bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental Change and Migration in Morocco: What Has Been Done So Far?
Authors: Van Praag Lore , Ou-Salah Loubna
Published: May 2021

Before we delve further into the relationship between migration and environmental change, it is important to gain more insight into the migration history of Moroccans going abroad and the specific environmental changes faced by people in Morocco. Therefore, in the first part of this chapter, we outline the history of Moroccan migration to Europe in general and to Belgium in particular. Morocco provides an interesting case of study with regard to environmental migration, as in the second half of the twentieth century, Morocco evolved into one of the world’s leading emigration countries. Moroccan migration is one of the unexpected outcomes in which colonial migration, labour migration, family reunification, and, most recently, undocumented migration combine. Hence, there is a high degree of internal differentiation and dynamics within the migrant population of Morocco (De Haas 2007).
How Environmental Change Relates to the Development of Adaptation Strategies and Migration Aspirations
Authors: Van Praag Lore
Published: May 2021

The focus on perceived environmental changes and risks is a necessary precondition before people’s vulnerabilities and abilities to migrate can be taken into account (Adam 2005). This approach contrasts with previous research on environmental migration that has mainly focused on the vulnerabilities of people towards environmental changes. This vulnerability approach is, for instance, widely used in reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2014) and refers to the potential loss or harm one encounters or could encounter when facing environmental changes. This vulnerability is assumed to depend on the nature of the physical risks one could be exposed to and inherent sensitivity one has. The latter refers, for instance, to the type of economic activities of a community. For example, communities that rely heavily on agricultural activities are more sensitive to water scarcity and suffer more from drought, than other communities. It is within this framework that migration is often seen as a potential adaptation strategy to deal with environmental changes (Smit and Wandel 2006; Gemenne 2010). However, this framework hardly considers people’s own perceived vulnerabilities or risks or resilience towards environmental change. Hence, this vulnerability approach diminishes the agency of the actors involved and their active role in the development of migration aspirations and trajectories related to environmental changes and risks. Furthermore, as already stated by McLeman et al. (2016), the use of this framework of adaptation and the focus on the use of vulnerability may not encompass all drivers of environmental migration. This could certainly apply to the Moroccan context in which environmental changes mostly occur gradually and are to a lesser extent immediately visible to the human eye.
Migration, Urbanity and Cosmopolitanism in a Globalized World: An Introduction
Authors: Lejeune Catherine , Pagès-El Karoui Delphine , Schmoll Camille , Thiollet Hélène
Published: May 2021

Globalization and migration have generated acute and often contradictory changes: they have increased social diversity while inducing global homogenization; they have sharpened differentiation of spaces and statuses while accelerating and amplifying communication and circulations; they have induced more complex social stratification while enriching individual and collective identities. These changes happen to be strikingly visible in cities. Urban contexts, indeed, offer privileged sites of inquiry to understanding the social dynamics of globalization, informal belonging and local citizenships, transient and multi-layered identities, symbolic orders and exclusionary practices. But cities are also material sites and they create multisensorial scapes that shape experiences of globalization and social change. They operate through multiple scales, connecting horizontal extensions and vertical layers of the city with generic, landmark, interstitial and neglected places. Far from being mere contexts, cities are both changing and being changed by migration and globalization.
From Creeping to Full-Blown Crisis: Lessons from the Dutch and Swedish Response to Covid-19
Authors: Engström Alina , Luesink Marte , Boin Arjen
Published: May 2021

On the last day of 2019, China alerted the World Health Organization to a cluster of mysterious pneumonia cases. A new coronavirus (Covid-19) was discovered. Within three months after the alert, Europe had become the epicenter of a global pandemic. Even though the virus spread easily and quickly within communities, it took its time to travel from China to northern Europe. Nevertheless, many governments were slow to respond to the emerging threat. This chapter analyzes the initial phase of the Covid-19 crisis in Sweden and the Netherlands, focusing on the relationship between experts and decision-makers. The chapter discusses four factors that may help explain why the Swedish and Dutch governments were slow in their response. The governments assumed an epidemic like the one in China would not happen in their country, the experts followed international scientific guidelines, citizens were expected to defy limitations on their freedoms, and both experts and decision-makers were confident with regard to the level of preparedness. Lessons are formulated for further analysis and future preparations.
Political Attention in a Creeping Crisis: The Case of Climate Change and Migration
Authors: Jakobsson Elin
Published: May 2021

