bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Respect for Judicial Independence
Authors: van Dijk Frans
Published: December 2020

This Chapter examines whether judges feel that their independence is respected. Three categories of actors are distinguished: the court users, the political system and the internal decision makers of the judiciary. Judges feel in the mean most respected by the internal leadership, to a lesser extent by the court users and least by the political system. In some countries judges do not feel respected by the political system at all. In the opinion of the judges, respect by the different actors has different features. Perceived respect shown by litigants has to do with absence of bribery and other forms of corruption, and inappropriate pressure. Respect by government and parliament is about the implementation of judgments by government and the case load of the judiciary. Case load depends on the resources that politicians make available. Respect by court management concerns absence of pressure on judges to adjudicate cases timely, case load and promotion of judges based on merit. Caseload is a recurring determinant of perceived respect for independence. This suggests that independence is highly affected by resource allocation.
Probing phase transitions of holographic entanglement entropy with fixed area states
Authors: Marolf Donald , Wang Shannon , Wang Zhencheng
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Recent results suggest that new corrections to holographic entanglement entropy should arise near phase transitions of the associated Ryu-Takayanagi (RT) surface. We study such corrections by decomposing the bulk state into fixed-area states and conjecturing that a certain ‘diagonal approximation’ will hold. In terms of the bulk Newton constant G, this yields a correction of order O(G−1/2) near such transitions, which is in particular larger than generic corrections from the entanglement of bulk quantum fields. However, the correction becomes exponentially suppressed away from the transition. The net effect is to make the entanglement a smooth function of all parameters, turning the RT ‘phase transition’ into a crossover already at this level of analysis.

We illustrate this effect with explicit calculations (again assuming our diagonal approximation) for boundary regions given by a pair of disconnected intervals on the boundary of the AdS3 vacuum and for a single interval on the boundary of the BTZ black hole. In a natural large-volume limit where our diagonal approximation clearly holds, this second example verifies that our results agree with general predictions made by Murthy and Srednicki in the context of chaotic many-body systems. As a further check on our conjectured diagonal approximation, we show that it also reproduces the O(G−1/2) correction found Penington et al. for an analogous quantum RT transition. Our explicit computations also illustrate the cutoff-dependence of fluctuations in RT-areas.
Ein weiteres Kleid – Zur Wissensgeschichte häuslich-textiler Umgebungen im 19. Jahrhundert
Authors: Jürjens Kira
Published: December 2020

In diesem Artikel wird untersucht, inwiefern Textilien in den einrichtungstheoretischen, medizinisch-hygienischen und literarischen Auseinandersetzungen mit dem Wohnen im 19. Jahrhundert als funktionale Umgebungen des Lebendigen entworfen werden. Damit sind zugleich geschlechtliche Zuschreibungen verbunden, die die Frau als Verantwortliche für die Regulierung dieser textilen Umgebungen ausmachen. Während es so einerseits zu einer naturalisierenden und mechanisierenden Überblendung von Frau und Wohnraum kommt, ist mit der Verwissenschaftlichung und Technisierung des Wohnens andererseits eine weiblich konnotierte Expertise verbunden, die nicht allein auf den Innenraum des Hauses begrenzt ist. Der Artikel nimmt die Verhandlungen textiler Expertise und Gestaltungsmacht in unterschiedlichen Wissensbereichen und Darstellungsformen in den Blick, um das Verhältnis von Textilien, Wohnen und Weiblichkeit im 19. Jahrhundert neu zu perspektivieren.
The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) reflects the activation of cortical object representations: evidence from semantic stimulus repetition
Authors: Radtke Elise L. , Martens Ulla , Gruber Thomas
Published: December 2020

We applied high-density EEG to examine steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) during a perceptual/semantic stimulus repetition design. SSVEPs are evoked oscillatory cortical responses at the same frequency as visual stimuli flickered at this frequency. In repetition designs, stimuli are presented twice with the repetition being task irrelevant. The cortical processing of the second stimulus is commonly characterized by decreased neuronal activity (repetition suppression). The behavioral consequences of stimulus repetition were examined in a companion reaction time pre-study using the same experimental design as the EEG study. During the first presentation of a stimulus, we confronted participants with drawings of familiar object images or object words, respectively. The second stimulus was either a repetition of the same object image (perceptual repetition; PR) or an image depicting the word presented during the first presentation (semantic repetition; SR)—all flickered at 15 Hz to elicit SSVEPs. The behavioral study revealed priming effects in both experimental conditions (PR and SR). In the EEG, PR was associated with repetition suppression of SSVEP amplitudes at left occipital and repetition enhancement at left temporal electrodes. In contrast, SR was associated with SSVEP suppression at left occipital and central electrodes originating in bilateral postcentral and occipital gyri, right middle frontal and right temporal gyrus. The conclusion of the presented study is twofold. First, SSVEP amplitudes do not only index perceptual aspects of incoming sensory information but also semantic aspects of cortical object representation. Second, our electrophysiological findings can be interpreted as neuronal underpinnings of perceptual and semantic priming.
Clear cell meningiomas are defined by a highly distinct DNA methylation profile and mutations in SMARCE1
Authors:   The German Consortium “Aggressive Meningiomas”, Sievers Philipp , Sill Martin , Blume Christina , Tauziede-Espariat Arnault , Schrimpf Daniel , Stichel Damian , Reuss David E. , Dogan Helin , Hartmann Christian , Mawrin Christian , Hasselblatt Martin , Stummer Walter , Schick Uta , Hench Jürgen , Frank Stephan , Ketter Ralf , Schweizer Leonille , Schittenhelm Jens , Puget Stéphanie , Brandner Sebastian , Jaunmuktane Zane , Küsters Benno , Abdullaev Zied , Pekmezci Melike , Snuderl Matija , Ratliff Miriam , Herold-Mende Christel , Unterberg Andreas , Aldape Kenneth , Ellison David W. , Wesseling Pieter , Reifenberger Guido , Wick Wolfgang , Perry Arie , Varlet Pascale , Pfister Stefan M. , Jones David T. W. , von Deimling Andreas , Sahm Felix
Published: December 2020

