bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Avifauna of the upper Purus River: relevant records for an area lacking ornithological surveys
Authors: Godoy Fernando Igor de , Guilherme Edson , Pedroza Diego , Plácido Ricardo Antônio de Andrade
Published: February 2021

Birds are the best-known vertebrate group, although many localities in the world are considered to be knowledge gaps. This is the case of many little-known environments in the Amazon biome, the world’s largest tropical forest. Here, we present a survey of birds in the upper Purus basin, comprising the municipalities of Manoel Urbano and Feijó in the Brazilian state of Acre, and Boca do Acre and Pauini in the state of Amazonas. In this region, poorly-studied habitats, such as open rainforest dominated by palms or bamboo, still predominate. We recorded 452 bird species during 45 field trips between May and July in 2016, and June to August in 2017. Twenty-four of these species are associated with bamboo habitat, 28 are endemic to the southwestern Amazon basin, and seven are threatened with extinction. This high diversity is typical of the western Amazon basin, one of the richest regions in the world in the number of species, due to the heterogeneity of the local environments. The data presented here highlight the importance of the region for the conservation of birds, including species typical of the western Amazon, some of which are still poorly-known.
A remarkable new species of Agoristenidae (Arachnida, Opiliones) from Córdoba, Colombia
Authors: García-Rincon Andrés Felipe , Pastrana-Montiel María Raquel
Published: February 2021

A new species of Leiosteninae (Opiliones, Agoristenidae) from the Colombian Caribbean, Avima tuttifrutti sp. nov. García & Pastrana-M., is described and illustrated, based on two males from the montante forests of Tierralta (Córdoba department). The new species differs externally from other species of Avima by having one yellow hump on mesotergal area IV and green coloration on dorsal scutum. SEM images of the penis and a map showing its distribution are offered. This species represents the first record of a harvestman from the department of Córdoba and the eighth species of the subfamily recorded from the country.
Pandemídia: vírus, contaminações e confinamentos
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Comunicações e Artes, Almas Almir , Ramos Luís Fernando Angerami ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Comunicações e Artes, Feitosa Deisy Fernanda ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Comunicações e Artes, Lima Daniel ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Comunicações e Artes, Oliveira Lyara ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Comunicações e Artes, Knijnik João ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Comunicações e Artes
Published: February 2021

A disseminação do coronavírus em escala mundial criou um panorama inesperado no ano de 2020. A maioria das pessoas ficou confinada em suas moradias. Rapidamente, diversos fenômenos audiovisuais foram criados na esteira das tecnologias de imagem que já vinham se tornando cotidianas na vida diária do planeta. Pandemídia se refere a este momento, em que um vírus letal nos colocou diante das mais variadas telas e manifestações de comunicação. Algumas reflexões sobre esse acontecimento estão aqui, nesta publicação, buscando vários aspectos do cruzamento da pandemia com a mídia, com a solidão do confinamento, com o perigo real da contaminação e, por consequência, da morte. Na crise sanitária que se instaura somam-se as crises pessoais, sociais e políticas, mas também uma explosão criativa que delas decorre. Pandemídia: vírus, contaminações e confinamentos é criação do Laboratório de Arte, Mídia e Tecnologias Digitais – LabArteMídia, uma publicação da Escola de Comunicações e Artes/USP e da Invisíveis Produções, do ano de 2020.
teatro ídiche no Brasil: algumas considerações
Authors: Kirschbaum Saul , Waldman Berta
Published: February 2021

Durante mais de meio século, o teatro ídiche teve intensa participação na vida dos imigrantes judeus que vieram para o Brasil fugindo das péssimas condições de vida no leste europeu. Instrumento de criação e manutenção de laços comunitários, de preservação de uma cultura deixada deixada para trás nos países de origem, mecanismo de integração na cultura hegemônica local e possibilidade de dar continuidade a uma atividade política também interrompida, sua origem remonta à década de 1910, mas de fato ganhou momento nos anos 1920 e atingiu seu apogeu nas décadas de 1940 e 1950; não obstante, entrou em decadência nos anos 1960 e efetivamente desapareceu na década de 1970. Neste artigo, procuramos oferecer um panorama das atividades cênicas dos imigrantes judeus de fala ídiche, sua importância como dispositivo de preservação cultural e o papel que o teatro ídiche desempenhou no esforço de integração do grupo étnico na cultura brasileira, numa via de mão dupla; finalmente, oferecemos algumas reflexões sobre os fatores que provocaram e/ou aceleraram sua decadência e final extinção.
“Pois por quem David santo se condena?"
Authors: Silva Alessandra Conde da
Published: February 2021

