bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Clinical Examination and Various Imaging Modalities in the Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Schneider Uwe , Graß Inse , Laudien Martin , Quetz Joachim , Graefe Hendrik , Wollenberg Barbara , Meyer Jens Eduard
Published: May 2020

Introduction Squamous cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HNSCC) is the most common tumor entity of malignant processes in the head and neck area. Due to the metastasizing behavior of these tumors, the staging is indispensable for the treatment planning and requires imaging techniques, which are sensitive, specific, and as far as possible cost-effective, to benefit ultimately the patient and to ensure optimal care.

Objectives The aim of the present study is to compare the clinical examination including palpation, ultrasound and computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of neck metastases to make the correct indication for a neck dissection.

Methods Data from 286 patients with HNSCC were analyzed for neck metastases to determine which diagnostic tool is the best to answer the question if a neck dissection is necessary or not. Each study method was examined retrospectively by comparing sensitivity, specificity, the positive/negative predictive value, the positive likelihood ratio and the diagnostic accuracy.

Results The ultrasound showed a sensitivity of 91.52%, a specificity of 61.67%, a positive/negative predictive value of 76.65%/84.09%, a positive likelihood ratio of 2.39 and a diagnostic accuracy of 78.95%. The clinical examination showed a sensitivity of 75.76%, a specificity of 66.12%, a positive/negative predictive value of 75.30%/66.67%, a positive likelihood ratio of 2.24 and a diagnostic accuracy of 71.68%. The CT/MRI showed a sensitivity of 78.66%, a specificity of 62.50%, a positive/negative predictive value of 74.14%/68.18%, a positive likelihood ratio of 2.10 and a diagnostic accuracy of 71.83%. Radiographically, ultrasound, as well as the clinical examination, could be judged to be free from radiation load and side effects from the contrast medium. The high dependence on the investigator when using ultrasound made reproducibility of the results difficult.

Conclusions It could be shown that ultrasound was the diagnostic tool with the highest sensitivity, positive/negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio and diagnostic accuracy by detecting and interpreting metastases in the head and neck region correctly. Whether a neck dissection should be performed depends to a large extent on the ultrasound findings.
Cochlear Implants in Patients with Fluctuant or Progressive Hearing Loss on the Better Ear
Authors: Mangabeira-Albernaz Pedro Luiz , Malerbi Andrea Felice dos Santos
Published: May 2020

Introduction Cochlear implants have been proposed for cases of unilateral hearing loss, especially in patients with tinnitus impairment. Several studies have shown that they result in definite improvement of sound localization and speech understanding, both in quiet and noisy environments. On the other hand, there are few references regarding cochlear implants in patients whose better ears present hearing loss.

Objective To report the audiological outcomes of three patients with unilateral deafness, in whom the better ears presented hearing losses, submitted to cochlear implants.

Methods Three patients with unilateral profound hearing loss underwent a cochlear implant performed by the same surgeon.

Results The patients' data are presented in detail.

Conclusion The indications for cochlear implants are becoming more diverse with the expansion of clinical experience and the observation that they definitely help patients with special hearing problems.
Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: Correlation between Preoperative Radiographic Severity of Arthritis and Postoperative Patient Satisfaction
Authors: Rooks Katie , Houdek Devon , Obaid Haron , Dust William
Published: May 2020

Predicting postoperative outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is important for patient selection. This study focuses on patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction in relation to preoperative radiographic arthritis severity. A retrospective chart review of 420 TKAs was performed. Patient satisfaction was determined using a structured telephone survey with questions focused on degree of satisfaction whether they would have surgery again and their ability to kneel. The radiographic severity of the arthritis of the tibiofemoral joint was graded by a musculoskeletal radiologist using the Kellgren–Lawrence grading scale. The patellofemoral compartment was graded using the scale described by Jones et al. Those grouped as severe arthritis had an overall satisfaction rate of 96% (76% fully satisfied and 20% partially satisfied) compared with 82% of the time (64% fully satisfied and 18% partially satisfied) if their arthritis was mild. Postoperatively 51% of TKA patients were able to kneel. Univariate logistic regression showed an association between higher rates of satisfaction and male gender (p = 0.053), severity of preoperative radiographic arthritis (p = 0.034) those who would have surgery again (p ≤ 0.0001) and those able to kneel (p = 0.005). Patients should be informed preoperatively that if their arthritis is only mild radiographically, their outcomes are less predictable. There should also be a discussion surrounding kneeling and activities patients do, which may require kneeling, as many are unable to kneel postoperatively. The Level of Evidence for the study is III.
Doing more with movement: constituting healthy publics in movement volunteering programmes
Authors: Tupper Emily , Atkinson Sarah , Pollard Tessa M.
Published: May 2020

