bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Patient Outcome after Non‐curative Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Nationwide Survey Data in Japan
Authors: Aoki Taku , Kubota Keiichi , Kubo Shoji , Eguchi Susumu , Izumi Namiki , Kokudo Norihiro , Sakamoto Michiie , Shiina Shuichiro , Takayama Tadatoshi , Nakashima Osamu , Matsuyama Yutaka , Murakami Takamichi , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: October 2020

Background

Non‐curative (debulking) hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is occasionally applied for selected cases with bulky tumors or for oncologic emergency cases; however, the clinical usefulness of this procedure has not yet been fully evaluated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the patient outcomes of non‐curative hepatic resections for HCC using data from bi‐annual nationwide surveys conducted in Japan.

Method

Data of 1084 non‐curative hepatic resections for HCC were collected. The patient outcomes were compared with those of curative resections, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC).

Results

Patient survival after the non‐curative resection was poorer than that after curative resection (P < 0.001) and was especially dismal in cases with extrahepatic tumor spread (lymph node metastasis, peritoneal seeding, or distant metastasis). As compared to cases receiving TACE without surgery, non‐curative resections for multiple intrahepatic tumors were applied to cases with advanced tumors with good liver functional reserve. The survival outcomes were significantly more favorable in the TACE group, but the results became similar after propensity score matching of the patients. The survival outcome of patients receiving non‐curative resections was better than that of cases treated by HAIC, with median survival times of 26.0 months and 10.0 months, respectively.

Conclusion

The indications for non‐curative hepatic resection in patients with HCC should be judged cautiously, especially in patients with extrahepatic tumor spread. This treatment approach may be beneficial for selected patients with intermediate‐ or advanced‐stage HCC limited in liver and with good liver functional reserve.
Performance of MPAS-A and WRF in predicting and simulating western North Pacific tropical cyclone tracks and intensities
Authors: Lui Yuk Sing , Tse Louis Kwan Shu , Tam Chi-Yung , Lau King Heng , Chen Jilong
Published: October 2020

Performances of the Model for Prediction Across Scales-Atmosphere (MPAS-A) in predicting and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in simulating western North Pacific (WNP) tropical cyclone (TC) tracks and intensities have been compared. Parallel simulations of the same historical storms that made landfall over southern China, namely, TCs Hope (1979), Gordon (1989), Koryn (1993), Imbudo (2003), Dujuan (2003), Molave (2009), Hato (2017) and Mangkhut (2018), were carried out using WRF and MPAS-A, with initial conditions (and, for WRF, lateral boundary conditions as well) taken from ERA-interim. For MPAS-A, the model was integrated using a standard 60-to-3-km variable-resolution global grid mesh and also on 160-to-2-km grids customized to cover the TC tracks with the highest resolution mesh. The WRF model was integrated using a 15-km/3-km nested domain. No TC bogus scheme was applied when initializing the MPAS-A and WRF simulations. It was found that while TC tracks were reasonably captured by the two models configured variously, the storm intensities were underestimated in general. Given MPAS-A runs were initial value predictions whereas WRF runs were dynamically downscaled from ERA-interim, the finding that MPAS-A has comparable (or slightly better) performance as (than) WRF is noteworthy. To further examine the sensitivity of the MPAS-A TC forecasts to the initial data, additional experiments were carried out for TCs Molave and Hope using ERA5 reanalysis as initial conditions. The ERA5 initialized runs showed significant (slight) improvement in intensity (track) evolution, suggesting that the underestimated TC intensity is likely related to inferior representation of storms in the ERA-interim initial fields. Furthermore, additional runs using another customized 60-to-2-km mesh showed a reasonable improvement in capturing the TC tracks, suggesting that the track forecast accuracy of MPAS-A in TC can be sensitive to the grid resolution in the coarsest part of the variable-resolution mesh used.
Sensitive detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 by multiplex droplet digital RT-PCR
Authors: de Kock Remco , Baselmans Mieke , Scharnhorst Volkher , Deiman Birgit
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop a one-step droplet digital RT-PCR (RT-ddPCR) multiplex assay that allows for sensitive quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA with respect to human-derived RNA and could be used for screening and monitoring of Covid-19 patients. A one-step RT-ddPCR multiplex assay was developed for simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 E, RdRp and N viral RNA, and human Rpp30 DNA and GUSB mRNA, for internal nucleic acid (NA) extraction and RT-PCR control. Dilution series of viral RNA transcripts were prepared in water and total NA extract of Covid-19-negative patients. As reference assay, an E-GUSB duplex RT-PCR was used. GUSB mRNA detection was used to set validity criteria to assure viral RNA and RT-PCR assay quality and to enable quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. In a background of at least 100 GUSB mRNA copies, 5 copies of viral RNA are reliably detectable and 10 copies viral RNA copies are reliably quantifiable. It was found that assay sensitivity of the RT-ddPCR was not affected by the total NA background while assay sensitivity of the gold standard RT-PCR assay is drastically decreased when SARS-CoV-2 copies were detected in a background of total NA extract compared with water. The present study describes a robust and sensitive one-step ddRT-PCR multiplex assay for reliable quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. By determining the fractional abundance of viral RNA with respect to a human housekeeping gene, viral loads from different samples can be compared, what could be used to investigate the infectiveness and to monitor Covid-19 patients.
Adolescents’ profiles based on student agency and teacher autonomy support: does interpersonal justice matter?
Authors: Grazia Valentina , Mameli Consuelo , Molinari Luisa
Published: October 2020

