bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bone Health in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Vincze Anett , Gaál János , Griger Zoltán 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Purpose of Review
This article provides an update on the most recent advances in epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic procedures, and therapeutic approaches for myositis-associated bone diseases, such as osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Recent Findings
In the recent years, several studies showed that osteoporosis and consequent fractures are a common and frequently underestimated complication in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). In younger patients, asymptomatic fractures might present in the early phase of the disease which could increase the risk of development of further fractures. High-risk patients could be selected with early application of combined diagnostic procedures, such as fracture risk scores with steroid dose adjustments and imaging.

Summary
Recent advances might help clinicians from different fields of medicine in the early recognition and management of myositis-associated osteoporosis, which will potentially improve the quality of life of patients with IIM.
Explosion-related deaths: An overview on forensic evaluation and implications
Authors: Galante Nicola , Franceschetti Lorenzo , Del Sordo Sara , Casali Michelangelo Bruno , Genovese Umberto 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Explosion-related deaths are uncommon events which require expertise and confidence so that an appropriate death investigation can be performed. The present study aims to provide a detailed forensic analysis of the issues and implications arising in the event of an explosion.

Methods
A retrospective review of casualty data was conducted on electronic literature databases. Cases concerning deadly explosions registered at the Milan Institute of Legal Medicine were examined and analyzed altogether.

Results
Explosions may involve closed or open systems. A security assessment of the site is always necessary. Alterations of the site due to rescue procedures can occur; thus, on-site forensic investigation should be adapted to the environment. Then, a study protocol based on autopsy procedures is presented. Application of the postmortem radiology enforces forensic procedures both for the analysis of blast injuries and skeleton fractures, and for identification purposes. Blast injuries typically cause lacerations of the lungs, intestine and major vessels; moreover, hyoid fractures can be documented. Histopathology may help to define blast injuries effectively. Forensic chemistry, toxicology and ballistics provide useful investigative evidence as well as anthropology and genetics. Different forensic topics regarding explosions are discussed through five possible scenarios that forensic pathologists may come across. Scenarios include self-inflicted explosion deaths, domestic explosions, work-related explosions, terrorist events, and explosions caused by accidents involving heavy vehicles.

Conclusion
The scenarios presented offer a useful instrument to avoid misinterpretations and evaluation errors. Procedural notes and technical aspects are provided to the readers, with an insight on collaboration with other forensic experts.
Urinary Concentrations of Metals and Metalloids in Malaysian Adults
Authors: Anual Zurahanim Fasha , Mohammad Sham Noraishah , Ambak Rashidah , Othman Fatimah , Shaharudin Rafiza 
Published: July 2021

