bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal stress and depressive symptoms and adolescents’ body mass index: A prospective study.
Authors: Koning Maaike , Vink Jacqueline , Visscher Tommy L.S. , Larsen Junilla
Published: January 2021

Background Growing evidence suggests that maternal mental health issues are associated with (young) children’s weight outcomes. However, most studies have been limited by cross-sectional designs and have been aimed at (younger) children. The current prospective study focuses on the link between maternal mental health (i.e., psychological stress and depressive symptoms) and adolescents’ zBMI development.Methods The participants in the present study were part of wave 1 and 2 of a longitudinal study on Dutch adolescents’ and their parents’ health behavior. Adolescents (aged 10-14) and their parents were recruited through six secondary schools in the South and the East of the Netherlands. For this study, we only included biological mothers and their adolescent children who participated in both waves, with data on the main measures on both waves, leaving a final sample of 336 biological mother child dyads. Adolescents height and weight were measured, and both parents and adolescents filled in validated questionnaires on perceived stress and depressive symptoms and answered additional questions concerning domain-specific stress. Regression analyses were performed in R to examine longitudinal links between maternal stress and depressive symptoms at baseline (T1) and adolescents’ BMI standard deviation scores (zBMI) 6 months later (T2), corrected for baseline zBMI and covariates. Results Maternal general perceived stress (b=.20, p =.002) at T1 preceded higher adolescents’ zBMI at T2, after controlling for baseline zBMI and other covariates, whereas maternal depressive symptoms at T1 (b=-.05, p =.44) and other domain-specific stress did not (maternal financial stress, maternal stress at work, maternal stress at home). Additionally, lower educational level among adolescents (b = .16, p = .001) and adolescent depressive symptoms (b = .16, p = .001) was associated with a higher zBMI at T2. Conclusions Results suggest that maternal general stress, but not depressive symptoms, may influence adolescents’ weight development. Our findings warrant future investigation on whether and how general stress among mothers may predict weight increases of their adolescent offspring.
Assessment on awareness towards preventive measures of COVID-19 in Sheka, Ethiopia: Community based cross-sectional Study
Authors: Gelaw Assaye Belay , Andargie Solomon Abebaw
Published: January 2021

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and it is the most important of public health problem worldwide. A critical element in tackling the COVID-19 crisis is personal behavioral change; however, there is a paucity of evidence about peoples’ awareness towards COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the people’s awareness status towards COVID-19 in Sheka, Southwestern Ethiopia.Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 10th to 21th April 2020. Four hundred-nineteen individuals participated during the study. Both univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify significant factors of awareness status, and variables with p-value<0.05 indicated it significantly influences the awareness status of the individuals towards COVID-19.Results: According to the study’s results, nearly half (49.4 %) of the participants had awareness about COVID-19 pandemic. Factors such as sex, education level, religion, symptom, and knowing prevention methods were significantly associated with awareness of individuals towards COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents who did know all prevention methods (AOR: 8.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 51.9) are more likely to aware of COVID-19 than their counterparts.Conclusion: The study showed that there is a low awareness status among people towards COVID-19.Hence, programs to improve awareness towards COVID-19 pandemic is is essential to prevent and control the pandemic.
Assessing the play and learning environments of children under two years in peri-urban Lima, Peru: A formative research study
Authors: Rothstein Jessica D , Buckland Audrey J , Gagnier Kristin , Ochoa Mayra , Allen-Valley Aliya , Jivapong Belinda , Cabrera Lilia Z , Leontsini Elli , Fisher Kelly R
Published: January 2021

Background : Home-based interventions have potential for improving early child development (ECD) in low-resource settings. The design of locally acceptable strategies requires an in-depth understanding of the household context. In this formative research study, we aimed to characterize the home play and learning environments of children 6-23 months of age from low-income households in peri-urban Lima, Peru. Methods : Drawing on the developmental niche framework, we used quantitative and qualitative methods to understand children’s physical and social settings, childcare practices, and caregiver perspectives. We conducted interviews, unstructured video-recorded observations, and spot-checks with 30 randomly selected caregiver-child dyads, 10 from each child age group of 6-11, 12-17, and 18-23 months of age, as well as key informant interviews with 12 daycare instructors. We analyzed the data for key trends and themes using Stata and ATLAS.ti and employed an adapted version of the Indicator of Parent-Child Interaction to evaluate the observations. Results : Children’s social settings were characterized by multi-generational homes and the presence of siblings and cousins as play partners. Access to books and complex hand-eye coordination toys (e.g., puzzles, building blocks) in the home was limited (30.0% and 40.0%, respectively). Caregivers generally demonstrated low or inconsistent levels of interaction with their children; they rarely communicated using descriptive language or introduced novel, stimulating activities during play. Reading and telling stories to children were uncommon, yet 93.3% of caregivers reported singing to children daily. On average, caregivers ascribed a high learning value to reading books and playing with electronic toys (rated 9.7 and 9.1 out of 10, respectively), and perceived playing with everyday objects in the home as less beneficial (rated 6.8/10). Daycare instructors reinforced the problems posed by limited caregiver-child interaction and supported the use of songs for promoting ECD. Conclusions : The features of the home learning environments highlighted here indicate several opportunities for intervention development to improve ECD. These include encouraging caregivers to communicate with children using full sentences and enhancing the use of everyday objects as toys. There is also great potential for leveraging song and music to encourage responsive caregiver-child interactions within the home setting.
Is There a Health Inequality in Gambling Related Harms? A Systematic Review
Authors: Raybould Jodie , Larkin Michael , Tunney Richard
Published: January 2021

