bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of redox on Fe–Mg–Mn exchange between olivine and melt and an oxybarometer for basalts
Authors: Blundy Jon , Melekhova Elena , Ziberna Luca , Humphreys Madeleine C. S. , Cerantola Valerio , Brooker Richard A. , McCammon Catherine A. , Pichavant Michel , Ulmer Peter
Published: October 2020

The Fe–Mg exchange coefficient between olivine (ol) and melt (m), defined as$${\text{Kd}}_{{{\text{Fe}}^{T} {-} {\text{Mg}}}}$$KdFeT-Mg = (Feol/Fem)·(Mgm/Mgol), with all FeTexpressed as Fe2+, is one of the most widely used parameters in petrology. We explore the effect of redox conditions on$${\text{Kd}}_{{{\text{Fe}}^{T} {-} {\text{Mg}}}}$$KdFeT-Mgusing experimental, olivine-saturated basaltic glasses with variable H2O (≤ 7 wt%) over a wide range offO2(iron-wüstite buffer to air), pressure (≤ 1.7 GPa), temperature (1025–1425 °C) and melt composition. The ratio of Fe3+to total Fe (Fe3+/∑Fe), as determined by Fe K-edge µXANES and/or Synchrotron Mössbauer Source (SMS) spectroscopy, lies in the range 0–0.84. Measured Fe3+/∑Fe is consistent (± 0.05) with published algorithms and appears insensitive to dissolved H2O. Combining our new data with published experimental data having measured glass Fe3+/∑Fe, we show that for Fo65–98olivine in equilibrium with basaltic and basaltic andesite melts,$${\text{Kd}}_{{{\text{Fe}}^{T} {-} {\text{Mg}}}}$$KdFeT-Mgdecreases linearly with Fe3+/∑Fe with a slope and intercept of 0.3135 ± 0.0011. After accounting for non-ideal mixing of forsterite and fayalite in olivine, using a symmetrical regular solution model, the slope and intercept become 0.3642 ± 0.0011. This is the value at Fo50olivine; at higher and lower Fo the value will be reduced by an amount related to olivine non-ideality. Our approach provides a straightforward means to determine Fe3+/∑Fe in olivine-bearing experimental melts, from whichfO2can be calculated. In contrast to$${\text{Kd}}_{{{\text{Fe}}^{T} {-} {\text{Mg}}}}$$KdFeT-Mg, the Mn–Mg exchange coefficient,$${\text{Kd}}_{{{\text{Mn}} {-} {\text{Mg}}}}$$KdMn-Mg, is relatively constant over a wide range of P–T–fO2conditions. We present an expression for$${\text{Kd}}_{{{\text{Mn}} {-} {\text{Mg}}}}$$KdMn-Mgthat incorporates the effects of temperature and olivine composition using the lattice strain model. By applying our experimentally-calibrated expressions for$${\text{Kd}}_{{{\text{Fe}}^{T} {-} {\text{Mg}}}}$$KdFeT-Mgand$${\text{Kd}}_{{{\text{Mn}} {-} {\text{Mg}}}}$$KdMn-Mgto olivine-hosted melt inclusions analysed by electron microprobe it is possible to correct simultaneously for post-entrapment crystallisation (or dissolution) and calculate melt Fe3+/∑Fe to a precision of ≤ 0.04.
Pachychoroid: current concepts on clinical features and pathogenesis
Authors: Castro-Navarro Veronica , Behar-Cohen Francine , Chang Woohyok , Joussen Antonia M. , Lai Timothy Y. Y. , Navarro Rafael , Pearce Ian , Yanagi Yasuo , Okada Annabelle A.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The term “pachychoroid” refers to a newly described phenotype in which functional and structural choroidal changes are thought to play a key pathogenic role in a spectrum of related retinal disorders. A more detailed understanding of how the choroid is involved within this spectrum and a better knowledge of the most relevant clinical signs of the pachychoroid phenotype are important to differentiate these disorders from other retinal conditions. Our objectives are to provide a literature review of pachychoroid and the commonalities that may be present across pathologies included in the spectrum, and to provide details on the examination, monitoring, and management of these disorders.

Methods

We searched the PubMed web platform to identify relevant studies using the following keywords: pachychoroid, pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy, pachychoroid neovasculopathy, aneurysmal type 1 neovascularization, focal choroidal excavation, peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome, vasculopathy pachysclera, pachychoroid geographic atrophy, and pachydrusen. We selected 157 publications and identified the most important features related to pachychoroid.

Results

The presence of hypertrophic or congested vessels in the choroid, not thickened choroid per se, under an area of reduced or absent choriocapillaris in the posterior pole seems to be the most salient feature of pachychoroid. However, other qualitative/quantitative features are needed to differentiate the uncomplicated pachychoroid from the pathological pachychoroid clinical spectrum, which may be associated with exudation, neovascularization, and/or retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor atrophy.

