bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
4. The Human Rights Act 1998 (1): rights and duties
Authors: Davis Howard
Published: September 2021

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. Questions, discussion points, and thinking points help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress and knowledge can be tested by self-test questions and exam questions at the chapter end. This chapter traces the origins of the Human Rights Act, which came about due to a growing sense that UK law was failing to secure and keep pace with emerging international standards of human rights protection. It goes on thoroughly to explain, analyse, and illustrate the main terms of the Act. In particular the duty to interpret statutes for compatibility, if possible, with Convention rights; and the duty on ‘public authorities’ to act in ways which do not violate Convention rights. It considers the new constitutional settlement that the Act brings about and it discusses some of the controversies about its application that have arisen. The final section deals with possible reform.
10. Article 4: prohibition of slavery and forced labour
Authors: Davis Howard
Published: September 2021

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. It discusses European Convention law and relates it to domestic law under the HRA. Questions, discussion points, and thinking points help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress and knowledge can be tested by self-test questions and exam questions at the chapter end. This chapter discusses slavery and forced labour, and the ban on these imposed by the European Convention on Human Rights. ‘Slavery’ and ‘servitude’ are defined as the ownership or total control of one person by another. A slave has no freedom or autonomy and so is denied the minimum dignity that is essential for any human being. ‘Forced labour’, on the other hand, is defined as being forced to work for another under threat of punishment or death. The application of these terms in the context of current practice and, in particular, to ‘modern slavery’ is discussed.
13. Article 7: no punishment without law
Authors: Davis Howard
Published: September 2021

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. It discusses European Convention law and relates it to domestic law under the HRA. Questions, discussion points, and thinking points help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress and knowledge can be tested by self-test questions and exam questions at the chapter end. This chapter focuses on Article 7, which prohibits the retrospective application of criminal laws. This means that a person should not be convicted for an offence that did not exist at the time he or she committed the acts in question, nor should any punishment they receive be one that was not available to the courts at that time. Article 7 also embodies the principle of legal certainty in the context of criminal law. In order for people to adjust their conduct accordingly, they must be able to know the laws that apply to them and be able to foresee the circumstances in which laws will be applied. As an aspect of the ‘rule of law’, Article 7 embodies the idea that the law should not be used arbitrarily.
17. Article 10: freedom of expression
Authors: Davis Howard
Published: September 2021

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. It discusses European Convention law and relates it to domestic law under the HRA. Questions, discussion points, and thinking points help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress and knowledge can be tested by self-test questions and exam questions at the chapter end. This chapter focuses on Article 10, one of the fundamental rights acknowledged in a liberal, democratic society—freedom of expression. Article 10 is a qualified right which reflects the idea that there can be important and legitimate reasons as to why freedom of expression may need to be restricted in order to protect other important rights and freedoms. While the first paragraph of Article 10 establishes a general right to freedom of expression, its second paragraph identifies the only bases upon which the right can be restricted. Restriction of the freedom of expression is subject to scrutiny by the courts, and its necessity must be established by the state. In particular the chapter discusses human rights in the context of political speech and the impact of restraints on hate speech.
19. Article 12: right to marry
Authors: Davis Howard
Published: September 2021

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. It discusses European Convention law and relates it to domestic law under the HRA. Questions, discussion points, and thinking points help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress and knowledge can be tested by self-test questions and exam questions at the chapter end. This chapter deals with Article 12, the right to marry and found a family. The right can be qualified by reference to ‘national laws’. This qualification permits states to regulate and restrict marriage so long as the ‘essence’ of the right is not compromised. The human right to marriage gives public recognition and legal protection to the primary unit through which children are conceived and brought up. The European Court of Human Rights tends to allow a wide margin of appreciation in respect of issues over which a clear European consensus has yet to emerge. A number of issues are also discussed in Chapter 15, on Article 8.
1. The contemporary health-care environment
Authors: Samanta Jo , Samanta Ash
Published: September 2021

This chapter provides an overview of the contemporary health-care environment, with particular reference to the National Health Service (NHS) and its core principles, as well as its constitution. Access to health services, as set out in section 3(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006, is also discussed, together with the quality of care provided for individuals. In addition, the chapter looks at the findings of the Francis Report, which conducted a public inquiry into acknowledged failings in the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, the government response to the report, and the future of the NHS. In addition, there is a section on public health and the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Medical negligence
Authors: Samanta Jo , Samanta Ash
Published: September 2021

This chapter deals with medical negligence and how claims can be brought in the tort of negligence via three requirements: the defendant owed the claimant a duty of care; the defendant’s performance fell below the standard expected; and that the claimant’s injury was caused by the breach of duty. The duty of care in doctor–patient relationships and in ‘good Samaritan’ situations is considered. The Bolam test is discussed, which is used to judge the standard of care expected from doctors (subject to the Bolitho principle), as well as tests to establish causation, such as the ‘but for’ test. Relevant cases are cited, where appropriate. Criminal negligence is also discussed.
Birnie, Boyle, and Redgwell's International Law and the Environment
Authors: Boyle Alan , Redgwell Catherine
Published: September 2021