Clear cell meningioma represents an uncommon variant of meningioma that typically affects children and young adults. Although an enrichment of loss-of-function mutations in the SMARCE1 gene has been reported for this subtype, comprehensive molecular investigations are lacking. Here we describe a molecularly distinct subset of tumors (n = 31), initially identified through genome-wide DNA methylation screening among a cohort of 3093 meningiomas, of which most were diagnosed histologically as clear cell meningioma. This cohort was further supplemented by an additional 11 histologically diagnosed clear cell meningiomas for analysis (n = 42). Targeted DNA sequencing revealed SMARCE1 mutations in 33/34 analyzed samples, accompanied by a nuclear loss of expression determined via immunohistochemistry and a decreased SMARCE1 transcript expression in the tumor cells. Analysis of time to progression or recurrence of patients within the clear cell meningioma group (n = 14) in comparison to those with meningioma WHO grade 2 (n = 220) revealed a similar outcome and support the assignment of WHO grade 2 to these tumors. Our findings indicate the existence of a highly distinct epigenetic signature of clear cell meningiomas, separate from all other variants of meningiomas, with recurrent mutations in the SMARCE1 gene. This suggests that these tumors may arise from a different precursor cell population than the broad spectrum of the other meningioma subtypes.
Lateral retinacular release combined with MPFL reconstruction for patellofemoral instability: a systematic review
Authors: Migliorini Filippo , Maffulli Nicola , Eschweiler Jörg , Quack Valentin , Tingart Markus , Driessen Arne
Published: December 2020

Introduction

The role of the lateral retinaculum in patellofemoral instability is still debated. Lateral retinacular release (LRR), has been extensively performed in combination with different surgical procedures, including reconstruction of medio-patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). Despite controversial indications, the results from these studies seem promising. The present study conducts a systematic review about current biomechanical and clinical evidence concerning the role of LRR in combination with MPFL reconstruction. We performed a comprehensive literature research, comparing the outcomes of MPFL reconstruction with and without LRR.

Materials and methods

This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was performed in August 2020. All articles describing the outcome of isolated MPFL reconstruction alone or in combination with a LRR in patients with recurrent patellofemoral instability were considered for inclusion. Only articles reporting data on patients with a minimum of 12-month follow-up were included. Only articles reporting quantitative data under the outcomes of interest were included.

Results

A total of 63 articles were eligible for this systematic review, including 2131 knees. The mean follow-up was 40.87 ± 24.1 months. All scores of interests improved in favour of the combined group: Kujala + 3.8% (P = 0.01), Lysholm + 4.2% (P = 0.004), Tegner + 0.8 points (P = 0.04), IKDC + 9.8% (P = 0.02). The ROM was comparable between the two groups (P = 0.4). Similarity was found in terms of positivity to the apprehension test (P = 0.05), rate of complications (P = 0.1), re-dislocations (P = 0.8), and revision surgeries (P = 0.1).

Conclusion

There is no evidence that adding a lateral release impacts positively on the outcome of MPFL reconstruction.

Level of evidence: IV, Systematic review
Einfluss von Permanent Make-up auf die Meibomdrüsen und den Tränenfilm
Authors: Laufenböck Christoph
Published: December 2020

Hintergrund

Ziel dieser Studie war es, Veränderungen hinsichtlich der Meibomdrüsen, der Augenoberfläche und des Tränenfilms durch Lidrandtätowierungen zu ermitteln.

Methodik

Querschnittsstudie: 100 Augen mit Permanent-Make-up von 50 Patientinnen wurden 100 Augen ohne Permanent-Make-up von 50 Patientinnen gegenübergestellt. Die subjektive Symptomabfrage erfolgte mittels OSDI-Fragebogen und wurde mit den objektiven Testergebnissen – erhoben durch die klinische Untersuchung an der Spaltlampe sowie am Keratographen 5M (Oculus, Germany) – verglichen.

Resultate

Es zeigte sich ein statistisch signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den beiden Gruppen hinsichtlich des OSD-Index, der NIK-BUT, der Meibomdrüsen und der LIPKO-Falten. Keinen Unterschied zeigte sich in der bulbären Injektion und der Tränenmeniskushöhe.

