bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review of Pseudorabies Virus Variants: Genomics, Vaccination, Transmission, and Zoonotic Potential
Authors: Bo Zongyi , Li Xiangdong
Published: May 2022

Pseudorabies virus (PRV), the causative agent of Aujeszky’s disease, has a broad host range including most mammals and avian species. In 2011, a PRV variant emerged in many Bartha K61-vaccinated pig herds in China and has attracted more and more attention due to its serious threat to domestic and wild animals, and even human beings. The PRV variant has been spreading in China for more than 10 years, and considerable research progresses about its molecular biology, pathogenesis, transmission, and host–virus interactions have been made. This review is mainly organized into four sections including outbreak and genomic evolution characteristics of PRV variants, progresses of PRV variant vaccine development, the pathogenicity and transmission of PRV variants among different species of animals, and the zoonotic potential of PRV variants. Considering PRV has caused a huge economic loss of animals and is a potential threat to public health, it is necessary to extensively explore the mechanisms involved in its replication, pathogenesis, and transmission in order to ultimately eradicate it in China.
HDAC Inhibitors Enhance Efficacy of the Oncolytic Adenoviruses Ad∆∆ and Ad-3∆-A20T in Pancreatic and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Models
Authors: Rodríguez María Del Carmen Rodríguez , Rodríguez Inés García , Nattress Callum , Qureshi Ahad , Halldén Gunnel
Published: May 2022

The prognosis for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is dismal. TNBC and PDAC are highly aggressive cancers with few treatment options and a potential for rapid resistance to standard-of-care chemotherapeutics. Oncolytic adenoviruses (OAds) represent a promising tumour-selective strategy that can overcome treatment resistance and eliminate cancer cells by lysis and host immune activation. We demonstrate that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) potently enhanced the cancer-cell killing of our OAds, Ad∆∆ and Ad-3∆-A20T in TNBC and PDAC preclinical models. In the TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-436, SUM159 and CAL51, cell killing, viral uptake and replication were increased when treated with sublethal doses of the Class-I-selective HDACis Scriptaid, Romidepsin and MS-275. The pan-HDACi, TSA efficiently improved OAd efficacy, both in vitro and in SUM159 xenograft models in vivo. Cell killing and Ad∆∆ replication was also significantly increased in five PDAC cell lines when pre-treated with TSA. Efficacy was dependent on treatment time and dose, and on the specific genetic alterations in each cell line. Expression of the cancer specific αvß6-integrin supported higher viral uptake of the integrin-retargeted Ad-3∆-A20T in combination with Scriptaid. In conclusion, we demonstrate that inhibition of specific HDACs is a potential means to enhance OAd activity, supporting clinical translation.
Monitoring of Enterovirus D68 Outbreak in Israel by a Parallel Clinical and Wastewater Based Surveillance
Authors: Erster Oran , Bar-Or Itay , Levy Virginia , Shatzman-Steuerman Rachel , Sofer Danit , Weiss Leah , Vasserman Rinat , Fratty Ilana S. , Kestin Klil , Elul Michal , Levi Nofar , Alkrenawi Rola , Mendelson Ella , Mandelboim Michal , Weil Merav
Published: May 2022

Enterovirus D68 (EVD68) was recently identified as an important cause of respiratory illness and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), mostly in children. Here, we examined 472 pediatric patients diagnosed with severe respiratory illness and screened for EVD68 between April and October 2021. In parallel, samples collected from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) covering the residential area of the hospitalized patients were also tested for EVD68. Of the 472 clinical samples evaluated, 33 (7%) patients were positive for EVD68 RNA. All wastewater samples were positive for EVD68, with varying viral genome copy loads. Calculated EVD68 genome copies increased from the end of May until July 2021 and dramatically decreased at the beginning of August. A similar trend was observed in both clinical and wastewater samples during the period tested. Sequence analysis of EVD68-positive samples indicated that all samples originated from the same branch of subclade B3. This study is the first to use wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to monitor EVD68 dynamics by quantitative detection and shows a clear correlation with clinically diagnosed cases. These findings highlight the potential of WBE as an important tool for continuous surveillance of EVD68 and other enteroviruses.
Evaluation of Heat Inactivation of Human Norovirus in Freshwater Clams Using Human Intestinal Enteroids
Authors: Hayashi Tsuyoshi , Yamaoka Yoko , Ito Atsushi , Kamaishi Takashi , Sugiyama Ryuichi , Estes Mary K. , Muramatsu Masamichi , Murakami Kosuke
Published: May 2022

Foodborne disease attributed to the consumption of shellfish contaminated with human norovirus (HuNoV) is one of many global health concerns. Our study aimed to determine the conditions of the heat-inactivation of HuNoV in freshwater clams (Corbicula japonica) using a recently developed HuNoV cultivation system employing stem-cell derived human intestinal enteroids (HIEs). We first measured the internal temperature of the clam tissue in a water bath during boiling at 90 °C and found that approximately 2 min are required for the tissue to reach 90 °C. Next, GII.4 HuNoV was spiked into the center of the clam tissue, followed by boiling at 90 °C for 1, 2, 3, or 4 min. The infectivity of HuNoV in the clam tissue homogenates was evaluated using HIEs. We demonstrated that HuNoV in unboiled clam tissue homogenates replicated in HIEs, whereas infectivity was lost in all boiled samples, indicating that heat treatment at 90 °C for 1 min inactivates HuNoV in freshwater clams in our current HIE culture system. To our knowledge, this is the first study to determine the thermal tolerability of HuNoV in shellfish using HIEs, and our results could be informative for developing strategies to inactivate HuNoV in shellfish.
Characterization of Three Novel Virulent Aeromonas Phages Provides Insights into the Diversity of the Autographiviridae Family
Authors: Bujak Katarzyna , Decewicz Przemyslaw , Kitowicz Michal , Radlinska Monika
Published: May 2022

