bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute Abdominal Complications in Deeply Neutropenic Onco‐Hematology Patients: A Retrospective Series of 105 Cases
Authors: Siebert Matthieu , Lucas Nolwenn , Gelli Maximiliano , sourrouille Isabelle , Benhaïm Léonor , Faron Matthieu , Micol Jean‐Baptiste , Ducreux Michel , Stoclin Annabelle , Honoré Charles
Published: July 2022

Background

Acute abdominal complications (AAC) in patients with deep neutropenia (DN) is challenging to manage because of the expected influence of AAC on oncological prognosis and higher surgical complication rate in a period of DN. In practice, these parameters are difficult to appreciate. This study reported our experience in managing these patients.

Methods

All consecutive patients treated in our tertiary care cancer center between 2010 and 2020 who developed AAC in the context of a DN were retrospectively analyzed. AAC was defined as an infection (intra‐abdominal, perineal, or cutaneous), bowel obstruction, or intra‐abdominal hemorrhage.

Findings

Among 105 patients, 18 (17%) required emergent surgery (group 1), 34 patients had a complication requiring surgical oversight (group 2), and 53 patients had a non‐surgical etiology (group 3). Fifteen patients underwent surgery in the group 1, three in group 2, and one in group 3. Overall, 28 patients died during hospitalization. Mortality was statistically different between the groups (p = 0·01), with a higher rate in group 1 (n = 9/18, 50%) than in group 2 (n = 11/34, 32%) and group 3 (n = 8/53, 15%). All groups together had a median overall survival (OS) of 14 months and disease‐free survival (DFS) of 10 months. OS was not comparable between the groups, and the median length of survival in group 1 was 6 months versus 8 months in group 2 and 23 months in group 3. In group 1, five patients (5/18, 28%) did not relapse at the end of the follow‐up compared to 13 in group 2 (13/34, 38%) and 25 in group 3 (25/53, 47%). After discharge, OS and DFS were similar between the groups.

Interpretation

The advent of an AAC necessitating surgery in the context of DN is a deadly event associated with a 50% mortality; nonetheless, in case of unpostponable emergencies, surgery can provide long‐term survival in selected patients.
Arthroscopic rod technique compared to stress ultrasound in the dynamic evaluation of lateral ligament instabilities of the elbow
Authors: Plath Johannes , Otto Alexander , Förch Stefan , Siebenlist Sebastian , Grosser Bianca , Mayr Edgar , Imhoff Andreas B. , Lenich Andreas
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The purpose was to compare the arthroscopic rod technique to stress ultrasound in the dynamic assessment of lateral elbow instabilities.

Materials and methods

Fifteen elbows of eight specimen with a mean age of 66.4 ± 13.3 years were assessed in a prone position following a defined dissection setup. After evaluation of the native status, an arthroscopic dissection of the radial collateral ligament (RCL) or lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL), and finally of entire capsuloligamentous structures was performed. Three raters examined each state (native, RCL or LUCL lesion, complete lesion) with the arthroscopic rod technique in 90° flexion and with stress ultrasound in 30 and 90° flexion. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to assess the interrater reliability as well as test–retest reliability for each testing modality (arthroscopy and ultrasound).

Results

The arthroscopic rod technique showed a superior interrater and test–retest reliability of 0.953 and 0.959 (P < 0.001), respectively, when compared to stress ultrasound with an ICC of 0.4 and 0.611 (P < 0.001). A joint space opening during arthroscopy of > 6 mm humero-ulnar or > 7 mm humero-radial was indicative for a lateral collateral ligament lesion. However, a differentiation between an isolated RCL or LUCL tear was not possible. A lateral joint opening of ≥ 9 mm was only observed in complete tears of the lateral capsuloligamentous complex.

Conclusions

The arthroscopic rod technique showed a superior interrater and test–retest reliability when compared to stress ultrasound. Arthroscopic assessment for radial elbow instability was found to be reliable and reproducible. A joint gapping ≥ 9 mm in the arthroscopic evaluation is a sign for a complete insufficiency of the radial capsuloligamentous complex. However, it is not possible to precisely distinguish between a lesion of the RCL or LUCL by arthroscopy.

On the basis of our results, dynamic ultrasound testing may be inappropriate to objectify lateral elbow instability.
Isotopic evidence for sources of dissolved carbon and the role of organic matter respiration in the Fraser River basin, Canada
Authors: Voss Britta M. , Eglinton Timothy I. , Peucker-Ehrenbrink Bernhard , Galy Valier , Lang Susan Q. , McIntyre Cameron , Spencer Robert G. M. , Bulygina Ekaterina , Wang Zhaohui Aleck , Guay Katherine A.
Published: July 2022

