bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation in human placenta: a hidden link with β-hCG expression
Authors: Nadhan Revathy , Vaman Jayashree Vijaya , Sengodan Satheesh Kumar , Hemalatha Sreelatha Krishnakumar , Chellappan Nirmala , Sadasivan Santha , Pasuthottiyil Varkey Aysha , Yesodharan Sreelekha , Raji Sathyanpillai Krishnapriya , Bhuvaneswari Venugopal Amritha Krishna , Prameelakumari Sreenivasan Sreevidya , Rajan Arathi , Latha Neetha Rajan , Varghese Geetu Rose , Thankappan Ratheeshkumar , Achyutuni Sarada , Sreekumar Usha Jithin Dev , Vijayamma Anilkumar Thapasimuthu , Srinivas Priya
Published: June 2019

Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) are group of pregnancy-related tumors characterized by abnormal levels of ‘β-hCG’ with higher incidence in South-East Asia, especially India. Our laboratory has reported that wild-type BRCA1 transcriptionally regulates β-hCG in triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs). These factors culminated into analysis of BRCA1 status in GTD, which would emanate into elucidation of BRCA1- β-hCG relationship and unraveling etio-pathology of GTD. BRCA1 level in GTD is down-regulated due to the over-expression of DNMT3b and subsequent promoter hypermethylation, when compared to the normal placentae accompanied with its shift in localization. There is an inverse correlation of serum β-hCG levels with BRCA1 mRNA expression. The effects of methotrexate (MTX), which is the first-line chemotherapeutic used for GTD treatment, when analyzed in comparison with plumbagin (PB) revealed that PB alone is efficient than MTX alone or MTX-PB in combination, in showing selective cytotoxicity against GTD. Interestingly, PB increases BRCA1 levels post-treatment, altering DNMT3b levels and resultant BRCA1 promoter methylation. Also, cohort study analyzed the incidence of GTD at Sree Avittom Thirunal (SAT) Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, which points out that 11.5% of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) cases were referred to Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, for examination of breast lumps. This has lend clues to supervene the risk of GTD patients towards BRCA1-associated diseases and unveil novel therapeutic for GTD, a plant-derived naphthoquinone, PB, already reported as selectively cytotoxic against BRCA1 defective tumors.
Declines in Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis in the Republic of Benin Following Introduction of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: Epidemiological and Etiological Findings, 2011–2016
Authors: Agossou Joseph , Ebruke Chinelo , Noudamadjo Alphonse , Adédémy Julien D , Dènon Eric Y , Bankolé Honoré S , Dogo Mariam A , Assogba Rolande , Alassane Moussa , Condé Abdoullah , Mohamed Falilatou Agbeille , Kpanidja Gérard , Gomina Moutawakilou , Hounsou François , Aouanou Basile G , Okoi Catherine , Oluwalana Claire , Worwui Archibald , Ndow Peter S , Nounagnon Jean , Mwenda Jason M , Sossou Rock A , Kwambana-Adams Brenda A , Antonio Martin
Published: June 2019

Background

Pediatric bacterial meningitis (PBM) remains an important cause of disease in children in Africa. We describe findings from sentinel site bacterial meningitis surveillance in children <5 years of age in the Republic of Benin, 2011–2016.

Methods

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from children admitted to Parakou, Natitingou, and Tanguieta sentinel hospitals with suspected meningitis. Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) was performed by rapid diagnostic tests, microbiological culture, and/or polymerase chain reaction; where possible, serotyping/grouping was performed.

Results

A total of 10 919 suspected cases of meningitis were admitted to the sentinel hospitals. Most patients were 0–11 months old (4863 [44.5%]) and there were 542 (5.0%) in-hospital deaths. Overall, 4168 CSF samples were screened for pathogens and a total of 194 (4.7%) PBM cases were confirmed, predominantly caused by pneumococcus (98 [50.5%]). Following pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) introduction in 2011, annual suspected meningitis cases and deaths (case fatality rate) progressively declined from 2534 to 1359 and from 164 (6.5%) to 14 (1.0%) in 2012 and 2016, respectively (P < .001). Additionally, there was a gradual decline in the proportion of meningitis cases caused by pneumococcus, from 77.3% (17/22) in 2011 to 32.4% (11/34) in 2016 (odds ratio, 7.11 [95% confidence interval, 2.08–24.30]). Haemophilus influenzae meningitis fluctuated over the surveillance period and was the predominant pathogen (16/34 [47.1%]) by 2016.

Conclusions

The observed decrease in pneumococcal meningitis after PCV introduction may be indicative of changing patterns of PBM etiology in Benin. Maintaining vigilant and effective surveillance is critical for understanding these changes and their wider public health implications.
Optimizing Strategies for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Screening in Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Modeling Study
Authors: Voirin Nicolas , Allam Camille , Charre Caroline , Fernandez Christine , Godinot Matthieu , Oria Fatima , Pansu Aymeric , Chidiac Christian , Salord Hélène , Cotte Laurent
Published: June 2019

Background

International guidelines recommend the systematic screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections in all men who have sex with men (MSM) who have engaged in unprotected sex. However, the optimal screening strategy remains unclear. We developed a modeling approach to optimize NG/CT screening strategy in MSM.

