bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collective culpable ignorance
Authors: de Haan Niels ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: February 2021

I argue that culpable ignorance can be irreducibly collective. In some cases, it is not fair to expect any individual to have avoided her ignorance of some fact, but it is fair to expect the agents together to have avoided their ignorance of that fact. Hence, no agent is individually culpable for her ignorance, but they are culpable for their ignorance together. This provides us with good reason to think that any group that is culpably ignorant in this irreducibly collective sense is non-distributively collectively responsible for subsequent unwitting acts and consequences.
Characterisation and mapping of the surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use in the United Kingdom
Authors: Bennani Houda , Cornelsen Laura , Stärk Katharina D.C. , Häsler Barbara
Published: February 2021

Background: Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an essential component of any strategy to mitigate AMR and needs regular evaluation to ensure its effectiveness. A first step for any evaluation is to describe the system and context. In this study, we aimed to characterise and map the surveillance system for AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) in the United Kingdom (UK) using a One Health (OH) approach and to identify integration points in the system.

Methods: To describe the surveillance system for AMR/AMU, international guidelines for establishing surveillance systems for AMR and AMU were used. A review of the literature was conducted to collect information on the different parameters identified.

Results: Multiple data collection systems exist for AMU and AMR in humans, animals and food. Each sector is responsible for the planning, implementation, analysis and reporting of its own surveillance for AMR and AMU. Some cross‐sectoral collaborative activities exist such as the UK AMR contingency plan and the publication of UK OH reports; there are opportunities for further integration such as the harmonisation of data analyses methods and interpretation across sectors and the publication of joint surveillance reports.

Conclusion: This overview of key stakeholders, data collection streams, reporting, linkages within and across sectors and international monitoring forms an important basis for future evaluation of the UK AMR/AMU surveillance system from a OH perspective.
Most likely causes of infection and risk factors for tuberculosis in Spanish cattle herds
Authors: Ciaravino Giovanna , Laranjo‐González Minerva , Casal Jordi , Sáez‐Llorente Jose Luis , Allepuz Alberto
Published: February 2021

Introduction: This study aims to assess the most likely causes of Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) breakdowns in Spanish cattle herds and to identify the main risk factors at farm‐level.

Methods: Causes of bTB breakdowns were assessed through a qualitative risk‐assessment based on decision‐trees by analysing surveillance data from 3819 bTB breakdowns detected during 2014–2016. Results were compared to veterinary officers' (VO) opinions. Risk factors were identified through a case‐control study with data from 196 bTB cases and 160 controls collected during 2014–2018.

Results: The decision tree analysis identified residual infections and interactions with wildlife as the most frequent causes of breakdowns (36% each), followed by purchasing infected cattle (14%). These results were not supported by VOs' opinions. According to the regression models, the risk of bTB increased by sharing pastures (odds ratios [OR] = 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6–4.4) and by increasing inwards cattle movements. The presence of wildlife reservoirs represented a significant risk for extensively‐managed farms if other cattle farms are situated within a one‐kilometre radius (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.1–5.1).

Discussion: To prevent bTB breakdowns, efforts should be devoted to decrease the likelihood of residual infections and improve farm biosecurity. The adoption of biosecurity measures might be influenced by farmers' perceptions, which should be carefully evaluated to ensure the effectiveness of such strategies.
A comparison of cytological quality between fine‐needle aspiration and non‐aspiration techniques for obtaining ultrasound‐guided samples from canine and feline lymph nodes
Authors: Whitlock James , Taeymans Olivier , Monti Paola
Published: February 2021

Background: In small animal medicine, ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle lymph node sampling plays a pivotal role in the diagnostic investigation of a range of pathologies including the staging of neoplastic disease. Traditionally fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been employed to produce samples, but fine needle non‐aspiration cytology (FNNAC) has been suggested to generate superior sample quality and diagnosticity.

Methods: In a randomised control trial, 104 canine and feline lymph nodes were each sampled by both techniques. The cytological samples were then submitted to pathologists who were blinded to the technique used to generate each sample. They determined if the sample was diagnostic or non‐diagnostic and graded the sample in terms of the degree of cellularity, cellular preservation and haemodilution.

Results: It was found that lymph node samples obtained using the FNAC technique were more likely to be diagnostic (p = 0.043) than samples obtained using the FNNAC technique. In addition, FNAC samples had significantly higher cellularity than FNNAC counterparts (P = 0.043). No significant difference in cell preservation or haemodilution was found between samples from the FNAC and FNNAC groups.

Conclusion: In this study, FNAC was superior to non‐aspiration cytology for the sampling of canine and feline lymph nodes as it generated a higher number of diagnostic samples with greater cellularity.
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in dogs: Main patterns and prevalence of albuminocytological dissociation
Authors: Suñol Anna , Garcia‐Pertierra Sofia , Faller Kiterie M. E.
Published: February 2021

Background: Albuminocytological dissociation (ACD) of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is defined as an increased total protein concentration with normal total nucleated cell count. It is suspected to occur in diseases that alter the blood‐brain barrier, increase the production of protein or obstruct the flow of CSF. The purposes of this study were to review the CSF analysis results of a large cohort of dogs with neurological conditions, to analyse the total prevalence of ACD and to describe which diseases have a higher prevalence of ACD.

