bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What is the total impact of an obstetric anal sphincter injury? An Australian retrospective study
Authors: Evans Elizabeth , Falivene Clorinda , Briffa Kathy , Thompson Judith , Henry Amanda
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Most data on obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) reflect short-term (< 12 months) or much longer term (> 10 years) impact. This study aimed to collate the extent of medium-term symptomology (1–6 years) and observe the effect on future birth choices to evaluate the cumulative impact of OASI in affected women.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of women affected by OASI completed a questionnaire covering bowel symptomology, sexual function, life impact and future birth choices. A custom-created adverse composite outcome for OASI incorporating effects on daily life, flatal/fecal incontinence and sexual function (OASIACO) was used as a threshold score to identify women with high levels of symptoms.

Results

Of 265 eligible and contactable women, 210 questionnaires were received (response rate 79%) at a mean of 4 years post-OASI. More than half (54%) experienced an OASIACO. A forceps birth (p = 0.03) or more severe grade of tear (p = 0.03) was predictive of OASIACO. One hundred one women had further children, with 48% reporting their delivery choices were impacted, 32% electing a cesarean delivery and 26% shifting to private care. Eighty women (40%) had not given birth again, and 29 (36%) of these indicated their OASI influenced this decision.

Conclusions

The total impact of an OASI on women affected is substantial. More than half experience ongoing symptoms and close to half report an impact on their future birth choices. It follows there would be a consequential load on the healthcare sector, and improved management and prevention programs should be implemented.
Pretreatment ADC is not a prognostic factor for local recurrences in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma when clinical T-stage is known
Authors: Peltenburg Boris , Driessen Juliette P. , Vasmel Jeanine E. , Pameijer Frank A. , Janssen Luuk M. , Terhaard Chris H. J. , de Bree Remco , Philippens Marielle E. P.
Published: September 2019

Objectives

Pretreatment identification of radio-insensitive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) would affect treatment modality selection. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of a tumor could be a predictor of local recurrence. However, little is known about its prognostic value next to known factors such as clinical T-stage. The aim of the present study is to determine the added value of pretreatment ADC to clinical T-stage as a prognostic factor for local recurrence.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 217 patients with HNSCC treated with (chemo)radiotherapy between April 2009 and December 2015. All patients underwent diffusion-weighted MRI prior to treatment. Median ADC values of all tumors were obtained using a semi-automatic delineation method. Univariate models containing ADC and T-stage were compared with a multivariable model containing both variables.

Results

Fifty-eight patients experienced a local recurrence within 3 years. On average, the ADC value in the group of patients with a recurrence was 1.01 versus 1.00 (10−3 mm2/s) in the group without a recurrence. Univariate analysis showed no significant association between tumor ADC and local recurrence within 3 years after (chemo)radiotherapy (p = 0.09). Cox regression showed that clinical T-stage was an independent predictor of local recurrence and adding ADC to the model did not increase its performance.

Conclusion

Pretreatment ADC has no added value as a prognostic factor for local recurrence to clinical T-stage.

Key Points

• Pretreatment identification of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients who do not benefit from (chemo)radiotherapy could improve personalized cancer care.

• The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) obtained from diffusion-weighted MRI has been reported to be a prognostic factor for local recurrence.

• In this study, ADC has no added value as a prognostic factor compared with clinical T-stage.
Climate-mode initialization for decadal climate predictions
Authors: Polkova Iuliia , Köhl Armin , Stammer Detlef
Published: September 2019

In the context of decadal climate predictions, a climate-mode initialization method is being tested by which ocean ORAS4 reanalysis is projected onto dominant modes of variability of the Earth System Model from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-ESM). The method aims to improve the prediction skill of the model by filtering out dynamically unbalanced noise during the initialization step. Used climate modes are calculated as statistical 3-D modes based on the bivariate empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis applied to temperature and salinity anomalies from an ensemble of historical simulations from the MPI-ESM. The climate-mode initialization method shows improved surface temperature skill, particularly over the tropical Pacific Ocean at seasonal-to-interannual timescales associated with the improved zonal momentum balance. There, the new initialization somewhat outperforms the surface temperature skill of the anomaly initialization also for lead years 2–5. In other parts of the world ocean, both initialization methods currently are equivalent in skill. However, only 44% of variance in the original ORAS4 reconstruction remains after the projection on model modes, suggesting that the ORAS4 modes are not fully compatible with the model modes. Moreover, we cannot dismiss the possibility that model modes are not sufficiently sampled with the data set underlying the EOF analysis. The full potential of the climate-mode initialization method for future decadal prediction systems therefore still needs to be quantified based on improved modal representation.
Transverse process fractures of the thoracic vertebrae—the significance of this injury in the context of medicolegal opinions on high-energy trauma cases
Authors: Borowska-Solonynko Aleksandra , Prokopowicz Victoria
Published: September 2019