Methods

A compartmental model of NG/CT screening and infection was implemented. NG/CT anal, pharyngeal, and urine (APU) samples from MSM attending the sexually transmitted infections clinic were used to estimate the screening rate, prevalence, and incidence in a base case scenario. Different screening strategies (scenarios; S) were then evaluated: APU samples every 12 months (S1); APU samples every 3 months (S2); APU samples every 6 months (S3); anal and pharyngeal (AP) samples every 6 months (S4); and AP samples every 3 months (S5).

Results

We analyzed 2973 triplet APU samples from 1255 patients. We observed 485 NG and 379 CT diagnoses. NG/CT prevalence and incidence estimates were 12.0/11.1% and 40/29 per 100 person-years, respectively, in the base case scenario. As compared to S2, the reference strategy, the proportions of missed NG/CT diagnoses were 42.0/41.2% with S1, 21.8/22.5% with S3, 25.6/28.3% with S4, and 6.3/10.5% with S5, respectively. As compared to S2, S1 reduced the cost of the analysis by 74%, S3 by 50%, S4 by 66%, and S5 by 33%. The numbers needed to screen for catching up the missed NG/CT diagnoses were 49/67 with S1, 62/82 with S3, 71/87 with S4, and 143/118 with S5.

Conclusions

S5 appears to be the best strategy, missing only 6.3/10.5% of NG/CT diagnoses, for a cost reduction of 33%.
Small steps towards the potential of ‘preventive’ treatment of early phosphate loading in chronic kidney disease patients
Authors: Bover Jordi , Cozzolino Mario
Published: June 2019

Few clinical studies have investigated the value of phosphate (P)-lowering therapies in early chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in whom hyperphosphataemia has not yet clearly developed and they report conflicting and even unexpected results. In this issue of Clinical Kidney Journal, de Krijger et al. found that sevelamer carbonate (4.8 g/day for 8 weeks) did not induce a significant reduction of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and that fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) did not decrease despite a decline in 24-h urine P excretion. To some extent these findings challenge the concept that ‘preventive’ P binder therapy to lower FGF23 is a useful approach, at least over this short period of time. Interestingly, in a subgroup of patients with absent or limited abdominal vascular calcification, treatment did result in a statistically significant reduction in adjusted PWV, suggesting that PWV is amenable to improvement in this subset. Interpretation of the scarce and heterogeneous observations described in early CKD remains difficult and causality and/or the possibility of ‘preventive’ treatment may not yet be completely disregarded. Moreover, de Krijger et al. contribute to the identification of new sources of bias and methodological issues that may lead to more personalized treatments, always bearing in mind that not all patients and not all P binders are equal.
Utilization and outcomes of early respiratory support in 6.5 million acute heart failure hospitalizations
Authors: Metkus Thomas S , Stephens Robert Scott , Schulman Steven , Hsu Steven , Morrow David A , Eid Shaker M
Published: June 2019

Aims 

The incidence and outcomes of a requirement for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in acute heart failure (AHF) hospitalization are not clearly established. Thus, we aimed to characterize the incidence and trends in use of IMV and NIV in AHF and to estimate the magnitude of hazard for mortality associated with requiring IMV and NIV in AHF.

Methods and results 

We used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify AHF hospitalizations between 2008 and 2014. The exposure variable of interest was IMV or NIV use within 24 h of hospital admission compared to no respiratory support. We analysed the association between ventilation strategies and in-hospital mortality using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. We included 6 534 675 hospitalizations for AHF. Of these, 271 589 (4.16%) included NIV and 51 459 (0.79%) included IMV within the first 24 h of hospitalization and rates of NIV and IMV use increased over time. In-hospital mortality for AHF hospitalizations including NIV was 5.0% and 27% for IMV compared with 2.1% for neither (P < 0.001 for both). In an adjusted model, requirement for NIV was associated with over two-fold higher risk for in-hospital mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.01–2.19; P < 0.001] and requirement for IMV was associated with over three-fold higher risk for in-hospital mortality (HR 3.39, 95% CI 3.14–3.66; P < 0.001).

