bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vivo assessment of OXPHOS capacity using 3 T CrCEST MRI in Friedreich’s ataxia
Authors: Schur Gayatri Maria , Dunn Julia , Nguyen Sara , Dedio Anna , Wade Kristin , Tamaroff Jaclyn , Mitta Nithya , Wilson Neil , Reddy Ravinder , Lynch David R. , McCormack Shana E.
Published: October 2021

Background

Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by decreased expression of frataxin, a protein involved in many cellular metabolic processes, including mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Our objective was to assess skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism in vivo in adults with FRDA as compared to adults without FRDA using chemical exchange saturation transfer (CrCEST) MRI, which measures free creatine (Cr) over time following an in-magnet plantar flexion exercise.

Methods

Participants included adults with FRDA (n = 11) and healthy adults (n = 25). All underwent 3-Tesla CrCEST MRI of the calf before and after in-scanner plantar flexion exercise. Participants also underwent whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to measure body composition and completed questionnaires to assess physical activity.

Results

We found prolonged post-exercise exponential decline in CrCEST (τCr) in the lateral gastrocnemius (LG, 274 s vs. 138 s, p = 0.01) in adults with FRDA (vs. healthy adults), likely reflecting decreased OXPHOS capacity. Adults with FRDA (vs. healthy adults) also engaged different muscle groups during exercise, as indicated by muscle group-specific changes in creatine with exercise (∆CrCEST), possibly reflecting decreased coordination. Across all participants, increased adiposity and decreased usual physical activity were associated with smaller ∆CrCEST.

Conclusion

In FRDA, CrCEST MRI may be a useful biomarker of muscle-group-specific decline in OXPHOS capacity that can be leveraged to track within-participant changes over time. Appropriate participant selection and further optimization of the exercise stimulus will enhance the utility of this technique.
Childhood cancer and residential proximity to petrol stations: a nationwide registry-based case–control study in Switzerland and an updated meta-analysis
Authors: Mazzei Antonella , Konstantinoudis Garyfallos , Kreis Christian , Diezi Manuel , Ammann Roland A. , Zwahlen Marcel , Kühni Claudia , Spycher Ben D.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Benzene is a known carcinogen for adult leukemia. Exposure to benzene through parental occupation and the use of household products has been associated with childhood leukemia (CL). Ambient benzene has also been associated with CL and central nervous system (CNS) tumors. We aimed to investigate whether the higher ambient levels of benzene in proximity of petrol stations are associated with a greater risk of childhood cancers, leukemia, and CNS tumors.

Methods

We identified children diagnosed with cancer at age 0–15 years during 1985–2015 from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry and selected 10 age and sex-matched controls per case from national censuses. We calculated the distance from children’s home to the nearest petrol station using precise geocodes. We estimated odds ratios using conditional logistic regression adjusting for ambient levels of NO2, distance to highways, level of urbanization, and presence of a cantonal cancer registry. In addition, we ran a meta-analysis pooling current results for CL with those of previous studies.

Results

We identified 6129 cases, of which 1880 were leukemias and 1290 CNS tumors. 24 cases lived within 50 m from a petrol station. The adjusted odds ratio of a cancer diagnosis for children thus exposed compared to unexposed children (> 500 m) was 1.29 (0.84–1.98) for all cancers combined, 1.08 (0.46–2.51) for leukemia, and 1.30 (0.51–3.35) for CNS tumors. During 2000–2015, when exposure assessment was more precise, the adjusted odds ratio for any cancer diagnosis was 1.77 (1.05–2.98). The summary relative risk estimate for CL in the meta-analysis including four studies was 2.01 (1.25–3.22).

Conclusions

Our study provides weak support for an increased risk of childhood cancers among children living close to petrol stations. A meta-analysis including our study suggests an increased risk for CL.
The impact of surgical site infection—a cost analysis
Authors: Strobel Rahel M. , Leonhardt Marja , Förster Frank , Neumann Konrad , Lobbes Leonard A. , Seifarth Claudia , Lee Lucas D. , Schineis Christian H. W. , Kamphues Carsten , Weixler Benjamin , Kreis Martin E. , Lauscher Johannes C.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Surgical site infection (SSI) occurs in up to 25% of patients after elective laparotomy. We aimed to determine the effect of SSI on healthcare costs and patients’ quality of life.

Methods

In this post hoc analysis based on the RECIPE trial, we studied a 30-day postoperative outcome of SSI in a single-center, prospective randomized controlled trial comparing subcutaneous wound irrigation with 0.04% polyhexanide to 0.9% saline after elective laparotomy. Total medical costs were analyzed accurately per patient with the tool of our corporate controlling team which is based on diagnosis-related groups in Germany.

