bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does compulsory schooling affect health? Evidence from ambulatory claims data
Authors: Begerow Tatjana , Jürges Hendrik
Published: November 2021

Using claims data on more than 23 million statutorily insured, we investigate the causal effect of schooling on health in the largest and most comprehensive analysis for Germany to date. In a regression discontinuity approach, we exploit changes in compulsory schooling in West Germany to estimate the reduced form effect of the reforms on health, measured by doctor diagnoses in ICD-10 format covering physical as well as mental health conditions. To mitigate the problem that empirical results depend on subjective decisions made by the researcher, we perform specification curve analyses to assess the robustness of findings across various model specifications. We find that the reforms have, at best, very small impacts on the examined doctor diagnoses. In most of the specifications we estimate insignificant effects that are close to zero and often of the “wrong” sign. Therefore, our study questions the presence of the large positive effects of education on health that are found in the previous literature.
Investigating socially assistive systems from system design and evaluation: a systematic review
Authors: Qiu Shi , An Pengcheng , Kang Kai , Hu Jun , Han Ting , Rauterberg Matthias
Published: November 2021

PurposeThe development of assistive technologies that support people in social interactions has attracted increased attention in HCI. This paper presents a systematic review of studies of Socially Assistive Systems targeted at older adults and people with disabilities. The purpose is threefold: (1) Characterizing related assistive systems with a special focus on the system design, primarily including HCI technologies used and user-involvement approach taken; (2) Examining their ways of system evaluation; (3) Reflecting on insights for future design research.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted using the keywords “social interactions” and “assistive technologies” within the following databases: Scopus, Web of Science, ACM, Science Direct, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore.ResultsSixty-five papers met the inclusion criteria and were further analyzed. Our results showed that there were 11 types of HCI technologies that supported social interactions for target users. The most common was cognitive and meaning understanding technologies, often applied with wearable devices for compensating users’ sensory loss; 33.85% of studies involved end-users and stakeholders in the design phase; Four types of evaluation methods were identified. The majority of studies adopted laboratory experiments to measure user-system interaction and system validation. Proxy users were used in system evaluation, especially in initial experiments; 42.46% of evaluations were conducted in field settings, primarily including the participants’ own homes and institutions.ConclusionWe contribute an overview of Socially Assistive Systems that support social interactions for older adults and people with disabilities, as well as illustrate emerging technologies and research opportunities for future work.
Identification of a familial cleidocranial dysplasia with a novel RUNX2 mutation and establishment of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Hamada Atsuko , Mukasa Hanae , Taguchi Yuki , Akagi Eri , Obayashi Fumitaka , Yamasaki Sachiko , Kanda Taku , Koizumi Koichi , Toratani Shigeaki , Okamoto Tetsuji
Published: November 2021

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease associated with the gene RUNX2. Disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as a useful resource to further study human hereditary diseases such as CCD. In this study, we identified a novel CCD-specific RUNX2 mutation and established iPSCs with this mutation. Biopsies were obtained from familial CCD patients and mutation analyses were performed through Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing. CCD-specific human iPSCs (CCD-hiPSCs) were established and maintained under completely defined serum, feeder, and integration-free condition using a non-integrating replication-defective Sendai virus vector. We identified the novel mutation RUNX2_c.371C>G and successfully established CCD-hiPSCs. The CCD-hiPSCs inherited the same mutation, possessed pluripotency, and showed the ability to differentiate the three germ layers. We concluded that RUNX2_c.371C>G was likely pathogenic because our results, derived from next generation sequencing, are supported by actual clinical evidence, familial tracing, and genetic data. Thus, we concluded that hiPSCs with a novel CCD-specific RUNX2 mutation are viable as a resource for future studies on CCD.
Heterosis and combining abilities in a diverse seven-parent pearl millet population diallel tested in West Africa
Authors: Dutta Sonali , Sattler Felix T. , Pucher Anna , Drabo Inoussa , Issaka Ahmad , Sy Ousmane , Sanogo Moussa D. , Angarawai Ignatius I. , Haussmann Bettina I. G.
Published: November 2021

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important food-security crop to smallholder farmers in West Africa (WA). Breeding for high yield and stability is a major challenge in the harsh environments of WA but could be tackled by a more systematic exploitation of hybrid vigor and heterosis in breeding of both open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and different types of hybrids. Knowledge of combining ability patterns and quantitative-genetic parameters is required for an efficient development of hybrid vigor and heterosis in breeding programs. Hence, our objectives were to complement other existing studies and estimate the combining ability of seven unique, highly diverse Sahelian pearl millet populations from Senegal, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sudan and Nigeria and the heterosis and stability of their 42 diallel-derived population hybrids (or hybrid populations) to inform pearl millet OPV and hybrid breeding. The materials were evaluated in six environments in WA in 2007. Grain yield (GY) exhibited an average panmictic mid-parent heterosis of 24%, ranging from − 1.51 to 64.69%. General combining ability (GCA) was significant across test environments as reflected by high heritability estimates and high GCA:SCA variance ratios. Thus, early selection for parental per se performance would be rewarding. The parental population from Sudan (IP8679) had strongly negative GCA for GY. Its lack of adaptation contributed to the predominance of additive effects in the present germplasm set. Parental populations PE02987 (Senegal), PE05344 (Mali) and ICMV IS 92222 (Niger) showed large positive GCA for GY. Their offspring, especially PE02987 × PE05344 and Kapelga × ICMV IS 92222, exhibited a high and stable GY across all test environments. Tapping the regional pearl millet genetic diversity and preselecting the crossing parents seem beneficial for OPV and hybrid breeding to increase pearl millet productivity in WA.
The Role of Open Science Practices in Scaling Evidence-Based Prevention Programs
Authors: Supplee Lauren H. , Ammerman Robert T. , Duggan Anne K. , List John A. , Suskind Dana
Published: November 2021

