bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Abitur examination in mathematics in Germany before and after reunification in 1990
Authors: Bruder Regina
Published: June 2021

In Germany, the Abitur is the highest qualification granted at the end of secondary education after 12 or 13 years of schooling; it provides a general university entrance qualification. Traditionally, written and oral examinations are required to obtain the Abitur. Until 1990, there were mainly decentralized examinations in mathematics in West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany [FRG]), which were taken after 13 school years, and a centralized examination that students took after 12 years of school in East Germany (German Democratic Republic [GDR]). In the unified Germany, examinations are now increasingly set by the 16 individual federal states. This paper has a special focus on changes and permanent features in the written Abitur examination in mathematics in Germany in the context of the social changes caused by the German reunification in 1990. These changes since 1990 are described with regard to the initial situation and framing conditions for the written Abitur examination. Two time periods are considered: (1) the examination situation in the FRG and GDR before 1990 and (2) the changes in the five eastern German federal states (former GDR) under the system change and accession to the FRG after 1990 but before the PISA shock.
Fox sign in a case of terminal stage pancreatic cancer and suggestions for diagnosis
Authors: Prangenberg Julian , Doberentz Elke , Madea Burkhard
Published: June 2021

Skin signs in acute pancreatitis are well-known and frequently discussed manifestations accompanied by unfavorable prognoses although they may rarely appear in clinical and forensic medicine. In 2018, the district attorney’s office ordered a forensic autopsy for a 74-year-old man with terminal stage pancreatic cancer. The autopsy was ordered based on accusations of the deceased’s widow regarding alleged medical malpractice and poor hospital care. The widow filed a grievance about multiple unsuccessful attempts to draw blood from her husband in addition to a diaper dermatitis at the right groin. An autopsy and additional histological examinations were performed. After considering all findings, the diaper dermatitis was eventually assumed to be a Fox sign caused by acute pancreatitis, and the allegations of medical malpractice were refuted. This case led us to identify another case with suspected cutaneous manifestations in pancreatic disease. We performed immunohistochemical staining on those two cases and six control cases to examine whether there was detectable presence of pancreatic lipase and trypsin in the skin discolorations and whether it could be used as a feasible method to verify skin signs associated with pancreatitis. Based on our findings, a minor disseminated lipase and trypsin staining should be considered regular and is therefore not conclusive of a skin sign associated with pancreatitis. Moreover, trypsin does not seem to be as suitable as lipase for this suggested immunohistochemical method. Nevertheless, this method might be a useful addition for determining the origin of skin discoloration and verifying skin signs associated with pancreatitis.
A modified bond model for describing isotropic linear elastic material behaviour with the discrete element method
Authors: Venkateswaran Rahav Gowtham , Kowalsky Ursula , Dinkler Dieter
Published: June 2021

Recently, the discrete element method is increasingly being used for describing the behaviour of isotropic linear elastic materials. However, the common bond models employed to describe the interaction between particles restrict the range of Poisson’s ratio that can be represented. In this paper, to overcome the restriction, a modified bond model that includes the coupling of shear strain energy of neighbouring bonds is proposed. The coupling is described by a multi-bond term that enables the model to distinguish between shear deformations and rigid-body rotations. The positive definiteness of the strain energy function of the modified bond model is verified. To validate the model, uniaxial tension, pure shear and pure bending tests are performed. Comparison of the particle displacements with continuum mechanics solution demonstrates the ability of the model to describe the behaviour of isotropic linear elastic material for values of Poisson’s ratio in the range $$0 \le \nu < 0.5$$

0
≤
ν
<
0.5

.
Low-cost Solutions for Velocimetry in Rotating and Opaque Fluid Experiments using Ultrasonic Time of Flight
Authors: Burmann Fabian , Noir Jerome , Beetschen Stefan , Jackson Andrew
Published: June 2021

Many common techniques for flow measurement, such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) or Ultrasonic Doppler Velocimetry (UDV), rely on the presence of reflectors in the fluid. These methods fail to operate when e.g centrifugal or gravitational acceleration leads to a rarefaction of scatterers in the fluid, as for instance in rapidly rotating experiments. In this article we present two low-cost implementations for flow measurement based on the transit time (or Time of Flight) of acoustic waves, that do not require the presence of scatterers in the fluid. We compare our two implementations against UDV in a well controlled experiment with a simple oscillating flow and show we can achieve measurements in the sub-centimeter per second velocity range with an accuracy of $\sim 5-10\%$
∼
5
−
10
%
. We also perform measurements in a rotating experiment with a complex flow structure from which we extract the mean zonal flow, which is in good agreement with theoretical predictions.
Large-scale analysis of delayed recognition using sleeping beauty and the prince
Authors: Miura Takahiro , Asatani Kimitaka , Sakata Ichiro
Published: June 2021

