bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Training action for physics teachers: an application of problem-based learning
Authors: Prada Nuñez R , Hernández-Suarez C A , Gamboa Suarez A A
Published: January 2022

The teaching of problem-based learning is a didactic approach that requires a radical change in the role of the physics teacher because it is focused on learning, research, and reflection that students follow to reach a solution to a problem situation as a starting point for the acquisition and integration of knowledge in science. The results of a training action for physics teachers on the implementation, their perceptions, and perspectives on the feasibility of the problem-based Learning approach are presented. The study is quasi-experimental in nature with pre-test and post-test in the study variables. The results suggest that the teachers’ perceptions are positive, which is why they consider that its implementation in teaching is viable, however, they need more elements that facilitate their execution in the classroom, such as understanding the theoretical foundations and their pedagogical use successful in the classroom. It is concluded that, for the physics teaching process, problem-based learning is an innovation because it allows the student to learn actively, in which inquiry is relevant for the development of skills and appropriation of knowledge, which in the framework of natural sciences leads to the reconstruction of the scientific method.
Dynamics of plankton biocenoses under water level fluctuations in steppe lakes
Authors: Yu Afonina E , Tashlykova N A
Published: January 2022

Barun-Torey and Zun-Torey lakes are located in the arid steppe zone of the Central (Inner) Asia, Eastern Siberia, Russia. The Torey lakes are characterizes unstable hydrological regime. The water level variation is explained by the periodic filling and drying of the lakes due to cyclical climatic changes in humidity and temperature. We conducted our studies various water level phases of the climatic cycle: from high water level (1999, 2003) to drying out and the initial filling phase (2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020). The aim of this paper is to present long-term research results on changes in the plankton biocenoses of the Torey lakes during a climate cycle, the drying and initial filling of basins. Succession of plankton dominant species is in the direction of: diatoms+green algae and rotifers+crustaceans → green algae and crustaceans → green algae+cyanobacteria and crustaceans → no planktonic algae and invertebrates → cyanobacteria+diatoms+green algae and rotifers+cladocerans+copepods.
Monitoring of hunting resources: population-based approach
Authors: Agafonov G M
Published: January 2022

It is recognized that the objects of the hunting economy are populations of game animals. However, there is no term “population” in current Russian legislation, the undefined expression “hunting resources” is used instead. The monitoring of the hunting resources status is currently limited by regulatory documents only to the analysis of materials based on the winter route census (WRC). This is insufficient to establish the nature of population dynamics, acquire knowledge about population cycles in different populations, and collect the data on the qualitative composition of populations and their changes over time. For hunting providers, simple methods of collecting and processing material on the qualitative composition of populations are offered. They can be carried out both during the hunting season and during the purchase of products from hunters. Systematic observations and analysis of the obtained materials will allow accumulating knowledge about a specific exploited population. Hunting providers should use different methods of registration of hunting animals to monitor exploited populations. To control registration, state game wardens can use the WRC. The state control should proceed from the confidence in the results of the registration work of hunting providers since they are those interested in the long-term use of hunting resources.
New data on some high-altitude protected insect species in northern Transbaikalia
Authors: Bazhenov Yu A
Published: January 2022

The paper presents data on registration of two regionally protected insects in the north of Zabaykalsky krai. Observations were made in summer 2019-2021 in Kalarsky district of Zabaykalsky krai on the Ridges Udokan and Kodar. Parnassius eversmanni and Parnassius phoebus are characteristic and common species of high alpine meadows of the study area, especially at the Kodar Ridge between the Apsat and Sredny Sakukan Rivers. This area is not part of the Kodar National Park and requires attention for conservation of rich high altitude ecosystems that include the studied insect species.
Changing parameters of waters chemical composition in the Lake Arakhley water column (Eastern Transbaikalia)
Authors: Chechel L P
Published: January 2022

The need to preserve the quality of water resources under conditions of anthropogenic impact is one of the most urgent problems of our time. The purpose of this work was to study the features of the distribution of the parameters of the chemical composition of the waters of Lake Arakhley in a vertical section. The investigated waters are characterised by a constancy of mineralisation and chemical composition, both within the water area and in the vertical section. The waters are ultra-fresh (salinity less than 200 mg / L), neutral and slightly alkaline (average pH 7.9), HCO3 Mg-Ca chemical composition. The carbon dioxide content in the water column has a significant impact on the concentration of hydrogen ions, as evidenced by the inverse relationship between pH and CO2 content. The observed increase in the nitrogen form and CO2 contents in the bottom part of the lake is most likely related to the life processes of organisms and vegetation. The recorded excess concentrations of Mn, Cu, Ni, and Al over maximum permissible concentrations indicate the need for additional studies to identify their sources.
The specific features of the thermal radiation of lake Kenon during freeze-up in the infrared band
Authors: Gurulev A A , Kazantsev V A
Published: January 2022

