bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deferred Consent in an Acute Stroke Trial from a Patient, Proxy, and Physician Perspective: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Koopman Inez , Verbaan Dagmar , Vandertop W. Peter , van der Graaf Rieke , Kompanje Erwin J. O. , Post René , Coert Bert A. , Ploem Martine C. , Sluis Wouter M. , Scheijmans Féline E. V. , Rinkel Gabriel J. E. , Vergouwen Mervyn D. I.
Published: October 2021

Background

In some acute care trials, immediate informed consent is not possible, but deferred consent is often considered problematic. We investigated the opinions of patients, proxies, and physicians about deferred consent in an acute stroke trial to gain insight into its acceptability and effects.

Methods

Paper-based surveys were sent to patients who were randomly assigned in the Ultra-early Tranexamic Acid After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (ULTRA) trial between 2015 and 2018 in two tertiary referral centers and to physicians of centers who agreed or declined to participate. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of respondents who agreed with deferral of consent in the ULTRA trial. Secondary outcomes included respondents’ preferred consent procedure for the ULTRA trial, the effect of deferred consent on trust in physicians and scientific research, and the willingness to participate in future research.

Results

Eighty-nine of 135 (66%) patients or proxies and 20 of 30 (67%) physicians completed the survey. Of these, 82 of 89 (92%) patients or proxies and 14 of 20 (70%) physicians agreed with deferral of consent in the ULTRA trial. When asked for their preferred consent procedure for the ULTRA trial, 31 of 89 (35%) patients or proxies indicated deferred consent, 15 of 89 (17%) preferred immediate informed consent, and 32 of 89 (36%) had no preference. None of the patients’ or proxies’ trust in physicians or scientific research had decreased because of the deferred consent procedure. Willingness to participate in future studies remained the same or increased in 84 of 89 (94%) patients or proxies.

Conclusions

A large majority of the surveyed patients and proxies and a somewhat smaller majority of the surveyed physicians agreed with deferred consent in the ULTRA trial. Deferred consent may enable acute care trials in an acceptable manner without decreasing trust in medicine. Future research should investigate factors facilitating the responsible use of deferred consent, such as in-depth interviews, to study the minority of participants who agreed with deferred consent but still preferred immediate informed consent.
Identifying Factors Explaining Yield Variability of Miscanthus x giganteus and Miscanthus sinensis Across Contrasting Environments: Use of an Agronomic Diagnosis Approach
Authors: Ouattara Malick S. , Laurent Anabelle , Berthou Magali , Borujerdi Elsa , Butier Arnaud , Malvoisin Pierre , Romelot Dominique , Loyce Chantal
Published: October 2021

Miscanthus is a perennial C4 crop whose lignocellulose can be used as an alternative to the production of biosourced material. Miscanthus x giganteus (M. x giganteus) has demonstrated high maximum yields but also high yield variability across farmers’ fields. Miscanthus sinensis (M. sinensis) can be an alternative to M. x giganteus because it is considered to be more tolerant to water stress and to produce more stable yields. This study aimed to identify the main factors explaining the variability of yields across site-years for M. x giganteus and M. sinensis. A multi-local and multi-year trial network was set up in France (Ile de France and Center regions). Four treatments were established on seven sites, from spring 2013 to winter 2019: at each site, two treatments of M. x giganteus (a treatment from rhizome and a treatment from rhizome-derived plantlets) and two treatments of M. sinensis (a treatment from seed-derived plantlets established in single density and a treatment from seed-derived plantlets established in double density). We experienced 5 years of harvest because miscanthus was not harvested in 2014. First, we characterized yield variations across site-years for both genotypes. Second, we defined and calculated a set of indicators (e.g., water stress indicator, sum of degree-days of the previous year, number of frost days) that could affect miscanthus yields. Finally, we performed a mixed model with re-sampling to identify the main indicators that explained yield variability for each genotype specifically. Results showed that water stress and crop age mainly explained yield variability for both genotypes. M. sinensis yields were also affected by the sum of degree-days of the previous year of growth. Hence, genotype choice must take into account environmental characteristics. M. sinensis could indeed achieve higher and more stable yields than those of M. x giganteus in shallow sandy soils or in locations with a higher risk of low rainfall.
Worlds Apart? – The Challenges of Aligning Brand Value for NGO’s
Authors: Hand Karen , Murphy Rebecca , MacLachlan Malcolm , Carr Stuart Colin
Published: October 2021