Schlussfolgerungen

In der durchgeführten Studie zeigte sich, dass Permanent-Make-up an den Lidrändern zu anatomischen und funktionellen Veränderungen der Meibomdrüsen und des Tränenfilms führt. Diese Ergebnisse korrelieren auch stark mit einem subjektiven okulären Dyskomfort der Patientinnen.
Frontal electroencephalogram based drug, sex, and age independent sedation level prediction using non-linear machine learning algorithms
Authors: Ramaswamy S. M. , Kuizenga M. H. , Weerink M. A. S. , Vereecke H. E. M. , Struys M. M. R. F. , Belur Nagaraj S.
Published: December 2020

Brain monitors which track quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) signatures to monitor sedation levels are drug and patient specific. There is a need for robust sedation level monitoring systems to accurately track sedation levels across all drug classes, sex and age groups. Forty-four quantitative features estimated from a pooled dataset of 204 EEG recordings from 66 healthy adult volunteers who received either propofol, dexmedetomidine, or sevoflurane (all with and without remifentanil) were used in a machine learning based automated system to estimate the depth of sedation. Model training and evaluation were performed using leave-one-out cross validation methodology. We trained four machine learning models to predict sedation levels and evaluated the influence of remifentanil, age, and sex on the prediction performance. The area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess the performance of the prediction model. The ensemble tree with bagging outperformed other machine learning models and predicted sedation levels with an AUC = 0.88 (0.81–0.90). There were significant differences in the prediction probability of the automated systems when trained and tested across different age groups and sex. The performance of the EEG based sedation level prediction system is drug, sex, and age specific. Nonlinear machine-learning models using quantitative EEG features can accurately predict sedation levels. The results obtained in this study may provide a useful reference for developing next generation EEG based sedation level prediction systems using advanced machine learning algorithms.

Clinical trial registration: NCT 02043938 and NCT 03143972.
Green Open Access in Astronomy and Mathematics: The Complementarity of Routines Among Authors and Readers
Authors: Taubert Niels
Published: December 2020

Open access (OA) to publications has become a major topic in science policy. However, electronic publication providing free access to research via the internet is more than a decade older, was invented in the 1990s and driven by parts of the scientific community. This paper focuses on two disciplines (astronomy and mathematics) in which green OA is well established. It asks how authors and readers use the central disciplinary repository and how they are thereby included in the communication system of their disciplines. Drawing on an interview study with 20 scientists from both disciplines, we analyze the main characteristics of an inclusion, possible problems that result from it and how they are being solved. The empirical results show that there is a complementarity between the routines of authors and readers that co-stabilize each other. This finding suggests that the emergence of complementary routines could be a necessary condition for the green OA model to succeed.
Anti-democratic revolutionaries or democratic reformers? A review essay of Janek Wasserman’s The Marginal Revolutionaries: How Austrian Economists Fought the War of Ideas
Authors: Kolev Stefan
Published: December 2020

This paper provides a critical reading of Janek Wasserman’s The Marginal Revolutionaries: How Austrian Economists Fought the War of Ideas. Wasserman depicts the evolution of the Austrian School from the 1860s until today, a particularly illuminating narrative for the readers of this journal. The breadth of portrayed economists, their cultural embeddedness in Austrian and US contexts, and the complexity of configurations across the school’s generations create a rich and readable story. The last third of the book suffers from allegations about the ideological agenda and institutional power of the Austrian economists which sometimes lack sufficient substantiation. The paper indicates how both in their theorizing and in their political activities, the Austrian economists can be seen as reformers instead of revolutionaries, and as constitutionalists instead of anti-democrats. Despite these disagreements, Wasserman’s portrayals evoke largely fair and challenging impulses both to scholars working in the Austrian research program and to those interested in the Austrian School’s long history, regardless of one’s ideological positions.
Meteorological Predictions for Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing Site at Jezero Crater
Authors: Pla-García Jorge , Rafkin S. C. R. , Martinez G. M. , Vicente-Retortillo Á. , Newman C. E. , Savijärvi H. , de la Torre M. , Rodriguez-Manfredi J. A. , Gómez F. , Molina A. , Viúdez-Moreiras D. , Harri Ari-Matti
Published: December 2020

The Mars Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (MRAMS) and a nested simulation of the Mars Weather Research and Forecasting model (MarsWRF) are used to predict the local meteorological conditions at the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landing site inside Jezero crater (Mars). These predictions are complemented with the COmplutense and MIchigan MArs Radiative Transfer model (COMIMART) and with the local Single Column Model (SCM) to further refine predictions of radiative forcing and the water cycle respectively. The primary objective is to facilitate interpretation of the meteorological measurements to be obtained by the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) aboard the rover, but also to provide predictions of the meteorological phenomena and seasonal changes that might impact operations, from both a risk perspective and from the perspective of being better prepared to make certain measurements. A full diurnal cycle at four different seasons ($\text{L}_{\mathrm{s}}$

L
s

 $0^{\circ}$

0
∘

, $90^{\circ}$

90
∘

, $180^{\circ}$

180
∘

, and $270^{\circ}$

270
∘

) is investigated. Air and ground temperatures, pressure, wind speed and direction, surface radiative fluxes and moisture data are modeled. The good agreement between observations and modeling in prior works [Pla-Garcia et al. in Icarus 280:103–113, 2016; Newman et al. in Icarus 291:203–231, 2017; Vicente-Retortillo et al. in Sci. Rep. 8(1):1–8, 2018; Savijärvi et al. in Icarus, 2020] provides confidence in utilizing these models results to predict the meteorological environment at Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landing site inside Jezero crater. The data returned by MEDA will determine the extent to which this confidence was justified.
Assessing the potential of integrating distribution and structure of permanent open-water wetlandscapes in reclamation design: a case study of Alberta, Canada
Authors: Ridge Jennifer D. , Robinson Derek T. , Rooney Rebecca
Published: December 2020

