bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technological Advances Increase Fix‐Success for White‐Tailed Deer GPS Collars
Authors: Smith Bradley D. , Delgiudice Glenn D. , Severud William J.
Published: May 2021

The incorporation of quick fix pseudoranging (QFP) technology into global positioning system (GPS) collars has the potential to increase location‐fix success for terrestrial species. Units enabled with QFP obtain the data necessary to calculate an accurate GPS location‐fix during post‐processing with just a 3–5 second view of a satellite constellation. Fix‐success rate is one of the main sources of error in GPS telemetry studies, creating an inherent bias resulting in misleading data interpretations and incorrect inferences about habitat use. During winter 2017–2018, we captured 20 adult female white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and fitted them with QFP‐enabled GPS collars on 2 study areas (10/site) in northcentral and northeastern Minnesota, with an additional 40 collars (20/site) deployed during winter 2018–2019. Prior to deployment of the GPS collars on free‐ranging deer, we conducted stationary tests to evaluate location‐fix‐success and spatial accuracy of 48 (of the 60) collars distributed among 4 different vegetative cover types. We recovered 100% of the expected 3,024 location‐fixes during the stationary tests. The overall mean location error of the GPS collars was 5.7 m (±0.15 [SE], range = 0–189 m), with errors in dense conifer (10.3 ± 0.52, range = 0–189 m) being greater than in hardwood stands (6.2 ± 0.22, range = 0–91 m), browse patches (3.2 ± 0.08, range = 0–26 m), and openings (3.2 ± 0.08, range = 0–32 m). Similarly, we evaluated the performance of 30 collars deployed on free‐ranging deer. We deployed collars for a mean 79.5 days (±7.22, range = 1.8–153.8 days) with a fix‐success rate of 100% (34,758 location‐fixes); QFP accounted for 11.3% of the 34,758 location‐fixes. Our results suggest that the addition of QFP capabilities effectively increased fix‐success of GPS collars on free‐ranging deer by 11%. An increase in fix‐success rate can be of considerable value to movement, distribution, and habitat selection studies, where bias associated with missing data can create unreliable or even false inferences. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.
Preparation and Reactivity Studies of Four and Five coordinated Amidinate Aluminum Compounds
Authors: Banerjee Samya , Kumar Chowan Ashok , Bose Sanjoy , Sarkar Samir Kumar , Gupta Sandeep K , Graw Nico , Köhler Christian , Herbst‐Irmer Regine , Stalke Dietmar , Dutta Sayan , Koley Debasis , Roesky Herbert W.
Published: May 2021

Synthesis of four and five coordinated aluminum amidinate (PhC(NtBu)2=L) compounds are reported herein along with their single‐crystal X‐ray structures and detailed characterizations using both, experimental and computational techniques. LAlCl2 (1) and L2AlCl (2) were synthesized by treating AlCl3 with PhC(NtBu)2Li in an equivalent ratio of 1 : 1 and 1 : 2, respectively. [LAl(C2H5)Cl] (3) was prepared from a reaction of AlCl2(C2H5) with PhC(NtBu)2Li in an equivalent ratio of 1 : 1. Reactivity of 3, an amidinate based organo‐aluminum compound is explored for the various reactions. 3 produced [LAl(C2H5)(μ‐F)]2 (4) on treatment with Me3SnF. Interestingly, [LAl(C2H5)Cl] (3) was converted to [LAlCl(μ‐OEt)]2 (5) when refluxed in Et2O. 3 gives the monomeric and neutral cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene (cAAC) based radical [LAl(C2H5)(cAAC)] (6) on reduction with KC8 in the presence of cAAC.
Visitor presence and a changing soundscape, alongside environmental parameters, can predict enclosure usage in captive flamingos
Authors: Rose Paul , Badman‐King Alexander , Hurn Samantha , Rice Tom
Published: May 2021

The sound environment of a zoo animal is a complex milieu of animal and human‐generated sounds; coming from the species itself, other species, visitors, keepers and other zoo‐users. Research determining how different components of the sound environment affect animal behaviour is surprisingly lacking but could have real‐world impacts for animal welfare and zoo enclosure design. The current study investigated the effects of the sound environment on two flocks of flamingos housed in open‐air enclosures at British zoos. Measures of how each flock used its enclosure (as a response variable) and environmental variables (Inband Power and Peak Frequency were recorded as characteristics of the sound environment, as well as temperature, humidity and cloud cover, and finally visitor presence—all as potential predictor variables) were made over a 2‐month period. Assessment of space use by zoo animals is often used as a measure of the appropriateness of an exhibit and to understand welfare. Given that flamingo activity is influenced by weather and that the sound environment of the zoo is likely to be influenced by the number and the presence of visitors, it was assumed that these predictor variables would influence where the flamingos were located at different times of the day. As expected, there was a complicated relationship between enclosure use and Inband Power (average spectral density, a measure of sound energy) in both flocks; visitors generated salient sound but other visitor characteristics such as their physical presence may have impacted the movement of the birds around their enclosures. Results show a complex picture where environmental conditions influence flamingo enclosure usage as well as visitor presence and sounds around/in the enclosure. Findings are not consistent between the two flocks, with one flock demonstrating distinct temporal change to enclosure zone occupancy and the other responsive to humidity and cloud cover variation. We believe enclosure use can provide a valuable indication of how birds react to their soundscape; however, our findings suggest more work is needed to unpick the components of captive sound environments, and their relative effects on how animals use their space.
Perceptions and Explanations of Environmental Change in Morocco
Authors: Van Praag Lore
Published: May 2021

