"(Weitergeleitet von Journalistin)": The Gendered Presentation of Professions on Wikipedia

Previous research has shown the existence of gender biases in the depiction of professions and occupations in search engine results. Such an unbalanced presentation might just as likely occur on Wikipedia, one of the most popular knowledge resources on the Web, since the encyclopedia has already been found to exhibit such tendencies in past studies. Under this premise, our work assesses gender bias with respect to the content of German Wikipedia articles about professions and occupations along three dimensions: used male vs. female titles (and redirects), included images of persons, and names of professionals mentioned in the articles. We further use German labor market data to assess the potential misrepresentation of a gender for each specific profession. Our findings in fact provide evidence for systematic over-representation of men on all three dimensions. For instance, for professional fields dominated by females, the respective articles on average still feature almost two times more images of men; and in the mean, 83% of the mentioned names of professionals were male and only 17% female.Comment: In the 9th International ACM Web Science Conference 2017 (WebSci'17), June 25-28, 2017, Troy, NY, USA. Based on the results of the thesis: arXiv:1702.0082

The ternary system U(VI) / humic acid / Opalinus Clay

The storage of nuclear waste in deep geological formations is discussed worldwide as the main strategy for nuclear waste management. To ensure the confinement of the nuclear waste, a multiple barrier system which consists of engineered, geo-engineered, and geological barriers will be applied. Thereby, in Germany the definition of the isolating rock zone represents an important safety function indicator. Clay rock is internationally investigated as potential host rock for a repository and represents a part of the geological barrier. In the present work, the natural clay rock Opalinus Clay from the Mont Terri rock laboratory, Switzerland, was studied. In Germany, the direct disposal of the spent nuclear fuel without the reprocessing of the spent fuel is preferred. In case of water ingress, radionuclides can be released from the nuclear waste repository into its surroundings, namely the host rock of the repository. Humic acids, ubiquitous in nature, can be found associated with the inorganic components in natural clay rock (1.5×10–3 wt.% in Opalinus Clay). They can be released under certain conditions. Due to their variety of functional groups, humic acids are very strong complexing agents for metal ions. They have inherent redox abilities and a colloidal conformation in solution. Because of these characteristics, humic acids can affect the mobility of metal ions such as actinides. Furthermore, in the near-field of a repository elevated temperatures have to be considered due to the heat production resulting from the radioactive decay of the various radionuclides in the nuclear waste. This work focuses on the interaction of uranium, as main component of spent nuclear fuel, with Opalinus Clay and studies the influence of humic acid and elevated temperature on this interaction. For investigation of the retention behavior of the clay and the mobility of U(VI) in the system, batch sorption and diffusion experiments were performed. To clarify which U(VI) and humic acid species were present under the applied conditions, aqueous speciation modeling was used. Additionally, the U(VI) speciation in solution and on the clay surface was investigated by spectroscopic methods. Prior to the investigation of the ternary system U(VI) / humic acid / clay, the applied batches of Opalinus Clay were characterized (e.g., specific surface area, carbon content, cation exchange capacity, elemental composition, particle size distribution). Leaching studies with Opalinus Clay in synthetic Opalinus Clay pore water (pH 7.6, It = 0.34 mol/L) and in NaClO4 (pH 3 – 10, I = 0.1 mol/L) were performed to identify the competing ions and their concentrations in the background electrolytes. These data were used to calculate the U(VI) and humic acid speciation in solution. Calcium