bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hugo Grotius and the Universal Rule of Law
Authors: Stumpf Christoph
Published: April 2018

In this chapter, it is argued that Hugo Grotius’s system of international law is informed by a profound concept of a ‘rule of law’. While there is a strong tradition of reading Grotius’s works in a ‘liberal’ sense, as propagating a supposedly ‘modern’ sense of minimalist international law set apart from morality, this chapter follows an interpretation first put forward by Martin Wight according to which Grotius conceives of a ‘dual’ or ‘concentric’ system of international relations: hence, there is an inner circle of nations following the ideal of a society of Christian nations in the sense of the respublica Christiana following Christian law, and a wider circle of nations united by the universal fellowship among human beings governed by natural law. The chapter first analyses Grotius’s categorization of legal norms, then his views on the setup of States, and finally his perception of the rule of law in war.
A Universal Rule of Law for a Pluralist World Order
Authors: Nijman Janne
Published: April 2018

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was committed to the idea of a universal rule of law that governed sovereign powers, and he argued that European rulers should learn from Chinese moral and political philosophy and from the Chinese emperor, who was in his view more successful in being the moral and responsible political ruler that the law required. Leibniz’s universal rule of law is an ideal for a pluralist world. China and Europe were different yet equal and they needed each other to critically assess and perfect themselves and humanity as a whole. Leibniz’s interest in Chinese moral and political thought testifies to his conviction that natural law—grounded on justice as ‘wise charity’—is universal and that it governs the inner life of human beings, whether sovereign or subject. If internalized through a rational practice of self-cultivation and self-perfection, a rule of law as justice guides and constrains acts towards the perfection of the individual self as well as towards the realization of ‘the empire of reason’, ie a world order based on a universal rule of natural law and justice.
The Hazards of Translating Wheaton’s Elements of International Law into Chinese
Authors: Cheung Emily , Fung Maranatha
Published: April 2018

This chapter considers to what extent Henry Wheaton’s Elements of International Law was accurately translated into Chinese by WAP Martin in the 1860s. By conducting close textual analysis of selected translated words or phrases and exploring the impact of traditional Chinese culture and Chinese ways of thinking on the first ever attempt of translating a complete piece of Western international law literature into the Chinese language, we uncover the incommensurability of the Western and Chinese ideas of international order and a potential alternative or challenge to the traditional Western perception of international law. Our analysis may also shed some light on the Chinese understanding of international order in the twenty-first century.
The Sino-Japanese War and the Collapse of the Qing and Confucian World Order in the Face of Japanese Imperialism and European Acquiescence
Authors: Leung Patrick Sze-lok , Xu Bijun
Published: April 2018

The First Sino-Japanese War (1894–95) has been perceived as a sign of a new East Asian power order, but the legitimacy of the war has yet to be clarified. The Japanese foreign minister Mutsu’s Kenkenroku shows that the reasons claimed by Japan were only pretexts for its ambition to put Korea under its control. The 1885 Convention of Tianjin, which was used to justify the Japanese behaviour, needs to be reinterpreted. The Chinese reaction can be understood by exploration into Confucianism, which opposed wars between equal peers. Meanwhile, the Western powers which invented and developed international law were self-interested and did little to prevent the war. The incident shows that international law, empowered by the strong states, failed to maintain peace efficiently in the late nineteenth century.
Trust: Face to Face
Authors: Wheeler Nicholas J.
Published: April 2018

This chapter is divided into three sections. The first section explores how actors can acquire a signal of inherent credibility as to another’s trustworthiness in face-to-face interaction. The chapter highlights the fragility of trust when it develops between two ‘rational egoists’ because of the ever-present possibility that one or both might defect if the context changes to incentivize opportunistic behaviour. The second section of the chapter identifies how a different form of trust can develop through face-to-face interaction, and the process of bonding and identity transformation that this makes possible. Trust as suspension is not based on risk calculation, as in the calculative approach to trust. It is suspension that provides the greatest possibility of accurate signal interpretation. The chapter also considers the observable implications of the causal mechanism that generates trust as suspension through face-to-face interaction.
Optimal Order of Successive Office Hysteroscopy and Endometrial Biopsy for the Evaluation of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sarkar Papri , Mikhail Emad , Schickler Robyn , Plosker Shayne , Imudia Anthony N.
Published: April 2018

(Abstracted from Obstet Gynecol 2017;130:565–572)

In recent years, hysteroscopy has gained popularity as an office-based diagnostic practice for evaluation of women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). It is considered to be the criterion standard for diagnosis of intracavitary pathology. In women with persistent AUB, it has to be supplemented with endometrial biopsy; both procedures are integral and complementary tests in the evaluation of AUB. Their combined use can identify or rule out uterine pathology. To avoid delay in diagnosis and management of AUB, it is logical to perform these procedures at the same office visit.
Contemporary Hormonal Contraception and the Risk of Breast Cancer
Authors: Mørch Lina S. , Skovlund Charlotte W. , Hannaford Philip C. , Iversen Lisa , Fielding Shona , Lidegaard Øjvind
Published: April 2018