Conclusion 

Respiratory support is used in many AHF hospitalizations, and AHF patients who require respiratory support are at high risk for in-hospital mortality. Our work should inform prospective intervention trials and quality improvement ventures in this high-risk population.
Diversity of deep-water coral-associated bacteria and comparison across depth gradients
Authors: Jensen Sigmund , Hovland Martin , Lynch Michael D J , Bourne David G
Published: June 2019

Environmental conditions influence species composition, including the microbial communities that associate with benthic organisms such as corals. In this study we identified and compared bacteria that associate with three common deep-water corals, Lophelia pertusa, Madrepora oculata and Paragorgia arborea, from a reef habitat on the mid-Norwegian shelf. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data obtained revealed that >50% of sequences were represented by only five operational taxonomic units. Three were host-specific and unclassified below class level, belonging to Alphaproteobacteria with affiliation to members of the Rhizobiales order (L. pertusa), Flavobacteria affiliated with members of the Elisabethkingia genus (M. oculata) and Mollicutes sequences affiliated with the Mycoplasma genus (P. arborea). In addition, gammaproteobacterial sequences within the genera Sulfitobacter and Oleispira were found across all three deep-water coral taxa. Although highly abundant in the coral microbiomes, these sequences accounted for <0.1% of the surrounding bacterioplankton, supporting specific relationships. We combined this information with previous studies, undertaking a meta-data analysis of 165 widespread samples across coral hosts and habitats. Patterns in bacterial diversity indicated enrichment of distinct uncultured species in coral microbiomes that differed among deep (>200 m), mesophotic (30–200 m) and shallow (<30 m) reefs.
Genome-wide screening antifungal genes in Streptomyces griseus S4-7, a Fusarium wilt disease suppressive microbial agent
Authors: Hong Sung Won , Kim Da-Ran , Kwon Youn Sang , Kwak Youn-Sig
Published: June 2019

Streptomyces is a widely studied bacterial genus, particularly with regard to secondary metabolites and antibiotics production. Streptomyces griseus S4–7 was isolated from a strawberry Fusarium wilt disease suppressive soil, and its biological control ability has been well established. However, the antifungal mechanism of strain S4–7 is not yet fully understood at the molecular and biochemical level. Therefore, in this study we created a random mutant library for strain S4–7 with the Tn5 transposon element to investigate antifungal traits on a genome-wide scale. In total 4646 individual mutant strains were created and 13 mutants were selected based on loss of antifungal activity. The knockout genes were identified as electron transfer oxidoreductase (eto),sigma factor-70(sig70) and nrps by Inverse PCR (I-PCR). eto regulates the geranylgeranyl reductase gene, which is involved in terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, an important factor in cell fitness. In the △eto strain, expression of wbl, a master regulator of the production of secondary metabolites, was significantly reduced. sig70 is responsible for the cell differentiation sensing mechanism in genus Streptomyces. △nrps showed decreased production of hybrid peptide-polyketide siderophores. These results suggest that S. griseus S4–7 may have various antifungal mechanisms, and each mechanism is essential to maximal antifungal activity.
Prevalence and determinants of poor sleep quality and depression among postpartum women: a community-based study in Ramechhap district, Nepal
Authors: Khadka Roshan , Hong Seo Ah , Chang Yan-Shing
Published: June 2019

Background

Due to the limited number of studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), this study aimed to identify the prevalence and determinants of postpartum poor maternal sleep and depression.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 380 women who were 2–12 months postpartum in March and April 2017 in Ramechhap district, Nepal. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors.

Results

The prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression was 28.2% and 18.7%, respectively. Poor sleep quality was associated with having an occupation (in government or business, odds ratio [OR] 6.69; in agriculture/labour, OR 15.5), a male infant (OR 2.37), home delivery (OR 2.17), mental illness during pregnancy (OR 5.87), complications after delivery (OR 5.58) and postpartum depression (OR 2.86). Meanwhile, postpartum depression was associated with having no post-natal care (OR 98.7), living in a nuclear family (OR 48.5), living in a rural area (OR 26.6), having a male infant (OR 4.61), having complications after delivery (OR 21.9), introducing complementary foods before 6 months of age (OR 4.71) and having poor sleep quality (OR 3.20).

Conclusions

A relatively high prevalence of depression and poor sleep quality were found. The close positive association between poor sleep quality and depression suggests the need for early identification and support for women at risk of poor sleep quality and depression in Nepal.
Surgical Evaluation of Flame Burn Injuries in Syrian Civilians
Authors: Ucak Murat , Celikkaya Mehmet Emin
Published: June 2019