In this study, we adopted a person-oriented approach to (a) identify latent profiles of adolescents characterized by unique patterns of perceived teacher autonomy support and student agency, (b) investigate whether perceived interpersonal justice can predict profile membership and (c) compare different profiles in relation to personal responsibility. Participants were 545 Italian secondary school students (55% boys, 94% born in Italy, Mage = 14.24, SDage = .53). Five adolescents’ profiles emerged: disengaged (24%), average students (34%) and committed (28%), with low, mean and high scores, respectively, in both teacher autonomy support and agency; resistant (5%), with low scores in teacher autonomy support and high scores in agency; compliant (9%), with high scores in teacher autonomy support and low scores in agency. Perceptions of interpersonal justice significantly predicted profile membership in the comparison of almost all profiles. Several significant differences in responsibility among profiles also emerged. Implications of the findings for practices and policies are discussed.
Letalität und Risikofaktoren für einen schweren Verlauf der COVID-19-Pneumonie
Authors: Flick Holger
Published: October 2020

Die Schwere einer SARS-CoV-2-Pneumonie, ihr Verlauf, die Letalität und Mortalität werden multifaktoriell durch den unmittelbaren Parenchymschaden im Bereich der Lungen (inklusive der Pulmonalgefäße), vorbestehende Komorbiditäten, extrapulmonale Komplikationen, sekundäre Infektionen und die Qualität der verfügbaren medizinischen Versorgung bedingt. Diesbezüglich ist COVID-19 vergleichbar mit anderen schweren ambulant erworbenen Pneumonien durch konventionelle Erreger, auch wenn sich die Pathogenese unterscheidet. Die Letalität von hospitalisierten COVID-19-Patienten beträgt näherungsweise 20 % (damit höher als bei anderen Pneumonieerregern), bei intensivpflichtigen Patienten 30–40 % und von invasiv beatmeten Patienten ca. 50 %. Für die Letalität ausschlaggebende Risikofaktoren sind hohes Alter, Übergewicht, männliches Geschlecht und typische altersabhängige kardiopulmonale Grunderkrankungen. Die klinische Risikoeinschätzung im Krankenhaus sollte im Wesentlichen entsprechend den gültigen Pneumonieleitlinien erfolgen. Die Wertigkeit von COVID-19-spezifischen laborchemischen Surrogatmarkern zur Risikoeinschätzung und Behandlungsoptimierung ist noch nicht ausreichend beurteilbar.
Application of freeze-dried Yarrowia lipolytica biomass in the synthesis of lipophilic antioxidants
Authors: Zieniuk Bartłomiej , Wołoszynowska Małgorzata , Białecka-Florjańczyk Ewa , Fabiszewska Agata
Published: October 2020

Objective

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of using Y. lipolytica biomass as a whole-cell catalyst in the synthesis of lipophilic antioxidants, with the example of esterification of five phenolic acids with 1-butanol.

Results

Freeze-dried Y. lipolytica biomass was successfully applied as a biocatalyst in the synthesis of esters of phenylpropanoic acid derivatives with 75–98% conversion. However, in the case of phenylacetic acid derivatives, results below 10% were obtained. The biological activity of phenolic acid esters was strongly associated with their chemical structures. Butyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate showed an IC50 value of 19 mg/ml (95 mM) and TEAC value of 0.427. Among the compounds tested, butyl esters of 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acids exhibited the highest antifungal activity.

Conclusions

Lipophilization of phenolic acids achieved by enzymatic esterification creates prospects for using these compounds as food additives with antioxidant properties in lipid-rich food matrices.
Problem Gambling in Early Adulthood: a Population-Based Study
Authors: Emond Alan , Griffiths Mark D. , Hollén Linda
Published: October 2020

The aims of this study were to investigate stability of problem gambling between 20 and 24 years of age, and the antecedents and consequences of problem gambling at age 20 years. Young adult participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) completed computer-administered gambling surveys on paper, or online. Responses to the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) were complete for 2624 participants at 20 years, and 1921 participants at 24 years. Responses were categorized into ‘non-problem’ (71–78%), ‘low-risk gambling’ (16–21%), ‘moderate-risk gambling’ (4–5.5%), and ‘problem gambling’ (1–1.5%). The overall frequency of moderate-risk/problem gambling varied little between age 20 and 24 years, and scratch cards, online betting and gambling were the most frequent activities. Problem gamblers at age 20 years had a history of hyperactivity and conduct problems in adolescence, high sensation seeking, and an external locus of control. They were more likely to have mothers who had problems with gambling, reported less parental supervision, and higher social media usage. Moderate-risk/problem gambling at age 20 years was associated with regular cigarette smoking, high levels of illicit drug use, and problematic use of alcohol at age 24 years. A significant minority of young adults (mainly males) showed problem gambling behaviours which appeared to be established by the age of 20 years and were associated with other potentially addictive behaviours.
Prevalence and Predisposing Factors of Suicidal Ideation Among the University Students in Bangladesh: A Single-Site Survey
Authors: Mamun Mohammed A. , Rayhan Istihak , Akter Khaleda , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: October 2020

