bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis on virtual reality and education
Authors: Rojas-Sánchez Mario A. , Palos-Sánchez Pedro R. , Folgado-Fernández José A.
Published: June 2022

The objective of this study is to identify and analyze the scientific literature with a bibliometric analysis to find the main topics, authors, sources, most cited articles, and countries in the literature on virtual reality in education. Another aim is to understand the conceptual, intellectual, and social structure of the literature on the subject and identify the knowledge base of the use of VR in education and whether it is commonly used and integrated into teaching–learning processes. To do this, articles indexed in the Main Collections of the Web of Science, Scopus and Lens were analyzed for the period 2010 to 2021. The research results are presented in two parts: the first is a quantitative analysis that provides an overview of virtual reality (VR) technology used in the educational field, with tables, graphs, and maps, highlighting the main performance indicators for the production of articles and their citation. The results obtained found a total of 718 articles of which the following were analyzed 273 published articles. The second stage consisted of an inductive type of analysis that found six major groups in the cited articles, which are instruction and learning using VR, VR learning environments, use of VR in different fields of knowledge, learning processes using VR applications or games, learning processes employing simulation, and topics published during the Covid-19 pandemic. Another important aspect to mention is that VR is used in many different areas of education, but until the beginning of the pandemic the use of this so-called “disruptive process” came mainly from students, Institutions were reluctant and slow to accept and include VR in the teaching–learning processes.
When Greenberger, Horne and Zeilinger Meet Wigner’s Friend
Authors: Leegwater Gijs
Published: June 2022

A general argument is presented against relativistic, unitary, single-outcome quantum mechanics. This is achieved by combining the Wigner’s Friend thought experiment with measurements on a Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) state, and describing the evolution of the quantum state in various inertial frames. Assuming unitary quantum mechanics and single outcomes, the result is that the Born rule must be violated in some inertial frame: in that frame, outcomes are obtained for which no corresponding term exists in the pre-measurement wavefunction.
Rigid rotation in GR and a generalization of the virial theorem for gravitomagnetism
Authors: Astesiano Davide
Published: June 2022

In this work we study the properties of rigidly rotating neutral dust solutions in general relativity. This class of solutions gained relevance recently due to applications to the dynamics of spiral galaxies. We show that this class could be interpreted as a “rigid body” in general relativity and we analyze the different properties respect to the rigidly rotating disk in special relativity: for example, the general relativistic counterpart shows no Doppler effect for a light signal emitted and received from any two points at rest respect to the “rigid body”. This effect can be important to test the validity of the assumed model for our galaxy. In the second part we approach the problem from a low energy expansion perspective and we write down a generalization of the virial theorem for stationary spacetimes. The non-Newtonian contributions can lead to a re-weighting of dark matter in galaxies.
The role of genetic variation in Zea mays response to beneficial endophytes
Authors: Schultz Corey R. , Brantley Kamaya M. , Wallace Jason G.
Published: June 2022

Growth-promoting endophytes have great potential to boost crop production and sustainability. There is, however, a lack of research on how differences in the plant host affect an endophyte’s ability to promote growth. We set out to quantify how different maize genotypes respond to specific growth-promoting endophytes. We inoculated genetically diverse maize lines with three different known beneficial endophytes: Herbaspirillum seropedicae (a Gram-negative bacteria), Burkholderia WP9 (a Gram-negative bacteria), and Serendipita vermifera Subsp. bescii (a Basidiomycota fungi). Maize seedlings were grown for 3 weeks under controlled watering and limited nutrient conditions in the greenhouse and assessed for various growth-promotion phenotypes. We found Herbaspirillum seropedicae to increase chlorophyll content (p = 0.02), plant height (p = 0.012), root length (p = 0.057), and root volume (p = 0.044) significantly in different maize genotypes, while Burkholderia WP9 did not promote growth in maize genotypes under these conditions. Serendipita bescii significantly increased plant height (p = 0.0041), root (p = 0.0004) and shoot biomass (p = 0.0046) for different maize genotypes, and shoot mass growth promotion correlated (r = 0.58, p = 1.97e−09) with measured fungal abundance. Although plant genetic variation by itself had a strong effect on phenotype, its interaction with the different endophytes was weak, and the endophytes rarely produced consistent effects across different genotypes. This genome-by-genome interaction indicates that the relationship between a plant host and beneficial endophytes is complex, and it may partly explain why many microbe-based growth stimulants fail to translate from laboratory settings to the field. Detangling these interactions will provide a ripe area for future studies to understand how to best harness beneficial endophytes for agriculture.
Constraints on Rice Cultivation in Eastern Madagascar: Which Factors Matter to Smallholders, and Which Influence Food Security?
Authors: Dröge Saskia , Poudyal Mahesh , Hockley Neal , Mandimbiniaina Rina , Rasoamanana Alexandra , Andrianantenaina Nilsen S. , Llopis Jorge C.
Published: June 2022

