How Far Do Children Move?: Spatial Distances after Leaving the Parental Home

Little is known about how far young adults move when they leave their parental home initially. We addressed this question using data from ten waves (2000 - 2009) of the German Socioeconomic Panel Study on spatial distances calculated by the geo-coordinates of residential moves (N = 1,425). Linear regression models predicted young adults· moving distance by factors at the individual, family, household, and community level. Overall, spatial distances of initial moveouts were strikingly small with a median value of only 9.5 kilometers. Those who were welleducated, female, single, childless, had highly educated fathers and high parental household incomes moved across greater distances. The effect of young adults· education was moderated by the local community·s degree of urbanization, supporting the brain drain assertion. In line with developmental models of migration, our results further show that young adults stayed closer if the parental household was still located at their place of childhood. We found two interactions with gender: At the family level, daughters stayed closer when leaving a single-parent household. At the community level, women from Eastern Germany moved farther, suggesting that the surplus of men in the Eastern periphery is at least to some extent an outcome of initial migration decisions.

Predicting the impact of climatic and geomorphic changes on flood hazards in Central Himalayan Rivers. An environmental modelling framework to predict potential flood hazards in the Karnali River in Nepal.

Flood hazards that originate in the Himalayas threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the downstream Ganga plain. The Himalayas are a region with high geomorphic activity that is sensitive to anthropogenic climate change. The development of effective flood management strategies, therefore, needs to predict the impact of geomorphic and climatic changes on the flood hazards which is not possible with currently existing hazard modelling frameworks. This thesis introduces an environmental modelling framework to predict potential flood hazards for the projected climatic and related topographic conditions that can be used to adapt to future flood hazards. This framework links hydrological, statistical, morpho- and hydrodynamic models to predict: i) the climate change impact on the flood discharge into the floodplain; ii) the topographic evolution of the floodplain for the projected flood flows, and; iii) the potential spatial flood hazard characteristics in the floodplain for the projected flood discharges and new topographies. This modelling framework is developed and implemented for the Central Himalayan Karnali River in Nepal. The predictions of the potential hazards provide evidence that flood hazards in the Karnali River will intensify with increased greenhouse gas emissions. The current 1-in-100-year flood discharge into the plain (1975 – 2014) is projected to increase by 40% (medium emissions) and by 79% (high emissions) at the end of the century (2060 – 2099) (median predictions). The return period of the current 1-in-100-year event is predicted to decrease to 11 – 16 years (medium emissions) and 2 – 7 years (high emissions). The projected increase in the flood discharge intensifies the magnitude of topographic change in the downstream floodplain. The projected increases in the flood discharge cause deeper inundations that extend further. The current 1-in-100-years event (1975 – 2014) inundates 39% of the simulated area of the floodplain. This extent is projected to increase to 51% (medium emissions) and 60% (high emissions) at the end of the century (2060 – 2099) (median predictions). The predictions indicate that topographic change alters flood hazards on the local scale and that river and flood engineering potentially intensifies the downstream hazard. The proposed modelling framework allows continued assessment of flood risk enabling the flood management strategies to be developed for future conditions. Recommendations are provided to improve the predictions by adjusting the modelling framework and targeted investments in surveys

Experiencing the Future Car: Anticipatory UX as a Social and Digital Phenomenon

In order to be innovative and competitive, the automotive industry seeks to understand how to attract new customers, even before they have experienced the product. User Experience (UX) research often provides insights into situated uses of products, and reflections after their use, however tells us little about how products and services are experienced before use. We propose anticipation theory as a way to understand how shared experiences between people in an online discussion forum relate to UX of cars before they are actually experienced in real-life. We took an ethnographic approach to analyse the activities of members of a self-organised web-based discussion forum for Tesla car enthusiasts, to understand how product anticipation emerges in a digital-material setting. Our study identifies how anticipatory experiences create UX of car ownership which evolves through members’ engagement in a self-organised online community enabled through the digitalisation and connectivity of the car, and how such car experiences generate new forms of digital anticipation of the car. We conclude that the shift towards digitalisation of cars and subscription services creates a need for more interdisciplinary research into spatial and temporal aspects, where socially shared anticipatory experiences are increasingly important for the overall UX

The human myometrium differentially expresses mTOR signalling components before and during pregnancy: Evidence for regulation by progesterone

