bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curriculum and Teacher Education Reforms in Finland That Support the Development of Competences for the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Lavonen Jari
Published: April 2020

This chapter analyzes how learning twenty-first century competences has been implemented in the Finnish educational context through the enactment of national and local level curricula and the design of a teacher education development program in a decentralized education system, in which teachers, schools, municipalities, and universities have high autonomy. The curricula and development program emphasize learning twenty-first century competences. Both were designed in collaboration with Finnish teachers and teacher educators, representatives from the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, the Teacher’s Union, the Student’s Unions, and the Principal Association. The major actions taken to implement these changes included piloting, seminars and conferences, having different support and local level collaborations, and networking. According to recent evaluations, both endeavors – the development of national and local level curricula and a teacher education development program – have resulted in progress towards implementing twenty-first century competences in schools and for teacher education.
Curriculum and Educational Reforms in Portugal: An Analysis on Why and How Students’ Knowledge and Skills Improved
Authors: Crato Nuno
Published: April 2020

By the turn of the century, following the dismal first results in TIMSS and PISA, the Portuguese educational system was at a crossroads. It was clear that students were not attaining minimal levels of proficiency in reading, math, science, and other basic subjects. The system needed a deep reshaping, and so changes were made. By the time the last PISA and TIMSS international large-scale surveys’ results were released in 2015, Portugal registered a quantum leap: in PISA, student achievement was above the OECD average and in TIMSS, 4th graders had higher scores in Mathematics than several usually high-performing countries, including Finland. How was this possible? To understand what happened, we need to look at what Portugal has done in the last 10–15 years. Although many different ministers from different ideological standpoints made different reforms, there is a common thread to most changes: they paid increased attention to results. This proved to be a powerful thrust for improvement, backed up by experienced teachers. However, this general thrust assumed many concrete different aspects and promoted different reforms. During the 2011–2015 period, these reforms went further and were very clear, intentional, and explicit: a clear curriculum, increased school autonomy, students’ regular assessment, vocational paths, flexibility. All this helped to prepare youngsters for an active, productive, and responsible life in the twenty-first century.
What Does It Mean?
Authors: Willison John
Published: April 2020

This chapter is titled ‘What does it mean?’ and provokes a consideration of seminal and recent learning theories and what they mean for contemporary educational practices including Machine Teaching and teacher action research in light of the MELT. Placing learning theories on the MELTcontinuum of learning autonomyis very practical for teacher understanding of theories and for application to classrooms and online learning.
Notes on polytopes, amplitudes and boundary configurations for Grassmannian string integrals
Authors: He Song , Ren Lecheng , Zhang Yong
Published: April 2020

Abstract

We continue the study of positive geometries underlying the Grassmannian string integrals, which are a class of “stringy canonical forms”, or stringy integrals, over the positive Grassmannian mod torus action, G
+(k, n)/T . The leading order of any such stringy integral is given by the canonical function of a polytope, which can be obtained using the Minkowski sum of the Newton polytopes for the regulators of the integral, or equivalently given by the so-called scattering-equation map. The canonical function of the polytopes for Grassmannian string integrals, or the volume of their dual polytopes, is also known as the generalized bi-adjoint ϕ
3 amplitudes. We compute all the linear functions for the facets which cut out the polytope for all cases up to n = 9, with up to k=4 and their parity conjugate cases. The main novelty of our computation is that we present these facets in a manifestly gauge-invariant and cyclic way, and identify the boundary configurations of G
+(k, n)/T corresponding to these facets, which have nice geometric interpretations in terms of n points in (k−1)-dimensional space. All the facets and configurations we discovered up to n = 9 directly generalize to all n, although new types are still needed for higher n.
Formation and critical dynamics of topological defects in Lifshitz holography
Authors: Li Zhi-Hong , Xia Chuan-Yin , Zeng Hua-Bi , Zhang Hai-Qing
Published: April 2020

Abstract

We examine the formation and critical dynamics of topological defects via Kibble-Zurek mechanism in a (2+1)-dimensional quantum critical point, which is conjectured to dual to a Lifshitz geometry. Quantized magnetic fluxoids are spontaneously generated and trapped in the cores of order parameter vortices, which is a feature of type-II superconductors. Time evolution of the average condensate is found to lag behind the instantaneous equilibrium value of the order parameter, a typical phenomenon in non- equilibrium dynamics. Scalings of vortex number density and the “freeze-out” time match the predictions from Kibble-Zurek mechanism. From these scalings, the dynamic and static critical exponents in the boundary field theory are found, at least at finite temperature, to be irrespective of the Lifshitz exponent in the bulk.
β-1,3-Glucanase production as an anti-fungal enzyme by phylogenetically different strains of the genus Clostridium isolated from anoxic soil that underwent biological disinfestation
Authors: Ueki Atsuko , Takehara Toshiaki , Ishioka Gen , Kaku Nobuo , Ueki Katsuji
Published: April 2020

