bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the relationship between the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment and preservice teachers' pedagogical content knowledge
Authors: Reynolds Wm. Matthew , Park Soonhye
Published: November 2020

This study examined the relationship between preservice teachers' Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) scores, the most widely implemented preservice teacher performance assessment in the United States, and the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) levels reflected in their edTPA portfolios. PCK is a specialized form of teacher professional knowledge widely considered a paramount construct of teacher quality. Thirty‐six preservice science teachers' PCK levels were determined by analyzing their edTPA portfolios, including videos and written commentaries, with the PCK mapping approach, an enumerative analytical method capable of quantifying and visualizing the integration of PCK components. Data analysis indicates there was a significant positive correlation between participants' edTPA scores and their PCK levels (rs[36] = 0.949, p < 0.0001). Through further analysis, this study also identified several key features of preservice teachers' PCK revealed in their edTPA portfolios: (1) preservice science teachers' Knowledge of Student's Understanding (KSU) and Knowledge of Instructional Strategies and Representations (KISR) were the most developed components of PCK; (2) accounting for over 50% of all connections between PCK components, KSU, KISR, and Knowledge of Assessments were among the most frequently integrated components of PCK; (3) Knowledge of Science Curriculum was the least frequently integrated, and therefore the weakest, component of preservice teachers' PCK; and (4) inquiry was the most frequently mentioned, and typically the only Orientation toward Teaching Science found in participants' edTPA materials. This study contributes to the growing body of scholarship on the characteristics of preservice science teachers' PCK and becomes one of only a handful of empirical studies that examine the edTPA's diagnostic abilities. Finally, potential implications regarding the edTPA in science teacher education, as well as directions for future research surrounding preservice science teacher PCK and PCK development, are discussed.
Variability in the Formation and Framework Polymorphism of Metal‐organic Frameworks based on Yttrium(III) and the Bifunctional Organic Linker 2,5‐Dihydroxyterephthalic Acid
Authors: Dietzel Pascal D. C. , Blom Richard , Fjellvåg Helmer
Published: November 2020

Depending on the solvothermal reaction conditions, we obtained three different metal‐organic frameworks with yttrium(III) as metal component and 2,5‐dihdyroxyterepthalic acid (H4dhtp) as bifunctional organic linker: Y2(H2dhtp)3(dmf)4·(dmf)2 (CPO‐29) contains dinuclear, paddle‐wheel like inorganic secondary building units (SBUs) connected by the organic linker to a network with α‐Po topology, while Y2(H2dhtp)(dhtp)(dmf)2 (CPO‐30) and Y2(H2dhtp)(dhtp)(dmf)2(H2O)2·(H2O)4 (CPO‐31) contain one‐dimensional inorganic SBUs that differ in how the half‐ and fully deprotonated ligands are connected to and arranged around them. Only the carboxylic acid groups of the organic linker are deprotonated in CPO‐29, while CPO‐30 and CPO‐31 contain both 2,5‐dihydroxyterephthalate (H2dhtp2–) linkers and fully deprotonated 2,5‐dioxidoterephthalate (dhtp4–) linkers. All three compounds contain large volumes filled with solvent, but we were able to demonstrate permanence of porosity only for CPO‐30. Variable temperature powder X‐ray diffraction reveals that CPO‐29 and CPO‐31 undergo discontinuous phase transitions upon heating, and the flexibility of the framework structure indicated by these might be the reason for the inability to access the pore volume. Desolvated CPO‐30 and CPO‐31 are polymorphs, whose network structures differ in whether the H2dhtp2– and dhtp4– linkers are located in cis or trans arrangement around the inorganic SBU.
uPAR-expressing melanoma exosomes promote angiogenesis by VE-Cadherin, EGFR and uPAR overexpression and rise of ERK1,2 signaling in endothelial cells
Authors: Biagioni Alessio , Laurenzana Anna , Menicacci Beatrice , Peppicelli Silvia , Andreucci Elena , Bianchini Francesca , Guasti Daniele , Paoli Paolo , Serratì Simona , Mocali Alessandra , Calorini Lido , Del Rosso Mario , Fibbi Gabriella , Chillà Anastasia , Margheri Francesca
Published: November 2020

Exosomes (Exos) have been reported to promote pre-metastatic niche formation, proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis. We have investigated the role of uPAR in melanoma cell lines-derived Exos and their pro-angiogenic effects on human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) and endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs). Melanoma Exos were isolated from conditioned media of A375 and M6 cells by differential centrifugation and filtration. Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing (TRPS) and Nanoparticle tracking analysis were performed to analyze dimension and concentration of Exos. The CRISPR–Cas 9 technology was exploited to obtain a robust uPAR knockout. uPAR is expressed in melanoma Exos that are internalized by HMVECs and ECFCs, enhancing VE-Cadherin, EGFR and uPAR expression in endothelial cells that undergo a complete angiogenic program, including proliferation, migration and tube formation. uPAR loss reduced the pro-angiogenic effects of melanoma Exos in vitro and in vivo by inhibition of VE-Cadherin, EGFR and uPAR expression and of ERK1,2 signaling in endothelial cells. A similar effect was obtained with a peptide that inhibits uPAR–EGFR interaction and with the EGFR inhibitor Gefitinib, which also inhibited melanoma Exos-dependent EGFR phosphorylation. This study suggests that uPAR is required for the pro-angiogenic activity of melanoma Exos. We propose the identification of uPAR-expressing Exos as a potentially useful biomarker for assessing pro-angiogenic propensity and eventually monitoring the response to treatment in metastatic melanoma patients.
Multilevel ensemble Kalman filtering for spatio-temporal processes
Authors: Chernov Alexey , Hoel Håkon , Law Kody J. H. , Nobile Fabio , Tempone Raul
Published: November 2020

