bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of Missile Mid-Course Guidance for Constrained Impact Angle
Authors: Chen B H , Chen T L
Published: May 2020

This research develops a mid-course guidance law, which enables a constrained impact angle at the engagement, in response to the needs of modern missile design. To achieve this goal and share the workload with the terminal guidance, the mid-course guidance has to regulate the missile to a specific target location and a specific flight angle for a specific “time-to-go.” Therefore, conventional mid-course guidance laws are inadequate in this case. The proposed guidance law achieves this goal by recursively updating the target dynamics for the mid-course guidance, and applying optimal controls with frequently updated control parameters. Simulation results demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of the proposed method. In a simulation case, the interception missile is 100 kilometers away from the target missile, the flight speed of the two missiles are 1200 m/s and 800 m/s, respectively, and the requested impact angle is 150°. The proposed method achieves the positioning error and flight-path-angle error of 791 meters and 0.56°, at the end of mid-course guidance. When working with the previously developed terminal guidance, the miss distance and impact-angle error are 0.002m and 0.001° at the end of the engagement.
Simultaneous size and shape optimization for satellite adapter by using patran command language
Authors: Zhao X R , Hameed S , Huang H , Rehman O
Published: May 2020

Adapter is a widely applied structure connecting satellite and launch vehicle with standard interface. In this paper, the described technique simultaneously uses the size and shape optimization on an engineering satellite adapter to achieve more efficient design. The optimization application is achieved by modifying its shape design variables and performing size optimization to obtain optimal design. The process is formulated in Msc.Patran/Nastran with the help of an algorithm generated by patran command language (PCL). Optimization results proved that the modified adapter greatly enhanced the stiffness and strength of the whole satellite while reducing the adapter weight by around 70%.
Multi-dimensional teaching mode for introduction to aerospace
Authors: Jia Yuhong
Published: May 2020

With the development of aerospace technology, the demand for aerospace knowledge is becoming more and more urgent. Many Aerospace and non-aerospace colleges have offered the course of Introduction to Aerospace. Introduction to Aerospace is a general course. Different from general humanities courses, besides its wide coverage and large amount of information, it also has strong engineering characteristics, such as including many advanced structures and cutting-edge science and technology. The course is intended to the first-year undergraduate students. These students come from different majors, such as liberal arts, science and engineering, and their educational backgrounds, specialties and levels are quite different. How to make all the students can better learn the course content is a great challenge. After years of exploration and practice, the multi-dimensional teaching mode of “Classroom teaching + On-site teaching + Virtual simulation experiment + MOOC) Massive Open Online Courses (teaching + Mobile APP” for Introduction to Aerospace has achieved good teaching effect.

Combining with the on-site teaching, students can better understand the theoretical content. Students show great enthusiasm for this kind of on-site teaching. They observed carefully and raised many questions they wanted to know. This teaching mode can encourage students to have a better understanding of the content.

In the virtual experiment, the following six stealth technologies are fully demonstrated: the basic principle of stealth, understanding the stealth technology, the overall layout of stealth aircraft, the recognition and test of stealth aircraft, the penetration confrontation experiment and the air combat confrontation experiment of aircraft. The virtual experiment enables students to approach the cutting-edge technology in a more vivid and immersive way.

MOOC is rich in content, and has the characteristics of using spare time to learn at anytime and anywhere. Students can learn relevant contents according to their own interests, and thereby expanding their knowledge and broadening their horizons.

Mobile APP is a kind of course practice software. By using mobile APP, students can learn and consolidate the knowledge points anytime, and the learning effect is significantly improved.

The multi-dimensional teaching mode of “classroom teaching + on-site teaching + virtual simulation experiment + MOOC teaching + mobile APP” of Introduction to Aerospace is a useful exploration for general education courses. Through years of practice, the teaching effect is good.
Drivers of innovation and its impact on business performance
Authors: Lestari E R , Rodhiyah D S N , Najah E S
Published: May 2020

In a turbulent business environment, innovation is the most important issue for business success. This paper addresses two main problems. First, we examine the relationship between market orientation (MO) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) as key drivers of innovation. Second, it evaluates the impact of innovation on business performance. Model development using structural equation modelling (SEM). Data was collected based upon food sector small industries. The finding of this research provides support for the positive link of both MO and EO on innovation. Finally, innovation becomes a positive contributor to business performance. The study has implications that firms should emphasize enhance innovation and ultimately in order to achieve better competitiveness.
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity evaluation of Papua red fruit flavonoids through a computational study
Authors: Suprijono MM , Sujuti H , Kurnia D , Widjanarko S B
Published: May 2020

