bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SARS-CoV-2 and Obesity: “CoVesity”—a Pandemic Within a Pandemic
Authors: Zakka Kimberley , Chidambaram Swathikan , Mansour Sami , Mahawar Kamal , Salminen Paulina , Almino Ramos , Schauer Philip , Kinross James , Purkayastha Sanjay ,   on behalf of the PanSurg Collaborative
Published: January 2021

Individuals who are overweight or suffering from obesity are in a chronic state of low-grade inflammation, making them particularly susceptible to developing severe forms of respiratory failure. Studies conducted in past pandemics link obesity with worse health outcomes. This population is thus of particular concern within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the cessation of obesity management services. This systematic review highlights [1] the reciprocal link between the obesity and COVID-19 pandemics, [2] obesity as a risk factor for more severe disease in past pandemics, [3] potential mechanisms that make individual’s suffering from obesity more susceptible to severe disease and higher viral load, and [4] the need to safely resume bariatric services as recommended by expert guidelines, in order to mitigate the health outcomes of an already vulnerable population.
Managed Wetlands Can Benefit Juvenile Chinook Salmon in a Tidal Marsh
Authors: Aha Nicole M. , Moyle Peter B. , Fangue Nann A. , Rypel Andrew L. , Durand John R.
Published: January 2021

Loss of estuarine and coastal habitats worldwide has reduced nursery habitat and function for diverse fishes, including juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Underutilized off-channel habitats such as flooded rice fields and managed ponds present opportunities for improving rearing conditions and increasing habitat diversity along migratory corridors. While experiments in rice fields have shown enhanced growth rates of juvenile fishes, managed ponds are less studied. To evaluate the potential of these ponds as a nursery habitat, juvenile Chinook salmon (~ 2.8 g, 63 mm FL) were reared in cages in four contrasting locations within Suisun Marsh, a large wetland in the San Francisco Estuary. The locations included a natural tidal slough, a leveed tidal slough, and the inlet and outlet of a tidally muted managed pond established for waterfowl hunting. Fish growth rates differed significantly among locations, with the fastest growth occurring near the outlet in the managed pond. High zooplankton biomass at the managed pond outlet was the best correlate of salmon growth. Water temperatures in the managed pond were also cooler and less variable compared to sloughs, reducing thermal stress. The stress of low dissolved oxygen concentrations within the managed pond was likely mediated by high concentrations of zooplankton and favorable temperatures. Our findings suggest that muted tidal habitats in the San Francisco Estuary and elsewhere could be managed to promote growth and survival of juvenile salmon and other native fishes.
A new approach to enhance the appeal of the Italian territory through art: three study cases from Marche Region
Authors: Valentini Laura , Nesci Olivia
Published: January 2021

Born from a desire to promote the landscape by integrating its origins and physical aesthetics with its naturalistic, cultural, and artistic heritage, we develop narratives about three locations in central Italy, telling them in the language of popular science, supported by the language of art. The different disciplines of science, poetry, and ancient music are applied to the same sites, producing emotional experiences where the encounter and interplay between different representations, and combinations of representations, become an expression of a place. The research introduces three geosites from the Marche Region, central Italy: I Sassi Simone e Simoncello, La Grotta della Beata Vergine di Frasassi, and the Infernaccio Gorge, in order to propose our multidisciplinary approach to the international public. These have been chosen for their value and charm, for their different processes of genesis and evolution, and for the cultural context and feelings they evoke. In a new approach to science communication, our study uses art in the form of music and poetry to encourage people to learn about landscapes. The paper explains the genesis and evolution of the three places, suggests trekking itineraries, includes a poem written specifically for each site, and describes a piece of ancient music and video and cultural offerings relating to each location. Our goal is to educate by fashioning a new perception of landscapes, starting with their physical beauty, and then building on scientific research in co-operation with arts, to improve what we know about their problems and weaknesses, but also about their culture and other strengths.
Green Nanosilicas for Monoaromatic Hydrocarbons Removal from Air
Authors: Ewlad-Ahmed Abdunaser M. , Morris Michael , Holmes Justin , Belton David J. , Patwardhan Siddharth V. , Gibson Lorraine T.
Published: January 2021

We demonstrate a novel application of green nanosilicas (GN), prepared via an environmentally friendly route, in removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Herein, we aim to establish GN as viable alternatives to traditional mesoporous silicas for the removal of monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAHC). The results show that the GN have high extraction efficiencies comparable to those previously reported for mesoporous silicas. It was demonstrated that bespoke GN can be syntheised readily with the ability to tailor their physical properties and MAHC adsorption. In order to understand the MAHC adsorption by GN, their porosity, morphology and pore structure were characterised. It was observed that the combination of broad pore size distribution and, in particular, the presence of meso- and micro-porosity in GN contributed to high MAHC extraction efficiencies and selectivity. Although from a commercial viewpoint, further optimisation of GN is desirable in order to replace traditional sorbents, this work clearly highlights a new family of “green” sorbents, which can be prepared with a substantial reduction in secondary pollution with potential applications in selective gas separation.

