bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chest-CT mimics of COVID-19 pneumonia—a review article
Authors: Carlicchi Eleonora , Gemma Pietro , Poerio Antonio , Caminati Antonella , Vanzulli Angelo , Zompatori Maurizio
Published: March 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in early December 2019 in China, as an acute lower respiratory tract infection and spread rapidly worldwide being declared a pandemic in March 2020. Chest-computed tomography (CT) has been utilized in different clinical settings of COVID-19 patients; however, COVID-19 imaging appearance is highly variable and nonspecific. Indeed, many pulmonary infections and non-infectious diseases can show similar CT findings and mimic COVID-19 pneumonia. In this review, we discuss clinical conditions that share a similar imaging appearance with COVID-19 pneumonia, in order to identify imaging and clinical characteristics useful in the differential diagnosis.
Positive solutions of the prescribed mean curvature equation with exponential critical growth
Authors: Figueiredo Giovany M. , Rădulescu Vicenţiu D.
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we are concerned with the problem $$\begin{aligned} -\text{ div } \left( \displaystyle \frac{\nabla u}{\sqrt{1+|\nabla u|^2}}\right) = f(u) \ \text{ in } \ \Omega , \ \ u=0 \ \text{ on } \ \ \partial \Omega , \end{aligned}$$

-

div

∇
u

1
+

|
∇
u
|

2

=
f

(
u
)

in

Ω
,

u
=
0

on

∂
Ω
,

where $$\Omega \subset {\mathbb {R}}^{2}$$

Ω
⊂

R

2

is a bounded smooth domain and $$f:{\mathbb {R}}\rightarrow {\mathbb {R}}$$

f
:
R
→
R

is a superlinear continuous function with critical exponential growth. We first make a truncation on the prescribed mean curvature operator and obtain an auxiliary problem. Next, we show the existence of positive solutions of this auxiliary problem by using the Nehari manifold method. Finally, we conclude that the solution of the auxiliary problem is a solution of the original problem by using the Moser iteration method and Stampacchia’s estimates.
The role of heterogenous environmental conditions in shaping the spatiotemporal distribution of competing Aedes mosquitoes in Panama: implications for the landscape of arboviral disease transmission
Authors: Bennett Kelly L. , McMillan W. Owen , Enríquez Vanessa , Barraza Elia , Díaz Marcela , Baca Brenda , Whiteman Ari , Cerro Medina Jaime , Ducasa Madeleine , Gómez Martínez Carmelo , Almanza Alejandro , Rovira Jose R. , Loaiza Jose R.
Published: March 2021

Monitoring the invasion process of the Asian tiger mosquitoAedes albopictusand its interaction with the contenderAedes aegypti,is critical to prevent and control the arthropod-borne viruses (i.e., Arboviruses) they transmit to humans. Generally, the superior ecological competitorAe. albopictusdisplacesAe. aegyptifrom most geographic areas, with the combining factors of biology and environment influencing the competitive outcome. Nonetheless, detailed studies asserting displacement come largely from sub-tropical areas, with relatively less effort being made in tropical environments, including no comprehensive research aboutAedesbiological interactions in Mesoamerica. Here, we examine contemporary and historical mosquito surveillance data to assess the role of shifting abiotic conditions in shaping the spatiotemporal distribution of competingAedesspecies in the Republic of Panama. In accordance with prior studies, we show thatAe. albopictushas displacedAe. aegyptiunder suboptimal wet tropical climate conditions and more vegetated environments within the southwestern Azuero Peninsula. Conversely, in the eastern Azuero Peninsula,Ae. aegyptipersists withAe. albopictusunder optimal niche conditions in a dry and more seasonal tropical climate. While species displacement was stable over the course of two years, the presence of both species generally appears to fluctuate in tandem in areas of coexistence.Aedes albopictuswas always more frequently found and abundant regardless of location and climatic season. The heterogenous environmental conditions of Panama shape the competitive outcome and micro-geographic distribution ofAedesmosquitoes, with potential consequences for the transmission dynamics of urban and sylvatic zoonotic diseases.
The importance of traditional agricultural landscapes for preventing species extinctions
Authors: Eriksson Ove
Published: March 2021

The main paradigm for protection of biodiversity, focusing on maintaining or restoring conditions where humans leave no or little impact, risks overlooking anthropogenic landscapes harboring a rich native biodiversity. An example is northern European agricultural landscapes with traditionally managed semi-natural grasslands harboring an exceptional local richness of many taxa, such as plants, fungi and insects. During the last century these grasslands have declined by more than 95%, i.e. in the same magnitude as other, internationally more recognized declines of natural habitats. In this study, data from the Swedish Red List was used to calculate tentative extinction rates for vascular plants, insects (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera) and fungi, given a scenario where such landscapes would vanish. Conservative estimates suggest that abandonment of traditional management in these landscapes would result in elevated extinction rates in all these taxa, between two and three orders of magnitude higher than global background extinction rates. It is suggested that the species richness in these landscapes reflects a species pool from Pleistocene herbivore-structured environments, which, after the extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna, was rescued by the introduction of pre-historic agriculture. Maintaining traditionally managed agricultural landscapes is of paramount importance to prevent species loss. There is no inherent conflict between preservation of anthropogenic landscapes and remaining ‘wild’ areas, but valuating also anthropogenic landscapes is essential for biodiversity conservation.
Between Market Failures and Justice Failures: Trade-Offs Between Efficiency and Equality in Business Ethics
Authors: Blunden Charlie
Published: March 2021

