bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Diversity Patterns of Rare to Abundant Microbial Eukaryotes Across a Broad Range of Salinities in a Solar Saltern
Authors: Lee Hyeon Been , Jeong Dong Hyuk , Cho Byung Cheol , Park Jong Soo
Published: November 2021

Solar salterns are excellent artificial systems for examining species diversity and succession along salinity gradients. Here, the eukaryotic community in surface water of a Korean solar saltern (30 to 380 practical salinity units) was investigated from April 2019 to October 2020 using Illumina sequencing targeting the V4 and V9 regions of 18S rDNA. A total of 926 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 1,999 OTUs were obtained with the V4 and V9 regions, respectively. Notably, most of the OTUs were microbial eukaryotes, and the high-abundance groups (> 5% relative abundance (RA), Alveolata, Stramenopila, Archaeplastida, and Opisthokonta) usually accounted for > 90% of the total cumulative read counts and > 80% of all OTUs. Moreover, the high-abundance Alveolata (larger forms) and Stramenopila (smaller forms) groups displayed a significant inverse relationship, probably due to predator–prey interactions. Most of the low-abundance (0.1–5% RA) and rare (< 0.1% RA) groups remained small portion during the field surveys. Taxonomic novelty (at < 90% sequence identity) was high in the Amoebozoa, Cryptista, Haptista, Rhizaria, and Stramenopila groups (69.8% of all novel OTUs), suggesting the presence of a large number of hidden species in hypersaline environments. Remarkably, the high-abundance groups had little overlap with the other groups, implying the weakness of rare-to-prevalent community dynamics. The low-abundance Discoba group alone temporarily became the high-abundance group, suggesting that it is an opportunistic group. Overall, the composition and diversity of the eukaryotic community in hypersaline environments may be persistently stabilized, despite diverse disturbance events.
Visualization of thermal damage using 68 Ga-FAPI-PET/CT after pulmonary vein isolation
Authors: Kupusovic Jana , Kessler Lukas , Nekolla Stephan G. , Riesinger Lisa , Weber Manuel M. , Ferdinandus Justin , Kochhäuser Simon , Rassaf Tienush , Wakili Reza , Rischpler Christoph , Siebermair Johannes
Published: November 2021

Purpose

68 Ga-fibroblast-activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) positron emission tomography (PET) is a novel technique targeting FAP-alpha. This protein is expressed by activated fibroblasts which are the main contributors to tissue remodeling. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to assess 68 Ga-FAPI uptake in the pulmonary vein (PV) region of the left atrium after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and radiofrequency (RFA) as a surrogate for thermal damage.

Methods

Twelve PVI patients (5 RFA, 7 CBA) underwent 68 Ga-FAPI-PET 20.5 ± 12.8 days after PVI. Five patients without atrial fibrillation or previous ablation served as controls. Standardized uptake values of localized tracer uptake were calculated.

Results

Focal FAPI uptake around the PVs was observed in 10/12 (83.3%) PVI patients, no uptake was observed in 2 PVI patients and all controls. Patients after PVI had higher FAPI uptake in PVs compared to controls (SUVmax: 4.3 ± 2.2 vs. 1.6 ± 0.2, p < 0.01; SUVpeak: 2.9 ± 1.4 vs. 1.3 ± 0.2, p < 0.01). All CBA patients had an intense uptake, while in the RFA, group 2 (40%), 1 (20%), and 2 (40%) patients had an intense, moderate, and no uptake, respectively. We observed higher uptake values (SUVpeak) in CBA compared to RFA patients (4.4 ± 1.5 vs. 2.5 ± 0.8, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

We demonstrate in-vivo visualization of 68 Ga-FAPI uptake as a surrogate for fibroblast activation after PVI. CBA seems to cause more pronounced fibroblast activation following tissue injury than RFA. Future studies are warranted to assess if this modality can contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of AF recurrence after PVI by lesion creation and gap assessment.
Therapy of clinical stage IIA and IIB seminoma: a systematic review
Authors: Heinzelbecker Julia , Schmidt Stefanie , Lackner Julia , Busch Jonas , Bokemeyer Carsten , Classen Johannes , Dieing Annette , Hakenberg Oliver , Krege Susanne , Papachristofilou Alexandros , Pfister David , Ruf Christian , Schmelz Hans , Schmidberger Heinz , Souchon Rainer , Winter Christian , Zengerling Friedemann , Kliesch Sabine , Albers Peter , Oing Christoph
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The optimal treatment for clinical stage (CS) IIA/IIB seminomas is still controversial. We evaluated current treatment options.

Methods

A systematic review was performed. Only randomized clinical trials and comparative studies published from January 2010 until February 2021 were included. Search items included: seminoma, CS IIA, CS IIB and therapy. Outcome parameters were relapse rate (RR), relapse-free (RFS), overall and cancer-specific survival (OS, CSS). Additionally, acute and long-term side effects including secondary malignancies (SMs) were analyzed.

Results

Seven comparative studies (one prospective and six retrospective) were identified with a total of 5049 patients (CS IIA: 2840, CS IIB: 2209). The applied treatment modalities were radiotherapy (RT) (n = 3049; CS IIA: 1888, CSIIB: 1006, unknown: 155) and chemotherapy (CT) or no RT (n = 2000; CS IIA: 797, CS IIB: 1074, unknown: 129). In CS IIA, RRs ranged from 0% to 4.8% for RT and 0% for CT. Concerning CS IIB RRs of 9.5%–21.1% for RT and of 0%–14.2% for CT have been reported. 5-year OS ranged from 90 to 100%. Only two studies reported on treatment-related toxicities.