This work is the study of the infrared images of Lake Kenon located in the city of Chita. The images were obtained from a satellite Lansat-8. The images revealed the thermal anomalies of the said internal water body. The anomalies consisted in the fact that areas of open water having negative temperature are formed in the lake in the winter period. The phenomenon may be caused both by surface supercooling of the lake water and by formation of water aerosol at the temperature below 0°C. The emergence of areas with supercooled water may be, paradoxical as it may sound, due to the impact of the thermal power plant located near the lake. Its functioning prevents formation of the ice cover, especially at the locations of warm water discharge. Analysis of the satellite images in the IR-band obtained over the recent five years has shown the area of the higher water temperature on the lake surface not to exceed 10% of the total area of the lake. The time before the freeze-up in the absence of wind, October – November, is the best time for revealing the maximum temperature difference.
Calculation of temperature waves in kurums
Authors: Ye Kholodovskii S
Published: January 2022

The article indicates the relevance of the study of heat transfer processes in kurums. Boundary value problems of vertical temperature change in kurums and in the underlying rock base are solved, when the temperature on the surface of kurums changes according to a given periodic law, which simulates daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations. The cases when the rock base is a heat-conducting medium and permafrost are considered. Some regularities of temperature propagation along the depth are revealed.
The features of the biotopic distribution of Orthoptera insects in the Adon-Chelon terrain (Daursky Nature Reserve, Southern Transbaikalia)
Authors: Korsun O V , Zapletnyuk G A
Published: January 2022

The features of the species composition and abundance of orthoptera insects (Insecta, Orthoptera) in different stations of the Adon-Chelon locality (Daursky Biosphere Reserve, south-eastern Transbaikalia) were studied. The differences in these parameters were revealed for Orthoptera communities inhabiting different stations. The differences in the Orthoptera fauna were noted in comparison with previous studies, which may be associated with cyclical climatic changes characteristic of Southern Transbaikalia.
Patents for inventions in the Russian oil and gas sector: an analysis of the knowledge database complexity
Authors: Kryukov V A , Tokarev A N
Published: January 2022

The authors have analyzed invention patents in the Russian oil and gas sector (OGS) based on a knowledge database complexity index they designed for this purpose. The index takes into account the subclasses and sections of international patent classification (IPC) used in the patents. It has been demonstrated that opportunities for creating breakthrough technologies and radical innovations mostly arise within giant multinational oil and gas field service companies (e.g. Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes). At the same time, Russian oil and service companies are noticeably lagging behind the foreign players and Russian actors in the sphere of science and education. The conducted analysis of the sectoral knowledge database revealed several significant risks for the development of the Russian OGS along the innovative trajectory. The risks (relative to the invention patents) arise from inadequate opportunities for creating breakthrough technologies.
Current state, prospects and problems of the gold mining industry of the Trans-Baikal Territory
Authors: Latysheva M A
Published: January 2022

The article considers the current state, problems and prospects of gold mining in the Trans-Baikal Territory. There has been an increase in the volume of gold production from ore and placer deposits over the past 5 years. Placer deposits make up a significant part of the total production volume. The reduction of reserves in placers and the decrease in the quality of minerals in them open up new prospects for the extraction of precious metals, namely in ore gold mining. The extraction of placer gold, even with the best existing technologies, remains a sector of high environmental risk, in many settlements there is a gradual decline in the population and the “extinction” of settlements, as well as illegal gold mining is gaining momentum. Neither regional nor federal environmental supervision bodies have the opportunity to resist the destruction and degradation of nature from the extraction of placer gold. In general, this leads to an increase in the negative impact of placer gold mining on natural complexes and socio-economic sustainable development of regions and municipalities on the territory of which this type of activity is carried out, an increase in accumulated environmental damage.
New results of a palynological study of the Lake Doroninskoe sediments (Eastern Siberia, Transbaikalia)
Authors: Reshetova S A
Published: January 2022

This article presents the results of the study of the bottom sediments of the meromictic Lake Doroninskoe. For the study, the method of spore-pollen analysis was used. The record showed that during the accumulation of 65 cm of the sediment layer in the Chita-Ingodinskaya depression, pine and larch predominated along the ridges, with steppe and meadow associations in the lower parts of the depression. According to regional correlations, the distribution of light-coniferous-taiga vegetation in Transbaikalia occurred as early as the Middle Holocene, and it did not undergo cardinal changes until modern times. According to these data, sediments may have accumulated during this time period.
Cladocera species (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) in the littoral zone of Lake Baikal: some representatives of Daphniidae families
Authors: Sheveleva N G , Mirabdullayev I M , Neronova S Y
Published: January 2022

