bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential synergistic activity of quercetin with antibiotics against multidrug-resistant clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Vipin Chembili , Saptami Kanekar , Fida Fathima , Mujeeburahiman Musliyarakath , Rao Sneha S. , Athmika  , Arun Ananthapadmanabha Bhagwath , Rekha Punchappady Devasya
Published: November 2020

Development of drug resistance in opportunistic pathogens is one of the major healthcare challenges associated with infection management. Combination therapy has many advantages due to the simultaneous action of two drugs on two separate cellular targets. However, selection of the drugs should offer safety and synergistic interaction against most of the strains. Here, the efficacy of antibiotics in combination with quercetin, a natural flavonoid capable of targeting quorum sensing was tested against biofilm-forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains previously isolated from catheter associated urinary tract infection. Based on the antibiotic susceptibility pattern, synergistic effect of quercetin with selected antibiotics (levofloxacin, ceftriaxone, gentamycin, tobramycin and amikacin) was tested at the fractional concentrations of MIC by the checkerboard method and the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi) was calculated to estimate the synergistic effect. Effect of the synergistic combinations were further tested using time-kill assay, and against biofilm formation and biofilm cell viability. Cytotoxicity assays were performed using Human Embryonic Kidney 293T cells (HEK-293T) using the effective drug combinations with respective controls. The biofilm formation and biofilm cell viability were drastically affected with quercetin and selected antibiotics combinations with ≥80% inhibition. In vitro infection studies showed that all the strains could exert significant cell killing (68 to 85%) and the drug combinations decreased the infection rate significantly by reducing the cell killing effect of P. aeruginosa (p<0.05). The synergistic effect of quercetin is attributed to its quorum sensing inhibitory properties. These findings indicate that quercetin along with existing antibiotics can potentiate the treatment against P. aeruginosa infection and may reduce the selection pressure due to antibiotic overuse.
Mechanisms of QT prolongation by buprenorphine cannot be explained by direct hERG channel block
Authors: Tran Phu N. , Sheng Jiansong , Randolph Aaron L. , Baron Claudia Alvarez , Thiebaud Nicolas , Ren Ming , Wu Min , Johannesen Lars , Volpe Donna A. , Patel Dakshesh , Blinova Ksenia , Strauss David G. , Wu Wendy W.
Published: November 2020

Buprenorphine is a μ-opioid receptor (MOR) partial agonist used to manage pain and addiction. QTCprolongation that crosses the 10 msec threshold of regulatory concern was observed at a supratherapeutic dose in two thorough QT studies for the transdermal buprenorphine product BUTRANS®. Because QTCprolongation can be associated with Torsades de Pointes (TdP), a rare but potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmia, these results have led to further investigation of the electrophysiological effects of buprenorphine. Drug-induced QTCprolongation and TdP are most commonly caused by acute inhibition of hERG current (IhERG) that contribute to the repolarizing phase of the ventricular action potentials (APs). Concomitant inhibition of inward late Na+(INaL) and/or L-type Ca2+(ICaL) current can offer some protection against proarrhythmia. Therefore, we characterized the effects of buprenorphine and its major metabolite norbuprenorphine on cardiac hERG, Ca2+, and Na+ion channels, as well as cardiac APs. For comparison, methadone, a MOR agonist associated with QTCprolongation and high TdP risk, and naltrexone and naloxone, two opioid receptor antagonists, were also studied. Whole cell recordings were performed at 37°C on cells stably expressing hERG, CaV1.2, and NaV1.5 proteins. Microelectrode array (MEA) recordings were made on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). The results showed that buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, naltrexone, and naloxone had no effect on IhERG, ICaL, INaL, and peak Na+current (INaP) at clinically relevant concentrations. In contrast, methadone inhibited IhERG, ICaL, and INaL. Experiments on iPSC-CMs showed a lack of effect for buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, naltrexone, and naloxone, and delayed repolarization for methadone at clinically relevant concentrations. The mechanism of QTCprolongation is opioid moiety-specific. This remains undefined for buprenorphine, while for methadone it involves direct hERG channel block. There is no evidence that buprenorphine use is associated with TdP. Whether this lack of TdP risk can be generalized to other drugs with QTCprolongation not mediated by acute hERG channel block warrants further study.
The impact of delayed mobilization on post-discharge outcomes after emergency abdominal surgery: A prospective cohort study in older patients
Authors: Pederson Jenelle L. , Padwal Raj S. , Warkentin Lindsey M. , Holroyd-Leduc Jayna M. , Wagg Adrian , Khadaroo Rachel G.
Published: November 2020