Thoracic transverse process fractures (TTPFs) are injuries that go unnoticed during traditional autopsies, as demonstrated by a lack of medicolegal publications regarding TTPFs. However, postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has made detection of this type of injury easy. Thus, the goal of our study was to analyze the significance of TTPFs in the context of medicolegal opinions. Forensic autopsy reports and PMCT scans of 116 people who had died from high-energy trauma were analyzed. TTPFs were found in 34.48% (n = 40) of the total test group. The highest proportions of TTPFs were found in drivers (50%, n = 8) and in victims of falls from heights (41%, n = 14). Among seven car passengers, only one victim had suffered TTPFs. In comparison with persons without TTPFs, persons with TTPFs demonstrated more severe general injuries, especially to the chest and abdomen, and more often (in 90% of cases) died at the scene of injury (all these differences were statistically significant; p < 0.0001). Pedestrian TTPFs were present only in victims struck from their front or back. TTPFs in victims of falls were found only in those cases in which the height of the fall was at least 9 m. The presence of TTPFs indicates that the application of a very strong force leads to injuries that, in most cases, result in death at the scene of the event. Detecting TTPFs provides additional information about the mechanism of trauma, especially in pedestrians, drivers, passengers, and victims of falls from heights.
Taxonomic traits in the microstructure of flowers of parasitic Orobanche picridis with particular emphasis on secretory structures
Authors: Konarska Agata , Chmielewski Piotr
Published: September 2019

Orobanche picridisis an obligate root parasite devoid of chlorophyll in aboveground organs, which infects variousPicrisspecies. Given the high level of phenotypic variability of the species, the considerable limitation of the number of taxonomically relevant traits (mainly in terms of generative elements), and the low morphological variation between species,Orobancheis regarded as one of the taxonomically most problematic genera. This study aimed to analyse the taxonomic traits ofO. picridisflowers with the use of stereoscopic and bright-field microscopy as well as fluorescence, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. The micromorphology of sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils was described. For the first time, the anatomy of parasiticOrobanchenectaries and the ultrastructure of nectaries and glandular trichomes were presented. Special attention was paid to the distribution and types of glandular and non-glandular trichomes as well as the types of metabolites contained in these structures. It was demonstrated that the nectary gland was located at the base of the gynoecium and nectar was secreted through modified nectarostomata. The secretory parenchyma cells contained nuclei, large amyloplasts with starch granules, mitochondria, and high content of endoplasmic reticulum profiles. Nectar was transported via symplastic and apoplastic routes. The results of histochemical assays and fluorescence tests revealed the presence of four groups of metabolites, i.e. polyphenols (tannins, flavonoids), lipids (acidic and neutral lipids, essential oil, sesquiterpenes, steroids), polysaccharides (acidic and neutral polysaccharides), and alkaloids, in the trichomes located on perianth elements and stamens.
Varying Vegetation Composition, Respiration and Photosynthesis Decrease Temporal Variability of the CO2 Sink in a Boreal Bog
Authors: Korrensalo Aino , Mehtätalo Lauri , Alekseychik Pavel , Uljas Salli , Mammarella Ivan , Vesala Timo , Tuittila Eeva-Stiina
Published: September 2019

We quantified the role of spatially varying vegetation composition in seasonal and interannual changes in a boreal bog’s CO2 uptake. We divided the spatially heterogeneous site into six microform classes based on plant species composition and measured their net ecosystem exchange (NEE) using chamber method over the growing seasons in 2012–2014. A nonlinear mixed-effects model was applied to assess how the contributions of microforms with different vegetation change temporally, and to upscale NEE to the ecosystem level to be compared with eddy covariance (EC) measurements. Both ecosystem respiration (R) and gross photosynthesis (PG) were the largest in high hummocks, 894–964 (R) and 969–1132 (PG) g CO2 m−2 growing season−1, and decreased toward the wetter microforms. NEE had a different spatial pattern than R and PG; the highest cumulative seasonal CO2 sink was found in lawns in all years (165–353 g CO2 m−2). Microforms with similar wetness but distinct vegetation had different NEE, highlighting the importance of vegetation composition in regulating CO2 sink. Chamber-based ecosystem-level NEE was smaller and varied less interannually than the EC-derived estimate, indicating a need for further research on the error sources of both methods. Lawns contributed more to ecosystem-level NEE (55–78%) than their areal cover within the site (21.5%). In spring and autumn, lawns had the highest NEE, whereas in midsummer differences among microforms were small. The contributions of all microforms to the ecosystem-level NEE varied seasonally and interannually, suggesting that spatially heterogeneous vegetation composition could make bog CO2 uptake temporally more stable.
Cross-sectoral and trans-national interactions in national-scale climate change impacts assessment—the case of the Czech Republic
Authors: Papadimitriou Lamprini , Trnka Miroslav , Harrison Paula , Holman Ian
Published: September 2019

