bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Staying Small and Beautiful: Enhancing Sustainability in the Small Island Developing States
Authors: Batra Geeta , Norheim Trond
Published: January 2022

Spread over the ocean regions of the Caribbean, the Pacific and Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the South China Sea, the small island developing states (SIDS) are a distinct group of developing countries often known for their rich biological diversity, oceans, tourism, and fisheries. The pressures on these and other natural resources is most immediate in the islands where the high vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, limited land and water resources, often unsustainable natural resource use, and other particular economic vulnerabilities are disrupting livelihoods. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the SIDS economies and livelihoods. Over the past 25 years the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has supported interventions in SIDS through $578 million in financing, in critical areas such as biodiversity protection, climate resilience, and energy access through renewable energy. But how effective and sustainable have these interventions been? What factors influencing the sustainability of GEF interventions can provide insights for future project design and implementation? This chapter draws on findings from a recent country cluster evaluation on SIDS conducted by the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the GEF. It presents the main environmental challenges in SIDS, the evidence on the relevance and effectiveness of GEF interventions in addressing these challenges, and the main risks to sustainability of outcomes. Important contextual factors that affect sustainability in SIDS include good policies and legal and regulatory frameworks, national ownership of projects, environmental awareness, institutional capacity, and strategic institutional partnerships. Project-related factors including good project design and adaptive project management, scaling-up and replication based on lessons learned, and a good exit strategy are also important for sustainability.
Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces Regression and Classification Methods
Authors: Montesinos López Osval Antonio , Montesinos López Abelardo , Crossa Jose
Published: January 2022

The fundamentals for Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces (RKHS) regression methods are described in this chapter. We first point out the virtues of RKHS regression methods and why these methods are gaining a lot of acceptance in statistical machine learning. Key elements for the construction of RKHS regression methods are provided, the kernel trick is explained in some detail, and the main kernel functions for building kernels are provided. This chapter explains some loss functions under a fixed model framework with examples of Gaussian, binary, and categorical response variables. We illustrate the use of mixed models with kernels by providing examples for continuous response variables. Practical issues for tuning the kernels are illustrated. We expand the RKHS regression methods under a Bayesian framework with practical examples applied to continuous and categorical response variables and by including in the predictor the main effects of environments, genotypes, and the genotype ×environment interaction. We show examples of multi-trait RKHS regression methods for continuous response variables. Finally, some practical issues of kernel compression methods are provided which are important for reducing the computation cost of implementing conventional RKHS methods.
Einleitung
Authors: Kirsten Karina
Published: January 2022

Genres besitzen eine signifikante Sichtbarkeit, die uns unmittelbar erkennen lässt, um was für einen Film, eine Serie, eine Fernsehsendung, ein Buch oder ein Videospiel es sich handelt. Sie verfügen über eine alltägliche Evidenz, die uns zwischen medialen Texten Ähnlichkeiten annehmen lässt. „We all know a genre when we see one“, (27) beschreibt Rick Altman dieses Phänomen in seinem vielzitierten Aufsatz „A Semantic/Syntactic Approach“.
Diskursivität / Historizität von Genre
Authors: Kirsten Karina
Published: January 2022

Der Begriff ‚Genre‘ bezeichnet in der ursprünglichen Sprachbedeutung vom lateinischen ‚genus‘ oder französischen ‚genre‘ abstammend Arten, Sorten und Gattungen. Seine Begriffsgenese lässt sich weit in die Kunst- und Literaturgeschichte zurückverfolgen. In den Philologien und Geisteswissenschaften bildet der Begriff ‚Genre‘ inzwischen ein disziplinübergreifendes Konzept für Systematisierungen und Konzeptualisierungen diverser Textformen und ein wesentliches Prinzip, um Prozesse der Gruppenbildung von Texten zu beschreiben.
Studie 2 – Die Auswirkungen der Überzeugungen des Glaubens an Big Data – Erkenntnisse aus vier empirischen Erhebungen
Authors: Lünich Marco
Published: January 2022

Im Nachgang zu Skalenkonstruktion und -validierung wurde die BDGS-Skala zwischen Januar und Oktober 2019 in vier weiteren empirischen Forschungszusammenhängen eingesetzt und wurden Daten für die Ausprägung des BDGS in den vier jeweiligen Stichproben erhoben. Diese werden nachfolgend entsprechend Erhebung 2.1 EU und KI, Erhebung 2.2 KI-Bedrohung, Erhebung 2.3 Krankenversicherung und Erhebung 2.4 KI und Hochschule benannt. In den nachfolgenden Abschnitten werden die vier empirischen Forschungszusammenhänge mit dem jeweiligen Erkenntnisinteresse besprochen und wird das empirische Vorgehen so knapp und dennoch so nachvollziehbar wie möglich dokumentiert.
Fazit
Authors: Lünich Marco
Published: January 2022

