bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a bioavailability-based risk assessment framework for nickel in Southeast Asia and Melanesia
Authors: Garman Emily R , Schlekat Christian E , Middleton Ellie , Merrington Graham , Peters Adam , Smith Ross , Stauber Jenny L , Leung Kenneth MY , Gissi Francesca , Binet Monique T , Adams Merrin S , Gillmore Megan L , Golding Lisa A , Jolley Dianne , Wang Zhen , Reichelt-Brushett Amanda
Published: January 2021

Nickel laterite ore deposits are becoming increasingly important sources of Ni for the global marketplace and are found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Cuba, and New Caledonia. There are few legislatively derived standards or guidelines for the protection of aquatic life for Ni in many of these tropical regions, and bioavailability-based environmental risk assessment (ERA) approaches for metals have mainly been developed and tested in temperate regions, such as the United States and Europe. This paper reports on a multi-institutional, 5-y testing program to evaluate Ni exposure, effects, and risk characterization in the Southeast Asia and Melanesia (SEAM) region, which includes New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Further, we have developed an approach to determine if the individual components of classical ERA, including effects assessments, exposure assessments, and risk characterization methodologies (which include bioavailability normalization), are applicable in this region. A main conclusion of this research program is that although ecosystems and exposures may be different in tropical systems, ERA paradigms are constant. A large chronic ecotoxicity data set for Ni is now available for tropical species, and the data developed suggest that tropical ecosystems are not uniquely sensitive to Ni exposure; hence, scientific support exists for combining tropical and temperate data sets to develop tropical environmental quality standards (EQSs). The generic tropical database and tropical exposure scenarios generated can be used as a starting point to examine the unique biotic and abiotic characteristics of specific tropical ecosystems in the SEAM region. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:802–813. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)

KEY POINTS

An approach to determine if the individual components of classical environmental risk assessment (ERA) methodologies are applicable in the Southeast Asia and Melanesia (SEAM) region is presented.

A main conclusion is that, although ecosystems and exposures may be different in tropical systems, ERA paradigms are constant.

A large chronic ecotoxicity data set for Ni is now available for tropical species, and the data developed suggest that tropical ecosystems are not uniquely sensitive to Ni exposure.

The generic tropical database and tropical exposure scenarios generated can be used as a starting point to examine the unique biotic and abiotic characteristics of specific tropical ecosystems in the SEAM region.
The mutational landscape and prognostic indicators of pseudomyxoma peritonei originating from the ovary
Authors: Wang Bing , Yao Jianfei , Ma Ruiqing , Liu Danni , Lu Yiyan , Shi Guanjun , An Lubiao , Xia Ao , Chen Feng , Pang Shaojun , Zhai Xichao , Liu Guifeng , Chen Shifu , Xu Mingyan , Song Lele , Xu Hongbin
Published: January 2021

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disorder with unique pathological and genetic changes. Although several studies have reported the clinical features and mutational changes of PMP that originates from the appendix, few studies on PMP originating from the ovary have been reported due to its extreme rarity. In order to characterize the somatic mutational landscape and to investigate the prognosis predicting factors of ovary‐originating PMP, we examined 830 cases of PMP and identified 16 patients with PMP that originated from the ovary. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was performed on 12 cases using formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. We found that 25% (3/12) of the patients carried mutations in cancer driver genes, including TP53, ATM and SETD2, and 16.7% (2/12) of the patients carried mutations in cancer driver genes, including ATRX, EP300, FGFR2, KRAS, NOCR1 and RB1. The MUC16 (58.33%), BSN (41.67%), PCNT (41.67%), PPP2R5A (41.67%), PRSS36 (41.67%), PTPRK (41.67%) and SBF1 (41.67%) genes presented the highest mutational frequencies. The PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway, human papillomavirus infection pathway, cell skeleton, cell adhesion, and extracellular matrix and membrane proteins were the major pathways or functions that were affected. Patients were followed up to 174 months (median: 48.26 months). The 5‐year OS rate for all patients was 71.2% and the median OS was not reached. PTPRK mutations, presurgical CA199 level, completeness of cytoreduction (CCR) and peritoneal cancer index (PCI) were identified as potential predictive factors for patient survival. In conclusion, the mutational landscape for ovary‐originating PMP was revealed and exhibited unique features distinct from appendix‐originating PMP. PTPRK, CA199, CCR and PCI may predict patient survival.
Alteration in the psychologic status and family environment of pregnant women before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Xie Miaomiao , Wang Xiaoyun , Zhang Jingjing , Wang Yi
Published: January 2021

Objective

To compare mental distress and COVID‐19‐related family environment changes among pregnant women before and during the pandemic.

Methods

In a survey‐based study in Lishui City, Zhejiang, China, pregnant women were recruited before (March–December, 2019; n = 2657) and during (January–August, 2020; n = 689) the COVID‐19 pandemic. They completed the Symptom Check List‐90 Revised (SCL90‐R) questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and were asked about their families via the Family Environment Scale (FES).