Results

Between November 2015 and May 2018, 456 patients were recruited. The overall rate of SSI was 28.2%. Overall costs of inpatient treatment were higher in the group with SSI: median 16.685 €; 19.703 USD (IQR 21.638 €; 25.552 USD) vs. median 11.235 €; 13.276 USD (IQR 11.564 €; 13.656 USD); p < 0.001. There was a difference in surgery costs (median 6.664 €; 7.870 USD with SSI vs. median 5.040 €; 5.952 USD without SSI; p = 0.001) and costs on the surgical ward (median 8.404 €; 9.924 USD with SSI vs. median 4.690 €; 5.538 USD without SSI; p < 0.001). Patients with SSI were less satisfied with the cosmetic result (4.3% vs. 16.2%; p < 0.001). Overall costs for patients who were irrigated with saline were median 12.056 €; 14.237 USD vs. median 12.793 €; 15.107 USD in the polyhexanide group (p = 0.52).

Conclusion

SSI after elective laparotomy increased hospital costs substantially. This is an additional reason why the prevention of SSI is important. Overall costs for intraoperative wound irrigation with saline were comparable with polyhexanide.
Integration of mobile sensors in a telemedicine hospital system: remote-monitoring in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Müller Alexander , Haneke Hannah , Kirchberger Valerie , Mastella Giulio , Dommasch Michael , Merle Uta , Heinze Oliver , Siegmann Adonia , Spinner Christoph , Buiatti Alessandra , Laugwitz Karl-Ludwig , Schmidt Georg , Martens Eimo
Published: October 2021

Aim

The goal is to design and, in a next step, establish a scalable, multi-center telemonitoring platform based on existing systems for monitoring COVID-19 patients in home quarantine. In particular, the focus will be on raw data acquisition, integration of sensor data into the hospital system, structured data storage, and interoperability.

Subject and methods

Data necessary for monitoring, otherwise provided in various portals, will be continuously queried and integrated into the hospital system via a new interface in this proof-of-concept work.

Results

Based on extensive preliminary work at Klinikum rechts der Isar with a structured clinical database, we extend our system’s integration of raw data and visualization in dashboards, as well as scientific provision of data from mobile sensors for monitoring patients in home quarantine.

Conclusion

Based on existing integrated telemonitoring systems supporting semantic and syntactic interoperability, short-term provision of scientific databases is possible. The integration of different mobile sensors into a clinical system for remote monitoring of patients around the clock is still new and to our knowledge unique.
Mining the Mind: Linear Discriminant Analysis of MEG Source Reconstruction Time Series Supports Dynamic Changes in Deep Brain Regions During Meditation Sessions
Authors: Calvetti Daniela , Johnson Brian , Pascarella Annalisa , Pitolli Francesca , Somersalo Erkki , Vantaggi Barbara
Published: October 2021

Meditation practices have been claimed to have a positive effect on the regulation of mood and emotions for quite some time by practitioners, and in recent times there has been a sustained effort to provide a more precise description of the influence of meditation on the human brain. Longitudinal studies have reported morphological changes in cortical thickness and volume in selected brain regions due to meditation practice, which is interpreted as an evidence its effectiveness beyond the subjective self reporting. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electroencephalography to quantify the changes in brain activity during meditation practice represents a challenge, as no clear hypothesis about the spatial or temporal pattern of such changes is available to date. In this article we consider MEG data collected during meditation sessions of experienced Buddhist monks practicing focused attention (Samatha) and open monitoring (Vipassana) meditation, contrasted by resting state with eyes closed. The MEG data are first mapped to time series of brain activity averaged over brain regions corresponding to a standard Destrieux brain atlas. Next, by bootstrapping and spectral analysis, the data are mapped to matrices representing random samples of power spectral densities in $$\alpha$$
α
, $$\beta$$
β
, $$\gamma$$
γ
, and $$\theta$$
θ
frequency bands. We use linear discriminant analysis to demonstrate that the samples corresponding to different meditative or resting states contain enough fingerprints of the brain state to allow a separation between different states, and we identify the brain regions that appear to contribute to the separation. Our findings suggest that the cingulate cortex, insular cortex and some of the internal structures, most notably the accumbens, the caudate and the putamen nuclei, the thalamus and the amygdalae stand out as separating regions, which seems to correlate well with earlier findings based on longitudinal studies.
A robust mean and variance test with application to high-dimensional phenotypes
Authors: Staley James R. , Windmeijer Frank , Suderman Matthew , Lyon Matthew S. , Davey Smith George , Tilling Kate
Published: October 2021

Most studies of continuous health-related outcomes examine differences in mean levels (location) of the outcome by exposure. However, identifying effects on the variability (scale) of an outcome, and combining tests of mean and variability (location-and-scale), could provide additional insights into biological mechanisms. A joint test could improve power for studies of high-dimensional phenotypes, such as epigenome-wide association studies of DNA methylation at CpG sites. One possible cause of heterogeneity of variance is a variable interacting with exposure in its effect on outcome, so a joint test of mean and variability could help in the identification of effect modifiers. Here, we review a scale test, based on the Brown-Forsythe test, for analysing variability of a continuous outcome with respect to both categorical and continuous exposures, and develop a novel joint location-and-scale score (JLSsc) test. These tests were compared to alternatives in simulations and used to test associations of mean and variability of DNA methylation with gender and gestational age using data from the Accessible Resource for Integrated Epigenomics Studies (ARIES). In simulations, the Brown-Forsythe and JLSsc tests retained correct type I error rates when the outcome was not normally distributed in contrast to the other approaches tested which all had inflated type I error rates. These tests also identified > 7500 CpG sites for which either mean or variability in cord blood methylation differed according to gender or gestational age. The Brown-Forsythe test and JLSsc are robust tests that can be used to detect associations not solely driven by a mean effect.
Cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of dementia: real-life data in Hungary
Authors: Balázs Nóra , Bereczki Dániel , Ajtay András , Oberfrank Ferenc , Kovács Tibor
Published: October 2021