In der vorliegenden Arbeit ging es darum, mit Hilfe des Werkzeugkastens empirischer Sozialforschung ein Wahrnehmungsmuster sichtbar zu machen, das einen Erklärungsbeitrag dazu leisten kann, wie Menschen auf das Aufkommen neuer Techniken der Mustererkennung in digitalen Daten im Zuge der Digitalisierung reagieren. Konkret wurde hinsichtlich der technischen Innovationen, die mit KI-Anwendungen in vielen Lebensbereichen derzeit und in naher Zukunft auch in Deutschland eingeführt werden, untersucht, wie Bürger*innen der Einführung dieser neuen datenverarbeitenden, mustererkennenden Systeme begegnen. Da mit Blick auf die eigene Datenverwertung wenige oder gar keine Primärerfahrungen der Bürger*innen vorliegen, wurde davon ausgegangen, dass ausgehend von den öffentlichen Diskursen über Digitalisierung und verwandter Phänomene vor dem Hintergrund der Informations- und Wissensgesellschaft eine allgemeine Erwartungshaltung vermittelt wird, mit der auf die gesellschaftlich weit verbreitete Datensammlung und -verwertung reagiert wird.
Sharp $$L^p$$ estimates for oscillatory integral operators of arbitrary signature
Authors: Hickman Jonathan , Iliopoulou Marina
Published: January 2022

The sharp range of $$L^p$$

L
p

-estimates for the class of Hörmander-type oscillatory integral operators is established in all dimensions under a general signature assumption on the phase. This simultaneously generalises earlier work of the authors and Guth, which treats the maximal signature case, and also work of Stein and Bourgain–Guth, which treats the minimal signature case.
Chestnut peels and wheat bran at different water level influence the physical properties of pan bread
Authors: Alinovi Marcello , Rinaldi Massimiliano , Paciulli Maria , Littardi Paola , Chiavaro Emma
Published: January 2022

In breadmaking, dietary fibres are used to improve the nutritional quality of the final products; on the other hand, they may affect the physical and sensory properties. This work aimed to the evaluate, on pan breads, the effect of substituting 3 g of wheat flour with an equivalent amount of fibre rich ingredients: chestnut peels (CP) or wheat bran (WB), in comparison to a traditional wheat bread formulation (C). The effect of four levels of added water (54, 60, 66, 71 g/100 of flour) was also tested. The fibre content of CP (33%) and WB (42%) affected their water binding capacity and, consequently, the quality of the final loaves, according to the different water addition levels. In bread crumb, water content and water activity increased proportionally to the water addition levels, being instead in the crust also affected by the presence of fibres: lower water retention capacity was observed for CP, in comparison to WB and C. The loaf volume resulted higher for C in comparison to WB and CP, in relation to the larger dimensions of the crumb pores, probably due to the interfering effect of fibres during the development of the gluten network. Crumb hardness resulted higher for C at low water addition levels, being instead higher for CP at high water addition levels. CP showed a darker and redder colour, than both WB and C bread, for the presence of the brown pigments carried by chestnut peels. PCA analysis confirmed that more water is required for both the fibre-enriched breads to show characteristics similar to the control loaves.
Graded rings of Hermitian modular forms with singularities
Authors: Wang Haowu , Williams Brandon
Published: January 2022

We study graded rings of meromorphic Hermitian modular forms of degree two whose poles are supported on an arrangement of Heegner divisors. For the group $$\mathrm {SU}_{2,2}({\mathcal {O}}_K)$$

SU

2
,
2

(

O
K

)

where K is the imaginary-quadratic number field of discriminant $$-d$$

-
d

, $$d \in \{4, 7,8,11,15,19,20,24\}$$

d
∈
{
4
,
7
,
8
,
11
,
15
,
19
,
20
,
24
}

we obtain a polynomial algebra without relations. In particular the Looijenga compactifications of the arrangement complements are weighted projective spaces.
Physical measurements and patients’ perception of excess skin on arms and thighs before and after bariatric surgery
Authors: Ockell Jonas , Biörserud Christina , Staalesen Trude , Olsén Monika Fagevik , Elander Anna
Published: January 2022

Background

Bariatric surgery is an effective weight loss method for patients with obesity. One side effect of bariatric surgery is uncomfortable excess skin. Much remains to be learned about physical measurements and patients’ subjective perceptions of it. Here, we investigated the pre- to post-bariatric changes in patients’ perception and physical measurements of the skin on the arms and thighs, in order to find possible subgroups especially affected by post-operative excess skin and to identify predicting factors.

Methods

One hundred forty-seven patients eligible for bariatric surgery completed the Sahlgrenska Excess Skin Questionnaire (SESQ) and underwent measurements of their skin before and 18 months after the procedure.

Results

Although most physical measurements decreased post-operatively, many patients reported increased discomfort. We identified one subgroup particularly prone to report excess skin on the arms post-operatively: women with high discomfort from excess skin on the arms and high body mass index (BMI), pre-operatively. Ptosis of the excess skin seems to be a feasible measurement for predicting post-operative discomfort. For every centimetre of ptosis pre-operatively, patients had 1.37- and 1.31-fold higher odds of achieving a score for post-operative discomfort from excess skin on the upper arms and thighs, respectively, of ≥ 6 (on a 0–10 scale).