Study design and methods: Medical records were retrospectively searched for dogs whom CSF was sampled from 2012–2019. Data collected included signalment, body weight, site of collection of the CSF, CSF analysis results, and final diagnosis.

Results: A total of 497 dogs met the inclusion criteria. ACD was identified in 16.5% (82/497) of dogs. The diseases with higher proportion of ACD were cranial nerve neuropathy (6/10; 60.0%), brain tumour (10/24; 41.7%), idiopathic vestibular disease (7/17; 41.2%) and brain vascular disease (4/13; 30.8%).

Clinical significance: This study describes the CSF patterns of the most common neurological conditions in dogs, also characterizing, for the first time in dogs, the prevalence and causes of ACD, which was identified in 16.5% of the samples. The diseases with highest proportions of ACD were cranial nerve neuropathy, brain tumour, idiopathic vestibular disease and brain vascular disease.
Driving evidence‐based improvements for the UK's ‘Stressed. Lonely. Overweight. Bored. Aggressive. Misunderstood…but loved’ companion animals
Authors: Wensley Sean , Betton Vicki , Gosschalk Kate , Hooker Richard , Main David C.J. , Martin Nicola , Tipton Emma
Published: February 2021

Background: The Five Welfare Needs in UK animal welfare legislation underpin a legal duty of care and are an animal welfare assessment framework. Health and welfare problems arise when these needs are unmet. The veterinary professions work with others to address these problems, but there is no publicly funded U.K. companion animal welfare surveillance to identify priorities, or promote and monitor change.

Methods: The veterinary charity, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), together with the market research organisation, YouGov, has undertaken a longitudinal nationwide survey, assessing whether the U.K's pet dogs, cats and rabbits are having their Five Welfare Needs met. Data from nationally representative samples of pet‐owning adults, drawn from YouGov's online survey panel, have been used to produce the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report annually since 2011.

Results: Examples are given of how the PAW Report has been used to monitor trends in animal welfare problems, drive collaborative behaviour change campaigns, create evidence‐based funding applications and inspire innovation in veterinary practice.

Conclusion: The PAW Report has contributed to closing a gap in national companion animal welfare surveillance. When governments rely on non‐governmental organisations to assist with animal welfare surveillance, reliable sources such as the PAW Report can inform research, policy and legislation.
Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Effective Confinement Anisotropy with Orientationally-Averaged Single and Double Diffusion Encoding
Authors: Yolcu Cem , Herberthson Magnus , Westin Carl-Fredrik , Özarslan Evren
Published: February 2021

Porous or biological materials comprise a multitude of micro-domains containing water. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance measurements are sensitive to the anisotropy of the thermal motion of such water. This anisotropy can be due to the domain shape, as well as the (lack of) dispersion in their orientations. Averaging over measurements that span all orientations is a trick to suppress the latter, thereby untangling it from the influence of the domains’ anisotropy on the signal. Here, we consider domains whose anisotropy is modeled as being the result of a Hookean (spring) force, which has the advantage of having a Gaussian diffusion propagator while still confining the spatial range for the diffusing particles. In fact, this confinement model is the effective model of restricted diffusion when diffusion is encoded via gradients of long durations, making the model relevant to a broad range of studies aiming to characterize porous media with microscopic subdomains. In this study, analytical expressions for the powder-averaged signal under this assumption are given for so-called single and double diffusion encoding schemes, which sensitize the MR signal to the diffusive displacement of particles in, respectively, one or two consecutive time intervals. The signal for one-dimensional diffusion is shown to exhibit power-law dependence on the gradient strength while its coefficient bears signatures of restricted diffusion.
Anisotropy in the Human Placenta in Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Growth Restriction
Authors: Slator Paddy J. , Ho Alison , Bakalis Spyros , Jackson Laurence , Chappell Lucy C. , Alexander Daniel C. , Hajnal Joseph V. , Rutherford Mary , Hutter Jana
Published: February 2021

The placenta has a unique structure, which enables the transfer of oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the developing fetus. Abnormalities in placental structure are associated with major complications of pregnancy; for instance, changes in the complex branching structures of fetal villous trees are associated with fetal growth restriction. Diffusion MRI has the potential to measure such fine placental microstructural details. Here, we present in-vivo placental diffusion MRI scans from controls and pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction. We find that after 30 weeks’ gestation fractional anisotropy is significantly higher in placentas associated with growth restricted pregnancies. This shows the potential of diffusion MRI derived measures of anisotropy for assessing placental function during pregnancy.
Degenerate Curve Bifurcations in 3D Linear Symmetric Tensor Fields
Authors: Zhang Yue , Nie Hongyu , Zhang Eugene
Published: February 2021

3D symmetric tensor fields have a wide range of applications in medicine, science, and engineering. The topology of tensor fields can provide key insight into their structures. In this paper we study the number of possible topological bifurcations in 3D linear tensor fields. Using the linearity/planarity classification and wedge/trisector classification, we explore four types of bifurcations that can change the number and connectivity in the degenerate curves as well as the number and location of transition points on these degenerate curves. This leads to four types of bifurcations among nine scenarios of 3D linear tensor fields.
Tensor Approximation for Multidimensional and Multivariate Data
Authors: Pajarola Renato , Suter Susanne K. , Ballester-Ripoll Rafael , Yang Haiyan
Published: February 2021

