bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manipulation of Rangeland Wildlife Habitats
Authors: Pyke David A. , Boyd Chad S.
Published: September 2023

Rangeland manipulations have occurred for centuries. Those manipulations may have positive or negative effects on multiple wildlife species and their habitats. Some of these manipulations may result in landscape changes that fragment wildlife habitat and isolate populations. Habitat degradation and subsequent restoration may range from simple problems that are easy to restore to complex problems that require multiple interventions at multiple scales to solve. In all cases, knowledge of the wildlife species’ habitat needs throughout their life history, of their population dynamics and habitat-related sensitivities, and of their temporal and spatial scale for home ranges and genetic exchange will assist in determining appropriate restoration options. Habitat restoration will begin with an understanding of the vegetation’s successional recovery options and their time scales relative to wildlife population declines. We discuss passive and active manipulations and their application options. Passive manipulations focus on changes to current management. Active manipulations may include removal of undesirable vegetation using manual harvesting, mechanical, chemical, or biological methods while desirable vegetation is enhanced through the reintroduction of desirable wildlife habitat structure and function. These techniques will require monitoring of wildlife and their habitat at both the landscape and site level in an adaptive management framework to learn from our past and improve our future management.
Certified Core-Guided MaxSAT Solving
Authors: Berg Jeremias , Bogaerts Bart , Nordström Jakob , Oertel Andy , Vandesande Dieter
Published: September 2023

In the last couple of decades, developments in SAT-based optimization have led to highly efficient maximum satisfiability (MaxSAT) solvers, but in contrast to the SAT solvers on which MaxSAT solving rests, there has been little parallel development of techniques to prove the correctness of MaxSAT results. We show how pseudo-Boolean proof logging can be used to certify state-of-the-art core-guided MaxSAT solving, including advanced techniques like structure sharing, weight-aware core extraction and hardening. Our experimental evaluation demonstrates that this approach is viable in practice. We are hopeful that this is the first step towards general proof logging techniques for MaxSAT solvers.
A More Pragmatic CDCL for IsaSAT and Targetting LLVM (Short Paper)
Authors: Fleury Mathias , Lammich Peter
Published: September 2023

IsaSAT is the most advanced verified SAT solver, but it did not yet feature inprocessing (to simplify and strengthen clauses). In order to improve performance, we enriched the base calculus to not only do CDCL but also inprocess clauses. We also replaced the target of our code synthesis by Isabelle/LLVM. With these improvements, we can solve 4 times more SAT Competition 2022 problems than the original IsaSAT version, and 4.5 times more problems than any other verified SAT solver we are aware of. Additionally, our changes significantly reduce the trusted code base of our verification.
COOL 2 – A Generic Reasoner for Modal Fixpoint Logics (System Description)
Authors: Görlitz Oliver , Hausmann Daniel , Humml Merlin , Pattinson Dirk , Prucker Simon , Schröder Lutz
Published: September 2023

There is a wide range of modal logics whose semantics goes beyond relational structures, and instead involves, e.g., probabilities, multi-player games, weights, or neighbourhood structures. Coalgebraic logic serves as a unifying semantic and algorithmic framework for such logics. It provides uniform reasoning algorithms that are easily instantiated to particular, concretely given logics. The COOL 2 reasoner provides an implementation of such generic algorithms for coalgebraic modal fixpoint logics. As concrete instances, we obtain in particular reasoners for the aconjunctive and alternation-free fragments of the graded $$\mu $$
μ
-calculus and the alternating-time $$\mu $$
μ
-calculus. We evaluate the tool on standard benchmark sets for fixpoint-free graded modal logic and alternating-time temporal logic (ATL), as well as on a dedicated set of benchmarks for the graded $$\mu $$
μ
-calculus.
Superposition with Delayed Unification
Authors: Bhayat Ahmed , Schoisswohl Johannes , Rawson Michael
Published: September 2023

Classically, in saturation-based proof systems, unification has been considered atomic. However, it is also possible to move unification to the calculus level, turning the steps of the unification algorithm into inferences. For calculi that rely on unification procedures returning large or even infinite sets of unifiers, integrating unification into the calculus is an attractive method of dovetailing unification and inference. This applies, for example, to AC-superposition and higher-order superposition. We show that first-order superposition remains complete when moving unification rules to the calculus level. We discuss some of the benefits this has even for standard first-order superposition and provide an experimental evaluation.
Towards a Verified Tableau Prover for a Quantifier-Free Fragment of Set Theory
Authors: Stevens Lukas
Published: September 2023

Using Isabelle/HOL, we verify the state-of-the-art decision procedure for multi-level syllogistic with singleton (MLSS for short), which is a quantifier-free fragment of set theory. We formalise its syntax and semantics as well as a sound and complete tableau calculus for it. We also provide an executable specification of a decision procedure that exhaustively applies the rules of the calculus and prove its termination. Furthermore, we extend the calculus with a lightweight type system that paves the way for an integration of the procedure into Isabelle/HOL.
Decidability of Difference Logic over the Reals with Uninterpreted Unary Predicates
Authors: Boigelot Bernard , Fontaine Pascal , Vergain Baptiste
Published: September 2023