Surgeons are increasingly treating seniors with complex care needs who are at high-risk of readmission and functional decline. Yet, the prognostic importance of post-operative mobilization in older surgical patients is under-investigated and remains unclear. Thus, we evaluated the relationship between post-operative mobilization and events after hospital discharge in older people. Overall, 306 survivors of emergency abdominal surgery aged ≥65y who required help with <3 activities of daily living were prospectively followed at two Canadian tertiary-care hospitals. Time until mobilization after surgery was attained from hospital charts and a priori defined as ‘delayed’ (≥36h) or ‘early’ (<36h). Primary outcomes for 30-day and 6-month all-cause readmission/death after discharge were assessed in multivariable logistic regression. Patients had a mean age of 76 ± 7.7 years, 45% were women, 41% were ‘vulnerable-to-moderately-frail’, according to the Clinical Frailty Scale. Most common reasons for admission were gallstones (23%), intestinal obstructions (21%), and hernia (17%). Median time to post-operative mobilization was 19h (interquartile range 9−35); 74 (24%) patients had delayed mobilization. Delayed mobilization was independently associated with higher risk of 30-day readmission/death (19 [26%] vs. 22 [10%], P<0.001; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.24, 95%CI 0.99–5.06, P = 0.05), but this was not statistically significant at 6-months (38 [51%] vs. 64 [28%], P<0.001; aOR 1.72, 95%CI 0.91−3.25, P = 0.1). One-quarter of older surgical patients stayed in bed for 1.5 days post-operatively. Delayed mobilization was associated with increased risk of short-term readmission/death. As older, more frail patients undergo surgery, mobilization of older surgical patients remains an understudied post-operative factor.

Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02233153
Carbon stocks and dynamics of different land uses on the Cerrado agricultural frontier
Authors: Dionizio Emily Ane , Pimenta Fernando Martins , Lima Lucas Barbosa , Costa Marcos Heil
Published: November 2020

The largest and most dynamic agricultural frontier in Brazil is known as MATOPIBA, an area that covers part of the Cerrado biome. Within this region, Western Bahia stands out as a large producer of soy and cotton. There are no studies that quantify carbon stocks for different land uses and land cover types in Western Bahia, which hinders comprehension of the role of agricultural expansion in carbon dynamics and the development of sustainable agriculture policies. Here, we evaluate how the land use changes in this region have affected the carbon balance in the aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), and soil reservoirs. We collected soil samples for areas with different land uses and land cover types to estimate soil carbon stocks (SCS) and combined remote sensing results and modeling techniques to develop a historical reconstruction of spatial patterns of SCS, AGB, and BGB during the period 1990–2018. The replacement of areas from the forest formations class with pasture and rainfed agriculture reduced the 100 cm depth SCS (SCS100) by 37.3% (p = 0.031) and 30.3% (p = 0.053), respectively. By contrast, the conversion of pasture and rainfed agriculture to irrigated agriculture increased SCS100 by 34% (p = 0.034) and 26.5% (p = 0.022), respectively. Spatial changes in historical carbon stocks are strongly associated with land use changes that occurred between 1990 and 2018. We estimated a non-significant loss of 61.9 Tg-C (p = 0.726) from the total carbon stocks (calculated as the sum of AGB, BGB, and SCS) of which 80% of the losses came from soil stocks, 11% from BGB, and 8% from AGB. These findings reveal the need to monitor carbon stocks in sandy soils to reduce the uncertainties of estimates and support the development of effective sustainable agriculture policies. The best alternatives for reducing carbon losses in the Cerrado are to maintain natural forest cover and to recover soils through sustainable soil management, especially in pasturelands where soil carbon stocks are lowest.
Whole blood transcriptome biomarkers of unruptured intracranial aneurysm
Authors: Poppenberg Kerry E. , Li Lu , Waqas Muhammad , Paliwal Nikhil , Jiang Kaiyu , Jarvis James N. , Sun Yijun , Snyder Kenneth V. , Levy Elad I. , Siddiqui Adnan H. , Kolega John , Meng Hui , Tutino Vincent M.
Published: November 2020

Background

The rupture of an intracranial aneurysm (IA) causes devastating subarachnoid hemorrhages, yet most IAs remain undiscovered until they rupture. Recently, we found an IA RNA expression signature of circulating neutrophils, and used transcriptome data to build predictive models for unruptured IAs. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of using whole blood transcriptomes to predict the presence of unruptured IAs.

Methods

We subjected RNA from peripheral whole blood of 67 patients (34 with unruptured IA, 33 without IA) to next-generation RNA sequencing. Model genes were identified using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) in a random training cohort (n = 47). These genes were used to train a Gaussian Support Vector Machine (gSVM) model to distinguish patients with IA. The model was applied to an independent testing cohort (n = 20) to evaluate performance by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Gene ontology and pathway analyses investigated the underlying biology of the model genes.

Results

We identified 18 genes that could distinguish IA patients in a training cohort with 85% accuracy. This SVM model also had 85% accuracy in the testing cohort, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.91. Bioinformatics reflected activation and recruitment of leukocytes, activation of macrophages, and inflammatory response, suggesting that the biomarker captures important processes in IA pathogenesis.

