (GSCs). Our genome-wide transcriptome analysis and ChIP-Seq results suggest that dRTEL1 affects a set of candidate genes required for GSC maintenance, likely independent of its role in DNA repair. Furthermore, dRTEL1 prevents DNA damage-induced checkpoint activation in GSCs. Finally, dRTEL1 functions to sustain Stat92E protein levels, the key player in GSC maintenance. Together, our findings reveal an intrinsic role of the DNA helicase dRTEL1 in maintaining male GSC and provide insight into the function of dRTEL1.
Tobacco price and use following California Proposition 56 tobacco tax increase
Authors: Gunadi Christian , Benmarhnia Tarik , White Martha , Pierce John P. , McMenamin Sara B. , Leas Eric C. , Shi Yuyan
Published: October 2021

Background

California Proposition 56 increased cigarette excise tax by $2 per pack with equivalent increases on non-cigarette tobacco products. We estimated the changes in cigarette price, cigarette use, and non-cigarette use following the implementation of Proposition 56 in California in 2017.

Methods

Seven waves of Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) 2011–2019 data were used to obtain state-level aggregate self-reported outcomes, including cigarette price per pack, current and daily cigarette use, cigarette consumption per day, and current and daily use of non-cigarette tobacco products (hookah, pipe, cigar, and smokeless tobacco). A modified version of a synthetic control method was used to create a “synthetic” California that best resembled pre-policy sociodemographic characteristics and outcome trends in California while correcting time-invariant pre-policy differences. Various sensitivity analyses were also conducted.

Results

The implementation of Proposition 56 was associated with an increase in self-reported cigarette price per pack in California ($1.844, 95%CI: $0.153, $3.534; p = 0.032). No evidence suggested that Proposition 56 was associated with the changes in the prevalence of current or daily cigarette use, cigarette consumption per day, or the prevalence of current or daily use of non-cigarette tobacco products.

Conclusion

Most of the cigarette tax increase following Proposition 56 in California was passed on to consumers. There is a lack of evidence that the implementation of Proposition 56 was associated with the changes in the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products such as hookah, pipe, cigar, and smokeless tobacco.
Testing how different narrative perspectives achieve communication objectives and goals in online natural science videos
Authors: Ruzi Selina A. , Lee Nicole M. , Smith Adrian A.
Published: October 2021

Communication of science through online media has become a primary means of disseminating and connecting science with a public audience. However, online media can come in many forms and stories of scientific discovery can be told by many individuals. We tested whether the relationship of a spokesperson to the science story being told (i.e., the narrative perspective) influences how people react and respond to online science media. We created five video stimuli that fell into three treatments: a scientist presenting their own research (male or female), a third-party summarizing research (male or female), and an infographic-like video with no on-screen presenter. Each of these videos presented the same fabricated science story about the discovery of a new ant species (Formicidae). We used Qualtrics to administer and obtain survey responses from 515 participants (~100 per video). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the videos and after viewing the stimulus answered questions assessing their perceptions of the video (trustworthiness and enjoyment), the spokesperson (trustworthiness and competence), scientists in general (competence and warmth), and attitudes towards the research topic and funding. Participants were also asked to recall what they had seen and heard. We determined that when participants watched a video in which a scientist presented their own research, participants perceived the spokesperson as having more expertise than a third-party presenter, and as more trustworthy and having more expertise than the no-spokesperson stimuli. Viewing a scientist presenting their own work also humanized the research, with participants more often including a person in their answer to the recall question. Overall, manipulating the narrative perspective of the source of a single online video communication effort is effective at impacting immediate objective outcomes related to spokesperson perceptions, but whether those objectives can positively influence long-term goals requires more investigation.
Butterfly declines in protected areas of Illinois: Assessing the influence of two decades of climate and landscape change
Authors: Kucherov Nicole B. , Minor Emily S. , Johnson Philip P. , Taron Doug , Matteson Kevin C.
Published: October 2021

Despite increasing concern regarding broad-scale declines in insects, there are few published long-term, systematic butterfly surveys in North America, and fewer still that have incorporated the influence of changing climate and landscape variables. In this study, we analyzed 20 years of citizen science data at seven consistently monitored protected areas in Illinois, U.S.A. We used mixed models and PERMANOVA to evaluate trends in butterfly abundance, richness, and composition while also evaluating the effects of temperature and land use. Overall butterfly richness, but not abundance, increased in warmer years. Surprisingly, richness also was positively related to percent impervious surface (at the 2 km radius scale), highlighting the conservation value of protected areas in urban landscapes (or alternately, the potential negative aspects of agriculture). Precipitation had a significant and variable influence through time on overall butterfly abundance and abundance of resident species, larval host plant specialists, and univoltine species. Importantly, models incorporating the influence of changing temperature, precipitation, and impervious surface indicated a significant overall decline in both butterfly abundance and species richness, with an estimated abundance decrease of 3.8%/year and richness decrease of 1.6%/year (52.5% and 27.1% cumulatively from 1999 to 2018). Abundance and richness declines were also noted across all investigated functional groups except non-resident (migratory) species. Butterfly community composition changed through time, but we did not find evidence of systematic biotic homogenization, perhaps because declines were occurring in nearly all functional groups. Finally, at the site-level, declines in either richness or abundance occurred at five of seven locations, with only the two largest locations (>300 Ha) not exhibiting declines. Our results mirror those of other long-term butterfly studies predominantly in Europe and North America that have found associations of butterflies with climate variables and general declines in butterfly richness and abundance.
Impact of obesity on intensive care outcomes in patients with COVID-19 in Sweden—A cohort study
Authors: Sjögren Lovisa , Stenberg Erik , Thuccani Meena , Martikainen Jari , Rylander Christian , Wallenius Ville , Olbers Torsten , Kindblom Jenny M.
Published: October 2021

Background

Previous studies have shown that a high body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for severe COVID-19. The aim of the present study was to assess whether a high BMI affects the risk of death or prolonged length of stay (LOS) in patients with COVID-19 during intensive care in Sweden.