Sources of dissolved and particulate carbon to the Fraser River system vary significantly in space and time. Tributaries in the northern interior of the basin consistently deliver higher concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to the main stem than other tributaries. Based on samples collected near the Fraser River mouth throughout 2013, the radiocarbon age of DOC exported from the Fraser River does not change significantly across seasons despite a spike in DOC concentration during the freshet, suggesting modulation of heterogeneous upstream chemical and isotopic signals during transit through the river basin. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations are highest in the Rocky Mountain headwater region where carbonate weathering is evident, but also in tributaries with high DOC concentrations, suggesting that DOC respiration may be responsible for a significant portion of DIC in this basin. Using an isotope and major ion mass balance approach to constrain the contributions of carbonate and silicate weathering and DOC respiration, we estimate that up to 33 ± 11% of DIC is derived from DOC respiration in some parts of the Fraser River basin. Overall, these results indicate close coupling between the cycling of DOC and DIC, and that carbon is actively processed and transformed during transport through the river network.
Prediction of breast cancer-related lymphedema by dermal backflow detected with near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging
Authors: Aldrich Melissa B. , Rasmussen John C. , DeSnyder Sarah M. , Woodward Wendy A. , Chan Wenyaw , Sevick-Muraca Eva M. , Mittendorf Elizabeth A. , Smith Benjamin D. , Stauder Michael C. , Strom Eric A. , Perkins George H. , Hoffman Karen E. , Mitchell Melissa P. , Barcenas Carlos H. , Isales Lynn E. , Shaitelman Simona F.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Mild breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is clinically diagnosed as a 5%–10% increase in arm volume, typically measured no earlier than 3–6 months after locoregional treatment. Early BCRL treatment is associated with better outcomes, yet amid increasing evidence that lymphedema exists in a latent form, treatment is typically delayed until arm swelling is obvious. In this study, we investigated whether near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRF-LI) surveillance could characterize early onset of peripheral lymphatic dysfunction as a predictor of BCRL.

Methods

In a prospective, longitudinal cohort/observational study (NCT02949726), subjects with locally advanced breast cancer who received axillary lymph node dissection and regional nodal radiotherapy (RT) were followed serially, between 2016 and 2021, before surgery, 4–8 weeks after surgery, and 6, 12, and 18 months after RT. Arm volume was measured by perometry, and lymphatic (dys) function was assessed by NIRF-LI.

Results

By 18 months after RT, 30 of 42 study subjects (71%) developed mild–moderate BCRL (i.e., ≥ 5% arm swelling relative to baseline), all manifested by “dermal backflow” of lymph into lymphatic capillaries or interstitial spaces. Dermal backflow had an 83% positive predictive value and 86% negative predictive value for BCRL, with a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 50%, accuracy of 83%, positive likelihood ratio of 1.93, negative likelihood ratio of 0.07, and odds ratio of 29.00. Dermal backflow appeared on average 8.3 months, but up to 23 months, before the onset of mild BCRL.

Conclusion

BCRL can be predicted by dermal backflow, which often appears months before arm swelling, enabling early treatment before the onset of edema and irreversible tissue changes.
Unravelling the effect of climate change on fire danger and fire behaviour in the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve of Meseta Ibérica (Portugal-Spain)
Authors: Aparício Bruno A. , Santos João A. , Freitas Teresa R. , Sá Ana C. L. , Pereira José M. C. , Fernandes Paulo M.
Published: July 2022

The impacts of wildfires are increasing in the Mediterranean Basin due to more extreme fire seasons featuring increasingly fast and high-intensity fires, which often overwhelm the response capacity of fire suppression forces. Fire behaviour is expected to become even more severe due to climate change. In this study, we quantified the effect of climate change on fire danger (components of the Canadian FWI System) and wildfire behaviour characteristics (rate of spread and fireline intensity) for the four major Mediterranean forest ecosystems located in the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve of Meseta Ibérica under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The effect of climate change on wildfire behaviour was supplemented by taking into account net primary production (NPP), hence fuel load. Our results show that the meteorological fire season will start earlier and end later, leading to a significant increase in the number of days with weather conditions that promote high-intensity wildfires, for both climate scenarios. Fuel type shapes how wildfire spread characteristics will unfold. The most relevant changes are projected to occur in pine forests, where a wildfire with median fireline intensity will offer serious resistance to control from spring to autumn. The severity of fire behaviour in shrublands also increases substantially when considering climate change, with high-intensity wildfires potentially occurring in any time of the year. Both deciduous and evergreen broadleaf forests are predicted to typically generate wildfires with low enough intensity to remain within suppression capability. By adjusting fuel load to future climate conditions, our results highlight that fireline intensity in deciduous and evergreen broadleaf forests may not increase during summer, and can even be significantly reduced in shrublands. This study suggests that improved fire planning and management of wildfire-prone landscapes will counteract the effect of climate change on fire behaviour and impacts.
Everettian Mechanics with Hyperfinitely Many Worlds
Authors: Barrett Jeffrey , Goldbring Isaac
Published: July 2022

The present paper shows how one might model Everettian quantum mechanics using hyperfinitely many worlds. A hyperfinite model allows one to consider idealized measurements of observables with continuous-valued spectra where different outcomes are associated with possibly infinitesimal probabilities. One can also prove hyperfinite formulations of Everett’s limiting relative-frequency and randomness properties, theorems he considered central to his formulation of quantum mechanics. Finally, this model provides an intuitive framework in which to consider no-collapse formulations of quantum mechanics more generally.
Should I stay, should I go, or something in between? The potential for parasite-mediated and age-related differential migration strategies
Authors: Wille Michelle , Klaassen Marcel
Published: July 2022