Graphical Abstract
Review of Optical Fiber Sensor Network Technology Based on White Light Interferometry
Authors: Li Wenchao , Yuan Yonggui , Yang Jun , Yuan Libo
Published: January 2021

Optical fiber sensor networks (OFSNs) provide powerful tools for large-scale buildings or long-distance sensing, and they can realize distributed or quasi-distributed measurement of temperature, strain, and other physical quantities. This article provides some optical fiber sensor network technologies based on the white light interference technology. We discuss the key issues in the fiber white light interference network, including the topology structure of white light interferometric fiber sensor network, the node connection components, and evaluation of the maximum number of sensors in the network. A final comment about further development prospects of fiber sensor network is presented.
FBG Arrays for Quasi-Distributed Sensing: A Review
Authors: Li Chengli , Tang Jianguan , Cheng Cheng , Cai Longbao , Yang Minghong
Published: January 2021

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) array is a powerful technique for quasi-distributed sensing along the entire length of sensing fiber with fast response and high precision. It has been widely used for temperature, strain, and vibration monitoring. In this review work, an overview on the recent advances of FBG arrays is conducted. Firstly, the fabrication methods of FBG array are reviewed, which include femtosecond laser system and online writing technique. Then, the demodulation techniques for FBG arrays are presented and discussed. Distributed static sensing can be performed by demodulating wavelength shift of each FBG, while phase demodulation techniques with low noise are employed for dynamic vibration sensing. Simultaneous distributed dynamic and static sensing system based on FBG array is also outlined. Finally, possible future directions are discussed and concluded. It is believed that the FBG array has great development potential and application prospect.
The honey bee genome-- what has it been good for?
Authors: Toth Amy L. , Zayed Amro
Published: January 2021

In 2006, the full complement of DNA sequence information (or ‘genome’) of the Western honey bee,Apis mellifera, was published. This important resource was one of the most important advances in the history of honey bee research, with seemingly limitless applications to unlocking the secrets of honey bee biology and social life and for improving health, breeding and management. Honey bee genomics has seen immense growth in the past one and a half decades. In this article, we reflect on what the genome has added to our understanding of fundamental aspects of honey bee biology, including evolutionary origins, behaviour and health/disease. We conclude that while the genome has fuelled growth in many areas of honey bee research, it is only one part of an emerging systems-based, multi-omics approach. Moving forward, we posit that honey bee research will benefit most from an even fuller integration of genomics with classical approaches in evolution, ethology, physiology and microbiology.
A comparative study of many-objective optimizers on large-scale many-objective software clustering problems
Authors: Prajapati Amarjeet
Published: January 2021

Over the past 2 decades, several multi-objective optimizers (MOOs) have been proposed to address the different aspects of multi-objective optimization problems (MOPs). Unfortunately, it has been observed that many of MOOs experiences performance degradation when applied over MOPs having a large number of decision variables and objective functions. Specially, the performance of MOOs rapidly decreases when the number of decision variables and objective functions increases by more than a hundred and three, respectively. To address the challenges caused by such special case of MOPs, some large-scale multi-objective optimization optimizers (L-MuOOs) and large-scale many-objective optimization optimizers (L-MaOOs) have been developed in the literature. Even after vast development in the direction of L-MuOOs and L-MaOOs, the supremacy of these optimizers has not been tested on real-world optimization problems containing a large number of decision variables and objectives such as large-scale many-objective software clustering problems (L-MaSCPs). In this study, the performance of nine L-MuOOs and L-MaOOs (i.e., S3-CMA-ES, LMOSCO, LSMOF, LMEA, IDMOPSO, ADC-MaOO, NSGA-III, H-RVEA, and DREA) is evaluated and compared over five L-MaSCPs in terms of IGD, Hypervolume, and MQ metrics. The experimentation results show that the S3-CMA-ES and LMOSCO perform better compared to the LSMOF, LMEA, IDMOPSO, ADC-MaOO, NSGA-III, H-RVEA, and DREA in most of the cases. The LSMOF, LMEA, IDMOPSO, ADC-MaOO, NSGA-III, and DREA, are the average performer, and H-RVEA is the worst performer.
OODIDA: On-Board/Off-Board Distributed Real-Time Data Analytics for Connected Vehicles
Authors: Ulm Gregor , Smith Simon , Nilsson Adrian , Gustavsson Emil , Jirstrand Mats
Published: January 2021

