bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling the yield and profitability of intercropped walnut systems in Croatia
Authors: Žalac Helena , Burgess Paul , Graves Anil , Giannitsopoulos Michail , Paponja Ivan , Popović Brigita , Ivezić Vladimir 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn Croatia, farmers are showing increasing interest in establishing walnut orchards for nut production on arable land due to higher anticipated net margins. One way to address the lack of profitability in the initial years when nut yields are low may be to plant arable intercrops. The anticipated impacts of this practice were assessed using a biophysical simulation model (Yield-SAFE) to determine the growth and yield of crops and trees in arable, orchard, and silvoarable systems, and an economic farm model (Farm-SAFE) was used to assess their profitability. The walnut orchard and the intercropped orchard systems were simulated assuming tree densities of 170, 135, and 100 trees ha−1, to determine the profitability and break-even date of the systems. The biophysical simulation predicted a decline in arable intercrop yields over time in all tree density scenarios. However, analysis of productivity of intercropped systems showed that intercropping was more productive than separate arable and walnut production for all tree density scenarios. From financial aspect, the return from intercropping helped to offset some of the initial orchard establishment costs and the arable intercrop remained profitable until the sixth year after tree planting. The modelling predicted that a system with 170 trees ha−1 that included intercropping for the first 6 years provided the greatest cumulative net margin after 20 years. The financial benefit of intercropping over the first 6 years opposed to monoculture walnut fruit production appeared to be consistent across the three tree densities studied. These results suggest that silvoarable agroforestry is profitable approach to establishing walnut orchards.
Propagation Channel Measurements in the mm- and Sub-mm Wave Range for Different Indoor Communication Scenarios
Authors: Salhi M. A. , Kleine-Ostmann T. , Schrader T. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIncreasing data rates in wireless communications are accompanied with the need for new unoccupied and unregulated bandwidth in the electromagnetic spectrum. Higher carrier frequencies in the lower THz frequency range might offer the solution for future indoor wireless communication systems with data rates of 100 Gbit/s and beyond that cannot be located elsewhere. In this review, we discuss propagation channel measurements in an extremely broad frequency range from 50 to 325 GHz in selected indoor communication scenarios including kiosk downloading, office room communication, living rooms, and typical industrial environments.
Teacher-Student Interaction Patterns Change During an Early Science Teaching Intervention
Authors: Menninga A. , van Geert P. , van Vondel S. , Steenbeek H. , van Dijk M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to explore the interaction between teachers and young students in terms of their question and answer patterns during science lessons and to investigate whether this changes over the course of an intervention called ‘Language as a Tool for learning science’ (LaT). It also compared experienced teachers with novices. A total of 16 teachers—of which 8 experienced and 8 novice teachers—and their students participated in this study. The teachers’ utterances were coded with regard to the use of questioning strategies, and the students’ reasoning skills were categorized by the use of three types of scientific reasoning skills (observations, predictions, explanations). Consistent with a complex dynamic systems orientation, we analyzed the interactions among these dimensions by means of state space grids (SSG). The results showed that before the intervention, the teacher-student interaction often took the form of a relatively rigid pattern in which teachers did not ask questions and students did not respond with reasoning expressions. In the course of the LaT intervention, a richer repertoire and a greater amount of interactions emerged in which knowledge was “co-constructed” by means of open-ended questions of the teacher and reasoning by the students. The results also suggest that the patterns of experienced and novice teachers were quite similar to each other.
Modeling of Symbiotic Bacterial Biofilm Growth with an Example of the Streptococcus–Veillonella sp. System
Authors: Feng Dianlei , Neuweiler Insa , Nogueira Regina , Nackenhorst Udo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe present a multi-dimensional continuum mathematical model for modeling the growth of a symbiotic biofilm system. We take a dual-species namely, the Streptococcus–Veillonella sp. biofilm system as an example for numerical investigations. The presented model describes both the cooperation and competition between these species of bacteria. The coupled partial differential equations are solved by using an integrative finite element numerical strategy. Numerical examples are carried out for studying the evolution and distribution of the bio-components. The results demonstrate that the presented model is capable of describing the symbiotic behavior of the biofilm system. However, homogenized numerical solutions are observed locally. To study the homogenization behavior of the model, numerical investigations regarding on how random initial biomass distribution influences the homogenization process are carried out. We found that a smaller correlation length of the initial biomass distribution leads to faster homogenization of the solution globally, however, shows more fluctuated biomass profiles along the biofilm thickness direction. More realistic scenarios with bacteria in patches are also investigated numerically in this study.
Patient-specific prediction of SEEG electrode bending for stereotactic neurosurgical planning
Authors: Granados Alejandro , Han Yuxuan , Lucena Oeslle , Vakharia Vejay , Rodionov Roman , Vos Sjoerd B. , Miserocchi Anna , McEvoy Andrew W. , Duncan John S. , Sparks Rachel , Ourselin Sébastien 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Electrode bending observed after stereotactic interventions is typically not accounted for in either computer-assisted planning algorithms, where straight trajectories are assumed, or in quality assessment, where only metrics related to entry and target points are reported. Our aim is to provide a fully automated and validated pipeline for the prediction of stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) electrode bending.