Results

Higher SCL90‐R scores of somatization (P = 0.003), depression (P = 0.043), anxiety (P = 0.041), hostility (P = 0.009), and others (P = 0.025) were reported by women during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Sleep disorder also occurred more frequently among pregnant women during the pandemic (P = 0.002). Social environmental characteristics of families showed impaired family cohesion, and increased levels of conflict and independence during the pandemic (all P < 0.05). The FES score for family cohesion was negatively related with obsessive–compulsive, depression, anxiety, and hostility symptoms, whereas that for conflict was positively related with these symptoms (all P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The mental health, sleep, and family environment of pregnant women was impaired during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Potential protective factors including increased social support might help to mitigate long‐lasting negative consequences.
Pregnant women infected by the Zika virus: Ultrasound findings and growth patterns of fetuses with and without microcephaly
Authors: Honorato Emanuelle M. , Holanda Simone C. , Mattos Alice G. L. , Souza Gustavo F. A. , Souza Alex S. R.
Published: January 2021

Objective

To compare ultrasound growth measurements of fetuses with and without microcephaly in suspected Zika virus infection.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study included pregnant women with suspected Zika virus infection to evaluate 110 fetuses with and without microcephaly. The women had been admitted to the fetal medicine unit between October 2015 and August 2016. Cases of fetal microcephaly resulting from other causes were excluded. Variables evaluated were the ultrasound measurements taken at fetal biometry. The relation between each fetal biometry measurement and gestational age was analyzed using fractional polynomials in random‐effects regression models. To evaluate fetal growth, curves of the mean fetal biometric parameters were constructed as a function of gestational age.

Results

Mean biparietal diameter and mean head circumference increased in both groups as a function of gestational age. In the group with fetal microcephaly, mean head circumference was significantly larger in the 13th and 14th weeks of pregnancy, becoming smaller compared with the group without microcephaly from the 20th week onwards, with the difference increasing with gestational age.

Conclusion

Fetal head circumference continues to increase until birth, even after a diagnosis of microcephaly, with a reduction only in the pace of growth. Growth decelerates as the pregnancy approaches term.
Perineal body length and prevention of perineal lacerations during delivery in cameroonian primigravid patients
Authors: Mboua Batoum Véronique , Ngo Um Meka Esther , Essiben Félix , Robinson Mbu Enow
Published: January 2021

Objective

The rate of perineal tears in Cameroonian primiparous women is reported to be up to 59.7%. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between perineal length and perineal tears.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study of primiparous women with singleton pregnancies of at least 36+6 weeks length. The admitting physician measured the length of the perineal body at the first stage of labor and this value was hidden from the delivery personnel until delivery occurred. The presence of perineal trauma and other delivery characteristics were recorded. Data were analyzed using univariate analyses and multiple logistic regression.

Results

The mean perineal body length was 3.21 ± 0.75 cm (range 1.5–5.5 cm). 34 (33.0%) primiparous women sustained spontaneous perineal tears and 20 (19.4%) had episiotomies. No third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tears were observed. Perineal body length shorter than 2.5 cm was a significant (P < 0.04) predictor of spontaneous perineal lacerations (58.3% vs. 29.7% with relative risk 0.59). Both duration of second stage of labor longer than 60 min and occiput posterior presentation were associated with an increased risk of episiotomy in primiparous patients.

Conclusion

Perineal body length less than 2.5 cm significantly predisposed to spontaneous perineal lacerations.
Selective killing of human M1 macrophages by Smac mimetics alone and M2 macrophages by Smac mimetics and caspase inhibition
Authors: Ali Hamza , Caballero Ramon , Dong Simon X M , Gajnayaka Niranjala , Vranjkovic Agatha , Ahmed Duale , Iqbal Salma , Crawley Angela M , Angel Jonathan B , Cassol Edana , Kumar Ashok
Published: January 2021

The inflammatory and anti-inflammatory Mϕs have been implicated in many diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and leprosy. Recent studies suggest targeting Mϕ function and activation may represent a potential target to treat these diseases. Herein, we investigated the effect of second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC) mimetics (SMs), the inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs) proteins, on the killing of human pro- and anti-inflammatory Mϕ subsets. We have shown previously that human monocytes are highly susceptible whereas differentiated Mϕs (M0) are highly resistant to the cytocidal abilities of SMs. To determine whether human Mϕ subsets are resistant to the cytotoxic effects of SMs, we show that M1 Mϕs are highly susceptible to SM-induced cell death whereas M2a, M2b, and M2c differentiated subsets are resistant, with M2c being the most resistant. SM-induced cell death in M1 Mϕs was mediated by apoptosis as well as necroptosis, activated both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis, and was attributed to the IFN-γ-mediated differentiation. In contrast, M2c and M0 Mϕs experienced cell death through necroptosis following simultaneous blockage of the IAPs and the caspase pathways. Overall, the results suggest that survival of human Mϕs is critically linked to the activation of the IAPs pathways. Moreover, agents blocking the cellular IAP1/2 and/or caspases can be exploited therapeutically to address inflammation-related diseases.
Characterization of chemical profile and quantification of major representative components of Wendan decoction, a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula
Authors: Wang Qi , Zou Zhenyu , Zhang Yezi , Lin Pei , Lan Taohua , Qin Zifei , Xu Danping , Wu Huanlin , Yao Zhihong
Published: January 2021