Dementia is one of the leading causes of death and disability in older population. Previous reports have shown that antidementia medications are associated with longer survival; nonetheless, the prevalence of their use and the compliance with them are quite different worldwide. There is hardly any available information about the pharmacoepidemiology of these drugs in the Eastern-European region; we aimed to analyze the use of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEis) for the treatment of dementia to provide real-life information from the Eastern European region. All medical and medication prescription reports of the in- and outpatient specialist services collected in the NEUROHUN database in Hungary were analyzed between 2013 and 2016. Survival, adherence, and persistence values were calculated. 8803 patients were treated with ChEis during the study period, which was only 14.5% of the diagnosed demented patients. The survival of treated patients (more than 4 years) was significantly longer than patients without ChEi treatment (2.50 years). The best compliance was observed with rivastigmine patch. Choosing the appropriate medication as soon as possible after the dementia diagnosis may lead to increased life expectancy.
Study of needle punctures into soft tissue through audio and force sensing: can audio be a simple alternative for needle guidance?
Authors: Sabieleish Muhannad , Heryan Katarzyna , Boese Axel , Hansen Christian , Friebe Michael , Illanes Alfredo
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Percutaneous needle insertion is one of the most common minimally invasive procedures. The clinician’s experience and medical imaging support are essential to the procedure’s safety. However, imaging comes with inaccuracies due to artifacts, and therefore sensor-based solutions were proposed to improve accuracy. However, sensors are usually embedded in the needle tip, leading to design limitations. A novel concept was proposed for capturing tip–tissue interaction information through audio sensing, showing promising results for needle guidance. This work demonstrates that this audio approach can provide important puncture information by comparing audio and force signal dynamics during insertion.

Methods

An experimental setup for inserting a needle into soft tissue was prepared. Audio and force signals were synchronously recorded at four different insertion velocities, and a dataset of 200 recordings was acquired. Indicators related to different aspects of the force and audio were compared through signal-to-signal and event-to-event correlation analysis.

Results

High signal-to-signal correlations between force and audio indicators regardless of the insertion velocity were obtained. The force curvature indicator obtained the best correlation performances to audio with more than $$70\%$$

70
%

of the correlations higher than 0.6. The event-to-event correlation analysis shows that a puncture event in the force is generally identifiable in audio and that their intensities firmly related.

Conclusions

Audio contains valuable information for monitoring needle tip/tissue interaction. Significant dynamics obtained from a well-known sensor as force can also be extracted from audio, regardless of insertion velocities.
Recent Progress in Beam-Based Metal Additive Manufacturing from a Materials Perspective: A Review of Patents
Authors: Aversa Alberta , Saboori Abdollah , Marchese Giulio , Iuliano Luca , Lombardi Mariangela , Fino Paolo
Published: October 2021

Over the last decade, the enormous potential of metal additive manufacturing (AM) processes has led these technologies to establish their position in many industries. Much effort is being made toward their widespread application; however, much remains to be done to achieve full industrialization of these processes. Therefore, many companies, research centers and universities are investing in comprehensive research and development activities in order to further promote the industrialization of metal AM. This review traces the progress of metal AM technologies through an investigation of patents. In the present study, beam-based metal AM patents were searched through the Orbit Intelligence database. First, the number of patents per year was studied, indicating that, as expected, there is strong growth in AM patenting activities. The patents were afterward examined in order to highlight the key players in the field, and it was found that the main players investing in this market are: multidisciplinary companies, AM machine producers, end users working, especially in the aerospace sector, universities and research centers. The patents were then analyzed to understand the technology domains covered by each key player and their trend of investments. Finally, the patents in the field of Materials and Metallurgy were studied individually to identify the main topics faced by the most used alloy classes: Al-, Ni- and Ti-based alloys and steels. The extensive study of these patents clearly indicated that the main gaps to fill in metal AM are strongly material dependent and that it is possible to find correlations between the alloy classes, their main industrial applications and their specific AM processability issues. The current study provides insights into global trends that can help industrial markets to identify the right investment direction and research to identify topics for future investigation.
The relation between creativity and students’ performance on different types of geometrical problems in elementary education
Authors: Schoevers Eveline M. , Kroesbergen Evelyn H. , Moerbeek Mirjam , Leseman Paul P. M.
Published: October 2021

Aim

In the current study we aimed to investigate the relation between creativity and mathematical problem solving in the upper grades of elementary school.