Biological (or reductive) soil disinfestation (BSD or RSD) is a bioremediation process to control soil-borne plant pathogens using activities of indigenous bacteria in the soil. Three obligate anaerobic bacterial strains (TW1, TW10, and TB10), which were isolated from anoxic soil subjected to BSD treatments, were examined for their abilities to produce anti-fungal enzymes. All strains were affiliated with the different lineages of the genus Clostridium. The three strains decomposed β-1,3-glucans (curdlan and laminarin), and β-1,3-glucanase activities were detected from their culture supernatants with these glucans. The three strains also produced the enzyme with wheat bran as a growth substrate and killed the Fusarium pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. spinaciae) in the anaerobic co-incubation conditions. Observation by fluorescence microscopy of the pathogen cells showed that the three strains had degraded the fungal cells in different manners upon co-incubation with wheat bran. When the three strains were cultivated with the dead cells or the cell wall samples prepared from the Fusarium pathogen, strain TW1 utilized these materials as easily decomposable substrates by releasing β-1,3-glucanase. When observed by fluorescence microscopy, it appeared that strain TW1 degraded the mycelial cell wall nearly thoroughly, with the septa remaining as undecomposed luminous rings. In contrast, the other two strains decomposed neither the dead cells nor the cell wall samples directly. The results indicate that the various anaerobic bacteria proliferated in the soil under the BSD treatments should play key roles as an organized bacterial community to eliminate fungal pathogens, namely by release of anti-fungal enzymes with different properties.

Key points•Three clostridial strains isolated from BSD-treated soils produced β-1,3-glucanase.•All strains killed the Fusarium pathogen in the anaerobic co-incubation conditions.•One of the strains produced β-1,3-glucanase with the fungal cell wall as a substrate.•The strain degraded the cell wall almost completely, except for the mycelial septa.
ENSO’s impacts on the tropical Indian and Atlantic Oceans via tropical atmospheric processes: observations versus CMIP5 simulations
Authors: He Shan , Yu Jin-Yi , Yang Song , Fang Shih-Wei
Published: April 2020

This study compares the impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean and the tropical Indian Ocean during 1958–2004. It is found that the tropical atmospheric processes mediating the ENSO impacts are different between the two oceans for two reasons. First, the ENSO-induced anomalous Walker circulation is more extensive over the Atlantic than over the Indian Ocean. As a result, the atmospheric bridge (AB) mechanism is the major contributor to the differences in ENSO teleconnections between the two oceans. Secondly, SSTs in the tropical North Atlantic are under a greater control of the atmospheric thermal forcing than those in the tropical Indian Ocean. Due to these different controls, the tropospheric temperature (TT) mechanism also contributes to the different ENSO teleconnections. When compared with the observations, the mean of thirty-seven models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 overestimates the ENSO-induced SST response in the tropical Indian Ocean but underestimates the response in the tropical North Atlantic. The overestimation is brought about by a westward extension of ENSO SST anomalies in the models, which causes the AB mechanism to produce an overly strong impact on Indian Ocean SSTs. On the other hand, the underestimation is caused by a weaker-than-observed sensitivity in the simulated Atlantic SSTs to the thermal forcing produced by the TT mechanism.
Establishment and functional characterization of a murine primary Sertoli cell line deficient of connexin43
Authors: Gerber Jonathan , Rode Kristina , Hambruch Nina , Langeheine Marion , Schnepel Nadine , Brehm Ralph
Published: April 2020

The Sertoli cell (SC) specific connexin43 (Cx43) knockout (SCCx43KO) mouse line is ideal to gain insight into the mechanistic gap junction formation in SC and the seminiferous epithelium. A method for developing primary SC cultures from these mice was established, validated and successfully characterized via polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence (IF), and Western blots (WB). It was evident that both knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) primary cell cultures were similar in morphology. These highly pure SC cultures were subjected to cell proliferation assays indicating no notable proliferation in cultures of both genotypes. Measurements of cell monolayer integrity indicated significant increases in transepithelial electrical resistance and consequently in tight junction expression of the KO cultures. Using semi-quantitative WB and IF, tight junction protein claudin-11 was analyzed. These results support a role for Cx43 in regulating blood-testis barrier (BTB) function, composition, and dynamics in vitro. Thus, the SC deficient Cx43 cell cultures may provide a valuable in vitro tool for a better understanding of the mechanistic role of Cx43 in spermatogenesis and BTB assembly.
Supplier selection: comparison of DEA models with additive and reciprocal data
Authors: Dobos Imre , Vörösmarty Gyöngyi
Published: April 2020