In the eastern rainforests of Madagascar, rainfed swidden rice cultivation remains prevalent despite efforts to encourage uptake of irrigated systems to reduce deforestation. We used agricultural surveys with a stratified sample of 171 households to investigate constraints on and productivity of irrigated and rainfed rice perceived by farmers, and actual rice yields. Irrigated rice plots had higher median yields (1.72 t/ha compared to 0.62 t/ha), but farmers perceived the type of rice cultivation they practised themselves as more productive, possibly reflecting differences in the land suitability, farmers experience, and other constraints. While some factors, such as pests and water, were mentioned to limit yields, access to fertiliser was not frequently mentioned by smallholders. Higher food security was related to irrigated rice farming, higher rice yields, and owning more livestock. Conservation initiatives need to target households with and without access to irrigable land to improve food security and reduce deforestation, as exclusively promoting a cessation of swidden agriculture is neglecting its cultural value and the scarcity of irrigable land in the region.
Imbalanced regression using regressor-classifier ensembles
Authors: Orhobor Oghenejokpeme I. , Grinberg Nastasiya F. , Soldatova Larisa N. , King Ross D.
Published: June 2022

We present an extension to the federated ensemble regression using classification algorithm, an ensemble learning algorithm for regression problems which leverages the distribution of the samples in a learning set to achieve improved performance. We evaluated the extension using four classifiers and four regressors, two discretizers, and 119 responses from a wide variety of datasets in different domains. Additionally, we compared our algorithm to two resampling methods aimed at addressing imbalanced datasets. Our results show that the proposed extension is highly unlikely to perform worse than the base case, and on average outperforms the two resampling methods with significant differences in performance.
Do ESG funds make stakeholder-friendly investments?
Authors: Raghunandan Aneesh , Rajgopal Shiva
Published: June 2022

Investment funds that claim to focus on socially responsible stocks have proliferated in recent times. In this paper, we verify whether ESG mutual funds actually invest in firms that have stakeholder-friendly track records. Using a comprehensive sample of self-labelled ESG mutual funds (as identified by Morningstar) in the United States from 2010 to 2018, we find that these funds hold portfolio firms with worse track records for compliance with labor and environmental laws, relative to portfolio firms held by non-ESG funds managed by the same financial institutions in the same years. Relative to other funds offered by the same asset managers in the same years, ESG funds hold stocks that are more likely to voluntarily disclose carbon emissions performance but also stocks with higher carbon emissions per unit of revenue. Despite these findings, ESG funds hold portfolio firms with higher average ESG scores. We show that ESG scores are correlated with the quantity of voluntary ESG-related disclosures but not with firms’ compliance records or actual levels of carbon emissions. Finally, ESG funds appear to underperform financially relative to other funds within the same asset manager and year, and to charge higher fees. Our findings suggest that socially responsible funds do not appear to follow through on proclamations of concerns for stakeholders.
Do Immigrants have a Moral Duty to Learn the Host Society’s Language?
Authors: Hoesch Matthias
Published: June 2022

In many Western countries, the host society expects immigrants to learn the official language and often reacts in severe ways if they do not. One of the normative questions that arise in this context is whether immigrants have a moral duty to learn the host society’s language. The paper evaluates the four most promising arguments for why immigrants might have such a duty: respect towards the host society; the unavoidability of communication situations involving duties; the duty to avoid becoming reliant on assistance from the welfare system; and a contract between the host society and immigrants. The paper argues that only the third and the fourth arguments support a moral obligation, and that they do so subject to several conditions and only for particular groups of immigrants.
Cook Wilson on knowledge and forms of thinking
Authors: Longworth Guy , Wimmer Simon
Published: June 2022

John Cook Wilson is an important predecessor of contemporary knowledge first epistemologists: among other parallels, he claimed that knowledge is indefinable. We reconstruct four arguments for this claim discernible in his work, three of which find no clear analogues in contemporary discussions of knowledge first epistemology. We pay special attention to Cook Wilson’s view of the relation between knowledge and forms of thinking (like belief). Claims of Cook Wilson’s that support the indefinability of knowledge include: that knowledge, unlike belief, straddles an active/passive divide; that, rather than entailing belief, knowledge excludes belief; and that understanding forms of thinking other than knowledge (such as belief) depends on understanding knowledge. Reflecting on Cook Wilson’s framework highlights underappreciated concerns relevant to any attempt to define knowledge.
Empowering Indigenous natural hazards management in northern Australia
Authors: Russell-Smith Jeremy , James Glenn , Dhamarrandji Alan Maratja , Gondarra Ted , Burton Danny , Sithole Bevlyne , Campion Otto Bulmaniya , Hunter-Xenie Hmalan , Archer Ricky , Sangha Kamaljit K. , Edwards Andrew C.
Published: June 2022

Northern Australia is prone to recurring severe natural hazards, especially frequent cyclones, flooding, and extensive wildfires. The region is sparsely populated (≪ 0.5 persons km−2), with Indigenous (Aboriginal) residents comprising 14% of the population, and typically the majority in remote regions. Despite national policy committed to addressing emergency management (EM) in vulnerable Indigenous communities, implementation remains unfunded. We synthesise participatory intercultural research conducted over seven years exploring core challenges, opportunities and potential solutions towards developing effective EM partnerships. Similar EM engagement and empowerment issues face First Nations and local communities in many international settings. In search of solutions, we explore developing effective partnership arrangements between EM agencies and culturally diverse Indigenous communities. Observing that government already provides substantial investment in cultural and natural resource management programmes conducted by over 150 Indigenous Ranger Groups (IRGs) nationally, we demonstrate that expansion of IRG roles to incorporate EM community engagement and service delivery can provide multiple cost-effective community and business development benefits for many remote communities.
Progress towards a targeted biorefinery of Chromochloris zofingiensis: a review
Authors: Wood Eleanor E. , Ross Michael E. , Jubeau Sébastien , Montalescot Valéria , Stanley Michele S.
Published: June 2022

