bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Migration and psychosis: a meta-analysis of incidence studies
Authors: Selten Jean-Paul , van der Ven Els , Termorshuizen Fabian
Published: February 2019

Background

The aims of this meta-analysis are (i) to estimate the pooled relative risk (RR) of developing non-affective psychotic disorder (NAPD) and affective psychotic disorder (APD) among migrants and their children; (ii) to adjust these results for socioeconomic status (SES); (iii) to examine the sources of heterogeneity that underlie the risk of NAPD.

Methods

We included population-based incidence studies that reported an age-adjusted RR with 95% confidence interval (CI) published 1 January 1977–12 October 2017 and used a random-effects model.

Results

We retrieved studies performed in Europe (n= 43), Israel (n= 3), Canada (n= 2) and Australia (n= 1). The meta-analysis yielded a RR, adjusted for age and sex, of 2.13 (95% CI 1.99–2.27) for NAPD and 2.94 (95% CI 2.28–3.79) for APD. The RRs diminished, but persisted after adjustment for SES. With reference to NAPD: a personal or parental history of migration to Europe from countries outside Europe was associated with a higher RR (RR = 2.94, 95% CI 2.63–3.29) than migration within Europe (RR = 1.88, 95% 1.62–2.18). The corresponding RR was lower in Israel (RR = 1.22; 0.99–1.50) and Canada (RR = 1.21; 0.85–1.74). The RR was highest among individuals with a black skin colour (RR = 4.19, 95% CI 3.42–5.14). The evidence of a difference in risk between first and second generation was insufficient.

Conclusions

Positive selection may explain the low risk in Canada, while the change from exclusion to inclusion may do the same in Israel. Given the high risks among migrants from developing countries in Europe, social exclusion may have a pathogenic role.
Kodak and the Future of Astronomical Photography
Authors: Malin D.
Published: February 2019

This is probably the first astronomical meeting with a serious photographic
content where Kodak has not been represented. We had invited Gordon Brown who was
once responsible for the scientific imaging market to come and talk to us about
the availability of spectroscopic emulsions. However, I was told the Company no
longer has a person responsible for scientific plates, a fact which I interpret
with some foreboding and a great deal of sadness. It therefore falls to me to fill
this part of the program with a statement that has been approved, or at least not
contested, by Eastman Kodak.
A Universal Microphotometer and Solar Corona Polarimetry
Authors: Kotrč P. , Knížek M. , Sýkora J.
Published: February 2019

Realization of solar corona polarimetry pertains to astrophysical
centre-symmetrical problems. Usual ways of digitization are not optimum for this
task. Coronal images obtained during solar eclipse at different angles of the
polarizer should be digitized symmetrically in relation to the centre of the solar
disk. Unfortunately, digitization of such centre-symmetrical images is usually
performed by rectangular scanning with a firmly oriented digitization slit.
Corresponding pixels in different images have to be found by methods of shifting
the centres of the relevant images and a necessary rotation of the images. When
the images are almost identical, or at least very similar each to other, the final
fitting of the images can be tested by calculating the best correlation. As a
rule, this is not the case for solar corona images obtained with different angle
of the polarizer. In addition, after rotation of the digitized image, the
digitisation rectangular networks become incompatible and thus some information is
changed or even lost.
Image Inventory Using the Wavelet Transform
Authors: Bijaoui A.
Published: February 2019

Today, large astronomical plates are digitised with fast scanners, leading to
images with about 109 pixels. This amount of information
permits astronomers to apply various computer vision techniques to get inventories
of the objects on the plates.
Photometric Calibrators for All-Sky Surveys: The GSPC-II Program
Authors: Ferrari A. , Siciliano E.D. , Pizzuti A. , Bucciarelli B. , Massone G. , Postman M. , Rehner D.M. , Sturch C.R. , Lattanzi M.G. , Lasker B.M.
Published: February 2019

Accurate astrometric and photometric calibrations of all-sky photographic
surveys, such as the Palomar Quick-V survey and the UK SERC-J survey, digitised
for the construction of the Hubble Space Telescope Guide Star Catalog, are of
extreme astrophysical value. Their wide range of applications includes, for
example, galactic structure, stellar populations, extragalactic studies, and deep
sky catalogs for mission planning and telescope operations. The Guide Star
Photometric Catalog (GSPC-I, Lasker et al. 1988) provides stellar calibration
sequences, placed approximately in the center of each survey plate, with a
limiting magnitude of V = 15 mag. The goal of our program is to extend these
calibrators to V = 20 mag in the Johnson-Kron-Cousins B, V and R passbands, with
an accuracy of 0.05 mag. This is accomplished by taking CCD frames centered on the
faintest star of each GSPC-I sequence. Typically, both long and short exposures
are acquired in each field in order to link the bright and faint ends of the
sequence.
Stellar Photometry by Wide Field CCDs: NGC 6822
Authors: Aparicio A. , Gallart C. , Vílchez J.M.
Published: February 2019