The goal of creating evidence-based programs is to scale them at sufficient breadth to support population-level improvements in critical outcomes. However, this promise is challenging to fulfill. One of the biggest issues for the field is the reduction in effect sizes seen when a program is taken to scale. This paper discusses an economic perspective that identifies the underlying incentives in the research process that lead to scale up problems and to deliver potential solutions to strengthen outcomes at scale. The principles of open science are well aligned with this goal. One prevention program that has begun to scale across the USA is early childhood home visiting. While there is substantial impact research on home visiting, overall average effect size is .10 and a recent national randomized trial found attenuated effect sizes in programs implemented under real-world conditions. The paper concludes with a case study of the relevance of the economic model and open science in developing and scaling evidence-based home visiting. The case study considers how the traditional approach for testing interventions has influenced home visiting’s evolution to date and how open science practices could have supported efforts to maintain impacts while scaling home visiting. It concludes by considering how open science can accelerate the refinement and scaling of home visiting interventions going forward, through accelerated translation of research into policy and practice.
Why Europe Does not Need a Constitution: On the Limits of Constituent Power as a Tool for Democratization
Authors: Ballangé Aliénor
Published: November 2021

In this article, I question the use of the notion of ‘constituent power’ as a tool for the democratization of the European Union (EU). Rather than seeing the absence of a transnational constituent power as a cause of the EU’s ‘democratic deficit’, I identify it as an opportunity for unfettered democratic participation. Against the reification of power-in-action into a power-constituted-in-law, I argue that the democratization of the EU can only be achieved through the multiplication of ‘constituent moments’. I begin by deconstructing the normative justifications surrounding the concept of constituent power. Here I analyze the structural aporia of constituent power and question the autonomous and emancipatory dimension of this notion. I then test the theoretical hypothesis of this structural aporia of the popular constituent power by comparing it with the historical experiments of a European popular constituent power. Finally, based on these theoretical and empirical observations, I propose to replace the ambivalence of the concept of popular constituent power with a more cautious approach to the bottom-up democratization of European integration: that of a multiplication of transnational constituent moments.
Early Post-ischemic Brain Glucose Metabolism Is Dependent on Function of TLR2: a Study Using [18F]F-FDG PET-CT in a Mouse Model of Cardiac Arrest and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Authors: Bajorat Rika , Kurth Jens , Stenzel Jan , Vollmar Brigitte , Krause Bernd J. , Reuter Daniel A. , Schuerholz Tobias , Bergt Stefan
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The mammalian brain glucose metabolism is tightly and sensitively regulated. An ischemic brain injury caused by cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) affects cerebral function and presumably also glucose metabolism. The majority of patients who survive CA suffer from cognitive deficits and physical disabilities. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) plays a crucial role in inflammatory response in ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Since deficiency of TLR2 was associated with increased survival after CA-CPR, in this study, glucose metabolism was measured using non-invasive [18F]F-FDG PET-CT imaging before and early after CA-CPR in a mouse model comparing wild-type (WT) and TLR2-deficient (TLR2−/−) mice. The investigation will evaluate whether FDG-PET could be useful as an additional methodology in assessing prognosis.

Procedures

Two PET-CT scans using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]F-FDG) tracer were carried out to measure dynamic glucose metabolism before and early after CPR. To achieve this, anesthetized and ventilated adult female WT and TLR2−/− mice were scanned in PET-CT. After recovery from the baseline scan, the same animals underwent 10-min KCL-induced CA followed by CPR. Approximately 90 min after CA, measurements of [18F]F-FDG uptake for 60 min were started. The [18F]F-FDG standardized uptake values (SUVs) were calculated using PMOD-Software on fused FDG-PET-CT images with the included 3D Mirrione-Mouse-Brain-Atlas.

Results

The absolute SUVmean of glucose in the whole brain of WT mice was increased about 25.6% after CA-CPR. In contrast, the absolute glucose SUV in the whole brain of TLR2−/− mice was not significantly different between baseline and measurements post CA-CPR. In comparison, baseline measurements of both mouse strains show a highly significant difference with regard to the absolute glucose SUV in the whole brain. Values of TLR2−/− mice revealed a 34.6% higher glucose uptake.