Methods

To examine how student’s levels of general creativity were related to their performance on different types of geometrical problems, a geometry test with diverse problems was administered to a sample of 1665 Dutch students from third to sixth grade, as well as a creativity test. The geometry test consisted of four closed-ended routine problems, six closed-ended non-routine problems (related to a visual artwork) and four open-ended non-routine problems (multiple solutions problems). The Test of Creative Thinking—Drawing Production was used to measure students’ creativity. Multivariate multilevel analyses were conducted to take the nested structure of the data into account.

Results

The results showed that creativity was a significant predictor of students’ performance on all types of geometrical problems, but most strongly associated with performance on open-ended non-routine problems, suggesting that students with higher levels of creativity perform better in solving geometry problems in general, but especially in geometry problems asking for multiple solutions.
Wording in the area of mobility and physical activity—the challenge of perception for researchers and older persons
Authors: Freiberger Ellen , Notthoff Nanna
Published: October 2021

When promoting physical activity (PA) to older persons, perceived wording is of importance and mostly not congruent with the scientific approach. The differentiation within physical activity subcategories is often unnoticed by other health professionals as well as by older persons. Especially, the subcategory of exercise as a planned, structured, repetitive program is often used interchangeably with PA. This short communication addresses the different perceptions in wording between health care professionals, sport scientists, and lay older persons with the goal to enhance the awareness of wording for professionals, which is a prerequisite for designing appropriate messages.
Influence of a multidimensional music-based exercise program on selected cognitive and motor skills in dementia patients—a pilot study
Authors: Prinz A. , Schumacher A. , Witte K.
Published: October 2021

One of the most common causes of needing care in old age is dementia. In order to enjoy a pleasant retirement for people with dementia, it is essential for them to maintain their independence. Studies have shown that a combination of physical activity and music has positive effects on dementia patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of implementing a multidimensional music-based exercise program for dementia patients and the effects on an intervention group (IG) compared to a control group (CG, usual care). The study design was based on a 12-week intervention with two (IG/CG) by two (pretest/posttest) parallel groups and block randomization with unequal group sizes. Participants had to be able to move independently or with a walker and not have severe cardiovascular disease or cardiac arrhythmias. Fifty-three blinded dementia patients (age: 83.63 ± 6.03 years) from inpatient facilities participated in the study and were assigned from the exercise instructors to IG (n = 34) and CG (n = 19). The primary outcomes were feasibility (Observation sheet), modified Chair Rising test, Timed Up and Go test, hand dynamometer test, FICSIT‑4 (Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques), and drop bar test. Secondary endpoints included: verbal fluency (“animals”), the Mini-Mental State Examination, memory, Trail Making Test A, and Qualidem. Forty-nine subjects were analyzed (IG = 32; CG = 17). There were significant differences between the groups in the modified Chair Rising test (p = 0.033), FICSIT‑4 (p = 0.035), and Timed Up and Go test (p = 0.005) at posttest, which showed improved performance of the IG compared to the CG. The IG additionally showed improvements in the modified Chair Rising test (p = 0.000), drop bar test (p = 0.033), hand dynamometer test (p = 0.001), Timed Up and Go test (p = 0.000), verbal fluency (p = 0.002) and Trail Making Test A (p = 0.04) after 12 weeks. There were no adverse events or side effects. The multidimensional music-based exercise program could be performed by the dementia patients and was well received. The improved functional mobility could contribute to a lower risk of falls and thus maintain independence. For the follow-up study, the number of subjects, randomization, and parameters should be considered.
The second-order problem for k-presymplectic Lagrangian field theories: application to the Einstein–Palatini model
Authors: Adame-Carrillo David , Gaset Jordi , Román-Roy Narciso
Published: October 2021

In general, the system of 2nd-order partial differential equations made of the Euler–Lagrange equations of classical field theories are not compatible for singular Lagrangians. This is the so-called second-order problem. The first aim of this work is to develop a fully geometric constraint algorithm which allows us to find a submanifold where the Euler–Lagrange equations have solution, and split the constraints into two kinds depending on their origin. We do so using k-symplectic geometry, which is the simplest intrinsic description of classical field theories. As a second aim, the Einstein–Palatini model of General Relativity is studied using this algorithm.
Climate warming-induced replacement of mesic beech by thermophilic oak forests will reduce the carbon storage potential in aboveground biomass and soil
Authors: Kasper Jan , Weigel Robert , Walentowski Helge , Gröning Anja , Petritan Any Mary , Leuschner Christoph
Published: October 2021

Key message

Climate-warming related replacement of beech by oak forests in the course of natural forest succession or silvicultural decisions may considerably reduce ecosystem carbon storage of central European woodlands.

Context

Climate warming may change the carbon (C) storage in forest biomass and soil through future shifts in tree species composition. With a projected warming by 2–3 K over the twenty-first century, silvicultural adaptation measures and natural succession might lead to the replacement of European beech forests by thermophilic oak forests in drought- and heat-affected regions of central and south-eastern Europe, but the consequences for ecosystem C storage of this species shift are not clear.

Aims

To quantify the change in C storage in biomass and soil with a shift from beech (Fagus sylvatica) to oak forest (Quercus petraea, Q. frainetto, Q. cerris), we measured the aboveground biomass (AGC) and soil C pools (SOC).