Conclusions

The most salient feature of pachychoroid appears to be the presence of large vessels under an area of reduced or absent choriocapillaris. Knowledge of the features and pathogenesis of the different disorders in the pachychoroid spectrum may assist in the management of patients.
Association between gastric Candida colonization and surgical site infections after high-level hepatobiliary pancreatic surgeries: the results of prospective observational study
Authors: Gyoten Kazuyuki , Kato Hiroyuki , Hayasaki Aoi , Fujii Takehiro , Iizawa Yusuke , Murata Yasuhiro , Tanemura Akihiro , Kuriyama Naohisa , Kishiwada Masashi , Mizuno Shugo , Usui Masanobu , Sakurai Hiroyuki , Isaji Shuji
Published: October 2020

Aim

High-level hepatobiliary pancreatic (HBP) surgeries are highly associated with surgical site infections (SSIs), in which microorganisms have a significant role. In the present study, we investigated whether gastric Candida colonization had a significant role in SSIs after high-level HBP surgeries.

Methods

Between May 2016 and February 2017, the 66 patients who underwent high-level HBP surgeries were enrolled in the present study. The gastric juice was prospectively collected through nasogastric tube after general anesthesia induction and was incubated onto the CHROMagar Candida plate for the cultivation of various Candida species. First of all, we compared the incidence of SSIs according to the presence or absence of Candida species in gastric juice. Secondly, we evaluated the variables contributing to the development of SSIs by multivariate analysis. The protocol was approved by the medical ethics committee of Mie University Hospital (No.2987).

Results

Gastric Candida colonization was identified in 21 patients (group GC) and was not identified in the other 45 patients (group NGC). There were no differences in preoperative variables including compromised status, such as age, nutritional markers, complications of diabetes mellitus, and types of primary disease between the two groups. SSIs occurred in 57.1% (12/21) of group GC and in 17.8% (8/45) of group NGC, showing a significant difference (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed gastric Candida colonization as a significant risk factor of SSIs (OR 6.17, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Gastric Candida colonization, which is not a result of immunocompromised status, is highly associated with SSIs after high-level HBP surgeries.

Trial registration

Japan Primary Registries Network; UMIN-CTR ID: UMIN000040486 (retrospectively registered on 22nd May, 2020).
Strength and abrasive properties of andesite: relationships between strength parameters measured on cylindrical test specimens and micro-Deval values—a tool for durability assessment
Authors: Czinder Balázs , Török Ákos
Published: October 2020

Aggregates are necessary materials for the construction industry. Owing to their favourable properties, andesites are frequently used rock materials; hence, the investigation of their mechanical and aggregate properties has great significance. This paper introduces the analyses of 13 Hungarian andesite lithotypes. The samples were collected from six andesite quarries in Hungary. Cylindrical specimens and aggregate samples with 10.0/14.0-mm-sized grains were made from rock blocks. The specimens were tested in dry, water-saturated and freeze–thaw subjected conditions. Bulk density, uniaxial compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, indirect tensile strength and water absorption were measured. The abrasion resistance was tested by micro-Deval tests. The flakiness indexes of the samples were also measured. The data set of the laboratory test results provided input for further, one- and two-variable statistical analyses. According to the test results, there is no significant difference between the strength parameters measured in water-saturated and in freeze–thaw subjected conditions. The correlation and regression analyses revealed relationships between some rock mechanical parameters, as well as between micro-Deval coefficient and uniaxial compressive strength.
Schuldentragfähigkeit in der Eurozone bei niedrigen bzw. negativen Zinsen
Authors: Naumer Hans-Jörg
Published: October 2020

Zussamenfassung

Wer soll das bezahlen? — eine Frage, die sich in Anbetracht der gegen die Corona-Krise geschnürten Fiskalpakete derzeit viele stellen. Die Staatsausgaben für die Maßnahmenpakete zur Stabilisierung der Wirtschaft sind enorm. Gleichzeitig sinken die Steuereinnahmen. An Lösungsvorschlägen mangelt es nicht: von „Helikoptergeld“ der Zentralbanken bis „Lastenausgleich“ per Vermögensteuern. Dabei hilft bereits das Niedrig- bzw. Negativzinsumfeld, die weiter steigenden Schuldenberge abzutragen.
Weltklassepatente — das „Gold“ der Wissensökonomie?
Authors: Overdiek Markus , Rausch Thomas , Gramke Kai
Published: October 2020

Für Volkswirtschaften ist die eigene Innovationsfähigkeit ein entscheidender Faktor, um in der Wissensgesellschaft erfolgreich sein zu können. Das Innovationspotenzial wird häufig mit der Zahl der Patentanmeldungen gemessen — ohne dabei nach Bedeutung zu differenzieren oder ihre tatsächliche Anwendung zu untersuchen. Unser Ansatz versucht dagegen, ein realitätsnäheres Bild zu zeichnen, indem sie nur die wichtigsten Patente (Weltklassepatente) in den Blick nimmt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der Vorsprung der USA im Patentbereich bei dieser Betrachtungsweise noch deutlicher zutage tritt, China auch in Sachen Patentqualität stark aufholt und Europa vor allem in digitalen Technologien dringenden Handlungsbedarf hat.
Preserving cultural heritage through the valorization of Cordillera heirloom rice in the Philippines
Authors: Bairagi Subir , Custodio Marie Claire , Durand-Morat Alvaro , Demont Matty
Published: October 2020