As demonstrated in the previous chapters, land in Morocco is mainly used for farming and pastoral activities. These activities are more vulnerable to the consequences of increased precipitation and drought due to climate change. Various modern and traditional adaptation strategies – among which migration to urban centres or abroad – have been used to deal with environmental changes. This suggests that a large share of inhabitants are in some way aware of the changes in their natural environment and already familiar with adaptation strategies (Schilling et al. 2012; Mertz et al. 2009). However, in most studies, researchers focusing on this topic do not relate this to people’s overall views on environmental change and the adaptation strategies employed by the actors involved. When they do, they hardly focus on people living in the MENA region (Nielsen and D’haen 2014); West-Africa (Mertz et al. 2010, 2012; Afifi 2011; De Longueville et al. 2020); DR Congo (Bele et al. 2014; Few et al. 2017); and India (Howe et al. 2014). The only exception is the study on Morocco by Nguyen and Wodon (2014); Wodon et al. 2014). Hence, it is unclear how these environmental changes are actually perceived and how they influence the ways people view and respond to them, and (actively) develop adaptation strategies to deal with such changes (cf. Chap.10.1007/978-3-030-61390-7_6). This is especially important since perceptions of environmental changes and the risks associated with them vary across and within cultures (Vedwan 2006; Mertz et al. 2009, 2010; Leclerc et al. 2013). Furthermore, there is a perception bias with regard to the perceived environmental changes, as some types of changes, such as rainfall patterns, are more easily noted and compared to others, such as temperature changes (Howe et al. 2014; Few et al. 2017; De Longueville et al. 2020; Bele et al. 2014). Additionally, people mainly remark on changes when these apply to their livelihood activities (Bele et al. 2014; Howe et al. 2014; Wodon et al. 2014; De Longueville et al. 2020). In current research and policymaking, ongoing debates on environmental migration and displacement too frequently assume that everyone perceives environmental change in a similar fashion. This becomes problematic in debates on environmental migration or climate refugees when environmental changes are assumed to automatically result in some kind of (forced) migration, leaving little space for the views and agency of the people involved (Stern 2000; McLeman and Gemenne 2018; Khare and Khare 2006; Rigby 2016).
Regularity and time behavior of the solutions to weak monotone parabolic equations
Authors: Porzio Maria Michaela
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we study the behavior in time of the solutions for a class of parabolic problems including thep-Laplacian equation and the heat equation. Either the case of singular or degenerate equations is considered. The initial datum$$u_0$$u0is a summable function and a reaction termfis present in the problem. We prove that, despite the lack of regularity of$$u_0$$u0, immediate regularization of the solutions appears for datafsufficiently regular and we derive estimates that for zero datafbecome the known decay estimates for these kinds of problems. Besides, even iffis not regular, we show that it is possible to describe the behavior in time of a suitable class of solutions. Finally, we establish some uniqueness results for the solutions of these evolution problems.
Influence of packing density and fillers on thermal conductivity of polymer powders for additive manufacturing
Authors: Sillani Francesco , de Gasparo Fabian , Schmid Manfred , Wegener Konrad
Published: May 2021

Additive manufacturing of polymer powders is nowadays an industrial production technology. Complex thermal phenomena occur during processing, mainly related to the interaction dynamics among laser, powder, and heating system, and also to the subsequent cool-down phase from the melt to the parts. Thermal conductivity of the powder is a key property for material processing, since an inhomogeneous temperature field in the powder cake leads to uneven part properties and can strongly limit productivity because only a smaller portion of the build chamber can be used. Nevertheless, little is known about the relationship between thermal conductivity, packing density, and presence of fillers, which are used to enhance specific properties such as high temperature resistance or stiffness. The development and consequent validation of a device capable of measuring thermal conductivity as a function of powder packing density are then extremely important, providing an additional tool to characterize powders during the development process of new materials for PBF of polymers. The results showed a positive correlation between packing density and thermal conductivity for some commercially available materials, with an increase of the latter of about 10 to 40% with an increase of the packing density from 0 to 100%. Problems arose in trying to replicate the compaction state of the powder, since the same amount of taps led to a different packing density, but this is a known problem of measuring free-flowing powders such as the ones used for additive manufacturing. Regarding fillers, an increase of about 40 to 70% of thermal conductivity when inorganic fillers such as carbon fibers are added to the neat polymer was observed, and the expected behavior following the rule of mixture was only partially observed.
Red grape skin extract and oat β-glucan in shortbread cookies: technological and nutritional evaluation
Authors: Szpicer Arkadiusz , Onopiuk Anna , Wojtasik-Kalinowska Iwona , Półtorak Andrzej
Published: May 2021