Brands are increasingly part of how international aid and development Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) operate, but there are challenges in aligning NGO brand value across diverse stakeholders. This research explores how key decision makers within one major NGO – Oxfam—construct the challenges of brand value alignment, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology. Three master-themes emerge demonstrating key tensions around aligning NGOs brand value: the difficulty of balancing competing stakeholder needs, the internal cultural conflict around branding, and the existential dilemma underlying the societal effectiveness of NGOs. This paper proposes that NGOs can better navigate these intra—brand tensions using Brand-as-Purpose as an organizing principle; framing shared identity, creating a dynamic container for stakeholder interests and cultivating Moral Capital strongly anchored in increasing recipient wellbeing. This paper is one of the first pieces of research which explores how NGOs make sense of aligning brand value in the context of complex stakeholder cultures and recipient sovereignty. Brand-as Purpose is put forward as an organizing principle to help balance three key tensions around brand value alignment. This paper proposes that Moral Capital anchored in recipient wellbeing underpins NGO brand value and societal legitimacy and needs to be paramount in how NGO’s establish and legitimize their brands.
A Computational Framework for Pre-Interventional Planning of Peripheral Arteriovenous Malformations
Authors: Franzetti Gaia , Bonfanti Mirko , Tanade Cyrus , Lim Chung Sim , Tsui Janice , Hamilton George , Díaz-Zuccarini Vanessa , Balabani Stavroula
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Peripheral arteriovenous malformations (pAVMs) are congenital lesions characterised by abnormal high-flow, low-resistance vascular connections—the so-called nidus—between arteries and veins. The mainstay treatment typically involves the embolisation of the nidus, however the complexity of pAVMs often leads to uncertain outcomes. This study aims at developing a simple, yet effective computational framework to aid the clinical decision making around the treatment of pAVMs using routinely acquired clinical data.

Methods

A computational model was developed to simulate the pre-, intra-, and post-intervention haemodynamics of a patient-specific pAVM. A porous medium of varying permeability was employed to simulate the sclerosant effect on the nidus haemodynamics. Results were compared against clinical data (digital subtraction angiography, DSA, images) and experimental flow-visualization results in a 3D-printed phantom of the same pAVM.

Results

The computational model allowed the simulation of the pAVM haemodynamics and the sclerotherapy-induced changes at different interventional stages. The predicted inlet flow rates closely matched the DSA-derived data, although the post-intervention one was overestimated, probably due to vascular system adaptations not accounted for numerically. The nidus embolization was successfully captured by varying the nidus permeability and increasing its hydraulic resistance from 0.330 to 3970 mmHg s ml−1. The nidus flow rate decreased from 71% of the inlet flow rate pre-intervention to 1%: the flow completely bypassed the nidus post-intervention confirming the success of the procedure.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that the haemodynamic effects of the embolisation procedure can be simulated from routinely acquired clinical data via a porous medium with varying permeability as evidenced by the good qualitative agreement between numerical predictions and both in vivo and in vitro data. It provides a fundamental building block towards a computational treatment-planning framework for AVM embolisation.
The Interplay between Individual and Collective Activity: an Analysis of Classroom Discussions about the Sierpinski Triangle
Authors: Saxe Geoffrey B. , Farid Amelia M.
Published: October 2021

This article uses a cultural-developmental framework to illuminate the interplay between collective and individual activity in the mathematical reasoning displayed in a university Masters level lesson on fractals. During whole class and small group discussions, eleven students, guided by an instructor, engage in inductive reasoning about the area and perimeter of the Sierpinski triangle, a unique mathematical object with zero area and infinite perimeter. As participants conceptualize and communicate about the Sierpinski problem, they unwittingly generate a linguistic register of action word forms (e.g., fencing, zooming) and object word forms (e.g., area, infinity) to serve Sierpinski-linked mathematical reasoning functions, a register that we document in the first analytic section of the article. In the second analytic section, we report a developmental analysis of microgenetic, ontogenetic, and sociogenetic shifts in the word forms constitutive of the register and their varied functions in participants’ activities. In the third analytic section, we provide a cultural analysis of the classroom’s collective practices, practices that enable and constrain participants’ constructions of form-function relations constituting the register. We examine the ways in which participants work to establish a common ground of talk in their communicative exchanges, exchanges supported by classroom norms for public displays of reasoning and active listening to one another’s ideas. We show that it is as participants work to establish a common ground that the register emerges and is reproduced and altered. We conclude by pointing to ways that the analytic framework can be extended to illuminate learning processes in other classroom settings.
Rational Design of MOF-Based Materials for Next-Generation Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Ye Zhengqing , Jiang Ying , Li Li , Wu Feng , Chen Renjie
Published: October 2021

Metal–organic framework (MOF)-based materials with high porosity, tunable compositions, diverse structures, and versatile functionalities provide great scope for next-generation rechargeable battery applications. Herein, this review summarizes recent advances in pristine MOFs, MOF composites, MOF derivatives, and MOF composite derivatives for high-performance sodium-ion batteries, potassium-ion batteries, Zn-ion batteries, lithium–sulfur batteries, lithium–oxygen batteries, and Zn–air batteries in which the unique roles of MOFs as electrodes, separators, and even electrolyte are highlighted. Furthermore, through the discussion of MOF-based materials in each battery system, the key principles for controllable synthesis of diverse MOF-based materials and electrochemical performance improvement mechanisms are discussed in detail. Finally, the major challenges and perspectives of MOFs are also proposed for next-generation battery applications.
Full Detector Simulation with Unprecedented Background Occupancy at a Muon Collider
Authors: Bartosik Nazar , Andreetto Paolo , Buonincontri Laura , Casarsa Massimo , Gianelle Alessio , Griso Simone Pagan , Jindariani Sergo , Lucchesi Donatella , Meloni Federico , Pastrone Nadia , Sestini Lorenzo
Published: October 2021