The Market Failures Approach (MFA) is one of the leading theories in contemporary business ethics. It generates a list of ethical obligations for the managers of private firms that states that they should not create or exploit market failures because doing so reduces the efficiency of the economy. Recently the MFA has been criticised by Abraham Singer on the basis that it unjustifiably does not assign private managers obligations based on egalitarian values. Singer proposes an extension to the MFA, the Justice Failures Approach (JFA), in which managers have duties to alleviate political, social, and distributive inequalities in addition to having obligations to not exploit market failures. In this paper I describe the MFA and JFA and situate them relative to each other. I then highlight a threefold distinction between different types of obligations that can be given to private managers in order to argue that a hybrid theory of business ethics, which I call the MFA + , can be generated by arguing that managers have obligations based on efficiency and duties based on equalityto the extent that these latter obligations do not lead to efficiency losses.This argument suggests a novel theoretical option in business ethics, elucidates the issues that are at stake between the MFA and the JFA, and clarifies the costs and benefits of each theory.
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among pregnant women and mothers of young children: results of a survey in 16 countries
Authors: Skjefte Malia , Ngirbabul Michelle , Akeju Oluwasefunmi , Escudero Daniel , Hernandez-Diaz Sonia , Wyszynski Diego F. , Wu Julia W.
Published: March 2021

With the development of multiple effective vaccines, reducing the global morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 will depend on the distribution and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Estimates of global vaccine acceptance among pregnant women and mothers of young children are yet unknown. An understanding of the challenges and correlates to vaccine acceptance will aid the acceleration of vaccine administration within these populations. Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women and mothers of children younger than 18-years-old, as well as potential predictors, were assessed through an online survey, administered by Pregistry between October 28 and November 18, 2020. 17,871 total survey responses from 16 countries were obtained. Given a 90% COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, 52.0% of pregnant women (n = 2747/5282) and 73.4% of non-pregnant women (n = 9214/12,562) indicated an intention to receive the vaccine. 69.2% of women (n = 11,800/17,054), both pregnant and non-pregnant, indicated an intention to vaccinate their children. Vaccine acceptance was generally highest in India, the Philippines, and all sampled countries in Latin America; it was lowest in Russia, the United States and Australia. The strongest predictors of vaccine acceptance included confidence in vaccine safety or effectiveness, worrying about COVID-19, belief in the importance of vaccines to their own country, compliance to mask guidelines, trust of public health agencies/health science, as well as attitudes towards routine vaccines. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and its predictors among women vary globally. Vaccination campaigns for women and children should be specific for each country in order to attain the largest impact.
Emission taxes, firm relocation, and product differentiation
Authors: Birg Laura , Voßwinkel Jan S.
Published: March 2021

This paper studies the effect of an emission tax on the relocation decision in a duopoly with vertical product differentiation. We establish the relationship between an exogenous product quality markup, relocation cost, and emission taxation in a two-country-setting for three cases: (a) an environmental tax set only by one country, (b) non-cooperative environmental taxation in both countries, and (c) coordinated environmental taxation. We show that a larger product quality markup and, thus, weaker competition can serve as a substitute for environmental policy as both reduce emissions. However, weaker competition makes firm relocation more likely, which results in emission shifting instead of emission reduction. The higher the product quality markup, the more likely it is that at least one firm relocates to the foreign country. Emission taxation in the foreign country changes location decisions: If also the foreign country applies an emission tax, at least one firm stays in the home country. If both governments set taxes non-cooperatively, the low-quality firm always stays in the home country. If both countries set taxes cooperatively, both firms are more likely to stay in the home country. However, relocation of the low-quality firm is a possible outcome under cooperative taxation.
Cell wall and organelle modifications during nitrogen starvation in Nannochloropsis oceanica F&M-M24
Authors: Roncaglia Bianca , Papini Alessio , Chini Zittelli Graziella , Rodolfi Liliana , Tredici Mario R.
Published: March 2021