Biorefinery approaches offer the potential to improve the economics of the microalgae industry by producing multiple products from a single source of biomass. Chromochloris zofingiensis shows great promise for biorefinery due to high biomass productivity and a diverse range of products including secondary carotenoids, predominantly astaxanthin; lipids such as TAGs; carbohydrates including starch; and proteins and essential amino acids. Whilst this species has been demonstrated to accumulate multiple products, the development of an integrated downstream process to obtain these is lacking. The objective of this review paper is to assess the research that has taken place and to identify the steps that must be taken to establish a biorefinery approach for C. zofingiensis. In particular, the reasons why C. zofingiensis is a promising species to target for biorefinery are discussed in terms of cellular structure, potential products, and means to accumulate desirable components via the alteration of culture conditions. Future advances and the challenges that lie ahead for successful biorefinery of this species are also reviewed along with potential solutions to address them.
Invariance properties of the natural gradient in overparametrised systems
Authors: van Oostrum Jesse , Müller Johannes , Ay Nihat
Published: June 2022

The natural gradient field is a vector field that lives on a model equipped with a distinguished Riemannian metric, e.g. the Fisher–Rao metric, and represents the direction of steepest ascent of an objective function on the model with respect to this metric. In practice, one tries to obtain the corresponding direction on the parameter space by multiplying the ordinary gradient by the inverse of the Gram matrix associated with the metric. We refer to this vector on the parameter space as the natural parameter gradient. In this paper we study when the pushforward of the natural parameter gradient is equal to the natural gradient. Furthermore we investigate the invariance properties of the natural parameter gradient. Both questions are addressed in an overparametrised setting.
The concentration effects on structural and magnetic properties of Fe2V1-xMnxGe Heusler alloys
Authors: Boyraz C. , Guler A. , Aksu P. , Arda L.
Published: June 2022

This study presents the concentration-dependent structural, morphological, and magnetic properties of Fe2V1-xMnxGe Heusler alloys (x = 0.0, 0.25, and 0.50) have not been studied previously in the literature, and are investigated by using X-ray Diffractometer, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS). We observed from the X-ray diffraction measurements that (except x = 0) Fe2V1-xMnxGe samples have had L21-type crystal structure, matching well with the literature. In all SEM images, some holes and crack-type formations are observed. Increasing Mn content in Fe2V1-xMnxGe Heusler alloys can effectively inhibit grain boundary migration. Except for Fe2VGe, the other alloys in the series are investigated to be soft ferromagnets at 5 K with saturation magnetic moment. The (M-H) graphs especially for Fe2V0.75Mn0.25Ge and Fe2V0.5Mn0.5Ge measured at 5 K reveal almost no coercive fields and easy magnetization. Namely, the system easily saturates without needing any high fields. The obtained results show that these new samples may be suitable candidates for technological applications.
Predictors of mental health symptomatology among Kurdish patients who recovered from COVID-19 in Iraq
Authors: Ibrahim Hawkar , Goessmann Katharina , Ahmad Araz Ramazan , Saeed Ayoub Kareem , Neuner Frank
Published: June 2022

While a growing body of research has documented severe psychosocial consequences of the new Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for the affected people, research mainly focused either on health care workers or the general population. There is a dearth of scientific research on the mental health status of recovered patients, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of the current study was to determine the mental health symptomatology and its associated factors among Iraqis who recovered from COVID-19. Participants were Iraqi Kurdish individuals who had previously been diagnosed with COVID-19 during the first wave of COVID-19, and they were recruited based on lists of recovered patients provided by from public health institutions. Using standardized demographic and mental health questionnaires, structured telephone interviews with 57 recovered patients were contacted. It was found that 31.6% of the participating recovered patients with COVID-19 met the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 21.05% were classified with probable depression. Hospitalized survivors had higher PTSD and depression symptoms than those not hospitalized. We also found that higher levels of PTSD and depression symptoms were predicted by younger age, hospitalization due to COVID-19, and having a family member who died from COVID-19. In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, psychological and psychiatric treatment may be particularly relevant for younger adult patients and those with more severe COVID-19 symptoms who experienced hospitalized care.
Prompt control of a Serratia marcescens outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit informed by whole-genome sequencing and comprehensive infection control intervention package
Authors: Howard-Jones Annaleise R. , Janto Catherine , Jennings Zoe , Branley James , Wang Qinning , Sintchenko Vitali , Samarasekara Harsha
Published: June 2022

Objective:

This report describes a cluster of patients infected by Serratia marcescens in a metropolitan neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a package of infection control interventions that enabled rapid, effective termination of the outbreak.

Design:

Cross-sectional analytical study using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for phylogenetic cluster analysis and identification of virulence and resistance genes.

Setting:

NICU in a metropolitan tertiary-care hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Patients:

All neonates admitted to the level 2 and level 3 neonatal unit.