Wendan decoction, a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula consisting of six herbal medicines, has been widely used in clinical treatments for thousands of years due to the expectorant effects. However, the chemical basis of Wendan decoction remains unclear, which hinders the elucidation of the scientific connotation and mechanism of its effective components. In this study, an ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry method was first developed for characterization of its chemical profile, and a total of 142 chemical components including flavonoids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, pungent phytochemicals, and other types were detected, among which 41 components were definitively identified with authentic standards. Furthermore, 14 major representative components were simultaneously quantified by high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector, indicating that the content levels of flavonoids were the most abundant in Wendan decoction. In summary, this study established sensitive and practical methods to systematically characterize chemical profile for the first time and simultaneous quantify representative components of Wendan decoction. These findings above would provide a solid chemical basis for disclosure of potential effective components by further in vivo disposal study, and promote therapeutic mechanism researches of Wendan decoction.
Pharmacological Treatments of Bell's Palsy in Adults: A Systematic Review and Network Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Jalali Mir Mohammad , Soleimani Robabeh , Soltanipour Soheil , Jalali Seyede Melika
Published: January 2021

Objective

We aimed to simultaneously compare all available medical treatments for Bell's palsy using both direct and indirect data.

Methods

The literature was searched from January 1, 1990, until March 1, 2020, with no language restrictions. Randomized clinical trials comparing pharmacological interventions were included in the current network meta‐analysis. We estimated summary risk ratios (RRs), 95% credible interval (CrI), and the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) using network meta‐analyses with random effects in a Bayesian framework. The primary outcomes were complete recovery in short‐term (≤3 months) and intermediate/long‐term (>3 months) after randomization. The secondary outcome was synkinesis.

Results

In total, 21 trials comprising 2,839 participants were retrieved. In terms of good recovery, corticosteroids plus antivirals were the most effective treatment compared to placebo, with RRs ranging between 1.25 (95% CrI: 1.10, 1.43) for the short‐term and 1.26 (95% CrI: 1.11, 1.45) for the intermediate/long‐term recovery. For synkinesis, only corticosteroids plus antivirals (RR 0.35; 95% CrI: 0.19, 0.65) were associated with fewer synkinesis rates than placebo. The certainty of the evidence for good recovery and synkinesis was very low‐low and moderate‐high, respectively.

Conclusions

This network meta‐analysis showed that combined therapy remains the best regimen for a good recovery outcome and the only efficacious regimen for synkinesis. More research is needed to confirm these findings. Laryngoscope, 131:1615–1625, 2021
COVID‐19: Recovery from Chemosensory Dysfunction. A Multicentre study on Smell and Taste
Authors: Niklassen Andreas Steenholt , Draf Julia , Huart Caroline , Hintschich Constantin , Bocksberger Simone , Trecca Eleonora Maria Consiglia , Klimek Ludger , Le Bon Serge D. , Altundag Aytug , Hummel Thomas
Published: January 2021

Objective/Hypothesis

With the COVID‐19 pandemic, chemosensory dysfunction are among the most prevalent symptoms. Most reports are subjective evaluations, which have been suggested to be unreliable. The objective is to test chemosensory dysfunction and recovery based on extensive psychophysical tests in COVID‐19 during the course of the disease.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

A total of 111 patients from four centers participated in the study. All tested positive for SARS‐COV‐2 with RT‐PCR. They were tested within 3 days of diagnosis and 28 to 169 days after infection. Testing included extensive olfactory testing with the Sniffin' Sticks test for threshold, discrimination and identification abilities, and with the Taste Sprays and Taste Strips for gustatory function for quasi‐threshold and taste identification abilities.

Results

There was a significant difference in olfactory function during and after infection. During infection 21% were anosmic, 49% hyposmic, and 30% normosmic. After infection only 1% were anosmic, 26% hyposmic, and 73% normosmic. For gustatory function, there was a difference for all taste qualities, but significantly in sour, bitter, and total score. Twenty‐six percent had gustatory dysfunction during infection and 6.5% had gustatory dysfunction after infection. Combining all tests 22% had combined olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during infection. After infection no patients had combined dysfunction.