In this study, we isolated and characterized three novel virulent Autographiviridae bacteriophages, vB_AspA_Bolek, vB_AspA_Lolek, and vB_AspA_Tola, which infect different Aeromonas strains. These three host–pathogen pairs were derived from the same sampling location—the arsenic-containing microbial mats of the Zloty Stok gold mine. Functional analysis showed they are psychrotolerant (4–25 °C), albeit with a much wider temperature range of propagation for the hosts (≤37 °C). Comparative genomic analyses revealed a high nucleotide and amino acid sequence similarity of vB_AspA_Bolek and vB_AspA_Lolek, with significant differences exclusively in the C-terminal region of their tail fibers, which might explain their host range discrimination. The protein-based phage network, together with a phylogenetic analysis of the marker proteins, allowed us to assign vB_AspA_Bolek and vB_AspA_Lolek to the Beijerinckvirinae and vB_AspA_Tola to the Colwellvirinae subfamilies, but as three novel species, due to their low nucleotide sequence coverage and identity with other known phage genomes. Global comparative analysis showed that the studied phages are also markedly different from most of the 24 Aeromonas autographiviruses known so far. Finally, this study provides in-depth insight into the diversity of the Autographiviridae phages and reveals genomic similarities between selected groups of this family as well as between autographiviruses and their relatives of other Caudoviricetes families.
Investigating the Granulometric Distribution of Fluvial Sediments through the Hybrid Technique: Case Study of the Baganza River (Italy)
Authors: Khan Usman Ali , Valentino Roberto
Published: May 2022

Sediment characterization is a key parameter to understand the geomorphological attributes of a catchment (i.e., assessing the variability of the sediment transport capacity and surface roughness of a hydraulic channel). This assessment can be performed in several ways, for instance, through numerous sampling techniques (i.e., pebble count and zig-zag methods). Sediment sampling using manual sieving inside a laboratory is a hectic process as it requires ample time and physical effort, particularly when the scale of interest is at the catchment level. In order to find the granulometric distribution of some sections of the Baganza streambed (northern Italy), in order to carry out analysis at the catchment scale, a hybrid technique (a combination of the conventional and photogrammetric method) is introduced. Different grain size distribution curves (GSDs) obtained from the image processing technique using Digital Gravelometer software and traditional sediment sieve analysis (sieve-by-weight method) were compared. Sediment sampling was limited to sections of the streambed that were visible during lower flows in the dry summer season. Sediment samples including fine soil fraction, were collected up to a depth of 30 cm, although the exposed areas behaved as gravels and cobble bars. The adopted hybrid technique approach for the characterization of fluvial sediments is desirable in order to accommodate the full range of particle sizes inside the riverbed. Digital photography was performed at ten different cross sections, along the longitudinal profile of the 30 km long reach of the Baganza River, to examine the sediment distribution, grading, and representative particle sizes (D10, D50, D90) at each of the respective cross sections. A comparison of the photogrammetric method and traditional sieve analysis revealed strong agreement in coarser segments of the grain size distributions, but it was deficient in the finer part (<2 mm) due to the shielding effect produced by bigger particles. However, the adopted hybrid technique appears to be quite efficient and promising in determining the GSD by reducing the costs and the sediment sample collection time in the field.
Hydrogeological Model of the Forefield Drainage System of Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard
Authors: Stachniak Katarzyna , Sitek Sławomir , Ignatiuk Dariusz , Jania Jacek
Published: May 2022

The significant recession of Arctic glaciers caused by climate warming is expanding their proglacial zones. Thus, their importance for the hydrology of glacierised basins is growing. In contrast to the surface waters in such areas, the role of groundwater in the hydrological balance of Svalbard catchments is poorly known. This paper presents the hydrogeological conditions and groundwater flow within the permafrost active layer in the forefield of the Werenskioldbreen glacier basin (44.1 km2), 61% of which is glacierised. Based on field studies of groundwater in the 2017 ablation season and laboratory analyses of the hydrogeological properties of proglacial sediments, a three-dimensional groundwater flow model (FEFLOW) for part of the glacier forefield (4.8 km2) was developed. The main results show the components and characteristics of the groundwater balance and indicate the preferential groundwater flow paths. The volume of water retained in the sediments of the marginal zone is 1.0073 mln m3. The maximum potential free pore space that could be filled by water is 2.0689 mln m3. The calculated groundwater discharge for average conditions is 6076.9 m3 d−1, which is about 2% of the total seasonal catchment runoff from the main glacial river. The results of the spatial analysis for the groundwater depth and the groundwater flow directions are also presented. There need to be further detailed studies of hydrogeological processes in glacial basins in Svalbard in order to develop existing knowledge.
Potential Risk of Agrochemical Leaching in Areas of Edaphoclimatic Suitability for Coffee Cultivation
Authors: dos Santos Gleissy Mary Amaral Dino Alves , Neves Antônio Augusto , de Queiroz Maria Eliana Lopes Ribeiro , de Queiroz Vagner Tebaldi , Ribeiro Carlos Antonio Alvares Soares , Reis Efraim Lázaro , Paiva Ana Carolina Pereira , de Carvalho José Romário , da Silva Samuel Ferreira , Juvanhol Ronie Silva , Moreira Taís Rizzo , Teixeira Luciano José Quintão , Saraiva Sérgio Henriques , Costa Adilson Vidal , da Silva Martins Camila Aparecida , Pires Fábio Ribeiro , Curty Thuelem Azevedo , Guerra Filho Plinio Antonio , de Souza Marcelo Henrique , de Jesus Junior Waldir Cintra , dos Santos Alexandre Rosa
Published: May 2022