Conclusions

RT and CT are the most commonly applied treatments in CS IIA/B seminoma. In CS IIA seminomas, RRs after RT and CT are similar. However, in CS IIB, CT seems to be more effective. Survival rates of CS IIA/B seminomas are excellent. Consequently, long-term toxicities and SMs are important survivorship issues. Alternative treatment approaches, e.g., retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) or dose-reduced sequential CT/RT are currently under prospective investigation.
Lehrfilm über das geriatrische Basisassessment in der hausärztlichen Versorgung – Methoden filmischer Authentizität
Authors: Stiller G. , Stegemann R. , Afshar K. , Marschollek M. , Behrends M.
Published: November 2021

Hintergrund

Die Bedeutung der Versorgung älterer Personen in der hausärztlichen Praxis erfordert die Vermittlung von Handlungs- und Begründungswissen zur Durchführung eines geriatrischen Basisassessments (GBa) bereits im Medizinstudium. Handlungsbedarf zeigt sich dabei insbesondere im Hinblick auf eine realistische Wahrnehmung altersbedingter Einschränkungen durch Studierende. Der Beitrag beschreibt anhand eines Filmprojekts an der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover (MHH), wie die hausärztliche Versorgungssituation für Studierende authentisch vermittelt werden kann.

Methodik

Verschiedene filmische Mittel zur Herstellung von Authentizität wurden angewendet. Im Lehrmodul Allgemeinmedizin an der MHH wurde der Film eingesetzt. Die studentische Evaluation untersuchte die emotionale Wirkung des Filmgeschehens auf die Studierenden, und ob die Darstellung des GBa als authentisch wahrgenommen wird.

Ergebnisse

Die Authentizität der filmischen Darstellung hat die Mehrheit der Studierenden emotional berührt. Die Vermittlung der Komplexität der Behandlung älterer Menschen und die Darstellung der besonderen hausärztlichen Funktion in der geriatrischen Versorgung sind durch den Lehrfilm gut gelungen.

Diskussion

Die Studierenden erkannten die Notwendigkeit des GBa und fanden die Darstellung überwiegend realistisch. Individuelle filmische Rezeptionsweisen und Vorerfahrungen beeinflussen auch die Wahrnehmung der filmischen Gestaltungsform im Hinblick auf Realitätsdarstellung.
Glycemic control is not related to cerebral small vessel disease in neurologically asymptomatic individuals with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Inkeri Jussi , Adeshara Krishna , Harjutsalo Valma , Forsblom Carol , Liebkind Ron , Tatlisumak Turgut , Thorn Lena M. , Groop Per-Henrik , Shams Sara , Martola Juha , Putaala Jukka , Gordin Daniel ,   on behalf of the FinnDiane Study Group
Published: November 2021

Aims

To determine if medium- and long-term blood glucose control as well as glycemic variability, which are known to be strong predictors of vascular complications, are associated with underlying cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) in neurologically asymptomatic individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

A total of 189 individuals (47.1% men; median age 40.0, IQR 33.0–45.2 years) with type 1 diabetes (median diabetes duration of 21.7, IQR 18.3–30.7 years) were enrolled in a cross-sectional retrospective study, as part of the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy (FinnDiane) Study. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values were collected over the course of ten years before the visit including a clinical examination, biochemical sampling, and brain magnetic resonance imaging. Markers of glycemic control, measured during the visit, included HbA1c, fructosamine, and glycated albumin.

Results

Signs of cSVD were present in 66 (34.9%) individuals. Medium- and long-term glucose control and glycemic variability did not differ in individuals with signs of cSVD compared to those without. Further, no difference in any of the blood glucose variables and cSVD stratified for cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) or white matter hyperintensities were detected. Neither were numbers of CMBs associated with the studied glucose variables. Additionally, after dividing the studied variables into quartiles, no association with cSVD was observed.

Conclusions

We observed no association between glycemic control and cSVD in neurologically asymptomatic individuals with type 1 diabetes. This finding was unexpected considering the large number of signs of cerebrovascular pathology in these people after two decades of chronic hyperglycemia and warrants further studies searching for underlying factors of cSVD.
The effects of patient cost-sharing on health expenditure and health among older people: Heterogeneity across income groups
Authors: Kato Hirotaka , Goto Rei , Tsuji Taishi , Kondo Katsunori
Published: November 2021