Birnie, Boyle, and Redgwell's International Law and the Environment places legislation on the protection of the environment firmly at the core of its argument. It uses sharp and thorough analysis of the law, sharing knowledge and experience. The chapters provide a unique perspective on the implications of international regulation, promoting a wide understanding of the pertinent issues impacting upon the law. The text starts by looking at international law and the environment. It looks at the rights and obligations of states concerning the protection of the environment. The text also considers interstate enforcement which includes state responsibility, compliance, and dispute settlement. It moves on to consider non-state actors such as environmental rights, liability, and crimes. Climate change and atmospheric pollution are given some consideration. The text also examines the law of the sea and protection of the marine environment. Conservation is dealt with in detail, including the conservation of nature, ecosystems, and biodiversity and marine living resources. Finally, the text looks at international trade.
1. International Law and the Environment
Authors: Boyle Alan , Redgwell Catherine
Published: September 2021

This chapter provides an overview of the purpose of this book. It starts by saying what the book does not expect to do. The text does not intend to answer the question whether the law we have now serves the needs of environmental justice or fairness among nations, generations, or peoples. It does, however, attempt to show, inter alia, how international law has developed a framework for cooperation on environmental matters between developed and developing states; for the adoption of measures aimed at control of pollution and conservation and sustainable use of natural resources; for the resolution of international environmental disputes; for the promotion of greater transparency and public participation in environmental decision-making; and for the adoption and harmonization of national environmental law.
3. Rights and Obligations of States Concerning Protection of the Environment
Authors: Boyle Alan , Redgwell Catherine
Published: September 2021

This chapter argues that rule and principles of general international law concerning protection of the environment can be identified. It should not be forgotten that international environmental law is not a separate or self-contained field of law, and nor is it currently comprehensively codified or set out in a single treaty or body of treaties. It could be argued that international environmental law is merely the application of established rules, principles, and processes of general international law to the resolution of international environmental problems and disputes, without the need for creating new law, or even for developing old law. The chapter looks in detail at the issues around the expectations and realities of international environmental law.
12. Conservation of Marine Living Resources
Authors: Boyle Alan , Redgwell Catherine
Published: September 2021

This chapter argues that the conservation of marine living resources presents complex problems of regulation and management. The oceans represent the least understood ecosystem on this earth and this makes the conservation of marine life and resources, and the regulation of such, very difficult and complicated. The chapter gives an overview of the law as it stands. International law on conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources has developed very slowly thus far. Effective regimes for conservation of marine living resources have to address not only sustainable use of targeted stocks, but also incidental catch of other species, conservation of biological diversity, and protection of the marine ecosystems which provide the main habitat for fish stocks and other species. The chapter concludes that developing a legal regime that provides for sustainable use and conservation of the ocean’s living resources and biological diversity within the framework of the general law of the sea will continue to remain problematic.
1. The aims and values of ‘criminal justice’
Authors: Welsh Lucy , Skinns Layla , Sanders Andrew
Published: September 2021

This chapter discusses the nature, structure, values and objectives of ‘criminal justice’, together with recent trends, primarily in England and Wales. This includes examining the concepts of guilt and innocence, and the difficulty of ‘proving’ either in many cases; the adversarial nature of the Anglo-American system, contrasted with the inquisitorial approaches that traditionally underpin ‘European’ systems; and the analytical tools of ‘crime control’ and ‘due process’. The importance, and limitation, of the human rights approach in criminal justice is discussed, along with the increasing influences of managerialism and neoliberalism. The chapter then looks at how victims are catered for in these various approaches. It concludes that human rights provide only a bare minimum of protection for suspects and victims alike, and that the system is more exclusionary than inclusionary. Thus a new theoretical framework is proposed that is centred on ‘freedom’, which would prioritise three ‘core values’: justice, democracy and efficiency.
Lipopolysaccharide Regulates Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines, Corticosterone, and Melatonin in Toads
Authors: Ferreira L F , Garcia Neto P G , Titon S C M , Titon B , Muxel S M , Gomes F R , Assis V R
Published: August 2021