Wetlands are multi-functional systems that provide a disproportionate
number of ecosystem services given the spatial extent they occupy both
nationally and globally. The ecological functioning of these wetlands is
dependent on the structure of the landscape, which poses unique challenges when
reclaiming wetlands in areas where resource extraction is occurring. Resource extraction mega-projects require
that entire wetlandscapes be reclaimed and often involve timelines that
necessitate the consideration of climate projections to create self-sustaining,
naturally appearing wetlandscapes that meet policy objectives. To understand
wetlandscape structure and guide reclamation planning and closure permitting
evaluation, a random sample of 13,676 1-km2 landscapes were
subselected to identify 1684 permanent open-water wetlandscapes. A parsimonious
set of landscape metrics were applied and compared across levels of
anthropogenic disturbance and across natural regions (i.e., Grassland, Parkland
and Boreal). Results demonstrated that permanent open-water wetlands are
relatively rare (12.3% of our total random sample) and typically occupy less
than 8% of wetlandscapes when present. The majority of wetlands in the study area are less
permanent and more variable in nature than the permanent open water
wetlandscapes created by megaproject reclamation, which has the potential to alter the
distribution and size of open-water wetlands beyond their natural occurrence.
Comparison across disturbance levels and natural regions yield statistical
differences among landscape structure. General wetland landscapes representing
a combination of disturbance level and natural region can be created for each
metric to guide reclamation design and closure planning approval.
Identification of markers of sensory quality in ground coffee: an untargeted metabolomics approach
Authors: Rocchetti Gabriele , Braceschi Gian Paolo , Odello Luigi , Bertuzzi Terenzio , Trevisan Marco , Lucini Luigi
Published: December 2020

Introduction

In the last years, consumers increased the demand for high-quality and healthy beverages, including coffee. To date, among the techniques potentially available to determine the overall quality of coffee beverages, metabolomics is emerging as a valuable tool.

Objective

In this study, 47 ground coffee samples were selected during the 2018 Edition of the “International coffee tasting” (ICT) in order to provide discrimination based on both chemical and sensory profiles. In particular, 20 samples received a gold medal (“high quality” group), while lower sensory scores characterized 27 samples (without medal).

Methods

Untargeted metabolomics based on ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight (UHPLC-QTOF) and head space-gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry platforms followed by multivariate statistical approaches (i.e., both supervised and unsupervised) were used to provide new insight into the searching of potential markers of sensory quality.

Results

Several compounds were identified, including polyphenols, alkaloids, diazines, and Maillard reaction products. Also, the headspace/GC-MS highlighted the most important volatile compounds. Polyphenols were scarcely correlated to the sensory parameters, whilst the OPLS-DA models built using typical coffee metabolites and volatile/Maillard compounds possessed prediction values > 0.7. The “high quality” group showed specific metabolomic signatures, thus corroborating the results from the sensory analysis. Overall, methyl pentanoate (ROC value = 0.78), 2-furfurylthiol (ROC value = 0.75), and L-Homoserine (ROC value = 0.74) established the higher number of significant (p < 0.05) correlations with the sensory parameters.

Conclusion

Although ad-hoc studies are advisable to further confirm the proposed markers, this study demonstrates the suitability of untargeted metabolomics for evaluating coffee quality and the potential correlations with the sensory attributes.

Graphic abstract
Der Reporter-Blick von nirgendwo?
Authors: Schultz Tanjev
Published: December 2020

In der Medienforschung gibt es eine reiche Tradition der Kritik am Objektivitätsideal. Journalistische Beiträge können sich demnach nie ganz von subjektiven Einflüssen lösen. Der Aufsatz verändert die Perspektive, indem er zeigt, inwiefern subjektive Darstellungsformen ihrerseits nicht frei von Objektivitätsansprüchen sind. Als Hintergrund dient die Philosophie Thomas Nagels, der mit dem „Blick von nirgendwo“ ein prägendes Bild für die Objektivitätsidee geliefert hat. Eine eher kursorische Rezeption in der Journalismusforschung konnte dazu verleiten, dieses Bild als Inbegriff eines überzogenen oder naiven Postulats zu missdeuten. Nagels Ansatz eröffnet jedoch Möglichkeiten, Vorstellungen von Objektivität und Subjektivität zu versöhnen. Der Aufsatz skizziert Nagels Philosophie und erörtert darauf aufbauend das Verhältnis von Objektivität und Subjektivität in journalistischen Kommentaren und Reportagen. Wie zuletzt auch die Relotius-Affäre gezeigt hat, werden an Reportagen Objektivitätsansprüche gestellt, die nicht im Widerspruch zu einer subjektiven Erzählperspektive stehen, sondern mit dieser verschränkt sind. Wie der Aufsatz argumentiert, greifen subjektive und objektive Perspektiven im Journalismus grundsätzlich ineinander. So zehrt die Subjektivität der Reportage von der Objektivität, mit der sie äußere und innere Tatsachen schildert, und die Subjektivität des Kommentars von dem Anspruch der Objektivität, mit dem er u. a. moralische Urteile fällt.
Correction to: perspectives on medical education meta-research special issue: a call for papers exploring how research is performed, communicated, verified and rewarded
Authors: Maggio Lauren A. , Haustein Stefanie , Artino Jr Anthony R.
Published: December 2020