Assessing the combined impacts of future climate and socio-economic change at the country level is vital for supporting national adaptation policies. Here, we use a novel modelling approach to study the systemic impacts of climate and socio-economic changes on the Czech Republic, taking account of cross-sectoral interactions between agriculture, water, forestry, land-use and biodiversity, and, for the first time, trans-national interactions. We evaluate the national-level baseline results, scenario-neutral model sensitivities, and climate and socio-economic scenario impacts using a European-scale integrated modelling tool. Consistently across most climate and socio-economic scenarios, the Czech Republic is projected to have increasing importance as a crop-growing region in Europe, due to an increased competitive advantage within the continent. Arable land in the Czech Republic expands, at the expense of livestock farming and forestry, with associated impacts of increased water scarcity and reduced biodiversity for the country. Accounting for trans-national interactions in national-scale assessments provides more realistic assessments of impacts and helps to identify the changing role of the country within its regional and continental domain. Such improved understanding can support policy-makers in developing national adaptation actions that reduce adverse impacts and realise opportunities.
An update and reassessment of fern and lycophyte diversity data in the Japanese Archipelago
Authors: Ebihara Atsushi , Nitta Joel H.
Published: September 2019

The fern and lycophyte flora of Japan comprising 721 native taxa (including subspecies and varieties) plus 371 interspecific hybrids was reassessed using a nearly comprehensively sampled distribution map at 10 km resolution vouchered by 216,687 specimens, up-to-date cytotaxonomic information covering 74% of the taxa, and an rbcL sequence dataset covering 97.9% of the taxa. Spatial distribution of species richness and phylogenetic diversity was visualized. Apomixis was observed in 11.0% of the native taxa whose reproductive modes are known. The number of sexually reproducing polyploid taxa (n = 199) is less than sexual diploids (n = 241), and 30 of them are evidently allopolyploid, in contrast with the low number of possible autopolyploids (n = 4). Apomictic taxa were found to have smaller latitudinal ranges than sexual taxa or taxa with multiple reproductive modes. A morphological character dataset in Lucid format is provided for taxonomic identification of the native taxa.
Hybrid regression and isophote curvature for accurate eye center localization
Authors: Xia Yifan , Lou Jianwen , Dong Junyu , Qi Lin , Li Gongfa , Yu Hui
Published: September 2019

The eye center localization is a crucial requirement for various human-computer interaction applications such as eye gaze estimation and eye tracking. However, although significant progress has been made in the field of eye center localization in recent years, it is still very challenging for tasks under the significant variability situations caused by different illumination, shape, color and viewing angles. In this paper, we propose a hybrid regression and isophote curvature for accurate eye center localization under low resolution. The proposed method first applies the regression method, which is called Supervised Descent Method (SDM), to obtain the rough location of eye region and eye centers. SDM is robust against the appearance variations in the eye region. To make the center points more accurate, isophote curvature method is employed on the obtained eye region to obtain several candidate points of eye center. Finally, the proposed method selects several estimated eye center locations from the isophote curvature method and SDM as our candidates and a SDM-based means of gradient method further refine the candidate points. Therefore, we combine regression and isophote curvature method to achieve robustness and accuracy. In the experiment, we have extensively evaluated the proposed method on the two public databases which are very challenging and realistic for eye center localization and compared our method with existing state-of-the-art methods. The results of the experiment confirm that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art methods with a significant improvement in accuracy and robustness and has less computational complexity.
Possibilities of establishing a smallholder pig identification and traceability system in Kenya
Authors: Mutua Florence , Lindahl Johanna , Randolph Delia
Published: September 2019

Consumers have a right to safer foods, and traceability is one approach to meeting their expectations. Kenya does not have an operational animal traceability system, and while a few initiatives have been piloted, these have only focused on the beef value chain. In this paper, we begin a discussion on traceability in the pig value chain, with an initial focus on smallholder systems of Western Kenya. First, a background to local pig production is given, and a description of animal identification and traceability options applicable to these systems is explained. Based on this, a “butcher-to-farm” traceability system, with health, production and food safety as objectives, is discussed. Requirements for establishing such a system (including actor incentives) are additionally discussed. The proposed approach can be piloted in the field and findings used to inform the design of a larger pilot and possibly pave way for implementation of a national traceability system, in line with the guidelines provided by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Organized systems in the area (including commercial producer and trader groups) would offer a useful starting point.
The right to an effective remedy in European law: significance, content and interaction
Authors: Piątek Wojciech
Published: September 2019

One of the basic rights and a general principle of the European Union is the right to an effective remedy. In the paper is presented the basis of the right to an effective remedy derived from the first paragraph of Article 47. The right could be realized only before a tribunal which is an extraordinary public authority competent to adjudicate civil, criminal and administrative cases. The effectiveness of a remedy manifests itself in the sense of preventing the alleged violation of law or its continuation, or in providing adequate redress for any violation that had already occurred. The standard of the right to an effective remedy is fulfilled in all EU Member States differently. As an example in the paper was presented interactions between above mentioned standards and polish legal system in the area of administrative judiciary.
Spectroscopy and Light Emitting Diodes Based System in Characterizing External Beam Therapy 3 Films for Solar Ultraviolet Measurement
Authors: Ahmad Shah Wan Insaniah Saleha , Omar Ahmad Fairuz
Published: September 2019