In recent years, a Muon collider has attracted a lot of interest in the high-energy physics community, thanks to its ability of achieving clean interaction signatures at multi-TeV collision energies in the most cost-effective way. Estimation of the physics potential of such an experiment must take into account the impact of beam-induced background on the detector performance, which has to be carefully evaluated using full detector simulation. Tracing of all the background particles entering the detector region in a single bunch crossing is out of reach for any realistic computing facility due to the unprecedented number of such particles. To make it feasible a number of optimisations have been applied to the detector simulation workflow. This contribution presents an overview of the main characteristics of the beam-induced background at a Muon collider, the detector technologies considered for the experiment and how they are taken into account to strongly reduce the number of irrelevant computations performed during the detector simulation. Special attention is dedicated to the optimisation of track reconstruction with the conformal tracking algorithm in this high-occupancy environment, which is the most computationally demanding part of event reconstruction.
Slug flow as tool for selectivity control in the homogeneously catalysed solvent-free epoxidation of methyl oleate
Authors: Gladius Anoj Winston , Vondran Johanna , Ramesh Yashwanth , Seidensticker Thomas , Agar David William
Published: October 2021

Catalytic oxidation of sustainable raw materials like unsaturated fats and oils, or fatty acids and their esters, lead to biobased, high-value products. Starting from technical grade methyl oleate, hydrogen peroxide as a green oxidant produces only water as by-product. A commercially available, cheap water-soluble tungsten catalyst is combined with Aliquat® 336 as a phase-transfer agent in solvent-free reaction conditions. In this study, we first report the transfer of this well-known batch system into continuous mode. The space–time yield is improved from 0.08 kg/L.h in batch to 1.29 kg/L.h in flow mode. The improved mass transfer and reduced back mixing of the biphasic liquid–liquid slug flow allows for selectivity control depending on physical parameters of slug flow namely volumetric phase ratio, volumetric flow rate, and slug length. Even though the product, methyl 9,10-epoxystearate is obtained at a maximum selectivity of only 58% in flow mode, higher space time yield combined with possible reactant recycling in flow mode offers a promising avenue of research. This work analyses the use of slug flow parameters as tools for controlling selectivity towards oxidation products of methyl oleate.
Republican Theory and the EU: Emergency Laws and Constitutional Challenges
Authors: Herlin-Karnell E.
Published: October 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many intriguing questions both in the EU and globally, from the critical task of safeguarding lives to technical legal issues about competences to regulate health as well as the boundaries of emergency laws. This paper is interested in the connection between non-domination theory and the EU’s constitutional structure in the context of emergency laws. A key theme of the paper is that risk and emergencies are nothing new in an EU context, but concepts used by the legislator in a wide range of policy areas which give rise to a number of constitutional challenges. The paper sketches out the main characteristics of non-domination and republication theory and addresses the question of how and why the notion of non-domination may be useful for understanding the EU constitutionalism venture in the framework of risk and emergency laws.
Mycorrhiza Reduces Phosphorus Uptake from Struvite in Rye (Secale cereale L.) Plants
Authors: Schwalb Sanja Annabell , Hemkemeyer Michael , Watson Conor , Wichern Florian
Published: October 2021

To reduce dependency on inorganic phosphorus (P) fertiliser, secondary P fertilisers such as struvite are becoming more important. However, the P uptake of these new fertilisers by plants is often not known and may be enhanced by plant associated microorganisms. We therefore investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) on P uptake in rye (Secale cereale L.), grown in the middle compartment of a box with chambers separated by a 30 µm mesh allowing fungal hyphae but not roots to penetrate. Plants with (AM) or without (control) mycorrhizae (Rhizophagus irregularis) were grown in a P limited sand medium for 72 days. After harvest, plants were analysed for mycorrhizal colonization, shoot and root development and nutrient (P, Ca, Mg) uptake. Further, pH was measured in each compartment. Shoot biomass of both treatments was not different, but root biomass was significantly lower in AM plants. Despite plants of the AM treatment being colonised by mycorrhizae, their P uptake was substantially lower compared to the control treatment, but root nutrient concentration was higher. Even though the pH in the mycorrhizal compartment of the AM treatment was significantly lower compared to the control, water- and CAL-extractable P were similar, indicating little P uptake from this compartment. Extractable P was reduced only in the root compartment of the control, which was associated with a lower pH compared to the AM treatment. In conclusion, mycorrhizae did not increase P uptake from struvite in rye plants. Non-mycorrhizal plants which invested more biomass into roots took up more P.