Conclusions

The altered mouse strains presented a different pattern in glucose uptake under normal and ischemic conditions, whereby the post-ischemic differences in glucose metabolism were associated with the function of key immune factor TLR2. There is evidence for using early FDG-PET-CT as an additional diagnostic tool after resuscitation. Further studies are needed to use PET-CT in predicting neurological outcomes.
Eine mehrdimensionale Betrachtung des Druckerlebens von Schüler*innen der Sekundarstufe II aus der Perspektive der Selbstbestimmungstheorie
Authors: Kaiser Lisa-Maria , Besa Kris-Stephen , Wilde Matthias , Großmann Nadine
Published: November 2021

Gemäß der Selbstbestimmungstheorie der Motivation hängen die Motivation und der Lernerfolg von Schüler*innen von der Befriedigung der drei psychologischen Grundbedürfnisse nach Autonomie, Kompetenz und sozialer Eingebundenheit ab. Der Schulalltag ist allerdings häufig durch das Erleben von Druck und Kontrolle gekennzeichnet, was sich negativ auf den Lernprozess auswirkt. Derzeit gibt es aus Perspektive der Selbstbestimmungstheorie nur wenig aktuelle Forschung zum Druckerleben von Schüler*innen. Dieses Desiderat adressiert die vorliegende Studie. In einem ersten Schritt wurde ein Messinstrument überprüft, welches das Druckerleben von Schüler*innen bezüglich verschiedener Belastungsfaktoren evaluiert. Mittels explorativer Faktorenanalyse wurden die drei Dimensionen Druck durch zeitliche Anforderungen, Leistungsanforderungen und die Lehrperson extrahiert. In einem zweiten Schritt konnte die Faktorenstruktur auch anhand einer anderen Stichprobe repliziert werden. In einem Strukturgleichungsmodell wurde zudem untersucht, inwieweit sich die zuvor ermittelten Druckdimensionen auf die Befriedigung der psychologischen Grundbedürfnisse auswirken. Das Erleben von Autonomie, Kompetenz und sozialer Eingebundenheit wird in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß durch die verschiedenen Druckdimensionen vorhergesagt.
Least-squares bilinear clustering of three-way data
Authors: Schoonees Pieter C. , Groenen Patrick J. F. , van de Velden Michel
Published: November 2021

A least-squares bilinear clustering framework for modelling three-way data, where each observation consists of an ordinary two-way matrix, is introduced. The method combines bilinear decompositions of the two-way matrices with clustering over observations. Different clusterings are defined for each part of the bilinear decomposition, which decomposes the matrix-valued observations into overall means, row margins, column margins and row–column interactions. Therefore up to four different classifications are defined jointly, one for each type of effect. The computational burden is greatly reduced by the orthogonality of the bilinear model, such that the joint clustering problem reduces to separate problems which can be handled independently. Three of these sub-problems are specific cases of k-means clustering; a special algorithm is formulated for the row–column interactions, which are displayed in clusterwise biplots. The method is illustrated via an empirical example and interpreting the interaction biplots are discussed. Supplemental materials for this paper are available online, which includes the dedicated R package, .
Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction—Does Sex Matter?
Authors: Swaraj Sascha , Kozor Rebecca , Arnott Clare , Di Bartolo Belinda A. , A. Figtree Gemma
Published: November 2021

Purpose of Review

There is an increasing recognition of the importance of sex in susceptibility, clinical presentation, and outcomes for heart failure. This review focusses on heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), unravelling differences in biology, clinical and demographic features and evidence for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This is intended to inform clinicians and researchers regarding state-of-the-art evidence relevant to women, as well as areas of unmet need.

Recent Findings

Females are well recognised to be under-represented in clinical trials, but there have been some improvements in recent years. Data from the last 5 years reaffirms that women presenting with HFrEF women are older and have more comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes and obesity compared with men and are less likely to have ischaemic heart disease. Non-ischaemic aetiologies are more likely to be the cause of HFrEF in women, and women are more often symptomatic. Whilst mortality is less than in their male counterparts, HFrEF is associated with a bigger impact on quality of life in females. The implications of this for improved prevention, treatment and outcomes are discussed.

This review reveals distinct sex differences in HFrEF pathophysiology, types of presentation, morbidity and mortality. In light of this, in order for future research and clinical medicine to be able to manage HFrEF adequately, there must be more representation of women in clinical trials as well as collaboration for the development of sex-specific management guidelines. Future research might also elucidate the biochemical foundation of the sex discrepancy in HFrEF.
Identification of Trueperella bernardiae isolated from peking ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) by phenotypical and genotypical investigations and by a newly developed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay
Authors: Ahmed Marwa F. E. , Alssahen Mazen , Lämmler Christoph , Köhler Bernd , Metzner Martin , Plötz Madeleine , Abdulmawjood Amir
Published: November 2021

