bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minimal brain PBPK model to support the preclinical and clinical development of antibody therapeutics for CNS diseases
Authors: Bloomingdale Peter , Bakshi Suruchi , Maass Christian , van Maanen Eline , Pichardo-Almarza Cesar , Yadav Daniela Bumbaca , van der Graaf Piet , Mehrotra Nitin
Published: August 2021

There are several antibody therapeutics in preclinical and clinical development, industry-wide, for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Due to the limited permeability of antibodies across brain barriers, the quantitative understanding of antibody exposure in the CNS is important for the design of antibody drug characteristics and determining appropriate dosing regimens. We have developed a minimal physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (mPBPK) model of the brain for antibody therapeutics, which was reduced from an existing multi-species platform brain PBPK model. All non-brain compartments were combined into a single tissue compartment and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) compartments were combined into a single CSF compartment. The mPBPK model contains 16 differential equations, compared to 100 in the original PBPK model, and improved simulation speed approximately 11-fold. Area under the curve ratios for minimal versus full PBPK models were close to 1 across species for both brain and plasma compartments, which indicates the reduced model simulations are similar to those of the original model. The minimal model retained detailed physiological processes of the brain while not significantly affecting model predictability, which supports the law of parsimony in the context of balancing model complexity with added predictive power. The minimal model has a variety of applications for supporting the preclinical development of antibody therapeutics and can be expanded to include target information for evaluating target engagement to inform clinical dose selection.
Marae-opoly: supporting localised Māori climate adaptation decisions with serious games in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Blackett Paula , FitzHerbert Stephen , Luttrell Jordan , Hopmans Tania , Lawrence Hayley , Colliar Jackie
Published: August 2021

Far from being passive and/or static victims of climate change, indigenous peoples are hybridizing knowledge systems, and challenging and negotiating new environmental and social realities to develop their own adaptation options within their own registers of what is place and culture appropriate. Our paper seeks to demonstrate how we, as guests on Māori land, were able to develop a partnership with a Māori community facing difficult adaptation decisions regarding climate change hazards through the pragmatic navigation of multi-disciplinary research and practice. In particular, we co-developed and tested the potential of a serious game (Marae-opoly) approach as a platform which assembles cross-cultural climate change knowledge to learn, safely experiment and inform adaptation decisions. Marae-opoly was developed bespoke to its intended context—to support the creation of mutually agreeable dynamic adaptive policy pathways (DAPP) for localized flood adaptation. Game material was generated by drawing together detailed local knowledge (i.e. hydrology, climate data, mātauranga hapū) and situated adaptation options and accurate contextual data to create a credible gaming experience for the hapū of Tangoio Marae. We argue that the in-situ co-development process used to co-create Marae-opoly was fundamental in its success in achieving outcomes for the hapū. It also provided important lessons for the research team regarding how to enter as respectful guests and work together effectively to provide a resource to support our partners' adaptation decisions. The paper discusses the steps taken to establish research partnerships and develop the serious game and its subsequent playing, albeit we do not evaluate our indigenous research partners' adaptation decisions. Our contribution with this paper is in sharing an approach which cultivated the ground to enter as respectful guests and work together effectively to provide a resource for our partners' adaptation decisions.
Correlation Between Granule Strength and Green Strength at Compaction of Cemented Carbide Powder Materials
Authors: Salmi Kristin , Könberg Erik , Staf Hjalmar , Larsson Per-Lennart
Published: August 2021

The correlation between granule strength and green strength of hard metal powders is examined. The approach is based on experiments and numerics. In the latter case, a Design of Experiment software is used. The granule strength of the powder (particle) is determined by GFP-measurements (“Granularfestigkeits-Prüfsystem”). During this test, a single particle is pressed from one side until breakage. The corresponding measurements of the green strength are done using three-point bend (3PB) testing. The experimental results show that the pressing agent has a strong influence on the behavior of both quantities. The statistical evaluation shows that the relation between the two strength properties is very close to linear with coefficient of determination R2 taking on the value 0.97. This of course indicates that it is possible to get information about one of the properties for a similar set of materials by experimentally determining the other one. This is of substantial practical importance as for one thing it can limit the amount of testing required. Even though the present investigation is pertinent to hard metal powders, the results could be of value for many other types of powder materials.
The Level of Cadmium Impurities in Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products with Plantago lanceolata L., folium (Ribwort Plantain Leaves) Available in Polish Pharmacies — Comprehensive Toxicological Risk Assessment Including Regulatory Point of View and ICH Q3D Elemental Impurities Guideline
Authors: Jurowski Kamil , Fołta Maria , Tatar Barbara , Krośniak Mirosław
Published: August 2021