Tensor decomposition methods and multilinear algebra are powerful tools to cope with challenges around multidimensional and multivariate data in computer graphics, image processing and data visualization, in particular with respect to compact representation and processing of increasingly large-scale data sets. Initially proposed as an extension of the concept of matrix rank for 3 and more dimensions, tensor decomposition methods have found applications in a remarkably wide range of disciplines. We briefly review the main concepts of tensor decompositions and their application to multidimensional visual data. Furthermore, we will include a first outlook on porting these techniques to multivariate data such as vector and tensor fields.
Fourth-Order Anisotropic Diffusion for Inpainting and Image Compression
Authors: Jumakulyyev Ikram , Schultz Thomas
Published: February 2021

Edge-enhancing diffusion (EED) can reconstruct a close approximation of an original image from a small subset of its pixels. This makes it an attractive foundation for PDE based image compression. In this work, we generalize second-order EED to a fourth-order counterpart. It involves a fourth-order diffusion tensor that is constructed from the regularized image gradient in a similar way as in traditional second-order EED, permitting diffusion along edges, while applying a non-linear diffusivity function across them. We show that our fourth-order diffusion tensor formalism provides a unifying framework for all previous anisotropic fourth-order diffusion based methods, and that it provides additional flexibility. We achieve an efficient implementation using a fast semi-iterative scheme. Experimental results on natural and medical images suggest that our novel fourth-order method produces more accurate reconstructions compared to the existing second-order EED.
Uncertainty in the DTI Visualization Pipeline
Authors: Siddiqui Faizan , Höllt Thomas , Vilanova Anna
Published: February 2021

Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DWI) enables the in-vivo visualization of fibrous tissues such as white matter in the brain. Diffusion-Tensor Imaging (DTI) specifically models the DWI diffusion measurements as a second order-tensor. The processing pipeline to visualize this data, from image acquisition to the final rendering, is rather complex. It involves a considerable amount of measurements, parameters and model assumptions, all of which generate uncertainties in the final result which typically are not shown to the analyst in the visualization. In recent years, there has been a considerable amount of work on the visualization of uncertainty in DWI, and specifically DTI. In this chapter, we primarily focus on DTI given its simplicity and applicability, however, several aspects presented are valid for DWI as a whole. We explore the various sources of uncertainties involved, approaches for modeling those uncertainties, and, finally, we survey different strategies to visually represent them. We also look at several related methods of uncertainty visualization that have been applied outside DTI and discuss how these techniques can be adopted to the DTI domain. We conclude our discussion with an overview of potential research directions.
Europe’s Melancholias: Diasporas in Contention and the Unravelings of the Postwar Settlement
Authors: Rosenhaft Eve
Published: February 2021

Rosenhaft explores some ways in which discourses of human rights, racism and antisemitism that emerged in the global North after 1945 have been appropriated, complicated and disrupted in this century’s memory conflicts. She examines Black Holocaust fictions in the light of changes in the global Black diaspora, and reflects on the recent debates on antisemitism and Holocaust memory that place diasporic actors in contention as well as on the populist trope of a “white, Christian Europe”. Following Paul Gilroy’s use of the term “postcolonial melancholia” to characterize British nostalgia for empire, she identifies analogous forms of nostalgia driving the current memory wars, and deploys the notions of “post-Holocaust” and “post-imperial” melancholias as complementary responses to the challenges posed by the (re-)emergence of a multicultural Europe.
Öffentliche Mobilität legitimieren: Das Berliner Mobilitätsgesetz
Authors: Kirchner Jens Holger
Published: February 2021

Seit vielen Jahren hat in Berlin der Fahrradverkehr zugenommen – absolut und auch relativ. Einige behaupten, wegen der kommunalpolitischen Bemühungen, Andere behaupten, trotz dessen. In einigen Gegenden der Stadt nimmt der Radverkehr schon gefühlt einen Anteil von 50 % auf der Fahrbahn, d. h. gegenüber dem Kfz-Verkehr, ein.
New asymptotic conservation laws for electromagnetism
Authors: Bhatkar Sayali Atul
Published: February 2021

Abstract

We obtain the subleading tail to the memory term in the late time electromagnetic radiative field generated due to a generic scattering of charged bodies. We show that there exists a new asymptotic conservation law which is related to the subleading tail term. The corresponding charge is made of a mode of the asymptotic electromagnetic field that appears at $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(e5) and we expect that it is uncorrected at higher orders. This hints that the subleading tail arises from classical limit of a 2-loop soft photon theorem. Building on the m = 1 [41, 42] and m = 2 cases, we propose that there exists a conservation law for every m such that the respective charge involves an $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(e2m+1) mode and is conserved exactly. This would imply a hierarchy of an infinite number of m-loop soft theorems. We also predict the structure of mth order tails to the memory term that are tied to the classical limit of these soft theorems.
BMS algebras in 4 and 3 dimensions, their quantum deformations and duals
Authors: Borowiec Andrzej , Brocki Lennart , Kowalski-Glikman Jerzy , Unger Josua
Published: February 2021

