bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Severe fetal hydronephrosis: the added value of associated congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) in the prediction of postnatal outcome
Authors: Perlman Sharon , Roitman Lucia , Lotan Danny , Kivilevitch Zvi , Pode‐Shakked Naomi , Pode‐Shakked Ben , Achiron Reuven , Dekel Benjamin , Gilboa Yinon
Published: January 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to focus on fetuses diagnosed with severe hydronephrosis and correlate prenatal sonographic characteristics with postnatal outcome.

Methods

Cases presenting prenatally with severe hydronephrosis (anterior‐posterior renal pelvic diameter >15 mm) were collected retrospectively over a period of 11 years and divided into 2 groups: (1) isolated hydronephrosis and (2) those associated with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT).

Results

A total of 83 fetuses comprised the study group: 35 fetuses had isolated severe hydronephrosis and 48 had associated CAKUT. The mean anterior‐posterior renal pelvic diameter was 22.6 ± 8.5 mm (range 15.0‐66.0 mm).

The CAKUT group was associated with a significantly increased incidence of postnatal need for surgery (17.6% vs 44.2%, P = .014), dysplastic kidney (0% vs 14%, P = .023), and total abnormal outcome (52.9% vs 86%, P = .001) in comparison with isolated severe prenatal hydronephrosis.

Conclusions

Severe fetal hydronephrosis has a wide postnatal clinical spectrum, which is mainly influenced by the presence of associated sonographic CAKUT findings. These clinical data have biological relevance: a genetic or environmental defect that influences multiple renal developmental processes leads to hydronephrosis but also to concomitant malformations (CAKUT) and critically influences renal prognosis. A more selective abnormal developmental process that results in isolated enlarged pelvis even to a severe extent has less influence on renal prognosis.
Kinematic investigations on the Furggwanghorn Rock Glacier, Switzerland
Authors: Buchli Thomas , Kos Andrew , Limpach Philippe , Merz Kaspar , Zhou Xiaohai , Springman Sarah M.
Published: January 2018

Many thermo‐hydro‐mechanical parameters and their interactions influence the creep behaviour of rock glaciers, with the result that the kinematics of rock glaciers are complex and not fully understood. An interdisciplinary project began in 2010 to investigate the physical ground conditions and any climatic dependence of a fast‐moving rock glacier below the Furggwanghorn peak, in the Turtmann Valley of the Swiss Alps. Remote sensing and subsurface instrumentation (in‐place inclinometers and temperature sensors), together with ground and airborne geophysical methods, reveal the creep rate and the hydrological and thermal conditions of the rock glacier. The Furggwanghorn rock glacier exhibits displacements in the order of metres per year and showed substantial surface changes at a minimal ground temperature slightly below 0°C. A detailed three‐dimensional kinematic ground model shows the internal structure and shear surfaces, indicating past creep behaviour and failure mechanisms. The results suggest that observed seasonal changes in the creep rate of the rock glacier did not depend directly on the temperature at depth, but were very likely controlled by hydrological processes.
Correlations of SELENOF and SELENOP genotypes with serum selenium levels and prostate cancer
Authors: Ekoue Dede N. , Ansong Emmanuel , Liu Li , Macias Virgilia , Deaton Ryan , Lacher Craig , Picklo Matthew , Nonn Larisa , Gann Peter H. , Kajdacsy‐Balla Andre , Prins Gail S. , Freeman Vincent L. , Diamond Alan M.
Published: January 2018

Background

Selenium status is inversely associated with the incidence of prostate cancer. However, supplementation trials have not indicated a benefit of selenium supplementation in reducing cancer risk. Polymorphisms in the gene encoding selenoprotein 15 (SELENOF) are associated with cancer incidence/mortality and present disproportionately in African Americans. Relationships among the genotype of selenoproteins implicated in increased cancer risk, selenium status, and race with prostate cancer were investigated.

Methods

Tissue microarrays were used to assess SELENOF levels and cellular location in prostatic tissue. Sera and DNA from participants of the Chicago‐based Adiposity Study Cohort were used to quantify selenium levels and genotype frequencies of the genes for SELENOF and the selenium‐carrier protein selenoprotein P (SELENOP). Logistic regression models for dichotomous patient outcomes and regression models for continuous outcome were employed to identify both clinical, genetic, and biochemical characteristics that are associated with these outcomes.

Results

SELENOF is dramatically reduced in prostate cancer and lower in tumors derived from African American men as compared to tumors obtained from Caucasians. Differing frequency of SELENOF polymorphisms and lower selenium levels were observed in African Americans as compared to Caucasians. SELENOF genotypes were associated with higher histological tumor grade. A polymorphism in SELENOP was associated with recurrence and higher serum PSA.