AbstractExposure to environmental pollutants in humans can be conducted through direct measurement of biological media such as blood, urine or hair. Assessment studies of metals and metalloids in Malaysia is very scarce although cross-sectional nationwide human biomonitoring surveys have been established by the USA, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, and Korea. This study aims to assess urinary metal levels namely cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) among Malaysian adults. This was a cross-sectional study involving 1440 adults between the age of 18 and 88 years old. After excluding those with 24 h urine samples of less than 500 ml, urine creatinine levels < 0.3 or > 3.0 g/L and those who refuse to participate in the study, a total of 817 respondents were included for analysis. A questionnaire with socio-demographic information such as age, gender, occupation, ethnic, academic qualification and medical history was administered to the respondents. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected in a container before being transported at 4 °C to the laboratory. Samples were then aliquoted into 15 ml tubes and kept at − 80 °C until further analysis. Urine was diluted ten-fold with ultrapure water, filtered and analysed for metals and metalloids using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The geometric mean of urinary As, Ni, Cd and Pb concentrations among adults in Malaysia was 48.21, 4.37, 0.32, and 0.80 µg/L, respectively. Males showed significantly higher urinary metal concentrations compared to females for As, Cd and Pb except for Ni. Those who resided in rural areas exhibited significantly higher As, Cd and Pb urinary concentrations than those who resided in urban areas. As there are no nationwide data on urinary metals, findings from this study could be used to identify high exposure groups, thus enabling policy makers to improve public health strategically.
Monitoring Impact of Salt-Marsh Vegetation Characteristics on Sedimentation: an Outlook for Nature-Based Flood Protection
Authors: Baaij B. Martina , Kooijman Jeroen , Limpens Juul , Marijnissen Richard J. C. , van Loon-Steensma Jantsje M. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSalt marshes can protect coastlines against flooding by attenuating wave energy and enhancing shoreline stabilization. However, salt-marsh functioning is threatened by human influences and sea level rise. Although it is known that protection services are mediated by vegetation, little is known about the role of vegetation structure in salt-marsh accretion. We investigated the role of vegetation presence, vegetation type and structural vegetation characteristics in sedimentation and sediment grain size. We established 56 plots on a salt marsh on the Dutch Wadden island of Texel. Plots were divided over four vegetation types contrasting in vegetation structure and varied in elevation and distance to creeks. Vegetation presence was controlled by clipping in subplots. Within each plot, we measured seven vegetation characteristics, sedimentation and the sediment grain size distribution. Furthermore, we explored the effect of the natural variation in vegetation structure on wave attenuation with a simple model approach. For this, we developed vegetation scenarios based on the field measurements of stem height, diameter and density. We found that vegetation presence increased sedimentation on average by 42%. Sedimentation was highest inSalicorniavegetation and increased with stem height and branching level. Grain size also seemed to increase with branching level. Modelled wave attenuation was 7.5 times higher with natural vegetation compared to topography only, was strongest forSpartinavegetation and most sensitive to the natural variance in stem density. Our results can be used to improve predictions of salt-marsh accretion and the implementation of salt marshes in nature-based flood defences.
Fitness costs for fig wasps that fail to pollinate their host Ficus perforata
Authors: Jandér K. C. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMutualisms are of fundamental ecological importance, but risk breaking down if one partner stops paying the costs yet still takes the benefits of the interaction. To prevent such cheating, many mutualisms have mechanisms that lower the fitness of uncooperative symbionts, often termed host sanctions. In mutualisms where the interacting partners are species-specific, we would expect to see coevolution of the levels of host sanctions and partner cooperation across species-pairs. In the mutualism between fig trees and their species-specific pollinating fig wasps, host sanctions vary greatly in strength, and wasp cooperation levels vary accordingly. Here I show experimentally that in PanamanianFicus perforata(section Urostigma, Americana) there are fitness costs for wasps that do not pollinate. These fitness costs are caused by a combination of abortions of unpollinated figs and reduced proportion of wasp larvae that successfully develop to adults.The relative fitness of wasps that do not pollinate compared to wasps that pollinate is 0.59, leading to the intermediate sanction strength 0.41. Next, by screening pollinators ofF. perforataI found that 1.9% of wasp individuals in natural populations failed to carry pollen. Across five actively pollinated Neotropical fig species and their pollinators, fig species with stronger host sanctions had fewer uncooperative wasps, as would be expected if sanctions promote cooperation.
Emerging roles of spliceosome in cancer and immunity
Authors: Yang Hui , Beutler Bruce , Zhang Duanwu 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPrecursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing is catalyzed by an intricate ribonucleoprotein complex called the spliceosome. Although the spliceosome is considered to be general cell “housekeeping” machinery, mutations in core components of the spliceosome frequently correlate with cell- or tissue-specific phenotypes and diseases. In this review, we expound the links between spliceosome mutations, aberrant splicing, and human cancers. Remarkably, spliceosome-targeted therapies (STTs) have become efficient anti-cancer strategies for cancer patients with splicing defects. We also highlight the links between spliceosome and immune signaling. Recent studies have shown that some spliceosome gene mutations can result in immune dysregulation and notable phenotypes due to mis-splicing of immune-related genes. Furthermore, several core spliceosome components harbor splicing-independent immune functions within the cell, expanding the functional repertoire of these diverse proteins.
Development and Validation of a Simple Bioaerosol Collection Filter System Using a Conventional Vacuum Cleaner for Sampling
Authors: Unterwurzacher Verena , Bruck Stephan , Biedermann Max , Pogner Clara , Konlechner Anja , Tondl Gregor , Berger Harald , Pfeifer Christoph , Strauss Joseph , Gorfer Markus , Strauss-Goller Sabine 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAlthough numerous bioaerosol samplers for counting and identifying airborne microorganisms are available, the considerably high purchase and maintenance costs for the sampler often prevent broad monitoring campaigns for occupational or environmental surveillance of bioaerosols. We present here a newly developed simple adapter and filter system (TOP filter system) designed to collect bioaerosol particles from a defined air volume using conventional vacuum cleaners as air pumps. We characterized the physical properties of the system using air flow measurements and validated the biological performance. The culture-based detection capacities for airborne fungal species were compared to a standard impaction sampler (MAS-100 NT) under controlled conditions in a bioaerosol chamber (using Trichoderma spores as the test organism) as well as in the field. In the chamber, an overall equivalent detection capacity between all tested filters was recorded, although a significant underrepresentation of the TOP filter system for Trichoderma spores were seen in comparison to the MAS-100 NT. In a comparative field study (n = 345), the system showed similar biological sampling efficiencies compared to the MAS-100 NT impactor, only the diversity of identified fungal communities was slightly lower on the filters. Thus, the system is suitable for large-scale environmental sampling operations where many samples have to be taken in parallel at a given time at distant locations. This system would allow endeavors such as antibiotics resistance monitoring or hygiene surveys in agricultural or occupational settings.
Bedeutung der wahrgenommenen Motivierungsqualität für intrinsische Motivation und Selbstkonzept von Grundschulkindern
Authors: Lepper Chantal , Stang Justine , McElvany Nele 
Published: July 2021