Methods

AGC pools and SOC stocks to − 100 cm depth were calculated from forest inventory and volume-related SOC content data for beech, mixed beech-oak and oak forests in three transects in the natural beech-oak ecotone of western Romania, where beech occurs at its heat- and drought-induced distribution limit.

Results

From the cooler, more humid beech forests to the warmer, more xeric oak forests, which are 1–2 K warmer, AGC and SOC pools decreased by about 22% (40 Mg C ha−1) and 20% (17 Mg C ha−1), respectively. The likely main drivers are indirect temperature effects acting through tree species and management in the case of AGC, but direct temperature effects for SOC.

Conclusion

If drought- and heat-affected beech forests in Central Europe are replaced by thermophilic oak forests in future, this will lead to carbon losses of ~ 50–60 Mg ha−1, thus reducing ecosystem carbon storage substantially.
COVID-19 Outcomes in Minority Ethnic Groups: Do Obesity and Metabolic Risk Play a Role?
Authors: Coleman Paul , Barber Thomas M. , van Rens Thijs , Hanson Petra , Coffey Alice , Oyebode Oyinlola
Published: October 2021

Purpose of Review

Globally, minority ethnic groups have been at higher risk of COVID-19 mortality and morbidity than majority populations. This review outlines factors that may interact to create these inequalities and explores the hypothesis that differing levels of cardio-metabolic risk, according to ethnic group, play a role.

Recent Findings

Two UK Biobank studies have reported that the body mass index is more strongly associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection and mortality in minority ethnic populations than in White populations. A study of UK patients found that the strongest association between obesity and adverse COVID-19 outcomes was in people of Black ethnicity.

Summary

Differences in the prevalence of obesity and its metabolic sequelae have been shown to partly mediate ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 outcomes, although not always consistently. It is possible that ethnic differences in the consequences of obesity may explain some of the remaining disparity in COVID-19 risk.
Can Students Create Their Own Educational Escape Room? Lessons Learned from the Opioid Crisis Escape Room
Authors: Bakkum Michiel J. , Richir Milan C. , Sultan Rowan , de la Court Jara R. , Lambooij Anke C. , van Agtmael Michiel A. , Tichelaar Jelle
Published: October 2021

Educational escape rooms (EERs) are live-action, team-based games used to teach content-related and generic knowledge and skills. Instead of students just playing the EER, we believed that giving them the opportunity to create their own EERs would augment the learning effects of this teaching method. We report on the feasibility, evaluation, and lessons learned of our assignment on an opioid epidemic-based EER. This original teaching method appealed to most students, but the workload was evaluated to be too high. Our lessons learned include the need for sufficient (extrinsic) motivation, careful explanation of the assignment, and small group sizes.
An approach to optimize the cost of transportation problem based on triangular fuzzy programming problem
Authors: Das Sapan Kumar
Published: October 2021

In this article, we address a fully fuzzy triangular linear fractional programming (FFLFP) problem under the condition that all the parameters and decision variables are characterized by triangular fuzzy numbers. Utilizing the computation of triangular fuzzy numbers and Lexicographic order (LO), the FFLFP problem is changed over to a multi-objective function. Consequently, the problem is changed into a multi-objective crisp problem. This paper outfits another idea for diminishing the computational complexity, in any case without losing its viability crisp LFP issues. Lead from real-life problems, a couple of mathematical models are considered to survey the legitimacy, usefulness and applicability of our method. Finally, some mathematical analysis along with one case study is given to show the novel strategies are superior to the current techniques.
Provisional Application of Treaties and Other Topics: The Seventy-Second Session of The International Law Commission
Authors: Murphy Sean D.
Published: October 2021

The International Law Commission (ILC) held its seventy-second session from April 26 to June 4 and from July 5 to August 6, 2021 in Geneva, under the chairmanship of Mahmoud Hmoud (Jordan). This session was originally scheduled for the summer of 2020, but had to be postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic continued in 2021 to present health risks and travel difficulties for certain members; consequently, the Commission for the first time in its history held its session in a hybrid manner, with many members physically present in Geneva, while others participated online by means of Zoom. That approach required certain adjustments to the Commission's methods of work, but allowed the Commission to move forward in addressing the several topics on its current program of work.
Nestlé United States, Inc. v. Doe. 141 S. Ct. 1931.
Authors: LeClercq Desirée
Published: October 2021

On June 17, 2021, the United States Supreme Court reversed and remanded a suit filed against Nestlé USA and Cargill under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) for lack of jurisdiction. This case has already garnered attention over the nature of the dispute (child slaves in Africa), the Supreme Court's treatment of jurisdiction under the ATS, and the finding shared by five of the nine Supreme Court justices that domestic corporations can potentially be sued under the ATS. This analysis focuses on the child slavery and global supply chain aspects of the decision.
Case C-650/18 Hungary v. European Parliament (C.J.E.U.)
Authors: Molnár Tamás
Published: October 2021