This chapter discusses the creeping crisis of rising human displacement induced by environmental degradation and natural catastrophes. Sea-level rise, droughts, and the increased occurrence of hurricanes and floods already have, and increasingly will have, drastic effects on migration patterns. Climate-induced displacement already outnumbers displacement from war or violence. Nation states and the international community have consistently failed to properly address this phenomenon. Only recently has political attention begun to increase. This chapter argues that our understanding of climate-induced migration can be improved with the help of the creeping crisis concept. In addition, climate-induced migration may provide insights to the underlying mechanisms of creeping crises. More to the point, this chapter explores the rise and fall of political attention in this case, offers insights on what lies behind this and reflects upon the broader implications for the literature on creeping crises.
Towards Closure
Authors: Boin Arjen , McConnell Allan , ‘t Hart Paul
Published: May 2021

How will societies emerge from the COVID-19 crisis? Will there be a reckoning with failing institutions and crisis leaders? Will valuable lessons be learned? These are the perennial questions that dominate the transitional phase between crisis and a new normal. In this chapter, we discuss how lessons from previous crises help to understand the many challenges that lie ahead of us.
Holographic Rényi relative divergence in JT gravity
Authors: Ugajin Tomonori
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We holographically compute the Rényi relative divergence Dα(ρ+||ρ−) between two density matrices ρ+, ρ− prepared by path integrals with constant background fields λ± coupled to a marginal operator in JT gravity. Our calculation is non-perturbative in the difference between two sources λ+− λ−. When this difference is large, the bulk geometry becomes a black hole with the maximal temperature allowed by the Rényi index α. In this limit, we find an analytical expression of the Rényi relative divergence, which is given by the on shell action of the back reacted black hole plus the contribution coming from the discontinuous change of the background field.
Correction to: Differential Topological Aspects in Octonionic Monogenic Function Theory
Authors: Kraußhar Rolf Sören
Published: May 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00006-020-01074-8
Integrated Interpretation of Magnetic and ERT Data to Characterize a Landfill in the North-West of Cologne, Germany
Authors: Ibraheem Ismael M. , Tezkan Bülent , Bergers Rainer
Published: May 2021

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground magnetic surveys were applied to characterize an old uncontrolled landfill in a former exploited sand and gravel quarry in an area to the north-west of the city of Cologne, Germany. The total magnetic field and its vertical gradient were recorded using a proton precession magnetometer to cover an area of about 43,250 m2. The magnetic data were transferred to the frequency domain and then reduced to the north magnetic pole. The amplitude of the analytical signal was calculated to define the magnetic materials within and outside the landfill. Eight ERT profiles were constructed based on the results of the magnetic survey using different electrode arrays (Wenner, dipole–dipole, and Schlumberger). In order to increase both data coverage and sensitivity and to decrease uncertainty, a non-conventional mixed array was used. The subsurface resistivity distributions were imaged using the robust (L1-norm) inversion method. The resultant inverted subsurface true resistivity data were presented in the form of 2D cross sections and 3D fence diagram. These non-invasive geophysical tools helped us to portray the covering soil, the spatial limits of the landfill, and the depth of the waste body. We also successfully detected low resistivity zones at deeper depths than expected, which probably be associated with migration pathways of the leachate plumes. The findings of the present study provide valuable information for decision makers with regards to environmental monitoring and assessment.
Development, characterization, and first application of a resonant laser secondary neutral mass spectrometry setup for the research of plutonium in the context of long-term nuclear waste storage
Authors: Schönenbach Daniela , Berg Felix , Breckheimer Markus , Hagenlocher Daniel , Schönberg Pascal , Haas Raphael , Amayri Samer , Reich Tobias
Published: May 2021

Plutonium is a major contributor to the radiotoxicity in a long-term nuclear waste repository; therefore, many studies have focused on interactions of plutonium with the technical, geotechnical, and geological barriers of a possible nuclear waste storage site. In order to gain new insights into the sorption on surfaces and diffusion of actinides through these complex heterogeneous materials, a highly sensitive method with spatial resolution is required. Resonant laser secondary neutral mass spectrometry (Laser-SNMS) uses the spatial resolution available in time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) in combination with the high selectivity, sensitivity, and low background noise of resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) and is, therefore, a promising method for the study and analysis of the geochemical behavior of plutonium in long-term nuclear waste storage. The authors present an approach with a combined setup consisting of a commercial TOF-SIMS instrument and a Ti:sapphire (Ti:Sa) laser system, as well as its optimization, characterization, and improvements compared to the original proof of concept by Erdmann et al. (2009). As a first application, the spatial distributions of plutonium and other elements on the surface of a pyrite particle and a cement thin section were measured by Laser-SNMS and TOF-SIMS, respectively. These results exemplify the potential of these techniques for the surface analysis of heterogeneous materials in the context of nuclear safety research.
Classification of Vertex-Transitive Zonotopes
Authors: Winter Martin
Published: May 2021

We give a full classification of vertex-transitive zonotopes. We prove that a vertex-transitive zonotope is a $$\Gamma $$
Γ
-permutahedron for some finite reflection group $$\Gamma \subset {{\,\mathrm{O}\,}}(\mathbb {R}^d)$$

