bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of the Hypertrophy Virus (MdSGHV) on the Ultrastructure of the Salivary Glands ofMusca domestica(Diptera: Muscidae)
Authors: Molina Palacios D , Stoffolano J G , Fausto A M , Gambellini G , Burand J
Published: February 2021

The salivary glands of insects play a key role in the replication cycle and vectoring of viral pathogens. Consequently, Musca domestica (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) and the Salivary Gland Hypertrophy Virus (MdSGHV) serve as a model to study insect vectoring of viruses. A better understanding of the structural changes of the salivary glands by the virus will help obtain a better picture of the pathological impact the virus has on adult flies. The salivary glands are a primary route for viruses to enter a new host. As such, studying the viral effect on the salivary glands is particularly important and can provide insights for the development of strategies to control the transmission of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, malaria, Zika, and chikungunya virus. Using scanning and transmission electron microscopic techniques, researchers have shown the effects of infection by MdSGHV on the salivary glands; however, the exact location where the infection was found is unclear. For this reason, this study did a close examination of the effects of the hypertrophy virus on the salivary glands to locate the specific sites of infection. Here, we report that hypertrophy is present mainly in the secretory region, while other regions appeared unaffected. Moreover, there is a disruption of the cuticular, chitinous lining that separates the secretory cells from the lumen of the internal duct, and the disturbance of this lining makes it possible for the virus to enter the lumen. Thus, we report that the chitinous lining acts as an exit barrier of the salivary gland.
A Novel Radiologic Finding to Predict Ophthalmic Abnormalities in Children With Congenital Zika Syndrome
Authors: Sampaio Virginia Vilar , Melo Adriana S O , Coleman Anne L , Yu Fei , Martins Sarah Rogeria , Rabello Luciana Portela , Tavares Jousilene Sales , Nielsen-Saines Karin
Published: February 2021

Background

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic had devastating consequences in Brazil. We investigated whether a radiologic finding (ie, infratentorial abnormalities) was associated with sight-threatening defects in children born with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). We also investigated whether ophthalmic abnormalities correlated with head circumference (HC) and gestational age of infection.

Methods

Cross-sectional evaluation based upon a previous cohort from March 2016 to December 2018, in Paraíba, Brazil. The study population was comprised of children born to mothers with laboratory-confirmed ZIKV infection during pregnancy (ZIKV reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]+) and children born with clinical and radiologic features of CZS.

Results

A total of 75 infants had complete data. All 75 had brain calcifications. Microcephaly was present in 53 (71%) of them. Infratentorial abnormalities were present in 17 infants (22.7%). Ophthalmic abnormalities were seen in 16 of the 17 children (94%) with infratentorial abnormalities, while 28% of children without infratentorial abnormalities had ophthalmic findings (odds ratio [OR]: 42.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.1-342.9). Similar associations were observed when macular chorioretinal atrophy and optic nerve abnormalities were analyzed individually (OR: 23.7; 95% CI: 6.0-93.3 and OR: 11.5; 95% CI: 3.3-40.0, respectively). Infratentorial abnormalities were more frequently associated with ophthalmic abnormalities (94%) than microcephaly (43.4%) (P < .001). Mean HC was statistically different between groups with and without ophthalmic abnormalities (P = .01). A statistically significant difference in gestational age between both groups was not noted (P = .12).

Conclusions

In children with CZS, the presence of infratentorial abnormalities is a significant predictor of ophthalmic abnormalities. All neonates whose mothers had ZIKV exposure during pregnancy should have an ophthalmologic examination.
Role of gut microbiota in travel-related acquisition of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Peng Ye , Liang Suisha , Poonsuk Kanchana , On Hilda , Li Sze Wang , Maurin Morgan Maxime Pascal , Chan Ching Him , Chan Chak Lun , Sin Zhen Ye , Tun Hein Min
Published: February 2021

Background

International travel could facilitate the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria including extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E). Previous studies, which attempted to understand the role of gut microbiota in the acquisition of antimicrobial resistant bacteria during international travels, are limited to western travellers.

Methods

We established a prospective cohort of 90 Hong Kong travellers to investigate gut microbiota determinants and associated risk factors for the acquisition of ESBL-E. Baseline characteristics and travel-associated risk factors were gathered through questionnaires. Faecal samples were collected in 3-4 days before and after travel. Antimicrobial susceptibility of ESBL-E isolates was tested, and gut microbiota were profiled by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Non-parametric tests were used to detect potential associations, and logistic regression models were used to quantify the associations. Random forest models were constructed to identify microbial predictors for ESBL-E acquisition.