Trueperella (T.) bernardiae is a well-known bacterial pathogen in infections of humans, rarely in animals. In the present study, five T. bernardiae isolates, isolated from five Peking ducks of four different farms, were identified by phenotypic properties, by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis, and genotypically by sequencing the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, the superoxide dismutase A encoding gene sodA, and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase encoding gene gap. In addition, the T. bernardiae isolates could be identified with a newly developed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay based on the gyrase encoding housekeeping gene gyrA. All these tests clearly identified the T. bernardiae isolates to the species level. However, the detection of the specific gene gyrA with the newly designed LAMP assay appeared with a high sensitivity and specificity, and could help to identify this bacterial species in human and animal infections in future. The importance of the T. bernardiae isolates for the clinical condition of the ducks and for the problems at farm level remains unclear.
Predictors of delayed breast reconstruction in the Netherlands: a 5-year follow-up study in stage I–III breast cancer patients
Authors: van Egdom L. S. E. , de Ligt K. M. , de Munck L. , Koppert L. B. , Mureau M. A. M. , Rakhorst H. A. , Siesling S.
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Delayed breast reconstruction (DBR) is a valid option for postmastectomy breast cancer patients who have a desire for breast reconstruction but are not considered suitable for immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical practice and predictors of the use of DBR in the Netherlands.

Methods

Stage I–III breast cancer patients diagnosed from January to March 2012 and treated with mastectomy were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Routinely collected patient, tumor, treatment and hospital characteristics were complemented with data about DBR up to 2018. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with postmastectomy DBR. Factors associated with time to DBR were identified through Cox regression analyses.

Results

Of all patients who underwent mastectomy (n = 1,415), 10.2% underwent DBR. DBR patients more often received autologous reconstruction compared to IBR patients (37.5% vs 6.2%, p < 0.001). Age below 50 years (age < 35 OR 15.55, age 35–49 OR 4.18) and neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy (OR 2.59 and OR 2.83, respectively) were significantly associated with DBR. Mean time to DBR was 2.4 years [range 1–6 years]. Time to DBR was significantly associated with age < 35 years (HR 2.22), and a high hospital volume (HR 1.87).

Discussion

The use of DBR after mastectomy could not be fully explained by age below 50 years, chemotherapy, and hospital volume. Treatment with radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy increased time to DBR. More information about patient preferences is needed to understand the use and timing of reconstruction.
Snacktivity™ to Promote Physical Activity: a Qualitative Study
Authors: Tyldesley-Marshall Natalie , Greenfield Sheila M. , Parretti Helen M. , Gokal Kajal , Greaves Colin , Jolly Kate , Maddison Ralph , Daley Amanda J. ,   Snacktivity™ Study Team, Biddle Stuart , Edwardson Charlotte , Esliger Dale , Frew Emma , Ives Natalie , Mutrie Nanette , Sanders James , Sherar Lauren , Skrybrant Magdalena , Yates Tom
Published: November 2021

Background

Adults should achieve a minimum of 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week, but many people do not achieve this. Changes to international guidance have removed the requirement to complete physical activity in bouts of at least 10 min. Snacktivity is a novel and complementary approach that could motivate people to be physically active. It focuses on promoting shorter (2–5 min) and more frequent bouts, or ‘snacks’ of physical activity throughout the day. It is not known whether promoting physical activity in shorter bouts is acceptable to the public, or whether it likely to translate into health behaviour change.

Methods

As part of a larger research programme, this study explored the merits of using small bouts of physical activity to help the public become physically active (the Snacktivity™ programme). Thirty-one inactive adults used the approach for five days then participated in semi- structured interviews about their experiences. The data were analysed using the Framework approach.

Results

Whilst participants highlighted some potential barriers to implementation, they expressed the ease with which Snacktivity could be achieved, which gave them a new awareness of opportunities to do more physical activity throughout the day. Participants raised the importance of habit formation to achieve regular small bouts of physical activity.

Conclusions

Findings demonstrated that participants liked the Snacktivity concept and viewed it as a motivating approach. Guidance about physical activity must lead to advice that has the best chance of preserving and promoting health and Snacktivity has potential to meet this ambition.
“There’s no reason to do monogamy”: Evidence for and Characteristics Associated with a Strong Desire for Consensual Nonmonogamy
Authors: Arter Jennifer , Bunge Sacha S.
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) is a form of relationship practiced by many despite widespread stigma against it. In this study, we explore evidence of strong, persistent desire for CNM among some individuals, and look for commonalities among these individuals.

Method

Between February 2019 and June 2020, we conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 51 US adults who had practiced CNM for between 3 and 50 years, recruited via community contacts and snowball method. Participants reported a broad diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities; 62.7% reported European/white ancestry. We conducted thematic analysis to examine evidence of strong, persistent desire for CNM and common characteristics and experiences among participants.

Results

We describe 7 sub-themes that suggest a strong desire for CNM, such as pursuing CNM early in life, experiencing difficulties in attempts at monogamy, and describing one’s desire for CNM as enduring or unchangeable. We then describe 9 characteristics and experiences that were common among participants, such as a preference for autonomy, not experiencing categorical distinctions among relationships, desiring to make life plans with multiple adults, and exposure to communities whose norms do not assume monogamy.

Conclusions

Our data indicate a pattern of desires, life choices, and self-perceptions suggesting that some individuals strongly desire and persistently pursue CNM (whereas others appear to be comfortable with both CNM and monogamy).