and carbonate ions are present under pore water conditions as well as in 0.1 mol/L NaClO4 from pH 7 to 8.5, due to dissolution of calcite (mineral fraction in Opalinus Clay). Thus, the U(VI) speciation is dominated by the aquatic Ca2UO2(CO3)3 complex. In the case of pore water, Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) is also the dominant U(VI) species in the presence of humic acid, which was corroborated by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopic measurements. A significantly changed speciation was found in 0.1 mol/L NaClO4 in the presence of humic acid. At pH > 7, the negatively charged UO2(CO3)2HA(II)4– complex determines the U(VI) speciation, thus repressing the Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) complex. In addition, the speciation of humic acid is influenced from ions leached out from Opalinus Clay. The CaHA(II) complex is the dominating humic acid species in solution. Batch sorption experiments in 0.1 mol/L NaClO4 showed that Opalinus Clay has the strongest retardation effect on U(VI) in the pH range from pH 4.5 to 7. However, under environmentally relevant conditions (pH > 7), the sorption of U(VI) onto Opalinus Clay is very weak. Under pore water conditions, a distribution coefficient (Kd) of 0.0222 ± 0.0004 m3/kg was determined, which was shown to be independent of solid-to-liquid ratios ≥ 60 g/L. In addition, in pore water, the U(VI) sorption onto Opalinus Clay is not influenced by humic acid, which is supported by the speciation results. Extended X ray absorption fine-structure investigations confirmed this batch sorption result. The U(VI) diffusion experiments performed in pore water at 25 °C with Opalinus Clay bore core samples confirmed the Kd value obtained by batch sorption experiments. In the diffusion experiments at 60 °C, a change in the U(VI) speciation occurred. Beside Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq), a colloidal U(VI) species was formed. Almost equivalent apparent diffusion coefficient (Da) values were determined for the diffusion of the aqueous U(VI) species at 25 and 60 °C through Opalinus Clay. Thus, based on the investigations in the present study the breakthrough of U(VI) through Opalinus Clay is expected to be independent of the temperature and should occur nearly at the same time. Modeling calculations showed that it would take about 10 years until a detectable amount of 233U(VI) (1×10–9 mol/L) migrates through an 11 mm thick Opalinus Clay sample. Two distinct humic acid size fractions – a large- and a small-sized colloid fraction – diffused through the Opalinus Clay samples. Within three months, the high molecular size humic acid colloids migrated only about 500 µm into the clay, whereas the low molecular size fraction diffused through the entire Opalinus Clay samples and were consequently detected in the receiving reservoirs. These findings demonstrate a filtration effect of the compacted clay. The diffusion experiments revealed that the effect of humic acid on U(VI) diffusion is negligible and, under the studied conditions, independent of temperature. The obtained results contribute to data bases used for modeling of interaction and migration processes in uranium / clay rock systems. Thus, the collected sorption and diffusion data are not only relevant for safety assessment of nuclear waste repositories but also for any clay-containing system present in the environment, where the geochemical interaction with uranium contaminated water plays a role. Concerning the suitability of Opalinus Clay as host rock for a nuclear waste repository, it can be concluded, that Opalinus Clay has a relatively high retardation potential for U(VI). In case of water ingress U(VI) as part of the nuclear waste is released into the clay formation. Under near-neutral pH conditions, it will be complexed by calcium and carbonate ions leached out from Opalinus Clay, whereby Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) is formed. This complex is only weakly retarded by sorption onto the clay, which can contribute to an enhanced mobility of U(VI) in the host rock. However, the U(VI) migration through the clay rock is governed by molecular