(Abstracted from N Engl J Med 2017;377:2228–2239)

It is estimated that worldwide 13% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 years use hormonal contraception. In Denmark, this percentage was 24% in 1995 and increased to 39% by 2012. Use of estrogen promotes the development of breast cancer; the role of progestin is unclear. A large number of studies have reported inconsistent findings of breast cancer risk among women who receive hormonal contraceptives. Whether contemporary hormonal contraception is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer is unknown.
Systematic Review of First-Trimester Ultrasound Screening for Detection of Fetal Structural Anomalies and Factors That Affect Screening Performance
Authors: Karim J. N. , Roberts N. W. , Salomon L. J. , Papageorghiou A. T.
Published: April 2018

(Abstracted from Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2017;50:429–441)

The recent development of cell-free fetal DNA screening for detection of aneuploidy in the first trimester has shifted the expectations of first-trimester ultrasound examination to detection of structural congenital anomalies and fetal nuchal translucency (NT). Although fetal screening typically occurs in the second trimester, many major structural anomalies can be diagnosed reliably between 11 and 14 weeks' gestation. Varying sensitivity of first-trimester ultrasound and uncertainty about an optimized protocol for its operation have resulted in little consensus about its use in clinical practice.
The top 100 most-cited articles on osteosarcoma: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Hafeez Muhammad Saad , Malik Azeem Tariq , Noordin Shahryar
Published: April 2018

Background:

Osteosarcoma or “osteogenic sarcoma” is the most common neoplasm of the bone in children and young adults. This research is premised upon a citation analysis of the top 100 most-cited articles on osteosarcoma.

Materials and Methods:

This research is dependent upon the use of SCOPUS database. Using the search strategy “osteosarcoma” on this database yielded 12,107 articles. After filtering for relevant articles, the top 100 most-cited articles were retrieved for descriptive and statistical analysis.

Results:

The most-cited paper was “A human DNA segment with properties of the gene that predisposes to retinoblastoma and osteosarcoma” by Friend and colleagues published in 1986 with 1888 citations. The publication years ranged from 1967 to 2014. The United States was the most productive country in terms of research output, followed by Italy. Institution-wise, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre contributed the most articles. However, the most prolific author was from Italy. Majority of the publications were level IV studies

Conclusions:

Although citation analysis is not entirely flawless, this is a comprehensive list of the top 100 most-cited articles significantly impacting osteosarcoma knowledge and research over time. Future studies need to cater toward maximizing high-quality evidenced articles.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Impact on Surgical Outcomes in Gynecology
Authors: Medlin Erin E. , Rice Laurel W. , Al-Niaimi Ahmed
Published: April 2018

Importance

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common medical condition in the United States and affects gynecologic surgical outcomes.

Objective

The aim of this review was to improve perioperative diagnosis and management of OSAS in patients presenting for gynecologic surgery and ultimately improve perioperative outcomes. The role of preoperative evaluation and screening is also addressed.

Evidence Acquisition

Medical databases were queried for publications pertaining to OSAS complications, risk factors, screening, and perioperative management. Pertinent articles were reviewed by the study authors.

Results

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is underdiagnosed in the preoperative surgical population. Obesity and other risk factors for OSAS are prevalent in patients with gynecologic issues but are not fully assessed with screening prior to surgery. Effective treatment modalities, such as continuous positive airway pressure, and perioperative management strategies are available to improve patient outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

Increased diagnosis and treatment for OSAS in the perioperative period can improve perioperative outcomes, surgical outcomes, and long-term patient outcomes. Strategies to increase effective management in patients presenting for gynecologic surgery are needed.

Target Audience

Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, the learner should be better able to (1) list the diagnostic criteria, risk factors, and adverse outcomes associated with OSAS for gynecologic surgery patients; (2) compare available screening tools for OSAS; (3) evaluate effective treatments for OSAS; and (4) assess optimal preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management of OSAS in gynecologic patients.
Concepts for the Simulation Community
Authors: Calhoun Aaron William , Nadkarni Vinay , Venegas-Borsellino Carla , White Marjorie Lee , Kurrek Matt
Published: April 2018

Summary Statement

The past several decades have seen tremendous growth in our understanding of best practices in simulation-based healthcare education. At present, however, there is limited infrastructure available to assist programs in translation of these best practices into more standardized educational approaches, higher quality of care, and ultimately improved outcomes. In 2014, the International Simulation Data Registry (ISDR) was launched to address this important issue. The existence of such a registry has important implications not just for educational practice but also for research. The ISDR currently archives data related to pulseless arrest, malignant hyperthermia, and difficult airway simulations. Case metrics are designed to mirror the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines Registry, allowing for direct comparisons with clinical scenarios. This article describes the rationale for the ISDR, and outlines its development. Current data are presented to highlight the educational and research value of this approach. Projected future developments are also discussed.
The structural design and technical investigations of data resources sharing system in the field of aero engine
Authors: Wang Shaohua , Zhang Ping
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Nowadays, a large amount of data related to aero engine in various types can be created in a single day and it is very important to well organize and store these data. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper puts forward the problem of data management with the fast development of aero engine and sets the compression system as an example to see the inner relationships of data from the initial design procedure to the final operation and maintenance part. There are five principles, namely digitization, accuracy, normative, integrality and validity, involved in managing the data effectively.