Brief morphological descriptions of new Cladocera taxa (Daphniidae):Daphnia(Daphnia)turbinataSars, 1903;Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) sinensisGu, Xu, Li, Dumont et Han 2013, found in Lake Baikal are presented. The representatives of these taxa inhabit the littoral zone of the lake and Olkhon Island.Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) sinensiswere encountered in the water bodies in the south of Eastern Siberia for the first time.
Features of the metal distribution in the technogenic and natural waters of the Novoshirokinsky deposit (Eastern Transbaikalia)
Authors: Taskina L V
Published: January 2022

To identify the degree of impact of technogenic activity on the main water bodies located in the immediate vicinity of mining production, an analysis of the composition and pH of the water, the chemical components of which are normalized by the Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation (dated 13.12.2016, No. 552 with amendments), was carried out starting on 10.03.2020.
Mesozoic gold deposits of Eastern Zabaykalye: relationship to magmatism, isotopic composition
Authors: Abramov B N
Published: January 2022

It is noted that the formation of Mesozoic gold mineralization in Eastern Zabaykalye is associated with magmatic formations of the Amudzhikansky (J2-3), Shakhtaminsky (J2-3), and Sokhondinsky (J1) complexes formed during collisional and post–collisional processes. The nature of these magmatic formations has both mantle (87Sr/86Sr < 0.0706) and crustal components (87Sr/86Sr < 0.0706).Calculation of isotopic composition of oxygen from the ore veins of Aleksandrovsky and Lyubavinsky gold deposits revealed that fluids of magmatic nature were involved in their formation. These data indicate a magmatic source of the Mesozoic gold mineralization in Eastern Zabaykalye.
Geochemistry of ultramafic–alkaline rocks of the Ziminsky complex (on the example of the Bol’shetagninsky and Beloziminsky massifs) (Eastern Sayan)
Authors: Bazarova E P , Savelyeva V B , Danilova Yu V , Sholokhova Yu N
Published: January 2022

The paper compares the elemental composition of alkaline silicate rocks of the Bol’shetagninsky and Beloziminsky massifs, which are part of the Ziminsky complex of ultrabasic rocks and carbonatites. The rocks of the Bol’shetagninsky massif belong to the potassium series and are distinguished by increased concentrations of large ionic lithophilic elements; in the rocks of the Beloziminsky massif, the rocks of the sodium series predominate and the contents of highly charged elements are increased. Judging by the lack of correlation between the highly charged elements in alkaline and subalkaline rocks of the Bol’shetagninsky massif, their formation, in contrast to the rocks of the Beloziminsky massif, is not associated with the process of fractional crystallization.
Arsenic speciation and sorption in acid mine drainage and the polluted water of the Kosva river basin, Russia
Authors: Fetisova N F
Published: January 2022

Acid mine drainage (AMD) of the abandoned coal mines of the Kizelovsky coal basin (the Urals, Russia) is one of the worst natural disasters in the region. Acidic sulphate waters with a high content of metals freely flow into the surface water bodies. Arsenic, found in elevated concentrations in AMD, is an element of concern due to its potential toxicity to humans and animals. The aim of this work is determination of chemical speciation of inorganic arsenic in AMD as well as the surface water and groundwater affected by mine drainage, and assessment the natural removal of As from mine drainage due to adsorption on precipitated hydrous ferric oxide (HFO). Geochemical speciation (PHREEQC) revealed that arsenic occurs in all water samples as As(V). Surface complexation model shows that, HFO induced by the natural attenuation process may remove 46–85% of total arsenic in AMD and only 28% in polluted groundwater (on average).
Comparative review of phenological events observed by academician P.S. Pallas in Transbaikalia in the second half of the 18th century
Authors: Korsun O V
Published: January 2022

This article analyses the phenological data about the flowering of some plant species obtained by P.S. Pallas in Transbaikalia during his academic expedition in 1772. For seven plant species, a noticeable shift in modern flowering phases to earlier dates is shown.
Mercury as an indicator of geological and environmental risks in the development of various mineral raw materials
Authors: Mustafin S K , Trifonov A N , Anisimova G S , Struchkov K K
Published: January 2022

Mercury is a highly toxic pollutant of the environment, and a quantitative assessment of its emission and migration in the technogenic transformation of mining regions is vital. The presented study focuses on the features of mercury concentration in the natural mineral raw materials, commercial products and processing waste by the example of mercury-containing copper pyrite deposits in the Urals. Mercury (its quantitative indicators) is used as a reliable element-tracer of the evolution of the technogenic system: mineral raw materials – subsurface use wastes – environmental components – food products – the human body. Such integrated approach is recommended for optimizing the forecasting, assessment and management of geological and environmental risks, as well as for the geological and environmental monitoring of the modern mining engineering system.
To the problem of the Torey lakes
Authors: Salikhov V S
Published: January 2022

