bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Causal Inference by String Diagram Surgery
Authors: Jacobs Bart , Kissinger Aleks , Zanasi Fabio
Published: April 2019

Extracting causal relationships from observed correlations is a growing area in probabilistic reasoning, originating with the seminal work of Pearl and others from the early 1990s. This paper develops a new, categorically oriented view based on a clear distinction between syntax (string diagrams) and semantics (stochastic matrices), connected via interpretations as structure-preserving functors.

A key notion in the identification of causal effects is that of an intervention, whereby a variable is forcefully set to a particular value independent of any prior dependencies. We represent the effect of such an intervention as an endofunctor which performs ‘string diagram surgery’ within the syntactic category of string diagrams. This diagram surgery in turn yields a new, interventional distribution via the interpretation functor. While in general there is no way to compute interventional distributions purely from observed data, we show that this is possible in certain special cases using a calculational tool called comb disintegration.

We showcase this technique on a well-known example, predicting the causal effect of smoking on cancer in the presence of a confounding common cause. We then conclude by showing that this technique provides simple sufficient conditions for computing interventions which apply to a wide variety of situations considered in the causal inference literature.
Strong Adequacy and Untyped Full-Abstraction for Probabilistic Coherence Spaces
Authors: Leventis Thomas , Pagani Michele
Published: April 2019

We consider the probabilistic untyped lambda-calculus and prove a stronger form of the adequacy property for probabilistic coherence spaces (PCoh), showing how the denotation of a term statistically distributes over the denotations of its head-normal forms.

We use this result to state a precise correspondence between PCoh and a notion of probabilistic Nakajima trees, recently introduced by Leventis in order to prove a separation theorem. As a consequence, we get full abstraction for PCoh. This latter result has already been mentioned as a corollary of Clairambault and Paquet’s full abstraction theorem for probabilistic concurrent games. Our approach allows to prove the property directly, without the need of a third model.
A Sound and Complete Logic for Algebraic Effects
Authors: Matache Cristina , Staton Sam
Published: April 2019

This work investigates three notions of program equivalence for a higher-order functional language with recursion and general algebraic effects, in which programs are written in continuation-passing style. Our main contribution is the following: we define a logic whose formulas express program properties and show that, under certain conditions which we identify, the induced program equivalence coincides with a contextual equivalence. Moreover, we show that this logical equivalence also coincides with an applicative bisimilarity. We exemplify our general results with the nondeterminism, probabilistic choice, global store and I/O effects.
Equational Axiomatization of Algebras with Structure
Authors: Milius Stefan , Urbat Henning
Published: April 2019

This paper proposes a new category theoretic account of equationally axiomatizable classes of algebras. Our approach is well-suited for the treatment of algebras equipped with additional computationally relevant structure, such as ordered algebras, continuous algebras, quantitative algebras, nominal algebras, or profinite algebras. Our main contributions are a generic HSP theorem and a sound and complete equational logic, which are shown to encompass numerous flavors of equational axiomizations studied in the literature.
Path Category for Free
Authors: Wißmann Thorsten , Dubut Jérémy , Katsumata Shin-ya , Hasuo Ichiro
Published: April 2019

There are different categorical approaches to variations of transition systems and their bisimulations. One is coalgebra for a functor G, where a bisimulation is defined as a span of G-coalgebra homomorphism. Another one is in terms of path categories and open morphisms, where a bisimulation is defined as a span of open morphisms. This similarity is no coincidence: given a functor G, fulfilling certain conditions, we derive a path-category for pointed G-coalgebras and lax homomorphisms, such that the open morphisms turn out to be precisely the G-coalgebra homomorphisms. The above construction provides path-categories and trace semantics for free for different flavours of transition systems: (1) non-deterministic tree automata (2) regular nondeterministic nominal automata (RNNA), an expressive automata notion living in nominal sets (3) multisorted transition systems. This last instance relates to Lasota’s construction, which is in the converse direction.
Identifiers in Registers
Authors: Bollig Benedikt , Bouyer Patricia , Reiter Fabian
Published: April 2019

We propose a formal model of distributed computing based on register automata that captures a broad class of synchronous network algorithms. The local memory of each process is represented by a finite-state controller and a fixed number of registers, each of which can store the unique identifier of some process in the network. To underline the naturalness of our model, we show that it has the same expressive power as a certain extension of first-order logic on graphs whose nodes are equipped with a total order. Said extension lets us define new functions on the set of nodes by means of a so-called partial fixpoint operator. In spirit, our result bears close resemblance to a classical theorem of descriptive complexity theory that characterizes the complexity class $$\textsc {pspace}$$ in terms of partial fixpoint logic (a proper superclass of the logic we consider here).
Causality in Linear Logic
Authors: Castellan Simon , Yoshida Nobuko
Published: April 2019