A wide-field CCD has been used to obtain photometry of resolved stars in the
main body of the Local Group Dwarf Irregular Galaxy NGC 6822. Under good seeing
conditions, the relatively large pixel size of the chip produces a poor sampling
of the stellar profiles. This paper discusses how this undersampling affects the
quality of the photometry and shows that this problem can be overcome when the
point-spread function is suitably modelled. Finally, a brief discussion of the
stellar content of NGC 6822 is given in the light of the [(V-R), V]
colour-magnitude diagram.
Pickles: A Wide-Field Imaging Tool
Authors: Fredrick L.W. , Benedict G.F. , Duncombe R. , Franz O.G. , Hemenway P.D. , Jeffreys W.H. , McArthur B. , McCartney J. , Nelan E. , Shelus P.J. , Story D. , Whipple A.L. , van Altena W.F.
Published: February 2019

The program Pickles was developed as an aid for planning HST observations
using the Space Telescope Science Institute's Guide Star Catalogue, which was
generated from wide-field Schmidt plates. Pickles reads the catalogue from CD-ROM
and then displays a one-degree square field. The HST focal plane apertures can
then be displayed singly or in any combination which is at the choice of the
observer (Fig. 1). The user can generate an aperture of a different type if need
be. The stars can be displayed as open or filled circles with their relative sizes
indicating their magnitude. Stars or other objects can be added and saved with the
field.
The Harvard College Observatory Plate Collection
Authors: Hazen M.L.
Published: February 2019

The Harvard College Observatory plate collection is unique in the world in
several aspects. First, it is the largest, with a total of approximately half a
million plates. Second, because Harvard set up stations very early in the southern
hemisphere, the collection covers the entire sky. In fact, the southern hemisphere
coverage is slightly better than the northern. Third, the collection is unique in
the length of the time interval over which the plates were taken. The first plates
were acquired in the northern hemisphere in 1885, and in the southern hemisphere
in 1891. There is a substantial gap in the late 1950s and 1960s, but patrol plates
were then taken up to 1989. Fourth, the collection contains a very large number of
images of a given object. For B = 15 mag or brighter, from several hundred to a
thousand or more images can be found; for B = 17.5 mag, one can locate from a few
to several hundred images.
The Luminosity and Mass Functions at the Bottom of the Main Sequence
Authors: Tinney C.
Published: February 2019

A 270 square degree survey for Very Low Mass (VLM — M <
0.2M⊙) stars in the field is discussed. The major pitfalls
encountered in the survey are covered, as well as the major results. In
particular, it was found that: 1) no significant difference is seen between the
luminosity function for VLM stars as measured by photometric and trigonometric
selection criteria; 2) the luminosity function does not
show a significant increase below M
bol
= 13, 3) the mass function for VLM stars shows significant structure
in the VLM regime; and 4) it is hard to envisage a significant amount of missing
mass in the disk being in the form of brown dwarfs.
Astrometry and Galactic Structure
Authors: Majewski S.R.
Published: February 2019

The application of astrometric surveys to understanding the structure and
kinematics of the Milky Way is discussed, with particular emphasis on some of the
issues expected to be addressed in the next decade or so. It is shown that the
results of complete proper motion surveys of field stars at the Galactic poles are
in remarkable agreement concerning the global kinematics of stars as a function of
distance, but that significant differences exist in how these data are decomposed
to derive the kinematics of individual Galactic components. The status and future
prospects regarding the measurement of proper motions and orbits for Galactic
globular clusters and satellites are also discussed.
Wide-Field Stellar Statistics from Tautenburg Schmidt Plates
Authors: Schilbach E. , Scholz R.-D. , Hirte S.
Published: February 2019

For a detailed investigation of the kinematics of our Galaxy we need accurate
proper motions and photometric data of stars over a wide range of magnitudes. The
proper motions have to be obtained with respect to an extragalactic, i.e.
nonrotating reference system. The best way to determine absolute proper motions of
a great number of stars for further statistical analysis is to use the enormous
amount of information stored on photographic plates taken with large Schmidt
telescopes within the last decades. Since automated measuring machines have become
available it is no longer a problem to extract this information from a Schmidt
plate. Large Schmidt plates cover a sky area of more than 30 square degrees with
usually thousands of stars and hundreds of galaxies per square degree outside the
galactic plane. With the Tautenburg Schmidt telescope (134/200/400) more than 8000
plates have been taken in selected Northern sky areas since it was mounted in
1960. A 24 cm × 24 cm Tautenburg plate covers a field of about 10 square degrees,
and a 20 minute exposure of a B plate has a limiting magnitude of 19 to 21. In
comparison to other large Schmidt telescopes the plate bending is reduced to a
minimum due to the four metre focal length and the use of relatively small plates.
Therefore irregular positional shifts of the emulsion caused by the rebending
after the exposure are of less influence. The large focal length leads to a plate
scale of 51 arcsec/mm providing a relatively high positional accuracy.
Absolute Proper and Space Motion of the Globular Cluster M2
Authors: Geffert M. , Forner C. , Hiesgen M. , Klemola A.R.
Published: February 2019

Space motions of globular clusters are important for the understanding of the
kinematics and chemical evolution of the Milky Way. The greatest problem for the
determination of the space motions of the globular clusters arises from the
difficulties of getting absolute proper motions. In the past these were determined
using classical stellar reference frames, modelling of the non-cluster stars in
the field and extragalactic objects in the region of the cluster (see e.g.
Cudworth & Hanson 1993; Geffert et al. 1993 for references). However, as
shown for M 15 and M 3 (Geffert et al. 1993; Tucholke et al. 1993), the results
based on different methods for deriving the absolute proper motions differ by up
to yrs. In order to
get a more complete view of the differences between the various methods it is
therefore very interesting to get absolute proper motions based on all three
methods for further objects. We present here the first results of a new proper
motion study of the globular cluster M 2.
Objective Prism Study of Star Forming Regions
Authors: Kun M.
Published: February 2019