Consumers are increasingly interested in innovative products enriched with nutrients that counteract the development of civilisation-associated diseases. Thus, the development of new functional nutrient-enriched food products that meet consumer needs is therefore necessary. The aims of this study were to develop a novel shortbread cookie product by addition of red grape skin extract and oatβ-glucan and to evaluate the influence of these modifications on physico‐chemical properties and consumer’s acceptance. The red grape skin extract used in this product is a source of polyphenols which are beneficial for human health and extend product shelf life.β-glucan is a soluble fraction of dietary fibre that helps to lower reduce blood cholesterol and glycemic levels. The influence of grape skin extract,β-glucan and a combination of both on theβ-glucan content, colour and texture parameters, thermal properties, total antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, volatile compounds profile and sensory properties of shortbread cookies was analysed. Product with modified formulations had higher total antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and were was more thermally stable than control samples. The obtained innovative functional products were characterized by an increased content of oatβ-glucan, which is desirable from a nutritional point of view. The DSC measurements showed higher oxidative stability of cookies enriched withβ-glucan and red grape skin extract. The additives caused significant changes in the colour and profile of volatile compounds of the finished final product but did not affect the sensory acceptance among consumers. The use of these additives represents a development in food technology that may be valuable in the food industry to increase the nutritional value and extend the shelf shelf-life of bakery products.
Evaluation of Interventions Addressing Timely Access to Surgical Care in Low‐Income and Low‐Middle‐Income Countries as Outlined by the LANCET Commission 2030 Global Surgery Goals: A Systematic Review
Authors: Binda Catherine , Zivkovic Irena , Duffy Damian , Blair Geoffrey , Baird Robert
Published: May 2021

Background

In 2015, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery published six global surgery goals, one of which was to provide 80% of the world's population with timely access to the Bellwether Surgical procedures. Little is known about the prevalence or efficacy of subsequent interventions implemented in under‐resourced countries to increase timely access to Bellwether surgical procedures.

Methods

A systematic review of articles and grey literature published in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases was conducted. Two independent reviewers evaluated 1923 captured abstracts using explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following a thematic analysis, two reviewers conducted data extraction on the eleven manuscripts included in the final review.

Results

The studied innovations, sparse in number, centred on improved educational resources, the development of orthopaedic devices, and models for assessing surgical access disparity. Eight papers were centred around timely access to caesarean sections, three around open fracture reduction, and three around laparotomy; all focused on adult populations. Five papers addressed innovations in West Africa, two in East Africa, two in South Asia, and one in Southeast Asia. Common outcome metrics were not used to assess improvements to timely surgical access.

Conclusions

Few published interventions have been implemented since the publication of the 2015 Lancet Commission on Global Surgery goals that have or will longitudinally increase the availability of timely surgical access in Low and Middle‐Income Countries (LMIC). Tangible outcome measures in existing literature are lacking. An up‐scaling and wider adoption of successful strategies is necessary and possible.
Atraumatic femoral head necrosis: a biomechanical, histological and radiological examination compared to primary hip osteoarthritis
Authors: Hofmann Alexander , Fischer Benjamin , Schleifenbaum Stefan , Kurz Sascha , Edel Melanie , Borte Gudrun , Lehmann Gabriele , Roth Andreas
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Atraumatic necrosis of the femoral head (AFHN) is a common disease with an incidence of 5000–7000 middle-aged adults in Germany. There is no uniform consensus in the literature regarding the configuration of the bone in AFHN. The clinical picture of our patients varies from very hard bone, especially in idiopathic findings, and rather soft bone in cortisone-induced necrosis. A better understanding of the underlying process could be decisive for establishing a morphology-dependent approach. The aim of this study is the closer examination of the condition of the bone in the AFHN compared to the primary hip osteo arthritis (PHOA).

Materials and methods

The preparations were obtained as part of elective endoprosthetic treatment of the hip joint. Immediately after sample collection, thin-slice CT of the preserved femoral heads was performed to determine the exact density of the bone in the necrosis zone. Reconstruction was done in 0.8–1 mm layers in two directions, coronary and axial, starting from the femoral neck axis. Density of the femoral heads was determined by grey value analysis. The value in Hounsfield units per sample head was averaged from three individual measurements to minimize fluctuations. For biomechanical and histomorphological evaluation, the samples were extracted in the load bearing zone perpendicular to the surface of the femoral head. Group-dependent statistical evaluation was performed using single factor variance analysis (ANOVA).

Results

A total of 41 patients with a mean age of 64.44 years were included. The mean bone density of the AFHN samples, at 1.432 g/cm3, was about 7% higher than in the PHOA group with a mean value of 1.350 g/cm3 (p = 0.040). The biomechanical testing in the AFHN group showed a 22% higher—but not significant—mean compressive strength (20.397 MPa) than in the PHOA group (16.733 MPa). On the basis of histological analysis, no differentiation between AFHN and PHOA samples was possible.