Policy Implications

Our results suggest that some individuals consistently desire and pursue CNM relationships, and therefore would benefit from efforts toward destigmatization and reduction of institutional disadvantage against the practice of CNM.
A Density of Ramified Primes
Authors: Chan Stephanie , McMeekin Christine , Milovic Djordjo
Published: November 2021

Let K be a cyclic number field of odd degree over $${\mathbb {Q}}$$
Q
with odd narrow class number, such that 2 is inert in $$K/{\mathbb {Q}}$$

K
/
Q

. We define a family of number fields $$\{K(p)\}_p$$

{
K

(
p
)

}

p

, depending on K and indexed by the rational primes p that split completely in $$K/{\mathbb {Q}}$$

K
/
Q

, in which p is always ramified of degree 2. Conditional on a standard conjecture on short character sums, the density of such rational primes p that exhibit one of two possible ramified factorizations in $$K(p)/{\mathbb {Q}}$$

K
(
p
)
/
Q

is strictly between 0 and 1 and is given explicitly as a formula in terms of the degree of the extension $$K/{\mathbb {Q}}$$

K
/
Q

. Our results are unconditional in the cubic case. Our proof relies on a detailed study of the joint distribution of spins of prime ideals.
Variants of derivation modes for which catalytic P systems with one catalyst are computationally complete
Authors: Alhazov Artiom , Freund Rudolf , Ivanov Sergiu , Verlan Sergey
Published: November 2021

Catalytic P systems are among the first variants of membrane systems ever considered in this area. This variant of systems also features some prominent computational complexity questions, and in particular the problem of using only one catalyst: is one catalyst enough to allow for generating all recursively enumerable sets of multisets? Several additional ingredients have been shown to be sufficient for obtaining even computational completeness with only one catalyst. Last year we could show that the derivation mode $$max_{objects}$$

m
a

x

objects

, where we only take those multisets of rules which affect the maximal number of objects in the underlying configuration one catalyst is sufficient for obtaining computational completeness without any other ingredients. In this paper we follow this way of research and show that one catalyst is also sufficient for obtaining computational completeness when using specific variants of derivation modes based on non-extendable multisets of rules: we only take those non-extendable multisets whose application yields the maximal number of generated objects or else those non-extendable multisets whose application yields the maximal difference in the number of objects between the newly generated configuration and the current configuration. A similar computational completeness result can even be obtained when omitting the condition of non-extendability of the applied multisets when taking the maximal difference of objects or the maximal number of generated objects. Moreover, we reconsider simple P system with energy control—both symbol and rule energy-controlled P systems equipped with these new variants of derivation modes yield computational completeness.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SCOTT COMPLEXITY OF COUNTABLE STRUCTURES AND A SURVEY OF RECENT RESULTS
Authors: HARRISON-TRAINOR MATTHEW
Published: November 2021

Every countable structure has a sentence of the infinitary logic
$\mathcal {L}_{\omega _1 \omega }$
which characterizes that structure up to isomorphism among countable structures. Such a sentence is called a Scott sentence, and can be thought of as a description of the structure. The least complexity of a Scott sentence for a structure can be thought of as a measurement of the complexity of describing the structure. We begin with an introduction to the area, with short and simple proofs where possible, followed by a survey of recent advances.
Invariant measures for interval maps without Lyapunov exponents
Authors: OLIVARES-VINALES JORGE
Published: November 2021

We construct an invariant measure for a piecewise analytic interval map whose Lyapunov exponent is not defined. Moreover, for a set of full measure, the pointwise Lyapunov exponent is not defined. This map has a Lorenz-like singularity and non-flat critical points.
Severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) surface contamination in staff common areas and impact on healthcare worker infection: Prospective surveillance during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
Authors: Zhang Helen L. , Kelly Brendan J. , David Michael Z. , Lautenbach Ebbing , Huang Elizabeth , Bekele Selamawit , Tolomeo Pam , Reesey Emily , Loughrey Sean , Pegues David , Ziegler Matthew J. ,   for the CDC Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: November 2021

We prospectively surveyed SARS-CoV-2 RNA contamination in staff common areas within an acute-care hospital. An increasing prevalence of surface contamination was detected over time. Adjusting for patient census or community incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the proportion of contaminated surfaces did not predict healthcare worker COVID-19 infection on study units.
Nonlinear amplification in hydrodynamic turbulence
Authors: Iyer Kartik P. , Sreenivasan Katepalli R. , Yeung P.K.
Published: November 2021

Using direct numerical simulations performed on periodic cubes of various sizes, the largest being