diffusion. This decelerates the migration of Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) through Opalinus Clay and thus it represents the decisive retardation process in the investigated system. Additionally, under environmentally relevant conditions, humic acid has no significant influence on U(VI) / Opalinus Clay interaction even at an elevated temperature of 60 °C. This was shown by speciation, sorption, as well as diffusion experiments.Eine weltweit diskutierte Strategie zum Umgang mit radioaktiven Abfällen ist deren Endlagerung in tiefen geologischen Formationen. Zur Abschirmung der Umwelt vor den schädlichen Einflüssen des radioaktiven Abfalls soll ein Multibarrierensystem bestehend aus technischen, geotechnischen und geologischen Barrieren im Endlager dienen. Dabei ist in Deutschland die Definition des einschlusswirksamen Gebirgsbereichs ein wichtiger sicherheitstechnischer Indikator. Tongestein wird als potentielles Endlagerwirtsgestein und Teil der geologischen Barriere international erforscht. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde das natürliche Tongestein Opalinuston aus dem Mont Terri Felslabor, Schweiz, untersucht. In Deutschland wird die direkte Endlagerung des abgebrannten Kernbrennstoffes ohne Wiederaufarbeitung des Brennstoffs favorisiert. Bei Wassereinbruch können Radionuklide aus dem Abfall in die Umgebung des Endlagers freigesetzt werden, d. h. sie können in Kontakt mit dem Wirtsgestein kommen. Ubiquitär in der Natur vorkommende Huminsäuren können mit den anorganischen Komponenten des natürlichen Tongesteins vergesellschaftet sein (1.5×10–3 Gew.-% in Opalinuston). Unter bestimmten Bedingungen können die Huminsäuren freigesetzt werden. Ihre Struktur enthält eine Vielzahl von funktionellen Gruppen, was sie zu starken Komplexbildnern für Metallionen macht. Sie besitzen Redoxeigenschaften und bilden in Lösung eine kolloidale Konformation aus. Aufgrund dieser Charakteristika können sie die Mobilität von Metallionen wie den Actinoiden beeinflussen. Weiterhin sind im Nahfeld eines Endlagers erhöhte Temperaturen zu erwarten, welche aus der Wärmefreisetzung beim radioaktiven Zerfall der verschiedenen Radionuklide im radioaktiven Abfall resultieren. Die vorliegende Studie konzentriert sich auf die Untersuchung der Wechselwirkung von Uran, als Hauptkomponente des endgelagerten abgebrannten Kernbrennstoffs, mit Opalinuston und untersucht dabei den Einfluss von Huminsäure und erhöhter Temperatur. Um das Rückhaltevermögen des Tongesteins gegenüber U(VI) und die U(VI)-Mobilität im System zu ermitteln, wurden Sorptions- und Diffusionsversuche durchgeführt. Zur Klärung, welche U(VI)- und Huminsäurespezies unter den untersuchten Bedingungen vorliegen, wurde die aquatische Speziation berechnet. Zusätzlich wurde die U(VI)-Speziation in Lösung und an der Tonoberfläche mit spektroskopischen Methoden untersucht. Vor der Untersuchung des ternären Systems U(VI) / Huminsäure / Ton wurden die eingesetzten Opalinuston-Chargen charakterisiert (z. B. spezifische Oberfläche, Kohlenstoffgehalt, Kationenaustauschkapazität, elementare Zusammensetzung, Partikelgrößenverteilung). Anschließend wurden Auslaugungsversuche mit Opalinuston in synthetischem Opalinustonporenwasser (pH 7.6, It = 0.34 mol/L) und in NaClO4 (pH 3 – 10, I = 0.1 mol/L) durchgeführt, um relevante Konkurrenzionen zu identifizieren und deren Konzentration in den Hintergrundelektrolyten zu bestimmen. Die erhaltenen Daten wurden zur Berechnung der U(VI)- und Huminsäurespeziation in Lösung verwendet. Unter Porenwasserbedingungen sowie in 0.1 mol/L NaClO4 von pH 7 bis 8.5 liegen, durch die Auflösung von Calcit (Mineralphase im Opalinuston), Calcium- und Carbonationen in Lösung vor. Dadurch wird die U(VI)-Speziation von dem aquatischen Ca2UO2(CO3)3-Komplex dominiert. Im Falle des Porenwassers ist Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) auch in Gegenwart von Huminsäure die dominierende U(VI)-Spezies. Dies wurde durch zeitaufgelöste laserinduzierte fluoreszenzspektroskopische Messungen nachgewiesen. Eine signifikante Änderung der U(VI)-Speziation tritt in 0.1 mol/L NaClO4 in Gegenwart von Huminsäure auf. Bei pH > 7 bestimmt der negativ geladene