Nannochloropsis oceanica F&M-M24 is able to increase its lipid content during nitrogen starvation to more than 50% of the total biomass. We investigated the ultrastructural changes and the variation in the content of main cell biomolecules that accompany the final phase of lipid accumulation. Nitrogen starvation induced a first phase of thylakoid disruption followed by chloroplast macroautophagy and formation of lipid droplets. During this phase, the total amount of proteins decreased by one-third, while carbohydrates decreased by 12–13%, suggesting that lipid droplets were formed by remodelling of chloroplast membranes and synthesis of fatty acids from carbohydrates and amino acids. The change in mitochondrial ultrastructure suggests also that these organelles were involved in the process. The cell wall increased its thickness and changed its structure during starvation, indicating that a disruption process could be partially affected by the increase in wall thickness for biomolecules recovery from starved cells. The wall thickness in strain F&M-M24 was much lower than that observed in other strains of N. oceanica, showing a possible advantage of this strain for the purpose of biomolecules extraction. The modifications following starvation were interpreted as a response to reduction of availability of a key nutrient (nitrogen). The result is a prolonged survival in quiescence until an improvement of the environmental conditions (nutrient availability) allows the rebuilding of the photosynthetic apparatus and the full recovery of cell functions.
Sputtered highly effective iridium catalysts: a new approach for green satellite propulsion
Authors: Stollenwerk Manfred , Schäfer Tobias , Stadtmüller Johannes , Döhring Thorsten , Freudenmann Dominic , Röcke Nicole
Published: March 2021

This work demonstrated the large potential of sputtered iridium metal for catalytic reactions shown by the example of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for space propulsion systems. For this purpose, iridium was coated onto Al2O3 pellets by a sputter process under varied process parameters. Depending on previously selected parameters, the obtained metal-loaded pellets offer closed- and/or open-shell structures. Catalytic productivity of these first-generation iridium-sputtered catalysts was estimated in laboratory experiments and compared to platinum-loaded pellets. Under optimized sputter-process conditions, the reactivity is significantly improved compared to the platinum-impregnated pellets. The better catalytic productivity can be explained by the increased active surface area of the iridium layers on the pellets. The surface morphology and the microstructure of the iridium coating can be actively controlled by the sputter pressure. The results are in accordance with the sputtering process pressure tendency described by the Thornton Structure–Zone Model.

Graphical abstract
A novel polymeric fibrous microstructured biodegradable small-caliber tubular scaffold for cardiovascular tissue engineering
Authors: Dimopoulos Andreas , Markatos Dionysios N. , Mitropoulou Athina , Panagiotopoulos Ioannis , Koletsis Efstratios , Mavrilas Dimosthenis
Published: March 2021

Increasing morbidity of cardiovascular diseases in modern society has made it crucial to develop artificial small-caliber cardiovascular grafts for surgical intervention of diseased natural arteries, as alternatives to the gold standard autologous implants. Synthetic small-caliber grafts are still not in use due to increased risk of restenosis, lack of lumen re-endothelialization and mechanical mismatch, leading sometimes either to graft failure or to unsuccessful remodeling and pathology of the distal parts of the anastomosed healthy vascular tissues. In this work, we aimed to synthesize small-caliber polymeric (polycaprolactone) tissue-engineered vascular scaffolds that mimic the structure and biomechanics of natural vessels. Electrospinning was implemented to prepare microstructured polymeric membranes with controlled axis-parallel fiber alignment. Consequently, we designed small-caliber multilayer anisotropic biodegradable nanofibrous tubular scaffolds, giving attention to their radial compliance. Polycaprolactone scaffold morphology and mechanical properties were assessed, quantified, and compared with those of native vessels and commercial synthetic grafts. Results showed a highly hydrophobic scaffold material with a three-layered tubular morphology, 4-mm internal diameter/0.25 ± 0.09-mm thickness, consisting of predominantly axially aligned thin (1.156 ± 0.447 μm), homogeneous and continuous microfibers, with adequate (17.702 ± 5.369 μm) pore size, potentially able to promote cell infiltration in vivo. In vitro accelerated degradation showed a 5% mass loss within 17–25 weeks. Mechanical anisotropy was attained as a result, almost one order of magnitude difference of the elastic modulus (18 ± 3 MPa axially/1 ± 0.3 MPa circumferentially), like that of natural arterial walls. Furthermore, a desirable radial compliance (5.04 ± 0.82%, within the physiological pressure range) as well as cyclic stability of the tubular scaffold was achieved. Finally, cytotoxicity evaluation of the polymeric scaffolds revealed that the materials were nontoxic and did not release substances harmful to living cells (over 80% cell viability achieved).
The contemporary pulmonary artery catheter. Part 2: measurements, limitations, and clinical applications
Authors: Bootsma I. T. , Boerma E. C. , Scheeren T. W. L. , de Lange F.
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, the classical pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) has an almost 50-year-old history of its clinical use for hemodynamic monitoring. In recent years, the PAC evolved from a device that enabled intermittent cardiac output measurements in combination with static pressures to a monitoring tool that provides continuous data on cardiac output, oxygen supply and-demand balance, as well as right ventricular performance. In this review, which consists of two parts, we will introduce the difference between intermittent pulmonary artery thermodilution using bolus injections, and the contemporary PAC enabling continuous measurements by using a thermal filament which heats up the blood. In this second part, we will discuss in detail the measurements of the contemporary PAC, including continuous cardiac output measurement, right ventricular ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume index, and mixed venous oxygen saturation. Limitations of all of these measurements are highlighted as well. We conclude that thorough understanding of measurements obtained from the PAC is the first step in successful application of the PAC in daily clinical practice.
Dynamics and fate of blue carbon in a mangrove–seagrass seascape: influence of landscape configuration and land-use change
Authors: Asplund Maria E. , Dahl Martin , Ismail Rashid O. , Arias-Ortiz Ariane , Deyanova Diana , Franco João N. , Hammar Linus , Hoamby Arielle I. , Linderholm Hans W. , Lyimo Liberatus D. , Perry Diana , Rasmusson Lina M. , Ridgway Samantha N. , Salgado Gispert Gloria , D’Agata Stéphanie , Glass Leah , Mahafina Jamal Angelot , Ramahery Volanirina , Masque Pere , Björk Mats , Gullström Martin
Published: March 2021

