bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catheter-based treatment of the dissected ascending aorta: a systematic review
Authors: Wang Changtian , von Segesser Ludwig Karl , Maisano Francesco , Ferrari Enrico
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVES

Type A aortic dissection requires immediate surgical repair. Despite improvements in surgery and anaesthesia, there is still a considerable risk when high-risk patients are concerned. Less invasive endovascular treatments are under evaluation. We investigated the current status of catheter-based treatment for type A aortic dissection with the entry tear located in the ascending aorta.

METHODS

A PubMed search was supplemented by searching through bibliographies and key articles. Demographics, risk score, stent graft detail, access route, mortality, cause of death, complications, reinterventions and follow-up data were extracted and analysed.

RESULTS

Thirty-one articles (7 retrospective reports; 24 case reports/series) were included in the study. In total, 104 patients (mean age 71 ± 14 years) received endovascular treatment for acute (63) or chronic (41) type A dissection. A history of a major cardiac or aortic operation was present in 29 patients. The mean EuroSCORE II was 30 ± 20 in 4 reports. A total of 114 stent grafts were implanted: ‘off-the-shelf’, 65/114; custom made, 12/114; and modified, 7/114. Hospital complications included intraprocedural conversion to open surgery (2/104), stroke (2/104), coronary stenting (2/104), early endoleak (9/104) and repeat aortic endovascular treatment for endoleak (5/104). Hospital mortality was 10% (intraoperative death 2/104). Mean duration of follow-up time was 21 ± 21 months (range 1–81 months); follow-up data were available for 86 patients: 10 patients died of non-aortic-related causes; reintervention for aortic disease (endovascular repair or open surgery) was performed in 8 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Catheter-based ascending aorta repair for type A aortic dissection with the entry tear in the ascending aorta can be considered in carefully selected high-risk patients. Further analysis and specifically designed devices are required.
Recommendations for participation in competitive sport in adolescent and adult athletes with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD): position statement of the Sports Cardiology & Exercise Section of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC), the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Working Group on Adult Congenital Heart Disease and the Sports Cardiology, Physical Activity and Prevention Working Group of the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC)
Authors: Budts Werner , Pieles Guido E , Roos-Hesselink Jolien W , Sanz de la Garza Maria , D’Ascenzi Flavio , Giannakoulas George , Müller Jan , Oberhoffer Renate , Ehringer-Schetitska Doris , Herceg-Cavrak Vesna , Gabriel Harald , Corrado Domenico , van Buuren Frank , Niebauer Josef , Börjesson Mats , Caselli Stefano , Fritsch Peter , Pelliccia Antonio , Heidbuchel Hein , Sharma Sanjay , Stuart A Graham , Papadakis Michael
Published: June 2020

Improved clinical care has led to an increase in the number of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) engaging in leisure time and competitive sports activities. Although the benefits of exercise in patients with CHD are well established, there is a low but appreciable risk of exercise-related complications. Published exercise recommendations for individuals with CHD are predominantly centred on anatomic lesions, hampering an individualized approach to exercise advice in this heterogeneous population. This document presents an update of the recommendations for competitive sports participation in athletes with cardiovascular disease published by the Sports Cardiology & Exercise section of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) in 2005. It introduces an approach which is based on the assessment of haemodynamic, electrophysiological and functional parameters, rather than anatomic lesions. The recommendations provide a comprehensive assessment algorithm which allows for patient-specific assessment and risk stratification of athletes with CHD who wish to participate in competitive sports.
Assessment of causality of natriuretic peptides and atrial fibrillation and heart failure: a Mendelian randomization study in the FINRISK cohort
Authors: Geelhoed Bastiaan , Börschel Christin S , Niiranen Teemu , Palosaari Tarja , Havulinna Aki S , Fouodo Césaire J K , Scheinhardt Markus O , Blankenberg Stefan , Jousilahti Pekka , Kuulasmaa Kari , Zeller Tanja , Salomaa Veikko , Schnabel Renate B
Published: June 2020

Aims

Natriuretic peptides are extensively studied biomarkers for atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). Their role in the pathogenesis of both diseases is not entirely understood and previous studies several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the NPPA-NPPB locus associated with natriuretic peptides have been identified. We investigated the causal relationship between natriuretic peptides and AF as well as HF using a Mendelian randomization approach.

Methods and results

N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (N = 6669), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (N = 6674), and mid-regional pro atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) (N = 6813) were measured in the FINRISK 1997 cohort. N = 30 common SNPs related to NT-proBNP, BNP, and MR-proANP were selected from studies. We performed six Mendelian randomizations for all three natriuretic peptide biomarkers and for both outcomes, AF and HF, separately. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) based on multiple SNPs were used as genetic instrumental variable in Mendelian randomizations. Polygenic risk scores were significantly associated with the three natriuretic peptides. Polygenic risk scores were not significantly associated with incident AF nor HF. Most cardiovascular risk factors showed significant confounding percentages, but no association with PRS. A causal relation except for small causal betas is unlikely.