Conclusions

Circulating whole blood transcriptomes can detect the presence of unruptured IAs. Pending additional testing in larger cohorts, this could serve as a foundation to develop a simple blood-based test to facilitate screening and early detection of IAs.
MAVSCOT: A fuzzy logic-based HIV diagnostic system with indigenous multi-lingual interfaces for rural Africa
Authors: Oluwagbemi Olugbenga Oluseun , Oluwagbemi Folakemi Etseoghena , Jatto Abdulwahab , Hui Cang
Published: November 2020

HIV still constitutes a major public health problem in Africa, where the highest incidence and prevalence of the disease can be found in many rural areas, with multiple indigenous languages being used for communication by locals. In many rural areas of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa, for instance, the most widely used languages include Zulu and Xhosa, with only limited comprehension in English and Afrikaans. Health care practitioners for HIV diagnosis and treatment, often, cannot communicate efficiently with their indigenous ethnic patients. An informatics tool is urgently needed to facilitate these health care professionals for better communication with their patients during HIV diagnosis. Here, we apply fuzzy logic and speech technology and develop a fuzzy logic HIV diagnostic system with indigenous multi-lingual interfaces, named Multi-linguAl HIV indigenouS fuzzy logiC-based diagnOstic sysTem (MAVSCOT). This HIV multilingual informatics software can facilitate the diagnosis in underprivileged rural African communities. We provide examples on how MAVSCOT can be applied towards HIV diagnosis by using existing data from the literature. Compared to other similar tools, MAVSCOT can perform better due to its implementation of the fuzzy logic. We hope MAVSCOT would help health care practitioners working in indigenous communities of many African countries, to efficiently diagnose HIV and ultimately control its transmission.
Is reporting quality in medical publications associated with biostatisticians as co-authors? A registered report protocol
Authors: Held Ulrike , Steigmiller Klaus , Hediger Michael , Gosteli Martina , Reeve Kelly A. , von Felten Stefanie , Furrer Eva
Published: November 2020

Background

Quality in medical research has recently been criticized for being low, especially in observational research. Methodology is increasingly difficult, but collaboration between clinical researchers and biostatisticians may improve research and reporting quality. The aim of this study is to quantify the value of a biostatistician in the team of authors.

Methods

Single-center, retrospective observational study following the STROBE reporting guidelines. We will systematically review all medical publications with biostatisticians from our center as co-authors or authors and review corresponding papers without biostatisticians from our center during the same time range. We will compare aspects of reporting quality, overall and for the three study types observational, randomized trial, and prognostic separately.

Discussion

We anticipate that the results of the study will raise awareness of the importance of high methodological quality, as well as appropriate reporting quality in clinical research.

Conclusion

Our study will have a direct impact on our center by making each of us more aware of the reporting guidelines for various research designs. This in turn will enhance reporting quality in future research with our involvement. Our study will also raise awareness of the important role that biostatisticians play in the design and analysis of health research projects.
Development and validation of Malaysia Medication Adherence Assessment Tool (MyMAAT) for diabetic patients
Authors: Hatah Ernieda , Rahim Nadiah , Makmor-Bakry Mohd , Mohamed Shah Noraida , Mohamad Noraini , Ahmad Mahadir , Haron Nor Hasni , Sze Hwe Choe , Tan Meng Wah Angeline , Hassan Fahmi , Shaik Rahmat Shakirin , Robert Sarah Ann , Abdullah Noraidatulakma
Published: November 2020

Medication non-adherence remains a significant barrier in achieving better health outcomes for patients with chronic diseases. Previous self-reported medication adherence tools were not developed in the context of the Malaysia population. The most commonly used tool, MMAS-8, is no longer economical because it requires a license and currently every form used is charged. Hence, there is a need to develop and validate a new medication adherence tool. The Malaysia Medication Adherence Assessment Tool (MyMAAT) was developed by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in medication adherence and health literacy. The face and content validities of the MyMAAT was established by a panel of experts. A total of 495 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from the Ministry of Health facilities consisting of five hospitals and five primary health clinics. A test-retest was conducted on 42 of the patients one week following their first data collection. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the validity of the MyMAAT. The final item for MyMAAT was compared with SEAMS, HbA1c%, Medication Possession ratio (MPR) score, and pharmacist’s subjective assessment for its hypothesis testing validity. The MyMAAT-12 achieved acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.910) and stable reliability as the test-retest score showed good to excellent correlation (Spearman’s rho = 0.96, p = 0.001). The MyMAAT has significant moderate association with SEAMS (Spearman’s rho = 0.44, p = < 0.001) and significant relationship with HbA1c (< 8% and ≥ 8%) (χ2(1) = 13.4, p < 0.001), MPR (χ2(1) = 13.6, p < 0.001) and pharmacist’s subjective assessment categories (χ2(1) = 31, p < 0.001). The sensitivity of MyMAAT-12, tested against HbA1c% was 72.9% while its specificity was 43%. This study demonstrates that the MyMAAT-12 together with other methods of assessment may make a better screening tool to identify patients who were non-adherence to their medications.
Estátuas na religião romana
Authors: Beltrão Claudia , Santangelo Federico
Published: November 2020