Methods and findings

In this observational, register-based study, we included patients with COVID-19 from the Swedish Intensive Care Registry admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in Sweden. Outcomes assessed were death during intensive care and ICU LOS ≥14 days. We used logistic regression models to evaluate the association (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) between BMI and the outcomes. Valid weight and height information could be retrieved in 1,649 patients (1,227 (74.4%) males) with COVID-19. We found a significant association between BMI and the risk of the composite outcome death or LOS ≥14 days in survivors (OR per standard deviation [SD] increase 1.30, 95%CI 1.16–1.44, adjusted for sex, age and comorbidities), and this association remained after further adjustment for severity of illness (simplified acute physiology score; SAPS3) at ICU admission (OR 1.30 per SD, 95%CI 1.17–1.45). Individuals with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 had a doubled risk of the composite outcome. A high BMI was also associated with death during intensive care and a prolonged LOS in survivors assessed as separate outcomes.

The main limitations were the restriction to the first wave of the pandemic, and the lack of information on socioeconomic status as well as smoking.

Conclusions

In this large cohort of Swedish ICU patients with COVID-19, a high BMI was associated with increasing risk of death and prolonged length of stay in the ICU. Based on our findings, we suggest that individuals with obesity should be more closely monitored when hospitalized for COVID-19.
Effects of the utilization of intellectual property by scientific researchers on economic growth in Mexico
Authors: Beltrán-Morales Luis Felipe , Almendarez-Hernández Marco Antonio , Avilés-Polanco Gerzaín , Jefferson David J.
Published: October 2021

The present article examines the impact of intellectual property (IP) utilization and concentration on economic growth in Mexico. The findings presented center on the use of different forms of IP by researchers in the National System of Researchers (SNI in Spanish) of Mexico. We focus especially on the externalities associated with the use of IP by researchers, as well as on understanding how knowledge about, and utilization of IP relates to economic growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP). The results of our analyses indicate that in the context of the Mexican SNI, the utilization of certain forms of IP, specifically patents and industrial designs, had a positive impact on economic growth, while the use of utility models was negatively linked to drivers of growth. Policies based on these results could seek to foster awareness and utilization of particular forms of IP by SNI researchers, which in turn could result in greater economic growth in Mexico.
The psychometric properties of the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Marriage-Based Immigrant Women in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Hung-Hui , Lai Jerry Cheng-Yen , Chien Li-Yin
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Marriage-based immigrant women are increasing around the world. Although bi-dimensional acculturation is important for immigrant women’s health, the existing scales have mainly been developed for immigrant women in Western countries and hence some items may not be suitable for Asian contexts. Thus, we developed and evaluated the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Marriage-Based Immigrant Women (BAS-MBIW) in Taiwan.

Methods

The BAS-MBIW was developed based on a literature review and clinical observations. Bi-dimensional acculturation involves “adaptation to host culture (acculturation)” and “maintenance of heritage culture (enculturation).” The initial scale included two 24-item subscales. The validation samples were 310 marriage-based immigrant women who were pregnant for at least twelve weeks in Taiwan. The BAS-MBIW was assessed and modified by experts. Data analyses included factor analysis, Pearson’s correlation, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.

Results

Expert reviews and factor analysis indicated that the scale had acceptable content and construct validity. The validated scale includes two 19-item subscales, encompassing six domains: language, media, food preference, cultural heritage, social interaction, and shopping and merchandise preference, with good internal consistencies (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient is 0.88 for acculturation and 0.83 for enculturation). Acculturation was positively related to local language ability and duration of immigration but negatively related to age at immigration, stress, and depression; whereas enculturation was positively related to age at immigration, stress, and depression but negatively related to duration of immigration, indicating convergent validity.

Conclusions

The BAS-MBIW offers reliable and valid assessments of pregnant immigrant women’s level of acculturation and enculturation in Taiwan. The BAS-MBIW could be used to assess bi-dimensional acculturation among marriage-based immigrant women.
The real-world outcomes of multiple myeloma patients treated with daratumumab
Authors: Szabo Agoston Gyula , Klausen Tobias Wirenfeldt , Levring Mette Bøegh , Preiss Birgitte , Helleberg Carsten , Breinholt Marie Fredslund , Hermansen Emil , Gjerdrum Lise Mette Rahbek , Bønløkke Søren Thorgaard , Nielsen Katrine , Kjeldsen Eigil , Iversen Katrine Fladeland , Teodorescu Elena Manuela , Dokhi Marveh , Kurt Eva , Strandholdt Casper , Andersen Mette Klarskov , Vangsted Annette Juul
Published: October 2021

Most patients cannot be included in randomized clinical trials. We report real-world outcomes of all Danish patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with daratumumab-based regimens until 1 January 2019.

