bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID‐19 crisis highlights disparities among students
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: June 2020

In his role as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Salvador B. Mena, Ph.D., couldn't help but notice how the COVID‐19 crisis highlighted the glaring disparities among students enrolled at Rutgers University‐New Brunswick, located in one of the nation's hot spots, in central New Jersey, just under 40 miles from New York City.
Cross talk between mesenchymal and glioblastoma stem cells: Communication beyond controversies
Authors: Bajetto Adriana , Thellung Stefano , Dellacasagrande Irene , Pagano Aldo , Barbieri Federica , Florio Tullio
Published: June 2020

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from bone marrow or other adult tissues (adipose tissue, dental pulp, amniotic fluid, and umbilical cord). In vitro, MSCs grow as adherent cells, display fibroblast-like morphology, and self-renew, undergoing specific mesodermal differentiation. High heterogeneity of MSCs from different origin, and differences in preparation techniques, make difficult to uniform their functional properties for therapeutic purposes. Immunomodulatory, migratory, and differentiation ability, fueled clinical MSC application in regenerative medicine, whereas beneficial effects are currently mainly ascribed to their secretome and extracellular vesicles. MSC translational potential in cancer therapy exploits putative anti-tumor activity and inherent tropism toward tumor sites to deliver cytotoxic drugs. However, controversial results emerged evaluating either the therapeutic potential or homing efficiency of MSCs, as both antitumor and protumor effects were reported. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor and its development and aggressive nature is sustained by cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the identification of effective therapeutic is required. MSC dualistic action, tumor-promoting or tumor-targeting, is dependent on secreted factors and extracellular vesicles driving a complex cross talk between MSCs and GBM CSCs. Tumor-tropic ability of MSCs, besides providing an alternative therapeutic approach, could represent a tool to understand the biology of GBM CSCs and related paracrine mechanisms, underpinning MSC-GBM interactions. In this review, recent findings on the complex nature of MSCs will be highlighted, focusing on their elusive impact on GBM progression and aggressiveness by direct cell-cell interaction and via secretome, also facing the perspectives and challenges in treatment strategies.
Accelerating the development of phase‐change random access memory with in‐fab plasma profiling time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Nolot Emmanuel , Mazel Yann , Barnes Jean‐Paul , Sabbione Chiara , Navarro Gabriele , Tempez Agnes , Legendre Sébastien
Published: June 2020

We demonstrate the potential of using plasma profiling time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (PP‐TOFMS) to accelerate process developments for phase‐change random access memory (PCRAM) applications, which require advanced materials with composition‐driven properties. We assess the performances of PP‐TOFMS for the chemical depth‐profiling of GeSbTe phase change materials, first after deposition steps to investigate the top surface layer and the incorporation of silicon into the amorphous matrix, then after the thermal annealing step to refine in situ capping strategies, and finally in close loop with etching process steps. Comparison of reference‐free semiquantitative PP‐TOFMS analysis based on ion beam ratio with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry shows remarkable agreement (~10% relative). PP‐TOFMS proves to be a fast screening tool, which allows process monitoring and selection of samples that indeed need more complex analysis.
First steps toward gender equity in the chemistry Olympiad: Understanding the role of implicitgender‐sciencestereotypes
Authors: Steegh Anneke , Höffler Tim , Höft Lars , Parchmann Ilka
Published: June 2020

Girls are underrepresented in mathematical and science Olympiads, global informal learning activities which often serve as stepping stones for admission to top universities and future STEM careers. The present article aims to investigate the role of implicit gender‐science stereotypes on representation and achievement among participants of the German Chemistry Olympiad using a cross‐sectional online study (N= 445, mean age 16.5 years, 51% female) entailing the Implicit Association Test and two motivational scales. This study was the first of its kind to use moderated mediation analysis to examine the effects of gender‐science stereotypes on participation and achievement, mediated by the expectancy and value beliefs self‐concept and topic interest. We found that in the female group, gender‐science stereotypes negatively predicted the participants' willingness to continue in the competition. This relationship was mediated through topic interest. In addition, we found self‐concept predictive for further participation among female participants, as well as for competition score among both gender groups. Furthermore, topic interest positively predicted male participants' willingness to continue with the competition. The results underline the negative association of implicit gender stereotypes with female participation in the German Chemistry Olympiad. Organizations such as the German Chemistry Olympiad should therefore critically reflect on existing gender biases within their own structure. In doing so they can create an environment that has the potential to heighten self‐concept and interest for all participants equally. Our findings add to existing expectancy‐value research in the context of gender differences in mathematics and science, supporting potential strategies toward gender equity.
Long‐term digital device‐enabled monitoring of functional status: Implications for management of persons with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Manley Natalie A. , Bayen Eléonore , Braley Tamara L. , Merrilees Jennifer , Clark Amy M. , Zylstra Bradley , Schaffer Michael , Bayen Alexandre M. , Possin Katherine L. , Miller Bruce L. , Schenk A. Katrin , Bonasera Stephen J.
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Informal caregiving is an essential element of health‐care delivery. Little data describes how caregivers structure care recipients’ lives and impact their functional status.