Conclusions

We identified a subgroup especially affected by discomforting excess skin on arms and thighs after weight loss. Furthermore, we suggest a pre-operative pro-operative ptosis measuring to predict post-operative discomfort level. The result of this study further increases the knowledge of excess skin and should be useful in further improving patient education.

Level of Evidence: Level III, risk / prognostic study.
Joint EANM/SNMMI/ESTRO practice recommendations for the use of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT external beam radiation treatment planning in lung cancer V1.0
Authors: Vaz Sofia C. , Adam Judit A. , Delgado Bolton Roberto C. , Vera Pierre , van Elmpt Wouter , Herrmann Ken , Hicks Rodney J. , Lievens Yolande , Santos Andrea , Schöder Heiko , Dubray Bernard , Visvikis Dimitris , Troost Esther G. C. , de Geus-Oei Lioe-Fee
Published: January 2022

Purpose

2-[18F]FDG
PET/CT is of utmost importance for radiation treatment (RT) planning and response monitoring in lung cancer patients, in both non-small and small cell lung cancer (NSCLC and SCLC). This topic has been addressed in guidelines composed by experts within the field of radiation oncology. However, up to present, there is no procedural guideline on this subject, with involvement of the nuclear medicine societies.

Methods

A literature review was performed, followed by a discussion between a multidisciplinary team of experts in the different fields involved in the RT planning of lung cancer, in order to guide clinical management. The project was led by experts of the two nuclear medicine societies (EANM and SNMMI) and radiation oncology (ESTRO).

Results and conclusion

This guideline results from a joint and dynamic collaboration between the relevant disciplines for this topic. It provides a worldwide, state of the art, and multidisciplinary guide to 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT RT planning in NSCLC and SCLC. These practical recommendations describe applicable updates for existing clinical practices, highlight potential flaws, and provide solutions to overcome these as well. Finally, the recent developments considered for future application are also reviewed.
Genetic diversity within leukemia-associated immunophenotype-defined subclones in AML
Authors: Tiso F. , Koorenhof-Scheele T. N. , Huys E. , Martens J. H. A. , de Graaf A. O. , van der Reijden B. A. , Langemeijer S. M. C. , Preijers F. W. M. B. , Kroeze L. I. , Jansen J. H.
Published: January 2022

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous disease showing dynamic clonal evolution patterns over time. Various subclones may be present simultaneously and subclones may show a different expansion pattern and respond differently to applied therapies. It is already clear that immunophenotyping and genetic analyses may yield overlapping, but also complementary information. Detailed information on the genetic make-up of immunophenotypically defined subclones is however scarce. We performed error-corrected sequencing for 27 myeloid leukemia driver genes in 86, FACS-sorted immunophenotypically characterized normal and aberrant subfractions in 10 AML patients. We identified three main scenarios. In the first group of patients, the two techniques were equally well characterizing the malignancy. In the second group, most of the isolated populations did not express aberrant immunophenotypes but still harbored several genetic aberrancies, indicating that the information obtained only by immunophenotyping would be incomplete. Vice versa, one patient was identified in which genetic mutations were found only in a small fraction of the immunophenotypically defined malignant populations, indicating that the genetic analysis gave an incomplete picture of the disease. We conclude that currently, characterization of leukemic cells in AML by molecular and immunophenotypic techniques is complementary, and infer that both techniques should be used in parallel in order to obtain the most complete view on the disease.
Pacific multidecadal (50–70 year) variability instigated by volcanic forcing during the Little Ice Age (1250–1850)
Authors: Sun Weiyi , Liu Jian , Wang Bin , Chen Deliang , Gao Chaochao
Published: January 2022

The Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) is the leading mode of decadal climate variability over the North Pacific. However, it remains unknown to what extent external forcings can influence the PDO’s periodicity and magnitude over the past 2000 years. We show that the paleo-assimilation products (LMR) and proxy data suggest a 20–40 year PDO occurred during both the Mediaeval Climate Anomaly (MCA, ~ 750–1150) and Little Ice Age (LIA, ~ 1250–1850) while a salient 50–70 year variance peak emerged during the LIA. These results are reproduced well by the CESM simulations in the all-forcing (AF) and single volcanic forcing (Vol) experiments. We show that the 20–40 year PDO is an intrinsic mode caused by internal variability but the 50–70 year PDO during the LIA is a forced mode primarily shaped by volcanic forcing. The intrinsic mode develops in tandem with tropical ENSO-like anomalies, while the forced mode develops from the western Pacific and unrelated to tropical sea surface temperature anomalies. The volcanism-induced land–sea thermal contrast may trigger anomalous northerlies over the western North Pacific (WNP), leading to reduced northward heat transport and the cooling in the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension (KOE), generating the forced mode. A 50–70 year Atlantic multidecadal oscillation founded during the LIA under volcanic forcing may also contribute to the forced mode. These findings shed light on the interplay between the internal variability and external forcing and the present and future changes of the PDO.
Tumor-associated immune cell infiltrate density in penile squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Hladek Luca , Bankov Katrin , von der Grün Jens , Filmann Natalie , Demes Melanie , Vallo Stefan , Wild Peter J. , Winkelmann Ria
Published: January 2022