We design and analyse the performance of a multilevel ensemble Kalman filter method (MLEnKF) for filtering settings where the underlying state-space model is an infinite-dimensional spatio-temporal process. We consider underlying models that needs to be simulated by numerical methods, with discretization in both space and time. The multilevel Monte Carlo sampling strategy, achieving variance reduction through pairwise coupling of ensemble particles on neighboring resolutions, is used in the sample-moment step of MLEnKF to produce an efficent hierarchical filtering method for spatio-temporal models. Under sufficent regularity, MLEnKF is proven to be more efficient for weak approximations than EnKF, asymptotically in the large-ensemble and fine-numerical-resolution limit. Numerical examples support our theoretical findings.
Conservative treatment versus elective repair of umbilical hernia in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites: results of a randomized controlled trial (CRUCIAL trial)
Authors: de Goede B. , van Rooijen M. M. J. , van Kempen B. J. H. , Polak W. G. , de Man R. A. , Taimr P. , Lange J. F. , Metselaar H. J. , Kazemier G.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

To establish optimal management of patients with an umbilical hernia complicated by liver cirrhosis and ascites.

Methods

Patients with an umbilical hernia and liver cirrhosis and ascites were randomly assigned to receive either elective repair or conservative treatment. The primary endpoint was overall morbidity related to the umbilical hernia or its treatment after 24 months of follow-up. Secondary endpoints included the severity of these hernia-related complications, quality of life, and cumulative hernia recurrence rate.

Results

Thirty-four patients were included in the study. Sixteen patients were randomly assigned to elective repair and 18 to conservative treatment. After 24 months, 8 patients (50%) assigned to elective repair compared to 14 patients (77.8%) assigned to conservative treatment had a complication related to the umbilical hernia or its repair. A recurrent hernia was reported in 16.7% of patients who underwent repair. For the secondary endpoint, quality of life through the physical (PCS) and mental component score (MCS) showed no significant differences between groups at 12 months of follow-up (mean difference PCS 11.95, 95% CI − 0.87 to 24.77; MCS 10.04, 95% CI − 2.78 to 22.86).

Conclusion

This trial could not show a relevant difference in overall morbidity after 24 months of follow-up in favor of elective umbilical hernia repair, because of the limited number of patients included. However, elective repair of umbilical hernia in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites appears feasible, nudging its implementation into daily practice further, particularly for patients experiencing complaints.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01421550, on 23 August 2011.
Impact probability under aleatory and epistemic uncertainties
Authors: Tardioli Chiara , Farnocchia Davide , Vasile Massimiliano , Chesley Steve R.
Published: November 2020

We present an approach to estimate an upper bound for the impact probability of a potentially hazardous asteroid when part of the force model depends on unknown parameters whose statistical distribution needs to be assumed. As case study, we consider Apophis’ risk assessment for the 2036 and 2068 keyholes based on information available as of 2013. Within the framework of epistemic uncertainties, under the independence and non-correlation assumption, we assign parametric families of distributions to the physical properties of Apophis that define the Yarkovsky perturbation and in turn the future orbital evolution of the asteroid. We find$${\mathrm{IP}}\le 5\times 10^{-5}$$IP≤5×10-5for the 2036 keyhole and$${\mathrm{IP}}\le 1.6\times 10^{-5}$$IP≤1.6×10-5for the 2068 keyhole. These upper bounds are largely conservative choices due to the rather wide range of statistical distributions that we explored.
Correction to: A New Intraepithelial γδ T-Lymphocyte Marker for Celiac Disease Classification in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Duodenal Biopsies
Authors: Popp Alina , Taavela Juha , Graziano Paolo , Parente Paola , Covelli Claudia , Lamacchia Carmela , Andriulli Angelo , Mäki Markku , Isola Jorma
Published: November 2020

The original version of the article unfortunately contained an error in the first name and the surname of the all authors in the author group. Below is the corrected first name and the surname of the authors.
Are evaluative cultures national or global? A cross-national study on evaluative cultures in academic recruitment processes in Europe
Authors: Reymert Ingvild , Jungblut Jens , Borlaug Siri B.
Published: November 2020

Studies on academic recruitment processes have demonstrated that universities evaluate candidates for research positions using multiple criteria. However, most studies on preferences regarding evaluative criteria in recruitment processes focus on a single country, while cross-country studies are rare. Additionally, though studies have documented how fields evaluate candidates differently, those differences have not been deeply explored, thus creating a need for further inquiry. This paper aims to address this gap and investigates whether academics in two fields across five European countries prefer the same criteria to evaluate candidates for academic positions. The analysis is based on recent survey data drawn from academics in economics and physics in Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK. Our results show that the academic fields have different evaluative cultures and that researchers from different fields prefer specific criteria when assessing candidates. We also found that these field-specific preferences were to some extent mediated through national frameworks such as funding systems.
Population norms of health-related quality of life in Moscow, Russia: the EQ-5D-5L-based survey
Authors: Hołownia-Voloskova Malwina , Tarbastaev Aleksei , Golicki Dominik
Published: November 2020

Purpose

To develop population norms for the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire based on a representative sample of Moscow citizens.