Synopsis

Glucocorticoids and melatonin (MEL) show integrated and complex immunomodulatory effects, mostly described for endotherms, yet underexplored in amphibians. In this context, the RT-qPCR of molecules mediating inflammatory processes in amphibians is a valuable tool to explore the relationships among molecular biology, endocrine mediators, and immune response in these animals. In this study, toads (Rhinella diptycha) received an intraperitoneal saline injection or lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2 mg/kg). Six hours post-injection, we analyzed plasma corticosterone (CORT) and MEL levels and pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and C1s). We found increased CORT and decreased MEL levels in response to LPS. Also, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 were upregulated in LPS-injected toads compared with saline-injected toads. Overall, our results demonstrate an LPS-induced inflammatory response with endocrine and immune modulation in R. diptycha toads, exhibiting expected patterns for an inflammatory stimulus within this time frame (6 h post-injection). Toads were responsive to LPS by secreting different cytokines, such as proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6, related to immune cell attraction to inflammatory sites and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, which limits the rate of leukocyte infiltration, inflammation, and downregulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Increased circulating CORT levels are probably associated with the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis by the LPS and the endocrine actions of IL-6. Furthermore, decreased circulating MEL levels are likely due to inhibited MEL secretion by the pineal gland by inflammatory stimuli, indicating the activation/existence of the immune-pineal axis in amphibians.
Money Talks: Cross-ethnic Patronage and Ethnic Conflict in China
Authors: Liu Chuyu
Published: August 2021

Elites within a particular minority out-group in autocracies typically exhibit fairly heterogeneous reactions to the ethnic group in power. The usual result is intra-group variations in the propensity to participate in ethnic conflict. To explain these within-group differences, I highlight the importance of cross-ethnic patronage, which refers to patronage allocated by the ethnic group in power to minority out-group elites. The state can use cross-ethnic patronage to mitigate the risk of ethnic conflicts through two mechanisms. First, the sharing of government spoils at stakes gives minority elites disincentives to initiate anti-regime mobilizations, and second, this co-optation approach effectively enlists cooperative minority elites to strengthen social control. I examine my theory using original county-level fiscal and personnel data of China's Xinjiang region, including annual payrolls and the ethnic composition of over 220,000 local bureaucrats. Findings based on a dataset of ethnic conflicts in Xinjiang from 1980 to 1995 support my theoretical arguments.
Efficacy of statistical process control procedures to identify deviations in continuously measured physiological and behavioral variables in beef heifers resulting from an experimentally combined viral–bacterial challenge
Authors: Kayser William Christian , Carstens Gordon E , Parsons Ira Loyd , Washburn Kevin E , Lawhon Sara D , Pinchak William E , Chevaux Eric , Skidmore Andrew L
Published: August 2021

The objective of this experiment was to determine if statistical process control (SPC) procedures coupled with remote continuous data collection could accurately differentiate between animals experimentally inoculated with a viral–bacterial (VB) challenge or phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Crossbred heifers (N = 38; BW = 230 ± 16.4 kg) were randomly assigned to treatments by initial weight, average daily gain (ADG), bovine herpes virus 1, and Mannheimia haemolytica serum titers. Feeding behavior, dry matter intake (DMI), animal activity, and rumen temperature were continuously monitored remotely prior to and following VB challenge. VB-challenged heifers exhibited decreased (P < 0.01) ADG and DMI, as well as increased (P < 0.01) neutrophils and rumen temperature consistent with a bovine respiratory disease (BRD) infection. However, none of the heifers displayed overt clinical signs of disease. Shewhart and cumulative summation (CUSUM) charts were evaluated, with sensitivity and specificity computed on the VB-challenged heifers (n = 19) and PBS-challenged heifers (n = 19), respectively, and the accuracy was determined as the average of sensitivity and specificity. To address the diurnal nature of rumen temperature responses, summary statistics (mean, minimum, and maximum) were computed for daily quartiles (6-h intervals), and these quartile temperature models were evaluated separately. In the Shewhart analysis, DMI was the most accurate (95%) at deciphering between PBS- and VB-challenged heifers, followed by rumen temperature (94%) collected in the 2nd and 3rd quartiles. Rest was most the accurate accelerometer-based traits (89%), and meal duration (87%) and bunk visit (BV) frequency (82%) were the most accurate feeding behavior traits. Rumen temperature collected in the 3rd quartile signaled the earliest (2.5 d) of all the variables monitored with the Shewhart, followed by BV frequency (2.8 d), meal duration (2.8 d), DMI (3.0 d), and rest (4.0 d). Rumen temperature and DMI remained the most accurate variables in the CUSUM at 80% and 79%, respectively. Meal duration (58%), BV frequency (71%), and rest (74%) were less accurate when monitored with the CUSUM analysis. Furthermore, signal day was greater for DMI, rumen temperature, and meal duration (4.4, 5.0, and 3.7 d, respectively) in the CUSUM compared to Shewhart analysis. These results indicate that Shewhart and CUSUM charts can effectively identify deviations in feeding behavior, activity, and rumen temperature patterns for the purpose of detecting sub-clinical BRD in beef cattle.
The effects of pharmacological levels of zinc, diet acidification, and dietary crude protein on growth performance in nursery pigs
Authors: Hutchens Wade M , Tokach Mike D , Dritz Steve S , Gebhardt Jordan , Woodworth Jason C , DeRouchey Joel M , Goodband Robert D , Calderon Hilda I
Published: September 2021