Conclusions

Chemosensory dysfunction is very common in COVID‐19, either as isolated smell or taste dysfunction or a combined dysfunction. Most people regain their chemosensory function within the first 28 days, but a quarter of the patients show persisting dysfunction, which should be referred to specialist smell and taste clinics for rehabilitation of chemosensory function.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 131:1095–1100, 2021
Thermo‐poroelastic responses of a pressure‐driven fracture in a carbon storage reservoir and the implications for injectivity and caprock integrity
Authors: Fu Pengcheng , Ju Xin , Huang Jixiang , Settgast Randolph R. , Liu Fang , Morris Joseph P.
Published: January 2021

CO2 injection into a reservoir with marginal permeability (≲ 10−14 m2) could induce pressure high enough to fracture the reservoir rock and/or caprock. A pressure‐driven fracture can immensely enhance the injectivity and would not compromise the integrity of the overall storage complex as long as the fracture is contained vertically. Conventional models for geologic carbon storage simply treat fractures as high‐permeability conduits, ignoring coupled interactions between the fluids, the fracture, the reservoir, and caprock. We employ a high‐fidelity model coupling multiphase flow, heat transport, poroelasticity, thermal contraction, as well as fracture mechanics to study thermo‐poroelastic responses of a pressure‐driven fracture in a carbon storage reservoir. We found that poroelasticity dictates that to maintain an open fracture in the reservoir rock requires a continuous and significant increase of pressure, potentially exceeding the fracturing pressure for the caprock. A closed‐form equation is derived to conservatively compute the pressure increase. Although cooling in the near‐well region could reduce the fracture‐opening pressure, the fracture propagation pressure is still dictated by processes in the far‐field rock unaffected by the cooling. This discrepancy causes a high net pressure near the injection well and could further drive the fracture into the caprock. However, while such fracturing is likely, we demonstrate that in many instances we can expect it to be contained.
The effect of flexible sealing jaws on the tightness of pouches made from mono‐polyolefin films and functional papers
Authors: Hauptmann Marek , Bär Willi , Schmidtchen Ludwig , Bunk Norbert , Abegglen Daniel , Vishtal Alexey , Wyser Yves
Published: January 2021

Flexible packaging materials consisting of several layers of very dissimilar materials are currently considered for replacement by multilayer polyolefin films as well as functional flexible paper materials to improve recyclability. Such materials however lead to new challenges in processing on existing packaging machinery. This paper focuses on the sealing process of such materials, especially looking at pillow pouches and the challenges occurring at the junction between cross and fin seals where the total thickness jumps from two to four layers. It is shown that the application of conventional machinery and sealing tools does not lead to a gastight seal within the operational sealing window of such materials. The origin of the permanent failure is the lack of material fraction capable to flow as a viscous melt into the gap at the fin seal. The limited compressibility of the nonmelting materials and their bending stiffness tend to increase the gap. In case of paper, a flexible sealing jaw, equipped with an elastic insert, enables a focused application of pressure at the layer jump of a poorly compressible material. This results in clearly improved gas tightness of all selected materials in the range of the used test methods (leak size 10 μm). The leakage rate of papers was reduced from 3–4 mbar·l/s with rigid tools to 1 mbar·l/s with flexible tools. The leakage of 2 mbar·l/s with OPP/CPP material could be prevented and no leaks were detected. With OPP/PE, leak‐proof results were obtain within reduced temperature at 140°, which is near the level of acceptable seal quality with low shrinkage effect.
Subscription video streaming for informal foreign language learning: Japanese EFL students’ practices and perceptions
Authors: Dizon Gilbert
Published: January 2021

The use of video streaming services has exploded over the past several years. However, although the use of video is a well‐studied topic in computer‐assisted language learning literature, the use of video streaming for out‐of‐class, informal foreign language (FL) learning has received little attention. This study addresses this gap in the literature. Specifically, the study investigated Japanese university students’ practices regarding the use of subscription video streaming services (SVSSs) for informal FL learning and examined their opinions about the use of these tools for informal FL learning. A survey was administered to second language English students at four Japanese universities to achieve the study’s goals. In addition, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 of the participants to gain more insight into their opinions of SVSSs for FL learning. A total of 256 students participated and fully completed the survey. The results indicate that informal FL learning through SVSSs is common among FL students and that learners have favorable views toward their use for language learning. These findings highlight the need to examine students’ digital practices such as video streaming in order to bridge the gap between out‐of‐class informal language learning and formal language learning in the classroom.
Introduction
Authors: Suwada Katarzyna
Published: January 2021

The first chapter is of introductory character. I set the aims of my analysis which is based on the in-depth interviews about the reconciliation of parenthood and paid work. The book resolves around the narratives of 53 parents of children aged 0–8 years living in Poland. The interviewed parents differ in terms of social and economic backgrounds, family situation (coupled and single parents, divorced parents, reconstituted families) and place of living (countryside, small, medium and large cities). I describe the research sample and methodological choices I made during my fieldwork. These introductory remarks lead to a summary of the main themes of the book: parenting in the context of the organisation of paid work, care work and domestic work, gender and economic inequalities, as well as the role of the welfare state. This chapter ends by looking ahead through summaries of each of the following five chapters.
Parenting, Gender and Work: A Sociological Perspective
Authors: Suwada Katarzyna
Published: January 2021

