bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flash drought development and cascading impacts associated with the 2010 Russian heatwave
Authors: Christian Jordan I , Basara Jeffrey B , Hunt Eric D , Otkin Jason A , Xiao Xiangming
Published: September 2020

The 2010 western Russian heatwave was characterized by historically high surface temperatures that led to devastating impacts on the environment, economy, and society. Recent studies have attributed a quasi-stationary upper level ridge, sensible heat advection, and land-atmosphere temperature coupling as the primary components for the development of the heatwave event. The results in this study reveal that rapid drought intensification occurred prior to the extreme atmospheric conditions associated with the heatwave. The flash drought event developed from a lack of rainfall coupled with enhanced evaporative demand and resulted in rapid desiccation of the land surface. The region that underwent rapid drought intensification acted to prime the land-atmosphere interactions necessary to supplement the excessive surface temperatures experienced during the heatwave event. This area also provided a source region for the advection of warm, dry air to promote heatwave development downwind of the flash drought location. As such, the hydrometeorological extremes associated with the precursor flash drought and heatwave resulted in cascading impacts that severely affected ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. Given the findings from this research, we conclude that flash drought impacts should be expanded beyond vegetative and agricultural applications and should be viewed as a possible precursor and direct forcing for heatwave events and associated impacts.
Characterizing the association between low-income electric subsidies and the intra-day timing of electricity consumption
Authors: Sherwin Evan D , Azevedo Inês M L
Published: September 2020

Electricity rate subsidies are an important policy mechanism to help low-income households afford necessary energy services, bringing substantial quality of life benefits to roughly 30% of California households. Resulting increases in consumption may unintentionally increase costly peak demand while also raising emissions of greenhouse gases and criteria air pollution from electricity generation, potentially motivating additional measures to shift consumption to hours with fewer unintended consequences. In a difference-in-differences study of interval data from over 30 000 northern California dwellings, we find that enrollment in the California Alternate Rates for Energy subsidy is associated with a ∼13% increase in electricity consumption, varying modestly across regions and seasons, increasing by an additional ∼3% during summer peak times. We find that peak demand costs associated with CARE are about $45 M per year but could fall by ∼1/3 with peak shifting to level demand.
Rapidly rising transboundary atmospheric pollution from industrial and urban sources in Southeast Asia and its implications for regional sustainable development
Authors: Chen Qinqin , McGowan Suzanne , Gouramanis Chris , Fong Letisha , Balasubramanian Rajasekhar , Taylor David
Published: September 2020

Transboundary atmospheric pollution is a major concern throughout much of Southeast Asia (SEA), although most attention has, to date, focused on episodic haze events associated with biomass burning in the region. Here, we reconstruct long-term variations in transboundary inputs of chromium (Cr), an industrial pollutant, to Singapore over the period 1900–2017 by adopting a novel catchment-reservoir mass balance methodology that combines a national emissions inventory and a paleolimnological approach. Results show periods of low (before the 1950s) and relatively stable (the 1950s–1980s) levels of transboundary Cr deposition in Singapore followed by an unambiguous increase from ca. 1990 onwards, most likely linked to the onset of rapid industrialisation in neighbouring parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. Notably, from ca. 2000 onwards, fluxes of transboundary Cr deposition in Singapore further increased by 3% per year, almost doubling from 6 ± 3 tonne Cr yr−1 in 2000 to around 11 ± 3 tonne Cr yr−1 in 2017. This post-2000 rapid increase may reflect the effects of globalisation, pro-export driven economic growth policies and increasing capital inflows to the whole region, including from Singapore, all of which combined to drive industrialisation throughout much of SEA. The current trend of increasing transboundary pollution from anthropogenic activity highlights an urgent need for effective collaboration among countries in SEA in order to improve well-being and help guarantee sustainable development throughout the region.
Prognostic outcome prediction by semi-supervised least squares classification
Authors: Shi Mingguang , Sheng Zhou , Tang Hao
Published: September 2020

Although great progress has been made in prognostic outcome prediction, small sample size remains a challenge in obtaining accurate and robust classifiers. We proposed the Rescaled linear square Regression based Least Squares Learning (RRLSL), a jointly developed semi-supervised feature selection and classifier, for predicting prognostic outcome of cancer patients. RRLSL used the least square regression to identify the scale factors and then rank the features in available multiple types of molecular data. We applied the unlabeled multiple molecular data in conjunction with the labeled data to develop a similarity graph. RRLSL produced the constraint with kernel functions to bridge the gap between label information and geometry information from messenger RNA and microRNA expression profiling. Importantly, this semi-supervised model proposed the least squares learning with L2 regularization to develop a semi-supervised classifier. RRLSL suggested the performance improvement in the prognostic outcome prediction and successfully discriminated between the recurrent patients and non-recurrent ones. We also demonstrated that RRLSL improved the accuracy and Area Under the Precision Recall Curve (AUPRC) as compared to the baseline semi-supervised methods. RRLSL is available for a stand-alone software package (https://github.com/ShiMGLab/RRLSL).