Methods

We performed observational studies of community dwelling persons with dementia (PWD) to measure functional status by simultaneous assessment of physical activity (PA) and lifespace (LS). We present data from two caregiver/care‐recipient dyads representing higher and average degrees of caregiver involvement.

Results

We acquired >42,800 (subject 1); >41,300 (subject 2) PA data points and >154,500 (subject 1); >119,700 (subject 2) LS data points over 15 months of near continuous observation. PA and LS patterns provided insights into the caregiver's role in structuring the PWD's day‐to‐day function and change in function over time.

Discussion

We show that device‐enabled functional monitoring (FM) can successfully gather and display data at resolutions required for dementia care studies. Objective quantification of individual caregiver/care‐recipient dyads provides opportunities to implement patient‐centered care.
The top 5 FERPA sections: Practical applications, part 7, what happens when someone really messes up
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: June 2020

‘If Plan A doesn't work, go to Plan B … you do have a Plan B, don't you?’
Virtual graduation allows LGBTQ students to celebrate past amid uncertain future
Authors: Enos Gary A.
Published: June 2020

A May 8 virtual graduation ceremony co‐organized by the Human Rights Campaign served not only to celebrate the achievements of LGBTQ students, but also to acknowledge the disproportionate impact the COVID‐19 crisis has had on many as it forced them away from campus life.
Lead team through challenging times with communication, creative solutions
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: June 2020

When Amanda Steele‐Middleton started her new position as University Registrar at the University of Delaware earlier this year, her plan was to listen to how things worked in the office for the next six months. She didn't expect to make major changes until the six months ended. Her family would follow her to Delaware after her kids finished out the school year in Ohio, where Steele‐Middleton previously served as University Registrar at Wright State University.
Chronisch entzündliche Darmerkrankungen – die biopsychosoziale Realität im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Authors: Krohn Kathrin , Pfeifer Michaela , Manzey Petra , Koletzko Sibylle
Published: June 2020

Chronisch entzündliche Darmerkrankungen (CED) im Kindes- und Jugendalter nehmen zu. Diese komplexen Erkrankungen haben typischerweise einen unvorhersehbaren und oft schubweisen Verlauf. Diese Übersichtsarbeit dient der Darstellung der psychosozialen Folgen und Risiken bei chronisch entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter vor dem Hintergrund der wesentlichen medizinischen Aspekte.

Diagnostik und Therapie der CED sollten von Kindergastroenterologen gesteuert werden. Obere und untere Endoskopie mit Stufenbiopsien und bildgebende Verfahren sind die Eckpfeiler der Diagnostik. Therapeutisch kommen immunmodulierende und immunsuppressive Medikamente, Ernährungstherapie und chirurgische Interventionen zum Einsatz. Die Erkrankung selbst mit ihren vielfältigen Beschwerden und Komplikationen, aber auch die diagnostischen und therapeutischen Verfahren und die Sorge vor Nebenwirkungen sind für die jungen Patienten und ihre Familien mit vielfältigen Belastungen verbunden. Einschränkungen der Lebensqualität, psychische Erkrankungen und negative Auswirkungen auf Sozialleben, Schule und Berufsausbildung können die Folge sein. Eine interdisziplinäre umfassende Betreuung der Patienten unter Einbeziehung der verschiedenen Berufsgruppen (ärztlich, psychologisch, sozialpädagogisch, ernährungstherapeutisch und pflegerisch) sind notwendige Voraussetzungen, diesen komplex kranken Kindern und Jugendlichen sowie ihren Familien gerecht zu werden.
Groin Hernia Surgery in Uganda: Caseloads and Practices at Hospitals Operating Within the Publicly Funded Healthcare Sector
Authors: Matovu Alphonsus , Nordin Pär , Wladis Andreas , Ajiko Mary Margaret , Löfgren Jenny
Published: June 2020

Background

Groin hernia is a major public health problem with over 200 million people affected. The unmet need for surgery is greatest in Sub‐Saharan Africa where specialist surgeons are few. This study was carried out in Uganda to investigate caseloads and practices of groin hernia surgery at publicly funded hospitals.

Methods

The study employed mixed methods covering 29 hospitals: the National Referral Hospital (NRH), 14 Regional Referral Hospitals (RRH) and 14 General Hospitals (GH). In part one of the study, surgeons and medical doctors performing hernia repair were interviewed about their practices and experiences of groin hernia surgery. In part two, operating theater records from 2013 to 2014 from the participating hospitals were reviewed and information about groin hernia operations collected.

Results

All respondents reported that sutured repair was the first‐choice method. A total of 5518 groin hernia repairs were performed at the participating hospitals, i.e., an annual hernia repair rate of 7/100 000 population. Of the patients operated, almost 16% were women and 24% were children. Local anesthesia (LA) was used in 40% of the cases, and non‐surgeon physicians performed 70.3% of the groin hernia repairs.