$8192^3$

, we examine the nonlinear advection term in the Navier–Stokes equations generating fully developed turbulence. We find significant dissipation even in flow regions where nonlinearity is locally absent. With increasing Reynolds number, the Navier–Stokes dynamics amplifies the nonlinearity in a global sense. This nonlinear amplification with increasing Reynolds number renders the vortex stretching mechanism more intermittent, with the global suppression of nonlinearity, reported previously, restricted to low Reynolds numbers. In regions where vortex stretching is absent, the angle and the ratio between the convective vorticity and solenoidal advection in three-dimensional isotropic turbulence are statistically similar to those in the two-dimensional case, despite the fundamental differences between them.
Ediacaran pithy macroalgaLanceaphytonn. gen. from South China
Authors: Wang Ye , Wang Yue , Du Wei , Li Yulan , Liu Fan , Zhao Mingsheng
Published: November 2021

With differentiated tissues and organs, a high-level eukaryotic macroalgaLanceaphyton xiaojiangensisn. gen. n. sp. lived on the middle–late Ediacaran (ca. 560–551 Ma) seafloor in South China. Its body had a pith (perhaps mechanical tissue) and outer tissue (perhaps epidermis and/or cortex). The lance-like macroalga consists of an unbranching thallus that grew over the sediment surface for sunlight and a holdfast grown into sediments to keep the thallus fixed on the seafloor. The pithy stipe (lower thallus) might have served to support the upper pithless thallus for photosynthesis. The holdfast is composed of a tapering pithy rhizome growing down into the sediments, with many filamentous pithless rhizoids dispersedly growing within the sediments. With the differentiated tissues and organs, especially the pith accounting for about half of the width of the rhizome and stipe,Lanceaphytonn. gen. was a high-level eukaryotic macroalga, similar to phaeophytes in morphological features, but further research is needed on its microstructural details. The pithy macroalga shows that the macroalgal pith had emerged in the Ediacaran.

UUID:http://zoobank.org/bc924c5c-84e4-4170-9ca1-caee0d56c6d5.
Circulating oestradiol determines liver lipid deposition in rats fed standard diets partially unbalanced with higher lipid or protein proportions
Authors: Oliva Laia , Alemany Marià , Fernández-López José-Antonio , Remesar Xavier
Published: November 2021

The ingestion of excess lipids often produces the accumulation of liver fat. The modulation of diet energy partition affects this process and other metabolic responses, and oestrogens and androgens are implied in this process. Ten-week-old male and female rats were fed with either standard rat chow (SD), SD enriched with coconut oil (high-fat diet, HF), SD enriched with protein (high-protein diet, HP) or a ‘cafeteria’ diet (CAF) for 1 month. HF and CAF diets provided the same lipid-derived percentage of energy (40 %), HP diet protein energy derived was twice (40 %) that of the SD. Animals were killed under anaesthesia and samples of blood and liver were obtained. Hepatic lipid content showed sex-related differences: TAG accumulation tended to increase in HF and CAF fed males. Cholesterol content was higher only in the CAF males. Plasma oestradiol in HF and HP males was higher than in CAF. Circulating cholesterol was inversely correlated with plasma oestradiol. These changes agreed with the differences in the expression of some enzymes related to lipid and energy metabolism, such as fatty acid synthetase or phosphoglycolate phosphatase. Oestrogen protective effects extend to males with ‘normal’ diets, that is, not unbalanced by either lipid or protein, but this protection was not enough against the CAF diet. Oestradiol seems to actively modulate the liver core of 2C-3C partition of energy substrates, regulating cholesterol deposition and lactate production.
Evaluation of paper-based and web-based food frequency questionnaires for 7-year-old children in Singapore
Authors: Lai Jun S. , Loh Jason , Toh Jia Ying , Sugianto Ray , Colega Marjorelee , Tan Kok Hian , Yap Fabian Kok Peng , Chong Yap-Seng , Godfrey Keith M. , Chong Mary Foong-Fong
Published: November 2021

Advances in technology enabled the development of a web-based, pictorial FFQ to collect parent-report dietary intakes of 7-year-old children in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes study. This study aimed to compare intakes estimated from a paper-FFQ and a web-FFQ and examine the relative validity of both FFQ against 3-d diet records (3DDR). Ninety-two mothers reported food intakes of their 7-year-old child on a paper-FFQ, a web-FFQ and a 3DDR. A usability questionnaire collected participants’ feedback on the web-FFQ. Correlations and agreement in energy, nutrients and food groups intakes between the dietary assessments were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation, Lin’s concordance, Bland–Altman plots, Cohen’s κ and tertile classification. The paper- and web-FFQ had good correlations (≥ 0·50) and acceptable-good agreement (Lin’s concordance ≥ 0·30; Cohen’s κ ≥ 0·41; ≥ 50 % correct and ≤ 10 % misclassification into same or extreme tertiles). Compared with 3DDR, both FFQ showed poor agreement (< 0·30) in assessing absolute intakes except micronutrients (web-FFQ had acceptable-good agreement), but showed acceptable-good ability to classify children into tertiles (κ ≥ 0·21; ≥ 40 % and ≤ 15 % correct or misclassification). Bland–Altman plots suggest good agreement between web-FFQ and 3DDR in assessing micronutrients and several food groups. The web-FFQ was well-received, and majority (81 %) preferred the web-FFQ over the paper-FFQ. The newly developed web-FFQ produced intake estimates comparable to the paper-FFQ, has acceptable-good agreement with 3DDR in assessing absolute micronutrients intakes and has acceptable-good ability to classify children according to categories of intakes. The positive acceptance of the web-FFQ makes it a feasible tool for future dietary data collection.
Relationship between water iodine and children’s goiters
Authors: An Shuli , Fan Lijun , Li Ming , Wang ZhengYuan , Liu Shoujun , Ji YuTong , Liu Xiang Li , Du Yang , Meng Fangang , Liu Peng
Published: November 2021