Background: Here we present a systematic review of the existing research into gambling harms, in order to determine whether there are differences in the presentation of these across demographic groups such as age, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status, or gambling behaviour categories such as risk severity and participation frequency. Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: Inclusion criteria were: 1) focus on gambling harms; 2) focus on harms to the gambler rather than affected others; 3) discussion of specific listed harms and not just harms in general terms. Exclusion criteria were: 1) research of non-human subjects; 2) not written in English; 3) not an empirical study; 3) not available as a full article.Methods: We conducted a systematic search using the Web of Science and Scopus databases in August 2020. Assessment of quality took place using Standard Quality Assessment Criteria.Results: A total of 59 studies published between 1994 and 2020 met the inclusion criteria. These were categorised into thematic groups for comparison and discussion. There were replicated differences found in groups defined by age, socioeconomic status, education level, ethnicity and culture, risk severity, and gambling behaviours. Conclusion: Harms appear to be dependent on specific social, demographic and environmental conditions that suggests there is a health inequality in gambling related harms. Further investigation is required to develop standardised measurement tools and to understand confounding variables and co-morbidities. With a robust understanding of harms distribution in the population, Primary Care Workers will be better equipped to identify those who are at risk, or who are showing signs of Gambling Disorder, and to target prevention and intervention programmes appropriately.
Stigmatization, discrimination, violation of autonomy, and compromised confidentiality: A descriptive qualitative analysis of the lived experiences of people living with HIV in healthcare settings in Turkey
Authors: Senyurek Gamze , Kavas Mustafa Volkan , Ulman Yesim Isil
Published: January 2021

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection rates have been gradually increasing in Istanbul, Turkey. Many people living with HIV (PLWH) in Turkey encounter difficulties such as adapting to a chronic disease and maintaining continuous access to healthcare services. In this study, we explored the challenges PLWH face in their daily lives and understand their perceptions of themselves, healthcare professionals, their social spheres, and healthcare services via their expressed lived experiences in the healthcare setting.Method: Individual semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face with 20 people living with HIV in Istanbul. All the interviews were voice-recorded and transcribed verbatim except one, upon participant request, for which the interviewer took notes. These logs and the interviewer’s filed notes were analyzed thematically using the inductive content analysis method. Thematic pattern tables showing the relations of relevant contexts, main themes, sub-themes, and codes were then formed. Results: The results highlighted the following themes: problems with patients’ autonomy, failure to protect patients’ confidentiality and privacy of personal health data, spouse/partner notification issues, the negative effect of living with HIV on their perception of themselves, stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes intrinsic in healthcare professionals’ approaches, and their struggle to deal with such approaches. Our participants’ experiences suggest that PLWH may face multi-dimensional challenges that directly and negatively affect their lives, identities, relationships, and social status in Turkey. Conclusion: This study showed the complex and shifting nature of stigma experiences. Healthcare professionals’ discriminative or inappropriate attitudes and customs prevailing in healthcare institutions impair PLWH’s utilization of healthcare services. Additionally, structural factors such as social pressure, societal ignorance about HIV, limited access to HIV prevention, and present barriers to HIV care and support originating from current regulations contribute to these challenges. Based on these results, we argue that it is necessary to raise healthcare professionals’ and society’s knowledge and awareness concerning HIV, to train qualified community service personnel providing assistance, care, support, and education to patients, to establish a well-functioning referral system, and to develop national policies to establish appropriate partner notification services. We believe that such interventions should begin to address the social, economic, and structural factors that drive stigma.
Nonlinear ridge regression improves cell-type-specific differential expression analysis
Authors: Takeuchi Fumihiko , Kato Norihiro
Published: January 2021