A short abstract We proposed the Rescaled linear square Regression based Least Squares Learning (RRLSL), a jointly developed semi-supervised feature selection and classifier, for predicting prognostic outcome of cancer patients. RRLSL used the least square regression to identify the scale factors to rank the features in available multiple types of molecular data. RRLSL produced the constraint with kernel functions to bridge the gap between label information and geometry information from messenger RNA and microRNA expression profiling. Importantly, this semi-supervised model proposed the least squares learning with L2 regularization to develop the semi-supervised classifier. RRLSL suggested the performance improvement in the prognostic outcome prediction and successfully discriminated between the recurrent patients and non-recurrent ones.
Method Validation for Quantitative Analysis of Metribuzin in Wheat by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Hazra Dipak Kumar , Purkait Aloke , Raghuwanshi Durgesh , Murthy K Sri Rama
Published: September 2020

A high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the accurate determination of metribuzin levels in wheat. The widespread use of this herbicide in the production of wheat is of concern and could follow as well as the need for methodology, which required simple sample preparation being needed. Validation of method was done as per single laboratory validation approach. Samples were extracted through a modified quick, cheap, effective, rugged and safe technique. Sample preparation includes extraction by acetonitrile solvent and cleans up by C18, primary secondary amine and anhydrous MgSO4 for dispersive solid-phase extraction. LC–MS/MS was calibrated at 5 calibration levels with high correlation coefficients (r2) >0.995. Limit of detection and limit of quantitation of metribuzin were 0.01 and 0.03 μg/g, respectively. The mean recovery percentages lie in the range of 87–97 with standard deviation for repeatability (RSDa) <10% at three spiking levels (0.03, 0.15 and 0.30 μg/g). Combined uncertainty (U = 0.0017) and expanded uncertainty (2U = 0.0033) were fairly consequential. The method may successfully be applied to other cereals samples for determination of metribuzin.
Chromatographic Separation of Fluoroquinolone Drugs and Drug Degradation Profile Monitoring through Quality-by-Design Concept
Authors: Asu Satya Prasad , Sompalli Naveen Kumar , Mohan Akhila Maheswari , Deivasigamani Prabhakaran
Published: September 2020

The article reports on the development of an efficient, robust and sensitive HPLC-DAD method for the simultaneous determination of five fluoroquinolone-based antimicrobial drugs, namely ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin in both aquatic and tablet formulations. The robustness of the high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) method has been evaluated through the concepts of quality-by-design (QbD) and full factorial design of experiments (DoEs), using a Minitab 17 statistical tool. The proposed method offers sequential separation with well-defined peak shape and resolution, and has also been evaluated by following international council for harmonization (ICH) pharmaceutical guidelines. A linear signal response has been achieved for the target fluoroquinolones (FQ) drugs in the concentration range of 45–20,000 ng/mL, with an average correlation coefficient (r2) value of 0.9997, and a data precision and accuracy range of 99.3–100.9%, with an RSD value of ≤0.95%, for hexaplicate measurements. The methodology offers superior sensitivity for the target FQ drugs, with the limit of detection (LD) range of 10–25 ng/mL, and the limit of quantification (LQ) range of 51–86 ng/mL, respectively. Using the proposed method, the article carries the first of its kind report in studying the degradation profile monitoring and drug assay determination in tablet formulations and under various physiological buffer stress conditions, for pharmaceutical validation.
The problem and promise of scale in multilayer animal social networks
Authors: Robitaille Alec L , Webber Quinn M R , Turner Julie W , Vander Wal Eric
Published: September 2020

Scale remains a foundational concept in ecology. Spatial scale, for instance, has become a central consideration in the way we understand landscape ecology and animal space use. Meanwhile, scale-dependent social processes can range from fine-scale interactions to co-occurrence and overlapping home ranges. Furthermore, sociality can vary within and across seasons. Multilayer networks promise the explicit integration of the social, spatial, and temporal contexts. Given the complex interplay of sociality and animal space use in heterogeneous landscapes, there remains an important gap in our understanding of the influence of scale on animal social networks. Using an empirical case study, we discuss ways of considering social, spatial, and temporal scale in the context of multilayer caribou social networks. Effective integration of social and spatial processes, including biologically meaningful scales, within the context of animal social networks is an emerging area of research. We incorporate perspectives that link the social environment to spatial processes across scales in a multilayer context.
Sex-related differences of fatty acid-binding protein 4 and leptin levels in atrial fibrillation
Authors: López-Canoa J N , Couselo-Seijas M , Baluja A , González-Melchor L , Rozados A , Llorente-Cortés V , de Gonzalo-Calvo D , Guerra J M , Vilades D , Leta R , Martínez-Sande J L , García-Seara F J , Fernández-López X A , González-Juanatey J R , Eiras S , Rodríguez-Mañero M
Published: September 2020

Aims

Adiposity plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Our aim was to study the sex differences in adipokines levels according to AF burden.