Commuting conversions of Linear Logic induce a notion of dependency between rules inside a proof derivation: a rule depends on a previous rule when they cannot be permuted using the conversions. We propose a new interpretation of proofs of Linear Logic as causal invariants which captures exactly this dependency. We represent causal invariants using game semantics based on general event structures, carving out, inside the model of [6], a submodel of causal invariants. This submodel supports an interpretation of unit-free Multiplicative Additive Linear Logic with MIX (MALL$$^-$$) which is (1) fully complete: every element of the model is the denotation of a proof and (2) injective: equality in the model characterises exactly commuting conversions of MALL$$^-$$. This improves over the standard fully complete game semantics model of MALL$$^-$$.
The one-loop spectral problem of strongly twisted $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 Super Yang-Mills theory
Authors: Ipsen Asger C. , Staudacher Matthias , Zippelius Leonard
Published: April 2019

Abstract

We investigate the one-loop spectral problem of γ-twisted, planar

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 Super Yang-Mills theory in the double-scaling limit of infinite, imaginary twist angle and vanishing Yang-Mills coupling constant. This non-unitary model has recently been argued to be a simpler version of full-fledged planar

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 SYM, while preserving the latter model’s conformality and integrability. We are able to derive for a number of sectors one-loop Bethe equations that allow finding anomalous dimensions for various subsets of diagonalizable operators. However, the non-unitarity of these deformed models results in a large number of non-diagonalizable operators, whose mixing is described by a very complicated structure of non-diagonalizable Jordan blocks of arbitrarily large size and with a priori unknown generalized eigenvalues. The description of these blocks by methods of integrability remains unknown.
Voltammetric study of conductive planar assemblies of Geobacter nanowire pilins unmasks their ability to bind and mineralize divalent cobalt
Authors: Cosert Krista M , Reguera Gemma
Published: April 2019

Geobacter bacteria assemble a helical peptide of the Type IVa pilin subclass as conductive pili decorated with metal binding and reduction sites. We used recombinant techniques to synthesize thiolated pilin derivatives and self-assembled them on gold electrodes as a monolayer that concentrated the metal traps at the liquid interface. Cyclic and step potential voltammetry demonstrated the conductivity of the pilin films and their ability to bind and reductively precipitate divalent cobalt (Co2+) in a diffusion-controlled reaction characterized by fast binding kinetics, efficient charge transfer, and three-dimensional nanoparticle growth at discreet sites. Furthermore, cobalt oxidation at the pilin film was slower than on bare gold, consistent with a peptide optimized for metal immobilization. These properties make recombinant pilins attractive building blocks for the synthesis of novel biomaterials for the immobilization of toxic cationic metals that, like Co2+, are sparingly soluble and, thus, less mobile and bioavailable as reduced species.
Eye tracking: the silver bullet of competency assessment in medical image interpretation?
Authors: Kok Ellen M
Published: April 2019

None
Ultrathin Ti3C2Tx (MXene) Nanosheet-Wrapped NiSe2 Octahedral Crystal for Enhanced Supercapacitor Performance and Synergetic Electrocatalytic Water Splitting
Authors: Jiang Hanmei , Wang Zegao , Yang Qian , Tan Luxi , Dong Lichun , Dong Mingdong
Published: April 2019

Metal selenides, such as NiSe2, have exhibited great potentials as multifunctional materials for energy storage and conversation. However, the utilization of pure NiSe2 as electrode materials is limited by its poor cycling stability, low electrical conductivity, and insufficient electrochemically active sites. To remedy these defects, herein, a novel NiSe2/Ti3C2Tx hybrid with strong interfacial interaction and electrical properties is fabricated, by wrapping NiSe2 octahedral crystal with ultrathin Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheet. The NiSe2/Ti3C2Tx hybrid exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, with a high specific capacitance of 531.2 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 for supercapacitor, low overpotential of 200 mV at 10 mA g−1, and small Tafel slope of 37.7 mV dec−1 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Furthermore, greater cycling stabilities for NiSe2/Ti3C2Tx hybrid in both supercapacitor and HER have also been achieved. These significant improvements compared with unmodified NiSe2 should be owing to the strong interfacial interaction between NiSe2 octahedral crystal and Ti3C2Tx MXene, which provides enhanced conductivity, fast charge transfer as well as abundant active sites, and highlight the promising potentials in combinations of MXene with metal selenides for multifunctional applications such as energy storage and conversion.
Dexmedetomidine reduced sevoflurane‐induced neurodegeneration and long‐term memory deficits in neonatal rats
Authors: Goyagi Toru
Published: April 2019