Plantago lanceolata L., folium (ribwort plantain) is an active pharmaceutical ingredient in traditional herbal medicinal products (THMP) available in pharmacies as a demulcent for the symptomatic treatment of oral or pharyngeal irritations and associated dry cough. This kind of THMP is widely applied among the European population; however, recently, voices have been heard in the public about alleged cadmium impurities. The idea of our study was a comprehensive risk assessment of the Cd impurity exposure and its effect on human health. Our assessment strategy was based on regulatory aspects (raw results versus limits set by FAO/WHO for herbal medicines) and toxicological risk assessment approach based on ICH Q3D guideline for elemental impurities in final pharmaceutical products. The cadmium was determined by electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry based on our previously described methodology. Obtained results show that all analysed THMP with P. lanceolata L., folium available in the Polish pharmacies contain cadmium impurities, but at a very low level (ranged 0.73 – 20.6 μg/L). The content of Cd in a single dose (ng/single dose) is also very low and is not a threat to patients. The estimated maximum daily exposure (ng/day) of Cd based on the ‘worst-case scenario’ (maximum concentrations by oral administration) meets the standards of ICH Q3D guideline (all results were below oral permitted daily exposure; PDE for Cd, i.e. < 5.0 µg/day). It can be concluded that all analysed samples of THMP with P. lanceolata L., folium should not represent any health hazard to the patients due to cadmium levels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study about Cd impurity level in THMP with P. lanceolata L., folium (ribwort plantain leaves) available in European pharmacies.
The Comprehensive Toxicological Assessment of Total Chromium Impurities in Traditional Herbal Medicinal Product with Thymi herba (Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.) Available in Pharmacies in Poland: Short Communication
Authors: Jurowski Kamil , Fołta Maria , Tatar Barbara , Krośniak Mirosław
Published: August 2021

Scientific reports about elemental impurities in final pharmaceutical products are essential from a regulatory point of view; unfortunately, there is a lack of studies about this important toxicological topic. The aim of our short communication was determination of total Cr impurities in traditional herbal medicinal products (THMP) with Thymi herba (Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.) available in Polish pharmacies (n = 6, because only six manufacturers produce this kind of pharmaceutical products in Poland). The total content of Cr impurities was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using electrothermal atomization (ETAAS). Applied comprehensive toxicological risk assessment was based on three main tiers: Tier 1, the comparison of raw results as total Cr impurities profile (metal per L of THMP) with ICH Q3D guideline standards; Tier 2, the estimation of total Cr exposure with a single dose; and Tier 3, the estimation of total Cr daily exposure. We confirmed that total Cr impurities were present in all analyzed THMP with thymi herba (the observed level was below 6.0 µg/L). Total Cr concentration in a single dose can be deceptively high in comparison to the raw results but is not a threat to patients (20.15–63.45 ng/single dose). Moreover, the estimation of total Cr daily exposure shows that all analyzed THMP are characterized by daily dose (40.30–181.41 ng/day) below PDE value (10,700 mg/day); hence, all products meet the standards of ICH Q3D elemental impurities guideline.
Illegal dogfighting: sport or crime?
Authors: Siegel Dina , van Uhm Daan
Published: August 2021

In recent years there is increasing public attention for dog fighting in Europe. This article focuses on this phenomenon in the Netherlands: its organisation, various actors, modus operandi and possible involvement of organized crime. This qualitative research is based on semi-structured interviews, analysis of police files, observations and online methods. As the result of criminalisation, dogfighting in the Netherlands went underground, creating an illegal market and a sub-culture of dogmen and dogwomen involved. Reputation, status and trust are among the most prominent features of this sub-culture, which is manifested in their analysed communications.
Health-related fitness knowledge in adolescence: evaluation of a new test considering different psychometric approaches (CTT and IRT)
Authors: Volk Carmen , Rosenstiel Stephanie , Demetriou Yolanda , Sudeck Gorden , Thiel Ansgar , Wagner Wolfgang , Höner Oliver
Published: August 2021

Fostering health-related fitness knowledge is a common goal across physical education curricula. However, carefully developed knowledge tests that satisfy the psychometric criteria of educational assessment are lacking. Therefore, two studies were conducted to evaluate a newly developed health-related fitness knowledge test within the framework of classical test and item response theory regarding item quality, test reliability, construct validity, and dimensionality. Overall, 794 ninth graders (Mage = 14.3 years, 50.6% girls) took part in Study 1. They differed in the type of physical education classes (minor or major subject) and school (lower or higher educational level) they attended. Study 2 incorporated 834 ninth graders at the same educational level (Mage = 14.2 years, 52.5% girls). Item–test correlation, test reliability, and validity were examined. In addition, item and test quality were investigated using unidimensional two-parameter logistic item response models. In Study 1, pupils at the same educational level with physical education as a major achieved higher knowledge scores than pupils with physical education as a minor (t = −5.99, p < 0.001; d = 0.58), which confirmed the test’s construct validity. In Study 2, the weighted likelihood estimate reliability of the final 27 items was 0.65, and the test–retest reliability reached rtt = 0.70. The items satisfied the assumption of local independence. The final test fulfilled the psychometric criteria of reliability and construct validity to assess health-related fitness knowledge in cross-sectional and interventional studies. This test extends the possibilities of research on health-related fitness knowledge in physical education.
An enhanced group teaching optimization algorithm for multi-product disassembly line balancing problems
Authors: Liang Pei , Fu Yaping , Gao Kaizhou , Sun Hao
Published: August 2021