Despite rapidly rising health expenditure associated with population aging, empirical evidence on the effects of cost-sharing on older people is still limited. This study estimated the effects of cost-sharing on the utilization of healthcare and health among older people, the most intensive users of healthcare. We employed a regression discontinuity design by exploiting a drastic reduction in the coinsurance rate from 30 to 10% at age 70 in Japan. We used large administrative claims data as well as income information at the individual level provided by a municipality. Using the claims data with 1,420,252 person-month observations for health expenditure, we found that reduced cost-sharing modestly increased outpatient expenditure, with an implied price elasticity of  – 0.07. When examining the effects of reduced cost-sharing by income, we found that the price elasticities for outpatient expenditure were almost zero,  – 0.08, and  – 0.11 for lower-, middle-, and higher-income individuals, respectively, suggesting that lower-income individuals do not have more elastic demand for outpatient care compared with other income groups. Using large-scale mail survey data with 3404 observations for self-reported health, we found that the cost-sharing reduction significantly improved self-reported health only among lower-income individuals, but drawing clear conclusions about health outcomes is difficult because of a lack of strong graphical evidence to support health improvement. Our results suggest that varying cost-sharing by income for older people (i.e., smaller cost-sharing for lower-income individuals and larger cost-sharing for higher-income individuals) may reduce health expenditure without compromising health.
Performance assessment of GNSS-based real-time navigation for the Sentinel-6 spacecraft
Authors: Montenbruck Oliver , Kunzi Florian , Hauschild André
Published: November 2021

The feasibility of precise real-time orbit determination of low earth orbit satellites using onboard GNSS observations is assessed using six months of flight data from the Sentinel-6A mission. Based on offline processing of dual-constellation pseudorange and carrier phase measurements as well as broadcast ephemerides in a sequential filter with a reduced dynamic force model, navigation solutions with a representative position error of 10 cm (3D RMS) are achieved. The overall performance is largely enabled by the superior quality of the Galileo broadcast ephemerides, which exhibits a two- to three-times smaller signal-in-space-range error than GPS and allows for geodetic-grade GNSS real-time orbit determination without a need for external correction services. Compared to GPS-only processing, a roughly two-times better navigation accuracy is achieved in a Galileo-only or mixed GPS/Galileo processing. On the other hand, GPS tracking offers a useful complement and additional robustness in view of a still incomplete Galileo constellation. Furthermore, it provides improved autonomy of the navigation process through the availability of earth orientation parameters in the new civil navigation message of the L2C signal. Overall, GNSS-based onboard orbit determination can now reach a similar performance as the DORIS (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite) navigation system. It lends itself as a viable alternative for future remote sensing missions.
Acceptability and Feasibility of Geographically Explicit Ecological Momentary Assessment Among Men Who Have Sex with Men
Authors: Sheck Isabelle , Tilchin Carla , Wagner Jessica , Epstein David H. , Burgess-Hull Albert , Jennings Jacky M.
Published: November 2021

Syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased greatly in the past twenty years in the U.S. Geographically explicit ecological momentary assessment (GEMA), in which behaviors are geotagged and contextualized in time and space, may contribute to a greater understanding of transmission risk. The objective was to determine the acceptability and feasibility of GEMA for assessing HIV and syphilis transmission risk behaviors among a sample of MSM. Participants responded to a brief survey five times a day for two weeks. Feasibility was measured by participant recruitment, enrollment, prompts received and answered, geotagged prompts, and technical interference with data collection. Acceptability was measured by ratings of enjoyment and willingness for future participation. Summaries of five behavioral measures from the brief survey were calculated. Among the 83 participants contacted, 67.5% (56) expressed interest, 98% (55) were scheduled, and 81.8% (45) were enrolled. Participants answered 78.3% (2,277) of prompts received and 87.7% (1,998) of answered prompts were geotagged. Overall, 70.5% (31) enjoyed participating and 91.1% (41) were willing to participate in the future. Among prompts answered, missingness was low for five behavioral measures (range 0.2% (4) to 0.7% (16)). Feasibility and acceptability were high and missingness was low on behavioral measures in this MSM study population. Most participants reported that they would participate again. Future work should focus on whether GEMA improves our understanding of syphilis and HIV transmission risk.
Effects of restoration and management of Mediterranean traditional water systems on Odonata alpha diversity: a long-term monitoring survey
Authors: Monzó José C. , Verdú José R.
Published: November 2021

The progressive abandonment and disappearance of traditional water uses and management of wetlands during the twentieth century has led not only to a loss of identity, heritage, and landscape values, but also to significant declines in the diversity and abundance of many organisms. Here, we take advantage of an existing project for the restoration and management of traditional irrigation infrastructures in the wetland of El Prado (Pinoso, south-eastern Spain) to evaluate the spatio-temporal effect of this action on the alpha diversity and abundance of Odonata. The wetland was organized in different sectors according to the coverage of riparian and aquatic vegetation, width and depth of watercourses, ditches and ponds, water flow, and restoration and management. Odonates were sampled every month for ten years. We used alpha diversity to measure biodiversity using Hill’s number diversity. To analyse how alpha diversity measures varied across all sectors sampled over the years, we determined diversity-time relationships. To assess the effects of the different variables on odonate biodiversity we used partial least squares regressions. Our results showed that restoration of traditional water infrastructures, encouraging the increase of aquatic vegetation cover, an adequate and regular management of riparian vegetation naturalizing the margins, as well as reducing speed of water flow have a positive effect on odonate diversity and abundance. Our study provides useful information for conservation and management of semi-arid wetlands and its associated water infrastructures by showing which actions are most successful to enhance biodiversity in one of the priority habitats for conservation in Europe.
Bracing Biophilia: When biophilic design promotes pupil’s attentional performance, perceived restorativeness and affiliation with Nature
Authors: Barbiero Giuseppe , Berto Rita , Venturella Alice , Maculan Nicola
Published: November 2021