Excessive iodine can lead to goiters. However, the relationship between the water iodine concentration (WIC) and goiter rate (GR) is unclear. This study aims to explore the factors that influence children’s GR in areas with high WIC and analyse the threshold value of the GR increase associated with the WIC. According to the monitoring of the areas with high WIC in China in 2018–2020, a total of 54 050 children in eight high water iodine provinces were chosen. Drinking water, urine and edible salt samples of children were collected. The thyroid volume (Tvol) was measured. A generalised additive model (GAM) was used to analyse the relationship between the WIC and GR in children. Among the 54 050 children in areas with high WIC, the overall GR was 3·34 %, the median of water iodine concentration was 127·0 µg/l, the median of urinary iodine concentration was 318 µg/l and the non-iodised salt coverage rate (NISCR) was 63·51 %. According to the GAM analysis results, water iodine and urinary iodine are factors that influence the Tvol and GR, while the NISCR affects only the GR. When the WIC was more than 420 µg/l or the urinary iodine concentration was more than 800 µg/l, the GR increased rapidly. When the NISCR reached more than 85 %, the GR was the lowest. Thus, in areas with high WIC, WIC more than 420 µg/l may increase the risk of goiter, and the NISCR should be increased to over 85 % to avoid goiters in children.
Reflecting on ‘Selenium in Global Food Systems’
Authors: Combs Gerald Fuson
Published: November 2021

This paper looks back on the setting and messages of the review ‘Selenium in Global Food Systems’(1) (see Abstract, Fig. 1) and highlights related findings over the 20 years since its publication. Key papers are cited.
Do Social Networks Facilitate Informed Option Trading? Evidence from Alumni Reunion Networks
Authors: Cheong Harvey , Kim Joon Ho , Münkel Florian , Spilker Harold D.
Published: November 2021

Material private information transmits through social networks. Using manually collected information on networks of alumni reunion cohorts, we show that hedge fund managers connected to directors of firms engaged in merger deals increase call-option holdings on target firms before deal announcements. Effects are larger when reunion events for connected cohorts occur just before announcements. Independent directors, directors with short tenure, and directors with low stock ownership are more likely to transmit information. Our results are robust to confounding factors and alternative specifications. These findings highlight the role of social networks as channels of private-information dissemination.
Declining citation accuracy in polar research
Authors: McIntyre T. , Haussmann N.S.
Published: November 2021

Accurate citation practices are important to ensure a robust knowledge base and overall trustworthy academic enterprise. The prevalence of poor citation practices has been assessed in multiple fields, resulting in estimates of inaccurate citations ranging typically between 15% and 25%. Here, we assessed the accuracy of citations in research articles extracted from 11 journals with a polar sciences focus. Thirty percent of citations from recent articles (published between 2018 and 2019) and 26 % of citations between 1980 and 2019 were found to be inaccurate. We found no evidence for differences in citation accuracy between the journals assessed, or effects on citation accuracy associated with the number of authors, number of references, position of references or if a citation was a self-citation or not. Importantly, we present evidence for a decline in citation accuracy between 1980 and 2019 in polar sciences. Citation practices are unlikely to improve unless journals provide incentives for scholars to be more meticulous, and we recommend active monitoring of citation accuracy and citation appropriateness by reviewers and editorial staff.
The transformative power of accepting God's love
Authors: Byerly T. Ryan
Published: November 2021

This article develops an account of some of the central features involved on the human side in adopting a richly accepting orientation towards God's love. It then builds a conceptual and empirical argument for the conclusion that accepting God's love can enhance a person's mental health and can indirectly enable a person to cultivate or maintain moral virtues – whether or not God exists. Importantly, the article contends that these transformative benefits are available to both believers and agnostics, and an original secondary data analysis is offered to support this conclusion in the case of agnostics. The article explains how this transformative value of accepting God's love may serve as the basis for a novel pragmatic argument for theistic religious commitment.
Bureaucratic Shirking in China: Is Sanction-based Accountability a Cure?
Authors: Tu Wenyan , Gong Ting
Published: November 2021