Big data have been widely studied by numerous scholars and enterprises due to its great power in making highly reliable decisions for various complex systems. Remanufacturing systems have recently received much attention, because they play significant roles in end-of-life product recovery, environment protection and resource conservation. Disassembly is treated as a critical step in remanufacturing systems. In practice, it is difficult to know the accurate data of end-of-life products such as disassembly time because of their various usage processes, leading to the great difficulty of making effective and reliable decisions. Thus, it is necessary to model the disassembly process with stochastic programming method where the past collected data are fitted into stochastic distributions of parameters by applying big data technology. Additionally, designing and applying highly efficient intelligent optimization algorithms to handle a variety of complex problems in the disassembly process are urgently needed. To achieve the global optimization of disassembling multiple products simultaneously, this work studies a stochastic multi-product disassembly line balancing problem with maximal disassembly profit while meeting disassembly time requirements. Moreover, a chance-constrained programming model is correspondingly formulated, and then, an enhanced group teaching optimization algorithm incorporating a stochastic simulation method is developed by considering this model’s features. Via performing simulation experiments on real-life cases and comparing it with five popularly known approaches, we verify the excellent performance of the designed method in solving the studied problem.
An exsitu underground coal gasification experiment with a siderite interlayer: course of the process, production gas, temperatures and energy efficiency
Authors: Wiatowski Marian , Kapusta Krzysztof , Nowak Jacek , Szyja Marcin , Basa Wioleta
Published: August 2021

A 72-h ex situ hard coal gasification test in one large block of coal was carried out. The gasifying agent was oxygen with a constant flow rate of 4.5 m3/h. The surroundings of coal were simulated with wet sand with 11% moisture content. A 2-cm interlayer of siderite was placed in the horizontal cut of the coal block. As a result of this process, gas with an average flow rate of 12.46 m3/h was produced. No direct influence of siderite on the gasification process was observed; however, measurements of CO2 content in the siderite interlayer before and after the process allow to determine the location of high-temperature zones in the reactor. The greatest influence on the efficiency of the gasification process was exerted by water contained in wet sand. At the high temperature that prevailed in the reactor, this water evaporated and reacted with the incandescent coal, producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This reaction contributes to the relatively high calorific value of the resulting process gas, averaging 9.41 MJ/kmol, and to the high energy efficiency of the whole gasification process, which amounts to approximately 70%.
Pyrrolidine in Drug Discovery: A Versatile Scaffold for Novel Biologically Active Compounds
Authors: Li Petri Giovanna , Raimondi Maria Valeria , Spanò Virginia , Holl Ralph , Barraja Paola , Montalbano Alessandra
Published: August 2021

The five-membered pyrrolidine ring is one of the nitrogen heterocycles used widely by medicinal chemists to obtain compounds for the treatment of human diseases. The great interest in this saturated scaffold is enhanced by (1) the possibility to efficiently explore the pharmacophore space due to sp3-hybridization, (2) the contribution to the stereochemistry of the molecule, (3) and the increased three-dimensional (3D) coverage due to the non-planarity of the ring—a phenomenon called “pseudorotation”. In this review, we report bioactive molecules with target selectivity characterized by the pyrrolidine ring and its derivatives, including pyrrolizines, pyrrolidine-2-one, pyrrolidine-2,5-diones and prolinol described in the literature from 2015 to date. After a comparison of the physicochemical parameters of pyrrolidine with the parent aromatic pyrrole and cyclopentane, we investigate the influence of steric factors on biological activity, also describing the structure–activity relationship (SAR) of the studied compounds. To aid the reader’s approach to reading the manuscript, we have planned the review on the basis of the synthetic strategies used: (1) ring construction from different cyclic or acyclic precursors, reporting the synthesis and the reaction conditions, or (2) functionalization of preformed pyrrolidine rings, e.g., proline derivatives. Since one of the most significant features of the pyrrolidine ring is the stereogenicity of carbons, we highlight how the different stereoisomers and the spatial orientation of substituents can lead to a different biological profile of drug candidates, due to the different binding mode to enantioselective proteins. We believe that this work can guide medicinal chemists to the best approach in the design of new pyrrolidine compounds with different biological profiles.
The effect of heat treatment and impact angle on the erosion behavior of nickel-tungsten carbide cold spray coating using response surface methodology
Authors: Kazasidis Marios , Verna Elisa , Yin Shuo , Lupoi Rocco
Published: August 2021

