bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum choline in extremely preterm infants declines with increasing parenteral nutrition
Authors: Nilsson Anders K. , Pedersen Anders , Malmodin Daniel , Lund Anna-My , Hellgren Gunnel , Löfqvist Chatarina , Pupp Ingrid Hansen , Hellström Ann
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Choline is an essential nutrient for fetal and infant growth and development. Parenteral nutrition used in neonatal care lack free choline but contain small amounts of lipid-bound choline in the form of phosphatidylcholine (PC). Here, we examined the longitudinal development of serum free choline and metabolically related compounds betaine and methionine in extremely preterm infants and how the concentrations were affected by the proportion of parenteral fluids the infants received during the first 28 postnatal days (PNDs).

Methods

This prospective study included 87 infants born at gestational age (GA) < 28 weeks. Infant serum samples were collected PND 1, 7, 14, and 28, and at postmenstrual age (PMA) 32, 36, and 40 weeks. The serum concentrations of free choline, betaine, and methionine were determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Results

The median (25th–75th percentile) serum concentrations of free choline, betaine, and methionine were 33.7 (26.2–41.2), 71.2 (53.2–100.8), and 25.6 (16.4–35.3) µM, respectively, at PND 1. The choline concentration decreased rapidly between PND one and PND seven [18.4 (14.1–26.4) µM], and then increased over the next 90 days, though never reaching PND one levels. There was a negative correlation between a high intake of parenteral fluids and serum-free choline.

Conclusion

Circulating free choline in extremely preterm infants is negatively affected by the proportion of parenteral fluids administered.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02760472, April 29, 2016, retrospectively registered.
Cerebrospinal fluid levels of GFAP and pNF-H are elevated in patients with chronic spinal cord injury and neurological deterioration
Authors: Holmström Ulrika , Tsitsopoulos Parmenion P. , Holtz Anders , Salci Konstantin , Shaw Gerry , Mondello Stefania , Marklund Niklas
Published: June 2020

Background

Years after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), a subset of patients may develop progressive clinical deterioration due to intradural scar formation and spinal cord tethering, with or without an associated syringomyelia. Meningitis, intradural hemorrhages, or intradural tumor surgery may also trigger glial scar formation and spinal cord tethering, leading to neurological worsening. Surgery is the treatment of choice in these chronic SCI patients.

Objective

We hypothesized that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma biomarkers could track ongoing neuronal loss and scar formation in patients with spinal cord tethering and are associated with clinical symptoms.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 12 patients with spinal cord tethering and measured glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), and phosphorylated Neurofilament-heavy (pNF-H) in CSF and blood. Seven patients with benign lumbar intradural tumors and 7 patients with cervical radiculopathy without spinal cord involvement served as controls.

Results

All evaluated biomarker levels were markedly higher in CSF than in plasma, without any correlation between the two compartments. When compared with radiculopathy controls, CSF GFAP and pNF-H levels were higher in patients with spinal cord tethering (p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, CSF UCH-L1 levels were not altered in chronic SCI patients when compared with either control groups.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that in patients with spinal cord tethering, CSF GFAP and pNF-H levels might reflect ongoing scar formation and neuronal injury potentially responsible for progressive neurological deterioration.
Robust Position/Force Control of Constrained Flexible Joint Robots with Constraint Uncertainties
Authors: Baspinar Cumhur
Published: June 2020

A novel robust control method for simultaneous position/force control of constrained flexible joint robots is proposed. The facts that the uncertainties make the usual control task unsolvable and that the equations of the controlled system are differential-algebraic make the problem dealt with considerably demanding. In order to overcome the unsolvability problem due to the constraint uncertainties the position control task is redefined in a practical way such that only a suitable subgroup of the link positions are driven to their desired trajectories. To determine the elements of the subgroup a simple algorithm of practical relevance is proposed. Under certain smoothness conditions to the contact surfaces, it is demonstrated that the position control problem can dynamically be isolated from the force control. Thus, it becomes possible to handle the position and force control tasks separately. The most significant advantage of the separation of the position and force control tasks is that it makes possible to adapt the position control methods known from free robots. Each joint is used in either position control or force control. The proposed position controller has a cascaded structure: First, trajectories for joint positions that drive the link positions to their desired values are calculated. Then, the joint torques that drive the joint positions to their calculated values are determined. A further significant benefit of the separation of the position and force control tasks arises in the force control such that the transformed equations are linear and any linear robust control approach can be used for the force control. The whole controller requires the measurement of the link and joint positions, the link and joint velocities and the contact forces, and allows modeling uncertainties in the equations of both the robot dynamics and the contact surfaces. The proposed control method is also confirmed by simulations.
Differences and Similarities between Perpetrators of Ethnic and Non-Ethnicity-Based Victimization
Authors: Bayram Özdemir Sevgi , Giles Clover , Özdemir Metin
Published: June 2020