Methods

Information of 635 patients treated with daratumumab was collected retrospectively and included lines of therapy (LOT), hematologic responses according to the International Myeloma Working Group recommendations, time to next treatment (TNT) and the cause of discontinuation of treatment. Baseline characteristics were acquired from the validated Danish Multiple Myeloma Registry (DMMR).

Results

Daratumumab was administrated as monotherapy (Da-mono) in 27.7%, in combination with immunomodulatory drugs (Da-IMiD) in 57.3%, in combination with proteasome inhibitors (Da-PI) in 11.2% and in other combinations (Da-other) in 3.8% of patients. The median number of lines of therapy given before daratumumab was 5 for Da-mono, 3 for Da-IMiD, 4 for Da-PI, and 2 for Da-other. In Da-mono, overall response rate (ORR) was 44.9% and median time to next treatment (mTNT) was 4.9 months. In Da-IMiD, ORR was 80.5%, and mTNT was 16.1 months. In Da-PI, OOR was 60.6% and mTNT was 5.3 months. In patients treated with Da-other, OOR was 54,2% and mTNT was 5.6 months. The use of daratumumab in early LOT was associated with longer TNT (p<0.0001). Patients with amplification 1q had outcome comparable to standard risk patients, while patients with t(4;14), t(14;16) or del17p had worse outcome (p = 0.0001). Multivariate analysis indicated that timing of treatment (timing of daratumumab in the sequence of all LOT that the patients received throughout the course of their disease) was the most important factor for outcome (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

The real-world outcomes of multiple myeloma patients treated with daratumumab are worse than the results of clinical trials. Outcomes achieved with daratumumab were best when daratumumab was used in combination with IMIDs and in early LOT. Patients with high-risk CA had worse outcomes, but patients with amp1q had similar outcomes to standard-risk patients.
miRbiom: Machine-learning on Bayesian causal nets of RBP-miRNA interactions successfully predicts miRNA profiles
Authors: Pradhan Upendra Kumar , Sharma Nitesh Kumar , Kumar Prakash , Kumar Ashwani , Gupta Sagar , Shankar Ravi
Published: October 2021

Formation of mature miRNAs and their expression is a highly controlled process. It is very much dependent upon the post-transcriptional regulatory events. Recent findings suggest that several RNA binding proteins beyond Drosha/Dicer are involved in the processing of miRNAs. Deciphering of conditional networks for these RBP-miRNA interactions may help to reason the spatio-temporal nature of miRNAs which can also be used to predict miRNA profiles. In this direction, >25TB of data from different platforms were studied (CLIP-seq/RNA-seq/miRNA-seq) to develop Bayesian causal networks capable of reasoning miRNA biogenesis. The networks ably explained the miRNA formation when tested across a large number of conditions and experimentally validated data. The networks were modeled into an XGBoost machine learning system where expression information of the network components was found capable to quantitatively explain the miRNAs formation levels and their profiles. The models were developed for 1,204 human miRNAs whose accurate expression level could be detected directly from the RNA-seq data alone without any need of doing separate miRNA profiling experiments like miRNA-seq or arrays. A first of its kind, miRbiom performed consistently well with high average accuracy (91%) when tested across a large number of experimentally established data from several conditions. It has been implemented as an interactive open access web-server where besides finding the profiles of miRNAs, their downstream functional analysis can also be done. miRbiom will help to get an accurate prediction of human miRNAs profiles in the absence of profiling experiments and will be an asset for regulatory research areas. The study also shows the importance of having RBP interaction information in better understanding the miRNAs and their functional projectiles where it also lays the foundation of such studies and software in future.
The effects of a physical and cognitive training intervention vs. physical training alone on older adults’ physical activity: A randomized controlled trial with extended follow-up during COVID-19
Authors: Savikangas Tiina , Törmäkangas Timo , Tirkkonen Anna , Alen Markku , Fielding Roger A. , Kivipelto Miia , Rantalainen Timo , Stigsdotter Neely Anna , Sipilä Sarianna
Published: October 2021

Background

Executive functions underlie self-regulation and are thus important for physical activity and adaptation to new situations. The aim was to investigate, if yearlong physical and cognitive training (PTCT) had greater effects on physical activity among older adults than physical training (PT) alone, and if executive functions predicted physical activity at baseline, after six (6m) and twelve months (12m) of the interventions, one-year post-intervention follow-up and an extended follow-up during COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

Data from a single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (PASSWORD-study, ISRCTN52388040) were utilized. Participants were 70–85 years old community-dwelling men and women from Jyväskylä, Finland. PT (n = 159) included supervised resistance, walking and balance training, home-exercises and self-administered moderate activity. PTCT (n = 155) included PT and cognitive training targeting executive functions on a computer program. Physical activity was assessed with a one-item, seven-scale question. Executive functions were assessed with color-word Stroop, Trail Making Test (TMT) B-A and Letter Fluency. Changes in physical activity were modeled with multinomial logistic models and the impact of executive functions on physical activity with latent change score models.