Supplier evaluation is one of the most important fields of application for data envelopment analysis (DEA). Criteria may include negative data in both input and output factors. Data translation can solve this problem, but interpretation is not evident from the literature. Use of an additive model is one method of managing the problem of negative data. This paper addresses this issue in relation to the supplier ranking problem. It describes the development of a ranking with cross-efficiency that incorporates negative data into the additive model. The additive model we describe is compared with previously used DEA models in which data is replaced with reciprocal values when necessary. We present a supplier-evaluation-related example of this case. After the efficiency evaluation, a supplier ranking system is constructed. To do this, we use the cross-efficiencies obtained from the additive model. Aggregate efficiencies help display the suppliers in descending order of efficiency. Finally, the paper compares self- and peer-appraisal indicators for reciprocal and additive DEA models.
Predicting the risk of postoperative recurrence and high-grade histology in patients with intracranial meningiomas using routine preoperative MRI
Authors: Spille Dorothee Cäcilia , Adeli Alborz , Sporns Peter B. , Heß Katharina , Streckert Eileen Maria Susanne , Brokinkel Caroline , Mawrin Christian , Paulus Werner , Stummer Walter , Brokinkel Benjamin
Published: April 2020

Risk factors for prediction of prognosis in meningiomas derivable from routine preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) remain elusive. Correlations of tumor and edema volume, disruption of the arachnoid layer, heterogeneity of contrast enhancement, enhancement of the capsule, T2-intensity, tumor shape, and calcifications on pMRI with tumor recurrence and high-grade (WHO grade II/III) histology were analyzed in 565 patients who underwent surgery for WHO grade I (N = 516, 91%) or II/III (high-grade histology, N = 49, 9%) meningioma between 1991 and 2018. Edema volume (OR, 1.00; p = 0.003), heterogeneous contrast enhancement (OR, 3.10; p < 0.001), and an irregular shape (OR, 2.16; p = 0.015) were associated with high-grade histology. Multivariate analyses confirmed edema volume (OR, 1.00; p = 0.037) and heterogeneous contrast enhancement (OR, 2.51; p = 0.014) as risk factors for high-grade histology. Tumor volume (HR, 1.01; p = 0.045), disruption of the arachnoid layer (HR, 2.50; p = 0.003), heterogeneous contrast enhancement (HR, 2.05; p = 0.007), and an irregular tumor shape (HR, 2.57; p = 0.001) were correlated with recurrence. Multivariate analyses confirmed tumor volume (HR, 1.01; p = 0.032) and disruption of the arachnoid layer (HR, 2.44; p = 0.013) as risk factors for recurrence, independent of histology. Subgroup analyses revealed disruption of the arachnoid layer (HR, 9.41; p < 0.001) as a stronger risk factor for recurrence than high-grade histology (HR, 5.15; p = 0.001). Routine pMRI contains relevant information about the risk of recurrence or high-grade histology of meningioma patients. Loss of integrity of the arachnoid layer on MRI had a higher prognostic value than the WHO grading, and underlying histological or molecular alterations remain to be determined.
Accounting for Heterogeneity: Mixed-Effects Models in Resting-State EEG Data in a Sample of Tinnitus Sufferers
Authors: Riha Constanze , Güntensperger Dominik , Kleinjung Tobias , Meyer Martin
Published: April 2020

In neuroscience, neural oscillations and other features of brain activity recorded by electroencephalography (EEG) are typically statistically assessed on the basis of the study’s population mean to identify possible blueprints for healthy subjects, or subjects with diagnosable neurological or psychiatric disorders. Despite some inter-individual similarities, there is reason to believe that a discernible portion of the individual brain activity is subject-specific. In order to encompass the potential individual source of variance in EEG data and psychometric parameters, we introduce an innovative application of linear mixed-effects models (LMM) as an alternative procedure for the analysis of resting-state EEG data. Using LMM, individual differences can be modelled through the assumptions of idiosyncrasy of all responses and dependency among data points (e.g., from the same subject within and across units of time) via random effects parameters. This report provides an example of how LMM can be used for the statistical analysis of resting-state EEG data in a heterogeneous group of subjects; namely, people who suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ear/s). Results from 49 participants (38 male, mean age of 46.69 ± 12.65 years) revealed that EEG signals were not only associated with specific recording sites, but exhibited regional specific oscillations in conjunction to symptom severity. Tinnitus distress targeted the frequency bands beta3 (23.5–35 Hz) and gamma (35.5–45 Hz) in right frontal regions, whereas delta (0.5–4 Hz) exhibited significant changes in temporal-parietal sources. Further, 57.8% of the total variance in EEG power was subject-specific and acknowledged by the LMM framework and its prediction. Thus, a deeper understanding of both the underlying statistical and physiological patterns of EEG data was gained.
Does the EQ-5D usual activities dimension measure what it intends to measure? The relative importance of work, study, housework, family or leisure activities
Authors: Gamst-Klaussen Thor , Lamu Admassu N.
Published: April 2020

Background

The EQ-5D is the most widely used generic preference-based health-related quality of life measure. It comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The usual activities dimension asks respondents to evaluate the severity of problems in their usual activities, such as work, study, housework, family or leisure activities. The primary aim of this study is to investigate whether the EQ-5D (five-level) usual activities dimension captures those activities that it intends to capture. We further assess the relative importance of each of these activities for the usual activities dimension.