Exposure to sevoflurane and other inhalational anesthetics can induce neurodegeneration in the developing brain. Although dexmedetomidine (DEX) has provided neuroprotection against hypoxic ischemic injury, relatively little is known about whether it has the neuroprotective effects against anesthetic‐induced neurodegeneration. This study examined whether DEX improves the long‐term cognitive dysfunction observed after exposure of neonatal rats to 3% sevoflurane. Seven‐day‐old rats received intraperitoneal saline (DEX 0) or DEX (6.6, 12.5, 25 μg/kg) 30 min before exposure to 3% sevoflurane with 21% oxygen for 4 h (n = 10 per group). The pups in the control group received only DEX 25 μg/kg without anesthesia. The escape latency in the Morris water maze was significantly increased in the DEX 0 group compared with the sham and control group, and the escape latency, but not the swimming path length, was significantly shorter at post‐natal day 47 in the DEX 25 than in the DEX 0 group. The percent time spent in the quadrant was significantly decreased in the DEX 0 group compared with the sham and control group, and the percent time spent in the quadrant was significantly increased in the DEX 25 group compared with the DEX 0 groups. The freezing times of the DEX 0 and 6.6 groups were significantly decreased compared with those in the sham, control and DEX 25 groups. The number of NeuN‐positive cells in the CA1 region was significantly decreased in the DEX 0 and 6.6 groups compared with the sham, control and DEX 25 groups. These findings indicate pre‐treatment with DEX may improve long‐term cognitive function and ameliorate the neuronal degeneration induced by sevoflurane exposure in neonatal rats.
Effect of Sex Hormones on Brain Connectivity Related to Sexual Function in Perimenopausal Women: A Resting-State fMRI Functional Connectivity Study
Authors: Lu Weizhao , Guo Wei , Cui Dong , Dong Kejiang , Qiu Jianfeng
Published: April 2019

Background

Perimenopause is associated with increased risk of depression, vasomotor symptoms, and sexual dysfunction.

Aims

To explore the effect of sex hormones on the functional connectivity (FC) of different brain regions related to sexual function in perimenopausal women.

Methods

32 premenopausal women (mean age, 47.75 ± 1.55 years) and 25 perimenopausal women (mean age, 51.60 ± 1.63 years) underwent sex hormone level measurements and resting-state fMRI.

Main Outcome Measures

Serum levels of sex hormones, including prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotropic hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), free testosterone (free-T), and progesterone (P), were measured. 10 brain regions related to sexual function were selected according to a meta-analysis, and FCs of the selected regions of interest were calculated as Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results

Compared with premenopausal women, perimenopausal women showed increased FC between the right area 13 (A13_r) and the right medial superior frontal gyrus (mSFG), between the left dorsal granular insula (dIg_L) and the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG) (Gaussian random field-corrected at the voxel level, P < .001, and cluster level, P < .025). Furthermore, the PRL level was negatively correlated with the FC of A13_R with the right mSFG and the FC of dIg_L with the right SFG.

Clinical Translation

These findings may be applicable to assessing brain dysfunction with FC changes in women approaching menopause.

Strengths & Limitations

This study is the first to evaluate a direct relationship between sex hormone levels and brain FC changes in women approaching menopause. Sexual function was not assessed, which may weaken the conclusions related to sexual function.

Conclusions

The results show that women approaching menopause suffered from aberrant intrinsic FC in regions related to sexual function, and reveal a direct relationship between serum sex hormone levels and FC changes related to sexual function.
The Rise of the Neophallus: A Systematic Review of Penile Prosthetic Outcomes and Complications in Gender-Affirming Surgery
Authors: Rooker Steven A. , Vyas Krishna S. , DiFilippo Emma C. , Nolan Ian T. , Morrison Shane D. , Santucci Richard A.
Published: April 2019

Background

Penile prostheses are commonly used to achieve erectile rigidity after phalloplasty in trans masculine patients. Implantation poses significant challenges because of the delicate nature of the neophallus and lack of native erectile tissue. Many groups have developed novel phalloplasty and prosthesis insertion techniques, but none have proven superior.

Aim

To analyze and aggregate reported characteristics and outcomes of penile prosthesis implantation in the trans masculine patient.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search of Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Registry databases was conducted for studies published through February 19, 2019, with multiple search terms related to penile prosthesis use in gender-affirming surgical procedures.

Outcomes

Studies were included and tabulated if they reported prosthesis outcomes in patients who received a neophallus as part of a gender-affirming procedure.

Results

23 journal articles met inclusion criteria from 434 references identified. All selected articles were either retrospective or case series/reports. A total of 1,056 patients underwent phalloplasty, and 792 received a penile prosthesis. Most (83.6%) of the prostheses were inflatable, whereas 16.4% were non-inflatable. The number of cylinders used for each prosthesis was 61.0% single-cylinder and 39.0% double-cylinder. The mean follow-up duration was 3.0 years. Of patients who received a prosthesis, 36.2% reported a prosthesis complication; at follow-up 60.0% of patients had their original implant present, and 83.9% reported achieving penetration.

Clinical Implications

Prosthesis implantation in gender-affirming operations poses significant risk of complication, but it is still a reasonable and useful method to achieve rigidity necessary for sexual intercourse.

Strength & Limitation

This is the first study to aggregate all reported penile prosthesis characteristics and outcomes in trans masculine patients. This study was significantly limited by inconsistent reporting of demographics, sensation, urinary health, patient satisfaction, and penetrative sex. The lack of comparative studies precluded any meaningful meta-analytical comparison.