Conclusion

Groin hernia repair outputs need to increase along with the training of surgical providers in modern hernia repair methods. Methods and outcomes for hernia repair in women and children should be investigated to improve the quality of care.
New strategies for managing adult gliomas
Authors: Kirby Alastair J. , Finnerty Gerald T.
Published: June 2020

Gliomas are hard to treat. Their prognosis has improved little over the past few decades. Fundamental therapeutic challenges such as treatment resistance, malignant progression, and tumour recurrence persist. New strategies are needed to advance the management and treatment of gliomas. Here, we focus on where those new strategies could emerge. We consider how recent advances in our understanding of the biology of adult gliomas are informing new approaches to their treatment.
Change over time in ability to perform activities of daily living in myotonic dystrophy type 1
Authors: Landfeldt Erik , Nikolenko Nikoletta , Jimenez-Moreno Cecilia , Cumming Sarah , Monckton Darren G. , Faber Catharina G. , Merkies Ingemar S. J. , Gorman Grainne , Turner Chris , Lochmüller Hanns
Published: June 2020

Objective

The objective of this longitudinal, observational study was to investigate change over time in ability to perform activities of daily living in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).

Methods

Adults with genetically confirmed DM1 were recruited as part of the PhenoDM1 study in the UK. Data on activities of daily living were recorded through the DM1-ActivCat baseline and a follow-up visit after 12 (± 3) months. A subset of patients had advanced genetic testing to determine the size of the progenitor allele.

Results

Our sample comprised 150 patients with DM1 (mean age: 45 years; 52% female). Mean follow-up was 383 days. Mean DM1-ActivCtotal score at baseline was 71.24 (95% confidence interval 67.77–74.71) and at the follow-up visit 69.04 (65.54–72.54). Approximately 43% of patients had a lower score at the follow-up visit (indicating a decreased ability to perform activities of daily living), 24% a higher score (indicating an increased ability), and 33% the same score at baseline and follow-up. The mean annual change in the DM1-ActivCtotal score, estimated at − 2.06 (− 3.54 to − 0.59), was significantly related to patients’ baseline score, but not sex, disease duration, timed test results, or cytosine-thymine-guanine repeat length.

Conclusions

Change over time in ability to perform activities of daily living as recorded through the DM1-ActivCvaries substantially between patients with DM1. Our data contribute to the understanding of the natural evolution of the disease, and should be helpful to inform the design of future trials based on the DM1-ActivC.
A high-order FEM formulation for free and forced vibration analysis of a nonlocal nonlinear graded Timoshenko nanobeam based on the weak form quadrature element method
Authors: Trabelssi M. , El-Borgi S. , Friswell M. I.
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this paper is to provide a high-order finite element method (FEM) formulation of nonlocal nonlinear nonlocal graded Timoshenko based on the weak form quadrature element method (WQEM). This formulation offers the advantages and flexibility of the FEM without its limiting low-order accuracy. The nanobeam theory accounts for the von Kármán geometric nonlinearity in addition to Eringen’s nonlocal constitutive models. For the sake of generality, a nonlinear foundation is included in the formulation. The proposed formulation generates high-order derivative terms that cannot be accounted for using regular first- or second-order interpolation functions. Hamilton’s principle is used to derive the variational statement which is discretized using WQEM. The results of a WQEM free vibration study are assessed using data obtained from a similar problem solved by the differential quadrature method (DQM). The study shows that WQEM can offer the same accuracy as DQM with a reduced computational cost. Currently the literature describes a small number of high-order numerical forced vibration problems, the majority of which are limited to DQM. To obtain forced vibration solutions using WQEM, the authors propose two different methods to obtain frequency response curves. The obtained results indicate that the frequency response curves generated by either method closely match their DQM counterparts obtained from the literature, and this is despite the low mesh density used for the WQEM systems.
Tropical Biogeomorphic Seagrass Landscapes for Coastal Protection: Persistence and Wave Attenuation During Major Storms Events
Authors: James R. K. , Lynch A. , Herman P. M. J. , van Katwijk M. M. , van Tussenbroek B. I. , Dijkstra H. A. , van Westen R. M. , van der Boog C. G. , Klees R. , Pietrzak J. D. , Slobbe C. , Bouma T. J.
Published: June 2020

The intensity of major storm events generated within the Atlantic Basin is projected to rise with the warming of the oceans, which is likely to exacerbate coastal erosion. Nature-based flood defence has been proposed as a sustainable and effective solution to protect coastlines. However, the ability of natural ecosystems to withstand major storms like tropical hurricanes has yet to be thoroughly tested. Seagrass meadows both stabilise sediment and attenuate waves, providing effective coastal protection services for sandy beaches. To examine the tolerance of Caribbean seagrass meadows to extreme storm events, and to investigate the extent of protection they deliver to beaches, we employed a combination of field surveys, biomechanical measurements and wave modelling simulations. Field surveys of seagrass meadows before and after a direct hit by the category 5 Hurricane Irma documented that established seagrass meadows of Thalassia testudinum remained unaltered after the extreme storm event. The flexible leaves and thalli of seagrass and calcifying macroalgae inhabiting the meadows were shown to sustain the wave forces that they are likely to experience during hurricanes. In addition, the seagrass canopy and the complex biogeomorphic landscape built by the seagrass meadows combine to significantly dissipate extreme wave forces, ensuring that erosion is minimised within sandy beach foreshores. The persistence of the Caribbean seagrass meadows and their coastal protection services during extreme storm events ensures that a stable coastal ecosystem and beach foreshore is maintained in tropical regions.
Causal exclusion without causal sufficiency
Authors: Vaassen Bram
Published: June 2020