UO2(CO3)2HA(II)4–-Komplex die U(VI)-Speziation, wobei der Anteil von Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) zurückgedrängt wird. Auch die Huminsäurespeziation wird durch die vom Opalinuston ausgelaugten Ionen beeinflusst. So ist der CaHA(II)-Komplex die dominierende Huminsäurespezies in Lösung. Sorptionsversuche in 0.1 mol/L NaClO4 zeigten, dass Opalinuston gegenüber U(VI) den stärksten Retardationseffekt im pH-Bereich 4.5 bis 7 aufweist. Unter umweltrelevanten Bedingungen hingegen (pH > 7) ist die U(VI)-Sorption an Opalinuston sehr schwach. Unter Porenwasserbedingungen wurde ein Verteilungskoeffizient (Kd) von 0.0222 ± 0.0004 m3/kg ermittelt, der von Fest-Flüssig-Verhältnissen ≥ 60 g/L unabhängig ist. Außerdem wird die U(VI)-Sorption an Opalinuston in Porenwasser nicht von Huminsäure beeinflusst. Dies wird durch die Ergebnisse aus den Speziations-rechnungen unterstützt. Röntgenabsorptionsspektroskopische Untersuchungen bestätigten ebenfalls dieses Sorptionsergebnis. Die U(VI)-Diffusionsexperimente in Porenwasser bei 25 °C unter Verwendung von Opalinustonbohrkernstücken bestätigten den Kd-Wert der Sorptionsexperimente. In den Diffusionsexperimenten bei 60 °C trat eine Änderung in der U(VI)-Speziation auf. Neben Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) wurde eine kolloidale U(VI)-Spezies gebildet. Für die Diffusion der aquatischen U(VI)-Spezies durch Opalinuston bei 25 und 60 °C wurden annähernd gleiche scheinbare (apparente) Diffusionskoeffizienten (Da) bestimmt. Das bedeutet, der Durchbruch von U(VI) durch Opalinuston ist unabhängig von den hier untersuchten Temperaturen und wird deshalb etwa zum gleichen Zeitpunkt erwartet. Modellierungen zeigten, dass es etwa zehn Jahre dauern würde, bis eine detektierbare Menge an 233U(VI) (1×10–9 mol/L) durch ein 11 mm-dickes Opalinustonbohrkernstück migrieren würde. Zwei verschiedene Huminsäuregrößenfraktionen diffundierten durch die Opalinustonproben – eine große und eine kleine kolloidale Größenfraktion. Innerhalb von drei Monaten migrierten die hochmolekularen Huminsäurekolloide nur 500 µm in den Ton, während die niedermolekularen Huminsäurekolloide durch die gesamten Opalinustonproben diffundierten und dadurch im Auffangreservoir detektiert werden konnten. Diese Resultate demonstrieren den Filtrationseffekt des Tongesteins. Die Diffusionsversuche zeigten, dass der Einfluss von Huminsäure auf die U(VI)-Diffusion, unabhängig von der in dieser Arbeit verwendeten Temperatur, vernachlässigbar ist. Die erhaltenen Ergebnisse tragen zu Datenbanken bei, die für die Modellierung von Wechselwirkungs- und Migrationsprozessen in Uran / Tongestein-Systemen genutzt werden. Das bedeutet, die gesammelten Sorptions- und Diffusionsdaten sind nicht nur für den Langzeitsicherheitsnachweis eines Endlagers für radioaktive Abfälle von Relevanz, sondern auch für jedes tonhaltige System in der Umwelt, bei dem die geochemische Wechselwirkung mit urankontaminierten Wässern eine Rolle spielt. Bezüglich der Eignung von Opalinuston als Wirtsgestein für ein Endlager radioaktiver Abfälle lässt sich schlussfolgern, dass Opalinuston ein relativ hohes Retardationspotential bezüglich U(VI) aufweist. Wenn U(VI) als Bestandteil des radioaktiven Abfalls bei Wassereinbruch im Endlager in die Umgebung freigesetzt wird, wird es unter umweltrelevanten Bedingungen von Calcium- und Carbonationen, welche aus dem Opalinuston herausgelöst werden, komplexiert. Dabei bildet sich Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq). Dieser Komplex wird nur schwach durch Sorption am Tongestein zurückgehalten, was zu einer erhöhten U(VI)-Mobilität im Wirtsgestein führen kann. Im untersuchten System wird die U(VI)-Migration durch das Tongestein jedoch durch molekulare Diffusion bestimmt. Sie verzögert die Migration von Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) durch Opalinuston und stellt somit den maßgeblichen Retardationsprozess im System dar. Huminsäure hat keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die U(VI) / Opalinuston-Wechselwirkung, sogar bei einer erhöhten Temperatur von 60 °C. Dies wurde mittels Speziationsmodellierungen sowie durch Sorptions- und Diffusionsversuche gezeigt