Context

Seagrass meadows act as efficient natural carbon sinks by sequestering atmospheric CO2and through trapping of allochthonous organic material, thereby preserving organic carbon (Corg) in their sediments. Less understood is the influence of landscape configuration and transformation (land-use change) on carbon sequestration dynamics in coastal seascapes across the land–sea interface.

Objectives

We explored the influence of landscape configuration and degradation of adjacent mangroves on the dynamics and fate of Corgin seagrass habitats.

Methods

Through predictive modelling, we assessed sedimentary Corgcontent, stocks and source composition in multiple seascapes (km-wide buffer zones) dominated by different seagrass communities in northwest Madagascar. The study area encompassed seagrass meadows adjacent to intact and deforested mangroves.

Results

The sedimentary Corgcontent was influenced by a combination of landscape metrics and inherent habitat plant- and sediment-properties. We found a strong land-to-sea gradient, likely driven by hydrodynamic forces, generating distinct patterns in sedimentary Corglevels in seagrass seascapes. There was higher Corgcontent and a mangrove signal in seagrass surface sediments closer to the deforested mangrove area, possibly due to an escalated export of Corgfrom deforested mangrove soils. Seascapes comprising large continuous seagrass meadows had higher sedimentary Corglevels in comparison to more diverse and patchy seascapes.

Conclusion

Our results emphasize the benefit to consider the influence of seascape configuration and connectivity to accurately assess Corgcontent in coastal habitats. Understanding spatial patterns of variability and what is driving the observed patterns is useful for identifying carbon sink hotspots and develop management prioritizations.
Benefits of Iron Chelators in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Zeng Xiaoyan , An Hedi , Yu Fei , Wang Kai , Zheng Lanlan , Zhou Wei , Bao Yiwen , Yang Jie , Shen Nan , Huang Dongya
Published: March 2021

As a novel discovered regulated cell death pattern, ferroptosis has been associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and has attracted widespread attention. Nevertheless, the relationship between ferroptosis and PD pathogenesis is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect of iron overload on dopaminergic (DA) neurons and its correlation with ferroptosis. Here we use nerve growth factor (NGF) induced PC12 cells which are derived from pheochromocytoma of the rat adrenal to establish a classical PD in vitro model. We found significantly decreased cell viability in NGF-PC12 cell under ammonium ferric citrate (FAC) administration. Moreover, excessive intracellular iron ions induced the increase of (reactive oxygen species) ROS release as well as the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential in PC12-NGF cells. In addition, we also found that overloaded iron can activate cell apoptosis and ferroptosis pathways, which led to cell death. Furthermore, MPP-induced PD cells were characterized by mitochondrial shrinkage, decreased expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) and ferritin heavy chain (FTH1), and increased divalent metal transporter (DMT1) and transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) expression level. In contrast, Lip-1 and DFO increased the expression level of GPX4 and FTH1 compared to MPP-induced PD cell. In conclusion, we indicated that overloaded intracellular iron contributes to neurons death via apoptosis and ferroptosis pathways, while DFO, an iron chelator, can inhibit ferroptosis in order to protect the neurons in vitro.
2-Local derivations of real AW*-algebras are derivation
Authors: Dadakhodjaev R. A. , Rakhimov A. A.
Published: March 2021

2-Local derivations on real matrix algebras over unital semi-prime Banach algebras are considered. Using the real analogue of the result that any 2-local derivation on the algebra $$M_{2^n}(A)$$

M

2
n

(
A
)

($$n\ge 2$$

n
≥
2

) is a derivation, it is shown that any 2-local derivation on real AW$$^*$$

∗

-algebra for which the enveloping algebra is (complex) AW*-algebra, is a derivation, where A is a unital semi-prime Banach algebra with the inner derivation property.
Impact of COVID-19 on workload burden of a complex radiotherapy facility
Authors: Francolini Giulio , Desideri Isacco , Stocchi Giulia , Ciccone Lucia Pia , Salvestrini Viola , Garlatti Pietro , Aquilano Michele , Greto Daniela , Bonomo Pierluigi , Meattini Icro , Scotti Vieri , Scoccianti Silvia , Simontacchi Gabriele , Livi Lorenzo
Published: March 2021

Background and purpose

COVID-19 constitutes a worldwide threat, prompting Italian Government to implement specific measures on March 8, 2020, to protect patients and health workers from disease transmission. The impact of preventive measures on daily activity of a radiotherapy facility may hamper the ability to fulfill normal workload burden. Thus, we assessed the number of delivered treatments in a specific observation period after the adoption of preventive measures (since March 11 to April 24, 2020) and compared it with the corresponding period of the year 2019.