Some non-reductionists claim that so-called ‘exclusion arguments’ against their position rely on a notion ofcausal sufficiencythat is particularly problematic. I argue that such concerns about the role of causal sufficiency in exclusion arguments are relatively superficial since exclusionists can address them by reformulating exclusion arguments in terms ofphysical sufficiency. The resulting exclusion arguments still face familiar problems, but these are not related to the choice between causal sufficiency and physical sufficiency. The upshot is that objections to the notion of causal sufficiency can be answered in a straightforward fashion and that such objections therefore do not pose a serious threat to exclusion arguments.
No Future, No Training? Explaining Cross-national Variation in the Effect of Job Tasks On Training Participation
Authors: Ehlert Martin
Published: June 2020

Access to further training among adults on the labor market is unequally distributed. In particular, workers in occupations that are likely to be replaced by machines in the future participate less in training. This is mainly because of the job tasks they conduct: workers conducting routine tasks are more likely both to be replaced and to receive less training. As a consequence, technological change may lead to further polarization on the labor market. However, this trend may be cushioned by educational and labor market institutions. In this article, to assess the impact of institutions, the association between job tasks and participation in non-formal job-related training is analyzed in 24 countries from the first and second rounds of the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Multilevel regression analysis is applied to test the influence of macro variables on the task gradient in training. The results reveal that tasks are important predictors of training participation in all countries. Comparing the effects across countries, it is found that tracking in initial education increases inequality in training participation owing to abstract tasks. Vocational orientation, on the other hand, reduces the effect. Furthermore, collective bargaining coverage decreases the effects of tasks on training, whereas strong employment protection legislation increases them. This indicates that the inclusiveness of lifelong learning is already influenced by the initial educational system. Strong unions and dynamic labor markets further enhance access to additional training among vulnerable workers.
Impact of pertinent parameters on foam behavior in the entrance region of porous media: mathematical modeling
Authors: Samimi Fereshteh , Sakhaei Zahra , Riazi Masoud
Published: June 2020

Foam injection is a promising solution for control of mobility in oil and gas field exploration and development, including enhanced oil recovery, matrix-acidization treatments, contaminated-aquifer remediation and gas leakage prevention. This study presents a numerical investigation of foam behavior in a porous medium. Fractional flow method is applied to describe steady-state foam displacement in the entrance region. In this model, foam flow for the cases of excluding and including capillary pressure and for two types of gas, nitrogen (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are investigated. Effects of pertinent parameters are also verified. Results indicate that the foam texture strongly governs foam flow in porous media. Required entrance region may be quite different for foam texture to accede local equilibrium, depending on the case and physical properties that are used. According to the fact that the aim of foaming of injected gas is to reduce gas mobility, results show that CO2 is a more proper injecting gas than N2. There are also some ideas presented here on improvement in foam displacement process. This study will provide an insight into future laboratory research and development of full-field foam flow in a porous medium.
Applicability of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for improving rheological and filtration properties of bentonite-water drilling fluids in the presence of sodium, calcium, and magnesium chlorides
Authors: Rezaei Alireza , Nooripoor Vahid , Shahbazi Khalil
Published: June 2020

There are impressive efforts in conjunction with improving rheological and filtration properties of Water-Based Drilling Fluids (WBDFs) employing Nano-Particles (NPs). However, NPs’ performance in the presence of different salts has not been well assessed. This study intends to investigate the effect of Fe3O4 NPs on rheological and filtration properties of bentonite-water drilling fluids exposed to NaCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2 salts. To reach the goal specified for this study, three 0.5, 1 and 2 wt% NP concentrations, separately, were added into a salt-free and three salt-contaminated bentonite-water drilling fluids (four base fluids). So, 16 different drilling fluids were prepared for this research. The rheological models obtained by six shear rates, apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point, gel strength, and cutting carrying ability of all the drilling fluids are described in the paper. Moreover, API fluid losses (under 100 psi differential pressure), the cakes’ thickness, and the cakes’ permeability compared to the same as the salt-free base fluid, are interpreted to evaluate the NPs’ performance on filtration control ability of all the drilling fluids. The results showed that the salts weaken the rheological and filtration properties of the salt-free base fluid, while Fe3O4 NPs sustain and improve the rheological properties of salt-free and salty drilling fluids, significantly. Nano-sized Fe3O4 weakens the filtration properties of the salt-free WBDF, but it is a suitable filtration control agent for salt-contaminated drilling fluids. In a sentence, nano-Fe3O4 is a suitable additive to enhance salty-WBDFs’ performance.
Own Data? Ethical Reflections on Data Ownership
Authors: Hummel Patrik , Braun Matthias , Dabrock Peter
Published: June 2020