On June 3, 2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), closely following the Advocate General's Opinion, delivered its Grand Chamber judgment in case C-650/18 Hungary v. European Parliament by dismissing Hungary's action. The ruling confirms that the European Parliament (EP) acted within the procedural boundaries of its powers when initiating, by a two-thirds majority vote of its members, proceedings against Hungary for the situation in the country regarding the rule of law, democracy, and other values on which the European Union (EU) is founded. The ruling comes after the Hungarian government decided to challenge the validity of the resolution of the European Parliament of September 12, 2018, which triggered the proceedings foreseen in the event of a clear risk of serious breaches of the foundational values of the EU, including the rule of law, pursuant to Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).
Diffusive effects in local instabilities of a baroclinic axisymmetric vortex
Authors: Singh Suraj , Mathur Manikandan
Published: October 2021

We present a local stability analysis of an idealized model of the stratified vortices that appear in geophysical settings. The base flow comprises an axisymmetric vortex with background rotation and an out-of-plane stable stratification, and a radial stratification in the thermal wind balance with the out-of-plane momentum gradient. Solving the local stability equations along fluid particle trajectories in the base flow, the dependence of short-wavelength instabilities on the Schmidt number

$Sc$

(ratio between momentum and mass diffusivities) is studied, in the presence of curvature effects. In the diffusion-free limit, the well-known symmetric instability is recovered. In the viscous, double-diffusive regime, instability characteristics are shown to depend on three non-dimensional parameters (including

$Sc$

), and two different instabilities are identified: (i) a monotonic instability (same as symmetric instability at

$Sc = 1$

), and (ii) an oscillatory instability (absent at

$Sc = 1$

). Separating the base flow and perturbation characteristics, two each of base flow and perturbation parameters (apart from

$Sc$

) are identified, and the entire parameter space is explored for the aforementioned instabilities. In comparison with

$Sc = 1$

, monotonic and oscillatory instabilities are shown to significantly expand the instability region in the space of base flow parameters as

$Sc$

moves away from unity. Neutral stability boundaries on the plane of

$Sc$

and a modified gradient Richardson number are then identified for both these instabilities. In the absence of curvature effects, our results are shown to be consistent with previous studies based on normal mode analysis, thus establishing that the local stability approach is well suited to capturing symmetric and double-diffusive instabilities. The paper concludes with a discussion of curvature effects, and the likelihood of monotonic and oscillatory instabilities in typical oceanic settings.
Cochlear implantation of a patient with multiple sclerosis: case report and systematic review
Authors: Routila J , Karhu J O , Salonen J
Published: October 2021

Background

Cochlear implantation can be used when a patient's hearing cannot satisfactorily be improved after optimised hearing aid fitting. However, in patients with a cochlear nerve or brain disorder affecting hearing, the benefits of cochlear implants are not so straightforward.

Methods

This paper describes a 58-year-old patient suffering from multiple sclerosis and profound sensorineural hearing loss, rehabilitated with a cochlear implant. Literature concerning cochlear implantation in demyelinating conditions was systematically reviewed using PubMed/Medline and Web of Science databases.

Results

The patient's cochlear implantation was successful, with speech discrimination scores remaining above 90 per cent for eight years post-operatively. No previous cases of cochlear implantation with multiple sclerosis related hearing loss have been reported, despite the high incidence of hearing loss in multiple sclerosis patients.

Conclusion

This paper demonstrates that multiple sclerosis lesions should not be an exclusion criterion in an otherwise suitable candidate for cochlear implantation.
Self-image and self-focused attention in a social interaction situation: what is relevant for social anxiety?
Authors: Meral Yasemin , Vriends Noortje
Published: October 2021

Background:

According to Clark and Wells’ cognitive model (Clark and Wells, 1995), social anxiety is maintained by both a negative self-image and self-focused attention (SFA). Although these maintaining factors were investigated extensively in previous studies, the direction of this relationship remains unclear, and so far, few studies have investigated self-image and SFA together within a current social interaction situation.

Aims:

The aim of this experiment is to investigate the influence of a negative versus positive self-image on social anxiety and on SFA during a social interaction.

Method:

High (n = 27) and low (n = 36) socially anxious participants, holding a manipulated negative versus positive self-image in mind, had a real-time video conversation with a confederate. Social anxiety, SFA and state anxiety before and during the conversation were measured with questionnaires.

Results:

An interaction between negative self-image and social anxiety showed that high socially anxious individuals with a negative self-image in mind were more anxious than those with a positive self-image in mind during the conversation. They were also more anxious compared with low socially anxious individuals. Furthermore, high socially anxious individuals reported higher SFA; however, SFA was not affected by negative or positive self-image.

