bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-migration Social–Environmental Factors Associated with Mental Health Problems Among Asylum Seekers: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jannesari Sohail , Hatch Stephani , Prina Matthew , Oram Sian
Published: May 2020

People seeking asylum are at an increased risk of mental disorder compared to refugees and other migrants. This paper aims to understand the impact of postmigration social–environmental factors to help inform efforts to reduce rates of mental disorder. We conducted a systematic review searching 11 databases, as well as 6 government and nongovernment websites. We asked 5 experts for recommendations, and carried out forwards and backwards citation tracking. From 7004 papers 21 were eligible and had the appropriate data. Narrative synthesis was conducted. 24 Social–environmental factors were identified and categorised into 7 themes: working conditions, social networks, economic class, living conditions, healthcare, community and identity, and the immigration system. Evidence suggests that discrimination and post-migration stress are associated with increased rates of mental disorder. The post-migration environment influences the mental health of people seeking asylum. Discrimination and post-migration stress are key factors, warranting further research and public attention.
How well can near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) measure sediment organic matter in multiple lakes?
Authors: Ancin-Murguzur Francisco Javier , Brown Antony G. , Clarke Charlotte , Sjøgren Per , Svendsen John Inge , Alsos Inger Greve
Published: May 2020

Loss-on-ignition (LOI) is the most widely used measure of organic matter in lake sediments, a variable related to both climate and land-use change. The main drawback for conventional measurement methods is the processing time and hence high labor costs associated with high-resolution analyses. On the other hand, broad-based near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is a time and cost efficient method to measure organic carbon and organic matter content in lacustrine sediments once predictive methods are developed. NIRS-based predictive models are most robust when applied to sediments with properties that are already included in the calibration dataset. To test the potential for a broad applicability of NIRS models in samples foreign to the calibration model using linear corrections, sediment cores from six lakes (537 samples, LOI range 1.03–85%) were used as reference samples to develop a predictive model. The applicability of the model was assessed by sequentially removing one lake from the reference dataset, developing a new model and then validating it against the removed lake. Results indicated that NIRS has a high predictive power (RMSEP < 4.79) for LOI with the need for intercept and slope correction for new cores measured by NIRS. For studies involving many samples, NIRS is a cost and time-efficient method to estimate LOI on a range of lake sediments with only linear bias adjustments for different records.
Evaluation of affinity of bioactive isolates from various coffee extracts through binding with PPAR-γ with the use of isothermal titration calorimetry and docking simulation to prevent antidiabetic effects
Authors: Grzelczyk Joanna , Budryn Grażyna , Pérez-Sánchez Horacio
Published: May 2020

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) is a major receptor responsible for the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Deficiency in the human body of ligands binding to PPAR-γ causes the disorder of expression of many genes in adipose tissue and contributes to reducing tissue sensitivity to insulin, making it difficult to maintain glucose homeostasis, which consequently leads to T2DM. Therefore, natural non-toxic PPAR-γ ligands are sought. The aim of the research was to assess the affinity of single hydroxycinnamic or chlorogenic acids, coffee extracts and bioactive isolates from various coffee extracts of green, light and dark roasted Arabica and Robusta for PPAR-γ. This allows determining what type of coffee extract or its fraction can be used for therapy of T2DM. The research was carried out by means of isothermal titration calorimetry and molecular docking simulation. The studies have shown that caffeine and dihydrocaffeic acid had the highest affinity for PPAR-γ, which amounted ΔG = − 39.46 kJ mol−1and − 33.60 kJ mol−1, respectively.
Efficient child care subsidies: any need for cash for care?
Authors: Glomm Gerhard , Meier Volker
Published: May 2020

We model choices between caring for an infant at home or through some market provision of child care. Maternal labor supply necessitates child care purchased in the market. Households are distinguished along three dimensions: (i) exogenous income, (ii) the wage rate of the primary care giver and (iii) the quality which the primary caregiver provides for child care. The market can supply child care at varying qualities and in continuous amounts. All households value consumption and child care quality. Sources of market failure comprise taxation of labor and productivity impacts on child care not fully taken account of by parents. Optimal corrective subsidies are highly correlated with taxed paid by secondary earners. In a second-best environment, typical policies of subsidizing child care will also distort quality choices. Employing “no-use subsidies” mitigates such distortions and can also counter excessive levels of subsidies for external child care.
Der Einfluss der beruflichen Geschlechtersegregation und beruflicher Arbeitszeitarrangements auf Teilzeitarbeit
Authors: Althaber Agnieszka , Leuze Kathrin
Published: May 2020