Conclusions

There is a great need for a prosthesis designed to meet the specific needs of the trans masculine patient after phalloplasty. Standardized methods of reporting implant outcomes including sexual function, sensation, and patient satisfaction should be refined for future studies. This study can assist patients and surgeons about the risks and benefits of this procedure.
Virtual Reconstruction as Archaeological Observation: Embracing New Ways of Treating Sites, Places and Landscapes
Authors: Douglass Matthew J. , Day Zachary R. , Brunette Jeremy C. , Bleed Peter , Scott Douglas
Published: April 2019

Virtual Reconstruction is a powerful tool broadly suited to a diverse array of archaeological heritage applications. In practice, however, reconstruction has largely focused on grand and monumental sites. Here we present two case studies–one from southern Oklahoma, the other from western Nebraska–to explore the use of this technology for more common heritage applications. The goal of this article is to advertise the dilemma we faced with communicating information on ephemeral sites and how we, as nonspecialists, solved the issue using affordable and accessible digital tools. Our workflow makes use of common tools (GIS) and open source software and online tutorials provide step by step instruction to support its replication. In presenting our experiences and the results of these efforts, we hope to spur similar applications in the use of Virtual Reconstruction to communicate information on archaeological heritage more broadly.
Experimental investigation of infrared signal characteristics in a micro-turbojet engine
Authors: Choi S. M. , Kim S. , Myong R. S. , Kim W.
Published: April 2019

Infrared signal measurements from a micro-turbojet engine are conducted to understand the characteristics of the engine performance and the infrared signal by varying the exhaust nozzle configuration. A cone type nozzle and five rectangle type nozzles whose aspect ratios vary from one to five are used for this experimental work. As a result, it is confirmed that the thrust and the fuel consumption rate of the engine do not change greatly by varying the exhaust nozzle shape. In the case of the aspect ratio of 5, the specific fuel consumption of the engine is increased by about 3% compared to the reference cone nozzle, but the infrared signal can be reduced by up to 14%. As a result of measuring the temperature distribution of the plume gas, the correlation of infrared signal with plume gas temperature distribution can be understood. In the case of a cone shape, the distribution of plume gas formed to circular shape, and the high-temperature core region of plume gas continued to develop farther to the downstream. However, the temperature distribution was maintained in the rectangular shape as the aspect ratio increased, and the average temperature decreased sharply. As the aspect ratio increases, the plume spreads more widely.
Guidance and control of standoff air-to-surface carrier vehicle
Authors: Mir I. , Akhtar S. , Eisa S.A. , Maqsood A.
Published: April 2019

This paper presents an open framework, through which, conventional general purpose aerial munitions can be converted into smart munitions. The retrofit consists of a smart adaptation kit (SAK) having a dedicated Guidance and Control Module (GCM). The adaptation kit along with the GCM ensures that the SAK glide optimally towards the designated target. To reduce cost, the number of control surfaces of the SAK has been kept to a bare minimum, which resulted in an under actuated system. The methodology proposed utilises the theory of gain-scheduled control and leads to an efficient procedure for the design of the controllers, which accurately track reference trajectories defined in an inertial reference frame. The paper illustrates the application of this procedure to the design of stabilisation and tracking controller for the SAK. The design phase is summarised, and the performance of the resulting controllers is assessed in simulation using dynamic model of the vehicle. Simulation results show that apart from improved circular error probable (CEP) of hitting the target, munition ballistic range has also significantly increased with the proposed modification.
An environmental scan of quality improvement and patient safety activities in emergency medicine in Canada
Authors: Kwok Edmund S.H. , Perry Jeffrey J. , Mondoux Shawn , Chartier Lucas B.
Published: April 2019

Objective

We conducted an environmental scan of quality improvement and patient safety (QIPS) infrastructure and activities in academic emergency medicine (EM) programs and departments across Canada.

Methods

We developed 2 electronic surveys through expert panel consensus to assess important themes identified by the CAEP QIPS Committee. “Survey 1” was sent by email to all 17 Canadian medical school affiliated EM department Chairs and Academic Hospitals department Chiefs; “Survey 2” to 12 identified QIPS leads in these hospitals. This was followed by 2 monthly email reminders to participate in the survey.

Results

22/70 (31.4%) Department Chairs/Chiefs completed Survey 1. Most (81.8%) reported formal positions dedicated to QIPS activities within their groups, with a mixed funding model. Less than half of these positions have dedicated logistical support. 11/12 (91.7%) local QIPS leads completed Survey 2. Two-thirds (63.6%) reported explicit QIPS topics within residency curricula, but only 9.1% described QIPS training for staff physicians. Many described successful academic scholarship output, with the total number of peer-reviewed QIPS-related publications per centre ranging from 1–10 over the past 5 years. Few respondents reported access to academic supports: methodologists (27.3%), administrative personnel (27.3%), and statisticians (9.1%).