Red Fruit (RF) (Pandanus conoideus Lam.) was used as traditional medicine for Papuans and consumed as a daily meal. RF was proved as a source of bioactive antioxidant and anticancer, grace on their flavonoids. There was a few researches that focuses on the metabolism and toxicity of RF, but the mechanism of metabolism and toxicity of the flavonoids present in the RF is unclear. This research aims to evaluate the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity of RF flavonoids through computational study, sharpening their potency as bioactive in functional food. Flavonoids in RF extracts were identified using LCMS and or obtained from secondary data. The chemical structure of the flavonoids was redrawn to get the canonical of the molecular graph. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion were predicted using SWISS ADME, OSIRIS Property Explorer, and hERG-Pred. Those were based on the physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic, BOILED-EGG test, whereas the toxicology based on the potency as a toxicant, P-gp substrate, hERG blocker, and CYP450 inhibitor. Quercetin, Taxifolin, and Quercetin 3-Glucoside were identified in the methanol and ethyl acetate extract. Quercetin, Taxifolin, 3,4,5-trihydroxy-7,3-dimethoxyflavone/TDF, 4’,6,6’,8-tetrahidroksi-3-metoksi-flavon/TMF, and Quercetin3-Methyl-Ether/QME fulfilled the RO5 parameters; they were higher in water solubility, gastrointestinal absorption, and bioavailability. All were not P-gp substrate and hERG blocker, but some of them were CYP450 inhibitors. Only TMF, QME, Taxifolin3-O-α-Arabinopiranose/TAP, and Quercetin3-O-Glucose/QOG that consistently had no risk as toxic compounds. RF flavonoid showed high potency as bioactive. Most of the flavonoid had no toxicity risk. Generally, RF flavonoids were categorised as safe.
Digital twin technology as an instrument for increasing electrical equipment reliability
Authors: Khalyasmaa A.I. , Eroshenko S.A. , Shatunova D.V. , Larionova A. A. , Egorov A.O.
Published: May 2020

The article describes the experience of practical realisation of digital twin technology for voltage and current measurement transformer 110 kV installed in real power station. In terms of the research electrical equipment state monitoring system has been developed as a set of sensors and diagnostic system, based on essentially different approaches of non-defective diagnostics. 3D model construction of the equipment under monitoring is also described as a part of digital twin concept. It is shown the valuable impact of digital twin technology application.
Electrical energy storage systems for increasing technical and economical characteristics of gas engine power plants
Authors: Eroshenko S.A. , Melnikov V. D. , Nesterenko G. B. , Zyryanov V. M.
Published: May 2020

Developing of new technologies such as electrical energy storage systems (EESS) opens new ways to increasing efficiency, decreasing exhaust waste and fuel consumption in traditional fossil fuels power station. This paper contains actual testing results of electrical energy storage system based on lithium-ion technology working with gas engine generator and altering load power. EESS parameters: rated power 100 kVA, rated capacity 153 kWh. As is known, gas generators are sensitive to changes in load power, obtained results show the effectiveness of the usage EESS to supply sustainability of generators in high amplitude and frequency altering load power environment. These results achieved through the ability of the developed converter and control strategy to compensate rapid deviations of the load power. In additional, in control system realized others common functionality: active power limitation, voltage and frequency control, reactive power control, power factor control and others. With the usage EESS, the nominal power of plane station should be lower than without EESS.
Fabrication of robust conductive and superhydrophobic coating based on carbon nanotubes
Authors: Li Wenbin , Wang Yong , Feng Yanting , Wang Qing , Xu Xuexia , Li Guowei , Dong Guozhen , Jing Shangqian , Chen Ersong , Fan Xiaoliang , Wang Peng
Published: May 2020

This paper reported a simple approach to prepare robust conductive/superhydrophobic coating. The hierarchical structure was obtained through the addition of microscale filler (graphite powder and expanded graphite) and nanoscale filler (carbon nanotube). The self-similar structure was obtained through bonding the fillers using the epoxy matrix. Through the combination of the hierarchical and self-similar structures, the as-prepared superhydrophobic coating demonstrated excellent anti-abrasion property, good conductivity, excellent self-cleaning performance in both oil and water environment, outstanding anticorrosive property, and superior thermal stability simultaneously. Moreover, this superhydrophobic coating was achieved by a simple casting method, which has the potential to be used in large scale production.
Exposures to Fumigants and Residual Chemicals in Workers Handling Cargo from Shipping Containers and Export Logs in New Zealand
Authors: Hinz Ruth , Mannetje Andrea ’t , Glass Bill , McLean Dave , Pearce Neil , Douwes Jeroen
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Previous studies have reported high concentrations of airborne fumigants and other chemicals inside unopened shipping containers, but it is unclear whether this is reflective of worker exposures.

Methods

We collected personal 8-h air samples using a whole-air sampling method. Samples were analysed for 1,2-dibromoethane, chloropicrin, ethylene oxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen phosphide, methyl bromide, 1,2-dichloroethane, C2-alkylbenzenes, acetaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol, styrene, and toluene. Additive Mixture Values (AMVs) were calculated using the New Zealand Workplace Exposure standard (WES) and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) of the 8-h, time-weighted average exposure limit. Linear regression was conducted to assess associations with work characteristics.