Este volume reúne nove estudos sobre estátuas de divindades no Mediterrâneo romano, considerando-as como produtos históricos caracterizados pela plasticidade e pelo dinamismo de suas formas e significados. Linguagens visuais, elementos iconográficos, concepções espaciais, modos de comportamento, ações e performance que criavam o divino, bem como construções intelectuais, narrativas e conhecimentos que tornavam presentes os seres divinos são temas que compõem esta coletânea de contribuições de uma equipe interdisciplinar e internacional.
Why there were few cases of coronavirus disease 2019 in Libya during the first two months of the pandemic?
Authors: Rayes Abdunnabi A. , Annajar Badereddin B. , Dayhum Abdunaser S. , Eldaghayes Ibrahim M.
Published: November 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic that affected almost all countries worldwide with more than 29,439,120 confirmed cases and 932,486 deaths recorded till on September 14, 2020. However, on May 25, 2020, after 2 months from the first reported case of COVID-19 in Libya, the country was among very few countries in the world that had very few cases of COVID-19 with a total of 75 confirmed cases and three deaths during the first 2 months since the detection of the first case on March 24, 2020. Based on the global epidemiological pattern of the disease, the magnitude of COVID-19 in Libya could have been much worse. However, the reality is eccentrically different and the epidemiology exhibited different scenario with very few cases being recorded during the first 2 months of pandemic in Libya. In this article, a review of COVID-19 situation in Libya is presented with thoughts about the potential reasons that could explain the very few cases of COVID-19 in the country in context with the global figures of the pandemic.
Industry 4.0 through the lenses of technology, strategy, and organization A compilation of case study evidence
Authors: Demeter Krisztina , Losonci Dávid , Marciniak Róbert , Nagy Judit , Móricz Péter , Matyusz Zsolt , Baksa Máté , Freund Anna , Jámbor Zsófia , Pistrui Bence , Diófási-Kovács Orsolya
Published: November 2020

In the last few years, the management literature has become noisy with Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Although several concepts and typologies intend to make the phenomenon more understandable, these endeavours generally focus on technological aspects or specific issues. Therefore, integrated approaches of the I4.0 transformation on the business side and a comprehensive investigation of this phenomenon on the academic side are still needed. This paper synthetizes the lessons of 15 case studies from five sectors (automotive, FMCG, logistics services, retail, and business services) and places them in a triadic framework of technology, strategy, and organization. The case studies are based on interviews, internal documents and public information. This paper reveals that the analysed companies focus on I4.0 technologies that are substantially related to the development of core activities. Companies in a highly competitive global environment (e.g., automotive industry and business services) are more prepared and progress faster with I4.0 technology implementation.
Conceptualising management control systems Illustrative evidence from literature on the Australian business sector
Authors: Chowdhury Anup , Chandra Shil Nikhil
Published: November 2020

This study is an attempt to conceptualise management control systems. Management control systems can be viewed as a broader concept which includes different components and used for varying purposes. In an organisation, control is applied at different levels and is directly related with employees of the organisation concerned. To comprehend the basics of management control systems the present study will explore the typography of the control mechanisms. Management control systems can be viewed as technical activity which is implemented in different ways in different countries. In the Australian business sector these control tools have been widely used. This study will review the experiences of implementing management control systems in the Australian business sector. Though the present study is based on Australian business sector it has policy implications to other countries and is expected to indicate potential usefulness to management control practices.
Circulating Sex Hormones Are Associated With Gastric and Colorectal Cancers but Not Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in the UK Biobank
Authors: McMenamin Úna C. , Liu Peipei , Kunzmann Andrew T. , Cook Michael B. , Coleman Helen G. , Johnston Brian T. , Cantwell Marie M. , Cardwell Chris R.
Published: November 2020

INTRODUCTION:

Gastrointestinal cancers show an unexplained male predominance, but few prospective studies have investigated sex hormones and gastrointestinal cancer risk. This study aimed to determine the impact of circulating sex hormones on risk of esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers in men and women.

METHODS:

We included 219,425 men and 147,180 women from the UK Biobank. Sex hormones were quantified using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Gastrointestinal cancers were identified from cancer registry linkages. Sex hormone concentrations and risk of gastrointestinal cancers were investigated using Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS:

During the 10 years of follow-up, 376 esophageal adenocarcinoma, 108 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and 333 gastric and 2,868 colorectal cancer cases were identified. Increased hazard ratios (HRs) were found for sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) and risk of gastric cancer in men (Q4 vs Q1 HR 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95–2.17, Ptrend = 0.01). Free testosterone was inversely associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in women (Q4 vs Q1 HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.11–0.98, Ptrend = 0.05). For colorectal cancer, SHBG was associated with a reduced risk among men (Q4 vs Q1 HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.77–1.03, Ptrend = 0.04) and free testosterone concentrations was associated with a reduction in risk among women (Q4 vs Q1 HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66–0.97, Ptrend = 0.01). No associations were found for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

DISCUSSION:

In this large prospective investigation of prediagnostic sex hormones and risk of gastrointestinal cancers, men with higher SHBG concentrations had higher gastric, yet lower colorectal, cancer risks, whereas women with higher free testosterone levels had a lower risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and colorectal cancer.
Effect of Current on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Aluminum 6061 with Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Process
Authors: Tarmizi Tarmizi , Sianturi Kevin Daniel , Irfan Irfan
Published: November 2020