Recently, suicide among Bangladeshi university students has become a serious problem. However, to date, there have been no studies assessing suicidal behaviors among Bangladeshi students. Therefore, the present study investigated suicidal ideation (SI) and its risk factors among this population. A classroom-based convenience sampling method was utilized to survey 665 students of a university in Bangladesh (67.5% males; aged 21.16 years: SD ± 1.6). In addition to socio-demographic questions, the survey also included the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale, Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale–21. Results showed that the prevalence of suicidal ideation was 2.3% in the past 24 h, 4.8% in the past 15 days, 6.9% in the past month, 14.7% in the past year, and 61.1% in the lifetime. The unadjusted regression model showed that being divorced (or separated) from a partner (OR = 4.486, 95% CI = 1.972–10.207, p < 0.0001), Facebook addiction (OR = 1.550, 95% CI = 1.006–2.388, p = 0.047), depression (OR = 1.657, 95% CI = 1.677–4.211, p < 0.0001), anxiety (OR = 2.649, 95% CI = 1.624–4.320, p < 0.0001), and stress (OR = 2.626, 95% CI = 1.673–4.122, p < 0.0001) were the risk factors of past-year SI. Compared with global prevalence rates, the present study reported higher levels of SI prevalence. Therefore, supportive suicide prevention programs are needed to tackle SI and alongside comorbid psychopathology.
Current perspectives on video and audio recording inside the surgical operating room: results of a cross-disciplinary survey
Authors: van de Graaf Floyd W. , Eryigit Özgür , Lange Johan F.
Published: October 2020

The availability of intraoperative multimedia recording is increasing. Considering the growing call for physicians’ accountability, it is inevitable that multimedia will play an important role in aiding quality control by improving the adequacy of operative reporting. However, the perspectives of medical professionals on this matter are poorly known. In this cross-disciplinary survey, we aimed to investigate the current viewpoints concerning the use of multimedia recording in the operating room. We conducted an electronic survey among all affiliated members of the Association of Surgeons of the Netherlands, the Dutch Urological Association and the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology containing questions regarding current use of intraoperative recording and the level of likelihood or objection for certain scenarios. The response rate was 27.8%. The survey encompasses 370 (54.5%) surgeons, 71 (10.5%) urologists, 80 (11.8%) gynecologists, and 158 (23.3%) residents in training. 52.4% of respondents feel that the currently used operative report is insufficient for future quality requirements. 58.5% think it is unlikely they would behave differently during surgery when intra-operative video recording is applied. 82.8% think it is unlikely that their surgical methods would be altered. 63.8% of respondents preferred only video registration when intraoperative recording is implemented. The majority of respondents agree that the current method of operative reporting is insufficient for future quality requirements. There is support for intraoperative video recording, however, legal transparency is needed before either intraoperative video or audio recording could be implemented to protect not only the patients, but also the healthcare providers.
Green Shoots in a Barren World: Recent Developments in International Investment Law
Authors: Rudall Jason
Published: October 2020

This article begins from the observation that there have been a number of developments in international investment law-making and the jurisprudence of investor-state dispute settlement tribunals involving the protection of the environment and human rights. As for law-making, this article explores the evolving substance of international investment agreements as well as regulatory developments in the area of business and human rights that are of relevance to the international investment law framework. The article then turns to consider the emergence of human rights and environmental issues in the recent jurisprudence of investment tribunals and appraises how such issues have been dealt with—both in procedural and substantive terms—by arbitral tribunals. Finally, it questions whether investment tribunals are appropriate venues for the adjudication of non-investment matters like environmental and human rights issues, and highlights best practices that could be adopted by future tribunals. Overall, the article concludes that the piecemeal approach adopted to date provides a step in the right direction but is ultimately inadequate given the multiple challenges that our planet currently faces. Rather, a more ambitious agenda that is concerned with promoting good investment, as opposed to mitigating bad practices, should be pursued.
Behavioral Science and Public Policy
Authors: Sunstein Cass R.
Published: October 2020