Methods

Data include 7933 respondents from six countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US. Logistic regression and ordinary least square regression models investigate the relationship between the usual activities dimension and its main predictors (work/study, housework, family, and leisure activities). A Shapley value decomposition method was applied to measure the relative importance of each predictor.

Results

Work/study, housework, family, and leisure activities were all significant (p < 0.001) determinants of usual activities dimension. The respective marginal contribution (in %) of housework, leisure, work/study and family to UA dimension (as a share of goodness-of-fit) is 28.0, 26.2, 20.8 and 14.7 in the logistic regression model. This finding is consistent when linear regression is used as an alternative model.

Conclusions

The usual activities dimension in EQ-5D reflects the specific activities described to respondents. Therefore, the usual activities dimension measures what it really intends to measure.
Associations between model-predicted rivaroxaban exposure and patient characteristics and efficacy and safety outcomes in the prevention of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Reinecke Isabel , Solms Alexander , Willmann Stefan , Spiro Theodore E. , Peters Gary , Weitz Jeffrey I. , Mueck Wolfgang , Garmann Dirk , Schmidt Stephan , Zhang Liping , Fox Keith A. A. , Berkowitz Scott D.
Published: April 2020

Anticoagulant plasma concentrations and patient characteristics might affect the benefit–risk balance of therapy. The study objective was to assess the impact of model-predicted rivaroxaban exposure and patient characteristics on outcomes in patients receiving rivaroxaban for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis (VTE-P) after hip/knee replacement surgery. Post hoc exposure–response analyses were conducted using data from the phase 3 RECORD1–4 studies, in which 12,729 patients were randomized to rivaroxaban 10 mg once daily or enoxaparin for ≤ 39 days. Multivariate regression approaches were used to correlate model-predicted individual rivaroxaban exposures and patient characteristics with outcomes. In the absence of measured rivaroxaban exposure, exposure estimates were predicted based on individual increases in prothrombin time (PT) and by making use of the known correlation between rivaroxaban plasma concentration and dynamics of PT. No significant associations between rivaroxaban exposure and total VTE or major bleeding were identified. A significant association between exposure and a composite of major or non-major clinically relevant (NMCR) bleeding from day 4 after surgery was observed. The relationship was shallow, with an approximate predicted absolute increase in a composite of major or NMCR bleeding from 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76–1.54] to 2.18% (95% CI 1.51–3.17) at the 5th and 95th percentiles of trough plasma concentration, respectively. In conclusion, based on the underlying data and analysis, no reliable target window for exposure with improved benefit–risk could be identified within the investigated exposure range. Hence, monitoring rivaroxaban levels is unlikely to be beneficial in VTE-P.
Isolation and characterization of new Puumala orthohantavirus strains from Germany
Authors: Binder Florian , Reiche Sven , Roman-Sosa Gleyder , Saathoff Marion , Ryll René , Trimpert Jakob , Kunec Dusan , Höper Dirk , Ulrich Rainer G.
Published: April 2020

Orthohantaviruses are re-emerging rodent-borne pathogens distributed all over the world. Here, we report the isolation of a Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) strain from bank voles caught in a highly endemic region around the city Osnabrück, north-west Germany. Coding and non-coding sequences of all three segments (S, M, and L) were determined from original lung tissue, after isolation and after additional passaging in VeroE6 cells and a bank vole-derived kidney cell line. Different single amino acid substitutions were observed in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) of the two stable PUUV isolates. The PUUV strain from VeroE6 cells showed a lower titer when propagated on bank vole cells compared to VeroE6 cells. Additionally, glycoprotein precursor (GPC)-derived virus-like particles of a German PUUV sequence allowed the generation of monoclonal antibodies that allowed the reliable detection of the isolated PUUV strain in the immunofluorescence assay. In conclusion, this is the first isolation of a PUUV strain from Central Europe and the generation of glycoprotein-specific monoclonal antibodies for this PUUV isolate. The obtained virus isolate and GPC-specific antibodies are instrumental tools for future reservoir host studies.
Inference and computation with generalized additive models and their extensions
Authors: Wood Simon N.
Published: April 2020

Regression models in which a response variable is related to smooth functions of some predictor variables are popular as a result of their appealing balance between flexibility and interpretability. Since the original generalized additive models of Hastie and Tibshirani (Generalized additive models. Chapman & Hall, Boca Raton, 1990) numerous model extensions have been proposed, and a variety of practically useful computational strategies have emerged. This paper provides an overview of some widely applicable frameworks for this type of modelling, emphasizing the similarities between the different approaches, and the equivalence of smoothing, Gaussian latent process models and Gaussian random effects. The focus is particularly on Bayes empirical smoother theory, fully Bayesian inference via stochastic simulation or integrated nested Laplace approximation and boosting.
Enumeration of CD34+ blasts by immunohistochemistry in bone marrow biopsies from MDS patients may have significant impact on final WHO classification
Authors: Saft Leonie , Timar Botond , Porwit Anna
Published: April 2020