Background: Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) and differential gene expression analyses are generally performed on tissue samples, which consist of multiple cell types. Cell-type-specific effects of a trait, such as disease, on the omics expression are of interest but difficult or costly to measure experimentally. By measuring omics data for the bulk tissue, cell type composition of a sample can be inferred statistically. Subsequently, cell-type-specific effects are estimated by linear regression that includes terms representing the interaction between the cell type proportions and the trait. This approach involves two issues, scaling and multicollinearity.Results: First, although cell composition is analyzed in linear scale, differential methylation/expression is analyzed suitably in the logit/log scale. To simultaneously analyze two scales, we applied nonlinear regression. Second, we show that the interaction terms are highly collinear, which is obstructive to ordinary regression. To cope with the multicollinearity, we applied ridge regularization. In simulated data, nonlinear ridge regression attained well-balanced sensitivity, specificity and precision. Marginal model attained the lowest precision and highest sensitivity and was the only algorithm to detect weak signal in real data.Conclusion: Nonlinear ridge regression performed cell-type-specific association test on bulk omics data with well-balanced performance. The omicwas package for R implements nonlinear ridge regression for cell-type-specific EWAS, differential gene expression and QTL analyses. The software is freely available from https://github.com/fumi-github/omicwas
Feasibility of Anticoagulation Using Low Molecular‑Weight Heparin During Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis
Authors: Li Yonghui , Wang Junwei , He Rongzhou , Zheng Junmeng , Chen Zhibo , Yao Chen , Huang Kai
Published: January 2021

Background: The optimal anticoagulant scheme during catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) remains unknown. This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of anticoagulation therapy using low molecular‑weight heparin (LMWH) during CDT for DVT.Methods: The clinical data of DVT patients who underwent CDT during the past six years was retrospectively collected and reviewed. Patients were divided into therapeutic-dose anticoagulation (TPDA) and sub therapeutic-dose anticoagulation (sub-TPDA) groups according to LMWH dosage.Results: A total of 61 patients involving 61 limbs were comprised. Acute and subacute DVT were identified in 39 (63.9%) and 22 (36.1%) patients, respectively. Thrombosis involving the iliac vein was identified in 34 (55.7%) patients. Inferior vena cava filter placement was performed in 38 (62.3%) patients. Intraoperatively, adjunctive balloons, stents, and thrombectomy were provided for nine (14.8%), four (6.6%), and one (1.6%) patients, respectively. Twenty (32.8%) patients accepted TPDA therapy, while 41 (67.2%) patients were administrated with sub-TPDA therapy. Median urokinase infusion rate was 2.5 (0.83 to 5) x 104 U/h. Median infusion duration time was 4 (2 to 14) days, and median urokinase dose infused was 2.4 (0.6 to 10.80) x 106 U. During CDT, five (8.2%) cases of minor bleeding were observed, and blood transfusion was not required. No major bleeding, symptomatic pulmonary embolisms, or death occurred. Complete (>90%) and partial thrombolysis (50~90%) were achieved in 56 (91.8%) patients. In comparison with sub-TPDA group, TPDA group exhibited no significant differences in baseline characteristics, clinical improvement, thrombolysis results, and complications. Conclusions: Anticoagulation therapy using low molecular‑weight heparin during CDT with low infusion rate for DVT is likely to be feasible and safe. Sub-therapeutic-dose anticoagulation and therapeutic-dose could be used for CDT with similar clinical outcome and bleeding complications.
Re-amputation in patients with diabetes -related minor amputations who underwent physical therapy during their hospitalization. A single-facility retrospective cohort study
Authors: Imaoka Shinsuke , Sato Koji , Furukawa Masahide , Okita Minoru , Higashi Toshio
Published: January 2021

Background：Diabetes-related foot lesions are a major cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations and are associated with a high re-amputation rate. Lesions can cause hindrance in activities of daily living, reduce physical function, and lower a patient’s quality of life. Physical therapy is necessary to prevent these limitations. Thus far, there has been limited investigation into the re-amputation rate in patients who have undergone physical therapy. This study aimed to elucidate modifiable risk factors for re-amputation in patients with minor amputations who were treated with physical therapy during their hospitalization.Methods：This was a retrospective cohort study of 245 consecutive hospitalized patients who presented to our Wound Care Center between January 2015 and February 2018 and received physical therapy after a minor amputation. Participants were identified from admission records to surgical and physical therapy units stored in the electronic medical records. We examined re-amputations that occurred in the ipsilateral lower extremity during the 1-year post-discharge outpatient period. The maximum follow-up period was set at 1 year. We used Cox proportional hazards analysis to examine factors affecting the risk of re-amputation.Results: Of the 129 patients enrolled, 42 patients (32.5%) underwent re-amputations during an average observation period of 6.2 months (range, 2.1 to 10.9 months). The factors associated with re-amputation were a requirement for hemodialysis, ankle dorsiflexion angle, and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) ambulation score.Conclusions: In diabetes patients with minor amputations, a requirement for hemodialysis, ankle dorsiflexion angle, and the FIM ambulation score were shown to be modifiable risk factors for re-amputation. This emphasizes that maintaining vascular endothelial function through lower limb muscle exercises for hemodialysis, improving ankle mobility, and relieving plantar pressure during walking are necessary to reduce the risk of re-amputation. Patients with these risk factors should be encouraged to participate in physical therapy.
Knowledge, attitudes and ethical and social perspectives towards fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) among Jordanian health care providers
Authors: Al-Bakri Amal G. , Akour Amal A. , Al-Delaimy Wael K.
Published: January 2021