Delayed recognition in which innovative discoveries are re-evaluated after a long period has significant implications for scientific progress. The quantitative method to detect delayed recognition is described as the pair of Sleeping Beauty (SB) and its Prince (PR), where SB refers to citation bursts and its PR triggers SB’s awakeness calculated based on their citation history. This research provides the methods to extract valid and large SB–PR pairs from a comprehensive Scopus dataset and analyses how PR discovers SB. We prove that the proposed method can extract long-sleep and large-scale SB and its PR best covers the previous multi-disciplinary pairs, which enables to observe delayed recognition. Besides, we show that the high-impact SB–PR pairs extracted by the proposed method are more likely to be located in the same field. This indicates that a hidden SB that your research can awaken may exist closer than you think. On the other hand, although SB–PR pairs are fat-tailed in Beauty Coefficient and more likely to integrate separate fields compared to ordinary citations, it is not possible to predict which citation leads to awake SB using the rarity of citation. There is no easy way to limit the areas where SB–PR pairs occur or detect it early, suggesting that researchers and administrators need to focus on a variety of areas. This research provides comprehensive knowledge about the development of scientific findings that will be evaluated over time.
Is a Ruminative Thinking Style Related to Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Severity Beyond Its Associations with Depressive and Anxiety Symptom Severity?
Authors: Heinzel Carlotta V. , Kollárik Martin , Miché Marcel , Clamor Annika , Ertle Andrea , Lieb Roselind , Wahl Karina
Published: June 2021

Previous studies suggest that a ruminative thinking style (RTS) is positively associated with the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and might be involved in the maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We sought to replicate this association in a sample of individuals with OCD, controlling for depressive and anxiety symptom severity, and to extend previous studies by including an interview measure of obsessive-compulsive symptom severity. A sample of 140 individuals diagnosed with OCD participated in a cross-sectional observational study. Participants completed questionnaire measures of an RTS as well as obsessive-compulsive, depressive, and anxiety symptom severity. Obsessive-compulsive symptom severity was additionally assessed with an interview. When statistically controlling for depressive and anxiety symptom severity, an RTS continued to predict the questionnaire, but not the interview measure of obsessive-compulsive symptom severity. We discuss possible explanations for these mixed findings, emphasizing the unique aspects of each measure, and consider implications for further research on OCD.
Fatty acid composition, antibacterial and antioxidant potential of Atropa belladonna and Thymus linearis seeds grown in Kashmir
Authors: Azeem Mohammad , Nengroo Zubair Rehman , Ahamad Khan M. O. , Ganie Adil Shafi
Published: June 2021

In this study fatty acid composition of petroleum ether (AP and TP) and biological potential (Antioxidant and antibacterial) of chloroform (AC and TC), methanol (AM and TM) extracts of Atropa belladonna L. and Thymus linearis Benth. respectively was obtained by Soxhlet extraction technique from seeds were investigated. Fatty acid profile was obtained by gas chromatography mass spectrometry, antioxidant potential (DPPH-2,2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; ABTS-2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and antibacterial activity against (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli and Klebesiella pneumonia) was also performed. Linoleic acid was dominantly found with 74.42% in AP and 84.39% in TP. In antioxidant assays, the dominant inhibition was shown by AM (84.98% and 83.90%) and TM (85.27% and 83.29%) as compared to BHT (93.72% and 90.87%) for DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging respectively at 200 µg/mL. Moreover, AM and TM extracts showed good antibacterial activity. In conclusion, these plants could be selected as an adequate species in agricultural system, in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Graphic abstract
Multi response optimization of PMEDM of Ti6Al4V using Al2O3 and SiC powder added de-ionized water as dielectric medium using grey relational analysis
Authors: Joshi Ayanesh Y. , Joshi Anand Y.
Published: June 2021

In the present work, surface characteristics of powder mixed electro-discharge machining (PMEDM) process are investigated using alumina and carborundum abrasive powder added dielectric fluid for titanium alloy Ti6Al4V. Deionized water is utilized as dielectric to accomplish an environmentally safe machining climate, and limit the emanation of harmful substances. Pulse ON/OFF time (TON/TOFF), discharge current (IP), and powder concentration (PC) are selected as process variables to reconnoiter characteristics of performance like surface finish, rate of material removal, and tool wear. The multi-response optimization has been performed using grey relational analysis (GRA) to establish the optimal parametric combination of process variables that gives the finest surface quality and minutest tool wear. The investigation results divulge that discharge current (IP) and powder concentration (PC) have the most significant effect on material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), and surface finish. The surface characteristics were evaluated by scanning electron microscope for the optimal parameters combination. The minutest value of surface roughness and tool wear rate is achieved at IP: 06 amps, TON: 05 µS, TOFF: 96 µS, and PC: 0.50 g/L. The optimized set of parameters would help process engineers to attain improved machining performance of PMEDM, economically along with desired surface characteristics.
Regional Rodent-Borne Infectious Diseases in North America: What Wilderness Medicine Providers Need to Know
Authors: Diaz James H.
Published: June 2021