Results

No significant group-by-time interaction was observed for physical activity (p>0.1). The subjects were likely to select an activity category higher than baseline throughout the study (pooled data: B = 0.720–1.614, p<0.001–0.046). Higher baseline Stroop predicted higher physical activity through all subsequent time-points (pooled data: B = 0.011–0.013, p = 0.015–0.030). Higher baseline TMT B–A predicted higher physical activity at 6m (pooled data: B = 0.007, p = 0.006) and during COVID-19 (B = 0.005, p = 0.030). In the PT group, higher baseline Letter Fluency predicted higher physical activity at 12m (B = -0.028, p = 0.030) and follow-up (B = -0.042, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Cognitive training did not have additive effects over physical training alone on physical activity, but multicomponent training and higher executive function at baseline may support adaptation to and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle among older adults.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of genes of virulent strain isolate of Toxoplasma gondii using enzyme DdeI
Authors: Ekawasti Fitrine , Cahyaningsih Umi , Dharmayanti N. L. P. Indi , Sa'diah Siti , Subekti Didik Tulus , Azmi Zul , Desem Muhammad Ibrahim
Published: October 2021

Background and Aim: Toxoplasma gondii is a unicellular coccidian parasite distributed globally and is an important zoonotic pathogen. Approximately 30% of the human population worldwide is chronically infected with T. gondii. The pathogenicity of this species depends on the type originating from the clonal population. Techniques for more accurately determining the type of T. gondii have recently been developed using genetic markers. Specifically, T. gondii has been typed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). This study aimed to identify sets of PCR-RFLP markers that have high power to discriminate genotyping of T. gondii and are easy to use and are easy to use. The objective of this study was to characterize virulent strain isolates of T. gondii by PCR-RFLP using 10 markers with DdeI. Materials and Methods: T. gondii tachyzoites (RH virulent strain) were derived from culture cells at the Indonesian Research Center for Veterinary Sciences. Genotyping was performed on T. gondii DNA extracted from cell cultured tachyzoites using 10 genetic markers of PCR-RFLP, namely, B1#1, B1#2, B1#3, SAG1#1, SAG1#2, P30, BAG1, ROP1, GRA1, and GRA7, with digestion using the restriction enzyme DdeI. Results: The 10 genes were amplified by PCR. Among them, three genetic markers, B1#3, ROP1, and GRA1, were genotyped by the PCR-RFLP using restriction enzyme DdeI. Overall, the findings showed that the specific RFLP profile of digestion of gene regions by DdeI could be used as a specific marker for the virulent biotype causative of toxoplasmosis. In addition, virulent strains of T. gondii can be easily detected by these markers. Conclusion: Three pairs of primers (B1#3, ROP1, and GRA1) with DdeI have proven useful for the diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis (virulent strain biotype I). This proposed method is relatively simple, rapid, cheap, and can be performed in most laboratories, providing a practical approach for the routine analysis of T. gondii strains.
Isolation and identification of avirulent strains of Bacillus anthracis from environmental samples in Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Apriliana Ully , Wibawa Hendra , Ruhiat Endang , Untari Tri , Indarjulianto Soedarmanto
Published: October 2021

Background and Aim: Anthrax is a non-contagious infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. The bacteria form spores that are resistant to extreme conditions and can contaminate the environment for decades. This study aimed to detect and characterize B. anthracis found in endemic areas of anthrax in Yogyakarta and Central Java province, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: Soil samples were collected from Gunungkidul regency, Yogyakarta province (n=315) and Boyolali regency, Central Java province (n=100). Additional soil samples (n=10) and straw samples (n=5) were obtained from Pati regency, Central Java province. The isolation and identification of B. anthracis were performed using conventional methods: Morphology of bacteria colony in solid media, Gram staining, capsule staining, spores staining, and motility test. Isolates were further identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) against Ba813, lef (pXO1), and capC (pXO2) gene. An avirulent vaccine strain of B. anthracis (strain 34F2) was used as a control.

Results: Only four samples grew on blood agar with a ground-glass appearance, white-gray colony (Gunungkidul and avirulent strain) or yellowish (Boyolali and Pati). All were Gram-positive, presented chains, square-ended rods, spores, and were then identified as B. anthracis. Boyolali, Pati, and avirulent strain isolates had slightly different characteristics, including the growth of non-mucoid in the bicarbonate agar medium, and their uncapsulated form. The PCR showed two Gunungkidul isolates which amplified three genes, including Ba813, lef, and capC. Contrarily, the other isolates did not amplify the capC gene.

Conclusion: Gunungkidul isolates were identified as virulent strains of B. anthracis while Boyolali and Pati isolates were proposed as avirulent strains. This is the first report of isolation and identification of avirulent strains of B. anthracis in Central Java, Indonesia.
Plazmonikus aranyfelületek és nanoszerkezetek felületerősített Raman-szóráshoz
Authors: Rigó István
Published: October 2021

