bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of ultra-weak photon emission in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) infested by two spotted-spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch-research note
Authors: Pónya Zsolt , Jócsák Ildikó , Keszthelyi Sándor
Published: August 2021

Sunflower production plays an important role in global industrial oil production. Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is a dangerous, polyphagous arthropod pest with a cosmopolitan distribution, which can endanger the economic features of global sunflower production. It is widely known that pests trigger various reactions in host plants. Among these, detection of ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) enhanced upon infestation is a novel, non-invasive method suitable for the visualisation and monitoring of both biotic and abiotic stress in living tissues. In the present study, the increase in ultra-weak UPE triggered by biotic stress caused by T. urticae in Helianthus annuus was measured. UPE response of injured plants differed from that of the control plants, which was reflected by a difference in bioluminescence intensity. In leaves attacked by T. urticae the onset value of average photon count detected by the sensor and expressed in cps (counts per second) was one order of magnitude higher on average as compared to that revealed by uninjured leaves. Furthermore, UPE emission in infested leaves resulted in an abrupt decrease in the ultra-weak photon emission intensity when assayed as a function of time. The use of this non-invasive imaging technique has allowed the detection of the injury induced by T. urticae, as a biotic stressor.
Central vascular ligation and mesentery based abdominal surgery
Authors: Franceschilli M. , Vinci D. , Di Carlo S. , Sensi B. , Siragusa L. , Guida A. , Rossi P. , Bellato V. , Caronna R. , Sibio S.
Published: August 2021

In the nineteenth century the idea of a correct surgical approach in oncologic surgery moved towards a good lymphadenectomy. In colon cancer the segment is removed with adjacent mesentery, in gastric cancer or pancreatic cancer a good oncologic resection is obtained with adequate lymphadenectomy. Many guidelines propose a minimal lymph node count that the surgeon must obtain. Therefore, it is essential to understand the adequate extent of lymphadenectomy to be performed in cancer surgery. In this review of the current literature, the focus is on “central vascular ligation”, understood as radical lymphadenectomy in upper and lower gastrointestinal cancer, the evolution of this approach during the years and the improvement of laparoscopic techniques. For what concerns laparoscopic surgery, the main goal is to minimize post-operative trauma introducing the “less is more” concept whilst preserving attention for oncological outcomes. This review will demonstrate the importance of a scientifically based standardization of oncologic gastrointestinal surgery, especially in relation to the expansion of minimally invasive surgery and underlines the importance to further investigate through new randomized trials the role of extended lymphadenectomy in the new era of a multimodal approach, and most importantly, an era where minimally invasive techniques and the idea of “less is more” are becoming the standard thought for the surgical approach.
The applicability of mathematics in computational systems biology and its experimental relations
Authors: MacLeod Miles
Published: August 2021

In 1966 Richard Levins argued that applications of mathematics to population biology faced various constraints which forced mathematical modelers to trade-off at least one of realism, precision, or generality in their approach. Much traditional mathematical modeling in biology has prioritized generality and precision in the place of realism through strategies of idealization and simplification. This has at times created tensions with experimental biologists. The past 20 years however has seen an explosion in mathematical modeling of biological systems with the rise of modern computational systems biology and many new collaborations between modelers and experimenters. In this paper I argue that many of these collaborations revolve around detail-driven modeling practices which in Levins’ terms trade-off generality for realism and precision. These practices apply mathematics by working from detailed accounts of biological systems, rather than from initially idealized or simplified representations. This is possible by virtue of modern computation. The form these practices take today suggest however Levins’ constraints on mathematical application no longer apply, transforming our understanding of what is possible with mathematics in biology. Further the engagement with realism and the ability to push realistic models in new directions aligns well with the epistemological and methodological views of experimenters, which helps explain their increased enthusiasm for biological modeling.
Aortic Valve Neocuspidization Using Autologous Pericardium (Ozaki Procedure): an Alternative to Aortic Valve Replacement in Adult Cardiac Surgery?
Authors: Koechlin Luca , Eckstein Friedrich S.
Published: August 2021

Purpose of the Review

The aim of this article is to describe the technique of aortic valve neocuspidization using autologous pericardium (AVNeo, “OZAKI procedure”) in adult cardiac surgery, to analyze recent findings, and to discuss benefits and limitations of this technique.

Recent Findings

Potential benefits of this technique include excellent hemodynamic performances, minimal use of foreign material, low rates of permanent pacemaker implantation, and omission of oral anticoagulation. However, data regarding the durability of the procedure are hitherto limited, and the procedure is associated with a higher complexity compared to aortic valve replacement.