Emerging studies implicate the signalling of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in a number of reproductive functions. To this date, there are no data regarding the expression of mTOR signalling components in the human myometrium during pregnancy. We hypothesized that mTOR-related genes might be differentially expressed in term or preterm labour as well as in labour or non-labour myometria during pregnancy. Using quantitative RT-PCR we demonstrate for first time that there is a significant downregulation of mTOR, DEPTOR, and Raptor in preterm labouring myometria when compared to non-pregnant tissues taken from the same area (lower segment). We used an immortalized myometrial cell line (ULTR) as an in vitro model to dissect further mTOR signalling. In ULTR cells DEPTOR and Rictor had a cytoplasmic distribution, whereas mTOR and Raptor were detected in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, indicative of mTORC1 shuttling. Treatment with inflammatory cytokines caused only minor changes in gene expression of these components, whereas progesterone caused significant down-regulation. We performed a non-biased gene expression analysis of ULTR cells using Nimblegen human gene expression microarray (n = 3), and selected genes were validated by quantitative RT-PCR in progesterone treated myometrial cells. Progesterone significantly down-regulated key components of the mTOR pathway. We conclude that the human myometrium differentially expresses mTOR signalling components and they can be regulated by progesterone. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Pregnancy and Steroids'.This research was funded by National Institutes of Health Grant ESO12961

Periodontal complications of hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus: Epidemiologic complexity and clinical challenge

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the adverse effects of hyperglycemia on the periodontium. It combines data from literature reviews of original data from two large, population‐based epidemiologic studies with comprehensive periodontal health assessment. Emphasis is placed on the exploration of hitherto sparsely reported effects of prediabetes and poorly controlled (uncontrolled) diabetes, in contrast to the umbrella term “diabetes.” This stems from the realization that it is not simply having a diagnosis of diabetes that may adversely affect periodontal health. Rather, it is the level (severity) of hyperglycemia that is the determining factor, not the case definition of the diagnosis of diabetes or the type of diabetes in question. Importantly, based on existing evidence this paper also attempts to estimate the improvements in periodontal probing depth and clinical attachment level that can be expected upon successful nonsurgical periodontal treatment in people with chronic periodontitis, with and without diabetes, respectively. This exploration includes the implentation of new systematic reviews and meta‐analyses that allow comparison of such intervention outcomes between hyperglycemic and normoglycemic subjects. Based on both existing literature and original analyses of population‐based studies, we try to answer questions such as: Is there a glycated hemoglobin concentration threshold for periodontitis risk? Does short‐term periodontal probing depth reduction and clinical attachment level gain after scaling and root planing depend on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes? Are short‐term scaling and root planing outcomes in people with hyperglycemia/diabetes inferior to those in people without diabetes? Do periodontitis patients with diabetes benefit more from the use of adjuvant antibiotics with nonsurgical periodontal treatment than people without diabetes? Does hyperglycemia lead to greater tooth loss in patients in long‐term post‐periodontal treatment maintenance programs? Throughout this review, we compare our new findings with previous data and report whether the results of these new analyses corroborate, or are in discord with, similar scientific reports in the literature. We also explore the potential role of dental health‐care professionals in helping patients control the risk factors that are identical for periodontitis and diabetes. Finally, we suggest various topics that still need exploration in future research.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146293/1/prd12235.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146293/2/prd12235_am.pd

Efficiency of cold atmospheric plasma, cleaning powders and their combination for biofilm removal on two different titanium implant surfaces

Objectives: Biofilm removal is the decisive factor for the control of peri-implantitis. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) can become an effective aid due to its ability to destroy and to inactivate bacterial biofilm residues. This study evaluated the cleaning efficiency of CAP, and air-polishing with glycine (APG) or erythritol (APE) containing powders alone or in combination with CAP (APG + CAP, APE + CAP) on sandblasted/acid etched, and anodised titanium implant surface. Materials and methods: On respective titanium discs, a 7-day ex vivo human biofilm was grown. Afterwards, the samples were treated with CAP, APG, APE, APG + CAP, and APE + CAP. Sterile and untreated biofilm discs were used for verification. Directly after treatment and after 5 days of incubation in medium at 37 °C, samples were prepared for examination by fluorescence microscopy. The relative biofilm fluorescence was measured for quantitative analyses. Results: Air-polishing with or without CAP removed biofilms effectively. The combination of air-polishing with CAP showed the best cleaning results compared to single treatments, even on day 5. Immediately after treatment, APE + CAP showed insignificant higher cleansing efficiency than APG + CAP. Conclusions: CAP supports mechanical cleansing and disinfection to remove and inactivate microbial biofilm on implant surfaces significantly. Here, the type of the powder was not important. The highest cleansing results were obtained on sandblasted/etched surfaces. Clinical relevance. Microbial residuals impede wound healing and re-osseointegration after peri-implantitis treatment. Air-polishing treatment removes biofilms very effectively, but not completely. In combination with CAP, microbial free surfaces can be achieved. The tested treatment regime offers an advantage during treatment of peri-implantitis