In discourses on digitization and the data economy, it is often claimed that data subjects shall beownersof their data. In this paper, we provide a problem diagnosis for such calls fordata ownership: a large variety of demands are discussed under this heading. It thus becomes challenging to specify what—if anything—unites them. We identify four conceptual dimensions of calls for data ownership and argue that these help to systematize and to compare different positions. In view of this pluralism of data ownership claims, we introduce, spell out and defend a constructive interpretative proposal: claims for data ownership are charitably understood as attempts to call for theredistributionof material resources and the socio-culturalrecognitionof data subjects. We argue that as one consequence of this reading, it misses the point to reject claims for data ownership on the grounds that property in data does not exist. Instead, data ownership brings to attention a claim to renegotiate such aspects of thestatus quo.
Hyperprolaktinämie aus gynäkologischer Sicht
Authors: Hancke K. , Weiss J. M.
Published: June 2020

Eine Hyperprolaktinämie kann idiopathisch bedingt sein oder physiologisch im Rahmen von Schwangerschaft, Stillzeit, Stress, Schlaf oder körperlicher Aktivität vorkommen. Andererseits können eine Hypophysen- oder Hypophysenstielpathologie, Wechselwirkungen durch Medikamente, eine Hypothyreose oder Niereninsuffizienz eine Hyperprolaktinämie verursachen. Die Symptome können ganz gering ausgeprägt sein oder sich sehr vielfältig im Sinne einer Oligo‑/Amenorrhö, einer Galaktorrhö oder eines unerfüllten Kinderwunsches darstellen. In dieser Übersichtsarbeit sollen die verschiedenen Aspekte der Hyperprolaktinämie aus gynäkologischer Sicht dargestellt werden.
Advocating Sex Workers’ Rights by Identity-Based Associations in Nepal
Authors: TANAKA Masako
Published: June 2020

There is no specific law in Nepal that directly criminalizes sex work. However, many sex workers have experienced arbitrary detention by law-enforcement authorities. The Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2007 (HTTCA) criminalizes pimps and clients, but not sex workers directly. However, the Act was overinclusive and often criminalized women engaged in voluntary sex work. The new Criminal (Code) Act 2017 criminalizes advertising and providing facilities for sex work in the section concerning crimes against the public good. These laws are used to prosecute sex workers. Two identity-based associations (IBAs) emphasize the importance of decriminalization, but do not support the legalization of sex work. A licensing system, if introduced under legalization, may exclude the most vulnerable sex workers, including housewives, migrants, and sexual minorities, who are secretly engaged in the business. I conclude that ongoing advocacy of IBAs should seek to provide safe working environments for sex workers in Nepal.
My brilliant career
Authors: Gardiner Simon
Published: June 2020

This contribution, written by a recently retired social worker, reflects on the impact of his early casework experience in child welfare. It discusses, via case examples, how these formative experiences influenced his social work career. These case examples illustrate the power of mentorship and continuing reflective learning. The article concludes with suggestions for the profession, for the employing organisations of social workers and for the newly graduated social work professional.
An overview of hoarding difficulties in children and adolescents
Authors: Whomsley Stuart R. C.
Published: June 2020

This paper considers how what has been learned about hoarding
difficulties in adults can be applied to working with children and
adolescents and how our knowledge of child development can improve how we
help the younger person with this problem. In particular, attachment
relationships to objects and organisational difficulties will be focused
upon. The importance of earlier interventions, earlier in life, to prevent
problems in the future is stressed. Future directions including a research
agenda are put forward.
Variants inCHRNB2andCHRNA4Identified in Patients with Insular Epilepsy
Authors: Cadieux-Dion Maxime , Meneghini Simone , Villa Chiara , Toffa Dènahin Hinnoutondji , Wickstrom Ronny , Bouthillier Alain , Sandvik Ulrika , Gustavsson Bengt , Mohamed Ismail , Cossette Patrick , Combi Romina , Becchetti Andrea , Nguyen Dang Khoa
Published: June 2020

Purpose:

Our purpose was to determine the role ofCHRNA4andCHRNB2in insular epilepsy.

Method:

We identified two patients with drug-resistant predominantly sleep-related hypermotor seizures, one harboring a heterozygous missense variant (c.77C>T; p. Thr26Met) in theCHRNB2gene and the other a heterozygous missense variant (c.1079G>A; p. Arg360Gln) in theCHRNA4gene. The patients underwent electrophysiological and neuroimaging studies, and we performed functional characterization of the p. Thr26Met (c.77C>T) in theCHRNB2gene.