This experiment was conducted to evaluate potential replacements for pharmacological levels of Zn (provided by Zn oxide), such as diet acidification (sodium diformate) and low dietary crude protein (CP: 21 vs 18%) on nursery pig performance and fecal dry matter (DM). A total of 360 weaned pigs (Line 200 × 400, DNA, Columbus, NE; initially 5.90 ± 0.014 kg) were used in a 42-d growth study. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d of age and randomly assigned to pens (five pigs per pen). Pens were then allotted to one of eight dietary treatments with nine pens per treatment. Experimental diets were fed in two phases: phase 1 from weaning to day 7 and phase 2 from days 7 to 21, with all pigs fed the same common diet from days 21 to 42. The eight treatment diets were arranged as a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of Zn (110 mg/kg from days 0 to 21 or 3,000 mg/kg from days 0 to 7, and 2,000 mg/kg from days 7 to 21), diet acidification, (without or with 1.2% sodium diformate), and dietary CP (21% or 18%, 1.40% and 1.35% in phases 1 and 2 vs. 1.20% standardized ileal digestible Lys, respectively). Fecal samples were collected weekly from the same three pigs per pen to determine DM content. No 2- or 3-way interactions (P > 0.05) were observed throughout the 42-d study for growth performance; however, there was a Zn × acidifier × CP interaction (P < 0.05) for fecal DM on day 7 and for the overall average of the six collection periods. Reducing CP without acidification or pharmacological levels of Zn increased fecal DM, but CP had little effect when ZnO was present in the diet. From days 0 to 21, significant (P < 0.05) main effects were observed where average daily gain (ADG) and gain:feed (G:F) increased for pigs fed pharmacological levels of Zn, sodium diformate, or 21% CP (P < 0.065). In the subsequent period (days 21 to 42) after the experimental diets were fed, there was no evidence of difference in growth performance among treatments. Overall (days 0 to 42), main effect tendencies were observed (P < 0.066) for pigs fed added Zn or sodium diformate from days 0 to 21, whereas pigs fed 21% CP had greater G:F than those fed 18% CP. Pig weight on day 42 was increased by adding Zn (P < 0.05) or acidifier (P < 0.06) but not CP. In summary, none of the feed additives had a major influence on fecal DM, but dietary addition of pharmacological levels of Zn or sodium diformate independently improved nursery pig performance.
The role of iliocapsularis in hip pathology: a scoping review
Authors: Saito Masayoshi , Khokher Zakir H , Kuroda Yuichi , Khanduja Vikas
Published: September 2021

The iliocapsularis is a relatively unheard-of muscle, located deep in the hip covering the anteromedial capsule of the hip joint. Little is known about this constant muscle despite its clinical relevance. The aims of this scoping review are to collate the various research studies reporting on the detailed anatomy and function of iliocapsularis and to demonstrate how inter-individual differences in iliocapsularis can be used as a clinical adjunct in guiding diagnosis and treatment of certain hip joint pathologies. A computer-assisted literature search was conducted based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Our review found 13 studies including 384 cases meeting our inclusion criteria. About 53.8% of the studies involved human cadavers. The current scoping review indicates the relevant anatomy of the iliocapsularis, being a small muscle which arises from the inferior border of the anterior inferior iliac spine and anteromedial capsule of the hip joint, inserting distal to the lesser trochanter. Therefore, based upon these anatomical attachments, iliocapsularis acts as a dynamic stabilizer by tightening the anterior capsule of the hip joint. Implications of this association may be that the muscle is hypertrophied in dysplastic or unstable hips. Determining the size of the iliocapsularis could be of conceivable use in patients with hip symptoms featuring signs of both borderline hip dysplasia and subtle cam-type deformities. Although future research is warranted, this study will aid physicians to understand the clinical importance of the iliocapsularis.
Nursing Leadership During COVID-19: Leading an Inpatient Response at a Regional Military Medical Center
Authors: Akpan Ekerette U , Murray William O , Vergara Mario A , Murray Sarah J , Stucky Christopher H , De Jong Marla J , Villacorta Elba
Published: September 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic stressed healthcare systems worldwide and exposed major flaws in military and civilian healthcare systems. Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) serves as the only military medical center for over 205,000 U.S. service members, beneficiaries, and coalition partners stationed throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The pandemic response required LRMC leaders to reconfigure services to meet pandemic concerns while providing lifesaving care to injured service members from combatant commands. The quickly evolving pandemic challenged leaders to ensure healthcare delivery amid constant change and imperfect information. While LRMC senior leaders developed a strategic pandemic response plan, a multidisciplinary team of nurses, doctors, and technicians collaborated to create an inpatient team to support the dual mission of coronavirus disease 2019 response and casualty care for the warfighter. In this manuscript, we discuss how a multidisciplinary clinical working group at a regional medical center prepared and responded to the pandemic, strategically planned patient care, and ensured support to combatant commands for ongoing forward military operations. Additionally, we share our experiences and lessons learned to inform other military facilities across the medical community and global healthcare systems.
We’re Stronger Together: A Collaboration to Support Military Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Urbieta Dehussa A , Akin Jennifer L , Hamilton Wendy M , Brock Whitney W , Yablonsky Abigail Marter
Published: September 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for every segment of the U.S. population, including military personnel and their families. The TriService Nursing Research Program’s Military Family Research Interest Group (FIG) formed a collaboration with Blue Star Families, a civilian non-profit organization, to identify potential issues faced by military families during the pandemic.