The socio-ecological problem of the Torey Lakes, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, which arose in connection with the construction of a dam on the Uldza River, which began by Mongolia, which is the main ground feeding artery of the lakes, is considered. An option is proposed to save the lakes on our own, by laying a water supply system with a length of about 40 km. from Onon River, with the preliminary construction of a reservoir here due to the confluence of the channels of the old, middle and new Onon, as well as options for groundwater budding. Examples of the transfer of river waters carried out in different regions are given.
Impact of selected teleconnection pattern on solar energy potential in different climatic zones of Nigeria
Authors: Awe O F , Ogunjo S T , Rabiu A B , Ajanaku O J , Ijila I D
Published: January 2022

Meeting the energy demands and sustainable development goals in Nigeria requires investigation of potentials of alternative energy sources and possible challenges to their reliability. In this study, we investigated the impact of four (4) teleconnection patterns on the solar energy potential within different climatic zones of Nigeria. Our results indicate that there are weak and insignificant correlation between the studied teleconnection patterns and solar energy potential on the long run. However, monthly analysis suggests significant correlation values between all the teleconnection patterns studied and solar energy production within all the climatic regions of the country. Therefore, it is important to consider the role of teleconnection pattern in energy planning and forecasting within the region.
Types of smart systems and their application in power grids
Authors: Mehmed-Hamza M E , Filipov A B , Ivanova M D
Published: January 2022

With the development of modern technologies, opportunities for an exchange of the increasing amount of information at ever higher speeds are created. The use of smart systems in electric power engineering creates conditions for improving the systems for monitoring, archiving, analysis and management. It is necessary to collect the basic information about the emergency modes automatically for analysis of the operation of the equipment and the parameters of the regimes in the power grids. The main questions to be decided are: what type of information is needed, how to use this information and at what are the different access levels, what should be the systems - local or global, how to exchange data. Smart systems for power grids and switchgears have been developed on a modular basis by almost all global manufacturers, as well as by many companies on individual assignments. The publication discusses the existing types of smart systems and the data they process. Suggestions have been made for the volume and structure of data that are needed for the analysis process.
Assessment of energy efficiency of a motor yacht depending on routes and sailing area
Authors: Ivanova G , Gyurov V
Published: January 2022

The report presents an analysis of luxury charter yachts which are a specific class of vessels that, in order to meet the schedules and increased requirements of the owners regarding the luxury of the services offered, have relatively high energy consumption for their gross tonnage, compared to other passenger ships. The study focuses on the analysis of energy efficiency of luxury yachts by calculating the energy efficiency index (EEDI). This involves comparing different parameters that affect the value of the EEDI and can lead to energy savings. The report presents theoretical and experimental studies of the energy costs of a 70-meter luxury yacht for charter trips. With the use of the design data of the ship’s electrical equipment at different operating modes, at different routes, under different conditions, dependences for analysis of the optimal modes of movement are obtained, which leads to the realization of maximum savings of electricity and primary energy.
Evaluation of the behaviour of an induction motor for fan system under various external factors
Authors: Rachev S , Dimitrov L
Published: January 2022

Paper concerns a mathematical model developed for working process observation of a fan system squirrel-cage induction motor electric drive. The electric motor in question is designed for permanent, uninterruptible operation. The system of differential equations is converted and processed with the help of appropriate software. The impact of external factors is assessed – supply voltage deflection and variation of rates of mechanical quantities involved in the motion equation. Electrical power losses in steady-state regime and energy losses at start-up are calculated. The results obtained are practical oriented when considering methods to start and control the rotational frequency to imrove energy efficiency.
Statistical approach and multiplicative models for electric vehicles charging behaviour patterns
Authors: Koeva D Y
Published: January 2022

Since the charging processes of electric vehicles are stochastic and time-dependent, the paper views an approach based on a statistical analysis of real data on electricity consumption at charging station connection points. Other types of data (geographical, public sites, distance between individual charging stations, etc.) are also taken into account when making the analysis. Multiplicative models are the most suitable for studying and forecasting time series with pronounced cyclicity and seasonality. Their application allows us to consider the correlation of the load in the consuming nodes with regional features, climatic factors and seasonality. The method and approach discussed in this paper make possible the processing of a large amount of data and the detection of load cyclicity in the load schedule of electricity facilities. The results of the model will identify the requested charging power in a developing charging infrastructure.
Optimization of the operation of Dokan hydropower development using Cuckoo Search Algorithm
Authors: Ahmad-Rashid K
Published: January 2022