Aluminum 6061 is an aluminum alloy that is widely used in various industrial fields, which heat treatable. However, it can be joined using a welding process. Aluminum joining using the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process has become the option to produce good quality joints. This research aims to get optimum welding parameters by knowing the mechanical properties and microstructure of the welding results. The GTAW process uses a 25-volt voltage, Argon protective gas flow rate of 15 liters per minute with filler rod ER 5356 with 2.4 mm diameter and electrodes tungsten 2.4 mm in diameter. This process uses a single V butt joint and groove angle of 60° with variations in the current of 100, 110 and 120 A. The results indicate that specimens with a variety of current of 110 A give better results in the absence of defects, have a tensile strength of 152 MPa, and get a hardness value of 87.55 HV, which is the highest compared to the other two specimens. Whereas specimens with the current variation of 100 and 120 A have defects in the weld area. The optimum parameters of the 6061 aluminum GTAW process with a thickness of 6 mm using a current of 110 A bring on better outcomes and mechanical properties than the use of currents of 100 and 120 A.
1MDB (1 Malaysia Development Berhad), Scandal, and Its Impact on Malaysian Domestic Politics
Authors: Maksum Ali
Published: November 2020

This article examines the publicly discussed 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and its impact on Malaysian domestic politics. Following this case, Najib Razak as prime minister of Malaysia was under pressure. This is because of the strong allegation of Najib Razak’s involvement in the 1MDB scandal. This issue became public discourse after the widely report made by New York-based media Wall Street Journal concerning Najib’s abuse on the corporate asset. The scandal not only shakes Najib’s political coalition but also indirectly has provoked public distrust against him including from his political Guru, Mahathir Muhammad. Dr Mahathir openly accuses Najib’s behaviour and declare to quit from his longest loyal party, UMNO. Later on, this scenario has created a new political landscape in Malaysia. Therefore, this article attempts to examine the new Malaysian political landscape specifically the relationship of BN and the opposition vis-à-vis Mahathir political alliance. Nevertheless, history has witnessed that in the last election, Pakatan Harapan won the most dramatical election ever since the independence of Malaysia and UMNO-BN has lost the power. Yet, the political scenario surrounding 1MDB scandal and the relationship between UMNO-BN vis-à-vis other parties became one of the stories that always trigger public discourse, even until today.
Desire and Impulse in Epictetus and the Older Stoics
Authors: Klein Jacob
Published: November 2020

This article argues that Epictetus employs the terms orexis and hormê in the same manner as the older Stoics. It then shows, on the basis of this claim, that the older Stoics recognized a distinction between dispositional and occurrent forms of motivation. On this account of Stoic theory, intentional action is in each instance the product of two forms of cognition: a value ascription that attributes goodness or badness to some object, conceiving of its possession as beneficial or harmful to the agent, together with a situational judgment about appropriate action. The resulting interpretation suggests that the Stoic theory of motivation as a whole — and not merely the Stoic analysis of the pathê — has the basic shape of a practical syllogism, with more psychological depth than commentators have recognized.
In the Same Boat, but not Equals: The Heterogeneous Effects of Indirect Taxation on Child Health in Punjab-Pakistan
Authors: Rehman Faiz Ur , Nasir Muhammad
Published: November 2020

The 2011 National Nutrition Survey of Pakistan revealed that 51% of the country’s population was consuming less than 2,100 calories a day. In the backdrop of rising food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition in Pakistan, this study aims to measure the effects of indirect taxation on health outcomes of children (<5 years). More specifically, the impact of the incidence of General Sales Tax (GST) in the province of Punjab has been estimated on a child’s height and weight. The proponents of the uniform GST argue that the tax would not affect children because most food items consumed by children are exempted from the GST. However, the opponents believe that households, especially those belonging to the lower-income group, would reallocate resources away from children in the face of higher GST. To study these effects, we utilized three different waves (2007–08, 2011 & 2014) of Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys (MICS). The results show that the tax incidence, and not the GST rate, has a significantly negative impact on children’s height-for-age Z-score (HAZ). No effect was found on the weight-for-age-z-score (WAZ). These results are robust to different specifications and exhibit considerable heterogeneity across different income groups. These findings suggest that the exemption of certain food items for children from the GST may not eliminate the negative effects of this tax on a child’s health. Thus, our study raises concerns about the long term welfare consequences of GST.
Existence and Concentration of Solutions for Choquard Equations with Steep Potential Well and Doubly Critical Exponents
Authors: Li Yong-Yong , Li Gui-Dong , Tang Chun-Lei
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we investigate the non-autonomous Choquard equation

-

Δ
⁢
u

+

λ
⁢
V
⁢

(
x
)

⁢
u

=

(

I
α

∗
F

⁢

(
u
)

)

⁢

F
′

⁢

(
u
)

 

in

⁢

R
N

,

-\Delta u+\lambda V(x)u=(I_{\alpha}\ast F(u))F^{\prime}(u)\quad\text{in}\ \mathbb{R}^{N},

where

N
≥
4

N\geq 4

,

λ
>
0

\lambda>0

,

V
∈

C
⁢

(

R
N

,
R
)