Methods and results

Two independent cohorts of patients were studied: (i) consecutive patients with AF undergoing catheter ablation (n = 217) and (ii) a control group (n = 105). (i) Adipokines, oxidative stress, indirect autonomic markers, and leucocytes mRNA levels were analysed; (ii) correlation between biomarkers was explored with heatmaps and Kendall correlation coefficients; and (iii) logistic regression and random forest model were used to determine predictors of AF recurrence after ablation. Our results showed that: (i) fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) and leptin levels were higher in women than in men in both cohorts (P < 0.01). In women, FABP4 levels were higher on AF cohort (20 ± 14 control, 29 ± 18 paroxysmal AF and 31 ± 17 ng/mL persistent AF; P < 0.01). In men, leptin levels were lower on AF cohort (22 ± 15 control, 13 ± 16 paroxysmal AF and 13 ± 11 ng/mL persistent AF; P < 0.01). (ii) In female with paroxysmal AF, there was a lower acetylcholinesterase and higher carbonic anhydrase levels with respect to men (P < 0.05). (iii) Adipokines have an important role on discriminate AF recurrence after ablation. In persistent AF, FABP4 was the best predictor of recurrence after ablation (1.067, 95% confidence interval 1–1.14; P = 0.046).

Conclusion

The major finding of the present study is the sex-based differences of FABP4 and leptin levels according to AF burden. These adipokines are associated with oxidative stress, inflammatory and autonomic indirect markers, indicating that they may play a role in AF perpetuation.
Unpacking the implementation blackbox using 'actor interface analysis': how did actor relations and practices of power influence delivery of a free entitlement health policy in India?
Authors: Parashar Rakesh , Gawde Nilesh , Gupt Anadi , Gilson Lucy
Published: September 2020

Exploring the implementation blackbox from a perspective that considers embedded practices of power is critical to understand the policy process. However, the literature is scarce on this subject. To address the paucity of explicit analyses of everyday politics and power in health policy implementation, this article presents the experience of implementing a flagship health policy in India. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), launched in the year 2011, has not been able to fully deliver its promises of providing free maternal and child health services in public hospitals. To examine how power practices, influence implementation, we undertook a qualitative analysis of JSSK implementation in one state of India. We drew on an actor-oriented perspective of development and used ‘actor interface analysis’ to guide the study design and analysis. Data collection included in-depth interviews of implementing actors and JSSK service recipients, document review and observations of actor interactions. A framework analysis method was used for analysing data, and the framework used was founded on the constructs of actor lifeworlds, which help understand the often neglected and lived realities of policy actors. The findings illustrate that implementation was both strengthened and constrained by practices of power at various interface encounters. The implementation decisions and actions were influenced by power struggles such as domination, control, resistance, contestation, facilitation and collaboration. Such practices were rooted in: Social and organizational power relationships like organizational hierarchies and social positions; personal concerns or characteristics like interests, attitudes and previous experiences and the worldviews of actors constructed by social and ideological paradigms like their values and beliefs. Application of ‘actor interface analysis’ and further nuancing of the concept of ‘actor lifeworlds’ to understand the origin of practices of power can be useful for understanding the influence of everyday power and politics on the policy process.
LRP2 controls sonic hedgehog-dependent differentiation of cardiac progenitor cells during outflow tract formation
Authors: Christ Annabel , Marczenke Maike , Willnow Thomas E
Published: September 2020

Conotruncal malformations are a major cause of congenital heart defects in newborn infants. Recently, genetic screens in humans and in mouse models have identified mutations in LRP2, a multi-ligand receptor, as a novel cause of a common arterial trunk, a severe form of outflow tract (OFT) defect. Yet, the underlying mechanism why the morphogen receptor LRP2 is essential for OFT development remained unexplained. Studying LRP2-deficient mouse models, we now show that LRP2 is expressed in the cardiac progenitor niche of the anterior second heart field (SHF) that contributes to the elongation of the OFT during separation into aorta and pulmonary trunk. Loss of LRP2 in mutant mice results in the depletion of a pool of sonic hedgehog-dependent progenitor cells in the anterior SHF due to premature differentiation into cardiomyocytes as they migrate into the OFT myocardium. Depletion of this cardiac progenitor cell pool results in aberrant shortening of the OFT, the likely cause of CAT formation in affected mice. Our findings identified the molecular mechanism whereby LRP2 controls the maintenance of progenitor cell fate in the anterior SHF essential for OFT separation, and why receptor dysfunction is a novel cause of conotruncal malformation.
Suicidal Ideation among Youths at Risk of School Dropout: Impact of Student Demographics, Stressors, and Academic Self-Concept
Authors: Szlyk Hannah S
Published: September 2020

abstract

In the United States, suicidal ideation is an issue for high school–age youths. Research supports that youths who have learning difficulties and who are at risk of high school dropout are at greater risk for suicidal ideation. Although alternative high schools address both student academics and emotional health, they are underused, nonclinical settings for understanding and addressing suicidal ideation. This study aimed to examine the impact of student identity, external stressors, and academic self-concept on suicidal ideation among sexual and ethnic minority and underserved students enrolled in an alternative education public high school. The student sample (N = 103) completed a onetime survey comprised of the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior, the Cultural Assessment of Risk of Suicide, the Coddington Life Events Scale for Adolescents, and the Piers Harris 2. Results of hierarchical linear regression indicated that identifying as nonheterosexual and experiencing discrimination were associated with greater student reporting of suicidal ideation. Identifying as Latino and other non-White was associated with lower reporting of suicidal ideation. Controlling for student demographics and external stressors, positive academic self-concept was associated with a lower reporting of suicidal ideation. Findings have future implications for health social work, suicide prevention and intervention, and education policy.
What is sexual about conflict-related sexual violence? Stories from men and women survivors
Authors: Dolan Chris , Baaz Maria Eriksson , Stern Maria
Published: September 2020

Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has recently garnered globally, we still know far too little about what is sexual about sexual violence, according to whom, as well as why and how this matters in our efforts to prevent and redress its harms. A growing theoretical, political, legal and ethical imperative to ask questions about the sexual part of sexual violence across both war and peace is nonetheless emerging. This article therefore turns to the accounts of male and female survivors of CRSV at the at the Refugee Law Project (RLP) in Kampala, Uganda. In our reading of their accounts, we explore how the participants understand the possible imbrication of the perpetrator's sexual desire and pleasure with the violence they inflicted, as well as how they deem such intermeshing impossible or deeply problematic in and to the gendered frames that govern how they think about the distinctions between violence and sex, as well as themselves as sexual, social, embodied subjects. Read together, these conflicted and conflicting testimonies offer a vantage point from which to rethink some of the reductive truisms that persist in dominant policy-friendly accounts of wartime sexual violence—namely that such violence is about power and not about ‘sex’. The participants’ accounts thus urge us, as scholars and policy advocates, to resist reducing the multi-layered experiences of victim/survivors of sexual violence to fit into the palatable narratives of victimhood that prevail in humanitarian, juridical and policy spaces.
Sexual violence in the border zone: the EU, the Women, Peace and Security agenda and carceral humanitarianism in Libya
Authors: Kirby Paul
Published: September 2020

The last decades have seen a striking increase in international policy seeking to protect against conflict-related sexual violence. Norms of protection are, however, unevenly applied in practice. In this article, I address one such situation: the significant and growing evidence of widespread sexual violence at detention sites in Libya where migrants are imprisoned after interception on the Mediterranean Sea. Drawing on policy documents, human rights reports, interviews with advocates and officials, and an analysis of debates in the EU Parliament and UNHCR's humanitarian evacuation scheme in Libya, I examine how abuses have been framed, and with what effects. I argue that decisions about protection are shaped not only by raced and gendered categorizations but also by a demarcation of bodies in the border zone, where vulnerability is to some degree acknowledged, but agency and responsibility also disavowed by politicians, diplomats and practitioners. The wrong of sexual violence is thus both explicitly recognized but also re-articulated in ways that lessen the obligations of the same states and regional organizations that otherwise champion the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. The combination of mass pullback and detention for many migrants with evacuation for a vulnerable few is an example of carceral humanitarianism, where ‘rescue’ often translates into confinement and abuse for unwelcome populations. My analysis highlights the importance of the positionality of migrants in the Libyan border zone for the form of recognition they are afforded, and the significant limits to the implementation of the EU's gender-responsive humanitarian policies in practice.
Vector Fields and Genus in Dimension 3
Authors: Dehornoy Pierre , Rechtman Ana
Published: September 2020

Given a vector field on a 3D rational homology sphere, we give a formula for the Euler characteristic of its transverse surfaces, in terms of boundary data only. This provides a formula for the genus of a transverse surface, and in particular, of a Birkhoff section. As an application, we show that for a right-handed flow with an ergodic invariant measure, the genus is an asymptotic invariant of order 2 proportional to helicity.
Biodiversity Offsetting and the English Planning System: A Regulatory Analysis
Authors: Condon John
Published: September 2020

Under the Environment Bill, the UK government plans to formally implement biodiversity offsetting in the English planning system as a way to reduce the impact of development on biodiversity. Certain developments will be required to achieve a ‘biodiversity gain’ through the use of developer contributions. This article provides a regulatory analysis, assessing whether the planning system supports the key requirements of biodiversity offsetting, most notably the need to protect biodiversity. The lens of contractual governance is used to spotlight problems with local planning authorities negotiating environmental objectives with developers when other planning objectives are also ‘on the table’. The wider planning system is also addressed, where it is argued that environmental objectives are undermined by a lack of central policy and coordination to regulate the decision-making of local planning authorities. The case is made for an ‘ecological’ approach to planning as means of more reliably protecting biodiversity through offsetting.
A spontaneous unveiling of bilateral DCIS in an elderly male
Authors: Meyer Tessa , Borgen Patrick , Rojas Kristen
Published: September 2020