In this paper one of the recently developed metaheuristic algorithms, the Cuckoo Search algorithm is used for the optimization of the operation of a large hydropower plant in Kurdistan, Iraq. The optimization problem is to realize an annual planned energy generation with monthly imposed fractions. The obtained results are excellent, nevertheless, there are some limitations of the algorithm determined by the initial level into the reservoir and a certain correlation between the type of the year, the starting level and the planned energy to be realized.
Optimization of a complex hydropower development operation using HEC-ResSim
Authors: Tică E I , Ahmad-Rashid K , Sima O V , Popa F , Nedelcu O , Popa B
Published: January 2022

In this paper HEC-ResSim is applied for a complex hydropower development formed by five reservoirs and related hydropower plants. There were considered characteristics of five existing hydropower developments in Romania, for which three reservoirs are with annual regulation and two with daily regulation. The objective function was the realization of a planned energy generation for one year (the mean hydrological year). Obtained results are very close to those obtained applying linear programming, a revised simplex algorithm.
Effects of humidity on dust particle removal during solar panel cleaning
Authors: Chen E.Y , Renner P , Lee K , Guo B , Liang H
Published: January 2022

Solar panel cleaning is important to maintain the efficiency of energy production. In this research, we investigated the effects of relative humidity and condensation on the effectiveness of cleaning. The dust particles are subjected to various forces once they are deposited on the surface of a solar panel. When the dust particles continue to build up, they are also subjected to the adhesion forces from the neighboring dust particles. The adhesion forces from the substrates and the neighboring particles are dependent on the ambient conditions. Fundamentally, the interaction between the adhesion force of particle-particle and particle-substrate under various conditions was discussed in this manuscript.
Fabry-Perot interference pattern scattered by a sub-monolayer array of nanoparticles
Authors: Osgood R M , Ait-El-Aoud Y , Bullion K , Dinneen S , Kingsborough R , Rothschild M , Kooi S
Published: January 2022

Understanding scattering of visible and infrared photons from nanomaterials and nanostructured materials is increasingly important for imaging, thermal management, and detection, and has implications for other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., x-ray scattering and radar). New, interesting reports of photon scattering as a diagnostic probe, from inelastic x-ray scattering and interference to ‘nano-FTIR’ microscopy using infrared photons, have been published and are under active investigation in laboratories around the world. Here, we report, for the first time to our best knowledge, the experimental discovery of a Fabry–Perot interference pattern that is scattered by the sub-monolayer array of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles, and confirm it analytically and with rigorous numerical FDTD simulations.
Accurate and fast cell marker gene identification with COSG
Authors: Dai Min , Pei Xiaobing , Wang Xiu-Jie
Published: January 2022

Accurate cell classification is the groundwork for downstream analysis of single-cell sequencing data, yet how to identify true marker genes for different cell types still remains a big challenge. Here, we report COSine similarity-based marker Gene identification (COSG) as a cosine similarity-based method for more accurate and scalable marker gene identification. COSG is applicable to single-cell RNA sequencing data, single-cell ATAC sequencing data and spatially resolved transcriptome data. COSG is fast and scalable for ultra-large datasets of million-scale cells. Application on both simulated and real experimental datasets showed that the marker genes or genomic regions identified by COSG have greater cell-type specificity, demonstrating the superior performance of COSG in terms of both accuracy and efficiency as compared with other available methods.
N
6-methyladenosine enhances post-transcriptional gene regulation by microRNAs
Authors: Kanoria Shaveta , Rennie William A , Carmack Charles Steven , Lu Jun , Ding Ye
Published: January 2022

Motivation

N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification in eukaryotic messenger RNAs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are abundant post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Correlation between m6A and miRNA-targeting sites has been reported to suggest possible involvement of m6A in miRNA-mediated gene regulation. However, it is unknown what the regulatory effects might be. In this study, we performed comprehensive analyses of high-throughput data on m6A and miRNA target binding and regulation.

Results

We found that the level of miRNA-mediated target suppression is significantly enhanced when m6A is present on target mRNAs. The evolutionary conservation for miRNA-binding sites with m6A modification is significantly higher than that for miRNA-binding sites without modification. These findings suggest functional significance of m6A modification in post-transcriptional gene regulation by miRNAs. We also found that methylated targets have more stable structure than non-methylated targets, as indicated by significantly higher GC content. Furthermore, miRNA-binding sites that can be potentially methylated are significantly less accessible without methylation than those that do not possess potential methylation sites. Since either RNA-binding proteins or m6A modification by itself can destabilize RNA structure, we propose a model in which m6A alters local target secondary structure to increase accessibility for efficient binding by Argonaute proteins, leading to enhanced miRNA-mediated regulation.

Availability and implementation

N/A.
Motor and Physical Function Impairments as Contributors to Slow Gait Speed and Mobility Difficulty in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Authors: Cai Yurun , Tian Qu , Gross Alden L , Wang Hang , E Jian-Yu , Agrawal Yuri , Simonsick Eleanor M , Ferrucci Luigi , Schrack Jennifer A
Published: January 2022

Background

Motor function affects ability to perform daily activities and maintain independence. Yet, the interrelatedness of upper and lower extremity motor impairments and the magnitude of their contribution to slow gait and mobility difficulty are not well investigated.