Data Collection Methods

The Pain Points Poll was introduced online by Blue Star Families, and findings were aggregated weekly between March 18 and May 26, 2020. Volunteer poll respondents were mainly recruited through social media outreach. FIG-informed questions were incorporated in week 4 of polling and focused on workplace environment, financial health, social support, physical and mental health, child behavior, utilization of family care plans, and general well-being. Data were collected to gain real-time insights into the major challenges posed by the pandemic. Findings from FIG-informed questions were collaboratively reviewed and analyzed by FIG and BSF teams. Data-driven recommendations were made to stakeholders to improve processes and reprioritize investments for services that aim to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on military families.

Findings

A total of 2,895 military family units (i.e., service members and spouses) responded to the poll, a majority of which (88%) represented active duty family units. Although the majority of families (range: 59%-69%) noted no impact to their finances, approximately one in five families endorsed dipping into their savings during the pandemic. A majority of respondents (69.5%) reported taking active measures to support their mental health, endorsing various strategies. Among parents of special needs children, 45% of active duty families and 60% of single-parent service members reported the inability to maintain continued services for their children. A majority of parents with school-aged children (65%) reported child behavioral changes due to their child’s inability to socialize with peers. Among military service members, 41% were concerned about obtaining fair performance evaluations during the crisis.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic produced significant challenges for military families. Collaboration between military and civilian partners can inform policies and appropriate strategies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 for military families. The findings presented here provide insight into areas where military families can be supported for optimal outcomes during unprecedented times.
On the bipolarity of Wolf–Rayet nebulae
Authors: Meyer D M-A
Published: August 2021

Wolf–Rayet stars are amongst the rarest but also most intriguing massive stars. Their extreme stellar winds induce famous multiwavelength circumstellar gas nebulae of various morphologies, spanning from circles and rings to bipolar shapes. This study is devoted to the investigation of the formation of young, asymmetric Wolf–Rayet gas nebulae and we present a 2.5-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamical toy model for the simulation of Wolf–Rayet gas nebulae generated by wind–wind interaction. Our method accounts for stellar wind asymmetries, rotation, magnetization, evolution, and mixing of materials. It is found that the morphology of the Wolf–Rayet nebulae of blue supergiant ancestors is tightly related to the wind geometry and to the stellar phase transition time interval, generating either a broadened peanut-like or a collimated jet-like gas nebula. Radiative transfer calculations of our Wolf–Rayet nebulae for dust infrared emission at $24\, \mu \rm m$ show that the projected diffuse emission can appear as oblate, bipolar, ellipsoidal, or ring structures. Important projection effects are at work in shaping observed Wolf–Rayet nebulae. This might call a revision of the various classifications of Wolf–Rayet shells, which are mostly based on their observed shape. Particularly, our models question the possibility of producing pre-Wolf–Rayet wind asymmetries, responsible for bipolar nebulae like NGC 6888, within the single red supergiant evolution channel scenario. We propose that bipolar Wolf–Rayet nebulae can only be formed within the red supergiant scenario by multiple/merged massive stellar systems, or by single high-mass stars undergoing additional, e.g. blue supergiant, evolutionary stages prior to the Wolf–Rayet phase.
The atomic hydrogen content of galaxies as a function of group-centric radius
Authors: Hu Wenkai , Cortese Luca , Staveley-Smith Lister , Catinella Barbara , Chauhan Garima , Lagos Claudia del P , Oosterloo Tom , Chen Xuelei
Published: August 2021

We apply a spectral stacking technique to Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope observations to measure the neutral atomic hydrogen content (H i) of nearby galaxies in and around galaxy groups at z < 0.11. Our sample includes 577 optically selected galaxies (120 isolated galaxies and 457 satellites) covering stellar masses between 1010 and 1011.5 M⊙, cross-matched with Yang’s group catalogue, with angular and redshift positions from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We find that the satellites in the centres of groups have lower H i masses at fixed stellar mass and morphology (characterized by the inverse concentration index) relative to those at larger radii. These trends persist for satellites in both high-mass ($M_{\rm halo} \gt 10^{13.5}\, h^{-1}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$) and low-mass ($M_{\rm halo} \leqslant 10^{13.5}\, h^{-1}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$) groups, but disappear if we only consider group members in low local density (Σ < 5 gal Mpc−2) environments. Similar trends are found for the specific star formation rate. Interestingly, we find that the radial trends of decreasing H i mass with decreasing group-centric radius extend beyond the group virial radius, as isolated galaxies close to larger groups lack H i compared with those located more than ∼3.0 R180 away from the centre of their nearest group. We also measure these trends in the late-type subsample and obtain similar results. Our results suggest that the H i reservoir of galaxies can be affected before galaxies become group satellites, indicating the existence of pre-processing in the infalling isolated galaxies.
Exploring the role of cosmological shock waves in the Dianoga simulations of galaxy clusters
Authors: Planelles S , Borgani S , Quilis V , Murante G , Biffi V , Rasia E , Dolag K , Granato G L , Ragone-Figueroa C
Published: August 2021