Interventions:

Active inpatient and environmental screening for Serratia marcescens isolates with WGS analysis for identification of resistance genes as well as cluster relatedness between isolates. Planning and implementation of a targeted, multifaceted infection control intervention.

Results:

The cluster of 10 neonates colonized or infected with Serratia marcescens was identified in a metropolitan NICU. Two initial cases involved devastating intracranial infections with brain abscesses, highlighting the virulence of this organism. A targeted and comprehensive infection control intervention guided by WGS findings enabled termination of this outbreak within 15 days of onset. WGS examination demonstrated phylogenetic linkage across the cluster, and genomic unrelatedness of later strains identified in the neonatal unit and elsewhere.

Conclusions:

A comprehensive, multipronged, infection control package incorporating close stakeholder engagement, frequent microbiological patient screening, environmental screening, enhanced cleaning, optimization of hand hygiene and healthcare worker education was paramount to the prompt control of Serratia marcescens transmission in this neonatal outbreak. WGS was instrumental in establishing relatedness between isolates and identification of possible transmission pathways in an outbreak setting.
Counter-rotating suspension Taylor–Couette flow: pattern transition, flow multiplicity and the spectral evolution
Authors: Singh Suryadev Pratap , Ghosh Manojit , Alam Meheboob
Published: June 2022

Inertial transitions in a suspension Taylor–Couette flow are explored for the first time via experiments in the counter-rotation regime (i.e. the rotation ratio

$\varOmega =\omega _o/\omega _i<0$

, where

$\omega _i$

and

$\omega _o$

are the angular speeds of the inner and outer cylinders, respectively) up to a particle volume fraction

$\phi \leq 0.2$

. The primary bifurcation from the circular Couette flow (CCF) is found to yield patterns similar to those in a particle-free Newtonian fluid, and is supercritical at

$|\varOmega |\leq 0.5$

but becomes hysteretic at large

$|\varOmega |=1$

. It is shown that the states with different numbers of vortices can coexist over a large range of shear Reynolds number

$\mbox {Re}_s(\phi )$

, confirming multi-stable behaviour of the primary and higher-order states for any particle loading at

$|\varOmega |\leq 0.5$

. A quasi-periodic state characterized by two incommensurate frequencies, namely, the modulated wavy vortices (MWV), is found at

$\varOmega =-0.5$

as a tertiary bifurcation from the wavy Taylor vortices (WTV), with the stationary Taylor vortex flow (TVF) being the primary bifurcating state from CCF at

$\phi \geq 0$

. A novel sequence of transitions

${\rm TVF}\to {\rm MWV}_1\to {\rm WTV}\to {\rm MWV}$

, with another variant of modulated vortices (MWV

$_1$

) appearing directly from TVF as a secondary bifurcation, may also occur even for the particle-free (

$\phi =0$

) case; the coexistence/non-uniqueness of WTV and MWV states is demonstrated over a range of

$\mbox {Re}_s$

values spanning the secondary and tertiary bifurcation loci. At

$\varOmega =-1$

, the primary bifurcation yields an oscillatory state (spiral/helical vortex flow) that gives birth to another oscillatory state (interpenetrating spiral vortices) and a non-periodic state (non-propagating interpenetrating spirals, NIS) as secondary and tertiary bifurcations, respectively, with NIS being characterized by the absence of frequency peaks in the power spectrum of the scattered light intensity. For all transitions at

$\varOmega < 0$

, the critical values of

$\mbox {Re}_s^c(\phi )$

decrease with increasing

$\phi$

, with more destabilizing effects of particles being found at larger

$|\varOmega |$

. The effect of particle loading is found to (i) decrease the amplitude and (ii) increase the wavelength of wavy vortices, with the latter seeming to be responsible for the decreased propagation frequencies of azimuthal waves with increasing

$\phi$

. The normalized rotation frequency of spiral vortices also decreases with increasing

$\mbox {Re}_s$

and

$\phi$

, and a scaling relation in terms of the relative viscosity is found to collapse the frequency data for all

$\phi$

.
Discounted optimal stopping problems in first-passage time models with random thresholds
Authors: Gapeev Pavel V. , Al Motairi Hessah
Published: June 2022

We derive closed-form solutions to some discounted optimal stopping problems related to the perpetual American cancellable dividend-paying put and call option pricing problems in an extension of the Black–Merton–Scholes model. The cancellation times are assumed to occur when the underlying risky asset price process hits some unobservable random thresholds. The optimal stopping times are shown to be the first times at which the asset price reaches stochastic boundaries depending on the current values of its running maximum and minimum processes. The proof is based on the reduction of the original optimal stopping problems to the associated free-boundary problems and the solution of the latter problems by means of the smooth-fit and modified normal-reflection conditions. We show that the optimal stopping boundaries are characterised as the maximal and minimal solutions of certain first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations.
On a class of critical N-Laplacian problems
Authors: Ho Tsz Chung , Perera Kanishka
Published: June 2022