Studies show that agricultural activities around the world still present a strong dependence on agrochemicals that can leach into the soil profile, causing its contamination, as well as that of water resources. In this context, the present study evaluates the potential risk of pesticide leaching in areas of edaphoclimatic suitability for coffee cultivation in Espírito Santo state, Brazil. As a methodology, the areas of edaphoclimatic suitability for conilon and arabica coffee were defined, and subsequently, the risk of leaching of active agrochemical ingredients in these areas was evaluated using the Groundwater Ubiquity Score (GUS), Leaching Index (LIX) and Attenuation Factor/Retardation Factor (AF/RF) methods. Of the ten active ingredients evaluated, sulfentrazone and thiamethoxam present a potential risk of leaching into the groundwater level. The study allowed us to evaluate the potential risk of agrochemical leaching in tropical soils cultivated with coffee using geographic information system (GIS) techniques. The methodological proposal can be adapted for other agricultural areas and crops.
Sustainable Development and Efficiency Analysis of the Major Urban Water Utilities in Spain
Authors: Robles-Velasco Alicia , Rodríguez-Palero María , Muñuzuri Jesús , Onieva Luis
Published: May 2022

In Spain, the water supply service is a municipal responsibility and in general is a sector without competitors. For this reason, an efficiency analysis attains greater significance. This study uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate the efficiency of different urban water utilities. An extensive data search, where several variables such as the capital expenditure, the cost of material, or the labor have been recorded, has allowed evaluating the relative efficiency of the most important Spanish water distribution networks in using their resources. Furthermore, their sustainable efficiency has also been evaluated by including a variable representing the percentage of water losses. Results reveal the weaknesses of inefficient utilities and help to detect potential aspects that these companies should improve. For instance, there is an evident incorrect management of the costs of material by many urban water utilities, which does not happen with the labor. Additionally, the most efficient water utilities regarding the sustainable efficiency help to discover target percentages of water losses for the inefficient ones.
Challenges of Spring Protection and Groundwater Development in Urban Subway Construction: A Case Study in the Jinan Karst Area, China
Authors: Wang Wenyang , Fan Yonghui , Li Kai , Wang Xintong , Kang Jintao
Published: May 2022

In order to improve land-use efficiency and solve traffic congestion, in recent years, many cities in China have focused on developing urban underground space resources and urban rail transit projects. However, there are various hidden risks for the sustainable development of the ecological environment and water resources. In this paper, a comprehensive investigation and analysis of spring water resources are carried out using the example of the karst area of Jinan, which is known as ‘spring city’. The engineering geological and hydrogeological conditions in Jinan are introduced in detail, and the geological causes of springs are analyzed. In addition, the causes of spring flow attenuation are revealed based on the investigation of the flow dynamics of spring water. Based on the current situation of traffic congestion in Jinan, the necessity and development statuses of rail transit construction are analyzed. Then, according to the different stratigraphic structure, limestone roof depth and karst water head depth, the Jinan spring area is divided into three research regions including the shallow limestone area, concentrated spring water area and deep limestone area. The spring protection problems faced by each region during the construction of urban railways are systematically described. In addition, the countermeasures and suggestions for spring protection are presented. This study aims to reduce the impact of urban rail transit construction on Jinan spring water so as to protect the Jinan spring. It also provides the water resources protection experience for urban rail transit construction in similar karst areas.
Assessing Hydrological Cost-Effectiveness of Stormwater Multi-Level Control Strategies in Mountain Park under the Concept of Sponge City
Authors: Hou Qinghe , Cheng Yuning , Yuan Yangyang , Wang Mo
Published: May 2022