Behavioral science is playing an increasing role in public policy, and it is raising new questions about fundamental issues - the role of government, freedom of choice, paternalism, and human welfare. In diverse nations, public officials are using behavioral findings to combat serious problems - poverty, air pollution, highway safety, COVID-19, discrimination, employment, climate change, and occupational health. Exploring theory and practice, this Element attempts to provide one-stop shopping for those who are new to the area and for those who are familiar with it. With reference to nudges, taxes, mandates, and bans, it offers concrete examples of behaviorally informed policies. It also engages the fundamental questions, include the proper analysis of human welfare in light of behavioral findings. It offers a plea for respecting freedom of choice - so long as people's choices are adequately informed and free from behavioral biases.
La première carte d’identité d’Afrique occidentale française (1946-1960): Identifier et s’identifier au Sénégal au temps de la citoyenneté impériale
Authors: Dalberto Séverine Awenengo
Published: October 2020

La première carte d’identité d’Afrique occidentale française (1946-1960) : Identifier et s’identifier au Sénégal au temps de la citoyenneté impériale

Cet article explore le projet et la mise en œuvre au Sénégal de l’arrêté général du 17 octobre 1949 qui institua en Afrique occidentale française (AOF) le port d’une carte d’identité fédérale. Ce projet correspondait à la volonté de généralisation et d’uniformisation de l’identification légale personnelle consécutive à la réforme de l’Empire après-guerre. La fin du régime de l’indigénat et l’octroi de la citoyenneté impériale requéraient en effet que s’établisse un rapport nouveau entre l’État et des individus singuliers, en rupture avec l’approche catégorielle qui avait jusqu’alors été au fondement du gouvernement impérial. Si, à travers l’analyse de l’extension de l’état civil dans les années 1950, l’historiographie a pu récemment éclairer les limites de la nouvelle gouvernementalité coloniale et l’ambivalence de la citoyenneté impériale, l’histoire de cette première carte d’identité est restée un angle mort de la recherche sur les dispositifs d’identification mis en place après-guerre. En mobilisant de nouveaux matériaux archivistiques et empiriques et par un changement d’échelle d’observation, cet article invite à poursuivre la réflexion entamée et à en nuancer certaines conclusions. Il s’attache non seulement à explorer la fabrique bureaucratique, sociale et politique de la carte d’identité, à questionner les régimes de véridiction de l’identité légale, mais aussi à éclairer la manière dont des Africains et des Africaines envisagèrent ces documents, qui furent aussi des supports d’expériences du monde social et, parfois, intime.
Transitions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Patient and Caregiver Experiences
Authors: Munan Matthew , Luth Westerly , Genuis Shelagh K. , Johnston Wendy S.W. , MacIntyre Erika
Published: October 2020

Background:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presents many transitions for persons/people with ALS (PwALS) and their caregivers. Transitions are passages from one life phase, condition, or status to another. We used qualitative methods to understand how PwALS and caregivers experience transitions throughout their ALS journey.

Methods:

PwALS and their caregivers were recruited from a multidisciplinary ALS clinic in Edmonton, Canada. We recruited patients at the stage of ALS that home mechanical ventilation, a feeding tube, and/or assistive communication technology had been offered. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis.

Results:

We interviewed 14 PwALS and 15 caregivers and identified 5 recurring themes. The importance of community was identified by many PwALS and caregivers who expressed feelings of loneliness and isolation. Most caregivers were spouses and couples navigated a change in their relationship roles as one spouse transitioned to becoming a caregiver while the other transitioned to dependency. The caregiver spouses reported a sense of “total responsibility” that encompassed continual vigilance for the PwALS’s well-being, managing their household and finances. PwALS and caregivers reported transitioning to reliance on life-sustaining medical devices; early adoption and information on these devices increased their quality of life. Participants also wanted more and earlier information on advanced care planning. PwALS and caregivers identified adapting to new forms of communication as a necessity.

Conclusion:

ALS presents many transitions for PwALS and caregivers. Understanding these transitions is important for ALS healthcare professionals who seek to implement best care practices.
COVID-19 Surge Capacity Solutions: Our Experience of Converting a Concert Hall into a Temporary Hospital for Mild and Moderate COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Sacchetto Daniela , Raviolo Mario , Beltrando Cristiano , Tommasoni Nicola
Published: October 2020

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has stressed the health care system in Italy as well as around the world, with hospitals implementing their surge capacity to increase the number of available beds for patients positive to the virus.

At the end of March, the Piemonte (Northern Italy) Government decided to build a temporary rapid-assembly emergency hospital for the treatment of mild and moderate COVID-19 patients, converting an existing concert hall in the city of Turin. The decision was prompted not only by the urgent need of hospital beds, but also by a forward-looking approach for the months immediately after the emergency, when it will be essential for conventional hospitals to return to a normal configuration.