AVNeo using autologous pericardium in adult cardiac surgery is a promising technique providing several benefits. However, there is a major unmet need for more data, especially regarding long-term durability. Thus, based on currently available data, we recommend careful patient selection within the heart team and shared decision-making with the informed patient.
Lo iodio nell’alimentazione dell’età evolutiva
Authors: Gastaldi Roberto , Borgia Paola , Maghnie Mohamad
Published: August 2021

Sommario

Lo iodio viene assunto esclusivamente attraverso gli alimenti e rappresenta un componente essenziale per la sintesi degli ormoni tiroidei. Una carenza iodica misconosciuta da inadeguato apporto dietetico che si instaura nei primi anni di vita può essere responsabile di scarsa crescita e disordini dello sviluppo neuro-cognitivo. Negli ultimi anni è aumentata la prevalenza delle allergie alimentari e dei cultori di diete vegane nei paesi occidentali. Entrambe le situazioni impongono restrizioni dietetiche, limitando le fonti di importanti nutrienti come iodio, ferro, zinco, vitamina D, calcio e vitamina B12. Nelle allergie alimentari e in regime dietetico vegano, infatti, i primi alimenti ad essere esclusi sono proprio quelli a maggior contenuto di iodio, come pesce, latte, uova e derivati. L’apporto di iodio può dunque divenire insufficiente qualora non ci sia adeguato utilizzo di fonti di iodio alternative, come il sale iodato. Pertanto, risulta fondamentale che gli operatori sanitari siano a conoscenza dei possibili rischi di carenze nutrizionali in bambini con allergia alimentare, vegani o entrambi, al fine di garantire un attento monitoraggio auxologico e nutrizionale e soddisfare il fabbisogno energetico e nutritivo. In questo articolo riassumiamo i principali aspetti riguardanti l’apporto iodico in dieta vegana e nelle diete di esclusione dei bambini con allergie alimentari, revisionando la letteratura su questi argomenti e fornendo alcuni suggerimenti per i pediatri.
Plant Recombinant Human Collagen Type I Hydrogels for Corneal Regeneration
Authors: Haagdorens Michel , Edin Elle , Fagerholm Per , Groleau Marc , Shtein Zvi , Ulčinas Artūras , Yaari Amit , Samanta Ayan , Cepla Vytautas , Liszka Aneta , Tassignon Marie-José , Simpson Fiona , Shoseyov Oded , Valiokas Ramūnas , Pintelon Isabel , Ljunggren Monika Kozak , Griffith May
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To determine feasibility of plant-derived recombinant human collagen type I (RHCI) for use in corneal regenerative implants

Methods

RHCI was crosslinked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) to form hydrogels. Application of shear force to liquid crystalline RHCI aligned the collagen fibrils. Both aligned and random hydrogels were evaluated for mechanical and optical properties, as well as in vitro biocompatibility. Further evaluation was performed in vivo by subcutaneous implantation in rats and corneal implantation in Göttingen minipigs.

Results

Spontaneous crosslinking of randomly aligned RHCI (rRHCI) formed robust, transparent hydrogels that were sufficient for implantation. Aligning the RHCI (aRHCI) resulted in thicker collagen fibrils forming an opaque hydrogel with insufficient transverse mechanical strength for surgical manipulation. rRHCI showed minimal inflammation when implanted subcutaneously in rats. The corneal implants in minipigs showed that rRHCI hydrogels promoted regeneration of corneal epithelium, stroma, and nerves; some myofibroblasts were seen in the regenerated neo-corneas.

Conclusion

Plant-derived RHCI was used to fabricate a hydrogel that is transparent, mechanically stable, and biocompatible when grafted as corneal implants in minipigs. Plant-derived collagen is determined to be a safe alternative to allografts, animal collagens, or yeast-derived recombinant human collagen for tissue engineering applications. The main advantage is that unlike donor corneas or yeast-produced collagen, the RHCI supply is potentially unlimited due to the high yields of this production method.

Lay Summary

A severe shortage of human-donor corneas for transplantation has led scientists to develop synthetic alternatives. Here, recombinant human collagen type I made of tobacco plants through genetic engineering was tested for use in making corneal implants. We made strong, transparent hydrogels that were tested by implanting subcutaneously in rats and in the corneas of minipigs. We showed that the plant collagen was biocompatible and was able to stably regenerate the corneas of minipigs comparable to yeast-produced recombinant collagen that we previously tested in clinical trials. The advantage of the plant collagen is that the supply is potentially limitless.
Preparation of binary nanofluid with heat transfer additives by particle surface functionalisation
Authors: Muhammad Umar Aliyu , Bhattacharyya Debabratta , Endrino Jose Louis , Fereres Sonia
Published: August 2021