Teilzeitarbeit gilt in Deutschland als ein wichtiges Instrument für die Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie. Bisherige Erklärungen von Teilzeitarbeit fokussieren vorrangig auf Frauen und diskutieren individuelle, haushaltsbezogene und institutionelle Faktoren. Männer sowie berufsstrukturelle Einflussfaktoren auf Teilzeitarbeit wurden bislang jedoch kaum adressiert. In diesem Beitrag untersuchen wir daher die Bedeutung von Berufsmerkmalen für Übergänge von Vollzeit- in Teilzeitbeschäftigung von Frauen und Männern zwischen 1992 und 2015 in Deutschland. Im Fokus steht die Frage, inwiefern die berufliche Geschlechtersegregation und berufliche Arbeitszeitarrangements als Rahmenbedingungen den Übergang in Teilzeit erklären können und ob sie geschlechterdifferente Effekte aufweisen. Unsere theoretischen Überlegungen basieren auf Krügers Institutionenansatz und Ackers Ansatz der Gendered Organizations. Für die Analysen werden Daten des Nationalen Bildungspanels (Startkohorte 6) mit aggregierten beruflichen Merkmalen, basierend auf dem Mikrozensus, kombiniert. Die Ergebnisse der Cox Proportional Hazard-Modelle zeigen, dass weniger die berufliche Geschlechtersegregation, sondern vor allem berufliche Arbeitszeitarrangements Übergänge in Teilzeit beeinflussen, allerdings auf geschlechterdifferenzierte Weise. Während die Vielarbeitsnorm in Berufen, gemessen an Vollzeitarbeit und Überstunden, Teilzeitarbeit für Männer verhindert, gehen Frauen unter diesen Rahmenbedingungen häufiger in Teilzeit über.
Recovery of Precious Metals (Au, Ag, Pt, and Pd) from Urban Mining Through Copper Smelting
Authors: Chen Min , Avarmaa Katri , Klemettinen Lassi , O’Brien Hugh , Sukhomlinov Dmitry , Shi Junjie , Taskinen Pekka , Jokilaakso Ari
Published: May 2020

With the aim of investigating deportments of precious metals in pyrometallurgical processing of waste electrical and electronic equipment, the distributions of selected precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, and palladium) between copper matte and three different silica-saturated slags (pure FeO
x
-SiO2, FeO
x
-SiO2-Al2O3, and FeO
x
-SiO2-Al2O3-CaO slag) were investigated at 1300 °C in controlled flowing CO-CO2-SO2-Ar gas atmosphere by a high-temperature isothermal equilibration technique. The phase compositions were analyzed by Electron Probe X-ray Microanalysis and Laser Ablation-High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. It was shown that the distribution coefficients of gold, platinum, and palladium between matte and slag (L
m/s(Me) = [Me]in matte/(Me)in slag) were very high and increased with increasing matte grade. The distributions to the matte phase were increased by adding basic oxides alumina and lime into the acidic silicate slags. The experimentally measured distribution coefficients L
m/s(Me) followed the order of platinum > palladium > gold > silver. The present experimental results can be used for upgrading thermodynamic databases for the complex recycling processes through nonferrous smelting.
Ligand Binding of PR-10 Proteins with a Particular Focus on the Bet v 1 Allergen Family
Authors: Aglas Lorenz , Soh Wai Tuck , Kraiem Amin , Wenger Mario , Brandstetter Hans , Ferreira Fatima
Published: May 2020

Purpose of Review

Pathogenesis-related class 10 (PR-10) proteins are highly conserved plant proteins, which are induced in response to abiotic and biotic stress factors. To date, no unique biological function could be assigned to them. Rather a more general role of PR-10 in plant development and defense mechanisms has been proposed. In addition, some PR-10 proteins act as allergens by triggering allergic symptoms in sensitized individuals. Regardless of the diversity of reported activities, all PR-10 proteins share a common fold characterized by a solvent-accessible hydrophobic cavity, which serves as a binding site for a myriad of small-molecule ligands, mostly phytohormones and flavonoids.

Recent Findings

Most of available data relate to the ligand binding activity of allergenic PR-10, particularly for those belonging to Bet v 1 family of allergens. Bet v 1 and its homologues were shown to bind flavonoids with high affinity, but the specificity appears to differ between homologues from different species. The flavonoid Q3O-(Glc)-Gal was shown to specifically bind to hazelnut Cor a 1 but not to Bet v 1. Similarly, Q3OS bound only to the major isoform Bet v 1.0101 and not to other closely related isoforms. In contrast, Bet v 1 and hazelnut Cor a 1 showed very similar binding behavior towards other flavonoids such as quercetin, genistein, apigenin, daidzein, and resveratrol.

Recent research findings highlighted the importance of more precise knowledge of ligand binding for understanding the functional diversification of PR-10 proteins.
Role of Mononuclear Cardiomyocytes in Cardiac Turnover and Regeneration
Authors: Becker Cora , Hesse Michael
Published: May 2020

Purpose of Review

The typical remodeling process after cardiac injury is scarring and compensatory hypertrophy. The limited regeneration potential of the adult heart is thought to be due to the post-mitotic status of postnatal cardiomyocytes, which are mostly binucleated and/or polyploid. Nevertheless, there is evidence for cardiomyocyte turnover in the adult heart. The purpose of this review is to describe the recent findings regarding the proliferative potential of mononuclear cardiomyocytes and to evaluate their function in cardiac turnover and disease.