Results

We included 133 workers handling shipping containers, 15 retail workers unpacking container goods, 40 workers loading fumigated and non-fumigated export logs, and 5 fumigators. A total of 193 personal 8-h air measurements were collected. Exposures were generally low, with >50% below the limit of detection for most chemicals, and none exceeding the NZ WES, although formaldehyde exceeded the TLV in 26.2% of all measurements. The AMV-TLV threshold of 1 was exceeded in 29.0% of the measurements. Levels and detection frequencies of most chemicals varied little between occupational groups, although exposure to methyl bromide was highest in the fumigators (median 43 ppb) without exceeding the TLV of 1000 ppb. Duration spent inside the container was associated with significantly higher levels of ethylene oxide, C2-alkylbenzenes, and acetaldehyde, but levels were well below the TLV/WES. Exposure levels did not differ between workers handling fumigated and non-fumigated containers.

Conclusions

Personal exposures of workers handling container cargo in New Zealand were mainly below current exposure standards, with formaldehyde the main contributor to overall exposure. However, as it is not clear whether working conditions of participants included in this study were representative of this industry as a whole, and not all relevant exposures were measured, we cannot exclude the possibility that high exposures may occur in some workers.
Enriching contextualized language model from knowledge graph for biomedical information extraction
Authors: Fei Hao , Ren Yafeng , Zhang Yue , Ji Donghong , Liang Xiaohui
Published: May 2020

Biomedical information extraction (BioIE) is an important task. The aim is to analyze biomedical texts and extract structured information such as named entities and semantic relations between them. In recent years, pre-trained language models have largely improved the performance of BioIE. However, they neglect to incorporate external structural knowledge, which can provide rich factual information to support the underlying understanding and reasoning for biomedical information extraction. In this paper, we first evaluate current extraction methods, including vanilla neural networks, general language models and pre-trained contextualized language models on biomedical information extraction tasks, including named entity recognition, relation extraction and event extraction. We then propose to enrich a contextualized language model by integrating a large scale of biomedical knowledge graphs (namely, BioKGLM). In order to effectively encode knowledge, we explore a three-stage training procedure and introduce different fusion strategies to facilitate knowledge injection. Experimental results on multiple tasks show that BioKGLM consistently outperforms state-of-the-art extraction models. A further analysis proves that BioKGLM can capture the underlying relations between biomedical knowledge concepts, which are crucial for BioIE.
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): What Do We Know About Children? A Systematic Review
Authors: Mehta Nisha S , Mytton Oliver T , Mullins Edward W S , Fowler Tom A , Falconer Catherine L , Murphy Orla B , Langenberg Claudia , Jayatunga Wikum J P , Eddy Danielle H , Nguyen-Van-Tam Jonathan S
Published: May 2020

Background

Few pediatric cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported and we know little about the epidemiology in children, although more is known about other coronaviruses. We aimed to understand the infection rate, clinical presentation, clinical outcomes, and transmission dynamics for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in order to inform clinical and public health measures.

Methods

We undertook a rapid systematic review and narrative synthesis of all literature relating to SARS-CoV-2 in pediatric populations. The search terms also included SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. We searched 3 databases and the COVID-19 resource centers of 11 major journals and publishers. English abstracts of Chinese-language papers were included. Data were extracted and narrative syntheses conducted.

Results

Twenty-four studies relating to COVID-19 were included in the review. Children appear to be less affected by COVID-19 than adults by observed rate of cases in large epidemiological studies. Limited data on attack rate indicate that children are just as susceptible to infection. Data on clinical outcomes are scarce but include several reports of asymptomatic infection and a milder course of disease in young children, although radiological abnormalities are noted. Severe cases are not reported in detail and there are few data relating to transmission.

Conclusions

Children appear to have a low observed case rate of COVID-19 but may have rates similar to adults of infection with SARS-CoV-2. This discrepancy may be because children are asymptomatic or too mildly infected to draw medical attention and be tested and counted in observed cases of COVID-19.
Effect of anthracycline therapy on myocardial function and markers of fibrotic remodelling in childhood cancer survivors
Authors: Mawad Wadi , Mertens Luc , Pagano Joseph J , Riesenkampff Eugenie , Reichert Marjolein J E , Mital Seema , Kantor Paul F , Greenberg Mark , Liu Peter , Nathan Paul C , Grosse-Wortmann Lars
Published: May 2020

Aims

Anthracyclines are a cornerstone of paediatric cancer treatment. We aimed to quantify myocardial cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) native T1 (NT1) and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) as markers of fibrosis in a cohort of childhood cancer survivors (CCS).