Materials and methods

Overall number of delivered fractions was related to actual time of platform daily activity and reported as a ratio between number of delivered fractions and activity hours (Fr/Hrs). Fr/Hrs were calculated and compared for two different periods of time, March 11–April 24, 2019 (Fr/Hrs1), and March 11–April 24, 2020 (Fr/Hrs2).

Results

Fr/Hrs1 and Fr/Hrs2 were 2.66 and 2.54 for year 2019 and 2020, respectively, for a Fr/Hrsratio of 1.07 (95% CI 1.03–1.12, p = 0.0005). Fr/Hrs1 was significantly higher than Fr/Hrs2 for SliR and PreciseR, with Fr/Hrsratio of 1.92 (95% CI 1.66–2.23, p < 0.0001) and 1.11 (95% CI 1.03–1.2, p = 0.003), respectively. No significant difference was reported for SynergyR and CyberknifeR with Fr/Hrsratio of 0.99 (95% CI 0.91–1.08, p = 0.8) and 0.9 (95% CI 0.77–1.06, p = 0.2), respectively. Fr/Hrs1 was significantly lower than Fr/Hrs2 for TomotherapyR, with Fr/Hrsratio of 0.88 (95% CI 0.8–0.96, p = 0.007).

Conclusion

Preventive measures did not influence workload burden performed. Automation in treatment delivery seems to compensate effectively for health workers number reduction.
FRAX-based fracture probabilities in South Africa
Authors: Johansson Helena , Dela Sapna S. , Cassim Bilkish , Paruk Farhanah , Brown Susan L. , Conradie Magda , Harvey Nicholas C. , Jordaan Johannes D. , Kalla Asgar A. , Liu Enwu , Lorentzon Mattias , Lukhele Mkhululi , McCloskey Eugene V. , Mohamed Ozayr , Chutterpaul Pariva , Vandenput Liesbeth , Kanis John A.
Published: March 2021

The hip fracture rates in South Africa were used to create ethnic-specific FRAX® models to facilitate fracture risk assessment.

Introduction

The aim of this study was to develop FRAX models to compute the 10-year probability of hip fracture and major osteoporotic fracture and assess their potential clinical application.

Methods

Age- and sex-specific incidence of hip fracture and national mortality rates were incorporated into a FRAX model for the White, Black African, Coloured and Indian population of South Africa. Age-specific 10-year probabilities of a major osteoporotic fracture were calculated in women to determine fracture probabilities at a femoral neck T score of -2.5 SD, or those equivalent to a woman with a prior fragility fracture. Fracture probabilities were compared with those from selected countries.

Results

Probabilities were consistently higher in Indian than in Coloured men and women, in turn, higher than in Black South Africans. For White South Africans, probabilities were lower than in Indians at young ages up to the age of about 80 years. When a BMD T score of −2.5 SD was used as an intervention threshold, FRAX probabilities in women age 50 years were approximately 2-fold higher than in women of the same age but with an average BMD and no risk factors. The increment in risk associated with the BMD threshold decreased progressively with age such that, at the age of 80 years or more, a T score of −2.5 SD was no longer a risk factor. Probabilities equivalent to women with a previous fracture rose with age and identified women at increased risk at all ages.

Conclusions

These FRAX models should enhance accuracy of determining fracture probability amongst the South African population and help guide decisions about treatment.
Distributed fiber optic monitoring of a CFA pile with a central reinforcement bar bundle
Authors: Rui Yi , de Battista Nicholas , Kechavarzi Cedric , Xu Xiaomin , Yin Mei
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we present an application of distributed fiber optic sensor (DFOS) technology to measure the strain of a continuous flight auger (CFA) test pile with a central reinforcement bar bundle, during a static load test carried out in London. Being distributed in nature, DFOS gives much more information about the pile performance as compared to traditional point sensors, such as identifying cross-sectional irregularities or other anomalies. The strain profiles recorded along the depth of the piles from the DFOS were used to calculate pile deformation (contraction), shaft friction, and tip resistance under various loads. Based on this pile load test, a finite element (FE) analysis was performed using a one-dimensional nonlinear load-transfer model. Calibrated by the shaft friction and tip resistance derived from the monitored data, the FE model was able to simulate the pile and soil performance during the load testing with good accuracy. The effect of the reinforcement cage and central reinforcement bar bundle were investigated, and it was found that the addition of a reinforcement cage would reduce the pile settlement by up to 20%.
Challenges and Controversies in the Genetic Diagnosis of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
Authors: Saputra Lydia , Kumar Kishore Raj
Published: March 2021

Purpose of Review

The hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of disorders characterised by progressive lower limb weakness and spasticity. We address the challenges and controversies involved in the genetic diagnosis of HSP.