Abstract

BMS symmetry is a symmetry of asymptotically flat spacetimes in vicinity of the null boundary of spacetime and it is expected to play a fundamental role in physics. It is interesting therefore to investigate the structures and properties of quantum deformations of these symmetries, which are expected to shed some light on symmetries of quantum spacetime. In this paper we discuss the structure of the algebra of extended BMS symmetries in 3 and 4 spacetime dimensions, realizing that these algebras contain an infinite number of distinct Poincaré subalgebras, a fact that has previously been noted in the 3 dimensional case only. Then we use these subalgebras to construct an infinite number of different Hopf algebras being quantum deformations of the BMS algebras. We also discuss different types of twist-deformations and the dual Hopf algebras, which could be interpreted as noncommutative, extended quantum spacetimes.
Lepton-mediated electroweak baryogenesis, gravitational waves and the 4τ final state at the collider
Authors: Xie Ke-Pan
Published: February 2021

Abstract

An electroweak baryogenesis (EWBG) mechanism mediated by τ lepton transport is proposed. We extend the Standard Model with a real singlet scalar S to trigger the strong first-order electroweak phase transition (SFOEWPT), and with a set of leptophilic dimension-5 operators to provide sufficient CP violating source. We demonstrate this model is able to generate the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe. This scenario is experimentally testable via either the SFOEWPT gravitational wave signals at the next-generation space-based detectors, or the pp → h* → SS → 4τ process (where h* is an off-shell Higgs) at the hadron colliders. A detailed collider simulation shows that a considerable fraction of parameter space can be probed at the HL-LHC, while almost the whole parameter space allowed by EWBG can be reached by the 27 TeV HE-LHC.
Composite dark matter from strongly-interacting chiral dynamics
Authors: Contino Roberto , Podo Alessandro , Revello Filippo
Published: February 2021

Abstract

A class of chiral gauge theories is studied with accidentally-stable pseudo Nambu-Goldstone bosons playing the role of dark matter (DM). The gauge group contains a vector-like dark color factor that confines at energies larger than the electroweak scale, and a U(1)D factor that remains weakly coupled and is spontaneously broken. All new scales are generated dynamically, including the DM mass, and the IR dynamics is fully calculable. We analyze minimal models of this kind with dark fermions transforming as non-trivial vector-like representations of the Standard Model (SM) gauge group. In realistic models, the DM candidate is a SM singlet and comes along with charged partners that can be discovered at high-energy colliders. The phenomenology of the lowest-lying new states is thus characterized by correlated predictions for astrophysical observations and laboratory experiments.
Viscous Flow Around a Rigid Body Performing a Time-periodic Motion
Authors: Eiter Thomas , Kyed Mads
Published: February 2021

The equations governing the flow of a viscous incompressible fluid around a rigid body that performs a prescribed time-periodic motion with constant axes of translation and rotation are investigated. Under the assumption that the period and the angular velocity of the prescribed rigid-body motion are compatible, and that the mean translational velocity is non-zero, existence of a time-periodic solution is established. The proof is based on an appropriate linearization, which is examined within a setting of absolutely convergent Fourier series. Since the corresponding resolvent problem is ill-posed in classical Sobolev spaces, a linear theory is developed in a framework of homogeneous Sobolev spaces.
Entzündliche Veränderungen des Hüftgelenks
Authors: Weidekamm Claudia , Teh James
Published: February 2021

Die Osteoarthrose ist die häufigste Ursache für den Hüftschmerz des Erwachsenen. Daher wird anderen Ursachen wie z. B. Entzündungen weniger Beachtung für den Gelenkschmerz in der Erstdiagnose geschenkt. Dieser Artikel gibt eine Übersicht von unterschiedlichen rheumatologischen Erkrankungen der Hüfte und deren Interpretation in der Bildgebung. Die Vor- und Nachteile der einzelnen bildgebenden Verfahren werden anhand der pathologischen Befunde für die rheumatologischen Erkrankungen erläutert.
A note on a Tarski type fixed-point theorem
Authors: Ricci Roberto Ghiselli
Published: February 2021

In this paper we propose a basic fixed-point theorem for correspondences inspired by Tarski’s intersection point theorem. This result furnishes an efficient tool to prove the existence of pure strategy Nash equilibria for two player games with possibly discontinuous payoffs functions defined on compact real intervals.
Evaluating Non-Market Values of Agroecological and Socio-Cultural Benefits of Diversified Cropping Systems
Authors: Latvala Terhi , Regina Kristiina , Lehtonen Heikki
Published: February 2021

We explored how consumers value the ecological and socio-cultural benefits of diversified food production systems in Finland. We used a stated preference method and contingent valuation to quantify consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the benefits of increased farm and regional scale diversity of cultivation practices and crop rotations. Three valuation scenarios were presented to a representative sample of consumers: the first one focused on agroecosystem services on cropland, the second on wider socio-cultural effects and the third was a combination of them. The results suggest that consumers are willing to pay on the average €228 per household annually for the suggested diversification. This is equal to €245 per hectare of cultivated cropland. The results also indicate that 21% of consumers were not willing to pay anything to support more diverse cropping systems. The relatively high WTP for both agroecological and socio-cultural benefits provide important messages for actors in the food chain and for policy makers on future targeting of economic resources within agri-environmental schemes.
Studying Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Core Items in Colorectal Surgery: A Causal Model with Latent Variables
Authors: Gemma Marco , Pennoni Fulvia , Braga Marco
Published: February 2021

Background

Previous Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) studies have not always taken into account that ERAS interventions depend on baseline covariates and that several confounding variables affect the composite outcomes.