Radio molecular observations in the millimeter wavelength region in the last
decade have revealed a number of giant molecular cloud complexes at relatively
high galactic latitudes. Examples for such cloud complexes are Cepheus Flare
(Lebrun 1986), and Ursa Major and Camelopardalis clouds (Heithausen et al. 1993).
Because of their high galactic latitudes, these cloud complexes probably belong to
the nearest molecular clouds and among them we may find some nearby regions of
low-mass star formation.
Hα Survey of the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds
Authors: Marcelin M. , Amram P. , Boulesteix J. , Georgelin Y.M. , Georgelin Y.P. , Laval A. , Coarer E. Le , Rosado M. , Goldes G.
Published: February 2019

In 1990 we began an Ha survey of the Milky Way and the Magellanic clouds at
ESO La Silla with a 36 cm telescope. The main goal of this survey is to study in
detail complexes of HII regions, as well as the global spiral structure of our
Galaxy.
Carbon Stars in the SMC
Authors: Morgan D.H. , Hatzidimitriou D.
Published: February 2019

More than 1000 new carbon stars have been identified in a ∼200
deg2 area of the SMC during a survey of UK Schmidt
Telescope objective-prism plates. Their spatial distribution is like that of the
red horizontal branch stars.
CCD and Schmidt-Plate Photometry and Astrometry in Region E of the LMC
Authors: Bomans D.J. , Tucholke H.-J. , Will J.-M. , de Boer K.S.
Published: February 2019

Shapley Constellation III in the north of the LMC is one of the largest
associations in the LMC. It is surrounded by a ring of H II regions and diffuse H
II filaments called Supergiant Shell LMC 4 (Goudis & Meaburn 1978). LMC 4
is suspected to be a site of large scale propagation of star formation (Dopita et
al. 1985), but recent studies (Reid et al. 1987; Vallenari et al. 1993) show that
the situation is far from simple.
Extreme Starburst or Central Activity in X-Ray Luminous IRAS Galaxies
Authors: Boller Th. , Dennefeld M.
Published: February 2019

ROSAT All Sky Survey observations of IRAS galaxies have revealed up to now a
number of (10) optically non-Seyfert galaxies with X-ray (0.1–2.4 keV)
luminosities up to a few 1043
erg · s
−1 (Boller et al. 1992). The sources are brighter than
previous detection limits of a few 1041
erg · s
−1 as found by Stocke et al. (1991) or Green, Anderson
& Ward (1992) for Einstein sources. The optical classification is based on
follow-up observations which indicate clearly the non-Seyfert (LINER and HII
region-like galaxies) nature. Our investigations reveal that galaxies classified
as non-Seyferts on the basis of optical spectroscopy may reach exceptionally high
X-ray luminosities which are similar to that of Seyfert galaxies. On the basis of
the present observational material we suppose a hidden low luminosity AGN in the
centre of these objects as the source of energy production. The objects are of
interest when evaluating starburst versus central activity.
Search for Faint Galaxies Towards Nearby Voids
Authors: Hopp U. , Kuhn B. , Elsässer H. , Birkle K. , Thiele U.
Published: February 2019

Recent redshift surveys of the Nilson-, Zwicky-, and ESO-Uppsala galaxy
catalogues revealed that the bright galaxies in these catalogues follow a spatial
distribution where large empty regions are surrounded by sheet-like structures of
galaxies and clusters (e.g. Giovanelli & Haynes 1991). From an observer's
point of view, one may simply ask if the voids in the above-mentioned galaxy maps
are real or if they reflect special observational selection effects, e.g. in
surface brightness, integral magnitude or diameter. These catalogues contain many
bright galaxies (MB
∼ M∗
B), but only very few faint objects
(MB ≥ M∗B
+ 3
m
). Older work on the distribution of intrinsically faint galaxies, like
irregular dwarfs, claimed that the dwarfs follow the distribution which is
outlined by the giant galaxies.
The Hamburg/ESO Survey for Bright QSOs — Slitless Spectroscopy at High
Resolution
Authors: Wisotzki L.
Published: February 2019

The digital revolution in the evaluation of photographic plates and the
introduction of automated quasar search techniques have drastically increased the
number of known QSOs over the past decade. However, most of these QSOs are so
faint that their use is limited to statistical studies. The bright end of the
quasar population is still dominated by objects selected in other wavebands, such
as radio, X-rays, or even infrared. We have started in 1990 a wide-angle
objective-prism survey (the Hamburg/ESO Survey, HES) using the 1 m ESO Schmidt
telescope (Reimers 1990). The survey is intended to cover 5000
deg2, of which about a third has been acquired up to now.
The prime goal is to compile a large sample of bright (B < 17.5) QSOs
suited for detailed follow-up studies, in particular for high-resolution
spectroscopy. Other objectives are to search for gravitational lens candidates and
to directly measure the local luminosity function of quasars. In each Schmidt
field, a spectral and a direct plate are scanned with the PDS 1010G
microdensitometer at Hamburg, followed by an automated candidate selection and
subsequent follow-up spectroscopy with the ESO 1.52 m and 3.6 m telescopes. A
novel feature in our survey is the use of an objective-prism with a dispersion of
450 å/mm at Hγ, yielding a seeing-limited spectral resolution of 10–20 å FWHM. A
full documentation of the survey techniques is in preparation. First results
include the discoveries of the second-brightest QSO in the south (Wisotzki et al.
1991), and of a bright double QSO at high redshift, probably a gravitational lens
(Wisotzki et al. 1993). In this contribution I want to show how a wide-angle
quasar survey like the HES can benefit from the high resolution of the survey
spectra.
On Human-in-the-Loop CPS in Healthcare: A Cloud-Enabled Mobility Assistance Service
Authors: de Mello Ricardo C. , Jimenez Mario F. , Ribeiro Moises R. N. , Laiola Guimarães Rodrigo , Frizera-Neto Anselmo
Published: February 2019