Biophilic design is an architectural model that offers the possibility to create the Nature-based Innovative Learning Environment (ILE), which might support cognitive processes and stimulate affiliation with Nature. Bracing Biophilia is an exploratory research programme which verifies the effect of Nature-based ILEs on pupils’ attentional performance and affiliation with Nature. We compared a conventional learning environment with two Nature-based environments made according to biophilic design and the Biophilic Quality Index (BQI). The experimental observations spanned three school years; they were carried out within a conventional learning environment in the first year and in a biophilic designed one in the next two. Measurements, that is the administration of the Perceived Restorativeness Scale-children, the Continuous Performance test, and the Connectedness to Nature Scale-children, were deployed at regular intervals at three different times (autumn, winter, spring) of each school year. Results show that learning environments with biophilic design, in addition to being preferred and perceived as more restorative, are more effective in supporting pupils' attentional performance than conventional learning environments and, over time, strengthen the feeling of affiliation with Nature. A BQI certified biophilic design learning environment turns out to be the best of all indoor environments and just below the outdoor learning environment used as a comparison of biophilic design indoor environment. Although the objective limitation of this study is the number of pupils, the trend appears clear and cannot be attributed to pupils’ cognitive maturation processes. This case study allows us to appreciate the importance of the restorative learning environments with biophilic design capable of supporting the learning process and strengthening the affiliation with Nature.
Occupancy of young-of-year Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in Barrenland streams
Authors: Ellenor Jared R. , Cott Peter A. , Swanson Heidi K.
Published: November 2021

Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is an iconic fish species that is present across the remote subarctic Barrenlands, yet our lack of understanding of their distributional patterns constrains predictions of anthropogenic effects on Barrenland populations. These adfluvial fish rely on seasonal lake-stream connections to migrate, spawn, and rear. We address knowledge gaps on what Barrenland stream attributes are suitable for rearing young-of-year Arctic grayling. Visual surveys of young-of-year Arctic grayling were conducted in 48 streams near Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada. Occupancy modeling was used to relate stream habitat and landscape variables to fish presence/absence. The best predictors of occupancy were total area of contributing upstream lakes and landcover (upland/lowland); stream basins with larger contributing upstream lake area and more lowland cover were more likely to be occupied. Results suggest that occupancy reflects reliability of stream connectivity throughout the open water season and across years. The occupancy model developed here can adequately predict stream suitability for young-of-year Arctic grayling using lake area and land classification data that are remotely accessed. This may lessen the considerable financial and logistical constraints of conducting field research on Arctic grayling in the vast Barrenlands and facilitate more directed field programs to inform conservation and mitigation plans.
Effectiveness of Responsivity Intervention Strategies on Prelinguistic and Language Outcomes for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Group and Single Case Studies
Authors: McDaniel Jena , Brady Nancy C. , Warren Steven F.
Published: November 2021

We conducted a systematic review to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and single case research design (SCRD) studies of children with autism spectrum disorder that evaluate the effectiveness of responsivity intervention techniques for improving prelinguistic and/or language outcomes. Mean effect sizes were moderate and large for RCTs (33 studies; g = 0.36, 95% CI [0.21, 0.51]) and SCRD (34 studies; between-case standardized mean difference = 1.20, 95% CI [0.87, 1.54]) studies, respectively. Visual analysis (37 studies) revealed strong evidence of a functional relation for 45% of the opportunities and no evidence for 53%. Analyses of moderator effects and study quality are presented. Findings provide support for responsivity intervention strategies with more robust support for context-bound outcomes than more generalized outcomes.
A study on recognizing multi-real world object and estimating 3D position in augmented reality
Authors: Lee Taemin , Jung Changhun , Lee Kyungtaek , Seo Sanghyun
Published: November 2021

As augmented reality technologies develop, real-time interactions between objects present in the real world and virtual space are required. Generally, recognition and location estimation in augmented reality are carried out using tracking techniques, typically markers. However, using markers creates spatial constraints in simultaneous tracking of space and objects. Therefore, we propose a system that enables camera tracking in the real world and visualizes virtual visual information through the recognition and positioning of objects. We scanned the space using an RGB-D camera. A three-dimensional (3D) dense point cloud map is created using point clouds generated through video images. Among the generated point cloud information, objects are detected and retrieved based on the pre-learned data. Finally, using the predicted pose of the detected objects, other information may be augmented. Our system estimates object recognition and 3D pose based on simple camera information, enabling the viewing of virtual visual information based on object location.
Two-Photon Endoscopy: State of the Art and Perspectives
Authors: Kučikas Vytautas , Werner Maximilian P. , Schmitz-Rode Thomas , Louradour Frédéric , van Zandvoort Marc A. M. J.
Published: November 2021