Graphical abstract
Combined Mastectomy and Laparoscopic Hysterectomy with Salpingo-Oophorectomy in Transgender Men: a Cohort Study
Authors: Gold Daniela , Galvez Marie-Christine Bertholin y , Laback Christian , Hartleb Riccarda , Tomasch Gordana , Schöpfer Stephanie , Bjelic-Radisic Vesna , Hochstätter Rüdiger , Pristauz-Telsnigg Gunda , Laky Rene , Reif Philipp , Bader Arnim , Tamussino Karl
Published: October 2021

There are few data on complications with gender affirming surgery. The aim of this study was to assess peri- and postoperative complications of laparoscopic hysterectomy and mastectomy performed in a single sitting in transgender men. Assessment of intra- and postoperative complications in a series of 65 transgender men (mean age 27, range 18–47) undergoing concomitant mastectomy and laparoscopic hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy. Mean operating time was 292 ± 47 min. Thirty-four (52%) patients experienced complications: 28 (41%) DINDO grade I, 0 DINDO grade 2, 6 (11%) DINDO grade III. The six grade 3 complications consisted of 5 hematomas requiring evacuation after mastectomy and 2 vaginal tears requiring transvaginal repair. Three patients were readmitted within 30 days, all for postoperative bleeding/hematoma. In transgender men, performing laparoscopic hysterectomy and mastectomy at a single sitting has a modest rate of perioperative complications, and may improve resource utilization.
Linking research, education and citizen codesign: compact cities as social intensification
Authors: Stenberg Jenny , Thuvander Liane , Kain Jaan-Henrik , Adelfio Marco
Published: October 2021

Both research and policy argue for more compact cities, but there is little clarity regarding which urban qualities must be made more compact to achieve the purported benefits. This paper discusses an example of how to conduct immersive and localised studies by connecting research and education to community outreach. Three potential positive outcomes of linking are examined: (a) linking may improve research activities, (b) linking may have a positive impact on student learning, and (c) better valorisation of research results may be achieved. Within a master’s course, architectural students used codesign methods to investigate how the compact city concept can be understood and applied at the neighbourhood level; this assignment was formulated within a research project. The researchers performed observations and feedback tutorials, and the students applied mixed methods, including a literature review, meetings with researchers and stakeholders, site analysis, interviews and a pop-up workshop with residents, strategy development, design proposals, and feedback meetings with critics and local stakeholders. The results show that this linking may contribute significantly to research activities, as the results of a collaborative process between students and local residents were noteworthy. Rather than focusing on the physical environment, the residents argued that the starting point for urban development should be the social aspects. The residents helped the students understand what social aspects to focus on and how to think about certain locations. In terms of education, the collaboration gave students access to the latest research. Better valorisation of research results was achieved with actors at the local level. However, higher up in the municipal hierarchy, valorisation remained a challenge. Linking research and education to community outreach is not particularly common, even if linking all three activities has the potential to lead to systemic change.
Effectiveness of ketofol versus propofol induction on hemodynamic profiles in adult elective surgical patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hailu Seyoum , Getachew Hailemariam , Hailu Sileshi , Abebe Teshome , Seifu Ashenafi , Regassa Teshome , Girma Timsel , Dastew Belete , Zemedkun Abebayehu , Neme Derartu , Teshome Diriba , Tadesse Muhuddin
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT

Background:

Most of the time propofol and ketamine have been used as an induction agent in adult surgical patients but propofol may cause cardiorespiratory depression while ketamine increases heart rate and arterial blood pressure. On the other hand, the clinical effects of propofol and ketamine seem to be complementary. Ketofol is most commonly used for procedural sedation hence exploring its effectiveness for induction will be paramount for the clinical care of surgical patients.

Objective:

This study aims to compare the hemodynamic changes between ketofol and propofol within 30 min after induction of general anesthesia for elective surgical patients.

Methodology:

A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial was done on 62 patients aged between 18 and 65 years and the American Society of Anesthesiologist class I & II those have been allocated randomly into ketofol and propofol groups. A change in systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate within 30mins was followed for both groups. After the normal distribution of data was tested analytic statistics were calculated for variables in the study using Mixed ANOVA, Independent samples T-test, and Mann Whitney U test as appropriate, and for categorical data Chi-square test or fisher's exact test was used for analysis. P-value < 0.05 is considered statistically significant with a power of 90%.

Results:

Both the mean systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were significantly decreased in the propofol group immediately after induction, at 5th minute, 10th minute, and 15th minute compared to the baseline value with a statistically significant value of (p < 0.05).

There was a significant increase in mean heart rate in the ketofol group immediately after induction and on the 5th minute after induction compared to the baseline value (p = 0.001 and p = 0.022 respectively).

Conclusion and recommendations:

We conclude the administration of ketofol (0.75 mg/kg of ketamine and 1.5 mg/kg of propofol) for induction of general anesthesia has better hemodynamic stability than propofol during the first 30 min after induction. We recommend to researchers to do further randomize controlled trials, with invasive blood pressure measurement and multicenter study.