Current binary nanofluid synthesis methods with heat transfer additives lack an understanding of the chemistry of the nanoparticle-additive-base fluid interaction, which plays a significant role in the adsorption of the surfactant on the nanoparticle surface. Consequently, this leads to the formation of aggregates within the nanofluid after a couple of days, affecting the stability of the colloidal suspension. Here, a lithium bromide-alumina salt-based nanofluid is proposed following a newly developed synthesis method including particle surface functionalisation. The new procedure developed allows the initial preparation of the nanoparticles with the surfactant as the first step (surface functionalisation) and then the preparation of the base fluid with a dispersion stabilising agent (Gum Arabic) separately. This is then followed by the dispersion of the prepared alumina nanoparticles into the base fluid, by stirring and ultrasonication to produce the final nanofluid, lithium bromide-water (LiBr-H2O)-alumina nanofluid. Until now, proper procedures have not been reported for the nanofluid synthesis combining surfactant and dispersant and the chemistry of nanoparticles-surfactant-base fluid interaction, which was thoroughly investigated in the new approach. The fluid prepared by both the conventional and new procedures was characterised and analysed simultaneously. A thermal conductivity enhancement of 3% was achieved by using the surface functionalisation method, with greater particle concentration distribution (number of particles in suspension) of 22.7% over the conventional procedure. It also achieved a 5% decrease in dynamic viscosity. On the other hand, a Mouromtseff number value between 0.7 and 1.8 was obtained for the fluid at 293 K and 373 K temperature range, indicating a strong heat transfer capability. It was apparent from the particle size and concentration distribution analysis conducted that this procedure produced a more stable nanofluid with a high distribution of nanoparticles within the fluid. This allows high improvement of thermal properties of the fluid.

Graphical abstract

Graphical abstract of a new procedure for nanofluid synthesis with heat transfer additives using the two-step method
Towards the Development of Sustainable Ground Improvement Techniques—Biocementation Study of an Organic Soil
Authors: Safdar M. U. , Mavroulidou M. , Gunn M. J. , Purchase D. , Gray C. , Payne I. , Garelick J.
Published: August 2021

Ongoing research effort is dedicated to the development of innovative, superior and cost-effective ground improvement techniques to mitigate natural and man-made hazards while minimising waste and other environmental impacts. In this context, the nature-based process of biocementation of soils has been proposed as a potentially more sustainable technique than conventional chemical ground improvement practices. This paper focuses on the biocementation of an organic soil of the UK railway network. Having recently proven the feasibility of biocementing this soil using indigenous ureolytic bacteria, in this paper, the authors perform a parametric study to identify treatments successful in increasing the strength of the soil. Selected treatments are then applied to the soil to assess its volume change during consolidation, secondary compression and shrinkage upon drying. The results show that, depending on the treatments used, biocementation has increased the unconfined compressive strength by up to 81% compared to that of the control samples. For selected treatments and the range of water contents tested (55–33%), shrinkage upon drying reduced by 16%, while the volumetric strains of the soil upon 1-D compression reduced by 32–47%. This was reflected in the values of the coefficient of volume compressibility and the coefficient of secondary compression (the latter either reduced by up to an order of magnitude or secondary compression was not observed altogether in the testing period). Overall, the results proved that biocementation improved considerably the mechanical properties of the organic soil, which gives promise for addressing the settlement problems of this soil.
Rethinking Policy Piloting
Authors: Nair Sreeja
Published: August 2021

Piloting is an important form of policy experimentation and a promising tool for policymakers to innovate, formulate and test alternative policy designs for the future. While this is recognized in theory, there are several challenges in realizing a pilot's potential to do so in practice. Addressing these challenges ask for a deeper understanding of the design of policy pilots and their outcomes in terms of how they mainstream into routine policymaking. Looking back at selected national piloting initiatives in Indian agriculture over a period of twenty-five years, this book draws insights for policy theory and practice. Design features of pilots that are found to influence their scaling-up and translation into formal policies (or not) are distilled from literature and compared across the selected cases. Theoretical insights from the book can be extended and adapted to agricultural policymaking in other Asian countries as well as to policy formulation in other sectors.
Citizens of Everywhere
Authors: Parr Rosalind
Published: August 2021

Citizens of Everywhere traces the international careers of a cohort of extraordinary Indian women leaders during the final decades of colonial rule. Working in pursuit of the dual goals of Indian independence and women's rights, the women featured in this book established productive transnational connections to gain influence on the world stage, all against the backdrop of momentous events in India and beyond. In doing so, they contributed a distinct set of ideas to global conversations about rights and citizenship. By bringing this transnational activism to light, the author offers new perspectives on Indian nationalism. More broadly the book establishes Indian women as actors in the global histories of women's rights and international movements during the era of decolonisation.
The Dragon from the Mountains
Authors: McCartney Matthew
Published: August 2021

China has promised to invest more than $60billion in Pakistan, in roads, rail, energy and a deep-water port at Gwadar. This is unprecedented relative to decades of minimal foreign direct investment (FDI) entering Pakistan. This is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Support for CPEC in Pakistan is widespread and encompasses much of academia, the military, the mainstream political leadership, and civil society. Supporters argue that CPEC offers the potential to transform Pakistan and support rapid, equitable and sustainable economic growth. Detractors of CPEC argue that it will more likely tip Pakistan into a dependent debt-relationship with China and that it will facilitate more Chinese imports into Pakistan posing a threat to Pakistan's industrial base. This book utilises an in-depth understanding of economic change in contemporary China and Pakistan, and economic theory and studies of big infrastructure projects from the contemporary and historical world to evaluate these contrasting views about CPEC.
The Excuse of (Il)legality in Discriminating and Persecuting Religious Minorities: Anti-Mosque Legal Violence in Myanmar
Authors: Kyaw Nyi Nyi
Published: August 2021