Methods

We used quota sampling accounting for sex, age group and administrative district of residence. Respondents in randomly selected outdoor and indoor locations were surveyed with the official Russian paper-and-pencil version of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire and a set of socio-demographic questions. We estimated four types of EQ-5D results: the distribution of limitations according to EQ-5D-5L dimensions, the perception of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with a visual analogue scale (EQ VAS), the unweighted score for a respondent’s health state (Level Sum Score, LSS) and the Russian health preferences-based weighted score (EQ index). In order to estimate the EQ-5D-5L index, we used a newly developed Russian EQ-5D-3L value set, together with EuroQol Group cross-over methodology.

Results

A total of 1020 respondents (18–93 years old) from the general Moscow adult population completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. HRQoL domains with the largest number of identified health limitations were pain/discomfort (48.6%) and anxiety/depression (44.1%). Two hundred seventy-nine respondents (27.0%) did not report any health restrictions. The mean EQ VAS and EQ-5D-5L index were 74.1 (SD 17.3) and 0.907 (0.106) respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that female sex, advanced age and lack of access to the Internet had a negative influence on HRQoL, whereas residence in certain districts had a positive impact.

Conclusions

The study provides population norms of health-related quality of life in Moscow, measured according to the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. These reference values can be used to optimise the effectiveness of resource allocation in healthcare.
„Für Frauen gibt es immer Arbeit!“ – Eine intersektionale Analyse migrantischer Arbeit in Spanien
Authors: Neuhauser Johanna
Published: November 2020

Eine der häufigsten Antworten, die ich bei meiner Feldforschung in Spanien auf die Frage bekommen habe, wie sich die ökonomische Krise 2008 auf die Arbeitssituation von Migrantinnen ausgewirkt hat, war: „Für Frauen gibt es immer Arbeit“. Im folgenden Beitrag wird diese generalisierende Aussage einer genaueren Betrachtung unterzogen und die Auswirkungen der Krise werden entlang von Geschlecht und Ethnizität untersucht. Ziel des konzeptionellen Artikels ist, zu zeigen, dass eine intersektionale Analyse migrantischer Arbeit einen privilegierten Zugang zu grundlegenden gesellschaftlichen Widerspruchskonstellationen eröffnet und verdeckte Herrschaftszusammenhänge sichtbar machen kann. Sie trägt zu einer differenzierten Analyse von Arbeitsausbeutung bei und vermittelt zwischen den strukturellen Mechanismen und der subjektiven Wahrnehmung gesellschaftlicher Ungleichheit.
Karzinogenese: Big Bang oder kontinuierliche Evolution?
Authors: Haase Kerstin , Schwarz Roland F.
Published: November 2020

Intra-tumour heterogeneity is a key characteristic of tumours and poses significant clinical challenges. Despite extensive research, the evolutionary processes shaping cancer genomes are not yet fully understood. We here discuss two conflicting theories about the evolution of solid tumours: the Big Bang model and the classical model of continuous evolution. Using chromosomal instability we shed light on the preferred mode of cancer evolution and its implications for personalised treatment.
Mikrobiome — Forschung zwischen Theorie und praktischer Anwendung
Authors: Schloter Michael , Meyer Folker , Berg Gabriele
Published: November 2020

Microbiomes are complex microbial communities, with manifold interactions in a given ecosystem. They are characterized by defined functional properties and pattern of activities. Microbiomes play an important role as parts of “holobionts” and strongly drive the health of their particular hosts. The article describes challenges and chances of recent microbiome research and future strategies how to make use of findings from basic research in environmental sciences as well as in medicine.
Das endoplasmatische Retikulum in der Mitose — ein wandelbares Netz
Authors: Schlaitz Anne
Published: November 2020

In order to divide successfully, cells need to reorganize their interior including membrane-bound organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER serves as sink and source for the nuclear envelope and undergoes distinct transformations in its morphology and dynamics during cell division. To fully appreciate the functions of ER remodeling during cell division it will be essential to first achieve a detailed understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Correction to: Gender Discrimination and Excess Female Under-5 Mortality in India: A New Perspective Using Mixed-Sex Twins
Authors: Kashyap Ridhi , Behrman Julia
Published: November 2020

The article Gender Discrimination and Excess Female Under-5 Mortality in India: A New Perspective Using Mixed-Sex Twins, written by Ridhi Kashyap & Julia Behrman, was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal on 25th September without open access.
Role of titanium carbide and alumina on the friction increment for Cu-based metallic brake pads under different initial braking speeds
Authors: Peng Tao , Yan Qingzhi , Zhang Xiaolu , Zhuang Yan
Published: November 2020