Conclusions

The present study (NCT, evidence level II) shows that AFHN has a very well detectable higher bone density compared to PHOA. However, neither biomechanical stress tests nor histomorphological evaluation did show any significant difference between the groups. The results allow the conclusion that there is no “soft” necrosis at all in the AFHN group.
Navigating metastatic colorectal treatment options in the USA: a survey of patient acceptance of skin toxicities associated with Vectibix
Authors: Sangaré Laura , Divita Alecia , Rehn Marko , McNamara Michelle , Lowe Kimberly A.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To understand the extent to which metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients receive education on the prevention and management associated with skin rash following Vectibix treatment. Furthermore, to investigate how this adverse event affects a patient’s quality of life (QoL) and influences their treatment decisions.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was administered to 200 mCRC patients (100 Vectibix users and 100 Vectibix non-users). After excluding respondents who had used cetuximab, 61 Vectibix users and 56 Vectibix non-users remained.

Results

Most Vectibix users (79%) experienced a skin rash in response to treatment of which 65% considered the rash moderate, 27% mild, and 8% severe. Vectibix users generally felt they were adequately informed about the rash (83%), with the most common messages received related to sun protection. However, sunscreen was used by only 42% of patients prior to rash and 60% of patients following the appearance of rash. The use of oral antibiotics was low prior to rash (21%) and following rash (46%). Among patients experiencing a rash within the past week (n=16), 75% reported the rash had a large negative impact on their QoL based on the Dermatology Life Quality Index.

Conclusion

There was a disconnect between patients feeling they were adequately informed and use of prevention and management strategies such as sun protection. This suggests a gap in patient education and adoption currently exists on management strategies both prior to and following the appearance of rash. Given the negative impact that skin toxicity has on the patient’s quality of life, it is essential that patients receive and subsequently utilize all information that can minimize rash severity.
The stray sheep of cyberspace a.k.a. the actors who claim they break the law for the greater good
Authors: Pawlicka Aleksandra , Choraś Michał , Pawlicki Marek
Published: May 2021

The development of cyberspace has brought about innumerable advantages for the mankind. However, it also came with several serious drawbacks; as cyberspace evolves, so does cybercrime. Since the birth of cyberspace, individuals, groups and whole nations have been engaging in computer-related offences of various significance and impact, trying to exploit systems’ vulnerabilities, disseminate malicious software and steal data or funds. The concept of a hacker has entered the collective consciousness and become an intrinsic element of popular culture. However, there are hackers, or rather, cyberspace actors, who challenge this common view. This paper presents three types of such people, namely hacktivists, members of cyber militias and Internet trolls. Although they all use the Internet to break the laws or rules, their internal motivations are not always utterly sinister; actually, some of them firmly believe that their actions are for the greater good. This paper is structured as follows: Firstly, the general profile of a hacker is presented. Then, the state of the art is outlined, concerning other papers dealing with the motivations behind cyber threat actors. Following that, the three aforementioned groups of cyberspace actors are contrasted with the profile of a ‘typical’ hacker. Then, the profiles of a typical representative for each of the group and their motivations are indicated, followed by the final conclusions.
Penalty alternating direction methods for mixed-integer optimal control with combinatorial constraints
Authors: Göttlich Simone , Hante Falk M. , Potschka Andreas , Schewe Lars
Published: May 2021

We consider mixed-integer optimal control problems with combinatorial constraints that couple over time such as minimum dwell times. We analyze a lifting and decomposition approach into a mixed-integer optimal control problem without combinatorial constraints and a mixed-integer problem for the combinatorial constraints in the control space. Both problems can be solved very efficiently with existing methods such as outer convexification with sum-up-rounding strategies and mixed-integer linear programming techniques. The coupling is handled using a penalty-approach. We provide an exactness result for the penalty which yields a solution approach that convergences to partial minima. We compare the quality of these dedicated points with those of other heuristics amongst an academic example and also for the optimization of electric transmission lines with switching of the network topology for flow reallocation in order to satisfy demands.
A New Assessment of Bicycle Helmets: The Brain Injury Mitigation Effects of New Technologies in Oblique Impacts
Authors: Abayazid Fady , Ding Ke , Zimmerman Karl , Stigson Helena , Ghajari Mazdak
Published: May 2021