In recent years, the demand for non-destructive deep-tissue imaging modalities has led to interest in multiphoton endoscopy. In contrast to bench top systems, multiphoton endoscopy enables subcellular resolution imaging in areas not reachable before. Several groups have recently presented their development towards the goal of producing user friendly plug and play system, which could be used in biological research and, potentially, clinical applications. We first present the technological challenges, prerequisites, and solutions in two-photon endoscopic systems. Secondly, we focus on the applications already found in literature. These applications mostly serve as a quality check of the built system, but do not answer a specific biomedical research question. Therefore, in the last part, we will describe our vision on the enormous potential applicability of adult two-photon endoscopic systems in biological and clinical research. We will thus bring forward the concept that two-photon endoscopy is a sine qua non in bringing this technique to the forefront in clinical applications.
Particle therapy using protons or carbon ions for cancer patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED): a retrospective multi-institutional study
Authors: Hashimoto Takayuki , Demizu Yusuke , Numajiri Haruko , Isobe Tomonori , Fukuda Shigekazu , Wakatsuki Masaru , Yamashita Haruo , Murayama Shigeyuki , Takamatsu Shigeyuki , Katoh Hiroyuki , Murata Kazutoshi , Kohno Ryosuke , Arimura Takeshi , Matsuura Taeko , Ito Yoichi M. ,   Japan Radiological Society multi-institutional study group
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the outcomes of particle therapy in cancer patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

Materials and methods

From April 2001 to March 2013, 19,585 patients were treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) or carbon ion therapy (CIT) at 8 institutions. Of these, 69 patients (0.4%, PBT 46, CIT 22, and PBT + CIT 1) with CIEDs (64 pacemakers, 4 implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and 1 with a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator) were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients with CIEDs in this study were treated with the passive scattering type of particle beam therapy.

Results

Six (13%) of the 47 PBT patients, and none of the 23 CIT patients experienced CIED malfunctions (p = 0.105). Electrical resets (7) and over-sensing (3) occurred transiently in 6 patients. The distance between the edge of the irradiation field and the CIED was not associated with the incidence of malfunctions in 20 patients with lung cancer. A larger field size had a higher event rate but the test to evaluate trends as not statistically significant (p = 0.196).

Conclusion

Differences in the frequency of occurrence of device malfunctions for patients treated with PBT and patients treated with CIT did not reach statistical significance. The present study can be regarded as a benchmark study about the incidence of malfunctioning of CIED in passive scattering particle beam therapy and can be used as a reference for active scanning particle beam therapy.
The Effect of Grain Boundary Carbides on Dynamic Recrystallization During Hot Compression of Ni-Based Superalloy Haynes $$282^{\mathrm{TM}}$$
Authors: Eriksson Emil , Andersson Joel , Hörnqvist Colliander Magnus
Published: November 2021

In alloys where carbides are the main grain boundary phase, the role of carbides during hot working is not known. Here, we address the effect of grain boundary carbides on the dynamic recrystallization during hot compression of Ni-base superalloy Haynes 282. When excluding variations from experimental factors neither stress evolution nor final microstructure indicated that carbides exerted a significant influence on the dynamic recrystallization. The carbide solvus temperature is not a critical limit during thermomechanical processes.
Leveraging the Power of Peer Groups for Refugee Integration
Authors: Förster Maximilian , Klier Julia , Klier Mathias , Schäfer-Siebert Katharina , Sigler Irina
Published: November 2021

Refugee integration, one long-term solution to the large number of people fleeing their home countries, constitutes a challenge for both refugees and host societies. ICT and especially online peer groups seem promising to support this process. Building on literature demonstrating the societal benefits of peer groups, this paper proposes a novel peer-group-based approach to address refugee integration and introduces both an online and offline realization. A randomized field experiment in cooperation with public (refugee) services and a non-governmental organization makes it possible to expand existing research by quantitatively demonstrating societal benefits of online peer groups and ICT for refugee integration. Further, this paper is the first to assess the effectiveness of online and offline peer groups in one experimental setup comparatively. Results show that peer groups provide substantial value with respect to the integration domains social bridges, social bonds, rights and citizenship as well as safety and stability. While the outcome of the various integration domains differs for online and offline peer groups, participants’ adoption rates were higher for online peer groups.
Hydrogel composite containing azelaic acid and tea tree essential oil as a therapeutic strategy for Propionibacterium and testosterone-induced acne
Authors: Bisht Alpna , Hemrajani Chetna , Rathore Charul , Dhiman Tania , Rolta Rajan , Upadhyay Navneet , Nidhi Prakriti , Gupta Gaurav , Dua Kamal , Chellappan Dinesh Kumar , Dev Kamal , Sourirajan Anuradha , Chakraborty Apala , Aljabali Alaa A. A. , Bakshi Hamid A. , Negi Poonam , Tambuwala Murtaza M.
Published: November 2021

Azelaic acid (AzA) is a USFDA bioactive prescribed againstacne vulgaris. It possesses delivery challenges like poor aqueous solubility, low skin-penetrability, and dose-dependent side effects, which could be overcome by its synergistic combination with tea tree oil (TTO) as a microemulsion (ME)-based hydrogel composite. AzA-TTO ME was prepared to employ pseudo-ternary phase diagram construction. The best AzA-TTO ME was of uniform size (polydispersity index < 0.7), nano-range (~357.4 ± 2% nm), transmittance (> 90%), and negative zeta potential (−1.42 ± 0.25% mV) values. ME hydrogel composite with optimum rheological and textural attributes showed better permeation, retention, and skin-compliant characteristics, vis-a-vis marketed formulation (Aziderm™) when evaluated in Wistar rat skin. In vitro antibacterial efficacy in bacterial strains, i.e.,Staphylococcus aureus,Propionibacterium acne, andStaphylococcus epidermidis, was evaluated employing agar well plate diffusion and broth dilution assay. ME hydrogel has shown an increase in zone of inhibition by two folds and a decrease in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by eightfold againstP. acnesvis-a-vis AzA. Finally, ME hydrogel composite exhibited a better reduction in the papule density (93.75 ± 1.64%) in comparison to Aziderm™ 72.69 ± 4.67%) on acne as developed in rats by inducing testosterone. Thus, the developed AzA-TTO ME hydrogel composite promises an efficacious and comparatively safer drug delivery system for the topical therapy ofacne vulgaris.