Recent Findings

There is overwhelming evidence from carbon-dating in humans and multi-isotope imaging mass spectrometry in mice that there is a very low but detectable level of turnover of cardiomyocytes in the heart. The source of this renewal is not clear, but recent evidence points to a population of mononuclear, diploid cardiomyocytes that are still capable of authentic cell division. Controversy arises when their role in cardiac repair is considered, as some studies claim that they contribute to repair by cell division while other studies do not find evidence for hyperplasia but hypertrophy. Stimulation of the mononuclear cardiomyocyte population has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy in cardiac disease.

The studies reviewed here agree on the existence of a low annual cardiomyocyte turnover rate which can be attributed to the proliferation of mononuclear cardiomyocytes. Potential roles of mononucleated cardiomyocytes in cardiac repair after injury are discussed.
High-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) als salvagebehandeling van recidiverend prostaatcarcinoom: stand van zaken wetenschap en praktijk. Een review van systematische reviews
Authors: Lemmens Valery E. P. P. , van Aubel Olav G. J. M.
Published: May 2020

Samenvatting

Er verschijnen steeds meer oorspronkelijke studies naar de veiligheid en effectiviteit van HIFU als salvagebehandeling van een lokaal recidief van het prostaatcarcinoom (Pca). Ook verschenen recentelijk meerdere systematische reviews (SR’s) over dit onderwerp. Deze review van SR’s geeft inzicht in de huidige stand van wetenschap en praktijk ten aanzien van salvage-HIFU van een lokaal recidiverend Pca. De meest recente en tevens grootste SR toont bij een lokaal recidief na bestraling geen verschil in overleving tussen HIFU en salvage radicale prostatectomie of salvagebestraling. De morbiditeit na salvage-HIFU was lager dan na een salvage radicale prostatectomie. In verband met de hoge morbiditeit bij een salvage radicale prostatectomie wordt deze zelden uitgevoerd. HIFU als salvagebehandeling kan daarom worden gezien als een veelbelovend alternatief. Dit geldt zeker voor patiëntengroepen bij wie leeftijd, ziektestadium en wens van de patiënt in de richting wijzen van afzien van agressievere therapieën, en bij wie het risico op bijwerkingen en vermindering van de kwaliteit van leven te hoog wordt geacht. De huidige evidence geeft voldoende aanleiding om, in afwachting van studies met hogere bewijskracht, HIFU als salvagebehandeling aan te bieden in plaats van androgeendeprivatietherapie, dan wel niet te behandelen.
COVID-19: a unique learning opportunity if the well-being of learners and frontline workers is adequately supported
Authors: Brand Paul L. P.
Published: May 2020

None
Leprosy Transmission in Amazonian Countries: Current Status and Future Trends
Authors: Schaub Roxane , Avanzi Charlotte , Singh Pushpendra , Paniz-Mondolfi Alberto , Cardona-Castro Nora , Legua Pedro , Crespo Lucibel , Sewpersad Karin , Dávila John Jairo , Barreto Josafá , Dwivedi Purna , Morris-Wilson Heather , Larrea Maria Paredes , Talhari Carolina , Lahiri Ramanuj , Truman Richard W. , Gozlan Rodolphe E. , Couppié Pierre , de Thoisy Benoit
Published: May 2020

Purpose of Review

Leprosy is one of the first pathologies described in the history of mankind. However, the ecology, transmission, and pathogenicity of the incriminated bacilli remain poorly understood. Despite effective treatment freely distributed worldwide since 1995, around 200,000 new cases continue to be detected yearly, mostly in the tropics. This review aims to discuss the unique characteristics of leprosy in Amazonian countries, which exhibit a very heterogeneous prevalence among human and animal reservoirs.

Recent Findings

Groundbreaking discoveries made in the last 15 years have challenged the dogmas about leprosy reservoirs, transmission, and treatment. The discovery of a new leprosy causative agent in 2008 and the scientific proof of zoonosis transmission of leprosy by nine-banded armadillos in the southern USA in 2011 challenged the prospects of leprosy eradication. In the Amazonian biome, nine-banded and other armadillo species are present but the lack of large-scale studies does not yet allow accurate assessment of the zoonotic risk. Brazil is the second country in the world reporting the highest number of new leprosy cases annually. The disease is also present, albeit with different rates, in all neighboring countries. Throughout the Amazonian biome, leprosy is mainly found in hyperendemic foci, conducive to the emergence and transmission of drug-resistant strains.

The deepening of current knowledge on leprosy reservoirs, transmission, and therapeutic issues, with the One Health approach and the help of molecular biology, will allow a better understanding and management of the public health issues and challenges related to leprosy in Amazonia.
Reclassification of Spheroidal Graphite Ductile Cast Irons Grades According to Design Needs
Authors: Zanardi Franco , Mapelli Carlo , Barella Silvia
Published: May 2020