Background: Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a treatment modality that involves the introduction of stool from a healthy pre-screened donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. It exerts its therapeutic effects by remodeling the gut microbiota and treating microbial dysbiosis-imbalance. FMT is not regulated in Jordan, and regulatory effort for FMT therapy in Jordan, an Islamic conservative country, might be faced with unique cultural, social, religious, and ethical challenges. We aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of ethical and social issues of FMT use among Jordanian healthcare professionals.Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study design was used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of ethical and social issues of FMT among 300 Jordanian healthcare professionals. Results: A large proportion (39%) thought that the safety and efficacy of this technique are limited and 29.3% thought there is no evidence to support its use. Almost all (95%) responded that they would only perform it in certain cases, if ethically justified, and 48.3% would use it due to treatment failure of other approaches. When reporting about reasons for not using it, 40% reported that they would not perform it due to concerns about medical litigation, fear of infections (38 %), and lack of knowledge of long safety and efficacy (31.3 %). Interestingly, all practitioners said they would perform this procedure through the lower rather than upper gastrointestinal tract modality and the majority will protect the patient’s confidentiality via double-blinding (43.3%). For a subset of participants (n=100), the cultural constraints that might affect the choice of performing FMT were mainly due to donor's religion,followed by dietary intake, and alcohol consumption.Conclusion: Our health care practitioners are generally reluctant to use the FMT modality due to religious and ethical reasons but would consider it if there was a failure of other treatment and after taking into consideration many legislative, social, ethical and practice-based challenges including safety, efficacy and absence of guidelines.
Comparison of piece length and dynamics of large wood in streams covered with coniferous and broadleaf forests mapped using ortho-photographs acquired by an unmanned aerial vehicle
Authors: Tsunetaka Haruka , Mtibaa Slim , Asano Shiho , Okamoto Takashi , Kurokawa Ushio
Published: January 2021

As large wood (LW) supplied by landslides and debris flows is one of the main components of watershed ecosystems, the importance of quantifying the dimensions of the LW is evident. However, the low accessibility of disturbed channels after landslides and debris flows generally impedes accurate and quick LW investigations. Recent advances in photogrammetry techniques may overcome such issues. In this study, we used ortho-photographs acquired using a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to measure the lengths of LW (wood pieces > 0.2-m long and > 0.03-m diameter) entrapped mainly by closed-type check-dams. We focused on two channels that are located in coniferous and broadleaf forests and affected by two different landslides events. The measurement accuracy was analyzed by comparing the lengths derived from the UAV method with direct measurements. When the both ends of a piece LW are satisfactorily extracted from an ortho-photograph acquired via the UAV, the LW lengths of coniferous trees can be measured with an accuracy of approximately ±0.5 m. For broadleaf trees, most of the extracted lengths were shorter than the directly measured lengths, probably due to the low visibility arising from the complex structures of the root wad and tree crown. Most LW pieces were discharged from landslide scars in the broadleaf forest, whereas approximately 750 LW pieces were left in the landslide scars of the coniferous forest. The number of LW pieces in the landslide scars increased with the increase in the landslide area, suggesting that some LW pieces can be left even if large landslides occur. There were no significant changes in the lengths or locations of the entrapped LW, at either site seven months after the first UAV flight. In the coniferous forests, the rainfall that triggered landslides in 2017 exceeded the 100-year return level, which was an abnormally intense rainfall. Although the 2019 rainfall event that occurred between UAV flights did not provide enough rainfall to trigger landslides, rainfall intensities with different durations reached the second-highest value from 1976 to 2019, exceeding the 30-year return period. This suggests that most of the entrapped LW rarely migrate even under extreme rainfall.
The nexus between health status and health expenditure, energy consumption and environmental pollution: Empirical evidence from SAARC-BIMSTEC regions
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Mafizur , Alam Khosrul
Published: January 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for the betterment of health status, while also considering health expenditure, energy, and environmental issues. This paper examines the nexus between health status and health expenditure (both public and private), energy consumption and environmental pollution in the SAARC-BIMSTEC region.Methodology: We utilized the panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, heterogeneous panel causality test, cross sectional dependence test, cointegration test and Pesaran cross sectional dependent (CADF) unit root test for obtaining estimated results from data over 16 years (2002-2017). Results: Our results authorize the cointegration among the variables used, where energy consumption, public and private health expenditure and economic growth have positive and statistically significant effects and environmental pollution has both negative and significant effects on the health status of these regions in the long-term, but no panel wise significant impact is found in the short-term. Two-way causal relationships between health status and environmental pollution, public and private health expenditure, economic growth and sanitation facilities, and a one-way causality running from energy consumption to health status are presented. Conclusions: The improved health status in the SAARC-BIMSTEC region needs to be protected by articulating the effective policies on both public and private health expenditures, environmental pollution, energy consumption, and economic growth. The attained results are theoretically and empirically consistent, and have important policy implications in the health sector.
Polyparasitism with Schistosoma haematobium,Plasmodium and soil-transmitted helminths in school-aged children in Muyuka-Cameroon following implementation of control measures: a cross sectional study
Authors: Sumbele Irene Ule Ngole , Otia Ofon Vitalis , Bopda Orelien Sylvain Mtopi , Ebai Calvin Bisong , Kimbi Helen KuoKuo , Nkuo-Akenji Theresa
Published: January 2021