Methods
We transform electrodes of 86 cases into a common space and compare features-based and image-based neural networks on their ability to regress local displacement ($$\mathbf{lu} $$
lu
) or electrode bending ($$\hat{\mathbf{eb }}$$

eb
^

). Electrodes were stratified into six groups based on brain structures at the entry and target point. Models, both with and without Monte Carlo (MC) dropout, were trained and validated using tenfold cross-validation.

Results
mage-based models outperformed features-based models for all groups, and models that predicted $$\mathbf{lu} $$
lu
performed better than for $$\hat{\mathbf{eb }}$$

eb
^

. Image-based model prediction with MC dropout resulted in lower mean squared error (MSE) with improvements up to 12.9% ($$\mathbf{lu} $$
lu
) and 39.9% ($$\hat{\mathbf{eb }}$$

eb
^

), compared to no dropout. Using an image of brain tissue types (cortex, white and deep grey matter) resulted in similar, and sometimes better performance, compared to using a T1-weighted MRI when predicting $$\mathbf{lu} $$
lu
. When inferring trajectories of image-based models (brain tissue types), 86.9% of trajectories had an MSE$$\le 1$$

≤
1

mm.

Conclusion
An image-based approach regressing local displacement with an image of brain tissue types resulted in more accurate electrode bending predictions compared to other approaches, inputs, and outputs. Future work will investigate the integration of electrode bending into planning and quality assessment algorithms.
Nichts Neues an der Spitze der Großunternehmen!? Die deutsche Wirtschaftselite zwischen 1970 und 2020
Authors: Hartmann Michael 
Published: March 2021

ZusammenfassungUm die Jahrtausendwende wurde vielfach das Ende des spezifisch deutschen Modells der Managerrekrutierung und eine Angleichung an die angelsächsischen Verhältnisse verkündet. Der vorliegende Aufsatz überprüft diese These für die Vorstandsvorsitzenden der 100 größten deutschen Unternehmen anhand der zentralen Merkmale Ausbildung, Karrieretypus, Internationalität und soziale Herkunft zu fünf Zeitpunkten: 1970, 1995, 2005, 2015 und 2020. Es zeigt sich, dass die Rekrutierungskriterien und -mechanismen weit stabiler sind als seinerzeit angenommen. Es dominiert nach wie vor die Hauskarriere, und die Ingenieure und Naturwissenschaftler haben ihre Position sogar ausbauen können. Auch bei der sozialen Herkunft sind keine wesentlichen Veränderungen zu verzeichnen. Das gilt ebenfalls für die Aufsichtsratsvorsitzenden: Bei ihnen wie bei den Vorstandschefs stammen den gesamten Zeitraum hindurch über vier Fünftel aus bürgerlichen oder großbürgerlichen Familien. Die einzige gravierende Veränderung liegt im völligen Bedeutungsverlust der Juristen unter den Vorstandsvorsitzenden. Der Anteil der Ausländer unter ihnen wiederum ist zwar bis 2015 deutlich auf knapp 15 % angestiegen, in den letzten fünf Jahren aber wieder auf das Niveau von 2005 mit knapp 10 % zurückgefallen.
The dilemma of 18F-FDG PET/CT thyroid incidentaloma: what we should expect from FNA. A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Scappaticcio Lorenzo , Piccardo Arnoldo , Treglia Giorgio , Poller David N. , Trimboli Pierpaolo 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose
18F-FDG thyroid incidentaloma (TI) occurs in ~2% of PET/CT examinations with a cancer prevalence of up to 35–40%. Guidelines recommend fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) if a focal 18F-FDG TI corresponds to a sonographic nodule >1 cm. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide evidence-based data on the diagnostic distribution of 18F-FDG TIs in the six Bethesda systems for reporting thyroid cytopathology (BETHESDA) subcategories.