The rarity of male breast cancer continues to limit its study despite increasing incidence rates, particularly within the past decade [Speirs V, Shaaban AM. The rising incidence of male breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2009;115:429–30]. Although this trend appears to be substantially documented, male patients with breast cancer have been and continue to be excluded from landmark breast cancer trials. Currently, there are no standardized breast cancer screening protocols in place for men, including those with pathogenic BRCA mutations. As a result, men with breast cancer typically present at a later stage, and on average, 8–10 years later than females [Ruddy KJ, Winer EP. Male breast cancer: risk factors, biology, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Ann Oncol 2013;24:1434–43]. As the incidence of disease continues to rise, the need for algorithmic standardization with regards to screening, diagnosing, treating and managing male breast cancer has become imperative. We report the case of a 71-year-old male who presented with spontaneous bloody nipple discharge and was found to have bilateral ductal carcinoma in situ.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in refugees from Syria: complex cases in Berlin 2015–2020
Authors: Lindner Andreas K , Richter Joachim , Gertler Maximilian , Nikolaus Marc , Equihua Martinez Gabriela , Müller Kirsten , Harms Gundel
Published: September 2020

Background

The Syrian conflict has led to a dramatic increase of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), triggered by continuous population displacements, disrupted control programmes, poor shelter and sanitation.

Methods

A retrospective patient record study was conducted at the Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health in Berlin. Records of all refugees from Syria treated for CL between January 2015 and March 2020 were reviewed.

Results

Twenty refugees from Syria were treated. Seventeen refugees (85%) had complex lesions, mainly due to previous therapy failure or localization on the face. A long disease duration (50% > 1 year), pronounced facial scarring (20%), recurrences (20%), or worsening of existing lesions (20%) were observed. Nine patients (45%) had been pretreated in Syria. Complete remission was achieved in 10 of 16 patients (63%) treated with perilesional antimony. Eight patients (40%) required systemic treatment, thereof four (20%) repeated systemic treatment. Eight patients (40%) reported a delay of therapy ≥3 months in Germany, thereof one patient with a delay of 12 months and one patient with a delay of 32 months.

Conclusion

Between 2015 and 2020, Syrian refugees presented with severe morbidities of CL frequently requiring systemic and even consecutive systemic treatments. We assume a combination of socioeconomic and environmental factors associated with the ongoing Syrian conflict and migration to be responsible for the complex clinical presentations in this case series. More attention should be drawn to the situation of Syrian refugees with CL in countries where they are displaced to.
Upholding democracy in a global pandemic: the Israeli elections experience
Authors: Afek Arnon , Leshem Eyal , Kaliner Ehud , Fast Dov , Sadetzki Siegal
Published: September 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted countries' democratic election. On March 2020 Israel held a general parliamentary elections. The participation rate was 71.5%, compared with a 70% rate on the previous elections held in September 2019. We review Israel's actions which lead to a safe elections process and enhanced participation rate.
Herbrand Proofs and Expansion Proofs as Decomposed Proofs
Authors: Ralph Benjamin
Published: September 2020

The reduction of undecidable first-order logic to decidable propositional logic via Herbrand’s theorem has long been of interest to theoretical computer science, with the notion of a Herbrand proof motivating the definition of expansion proofs. In this paper we construct simple deep inference systems for first-order logic, both with and without cut, such that ‘decomposed’ proofs—proofs where the contractive and non-contractive behaviour of the proof is separated—in each system correspond to either expansion proofs or Herbrand proofs. Translations between proofs in this system, expansion proofs and Herbrand proofs are given, retaining much of the structure in each direction.
Theoretical clues about dust accumulation and galaxy obscuration at high and low redshift
Authors: Barbosa-Santos Jullian H , Lima Neto Gastão B , Friaça Amancio C S
Published: September 2020

Since the epoch of cosmic star formation peaks at z ∼ 2, most of it is obscured in high-mass galaxies, while in low-mass galaxies, the radiation escapes unobstructed. During the reionization epoch, the presence of evolved, dust obscured galaxies are a challenge to galaxy formation and evolution models. By means of a chemodynamical evolution model, we investigate the star formation and dust production required to build up the bulk of dust in galaxies with initial baryonic mass ranging from 7.5 × 107 to 2.0 × 1012 M⊙. The star formation efficiency was also chosen to represent the star formation rate (SFR) from irregular dwarf to giant elliptical galaxies. We adopted a dust coagulation efficiency from Dwek (Case A) as well as a lower efficiency one (Case B), about five times smaller than Case A. All possible combination of these parameters was computed, summing 40 different scenarios. We find that in high stellar formation systems, the dust accretion in interstellar medium rules over stellar production before the star formation peak, making these systems almost insensible to dust coagulation efficiency. In low star formation systems, the difference between Case A and B lasts longer, mainly in small galaxies. Thus, small irregular galaxies should be the best place to discriminate different dust sources. In our observational sample, taken from the literature, the dust-to-gas ratio tends to be more spread only than dust mass, for both stellar mass and SFR. The dust-to-gas versus dust-to-star diagram is a good tracer for both galaxy and dust evolution, due to the link between gas, star, dust, and SFR. However, the model do not constrain simultaneously all this quantities. The new generation facilities (such as James Webb Space Telescope, Extremely Large Telescope, GMT, and SPICA) will be indispensable to constrain dust formation across the cosmic time.
Deformed crystals and torsional oscillations of neutron star crust
Authors: Kozhberov A A , Yakovlev D G
Published: September 2020