Background: Despite the ubiquity of polyparasitism, its health impacts have been inadequately studied. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of polyparasitism with Schistosoma haematobium, Plasmodium and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) following sustained control measures, as well as evaluate the outcomes and clinical correlates of infection in school-aged children (SAC) living in the schistosomiasis endemic focus of Muyuka-Cameroon.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, urine, blood and stool samples were each collected from SAC (4–14 years) selected at random between March to June 2015. Microhaematuria in urine was detected using reagent strip and S. haematobium ova by filtration/microscopy methods. Plasmodium was detected using Giemsa stained blood films and complete blood count was obtained using an auto-haematology analyser. STH in stool was detected by the Kato-Katz method. Categorical and continuous variables were compared as required, Kappa value estimated and the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) in the multivariate analysis was used to evaluate association of the risk factors with infection.Results: Out of the 638 SAC examined, single infection was prevalent in 33.4% while polyparasitism was 19.9%. Prevalence of S. haematobium + Plasmodium was 7.8%; S. haematobium + STH was 0.8%; Plasmodium + STH was 0.8% while, S. haematobium + Plasmodium + STH was 0.9%. Higher preponderance of S. haematobium + Plasmodium infection occurred in females, those from Likoko, did not use potable water, practiced bathing in stream and carried out open defecation than their equivalents. However, being female (aOR =2.38, P = 0.009) was the only significant risk factor identified. Anaemia was a common morbidity (74.3%) with a slight agreement with microscopy in predicting S. haematobium and Plasmodium infections. The sensitivity and specificity of haematuria (13.0%) in predicting S. haematobium infection was 46.5% and 100% with a moderate agreement with microscopy. Co-infection with S. haematobium and malaria parasite was significantly associated with 3-fold odds of history of fever in the last three days.Conclusions: Polyparasitism is a public health problem in Muyuka with females most at risk. Anaemia prevalence is exacerbated in co- and triple-infections and together with a history of fever are of value in predicting polyparasitism.
DNA-loop extruding SMC complexes can traverse one another in vivo
Authors: Wang Xindan , Brandão Hugo , Ren Zhongqing , Karaboja Xheni , Mirny Leonid
Published: January 2021

Chromosome organization by structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complexes is vital to living organisms. SMC complexes were recently found to be motors that extrude DNA loops. However, it remains unclear what happens when multiple complexes encounter one another in vivo on the same DNA and how interactions help organize an active genome. We created a crash-course track system to study SMC complex encounters in vivo by engineering the Bacillus subtilis chromosome to have defined SMC loading sites. Chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) analyses of over 20 engineered strains show an amazing variety of never-before-seen chromosome folding patterns. Via 3D polymer simulations and theory, we find that these patterns require SMC complexes to bypass each other in vivo, contrary to the common assumption that SMC complexes mutually block each other’s loop extrusion activity. We posit that the bypassing activity enables SMC complexes to spatially organize a functional and busy genome.
A review of Global Justice and International Labour Rights
Authors: Fagan Paul
Published: January 2021

N/A
ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DOMINATED STATES
Authors: Wiedenbrug Anahi
Published: January 2021

While global justice theorists heatedly discuss the responsibilities of the affluent and powerful, those states which can legitimately be seen as victims of global injustice have seldom, if ever, been considered as duty bearers to whom responsibilities can be attached. However, recognising agents whose options are constrained not only as victims, but also as duty bearers is necessary as a proof of respect for their agency and indispensable to mobilise the type of action required to alter global injustices. In this article, I explore what responsibilities state officials of dominated states have. I argue that they have the responsibility to resist domination in the name of the dominated states members. While under particular circumstances this responsibility gives rise to a duty to engage in acts of state civil disobedience, under other circumstances state officials of dominated states ought to resist domination in an internal, attitudinal way by recognising themselves as outcome responsible agents.
The 2017 Annual Jonathan Trejo-Mathys Essay Prize
Authors: Editors The
Published: January 2021