This chapter presents the issue of parenthood as a subject of sociological inquiry in the context of broader social and cultural changes. I demonstrate why parenthood should be perceived as a process that is strictly connected with social, cultural and institutional contexts. Keeping this in mind I argue that there is no one proper way of doing parenthood. The most important aspect here are the links between parenthood and paid work. I critically approach the concept of work/life balance that is vastly popular in contemporary social sciences, but in my opinion is not always adequate to describe parenting in a post-communist society. I propose to look at parenthood through the lenses of three types of work: care work, paid work and domestic work. I claim that such approach helps to grasp different ways of parenting in contemporary times, as well as to recognise persisting gender and economic inequalities.
Erratum to: Relaxion fluctuations (self-stopping relaxion) and overview of relaxion stopping mechanisms
Authors: Fonseca Nayara , Morgante Enrico , Sato Ryosuke , Servant Géraldine
Published: January 2021

We correct a minor point in section 3.2 of “Relaxion Fluctuations (Self-stopping Relaxion) and Overview of Relaxion Stopping Mechanisms”, JHEP05 (2020) 080. Furthermore, we clarify the origin of equation (4.25). Finally, we add some plots that are of interest.
Tracking Membrane Protein Dynamics in Real Time
Authors: Orädd Fredrik , Andersson Magnus
Published: January 2021

Membrane proteins govern critical cellular processes and are central to human health and associated disease. Understanding of membrane protein function is obscured by the vast ranges of structural dynamics—both in the spatial and time regime—displayed in the protein and surrounding membrane. The membrane lipids have emerged as allosteric modulators of membrane protein function, which further adds to the complexity. In this review, we discuss several examples of membrane dependency. A particular focus is on how molecular dynamics (MD) simulation have aided to map membrane protein dynamics and how enhanced sampling methods can enable observing the otherwise inaccessible biological time scale. Also, time-resolved X-ray scattering in solution is highlighted as a powerful tool to track membrane protein dynamics, in particular when combined with MD simulation to identify transient intermediate states. Finally, we discuss future directions of how to further develop this promising approach to determine structural dynamics of both the protein and the surrounding lipids.

Graphic Abstract
Microbial Species that Initially Colonize the Human Gut at Birth or in Early Childhood Can Stay in Human Body for Lifetime
Authors: Li Weizhong , Nelson Karen E.
Published: January 2021

In recent years, many studies have described the composition and function of the human microbiome at different body sites and suggested a role for the microbiome in various diseases and health conditions. Some studies, using longitudinal samples, have also suggested how the microbiome changes over time due to disease, diet, development, travel, and other environmental factors. However, to date, no study has demonstrated whether the microorganisms established at birth or in early childhood, either transmitted from parents or obtained from the environment, can stay in the human body until adult or senior age. To directly answer this question is difficult, because microbiome samples at childhood and at later adulthood for the same individual will need to be compared and the field is not old enough to have allowed for that type of sample collection. Here, using a metagenomic approach, we analyzed 1004 gut microbiome samples from senior adults (65 ± 7.8 years) from the TwinsUK cohort. Our data indicate that many species in the human gut acquired in early childhood can stay for a lifetime until senior ages. We identified the rare genomic variants (single nucleotide variation and indels) for 27 prevalent species with enough sequencing coverage for confident genomic variant identification. We found that for some species, twin pairs, including both monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins, share significantly more rare variants than unrelated subject pairs. But no significant difference is found between MZ and DZ twin pairs. These observations strongly suggest that these species acquired in early childhood remained in these persons until senior adulthood.
Parental experiences of homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic: differences between seven European countries and between children with and without mental health conditions
Authors: Thorell Lisa B. , Skoglund Charlotte , de la Peña Almudena Giménez , Baeyens Dieter , Fuermaier Anselm B. M. , Groom Madeleine J. , Mammarella Irene C. , van der Oord Saskia , van den Hoofdakker Barbara J. , Luman Marjolein , de Miranda Débora Marques , Siu Angela F. Y. , Steinmayr Ricarda , Idrees Iman , Soares Lorrayne Stephane , Sörlin Matilda , Luque Juan Luis , Moscardino Ughetta M. , Roch Maja , Crisci Giulia , Christiansen Hanna
Published: January 2021

The aim of the present study was to examine parental experiences of homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic in families with or without a child with a mental health condition across Europe. The study included 6720 parents recruited through schools, patient organizations and social media platforms (2002 parents with a child with a mental health condition and 4718 without) from seven European countries: the UK (n = 508), Sweden (n = 1436), Spain (n = 1491), Belgium (n = 508), the Netherlands (n = 324), Germany (n = 1662) and Italy (n = 794). Many parents reported negative effects of homeschooling for themselves and their child, and many found homeschooling to be of poor quality, with insufficient support from schools. In most countries, contact with teachers was limited, leaving parents with primary responsibility for managing homeschooling. Parents also reported increased levels of stress, worry, social isolation, and domestic conflict. A small number of parents reported increased parental alcohol/drug use. Some differences were found between countries and some negative experiences were more common in families with a child with a mental health condition. However, differences between countries and between families with and without a mental health condition were generally small, indicating that many parents across countries reported negative experiences. Some parents also reported positive experiences of homeschooling. The adverse effects of homeschooling will likely have a long-term impact and contribute to increased inequalities. Given that school closures may be less effective than other interventions, policymakers need to carefully consider the negative consequences of homeschooling during additional waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.
Intrinsic motivation in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a neuropsychological investigation of curiosity using dopamine transporter imaging
Authors: Shigemune Yayoi , Kawasaki Iori , Midorikawa Akira , Baba Toru , Takeda Atsushi , Abe Nobuhito
Published: January 2021

Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are believed to involve brain regions that are innervated by the dopaminergic pathway. Although dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain deteriorate in Parkinson’s disease (PD), it remains unclear whether intrinsic motivation is impaired in PD patients. To address this issue, we investigated intrinsic motivation in PD patients using a task designed to assess the “Pandora effect,” which constitutes a curiosity for resolving uncertainty, even if this curiosity is likely to result in negative consequences. Twenty-seven PD patients and 27 age-matched healthy controls (HCs) completed a curiosity task in which they were required to decide either to view or skip negative pictures (e.g., snakes, spiders) and an examination battery that included the Mini-Mental State Examination, a verbal fluency test, the Trail Making Test, 10-word recall tests, and questionnaires for behavioral inhibition/activation and depression. DaTSCAN images to assess the distribution of dopamine transporters in the striatum were acquired only from PD patients. The results revealed that PD patients, relative to the HCs, viewed the pictures less frequently under both the certain and uncertain conditions. However, both the PD patients and HCs viewed the pictures at a higher frequency under the uncertain condition than under the certain condition. In the PD patients, the proportion of pictures viewed under the certain condition was positively correlated with the distribution of dopamine transporters in the striatum. These results suggest that despite the overall decreasing level of interest in viewing negative pictures, the motivation to resolve uncertainty is relatively intact in PD patients.
Evaluating the accuracy and uncertainty of atmospheric and wave model hindcasts during severe events using model ensembles
Authors: Abdolali Ali , van der Westhuysen Andre , Ma Zaizhong , Mehra Avichal , Roland Aron , Moghimi Saeed
Published: January 2021

Various uncertainties exist in a hindcast due to the inabilities of numerical models to resolve all the complicated atmosphere-sea interactions, and the lack of certain ground truth observations. Here, a comprehensive analysis of an atmospheric model performance in hindcast mode (Hurricane Weather and Research Forecasting model—HWRF) and its 40 ensembles during severe events is conducted, evaluating the model accuracy and uncertainty for hurricane track parameters, and wind speed collected along satellite altimeter tracks and at stationary source point observations. Subsequently, the downstream spectral wave model WAVEWATCH III is forced by two sets of wind field data, each includes 40 members. The first ones are randomly extracted from original HWRF simulations and the second ones are based on spread of best track parameters. The atmospheric model spread and wave model error along satellite altimeters tracks and at stationary source point observations are estimated. The study on Hurricane Irma reveals that wind and wave observations during this extreme event are within ensemble spreads. While both Models have wide spreads over areas with landmass, maximum uncertainty in the atmospheric model is at hurricane eye in contrast to the wave model.
A family of solutions to the inverse problem in gravitation: building a theory around a metric
Authors: Suvorov Arthur G.
Published: January 2021

A method is presented to construct a particular, non-minimally coupled scalar–tensor theory such that a given metric is an exact vacuum solution in that theory. In contrast to the standard approach in studies of gravitational dynamics, where one begins with an action and then solves the equations of motion, this approach allows for an explicit theory to be built around some pre-specified geometry. Starting from a parameterized black hole spacetime with generic, non-Kerr hairs, it is shown how an overarching family of theories can be designed to fit the metric exactly.
‘My Point of Departure for Analytics is Extreme Skepticism’: Implications Derived from An Investigation of University Teachers’ Learning Analytics Perspectives and Design Practices
Authors: Kaliisa Rogers , Mørch Anders I. , Kluge Anders
Published: January 2021

The literature until 2020 has forecasted a significant uptake of learning analytics (LA) to support learning design in higher education. However, there remain only a few investigations into teachers’ course design practices and their perspectives on LA as a tool to support their design practices. This paper presents findings from an examination of 16 university teachers’ design practices and perspectives on LA at two Norwegian universities (The University of Oslo and Oslo Metropolitan University). On one hand, findings identified situational factors, feedback sources and teachers’ intuition as key influencers of teachers’ course design decisions. On the other hand, guided by principles of the technology acceptance model, this study identified mixed reactions amongst teachers regarding the awareness, understanding and potential use of LA to support course design practices. In particular, most teachers appreciated the formative and normative value of LA to provide more objective evidence about students’ learning patterns and to shape learning trajectories, but some were skeptical about the evaluative role where LA is used to evaluate teachers’ and students’ performance based on unnuanced data (e.g. no theory guidance) with limited depth in observation. This article contributes to the understanding of factors fundamental to linking LA to teachers’ course design practices by synthesizing findings to propose a ‘bi-directional LA-course design’ conceptual framework that clarifies key elements that influence teachers’ design practices and highlighting their implications for LA integration.
The 2010 Horizontal Merger Guidelines After 10 Years
Authors: Farrell Joseph , Shapiro Carl
Published: January 2021