Findings

These data resources arranged according to the five principles can be well organized and better used.

Originality/value

At the end, the top design of aero engine data sharing platform is investigated and five layers including data layer, data access layer, communication layer, business logic layer and application layer are designed and presented to support the platform.
Responses of insect herbivores and their food plants to wind exposure and the importance of predation risk
Authors: Chen Cong , Biere Arjen , Gols Rieta , Halfwerk Wouter , van Oers Kees , Harvey Jeffrey A.
Published: April 2018

Wind is an important abiotic factor that influences an array of biological processes, but it is rarely considered in studies on plant–herbivore interactions.

Here, we tested whether wind exposure could directly or indirectly affect the performance of two insect herbivores, Plutella xylostella and Pieris brassicae, feeding on Brassica nigra plants.

In a greenhouse study using a factorial design, B. nigra plants were exposed to different wind regimes generated by fans before and after caterpillars were introduced on plants in an attempt to separate the effects of direct and indirect wind exposure on herbivores.

Wind exposure delayed flowering, decreased plant height and increased leaf concentrations of amino acids and glucosinolates.

Plant‐mediated effects of wind on herbivores, that is effects of exposure of plants to wind prior to herbivore feeding, were generally small. However, development time of both herbivores was extended and adult body mass of P. xylostella was reduced when they were directly exposed to wind. By contrast, wind‐exposed adult P. brassicae butterflies were significantly larger, revealing a trade‐off between development time and adult size.

Based on these results, we conducted a behavioural experiment to study preference by an avian predator, the great tit (Parus major) for last instar P. brassicae caterpillars on plants that were exposed to either control (no wind) or wind (fan‐exposed) treatments. Tits captured significantly more caterpillars on still than on wind‐exposed plants.

Our results suggest that P. brassicae caterpillars are able to perceive the abiotic environment and to trade off the costs of extended development time against the benefits of increased size depending on the perceived risk of predation mediated by wind exposure. Such adaptive phenotypic plasticity in insects has not yet been described in response to wind exposure.
Self‐recognition of mental health problems in a rural Australian sample
Authors: Handley Tonelle E. , Lewin Terry J. , Perkins David , Kelly Brian
Published: April 2018

Objective

Although mental health literacy has increased in recent years, mental illness is often under‐recognised. There has been little research conducted on mental illness in rural areas; however, this can be most prominent in rural areas due to factors such as greater stigma and stoicism. The aim of this study is to create a profile of those who are most and least likely to self‐identify mental health problems among rural residents with moderate‐ to‐high psychological distress.

Design

Secondary analysis of a longitudinal postal survey.

Setting

Rural and remote New South Wales, Australia.

Participants

Four‐hundred‐and‐seventy‐two community residents.

Main outcome measure

Participants completed the K10 Psychological Distress Scale, as well as the question ‘In the past 12 months have you experienced any mental health problems?’ The characteristics of those who reported moderate/high distress scores were explored by comparing those who did and did not experience mental health problems recently.

Results

Of the 472 participants, 319 (68%) with moderate/high distress reported a mental health problem. Reporting a mental health problem was higher among those with recent adverse life events or who perceived more stress from life events while lower among those who attributed their symptoms to a physical cause.

Conclusions

Among a rural sample with moderate/high distress, one‐third did not report a mental health problem. Results suggest a threshold effect, whereby mental health problems are more likely to be acknowledged in the context of additional life events. Ongoing public health campaigns are necessary to ensure that symptoms of mental illness are recognised in the multiple forms that they take.
‘Classes of Labour’ at the Margins of Global Commodity Chains in India and China
Authors: Mezzadri Alessandra , Fan Lulu
Published: April 2018

This article deploys the concept of ‘classes of labour’ to map and compare non‐factory labour relations in the garment chain across Delhi and Shanghai metropolitan areas. It contributes to commodity studies by unpacking the great complexity of mechanisms of ‘adverse incorporation’ of informal work in global commodity chains and production circuits. Field findings reveal the great social differentiation at work in informalized settings in the two countries, and suggest that while the margins of garment work are characterized by high levels of vulnerability, they may also open up new possibilities for workers to resist or re‐appropriate some degree of control over their labour and reproductive time. While these possibilities depend on regional trajectories, informal labour arrangements do not only result from capital's quest for flexibility. Workers actively participate in shaping their own labour geography, even when exposed to high employment insecurity. The conclusions more broadly discuss the merits of comparative analysis to study labour in global production circuits.
Natural mating disruption in a protogynous bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)
Authors: Rhainds Marc
Published: April 2018

1. The occurrence of natural mating disruption is investigated in the bagworm Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). Neotenic females reproduce within a self‐constructed bag made of silk and plant material, and attract males for copulation by discharging pheromone‐impregnated setae into the lower section of their bag (early life pulsed release). Because pheromone release is, in part, out of the female's control, passive pheromone sources emanating from bags of post‐reproductive (dead) females may compete with live pheromone‐calling females.