A fleet of connected vehicles easily produces many gigabytes of data per hour, making centralized (off-board)
data processing impractical. In addition, there is the issue of distributing tasks to on-board units in vehicles and processing them efficiently. Our solution to this problem is On-board/Off-board Distributed Data Analytics (OODIDA), which is a platform that tackles both task distribution to connected vehicles as well as concurrent execution of tasks on arbitrary subsets of edge clients. Its message-passing infrastructure has been implemented in Erlang/OTP, while the end points use a language-independent JSON interface. Computations can be carried out in arbitrary programming languages. The message-passing infrastructure of OODIDA is highly scalable, facilitating the execution of large numbers of concurrent tasks.
Science competencies in kindergarten: a prospective study in the last year of kindergarten
Authors: Koerber Susanne , Osterhaus Christopher
Published: January 2021

Science competencies are considered an important 21st century skill. How this skill develops in childhood is, however, not well understood, and in particular little is known about how different aspects of science competencies are related. In this prospective study with 58 children aged 5–6 years, we investigate the development of two aspects of science competence: scientific thinking and science content knowledge. Scientific thinking was assessed with a comprehensive 30-item instrument; science content knowledge was measured with an 18-item instrument that assesses children’s knowledge with regard to melting and evaporation. The results revealed basic competencies in scientific thinking and science content knowledge at the end of kindergarten (46% and 49% correct, respectively, both different from chance). In mid-kindergarten, children performed better than chance on the assessment of science content knowledge (40% correct) but not on the assessment of scientific thinking (34% correct). Science content knowledge in mid-kindergarten predicted children’s science content knowledge at the end of kindergarten, as well as scientific thinking (both at 6 years). The opposite pattern did not hold: scientific thinking in mid-kindergarten did not predict science content knowledge at the end of kindergarten. Our findings show initial science competencies during kindergarten, and they suggest that children’s science content knowledge and scientific thinking are interrelated in a meaningful way. These results are discussed with respect to the different hypotheses that connect scientific thinking and science content knowledge as key features of science competencies. Implications for research and teaching are discussed.
The use of scaffolding to promote preschool children’s competencies of evidence-based reasoning
Authors: Hardy Ilonca , Stephan-Gramberg Simone , Jurecka Astrid
Published: January 2021

Scientific reasoning encompasses individuals‘ evaluation of evidence with regard to a given hypothesis. In this study, we investigated whether preschool children are able to reason with empirical evidence in the science context of elasticity.N = 63 preschoolers were presented with tasks following the deductive reasoning paradigm and were asked to evaluate the relevance of given events (objects) with regard to a hypothesis. In a repeated measures experimental design with three groups, we tested whether different forms of scaffolding (adaptive prompts with/without modeling of advanced reasoning) would promote children’s reasoning compared to a control group without intervention. We found that adaptive prompts with modeling significantly improved children’s evaluation of irrelevant events in the posttest. Further, these children’s reasoning patterns scored significantly higher than those of the control group. Our results suggest that preschool children are able to reason with evidence if they are given adequate support. Specifically, the modeling of advanced reasoning functioned as a scaffold beyond the use of adaptive prompts in irrelevant event evaluations.
A brief review on mechanical and thermal properties of banana fiber based hybrid composites
Authors: Sivaranjana P. , Arumugaprabu V.
Published: January 2021

The usage of banana natural fibers along with polymer matrix composites had created much interest among the researchers due to their low cost, easy availability, strength and enhancement in properties such as mechanical, wear, electrical and thermal. Banana plant is cultivated all over the world which is familiarly used as food products especially banana fruit as well as many household items made from banana fibers. The natural fiber extracted from the banana stem proves to be a potential reinforcement in the composite manufacturing. This review is very much needed because of the enormous research reported on the banana fiber reinforced polymer composites, with such an excellent property offered by this banana fiber reinforcement the impact of hybridization and its need also to be addressed. This brief review article gives a detail information about the combinations of various hybrid composites produced using the banana fiber along with various other natural/synthetic fibers in the polymer matrixes and its performance improvement especially in the mechanical and thermal properties. From the review it was inferred that 30–50% increase in all the mechanical properties such as Tensile, Flexural and Impact strength. Also in addition an enhancement in thermal and moisture resistance also noted. In addition during this review the research gap observed is that the development of bio composites based on banana fiber is very limited and also the influence of banana fiber along with bio resin needs to be studied. The properties such as fatigue, fire resistance also to be analyzed using the banana fiber reinforcement.
Perinatal treatment of parents with the broad-spectrum antibiotic enrofloxacin aggravates contact sensitivity in adult offspring mice
Authors: Kowalczyk Paulina , Strzępa Anna , Szczepanik Marian
Published: January 2021

Background

Antibiotics, while eliminating pathogens, also partially deplete commensal bacteria. Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis may contribute to the observed rise in “immune-mediated” diseases, including autoimmunity and allergy. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of perinatal antibiotic treatment on T cell-mediated immune response in adult mice.

