bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Forensic stable isotope signatures: Comparing, geo‐locating, detecting linkage
Authors: Meier‐Augenstein Wolfram 
Published: May 2019

AbstractStable isotope signatures or profiles of physical evidence such as illicit drugs, explosives or human tissue provide information on source, origin, even sample history not obtainable by traditionally applied analytical techniques of forensic chemistry. The discriminatory power, calculated as random match probability, of multivariate stable isotope signatures able to distinguish two cocaine samples from different regions in Colombia can range from one in tens of thousands to one in several million if based on the stable isotope abundances of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen or carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen, respectively. Stable isotope signatures of physical evidence have therefore at the very least great potential to provide invaluable forensic intelligence for intelligence led policing. They may even be of great evidentiary value, especially if corroborated by results from independent analytical techniques. This review aims to offer a glimpse into the fascinating world of forensic stable isotope analysis by discussing the various levels of information stable isotope signatures can provide. For reasons easily appreciated, only a select few instances of its application to criminal investigations have been reported in scientific journals thus far. The various applications of this technique presented in this review are therefore predominantly taken from peer‐reviewed work published in scientific books and journals.This article is categorized under:

Forensic Biology > Interpretation of Biological Evidence
Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Explosive Analysis
Toxicology > Drug Analysis
Return Migration Process in Policy and Practice
Authors: Kļave Evija , Šūpule Inese 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThis chapter focuses on return migration processes in Latvia, integrating analysis of return migration policy and the experiences of return migrants. The analysis considers the extent to which return policy activities correspond to the needs and expectations of the target group, and addresses the role of this policy in the process of making the decision to return. The data used for the analysis are policy planning documents, The Emigrant Communities of Latvia survey and in-depth interviews. The main empirical evidence of the return experiences of migrants in the chapter comes from 18 in-depth interviews with Latvian returnees from various age and social status groups, who left Latvia within a period between 1991 and 2011. This research finds that although the government’s policy corresponds to the general needs of return migrants, this policy has no impact on individual return decisions among Latvian migrants. The main reasons for return are non-economic. If economic reasons dominate the reasons for leaving – alongside a wish to see the world or get an education – then coming back is connected with homesickness, a willingness to spend more time with relatives in Latvia, a longing for Latvian nature, a desire to speak Latvian and to live in the Latvian environment. It also eliminates the risk of assimilation for their children in the society of the country they have emigrated to.
Oral Interactions in Secondary Science Classrooms: a Grounded Approach to Identifying Oral Feedback Types and Practices
Authors: Mapplebeck Andrea , Dunlop Lynda 
Published: May 2019

AbstractFeedback is an important practice in promoting learning. This study examines teachers’ oral feedback practices, with an analysis grounded in students’ perceptions of what helps them learn. Based on 38 hours of lesson observations, interviews with 10 teachers and 84 students, we identify how teachers conceptualise and practice oral feedback. Based on student interviews, three main types of oral interaction were found to constitute feedback: discrepancy, success criteria comments and open questions. Current practices appear to address the feedback dimensions of ‘How am I going?’ and ‘Where to next?’, but seem to be lacking with respect to addressing the question related to ‘Where am I going?’ Feedback is infrequently used by science teachers compared with other types of oral interaction and the feedback types most frequently reported by students to help learning were used least often. Teachers used oral feedback types differently in whole class and small group situations. We use findings to elaborate an ideal-typical model of feedback practices, with divergent practices involving more frequent use of oral feedback, focusing on learning rather than task. The study concludes with implications for practice in teaching and teacher education.
Toward Reducing Anxiety and Increasing Performance in Physics Education: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment
Authors: Molin François , Cabus Sofie , Haelermans Carla , Groot Wim 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThis study evaluates the effectiveness of an intervention of formative assessments with a clicker-based technology on anxiety and academic performance. We use a randomized experiment in physics education in one school in Dutch secondary education. For treated students, the formative assessments are operationalized through quizzing at the end of each physics class, where clickers enable students to respond to questions. Control students do not receive these assessments and do not use clickers, but apart from that, the classes they attend are similar. Findings from multilevel regressions indicate that the formative assessments significantly reduce anxiety in physics and improve academic performance in physics in comparison with traditional teaching. Furthermore, a mediation effect of anxiety in physics on academic performance is observed. In sum, this implies that an easy to implement technique of formative assessments can make students feel more at ease, which contributes to better educational performance.