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the severity and location of flame burns and the mortality rate of civilians affected by these in the Syrian Civil War and to present the surgical treatment outcomes of the injured civilians to be able to provide recommendations. This was a prospective hospital-based observational cohort study involving 573 patients with data collected from 2011 to 2018. All of these patients were Syrian civilians, and their flame burn injuries were related to the Syrian conflict. All burns were divided into four subgroups according to TBSA and compared. The groups of TBSA were compared as 0 to 25% (n = 97), 25 to 50% (n = 257), 50 to 75% (n = 135), and >75% (n = 84) (P = .413). Almost all had a second (n = 331; 57.7%) and third (n = 189; 32.9%) degree deep burns. The median burn size was 47% TBSA in the patients. The burn mechanism was mostly the flame type of burn (n = 467; 81.5%) as a result of fuel oil explosions, followed by bomb-related burns (n = 106; 18.5%) (P < .001). Mortality was seen in 223 (39%) due to the high surface area and reaching hospital too late at 1 to 8 days (P = .187). The findings of this study indicate that war-related flame burns result in an extremely high mortality rate and time is lost, which could protect against life-threatening outcomes.
An introductory review of resistant starch type 2 from high-amylose cereal grains and its effect on glucose and insulin homeostasis
Authors: Harris Kathryn F
Published: June 2019

Refined carbohydrates result from milling techniques that remove the outer layers of a cereal grain and grind the endosperm into a flour ingredient that is devoid of dietary fiber. Technologies have been developed to produce high-amylose cereal grains that have a significantly higher resistant starch type 2 and thus dietary fiber content in the endosperm of the cereal grain, which has positive implications for human health. A review of the literature was conducted to study the effects of resistant starch type 2 derived from high-amylose grains on glucose and insulin response. While thousands of articles have been published on resistant starch, only 30 articles have focused on how resistant starch type 2 from high-amylose grains affects acute and long-term responses of glucose and insulin control. The findings showed that resistant starch has the ability to attenuate acute postprandial responses when replacing rapidly digestible carbohydrate sources, but there is insufficient evidence to conclude that resistant starch can improve insulin resistance and/or sensitivity.
Gossip and Reputation in Social Dilemmas
Authors: Milinski Manfred
Published: June 2019

In a social dilemma the interest of the individual is in conflict with that of the group. However, individuals will help their group, if they gain in reputation that pays off later. Future partners can observe cooperative or defective behavior or, more likely, hear about it through gossip. In Indirect Reciprocity games, Public Goods games, and Trust games gossip may be the only information a participant can use to decide whether she can trust her interaction partner and give away her holdings hoping for reciprocation. Even the mere potential for gossip can increase trust and trustworthiness thus promoting cooperation. Gossip is a cheap mechanism for disciplining free riders, potentially even extortioners. The temptation for manipulative gossip defines the gossiper’s dilemma. Psychological adaptations for assessing gossip veracity help to avoid being manipulated. The danger of false gossip is reduced when multiple gossips exist.
Gossip and Reputation in Adolescent Networks
Authors: Kisfalusi Dorottya , Takács Károly , Pál Judit
Published: June 2019

Adolescence is an important age of development when collective norms emerge, social exclusion often takes place, and competition for reputation is relatively intense. Negative gossip is used with increasing intentionality to interfere in these processes. At the same time, being the object of negative gossip undermines chances to obtain good reputation. This chapter reviews the role of gossiping in the formation of informal status relations of adolescents. It provides an overview of theoretical explanations and empirical findings on how reputation and gossip are related with a special focus on the school context. It presents recent methodological advancements of social network methods used for analyzing the complex interrelated dynamics of gossip, reputation, and peer relations among adolescents. As an illustration, the chapter shows that malicious gossip leads to disdain while disdain induces malicious gossip in a longitudinal analysis of Hungarian secondary school classes. Finally, it discusses the theoretical and practical implications of our illustrative analysis and formulate suggestions for future research.
The Economics of Gossip and Collective Reputation
Authors: Boffa Federico , Castriota Stefano
Published: June 2019

This chapter deals with reputation with a strong focus on the reputation of firms—groups or coalitions. To that end, the chapter heavily draws on the economic literature. The first section illustrates the three main sources of reputation (i.e., individual, collective, and institutional) and shows how reputation develops, why it matters, and how it can be preserved. The section then focuses on collective and institutional reputations and discusses the major problems arising with them, that is, free-riding and opportunistic behavior. In the second section, we move to the relation between reputation and gossip. We discuss some basic principles of social learning and then move to the analysis of word-of-mouth, a notion that shares many similarities with gossip. Finally, we illustrate the link between individual and collective reputation, on the one hand, and word-of-mouth, on the other, where fakery is an important issue to be dealt with.
Gossip and Reputation in Social Networks
Authors: Ellwardt Lea
Published: June 2019

This contribution suggests and defends two propositions. First, gossip and reputation are coevolving relational phenomena, which conceptually overlap and empirically reinforce one another. Second, this coevolution is shaped by the opportunity and constraint structure of the social networks (e.g., organizations) in which these phenomena are typically embedded. The chapter presents theorizing, measures, and empirical findings on information sharing along three analytical levels. At the macro level, global structures describe overall network characteristics, such as density; at the meso level, local structures concern triadic configurations, like transitivity and clustering; at the micro level, individual structures cover ego-centric measures, including actor centrality and betweenness. The overview closes with three major suggestions for future research avenues on the study of gossip and reputation from a social network perspective.
Reputation in Moral Philosophy and Epistemology
Authors: Origgi Gloria
Published: June 2019