The recent phenomenon of movement volunteering programmes is a form of ‘fitness philanthropy’ that combines exercise with volunteering in order for physical activity to generate a more widely shared set of benefits. These newest practices of fitness philanthropy radically rework both exercise and volunteering through the ways in which these come together and take place outdoors and in the everyday spaces of the street or community. The paper explores these new practices through the movement volunteering programme ‘GoodGym’, in relation to the concept of ‘healthy publics’. Fieldwork comprised ethnography, including participant observation, interviews, go-along interviews, conversations, photography and an end of fieldwork discussion workshop. We focus on the experiences of three different constituencies in GoodGym: the volunteers; the participants and passers-by; the space and atmosphere. The formation of these dynamic, multiple and shifting healthy publics emerge through the complex intersections of several processes. We draw particular attention to the centrality in the new fitness philanthropy practices of visibility and spectacle, sociality and merging mobilities in constituting healthy publics.
Linearized analysis of barotropic perturbations around spherically symmetric gaseous stars governed by the Euler–Poisson equations
Authors: Jang Juhi , Makino Tetu
Published: May 2020

The hydrodynamic evolution of self-gravitating gaseous stars is governed by the Euler–Poisson equations. We study the structure of the linear approximation of barotropic perturbations around spherically symmetric equilibria based on functional analytic tools. In contrast to folklore, we show that the spectrum of the linearized operator for general perturbations is not of the Sturm–Liouville type unless the perturbations are restricted. Among others, we prove that it is of the Sturm–Liouville type for irrotational perturbations.
Generalization of Weyl’s asymptotic formula for the relative trace of singular potentials
Authors: Ullmann J.
Published: May 2020

Weyl’s asymptotic formula states that in the semiclassical limit h ↓ 0, the sum Tr[−h2Δ+V]− of negative eigenvalues of a Schrödinger operator is given by Ldclh−d∫[V]−1+d/2 and an error of order o(h−d), whenever the integral of [V]−1+d/2 is finite. In this paper, we show that if we are given two Schrödinger operators with potentials V1 and V2, their difference Tr[−h2Δ+V1]−−Tr[−h2Δ+V2]− still follows a semiclassical asymptotic, i.e., it is, up to o(h−d), given by Ldclh−d times the integral over the difference [V1]−1+d/2−[V2]−1+d/2 if certain conditions implying the finiteness of that integral are fulfilled. This holds even if V1 and V2 do not fulfill the integrability conditions of Weyl’s formula, and the traces Tr[−h2Δ+V1]− and Tr[−h2Δ+V2]− are of higher order than O(h−d) each, and it is a generalization of Weyl’s formula in those cases.
Vanishing viscosity limit for a system of balance laws with general type initial data arising from 1D Saint-Venant model
Authors: Sahoo Manas R. , Sen Abhrojyoti
Published: May 2020

We study the vanishing viscosity limit of a non-strictly hyperbolic system of balance laws known as the 1D Saint-Venant model whose solution admits δ-waves. The balance term depends on both the variables x and t and is unbounded in the space variable x unlike the work of Olenik [Usp Math. Nauk. 12(3), 3–73 (1957) (in Russian)]. We also studied the large time behavior when the viscosity parameter is positive. When the balance term depends only on the time variable, we obtained an explicit formula for the solution.
Interaction of spin waves propagating along narrow domain walls with a magnetic vortex in a thin-film-nanostrip cross-structure
Authors: Park Hyeon-Kyu , Lee Jong-Hyuk , Yang Jaehak , Kim Sang-Koog
Published: May 2020

We studied, by micromagnetic simulations, the characteristic propagation behaviors of specific spin-wave modes along narrow domain walls in a specially designed thin-film-nanostrip cross-structure waveguide as well as their novel interaction behaviors with a single magnetic vortex placed at the cross-point. Only certain specific modes of spin waves well propagate along the given domain walls and then interact with the magnetic vortex. Through this robust interaction, vortex-gyration motions are also stimulated, which exhibit circular- and/or elliptical-shape core trajectories at the same frequencies as those of the pumping spin waves. The elliptical core trajectories of the stimulated vortex gyrations can be interpreted by the superposition of different amplitudes and phases of the clockwise and counterclockwise circular eigenmodes. According to the action–reaction effect, the phase and the amplitude of the propagating spin waves that pass through the vortex structure are modified differently into different arms of the nanostrip cross-structure. Thereby, the propagating spin waves are allowed to be transmitted and scattered with contrasting phases and amplitudes in different branch arms. This work provides a fundamental understanding of the interaction of spin waves propagating along domain walls with a magnetic soliton and also suggests potential applications to magnonic information processing devices.
Representations of the loop braid groups from braided tensor categories
Authors: Chang Liang
Published: May 2020

The loop braid group is the motion group of unknotted oriented circles in R3. In this paper, we study their representations through the approach inspired by two dimensional topological phases of matter. In principle, the motion of loops in R3 reduces to the motions of points in a two dimensional sliced plane. We realize this physical picture in terms of braided tensor categories and their braid group representations.
Bader net charge analysis on doping effects of Sb in SnSe2 and related charge transport properties
Authors: Choe Jin Sik , Lee Changhoon , Kim Min Ji , Lee Gil-Geun , Shim Ji-Hoon , Lim Young Soo
Published: May 2020