Despite recent advancements on cloud-enabled and human-in-the-loop cyber-physical systems, there is still a lack of understanding of how infrastructure-related quality of service (QoS) issues affect user-perceived quality of experience (QoE). This work presents a pilot experiment over a cloud-enabled mobility assistive device providing a guidance service and investigates the relationship between QoS and QoE in such a system. In our pilot experiment, we employed the CloudWalker, a system linking smart walkers and cloud platforms, to physically interact with users. Different QoS conditions were emulated to represent an architecture in which control algorithms are performed remotely. Results point out that users report satisfactory interaction with the system even under unfavorable QoS conditions. We also found statistically significant data linking QoE degradation to poor QoS conditions. We finalize discussing the interplay between QoS requirements, the human-in-the-loop effect, and the perceived QoE in healthcare applications.
Seasonal use of waterholes and pathways by macrofauna in the dry forest of Costa Rica
Authors: Montalvo Victor H. , Sáenz-Bolaños Carolina , Alfaro Luis D. , Cruz Juan C. , Guimarães-Rodrigues Flavio H. , Carrillo Eduardo , Sutherland Christopher , Fuller Todd K.
Published: February 2019

Temporal and spatial scarcity of water in semi-arid and seasonal ecosystems often leads to changes in movements and behaviour of large vertebrates, and in the neotropics this dynamic is poorly understood due to logistical and methodological limitations. Here we used camera trapping to elucidate variation in patterns of seasonal use of waterholes and pathways by 10 large-mammal and four large-bird species in the dry forest of north-western Costa Rica. From 2011 to 2015, we deployed trail cameras at 50 locations, including waterholes and three types of pathway (roads, human trails and animal paths). We used Generalized Linear Models to evaluate the effect of location and seasonality on the rates at which independent photographs were taken. We found interacting effects of location and seasonality for the capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus), the tiger heron (Trigrisoma mexicanum), the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and the tapir (Tapirus bairdii) suggesting that these species were the most influenced by waterholes during the dry season. Comparison of waterhole sites and specific types of pathways (roads, animal paths and human trails) showed that location influenced photo-capture rates of almost all species, suggesting a useful insight to avoid and account for bias in camera trap studies. Furthering our ecological understanding of seasonal water regimes and large vertebrates’ behaviours allow for better understanding of the consequences of climate change on them.
Quality assurance of intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment planning using head and neck phantom
Authors: Zahra  , Rehman Jalil ur , Noor ul Huda Khan Asghar H M , Ahmad Nisar , Gilani Zaheer Abbas , Nasar Gulfam , Akhter Malik M
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is the verification of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) head neck treatment planning with one-dimensional and two-dimensional (2D) dosimeters using imaging and radiation oncology core (IROC) Houston head & neck (H&N) phantom.

Method

The image of the H&N phantom was obtained by computed tomography scan which was then transferred to Pinnacle@3 treatment planning system (TPS) for treatment planning. The contouring of the target volumes and critical organ were done manually and dose constraints were set for each organ according to IROC prescription. The plan was optimised by adoptive convolution algorithm to meet the IROC criteria and collapse cone convolution algorithm calculated the delivered doses for treatment. Varian Clinac 2110 was used to deliver the treatment plan to the phantom, the process of irradiation and measurement were repeated three times for reproducibility and reliability. The treatment plan was verified by measuring the doses from thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and GafChromic external beam therapy 2 films. The agreement between the planned and delivered doses were checked by calculating the percentage dose differences, analysing their isodose line profiles and 2D gamma maps.

Results

The average percent dose difference of 1·8% was obtained between computed doses by TPS and measured doses from TLDs, however these differences were found to be higher for organ at risk. The film dose profile was well in agreement with the planned dose distribution with distance to agreement of 1·5 mm. The gamma analysis of the computed and recorded doses passed the criteria of 3%/3 mm with passing percentages of >96%, which shows successful authentication of delivered doses for IMRT.