This paper documents the temporary hospital project, describing the site, the layout and the equipment, the idea behind structural choices, and the staff involved. The aim of the work is to share the experience and to provide some practical recommendations to other professionals who are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.
Effectiveness of Steroid Treatment for SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia With Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia-Like Reaction: A Case Report
Authors: Kim Taehwa , Son Eunjeong , Jeon Doosoo , Lee Su Jin , Lim Seungjin , Cho Woo Hyun
Published: October 2020

Several studies on the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are being conducted, and various drugs are being tried; however, the results have not been uniform. Steroids have been widely used in the treatment of COVID-19, but their effects are controversial. As immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agents, steroids are considered to reduce lung damage by regulating various inflammatory responses. We report a case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pneumonia manifesting as a cryptogenic organizing pneumonia-like reaction and discuss its treatment, clinical course, and favorable outcomes after steroid administration.
Human resources required for antimicrobial stewardship activities for hospitalized patients in Korea
Authors: Park Se Yoon , Chang Hyun-Ha , Kim Bongyoung , Moon Chisook , Lee Mi Suk , Kim Jin Yong , Jung Dong Sik , Kim Shin-Woo , Moon Song Mi , Kim Eu Suk , Kim Hong Bin ,   for Korea Study Group For Antimicrobial Stewardship (KOSGAP)
Published: October 2020

Objectives:

We calculated the human resources required for an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) in Korean hospitals.

Design:

Multicenter retrospective study.

Setting:

Eight Korean hospitals ranging in size from 295 to 1,337 beds.

Methods:

The time required for performing ASP activities for all hospitalized patients under antibiotic therapy was estimated and converted into hours per week. The actual time spent on patient reviews of each ASP activity was measured with a small number of cases, then the total time was estimated by applying the determined times to a larger number of cases. Full-time equivalents (FTEs) were measured according to labor laws in Korea (52 hours per week).

Results:

In total, 225 cases were reviewed to measure time spent on patient reviews. The median time spent per patient review for ASP activities ranged from 10 to 16 minutes. The total time spent on the review for all hospitalized patients was estimated using the observed number of ASP activities for 1,534 patients who underwent antibiotic therapy on surveillance days. The most commonly observed ASP activity was ‘review of surgical prophylactic antibiotics’ (32.7%), followed by ‘appropriate antibiotics recommendations for patients with suspected infection without a proven site of infection but without causative pathogens’ (28.6%). The personnel requirement was calculated as 1.20 FTEs (interquartile range [IQR], 1.02–1.38) per 100 beds and 2.28 FTEs (IQR, 1.93–2.62) per 100 patients who underwent antibiotic therapy, respectively.

Conclusion:

The estimated time required for human resources performing extensive ASP activities on all hospitalized patients undergoing antibiotic therapy in Korean hospitals was ~1.20 FTEs (IQR, 1.02–1.38) per 100 beds.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in long-term care facilities: A review of epidemiology, clinical presentations, and containment interventions
Authors: Gmehlin Cameron G. , Munoz-Price L. Silvia
Published: October 2020

Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and their populations have been greatly affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this review, we summarize the literature to describe the current epidemiology of COVID-19 in LTCFs, clinical presentations and outcomes in the LTCF population with COVID-19, containment interventions, and the role of healthcare workers in SARS-CoV-2 transmission in these facilities.
Healthcare personnel absenteeism, presenteeism, and staffing challenges during epidemics
Authors: Challener Douglas W. , Breeher Laura E. , Frain JoEllen , Swift Melanie D. , Tosh Pritish K. , O’Horo John
Published: October 2020

Objective:

Presenteeism is an expensive and challenging problem in the healthcare industry. In anticipation of the staffing challenges expected with the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined a decade of payroll data for a healthcare workforce. We aimed to determine the effect of seasonal influenza-like illness (ILI) on absences to support COVID-19 staffing plans.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Large academic medical center in the United States.

Participants:

Employees of the academic medical center who were on payroll between the years of 2009 and 2019.

Methods:

Biweekly institutional payroll data was evaluated for unscheduled absences as a marker for acute illness-related work absences. Linear regression models, stratified by payroll status (salaried vs hourly employees) were developed for unscheduled absences as a function of local ILI.

Results:

Both hours worked and unscheduled absences were significantly related to the community prevalence of influenza-like illness in our cohort. These effects were stronger in hourly employees.

Conclusions:

Organizations should target their messaging at encouraging salaried staff to stay home when ill.
The Importance of Organizational Climate in Healthy Workplaces: Considerations for Disability Management
Authors: McHugh Gabrielle
Published: October 2020

Background:

In 2013, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) released national, comprehensive guidelines for psychological health in the workplace. Nevertheless, follow-up surveys report poor uptake of the guidelines, particularly within the manufacturing sector, despite recent Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal (WSAIT) decisions that place greater responsibilities on employers to protect employees from psychological injury. Hence, this program of research has focused on the context of the work environment with a goal to better understand and inform current application of healthy workplace practices and policies. The overarching premise is that the full potential of a healthy workplace is optimised when set within a specific climate that values the health of workers. Therefore, Phase 1 reported the development of a workplace scale measuring a domain-specific climate for healthy practices in the workplace. Phase 2, reported here, tests the differential influence of culture, leadership and social climate on workers’ perceptions of healthy workplace practices and occupational bond.