We present site-dependent Sb-doping effects and optical phonon scattering-limited charge transport properties in a layered chalcogenide SnSe2. It was found that a group V element Sb acts as an electron acceptor at the cation site of Sn and as an electron donor at the anion site of Se in SnSe2 compounds. This phenomenon could be interpreted successfully by analyzing Bader atomic net charge, which is strongly affected by the difference of electronegativity between the elements. The charge transport mechanism in SnSe2, which had been controversial, was found to be optical phonon scattering with T−5/2-dependence, and the bandgap was measured to be ∼1.0 eV.
Hybrid particle-field molecular dynamics under constant pressure
Authors: Bore Sigbjørn Løland , Kolli Hima Bindu , De Nicola Antonio , Byshkin Maksym , Kawakatsu Toshihiro , Milano Giuseppe , Cascella Michele
Published: May 2020

Hybrid particle-field methods are computationally efficient approaches for modeling soft matter systems. So far, applications of these methodologies have been limited to constant volume conditions. Here, we reformulate particle-field interactions to represent systems coupled to constant external pressure. First, we show that the commonly used particle-field energy functional can be modified to model and parameterize the isotropic contributions to the pressure tensor without interfering with the microscopic forces on the particles. Second, we employ a square gradient particle-field interaction term to model non-isotropic contributions to the pressure tensor, such as in surface tension phenomena. This formulation is implemented within the hybrid particle-field molecular dynamics approach and is tested on a series of model systems. Simulations of a homogeneous water box demonstrate that it is possible to parameterize the equation of state to reproduce any target density for a given external pressure. Moreover, the same parameterization is transferable to systems of similar coarse-grained mapping resolution. Finally, we evaluate the feasibility of the proposed approach on coarse-grained models of phospholipids, finding that the term between water and the lipid hydrocarbon tails is alone sufficient to reproduce the experimental area per lipid in constant-pressure simulations and to produce a qualitatively correct lateral pressure profile.
The increased hydrocyanic acid in drought-stressed sorghums could be alleviated by plant growth regulators
Authors: Shehab A. A. , Yao Luhua , Wei Liangliang , Wang Dengke , Li Yang , Zhang Xuefeng , Guo Yanjun
Published: May 2020

Droughts not only reduce the biomass of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) but also increase the risk of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) toxicity to animals, mainly due to increased HCN content in drought-stressed plants. In the present study, the variations of HCN contents in 12 sorghum genotypes (10 sweet sorghum cultivars, one Sudangrass and one forage sorghum) were investigated at jointing, filling and ripening stages under rainfed conditions. Next, three genotypes – one sweet sorghum, one Sudangrass and one forage sorghum – were further selected to elucidate the physiological mechanisms of plant growth regulators (PGRs) (abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)) in mitigating the concentrations of HCN in drought-stressed plants in a pot experiment. About 100 µg/L ABA and 100 µg/L MeJA were sprayed separately or together twice on drought-stressed (50 and 75% field water capacity) plant leaf. The drought lasted for 15 days. In the field experiment the HCN content in plants reduced from jointing to filling stages then increased from filling to ripening stages in several cultivars. In the pot experiment, drought increased the HCN accumulation and soluble protein content in leaves of all three genotypes. PGRs overall reduced the HCN contents in drought-stressed sweet sorghum and Sudangrass but not in forage sorghum (except in the ABA+MeJA treatment). However, the soluble protein contents were reduced by PGRs in drought-stressed forage sorghum but not in sweet sorghum (except in the ABA+MeJA treatment) and Sudangrass. Both ABA and MeJA increased the plant weights, whereas only MeJA enhanced net photosynthetic rate (PN) in all three genotypes. PGRs reduced release rate of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde in all drought-stressed plants, and reduced the activities of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase in sweet sorghum but not in other two genotypes. These results suggest that exogenous ABA and MeJA could increase plant weight and reduce HCN content in drought-stressed sorghums, with varying physiological responsive mechanisms among sorghum genotypes.
How influential are squamate reptile traits in explaining population responses to environmental disturbances?
Authors: Hu Yang , Doherty Tim S. , Jessop Tim S.
Published: May 2020

Abstract Context Understanding how organismal attributes influence sensitivity to environmental perturbations is a central theme in ecology and conservation. Certain traits, such as body size, habitat use, dietary preference and reproductive output are considered important determinants of animal species’ responses to the impacts of ecological disturbances. However, the general relationships between functional traits and post-disturbance responses by animals are not fully understood. AimsOur primary aim was to use a meta-analysis to evaluate the influence of species traits on variation in population abundances of squamate reptiles (i.e. lizards and snakes). MethodsWe extracted data from 107 original published studies, from which 1027 mean effect sizes of post-disturbance responses by 298 species were estimated. We examined short-term responses only (i.e. within 3 years since the most recent disturbance). A comprehensive range of disturbances was examined, such as habitat destruction, fragmentation, fire, and exotic-species invasions. We used Bayesian linear mixed-effect modelling (BLMM), utilising the Markov-chain Monte Carlo algorithm (MCMC) for the meta-regression. Specifically, we tested the influence of eight species traits (body size, diet, temporal activity pattern, sociality, reproductive mode, clutch size, habitat selection, and mean body temperature), along with disturbance type, in explaining variation in species-specific abundance responses of squamate reptiles post-disturbance. Key resultsPost-disturbance abundance responses of squamate species were significantly influenced by two parameters, namely, mean body temperature and clutch size. In general, significant positive responses post-disturbance were observed for species with higher mean body temperatures and a greater clutch size. The type of disturbance had no detectable influence on squamate abundances. The influence of random effects (heterogeneity among studies and species, and broad taxonomic identity) accounted for more of the model variation than did the fixed effects (species traits and disturbance type). ConclusionsCertain species traits exerted some influence on the sensitivities of lizards and snakes to ecological disturbances, although the influence of random effects was very strong. Our findings are likely to be a result of the complexity and idiosyncratic nature of natural abundance patterns among animal species, in addition to the potential confounding effect of methodological differences among studies. ImplicationsThe present study is the first major quantitative synthesis of how species traits influence population-level responses of squamate reptiles to ecological disturbances. The findings can be used to guide conservation efforts and ecological management, such as by prioritising the efforts of mitigation on species that reproduce more slowly, and those with lower body temperatures.
Two Englishes diverged in the Philippines?
Authors: Gonzales Wilkinson Daniel Wong , Hiramoto Mie
Published: May 2020