Conclusion

IMRT pre-treatment validation can be done with IROC anthropomorphic phantoms, which is essential for the delivery of modulated radiotherapies. It was concluded that films and TLDs can be used as quality assurance tools for IMRT.
The Political Economy of Governance Capacity and Institutional Change: The Case of Basic Income Security Reform in European Welfare States
Authors: Haagh Louise
Published: February 2019

This article will situate public debates about – and experiments in features of – basic income within European countries in the context of welfare state crisis and change. Treating access to basic income security as a policy problem, I argue basic income policy debate highlights the need for multi-level and multifactorial analysis of public governance capacity as a key factor in driving the relationship of basic income with welfare state transformation. Drawing on the cases within this themed section, I attempt to tease out what comparatively are long-run conditionsforbasic income within state and society, and what are the political and institutional trade-offs at the current juncture. Exploring contributing determinants of governance corrosion and adaptation of public economic security structures under globalisation contributes to deepen our understanding of contemporary patterns of institutional change.
A regional approach to Nordic crop wild relativein situconservation planning
Authors: Fitzgerald Heli , Palmé Anna , Asdal Åsmund , Endresen Dag , Kiviharju Elina , Lund Birgitte , Rasmussen Morten , Thorbjörnsson Hjörtur , Weibull Jens
Published: February 2019

Crop wild relatives (CWR) can provide one solution to future challenges on food security, sustainable agriculture and adaptation to climate change. Diversity found in CWR can be essential for adapting crops to these new demands. Since the need to improvein situconservation of CWR has been recognized by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (2010) and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (2011–2020), it is important to develop ways to safeguard these important genetic resources. The Nordic flora includes many species related to food, forage and other crop groups, but little has been done to systematically secure these important wild resources. A Nordic regional approach to CWR conservation planning provided opportunities to network, find synergies, share knowledge, plan the conservation and give policy inputs on a regional level. A comprehensive CWR checklist for the Nordic region was generated and then prioritized by socio-economic value and utilization potential. Nordic CWR checklist was formed of 2553 taxa related to crop plants. Out of these, 114 taxa including 83 species were prioritized representing vegetable, cereal, fruit, berry, nut and forage crop groups. Thein situconservation planning of the priority CWR included ecogeographic and complementarity analyses to identify a potential network of genetic reserve sites in the region. Altogether 971,633 occurrence records of the priority species were analysed. A minimum number of sites within and outside existing conservation areas were identified that had the potential to support a maximum number of target species of maximum intraspecific diversity.
The Gender Gap in Political Discussion Group Attendance
Authors: Beauvais Edana
Published: February 2019

Although women and men enjoy formally equal political rights in today's democracies, there are ongoing gaps in the extent to which they make use of these rights, with women underrepresented in many political practices. The gender gap in democratic participation is problematic because gendered asymmetries in participation entail collective outcomes that are less attentive to women's needs, interests, and preferences. Existing studies consider gender gaps in voting behavior and in certain forms of nonelectoral politics such as boycotting, signings a petition, or joining a protest. However, almost no work considers gendered variation in discursive politics. Do women participate in small, face-to-face political discussion groups at the same rate as men? And does gender intersect with other identities—such as ethnicity—to impact attendance at political discussion groups? I use data from the Canadian Election Study 2015 Web Survey to answer these questions. I find that women are significantly less likely to attend small-group discussions than men and that ethnicity intersects with gender in some important ways. However, I find no evidence that other social attributes—poverty or the presence of young children in the home—suppress women's participation in political discussion groups more than men's.
CME: Depression in der Hausarztpraxis
Authors: Checcucci Marco , Brunner Eleonora
Published: February 2019

Zusammenfassung. Depressionen gehören zu den häufigsten Erkrankungen überhaupt und zu den fünf häufigsten Krankheiten in der Hausarztpraxis. Die Hausarztpraxis ist meist die erste Anlaufstelle für depressive Patienten und hat somit eine Schlüsselrolle in der Früherkennung und Erstbehandlung von Depressionen. Eine depressive Störung kann sich mit diffusen, unspezifischen und meist somatischen Beschwerden präsentieren. Es wird nur etwa die Hälfte der depressiven Störungen in der Hausarztpraxis erkannt. Eine nichterkannte und unbehandelte Depression kann für den Patienten fatale Folgen haben. Einmal erkannt, ist eine depressive Störung behandelbar. Ein wichtiger Screening-Test zur Früherkennung der Depression ist der Zwei-Fragen-Test (Sensitivität 96 %, Spezifität 57 %).
Schlafstörungen im Alter
Authors: Flügel Dominique
Published: February 2019

Zusammenfassung. Schlafstörungen im Alter sind häufig und haben unterschiedliche Ursachen. Ältere Leute beklagen sich selten darüber, daher muss immer danach gefragt werden. Insomnien, schlafassoziierte Atemstörungen und das Restless-Legs-Syndrom nehmen im Alter zu. Nicht selten sind Schlafstörungen auch erstes Symptom anderer Erkrankungen. Bei Depressionen oder Angsterkrankungen, aber auch bei neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen wie Demenzen oder dem Parkinsonsyndrom können sich Schlafstörungen vor kognitiven Störungen oder motorischen Beschwerden manifestieren. Schlafstörungen können auch Risikofaktor für andere Erkrankungen sein, wie zerebrale Ischämien und Herzrhythmusstörungen. Vieles muss bei der Diagnostik und Therapie berücksichtigt werden: Schlafgewohnheiten nachts und tagsüber, Medikamente und Begleiterkrankungen. Die Behandlung ist abhängig von der Ursache und sollte vor allem bei den Insomnien nicht-medikamentöse Therapien wie kognitive Verhaltenstherapie beinhalten.
Pharmakotherapie von Schlaf-Wach-Störungen
Authors: Holst Sebastian C. , Werth Esther , Landolt Hans-Peter
Published: February 2019