Methods

Oral treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotic enrofloxacin during gestation and breastfeeding or breastfeeding or gestation alone was used to evaluate whether antibiotic exposure early in life could modulate contact sensitivity (CS) in adult mice.

Results

Here, we demonstrated that enrofloxacin treatment during gestation and breastfeeding, but not during pregnancy or breastfeeding alone, aggravated CS reaction in adult mice measured by ear swelling. These data correlate with increased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the ear extracts and elevated production of IL-6 and IL-17A by auricular lymph node cells (ELNC) and was not influenced by food consumption and body weight. In each dosing regimen, enrofloxacin treatment reduced the relative abundance of Enterococcus spp. but did not influence the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Clostridium cluster XIVa, XIVab, I, Bacteroidetes, and segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB). However, prolonged enrofloxacin-treatment during both gestation and breastfeeding decreased the relative abundance of Clostridium cluster IV.

Conclusion

These data show that long-term perinatal enrofloxacin treatment induces intestinal dysbiosis, characterized by decreased levels of anti-inflammatory Clostridium cluster IV, and alters T cell-dependent immune responses, enhancing CS reaction in adult mice.
Perfect Worlds
Authors: Fokkema Douwe
Published: January 2021

Perfect Worlds is an extensive, comparative study of utopian narratives in both the East and the West. Douwe Fokkema provides an elegant argument about the human impulse to imagine new and better worlds, astutely observing that the utopian imagination thrives in the context of secularization. Fokkema also tracks the rise of dystopian narratives, invoking authors as diverse as Margaret Atwood and Lao She, and provides a cogent evaluation of the role of imagined worlds in both Chinese and Euro-American fiction. A shrewd comparison of cultures, as well as a vivid account of cross-cultural influence, this volume is a welcome addition to the scholarly discourse on utopias.
Training persons with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease how to use an electronic medication management device: development of an intervention protocol
Authors: Tellier Myriam , Auger Claudine , Demers Louise
Published: January 2021

Background/Objectives:

Medication management is challenging for persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their caregivers. Electronic medication management devices (eMMDs) are specifically designed to support this task. However, theory-driven interventions for eMMD training with this population are rarely described. This study aimed to develop and assess the appropriateness of an intervention protocol to train persons with early-stage AD how to use an eMMD.

Methods:

Interviews with three categories of participants [persons with early-stage AD (n= 3), caregivers (n= 3), and clinicians (n= 3)] were conducted to understand medication management needs, perceived usefulness of an eMMD, and to explore training strategies. Subsequently, this knowledge was integrated in an intervention protocol which was validated with the three clinicians. A content analysis led to iterative modifications to maximize the acceptability and coherence of the intervention protocol in a homecare context.

Results:

The final intervention protocol specifies the expertise required to provide the training intervention and the target population, followed by an extensive presentation of eMMD features. Specific learning strategies tailored to the cognitive profile of persons with AD with step-by-step instructions for clinicians are included. Finally, it presents theoretical information on cognitive impairment in AD and how eMMDs can support them.

Conclusions:

This intervention protocol with its theoretical and pragmatic foundation is an important starting point to enable persons with early-stage AD to become active users of eMMDs. Next steps should evaluate the immediate and long-term impacts of its implementation on medication management in the daily lives of persons with AD and their caregivers.
Characterization of a glacial paleo-outburst flood using high-resolution 3-D seismic data: Bjørnelva River Valley, SW Barents Sea
Authors: Bellwald B. , Planke S. , Polteau S. , Lebedeva-Ivanova N. , Faleide J.I. , Morris S.M. , Morse S. , Castelltort S.
Published: January 2021

Proglacial braided river systems discharge large volumes of meltwater from ice sheets and transport coarse-grained sediments from the glaciated areas to the oceans. Here, we test the hypothesis if high-energy hydrological events can leave distinctive signatures in the sedimentary record of braided river systems. We characterize the morphology and infer a mode of formation of a 25 km long and 1–3 km wide Early Pleistocene incised valley recently imaged in 3-D seismic data in the Hoop area, SW Barents Sea. The fluvial system, named Bjørnelva River Valley, carved 20 m deep channels into Lower Cretaceous bedrock at a glacial paleo-surface and deposited 28 channel bars along a paleo-slope gradient of ~0.64 m km−1. The landform morphologies and position relative to the paleo-surface support that Bjørnelva River Valley was formed in the proglacial domain of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet. Based on valley width and valley depth, we suggest that Bjørnelva River Valley represents a braided river system fed by violent outburst floods from a glacial lake, with estimated outburst discharges of ~160 000 m3s−1. The morphological configuration of Bjørnelva River Valley can inform geohazard assessments in areas at risk of outburst flooding today and is an analogue for landscapes evolving in areas currently covered by the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.
Determining the evolution of an alpine glacier drainage system by solving inverse problems
Authors: Irarrazaval Inigo , Werder Mauro A. , Huss Matthias , Herman Frederic , Mariethoz Gregoire
Published: January 2021