New helmet technologies have been developed to improve the mitigation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in bicycle accidents. However, their effectiveness under oblique impacts, which produce more strains in the brain in comparison with vertical impacts adopted by helmet standards, is still unclear. Here we used a new method to assess the brain injury prevention effects of 27 bicycle helmets in oblique impacts, including helmets fitted with a friction-reducing layer (MIPS), a shearing pad (SPIN), a wavy cellular liner (WaveCel), an airbag helmet (Hövding) and a number of conventional helmets. We tested whether helmets fitted with the new technologies can provide better brain protection than conventional helmets. Each helmeted headform was dropped onto a 45° inclined anvil at 6.3 m/s at three locations, with each impact location producing a dominant head rotation about one anatomical axes of the head. A detailed computational model of TBI was used to determine strain distribution across the brain and in key anatomical regions, the corpus callosum and sulci. Our results show that, in comparison with conventional helmets, the majority of helmets incorporating new technologies significantly reduced peak rotational acceleration and velocity and maximal strain in corpus callosum and sulci. Only one helmet with MIPS significantly increased strain in the corpus collosum. The helmets fitted with MIPS and WaveCel were more effective in reducing strain in impacts producing sagittal rotations and a helmet fitted with SPIN in coronal rotations. The airbag helmet was effective in reducing brain strain in all impacts, however, peak rotational velocity and brain strain heavily depended on the analysis time. These results suggest that incorporating different impact locations in future oblique impact test methods and designing helmet technologies for the mitigation of head rotation in different planes are key to reducing brain injuries in bicycle accidents.
Benefiting from Wrongdoing and Moral Protest
Authors: Lindstad Sigurd
Published: May 2021

Some normative theorists believe that there is a principled moral reason not to retain benefits realized by injustice or wrongdoing. However, critics have argued that this idea is implausible. One purported problem is that the idea lacks an obvious rationale and that attempts to provide one have been unconvincing. This paper articulates and defends the idea that the principled reason in question has an expressive quality: it gets its reason-giving force from the symbolic aptness of such an act as an expressive response to wrongdoing. The paper thus argues that at least in a certain subset of cases, renouncing benefits realized by injustice amounts to a powerful and uniquely apt expression of protest against the disrespect for the victim that is implied by the wrongdoer’s actions. The paper shows how this idea can inform the question of reparations for slavery and its aftermath in the United States. Lastly it develops an important objection to the argument presented and gives an account of how this objection can be met.
The persistence of family firms: How does performance threshold affect family firm exit?
Authors: Symeonidou Noni , DeTienne Dawn R. , Chirico Francesco
Published: May 2021

Research on family firms provides mixed evidence of the effect of family ownership on firm performance and exit outcomes. Drawing on threshold theory and the socioemotional wealth perspective, we argue that family firms have lower performance thresholds than non-family firms, reducing the likelihood of firm exit. Using a longitudinal dataset of 1191 firms over the period 2008–2011, we find support for this contention, suggesting that performance threshold is an important, yet poorly studied, construct for understanding exits of family versus non-family firms.

Plain English SummaryWhy firms with similar economic performance make different exit decisions? We find evidence that family firms have lower “performance thresholds” than non-family firms, reducing family firms’ likelihood of exit. Using a longitudinal dataset, we examine differences in performance threshold between family and non-family firms and help clarify why some firms persist with their ventures even though their performance may indicate they should exit the market. Our theory and related findings suggest that nonfinancial attributes such as identity, the ability to exercise family influence, and to hand the business down to future generations may affect family firms’ attitudes toward exit decisions. Our study contributes to sharpening our understanding of exit in family firms while motivating future work on exit strategies in family firms and other contexts.
Comparative analyses of sooty mould communities from Brazil and Central Europe
Authors: Flessa Fabienne , Harjes Janno , Cáceres Marcela E. S. , Rambold Gerhard
Published: May 2021

To gain an insight into fungal sooty mould communities on leaves of trees and shrubs in the tropics and in temperate regions, 47 biofilms of the Mata Atlântica rainforest relic and the Caatinga vegetation in the state of Sergipe, Northeast Brazil, and from Central European colline and alpine zones were compared. The four sampling sites clearly differed in composition of their epiphyllous fungal communities. The fungal OTUs from all sites belonged mainly to the Ascomycota, with Dothideomycetes being the dominant class. The core community group consisted of a few site-specific representatives in co-occurrence with the ubiquitousMycosphaerella tassianaandAureobasidium pullulans. Most species of the core community were dark pigmented and were accompanied by facultative unpigmented or lightly pigmented species. Among the cultivable fungal species, the proportion of melanised species was significantly more abundant in samples from the two European sites, which supports the theory of thermal melanism. The identity of the host plant had a stronger impact on fungal community composition than the presence of sap-feeding insects.
Access to justice in State aid: how recent legal developments are opening ways to challenge Commission State aid decisions that may breach EU environmental law
Authors: Delarue Juliette , Bechtel Sebastian D.
Published: May 2021

Access to justice in State aid matters is very limited. In particular, the admissibility test before the Court of Justice of the EU excludes private parties who are not market operators. The recent CJEU ruling in the Hinkley Point C case and the findings of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee call into question the adequacy of the current system. The findings demand an opening for non-market actors, including non-governmental organisations, to allege breaches of EU environmental law by the beneficiary of a State aid measure and consequently, the incompatibility of the aid measure with the internal market.
Delayed maturity does not offset negative impact afflicted by ectoparasitism in salmon
Authors: Vollset Knut Wiik , Krkosek Martin
Published: May 2021