Method:

Self-reported measures of culture, leadership social climate, healthy workplace practices and occupational bond from 162 participants were analysed to test the organisation’s culture, climate, leadership and practices as internal processes that influence the development of a healthy workplace

Results:

Adequately powered (N= 162), the mediational analyses demonstrated the significance of the proximal work environment of climate over the distal influence of culture and leadership. The key results demonstrate that the proximal environment has a significant influence on how workers perceive their workplaces. This has implications for the implementation of the guidelines for healthy workplaces.
International Adjudication and Its Discontents: A Pluralist Approach to International Tribunal Backlash
Authors: Lovat Henry
Published: October 2020

International tribunal backlash remains poorly understood: hampered by conceptual challenges, systematic research into the causes of this phenomenon remains nascent. The present article makes two contributions to advancing this endeavour. First, building on existing literature, it sets out a working definition of international tribunal backlash, tailored to facilitate mixed method empirical research into the causes of backlash across institutions and sectors. Second, drawing on international relations’ pluralist turn, the article provides an analytically eclectic theoretical scaffold for causal analysis of international tribunal backlash, enabling standardised cross-institutional and sectoral comparison without over-simplifying the complexity of backlash in various instances. The article accordingly provides the building blocks for improved understanding of the causes of – and the potential scope to manage – international tribunal backlash across institutions, regions and sectors.
Transforming a Prima Facie NIAC into an IAC: Finding the Answer in IHL
Authors: Kalandarishvili-Mueller Natia
Published: October 2020

In some non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) a foreign state is involved in favour of an armed group. This poses a challenge to classifying these armed conflicts under IHL. This article argues that evaluating the actions of a foreign state is best carried out by application of the ‘overall control’ test as developed by the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Tadić case. The advantages of this approach are twofold. First, it is a more realistic benchmark for generating the required evidence than the complete dependency or effective control tests developed by the International Court of Justice. Second, using this test makes it less likely for a state to escape its responsibilities under IHL when it acts through armed groups in a prima facie NIAC on the territory of another state. To arrive at this conclusion, the article first critically discusses the different control tests. It then advances that Article 4 of Geneva Convention III 1949 and Article 29 of Geneva Convention IV 1949 themselves contain a threshold of control that can be used to identify foreign state participation in a prima facie NIAC.
POPULAR MUSIC OF THE GREEK WORLD: A NOTE FROM THE ORGANISERS
Authors: Beaton Roderick , Bennet John , Kallimopoulou Eleni , Poulos Panagiotis , Williams Chris
Published: October 2020

In May 2019 the British School at Athens hosted an international conference on popular music of the Greek world. The conference aimed to explore and evaluate the diversity of Greek music apparent in the rich variety of local traditions and in the richness of urban popular music both established and emerging, and to examine its causes from broader musical, sociological and artistic perspectives. Rather than focus on particular forms, such as traditional folk music, rebetika, or the ‘new wave’ of the 1960s exemplified by the international success of composers such as Hadjidakis and Theodorakis, the conference set out to situate these traditions in a broader Greek context and also an explicitly international one, in this way building upon a growing trend (Bucuvalas 2019; Tragaki 2019).
Acculturation through the lens of language: Syrian refugees in Canada and Germany
Authors: Lindner Katrin , Hipfner-Boucher Kathleen , Yamashita Anna , Riehl Claudia Maria , Ramdan Mohcine Ait , Chen Xi
Published: October 2020

The objective of our study was to investigate the acculturation experiences of Syrian refugee families in two contexts (Toronto, Canada, and Munich, Germany) 2 years postresettlement. Specifically, using qualitative methodologies, we examined acculturation orientation through the lens of parent and child minority and majority language use and preferences within multiple contexts. The interview data related to parent and child minority and majority language practices in Canada suggested an integration orientation. Those of families living in Germany were less indicative of a clear orientation; contextual factors restricted parents’ participation in the majority culture, while the youngest of their children tended toward assimilation. Our study revealed similarities and differences in the acculturation experiences of Syrian refugees in Canada and Germany and unveiled specific factors that influenced acculturation orientation in each country.
Circles of impacts within and beyond participatory action research with older people
Authors: Bendien Elena , Groot Barbara , Abma Tineke
Published: October 2020

Participatory action research (PAR) advocates end-user involvement in various societal domains. This paper aims to identify and analyse impacts of PAR involving older persons as co-researchers, and how these impacts spread and are enhanced throughout the research process and after its completion. By impact we mean transformational change throughout and after a PAR study. We present a qualitative community-based research project involving older people who live in sparsely populated areas in the Netherlands, and explore three types of PAR impact: personal, interpersonal and community impacts. We demonstrate how these impacts unfold through expanding circles, from a personal to a community level, and how these circles enhance each other. The project was conducted by a PAR team consisting of one researcher and seven co-researchers. The data were collected from observations, interviews and minutes of meetings, which the team subsequently analysed. The results are presented as a narrative account, whereby four project stages are followed by reflection on the impact it made. The discussion addresses the circles of impact, and whether and how they can strengthen each other in community-based projects involving older people. The concluding remarks address the influence of group dynamics on PAR, whether frail older adults can be expected to take an active part in PAR projects and the extent to which the results from such community-based PAR projects can be generalised.
Schismataand ʾAgudot: The Prohibition against Creating Factions in Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians and Rabbinic Literature
Authors: Amit Aaron
Published: October 2020