Our understanding of the subglacial drainage system has improved markedly over the last decades due to field observations and numerical modelling. However, integrating data into increasingly complex numerical models remain challenging. Here we infer two-dimensional subglacial channel networks and hydraulic parameters for Gorner Glacier, Switzerland, based on available field data at five specific times (snapshots) across the melt season of 2005. The field dataset is one of the most complete available, including borehole water pressure, tracer experiments and meteorological variables. Yet, these observations are still too sparse to fully characterize the drainage system and thus, a unique solution is neither expected nor desirable. We use a geostatistical generator and a steady-state water flow model to produce a set of subglacial channel networks that are consistent with measured water pressure and tracer-transit times. Field data are used to infer hydraulic and morphological parameters of the channels under the assumption that the location of channels persists during the melt season. Results indicate that it is possible to identify locations where subglacial channels are more likely. In addition, we show that different network structures can equally satisfy the field data, which support the use of a stochastic approach to infer unobserved subglacial features.
Association of dietary fat composition with cognitive performance and brain morphology in cognitively healthy individuals
Authors: Matura Silke , Prvulovic David , Mohadjer Nina , Fusser Fabian , Oertel Viola , Reif Andreas , Pantel Johannes , Karakaya Tarik
Published: January 2021

Background:

Dietary lipids (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3) PUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) seem to play an important role in brain health. (n-3) PUFAs have been shown to improve cerebral perfusion and to promote synaptogenesis. In this study, we investigated the relationship between dietary fat composition, cognitive performance and brain morphology in cognitively healthy individuals.

Methods:

A total of 101 cognitively healthy participants (age: 42.3 ± 21.3 years, 62 females) were included in this study. Verbal memory was assessed using the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). Intake of (n-3) PUFA and SFA was calculated from food-frequency questionnaire-derived data (EPIC-FFQ). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were obtained (Siemens Trio 3T scanner) and grey matter volumes (GMV) were assessed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM/SPM8). We examined the association of SFA/(n-3) PUFA ratio and memory performance as well as GMV using regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, body mass index, apolipoprotein E (APOE) status and alcohol consumption. For VBM data, a multiple regression analysis was performed using the same covariates as mentioned before with intracranial volume as an additional covariate.

Results:

A high SFA/(n-3) PUFA ratio was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with poorer verbal memory performance and with lower GMV in areas of the left prefrontal cortex that support memory processes.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that a diet rich in PUFAs is likely to exert favourable effects on brain morphology in brain areas important for memory and executive functions. This could constitute a possible mechanism for maintaining cognitive health in older age.
Fatal asymmetries
Authors: Sánchez Luis
Published: January 2021

Abstract

InDescent of Man, Charles Darwin noted the impact of political institutions on natural selection. He thought that institutions such as asylums or hospitals may deter natural selection; however, he did not reach a decisive answer. Questions remain as to whether the selective impacts of political institutions, which in Darwin’s terms may be referred to as “artificial selection,” are compatible with natural selection, and if so, to what extent. This essay argues that currently there appears to be an essential mismatch between nature and political institutions. Unfitted institutions put exogenous and disproportionate pressures on living beings. This creates consequences for what is postulated as the condition of basic equivalence, which allows species and individuals to enjoy similar chances of survival under natural circumstances. Thus, contrary to Darwin’s expectations, it is sustained that assumed natural selection is not discouraged but becomes exacerbated by political institutions. In such conditions, selection becomes primarily artificial and perhaps mainly political, with consequences for species’ evolutionary future.
Embeddings of non-simply-connected 4-manifolds in 7-space. II. On the smooth classification
Authors: Crowley D. , Skopenkov A.
Published: January 2021

We work in the smooth category. Let$N$be a closed connected orientable 4-manifold with torsion free$H_1$, where$H_q := H_q(N; {\mathbb Z} )$. Our main result isa readily calculable classification of embeddings$N \to {\mathbb R}^7$up to isotopy, with an indeterminacy. Such a classification was only known before for$H_1=0$by our earlier work from 2008. Our classification is complete when$H_2=0$or when the signature of$N$is divisible neither by 64 nor by 9.

The group of knots$S^4\to {\mathbb R}^7$acts on the set of embeddings$N\to {\mathbb R}^7$up to isotopy by embedded connected sum. In Part I we classified the quotient of this action. The main novelty of this paper is the description of this action for$H_1 \ne 0$, with an indeterminacy.