The classification of grades inside a material family should be based on the properties required by design procedures. This paper proposes a reclassification of spheroidal graphite ferritic pearlitic and ausferritic (ADI) ductile cast irons grades based on yield strength (YS), strength ratio (SR) UTS/YS and elongation at fracture (EF). In fact, these parameters are fundamental for the static assessment according to the procedures FKM Guideline and BS 7910:2005. Static assessment at room temperature, involving plastic deformation and depending on the wall thickness and stress state triaxiality, is here proposed as the most significant for the material classification. All other properties (e.g., fatigue under cyclic loads, high strain rates and temperature effect, etc.) should be reported with reference to the classification mentioned above. SR and EF control the plastic deformation at the notch tip, where maximum calculated elastic stress is redistributed. Minimum YS is usually assumed as the basic parameter for static and cyclic loading design. Because of the inverse relationship that exists between strength and ductility, Brinell hardness control and material quality index should be adopted as Material Quality Control tools, preventing from a too low EF. Fracture Toughness and its ratio with YS must be considered for preventing brittle fracture due to the presence of flaws. Fracture toughness definitions and available data are not sufficiently consistent for a correct comparison between different material grades. A surrogate Charpy energy measurement is indicated for an indirect estimate of toughness.
Is SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) postviral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) different from other PVOD?
Authors: Imam Sarah A. , Lao Wilson P. , Reddy Priyanka , Nguyen Shaun A. , Schlosser Rodney J.
Published: May 2020

Background

The SARS‐CoV‐2 virus continues to spread rapidly across the globe afflicting many with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19). As the infection rates rise, a growing number of SARS‐CoV‐2 positive individuals have been reported to complain of olfactory disturbances at an alarming rate. Postviral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) is a well‐known phenomenon that may explain the olfactory dysfunction reported by SARS‐CoV‐2 infected individuals.

Methods

A scoping literature review was performed to identify studies that investigated the mechanisms of postviral olfactory dysfunction. Studies demonstrating pathophysiological, histological, immunochemical, and epidemiological outcomes of PVOD were included.

Results

Fourteen studies were included in addition to one international news article. Three studies reported destruction of the olfactory epithelium following intranasal inoculation of various viral strains in mice. Three studies isolated pathogenic, anosmia inciting viruses (Parainfluenza virus, Human Coronavirus, Rhinovirus) through nucleic acid amplification. Eleven studies demonstrated female predilection in patients with PVOD and COVID‐19 associated olfactory dysfunction, of which the majority were over 50 years old.

Conclusions

PVOD and COVID‐19 associated olfactory dysfunction demonstrates considerable similarities in epidemiological trends and disease sequela of other viruses to suggest identical pathophysiological mechanisms. Further studies such as intranasal inoculation and histological biopsies are needed to support our hypothesis.
The Ecosystem Service Valuation and Federal Conservation Special Issue of ARER
Authors: Hellerstein Daniel , Lohr Luanne
Published: May 2020

Valuing the ecosystem services delivered by conservation and stewardship programs is of interest within USDA and across the federal government. Answering these types of questions requires accurate and scientifically sound measures of Ecosystem Service Values (ESVs). While there is a rich literature on valuation of nonmarket goods, it is often difficult to use for the ESVs provided by USDA and other federal agencies. To advance understanding of the use of ESVs in conservation programs, this special issue of ARER presents selected papers from a 2019 workshop entitled “Applications and Potential of Ecosystem Services Valuation within USDA – Advancing the Science.”
Beyond tit-for-tat in cyberspace: Political warfare and lateral sources of escalation online
Authors: Whyte Christopher
Published: May 2020

At present, most scholarship on the potential for escalation in cyberspace couches analysis in terms of the technological dynamics of the domain for relative power maneuvering. The result has been a conceptualisation of the logic of operation in cyberspace as one of ‘tit-for-tat’ exchanges motivated by attribution problems and limited opportunity for strategic gain. This article argues that this dominant perspective overlooks alternative notions of how cyber tools are used to influence. This, in turn, has largely led scholars to ignore second-order effects – meaning follow-on effects triggered by a more direct outcome of an initial cyber action – on domestic conditions, institutions, and individual stakeholders. This article uses the case of cyber-enabled political warfare targeting the United States in 2016 to show how escalation can occur as a second-order effect of cyber operations. Specifically, the episode led to a re-evaluation of foreign cyber strategy on the part of American defence thinkers that motivated an offensive shift in doctrine by 2018. The episode also directly affected both the political positions taken by important domestic actors and the attitude of parts of the electorate towards interference, both of which have reinforced the commitment of military planners towards assertive cyber actions.
The Tragedy of the Judiciary: An Inquiry into the Economic Nature of Law and Courts
Authors: Gico Ivo Teixeira
Published: May 2020

This Article explores the economic nature of law and courts as an explanation for the world’s endemic court congestion problem. The economic theory of goods and services is used to demonstrate that law has a dual nature—coercion and compliance—and that law as coercion is actually a club good that requires a complementary good to be useful, courts. But because courts are private goods in nature, the bundled product will behave as a private good. However, the unrestricted implementation of access-to-justice policies with the objective of increasing the people’s access to courts will transform the bundled product into a common pool resource. The counterintuitive result of this transformation is that granting unrestricted access to justice might actually prevent people from accessing their rights—the tragedy of the judiciary. Two policy implications are explored: The importance of legal certainty for the tragedy mitigation, and the potentially adverse selection problem resulting from court congestion.
The Anaemic Existence of the Overriding Public Interest in Disclosure in the EU’s Access to Documents Regime
Authors: Wyatt Daniel
Published: May 2020