Sind Geburten ansteckend? Fertilität und soziale Interaktion am Arbeitsplatz

In dieser Studie untersuchen wir, ob Fertilität am Arbeitsplatz "ansteckend" ist: Erhöht sich die Neigung, erstmalig schwanger zu werden, nachdem eine Kollegin ein Kind zur Welt gebracht hat? Zur dieser Frage unterscheiden wir auf Basis der Analytischen Soziologie unterschiedliche Mechanismen, die einen solchen Interaktionseffekt vermitteln können. Für die empirische Analyse verwenden wir "Linked Employer-Employee" Daten (1993-2007) der Bundesagentur für Arbeit (N=42.394 Frauen in 7.560 Betrieben). Diskrete Ratenmodelle zeigen einen deutlichen Ansteckungseffekt im Jahr nach einem Geburtsereignis einer Kollegin. In diesem Zeitraum ist die Neigung für eine Schwangerschaft nahezu doppelt so hoch. Unsere Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, dass die Ansteckung von Fertilität am Arbeitsplatz sowohl bedürfnis- als auch für überzeugungsvermittelt verläuft. Dabei stärkt die Interaktion mit schwangeren Kolleginnen und/oder ihren Neugeborenen sowohl den Kinderwunsch selbst als auch das Selbstvertrauen bei bestehendem Kinderwunsch.In this paper, we ask whether fertility at the workplace is "contagious", investigating the influence of colleagues’ fertility on women's transitions to first pregnancy. Our study is informed by the principles of analytical sociology, proposing different mechanisms that are likely to mediate social interaction effects on fertility. The empirical analysis draws on linked employer-employee panel data from the German Federal Employment Agency comprising 42,394 female co-workers in over 7,560 firms. Discrete-time hazard models reveal the existence of a contagion effect: In the year after a colleague gave birth, transition rates to pregnancy almost doubled. The results are consistent with desire- and belief-based mechanisms of social contagion, suggesting that interaction with pregnant colleagues and/or their newborns may generate or exacerbate the wish to have a child but also increase confidence in childbearing decisions by learning from a social model

Effects of cold atmospheric pressure plasma and disinfecting agents on Candida albicans in root canals of extracted human teeth

Reinfection in endodontically treated teeth is linked to the complexity of the root canal system, which is problematic to reach with conventional disinfection methods. As plasma is expected to have the ability to sanitize narrow areas, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) on Candida albicans in root canals of extracted human teeth. CAP was applied as mono treatment and in combination with standard endodontic disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite, chlorhexidine and octenidine). Disinfection efficiency was evaluated as reduction of the logarithm of colony forming units per milliliter (log10 CFU/mL) supported by scanning electron microscopy as imaging technique. Plasma alone showed the highest reduction of log10 CFU, suggesting the best disinfection properties of all tested agents. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Biophotonics published by Wiley-VCH GmbH

The theory of exponential differential equations

This thesis is a model-theoretic study of exponential differential equations in the context of differential algebra. I define the theory of a set of differential equations and give an axiomatization for the theory of the exponential differential equations of split semiabelian varieties. In particular, this includes the theory of the equations satisfied by the usual complex exponential function and the Weierstrass p-functions. The theory consists of a description of the algebraic structure on the solution sets together with necessary and sufficient conditions for a system of equations to have solutions. These conditions are stated in terms of a dimension theory; their necessity generalizes Ax’s differential field version of Schanuel’s conjecture and their sufficiency generalizes recent work of Crampin. They are shown to apply to the solving of systems of equations in holomorphic functions away from singularities, as well as in the abstract setting. The theory can also be obtained by means of a Hrushovski-style amalgamation construction, and I give a category-theoretic account of the method. Restricting to the usual exponential differential equation, I show that a “blurring” of Zilber’s pseudo-exponentiation satisfies the same theory. I conjecture that this theory also holds for a suitable blurring of the complex exponential maps and partially resolve the question, proving the necessity but not the sufficiency of the aforementioned conditions. As an algebraic application, I prove a weak form of Zilber’s conjecture on intersections with subgroups (known as CIT) for semiabelian varieties. This in turn is used to show that the necessary and sufficient conditions are expressible in the appropriate first order language