Conclusions

These results indicate an interaction between selenium status and selenoprotein genotypes that may contribute to the disparity in prostate cancer incidence and outcome experienced by African Americans.
Kayak drifter surface velocity observation for 2D hydraulic model validation
Authors: Barker J.R. , Pasternack G.B. , Bratovich P.M. , Massa D.A. , Wyrick J.R. , Johnson T.R.
Published: January 2018

Advances in remote sensing, informatics, software, and microprocessors enable meter‐resolution two‐dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic models that produce nearly a census of ecohydraulic conditions over long river segments with 105 to 108 computational elements. It is difficult to test statistical and spatial model performance at such scope using fixed‐point velocity measurements, because field methods are so expensive, laborious, slow, and restricted by safety factors. This study evaluated low‐cost water surface particle tracking by kayak with real‐time kinematic GPS for 2D model validation using 7.2 km of the lower Yuba River in California. Observed flows were between 15 to 140 m3/s, which were in‐channel up to and including bankfull conditions. The coefficients of determination between 5,780 observations and 2D model predictions were 0.79 and 0.80 for velocity magnitude and direction, respectively. When surface speed was downscaled and compared to modelled depth‐averaged velocity, median unsigned difference was 15.5%. Standard hydrological model performance metrics affirmed satisfactory validation. Surface tracking provided the novel benefit of enabling validation of velocity direction, and that testing found satisfactory performance using all metrics. Having 10 to 1,000 times more data enables robust statistical testing and spatial analysis of both speed and direction, which outweighs the loss of depth‐averaged data. Both fixed‐point and kayak particle tracking methods are useful tools to help evaluate 2D model performance.
Strength of steel fiber reinforced concrete beams in pure torsion
Authors: Amin Ali , Bentz Evan C.
Published: January 2018

This paper presents a simple yet accurate technique for determining the strength of steel fiber reinforced concrete beams loaded in pure torsion. The results of the model are compared with 21 beams found in the literature as well as two new beams tested by the authors and reported herein. The model considers the beneficial effect of the fibers in resisting tension after the concrete matrix has cracked, and it is implemented into the widely accepted space truss analogy for reinforced concrete members subjected to pure torsion. The proposed model provides good correlations to the collected test data with a test to predicted ratio of 1.10 and COV of 0.19. A simplified method of the aforementioned model, suitable for design, is also presented and is shown to provide good predictions to the test data.
Effects of perfluoro modified sol‐gel additive on UV‐curable phosphorus containing urethane acrylate coatings
Authors: Topçu Gökhan , Baştürk Emre , Karataş Sevim
Published: January 2018

A series of UV‐curable urethane acrylate (UA) hybrid oligomers containing bis[4‐(ß‐hydroxy propoxy) phenyl] phenyl phosphine oxide (BHPPPO) monomer were successfully synthesized via sol‐gel method. Triethoxysilane modified perfluoropentane diol (Si‐PFN) which is a novel organo alkoxysilane compound was successfully synthesized for the sol‐gel reaction. When the contents of BHPPPO and the sol‐gel precursor increased in the urethane coating formulations, it was determined that the gloss increased from 93° to 146°, the water absorption decreased from 27.2 to 7.9 wt% and the tensile strength increased 95.1MPa from 222.4 MPa. The results of the thermal gravimetric analysis showed that with the addition of BHPPPO and the sol‐gel solution into the UAs the weight losses were shifted to higher temperatures and resulted in increasing the char ruins of them. The limiting oxygen index values of them slightly changed compared to the neat UA. For deionized water/ethylene glycol the contact angle values of the hybrids ranged from 63°/61° to 87°/75°. These results indicate that the hybrid coating films have a hydrophobic surface. Scanning electron microscope studies indicated that between the inorganic and organic phases chemical interaction was reasonable. The scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive spectrometry results confirmed the P, Si, and F intensification on the surface of the hybrid coating. These results suggest that the hybrids containing phosphorus have provided a potential application as the coating materials in industry. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:E133–E145, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Molecular and genetic interactions of the RNA degradation machineries in Firmicute bacteria
Authors: Redder Peter
Published: January 2018

Correct balance between bacterial RNA degradation and synthesis is essential for controlling expression level of all RNAs. The RNA polymerase, which performs the RNA synthesis, is highly conserved across the bacterial domain. However, this is surprisingly not the case for the RNA degradation machinery, which is composed of different subunits and performs different enzymatic reactions, depending on the organism. In Escherichia coli, the RNA decay is performed by the degradosome complex, which forms around the membrane‐associated endoribonuclease RNase E, and is stable enough to be purified without falling apart. In contrast, many Firmicutes, for example, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, do not encode an RNase E homolog, but instead have the endoribonuclease RNase Y and the exo‐ and endo‐ribonuclease RNase J complex. A wide range of experiments have been performed, mainly with B. subtilis and S. aureus, to determine which interactions exist between the various RNA decay enzymes in the Firmicutes, with the goal of understanding how RNA degradation (and thus gene expression homeostasis and regulation) is organized in these organisms. The in vivo and in vitro data is diverse, and does not always concur. This overview gathers the data on interactions between Firmicute RNA degradation factors, to highlight the similarities and differences between experimental data from different experiments and from different organisms. WIREs RNA 2018, 9:e1460. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1460

This article is categorized under:

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability
Past, Present, and Future of Mercury Pollution Issues
Authors: Yokoyama Hisashi
Published: January 2018