This article highlights the convenient excuse of (il)legality used by (1) religious majoritarian mobs to justify attacks against places of worship and religious buildings of minorities; and (2) police and local authorities to absolve themselves of the failure to uphold public order and the rule of law, protect religious minorities, and to punish religious minorities. This article traces the emergence of legal violence in the form of anti-mosque vigilante extremism in Myanmar from 2012 onwards and analyzes cases of attacks against: (1) “illegal” mosques; (2) madrasas being used as or reconstructed into mosques; (3) buildings allegedly being constructed as mosques; (4) private homes and public spaces being used as mosques; and cases of (5) closed mosques not being allowed to reopen. The author primarily used Myanmar-language resources as well as interviews to conduct the research.
Intimate Rivals: The Freedom of Religious Nationalism
Authors: Abiri Gilad
Published: August 2021

In this article, I argue that religious nationalism poses a unique challenge to the liberal theory of religious freedom. In arguing this, the article first develops and defines an ideal type of religious nationalism through an analysis of Hindu-nationalist and religious Zionist thought. I show that religious nationalism in states like India and Israel have the unique status ofintimate rivals. They areintimatesince they are able to successfully present themselves as the carriers of the authentic character of the nation-state and utilize modern political tools. As a result, they are free of much of the unifying pressures of state nationalism. And they arerivalsbecause they promote a vision of society and politics that fundamentally challenges the political identity of the state. The paper then turns to the justifications and rationales of religious freedom—both in seminal cases and in political and legal scholarship—and applies them to religious nationalism. It argues that the status of intimate rivalry should, depending on which justification of religious freedom we adhere to, change the way in which we morally and legally understand religious nationalism. First, because religious nationalism isintimate—that is, acceptable and mainstream—it should be approached as a part of the culture of the majority. This implies that we should be less concerned about infringements of religious freedom in the case of the adherents and organizations of religious nationalism. Second, therivalryof religious nationalism is in itself a good reason for the nation-state not to accommodate it.
Return on Investment in Endovascular Care: The Case of Endovascular Reperfusion Alberta
Authors: Thanh Nguyen Xuan , Jeerakathil Thomas , Stang Jillian , Halabi Mary-Lou , Mann Balraj , Buck Brian H. , Rempel Jeremy L. , Goyal Mayank , Demchuk Andrew M. , Valaire Shelley , Wasylak Tracy , Hill Michael D.
Published: August 2021

Objective:

We examined the return on investment (ROI) from the Endovascular Reperfusion Alberta (ERA) project, a provincially funded population-wide strategy to improve access to endovascular therapy (EVT), to inform policy regarding sustainability.

Methods:

We calculated net benefit (NB) as benefit minus cost and ROI as benefit divided by cost. Patients treated with EVT and their controls were identified from the ESCAPE trial. Using the provincial administrative databases, their health services utilization (HSU), including inpatient, outpatient, physician, long-term care services, and prescription drugs, were compared. This benefit was then extrapolated to the number of patients receiving EVT increased in 2018 and 2019 by the ERA implementation. We used three time horizons, including short (90 days), medium (1 year), and long-term (5 years).

Results:

EVT was associated with a reduced gross HSU cost for all the three time horizons. Given the total costs of ERA were $2.04 million in 2018 ($11,860/patient) and $3.73 million in 2019 ($17,070/patient), NB per patient in 2018 (2019) was estimated at −$7,313 (−$12,524), $54,592 ($49,381), and $47,070 ($41,859) for short, medium, and long-term time horizons, respectively. Total NB for the province in 2018 (2019) were −$1.26 (−$2.74), $9.40 ($10.78), and $8.11 ($9.14) million; ROI ratios were 0.4 (0.3), 5.6 (3.9) and 5.0 (3.5). Probabilities of ERA being cost saving were 39% (31%), 97% (96%), and 94% (91%), for short, medium, and long-term time horizons, respectively.

Conclusion:

The ERA program was cost saving in the medium and long-term time horizons. Results emphasized the importance of considering a broad range of HSU and long-term impact to capture the full ROI.
Sex Must Be Voluntary: Sexual Communication and the New Definition of Rape in Sweden
Authors: Wegerstad Linnea
Published: August 2021

Many countries are in the process of replacing outdated sex offense regulations with laws that accurately correspond to late modern ideas about gender equality, sexual self-determination, and consensual sex. One example is Sweden, where a law that defines rape based on a criterion of nonvoluntary participation entered into force in 2018. This article analyzes the representation of rape in the new law and legal discourse in Sweden, and shows that rape is represented as a matter of choice and communication in sexual situations. Further, the new rape law is coupled to an emerging problem within such disparate spheres as public health, social media campaigns, sexual education, and gender studies; namely, the problem of sexual communication and gray zones in sexual encounters. To understand this new representation of rape, further exploration is suggested both into the effects of sexual violence being framed as a matter of individual choice, consent, and communication in late modernity and into the role of criminal law in the era of thin normativity. The article concludes that the new rape law sends a clear message about what sex should be—namely, something voluntary—but does not accurately describe the crime and the conduct that deserves criminal censure.
The Human Right to Sexual Autonomy
Authors: Valentiner Dana-Sophia
Published: August 2021