Recent Findings

There is a large and rapidly expanding list of genes implicated in HSP, making it difficult to keep gene testing panels updated. There is also a high degree of phenotypic overlap between HSP and other disorders, leading to problems in choosing the right panel to analyse. We discuss genetic testing strategies for overcoming these diagnostic hurdles, including the use of targeted sequencing gene panels, whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing. Personalised treatments for HSP are on the horizon, and a genetic diagnosis may hold the key to access these treatments.

Developing strategies to overcome the challenges and controversies in HSP may hold the key to a rapid and accurate genetic diagnosis.
High-thermally conductive AlN-based microwave attenuating composite ceramics with spherical graphite as attenuating agent
Authors: Fang Xia , Jiang Lei , Pan Limei , Yin Shuang , Qiu Tai , Yang Jian
Published: March 2021

High-thermally conductive AlN-based microwave attenuating composite ceramics with spherical graphite (SG) as the attenuating agent were fabricated through hot-pressing sintering. The SG maintains its three-dimensional (3D) morphology within the sintered bodies, which considerably impedes the sintering of the composites to some extent but slightly influences on the growth of AlN grains. The addition of SG reduces the strength of the composites, but provides a moderate toughening effect at the optimal addition amount (3.8 MPa·m1/2 at 4 wt% SG). Benefiting from the low anisotropy, high thermal conductivity, and the 3D morphology of SG, the composites exhibit a relatively higher thermal conductivity (76.82 W·m−1·K−1 at 10 wt% SG) compared with composites added with non-spherical attenuating agent. The dielectric constant and loss (8.2–12.4 GHz) increase remarkably as the amount of SG added increases up to 8 wt%, revealing that the incorporation of SG improves the dielectric property of the composite. The composite with 7 wt% SG exhibits the best absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss of −13.9 dB at 12.4 GHz and an effective absorbing bandwidth of 0.87 GHz. The excellent overall properties of the SG/AlN microwave attenuating composites render them as a promising material for various applications. Moreover, SG has a great potential as an attenuating agent for microwave attenuating composites due to its strong attenuation upon integration, high thermal conductivity, and low anisotropy.
United Kingdom Patent Decisions 2020
Authors: Trigg Robyn
Published: March 2021

This report highlights a selection of the most important UK patent decisions from 2020, including: two Supreme Court judgments (one concerning insufficiency and one concerning FRAND); two Court of Appeal judgments (considering SPC fees and Arrow declarations); and four High Court judgments (regarding the Crown use exception, injunctions and the public interest, the treatment of experts in patents trials and technical primers, and interim injunctions).
An Assessment of the Feasibility and Effectiveness of Distance Learning for Students With Severe Developmental Disabilities and High Behavioral Needs
Authors: Tomaino Melaura Andree Erickson , Greenberg Alissa L. , Kagawa-Purohit Sarah Ann , Doering Sagui A. , Miguel Edward Steven
Published: March 2021

Schools across the country closed their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures impacted all students, as schools, educators, and families grappled with the realities of transitioning to distance-learning platforms. The research on distance learning is still in its early phases. However, almost no research exists on educating students with severe disabilities and high behavioral needs using this technology. Study 1 collected survey data from students’ families and their educators on the feasibility and effectiveness of distance-learning programs when working with students with severe developmental disabilities and high behavioral needs. Results indicated that parents and educators had generally neutral attitudes toward distance learning, although educators agreed that their students were obtaining educational benefits during distance learning. Study 2 further examined the effects of a transition to distance learning on students’ Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goal progress. Analyses revealed that students maintained about half of the skills addressed in their IEPs and made progress on an additional quarter of their IEP goals. Findings contribute to a much-needed literature base on distance learning and provide additional information as to the feasibility and effectiveness of distance learning with students with severe developmental disabilities and high behavioral needs. Future work is needed to determine best practices for distance learning with this population.
Calibrating Public Accountability
Authors: Bromberg Daniel E. , Charbonneau Étienne
Published: March 2021

Accountability is a staple of Public Administration scholarship, but scholars have been unsuccessful at developing a predictive model of accountable behavior. Large swaths of research about accountability still focuses on scarcely read annual reports as video footage of police encounters are watched and discussed by citizens regularly. In this Element, we seek to further a predictive model of accountability by understanding the norms and expectations associated with the implementation of Body-Worn Cameras. Specifically, this research examines when police departments release, or do not release, footage to the public and the expectations civilians have about the release of that footage. Indirectly, the norms and expectations associated with this technology have broad implications for societal values and the relationship between civilians and law enforcement. Our findings suggest the relationship between law enforcement and civilians is central to the implementation of this policy, and more broadly, accountability.
Lessons from Weapons Inspections in Iraq and Syria
Authors: Sellström Åke
Published: March 2021