An Anscombean Perspective on Habitual Action
Authors: Kalis Annemarie , Ometto Dawa 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMuch of the time, human beings seem to rely on habits. Habits are learned behaviours directly elicited by context cues, and insensitive to short-term changes in goals: therefore they are sometimes irrational. But even where habitual responses are rational (contributing to current goal fulfillment), it can seem as if they are nevertheless not done for reasons. For, on a common understanding of habitual behaviour, agents’ intentions do not play any role in the coming about of such responses. This paper discusses under what conditions we can say that habitual responses are, after all, done for reasons. We show how the idea that habitual behaviour cannot be understood as ‘acting for reasons’ stems from a widely but often implicitly held theoretical framework: the causal theory of action. We then propose an alternative, Anscombean understanding of intentional action, which can account for habitual responses being done for reasons.
An instability mechanism for particulate pipe flow
Authors: Rouquier Anthony , Pothérat Alban , Pringle Chris C. T. 
Published: May 2019

We present a linear stability analysis for a simple model of particle-laden pipe flow. The model consists of a continuum approximation for the particles, two-way coupled to the fluid velocity field via Stokes drag (Saffman, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 13 (01), 1962, pp. 120–128). We extend previous analysis in a channel (Klinkenberg et al., Phys. Fluids, vol. 23 (6), 2011, 064110) to allow for the initial distribution of particles to be inhomogeneous in a similar manner to Boronin (Fluid Dyn., vol. 47 (3), 2012, pp. 351–363) and in particular consider the effect of allowing the particles to be preferentially located around one radius in accordance with experimental observations. This simple modification of the problem is enough to alter the stability properties of the flow, and in particular can lead to a linear instability offering an alternative route to turbulence within this problem.
Drivers of working longer: Results from a large-scale and representative German employee survey
Authors: Schulz-Dadaczynski Anika , Wendsche Johannes , Lohmann-Haislah Andrea , Stab Nicole 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMost research on the factors driving employees to work longer than expected or preagreed has focused on behaviors of work extension and has widely neglected work intensification. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether job demands, as well as employees' job-related resources and personal resources (skill discretion, educational level), predict behavioral indicators of work extension (total working hours, overtime) and work intensification (skipping mandatory rest breaks). We use data from the sixth wave of a large cross-sectional and representative German employee survey (N = 10 148). The findings suggest that job demands and skill discretion are positively associated with the different behaviors of working longer. The relationship between work extension and skill discretion is stronger for higher-educated employees than for lower-educated employees. Our findings suggest that specific job demands and resources must be considered simultaneously to explain working longer and to differentiate between behaviors of working longer.
Correlates of blood parasitism in a threatened marshland passerine: infection by kinetoplastids of the genus Trypanosoma is related to landscape metrics of habitat edge
Authors: Kubacka Justyna , Gerlée Alina , Foucher Julien , Korb Judith , Podmokła Edyta 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIn birds, vector-borne parasites invading the bloodstream are important agents of disease, affect fitness and shape population viability, thus being of conservation interest. Here, we molecularly identified protozoan blood parasites in two populations of the threatened Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola, a migratory passerine nesting in open marsh. We explored whether prevalence and lineage diversity of the parasites vary by population and whether infection status is explained by landscape metrics of habitat edge and individual traits (body mass, fat score, wing length and sex). Aquatic Warblers were infected by genera Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Trypanosoma, with seven, one and four lineages, and 29.9, 0.7 and 12.5% prevalence, respectively. No Haemoproteus infections were detected. Prevalence did not vary between the populations, but lineage diversity was higher in Polesie than in Biebrza for all the lineages pooled and for Plasmodium. Infection by Trypanosoma decreased with patch core area and increased with density of habitat edge. Infection status was not predicted by the individual traits. Our study is the first to show an association between edge-related landscape features and blood parasitism in an open habitat bird. This finding will support informed conservation measures for avian species of the globally shrinking marshland and other treeless habitats.
A review of oestrous behaviour and detection in dairy cows
Authors: Stevenson J. S. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA number of measurable physiological events characteristically occur and cause changes during the perioestrual period including the classical, diagnostic sign of standing behaviour. The onset of oestrus coincides with peak titres of oestradiol-17β that subsequently induce the preovulatory surge of LH within 1 to 3 h and ovulation of a mature follicle some 24 to 32 h after the onset of oestrus. Although detection efficiencies are consistently greater in higher producing herds, oestrus-detection efficiency generally has declined in recent years as herd size and milk production have increased. New technologies have introduced some needed assistance for detecting cows in oestrus. These include various in expensive heat mount detectors to more sophisticated electronic gadgetry, such aspedometry and radiotelemetric sensors that detect temperature, tissue impedance, and pressure. Oestrus detection aids are usually more efficient but not necessarily more accurate than visual observation. Differences in housing and environmental conditions, in addition to labor inputs, costs, and efficacies, result in variable acceptance of such technologies. Detection efficiency and accuracy can be improved by simultaneous use of synergistic technologies; those that compliment each other and monitor different indicators of oestrus. Combining technologies for simultaneous measurements of several physiological events associated specifically with the onset of oestrus and their radiotelemetrically signaling to a central computer for subsequent analysis should provide greater efficiency ofoestrus detection with fewer false positives. The ultimate goal of determining the onset of oestrus or ovulation is to predict the optimal timing for insemination. Ultimately, herd personnel must interpret information gathered by these technologies and judge whether or not and when to inseminate cows based on their visual inspection of identified cows.