For centuries, heirloom rice varieties have been grown on the terraces of the Cordillera Mountains of Luzon, Philippines, terroirs known for their significant historical, cultural, and aesthetic values. However, heritage heirloom rice farming is gradually being abandoned, mainly because of its lower productivity and the struggle of the sector to create a sustainable niche market for heirloom rice by branding its cultural, social, and nutritional values. We propose several demand-side intervention strategies for the valorization of heirloom rice. To support the development of a segmented marketing strategy for heritage farming, we provide evidence on urban consumers’ willingness to purchase heirloom rice. We interviewed 500 urban consumers from Metro Manila in July–August 2015, who placed a purchasing bid on a kilogram of heirloom rice. Consumers’ bids averaged PHP 72.61 kg−1 (USD 1.60 kg−1), which is less than half its current market price. This explains why heirloom rice struggles to gain market share in urban markets in the Philippines. Given this bid price, we estimate a potential market size of PHP 20.3 billion (USD 443 million) that could be created for heirloom rice and tapped into by heritage farmers. Findings further indicate that women, business owners, and consumers who buy packaged rice and eat pigmented rice are willing to pay more for heirloom rice. Finally, our evidence suggests that proper information framing will be necessary to create demand and support the valorization of heirloom rice to preserve cultural heritage and in situ biodiversity of rice landraces in the Philippines.
Design of a 40 GHz low noise amplifier using multigate technique for cascode devices
Authors: Shaheen Rana Azhar , Rahkonen Timo , Pärssinen Aarno
Published: October 2020

Increased parasitic components in silicon-based nanometer (nm) scale active devices have various performance trade-offs between optimizing the key parameters, for example, maximum frequency of oscillation ($$f_{max}$$

f

max

, gate resistance and capacitance, etc. A common-source cascode device is commonly used in amplifier designs at RF/millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies. In addition to intrinsic parasitic components, extrinsic components due to wiring and layout effects, are also critical for performance and accurate modelling of the devices. In this work, a comparison of two different layout techniques for cascode devices is presented to optimize the extrinsic parasitic elements, such as gate resistance. A multi-gate or multi-port layout technique is proposed for optimizing the gate resistance ($$r_g$$

r
g

). Extracted values from measurement results show reduction of 10% in $$r_{g}$$

r
g

of multi-gate layout technique compared to a conventional gate-above-device layout for cascode devices. However, conventional layout exhibits smaller gate-to-source and gate-to-drain capacitances which leads to better performance in terms of speed, i.e. $$f_{max}$$

f

max

. An LNA is designed at 40 GHz frequency using proposed multi-gate cascode device. LNA achieves a measured peak gain of 10.2 dB and noise figure of 4.2 dB at 40 GHz. All the structures are designed and fabricated using 45 nm CMOS silicon on insulator (SOI) technology.
Patterns of ectoparasite infection in wild-caught and laboratory-bred cichlid fish, and their hybrids, implicate extrinsic rather than intrinsic causes of species differences in infection
Authors: Gobbin Tiziana P. , Tiemersma Ron , Leone Giulia , Seehausen Ole , Maan Martine E.
Published: October 2020

Parasite-mediated selection may initiate or enhance differentiation between host populations that are exposed to different parasite infections. Variation in infection among populations may result from differences in host ecology (thereby exposure to certain parasites) and/or intrinsic immunological traits. Species of cichlid fish, even when recently diverged, often differ in parasite infection, but the contributions of intrinsic and extrinsic causes are unknown. Here, we compare infection patterns between two closely related host species from Lake Victoria (genus Pundamilia), using wild-caught and first-generation laboratory-reared fish, as well as laboratory-reared hybrids. Three of the commonest ectoparasite species observed in the wild were also present in the laboratory populations. However, the infection differences between the host species as observed in the wild were not maintained in laboratory conditions. In addition, hybrids did not differ in infection from either parental species. These findings suggest that the observed species differences in infection in the wild might be mainly driven by ecology-related effects (i.e. differential exposure), rather than by intrinsic species differences in immunological traits. Thus, while there is scope for parasite-mediated selection in Pundamilia in the wild, it has apparently not yet generated divergent evolutionary responses and may not enhance assortative mating among closely related species.
Impact of Primary Staging with Fibroblast Activation Protein Specific Enzyme Inhibitor (FAPI)-PET/CT on Radio-Oncologic Treatment Planning of Patients with Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Ristau J. , Giesel F. L. , Haefner M. F. , Staudinger F. , Lindner T. , Merkel A. , Schlittenhardt J. , Kratochwil C. , Choyke P. L. , Herfarth K. , Debus J. , Haberkorn U. , Koerber S. A.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Quinoline-based ligands targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts have emerged as promising radiopharmaceuticals in different tumor entities. The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the potential of FAPI-PET/CT in the initial staging of esophageal cancer patients and its usefulness in radiotherapy planning as a first clinical analysis.

Methods

Seven patients with treatment-naive esophageal cancer underwent FAPI-PET/CT. Tracer uptake was quantified by standardized uptake values (SUV)max and (SUV)mean. Six patients received definitive and one neoadjuvant (chemo)radiation therapy. Endo-esophageal clipping, the gold standard to define tumor margins not delineable per CT, was performed in three patients.