Γ
⊂

O

(

R

d

)

. The same holds true for zonotopes in which all vertices are on a common sphere, and all edges are of the same length. The classification of these then follows from the classification of finite reflection groups. We prove that root systems can be characterized as those centrally symmetric sets of vectors, for which all intersections with half-spaces, that contain exactly half the vectors, are congruent. We provide a further sufficient condition for a centrally symmetric set to be a root system.
The birth of the Alps: Ediacaran to Paleozoic accretionary processes and crustal growth along the northern Gondwana margin
Authors: Siegesmund S. , Oriolo S. , Schulz B. , Heinrichs T. , Basei M. A. S. , Lammerer B.
Published: May 2021

New whole-rock geochemical and coupled U–Pb and Lu–Hf LA-ICP-MS zircon data of metasedimentary rocks of the Austroalpine, South Alpine and Penninic basement domains are presented, to disentangle the pre-Variscan tectonic evolution of the proto-Alps. The studied units seem to record distinct stages of protracted Late Ediacaran to Carboniferous tectonosedimentary processes prior to the Variscan collision. In the case of Austroalpine and South Alpine units, nevertheless, no major differences in terms of provenance are observed, since most detrital zircon samples are characterized by a major Pan-African peak. Their detrital zircon spectra record a provenance from the northeastern Saharan Metacraton and the Sinai basement at the northern Arabian-Nubian Shield, being thus located along the eastern Early Paleozoic northern Gondwana margin, whereas sources located further west are inferred for the Penninic Unit, which might have been placed close to the Moldanubian Unit of the Bohemian Massif. In any case, it is thus clear that the Alpine basement remained in a close position to the Gondwana mainland at least during the Early Paleozoic. The Late Ediacaran to Silurian tectonic evolution, which includes Cadomian and Cenerian tectonometamorphic and magmatic processes, seem thus to record a continuum related to a retreating-mode accretionary orogen, with diachronous back-arc basin opening and possibly discrete compressional/transpressional pulses linked to changes in subduction zone dynamics. On the other hand, it is inferred that the Alpine basement essentially comprises Pan-African metasedimentary and subordinate metaigneous rocks, possibly with very few Early Neoproterozoic relics. This basement was significantly reworked during the protracted Paleozoic orogenic evolution, due to anatexis and/or assimilation by mantle-derived juvenile magmatism.
The relationship between gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids and type 2 diabetes mellitus: the possible role of dietary fibre
Authors: Salamone Dominic , Rivellese Angela Albarosa , Vetrani Claudia
Published: May 2021

Gut microbiota and its metabolites have been shown to influence multiple physiological mechanisms related to human health. Among microbial metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are modulators of different metabolic pathways. On the other hand, several studies suggested that diet might influence gut microbiota composition and activity thus modulating the risk of metabolic disease, i.e. obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Among dietary component, dietary fibre may play a pivotal role by virtue of its prebiotic effect on fibre-fermenting bacteria, that may increase SCFA production. The aim of this review was to summarize and discuss current knowledge on the impact of dietary fibre as modulator of the relationship between glucose metabolism and microbiota composition in humans. More specifically, we analysed evidence from observational studies and randomized nutritional intervention investigating the relationship between gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids and glucose metabolism. The possible mechanisms behind this association were also discussed.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus and sepsis: state of the art, certainties and missing evidence
Authors: Costantini Elisa , Carlin Massimiliano , Porta Massimo , Brizzi Maria Felice
Published: May 2021

Diabetes and sepsis are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and diabetic patients represent the largest population experiencing post-sepsis complications and rising mortality. Dysregulated immune pathways commonly found in both sepsis and diabetes contribute to worsen the host response in diabetic patients with sepsis. The impact of diabetes on mortality from sepsis is still controversial. Whereas a substantial proportion of severe infections can be attributed to poor glycemic control, treatment with insulin, metformin and thiazolidinediones may be associated with lower incidence and mortality for sepsis. It has been suggested that chronic exposure to high glucose might enhance immune adaptation, leading to reduced mortality rate in septic diabetic patients. On the other hand, higher risk of acute kidney injury has been extensively documented and a suggested lower risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome has been recently questioned. Additional investigations are ongoing to confirm the protective role of some anti-diabetic treatments, the occurrence of acute organ dysfunction, and the risk/benefit of less stringent glycemic control in diabetic patients experiencing sepsis. Based on a MEDLINE/PubMed search from inception to December 31, 2020, the aim of this review is therefore to summarize the strengths and weaknesses of current knowledge on the interplay between diabetes and sepsis.
The social and cultural shaping of cybersecurity capacity building: a comparative study of nations and regions
Authors: Creese Sadie , Dutton William H. , Esteve-González Patricia
Published: May 2021