First-order logic fragments mixing quantifiers, arithmetic, and uninterpreted predicates are often undecidable, as is, for instance, Presburger arithmetic extended with a single uninterpreted unary predicate. In the SMT world, difference logic is a quite popular fragment of linear arithmetic which is less expressive than Presburger arithmetic. Difference logic on integers with uninterpreted unary predicates is known to be decidable, even in the presence of quantifiers. We here show that (quantified) difference logic on real numbers with a single uninterpreted unary predicate is undecidable, quite surprisingly. Moreover, we prove that difference logic on integers, together with order on reals, combined with uninterpreted unary predicates, remains decidable.
SCL(FOL) Can Simulate Non-Redundant Superposition Clause Learning
Authors: Bromberger Martin , Jain Chaahat , Weidenbach Christoph
Published: September 2023

We show that SCL(FOL) can simulate the derivation of non-redundant clauses by superposition for first-order logic without equality. Superposition-based reasoning is performed with respect to a fixed reduction ordering. The completeness proof of superposition relies on the grounding of the clause set. It builds a ground partial model according to the fixed ordering, where minimal false ground instances of clauses then trigger non-redundant superposition inferences. We define a respective strategy for the SCL calculus such that clauses learned by SCL and superposition inferences coincide. From this perspective the SCL calculus can be viewed as a generalization of the superposition calculus.
The Challenges of the Conservation of Earthen Sites in Seismic Areas
Authors: Cancino Claudia
Published: September 2023

During the 1990s, the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) carried out a research and laboratory testing program, the Getty Seismic Adobe Project (GSAP), which investigated the performance of historic adobe structures during earthquakes and developed cost-effective retrofit methods that preserve the authenticity of these buildings. While the GSAP methodology was excellent and effective, it felt its reliance on high-tech materials, equipment and professional expertise was a deterrent to it being more widely implemented. To address this, the GCI initiated in 2009, the Seismic Retrofitting Project (SRP) with the objective of adapting the GSAP approach to better match the equipment, materials, and technical skills available in many countries with earthen sites located in seismic regions.

The paper will analyze how the SRP was communicated and bought in by national and international stake holders, how high techniques analysis and low-key testing was combined to better understand the seismic performance of earthen sites, how the knowledge acquired in the process was disseminated among Peruvian and Latin American professionals, how two implementations’ projects were carried out and how a set of guidelines were adopted by Peruvian authorities.
Die resiliente Stadt: Forschungsstand in Deutschland, definitorische und konzeptionelle Überlegungen
Authors: Rink Dieter , Gebauer Ronald , Haase Annegret , Intelmann Dominik , Kabisch Sigrun , Kuhlicke Christian , Schmidt Anika
Published: September 2023

Das Konzept bzw. Leitbild der resilienten Stadt wird in Deutschland seit etwas mehr als zehn Jahren in den urbanistischen Wissenschaften diskutiert. Es handelt sich dabei um ein relativ neues Stadtkonzept, das noch nicht besonders elaboriert ist. In der Stadtentwicklung, der Planung und der Politik wurde das Konzept bislang kaum angewandt, es hat vor allem Eingang in die Klima-Anpassung und jüngst in den Gesundheitsbereich gefunden. Extremereignisse haben dem Konzept wiederholt Auftrieb gegeben. Durch die aktuellen Krisen könnte einresilience turneingeleitet worden sein, dafür sprechen etwa Politiken der Bundesregierung oder neuere programmatische Texte.
Fassadenbegrünung als multifunktionales Anpassungsinstrument gegen Hitze: Ergebnisse des Leipziger Pilotprojekts „Lebendige Wände“
Authors: Karutz Raphael , Zozmann Heinrich , Wollschläger Niels , Schlink Uwe
Published: September 2023

Die Potenziale von Fassadengrün (FG) für die Anpassung städtischer Quartiere an den Klimawandel sind vielfältig. Vor diesem Hintergrund stellt sich die Frage, warum in Deutschland bisher so wenige Fassaden begrünt werden. Anhand von Literaturauswertung, Klimasimulationen und einer Befragung in zwei Leipziger Quartieren beleuchten wir unterschiedliche Resilienzeffekte von FG, insbesondere die Reduktion von Hitzestress. Es zeigen sich eine Vielzahl positiver Effekte und eine hohe Akzeptanz unter den Befragten. Die (geringe) direkte Kühlung der Umgebungsluft wird durch indirekte Effekte auf das Wohlbefinden ergänzt. Die Kritik der Bewohner*innen verweist auf konkrete Umsetzungsprobleme (mangelnde Pflege) und Informationsdefizite (Sorge vor steigenden Mieten).
Resilienter wiederaufbauen? Erste Thesen zur Rekonfiguration hydrosozialer Territorien nach dem Hochwasser 2021
Authors: Kuhlicke Christian , de Brito Mariana M. , Otto Danny , Reckhaus Zora
Published: September 2023

Das Hochwasser 2021 zählt mit dem Verlust von 180 Menschenleben nicht nur zu den größten Naturkatastrophen, die Deutschland nach 1945 getroffen haben. Es ist auch eine weitere verpasste Chance, den Wiederaufbau konsequent zu nutzen, um resiliente und hochwasserangepasste Siedlungsstrukturen zu entwickeln. Mit Hilfe von Thesen werden erste Erklärungen präsentiert, die zeigen, aus welchen institutionellen, politischen, ökonomischen und sozialen Gründen ein besserer, d. h. resilienter Wiederaufbau derzeit nur vereinzelt verfolgt wird.
Das Stadtlabor Leipzig am UFZ
Authors: Banzhaf Ellen , Kabisch Sigrun , Rink Dieter
Published: September 2023