Highlights
La Loi sur la laïcité de l’État et les conditions de la fondation juridique d’un modèle interculturel au Québec
Authors: Lampron Louis-Philippe
Published: October 2021

L’interculturalisme québécois est un modèle de gestion de la diversité culturelle et religieuse qui, pour plusieurs, se distinguerait du multiculturalisme à la canadienne et ferait l’objet d’un large consensus au sein de la population québécoise. Résolument pluraliste, ce modèle distinct de gestion de la diversité aurait pu être opérationnalisé juridiquement dans le cadre constitutionnel canadien avant l’adoption de la Loi sur la laïcité de l’État. Or, le processus suivi par le gouvernement québécois pour faire adopter cette dernière, le 16 juin 2019, et tenter d’éviter que sa constitutionnalité puisse être contestée devant les tribunaux canadiens rend très difficile – voire impossible – la fondation juridique de l’interculturalisme québécois dans le contexte actuel.
Marge ou crève
Authors: Delgrange Xavier
Published: October 2021

Sous son aspect positif, la marge d’appréciation que la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme reconnaît aux États permet à ceux-ci d’enrichir le socle des droits fondamentaux établi par la Convention européenne des droits de l’homme. Elle met en avant la responsabilité de chaque État dans la concrétisation de la Convention. Elle contribue alors au développement de la démocratie qui croît avec le renforcement des droits de l’homme. Sous son aspect négatif, l’invocation de la marge d’appréciation permet à la Cour d’absoudre certains États alors que ceux-ci sapent le socle des droits fondamentaux. Elle s’y sent contrainte pour amadouer les États qui contestent son autorité au nom de leur autonomie. Question de survie donc ou à tout le moins de préservation de son rôle unificateur. Le réalisme politique l’emporte alors sur les exigences démocratiques.
Convergence culturelle et légistique: pour un modèle québécois d’intégration distinct consacré par une loi-cadre
Authors: Rousseau Guillaume
Published: October 2021

Suite à la loi 101, la Politique québécoise du développement culturel a visé à faire en sorte que la culture québécoise soit commune à tous et puisse s’enrichir d’apports en provenance des minorités culturelles. Puis, divers écrits ont contribué à faire évoluer le concept de convergence culturelle, à le critiquer ou à répondre à ceux qui le critiquent. À la lumière de cette politique et de ces écrits, on peut associer ce concept à sept principes : lien consubstantiel entre la langue française et la culture québécoise, impératif de la préservation du statut majoritaire de la culture québécoise et de la langue française, refus de l’assimilation des minorités culturelles, intégration, appropriation identitaire, mixité, et rôle vital des œuvres et productions artistiques. Reprenant ces principes et respectant certains critères de la légistique (clarté, cohérence, concision, véracité), le présent article propose le texte d’une loi-cadre sur la convergence culturelle, et la situe théoriquement.
Autism spectrum disorder in older adults with intellectual disability: a scoping review
Authors: Maguire E. , Mulryan N. , Sheerin F. , McCallion P. , McCarron M.
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Ireland has an ageing population of persons with intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and both (ID/ASD). Despite this, little is known about the prevalence of ASD and its effect on functional outcomes, psychiatric comorbidity or diagnostic issues in an older population with ID. This article reviews the literature on older adults with ID/ASD and identifies opportunities for future research in this population.

Method:

The authors searched the Medline, Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL and PsychInfo databases using the search terms using key words: (older adults) AND (ID OR mental retardation OR learning disability) AND (autism OR ASD). After excluding articles for relevance, a scoping review was carried out on the results retrieved.

Results:

Of the 1227 articles retrieved from the literature on ID and autism/ASD in older adults, 85 articles were relevant to an adult population with ID/ASD. The data were collated and are presented covering domains of diagnosis, prevalence, psychiatric comorbidities and functional outcomes.

Conclusions:

Despite increased prevalence in childhood ASD in the last 20 years, there is a lack of research regarding adults, especially older adults, with ASD, up to half of whom will have some level of ID. The existing literature suggests that older adults with ID/ASD may have reduced functional independence, increased psychiatric comorbidity and psychotropic prescribing and more behavioural presentations than the older population generally or those with ID only. There is a need for longitudinal data to be collected on this ageing population so that care and management needs can be met in the future.
A linear stability analysis of two-layer moist convection with a saturation interface
Authors: Fu Hao
Published: October 2021

The linear convective instability of a mixture of dry air, water vapour and liquid water, with a stable unsaturated layer residing on an unstable saturated layer, is studied. It may serve as a prototype model for understanding the instability that causes mixing at the top of stratocumulus cloud or fog. Such a cloud-clear air interface is modelled as an infinitely thin saturation interface where radiative and evaporative cooling take place. The interface position is determined by the Clausius–Clapeyron equation, and can undulate with the evolution of moisture and temperature. In the small-amplitude regime two physical mechanisms are revealed. First, the interface undulation leads to the undulation of the cooling source, which destabilizes the system by superposing a vertical dipole heating anomaly on the convective cell. Second, the evolution of the moisture field induces non-uniform evaporation at the interface, which stabilizes the system by introducing a stronger evaporative cooling in the ascending region andvice versain the descending region. These two mechanisms are competing, and their relative contribution to the instability is quantified by theoretically estimating their relative contribution to buoyancy flux tendency. When there is only evaporative cooling, the two mechanisms break even, and the marginal stability curve remains the same as the classic two-layer Rayleigh–Bénard convection with a fixed cooling source.
Onset of absolutely unstable behaviour in the Stokes layer: a Floquet approach to the Briggs method
Authors: Pretty Alexander , Davies Christopher , Thomas Christian
Published: October 2021

