bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Political Participation of Alevis: A Comparative Analysis of the Turkish Alevi Opening and the German Islam Conference
Authors: Arkilic Ayca , Gurcan Ayse Ezgi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis article focuses on the relationship between Alevis and the Turkish and German states. It does so by examining the Turkish Alevi Opening (2009–2010) and the German Islam Conference (2006–present), two unprecedented official platforms aimed at improving Alevis’ political participation. The study asks why such state-sponsored initiatives came into existence in Turkey and Germany, and why the German Islam Conference has proven more successful from the perspective of Alevis. It argues that even though the diffusion of EU norms and pressure from transnational advocacy networks have increased awareness regarding the Alevi issue, domestic factors have been more salient in the emergence and outcome of these initiatives in both countries.
Career breaks, broken pensions? Long-run effects of early and late-career unemployment spells on pension entitlements
Authors: Bravo Jorge M. , Herce Jose A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractUnemployment periods and other career breaks have long-term scarring effects on future labour market possibilities, permanently affecting workers' retirement income and standard of living as pensioners. Previous literature has focused on the impact of job loss on working careers with little attention to its impact on pension wealth, particularly the extent to which longevity heterogeneity amplifies unemployment scars. This paper investigates the effect of single and multiple unemployment spells on the lifetime pension entitlements of earnings-related contributory pension schemes, considering the timing and duration of breaks, alternative lifecycle labour earnings profiles, scarring and restoration effects on labour market re-entry, the existence of pension credits and pension accruals for periods spent outside the labour market, longevity heterogeneity, and the accumulation and decumulation redistributive features of the pension scheme. Pension entitlements are estimated using a backward-looking simulation approach based on the actual Portuguese public pension system rules and stylized labour market profiles identified in the SHARE Job Episodes Panel data using a sequence analysis. Longevity heterogeneity is modelled using a stochastic mortality model with a frailty model. Our results show that the timing and duration of unemployment periods is critical, that scarring effects amplify pension wealth losses, that minimum pension provisions, pension credits and pension scheme redistributive features can partially mitigate the impact of unemployment periods on future entitlements, and that the presence of positive correlation between lifetime income and longevity career breaks can amplify the asymmetry in the distribution of pension entitlements across income groups.
Significance of viscous folding in the migmatites of Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex, eastern India
Authors: GOGOI Bibhuti , CHAUHAN Hiredya , HAZARIKA Gaurav , BARUAH Amiya , SAIKIA Mukunda , HAZARIKA Pallab Jyoti 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACTTo understand the physico-chemical processes associated with migmatisation is an interesting petrological problem. New developments in microfluidics and chaotic mixing experiments have helped us to better perceive these processes from the migmatic rocks of the Proterozoic Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex (CGGC), eastern India. The migmatic rocks of CGGC have preserved folded leucocratic veins in amphibolites representing viscous folding. The viscous folding phenomenon occurred due to the interaction between leucosome and melanosome. Based on textural features and mineral chemical data interpretations, we infer that when granitic and pegmatitic magmas intruded the gneissic rocks and amphibolites of our study area, diffusion of heat and volatiles from the hotter felsic magmas to the colder country rocks initiated partial melting in the amphibolites, forming melanosomes. After their formation, the highly viscous felsic magmas veined into the melanosomes, by progressively melting them and then interacting, leading to chaotic mixing dynamics. The development of chaotic mixing allowed the leucosome to venture into the melanosome as veins by stretching and folding dynamics. As the leucocratic veins or leucosome traversed through the partially molten rock or melanosome due to advection, the veins underwent viscous folding owing to the exertion of compressional stress brought about by the viscosity difference between the two mediums. The occurrence of viscous folding exponentially increased the contact area between the leucosome and the melanosome, eventually leading to enhanced diffusion and augmented mixing between the two mediums. Evidence of mixing through elemental diffusion is well documented by the compositions of amphibole and biotite occurring in the leucosome and melanosome. These minerals show substitution of magnesium and ferrous ion that show linear variation between the endmember compositions.