In this chapter, countermeasures and solutions to methylmercury poisoning (MPM) and current and outstanding issues on the mercury pollution are discussed. Correct information and data, public access to information, establishment of company ethics, rapid response by governments, societal responsibility, and penalties on responsible organizations are necessary for preventing the similar kind of pollution and human hazard. Recent studies which show the relationship between the anthropogenic emissions of mercury and the risk to human health, especially to fetuses and infants, are summarized. Finally, outstanding issues on MPM that are in connection with the global mercury cycle are discussed.
More Than Talking About the Weekend: Content of Case‐Irrelevant Communication Within the OR Team
Authors: Widmer Lukas W. , Keller Sandra , Tschan Franziska , Semmer Norbert K. , Holzer Eliane , Candinas Daniel , Beldi Guido
Published: January 2018

Background

Case‐irrelevant communication (CIC) is defined as “any conversation” irrelevant to the case. It includes small talk, but also communication related to other work issues besides the actual task. CIC during surgeries is generally seen as distracting, despite a lack of knowledge about the content of CIC and its regulation in terms of adjustments to the situation of CIC. Primary goal of the study was to evaluate CIC content; secondary goal was to evaluate whether surgical teams regulate CIC according to different concentration demands of surgical procedures.

Methods

In 125 surgeries, 1396 CIC events were observed. CIC were content coded into work‐related CIC (pertaining to other tasks or work in general) and social CIC (pertaining to acquaintance talk, gossip, or private conversation). The impact of different phases and the difficulty of the surgical procedure on CIC were assessed.

Results

Work‐related CIC were significantly more frequent (2.49 per hour, SD = 2.17) than social CIC (1.42 per hour, SD = 2.17). Across phases, frequency of work‐related CIC was constant, whereas social CIC increased significantly across phases. In surgeries assessed as highly difficult by the surgeons, social CIC were observed at a lower frequency, and less work‐related CIC were observed during the main phase compared to surgeries assessed as less difficult.

Conclusion

The high proportion of work‐related CIC indicates that surgical teams deal with other tasks during surgeries. Surgical teams adapt CIC according to the demands of the procedure. Hospital policies should support these adaptations rather than attempt to suppress CIC entirely.
Flux analysis of inborn errors of metabolism
Authors: Reijngoud D.‐J.
Published: January 2018

Patients with an inborn error of metabolism (IEM) are deficient of an enzyme involved in metabolism, and as a consequence metabolism reprograms itself to reach a new steady state. This new steady state underlies the clinical phenotype associated with the deficiency. Hence, we need to know the flux of metabolites through the different metabolic pathways in this new steady state of the reprogrammed metabolism. Stable isotope technology is best suited to study this. In this review the progress made in characterizing the altered metabolism will be presented. Studies done in patients to estimate the residual flux through the metabolic pathway affected by enzyme deficiencies will be discussed. After this, studies done in model systems will be reviewed. The focus will be on glycogen storage disease type I, medium‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, propionic and methylmalonic aciduria, urea cycle defects, phenylketonuria, and combined D,L‐2‐hydroxyglutaric aciduria. Finally, new developments are discussed, which allow the tracing of metabolic reprogramming in IEM on a genome‐wide scale. In conclusion, the outlook for flux analysis of metabolic derangement in IEMs looks promising.
A Relation Aware Search Engine for Materials Science
Authors: Shah Sapan , Vora Dhwani , Gautham B. P. , Reddy Sreedhar
Published: January 2018

Knowledge of material properties, microstructure, underlying material composition, and manufacturing process parameters that the material has undergone is of significant interest to materials scientists and engineers. A large amount of information of this nature is available in publications in the form of experimental measurements, simulation results, etc. However, getting to the right information of this kind that is relevant for a given problem on hand is a non-trivial task. First, an engineer has to go through a large collection of documents to select the right ones. Then, the engineer has to scan through these selected documents to extract relevant pieces of information. Our goal is to help automate some of these steps. Traditional search engines are not of much help here, as they are keyword centric and weak on relation processing. In this paper, we present a domain-specific search engine that processes relations to significantly improve search accuracy. The engine preprocesses material publication repositories to extract entities such as material compositions, material properties, manufacturing processes, process parameters, and their values and builds an index using these entities and values. The engine then uses this index to process user queries to retrieve relevant publication fragments. It provides a domain-specific query language with relational and logical operators to compose complex queries. We have conducted an experiment on a small library of publications on steel on which searches such as “get the list of publications which have carbon composition between 0.2 and 0.3 and on which tempering is carried out for about 30 to 40 min” are performed. We compare the results of our search engine with the results of a keyword-based search engine.
Alzheimer's disease biomarker‐guided diagnostic workflow using the added value of six combined cerebrospinal fluid candidates: Aβ1–42, total‐tau, phosphorylated‐tau, NFL, neurogranin, and YKL‐40
Authors: Hampel Harald , Toschi Nicola , Baldacci Filippo , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Kilimann Ingo , Teipel Stefan J. , Cavedo Enrica , Melo dos Santos Antonio , Epelbaum Stéphane , Lamari Foudil , Genthon Remy , Dubois Bruno , Floris Roberto , Garaci Francesco , Lista Simone ,   Alzheimer Precision Medicine Initiative (APMI)
Published: January 2018

Introduction

The diagnostic and classificatory performances of all combinations of three core (amyloid β peptide [i.e., Aβ1–42], total tau [t‐tau], and phosphorylated tau) and three novel (neurofilament light chain protein, neurogranin, and YKL‐40) cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neurodegeneration were compared among individuals with mild cognitive impairment (n = 41), Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD; n = 35), frontotemporal dementia (FTD; n = 9), and cognitively healthy controls (HC; n = 21), using 10‐fold cross‐validation.