2. Data collected in a plantation of oil palm during five consecutive generations of bagworms indicate that mating probabilities decline with increasing number of conspecific females per palm, reminiscent of natural mating disruption due to false trail following. Low mating success of late‐emerging females further suggests that protogyny evolved to reduce late‐season mating disruption due to incremental accumulation of passive sources of pheromone over time.

3. Natural mating disruption may be linked with life‐history syndromes of female flightlessness in forest habitats: sedentary reproduction of highly fecund females on perennial hosts, combined with restricted dispersal of larval progeny that remain on their maternal host plant and travel short distances while ballooning, may lead to rapid build‐up of local populations beyond levels where mating interference among females is possible.
Ionizing radiation, but not ultraviolet radiation, induces mitotic catastrophe in mouse epidermal keratinocytes with aberrant cell cycle checkpoints
Authors: Wang Ming , Gao QingXiang , Teng Xu , Pan MeiPing , Lin TianMiao , Zhou GuiXuan , Xu BenHua , Yue ZhiCao
Published: April 2018

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and ionizing radiation (IR) are common genotoxic stresses that damage human skin, although the specific damages to the genomic DNA are different. Here, we show that in the mouse glabrous skin, both UVR and IR induce DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and condensed cell nuclei. However, only IR induces mitotic catastrophe (MC) in the epidermis. This is because UVR induces a complete blockage of pRB phosphorylation and cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, whereas pRB phosphorylation remains positive in a significant portion of the epidermal keratinocytes following IR exposure. Furthermore, Cyclin B1 expression is significantly downregulated only by IR but not UVR. Finally, there are more MC cells in the epidermis of p53‐/‐ mice after IR exposure as compared to wild‐type mice. Our results suggest that although both IR and UVR are genotoxic, they show distinct impacts on the cell cycle machinery and thus damage the epidermal keratinocytes via different mechanisms.
The quality of dying and death measurement instruments: A systematic psychometric review
Authors: Gutiérrez Sánchez Daniel , Pérez Cruzado David , Cuesta‐Vargas Antonio I.
Published: April 2018

Aims

To identify instruments that could assess the quality of dying and death and their psychometric properties. To assess the methodological quality of studies on measurement properties.

Background

A high quality of death is regarded as a goal at the end of life and, therefore, an assessment of the end of life experience is essential. Many instruments have been developed to evaluate the quality of dying and death. The selection of the most appropriate measure to be used in clinical and research settings is crucial.

Design

Psychometric systematic review.

Data Sources

We systematically searched ProQuest Medline, SciELO and ProQuest PsycINFO from 1970 ‐ May 2016.

Review Methods

Identification and evaluation of instruments that assessed quality of dying and death. Papers were evaluated by two independent reviewers according to the COSMIN checklist with a 4‐point scale.

Results

A total of 19 studies were included in this review. Seven instruments were found that were specifically designed for assessing quality of dying and death. A retrospective carer proxy report to evaluate this construct was used in most of the papers. The methodological quality of the studies was fair for most of the psychometric characteristics analyzed.

Conclusion

Many instruments have been developed to assess the quality of dying and death. The Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire is the best available measure of the quality of dying and death. It is the only questionnaire identified in this review where all psychometric properties according to the COSMIN checklist have been evaluated.
The development of autistic social traits across childhood and adolescence in males and females
Authors: Mandy William , Pellicano Liz , St Pourcain Beate , Skuse David , Heron Jon
Published: April 2018

Background

Autism is a dimensional condition, representing the extreme end of a continuum of social competence that extends throughout the general population. Currently, little is known about how autistic social traits (ASTs), measured across the full spectrum of severity, develop during childhood and adolescence, including whether there are developmental differences between boys and girls. Therefore, we sought to chart the trajectories of ASTs in the general population across childhood and adolescence, with a focus on gender differences.

Methods

Participants were 9,744 males (n = 4,784) and females (n = 4,960) from ALSPAC, a UK birth cohort study. ASTs were assessed when participants were aged 7, 10, 13 and 16 years, using the parent‐report Social Communication Disorders Checklist. Data were modelled using latent growth curve analysis.

Results

Developmental trajectories of males and females were nonlinear, showing a decline from 7 to 10 years, followed by an increase between 10 and 16 years. At 7 years, males had higher levels of ASTs than females (mean raw score difference = 0.88, 95% CI [.72, 1.04]), and were more likely (odds ratio [OR]  = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.82, 2.16) to score in the clinical range on the SCDC. By 16 years this gender difference had disappeared: males and females had, on average, similar levels of ASTs (mean difference = 0.00, 95% CI [−0.19, 0.19]) and were equally likely to score in the SCDC's clinical range (OR = 0.91, 95% CI, 0.73, 1.10). This was the result of an increase in females’ ASTs between 10 and 16 years.