Na pictografia do período medieval, é frequente a presença de personagens bíblicos. Estudos iconográficos e iconológicos revelam que os motivos davídicos se adaptaram tanto à pictografia, quanto à literatura. Se, nas imagens, o rei David não deixou de ser retratado sem a posse de uma harpa, coroa ou em companhia de um leão ou de um urso, por exemplo, na literatura, o rei é representado como profeta e como antepassado de Cristo, constituindo-se como topos. Nas Cantigas de Santa Maria, de Alfonso X e em A demanda do Santo Graal a menção a David é explícita. Sobretudo em relação ao temário, percebe-se que a imagem davídica é compreendida tanto como representante do humano, como do divino. Na construção da personagem, tanto na arte quanto na literatura, é possível perceber o sentido sagrado e profano que se interpenetram. Esse é um aspecto que se destaca principalmente no final da Idade Média e no Renascimento. Curiosamente, em uma ocorrência fortuita, um possível David perdido, no Museu de Arte Sacra na cidade de Bragança, no Pará, encontra correspondência na pictografia davídica. Tendo tais considerações como parâmetro, este artigo pretende refletir sobre a presença do rei David em textos da literatura, considerando a pictografia medieval sobre o monarca. Para este estudo, os apontamentos de Dominique Ponnau, José Alberto Morán, Francisco de Asís García, Manuel Pedro Ferreira, Márcia Mongelli, Mário Martins, Jean-Michel Roessli, Erwin Panofsky entre outros, serão tomados por auxílio teórico.
Uma noite, Markovitch, de Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
Authors: Gimenez Marian Gabani
Published: February 2021

Resenha do romance Uma noite, Markovitch, de Ayelet Gundar-Goshen.
Single Nuclei Sequencing Reveals Novel Insights Into the Regulation of Cellular Signatures in Children With Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Nicin Luka , Abplanalp Wesley T. , Schänzer Anne , Sprengel Anke , John David , Mellentin Hannah , Tombor Lukas , Keuper Matthias , Ullrich Evelyn , Klingel Karin , Dettmeyer Reinhard B. , Hoffmann Jedrzej , Akintuerk Hakan , Jux Christian , Schranz Dietmar , Zeiher Andreas M. , Rupp Stefan , Dimmeler Stefanie
Published: February 2021

Background:

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of death in children with heart failure. The outcome of pediatric heart failure treatment is inconsistent, and large cohort studies are lacking. Progress may be achieved through personalized therapy that takes age- and disease-related pathophysiology, pathology, and molecular fingerprints into account. We present single nuclei RNA sequencing from pediatric patients with DCM as the next step in identifying cellular signatures.

Methods:

We performed single nuclei RNA sequencing with heart tissues from 6 children with DCM with an age of 0.5, 0.75, 5, 6, 12, and 13 years. Unsupervised clustering of 18 211 nuclei led to the identification of 14 distinct clusters with 6 major cell types.

Results:

The number of nuclei in fibroblast clusters increased with age in patients with DCM, a finding that was confirmed by histological analysis and was consistent with an age-related increase in cardiac fibrosis quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Fibroblasts of patients with DCM >6 years of age showed a profoundly altered gene expression pattern with enrichment of genes encoding fibrillary collagens, modulation of proteoglycans, switch in thrombospondin isoforms, and signatures of fibroblast activation. In addition, a population of cardiomyocytes with a high proregenerative profile was identified in infant patients with DCM but was absent in children >6 years of age. This cluster showed high expression of cell cycle activators such as
cyclin D
family members, increased glycolytic metabolism and antioxidative genes, and alterations in ß-adrenergic signaling genes.

Conclusions:

Novel insights into the cellular transcriptomes of hearts from pediatric patients with DCM provide remarkable age-dependent changes in the expression patterns of fibroblast and cardiomyocyte genes with less fibrotic but enriched proregenerative signatures in infants.
Cerebral Embolic Protection and Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Results From the Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry
Authors: Butala Neel M. , Makkar Raj , Secemsky Eric A. , Gallup Dianne , Marquis-Gravel Guillaume , Kosinski Andrzej S. , Vemulapalli Sreekanth , Valle Javier A. , Bradley Steven M. , Chakravarty Tarun , Yeh Robert W. , Cohen David J.
Published: February 2021

Background:

Stroke remains a devastating complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which has persisted despite refinements in technique and increased operator experience. While cerebral embolic protection devices (EPDs) have been developed to mitigate this risk, data regarding their impact on stroke and other outcomes after TAVR are limited.

Methods:

We performed an observational study using data from the Society for Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry. Patients were included if they underwent elective or urgent transfemoral TAVR between January 2018 and December 2019. The primary outcome was in-hospital stroke. To adjust for confounding, the association between EPD use and clinical outcomes was evaluated using instrumental variable analysis, a technique designed to support causal inference from observational data, with site-level preference for EPD use within the same quarter of the procedure as the instrument. We also performed a propensity score–based secondary analysis using overlap weights.