Im Stadtlabor Leipzig am UFZ, kurz Leipzig Lab genannt, besprechen wir Themen und Forschungsfragen, diskutieren methodische Herangehensweisen, informieren über Datengrundlagen und Kooperationen mit Praxispartner*innen und stellen unsere Ergebnisse vor. Dieses Stadtlabor dient als Austausch-, Kommunikations- und Visualisierungsplattform von laufenden und geplanten inter- und transdisziplinären Projekten am UFZ, die in der Großstadt Leipzig durchgeführt werden. Hier können wir voneinander lernen, Mehrwert generieren und komplexe Forschungszusammenhänge angehen. Es ist Schaukasten unserer Forschungsaktivitäten für die nationale und internationale wissenschaftliche Gemeinschaft und die kommunale Praxis.
Value of patient-reported outcome measures for evaluating the benefit of speech processor upgrading in patients with cochlear implants
Authors: Lailach Susen , Lenz Alexander , Zahnert Thomas , Neudert Marcus
Published: September 2023

Background

Patients with a cochlear implant (CI) should be evaluated for a new speech processor every 6 years. The aim of this analysis was to assess the subjective and audiological benefit of upgrades.

Methods

Speech understanding and subjective benefit were analyzed in 99 patients with the old and the new speech processor after 4 weeks of wearing. Speech understanding was assessed using the Freiburg monosyllabic test in quiet (FBE) at 65 dB and 80 dB, and the Oldenburg Sentence Test (OLSA) at 65 dB noise with adaptive speech sound level. The Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) was used to assess subjective hearing impairment, and the Audio Processor Satisfaction Questionnaire (APSQ) was used to assess subjective satisfaction.

Results

The speech processor upgrade resulted in a significant improvement of speech understanding in quiet at 65 dB (mean difference 8.9 ± 25.9 percentage points, p < 0.001) and 80 dB (mean difference 8.1 ± 29.7 percentage points, p < 0.001) and in noise (mean difference 3.2 ± 10.7 dB signal-to-noise ratio [S/N], p = 0.006). Using the APHAB, a significant improvement (mean difference 0.07 ± 0.16, p < 0.001) in hearing impairment was demonstrated in all listening situations. The APSQ showed significantly higher patient satisfaction with the new speech processor (mean difference 0.42 ± 1.26, p = 0.006). A comparative assessment of the benefit based on subjective and speech audiometric results identified a proportion of patients (35–42%) who subjectively benefited from the upgrade but had no measurable benefit based on speech audiometry.

Conclusion

There was a significant improvement in audiologically measurable and subjectively reflected speech understanding and patient satisfaction after the upgrade. In patients with only a small improvement in audiologically measurable speech understanding, the subjective benefit should also be assessed with validated measurement instruments in order to justify an upgrade to the payers in the health sector.
The plasma exosomes from patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome contain epithelial cell–derived proteins involved in ferroptosis
Authors: Peng Xin , Hou Lei , Wu Xue , Liu Zhengqi , Wang Yun , Zeng Ping , Yang Ying , Ma Wukai , Yang Peng
Published: September 2023

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease represented by exocrine gland epithelial cell lesions. However, the mechanism underlying these lesions remains unclear. This study analyzed the plasma exosomes of pSS patients using proteomics and revealed the presence of 24 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) involved in the primary biological processes and signaling pathways related to ferroptosis. The DEPs enriched in the ferroptosis-related items were represented by downregulated ceruloplasmin (CP) and transferrin (TF). CC analysis of GO enrichment showed that CP and TF were localized at the apical plasma membrane, which is currently found only in epithelial cells. PPI analysis indicated that these exosomal DEPs formed a clustering network containing CP and TF. Among them, C5, C9, Haptoglobin (HP), and SERPING1 interacted directly with CP and TF. Notably, the expression of these proteins significantly decreased in both the pSS and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome (sSS) plasma exosomes but not in non-autoimmune sicca syndrome (nSS). In addition, their expression levels were significantly different in the exosomes and plasma. More importantly, the plasma and salivary exosomes of pSS patients contain higher levels of exocrine gland epithelial autoantigens SSA and SSB than those of healthy controls, and epithelial cells with positive labial glands biopsy (LGB) were more susceptible to ferroptosis than those with negative LGB. The results indicated that ferroptosis may be closely related to SS epithelial cell lesions.

Key messages

• pSS plasma exosomes contain epithelial cell–derived proteins involved in ferroptosis.

• Complement C5 and C9 may be new molecules involved in ferroptosis and play a crucial role in pSS epithelial cell pathology.

• The serum exosomes from pSS patients, not nSS patients, contain ferroptosis-related proteins.