Within the concept of sponge city in China, green stormwater measures have been widely used in urban mountain parks. This study provides an integrated assessment framework for hydrological cost-effectiveness in the Nanjing Guanyao Mountain Park under various precipitation scenarios. A grey drainage basic strategy and four multi-level control strategies with progressively increasing graded interception or storage facilities at mid-and terminal levels were designed and evaluated. Results show that the multi-level interception and storage strategy (S4) proved to be the most beneficial, followed by the multi-level interception strategy (S2) having slightly lower results than the multi-level storage strategy (S3), while the terminal strategy (S1) showed poor results. However, the hydrological cost-effectiveness exhibits the opposite trend under 2–5-year storms. A high multi-level strategy limited by life-cycle costs may not impart high hydrological cost-effectiveness in response to each return period of storms in this mountain stormwater practice. This study validates the hydrological performance and cost-effectiveness of multi-level distributed strategies in an urban mountain park, bridges the limitations of the previous studies on single scheme design and hydrological performance assessment for sloped sites, and provides a technical reference and design basis for similar studies and practices.
Uncertain Accelerated Sea-Level Rise, Potential Consequences, and Adaptive Strategies in The Netherlands
Authors: van Alphen Jos , Haasnoot Marjolijn , Diermanse Ferdinand
Published: May 2022

Recent observations and publications have presented the possibility of a high and accelerated sea-level rise (SLR) later this century due to ice sheet instability and retreat in Antarctica. Under a high warming scenario, this may result in a sea level in 2100 that is up to 2 m higher than present and 5 m in 2150. The large uncertainties in these projections significantly increase the challenge for investment planning in coastal strategies in densely populated coastal zones such as the Netherlands. In this paper, we present the results of two studies that were carried out within the framework of the Dutch Delta Programme. The first study showed that it is not only the absolute SLR that presents a challenge but also the annual rate of rise. The latter impacts the lifetime of constructions such as barriers and pumping stations. When the rate of sea-level rise increases up to several centimeters per year, the intended lifetime of a flood defense structure may be reduced from a century to several decades. This new challenge requires new technologies, experiments, strategies, and governance. The second study explored different strategies for the long term to adapt to high SLR (>1 m) and assessed the consequences thereof on adaptation and developments in the coming 2–3 decades. We believe that strategic choices have to be made regarding the permanent closure of estuaries, the pumping or periodic storage of high river discharges, agriculture in an increasingly saline coastal area, and the maintenance of the coastline by beach nourishments. These strategic choices have to be complemented by no-regret measures such as spatial reservations for future sand extraction (for beach nourishments) and future expansion of flood defenses, water discharge, and water storage. In addition, it is advised to include flexibility in the design of new infrastructure.
Sponge City Practices in China: From Pilot Exploration to Systemic Demonstration
Authors: Yin Dingkun , Xu Changqing , Jia Haifeng , Yang Ye , Sun Chen , Wang Qi , Liu Sitong
Published: May 2022

In recent years, China has been committed to strengthening environmental governance and trying to build a sustainable society in which humans and nature develop in harmony. As a new urban construction concept, sponge city uses natural and ecological methods to retain rainwater, alleviate flooding problems, reduce the damage to the water environment, and gradually restore the hydrological balance of the construction area. The paper presents a review of sponge city construction from its inception to systematic demonstration. In this paper, research gaps are discussed and future efforts are proposed. The main contents include: (1) China’s sponge city construction includes but is not limited to source control or a drainage system design. Sponge city embodies foreign experience and the wisdom of ancient Chinese philosophy. The core of sponge city construction is to combine various specific technologies to alleviate urban water problems such as flooding, water environment pollution, shortage of water resources and deterioration of water ecology; (2) this paper also introduces the sponge city pilot projects in China, and summarizes the achievements obtained and lessons learned, which are valuable for future sponge city implementation; (3) the objectives, corresponding indicators, key contents and needs of sponge city construction at various scales are different. The work at the facility level is dedicated to alleviating urban water problems through reasonable facility scale and layout, while the work at the plot level is mainly to improve the living environment through sponge city construction. The construction of urban and watershed scales is more inclined to ecological restoration and blue-green storage spaces construction. Besides, the paper also describes the due obligations in sponge city construction of various stakeholders.
La modernización del Acuerdo de Asociación UE-Chile: el fortalecimiento de una alianza para la inclusión social y la sustentabilidad ambiental
Authors: Hernández Beatriz
Published: May 2022

Este trabajo de investigación analiza los resultados del Acuerdo de Asociación (AA) entre la Unión Europea y Chile, que entró en vigor en 2003, hasta el presente, cuando se está negociando su modernización. Tras 19 años de vigencia del acuerdo, el contexto internacional ha cambiado tanto en sus dimensiones políticas como económicas, por lo que es importante analizar que papel pueden tener estos acuerdos frente a los retos de la recuperación pospandemia y de cara a los objetivos de ambas regiones en materia de autonomía estratégica, en el ámbito geopolítico, y de transición hacia nuevos modelos de desarrollo que den respuesta a retos compartidos, como el cambio climático, la transición ecológica, la digitalización, la inclusión social o la revitalización del multilateralismo.
Viewport-Driven Adaptive 360◦ Live Streaming Optimization Framework
Authors: Peng Shuai , Hu Jialu , Xiao Han , Yang Shujie , Xu Changqiao
Published: May 2022