A felületerősített Raman-szórás napjaink intenzíven kutatott területe. A jelenség magyarázatának hosszantartó kidolgozása után a hatékony SERS-felületek előállítása, szelektívvé tétele és más módszerekkel való együttes alkalmazása állnak a kutatások fókuszában. Doktori munkám célja gyakorlati alkalmazással kecsegtető, hatékony SERS-hordozók kutatása: elsősorban mikroméretű objektumok, például aeroszolok, sejtek vagy baktériumok felületén található funkciós csoportok Raman-jelének vizsgálatára alkalmas felületek tervezése, előállítása, valamint kísérleti és elméleti módszerekkel való jellemzése volt. Az ilyen vizsgálatokhoz általában rögzíteni kell a vizsgálni kívánt mikroobjektumot – lehetőleg azonnal a SERS-aktív felületen. Munkám során a következő konkrét feladatokkal foglalkoztam: - Különböző morfológiájú és méretű üregek periodikus mátrixa alkotta SERS-hordozók összehasonlító jellemzése kísérleti és elméleti módszerekkel. - A kapott eredmények felhasználása mikroobjektumok csapdázására alkalmas perforált, a folyadék átfolyását biztosító SERS-hordozók előállítására, és ezen hordozók jellemzése. - Vörösvérsejtek rögzítésére és SERS-vizsgálatára alkalmas hordozók előállítása és jellemzése. - Inverz piramisba helyezett arany nanogömbök alkotta SERS-erősítő struktúrák jellemzése.
New data on vegetation of two localities in the southern part of the typical tundra subzone in the Gydan Peninsula
Authors: Telyatnikov Michail Yu. , Khitun Olga V. , Czernyadjeva Irina V. , Kuzmina Ekaterina Yu. , Ermokhina Ksenia A.
Published: October 2021

The syntaxonomic diversity of vegetation of two localities in the southern part of the typical tundra subzone in the Gydansky Peninsula includes seven associations, three subassociations and eight variants. New associations (Tanaceto bipinnati–Salicetum polaris Khitun ass. nov. hoc loco, Calliergono cordifolii–Salicetum lanatae Khitun ass. nov. hoc loco), subassociations (Hierochloo alpinae–Hylocomietum splendentis asahinetosumchrysantae Khitun subass. nov. hoc loco, Carici rariflorae–Sphagnetum baltici sphagnetosum steerei Khitun subass. nov. hoc loco) and eight variants are described in this region for the first time. Although in the northern part of the typical tundra subzone they occupy zonal positions, dwarf shrub communities with abundant herbs (Luzula tundricolae–Hylocomietum splendentis Telyatnikov et al. 2019) were not found in the studied locations. Tussock tundra (Sphagno–Eriophoretum vaginati typicum) occupies flat or gently sloping hills, and we consider it as the predominant zonal vegetation. The position of the boundary between the southern and the typical tundra subzones is corrected. According to our observations, it lies further north (up to 100 km on the eastern part of the peninsula) than it was shown on previous zoning schemes. Comparison of the syntaxonomic diversity in the southern and northern parts of the typical tundra showed little similarity, only two associations are common (Hierochloo alpinae–Hylocomietum splendentis Telyatnikov et al. 2019 and Tripleurospermo hookerii–Poetum alpigenae Czerosov, Sleptsova et Mironova 2005). We explain this by differences in local lithology: loams were predominant in the northern part and sands dominated in the southern part.
Boletoid fungi (Boletaceae, Basidiomycota) of protected areas of Kon Tum Plateau (Central Highlands of Vietnam)
Authors: Pham Thi Ha Giang , Morozova Olga V. , Alexandrova A. V.
Published: October 2021

The article continues the series of publications devoted to the boletoid fungi of Vietnam. It summarizes the results of the observation of their diversity in three nature protected areas of the Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên) – Kon Ka Kinh National Park, Kon Chu Rang (Kon Chư Răng) Nature Reserve and Kon Plong Protected Forest, where middle-mountain evergreen broad-leaved and coniferous-deciduous forests prevail at altitudes of 900–1500 m. An annotated list of 22 revealed species is presented. Of these, two species (Fistulinella aurantioflava and Tylopilus subotsuensis) have been recently described from this territory as new to science. Hortiboletus rupicapreus is reported “ad interim”. Information on eight species (Aureoboletus sinobadius, Hourangia nigropunctata, Ionosporus longipes, Neoboletus multipunctatus, Phylloporus luxiensis, Pulveroboletus subrufus, Tylopilus atripurpureus, T. atroviolaceobrunneus) is published for the first time for Vietnam. Strobilomyces aff. echinocephalus, S. aff.glabriceps, and Tylopilus aff. balloui (two different lines) are close to known species but genetically not identical. Six more specimens are identified only to the genus, and they probably represent species new to science. The color photographs of new to Vietnam and noteworthy species are presented. The nucleotide sequences obtained during the study were deposited in NCBI GenBank.
Rethinking the History of Repair:
Authors: Krebs Stefan , Weber Heike
Published: October 2021

Stefan Krebs and Heike Weber historicise the concept of "repairing things" with a view to broadening and redefining the emphasis of current debates on repair as a "new social movement" and the emergence of a "repair society". These current discourses often lack a sense of the long history of repairing things which saw ups and downs in cultures of repair and self-repair. The chapter charts out the heterogeneity and interrelatedness of the actors involved in repair over time. It draws on examples from Western Europe and North America to highlight some important moments in the history of repair, the intrinsic links between professional and DIY repair practices, discourses on the "lifespan" of things, and changing disposal regimes.
The square, the monument and the re-configurative power of art in postmigrant public spaces
Authors: Petersen Anne Ring
Published: October 2021