Immigrant and minority youth are at risk of ethnic victimization. Despite an increasing number of studies that aim to understand the consequences of such negativity, relatively little attention has been paid to understanding who the perpetrators of ethnic victimization are. To address this gap in knowledge, the present study examined whether youth who victimize their peers due to their ethnic background are also those who engage in non-ethnicity-based victimization. The study also investigated the underlying factors, i.e., impulsivity, empathy, moral disengagement, and attitudes toward immigrants, that are common or specific to groups of youth. The sample included 949 adolescents residing in Sweden (Mage = 13.11, SD = 0.41; range: 12–15; 46% girls). Cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups of adolescents, based on their reports of ethnic and non-ethnicity-based victimization: (1) low on both forms of victimization, (2) high on ethnic victimization only, (3) high on non-ethnicity-based victimization only, and (4) high on both forms of victimization. The results showed that being morally disengaged is a common denominator of ethnic and non-ethnicity-based victimizers. Difficulties in regulating impulses and lack of perspective-taking skills trigger youth’s engagement in non-ethnicity-based victimization. Lack of empathic concerns and low levels of positive attitudes toward immigrants are the bases of ethnic victimization. Together, these findings suggest that the precursors of ethnic and non-ethnicity-based victimization have similarities as well as differences, which require further attention in developing programs aimed at preventing different forms of peer victimization.
A crustal scarcity indicator for long-term global elemental resource assessment in LCA
Authors: Arvidsson Rickard , Söderman Maria Ljunggren , Sandén Björn A. , Nordelöf Anders , André Hampus , Tillman Anne-Marie
Published: June 2020

Purpose

How to assess impacts of mineral resources is much discussed in life cycle assessment (LCA). We see a need for, and a lack of, a mineral resource impact assessment method that captures the perspective of long-term global scarcity of elements.

Method

A midpoint-level mineral resource impact assessment method matching this perspective is proposed, called the crustal scarcity indicator (CSI), with characterization factors called crustal scarcity potentials (CSPs) measured as kg silicon equivalents per kg element. They are based on crustal concentrations, which have been suggested to correlate with several important resource metrics (reserves, reserve base, reserves plus cumulative production, and ore deposits), thereby constituting proxies for long-term global elemental scarcity.

Results and discussion

Ready-to-use CSPs are provided for 76 elements, through which the CSI can be calculated by multiplying with the respective masses of elements extracted from Earth’s crust for a certain product. As follows from their crustal concentrations, the three platinum-group metals iridium, osmium, and rhodium have the highest CSPs, whereas silicon, aluminum, and iron have the lowest CSPs.

Conclusion

An evaluation of the CSPs and the characterization factors of four other mineral resource impact assessment methods in LCA (the abiotic depletion, the surplus ore, the cumulative exergy demand, and the EPS methods) were conducted. It showed that the CSPs are temporally reliable, calculated in a consistent way, and have a high coverage of elements in comparison. Furthermore, a quantitative comparison with the characterization factors of the four other methods showed that the CSPs reflect long-term global elemental scarcity comparatively well while requiring a minimum of assumptions and input parameters.

Recommendations

We recommend using the CSI for assessments of long-term global elemental scarcity in LCA. Since the CSI is at the midpoint level, it can be complemented by other mineral resource impact assessment methods (both existing and to be developed) to provide a more comprehensive view of mineral resource impacts in an LCA.
Dynamics of thin disk settling in two-layered fluid with density transition
Authors: Mrokowska Magdalena M.
Published: June 2020

Settling of solid particles in a stratified ambient fluid is a process widely encountered in geophysical flows. A set of experiments demonstrating the settling behaviour (the pattern of trajectory, variation of particle orientation, and settling velocity with depth) of thin disks descending through a nonlinear density transition was performed. The results showed complex hydrodynamic interactions between a particle and a liquid causing settling orientation instabilities and unsteady particle descent in low to moderate Reynolds number regime. Five phases of settling were observed: two phases with stable horizontal, one with stable vertical disk position, and two reorientation phases; moreover, two local minima of settling velocity were identified. It was demonstrated that thresholds for local minima and the first reorientation depend on the settling dynamics in an upper layer, stratification conditions, and disk geometry. The comparison of settling behaviour of thin disks varying in diameter revealed that settling dynamics is sensitive to particle geometry mainly in the upper part of density transition with a non-obvious result that the first minimum velocity is smaller for a disk with a larger diameter than for a disk with a smaller diameter. The analysis of settling trajectory showed that two reorientations are accompanied with a horizontal drift, which may be important in the context of interactions between particles settling in a group.
Online sexual deviance, pornography and child sexual exploitation material
Authors: Quayle Ethel
Published: June 2020