The Evolution of Complex Es Observed by Multi Instruments Over Low‐Latitude China
Authors: Sun Wenjie , Ning Baiqi , Hu Lianhuan , Yue Xinan , Zhao Xiukuan , Lan Jiaping , Zhu Zhengping , Huang Zhaoguo , Wu Zhi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractA complex daytime sporadic E (Es) case with extremely high critical frequency (foEs) was observed over the low latitude of China on 19 May 2018. Simultaneous observational results from two very high frequency (VHF) radars, two ionosondes, and multiple Global Navigation Satellite System total electron content and scintillation receivers are analyzed to investigate the evolution of the complex Es occurrence, which consisted of a relatively weak ambient Es layer (foEs < 8 MHz) and band‐like strong Es structures (foEs > 17 MHz) drifting from higher latitude. The strong Es structures elongated more than 500 km in the northwest‐southeast direction, drifted southwestward at a speed of ~65 m/s. VHF radar backscatter echoes were generated when the strong Es structures passed the radar field of view, with different echo patterns due to different radar and antenna configurations. No VHF radar backscatter echo was associated with the ambient Es layer. The mechanisms responsible for the formations of the ambient Es layer and band‐like strong Es structures are addressed and discussed.
SARS-CoV-2 genomic variations associated with mortality rate of COVID-19
Authors: Toyoshima Yujiro , Nemoto Kensaku , Matsumoto Saki , Nakamura Yusuke , Kiyotani Kazuma 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly expanded to a global pandemic. However, numbers of infected cases, deaths, and mortality rates related to COVID-19 vary from country to country. Although many studies were conducted, the reasons of these differences have not been clarified. In this study, we comprehensively investigated 12,343 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences isolated from patients/individuals in six geographic areas and identified a total of 1234 mutations by comparing with the reference SARS-CoV-2 sequence. Through a hierarchical clustering based on the mutant frequencies, we classified the 28 countries into three clusters showing different fatality rates of COVID-19. In correlation analyses, we identified that ORF1ab 4715L and S protein 614G variants, which are in a strong linkage disequilibrium, showed significant positive correlations with fatality rates (r = 0.41, P = 0.029 and r = 0.43, P = 0.022, respectively). We found that BCG-vaccination status significantly associated with the fatality rates as well as number of infected cases. In BCG-vaccinated countries, the frequency of the S 614G variant had a trend of association with the higher fatality rate. We also found that the frequency of several HLA alleles, including HLA-A*11:01, were significantly associated with the fatality rates, although these factors were associated with number of infected cases and not an independent factor to affect fatality rate in each country. Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 mutations as well as BCG-vaccination status and a host genetic factor, HLA genotypes might affect the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection or severity of COVID-19.