For steady flows, the Briggs (Electron-Stream Interaction with Plasmas. MIT Press, 1964) method is a well-established approach for classifying disturbances as either convectively or absolutely unstable. Here, the framework of the Briggs method is adapted to temporally periodic flows, with Floquet theory utilised to account for the time periodicity of the Stokes layer. As a consequence of the antiperiodicity of the flow, symmetry constraints are established that are used to describe the pointwise evolution of the disturbance, with the behaviour governed by harmonic and subharmonics modes. On coupling the symmetry constraints with a cusp-map analysis, multiple harmonic and subharmonic cusps are found for each Reynolds number of the flow. Therefore, linear disturbances experience subharmonic growth about fixed spatial locations. Moreover, the growth rate associated with the pointwise development of the disturbance matches the growth rate of the disturbance maximum. Thus, the onset of the Floquet instability (Blennerhassett & Bassom, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 464, 2002, pp. 393–410) coincides with the onset of absolutely unstable behaviour. Stability characteristics are consistent with the spatio-temporal disturbance development of the family-tree structure that has hitherto only been observed numerically via simulations of the linearised Navier–Stokes equations (Thomas et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 752, 2014, pp. 543–571; Ramage et al., Phys. Rev. Fluids, vol. 5, 2020, 103901).
FIDUCIARIES THEN AND NOW
Authors: Worthington Sarah
Published: October 2021

This article takes as its starting point three ground-breaking articles by Len Sealy in the 1960s, and examines their lasting impact on the modern law of fiduciaries. It includes a detailed consideration of the modern tendency to describe rather than define fiduciaries; it critiques the current readiness to merge fiduciaries with other power-holders, thus ignoring the significant differences between the duties of loyalty in issue in the two contexts; and finally it evaluates and defends the modern approach to fiduciary remedies, especially equitable compensation.
Chronic rhinosinusitis: microbiology and treatment of acute exacerbations in patients after endoscopic surgery
Authors: Woźniak A , Nowak K , Wnuk J , Kaczmarczyk J , Król P , Stręk P , Składzień J , Szaleniec J
Published: October 2021

Objective

Antibiotics are the mainstay of therapy for acute exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis. However, no treatment guidelines exist. Most clinicians follow the recommendations for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, usually caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Moraxella catarrhalis, and treat with amoxicillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate.

Method

Medical data of 810 patients who had undergone endoscopic sinus surgery were analysed retrospectively. The results of bacterial cultures and treatment course were assessed in 152 patients who presented with acute exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis within 6 months of endoscopic sinus surgery.

Results

The most common bacterial species present were Staphylococcus aureus (36 per cent), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13 per cent) and Escherichia coli (11 per cent). Most of the isolates showed resistance or intermediate sensitivity to amoxicillin-clavulanate. Targeted antibiotic therapy was significantly more effective than empiric therapy (71 per cent versus 42 per cent). The most effective antibiotics were fluoroquinolones.

Conclusion

Acute exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis shows different microbiology than acute bacterial rhinosinusitis and requires a different therapeutic approach. It is optimally treated with culture-directed antibiotic therapy.
Large increase of vertebral osteomyelitis in France: a 2010–2019 cross-sectional study
Authors: Conan Yoann , Laurent Emeline , Belin Yannick , Lacasse Marion , Amelot Aymeric , Mulleman Denis , Rosset Philippe , Bernard Louis , Grammatico-Guillon Leslie
Published: October 2021

Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) represents 4–10% of bone and joint infections. In Western countries, its incidence seems to increase, simultaneously with an increasing number of comorbidities among an ageing population. This study aimed to assess the evolution of VO epidemiology in France over the 2010–2019 decade. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted using the French hospital discharge data collected through the French diagnosis-related groups ‘Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information’. VOs were detected with a previously validated case definition using International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD-10) codes, implemented with the French current procedural terminology codes. The study population included all patients hospitalised in France during the 2010–2019 decade, aged 15 years old and more. Patient and hospital stay characteristics and their evolutions were described. During the study period, 42 105 patients were hospitalised for VO in France involving 60 878 hospital stays. The mean VO incidence was 7.8/100 000 over the study period, increasing from 6.1/100 000 in 2010 to 11.3/100 000 in 2019. The mean age was 64.8 years old and the sex ratio was 1.56. There were 31 341 (74.4%) patients with at least one comorbidity and 3059 (7.3%) deceased during their hospital stay. Even if rare, device-associated VOs (4450 hospital stays, 7.3%) highly increased over the period. The reliability of the method, based upon an exhaustive database and a validated case definition, provided an effective tool to compare data over time in real-life conditions to regularly update the epidemiology of VO.
Effect of nucleocytoplasmic ratio on the in vitro porcine embryo development after in vitro fertilization or parthenogenetic activation
Authors: Men Nguyen Thi , Dang-Nguyen Thanh Quang , Somfai Tamas , Nguyen Hiep Thi , Noguchi Junko , Kaneko Hiroyuki , Kikuchi Kazuhiro
Published: October 2021