High-density speckle contrast optical tomography (SCOT) for three dimensional tomographic imaging of the small animal brain

High-density speckle contrast optical tomography (SCOT) utilizing tens of thousands of source-detector pairs, was developed for in vivo imaging of blood flow in small animals. The reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF) due to local ischemic stroke in a mouse brain was transcanially imaged and reconstructed in three dimensions. The reconstructed volume was then compared with corresponding magnetic resonance images demonstrating that the volume of reduced CBF agrees with the infarct zone at twenty-four hours.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Telehealthcare for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of irreversible airways obstruction in which patients often suffer exacerbations. Sometimes these exacerbations need hospital care: telehealthcare has the potential to reduce admission to hospital when used to administer care to the pateint from within their own home. OBJECTIVES: To review the effectiveness of telehealthcare for COPD compared with usual face‐to‐face care. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register, which is derived from systematic searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, and PsycINFO; last searched January 2010. SELECTION CRITERIA: We selected randomised controlled trials which assessed telehealthcare, defined as follows: healthcare at a distance, involving the communication of data from the patient to the health carer, usually a doctor or nurse, who then processes the information and responds with feedback regarding the management of the illness. The primary outcomes considered were: number of exacerbations, quality of life as recorded by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, hospitalisations, emergency department visits and deaths. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently selected trials for inclusion and extracted data. We combined data into forest plots using fixed‐effects modelling as heterogeneity was low (I(2) < 40%). MAIN RESULTS: Ten trials met the inclusion criteria. Telehealthcare was assessed as part of a complex intervention, including nurse case management and other interventions. Telehealthcare was associated with a clinically significant increase in quality of life in two trials with 253 participants (mean difference ‐6.57 (95% confidence interval (CI) ‐13.62 to 0.48); minimum clinically significant difference is a change of ‐4.0), but the confidence interval was wide. Telehealthcare showed a significant reduction in the number of patients with one or more emergency department attendances over 12 months; odds ratio (OR) 0.27 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.66) in three trials with 449 participants, and the OR of having one or more admissions to hospital over 12 months was 0.46 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.65) in six trials with 604 participants. There was no significant difference in the OR for deaths over 12 months for the telehealthcare group as compared to the usual care group in three trials with 503 participants; OR 1.05 (95% CI 0.63 to 1.75). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Telehealthcare in COPD appears to have a possible impact on the quality of life of patients and the number of times patients attend the emergency department and the hospital. However, further research is needed to clarify precisely its role since the trials included telehealthcare as part of more complex packages

Ultrastructural Characterization of Noradrenergic Axons and Beta-Adrenergic Receptors in the Lateral Nucleus of the Amygdala