Penile squamous cell carcinomas are rare tumor entities throughout Europe. Early lymphonodal spread urges for aggressive therapeutic approaches in advanced tumor stages. Therefore, understanding tumor biology and its microenvironment and correlation with known survival data is of substantial interest in order to establish treatment strategies adapted to the individual patient. Fifty-five therapy naïve squamous cell carcinomas, age range between 41 and 85 years with known clinicopathological data, were investigated with the use of tissue microarrays (TMA) regarding the tumor-associated immune cell infiltrate density (ICID). Slides were stained with antibodies against CD3, CD8 and CD20. An image analysis software was applied for evaluation. Data were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival. There was a significant increase of ICID in squamous cell carcinomas of the penis in relation to tumor adjacent physiological tissue. Higher CD3-positive ICID was significantly associated with lower tumor stage in our cohort. The ICID was not associated with overall survival. Our data sharpens the view on tumor-associated immune cell infiltrate in penile squamous cell carcinomas with an unbiased digital and automated cell count. Further investigations on the immune cell infiltrate and its prognostic and possible therapeutic impact are needed.
Executive functioning and serum lipid fractions in Parkinson’s disease—a possible sex-effect: the PACOS study
Authors: Luca Antonina , Monastero Roberto , Cicero Calogero Edoardo , Baschi Roberta , Donzuso Giulia , Mostile Giovanni , Restivo Vincenzo , Di Giorgi Lucia , Caccamo Maria , Zappia Mario , Nicoletti Alessandra
Published: January 2022

The association between dyslipidemia and cognitive performance in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients still needs to be clarified. Aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of possible associations between serum lipids fractions and executive dysfunction also exploring the sex-specific contribute of lipids level on cognition. Patients from the PACOS cohort, who underwent a complete serum lipid profile measures (total cholesterol-TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-LDL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol-HDL and triglycerides-TG) were selected. Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program were used to classify normal/abnormal lipid fractions. Executive functioning was assessed with the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Logistic regression was performed to assess associations between lipids fractions and FAB score. Correlations between lipids fractions and FAB score were explored. Sex-stratified analysis was performed. Three hundred and forty-eight PD patients (148 women; age 66.5 ± 9.5 years; disease duration 3.9 ± 4.9 years) were enrolled. Women presented significantly higher TC, LDL and HDL than men. In the whole sample, any association between lipid profile measures and FAB score was found. Among women, a positive association between hypertriglyceridemia and FAB score under cutoff was found (OR 3.4; 95%CI 1.29–9.03; p value 0.013). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the FAB score and triglyceride serum levels (r = − 0.226; p value 0.005). Differently, among men, a statistically significant negative association between hypercholesterolemia and FAB score under cutoff (OR 0.4; 95%CI 0.17–0.84; p value 0.018) and between high LDL levels and FAB score under cutoff (OR 0.4; 95%CI 0.18–0.90; p value 0.027) were found. Our data suggest a sex-specific different role of lipids in executive functioning.
Lack of discrimination of sex and maturity of conspecifics in the copulation attempts of the male stalk-eyed fly, Sphyracephala detrahens (Diptera: Diopsidae)
Authors: Kudo Ayumi , Fujii Takeshi , Ishikawa Yukio
Published: January 2022

Among insects, males have evolved the ability to discriminate potential mates to avoid vain mating attempts. In Diptera, courtship and mating behaviors of species that do not discriminate potential mates have rarely been studied. In this study, we investigated copulation attempts of the stalk-eyed fly, Sphyracephala detrahens males, which do not engage in any observable pre-copulatory courtship behavior. We found that sexually mature males attempted to copulate with mature males and immature adults of both sexes, as frequently as with mature females. Successful copulation only occurred with mature females. Immature females rejected mounting males by vibrating their bodies and immature and mature males by incurving their abdomen downward. Comparison of the cuticular hydrocarbon components of individuals of different sexes and maturity levels indicated that the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles were similar regardless of the sex and sexual maturity. Therefore, we suggest that visual or chemical information are of little use for males S. detrahens in discriminating receptive conspecific mates. Since elaborate mate discrimination behaviors lead to additional time and energy costs when discrimination is difficult, S. detrahens may increase reproductive success simply by increasing the number of copulation attempts. Digital video images related to this article are available at http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo211123sd01a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo211123sd02a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo211123sd03a, and http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo211123sd04a.
Silicon fertilisation affects morphological and immune defences of an insect pest and enhances plant compensatory growth
Authors: Islam Tarikul , Moore Ben D. , Johnson Scott N.
Published: January 2022