Results:

Our analytic sample included 123 186 patients from 599 sites. The use of EPD during TAVR increased over time, reaching 28% of sites and 13% of TAVR procedures by December 2019. There was wide variation in EPD use across hospitals, with 8% of sites performing >50% of TAVR procedures with an EPD and 72% performing no procedures with an EPD in the last quarter of 2019. In our primary analysis using the instrumental variable model, there was no association between EPD use and in-hospital stroke (adjusted relative risk, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.68–1.13]; absolute risk difference, −0.15% [95% CI, −0.49 to 0.20]). However, in our secondary analysis using the propensity score–based model, EPD use was associated with 18% lower odds of in-hospital stroke (adjusted odds ratio, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.69–0.97]; absolute risk difference, −0.28% [95% CI, −0.52 to −0.03]). Results were generally consistent across the secondary end points, as well as subgroup analyses.

Conclusions:

In this nationally representative observational study, we did not find an association between EPD use for TAVR and in-hospital stroke in our primary instrumental variable analysis, and found only a modestly lower risk of in-hospital stroke in our secondary propensity-weighted analysis. These findings provide a strong basis for large-scale randomized, controlled trials to test whether EPDs provide meaningful clinical benefit for patients undergoing TAVR.
Sex Differences in the Association of Body Composition and Cardiovascular Mortality
Authors: Srikanthan Preethi , Horwich Tamara B. , Calfon Press Marcella , Gornbein Jeff , Watson Karol E.
Published: February 2021

Background

To determine whether differences in body composition contribute to sex differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, we investigated the relationship between components of body composition and CVD mortality in healthy men and women.

Methods and Results

Dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry body composition data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004 and CVD mortality data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2014 were evaluated in 11 463 individuals 20 years of age and older. Individuals were divided into 4 body composition groups (low muscle mass–low fat mass—the referent; low muscle–high fat; high muscle–low fat, and high muscle–high fat), and adjusted competing risks analyses were performed for CVD versus non‐CVD mortality. In women, high muscle/high fat mass was associated with a significantly lower adjusted CVD mortality rate (hazard ratio [HR], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39–0.86;
P
=0.01), but high muscle/low fat mass was not. In men, both high muscle–high fat (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.53–1.04;
P
=0.08) and high muscle–low fat mass (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.21–0.77;
P
=0.01) were associated with lower CVD. Further, in adjusted competing risks analyses stratified by sex, the CVD rate in women tends to significantly decrease as normalized total fat increase (total fat fourth quartile: HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.34–0.94;
P
<0.03), whereas this is not noted in men.

Conclusions

Higher muscle mass is associated with lower CVD and mortality in men and women. However, in women, high fat, regardless of muscle mass level, appears to be associated with lower CVD mortality risk. This finding highlights the importance of muscle mass in healthy men and women for CVD risk prevention, while suggesting sexual dimorphism with respect to the CVD risk associated with fat mass.
Women in Cardiology Twitter Network: An Analysis of a Global Professional Virtual Community From 2016 to 2019
Authors: Chandra Neha V. , Hsiao Ruth , Shapiro Hilary , Snow Sarah , Truong Katie , Beach Shire , Brown Sherry‐Ann , Calfon Press Marcella A. , Gulati Martha , Horwich Tamara B. , Lundberg Gina P. , Michos Erin D. , Parwani Purvi , Thamman Ritu , Watson Karol E. , Han Janet K.
Published: February 2021

Background

Social media is an effective channel for the advancement of women physicians; however, its use by women in cardiology has not been systematically studied. Our study seeks to characterize the current Women in Cardiology Twitter network.

Methods and Results

Six women‐specific cardiology Twitter hashtags were analyzed: #ACCWIC (American College of Cardiology Women in Cardiology), #AHAWIC (American Heart Association Women in Cardiology), #ilooklikeacardiologist, #SCAIWIN (Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Women in Innovations), #WomeninCardiology, and #WomeninEP (Women in Electrophysiology). Twitter data from 2016 to 2019 were obtained from Symplur Signals. Quantitative and descriptive content analyses were performed. The Women in Cardiology Twitter network generated 48 236 tweets, 266 180 903 impressions, and 12 485 users. Tweets increased by 706% (from 2083 to 16 780), impressions by 207% (from 26 755 476 to 82 080 472), and users by 440% (from 796 to 4300), including a 471% user increase internationally. The network generated 6530 (13%) original tweets and 43 103 (86%) amplification tweets. Most original and amplification tweets were authored by women (81% and 62%, respectively) and women physicians (76% and 52%, respectively), with an increase in original and amplification tweets authored by academic women physicians (98% and 109%, respectively) and trainees (390% and 249%, respectively) over time. Community building, professional development, and gender advocacy were the most common tweet contents over the study period. Community building was the most common tweet category for #ACCWIC, #AHAWIC, #ilooklikeacardiologist, #SCAIWIN, and #WomeninCardiology, whereas professional development was most common for #WomeninEP.