Besides the invariants of Part I, detecting the action of knots involves a refinement of the Kreck invariant from our work of 2008.

For$N=S^1\times S^3$we give a geometrically defined 1–1 correspondence between the set of isotopy classes of embeddings and a certain explicitly defined quotient of the set${\mathbb Z} \oplus {\mathbb Z} \oplus {\mathbb Z} _{12}$.
Constitutional Rigidity Matters: A Veto Players Approach
Authors: Tsebelis George
Published: January 2021

Constitutional amendment rules have traditionally been considered the most important part of a constitution. Nevertheless, recent empirical analyses argue that constitutional amendment rules do not matter at all. This dispute is due to the misuse of independent and dependent variables and inappropriate methodology. Using the Veto Players approach to measure constitutional rigidity, this article proposes a new index covering ninety-four democratic countries. It starts by explaining the underlying logic of the veto players approach and describing the specific derivation of the rules for the construction of the rigidity index, which aggregates all institutional provisions in a logically consistent way. It then explains why the lack of constitutional rigidity is anecessary but not sufficientcondition for significant constitutional amendments in democratic countries. Finally, the author creates a new dataset on thesignificanceof constitutional amendments and estimates the appropriate (heteroskedastic) model, which corroborates the theoretical expectations and demonstrates that more significant amendments lead to a better fit.
Tariffs As Electoral Weapons: The Political Geography of the US–China Trade War
Authors: Kim Sung Eun , Margalit Yotam
Published: January 2021

In response to President Trump instigating conflict over trade with China, the Chinese government countered by issuing tariffs on thousands of products worth over USD 110 billion in US exports. We explore whether China's tariffs reflected a strategy to apply counterpressure by hurting political support for the president's party. We also assess the strategy's impact on the 2018 midterm elections and examine the mechanism underlying the resulting electoral shift. We find strong evidence that Chinese tariffs systematically targeted US goods that had production concentrated in Republican-supporting counties, particularly when located in closely contested Congressional districts. This apparent strategy was successful: targeted areas were more likely to turn against Republican candidates. Using data on campaign communications, local search patterns online, and an original national survey, we find evidence that voters residing in areas affected by the tariffs were more likely to learn about the trade war, recognize its adverse impact, and assign the Republicans responsibility for the escalating dispute. These findings demonstrate how domestic political institutions can be a source of vulnerability in interstate disputes.
Antibiotics in treatment of peritonsillar infection: clindamycin versus penicillin
Authors: Hallgren F , Lindell E , Nilsson-Helger B , Lundqvist A
Published: January 2021

Objective

This study aimed to compare antibiotic treatment with clindamycin versus penicillin V or G in terms of time to recovery and recurrence in patients with peritonsillar infection, including both peritonsillar cellulitis and peritonsillar abscess.

Method

This retrospective cohort study examined the records of 296 patients diagnosed with peritonsillar infection. Based on the ENT doctor's choice of antibiotics, patients were divided into clindamycin and penicillin groups.

Results

Mean number of days in follow up was 3.5 days in the clindamycin group and 3.4 days in the penicillin group. The recurrence rate within 2 months was 7 per cent in the clindamycin group and 4 per cent in the penicillin group.

Conclusion

This study found no significant differences in either recovery or recurrence between the groups. This supports the use of penicillin as a first-line treatment, considering the greater frequency of adverse effects of clindamycin shown in previous studies, as well as its profound collateral damage on the intestinal microbiota, resulting in antibiotic resistance.
Healthcare in Cuba: Sustainability Challenges in an Ageing System
Authors: Mesa-Lago Carmelo , Díaz-Briquets Sergio
Published: January 2021

This article assumes a balanced position between two contrasting views regarding the accessibility, quality, efficiency and financial sustainability of the Cuban healthcare system. It evaluates those issues in the 2006–20 period by identifying strengths and weaknesses based on a comprehensive statistical compilation of health indicators, physical infrastructure trends, availability of physicians and other elements to assess the system's long-term financial sustainability. Finally, it examines the likely consequences of population ageing on healthcare, including potential policies.
WITHDRAWN – Social isolation, rather than loneliness, is associated with cognitive decline in older adults: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Authors: Yu Bin , Steptoe Andrew , Chen Yongjie , Jia Xiaohua
Published: January 2021

Background

Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults.

Methods

This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up.

Results

Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables.