Virtual reality (VR) video streaming and 360◦ panoramic video have received extensive attention in recent years, which can bring users an immersive experience. However, the ultra-high bandwidth and ultra-low latency requirements of virtual reality video or 360◦ panoramic video also put tremendous pressure on the carrying capacity of the current network. In fact, since the user’s field of view (a.k.a viewport) is limited when watching a panoramic video and users can only watch about 20%∼30% of the video content, it is not necessary to directly transmit all high-resolution content to the user. Therefore, predicting the user’s future viewing viewport can be crucial for selective streaming and further bitrate decisions. Combined with the tile-based adaptive bitrate (ABR) algorithm for panoramic video, video content within the user’s viewport can be transmitted at a higher resolution, while areas outside the viewport can be transmitted at a lower resolution. This paper mainly proposes a viewport-driven adaptive 360◦ live streaming optimization framework, which combines viewport prediction and ABR algorithm to optimize the transmission of live 360◦ panoramic video. However, existing viewport prediction always suffers from low prediction accuracy and does not support real-time performance. With the advantage of convolutional network (CNN) in image processing and long short-term memory (LSTM) in temporal series processing, we propose an online-updated viewport prediction model called LiveCL which mainly utilizes CNN to extract the spatial characteristics of video frames and LSTM to learn the temporal characteristics of the user’s viewport trajectories. With the help of the viewport prediction and ABR algorithm, unnecessary bandwidth consumption can be effectively reduced. The main contributions of this work include: (1) a framework for 360◦ video transmission is proposed; (2) an online real-time viewport prediction model called LiveCL is proposed to optimize 360◦ video transmission combined with a novel ABR algorithm, which outperforms the existing model. Based on the public 360◦ video dataset, the tile accuracy, recall, precision, and frame accuracy of LiveCL are better than those of the latest model. Combined with related adaptive bitrate algorithms, the proposed viewport prediction model can reduce the transmission bandwidth by about 50%.
Dilatadores vaginais produzidos por impressora 3D para uso em ginecologia
Authors: Chrispin Thyeres , Takano Claudia , Sartori Marair
Published: May 2022

A agenesia vaginal é uma malformação congênita do trato reprodutivo das mulheres causada por uma anomalia na formação dos ductos paramesonéfricos (Müller), que são responsáveis por originar os órgãos genitais internos no sexo feminino. Os dilatadores vaginais têm como objetivo promover a dilatação e conscientização da musculatura do assoalho pélvico em mulheres com alguma disfunção nesta área por meio de tratamento de caráter progressivo. Particularmente entre mulheres com agenesia vaginal, a criação de dilatadores vaginais personalizados à sua própria anatomia, com auxílio de impressão 3D, pode ser uma excelente alternativa terapêutica.
La Cour internationale de Justice face à la question des biens mal acquis : à propos de l’ordonnance du 7 décembre 2016 rendue dans l’affaire des Immunités et procédures pénales (Guinée Équatoriale c. France)
Authors: Pooter Hélène de
Published: May 2022

Proceedings have been instituted by Equatorial Guinea before the International Court of Justice in order to prevent the criminal prosecution of the son of the Head of State, Mr. Obiang Mangue, who is accused by French tribunals of money laundering in the context of ill-gotten property cases. The Court is confronted with the issue of abuse of rights. Since the incidental procedure during which requests for the indication of provisional measures are considered is not conducive to the examination of such a complex issue, the ICJ is cautious. Nonetheless, it only gives a very partial satisfaction to Equatorial Guinea with regard to the objective pursued by the referral. The Court agrees to order France to guarantee the inviolability of a private mansion which Mr. Obiang Mangue has long been free to dispose of, on the ground that it could house the premises of the diplomatic mission of Equatorial Guinea. However, the ICJ considers itself incompetent prima facie to issue measures concerning the person of Mr. Obiang Mangue, for which Equatorial Guinea claims immunity because of his status as Vice-President of the Republic, granted by his father a few days after the filing of the application.
Les suites du différend maritime opposant le Nicaragua et la Colombie : les arrêts rendus par la Cour internationale de Justice le 17 mars 2016 (exceptions préliminaires)
Authors: They Marine
Published: May 2022

Un an après la délimitation maritime effectuée par la CIJ dans l’affaire du Différend territorial et maritime (Nicaragua c. Colombie) le 19 novembre 2012, le Nicaragua a introduit devant la Cour deux nouvelles requêtes qui en constituent la suite directe. La Colombie a soulevé des exceptions préliminaires pour la plupart rejetées dans les arrêts rendus le 17 mars 2016, sur lesquels la décision précédente a d’ailleurs eu une portée décisive. Les juges ont dû établir leur compétence ratione temporis (la Colombie ayant dénoncé le Pacte de Bogotá le 27 novembre 2012) et ratione materiae. Il a également fallu interpréter le dispositif de l’arrêt de 2012 en vue de déterminer si le principe de l’autorité de la chose jugée trouvait à s’appliquer à l’une des demandes formulées par le Nicaragua, et se prononcer sur la possible articulation de la mission juridictionnelle attribuée à la Cour avec la fonction d’expertise technique confiée à la Commission des limites du plateau continental.
La sentence partielle du 30 juin 2016 dans l’affaire du différend territorial et maritime entre la Croatie et la Slovénie
Authors: Castellarin Emanuel
Published: May 2022