• The changes in the ferroptosis-related protein content in the exosomes can better reflect the state of the epithelial cell lesions than those in the plasma.
One-stage cartilage repair using the autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis combined with simultaneous use of autologous adipose tissue graft and adipose tissue mesenchymal cells technique: clinical results and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation at five-year follow-up
Authors: Sciarretta Fabio Valerio , Ascani Claudio , Sodano Luca , Fossati Carolina , Campisi Silvana
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To evaluate medium-term outcomes of knee cartilage defects repair by autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis combined with simultaneous use of autologous adipose tissue graft and adipose tissue mesenchymal cells, defined as LIPO-AMIC technique.

Methods

The LIPO-AMIC technique has been used in ICRS degree III–IV knee defects. Eighteen patients have been prospectively evaluated during two and five years both clinically and by MRI.

Results

Patients showed progressive significant improvement of all scores starting early at six months, and further increased values were noted till the last follow-up at 60 months. Mean subjective pre-operative IKDC score of 36.1 significantly increased to 86.4 at 24 months and to 87.2 at 60 months. Mean pre-operative Lysholm score of 44.4 reached 93.5 at two years and 93.5 at five years. MRI examination showed early subchondral lamina regrowth and progressive maturation of repair tissue and filling of defects. The mean total MOCART score showed that a significative improvement from two year follow-up (69.1 points) to last follow-up was 81.9 points (range, 30–100 points, SD 24). Complete filling of the defect at the level of the surrounding cartilage was found in 77.8%.

Conclusions

Adipose tissue can represent ideal source of MSCs since easiness of withdrawal and definite chondrogenic capacity. This study clearly demonstrated the LIPO-AMIC technique to be feasible for treatment of knee cartilage defects and to result in statistically significant progressive clinical, functional and pain improvement in all treated patients better than what reported for the AMIC standard technique, starting very early from the 6-month follow-up and maintaining the good clinical results more durably with stable results at mid-term follow-up.
A nonsense mutation in mouse Adamtsl2 causes uterine hypoplasia and an irregular estrous cycle
Authors: Iwanaga Yuka , Tsuji Kaori , Nishimura Ayaka , Tateishi Kouji , Kakiuchi Misa , Tsuji Takehito
Published: September 2023

The spontaneous mutation stubby (stb) in mice causes chondrodysplasia and male infertility due to impotence through autosomal recessive inheritance. In this study, we conducted linkage analysis to localize the stb locus within a 1.6 Mb region on mouse chromosome 2 and identified a nonsense mutation in Adamtsl2 of stb/stb mice. Histological analysis revealed disturbed endochondral ossification with a reduced hypertrophic chondrocyte layer and stiff skin with a thickened dermal layer. These phenotypes are similar to those observed in humans and mice with ADAMTSL2/Adamtsl2 mutations. Moreover, stb/stb female mice exhibited severe uterine hypoplasia at 5 weeks of age and irregular estrous cycles at 10 weeks of age. In normal mice, Adamtsl2 was more highly expressed in the ovary and pituitary gland than in the uterus, and this expression was decreased in stb/stb mice. These findings suggest that Adamtsl2 may function in these organs rather than in the uterus. Thus, we analyzed Gh expression in the pituitary gland and plasma estradiol and IGF1 levels, which are required for the development of the female reproductive tract. There was no significant difference in Gh expression and estradiol levels, whereas IGF1 levels in stb/stb mice were significantly reduced to 54–59% of those in +/+ mice. We conclude that Adamtsl2 is required for the development of the uterus and regulation of the estrous cycle in female mice, and decreased IGF1 may be related to these abnormalities.
The atypical antidepressant tianeptine confers neuroprotection against oxygen–glucose deprivation
Authors: Ersoy Burcu , Herzog Marie-Louise , Pan Wen , Schilling Simone , Endres Matthias , Göttert Ria , Kronenberg Golo D. , Gertz Karen
Published: September 2023

Proregenerative and neuroprotective effects of antidepressants are an important topic of inquiry in neuropsychiatric research. Oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) mimics key aspects of ischemic injury in vitro. Here, we studied the effects of 24-h pretreatment with serotonin (5-HT), citalopram (CIT), fluoxetine (FLU), and tianeptine (TIA) on primary mouse cortical neurons subjected to transient OGD. 5-HT (50 μM) significantly enhanced neuron viability as measured by MTT assay and reduced cell death and LDH release. CIT (10 μM) and FLU (1 μM) did not increase the effects of 5-HT and neither antidepressant conferred neuroprotection in the absence of supplemental 5-HT in serum-free cell culture medium. By contrast, pre-treatment with TIA (10 μM) resulted in robust neuroprotection, even in the absence of 5-HT. Furthermore, TIA inhibited mRNA transcription of candidate genes related to cell death and hypoxia and attenuated lipid peroxidation, a hallmark of neuronal injury. Finally, deep RNA sequencing of primary neurons subjected to OGD demonstrated that OGD induces many pathways relating to cell survival, the inflammation-immune response, synaptic dysregulation and apoptosis, and that TIA pretreatment counteracted these effects of OGD. In conclusion, this study highlights the comparative strength of the 5-HT independent neuroprotective effects of TIA and identifies the molecular pathways involved.
Retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy may be superior to laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy in terms of costs and profit: a retrospective pair-matched cohort analysis
Authors: Fischer Andreas , Schöffski Oliver , Nießen Anna , Hamm Alexander , Langan Ewan A. , Büchler Markus W. , Billmann Franck
Published: September 2023

Background

A direct comparison of the cost–benefit analysis of retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (RPA) versus the minimally invasive transperitoneal access (LTA) approach is currently lacking. We hypothesized that RPA is more cost effective than LTA; promising significant savings for the healthcare system in an era of ever more limited resources.