Conclusion

In our Mendelian randomization approach, we confirmed an association between common genetic variation at the NPPA-NPPB locus and natriuretic peptides. A strong causal relationship between natriuretic peptides and incidence of AF as well as HF at the community-level was ruled out. Therapeutic approaches targeting natriuretic peptides will therefore very likely work through indirect mechanisms.
Replication of 15 loci involved in human plasma protein N-glycosylation in 4802 samples from four cohorts
Authors: Sharapov Sodbo Zh , Shadrina Alexandra S , Tsepilov Yakov A , Elgaeva Elizaveta E , Tiys Evgeny S , Feoktistova Sofya G , Zaytseva Olga O , Vuckovic Frano , Cuadrat Rafael , Jäger Susanne , Wittenbecher Clemens , Karssen Lennart C , Timofeeva Maria , Tillin Therese , Trbojević-Akmačić Irena , Štambuk Tamara , Rudman Najda , Krištić Jasminka , Šimunović Jelena , Momčilović Ana , Vilaj Marija , Jurić Julija , Slana Anita , Gudelj Ivan , Klarić Thomas , Puljak Livia , Skelin Andrea , Kadić Antonia Jeličić , Van Zundert Jan , Chaturvedi Nishi , Campbell Harry , Dunlop Malcolm , Farrington Susan M , Doherty Margaret , Dagostino Concetta , Gieger Christian , Allegri Massimo , Williams Frances , Schulze Matthias B , Lauc Gordan , Aulchenko Yurii S
Published: June 2020

Human protein glycosylation is a complex process, and its in vivo regulation is poorly understood. Changes in glycosylation patterns are associated with many human diseases and conditions. Understanding the biological determinants of protein glycome provides a basis for future diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) allow to study biology via a hypothesis-free search of loci and genetic variants associated with a trait of interest. Sixteen loci were identified by three previous GWAS of human plasma proteome N-glycosylation. However, the possibility that some of these loci are false positives needs to be eliminated by replication studies, which have been limited so far. Here, we use the largest set of samples so far (4802 individuals) to replicate the previously identified loci. For all but one locus, the expected replication power exceeded 95%. Of the 16 loci reported previously, 15 were replicated in our study. For the remaining locus (near the KREMEN1 gene), the replication power was low, and hence, replication results were inconclusive. The very high replication rate highlights the general robustness of the GWAS findings as well as the high standards adopted by the community that studies genetic regulation of protein glycosylation. The 15 replicated loci present a good target for further functional studies. Among these, eight loci contain genes encoding glycosyltransferases: MGAT5, B3GAT1, FUT8, FUT6, ST6GAL1, B4GALT1, ST3GAL4 and MGAT3. The remaining seven loci offer starting points for further functional follow-up investigation into molecules and mechanisms that regulate human protein N-glycosylation in vivo.
Evaluation of Crohn’s Disease Activity: Development of an Ultrasound Score in a Multicenter Study
Authors: Ripollés Tomás , Poza Joaquín , Suarez Ferrer Cristina , Martínez-Pérez María J , Martín-Algíbez Ana , de las Heras Paez Berta
Published: June 2020

Objective

Our goal in this multicentric prospective study was 2-fold: first, to test the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, color Doppler imaging (CDI), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in identifying disease activity in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) compared with endoscopy as the reference standard; and, second, to construct a sonographic score that allows disease activity to be detected.

Materials and methods

Seventy-two patients with CD from 3 hospitals underwent within a 30-day period both colonoscopy and ultrasound (US), including mural thickness, CDI, and CEUS, prospectively as part of clinical care. A multivariate analysis was carried out to assess the influence of each of the ultrasound variables in predicting endoscopic activity. We then developed a predictive ultrasound score for disease activity, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to determine the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and the best cut-off score value to discriminate between active and inactive disease.

Results

Sonographic findings that were independent predictors of the presence of active disease at endoscopy were wall thickness, color grade, and contrast parameters. A score based on those variables showed high accuracy in predicting active disease, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.972. A simpler index, without contrast parameters, also showed high accuracy in detecting disease activity (AUC, 0.923).