This study elucidates the performance of cold-sprayed tungsten carbide-nickel coating against solid particle impingement erosion using alumina (corundum) particles. After the coating fabrication, part of the specimens followed two different annealing heat treatment cycles with peak temperatures of 600 °C and 800 °C. The coatings were examined in terms of microstructure in the as-sprayed (AS) and the two heat-treated conditions (HT1, HT2). Subsequently, the erosion tests were carried out using design of experiments with two control factors and two replicate measurements in each case. The effect of the heat treatment on the mass loss of the coatings was investigated at the three levels (AS, HT1, HT2), as well as the impact angle of the erodents (30°, 60°, 90°). Finally, the response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to analyze and optimize the results, building the mathematical models that relate the significant variables and their interactions to the output response (mass loss) for each coating condition. The obtained results demonstrated that erosion minimization was achieved when the coating was heat treated at 600 °C and the angle was 90°.
Scale-Dependent Point Selection Methods for Web Maps
Authors: Gröbe Mathias , Burghardt Dirk
Published: August 2021

In cartographic generalization, the selection is an often-used method to adjust information density in a map. This paper deals with methods for selecting point features for a specific scale with numerical attributes, such as population, elevation, or visitors. With the Label Grid approach and the method of Functional Importance, two existing approaches are described, which have not been published in the scientific literature so far. They are explained and illustrated in the method chapter for better understanding. Furthermore, a new approach based on the Discrete Isolation measure is introduced. It combines the spatial position and the attribute's value and is defined as the minimum distance to the nearest point with a higher value. All described selection methods are implemented and made available as Plugins named “Point selection algorithms” for QGIS. Based on this implementation, the three methods are compared regarding runtime, parameterization, legibility, and generalization degree. Finally, recommendations are given on which data and use cases the approaches are suitable. We see digital maps with multiple scales as the main application of those methods. The possibilities of labeling the selected points are not considered within the scope of this work.
Enhanced chemoselectivity of a plant cytochrome P450 through protein engineering of surface and catalytic residues
Authors: Zhang Xiaopeng , Luo Wei , Yao Yinying , Luo Xuming , Han Chao , Zhong Yang , Zhang Bo , Li Dawei , Han Lida , Huang Sanwen , Greisen Per , Shang Yi
Published: August 2021

Cytochrome P450s (P450s) are the most versatile catalysts utilized by plants to produce structurally and functionally diverse metabolites. Given the high degree of gene redundancy and challenge to functionally characterize plant P450s, protein engineering is used as a complementary strategy to study the mechanisms of P450-mediated reactions, or to alter their functions. We previously proposed an approach of engineering plant P450s based on combining high-accuracy homology models generated by Rosetta combined with data-driven design using evolutionary information of these enzymes. With this strategy, we repurposed a multi-functional P450 (CYP87D20) into a monooxygenase after redesigning its active site. Since most plant P450s are membrane-anchored proteins that are adapted to the micro-environments of plant cells, expressing them in heterologous hosts usually results in problems of expression or activity. Here, we applied computational design to tackle these issues by simultaneous optimization of the protein surface and active site. After screening 17 variants, effective substitutions of surface residues were observed to improve both expression and activity of CYP87D20. In addition, the identified substitutions were additive and by combining them a highly efficient C11 hydroxylase of cucurbitadienol was created to participate in the mogrol biosynthesis. This study shows the importance of considering the interplay between surface and active site residues for P450 engineering. Our integrated strategy also opens an avenue to create more tailoring enzymes with desired functions for the metabolic engineering of high-valued compounds like mogrol, the precursor of natural sweetener mogrosides.
Examining NEET situations in Spain: Labour Market, Discourses and Policies
Authors: Strecker Tanja , López Joffre , Cabasés M. Àngels
Published: August 2021

Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) and its Spanish equivalent ‘nini’ (Ni estudia, Ni trabaja) have dominated youth policy discourses in recent years. Within the European Union, Spain is one of the countries with the highest proportion of young people in NEET situations. In this article, it is argued that the idea of NEET has been weaponised to stigmatise youth, by evoking the phantom of a demotivated young person with scarce training. This stigmatisation has little to do with the reality of many young Spaniards who can find themselves in different situations, such as unemployment, precarious employment, training and education in a matter of days. Thus, there is a need to consider the different experiences and structural circumstances of so-called NEETs rather than viewing them as a homogenous and static group. Using documentary analysis and secondary data, this article examines the diversity of NEET situations for the youth in Spain, which is generally not captured in large national statistics data-sets and policies. Furthermore, it analyses the EU Youth Guarantee and its application in Spain, highlighting where official objectives have not been met, and includes an overview of the current effects of the coronavirus crisis. Ultimately, the paper shows that public discourses centred on an artificially created social group (NEET) legitimise and produce policies that do not respond to young people’s actual needs and problems, especially for the most vulnerable among them.
Trauma and self‐harming behaviors in high school students: The mediating role of identity formation
Authors: Raemen Leni , Luyckx Koen , Palmeroni Nina , Verschueren Margaux , Gandhi Amarendra , Grobler Adelene , Claes Laurence
Published: August 2021

Introduction

This study investigated the link between trauma and self‐harming behaviors in South African high school students, and examined the mediating role of identity formation. Traumatic experiences have been commonly associated with self‐harming behaviors in adolescents. However, research addressing this association in non‐Western countries is limited.