According to Regulation 1049/2001, which creates the EU’s public access to documents regime, all EU documents should hypothetically be publicly accessible, except for those that fall within explicitly protected interests. A number of these exceptions to disclosure, however, function such that documents covered by them do not have to be disclosed if their release would harm a protected interest unless there is an “overriding public interest in disclosure” exists in the circumstances. The purpose of this Article is to offer a critical examination of this concept of the overriding public interest as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). In the first part, the notion of the public interest generally is discussed from a theoretical perspective. Following this, a thorough analysis of case law concerning the overriding public interest is presented. Finally, this Article presents a critical commentary of the CJEU’s understanding of the concept. This Article essentially seeks to argue, inter alia, that the CJEU’s interpretation has resulted in democratically unaccountable bureaucrats of the EU effectively becoming the sole arbiters of the existence and content of the overriding public interest in disclosure under Regulation 1049/2001, a situation that is fundamentally unsatisfactory.
German Anti-Stalking Legislation and Its Recent Changes
Authors: Ropers Anni , Ebner Viola , Burgard Selina , Zucker Julia , Erber Michael
Published: May 2020

In 2013, 19,775 people were investigated for stalking. Of those nearly twenty thousand people, however, only a small fraction were convicted. This Article explores the methods employed under German law in striving to combat stalking (Nachstellung), the problems arising the refrom, and the most recent changes in stalking legislation. While numbers can illustrate the flaws of a seemingly malfunctioning system easily, identifying the causes and eradicating them is a more complex matter.
From the European Stability Mechanism to the European Monetary Fund: There and Back Again
Authors: Megliani Mauro
Published: May 2020

In December 2018, the Euro Summit endorsed the Term Sheet on the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) reform prepared by the Eurogroup. In this context, the Euro Summit did not acknowledge the proposal of the European Commission to transform the ESM into the European Monetary Fund (EMF), but simply gave the Eurogroup a mandate to draft the relevant amendments to the ESM Treaty and submit them to the European Council of June 2019. Nonetheless, the justifications for the incorporation of the ESM into the body of the European Treaties continue to be valid and may come back into play. In this respect, it is worth highlighting two flaws that have emerged in the proposed transformation of the ESM into the EMF. First, the ESM Treaty does not contain any rule about extinction and transfer of functions. Second, the Commission’s proposal did not clarify what status the EMF would have enjoyed in the EU legal framework.
Jens Meierhenrich’s, The Remnants of the Rechtsstaat: An Ethnography of Nazi Law
Authors: Graver Hans Petter
Published: May 2020

Meierhenrich’s book is an important book. For those seeking to learn about law under Nazism, it gives an excellent introduction. It is also highly relevant to the understanding of the general relationship between law and authoritarianism. This makes the book important for all who are concerned about the fate of the rule of law today.
Screening for COVID-19: Patient factors predicting positive PCR test
Authors: Challener Douglas W. , Challener Gregory J. , Gow-Lee Vanessa J. , Fida Madiha , Shah Aditya S. , O’Horo John C.
Published: May 2020

To inform the efficient allocation of testing resources, we evaluated the characteristics of those tested for COVID-19 to determine predictors of a positive test. Recent travel and exposure to a confirmed case were both highly predictive of positive testing. Symptom-based screening strategies alone may be inadequate to control the ongoing pandemic.
“Work Your Story”: Selective Voluntary Disclosure, Stigma Management, and Narratives of Seeking Employment After Prison
Authors: Goodman Philip
Published: May 2020

Using interviews with forty formerly incarcerated people in the Greater Toronto Area, I explore how criminal record holders describe seeking work. People articulate being driven by a desire to be selective to whom, when, and how they disclose their past criminal record; they simultaneously want to talk about their past, at least to some people, some of the time. Many say they are quite selective in what types of jobs and employers they seek out, and their efforts to secure employment are driven by broader projects of stigma management. In light of these findings, I coin “selective, voluntary disclosure” (SVD) as a new set of policy configurations that aim to facilitate not only employment but also dignity, privacy, and empowerment. SVD is well attuned with what former prisoners describe doing on an everyday basis, and it accords with their goals, aspirations, and rehabilitative self-projects.
Adjusting to austerity: the public spending responses of regional governments to the budget constraint in Spain and Italy
Authors: Toubeau Simon , Vampa Davide
Published: May 2020

What are the effects of fiscal imbalances, and austerity, on regional-level spending? To answer this question, we examine an original dataset of yearly spending decisions of regional governments in Italy and Spain between 2003 and 2015. We find that the rise in regional deficits has an important negative effect on regional governments’ spending. The strength of this effect is, however, mitigated by the presence of a left-wing party in regional office. In addition, we uncover an important variation in the extent of cutbacks across policy sectors: regional governments tend to protect the health sector and focus their retrenchment efforts on social assistance and running of public institutions. Partisanship matters here too, as left-wing parties tend to protect healthcare more than their right-wing rivals. These findings bear relevance for understanding the role of partisanship and policy sector in the process of public retrenchment in multi-level states.
IDENTIFYING MULTIPLE MARGINAL EFFECTS WITH A SINGLE INSTRUMENT
Authors: Caetano Carolina , Escanciano Juan Carlos
Published: May 2020

