bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diversity of bet‐hedging strategies in microbial communities—Recent cases and insights
Authors: Morawska Luiza P. , Hernandez‐Valdes Jhonatan A. , Kuipers Oscar P. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMicrobial communities are continuously exposed to unpredictable changes in their environment. To thrive in such dynamic habitats, microorganisms have developed the ability to readily switch phenotypes, resulting in a number of differently adapted subpopulations expressing various traits. In evolutionary biology, a particular case of phenotypic heterogeneity that evolved in an unpredictably changing environment has been defined as bet‐hedging. Bet‐hedging is a risk‐spreading strategy where isogenic populations stochastically (randomly) diversify their phenotypes, often resulting in maladapted individuals that suffer lower reproductive success. This fitness trade‐off in a specific environment may have a selective advantage upon the sudden environmental shift. Thus, a bet‐hedging strategy allows populations to persist in very dynamic habitats, but with a particular fitness cost. In recent years, numerous examples of phenotypic heterogeneity in different microorganisms have been observed, some suggesting bet‐hedging. Here, we highlight the latest reports concerning bet‐hedging phenomena in various microorganisms to show how versatile this strategy is within the microbial realms.This article is categorized under:
Infectious Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Introduction: Cultural Literacy and Creativity
Authors: Lähdesmäki Tuuli , Baranova Jūratė , Ylönen Susanne C. , Koistinen Aino-Kaisa , Mäkinen Katja , Juškiene Vaiva , Zaleskiene Irena 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe introductory chapter explains the core concepts of the book: Cultural literacy and creativity. Cultural literacy is defined as a social practice that is inherently dialogic and based on learning and gaining knowledge through emphatic, tolerant, and inclusive interaction. Creativity is seen as stimulating cultural literacy learning through openness and curiosity to test and develop something new or imaginative. The chapter introduces the Cultural Literacy Learning Programme (CLLP) and the research data: 1906 works created by 5–15-year-old children and young people who participated in the program in 2019 and 2020 in Cyprus, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal, and the UK. The authors discuss how the data is explored through data-driven content analysis and self-reflexive and collaborative interpretation.
Tolerance, Empathy, and Inclusion
Authors: Lähdesmäki Tuuli , Baranova Jūratė , Ylönen Susanne C. , Koistinen Aino-Kaisa , Mäkinen Katja , Juškiene Vaiva , Zaleskiene Irena 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this chapter, the authors analyze the artifacts in which the students explore the key attitudes of cultural literacy within the CLLP: Tolerance, empathy, and inclusion. The chapter introduces each attitude with critical discussion of its meanings, connections, and relations to other key concepts of cultural literacy, such as diversity, equality, and democracy. The authors explore how the program addresses these attitudes and the cultural texts it includes. The analysis of the artifacts reveals the variety of ways in which children give meanings to tolerance, empathy, and inclusion, such as helping others. In this meaning-making process, the students draw from their own experiences and emotions.
Conclusions: Cultural Literacy in Action
Authors: Lähdesmäki Tuuli , Baranova Jūratė , Ylönen Susanne C. , Koistinen Aino-Kaisa , Mäkinen Katja , Juškiene Vaiva , Zaleskiene Irena 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this chapter, the authors emphasize how even very young children can deal with complex and abstract ideas and emotions through creative practices and how the differences between people are not an issue for children. The analysis indicates that children have a multifaceted capacity for empathy. The authors stress that image-making is an important mode of communication through which children and young people shape their understanding of the world. This is a constructive and dialogic process of thinking in action. It allows children and young people to develop their imagination, emotional responses, personality, and position in the community, in relationship with others, and with the external world. The “dialogic chain of thinking” occurs not only in linguistic, but also in visual communication.