Conclusion

A score based on wall thickness, color Doppler grade, and contrast parameters showed high accuracy in predicting active disease. A score without including the use of contrast agent had practically similar results and is easier to use in monitoring response to treatment.
Association of Dietary Fatty Acid Intake With the Development of Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter Case-Control Study in Japan
Authors: Kobayashi Yumie , Ohfuji Satoko , Kondo Kyoko , Fukushima Wakaba , Sasaki Satoshi , Kamata Noriko , Yamagami Hirokazu , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Suzuki Yasuo , Hirota Yoshio ,   Japanese Case-Control Study Group for Ulcerative Colitis, Iizuka Masahiro , Kohgo Yutaka , Inaba Yuhei , Hisabe Takashi , Matsui Toshiyuki , Futami Kitaro , Hanai Hiroyuki , Ishiguro Yoh , Tanaka Shinji , Ueno Yoshitaka , Watanabe Kenji , Ikeuchi Hiroki , Fujita Hiroshi , Tsubouchi Hirohito , Okazaki Kazuichi , Yoshioka Kazuhiko , Inoue Nagamu , Hibi Toshifumi , Kobayashi Kiyonori , Yokoyama Kaoru , Yamasaki Hiroshi , Mitsuyama Keiichi , Naito Yuji , Chiba Tsutomu , Nakase Hiroshi , Kusunoki Masato , Inatsu Haruhiko , Yamamoto Shojiro , Fujii Hisao , Hokari Ryota , Miura Soichiro , Sugimura Kazuhito , Iijima Hideki , Motoya Satoshi , Andoh Akira , Fujiyama Yoshihide , Ishihara Shunji , Kudo Shin-Ei , Ogata Noriyuki , Yoshimura Naoki , Watanabe Toshiaki , Ohtsuka Kazuo , Watanabe Mamoru , Kameoka Shingo , Itabashi Michio , Funayama Yuji , Kinjo Fukunori , Kitano Atsuo , Nakajima Atsushi , Takahashi Hirokazu , Higurashi Takuma , Sugita Akira
Published: June 2020

Background

Dietary fatty acids can affect chronic intestinal inflammation and have been reported to be associated with the development of ulcerative colitis (UC), mainly in Europe and the United States. The association of dietary intake of fatty acids and the risk for UC was investigated in Japan, where dietary habits lead to lower meat and higher fish consumption than in Western countries.

Methods

A multicenter case-control study of 83 newly diagnosed patients with UC and 128 age- and sex-matched control patients in the hospital was conducted from 2008 to 2014. Dietary fatty acid intake in the preceding 1 month and 1 year were examined using a self-administered diet history questionnaire that was developed for Japanese people.

Results

About 92% of patients had experienced the first symptoms of UC within the preceding 11 months. Regarding dietary habits in the preceding year, the risk for UC was significantly decreased in patients who consumed n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids at a ratio of ≥5.2 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10-0.68). Conversely, an increased risk for UC was observed in the highest tertiles of consumption of docosahexaenoic acid (OR = 7.22; 95% CI, 2.09-24.95), eicosapentaenoic acid (OR = 6.91; 95% CI, 1.88-25.44), and docosapentaenoic acid (OR = 4.83; 95% CI, 1.56-14.95).

Conclusions

The ratio of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake was associated with a decreased risk for UC development. However, high intakes of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid may increase the risk for UC development.
Assessing the Morphological Impacts of Ammonoid Shell Shape through Systematic Shape Variation
Authors: Hebdon Nicholas , Ritterbush Kathleen , Choi YunJi
Published: June 2020

Synopsis

A substantial body of research has been accumulated around ammonoids over several decades. A core aspect of this research has been attempting to infer their life mode from analysis of the morphology of their shells and the drag they incur as that shell is pushed through the water. Tools such as Westermann Morphospace have been developed to investigate and scaffold hypotheses about the results of these investigations. We use computational fluid dynamics to simulate fluid flow around a suite of 24 theoretical ammonoid morphologies to interrogate systematic variations within this space. Our findings uphold some of the long-standing expectations of drag behavior; conch inflation has the greatest influence over ammonoid drag. However, we also find that other long-standing assumptions, such as oxyconic ammonoids being the best swimmers, are subject to substantial variation and nuance resulting from their morphology that is not accounted for through simple drag assessment.
From catching up to industrial leadership: towards an integrated market-technology perspective. An application of semantic patent-to-patent similarity in the wind and EV sector
Authors: Hain Daniel S , Jurowetzki Roman , Konda Primoz , Oehler Lars
Published: June 2020

Studies on catching up and industrial leadership have often used market-related variables to evaluate the catch-up trajectories of latecomer countries and firms. In this study, we aim to enhance our understanding of these concepts by presenting an integrated market-technology framework. Using natural language processing techniques allows us to go beyond patent numbers and analyze patent novelty and impact as well as technological changes over time. In empirical case studies on wind energy and electric vehicles in China, Japan, and South Korea, we compare and identify country and sector-specific catch-up trajectories and potential catch-up traps.
Genetic population structure and tools for the management of European sprat (Sprattus sprattus)
Authors: McKeown Niall J , Carpi Piera , Silva Joana F , Healey Amy J E , Shaw Paul W , van der Kooij Jeroen
Published: June 2020

This study used RAD-seq-derived SNPs to explore population connectivity, local adaptation, and individual assignment in European sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and inform the alignment of management units with biological processes. FST, clustering, and outlier analyses support a genetically cohesive population spanning the Celtic Sea-English Channel-North Sea-Kattegat (NE Atlantic) region. The lack of structure among the NE Atlantic samples indicates connectivity across current management boundaries. However, the assumption of demographic panmixia is cautioned against unless verified by a multidisciplinary approach. The data confirm high genetic divergence of a Baltic population (average FST vs. NE Atlantic samples = 0.051) with signatures compatible with local adaptation in the form of outlier loci, some of which are shown to occur within exonic regions. The outliers permit diagnostic assignment of individuals between the NE Atlantic and Baltic populations and thus represent a “reduced panel” of markers for monitoring a potential mixed stock fishery within the western Baltic. Overall, this study provides information that may help refine spatial management boundaries of sprat and resources for genetic-assisted management.
Moving Beyond the Absence of Pain and Distress: Focusing on Positive Animal Welfare
Authors: Turner Patricia V
Published: June 2020