Herbivorous insects have evolved various anti-predator defences, including morphological, behavioural, and immune defences, which can make biocontrol of herbivorous pests challenging. Silicon (Si) accumulation in plants is a potent physical defence against mandibulate insects. However, it remains uncertain how Si affects the anti-predator defences of insect herbivores and plant defences following herbivory. We grew the model grass, Brachypodium distachyon, hydroponically with (+Si) or without (–Si) Si and investigated the plant-mediated effects of Si on the anti-predator defences of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, integrating morphological (i.e. integument resistance and thickness), behavioural, and immune defences. We also examined the effects of Si on plant compensatory growth and leaf trichome production. Larval growth, leaf consumption, and integument resistance were lower when feeding on +Si plants compared to when feeding on –Si plants. Larval integument thickness, defensive behaviours, haemocyte density, and lysozyme-like activity in the haemolymph were unaffected by Si. Larvae fed on +Si plants had higher haemolymph phenoloxidase (PO) and total-PO activities than larvae fed on –Si plants, although this did not enhance the melanisation response of larvae. Furthermore, Si supplies increased plant compensation for herbivory and constitutive trichome production, whereas herbivory induced trichome production only on –Si plants. We provide the first evidence for plant-mediated effects of Si on anti-predator defences of an insect herbivore. We suggest that the lower integument resistance of larvae when feeding on Si-supplemented plants could contribute to their vulnerability to natural enemies and that high PO activity may impose fitness costs (e.g. delayed development).
Longitudinal strain by speckle tracking and echocardiographic parameters as predictors of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy
Authors: Echeverría Luis Eduardo , Rojas Lyda Z. , Rueda-Ochoa Oscar L. , Gómez-Ochoa Sergio Alejandro , Mayer Miguel A. , Becerra-Motta Lisbeth Paola , Luengas Carlos , Chaves Angel M. , Rodríguez Jaime A. , Morillo Carlos A.
Published: January 2022

To analyze the prognostic value of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and other echocardiographic parameters to predict adverse outcomes in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM). Prospective cohort study conducted in 177 consecutive patients with different CCM stages. Transthoracic echocardiography measurements were obtained following the American Society of Echocardiography recommendations. By speckle-tracking echocardiography, LV-GLS was obtained from the apical three-chamber, apical two-chamber, and apical four-chamber views. The primary composite outcome (CO) was all-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, and a left ventricular assist device implantation. After a median follow-up of 42.3 months (Q1 = 38.6; Q3 = 52.1), the CO incidence was 22.6% (95% CI 16.7–29.5%, n = 40). The median LV-GLS value was − 13.6% (Q1 =  − 18.6%; Q3 =  − 8.5%). LVEF, LV-GLS, and E/e′ ratio with cut-off points of 40%, − 9, and 8.1, respectively, were the best independent CO predictors. We combined these three echocardiographic markers and evaluated the risk of CO according to the number of altered parameters, finding a significant increase in the risk across the groups. While in the group of patients in which all these three parameters were normal, only 3.2% had the CO; those with all three abnormal parameters had an incidence of 60%. We observed a potential incremental prognostic value of LV-GLS in the multivariate model of LVEF and E/e′ ratio, as the AUC increased slightly from 0.76 to 0.79, nevertheless, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.066). LV-GLS is an important predictor of adverse cardiovascular events in CCM, providing a potential incremental prognostic value to LVEF and E/e′ ratio when analyzed using optimal cut-off points, highlighting the potential utility of multimodal echocardiographic tools for predicting adverse outcomes in CCM.
Use of GIS and machine learning to predict disease in shrimp farmed on the east coast of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Authors: Khiem Nguyen Minh , Takahashi Yuki , Yasuma Hiroki , Oanh Dang Thi Hoang , Hai Tran Ngoc , Ut Vu Ngoc , Kimura Nobuo
Published: January 2022

Diseases in shrimp farms in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam cause significant crop losses and are therefore of great concern to producers. Once a pond becomes infected, it is difficult to prevent spread of the disease to nearby shrimp farming areas. Thus, predicting the occurrence of disease is an essential part of reducing the risk for shrimp farmers. In this study, we applied an integrated geographic information system and machine learning system to predict three serious diseases of shrimp, namely, acute hepatopancreatic necrosis, white spot syndrome disease, and Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei infection, based on data collected from shrimp farms in the Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, and Ca Mau provinces of Vietnam. We first constructed a map showing the distribution of these diseases using the locations of affected farms, and then we conducted spatial analysis to acquire the geographical features of the affected locations. This latter information was combined with environmental factors and clinical signs to form the set of independent variables affecting the outbreak of diseases. The neural network model outperformed the logistic regression, random forest, and gradient boosting methods in terms of predicting infection to estimate the probability of disease occurrence in farmed areas. Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease infected farms downstream of the Co Chien and Hau Rivers of Tra Vinh and west of Ca Mau. Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei infection is distributed in Soc Trang Province, while white spot syndrome virus has spread to the coastal districts of Soc Trang and Bac Lieu Provinces, where it is highly associated to water from a complex canal system.
Conceptual design of sonic boom stealth supersonic transports
Authors: Sun Yicheng , Smith Howard
Published: January 2022