Paul opens his First Epistle to the Corinthians with the exhortation “Now I appeal to you, brothers [and sisters], … that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose” (1:10). This plea is strikingly similar to a passage in Sifre Deuteronomy 96, where the wordslo titgodeduare interpreted as “Do not be made into gatherings/factions[ʾagudot]; rather, be all of you one gathering[ʾagudah].” Analyzing these sources in depth, this article argues that Paul was familiar with this early rabbinic midrash in an oral form. It also explores the possibility that Paul used another early rabbinic tradition on unity, which is found in theMekhilta de-miluʾimsection of the Sifra. If Paul indeed knew certain rabbinic oral traditions, then he was an independent interpreter of Scripture, who read Scripture in the original Hebrew. Further, even if Paul's audience consisted primarily of gentiles, the legal norms he sought to institute among them were based on Jewish traditions. Finally, Paul follows his exhortation againstschismatawith the names of specific groups in Corinth, which demonstrates that he understood the tannaitic tradition as a normative principle, meant to be applied to specific disagreements. If so, other first-century Jews also likely understoodlo titgodeduas a concrete halakhic prohibition.
A simplified disproof of Beck’s three permutations conjecture and an application to root-mean-squared discrepancy
Authors: Franks Cole
Published: October 2020

A k-permutation family on n vertices is a set-system consisting of the intervals of k permutations of the integers 1 to n. The discrepancy of a set-system is the minimum over all red–blue vertex colourings of the maximum difference between the number of red and blue vertices in any set in the system. In 2011, Newman and Nikolov disproved a conjecture of Beck that the discrepancy of any 3-permutation family is at most a constant independent of n. Here we give a simpler proof that Newman and Nikolov’s sequence of 3-permutation families has discrepancy $\Omega (\log \,n)$. We also exhibit a sequence of 6-permutation families with root-mean-squared discrepancy $\Omega (\sqrt {\log \,n} )$; that is, in any red–blue vertex colouring, the square root of the expected squared difference between the number of red and blue vertices in an interval of the system is $\Omega (\sqrt {\log \,n} )$.
Middle English Open Syllable Lengthening (MEOSL) or Middle English Compensatory Lengthening (MECL)?
Authors: MINKOVA DONKA , LEFKOWITZ MICHAEL
Published: October 2020

This study addresses a controversial aspect of the change traditionally known as Middle English Open Syllable Lengthening (MEOSL): the variable results of lengthening in disyllabic (C)V.CVC stems, theheaven–havenconundrum. It presents a full philological survey of the recoverable monomorphemic input items and their reflexes in Present-day English (PDE). A re-examination of the empirical data reveals a previously unnoticed correlation between lengthening and the sonority of the medial consonant in forms such aspaper,rocket,gannetandbaron, as well as interplay between that consonant and the σ2coda. The alignment of disyllabic stems with a medial alveolar stop and a sonorant weak syllable coda (Latin,better,otter) with (C)V.RVR stems (baron,felon,moral) opens up a new perspective on the reconstruction of tapping in English. The results of lengthening in disyllabic forms, including those previously thought of as ‘exceptions’ to the change, are modeled in Classical OT and Maxent OT, prompting an account which reframes MEOSL as a stem-level compensatory process (MECL) for all inputs. We show that OT grammars with conventional constraints can correctly predict variation in the (C)V.TəR stems and categorical lengthening or non-lengthening in other disyllabic stems. Broadening the phonological factors beyond the open-syllable condition for potential stressed σ1inputs in (C)V.CV(C) stems allows us to apply the same constraints to stems whose input structure does not involve an open syllable and to propose a uniform account of stressed vowel quantity in all late Middle English mono- and di-syllabic stems.
Spectroscopic Insights Into Ferromanganese Crust Formation and Diagenesis
Authors: Sutherland Kevin M. , Wankel Scott D. , Hein James R. , Hansel Colleen M.
Published: October 2020

Marine ferromanganese deposits, often called the scavengers of the sea, adsorb and coprecipitate with a wide range of metals of great interest for paleo‐environmental reconstructions and economic geology. The long (up to ∼75 Ma), near‐continuous record of seawater chemistry afforded by ferromanganese deposits offers much historical information about the global ocean and surface earth including crustal processes, mantle processes, ocean circulation, and biogeochemical cycles. The extent to which the ferromanganese deposits hosting these geochemical proxies undergo diagenesis on the seafloor, however, remains an important and challenging factor in assessing the fidelity of such records. In this study, we employ multiple X‐ray techniques including micro–X‐ray fluorescence, bulk and micro–X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and X‐ray powder diffraction to probe the structural, compositional, redox, and mineral changes within a single ferromanganese crust. These techniques illuminate a complex two‐dimensional structure characterized by crust growth controlled by the availability of manganese (Mn), a dynamic range in Mn oxidation state from +3.4 to +4.0, changes in Mn mineralogy over time, and recrystallization in the lower phosphatized portions of the crust. Iron (Fe) similarly demonstrates spatial complexity with respect to concentration and mineralogy, but lacks the dynamic range of oxidation state seen for Mn. Micrometer‐scale measurements of metal abundances reveal complex element associations between trace elements and the two major oxide phases, which are not typically resolvable via bulk analytical methods. These findings provide evidence of post‐depositional processes altering chemistry and mineralogy, and provide important geochemical context for the interpretation of element and isotopic records in ferromanganese crusts.
Surface Ozone‐Meteorology Relationships: Spatial Variations and the Role of the Jet Stream
Authors: Kerr Gaige Hunter , Waugh Darryn W. , Steenrod Stephen D. , Strode Sarah A. , Strahan Susan E.
Published: October 2020