We study breaking stress of deformed Coulomb crystals in a neutron star crust, taking into account electron plasma screening of ion–ion interaction; calculated breaking stress is fitted as a function of electron screening parameter. We apply the results for analysing torsional oscillation modes in the crust of a non-magnetic star. We present exact analytical expression for the fundamental frequencies of such oscillations and show that the frequencies of all torsional oscillations are insensitive to the presence of the outer neutron star crust. The results can be useful in theoretical modelling of processes involving deformed Coulomb crystals in the crust of neutron stars, such as magnetic field evolution, torsional crustal, or magneto-elastic quasi-periodic oscillations of flaring soft gamma-ray repeaters, pulsar glitches. The applicability of the results to soft gamma-ray repeaters is discussed.
Treatment and long-term outcome in primary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
Authors: Lopez-Garcia Sergio C , Downie Mallory L , Kim Ji Soo , Boyer Olivia , Walsh Stephen B , Nijenhuis Tom , Papizh Svetlana , Yadav Pallavi , Reynolds Ben C , Decramer Stéphane , Besouw Martine , Perelló Carrascosa Manel , La Scola Claudio , Trepiccione Francesco , Ariceta Gema , Hummel Aurélie , Dossier Claire , Sayer John A , Konrad Martin , Keijzer-Veen Mandy G , Awan Atif , Basu Biswanath , Chauveau Dominique , Madariaga Leire , Koster-Kamphuis Linda , Furlano Mónica , Zacchia Miriam , Marzuillo Pierluigi , Tse Yincent , Dursun Ismail , Pinarbasi Ayse Seda , Tramma Despoina , Hoorn Ewout J , Gokce Ibrahim , Nicholls Kathleen , Eid Loai A , Sartz Lisa , Riordan Michael , Hooman Nakysa , Printza Nikoleta , Bonny Olivier , Arango Sancho Pedro , Schild Raphael , Sinha Rajiv , Guarino Stefano , Martinez Jimenez Victor , Rodríguez Peña Lidia , Belge Hendrica , Devuyst Olivier , Wlodkowski Tanja , Emma Francesco , Levtchenko Elena , Knoers Nine V A M , Bichet Daniel G , Schaefer Franz , Kleta Robert ,   European NDI Consortium, Wasilewska Anna , Longo Germana , Espinosa Laura , Miglinas Marius , Stroescu Ramona , Huseynova Shafa , Stabouli Stella , Sathyanarayana Vijaya , Andronesi Andreea G , Hahn Deirdre , Sharma Deepak , Petrosyan Edita , Frangou Eleni , Mohebbi Nilufar , Dinçel Nida Temizkan , Braconnier Philippe , Gilbert Rodney D , Sambo Adamu , Tasic Velibor , Henne Thomas , Bockenhauer Detlef
Published: September 2020

Background

Primary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a rare disorder and little is known about treatment practices and long-term outcome.

Methods

Paediatric and adult nephrologists contacted through European professional organizations entered data in an online form.

Results

Data were collected on 315 patients (22 countries, male 84%, adults 35%). Mutation testing had been performed in 270 (86%); pathogenic variants were identified in 258 (96%). The median (range) age at diagnosis was 0.6 (0.0–60) years and at last follow-up 14.0 (0.1–70) years. In adults, height was normal with a mean (standard deviation) score of −0.39 (±1.0), yet there was increased prevalence of obesity (body mass index >30 kg/m2; 41% versus 16% European average; P < 0.001). There was also increased prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage ≥2 in children (32%) and adults (48%). Evidence of flow uropathy was present in 38%. A higher proportion of children than adults (85% versus 54%; P < 0.001) received medications to reduce urine output. Patients ≥25 years were less likely to have a university degree than the European average (21% versus 35%; P = 0.003) but full-time employment was similar. Mental health problems, predominantly attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (16%), were reported in 36% of patients.

Conclusion

This large NDI cohort shows an overall favourable outcome with normal adult height and only mild to moderate CKD in most. Yet, while full-time employment was similar to the European average, educational achievement was lower, and more than half had urological and/or mental health problems.
The Misuse of the Precautionary Principle in Justifying Australia’s Ban on the Sale of Nicotine Vaping Products
Authors: Morphett Kylie , Hall Wayne , Gartner Coral
Published: September 2020

In Australia, the precautionary principle has been used to justify an effective sales ban on nicotine vaping products (NVPs) by requiring all NVPs to be approved as medicines. Australia’s policy is out of step with other English-speaking countries, which allow the sale of NVPs as consumer products. We provide a brief history of the precautionary principle, discuss guidelines on how it should be used, and examine key documents from Australian policy debates to describe how the precautionary principle has been misapplied in justifying Australian NVP policy. We argue that the precautionary principle has been inappropriately applied to NVP regulation in Australia in that it has: failed to consider the regulation of similar products, imposed regulations that are disproportionate to the level of risk, failed to assess the costs of its regulatory approach, and failed to undertake a cost/benefit analysis of a range of available regulatory options. Australian policy illustrates the risks of regulating nicotine products in isolation rather than considering NVPs as falling on a continuum of harmful nicotine products.