Cosmological shock waves are ubiquitous to cosmic structure formation and evolution. As a consequence, they play a major role in the energy distribution and thermalization of the intergalactic medium (IGM). We analyze the Mach number distribution in the Dianoga simulations of galaxy clusters performed with the SPH code gadget-3. The simulations include the effects of radiative cooling, star formation, metal enrichment, supernova, and active galactic nuclei feedback. A grid-based shock-finding algorithm is applied in post-processing to the outputs of the simulations. This procedure allows us to explore in detail the distribution of shocked cells and their strengths as a function of cluster mass, redshift, and baryonic physics. We also pay special attention to the connection between shock waves and the cool-core/non-cool-core (CC/NCC) state and the global dynamical status of the simulated clusters. In terms of general shock statistics, we obtain a broad agreement with previous works, with weak (low-Mach number) shocks filling most of the volume and processing most of the total thermal energy flux. As a function of cluster mass, we find that massive clusters seem more efficient in thermalizing the IGM and tend to show larger external accretion shocks than less massive systems. We do not find any relevant difference between CC and NCC clusters. However, we find a mild dependence of the radial distribution of the shock Mach number on the cluster dynamical state, with disturbed systems showing stronger shocks than regular ones throughout the cluster volume.
New insights on binary black hole formation channels after GWTC-2: young star clusters versus isolated binaries
Authors: Bouffanais Yann , Mapelli Michela , Santoliquido Filippo , Giacobbo Nicola , Di Carlo Ugo N , Rastello Sara , Artale M Celeste , Iorio Giuliano
Published: September 2021

With the recent release of the Second Gravitational Wave Transient Catalog (GWTC-2), which introduced dozens of new detections, we are at a turning point of gravitational wave astronomy, as we are now able to directly infer constraints on the astrophysical population of compact objects. Here, we tackle the burning issue of understanding the origin of binary black hole (BBH) mergers. To this effect, we make use of state-of-the-art population synthesis and N-body simulations, to represent two distinct formation channels: BBHs formed in the field (isolated channel) and in young star clusters (dynamical channel). We then use a Bayesian hierarchical approach to infer the distribution of the mixing fraction f, with f = 0 (f = 1) in the pure dynamical (isolated) channel. We explore the effects of additional hyperparameters of the model, such as the spread in metallicity σZ and the parameter σsp, describing the distribution of spin magnitudes. We find that the dynamical model is slightly favoured with a median value of f = 0.26, when σsp = 0.1 and σZ = 0.4. Models with higher spin magnitudes tend to strongly favour dynamically formed BBHs (f ≤ 0.1 if σsp = 0.3). Furthermore, we show that hyperparameters controlling the rates of the model, such as σZ, have a large impact on the inference of the mixing fraction, which rises from 0.18 to 0.43 when we increase σZ from 0.2 to 0.6, for a fixed value of σsp = 0.1. Finally, our current set of observations is better described by a combination of both formation channels, as a pure dynamical scenario is excluded at the $99{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ credible interval, except when the spin magnitude is high.
OlfactionBase: a repository to explore odors, odorants, olfactory receptors and odorant–receptor interactions
Authors: Sharma Anju , Saha Bishal Kumar , Kumar Rajnish , Varadwaj Pritish Kumar
Published: September 2021

Olfaction is a multi-stage process that initiates with the odorants entering the nose and terminates with the brain recognizing the odor associated with the odorant. In a very intricate way, the process incorporates various components functioning together and in synchronization. OlfactionBase is a free, open-access web server that aims to bring together knowledge about many aspects of the olfaction mechanism in one place. OlfactionBase contains detailed information of components like odors, odorants, and odorless compounds with physicochemical and ADMET properties, olfactory receptors (ORs), odorant- and pheromone binding proteins, OR-odorant interactions in Human and Mus musculus. The dynamic, user-friendly interface of the resource facilitates exploration of different entities: finding chemical compounds having desired odor, finding odorants associated with OR, associating chemical features with odor and OR, finding sequence information of ORs and related proteins. Finally, the data in OlfactionBase on odors, odorants, olfactory receptors, human and mouse OR-odorant pairs, and other associated proteins could aid in the inference and improved understanding of odor perception, which might provide new insights into the mechanism underlying olfaction. The OlfactionBase is available at https://bioserver.iiita.ac.in/olfactionbase/.
Readiness of US Federally Qualified Health Centers to Provide HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis
Authors: Ard Kevin L , Uzoeghelu Ugochukwu , Bruno Jack , Lambert Cei , Mayer Kenneth H , Davis John A , Keuroghlian Alex S
Published: September 2021