During the 20th century, society’s view on sexualities has undergone a severe paradigm shift. While moving away from ideas of decency and bawdiness to evaluate legitimate sexuality, concepts of autonomy and consent gained importance. This transformation is also challenging the law.1 With the broad acceptance of various forms of sexual behavior and sexual orientation, legal regulation based on morality and ethics is outdated. Recent debates on law and sexualities focus on sexual autonomy and its conditions. This is shown especially by the legal debate on sexual violence and criminal law.2 But the right to sexual autonomy does not only require adequate protection against sexual violence. As a human right, it obliges State Parties to Human Rights Treaties such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to respect, protect, and fulfill sexual autonomy. This includes the guarantee of freedom from sexual violence, coercion and discrimination, as well as control over one’s own body and over the involvement in sexual interactions with others. In order to ensure the different components of sexual autonomy, sexual education and reliable access to information and medical services are necessary. This paper presents an approach concerning the multifaceted dimensions of sexual autonomy through a human rights lens.
Pro-Life and Feminist Mobilization in the Struggle over Abortion in Mexico: Church Networks, Elite Alliances, and Partisan Context
Authors: Reuterswärd Camilla
Published: August 2021

This article comparatively analyzes the strategies and political impact of “pro-life” and feminist movements in the struggle over abortion policy in Mexico. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, it argues that anti-abortion movements are more likely to influence policymaking in contexts where they can tap into hegemonic religious institutions’ networks and alliances and indirectly provide incumbents with legitimizing moral and financial support in exchange for restrictive reforms. Partisan contexts shape incumbents’ need for such support. Feminist activists, by contrast, have neither elite connections nor access to similar mobilization resources. To make this argument, the analysis examines pro-life and feminist movements in two Mexican states: Yucatán, where Congress passed a restrictive reform; and Hidalgo, where an identical initiative failed.
A Multilevel Model of Ideological Congruence in Latin America
Authors: Rodríguez-Zepeda Juan Antonio , Otero-Felipe Patricia
Published: August 2021

What explains ideological congruence between citizens and political parties? Although the literature on congruence has recently provided some answers to this question, most of these works have focused on the effect of systemic and partisan factors. They have paid less attention to the effect of people’s characteristics on ideological congruence, which is built by the interaction between citizens’ positions on public issues and those of the political parties that represent them. Our general research hypothesis is that party-voter congruence is stronger when parties reduce the uncertainty about their ideological positions and citizens can understand these signals better. Analysis of Latin American data supports this hypothesis, showing that people’s cognitive ability, specifically education and political knowledge, has a positive effect on party-voter ideological congruence. Moreover, this relationship is moderated by parties’ attributes, such as ideological ambiguity and radicalism.
Liberal Displacement Policies Attract Forced Migrants in the Global South
Authors: BLAIR CHRISTOPHER W. , GROSSMAN GUY , WEINSTEIN JEREMY M.
Published: August 2021

Most forced migrants around the world are displaced within the Global South. We study whether and how de jure policies on forced displacement affect where forced migrants flee in the developing world. Recent evidence from the Global North suggests migrants gravitate toward liberal policy environments. However, existing analyses expect de jure policies to have little effect in the developing world, given strong presumptions that policy enforcement is poor and policy knowledge is low. Using original data on de jure displacement policies for 92 developing countries and interviews with 126 refugees and policy makers, we document a robust association between liberal de jure policies and forced migrant flows. Gravitation toward liberal environments is conditional on factors that facilitate the diffusion of policy knowledge, such as transnational ethnic kin. Policies for free movement, services, and livelihoods are especially attractive. Utility-maximizing models of migrant decision making must take de jure policy provisions into account.
Digit ratio (2D:4D) and body mass index in the BBC Internet Study: prenatal sex steroids and a Trivers–Willard effect on body composition
Authors: Manning J. T. , Fink B. , Mason L. , Trivers R.
Published: August 2021

Digit ratio – a putative measure of prenatal sex steroids – may be related to body mass index (BMI). However, reports of correlations between 2D:4D and BMI have yielded mixed results with some studies showing no relationship while others have reported positive associations in men or women only. This study considers associations between self-reported 2D:4D and BMI in a large online survey (i.e. the BBC Internet Study). At the individual level, there was a weak positive association between 2D:4D and BMI in both sexes with greater effect sizes in women. Body mass index was positively related to age and negatively related to parental income; however, the relationship between 2D:4D and BMI was independent of both variables. At the national level, mean 2D:4D per country showed positive associations with mean national BMI but those correlations were restricted to females. It is concluded that BMI is positively related to low prenatal testosterone and high prenatal oestrogen. Parental income inequality may influence both prenatal sex steroids (through a ‘Trivers–Willard’ effect) and BMI such that increases in inequality result in reductions in prenatal testosterone and increases in BMI at the individual and national level.
Doing time in care homes: insights into the experiences of care home residents in Germany during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Leontowitsch Miranda , Oswald Frank , Schall Arthur , Pantel Johannes
Published: August 2021