This paper introduces a supersonic transport aircraft design model developed in the GENUS aircraft conceptual design environment. A conceptual design model appropriate to supersonic transports with low-to-medium-fidelity methods are developed in GENUS. With this model, the authors reveal the relationship between the sonic boom signature and the lift and volume distributions and the possibility to optimise the lift distribution and volume distribution together so that they can cancel each other at some region. A new inspiring design concept—sonic boom stealth is proposed by the authors. The sonic boom stealth concept is expected to inspire the supersonic aircraft designers to design low-boom concepts through aircraft shaping and to achieve low ground impacts. A family of different classes of supersonic aircraft, including a single-seat supersonic demonstrator (0.47 psf), a 10-passenger supersonic business jet (0.90 psf) and a 50-seat supersonic airliner (1.02 psf), are designed to demonstrate the sonic boom stealth design principles. Although, there are challenges to balance the volume with packaging and control requirements, these concepts prove the feasibility of low-boom low-drag design for supersonic transports from a multidisciplinary perspective.
An approach for comparing agricultural development to societal visions
Authors: Helfenstein Julian , Diogo Vasco , Bürgi Matthias , Verburg Peter H. , Schüpbach Beatrice , Szerencsits Erich , Mohr Franziska , Siegrist Michael , Swart Rebecca , Herzog Felix
Published: January 2022

There is broad agreement that agriculture has to become more sustainable in order to provide enough affordable, healthy food at minimal environmental and social costs. But what is “more sustainable”? More often than not, different stakeholders have opposing opinions on what a more sustainable future should look like. This normative dimension is rarely explicitly addressed in sustainability assessments. In this study, we present an approach to assess the sustainability of agricultural development that explicitly accounts for the normative dimension by comparing observed development with various societal visions. We illustrate the approach by analyzing farm- and landscape-scale development as well as sustainability outcomes in a Swiss case study landscape. Observed changes were juxtaposed with desired changes by Avenir Suisse, a liberal think tank representing free-market interests; the Swiss Farmers Association, representing a conservative force; and Landwirtschaft mit Zukunft, an exponent of the Swiss agroecological movement. Overall, the observed developments aligned most closely with desired developments of the liberal think-tank (72%). Farmer interviews revealed that in the case study area farms increased in size (+ 57%) and became more specialized and more productive (+ 223%) over the past 20 years. In addition, interpretation of aerial photographs indicated that farming became more rationalized at the landscape level, with increasing field sizes (+ 34%) and removal of solitary field trees (− 18%). The case study example highlights the varying degrees to which current developments in agriculture align with societal visions. By using societal visions as benchmarks to track the progress of agricultural development, while explicitly addressing their narratives and respective systems of values and norms, this approach offers opportunities to inform also the wider public on the extent to which current developments are consistent with different visions. This could help identify mismatches between desired and actual development and pave the way for designing new policies.
Exploring the political pulse of a country using data science tools
Authors: Folgado Miguel G. , Sanz Veronica
Published: January 2022

In this paper we illustrate the use of Data Science techniques to analyse complex human communication. In particular, we consider tweets from leaders of political parties as a dynamical proxy to political programmes and ideas. We also study the temporal evolution of their contents as a reaction to specific events. We analyse levels of positive and negative sentiment in the tweets using new tools adapted to social media. We also train a Fully-Connected Neural Network (FCNN) to recognise the political affiliation of a tweet. The FCNN is able to predict the origin of the tweet with a precision in the range of 71–75%, and the political leaning (left or right) with a precision of around 90%. This study is meant to be viewed as an example of how to use Twitter data and different types of Data Science tools for a political analysis.
Forschungspartizipation von Kindern zwischen Minimalbeteiligung und Entscheidungsmacht: Forschungsethische Herausforderungen und Perspektiven der Forschungssubjekte auf Forschung in Kindertagesstätten
Authors: Rupprecht Beatrice , Lattner Katrin
Published: January 2022

Der Beitrag geht der Frage nach, in wieweit Kinder im Rahmen von Forschungsprojekten in Kitas beteiligt werden. Zur Beantwortung der Frage werden die Daten von zwei Studien herangezogen, die im Projekt „Forschung trifft Kita“ erhoben wurden. Die Ergebnisse der Interviews mit Kindern und die Ergebnisse der deutschlandweiten Befragung von pädagogischen Fach- und Leitungskräften zeigen, dass die Mitwirkungsmöglichkeiten von Kindern derzeit noch stark eingeschränkt werden. Im Kontext der Bewertung der ethischen Strenge der in Kitas durchgeführten Forschungsprojekte wird für Partizipation als ergänzendes Ethikkriterium plädiert.
Frameworks, Tensegrities, and Symmetry
Authors: Connelly Robert , Guest Simon D.
Published: January 2022