The formation of (Ni-Co-Sb)-Ag-As ore shoots in hydrothermal galena-sphalerite-fluorite veins
Authors: Scharrer Manuel , Epp Tatjana , Walter Benjamin , Pfaff Katharina , Vennemann Torsten , Markl Gregor 
Published: November 2021

AbstractUnusual hydrothermal native As-sulfide ± native Ag ± arsenide ± antimonide ± sulfosalt ore shoots and their co-genetic sulfide-fluorite-barite-quartz host veins, which are common in the region and in whole Central Europe, were investigated at three localities in the Schwarzwald, SW Germany, to understand the physico-chemical processes governing the change from a normal (= common) hydrothermal to an exceptional ore shoot regime. Based on fluid inclusions, the formation of the gangue minerals is the result of binary mixing between a NaCl-rich brine and a CaCl2-rich brine (both ~ 20 wt% NaCl aq.). This mixing correlation, major and minor fluid composition, formation temperature (~ 150 °C), and δ34S signature are identical (within error) in ore shoots and host veins. Thermodynamic modeling indicates that ore shoot formation must have resulted from a change in redox conditions by a local influx of a volumetrically minor reducing agent, probably hydrocarbons. The elemental content and the mineralogy of each ore shoot locality (Ag-As-rich: Münstertal; Ag–Ni-As-rich: Urberg; Ag–Ni-As-Sb-rich: Wieden) reflect the metal content of the binary mixed fluid, while mineral textures, successions, and assemblages are thermodynamically and, regarding sulfur, kinetically controlled. The formation of vein and ore shoot sulfides requires an addition of sulfide, most probably from the sulfide-bearing host rocks, because thermodynamic and kinetic reasons suggest that the two major vein-forming and metal-bearing fluids are not the source of the sulfur. The final ore shoot textures are influenced by later hydrothermal remobilization processes of As and Ag. This results in a number of sulfosalts, mostly proustite-pyrargyrite. Interestingly, the greater thermodynamic stability of Sb-endmember sulfosalts enables them to form even in As-dominated fluid systems.
Integrated approach for the molecular characterization of edited plants obtained via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer
Authors: Dalla Costa Lorenza , Vinciguerra Daniela , Giacomelli Lisa , Salvagnin Umberto , Piazza Stefano , Spinella Katia , Malnoy Mickael , Moser Claudio , Marchesi Ugo 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAgrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer—actually the most used method to engineer plants—may lead to integration of multiple copies of T-DNA in the plant genome, as well as to chimeric tissues composed of modified cells and wild type cells. A molecular characterization of the transformed lines is thus a good practice to select the best ones for further investigation. Nowadays, several quantitative and semi-quantitative techniques are available to estimate the copy number (CN) of the T-DNA in genetically modified plants. In this study, we compared three methods based on (1) real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), (2) droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and (3) next generation sequencing (NGS), to carry out a molecular characterization of grapevine edited lines. These lines contain a knock-out mutation, obtained via CRISPR/Cas9 technology, in genes involved in plant susceptibility to two important mildew diseases of grapevine. According to our results, qPCR and ddPCR outputs are largely in agreement in terms of accuracy, especially for low CN values, while ddPCR resulted more precise than qPCR. With regard to the NGS analysis, the CNs detected with this method were often not consistent with those calculated by qPCR and ddPCR, and NGS was not able to discriminate the integration points in three out of ten lines. Nevertheless, the NGS method can positively identify T-DNA truncations or the presence of tandem/inverted repeats, providing distinct and relevant information about the transgene integration asset. Moreover, the expression analysis of Cas9 and single guide RNA (sgRNA), and the sequencing of the target site added new information to be related to CN data. This work, by reporting a practical case-study on grapevine edited lines, explores pros and cons of the most advanced diagnostic techniques available for the precocious selection of the proper transgenic material. The results may be of interest both to scientists developing new transgenic lines, and to laboratories in charge of GMO control.
Waist Circumference is not Superior to Body Mass Index in Predicting Groin Hernia Repair in Either Men or Women
Authors: Hemberg A. , Montgomery A. , Holmberg H. , Nordin P. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackground and aimsA high body mass index (BMI) is considered a risk factor for ventral abdominal wall hernias but protective for the development of groin hernias. The reason for this is unclear. The surrounding abdominal fat in obesity might “protect” and limit the passage through the inguinal canal. The aim was to compare two different methods used for obesity registration in groin hernia patients and to investigate the hypothesis of high BMI/low groin hernia risk phenomenon.MethodsThis was a population‐based observational study comparing BMI to waist circumference (WC) as well as their correlations to the quantity of groin hernia repair performed in either sex. Two national registers were crosslinked to a large regional register including information on WC.ResultsA larger WC and a higher BMI were associated with a lower risk of having groin hernia repair in both sexes. There was no difference using either WC or BMI as a risk factor for groin hernia repair in either sex. There was no advantage to using body composition based on WC rather than BMI for surgery indication.ConclusionsOverweight patients, both men and women, have a lower risk of undergoing groin hernia repair regardless of fat distribution. BMI is a well‐established method for obesity registration and is recommended in the evaluation of hernia patients.