Methods

Participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (N = 728, aged 50–99) completed motor and physical function tests including grip and knee extension strength, pegboard, finger tapping, standing balance, chair stands, fast-paced 400-m walk, and usual gait speed. Slow gait was defined as usual gait speed <1.0 m/s. Mobility difficulty was defined as self-reported difficulty walking ¼ mile or climbing stairs. Structural equation modeling examined the interrelationships of motor measures and their contributions to slow gait and mobility difficulty, adjusting for demographics and comorbidities.

Results

Poorer manual dexterity (−0.571 standard deviation [SD] units, p < .001) and lower muscle strength (upper and lower extremity; −0.447 SD units, p = .014) were most strongly associated with slow gait speed, followed by slower chair stand pace (−0.195 SD units, p = .002) and greater lap time variation (0.102 SD units, p = .028). Lower muscle strength (−0.582 SD units, p = .001) was most strongly associated with mobility difficulty, followed by slower chair stand pace (−0.322 SD units, p < .001), slower gait speed (−0.247 SD units, p < .001), and poorer standing balance (−0.190 SD units, p = .043).

Conclusions

Components of manual dexterity and strength were the strongest correlates of slow gait and mobility difficulty in mid-to-late life. Longitudinal studies examining relationships between changes in these motor parameters and mobility are needed to elucidate possible causal effects.
Preliminary Evidence of Differential Expression of Myogenic and Stress Factors in Skeletal Muscle of Older Adults With Low Muscle Strength
Authors: Dalle Sebastiaan , Dupont Jolan , Dedeyne Lenore , Verschueren Sabine , Tournoy Jos , Gielen Evelien , Koppo Katrien
Published: January 2022

The age-related loss of muscle strength and mass, or sarcopenia, is a growing concern in the aging population. Yet, it is not fully understood which molecular mechanisms underlie sarcopenia. Therefore, the present study compared the protein expression profile, such as catabolic, oxidative, stress-related, and myogenic pathways, between older adults with preserved (8 ♀ and 5 ♂; 71.5 ± 2.6 years) and low muscle strength (6 ♀ and 5 ♂; 78.0 ± 5.0 years). Low muscle strength was defined as chair stand test time more than 15 seconds and/or handgrip strength less than 16 kg (women) or less than 27 kg (men) according to the EWGSOP2 criteria. Catabolic signaling (ie, FOXO1/3a, MuRF1, MAFbx, LC3b, Atg5, p62) was not differentially expressed between both groups, whereas the mitochondrial marker COX-IV, but not PGC1α and citrate synthase, was lower in the low muscle strength group. Stress factors CHOP and p-ERK1/2 were higher (~1.5-fold) in older adults with low muscle strength. Surprisingly, the inflammatory marker p-p65NF-κB was ~7-fold higher in older adults with preserved muscle strength. Finally, expression of myogenic factors (ie, Pax7, MyoD, desmin; ~2-fold) was higher in adults with low muscle strength. To conclude, whereas the increased stress factors might reflect the age-related deterioration of tissue homeostasis, for example, due to misfolded proteins (CHOP), upregulation of myogenic markers in the low strength group might be an attempt to compensate for the gradual loss in muscle quantity and quality. These data might provide valuable insights into the processes that underlie sarcopenia.
5. Winning and Losing Elections
Authors: John Peter
Published: January 2022

This chapter assesses what politicians and members of political parties really care about: getting into office on the back of a successful election campaign. Rather than the general determinants of voting outlined in the previous chapter, this is about the choices voters and parties face within a particular system, so they can organize themselves to win. For that they need to play by the rules of the game, which includes developing strategies within electoral systems. The chapter then discusses the impact of electoral systems on that calculus, and how the number of parties is affected by the electoral system in place. It also looks at the factors that assist the winning of elections, and the extent to which the choices of parties and voters are affected by growing instability in the system. Overall, the chapter provides an overview of British political parties and party systems.
6. The Media and Agenda-Setting
Authors: John Peter
Published: January 2022

This chapter addresses media in politics, including newspapers, television, the internet, and social media. It seeks to answer the question of how influential the media is over politics, in areas such as voting behaviour. This discussion gives a broad overview of politics and the media, about the agenda of politics and its framing, and what shapes it. The chapter then covers the classic question of the influence of the media in British politics. It also considers the importance of social media, and how it is now part of all media today, especially in relation to elections and referendums. Finally, the chapter looks at media and social media campaigning in elections. It introduces the concept of chaotic pluralism as a way of characterizing today's social media-dominated and fluid political environment.
4. Leave It to the Experts
Authors: Dryzek John S.
Published: January 2022