For many years, researchers, veterinarians, animal ethics committees, and regulators have focused on minimizing pain and distress as a primary goal of refinement when working with animals in science. More recent publications as well as a shift in animal ethics and public opinion have emphasized promotion of positive affective states, culminating in the concept of positive animal welfare. Robust measures are required to know when positive animal welfare states are occurring, and a number of measures are proposed and discussed. Regardless of whether there are newer methods available that focus exclusively on measuring positive affective states, consistent consideration of research animal behavioral programs, refinement, and adopting periodic stand-alone animal welfare assessments for all species involved will help to push the care and practices of research animals towards an increased focus on positive animal welfare.
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Promoter -196 to -174 Deletion Affects CD4 Levels Along Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Progression
Authors: Laplana Marina , Bravo Maria Jose , Fernández-Fuertes Marta , Ruiz-Garcia Celia , Alarcón-Martin Emilio , Colmenero Juan de Dios , Caruz Antonio , Fibla Joan , Real Luis Miguel , Royo Jose Luis
Published: June 2020

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) plays a key role in innate immune response recognizing molecular patterns expressed by pathogens. rs111200466 is a TLR2 promoter insertion/deletion polymorphism with contradictory data about its role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. We analyzed rs111200466 in HIV-1 disease progression and showed a correlation with a faster progression to the CD4+ < 200 cells/μL outcome for deletion allele carriers (Cox regression analysis: hazard ratio, 2.4 [95% confidence interval, 1.4–4]; P = .001). When naive patients with CD4+ < 200 cells/μL started antiretroviral treatment, rs111200466-deletion carriers showed a trend toward a slower, recovery rate (time required to reach CD4+ > 350 cells/μL; Cox P = .36). Our data suggest rs111200466 as a prognosis factor for HIV-1 disease progression.
The Idea of Terror: Institutional Reproduction in Government Responses to Political Violence
Authors: Meier Anna A
Published: June 2020

Despite the recent global uptick in white supremacist terrorism, governments continue to face accusations of not taking the threat seriously, either discursively or in terms of policy responses. Why do acts of white supremacist violence consistently fail to constitute turning points for policy change? Rather than considering acts of political violence as critical junctures for change, I argue that such acts instead reveal how persistent institutions of power actually are. I develop a theory of hegemonic components of national identity that links institutionalized white supremacy to the differential treatment of non-white perpetrators, even when they are deemed terrorists, through a process of institutional reproduction. Drawing on interviews with German national security elites, I show that even when white supremacist violence is treated as terrorism, both legally and discursively, it does not engender policy responses and attitudinal changes on par with those following other terrorist threats.
Effect of Short-Term Low Temperature on the Growth, Development, and Reproduction of Bactrocera tau (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Bactrocera cucurbitae
Authors: Huang Yuyu , Gu Xiangpeng , Peng Xiaoqin , Tao Mei , Peng Lei , Chen Guohua , Zhang Xiaoming
Published: June 2020

The fruit flies Bactrocera tau (Walker) and B. cucurbitae (Coquillett) are economically important invasive pests on numerous vegetable and fruit species in China. Due to the instability of the early spring climate, temperatures often deviate far below the normal temperature for short periods of time. Such a sudden short-term low temperature may impact the reproduction and development of the two fruit fly species. In this study, the effects of low temperatures (8, 6, 4, 2, 0, −2, and −4°С) on the development and reproduction of these two closely related fruit fly species were studied under laboratory condition. The results showed that their survival rates decreased gradually with corresponding decreases in the tested temperatures. On the other hand, their pre-oviposition periods and their adult female to male sex ratios increased, while the average number of eggs per female of each species and longevity of male adult of B. cucurbitae initially increased and later decreased after exposure to the low-temperature treatments. Overall, low temperatures promoted reproduction in B. cucurbitae and B. tau at temperatures ranging from 24°С to as low as 8°С. Development and reproduction of the two species were negatively affected when temperatures were between 8 to −4°С. The cold resistance of each developmental stage was higher in B. tau than in corresponding stages of B. cucurbitae.
What Affects the Relationship Between Oil Prices and the U.S. Stock Market? A Mixed-Data Sampling Copula Approach
Authors: Gong Yuting , Bu Ruijun , Chen Qiang
Published: June 2020

The relationship between oil prices and stocks is an important issue for portfolio selection and risk management. This article proposes a mixed frequency data sampling copula model with explanatory variables that incorporates low-frequency explanatory variables into a high-frequency dynamic copula model. It enables us to investigate the impacts of economic factors on the relationship between oil and stocks. It is found that the dependence of oil and stock markets is influenced by aggregate demand and stock-specific negative news. The impact of aggregate demand lasts for two years, while the impact of stock-specific news lasts for one quarter.
Operative consideration in patient with cryoglobulinaemia undergoing cardiac surgery with use of cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Mohamed Saifullah , Patel Akshay J , Iqbal Yassir , Mazhar Khurum , Graham Timothy R
Published: June 2020