Methods

We performed a monocentric retrospective observational cohort study based on data from our Endocrine Surgery Registry. Patients who were operated upon between 2019 and 2022 were included. After pair-matching, both cohorts (RPA vs. LTA) were compared for perioperative variables and treatment costs (process cost calculation), revenue and profit.

Results

Two homogenous cohorts of 43 patients each (RPA vs. LTA) were identified following matching. Patient characteristics between the cohorts were comparable. In terms of both treatment-associated costs and profit, the RPA procedure was superior to LTA (costs: US$5789.99 for RPA vs. US$6617.75 for LTA, P = 0.043; profit: US$1235.59 for RPA vs. US$653.33 for LTA, P = 0.027). The duration of inpatient treatment and comorbidities significantly influenced the cost of treatment and the overall profit.

Conclusions

RPA appears not only to offer benefits over LTA in terms of perioperative morbidity and length of hospital stay, but also has a superior financial cost/benefit profile.

Graphical abstract
Boundary regularity of an isotropically censored nonlocal operator
Authors: Chan Hardy
Published: September 2023

In a bounded domain, we consider a variable range nonlocal operator, which is maximally isotropic in the sense that its radius of interaction equals the distance to the boundary. We establish $$C^{1,\alpha }$$

C

1
,
α

boundary regularity and existence results for the Dirichlet problem.
Microsurgical resection of gliomas of the cingulate gyrus: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Diaz Simon , Reyns Nicolas , Özduman Koray , Levivier Marc , Schulder Michael , Tuleasca Constantin
Published: September 2023

Cingulate gyrus gliomas are rare among adult, hemispheric diffuse gliomas. Surgical reports are scarce. We performed a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis, with the aim of focusing on the extent of resection (EOR), WHO grade, and morbidity and mortality, after microsurgical resection of gliomas of the cingulate gyrus. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we reviewed articles published between January 1996 and December 2022 and referenced in PubMed or Embase. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed clinical studies of microsurgical series reporting resection of gliomas of the cingulate gyrus. Primary outcome was EOR, classified as gross total (GTR) versus subtotal (STR) resection. Five studies reporting 295 patients were included. Overall GTR was 79.4% (range 64.1–94.7; I2= 88.13; p heterogeneity and p < 0.001), while STR was done in 20.6% (range 5.3–35.9; I2= 88.13; p heterogeneity < 0.001 and p= 0.008). The most common WHO grade was II, with an overall rate of 42.7% (24–61.5; I2= 90.9; p heterogeneity, p< 0.001). Postoperative SMA syndrome was seen in 18.6% of patients (10.4–26.8; I2= 70.8; p heterogeneity= 0.008, p< 0.001), postoperative motor deficit in 11% (3.9–18; I2= 18; p heterogeneity= 0.003, p= 0.002). This review found that while a GTR was achieved in a high number of patients with a cingulate glioma, nearly half of such patients have a postoperative deficit. This finding calls for a cautious approach in recommending and doing surgery for patients with cingulate gliomas and for consideration of new surgical and management approaches.
Nest predation decreases with increasing nest height in forest songbirds: a comparative study
Authors: Matysioková Beata , Remeš Vladimír
Published: September 2023

Nest predation is the most important factor responsible for nest failure in birds. Nest height may be a factor that affects the rate of nest depredation in different species. In this comparative study, we tested a relationship between nest height and nest depredation in open nesting songbirds. We analyzed data from 357 populations of 252 species and found that nests built high in trees were safer than those closer to the ground. Nest depredation rates strongly decreased with increasing nest height above 5 m. This could be because there are fewer nest predator species foraging in the canopy or because there is a lower density of nesting birds making it less profitable for predators to search for nests there. We also found that ground nests in open habitats were more likely to be depredated than those in shrublands and forests. This may be because open habitats are less complex and thus more easily searched by nest predators, or because most nests in open habitats are ground nests and predators can focus on them without having to search other vegetation layers.
Beyond peripersonal boundaries: insights from crossmodal interactions
Authors: Finotti Gianluca , Menicagli Dario , Migliorati Daniele , Costantini Marcello , Ferri Francesca
Published: September 2023

We experience our self as a body located in space. However, how information about self-location is integrated into multisensory processes underlying the representation of the peripersonal space (PPS), is still unclear. Prior studies showed that the presence of visual information related to oneself modulates the multisensory processes underlying PPS. Here, we used the crossmodal congruency effect (CCE) to test whether this top-down modulation depends on the spatial location of the body-related visual information. Participants responded to tactile events on their bodies while trying to ignore a visual distractor presented on the mirror reflection of their body (Self) either in the peripersonal space (Near) or in the extrapersonal space (Far). We found larger CCE when visual events were presented on the mirror reflection in the peripersonal space, as compared to the extrapersonal space. These results suggest that top-down modulation of the multisensory bodily self is only possible within the PPS.
Voice user interfaces in manufacturing logistics: a literature review
Authors: Ludwig Heiner , Schmidt Thorsten , Kühn Mathias
Published: September 2023