Rodents can transmit infectious diseases directly to humans and other animals via bites and exposure to infectious salivary aerosols and excreta. Arthropods infected while blood-feeding on rodents can also transmit rodent-borne pathogens indirectly to humans and animals. Environmental events, such as wet winters, cooler summers, heavy rains, and flooding, have precipitated regional rodent-borne infectious disease outbreaks; these outbreaks are now increasing with climate change. The objectives of this review are to inform wilderness medicine providers about the environmental conditions that can precipitate rodent-borne infectious disease outbreaks; to describe the regional geographic distributions of rodent-borne infectious diseases in North America; and to recommend prophylactic treatments and effective prevention and control strategies for rodent-borne infectious diseases. To meet these objectives, Internet search engines were queried with keywords to identify scientific articles on outbreaks of the most common regional rodent-borne infectious diseases in North America. Wilderness medicine providers should maintain high levels of suspicion for regional rodent-borne diseases in patients who develop febrile illnesses after exposure to contaminated freshwater after heavy rains or floods and after swimming, rafting, or paddling in endemic areas. Public health education strategies should encourage limiting human contact with rodents; avoiding contact with or safely disposing of rodent excreta; avoiding contact with contaminated floodwaters, especially contact with open wounds; securely containing outdoor food stores; and modifying wilderness cabins and campsites to deter rodent colonization.
Notes on the Brown-Douglas-Fillmore Theorem
Authors: Chavan Sameer , Misra Gadadhar
Published: June 2021

Suitable for both postgraduate students and researchers in the field of operator theory, this book is an excellent resource providing the complete proof of the Brown-Douglas-Fillmore theorem. The book starts with a rapid introduction to the standard preparatory material in basic operator theory taught at the first year graduate level course. To quickly get to the main points of the proof of the theorem, several topics that aid in the understanding of the proof are included in the appendices. These topics serve the purpose of providing familiarity with a large variety of tools used in the proof and adds to the flexibility of reading them independently.
Contesting Sovereignty
Authors: Ng Joel
Published: June 2021

Sovereignty is a foundational idea upon which regional organisation of nations is built, yet its demise has often been predicted. Regionalism, which commits states to common frameworks such as rules and norms, tests sovereignty as states relinquish some sovereign power to achieve other goals such as security, growth, or liberalisation. This book examines the practice of normative contestation over sovereignty in two regional organisations of Africa and Asia – the AU and ASEAN. A structured comparison of three case studies from each organisation determines whether a norm challenging sovereignty was accepted, rejected, or qualified. Ng has carried out interviews about, and detailed analysis of, these six cases that occurred at formative moments of norm-setting and that each had very different outcomes. This study contributes to the understanding of norms contestation in the field of international relations and offers new insights on how the AU and ASEAN are constituted.
Promoting career growth potential: political skill, the acquisition of social resources and ingratiation
Authors: Sibunruang Hataya , Kawai Norifumi
Published: June 2021

Informed by social resources theory, we provide an explanation for how political skill enables employees' access to social resources, notably expressive network resources and developmental feedback granted by supervisors, thereby enhancing their potential for career growth. Employees can further leverage the attained resources to maximize their chances for career growth by exercising ingratiation toward their supervisors. Data from 399 independently matched subordinate-supervisor dyads in Japan partially support our predictions. While supervisor-focused expressive network resources and supervisor developmental feedback account for mediating mechanisms through which political skill could predict career growth potential, the use of ingratiation to further leverage these social resources is rather deemed insignificant. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Morphology of Pleistocene elephant tracks on South Africa's Cape south coast and probable elephant trunk-drag impressions
Authors: Helm Charles W. , Lockley Martin G. , Moolman Lizette , Cawthra Hayley C. , De Vynck Jan C. , Dixon Mark G. , Stear Willo , Thesen Guy H.H.
Published: June 2021

Aeolianites and cemented foreshore deposits on South Africa's Cape south coast have the capacity to record and preserve events that transpired on them when they were composed of unconsolidated sand. Thirty-five Pleistocene elephant tracksites have been identified along this coastline. This abundance of sites along what was the margin of the vast Palaeo-Agulhas Plain allows for an appreciation of the forms that elephant tracks and traces can take in the context of the global proboscidean track record. They point to a significant regional elephant presence from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11 (~400 ka) through MIS 5 (~130–80 ka) to MIS 3 (~35 ka) and also indicate repeated use of certain dune areas. They buttress Holocene and historical evidence that elephants made use of open areas in the region, and that the remaining “Knysna elephants” retreated into dense afrotemperate forest for protection in recent centuries. Analogies can be drawn between Pleistocene elephant tracks and Mesozoic dinosaur tracks, and some of the Cape south coast elephant tracks are among the largest Cenozoic (and hence, Quaternary) tracks ever to be described. A newly identified tracksite in this area may provide the first reported evidence of elephant trunk-drag impressions.
The global seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiinfection in bovines: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shariatzadeh Seyyed Ali , Sarvi Shahabeddin , Hosseini Seyed Abdollah , Sharif Mehdi , Gholami Shirzad , Pagheh Abdol Sattar , Montazeri Fattaneh , Nayeri Tooran , Nakhaei Maryam , Mikaeili Galeh Tahereh , Daryani Ahmad
Published: June 2021