Conclusions

The Women in Cardiology Twitter network has grown immensely from 2016 to 2019, with women physicians as the driving contributors. This network has become an important channel for community building, professional development, and gender advocacy discussions in an effort to advance women in cardiology.
Sex Differences in Rupture Risk and Mortality in Untreated Patients With Intact Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Talvitie Mareia , Stenman Malin , Roy Joy , Leander Karin , Hultgren Rebecka
Published: February 2021

Background

Studies on intact abdominal aortic aneurysms mainly focus on treated patients, and data on untreated patients are sparse. The objective was to investigate sex differences among untreated patients regarding rupture and mortality rates and to determine predictors for these events. Sex‐specific causes of death were evaluated.

Methods and Results

All patients ≥40 years diagnosed from 2001 to 2015 (n=32 393) with intact abdominal aortic aneurysms were identified in national registries; 60% (n=19 569) were untreated. Comorbid loads, crude rupture, and mortality rates were assessed. Predictors of 5‐year rupture and mortality were analyzed in Cox models (sex, age, comorbidities, income, and marital status). The proportion of men and women with multiple comorbidities was similar. Within 5 years, 798 ruptures occurred (9.7% women versus 6.9% men,
P
<0.001). Ruptures were independently predicted by female sex (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07–1.42;
P
=0.004), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.15–1.62;
P
<0.001), age (HR, 11.49; 95% CI, 5.68–23.25 for ≥80 years;
P
<0.001), and income (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.53–0.75 for highest tertile;
P
<0.001). After 5 years, 56.5% women and 50.4% men were deceased. Mortality was not independently predicted by female sex. Rupture was the third most common cause of death (11.9% women versus 8.7% men;
P
<0.001). The median time‐to‐events was 2.8 years.

Conclusions

A considerable proportion of patients with intact abdominal aortic aneurysms in surveillance remain untreated. Despite surveillance algorithms, the healthcare system fails to prevent a high number of ruptures, especially among women. The time‐to‐event data highlight the urgency to develop more individualized surveillance.
The Practitioner’s Perspective: R2P at 15
Authors: Pawnday Savita , Streitfeld-Hall Jaclyn
Published: February 2021

In this contribution the authors reflect on the Forum topic ‘R2P 15 Years after the World Summit: Progress, Problems and Prospects’ and provide their perspective as advocates on the normative and practical progress made towards implementation of R2P. They discuss how R2P has created a greater consciousness regarding atrocity crimes within multilateral decision-making, the challenges inherent in cultivating norm champions, and how to transform R2P from a boutique foreign policy initiative into a domestic policy imperative.
Europe’s Progress and the Road Ahead at R2P’s 15th Anniversary
Authors: Stefan Cristina G. , Newman Edward
Published: February 2021

This contribution examines the European Union’s engagement with the R2P framework and showcases various examples of progress in support of R2P from the past 15 years. It also illustrates some lingering ambivalence within the EU towards the principle and the divisions which exist across the EU membership regarding some aspects of the R2P agenda, and in particular the role of military force in pursuit of human protection. With the EU currently facing a range of internal and global challenges, its ability to improve policy coherence across the broad range of programmes and activities in support of the R2P agenda, and its ability to shape norms internationally, remain uncertain.
Differentiated Government Control for Conformity: Government-NGO Relations in China
Authors: Wang Qun
Published: February 2021

This study examines differentiated government control over foundations in China. The distinct patterns of “Harmonious Society” and “obeying the law” in foundation mission statements indicate a two-dimensional control mechanism in which the government intends to seek functional conformity and behavioral conformity from foundations. Using the multinomial logistic regression method on the mission statement of 2,498 foundations from 2004 to 2013, this article finds that foundations’ funding-sufficiency leads to the government’s strong intention for functional conformity and weak intention for behavioral conformity. The article implies that the Chinese government has eased some institutional constraints on foundations for the purpose of seeking financial contributions from foundations. It suggests that the Chinese government can adapt to the socioeconomic conditions and calculate its relations with nongovernmental organizations.
The Public’s Supportive Attitude towards the Social Inclusion of Children with Special Needs: Theory and Experience
Authors: Song Chengcheng , Zhang Chao
Published: February 2021

Using hierarchical linear models, this article examines how factors at individual and policy levels influence public attitudes towards the social inclusion of children with special needs based on data collected from 1,602 samples and second-hand data in five cities. It is found that individual and policy factors have varying impacts on relationship support, social support, and public support for the social inclusion of children with special needs: (1) individuals who once gave help to children with special needs express strong support; (2) government policies may have a crowding out effect, that is, greater intensity of child policies may lower public support for the social inclusion of children with special needs; (3) different policies may interfere with each other, that is, child policies and disability policies may have the opposite effects on people’s attitudes towards public support for the social inclusion of children with special needs.
The Mystery of Cicada 3301: Constructing Gnosis in Cyberspace
Authors: Andjelkovic Filip
Published: February 2021