This paper presents an empirical study of the social and cultural aspects of cybersecurity capacity building in 78 nations. While nations within geographically defined regions might be expected to share similar attitudes, values, and practices around cybersecurity, this analysis finds that regional differences can be explained largely by cross-national differences in development and the scale of Internet use. These results question the centrality of regions in shaping social and cultural attributes directly tied to cybersecurity capacity. However, the analysis identifies some countries with greater and some with lesser levels of maturity in capacity building than expected only on the basis of their development and scale of Internet use. Further research focused on the dynamics of under- and over-performance of different nations might illuminate where regional contexts could place a brake on, or provide an impetus for, under- or over-performance in cybersecurity capacity building. That said, national development and the scale of Internet use are the most explanatory of cultural attitudes, values, and practices of societies tied to cybersecurity, such as trust on the Internet.
Beyond self-reflection: introducing the concept of rumination in personal informatics
Authors: Eikey Elizabeth Victoria , Caldeira Clara Marques , Figueiredo Mayara Costa , Chen Yunan , Borelli Jessica L. , Mazmanian Melissa , Zheng Kai
Published: May 2021

Personal informatics tools can help users self-reflect on their experiences. When reflective thought occurs, it sometimes leads to negative thought and emotion cycles. To help explain these cycles, we draw from Psychology to introduce the concept of rumination—anxious, perseverative cognition focused on negative aspects of the self—as a result of engaging with personal data. Rumination is an important concept for the Human Computer Interaction community because it can negatively affect users’ well-being and lead to maladaptive use. Thus, preventing and mitigating rumination is beneficial. In this conceptual paper, we differentiate reflection from rumination. We also explain how self-tracking technologies may inadvertently lead to rumination and the implications this has for design. Our goal is to expand self-tracking research by discussing these negative cycles and encourage researchers to consider rumination when studying, designing, and promoting tools to prevent adverse unintended consequences among users.
Plant ecophysiological processes in spectral profiles: perspective from a deciduous broadleaf forest
Authors: Noda Hibiki M. , Muraoka Hiroyuki , Nasahara Kenlo Nishida
Published: May 2021

The need for progress in satellite remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystems is intensifying under climate change. Further progress in Earth observations of photosynthetic activity and primary production from local to global scales is fundamental to the analysis of the current status and changes in the photosynthetic productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. In this paper, we review plant ecophysiological processes affecting optical properties of the forest canopy which can be measured with optical remote sensing by Earth-observation satellites. Spectral reflectance measured by optical remote sensing is utilized to estimate the temporal and spatial variations in the canopy structure and primary productivity. Optical information reflects the physical characteristics of the targeted vegetation; to use this information efficiently, mechanistic understanding of the basic consequences of plant ecophysiological and optical properties is essential over broad scales, from single leaf to canopy and landscape. In theory, canopy spectral reflectance is regulated by leaf optical properties (reflectance and transmittance spectra) and canopy structure (geometrical distributions of leaf area and angle). In a deciduous broadleaf forest, our measurements and modeling analysis of leaf-level characteristics showed that seasonal changes in chlorophyll content and mesophyll structure of deciduous tree species lead to a seasonal change in leaf optical properties. The canopy reflectance spectrum of the deciduous forest also changes with season. In particular, canopy reflectance in the green region showed a unique pattern in the early growing season: green reflectance increased rapidly after leaf emergence and decreased rapidly after canopy closure. Our model simulation showed that the seasonal change in the leaf optical properties and leaf area index caused this pattern. Based on this understanding we discuss how we can gain ecophysiological information from satellite images at the landscape level. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of ecophysiological remote sensing by satellites.
Recent advances in evolutionary and bio-inspired adaptive robotics: Exploiting embodied dynamics
Authors: Husbands Phil , Shim Yoonsik , Garvie Michael , Dewar Alex , Domcsek Norbert , Graham Paul , Knight James , Nowotny Thomas , Philippides Andrew
Published: May 2021

This paper explores current developments in evolutionary and bio-inspired approaches to autonomous robotics, concentrating on research from our group at the University of Sussex. These developments are discussed in the context of advances in the wider fields of adaptive and evolutionary approaches to AI and robotics, focusing on the exploitation of embodied dynamics to create behaviour. Four case studies highlight various aspects of such exploitation. The first exploits the dynamical properties of a physical electronic substrate, demonstrating for the first time how component-level analog electronic circuits can be evolved directly in hardware to act as robot controllers. The second develops novel, effective and highly parsimonious navigation methods inspired by the way insects exploit the embodied dynamics of innate behaviours. Combining biological experiments with robotic modeling, it is shown how rapid route learning can be achieved with the aid of navigation-specific visual information that is provided and exploited by the innate behaviours. The third study focuses on the exploitation of neuromechanical chaos in the generation of robust motor behaviours. It is demonstrated how chaotic dynamics can be exploited to power a goal-driven search for desired motor behaviours in embodied systems using a particular control architecture based around neural oscillators. The dynamics are shown to be chaotic at all levels in the system, from the neural to the embodied mechanical. The final study explores the exploitation of the dynamics of brain-body-environment interactions for efficient, agile flapping winged flight. It is shown how a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm can be used to evolved dynamical neural controllers for a simulated flapping wing robot with feathered wings. Results demonstrate robust, stable, agile flight is achieved in the face of random wind gusts by exploiting complex asymmetric dynamics partly enabled by continually changing wing and tail morphologies.
Towards the standardization of methods of tissue processing for the isolation of mesenchymal stromal cells for clinical use
Authors: García-Muñoz Elisabeth , Vives Joaquim
Published: May 2021