Bovines, especially cattle, are considered as one of the main sources ofToxoplasma gondiiinfection for humans. A more comprehensive understanding of the occurrence ofT. gondiiis needed to provide a global perspective on the prevalence ofT. gondiiin bovines. Here, we present the results of the first systematic review and meta-analysis on the globalT. gondiiseroprevalence in bovines. Six databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest and Google Scholar) were comprehensively searched for relevant studies published between 1 January 1967 and 30 May 2019. Among 7691 publications searched, 178 studies (from 50 countries) with 193 datasets were included in the meta-analysis. The global pooled and weighted seroprevalence ofT. gondiiamong bovines was 17.91% [95% confidence interval (CI): 15.32–20.6]. Weighted prevalence based on the host was as follows: cattle 16.94% (95% CI: 14.25–19.81), buffalo 22.26% (95% CI: 16.8–29), yak 23% (95% CI: 14–33) and bison 8.1% (95% CI: 3.9–13.7). Continued monitoring on the status ofT. gondiiseroprevalence in bovines is essential. Study on the prevalence ofT. gondiiin the products of bovines such as milk, meat, etc., which are considered as the source of transmission of infection to humans, is recommended.
Next to Nothing: The Impact of the Norwegian Introduction Programme on Female Immigrants’ Labour Market Inclusion
Authors: UGRENINOV ELISABETH , TURNER LENA MAGNUSSON
Published: June 2021

In 2003, Norway implemented an ‘Introduction Programme’ that aimed to increase labour market inclusion among newly arrived immigrants. Its main objectives were to facilitate free courses in Norwegian language training and social studies, and education or on-the-job training. The participants were given an allowance to attend the programme. This paper uses administrative register data to evaluate the effect of the Norwegian introduction programme on female immigrants’ employment and earnings prospects. The sample consists of female immigrants from Asia or Africa who immigrated to Norway 18 months before or after the implementation of the introduction programme. The study measures their probability of being employed and their mean earnings 4–6 and 7–9 years after immigration. The results show that the Norwegian introduction programme had a small but significant effect on women’s employment, but not on their earnings. This article suggests that the small effect of the programme on employment and non-effect on earnings may imply a displacement effect rather than an improvement in language skills and labour market skills.
‘Rising demand and decreasing resources’: Theorising the ‘cost of austerity’ as a barrier to social worker discretion
Authors: MURPHY CIARÁN
Published: June 2021

The Munro Review of Child Protection asserted that the English child protection system had become overly ‘defensive’, ‘bureaucratised’ and ‘standardised’, meaning that social workers were not employing their discretion in the interests of the individual child. This paper reports on the results of an ethnographic case study of one of England’s statutory child protection teams. The research sought to explore the extent of social worker discretion relative to Munro’s call for ‘radical reform’ and a move towards a more ‘child-centred’ system. Employing an iterative mixed methods design – encompassing documentary analysis, observation, focus group, questionnaire, interview and ‘Critical Realist Grounded Theory’ – the study positioned the UK Government’s prolonged policy of ‘austerity’ as a barrier to social worker discretion. This was because the policy was seen to be contributing to an increased demand for child protection services; and a related sense amongst practitioners that they were afforded insufficient time with the child to garner the requisite knowledge, necessary for discretionary behaviour. Ultimately, despite evidence of progress relative to assertions that social worker discretion had been eroded, the paper concludes that there may still be ‘more to do’ if we are to achieve the ‘child-centred’ and ‘effective’ system that Munro advocated.
A physics perspective on lidar data assimilation for mobile robots
Authors: Berquin Yann , Zell Andreas
Published: June 2021

This paper presents a new algorithm for lidar data assimilation relying on a new forward model. Current mapping algorithms suffer from multiple shortcomings, which can be related to the lack of clear forward model. In order to address these issues, we provide a mathematical framework where we show how the use of coarse model parameters results in a new data assimilation problem. Understanding this new problem proves essential to derive sound inference algorithms. We introduce a model parameter specifically tailored for lidar data assimilation, which closely relates to the local mean free path. Using this new model parameter, we derive its associated forward model and we provide the resulting mapping algorithm. We further discuss how our proposed algorithm relates to usual occupancy grid mapping. Finally, we present an example with real lidar measurements.
An Institutional Dilemma in China's Skills-development System: Evidence from Two Apprenticeship Reforms
Authors: Zhang Hao
Published: June 2021