Conclusions

There are gender‐specific trajectories of autistic social impairment, with females more likely than males to experience an escalation of ASTs during early‐ and midadolescence. It remains to be discovered whether the observed female adolescent increase in ASTs represents the genuine late onset of social difficulties or earlier, subtle, pre‐existing difficulties becoming more obvious.
Impact of Pseudomonas H6 surfactant on all external life cycle stages of the fish parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
Authors: Al‐Jubury A , Lu C , Kania P W , von Gersdorff Jørgensen L , Liu Y , de Bruijn I , Raaijmakers J , Buchmann K
Published: April 2018

A bacterial biosurfactant isolated from Pseudomonas (strain H6) has previously been shown to have a lethal effect on the oomycete Saprolegnia diclina infecting fish eggs. The present work demonstrates that the same biosurfactant has a strong in vitro antiparasitic effect on the fish pathogenic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Three life cycle stages (the infective theront stage, the tomont and the tomocyst containing tomites) were all susceptible to the surfactant. Theronts were the most sensitive showing 100% mortality in as low concentrations as 10 and 13 μg/ml within 30 min. Tomonts were the most resistant but were killed in concentrations of 100 μg/ml. Tomocysts, which generally are considered resistant to chemical and medical treatment, due to the surrounding protective cyst wall, were also sensitive. The surfactant, in concentrations of 10 and 13 μg/ml, penetrated the cyst wall and killed the enclosed tomites within 60 min. Rainbow trout fingerlings exposed to the biosurfactant showed no adverse immediate or late signs following several hours incubation in concentrations effective for killing the parasite. This bacterial surfactant may be further developed for application as an antiparasitic control agent in aquaculture.
Analysis of 246 sentinel lymph node biopsies of patients with clinical primary breast cancer by application of carbon nanoparticle suspension
Authors: Yang Shi‐Xin , Wei Wen‐Song , Jiang Qi‐Hua , Zhou Yu‐Feng , Qu Wei , Tu Jian‐Hong , Ou‐Yang Qian‐Wen , Zhou Zhi‐Bing , Ding Hao‐Long , Xie Chun‐Wei
Published: April 2018

Aim

This study aims to explore the accuracy, specificity and laws of axillary lymph node metastasis predicted by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) by comparing axillary lymph node status via SLNB and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with nanocarbon as the tracer.

Methods

Forty six patients were retrospectively analyzed. These patients underwent SLNB with nanocarbon as the tracer from March 2013 to April 2014.

Results

Two hundred and forty six patients of sentinel lymph node (SLN) were successfully detected. Among these patients, 8 patients had 1 SLN (3.25%), 33 patients had 2 SLN (13.41%), 46 patients had 3 SLN (18.70%), 51 patients had 4 SLN (20.73%), 40 patients had 5 SLN (16.26%), 24 patients had 6 SLN (9.76%) and 24 patients had 7 or more SLN (9.76%). The SLNB success rate of nanocarbon staining in the 246 cases was 99.59%, accuracy rate was 97.06% and sensitivity was 93.22%. Furthermore, false negatives were found in four patients, and the false‐negative rate was 6.78%. The number of lymph node metastasis in the SLNB and ALND of early‐stage breast cancer was analyzed. When the number of SLN dissection was 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, the coincidence rate of lymph node metastasis for SLNB and ALND was 80.00, 84.36, 78.57, 88.89, 90.48, 80.00, 73.68 and 78.36, respectively.

Conclusion

Sentinel lymph node biopsy performed using the nanocarbon staining method is simple, easy and reliable, and it can be used to predict the axillary status of breast cancer in the early stage.
In utero spontaneous bladder rupture in a fetus with posterior urethral valve: A case report of prenatal diagnosis and management
Authors: Magawa Shoichi , Tanaka Hiroaki , Nii Masafumi , Maki Shintaro , Kamimoto Yuki , Ikeda Tomoaki
Published: April 2018

Posterior urethral valve (PUV) rarely causes bladder rupture. We experienced hydronephrosis due to ureteral obstruction after the natural repair of a ruptured bladder in a fetus with PUV. Fetal ascites and oligohydramnios were diagnosed at 26 weeks’ gestational age. While we followed up with ultrasonography, we regularly removed the fetal ascites via abdominal puncture, injecting warm saline instead of amniotic fluid. At 35 weeks’ gestational age, the infant was diagnosed with severe bilateral hydronephrosis, absent of ascites and oligohydramnios. Therefore, a Caesarean section was performed. After birth, the infant was diagnosed with hydronephrosis due to ureteral obstruction after the natural repair of a ruptured bladder associated with PUV. Thus, a ruptured bladder in a fetus with PUV that has naturally repaired should be closely monitored via ultrasonography for hydronephrosis due to ureteral obstruction.
Modeling Framework and Decomposition Scheme for On‐Demand Mobility Services with Ridesharing and Transfer
Authors: Lotfi Sepide , Abdelghany Khaled , Hashemi Hossein
Published: April 2018