Gafchromic external beam therapy 3 (EBT3) film has widely been used in medical field applications. Principally, the EBT3 film’s color gradually changes from light green to darker color under incremental exposures by ionizing or even non-ionizing ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Peak absorbance of the EBT3 film can be used to predict absorbed doses by the film. However, until today, related researches still rely on spectrometers for color analysis of EBT3 films. Hence, this paper presents a comparative analysis between results produced by the spectrometer and a much simpler light-emitting diode-photodiode based system in profiling the color changes of EBT3 films after exposure by solar UV radiation. This work has been conducted on a set of 50 EBT3 samples with incremental solar UV exposure (doses). The wavelength in the red region has the best sensitivity in profiling the color changes of EBT3 films for low solar UV exposure measurement. This study foresees the ability of blue wavelength to profile films with a large range of solar UV exposure. The LED (light emitting diode)-based optical system has produced comparable measurement accuracies to the spectrometer and thus, with a potential for replacing the need for a multipurpose spectroscopy system for simple measurement of light attenuation.
Trajectories of (Non)Belief in the Scientific Community: The Case of Polish and Ukrainian Natural Scientists
Authors: Rogińska Maria
Published: September 2019

The article contributes to the discussion on the secularizing impact of science in modern societies. The starting point of the research is sociological data that shows lower religiosity of scientific communities in comparison to the general population in various countries. This might indicate that science does exert a secularizing force on modern ideologies. The explanatory hypotheses of this phenomenon are, however, ambiguous and predominantly concern Western countries. Based on 100 in-depth interviews with physicists and biologists from Central and Eastern Europe (Poland and Ukraine), it demonstrates the crucial role of cultural and historical context in the formulation of the (un)faith of the scientists. The scientific knowledge and participation in science as a social institution is more complementary than decisive in these processes, moreover, these factors play different roles in biographical trajectories of the Polish and Ukrainian natural scientists.
Three New Compounds from the Actinomycete Actinocorallia aurantiaca
Authors: Han Kai-Yue , Wu Xing , Jiang Chenglin , Huang Rong , Li Zheng-Hui , Feng Tao , Chen He-Ping , Liu Ji-Kai
Published: September 2019

Aurantiadioic acids A (1) and B (2), two new furan-containing polyketides, and aurantoic acid A (3), a new natural product, were isolated from the liquid fermentation of the sika deer dung-derived actinomycete Actinocorallia aurantiaca. The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D & 2D NMR, HRESIMS spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of 3 was assigned by comparison of the specific optical rotations with the reported derivatives. Biological activity evaluations suggested that compounds 1–3 showed weak inhibition on NO production in the murine monocytic RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of 35.8, 41.8, 45.2 μM, respectively. Compound 3 showed weak inhibition on influenza A virus (A/PuertoRico/8/1934, H1N1) with an EC50 value of 35.9 μM, and a selective index higher than 13.3.
On new common fixed points of multivalued $$(\varUpsilon ,\varLambda )$$-contractions in complete b-metric spaces and related application
Authors: Ameer Eskandar , Arshad Muhammad , Hussain Nawab
Published: September 2019

The aim ofthis paper is to introduce the concept of generalized multivalued$$\left( \varUpsilon ,\varLambda \right) $$Υ,Λ-contractions and generalized multivalued$$\left( \varUpsilon ,\varLambda \right) $$Υ,Λ-Suzuki contractions and introduce some new common fixed point results for such maps in completeb-metric spaces. Our results are an improvement of the Liu et al. fixed point theorem and several comparable results in the existing literature. We set up an example to elucidate our main result. Moreover, we also discuss an application to existence of solution for system of functional equations.
Gambling and Social Cognition: a Systematic Review
Authors: Hurel Elodie , Challet-Bouju Gaëlle , Bukowski Nicolas , Eyzop Emeline , Grall-Bronnec Marie
Published: September 2019

Purpose of Review

The aim of this article was to review current research regarding social cognition (SC) in gambling disorder (GD), to (i) compile and synthetize the current state of existing literature on this topic, and (ii) propose cognitive remediation therapy approaches focused on SC for clinicians.

Recent Findings

It is well known that disordered gamblers show impairment regarding non-social cognitive functions such as inhibition, attention, and decision-making. Furthermore, patients with substance use disorders also present certain deficits regarding social information processing which are difficult to differentiate from the intrinsic toxic effects linked to drugs or alcohol consumption.

To date, relatively little research has been undertaken to explore SC in gambling disorder (GD) with neuropsychological tasks. Preliminary results suggest impaired non-verbal emotion processing, but only one study has directly measured SC in GD. As a consequence, future research on this framework should propose diverse measures of SC, while controlling for other factors such as personality traits and subtypes of disordered gamblers.
The Cognitive Neuropsychology of Depression in Adolescents
Authors: Oliver Abigail , Pile Victoria , Elm Deborah , Lau Jennifer Y. F.
Published: September 2019

Purpose of Review

Adolescent depression is a major public health concern associated with severe outcomes. A lack of efficacious interventions has triggered an increase in cognitive neuropsychology research to identify relevant treatment targets for new interventions. This review summarises key neurocognitive findings in adolescent depression and explores the potential of neurocognitive markers as treatment targets in new interventions.