The negative effects of parasitism on host population dynamics may be mediated by plastic compensatory life-history changes in hosts. Theory predicts that hosts should shift their life-history towards early reproduction in response to virulent pathogens to maximize reproduction before death. However, for sublethal infections that affect growth, hosts whose fecundity is correlated with body size are predicted to shift towards delayed reproduction associated with larger body size and higher fecundity. This has been observed in Atlantic salmon and parasitic sea lice, via mark-recapture studies that recover mature fish from paired groups of control and parasiticide-treated smolts. We investigated whether such louse-induced changes to age at maturity can offset some of the negative effect of mortality on population growth rate in salmon using a structured population matrix model. Model results show that delayed maturity can partially compensate for reduced survival. However, this only occurs when marine survival is moderate to poor and growth conditions at sea are good. Also, the impact of delayed maturity on population growth when parameterizing the model with empirical data is negligible compared with effects of direct mortality. Our model thus suggests that management that works on minimizing the effect of sea lice from fish farms on wild salmon should focus mainly on correctly quantifying the effect of parasite-induced mortality during the smolt stage if the goal is to maximize population growth rate.
An overstability analysis of vertically vibrated suspension of active swimmers subjected to thermal stratification
Authors: Kumar Virendra , Srikanth K.
Published: May 2021

The present article focuses on the analytical approach to discuss the thermo–vibrational convection in a suspension of the active (gyrotactic) swimmers. The onset of instability criterion is investigated for the stationary and oscillatory modes of convection in a shallow fluid layer with no–slip and rigid–free walls. The eigenvalue problem is tackled by Galerkin scheme to get the desired stability diagram and the correlation between the critical Rayleigh numbers. The overstability in suspension is possible when the unstable density gradient of the gyrotactic particles is opposed by the density variation due to thermo–vibrational influence. The suspension is destabilized due to gyrotactic up–swimming while the increase in Péclet number stabilizes the system. The stabilizing influence of vertical vibration is considerably affected due to thermal gradient which destabilizes the suspension. An interesting result of this study is the influence of thermo–vibrational parameter which is associated with applied thermal and vibrational properties. We reported that the destabilizing nature of thermo–vibrational parameter becomes thermally or vibrationally governed when the suspension is heated or cooled from below. When compared to the rigid–rigid boundaries, the displayed profiles for rigid–free walls yielded less stableness in the suspension.
Functional observer-based feedback controller for ball balancing table
Authors: Hamdoun Meriem , Abdallah Mohamed Ben , Ayadi Mounir , Rotella Frédéric , Zambettakis Irène
Published: May 2021

The two degree of freedom ball balancing table (BBT) is a well-known didactic tool used to evaluate the effectiveness and performances of many control algorithms for dynamic systems. The present paper proposes to control the ball position of the BBT system via a linear feedback controller based on a functional observer. The parameters of the linear functional observer are determined by applying the direct method which requires neither a Sylvester equation resolution nor canonical transformations. The use of a digital controller has motivated the elaboration of the equations in the discrete time case. In this work, the BBT is tested in real-time to evaluate the proposed controller performances when stabilizing a ball on a reference point. This paper is a continuity of the previous work [12], in which only simulation results have been carried out.
Tracking red deer population size using deterministic cohort analysis
Authors: Donini Valerio , Corlatti Luca , Pedrotti Luca
Published: May 2021

Reliable and cost-effective monitoring tools to track population size over time are of key importance for wildlife management and conservation. Deterministic cohort analysis may be used to this aim, especially in hunted populations, but it requires that all mortality events are recorded and that individual age at death is known exactly. In this study, we investigated the reliability of cohort analysis as a relative index to track over-time variation in red deer (Cervus elaphus) abundance, in the absence of exact information about natural mortality and age. Visual tooth inspection was used to age 18,390 individuals found dead or hunted between 1982 and 2020 within the Trentino sector of the Stelvio National Park and the Val di Sole hunting district (Central Italian Alps). Temporal trend of reconstructed population size was checked using spring spotlight counts as a benchmark, through the Buishand range test and a linear model. Our results showed a significant and positive relationship between reconstructed population size and spring spotlight counts between 1982 and 2013, suggesting that cohort analysis could reliably track red deer population trend up to 7 years in the past. With a relative error of  +  1.1 (SD  =  1.5) years in the estimation of age, and fairly stable hunting pressure, our results support the use of deterministic cohort analysis as a relative index of abundance for monitoring red deer over time, even in the absence of exact information about natural mortality. Under violation of assumptions, however, the performance of deterministic reconstruction should be carefully inspected at the management scale.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Authors: Whitton Diana
Published: May 2021

Teaching and Learning Strategies is a practical guide for pre-service teachers who know and understand the content of the curriculum and are looking for additional tools to teach it effectively. This book will help students to develop a comprehensive knowledge of teaching and learning strategies, which is essential in ensuring lessons are effective and lead to successful outcomes. The text outlines a variety of teaching strategies that can be used to facilitate classroom learning and engagement. Strategies and methods covered include discovery learning, experiments, demonstrations, the use of questioning, the facilitation of discussion and the effective provision of feedback. Teachers will be able to integrate the strategies in this book with any content area and any age group or activity level. Teaching and Learning Strategies is a useful resource for teachers during the practicum component of their course and throughout their teaching career.
Opinions of key stakeholders regarding the inpatient Individual Care Plan
Authors: Nikkhah A. , Hallahan B. , McDonald C.
Published: May 2021

Objectives:

In Ireland, regularly reviewed Individual Care Plans (ICPs) for inpatients at all acute psychiatric inpatient units are a requirement of the Mental Health Act 2001. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated and compared opinions of key stakeholders in relation to the ICP as a care delivery tool.