Six reference-quality genomes reveal evolution of bat adaptations
Authors: Jebb David , Huang Zixia , Pippel Martin , Hughes Graham M. , Lavrichenko Ksenia , Devanna Paolo , Winkler Sylke , Jermiin Lars S. , Skirmuntt Emilia C. , Katzourakis Aris , Burkitt-Gray Lucy , Ray David A. , Sullivan Kevin A. M. , Roscito Juliana G. , Kirilenko Bogdan M. , Dávalos Liliana M. , Corthals Angelique P. , Power Megan L. , Jones Gareth , Ransome Roger D. , Dechmann Dina K. N. , Locatelli Andrea G. , Puechmaille Sébastien J. , Fedrigo Olivier , Jarvis Erich D. , Hiller Michael , Vernes Sonja C. , Myers Eugene W. , Teeling Emma C. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBats possess extraordinary adaptations, including flight, echolocation, extreme longevity and unique immunity. High-quality genomes are crucial for understanding the molecular basis and evolution of these traits. Here we incorporated long-read sequencing and state-of-the-art scaffolding protocols1 to generate, to our knowledge, the first reference-quality genomes of six bat species (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rousettus aegyptiacus, Phyllostomus discolor, Myotis myotis, Pipistrellus kuhlii and Molossus molossus). We integrated gene projections from our ‘Tool to infer Orthologs from Genome Alignments’ (TOGA) software with de novo and homology gene predictions as well as short- and long-read transcriptomics to generate highly complete gene annotations. To resolve the phylogenetic position of bats within Laurasiatheria, we applied several phylogenetic methods to comprehensive sets of orthologous protein-coding and noncoding regions of the genome, and identified a basal origin for bats within Scrotifera. Our genome-wide screens revealed positive selection on hearing-related genes in the ancestral branch of bats, which is indicative of laryngeal echolocation being an ancestral trait in this clade. We found selection and loss of immunity-related genes (including pro-inflammatory NF-κB regulators) and expansions of anti-viral APOBEC3 genes, which highlights molecular mechanisms that may contribute to the exceptional immunity of bats. Genomic integrations of diverse viruses provide a genomic record of historical tolerance to viral infection in bats. Finally, we found and experimentally validated bat-specific variation in microRNAs, which may regulate bat-specific gene-expression programs. Our reference-quality bat genomes provide the resources required to uncover and validate the genomic basis of adaptations of bats, and stimulate new avenues of research that are directly relevant to human health and disease1.
Altered spatial summation optimizes visual function in axial myopia
Authors: Stapley Victoria , Anderson Roger S. , Saunders Kathryn J. , Mulholland Pádraig J. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis study demonstrates significant differences between the area of complete spatial summation (Ricco’s area, RA) in eyes with and without non-pathological, axial myopia. Contrast thresholds were measured for six stimuli (0.01–2.07 deg2) presented at 10º eccentricity in 24 myopic subjects and 20 age-similar non-myopic controls, with RA estimated using iterative two-phase regression analysis. To explore the effects of axial length-induced variations in retinal image size (RIS) on the measurement of RA, refractive error was separately corrected with (i) trial lenses at the anterior focal point (near constant inter-participant RIS in mm), and (ii) contact lenses (RIS changed with axial length). For spectacle corrected measurements, RA was significantly larger in the myopic group, with a significant positive correlation also being observed between RA and measures of co-localised peripheral ocular length. With contact lens correction, there was no significant difference in RA between the groups and no relationship with peripheral ocular length. The results suggest RA changes with axial elongation in myopia to compensate for reduced retinal ganglion cell density. Furthermore, as these changes are only observed when axial length induced variations in RIS are accounted for, they may reflect a functional adaptation of the axially-myopic visual system to an enlarged RIS.
Annotation-free learning of plankton for classification and anomaly detection
Authors: Pastore Vito P. , Zimmerman Thomas G. , Biswas Sujoy K. , Bianco Simone 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe acquisition of increasingly large plankton digital image datasets requires automatic methods of recognition and classification. As data size and collection speed increases, manual annotation and database representation are often bottlenecks for utilization of machine learning algorithms for taxonomic classification of plankton species in field studies. In this paper we present a novel set of algorithms to perform accurate detection and classification of plankton species with minimal supervision. Our algorithms approach the performance of existing supervised machine learning algorithms when tested on a plankton dataset generated from a custom-built lensless digital device. Similar results are obtained on a larger image dataset obtained from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Additionally, we introduce a new algorithm to perform anomaly detection on unclassified samples. Here an anomaly is defined as a significant deviation from the established classification. Our algorithms are designed to provide a new way to monitor the environment with a class of rapid online intelligent detectors.