Although World Englishes (WE) scholarship is concerned with the study of English varieties in different social
contexts, there is a tendency to treat postcolonial ones as homogenous regional phenomena (e.g., Philippine English). Few
researchers have discussed variation and social differentiation in detail with empirical evidence. Thus, in order to understand
how layers of different varieties of WE operate within a specific group of speakers, this study takes an empirical intergroup
approach from a substratist framework. This study explores distinctive features of a metropolitan Manila variety of Chinese
English used in the Philippines, Manila Chinese English (MCE), an English contact variety used by Manila Chinese Filipinos. After
comparing the frequencies of selected features observed in a 52,000-word MCE database with frequencies in Manila English and
American English corpora, this study found that a distinct variety – MCE – most likely emerged in the 1960s due to the extensive
contact between general Manila English and local tongues of Chinese Filipinos such as (Hybrid) Hokkien and Tagalog, which function
as MCE’s substrate languages. This study takes into account MCE’s structure, sources, and genesis, and discusses MCE in relation
to Philippine English as positioned in Schneider’s dynamic model, to demonstrate how intergroup variations coexist but take
divergent paths within a WE variety.
Machine learning-assisted cross-domain prediction of ionic conductivity in sodium and lithium-based superionic conductors using facile descriptors
Authors: Xu Yijie , Zong Yun , Hippalgaonkar Kedar
Published: May 2020

Solid state lithium- and sodium-ion batteries utilize solid ionically conducting compounds as electrolytes. However, the ionic conductivity of such materials tends to be lower than their liquid counterparts, necessitating research efforts into finding suitable alternatives. The process of electrolyte screening is often based on a mixture of domain expertise and trial-and-error, both of which are time and resource-intensive. In this work, we present a novel machine-learning based approach to predict the ionic conductivity of sodium and lithium-based SICON compounds. Using primarily theoretical elemental feature descriptors derivable from tabulated information on the unit cell and the atomic properties of the components of a target compound on a limited dataset of 70 NASICON-examples, we have designed a logistic regression-based model capable of distinguishing between poor and good superionic conductors with a validation accuracy of over 84%. Moreover, we demonstrate how such a system is capable of cross-domain classification on lithium-based examples with the same accuracy, despite being introduced to zero lithium-based compounds during training. Through a systematic permutation-based evaluation process, we reduced the number of considered features from 47 to 7, reduction of over 83%, while simultaneously improving model performance. The contributions of different electronic and structural features to overall ionic conductivity is also discussed, and contrasted with accepted theories in literature. Our results demonstrate the utility of such a facile tool in providing opportunities for initial screening of potential candidates as solid-state electrolytes through the use of existing data examples and simple tabulated or calculated features, reducing the time-to-market of such materials by helping to focus efforts on promising candidates. Given enough data utilizing suitable descriptors, high accurate cross-domain classifiers could be created for experimentalists, improving laboratory and computational efficiency.
Distribution of small seasonal reservoirs in semi-arid regions and associated evaporative losses
Authors: Mady Bassem , Lehmann Peter , Gorelick Steven M , Or Dani
Published: May 2020

To support the increasing demand of a growing population for freshwater, small-sized (<0.1 km2) water reservoirs are necessary in areas with limited infrastructure, especially in water-stressed regions having seasonal and variable precipitation. Seasonal storage in small reservoirs is often overlooked in present inventories. Accordingly, we assessed the current state in semi-arid regions using highly resolved Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. Globally, about 3 million small reservoirs are in operation in semi-arid regions having a total water surface area of 17 800 km2 and seasonal storage of 37 km3, supporting 15% of the world’s population in semi-arid regions. Estimated upper-bound of evaporative losses represent 38% (14 km3) of storage during dry season. The study estimates the evaporation suppression using floating covers and lays foundation to assess the feasibility of this technical solution to increase water savings.