Method

A causal latent variable model is proposed to analyze data obtained prospectively concerning 1261 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery within the ERAS protocol. Primary outcomes (composite of any complication, surgical site infection, medical complications, early ready for discharge (TRD), early actual discharge) and secondary outcomes (composite of late bowel function recovery, IV fluid resumption, nasogastric tube replacement, postoperative nausea and vomiting, re‐intervention, re‐admission, death) are considered along with their multiple dimensions.

Results

Concerning the primary outcomes, our results evidence three subpopulations of patients: one with probable good outcome, one with possibly prolonged TRD and discharge without complications, and the other one with probable complications and prolonged TRD and discharge. Epidural anesthesia, waiving surgical drainage, and early ambulation, IV fluid stop and urinary catheter removal act favorably, while preoperative hospital stay and blood transfusion act negatively. Concerning the secondary outcomes our results evidence two subpopulations of patients: one with high probability of good outcome and one with high probability of complications. Epidural anesthesia, waiving surgical drainage, early ambulation and IV fluid stop act favorably, while blood transfusion acts negatively also with respect to these secondary outcomes.

Conclusion

The multivariate causal latent class two‐parameter logistic model, a modern statistical method overcoming drawbacks of traditional models to estimate the average causal effects on the treated, allows us to disentangle subpopulations of patients and to evaluate ERAS interventions.
Klima – Daten – Kunst
Authors: Schneider Birgit
Published: February 2021

Der Klimawandel, verstanden als ein statistisches Objekt aus Zahlen, ist unsichtbar. Auch Temperaturen, Luftdruck oder CO2 lassen sich nicht mit bloßem Auge sehen. Der Beitrag thematisiert Arbeiten von KünstlerInnen wie Eve Mosher, HeHe, Robin Price und Nathalie Miebach, die atmosphärische Daten zur Grundlage haben. Das Potential der Kunst ist es, abstrakte Daten begreifbar zu machen und in ästhetische Situationen zu überführen. Die Künstlerinnen und Künstler verwandeln die wissenschaftlichen Daten in alternative Wahrnehmungsformen wie Lichtinstallationen oder Datenskulpturen, so dass die unsichtbaren oder nur schwer greifbaren Phänomene Klimawandel oder Luftverschmutzung auf neue Weise erfahrbar und vorstellbar werden. Derartige Ansätze sind Teil einer ökologisch motivierten Ästhetik. Sie nutzen das Potential der Kunst, das Wahrnehmungsproblem des Klimawandels zu überwinden. Gleichzeitig stehen die Werke in der kunsthistorischen Tradition einer programmierten Ästhetik und in der Geschichte der Datenvisualisierung, worauf der Artikel ebenfalls eingeht.
Reaktionsmuster der lokoregionären Lymphknoten im Abflussgebiet von COVID-19-Lungen
Authors: Haslbauer Jasmin D. , Matter Matthias S. , Stalder Anna K. , Tzankov Alexandar
Published: February 2021

Hintergrund

Eine dysregulierte Immunantwort, z. B. in der Form eines Zytokinsturmes, einer Störung des Immunglobulinklassenwechsels, eines sog. antikörpervermitteltem Enhancements oder einer aberranten Antigenpräsentation wurde bereits in schweren Krankheitsverläufen von COVID-19 beschrieben.

Ziel der Arbeit

Zur Charakterisierung der COVID-19-Immunantwort wurde die Histomorphologie der Lymphknoten des pulmonalen Abflussgebietes untersucht.

Material und Methoden

Regionale Lymphknoten des pulmonalen Abflussgebiets wurden bei COVID-19-Autopsien asserviert (n = 20). Deren Histomorphologie, SARS-CoV-2-qRT-PCR sowie Genexpressionsanalysen von gängigen Genen der Immunantwort wurden berücksichtigt.

Ergebnisse

Histologisch zeigten sich ein mäßig- bis schwergradiges Ödem mit Kapillarostase, eine erhöhte Anzahl von extrafollikulären Plasmablasten, milde bis mäßige Plasmazytose, vermehrte CD8+-T-Zellen und CD11c/CD68+-Histiozyten mit Hämophagozytoseaktivität. Von 20 Fällen wiesen 18 hypoplastische oder fehlende Keimzentren sowie eine Verminderung der follikulären dendritischen Zellen und follikulären T‑Helferzellen auf. In 14 von 20 Fällen war der qRT-PCR-Nachweis von SARS-CoV‑2 positiv, jedoch zeigte sich nur bei einem einzigen Fall eine immunhistochemische Positivität für SARS-CoV-2-N-Antigene in Sinushistiozyten. In Genexpressionsanalysen war eine erhöhte Expression von STAT1, CD163, Granzym B, CD8A, MZB1 und PAK1, neben CXCL9 zu beobachten.