Methods and results

A cohort of CCS in remission underwent CMR T1 mapping. Diastolic function was assessed by echocardiography. Results were compared to a cohort of normal controls of similar age and gender. Fifty-five CCS and 46 controls were included. Both groups had similar mean left ventricular (LV) NT1 values (999 ± 36 vs. 1007 ± 32 ms, P = 0.27); ECV was higher (25.6 ± 6.9 vs. 20.7 ± 2.4%, P = 0.003) and intracellular mass was lower (37.5 ± 8.4 vs. 43.3 ± 9.9g/m2, P = 0.02) in CCS. The CCS group had lower LV ejection fraction (EF) and LV mass index with otherwise normal diastolic function in all but one patient. The proportion of subjects with elevated ECV compared to controls did not differ between subgroups with normal or reduced LV EF (22% vs. 28%; P = 0.13) and no correlations were found between LVEF and ECV. While average values remained within normal range, mitral E/E′ (6.6 ± 1.6 vs. 5.9 ± 0.9, P = 0.02) was higher in CCS. Neither NT1 nor ECV correlated with diastolic function indices or cumulative anthracycline dose.

Conclusions

There is evidence for mild diffuse extracellular volume expansion in some asymptomatic CCS; myocyte loss could be part of the mechanism, accompanied by subtle changes in systolic and diastolic function. These findings suggest mild myocardial damage and remodelling after anthracycline treatment in some CCS which requires continued monitoring.
The mechanistic overview of SARS-CoV-2 using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 to enter the cell for replication: possible treatment options related to the renin–angiotensin system
Authors: Offringa Annette , Montijn Roy , Singh Sandeep , Paul Martin , Pinto Yigal M , Pinto-Sietsma* Sara-Joan
Published: May 2020

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a healthcare crisis caused by insufficient knowledge applicable to effectively combat the virus. Therefore, different scientific discovery strategies need to be connected, to generate a rational treatment which can be made available as rapidly as possible. This relies on a solid theoretical understanding of the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and host responses, which is coupled to the practical experience of clinicians that are treating patients. Because SARS-CoV-2 enters the cell by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), targeting ACE2 to prevent such binding seems an obvious strategy to combat infection. However, ACE2 performs its functions outside the cell and was found to enter the cell only by angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R)-induced endocytosis, after which ACE2 is destroyed. This means that preventing uptake of ACE2 into the cell by blocking AT1R would be a more logical approach to limit entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the cell. Since ACE2 plays an important protective role in maintaining key biological processes, treatments should not disrupt the functional capacity of ACE2, to counterbalance the negative effects of the infection. Based on known mechanisms and knowledge of the characteristics of SARS-CoV we propose the hypothesis that the immune system facilitates SARS-CoV-2 replication which disrupts immune regulatory mechanisms. The proposed mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 causes disease immediately suggests a possible treatment, since the AT1R is a key player in this whole process. AT1R antagonists appear to be the ideal candidate for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. AT1R antagonists counterbalance the negative consequences of angiotesnin II and, in addition, they might even be involved in preventing the cellular uptake of the virus without interfering with ACE2 function. AT1R antagonists are widely available, cheap, and safe. Therefore, we propose to consider using AT1R antagonists in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2.
Quality indicators for community dementia care: a systematic review
Authors: Dequanter Samantha , Buyl Ronald , Fobelets Maaike
Published: May 2020

Background

There is a lack of an up-to-date body of evidence and a comprehensive overview concerning literature on quality indicator (QI) development for dementia care. Therefore, we systematically reviewed recent literature and formulated recommendations for future research.

Methods

PubMed, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library were searched for studies describing QI development or redefinition for dementia care (from first symptoms until admission to long-term care), published from 2008 to May 2019.

Results

We included a total of 7 articles, comprising of 107 QIs. The majority of publications originated from Europe. These applied to outpatient care, primary care and end-of-life care. Most QIs referred to care processes. Several care domains were determined by the authors, ranging from screening and assessment to end-of-life care. The methodological quality of the QI sets differed considerably. The QI sets with the best methodological quality were developed using expert evaluation or a Delphi technique.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that a reasonable amount of QIs for assessing and optimizing community dementia care exists, however, further development and methodological improvements of these QIs are necessary. Involvement of people with dementia and caregivers in the development process and a broader focus including community oriented next to medically oriented QIs are examples of potential improvement measures.
Models for predicting the within-tree and regional variation of tracheid length and width for plantation loblolly pine
Authors: Dahlen Joseph , Nabavi Mohamad , Auty David , Schimleck Laurence , Eberhardt Thomas L
Published: May 2020