Zusammenfassung. Schlaf ist ein komplexes Verhalten, das von verschiedenen Kerngebieten im Gehirn koordiniert wird. Diese neurochemischen Systeme modulieren die Wachheit und den Schlaf und können pharmakologisch beeinflusst werden. Die exzessive Tageschläfrigkeit (ETS) wird gewöhnlich mit dopaminergen Pharmaka behandelt, die in leichten Fällen von Koffein über (Ar)Modafinil zu Amphetamin-Derivaten reichen. Trizyklische Antidepressiva und Melatonin-basierte Medikamente werden auch verwendet, aber in geringerem Masse. Zu den Arzneimitteln zur Schlafförderung gehören GABA-erge Medikamente wie Benzodiazepine und Z-Hypnotika sowie Histamin-H1-Rezeptor-Antagonisten. Exogenes Melatonin oder eine pharmakologische Kombination aus Melatonin-Rezeptor-Agonismus und 5-HT2C-Rezeptor-Antagonismus werden auch in weniger schweren Fällen verwendet. Als zukünftige schlaffördernde Medikamente werden zurzeit selektive und duale Orexin(Hypocretin)-Rezeptor-Antagonisten (DORA), aber auch Medikamente, die an spezifische 5-HT-Rezeptoren binden, untersucht. Die pharmakologische Behandlung ist jedoch nicht immer die primäre Behandlungsmethode. Insomnie wird in erster Linie mit einer kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie behandelt, zur Behandlung von Schlafapnoe wird eine Überdruckbeatmung eingesetzt.
The GEDI Simulator: A Large‐Footprint Waveform Lidar Simulator for Calibration and Validation of Spaceborne Missions
Authors: Hancock Steven , Armston John , Hofton Michelle , Sun Xiaoli , Tang Hao , Duncanson Laura I. , Kellner James R. , Dubayah Ralph
Published: February 2019

NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) is a spaceborne lidar mission which will produce near global (51.6°S to 51.6°N) maps of forest structure and above‐ground biomass density during its 2‐year mission. GEDI uses a waveform simulator for calibration of algorithms and assessing mission accuracy. This paper implements a waveform simulator, using the method proposed in Blair and Hofton (1999; https://doi.org/10.1029/1999GL010484), and builds upon that work by adding instrument noise and by validating simulated waveforms across a range of forest types, airborne laser scanning (ALS) instruments, and survey configurations. The simulator was validated by comparing waveform metrics derived from simulated waveforms against those derived from observed large‐footprint, full‐waveform lidar data from NASA's airborne Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS). The simulator was found to produce waveform metrics with a mean bias of less than 0.22 m and a root‐mean‐square error of less than 5.7 m, as long as the ALS data had sufficient pulse density. The minimum pulse density required depended upon the instrument. Measurement errors due to instrument noise predicted by the simulator were within 1.5 m of those from observed waveforms and 70–85% of variance in measurement error was explained. Changing the ALS survey configuration had no significant impact on simulated metrics, suggesting that the ALS pulse density is a sufficient metric of simulator accuracy across the range of conditions and instruments tested. These results give confidence in the use of the simulator for the pre‐launch calibration and performance assessment of the GEDI mission.
Experimental Observation of the Onset of Percolation in Freshwater Granular Ice
Authors: Renshaw Carl E. , Schulson Erland M. , Iliescu Daniel
Published: February 2019

The inferred narrow range of crack densities of crustal rocks at depths >1 km has been interpreted to imply that crack networks at depth are in a state of criticality with densities restricted to values near the percolation threshold. Their state is critical in the sense that at crack densities above this threshold, both the permeability and compliance increase significantly, allowing pore fluids to disperse and stresses to relax, limiting further crack growth. This analysis assumes that the crack density percolation threshold is similar to that of crack networks composed of randomly located cracks, yet network structure due to crack growth processes is known to impact the percolation threshold. Using ice as a model material for rock, we show experimentally that near the brittle‐to‐ductile transition, the crack density at the percolation threshold depends on the strain rate. At higher strain rates, the strain at percolation is scale invariant, and the crack density percolation threshold is similar to that of random crack networks. At lower strain rates, the strain at percolation increases with sample size, and percolation occurs at crack densities significantly below that at which percolation occurs in random crack networks. Near the brittle‐to‐ductile transition in the deeper crust, crack growth and coalescence may depend on strain rate, changing the nature of crack network criticality.
Understanding the Spatiotemporal Links Between Meteorological and Hydrological Droughts From a Three‐Dimensional Perspective
Authors: Liu Yi , Zhu Ye , Ren Liliang , Singh Vijay P. , Yong Bin , Jiang Shanhu , Yuan Fei , Yang Xiaoli
Published: February 2019