N/A
Responsibility and Climate-induced Displacement
Authors: Draper Jamie
Published: January 2021

This paper addresses the phenomenon of climate-induced displacement. I argue that there is scope for an account of asylum as compensation owed to those displaced by the impacts of climate change which needs only to appeal to minimal normative commitments about the requirements of global justice. I demonstrate the possibility of such an approach through an examination of the work of David Miller. Miller is taken as an exemplar of a broadly ‘international libertarian’ approach to global justice, and his work is a useful vehicle for this project because he has an established view about both responsibility for climate change and about the state’s right to exclude would-be immigrants. In the course of the argument, I set out the relevant aspects of Miller’s views, reconstruct an account of responsibility for the harms faced by climate migrants which is consistent with Miller’s views, and demonstrate why such an account yields an obligation to provide asylum as a form of compensation to ‘climate migrants.’
Structural Alienation: Lu’s Structural Approach to Reconciliation from within a Relational Framework
Authors: Smith Leonie
Published: January 2021

In Justice and Reconciliation in World Politics Catherine Lu argues that structural reconciliation, rather than interactional reconciliation, ought to be the primary normative goal for political reconciliation efforts. I suggest that we might have good reason to want to retain relational approaches – such as that of Linda Radzik – as the primary focus of reconciliatory efforts, but that Lu’s approach is invaluable for identifying the parties who ought to bear responsibility for those efforts in cases of structural injustice. First, I outline Lu’s analysis of reconciliation, where she argues for the normative priority of structural approaches within the global political sphere, and propose that it will be useful to identify whether or not a relational account could instead identify underlying structural injustices. Second, I examine one particular relational account of reconciliation (based on Radzik’s account of atonement) and argue that this type of account brings to light underlying structural injustices of the kind Lu is concerned with. Finally, I identify an issue for relational accounts in identifying relevant responsible parties for reconciliation before returning to Lu’s structural account to address this gap.
Shame, Justice, and Decolonization: A Reply to Catherine Lu
Authors: Blake Michael
Published: January 2021

This paper discusses two possible difficulties with Catherine Lu’s powerful analysis of the moral response to our shared history of colonial evil; both of thesedifficulties stem from the rightful place of shame in that moral response. The first difficulty focuses on efficacy: existing states may be better motivated by shame atthe past than by a shared duty to bring about a just future. The second focuses on equity: it is, at the very least, possible that shame over past misdeeds ought to bebrought into the conversation about present duties, in a manner more robust than Lu’s analysis allows.
Displacement as Significant Collateral Harm in War
Authors: Davidovic Jovana
Published: January 2021

Traditionally, in deciding whether some strategy or action in war is proportionate and necessary and thus permissible both international law and just war theory focus exclusively on civilian deaths and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. I argue in this paper that any argument that can explain why we should care about collateral killing and damage to infrastructure can also explain why collateral displacement matters. I argue that displacement is a foreseeable near-proximate cause of lethal harm to civilians and is relevant for proportionality and necessity calculi. Accepting my argument has significant consequences for what we are permitted to do in war and for what obligations we have towards refugees that result from our actions in war.
An Ethical View on Remittances and Labor Migration
Authors: Cheneval Francis , Rochel Johan
Published: January 2021

The present contribution defends that remittances should be taken into account and integrated into an ethical framework on migration. This main thesis is two-fold. First, we argue that if a normative approach to migration is to claim practical relevance, it should integrate remittances as a relevant empirical parameter into an ethical framework. The empirical assessment of the scientific evidence available on remittances therefore proves to be extremely important. Secondly, assuming that remittances have to be taken seriously, we consider their positive and negative impacts against two backgrounds. First, we emphasize the increased autonomy of persons who pull themselves and their dependents out of economic hardship. Second, affluent states who enable this process through their labor legislation contribute to the fulfillment of their duty of assistance. In this respect, our thesis is to claim that remittances should be considered as an amplifying factor for normative arguments in favor of a liberalization of labor migration. Remittances stand for a liberal way of fulfilling a responsibility to help, namely through the elimination of obstacles which in turn allow people to support themselves and lead an autonomous life.
Facts about Global Justice
Authors: Van Der Vossen Bas
Published: January 2021

ReviewDaron Acemoglu and James Robinson, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty (New York: Crown Business Publishing, 2012).
Climate Engineering: For and Against
Authors: Callies Daniel Edward
Published: January 2021

No abstract
Responding to Cognitive Injustice: Towards a ‘Southern’ Decolonial Epistemology
Authors: Bain Zara
Published: January 2021

n/a
Halogen heterogeneity in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle revealed by I/Br ratios in kimberlites and their mantle xenoliths from South Africa, Greenland, China, Siberia, Canada, and Brazil
Authors: Toyama Chiaki , Sumino Hirochika , Okabe Nobuaki , Ishikawa Akira , Yamamoto Junji , Kaneoka Ichiro , Muramatsu Yasuyuki
Published: January 2021