Residents of care homes across the globe are affected by the spread of SARS-CoV-2 as they have been identified as a high-risk group and because they experienced strict social isolation regulations during the first wave of the pandemic. Social isolation of older people with poor physical and mental health is strongly associated with mental health problems and decreased life expectancy. Other research has shown that older people managed to adapt to the changes brought about by the pandemic and have linked this to the concept of resilience. The aim of this research project was to investigate how this applied to residents in care home settings during the first phases of the contact ban in Germany from sociology, developmental psychology and environmental gerontology perspectives, and to gain in-depth understanding of residents’ experiences. This paper draws on structured interview data collected from residents in two care homes during early June 2020 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The findings show that their experiences were shaped by three factors: care home settings and the approach of staff to handling the contact ban; biographical sense of resilience; and a hierarchy of life issues. The findings highlight the importance of locally specific response mechanisms in care homes, agency and belonging of residents despite health-related limitations and the importance of a critical (gendered) lens on understanding their experiences.
Coordination in price setting and the zero lower bound: a global games approach
Authors: Katagiri Mitsuru
Published: August 2021

This paper constructs a two-period general equilibrium model with the effective lower bound of nominal interest rates and describes price competition among monopolistically competitive firms as a coordination game. While the model has multiple equilibria with different levels of inflation (positive or zero), the equilibrium selection in line with global games implies that the economy with high expected productivity growth moves into the positive inflation equilibrium. The policy analyses indicate that monetary policy measures such as an increase in the target inflation can prevent the economy from moving into the zero inflation equilibrium even with low productivity growth.
Three-Dimensional Atomically Resolved Analytical Imaging with a Field Ion Microscope
Authors: Katnagallu Shyam , Morgado Felipe F , Mouton Isabelle , Gault Baptiste , Stephenson Leigh T
Published: August 2021

Atom probe tomography (APT) helps elucidate the link between the nanoscale chemical variations and physical properties, but it has a limited structural resolution. Field ion microscopy (FIM), a predecessor technique to APT, is capable of attaining atomic resolution along certain sets of crystallographic planes albeit at the expense of elemental identification. We demonstrate how two commercially available atom probe instruments, one with a straight flight path and one fitted with a reflectron lens, can be used to acquire time-of-flight mass spectrometry data concomitant with a FIM experiment. We outline various experimental protocols making the use of temporal and spatial correlations to best discriminate field-evaporated signals from the large field-ionized background signal, demonstrating an unsophisticated yet efficient data mining strategy to provide this discrimination. We discuss the remaining experimental challenges that need to be addressed, notably concerned with accurate detection and identification of individual field-evaporated ions contained within the high field-ionized flux that contributes to a FIM image. Our hybrid experimental approach can, in principle, exhibit true atomic resolution with elemental discrimination capabilities, neither of which atom probe nor FIM can individually fully deliver—thereby making this new approach, here broadly termed analytical field ion microscopy (aFIM), unique.
From the Communists and Post-Communists Alike: State-Paid Salaries of the Clergy in the Czech Lands 1949–2012
Authors: Minarik Pavol
Published: August 2021

The article examines the development of state-paid salaries for the clergy introduced by the Communists in Czechoslovakia from their institution in 1949 until they were removed in a major change of church-state relations in 2012. In the initial years of Communist rule, it appears that the salaries were part of a “carrot and stick” strategy aiming to subject churches to the state. Later, the real value of salaries steadily decreased, leaving priests marginalized in the economic structure. Following the collapse of the Communist regime, the salaries of the clergy were significantly increased; although, in subsequent years, they followed a trend similar to the pre-1989 period. The similarity in the development of salaries in the Communist and post-Communist period and the reluctance to restitute the church property after 1989 reflects the attitudes of the Czech population and the political representation toward organized religion and the transition from assertive to passive secularism.
Quality of attachment relationships and frequency of mathematics- and science-related activity offers in kindergarten as predictors of girls' and boys' mathematics-related motivation
Authors: Wolter Ilka , Hannover Bettina
Published: August 2021