Significance and originality statement

This study provides new insights into the distribution of seasonal freshwater storage in water stressed regions that support large rural population. We provide the first baseline dataset of this distributed freshwater resource to better assess the sustainability of communities in semi-arid regions with chronic water shortages. Water storage in semi-arid regions is subject to potential evaporative losses of nearly 40% of the stored water. We analyzed conditions where evaporative losses could be significantly reduced using floating covers, a simple and scalable solution suitable for regions with underdeveloped economies. The study as well ranks regions with highest potential benefits from evaporation suppression measures.
Miniature, metal 3D-printed, multiplexed electrohydrodynamic gas pumps
Authors: Sun Zumei , Velásquez-García Luis Fernando
Published: May 2020

We report the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of the first additively manufactured, miniature, metal multi-needle ionic wind pumps in the literature. The pumps are needle-ring corona diodes composed of a monolithic inkjet binder-printed active electrode, made in stainless steel 316L, with five sharp, conical needles, and a thin plate counter-electrode, made in copper, with electrochemically etched apertures aligned to the needle array; by applying a large bias voltage across the diode, electrohydrodynamically driven airflow is produced. The influence of tip multiplexing and tip sharpening on the ion current, airflow velocity, volumetric flow rate, and kinetic conversion efficiency of the pumps was characterized under different interelectrode separations, counter-electrode aperture diameters, and applied bias voltages, while triggering a negative corona discharge. At the optimal operating bias voltage (7.4 kV), the as-printed five-needle ionic wind pumps eject air at 2.66 m s−1 and at a volumetric flow rate of 316 cm3 s−1 –a twofold larger than the flow rate of an as-printed single-needle device and with 35% higher efficiency (i.e. 0.27%). Using a two-step electropolishing procedure, the needles of the active electrode can be uniformly sharpened down to 83.4 μm average tip diameter, i.e. about one quarter of their as-printed dimension (∼300 μm). Operated under the same conditions, the electropolished five-needle pumps eject air at 3.25 m s−1, i.e. 22% higher speed compared to the as-printed devices, with the same kinetic conversion efficiency. A two-module model was built in COMSOL Multiphysics, consisting of a three-species corona discharge module and a gas dynamics module, to gain insights into the operation of the pumps and to determine trends for increasing device performance. The electrohydrodynamic (EHD) body force calculated using this model has the same periodic behaviour of the Trichel pulse current. A time-dependent EHD body force analysis was performed, and the stabilized forces averaged over a multiple of the Trichel pulse period were used to predict the large-timescale airflow. The EHD force from the corona simulation can be rescaled to calculate the flow at different bias voltages, greatly reducing the simulation time, and making possible to systematically study the relevant parameters and optimize the design of the air pump. The experimental data agree with the simulation results and the reduced-order modelling.
Brerezin kernels and Wold decompositions associated with noncommutative polydomains
Authors: Popescu Gelu
Published: May 2020

Noncommutative Berezin kernels are used to obtain Wold decompositions for

∗
*

-representations of

C
∗

C^*

-algebras associated with noncommutative polydomains. We study the structure of these representations and

C
∗

C^*

-algebras and obtain some classification results.
The Zariski–Riemann space of valuation domains associated to pseudo-convergent sequences
Authors: Peruginelli G. , Spirito D.
Published: May 2020

Let

V
V

be a valuation domain with quotient field

K
K

. Given a pseudo-convergent sequence

E
E

in

K
K

, we study two constructions associating to

E
E

a valuation domain of

K
(
X
)

K(X)

lying over

V
V

, especially when

V
V

has rank one. The first one has been introduced by Ostrowski, the second one more recently by Loper and Werner. We describe the main properties of these valuation domains, and we give a notion of equivalence on the set of pseudo-convergent sequences of

K
K

characterizing when the associated valuation domains are equal. Then, we analyze the topological properties of the Zariski–Riemann spaces formed by these valuation domains.
Occupational Asthma and Its Causation in the UK Seafood Processing Industry
Authors: Mason Howard J , Carder Melanie , Money Annemarie , Evans Gareth , Seed Martin , Agius Raymond , van Tongeren Martie
Published: May 2020

Objectives

The processing of seafood (fish and shellfish) for human consumption can lead to health consequences, including occupational asthma (OA). Several non-UK studies have reported both respiratory outcomes and airborne levels of major allergens in seafood processing. However, there is a paucity of such evidence in the UK land-based seafood processing sector, which employs some 20 000 workers.

Methods

University of Manchester’s Surveillance of Work-related and Occupational Respiratory Disease (SWORD) reporting system has been interrogated over the period 1992–2017 to define the incidence rate of OA cases that can be ascribed to the UK land-based processing sector, and the seafood species implicated. Airborne allergen monitoring data undertaken at Health and Safety Executive’s laboratory from 2003 to 2019 have also been collated.

Results

The estimated annual OA incidence rate in seafood processors was 70 [95% confidence intervals (CIs) 48.9, 91.1] per 100 000 workers compared with 2.9 (95% CIs 2.8, 3.1) in ‘all other industries’. The annual calculated percentage trend in OA (1992–2017) was −8.1% (95% CIs −15.9, 0.4) in seafood processing showing a similar trend to ‘all other industries’ (mean −7.0%; 95% CIs −7.8, −6.1). Prawns and salmon/trout were notably implicated by SWORD as causative species related to OA. There is a general paucity of available UK airborne allergen monitoring data, particularly concerning processing salmon or trout. Available airborne monitoring for salmon parvalbumin in seven processors ranged between the limit of detection and 816 ng m−3 (n = 64). Available air monitoring levels of the major shellfish allergen (tropomyosin) during processing of crabs and prawns ranged between 1 and 101 600 ng m−3 (n = 280), highlighting that high levels of exposure can occur.