A Mendelian randomization study of telomere length and blood-cell traits
Authors: Adams Charleen D. , Boutwell Brian B. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWhether telomere attrition reducing proliferative reserve in blood-cell progenitors is causal has important public-health implications. Mendelian randomization (MR) is an analytic technique using germline genetic variants as instrumental variables. If certain assumptions are met, estimates from MR should be free from most environmental sources of confounding and reverse causation. Here, two-sample MR is performed to test whether longer telomeres cause changes to hematological traits. Summary statistics for genetic variants strongly associated with telomere length were extracted from a genome-wide association (GWA) study for telomere length in individuals of European ancestry (n = 9190) and from GWA studies of blood-cell traits, also in those of European ancestry (n ~ 173,000 participants). A standard deviation increase in genetically influenced telomere length increased red blood cell and white blood cell counts, decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobinand mean cell volume, and had no observable impact on mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width, hematocrit, or hemoglobin. Sensitivity tests for pleiotropic distortion were mostly inconsistent with glaring violations to the MR assumptions. Similar to germline mutations in telomere biology genes leading to bone-marrow failure, these data provide evidence that genetically influenced common variation in telomere length impacts hematologic traits in the population.
Efficacy of Royal Guard, a new alpha-cypermethrin and pyriproxyfen treated mosquito net, against pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors
Authors: Ngufor Corine , Agbevo Abel , Fagbohoun Josias , Fongnikin Augustin , Rowland Mark 
Published: July 2020

AbstractRoyal Guard is a new insecticide-treated bed-net incorporated with a mixture of alpha-cypermethrin and pyriproxyfen (an insect growth regulator). We assessed its efficacy and wash-resistance in laboratory and experimental hut studies following WHO guidelines. Mosquitoes that survived exposure to the net were kept in separate oviposition chambers and observed for the reproductive effects of pyriproxyfen. In laboratory assays, Royal Guard induced > 80% mortality and > 90% blood-feeding inhibition of An. gambiae sl mosquitoes before and after 20 standardised washes and sterilised blood-fed mosquitoes which remained alive after exposure to the net. In an experimental hut trial against wild free-flying pyrethroid-resistant An. gambiae sl in Cové Benin, Royal Guard through the pyrethroid component induced comparable levels of mortality and blood-feeding inhibition to a standard pyrethroid-only treated net before and after 20 washes and sterilised large proportions of surviving blood-fed female mosquitoes through the pyriproxyfen component; Royal Guard induced 83% reduction in oviposition and 95% reduction in offspring before washing and 25% reduction in oviposition and 50% reduction in offspring after 20 washes. Royal Guard has the potential to improve malaria vector control and provide better community protection against clinical malaria in pyrethroid-resistant areas compared to standard pyrethroid-only LLINs.
Graphite-shell-chains selectively and efficiently produced from biomass rich in cellulose and chitin
Authors: Suzuki Kyoko , Saito Yukie , Okazaki Noriyasu , Suzuki Tsutomu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractGraphite-shell-chains have a worm-like nanocarbon configuration with a graphitic structure and mesopores, and they are easily produced from wood by using iron-group metal-catalysed carbonization at 900 °C. The simple production process with natural resources convinced us that this process may occur somewhere on Earth; the product of this process was indeed discovered as biogenic graphite by geochemists. However, the biogenic graphite was 3.7 billion years old, thus occurring long before wood appeared in the world. Here, we investigated appropriate carbon precursors other than wood in various materials and showed that carbon is selectively and efficiently obtained from biomass rich in cellulose and chitin. To enable selective and efficient production from this biomass, it seems the precursors provide a perfect amorphous carbon matrix where metal catalysts can reside at an active size to constantly create a graphite shell during carbonization. The results suggest that graphite-shell-chains could have existed in ancient times. Application developments of this biomass-derived nanocarbon will be useful for sustainable development goals.