The percentage of blasts cells in the bone marrow (BM) of MDS patients is one of the key parameters for MDS classification and for the differential diagnosis with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Currently, the gold standard to determine the blast percentage is conventional cytomorphology. To assess the possible impact of blast cell enumeration in BM biopsies from MDS patients on the final WHO classification using CD34 immunohistochemistry (IHC) a total of 156 BM samples from MDS and MDS-AML patients were studied and compared to blast counts by cytomorphology (CM). Eighty-nine BM aspirates were also studied by flow cytometry (FCM). Percentages of CD34+ blasts by IHC were determined blindly by two hematopathologists. Automated CD34-cell count was performed in 25 cases. Good overall agreement was found for CM and FCM with respect to critical blast thresholds (5%, 10%, 20%) (p < 0.05). However, in 17% of patients, CD34+ blast counts by IHC were higher as compared to CM with possible impact on MDS subclassification. In 7 of 21 AML patients, diagnosis was established on BM histology, while the blast percentage by CM was below the AML threshold. The assessment of CD34+ cells by IHC showed high interobserver agreement (Spearman R 0.95, p < 0.01), while automated CD34 counts were not optimal due to interference with other cellular and stromal elements. BM histology including CD34 IHC improves the diagnostic accuracy in MDS and AML. The quantification of blast cells should be based on the integration of all three methods for reliable disease classification and risk assessment.
Well-controlled dynamic hydrocarbon reserves calculation of fracture–cavity karst carbonate reservoirs based on production data analysis
Authors: Lyu Xinrui , Zhu Guiliang , Liu Zhongchun
Published: April 2020

Fracture–cavity karst carbonate reservoirs have multiple storage space with irregular geometry and various scales, and this caused strong heterogeneity and complex flow characteristics. Accurately calculating the well-controlled dynamic reserves of this kind reservoir effectively is the basis to optimize oil field development plan and making the transformation measures of production well. In order to solve the problem that conventional well-controlled dynamic hydrocarbon reserves calculation method is not suitable for such type reservoirs, we applied a method based on production data analysis. Classification standard of oil well types is established based on the fracture–cavity reservoirs geological static and production dynamic characteristics. Conceptual characteristics of geological model and fluid flow pattern for different types of production wells are assumed. Calculation workflow for well-controlled reserves of fracture–cavity reservoir is established. In the process, some technical key points are proposed to improve accuracy of curve fitting, such as converting the bottom hole pressure from wellhead pressure, correcting the well control range and converting the PVT parameters at the pseudo-steady state. We verified correctness of this method by comparing the calculated results with numerical simulation results of actual production well. This method is well used to Tahe Oil field of Tarim Basin in China. The result shows that the well-controlled reserves quantitative calculation results through this method are in conformity with oil field actual understanding, and the remaining dynamic reserves mainly exist in the drainage area of the wells that drilled different reservoir bodies with good connectivity, especially at the top of large karst caves, and that is the target of further adjusting.
Phase Transformations in Thermally Treated Gas-Atomized Al 7075 Powder
Authors: Walde Caitlin , Tsaknopoulos Kyle , Champagne Victor , Cote Danielle
Published: April 2020

Al 7075 is a heat-treatable Al–Mg–Zn alloy widely used in the aerospace industry. Recently, it has found application as feedstock for metal additive manufacturing (MAM). It has been shown that wrought alloy compositions in powder form differ in microstructure and properties from their conventional form. Given this, it is important to understand the microstructure of the powders prior to use in MAM processes. This work studies as-atomized gas-atomized Al 7075 powders and the effect of thermal treatments on microstructure. Extensive electron microscopy revealed the presence of T-phase, Al7Cu2Fe, and Mg2Si in the as-atomized condition. Thermal treatments were performed at 465 °C and 480 °C to homogenize the microstructure; however, S-phase was unexpectedly present in the samples treated at 465 °C. In both 465 °C and 480 °C treatments, T-phase was not fully dissolved after the 60-min treatment. Guided by thermodynamic modeling, these results indicate a shift in local equilibria in these powders.
When Lithics Hit Bones: Evaluating the Potential of a Multifaceted Experimental Protocol to Illuminate Middle Palaeolithic Weapon Technology
Authors: Smith Geoff M. , Noack Elisabeth S. , Behrens Nina Maria , Ruebens Karen , Street Martin , Iovita Radu , Gaudzinski-Windheuser Sabine
Published: April 2020