Diskussion

Die Befunde in den Lymphknoten deuten auf eine dysregulierte Immunantwort bei schweren COVID-19-Krankheitsverläufen hin. Insbesondere impliziert das Ausbleiben der Keimzentrumsreaktion und die vermehrte Präsenz von Plasmablasten eine nur transiente B‑Zellreaktion, welche die Entwicklung einer Langzeitimmunität infrage stellt.
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) exhibit positive phototaxis to white LED light
Authors: Krafft Bjørn A. , Krag Ludvig A.
Published: February 2021

The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is increasingly used in fishing gears and its application is known to trigger negative or positive phototaxis (i.e., swimming away or toward the light source, respectively) for some marine species. However, our understanding of how artificial light influences behavior is poorly understood for many species and most studies can be characterized as trial and error experiments. In this study, we tested whether exposure to white LED light could initiate a phototactic response in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). Trawl-caught krill were used in a controlled artificial light exposure experiment conducted onboard a vessel in the Southern Ocean. The experiment was conducted in chambers with dark and light zones in which krill could move freely. Results showed that krill displayed a significant positive phototaxis. Understanding this behavioral response is relevant to development of krill fishing technology to improve scientific sampling gear, improve harvest efficiency, and reduce potential unwanted bycatch.
Neuron-specific activation of necroptosis signaling in multiple sclerosis cortical grey matter
Authors: Picon Carmen , Jayaraman Anusha , James Rachel , Beck Catriona , Gallego Patricia , Witte Maarten E. , van Horssen Jack , Mazarakis Nicholas D. , Reynolds Richard
Published: February 2021

Sustained exposure to pro-inflammatory cytokines in the leptomeninges is thought to play a major role in the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to cortical pathology in multiple sclerosis (MS). Although the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in the grey matter remain unclear, several lines of evidence suggest a prominent role for tumour necrosis factor (TNF). Using cortical grey matter tissue blocks from post-mortem brains from 28 secondary progressive MS subjects and ten non-neurological controls, we describe an increase in expression of multiple steps in the TNF/TNF receptor 1 signaling pathway leading to necroptosis, including the key proteins TNFR1, FADD, RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL. Activation of this pathway was indicated by the phosphorylation of RIPK3 and MLKL and the formation of protein oligomers characteristic of necrosomes. In contrast, caspase-8 dependent apoptotic signaling was decreased. Upregulation of necroptotic signaling occurred predominantly in macroneurons in cortical layers II–III, with little expression in other cell types. The presence of activated necroptotic proteins in neurons was increased in MS cases with prominent meningeal inflammation, with a 30-fold increase in phosphoMLKL+ neurons in layers I–III. The density of phosphoMLKL+ neurons correlated inversely with age at death, age at progression and disease duration. In vivo induction of chronically elevated TNF and INFγ levels in the CSF in a rat model via lentiviral transduction in the meninges, triggered inflammation and neurodegeneration in the underlying cortical grey matter that was associated with increased neuronal expression of TNFR1 and activated necroptotic signaling proteins. Exposure of cultured primary rat cortical neurons to TNF induced necroptosis when apoptosis was inhibited. Our data suggest that neurons in the MS cortex are dying via TNF/TNFR1 stimulated necroptosis rather than apoptosis, possibly initiated in part by chronic meningeal inflammation. Neuronal necroptosis represents a pathogenetic mechanism that is amenable to therapeutic intervention at several points in the signaling pathway.
Does the osteon morphology depend on the body mass? A scaling study on macroscopic and histomorphometric differences between cow (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries)
Authors: Zedda Marco , Babosova Ramona
Published: February 2021

The structure and geometry of bone depend on many biological and environmental factors. These factors affect the bone tissue's microstructure differently, and their interaction has not yet been fully elucidated. Our research investigated the effect of body mass on the macro- and microstructure of the compact bone. Therefore we analyzed the humerus and femur bones from females of 11 cows and 11 sheep at the age of 4–10 years. Both species have very similar dietary and locomotion patterns, but their body size and weight are very different. Within macroscopical analyzes of bones were observed ascending order of robustness index and bone diaphysis index. In both animals, plexiform and irregular Haversian bone tissues were identified in humerus and femur. Conversely, the dense Haversian tissue present only in cow above all in the femur. The most considerable interspecific osteonal difference between sheep and cow was in the osteon density, whose average value is 37% higher in the cow. The osteons of sheep humerus are almost circular, and osteons of cow femur are more elliptical. Within both species, the femoral osteons are elliptical than those of humerus. Despite the cow weighing more than 10 times the sheep, the measurements of osteons and Haversian canals, are very similar (the values of the ratio cow/sheep for these types are comprised from 1.04 to 1.86). Our findings indicate that the body mass does not affect the size of bone microstructure, probably more sensitive to other factors as a lifestyle and locomotor ability.
Genetic analysis of medfly populations in an area of sterile insect technique applications
Authors: Sancho Rubén , Guillem-Amat Ana , López-Errasquín Elena , Sánchez Lucas , Ortego Félix , Hernández-Crespo Pedro
Published: February 2021