To understand the effect of abrasives on increasing friction in Cu-based metallic pads under different braking speeds, pad materials with two typical abrasives, titanium carbide (TiC) and alumina (Al2O3), were produced and tested using a scale dynamometer under various initial braking speeds (IBS). The results showed that at IBS lower than 250 km/h, both TiC and Al2O3particles acted as hard points and exhibited similar friction-increasing behavior, where the increase in friction was not only enhanced as IBS increased, but also enhanced by increasing the volume fraction of the abrasives. However, at higher IBS, the friction increase was limited by the bonding behavior between the matrix and abrasives. Under these conditions, the composite containing TiC showed a better friction-increasing effect and wear resistance than the composite containing Al2O3because of its superior particle-matrix bonding and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) compatibility. Because of the poor interface bonding between the matrix and Al2O3, a transition phenomenon exists in the Al2O3-reinforced composite, in which the friction-increasing effect diminished when IBS exceeded a certain value.
Regulation mechanism of biomolecule interaction behaviors on the superlubricity of hydrophilic polymer coatings
Authors: Zhang Caixia , Chen Junmin , Liu Mengmeng , Liu Yuhong , Liu Zhifeng , Chu Hongyan , Cheng Qiang , Wang Jianhua
Published: November 2020

Hydrophilic polymer coatings can improve the surface characteristics of artificial implants. However, because they are used in vivo, they inevitably come into contact with biomolecules that affect their interfacial tribological properties. In this paper, the friction behaviors of poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVPA)-modified Ti6Al4V and polytetrafluorethylene balls were analyzed using albumin, globulin, aggrecan, and hyaluronic acid as lubricants. The interaction properties and dynamic adsorption characteristics of the biomolecules and PVPA molecules were explored by a quartz crystal microbalance to identify the cause of the friction difference. It was found that protein molecules disturbed the superlubricity of the PVPA-phosphate-buffered saline system because of the formation of a stable adsorption film, which replaced the interfacial characteristics of the PVPA coating. Polysaccharides, with their excellent hydration properties and polymer structure, had an unstable dynamic interaction or zero adsorption with PVPA molecules, and hardly changed the superlubricity of the PVPA and phosphate-buffered-saline system. The influence mechanism of the specific friction of proteins and polysaccharides was analyzed. Interactions were observed among different biomolecules. Polysaccharides can potentially reduce protein adsorption. The result of the synergistic regulation of the friction coefficient for PVPA-modified Ti6Al4V is approximately 0.017. The results of this study will provide a theoretical basis for the use of polymer coatings in vivo.
Cavitation erosion resistance of 316L stainless steel fabricated using selective laser melting
Authors: Ding Hongqin , Tang Qing , Zhu Yi , Zhang Chao , Yang Huayong
Published: November 2020

Cavitation erosion degrades the performance and reliability of hydraulic machinery. Selective laser melting (SLM) is a type of metal additive manufacturing technology that can fabricate metal parts directly and provide lightweight design in various industrial applications. However, the cavitation erosion behaviors of SLM-fabricated parts have rarely been studied. In this study, SLM 316L stainless steel samples were fabricated via SLM technology considering the scanning strategy, scanning speed, laser power, and build orientation. The effect of the process parameters on the cavitation erosion resistance of the SLM-fabricated 316L stainless steel samples was illustrated using an ultrasonic vibratory cavitation system. The mass loss and surface topography were employed to evaluate the surface cavitation damage of the SLM-fabricated 316L stainless steel samples after the cavitation test. The cavitation damage mechanism of the SLM-fabricated samples was discussed. The results show that the degree of cavitation damage of the sample fabricated via SLM with a few defects, anisotropic build direction, and columnar microstructure is significantly decreased. Defects such as pores, which are attributed to low laser power and high scanning speed, may severely aggravate the cavitation damage of the SLM-fabricated samples. The sample fabricated via SLM with a low laser power and exposure time exhibited the highest porosity and poor cavitation erosion resistance. The cellular structures are more prone to cavitation damage compared with the columnar structures. A sample with a high density of grain boundaries will severely suffer cavitation damage.
Slow chaos in surface flows
Authors: Ulcigrai Corinna
Published: November 2020

Flows on surfaces describe many systems of physical origin and are one of the most fundamental examples of dynamical systems, studied since Poincará. In the last decade, there have been a lot of advances in our understanding of the chaotic properties of smooth area-preserving flows (a class which include locally Hamiltonian flows), thanks to the connection to Teichmueller dynamics and, very recently, to the influence of the work of Marina Ratner in homogeneous dynamics. We motivate and survey some of the recent breakthroughs on their mixing and spectral properties and the mechanisms, such as shearing, on which they are based, which exploit analytic, arithmetic and geometric techniques.
Correction to: Multi-Agent Systems for Resource Allocation and Scheduling in a Smart Grid
Authors: Nair Arun Sukumaran , Hossen Tareq , Campion Mitch , Selvaraj Daisy Flora , Goveas Neena , Kaabouch Naima , Ranganathan Prakash
Published: November 2020

When discussing the development of MAS for Smart Grid and the advantages of distributed MAS over centralized control in the text of this article [1] and describing MAS tools in Table 2, we inadvertently used text from a previous article by Merabet and colleagues [2] and omitted a citation
Verhaltenswissenschaftliche Forschung zum organisationalen Einkaufsverhalten: Überblick über die Marketingliteratur
Authors: Bornemann Torsten , Klarmann Martin , Moosbrugger Martin
Published: November 2020