This article presents a modeling framework for the operations of on‐demand mobility services (ODMS) in urban areas. The framework provides the capabilities to analyze ODMS operations while representing emerging services such as ridesharing and transfer. The problem is formulated as a mixed integer program and an efficient decomposition‐based methodology is developed for its solution. The methodology adopts a modified version of the column generation algorithm, which implements iterative decomposition and network augmentation techniques to allow studying networks of moderate size. The results of a set of experiments considering grid and real‐world networks are presented. The results show that increasing the number of passengers willing to rideshare and/or transfer improves the overall performance of ODMS as it increases number of served passengers and associated profit and reduces the number of used vehicles. Although presented as an offline planning tool, the methodology could be adopted for real‐time applications as adequate computational resources become available.
Plant attributes explain the distribution of soil microbial communities in two contrasting regions of the globe
Authors: Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Fry Ellen L. , Eldridge David J. , de Vries Franciska T. , Manning Peter , Hamonts Kelly , Kattge Jens , Boenisch Gerhard , Singh Brajesh K. , Bardgett Richard D.
Published: April 2018

We lack strong empirical evidence for links between plant attributes (plant community attributes and functional traits) and the distribution of soil microbial communities at large spatial scales.

Using datasets from two contrasting regions and ecosystem types in Australia and England, we report that aboveground plant community attributes, such as diversity (species richness) and cover, and functional traits can predict a unique portion of the variation in the diversity (number of phylotypes) and community composition of soil bacteria and fungi that cannot be explained by soil abiotic properties and climate. We further identify the relative importance and evaluate the potential direct and indirect effects of climate, soil properties and plant attributes in regulating the diversity and community composition of soil microbial communities.

Finally, we deliver a list of examples of common taxa from Australia and England that are strongly related to specific plant traits, such as specific leaf area index, leaf nitrogen and nitrogen fixation.

Together, our work provides new evidence that plant attributes, especially plant functional traits, can predict the distribution of soil microbial communities at the regional scale and across two hemispheres.
Circadian rhythms are associated with shoot architecture in natural settings
Authors: Rubin Matthew J. , Brock Marcus T. , Baker Robert L. , Wilcox Stephanie , Anderson Kyle , Davis Seth J. , Weinig Cynthia
Published: April 2018

Circadian rhythms are key regulators of diverse biological processes under controlled settings. Yet, the phenotypic and fitness consequences of quantitative variation in circadian rhythms remain largely unexplored in the field. As with other pathways, phenotypic characterization of circadian outputs in the field may reveal novel clock functions.

Across consecutive growing seasons, we test for associations between clock variation and flowering phenology, plant size, shoot architecture, and fruit set in clock mutants and segregating progenies of Arabidopsis thaliana expressing quantitative variation in circadian rhythms.

Using structural equation modeling, we find that genotypic variation in circadian rhythms within a growing season is associated directly with branching, which in turn affects fruit production. Consistent with direct associations between the clock and branching in segregating progenies, cauline branch number is lower and rosette branch number higher in a short‐period mutant relative to wild‐type and long‐period genotypes, independent of flowering time. Differences in branching arise from variation in meristem fate as well as leaf production rate before flowering and attendant increases in meristem number.

Our results suggest that clock variation directly affects shoot architecture in the field, suggesting a novel clock function and means by which the clock affects performance.
Simultaneous exposure to a pulsed and a prolonged anthropogenic stressor can alter consumer multifunctionality
Authors: Salo Tiina , Räsänen Katja , Stamm Christian , Burdon Francis J. , Seppälä Otto
Published: April 2018

Ecosystems face multiple anthropogenic threats globally, and the effects of these environmental stressors range from individual‐level organismal responses to altered system functioning. Understanding the combined effects of stressors on process rates mediated by individuals in ecosystems would greatly improve our ability to predict organismal multifunctionality (e.g. multiple consumer‐mediated functions). We conducted a laboratory experiment to test direct and indirect, as well as immediate and delayed effects of a heat wave (pulsed stress) and micropollutants (MPs) (prolonged stress) on individual consumers (the great pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis) and their multifunctionality (i.e. consumption of basal resources, growth, reproduction, nutrient excretion and organic‐matter cycling). We found that stressful conditions increased the process rates of multiple functions mediated by individual consumers. Specifically, the artificial heat wave increased process rates in the majority of the quantified functions (either directly or indirectly), whereas exposure to MPs increased consumption of basal resources which led to increases in the release of nutrients and fine particulate organic matter. Moreover, snails exposed to a heat wave showed decreased reproduction and nutrient excretion after the heat‐wave, indicating the potential for ecologically relevant delayed effects. Our study indicates that the immediate and delayed effects of stressors on individual organisms may directly and indirectly impact multiple ecosystem functions. In particular, delayed effects of environmental stress on individual consumers may cumulatively impede recovery due to decreased functioning following a perturbation. Reconciling these results with studies incorporating responses at higher levels of biological complexity will enhance our ability to forecast how individual responses upscale to ecosystem multifunctionality.
Arctic climate governance via EU law on black carbon?
Authors: Romppanen Seita
Published: April 2018