This chapter explores how art in public spaces shapes, and is shaped by, disagreements and conflicts resulting from the need to tackle »togetherness in difference« (Ien Ang), and how contemporary artistic practices play out in postmigrant public spaces, understood as plural domains of human encounter impacted by former and ongoing migration, and by new forms of nationalism. The chapter focuses on two art projects in Copenhagen, Denmark. The first one is The Red Square, a part of the public park Superkilen in the multicultural Nørrebro district. Designed by the artist group Superflex (in collaboration with architects from Bjarke Ingels Group and Topotek1), Superkilen opened in 2012. The second project is Jeannette Ehlers and La Vaughn Belle's collaboration on the sculpture I Am Queen Mary. Installed outside an old colonial Warehouse in Copenhagen harbour in 2018, it is the first monument in the country to commemorate Danish colonialism and complicity in the transatlantic slave trade. Borrowing a term from Chantal Mouffe, these projects could be characterized as »agonistic« interventions into public urban space. The chapter argues that they may provide us with some much-needed answers to the important question of the much debated yet crucial role of public art in democratic societies, particularly how works of art may form a possible loophole of escape from dominant discourses by openly contesting, or subtly circumventing, monocultural understandings of national heritage and identity, thereby helping us to imagine national and urban community otherwise, i.e. as postmigrant communities. The chapter examines what the re-configurative power of art might accomplish in postmigrant public spaces by considering the following questions: How can public art open up a social and national imagination pervaded by anxieties about (post)migration to other ways of thinking about diversity and collective identity? Furthermore, is it possible to identify a common pattern - i.e. a particular postmigrant strategy - that underpins and interconnects various types of artistic interventions into public spaces and debates, which, on the surface, present themselves as radically different kinds of projects?
Die neue (Echtzeit-)Ordnung der Städte
Authors: Kalmer Marion
Published: October 2021

Eine neue Echtzeit-Ordnung schreibt sich mit großer Geschwindigkeit in unsere Städte ein und beginnt, sie zu re-organisieren. Sie ist die Konsequenz einer neuen, sublimen Form von Dienstleistungslandschaft, wird in digitalen Protokollen strukturiert und durch mobile Applikationen vertrieben. In bisher ungekannter Weise werden räumliche Strukturen geplant, definiert und verfügbar gemacht - ein kritisches Moment der Kommerzialisierung und Kontrolle, gleichzeitig aber eine Option faszinierender elastischer Werkzeuge. Marion Kalmer präsentiert eine neue, kategorial zusammengezogene Reflexion der wesentlichen Phänomene dieser abrufbaren räumlichen Ordnung.
Altern und Verletzlichkeit: Gero-Technologien als Bestandteil einer therapeutisch-rehabilitativen Dyade?
Authors: Remmers Hartmut
Published: October 2021

Alternsprozesse sind ebenso durch Potenziale wie auch durch physische und kognitive Abbauprozesse mit zunehmender Verletzlichkeit charakterisiert. Mit neu entwickelten Gero-Technologien sollen ältere Menschen im häuslichen Milieu, mehr und mehr aber auch durch medizinisch-pflegerische Maßnahmen der Rehabilitation im klinischen und außerklinischen Setting unterstützt werden. Daran geknüpft ist ebenso die Hoffnung, den wachsenden Pflegepersonalmangel teilweise kompensieren zu können. Es wird gezeigt, dass die entsprechende Technologieentwicklung in stärkerem Maße das differenzierte Spektrum körperlicher und kognitiver Einbußen älterer Menschen einzubeziehen hat. Auch kann die Unterstützung rehabilitativer Maßnahmen nur gelingen, wenn strukturelle Besonderheiten von Care-Work stärkere Beachtung finden. Am Beispiel häuslich eingesetzter rehabilitativer Trainings wird gezeigt, dass mit der vorrangig funktionellen Ausrichtung dafür eingesetzter robotischer Systeme die im Kern dyadisch strukturierten, sehr komplexen rehabilitativen Prozesse nur unzureichend unterstützt werden können.
Auflösen, sedimentieren, kollektivieren
Authors: König Sophie
Published: October 2021

Sophie König widmet sich in diesem Beitrag dem Konzept von Landschaft als Prozess in Texten Heiner Müllers. Landschaft wird in ihnen als handelnder Gegenspieler des Subjekts imaginiert, ihr Wirken dort sichtbar, wo sie daran arbeitet, den Menschen aus dem ästhetischen, ökologischen wie politischen Zentrum zu verbannen. Der Beitrag macht einen Dreischritt von Modi sichtbar, in denen Landschaft operiert: Sie löst das Subjekt auf, lagert es im Sediment ab und rematerialisiert es zu einem Kollektiv. Anhand ausgewählter Gedichte, Gespräche, Dramen und Prosatexte wird Landschaft so als komplexe Handlung analysiert, die schließlich auch in die Struktur der Texte übergeht.
Das »unentdeckte Land«
Authors: Nitschmann Till
Published: October 2021

Till Nitschmann analysiert in seinem Beitrag ausgehend von der Friedhofsszene in Shakespeares »Hamlet« Grenzgänge(r) des Todes in Heiner Müllers Texten. Auf der Inhalts- und Motivebene erweisen sich Müllers Texte in Bezug auf Grenzsituationen, die mit Victor Turners Konzept der Liminalität betrachtet werden, und das »unentdeckte Land« als intertextuell hochgradig miteinander verwoben. Dabei beherbergen die Texte eine Hoffnung auf das utopische Potential der Toten, das in den Landschaften und dort insbesondere in Grenz- und Küstenregionen eingelagert ist. Speziell diese Räume werden im Zusammenhang mit dem Tod immer wieder von Müller bearbeitet, um ihre utopische Kraft für eine mögliche Zukunft fruchtbar zu halten.
Müller ± Althusser: Die Intellektuellen, das Interview und die »Inseln der Unordnung«
Authors: Willumsen Noah
Published: October 2021