Recent Findings

Studies support difficulties in the voluntary deployment of attention towards and away from emotional stimuli, negative interpretation biases and overgeneralised autobiographical memories in adolescent depression; however, little evidence is given to a general decline in executive function. There is consistent evidence for abnormalities in several distributed neural networks in adolescent depression, including dysfunction in and between the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum.

The relationships between different cognitive biases and abnormalities in specific neural networks remain unclear. Several new experimental interventions targeting these neurocognitive markers await evaluation.
Videodialysis: a pilot experience of telecare for assisted peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Viglino Giusto , Neri Loris , Barbieri Sara , Tortone Catia
Published: September 2019

Background

We report our experience with Videodialysis (VD), a new telemedicine system created in our Center to overcome physical, cognitive and psychological barriers to PD.

Methods

We analyzed the technical and clinical care results of VD in the period from 01/01/2009 to 12/31/2018.

Results

The VD components are: a Remote Station at the patient’s home (video camera, monitor, microphone, technological connectivity box), and a Control Station in the Center (PC with high resolution monitor, webcam, speakerphone) with software that manages 6 audio-video connections simultaneously as well as the Remote Station video cameras. In 2015 a second model of VD was designed to further improve ease of transport, installation, user interface, software functionality and connectivity. VD proved to be highly reliable during 21,000 connections, and easy to use by patients/caregivers without technological skills. During the observational period, 107 patients started PD; of these 77 had barriers to PD: in 15 we overcame the barriers by VD-Assisted PD and in 62 we used other modalities of Assisted PD. During a follow-up of 285 months on VD-Assisted, 5 patients died, 3 were transferred to HD (UFF; leakage; onset of barriers insurmountable with VD), 3 to traditional Assisted PD and 4 remained on VD-Assisted PD. Peritonitis incidence in VD-Assisted PD was 1/84.2 pt/mths, not significantly different to that of the patients not using VD. Sense of confidence was the aspect most highly-appreciated by VD-Assisted PD patients.

Conclusions

VD-Assisted PD is a reliable, safe system which requires no technological know-how and it is easy to use when self-care is not possible due to physical, cognitive or psychological barriers.
The complexity of consent and privacy in biometrics – worldwide
Authors: Petersen John
Published: September 2019

In a recent discussion with an acquaintance, I asked the following privacy question: would it concern you if a biometric template of yourself any biometric was stored by a responsible third party like a bank, healthcare provider or government agency? Interestingly, their reply was cautious, couched with a number of caveats primarily around consent and how securely this template would be stored. This underlying concern was based on the assumption that if the template was somehow stolen, my acquaintance's very existence would be terminally compromised. The answer was not particularly surprising, and I suspect representative of many people's understanding of the nature and use of biometric data.
Why face recognition accuracy varies due to race
Authors: Bowyer Kevin , King Michael
Published: September 2019

The varying accuracy of face recognition across race and gender has attracted a good deal of media attention. Publications ranging from the New York Times to Wired have carried headlines like ‘Facial Recognition Is Accurate, if You're a White Guy’ and ‘The best algorithms still struggle to recognize black faces equally’ 1, 2, 3 . Press releases by organisations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Georgetown Law Center on Privacy & Technology 4, 5 have spurred some of this media coverage – which at times has been more sensationalised than well-informed about the technology.
Ideological Representation: Achieved and Astray
Authors: Powell, Jr G. Bingham
Published: September 2019

Ideological congruence is the term generally used in comparative politics for the representative relationship between the general preferences of citizens and the perceived and stated position of government. This study provides a systematic comparative assessment of success and failure in achieving ideological congruence in nineteen developed parliamentary democracies from 1996 through to 2017. It then deconstructs the processes through which elections can connect citizens and governments into the three major stages: citizens' votes in parliamentary elections; the conversion of those votes into legislative representation; the election of prime ministers by their parliaments and the appointment of cabinet ministers. Analyzing these three stages shows that average distance from the median citizen increases at each stage, with only a few remarkable recoveries once congruence begins to go astray.
Dynamic Communities on the Mesa Verde Cuesta
Authors: Reese Kelsey M. , Glowacki Donna M. , Kohler Timothy A.
Published: September 2019

This article systematically and quantitatively characterizes interaction dynamics and community formation based on changes in spatial patterns of contemporaneous households. We develop and apply a geospatial routine to measure changing extents of household interaction and community formation from AD 600 to 1280 on the Mesa Verde cuesta in southwestern Colorado. Results suggest that household spatial organization was shaped simultaneously by the maintenance of regular social interaction that sustained communities and the need for physical space among households. Between AD 600 and 1200, households balanced these factors by forming an increased number of dispersed communities in response to population growth and variable environmental stressors. However, as population rebounded after the megadrought of the mid-1100s, communities became increasingly compact, disrupting a long-standing equilibrium between household interaction and subsistence space within each community. The vulnerabilities created by this change in community spatial organization were compounded by a cooler climate, drought, violence, and changes in political and ritual organization in the mid-1200s, which ultimately culminated in the complete depopulation of the Mesa Verde cuesta by the end of the thirteenth century.
Dual Hats and Arbitrator Diversity: Goals in Tension
Authors: Crook John R.
Published: September 2019