International cooperation, environmental protection and climate change are the key elements of the European Union's (EU) Arctic policy. The EU's interest in the Arctic has increased gradually over the last decade, and the policy has been streamlined over the years to better respond to the needs of the Arctic region in the context of international cooperation. Short‐lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), especially black carbon emitted close to the Arctic region, present a growing threat to the Arctic climate. SLCPs are both dangerous air pollutants and climate forcers, but black carbon is particularly detrimental in the Arctic context. The EU controls black carbon emissions through legislation on air pollution and quality, albeit without specific reference to concerns over Arctic warming. Based on an analysis of the relevant EU laws, the article examines how the EU can have a concrete input in respect of Arctic climate governance, and through this strengthen its Arctic reach. In the EU context, exposing the lack of synergies between climate change and air pollution policies in a specific Arctic context could offer a potential first step.
Should phosphate management be limited to the KDIGO/ KDOQI guidelines?
Authors: Dhillon‐Jhattu Sangeet , Sprague Stuart M.
Published: April 2018

Hyperphosphatemia is a common complication of CKD. Prior to development of overt hyperphosphatemia, there are several adaptive mechanisms that occur to maintain normal phosphorus equilibrium in patients with CKD. These include an early and progressive rise in fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF 23), followed by an increase in parathyroid hormone (PTH) with a decrease in 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25 Vit D). Over the last 20 years, a large number of studies have shown that hyperphosphatemia is a strong predictor of adverse clinical outcomes including increased incidence of vascular calcification, cardiovascular disease, and all‐cause mortality in both individuals with CKD as well as those with normal kidney function. In addition, elevations of both FGF 23 and PTH are independently associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, phosphorus lowering therapies are a vital part of the treatment strategy for patients with CKD and include dietary phosphorus restriction, treatment with phosphate binders and removal with dialysis. However, there has been a lack of high quality evidence demonstrating beneficial effects of phosphate lowering therapy on clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we do not have definitive data as to whether effective phosphate control with phosphate binders will prevent elevations in FGF 23, and whether lowering FGF 23 levels will lead to improved patient outcomes. As a result of the presently available data (or lack thereof) clinical guidelines recommend treatment only after hyperphosphatemia develops and in dialysis patients; KDOQI recommends a treatment target of less than 5.5 mg/dL, whereas KDIGO recommends treating “towards normal.” We are left with a clinical dilemma, being whether these recommendations are adequate, or should we be more aggressive in phosphate management. In this article, our goal is to discuss some of the studies concerning the adverse consequences of phosphate excess and as well as elevated FGF 23 levels, and present our opinion on what we believe the goal of treatment should be.
Combining high‐pressure freezing with pre‐embedding immunogold electron microscopy and tomography
Authors: Hess Michael W. , Vogel Georg F. , Yordanov Teodor E. , Witting Barbara , Gutleben Karin , Ebner Hannes L. , de Araujo Mariana E. G. , Filipek Przemyslaw A. , Huber Lukas A.
Published: April 2018

Immunogold labeling of permeabilized whole‐mount cells or thin‐sectioned material is widely used for the subcellular localization of biomolecules at the high spatial resolution of electron microscopy (EM). Those approaches are well compatible with either 3‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction of organelle morphology and antigen distribution or with rapid cryofixation—but not easily with both at once. We describe here a specimen preparation and labeling protocol for animal cell cultures, which represents a novel blend of specifically adapted versions of established techniques. It combines the virtues of reliably preserved organelle ultrastructure, as trapped by rapid freezing within milliseconds followed by freeze‐substitution and specimen rehydration, with the advantages of robust labeling of intracellular constituents in 3D through means of pre‐embedding NANOGOLD‐silver immunocytochemistry. So obtained thin and semi‐thick epoxy resin sections are suitable for transmission EM imaging, as well as tomographic reconstruction and modeling of labeling patterns in the 3D cellular context.
Are Unprecedented Monetary Policy Effective: Recent Japanese Case
Authors: Kurihara Yutaka
Published: April 2018

This paper empirically analyzes the recent monetary policy in Japan with the era of Abenomics as the focus. Serious deflation damaged the Japanese economy and unprecedented monetary policy has been conducted to combat deflation. Stock prices have risen since the conduction of this unprecedented policy and low unemployment has been attained, but the effectiveness of the policy needs to be explored. This paper examines this problem from the view of inflation and GDP. Revised version of P* model is employed for empirical analyses. Empirical results indicate that monetary policy has been effective in recovering the economy (GDP), but there is no significant relationship between monetary expansion and inflation rate. To promote more monetary expansion is one choice, but there would be some side effects on the economy.
Objective speech transmission improvements with a binaural cochlear implant sound-coding strategy inspired by the contralateral medial olivocochlear reflex
Authors: Lopez-Poveda Enrique A. , Eustaquio-Martín Almudena
Published: April 2018