This study was conducted to examine whether the nuclear to cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio had any influence on the timing of embryo compaction and blastocoel formation, as well as formation rate and quality of blastocyst. First, we produced embryos with increased N/C ratio by removal of approximately one-third of the cytoplasm and with decreased N/C ratio by doubling the oocyte cytoplasm with an enucleated oocyte. The initiation of compaction and cavitation in reduced cytoplasm group was significantly earlier (P < 0.05) compared with the control and doubled cytoplasm groups. The rate of blastocysts in the reduced cytoplasm and doubled cytoplasm groups was significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. Blastocyst quality in terms of total cell number in the reduced cytoplasm group was significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared with the doubled cytoplasm group, but not different from the control group. Next, we produced embryos with various N/C ratios by oocyte fusion combined with cytochalasin D treatment. The onset of compaction and cavitation in the 2N/2C group (decreased N/C ratio) was significantly delayed (P < 0.05) or had the tendency to be delayed (P = 0.064), respectively, compared with the control group (2N/1C). A significantly higher rate of blastocyst was observed in the 4N/2C group compared with the 1N/1C group (P < 0.05) but not different from the remaining groups. These results demonstrated that an increase in N/C ratio caused an earlier occurrence of morula compaction and blastocyst formation in both in vitro fertilization (IVF) and parthenogenetically activated pig embryos.
Going in circles? The influence of the electoral cycle on the party behaviour in parliament
Authors: Schwalbach Jan
Published: October 2021

Most analyses dealing with the interaction of parties in parliament assume their interests to be fixed between elections. However, a rational perspective suggests that parties adapt their behaviour throughout the legislative term. I argue that this change is influenced by incentives and possibilities to shape legislation and the need to distinguish oneself from competitors. While for government parties it matters whether they have to share offices, for opposition parties the influence on policy-making is important. By examining the sentiment of all parliamentary speeches on bill proposals from six established democracies over more than twenty years, I analyse institutional and contextual effects. The results show that single-party governments tend to become more positive towards the end of the legislative cycle compared to coalition governments. On the other hand, opposition parties under minority governments, or with more institutionalised influence on government bills, show a more negative trend in comparison to their counterparts.
The Intensity Side of Volition
Authors: Brinkmann Kerstin , Richter Michael , Gendolla Guido H. E.
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Attaining sports or health goals requires not only high motivation but also the willpower to translate sport-behavior intentions into successful action. This volitional regulation calls for the mobilization of effort to overcome obstacles in the pursuit of goals. The present article provides a theoretical and empirical overview of motivation intensity theory ( Brehm & Self, 1989 ) – a conceptual framework that makes clear and testable predictions about effort mobilization in various contexts. First, we present the guiding principles of this theory and its operationalizations by measures of effort-related cardiovascular reactivity and physical handgrip force. Second, we review a selection of empirical tests of the basic assumptions of this theory and the impact of psychological moderator variables such as affect, fatigue, pain, and personality on effort mobilization. Finally, we discuss important implications of these findings for the sports and health domains and make suggestions for future research.
Stark Physical and Biogeochemical Differences and Implications for Ecosystem Stressors in the Northeast Pacific Coastal Ocean
Authors: Dosser H. V. , Waterman S. , Jackson J. M. , Hannah C. G. , Evans W. , Hunt B. P. V.
Published: October 2021

Regional differences in water properties and responses to stressors are key to understanding ecosystem vulnerabilities in coastal regions globally. Our study focuses on Canada's British Columbia coastal waters, from Queen Charlotte Strait to the Strait of Georgia. This area is bisected by shallow, narrow, tidally mixed channels with some of the strongest tidal currents in the world. We examine differences between regions on either side of this constriction, focusing on physical water properties and responses to three potential physical and biogeochemical stressors: nutrient levels, marine heatwaves, and ocean acidification. Our results quantify a spatially abrupt and temporally persistent lateral gradient in temperature, salinity, and density co‐located with a previously documented strong mixing zone. The distributions of density on either side of this front remain largely distinct throughout the tidal cycle, for all seasons, and for over 70 individual years for which data are available. Additionally, nutrient concentrations and molar ratios north of the front are statistically distinct from those to the south, and regions north of the front responded more strongly to the arrival of the marine heatwave known as “The Blob”. Lastly, regional differences in sensitivity to ocean acidification are identified, with high values at the surface in the Discovery Islands making that area very sensitive to ocean acidification. These results demonstrate the degree to which dramatic water property differences in adjacent coastal regions can persist over a wide range of time scales, with important connections to their responses to environmental stressors and implications for present and future ecosystem vulnerability.
Channel Constriction Predicts Pool‐Riffle Velocity Reversals Across Landscapes
Authors: Byrne C. F. , Pasternack G. B. , Guillon H. , Lane B. A. , Sandoval‐Solis S.
Published: October 2021