The Chinese government has placed workforce upskilling at the core of its reform agenda to sustain the Chinese “economic miracle.” As such, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) and Ministry of Education (MOE) have each launched separate apprenticeship reforms geared towards enhancing China's oft-criticized vocational education and training system. Using a self-constructed theoretical framework, this article examines the two reforms and ascribes their divergent outcomes to the two ministries’ distinct approaches to institutionalizing their central initiatives (i.e. the top-down model followed by the MOHRSS versus the collaborative model of the MOE). However, given the absence of industry-level civil society governance in China, neither of these models has delivered ideal training outcomes, although the collaborative model has satisfied more employers and apprentices. China's skills-development reforms have thus become trapped in an institutional dilemma which is likely to impede the long-term economic restructuring efforts of the central state.
An editable learner model for text recommendation for language learning
Authors: Lee John S. Y.
Published: June 2021

Extracurricular reading is important for learning foreign languages. Text recommendation systems typically classify users and documents into levels, and then match users with documents at the same level. Although this approach can be effective, it has two significant shortcomings. First, the levels assume a standard order of language acquisition and cannot be personalized to the users’ learning patterns. Second, recommendation decisions are not transparent because the leveling algorithms can be difficult for users to interpret. We propose a novel method for text recommendation that addresses these two issues. To enhance personalization, an open, editable learner model estimates user knowledge of each word in the foreign language. The documents are ranked by new-word density (NWD) – that is, the percentage of words that are new to the user in the document. The system then recommends documents according to a user-specified target NWD. This design offers complete transparency as users can scrutinize recommendations by reviewing the NWD estimation of the learner model. This article describes an implementation of this method in a mobile app for learners of Chinese as a foreign language. Evaluation results show that users were able to manipulate the learner model and NWD parameters to adjust the difficulty of the recommended documents. In a survey, users reported satisfaction with both the concept and implementation of this text recommendation method.
Patients with amnestic MCI Fail to Adapt Executive Control When Repeatedly Tested with Semantic Verbal Fluency Tasks
Authors: Tröger Johannes , Lindsay Hali , Mina Mario , Linz Nicklas , Klöppel Stefan , Kray Jutta , Peter Jessica
Published: June 2021

Objective:

Semantic verbal fluency (SVF) tasks require individuals to name items from a specified category within a fixed time. An impaired SVF performance is well documented in patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI). The two leading theoretical views suggest either loss of semantic knowledge or impaired executive control to be responsible.

Method:

We assessed SVF 3 times on 2 consecutive days in 29 healthy controls (HC) and 29 patients with aMCI with the aim to answer the question which of the two views holds true.

Results:

When doing the task for the first time, patients with aMCI produced fewer and more common words with a shorter mean response latency. When tested repeatedly, only healthy volunteers increased performance. Likewise, only the performance of HC indicated two distinct retrieval processes: a prompt retrieval of readily available items at the beginning of the task and an active search through semantic space towards the end. With repeated assessment, the pool of readily available items became larger in HC, but not patients with aMCI.

Conclusion:

The production of fewer and more common words in aMCI points to a smaller search set and supports the loss of semantic knowledge view. The failure to improve performance as well as the lack of distinct retrieval processes point to an additional impairment in executive control. Our data did not clearly favour one theoretical view over the other, but rather indicates that the impairment of patients with aMCI in SVF is due to a combination of both.
Electron Crystallographic Investigation of Crystals on the Mesostructural Scale
Authors: Mao Wenting , Bao Chao , Han Lu
Published: June 2021

The precise structural solution of crystals on a mesostructural scale is challenging due to the difficulties in obtaining electron diffraction and the complicated relationship between the crystal structure factors (CSFs) and the conventional underfocus phase-contrast transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images due to the large unit cell and the complex structures. Here, we present the structural investigation of mesostructured crystals via the combination of electron crystallographic Fourier synthesis and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) that only relies on the mass-thickness contrast. The three-dimensional electrostatic potential is reconstructed from the amplitudes and phases extracted from the Fourier transforms of the corresponding HAADF-STEM images and merged into a set of CSFs. This method is verified on silica scaffolds following a shifted double-diamond surface network with space group I41/amd. The results indicate that electron crystallography reconstruction by HAADF-STEM images is more suitable and accurate in determining the structure in comparison with conventional TEM electron crystallography reconstruction. This approach transfers the contrast of mesostructured crystals to images more accurately and the relationship between the Fourier transforms of HAADF-STEM images and the CSFs is more intuitive. It shows great advantages for the structural solution of crystals on the mesostructural scale.
The oceanographic contribution of James Croll
Authors: DAWSON Alastair
Published: June 2021