Loblolly pine is a major fibre source for the pulp and paper industry. Here we developed the first nonlinear models to predict the within-tree and regional variation of tracheid length and width for planted loblolly pine. Data were obtained from macerated tracheids and near-infrared spectroscopy calibration models from trees sampled in 109 stands across the southeastern United States. The fixed effects for the final tracheid length model, which included cambial age, height of disk within tree, and physiographic region, explained 71 percent of the variation with root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.28 mm, while the fixed effects for the final tracheid width model explained 57 percent of the variation with RMSE of 1.4 μm. There was significant variation in tracheid properties across the growing regions. Tree maps showing within-tree variability in tracheid properties were produced. Five simulated scenarios were compared using the models developed, with mean tracheid dimensions calculated on a whole-tree basis at a first and second thinnings, and at final harvest. Also from the final harvest, the tops of trees, and outerwood chips produced during lumber manufacturing were also simulated. For the whole tree scenarios, both mean tracheid length and width increased with age, increasing from 2.24 mm and 40.5 μm (age 12), to 2.51 mm and 41.3 μm (age 18), and to 2.73 and 41.8 μm at age 25, respectively. The tops of the trees at age 25 had a mean tracheid length of 2.46 mm and a mean width of 41.0 μm, while the chips had a mean tracheid length of 3.13 mm and a mean width of 42.5 μm. Due to the models representing samples collected from across the southeastern United States, and their relatively high precision, they are suitable for incorporation into growth and yield systems allowing for prediction of tracheid properties.
Genomic Insights into Plastid Evolution
Authors: Sibbald Shannon J , Archibald John M
Published: May 2020

The origin of plastids (chloroplasts) by endosymbiosis stands as one of the most important events in the history of eukaryotic life. The genetic, biochemical, and cell biological integration of a cyanobacterial endosymbiont into a heterotrophic host eukaryote approximately a billion years ago paved the way for the evolution of diverse algal groups in a wide range of aquatic and, eventually, terrestrial environments. Plastids have on multiple occasions also moved horizontally from eukaryote to eukaryote by secondary and tertiary endosymbiotic events. The overall picture of extant photosynthetic diversity can best be described as “patchy”: Plastid-bearing lineages are spread far and wide across the eukaryotic tree of life, nested within heterotrophic groups. The algae do not constitute a monophyletic entity, and understanding how, and how often, plastids have moved from branch to branch on the eukaryotic tree remains one of the most fundamental unsolved problems in the field of cell evolution. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in our understanding of the origin and spread of plastids from the perspective of comparative genomics. Recent years have seen significant improvements in genomic sampling from photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic lineages, both of which have added important pieces to the puzzle of plastid evolution. Comparative genomics has also allowed us to better understand how endosymbionts become organelles.
Sexual Barter and Jewish Women’s Efforts to Save their Lives: Accounts from the Righteous Among the Nations Archives
Authors: Gusarov Katya
Published: May 2020

Using the files from the Righteous Among the Nations Department at Yad Vashem, this article explores how Jewish women in German-occupied Eastern Europe used sexual barter with Gentile men, both non-Germans and Germans, to try to survive. It proposes that sexual barter be recognized as an expression of agency. Yet sexual barter has been stigmatized and corresponding testimonies largely excluded from the archives. Indications that sexual barter had been a motivation for saving Jews were not included in submissions for the award of the status of Righteous because the criteria for that honour require that nothing can have been received in return for saving a Jew. This essay seeks to problematize this rule, which misunderstands what it was like to live in hiding for both the rescued and the rescuers.
Imaging the subsurface using induced seismicity and ambient noise: 3-D tomographic Monte Carlo joint inversion of earthquake body wave traveltimes and surface wave dispersion
Authors: Zhang Xin , Roy Corinna , Curtis Andrew , Nowacki Andy , Baptie Brian
Published: May 2020

Seismic body wave traveltime tomography and surface wave dispersion tomography have been used widely to characterize earthquakes and to study the subsurface structure of the Earth. Since these types of problem are often significantly non-linear and have non-unique solutions, Markov chain Monte Carlo methods have been used to find probabilistic solutions. Body and surface wave data are usually inverted separately to produce independent velocity models. However, body wave tomography is generally sensitive to structure around the subvolume in which earthquakes occur and produces limited resolution in the shallower Earth, whereas surface wave tomography is often sensitive to shallower structure. To better estimate subsurface properties, we therefore jointly invert for the seismic velocity structure and earthquake locations using body and surface wave data simultaneously. We apply the new joint inversion method to a mining site in the United Kingdom at which induced seismicity occurred and was recorded on a small local network of stations, and where ambient noise recordings are available from the same stations. The ambient noise is processed to obtain inter-receiver surface wave dispersion measurements which are inverted jointly with body wave arrival times from local earthquakes. The results show that by using both types of data, the earthquake source parameters and the velocity structure can be better constrained than in independent inversions. To further understand and interpret the results, we conduct synthetic tests to compare the results from body wave inversion and joint inversion. The results show that trade-offs between source parameters and velocities appear to bias results if only body wave data are used, but this issue is largely resolved by using the joint inversion method. Thus the use of ambient seismic noise and our fully non-linear inversion provides a valuable, improved method to image the subsurface velocity and seismicity.
It's a man's world: carnal spectatorship and dissonant masculinities in Islamic State videos
Authors: Crone Manni
Published: May 2020