This chapter analyzes the philosophical import of the notion of reputation along two main axes: (1) reputation as a motivation for action, and (2) reputation as a special kind of social information. Is reputation a rational motive of action? Can it be an ultimate aim or is it always reducible to some kind of self-interest? Is reputation a rational means to extract information from the social world? Should we rely on other’s evaluations? By reconstructing the philosophy of reputation in the history of thought and analyzing the contemporary approaches to reputation in philosophy, the chapter also provides also some rudiments of an “epistemology of reputation.”
International Treaties and The German Constitution
Authors: Kadelbach Stefan
Published: June 2019

This chapter deals with the making, status, and interpretation of international treaties under the German Constitution. It describes the interrelationship of the different institutions in treaty-making and shows how a comparatively old provision of the German Basic Law has been adapted slowly to new circumstances over the past decades. Thus, even though foreign affairs has remained a domain of the executive, several developments have contributed to an enhanced role of Parliament over time. These developments are partly due to the role of special sectors of law such as EU law and the law governing the use of force and partly due to changes in constitutional practice. As for the status of treaties in German law, the Federal Constitutional Court has developed a stance according to which treaties generally share the rank of the legal act that implements them into domestic law. A notable exception is the European Convention of Human Rights, which has assumed a quasi-constitutional rank by means of consistent interpretation. Some reference is made to other continental systems to assess how far different constitutions bring about certain features; various systems appear similar in many respects at first sight, whereas features in which they differ may be a source of inspiration for future constitutional practice.
Spanish Foreign Relations Law and the Process for Making Treaties and other International Agreements
Authors: Espósito Carlos
Published: June 2019

This chapter explores the concept of a Spanish foreign relations law in two ways. First, it discusses scholarly texts on matters related to foreign relations law, domestic case law on the principle of universal jurisdiction, and national legislation on state immunity as evidence of a Spanish foreign relations law. Second, it deals with the process under Spanish law for making treaties and other international agreements, and issues arising from the conclusion and enforcement of the law of treaties in relation to autonomous communities. The chapter suggests that the Spanish conception of foreign relations law can be described as predominantly internationalist, with elements of allocative, constitutional, and diplomatic functions.
Incorporation and Implementation of Treaties in South Korea
Authors: Lee Jaemin
Published: June 2019

This chapter explains South Korea’s approach to incorporating and implementing treaties within its domestic legal system. The chapter begins by explaining the hierarchy of the legal system in Korea with specific reference to where treaties stand in the system. Treaties duly concluded automatically become part of the domestic law under the monistic approach adopted by the Korean Constitution. More specifically, the prevailing view in Korea is that treaties ratified with the consent of the National Assembly are deemed to have the same legal status as acts or statutes. Simplified treaties without ratification proceedings, hence without legislative consent, are considered to have the status of presidential decrees or enforcement decrees under acts or statutes. Due to the increasing interaction between treaties and municipal law, recent South Korean court cases attempt to clarify other outstanding legal issues, such as the distinction between self-executing and non-self-executing treaties, and the scope of individual persons’ claims under treaties. It is expected that more challenges will be raised in the executive branch and the legislature as well as the judiciary as domestic stakeholders are increasingly affected by a myriad of treaties, in particular free trade agreements and international investment agreements. Having realized the direct impact from treaties, domestic interest groups are now keen to provide their observations and views during negotiations and to scrutinize the implementing legislation of the government after the conclusion. Thus, while the constitutional framework of treaty conclusion has remained largely the same since 1948, the domestic legal and political landscapes for treaty negotiation, conclusion, and implementation are undergoing significant changes.
Making Treaties and Other International Agreements
Authors: Cremona Marise
Published: June 2019

This chapter examines the foreign relations law of the European Union concerning the making of treaties and other international agreements. It first outlines the sources of EU law on treaty-making and the legal and constitutional context in which EU treaty-making takes place. It then turns to the law relating to the process of treaty negotiation and to the signature, provisional application, and conclusion of treaties, identifying the ways in which the specific legal characteristics of the European Union as a treaty maker are reflected in its foreign relations law. These include the principle of conferred powers, whereby all treaty-making power must be conferred expressly or impliedly by the EU Treaties, and the institutional balance of powers. For the European Union, treaty-making is not a manifestation of sovereignty and cannot be regarded as simply a matter of executive discretion; the policy balance of a projected treaty and its relation to the European Union’s general objectives may be subject to judicial assessment. The member states remain sovereign subjects of international law and, as a matter of EU law, the European Union’s external powers do not necessarily displace those of the member states. As a result, the European Union and member states will often enter into treaties together, although there are no formal rules in the EU system, apart from the general mutual duties of cooperation, governing the negotiation and conclusion of such “mixed agreements.”
Foreign Affairs Federalism in the United States
Authors: Young Ernest A.
Published: June 2019