Results

Primary tumors demonstrated high FAPI uptake with a median SUVmax of 17.2. Excellent tumor-to-background ratios resulted in accurate target volume delineation and were found in perfect match with clipping. Detection of regional lymph node metastases facilitated the use of simultaneous integrated boost radiotherapy plans for these patients.

Conclusion

FAPI-PET/CT may be beneficial for the management of esophageal cancer particularly in planning radiotherapy, but further research is necessary to increase patient number and statistical reliability.
Climate change and household welfare in sub-Saharan Africa: empirical evidence from Swaziland
Authors: Sam Abdoul G. , Abidoye Babatunde O. , Mashaba Sihle
Published: October 2020

The fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and several studies suggest that climate change is expected to increase food insecurity and poverty in many parts of the world. In this paper, we adopt a microeconometric approach to empirically estimate the impact of climate change-induced hikes in cereal prices on household welfare in Swaziland (also Kingdom of Eswatini). We do so first by econometrically estimating expenditure and price elasticities of five food groups consumed by households in Swaziland using the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS), based on data from the 2009/2010 Swaziland Household Income and Expenditure Survey. Second, we use the estimated expenditure and compensated elasticities from the AIDS model, food shares from the household survey, and food price projections developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to estimate the proportionate increase in income required to maintain the level of household utility that would have prevailed absent an increase in food prices. Our results show increases in cereal prices due to climate change are expected to double extreme poverty in urban areas and increase poverty in rural areas of the country to staggering levels - between 71 and 75%, compared to 63% before the price changes. Income transfers of between 17.5 and 25.4% of pre-change expenditures are needed to avoid the welfare losses.
The upshot of Polyphenolic compounds on immunity amid COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging communicable diseases: An appraisal
Authors: Khalil Ayman , Tazeddinova Diana
Published: October 2020

Polyphenols are a large family of more than 10,000 naturally occurring compounds, which exert countless pharmacological, biological and physiological benefits for human health including several chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Their role in traditional medicine, such as the use of a wide range of remedial herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, mint, basil), has been well and long known for treating common respiratory problems and cold infections. This review reports on the most highlighted polyphenolic compounds present in up to date literature and their specific antiviral perceptive properties that might enhance the body immunity facing COVID-19, and other viral infectious diseases. In fact, several studies and clinical trials increasingly proved the role of polyphenols in controlling numerous human pathogens including SARS and MERS, which are quite similar to COVID-19 through the enhancement of host immune response against viral infections by different biological mechanisms. Thus, polyphenols ought to be considered as a potential and valuable source for designing new drugs that could be used effectively in the combat against COVID‐19 and other rigorous diseases.
Correction to: 10.1007/s40005-020-00480-1, 10.1007/s40005-020-00481-0, 10.1007/s40005-020-00482-z, and 10.1007/s40005-020-00484-x
Authors:   Springer Singapore
Published: October 2020

The article Emerging nanoparticulate drug delivery systems of metformin, written by Yao Chen, Xinzhu Shan, Cong Luo and Zhonggui He, was originally published Online First without Open Access.
Integrability of Point-Vortex Dynamics via Symplectic Reduction: A Survey
Authors: Modin Klas , Viviani Milo
Published: October 2020

Point-vortex dynamics describe idealized, non-smooth solutions to the incompressible Euler equations on two-dimensional manifolds. Integrability results for few point-vortices on various domains is a vivid topic, with many results and techniques scattered in the literature. Here, we give a unified framework for proving integrability results for $$N=2$$

N
=
2

, 3, or 4 point-vortices (and also more general Hamiltonian systems), based on symplectic reduction theory. The approach works on any two-dimensional manifold with a symmetry group; we illustrate it on the sphere, the plane, the hyperbolic plane, and the flat torus. A systematic study of integrability is prompted by advances in two-dimensional turbulence, bridging the long-time behaviour of 2D Euler equations with questions of point-vortex integrability. A gallery of solutions is given in the appendix.
Valuation with mixed financing strategies
Authors: Dierkes Stefan , de Maeyer Imke
Published: October 2020

In corporate valuation, it is common to assume either passive or active debt management. However, it is questionable whether these pure financing policies reflect the real financing policies of firms with a sufficient degree of accuracy. This shortcoming has led to the development of mixed financing strategies as combinations of pure financing strategies. Whereas hybrid financing is directly linked to the two-phase model, it is unclear how to apply discontinuous financing in such a setting. In this study, according to the two versions of hybrid financing, we analyze the implementation of discontinuous financing in a two-phase model. Thereby, we present a simpler and more intuitive derivation of the valuation equation for discontinuous financing to increase its acceptance and its use for corporate valuation practice. Moreover, we compare the different mixed financing strategies with each other theoretically, and we conduct simulations to elucidate the impact on market values and the sensitivities of input parameters. The study concludes that the presented mixed financing strategies can help in the attempt to reflect the real financing behavior of firms more accurately and, therefore, constitute a valuable alternative to pure financing strategies for valuation.
Pediatric hypertension
Authors: Thomas Jason , Stonebrook Emily , Kallash Mahmoud
Published: October 2020