Results

In total, 49 (54.4%) participants were tested negative for ESBL-E colonization before travel and were followed up after travel. A total of 60 ESBL-E isolates were cultured from 20 (40.8%) participants. Having low Actinobacteria richness and low abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria in the gut microbiota before travel increased the risk of acquiring ESBL-E and the risk can be further exacerbated by eating raw seafood during travel. Besides, post-travel ESBL-E positive participants had increased abundances of several opportunistic pathogens such as Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia/Shigella and Klebsiella. The random forest model integrating pre-travel microbiota and the identified travel-related risk factor could predict ESBL-E acquisition with an area under the curve of 75.4% (95% confidence interval: 57.9–93.0%).

Conclusions

In this study, we identified both travel-related risk factors and microbiota predictors for the risk of ESBL-E acquisition. Our results provide foundational knowledge for future developments of microbiota-based interventions to prevent ESBL-E acquisition during international travels.
Clustering of local extrema in Planck CMB maps
Authors: Vafaei Sadr A , Movahed S M S
Published: February 2021

The clustering of local extrema will be exploited to examine Gaussianity, asymmetry, and the footprint of the cosmic-string network on the CMB observed by Planck. The number density of local extrema (npk for peak and ntr for trough) and sharp clipping (npix) statistics support the Gaussianity hypothesis for all component separations. However, the pixel at the threshold reveals a more consistent treatment with respect to end-to-end simulations. A very tiny deviation from associated simulations in the context of trough density, in the threshold range ϑ ∈ [−2–0] for NILC and CR component separations, are detected. The unweighted two-point correlation function, Ψ, of the local extrema illustrates good consistency between different component separations and corresponding Gaussian simulations for almost all available thresholds. However, for high thresholds, a small deficit in the clustering of peaks is observed with respect to the Planck fiducial ΛCDM model. To put a significant constraint on the amplitude of the mass function based on the value of Ψ around the Doppler peak (θ ≈ 70–75 arcmin), we should consider ϑ ≲ 0.0. The scale-independent bias factors for the peak above a threshold for large separation angle and high threshold level are in agreement with the value expected for a pure Gaussian CMB. Applying the npk, ntr, Ψpk − pk and Ψtr − tr measures on the tessellated CMB map with patches of 7.52 deg2 size prove statistical isotropy in the Planck maps. The peak clustering analysis puts the upper bound on the cosmic-string tension, Gμ(up) ≲ 5.59 × 10−7, in SMICA.
A detailed study of X-ray cavities in the intracluster environment of the cool core cluster Abell 3017
Authors: Pandge M B , Sebastian Biny , Seth Ruchika , Raychaudhury Somak
Published: February 2021

We present a detailed analysis of a cool-core galaxy cluster Abell 3017, at a redshift of z = 0.219, which has been identified to be merging with its companion cluster Abell 3016. This study has made use of X-ray (Chandra), ultraviolet (UV) [Galaxy Evolution Explorer(GALEX)], optical [European Southern Observatory (ESO)/very large telescope (VLT)], mid-infrared [(Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)], and radio upgraded Giant Metrewave radio telescope (uGMRT) observations of this cluster. Using various image processing techniques, such as unsharp masking, 2D fits using β models, contour binning and the use of surface brightness profiles, we show the existence of a pair of X-ray cavities, at a projected distance of ∼20 arcsec (70 kpc) and ∼16 arcsec (57 kpc), respectively, from the core of Abell 3017. We also detect an excess of X-ray emission located at ∼25 arcsec (88 kpc) south of the centre of Abell 3017, is likely due to the bulk motions in the intracluster medium either by gas sloshing or ram-pressure striping due to a merger. We find that the radio lobes are responsible for the observed X-ray cavities detected in this system. The lower values of mid-infrared WISE colour [W1–W2] and [W2–W3] imply that the central BCG of Abell 3017 is a star-forming galaxy. The current star formation rate of the central BCG, estimated from the H α and GALEX far-ultraviolet (FUV) luminosities, are equal to be ∼5.06 ± 0.78 and ∼9.20 ± 0.81 $\rm M_{\odot }$ yr−1, respectively. We detect, for the first time, a radio phoenix ∼150 kpc away from the radio core, with a spectral index of (α ≤ −1.8). We also report the detection of $\rm ~Pa\,\alpha$ emission in this cluster using ESO VLT SINFONI imaging data.
UVIT-HST-Gaia-VISTA study of Kron 3 in the Small Magellanic Cloud: a cluster with an extended red clump in ultraviolet
Authors: Nayak P K , Subramaniam A , Subramanian S , Sahu S , Mondal C , Cioni Maria-Rosa L , Bell Cameron P M , Bandyopadhyay A , Chung Chul
Published: February 2021