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-020-00627-8
The COVID-19 pandemic: a case for epistemic pluralism in public health policy
Authors: Lohse Simon , Bschir Karim
Published: December 2020

This paper uses the example of the COVID-19 pandemic to analyse the danger associated with insufficient epistemic pluralism in evidence-based public health policy. Drawing on certain elements in Paul Feyerabend’s political philosophy of science, it discusses reasons for implementing more pluralism as well as challenges to be tackled on the way forward.
Mortar Lining as a Protective Layer for Ductile Iron Pipes
Authors: Dąbrowski Wojciech , Li Fusheng
Published: December 2020

The objective of the study is to recognise whether epoxy resin or polyurethane internal linings of ductile iron (DI) pipes create visibly smaller head loss in flow than cement mortar linings. Some data reported by the Ductile Iron Pipes Research Association (DIPRA) was used in the calculations. Only the data from hydraulic tests performed no later than 30 years after the placing of the mortar lining were considered. The average values of the Hazen–Williams roughness coefficients C for each of the internal pipe diameters were calculated, and single experimental data neglected. Two different approaches were taken for interpreting the DIPRA experimental results and omitting the fact that the flow rates during these tests are unknown. The Hazen–Williams roughness coefficients C were used in both for computing the friction factor f from the Moody chart for three values of flow rate: being equal to the optimal value for a given diameter, and then by 50% larger and 50% smaller than this value. Next, the computed friction factors were compared with the values predicted from the Moody chart for smooth pipes. In the first approach, the friction factors f were computed using the Epanet2 software, and in the second approach, a general equation for calculating f from known C and flow parameters was applied. Both approaches resulted in friction factors f very close to those for smooth pipes for the whole range of Q. In conclusion, more smooth plastic linings of DI pipes do not result in a significantly more visible saving of energy for pumping.
DEMs and reliable sea level rise risk monitoring in Nile Delta, Egypt
Authors: Abdel-Aziz Tarek , Dawod Gomaa , Ebaid Hala
Published: December 2020

This research aims to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of utilizing global Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) in risk monitoring of Sea Level Rise (SLR) in the Nile delta region, Egypt. Such a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based assessment process has been carried out using high-precision terrestrial surveys to develop a new local DEM (named SRI18) to precisely identify possible inundated areas by 2025. The presented DEM comparison approach has been performed based on spatial distribution rather than the traditional point-wise method. Based on novel proposed evaluation indicators, it has been found that the reliability of three investigated global models (namely: SRTM1, ASTER, and EarthEnvi-DEM90), in delineating sea level rise flooded areas, is less than 20%. Hence, it is concluded that the utilization of global DEMs may not be optimum in the planning and management of coastal areas in the Nile delta region. Such a methodology could be applied in other low-lying deltaic areas worldwide for investigating GDEMs reliability for SLR monitoring and assessment in coastal regions.
Timely intervention and control of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak at a large skilled nursing facility—San Francisco, California, 2020
Authors: Karmarkar Ellora N. , Blanco Irin , Amornkul Pauli N. , DuBois Amie , Deng Xianding , Moonan Patrick K. , Rubenstein Beth L. , Miller David A. , Kennedy Idamae , Yu Jennifer , Dauterman Justin P. , Ongpin Melissa , Hathaway Wilmie , Hoo Lisa , Trammell Stephanie , Dosunmu Ejovwoke F. , Yu Guixia , Khwaja Zenith , Lu Wendy , Talai Nawzaneen Z. , Jain Seema , Louie Janice K. , Philip Susan S. , Federman Scot , Masinde Godfred , Wadford Debra A. , Bobba Naveena , Stoltey Juliet , Smith Adrian , Epson Erin , Chiu Charles Y. , Bennett Ayanna S. , Vasquez Amber M. , Williams Troy
Published: December 2020

Objective:

To describe epidemiologic and genomic characteristics of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in a large skilled-nursing facility (SNF), and the strategies that controlled transmission.

Design, setting, and participants:

This cohort study was conducted during March 22–May 4, 2020, among all staff and residents at a 780-bed SNF in San Francisco, California.

Methods:

Contact tracing and symptom screening guided targeted testing of staff and residents; respiratory specimens were also collected through serial point prevalence surveys (PPSs) in units with confirmed cases. Cases were confirmed by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction testing for SARS-CoV-2, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize viral isolate lineages and relatedness. Infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions included restricting from work any staff who had close contact with a confirmed case; restricting movement between units; implementing surgical face masking facility-wide; and the use of recommended PPE (ie, isolation gown, gloves, N95 respirator and eye protection) for clinical interactions in units with confirmed cases.