Conclusion:

The present results confirm once again the strong influence of self-image and SFA on social anxiety, highlighting that a negative self-image has more impact on socially anxious individuals. Moreover, the present results suggest that SFA is not necessarily affected by a negative self-image, indicating that therapies should focus on both.
A MANIFESTO FOR PHILOSOPHY
Authors: Buxton Rebecca , Whiting Lisa
Published: October 2021

Most academics in philosophy departments accept that the discipline needs to change for the better. In this piece, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting offer several proposals for how to make philosophy a more inclusive place for everyone.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF REPRODUCTION
Authors: Finn Suki
Published: October 2021

Every one of us has had some interaction with pregnancy, having been pregnant ourselves or having been the result of someone else's pregnancy. Pregnancy is a source of fascinating philosophical issues, yet has been historically underexplored. In this article, I examine why this might be, and propose how to proceed in the investigation within the context of philosophizing today.
IDENTITY AND BIAS IN PHILOSOPHY: WHAT PHILOSOPHERS CAN LEARN FROM STEM SUBJECTS
Authors: Erden Yasemin J.
Published: October 2021

This article centres on two distinct but intersecting questions: (1) does it matter if we cannot definitively answer the question ‘what is philosophy?’ and (2) do philosophers exhibit bias? The article will answer ‘yes’ to both questions for the following reasons. First because the uncertainty has allowed some answers to dominate. Second, because the answers necessarily demonstrate biases, and these have led to a lack of diversity in the discipline. Following this, the article will consider why philosophers have been slow or reluctant to accept that bias plays a role in what we do. This lack of recognition has, I suggest, limited opportunity for diverse approaches, methods, and standpoints to flourish. The discipline has suffered as a result, and so too have diverse philosophers. Many fields in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) meanwhile have sought to tackle the lack of diversity head on, and philosophers would do well to heed their examples.
Making America Exceptional Again: Donald Trump's Traditionalist Jeremiad, Civil Religion, and the Politics of Resentment
Authors: Hickel Flavio R. , Murphy Andrew R.
Published: October 2021

Donald Trump's campaign slogan to “Make America Great Again” captivated the imagination of millions of Americans by contextualizing disparate sources of social resentment as emblematic of a broader story of American decline. Employing a “traditionalist civil religious jeremiad,” Trump called for a reassertion of American exceptionalism, and extolled a romanticized golden age predating transformative social changes (e.g., sexuality, gender roles, racial equality). As such, his rhetoric legitimized the defense of white male privilege as a vital component of this restoration. While this use of civil religious themes emboldened those who harbor prejudicial views, it alienated others who interpret such rhetoric as an assault on the soul of the nation. Relying on a unique module within the 2018 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, we demonstrate that adherence to the tenets of American civil religion significantly exacerbated the effects of symbolic racism and modern sexism on support for Trump.
Kompetenter Einsatz qualitativer Methoden in der Suchtforschung
Authors: Binder Annette , Preiser Christine
Published: October 2021

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Qualitative Methoden ermöglichen bei unterschiedlichen Fragestellungen vertieften Erkenntnisgewinn im Feld der Suchtforschung. Allerdings ist der Zugang zu den entsprechenden Methoden nicht einfach, da ihre Komplexität und Vielfalt nicht leicht zu überblicken ist und die Umsetzung umfangreiches theoretisches und methodologisches Wissen erfordert. Bisher scheint der Einsatz qualitativer Methoden in der deutschen Suchtforschung nicht ausreichend methodisch untermauert zu sein. Wir fordern daher eine fundierte, reflektierte und methodisch korrekte Nutzung qualitativer Methoden im Feld der Suchtforschung. Ziel: Ziel dieses Artikels ist, anhand von Methodenliteratur und Originalarbeiten, in denen qualitative Methoden angewandt wurden, aufzuzeigen, wie qualitative Forschungsdesigns verstanden werden können, um Forschende zu ermutigen und zu befähigen, qualitative Methoden in angemessener Weise zu nutzen. In diesem Artikel werden mögliche Einsatzgebiete und grundlegende methodologische Überlegungen für die Entwicklung eines qualitativen Forschungsdesigns dargestellt. Dabei wird zusätzlich auf diverse Erhebungsmethoden sowie ethische Aspekte im Rahmen der Datengenerierung eingegangen.
Reversal Asymmetry of Rainfall Change Over the Indian Ocean During the Radiative Forcing Increase and Stabilization
Authors: Hou Hongyu , Qu Xia , Huang Gang
Published: October 2021

The rainfall responses over the Indian Ocean (IO) are investigated based on the Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 (RCP4.5) experiments of 13 models, in which the experiments are extended to the year 2300, from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). During the radiative forcing (RF) increase, the rainfall pattern displays northwest‐southeast dipole asymmetry. After RF stabilization, rainfall increases over the southern IO and decreases over the northern IO where is a wet region in climatology. Diagnostic analysis demonstrates that both the changes in atmospheric circulation (dynamic component) and the moisture increase (thermodynamic component) play a key role in determining this rainfall dipole during RF increase, but the effect of the latter is reduced after RF stabilization. The responses of rainfall, sea surface temperature (SST) and atmospheric circulation are well coupled during the two periods: (a) the anomalous circulation affects the rainfall change by transporting abundant moisture to maintain the energy balance, with easterlies (northerlies) in RF increase (stabilization); and (b) in turn, heat released by the SST warming further induces the circulation change. Furthermore, during RF increase, the attribute of SST pattern is mainly led by ocean dynamics, especially heat transport due to ocean current changes, while after RF stabilization, it is mainly due to ocean heat transport leading by temperature changes.
For Venice’s Floodgates to Work, Better Forecasts Are Needed
Authors: Benningfield Damond
Published: October 2021