We have demonstrated the advantage of combining multiwavelength observations, from the ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared, to study Kron 3, a massive star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud. We have estimated the radius of the cluster Kron 3 to be 2.0 arcmin and for the first time, we report the identification of NUV-bright red clump (RC) stars and the extension of the RC in colour and magnitude in the NUVversus (NUV–optical) colour–magnitude diagram (CMD). We found that extension of the RC is an intrinsic property of the cluster and it is not due to contamination of field stars or differential reddening across the field. We studied the spectral energy distribution of the RC stars, and estimated a small range in temperature ∼5000–5500 K, luminosity ∼60–90 L⊙, and radius ∼8.0–11.0 R⊙ supporting their RC nature. The range of UV magnitudes amongst the RC stars (∼23.3–24.8 mag) is likely caused by the combined effects of variable mass-loss, variation in initial helium abundance (Yini = 0.23–0.28), and a small variation in age (6.5–7.5 Gyr) and metallicity ([Fe/H] = −1.5 to −1.3). Spectroscopic follow-up observations of RC stars in Kron 3 are necessary to confirm the cause of the extended RC.
Extracting H i astrophysics from interferometric intensity mapping
Authors: Chen Zhaoting , Wolz Laura , Spinelli Marta , Murray Steven G
Published: February 2021

We present a new halo model of neutral hydrogen (H i) calibrated to galaxy formation simulations at redshifts z ∼ 0.1 and z ∼ 1.0 that we employ to investigate the constraining power of interferometric H i intensity mapping on H i astrophysics. We demonstrate that constraints on the small-scale H i power spectrum can break the degeneracy between the H i density $\Omega _{\rm H\, \small {I}}$ and the H i bias $b_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$. For z ∼ 0.1, we forecast that an accurate measurement of $\Omega _{\rm H\, \small {I}}$ up to 6 per cent level precision and the large-scale H i bias $b_{\rm H\, \small {I}}^0$ up to 1 per cent level precision can be achieved using Square Kilometre Array (SKA) pathfinder data from MeerKAT and Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP). We also propose a new description of the H i shot noise in the halo model framework in which a scatter of the relation between the H i mass of galaxies and their host halo mass is taken into account. Furthermore, given the number density of H i galaxies above a certain H i mass threshold, future surveys will also be able to constrain the H i mass function using only the H i shot noise. This will lead to constraints at the 10 per cent level using the standard Schechter function. This technique will potentially provide a new way of measuring the H i mass function, independent from existing methods. We predict that the SKA will be able to further improve the low-redshift constraints by a factor of 3, as well as pioneering measurements of H i astrophysics at higher redshifts.
28–40 GHz variability and polarimetry of bright compact sources in the QUIJOTE cosmological fields
Authors: Perrott Yvette C , López-Caniego Marcos , Génova-Santos Ricardo T , Rubiño-Martín Jose Alberto , Ashdown Mark , Herranz Diego , Lähteenmäki Anne , Lasenby Anthony N , López-Caraballo Carlos H , Poidevin Frédérick , Tornikoski Merja
Published: February 2021

We observed 51 sources in the Q-U-I JOint TEnerife (QUIJOTE) cosmological fields that were brighter than 1 Jy at 30 GHz in the Planck Point Source Catalogue (version 1), with the Very Large Array at 28–40 GHz, in order to characterize their high-radio-frequency variability and polarization properties. We find a roughly lognormal distribution of polarization fractions with a median of 2 per cent, in agreement with previous studies, and a median rotation measure (RM) of ≈1110 rad m−2 with one outlier up to ≈64 000 rad m−2, which is among the highest RMs measured in quasar cores. We find hints of a correlation between the total intensity  flux density and median polarization fraction. We find 59 per cent of sources are variable in total intensity, and 100 per cent in polarization at 3σ level, with no apparent correlation between total intensity variability and polarization variability. This indicates that it will be difficult to model these sources without simultaneous polarimetric monitoring observations and they will need to be masked for cosmological analysis.
Smooth stochastic density field reconstruction
Authors: Aragon-Calvo M A
Published: February 2021

We introduce a method for generating a continuous, mass-conserving and high-order differentiable density field from a discrete point distribution such as particles or haloes from an N-body simulation or galaxies from a spectroscopic survey. The method consists on generating an ensemble of point realizations by perturbing the original point set following the geometric constraints imposed by the Delaunay tessellation in the vicinity of each point in the set. By computing the mean field of the ensemble we are able to significantly reduce artefacts arising from the Delaunay tessellation in poorly sampled regions while conserving the features in the point distribution. Our implementation is based on the Delaunay Tessellation Field Estimation (DTFE) method; however, other tessellation techniques are possible. The method presented here shares the same advantages of the DTFE method such as self-adaptive scale, mass conservation, and continuity, while being able to reconstruct even the faintest structures of the point distribution usually dominated by artefacts in Delaunay-based methods.