Kurz vor Althussers Sturz von der Öffentlichkeit lernt ihn Heiner Müller bei einer Konferenz in Terni kennen. Die Begegnung schlägt sich erst ein Jahr später in einem Interview mit der Zeitschrift alternative nieder, in dem Müller im Fall Althusser ein Versagensmuster von Intellektuellen feststellt, das er als Theaterszenario fasst. In der Gemengelage von Massen und Massenmedien, die Intellektuelle navigieren müssen, wird für Müller eine paradigmatische Situation wiederholt: Althusser, Pasolini und Gründgens sind die »Hamletfiguren des 20. Jahrhunderts.« Um dieses Modell zu ergründen, wird anhand von Archivalien die politische und publizistische Umwelt erkundet, in der Müllers Interview entstand. Die Begegnung mit Althusser wird aber nicht nur zum Inhalt von Müllers Schaffen. Mit den »Inseln des Kommunismus«, von denen Althusser in Terni träumte, kristallisiert sich aus Müllers Kritik an den Medien und der repräsentativen Rede der Intellektuellen eine paradoxe Strategie des Medienengagements heraus.
Ein Dialog mit einigen Toten
Authors: Wood Michael
Published: October 2021

In diesem Aufsatz untersucht Michael Wood einen scheinbaren Widerspruch im Werk und Denken Müllers, indem er den Zusammenhang zwischen offenem Dialog und literarischen Tradition dabei näher hinsieht. Für Müller bildet der »Dialog mit den Toten« eine zentrale Stütze sowohl in seiner literarischen und dramaturgischen Praxis als auch im »universale[n] Diskurs, der nichts ausläßt und niemanden ausschließt«. Als Teil dieses Dialogs nimmt das Werk Müllers viele Bezüge auf die Ideen und Werke diverser anderen Dichter und Denker aus mannigfaltigen literarischen und intellektuellen Traditionen. Müllers Wahl ist aber selektiv. Hier erörtere ich Müllers Weiberkomödie (1969), die dank ihrer Abweichungen von unseren Erwartungen von den Werken Heiner Müllers selten besprochen wird. Anhand einer Analyse dieses Stücks neben Bürgermeister Anna von Friedrich Wolf (1950) behaupte ich, dass Weiberkomödie eine Ausgrenzung Wolfs und seiner Nachkommen aus einer Geschichte der zukunftsgestaltenden Literatur inszeniert.
Hochschulen und Corona
Authors: Bils Annabell , Pellert Ada
Published: October 2021

Annabell Bils und Ada Pellert beleuchten die Corona-Pandemie aus Sicht von Hochschulleitungen. Im ersten Digitalsemester waren diese besonders gefordert, da sie schnell (wieder) Handlungsfähigkeit herstellen mussten. Die dabei entwickelten Maßnahmen gilt es zu reflektieren und zu verstetigen. Dabei sollte aus unserer Sicht nicht nur inkrementell innoviert werden, indem Präsenzformate 1:1 digitalisiert werden, sondern es ist ein grundsätzlicher Wandel nötig, der ein neues Verständnis von Lernen einschließt und disruptive Innovationen im Bildungssystem hervorbringt. Nach der Illustration anhand von Beispielen aus der FernUniversität in Hagen, wird mit New Learning eine neue Sichtweise vorgestellt und es werden Implikationen für das Bildungswesen abgeleitet.
Studieren in Deutschland zu Zeiten der Corona-Pandemie
Authors: Lörz Markus , Zimmer Lena M. , Marczuk Anna
Published: October 2021

Markus Lörz, Lena Maria Zimmer und Anna Marczuk beschäftigen sich in ihrem Beitrag mit den veränderten Studienbedingungen im Zuge der Corona Pandemie. Im Sommersemester 2020 wurde der Lehrbetrieb in Deutschland weitgehend auf digitale Lehrformate umgestellt. Inwieweit dies in den verschiedenen Fächergruppen gleichermaßen gelungen ist, welche digitalen Kompetenzen die Studierenden sowie Lehrenden in den verschiedenen Fächergruppen mitbringen und welche Konsequenzen die unterschiedlichen Rahmenbedingungen für die erfolgreiche Fortführung des Studiums haben, steht im Fokus des vorliegenden Beitrags. Auf Basis aktueller Daten der Studie »Studieren zu Zeiten der Corona-Pandemie« zeigt sich, dass auf institutioneller Ebene der Anteil ausgefallener Lehrveranstaltungen systematisch zwischen den verschiedenen Fächergruppen variiert und auch auf individueller Ebene zeigen sich anhand der digitalen Kompetenzen von Lehrenden und Studierenden systematische fachspezifische Unterschiede. In Folge dessen hat das digitale Semester für die Studierenden mit Blick auf eine zu erwartende Studienzeitverlängerung auch recht unterschiedliche Konsequenzen - und zwar je nach dem, in welcher Fächergruppe man studiert.
»Ich bin froh darüber, dass das so passiert ist«
Authors: Kordts-Freudinger Robert , Bücker Diana , Schulte Rebecca , Vöing Nerea
Published: October 2021