Islamic State videos have often been associated with savage violence and beheadings. An in-depth scrutiny however reveals another striking feature: that female bodies are absent, blurred or mute. Examining a few Islamic State videos in depth, the article suggests that the invisibility of women in tandem with the ostentatious visibility of male bodies enable gendered and embodied spectators to indulge in homoerotic as well as heterosexual imaginaries. In contrast to studies on visual security and online radicalization which assert that images affect an audience, this article focuses on the interaction between video and audience and argues that spectators are not only rational and emotional but embodied and gendered as well. Islamic State videos do not only attract western foreign fighters through religious–ideological rhetoric or emotional impact but also through gendered forms of pleasure and desire that enable carnal imagination and identification. The article probes the analytical purchase of carnal aesthetics and spectatorship.
Soundscapes of war: the audio-visual performance of war by Shi'a militias in Iraq and Syria
Authors: Malmvig Helle
Published: May 2020

This article sets out to bring sound and music to the field of visual studies in International Relations. It argues that IR largely has approached the visual field as if it was without sound; neglecting how audial landscapes frame and direct our interpretation of moving imagery. Sound and music contribute to making imagery intelligible to us, we ‘hear the pictures’ often without noticing. The audial can for instance articulate a visual absence, or blast visual signs, bring out certain emotional stages or subjects’ inner life. Audial frames steer us in distinct directions, they can mute the cries of the wounded in war, or amplify the sounds of joy of soldiers shooting in the air. To bring the audial and the visual analytically and empirically together, the article therefore proposes four key analytical themes: 1) the audial–visual frame, 2) point of view/point of audition, 3) modes of audio-visual synchronization and 4) aesthetics moods. These are applied to a study of ‘war music videos’ in Iraq and Syria made and circulated by Shi'a militias currently fighting there. Such war music videos, it is suggested, are not just artefacts of popular culture, but have become integral parts of how warfare is practiced today, and one that is shared by soldiers in the US and Europe. War music videos are performing war, just as they shape how war is known by spectators and participants alike.
What If the Influenza Vaccine Did Not Offer Such Variable Protection?
Authors: Bartsch Sarah M , Mitgang Elizabeth A , Geller Gail , Cox Sarah N , O’Shea Kelly J , Boyce Angie , Siegmund Sheryl S , Kahn Jeffrey , Lee Bruce Y
Published: May 2020

Background

The protection that an influenza vaccine offers can vary significantly from person to person due to differences in immune systems, body types, and other factors. The question, then, is what is the value of efforts to reduce this variability such as making vaccines more personalized and tailored to individuals.

Methods

We developed a compartment model of the United States to simulate different influenza seasons and the impact of reducing the variability in responses to the influenza vaccine across the population.

Results

Going from a vaccine that varied in efficacy (0–30%) to one that had a uniform 30% efficacy for everyone averted 16.0–31.2 million cases, $1.9–$3.6 billion in direct medical costs, and $16.1–$42.7 billion in productivity losses. Going from 0–50% in efficacy to just 50% for everyone averted 27.7–38.6 million cases, $3.3–$4.6 billion in direct medical costs, and $28.8–$57.4 billion in productivity losses. Going from 0–70% to 70% averted 33.6–54.1 million cases, $4.0–$6.5 billion in direct medical costs, and $44.8–$64.7 billion in productivity losses.

Conclusions

This study quantifies for policy makers, funders, and vaccine developers and manufacturers the potential impact of efforts to reduce variability in the protection that influenza vaccines offer (eg, developing vaccines that are more personalized to different individual factors).
Myocardial Steatosis Among Antiretroviral Therapy–Treated People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Participating in the REPRIEVE Trial
Authors: Neilan Tomas G , Nguyen Kim-Lien , Zaha Vlad G , Chew Kara W , Morrison Leavitt , Ntusi Ntobeko A B , Toribio Mabel , Awadalla Magid , Drobni Zsofia D , Nelson Michael D , Burdo Tricia H , Van Schalkwyk Marije , Sax Paul E , Skiest Daniel J , Tashima Karen , Landovitz Raphael J , Daar Eric , Wurcel Alysse G , Robbins Gregory K , Bolan Robert K , Fitch Kathleen V , Currier Judith S , Bloomfield Gerald S , Desvigne-Nickens Patrice , Douglas Pamela S , Hoffmann Udo , Grinspoon Steven K , Ribaudo Heather , Dawson Rodney , Goetz Matthew Bidwell , Jain Mamta K , Warner Alberta , Szczepaniak Lidia S , Zanni Markella V
Published: May 2020

Background

People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) face increased risks for heart failure and adverse heart failure outcomes. Myocardial steatosis predisposes to diastolic dysfunction, a heart failure precursor. We aimed to characterize myocardial steatosis and associated potential risk factors among a subset of the Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV (REPRIEVE) participants.

Methods

Eighty-two PWH without known heart failure successfully underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance spectroscopy, yielding data on intramyocardial triglyceride (IMTG) content (a continuous marker for myocardial steatosis extent). Logistic regression models were applied to investigate associations between select clinical characteristics and odds of increased or markedly increased IMTG content.