This essay outlines a quandary facing international investment dispute settlement (IIDS): the tension between the wish to curb “dual hatting” and the wish to increase the diversity of those appointed as arbitrators in IIDS cases. Thoughtful observers are concerned by the effect on IIDS, either in fact or as a matter of appearance, of lawyers who wear “dual hats”—one as arbitrator in IIDS cases, and a second as counsel representing clients in other IIDS matters. Concurrently, other thoughtful observers are concerned that appointments to IIDS predominantly go to a small cadre of established arbitrators caricatured as “pale, male and stale.” This concern has prompted efforts to increase the pool of female and minority arbitrators. However, these individuals would be drawn primarily from the ranks of younger practicing lawyers who must continue to practice unless and until they receive sufficient appointments to make full-time service as arbitrators economically feasible.
Conflicts of Interests: Navigating in the Fog
Authors: Fabri Hélène Ruiz
Published: September 2019

The issue of conflicts of interests has for a long time only been mentioned in passing in relation to recusals of international judges or arbitrators. It now attracts increasing attention, which has two facets. The first one is of normalcy: the exponential growth of international adjudication over the last three decades has turned issues that were previously rather marginal—with few rules, mostly self-regulation, and little institutionalization—into systemic issues. The other dimension is pathological: the feeling that the issue is not properly addressed contributes to the climate of mistrust around international adjudication. More generally, the topic of conflicts of interests turns out to be constantly torn between opposite poles, such as integrity versus quality. These dialectic tensions, which challenge the concept of what makes a good judge or arbitrator, pervade the perception of conflicts of interests as well as their identification and management. Conflicts of interests are an inherently ambiguous issue and exist in a gray zone. The complexity of this phenomenon requires both fine-tuned and rigorous regulation through the use of an array of tools and reforms.
Prevalence of hospital antibiotic use in Argentina, 2018
Authors: Peralta Norma , Camou Belén Ibarra , Leszczuk Karina , Arcidiácono Diego , Lerena Roberto Giordano , Herrera Paula , Cornistein Wanda , Riera Fernando , Cosgrove Sara E. , Fabre Valeria
Published: September 2019

Hospital antibiotic use in Argentina has not been described. We present results of point prevalence surveys on antibiotic use conducted in 109 Argentinian hospitals in November 2018 and submitted to the National Program of Epidemiology and Control of Hospital-Acquired Infections, and we discuss potential areas for improvement.
Influences of Diffuser Vanes Parameters and Impeller Micro Grooves Depth on the Vertically Suspended Centrifugal Pump Performance
Authors: Khoeini D. , Shirani E.
Published: September 2019

Effects of geometric parameters of diffuser vanes as well as impeller micro grooves depth on the performance of a vertically suspended centrifugal pump have been studied. Different diffuser vanes height,leading angles, trailing angles, wrapping angles and furthermore, impeller micro grooves depths have been analyzed thoroughly. Numerical results have been verified by comparing experimental data. Results, without considering cavitation, reveal that diffuser vanes height has the profound impact on the vertically suspended centrifugal pump performance followed by vanes wrapping angle. Additionally, it is observed that delivered head and efficiency of micro-grooved impellers reduce more by flow rate enhancing rather than that of the original impeller.
New records of Neogene Xenarthra (Mammalia) from eastern Puna (Argentina): diversity and biochronology
Authors: Quiñones Sofía I. , Miño-Boilini Ángel R. , Zurita Alfredo E. , Contreras Silvina A. , Luna Carlos A. , Candela Adriana M. , Camacho María , Ercoli Marcos D. , Solís Natalia , Brandoni Diego
Published: September 2019

Xenarthra is an endemic South American lineage of mammals, probably the sister clade of the other placental mammals. The oldest records of Xenarthra are from the latest Paleocene, although its current diversity is much lower than that recorded in some intervals of the Cenozoic Era. A new Neogene Xenarthra (Pilosa and Cingulata) assemblage from two localities of the Argentine Eastern Puna (Calahoyo and Casira) is described. The newly recorded taxa—Cingulata, Dasypodidae, Eutatini:Stenotatussp. indet. and Eutatini indet., Euphractini:Macrochorobates scalabrinii(Moreno and Mercerat, 1891), and Tardigrada, Mylodontinae: cf.Simomylodonsp. indet. andSimomylodoncf.S. uccasamamensisSaint-André et al., 2010—and those already published from Calahoyo—Cingulata:Macrochorobates chapadmalensis(Ameghino, 1908),Eosclerocalyptussp. indet., and Tardigrada, Megatheriidae:Pyramiodontherium bergi(Moreno and Mercerat, 1891)—suggest a middle–late Miocene age for the fossil-bearing levels. In Calahoyo, the presence ofStenotatussp. indet., in addition to some rodents currently under study in the lower levels, suggest a closer similarity with the palaeofauna of Cerdas (southern Bolivia), probably involving the last part of the Miocene Climatic Optimum. The Xenarthra recorded in the middle and upper levels of Calahoyo and Casira suggest a late Miocene–Pliocene age. A comparative analysis between Calahoyo and Casira highlights the absence of Cingulata in the latter and a high diversity in the former. This situation probably indicates different paleoenvironmental conditions. Finally, we present the first certain record of the genusSimomylodonSaint-André et al., 2010 in Argentina, which includes the oldest record of dermal ossicles for sloths in South America.
New rhenopyrgid edrioasteroids (Echinodermata) and their implications for taxonomy, functional morphology, and paleoecology
Authors: Ewin Timothy A. M. , Martin Markus , Isotalo Phillip , Zamora Samuel
Published: September 2019