Graphical abstract
Exploring units-locating in enumerating units of 3D arrays: linking units-locating to units-representation
Authors: Alstad Edgar , Berre Maren , Nilsson Per
Published: November 2021

The aim of the present study is to explore strategies in enumerating units of three dimensional (3D) arrays. We analyse enumeration strategies of students in grade 3 (ages 8 to 9) in situations of cubical and spherical representations of units of 3D arrays. By exploring students’ strategies in these two situations, we find that difficulties in enumerating units in 3D arrays can be traced to difficulties in units-locating, with the consequence of applying double and triple counting. Our results also indicate that spherical units can serve as perceptual clues in units-locating and in assembling units into relevant composites. With input from our findings, we suggest research to investigate the following three hypotheses: (i) spherical units can turn students away from double and triple counting, (ii) spherical units can support students’ units-locating process and their ability to assemble units into relevant composites and (iii) teaching of enumerating 3D arrays should start with spherical units before cubical units.
Bi-objective scheduling algorithm for scientific workflows on cloud computing platform with makespan and monetary cost minimization approach
Authors: Hosseini Shirvani Mirsaeid , Noorian Talouki Reza
Published: November 2021

Scheduling of scientific workflows on hybrid cloud architecture, which contains private and public clouds, is a challenging task because schedulers should be aware of task inter-dependencies, underlying heterogeneity, cost diversity, and virtual machine (VM) variable configurations during the scheduling process. On the one side, reaching a minimum total execution time or makespan is a favorable issue for users whereas the cost of utilizing quicker VMs may lead to conflict with their budget on the other side. Existing works in the literature scarcely consider VM’s monetary cost in the scheduling process but mainly focus on makespan. Therefore, in this paper, the problem of scientific workflow scheduling running on hybrid cloud architecture is formulated to a bi-objective optimization problem with makespan and monetary cost minimization viewpoint. To address this combinatorial discrete problem, this paper presents a hybrid bi-objective optimization based on simulated annealing and task duplication algorithms (BOSA-TDA) that exploits two important heuristics heterogeneous earliest finish time (HEFT) and duplication techniques to improve canonical SA. The extensive simulation results reported of running different well-known scientific workflows such as LIGO, SIPHT, Cybershake, Montage, and Epigenomics demonstrate that proposed BOSA-TDA has the amount of 12.5%, 14.5%, 17%, 13.5%, and 18.5% average improvement against other existing approaches in terms of makespan, monetary cost, speed up, SLR, and efficiency metrics, respectively.
Corporate Responses to Tackling Modern Slavery: A Comparative Analysis of Australia, France and the United Kingdom
Authors: McGaughey Fiona , Voss Hinrich , Cullen Holly , Davis Matthew C
Published: November 2021

The business and human rights agenda is gaining momentum internationally, perhaps best evidenced through recent legislative responses to tackling modern slavery. Using a reflexive law lens, we analyse three recent laws – the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, the French ‘duty of vigilance’ law of 2017, and the Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth). The three laws, or their accompanying guidance, share characteristics in terms of reporting requirements: the supply chain; risk mapping/assessment and management; analysis of subsidiary and supply chain risk; and effectiveness. The French Act has a broader scope as it is a due diligence, rather than a reporting law and includes obligations with regard to human rights and fundamental freedoms, health and safety, and the environment. It is the only Act of the three with substantive penalty provisions. All reporting requirements in the French and Australian Acts are mandatory, but the UK Act has limited mandatory reporting requirements. We find that only 22 companies globally will be required to report under all three laws. Using a subset of this dataset, we analysed 59 French vigilance plans and UK modern slavery statements published by nine manufacturing companies. This provided some preliminary analysis of how businesses have reported under the French Droit de Vigilance and the UK Modern Slavery Act (reports under the Australian Modern Slavery Act for these companies were not published at time of writing). Overall, businesses are using less demanding measures such as introducing policies and delivering training more commonly than the somewhat more resource-intensive activities such as audits. The more onerous requirements of the French law were reflected in the content and level of detail in the vigilance plans, compared with the UK modern slavery statements. However, for some companies, there were strong similarities between the UK and French publications, indicating ‘creep’ from the French Act into UK reports or a ‘race to the top’.
Algorithms, Manipulation, and Democracy
Authors: Christiano Thomas
Published: November 2021

Algorithmic communications pose several challenges to democracy. The three phenomena of filtering, hypernudging, and microtargeting can have the effect of polarizing an electorate and thus undermine the deliberative potential of a democratic society. Algorithms can spread fake news throughout the society, undermining the epistemic potential that broad participation in democracy is meant to offer. They can pose a threat to political equality in that some people may have the means to make use of algorithmic communications and the sophistication to be immune from attempts at manipulation, while other people are vulnerable to manipulation by those who use these means. My concern here is with the danger that algorithmic communications can pose to political equality, which arises because most citizens must make decisions about what and who to support in democratic politics with only a sparse budget of time, money, and energy. Algorithmic communications such as hypernudging and microtargeting can be a threat to democratic participation when persons are operating in environments that do not conduce to political sophistication. This constitutes a deepening of political inequality. The political sophistication necessary to counter this vulnerability is rooted for many in economic life and it can and ought to be enhanced by changing the terms of economic life.
Law, Freedom, and Slavery
Authors: Neoh Joshua
Published: November 2021