Methods

A total of 552 South African high school students aged 13–21 (60.4% female; Mage = 16 years) were included in the study. Students completed self‐report questionnaires on traumatic experiences, identity formation, and self‐harming behaviors (disturbed eating behaviors and suicidal thoughts and behaviors).

Results

Structural equation modelling indicated that the association between traumatic experiences and self‐harming behaviors was partially mediated by identity formation. Traumatic experiences were associated with more identity diffusion, bulimia, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Identity diffusion, in turn, was associated with more drive for thinness, bulimia, body dissatisfaction, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Identity consolidation was positively associated with drive for thinness and negatively with body dissatisfaction and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. No moderation effects by gender or age were found.

Conclusions

Traumatic experiences were associated with higher levels of identity diffusion, which, in turn, were associated with more self‐harming behaviors in South African high school students. These findings suggest the importance of focusing on identity diffusion in prevention and intervention programs targeting self‐harming behaviors.
Evaluation of clinical manifestation and risk factors of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis
Authors: Pak Haleh , Maghsoudi Leila Haji , Soltanian Ali , Jafarinia Sepideh
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT

Background:

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is a rare inflammatory breast pathology that, due to its rarity, remain challengeable for diagnosis. The disease has been suggested to have multiple etiologies. In this study the clinical manifestations and risk factors of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) were assessed.

Methods and materials:

In this case-control study 30 cases with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis and 60 control subjects in clinical centers in (XXX) in 2020 were enrolled and clinical manifestations and risk factors were determined and compared across the groups.

Results:

The breast mass (40%), pain (23.3%), and discharge (36.7%) were significantly higher in idiopathic granulomatous mastitis versus control subjects (P = 0.001). Passive smoking was seen in 3 cases (10%) and none of the subjects in case and control groups, with significant difference (P = 0.035). Age, contraceptive use, tuberculosis, malignancy, family history, breastfeeding duration, child count, and gravid were significantly different between the groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Our study showed that breast mass, pain, and discharge are main clinical manifestations in idiopathic granulomatous mastitis cases and passive smoking is the main risk factor for this disease. The role of pregnancy, lactation, smoking and use of oral contraceptive in the etiology of the disease still remains unclear.

Highlights
Thymectomy for non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis: Short and long term outcomes, a single-center 10 years' experience
Authors: Baram Aram , AbdullahSalih Kizhan H. , Saqat Bashar Hana
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT

Background:

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an auto-immune disorder characterized by the production of abnormal antibodies to the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. Radical thymectomy in many forms of MG may lead to clinical improvement in 70–80% of cases. Our objectives were to demonstrate our short and long-term results of radical trans-sternal thymectomy.

Patients and methods:

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 48 consecutive patients with non-thymomatous MG, managed over 10 years. All patients with thymomatous MG were excluded. The myasthenia gravis activities of daily living (MG-ADL) scoring performed for all patients and the stage of disease determined by the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification. The primary endpoint of this study was to evaluate early first 30 days postoperative outcomes and the secondary endpoint was to determine complete stable remission, time of pharmacological remission, and decreasing MG-ADL scoring over 5 years follow-up.

Results:

Totally, 48 patients included: 41 females (85.4%) and 7 males (14.5%). Generalized muscle weakness, shortness of breath, and easy fatigability were the most common presenting features. During 5 years follow up, 38 patients (79.1%) had decreased their medication dose. Time of pharmacological remission started (6–60) months. Complete stable remission (CSR) achieved in 44 patients (91.6%) over 60 months. Post-operative MG-ADL levels ranged between (12–24) scores, at the end of the follow-up period decrease to less than 10 scores.

Conclusion:

Radical trans-sternal thymectomy for non-thymomatous MG is an effective and well-tolerated procedure that is associated with significant clinical improvement in the majority of patients.

Highlights
Reconstructing Networks
Authors: Cimini Giulio , Mastrandrea Rossana , Squartini Tiziano
Published: August 2021

Complex networks datasets often come with the problem of missing information: interactions data that have not been measured or discovered, may be affected by errors, or are simply hidden because of privacy issues. This Element provides an overview of the ideas, methods and techniques to deal with this problem and that together define the field of network reconstruction. Given the extent of the subject, the authors focus on the inference methods rooted in statistical physics and information theory. The discussion is organized according to the different scales of the reconstruction task, that is, whether the goal is to reconstruct the macroscopic structure of the network, to infer its mesoscale properties, or to predict the individual microscopic connections.
‘Sich ausgehen’:On modalizinggoconstructions in Austrian German
Authors: Gergel Remus , Kopf-Giammanco Martin
Published: August 2021