Methods
Original studies reporting 18F-FDG TIs and cytologically classified according to BETHESDA were included. Six separate meta-analyses were performed to obtain the pooled prevalence (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) of 18F-FDG TIs in the six BETHESDA subcategories.

Results
Fifteen studies were finally included. Nine studies were from Asian/Eastern and six from Western countries. FNA data according to BETHESDA was available in 2304 cases. The pooled prevalence of 18F-FDG TIs according to BETHESDA was BETHESDA I 10% (6–14), BETHESDA II 45% (37–53), BETHESDA III 8% (3–13), BETHESDA IV 8% (5–12), BETHESDA V 6% (4–9), BETHESDA VI 19% (13–25). A significantly different prevalence was found in the BETHESDA IV between Asian/Eastern (2%) and Western (19%) studies.

Conclusion
Two-thirds of focal 18F-FDG TIs undergoing FNA have either malignant (BETHESDA VI) or benign (BETHESDA II) cytology while a minority will have indeterminate (BETHESDA III or IV) FNA results. Significant differences between Asian/Eastern and Western studies are also present in the prevalence of indeterminate FNA results.
Social Capital and Its Effect on Labour Market (Mis)match: Migrants’ Overqualification in Germany
Authors: Kracke Nancy , Klug Christina 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIf a person is overqualified in the sense that an employee’s level of training exceeds the job requirements, then some human capital lies idle and cannot be converted into appropriate (monetary and non-monetary) returns. Migrants are particularly at risk of being overqualified in their employment; however, this phenomenon cannot be fully explained by differences in human capital or socio-economic characteristics. This paper examines whether social capital plays a decisive role in migrants’ risk of overqualification in Germany. Using data from the German IAB-SOEP Migration Sample, we analyse the job search process of migrants to determine whether social networks influence their risk of being employed below their acquired educational level. We estimate logistic regression models and find that social capital influences the adequacy of migrants’ jobs: We show that migrants are at a greater risk of overqualification if they use only informal job search strategies such as relying on friends or family members. Moreover, we find that homophilous migrant networks and jobs in employment niches are risk factors for overqualification. We conclude that the combination of informal job search modes and homophilous migrant networks leads to a comparably high risk for migrants of being overqualified in their employment in the German labour market.
The NMDA Receptor Subunit (GluN1 and GluN2A) Modulation Following Different Conditions of Cocaine Abstinence in Rat Brain Structures
Authors: Smaga Irena , Wydra Karolina , Suder Agata , Frankowska Małgorzata , Sanak Marek , Caffino Lucia , Fumagalli Fabio , Filip Małgorzata 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDifferent neuronal alterations within glutamatergic system seem to be crucial for developing of cocaine-seeking behavior. Cocaine exposure provokes a modulation of the NMDA receptor subunit expression in rodents, which probably contributes to cocaine-induced behavioral alterations. The aim of this study was to examine the composition of the NMDA receptor subunits in the brain structures in rats with the history of cocaine self-administration after cocaine abstinence (i) in an enriched environment, (ii) in an isolated condition, (iii) with extinction training, or (iv) without instrumental task, as well as the Grin1 (encoding GluN1) and Grin2A (encoding GluN2A) gene expression were evaluated after 10-day extinction training in rat brain structures. In the present study, we observed changes only following cocaine abstinence with extinction training, when the increased GluN2A subunit levels were seen in the postsynaptic density fraction but not in the whole homogenate of the prelimbic cortex (PLC) and dorsal hippocampus (dHIP) in rats previously self-administered cocaine. At the same time, extinction training did not change the Grin1 and Grin2A gene expression in these structures. In conclusion, NMDA receptor subunit modulation observed following cocaine abstinence with extinction training may represent a potential target in cocaine-seeking behavior.
Revisiting Hans Böker’s "Species Transformation Through Reconstruction: Reconstruction Through Active Reaction of Organisms" (1935)