Research regarding self‐maintenance of pool‐riffle river morphology has focused on hydraulics within individual pool‐riffle couplets. Here, we make a scientific leap from one site on river to 702 pool‐riffle couplets across northern California to understand the frequency of the foundational velocity‐reversal hypothesis. A geometrical, mass and energy conservation‐based velocity reversal criterion was used to predict the occurrence of a velocity reversal. Only 18% of all couplets met the established criteria indicating a velocity reversal. At locations with riffle‐to‐pool bankfull width ratios greater than 1.2, more than 50% of couplets met velocity‐reversal conditions. Velocity reversal pools were almost always (89%) associated with channel constrictions while riffles were typically (71%) associated with channel expansions, albeit less often. Therefore, across landscapes, it appears channel constrictions propagate velocity reversal maintenance. Phasing between width and depth variability is central to fluvial morphodynamics and ecology and must be considered in sustainable river eco‐engineering.
Observed Regional Fluxes to Constrain Modeled Estimates of the Ocean Carbon Sink
Authors: Fay A. R. , McKinley G. A.
Published: October 2021

We compare air‐sea CO2 exchange in an ensemble of global ocean hindcast models to a suite of observation‐based products for 1990–2018. Individual products agree closely with regional fluxes, but individual models vary widely in their regional estimates. Despite their regional divergence, individual models estimate similar global mean fluxes, indicating that significant regional compensation occurs to balance in the global integral. Models diverge most strongly from the observed mean flux in the northern and southern subtropics, despite a strong agreement in seasonality. In the Southern Ocean, models estimate a wide range of both mean and seasonality. The ensemble of observation‐based products can be used to select the models that best represent the regionally‐resolved mean state of air‐sea CO2 exchange. Three models are within 3σ of the observed estimates in all regions. With this selected model ensemble, the global mean flux is slightly reduced and its uncertainty is reduced by 35%.
Copernican‐Aged (<200 Ma) Impact Ejecta at the Chang'e‐5 Landing Site: Statistical Evidence From Crater Morphology, Morphometry, and Degradation Models
Authors: Qian Yuqi , Xiao Long , Head James W. , Wöhler Christian , Bugiolacchi Roberto , Wilhelm Thorsten , Althoff Stephanie , Ye Binlong , He Qi , Yuan Yuefeng , Zhao Siyuan
Published: October 2021

Chang'e‐5 successfully returned ∼1,731 g of lunar samples on December 17, 2020. We systematically studied the morphology and morphometry of craters surrounding the Chang'e‐5 site based on high‐resolution images. A key ejecta source crater database was produced, incorporating their morphometrical parameters, excavation depth, target rock types, and ages from either crater counting, crater morphology or degradation methods. We found that (a) the regolith at the Chang'e‐5 site is ∼4–6 m thick, (b) ejecta are primarily from five proximal craters, including Xu Guangqi, dominantly with ages <200 Ma; (c) distal materials are mainly from Harpalus, Copernicus, Aristarchus, and Mairan G craters; (d) the drill samples are likely to be mainly from Impact Crater (IC)‐261 and IC‐265 particles at the top and the contribution of Xu Guangqi increases with depth; (e) the ejecta of Xu Guangqi would buried preexisting materials but probably overturned by postimpacts.
On the Relationship Between Normal Stiffness and Permeability of Rock Fractures
Authors: Li Bo , Cui Xiaofeng , Zou Liangchao , Cvetkovic Vladimir
Published: October 2021

The hydraulic permeability and normal stiffness of rock fractures are fundamentally related, which can serve as a probe for assessing hydro‐mechanical properties in a variety of geo‐engineering contexts. We present experimentally validated numerical simulations of fracture closure and fluid flow processes in realistic aperture structures with mean in the range of 0.01–2 mm. A relatively simple relationship between permeability and normal stiffness is derived in the effective medium regime, using the elastic modulus of the rock matrix, the mean mechanical aperture, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the local mechanical aperture. The established relationship between stiffness and permeability appears independent of scale or orientation.
High‐Resolution 10Be and 36Cl Data From the Antarctic Dome Fuji Ice Core (∼100 Years Around 5480 BCE): An Unusual Grand Solar Minimum Occurrence?
Authors: Kanzawa K. , Miyake F. , Horiuchi K. , Sasa K. , Takano K. , Matsumura M. , Takahashi T. , Motizuki Y. , Takahashi K. , Nakai Y. , Ohtani K. , Tada Y. , Ochiai Y. , Motoyama H. , Matsuzaki H. , Yamazaki A. , Muramatsu Y. , Yamagata T.
Published: October 2021

Cosmogenic nuclides in tree rings and polar ice cores record the information of past cosmic ray intensities and solar activities. A large 14C increase over 10 years has been discovered around 5480 BCE. The 14C variations in this event differ from those of other short‐term cosmic ray events and typical grand solar minima. To elucidate the cause of the 14C increase around 5480 BCE, we measured the 10Be and 36Cl concentrations in the Antarctic Dome Fuji ice core at quasi‐annual and 4–5 years resolutions, respectively. Based on the combined 14C, 10Be, and 36Cl data, the 5480 BCE event was probably not caused by a solar proton event (SPE) or a gamma‐ray event, because the 36Cl concentration did not significantly increase as expected in these events. The incremented 10Be data were enhanced similarly to those of recent grand solar minima, but more rapidly increased (over ∼10 years). These results suggest that an unusual grand solar minimum occurred around 5480 BCE, characterized by a rapidly decreasing solar activity.