Definitions of sexual deviance have changed over time and the more recent use of paraphilia and paraphilic disorder in the development of DSM‑5 has been met with criticism. The larger context of this discussion lies in the use of sexually explicit media (SEM), whether this can be seen as normative rather than deviant, and its relationship with sexual violence. The use of sexual media depicting children (CSEM) has been seen as a good diagnostic indicator of paedophilia, but clearly not all people who possess CSEM can be classified as paedophiles. However, possession and trading of CSEM may provide evidence of specific sexual interests and there is some evidence to suggest that there may be a potential homology between CSEM possession, victim selection and offending behaviour. The article explores how sexual interest in children is evidenced and the challenges in understanding the prevalence of these activities both in the community as well as forensic and clinical samples.
The legality of the citizenship deprivation of UK foreign terrorist fighters
Authors: Arnell Paul
Published: June 2020

Citizenship deprivation of foreign terrorist fighters by the United Kingdom is increasing. This is of debatable legality under international law on five separate grounds. First, the UK is arguably wrong in claiming that an extraterritorial deprivation is outside the jurisdiction of the ECHR. Second, UK law may be unlawfully arbitrary and discriminatory. Third, UK law arguably contravenes the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness 1961. Fourth, the UK may be violating its customary international legal obligation to readmit nationals. Fifth, UK practice may breach its conventional extradite or prosecute obligations. Overall, there are arguments of considerable strength that can be made in opposition to UK law and practice in the area.
Human enamel 87Sr/86Sr evidence of migration and land use patterns at Tell Brak, a Late Chalcolithic urban centre in NE Syria
Authors: Sołtysiak Arkadiusz
Published: June 2020

During the Late Chalcolithic 3/4 (c. 3900–3200 BCE), Tell Brak in NE Syria became a large urban centre with central administration, craft specialization and a settlement size of at least 130 ha. 87Sr/86Sr values in enamel of 34 human individuals from Tell Brak representing four temporal subsets were measured and compared against the local background to understand the pattern of migrations and origin of food consumed by inhabitants of the city. The rate of migration from areas with different 87Sr/86Sr background values was constantly low, and there is no evidence of long-distance mobility. Decrease of average 87Sr/86Sr values with time was paralleled by their higher dispersal. Finally, in the last subset representing the end of first urbanization period data are again less variable. All this indicates a rise in spatial heterogeneity of resources to feed the growing population of the expanding city, which was likely caused by a gradual extension of land used for food production.
Experimental analysis of drilling fluid prepared by mixing iron (III) oxide nanoparticles with a KCl–Glycol–PHPA polymer-based mud used in drilling operation
Authors: Ahmed Nayem , Alam Md. Saiful , Salam M. A.
Published: June 2020

Loss of drilling fluid commonly known as mud loss is considered as one of the critical issues during the drilling operation as it can cause severe formation damage. To minimize fluid loss, researchers introduced numerous additives but did not get the expected result. Recently, the use of nanoparticles (NPs) in drilling fluid gives a new hope to control the fluid loss. A basic KCl–Glycol–PHPA polymer-based mud is made, and six different concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 wt% iron (III) oxide or Hematite (Fe2O3) NPs are mixed with the basic mud. The experimental observations reveal that fluid loss of basic mud is 5.9 ml after 30 min and prepared nano-based drilling mud results in a less fluid loss at all concentrations. Nanoparticles with a concentration of 0.5 wt% result in a 5.1 ml fluid loss at the API LTLP filter press test. On the other hand, nanoparticles with a concentration of 3.0 wt% enhance the plastic viscosity, yield point, and 10 s gel strength by 15.0, 3.0, and 12.5%, respectively. The optimum concentration of hematite NPs is found to be 0.5 wt% which reduces the API LPLT filtrate volume and filter cake thickness by 13.6 and 40%, respectively, as well as an improvement of plastic viscosity by 10%.
Correction to: Coalfield structure and structural controls on coal in China
Authors: Cao Daiyong , Wang Anmin , Ning Shuzheng , Li Huantong , Guo Aijun , Chen Limin , Liu Kang , Tan Jieqing , Zheng Zhihong
Published: June 2020

The original publication of the article contains incorrect notes in Fig. 1. The correct version of notes in Fig. 1 is provided in this erratum.
A Novel Strategy of In Situ Trimerization of Cyano Groups Between the Ti3C2Tx (MXene) Interlayers for High-Energy and High-Power Sodium-Ion Capacitors
Authors: Liu Siyang , Hu Fangyuan , Shao Wenlong , Zhang Wenshu , Zhang Tianpeng , Song Ce , Yao Man , Huang Hao , Jian Xigao
Published: June 2020

2D MXenes are attractive for energy storage applications because of their high electronic conductivity. However, it is still highly challenging for improving the sluggish sodium (Na)-ion transport kinetics within the MXenes interlayers. Herein, a novel nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx MXene was synthesized by introducing the in situ polymeric sodium dicyanamide (Na-dca) to tune the complex terminations and then utilized as intercalation-type pseudocapacitive anode of Na-ion capacitors (NICs). The Na-dca can intercalate into the interlayers of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets and simultaneously form sodium tricyanomelaminate (Na3TCM) by the catalyst-free trimerization. The as-prepared Ti3C2Tx/Na3TCM exhibits a high N-doping of 5.6 at.% in the form of strong Ti–N bonding and stabilized triazine ring structure. Consequently, coupling Ti3C2Tx/Na3TCM anode with different mass of activated carbon cathodes, the asymmetric MXene//carbon NICs are assembled. It is able to deliver high energy density (97.6 Wh kg−1), high power output (16.5 kW kg−1), and excellent cycling stability (≈ 82.6% capacitance retention after 8000 cycles).
Industry 4.0: changes in work organization and qualification requirements—challenges for academic and vocational education
Authors: Kuper Harm
Published: June 2020