We establish some existence results for a class of critical $N$-Laplacian problems in a bounded domain in $\mathbb {R}^{N}$. In the absence of a suitable direct sum decomposition of the underlying Sobolev space to which the classical linking theorem can be applied, we use an abstract linking theorem based on the $\mathbb {Z}_2$-cohomological index to obtain a non-trivial critical point.
Liver function tests in primary care provide a key opportunity to diagnose and engage patients with hepatitis C
Authors: McLeod A. , Hutchinson S. J. , Weir A. , Barclay S. , Schofield J. , Frew C. Gillespie , Goldberg D. J. , Heydtmann M. , Wilson-Davies E.
Published: June 2022

Since the advent of direct-acting antiviral therapy, the elimination of hepatitis c virus (HCV) as a public health concern is now possible. However, identification of those who remain undiagnosed, and re-engagement of those who are diagnosed but remain untreated, will be essential to achieve this. We examined the extent of HCV infection among individuals undergoing liver function tests (LFT) in primary care. Residual biochemistry samples for 6007 patients, who had venous blood collected in primary care for LFT between July 2016 and January 2017, were tested for HCV antibody. Through data linkage to national and sentinel HCV surveillance databases, we also examined the extent of diagnosed infection, attendance at specialist service and HCV treatment for those found to be HCV positive. Overall HCV antibody prevalence was 4.0% and highest for males (5.0%), those aged 37–50 years (6.2%), and with an ALT result of 70 or greater (7.1%). Of those testing positive, 68.9% had been diagnosed with HCV in the past, 84.9% before the study period. Most (92.5%) of those diagnosed with chronic infection had attended specialist liver services and while 67.7% had ever been treated only 38% had successfully cleared infection. More than half of HCV-positive people required assessment, and potentially treatment, for their HCV infection but were not engaged with services during the study period. LFT in primary care are a key opportunity to diagnose, re-diagnose and re-engage patients with HCV infection and highlight the importance of GPs in efforts to eliminate HCV as a public health concern.
Making ProB Compatible with SWI-Prolog
Authors: GELEßUS DAVID , LEUSCHEL MICHAEL
Published: June 2022

Even though the core of the Prolog programming language has been standardized by ISO since 1995, it remains difficult to write complex Prolog programs that can run unmodified on multiple Prolog implementations. Indeed, implementations sometimes deviate from the ISO standard and the standard itself fails to cover many features that are essential in practice. Most Prolog applications thus have to rely on nonstandard features, often making them dependent on one particular Prolog implementation and incompatible with others. We examine one such Prolog application: ProB, which has been developed for over 20 years in SICStus Prolog. The article describes how we managed to refactor the codebase of ProB to also support SWI-Prolog, with the goal of verifying ProB’s results using two independent toolchains. This required a multitude of adjustments, ranging from extending the SICStus emulation in SWI-Prolog on to better modularizing the monolithic ProB codebase. We also describe notable compatibility issues and other differences that we encountered in the process, and how we were able to deal with them with few major code changes.
Einsamkeit
Authors: Krieger Tobias , Seewer Noëmi
Published: June 2022

Etwa 5 bis 10% der erwachsenen Bevölkerung geben an, sich ziemlich häufig bis sehr häufig einsam zu fühlen. Darüber hinaus ist Einsamkeit ein Phänomen, welches im klinischen Alltag häufig anzutreffen ist, auch wenn es von Patientinnen und Patienten nicht immer spontan berichtet wird. Das aversive Gefühl der Einsamkeit tritt auf, wenn unser menschliches Grundbedürfnis nach sozialen Beziehungen nicht genügend befriedigt ist. Es zeigt sich bei Betroffenen, die über zu wenige oder qualitativ nicht ausreichend befriedigende Kontakte verfügen. Es ist wichtig, zwischen vorübergehender, situativer und überdauernder Einsamkeit zu unterscheiden. Denn obwohl jede Art von Einsamkeit schmerzhaft ist, ist Einsamkeit nicht immer dysfunktional. Während vorübergehenden und situativ bedingten Einsamkeitsgefühlen in der Regel eine adaptive Funktion zugeschrieben wird, sind überdauernde Einsamkeitsgefühle mit einem hohen Leidensdruck und einer Vielzahl von psychischen und somatischen Beschwerden assoziiert.
Überdauernde Einsamkeitsgefühle spielen bei der Entstehung und/oder Aufrechterhaltung verschiedener psychischer Störungen eine zentrale Rolle. Der Band sensibilisiert Fachpersonen für das Thema Einsamkeit, fasst den aktuellen Stand zur Phänomenologie und Verbreitung von Einsamkeit zusammen und nennt verschiedene Risikofaktoren für die Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung von Einsamkeit. Zudem werden empirische Zusammenhänge von Einsamkeit mit psychischen und somatischen Störungen sowie klinischen Phänomenen wie Suizidalität berichtet. Der Band stellt verschiedene Erklärungsmodelle vor und beschreibt spezifische, darauf aufbauende Interventionsmöglichkeiten. Diese sollen Fachpersonen beim Umgang mit dem Thema Einsamkeit in der Therapie unterstützen und eine auf die individuellen Umstände einer Person abgestimmte Therapie ermöglichen.
“A Lot of Ghanaians Really Don’t Understand the Work We Do” – Cultural Adaptations and Barriers in Ghanaian Psychotherapy Practice
Authors: Dzokoto Vivian , Anum Adote , Affram Adjeiwa Akosua , Agbavitoh Joseph K. M. , Dadzie Henrietta A. , Mintah Rebecca Korantemah , Norman Queen Angela , Owusu-Prempeh Cecilia , Tawam Louis N. , Turkson Sarah M. , Osei-Tutu Annabella
Published: June 2022