Recent zooarchaeological and isotope analyses have largely settled the debate surrounding Neanderthal hunting capacities, repeatedly demonstrating their successful acquisition of large ungulates. Nevertheless, the functional identification of individual tools as hunting weapons remains a methodological challenge. In-depth studies have focussed mainly on small subsets of lithic artefacts from selected assemblages assessing features of breakage patterns, retouch, shape and use wear. Studies focussing on associated hunting lesions are rarer and often focus on reconstructing very specific bone surface marks encountered in the archaeological record. This study aims to add to our understanding of the formation and characteristics of projectile impact marks (PIMs) on bone through a series of highly monitored, replicative experiments, using thrusting and throwing spears with replica Levallois points into two wild pig carcasses. In total, 152 shots were made, and for each a series of attributes was recorded, including velocity and location of impact. Subsequent quantitative analyses focussed on understanding the various factors underlying the formation of different types of projectile impact marks. These experiments demonstrate that PIM formation results from the properties of both the impacting projectile and bone element. PIMs can signal impacts caused by different delivery methods but only on some parts of the skeleton. These results are contextualised in relation to the occurrence and recognition of Palaeolithic PIMs and patterns of Neanderthal behaviour. These experiments are only a first step in improving the recognition of these signatures in the archaeological record and providing better insights into understanding of the mechanisms of Neanderthal hunting.
Transforming Social Capital into Performance via Entrepreneurial Orientation
Authors: Nguyen Long Thanh , An Jake , Ngo Liem Viet , Hau Le Nguyen
Published: April 2020

Despite the importance of social capital (e.g. external network ties, social interaction, and relationship quality) and entrepreneurial orientation (e.g. proactiveness, innovativeness, and risk taking) for firm performance, little is known about the mechanisms that benefit firms from the interplay among these factors. It has also been unclear which entrepreneurial processes or activities assist in transforming social capital into positive performance outcomes. In this study, we clarify how and why entrepreneurial orientation assists in transforming social capital into firm performance. A survey of 198 entrepreneurs in Vietnam shows that entrepreneurial firms need both bridging and bonding capital (i.e. external network ties and social interaction) for enhanced relationship quality. While proactiveness mediates the impact of relationship quality on firm performance, findings show no support for the mediating role of innovativeness and risk taking. In other words, proactiveness converts relationship quality into enhanced firm performance, while innovativeness and risk taking do not.
Neoadjuvant therapy strategies for advanced gastric cancer: Current innovations and future challenges
Authors: Zhu Zhi , Gong Ying‐Bo , Xu Hui‐Mian
Published: April 2020

Gastric cancer, which has a high incidence and poor prognosis, remains a therapeutic challenge. Recently, neoadjuvant therapy has attracted increasing attention due to high recurrence rate and low survival rate after resection in most patients with advanced stage. Clinical trials show that neoadjuvant approaches confer a significant survival advantage for resectable locally advanced gastric cancer. The specific advantages of chemoradiotherapy compared with chemotherapy have not been clarified; optimal regimens and cycles, particularly in the preoperative setting, should be studied further; and trials aimed at determining the role of targeted and immunological therapies should be conducted.
Sexual Inactivity During the Last 4 Weeks in Long-Term Cervical Cancer Survivors: Prevalence and Associated Factors
Authors: Dahl Alv A. , Bentzen Anne Gry , Fosså Sophie D. , Hess Siri Lothe , Steen Rita , Vistad Ingvild , Kiserud Cecilie E.
Published: April 2020

Background

Most studies of cervical cancer (CC) survivors describe sexual inactivity in relation to treatment modalities, but few consider that inactivity varies with age and partner status.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sexual inactivity in long-term CC survivors according to age and partner status, and to examine cancer-related, health, demographic, and psychological factors related to sexual inactivity.

Methods

All 974 women treated for CC from 2000 through 2007 in 2 areas of Norway, who were alive and cancer-free by the end of 2013, received a mailed questionnaire. Among them, 523 delivered valid data on current sexual activity (response rate 57%). The prevalence rates of sexual inactivity in relation to age groups and partner status were compared to normative sample (NORMs).

Main Outcome Measure

Sexual inactivity during the 4 weeks before the survey was administered.

Results

Median age of the sample at survey was 53 years (range 32–77) and median time since diagnosis was 11 years (range 6–15). Of the survivors aged 35–69 years, 39% (95% CI 35–44%) were sexually inactive at survey compared to 36% (95% CI 32–38%) in the NORMs. Compared with sexually active survivors, inactive ones were significantly older, more frequently had single partner status, and had less frequently been childbearing. Inactive survivors more frequently had low education, did not hold paid work at survey, had poorer self-rated health, and were more often obese. They also had higher prevalence of depression, high neuroticism, and chronic fatigue. On most cancer-related quality of life measures, sexually inactive survivors had significantly lower mean scores than sexually active ones. They significantly more often had been treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation than with conization or major surgery. In multivariable regression analysis, only older age, no prior childbearing, and single partner status remained significantly associated with sexual inactivity.

Clinical implications

Sociodemographic variables may be more relevant than clinical and cancer-related variables concerning sexual inactivity in long-term CC survivors.

Strengths & Limitations

Our study had a considerable sample size and used instruments with established psychometric qualities. The moderate response rates of the study and of the NORMs imply risks for selection biases.