This introduction to the theory of rigid structures explains how to analyze the performance of built and natural structures under loads, paying special attention to the role of geometry. The book unifies the engineering and mathematical literatures by exploring different notions of rigidity - local, global, and universal - and how they are interrelated. Important results are stated formally, but also clarified with a wide range of revealing examples. An important generalization is to tensegrities, where fixed distances are replaced with 'cables' not allowed to increase in length and 'struts' not allowed to decrease in length. A special feature is the analysis of symmetric tensegrities, where the symmetry of the structure is used to simplify matters and allows the theory of group representations to be applied. Written for researchers and graduate students in structural engineering and mathematics, this work is also of interest to computer scientists and physicists.
Lawful by Design
Authors: Lischewski Isabel
Published: January 2022

In recent years, the procedural rules of global governance institutions have come under scrutiny from scholars worldwide and have been conceptualized as akin to domestic administrative law. However, one question has so far not been addressed: who shapes this procedure and why? In the present work, Isabel Lischewski develops a simple matrix connecting procedure and state interest. When this matrix is applied to a sample of forty diverse institutions, fascinating patterns emerge, which are further explored through in-depth case studies. It is shown that states prefer to balance sovereignty preservation through procedure with the costs it entails. Thus, normative considerations are not the predominant basis on which this procedure is designed. The research provides original insights into the landscape of global governance procedure and cautions against a notion of “apolitical” administration law.
Violent Resistance
Authors: Jentzsch Corinna
Published: January 2022

Why do communities form militias to defend themselves against violence during civil war? Using original interviews with former combatants and civilians and archival material from extensive fieldwork in Mozambique, Corinna Jentzsch's Violent Resistance explains the timing, location and process through which communities form militias. Jentzsch shows that local military stalemates characterized by ongoing violence allow civilians to form militias that fight alongside the government against rebels. Militias spread only to communities in which elites are relatively unified, preventing elites from coopting militias for private gains. Crucially, militias that build on preexisting social conventions are able to resonate with the people and empower them to regain agency over their lives. Jentzsch's innovative study brings conceptual clarity to the militia phenomenon and helps us understand how wartime civilian agency, violent resistance, and the rise of third actors beyond governments and rebels affect the dynamics of civil war, on the African continent and beyond. This title is available as open access on Cambridge Core.
Beamforming Seizures from the Temporal Lobe Using Magnetoencephalography
Authors: Garcia Dominguez Luis , Tarazi Apameh , Valiante Taufik , Wennberg Richard
Published: January 2022

Background:

Surgical treatment of drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) depends on proper identification of the seizure onset zone (SOZ) and differentiation of mesial, temporolimbic seizure onsets from temporal neocortical seizure onsets. Noninvasive source imaging using electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) can provide accurate information on interictal spike localization; however, EEG and MEG have low sensitivity for epileptiform activity restricted to deep temporolimbic structures. Moreover, in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), interictal spikes frequently arise in neocortical foci distant from the SOZ, rendering interictal spike localization potentially misleading for presurgical planning.

Methods:

In this study, we used two different beamformer techniques applied to the MEG signal of ictal events acquired during EEG-MEG recordings in six patients with TLE (three neocortical, three MTLE) in whom the ictal source localization results could be compared to ground truth SOZ localizations determined from intracranial EEG and/or clinical, neuroimaging, and postsurgical outcome evidence.

Results:

Beamformer analysis proved to be highly accurate in all cases and was able to identify focal SOZs in mesial, temporolimbic structures. In three patients, interictal spikes were absent, too complex for dipole modeling, or localized to anterolateral temporal neocortex distant to a mesial temporal SOZ, and thus unhelpful in presurgical investigation.

Conclusions:

MEG beamformer source reconstruction is suitable for analysis of ictal events in TLE and can complement or supersede the traditional analysis of interictal spikes. The method outlined is applicable to any type of epileptiform event, expanding the information value of MEG and broadening its utility for presurgical recording in epilepsy.
Expression and Prognostic Value of CD80 and CD86 in the Tumor Microenvironment of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
Authors: Ahmed Mohammed H. , Hernández-Verdin Isaias , Bielle Franck , Verreault Maïté , Lerond Julie , Alentorn Agusti , Sanson Marc , Idbaih Ahmed
Published: January 2022

Background:

Strategies to modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) have opened new therapeutic avenues with dramatic yet heterogeneous intertumoral efficacy in multiple cancers, including glioblastomas (GBMs). Therefore, investigating molecular actors of TME may help understand the interactions between tumor cells and TME. Immune checkpoint proteins such as a Cluster of Differentiation 80 (CD80) and CD86 are expressed on the surface of tumor cells and infiltrative tumor lymphocytes. However, their expression and prognostic value in GBM microenvironment are still unclear.

Methods:

In this study, we investigated, in a retrospective local discovery cohort and a validation TCGA dataset, expression of CD80 and CD86 at mRNA level and their prognostic significance in response to standard of care. Furthermore, CD80 and CD86 at the protein level were investigated in the discovery cohort.