Methods

The combinations ranking in the top 10 according to diagnostic accuracy in differentiating between distinct diagnostic categories were identified.

Results

The single biomarkers or biomarker combinations generating the best area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROCs) were the following: the combination [amyloid β peptide + phosphorylated tau + neurofilament light chain] for distinguishing between ADD patients and HC (AUROC = 0.86), t‐tau for distinguishing between ADD and FTD patients (AUROC = 0.82), and t‐tau for distinguishing between FTD patients and HC (AUROC = 0.78).

Conclusions

Novel and established cerebrospinal fluid markers perform with at least fair accuracy in the discrimination between ADD and FTD. The classification of mild cognitive impairment individuals was poor.
Approximating 3D surfaces using generalized waterbomb tessellations
Authors: Zhao Yan , Endo Yuki , Kanamori Yoshihiro , Mitani Jun
Published: January 2018

Origami has received much attention in geometry, mathematics, and engineering due to its potential to construct 3D developable shapes from designed crease patterns on a flat sheet. Waterbomb tessellation, which is one type of traditional origami consisting of a set of waterbomb bases, has been used to create geometrically appealing 3D shapes and been widely studied. In this paper, we propose a method for approximating target surfaces, which are parametric surfaces of varying or constant curvatures, using generalized waterbomb tessellations. First, we generate a base mesh by tiling the target surface using waterbomb bases. Then, by applying a simple numerical optimization algorithm to the base mesh, we achieve a developable waterbomb tessellation, which can be developed onto a plane without stretching. We provide a prototype system using which the user can adjust the resolution of the tessellation and modify waterbomb bases. Our work could expand the exploration of building developable 3D structures using origami.

Highlights Generalizing waterbomb tessellations to fit target 3D parametric surfaces. Achieving developable tessellations by a simple numerical optimization algorithm. Non-axisymmetric or non-orientable resulting approximations are demonstrated.
The effectiveness of interprofessional education in healthcare: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Guraya Salman Yousuf , Barr Hugh
Published: January 2018

Interprofessional education (IPE) emphasizes collaborative practice that aims at promoting the working relationships between two or more healthcare professions. However, there is paucity of literature about the effectiveness of IPE program in the healthcare. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to objectively determine the effectiveness of IPE in that field in terms of the improvement of students' knowledge, skills and attitudes. The databases of OVID, ISI Knowledge of Science, and Medline (PubMed) were searched for the full‐text English language articles published during 2000–2016 using the MeSH terms “interprofessional education” AND “healthcare professionals” AND “multi‐professional” AND “impact” AND “effectiveness” OR “collaborative practice” OR “medical students” in Endnote X7. A systematic search finally selected 12 articles for detailed review and meta‐analysis. The effect summary value of 1.37 with confidence interval of 0.92–1.82 identifies statistically significant effectiveness of intervention by IPE program in healthcare. The Z test value of 5.99, significant at 5% level of significance, also shows a significant impact of IPE intervention as calculated by the random‐effects model. This meta‐analysis shows a positive impact and effectiveness of educational intervention by IPE program in various disciplines of healthcare. However, analysis of further clinical trials may be helpful in identifying the effect of IPE program on the students' clinical competence.
SMOOTHING POISSON COMMON FACTOR MODEL FOR PROJECTING MORTALITY JOINTLY FOR BOTH SEXES
Authors: Pitt David , Li Jackie , Lim Tian Kang
Published: January 2018

We consider a modification to the Poisson common factor model and utilise a generalised linear model (GLM) framework that incorporates a smoothing process and a set of linear constraints. We extend the standard GLM model structure to adopt Lagrange methods and P-splines such that smoothing and constraints are applied simultaneously as the parameters are estimated. Our results on Australian, Canadian and Norwegian data show that this modification results in an improvement in mortality projection in terms of producing more accurate forecasts in the out-of-sample testing. At the same time, projected male-to-female ratio of death rates at each age converges to a constant and the residuals of the models are sufficiently random, indicating that the use of smoothing does not adversely affect the fit of the model. Further, the irregular patterns in the estimates of the age-specific parameters are moderated as a result of smoothing and this model can be used to produce more regular projected life tables for pricing purposes.
KRULL DIMENSION IN MODAL LOGIC
Authors: BEZHANISHVILI GURAM , BEZHANISHVILI NICK , LUCERO-BRYAN JOEL , VAN MILL JAN
Published: January 2018