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are currently the most extensively studied type of adult stem cells in advanced stages of development in the field of regenerative medicine. The biological properties of MSCs have generated great hope for their therapeutic use in degenerative and autoimmune conditions that, at present, lack effective treatment options. Over the last decades, MSCs have been typically obtained from adult bone marrow, but the extraction process is highly invasive and the quality and numbers of isolated cells is drastically influenced by patient age, medication and associated comorbidities. Therefore, there is currently an open discussion on the convenience of allogeneic over autologous treatments, despite potential disadvantages such as rejection by the host. This shift to the allogeneic setting entails the need for high production of MSCs to ensure availability of sufficient cell numbers for transplantation, and therefore making the search for alternative tissue sources of highly proliferative MSC cultures with low levels of senescence occurrence, which is one of the greatest current challenges in the scale up of therapeutic cell bioprocessing. Herein we (i) present the main isolation protocols of MSCs from bone marrow, adipose tissue and Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord; and (ii) compare their qualities from a bioprocess standpoint, addressing both quality and regulatory aspects, in view of their anticipated clinical use.
Pharmacists in advanced clinical practice roles in emergency departments (PARED)
Authors: Terry David , Ganasan Shalini , Aiello Matthew , Huynh Chi , Wilkie Veronica , Hughes Elizabeth
Published: May 2021

Background Following evidence published in the Pharmacists in Emergency Departments (PIED 2016) study Health Education England funded novel advanced clinical practitioner training for pharmacists (ACP-p), to support service delivery.

Objective To explore experiences and clinical activity of trainee ACP-p, and opinions and recommendations of both trainees and clinical supervisors.

Setting Five Urgent/Emergency Care Departments in London UK.

Method Longitudinal mixed-methods study in three phases of registered UK pharmacists appointed as trainee ACP-p. Phase 1 (May-July 2019) – early semi-structured interviews and focus group using an experiences, opinions and recommendations (EOR) framework, Phase 2 (January-December 2019) – prospective recording of trainee clinical activity, standardised using bespoke spreadsheet, Phase 3 (November-December 2019) – as Phase 1 but at conclusion of training.

Main outcome measure Experiences, clinical activity, opinions and recommendations of study participants.

Results Twelve (92 %) eligible trainee ACP-p and five supervisors were recruited. Identified themes were: trainee personality, educational components, length of programme, support/supervision, career transition, university and placement training alignment, recommendations. Success was dependent on effective support and supervision. Clinical supervisors should be allocated adequate supervision time. Trainees, their supervisors and emergency department staff should be given a clear brief. Study participants agreed that the programme could be successful. Trainee ACP-p reported that they could manage 82 % of 713 pre-selected clinical presentations. Additional training needs include: ECGs, X-rays and CT scans.

Conclusions Pharmacists can successfully train as ACP-p in this setting over a two-year period. This career transition needs careful management and clear structures. Training ACP-p is a useful way of enhancing skills and supporting clinical services to large numbers of patients.
Skull base repair following endonasal pituitary and skull base tumour resection: a systematic review
Authors: Khan Danyal Z. , Ali Ahmad M. S. , Koh Chan Hee , Dorward Neil L. , Grieve Joan , Layard Horsfall Hugo , Muirhead William , Santarius Thomas , Van Furth Wouter R. , Zamanipoor Najafabadi Amir H. , Marcus Hani J.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea (CSFR) remains a frequent complication of endonasal approaches to pituitary and skull base tumours. Watertight skull base reconstruction is important in preventing CSFR. We sought to systematically review the current literature of available skull base repair techniques.

Methods

Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for studies (2000–2020) that (a) reported on the endonasal resection of pituitary and skull base tumours, (b) focussed on skull base repair techniques and/or postoperative CSFR risk factors, and (c) included CSFR data. Roles, advantages and disadvantages of each repair method were detailed. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed where possible.