Die Forschung zu individuellen Konsumentenentscheidungen zeigt, dass diese oftmals nicht nur auf einer Beurteilung konkreter Attribute des Angebots beruhen, sondern ebenso durch entscheidungsvereinfachende Heuristiken beeinflusst werden. Überraschenderweise liegen diesbezüglich bislang kaum Erkenntnisse zu organisationalen Einkaufsentscheidungen im B2B-Kontext vor. Dieser Beitrag möchte hierzu Forschung initiieren. Zu diesem Zweck führen wir eine Bestandsaufnahme von Marketingstudien durch, die durch eine (zumindest implizite) Berücksichtigung von über die Kernleistung hinausgehenden Aspekten erste Erkenntnisse zu möglichen entscheidungsvereinfachenden Heuristiken im B2B-Kontext liefern können. Wir kategorisieren die identifizierten 102 Artikel in sechs Literaturfelder basierend auf Untersuchungseinheit (Individuum, Gruppe, Unternehmen) und zeitlicher Dimension (relational, transaktional). Wir beschreiben dann die zentralen Erkenntnisse in den Literaturfeldern sowie die verwendeten Methoden und Konstrukte. Basierend auf unserer Literaturbestandaufnahme schlagen wir fünf heuristische Attribute vor, von denen wir einen Einfluss auf organisationale Einkaufsentscheidungen erwarten: (1) Vertrauen, (2) Bestandslieferantenstatus, (3) Sympathie, (4) Marke und (5) Wertübereinstimmung.
The diversity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary isolates from western Poland
Authors: Starzycka-Korbas Elżbieta , Weber Zbigniew , Matuszczak Marcin , Bocianowski Jan , Budzianowski Grzegorz , Stefanowicz Michał , Starzycki Michał
Published: November 2020

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is one of the most dangerous pathogens of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Rape plants are infested most often in spring during the flowering phase. The aggressive nature of this fungus as well as its pathogenicity is attributed to its mycotoxin, particularly oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is responsible for the development of acid environment in the plant which triggers off activity of hydrolytic enzymes. The developing crystals of calcium oxalate contribute to destabilisation of pectin compounds found in the cell wall. Moreover, oxalic acid also acts as a suppressor of reactive oxygen forms (H2O2). In this study isolates of the S. sclerotiorum were collected in the years 2012–2014 from three different locations. Collective of isolates described as populations. Two hundred twenty eight (228) isolates of S. sclerotiorum were characterized by evaluation of the total amount of acids produced by the pathogen and at molecular level using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Statistical differences were found in acids production by particular S. sclerotiorum isolates collected in the years 2012–2014. Moreover, a relationship was found between acids production and the rate of linear mycelium growth. High similarity between pathogen isolates from the same locality was found using RAPD analysis with twelve primers and small genetic differences between pathogen isolates depending on the place of origin.
Quinoline Derivative Enhances Human Sperm Motility and Improves the Functional Competence
Authors: Kumari Sandhya , Salian Sujith Raj , Rao Arpitha , Somagond Shilpa M. , Kamble Ravindra R. , Nesaragi Aravind , Das Jyotirekha , Rajanikant G. K. , Mutalik Srinivas , Raghu Shamprasad Varija , Adiga Satish Kumar , Kalthur Guruprasad
Published: November 2020

In this study, we aimed to explore the beneficial properties of novel quinoline derivatives on human sperm motility and its functional competence. Nine novel quinoline derivatives were screened for their effect on motility in human spermatozoa from normozoospermic ejaculates. Compounds with impressive sperm motility enhancement properties were further assessed for their effect on functional competence of human spermatozoa. To determine the effect on the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa processed with quinoline derivatives and to assess developmental competence of embryos derived, in vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed using mouse model. Among the nine quinoline derivatives, 2 compounds (6MQT and 2,6DQT) exhibited significant enhancement in sperm progressive motility and survival at 24 h. Further, non-significant increase in curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) was observed. Capacitation, intracellular cAMP level and tyrosine phosphorylated sperm proteins were significantly higher in 6MQT (P < 0.05) and 2,6DQT (P < 0.001) compared to control. In vitro fertilization (IVF) experiments using Swiss albino mice revealed that spermatozoa processed with 6MQT had non-significantly higher blastocyst rate and a superior blastocyst quality, while, 2,6DQT resulted in significantly lower blastocyst rate (P < 0.05) compared to control. Quinoline derivative 6MQT has significant motility enhancement property under in vitro conditions.
Exploratory study of selected nucleotide variants in GRIN1, GRIN2A and GRIN2B encoding subunits of the NMDA receptor in a targeted group of schizophrenia patients with chronic cognitive impairment
Authors: Krzystanek Marek , Asman Marek , Witecka Joanna , Pałasz Artur , Wiaderkiewicz Ryszard
Published: November 2020

Background

Schizophrenia is a mental disease that affects approximately 1% of the population. Despite over 100 years of research, its pathomechanism has still not been clarified. Cognitive deficits, which are one of the symptomatic dimensions of schizophrenia, usually appear a few years before the first psychotic episode. Therefore, this is why they are probably the clinical manifestation of the primary pathomechanism of schizophrenia. It is also supposed that N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) insufficiency in the prefrontal cortex is responsible for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. The study aimed to examine whether four selected single nucleotide variants in GRIN1, GRIN2A and GRIN2B encoding NMDA-R subunits, of which two have not been tested before, are linked with the selected clinical phenotype of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.

Methods

The study included the targeted group of 117 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, all with cognitive deficits and in symptomatic remission. DNA fragments including the studied polymorphisms of the NMDA receptors subunit genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to sequencing.

Results

The study did not confirm the presence of any of the four selected single nucleotide variants in GRIN1, GRIN2A and GRIN2B subunits of NMDA-R.