Conclusions

These data show an excess incidence of OA in the UK seafood processing industry during 1992–2017, with limited airborne monitoring data for the processing of prawn, crab, and salmon suggesting that significant exposure to major seafood allergens can occur in this industry. Further investigation of current levels of respiratory ill-health and the sources of allergen exposure are warranted.
Modelling temporal biomarkers with semiparametric nonlinear dynamical systems
Authors: Sun Ming , Zeng Donglin , Wang Yuanjia
Published: May 2020

Dynamical systems based on differential equations are useful for modelling the temporal evolution of biomarkers. Such systems can characterize the temporal patterns of biomarkers and inform the detection of interactions between biomarkers. Existing statistical methods for dynamical systems deal mostly with single time-course data based on a linear model or generalized additive model. Hence, they cannot adequately capture the complex interactions between biomarkers; nor can they take into account the heterogeneity between systems or subjects. In this article, we propose a semiparametric dynamical system based on multi-index models for multiple-subjects time-course data. Our model accounts for between-subject heterogeneity by incorporating system-level or subject-level covariates into the dynamical systems, and it allows for nonlinear relationships and interactions between the combined biomarkers and the temporal rate of each biomarker. For estimation and inference, we consider a two-step procedure based on integral equations from the proposed model. We propose an algorithm that iterates between estimation of the link function through splines and estimation of the index parameters, and which allows for regularization to achieve sparsity. We prove model identifiability and derive the asymptotic properties of the estimated model parameters. A benefit of our approach is the ability to pool information from multiple subjects to identify the interactions between biomarkers. We apply the method to analyse electroencephalogram data for patients affected by alcohol dependence. The results provide new insights into patients’ brain activities and demonstrate differential interaction patterns in patients compared to control subjects.
Reducing the Use of Imprisonment: Lessons from 20 years’ experience in Canada
Authors: Reid Andrew A
Published: May 2020

In order to reduce or constrain prison populations, many different strategies have been proposed, trialled, or implemented. In 1996, Canada created the first and, to date, most ambitious home confinement sanction, the Conditional Sentence of Imprisonment (CSI). This study tracks annual changes to correctional admissions since the introduction of the sanction to assess whether it has reduced custodial admissions for Aboriginal offenders. There is evidence that the CSI had a modest decarceration effect overall and for Aboriginal offenders specifically. These effects were strongest in the initial years after the sanction was introduced, with waning performance in the most recent decade. The decarceration effects have not been erased but nor has the serious problem of over-incarceration among Aboriginal offenders.
Medicine and the Common Good in the Aristotelian-Thomistic Tradition
Authors: Karches Kyle E
Published: May 2020

Whereas bioethicists generally consider medicine a practice aimed at the individual good of each patient, in this paper I present an alternative conception of the goods of medicine. I first explain how modern liberal political theory gives rise to the predominant view of the medical good and then contrast this understanding of politics with that of Thomas Aquinas, informed by Aristotle. I then show how this Christian politics is implicit in certain aspects of contemporary medical practice and argue that Christians ought to draw more attention to this point in order to direct medicine toward the common good.
The Right to Benefit from Science and Its Implications for Genomic Data Sharing
Authors: Yotova Rumiana , Knoppers Bartha M
Published: May 2020

The right to benefit from science and its applications is one of the least studied, discussed and applied human rights. In the current time of globalization, characterized by the rapid advancement of science and its technological applications, as well as by increased flows of scientific data, there is a growing need to fully awaken the right of everyone to enjoy the benefits of science. This would enable science to better serve the humanitarian purposes of the law as well as foster scientific and technological development through data sharing. This article contributes to the awakening of the right by exploring it doctrinally with the aim of ascertaining its normative content by reference to the preparatory works of Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and, especially, the subsequent state practice in its application. Based on the evidence, it will be argued that, today, the right to benefit from science has two aspects – first, the right to access scientific knowledge and information and, second, the right to benefit from scientific applications. It will be shown that the first aspect of the right is increasingly reflected in the practice of states and international organizations and has important implications for the regulation and sharing of big genomic data.
Periprocedural, early, and long-term risks of pacemaker implantation after atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia ablation: a French nationwide cohort
Authors: Decroocq Marie , Rousselet Louis , Riant Margaux , Norberciak Laurène , Viart Guillaume , Guyomar Yves , Graux Pierre , Maréchaux Sylvestre , Germain Marysa , Menet Aymeric
Published: May 2020

Aims

Pacemaker implantation (PI) after atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT) ablation is a dreadful complication. We aimed to assess periprocedural, early, and late risks for PI.