Additionally, we also present preliminary results of an application of this method to image denoising and artefact removal, highlighting the broad applicability of the technique introduced here.
Lifetimes and rotation within the solar mean magnetic field
Authors: Ross Eddie , Chaplin William J , Hale Steven J , Howe Rachel , Elsworth Yvonne P , Davies Guy R , Nielsen Martin Bo
Published: February 2021

We have used very high-cadence (sub-minute) observations of the solar mean magnetic field (SMMF) from the Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network (BiSON) to investigate the morphology of the SMMF. The observations span a period from 1992 to 2012, and the high-cadence observations allowed the exploration of the power spectrum up to frequencies in the mHz range. The power spectrum contains several broad peaks from a rotationally modulated (RM) component, whose linewidths allowed us to measure, for the first time, the lifetime of the RM source. There is an additional broadband, background component in the power spectrum which we have shown is an artefact of power aliasing due to the low fill of the data. The sidereal rotation period of the RM component was measured as 25.23 ± 0.11 d and suggests that the signal is sensitive to a time-averaged latitude of ∼12°. We have also shown the RM lifetime to be 139.6 ± 18.5 d. This provides evidence to suggest that the RM component of the SMMF is connected to magnetic flux concentrations (MFCs) and active regions (ARs) of magnetic flux, based both on its lifetime and location on the solar disc.
Dust entrainment in galactic winds
Authors: Kannan R , Vogelsberger M , Marinacci F , Sales L V , Torrey P , Hernquist L
Published: February 2021

Winds driven by stellar feedback are an essential part of the galactic ecosystem and are the main mechanism through which low-mass galaxies regulate their star formation. These winds are generally observed to be multiphase with detections of entrained neutral and molecular gas. They are also thought to enrich the circumgalactic medium around galaxies with metals and dust. This ejected dust encodes information about the integrated star formation and outflow history of the galaxy. Therefore it is important to understand how much dust is entrained and driven out of the disc by galactic winds. Here, we demonstrate that stellar feedback is efficient in driving dust-enriched winds and eject enough material to account for the amount of extraplanar dust observed in nearby galaxies. The amount of ejected dust depends on the sites from where they are launched, with dustier galaxies launching more dust-enriched outflows. Moreover, the outflowing cold and dense gas is significantly more dust enriched than the volume filling hot and tenuous material. These results provide an important new insight into the dynamics, structure, and composition of galactic winds and their role in determining the dust content of the extragalactic gas in galaxies.
Precision medicine in Fabry disease
Authors: Lenders Malte , Brand Eva
Published: February 2021

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the α-galactosidase A (GLA) gene, leading to a deficiency in α-galactosidase A. The lysosomal accumulation of glycosphingolipids, primarily globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and its deacylated form, globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb3), results in progressive renal failure, cardiomyopathy associated with cardiac arrhythmia and recurrent cerebrovascular events, significantly limiting life expectancy in affected patients. In male patients, a definitive diagnosis of FD involves demonstrating a GLA deficiency in leucocytes. In females, because of the potential high residual enzymatic activity, the diagnostic gold standard requires molecular genetic analyses. The current treatment options for FD include recombinant enzyme replacement therapies (ERTs) with intravenous agalsidase-α (0.2 mg/kg body weight) or agalsidase-β (1 mg/kg body weight) every 2 weeks as well as an oral pharmacological chaperone (migalastat 123 mg every other day) that selectively and reversibly binds to the active sites of amenable mutant forms of the GLA enzyme. These therapies facilitate cellular Gb3 clearance and an overall improvement of disease burden. However, ERT can lead to infusion-associated reactions, as well as the formation of neutralizing anti-drug antibodies in ∼40% of all ERT-treated males, leading to an attenuation of therapy efficacy. This article reviews the clinical presentation, diagnosis and interdisciplinary clinical management of FD and discusses the therapeutic options, with a special focus on precision medicine, accounting for individual variability in genetic mutations, Gb3 and lyso-Gb3 levels, allowing physicians to predict more accurately which prevention and treatment strategy is best for which patient.
Immigration and Democracy in Japan
Authors: Strausz Michael
Published: February 2021

This chapter examines the politics of immigration in Japan. It begins with an overview of the foreign community in Japan today in comparative perspective, focusing on several competing explanations for why Japan is such an outlier when compared with other advanced industrialized countries. It also examines the new visa categories that were formalized by the 1989 and 2018 revisions to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, including visas for those with Japanese ancestry and “trainees” (in the case of the 1989 revision), and visas for laborers who had previously been excluded, including agricultural workers and construction workers (in the case of the 2018 revision). Additionally, this chapter discusses Japan’s famously restrictive refugee admission policy as well as the relationship between public opinion, civil society, and immigration policy in Japan. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the ways that Japan’s immigration policy and policymaking might impact the future of Japan’s democracy. Ultimately, the chapter argues that the way that Japan deals with both the admission and treatment of foreign laborers will help shape the nature of Japan’s democracy going forward.
Japan and the Environment
Authors: Reimann Kim
Published: February 2021