Conclusions

The finding indicates that selected single nucleotide variants in GRIN2A and GRIN2B encoding subunits of the NMDA receptor are not associated with the presence of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
Writing Japan's War in New Guinea
Authors: Eaves-Young Victoria
Published: November 2020

Tamura Yoshikazu is destined to die on the alien shores of the New Guinea warzone. Devoid of family contact, perplexed by the unfamiliarity of his environment, deprived of even meagre amenities and faced with the spectre of debilitating illness and starvation, this solitary soldier commenced a diary in the early part of 1943. Employed in the hard labour of building airstrips, he is ground down by tedium, disheartened by the now dysfunctional military hierarchy, consumed by grief at the meaningless deaths of comrades, and stripped of any chance of being involved in an aspect of war that he considers heroic and meaningful. Profoundly unsettled by all that appears to be at odds with the kokutai ideology, Tamura employs strategies through the vehicle of his diary to enable him to remain committed to the pathway of death on behalf of the Emperor.
Whose balance? A constructivist approach to balance of power politics
Authors: Müller Thomas , Albert Mathias
Published: November 2020

Realist and rationalist approaches to balance of power politics underplay the degree to which balances are socially constructed. We develop a constructivist approach that accounts for the elusive and contentious nature of the balances that states seek to balance. The approach foregrounds contests over balance interpretations between states that shape whose conceptions and assessments underpin the making and remaking of balances. We argue that shifts in balancing practices are crucial to the dynamics of these contests. To substantiate this argument, we empirically study the contests over the conventional and theatre nuclear balances between East and West in the last two decades of the Cold War. The case study shows that the conventional and theatre nuclear arms control negotiations – that is, the partial shift from adversarial to associational balancing – initially fuelled and amplified both contests. At the same time, the arms control negotiations eventually resolved the contests through the development of shared understandings of the two balances, thus ending the adversarial balancing between East and West. Overall, we contribute to theory development on balance of power politics by highlighting the importance of contests over balance interpretations and by providing insights into the politics and dynamics that shape these contests.
Cross-cultural measurement equivalence of the Healthy Eating Index adapted version for children aged 1–2 years
Authors: Ribas S. A. , Santos D. M. G. , Rosa G. P. C. , Teixeira M. T. , Rodrigues L. G. , Marques E. S.
Published: November 2020

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement equivalence of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) for children aged 1–2 years and to analyse the quality of nutrition of preterm infants. This was a cross-sectional study with 106 premature infants attended in two specialised outpatient clinics of university hospitals. The quality of the diet was analysed through an adapted HEI to meet the dietary recommendations of Brazilian children aged 1–2 years. Food consumption was measured by 24-h recalls. The reliability of the instrument was evaluated by internal consistency analysis and inter-observer reliability using Cronbach’s α coefficient and κ with quadratic ponderation. The construct validity was evaluated by principal component analysis and by Spearman’s correlation coefficient with total energy and consumption of some groups’ food. The diet quality was considered adequate when the total HEI score was over 80 points. Cronbach’s α was 0·54. Regarding inter-observer reliability, ten items showed strong agreement (κ > 0·8). The item scores had low correlations with energy consumed (r ≤ 0·30), and positive and moderate correlation of fruit (r 0·67), meat (r 0·60) and variety of diet (r 0·57) with total scores. When analysing the overall quality of the diet, most patients need improvement (median 78·7 points), which can be attributed to low total vegetable intake and the presence of ultraprocessed foods in the diet. The instrument showed auspicious psychometric properties, being promising to evaluate the quality of the diet in children aged 1–2 years.
Amodal phonology
Authors: BERENT IRIS , BAT-EL OUTI , BRENTARI DIANE , ANDAN QATHERINE , VAKNIN-NUSBAUM VERED
Published: November 2020

Does knowledge of language transfer spontaneously across language modalities? For example, do English speakers, who have had no command of a sign language, spontaneously project grammatical constraints from English to linguistic signs? Here, we address this question by examining the constraints on doubling. We first demonstrate that doubling (e.g.panana; generally: ABB) is amenable to two conflicting parses (identity vs. reduplication), depending on the level of analysis (phonology vs. morphology). We next show that speakers with no command of a sign language spontaneously project these two parses to novel ABB signs in American Sign Language. Moreover, the chosen parse (for signs) is constrained by the morphology ofspokenlanguage. Hebrew speakers can project the morphological parse when doubling indicates diminution, but English speakers only do so when doubling indicates plurality, in line with the distinct morphological properties of their spoken languages. These observations suggest that doubling in speech and signs is constrained by a common set of linguistic principles that are algebraic, amodal and abstract.
Giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis density and abundance in Llanos Orientales de Colombia in the Orinoco basin
Authors: Garrote Germán , Castañeda Beyker , Escobar Jose Manuel , Pérez Laura , Marín Brayan , Terán Jacinto , Trujillo Fernando
Published: November 2020

The giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis, categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, was once widely distributed throughout South America. By the middle of the 20th century the giant otter had become locally extinct along the main rivers of the Orinoco basin. Although some populations seem to have recovered, the paucity of information available does not permit a full evaluation of the species' conservation status. The objective of this study was to estimate the abundance and density of the giant otter population along the Orinoco river in the municipality of Puerto Carreño, Vichada, Colombia, where there is important commercial and recreational fishing. Thirty-nine linear km were surveyed, repeatedly, with a total of 315 km of surveys. Population size was estimated by direct counts of individuals. All individuals detected were photographed and identified individually from their throat pelage patterns. In total, 30 otters were identified, giving a minimum density of 0.77 individuals per km, one of the highest reported for the species in Colombia. Given the high density in this well-developed area, our results highlight the importance of this population for the conservation of the species.
Reintroduction of illegally extracted Melocactus violaceus (Cactaceae) in Brazil
Authors: Caitano Haissa de Abreu , Dutra Valquíria Ferreira , Valadares Rodrigo Theófilo , Calazans Luana Silva Braucks
Published: November 2020

Cactaceae is one of the most threatened plant families, in part as a result of the illegal extraction of plants for ornamental use. However, reports of the seizure and reintroduction of cacti are scarce and do not include species of Melocactus, the genus of Cactaceae in Brazil that has the highest number of threatened species. The coroa-de-frade Melocactus violaceus is endemic to Brazil and categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. We report the seizure of 37 individuals of coroa-de-frade extracted illegally from their natural habitat, the results of their reintroduction to Paulo César Vinha State Park, in Espírito Santo state, Brazil, and provide information for environmental monitoring agencies regarding how to proceed in seizure cases, with the goal of minimizing the impacts of this illegal practice on the species. After seizure, 25 individuals were cultivated in a greenhouse and 12 were reintroduced in restinga, the natural area of occurrence of the species. After 6 months, survival was 76% for those individuals cultivated in the greenhouse and 84% for those planted in restinga, showing that rapid reintroduction of species with ornamental appeal, preferentially in their natural habitat, can reduce the impacts of illegal extraction. This reintroduction protocol can be used by managers of conservation units, contributing to the maintenance of threatened cactus species in their natural habitat.
Ranking the Regimes in Aristotle'sPolitics: The Four-Principles Approach
Authors: Mittiga Ross
Published: November 2020

There is a long-standing debate over which constitution Aristotle regards as best in thePolitics. I attempt to clarify his view by reconstructing four principles he uses to assess constitutions, in both ideal and more ordinary circumstances: (i) the supremacy-of-virtue principle, (ii) the more-virtuous-citizens-are-better-than-fewer principle, (iii) the equality principle, and (iv) the stability principle. I apply these principles to defend a rank ordering of constitutions, which situates the ideal aristocracy of books 7 and 8 at the top, and tyranny, along with unmixed forms of democracy and oligarchy, at the bottom.
Introduction: mobilizing nostalgia in Asia
Authors: Nakano Ryoko
Published: November 2020

What is the role of nostalgia in our increasingly dynamic and interconnected world? This special issue,Mobilizing Nostalgia in Asia, assesses the mobilization of nostalgia in the changing international order, and within individuated socioeconomic and cultural spheres. Its four articles examine the political and social dynamics that evoke, utilize, amend, and manipulate nostalgia for collective present needs and demands. This Introduction connects the issue's four contributions to three interconnected themes: the power of nostalgia, the plurality of nostalgia, and nostalgia as a process of creation.
Potted tropical ornamental tolerance to multiple PRE herbicides
Authors: Boyd Nathan S. , Steed Shawn
Published: November 2020

Weeds are difficult to control in potted tropical ornamentals, especially when plants are kept for extended time periods at a nursery. Management is complicated by the lack of tolerance data for many tropical species. Experiments were conducted in 2015, 2016, and 2017 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm, FL, to evaluate tolerance of stromanthe, croton, philodendron, arbicola, cordyline, ixora, plumbago, allamanda, bird-of-paradise, firebush, and hibiscus to granular applications of indaziflam, flumioxazin, pendimethalin + oxyfluorfen, pendimethalin + dimethenamid-P, trifluralin + oxyfluorfen + isoxaben, and trifluralin + isoxaben, and liquid applications of prodiamine + isoxaben and dimethenamid-P. Indaziflam, pendimethalin + oxyfluorfen, and trifluralin + oxyfluorfen + isoxabin were safe for use on all evaluated ornamentals except stromanthe. Dimethenamid-P and pendimethalin + oxyfluorfen were safe on all evaluated ornamentals except allamanda. Flumioxazin damaged philodendron and bird-of-paradise but was safe on all other ornamentals tested. Trifluralin + isoxaben and prodiamine + isoxaben were safe on hibiscus, firebush, and bird-of-paradise, but prodiamine + isoxaben damaged allamanda. We have identified multiple PRE herbicides that can safely be used on multiple tropical ornamentals grown in containers.
Observational Constraints on the Response of High‐Latitude Northern Forests to Warming
Authors: Liu Junjie , Wennberg Paul O. , Parazoo Nicholas C. , Yin Yi , Frankenberg Christian
Published: November 2020