ZusammenfassungEin qualitätsvoller Unterricht ist von zentraler Bedeutung sowohl für leistungsbezogene als auch für motivationale Lernergebnisse von Schülerinnen und Schülern. Die Motivierungsqualität des Unterrichts als eine bedeutsame Facette der Basisdimension konstruktive Unterstützung wurde bisher eher selten untersucht. Um die Bedeutung der wahrgenommenen Motivierungsqualität für motivationale Merkmale von Grundschulkindern zu erforschen, wurde basierend auf Angaben von Viertklässlerinnen und -klässlern (N = 187) analysiert, inwiefern die Motivierungsqualität des Mathematikunterrichts neben der Mathematiknote prädiktiv für die intrinsische Motivation und das Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept der Lernenden ist. Auch wurde geprüft, ob dem Kompetenzerleben der Lernenden eine vermittelnde Funktion zukommt. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die wahrgenommene Motivierungsqualität neben der Mathematiknote ein bedeutsamer Prädiktor für beide motivationalen Merkmale war. Während das Kompetenzerleben die Zusammenhänge zwischen der Motivierungsqualität bzw. der Mathematiknote und dem Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept bedeutsam vermittelte, wurden die Zusammenhänge für die intrinsische Motivation der Schülerinnen und Schüler wiederum nicht mediiert. Resümierend werden die Befunde hinsichtlich möglicher Implikationen für zukünftige Forschung und Praxis diskutiert.
GNSS Double Differences Used as Beacon Landing System for Aircraft Instrument Approach
Authors: Dautermann Thomas , Korn Bernd , Flaig Karin , de Haag Maarten Uijt 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWhen using GNSS navigation for final approach guidance of aircraft to a landing site, the only systems currently available are differential GNSS with additional integrity data called augmentation systems. These work well when the landing site is fixed in space and well surveyed. In all other cases, augmentation systems are difficult to use. Here, we propose relative navigation based on GNSS double difference measurement to accomplish the same task, but also onto moving landing platforms or at unsurveyed locations. We call this the Beacon Landing System. Furthermore, we show long term measurement data confirming the sub-meter accuracy and results from flight tests. During the flight test we successfully used the relative navigation for aircraft guidance.
Characterization of dopamine D2 receptor coupling to G proteins in postmortem brain of subjects with schizophrenia
Authors: Egusquiza Iker , Munarriz-Cuezva Eva , Segarra Rafael , González-Maeso Javier , Callado Luis F. , Meana J. Javier , Diez-Alarcia Rebeca 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Alterations of dopamine D1 (D1R) and D2 receptor (D2R) are proposed in schizophrenia but brain neuroimaging and postmortem studies have shown controversial results in relation to D1R and D2R density. Besides, scarce information on the functionality of brain D1R and D2R is available. The present study characterized G-protein activation by D1R and D2R agonists in postmortem human brain. Furthermore, D2R functional status was compared between schizophrenia and control subjects.

Methods
G-protein receptor coupling was assessed in control caudate nucleus and frontal cortex by [35S]GTPγS-binding stimulation induced by increasing concentrations (10–10–10–3 M) of dopamine, and the selective dopaminergic agonists SKF38393 (D1R) and NPA (D2R). Concentration–response curves to NPA stimulation of [35S]GTPγS binding were analyzed in antipsychotic-free (n = 10) and antipsychotic-treated (n = 7) schizophrenia subjects and matched controls (n = 17).

Results
In caudate, [35S]GTPγS-binding responses to agonists were compatible with the existence of functional D2R. In contrast, stimulations in cortex showed responses that did not correspond to D1R or D2R. [35S]GTPγS-binding activation by NPA in caudate displayed biphasic curves with similar profile in schizophrenia (EC50H = 7.94 nM; EC50L = 7.08 μM) and control (EC50H = 7.24 nM; EC50L = 15.14 μM) subjects. The presence or absence of antipsychotic medication did not influence the pharmacological parameters.