Due to the increasing digitalization in manufacturing logistics, devices to integrate the worker into the digital manufacturing system are necessary. A voice user interface (VUI) can be considered suitable for this purpose due to its flexibility and intuitive operability. Despite the popularity and acceptance of VUIs in everyday life, their use in industrial applications, especially in manufacturing logistics, is still rare. While VUIs have been successfully used in order picking for decades, hardly any other industrial fields of application exist. In this paper, we have identified various barriers to the use of VUI in industrial applications. We categorized them and identified four key barriers. We then conducted a systematic literature review to determine and compare already investigated application areas of VUIs, their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. We found that in particular the operation of machines and industrial robots, as well as general data and information output on machine and system status, maintenance and employee training are frequently investigated. It is noticeable that VUIs are often used in combination with other user interfaces (UIs). Some challenges to VUI usage, such as high ambient noise levels, have already been solved through various approaches, while other challenges remain. Based on the results of the literature review, we put forward a research agenda regarding further suitable industrial application areas as well as general challenges for the use of VUIs in industrial environments.
Defining the Characteristics of Story Production of Autistic Children: A Multilevel Analysis
Authors: Adornetti Ines , Chiera Alessandra , Altavilla Daniela , Deriu Valentina , Marini Andrea , Gobbo Marika , Valeri Giovanni , Magni Rita , Ferretti Francesco
Published: September 2023

Several studies suggest that a valuable tool to examine linguistic skills in communication disorders is offered by procedures of narrative discourse assessment. Following this line of research, we present an exploratory study aimed to investigate storytelling abilities of autistic children to better define the characteristics of their story production. Participants included 41 autistic children and 41 children with typical development aged between 7.02 and 11.03 years matched on age, gender, level of formal education, intelligence quotient, working memory, attention skills, theory of mind, and phonological short-term memory. Narrative production was assessed by analysing the language samples obtained through the “Nest Story” description task. A multilevel analysis including micro- and macro-linguistic variables was adopted for narrative assessment. Group differences emerged on both micro- and macro-linguistic dimensions: autistic children produced narratives with more phonological errors and semantic paraphasias (microlinguistic variables) as well as more errors of global coherence and a fewer number of visible events and inferred events (macrolinguistic variables) than the control group.This study shows that even autistic children with adequate cognitive skills display several limitations in their narrative competence and that such weaknesses affect both micro- and macrolinguistic aspects of story production.
Study of bioaccumulation of Cr, Ni and Zn by the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus and assessment of the toxic effect of selected elements and their mixtures on algae cells
Authors: Bucková Martina , Hegrová Jitka , Jandová Vilma , Svoboda Josef , Huzlík Jiří , Ličbinský Roman
Published: September 2023

Toxicity assessment of K2Cr2O7, ZnCl2 and NiCl2.6H2O focusing on the green unicellular alga Desmodesmus subspicatus showed that Ni was the most toxic (EC50 = 0.121 mg L−1), followed by Cr (EC50 = 0.357 mg L−1) and Zn (EC50 = 0.968 mg L−1). The alga was exposed to solutions of the individual metals and their mixtures (Zn + Ni, Zn + Ni + Cr). After 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure, the accumulation of Zn, Ni and Cr in algal cells was assessed. Moreover, the change in toxicity of the metals, the concentration of selected biogenic elements (Ca, Na, Mg, S, K, P, Mn) in algal cells and the rate of metal removal from the solutions were also analysed. In the case of single-metal solutions, for Zn and Cr, the toxicity and accumulation in algal cells decreased over the 96 h of the experiment, whereas for Ni as well as for the binary and ternary mixtures the toxicity and accumulation increased. Significant correlations between the amount of metals accumulated in the cells and the inhibition of growth rates were observed. The content of selected biogenic elements in algal cells decreased over time in all treatments with added metals as well as in the control group, and after 96 h was higher in all treatments with addition of Ni compared to the control group and single-metal solutions of Zn and Cr. The highest removal of the metal from the solution occurred in the case of the single metal solution of Zn, where 83.4% of Zn was removed from the solution in 96 h.
Intelligent and Resource-Conserving Service Function Chain (SFC) Embedding
Authors: Rodis Panteleimon , Papadimitriou Panagiotis
Published: September 2023

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) opens us great opportunities for network processing with higher resource efficiency and flexibility. In this respect, there is an increasing need for intelligent orchestration mechanisms, such that NFV can exploit its potential and live up to its promise. Genetic algorithms have emerged as a promising alternative to the proliferation of heuristic and exact methods for the Service Function Chain (SFC) embedding problem. To this end, we design and evaluate a genetic algorithm (GA), which computes efficient embeddings with runtimes on par with approximate methods. We present a GA model as state-space search in order to clarify the design choices of a GA. Our proposed GA utilizes a heuristic for the generation of the initial population, with the aim of directing the search towards the solution. Given the sensitivity of GAs on their various parameters, we introduce a parameter adjustment framework for GA fine-tuning. A comparative evaluation among a range of GA variants with diverse features sheds light on the impact of these features on SFC embedding efficiency. The GA variant that stands out is further benchmarked against a baseline greedy algorithm and a state-of-the-art heuristic. Our evaluation results indicate that the GA yields notable gains in terms of request acceptance and resource efficiency.
Bovine leukosis virus, bovine viral diarrhea, and bovine neosporosis seroprevalence in specialized dairy herds in Antioquia-Colombia
Authors: Rúa Giraldo Cristian C. , López Herrera Albeiro , Ruiz-Cortés Tatiana
Published: September 2023

Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bovine leukosis virus (BLV), aDeltaretrovirus. Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is an infectious disease caused by a pestivirus. Bovine neosporosis is caused by the obligate intracellular parasiteNeospora caninum(Nc). These pathogens can have horizontal (postnatal) or vertical (transplacental) transmissions and affect the productive and reproductive performance of infected bovines. This work aimed to detect BLV, BVD, and Nc seroprevalence in specialized dairy cattle from the north, east, and Aburrá Valley regions of the Department of Antioquia, the highest in milk production regions in Antioquia. A total of 599 blood samples, obtained from 53 specialized dairy cattle herds, were evaluated by the ELISA test. The results revealed a seroprevalence of 41.13% for BLV (242/599), 28.48% (163/599) for Nc, and 22.7% (132/599) for BVD. Regarding the regional seroprevalence evaluation, BLV was found in 47.02% of the samples from the east, 36.87% from the north, and 46.02% from the Aburrá Valley. Nc was found in 31.03% of the samples from the east, 24.26% from the north, and 36.63% from Aburrá Valley. BVD was found in 21.62% of the samples from the east, 25.03% from the north region, and 10.39% of the samples from the Aburrá Valley. It is highlighted by these results that the north region, with the highest milk production in Antioquia, had the lowest BLV and Nc seroprevalences but the highest seroprevalence of BVD. BLV has increased in Antioquia in recent years, and as an immunosuppressive infection, opportunities for other pathogens are created by it. A significant statistical difference was found in the average prevalence of the pathogens according to the municipality, cattle breed, and region of origin of the sample. The seroprevalence of these pathogens in specialized dairy herds in Antioquia can be classified as medium-low. However, it is recommended that biosecurity practices should be maximized to avoid the spread of these pathogens due to the variability detected in the region, municipality, breed group, and herd age. The rapid and efficient diagnosis of these three pathogens through reliable methodologies will allow for the control of dissemination in dairy herds.
Die wahrgenommene Verantwortung von Trainer/innen für kurzfristige und langfristige Trainingsergebnisse
Authors: Barth Dorothee , Wißhak Susanne
Published: September 2023

Studien zu schulischen Lehrkräften sowie Befunde aus der Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie belegen, dass das berufliche Verantwortungsgefühl in positivem Zusammenhang mit Motivation und Engagement steht. Die vorliegende Studie in der Zeitschrift Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) geht deshalb der Fragestellung nach, inwieweit sich Weiterbildner/innen verantwortlich fühlen in Bezug auf unterschiedliche Trainingsresultate. Dazu wurden bei einer Online-Befragung N = 393 Trainer/innen aus dem Bereich der berufsbezogenen Weiterbildung gebeten, sowohl ihre persönliche Verantwortung als auch die von außen zugewiesene Verantwortung im Rahmen eines konkreten Trainings rückblickend einzuschätzen. Zunächst ergab eine explorative Faktorenanalyse mit Varimax-Rotation für die beiden Verantwortungskonzepte jeweils zwei Faktoren, die Verantwortung für kurzfristige Trainingsergebnisse sowie die Verantwortung für langfristige Trainingsergebnisse. Anschließende Mittelwertvergleiche führten zu dem weiteren Ergebnis, dass bezüglich langfristiger Ergebnisse die persönliche Verantwortung von Trainer/innen geringer ausfällt als die zugewiesene Verantwortung (p < 0,001, d = 0,33). Ferner zeigte sich, dass Trainer/innen hinsichtlich kurzfristiger Ergebnisse wie der Zufriedenheit oder des Lernerfolgs der Teilnehmenden mehr Verantwortung verspüren als für langfristige Trainingsergebnisse wie den Transfer oder die verbesserte Arbeitsleistung der Teilnehmenden (p < 0,001, d = 0,82), was im Einklang steht mit sowohl theoretischen Überlegungen bezüglich der generellen Verantwortlichkeit von Lehrenden im Lernprozess als auch mit einzelnen empirischen Befunden zu Trainer/innen. Mit Blick auf die Weiterbildungspraxis werden schließlich Ansätze diskutiert, wie das Verantwortungsgefühl der Lehrenden gestärkt werden kann.
Effect of ultrasonic on the chemical composition of stirred yoghurt supplemented with orange peel powder
Authors: El-Nawasany Lamiaa I. , Al-Jahani Ghena M. , Kadoum Lamiaa A. , Aboali Ghada A. , Naiem Manal A. , Sundookh Ahmad , Amin Heba E.
Published: September 2023