The goal of this article is to diagnose a verbal construction which has made it to common use in Austrian German and is typically unknown to many speakers of Federal German who have not been exposed to Austrian German. This construction is based on the verbgehen(‘go’) conjoined by a particle and the reflexive. An argument for its analysis as a degree-based sufficiency construction is developed, which is constructed by extending existing approaches in the literature onenoughconstructions and suggesting a meaning of the construction at hand, which is presuppositional in multiple respects. The results of diachronic corpus searches as well as the significance of the results of this work for the space of possibilities of the semantic change of motion verbs are discussed.
Renaming and Reclaiming Urban Spaces in Ukraine: The Perspective of Internally Displaced People
Authors: Lazarenko Valeria
Published: August 2021

For more than six years, Ukrainian society has been constantly searching for ideas as to how to write a new “national biography.” In a society divided by armed conflict, the so-called decommunization process is considered to be an idea capable of uniting a nation. This process started back in 2015, with the passing of a specific law that required not only the deconstruction of Soviet-time monuments in public spaces, but also a huge decommunization of place names. The article will explore the main practices of place (re-)naming during the different stages of the decommunization (but not de-ideologization) of spaces, as well as describing the problems that may emerge in society as a result of a rapid transition from one narrative to another. Based on a case study of spatial identities of internally displaced people, I am going to answer the question of how people perceive renamed spaces, and how they reclaim and re-appropriate these spaces in the midst of an identity crisis.
Identification of bovine mastitis pathogens using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in Brazil
Authors: Oliveira Thais Cristina de Assis , Brito Maria Aparecida Vasconcelos Paiva , Giambiagi-de Marval Marcia , Vicentini Nívea Maria , Lange Carla Christine
Published: August 2021

In this Research Communication we evaluate the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to identify 380 bacteria isolated from cases of bovine mastitis in Brazil. MALDI-TOF MS identifications were compared to previous identifications by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequencing. MALDI-TOF MS achieved a typeability of 95.5%. The accuracy of MALDI-TOF MS for the identification of Staphylococcus isolates was 93.2%. The agreement between MALDI-TOF MS and biochemical identification of Streptococcus agalactiae was 96%, however, the agreement between these techniques for identifying other catalase-negative, Gram-positive cocci was lower. Agreement in identifying Gram-negative bacteria at the genus level was 90.5%. Our findings corroborate that MALDI-TOF MS is an accurate, rapid and simple technique for identifying bovine mastitis pathogens. The availability of this methodology in some research institutions would represent a significant step toward increasing the diagnosis and epidemiological studies of bovine mastitis and other animal infectious diseases in Brazil.
Why Are Bidder Termination Provisions Included in Takeovers?
Authors: Chen Zhiyao , Mahmudi Hamed , Virani Aazam , Zhao Xiaofei
Published: August 2021

We present a rationale for bidder termination provisions that considers their effect on bidders’ and targets’ joint takeover gains. The provision’s inclusion can create value by enabling termination when the target becomes less valuable to the bidder than on its own, but creates a trade-off because termination may also occur when the target is more valuable to the bidder than on its own. This trade-off explains why the provision is included in only some deals, and explains variation in termination fees. Inclusion of the provision is associated with larger combined announcement returns, provided that the termination fee is priced appropriately.
Epidemiological investigations identified an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serotype O26:H11 associated with pre-packed sandwiches
Authors: Butt Saira , Allison Lesley , Vishram Bhavita , Greig David R. , Aird Heather , McDonald Eisin , Drennan Genna , Jenkins Claire , Byrne Lisa , Licence Kirsty , Smith-Palmer Alison
Published: August 2021

In October 2019, public health surveillance systems in Scotland identified an increase in the number of reported infections of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26:H11 involving bloody diarrhoea. Ultimately, across the United Kingdom (UK) 32 cases of STEC O26:H11 stx1a were identified, with the median age of 27 years and 64% were male; six cases were hospitalised. Among food exposures there was an association with consuming pre-packed sandwiches purchased at outlets belonging to a national food chain franchise (food outlet A) [odds ratio (OR) = 183.89, P < 0.001]. The common ingredient identified as a component of the majority of the sandwiches sold at food outlet A was a mixed salad of Apollo and Iceberg lettuce and spinach leaves. Microbiological testing of food and environmental samples were negative for STEC O26:H11, although STEC O36:H19 was isolated from a mixed salad sample taken from premises owned by food outlet A. Contamination of fresh produce is often due to a transient event and detection of the aetiological agent in food that has a short-shelf life is challenging. Robust, statistically significant epidemiological analysis should be sufficient evidence to direct timely and targeted on-farm investigations. A shift in focus from testing the microbiological quality of the produce to investigating the processes and practices through the supply chain and sampling the farm environment is recommended.
Serological and molecular detection of pathogenic Leptospira in domestic and stray cats on Reunion Island, French Indies
Authors: Holzapfel M. , Taraveau F. , Djelouadji Z.
Published: August 2021