This article examines the ways in which gnostic ideas of spiritual growth, enlightenment, and transcendence resonate with the “cyber-gnostic” ideology presented through the viral “Cicada 3301” internet mystery. The content of the mystery situates traditionally spiritual enlightenment in the libertarian concerns of freedom of information and privacy, and in the tiered cosmology of the “surface/deep/dark” web. Additionally, this article evaluates the potential for classifying the Cicada 3301 mystery and its surrounding community as an online form of religious expression. Ultimately, it is argued that the mystery offers an insight into how philosophical notions of identity and communication interface with spiritual notions of enlightenment and transcendence through the experience of cybertechnology.
Convective-Storm Environments in Subtropical South America from High-Frequency Soundings during RELAMPAGO-CACTI
Authors: Schumacher Russ S. , Hence Deanna A. , Nesbitt Stephen W. , Trapp Robert J. , Kosiba Karen A. , Wurman Joshua , Salio Paola , Rugna Martin , Varble Adam C. , Kelly Nathan R.
Published: February 2021

During the Remote Sensing of Electrification, Lightning, and Mesoscale/Microscale Processes with Adaptive Ground Observations-Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (RELAMPAGO-CACTI) field experiments in 2018–19, an unprecedented number of balloon-borne soundings were collected in Argentina. Radiosondes were launched from both fixed and mobile platforms, yielding 2712 soundings during the period 15 October 2018–30 April 2019. Approximately 20% of these soundings were collected by highly mobile platforms, strategically positioned for each intensive observing period, and launching approximately once per hour. The combination of fixed and mobile soundings capture both the overall conditions characterizing the RELAMPAGO-CACTI campaign, as well as the detailed evolution of environments supporting the initiation and upscale growth of deep convective storms, including some that produced hazardous hail and heavy rainfall. Episodes of frequent convection were characterized by sufficient quantities of moisture and instability for deep convection, along with deep-layer vertical wind shear supportive of organized or rotating storms. A total of 11 soundings showed most unstable convective available potential energy (MUCAPE) exceeding 6000 J kg−1, comparable to the extreme instability observed in other parts of the world with intense deep convection. Parameters used to diagnose severe-storm potential showed that conditions were often favorable for supercells and severe hail, but not for tornadoes, primarily because of insufficient low-level wind shear. High-frequency soundings also revealed the structure and evolution of the boundary layer leading up to convection initiation, convectively generated cold pools, the South American low-level jet (SALLJ), and elevated nocturnal convection. This sounding dataset will enable improved understanding and prediction of convective storms and their surroundings in subtropical South America, as well as comparisons with other heavily studied regions such as the central United States that have not previously been possible.
Accounting for Geographic Basis Risk in Heat Index Insurance: How Spatial Interpolation Can Reduce the Cost of Risk
Authors: Leppert Daniel , Dalhaus Tobias , Lagerkvist Carl-Johan
Published: February 2021

Extreme heat events cause periodic damage to crop yields and may pose a threat to the income of farmers. Weather index insurance provides payouts to farmers in the case of measurable weather extremes to keep production going. However, its viability depends crucially on the accuracy of local weather indices to predict yield damages from adverse weather conditions. So far, extreme heat indices are poorly represented in weather index insurance. In this study, we construct indices of extreme heat using observations at the nearest weather station and estimates for each county using three interpolation techniques: inverse-distance weighting, ordinary kriging, and regression kriging. Applying these indices to insurance against heat damage to corn in Illinois and Iowa, we show that heat index insurance reduces relative risk premiums by 27%–29% and that interpolated indices outperform the nearest-neighbor index by around 2%–3% in terms of relative risk reduction. Further, we find that the advantage of interpolation over a nearest-neighbor index in terms of relative risk reduction increases as the sample of weather stations is reduced. These findings suggest that heat index insurance can work even when weather data are spatially sparse, which delivers important implications for insurance practice and policy makers. Further, our public code repository provides a rich toolbox of methods to be used for other perils, crops, and regions. Our results are therefore not only replicable but also constitute a cornerstone for projects to come.
Presidential Term Limits and Regime Types: When Do Leaders Respect Constitutional Norms?
Authors: Osei Anja , Akinocho Hervé , Mwombela Stephen
Published: February 2021

Why do some leaders respect constitutional provisions like presidential term limits, while others do not? For all regimes, constitutions are important reference texts that provide some basic rules of the game. Within this framework, term limits and electoral laws are crucial because they are directly concerned with the exercise of power. Using Geddes’ regime typology, this article is proposing a regime-oriented approach to explain the variation on the African continent. Democracies, party-based regimes, and military regimes are surely different from each other, but they have a degree of depersonalisation in common that is not found in personalist regimes. For the latter type, term limits are a question of regime survival. Personalist rulers will therefore seek to amend or ignore constitutions, but their success will depend on the cohesion of their ruling coalition. The argument will be illustrated with two case studies: Togo and Tanzania.
Autocratisation by Term Limits Manipulation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Cassani Andrea
Published: February 2021