Heat treatments in dairy processing exert undesirable effects on the final product. Alternatively, a high-intensity ultrasonic technique was applied to process stirred yoghurt supplemented with orange peel powder (OPP). For this reason, OPP was added to the fresh milk at concentrations of 0.0, 1, and 2%, and then the mixture was subjected to ultrasound waves (24 kHz at 45 ± 2 °C for 30 min) before being incubated with the starter culture w/v%. Analysis of fresh and stored samples (7 and 14 days) showed that ultrasonic-treated milk (UTM) had a longer fermentation time than the heat-treated sample (HTM). No significant differences in total solid content, protein, ash, and volatile fatty acids were observed between UTM and HTM samples, while slight differences due to the addition of OPP were detected. Treating milk with ultrasound waves improved the processed yogurt’s apparent viscosity and water-holding capacity; however, adding OPP resulted in minor reverse effects. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents and antioxidant activity increased by adding OPP and were significantly higher in yoghurt made from UTM than in HTM. Overall, the application of ultrasonication in processing OPP- supplemented yoghurt resulted in better chemical and physical properties and maintained bioactive antioxidant components compared to yogurt manufactured from HTM.
Study the corrosion issues on galvanized steel induced in water tanks
Authors: Gaber Ghalia A. , Mohamed Lamiaa Z. , Abdelfatah Aliaa
Published: September 2023

Weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, and cyclic voltammetry tests were employed to assess the effects of sodium hypochlorite concentration and pH on the corrosion characteristics of galvanized steel in water tanks. Pitting corrosion appeared on the galvanized steel concurrently in neutral drinkable water. Passivation developed after exposure to 70 mg/L sodium hypochlorite solutions. The results demonstrated that adding NaClO to wastewater solutions reduced the corrosion rate. The corrosion rate of wastewater is 568.7 m/y, which can be reduced by adding NaClO to a lower value of 22.94 m/y at 70 mg/L. NaClO has the maximum efficiency at 70 mg/L, with a value of 95.96%. It was discovered that the galvanized steel in potable water was sensitive to passivation dissolution when hypochlorite solutions with concentrations ranging from 30 to 70 mg/L were added. However, hypochlorite solutions with concentrations greater than 150 mg/L cause significant corrosion on galvanized steel. The PDP and cyclic voltammetry findings revealed that the galvanized steel had good passivation properties under high 70 mg/L sodium hypochlorite concentrations. Only the sodium hypochlorite decreased the amounts of all sessile microorganism families. The scanning electron microscope was employed to check the corroded samples' morphology. Pitting corrosion was discovered alongside galvanic corrosion and uniform corrosion.Kindly check and confirm whether the corresponding author mail ID is correctly identified.Confirmed
The Self-Rated Health of Grandmothers Caring for Grandchildren: Evidence from South Africa
Authors: Waterhouse Philippa , Bennett Rachel
Published: September 2023

Globally older people are increasingly providing care for their grandchildren. A pertinent question across world regions is the extent to which providing care for grandchildren intersects with the ageing process and the implications for grandparents’ wellbeing. This paper examines the relationship between caring for grandchildren and the self-rated health of older African women (n = 1,397) in South Africa, drawing on data from the National Income Dynamics Study. This is a population which faces significant socio-economic challenges and stresses from the legacy of the HIV epidemic but benefit from a supportive social protection system and strong norms of extended family care. The findings show that prior self-rated health is not associated with assuming primary caregiving responsibilities for grandchildren, suggesting there is no selection effect into caring responsibilities. However, after controlling for prior characteristics, older women who take on primary caring responsibilities for grandchildren have significantly lower odds of reporting poorer self-rated health. Thus, in contrast to the frequent conclusions of negative impacts of custodial grandparenting on grandparent health in the US, this paper indicates that in some cultural contexts grandparents taking on the primary responsibility for grandchildren can be protective for health. Policymakers need to recognise the important caregiving role of grandparents and support them to flourish.
A further new species of Isoglossa (Acanthaceae) from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania
Authors: Darbyshire Iain , Hemp Andreas
Published: September 2023

Isoglossa pareensis I.Darbysh. & Hemp (Acanthaceae), from submontane moist forest at Mwala in the South Pare Mountains of northeastern Tanzania, is described and illustrated. This species is considered to be related to I. gregorii (S.Moore) Lindau and I. punctata (Vahl) Brummitt & J.R.I.Wood, which are widespread in the montane forests of eastern Africa, but it clearly differs from these species in inflorescence structure and indumentum and in anther morphology. Notes on the habitat requirements and extinction risk of this new species are provided; it is considered to be Vulnerable under IUCN criterion D2 because of its extremely limited range and a plausible future threat from wildfires. The recent discovery of the Critically Endangered acanthaceous herb Asystasia masaiensis Lindau at lower, drier elevations at the same site is also reported and the first known photograph of that species is reproduced
Assessing the profitability of remanufacturing initiation: a literature review
Authors: Vogt Duberg Johan , Sundin Erik , Tang Ou
Published: September 2023

Remanufacturing has been modelled extensively from an economic perspective. However, there are relatively few studies focusing on models that consider the implementation difficulties in industry, such as data availability and model transparency. This paper aims to identify how remanufacturing initiations can be economically assessed with models particularly suitable for industry. These models should contribute to disseminating the know-how about initiating remanufacturing to transit industries towards more circular product flows. To fulfil this aim, a systematic literature review was conducted. The search resulted in a total of 964 papers published till August 2021. The results show that assessment models could be categorised into a two-dimensional framework indicating the level of computer support needed to handle the models and the level of data requirements to use the models, both of which are considered essential in the industrial implementation of the models. The review revealed and structured a further need for research on assessing remanufacturing initiation profitability, especially on economic assessment models designed to assist industries without previous remanufacturing knowledge in such an initiation.