Methods:

We employed a descriptive survey design. Questionnaires were distributed to 123 stakeholders (patients and mental health professionals (MHPs)) to evaluate and compare opinions regarding the impact of the ICP in relation to healthcare delivery and health outcomes, and regarding the structure and frequency of use of the ICP.

Results:

Ninety-eight stakeholders (80%) completed study questionnaires. Stakeholders (patients (58%) and MHPs (85%)) reported that the ICP assisted in healthcare delivery. However, different attitudes between groups were noted in relation to whether the ICP contributed towards healthcare outcomes, with 64% of patients, but only 41% of MHPs reporting that the ICP positively contributed to mental healthcare outcomes. Some free-text comments described patient dissatisfaction with the role of the ICP for healthcare delivery, and MHP dissatisfaction that the ICP was time-consuming and did not significantly enhance standard patient care.

Conclusion:

Whilst the implementation of the ICP is generally viewed positively by both patients and MHPs, considerable dissatisfaction by MHPs was also noted with certain aspects of how the ICP was delivered in practice. Practical adjustments to the implementation of ICP in order to build more positive stakeholder experiences appear warranted and worthy of further research.
Combining UAV and Landsat data to assess glacier changes on the central Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Xue Yuang , Jing Zhefan , Kang Shichang , He Xiaobo , Li Chenyu
Published: May 2021

In recent years, researchers have focused on the applications of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in environmental remote sensing tasks. However, studies on glacier monitoring using UAV technology are relatively scarce, especially for high mountain glacier monitoring. To explore the feasibility of UAV technology for high mountain glaciers, four UAV surveys were deployed on two glaciers of the central Tibetan Plateau. Based on the images retrieved by UAV in 2017 and 2019, orthomosaics and digital elevation models were produced to quantify the length, area and elevation changes in the ablation zone of these two glaciers at different times. Additionally, we utilized several Landsat scenes to derive glacier changes over the last 30 years and combined these with the UAV data to assess the advantages and disadvantages of UAV technology in mountain glacier monitoring.
The Failed Globalization of Psychedelic Drugs in the Early Modern World
Authors: Breen Benjamin
Published: May 2021

This article reassesses what has been called ‘the puzzle of distribution’: why did some drugs rapidly emerge as global consumer goods in the era of the Columbian Exchange, whereas others remained restricted to regional centres of usage? I argue here that the early modern concept of transplantation allows us to approach the puzzle of distribution from a novel perspective. Early modern intoxicants were not disaggregated, free-floating commodities. Their consumption and trade took place within a larger constellation of social codes, cultural practices, ecologies, and built environments. Psychedelic compounds such as peyote and ayahuasca serve here as case studies for examining how the globalization of drugs involved far more than the transport of the substances themselves. Despite their centrality to numerous societies throughout the pre-Columbian Americas, the larger ‘assemblage’ of material cultures, cultural assumptions, and religious meanings that accrued around these substances made it difficult for them to follow the same paths as commodified drugs like cacao or tobacco.
Does the prenatal factor or the postnatal factor contribute more to changes in the child sex ratio in India? An investigation in the context of fertility and mortality transition
Authors: Yadav Ajit Kumar , Ram Faujdar , Singh Akansha , Shekhar Chander
Published: May 2021

There has been a drastic decline in the child sex ratio (number of females per 1000 males between ages 0 and 4) in India and many of its states. This study aimed to examine if prenatal factors, such as change in sex ratio at birth, or postnatal factors, such as change in relative mortality of females and males, contribute to this more by analysing the dynamics of the child sex ratio. Changes in the child sex ratio during 2001–2011 were decomposed into a ‘fertility’ component attributable to prenatal sex selection and a ‘mortality’ component attributable to sex differentials in postnatal survival at the country as well as the state level. Between the prenatal factor and the postnatal factor, the contribution of the latter to the declining child sex ratio has been greater than the former in India as a whole and in most of the states. By focusing on both prenatal and postnatal factors, the imbalance in the child sex ratio in the country can be reduced to a large extent.
Four Frankish gravestones from medieval Ephesus
Authors: Laflı Ergün , Buora Maurizio , Pringle Denys
Published: May 2021