Conclusion

This environmental scan provides a snapshot of QIPS activities in EM across academic centres in Canada. We found significant local educational and academic efforts, although there is a discrepancy between the level of formal support/infrastructure and such activities. There remains opportunity to further advance QIPS efforts on a national level, as well as advocating and supporting local QIPS activities.
Epistemic Objectification as the Primary Harm of Testimonial Injustice
Authors: McGlynn Aidan
Published: April 2019

This paper criticises Miranda Fricker's account of the primary harm of testimonial injustice as a kind of epistemic objectification, where the latter is understood on the model provided by Martha Nussbaum's influential analysis of sexual objectification and where it is taken to involve the denial of someone's epistemic agency. I examine the existing objections to Fricker's account of the primary harm, criticising some while accepting the force of others, and I argue that one of Fricker's own central examples of testimonial injustice in fact offers the basis of a particularly telling objection. While Fricker's other critics have mostly concluded that we need to look at alternative theoretical resources to offer an account of the primary harm of testimonial injustice, I aim to show that this is premature; both Fricker and her critics have underestimated the resources provided by Nussbaum's analysis of objectification when offering an account of the primary harm, and something very much in the spirit of Fricker's account survives the objections.
Mitigating Negative Spillovers from Categorization of Foreign-Listed Firms: The Role of Host-Country Independent Directors
Authors: Kang Eugene , Chintakananda Asda
Published: April 2019

This study examines how cognitive categorization by host-country investors give rise to negative spillovers among host-country foreign-listed firms from the same home country when one of these foreign-listed firms discloses a financial reporting irregularity. This study further examines how attributes of host-country independent directors mitigate such negative spillover effects through signaling fulfilment of their fiduciary duties. Our results based on Chinese foreign-listed firms on the Singapore Stock Exchange from 2007–2014 reveal that host-country independent directorsincreasespillover effects among foreign-listed Chinese firms from financial reporting irregularities. However, such increase isattenuatedwhen these directors signal fulfilment of their fiduciary duties through home-country, industry, or task-related experiences, and the observed mitigating effect is stronger when they possess a combination of these experiences.
Biblical Criticism and Censorship in Ancien Régime France: the Case of Richard Simon
Authors: Lambe Patrick J.
Published: April 2019

The case of Richard Simon and the suppression of his book, Histoire critique du Vieux Testament in 1678 stands at a point where the interests of both Church and State in maintaining control of the book trade intersected. As such, the case is of interest in two important areas: first, from the point of view of the social and political history of the ancien régime in France, this case exhibits the intense concern for maintenance or extension of the powers of jurisdiction of the authorities which is so characteristic of the reign of Louis XIV. In some instances this preoccupation with autorité and droit led to an unseemly public jockeying for power, and it is interesting to see how the book trade is seen as a vital element in this struggle.
Analytical solution of the Grad Shafranov equation in an elliptical prolate geometry
Authors: Crisanti F.
Published: April 2019

The analytical solution in toroidal coordinates of the Grad Shafranov equation has been at the origin of the tokamak breakthrough in the fusion development. Unfortunately, the standard toroidal coordinates have a circular poloidal section, which does not fit the elongated cross-section of the present tokamak experiments. In axisymmetry, the vacuum Grad Shafranov equation coincides with the Laplace equation for the toroidal component of the vector potential. In the present paper the solutions for the Laplace equation and that for the vacuum Grad Shafranov equation are tackled in the elliptical prolate toroidal cap-cyclide coordinates framework. The following report of the geometrical properties and of the metric of these coordinates allows us to work out the analytical solution of both equations in terms of the Wangerin functions.
A new free-will defence
Authors: PRUSS ALEXANDER R.
Published: April 2019

This paper argues that if creatures are to have significant free will, then God's essential omni-benevolence and essential omnipotence cannot logically preclude Him from creating a world containing a moral evil. The paper maintains that this traditional conclusion does not need to rest on reliance on subjunctive conditionals of free will. It can be grounded in several independent ways based on premises that many will accept.
What Does Locke Expect Us to Know?
Authors: Forde Steven
Published: April 2019

Locke claims that his moral and political teaching is capable of a fully rational demonstration. It would seem then that Lockean citizens are expected to grasp the rational bases of their regime. But Locke was notoriously vague or incomplete on what the rational demonstration entailed, in matters of theology especially, but in other matters as well. I examine this question in the Essay Concerning Human Understanding, the Two Treatises of Government, and Some Thoughts Concerning Education, and conclude that Locke did not expect most citizens to grasp the full philosophical demonstration of liberalism, but they would understand a simplified version of it. This, however, risks leaving liberal culture in an unsettled state.
In imitation of the Sun
Authors: Smith Travis D.
Published: April 2019

Accessible and thought-provoking, DeGroot's history of nuclear weaponry from its theoretical origins through its Cold War escalations makes a diverse cast of characters seem familiar and a tale of earthshaking proportions unfold in a relatively sensible fashion. Written for interested nonexperts, the book does not engage scholarly debates directly. It covers the race to beat the Germans to the bomb through to the entrenchment of nuclear deterrence. Disarmament treaties and peace movements concern DeGroot only long enough to discount them. He adds color to the political and technological history of the bomb by supplementing it with considerations of its social repercussions and its representations in literature, film, music, and consumer items.
SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY AND TAX REGIMES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1763 TO THE
PRESENT
Authors: Brownlee W. Elliot
Published: April 2019