Methods and results

All 27 022 patients who underwent latest AVNRT ablation in France from 2009 to 2017, were identified in the nationwide medicalization database. A control group of 305 152 patients hospitalized for arm, leg, or skin injuries with no history of AVNRT or supraventricular tachycardia were selected. After propensity score matching, both groups had mean age of 53 ± 18 years and were predominantly female (64%). During this 9-year period, 822 of 27 022 (3.0%) AVNRT patients underwent PI, with significant higher risk in propensity-matched AVNRT patients compared to propensity-matched controls [2.9% vs. 0.9%; hazard ratio 3.4 (2.9–3.9), P < 0.0001]. This excess risk was significant during all follow-up, including periprocedural (1st month), early (1–6 months), and late (>6 months) risk periods. Annualized late risk per 100 AVNRT patients was 0.2%. In comparison to controls, excess risk was 0.2% in <30-year-old AVNRT patients; 0.7% in 30–50-year-old; 1.1% in 50–70-year-old and 6.5% over 70-year-olds. Risk for PI was also significantly different according to three procedural factors: centres, experience, and ablation date, with a 30% decrease since 2015.

Conclusion

Periprocedural, early, and late risks for PI were higher after AVNRT ablation compared to propensity-matched controls. Longer follow-up is needed as the excess risk seems to persist late after AVNRT ablation.
Molecular Evolutionary Analysis of Nematode Zona Pellucida (ZP) Modules Reveals Disulfide-Bond Reshuffling and Standalone ZP-C Domains
Authors: Weadick Cameron J
Published: May 2020

Zona pellucida (ZP) modules mediate extracellular protein–protein interactions and contribute to important biological processes including syngamy and cellular morphogenesis. Although some biomedically relevant ZP modules are well studied, little is known about the protein family’s broad-scale diversity and evolution. The increasing availability of sequenced genomes from “nonmodel” systems provides a valuable opportunity to address this issue and to use comparative approaches to gain new insights into ZP module biology. Here, through phylogenetic and structural exploration of ZP module diversity across the nematode phylum, I report evidence that speaks to two important aspects of ZP module biology. First, I show that ZP-C domains—which in some modules act as regulators of ZP-N domain-mediated polymerization activity, and which have never before been found in isolation—can indeed be found as standalone domains. These standalone ZP-C domain proteins originated in independent (paralogous) lineages prior to the diversification of extant nematodes, after which they evolved under strong stabilizing selection, suggesting the presence of ZP-N domain-independent functionality. Second, I provide a much-needed phylogenetic perspective on disulfide bond variability, uncovering evidence for both convergent evolution and disulfide-bond reshuffling. This result has implications for our evolutionary understanding and classification of ZP module structural diversity and highlights the usefulness of phylogenetics and diverse sampling for protein structural biology. All told, these findings set the stage for broad-scale (cross-phyla) evolutionary analysis of ZP modules and position Caenorhabditis elegans and other nematodes as important experimental systems for exploring the evolution of ZP modules and their constituent domains.
Evaluation of the Haemophilus influenzae EUCAST and CLSI disc diffusion methods to recognize aminopenicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate resistance
Authors: Fernando S A , Pang S , McKew G L , Phan T , Merlino J , Coombs G W , Gottlieb T
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Implementation of EUCAST susceptibility testing in an Australian hospital laboratory demonstrated higher rates of aminopenicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate resistance in Haemophilus influenzae than previously recognized. This study aimed to better define the variability in the detection of β-lactam resistance based on EUCAST and CLSI disc diffusion (DD) methodology, by comparison with the recommended reference method, broth microdilution (BMD), and by concordance with genomic analysis.

Methods

A total of 100 random H. influenzae isolates were assessed for ampicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate susceptibility by EUCAST and CLSI DD and BMD. WGS was used to analyse the ftsI gene of a subset of isolates with β-lactam resistance, other than that due to isolated β-lactamase production.

Results

Of the 100 isolates, 32 were categorized as either β-lactamase negative, ampicillin resistant (BLNAR) (n = 18) or β-lactamase positive, amoxicillin/clavulanate resistant (BLPACR) (n = 14) by EUCAST DD. All 18 EUCAST BLNAR isolates were genotypically confirmed by WGS. Five of 18 BLNAR isolates were concordant by CLSI DD, 12 by EUCAST BMD and 4 by CLSI BMD. Nine of 14 EUCAST BLPACR isolates were confirmed by WGS; the remaining 5 were 1 mm below the EUCAST DD breakpoint. Only one isolate was detected as BLPACR by CLSI DD. Group III mutations associated with high-level ampicillin resistance were identified in 10/32 isolates.