Results

193 studies were included. Repair methods were categorised based on function and anatomical level. There was absolute heterogeneity in repair methods used, with no independent studies sharing the same repair protocol. Techniques most commonly used for low CSFR risk cases were fat grafts, fascia lata grafts and synthetic grafts. For cases with higher CSFR risk, multilayer regimes were utilized with vascularized flaps, gasket sealing and lumbar drains. Lumbar drain use for high CSFR risk cases was supported by a randomised study (Oxford CEBM: Grade B recommendation), but otherwise there was limited high-level evidence. Pooled CSFR incidence by approach was 3.7% (CI 3–4.5%) for transsphenoidal, 9% (CI 7.2–11.3%) for expanded endonasal, and 5.3% (CI 3.4–7%) for studies describing both. Further meaningful meta-analyses of repair methods were not performed due to significant repair protocol heterogeneity.

Conclusions

Modern reconstructive protocols are heterogeneous and there is limited evidence to suggest the optimal repair technique after pituitary and skull base tumour resection. Further studies are needed to guide practice.
Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: a Review of its Applications and Health Implications
Authors: Kesari Kavindra Kumar , Soni Ramendra , Jamal Qazi Mohammad Sajid , Tripathi Pooja , Lal Jonathan A. , Jha Niraj Kumar , Siddiqui Mohammed Haris , Kumar Pradeep , Tripathi Vijay , Ruokolainen Janne
Published: May 2021

Water scarcity is one of the major problems in the world and millions of people have no access to freshwater. Untreated wastewater is widely used for agriculture in many countries. This is one of the world-leading serious environmental and public health concerns. Instead of using untreated wastewater, treated wastewater has been found more applicable and ecofriendly option. Moreover, environmental toxicity due to solid waste exposures is also one of the leading health concerns. Therefore, intending to combat the problems associated with the use of untreated wastewater, we propose in this review a multidisciplinary approach to handle wastewater as a potential resource for use in agriculture. We propose a model showing the efficient methods for wastewater treatment and the utilization of solid wastes in fertilizers. The study also points out the associated health concern for farmers, who are working in wastewater-irrigated fields along with the harmful effects of untreated wastewater. The consumption of crop irrigated by wastewater has leading health implications also discussed in this review paper. This review further reveals that our current understanding of the wastewater treatment and use in agriculture with addressing advancements in treatment methods has great future possibilities.
Strategies and cognitive reserve to preserve lexical production in aging
Authors: Baciu Monica , Banjac Sonja , Roger Elise , Haldin Célise , Perrone-Bertolotti Marcela , Lœvenbruck Hélène , Démonet Jean-François
Published: May 2021

In the absence of any neuropsychiatric condition, older adults may show declining performance in several cognitive processes and among them, in retrieving and producing words, reflected in slower responses and even reduced accuracy compared to younger adults. To overcome this difficulty, healthy older adults implement compensatory strategies, which are the focus of this paper. We provide a review of mainstream findings on deficient mechanisms and possible neurocognitive strategies used by older adults to overcome the deleterious effects of age on lexical production. Moreover, we present findings on genetic and lifestyle factors that might either be protective or risk factors of cognitive impairment in advanced age. We propose that “aging-modulating factors” (AMF) can be modified, offering prevention opportunities against aging effects. Based on our review and this proposition, we introduce an integrative neurocognitive model of mechanisms and compensatory strategies for lexical production in older adults (entitled Lexical Access and Retrieval in Aging, LARA). The main hypothesis defended in LARA is that cognitive aging evolves heterogeneously and involves complementary domain-general and domain-specific mechanisms, with substantial inter-individual variability, reflected at behavioral, cognitive, and brain levels. Furthermore, we argue that the ability to compensate for the effect of cognitive aging depends on the amount of reserve specific to each individual which is, in turn, modulated by the AMF. Our conclusion is that a variety of mechanisms and compensatory strategies coexist in the same individual to oppose the effect of age. The role of reserve is pivotal for a successful coping with age-related changes and future research should continue to explore the modulating role of AMF.
Colchicine and Cardiovascular Outcomes: a Critical Appraisal of Recent Studies
Authors: Banach Maciej , Penson Peter E.
Published: May 2021

Purpose of Review

Recent studies have demonstrated an important role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Several studies have investigated the efficacy of colchicine (a widely used and safe anti-inflammatory drug) in patients with atherosclerosis. This review explains the rationale for the use of colchicine in this setting and critically appraises recent outcome trials.

Recent Findings

Two large randomised-controlled trials LoDoCo2 (included patients with chronic coronary syndromes) and COLCOT (acute coronary syndromes) have demonstrated reductions in atherosclerotic cardiovascular events, but not mortality. A smaller study (COPS) found no beneficial effect of colchicine but was probably underpowered.