Embryo survival rate in cattle: a major limitation to the achievement of high fertility
Authors: Sreenan J.M. , Diskin M.G. , Morris D.G. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractOver the past 30-40 years genetic improvement and better nutrition of dairy cows have led to a significant increase in milk production per cow but this is associated with an increase in cow reproductive wastage. Reproductive wastage in the dairy herd particularly in a seasonal calving system, results in a serious financial loss. Early embryo death accounts for a significant portion of cow reproductive wastage and information is becoming available on the extent and timing of early embryo loss and on aspects of embryo growth, development, metabolism and viability. Such information is necessary to facilitate objective investigation of factors that contribute to early embryo death. For heifers and moderate yielding dairy cows published estimates of fertilisation rate of about 90%, and of average calving rates of about 55% indicate an embryonic and foetal mortality rate of about 40%. Of this total loss, 70 to 80% is sustained between days 8 and 16 after insemination, a further 10% between days 16 and 42 and a further 5-8% between day 42 and term. In high yielding cows there is some evidence of a higher increment of late embryo loss. During the period of greatest embryo loss, between days 8 and 16 after fertilisation, there is a dramatic increase in the growth rate and protein content of embryos, particularly from day 13 to day 16 when the increase is exponential. There is evidence that from day 13 to 15 cattle embryos undergo time and developmental stage-dependent changes in the rate of de-novo protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation. It seems that by the time cattle embryos have elongated they have passed their maximal synthetic activity in terms of protein synthesis and phosphorylation, which seems to occur at day 13 or earlier. While there is little published information on the causes of embryo loss it is clear that even a short-term reduction in energy intake near the time of insemination can significantly reduce embryo survival rate. Abo and low post-ovulatory systemic progesterone has been associated with increased embryo loss. Recent evidence shows that elevated systemic concentrations of ammonia and urea per se do not reduce embryo survival rate but there may be other modifying factors, such as negative energy balance, operating in the high yielding dairy cow that lead to reduced fertility when the systemic concentrations of urea and or, ammonia are high.
Physiological and genetic differences between low and high index dairy cows
Authors: Lucy M. C. , Crooker B. A. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSelection of dairy cattle for increased milk production has decreased some indices of reproductive efficiency. For example, days open are increased by one day for every 100 kg of increased milk yield per lactation. Some of the change in days open can be explained by delayed onset of oestrous cyclicity and lower conception rate to artificial insemination in cows with greater milk production. Despite these negative associations between milk production and reproduction, reproduction in herds of high producing dairy cattle is not necessarily compromised relative to reproduction in herds of low producing dairy cattle. This is because there is a large environmental effect on dairy reproduction. High producing herds generally have better management and better oestrous detection. Therefore, high producing dairy herds may partially overcome the antagonistic relationship between milk production and reproduction. Physiological mechanisms that lead to poorer reproduction in high producing cows are partially defined. Negative energy balance that occurs in high producing dairy cows can be associated with a delay in the initiation of ovarian cycles and the interval to first breeding. Many of the effects of negative energy balance on postpartum reproduction can be explained by decreased serum luteinizing hormone (LH) that is associated with negative energy balance. Serum LH increases as cows move toward positive energy balance and greater LH stimulates growth and ovulation of ovarian follicles. We have initiated studies to address physiological differences in high and low index dairy cows. The reproductive endocrinology of cows from a control line (5,900 kg milk/lactation) and a select line (10,900 kg milk/lactation) of dairy cows at the University of Minnesota was studied over a two-year period. Cows in Year 1 were similar for serum concentrations of LH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and oestradiol (preovulatory period). In both years, serum concentrations of progesterone during luteal phases, however, were decreased in select cows. The Year 2 cows also had a delay in the return to oestrous cyclicity that was associated with reduced LH. The possibility that decreased progesterone causes infertility in dairy cows will require further study. Collectively, these data suggest that changes in blood progesterone concentrations may explain, partially, lower fertility in high index dairy cows.