Authors: Fábregas-Tejeda Alejandro , Nieves Delgado Abigail , Baedke Jan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAgainst the common historiographic narratives of evolutionary biology, the first decades of the 20th century were theoretically far richer than usually assumed. This especially refers to the hitherto neglected role that early theoretical biologists played in introducing visionary research perspectives and concepts before the institutionalization of the Modern Synthesis. Here, we present one of these scholars, the German theoretical biologist and ecomorphologist Hans Böker (1886–1939), by reviewing his 1935 paper “Artumwandlung durch Umkonstruktion, Umkonstruktion durch aktives Reagieren der Organismen” ("Species Transformation Through Reconstruction: Reconstruction Through Active Reaction of Organisms"), published in the inaugural volume of the journal Acta Biotheoretica. While largely forgotten today, this work represents a melting pot of ideas that adumbrate some of today’s most lively debated empirical and conceptual topics in evolutionary biology: the active role of organisms as actors of their own evolution, environmental induction and phenotypic plasticity, genetic assimilation, as well as developmental bias. We discuss Böker’s views on how species change through (what he calls) "Umkonstruktion," and how such reconstruction is exerted through active reactions of organisms to environmental perturbations. In addition, we outline the aims and wider context of his "biological comparative anatomy," including Boker’s reprehensible political affiliation with the Nazi Party. Finally, we highlight some of the historical reasons for why Böker’s views did not have a larger impact in evolutionary biology, but we also recount some of the direct and indirect legacies of his approach in research areas such as ecomorphology and (Eco)EvoDevo. Böker’s paper is available as supplementary material in the online version of this article, as part of the journal's "Classics in Biological Theory" collection; the first translation of the paper into English, by Alexander Böhm and Jan Baedke, is also being published in this volume.
Dynamics of lubricated spiral bevel gears under different contact paths
Authors: Cao Wei , He Tao , Pu Wei , Xiao Ke 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTo assess the meshing quality of spiral bevel gears, the static meshing characteristics are usually checked under different contact paths to simulate the deviation in the footprint from the design point to the heel or toe of the gear flank caused by the assembly error of two gear axes. However, the effect of the contact path on gear dynamics under lubricated conditions has not been reported. In addition, most studies regarding spiral bevel gears disregard the lubricated condition because of the complicated solutions of mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL). Hence, an analytical friction model with a highly efficient solution, whose friction coefficient and film thickness predictions agree well with the results from a well-validated mixed EHL model for spiral bevel gears, is established in the present study to facilitate the study of the dynamics of lubricated spiral bevel gears. The obtained results reveal the significant effect of the contact path on the dynamic response and meshing efficiency of gear systems. Finally, a comparison of the numerical transmission efficiency under different contact paths with experimental measurements indicates good agreement.
On-line hemodiafiltration modulates atherosclerosis signaling in peripheral lymphomonocytes of hemodialysis patients
Authors: Simone Simona , Chieti Annarita , Pontrelli Paola , Rascio Federica , Castellano Giuseppe , Stallone Giovanni , Infante Barbara , Gesualdo Loreto , Grandaliano Giuseppe , Pertosa Giovanni 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Hemodialysis patients present a dramatic increase in cardiovascular morbidity/mortality. Circulating immune cells, activated by both uremic milieu and dialysis, play a key role in the pathogenesis of dialysis-related vascular disease. The aim of our study was to identify, through a high-throughput approach, differences in gene expression profiles in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients treated with on-line hemodiafiltration and bicarbonate hemodialysis.