This paper argues that the wrong of slavery lies in the denial of the good of law to the slave. Defending this proposition will require the positing of three related claims: (i) that law is good, (ii) that the good of law is denied to the slave, and (iii) that the denial is wrong. This paper will defend the main proposition by defending its three constituent claims. On claim (i), the paper will relate the form of law to the formation of freedom. On claim (ii), the paper will relate law’s objectivity to legal subjectivity. On claim (iii), the paper will relate the state of nature to the state of civil society.
On -genericity of distributional chaos
Authors: KAWAGUCHI NORIAKI
Published: November 2021

Let M be a compact smooth manifold without boundary. Based on results by Good and Meddaugh [Invent. Math.220 (2020), 715–736], we prove that a strong distributional chaos is
$C^0$
-generic in the space of continuous self-maps (respectively, homeomorphisms) of M. The results contain answers to questions by Li, Li and Tu [Chaos26 (2016), 093103] and Moothathu [Topology Appl.158 (2011), 2232–2239] in the zero-dimensional case. A related counter-example on the chain components under shadowing is also given.
Judgment on Foreign Soldiers' Immunity for War Crimes Committed Abroad (BGH)
Authors: Syring Tom
Published: November 2021

On January 28, 2021, the German Federal Court of Justice, or Bundesgerichtshof (BGH), Germany's highest court of ordinary jurisdiction, delivered its judgment in Case 3 StR 564/19 pertaining to questions of universal jurisdiction over international crimes and the extent to which foreign soldiers would be barred from prosecution in Germany based on claims of (functional) immunity for war crimes committed abroad. The decision strikes at the heart of a debate where such exceptions to immunity (ratione materiae) are yet to be uniformly agreed upon at an international level; it also comes on the verge of a number of related judgments that are pending both in German and other European courts. In the present case, the BGH held that according to the general rules of international law, criminal prosecution in Germany for war crimes committed abroad would not be precluded based on the notion of functional immunity, “when the acts have been committed by a foreign, lower-ranking defendant in the exercise of foreign sovereign activity.” Neither the BGH nor Germany's supreme guardian of the “Basic Law,” the Federal Constitutional Court, or Bundesverfassungsgericht (BVerfG), has previously pronounced itself on questions of functional immunity in criminal proceedings.
Chronology, time averaging, and oxygen isotope composition of harvested marine mollusk assemblages from Ifri Oudadane, northeast Morocco
Authors: Sanchez William , Yanes Yurena , Linstädter Jörg , Hutterer Rainer
Published: November 2021

The archaeological site of Ifri Oudadane, NE Morocco, contains well-preserved marine mollusk concentrations throughout the Epipaleolithic (hunting-gathering) and Neolithic (food production) cultural phases, useful to test hypotheses driving such transition. However, the chronology and stratigraphy of harvested shells is complex due to the confluence of human activity and natural deposition processes. This work first quantifies the age and degree of time averaging of archaeological shells and then estimates sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) from the oxygen isotopes of selected specimens. Thirty-four radiocarbon-dated shells exhibited significant time averaging between 310 to 1170 yr that could not be explained by analytical error alone. This finding illustrates the need for individually dating shells in future paleoclimate investigations aiming for high temporal resolution. Nine isotopically analyzed shells dated to the Neolithic phase, between 5700 and 7600 cal yr BP, indicate that assuming constant oxygen isotopes of seawater, SSTs remained consistently warm, between 20°C and 22°C, that is, 2°C–4°C warmer than today. Results point to warmer conditions during the Neolithic, supporting the hypothesis that the rise of a food production mode of life in NE Morocco could have in part been triggered by warming conditions following the colder 8.2 event.
Geomorphological, chronological, and paleoenvironmental context of the Mousterian site at Roca San Miguel (Arén, Huesca, Spain) from the penultimate to the last glacial cycle
Authors: Peña-Monné José Luis , Montes Ramírez Lourdes , Sampietro-Vattuone María Marta , Domingo Martínez Rafael , Medialdea Alicia , Bartolomé Miguel , Rubio Fernández Virginia , García Giménez Rosario , Turú Valentí , Ros Xavier , Baró Pere , Bernal-Wormull Juan Luis , Edwards R. Lawrence
Published: November 2021