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used in integrated pest management programs for the control of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly),Ceratitis capitata. The genetic interactions between the released individuals from the genetic sexing strains (GSS), used for SIT applications worldwide, and wild individuals have not been studied. Under the hypothesis that a number of Vienna GSS individuals released to the field might not be completely sterile and may produce viable offspring, we have analyzed medfly Spanish field populations to evaluate the presence of Vienna strain genetic markers. To this goal, we have used contrasted nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers, and two novel sets of nuclear polymorphisms with the potential to be markers to discriminate between Vienna and wild individuals. Nuclear Vienna markers located on the 5th chromosome of Vienna males have been found in 2.2% (19 from 875) of the Spanish wild medfly females captured at the area where SIT is applied. In addition, a female-inherited mitochondrial Vienna marker has been found in two from the 19 females showing nuclear Vienna markers. The detection of several of these markers in single individuals represents evidence of the introgression of Vienna strain into natural populations. However, alternative explanations as their presence at low frequency in wild populations in the studied areas cannot be fully discarded. The undesired release of non-fully sterile irradiated GSS individuals into the field and their interactions with wild flies, and the potential environmental implications should be taken into account in the application of the SIT.
The use of health apps in primary care—results from a survey amongst general practitioners in Germany
Authors: Wangler Julian , Jansky Michael
Published: February 2021

Mass availability and use of health apps raises the question as to how they might be integrated into healthcare systems towards improving prevention and therapy. This study has researched prevailing opinion on health apps amongst primary care physicians, potential application areas physicians have seen in their experience with these apps up to now, and situations suitable for using apps in patient care. A total of 2138 primary care physicians in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, responded to an anonymised written survey between March and June 2020. Physicians with a positive opinion (36%) emphasised motivation and compliance as advantages, whereas sceptical respondents (43%) expressed suspicion regarding data privacy and reliability as well as legal issues and additional workload arising from using the apps. Even so, a clear majority accepted the potential benefit from sensible use of health apps with features providing prevention and lifestyle support (90/76%). With respect to patients using the apps, 54% of respondents saw a positive contribution to healthcare and/or recovery. Despite the perceived benefits of health apps, general practitioners are still reluctant to bring up or recommend health apps in their consultations. Many physicians do not feel capable of giving expert advice to patients on the apps available. Many general practitioners are aware of the potential that health apps may have in improving prevention and treatment. However, there are reservations and uncertainties regarding clarity, transparency, and privacy issues in these apps. More focus should be placed on these concerns to ensure ideal conditions for integrating health apps into primary care.
From micro to nano: polypropylene composites reinforced with TEMPO-oxidised cellulose of different fibre widths
Authors: Gaduan Andre N. , Solhi Laleh , Kontturi Eero , Lee Koon-Yang
Published: February 2021

TEMPO-oxidised cellulose fibres are often explored as nano-reinforcement for polymers. However, it is unclear whether micrometre-sized TEMPO-oxidised cellulose fibres also possess similar reinforcing potential. In this work, we report the mechanical response of polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with TEMPO-oxidised cellulose (TOC) of different fibre widths. Micrometre-sized TOC fibres (TOCF) containing sodium carboxylate (TOCF-Na) and free hydroxyl (TOCF-H) groups, as well as nano-sized TOC nanofibrils (TOCN) were produced from dissolving pulp and incorporated into PP matrix via melt-extrusion. It was found that model PP composites containing micrometre-sized TOCF-Na and TOCF-H possessed the highest tensile modulus of up to 2.5 GPa; 40% improvement over neat PP and 30% increase over PP/TOCN composite. No significant differences in the tensile strength of PP/TOCF-Na and PP/TOCF-H composites were observed when compared to neat PP. The incorporation of nano-sized TOCN into PP however, led to a 6% decrease in tensile strength. Single-edge notched beam fracture toughness test further showed that PP/TOCN composite possessed the lowest fracture toughness of 2.52 MPa m1/2; a decrease of 18% over PP reinforced with micrometre-sized TOCF-Na and TOCF-H. Our study shows that micrometre-sized TOCFs serve as better reinforcement for polymers compared to nano-sized TOCN. This is attributed to the better dispersion of TOCF in the PP matrix. Furthermore, the presence of surface microfibrillation on TOCFs also enhanced the quality of the TOCF-PP interface through mechanical interlocking and local stiffening of the PP matrix.
Updated and outdated reservations about research into stratospheric aerosol injection
Authors: Smith Wake , Henly Claire
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we seek to ground discussions of the governance of stratospheric aerosol injection research in recent literature about the field including an updated understanding of the technology’s deployment logistics and scale, pattern of effects, and research pathways. Relying upon this literature, we evaluate several common reservations regarding the governance of pre-deployment research and testing including covert deployment, technological lock-in, weaponization, slippery slope, and the blurry line between research and deployment. We conclude that these reservations are no longer supported by literature. However, we do not argue that there is no reason for concern. Instead, we enumerate alternative bases for caution about research into stratospheric aerosol injection which are supported by an up-to-date understanding of the literature. We conclude that in order to establish the correct degree and type of governance for stratospheric aerosol injection research, the research community must focus its attention on these well-grounded reservations. However, while these reservations are supported and warrant further attention, we conclude that none currently justifies restrictive governance of early-stage stratospheric aerosol injection research.
The political economy of euro area sovereign debt restructuring
Authors: Heinemann Friedrich
Published: February 2021