Since the 1960s, carbon cycling in the high‐latitude northern forest (HLNF) has experienced dramatic changes: Most of the forest is greening and net carbon uptake from the atmosphere has increased. During the same time period, the CO2 seasonal cycle amplitude (SCA) has increased by ~50% or more. Disentangling complex processes that drive these changes has been challenging. In this study, we substitute spatial sensitivity to temperature for time to quantify the impact of temperature increase on gross primary production (GPP), total ecosystem respiration (TER), the fraction of Photosynthetic Active Radiation (fPAR), and the resulted contribution of these changes in amplifying the CO2 SCA over the HLNF since 1960s. We use the spatial heterogeneity of GPP inferred from solar‐induced chlorophyll Fluorescence in combination with net ecosystem exchange (NEE) inferred from column CO2 observations made between 2015 and 2017 from NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory‐2. We find that three quarters of the spatial variations in GPP can be explained by the spatial variation in the growing season mean temperature (GSMT). The long term hindcast captures both the magnitude and spatial variability of the trends in observed fPAR. We estimate that between 1960 and 2010, the increase in GSMT enhanced both GPP and the SCA of NEE by ~20%. The calculated enhancement of NEE due to increase in GSMT contributes 56–72% of the trend in the CO2 SCA at high latitudes, much larger than simulations by most biogeochemical models.
Whump, Slosh, Slosh, Slosh—Filling the Crater That Did in the Dinosaurs
Authors: Norris Richard
Published: November 2020

Drilling into the Chicxulub crater (Yucatan, Mexico) reveals the dramatic aftermath of the dinosaur‐killing meteorite impact. Previous views of this event have mainly come from places well away from Ground Zero, where we see the extinction of ~70% of life, the fallout of a globe‐spanning ejecta cloud, and the slumps and tsunamis that accompanied one of the biggest terrestrial earthquakes ever. The new view from the crater in a drill core records the collapse of the shattered and melted crater walls, the flood of the ocean back into the submarine crater, and the formation of hot vents over the pool of melt rock. The record shows that decades to centuries after the impact, the calm tropical marine lake was taken over by red tides and animals that colonized the previously sterile crater floor. The exact timing of appearance of the first newly evolved species is hard to pin down but probably occurred within a few centuries to several millennia based on evidence from the intensity of burrowing and estimates of sedimentation rates.
A Floating Buoy Fleet Could Help Scientists Track Rising Seas
Authors: Thompson Elizabeth
Published: November 2020

A new observing system to track mean sea level could piggyback on infrastructure already in place and extend the geographic area over which sea level is monitored.
Measured and Simulated Carbon Dynamics in Midwestern U.S. Corn‐Soybean Rotations
Authors: Dold C. , Wacha K. M. , Sauer T. J. , Hatfield J. L. , Prueger J. H.
Published: November 2020

Corn (Zea maysL.) and soybean (Glycine max[L.] Merr.) production dominate Midwestern U.S. agriculture and impact the regional carbon and nitrogen cycles. Sustaining soil carbon is important for corn‐soybean production (CS); however, quantifying soil carbon changes requires long‐term field measurements and/or model simulations. In this study, changes in soil organic (SOC), inorganic (SIC), and total (TC) carbon; pH; total nitrogen (TN); and net ecosystem production (NEP) were measured in a conventional corn‐soybean rotation in central Iowa. Soil samples (n = 42; 0–120 cm depth) were collected from two adjacent fields in 2005 and 2016. Eddy‐flux stations set up in the fields continuously monitored NEP from 2005–2016, and net biome production (NBP) was calculated using yield records. The DayCENT model was used to simulate the effects of conventional management practices on soil carbon and calibrated with field‐measured NEP and SOC. Measured soil TC (0–120 cm) decreased by −14.19 ± 6.25 Mg ha−1, with highest reductions in SOC and SIC (p < 0.05) at 0–15 and 90–120 cm, respectively. Measured TN decreased by −0.7 ± 0.29 Mg ha−1with N‐accumulation at 60–90 cm (p < 0.05). Eddy‐flux NBP decreased by −13.19 ± 0.05 Mg ha−1. Soil and eddy‐flux records show a carbon reduction by −1.14 ± 0.63 and −1.20 ± 0.06 Mg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. The validated DayCENT model suggests that all SOC pools declined. We postulate that conventional CS production has adverse effects on C and N dynamics in Midwestern United States.
Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure and Emission Throughout the Scandinavian Stream Network
Authors: Martinsen Kenneth Thorø , Kragh Theis , Sand‐Jensen Kaj
Published: November 2020

Stream networks transport and emit substantial volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. We gathered open monitoring data from streams in three Scandinavian countries and estimated CO2partial pressure (pCO2) at 2,298 sites. Most of the sites (87%) were supersaturated when averaged across the year with an overall mean pCO2of 1,464 μatm (range: 17–15,646). Using remote sensing data, we modeled a realistic stream network including streams above ~2.5 m wide and calculated catchment averages of multiple variables associated with geomorphometry, stream network proximity, and land cover. We compared the ability of eight machine learning models to predict pCO2and found that the Random Forest model achieved the highest accuracy, with a root‐mean‐square error of 0.22 (log10(pCO2)) andR2of 0.66. Mean catchment elevation, slope, and permanent water cover were the most important predictor variables. We used the predictive model to create a high‐resolution (25‐m resolution) map with predicted stream pCO2throughout the 268.807 km stream network in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. Predicted pCO2averaged 1,134 μatm (range: 154–8,174). We used surface runoff, air temperature, and stream channel slope to estimate gas transfer velocity and CO2flux throughout the network. Mean stream CO2fluxes ranged from 1.0 and 1.2 in Sweden and Finland, respectively, 3 to 3.2 g C m−2 day−1in Denmark. Better‐performing models improve our ability to predict pCO2in stream networks and reduce the uncertainty of upscaling estimates of carbon emissions from inland waters to countries and continents.