Cryoglobulinaemia can be defined as the presence of single or mixed immunoglobulins in the serum, which precipitate at sub-homeostatic temperatures and redissolve at higher temperatures. This condition in the context of cardiac surgery can precipitate systemic complications secondary to cold agglutination and lead to significant perioperative problems with the cardiopulmonary bypass machine and the extracorporeal circuit. We present a case of a 74-year-old gentleman with cryoglobulinaemia who underwent mitral valve repair and coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The patient was to undergo preoperative plasmapheresis to reduce circulating levels of cryoglobulin and thereby decrease the risk of potential protein agglutination during cardiopulmonary bypass. Operative considerations included the level of systemic temperature required, the temperature of the cardioplegia solution, level of anticoagulation and the speed and timing of rewarming of the patient to normal homeostatic temperatures. The postoperative management also consisted of early plasmapheresis to further reduce the number of cryoglobulins.
Simulating the effect of flowering time on maize individual leaf area in contrasting environmental scenarios
Authors: Lacube Sebastien , Manceau Loïc , Welcker Claude , Millet Emilie J , Gouesnard Brigitte , Palaffre Carine , Ribaut Jean-Marcel , Hammer Graeme , Parent Boris , Tardieu François
Published: June 2020

The quality of yield prediction is linked to that of leaf area. We first analysed the consequences of flowering time and environmental conditions on the area of individual leaves in 127 genotypes presenting contrasting flowering times in fields of Europe, Mexico, and Kenya. Flowering time was the strongest determinant of leaf area. Combined with a detailed field experiment, this experiment showed a large effect of flowering time on the final leaf number and on the distribution of leaf growth rate and growth duration along leaf ranks, in terms of both length and width. Equations with a limited number of genetic parameters predicted the beginning, end, and maximum growth rate (length and width) for each leaf rank. The genotype-specific environmental effects were analysed with datasets in phenotyping platforms that assessed the effects (i) of the amount of intercepted light on leaf width, and (ii) of temperature, evaporative demand, and soil water potential on leaf elongation rate. The resulting model was successfully tested for 31 hybrids in 15 European and Mexican fields. It potentially allows prediction of the vertical distribution of leaf area of a large number of genotypes in contrasting field conditions, based on phenomics and on sensor networks.
Leniency and Whistle-Blowers
Authors: Suurnäkki Sari , Tomassi Paolo
Published: June 2020

This chapter focuses on leniency, which is an important investigative tool designed to serve the enforcement of cartel law, particularly the detection and investigation of cartel activity. In essence, leniency policy offers undertakings involved in a cartel—which self-report and hand over evidence—either total immunity from fines or a reduction of fines, which the European Commission would have otherwise imposed on them. It encourages cartel members to confess and provide first-hand, direct ‘insider’ evidence of conduct that is otherwise concealed. The leniency reward is thus essentially a cooperation incentive for undertakings that ensures detection and punishment of secret cartels. Moreover, leniency programs can help competition authorities to obtain evidence faster and at a lower direct cost, compared to other methods of investigation, and can lead to a more efficient resolution of cases. While the leniency program of the Commission is addressed to undertakings participating in a cartel, individuals can also help the Commission in the fight against cartels and other anti-competitive practices. In 2017, the Commission introduced a specially designed tool for ‘whistle-blowers’ willing to report cartel behaviour anonymously. The chapter then describes the Commission leniency and whistle-blower procedures.
Recognition of Belligerency and the Law of Armed Conflict
Authors: McLaughlin Robert
Published: June 2020

Prior to the progressive development of the law of armed conflict (LOAC) heralded by the 1949 Geneva conventions—most particularly in relation to the concepts of international and non-international armed conflict—the customary doctrine on recognition of belligerency functioned for almost 200 years as the definitive legal scheme for differentiating internal conflict from ‘civil wars’ in which the law of war as applicable between states applied de jure. Employing a legal historical approach, this book describes the thematic and schematic fundamentals of the doctrine, and analyses some of the more significant challenges to its application. In doing so, the book assesses whether, how, and why the doctrine on recognition of belligerency was considered ‘fit for purpose’, and seeks to inform debate as to its continuity and utility within the modern scheme of LOAC.
The Scope and Structure of This Book
Authors: McLaughlin Robert
Published: June 2020

This introductory chapter argues that most difficulties encountered in the application of the law of armed conflict (LOAC), or in proffering fixes for alleged lacunae in LOAC, are dealt with through exegetical analysis from modern rules and their underpinning principles. This is generally undertaken with a view towards progressive development of the law. Nowhere is this more currently apparent than in relation to grappling with the status and obligations of non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in the context of non-international armed conflict (NIAC). The chapter then presents three assumptions. The legal assumption is that the threshold between civil war and international armed conflict (IAC) is not an exact correlate of that between NIAC and IAC. The doctrinal assumption is that the harmonization of NIAC and IAC LOAC will never be total. Finally, the historical assumption is that a true rendering of the utility and influence of a legal doctrine is born of an assessment of its uses as an analytical tool, not just as a label for an outcome. The chapter also sets out the methodological background to the project: why and how this book will examine recognition of belligerency, and some clarifications on terminology.
The Customary Three-Level Scheme Part II
Authors: McLaughlin Robert
Published: June 2020