Complex environmental issues have to date mostly been addressed by administrative means such as regulation, impact assessment, and planning that harness expertise in institutions such as pollution control agencies and resource management bureaucracies. Administrative rationalism is defined as the problem-solving discourse that emphasizes the role of the expert rather than the citizen or producer/consumer in social problem solving. Experts can be scientists, social scientists, or policy analysts who can deploy techniques such as cost-benefit analysis and risk analysis. Recent variations on the discourse involve evidence-based policy making and ‘nudge’. Administrative rationalism figures more strongly as an institutional style in some political systems than in others. The chapter focuses on the United States, as it pioneered many of the practices of administrative rationalism in environmental policy, and China, where administrative rationalism now finds its strongest application. Administrative rationalism is in crisis as its limits when confronting complexity become exposed, and it is arguably giving way to more networked and less hierarchical governance.
7. Social Constructivism
Authors: Sørensen Georg , Møller Jørgen , Jackson Robert
Published: January 2022

This chapter examines the social constructivist theory of IR. It first discusses the rise of social constructivism and why it has established itself as an important approach in IR. It then considers constructivism as social theory, and more specifically as both a meta-theory about the nature of the social world and as a set of substantial theories of IR. Several examples of constructivist IR theory are presented, followed by reflections on the strengths and weaknesses of the constructivist approach. The chapter proceeds by exploring constructivist theories of international relations, focusing on cultures of anarchy, norms of International Society, the power of international organizations, a constructivist approach to European cooperation, and domestic formation of identity and norms. The chapter concludes with an analysis of some of the major criticisms of constructivism and by emphasizing internal debates within constructivism.
9. Foreign Policy
Authors: Sørensen Georg , Møller Jørgen , Jackson Robert
Published: January 2022

This chapter examines theories and approaches involved in foreign policy analysis. Foreign policy analysis (FPA) is concerned with the study of the management of external relations and activities of nation-states, as distinguished from their domestic policies. The chapter first explains the concept of foreign policy before discussing various approaches to foreign policy analysis. It then evaluates the arguments of major theories by using a ‘level-of-analysis’ approach that addresses the international system level, the nation-state level, and the level of the individual decision maker. It also presents a case-study on the Gulf War to illustrate how insights from various approaches to foreign policy analysis can be brought together. The chapters ends with reflections on Donald Trump’s foreign policy and a discussion of how FPA theories have combined domestic and international factors.
1. Why EU institutions matter:
Authors: Hodson Dermot , Puetter Uwe , Saurugger Sabine
Published: January 2022

The European Union (EU) cannot be understood without reference to its institutions. But scholars differ on the questions of what precisely EU institutions are, what they do, and why they matter. This chapter defines EU institutions as decision-making bodies. It refers to the notion of EU institutional politics as the sphere of informal and formal rules, norms, procedures, and practices that shape such decision-making. The chapter explores how different theoretical traditions—international relations, integration theory, new institutionalism, the separation of powers, governance, public policy and administration approaches, and critical perspectives—think about EU institutions. Drawing on these traditions, this chapter encourages readers to think about EU institutions along five dimensions: intergovernmental versus supranational, international versus transnational, separated versus fused power, leaders versus followers, and contested versus legitimate. Seeing how the Union’s decision-making bodies move within and between these dimensions offers a deeper understanding of why EU institutions matter.
7. The Court of Justice of the European Union:
Authors: Saurugger Sabine , Terpan Fabien
Published: January 2022

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) is one of the key institutions in the European political system, and amongst the less well known. Described as one of the most powerful international courts, and perceived as one of the reasons the UK left the European Union (EU) (their main argument being that they did not want to be held to account by an unelected and non-British court), the Court continues to be shrouded in mystery. The aim of this chapter is to facilitate an understanding of the structure, history, and workings of this Court, as a key actor in the EU’s institutional system. As such, it is not only a judicial actor but a ‘political’ actor too. Its constitutional role, as well as its role during the economic and financial crisis, illustrates these multiple facets.
12. The institutions of Justice and Home Affairs:
Authors: Geddes Andrew
Published: January 2022