Results

Median (Q1, Q3) IMTG content was 0.59% (0.28%, 1.15%). IMTG content was increased (> 0.5%) among 52% and markedly increased (> 1.5%) among 22% of participants. Parameters associated with increased IMTG content included age (P = .013), body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 (P = .055), history of intravenous drug use (IVDU) (P = .033), and nadir CD4 count < 350 cells/mm³ (P = .055). Age and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 were additionally associated with increased odds of markedly increased IMTG content (P = .049 and P = .046, respectively).

Conclusions

A substantial proportion of antiretroviral therapy–treated PWH exhibited myocardial steatosis. Age, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, low nadir CD4 count, and history of IVDU emerged as possible risk factors for myocardial steatosis in this group.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT02344290; NCT03238755.
Prevalence and risks factors associated with ESBL-producing faecal carriage in a single long-term-care facility in Spain: emergence of CTX-M-24- and CTX-M-27-producing Escherichia coli ST131-H30R
Authors: Colmenarejo Cristina , Hernández-García Marta , Muñoz-Rodríguez José Ramón , Huertas Natalia , Navarro Francisco Javier , Mateo Ana Belén , Pellejero Eva María , Illescas Soledad , Vidal María Dolors , del Campo Rosa
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To address the faecal carriage prevalence of antibiotic-multiresistant bacteria and associated risk factors in a public long-term care facility (LTCF).

Methods

A prospective study in a single government-funded LTCF of 300 residents in Ciudad Real, Spain. Residents’ clinical and demographic data were collected, as well as recent antibiotic consumption in the institution. Each participant contributed a rectal swab, which was plated on selective and differential-selective media. Colonies were identified by MALDI-TOF and ESBL production was confirmed by the double-disc synergy method, with characterization of the molecular mechanism by PCR. Isolates were typed by PFGE and submitted for ST131 screening by PCR.

Results

Faecal carriage of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales was detected in 58 (31%) of 187 participants and previous infection by MDR bacteria was identified as a risk factor. The genes characterized were: blaCTX-M-15 (40.6%); blaCTX-M-14 (28.8%); blaCTX-M-27 (13.5%); and blaCTX-M-24 (10.1%). Some 56.4% of the isolates were grouped into the E. coli ST131 clone; 70.9% of these corresponded to the O25b serotype, 51.6% of them to Clade C1 (H30) and 12.9% to Clade C2 (H30Rx). Clade C1 isolates were mostly C1-M27, whereas the C2 sublineage was mainly related to the production of CTX-M-15. ST131-CTX-M-24 isolates (n = 6) corresponded to Clade A with serotype O16.

Conclusions

A high prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales faecal carriage has been detected in a single LTCF, highlighting the emergence of ST131 Clade A-M24 and Clade C1-M27 lineages.
Biomedical REAl-Time Health Evaluation (BREATHE): toward an mHealth informatics platform
Authors: Bui Alex A T , Hosseini Anahita , Rocchio Rose , Jacobs Nate , Ross Mindy K , Okelo Sande , Lurmann Fred , Eckel Sandrah , Dzubur Eldin , Dunton Genevieve , Gilliland Frank , Sarrafzadeh Majid , Habre Rima
Published: May 2020

Objective

To describe a configurable mobile health (mHealth) framework for integration of physiologic and environmental sensors to be used in studies focusing on the domain of pediatric asthma.

Materials and Methods

The Biomedical REAl-Time Health Evaluation (BREATHE) platform connects different sensors and data streams, contextualizing an individual’s symptoms and daily activities over time to understand pediatric asthma’s presentation and its management. A smartwatch/smartphone combination serves as a hub for personal/wearable sensing devices collecting data on health (eg, heart rate, spirometry, medications), motion, and personal exposures (eg, particulate matter, ozone); securely transmitting information to BREATHE’s servers; and interacting with the user (eg, ecological momentary assessments). Server-side integration of electronic health record data and spatiotemporally correlated information (eg, weather, traffic) elaborates on these observations. An initial panel study involving pediatric asthma patients was conducted to assess BREATHE.

Results

Twenty subjects were enrolled, during which BREATHE accrued seven consecutive days of continuous data per individual. The data were used to confirm knowledge about asthma (use of controller inhalers, time-activity behaviors, personal air pollution exposure), and additional analyses provided insights into within-day associations of environmental triggers and asthma exacerbations. Exit surveys focusing on mHealth usability, while positive, noted several translational challenges.

Discussion

Based on these promising results, a longitudinal panel study to evaluate individual microenvironments and exposures is ongoing. Lessons learned thus far reflect the need to address various usability aspects, including convenience and ongoing engagement.