Weapons inspections in Iraq and Syria have drawn considerable attention from the international community in recent decades. This essay summarizes the key events associated with those inspections and draws upon my personal experience as a UN weapons inspector in both countries to identify lessons learned and future challenges. Those challenges include distrust among non-Western states, the difficulty of detecting much of the illicit activity, disinformation, and deficiencies in inspector training.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Rule of Law: A Propos SDG 6 on Access to Water and Sanitation
Authors: Boisson de Chazournes Laurence
Published: March 2021

The rule of law and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are mutually supportive. Respect for the rule of law is indeed crucial for development issues. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development itself acknowledges, through SDG 16, that access to justice and the rule of law foster sustainable development. The latter ensures that all individuals are treated alike, that they are entitled to the respect of human rights and that the rule of law informs the satisfaction of social, economic, and cultural needs as well as the development of public policies and the governance of competent institutions.
Introductory Remarks by Emma Lindsay
Authors: Lindsay Emma , Hodgson Mélida , Webb Philippa , Akhavan Payam , McLachlan Campbell
Published: March 2021

The duty of good faith is well established in international law. While parties frequently invoke this duty, its scope and effect in international disputes remain unclear.
Introductory Remarks by Steven Ratner
Authors: Ratner Steven , Stewart James , Song Jiewuh , Pavel Carmen , Luban David
Published: March 2021

International law (IL) and political philosophy represent two rich disciplines for exploring issues of global justice. At their core, each seeks to build a better world based on some universally agreed norms, rules, and practices, backed by effective institutions. International lawyers, even the most positivist of them, have some underlying assumptions about a just world order that predisposes their interpretive methods; legal scholars have incorporated concepts of justice in their work even as their overall pragmatic orientation has limited the nature of their inquiries. Many philosophers, for their part, have engaged with IL to some extent—at a minimum recognizing that legal rules may need to be the vehicles for their own theories of justice, or going a step further to appraise them for their underlying moral content.
Remarks by Penny Abeywardena
Authors: Abeywardena Penny
Published: March 2021

Janne thank you so much. First, it is a pleasure to be with this esteemed panel and I want to thank the American Society for International Law and the Municipality of The Hague for bringing us together today.
Remarks by Robert Lewis-Lettington
Authors: Lewis-Lettington Robert
Published: March 2021

Thank you, Janne. Thank you to our hosts, the American Society for International Law, the City of The Hague, yourself, and the Asser Institute for making this possible.
Demography and provisions for retirement: the pension composition, a behavioral approach
Authors: Van Praag Bernard M.S. , Hop J. Peter
Published: March 2021

Pensions may be provided for in a modern society by a mix of several methods, namely by voluntary individual savings, mandatory fully-funded occupational pension systems, mandatory social security financed by pay-as-you-go, and old-fashioned hoarding in cash. We call a specific mixture of the four systems a pension composition. We assume that individual workers decide on their own individual savings, that the fully-funded occupational system is decided upon by the age cohort of the median worker, and that social security is decided upon by the median voter. We assume that individual and collective pension savings are the only sources of capital supply. When capital supply equals demand from industry, there is equilibrium in the capital market with a corresponding equilibrium interest rate and pension composition. In this paper, we assume a demography with one hundred age brackets and we investigate how changes in the birth rates, survival rates, and the retirement age affect the pension composition and the capital market equilibrium. Our conclusion is that for a given technology, the pension composition and the interest rate are determined by the demography and cannot be modified at will as a long-term political instrument.
Gender inequality in COVID-19 times: evidence from UK prolific participants
Authors: Oreffice Sonia , Quintana-Domeque Climent
Published: March 2021

We investigate gender differences across multiple dimensions after 3 months of the first UK lockdown of March 2020, using an online sample of approximately 1,500 Prolific respondents’ residents in the UK. We find that women's mental health was worse than men along the four metrics we collected data on, that women were more concerned about getting and spreading the virus, and that women perceived the virus as more prevalent and lethal than men did. Women were also more likely to expect a new lockdown or virus outbreak by the end of 2020, and were more pessimistic about the contemporaneous and future state of the UK economy, as measured by their forecasted contemporaneous and future unemployment rates. We also show that between earlier in 2020 before the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic and June 2020, women had increased childcare and housework more than men. Neither the gender gaps in COVID-19-related health and economic concerns nor the gender gaps in the increase in hours of childcare and housework can be accounted for by a rich set of control variables. Instead, we find that the gender gap in mental health can be partially accounted for by the difference in COVID-19-related health concerns between men and women.
RELATIVE ERROR ACCURATE STATISTIC BASED ON NONPARAMETRIC LIKELIHOOD
Authors: Camponovo Lorenzo , Matsushita Yukitoshi , Otsu Taisuke
Published: March 2021