This paper proposes a new strategy for the identification of the marginal effects of an endogenous multivalued variable (which can be continuous, or a vector) in a model with an Instrumental Variable (IV) of lower dimension, which may even be a single binary variable, and multiple controls. Despite the failure of the classical order condition, we show that identification may be achieved by exploiting heterogeneity of the “first stage” in the controls through a new rank condition that we term covariance completeness. The identification strategy justifies the use of interactions between instruments and controls as additional exogenous variables and can be straightforwardly implemented by parametric, semiparametric, and nonparametric two-stage least squares estimators, following the same generic algorithm. Monte Carlo simulations show that the estimators have excellent performance in moderate sample sizes. Finally, we apply our methods to the problem of estimating the effect of air quality on house prices, based on Chay and Greenstone (2005, Journal of Political Economy 113, 376–424). All methods are implemented in a companion Stata software package.
ON THE COMPARISON OF PERFORMANCE-PER-COST FOR COHERENT AND MIXED SYSTEMS
Authors: Lindqvist Bo H. , Samaniego Francisco J. , Wang Nana
Published: May 2020

The present paper is concerned with reliability economics, considering a certain performance-per-cost criterion for coherent and mixed systems, as introduced in [Dugas, M.R. & Samaniego, F.J. (2007). On optimal system designs in reliability-economics frameworks. Naval Research Logistics 54, 568–582]. We first present a new comparison result for performance-per-cost of systems with independent and identically distributed component lifetimes under certain stochastic orderings. We then consider optimization of the performance-per-cost criterion, first reconsidering and refining results from the above cited paper, and then considering mixtures of given subsets of coherent systems.
Multisite randomized efficacy trial of educational materials for young children with incarcerated parents
Authors: Poehlmann-Tynan Julie , Cuthrell Hilary , Weymouth Lindsay , Burnson Cynthia , Frerks Lexi , Muentner Luke , Holder Nicole , Milavetz Zoe , Lauter Lauren , Hindt Lauren , Davis Laurel , Schubert Erin , Shlafer Rebecca
Published: May 2020

Although children with incarcerated parents exhibit more behavior problems, health concerns, and academic difficulties than their peers, few interventions or resources are available to support affected children. This randomized, controlled, multisite efficacy trial evaluated Sesame Street’s "Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration" initiative with children aged 3 to 8 years with a jailed father. Seventy-one diverse children and their caregivers were randomized to an educational outreach group (n = 32) or wait list control group (n = 39). Researchers observed children during jail visits and interviewed caregivers by phone 2 and 4 weeks later. The effects of the intervention on children’s behavior and emotions occurring during a jail visit depended on what children had been told about the father’s incarceration. Children who were told honest, developmentally appropriate explanations showed less negative affect at entry, an increase in negative affect when the intervention was administered, and a decrease in negative affect during the visit. Intervention group children who were told distortions, nothing, or explanations that were not developmentally appropriate showed more negative affect initially, and their negative affect remained relatively stable during their time in the jail. In addition, children who were told the simple, honest truth about the parent’s incarceration (a recommendation in the educational materials) exhibited more positive affect during the visit, with a medium effect size. Caregivers in the educational outreach group reported more positive change in how they talked to children about the incarceration over time compared to the control group.
Safeguarding in Church and State over the Last 50 Years: ‘From Ball and Banks to Beech via Bell’
Authors: Collier Peter
Published: May 2020

This article describes the changes in criminal law and procedure that the author saw take place during 50 years of practice, turning a criminal justice system in which it was difficult to prosecute cases involving multiple child witnesses into one much better adapted to cases alleging sexual assault and the needs of vulnerable witnesses. The article reviews, decade by decade, the major developments in people's understanding and perception of the prevalence of physical and sexual abuse, touching on a number of high-profile events. It traces the development of the Church of England's safeguarding policy, noting how it tracks the development of secular policies. In parallel it identifies a number of significant cases of sexual abuse by clergy which were/are the subject of ‘lessons learned’ reviews. A note of caution is however sounded arising from the cases of Carl Beech and Bishop Bell, in particular the danger of not following well-established investigative procedures but jumping to judgement. The article concludes by suggesting how investigation and fact-finding might take place in the future, independent of the bishops, but under the supervision of a ‘judge’, and argues that effective risk assessments can only be based on findings of fact.
October 2019–January 2020
Authors: Cranmer Frank
Published: May 2020