The essay explores how ideas about social justice and economic
performance shaped the debates over federal taxation in the United States
since the origins of the republic. The debates were most intense during
major national emergencies (the American Revolution, the Civil War, World
War I, the Great Depression, and World War II), and each debate produced a
new tax regime-a tax system with its own characteristic tax base, rate
structure, administration apparatus, and social purpose. The criterion of
"ability to pay" and a concern for economic efficiency powerfully shaped
the formation of every tax regime, but "ability to pay" became the more
influential of the two considerations during the national crises of the
twentieth century.
Systematic community of Practice activities evaluation through Natural Language Processing: application to research projects
Authors: Goepp Virginie , Matta Nada , Caillaud Emmanuel , Feugeas Françoise
Published: April 2019

Community of Practice (CoP) efficiency evaluation is a great deal in research. Indeed, having the possibility to know if a given CoP is successful or not is essential to better manage it over time. The existing approaches for efficiency evaluation are difficult and time-consuming to put into action on real CoPs. They require either to evaluate subjective constructs making the analysis unreliable, either to work out a knowledge interaction matrix that is difficult to set up. However, these approaches build their evaluation on the fact that a CoP is successful if knowledge is exchanged between the members. It is the case if there are some interactions between the actors involved in the CoP. Therefore, we propose to analyze these interactions through the exchanges of emails thanks to Natural Language Processing. Our approach is systematic and semi-automated. It requires the e-mails exchanged and the definition of the speech-acts that will be retrieved. We apply it on a real project-based CoP: the SEPOLBE research project that involves different expertise fields. It allows us to identify the CoP core group and to emphasize learning processes between members with different backgrounds (Microbiology, Electrochemistry and Civil engineering).
Prevalence of gastroenteritis among 4-year-old children in South Australia
Authors: HEYWORTH J. S. , BAGHURST P. , McCAUL K. A.
Published: April 2019

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gastroenteritis among children aged 4 years in South Australia. A cross-sectional survey of 9543 South Australian children aged 4 years was undertaken. Parents completed a questionnaire on behalf of their child who had attended a pre-school health check in 1998. The questionnaire covered gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms experienced by the child in the previous 2 weeks and other risk factors for gastroenteritis. The 2-week prevalence of gastroenteritis among 4-year-old children was 14·2%. The major risk factors for gastroenteritis were presence of persons who had gastroenteritis inside the home, contact with persons who had gastroenteritis outside the home, antibiotic use and sore throat. Medical attention was sought for 20% of children who had gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is a significant cause of morbidity among young children and presents a considerable burden on the community. A substantial proportion of these occurrences of highly credible gastrointestinal symptoms may be manifestations of respiratory infections.
The effect of C. burnetii infection on the quality of life of patients following an outbreak of Q fever
Authors: HATCHETTE T. F. , HAYES M. , MERRY H. , SCHLECH W. F. , MARRIE T. J.
Published: April 2019

Sixty-six cases of Q fever were diagnosed in people affiliated with a goat-farming co-operative in rural Newfoundland in the spring of 1999. Follow-up studies which included administration of the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) were conducted 3 and 27 months after the initial outbreak to prospectively follow the effects of acute Q fever on the quality of life of the participants. Twenty-seven months after the outbreak 51% of those who had Q fever reported persistent symptoms including seven participants whose symptoms had initially resolved 3 months after the outbreak. Individuals with Q fever had significantly lower scores on five of the eight scales in the SF-36 and lower scores in the mental and physical summary scales compared to uninfected controls. Although this supports the hypothesis of a ‘post Q fever fatigue syndrome’ (QFFS), further study is warranted.
Seroepidemiology of measles in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: implications for control through vaccination
Authors: ENQUSELASSIE F. , AYELE W. , DEJENE A. , MESSELE T. , ABEBE A. , CUTTS F. T. , NOKES D. J.
Published: April 2019

We undertook a representative survey of measles antibodies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1994, to characterize immunity and transmission. Specific-antibody levels (IU/l) were determined by ELISA for 4654 sera from individuals aged 0–49 years (1805 <15 years) collected by stratified household-cluster sampling. The proportion seronegative (<100 IU/l) was 20% (95% CI: 16–25) in children 9–59 months old, declining to 9% (7–12) in 5–9 year olds, 5% (4–7) in 10–14 year olds, and <1% in adults. The proportion of children (<15 years old) with low-level antibody (100–255 IU/l) was 8% (7–10). Vaccination and an absence of a history of measles illness were strongly associated with low-level antibody. History of measles vaccination in 9 months to 14-year-old children was ~80%. We estimate a primary vaccine failure rate of 21% (12–34) and continued high measles incidence of 22 per 100 susceptibles (19–24) per annum. Our data support the introduction of campaign vaccination in the city in 1998, although higher routine vaccine coverage is required to sustain the impact. The implications of a high prevalence of low-level antibody are discussed.
Prevalence and serodiversity of the pandemic clone among the clinical strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated in southern Thailand
Authors: LAOHAPRERTTHISAN V. , CHOWDHURY A. , KONGMUANG U. , KALNAUWAKUL S. , ISHIBASHI M. , MATSUMOTO C. , NISHIBUCHI M.
Published: April 2019