This chapter examines the evolution of environmental politics in Japan over the postwar period and identifies the main factors and actors shaping environmental policy. The literature on Japanese environmental politics has shifted its focus over time from domestic to global environmental issues, mirroring transformations in Japan’s political economy and international status. After successfully confronting the domestic problem of severe pollution in the 1970s and early 1980s, Japan became one of the world’s largest donors of environmental foreign aid, starting in the early 1990s and continuing today. Throughout all periods, there have been continuities as well as changes. In terms of representation and democracy, the Japanese state has consistently prioritized concerns of business and local governments in the policymaking process. In addition to having greater voice, these constituencies have also benefited materially from policies through their access to various green funds. In contrast, NGOs and citizens have tended to be left out of policy discussions and have exercised voice largely through protest and critiques of government policies. The chapter ends by examining the case of climate change to explore these patterns in more recent years.
Japan-China Relations
Authors: Wan Ming
Published: February 2021

Japan’s current China policy is a crucial part of an evolving political process of reasserting its autonomy under fast-changing circumstances at home and abroad. While structural features such as balance of power and political regime gaps are important, foreign policy management better explains the twists and turns in Japan-China relations. Some major events can also transform the structure of a bilateral relationship. Security-centric studies have become prominent in the past decade in light of China’s dramatic rise, a sharp departure from mainstream analysis in the 1990s, which focused on diplomacy, economics, culture, and history. The bilateral relationship has been on a steady upswing since mid-2017, but none of the bilateral disputes have been resolved. Both politically strong, leaders in both countries have a mutual interest in avoiding a worsening bilateral relationship that would damage their policy agendas.
Prevention and Early Intervention Programs for Children and Adolescents
Authors: Brymer Melissa J. , Louie Kristine , Steinberg Alan M. , Pynoos Robert S.
Published: February 2021

This chapter provides an overview of basic concepts that lie in the pathway from traumatic stress to a broad range of clinical and life-trajectory outcomes, including characterization of the nature and role of a variety of mediating and moderating factors. Such intervening factors fall within categories of child intrinsic and child extrinsic features. The individual/family and community types of early interventions for children and adolescents after trauma are reviewed. Although many early interventions hold promise, a good deal more methodologically sound research is required to support their use across a variety of contexts. Increased knowledge of mediating and moderating factors on the outcome of trauma can inform development of improved evidence-based screening, clinical assessment, early and intermediate interventions, trauma-informed services for traumatized children and their families across stages of recovery, and public policy.
Prevention and Early Intervention Programs for Older Adults
Authors: Caballero Karla , Hernandez Tejada Melba , Acierno Ron
Published: February 2021

Age appears to be a consistent protective factor against developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) subsequent to trauma exposure, followed by social support and proper screening and intervention. However, factors associated with the aging process may complicate identification and treatment of PTSD in older persons, although interventions have been developed in recent years that may help mediate the impact of trauma and stress. This chapter reviews the current risk and protective factors associated with development and treatment of PTSD and comorbidities in older adults, describes research on secondary prevention and early intervention programs for older adults exposed to potentially traumatic events, provides an introduction to a screening/prevention instrument, and presents recommendations for adaptation of extant early traumatic stress treatment programs to meet the needs of older adults.
Boundaries, Relationality, and Style Provinces in Australian Rock Art
Authors: Kelly Madeleine , Brady Liam M.
Published: February 2021

Identifying style provinces is a popular topic of enquiry in Australian rock art research. At the core of these studies is the focus on the style or manner of depiction of motifs as a key indicator for determining patterns of motif similarity and difference, and their corresponding spatial distribution. In identifying spatial continuities and discontinuities based on a formal analysis of rock art motifs fixed in place, researchers sometimes limit their ability to understand the relational dimensions associated with past and present graphic systems more broadly. This chapter reviews and critiques the formal, style-based methods of delineating discontinuities in rock art as boundaries and uses Nancy Williams’s work on Yolngu boundaries as a framework to further build on research into spatial discontinuities in rock art as flexible, intersecting, and fluid. In doing so, the authors also draw attention to the role of relational understandings and decorative portable objects in characterizing intersecting style-based discontinuities. Using two case studies from northern Australia, they demonstrate how the spatial and social boundaries expressed in rock art are often much more complex than originally envisaged.
Mortars and Pestles Make the Mid-Holocene Occupation of New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago Visible
Authors: Swadling Pamela
Published: February 2021