La sentence partielle du 30 juin 2016 met fin à de sérieuses difficultés de la procédure arbitrale pour le règlement du différend territorial et maritime entre la Croatie et la Slovénie. En juillet 2015, alors que le Tribunal arbitral s’apprête à rendre la sentence au fond, des journaux révèlent des contacts illicites entre la Slovénie et l’un des arbitres. Face à la volonté de la Croatie de mettre fin à la convention d’arbitrage et à son refus de participer à la procédure, le Tribunal partiellement recomposé décide que la convention d’arbitrage reste en vigueur et qu’il doit rendre une sentence au fond. La sentence partielle traite plusieurs questions de procédure et de droit des traités, en partie nouvelles ou inhabituelles. Le Tribunal fait une application nouvelle du principe de compétence de la compétence et des pouvoirs inhérents à la fonction juridictionnelle. En outre, il effectue l’une des rares applications contentieuses des articles 60 et 65 de la Convention de Vienne sur le droit des traités et analyse le respect de l’intégrité de la procédure en tant que condition de sa compétence.
L’affaire de la délimitation maritime Timor-Leste/ Australie : première ‘conciliation obligatoire’ engagée sur le fondement de la convention de Montego Bay sur le droit de la mer
Authors: Laval Pierre-François
Published: May 2022

Le différend maritime qui oppose le Timor-Leste à l’Australie a donné lieu à la première procédure dite de «conciliation obligatoire » engagée sur le fondement de l’article 298 et de l’annexe V de la Convention des Nations unies sur le droit de la mer. La décision rendue par la Commission de conciliation le 19 septembre 2016 au sujet des exceptions d’incompétence soulevées par l’Australie apporte d’utiles éclaircissements sur les conditions dans lesquelles les États parties peuvent recourir à ce mécanisme original de résolution des litiges, et sur la place que ce dernier occupe dans la complexe architecture des procédures de règlement mise en place par la Convention de 1982. À un titre plus général, la décision de la Commission rend compte de l’étroite proximité que la conciliation obligatoire entretient avec les procédures juridictionnelles, plus habituellement mises en oeuvre en matière de délimitation maritime.
Différend en mer de Chine méridionale (Philippines c. Chine), sentence arbitrale du 12 juillet 2016
Authors: Le Boeuf Romain
Published: May 2022

The award adopted on July 12, 2016 by the Arbitral Tribunal established to settle the dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea provides legal answers to most of the questions raised by the Philippines’ Government. This decision confirms, develops or clarifies some crucial aspects of the Law of the Sea. However, the impact of the decision remains uncertain. China has persistently challenged the validity of the procedure and the Philippines do not seem to claim strongly for the respect of the award, even though it was issued in their favour. Those uncertainties cast doubt on the relevance of some of the solutions opted for by the arbitrators.
Les droits des victimes de disparition forcée devant la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme : la nécessité de la fertilisation croisée avec le système interaméricain
Authors: Esteve Moltó José Elías
Published: May 2022

La jurisprudence de la Cour EDH a progressivement étendu sa protection aux victimes de disparitions forcées. Les décisions rendues dans les affaires concernant la «guerre sale » de la Turquie contre les militants kurdes du PKK et les Chypriotes grecs ou la guerre de la Russie contre la dissidence tchétchène ont fini par reconnaître que les disparitions forcées constituent une violation de droits multiples. Mais malgré les progrès réalisés, les actions espagnoles menées en justice concernant les disparitions forcées des victimes de la guerre civile de ce pays et du franquisme n’ont pas été prises en considération par la Cour EDH. La reconnaissance partielle du droit à la vérité, la remise en cause du caractère permanent ou continu du crime et son imprescriptibilité, et la limitation des réparations octroyées aux victimes des disparitions forcées au niveau européen obligent à réaliser un exercice de fertilisation croisée visant à intégrer l’activité judiciaire pionnière de la Cour IADH en ce qui concerne la lutte contre l’impunité.
La déclaration de New York pour les réfugiés et les migrants
Authors: Kamto Maurice
Published: May 2022

Les déplacements massifs des réfugiés et des migrants est un phénomène mondial qui appelle une approche globale. Pour la première fois, la communauté internationale s’est donnée un cadre général d’analyse, d’action et de suivi de ce phénomène, appelé Déclaration de New York pour les réfugiés et les migrants. Il s’agit d’un instrument non contraignant, qui apparaît comme un catalogue d’engagements politiques formulés sur la base ou autour des principaux principes applicables à la migration de masse. Au-delà de ces engagements pris collectivement par les États vis-à-vis d’eux-mêmes, la Déclaration laisse apercevoir quelques défis auxquels les États membres de l’Organisation mondiale devront faire face dans la gestion des déplacements massifs des réfugiés et des migrants, et expose dans ses annexes la résolution de ces États à combler le vide juridique existant en cette matière, en particulier en adoptant en 2018 un Pacte mondial à ce sujet.
Le New Space ou la privatisation des ambitions spatiales des États – Réflexions sur le droit de l’espace à l’heure de l’innovation entrepreneuriale
Authors: Achilleas Philippe
Published: May 2022