Results:

Of 725 staff and residents tested through targeted testing and serial PPSs, 21 (3%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive: 16 (76%) staff and 5 (24%) residents. Fifteen cases (71%) were linked to a single unit. Targeted testing identified 17 cases (81%), and PPSs identified 4 cases (19%). Most cases (71%) were identified before IPC interventions could be implemented. WGS was performed on SARS-CoV-2 isolates from 4 staff and 4 residents: 5 were of Santa Clara County lineage and the 3 others were distinct lineages.

Conclusions:

Early implementation of targeted testing, serial PPSs, and multimodal IPC interventions limited SARS-CoV-2 transmission within the SNF.
Reconstruction of historical surface mass balance, 1984–2017 from GreenTrACS multi-offset ground-penetrating radar
Authors: Meehan Tate G. , Marshall H. P. , Bradford John H. , Hawley Robert L. , Overly Thomas B. , Lewis Gabriel , Graeter Karina , Osterberg Erich , McCarthy Forrest
Published: December 2020

We present continuous estimates of snow and firn density, layer depth and accumulation from a multi-channel, multi-offset, ground-penetrating radar traverse. Our method uses the electromagnetic velocity, estimated from waveform travel-times measured at common-midpoints between sources and receivers. Previously, common-midpoint radar experiments on ice sheets have been limited to point observations. We completed radar velocity analysis in the upper ~2 m to estimate the surface and average snow density of the Greenland Ice Sheet. We parameterized the Herron and Langway (1980) firn density and age model using the radar-derived snow density, radar-derived surface mass balance (2015–2017) and reanalysis-derived temperature data. We applied structure-oriented filtering to the radar image along constant age horizons and increased the depth at which horizons could be reliably interpreted. We reconstructed the historical instantaneous surface mass balance, which we averaged into annual and multidecadal products along a 78 km traverse for the period 1984–2017. We found good agreement between our physically constrained parameterization and a firn core collected from the dry snow accumulation zone, and gained insights into the spatial correlation of surface snow density.
A palaeoenvironmental record of the Southern Hemisphere last glacial maximum from the Mount Cass loess section, North Canterbury, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Authors: Almond Peter C. , Gulyás Sándor , Sümegi Pál , Sümegi Balázs P. , Covey-Crump Stephen , Jones Merren , Shaw Joseph , Parker Andrew
Published: December 2020

Calcareous loess in North Canterbury, eastern South Island, New Zealand (NZ), preserves subfossil bird bone, terrestrial gastropods, and eggshell, whose abundances and radiocarbon ages allowed us to reconstruct aspects of palaeoenvironment at high resolution through 25 to 21 cal ka BP. This interval includes millennial-scale climatic variability during the extended last glacial maximum (30–18 ka) of Australasia. Our loess palaeoclimatic record shows good correspondence with stadial and interstadial climate events of the NZ Climate Event Stratigraphy, which were defined from a pollen record on the western side of South Island. An interstade from 25.4 to 24 cal ka BP was warm but also relatively humid on eastern South Island, and loess grain size may indicate reduced vigour of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds. The subsequent stade (24–22.6 cal ka BP) was drier, colder, and probably windier. The next interstade remained relatively dry on eastern South Island, and westerly winds remained vigorous. The 25.4–24 ka interstade is synchronous with Heinrich stade 2, which may have driven a southward migration of the subtropical front, leading to warming and wetting of northern and central South Island and retreat of Southern Alps glaciers at ca. 26.5 ka.
Racial Liberalism Resurgent: Connecting Multi-Racial Protests and Electoral Politics Today
Authors: Schram Sanford F. , Fording Richard C.
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we consider the changing nature of today's protest–election connection by looking back to the Blue Wave of the 2018 midterm elections that led to Republicans losing control of the House of Representatives. We ask whether White voters' participation in the Blue Wave of the 2018 elections is related to the multi-racial participation in the #BlackLivesMatter protests of 2020. Could it be that White participation in both is symptomatic of a larger resurgence of racial liberalism that is likely to continue to play a significant role in our politics going forward starting with the 2020 election?
Slavery, Reconstruction, and Bureaucratic Capacity in the American South
Authors: SURYANARAYAN PAVITHRA , WHITE STEVEN
Published: December 2020

Conventional political economy models predict taxation will increase after franchise expansion to low-income voters. Yet, contrary to expectations, in ranked societies—where social status is a cleavage—elites can instead build cross-class coalitions to undertake a strategy ofbureaucratic weakeningto limit future redistributive taxation. We study a case where status hierarchies were particularly extreme: the post-Civil War American South. During Reconstruction, under federal oversight, per capita taxation was higher in counties where slavery had been more extensive before the war, as predicted by standard theoretical models. After Reconstruction ended, however, taxes fell and bureaucratic capacity was weaker where slavery had been widespread. Moreover, higher intrawhite economic inequality was associated with lower taxes and weaker capacity after Reconstruction in formerly high-slavery counties. These findings on the interaction between intrawhite economic inequality and pre-War slavery suggest that elites built cross-class coalitions against taxation where whites sought to protect their racial status.
Interaction of neutrophil counts and folic acid treatment on new-onset proteinuria in hypertensive patients
Authors: Zhang Zhuxian , Liu Mengyi , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhou Chun , He Panpan , Li Huan , Li Jianping , Zhang Yan , Liang Min , Wang Binyan , Xu Xin , Wang Xiaobin , Huo Yong , Hou Fan Fan , Nie Jing , Xu Xiping , Qin Xianhui
Published: December 2020