Stone mortars and pestles are distributed across New Guinea, but few have been found in West Papua. As they are now securely dated to the Mid-Holocene, their distribution can be used as the basis for modelling Mid-Holocene population concentrations. Artefacts with elaborate morphologies also allow the modelling of social interaction. The declining availability of the Castanopsis nut following land clearance would have played a major role in the abandonment of mortars and pestles in the highlands. Decreasing coastal connectivity due to the infilling of the Sepik-Ramu inland sea may have also played a role in this abandonment. The continued availability of canarium and coconuts in coastal areas allowed the making of nut and starch puddings to continue. However, the pottery bought by Austronesian speakers (Lapita) would have allowed tubers to be steam-cooked, and the softer result probably led to stone versions of mortars and pestles being abandoned and replaced with wooden versions.
The Archaeology of Social Transformation in the New Guinea Highlands
Authors: Gaffney Dylan , Denham Tim
Published: February 2021

This article examines three key aspects of New Guinea Highlands prehistory, with important implications for regional and global archaeology, including evidence for (1) adaptive flexibility at high altitudes, particularly within montane rainforests and grasslands; (2) plant-food production and cultivation in the tropics; and (3) the emergence of incipient social stratification and how it was transformed by the production and redistribution of material culture, plants, and animals. After synthesizing the archaeological evidence, we propose that social transformations amongst highland groups were intraregionally variable and involved a sequential diversification of subsistence practices that overlapped and persisted through time. Because communities, and their sociotechnical practices, were differently interconnected across the mountains, and at times to the lowlands, coasts, and islands as well, each subregion transformed asymmetrically at different rates and scales through time. The high diversity of highland cultures observed in the early twentieth century by ethnographers is likely to have arisen from these asymmetric processes of growth.
Swamp and Delta Societies of the Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Urwin Chris , Rhoads James W. , Bell Joshua A.
Published: February 2021

The Papuan Gulf’s littoral coastline has been emerging and transforming since the late Pleistocene. Large river deltas such as the Fly, Kikori, and Purari transport sediments into the Coral Sea, and these are reworked by prevailing tides and seasonal currents to form a world of sand and swamps that Papuan Gulf peoples inhabit. This article reviews the archaeology of key sites in the region and identifies themes for future explorations of the region’s rich heritage. It explores how the region’s delta-dwelling societies occupied, modified, and made sense of their relatively fluid physical environments. Two aspects are explored in detail: (1) the potential to historicize the emergence of sago cultivation and its role in sustaining local settlements and long-distance trade; and (2) the contribution of nuanced spatial histories of migration and place-making to the region’s narrative.
Japan and Peaceful Change in the International System The Persistent Peace Nation
Authors: Berger Thomas U.
Published: February 2021

Since 1945 Japan has espoused the principles of peace and peaceful change in the international system. At the same time, it has built a powerful military and has been a key ally for the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. This has opened it up to the charge of being hypocritical. In recent years this charge has gained credence as the government of Prime Minister Abe Shinzō has sought to systematically dismantle many of the institutions on which the notion of Japan as a “peace nation” is founded. What is frequently forgotten is the extent to which the notion of the Japanese peace nation has been contested from the beginning. Japan today remains strongly committed to the principles of peace and peaceful change, and while it has pragmatically sought to adjust its military policies to reflect the increased security threats it faces in the region, it has also expanded its commitment to building regional institutions and relying on diplomacy and trade, rather than military might, as a tool for resolving foreign policy differences.
Deuteronomy
Authors: Knafl Anne K.
Published: February 2021

Biblical scholars typically consider genre as part of their analysis of a biblical text. The literary genre of Deuteronomy is most commonly compared to either a treaty covenant or to a law code. Deuteronomy contains clear parallels to the treaty structure preserved in Hittite and neo-Assyrian traditions. At the same time, the central place of the Deuteronomic Code (12:1–26:19) suggests that Deuteronomy is a law code. Deuteronomy shares characteristics in common with other genres, such as exhortation, and traditions, such as wisdom. The defining characteristic of Deuteronomy is appropriation and reinterpretation of earlier compositions and forms.
Introduction
Authors: Hangan Horia , Kareem Ahsan
Published: February 2021

This Oxford handbook on non-synoptic wind systems is an outlook of the state of knowledge of various aspects of these wind systems and their impacts on our natural and build environment. During the last two decades, it has become clear that these types of winds dominate in terms of damage in some geographical areas; at the same time, they are different from the large-scale synoptic winds for which the knowledge matured. As opposed to the synoptic winds, the non-synoptic ones are localized in both space and time, three dimensional in nature while having similar intensities. The handbook explores the particularities of this type of wind in terms of climatology, surface layer, and aerodynamic and structural impacts on buildings, structures, and natural habitat. It also addresses the implications on risk analysis, engineering guidelines and codes, socioeconomic aspects, and insurance policies. The handbook comes at the moment when the state of knowledge in this area has evolved but is not yet mature. Therefore, it provides the opportunity to inform and trigger debate.
Medical Liability
Authors: Søvig Karl Harald , Furrow Barry
Published: February 2021