This paper introduces the Special Issue of the Review of Industrial Organization that studies the impact of the 2010 Horizontal Merger Guidelines after 10 years

On August 19, 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued newly updated Horizontal Merger Guidelines (2010 Guidelines) [See https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/merger-review/100819hmg.pdf.]. The 2010 Guidelines begin by stating:

“These Guidelines outline the principal analytical techniques, practices, and the enforcement policy of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (the “Agencies”) with respect to mergers and acquisitions involving actual or potential competitors (“horizontal mergers”) under the federal antitrust laws.”

Since the first Merger Guidelines were issued by the DOJ 1968, the merger guidelines have been an important channel by which economic research and learning affects antitrust enforcement. Each iteration of the merger guidelines has reflected the economic thinking of the day. Each iteration also has made a substantial impact on merger enforcement and the development of antitrust law. This special issue examines the impact of the 2010 Merger Guidelines after 10 years.
In situ bioremediation of Fenton’s reaction–treated oil spill site, with a soil inoculum, slow release additives, and methyl-β-cyclodextrin
Authors: Talvenmäki Harri , Saartama Niina , Haukka Anna , Lepikkö Katri , Pajunen Virpi , Punkari Milla , Yan Guoyong , Sinkkonen Aki , Piepponen Tuomas , Silvennoinen Hannu , Romantschuk Martin
Published: January 2021

A residential lot impacted by spills from a leaking light heating oil tank was treated with a combination of chemical oxidation and bioremediation to avoid technically challenging excavation. The tank left emptied in the ground was used for slow infiltration of the remediation additives to the low permeability, clayey soil. First, hydrogen peroxide and citrate chelate was added for Fenton’s reaction–based chemical oxidation, resulting in a ca. 50% reduction from the initial 25,000 mg/kg average oil concentration in the soil below the tank. Part of this was likely achieved through mobilization of oily soil into the tank, which was beneficial in regards to the following biological treatment. By first adding live bacteria in a soil inoculum, and then oxygen and nutrients in different forms, an approximately 90% average reduction was achieved. To further enhance the effect, methyl-β-cyclodextrin surfactant (CD) was added, resulting finally in a 98% reduction from the initial average level. The applicability of the surfactant was based on laboratory-scale tests demonstrating that CD promoted oil degradation and, unlike pine soap, was not utilized by the bacteria as a carbon source, and thus inhibiting degradation of oils regardless of the positive effect on biological activity. The effect of CD on water solubility for different hydrocarbon fractions was tested to serve as the basis for risk assessment requirements for authorizing the use of the surfactant at the site.
Evaluation of deep learning-based approaches for COVID-19 classification based on chest X-ray images
Authors: KC Kamal , Yin Zhendong , Wu Mingyang , Wu Zhilu
Published: January 2021

The COVID-19, novel coronavirus or SARS-Cov-2, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and affected millions of people all around the world with the number of deaths and infections growing exponentially. Deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) has been a huge milestone for image classification task including medical images. Transfer learning of state-of-the-art models have proven to be an efficient method of overcoming deficient data problem. In this paper, a thorough evaluation of eight pre-trained models is presented. Training, validating, and testing of these models were performed on chest X-ray (CXR) images belonging to five distinct classes, containing a total of 760 images. Fine-tuned models, pre-trained in ImageNet dataset, were computationally efficient and accurate. Fine-tuned DenseNet121 achieved a test accuracy of 98.69% and macro f1-score of 0.99 for four classes classification containing healthy, bacterial pneumonia, COVID-19, and viral pneumonia, and fine-tuned models achieved higher test accuracy for three-class classification containing healthy, COVID-19, and SARS images. The experimental results show that only 62% of total parameters were retrained to achieve such accuracy.
DREAM
Authors: Gong Zhu-Qing , Gao Peng , Jiang Chao , Xing Xiu-Xia , Dong Hao-Ming , White Tonya , Castellanos F. Xavier , Li Hai-Fang , Zuo Xi-Nian
Published: January 2021