We aimed to examine whether baseline neutrophil counts affected the risk of new-onset proteinuria in hypertensive patients, and, if so, whether folic acid treatment is particularly effective in proteinuria prevention in such a setting. A total of 8208 eligible participants without proteinuria at baseline were analysed from the renal substudy of the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial. Participants were randomised to receive a double-blind daily treatment of 10 mg of enalapril and 0·8 mg of folic acid (n 4101) or 10 mg of enalapril only (n 4107). The primary outcome was new-onset proteinuria, defined as a urine dipstick reading of ≥1+ at the exit visit. The mean age of the participants was 59·5 (sd, 7·4) years, 3088 (37·6 %) of the participants were male. The median treatment duration was 4·4 years. In the enalapril-only group, a significantly higher risk of new-onset proteinuria was found among participants with higher neutrophil counts (quintile 5; ≥4·8 × 109/l, OR 1·44; 95 % CI 1·00, 2·06), compared with those in quintiles 1–4. For those with enalapril and folic acid treatment, compared with the enalapril-only group, the new-onset proteinuria risk was reduced from 5·2 to 2·8 % (OR 0·49; 95 % CI 0·29, 0·82) among participants with higher neutrophil counts (≥4·8 × 109/l), whereas there was no significant effect among those with neutrophil counts <4·8 × 109/l. In summary, among hypertensive patients, those with higher neutrophil counts had increased risk of new-onset proteinuria, and this risk was reduced by 51 % with folic acid treatment.
Drilling for the future: Gendered justifications of the Arctic fossil fuel industry
Authors: Kangasluoma Sohvi
Published: December 2020

Despite the global alarm caused by accelerating climate change, hydrocarbon companies are exploring and opening up new oil and gas fields all over the world, including the Arctic. With increasing attention on the Arctic, companies address the growing global environmental pressure in their public marketing in various ways. This article examines the webpages of Norwegian Equinor and Russian Gazprom & Gazprom Neft. Building on feminist discussions, I analyse the different justification strategies these fossil fuel companies working in the Arctic utilise in order to support their ongoing operations. This article concludes that in order to justify their operations in the Arctic, the Norwegian and Russian companies emphasise values based on discourses that have historically and culturally been associated with masculine practices, such as the control of nature enabled by technology. These justifications are thus reinforcing the narrative of the Arctic as a territory to be conquered and mastered. Even though the companies operate in different sociopolitical contexts, the grounds of justification are rather similar. Their biggest differences occur in their visual presentations of gender, which I argue is part of the justification. Approaching the fossil fuel industry from a feminist perspective allows questioning the dominant conceptualisations, which the justifications of Arctic hydrocarbon companies are based on.
PTSD as a mediator of the relationship between trauma and psychotic experiences
Authors: Strelchuk Daniela , Hammerton Gemma , Wiles Nicola , Croft Jazz , Turner Katrina , Heron Jonathan , Zammit Stanley
Published: December 2020

Background

Traumatic experiences are associated with a higher risk of psychotic illnesses, but little is known about potentially modifiable mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study aims to examine whether post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms mediate the relationship between trauma and psychotic experiences (PEs).

Methods

We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children to examine whether: PTSD symptoms mediate the relationships between (a) childhood trauma and adolescent PEs (study of adolescent PEs; n = 2952), and (b) childhood/adolescent trauma and PEs in early adulthood (study of adult PEs; n = 2492). We examined associations between variables using logistic regression, and mediation using the parametric g-computation formula.

Results

Exposure to trauma was associated with increased odds of PEs (adolescent PEs: ORadjusted 1.48, 95% CI 1.23–1.78; adult PEs: ORadjusted 1.57, 95% CI 1.25–1.98) and PTSD symptoms (adolescent PTSD: ORadjusted 1.59, 95% CI 1.31–1.93; adult PTSD: ORadjusted 1.50, 95% CI 1.36–1.65). The association between PTSD symptoms and PE was stronger in adolescence (ORadjusted 4.63, 95% CI 2.34–9.17) than in adulthood (ORadjusted 1.62, 95% CI 0.80–3.25). There was some evidence that PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and adolescent PEs (proportion mediated 14%), though evidence of mediation was weaker for adult PEs (proportion mediated 8%).

Conclusions

These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that PTSD symptoms partly mediate the association between trauma exposure and PEs. Targeting PTSD symptoms might help prevent the onset of psychotic outcomes.
Difference sets in higher dimensions
Authors: MUDGAL AKSHAT
Published: December 2020

Let d ≥ 3 be a natural number. We show that for all finite, non-empty sets
$A \subseteq \mathbb{R}^d$
that are not contained in a translate of a hyperplane, we have

$$\begin{equation*} |A-A| \geq (2d-2)|A| - O_d(|A|^{1- \delta}),\end{equation*}$$

where δ > 0 is an absolute constant only depending on d. This improves upon an earlier result of Freiman, Heppes and Uhrin, and makes progress towards a conjecture of Stanchescu.
Primary pericardial hydatid cyst in an asymptomatic butcher
Authors: Yimamu Renati , Qing-qing Li , Wei-min Zhang
Published: December 2020