Indian Ocean islands are endemic areas for human and animal leptospirosis. Maintenance host species for Leptospira spp. have still not been completely elucidated, and recently the role of cats (Felis catus) has been questioned. This cross-sectional study aims to determine whether cats are part of the maintenance community of different strains of Leptospira spp. in Reunion Island. The prevalence of Leptospira infection in an opportunistic sample of stray and domestic cats (n = 92) from Reunion Island has been studied using serological (microagglutination test) and molecular detection (polymerase chain reaction (PCR)). The results revealed a seroprevalence of 37.0% (34/92) (cut-off 1:40) without a significant difference in the living conditions of animals. The predominant serogroup was Icterohaemorrhagiae, but Ballum, Cynopteri and Australis were also detected. Using PCR, 28.6% (12/42) of stray cats were tested positive. Leptospiral DNA was detected in renal tissue, urine and blood of respectively 14.3% (6/42), 10.3% (4/39) and 11.9% (5/42) of stray cats, but 0% (0/3), 0% (0/50) and 0% (0/36) of domestic cats (P = non-applicable, P = 0,038, P = 0,058 respectively). Partial rrs gene (16S rRNA) sequencing identified Leptospira interrogans in all PCR-positive samples. Our study confirms that renal carriage and urinary shedding are possible, positioning cats, and especially stray cats as potential actors within the maintenance community of L. interrogans in Reunion Island.
Changes in COVID-19-related outcomes, potential risk factors and disparities over time
Authors: Yu Youfei , Gu Tian , Valley Thomas S. , Mukherjee Bhramar , Fritsche Lars G.
Published: August 2021

To investigate temporal trends in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related outcomes and to evaluate whether the impacts of potential risk factors and disparities changed over time, we conducted a retrospective cohort study with 249 075 patients tested or treated for COVID-19 at Michigan Medicine (MM), from 10 March 2020 to 3 May 2021. Among these patients, 26 289 were diagnosed with COVID-19. According to the calendar time in which they first tested positive, the COVID-19-positive cohort were stratified into three-time segments (T1: March–June, 2020; T2: July–December, 2020; T3: January–May, 2021). Potential risk factors that we examined included demographics, residential-level socioeconomic characteristics and preexisting comorbidities. The main outcomes included COVID-19-related hospitalisation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The hospitalisation rate for COVID-positive patients decreased from 36.2% in T1 to 14.2% in T3, and the ICU admission rate decreased from 16.9% to 2.9% from T1 to T3. These findings confirm that COVID-19-related hospitalisation and ICU admission rates were decreasing throughout the pandemic from March 2020 to May 2021. Black patients had significantly higher (compared to White patients) hospitalisation rates (19.6% vs. 11.0%) and ICU admission rates (6.3% vs. 2.8%) in the full COVID-19-positive cohort. A time-stratified analysis showed that racial disparities in hospitalisation rates persisted over time and the estimates of the odds ratios (ORs) stayed above unity in both unadjusted [full cohort: OR = 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.79, 2.19); T1: OR = 1.70, 95% CI (1.36, 2.12); T2: OR = 1.40, 95% CI (1.17, 1.68); T3: OR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.29, 1.86)] and adjusted analysis, accounting for differences in demographics, socioeconomic status, and preexisting comorbid conditions (full cohort: OR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.25, 1.68); T1: OR = 1.26, 95% CI (0.90, 1.76); T2: OR = 1.29, 95% CI (1.01, 1.64); T3: OR = 1.29, 95% CI (1.00, 1.67)).
Normative Data for Adult Mandarin-Speaking Populations: A Systematic Review of Performance-Based Neuropsychological Instruments
Authors: Qi Wei (Gabriel) , Sun Xiaoning , Hong Yue
Published: August 2021

Objectives:

Normative data are essential for neuropsychological evaluations, but they are scarce for Mandarin-speaking populations, despite Mandarin being the language with the most native speakers. Several normative data studies have been reported in recent years for Mandarin speakers, who reside in different countries/regions (e.g., mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore, etc.). This review aims to serve as a reference guide to appropriate norms when working with a Mandarin-speaking patient and to guide future endeavors in test validation and development in areas where studies to date fall short.

Method:

We conducted a systematic review utilizing the PsycInfo, PubMed, and China Knowledge Resource Integrated databases as well as additional literature search through citations. We performed evaluations of the existing norms based on their test selection, cognitive domains covered, sample size, language, regions of participant recruitment, stratification by age/gender/education levels, and reporting of other psychometric properties. We focused on articles that included performance-based tests for adults but excluded those with purely clinical norms or from commercial publishers.

Results:

We reviewed 1155 articles found through literature search and identified 43 articles reporting normative data for this population that met our inclusion criteria. Sixty-five distinctive tests and 127 versions were covered. The results are presented within two detailed tables organized by articles and tests, respectively.