To investigate halogen heterogeneity in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM), we measured the concentrations of Cl, Br, and I in kimberlites and their mantle xenoliths from South Africa, Greenland, China, Siberia, Canada, and Brazil. The samples can be classified into two groups based on halogen ratios: a high-I/Br group (South Africa, Greenland, Brazil, and Canada) and a low-I/Br group (China and Siberia). The halogen compositions were examined with the indices of crustal contamination using Sr and Nd isotopes and incompatible trace elements. The results indicate that the difference between the two groups was not due to different degrees of crustal contamination but from the contributions of different mantle sources. The low-I/Br group has a similar halogen composition to seawater-influenced materials such as fluids in altered oceanic basalts and eclogites and fluids associated with halite precipitation from seawater. We conclude that the halogens of the high-I/Br group are most likely derived from a SCLM source metasomatized by a fluid derived from subducted serpentinite, whereas those of the low-I/Br group are derived from a SCLM source metasomatized by a fluid derived from seawater-altered oceanic crust. The SCLM beneath Siberia and China could be an important reservoir of subducted, seawater-derived halogens, while such role of SCLM beneath South Africa, Greenland, Canada, and Brazil seems limited.
Quantitative WDS compositional mapping using the electron microprobe
Authors: Donovan John J. , Allaz Julien M. , von der Handt Anette , Seward Gareth G.E. , Neill Owen , Goemann Karsten , Chouinard Julie , Carpenter Paul K.
Published: January 2021

While much progress has been made in electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) to improve the accuracy of point analysis, the same level of attention has not always been applied to the quantification of wavelength-dispersive spectrometry (WDS) X-ray intensity maps at the individual pixel level. We demonstrate that the same level of rigor applied in traditional point analysis can also be applied to the quantification of pixels in X-ray intensity maps, along with additional acquisition and quantitative processing procedures to further improve accuracy, precision, and mapping throughput. Accordingly, X-ray map quantification should include pixel-level corrections for WDS detector deadtime, corrections for changes in beam current (beam drift), changes in standard intensities (standard drift), high-accuracy removal of background intensities, quantitative matrix corrections, quantitative correction of spectral interferences, and, if required, time-dependent corrections (for beam and/or contamination sensitive materials). The purpose of quantification at the pixel level is to eliminate misinterpretation of intensity artifacts, inherent in raw X-ray intensity signals, that distort the apparent abundance of an element. Major and minor element X-ray signals can contain significant artifacts due to absorption and fluorescence effects. Trace element X-ray signals can contain significant artifacts where phases with different average atomic numbers produce different X-ray continuum (bremsstrahlung) intensities, or where a spectral interference, even an apparently minor one, can produce a false-positive intensity signal. The methods we propose for rigorous pixel quantification require calibration of X-ray intensities on the instrument using standard reference materials, as we already do for point analysis that is then used to quantify multiple X-ray maps, and thus the relative time overhead associated with such pixel-by-pixel quantification is small. Moreover, the absolute time overhead associated with this method is usually less than that required for quantification using manual calibration curve methods while resulting in significantly better accuracy. Applications to geological, synthetic, or engineering materials are numerous as quantitative maps not only show compositional 2D variation of fine-grained or finely zoned structures but also provide very accurate quantitative analysis, with precision approaching that of a single point analysis, when multiple-pixel averaging in compositionally homogeneous domains is utilized.
Waqf Development in Indonesia: Challenges Faced by Muhammadiyah Waqf Institutions
Authors: Medias Fahmi , Pratiwi Eko Kurniasih , Umam Khotibul
Published: January 2021