Although the American Founders intended to centralize power over foreign affairs in the national government, the modern reality is considerably more complex. To be sure, the national government dominates the core of foreign affairs: the conduct of foreign policy toward other nations. Yet even here, states and municipalities intrude from time to time. More broadly, state and local governments remain important players in areas such as immigration and commercial regulation that have important international dimensions. Federalism constrains—legally and especially politically—the international agreements that the national government can enter into, and central authorities remain dependent on state and local officials to implement many important international commitments. Internal and external forces have combined to make a multilayered approach to foreign affairs inevitable in the United States. Internal forces include the constitutional structure itself, which stops short of giving exclusive foreign affairs powers to the national government and reserves important authority to the states, as well as the more contemporary impact of polarization in American political life. On the external side, globalization has blurred the very distinction between foreign and domestic affairs, and international law’s increasing preoccupation with nations’ treatment of their own citizens has rendered many traditional areas of state governance subjects of international concern.
Federalism and Foreign Affairs in Canada
Authors: Côté Charles-Emmanuel
Published: June 2019

This chapter studies the interplay between federalism and foreign relations law in Canada. As the chapter notes, since Confederation and despite lengthy constitutional talks and the coming of the age of globalization, foreign affairs federalism in Canada remains characterized by the absence of written constitutional rules, the lack of institutionalization, and the important role of government practice in filling that void. Despite past controversies over the Labour Conventions case, the provincial power to implement treaties did not cause any serious foreign relations difficulties, and Canada was able to play an active role as a middle power on the international stage. Nevertheless, the current political and legal framework is such that problems can arise from time to time in the conduct of foreign affairs, if international obligations are incurred without substantial provincial support. Prior consultations with provinces are crucial, and the formulation of treaty reservations may be necessary in some cases. The insufficient political will to better institutionalize cooperation between Ottawa and the provinces in the conduct of foreign affairs continues to be surprising, especially in the light of positive sectoral or ad hoc initiatives. The positive role that provincial paradiplomacy may play in expanding the global influence of Canada could also be better embraced. The emerging obligation to consult with Aboriginal peoples stands in stark contrast with the lack of institutionalization of federal-provincial cooperation on foreign affairs.
International Law in Chinese Courts
Authors: Cai Congyan
Published: June 2019

This chapter adds a Chinese perspective to the comparative study of how national courts treat international law. The chapter finds that the application of international law in Chinese courts is influenced by several major factors, including China’s ambivalence toward international law, the role that the judiciary plays in China’s national governance, and the professional competence of Chinese judges. In particular, the failure of China’s Constitution to specify the status of international law makes secondary laws less likely to embrace international law: many secondary laws do not mention international law at all; only a modest number of secondary laws automatically incorporate international law. This also means that Chinese judges are discouraged from invoking international law in adjudicating disputes. However, in line with and in support of China’s economic opening policy since the late 1970s, Chinese judges regularly apply those treaties that deal with commercial relations between private actors. A major development is that, as China rises as a great power, Chinese courts have begun to prudently become more involved in foreign relations by applying international law.
The Application of International Law by the Court of Justice of the European Union
Authors: Mendez Mario
Published: June 2019

This chapter assesses three key strands in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning a central dimension of foreign relations law, namely, the application of international law. The first section focuses on how the Court has reviewed the compatibility of EU-concluded treaties or envisaged treaties with the European Union’s constitutional text and also the review of treaties concluded by the member states. Judicial review powers in relation to treaties have increasingly been included in constitutional texts, but the European Union is distinctive in that its Court of Justice has regularly been called upon to exercise this form of jurisdiction, thus offering potentially valuable foreign relations law insights for constitutional design and practice in other constitutional systems. The second section focuses on the judicial enforcement of treaties and identifies a spate of recent rulings where more international law friendly outcomes would have been possible. A briefer third section focuses on the application of customary international law and highlights in particular the high threshold set for judicial review vis-à-vis such norms. The recent judicial developments identified in each of the respective three sections of this chapter have increasingly been deployed to challenge the traditionally dominant narrative in EU law scholarship of a Court of Justice that adopts a markedly international law friendly approach.
Comparative Foreign Relations Law
Authors: Ginsburg Tom
Published: June 2019

This chapter considers how comparative foreign relations law might draw on the comparative study of national constitutions, an increasingly large and vital field, and sets out an agenda for future work in the area. It provides some basic data from a comparative examination of formal constitutional provisions relevant to foreign relations. In doing so, it argues that a “foreign relations lens” helps elucidate an underappreciated core purpose of these foundational texts. That is, one of the central functions of national constitutions is to structure international relations. The chapter next turns to normative considerations, showing how the shifting boundaries of constitutional design with regard to foreign relations serve to allocate lawmaking authority. There is a potential for complementarity between international and domestic regulation of some problems, but also the potential that international and domestic norms serve as substitutes for each other. An optimal constitutional design of foreign relations law would take these considerations into account.
Assertion and the Future
Authors: Besson Corine , Hattiangadi Anandi
Published: June 2019