Le New Space représente un mouvement né aux États-Unis qui résulte du souhait du gouvernement d’encourager l’entreprenariat innovant pour assurer la réalisation de certains programmes spatiaux jusqu’alors entrepris par la NASA. Il s’est traduit par l’arrivée de nouveaux acteurs dans des secteurs tels que le transport spatial ou les vols habités qui représentent les éléments de définition de la puissance spatiale. Ce mouvement a conduit à une évolution du droit de l’espace par l’adoption de lois et de politiques nationales prenant en compte les intérêts de l’exploitation spatiale par des acteurs privés. Le New Space s’est également traduit par la volonté de certains États d’accélérer le développement du droit de l’espace sur une base nationale, laissant de côté l’esprit de coopération qui a guidé l’adoption des traités spatiaux par l’ONU. Le New Space, se caractérise aujourd’hui par le développement de projets, parfois futuristes et longtemps considérés comme irréalisables, mais qui font dorénavant l’objet de recherches et d’investissements. Qu’il s’agisse du tourisme suborital, du lancement de mégaconstellations de satellites, de l’exploitation minière des corps célestes ou de la colonisation de l’espace, ces activités soulèvent de nombreuses questions juridiques.
La dette souveraine grecque entre le marteau de la stricte conditionnalité et l’enclume des droits fondamentaux : quelques réflexions sur le statut international et européen des mesures d’austérité
Authors: Prezas Ioannis
Published: May 2022

Les mesures d’austérité adoptées par la Grèce depuis 2010 en contrepartie de programmes d’assistance financière ont eu un impact grave sur les droits économiques et sociaux. Leur compatibilité avec les standards internationaux et européens soulève ainsi un certain nombre de doutes. D’une part, le Comité des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels a récemment interprété le Pacte par une Déclaration qui semble assouplir le standard de non-régression appliqué à un Etat surendetté, tout en cherchant à établir la responsabilité, passablement illusoire, des autres acteurs impliqués dans la gestion de sa dette souveraine, tels les institutions financières internationales et leurs États membres. D’autre part, même si la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’Union européenne peut être applicable aux mesures d’austérité grecques, la constitutionnalisation de la stricte conditionnalité comme moyen pour atteindre l’objectif de stabilité financière de la zone euro risque de neutraliser le potentiel de cet instrument.
Urinary Sulfate, Kidney Failure, and Death in CKD: The African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension
Authors: Azim Aniqa , Murray Jennifer , Beddhu Srinivasan , Raphael Kalani L.
Published: May 2022

Key Points

Higher urine sulfate levels were associated with more favorable outcomes in Blacks with kidney disease attributed to hypertension.

These findings are independent of dietary protein intake, suggesting that sulfate has an effect on health above and beyond protein intake.

Background

Sulfur is an important mineral element whose principal source is animal protein. Animal protein contributes to the daily acid load, which is associated with poor outcomes in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesized that higher urinary sulfate, as a reflection of the daily acid load, is associated with a greater risk of death and CKD progression.

Methods

Urinary sulfate was measured in 1057 African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK) participants at baseline. Participants were categorized by tertiles of daily sulfate excretion. The longitudinal outcome of interest was the composite of death, dialysis, or 50% reduction in measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Multivariable adjusted Cox regression models were fit to relate the composite outcome to daily sulfate excretion using the lowest tertile as the reference.

Results

Participants in the highest urinary sulfate tertile were more likely to be men and have a higher body mass index, protein intake, measured GFR, and urinary ammonium and phosphate excretion, and lower urinary protein/creatinine. Compared with those in the lowest tertile of sulfate, those in the highest tertile had a 44% lower hazard (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.84), and those in the middle tertile had a 27% lower hazard (95% CI, 0.55 to 0.96) of death, dialysis, or 50% reduction in measured GFR during follow-up after adjusting for demographics, GFR, protein intake, and other potential confounders. Protein intake was not associated with risk of these events.

Conclusions

Higher urinary sulfate excretion is associated with more favorable outcomes in Blacks who have CKD attributed to hypertension.
Levels of Lead in Residential Drinking Water and Iron Deficiency among Patients with End Stage Kidney Disease
Authors: Danziger John , Mukamal Kenneth J.
Published: May 2022

Key Points

Low levels of drinking water lead contamination are associated with an increased risk of iron deficiency among those with kidney disease.

Black people seem particularly susceptible to the association of lead contamination and iron deficiency.

Background

Although those with kidney disease may have heightened susceptibility to heavy metal toxicity, whether low levels of drinking water lead contamination have clinical consequence is unknown.

Methods

Given that lead toxicity is known to associate with iron deficiency, we merged data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Information and United States Renal Data Systems to examine whether municipal 90th percentile drinking water lead levels associate with iron deficiency among incident dialysis patients. Iron deficiency was defined across thresholds of transferrin saturation (<10% and 20%) and ferritin (<100 and <200 ng/ml), and simultaneous transferrin saturation <20% and ferritin <200 ng/ml, all obtained within 30 days of dialysis initiation. The average 90th percentile of drinking water lead samples per patient city of residence over a 5-year period before dialysis initiation was examined at the <1 μg/L level of detection, and at the 25th, 50th, and 100th percentile of the EPA’s actionable level (15 μg/L).

Results

Among 143,754 incident ESKD patients, those in cities with drinking water lead contamination had 1.06 (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.09), 1.06 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.10), and 1.07 (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.11) higher adjusted odds of a transferrin saturation <20%, ferritin <200 ng/ml, and simultaneous transferrin saturation <20% and ferritin <200 ng/ml, respectively. These associations were apparent across the range of lead levels found commonly in the United States and were significantly greater among Black patients (multiplicative interaction P values between lead and race <0.05).