Climate change increases massive storm surges, which may be more than Venice’s flood-control system can handle.
Unifying Models of Chorus Wave Frequency Chirping
Authors: Rehnberg Morgan
Published: October 2021

A new model of chorus wave electron interaction attempts to explain how observations can support two seemingly contradictory mechanisms of frequency chirping.
The North Sea Light Climate: Analysis of Observations and Numerical Simulations
Authors: Thewes D. , Stanev E. V. , Zielinski O.
Published: October 2021

Recent studies have indicated changes in the light climate of the North Sea. An overall reduction of water clarity over the twentieth century could be observed in measurements, and more recent analysis suggests that these trends continue. Inorganic sediment is often named one of the driving factors in these changes and it has been shown to locally increase. With 20 years' worth of satellite‐derived sediment data, we were able to conduct basin wide investigations of the temporal dynamics of the biogeochemical state of the North Sea. To identify the impact of inter‐annual and seasonal changes in sediment, we fed from two different remote sensing sources (GlobColour & IFREMER) into a 3D coupled hydrodynamic and biological model. The light scheme in the Carbon Silicon Nitrogen Ecosystem model (CoSiNE) was modified to account for sediment specific attenuation. We performed a total of five numerical experiments for the period of 2000–2017. The main two experiments were conducted using monthly averaged data. Additionally, as controls, one experiment with annually averaged and one with a 20 years average of sediment, as well as a fifth one without sediment were performed. Our model showed a clear relation between changes in sediment and water clarity. Phytoplankton biomass was reduced only in areas with high nutrient availability.
The Impact of Assimilating Ionosphere and Thermosphere Observations on Neutral Temperature Improvement: Observing System Simulation Experiments Using EnKF
Authors: He Jianhui , Yue Xinan , Ren Zhipeng
Published: October 2021

Accurate specification of the thermosphere states is crucial to the low Earth orbit satellite operation. In this work, the impact of different ionosphere and thermosphere observing systems on the improvement of neutral temperature of the data assimilation model has been investigated by a series of observing system simulation experiments. The selected observations include the Global Navigation Satellite System total electron content (e.g., MIT vertical total electron content [VTEC]) and the daytime Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) level‐2 disk temperature (Tdisk). Such observations are ingested into the coupled ionosphere and thermosphere model based on our developed ensemble Kalman Filter data assimilation systems on the basis of the ensemble Kalman filter algorithm and the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model. The main findings are as follows: (a) A considerable improvement of the neutral temperature estimation of the physical‐based model can be obtained in the global region by assimilating either the MIT VTEC or the GOLD Tdisk observations; (b) the assimilation of the GOLD can further contribute to temperature improvement in the lower thermosphere (<200 km), relative to the MIT VTEC assimilation; and (c) simultaneously assimilating both observation types can better improve the quality of neutral temperature estimation over the global area during the whole data assimilation process. The current results demonstrate that assimilating GOLD observations is important to improve the forecast capability of the physical‐based model for the lower thermosphere states and can provide a possible reference for the joint assimilation of the ionosphere and thermosphere observations to better thermosphere specification.
Simulations of Water and Thermal Dynamics for Soil Surfaces With Residue Mulch and Surface Runoff
Authors: Wang Zhuangji , Thapa Resham , Timlin Dennis , Li Sanai , Sun Wenguang , Beegum Sahila , Fleisher David , Mirsky Steven , Cabrera Miguel , Sauer Thomas , Reddy Vangimalla R. , Horton Robert , Tully Katherine
Published: October 2021

Water and thermal dynamics at soil surfaces are influenced by multiple ambient factors, for example, weather, soil, residue mulch, and surface runoff. A surface water and temperature model should address those ambient factors, and their interactions and derivatives. In this study, we developed a process‐based simulation model for surface water and heat transfer with two main ambient factors, residue mulch and surface runoff. Surface water content and temperature are simulated with a modified Philip and de Vries (1957) model, including precipitation interception and radiation attenuation in residue mulch. Surface runoff is modeled with the Saint‐Venant equation. Residue decomposition, as a derivative, is computed via a modified CERES‐N model. Interactions between surface runoff and residue mulch, and dynamic decreases in residue mulch thickness due to decomposition are also included. The model was modularized and deployed with a “layered module architecture” in MAIZSIM, such that the main ambient factors, interactions, and derivatives can be activated or deactivated based on scenarios or user settings. Illustrative examples include non‐decomposable residue mulch, surface runoff and mulch decomposition scenarios. Results demonstrate that residue mulch can conserve soil water and reduce temporal variations of surface temperature. Surface runoff and its effects on water infiltration and surface temperature, and nitrogen mineralization during decomposition are also illustrated. The simulated surface temperature, water content, and mulch decomposition results are similar to literature results from field experiments. This study demonstrates the model workability in simulating surface water and temperature dynamics, and the feasibility of synthesizing multiple factors via a modularized model architecture.