Methods
The transcriptomic profile was investigated in PBMCs isolated from eight patients on on-line hemodiafiltration and eight patients on bicarbonate hemodialysis by microarray analysis. The results were evaluated by statistical and functional pathway analysis and validated by real time PCR (qPCR) in an independent cohort of patients (on-line hemodiafiltration N = 20, bicarbonate hemodialysis n = 20).

Results
Eight hundred and forty-seven genes were differentially expressed in patients treated with on-line hemodiafiltration and bicarbonate hemodialysis. Thirty-seven functional gene networks were identified and atherosclerosis signaling was the top canonical pathway regulated by on-line hemodiafiltration. Among the genes of this pathway, on-line hemodiafiltration was associated with a reduced expression of Platelet-derived growth factor A chain (PDGF A), Clusterin, Monoamine Oxidase A, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Vascular Endothelial Growth
Factor C (VEGF-)C and with an increase of Apolipoprotein E. qPCR confirmed the microarray results. Platelet derived growth factor AA (PDGF-AA), IL-6 and VEGF-C serum levels were significantly lower in the on-line hemodiafiltration group. Finally, 10 patients previously on bicarbonate hemodialysis were switched to on-line hemodiafiltration and PBMCs were harvested after 6 months. The qPCR results from this perspective group confirmed the modulation of atherosclerotic genes observed in the cross-sectional analysis.

Conclusions
Our data suggest that type of dialysis (on-line hemodiafiltration versus bicarbonate hemodialysis) may modulate the expression of several genes involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic disease.
The Core Requirements of the International Rule of Law in the Practice of States
Authors: Arajärvi Noora 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIs it possible to identify some foundational elements of international law that can be generally accepted by all States? Can such core elements reach a normative threshold to be considered requirements rather than “values” or “virtues” ? And finally, what are these core requirements of the international rule of law? This contribution propositions that, indeed, such core elements exist, identifies them—non-arbitrariness, consistency and predictability—from the practice of States at the international level and conceptualises them as the minimum requirements of the international rule of law. It presents an empirical study of statements of governments at the United Nations (UN) during a five-year period (2012–2017), accompanying the relevant findings with references to decisions and opinions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Effect of chemical and sanitary intervention on rat sightings in urban communities of New Providence, the Bahamas
Authors: Awoniyi Adedayo M. , Thompson Andrew , Ferguson Luther , Mckenzie Melony , Souza Fabio N. , Zeppelini Caio G. , Costa Federico 
Published: March 2021

AbstractRats are invasive pest species that commonly infest low-income urban environments. Their association with humans constitutes a threat of rodent-borne disease transmission. We evaluated the outcome of a chemical and sanitary intervention on rat sightings in seven low-income urban settlements of New Providence, the Bahamas. The intervention consisted of rodenticide application, education about environmental sanitation, and improvement in waste disposal. Rat sightings were systematically recorded by trained staff before and three months after the intervention. The intervention slightly decreased rat sightings, with an average of 2.7-fold with varied effectiveness across locations. Four out of seven locations (57%) registered a decrease in rat sightings. Our results suggest that social and environmental differences among communities may be responsible for the mixed efficacy observed in the current rodent management practice in urban communities of the Bahamas. However, a new set of control measures needs to be developed for areas where rodent decline was not observed. This study provides novel data on how rat population behaves post-intervention in a unique ecological setting like the Bahamas, presenting an informed judgment for their management, especially in the event of a natural disaster.