Results:

Both CD80 and CD86 are expressed heterogeneously in the TME at mRNA and protein levels. In a univariate analysis, the mRNA expression of CD80 and CD86 was not significantly correlated with OS in both local OncoNeuroTek dataset and TCGA datasets. CD80 and CD86 mRNA high expression was significantly associated with shorter progression free survival (PFS) (p < 0.05). These findings were validated using the TCGA cohort; higher CD80 and CD86 expressions were correlated with shorter PFS (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, CD86 mRNA expression was an independent prognostic factor for PFS in the TCGA dataset only (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

CD86 could be used as a potential biomarker for the prognosis of GBM patients treated with immunotherapy; however, additional studies are needed to validate these findings.
Resonance-based schemes for dispersive equations via decorated trees
Authors: Bruned Yvain , Schratz Katharina
Published: January 2022

We introduce a numerical framework for dispersive equations embedding their underlying resonance structure into the discretisation. This will allow us to resolve the nonlinear oscillations of the partial differential equation (PDE) and to approximate with high-order accuracy a large class of equations under lower regularity assumptions than classical techniques require. The key idea to control the nonlinear frequency interactions in the system up to arbitrary high order thereby lies in a tailored decorated tree formalism. Our algebraic structures are close to the ones developed for singular stochastic PDEs (SPDEs) with regularity structures. We adapt them to the context of dispersive PDEs by using a novel class of decorations which encode the dominant frequencies. The structure proposed in this article is new and gives a variant of the Butcher–Connes–Kreimer Hopf algebra on decorated trees. We observe a similar Birkhoff type factorisation as in SPDEs and perturbative quantum field theory. This factorisation allows us to single out oscillations and to optimise the local error by mapping it to the particular regularity of the solution. This use of the Birkhoff factorisation seems new in comparison to the literature. The field of singular SPDEs took advantage of numerical methods and renormalisation in perturbative quantum field theory by extending their structures via the adjunction of decorations and Taylor expansions. Now, through this work, numerical analysis is taking advantage of these extended structures and provides a new perspective on them.
NEW RADIOCARBON DATES FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN PARTS OF IGBOLAND, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA
Authors: Daniel Kenechukwu Chidiogo , Ibeanu Anselm Maduabuchi , Ikegwu Jacinta Uchenna , Orijemie Emuobosa Akpo
Published: January 2022

This paper presents new results of radiocarbon (14C) ages from archaeological sites in northern Igboland. The study was designed to shed more light on early human occupation and activities in the study area based on sediments from cave and iron-smelting sites. The approach consisted of ethnographic, archaeological, palynological, and slag analyses; these were complemented with 14C dates. The technology adopted as well as the paleoenvironmental conditions that prevailed during the period of human settlement in both sites was revealed. These data, complemented by 14C dates, highlight the human behavioral and subsistence patterns within the region and are comparable to those from similar sites in southeastern Nigeria.
Low temperature triggers physiological and behavioral shifts in adult oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata
Authors: Wang Fang , Lv Weixiang
Published: January 2022

Migratory insects display diverse behavioral strategies in response to external environmental shifts, via energy allocation of migration-reproduction trade-offs. However, how migratory insects distribute energy between migration and reproduction as an adaptive strategy to confront temporary low temperatures remains unclear. Here, we used Mythimna separata, a migratory cereal crop pest, to explore the effects of low temperature on reproductive performance, behavior, and energy allocation. We found that the influence of low temperatures on reproduction was not absolutely negative, but instead depended on the intensity, duration, and age of exposure to low temperature. Exposure to 6°C for 24 h significantly accelerated the onset of oviposition and ovarian development, and increased the synchrony of egg-laying and lifetime fecundity in 1-day-old adults compared to the control, while female's flight capacity decreased significantly on the first and second day after moths were exposed to 6°C. Furthermore, the abdominal and total triglycerides levels of females decreased significantly from exposure to low temperature, but their thoracic triglyceride content was significantly higher than the control on the third and fourth day. These results indicated that low temperatures induced M. separata to reduce energy investment for the development of flight system. This resulted in the shifting of moths from being migrants to residents during the environmental sensitive period (first day post-emergence). This expands our understanding of the adaptive strategy employed by migratory insects to deal with low temperatures and aids in the management of this pest species in China.
La Pata de Cabra, Satire and Free Speech in Nineteenth-Century Mexico City
Authors: Ingwersen Lance
Published: January 2022

The article examines how La Pata de Cabra (The Goat's Hoof ), an over-the-top fantastical Spanish comedia de magia (magic play), came to figure centrally in serious debates about Mexican politics and society between 1845 and 1857. The article explores the play's popularity and its resonance in the press – it spawned at least half a dozen satirical newspapers – to argue that satire became a critical political language and form of expression that broadened and sustained debates in an era marked by volatile and often heavily restricted press freedoms. The article's focus on the La Pata phenomenon brings two fields of study, theatre and the press, into productive and necessary conversation.