The following article is based on the observation that digitalisation in the world of work does on the one hand trigger processes of change, leading to shifts and new constellations in the required qualifications. On the other hand, the effects of digitalisation on qualification requirements are moderated by work organisation. Against the background of a generalist understanding of academic and vocational qualifications, the article deals with the question what curricula correspond to the changing requirements of digitalisation under the new organizational circumstances of Industry 4.0. Turning to the discussion of preparatory qualifications for occupations in Industry 4.0, it follows the hypothesis that the technological developments that lead to a change in qualification needs also increase the potential to meet those needs. This leads to the idea of a digital signature pedagogy.
Does offspring sex ratio differ between urban and forest populations of great tits (Parus major)?
Authors: Ágh Nóra , Pipoly Ivett , Szabó Krisztián , Vincze Ernő , Bókony Veronika , Seress Gábor , Liker András
Published: June 2020

Since male and female offspring may have different costs and benefits, parents may use sex ratio adjustment to increase their own fitness under different environmental conditions. Urban habitats provide poorer conditions for nestling development in many birds. Therefore, we investigated whether great tits (Parus major) produce different brood sex ratios in urban and natural habitats. We determined the sex of nestlings of 126 broods in two urban and two forest sites between 2012 and 2014 by molecular sexing. We found that brood sex ratio did not differ significantly between urban and forest habitats either at egg-laying or near fledging. Male offspring were larger than females in both habitats. This latter result suggests that male offspring may be more costly to raise than females, yet our findings suggest that urban great tits do not produce more daughters despite the unfavourable breeding conditions. This raises the possibility that other aspects of urban life, such as better post-fledging survival, might favour males and thereby compensate for the extra energetic costs of producing male offspring.
Handicapés et confinés en résidence universitaire
Authors: Douat Étienne
Published: June 2020

La crise sanitaire liée à la propagation de l’épidémie mondiale de Coronavirus au début de l’année 2020 a révélé avec force les effets de la dégradation des services publics à l’œuvre en France depuis plusieurs décennies, notamment dans le domaine de l’éducation ou de la santé. La situation des populations handicapées pourtant récemment présentée comme une “priorité nationale” par le Président de la République française a été oubliée par les pouvoirs publics dans la “gestion” de cette crise. L’objectif de l’article est de contribuer à saisir la situation particulièrement invisibilisée des jeunes handicapés confinés en résidence universitaire pendant près de deux mois. À partir d’une série d’entretiens avec Joseph, un étudiant aveugle en master, et quelques-uns de ses proches, cette étude de cas revient sur le parcours de cet étudiant, ses conditions d’existence à l’heure du confinement, ses difficultés pour faire face à l’impératif de “continuité pédagogique,” mais aussi les ressources et le soutien dont il bénéficie pour survivre et “s’en sortir” malgré tout.
Albucasis: pioneer of the modern anorectal surgery
Authors: Nouri-Vaskeh Masoud , Mostafavi Soroush , Alizadeh Hadi , Kazemi Abdolhassan
Published: June 2020

Albucasis is one of the world’s pioneers in surgery. In his book, “Al-Tasrif”, he described the surgical procedures and tools, as well as post-operative care in detail. He introduced colorectal surgeries in detail and used topical substances to accelerate recovery. Albucasis considered different approaches for anorectal surgeries and used them according to the complexity of the cases. Many of these methods were first invented by him and the effect of his ideas on modern surgical methods is evident. In this article, we discuss anorectal diseases treated by Albucasis using surgical procedures.
Comparing Recommendations to Reality: First Aid Training and Equipment for Amateur Yacht Crews on Ocean Passages
Authors: Forbes Alison M.
Published: June 2020

Introduction

The aim of this study was to establish the first aid skills possessed and equipment carried by sailors participating in the 2018 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers and to compare these with expert recommendations for skills and diagnostic/monitoring equipment to be carried aboard.

Methods

A questionnaire survey was done of 179 boats at Las Palmas, and 88 completed questionnaires were returned. The recommendations were derived from a Delphi study that recruited telemedical providers, first aid trainers, and doctors and nurses with experience in ocean crossing in a small boat. The results were considered with reference to the published literature on accidents and injuries in sailors.

Results

Forty-two percent of boats had crew that had completed no or only 1 d of first aid training in the previous 5 y. Twenty-eight percent said that they had too little first aid training; lack of time was cited most frequently for not doing more training. Twenty-three percent only carried a basic or inshore medical kit. The Delphi study generated a core list of 6 skills and 11 pieces of diagnostic/monitoring equipment that should be available.