Besides the introduction of multi-party elections, the sub-Saharan wave of democratic reforms of the 1990s encompassed the introduction of limits to the number of terms that a chief executive can serve. Executive term limits (ETLs) are key for democracy to advance in a continent with a legacy of personal rule. However, the manipulation of ETLs has become a recurring mode of autocratisation, through which African aspiring over-stayers weaken executive constraints, taint political competition, and limit citizens’ possibility to choose who governs. This article presents a three-phase model of autocratisation by ETL manipulation and, using new data, offers one of the first regional comparative studies of ETL manipulation in sub-Saharan Africa that rests on econometric modelling. The analysis leads to revisiting some previous findings on the drivers of ETL manipulation and highlights the relevance of other previously underestimated factors that may either discourage a leader from challenging ETLs or prevent their successful manipulation.
Presidential Tenure and Constitutional Provisions: Recent Evidence from Central Africa
Authors: Dawson Mark , Young Daniel J.
Published: February 2021

Constitutions around Africa have been repeatedly tested on the issue of presidential term limits. We explore the four most recent cases of African presidents facing the end of their constitutionally mandated limit, all of which developed in Central Africa. Burundi, Rwanda, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo all adopted constitutions limiting presidential tenure to two terms; yet, in 2015, when these limits were approaching, none of the sitting presidents simply stood down. Our analysis focuses on the constitutional provisions meant to protect the two-term limit, the strategies employed by each of the four presidents, and the difficulty they faced in pursuing extended tenure. We find that constitutional provisions do constrain, but not always to the expected degree. Our analysis adds a consideration of a foundational constitutional factor to the growing literature on term limits in Africa, with implications for other regions of newly developing democracies.
Educational Meaning Making and Language Learning: Understanding the Educational Incorporation of Unaccompanied, Undocumented Latinx Youth Workers in the United States
Authors: Canizales Stephanie L.
Published: February 2021

Immigration scholars agree that educational attainment is essential for the success of immigrant youth in U.S. society and functions as a key indicator of how youth will fare in their transition into adulthood. Research warns of downward or stagnant mobility for people with lower levels of educational attainment. Yet much existing research takes for granted that immigrant youth have access to a normative parent-led household, K–12 schools, and community resources. Drawing on four years of ethnographic observations and interviews with undocumented Latinx young adults (ages 18 to 31) who arrived in Los Angeles, California, as unaccompanied youth, I examine the educational meaning making and language learning of Latinx individuals coming of age as workers without parents and legal status. Findings show that Latinx immigrant youth growing up outside of Western-normative parent-led households and K–12 schools and who remain tied to left-behind families across transnational geographies tend to equate education with English language learning. Education—as English language learning—is essential to sobrevivencia, or survival, during their transition to young adulthood as workers and transnational community participants.
Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey
Authors: Salameh Basma , Basha Sami , Basha Walid , Abdallah Jihad
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this study is to offer a timely understanding of university students’ knowledge, perception, and preventative practices related to COVID-19 in Palestine and to determine affecting factors (gender, region, and type of locality). A cross-sectional design was used and data was collected over 2 weeks in April 2020 through an online survey. A total of 484 surveys were collected from students from different Palestinian universities. Participants showed high levels of knowledge across multiple topics (symptoms and characteristics of COVID-19, prevention practices, and at-risk groups), although respondents were less likely to indicate mask wearing as an effective prevention practice compared to other practices, and almost one-third reported incorrectly that taking antibiotics is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection. Respondents reported the most trust in the Ministry of Health as a source of information, and the least trust in social media. A generally high level of acceptance of government regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic was found. Given the current global situation and the second wave of infections in Palestine, plans should be in place to disseminate correct information and combat newly-emerging rumors and misinformation through channels that are trusted by the university student population.
Interregional Competition for Mobile Creative Capital with and Without Physical Capital Mobility
Authors: Batabyal Amitrajeet A. , Nijkamp Peter
Published: February 2021

A lacuna in the extant literature and our desire to contribute to the theoretical literature on how tax/subsidy policies can be used by regions to attract the creative class together provide the motivation for this paper. The paper’s basic contribution is that it is the first to theoretically analyze competition between two regions (1 and 2) for mobile creative capital, the key attribute possessed by the creative class. Both regions produce a final good using creative and physical capital. In the first case, physical capital is immobile and only region 2 uses tax policy to attract the mobile creative capital. We compute the equilibrium returns to creative and physical capital, we specify a key condition for creative capital in the aggregate economy, and we show which of three tax policies gives region 2 the highest income. In the second case, creative and physical capital are mobile and both regions pursue tax policies to attract mobile creative capital. Once again, we compute the equilibrium returns to creative and physical capital and then describe the optimal taxes for the two regions given that they wish to maximize regional income.
Evaluation of the Use of Single- and Multi-Magnification Convolutional Neural Networks for the Determination and Quantitation of Lesions in Nonclinical Pathology Studies
Authors: Kuklyte Jogile , Fitzgerald Jenny , Nelissen Sophie , Wei Haolin , Whelan Aoife , Power Adam , Ahmad Ajaz , Miarka Martyna , Gregson Mark , Maxwell Michael , Raji Ruka , Lenihan Joseph , Finn-Moloney Eve , Rafferty Mairin , Cary Maurice , Barale-Thomas Erio , O’Shea Donal
Published: February 2021