We report the results of a survey on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) perceptions, capacity, and barriers at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in high–HIV burden jurisdictions in the United States. Health care workers at FQHCs identified multiple barriers to, and strategies for, improving PrEP implementation.
Conflicts of Interest Among Authors of Systematic Reviews Regarding the Management of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain with Opioids Analgesics
Authors: Polson Connor , Siex Parker , Anderson J Michael , Weaver Michael , Roberts Will , Hartwell Micah , Vassar Matt
Published: August 2021

Objective

We sought to determine whether author conflict of interest (disclosed or undisclosed) or industry sponsorship influenced the favorability of reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the use of opioid analgesics for the management of chronic non-cancer pain.

Methods

Our search included the MEDLINE (Ovid) and Embase (Ovid) databases. Study sponsorship was determined using the funding statement provided in each systematic review. Author COI information was extracted from the COI disclosure statement. This information was cross-referenced with information available on the CMS Open Payments Database, Dollars for Profs, Google Patents, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and previously published COI disclosures.

Results

Eight systematic reviews authored by 83 authors were included. Of these authors, 19 (23.0%) were found to have a COI, of which the majority (17/19; 89.5%) had at least one undisclosed COI. Despite nearly one-quarter of authors having a COI, we found no association between the presence of a COI and the favorability of results (P = 0.64) or conclusions (P = 0.07).

Conclusions

COI are common and frequently undisclosed among systematic review authors investigating opioid analgesics for the management of chronic non-cancer pain. Despite a high prevalence of COI, we did not find that these author-industry relationships had a significant influence on the favorability of results and conclusions; however, our findings should be considered a lower bound estimate of the true influence author COI have on outcomes of pain medicine systematic reviews secondary to the low sample size included in the present study.
Cerebellar Activation Deficits in Schizophrenia During an Eyeblink Conditioning Task
Authors: Lundin Nancy B , Kim Dae-Jin , Tullar Rachel L , Moussa-Tooks Alexandra B , Kent Jerillyn S , Newman Sharlene D , Purcell John R , Bolbecker Amanda R , O’Donnell Brian F , Hetrick William P
Published: August 2021

The cognitive dysmetria theory of psychotic disorders posits that cerebellar circuit abnormalities give rise to difficulties coordinating motor and cognitive functions. However, brain activation during cerebellar-mediated tasks is understudied in schizophrenia. Accordingly, this study examined whether individuals with schizophrenia have diminished neural activation compared to controls in key regions of the delay eyeblink conditioning (dEBC) cerebellar circuit (eg, lobule VI) and cerebellar regions associated with cognition (eg, Crus I). Participants with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n = 31) and healthy controls (n = 43) underwent dEBC during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Images were normalized using the Spatially Unbiased Infratentorial Template (SUIT) of the cerebellum and brainstem. Activation contrasts of interest were “early” and “late” stages of paired tone and air puff trials minus unpaired trials. Preliminary whole brain analyses were conducted, followed by cerebellar-specific SUIT and region of interest (ROI) analyses of lobule VI and Crus I. Correlation analyses were conducted between cerebellar activation, neuropsychological test scores, and psychotic symptom scores. In controls, the largest clusters of cerebellar activation peaked in lobule VI during early dEBC and Crus I during late dEBC. The schizophrenia group showed robust cortical activation to unpaired trials but no significant conditioning-related cerebellar activation. Crus I ROI activation during late dEBC was greater in the control than schizophrenia group. Greater Crus I activation correlated with higher working memory scores in the full sample and lower positive psychotic symptom severity in schizophrenia. Findings indicate functional cerebellar abnormalities in schizophrenia which relate to psychotic symptoms, lending direct support to the cognitive dysmetria framework.
Potency Ranking of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using High-Throughput Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Liver Spheroids
Authors: Reardon Anthony J F , Rowan-Carroll Andrea , Ferguson Stephen S , Leingartner Karen , Gagne Remi , Kuo Byron , Williams Andrew , Lorusso Luigi , Bourdon-Lacombe Julie A , Carrier Richard , Moffat Ivy , Yauk Carole L , Atlas Ella
Published: August 2021