Psychopathology and health-related quality of life as patient-reported treatment outcomes: evaluation of concordance between the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) in psychiatric outpatients
Authors: de Beurs Edwin , Carlier Ingrid , van Hemert Albert 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Treatment outcome for common psychiatric disorders, such as mood and anxiety disorders, is usually assessed by self-report measures regarding psychopathology [e.g., via Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)]. However, health-related quality of life [as measured by the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)] may be a useful supplementary outcome domain for routine outcome monitoring (ROM). To date, the assessment of both outcomes has become fairly commonplace with severe mental illness, but this is not yet the case for common psychiatric disorders. The present study examined among outpatients with common psychiatric disorders whether aggregate assessments of change across treatment regarding psychopathology and health-related quality of life yield similar results and effect sizes.

Methods
We compared treatment outcome on the BSI and the SF-36 in a sample of 13,423 outpatients. The concordance of both instruments was assessed at various time points during treatment.

Results
Scores on both instruments were associated, but not so strongly to suggest they measure the same underlying construct. The SF-36 scales presented a varied picture of treatment outcome: understandably, patients changed more on the mental component scales than on physical component scales. Outcome according to the BSI was quite similar to outcome according to scales of the SF-36 that showed the largest change.

Conclusions
Although (mental health) scores on both instruments are associated, adding the SF-36 in addition to the BSI in treatment evaluation research produces valuable information as the SF-36 measures a broader concept and contains physical/functional component scales, resulting in a more complete clinical picture of individual patients.
The link between corporate governance and corporate financial misconduct. A review of archival studies and implications for future research
Authors: Velte Patrick 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this article, we review recent archival research articles (98 studies) on the impact of corporate governance on restatements, enforcement activities and fraud as corporate financial misconduct. Applying an agency-theoretical view, we mainly differentiate between four levels of corporate governance (group, individual, firm, and institutional level). We find that financial restatements on the one hand and the group and individual level of corporate governance on the other hand are dominant in our literature review. Enforcement actions and fraud events as misconduct proxies, and the firm and institutional level of corporate governance are of lower relevance yet. The following review highlights that many studies on corporate governance find inconclusive results on firms’ financial misconduct. But there are indications that board expertise and especially gender diversity in the top management decreases firms’ financial misconduct. We know very little about the impact of non-shareholder stakeholders’ monitoring role on misconduct yet. In discussing potential future research, we emphasize the need for a more detailed analysis of misconduct proxies, recognition of moderator and especially mediator variables, especially in the interplay of the board of directors and external auditors.
Religious Congregations’ Technological and Financial Capacities on the Eve of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Holleman Anna , Roso Joseph , Chaves Mark 
Published: November 2021

Background The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically upended religious life and placed significant strain on religious congregations. However, the effects of the pandemic were likely not felt evenly across the religious landscape. Purpose We used data from the fourth wave of the National Congregations Study, gathered on the eve of the coronavirus pandemic in 2018–19, to identify the kinds of congregations that may have been especially vulnerable to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using bivariate and multiple regression analysis, we examined two aspects of congregations' preparedness for the pandemic: technological infrastructure and financial stability. Results We found that, while many congregations were technologically and financially equipped for a time of social distancing and economic recession, there were stark inequalities in levels of preparedness among congregations on the basis of race, class, size, urban/rural location, religious tradition, and the age of congregations' parishioners. In particular, Catholic congregations and congregations with older attendees tended to lack streaming or online communication capacities, and both rural and small congregations had more limited technological infrastructure and less financial cushion. Somewhat surprisingly, predominantly Black congregations were more likely to have worship streaming systems set up prior to the pandemic, though these congregations were more likely to lack other kinds of technological and financial infrastructure. Conclusions and Implications Though COVID-19's full impact on congregations will not be known for several years, these results highlight variations in congregations’ readiness for the pandemic's challenges, and they show that COVID-19's impact likely has not been felt equally across the religious landscape.