Conclusions

When compared, the results of the questionnaire and the Delphi study demonstrated a gap in knowledge/preparation among amateur, oceangoing yacht crews. There is a need for increased education about core first aid skills for sailing out of reach of outside assistance and useful diagnostic/monitoring equipment to have available.
The State-of-the-Art of Dating Techniques Applied to Ancient Mortars and Binders: A Review
Authors: Urbanová Petra , Boaretto Elisabetta , Artioli Gilberto
Published: June 2020

The most recent workshop on mortar dating (25–27 Oct. 2018, Bordeaux, Montaigne University, France), which closely followed the publication of an extensive round robin-exercise involving several laboratories, was an opportunity to review the history and challenges of mortar dating methods and procedures currently in use. This review stems from the keynote lectures presented at the meeting, and wishes to summarize recent results, present trends, and future challenges. Three major areas are brought into focus (1) radiocarbon (14C) dating of complex mortars: can we assess the chances of successful dating?, (2) 14C dating of archaeological carbonate materials: difficulties, new directions and applications, and (3) single grain optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of mortars in architectural archaeology: the current state of the art. This paper reflects the material presented by the authors and discussed at the workshop.
THE HERALDRY OF THE DE BOHUN EARLS
Authors: Diaz Pascual Lucia
Published: June 2020

This paper analyses the evidence relating to the heraldry used by the patriarchs of the de Bohun family (1066–1373) as preserved in seal impressions, rolls of arms, manuscripts, wills, inventories and personal objects held in private collections. It traces the development of the family’s coat of arms, as well as the adoption and use by the de Bohun earls of various heraldic symbols (such as the swan, the trefoil, the leopard and the wyvern) to serve as a reminder of the family’s glorious ancestry and its many royal and noble marital alliances. By analysing the unique heraldry adopted by each de Bohun earl, this paper concludes that the family’s noble identity evolved over several generations and that the choice of heraldic symbols by each earl was highly individual, providing a unique insight into their sense of identity and personal values, as well as their desire to ensure family memory.
Urea supplementation in rumen and post-rumen for cattle fed a low-quality tropical forage
Authors: Oliveira Cristhiane V. R. de , Silva Tadeu E. , Batista Erick D. , Rennó Luciana N. , Silva Fabyano F. , de Carvalho Isabela P. C. , Martín-Tereso Javier , Detmann Edenio
Published: June 2020

We evaluated the differences between the supplementation of urea in rumen and/or abomasum on forage digestion, N metabolism and urea kinetics in cattle fed a low-quality tropical forage. Five Nellore heifers were fitted with rumen and abomasum fistulas and assigned to a Latin square design. The treatments were control, continuous infusion of urea in the abomasum (AC), continuous infusion of urea in the rumen, a pulse dose of urea in the rumen every 12 h (PR) and a combination of PR and AC. The control exhibited the lowest (P< 0·10) faecal and urinary N losses, which were, overall, increased by supplementation. The highest urinary N losses (P< 0·10) were observed when urea was either totally or partially supplied as a ruminal pulse dose. The rumen N balance was negative for the control and when urea was totally supplied in the abomasum. The greatest microbial N production (P< 0·10) was obtained when urea was partially or totally supplied in the abomasum. Urea supplementation increased (P< 0·10) the amount of urea recycled to the gastrointestinal tract and the amount of urea-N returned to the ornithine cycle. The greatest (P< 0·10) amounts of urea-N used for anabolism were observed when urea was totally and continuously infused in the abomasum. The continuous abomasal infusion also resulted in the highest (P< 0·10) assimilation of microbial N from recycling. The continuous releasing of urea throughout day either in the rumen or abomasum is able to improve N accretion in the animal body, despite mechanism responsible for that being different.
Polychromy on the Antonine Wall Distance Sculptures: Non-destructive Identification of Pigments on Roman Reliefs
Authors: Campbell Louisa
Published: June 2020

Non-destructive analytical techniques are now widely and successfully employed in the fields of materials science and conservation. Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and portable Raman spectrometry have proven particularly valuable for the rapidin-situanalysis of samples, but their applicability for the analysis of archaeological artefacts for which survival of surface treatments can be negatively impacted by post-depositional processes has been underexplored. Roman relief-sculpted monumental inscriptions from the Antonine Wall, commonly referred to as ‘Distance Slabs’, have offered an excellent opportunity to deploy these non-destructive techniques to determine whether they were originally adorned with pigments and, if so, to identify the colours used. This is a revolutionary approach to identifying colours on ancient sandstone sculpture that transforms our understanding of these unique monuments. Elemental composition analysis by pXRF has confirmed evidence for pigments and this is supported by the Raman results, making it possible to develop and reconstruct a palette of colours that originally brought these monuments to life in vibrant polychrome. The research offers a new methodology for identifying pigments on sandstone sculpture and opens new avenues for investigating other classes of material culture alongside the development of bespoke analytical equipment.
Supervisors against regulation? The Basel Committee and country risk before the International Debt Crisis (1976–1982)
Authors: Drach Alexis
Published: June 2020

While the International Debt Crisis of the early 1980s was the most severe financial crisis since World War II and while national and international banking supervision was developing at that time, little is known about the response of supervisors to the deteriorating financial environment in the years preceding the crisis. Complementing the political and business history of the international debt situation, this article aims to unravel the international banking supervision side of the question. Based on archival material from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and various central banks, the article examines how the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), then emerging as the leading forum on international banking supervision, anticipated the International Debt Crisis through the prism of ‘country risk’. The article shows that the Committee refused to recommend strict regulations in this area. It argues that members adopted this position because of the lack of good information and the difficult position of banking supervision between macroeconomic issues and individual banks’ own responsibilities, but also because of somewhat excessive faith in market mechanisms. Their discussions on country risk shed light on critical challenges of banking supervision and, thereby, on the history of banking regulation and prudential thinking.
Successful surgical correction of tetralogy of fallot associated with anomalous left coronary artery connection to pulmonary artery
Authors: Ramakrishnan Pradeep , Ganga Kartik P. , Velayoudam Devagourou
Published: June 2020

Tetralogy of fallot is rarely associated with anomalous left coronary artery connection to main pulmonary artery. High index of suspicion is needed preoperatively to diagnose this association and treat successfully. We present a case of 9-year-old boy with the rare association of tetralogy of fallot and anomalous left coronary artery connection to pulmonary artery with a giant steal intercoronary collateral crossing right ventricular outflow tract who was treated successfully by single-stage surgical correction.
Alternatives to Social Science One
Authors: Levi Margaret , Rajala Betsy
Published: June 2020

This article responds to King and Persily’s (2019) proposal for a new model of industry–academic partnership using an independent third party to mediate between firms and academics. We believe this is a reasonable proposal for highly sensitive individual-level data, but it may not be appropriate for all types of data. We explore alternative options to their proposal, including Administrative Data Research Facilities, Data Collaboratives at GovLab, and Tech Data for Social Good Initiative at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. We believe social scientists should continue to explore, evaluate, and scale a variety of industry–academic data-sharing models.
The Role of Macroeconomic Policy in the Economic Development of European Countries in Transition
Authors: Milojević Ivan , Ćurčić Mihailo , Jovanović Valentina
Published: June 2020

With a special focus on the Republic of Serbia, this article will examine the macroeconomic performance of the external macroeconomic sector and its impact on the economic progress of developing countries. Our aim is to prove that economic development and the growth of the external macroeconomic sector are correlated. We will do so by analysing how macroeconomic parameters are conditioned. By analysing the macroeconomic and primarily dynamic indicators of countries in transition, including Serbia, it is possible to determine the situation and changes as well as potential causes of economic development. A macroeconomic analysis of developing countries can also determine the characteristics of economic development and mutual relations between macroeconomic indicators.
Dietary pattern longitudinality during 8 years in children: results from the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC–CZ)
Authors: Grulichová Markéta , Zlámal Filip , Andrýsková Lenka , Švancara Jan , Pikhart Hynek , Bienertová-Vašků Julie
Published: June 2020

Objective:

Dietary pattern analysis constitutes a suitable method for identifying complex food preferences as well as a useful tool for comparing dietary behaviour across individual populations. In addition to a lack of information on Central European dietary patterns, dietary data featuring a longitudinal aspect are likewise largely unavailable for the region. Our study thus strives to address this gap by analysing children’s dietary patterns, their stability and possible changes at 7, 11 and 15 years in the Czech part of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC–CZ).

Design:

We analysed dietary data based on the self-reported semi-quantitative FFQ obtained in 1998, 2002 and 2006. Dietary patterns were derived using factor analysis for each period, followed by the determination of dietary pattern stability across the individual periods.

Setting:

The analysis of dietary patterns was based on longitudinal children’s dietary data from the geographical region that was undergoing massive socio-economic changes at the time of birth of the study subjects.

Participants:

All participants were children. At 7 years the analysis included 3220 children, at 11 years the analysis included 2509 children and at 15 years the analysis included 1589 children.

Results:

Two stable children’s dietary patterns labelled as ‘prudent’ and ‘junk food’ were identified across all three time points (7, 11 and 15 years).

Conclusions:

This study identifies stable longitudinal trends in the dietary behaviour of children enrolled in the ELSPAC-CZ study.
Challenges to sovereign ambitions: forces of convergence and divergence within the global pharmaceutical sector and the UK's withdrawal from the European Union
Authors: Wright John S. F. , Doukas Dimitrios
Published: June 2020

This paper maps key regulatory, governance and legal challenges associated with the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (EU) in terms of convergent and divergent pressures within the global pharmaceutical sector. These include (i) convergentregulatorypressures associated with the European framework for pre-market licensing; (ii) convergent and divergentindustrypressures with regard to drug discovery and manufacturing; and (iii) divergent and convergentmarketpressures associated with the supply, pricing and assessment of medicines. The UK's sovereign ambitions risk a loss of influence over the licensing and surveillance of pharmaceuticals under convergent regulatory and industry pressures to engage in unilateral participation in the European regime. Further, they also risk a loss of influence over processes for pricing and assessing the effectiveness of new treatment regimens under divergent market pressures from larger pharmaceutical markets outside the EU, notably the United States.
Chemopreventive activity of hydroethanolic Murraya	koenigii leaves extract (HEMKLE) against chemically induced skin	carcinogenesis in mice
Authors: Kaur Sarvnarinder , Dogra Shilpa , Sadwal Shilpa , Aniqa Aniqa
Published: June 2020

Abstract. The present study aimed to examine the chemoprotective effect of Hydroethanolic  Murraya koenigii leaves extract (HEMKLE) on murine skin carcinogenesis model. For the study, male LACA mice divided into four groups (n = 15 per group). Group I (Control), Group II (DMBA/TPA), Group III (HEMKLE), and Group IV (HEMKLE + DMBA/TPA). Skin tumors were induced in Group II (DMBA/TPA) and Group IV (HEMKLE + DMBA/TPA) by topical application of 7, 12 dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) [500 nmol/100 μL of acetone, twice a week for two weeks] and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) [1.7 nmol/100 μL of acetone, twice a week for eighteen weeks] and HEMKLE (200 mg/kg b. w.) was administered orally (instilled by oral gavage). The chemoprotective response of HEMKLE was evident by inhibition in tumor incidence, mean tumor volume, mean tumor burden, total number of tumors, and tumor size in Group IV (HEMKLE + DMBA/TPA) when compared to Group II (DMBA/TPA). HEMKLE administration also decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and increased the antioxidants enzyme activities in Group IV (HEMKLE + DMBA/TPA) when compared to Group II (DMBA/TPA) that suggests its antioxidant potential. HEMKLE administration also increased the mRNA and protein expression of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and decreased the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 in Group IV (HEMKLE + DMBA/TPA) when compared to Group II (DMBA/TPA) that suggest its apoptosis-inducing effect on DMBA/TPA induced skin carcinogenesis.
Entropy and Intermittency of River Bed Elevation Fluctuations
Authors: Ranjbar Sevil , Singh Arvind
Published: June 2020

River beds evolve as a result of a complex interaction between strongly nonlinear processes such as near‐bed turbulence, particle‐particle interaction, and particle‐bed interaction. This interaction contributes to the initiation and evolution of extremely variable river bed elevation patterns, commonly known as bedforms that span across a range of spatiotemporal scales. In this paper, we employ a refined definition of entropy, that is, the multiscale entropy (MSE), to characterize the observed variability in the fluctuations of bed elevation time series under variable discharges obtained from a field‐scale laboratory flume. The MSE accounts for the sequence of data points in a series and quantifies the complexity and lack of information in a system. We show that the MSE of bed elevation fluctuations is higher for higher discharges. When compared with surrogates, which are the linearized series of a signal, the MSE provides across‐scale information about the underlying nonlinearity and linear correlation in a signal. The MSE difference between the original and surrogate series is due to the inherent nonlinearity that is higher for higher discharge at the smaller scales and peaks at intermediate scales. These results indicate the presence of a heterogeneous arrangement of extreme fluctuations that enhances the underlying complexity in bed elevation, rendering them less predictable at higher discharges. We further investigate the role of asymmetry of the bed elevation increments in observed complexity. Our results of asymmetry together with entropy suggest that characteristics of both small‐ and large‐scale features should be included for the accurate predictive modeling of sediment transport.
Remaking a Planet One Atom at a Time
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: June 2020

When is a planet not a planet? Where does helium rain? How can water be solid and liquid at the same time? For answers, scientists put common planetary materials under extreme pressure and watched what happened next.
The Ticking Time Bomb of Arctic Permafrost
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: June 2020

Arctic infrastructure is under threat from thawing permafrost.
New Insight Into Lunar Regolith‐Forming Processes by the Lunar Rover Yutu‐2
Authors: Lin Honglei , Lin Yangting , Yang Wei , He Zhiping , Hu Sen , Wei Yong , Xu Rui , Zhang Jinhai , Liu Xiaohui , Yang Jianfeng , Xing Yan , Yu Chengwu , Zou Yongliao
Published: June 2020