This chapter presents a comparison of liability/compensation systems across countries, which can be challenging because of substantial differences in tort doctrine, judicial systems, and administrative compensation mechanisms. It approaches the problem of patient injury in a healthcare system from the dual (and dueling) perspectives of system responsibility and provider culpability. The basic question that the chapter asks is this: Who should bear the economic costs of medical adverse events? The US system remains solidly anchored in the tort liability system, with its emphasis on negligence-based culpability in medical malpractice cases—but with timid moves toward enterprise liability and statutory communication and resolution programs. By contrast, the Scandinavian systems have publicly funded patient compensation funds.
Decisions at the End of Life
Authors: Orentlicher David , Sándor Judit
Published: February 2021

This chapter examines the similarities and differences between US and European legal thinking and jurisprudence regarding end-of-life medical care. In recent decades, courts and legislatures have increasingly respected the right to self-determination of patients or their families in deciding about the way people want to die. In most jurisdictions, patients may have unwanted medical treatment withheld or withdrawn, even when the treatment would be or is life-sustaining. Hospice and other palliative care are important alternatives, although in many cases, suffering may still persist. In a small but growing number of jurisdictions, patients may receive a lethal dose of medication to bring about death. Less recognized, but very important too, are cases in which patients request life-sustaining care that their health care providers consider “futile.” As with other rights, the right to make medical decisions is subject to limits. In deciding the extent of rights to make end-of-life decisions, the law has recognized that while seriously ill patients have the greatest stake in their medical care, family members, healthcare providers, and the state also have important interests. Accordingly, health law has had to balance a number of competing interests in determining when it is permissible to discontinue medical care or take other actions that will shorten life, and the scope of the right to decide has been much debated.
Youth Emancipation and Theologies of Domination, Resistance, Assistance, and Prosperity
Authors: Mapadimeng Mokong S. , Swartz Sharlene
Published: February 2021

This essay describes the role that religion has played in South Africa and the Global South’s struggle for freedom from the domination of colonial Christianity and from colonial oppression more generally. It does so by describing the nature of God and of human relationships in Indigenous African religion and the philosophy of ubuntu/botho and its clash with colonial Christianity of the 18th to 20th centuries. In the 1960s–1980s with the emergence of Black Theology, liberation Theologies, and the Black Consciousness Movement there was a liberating turn, led by young people and young theologians, that resulted in political freedom. However, in the early 21st century, these gains of religion as emancipation have been eroded as Christian faith, and young people, have embraced prosperity and reconstruction theology, which has had the effect of diluting the role that religious faith can play in bringing about emancipation and social justice for the many young people of the Global South who practice religious faith in numbers that exceed that of their Global North counterparts.
Freirean Inspired Trialogues to Empower Youth to Solve Local Community Challenges
Authors: Araujo Ulisses F. , Pinheiro Viviane , Arantes Valeria
Published: February 2021

Paulo Freire, the Brazilian philosopher, educator, and a leading Southern theorist, has been extraordinarily influential worldwide. He is considered one of the founders of critical pedagogy, and influenced educators in Latin America, Africa, and Asia with his ideas of liberation, freedom, and emancipation. This essay presents an example of an educational program developed in Brazil, where Freire’s dialogical theory and principles were adapted to address the challenges faced by youth in education and the skills they need for the communities in which they live. It shows how a Freirean-inspired pedagogical model and active-learning methodologies can become transferable trialogues for other Southern educational experiences. These can empower the youth to solve local community challenges and transform societies in unequal places.
Navigational Capacities for Southern Youth in Adverse Contexts
Authors: Swartz Sharlene
Published: February 2021

This essay identifies six navigational capacities or contextual formative abilities that young people in Southern contexts, and those who care about them, may find helpful to debate and nurture. These navigational capacities are the capacity (1) to act alone as an individual in a community; (2) to aspire beyond culturally bounded horizons without resorting to exit, apathy, or violent struggles; (3) to acquire a range of capitals that include money, networks, dignity, and a knowledge of the rules of the game; (4) to recognize and analyze the influence of social structures and policies on their lives; (5) to achieve open identities to ensure justice along multiple axes of oppression; and (6) to act collectively in pursuit of better lives for self and others. The idea of navigational capacities acknowledges that adversity, change, and movement are a constant feature of the landscape of youth in the Global South. Thus, developing flexible capacities—rather than hard skills, rigid assets, or only adaptive resilience—is a more helpful goal for youth development. The essay describes these capacities, their theoretical foundations, and potential as a framework for practice and analysis in youth work and youth studies research in the Global South.
Critical Theory and the Singular Instant of Luxury
Authors: Armitage John
Published: February 2021