Pediatric hypertension (HTN) is a significant and growing health concern. While previously thought to be an uncommon condition in the pediatric population, recent studies have shown an increase in incidence, which is largely due to the obesity epidemic. Accordingly, primary or idiopathic HTN has become more prevalent compared to secondary causes of HTN. The incidence of hypertension is about 3.5%; however, it may be higher as HTN can be missed during routine pediatric well visits. Since childhood HTN frequently tracks into adulthood and is a risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and progression of renal disease; early diagnosis and management of this condition is essential. In this review, we will discuss the approach of a pediatric nephrologist for evaluation and management of pediatric HTN.
Science and Judicial Reasoning
Authors: Sulyok Katalin
Published: October 2020

Science, which inevitably underlies environmental disputes, poses significant challenges for the scientifically untrained judges who decide such cases. In addition to disrupting ordinary fact-finding and causal inquiry, science can impact the framing of disputes and the standard of review. Judges must therefore adopt various tools to adjust the level of science allowed to enter their deliberations, which may fundamentally impact the legitimacy of their reasoning. While neglecting or replacing scientific authority can erode the convincing nature of judicial reasoning, the same authority, when treated properly, may lend persuasive force to adjudicatory findings, and buttress the legitimacy of judgments. In this work, Katalin Sulyok surveys the environmental case law of seven major jurisdictions and analyzes framing techniques, evidentiary procedures, causal inquiries and standards of review, offering valuable insight into how judges justify their choices between rival scientific claims in a convincing and legitimate manner.
Language as Symbolic Power
Authors: Kramsch Claire
Published: October 2020

Language is not simply a tool for communication - symbolic power struggles underlie any speech act, discourse move, or verbal interaction, be it in face-to-face conversations, online tweets or political debates. This book provides a clear and accessible introduction to the topic of language and power from an applied linguistics perspective. It is clearly split into three sections: the power of symbolic representation, the power of symbolic action and the power to create symbolic reality. It draws upon a wide range of existing work by philosophers, sociolinguists, sociologists and applied linguists, and includes current real-world examples, to provide a fresh insight into a topic that is of particular signiﬁcance and interest in the current political climate and in our increasingly digital age. The book shows the workings of language as symbolic power in educational, social, cultural and political settings and discusses ways to respond to and even resist symbolic violence.
Is English an Asian Language?
Authors: Kirkpatrick Andy , Lixun Wang
Published: October 2020

Asia is now home to some 800 million multilingual speakers of English, more than the total number of native English speakers, and how they use English is continuously evolving and changing to reflect their cultural backgrounds and everyday experiences. Can English, therefore, be considered an Asian language? Drawing upon the Asian Corpus of English, this book will be the first comprehensive account of the roles, uses and features of English in Asia, encompassing several different varieties of Asian English. Chapters cover the distinctive linguistic features of English in different settings, such as in law, religion and popular culture, as well as the use of local rhetorical, pragmatic and cultural styles and its use as a lingua franca among Asian multilinguals. It will also examine the role of English in education - from primary through to higher education - and consider the implications of this for other languages of Asia.
Design and analysis of deepwater tension sensors for ice drill application
Authors: Shi Jianguang , Huang Shengmiao , Wang Binyan , Li Chong , Peng Shilin , Sun Youhong , Talalay Pavel , Yu Haibin
Published: October 2020

Monitoring the tension in cables is significant in some ice drill and deepwater applications. Take our RECoverable Autonomous Sonde (RECAS) for example. It is able to melt a hole to the bottom of ice sheet and is able to move upwards. A winch is installed inside RECAS to release and recover the cable, whose tension needs to be monitored in real time in order to control the behavior of the winch. The high pressure of deep water and limited installation space pose great challenges in sensor development. In this paper, two editions of newly designed deepwater tension sensors are proposed. The first edition is based on a fresh hydraulic load module that operates in high pressure environment and the second edition tension, which aims to improve the accuracy, applies a newly designed watertight load module. Detailed force transmission and characteristic analysis of the sensors are carried out. The sensors have got through a series of experiments, including calibration experiments, pressure experiments and field experiments. The resultant accuracy of the second edition sensor, which has a better performance, is over 2% under the measuring range of 1000 kg and the dimension of the final sensor is as compact as 150 mm × 137 mm × 86 mm.
The Assouad spectrum of random self-affine carpets
Authors: FRASER JONATHAN M. , TROSCHEIT SASCHA
Published: October 2020

We derive the almost sure Assouad spectrum and quasi-Assouad dimension of one-variable random self-affine Bedford–McMullen carpets. Previous work has revealed that the (related) Assouad dimension is not sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between subtle changes in the random model, since it tends to be almost surely ‘as large as possible’ (a deterministic quantity). This has been verified in conformal and non-conformal settings. In the conformal setting, the Assouad spectrum and quasi-Assouad dimension behave rather differently, tending to almost surely coincide with the upper box dimension. Here we investigate the non-conformal setting and find that the Assouad spectrum and quasi-Assouad dimension generally do not coincide with the box dimension or Assouad dimension. We provide examples highlighting the subtle differences between these notions. Our proofs combine deterministic covering techniques with suitably adapted Chernoff estimates and Borel–Cantelli-type arguments.
Effect of Rinsing Canned Foods on Bisphenol-A Exposure: The Hummus Experiment
Authors: Blackburn Brenna E. , Cox Kyley J. , Zhang Yue , Anderson David J. , Wilkins Diana G. , Porucznik Christina A.
Published: October 2020