Conclusion

BREATHE enables multi-sensor mHealth studies, capturing new types of information alongside an evolving understanding of personal exposomes.
On Regional Criminal Courts as Representatives of Political Communities
Authors: van der Wilt Harmen
Published: May 2020

This chapter focuses on the question of moral standing: on whose behalf does a criminal court purport to act? It examines the justification for a regional criminal court, namely the proposed Criminal Chamber within the African Court of Justice and Human and Peoples’ Rights. The chapter draws on Emile Durkheim’s concept of the social function of criminal law and Antony Duff’s idea of the requisite ‘political community’ on whose behalf a penal institution speaks to argue that a region can constitute a political community capable of being protected by criminal law and represented by a regional criminal court. The Malabo Protocol, which establishes the Criminal Chamber, includes not only the standard ‘core crimes’ but a range of other crimes as well. This chapter argues that these are crimes that significantly affect Africans and African states, making it appropriate to create a regional institution to attempt to counter them.
Taking Internationalism Seriously
Authors: Gur-Arye Miriam , Harel Alon
Published: May 2020

This chapter focuses on why international criminal law (ICL) matters, by generating a distinctive philosophical vision for the project of international criminal justice. Specifically, this chapter rejects the notion that ICL is simply a gap-filler for ineffective penal institutions at the domestic level. So much of the literature is characterized by an assumption, buttressed by the International Criminal Court’s complementarity principle, that international tribunals simply spring into action to resolve the lacunae in domestic legal processes when armed conflict or other disruptions dismantle traditional institutions for criminal enforcement. In contrast, the chapter argues that the goods of ICL and the values it promotes can only be provided by international entities. In that respect, international justice is not a second-best alternative to domestic justice but is, rather, necessarily international because international institutions are specifically designed to redress wrongs that harm the interests of the international community as a whole.
A Theory of International Crimes
Authors: Chehtman Alejandro
Published: May 2020

The quest for a unified account of international criminalization is an important part of a compelling general theory of international criminal law (ICL). Any such account would need to have a conceptual and a normative dimension. This chapter addresses these two dimensions in turn. At a conceptual level, it argues that international crimes are criminal prohibitions provided under international law that apply globally. This entails, first, that perpetrators of these crimes can be brought to justice by any national authority as well as by international and regional tribunals with no traditional connection to the crime, the perpetrators, or the victims. Second, that they can be brought to justice on the basis of international law alone, irrespective of the specific legislation of any national authority allowing or even mandating such conduct. At a normative level, it argues that international crimes must be justified before the affected political community within which they take place. Ultimately, extraterritorial jurisdiction over them is based on the fact that international criminalization contributes to the well-being of individuals in different parts of the world by communicating that they are the bearers of fundamental legal rights and that those rights are protected by international law. This symbolic function is particularly important because international crimes are perpetrated, instigated, or allowed by the state within which they are perpetrated, or this state cannot do anything about them. ICL thus provides individuals an important benefit that domestic criminal justice systems cannot provide on their own.
Enslavement as a Crime against Humanity
Authors: Bikundo Edwin
Published: May 2020

This chapter delves into one specific crime—enslavement as a crime against humanity. It argues that the law has drawn heavily on civil and political rights, neglecting economic, social, and cultural ones. The law surrounding slavery furthermore has drawn on some basic contrasts: notably separating the concept of ‘human’ (a human being) from ‘person’ (a bearer of legal personality and rights). Another distinction is between ‘status’ and ‘condition’. The law has tended to focus on status, i.e., legal non-recognition of personhood, which has affinities with civil and political rights. The chapter argues that the law has given much less attention to ‘condition’, which looks at the person’s material conditions in fact, and which has affinities with economic and social rights. A re-imagined law better encompassing economic and social rights would be more ideologically neutral, more in keeping with human rights law, and more in keeping with the lived experiences of African would-be migrants. Thus, this chapter emphasises that recognition in law is not enough; one must also look at the material conditions of life, the deprivation of which enables enslavement.
The Crises and Critiques of International Criminal Justice
Authors: Vasiliev Sergey
Published: May 2020

It is often heard that international criminal justice is in ‘crisis’. Although the language of ‘crisis’ suggests a temporary and exceptional moment, the project of international criminal justice has essentially been in a legitimacy crisis since its emergence. International criminal tribunals have never been able to cleanse their ‘original sin’: despite their aspiration to transcend state power, they remain not just heavily dependent on it but also constrained and directed by it in their pursuit of ‘justice’. The more finessed the doctrine becomes, the more professionalised the practice, and the more sophisticated the institutions, the more evident is the inability of international criminal law to challenge the persisting power inequalities and address structural injustices of the international order. Against this background, this chapter diagnoses the state of the field by appraising the dynamics and quality of communication between its ‘mainstream defenders’ and the ‘radical critics’. It outlines the critics’ objectives and modes of engagement with the project and shows why some of the defensive impulses of the ‘mainstream’ fall short of effective responses to the critiques. The opposing sides to the debate about the legitimacy of international criminal justice seem to seldom think together and converse in earnest, despite having overlapping normative expectations towards the project. The chapter expresses a hope for a genuine, constructive dialogue between them, free of counterproductive tropes and tactics. The critical sensibility trickling into the ‘mainstream’ could help transform the institutional politics of the International Criminal Court and enable the project to realize its emancipatory potential.