This chapter examines the third level of the three level scheme: belligerency. Belligerency, under the customary three level scheme, was a formal legal status. Once the conflict state accorded an adversary NSAG (non-state armed group) formal belligerency status—either directly or by implication—both parties were bound by the Law of War as applicable to conflicts between states. As Justice Brown noted in The Ambrose Light (1885): "The recognition by foreign states of a state of war in civil strife, or, what is the same thing, a recognition of the belligerent rights of the insurgents, authorizes courts of law to treat the insurgents as lawful combatants." This recognition did not bind third states, who were entitled to make their own determination based upon a part objective, part political test. As a matter of practicality, however, once the conflict state afforded the NSAG belligerency status, third states directly affected by the conflict usually acted in accordance with this recognition. The chapter then considers the belligerency test.
Lens modelling of the strongly lensed Type Ia supernova iPTF16geu
Authors: Mörtsell E , Johansson J , Dhawan S , Goobar A , Amanullah R , Goldstein D A
Published: June 2020

In 2016, the first strongly lensed Type Ia supernova (SN Ia), iPTF16geu, at redshift z = 0.409 with four resolved images arranged symmetrically around the lens galaxy at z = 0.2163, was discovered. Here, refined observations of iPTF16geu, including the time delay between images, are used to decrease uncertainties in the lens model, including the the slope of the projected surface density of the lens galaxy, Σ ∝ r1 − η, and to constrain the universal expansion rate H0. Imaging with Hubble Space Telescope provides an upper limit on the slope η, in slight tension with the steeper density profiles indicated by imaging with Keck after iPTF16geu had faded, potentially due to dust extinction not corrected for in host galaxy imaging. Since smaller η implies larger magnifications, we take advantage of the standard candle nature of SNe Ia constraining the image magnifications, to obtain an independent constraint of the slope. We find that a smooth lens density fails to explain the iPTF16geu fluxes, regardless of the slope, and additional substructure lensing is needed. The total probability for the smooth halo model combined with star microlensing to explain the iPTF16geu image fluxes is maximized at 12 per cent for η ∼ 1.8, in excellent agreement with Keck high-spatial-resolution data, and flatter than an isothermal halo. It also agrees perfectly with independent constraints on the slope from lens velocity dispersion measurements. Combining with the observed time delays between the images, we infer a lower bound on the Hubble constant, $H_0 \gtrsim 40\, {\rm km \ s^{-1} Mpc^{-1}}$, at 68.3 per cent confidence level.
Observations of the low-luminosity Type Iax supernova 2019gsc: a fainter clone of SN 2008ha?
Authors: Tomasella Lina , Stritzinger Maximilian , Benetti Stefano , Elias-Rosa Nancy , Cappellaro Enrico , Kankare Erkki , Lundqvist Peter , Magee Mark , Maguire Kate , Pastorello Andrea , Prentice Simon , Reguitti Andrea
Published: June 2020

We present optical photometric and spectroscopic observations of the faint-and-fast evolving Type Iax supernova (SN) 2019gsc, extending from the time of g-band maximum until about 50 d post-maximum, when the object faded to an apparent r-band magnitude mr = 22.48 ± 0.11 mag. SN 2019gsc reached a peak luminosity of only Mg = −13.58 ± 0.15 mag, and is characterized with a post-maximum decline rate Δm15(g) = 1.08 ± 0.14 mag. These light curve parameters are comparable to those measured for SN 2008ha of Mg = −13.89 ± 0.14 mag at peak and Δm15(g) =1.80 ± 0.03 mag. The spectral features of SN 2019gsc also resemble those of SN 2008ha at similar phases. This includes both the extremely low ejecta velocity at maximum, ∼3000 km s−1, and at late-time (phase +54 d) strong forbidden iron and cobalt lines as well as both forbidden and permitted calcium features. Furthermore, akin to SN 2008ha, the bolometric light curve of SN 2019gsc is consistent with the production of ≈0.003 ± 0.001 M⊙ of 56Ni. The explosion parameters, Mej ≈ 0.13 M⊙ and Ek ≈ 12 × 1048 erg, are also similar to those inferred for SN 2008ha. We estimate a subsolar oxygen abundance for the host galaxy of SN 2019gsc (12  + log10(O/H) =8.10 ± 0.18 dex), consistent with the equally metal-poor environment of SN 2008ha. Altogether, our data set for SN 2019gsc indicates that this is a member of a small but growing group of extreme SN Iax that includes SN 2008ha and SN 2010ae.
The Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer Spectral Feature Finder − II. Estimating radial velocity of SPIRE spectral observation sources
Authors: Scott Jeremy P , Hładczuk Natalia , Spencer Locke D , Valtchanov Ivan , Benson Chris , Hopwood Rosalind
Published: June 2020