We collected diarrhoea specimens in two hospitals in southern Thailand in 1999 to examine whether infection by the Vibrio parahaemolyticus pandemic clone is prevalent. V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from 317 specimens. Seventy-six per cent of the isolated strains had the pandemic clone-specific characteristics (tdh+, trh−, and an unique toxRS sequence detectable by GS-PCR) and an associated characteristic (the ORF8 sequence of f237 phage). These strains belonged to the three pandemic servovars with the O3[ratio ]K6 strains being dominant and three other serovars (O1[ratio ]K25, O1[ratio ]K41 and O4[ratio ]K12). We also found O1[ratio ]K25 and O1[ratio ]K41 strains with the pandemic clone-specific characteristics among the strains isolated from the international travellers who left Thailand and three other Asian countries between 1998 and 1999, verifying pandemic potential of these strains. The results demonstrate prevalence of infection by the pandemic clone in southern Thailand and suggest emergence of various serovariants in this area and their implication in international spread.
A history of FMD research and control programmes in Southeast Asia: lessons from the past informing the future
Authors: Blacksell Stuart D. , Siengsanan-Lamont Jarunee , Kamolsiripichaiporn Somjai , Gleeson Laurence J. , Windsor Peter A.
Published: April 2019

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a major animal health problem within Southeast Asia (SEA). Although Indonesia and more recently the Philippines have achieved freedom from FMD, the disease remains endemic on continental SEA. Control of FMD within SEA would increase access to markets in more developed economies and reduce lost productivity in smallholder and emerging commercial farmer settings. However, despite many years of vaccination by individual countries, numerous factors have prevented the successful control of FMD within the region, including unregulated ‘informal’ transboundary movement of livestock and their products, difficulties implementing vaccination programmes, emergence of new virus topotypes and lineages, low-level technical capacity and biosecurity at national levels, limited farmer knowledge on FMD disease recognition, failure of timely outbreak reporting and response, and limitations in national and international FMD control programmes. This paper examines the published research of FMD in the SEA region, reviewing the history, virology, epidemiology and control programmes and identifies future opportunities for FMD research aimed at the eventual eradication of FMD from the region.
Caffeine and blood pressure: a critical review perspective
Authors: De Giuseppe Rachele , Di Napoli Ilaria , Granata Francesca , Mottolese Antonia , Cena Hellas
Published: April 2019

The WHO reported that high blood pressure (BP) is one of the primary causes of death worldwide. Hypertension (HPT) is a major risk factor for CVD and related diseases as well as for diseases, leading to a considerable increase in cardiovascular risk. Since BP response could also be influenced by caffeine, which is widely consumed with coffee and other items, it is important to define the possible effects associated with caffeine intake. The most recent findings aimed at clarifying the role of caffeine consumption on BP and HPT risk/incidence are conflicting and difficult to interpret. Therefore, in the present narrative review, we aimed to examine various methodological inaccuracies/aspects and factors that make studies difficult to be compared, in order to obtain a single consensus on the effects of caffeine intake on the risk of BP and HPT. We observed that this heterogeneity in results could be due to the presence of: (i) several variables affecting BP (such as age, sex, genetic and lifestyle aspects); (ii) different caffeine content of food and beverages; and (iii) caffeine metabolism. Moreover, different methodological aspects in the evaluation of daily dietary caffeine intake and in the BP measurement could add some other bias in the interpretation of results. Therefore, it is mandatory to consider all methodological aspects and confounding factors to generate a standardised methodology in order to increase cross-study consistency and minimise confounding effects of different variables on the relationship between BP response and HPT risk/incidence after caffeine intake.
Rationing by racing and the Oklahoma land rushes
Authors: Allen Douglas W. , Leonard Bryan
Published: April 2019

Yoram Barzel was always aware that competition is ubiquitous and takes many forms, and he was among the first to analyze settings where individuals compete on the basis of time, rather than price. This paper applies his insights to study the Oklahoma land rushes, where thousands of individuals raced to establish property rights to land. A simple modification of Barzel's analysis generates a model of rationing by racing, and we test its predictions using new data on the timing and location of over 73,000 homestead claims within the five distinct land rushes and one lottery. We find that increases in land quality or decreases in the cost of racing generate corresponding increases in the equilibrium speed, implying that potential rents are dissipated by investments in speed. The analysis highlights the lasting significance of Barzel's insights regarding non-price competition.
Tracking the mental health of a nation: prevalence and correlates of mental disorders in the second Singapore mental health study
Authors: Subramaniam M. , Abdin E. , Vaingankar J. A. , Shafie S. , Chua B. Y. , Sambasivam R. , Zhang Y. J. , Shahwan S. , Chang S. , Chua H. C. , Verma S. , James L. , Kwok K. W. , Heng D. , Chong S. A.
Published: April 2019