This chapter analyses the institutions of EU member state cooperation on issues such as asylum, refugee protection, migration, border controls, police cooperation, and judicial cooperation. Once seen as the prerogative of member states and as defining features of states’ identities as sovereign, complex incremental institutional change established new ways of working on internal security issues and reconfigured the strategic setting from which these issues are viewed. The recent history of these developments provides insight into the EU’s institutional and organizational development, while also demonstrating how, why, and with what effects these issues have become politicized in EU member states. The politicization of migration and asylum, in particular, complements this chapter’s focus on institutional developments by identifying the source of key pressures and strains to which these institutions have been exposed. The most recent COVID-19 pandemic restricting the free movement of people across Europe, the 2020 fire that broke out at the Moria refugee camp at Lesbos, and the European Commission’s ‘New Pact on Migration and Asylum’ of September 2020 raised serious questions about the content and viability of key components of the EU’s approach to security and human rights. From being a policy arena that was not even mentioned in the Treaty of Rome or Single European Act (SEA), internal security within an ‘area of freedom, security, and justice’ (AFSJ) is now a key EU priority. This chapter pinpoints key developments, specifies institutional roles, and explores the relationships over time between changing conceptualizations of security and institutional developments.
Gene expression in the amygdala and hippocampus of cyclic and acyclic gilts
Authors: Wijesena Hiruni R , Nonneman Dan J , Keel Brittney N , Lents Clay A
Published: January 2022

Age at first estrus is the earliest phenotypic indicator of future reproductive success of gilts. Prebreeding anestrus is a major reason for reproductive failure leading to culling of replacement gilts. The two types of prebreeding anestrus are delay in attaining puberty (prepubertal anestrus, PPA) and silent ovulation (behavioral anestrus, BA). Neural tissues such as amygdala and hippocampus play a major role in regulating sexual behavior, social interactions, and receptivity to males. Differences in gene expression in the amygdala and hippocampus of gilts were analyzed in three comparisons: 1) PPA cases and cyclic controls at follicular phase of estrous cycle, 2) BA cases and cyclic controls at luteal phase of estrous cycle, and 3) gilts at different stages of the ovarian cycle (cyclic gilts at follicular phase and luteal phase of estrous cycle) to gain functional understanding of how these rarely studied tissues may differ between pubertal phenotypes and different stages of the estrous cycle of gilts. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) between PPA and BA cases and their respective cyclic controls were involved in neurological and behavioral disorders as well as nervous system functions that could directly or indirectly involved in development of behaviors related to estrus. The comparison between cyclic follicular and luteal phase control gilts identified the greatest number of DEG in the hippocampus and amygdala. These DEG were involved in adult neurogenesis and neural synapse (e.g., GABAergic, dopamine, cholinergic), suggesting that these tissues undergo structural changes and synaptic plasticity in gilts. This is the first report to demonstrate that the stage of estrous cycle is associated with dynamic changes in gene expression within porcine hippocampus and amygdala and indicates a role of gonadal steroids in regulating their biology.
Competition law and pricing among biologic drugs: the case of VEGF therapy for retinal diseases
Authors: Van de Wiele Victor L , Hammer Maximilian , Parikh Ravi , Feldman William B , Sarpatwari Ameet , Kesselheim Aaron S
Published: January 2022

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye disease and is a leading cause of vision loss in the Western world. Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors have become a mainstay of treatment for this disease. Currently, treatment options include three originator biologics with approvals for neovascular AMD (aflibercept, ranibizumab, and brolucizumab-dbll) and one biologic that is commonly used off-label for the condition (bevacizumab). In the USA, Medicare spending on these drugs consistently surpassed $4 billion per year between 2015 and 2019, driven by high prices and varying off-label use of bevacizumab, which is substantially cheaper than the other biologics used to treat neovascular AMD. In this article, we discuss how legal reform can improve market competition for biologic drugs, using AMD therapies as a case study. We chose this group of drugs for their significant contribution to Medicare spending, the price difference between approved therapies and intravitreal bevacizumab, and because there currently exists a large biosimilar pipeline with many drug candidates in the final stage of development. We propose mechanisms for anticipating and facilitating the market introduction of biosimilars, as well as changes to the pricing model in Medicare that can promote use of cost-effective therapies. Reforms such as empowering Medicare to negotiate drug prices may help ensure that introduction of new biologics and biosimilars for AMD will lower spending and increase patient access.
Professional flows: Lateral moves of law firm partners in Hong Kong, 1994–2018
Authors: Liu Sida , Blocq Daniel , Honari Ali , Au Anson
Published: January 2022

This article uses the case of law firms in Hong Kong to develop a processual approach for understanding lateral mobility in professional service firms. Based on the analysis of 1,461 lateral moves of law firm partners reported in 300 monthly issues of the official journal of the Law Society of Hong Kong during 1994–2018, as well as archival data and interviews conducted in Hong Kong, the article offers both a bird’s-eye view of the lateral mobility of partners across law firms of different jurisdictional origins and an in-depth investigation of how elite law firms in this market, namely the Magic Circle and Wall Street firms, are influenced by the dynamics of professional flows. Theoretically, the article reconceptualizes professional service firms as organizations connected by and transform through the flows of professionals between them, a dynamic process characterized by three key concepts: waves, cycles, and turning points. In addition to its theoretical contribution, the study has broader implications for understanding Hong Kong’s economic transformation since the 1990s, particularly after Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997 and the global financial crisis in 2008.