Abstract: As a potential financial instrument, waqf has played an essential role in resolving the social problems of the society (ummah). Although Indonesia has long applied the existence of waqf, it has not had an impact on providing an optimal contribution to the welfare of the people. Several studies identified patterns of administration in the management of waqf. The purpose of this study aims to identify and explore the model of empowerment of Mahammadiyah waqf land in Magelang and its challenges in the development of the ummah. The study method used to collect data was descriptive qualitative and interviews, which covered the areas administered by the Mahammadiyah. About 78% of these areas are empowered in the form of educational and worship facilities. However, it was observed that empowerment of the land in Magelang was not optimized due to lack of financial resources, unproductivity, and the presence of incompetent and professional Nazhirs. The solution to these problems is through collaboration with financial institutions in collecting cash equivalents, land specifications, formulating a special legal framework for empowering Muhammadiyah waqf, and training for the development of the capacity of the areas.Abstrak: Sebagai instrumen finansial yang potensial, wakaf memiliki peran penting dalam menyelesaikan permasalahan sosial masyarakat (ummah). Meski keberadaan wakaf sudah lama diterapkan di Indonesia, namun belum berdampak pada memberikan kontribusi yang optimal bagi kesejahteraan masyarakat. Beberapa penelitian mengidentifikasi pola administrasi dalam pengelolaan wakaf. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi dan mendalami model pemberdayaan lahan wakaf mahammadiyah di Magelang dan tantangannya dalam perkembangan umat. Metode penelitian yang digunakan untuk mengumpulkan data adalah deskriptif kualitatif dan wawancara meliputi wilayah-wilayah yang dikelola Mahammadiyah. Sekitar 78% dari wilayah tersebut diberdayakan dalam bentuk sarana pendidikan dan ibadah. Namun, teramati bahwa pemberdayaan tanah di Magelang belum optimal karena kurangnya sumber daya finansial, tidak produktif, dan adanya Nazhir yang tidak kompeten dan profesional. Solusi dari permasalahan tersebut adalah melalui kerjasama dengan lembaga keuangan dalam pengumpulan setara kas, spesifikasi tanah, penyusunan kerangka hukum khusus pemberdayaan wakaf Muhammadiyah, dan pelatihan pengembangan kapasitas daerah.
Chemistry and Reactivity of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) in Model Biological Systems
Authors: Vazdar Katarina , Škulj Sanja , Bakarić Danijela , Margetić Davor , Vazdar Mario
Published: January 2021

Among many reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are constantly generated during oxidative
stress in cellular membranes, the formation and subsequent reactivity of ubiquitous 4-hydroxy-2-
nonenal (HNE) with nearby amino acids and lipids represent one of the main research targets in cell
physiology in the last decades. Starting from the first synthesis of HNE in 1967, the chemistry and
reactivity of HNE are constantly under intense scrutiny. This review shows recent advances in the
field, which are discussed with the special emphasis on revealing intricate details of numerous reaction
mechanisms of HNE with lipids and amino acids, with the goal of understanding the reactivity of
HNE at the molecular level.
Ferulic Acid and Cardiovascular Health: Therapeutic and Preventive Potential
Authors: Neto-Neves Evandro Manoel , da Silva Maia Bezerra Filho Carlos , Dejani Naiara Naiana , de Sousa Damião Pergentino
Published: January 2021

Bioactive compounds found in food and medicinal plants contribute to maintaining health
and treating illnesses. For example, hydroxycinnamic acids, such as ferulic acid, are widely present in
nature and have several pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
beneficial effects in parameters of diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The results of studies in animal models
and in vitro experiments of ferulic acid suggest its high therapeutic and preventive potential
against several pathological disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, in this review, the
bioactivities of ferulic acid on the cardiovascular system are described, including the discussion of the
mechanisms of action in the various components of the system. In this review, we discuss the pharmacological
properties of this versatile natural product in aspects of cardiovascular health, including cardioprotective
and antihypertensive actions, and on the metabolism of lipids, diabetes, and thrombosis.
Antimicrobial Properties of Mandelic Acid, Gallic Acid and their Derivatives
Authors: Choińska Renata , Dąbrowska Katarzyna , Świsłocka Renata , Lewandowski Włodzimierz , Świergiel Artur H.
Published: January 2021

Purpose:

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are one of the classes of hydroxy acids being beneficial
for human health. The manuscript summarizes the biological properties of two popular members
of AHAs, i.e., Mandelic Acid (MA) and Gallic Acid (GA), with particular emphasis on antimicrobial
properties. Moreover, attempts to design new derivatives improving the natural properties of AHAs by
using the chemical and physical approach are discussed.

Methods:

Antimicrobial properties of MA, an arylalkyl AHA containing phenyl group attached to α-carbon, and GA, an
aromatic trihydroxybenzoic acid containing the phenolic ring and carboxylic acid functional group, and their derivatives
against common human and plant pathogenic fungi have been reviewed.

Results:

The antimicrobial activity of MA and GA is a complex phenomenon strictly correlated with
other properties exhibited by these acids, e.g., pro-oxidative activity and hydrophobicity. In most cases,
the acids derivatives exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than the acids themselves. This is
probably because of the higher lipophilicity of moiety that allows better penetration through the cell
membrane.

Conclusion:

MA and GA present an excellent health-promoting tool and are valuable starting materials for the design of
new compounds such as metal complexes with alkali, or alkali earth metals. The lipophilic, antimicrobial, and pro-oxidative
properties act synergistically supporting the pharmacological and therapeutic effect of acids and their derivatives.
Withdrawal Notice: Pathophysiology of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome
Authors: Manu  , Soni Thomson , Victoria  , Prabhakar Pranav Kumar
Published: January 2021

The article has been withdrawn on the recommendation of the editor of the journal Current Women's Health Reviews due to
some inconsistencies in the content of the article.

Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused.

The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php

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