Die explorativ angelegte Studie untersucht die möglichen Chancen des Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) bei der Bewältigung des Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) in Folge der Coronavirus-Pandemie 2020-21. Aufbauend auf Definitionen des SoTL wurden acht Lehrende deutscher Hochschulen zu ihrer Lehre, u.a. zu ihren SoTL-Aktivitäten, ihrer Lehre vor und im ERT sowie zu ihrer künftigen Lehre interviewt; die Transkripte wurden inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse deuten auf bestimmte Muster bereits vor dem ERT sowie während des ERT hin: Neben einer stark studierendenorientierten Lehrhaltung und der Einschätzung, dass Reflexion zentral in der Lehre sei, erlebten die Befragten das ERT trotz vorhandener Unsicherheiten und teils größerer Lehrbelastung überwiegend als positive Lerngelegenheit für sich selbst und ihre Studierenden. SoTL diente für viele Befragte als wichtige Ressource auf mehreren Ebenen, sodass die forschende Grundhaltung in der Lehre auch künftig erhalten bleiben soll. Im Ergebnis werden drei Chancen von SoTL für ERT dargestellt.
Heilung deuten
Authors: Stähler Paula
Published: October 2021

In spätmodernen Gesellschaften lässt sich im alternativmedizinischen Feld ein fließender Übergangsbereich von Medizin und Religion identifizieren: Heilpraktiker*innen bieten mehr als bloß somatisch-therapeutische Heilung; die Deutungen hinter ihren Angeboten haben einen religionstheoretisch relevanten Überschuss. Paula Stähler liefert mit umfangreichem qualitativ-empirischen Material einen substanziellen Beitrag zu diesem Bereich der Religionsforschung und eröffnet mit ihren Ergebnissen zahlreiche praktisch-theologische Anschlussstellen.
Populismus und Mittelklasse
Authors: Boos Tobias
Published: October 2021

Populismus der Mitte? Was zunächst als Widerspruch erscheint, entpuppt sich im Falle Argentiniens als fruchtbare Perspektive auf die gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen während der Kirchner-Regierungen (2003-2015). Tobias Boos zeigt, dass Populismus weit entfernt davon ist, ein Phänomen der randständigen Massen zu sein. Vielmehr offenbaren sich Teile der argentinischen Mittelklasse als gewichtige Säule des politischen Projekts der Kirchners. Die Studie geht den Verflechtungen von politischer Ökonomie und politischen Identitäten nach und wirft ein neues Licht auf die lateinamerikanischen Populismen des 21. Jahrhunderts.
Einleitung: Digitalisierung ethnologischer Sammlungen - Herausforderungen und Chancen
Authors: Müller Katja , Noack Karoline
Published: October 2021

Katja Müller und Karoline Noack stellen in diesem Beitrag die Besonderheiten von Digitalisierung in ethnologischen Sammlungen und Museen dar. Sie zeigen, dass in deutschen Sammlungen Digitalisierung eng mit Provenienzforschung und Dekolonialisierung verbunden ist.
Digitale Inventarisierung
Authors: Rodemeier Susanne , Franke Edith
Published: October 2021

Susanne Rodemeier und Edith Franke widmen sich in ihrem Beitrag der Frage, inwiefern mit der Digitalisierung von Sammlungsbeständen Informationsgewinn oder Wissensverlust einhergeht. Anhand einer anthropomorphen Figur der Religionskundlichen Sammlung der Philipps-Universität Marburg verdeutlichen sie die Fehleranfälligkeit bei der Übertragung von einem Inventarisierungsformat in ein anderes. Diese Problematik wird dann besonders augenfällig, wenn Provenienzforschung durchgeführt wird. Die Autorinnen illustrieren dies am Beispiel eines Objekts, das ein Missionar während der niederländischen Kolonialzeit aus Indonesien nach Marburg brachte. Sie zeigen auf, welchen Herausforderungen und Revisionen sich (digitale) Inventarisierungsprogramme stellen müssen, um den Anforderungen einer umfassenden Provenienzforschung in Sammlungen und Museen gerecht zu werden.
Digitization of Museum Collections
Authors: Abdelfattah Mohamed Aly
Published: October 2021

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Antiquities Museum (BAAM) has been involved in many digitization-related projects. Part of them were external projects where the museum played a secondary part, while in others the BAAM team was a main player. Abdelfattah analyses some of these projects and discusses the lessons learnt from each of them. He also highlights the role of museum professionals in formulating clear objectives for digitization, and the subsequent strategies formulated to achieve them. Finally, the paper presents some of the digitization advantages, opportunities, difficulties, and challenges based on the BAAM experiences.
Sammlungen online
Authors: Müller Katja
Published: October 2021

Katja Müller stellt die Unterschiede zwischer Erwartungshaltung an Digitalisierungen ethnografischer Sammlungen und den tatsächlichen Auswirkungen der Onlinestellung kulturellen Erbes dar. Anhand von Beispielen aus Indien und Europa zeigt sie, welche Faktoren eine Nutzung von Onlinearchiven befördern und wie wir Postkolonialisierung im Kontext ethnografischer Sammlungen neu rahmen sollten.