Investigating the spatiotemporal link among different drought types is of great significance for understanding the causative mechanism of droughts. In this study, we propose a new approach for connecting meteorological and hydrological drought events by considering their overlaps in drought persistence time and spatial coverage in three dimensions (i.e., latitude, longitude, and time). The variable infiltration capacity model with daily hydrometeorological observations in and around the Yellow River basin for the period of 1961–2012 is used to derive the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index and standardized runoff index. Results show that minor meteorological drought events with short durations and small areas generally are not prone to cause a hydrological drought, especially in winter for the source region, leading to failure matches between the two drought types. By contrast, meteorological droughts of large magnitudes are more likely to influence a hydrological drought in different ways. In three dimensions, the transformation from meteorological to hydrological droughts is characterized by lengthened duration, lagged response time, and attenuated drought severity, which is in accordance with previous studies. Moreover, the drought area also decreases during this process. The increase in potential evapotranspiration from February to April after 1998 is the reason for the attenuation of drought area. The enlarged evaporative demand from potential evapotranspiration aggravates the atmospheric dry condition and promotes the development of meteorological drought but does not necessarily cause a hydrological drought.
Assimilating Every‐10‐minute Himawari‐8 Infrared Radiances to Improve Convective Predictability
Authors: Sawada Yohei , Okamoto Kozo , Kunii Masaru , Miyoshi Takemasa
Published: February 2019

Improving the predictability of sudden local severe weather is a grand challenge for numerical weather prediction. Recently, the capability of geostationary satellites to observe infrared radiances has been significantly improved, and it is expected that the “Big Data” from the new generation geostationary satellites could contribute to improving convective predictability. We examined the potential impacts of assimilating frequent infrared observations from a new generation geostationary satellite, Himawari‐8, on convective predictability. We implemented the real‐data experiment in which Himawari‐8 all‐sky moisture‐sensitive infrared radiances of band 8 (6.2 μm) and band 10 (7.3 μm) were assimilated into the high‐resolution (2 km) limited area model, Japan Meteorological Agency's Non‐Hydrostatic Model, every 10 min by the Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter. The frequent infrared observations from Himawari‐8 improve the analysis and forecast of isolated convective cells and sudden local severe rainfall induced by weak large‐scale forcing. The results imply that satellite data assimilation can contribute to better forecasting severe weather events in smaller spatiotemporal scales than the previous studies.
Holocene Solar Activity Imprint on Centennial‐ to Multidecadal‐Scale Hydroclimatic Oscillations in Arid Central Asia
Authors: Liu Xiaokang , Rao Zhiguo , Shen Chuan‐Chou , Liu Jianbao , Chen Jianhui , Chen Shengqian , Wang Xianfeng , Chen Fahu
Published: February 2019

Numerous studies have been conducted on the Holocene climatic evolution of arid central Asia (ACA) using various geological proxies. However, the quality of the age control and the temporal resolution of the proxy records used make it difficult to characterize hydroclimatic changes on centennial to multidecadal timescales. Here we present a stalagmite δ18O record from Baluk cave in Xinjiang, NW China, in ACA, which has an average 22.8‐year resolution and provides a record of inferred hydroclimatic changes from 8.4 to 2.7 ka. Abrupt hydroclimatic shifts are evident during the following intervals: 2.75–2.90, 3.25–3.35, 3.75–3.85, 4.45–4.55, 4.75–4.90, 5.05–5.15, 5.2–5.3, 5.4–5.5, 5.9–6.0, 6.2–6.3, 6.4–6.5, 6.8–6.9, 7.1–7.6, 7.85–7.95, and 8.05–8.25 ka. Notably, an overall in‐phase relationship is observed between the hydroclimatic variations and change in solar activity, and the results of spectral analysis suggest the presence of the Eddy (~1,080 years), de Vries (~205 years), and Gleissberg (~88–102 years) cycles. This indicates a linkage between solar activity and hydroclimatic changes in ACA on centennial to multidecadal scales during the Holocene. We suggest that the influence of solar activity on hydroclimatic changes in ACA occurs via its effects on North Atlantic sea surface temperature, North Atlantic Oscillation, northern high‐latitude regional temperatures, and via direct heating. The relationship suggests that solar activity may play an important role in determining future hydroclimatic changes in ACA.
Effects of Local Dust Storms on the Upper Atmosphere of Mars: Observations and Simulations
Authors: Qin Jun Feng , Zou Hong , Ye Yu Guang , Yin Ze Fan , Wang Jing Song , Nielsen Erling
Published: February 2019

The effects of a local dust storm on the upper atmosphere of Mars are researched through the observations of the lower and upper Martian atmosphere in the MGS (Mars Global Surveyor) radio occultation experiments. The ionosphere profiles in the high‐latitude region of northern hemisphere are thought to be under the influence of a local dust storm occurring in the low‐latitude areas during Ls 135–150°, Mars Year (MY) 27. A method to estimate the Martian upper neutral densities via the heights of ionospheric main peak is presented. Through the method, the 130‐km atmospheric neutral densities (or CO2 densities) of the area during the dust storm were calculated. MCD V4.3 (Mars Climate Database, Version 4.3) is used to derive the normal (or dust‐storm‐free) neutral densities of the same region and period. By analyzing the differences between the calculated densities and MCD (V4.3) simulated ones, the influence of the local dust storm on the upper atmosphere densities can be quantitatively derived. Based on the variation of the upper atmosphere densities, the behavior of regional ionospheric main peak under the dust storm can be simulated by a photochemical equilibrium model. The simulated ionosphere parameters are compared with the MGS‐observed ones, and it is found that two profile data sets are consistent with one another, thus indicating that the method employed to estimate the upper neutral densities is accurate.
The association of urinary phosphorous-containing flame retardant metabolites and self-reported personal care and household product use among couples seeking fertility treatment
Authors: Ingle Mary E. , Mínguez-Alarcón Lidia , Carignan Courtney C. , Butt Craig M. , Stapleton Heather M. , Williams Paige L. , Ford Jennifer B. , Hauser Russ , Meeker John D. ,   for the EARTH Study Team
Published: February 2019

Background

Phosphorous-containing flame-retardants (PFRs) are widely detected. They are used both as a flame retardant as well as plasticizer.