Rhenopyrgids are rare, turreted edrioasterid edrioasteroids from the lower Paleozoic with a distinctive and apparently conservative morphology. However, new, well-preserved rhenopyrgid edrioasteroid material from Canada, along with a review of described taxa, has revealed broader structural diversity in the oral surface and enabled a re-evaluation of rhenopyrgid functional morphology and paleoecology.

The floor plates inRhenopyrgus vivianin. sp.,R.coronaeformisRievers, 1961 and,R.flosKlug et al., 2008 are well fused to each other and the interradial oral plate and lack obvious sutures, thereby forming a single compound interradial plate. This differs from other rhenopyrgids where sutures are more apparent. Such fused oral surface construction is only otherwise seen in some derived edrioblastoids and in the cyathocystids, suggesting homoplasy.

Our analysis further suggests that the suboral constriction could contract but the flexible pyrgate zone could not. Thus, specimens apparently lacking a sub-oral constriction should not necessarily be placed in separate genera within the Rhenopyrgidae. It also supports rhenopyrgids as epifaunal mud-stickers with only the bulbous, textured, entire holdfasts (coriaceous sacs) anchored within the substrate rather than as burrow dwellers or encrusters.

Rhenopyrgus vivianin. sp. is described from the Telychian (lower Silurian) Jupiter Formation of Anticosti Island, Québec, Canada and is differentiated by a high degree of morphological variability of pedunculate plates, broader oral plates, and narrower distal ambulacral zones. Specimens lacking or with obscured diagnostic plates from the Ordovician of Montagne Noire, France, and the Ordovician and Silurian of Girvan, Scotland are also described.

UUID:http://zoobank.org/7f81d67f-4155-4719-8a45-b278ad70739d
Stellar accelerations and the galactic gravitational field
Authors: Silverwood Hamish , Easther Richard
Published: September 2019

Typical stars in the Milky Way galaxy have velocities of hundreds of kilometres per second and experience gravitational accelerations of $\sim\!10^{-10}~{\rm m\,s}^{-2}$, resulting in velocity changes of a few centimetres per second over a decade. Measurements of these accelerations would permit direct tests of the applicability of Newtonian dynamics on kiloparsec length scales and could reveal significant small-scale inhomogeneities within the galaxy, as well increasing the sensitivity of measurements of the overall mass distribution of the galaxy. Noting that a reasonable extrapolation of progress in exoplanet hunting spectrographs suggests that centimetre per second level precision will be attainable in the coming decade(s), we explore the possibilities such measurements would create. We consider possible confounding effects, including apparent accelerations induced by stellar motion and reflex velocities from planetary systems, along with possible strategies for their mitigation. If these issues can be satisfactorily addressed, it will be possible to use high-precision measurements of changing stellar velocities to perform a ‘blind search’ for dark matter, make direct tests of theories of non-Newtonian gravitational dynamics, detect local inhomogeneities in the dark matter density, and greatly improve measurements of the overall properties of the galaxy.
A low-fat diet up-regulates expression of fatty acid taste receptor gene FFAR4 in fungiform papillae in humans: a co-twin randomised controlled trial
Authors: Costanzo Andrew , Liu Dongli , Nowson Caryl , Duesing Konsta , Archer Nicholas , Bowe Steve , Keast Russell
Published: September 2019