This paper develops a new test statistic for parameters defined by moment conditions that exhibits desirable relative error properties for the approximation of tail area probabilities. Our statistic, called the tilted exponential tilting (TET) statistic, is constructed by estimating certain cumulant generating functions under exponential tilting weights. We show that the asymptoticp-value of the TET statistic can provide an accurate approximation to thep-value of an infeasible saddlepoint statistic, which admits a Lugannani–Rice style adjustment with relative errors of order$n^{-1}$both in normal and large deviation regions. Numerical results illustrate the accuracy of the proposed TET statistic. Our results cover both just- and overidentified moment condition models. A limitation of our analysis is that the theoretical approximation results are exclusively for the infeasible saddlepoint statistic, and closeness of thep-values for the infeasible statistic to the ones for the feasible TET statistic is only numerically assessed.
Estimating historical probabilities of natural and unnatural processes
Authors: Beguš Gašper
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a technique for estimating the influences of channel bias on phonological typology. The technique, based on statistical bootstrapping, enables the estimation of historical probability, the probability that a synchronic alternation arises based on two diachronic factors: the number of sound changes required for an alternation to arise and their respective probabilities. I estimate historical probabilities of six attested and unattested alternations targeting the feature [voice], compare historical probabilities of these alternations, perform inferential statistics on the comparison and, to evaluate the performance of the channel bias approach, compare outputs of the diachronic model against the independently observed synchronic typology. The technique also identifies mismatches between the typological predictions of the analytic bias and channel bias approaches. By comparing these mismatches with the observed typology, this paper attempts to quantitatively evaluate the distinct contributions of the two influences on typology in a set of alternations targeting the feature [voice].
Recent recovery and expansion of Guam’s locally endangered Såli (Micronesian Starling) Aplonis opaca population in the presence of the invasive brown treesnake
Authors: POLLOCK HENRY S. , KASTNER MARTIN , WILES GARY J. , THIERRY HUGO , DUEÑAS LAURA BARNHART , PAXTON EBEN H. , SUCKOW NICOLE M. , QUITUGUA JEFF , ROGERS HALDRE S.
Published: March 2021

Assessing the impacts of invasive predators on the demography and distribution of native species is critical for understanding mechanisms of species persistence and informing the design of recovery programmes. On the oceanic island of Guam, the introduction of the predatory brown treesnake Boiga irregularis after World War II caused the near-total loss of the native forest avifauna. Localised snake control measures have been implemented since the early 1990s, yet it remains poorly understood how they have impacted Guam’s remaining native bird populations. To address this question, we combined intensive area searches of Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) with island-wide transect surveys and opportunistic sightings to provide a comprehensive update on the distribution and abundance of Såli (Micronesian Starling, Aplonis opaca) – one of Guam’s last extant native bird species. Area searches of AAFB, where the largest remnant of the Såli population persists, revealed a 15-fold population increase since the last survey in the early 1990s, and transect surveys and opportunistic sightings indicate incipient recolonisation of other urbanised areas of northern and central Guam. We estimate the current island-wide population size at ~1,400 individuals. The population increase can likely be attributed to a combination of snake control measures and the Såli’s ability to exploit urban refugia for nesting and roosting. Although these trends demonstrate some population recovery, a skewed age ratio (>90% adults and subadults) at AAFB and a highly urbanised distribution and low abundance outside AAFB indicate that snake predation continues to strongly impact the population. More intensive snake suppression efforts, particularly in forested areas, may allow for the Såli population to attain its former distribution and abundance on Guam. More broadly, our findings reinforce the importance of urban areas as refugia for some threatened species.
Complexity of desire for hastened death in terminally ill cancer patients: A cluster analysis
Authors: Hatano Yutaka , Morita Tatsuya , Mori Masanori , Maeda Isseki , Oyamada Shunsuke , Naito Akemi Shirado , Oya Kiyofumi , Sakashita Akihiro , Ito Satoko , Hiratsuka Yusuke , Tsuneto Satoru
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The present study aims were (1) to identify the proportion of terminally ill cancer patients with desire for hastened death (DHD) receiving specialized palliative care, (2) to identify the reasons for DHD, and (3) to classify patients with DHD into some interpretable subgroups.

Methods

Advanced cancer patients admitted to 23 inpatients hospices/palliative care units in 2017 were enrolled. Data were prospectively obtained by the primarily responsible physicians. The presence/absence of DHD and reasons for DHD were recorded. A cluster analysis was performed to identify patterns of subgroups in patients with DHD.

Results

Data from 971 patients, whose Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale score at admission was zero and who died in palliative care units, were analyzed. The average age was 72 years, common primary cancer sites were the gastrointestinal tract (31%) and the liver/biliary ducts/pancreas (19%). A total of 174 patients (18%: 95% confidence interval, 16–20) expressed DHD. Common reasons for DHD were dependency (45%), burden to others (28%), meaninglessness (24%), and inability to engage in pleasant activities (24%). We identified five clusters of patients with DHD: cluster 1 (35%, 61/173): “physical distress,” cluster 2 (21%, 37/173): “dependent and burdensome,” cluster 3 (19%, 33/173): “hopelessness,” cluster 4 (17%, 30/173): “profound fatigue,” and cluster 5 (7%, 12/173): “extensive existential suffering.”

Conclusions

A considerable number of patients expressed DHD and could be categorized into five subgroups. These findings may contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies.