bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Skills Required in the Care of Cancer Patients Who Undergo Surgery in the Hospital-Home Transition
Authors: Carrillo Gloria Mabel , Mesa Mónica Liliana , Burbano Daira Vanesa
Published: January 2021

It is essential to recognize what care is required by patients undergoing surgery in the transition from hospital to home to provide guidance for plans for release and follow-up and to achieve patient adherence to these plans. The objective of this study is to describe the skills required for the care of cancer patients who undergo surgery after hospital discharge. An exploratory-type descriptive approach was adopted, including 290 cancer patients who underwent surgery at a reference center in Bogotá, Colombia. Hospital discharge was followed by 4 weeks of telephone follow-up to investigate the skills required for care on the basis of the CUIDAR tool. The participants had a mean age of 59.3 years, with the majority being female and having low levels of education. The most prevalent type of cancer found was breast cancer, followed by colon and rectal, prostate, stomach, cervical, lung, and ovarian cancer. The first follow-up identified needs for care in most of the CUIDAR dimensions, predominantly instrumentation, knowledge, and anticipation. The fourth follow-up, which found reduced needs, focused on knowledge of diet and eating, physical activity, the management of sadness and anxiety, a permanent telephone hotline, and sharing with loved ones. Cancer patients who underwent surgery require skills for at-home care that need to be addressed in hospital discharge programs and with structured telephone follow-up. Telephone follow-up interventions need to be consolidated in hospital release or hospital discharge programs that address these care needs.
Nanobiocatalyst beds with Fenton process for removal of methylene blue
Authors: Alayli Azize , Nadaroglu Hayrunnisa , Turgut Esra
Published: January 2021

The remediation of methylene blue from wastewater using chitosan-sunflower-nano-iron (CSN) beds was examined in this study with the Fenton process. Nano-iron is synthesized using the green synthesis process. Then, biopolymer beds obtained nano-iron, sunflower tray waste, and chitosan. These beds used the Fenton process for removing Methylene blue (MB) from water. Beds synthesis and dye removing are characterized using SEM, TEM, FTIR, and XRD techniques. For the method optimization, the effects of dye concentration, temperature, pH, H2O2, and amount of biocatalyst were studied. The result of the wavelength scan was found 660 nm for methylene blue dye. Using CSN, catalyst was very effective in color removal for MB under optimal conditions. The highest removal rate 98% was obtained at pH 6 for 270 min. The optimum conditions for the MB dye are as follows; dye concentration: 25 mg/L, amount of absorbent: 2.5 mg/mL, temperature: 60 °C, H2O2 amount: 20 mg/L (600 µL, 30%). When the experiment is studied in optimum conditions, max. dye removal was calculated to be 98%. From SEM, TEM, XRD, and FTIR results, the change in the surface of the biocatalyst could be clearly observed. It is understood that the biocatalyst synthesized from the results we obtained easily removed a large amount of dye (MB).
Distributed fiber optic shape sensing along shotcrete tunnel linings: Methodology, field applications, and monitoring results
Authors: Monsberger Christoph M. , Lienhart Werner
Published: January 2021

Deformation monitoring and structural reliability assessment are key components in modern conventional tunneling. The state-of-the-art monitoring design is usually based on displacement measurements of geodetic targets using total stations paired with pointwise geotechnical sensors inside the tunnel lining. In recent years, distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) has become more popular in tunneling applications. DFOS measurements basically deliver internal strain and temperature distributions, but no direct relation to the tunnel shape’s behavior. This paper introduces a novel sensing and evaluation concept, which combines DFOS strain measurements and geodetic displacement readings for distributed shape assessment along curved structures, such as tunnel cross-sections. The designed system was implemented into shotcrete tunnel cross-sections as well as shaft linings and enables the determination of displacement profiles with high spatial resolution in the range of centimeters. Evaluations of continuous monitoring campaigns over several weeks as well as epoch-wise measurements performed by different DFOS sensing units in combination with stochastic analysis demonstrate the high potential of the developed approach and its capability to extend traditional monitoring methods in tunneling.
Artefacts, practices and pedagogies: teaching writing in English in the NAPLAN era
Authors: Gannon Susanne , Dove Jennifer
Published: January 2021

In secondary schools, English teachers are often made responsible for writing results in national testing. Yet there have been few studies that focussed on this key group, or on how pedagogical practices have been impacted in the teaching of writing in their classrooms. This study investigated practices of English teachers in four secondary schools across different states, systems and regions. It developed a novel method of case study at a distance that required no classroom presence or school visits for the researchers and allowed a multi-sited and geographically dispersed design. Teachers were invited to select classroom artefacts pertaining to the teaching of writing in their English classes, compile individualised e-portfolios and reflect on these items in writing and in digitally conducted interviews, as well as elaborating on their broader philosophies and feelings about the teaching of writing. Despite and sometimes because of NAPLAN, these teachers held strong views on explicit teaching of elements of writing, but approached these in different ways. The artefacts that they created animated their teaching practices, connected them to their students and their subject, suggested both the pressure of externally driven homogenising approaches to writing and the creative individualised responses of skilled teachers within their unique contexts. In addition to providing granular detail about pedagogical practices in the teaching of writing in the NAPLAN era, the contribution of this paper lies in its methodological adaptation of case study at a distance through teacher-curated artefact portfolios that enabled a deep dive into individual teachers’ practices.
Biochar—just a black matter is not enough
Authors: Hornung Andreas , Stenzel Fabian , Grunwald Jan
Published: January 2021

What differs biochar from charcoal? The simple answer is that biochar is a carbon-rich product obtained from the thermal decomposition of organic material, at the presence of no or only a bit of oxygen. In principle, the production of biochar is comparable to the production of charcoal, one of the oldest and most established processes developed by mankind. While charcoal is made traditionally from wood, biochar can be based on a wide range of biomass and biomass residues. However, a variety of technologies for the production of biochar has been developed in recent years. The technologies are based on pyrolysis, gasification, or hydrothermal carbonization and are ranging from simple units, like heated steel drums to full automated and controlled processes. Therefore, the obtained products have tremendous differences in its properties and resulting qualities. The quality defines the field of application. To obtain the required quality for each application, the right process must be applied. Consequently, it is not enough only to enrich the carbon content by thermal decomposition of organic material. The production of tailor-made biochar for specific high added–value application is much more complex. In addition, side products like liquid biofuels make business cases stronger. If it is done in the right way, biochar production combined with advanced biofuels can be an economic solution to overcome the problems of climate change. “So for the future of mankind, this black matter might give the light at the end of the tunnel.”
What we learned in the development of a third-year medical student curricular project
Authors: De la Cruz Maria Syl D , Smith Rashida S. , Silverio Alexis E. , Casola Allison R. , Kelly Erin L.
Published: January 2021

The application of continuous systems improvement in medical education can provide actionable information for curriculum development, improvement, and future planning (as reported by Bowe and Armstrong, Acad Med 92:585–92, 2017). After receiving a medical education grant, we developed a curriculum to teach medical students how to use quality improvement (QI) to address health disparities in vulnerable populations. During the process of developing and implementing this curriculum, we learned several lessons.
One of the major surprises was that our proposed project work took much longer to complete than anticipated. This was mainly because we did not have the right team assembled from the beginning. Specifically, we were missing a team member with evaluation expertise, and therefore we did not devise a systematic process for evaluation and assessment. Without periodic checks or timely assessments built into our curriculum design, we received feedback from students after it was too late to implement changes. We realized that our initial research design had some methodological flaws, which we later rectified.
We encountered additional technical challenges during the curriculum implementation. We struggled with various online learning platforms. Through this, we learned the importance of being knowledgeable upfront about the features of learning platforms and adaptable to changing educational technologies. We also learned our curriculum could and should evolve to meet the needs of our learners and faculty.
Low self-esteem predicts orthorexia nervosa, mediated by spiritual attitudes among frequent exercisers
Authors: Bóna Enikő , Erdész Anett , Túry Ferenc
Published: January 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to measure how orthorexic tendencies relate to age, self-esteem, and spirituality. We conducted the study on a sample of Hungarian adults performing regular fitness activity.

Method

175 participants completed a four-part online survey: demographics and training habits, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Eating Habits Questionnaire-Revised (EHQ-R), and one of the Spiritual Awareness questionnaire’s subscale. We performed univariate linear regression to assess the predictor role of age on orthorexic tendencies. Mediation analysis was conducted to determine the effect of self-esteem on orthorexic tendencies and the mediator role of spiritual attitudes.

Results

Age negatively correlated with EHQ-R, and there were no gender differences. Lower self-esteem was a predictor for orthorexic tendencies with the total effect of ß = -0.3046 (p < 0.0001). In part, this is a direct relationship, but it is mediated by spiritual awareness as well.

Discussion

Among frequent exercisers, strict dieting is likely to originate from a lack of self-esteem due to perfectionist standards, social comparison, and the aspiration of being in control. In case self-esteem is achieved through spiritual approaches, individuals may experience positive changes in their attitudes toward eating and their bodies as well. In the future, it is important to confirm whether the EHQ-R indicates diagnostic boundaries.

Level of evidence

Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.
Robust low friction performance of graphene sheets embedded carbon films coated orthodontic stainless steel archwires
Authors: Pan Zonglin , Zhou Qinzhao , Wang Pengfei , Diao Dongfeng
Published: January 2021

Reducing the friction force between the commercial archwire and bracket during the orthodontic treatment in general dental practice has attracted worldwide interest. An investigation on the friction and wear behaviors of the uncoated and carbon film coated stainless steel archwires running against stainless steel brackets was systematically conducted. The carbon films were prepared at substrate bias voltages from +5 to +50 V using an electron cyclotron resonance plasma sputtering system. With increasing substrate bias voltage, local microstructures of the carbon films evolved from amorphous carbon to graphene nanocrystallites. Both static and stable friction coefficients of the archwire-bracket contacts sliding in dry and wet (artificial saliva) conditions decreased with the deposition of carbon films on the archwires. Low friction coefficient of 0.12 was achieved in artificial saliva environment for the graphene sheets embedded carbon (GSEC) film coated archwire. Deterioration of the friction behavior of the GSEC film coated archwire occurred after immersion of the archwire in artificial saliva solution for different periods before friction test. However, moderate friction coefficient of less than 0.30 sustained after 30 days immersion periods. The low friction mechanism is clarified to be the formation of salivary adsorbed layer and graphene sheets containing tribofilm on the contact interfaces. The robust low friction and low wear performances of the GSEC film coated archwires make them good candidates for clinical orthodontic treatment applications.
Optimization of process parameters for turning of titanium alloy (Grade II) in MQL environment using multi-CI algorithm
Authors: Shastri Apoorva , Nargundkar Aniket , Kulkarni Anand J. , Benedicenti Luigi
Published: January 2021

The advancement of materials science during the last few decades has led to the development of many hard-to-machine materials, such as titanium, stainless steel, high-strength temperature-resistant alloys, ceramics, refractories, fibre-reinforced composites, and superalloys. Titanium is a prominent material and widely used for several industrial applications. However, it has poor machinability and hence efficient machining is critical. Machining of titanium alloy (Grade II) in minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) environment is one of the recent approaches towards sustainable manufacturing. This problem has been solved using various approaches such as experimental investigation, desirability, and with optimization algorithms. In the group of socio-inspired optimization algorithm, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based methodology referred to as Cohort Intelligence (CI) has been developed. In this paper, CI algorithm and Multi-CI algorithm have been applied for optimizing process parameters associated with turning of titanium alloy (Grade II) in MQL environment. The performance of these algorithms is exceedingly better as compared with particle swarm optimization algorithm, experimental and desirability approaches. The analysis regarding the convergence and run time of all the algorithms is also discussed. It is important to mention that for turning of titanium alloy in MQL environment, Multi-CI achieved 8% minimization of cutting force, 42% minimization of tool wear, 38% minimization of tool-chip contact length, and 15% minimization of surface roughness when compared with PSO. For desirability and experimental approaches, 12% and 8% minimization of cutting force, 42% and 47% minimization of tool wear, 53% and 40% minimization of tool-chip contact length, and 15% and 20% minimization of surface roughness were attained, respectively.
A review on fabrication and characteristics of functionally graded aluminum matrix composites fabricated by centrifugal casting method
Authors: Verma Rupesh Kumar , Parganiha Digvijay , Chopkar Manoj
Published: January 2021

This paper delivers a detailed review of the influence of material and process variables on the microstructure, mechanical and tribological characteristics of functionally graded aluminum matrix composites (FGAMCs) produced by the ex-situ centrifugal casting method from previous studies. Also, the basic principle and classification of centrifugal casting to produce FGAMCs are illustrated. The ceramic reinforcement particles are classified based upon their uses in the processing of FGAMCs through the ex-situ centrifugal casting technique. In addition, using the linear regression model, an effort has been made to optimize the material and process variables to get enhance the mechanical properties. It is seen from the optimization while mold preheating temperature ranges 250–350 °C, centrifugal speed kept between 600 and 1300 rpm, pouring temperature in the range of 740–760 °C having reinforcement particle of 10–15 wt%, with an average particle size of 18–50 µm yield the maximum of hardness and tensile strength. This paper aims to provide direction to future researchers to develop advanced material using this route and thus, to boost technological growth.
Decreased circUBAP2 Expression Is Associated with Preeclampsia by Limiting Trophoblast Cell Proliferation and Migration
Authors: Qi Tingting , Zhang Di , Shi Xuting , Li Minhui , Xu Hongbin
Published: January 2021

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common obstetric disease and a major cause of maternal, newborn, and fetal death. This condition is a multisystem disorder characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and involvement of the kidney, liver, and nervous system. It is generally believed that the placenta is the main cause of PE. circRNAs are a special class of noncoding RNAs that can form covalently closed continuous ring structures with tissue-specific conservation, and they have been reported to play a wide range of regulatory functions in various diseases, including PE. In this study, we reported a novel circUBAP2 (hsa_circ_0003496) and found that it was downregulated in placental tissues from patients with PE compared to healthy controls. After knocking down circUBAP2 in trophoblast cells, we found that cell proliferation and migration were significantly suppressed. In addition, preliminary mechanistic studies showed that circUBAP2 can sponge miR-1244, and FOXM1 was identified as a target gene for miR-1244. Cotransfection of si-circUBAP2 and a miR-1244 inhibitor partially reversed the suppressive effect induced by circUBAP2 depletion on proliferation and migration. In conclusion, the circUBAP2/miR-1244/FOXM1 axis might be a promising molecular marker for the diagnosis and treatment of PE.
Retrieval of Additional Epinephrine from Adrenaclick-Style Epinephrine Autoinjectors
Authors: Ganti Arun , Pilkerton Rebecca , Falsgraf Erika , Vanwert Elizabeth , Brouwer Nathan , Beyer Alexander , Byrne Brendan
Published: January 2021

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction involving multiple organ systems that can result in significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Epinephrine is the mainstay of treatment. Most episodes of anaphylaxis resolve after a single dose of epinephrine, but biphasic and protracted courses of anaphylaxis are well described. The need for additional doses of epinephrine poses a significant challenge in the wilderness setting, because patients and providers may only carry a single autoinjector. Prior work has demonstrated successful disassembly of various brands of epinephrine autoinjectors to retrieve additional drug product for repeat dosing. We describe 2 techniques to retrieve additional doses of epinephrine from Adrenaclick-style epinephrine autoinjectors. The techniques described are off-label and are not approved by the manufacturer or the Food and Drug Administration. Wilderness providers should familiarize themselves with techniques for retrieval of additional epinephrine from various autoinjectors in light of significant differences in product design.
A Case of High Altitude Cerebral Edema With a Prolonged Motivational Deficit
Authors: Kaneko Yoshiyuki , Suzuki Masahiro , Ishihara Masaki , Kitamura Masayuki , Bando Shino , Sagawa Tomoaki , Yamada Kouju , Kubo Hideyuki , Nakajima Hideto , Uchiyama Makoto
Published: January 2021

We report a case of prolonged motivational deficit as a sequela of high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), the most severe form of neuropsychiatric dysfunction arising from traveling to high altitude. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed hyperintense lesions in the globi pallidi bilaterally on T2-weighted images. Single-photon emission computed tomography showed hypoperfusion in dorsolateral and orbital prefrontal cortices bilaterally and in the anterior cingulate cortex. This case suggests that a prolonged motivational deficit can occur in patients with HACE. The case may also suggest that HACE can cause network disturbances between the prefrontal cortex and the globi pallidi.
The Treatment of Unidentified Hematotoxic Snake Envenomation and the Clinical Manifestations of a Protobothrops kelomohy Bite
Authors: Tangtermpong Athitarn , Pinyopornpanish Kanokporn , Vasaruchapong Taksa , Chenthanakij Boriboon , Pinyopornpanish Kanokwan
Published: January 2021

Hematotoxic snake envenomation is clinically important and has serious complications. This case report describes the clinical manifestations of a bite from a newly described species of hematotoxic snake and the outcomes of treatment using locally available antivenom and supportive management. A 39-y-old male was bitten on his right ankle by an unidentified snake. The patient developed coagulopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and clinical signs of compartment syndrome of his right leg within the first day. Eight doses (30 mL, or 3 vials per dose), or a total of 240 mL, of hemato-polyvalent antivenin (Thai Red Cross, Thailand) were given. Aggressive intravenous hydration and alkalinization of urine were performed, and a fasciotomy was performed for the treatment of suspected compartment syndrome. The patient’s clinical symptoms and laboratory results indicated progressive improvement during the 5 d of hospitalization. The snake was later identified as Protobothrops kelomohy, a novel snake species with no clinical data available regarding its envenomation of humans. This case shows that P kelomohy envenomation can produce severe effects that occur both locally and systemically. The benefits of the use of polyvalent antivenom in this situation were unclear. However, with supportive treatment in conjunction with serial clinical and laboratory monitoring, the patient recovered, albeit after 7 d of hospitalization.
Worship in Medieval England
Authors: Salisbury Matthew Cheung
Published: January 2021

The study of medieval liturgy can tell us a great deal not only about the worship of the church, but also about the people who practised it. However, existing scholarship can be problematic and difficult to use. This short book aims to unsettle the notion that liturgiology is a mysterious, abstruse, and monolithic discipline. It challenges some scholarly orthodoxies, hints at the complexity of the liturgy and shows that it needs to be examined in new and different ways.
Medieval Canon Law
Authors: Rennie Kriston R.
Published: January 2021

Canon law is an unavoidable theme for medieval historians. It intersects with every aspect of medieval life and society, and at one point or another, every medievalist works on the law. In this book, Kriston Rennie looks at the early medieval origins and development of canon law though a social history framework, with a view to making sense of a rich and complex legal system and culture, and an equally rich scholarly tradition. It was in the early Middle Ages that the ancient traditions, norms, customs, and rationale of the Church were shaped into legislative procedure. The structures and rationale behind the law's formulation - its fundamental purpose, reason for existence and proliferation, and methods of creation and collection - explain how the medieval Church and society was influenced and controlled. They also, as this short book argues, explain how it ultimately functioned.
Audiovisions
Authors: Zielinski Siegfried
Published: January 2021

The production, distribution, and perception of moving images are undergoing a radical transformation. Ever-faster computers, digital technology, and microelectronic are joining forces to produce advanced audiovision - the media vanishing point of the 20th century. Very little will remain unchanged. The classic institutions for the mediation of film - cinema and television - are revealed to be no more than interludes in the broader history of the audiovisual media. This book interprets these changes not simply as a cultural loss but also as a challenge: the new audiovisions have to be confronted squarely to make strategic intervention possible. 'Audiovisions' provides a historical underpinning for this active approach. Spanning 100 years, from the end of the 19th to the end of the 20th century, it reconstructs the complex genesis of cinema and television as historically relative - and thus finite - cultural forms, focussing on the dynamics and tension in the interaction between the apparatus and its uses. The book is also a plea for staying power" in studies of cultural technology and technological culture of film. Essayistic in style it dispenses with complicated cross references and instead is structured around distinct historical phases. Montages of images and text provide supplemental information contrast and comment.
Habsburg Communication in the Dutch Revolt
Authors: Stensland Monica
Published: January 2021

This study takes a unique approach to the Dutch Revolt (1567–1609) by focusing on the largely untold story of the Habsburg regime and its local supporters in the Low Countries. The author takes a holistic approach and examines a variety of print and non-print 'written, oral, and theatrical' media in order to discover how the regime made use of the different communication channels available. In addition, available sources have been used to document ordinary people's responses to the conflict and the various messages they encountered in the public sphere. The result sheds new light on the Habsburg regime's approach to communication and opinion-forming, while also providing a useful corrective to our understanding of rebel propaganda.
Peer-to-Peer Lending and EU Credit Laws: A Creditworthiness Assessment, Credit-Risk Analysis or … Neither of the Two?
Authors: Ferretti Federico
Published: January 2021

The Article deals with the protection of consumer borrowers and lending investors in peer-to-peer lending within the legal framework provided by EU credit laws. This is the legal framework for EU Member States in the area of loans to consumers. In particular, the article analyses the business model of taking lending decisions on financial technologies (“Fintech”) and big data vis-à-vis the legal obligation of the creditworthiness assessment by lenders. At the same time, it extends the applicability of such a business model to the credit-risk analysis undertaken in the interest of lenders. Ultimately, it questions to what extent EU law caters for peer-to-peer lending, and and to what extent consumers and lenders can find protection. It hints that peer-to-peer lending presents risks for both consumers and lenders, falling short of legal obligations and established practices for their protection.
Enlarging the Immunities of European Parliament’s Members: The Junqueras Judgment
Authors: Torre de Silva Victor
Published: January 2021

Members of Parliament have traditionally enjoyed different kinds of immunities; nowadays, these are openly criticized on several grounds. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has recently given a judgment on the inviolability of European Parliament’s members, which might be regarded as a milestone in its scarce case law on the matter: Oriol Junqueras Vies, Judgment of the Grand Chamber of December 19, 2019. This Article intends to summarize and comment on this decision, a preliminary reference requested by the Spanish Supreme Court in a notorious criminal procedure, connected with the suspended referendum on Catalonia’s independence. The CJEU reinforces the inviolability of Members of European Parliament (MEPs), thus strengthening the powers of this institution. However, the judgment perhaps fails to fully capture European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case law and was rendered at a time when the controversy on Mr. Junqueras had arguably become outdated.
The Place of Labor Rights in the European Union’s Environmental Policies
Authors: McDougall Pascal
Published: January 2021

This Article analyzes the potential impact of the European Commission’s proposed “European Green Deal” on labor rights, in particular the rights of workers in lower-income EU Member States. It focuses on environmental measures, already part of the EU’s existing environmental policies and further contemplated in the Green Deal, which prohibit or tax certain polluting production processes. Such measures, insofar as they apply uniformly to traded-good industries, are likely to make firms in lower-income EU Member States less competitive and harm their workers’ rights to work and to fair wages. Thus, even though these environmental measures are worth pursuing for the benefits they procure, the distribution of their costs is likely to run afoul of egalitarian norms. This Article puts forward an institutionalist approach to trade theory which recognizes that competitiveness is legally constructed. It argues on the basis of that theory that lower-income countries should be allowed to adopt ambitious industrial policies and subsidize their firms to insulate workers from the disruptions caused by added environmental regulatory costs. More broadly, this Article presents an agenda to pursue radical environmental transformation while remedying, or at least not worsening, inequalities between workers and citizens in the EU.
Legal Lobbying: The Evolving (But Hidden) Role of Lawyers and Law Firms in the EU Public Affairs Market
Authors: Korkea-aho Emilia
Published: January 2021

There is an increasing involvement of lawyers and law firms in public affairs through activities that are aimed at influencing legislative and regulatory developments. Law firms offer services which can be regarded as lobbying, and yet, to the detriment of transparent policy-making, they are reluctant to register in the European Union Transparency Register (EUTR) and provide information about their activities. As growing attention is paid to the need to regulate lobbying at the EU and Member State levels, the question arises as to whether and to what extent such regulatory framework should also cover certain services provided by law firms, that is, legal lobbying. This Article charts the phenomenon of legal lobbying and its regulation in the EU context. It shows how the EUTR attempts to distinguish between legal services and lobbying by defining two lawyer roles: a legal expert, and an advocate. These roles allow the possibility to pinpoint two unresolved issues associated with legal lobbying: the scope of professional secrecy, and the meaning of the legal advice exception. An important conclusion is that regulatory clarification is necessary to resolve ambiguities and broadly address the implications that legal lobbying raises in terms of transparent and legitimate law-making processes.
Resolving the Inconsistency Between National and EU Motor Insurance Law. Was Factortame the Solution Nobody Sought?
Authors: Marson James , Alissa Hasan , Ferris Katy
Published: January 2021

In this Article, we argue that the uncertainty of UK national motor vehicle insurance law—when viewed with respect to its European Union (EU) parent, the Motor Vehicle Insurance Directive (MVID)—was never satisfactorily addressed, primarily when using the remedy available through the non-contractual liability of the State. The EU enforcement mechanisms were equally haphazard in their effectiveness and success in affording rights to third-party victims. Given the link between the MVID and the free movement of persons and goods, on which the harmonization of insurance protection was based, we present the first Article establishing an argument that those offending aspects of UK national law should have been disapplied. The UK has concluded its agreement to withdraw its membership of the EU—and thus no longer to be bound by EU law and the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice. Yet until the transitional period ends, the UK remained aligned to EU law and those defects present in national law should have been remedied. Therefore, the remedy issued from the Factortame line of case authorities may have proven to be the most effective way to grant access to rights which were denied to third-party victims in the UK. Here we present a justification for its application.
Intelligence quotient decline following frequent or dependent cannabis use in youth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
Authors: Power Emmet , Sabherwal Sophie , Healy Colm , O’ Neill Aisling , Cotter David , Cannon Mary
Published: January 2021

Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cross-sectional data assessing the effect of cannabis on cognitive functioning and intelligence show inconsistent results. We hypothesized that frequent and dependent cannabis use in youth would be associated with Intelligence Quotient (IQ) decline. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched Embase, PubMed and PsychInfo from inception to 24 January 2020. We included studies with non-treatment seeking samples and pre- and post-exposure measures of IQ. We requested data from authors if summary data was not available from published work. We preregistered our review with PROSPERO (ID no. CRD42019125624). We found seven cohort studies including 808 cases and 5308 controls. We found a significant effect for the association between frequent or dependent cannabis use in youth and IQ change, Cohen's d = −0.132 (95% CI −0.198 to −0.066) p < 0.001. Statistical heterogeneity between studies was also low at I2 = 0.2%. Study quality was moderate to high. This translates to an average decline of approximately 2 IQ points following exposure to cannabis in youth. Future studies should have longer periods of follow up to assess the magnitude of developmental impact.
A generic model for representing openness in multi-agent systems
Authors: Hattab Sondes , Lejouad Chaari Wided
Published: January 2021

Openness is a challenging property that may characterize multi-agent systems (MAS). It refers to their ability to deal with entities leaving and joining agent society over time. This property makes the MAS behaviour complex and difficult to study and analyze, hence the need for a representative model allowing its understanding. In this context, many models were defined in the literature and we propose to classify them into three categories: structural models, functional models and interactional models. The existing models were proposed either for representing structural openness or for modelling functional or interactional ones independently. But, none of them was oriented to represent MAS openness in a global way while considering its three aspects at once. Besides, each one was defined in order to realize a specific objective and in a particular domain of application. In this paper, we propose an evolving KAGR graph. The latter provides a common understanding of openness and unifies its structural, functional and interactional aspects in a generic way. Our model is finally tested and validated on a multi-agent rescue simulator.
Do TV viewing and frequency of ultra-processed food consumption share mediators in relation to adolescent anxiety-induced sleep disturbance?
Authors: Werneck André O , Hoare Erin , Silva Danilo R
Published: January 2021

Objective:

To investigate the role of potential shared mediators in the association of TV viewing and frequency of ultra-processed food consumption with anxiety-induced sleep disturbance.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

Data from the Adolescent School-Based Health Survey, a Brazilian nationally representative survey of ninth-grade adolescents conducted in 2015, were used.

Participants:

99 791 adolescents (52 015 girls) with a mean age of 14·3 years (range 11–19) participated. All variables were collected through a self-reported questionnaire based on the Global School-Based Student Health Survey. Anxiety-induced sleep disturbance was the outcome. Over 4 h/d of TV viewing and daily consumption of ultra-processed foods were the exposures. Body satisfaction, loneliness, self-rated health and eating while watching TV or studying were mediators. Age, ethnicity, food insecurity, type of city (capital or interior), country region and physical activity were covariates. Logistic regression and mediation models (Karlsson–Holm–Breen method) assessed associations.

Results:

Both daily ultra-processed food consumption (boys: OR 1·48, 95 % CI 1·30, 1·70; girls: OR 1·46, 95 % CI 1·34, 1·60) and TV viewing (boys: OR 1 24, 95 % CI 1·08, 1·43; girls: OR 1·09, 95 % CI 1·00, 1·19) were associated with higher odds for anxiety-induced sleep disturbance. Loneliness and eating while watching TV or studying (only among girls) consistently mediated the association of both daily ultra-processed food consumption (loneliness: boys 17·4 %, girls 23·4 %; eat while watching TV or studying: girls 6·8 %) and TV viewing (loneliness: boys 22·9 %, girls 45·8 %; eat while watching TV or studying: boys 6·7 %, girls 17·9 %) with anxiety-induced sleep disturbance.

Conclusions:

Daily ultra-processed food consumption and TV viewing share mediators and can act in synergic mechanisms in the association with anxiety-induced sleep disturbance. Therefore, future interventions should focus in the reduction of both behaviours in combination.
Obesity considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Dohet François , Loap Suva , Menzel Alain , Iddir Mohammed , Dadoun Frédéric , Bohn Torsten , Samouda Hanen
Published: January 2021

Abstract. The worldwide population is facing a double burden of epidemic, the COVID-19 and obesity. This is even more alarming as obesity increases the COVID-19 severity. However, the relationship between obesity and COVID-19 severity is more complex than a simple association with BMI. In particular, obesity has been associated with low death rates in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, a fatal comorbidity to COVID-19, possibly due to the obesity paradox. Also, visceral adiposity could be a major risk factor for COVID-19 severity, due to its immune activation component, release of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and involvement in the cytokine storm, hypercoagulability and embolism. A poor antioxidant nutritional status also weakens the immune system, increasing inflammation and infection risk. Moreover, the COVID-19 lockdown might impact lifestyle patterns, mental health and weight bias, worsening the obesity then COIVD-19 situation. On the other hand, health care expenses and productivity loss are expected to increase during the concomitant epidemics. The co-occurrence of obesity and COVID-19 is a major challenge at both public health and economic levels that should urgently be taken into consideration. The identification of COVID-19 weight related risk factors and the development of appropriate weight management programs are needed to tackle the concomitant epidemics.
Declining Summertime pCO2 in Tundra Lakes in a Granitic Landscape
Authors: Brothers S. , Bowes D. , Pearse W. D. , Tank S. , Vanengen R. , Sibley P.
Published: January 2021

As climate change accelerates, positive feedback loops could establish between atmospheric warming and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from natural ecosystems. Of particular interest are high‐latitude environments, many of which contain large stores of organic carbon and have experienced decades of accelerated warming. Freshwater ecosystems situated in carbon‐rich Arctic landscapes are predicted to respond to warming with higher respiration rates relative to primary production rates, increasing their carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) and thus CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. However, large areas of shallow soil/bedrock occur in Arctic and sub‐Arctic regions and could respond differently due to the lower availability of stored carbon. Here, we used pH and alkalinity to calculate 23 years (1994–2017) of summertime (July and August) pCO2 and CO2 fluxes for 19 sub‐Arctic tundra lakes located on the shallow‐bedrock granitic Canadian Shield in Nunavut, Canada, and found a significant decline in CO2 emissions. Regional precipitation did not change over this period, yet dramatic increases in pH, conductivity, and total alkalinity indicated that longer ice‐free periods and changes in primary production, both functions of accelerated climate warming at higher latitudes, may be suppressing lacustrine CO2 emissions. Northern lakes overlying differing geological landscapes may thus be responding in contrasting ways in terms of pCO2 and CO2 fluxes, with potential major implications for regional carbon budgets and predicted climate change feedbacks.
Thallium Isotopes Reveal Brine Activity During Carbonatite Magmatism
Authors: Horton Forrest , Nielsen Sune , Shu Yunchao , Gagnon Alan , Blusztajn Jerzy
Published: January 2021

Carbonatite volcanism remains poorly understood compared to silicic volcanism due to the scarcity of carbonatite volcanoes worldwide and because volcanic H2O and CO2—major components in carbonatite volcanic systems—are not well preserved in the rock record. To further our understanding of carbonatite genesis, we utilize the non‐traditional thallium (Tl) isotope system in Khanneshin carbonatites in Afghanistan. These carbonatites contain 250–30,000 ng/g Tl and have ε205Tl values (−4.6 to +4.6) that span much of the terrestrial igneous range. We observe that δ18OVSMOW (+8.6‰ to +23.5‰) correlates positively with δ13CVPDB (−4.6‰ to +3.5‰) and ε205Tl up to δ18O = 15‰. Rayleigh fractionation of calcite from an immiscible CO2‐H2O fluid with a mantle‐like starting composition can explain the δ18O and δ13C—but not ε205Tl—trends. Biotite fractionates Tl isotopes in other magmatic settings, so we hypothesize that a Tl‐rich hydrous brine caused potassic metasomatism (i.e., biotite fenitization) of wall rock that increased the ε205Tl of the residual magma‐fluid reservoir. Our results imply that, in carbonatitic volcanic systems, simultaneous igneous differentiation and potassic metasomatism increase ε205Tl, δ18O, δ13C, and light rare earth element concentrations in residual fluids. Our fractionation models suggest that the Tl isotopic compositions of the primary magmas were among the isotopically lightest (less than or equal to ε205Tl = −4.6) material derived from the mantle for which Tl isotopic constraints exist. If so, the ultimate source of Tl in Khanneshin lavas—and perhaps carbonatites elsewhere—may be recycled ocean crust.
Observations of Secondary Magnetic Reconnection in the Turbulent Reconnection Outflow
Authors: Zhou M. , Man H. Y. , Deng X. H. , Pang Y. , Khotyaintsev Y. , Lapenta G. , Yi Y. Y. , Zhong Z. H. , Ma W. Q.
Published: January 2021