Abstract. During the kindergarten years and until shortly before school start, there are no gender differences in (precursors of) mathematical competencies or mathematics-related motivation. Shortly after school entry, however, boys are already superior to their female peers in mathematics-related competencies and motivation. We investigated in a cross-sectional study two aspects of process quality in kindergarten that can favorably influence the development of mathematics-related motivation, especially of girls: the frequency of offers of mathematics- and science-related activities and a high-quality attachment relationship with the teacher. In 135 independent dyads, the quality of attachment between kindergarten teacher and child was assessed by a one and a half-hour standardized observation (Attachment Q-Set). The teacher provided information on how often she provides mathematics- and science-related activities. The children were asked about their mathematics-related motivation and precursors of mathematical competencies were measured using a standardized test. Results show, in line with existing studies, that girls and boys did not yet differ in their precursors of mathematical competencies and mathematics-related motivation at the end of kindergarten. Girls were involved in significantly higher quality attachment relationships with their teachers than boys. While girls' mathematics-related motivation increased with the frequency of the provision of relevant activities, it did not play a role for boys' motivation. We discuss (a) how teachers can be encouraged to offer mathematics-and science-related activities more often and (b) whether a comparable quality of attachment would be shown for boys as for girls if the kindergarten teacher were male.
Übersetzung und kultursensitive Anpassung des Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory© für pflegerische Versorgungssettings
Authors: Stacke Tobias Ingo , Manietta Christina , Purwins Daniel , Bergmann Johannes Michael , Rommerskirch-Manietta Mike , Roes Martina
Published: August 2021

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Die Berücksichtigung von individuellen Vorlieben von Menschen mit Pflegebedarf im Sinne einer personen-zentrierten Pflege erfordert eine systematische Erfassung von alltagsbezogenen Präferenzen. Das Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory (PELI) wurde hierfür in den USA entwickelt. Ziel: Ziel war es, das PELI-NH© (Nursing Home) in die deutsche Sprache zu übersetzen und kultursensitiv für die ambulante Pflege, Tagespflege sowie stationäre Pflege anzupassen. Methoden: Die deutsche Übersetzung des PELI-NH© erfolgte in Anlehnung an die ISPOR-Prinzipien in elf Schritten. Zentrale Schritte waren dabei die Vorwärtsübersetzung, das Expertengremium, das Cognitive Debriefing sowie die Rückübersetzung. Ergebnisse: Als Ergebnis der Übersetzung liegt mit dem PELI-D erstmalig ein 72 Item umfassendes deutschsprachiges Instrument zur Erfassung alltagsbezogener Präferenzen von Menschen mit Pflegebedarf für die ambulante Pflege (55 Items), Tagespflege (54 Items) und stationäre Pflege (65 Items) vor. Schlussfolgerungen: Das gewählte Vorgehen unterstützt die kritische Reflexion der Übersetzung eines Instruments und stellt dabei die kultursensitive Vergleichbarkeit zwischen der Ausgangs- und Zielsprache sicher. Inwieweit sich die settingspezifischen Versionen des PELI-D als praktikabel erweisen, bleibt noch zu überprüfen.
LiDAR and Paleoseismology Solve Earthquake Mystery in the Pacific Northwest, USA
Authors: Sherrod Brian L. , Blakely Richard J. , Weaver Craig S.
Published: August 2021

One of the largest historical earthquakes in the U.S. Pacific Northwest occurred on December 15, 1872 near the south end of Lake Chelan. Lack of recognized surface deformation suggested that the earthquake occurred on a blind, perhaps deep, fault. New LiDAR data revealed a NW‐side‐up scarp along the north side of Spencer Canyon near Entiat, Washington. Landslides triggered during the earthquake impounded small ponds in Spencer Canyon; the larger of the two landslides obliterated a portion of the scarp. Tree‐ring counts show that the oldest trees on each landslide are 130 and 128 years old, and lend credence to the idea that the earthquake triggered the landslides. Trenches across the scarp exposed a NW‐dipping thrust fault offsetting young soils and Mesozoic bedrock. Radiocarbon and tree ring data shows that the last fault movement was between 1856 and 1873 CE, and was most likely during the 1872 CE earthquake.
Seismic Imaging of a Shale Landscape Under Compression Shows Limited Influence of Topography‐Induced Fracturing
Authors: Ma Lisa , Oakley David , Nyblade Andrew , Moon Seulgi , Accardo Natalie , Wang Wei , Gu Xin , Brubaker Kristen , Mount Gregory J. , Forsythe Brandon , Carr Bradley J. , Brantley Susan L.
Published: August 2021

We used seismic refraction to image the P‐wave velocity structure of a shale watershed experiencing regional compression in the Valley and Ridge Province (USA). From estimates showing strong compressional stress, we expected the depth to unweathered bedrock to mirror the hill‐valley‐hill topography (“bowtie pattern”) by analogy to seismic velocity patterns in crystalline bedrock in the North American Piedmont that also experience compression. Previous researchers used failure potentials calculated for strong compression in the Piedmont to suggest fractures are open deeper under hills than valleys to explain the “bowtie” pattern. Seismic images of the shale watershed, however, show little evidence of such a “bowtie.” Instead, they are consistent with weak (not strong) compression. This contradiction could be explained by the greater importance of infiltration‐driven weathering than fracturing in determining seismic velocities in shale compared to crystalline bedrock, or to local perturbations of the regional stress field due to lithology or structures.
Quantitative Precipitation Estimation of Extremes in CONUS With Radar Data
Authors: Molter Edward M. , Collins William D. , Risser Mark D.
Published: August 2021