Colchicine is effective at reducing cardiovascular events in chronic and acute coronary syndromes, although reductions in all-cause mortality have not been demonstrated during the period of follow-up in trials to date. Mild gastrointestinal symptoms are the most commonly reported adverse effects, although in well-designed randomised controlled trials these are relatively uncommon.
Phase constitution of the noble metal thin-film complex solid solution system Ag-Ir-Pd-Pt-Ru in dependence of elemental compositions and annealing temperatures
Authors: Xiao Bin , Wang Xiao , Savan Alan , Ludwig Alfred
Published: May 2021

Multiple-principal element alloys hold great promise for multifunctional material discovery (e.g., for novel electrocatalysts based on complex solid solutions) in a virtually unlimited compositional space. Here, the phase constitution of the noble metal system Ag-Ir-Pd-Pt-Ru was investigated over a large compositional range in the quinary composition space and for different annealing temperatures from 600 to 900 °C using thin-film materials libraries. Composition-dependent X-ray diffraction mapping of the as-deposited thin-film materials library indicates different phases being present across the composition space (face-centered cubic (fcc), hexagonal close packed (hcp) and mixed fcc + hcp), which are strongly dependent on the Ru content. In general, low Ru contents promote the fcc phase, whereas high Ru contents favor the formation of an hcp solid-solution phase. Furthermore, a temperature-induced phase transformation study was carried out for a selected measurement area of fcc-Ag5Ir8Pd56Pt8Ru23. With increasing temperature, the initial fcc phase transforms to an intermediate C14-type Laves phase at 360 °C, and then to hcp when the temperature reaches 510 °C. The formation and disappearance of the hexagonal Laves phase, which covers a wide temperature range, plays a crucial role of bridging the fcc to hcp phase transition. The obtained composition, phase and temperature data are transformed into phase maps which could be used to guide theoretical studies and lay a basis for tuning the functional properties of these materials.
Effects of Defined Mixtures of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on Pre-lethal Cytotoxicity in the Human A-498 Kidney Cell Line In Vitro
Authors: Amber Mazia , Xie Yuling , Berntsen Hanne Friis , Zimmer Karin Elizabeth , Ropstad Erik , Verhaegen Steven , Connolly Lisa
Published: May 2021

A total mixture of 29 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) modelled from Scandinavian blood concentrations was used to expose human A-498 kidney cells for 24 h over a concentration range spanning below to above blood level (1/10x, 1x, 50x, 100x, 500x). Its constituent submixtures (PFAA, Br, Cl) and co-mixtures (PFAA + Br, PFAA + Cl, Br + Cl) were also tested. Valinomycin (12 µM) was used as a cytotoxic comparative compound. Cell number (CN), nuclear area (NA), nuclear intensity (NI), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and mitochondrial mass (MM) were assessed using high content analysis (HCA). Only the co-mixtures (PFAA + Cl, PFAA + Br) at 50x and 50x, 500x decreased CN, respectively. NI was increased by the total mixture at 500x and Cl mixture at all concentrations tested. MMP was increased by the total mixture at 100x and 500x, PFAA at 1x, Br + Cl and PFAA + Cl at 100x and 500x, respectively. MM was decreased by the total mixture at 500x. In contrast, valinomycin decreased CN and surviving cells showed a decrease in MMP and an increase in MM. In conclusion, POP exposure altered mitochondrial metabolism and induced cell death via an alternative mechanism to valinomycin. Only specific combinations of individual chemical classes, but not the total mixture, affected cell number.
Artificial intelligence in disease diagnostics: A critical review and classification on the current state of research guiding future direction
Authors: Mirbabaie Milad , Stieglitz Stefan , Frick Nicholas R. J.
Published: May 2021

The diagnosis of diseases is decisive for planning proper treatment and ensuring the well-being of patients. Human error hinders accurate diagnostics, as interpreting medical information is a complex and cognitively challenging task. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the level of diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. While the current literature has examined various approaches to diagnosing various diseases, an overview of fields in which AI has been applied, including their performance aiming to identify emergent digitalized healthcare services, has not yet been adequately realized in extant research. By conducting a critical review, we portray the AI landscape in diagnostics and provide a snapshot to guide future research. This paper extends academia by proposing a research agenda. Practitioners understand the extent to which AI improves diagnostics and how healthcare benefits from it. However, several issues need to be addressed before successful application of AI in disease diagnostics can be achieved.
Dietary agrobiodiversity for improved nutrition and health outcomes within a transitioning indigenous Solomon Island food system
Authors: Vogliano Chris , Raneri Jessica E. , Coad Jane , Tutua Shane , Wham Carol , Lachat Carl , Burlingame Barbara
Published: May 2021