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is associated with adverse health outcomes and is found in many canned foods. It is not understood if some BPA contamination can be washed away by rinsing. The objective of this single-blinded crossover experiment was to determine whether BPA exposure, as measured by urinary concentrations, could be decreased by rinsing canned beans prior to consumption. Three types of hummus were prepared from dried beans, rinsed, and unrinsed canned beans. Fourteen healthy participants ate two samples of each hummus over six experimental days and collected spot urine specimens for BPA measurement. The geometric mean BPA levels for dried beans BPA (GM = 0.97 ng/ml, 95%CI = 0.74,1.26) was significantly lower than rinsed (GM = 1.89 ng/ml, 1.37,2.59) and unrinsed (GM = 2.46 ng/ml, 1.44,4.19). Difference-in-difference estimates showed an increase in GM BPA from pre- to post-hummus between unrinsed and rinsed canned beans of 1.39 ng/ml, p-value = 0.0400. Rinsing canned beans was an effective method to reduce BPA exposure.
UTUKKŪ LEMNŪTU(UDUG-HUL) IN A NEW TEXT FROM THE IRAQ MUSEUM
Authors: Ali Munther , Geller Markham J.
Published: October 2020

A small tablet fragment acquired by the Iraq Museum raises interesting questions, although at first it appeared to be a simple duplicate manuscript from the large bilingual incantation series Udug-hul. Publishing this fragment has drawn attention to an interesting feature of Mesopotamian incantations, in which theāšipu-exorcist protects himself first, before addressing the patient. Although this practice has been known from Tablet 3 of Udug-hul incantations, it turns out that Assur exorcists occasionally inserted their own names into otherwise anonymous incantations and prayers, in order to ensure their own protection, which is a practice not known from other sites.
Effect of vitamin E on cisplatin-induced memory impairment in male rats
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Masoud , Alizadeh Amir , Heydari Parnian , Kafami Marzieh , Hosseini Mahmoud , Beheshti Farimah , Marefati Narges , Ghanbarabadi Moustafa
Published: October 2020

Objective:

Neurotoxicity is an adverse effect caused by cisplatin due to inflammation and oxidative stress in the central nervous system. The present study aimed to assess the effects of vitamin E injection on the learning and memory of rats with cisplatin-induced cognitive impairment.

Methods:

Male rats were administered with cisplatin (2 mg/kg/7 day; intraperitoneally [i i.p.]) and/or vitamin E (200 mg/kg/7 day; i.p.) for 1 week, and the control group received saline solution. Spatial memory was evaluated using Morris water maze (MWM). In addition, the hippocampal concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), thiol, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured using biochemical methods.

Results:

According to the findings, cisplatin significantly increased the escape latency, while decreasing the time spent and travelled pathway in the target quadrant on the final trial day compared to the control group. Furthermore, pre-treatment with vitamin E significantly reversed all the results in the spatial memory test. The biochemical data indicated that vitamin E could decrease MDA activity and increase thiol and SOD activity compared to the control group.

Conclusion:

According to the results, vitamin E could improve cisplatin-induced memory impairment possibly through affecting the hippocampal oxidative status.
Identifying dietary patterns in Irish schoolchildren and their association with nutritional knowledge and markers of health before and after intervention
Authors: Merrotsy Alison , McCarthy Aoife L. , Lacey Sean , Coppinger Tara
Published: October 2020

The aim of the study was to identify dietary patterns (DP) and examine differences in anthropometric measures, blood pressure (BP), cardiorespiratory fitness and nutritional knowledge of 6- and 10-year-old children at baseline and following a nutrition and physical activity intervention, with respect to DP and treatment group. This is a longitudinal study. Food diary, nutritional knowledge questionnaire and 550-m walk/run test measured dietary intake, nutritional knowledge and cardiorespiratory fitness, respectively. BP, weight, height and waist circumference were also measured and BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were derived. All measurements were performed at baseline and following intervention. Two primary schools (one intervention, one control) in Cork, Ireland, were selected. Participants were 6- (n 39, age 5·9 (sd 0·6) years) and 10- (n 49, age 9·8 (sd 0·5) years)-year-olds. Two DP were identified, using k-means cluster analysis, for both 6- (unhealthy and nutrient-dense) and 10-year-olds (processed and Western diet) at baseline. DP derived post-intervention were (1) plant-based and (2) processed foods for 6-year-olds and (1) nutrient-dense and (2) unhealthy for 10-year-olds. There was no statistically significant difference in DP for 6- and 10-year-olds at baseline and post-intervention (P > 0·05). Following the intervention, a multivariate ANOVA showed there were no statistically significant differences in nutritional knowledge, BMI, WHtR, cardiorespiratory fitness and BP based on DP and intervention/control group for both age groups (P > 0·05). Three out of four dietary patterns identified for 6- and 10-year-olds were unfavourable. While no statistically significant evidence of intervention impact was found on DP, a positive trend was emerging among 10-year-olds.
Low-carbohydrate diet and maternal glucose metabolism in Chinese pregnant women
Authors: Chen Qian , Chen Yajun , Wu Weijia , Tang Nu , Wang Dongyu , Chen Yuming , Jing Jin , Cai Li
Published: October 2020