Results:

We localized the epileptic foci to the left insula in the first case (now seizure-free following epilepsy surgery) and to both insulae in the second case. Based on tools predicting the possible impact of amino acid substitutions on the structure and function of proteins (sorting intolerant from tolerant and PolyPhen-2), variants identified in this report could be deleterious. Functional expression in human cell lines of α4β2 (wild-type), α4β2-Thr26Met (homozygote), and α4β2/β2-Thr26Met (heterozygote) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors revealed that the mutant subunit led to significantly higher whole-cell nicotinic currents. This feature was observed in both homo- and heterozygous conditions and was not accompanied by major alterations of the current reversal potential or the shape of the concentration-response relation.

Conclusions:

This study suggests that variants inCHRNB2andCHRNA4, initially linked to autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, are also found in patients with predominantly sleep-related insular epilepsy. Although the reported variants should be considered of unknown clinical significance for the moment, identification of additional similar cases and further functional studies could eventually strengthen this association.
Knowledge is Believing Something Because It's True
Authors: Bogardus Tomas , Perrin Will
Published: June 2020

Modalists think that knowledge requires forming your belief in a “modally stable” way: using a method that wouldn't easily go wrong (i.e. safety), or using a method that wouldn't have given you this belief had it been false (i.e. sensitivity). Recent Modalist projects from Justin Clarke-Doane and Dan Baras defend a principle they call “Modal Security,” roughly: if evidence undermines your belief, then it must give you a reason to doubt the safety or sensitivity of your belief. Another recent Modalist project from Carlotta Pavese and Bob Beddor defends “Modal Virtue Epistemology”: knowledge is a belief that is maximally modally robust across “normal” worlds. We'll offer new objections to these recent Modalist projects. We will then argue for a rival view, Explanationism: knowing something is believing it because it's true. We will show how Explanationism offers a better account of undermining defeaters than Modalism, and a better account of knowledge.
Hercules as a feminist judge? Revisiting Rackley's ‘Little Mermaid’ in the wake of the feminist judgments projects
Authors: Hickey Tom
Published: June 2020

In her early work, the feminist legal scholar Erika Rackley uses the image of Ronald Dworkin's superjudge Hercules to shed light on the experience of the woman judge and on law and adjudication in the liberal legal order. She sees Hercules as representing the judge ‘who inhabits our legal imagination’, and as conjuring up problematic notions of unimpeachable wisdom, detached neutrality and super-humanism. This paper assesses Rackley's argument in light of the feminist judgments scholarship that has emerged in the meantime. It contests Rackley's claim that Hercules, or what he represents, is a patriarchal influence in the real world of law, and argues that he might instead be understood to accommodate, or even to encourage, principled evolutions in law along the lines of those suggested by the feminist judgments literature. This assessment is done mainly through the lens of Stokes v CBS Clonmel, a judgment of the Irish Supreme Court concerning indirect discrimination that was later the subject of a feminist judgment in the Northern/Irish Feminst Judgments volume. The broader aim of this assessment is to interrogate the insights and implications of feminist judgments scholarship.

The paper is in four parts. Part 1 places feminist approaches to adjudication in broader theoretical context. Part 2 considers Dworkin's theory of adjudication and Rackley's critique. Part 3 sets out the approach taken by both the real-world and feminist judges in the Stokes case. Part 4 critiques Rackley's take on Hercules in light of the approach adopted in those judgments and draws on preceding analysis to interrogate the insights and implications of feminist judgments scholarship.
The maturing relationship between Quaternary paleoecology and ancient sedimentary DNA
Authors: Edwards Mary E.
Published: June 2020

In the two decades or so since ancient sedimentary DNA (sedaDNA) took its place as a new Quaternary paleo-proxy, there have been large advances in the scope of its applications and its reliability. The two main approaches, metabarcoding and shotgun sequencing, have contributed exciting insights into areas such as floristic diversity change, plant-herbivore interactions, extinction, conservation baselines and impacts of invasive species. Early doubts as to its potential to contribute novel information have been dispelled; more is now understood about the passage ofsedaDNA from the original organism to a component of soil or sediment and about the range of uncertainties that must be addressed in the interpretation of data. With its move into the mainstream, it is now time to develop effective data archives forsedaDNA, refine our understanding of central issues such as taphonomy, and further expand the potential for describing, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the history of past ecosystems.
AMBROSIA AND KINGSHIP: ON CALLIMACHUS, HYMN 2.38–41
Authors: Adorjáni Zsolt
Published: June 2020

The list of Apollo's virtues (ἀρεταί) in the second hymn of Callimachus describes, in the context of the appearance of the god, a mysterious healing substance which trickles from the hair of the patron of medicine (lines 45–6). Hymn 2.38–41:αἱ δὲ κόμαι θυόεντα πέδῳ λείβουσιν ἔλαια⋅οὐ λίπος ᾿Απόλλωνος ἀποστάζουσιν ἔθειραι,ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὴν πανάκειαν⋅ ἐν ἄστεϊ δ᾽ ᾧ κεν ἐκεῖναιπρῶκες ἔραζε πέσωσιν, ἀκήρια πάντ᾽ ἐγένοντο.