Indigenous food systems of Pacific Small Island Developing Countries contain vast biological and cultural diversity. However, a nutrition transition is underway, characterized by shifts away from traditional diets in favour of imported and modern foods, contributing to some of the highest rates of obesity and Diabetes Type 2 Mellitus in the world. Using a mixed method approach, this study aimed to assess dietary agrobiodiversity’s relationship with nutrition indicators related to diet quality and anthropometrics within the context of the rural and Indigenous food system of Baniata village, located in the Western Province of Solomon Islands (Melanesia). A secondary aim was to evaluate the contribution of agrobiodiversity from the local food system to diet quality. A comprehensive nutrition survey was administered to the women primarily responsible for cooking of randomly selected households (n = 30). Additionally, 14 participatory focus group discussions captured the historical narrative of food system transitions, were hosted over a period of seven days, and included men, women and youth. Dietary intakes of the participants were reported below the estimated average requirement (EAR) for several essential nutrients, including protein (53%), calcium (96.6%), vitamin B1 (86.6%), vitamin B2 (80%), vitamin A (80%), zinc (40%) and fibre (77%). Focus group participants built a timeline of key historical and climatic transitions perceived to be drivers of dietary shifts away from traditional foods and towards imported and processed foods. Participants identified 221 species and varieties of agrobiodiverse foods available for cultivation or wild collection. Based on 24 h diet recalls, 87 were found to be utilised. Participants who consumed foods of a wider diversity of species richness had a higher probability of achieving recommended nutrition intakes and a lower body fat percentage (r2 = 0.205; p = 0.012). Our results suggest a nutrition transition is underway, and strategies harnessing traditional knowledge of nutrient-dense, agrobiodiverse foods can help improve food and nutrition security.
Is the mode of childbirth delivery linked to the prevalence of early childhood caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Boustedt K. , Dahlgren J. , Roswall J. , Twetman S.
Published: May 2021

Aim

The mode of childbirth delivery can influence the child’s future health and the aim of this study was to explore the association between the delivery mode and the prevalence of early childhood caries.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane databases up to September 15, 2020. Two independent reviewers screened the papers for relevance, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. We performed a random effects meta-analysis to pool the prevalence of early childhood caries according to the mode of delivery.

Results

The authors included 11 studies in the review, comprising 47,688 children with vaginal delivery and 10,994 with caesarean section (C-section). The publication years ranged from 1997 to 2020 and included birth cohorts, cross-sectional, register-based and case–control studies. We assessed three publications with low or moderate risk of bias. The median caries prevalence in the C-section group was 56.4% compared to 45.9% in the vaginal group and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The pooled overall odds ratio was 1.48 (95% CI 1.07–2.05) indicating a weak but statistically significant trend towards a higher caries occurrence among children delivered with C-section. The certainty of this finding was low due to heterogeneity and inconsistencies across the studies.

Conclusion

We found a weak but inconsistent association between the mode of delivery and the prevalence of early childhood caries. Further studies based on representative, prospective cohorts reporting a standardized core outcome set are required to answer the research question with higher certainty.
Reduction of wave-induced pitch motion of a semi-sub wind platform by balancing heave excitation with pumping between floats
Authors: Stansby Peter
Published: May 2021

It is desirable to control pitch motion of semi-submersible wind platforms to reduce turbine hub acceleration and increase structural fatigue life. This is achieved by balancing the moment on the platform due to heave float excitation by generating a differential internal head of water between the floats though a pump. This is demonstrated with an experimentally validated linear diffraction-radiation-drag model of an idealised platform. Different scales of platform are considered corresponding to 5, 10 and 20 MW turbines. The pitch angles and hub accelerations generally reduce as scales increase. Pumping reduces hub accelerations by up to about 40% for larger sea states. The power required for pumping would be small with a hybrid pump also operating as a turbine to store energy for the pumping operation. Without storage the power requirement is still small relative to the turbine capacity except for very high wind speeds.
Administrative Law as a Dual State. Authoritarian Elements of Administrative Law
Authors: Schotel Bas
Published: May 2021

Scholars have recently shown how in Europe regimes in democratic decay (e.g. Poland, Hungary) take all sorts of measures targeting and marginalizing political opponents. Although they are authoritarian by nature, the measures are cast in a legal form. According to some scholars this kind of authoritarian rule of law can be best understood as a dual state, namely a combination of the normative state (the rule of law) and the prerogative state (the pure—political or arbitrary—will of those in power). Building on these insights, the present paper makes two new observations. First, administrative law is distinctively well suited to cater for the creation of a dual state. By distinctively I mean better than civil and criminal law. In fact, I argue that administrative law constitutes a dual state in and of itself combining normative and prerogative state elements within a single area of law, in ways that cannot be done under civil and criminal law. Second, not only regimes in democratic decay but also liberal democracies make use of the dual state nature of administrative law. The paper illustrates this point with two techniques whereby liberal democracies use administrative law to circumvent or pervert the normal operation of criminal law, namely crimmigration and the alien detention of citizens. My underlying normative point is to draw attention to the inherent authoritarian potential of administrative law.