V\in C(\mathbb{R}^{N},\mathbb{R})

is bounded from below and has a potential well,

I
α

I_{\alpha}

is the Riesz potential of order

α
∈

(
0
,
N
)

\alpha\in(0,N)

and

F
⁢

(
u
)

=

1

2
α
*

⁢

|
u
|

2
α
*

+

1

2
*
α

⁢

|
u
|

2
*
α

F(u)=\frac{1}{2_{\alpha}^{*}}\lvert u\rvert^{2_{\alpha}^{*}}+\frac{1}{2_{*}^{\alpha}}\lvert u\rvert^{2_{*}^{\alpha}}

, in which

2
α
*

=

N
+
α

N
-
2

2_{\alpha}^{*}=\frac{N+\alpha}{N-2}

and

2
*
α

=

N
+
α

N

2_{*}^{\alpha}=\frac{N+\alpha}{N}

are upper and lower critical exponents due to the Hardy–Littlewood–Sobolev inequality, respectively. Based on the variational methods, by combining the mountain pass theorem and Nehari manifold, we obtain the existence and concentration of positive ground state solutions for 𝜆 large enough if 𝑉 is nonnegative in

R
N

\mathbb{R}^{N}

; further, by the linking theorem, we prove the existence of nontrivial solutions for 𝜆 large enough if 𝑉 changes sign in

R
N

\mathbb{R}^{N}

.
Inconclusive evidence of sexual reproduction of invasive Halophila stipulacea: a new field guide to encourage investigation of flower and fruit production throughout its invasive range
Authors: Smulders Fee O.H. , Chiquillo Kelcie L. , Willette Demian A. , Barber Paul H. , Christianen Marjolijn J.A.
Published: November 2020

The dioecious seagrass species Halophila stipulacea reproduces mainly through fast clonal growth, underlying its invasive behavior. Here, we provide morphological evidence to show that the first findings of fruits in the Caribbean were misidentified. Consequently, H. stipulacea reproduction is likely still only asexual in the Caribbean. Therefore, we introduce an identification key of H. stipulacea reproductive structures to encourage careful identification and quantification throughout its invasive range. Until large-scale seed production in invaded habitats is reported, the apparent low rate of sexual reproduction needs to be considered in current studies investigating the invasion capacity of this species.
Liebt Dante Gemma?
Authors: Zanin Enrica
Published: November 2020

Riassunto

Dante ama o non ama sua moglie, Gemma Donati? La domanda può apparire puerile ed ingenua, ma ogni lettore della Commedia o della Vita nuova un giorno se l’è posta. Se abbiamo rinunciato a rispondere è perché sappiamo che in assenza di documenti o di prove è impossibile trovare una risposta. Ma non pensano così Witte ed i filologi di fine Ottocento, che tra il 1876 ed il 1883 scrivono un numero importante di articoli, scambiano lettere e cercano prove per conoscere i ›veri‹ sentimenti di Dante. Il fondo Witte ci permette di ricostruire questa querelle che, se non riesce a svelare i segreti di cuore di Dante, rivela i motivi ed i metodi usati dai primi filologi danteschi, e descrive la storia e l’importanza del biografismo nello studio dell’opera di Dante.
The Dark Side of Policy Responsiveness: State Action on Climate Change
Authors: Chapman Stephen J.
Published: November 2020

Climate change is an ever-growing problem that requires a network of policy solutions. There exists variation in state-level responses to climate change, firmly placing it within the context of state-level representation. There are various explanations for policy outcomes at the state level, including public opinion, institutional control, interest group activity, among others. With respect to climate change, another potential explanation provided by scholars for the variation in policy responses is the degree of risk posed by climate change to a particular state. However, climate change serves as a somewhat unique policy position as it is highly visible and has been a polarizing issue in American political discourse. This paper analyzes how risk, political control, and opinion affect policy responses to climate change. Employing multiple measures for state-level action on climate change as well as state-level opinion on the existence and perceived threat of climate change, this analysis theorizes that given the polarized nature of the climate change debate in the United States, public opinion on the realities of climate change and partisan control of state government influences policy outcomes more so than any level of quantified threat from climate change. The causal reasoning for this dual effect is the impact of citizen demands and overarching party ideologies. Even when controlling for wealth, energy industry activity, and political lobbying within states, findings indicate a strong relationship between citizen opinion and partisan control on state-level action on climate change, posing a challenge for combatting long-term impacts of climate change.
“Do Gun Policy Specifics Matter? Hyper-Polarization And The Decline Of Vote Splitting In Congress”
Authors: Quinn Genevieve
Published: November 2020