Aims

The second Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS) – a nationwide, cross-sectional, epidemiological survey - was initiated in 2016 with the intent of tracking the state of mental health of the general population in Singapore. The study employed the same methodology as the first survey initiated in 2010. The SMHS 2016 aimed to (i) establish the 12-month and lifetime prevalence and correlates of major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia, bipolar disorder, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) (which included alcohol abuse and dependence) and (ii) compare the prevalence of these disorders with reference to data from the SMHS 2010.

Methods

Door-to-door household surveys were conducted with adult Singapore residents aged 18 years and above from 2016 to 2018 (n = 6126) which yielded a response rate of 69.0%. The subjects were randomly selected using a disproportionate stratified sampling method and assessed using World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 (WHO-CIDI 3.0). The diagnoses of lifetime and 12-month selected mental disorders including MDD, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, GAD, OCD, and AUD (alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence), were based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria.

Results

The lifetime prevalence of at least one mood, anxiety or alcohol use disorder was 13.9% in the adult population. MDD had the highest lifetime prevalence (6.3%) followed by alcohol abuse (4.1%). The 12-month prevalence of any DSM-IV mental disorders was 6.5%. OCD had the highest 12-month prevalence (2.9%) followed by MDD (2.3%). Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of mental disorders assessed in SMHS 2016 (13.8% and 6.4%) was significantly higher than that in SMHS 2010 (12.0% and 4.4%). A significant increase was observed in the prevalence of lifetime GAD (0.9% to 1.6%) and alcohol abuse (3.1% to 4.1%). The 12-month prevalence of GAD (0.8% vs. 0.4%) and OCD (2.9% vs. 1.1%) was significantly higher in SMHS 2016 as compared to SMHS 2010.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of OCD and the increase across the two surveys needs to be tackled at a population level both in terms of creating awareness of the disorder and the need for early treatment. Youth emerge as a vulnerable group who are more likely to be associated with mental disorders and thus targeted interventions in this group with a focus on youth friendly and accessible care centres may lead to earlier detection and treatment of mental disorders.
The excess costs of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: König H. , König H.-H. , Konnopka A.
Published: April 2019

Aims

Major depressive disorders are highly prevalent in the world population, contribute substantially to the global disease burden and cause high health care expenditures. Information on the economic impact of depression, as provided by cost-of-illness (COI) studies, can support policymakers in the decision-making regarding resource allocation. Although the literature on COI studies of depression has already been reviewed, there is no quantitative estimation of depression excess costs across studies yet. Our aims were to systematically review COI studies of depression with comparison group worldwide and to assess the excess costs of depression in adolescents, adults, elderly, and depression as a comorbidity of a primary somatic disease quantitatively in a meta-analysis.

Methods

We followed the PRISMA reporting guidelines. PubMed, PsycINFO, NHS EED, and EconLit were searched without limitations until 27/04/2018. English or German full-text peer-reviewed articles that compared mean costs of depressed and non-depressed study participants from a bottom-up approach were included. We only included studies reporting costs for major depressive disorders. Data were pooled using a random-effects model and heterogeneity was assessed with I2statistic. The primary outcome was ratio of means (RoM) of costs of depressedv.non-depressed study participants, interpretable as the percentage change in mean costs between the groups.

Results

We screened 12 760 articles by title/abstract, assessed 393 articles in full-text and included 48 articles. The included studies encompassed in total 55 898 depressed and 674 414 non-depressed study participants. Meta-analysis showed that depression was associated with higher direct costs in adolescents (RoM = 2.79 [1.69–4.59],p< 0.0001,I2= 87%), in adults (RoM = 2.58 [2.01–3.31],p< 0.0001,I2= 99%), in elderly (RoM = 1.73 [1.47–2.03],p< 0.0001,I2= 73%) and in participants with comorbid depression (RoM = 1.39 [1.24–1.55],p< 0.0001,I2= 42%). In addition, we conducted meta-analyses for inpatient, outpatient, medication and emergency costs and a cost category including all other direct cost categories. Meta-analysis of indirect costs showed that depression was associated with higher costs in adults (RoM = 2.28 [1.75–2.98],p< 0.0001,I2= 74%).

Conclusions

This work is the first to provide a meta-analysis in a global systematic review of COI studies for depression. Depression was associated with higher costs in all age groups and as comorbidity. Pooled RoM was highest in adolescence and decreased with age. In the subgroup with depression as a comorbidity of a primary somatic disease, pooled RoM was lower as compared to the age subgroups. More evidence in COI studies for depression in adolescence and for indirect costs would be desirable.