Infected deep vein thrombophlebitis in people who inject drugs: missed opportunities and potential for alternative antimicrobial approaches
Authors: McCaughan Hugh , Russell Clark D. , O’Shea Dáire T. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractInfected deep vein thrombophlebitis (i-DVT) in people who inject drugs (PWID) is a clinically challenging but poorly characterised disease. We undertook a retrospective observational study of 70 PWID presenting acutely with i-DVT to improve the clinical and microbiological characterisation of this disease. i-DVT was frequently associated with bacteraemia (59.1% patients with blood cultures obtained), groin abscesses (in 34.3%; of which 54.2% required surgical drainage), and septic pulmonary emboli (38.6%) requiring anticoagulation. Network analysis identified a cluster of patients presenting with respiratory symptoms but lacking typical DVT symptoms, more likely to have septic pulmonary emboli. A microbiologic diagnosis was frequently achieved (70%). Causative pathogens were predominantly gram-positive (S. aureus and streptococci, especially anginosus group), whereas gram-negative pathogens were identified very infrequently (in 6.1% of microbiological diagnoses). This suggests routine empiric therapy against gram-negative bacteria, though commonly administered, is not required. High rates of clinical cure (88.6%) were observed despite the complex nature of infections and independently of the highly variable intravenous and total antimicrobial durations received. There exists a rationale to devise pragmatic approaches to implement novel individualised treatment plans utilising oral antimicrobial therapy for i-DVT. Despite frequent healthcare interactions, opportunities to address HCV treatment and opioid substitution therapy were frequently missed during these acute admissions.
Still Unifying? The Future of the Unified Patent Court
Authors: Wszołek Anna 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSince its launching, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) project has faced obstacles and scepticism from some EU Member States. When the United Kingdom ratified the UPC Agreement in 2018, it seemed that there was nothing left but to wait for a positive decision of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany on the ratification by that country, so that finally the UPC could start its activity. Nevertheless, 2020 brought events that make one look back and reflect on the project itself. The UK withdrew its ratification and the Federal Constitutional Court ruled the German ratification process of the UPC Agreement unconstitutional. Then two new complaints were submitted to the Federal Constitutional Court, which this summer finally gave the green light to the ratification, but it seems the UPC project has already split Europe. The question that arises is whether, in the context of last year’s events and the fracture between the states, the unitary patent system can still be seen as unifying the European patent litigation system. This article discusses the examples of Poland, Hungary and the UK, as countries that refuse to participate in the system due to its interference in their internal legal systems and sovereignty, and other examples of fractures visible in the UPC.
Suitability of the Spanish Open Public Cartographic Resources for BIM Site Modeling
Authors: Bernal Amparo , Muñoz Carlos , Sáez Ana , Serrano-López Roberto 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe possibility of accessing free cartographic resources on the internet instead of creating their own digital object representation is a big advantage for architecture and engineering professionals in the surveying process of a construction or restoration project. The use of these products must be carried out with the guarantee that the precision of the site representation made from them is adapted to the level of detail required by each phase of the project. This paper compares graphically and statistically the accuracy of the topographic surfaces we can get from the LIDAR point clouds and the Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) of the National Centre for Geographic Information (CNIG by its Spanish acronym) that in Spain are available on the internet free of charge. We will use as a reference surface for comparison, the topographic map of the Digital Model Elevation (DEM) from the images captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) processed with software based on algorithms of Structure from Motion (SfM). The study case for this comparative research will be the graphical survey of an archaeological site of funerary architecture made in 1939 during the Spanish Civil War. The monument is located near the city of Burgos (Spain) in an area with difficult access and restricted airspace, which makes difficult the fieldwork. The modeling of the surface has great importance for the graphic survey of the site, because its architectural configuration is adapted to the steep slope of the hillside. The purpose of this research is to check, if the surfaces provided through the Spanish open public cartographic resources are accurate enough to replace the mapping from UAV photogrammetry. Finally, if the outcomes can be extrapolated for widespread use of these resources for the site modeling of a project, according to the requirements of the different levels of development defined in the Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology.
Inclusive universities: evidence from the Erasmus program
Authors: De Benedictis Luca , Leoni Silvia 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe Erasmus Program is the main international mobility program in Europe and worldwide. Since its launch in 1987, it has been growing both in terms of participants and budget devoted to its activities. However, despite the possibility to obtain additional funding, the participation of students with special needs in the program remains extremely low. This work quantifies the participation of these students to Erasmus and explores the network of universities involved in their mobility, along the period 2008–2013. In addition, it proposes a novel index to measure the level of inclusiveness of universities welcoming international students with disabilities. Quantifying and analyzing this aspect could be the basis for better designing targeted policies and for widening the participation of students with impairments to international mobility.