This paper presents and discusses four Latin tombstones relating to Italian residents of medieval Ephesus that have been recovered from properties on the terrace of Ayasuluk (Selçuk), near the Byzantine Church of St John the Evangelist. Two of them, dating from the late 14th century, were originally published in 1937, while the other two, from the mid- 15th century, came to light more recently in January 2017.
Feeding Roman Silchester: Querns and Millstones in and around Roman Towns
Authors: Shaffrey Ruth
Published: May 2021

Querns and millstones were central to the Roman agricultural economy, but are still relatively poorly understood. Using an exceptionally detailed dataset from the Roman town of Silchester as its main case study, this paper explores the supply of querns and the supply of flour in Romano-British urban sites and their rural hinterlands. The first part of the paper focuses on the assemblage of 715 querns and millstones from Silchester as commodities in their own right. It describes the stone types used for querns in the region, how the use of these changed over time, within and outside the town, and how the supply of querns to the town differed to that of the hinterland. These patterns of exploitation are used to make inferences about social and economic behaviour. Querns and millstones are also evidence for the preparation of flour and can be used to help us understand food-supply mechanisms, especially when considered together with archaeobotanical evidence. Analysis of the querns and millstones from closely dated contexts demonstrates that use of hand-powered rotary querns peaked in the town during the latest Iron Age and earliest Roman period. The use of rotary querns decreased significantly thereafter until, by the third century, the use of hand-operated rotary querns within the town was probably confined to a very basic household level in a domestic setting. At the same time, during the second or third century, powered millstones were introduced, with the archaeobotanical evidence suggesting a mill at an out-of-town location. Analysis of querns and millstones from a 20 km hinterland around Silchester suggests that household-level grinding was common, but that centralised milling was operating at a very low level and only to the north-west of the town. It is suggested that some flour was produced at centralised locations further afield and brought into the town ready ground. Supplementary material is available online (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0068113X21000040) and comprises detailed information on the lithologies of the querns and millstones from Silchester (including photographs), publication details of the sites in the town's hinterland and a spreadsheet recording the material.
COVID-19 in the WHO African region: using risk assessment to inform decisions on public health and social measures
Authors: Impouma Benido , Mboussou Franck , Wolfe Caitlin M. , Farham Bridget , Williams George Sie , Ogundiran Opeayo , Ngom Roland , Nzingou Milse , Flahault Antoine , Codeço Cláudia Torres , Talisuna Ambrose , Yoti Zabulon , Keiser Olivia
Published: May 2021

Successive waves of COVID-19 transmission have led to exponential increases in new infections globally. In this study, we have applied a decision-making tool to assess the risk of continuing transmission to inform decisions on tailored public health and social measures (PHSM) using data on cases and deaths reported by Member States to the WHO Regional Office for Africa as of 31 December 2020. Transmission classification and health system capacity were used to assess the risk level of each country to guide implementation and adjustments to PHSM. Two countries out of 46 assessed met the criteria for sporadic transmission, one for clusters of cases, and 43 (93.5%) for community transmission (CT) including three with uncontrolled disease incidence (Eswatini, Namibia and South Africa). Health system response's capacities were assessed as adequate in two countries (4.3%), moderate in 13 countries (28.3%) and limited in 31 countries (64.4%). The risk level, calculated as a combination of transmission classification and health system response's capacities, was assessed at level 0 in one country (2.1%), level 1 in two countries (4.3%), level 2 in 11 countries (23.9%) and level 3 in 32 (69.6%) countries. The scale of severity ranged from 0 to 4, with 0 the lowest. CT coupled with limited response capacity resulted in a level 3 risk assessment in most countries. Countries at level 3 should be considered as priority focus for additional assistance, in order to prevent the risk rising to level 4, which may necessitate enforcing hard and costly lockdown measures. The large number of countries at level 3 indicates the need for an effective risk management system to be used as a basis for adjusting PHSM at national and sub-national levels.
Developing an adolescent and adult Fontan Management Programme
Authors: Lubert Adam M. , Alsaied Tarek , Trout Andrew T. , Dillman Jonathan R. , Palermo Joseph J. , Eichelbrenner Felicia , Kleier Kelly , Lorts Angela , Anwar Nadeem , Schecter Marc G. , Tiao Gregory M. , Chin Clifford , Feldman David S. , Jenkins Meredith , Morales David LS , Opotowsky Alexander R. , Bucuvalas John C. , Veldtman Gruschen R. , Goldstein Stuart L.
Published: May 2021

Patients with single-ventricle CHD undergo a series of palliative surgeries that culminate in the Fontan procedure. While the Fontan procedure allows most patients to survive to adulthood, the Fontan circulation can eventually lead to multiple cardiac complications and multi-organ dysfunction. Care for adolescents and adults with a Fontan circulation has begun to transition from a primarily cardiac-focused model to care models, which are designed to monitor multiple organ systems, and using clues from this screening, identify patients who are at risk for adverse outcomes. The complexity of care required for these patients led our centre to develop a multidisciplinary Fontan Management Programme with the primary goals of earlier detection and treatment of complications through the development of a cohesive network of diverse medical subspecialists with Fontan expertise.