We develop the theory of Krull dimension forS4-algebras and Heyting algebras. This leads to the concept of modal Krull dimension for topological spaces. We compare modal Krull dimension to other well-known dimension functions, and show that it can detect differences between topological spaces that Krull dimension is unable to detect. We prove that for aT1-space to have a finite modal Krull dimension can be described by an appropriate generalization of the well-known concept of a nodec space. This, in turn, can be described by modal formulaszemnwhich generalize the well-known Zeman formulazem. We show that the modal logicS4.Zn:=S4+ zemnis the basic modal logic ofT1-spaces of modal Krull dimension ≤n, and we construct a countable dense-in-itselfω-resolvable Tychonoff spaceZnof modal Krull dimensionnsuch thatS4.Znis complete with respect toZn. This yields a version of the McKinsey-Tarski theorem forS4.Zn. We also show that no logic in the interval [S4n+1S4.Zn) is complete with respect to any class ofT1-spaces.
BDNF and NRG1 polymorphisms and temperament in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-treated patients with major depression
Authors: Andre Kadri , Kampman Olli , Viikki Merja , Setälä-Soikkeli Eija , Illi Ari , Mononen Nina , Lehtimäki Terho , Leinonen Esa
Published: January 2018

Objective

We investigated the separate effects of and possible interactions between the functional polymorphisms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) rs11030101, BDNF rs61888800, and neuregulin-1 (NRG1) rs3924999 and NRG1 rs6994992 on change of temperament scores in a clinical sample of subjects with major depression (MDD), who received selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment for a period of 6 weeks.

Methods

The study population consisted of 98 Finnish individuals with MDD. They were assessed by the 107-item Temperament and Character Inventory temperament questionnaire (version IX) and the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). In general linear univariate models (GLM) for novelty seeking (NS) or reward dependence (RD) change age, gender, MADRS score change and BDNF and NRG1 genotypes were used as explaining explanatory variables.

Results

Mean comparisons between corresponding temperament dimensions and genotypes showed significant differences between NS change and BDNF rs61888800 T-carrying status (mean difference: GG 0.30, GT/TT 2.47, p=0.022, t-test) and between RD change and NRG1 rs3924999 A-carrying status (mean difference: GG 1.21, GA/AA −0.33, p=0.003). In GLM models for NS change the significant predictors comprised BDNF rs61888800 T-carrying status, age and MADRS score change (model 1), and additionally NRG1 rs6994992 T-carrying status (model 2). For RD change the predictors included NRG1 rs3924999 A-carrying status, age and MADRS score change (model 1) and additionally gender (model 2).

Conclusion

According to the current results both BDNF and NRG1 are associated with temperament traits during depression. These results warrant further studies regarding the impact of this association on depression recovery.
Coexistence, habitat associations and puparia description of three dipteran species of the Family Carnidae
Authors: Valera Francisco , Veiga Jesús , Sandoval Alba , Moreno Eulalia
Published: January 2018

Differentiation of niche by means of resource partitioning facilitates coexistence of species with similar requirements. Here we analyse the association between different habitats (i.e. nest types) and two Diptera species of the poorly known Family Carnidae that coexist during their larval and pupal stage in the nests of troglodytic bird species. We also describe for the first time the puparium ofHemeromyia anthracinaandHemeromyia longirostrisand offer morphometric data of the puparia of these two species and ofCarnus hemapterus. Both the smaller size and the occurrence of well-developed spiracles allow easy discrimination of the puparium ofC. hemapterus. The puparia of bothHemeromyiaspecies is very similar and only differ in the distance between the small spiracles.Hemeromyia anthracinaandC. hemapteruscoexisted in nest boxes but the former species did not occur in natural sandy cavities where, in turn,C. hemapteruswas highly prevalent.Carnus hemapterusprevalence did not differ between nest boxes and natural cavities but its abundance was higher in the first type of nest. This study shows clear associations of the two dipteran species with specific types of nests. Yet, some conditions are seemingly acceptable for both species.
Mediating Role of Self-Concordance on the Relationship Between Internet Altruistic Behaviour and Subjective Wellbeing
Authors: Zheng Xianliang , Xie Fangwei , Ding Liang
Published: January 2018

The aim of the present study was to examine the mediating effect of self-concordance on the relationship between internet altruistic behaviour (IAB) and subjective wellbeing (SWB). A total of 356 Chinese university students (159 males and 197 females) participated, using the questionnaires in the Internet Altruistic Behavior Scale (IABS), the Self-Concordance Scale (SCS) and the General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS). Correlation results indicated that IAB was positively correlated with self-concordance and SWB. The hierarchical regression analyses indicated that both IAB and self-concordance positively affect SWB. Moreover, IAB affected SWB indirectly via self-concordance, which confirmed self-concordance partially mediated the relationship between IAB and SWB. These findings extend the previous research on the association between altruism and SWB.
‘Pure water’ in Niamey, Niger: the backstory of sachet water in a landscape of waste
Authors: Keough Sara Beth , Youngstedt Scott M.
Published: January 2018