Conclusions

Even exposure to low levels of lead contamination, as commonly found in US drinking water, may have adverse hematologic consequence in patients with advanced kidney disease. These associations are particularly evident among Black people and, although consistent with other environmental injustices facing minorities in the United States, might reflect a greater susceptibility to lead intoxication.
Prácticas políticas en clave de género
Authors: Camarero Gimena
Published: May 2022

El presente artículo aborda las prácticas políticas que despliegan mujeres y hombres que habitan en un sector de las islas del delta inferior del río Paraná para defender su derecho al territorio. El trabajo se enfoca en las prácticas cotidianas de resistencia territorial de isleñas e isleños, las cuales se organizan de acuerdo con los espacios y roles habilitados por el régimen de género local. A partir de dicho eje, se analizan las relaciones de poder entre géneros y los modos en que el poder se construye, legitima y circula.
The karst and palaeokarst of North and North-East Greenland – physical records of cryptic geological intervals
Authors: Smith Paul , Moseley Gina
Published: May 2022

Carbonate rocks of Neoproterozoic to Silurian age are abundantly distributed around the coasts of North and North-East Greenland. Palaeokarst horizons are particularly well developed within the Portfjeld Formation (Ediacaran – earliest Cambrian) and beneath the Buen Formation (Cambrian Series 2), and there are caves within Ordovician limestones infilled by Caledonian molasse of Middle Devonian age. The youngest karst is a series of caves distributed from Hall Land in western North Greenland to Kronprins Christian Land in eastern North Greenland. Caves within Ordovician carbonates in Freuchen Land are currently the northernmost documented karst caves globally. The caves are mainly open phreatic conduits, any fill that is present is unlithified, and cave collapse is limited to minor breakdown associated with frost shattering. These geologically young caves are consistently located up to a few 100 m beneath the distinctive plateau that characterises the topography of the northern coast, and their identical context suggests that they developed in a single phase of speleogenesis. The caves are exposed where the plateau has been incised by outlet glaciers from the Greenland ice sheet. The timing of cave development in North Greenland is constrained by the mid- to late-Miocene (15–5 Ma) uplift of the plateau surface and the onset of fjord-forming glaciation in the latest Pliocene – earliest Pleistocene (c. 2.7–2.5 Ma). The evidence suggests that phreatic caves in the southern part of North-East Greenland, on C. H. Ostenfeld Nunatak, are of a broadly similar age. The caves of North and North-East Greenland offer a glimpse of large-scale phreatic drainage systems that developed below an uplifted coastal peneplain during Neogene time. They preserve an important part of the geological history of North and North-East Greenland that is otherwise absent from the physical geological record.
Aula virtual de Moodle para motivar el aprendizaje de educación física en la Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam
Authors: Rivadeneira-Garcia Alejandro
Published: May 2022

La pandemia de COVID-19 obligó a una transición de un modelo de educación presencial, a uno netamente virtual, para lo cual se volvió imprescindible la implementación de aulas virtuales. Esto fue un reto en la asignatura de educación física, debido a que se desarrollaba exclusivamente de manera presencial. De tal manera que el objetivo de esta investigación fue implementar y evaluar un aula virtual en Moodle, empleando una serie de herramientas TIC para fomentar el aprendizaje de la asignatura mencionada. La metodología empleada consistió en el diseño de un aula virtual fundamentada en el modelo pedagógico del constructivismo y apoyado en la estrategia metodológica del ERCA (Experiencia, Reflexión, Construcción y Aplicación), apoyado en herramientas digitales y una posterior evaluación mediante una encuesta a los alumnos. Como parte de los resultados se determinó que el 68.6% cuenta con una laptop o computadora y el 85.7% tiene Internet en casa. A su vez, se determinó que el 85.2% consideró que el aula virtual empleada y todos sus componentes contribuyeron de manera significativa al aprendizaje de educación física, logrando reducir el sedentarismo e insertando en su rutina diaria actividades físicas.
Deterioro cognitivo y depresión en adultos mayores: una revisión sistemática de los últimos 5 años
Authors: Parada Muñoz Karina , Guapisaca Juca Jorge Fabián , Bueno Pacheco Gladys Alexandra
Published: May 2022

El deterioro cognitivo y la depresión son padecimientos frecuentes durante el envejecimiento y pueden estar asociados a la edad; sin embargo, varios estudios indican que suelen presentarse de manera conjunta y la coexistencia de estas dos patologías disminuyen la calidad de vida en la tercera edad. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar la relación entre depresión y deterioro cognitivo en los adultos mayores, para lo cual se efectuó una revisión bibliográfica mediante el análisis de investigaciones publicadas en revistas que son parte de la base de datos como Scopus, ScienceDirect, Elsevier y PubMed, desde el año 2015 hasta el 2021. Los estudios revisados mostraron que la depresión y el deterioro tienen una relación, tanto directa (una interviene en la otra), como indirecta, y que a su vez, existen factores asociados en común como la edad, enfermedades concomitantes, factores psicosociales y biológicos. Todo esto afecta el bienestar del adulto mayor y en la actualidad se trata de mitigar este efecto con programas de protección y ayuda en la tercera edad.