It has been recently shown that cochlear implant users could enjoy better speech reception in noise and enhanced spatial unmasking with binaural audio processing inspired by the inhibitory effects of the contralateral medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex on compression [Lopez-Poveda, Eustaquio-Martin, Stohl, Wolford, Schatzer, and Wilson (2016). Ear Hear. 37, e138–e148]. The perceptual evidence supporting those benefits, however, is limited to a few target-interferer spatial configurations and to a particular implementation of contralateral MOC inhibition. Here, the short-term objective intelligibility index is used to (1) objectively demonstrate potential benefits over many more spatial configurations, and (2) investigate if the predicted benefits may be enhanced by using more realistic MOC implementations. Results corroborate the advantages and drawbacks of MOC processing indicated by the previously published perceptual tests. The results also suggest that the benefits may be enhanced and the drawbacks overcome by using longer time constants for the activation and deactivation of inhibition and, to a lesser extent, by using a comparatively greater inhibition in the lower than in the higher frequency channels. Compared to using two functionally independent processors, the better MOC processor improved the signal-to-noise ratio in the two ears between 1 and 6 decibels by enhancing head-shadow effects, and was advantageous for all tested target-interferer spatial configurations.
Is decreased lung function associated with chronic kidney disease? A retrospective cohort study in Korea
Authors: Kim Soo Kyoung , Bae Ji Cheol , Baek Jong-Ha , Hur Kyu Yeon , Lee Moon-Kyu , Kim Jae Hyeon
Published: April 2018

Objective

There is some evidence that lung function and chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be related. We evaluated the impact of lung function on the development of CKD in a large-scale longitudinal study.

Method

Retrospective longitudinal analyses were conducted among subjects who participated in comprehensive health check-ups at least four times during 7 years (between 2006 and 2012). We investigated the development of CKD during the follow-up period according to lung function status.

Results

Ten thousand one hundred and twenty-eight individuals (mean age =51.2 years) without CKD at baseline were enrolled. During the mean follow-up of 5 years (58.5±14.4 months), 167 of the 10 128 subjects (1.6%) developed CKD. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, estimated glomerular filtration rate, uric acid, triglycerides, serum albumin, and the presence of diabetes and hypertension revealed that a decrease of 10% in the forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio was associated with a 35% increase in the development of CKD during the follow-up. The incidence of CKD was higher in those with an FEV1/FVC ratio <0.8 compared with those with FEV1/FVC ratio ≥0.8 (HR=1.454; 95% CI 1.042 to 2.028, p=0.028).

Conclusions

Limited airflow as measured by the FEV1/FVC ratio was associated with an increased risk of CKD.
Corticosteroid-binding globulin levels in North American sciurids: implications for the flying squirrel stress axis
Authors: Desantis Lanna M. , Bowman Jeff , Faught Erin , Boonstra Rudy , Vijayan Mathilakath M. , Burness Gary
Published: April 2018

Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) helps to regulate tissue bioavailability of circulating glucocorticoids (GCs), and in most vertebrates, ≥80%–90% of GCs bind to this protein. New World flying squirrels have higher plasma total cortisol levels (the primary corticosteroid in sciurids) than most vertebrates. Recent research suggests that flying squirrels have either low amounts of CBG or CBG molecules that have a low binding affinity for cortisol, as this taxon appears to exhibit very low proportions of cortisol bound to CBG. To test whether CBG levels have been adjusted over evolutionary time, we assessed the levels of this protein in the plasma of northern (Glaucomys sabrinus (Shaw, 1801)) and southern (Glaucomys volans (Linnaeus, 1758)) flying squirrels using immunoblotting, and compared the relative levels among three phylogenetically related species of sciurids. We also compared the pattern of CBG levels with cortisol levels for the same individuals. Flying squirrels had higher cortisol levels than the other species, but similar levels of CBG to their closest relatives (tree squirrels). We conclude that CBG levels in flying squirrels have not been adjusted over evolutionary time, and thus, the uncoupling of CBG levels from cortisol concentrations may represent an evolutionary modification in the lineage leading to New World flying squirrels.
Dispersion of a Harmonic Signal within a Turbulent Pipe Flow
Authors: Sullivan P.J.
Published: April 2018

This paper describes a numerical experiment that was used to investigate the dispersion of marked fluid from a source of oscillating concentration within a fully-developed turbulent pipeflow.

A “random-walk” type model of the dispersion process, which takes into account the variation over the flow cross-section of both mean and fluctuating flow fields, was programmed on a digital computer. The dispersion of marked fluid elements with an initial source concentration given as [Formula: see text] was investigated with regard to axial distance x´, radial distance y´, frequency f´ and Reynolds number Re, The friction velocity is u*; f′ = fd/u*; x′=x/d; y′=y/d; Re = du*/v; and 2d is the pipe diameter.

The simulation produces wavelike patterns of concentration for which the curve joining points of constant phase, at each point on the flow cross-section, approaches a permanent form. This “equilibrium-wave-form” is independent of x′,t′ = tu*/d, f′ or Re and has the same shape as the curve of maximum concentration over the cross-section when a pulse is the initial source concentration.