Implications: The precautionary principle has been misapplied to NVP regulation in Australia. We recommend that the precautionary principle be used in a way that regulates nicotine products in proportion to their risks.
Excess Mortality and Life-Years Lost in People With Schizophrenia and Other Non-affective Psychoses: An 11-Year Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Yung Nicholas Chak Lam , Wong Corine Sau Man , Chan Joe Kwun Nam , Chen Eric Yu Hai , Chang Wing Chung
Published: September 2020

Psychotic disorders are associated with premature mortality, but research was primarily based on Western countries and rarely examined non-affective psychoses other than schizophrenia (ONAP). This population-based cohort study investigated excess mortality in 46 896 schizophrenia and 20 651 ONAP patients between January 2006 and December 2016 in Hong Kong (HK), by estimating all-cause and cause-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), and life-years lost (LYLs), a recently developed, more precise reduced life expectancy measure taking into account the illness onset (age at first-recorded diagnosis). Changes in mortality metrics over the study period were assessed. Study data were retrieved from a territory-wide medical-record database of public healthcare services to 7.5 million HK residents. Results showed that schizophrenia and ONAP patients had higher all-cause (schizophrenia: SMR: 2.49 [95% CI: 2.43–2.55]; ONAP: 2.00 [1.92–2.09]), natural-cause (1.80 [1.74–1.85]; 1.47 [1.40–1.54]), and unnatural-cause (6.97 [6.47–7.49]; 8.53 [7.61–9.52]) mortality rates than general population. Respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers accounted for the majority of deaths in patient cohorts. Men and women with schizophrenia had 9.53 years and 8.07 years of excess LYLs, respectively. For ONAP, excess LYLs was 8.18 years for men and 5.44 years for women. The overall mortality gap remained similar for both patient groups over time despite their improved longevity and declined unnatural-cause mortality rates. Taken together, schizophrenia and ONAP are associated with increased premature mortality and substantially reduced lifespan in a predominantly Chinese population, with excess deaths mainly attributed to a natural cause. Persistent mortality gap highlights an urgent need for targeted interventions to improve the physical health of patients with psychotic disorders.
20Economic Criticism
Authors: Valvo Nick
Published: September 2020

This chapter on economic criticism assesses two recent books on the changing state of global capitalism. It then moves to a consideration of recent debates over neoliberalism as a category for thinking the relationship between economics and culture, before turning to a critical assessment of recent public-choice scholarship on state capacity and religious toleration.
Occult Bacteremia in Young Children with Very High Fever Without a Source: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Gangoiti Iker , Zubizarreta Ane , Elgoibar Borja , Mintegi Santiago ,   on behalf of Infectious Diseases Working Group, Spanish Society of Pediatric Emergencies (SEUP)
Published: September 2020

We carried out a prospective multicenter study including 203 previously healthy well-appearing children who were 3–24 months old with fever without a source ≥40.5°C. Thirty-one (15.3%, 95% confidence interval 11.0–20.9) were diagnosed with serious bacterial infection, including 6 with bacteremia (3%, 95% confidence interval 1.4–6.3). Testing for occult bacteremia in children 3–24 months old with fever without a source should be considered when fever at ≥40.5°C.
Intensive Multicomponent Fibromyalgia Treatment
Authors: Bruce Barbara K. , Allman Madeleine E. , Rivera Fernando A. , Wang Benjamin , Berianu Florentina , Butendieck Ronald R. , Calamia Kenneth T. , Hines Stephanie L. , Rummans Teresa A. , Niazi Shehzad K. , Abril Andy
Published: September 2020

Objective

The current study was designed to evaluate the translation of clinical trial outcomes and clinical guidelines for the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM) into an intensive multicomponent clinical program embedded in routine care delivery. The study aimed to assess the adaptation of these recommended strategies into routine clinical care while evaluating their effectiveness and durability in improving functional status and level of distress in a large clinical sample of FM patients.

Methods

Four hundred eighty-nine patients with FM completed a 2-day program that incorporated best practice recommendations for the treatment of FM. Patients completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire–Revised, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale at admission to the program and at follow-up on average 5 months posttreatment.

Results

Significant improvements were seen in functional status (p < 0.0001), depressive symptoms (p < 0.0001), and pain catastrophizing (p < 0.0001) after participation in the intensive multicomponent treatment program.

Conclusions

The present study shows that an intensive multicomponent treatment program embedded in routine care delivery is effective in significantly improving functional status and psychological distress in a large sample of FM patients. The significant improvements were durable and maintained at follow-up.
Genome-wide analysis identifies significant contribution of brain-expressed genes in chronic, but not acute, back pain
Authors: Bortsov Andrey V. , Parisien Marc , Khoury Samar , Zaykin Dmitri V. , Martinsen Amy E , Lie Marie Udnesseter , Heuch Ingrid ,   HUNT All-In Pain, Hveem Kristian , Zwart John-Anker , Winsvold Bendik S , Diatchenko Luda
Published: September 2020

Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Although most cases of back pain are acute, 20% of people with acute back pain go on to experience chronic back pain symptoms. It is unclear if acute and chronic pain states have similar or distinct underlying genetic mechanisms. Here we performed a genome-wide analysis for acute and chronic back pain in 375,158 individuals and found a significant genetic contribution to chronic, but not to acute, back pain. Using the UK Biobank cohort for discovery and the HUNT cohort for replication, we identified 7 loci for chronic back pain, of which 3 are novel. Pathway analyses, tissue-specific heritability enrichment analyses, epigenetic characterization, and tissue-specific transcriptome mapping in mouse pain models suggest a substantial genetic contribution to chronic, but not acute, back pain from the loci predominantly expressed in the central nervous system. Our findings show that chronic back pain is more heritable than acute back pain and is driven mostly by genes expressed in the central nervous system.
Sex disparity in acute myeloid leukemia – evidence from a study of FLT3-ITD mutated patients
Authors: Engen Caroline , Hellesøy Monica , Grob Tim , Löwenberg Bob , Valk Peter J.M. , Gjertsen Bjørn T.
Published: September 2020

Little attention has been directed at untangling sex-related molecular and phenotypic differences in AML. While increased incidence and poor risk is generally associated with a male phenotype, FLT3-ITD, NPM1 and DNMT3A mutations are overrepresented in female AML. Here, we have investigated the relationship between sex and FLT3-ITD mutation status by comparing clinical data, mutational profiles, gene expression and ex vivo drug sensitivity responses in four cohorts: the Beat AML cohort, the LAML-TCGA cohort and two independent HOVON/SAKK clinical trial-associated cohorts, comprising a total of 1755 AML patients. We found that sex-associated molecular differences were prevalent in FLT3-ITD mutated AML. Co-occurrence of FLT3-ITD, NPM1 and DNMT3A mutations was overrepresented in females, while males with FLT3-ITDs were characterised by additional mutations in genes involved in RNA splicing and epigenetic modification. Female and male FLT3-ITD mutated AML had diverging expression of multiple leukemia-associated genes, as well as discrepant ex vivo drug-responses, suggestive of discrete functional properties. Surprisingly, we found significant prognostication of FLT3-ITD only in female patients. Thus, we suggest optimisation of FLT3-ITD mutation status as a clinical tool in a sex-adjusted manner. We further hypothesize that prognostication, prediction and development of therapeutic strategies in AML can be improved by including sex-specific considerations.
Privacy-Preserving and Robust Watermarking on Sequential Genome Data using Belief Propagation and Local Differential Privacy
Authors: Öksüz Abdullah Çağlar , Ayday Erman , Güdükbay Uğur
Published: September 2020

Motivation

Genome data is a subject of study for both biology and computer science since the start of Human Genome Project in 1990. Since then, genome sequencing for medical and social purposes becomes more and more available and affordable. Genome data can be shared on public websites or with service providers. However, this sharing compromises the privacy of donors even under partial sharing conditions. We mainly focus on the liability aspect ensued by unauthorized sharing of these genome data. One of the techniques to address the liability issues in data sharing is watermarking mechanism.

Results

To detect malicious correspondents and service providers (SPs) -whose aim is to share genome data without individuals’ consent and undetected-, we propose a novel watermarking method on sequential genome data using belief propagation algorithm. In our method, we have two criteria to satisfy. (i) Embedding robust watermarks so that the malicious adversaries can not temper the watermark by modification and are identified with high probability (ii) Achievingϵ-local differential privacy in all data sharings with SPs. For the preservation of system robustness against single SP and collusion attacks, we consider publicly available genomic information like Minor Allele Frequency, Linkage Disequilibrium, Phenotype Information and Familial Information. Our proposed scheme achieves 100% detection rate against the single SP attacks with only 3% watermark length. For the worst case scenario of collusion attacks (50% of SPs are malicious), 80% detection is achieved with 5% watermark length and 90% detection is achieved with 10% watermark length. For all cases,ϵ’s impact on precision remained negligible and high privacy is ensured.

Availability

https://github.com/acoksuz/PPRW_SGD_BPLDP

Contact

abdullahcaglaroksuz@gmail.com
Cohort Profile Update: GendAge and Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II)
Authors: Demuth Ilja , Banszerus Verena L. , Drewelies Johanna , Düzel Sandra , Seeland Ute , Spira Dominik , Tse Esther , Braun Julian , Bertram Lars , Thiel Andreas , Lindenberger Ulman , Regitz-Zagrosek Vera , Gerstorf Denis ,   Additional BASE-II/GendAge investigators
Published: September 2020

The study “Sex- and gender-sensitive prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in older adults in Germany”, the GendAge study, focusses on major risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and on the development of major outcomes from intermediate phenotypes in the context of biological sex and gender differences. It is based on a re-investigation of participants of the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II). The Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) is aiming at identifying factors that distinguish healthy from unhealthy ageing and completed baseline assessments in 2,200 adult volunteers (1,600 participants aged 60–80 years and 600 participants aged 20–35 years) in 2014. The BASE-II follow-up assessments of 1,100 men and women aged 65–94 years in 2018–2020 were part of GendAge. In addition to re-assessing most baseline measures (geriatrics, internal medicine, immunology and psychology) we implemented a comprehensive gender questionnaire covering socio-cultural gender characteristics and added high-quality echocardiography.