Apollo's hair distils flagrant drops of unguent to the ground: Apollo's curls shed no oil but panacea itself. In the city where those dewdrops fall to earth, all things are safe.
NONHYPERELLIPTIC FIBRATIONS OF GENUS 4 WITH NONSURJECTIVE MULTIPLICATION MAP
Authors: TAKAHASHI TOMOKUNI
Published: June 2020

We prove some numerical inequality for the Horikawa indices for Eisenbud–Harris special nonhyperelliptic fibrations of genus 4 on algebraic surfaces under the assumption that the multiplication map of the fibration is not surjective. Furthermore, we prove that the inequality is best possible by constructing the examples satisfying the equality.
Male participation in antenatal care and its influence on their pregnant partners’ reproductive health care utilization: insight from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Alemi Sharifullah , Nakamura Keiko , Rahman Mosiur , Seino Kaoruko
Published: June 2020

Afghanistan has made remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality over the past few decades, and male participation in their pregnant partner’s reproductive health care is crucial for further improvement. This study aimed to examine whether male attendance at antenatal care (ANC) with their pregnant partners might be beneficially associated with the degree of utilization of reproductive health care by the pregnant partners. Data for 2660 couples (women aged 16–49 years) were taken from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey (AfDHS). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to explore the association between male attendance at ANC with their pregnant partners and reproductive health care utilization outcomes, including adequate utilization (four or more visits) of ANC services, ANC visits during the first trimester (up to 12 weeks) of pregnancy, rate of blood and urine testing during pregnancy, rate of institutional delivery and utilization of postnatal check-up services. The results indicated that the rate of male attendance at ANC with their pregnant partners was 69.4%. After controlling for covariates, pregnant partners who were accompanied to ANC by their male partners were more likely to adequately utilize ANC services (AOR=1.42; 95% CI: 1.18–1.71), commence ANC visits even during the first trimester (AOR=1.21; 95% CI: 1.03–1.42), give birth at a health facility (AOR=1.23; 95% CI: 1.03–1.47) and present themselves for postnatal check-ups (AOR=1.24; 95% CI: 1.04–1.47) than those who were not accompanied by them. The study demonstrated that participation of male partners in ANC was positively associated with their pregnant partners’ utilization of reproductive health care services in Afghanistan. The findings suggest that, to improve maternal and child health outcomes in the country, it would be worthwhile implementing interventions to encourage male partners to become more engaged in the ANC of their pregnant partners.
Three new meiobenthic species from a submarine cave in Japan: Echinoderes gama, E. kajiharai and E. uozumii (Kinorhyncha: Cyclorhagida)
Authors: Yamasaki Hiroshi , Fujimoto Shinta , Tanaka Hayato
Published: June 2020

Three new species of echinoderid kinorhynchs are described from Daidokutsu, a submarine cave in Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Echinoderes gama sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of middorsal acicular spines on segments 4–8; lateroventral acicular spines on segments 7–9; lateroventral tubes on segment 5; sublateral tubes on segment 8; laterodorsal tubes on segment 10; and type-2 gland cell outlets in subdorsal and lateroventral position on segment 2. Echinoderes kajiharai sp. nov. is defined by the presence of middorsal acicular spines on segments 4, 6, 8; lateral accessory acicular spines on segment 9; lateroventral acicular spines on segments 6–8; lateroventral tubes on segments 2 and 5; midlateral tubes on segment 10; and type-2 gland cell outlets in laterodorsal position on segments 2 and 5, and subdorsal position on segments 8 and 9. Echinoderes uozumii sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of middorsal acicular spines on segments 4 and 6; lateroventral acicular spines on segments 6–9; lateroventral tubes on segments 2 and 5; sublateral tubes on segment 8; laterodorsal tubes on segment 10; type-2 gland cell outlets in subdorsal and lateral accessory position on segment 2; and blunt, short pectinate fringe teeth of primary pectinate fringe on segment 1. In addition, the Echinoderes multiporus species group including E. kajiharai sp. nov., and the Echinoderes bispinosus species group including E. uozumii sp. nov. are established. Furthermore, the distribution of the two species groups and the origin of Echinoderes species in Daidokutsu are discussed.
How language environment, age, and cognitive capacity support the bilingual development of Syrian refugee children recently arrived in Canada
Authors: Paradis Johanne , Soto-Corominas Adriana , Chen Xi , Gottardo Alexandra
Published: June 2020