Critical theory is a central concept in the study of society, politics, history, and business as an innovative academic field and intellectual tradition. This chapter offers readers an encounter with critical theorist Theodor Adorno’s crucial writings on an important philosophical debate of the twenty-first century: the dual character of luxury. In exploring Adorno’s ideas concerning luxury and their possible impact on ‘the singular instant of luxury’, the chapter traces Adorno’s engagement with other key thinkers of luxury such as Thorstein Veblen. Investigating a significant business text on luxury by Wided Batat, the chapter presents an in-depth understanding of contemporary conceptions of luxury customer experience from the perspective of critical theory.
The Social Value of Research and Health Research Priority-Setting
Authors: Wenner Danielle M.
Published: February 2021

This chapter discusses the social value requirement in clinical research and its intersection with health research priority-setting. The social value requirement states that clinical research involving human subjects is only ethical if it has the potential to produce socially valuable knowledge. The chapter discusses various ways to specify both the justification for and the content of the social value requirement. It goes on to consider the implications of various accounts of the content and justification for the requirement for the ethics of health research priority-setting, showing that while some accounts of the requirement are largely silent with respect to how research questions should be prioritized, others entail robust obligations to prioritize research that might benefit particular groups. The chapter also briefly examines potential arguments for something like a social value requirement in other kinds of research, specifically social scientific research.
The Phenomenology of Meditation
Authors: Silva Carlos Henrique do Carmo
Published: February 2021

The aim of the chapter is to compare meditation in the Western Christian tradition with the Hindu tradition, particularly from the Yoga Sūtras. Its main focus is to highlight the essential differences between meditation in these two traditions. One can find various contrasts as well as unexpected convergences, such as the description of exercises involving focused concentration and the development of a hierarchy of states of consciousness where the sense of self is progressively transformed. The chapter ends with a critical appraisal of how meditation is popularly understood today, with its healing and psychobiological emphasis. Although meditation is not a science, it can be considered an art of mind transformation: ultimately desiring and thinking minds are no longer in control but become the ferment that meditation operates on. To use St. Teresa of Ávila’s metaphor, this meditative process is like watching “a windmill that grinds without stopping” independently of the will. It is in this sense of mind transformation that meditatio and dhyāna can be conceived as rich traditions of creative human spirituality, which are radically different from the domesticated versions used today for well-being purposes.
Recent Developments in Natural Language Processing
Authors: Orasan Constantin , Mitkov Ruslan
Published: February 2021

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a dynamic and rapidly developing field in which new trends, techniques, and applications are constantly emerging. This chapter focuses mainly on recent developments in NLP which could not be covered in other chapters of the Handbook. Topics such as crowdsourcing and processing of large datasets, which are no longer that recent but are widely used and not covered at length in any other chapter, are also presented. The chapter starts by describing how the availability of tools and resources has had a positive impact on the field. The proliferation of user-generated content has led to the emergence of research topics such as sarcasm and irony detection, automatic assessment of user-generated content, and stance detection. All of these topics are discussed in the chapter. The field of NLP is approaching maturity, a fact corroborated by the latest developments in the processing of texts for financial purposes and for helping users with disabilities, two topics that are also discussed here. The chapter presents examples of how researchers have successfully combined research in computer vision and natural language processing to enable the processing of multimodal information, as well as how the latest advances in deep learning have revitalized research on chatbots and conversational agents. The chapter concludes with a comprehensive list of further reading material and additional resources.
The Evolution of Jewish Terrorism
Authors: Pedahzur Ami , Perliger Arie
Published: February 2021

While Jewish violence and terrorism, both early and contemporary, is closely correlated with one particular territory—Palestine or Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel)—the chapter utilizes Rapoport’s four-waves framework in order to show that the evolution of Jewish terrorism was shaped by global dynamics and developments. More specifically, we will argue that whereas Jewish terrorism in Palestine and later in Israel consists of only two periods—the nationalist (1930s–1950s), which corresponds with the anticolonial wave, and its derivative, the nationalist-religious (1970s–present), which overlaps with the religious wave—the two missing waves, both of which were left-wing revolutionary, had a tremendous impact on political and social processes in Israel in general, and on the evolution of Jewish terrorism in particular. We conclude by discussing the implications of the similarities and differences between Jewish religious violence and other types of religious political violence.
How Are Bankers Paid?
Authors: Bennett Benjamin , Gopalan Radhakrishnan , Thakor Anjan
Published: February 2021

We empirically examine bank CEOs’ compensation. We find that bank CEOs (a) are paid less than their nonfinancial counterparts, an effect driven by the CEOs of small bank; (b) experienced declining compensation during 2007–2009 (the hardest-hit banks cut compensation more) but pay is now 24% higher than precrisis levels; (c) are paid more at larger banks, those with less nonperforming loans, those with a higher proportion of noninterest income, and those with less demand-deposit dependence; and (d) have pay highly sensitive to ROA and ROE, but not stock returns. Tail risk is higher when compensation depends more on short-term measures of performance. (JEL, F34, G32, G33, G38, K42)