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in the conjoined cases of Miller and Cherry that the advice given by the Prime Minister to Her Majesty that Parliament should be prorogued from a date between 9 and 12 September until 14 October was unlawful, and that the resulting Order in Council and the prorogation itself were also unlawful, void and of no effect – so it was back to the constitutional drawing-board. Parliament was subsequently prorogued from 8 to 14 October, sat until 5 November and was dissolved at 00.01 am on the following day.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor among patients with alcoholism
Authors: Martín-González Candelaria , Romero-Acevedo Lucía , Fernández-Rodríguez Camino María , Medina-Vega Lilian , García-Rodríguez Alen , Ortega-Toledo Paula , González-Navarrete Lourdes , Vera-Delgado Víctor Eugenio , González-Reimers Emilio
Published: May 2020

Background

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in neurogenesis and in the protection against oxidative damage and neuronal apoptosis. After exercise, there is an increased expression of this myokine, especially in skeletal muscle and brain. Low BDNF levels have been described in neurodegenerative diseases. Alcoholics show both muscle atrophy and brain atrophy. Thus, this study was performed in order to analyze serum BDNF levels among alcoholics and their associations with brain atrophy and muscle strength.

Methods

Serum BDNF values were determined to 82 male alcoholics and 27 age-matched controls, and compared with handgrip strength, with the presence of brain atrophy, assessed by computed tomography, and with the intensity of alcoholism and liver function derangement.

Results

BDNF levels and handgrip strength were significantly lower among patients. Handgrip strength was correlated with BDNF values, both in the whole population and in alcoholics, especially in patients over 59 years of age. BDNF was poorly related to liver dysfunction but showed no relationship with brain atrophy or age.

Conclusion

Chronic alcoholics show decreased BDNF serum levels that are related to muscle function impairment rather than to age, brain atrophy, liver dysfunction, or the amount of ethanol consumed.
Plasma redox and inflammatory patterns during major depressive episodes: a cross-sectional investigation in elderly patients with mood disorders
Authors: Carpita Barbara , Betti Laura , Palego Lionella , Bartolommei Natalia , Chico Lucia , Pasquali Livia , Siciliano Gabriele , Monzani Fabio , Franchi Riccardo , Rogani Sara , Mucci Federico , Elefante Camilla , Lattanzi Lorenzo , Marazziti Donatella , Giannaccini Gino , Dell’Osso Liliana
Published: May 2020

Background

While both depression and aging have been associated with oxidative stress and impaired immune response, little is known about redox patterns in elderly depressed subjects. This study investigates the relationship between redox/inflammatory patterns and depression in a sample of elderly adults.

Methods

The plasma levels of the advanced products of protein oxidation (AOPP), catalase (CAT), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), glutathione transferase (GST), interleukin 6 (IL-6), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total thiols (TT), and uric acid (UA) were evaluated in 30 patients with mood disorders with a current depressive episode (depressed patients, DP) as well as in 30 healthy controls (HC) aged 65 years and over. Subjects were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale (GDS), the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI), the Reason for Living Inventory (RFL), the Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and the Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL).

Results

DP showed higher levels than HC of AOPP and IL-6, while displaying lower levels of FRAP, TT, and CAT. In the DP group, specific correlations were found among biochemical parameters. SOD, FRAP, UA, and TT levels were also significantly related to psychometric scale scores.

Conclusion

Specific alterations of redox systems are detectable among elderly DP.
Cognitive Heterogeneity across Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Cluster Analysis of Intellectual Trajectories
Authors: Vaskinn Anja , Haatveit Beathe , Melle Ingrid , Andreassen Ole A. , Ueland Torill , Sundet Kjetil
Published: May 2020

Objective:

Cognitive dysfunction cut across diagnostic categories and is present in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, although with considerable heterogeneity in both disorders. This study examined if distinct cognitive subgroups could be identified across schizophrenia and bipolar disorder based on the intellectual trajectory from the premorbid phase to after illness onset.

Method:

Three hundred and ninety-eight individuals with schizophrenia (n = 223) or bipolar I disorder (n = 175) underwent clinical and neuropsychological assessment. Hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses using premorbid (National Adult Reading Test) and current IQ (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence) estimates were performed for each diagnostic category, and the whole sample collapsed. Resulting clusters were compared on neuropsychological, functional, and clinical variables. Healthy controls (n = 476) were included for analyses of neuropsychological performance.

Results:

Cluster analyses consistently yielded three clusters: a relatively intact group (36% of whole sample), an intermediate group with mild cognitive impairment (44%), and an impaired group with global deficits (20%). The clusters were validated by multinomial logistic regression and differed significantly for neuropsychological, functional, and clinical measures. The relatively intact group (32% of the schizophrenia sample and 42% of the bipolar sample) performed below healthy controls for speeded neuropsychological tests.

Conclusions:

Three cognitive clusters were identified across schizophrenia and bipolar disorder using premorbid and current IQ estimates. Groups differed for clinical, functional, and neuropsychological variables, implying their meaningfulness. One-third of the schizophrenia sample belonged to the relatively intact group, highlighting that neuropsychological assessment is needed for the precise characterization of the individual.
The nutritional quality of supermarket own brand chilled convenience foods: an Australian cross-sectional study reveals limitations of the Health Star Rating
Authors: Pulker Claire Elizabeth , Farquhar Heather Robertson , Pollard Christina Mary , Scott Jane Anne
Published: May 2020

Objective:

To assess the nutritional quality of Australian supermarket own brand chilled convenience foods (SOBCCF), for example, ready meals, pizza, pies and desserts.