Research on the bilingual development of refugee children is limited, despite this group having distinct characteristics and migration experiences that could impact language development. This study examined the role of language environment factors, alongside age and cognitive factors, in shaping the Arabic as a first/heritage language and English as a second language of recently arrived Syrian refugee children in Canada (N = 133; mean age = 9 years old; mean family residency = 23 months). We found that Arabic was the primary home language with some English use among siblings. Children did not engage frequently in language-rich activities in either language, especially not literacy activities in Arabic. Parent education levels were low: most had primary school only. Hierarchical regression models revealed that stronger nonverbal reasoning skills, more exposure to English at school, more sibling interaction in English, more frequent engagement in language-rich activities in English, and higher maternal and paternal education were associated with larger English vocabularies and greater accuracy with verb morphology. Arabic vocabulary and morphological abilities were predicted by older age (i.e., more first/heritage language exposure), stronger nonverbal reasoning skills and maternal education. We conclude that proximal environment factors, like language use at home and richness, accounted for more variance in the second language than the first/heritage language, but parent factors accounted for variance in both languages.
Disagreement on cancer drug decisions in Europe
Authors: Maynou Laia , Cairns John
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Despite the efforts of the European Union (EU) to promote voluntary cooperation among Health Technology Assessment (HTA) agencies, different reimbursement decisions for the same drug are made across European countries. The aim of this paper is to compare the agreement of cancer drug reimbursement decisions using inter-rater reliability measures.

Methods

This study is based on primary data on 161 cancer drug reimbursement decisions from nine European countries from 2002 to 2014. To achieve our goal, we use two measures to analyze agreement, in other words, congruency: (i) percentage of agreement and (ii) the κ score.

Results

One main conclusion can be drawn from the analysis. There is a weak to medium agreement among cancer drug decisions in the European countries analyzed (based on the percentage of agreement and the κ score). England and Scotland show the highest consistency between the two measures, showing a medium agreement. These results are in line with previous literature on the congruency of HTA decisions.

Conclusions

This paper contributes to the HTA literature, by highlighting the extent of weak to medium agreement among cancer decisions in Europe.
Childhood predictors and moderators of lifetime risk of self-harm in girls with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Meza Jocelyn I. , Owens Elizabeth B. , Hinshaw Stephen P.
Published: June 2020

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with self-harm during adolescence and young adulthood, especially among females. Yet little is known about the developmental trajectories or childhood predictors/moderators of self-harm in women with and without childhood histories of ADHD. We characterized lifetime risk for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal ideation (SI), and suicide attempts (SA), comparing female participants with (n= 140) and without (n= 88) childhood ADHD. We examined theory-informed childhood predictors and moderators of lifetime risk via baseline measures from childhood. First, regarding developmental patterns, most females with positive histories of lifetime self-harm engaged in such behaviors in adolescence yet desisted by adulthood. Females with positive histories of self-harm by late adolescence emanated largely from the ADHD-C group. Second, we found that predictors of NSSI were early externalizing symptoms, overall executive functioning, and father's negative parenting; predictors of SI were adverse childhood experiences and low self-esteem; and predictors of SA were early externalizing symptoms, adverse childhood experiences, and low self-esteem. Third, receiver operating characteristics analyses helped to ascertain interactive sets of predictors. Findings indicate that pathways to self-harm are multifaceted for females with ADHD. Understanding early childhood predictors and moderators of self-harm can inform both risk assessment and intervention strategies.
Narrow reading, vocabulary load and collocations in context: Exploring lexical repetition in concordances from a pedagogical perspective
Authors: Ballance Oliver James
Published: June 2020

Narrow reading has the potential to reduce vocabulary load and to provide rich opportunities for developing collocation knowledge, but these benefits rely on narrow reading increasing lexical repetition within a text. Hence, interest in narrow reading has been limited by the relatively small lexical effect of narrowing reading by topic (Nation, 2013). Nevertheless, research in data-driven learning and teaching and language corpora has reported positively on learners using concordances in a manner comparable to narrow reading. However, the potential for concordances to provide an increased lexical-repetition effect has not been assessed. This study bridges this gap by exploring the degree of lexical repetition available in concordances and identifies corpus composition as a key predictor of lexical repetition. The study uses standardised type-token ratio (sTTR) to analyse concordances extracted from corpora at three different levels of homogeneity/heterogeneity. The results show large, reliable variations in lexical repetition resulting from variation in corpus homogeneity/heterogeneity, and so identifies concordance-based narrow reading as a possible means of overcoming the limitations of traditional narrow reading by topic. The results are discussed with reference to pedagogical implications for language learners, teachers, and researchers.
The Agriculture–Environment Relationship and Environment-based Agricultural Support Instruments in Turkey
Authors: Yeni Onur , Teoman Özgür
Published: June 2020

This study aims to present the environmental performance of agriculture in Turkey, focusing on the post-2000 period, and to evaluate the agri-environmental support instruments in Turkey in light of the data obtained. According to the findings, it can be asserted that, in spite of several positive developments, Turkey’s agriculture seems to be far from sustainable. The number of farmers and the extent of the agricultural land aided by the support instruments account for very small portions of the total figures. At the same time, the amount of support provided to producers also has a very small share of the total agricultural support. Considering the findings about agri-environmental performance and agri-environmental support instruments together, we suggest that while the use of these support instruments is a positive step, the supports have not had an impact on inducing a green transition in agriculture yet. Uncertainties caused by legislative changes, amounts of support falling short of the cost of a green transition in agriculture, lack of knowledge and training activities regarding environment-friendly agricultural methods, and lack of effective organization of agricultural producers are thought to be among the reasons for this result.