Digital pathology platforms with integrated artificial intelligence have the potential to increase the efficiency of the nonclinical pathologist’s workflow through screening and prioritizing slides with lesions and highlighting areas with specific lesions for review. Herein, we describe the comparison of various single- and multi-magnification convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures to accelerate the detection of lesions in tissues. Different models were evaluated for defining performance characteristics and efficiency in accurately identifying lesions in 5 key rat organs (liver, kidney, heart, lung, and brain). Cohorts for liver and kidney were collected from TG-GATEs open-source repository, and heart, lung, and brain from internally selected R&D studies. Annotations were performed, and models were trained on each of the available lesion classes in the available organs. Various class-consolidation approaches were evaluated from generalized lesion detection to individual lesion detections. The relationship between the amount of annotated lesions and the precision/accuracy of model performance is elucidated. The utility of multi-magnification CNN implementations in specific tissue subtypes is also demonstrated. The use of these CNN-based models offers users the ability to apply generalized lesion detection to whole-slide images, with the potential to generate novel quantitative data that would not be possible with conventional image analysis techniques.
Markup on Services Provided to Medicare Beneficiaries by Otolaryngologists in 2017: Implications for Surprise Billing
Authors: Rha Jacob , Rathi Vinay K. , Naunheim Matthew R. , Miller Lauren E. , Gadkaree Shekhar K. , Gray Stacey T.
Published: February 2021

The degree of markup between provider charges and Medicare prices reflects the potential balance bill for out‐of‐network commercially insured patients. Using publicly available Medicare data, we performed a retrospective cross‐sectional analysis of markup ratios (MRs; ie, the ratio of submitted charges to Medicare‐allowed prices) for services commonly performed by otolaryngologists in 2017. Median MRs were as follows: 2.9 (interquartile range, 2.0‐4.3) in facility settings (eg, hospital) and 2.1 (interquartile range, 1.7‐2.9) in nonfacility settings (eg, physician office). Among the 10 highest‐markup procedures performed by otolaryngologists in facility and nonfacility settings, there was no consistent increase in median MRs between 2012 and 2017 (compound annual growth rates, –4.6% for labyrinthotomy to 24.6% for ultrasound‐guided biopsy). Median MRs for these procedures were not consistently lower in states with surprise billing protection laws. These findings may reflect the comparatively low potential to “balance bill” patients for elective otolaryngologic services and the limitations of state‐level protections against surprise billing.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: relationship between preoperative CT features and pathologic risk stratification
Authors: Grazzini Giulia , Guerri Sara , Cozzi Diletta , Danti Ginevra , Gasperoni Silvia , Pradella Silvia , Miele Vittorio
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To investigate a relationship between contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) features of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and risk of relapse according to Miettinen stratified risk classifications.

Methods:

After ethical committee approval, a retrospective analysis was conducted on the preoperative CECT of patients with pathologically proven GIST undergoing surgery between June 2009 and December 2019. Chi-square analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between Miettinen stratified risk categories and the following imaging features: tumor size and location, growth pattern, margins, type and degree of contrast enhancement, presence of calcifications, necrosis, signs of ulceration/fistulation, internal hemorrhagic foci, enlarged feeding or draining vessels (EFDV), ascites, peritoneal implants, lymphadenopathy, or metastasis.

Results:

A total of 54 patients (mean age 65 ± 11, 29 men) were included in the study with a total of 56 GISTs. Necrosis, ulceration/fistulation, hemorrhage, margins, enlarged vessels, type of contrast enhancement, and metastasis turned out to be associated with Miettinen risk categories ( p < 0.005). Logistic regression analysis identified the presence of necrosis and EFDV as predictors of pathologic risk of relapse (overall accuracy of 89.3%).

Conclusion:

Preoperative CECT may be helpful in predicting pathologic risk categories of GISTs, as determined by the Miettinen classification system.
Design and Implementation of Zone-to-Zone Demand Responsive Transportation Systems
Authors: Shen Shiyu , Ouyang Yanfeng , Ren Shuai , Chen Mengke , Zhao Luyun
Published: February 2021

Conventional fixed-structure transit service is unable to satisfy the increasingly personalized passenger demand. Shared mobility companies enable the transformation of conventional transit with advanced technology. This paper proposes a framework to design an application-based demand responsive transit (DRT) system to serve zone-to-zone passenger requests. The proposed DRT service operates between zone pairs to satisfy “door-to-door” and “reservation-based” requests. A two-phase problem is formulated, including (i) conceptual planning phase and (ii) discrete route design phase. In the conceptual planning phase, a continuous approximation model is proposed to optimize operational efficiency by deciding the resource requirements and operational features with given service area and demand density. In the route design phase, a customized bus routing model is established to generate profitable routes, by adopting a combined solution approach with adapted savings and simulated annealing (SA) method. The theoretical framework is applied in a pilot area at Huangdao College Town in Qingdao, China. An implementable design including the layout plan, candidate stops, and operation headways is developed from the conceptual plan model. Groups of sample data sets are used to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed design framework. Results show that the proposed DRT system is promising in relation to providing better service than the previous first-come-first-serve bus pooling service.
Laboratory medicine: The exemplar for value-based healthcare
Authors: Arshoff Larry , Hoag Gordon , Ivany Craig , Kinniburgh David
Published: February 2021

Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) aims to improve the overall quality, safety, and sustainability of healthcare while reducing delivery costs of more effective care. Despite advantages associated with VBHC transformation, the road to its adoption has been lengthy. Laboratory Medicine (LM) is in a prime position to lead the transition to VBHC because of its key role in diagnosis and treatment of patients. Laboratory medicine results inform/influence 50% to 70% of all clinical decisions. This article summarizes some issues associated with adoption of VBHC and related healthcare innovations and suggests potential approaches using LM-specific examples to help accelerate adoption. Laboratory medicine is both a useful model for VBHC implementation and facilitator for related innovation adoption by helping to target patient populations that would benefit most from specific interventions. The critical value of rapidly adopted diagnostic technologies used during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery provide important insights about the need to embrace and accelerate VBHC implementation.
A Framework for Revisiting Brain Death: Evaluating Awareness and Attitudes Toward the Neuroscientific and Ethical Debate Around the American Academy of Neurology Brain Death Criteria
Authors: Chatterjee Krishanu , Rady Mohamed Y. , Verheijde Joseph L. , Butterfield Richard J.
Published: February 2021

Background:

There remains a lack of awareness around the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) procedural criteria for brain death and the surrounding controversies, leading to significant practice variability. This survey study assessed for existing knowledge and attitude among healthcare professionals regarding procedural criteria and potential change after an educational intervention.

Methods:

Healthcare professionals with increased exposure to brain injury at Mayo Clinic hospitals in Arizona and Florida were invited to complete an online survey consisting of 2 iterations of a 14-item questionnaire, taken before and after a 30-minute video educational intervention. The questionnaire gathered participants’ opinion of (1) their knowledge of the AAN procedural criteria, (2) whether these criteria determine complete, irreversible cessation of brain function, and (3) on what concept of death they base the equivalence of brain death to biological death.

Results:

Of the 928 people contacted, a total of 118 and 62 participants completed the pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaire, respectively. The results show broad, unchanging support for the concept of brain death (86.8%) and that current criteria constitute best practice. While 64.9% agree further that the loss of consciousness and spontaneous breathing is sufficient for death, contradictorily, 37.6% believe the loss of additional integrated bodily functions such as fighting infection is necessary for death. A plurality trusts these criteria to demonstrate loss of brain function that is irreversible (67.6%) and complete (43.6%) at baseline, but there is significantly less agreement on both at post-intervention.

Conclusion:

Although there is consistent support that AAN procedural criteria are best for clinical practice, results show a tenuous belief that these criteria determine irreversible and complete loss of all brain function. Despite support for the concept of brain death first developed by the President’s Council, participants demonstrate confusion over whether the loss of consciousness and spontaneous breath are truly sufficient for death.
Career Decision-Making Difficulties and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Career-Related Parental Behaviors and Career Adaptability
Authors: Parola Anna , Marcionetti Jenny
Published: February 2021

According to the Career Construction Model of Adaptation, career decision-making difficulties (CDD) and life satisfaction are important adaptation results, and career adaptability is a crucial resource to attain positive adaptation results. This study focused on the influence of parental career-related behaviors on career adaptability, CDD and life satisfaction, and the mediating role of career adaptability between parental career-related behaviors and CDD and life satisfaction. Five hundred thirteen Italian students (182 of middle school, 141 of high school, and 190 of university) were involved. The results showed that parental support influences CDD and life satisfaction both directly and indirectly through the mediation of career adaptability. Parental interference and lack of engagement have a positive direct effect on CDD. Finally, CDD and life satisfaction are significantly and negatively associated. The data support the key role of parental support and career adaptability in CDD and life satisfaction. Practical implications are discussed.
Teaching creativity in entrepreneurship: Embolden or discourage?
Authors: Kakouris Alexandros
Published: February 2021

Entrepreneurship is taught in diverse settings addressed to various audiences. The role of creativity is generally thought to be beneficial for innovation; however, certain concerns may emerge depending on the context in which entrepreneurship is taught. For example, critical questions may arise in classrooms where entrepreneurship is encountered in business curricula. This article addresses a reflective activity regarding creative individuals and their role in business venturing. The instructional methodology is provided along with empirical results. Responding to the need for critical approaches in entrepreneurial teaching and reflection empowerment as effective mechanisms for entrepreneurial learning, the article offers an account of reflective practice for educators to consider and use further.