The Yutu‐2 rover of the Chang'E‐4 spacecraft observed many meter‐sized shallow pits fully covered with small fragments, distinct from the typical rock‐free impact craters with comparable sizes in the landing area. The unique morphology of the pits and the visible and near‐infrared spectra of the fragments suggest that the fragments are broken pieces of impact melt‐conglutinated regolith breccia projectiles, which were excavated from preexisting craters. The rareness of rock on the landing area surface suggests that the preexisting craters were probably small in size (e.g., <60 m in diameter), not large enough to penetrate the thick regolith (~12 m) and to excavate the beneath rock breccia and/or bedrock. The presence of the impact melts was confirmed by the glass‐like spectra of some fragments with unusually high albedo and blue‐green tint in the centers of the pits. These observations reveal the gardening and consolidating processes on the Moon.
Solar‐Induced Fluorescence Does Not Track Photosynthetic Carbon Assimilation Following Induced Stomatal Closure
Authors: Marrs J. K. , Reblin J. S. , Logan B. A. , Allen D. W. , Reinmann A. B. , Bombard D. M. , Tabachnik D. , Hutyra L. R.
Published: June 2020

Since 2006, six satellites measuring solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) have been launched to better constrain terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP). The promise of the SIF signal as a proxy for photosynthesis with a strong relationship to GPP has been widely cited in carbon cycling studies. However, chlorophyll fluorescence originates from dynamic energy partitioning at the leaf level and does not exhibit a uniformly linear relationship with photosynthesis at finer scales. We induced stomatal closure in deciduous woody tree branches and measured SIF at a proximal scale, alongside leaf‐level gas exchange, pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence, and leaf pigment content. We found no change in SIF or steady‐state PAM fluorescence, despite clear reductions in stomatal conductance, carbon assimilation, and light‐use efficiency in treated leaves. These findings suggest that equating SIF and photosynthesis is an oversimplification that may undermine the utility of SIF as a biophysical parameter in GPP models.
New Insights Into Complex Interactions Between Heterogeneity and Wettability Influencing Two‐Phase Flow in Porous Media
Authors: Bakhshian Sahar , Rabbani Harris Sajjad , Hosseini Seyyed Abolfazl , Shokri Nima
Published: June 2020

Coupled effects of wettability and pore geometry on pore‐scale dynamics of immiscible two‐phase fluid displacement were investigated using a multiphase lattice Boltzmann model in homogeneous and heterogeneous porous media under a wide range of contact angle θ (25° ≤θ≤ 175°). The observed invasion patterns indicate that the complex interactions between wettability and pore morphology play crucial roles in controlling the displacement patterns. The detailed pore‐scale analysis enabled us to delineate how wettability influences the recovery efficiency of the defending fluid in homogeneous and heterogeneous porous media. As the wetting condition changes from strong drainage to imbibition, we observed a transition from burst to corner flow leading to a compact displacement and hence a higher recovery efficiency in the heterogeneous sample. The present study sheds new insights on how the interaction between wettability and heterogeneity influences fluid displacement in porous media.
Topological Comparison Between the Stochastic and the Nearest‐Neighbor Earthquake Declustering Methods Through Network Analysis
Authors: Varini Elisa , Peresan Antonella , Zhuang Jiancang
Published: June 2020

Earthquake clustering is a significant feature of seismic catalogs, both in time and space. Several methodologies for earthquake cluster identification have been proposed in the literature in order to characterize clustering properties and to analyze background seismicity. We consider two recent data‐driven declustering techniques, one based on nearest‐neighbor distance and the other on a stochastic point process. These two methods use different underlying assumptions and lead to different classifications of earthquakes into background events and clustered events. We investigated the classification similarities by exploiting graph representations of earthquake clusters and tools from network analysis. We found that the two declustering algorithms produce similar partitions of the earthquake catalog into background events and earthquake clusters, but they may differ in the identified topological structure of the clusters. Especially the clusters obtained from the stochastic method have a deeper complexity than the clusters from the nearest‐neighbor method. All of these similarities and differences can be robustly recognized and quantified by the outdegree centrality and closeness centrality measures from network analysis.
Strengthening and Lengthening of the Hawaiian Lee Countercurrent Driven by the Pacific Trade Wind Acceleration
Authors: Nan Feng , Xue Huijie , Yu Fei , Wang Ran
Published: June 2020

The Hawaiian Lee Countercurrent (HLCC) is a zonal eastward flowing current driven by the orographic wind stress curl (WSC) dipole on the leeside of the Hawaiian Islands, which plays an important role in the regional air‐sea interactions. During the late 1990s and early 2010s, the Pacific trade winds exhibited an unprecedented acceleration with respect to the past century, thus implying a strengthening of the HLCC. Based on satellite observations, we found that the mean velocity and length of the HLCC increased by 53% and 97%, respectively, during the period of the Pacific trade wind acceleration (1999–2014) in comparison to the mean values during the weakened years (1993–1998 and 2015–2018). Correspondingly, the mean heat transport by the HLCC across the International Date Line during the strengthened years increased by 80% in comparison to that before 1999 and after 2014. The sea level anomaly (SLA) variation to the south of the HLCC was found to be the main factor controlling the changes in the HLCC. Local (i.e., near the Hawaiian Islands) and remote WSC both contributed to the SLA variation by exciting westward propagating oceanic Rossby waves, although the former was dominant. Our results also indicate that the dramatically changing HLCC plays an important role in eddy generation along the HLCC path.