Few studies have suggested that long-term adherence to low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) may affect maternal glucose metabolism in Western countries. We aimed to investigate the association between LCD during pregnancy and glucose metabolism in a Chinese population. A total of 1018 women in mid-pregnancy were recruited in 2017–2018. Participants underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Daily dietary intakes over the past month were accessed using a validated FFQ. The overall, animal and vegetable LCD scores which represent adherence to different low-carbohydrate dietary patterns were calculated. Mixed linear regression and generalised linear mixed regression were conducted to evaluate the associations between LCD scores and maternal glucose metabolism. Of the 1018 subjects, 194 (19·1 %) were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The overall LCD score (β: 0·024,se0·008,PFDR= 0·02) and animal LCD score (β: 0·023,se0·008,PFDR= 0·02) were positively associated with OGTT 1-h glucose. No significant associations were found between the three different LCD scores with fasting plasma glucose, OGTT 2-h glucose, or insulin resistance, respectively. Compared with the lowest quartile, the crude OR of GDM for the highest quartile were 1·84 (95 % CI 1·14, 2·95) for overall LCD score (Pfor trend= 0·02) and 1·56 (95 % CI 1·00, 2·45) for animal LCD score (Pfor trend= 0·02). However, these associations became non-significant after adjustment for covariates. In conclusion, a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern with high animal protein and fat is associated with higher postprandial 1-h glucose levels in Chinese pregnant women.
Depositional processes and environmental settings in rock shelters: the case of the prehistoric Oscurusciuto site (Southern Italy)
Authors: Martini Ivan , Baucon Andrea , Boschin Francesco
Published: October 2020

Clastic successions in rock shelters commonly host important archaeological findings, especially of prehistoric and protostoric times. The understanding of depositional and post-depositional processes in these environments is crucial to understand the lifestyle settings of humans, as well as the reliability of archaeological data obtained during excavations. Rock shelters are genetically related to caves, but while depositional processes in caves are generally well known, less information is available concerning the depositional processes active in rock shelters.

This paper tries to contribute to this issue, describing the sedimentary succession exposed at the Oscurusciuto rock shelter (Ginosa, Southern Italy). This is one of the most important Middle Palaeolithic sites of the Italian peninsula, and its sedimentary infill hosts witnesses of very late Neanderthal populations that lived in Italy just before their total decline and complete replacement by Modern Humans (MH).

This work presents the results of a sedimentologically based study integrated with an ichnological study of selected beds. The combination of these two methodologies allowed us to: (i) define the main depositional processes active in the rock shelter environment, as well as the relationships between different processes; (ii) discuss the meaning of peculiar ichnofabrics recognized at the site, and (iii) discuss the meaning of structureless strata at an archeological site in the framework of human trampling vs bioturbation as a cause of the obliteration of primary sedimentary structures.
The Politics of Our Selves: Left self-fashioning and the production of representative claims in everyday Indian campus politics
Authors: MARTELLI JEAN-THOMAS
Published: October 2020

Through engaging with everyday practices among student activists in contemporary Indian campus politics, this ethnographic study examines the breadcrumb trail between the left and self-fashioning. It focuses on a performative modality of political representation in Indian democracy by tracing the formation of biographical reconfigurations that implement subject-oriented techniques. The article charts their relevance in producing political legitimacy. It engages with the way in which personal reconfigurations are mobilized to recruit and appeal to both subaltern and privileged communities, thus generating universalistic representative claims and political efficacy.

The study discusses self-presentations among leading left activists who are members of five contending Marxist student organizations that are active in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. It shows that reconfigurations are a hallmark of practices of social ‘downlift’ which echo the notion ofdeclassifying, a concept developed by philosopher Jacques Rancière. While embracing secularism and the legacy of political martyrs, the analysis illustrates how self-fashioning attempts to erase signs and habits attached to economic and social privileges through subverting and engaging creatively with sacrificial and ascetic tropes. Conversely, such practices find themselves critically questioned by activists at the bottom of the social ladder who aspire to social upliftment, including members of lower castes and impoverished Muslim communities. I find that the biographical effects of left activism are both long-lasting and renegotiable, shaping campus lives and subsequent professional careers. While such reconfigurations are not inspired by world renouncers of the Hindu mendicant tradition, these practices of the self might exemplify the historical cross-fertilization between long-standing cultural idioms and the Indian Marxist praxis.
Are adult stressful life events associated with psychotic relapse? A systematic review of 23 studies
Authors: Martland Natasha , Martland Rebecca , Cullen Alexis E. , Bhattacharyya Sagnik
Published: October 2020