The research of James Croll on the nature of Ice Ages led him into a detailed investigation of ocean currents. By the early 1870s he had calculated from first principles the quantities of heat delivered by ocean currents to high latitude areas and he understood how this heat supply may have altered drastically during ice ages. The publication of his many papers on ocean currents as well as his book, Climate and Time, coincided with Challenger expedition that, in 1872, embarked on a 4-year voyage of scientific exploration of the world's oceans. The expedition was crucially important for Croll since it enabled him to test his theories of ocean circulation using real data. His novel theories of ocean circulation based on this information conflicted with the established views popularly advocated by William Carpenter but they ultimately prevailed. In the many writings of Croll on ocean currents, we encounter, as with other areas of his research, numerous remarkable ideas many decades ahead their time.
Lycopene alleviates Western diet-induced elevations in anthropometrical indices of obesity, adipose lipids, and other nutritional parameters
Authors: Ugwor Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu , James Adewale Segun , Akamo Adio Jamiu , Akinloye Dorcas Ibukun , Ezenandu Emmanuel Obinna , Emmanuel Esther Ayobami , Ugbaja Regina Ngozi
Published: June 2021

Abstract: Objective: Given the unrelenting surge in the prevalence of obesity and the intensified efforts aimed at elucidating underlying mechanisms and proffering effective treatments, this study investigated the effects of lycopene on various anthropometrical indices of obesity. Methods: Thirty female Wistar rats were equally divided into two groups and fed either control diet or Western diet. After eight weeks, obese rats (fed Western diet) were divided into three groups (n=5); obese control received the vehicle, while the other two received lycopene (0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg body weight, respectively). Normal rats were grouped into three (n=5) and treated similarly. This treatment lasted for another two weeks, in addition to their respective diets. Afterwards, anthropometrical indices were taken. Results: The weight gain, adiposity index, abdominal and thoracic circumference, body mass index, and Lee index were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the obese rats compared to the normal control, by 108.3%, 102.1%, 81.5%, 97.6%, 47.4%, and 13.9%, respectively. The obese rats had significantly (p<0.05) higher adipose tissue lipid contents, daily feed (37.4%) and energy intake (66.0%), daily weight gain (108.3%), and feed efficiency (25.5%) compared to control. However, the treatment of obese rats with lycopene occasioned a dose-dependent reduction in the elevated anthropometrical and nutritional parameters. In addition, lycopene elicited significant reductions (p<0.05), ranging from 16–54%, in the adipose lipid contents. Conclusion: The data presented here illustrate the positive effects of lycopene on indices of obesity and other anthropometric parameters in obese female rats.
Gewalt und Gewaltprävention in der stationären Altenpflege während der COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Freytag Stefanie , Dammermann Anna , Schultes Kristin , Bieber Anja , Fleischer Steffen , Sander Marco , Piotrowski Alexandra , Blättner Beate
Published: June 2021

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Während der ersten Welle der COVID-19-Pandemie galten in der stationären Altenpflege in Deutschland strenge Regeln zum Infektionsschutz, die Beschäftigte und Bewohner_innen belasteten und diese sozial isolierten. Beides sind Risikofaktoren für Gewalt in der stationären Altenpflege. Fragestellungen: Wie entwickelte sich unter Pandemiebedingungen aus Sicht von Leitungspersonen das Gewaltgeschehen in der stationären Altenpflege und wie veränderten sich Strategien zur Prävention von Gewalt? Methoden: In 43 Einrichtungen wurden leitfadengestützte Telefoninterviews mit 25 Einrichtungs- und 15 Pflegedienstleitungen sowie 28 Wohnbereichsleitungen und 10 Pflegefachpersonen mit erweiterten Aufgaben durchgeführt, audiotechnisch aufgenommen, transkribiert und nach der „Thematic framework analysis“ in fünf Analyseschritten ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Maßnahmen des Infektionsschutzes wurden als Freiheitsentzug wahrgenommen. Bewohner_innen, Angehörige und Beschäftigte reagierten teils mit verbaler Gewalt. Für die Leitungspersonen war das Thema Gewalt wenig präsent, Präventionsmaßnahmen wurden nicht durchgeführt. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Strategien zur Prävention von Gewalt in den einbezogenen Einrichtungen nicht hinreichend verankert sind und den Bedingungen der Pandemie angepasst werden müssen. Weitere Forschung ist notwendig, um Maßnahmen zum Infektionsschutz in ihrem Potenzial zur Erhöhung des Gewaltvorkommens zu evaluieren.
Ten Ways to Apply Machine Learning in Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Bortnik Jacob , Camporeale Enrico
Published: June 2021

Machine learning is gaining popularity across scientific and technical fields, but it’s often not clear to researchers, especially young scientists, how they can apply these methods in their work.
A Biogeochemical Imprint of the Panama Basin in the North Andean Arc
Authors: Errázuriz‐Henao Carlos , Gómez‐Tuena Arturo , Parolari Mattia , Weber Marion
Published: June 2021