Conclusions
Feasibility of functional evaluation of dopamine receptors in postmortem human brain by conventional [35S]GTPγS-binding assays appears to be restricted to signalling through inhibitory Gi/o proteins. These findings provide functional information about brain D2R status in subjects with schizophrenia and do not support the existence of D2R supersensitive in this mental disorder.
Structural diversity of organic contaminants in sewage sludge: a comparison of sewage fingerprints from Germany and China
Authors: Wluka Ann-Kathrin , Huang Yuehua , Coenen Laura , Dsikowitzky Larissa , Schwarzbauer Jan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSewage sludge is formed during wastewater treatment and in recent years, the amount of sewage sludge increased rapidly all over the world. This sewage sludge is attractive for usage in agriculture as an inexpensive nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. However, there is only very limited knowledge about the spectrum of organic pollutants that might occur in sewage sludge and is probably posing a threat to the environment. We therefore conducted GC–MS based non-target screening analyses in order to identify a wide spectrum of organic contaminants in sludge samples from several wastewater treatment plants and to figure out corresponding finger-prints of pollution. The plants are located in Germany and China and have various capacities ranging from 35,000 to 1.1 million population equivalents. The special focus was to reveal information on the structural variety of individual organic compounds in sludge samples from the two countries. Several emerging pollutants including some fragrances, pharmaceutical educts, vitaminoids, technical additives were identified accompanied by compounds of biogenic origin. Some of these compounds have rarely been reported as constituents of sewage sludge to date and, consequently, are relevant candidates for more specific assessments including the ecotoxicological long-term effects. Based on the results of this study, it seems mandatory to establish non-target screening analyses on a regularly base as a tool for a comprehensive identification of the variety of anthropogenic organic constituents. Following, such contaminant spectrum can act as basis for further environmental risk assessments as well as to provide individual fingerprints for evaluation of impacts on ecosystems.
A generalised Dickman distribution and the number of species in a negative binomial process model
Authors: Ipsen Yuguang , Maller Ross A. , Shemehsavar Soudabeh 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe derive the large-sample distribution of the number of species in a version of Kingman’s Poisson–Dirichlet model constructed from an$\alpha$-stable subordinator but with an underlying negative binomial process instead of a Poisson process. Thus it depends on parameters$\alpha\in (0,1)$from the subordinator and$r>0$from the negative binomial process. The large-sample distribution of the number of species is derived as sample size$n\to\infty$. An important component in the derivation is the introduction of a two-parameter version of the Dickman distribution, generalising the existing one-parameter version. Our analysis adds to the range of Poisson–Dirichlet-related distributions available for modeling purposes.
A class of solvable multidimensional stopping problems in the presence of Knightian uncertainty
Authors: Alvarez E. Luis H. R. , Christensen Sören 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe investigate the impact of Knightian uncertainty on the optimal timing policy of an ambiguity-averse decision-maker in the case where the underlying factor dynamics follow a multidimensional Brownian motion and the exercise payoff depends on either a linear combination of the factors or the radial part of the driving factor dynamics. We present a general characterization of the value of the optimal timing policy and the worst-case measure in terms of a family of explicitly identified excessive functions generating an appropriate class of supermartingales. In line with previous findings based on linear diffusions, we find that ambiguity accelerates timing in comparison with the unambiguous setting. Somewhat surprisingly, we find that ambiguity may lead to stationarity in models which typically do not possess stationary behavior. In this way, our results indicate that ambiguity may act as a stabilizing mechanism.
Muslims in Medieval Inquisitorial Thought: Nicolau Eymeric and His Contexts
Authors: Bailey Michael D. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis article analyzes the scant treatment of Muslims in medieval inquisitorial thought, focusing mainly on the late fourteenth-century Aragonese inquisitor Nicolau Eymeric'sDirectorium inquisitorum(1376). It argues for four contexts in which to understand his engagement with Islam. First, as background, is a longstanding Christian (although not inquisitorial) tradition categorizing Islam as a heresy, with which he did not substantially engage. Second is his own goal to extend inquisitorial authority to new subjects, in which he drew on previous inquisitorial thought about Jews. The third involves conflicts between church officials and the Crown of Aragon about jurisdiction over non-Christian subjects. The fourth centers on the supposition that he did not view Muslims living within Christendom as an especially covert or insidious threat requiring special investigation to uncover, which speaks to how he and other inquisitors viewed their role and the nature of the threats they aimed to counter. In broad terms, this article contributes to our understanding of one important way in which medieval Christianity engaged with other religions. It also provides a basis for understanding later developments in early modern Europe.
Is Swedish more beautiful than Danish? Matched guise investigations with unknown languages
Authors: Hilton Nanna H. , Gooskens Charlotte , Schüppert Anja , Tang Chaoju 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAre some languages universally seen as beautiful? And if so, what are the linguistic traits that make some languages sound more pleasing than others? This paper addresses these two questions. We do so with results from two listener experiments that use speech samples from a bilingual Danish–Swedish speaker in a matched guise test, where the listeners are ‘previously unexposed’ students from central China. Our results indicate that listeners from Central China with no previous exposure find Swedish more pleasing sounding than Danish. This finding provides evidence that there could be features of language that sound more beautiful to listeners cross-culturally. In a follow-up experiment we remove the intonation contours of the speech to see whether this prosodic trait plays a role for evaluations. The results show that the difference in evaluations between Swedish and Danish disappears when both speech samples are monotonised. We discuss the importance of our findings for language attitudes research.