By tracing the changing electoral incentives and political circumstances of partisans in Congress over time, this paper unpacks how and why substantive policy content has lost its relevance for influencing Congressional voting on gun control. It argues that as gun control positions have crystallized to become part of partisan identity, policy specifics have come to matter less for partisans in Congress than the general pro gun control or pro gun rights position that a piece of legislation symbolizes. Today, regardless of the specific policy contents of a bill, a gun vote serves as a signaling device from members of Congress to their partisan supporters that they are either passionate defenders of the Second Amendment (Republicans) or fierce protectors of America’s children from gun violence (Democrats). That policy content has lost its relevance for Congressional voting on gun control is evident through the marked decline in vote splitting, the extinction of gun control moderates, and the all or nothing voting behavior of partisan shifters – those formerly pro-control Republicans, anti-control Democrats, and gun control moderates who shifted positions over time to vote the party line.
Metonymy and the conceptualisation of nation in political discourse
Authors: Salamurović Aleksandra
Published: November 2020

This paper discusses the role of metonymy, especiallyplace-for-people, in current constructions of national identity. The corpus consists of ten political speeches (commemoration and election speeches) from Germany, Montenegro and North Macedonia used to detect and examine different levels of variation: from text type to cross-linguistic differences in the use of metonymies. The analysis showed that the most frequent metonym in two Western Balkan countries is the country name, referring to both the speaker as representative of an institution, and population. By contrast, the country name is rarely used in German speeches due to particular communicative and cultural factors. At the pragmatic level, metonymies perform a number of functions, such as legitimization, collectivization and evaluation. Moreover, they are used also as euphemisms and argumentation topos.
Rotorcraft fuselage/main rotor coupling dynamics modelling and analysis
Authors: Castillo-Rivera Salvador , Tomas-Rodriguez Maria
Published: November 2020

This article presents the fuselage/main rotor coupling dynamics under a modal analysis to study the modes of oscillation. The authors provide a rotorcraft simulation model that captures complex dynamics, wherein the validation is done with existing theories. The model has been set up by using VehicleSim, software specialized in modelling mechanical systems composed by rigid bodies. It is presented a helicopter simulation framework, that allows to study the impact of the main rotor varying angular speed on the system. Moreover, the generated heterodyning behaviour and harmonics can be analysed on the fuselage. The detection of this performance is not a simple task, and this helicopter model provides an accurate system for its study using a short-time Fourier transform processing. The coupled dynamics observed between the fuselage and the main rotor indicate that the model can be a suitable tool to detect this type of performance.
Contrasting language attitudes: The case of Spanish in Basel
Authors: Fernández-Mallat Víctor
Published: November 2020

Two concurrent discourses on the presence of non-national languages such as Spanish and its speakers circulate in Switzerland’s public sphere: one that conceives this presence positively and another that considers it negatively. Following a multimodal discursive-interactive approach, in this study I seek to determine which of these discourses is reproduced in the individual, private accounts of five Swiss nationals. My results show that these individuals echo both of the readily available dominant discourses, meaning that they construct contrasting attitudes related to said presence, regardless of whether these attitudes are deployed as part of their own set of beliefs or that of other Swiss nationals like them. These results build on prior research that shows that the private attitudes of individuals are often strongly affected by various elements of the situational context (e.g., dominant discourses, the immediate surroundings, etc.) and, as a consequence of this, variable by nature. More generally, my results demonstrate the need to reframe how certain aspects of prominent social topics such as the presence of migrants and their languages are treated by authorities and in public media outlets.
Language revitalization through the media: A case study of Amazigh in Morocco
Authors: Belhiah Hassan , Majdoubi Mohamed , Safwate Mouna
Published: November 2020

Given the pivotal role mass media play in effecting political and social change, they can also contribute to the revitalization of an endangered or minoritized language if language policies are effectively implemented. Drawing on official documents regarding Amazigh broadcasting on Moroccan public television and interviews with Amazigh experts and media practitioners, this study scrutinizes the efforts exerted to revitalize Amazigh, the language of pre-Arab populations in North Africa. The results of the study indicate that while the status of Amazigh has changed drastically in the last two decades, its dissemination in public television is hampered by political, economic, and logistic forces. The study has implications for the areas of language revitalization, language shift reversal, language policy, and language planning.
Study on the inter-annual hydrology-induced deformations in Europe using GRACE and hydrological models
Authors: Lenczuk Artur , Leszczuk Grzegorz , Klos Anna , Kosek Wieslaw , Bogusz Janusz
Published: November 2020