This article examines the commodity chain and value chain of half-litre water bags (referred to as ‘pure water’ or ‘sachet water’) in Niamey, Niger. We begin with a focus on the discarded bag and work backwards through the commodity chain to consumers, vendors and finally producers of ‘pure water’ to reveal the underlying power structures, cultural perceptions and assumptions that ultimately resulted in the discarded bag and landscapes of waste. We assert that the economic value of the plastic bag, largely assigned during the stages of its production, is based on four characteristics: the label, the temperature of the water, the time of year it is sold, and the apparent ‘purity’ of the water. We further demonstrate how characteristics of economic value are steeped in cultural perceptions and social relationships in Niamey. Using interviews with agents and actors at all levels of the commodity chain, we reveal how this local, hybrid system is connected to and affected by larger, global economic and political forces.
Explosive X-point collapse in relativistic magnetically dominated plasma
Authors: Lyutikov Maxim , Sironi Lorenzo , Komissarov Serguei S. , Porth Oliver
Published: January 2018

The extreme properties of the gamma-ray flares in the Crab nebula present a clear challenge to our ideas on the nature of particle acceleration in relativistic astrophysical plasma. It seems highly unlikely that standard mechanisms of stochastic type are at work here and hence the attention of theorists has switched to linear acceleration in magnetic reconnection events. In this series of papers, we attempt to develop a theory of explosive magnetic reconnection in highly magnetized relativistic plasma which can explain the extreme parameters of the Crab flares. In the first paper, we focus on the properties of the X-point collapse. Using analytical and numerical methods (fluid and particle-in-cell simulations) we extend Syrovatsky’s classical model of such collapse to the relativistic regime. We find that the collapse can lead to the reconnection rate approaching the speed of light on macroscopic scales. During the collapse, the plasma particles are accelerated by charge-starved electric fields, which can reach (and even exceed) values of the local magnetic field. The explosive stage of reconnection produces non-thermal power-law tails with slopes that depend on the average magnetization $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$. For sufficiently high magnetizations and vanishing guide field, the non-thermal particle spectrum consists of two components: a low-energy population with soft spectrum that dominates the number census; and a high-energy population with hard spectrum that possesses all the properties needed to explain the Crab flares.
Pressure-anisotropy-induced nonlinearities in the kinetic magnetorotational instability
Authors: Squire J. , Quataert E. , Kunz M. W.
Published: January 2018

In collisionless and weakly collisional plasmas, such as hot accretion flows onto compact objects, the magnetorotational instability (MRI) can differ significantly from the standard (collisional) MRI. In particular, pressure anisotropy with respect to the local magnetic-field direction can both change the linear MRI dispersion relation and cause nonlinear modifications to the mode structure and growth rate, even when the field and flow perturbations are very small. This work studies these pressure-anisotropy-induced nonlinearities in the weakly nonlinear, high-ion-beta regime, before the MRI saturates into strong turbulence. Our goal is to better understand how the saturation of the MRI in a low-collisionality plasma might differ from that in the collisional regime. We focus on two key effects: (i) the direct impact of self-induced pressure-anisotropy nonlinearities on the evolution of an MRI mode, and (ii) the influence of pressure anisotropy on the ‘parasitic instabilities’ that are suspected to cause the mode to break up into turbulence. Our main conclusions are: (i) The mirror instability regulates the pressure anisotropy in such a way that the linear MRI in a collisionless plasma is an approximate nonlinear solution once the mode amplitude becomes larger than the background field (just as in magnetohyrodynamics). This implies that differences between the collisionless and collisional MRI become unimportant at large amplitudes. (ii) The break up of large-amplitude MRI modes into turbulence via parasitic instabilities is similar in collisionless and collisional plasmas. Together, these conclusions suggest that the route to magnetorotational turbulence in a collisionless plasma may well be similar to that in a collisional plasma, as suggested by recent kinetic simulations. As a supplement to these findings, we offer guidance for the design of future kinetic simulations of magnetorotational turbulence.
Vertical distribution of mesozooplankton and ichthyoplankton communities in the South-western Atlantic Ocean (23°14′1″S 40°42′19″W)
Authors: Bonecker Ana C. T. , Dias Cristina De O. , De Castro Marcia S. , De Carvalho Pedro F. , Araujo Adriana V. , Paranhos Rodolfo , Cabral Anderson S. , Bonecker Sergio L. C.
Published: January 2018

A study was conducted over eight consecutive days in February 2010 in which daily variations in the vertical distributions of heterotrophic bacteria, mesozooplankton and ichthyoplankton at 1–1200 m in the South-western Atlantic Ocean were investigated. Diurnal and nocturnal samples were collected at an oceanographic station at four regional depths: Tropical Water (TW) (1 m), South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) (250 m), Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) (800 m) and Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW) (1200 m). Bacterial, mesozooplankton and larval fish densities significantly differed between sample depths but not between sampling tow times. In total, 154 zooplankton species and 18 larval fish species were identified. The highest number of taxa was obtained from the night-time TW trawls. This depth zone had the highest densities of mesozooplankton, larval fish and bacterioplankton (auto and heterotrophic), associated with the highest temperature and salinity and the lowest inorganic nutrient concentrations. Two sample groups were identified based on their mesozooplankton and larval fish compositions: night-time TW and other water masses (daytime TW, SACW, AAIW and UCDW). Thirty-two indicator species were detected in night-time TW. The copepodNullosetigera imparwas, to the best of our knowledge, identified for the first time on the Brazilian coast. Our results showed significant variability in the abundance and vertical distribution of mesozooplankton, bacterioplankton and larval fish along the water column in an oceanic area. We have provided new data and insights on the composition and vertical distribution of mesozooplankton, larval fish and bacterioplankton in deep waters in the South-western Atlantic Ocean.
Childhood interpersonal violence and adult alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use disorders: variation by race/ethnicity?
Authors: Meyers Jacquelyn L. , Sartor Carolyn E. , Werner Kimberly B. , Koenen Karestan C. , Grant Bridget F. , Hasin Deborah
Published: January 2018