The Roca San Miguel (RSM) archaeological site was occupied during Mousterian times. Here we present a geoarchaeological and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the site. Five stratigraphic units (A to E) formed by different archaeological levels are identified. Three optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages show that Unit A dates to between 169.6 ± 9.1 and 151.9 ± 11.1 ka, during the penultimate glacial period (PGP), and contains numerous signs of recurring hearths. Unit B is unexcavated. Unit C dates to between 118.9 ± 11.5 and 103.4 ± 6.9 ka (late Eemian–marine isotope stage (MIS) 5d) and shows an abundance of lithic remains as well as some faunal elements. Unit C is covered by Unit D, which incorporates materials moved downslope, and is dated at 81.2 ± 4.7 ka. These OSL ages concur with U/Th ages (129.3 ± 1.5 and 123.6 ± 0.6 ka) derived from a flowstone covered by both -C and D- post-flowstone units. Finally, Unit E covers the archaeological site, which was partially eroded during MIS2. The robust and well-constrained chronology of the RSM site and surroundings enables the establishment of its evolutionary model from the PGP to the last glacial cycle. The RSM site is the oldest Neanderthal occupation accurately dated in the Pre-Pyrenean region.
Peanut meal extract fermented with Bacillus natto attenuates physiological and behavioural deficits in a d-galactose-induced ageing rat model
Authors: Ding Haoyue , Li Zichao , Liu Qing , Zhang Yuanjie , Wang Yanping , Hu Yingfen , Ma Aiguo
Published: November 2021

Our previous studies have shown that the nutritional properties of peanut meal after fermentation are markedly improved. In this study, in order to facilitate the further utilisation of peanut meal, we investigated the effects of its fermentation extract by Bacillus natto (FE) on cognitive ability, antioxidant activity of brain and protein expression of hippocampus of ageing rats induced by d-galactose. Seventy-two female sd rats aged 4–5 months were randomly divided into six groups: normal control group, ageing model group, FE low-dose group, FE medium-dose group, FE high-dose group and vitamin E positive control group. Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed to evaluate their effects on learning and memory ability in ageing rats. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of brain, HE staining and the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid receptor 1 (GABABR1) and N-methyl-d-aspartic acid 2B receptor in the hippocampus of rats were measured. The results show that FE supplementation can effectively alleviate the decrease of thymus index induced by ageing, decrease the escape latency of MWM by 66·06 %, brain MDA by 28·04 %, hippocampus GABABR1 expression by 7·98 % and increase brain SOD by 63·54 % in ageing model rats. This study provides evidence for its anti-ageing effects and is a research basis for potential nutritional benefits of underutilised food by-products.
Development and evaluation of a diet quality screener to assess adherence to the Dutch food-based dietary guidelines
Authors: de Rijk Mariëlle G. , Slotegraaf Anne I. , Brouwer-Brolsma Elske M. , Perenboom Corine W. M. , Feskens Edith J. M. , de Vries Jeanne H. M.
Published: November 2021

The Eetscore FFQ was developed to score the Dutch Healthy Diet index 2015 (DHD2015-index) representing the Dutch food-based dietary guidelines of 2015. This paper describes the development of the Eetscore FFQ, a short screener assessing diet quality, examines associations between diet quality and participants’ characteristics, and evaluates the relative validity and reproducibility of the Eetscore FFQ in a cross-sectional study with Dutch adults. The study sample consisted of 751 participants, aged 19–91 years, recruited from the EetMeetWeet research panel. The mean DHD2015-index score based on the Eetscore FFQ of the total sample was 111 (sd 17·5) out of a maximum score of 160 points and was significantly higher in women than in men, positively associated with age and education level, and inversely associated with BMI. The Kendall’s tau-b coefficient of the DHD2015-index between the Eetscore FFQ and the full-length FFQ (on average 1·7-month interval, n 565) was 0·51 (95 % CI 0·47, 0·55), indicating an acceptable ranking ability. The intraclass correlation coefficient between DHD2015-index scores derived from two repeated Eetscore FFQ (on average 3·8-month interval, n 343) was 0·91 (95 % CI 0·89, 0·93) suggesting a very good reproducibility. In conclusion, the Eetscore FFQ was considered acceptable in ranking participants according to their diet quality compared with the full-length FFQ and showed good to excellent reproducibility.
Jabuticaba juice improves postprandial glucagon-like peptide-1 and antioxidant status in healthy adults: a randomised crossover trial
Authors: Geraldi Marina Vilar , Betim Cazarin Cínthia Bau , Cristianini Marcelo , Vasques Ana Carolina Junqueira , Geloneze Bruno , Maróstica Júnior Mário Roberto
Published: November 2021

Jabuticaba is a Brazilian berry rich in polyphenols, which may exert beneficial effects on metabolic diseases. This randomised crossover study aimed to determine the effects of jabuticaba juice (250 ml in a portion) on postprandial response. Sixteen healthy subjects (eleven women; five men; 28·4 (sd 3·8) years old; BMI 21·7 (sd 2·3) kg/m−2) consumed two test products after fasting overnight in a randomised controlled crossover design. Each test product portion had a similar composition of sugar components: 250 ml water with glucose, fructose, coloured with artificial non-energetic food colourings (placebo), and 250 ml of jabuticaba juice. Beverages were administered immediately before a carbohydrate meal. Blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min after each test product to analyse the concentrations of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, antioxidant capacity, plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and appetite sensations. Compared with the placebo, the intake of jabuticaba juice resulted in a higher GLP-1 response as the AUC and peaking at 60 min. Jabuticaba juice also resulted in higher antioxidant capacity. Postprandial glucose, insulin, C-peptide levels and appetite sensations were not significantly different between tests. In conclusion, 250 ml of jabuticaba juice before a carbohydrate meal was able to improve the antioxidant status and GLP-1 concentrations in healthy subjects.