Abstract. Formal psychotherapy in Ghana is gaining momentum. Concerns about the over-reliance on Western theories bring the suitability of associated clinical interventions into question for Ghanaian, non-Western clients. We interviewed 27 clinical practitioners (including clinical, counseling, and health psychologists) practicing in an urban setting to explore cultural challenges they faced and to identify cultural adaptations they made in their practice. Our participants reported navigating cultural barriers to therapy such as potential clients seeing therapy as an unfamiliar resource, resistance due to mental illness stigma, linguistic barriers, and hierarchical and age norms associated with help-seeking. Our sample identified attention to the following as routine in clinical practice: charismatic Christian and African cosmological worldviews, cultural expectations of helping and interdependence, and family involvement in “individual” therapy sessions. The findings have implications for future psychotherapy practice and training in Ghana and similar Low and Middle Income Country (LMIC) contexts, as well as for clinical work with African immigrants.
Developing Evidence-Based Alternatives to Dual Salary Systems
Authors: McWha-Hermann Ishbel , Marai Leo , MacLachlan Malcolm , Carr Stuart C.
Published: June 2022

Abstract. The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.5 aims to “achieve equal pay for work of equal value” globally by 2030. This goal conflicts with a widespread and continuing practice of paying skilled workers from higher-income economies working in lower-income settings more than their host worker counterparts. This brief summarizes research that has found that dual salaries undermine host colleagues' sense of wage justice, work motivation, and team relations. At organizational levels, they fuel turnover, increase brain drain, and reduce mental well-being of workers. Higher ratios fuel a “double demotivation” – extending to international staff who overrate their own abilities and reduce their effort at work. International, multisector evidence shows conventional dual salaries to be neither compatible nor to align with the SDGs. Organizational options for meeting SDG 8.5 identified in civil society groups include reducing dual salary ratios and implementing single salary systems at a national level. We offer three macro policy frameworks (Project Fair's Principles and Standards of INGO Fair Reward, the UN Global Compact, and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises) that can serve to render salary systems more facilitative of the SDGs and the Decent Work Agenda.
Indo‐Pacific Sector Dominates Southern Ocean Carbon Outgassing
Authors: Prend Channing J. , Gray Alison R. , Talley Lynne D. , Gille Sarah T. , Haumann F. Alexander , Johnson Kenneth S. , Riser Stephen C. , Rosso Isabella , Sauvé Jade , Sarmiento Jorge L.
Published: June 2022

The Southern Ocean modulates the climate system by exchanging heat and carbon dioxide (CO2) between the atmosphere and deep ocean. While this region plays an outsized role in the global oceanic anthropogenic carbon uptake, CO2 is also released to the atmosphere across large swaths of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). Southern Ocean outgassing has long been attributed to remineralized carbon from upwelled deep water, but the precise mechanisms by which this water reaches the surface are not well constrained from observations. Using data from a novel array of autonomous biogeochemical profiling floats, we examine Southern Ocean air‐sea CO2 fluxes and the pathways that transfer carbon from the ocean interior into the mixed layer where air‐sea exchange occurs. These float‐based flux estimates of unprecedented spatial resolution indicate that carbon outgassing occurs predominantly in the Indo‐Pacific sector of the ACC due to variations in the mean surface ocean partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2). We show that this zonal asymmetry in surface pCO2, and consequently air‐sea carbon fluxes, stems primarily from regional variability in the mixed‐layer entrainment of upwelled carbon‐rich deep water. These results suggest that a sustained circumpolar observing system is crucial to monitor future changes in oceanic carbon release and uptake.
The Curiosity Rover's Exploration of Glen Torridon, Gale Crater, Mars: An Overview of the Campaign and Scientific Results
Authors: Bennett Kristen A. , Fox Valerie K. , Bryk Alex , Dietrich William , Fedo Christopher , Edgar Lauren , Thorpe Michael T. , Williams Amy J. , Wong Gregory M. , Dehouck Erwin , McAdam Amy , Sutter Brad , Millan Maëva , Banham Steven G. , Bedford Candice C. , Bristow Thomas , Fraeman Abigail , Vasavada Ashwin R. , Grotzinger John , Thompson Lucy , O’Connell‐Cooper Catherine , Gasda Patrick , Rudolph Amanda , Sullivan Robert , Arvidson Ray , Cousin Agnes , Horgan Briony , Stack Kathryn M. , Treiman Allan , Eigenbrode Jennifer , Caravaca Gwénaël
Published: June 2022

The Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity, explored the clay mineral‐bearing Glen Torridon region for 1 Martian year between January 2019 and January 2021, including a short campaign onto the Greenheugh pediment. The Glen Torridon campaign sought to characterize the geology of the area, seek evidence of habitable environments, and document the onset of a potentially global climatic transition during the Hesperian era. Curiosity roved 5 km in total throughout Glen Torridon, from the Vera Rubin ridge to the northern margin of the Greenheugh pediment. Curiosity acquired samples from 11 drill holes during this campaign and conducted the first Martian thermochemolytic‐based organics detection experiment with the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite. The lowest elevations within Glen Torridon represent a continuation of lacustrine Murray formation deposits, but overlying widespread cross bedded sandstones indicate an interval of more energetic fluvial environments and prompted the definition of a new stratigraphic formation in the Mount Sharp group called the Carolyn Shoemaker formation. Glen Torridon hosts abundant phyllosilicates yet remains compositionally and mineralogically comparable to the rest of the Mount Sharp group. Glen Torridon samples have a great diversity and abundance of sulfur‐bearing organic molecules, which are consistent with the presence of ancient refractory organic matter. The Glen Torridon region experienced heterogeneous diagenesis, with the most striking alteration occurring just below the Siccar Point unconformity at the Greenheugh pediment. Results from the pediment campaign show that the capping sandstone formed within the Stimson Hesperian aeolian sand sea that experienced seasonal variations in wind direction.
Passive radiant cooling without sacrificing the aesthetics of objects
Authors: Dereń Przemysław Jacek
Published: June 2022

Photonic-engineered passive radiative cooling built into decorative climate-controlled enclosures reduces the active power consumption of the existing enclosure without sacrificing its aesthetics.
The extracellular matrix and perineuronal nets in memory
Authors: Fawcett James W. , Fyhn Marianne , Jendelova Pavla , Kwok Jessica C. F. , Ruzicka Jiri , Sorg Barbara A.
Published: June 2022

All components of the CNS are surrounded by a diffuse extracellular matrix (ECM) containing chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs), heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs), hyaluronan, various glycoproteins including tenascins and thrombospondin, and many other molecules that are secreted into the ECM and bind to ECM components. In addition, some neurons, particularly inhibitory GABAergic parvalbumin-positive (PV) interneurons, are surrounded by a more condensed cartilage-like ECM called perineuronal nets (PNNs). PNNs surround the soma and proximal dendrites as net-like structures that surround the synapses. Attention has focused on the role of PNNs in the control of plasticity, but it is now clear that PNNs also play an important part in the modulation of memory. In this review we summarize the role of the ECM, particularly the PNNs, in the control of various types of memory and their participation in memory pathology. PNNs are now being considered as a target for the treatment of impaired memory. There are many potential treatment targets in PNNs, mainly through modulation of the sulphation, binding, and production of the various CSPGs that they contain or through digestion of their sulphated glycosaminoglycans.
Genetic disruption of Arabidopsis secondary metabolite synthesis leads to microbiome-mediated modulation of nematode invasion
Authors: Sikder Md Maniruzzaman , Vestergård Mette , Kyndt Tina , Topalović Olivera , Kudjordjie Enoch Narh , Nicolaisen Mogens
Published: June 2022

In-depth understanding of metabolite-mediated plant-nematode interactions can guide us towards novel nematode management strategies. To improve our understanding of the effects of secondary metabolites on soil nematode communities, we grew Arabidopsis thaliana genetically altered in glucosinolate, camalexin, or flavonoid synthesis pathways, and analyzed their root-associated nematode communities using metabarcoding. To test for any modulating effects of the associated microbiota on the nematode responses, we characterized the bacterial and fungal communities. Finally, as a proxy of microbiome-modulating effects on nematode invasion, we isolated the root-associated microbiomes from the mutants and tested their effect on the ability of the plant parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita to penetrate tomato roots. Most mutants had altered relative abundances of several nematode taxa with stronger effects on the plant parasitic Meloidogyne hapla than on other root feeding taxa. This probably reflects that M. hapla invades and remains embedded within root tissues and is thus intimately associated with the host. When transferred to tomato, microbiomes from the flavonoid over-producing pap1-D enhanced M. incognita root-invasion, whereas microbiomes from flavonoid-deficient mutants reduced invasion. This suggests microbiome-mediated effect of flavonoids on Meloidogyne infectivity plausibly mediated by the alteration of the abundances of specific microbial taxa in the transferred microbiomes, although we could not conclusively pinpoint such causative microbial taxa.
Associations between fear of COVID-19, dental anxiety, and psychological distress among Iranian adolescents
Authors: Tofangchiha Maryam , Lin Chung-Ying , Scheerman Janneke F. M. , Broström Anders , Ahonen Hanna , Griffiths Mark D. , Tadakamadla Santosh Kumar , Pakpour Amir H.
Published: June 2022

Objectives

The present study evaluated the association of fear of COVID-19 with dental anxiety, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress), as well as exploring the mediating role of dental anxiety in the association of fear of COVID-19 with OHRQoL and psychological distress.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents in high schools of Qazvin city (Iran) from March-June 2021, recruited through a two-stage cluster sampling method. All the adolescents completed a self-administered survey assessing (i) fear of COVID-19, (ii) depression, anxiety and stress, (iii) OHRQoL, and (iv) dental anxiety. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate all the hypothesised associations, and the model fit was estimated.