The effect of bariatric surgery on female sexual function: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Różańska-Walędziak Anna , Bartnik Paweł , Kacperczyk-Bartnik Joanna , Walędziak Maciej , Kwiatkowski Andrzej , Czajkowski Krzysztof 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe generally negative impact of obesity on female sexuality is well-established. The possible association between bariatric surgery, weight loss, and female sexuality is much less described. The aim of the study was to analyse the possible association between bariatric surgery and female sexual function. It was a cross-sectional study of 623 patients who underwent bariatric surgery between 1999 and 2017. Patients were recruited on the basis of medical records from the Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw. Patients were invited to complete a questionnaire which consisted of self-designed demographic questions and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The total FSFI score, as well as each subdomain, improved significantly after surgery. The prevalence of low score (< 26.55) was significantly lower after the surgery in comparison to the status prior to the procedure (36.3% vs. 57.5%; p < .001). There were no differences regarding the number of sexually active patients before and after the surgery (75.3% vs. 76.1%; p < .63). There were observed statistically significant, positive correlations between BMI decrease and each subdomain of the FSFI score as well as the total score. Weight loss surgery seems to decrease the risk of sexual dysfunction presence and the advantages are associated with the total BMI loss.
Dust radiative forcing and its impact on surface energy budget over West Africa
Authors: Saidou Chaibou Abdoul Aziz , Ma Xiaoyan , Sha Tong 
Published: July 2020

AbstractDust is the dominant aerosol type over West Africa (WA), and therefore accurate simulation of dust impact is critical for better prediction of weather and climate change. The dust radiative forcing (DRF) is estimated using two sets of experiments in this study: one without and the other with dust aerosol and its feedbacks with the Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry model (WRF-Chem). Results show that DRF presents a net warming effect at the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) and in the atmosphere (ATM), and cooling at the surface (SFC). The net DRF over WA is estimated to be 9 W/m2at the TOA, 23 W/m2in the ATM, and − 13 W/m2at the SFC. Furthermore, dust-induced a reduction of sensible heat up to 24 W/m2and SFC temperature up to 2 °C cooling over WA, an increase of latent heat up to 12 W/m2over Sahara, a decrease up to 24 W/m2over the vegetated surfaces and an increase in the surface energy balance up to 12 W/m2over WA. The presence of dust significantly influences the surface energy budget over WA, suggesting that dust effects should be considered in more climate studies to improve the accuracy of climate predictions.
Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic
Authors: Smale Dan A. , Pessarrodona Albert , King Nathan , Burrows Michael T. , Yunnie Anna , Vance Thomas , Moore Pippa 
Published: July 2020

AbstractRates and drivers of primary productivity are well understood for many terrestrial ecosystems, but remain poorly resolved for many marine ecosystems, particularly those within in coastal benthic environments. We quantified net primary productivity (NPP) using two methods as well as carbon standing stock within kelp forests (Laminaria hyperborea) at multiple subtidal habitats in the United Kingdom (UK). Study sites spanned 9° in latitude and encompassed a gradient in average temperature of ~ 2.5 °C. In addition to temperature, we measured other factors (e.g. light intensity, water motion, nutrients, sea urchin density) that may influence productivity. Although estimates of NPP were highly variable between sites, ranging from 166 to 738 g C m-2 yr-1, our study-wide average of 340 g C m-2 yr-1 indicated that L. hyperborea forests are highly productive. We observed clear differences between NPP and carbon standing stock between our cold northernmost sites and our warm southernmost sites, with NPP and standing stock being around 1.5 and 2.5 times greater in the northern sites, respectively. Ocean temperature was identified as a likely driver of productivity, with reduced NPP and standing stock observed in warmer waters. Light availability was also strongly linked with carbon accumulation and storage, with increased light levels positively correlated with NPP and standing stock. Across its geographical range, total NPP from L. hyperborea is estimated at ~ 7.61 Tg C yr-1. This biomass production is likely to be important for local food webs, as a trophic subsidy to distant habitats and for inshore carbon cycling and (potentially) carbon sequestration. However, given the strong links with temperature, continued ocean warming in the northeast Atlantic may reduce primary productivity of this foundation species, as optimal temperatures for growth and performance are surpassed.