Conclusion

Close to 4 in 10 survivors were sexually inactive which is similar to the rate among NORMs. Demographic factors were most strongly associated with sexual inactivity. Some other significant factors are eventually amenable to treatment and should be checked by the health-care providers.
Carbon and nitrogen uptake rates and macromolecular compositions of bottom-ice algae and phytoplankton at Cambridge Bay in Dease Strait, Canada
Authors: Kim Kwanwoo , Ha Sun-Yong , Kim Bo Kyung , Mundy C. J. , Gough Kathleen M. , Pogorzelec Nicole M. , Lee Sang Heon
Published: April 2020

Our understanding of ice algal responses to the recent changes in Arctic sea ice is impeded by limited field observations. In the present study, environmental characteristics of the landfast sea-ice zone as well as primary production and macromolecular composition of ice algae and phytoplankton were studied in the Kitikmeot Sea near Cambridge Bay in spring 2017. Averaged total chlorophyll-a(Chl-a) concentration was within the lower range reported previously for the same region, while daily carbon uptake rates of bottom-ice algae were significantly lower in this study than previously reported for the Arctic. Based on various indicators, the region's low nutrient concentrations appear to limit carbon uptake rates and associated accumulation of bottom-ice algal biomass. Furthermore, the lipids-dominant biochemical composition of bottom-ice algae suggests strong nutrient limitation relative to the distinctly different carbohydrates-dominant composition of phytoplankton. Together, the results confirm strong nitrate limitation of the local marine system.
Definition and diagnosis of constitutional thinness: a systematic review
Authors: Bailly Mélina , Germain Natacha , Galusca Bogdan , Courteix Daniel , Thivel David , Verney Julien
Published: April 2020

The existing literature about the definition and diagnostic criteria of constitutional thinness (CT) appears equivocal. The present work systematically reviewed the criteria used in the diagnosis of adult individuals with CT (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019138236). Five electronic bibliographic databases were searched between December 2018 and November 2019: MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL (Cochrane Library), Google Scholar and Clinical Trials. Search terms were combined with Medical Subject Headings terms. The search strategy included any clinical trials that enrolled adults with CT. Studies were systematically excluded if the state of thinness was not due to a well-identified constitutional origin. From the 689 references after duplicate removal, 199 studies were excluded based on title and 164 based on abstract. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 291 other studies were removed. Finally, thirty-five studies remained at the end of the process. The analysis of these studies showed high heterogeneity in the diagnostic criteria of CT. A real need emerged to adopt a common terminology and to systematically exclude potential non-constitutional origins of thinness such as eating disorders, associated pathology or over-exercising, with validated tools. Weight history, physiological menses and weight gain resistance are also important criteria to consider. The present systematic review revealed that our medical and scientific approaches of CT need to be harmonised in terms of terminology and diagnostic criteria. Although further studies are needed, we finally proposed recommendations and a decision tree to help in the recognition and diagnosis of CT.
Nuclear prominence in ellipsis: Evidence from aggressively non-D-linked phrases
Authors: GÜNEŞ GÜLİZ , LIPTÁK ANIKÓ
Published: April 2020

This paper investigates the reason why aggressively non-D-linked items such aswh-the-hell(WTH) are allowed in swiping, but not in sluicing. Investigating the potential syntactic, semantic and prosodic licensors of WTH in sluicing and swiping in the British English variety, we conclude that syntactic or semantic constraints cannot be the source of the difference. Instead, we propose a novel prosodic account in which the WTH must satisfy the prosodic licensing condition that it cannot bear nuclear accent. We show that this is satisfied in swiping, but not in sluicing contexts. On the basis of the novel findings of an acceptability rating study of swiping, which reveal that both ‘given’ and ‘new’ prepositions are equally acceptable for British English speakers, we argue that the preposition is accentuated in this elliptical construction because it is structurally the deepest element. The licensing condition on WTHs in sluicing and swiping is therefore not mediated directly by the conditions on ellipsis, but by the particular prosodic distribution that a WTH happens to have in sluicing and swiping. We extend the account to similar constructions in Dutch.
EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF EXPLICIT PRONUNCIATION INSTRUCTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF L2 PRONUNCIATION
Authors: Zhang Runhan , Yuan Zhou-min
Published: April 2020

The current study compares the effects of two types of pronunciation instruction (segmental- and suprasegmental-based) on the development of second-year Chinese undergraduate students’ English pronunciation as against a group with no specific pronunciation (NSP) instruction. The participants were 90 university-level students in the Chinese mainland, from three intact classes. One class was taught with a segmental focus (N = 30) and the second with a suprasegmental focus (N = 31), while the third received NSP instruction (N = 29). The results showed that after an 18-week period of instruction, both the segmental and suprasegmental groups made statistically significant progress in pronunciation, as measured by comprehensibility on a sentence-reading task; however, only the suprasegmental group made statistically significant progress in comprehensibility at the spontaneous level, and it was also the only group that maintained these spontaneous gains on the delayed posttest. The positive effects of explicit pronunciation instruction in general and of suprasegmental instruction in particular account for the findings.
Experiential learnings from the Nipah virus outbreaks in Kerala towards containment of infectious public health emergencies in India
Authors: Sahay Rima R. , Yadav Pragya D. , Gupta Nivedita , Shete Anita M. , Radhakrishnan Chandni , Mohan Ganesh , Menon Nikhilesh , Bhatnagar Tarun , Suma Krishnasastry , Kadam Abhijeet V. , Ullas P. T. , Anu Kumar B. , Sugunan A. P. , Sreekala V. K. , Khobragade Rajan , Gangakhedkar Raman R. , Mourya Devendra T.
Published: April 2020

Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak occurred in Kozhikode district, Kerala, India in 2018 with a case fatality rate of 91% (21/23). In 2019, a single case with full recovery occurred in Ernakulam district. We described the response and control measures by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Kerala State Government for the 2019 NiV outbreak. The establishment of Point of Care assays and monoclonal antibodies administration facility for early diagnosis, response and treatment, intensified contact tracing activities, bio-risk management and hospital infection control training of healthcare workers contributed to effective control and containment of NiV outbreak in Ernakulam.
A low threshold for neonatal intervention yields a high rate of biventricular outcomes in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum
Authors: Morgan Gareth J. , Narayan Srinivas A. , Goreczny Sebastian , Chubb Henry , Krasemann Thomas , Rosenthal Eric , Qureshi Shakeel A.
Published: April 2020

Aims:

Management strategies for pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum are variable and are based on right ventricular morphology and associated abnormalities. Catheter perforation of the pulmonary valve provides an alternative strategy to surgery in the neonatal period. We sought to assess the long-term outcome in terms of survival, re-intervention, and functional ventricular outcome in the setting of a 26-year single-centre experience of low threshold inclusion criteria for percutaneous valvotomy.

Methods and results:

Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum from 1990 to 2016 at a tertiary referral centre, was performed. Of 71 patients, 48 were brought to the catheterisation laboratory for intervention. Catheter valvotomy was successful in 45 patients (94%). Twenty-three patients (51%) also underwent ductus arteriosus stenting. The length of intensive care and hospital stay was significantly shorter, and early re-interventions were significantly reduced in the catheterisation group. There were eight deaths (17%); all within 35 days of the procedure. Of the survivors, only one has required a Fontan circulation. Twenty-eight patients (74%) have undergone biventricular repair and nine patients (24%) have one-and-a-half ventricle circulation. Following successful valvotomy, 80% of patients required further catheter-based or surgical interventions.

Conclusions:

A low threshold for initial interventional management yielded a high rate of successful biventricular circulations. Although mortality was low in patients who survived the peri-procedural period, the rate of re-intervention remained high in all groups.
Erasmus Medal Lecture 2018 AE GM Barcelona: Realizing Children’s Rights in Relation to the Digital Environment
Authors: Livingstone Sonia
Published: April 2020

Two developments in recent decades – the rising attention to children’s rights, and the growing importance of the digital environment – seem on a collision course, with children’s rights arguably more infringed than benefited by the digital world, and with efforts to promote children’s rights in a digital world seen by some as threatening the freedom of expression that digital networks enable. Here, I set out the case for realizing children’s rights in relation to the digital environment, and then examine the difficulties that arise. Most recently, the status of the child online is shifting from one of invisibility to one of hypervisibility in an increasingly datafied world, and the child’s right to privacy has rapidly become the most contested of all the rights. With challenges ranging from that of identifying who is a child online to reining in the economic power of the major digital platforms, states seem to be facing an impasse when it comes to taking effective action. The result is a series of stark policy choices which leave all stakeholders dissatisfied. I conclude by proposing a series of interventions focused less on the actions regarding particular child rights and more on the legal and institutional processes and standards by which all rights could be better realized in a digital world.
A highly efficient GHz switching GaN-based synchronous buck converter module
Authors: Wentzel Andreas , Hilt Oliver , Würfl Joachim , Heinrich Wolfgang
Published: April 2020

The paper presents a highly efficient GaN-based synchronous buck converter suitable for switching in the lower GHz range. The module includes a very compact 2-stage GaN half-bridge converter MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) for low parasitic inductances between switches and drivers and a hybrid output network with core-less inductors to avoid ferrite losses. At 1 GHz switching frequency the buck converter achieves with pulse-width modulated (PWM) input signals power loop conversion efficiencies up to 78% for 40 V operation and output voltages up to 33 V. For 100 MHz the power loop efficiencies peak at 87.5% for 14.5 W conversion to 25 V. By changing the output network to a 2nd order low-pass with 700 MHz cut-off frequency the module has been characterized for the use as a supply modulator in very broadband envelope tracking systems with modulation bandwidths of up to 500 MHz. For 1 GHz switching frequency the power-added efficiency peaks at 74% for a 90% duty-cycle PWM input signal. The novelty of this work is that for the first time a buck converter design proves highest flexibility supporting different applications from very compact DC converters to microwave power amplifier efficiency enhancement techniques as well as efficient high frequency switching up to 1 GHz.