It is disputed what norm, if any, governs assertion. We address this question by looking at assertions of future contingents: statements about the future that are neither metaphysically necessary nor metaphysically impossible. Many philosophers think that future contingents are not truth apt, which together with a Truth Norm or a Knowledge Norm of assertion implies that assertions of these future contingents are systematically infelicitous.In this article, we argue that our practice of asserting future contingents is incompatible with the view that they are not truth apt. We consider a range of norms of assertion and argue that the best explanation of the data is provided by the view that assertion is governed by the Knowledge Norm.
Formal Models of Assertion
Authors: Olsson Erik J.
Published: June 2019

This article provides an overview of different formal models that could be of interest to epistemologists interested in assertion. It also says something about where they fit into the general picture of assertion as a phenomenon involving both an asserter and an assertee. The author’s perspective is that of the philosopher rather than that of the logician. A semiformal level of description is employed, partly because some models are highly complex and merely introducing the basic formal machinery, let alone some elementary results or proofs, would consume too much space. The term “formal” is used in a broad sense to include theories that have mathematical or logical elements, even if they are not completely formal. The discussions cover Bayesian models of assertion and logical models.
The Child Protection System
Authors: Gelles Richard J.
Published: June 2019

This chapter examines the child protective system in the United States by first examining the scaffolding created by federal legislation and federal funding. Next, it reviews three significant Supreme Court decisions that bear on the operation of child protective service systems. Lastly, it examines the common process and flow of individual cases of child abuse and neglect from initial reporting, through investigation, service response, possible out-of-home placement, and finally decisions regarding when and why to close the case. The conclusion discusses the three core goals of the child protective service system: safety and wellbeing of children; permanency of caregiving; and family preservation.
Race and Education
Authors: Muñiz Raquel , Frankenberg Erica
Published: June 2019

In 1954, the Supreme Court overturned the long-held legal doctrine of “separate but equal” in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, holding that separate facilities for black and white students were inherently unequal, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Brown marked the beginning of the civil rights era, an era in which the Supreme Court would no longer tolerate dual school systems separated along racial lines. However, the progress toward unitary school systems plateaued and seemed to reverse itself in the 1970s. This chapter reviews the legal and extra-legal developments that have complicated full integration. It suggests pursuing legal and political efforts at federal, state, and local levels—voluntary integration plans and inclusive policies, mediation, and litigation at the federal and state levels—to eradicate segregation and fulfill the promise of Brown in the increasingly diverse society of the twenty-first century in US public schools.
Children’s Religious Freedom in State Schools
Authors: Hunter-Henin Myriam
Published: June 2019

This chapter focuses on children’s rights to religious freedom raised against state policies in state schools. It analyzes the distinction usually drawn between religious education (RE) courses and others. Most legal systems will allow non-denominational RE courses in state schools provided they are accompanied with rights to opt out. By contrast, purely “secular” courses will usually be mandatory. This chapter will argue that, assuming that rights to opt out legitimately accompany RE courses, they should also attach to secular courses on ethics and morality. On the contrary, religious and moral implications of scientific theories, such as evolutionary theories, should not give rise to exemption rights. In a second part, the chapter considers religious symbol cases, arguing that whether symbols are state endorsed or worn by pupils, courts should resist the temptation to ascribe unilateral meanings to symbols, but carry out instead a contextual assessment of their impact.
The Intersection between Schools and the Criminal Justice System
Authors: Nance Jason P.
Published: June 2019

This chapter discusses the intersection between schools and the criminal justice system, why this intersection has tightened in recent decades, and the negative consequences associated with this negative trend on individuals, families, and our nation. It also describes how marginalized student groups often suffer disproportionately from these negative trends, leading to further harm. Finally, it discusses initiatives that schools can adopt to promote safe learning environments without resorting to coercive policies that lead to more student involvement in the criminal justice system.
Male Breast Cancer in the Public Imagination
Authors: Sledge Piper
Published: June 2019

Breast cancer in American culture is intrinsically tied to normative ideologies of femininity. Within the highly visible public discourse about breast cancer, men with the disease (both transgender and cisgender) remain nearly invisible. The very presence of breast cancer in men is unthinkable precisely because its presence challenges the association of femininity with breasts. In this chapter I explore the ways that male breast cancer emerges in public discourse in order to explore the ways in normative expectations of masculinity emerge as a narrative framework for bringing trans and cis men into the breast cancer conversation as well as the ways that masculinity is deployed differentially in representing breast cancer in these two groups of men.
The Energy Politics of Latin America
Authors: Gaylord Sylvia
Published: June 2019