The establishment of a sovereign debt restructuring mechanism (SDRM) is one of the important issues in the academic debate on a viable constitution for the European Monetary Union (EMU). Yet the topic seems to be taboo in official reform contributions to the debate. Against this backdrop, the article identifies the SDRM interests of key players, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Central Bank and national governments. The empirical section takes advantage of the recently established EMU Positions Database. The findings confirm political economy expectations: Low-debt countries support an EMU constitution that includes an insolvency procedure whereas a coalition of high-debt countries and European institutions oppose it. The analysis points towards a possible political-economic equilibrium for coping with sovereign insolvencies: an institutional set-up without an SDRM and with hidden transfers. Recent European fiscal innovations in response to the Covid-19 solvency shock confirm this prediction.
Genetic loci regulating cadmium content in rice grains
Authors: Norton Gareth J. , Travis Anthony , Ruang-areerate Panthita , Nicol Graeme W. , Adeosun Ayotunde A. , Hossain Mahmud , Islam M. Rafiq , Douglas Alex , Price Adam H.
Published: February 2021

It has been estimated that up to 90% of human exposure to cadmium is through food, and that cadmium within rice grains can be a major contributor to that dietary source. In this study genome wide association mapping was conducted on the Bengal and Assam Aus Panel (BAAP) of rice to identify quantitative trait loci and candidate genes for lowering grain cadmium. Field experiments were conducted over two years under two different irrigation systems: continually flooded and alternate wetting and drying (AWD). There was significant effects of water treatment, genotype, and genotype by water treatment interaction. Importantly, AWD increased grain cadmium, on average, by 49.6% and 108.8% in year 1 and 2 respectively. There was between 4.6 and 28 fold variation in cadmium concentration. A total of 58 QTLs were detected but no loci are clearly specific to one water regime despite approximately 20% of variation attributable to genotype by water regime interaction. A number of QTLs were consistent across most water treatments and years. These included QTLs on chromosome 7 (7.23–7.61, 8.93–9.04, and 29.12–29.14 Mbp), chromosome 5 (8.66–8.72 Mbp), and chromosome 9 (11.46–11.64 Mbp). Further analysis of the loci on chromosome 7 (8.93–9.04 Mbp), identified the candidate geneOsNRAMP1, where cultivars with a deletion upstream of the gene had higher concentrations of cadmium compared to the cultivars that did not have the deletion. The distribution of alleles within the BAAP suggest this QTL is easily detected in this population because it is composed ofauscultivars. Local genome cluster analysis suggest high Cd alleles are uncommon, but should be avoided in breeding.
GH deficiency and insensitivity in children and adults
Authors: Johannsson Gudmundur , Kopchick John J.
Published: February 2021

This thematic review includes short reviews on GH deficiency and insensitivity in children and adults from basic science to clinical significance.
ORCID-linked labeled data for evaluating author name disambiguation at scale
Authors: Kim Jinseok , Owen-Smith Jason
Published: February 2021

How can we evaluate the performance of a disambiguation method implemented on big bibliographic data? This study suggests that the open researcher profile system, ORCID, can be used as an authority source to label name instances at scale. This study demonstrates the potential by evaluating the disambiguation performances of Author-ity2009 (which algorithmically disambiguates author names in MEDLINE) using 3 million name instances that are automatically labeled through linkage to 5 million ORCID researcher profiles. Results show that although ORCID-linked labeled data do not effectively represent the population of name instances in Author-ity2009, they do effectively capture the ‘high precision over high recall’ performances of Author-ity2009. In addition, ORCID-linked labeled data can provide nuanced details about the Author-ity2009’s performance when name instances are evaluated within and across ethnicity categories. As ORCID continues to be expanded to include more researchers, labeled data via ORCID-linkage can be improved in representing the population of a whole disambiguated data and updated on a regular basis. This can benefit author name disambiguation researchers and practitioners who need large-scale labeled data but lack resources for manual labeling or access to other authority sources for linkage-based labeling. The ORCID-linked labeled data for Author-ity2009 are publicly available for validation and reuse.
Intellectual humility in mathematics
Authors: Rittberg Colin Jakob
Published: February 2021

In this paper I explore how intellectual humility manifests in mathematical practices. To do this I employ accounts of this virtue as developed by virtue epistemologists in three case studies of mathematical activity. As a contribution to a Topical Collection on virtue theory of mathematical practices this paper explores in how far existing virtue-theoretic frameworks can be applied to a philosophical analysis of mathematical practices. I argue that the individual accounts of intellectual humility are successful at tracking some manifestations of this virtue in mathematical practices and fail to track others. There are two upshots to this. First, the accounts of the intellectual virtues provided by virtue epistemologists are insightful for the development of a virtue theory of mathematical practices but require adjustments in some cases. Second, the case studies reveal dimensions of intellectual humility virtue epistemologists have thus far overlooked in their theoretical reflections.