Results

A total of 2429 adolescents participated in the study. The conceptual model fitted the data well. Fear of COVID-19 had a direct effect on dental anxiety (B = 0.316; bias-corrected bootstrapping 95% CI = 0.282, 0.349), depression (B = 0.302; bias-corrected bootstrapping 95% CI = 0.259, 0.347), anxiety (B = 0.289; bias-corrected bootstrapping 95% CI = 0.246, 0.334), stress (B = 0.282; bias-corrected bootstrapping 95% CI = 0.237, 0.328), and OHRQoL (B = −0.354; bias-corrected bootstrapping 95% CI = −0.530, −0.183). Also, dental anxiety mediated the association of fear of COVID-19 with depression, anxiety stress, and OHRQoL.

Conclusions

High levels of fear of COVID-19 were associated with high levels of dental anxiety and poorer OHRQoL. Moreover, fear of COVID-19 was positively associated with anxiety, depression and stress. Increased levels of dental anxiety were also associated with increased anxiety, stress, depression, and poorer OHRQoL.
Incidence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the modern era; an Australian study
Authors: Kariyawasam Didu , D’Silva Arlene , Mowat David , Russell Jacqui , Sampaio Hugo , Jones Kristi , Taylor Peter , Farrar Michelle
Published: June 2022

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an X-linked recessive condition is maternally inherited in two-thirds of affected boys. It is important to establish carrier status of female relatives to restore reproductive confidence for non-carriers and facilitate reproductive options and cardiac surveillance for carriers. This study investigates disease incidence within an Australian model of cascade screening and evolving genetic diagnostic technologies. A retrospective population-based cohort study of all genetically and/or histopathologically confirmed males with DMD, born in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory was undertaken from 2002–2012. Cases were identified using state-wide molecular laboratory and clinical databases. The annual disease incidence and “theoretically” preventable cases were extrapolated over the study period. Proband genotype/phenotype, pedigree analysis, carrier-risk and extent of cascade screening were also determined. The cumulative incidence of disease was 19.7 per 100,000 male live births and 1 in 5076 live born males were diagnosed with DMD. Differences in disease incidence were not statistically different when compared between 2002–2007 and 2008–2012 (incidence rate ratio = 1.13, 95% CI 0.76–1.69, p = 0.52). The incidence rate ratio of theoretically preventable cases did not significantly change between 2002–2007 and 2008–2012 (incidence rate ratio = 2.07, 95% CI 0.58–9.21, p = 0.23). Current diagnostic and cascade screening models have limitations in their impact on disease incidence, due to a spectrum of logistical, patient and condition related factors. Innovative approaches to reduce DMD incidence may be better achieved by preconception or early pregnancy carrier screening, prenatal exome sequencing and newborn screening.
A GPCR-based yeast biosensor for biomedical, biotechnological, and point-of-use cannabinoid determination
Authors: Miettinen Karel , Leelahakorn Nattawat , Almeida Aldo , Zhao Yong , Hansen Lukas R. , Nikolajsen Iben E. , Andersen Jens B. , Givskov Michael , Staerk Dan , Bak Søren , Kampranis Sotirios C.
Published: June 2022

Eukaryotic cells use G-protein coupled receptors to sense diverse signals, ranging from chemical compounds to light. Here, we exploit the remarkable sensing capacity of G-protein coupled receptors to construct yeast-based biosensors for real-life applications. To establish proof-of-concept, we focus on cannabinoids because of their neuromodulatory and immunomodulatory activities. We construct a CB2 receptor-based biosensor, optimize it to achieve high sensitivity and dynamic range, and prove its effectiveness in three applications of increasing difficulty. First, we screen a compound library to discover agonists and antagonists. Second, we analyze 54 plants to discover a new phytocannabinoid, dugesialactone. Finally, we develop a robust portable device, analyze body-fluid samples, and confidently detect designer drugs like JWH-018. These examples demonstrate the potential of yeast-based biosensors to enable diverse applications that can be implemented by non-specialists. Taking advantage of the extensive sensing repertoire of G-protein coupled receptors, this technology can be extended to detect numerous compounds.
The importance of DNAPKcs for blunt DNA end joining is magnified when XLF is weakened
Authors: Cisneros-Aguirre Metztli , Lopezcolorado Felicia Wednesday , Tsai Linda Jillianne , Bhargava Ragini , Stark Jeremy M.
Published: June 2022

Canonical non-homologous end joining (C-NHEJ) factors can assemble into a long-range (LR) complex with DNA ends relatively far apart that contains DNAPKcs, XLF, XRCC4, LIG4, and the KU heterodimer and a short-range (SR) complex lacking DNAPKcs that has the ends positioned for ligation. Since the SR complex can form de novo, the role of the LR complex (i.e., DNAPKcs) for chromosomal EJ is unclear. We have examined EJ of chromosomal blunt DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), and found that DNAPKcs is significantly less important than XLF for such EJ. However, weakening XLF via disrupting interaction interfaces causes a marked requirement for DNAPKcs, its kinase activity, and its ABCDE-cluster autophosphorylation sites for blunt DSB EJ. In contrast, other aspects of genome maintenance are sensitive to DNAPKcs kinase inhibition in a manner that is not further enhanced by XLF loss (i.e., suppression of homology-directed repair and structural variants, and IR-resistance). We suggest that DNAPKcs is required to position a weakened XLF in an LR complex that can transition into a functional SR complex for blunt DSB EJ, but also has distinct functions for other aspects of genome maintenance.