Conclusions

Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.
Creating a patient and community advisory committee at the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Authors: Berglas Sarah , Vautour Nadine , Bell Daryl
Published: January 2021

In recognition of patients’ roles using, and contributing to, a publicly funded health system, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) created a Patient and Community Advisory Committee. Twelve members bring lived experiences of chronic illness, progressive illness, mental illness, trauma, traveling long distances for treatment, and caregiving to an ill child, parent, or spouse. Members contribute their own insights and ideas but do not represent specific organizations or viewpoints. This paper explores how CADTH determined the committee's role, whether to have individuals or organizations as members, and how to recruit for diversity. The creation of this committee is changing how CADTH engages with patients.
Ship domain model for ships with restricted manoeuvrability in busy waters
Authors: Pan Wei , Xie Xin-lian , Bao Tian-tian , Li Meng
Published: January 2021

Ship domain is an important theory in ship collision avoidance and an effective collision detection method. First, several classical ship domain models are used in experiments. The results show that the alarm rate is too high in busy waters, leading to greatly reduced practicality of the model. Potential collision risk cannot be detected effectively, especially for a ship with restricted manoeuvrability, which is usually regarded as an overtaken ship due to its navigation characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to fully consider the interference of other ships to ships with limited manoeuvrability in an encounter situation. A novel ship domain model for ships with restricted manoeuvrability in busy waters is proposed. Considering the navigation characteristics of a ship with restricted manoeuvrability and the influence of the ship–ship effect, an algorithm to determine the boundary of the ship domain model is given by force and moment equations. AIS trajectory data of the North Channel of the Yangtze River Estuary are used to perform a comparative experiment, and four classical ship domain models are employed to perform comparative experiments. The results show that the alarm rates of the novel ship domain model are 7⋅608%, 15⋅131%, 55⋅785% and 7⋅608% lower than those of the other four classical models, and this outcome can effectively reduce the high false alarm rate produced by other models in this environment.
FROM THE ACCOUNTS OF PHILOSOPHIE RURALE TO THE PHYSIOCRATIC TABLEAU: FRANÇOIS QUESNAY AS A PRECURSOR OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTING
Authors: Dupuy Romuald , Le Masne Pierre , Roman Philippe
Published: January 2021

François Quesnay’s Tableau, as it appears in Philosophie rurale, is an understandable, robust, and innovative construction despite detail errors. It provides a precise representation of the economic circuit. We introduce the accounts of chapter VII of Philosophie rurale and we explain how Quesnay’s Tableau comes from these accounts. The transposition of the accounts of chapter VII and of the Tableau into two input-output tables shows the balance of resources and uses. In order to shed light on the progress of exchanges along the year, the Tableau is also transposed into three double-entry accountings (proprietors, farmers, and artisans).
EFFICIENCY WITHOUT OPTIMALITY: ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND POLLUTION PRICING IN THE LATE 1960S
Authors: Berta Nathalie
Published: January 2021

In the late 1960s, new environmental policies emerged that attempted to reach predetermined pollution standards in a cost-effective way: i.e., the “standard-and-tax” approach proposed by William J. Baumol and Wallace E. Oates, and the permits market approach proposed by John Dales. This paper describes the early history of the two approaches, and compares them. Although today they refer to different traditions, namely Pigovian versus Coasean, and are often contrasted in the literature, these cost-effective solutions emerged at the same time and for the same reasons. First, they both tried to promote incentives-based policies against traditional regulations; second, they criticized the optimal Pigovian tax, which raised the contentious issue of measuring pollution damage. More broadly, they emerged as a kind of pragmatic compromise, fed by a common attempt to move toward more practical policies: reaching efficiency without optimality, while relying on standards whose setting is a matter for political decision.
Individual Attention Patterns in Children Born Very Preterm and Full Term at 7 and 13 Years of Age
Authors: Bogičević Lilly , Pascoe Leona , Nguyen Thi-Nhu-Ngoc , Burnett Alice C. , Verhoeven Marjolein , Thompson Deanne K. , Cheong Jeanie L.Y. , Inder Terrie E. , van Baar Anneloes L. , Doyle Lex W. , Anderson Peter J.
Published: January 2021

Objective:

To identify attention profiles at 7 and 13 years, and transitions in attention profiles over time in children born very preterm (VP; <30 weeks’ gestation) and full term (FT), and examine predictors of attention profiles and transitions.

Methods:

Participants were 167 VP and 60 FT children, evaluated on profiles across five attention domains (selective, shifting and divided attention, processing speed, and behavioral attention) at 7 and 13 years using latent profile analyses. Transitions in profiles were assessed with contingency tables. For VP children, biological and social risk factors were tested as predictors with a multinomial logistic regression.

Results:

At 7 and 13 years, three distinct profiles of attentional functioning were identified. VP children were 2–3 times more likely to show poorer attention profiles compared with FT children. Transition patterns between 7 and 13 years were stable average, stable low, improving, and declining attention. VP children were two times less likely to have a stable average attention pattern and three times more likely to have stable low or improving attention patterns compared with FT children. Groups did not differ in declining attention patterns. For VP children, brain abnormalities on neonatal MRI and greater social risk at 7 years predicted stable low or changing attention patterns over time.