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are some of the most prominent organic contaminants in human blood. Although the toxicological implications of human exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are well established, data on lesser-understood PFAS are limited. New approach methodologies (NAMs) that apply bioinformatic tools to high-throughput data are being increasingly considered to inform risk assessment for data-poor chemicals. The aim of this study was to compare the potencies (ie, benchmark concentrations: BMCs) of PFAS in primary human liver microtissues (3D spheroids) using high-throughput transcriptional profiling. Gene expression changes were measured using TempO-seq, a templated, multiplexed RNA-sequencing platform. Spheroids were exposed for 1 or 10 days to increasing concentrations of 23 PFAS in 3 subgroups: carboxylates (PFCAs), sulfonates (PFSAs), and fluorotelomers and sulfonamides. PFCAs and PFSAs exhibited trends toward increased transcriptional potency with carbon chain-length. Specifically, longer-chain compounds (7–10 carbons) were more likely to induce changes in gene expression and have lower transcriptional BMCs. The combined high-throughput transcriptomic and bioinformatic analyses support the capability of NAMs to efficiently assess the effects of PFAS in liver microtissues. The data enable potency ranking of PFAS for human liver cell spheroid cytotoxicity and transcriptional changes, and assessment of in vitro transcriptomic points of departure. These data improve our understanding of the possible health effects of PFAS and will be used to inform read-across for human health risk assessment.
Neonatal Exposure to BPA, BDE-99, and PCB Produces Persistent Changes in Hepatic Transcriptome Associated With Gut Dysbiosis in Adult Mouse Livers
Authors: Lim Joe Jongpyo , Dutta Moumita , Dempsey Joseph L , Lehmler Hans-Joachim , MacDonald James , Bammler Theo , Walker Cheryl , Kavanagh Terrance J , Gu Haiwei , Mani Sridhar , Cui Julia Yue
Published: August 2021

Recent evidence suggests that complex diseases can result from early life exposure to environmental toxicants. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and remain a continuing risk to human health despite being banned from production. Developmental BPA exposure mediated-adult onset of liver cancer via epigenetic reprogramming mechanisms has been identified. Here, we investigated whether the gut microbiome and liver can be persistently reprogrammed following neonatal exposure to POPs, and the associations between microbial biomarkers and disease-prone changes in the hepatic transcriptome in adulthood, compared with BPA. C57BL/6 male and female mouse pups were orally administered vehicle, BPA, BDE-99 (a breast milk-enriched PBDE congener), or the Fox River PCB mixture (PCBs), once daily for three consecutive days (postnatal days [PND] 2–4). Tissues were collected at PND5 and PND60. Among the three chemicals investigated, early life exposure to BDE-99 produced the most prominent developmental reprogramming of the gut-liver axis, including hepatic inflammatory and cancer-prone signatures. In adulthood, neonatal BDE-99 exposure resulted in a persistent increase in Akkermansia muciniphila throughout the intestine, accompanied by increased hepatic levels of acetate and succinate, the known products of A. muciniphila. In males, this was positively associated with permissive epigenetic marks H3K4me1 and H3K27, which were enriched in loci near liver cancer-related genes that were dysregulated following neonatal exposure to BDE-99. Our findings provide novel insights that early life exposure to POPs can have a life-long impact on disease risk, which may partly be regulated by the gut microbiome.
Children with Amalgam Dental Restorations Have Significantly Elevated Blood and Urine Mercury Levels
Authors: Yin Lei , Lin Simon , Summers Anne O , Roper Van , Campen Matthew J , Yu Xiaozhong
Published: August 2021

Human exposure to organic mercury (Hg) as methylmercury (MeHg) from seafood consumption is widely considered a health risk because pure methylmercury is extremely neurotoxic. In contrast, the clinical significance of Hg exposure from amalgam (AMG) dental restorations, the only other major nonoccupational source of Hg exposure, has long been debated. Here, we examined data from the two most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) on 14 181 subjects to assess the contributions of seafood consumption versus AMG to blood total mercury (THg), inorganic mercury (IHg), and methyl mercury (MeHg) and to urine creatinine corrected mercury (UTHg). All subjects were also classified as to their self-reported qualitative consumption of seafood (59% fish and 44% shellfish). Subjects with restorations were grouped into three groups (0) those without AMG (64.4%), (1) those with 1–5 dental AMG restorations (19.7%), (2) those with more than five AMG (16%). Seafood consumption increased total mercury in urine (UTHg) and total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in blood, but unlike AMG, seafood did not increase blood inorganic mercury (IHg). Using stratified covariate (ANOVA) and multivariate (GLM) analyses revealed a strong correlation of blood (THg and IHg) and urine (UTHg) levels with the number of AMGs. In a subpopulation without fish consumption, having more than five AMG restorations raised blood THg (103%), IHg (221%), and urine UTHg (221%) over the group without AMG. The most striking difference was noted in classification by age: subjects under 6 years old with more than five AMG restorations had the highest blood IHg and urine UTHg among all age groups. Elevation of bivalent IHg on a large scale in children warrants urgent in-depth risk assessment with specific attention to genetic- and gender-associated vulnerabilities.