Energy policy debates in Latin America are tied to the region’s fundamental policy dilemmas regarding the role of the state and the market in the economy and the quest for inclusive development. The global commodity boom that started in 2003 and lasted a decade allowed socially minded governments to address poverty and inequality and reassert the role of the state in energy resource extraction and management. At the same time, the commodity boom spurred resistance, as broad sectors of society view globalization as a driver of profound change that brings uneven benefits and threatens more disadvantaged sectors of society. This opposition became evident in the increase in social protests against large-scale energy projects, in particular by indigenous communities embracing a new environmental agenda based on identity and human rights.
The Roman Empire in the Book of Revelation
Authors: Hidalgo Jacqueline M.
Published: June 2019

This article surveys the study of the Roman Empire in the Apocalypse of John, particularly as illuminated by postcolonial and decolonial biblical scholarship. The discussion summarizes scholarship that describes how fantastic imagery in the Book of Revelation plays with and responds to Roman imperial histories, rituals, propaganda, and images, especially as found in the imperial cult. The article also charts contemporary scholarly debates over the meaning of Rome in Revelation, particularly as scholars have examined rhetorics of gender and power. Scholars turn to the Roman Empire as a way to decode Revelation’s imagery, like the figure of Babylon, but also to grapple with their own views on empire (ancient and modern), resistance, and the ethics of interpretation. Ultimately, this article argues that the ethics of interpreting empire should be the focus of future scholarship.
Questions and Responses
Authors: Perrone Lorenzo
Published: June 2019

In the history of biblical interpretation, ‘questions and answers’ are both a method of exegesis and a literary genre. Both go back to the classical tradition of Graeco-Roman philosophy and literature, starting with Aristotle’s Poetics. Within Christian exegesis, the method is applied to scriptural passages that are seen as problematic. As a genre, ‘questions and answers’ are not easy to distinguish from other exegetical genres, in particular the scholia.Their target audience is readers who wish to study the Bible more deeply as well as a variety of critics of the Bible. But when the genre takes on more accessible forms like ‘catechisms’, it is able to address a larger audience. Exegesis in the mode of ‘questions and answers’ seems to prefer a literal interpretation, but this is not a fixed rule. The genre enjoyed great success in Greek, Latin and Syriac literature. Though Philo of Alexandria wrote questions on Genesis and Exodus, after Origen’s rich exploitation of the method the proper initiator of the genre among Christian authors is Eusebius of Caesarea. Its diffusion in Late Antiquity and the early Byzantine period is witnessed by the many successors, most notably, Theodoret and Maximus Confessor. In the Latin West Augustine wrote several writings of ‘questions’.
Catecheses and Homilies
Authors: Mayer Wendy
Published: June 2019

This chapter seeks to draw out the diverse ways in which biblical interpretation was expressed in early Christian preaching and catechetical instruction. Issues discussed include: current theories about the role played by biblical interpretation in the origin and early shaping of the homiletic/catechetical genres, and the fluidity of the boundary between catechetical lecture and homily. Preaching and teaching, it is argued, constituted a primary encounter with the Bible for the majority of early Christians. Attention is further paid not just to the variety of ways in which the Bible was interpreted but also to the variety of Bibles interpreted across different languages, authors, and geographic regions.
Christians and Pagans
Authors: Cook John Granger
Published: June 2019

Before pagan philosophers such as Celsus became interested in Christianity, few pagan authors apparently read any of the Septuagint, if the existent evidence is reliable. Lucian of Samosata was aware of Christian traditions and texts, but probably had not read any of the New Testament. His accusation that Christianity was not based on careful proof reappeared frequently in the critics who followed him such as Galen and Celsus. Porphyry, considered by the Christians to be their most dangerous critic, wrote a denunciation of their faith that still reverberates in biblical studies. Hierocles admired Apollonius of Tyana but not Jesus. Julian, called the Apostate, had read much of the LXX and NT and attacked Christian texts using literary and philosophical methods. Macarius’ anonymous pagan philosopher read the NT closely, but his criticisms were not profound.
Manichaean Biblical Interpretation
Authors: BeDuhn Jason
Published: June 2019

Mani, the founder of Manichaeism, represents the third-century Mesopotamian outgrowth of second-century Christianity in its pre-canonical character and valuation of the logia of Jesus over gospel narrative. He followed Marcion in his special esteem for Paul, critique of gospel authorship and transmission, and antithetical contrast of Jesus to Torah. He cited Jesus and Paul as the basis for many of his distinctive teachings, and this use of biblical material was transmitted across Asia by the Manichaean mission. In the Roman Empire, later generations of Manichaeans developed a rich exegetical tradition in dialogue and rivalry with orthodox Christians. Some Manichaean interpretative readings, particularly of Paul, influenced Augustine of Hippo, and through him subsequent Catholic and Protestant exegesis.