Constructing an accurate, continental, in‐situ‐based, kilometer‐scale, long‐term record of the precipitation field and its spatiotemporal changes remains a significant challenge. Here, we determine the extreme‐value behavior of the NEXRAD Stage IV radar‐based quantitative precipitation estimate. We find that the climatology of 5‐year daily return values in the contiguous United States East of the Rocky Mountains shows only slight variability on spatial scales smaller than 100 km. In light of this finding, we test whether rain‐gauge‐only daily precipitation data sets can produce accurate extreme‐value behavior at spatial scales finer than the spacing between gauges. We find that the 5‐year daily return values are accurate at locations far from rain gauges only if the interpolation between gauges is carried out appropriately for extremes. Precipitation statistics derived from in‐situ rain gauge data are therefore of sufficient spatial resolution to faithfully capture daily extremes over much of the eastern United States.
Remote Sensing of Electric Fields Observed Within Winter Precipitation During the 2020 Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast‐Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) Field Campaign
Authors: Schultz Christopher J. , Harkema Sebastian S. , Mach Douglas M. , Bateman Monte , Lang Timothy J. , Heymsfield Gerald M. , McLinden Matthew L. , Li Lihua , Poellot Michael , Sand Kendra
Published: August 2021

Aircraft electric fields from NASA's Lightning Instrument Package (LIP) were coupled with other airborne and ground‐based, and in situ measurements to understand electrification in winter clouds that did not produce lightning. The measurements were made during seven research flights by a NASA ER‐2 during the 2020 Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast‐Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) campaign. Observed total electric field magnitudes were as high as 80 V m−1 and variability in the electric field was observed along the flight path of the ER‐2, indicating horizontal and/or vertical inhomogeneity in the cloud's electrical structure. X‐band airborne radar data indicated 20‐dBZ echo tops above 5 km in regions where electrification exceeded 10 V m−1. In these regions, 85‐GHz brightness temperatures (TB) from an airborne radiometer were lower than 265 K, with the lowest TB (∼210 K) associated with ice scattering collocated with the strongest electric fields. In situ microphysical measurements from the NASA P‐3 aircraft on February 7 indicated that regions near strong electric field contained supercooled water, rimed ice hydrometeors, ice water p‐ content as high as 1 g m−3, liquid water content as high as 0.15 g m−3, and supersaturation as high as 3.5%. These observations support the role of mixed phase microphysics in the generation of electric fields in clouds. In three case studies, ground based S‐band polarimetric radar observed depolarization streaks in differential reflectivity near areas where the strongest electrification was observed. This observation reinforces the utility of depolarization streaks to identify areas of electrification prior to lightning occurrence.
All Logjams Are Not Created Equal
Authors: Livers Bridget , Wohl Ellen
Published: August 2021

Logjams create diverse physical and ecological effects in stream channels, including at least temporary storage of water, sediment, and particulate organic matter. We hypothesize that logjams that span the entire bankfull channel width in channels ≤25 m wide are more effective in storing these materials than non‐channel spanning logjams. We test this hypothesis by systematically comparing characteristics of 183 logjams from 17 stream reaches in the Southern Rocky Mountains. Our data set is novel in that it evaluates naturally occurring logjams in unaltered streams in a single study area specifically based on whether they span the stream channel. We find that channel‐spanning logjams have a significantly larger number of wood pieces, longer & wider pieces, more ramp and bridge pieces, and greater logjam height and volume, both as raw data and when standardized by average channel width. Channel‐spanning logjams also have significantly greater backwater pool volume and volume of particulate organic matter stored in backwater pools and in logjams. Restoration employing engineered logjams in relatively small channels currently focuses on non‐spanning logjams, but could be expanded to include spanning logjams.
Intermittent Retreat Behavior in Experimental Barrier Island Response to Constant Sea Level Rise and Wave Forcing
Authors: Rodgers N. , Paola C.
Published: August 2021

Barrier islands are naturally low‐lying features and are susceptible to drowning from sea level rise. However, previous work suggests that barrier islands can retreat upslope to maintain their subaerial extent, though not necessarily at a constant rate even under steady forcing. To explore this idea, we performed physical experiments where barrier islands were subjected to a constant relative sea level rise (RSL) and a constant wave environment. We tracked the islands through time with overhead images and periodic laser elevation scans. Time series of island location show that the islands did not retreat at constant rates through the transgression. Rather, overall long‐term retreat occurred through a punctuated retreat motion comprising steady retreat alternating with accelerated steps. The source of this complex behavior is a cycling between two morphologies: one where an island has a developed ridge and another where no ridge is present. Sea level rise allows waves to overtop the island and erode the ridge that once kept the waves at bay. That sediment is deposited behind the island, moving the barrier landward. Waves continue to push sediment back toward the mainland until the island becomes too wide for waves to carry sediment across the island. This begins a process of backfilling the overwash fan, eventually creating a new ridge. These simple experiments support previous theoretical suggestions that periodic overwash is a key part of a barrier island's behavior during a transgression, and that this can lead to punctuated retreat even when RSL rise is steady.