The Herschel SPIRE FTS Spectral Feature Finder (FF) detects significant spectral features within SPIRE spectra and employs two routines, and external references, to estimate source radial velocity. The first routine is based on the identification of rotational 12CO emission, the second cross-correlates detected features with a line template containing most of the characteristic lines in typical far infrared observations. In this paper, we outline and validate these routines, summarize the results as they pertain to the FF, and comment on how external references were incorporated.
Modelling the 3D climate of Venus with oasis
Authors: Mendonça João M , Buchhave Lars A
Published: June 2020

Flexible 3D models to explore the vast diversity of terrestrial planets and interpret observational data are still in their early stages. In this work, we present oasis: a novel and flexible 3D virtual planet laboratory. With oasis we envision a platform that couples self-consistently seven individual modules representing the main physical and chemical processes that shape planetary environments. Additionally, oasis is capable of producing simulated spectra from different instruments and observational techniques. In this work, we focus on the benchmark test of coupling four of the physical modules: fluid dynamics, radiation, turbulence, and surface/soil. To test the oasis platform, we produced 3D simulations of the Venus climate and its atmospheric circulation and study how the modelled atmosphere changes with various cloud covers, atmospheric heat capacity, and surface friction. 3D simulations of Venus are challenging because they require long integration times with a computationally expensive radiative transfer code. By comparing oasis results with observational data, we verify that the new model is able to successfully simulate Venus. With simulated spectra produced directly from the 3D simulations, we explore the capabilities of future missions, like LUVOIR, to observe Venus analogues located at a distance of 10 pc. With oasis, we have taken the first steps to build a sophisticated and very flexible platform capable of studying the environment of terrestrial planets, which will be an essential tool to characterize observed terrestrial planets and plan future observations.
Atmosphere loss in planet–planet collisions
Authors: Denman Thomas R , Leinhardt Zoe M , Carter Philip J , Mordasini Christoph
Published: June 2020

Many of the planets discovered by the Kepler satellite are close orbiting super-Earths or mini-Neptunes. Such objects exhibit a wide spread of densities for similar masses. One possible explanation for this density spread is giant collisions stripping planets of their atmospheres. In this paper, we present the results from a series of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (sph) simulations of head-on collisions of planets with significant atmospheres and bare projectiles without atmospheres. Collisions between planets can have sufficient energy to remove substantial fractions of the mass from the target planet. We find the fraction of mass lost splits into two regimes – at low impact energies only the outer layers are ejected corresponding to atmosphere dominated loss, at higher energies material deeper in the potential is excavated resulting in significant core and mantle loss. Mass removal is less efficient in the atmosphere loss dominated regime compared to the core and mantle loss regime, due to the higher compressibility of atmosphere relative to core and mantle. We find roughly 20 per cent atmosphere remains at the transition between the two regimes. We find that the specific energy of this transition scales linearly with the ratio of projectile to target mass for all projectile-target mass ratios measured. The fraction of atmosphere lost is well approximated by a quadratic in terms of the ratio of specific energy and transition energy. We provide algorithms for the incorporation of our scaling law into future numerical studies.
A search for young exoplanets in Sectors 1–5 of the TESS full-frame images
Authors: Battley Matthew P , Pollacco Don , Armstrong David J
Published: June 2020

Young (<1 Gyr) exoplanets represent a critically important area of exoplanet research, as they offer the opportunity to learn about the formation and early dynamic history of exoplanetary systems. However, finding young exoplanets is significantly complicated by the fast rotation and complex activity of their young host stars, which are often not well handled by state-of-the-art automatic pipelines. This work presents an alternative LOWESS-based pipeline focused specifically on detrending young stellar light curves from the 30-min cadence full-frame images produced by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and includes improvements such as automatic peak cutting of stellar variability and interpolation over masked transits to improve periodogram visibility and returned transit shapes. This work presents the details of the developed pipeline, along with initial results from its application to young stars within stellar associations in Sectors 1–5 of the TESS data. While no new exoplanet candidate signals were found in this work, interesting results included the recovery of all known 2-min TOIs around young stars in Sectors 1–5 from 30-min data alone, the recovery of the young exoplanet DS Tuc Ab, a number of young eclipsing binaries and a wide array of interesting rotation. A sensitivity analysis was also undertaken for each star, showing how the recovery of injected planets varied with both depth and period for each individual target. Challenges for future searches for young exoplanets are discussed, the largest being stellar rotation with periods less than 1 d and a lack of a large sample of confirmed young stars.
Number of sunspot groups from the Galileo–Scheiner controversy revisited
Authors: Carrasco V M S , Gallego M C , Vaquero J M
Published: June 2020