Norepinephrine (NE) is thought to play a key role in fear and anxiety, but its role in amygdala-dependent Pavlovian fear conditioning, a major model for understanding the neural basis of fear, is poorly understood. The lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) is a critical brain region for fear learning and regulating the effects of stress on memory. To understand better the cellular mechanisms of NE and its adrenergic receptors in the LA, we used antibodies directed against dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DβH), the synthetic enzyme for NE, or against two different isoforms of the beta-adrenergic receptors (βARs), one that predominately recognizes neurons (βAR 248) and the other astrocytes (βAR 404), to characterize the microenvironments of DβH and βAR. By electron microscopy, most DβH terminals did not make synapses, but when they did, they formed both asymmetric and symmetric synapses. By light microscopy, βARs were present in both neurons and astrocytes. Confocal microscopy revealed that both excitatory and inhibitory neurons express βAR248. By electron microscopy, βAR 248 was present in neuronal cell bodies, dendritic shafts and spines, and some axon terminals and astrocytes. When in dendrites and spines, βAR 248 was frequently concentrated along plasma membranes and at post-synaptic densities of asymmetric (excitatory) synapses. βAR 404 was expressed predominately in astrocytic cell bodies and processes. These astrocytic processes were frequently interposed between unlabeled terminals or ensheathed asymmetric synapses. Our findings provide a morphological basis for understanding ways in which NE may modulate transmission by acting via synaptic or non-synaptic mechanisms in the LA

Characteristics of the Menstrual Cycle After Discontinuation of Oral Contraceptives

Background: Menstrual cycle function may continue to be altered after discontinuation of oral contraceptives (OC). Few studies have been published on the effects of recent OC use on menstrual cycle parameters; none have examined characteristics of the menstrual flow or the quality of cervical mucus. The purpose of this retrospective matched cohort study is to assess biomarkers of the menstrual cycle after discontinuation of OCs. Methods: Among a sample of women who daily recorded observations of menstrual cycle biomarkers, 70 women who had recently discontinued OCs were randomly matched by age and parity with 70 women who had not used OCs for at least 1 year. Outcomes investigated included overall cycle length, length of the luteal phase, estimated day of ovulation, duration of menstrual flow, menstrual intensity, and mucus score. Differences between recent OC users and controls were assessed using random effects modeling. Results: Recent OC users had statistically significantly lower scores for mucus quality for cycles 1 and 2. Additionally, OC users had a later estimated day of ovulation that was statistically significant in cycle 2 and a decreased intensity of menstrual flow that was significant in the first four cycles (difference = −0.48 days). In random effects modeling, all these parameters were significantly different for the first six cycles combined. Conclusions: Menstrual cycle biomarkers are altered for at least two cycles after discontinuation of OCs, and this may help explain the temporary decrease in fecundity associated with recent OC use

Circulation induced by isolated dense water formation over closed topographic contours

Author Posting. © American Meteorological Society, 2017. This article is posted here by permission of American Meteorological Society for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Physical Oceanography 47 (2017): 2251-2265, doi:10.1175/JPO-D-17-0042.1.The problem of localized dense water formation over a sloping bottom is considered for the general case in which the topography forms a closed contour. This class of problems is motivated by topography around islands or shallow shoals in which convection resulting from brine rejection or surface heat loss reaches the bottom. The focus of this study is on the large-scale circulation that is forced far from the region of surface forcing. The authors find that a cyclonic current is generated around the topography, in the opposite sense to the propagation of the dense water plume. In physical terms, this current results from the propagation of low sea surface height from the region of dense water formation anticyclonically along the topographic contours back to the formation region. This pressure gradient is then balanced by a cyclonic geostrophic flow. This basic structure is well predicted by a linear quasigeostrophic theory, a primitive equation model, and in rotating tank experiments. For sufficiently strong forcing, the anticyclonic circulation of the dense plume meets this cyclonic circulation to produce a sharp front and offshore advection of dense water at the bottom and buoyant water at the surface. This nonlinear limit is demonstrated in both the primitive equation model and in the tank experiments.MAS was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant OCE-1534618. Support for CC was given by the WHOI Ocean Climate Change Institute Proposal 27071273.2018-03-2