This study analyses the intricate relationship between sanction-based accountability and bureaucratic shirking. Drawing on an original survey conducted among Chinese civil servants, it addresses the question of whether sanction-based accountability can effectively regulate the conduct of public officials and provide a cure for bureaucratic shirking. The study identifies the characteristics of shirking behaviour in the Chinese bureaucracy and distinguishes three major patterns: evading responsibility, shifting responsibility and reframing responsibility. The findings indicate that sanction-based accountability may contain some obvious and notorious slacking types of behaviour, such as stalling and inaction, but government officials may distort or reframe their responsibilities to cope with accountability pressure. Empirical evidence suggests that owing to some “strategic” adjustments in bureaucratic behaviour, flagrant shirking is replaced by more subtle ways of blame avoidance, such as playing it safe or fabricating performance information. Sanction-based accountability therefore does not offer a panacea for bureaucratic shirking.
Exploring the interplay of dopaminergic genotype and parental behavior in relation to executive function in early childhood
Authors: Vrantsidis Daphne M. , Clark Caron A.C. , Volk Auriele , Wakschlag Lauren S. , Andrews Espy Kimberly , Wiebe Sandra A.
Published: November 2021

Child genotype is an important biologically based individual difference conferring differential sensitivity to the effect of parental behavior. This study explored dopaminergic polygenic composite×parental behavior interactions in relation to young children’s executive function. Participants were 135 36-month-old children and their mothers drawn from a prospective cohort followed longitudinally from pregnancy. A polygenic composite was created based on the number ofCOMT, DAT1,DRD2, andDRD4alleles associated with increased reward sensitivity children carried. Maternal negative reactivity and responsiveness were coded during a series of structured mother–child interactions. Executive function was operationalized as self-control and working memory/inhibitory control. Path analysis supported a polygenic composite by negative reactivity interaction for self-control. The nature of the interaction was one of diathesis-stress, such that higher negative reactivity was associated with poorer self-control for children with higher polygenic composite scores. This result suggests that children with a higher number of alleles may be more vulnerable to the negative effect of negative reactivity. Negative reactivity may increase the risk for developing behavior problems in this population via an association with poorer self-control. Due to the small sample size, these initial findings should be treated with caution until they are replicated in a larger independent sample.
A focused linear logical framework and its application to metatheory of object logics
Authors: Felty Amy , Olarte Carlos , Xavier Bruno
Published: November 2021

Linear logic (LL) has been used as a foundation (and inspiration) for the development of programming languages, logical frameworks, and models for concurrency. LL’s cut-elimination and the completeness of focusing are two of its fundamental properties that have been exploited in such applications. This paper formalizes the proof of cut-elimination for focused LL. For that, we propose a set of five cut-rules that allows us to prove cut-elimination directly on the focused system. We also encode the inference rules of other logics as LL theories and formalize the necessary conditions for those logics to have cut-elimination. We then obtain, for free, cut-elimination for first-order classical, intuitionistic, and variants of LL. We also use the LL metatheory to formalize the relative completeness of natural deduction and sequent calculus in first-order minimal logic. Hence, we propose a framework that can be used to formalize fundamental properties of logical systems specified as LL theories.
The effect of central bank credibility on forward guidance in an estimated New Keynesian model
Authors: Cole Stephen J. , Martínez-García Enrique
Published: November 2021

This paper examines the effectiveness of forward guidance shocks in the US. We estimate a New Keynesian model with imperfect central bank credibility and heterogeneous expectations using Bayesian methods and survey data from the Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF). The results provide important takeaways: (1) The estimated credibility of the Fed’s forward guidance announcements is relatively high, but anticipation effects are attenuated. Accordingly, output and inflation do not respond as favorably as in the fully credible counterfactual. (2) The so-called “forward guidance puzzle” arises partly from the unrealistically large responses of macroeconomic variables to forward guidance under perfect credibility and homogeneous fully informed rational expectations, assumptions which are found to be jointly inconsistent with the observed US data. (3) Imperfect credibility provides a plausible explanation for the empirical evidence of forecasting error predictability based on forecasting disagreement found in the SPF data. Thus, we show that accounting for imperfect credibility and forecasting disagreements is important to understand the formation of expectations and the transmission mechanism of forward guidance.
The intimate labour of internationalism: maternalist humanitarians and the mid-twentieth century family planning movement
Authors: Bourbonnais Nicole C.
Published: November 2021

This article moves past high politics and the most prominent activists to explore the daily, intimate practice of international movement building by mid-level fieldworkers within the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) during its first decade of existence (1952–62). It illustrates how fieldworkers and the IPPF’s practitioner-oriented newsletter Around the World attempted to bridge the ideological and geographic diversity of the family planning movement and connect with advocates around the world through an emotive narrative of suffering, love, and global humanity, reinforced by affective bonds and women’s volunteerism. The story of global family planning must thus be seen not only as part of the history of eugenics, population control, and feminism, but also as part of the longer trajectory of maternalist humanitarianism. This mid-twentieth century version of maternalist humanitarianism built on earlier traditions but also incorporated concepts of human rights, critiques of dominant gender and sexual norms, and an official commitment to local self-determination in the context of decolonization movements. Still, the organization was plagued by the problems that shape humanitarianism more broadly, including the difficulty of moving past colonialist discourses, deeply rooted feelings of racial superiority, and the contradictions inherent in attempts to impose an impossible ideal of political neutrality in a politically complex world. Looking at the history of global family planning from this perspective thus helps us understand how the different traditions, intimate relationships, and practical experiences mid-level actors bring to their work shape the broader process of international movement building, beyond high-level political and ideological activism.