Design:

Cross-sectional.

Setting:

Two large supermarkets (Coles and Woolworths) in Perth, Western Australia were audited in February 2017.

Participants:

Data were extracted from photographic images of 291 SOBCCF, including front-of-pack information (i.e. product name, description and nutrition labels including Health Star Rating (HSR)) and back-of-pack information (i.e. nutrition information panel and ingredients list). SOBCCF were classified as healthy or unhealthy consistent with principles of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGTHE), NOVA classification of level of food processing and HSR score.

Results:

Fifty-four percentage of SOBCCF were classified as unhealthy according to AGTHE principles, 94 % were ultra-processed foods using NOVA and 81 % scored a HSR of ≥2·5, implying that they were a healthy choice. Some convenience food groups comprised more healthy choices overall including prepared vegetables, salad kits and bowls, soups and vegetarian food. A significantly larger proportion of SOBCCF from Coles were classified as unhealthy compared with Woolworths (70 v. 44 %, P < 0·05) using the AGTHE.

Conclusions:

The findings suggest there is potential for Australian supermarkets to improve the nutritional quality of their SOBCCF and highlights the differences between supermarkets in applying their corporate social responsibility policies. Policies to assist consumers to select healthier foods should address difficulties in identifying healthy convenience foods. The findings reveal misclassification of unhealthy SOBCCF as healthy by the HSR suggesting that its algorithm should be reformed to align with recommendations of the AGTHE.
The association of parenting practices with toddlers’ dietary intake and BMI, and the moderating role of general parenting and child temperament
Authors: Gubbels Jessica S , Gerards Sanne MPL , Kremers Stef PJ
Published: May 2020

Objective:

The objective was to examine the association between parenting practices, toddler’s dietary intake and BMI. In addition, potential moderation of these associations by general parenting and child temperament was examined.

Design:

The current cross-sectional study assessed parenting practices using the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire, general parenting using the Comprehensive General Parenting Questionnaire, child temperament using the Child Behavior Check List, and children’s dietary intake through parental questionnaires. Children’s weight and length were objectively measured to determine BMI z-scores. Associations were examined using multiple linear regression analyses. Moderation was examined using interaction terms.

Setting:

Home setting.

Participants:

393 Dutch toddlers (age 1–3 years) and their parents recruited through fifty childcare centres and preschools in the Netherlands.

Results:

Various practices were related to children’s diet and BMI. For instance, the availability of healthy foods is the most important predictor of healthy dietary intake (e.g. β = –0·35 for sweets; β = 0·18 for fruit). The association of availability with a healthier diet was strongest when parents scored low on the positive parenting style dimensions, including nurturance, structure and/or behavioural control. In addition, it seemed that a high availability of healthy foods and low availability of unhealthy foods is especially beneficial for children showing withdrawal/depressive, anxious or overactive behaviour, while encouraging balance and variety is not beneficial for these children. All other practices were related to children’s diet and/or BMI as well.

Conclusions:

The findings underline the importance of viewing the impact of parenting practices in the context of general parenting and child temperament.
Morphological and Histochemical Characterization of the Dermal Plates of Pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus)
Authors: Soliman Soha A. , Kamal Basma Mohamed , Abuo-Elhmad Alaa S. , Abd-Elhafeez Hanan H.
Published: May 2020

Studying the dermal skeleton in fish is valuable for phylogenetic specification. The current study describes the detailed structure of the plecostomus dermal skeleton, including its morphogenesis and distribution in the skin. The denticles have a crown and a basal part and are embedded in bony depressions, to which they are attached by denticle ligaments. During denticle morphogenesis, denticle papillae formed from denticle precursor cells align in two cellular layers: an outer ameloblast precursor layer and an inner odontoblast precursor layer. The ameloblast precursors and odontoblast precursors differentiate and secrete enamel and dentine, respectively. We used different histochemical techniques, including Crossmon's trichrome staining, Weigert–Van Gieson staining, periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining, combined Alcian blue (AB; pH 2.5)/PAS staining, Weigert–Van Gieson staining, Mallory trichrome staining, and AB staining to distinguish the dentine and denticle ligaments. We used acridine orange to detect lysosome activity during denticle eruption. Transmission electron microscopy was used to detect the denticle ultrastructure, and scanning electron microscopy was used to detect the topographic distributions of different types of dermal tissues in different anatomical regions.
The Global Diffusion of the #MeToo Movement
Authors: Lee Myunghee , Murdie Amanda
Published: May 2020

Why is the #MeToo movement very active in some countries but not in others? What factors encourage the transnational diffusion of digital feminist activism? Although transnational forces are important, we argue that domestic political opportunity structures play a more significant role than transnational influences in the country-level diffusion of #MeToo. We collected 35,211 global tweets and used Bayesian statistical modeling to test the implications of our theory. Our findings support the idea that as a country better protects its citizens’ political and civil rights and civil liberties, individuals in that country are more likely to engage in the #MeToo movement.