Background

Exposure to child maltreatment has been shown to increase lifetime risk for substance use disorders (SUD). However, this has not been systematically examined among race/ethnic groups, for whom rates of exposure to assaultive violence and SUD differ. This study examined variation by race/ethnicity and gender in associations of alcohol (AUD), cannabis (CUD), and tobacco (TUD) use disorders with three types of childhood interpersonal violence (cIPV): physical abuse, sexual abuse, and witnessing parental violence.

Method

Data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol-Related Conditions-III (N: 36 309), a US nationally representative sample, was utilized to examine associations of DSM-5 AUD, CUD and TUD with cIPV among men and women of five racial/ethnic groups. Models were adjusted for additional risk factors (e.g. parental substance use problems, participant's co-occurring SUD).

Results

Independent contributions of childhood physical and sexual abuse to AUD, CUD, and TUD, and of witnessing parental violence to AUD and TUD were observed. Associations of cIPV and SUD were relatively similar across race/ethnicity and gender [Odds Ratios (ORs) ranged from 1.1 to 1.9], although associations of physical abuse with AUD and TUD were greater among males, associations of parental violence and AUD were greater among females, and associations of parental violence with AUD were greater among Hispanic women and American Indian men.

Conclusions

Given the paucity of research in this area, and the potential identification of modifiable risk factors to reduce the impact of childhood interpersonal violence on SUDs, further research and consideration of tailoring prevention and intervention efforts to different populations are warranted.
Low resting heart rate, sensation seeking and the course of antisocial behaviour across adolescence and young adulthood
Authors: Hammerton Gemma , Heron Jon , Mahedy Liam , Maughan Barbara , Hickman Matthew , Murray Joseph
Published: January 2018

Background

Low resting heart rate (RHR) is a consistent biological correlate of antisocial behaviour (ASB), however potential mechanisms have been largely unexplored. We hypothesise that lower RHR will be associated with higher ASB levels in mid-adolescence and persistence into adulthood, and that these associations will be explained, in part, by sensation seeking and callous-unemotional traits.

Methods

ASB was assessed repeatedly with young people from ages 15 to 21 years in a population-based birth cohort (ALSPAC). A longitudinal trajectory was derived and showed ASB decreasing across adolescence before stabilising in early adulthood. RHR was recorded at age 12 years, and mediators were assessed at age 14 years.

Results

After adjusting for socio-demographic confounders, there was evidence for a total effect of RHR on ASB levels in mid-adolescence [b(95% CI) = −0.08 (−0.14 to −0.02)], reflecting 0.08 more types of antisocial activity in the last year per 10 fewer heart beats per minute. This effect was almost entirely explained through sensation seeking [b(95% CI) = −0.06 (−0.08 to −0.04)]. After additionally adjusting for child and parent-related confounders, all effects weakened; however, there was still evidence of an indirect effect of RHR, via sensation seeking, on ASB levels in mid-adolescence [b(95% CI) = −0.01 (−0.03 to −0.003)]. There was no evidence for a total effect of RHR on ASB levels in early adulthood, and weak evidence of an indirect effect, via sensation seeking [b(95% CI) = −0.01 (−0.01 to −0.00)].

Conclusions

Lower RHR in childhood was associated with higher ASB levels in mid-adolescence, indirectly via sensation seeking.
Defining functional groups and their vulnerability to the edge effect in a peri-urban forest in Mexico City
Authors: SANTIBÁÑEZ-ANDRADE GABRIELA , GRANADOS-PELÁEZ CARLOS , GARCÍA-ROMERO ARTURO
Published: January 2018

The expansion of human settlements and primary-sector activities (agriculture and forestry) has resulted in the fragmentation of forests, but the impacts of this are still poorly understood. We examined the effect of patch size on the presence of plant functional groups along an edge–interior gradient. Plant species were classified based on a two-way indicator species analysis in order to determine their establishment thresholds and vulnerability along the gradient, while detrended correspondence analyses and canonical correspondence analyses were performed to identify environmental gradients related to vegetation distribution. Two groups of plant species were recognized in all patch sizes: one commonly found towards the edge and the other in the interior zone. The incidence of these groups was correlated with environmental factors associated with the edge–interior gradient, mainly with humidity, soil moisture and light (canopy opening and global site factor) in the edge zone and with litter cover, depth of litter, slope and soil and air temperature in the interior zone. Identifying the species’ threshold responses to fragmentation is key, as they provide tools to prevent the potential local extinction of species.
Population-based seroprevalence of Puumala hantavirus in Finland: smoking as a risk factor
Authors: Latronico F. , Mäki S. , Rissanen H. , Ollgren J. , Lyytikäinen O. , Vapalahti O. , Sane J.
Published: January 2018

Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in humans, that is an endemic disease in Finland. We estimated the seroprevalence of PUUV in Finland and explored risk factors and disease associations by using unique survey data with health register linkage. A total of 2000 sera from a nationwide health survey from 2011, representative of the adult population, were screened for PUUV IgG by immunofluorescence assay. We performed statistical analysis adjusting for stratified cluster design and taking into account sampling weights. In total, 254 sera among 2000 tested were PUUV-IgG-positive resulting in a weighted seroprevalence of 12.5%, (95% CI 10.9–14.4), mirroring known age and regional variation in reported incidence. No associations between PUUV-seropositivity and chronic diseases including cardiovascular (including hypertension), pulmonary, kidney disease and cancer were observed. Smoking was significantly associated with seropositivity (adjusted OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.16–2.04). In addition, significant dose-response relations were found for the number of cigarettes smoked daily (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.12–1.28). The results are important for disease burden assessment and guide intervention strategies, highlighting also the role of smoking prevention.
REASONABLE DOUBT AND DISAGREEMENT
Authors: Lee Youngjae
Published: January 2018

The right to trial by jury and the requirement of proof beyond a reasonable doubt are two of the most fundamental commitments of American criminal law. This article asks how the two are related, that is, whether disagreement among jurors implies anything about whether the beyond a reasonable doubt standard has been satisfied: Does the due process requirement of the beyond a reasonable doubt standard also require jury unanimity in criminal cases? Drawing on literature about the epistemological significance of disagreement, this article considers the “equal-weight view” and its implications for the unanimity rule in criminal jury decision-making. The equal-weight view says that, roughly speaking, when people disagree on a topic, each view should be given equal weight. This implies, this article concludes, that the unanimity rule is required as a way of enforcing the beyond a reasonable doubt requirement. This article further concludes, however, that jurors should not always be instructed to apply the equal-weight view in their deliberation. Jurors, when applying crime definitions to particular cases, make determinations about both historical facts and normative issues through moral terms like “reckless,” “unjustifiable,” “depraved,” “cruel,” and “heinous,” which are common in criminal law. This article argues that while the equal-weight view should guide the jurors in determining factual issues, it is not the correct model for moral issues, not only because it would imply that acquittals are appropriate in many cases involving controversial moral questions but also because having the jurors follow it would undermine the basic justification for having the criminal jury as an articulator and enforcer of morality.
Identification of Heterogeneous Cognitive Subgroups in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Latent Class Analysis of the Einstein Aging Study
Authors: Zammit Andrea R. , Hall Charles B. , Lipton Richard B. , Katz Mindy J. , Muniz-Terrera Graciela
Published: January 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify natural subgroups of older adults based on cognitive performance, and to establish each subgroup’s characteristics based on demographic factors, physical function, psychosocial well-being, and comorbidity. Methods: We applied latent class (LC) modeling to identify subgroups in baseline assessments of 1345 Einstein Aging Study (EAS) participants free of dementia. The EAS is a community-dwelling cohort study of 70+ year-old adults living in the Bronx, NY. We used 10 neurocognitive tests and 3 covariates (age, sex, education) to identify latent subgroups. We used goodness-of-fit statistics to identify the optimal class solution and assess model adequacy. We also validated our model using two-fold split-half cross-validation. Results: The sample had a mean age of 78.0 (SD=5.4) and a mean of 13.6 years of education (SD=3.5). A 9-class solution based on cognitive performance at baseline was the best-fitting model. We characterized the 9 identified classes as (i) disadvantaged, (ii) poor language, (iii) poor episodic memory and fluency, (iv) poor processing speed and executive function, (v) low average, (vi) high average, (vii) average, (viii) poor executive and poor working memory, (ix) elite. The cross validation indicated stable class assignment with the exception of the average and high average classes. Conclusions: LC modeling in a community sample of older adults revealed 9 cognitive subgroups. Assignment of subgroups was reliable and associated with external validators. Future work will test the predictive validity of these groups for outcomes such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and death, as well as markers of biological pathways that contribute to cognitive decline. (JINS, 2018, 24, 511–523)
DID THE FED RESPOND TO LIQUIDITY SHORTAGE EPISODES DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION?
Authors: Damette Olivier , Parent Antoine
Published: January 2018

The October 1929 crash led to a complete freeze of New York open markets. Studying the Fed monetary policy conduct in a nonlinear framework, using credit spreads between open market rates and the Fed's instrument rates as a proxy for liquidity risk, we present econometric evidence that the Fed was well aware of such risks as early as 1930, reacted to the financial stress and altered its monetary policy in consequence. Our outcomes revisit conventional wisdom about the presumed passivity of the Fed throughout the 30s.