Electroclinical Analysis of Postictal Noserubbing
Authors: Wennberg Richard 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACT:Background:Postictal noserubbing (PIN) has been identified as a good, albeit imperfect, lateralizing and localizing sign in human partial epilepsy, possibly related to ictal autonomic activation.Methods:PIN was studied prospectively in a group of consecutive patients admitted for video-EEG monitoring, with the laterality of noserubbing correlated with electrographic sites of seizure onset, intra- and interhemispheric spread, and sites of seizure termination.Results:PIN was significantly more frequent in temporal than extratemporal epilepsy (p<0.001; 23/41 (56%) patients and 41/197 (21%) seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy compared with 4/34 (12%) patients and 12/167 (7%) seizures in extratemporal epilepsy). The hand used to rub the nose was ipsilateral to the side of seizure onset in 83% of both temporal and extratemporal seizures. Seizures with contralateral PIN correlated with spread to the contralateral temporal lobe on scalp EEG (p<0.04). All extratemporal seizures with PIN showed spread to temporal lobe structures. One patient investigated with intracranial electrodes showed PIN only when ictal activity spread to involve the amygdala: seizures confined to the hippocampus were not associated with PIN. PIN was not observed in 63 nonepileptic events in 17 patients. Unexpectedly, one patient with primary generalized epilepsy showed typical PIN after 1/3 recorded absence seizures.Conclusions:This study confirms PIN as a good indicator of ipsilateral temporal lobe seizure onset. Instances of false lateralization and localization appear to reflect seizure spread to contralateral or ipsilateral temporal lobe structures, respectively. Involvement of the amygdala appears to be of prime importance for induction of PIN.
Epilepsy in Contemporary Fiction: Fates of Patients
Authors: Wolf Peter 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACT:Fictional accounts of epilepsy are of interest because they may convey information on images and public views of epilepsy which are not contained in medical texts. Thus, medical and nonmedical traditions together form the cultural history of epilepsy. Of the numerous possible aspects of epilepsy in fiction, this paper looks especially at the writers'background of knowledge about epilepsy; epilepsy as a handicap and a reason for social rejection, with special reference to epilepsy under the Nazi rule; threats to patients'lives; the motive of the child with epilepsy as a divine child; and epilepsy as a fate, and a reason for distinction. Literary writers may help their readers understand that a person's suffering and fighting a condition like epilepsy very much deserves our attention and sympathy. Without being exclusive, the paper pays special attention to epilepsy in the writings of Canadian authors.
Diagnosis in psychiatry; a piece of cake?
Authors: Verhoeven W.M.A. , van der Heijden F.M.M.A. , Tuinier S. , Egger J.J.M. 
Published: May 2019

SummaryThe unrestricted use of the DSM as diagnostic instrument for psychiatric disorders results in an arbitary and over the time inconsistent application of labels whether or not accompanied by the adjective NOS. Moreover, the European psychiatric tradition is often regarded as irrelevant and the results from modern genetics, behavioural neurology and other neuroscience research are not considered. The neuropsychiatric paradigm and the need to focus on psychological dysfunctions and their putative neurobiological substrate are discussed on the basis of four case reports. This paper illustrates the pitfalls of a careless use of the DSM.
Changes in protein composition in cellular membranes of various parts of secondary dormant cucumber seeds treated with ethanol
Authors: Sreenivasulu Y. , Amritphale Dilip 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSecondary seed dormancy in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cv.Poinsett 76 could be broken with ethanol. Breakage of dormancy was accompanied by significant changes in the composition of membrane proteins in various seed parts. Compared to the intracellular membranes, a change in the protein composition of plasma membranes from the embryonic axis and cotyledons was evident early in the time-course of ethanol-induced germination of dormant seeds. While few alterations in the membrane protein composition in response to ethanol treatment occurred both in dormant and nondormant seeds, a number of changes occurred exclusively in ethanol-treated dormant seeds. Notably, a 14 kD protein in the plasma membrane from the embryonic axis and a 35 kD protein in the microsomal membranes from the perisperm-endosperm envelope disappeared in the ethanol-treated dormant seeds, but not in the ethanol-treated nondormant seeds. Also marked decrease in the content of a 23 kD protein in the plasma membrane from the cotyledons was observed in ethanol-treated dormant seeds only. It is suggested that the particular changes in cellular membrane proteins, which occurred in ethanol-treated dormant seeds much before the first visible indication of germination, might be related to dormancy breaking rather than to the germination process.