We revise the sunspot observations made by Galileo Galilei and Christoph Scheiner in the context of their controversy regarding the nature of sunspots. Those of their sunspot records not included in the current sunspot group database, used as a basis to calculate the sunspot group number, are analysed. Within the documentary sources consulted in this work, we can highlight the sunspot observations by Scheiner included in the letters sent under the pseudonym Apelles to Marcus Welser and the first sunspot observations made by Galileo, which can be consulted in Le opere di Galileo Galilei. These sunspot observations would extend the temporal coverage for these two observers and fill some gaps in the current group database in the earliest period, where the data available are sparse. Moreover, we have detected changes in the quality of the sunspot drawings made by Galileo and Scheiner in their observation series, affecting the number of groups recorded by the two observers. We also compare these records with sunspot observations made by other astronomers of that time. According to this comparison and regarding the same observation days, Scheiner was generally the astronomer who reported more sunspot groups, while Harriot, Cigoli and Galileo recorded a similar number of groups. We conclude that these differences are mainly because of the observational methods used by the observers.
Quiet Sun electron densities and their uncertainties derived from spectral emission line intensities
Authors: Dere Kenneth P
Published: June 2020

The goal of this paper is to apply statistical methods to determine electrons densities and their errors from measurements of density-sensitive line intensities in the quiet Sun. Three methods are employed. The first is the use of L-function plots to provide a quick visual assessment of the likelihood that a set of line intensities can provide a robust estimate of these quantities. A second methods involves a χ2 minimization together with a prescription for determining the regions of statistical confidence in addition to the best-fitting value. A third method uses a Bayesian inference technique that employs a Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) calculation from which an analysis of the posterior distributions provide estimates of the mean and regions of high probability density. Using these three methods, observations of extreme-ultraviolet spectral lines originating from regions of the quiet Sun have been analysed. The quantitative χ2 minimization and MCMC sampling provide results that are generally in good agreement, especially for sets of lines of ions that have L-function plots that suggest that a robust analysis might be possible.
NAguideR: performing and prioritizing missing value imputations for consistent bottom-up proteomic analyses
Authors: Wang Shisheng , Li Wenxue , Hu Liqiang , Cheng Jingqiu , Yang Hao , Liu Yansheng
Published: June 2020

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative proteomics experiments frequently generate data with missing values, which may profoundly affect downstream analyses. A wide variety of imputation methods have been established to deal with the missing-value issue. To date, however, there is a scarcity of efficient, systematic, and easy-to-handle tools that are tailored for proteomics community. Herein, we developed a user-friendly and powerful stand-alone software, NAguideR, to enable implementation and evaluation of different missing value methods offered by 23 widely used missing-value imputation algorithms. NAguideR further evaluates data imputation results through classic computational criteria and, unprecedentedly, proteomic empirical criteria, such as quantitative consistency between different charge-states of the same peptide, different peptides belonging to the same proteins, and individual proteins participating protein complexes and functional interactions. We applied NAguideR into three label-free proteomic datasets featuring peptide-level, protein-level, and phosphoproteomic variables respectively, all generated by data independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) with substantial biological replicates. The results indicate that NAguideR is able to discriminate the optimal imputation methods that are facilitating DIA-MS experiments over those sub-optimal and low-performance algorithms. NAguideR further provides downloadable tables and figures supporting flexible data analysis and interpretation. NAguideR is freely available at http://www.omicsolution.org/wukong/NAguideR/ and the source code: https://github.com/wangshisheng/NAguideR/.
Alternative splicing and allosteric regulation modulate the chromatin binding of UHRF1
Authors: Tauber Maria , Kreuz Sarah , Lemak Alexander , Mandal Papita , Yerkesh Zhadyra , Veluchamy Alaguraj , Al-Gashgari Bothayna , Aljahani Abrar , Cortés-Medina Lorena V , Azhibek Dulat , Fan Lixin , Ong Michelle S , Duan Shili , Houliston Scott , Arrowsmith Cheryl H , Fischle Wolfgang
Published: June 2020

UHRF1 is an important epigenetic regulator associated with apoptosis and tumour development. It is a multidomain protein that integrates readout of different histone modification states and DNA methylation with enzymatic histone ubiquitylation activity. Emerging evidence indicates that the chromatin-binding and enzymatic modules of UHRF1 do not act in isolation but interplay in a coordinated and regulated manner. Here, we compared two splicing variants (V1, V2) of murine UHRF1 (mUHRF1) with human UHRF1 (hUHRF1). We show that insertion of nine amino acids in a linker region connecting the different TTD and PHD histone modification-binding domains causes distinct H3K9me3-binding behaviour of mUHRF1 V1. Structural analysis suggests that in mUHRF1 V1, in contrast to V2 and hUHRF1, the linker is anchored in a surface groove of the TTD domain, resulting in creation of a coupled TTD-PHD module. This establishes multivalent, synergistic H3-tail binding causing distinct cellular localization and enhanced H3K9me3-nucleosome ubiquitylation activity. In contrast to hUHRF1, H3K9me3-binding of the murine proteins is not allosterically regulated by phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate that interacts with a separate less-conserved polybasic linker region of the protein. Our results highlight the importance of flexible linkers in regulating multidomain chromatin binding proteins and point to divergent evolution of their regulation.