Oceans and continents mingle at convergent margins. However, the effects of this interaction in the construction and evolution of the continental crust remain poorly understood. Here we use geochemical data from the Panama Basin and the Northern Volcanic Province of Colombia to reveal that the oceanological and biogeochemical processes of a subducted ocean basin are imprinted in the compositions of continental arc volcanoes. The Panama Basin is a biologically highly productive area of the Eastern Equatorial Pacific in which the strongly biogenic sedimentation is reclassified and preserved differently depending on tectonically controlled depositional environments. Due to a shallow lysocline, sediments deposited on newly formed spreading centers are carbonate‐rich, whereas those accumulated on older subsiding seafloor become gradually richer in terrigenous components, organic carbon and authigenic U. Volcanoes of the North Volcanic Province of Colombia erupt high‐Mg# andesites that are common in some arcs, but display unusually high U contents and a symmetrical or “parabolic‐shaped” along‐arc trace element and isotopic variations that appear unrelated to differentiation or the pre‐existent crustal architecture. Instead, the parabolic‐shaped elemental trends mirror the reconstructed compositional variations of sediments deposited across axis on the currently subducted Sandra and Buenaventura ocean ridges. We interpret that subduction of these ocean ridges delivered a compositionally variable sediment influx that influenced the compositions of arc magmas. These findings demonstrate a strong connectivity between oceans and continents, and further imply that arc volcanoes can be reliable records of the oceanological and biogeochemical conditions of long subducted ocean basins.
Distinct roles for dopamine clearance mechanisms in regulating behavioral flexibility
Authors: Korn Clio , Akam Thomas , Jensen Kristian H. R. , Vagnoni Cristiana , Huber Anna , Tunbridge Elizabeth M. , Walton Mark E.
Published: June 2021

Dopamine plays a crucial role in adaptive behavior, and dysfunctional dopamine is implicated in multiple psychiatric conditions characterized by inflexible or inconsistent choices. However, the precise relationship between dopamine and flexible decision making remains unclear. One reason is that, while many studies have focused on the activity of dopamine neurons, efficient dopamine signaling also relies on clearance mechanisms, notably the dopamine transporter (DAT), which predominates in striatum, and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), which predominates in cortex. The exact locus, extent, and timescale of the effects of DAT and COMT are uncertain. Moreover, there is limited data on how acute disruption of either mechanism affects flexible decision making strategies mediated by cortico-striatal networks. To address these issues, we combined pharmacological modulation of DAT and COMT with electrochemistry and behavior in mice. DAT blockade, but not COMT inhibition, regulated sub-second dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core, but surprisingly neither clearance mechanism affected evoked release in prelimbic cortex. This was not due to a lack of sensitivity, as both amphetamine and atomoxetine changed the kinetics of sub-second release. In a multi-step decision making task where mice had to respond to reversals in either reward probabilities or the choice sequence to reach the goal, DAT blockade selectively impaired, and COMT inhibition improved, performance after reward reversals, but neither manipulation affected the adaptation of choices after action-state transition reversals. Together, our data suggest that DAT and COMT shape specific aspects of behavioral flexibility by regulating different aspects of the kinetics of striatal and cortical dopamine, respectively.
First come, first served: superinfection exclusion in Deformed wing virus is dependent upon sequence identity and not the order of virus acquisition
Authors: Gusachenko Olesya N , Woodford Luke , Balbirnie-Cumming Katharin , Evans David J
Published: June 2021

Deformed wing virus (DWV) is the most important globally distributed pathogen of honey bees and, when vectored by the ectoparasite Varroa destructor, is associated with high levels of colony losses. Divergent DWV types may differ in their pathogenicity and are reported to exhibit superinfection exclusion upon sequential infections, an inevitability in a Varroa-infested colony. We used a reverse genetic approach to investigate competition and interactions between genetically distinct or related virus strains, analysing viral load over time, tissue distribution with reporter gene-expressing viruses and recombination between virus variants. Transient competition occurred irrespective of the order of virus acquisition, indicating no directionality or dominance. Over longer periods, the ability to compete with a pre-existing infection correlated with the genetic divergence of the inoculae. Genetic recombination was observed throughout the DWV genome with recombinants accounting for ~2% of the population as determined by deep sequencing. We propose that superinfection exclusion, if it occurs at all, is a consequence of a cross-reactive RNAi response to the viruses involved, explaining the lack of dominance of one virus type over another. A better understanding of the consequences of dual- and superinfection will inform development of cross-protective honey bee vaccines and landscape-scale DWV transmission and evolution.
Acute promyelocytic leukemia current treatment algorithms
Authors: Yilmaz Musa , Kantarjian Hagop , Ravandi Farhad
Published: June 2021

In 1957, Hillestad et al. defined acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) for the first time in the literature as a distinct type of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a “rapid downhill course” characterized with a severe bleeding tendency. APL, accounting for 10–15% of the newly diagnosed AML cases, results from a balanced translocation, t(15;17) (q22;q12-21), which leads to the fusion of the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene with the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene. The PML–RARA fusion oncoprotein induces leukemia by blocking normal myeloid differentiation. Before using anthracyclines in APL therapy in 1973, no effective treatment was available. In the mid-1980s, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) monotherapy was used with high response rates, but response durations were short. Later, the development of ATRA, chemotherapy, and arsenic trioxide combinations turned APL into a highly curable malignancy. In this review, we summarize the evolution of APL therapy, focusing on key milestones that led to the standard-of-care APL therapy available today and discuss treatment algorithms and management tips to minimize induction mortality.
Accurate classification of fresh and charred grape seeds to the varietal level, using machine learning based classification method
Authors: Landa Vlad , Shapira Yekaterina , David Michal , Karasik Avshalom , Weiss Ehud , Reuveni Yuval , Drori Elyashiv
Published: June 2021

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) currently includes thousands of cultivars. Discrimination between these varieties, historically done by ampelography, is done in recent decades mostly by genetic analysis. However, when aiming to identify archaeobotanical remains, which are mostly charred with extremely low genomic preservation, the application of the genomic approach is rarely successful. As a result, variety-level identification of most grape remains is currently prevented. Because grape pips are highly polymorphic, several attempts were made to utilize their morphological diversity as a classification tool, mostly using 2D image analysis technics. Here, we present a highly accurate varietal classification tool using an innovative and accessible 3D seed scanning approach. The suggested classification methodology is machine-learning-based, applied with the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) registration algorithm and the Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) technique. This methodology achieved classification results of 91% to 93% accuracy in average when trained by fresh or charred seeds to test fresh or charred seeds, respectively. We show that when classifying 8 groups, enhanced accuracy levels can be achieved using a "tournament" approach. Future development of this new methodology can lead to an effective seed classification tool, significantly improving the fields of archaeobotany, as well as general taxonomy.
PGE2 displays immunosuppressive effects during human active tuberculosis
Authors: Pellegrini Joaquín Miguel , Martin Candela , Morelli María Paula , Schander Julieta Aylen , Tateosian Nancy Liliana , Amiano Nicolás Oscar , Rolandelli Agustín , Palmero Domingo Juan , Levi Alberto , Ciallella Lorena , Colombo María Isabel , García Verónica Edith
Published: June 2021

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), an active lipid compound derived from arachidonic acid, regulates different stages of the immune response of the host during several pathologies such as chronic infections or cancer. In fact, manipulation of PGE2 levels was proposed as an approach for countering the Type I IFN signature of tuberculosis (TB). However, very limited information regarding the PGE2 pathway in patients with active TB is currently available. In the present work, we demonstrated that PGE2 exerts a potent immunosuppressive action during the immune response of the human host againstMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)infection. Actually, we showed that PGE2 significantly reduced the surface expression of several immunological receptors, the lymphoproliferation and the production of proinflammatory cytokines. In addition, PGE2 promoted autophagy in monocytes and neutrophils cultured withMtbantigens. These results suggest that PGE2 might be attenuating the excessive inflammatory immune response caused byMtb, emerging as an attractive therapeutic target. Taken together, our findings contribute to the knowledge of the role of PGE2 in the human host resistance toMtband highlight the potential of this lipid mediator as a tool to improve anti-TB treatment.
The effects of water control on the survival and growth of Alternanthera philoxeroides in the vegetative reproduction and seedling stages
Authors: Peng Xuemei , Yang Yunfei , Yan Xiumin , Li Haiyan
Published: June 2021

Alternanthera philoxeroides (Martius) is an infamous invasive alien plant that is widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. To investigate the vegetative reproduction, growth, survival strategy, and the function of leaves in fragment of A. philoxeroides under different water conditions, two water control experiments were conducted with different leaf treatments: (1) water control with stolon fragments, and (2) water control with plants. The water control was subjected to five levels: I 30% soil water content, II 70% soil water content, III 97% soil water content, IV water depth of 5 cm, and V water depth of 10 cm in combination with the two leaf treatments, fragments with two leaves and fragments without leaves. Based on the results, A. philoxeroides produced a significantly higher stem length, node number, leaf number, stem biomass, leaf biomass, and total biomass in the 97% soil water content and in treatments with leaves. Additionally, the stem mass ratio increased and the root mass ratio decreased with the increase of the water content. In Exp. 1, the survival rate was the highest in the 97% water content and was 0 in the 30% water content. Therefore, the leaves of stolon fragments contribute to the vegetative reproduction and growth of A. philoxeroides. In response to different water conditions, A. philoxeroides adopts different strategies according to the resource reserves by itself, which are conducive to its survival and widespread occurrence.