Hydatid cyst is a serious parasitic infection in endemic areas. Cardiac hydatid cyst is not a common presentation, and primary pericardial hydatid cyst is rare. Echocardiography, CT, and MRI are important in diagnosing and locating cardiac echinococcosis. Herein, we present the case of an asymptomatic butcher with primary pericardial hydatid cyst and its successful treatment.
Fish nutrient composition: a review of global data from poorly assessed inland and marine species
Authors: Byrd Kendra A , Thilsted Shakuntala H , Fiorella Kathryn J
Published: December 2020

Objective:

Our understanding of the nutrient contribution of fish and other aquatic species to human diets relies on nutrient composition data for a limited number of species. Yet particularly for nutritionally vulnerable aquatic food consumers, consumption includes a wide diversity of species whose nutrient composition data are disparate, poorly compiled or unknown.

Design:

To address the gap in understanding fish and other aquatic species’ nutrient composition data, we reviewed the literature with an emphasis on species of fish that are under-represented in global databases. We reviewed 164 articles containing 1370 entries of all available nutrient composition data (e.g. macronutrients, micronutrients and fatty acids) and heavy metals (e.g. Pb and Hg) for 515 species, including both inland and marine species of fish, as well as other aquatic species (e.g. crustaceans, molluscs, etc.) when those species were returned by our searches.

Results:

We highlight aquatic species that are particularly high in nutrients of global importance, including Fe, Zn, Ca, vitamin A and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and demonstrate that, in many cases, a serving can fill critical nutrient needs for pregnant and lactating women and young children.

Conclusions:

By collating the available nutrient composition data on species of fish and other aquatic species, we provide a resource for fisheries and nutrition researchers, experts and practitioners to better understand these critical species and include them in fishery management as well as food-based programmes and policies.
Reduction of traditional food consumption in Brazilian diet: trends and forecasting of bean consumption (2007–2030)
Authors: Granado Fernanda S , Maia Emanuella G , Mendes Larissa L , Claro Rafael M
Published: December 2020

Objective:

To identify changes in traditional dietary behaviour through the evaluation of trends in bean consumption among adults in Brazil between 2007 and 2017 and to estimate its projections up to 2030.

Design:

Time-series analysis conducted with data from the Surveillance System for Protective and Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel) between 2007 and 2017. Weekly consumption of beans was analysed. Prais–Winsten regression evaluated trends for the entire period of study (2007–2017) and in two periods of analyses (2007–2011 and 2012–2017) for the complete set of the population and stratified by socio-demographic characteristics. Estimated prevalence projections were calculated up to the year 2030 using its tendency from 2012 to 2017.

Setting:

Brazil.

Participants:

A probabilistic sample of 572 675 Brazilian adults aged ≥ 18 years.

Results:

Changes in traditional dietary pattern were identified. Regular consumption of beans (≥ 5 d/week) presented a stable prevalence trend for the total population in the complete and the first analysed period, but a significant decrease in the second half (67·5 % to 59·5 %) among both genders, all age groups and educational levels (except for ≥12 years). The higher magnitude of regular consumption of beans will occur up to the year of 2025 for the total population (46·9 %), when it will be less frequent in the week.

Conclusion:

Reductions in the weekly consumption of beans may represent the weakness of a traditional food culture in a globalised food system. By 2025, regular consumption of beans will cease to be the predominant habit in the country.
Self-funders: Still By-Standers in the English Social Care Market?
Authors: Henwood Melanie , Glasby Jon , McKay Steve , Needham Catherine
Published: December 2020

The Care Act 2014 gave local authorities in England broad duties around wellbeing, and responsibility to ensure the availability of good quality, personalised social care and support services for people who need them. These responsibilities are for all people needing support, whether that is publicly or privately funded. In exercising their duties, councils have a responsibility for ‘market-shaping’: that is, understanding the supply and demand for care, and the types of services and support needed now and in the future, and steering the market accordingly. Changes to the implementation of the Care Act removed some of the levers that might have brought self-funders into the mainstream of local authority responsibilities. This article draws on sixty-four qualitative interviews undertaken as part of a larger study on market-shaping and personalisation of care, and reflects on the experience of self-funders and the approach to them adopted by local authorities and provider organisations. The findings indicate that self-funders are still largely bystanders to local authority market shaping strategies, despite being both impacted by those strategies and significantly influencing the markets in which they operate.
Older Carers and Carers of People with Dementia: Improving and Developing Effective Support
Authors: Larkin Mary , Henwood Melanie , Milne Alisoun
Published: December 2020

The policy drive to support carers is a longstanding national and international priority. Research about the design and delivery of support for carers is critical to the underpinning evidence base. Through a timely exploration of a third sector perspective, the UK-based study discussed in this article provides insights into approaches to, and the commissioning of, support for older carers and carers of people with dementia. The study highlights the importance of: embedding carers’ perspectives in service developments; the provision of both generic and targeted support which adopts a nuanced and tailored approach; titrating the delivery of information and advice at a pace to match carers’ needs; capturing quantitative and qualitative dimensions in service evaluation; and increased quantity and longevity of funding. Such insights not only complement existing research but are also generalisable to other countries at a similar stage in the development of carer support.