Earth’s crust deforms in various time and spatial resolutions. To estimate them, geodetic observations are widely employed and compared to geophysical models. In this research, we focus on the Earth’s crust deformations resulting from hydrology mass changes, as observed by GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) gravity mission and modeled using WGHM (WaterGAP Global Hydrological Model) and GLDAS (Global Land Data Assimilation System), hydrological models. We use the newest release of GRACE Level-2 products, i. e. RL06, provided by the CSR (Center for Space Research, Austin) analysis center in the form of a mascon solution. The analysis is performed for the European area, divided into 29 river basins. For each basin, the average signal is estimated. Then, annual amplitudes and trends are calculated. We found that the eastern part of Europe is characterized by the largest annual amplitudes of hydrology-induced Earth’s crust deformations, which decrease with decreasing distance to the Atlantic coast. GLDAS largely overestimates annual amplitudes in comparison to GRACE and WGHM. Hydrology models underestimate trends, which are observed by GRACE. For the basin-related average signals, we also estimate the non-linear variations over time using the Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA). For the river basins situated on the southern borderline of Europe and Asia, large inter-annual deformations between 2004 and 2009 reaching a few millimeters are found; they are related to high precipitation and unexpectedly large drying. They were observed by GRACE but mismodelled in the GLDAS and WGHM models. Few smaller inter-annual deformations were also observed by GRACE between 2002-2017 for central and eastern European river basins, but these have been also well-covered by the WGHM and GLDAS hydrological models.
Moringa oleifera seed oil partially abrogates 2,3-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (Dichlorvos)-induced cardiac injury in rats: evidence for the role of oxidative stress
Authors: Saka Waid A. , Ayoade Titilayo E. , Akhigbe Tunmise M. , Akhigbe Roland E.
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Cardiovascular diseases are major causes of non-infectious diseases globally. The use of pesticides has been linked with the high global burden of non-communicable diseases. Despite the indiscriminate exposure to dichlorvos (DDVP) by inhalation, no report exists on its possible cardiotoxic effect. This study investigated the cardiotoxicity of DDVP exposure by inhalation and the possible role of Moringa oleifera seed oil.

Methods

Twenty-one male rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups. Group A (control) received only standard rat diet and water ad’ libitum, group B (DDVP) was exposed to DDVP via inhalation for 15 min daily in addition to rat diet and water, and group C (DDVP + M. oleifera seed oil) received treatment as group B as well as 300 mg/kg of M. oleifera seed oil p.o for 28 days.

Results

Significant reductions in body weight gain and cardiac weight were observed in DDVP-exposed animals (p<0.05). Similarly, 28 days of exposure to DDVP led to a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine kinase and troponin (p<0.05). DDVP-exposed rats also showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde, and a significant decline in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (p<0.05). However, catalase was comparable in DDVP-exposed and control rats. Histopathological observations of the cardiac tissue revealed that DDVP caused marked fat degeneration and necrosis of the myocardial layer. The changes in DDVP-exposed rats were significantly, though not completely, restored by M. oleifera seed oil administration.

Conclusions

This study provides novel mechanistic information on the cardiotoxicity of DDVP inhalation, and the antioxidant potential of M. oleifera seed oil.
Industrialisierung oder Kapitalismus: Alternative Zentralbegriffe
Authors: Kocka Jürgen
Published: November 2020

For decades, industrialization has served as the most important key concept for structuring comprehensive and specialized studies in the field of 19th and 20th century social and economic history of many countries. How do the dominant views change if, instead, capitalism is used as the structuring key concept? Both concepts are products of the 19th century. They address similar aspects of reality and can be used for synthetical purposes. They can be used in studies with different spatial dimensions: from micro to global scales. They can be combined. But they differ as to the time spans they cover, the temporal perspectives they stress, and the way in which they combine analytical and critical functions. Recently we observe a dramatic re-emergence of the concept capitalism.
Das Wechselkreditgeschäft der Reichsbank vor der Bankenkrise von 1931
Authors: Burhop Carsten
Published: November 2020

This article examines two aspects of the Reichsbank’s discount business in the years 1924 to 1932: First, the granting of Reichsbank discount loans to commercial banks in their function as lenders of last resort. Second, the direct granting of discount loans by the Reichsbank to non-banks to finance the short-term assets of industry and trade. From 1931 onwards, the Reichsbank increasingly granted financial discount loans to alleviate the liquidity crisis of the commercial banks. I trace this in detail for the Reichsbank branch in Leipzig. With regard to the granting of loans by the Reichsbank to trade and industry, I find indications of relatively high credit risks in the Reichsbank’s portfolio, especially in the granting of small loans. The extensive efforts in loan selection and loan monitoring documented here could not remedy the situation.
Management of labor after external cephalic version
Authors: Levin Gabriel , Rottenstreich Amihai , Meyer Raanan , Weill Yishay , Pollack Raphael N.
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Current literature evaluating the role of induction of labor (IOL) following successful external cephalic version (ECV) attempt as compared to expectant management is limited. We aim to assess the risk of cesarean delivery in those undergoing immediate IOL following successful ECV as compared to those who were expectantly managed.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of successful external cephalic versions. The study group included 57 women that were induced after procedure in the lack of maternal or fetal indications for induction of labor. These women were compared to 341 expectantly managed women. Maternal and fetal characteristics and outcomes were compared.

Results

Gestation age at delivery was higher among the expectant management group (401/7 vs. 384/7, median, p=0.002) as compared to the induction group. Cesarean delivery rates were similar between both groups (28 [8.2%] vs. 3 [5.3%], p=0.44). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, only nulliparity was significantly associated with cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio 3.42, confidence interval 1.61–7.24, p=0.001). No correlation was found between the version-to-delivery interval and the risk for cesarean delivery.

Conclusions

Induction of labor after successful ECV was not shown to influence cesarean delivery rates. As immediate IOL may result in higher rate of early-term deliveries, and in light of the lack of clinical benefit, we advocate against elective IOL following successful ECV.