Conclusions

The EUCAST DD susceptibility method is more reliable than either CLSI or BMD for the detection of genotypically defined BLNAR resistance. However, accurate categorization of amoxicillin/clavulanate resistance remains problematic. Continuous and reproducible surveillance of resistance is needed; for this to be possible, robust susceptibility methods are required.
US Supreme Court holds willfulness unnecessary for award of profits in trade mark infringement case
Authors: McDonald Bruce
Published: May 2020

Romag Fasteners, Inc v Fossil, Inc, No 18–1233, --- S.Ct. ----, 2020 WL 1942012 (23 April 2020)

On 23 April 2020, the US Supreme Court held that a trade mark infringement plaintiff is not required to prove that a defendant acted ‘willfully’ in order to recover profits as an equitable remedy under section 35(a) of the Federal Trademark Act of 1946 (the ‘Lanham Act’), 15 USC s 1117(a).
The Missing Elephant in the Room—the Jurisdiction of International Human Rights Tribunals over International Humanitarian Law
Authors: Yip Ka Lok
Published: May 2020

Treaty-based tribunals that render binding decisions on states under international human rights law (IHRL) have long engaged with international humanitarian law (IHL) in their judgements but little attention has been given to the basis of their jurisdiction, if any, to do so. By revisiting fundamental questions on the jurisdictional basis of international tribunals, this article presents a methodological challenge to the uncritical engagement with IHL by certain IHRL tribunals. After surveying the jurisdiction of different IHRL tribunals explicitly founded on treaties, the article seeks not only to justify, but also delimit, the inherent jurisdiction of IHRL tribunals to consider IHL for interpretive purpose, in contrast to directly applying it to the dispute. Finally, the article analyses the substantive and practical implications of stricter observance of the jurisdictional limits of IHRL tribunals on the interpretation of IHRL, the determination of ‘absent’ states’ legal interest under IHL and the future of IHL dispute settlement.
The Arabidopsis NRT1.1 transceptor coordinately controls auxin biosynthesis and transport to regulate root branching in response to nitrate
Authors: Maghiaoui Amel , Bouguyon Eléonore , Cuesta Candela , Perrine-Walker Francine , Alcon Carine , Krouk Gabriel , Benková Eva , Nacry Philippe , Gojon Alain , Bach Liên
Published: May 2020

In agricultural systems, nitrate is the main source of nitrogen available for plants. Besides its role as a nutrient, nitrate has been shown to act as a signal molecule in plant growth, development, and stress responses. In Arabidopsis, the NRT1.1 nitrate transceptor represses lateral root (LR) development at low nitrate availability by promoting auxin basipetal transport out of the LR primordia (LRPs). Here we show that NRT1.1 acts as a negative regulator of the TAR2 auxin biosynthetic gene in the root stele. This is expected to repress local auxin biosynthesis and thus to reduce acropetal auxin supply to the LRPs. Moreover, NRT1.1 also negatively affects expression of the LAX3 auxin influx carrier, thus preventing the cell wall remodeling required for overlying tissue separation during LRP emergence. NRT1.1-mediated repression of both TAR2 and LAX3 is suppressed at high nitrate availability, resulting in nitrate induction of the TAR2 and LAX3 expression that is required for optimal stimulation of LR development by nitrate. Altogether, our results indicate that the NRT1.1 transceptor coordinately controls several crucial auxin-associated processes required for LRP development, and as a consequence that NRT1.1 plays a much more integrated role than previously expected in regulating the nitrate response of root system architecture.
From the inner to outer Milky Way: a photometric sample of 2.6 million red clump stars
Authors: Lucey Madeline , Ting Yuan-Sen , Ramachandra Nesar S , Hawkins Keith
Published: May 2020

Large pristine samples of red clump stars are highly sought after given that they are standard candles and give precise distances even at large distances. However, it is difficult to cleanly select red clumps stars because they can have the same Teff and log g as red giant branch stars. Recently, it was shown that the asteroseismic parameters, $\rm {\Delta }$P and $\rm {\Delta \nu }$, which are used to accurately select red clump stars, can be derived from spectra using the change in the surface carbon to nitrogen ratio ([C/N]) caused by mixing during the red giant branch. This change in [C/N] can also impact the spectral energy distribution. In this study, we predict the $\rm {\Delta }$P, $\rm {\Delta \nu }$, Teff, and log g using 2MASS, AllWISE, Gaia, and Pan-STARRS data in order to select a clean sample of red clump stars. We achieve a contamination rate of ∼20 per cent, equivalent to what is achieved when selecting from Teff and log g derived from low-resolution spectra. Finally, we present two red clump samples. One sample has a contamination rate of ∼20 per cent and ∼405 000 red clump stars. The other has a contamination of ∼33 per cent and ∼2.6 million red clump stars that includes ∼75 000 stars at distances >10 kpc. For |b| > 30 deg, we find ∼15 000 stars with contamination rate of ∼9 per cent. The scientific potential of this catalogue for studying the structure and formation history of the Galaxy is vast, given that it includes millions of precise distances to stars in the inner bulge and distant halo where astrometric distances are imprecise.
The Lyapunov exponents and the neighbourhood of periodic orbits
Authors: Carpintero D D , Muzzio J C
Published: May 2020

We show that the Lyapunov exponents of a periodic orbit can be easily obtained from the eigenvalues of the monodromy matrix. It turns out that the Lyapunov exponents of simply stable periodic orbits are all zero, simply unstable periodic orbits have only one positive Lyapunov exponent, doubly unstable periodic orbits have two different positive Lyapunov exponents, and the two positive Lyapunov exponents of complex unstable periodic orbits are equal. We present a numerical example for periodic orbits in a realistic galactic potential. Moreover, the centre manifold theorem allowed us to show that stable, simply unstable, and doubly unstable periodic orbits are the mothers of families of, respectively, regular, partially, and fully chaotic orbits in their neighbourhood.