Methods

A subset of 230 women and 229 men were recruited from Massachusetts General Hospital fertility clinic between 2005 and 2015. At each visit, participants completed a questionnaire of personal care product (PCP) and household product (HP) use. Metabolites [bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), isopropylphenyl phenyl phosphate (ip-PPP), tert-butylphenyl phenyl phosphate and bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate] were measured in urine (1–5 samples; n = 638 women, n = 335 men). Associations were assessed using generalized mixed models, adjusted for SG, age, BMI, smoking, education, and season.

Results

In women, moisturizer (60%), nail polish remover (77%), and nail polish (134%) use were associated (p < 0.05) with an increase in DPHP concentrations, while ip-PPP concentrations increased 21–27% with conditioner, cosmetics, deodorant, and hair product use. Mouthwash and vinyl glove use were associated with a respective 31% and 92% increase in DPHP among men.

Conclusions

Our exploratory analysis suggests PFRs may be used as a plasticizer in consumer products, and nail polish use contributes to internal DPHP exposure. Further research is needed to understand how PFRs are used in these products and how it relates to exposure.
PhaseStain: the digital staining of label-free quantitative phase microscopy images using deep learning
Authors: Rivenson Yair , Liu Tairan , Wei Zhensong , Zhang Yibo , de Haan Kevin , Ozcan Aydogan
Published: February 2019

Using a deep neural network, we demonstrate a digital staining technique, which we term PhaseStain, to transform the quantitative phase images (QPI) of label-free tissue sections into images that are equivalent to the brightfield microscopy images of the same samples that are histologically stained. Through pairs of image data (QPI and the corresponding brightfield images, acquired after staining), we train a generative adversarial network and demonstrate the effectiveness of this virtual-staining approach using sections of human skin, kidney, and liver tissue, matching the brightfield microscopy images of the same samples stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Jones’ stain, and Masson’s trichrome stain, respectively. This digital-staining framework may further strengthen various uses of label-free QPI techniques in pathology applications and biomedical research in general, by eliminating the need for histological staining, reducing sample preparation related costs and saving time. Our results provide a powerful example of some of the unique opportunities created by data-driven image transformations enabled by deep learning.
Autophagy and cancer stem cells: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic applications
Authors: Nazio Francesca , Bordi Matteo , Cianfanelli Valentina , Locatelli Franco , Cecconi Francesco
Published: February 2019

Autophagy and mitophagy act in cancer as bimodal processes, whose differential functions strictly depend on cancer ontogenesis, progression, and type. For instance, they can act to promote cancer progression by helping cancer cells survive stress or, instead, when mutated or abnormal, to induce carcinogenesis by influencing cell signaling or promoting intracellular toxicity. For this reason, the study of autophagy in cancer is the main focus of many researchers and several clinical trials are already ongoing to manipulate autophagy and by this way determine the outcome of disease therapy. Since the establishment of the cancer stem cell (CSC) theory and the discovery of CSCs in individual cancer types, autophagy and mitophagy have been proposed as key mechanisms in their homeostasis, dismissal or spread, even though we still miss a comprehensive view of how and by which regulatory molecules these two processes drive cell fate. In this review, we will dive into the deep water of autophagy, mitophagy, and CSCs and offer novel viewpoints on possible therapeutic strategies, based on the modulation of these degradative systems.
Elevated apoptosis impairs epithelial cell turnover and shortens villi in TNF-driven intestinal inflammation
Authors: Parker Aimée , Vaux Laura , Patterson Angela M. , Modasia Amisha , Muraro Daniele , Fletcher Alexander G. , Byrne Helen M. , Maini Philip K. , Watson Alastair J. M. , Pin Carmen
Published: February 2019

The intestinal epithelial monolayer, at the boundary between microbes and the host immune system, plays an important role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly as a target and producer of pro-inflammatory TNF. Chronic overexpression of TNF leads to IBD-like pathology over time, but the mechanisms driving early pathogenesis events are not clear. We studied the epithelial response to inflammation by combining mathematical models with in vivo experimental models resembling acute and chronic TNF-mediated injury. We found significant villus atrophy with increased epithelial cell death along the crypt-villus axis, most dramatically at the villus tips, in both acute and chronic inflammation. In the acute model, we observed overexpression of TNF receptor I in the villus tip rapidly after TNF injection and concurrent with elevated levels of intracellular TNF and rapid shedding at the tip. In the chronic model, sustained villus atrophy was accompanied by a reduction in absolute epithelial cell turnover. Mathematical modelling demonstrated that increased cell apoptosis on the villus body explains the reduction in epithelial cell turnover along the crypt-villus axis observed in chronic inflammation. Cell destruction in the villus was not accompanied by changes in proliferative cell number or division rate within the crypt. Epithelial morphology and immunological changes in the chronic setting suggest a repair response to cell damage although the villus length is not recovered. A better understanding of how this state is further destabilised and results in clinical pathology resembling IBD will help identify suitable pathways for therapeutic intervention.