Fatty acid taste (FAT) perception is involved in the regulation of dietary fat intake, where impaired FAT is associated with increased fatty food intake. There are a number of FAT receptors identified on human taste cells that are potentially responsible for FAT perception. Manipulating dietary fat intake, and in turn FAT perception, would elucidate the receptors that are associated with long-term regulation of FAT perception. The present study aimed to assess associations between diet-mediated changes to FAT receptors and FAT perception in humans. A co-twin randomised controlled trial was conducted, where each matching twin within a pair were randomly allocated to either an 8-week low-fat (LF; <20 % energy fat) or an 8-week high-fat (HF; >35 % energy fat) diet. At baseline and week 8, fungiform papillae were biopsied in the fasted state and FAT receptor gene expressions (cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2), FFAR4, G protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84) and a delayed rectifying K+ channel (K+ voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 2; KCNA2)) were measured using RT-PCR; and FAT threshold (FATT) was assessed using three-alternate forced choice methodology. Linear mixed models were fitted, adjusting for correlation between co-twins. Intake was compliant with the study design, with the LF and HF groups consuming 14·8 and 39·9 % energy from fat, respectively. Expression of FFAR4 increased by 38 % in the LF group (P = 0·023; time–diet interaction P = 0·063). ΔFFAR4 (Δ, week 8–baseline) was associated with Δfat intake (g) ( = −159·4; P < 0·001) and ΔFATT ( = −8·8; P = 0·016). In summary, FFAR4 is involved in long-term diet-mediated changes to FAT perception. Manipulating dietary fat intake, and therefore FFAR4 expression, might aid in reducing taste-mediated passive overconsumption of fatty foods.
Anticipated Election Result and Protest Voting: Why and When Canadian Voters Signal Discontent
Authors: Schimpf Christian H.
Published: September 2019

This article investigates how Canadian voters react to a perceived lack of quality provided by their most preferred parties and how the anticipated election outcome conditions the reactions. The central argument is that a lack of quality motivates voters to signal their discontent by voting insincerely—that is, they cast a protest vote. The effect is expected to be moderated by the anticipated constituency result. The arguments are tested with two-wave panel survey data from the 2015 Canadian federal election, collected by the Making Electoral Democracy Work (MEDW) project. The results support the central argument but remain inconclusive about the expected moderating effects.
Analysis of nasal foreign bodies in 341 children
Authors: Lou Z-C
Published: September 2019

Objective

This study aimed to analyse the common presentations and treatment outcomes in cases involving nasal foreign bodies.

Methods

A retrospective study was carried out over three years, from January 2014 to December 2017. Patient biodata, clinical presentation, nasal foreign body type and management outcome data were obtained from the medical records and analysed.

Results

A total of 341 cases were analysed. The average patient age was 3.7 ± 1.2 years (range, 1–19 years).Of the nine cases involving button batteries, septal perforation was initially seen in four cases and three cases had subsequent septal perforation.

Conclusion

Only button battery nasal foreign bodies were associated with increased septal perforation. Use of physiological seawater nasal spray was found to reduce the likelihood of septal perforation. Most nasal foreign bodies could be removed under local anaesthesia.
Cognitive remediation therapy modulates intrinsic neural activity in patients with major depression
Authors: Schneider Isabella , Schmitgen Mike M. , Bach Claudia , Listunova Lena , Kienzle Johanna , Sambataro Fabio , Depping Malte S. , Kubera Katharina M. , Roesch-Ely Daniela , Wolf Robert C.
Published: September 2019

Background

Cognitive impairment is a core feature of major depressive disorder (MDD). Cognitive remediation may improve cognition in MDD, yet so far, the underlying neural mechanisms are unclear. This study investigated changes in intrinsic neural activity in MDD after a cognitive remediation trial.

Methods

In a longitudinal design, 20 patients with MDD and pronounced cognitive deficits and 18 healthy controls (HC) were examined using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. MDD patients received structured cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) over 5 weeks. The whole-brain fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations was computed before the first and after the last training session. Univariate methods were used to address regionally-specific effects, and a multivariate data analysis strategy was employed to investigate functional network strength (FNS).

Results

MDD patients significantly improved in cognitive function after CRT. Baseline comparisons revealed increased right caudate activity and reduced activity in the left frontal cortex, parietal lobule, insula, and precuneus in MDD compared to HC. In patients, reduced FNS was found in a bilateral prefrontal system at baseline (p < 0.05, uncorrected). In MDD, intrinsic neural activity increased in right inferior frontal gyrus after CRT (p < 0.05, small volume corrected). Left inferior parietal lobule, left insula, left precuneus, and right caudate activity showed associations with cognitive improvement (p < 0.05, uncorrected). Prefrontal network strength increased in patients after CRT, but this increase was not associated with improved cognitive performance.

Conclusions

Our findings support the role of intrinsic neural activity of the prefrontal cortex as a possible mediator of cognitive improvement following CRT in MDD.
‘To thine own self be true’: The perceived meanings and functions of political consistency
Authors: Friedman Elie , Kampf Zohar
Published: September 2019

Being perceived as consistent is a crucial concern for political actors’ in their efforts to mobilize public opinion. This study comprises an analysis of the self-reflexive performance of consistency by Israeli politicians, focusing on the definitions and types of ‘consistency’ in political talk and their consequences. Through an analysis of 194 meta-discursive statements between 2006 and 2017, we illustrate that consistency constitutes a spatiotemporal coordination among cognitions, actions (words and deeds), and the external world, while also being viewed as potentially transforming political reality. Perceived as a sought-after value indicative of truth-telling, determination, and clarity, political actors view consistency as an essential character trait, associated with ideological fortitude, and a basis for practical policy realization. (Consistency, ideology, political discourse, meta-discourse)*