Magnetic reconnection and turbulence are the two most important energy dissipation processes in plasma. These two processes intertwine with each other and play important roles in their respective dynamic evolution. Here, we present the first evidence that secondary reconnections occur in the turbulent outflow driven by a primary reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail. We have identified 14 secondary reconnections in a large number of current filaments in the turbulent outflow, which persisted for about one and half an hour. Most of these secondary reconnections were electron‐only reconnection that has recently been discovered in the magnetosheath. These secondary reconnections entangled the magnetic field lines and dissipated the magnetic energy in the outflow region far away from the primary X line.
Arbitrary polarization conversion dichroism metasurfaces for all-in-one full Poincaré sphere polarizers
Authors: Wang Shuai , Deng Zi-Lan , Wang Yujie , Zhou Qingbin , Wang Xiaolei , Cao Yaoyu , Guan Bai-Ou , Xiao Shumin , Li Xiangping
Published: January 2021

The control of polarization, an essential property of light, is of broad scientific and technological interest. Polarizers are indispensable optical elements for direct polarization generation. However, arbitrary polarization generation, except that of common linear and circular polarization, relies heavily on bulky optical components such as cascading linear polarizers and waveplates. Here, we present an effective strategy for designing all-in-one full Poincaré sphere polarizers based on perfect arbitrary polarization conversion dichroism and implement it in a monolayer all-dielectric metasurface. This strategy allows preferential transmission and conversion of one polarization state located at an arbitrary position on the Poincaré sphere to its handedness-flipped state while completely blocking its orthogonal state. In contrast to previous methods that were limited to only linear or circular polarization, our method manifests perfect dichroism of nearly 100% in theory and greater than 90% experimentally for arbitrary polarization states. By leveraging this attractive dichroism, our demonstration of the generation of polarization beams located at an arbitrary position on a Poincaré sphere directly from unpolarized light can substantially extend the scope of meta-optics and dramatically promote state-of-the-art nanophotonic devices.
Targeted Ptpn11 deletion in mice reveals the essential role of SHP2 in osteoblast differentiation and skeletal homeostasis
Authors: Wang Lijun , Yang Huiliang , Huang Jiahui , Pei Shaopeng , Wang Liyun , Feng Jian Q. , Jing Dian , Zhao Hu , Kronenberg Henry M. , Moore Douglas C. , Yang Wentian
Published: January 2021

The maturation and function of osteoblasts (OBs) rely heavily on the reversible phosphorylation of signaling proteins. To date, most of the work in OBs has focused on phosphorylation by tyrosyl kinases, but little has been revealed about dephosphorylation by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases). SHP2 (encoded by PTPN11) is a ubiquitously expressed PTPase. PTPN11 mutations are associated with both bone and cartilage manifestations in patients with Noonan syndrome (NS) and metachondromatosis (MC), although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that SHP2 deletion in bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein-expressing (Bglap+) bone cells leads to massive osteopenia in both trabecular and cortical bones due to the failure of bone cell maturation and enhanced osteoclast activity, and its deletion in Bglap+ chondrocytes results in the onset of enchondroma and osteochondroma in aged mice with increased tubular bone length. Mechanistically, SHP2 was found to be required for osteoblastic differentiation by promoting RUNX2/OSTERIX signaling and for the suppression of osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting STAT3-mediated RANKL production by osteoblasts and osteocytes. These findings are likely to explain the compromised skeletal system in NS and MC patients and to inform the development of novel therapeutics to combat skeletal disorders.
DAMPs released by pyroptotic cells as major contributors and therapeutic targets for CAR-T-related toxicities
Authors: Deng Tian , Tang Chao , Zhang Guizhong , Wan Xiaochun
Published: January 2021

CAR-T transfer, recently well-developed immunotherapy, has offered substantial benefit to more and more patients with advanced cancers. However, along with growing experience in the clinical application comes the increasing awareness of the potentially fatal adverse effects, most notably cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these toxicities can help to improve therapeutic outcomes. Recent findings highlight the importance of monocyte/macrophage in CAR-T-related toxicities (CARTOX) and shed light on a novel mechanism mediated by damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from pyroptotic cells. Therefore, this review summarizes these findings and provides practical guidance to the management of CARTOX.