Rhythms of the brain are generated by neural oscillations across multiple frequencies. These oscillations can be decomposed into distinct frequency intervals associated with specific physiological processes. In practice, the number and ranges of decodable frequency intervals are determined by sampling parameters, often ignored by researchers. To improve the situation, we report on an open toolbox with a graphical user interface for decoding rhythms of the brain system (DREAM). We provide worked examples of DREAM to investigate frequency-specific performance of both neural (spontaneous brain activity) and neurobehavioral (in-scanner head motion) oscillations. DREAM decoded the head motion oscillations and uncovered that younger children moved their heads more than older children across all five frequency intervals whereas boys moved more than girls in the age of 7 to 9 years. It is interesting that the higher frequency bands contain more head movements, and showed stronger age-motion associations but weaker sex-motion interactions. Using data from the Human Connectome Project, DREAM mapped the amplitude of these neural oscillations into multiple frequency bands and evaluated their test-retest reliability. The resting-state brain ranks its spontaneous oscillation’s amplitudes spatially from high in ventral-temporal areas to low in ventral-occipital areas when the frequency band increased from low to high, while those in part of parietal and ventral frontal regions are reversed. The higher frequency bands exhibited more reliable amplitude measurements, implying more inter-individual variability of the amplitudes for the higher frequency bands. In summary, DREAM adds a reliable and valid tool to mapping human brain function from a multiple-frequency window into brain waves.
Adenosine Signaling and Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis of Glutamate AMPA Receptors in Delayed Hypoxic Injury in Rat Hippocampus: Role of Casein Kinase 2
Authors: Qin Xin , Zaki Michael G. , Chen Zhicheng , Jakova Elisabet , Ming Zhi , Cayabyab Francisco S.
Published: January 2021

Chronic adenosine A1R stimulation in hypoxia leads to persistent hippocampal synaptic depression, while unopposed adenosine A2AR receptor stimulation during hypoxia/reperfusion triggers adenosine-induced post-hypoxia synaptic potentiation (APSP) and increased neuronal death. Still, the mechanisms responsible for this adenosine-mediated neuronal damage following hypoxia need to be fully elucidated. We tested the hypothesis that A1R and A2AR regulation by protein kinase casein kinase 2 (CK2) and clathrin-dependent endocytosis of AMPARs both contribute to APSPs and neuronal damage. The APSPs following a 20-min hypoxia recorded from CA1 layer of rat hippocampal slices were abolished by A1R and A2AR antagonists and by broad-spectrum AMPAR antagonists. The inhibitor of GluA2 clathrin-mediated endocytosis Tat-GluA2-3Y peptide and the dynamin-dependent endocytosis inhibitor dynasore both significantly inhibited APSPs. The CK2 antagonist DRB also inhibited APSPs and, like hypoxic treatment, caused opposite regulation of A1R and A2AR surface expression. APSPs were abolished when calcium-permeable AMPAR (CP-AMPAR) antagonist (IEM or philanthotoxin) or non-competitive AMPAR antagonist perampanel was applied 5 min after hypoxia. In contrast, perampanel, but not CP-AMPAR antagonists, abolished APSPs when applied during hypoxia/reperfusion. To test for neuronal viability after hypoxia, propidium iodide staining revealed significant neuroprotection of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons when pretreated with Tat-GluA2-3Y peptide, CK2 inhibitors, dynamin inhibitor, CP-AMPAR antagonists (applied 5 min after hypoxia), and perampanel (either at 5 min hypoxia onset or during APSP). These results suggest that the A1R-CK2-A2AR signaling pathway in hypoxia/reperfusion injury model mediates increased hippocampal synaptic transmission and neuronal damage via calcium-permeable AMPARs that can be targeted by perampanel for neuroprotective stroke therapy.
Junge Geflüchtete gesellschaftlich integrieren
Authors: Scherr Albert , Breit Helen
Published: January 2021

Grundlage des Beitrags ist ein qualitatives Forschungsprojekt zu krisenhaften Entwicklungsverläufen und problematischen Verhaltensweisen bei jungen Geflüchteten. Ausgehend von einer knapp gefassten Kritik politischer und medialer Dramatisierungen, die junge männliche Geflüchtete als bedrohliche Problemgruppe darstellen, werden Überlegungen zu Anforderungen an eine Soziale Arbeit dargestellt, die darauf ausgerichtet ist, eine dem Bedarf junger Geflüchteter angemessene Unterstützung zu ermöglichen.
Female-Type Android’s Drive to Quickly Understand a User’s Concept of Preferences Stimulates Dialogue Satisfaction: Dialogue Strategies for Modeling User’s Concept of Preferences
Authors: Uchida Takahisa , Minato Takashi , Nakamura Yutaka , Yoshikawa Yuichiro , Ishiguro Hiroshi
Published: January 2021

This research develops a conversational robot that stimulates users’ dialogue satisfaction and motivation in non-task-oriented dialogues that include opinion and/or preference exchanges. One way to improve user satisfaction and motivation is by demonstrating the robot’s ability to understand user opinions. In this paper, we explore a method that efficiently obtains the concept of user preferences: likes and dislikes. The concept is acquired by complementing a small amount of user preference data observed in dialogues. As a method for efficient collection, we propose a dialogue strategy that creates utterances with the largest expected complementation. Our experimental results with a female-type android robot suggest that the proposed strategy efficiently obtained user preferences and enhanced dialogue satisfaction. In addition, the strength of user motivation (i.e., long-term willingness to communicate with the android) is only positively correlated with the android’s willingness to understand. Our results not only show the effectiveness of our proposed strategy but also suggest a design theory for dialogue robots to stimulate dialogue motivation, although the current results are derived only from a female-type android.