Conclusions:

VP children show greater variability in attention profiles and transition patterns than FT children, with almost half of the VP children showing adverse attention patterns over time. Early brain pathology and social environment are markers for attentional functioning.
The marriage market for immigrant families in Chosŏn Korea after the Imjin War: women, integration, and cultural capital
Authors: Han Sangwoo
Published: January 2021

Challenging the myth of premodern Korea as ethnically homogenous, this study focuses on immigrant marriages in Chosŏn Korea following Japanese invasions (Imjin War, 1592–1598). By examining household registers and genealogies, I investigate the status of women who married into the families of Japanese and Ming Chinese immigrants and the social consequences of such marriages. The results unexpectedly indicate that immigrant families rarely intermarried, preferring integration with local families. As a means of acquiring social and cultural capital, Korean brides from elite families were vital to the success of immigrant families in forming social networks and in producing candidates for the civil service examinations, with failure to obtain such a bride proving a potential long-term obstacle to social advancement. There is a noticeable difference between families of Chinese and Japanese origin in this context due to the preference shown by Korean families for the descendants of Ming generals over Japanese defectors. Contributing to a growing number of studies that question whether the Korean family was fully “Confucianized” in the seventeenth century with a consequent decline in the status of women, this study argues that women possessed social and cultural capital and held particular value for immigrant families.
Response of non-dicamba-resistant soybean (Glycine max) varieties to dicamba
Authors: Meyeres Tyler , Lancaster Sarah , Kumar Vipan , Roozeboom Kraig , Peterson Dallas
Published: January 2021

Introduction and rapid adoption of dicamba-resistant (DR) soybean led to an increase of postemergent applications of dicamba. This resulted in a widespread increase in nontarget dicamba injury to non-DR soybean in 2017. Field studies were conducted in Manhattan, KS, in 2018 and 2019 and in Ottawa, KS, in 2019 to investigate the injury and yield response of soybean varieties with varying herbicide-resistance traits and maturity groups when exposed to dicamba. Four varieties were tested: ‘Credenz 3841LL’ (glufosinate resistant), ‘Credenz 4748LL’ (glufosinate resistant), ‘Asgrow AG4135RR2Y’ (glyphosate resistant), and ‘Stine 40BA02’ (glyphosate and isoxaflutole resistant), abbreviated as CR3841, CR4748, AG4135, and ST40B, respectively. Soybeans were treated with 5.6 g ae ha−1 of dicamba at V3 and R1 stages. Percent soybean injury, soybean height, soybean yield and yield components, and injury to offspring were evaluated. Four weeks after treatment (WAT) at V3, the greatest injury was observed in AG4135 and ST40B. Dicamba application at R1 resulted in the greatest injury to ST40B both 4 WAT and at senescence. Minimal injury was observed in all varieties treated at V3 at senescence and yield loss was 5% or less. Dicamba application at R1 resulted in 19 to 34% yield loss, with the least yield loss in CR4748, and the greatest in ST40B. Varieties with greater injury at senescence generally yielded less than other varieties.
Junglerice control with glyphosate and clethodim as influenced by dicamba and 2,4-D mixtures
Authors: Perkins Clay M. , Mueller Thomas C. , Steckel Lawrence E.
Published: January 2021

Junglerice has become a major weed in the mid-south and other areas of the United States. Glyphosate resistance has been documented in junglerice populations and is part of the reason for the increase in its prevalence. However, reduced junglerice control with glyphosate + dicamba and clethodim + dicamba mixtures has been observed in many production fields where glyphosate resistance has not yet evolved. Therefore, research was conducted to assess reduced junglerice control with glyphosate and clethodim when applied with dicamba. Adding dicamba to the spray tank with glyphosate reduced junglerice control by 27%. Adding dicamba to the spray tank with clethodim reduced junglerice control by 11%. The use of Turbo Teejet Induction (TTI) nozzles reduced junglerice control an additional 8% compared to applications with an air induction extended range (AIXR) nozzle. When a drift reduction agent (DRA) was added to dicamba mixtures with glyphosate or clethodim, junglerice control was reduced 36%. Junglerice control was similar with the glyphosate + dicamba treatment compared to the glyphosate + 2,4-D mixture. There was no interaction between nozzles and herbicide treatment. Regardless of herbicide treatment junglerice control was always lower when applied with the ultracourse TTI nozzle. Many applicators in Tennessee prefer to make one application of glyphosate + dicamba in a mixture to save time (authors’ personal experience). These results show that the addition of dicamba to glyphosate or clethodim applied with labeled nozzles and a DRA results in reduced junglerice control and should be avoided.