Relapse rates among individuals with psychotic disorders are high. In addition to the financial burden placed on clinical services, relapse is associated with worse long-term prognosis and poorer quality of life. Robust evidence indicates that stressful life events commonly precede the onset of the first psychotic episode; however, the extent to which they are associated with relapse remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize available research investigating the association between recent stressful life events and psychotic relapse or relapse of bipolar disorder if the diagnosis included psychotic symptoms. PsycINFO, Medline and EMBASE were searched for cross-sectional, retrospective and prospective studies published between 01/01/1970 and 08/01/2020 that investigated the association between adult stressful life events and relapse of psychosis. Study quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project guidelines. Twenty-three studies met eligibility criteria (prospective studies: 14; retrospective studies: 6; cross-sectional: 3) providing data on 2046 participants in total (sample size range: 14–240 participants). Relapse was defined as a return of psychotic symptoms (n = 20), a return of symptoms requiring hospitalization (n = 2) and a return of symptoms or hospitalization (n = 1). Adult stressful life events were defined as life events occurring after the onset of psychosis. Stressful life events included but were not limited to adult trauma, bereavement, financial problems and conflict. Eighteen studies found a significant positive association between adult stressful life events and psychotic relapse and five studies found a non-significant association. We conclude that adult stressful life events, occurring after psychosis onset, appear to be associated with psychotic relapse.
The Birthday Present: Censorinus’De die natali
Authors: Freidin Anna Bonnell
Published: October 2020

This paper contextualises and interprets a text seldom addressed in Anglophone scholarship:De die natali(‘On the birthday’), written by Censorinus to celebrate his patron Caerellius’ birthday in 238c.e. By exploring both gestation (natalis) and time measurement (dies), the work seeks to elucidate and isolate Caerellius’ birthday in time; it is the ultimate guide to hisdies natalis. Despite a seemingly narrow focus,De die nataliis best understood as part of a broad ‘spectrum’ of encyclopaedic texts, exemplifying the ‘totalising’ impetus of knowledge ordering in the Roman Empire, while simultaneously exposing the limits of such efforts. An interlocking set of tensions underlie the text, which resonate with other encyclopaedic projects — tensions between unity and plurality, centre and periphery, and the relationship between nature and culture.De die nataliis both a product of, and commentary on, the conditions of human knowledge and the Empire's cultural diversity in the early third century.
Effectiveness of counselling and psychotherapeutic interventions for people with dementia and their families: a systematic review
Authors: Shoesmith Emily , Griffiths Alys Wyn , Sass Cara , Charura Divine
Published: October 2020

As there is currently no cure for dementia, providing psycho-social support is imperative. Counselling and psychotherapeutic interventions offer a way to provide individualised support for people with dementia and their families. However, to date, there has not been a systematic review examining the research evidence for these interventions. This review aimed to examine the following research questions: (1) Are counselling/psychotherapeutic interventions effective for people with dementia?, (2) Are counselling/psychotherapeutic interventions effective for care-givers of people with dementia? and (3) Which modes of delivery are most effective for people with dementia and care-givers of people with dementia? A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed), PsycINFO and CINAHL in March 2019. Keyword searches were employed with the terms ‘dement*’, ‘counsel*’, ‘psychotherapy’, ‘therap*’, ‘care’ and ‘outcome’, for the years 2000–2019. Thirty-one papers were included in the review, from seven countries. Twenty studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or adopted a quasi-experimental design. The remaining studies were qualitative or single-group repeated-measures design. The review identified variation in the counselling/psychotherapeutic approaches and mode of delivery. Most interventions adopted either a problem-solving or cognitive behavioural therapy approach. Mixed effectiveness was found on various outcomes. The importance of customised modifications for people with dementia was highlighted consistently. Understanding the dyadic relationships between people with dementia and their care-givers is essential to offering effective interventions and guidance for practitioners is needed. Information about the cognitive impairment experienced by participants with dementia was poorly reported and is essential in the development of this research area. Future studies should consider the impact of cognitive impairment in developing guidance for counselling/psychotherapeutic intervention delivery for people with dementia.
Linking gender, sexuality, and affect: The linguistic and social patterning of phrase-final posttonic lengthening
Authors: Esposito Lewis
Published: October 2020

This paper furthers our understanding of the social forces driving prosodic variation by reporting on production and perception studies of phrase-final posttonic lengthening in American English. Building on past research showing gender-based variation in the production of phrase-final lengthening, I show that this gender effect surfaces only when comparing straight men and straight women. Gay men and straight women lengthen their phrase-final posttonic syllables equally, and both groups do so more than straight men. A matched-guise social-perception experiment shows that listeners associate increased lengthening not only with femininity and male gayness, but with expressive affect. I suggest that the link between increased lengthening and expressive affect is forged iconically and that this link underlies the gender and sexuality patterns observed in the production study. What surfaces from this work theoretically is how variability in expressions of affect may drive correlations between gender/sexuality-based categories and linguistic variants.
A Sentence Repetition Task for Early Language Assessment in Spanish
Authors: Bravo Natalia , Lázaro Miguel , Mariscal Sonia
Published: October 2020

Sentence repetition tasks have been widely used in the last years as a diagnostic tool in developmental language disorders. However in Spanish there are few (if any) of these instruments, especially for younger children. In this context, we develop a new Sentence Repetition Task for assessing language (morphosyntactic) abilities of very young Spanish children. A list of 33 sentences of different length and complexity was created and included in the task. A total of 130 typical developing children from 2 to 4 years of age were engaged in a play situation and asked to repeat the sentences. Children’s answers were scored for accuracy at sentence and word level and error analysis at the word level was undertaken. Besides a subsample of 92 children completed a non-word repetition task. First results show its adequacy to children from 2 to 4 years of age, its capacity to discriminate between different developmental levels, and its concurrent validity with the nonword repetition task.