We investigate the relationships among summertime ozone (O3), temperature, and humidity on daily timescales across the Northern Hemisphere using observations and model simulations. Temperature and humidity are significantly positively correlated with O3across continental regions in the midlatitudes (∼35–60°N). Over the oceans, the relationships are consistently negative. For continental regions outside the midlatitudes, the O3‐meteorology correlations are mixed in strength and sign but generally weak. Over some high latitude, low latitude, and marine regions, temperature and humidity are significantly anticorrelated with O3. Daily variations in transport patterns linked to the position and meridional movement of the jet stream drive the relationships among O3, temperature, and humidity. Within the latitudinal range of the jet, there is an increase (decrease) in O3, temperature, and humidity over land with poleward (equatorward) movement of the jet, while over the oceans poleward movement of the jet results in decreases of these fields. Beyond the latitudes where the jet traverses, the meridional movement of the jet stream has variable or negligible effects on surface‐level O3, temperature, and humidity. The O3‐meteorology relationships are largely the product of the jet‐induced changes in the surface‐level meridional flow acting on the background meridional O3gradient. Our results underscore the importance of considering the role of the jet stream and surface‐level flow for the O3‐meteorology relationships, especially in light of expected changes to these features under climate change.
Snow as an Important Natural Reservoir for Runoff and Soil Moisture in Northeast China
Authors: Qi Wei , Feng Lian , Liu Junguo , Yang Hong
Published: October 2020

As one of the major agricultural regions in the world, water scarcity problems in Northeast China have drawn much attention recently. Because of cold and long winter period, snow is an important component in the hydrological system. Yet few studies have been conducted to systematically assess its role. This study quantified the effects of snow on runoff and soil moisture in the entire region in a 30‐year time period (1982–2011) for the first time. A water and energy budget‐based distributed biosphere hydrological model with improved snow physics after calibration and validation is employed. A Standardized Snow depth Index (SSdI) is also proposed to quantify snow variations. Result shows that snow contributes 11% to runoff annually on average and 66% and 33% in April and May (main months for crop planting). Soil moisture could decrease by at least 20% in March–May if there would be no snow, and the major agriculture area suffers more than other regions. We also found that SSdI is indicative of standardized soil moisture index and standardized runoff index in spring, particularly useful for supporting water management in agriculture. These results indicate that snow performs like an important reservoir: redistribute water resources among months. This study provides unique insights into the importance of snow in the entire region. The results improve the awareness of the importance of snow to water resources management and indicate that it is worth paying attention to snow in water resources management in this region.
Xenograft and cell culture models of Sézary syndrome reveal cell of origin diversity and subclonal heterogeneity
Authors: Poglio Sandrine , Prochazkova-Carlotti Martina , Cherrier Floriane , Gros Audrey , Laharanne Elodie , Pham-Ledard Anne , Beylot-Barry Marie , Merlio Jean-Philippe
Published: October 2020

Sézary Syndrome (SS) is a rare aggressive epidermotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) defined by erythroderma, pruritis, and a circulating atypical CD4 + T-cell clonal population. The diversity of Sézary cell (SC) phenotype and genotype may reflect either plasticity or heterogeneity, which was difficult to evaluate dynamically until the achievement of long-term SC expansion. Therefore, we developed six defined culture conditions allowing for the expansion of SC defined by their phenotype and monoclonality in four of seven SS cases. Engraftment of SC through the intrafemoral route into immunodeficient NOD.Cg-Prkdc(scid)Il2rg(tm1Wjll)/SzJ (NSG) mice was achieved in 2 of 14 SS cases. Secondary xenograft by percutaneous injection mimicked most of the features of SS with dermal infiltration, epidermotropism, and blood spreading. These models also allowed assessing the intra-individual heterogeneity of patient SC. Subclones sharing the same TCR gene rearrangement evolved independently according to culture conditions and/or after xenografting. This clonal selection was associated with some immunophenotypic plasticity and limited genomic evolution both in vitro and in vivo. The long-term amplification of SC allowed us to develop eight new SC lines derived from four different patients. These lines represent the cell of origin diversity of SC and provide new tools to evaluate their functional hallmarks and response to therapy.