Conclusions:

We discussed the strengths and limitations of these normative reports. Practitioners are recommended to utilize normative data that most closely approximate a test-taker’s cultural and demographic backgrounds. Limitations of the current review are also discussed.
Inflection Points on Groundwater Age and Geochemical Profiles Along Wellbores Light up Hierarchically Nested Flow Systems
Authors: Zhang Jun , Wang Xu‐Sheng , Yin Lihe , Wang Wenke , Love Andrew , Lu Zheng‐Tian , Jiang Wei , Yang Guo‐Min , Xie Yueqing , Wang Xiaoyong , Sun Fangqiang , Tang Xiaoping , Hou Guangcai , Pang Zhonghe
Published: August 2021

Hierarchically nested groundwater flow systems have been widely investigated by numerical modeling and laboratory experiments but seldom recognized from in situ observations and testing. Groundwater age and geochemical profiles were obtained by the authors using a packer system along two wellbores drilled in the Ordos Plateau, China. Groundwater age profiles were constructed from 3H, 85Kr, 14C, and 81Kr data, with the apparent age generally increasing with depth, while exhibiting several inflection points. These inflection points were compared with geochemical profiles and numerical modeling results to delineate groundwater flow systems. Inflection points with significant increases in the gradients of age and Cl− concentration versus depth may indicate interfaces among flow systems. A concurrent decrease‐increase turning of groundwater age and Cl− concentration is influenced by a stagnation point. The groundwater age profiles are quite different from previous studies, indicating that the method can greatly reduce the uncertainty in model construction.
Satellites Support Disaster Response to Storm-Driven Landslides
Authors: Emberson Robert , Kirschbaum Dalia , Stanley Thomas , Amatya Pukar , Khan Sana
Published: August 2021

Extreme precipitation can trigger deadly landslides. Satellite-based tools provide regional perspectives on landslide hazards, help assess risks in near-real time, and guide emergency responses.
What Five Graphs from the U.N. Climate Report Reveal About Our Path to Halting Climate Change
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: August 2021

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s first assessment report since 2013 describes two illustrative scenarios that keep warming below 2�C—and several others that go wildly offtrack.
Interplanetary Shock‐Induced Magnetopause Motion: Comparison Between Theory and Global Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations
Authors: Desai R. T. , Freeman M. P. , Eastwood J. P. , Eggington J. W. B. , Archer M. O. , Shprits Y. Y. , Meredith N. P. , Staples F. A. , Rae I. J. , Hietala H. , Mejnertsen L. , Chittenden J. P. , Horne R. B.
Published: August 2021

The magnetopause marks the outer edge of the Earth's magnetosphere and a distinct boundary between solar wind and magnetospheric plasma populations. In this study, we use global magnetohydrodynamic simulations to examine the response of the terrestrial magnetopause to fast‐forward interplanetary shocks of various strengths and compare to theoretical predictions. The theory and simulations indicate the magnetopause response can be characterized by three distinct phases; an initial acceleration as inertial forces are overcome, a rapid compressive phase comprising the majority of the distance traveled, and large‐scale damped oscillations with amplitudes of the order of an Earth radius. The two approaches agree in predicting subsolar magnetopause oscillations with frequencies 2–13 mHz but the simulations notably predict larger amplitudes and weaker damping rates. This phenomenon is of high relevance to space weather forecasting and provides a possible explanation for magnetopause oscillations observed following the large interplanetary shocks of August 1972 and March 1991.
Ongoing Landslide Deformation in Thawing Permafrost
Authors: Patton A. I. , Rathburn S. L. , Capps D. M. , McGrath D. , Brown R. A.
Published: August 2021

Thawing permafrost influences landslide initiation, but observation of landslide development in thawing permafrost is limited. To evaluate the impact of landslide age, morphology, and permafrost conditions, we quantified topographic deformation of three shallow‐angle, thaw‐initiated landslides in discontinuous permafrost in Alaska. Two of the landslides initiated <3 years ago and the third initiated 20–50 years ago. The two recent landslides are still mobile, with maximum elevation loss of 0.8 ± 0.04 and 1.0 ± 0.08 m over the study period. At one site, shallow permafrost (<2.3 m) is present at 0.4–1.9 m depth adjacent to the landslide but not within the landslide. The lack of shallow permafrost within the slide indicates that permafrost has thawed faster within the landslide because ground surface disturbance increased heat flux to the subsurface. We propose that a positive feedback between permafrost thaw and landslide development exists. Climate warming will accelerate loss of permafrost in recent landslides.
Invigoration or Enervation of Convective Clouds by Aerosols?
Authors: Igel Adele L. , van den Heever Susan C.
Published: August 2021

Are convective clouds strengthened by the addition of aerosol particles? We present new theoretical calculations which starkly contrast previous results. Prior foundational work suggested that aerosols strongly invigorate convective cloud updrafts via changes to cold‐phase processes. We show that the peak magnitude of invigoration by this mechanism is substantially reduced for cold‐based storms. For warm‐based storms, the updrafts are weakened, not strengthened, by aerosol‐induced changes to cold‐phase processes. Our calculations show that if invigoration occurs, it is driven primarily by changes to warm‐phase processes and may be largest well before the storm reaches maturity. The calculations are based on a new formulation of the moist adiabatic lapse rate that accounts for freezing, supersaturation, and condensate loading. The results significantly reshape our understanding of the impact of aerosols on convective updrafts.