Seasonal long-distance migratory behaviour of trillions of animals may in part have evolved to reduce parasite infection risk, and the fitness costs that may come with these infections. This may apply to a diversity of vertebrate migration strategies that can sometimes be observed within species and may often be age-dependent. Herein we review some common age-related variations in migration strategy, discussing why in some animal species juveniles preferentially forego or otherwise rearrange their migrations as compared to adults, potentially as an either immediate (proximate) or anticipatory (ultimate) response to infection risk and disease. We notably focus on the phenomenon of “oversummering”, where juveniles abstain from migration to the breeding grounds. This strategy is particularly prevalent amongst migratory shorebirds and has thus far received little attention as a strategy to reduce parasite infection rate, while comparative intra-specific research approaches have strong potential to elucidate the drivers of differential behavioural strategies.
Skill-biased acquisitions? Human capital and employee mobility in small technology firms
Authors: Xiao Jing , Dahlstrand Åsa Lindholm
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between acquisitions and mobility of knowledge workers and managers in small technology companies and how individual skills and capabilities moderate this relationship. Relying on the matched employer–employee data of the Swedish high-tech sectors from 2007 to 2015, we find that acquisitions increase the likelihood of employee departures, mainly in the form of switching to another employer, but that these acquisition effects are weaker for employees with technological competences. By contrast, the acquisition effects are found to be weaker for employees with managerial competences only when acquirers have a strong employee retention motive. When acquirers do not have a strong retention motive, managers, compared to other employees, are more likely to exit the (national) labor market after acquisitions. Our results suggest that the retention motive is a critical condition to explain post-acquisition employee turnover. Both technological and managerial competences are the types of human capital valued by acquirers when they have a strong retention motive.
Growth performance and scale insect infestation of Shorea leprosula in a common garden experimental plot
Authors: Ng Chin Hong , Ng Kevin Kit Siong , Lee Soon Leong , Suwa Rempei , Lee Chai Ting , Tnah Lee Hong
Published: July 2022

Many tree planting programmes have long been initiated to increase forest cover to mitigate the effects of global climate change. Successful planting requires careful planning at the project level, including using suitable species with favourable traits. However, there is a paucity of improvement data for tropical tree species. An experimental common garden of Shorea leprosula was established to study traits related to growth performance which are key factors in planting success. Seedlings of S. leprosula were collected from nine geographical forest reserves. To study the effects of genetic variation, seedlings were planted in a common environment following a randomized complete block design. From performance data collected 2017‒2019, one population showed the highest coefficient for relative height growth, significantly higher than most of the other populations. Interestingly, this population from Beserah also exhibited the lowest coefficient for scale insect infestation. This study provides preliminary results on growth performance and susceptibility to scale insect infestation in S. leprosula and the first common garden experiment site conducted on dipterocarp species. It lays a foundation for future genome-wide studies.
A Short Proof for the Twisted Multiplicativity Property of the Operator-Valued S-transform
Authors: Speicher Roland
Published: July 2022

We provide a short proof for the twisted multiplicativity property of the operator-valued S-transform.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Stroke in Transgender Adults
Authors: Diaz Michael , Rosendale Nicole
Published: July 2022

Purpose of Review

To identify the current state of science on stroke in transgender adults and highlight gaps in need of further research. We will review current research on cerebrovascular risk and disease, hormone therapy, and stroke in transgender individuals. Finally, we will provide a framework for healthcare providers to prevent and reduce disparities through inclusive care practices.

Recent Findings

Transgender people experience unique stroke risk factors, secondary to both psychosocial stress and health-related behaviors. These include higher rates of HIV, tobacco use, stimulant use, and hepatitis C. The use of gender-affirming hormone therapy may lead to an increased risk for ischemic stroke, but the data are limited and require further research.

Recent research has highlighted the numerous healthcare disparities faced by transgender individuals. Regarding stroke disparities, these are multifactorial and include contributions from health-related behaviors, inadequate access to care, the use of hormonal therapy, and minority stress. Further research is needed to increase access to care and reduce the substantial gap in outcomes for these individuals.
A direct comparison of the optically stimulated luminescent properties of BeO and Al2O3 for clinical in-vivo dosimetry
Authors: Broadhead Benjamin , Noble Christopher , Ramachandran Prabhakar
Published: July 2022

Optically stimulated luminescence dosimetry is a relatively recent field of in-vivo dosimetry in clinical radiotherapy, developing over the last 20 years. As a pilot study, this paper presents a direct comparison between the sensitivity variance with use, stability of measurement and linearity of the current clinical standard Al2O3:C and a potential alternative, beryllium oxide. A set of ten optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLD), including five of each type, were used simultaneously and irradiated on a Versa HD linear accelerator. Having similar sensitivity, while Al2O3:C showed a relatively stable signal response from initial use, BeO was found to have a higher response to the same dose. However, BeO displayed a strong exponential decline from initial signal response following a model of $$Respons{e}_{BeO}=(0.55\pm 0.05){e}^{-\left(0.40\pm 0.05\right)x}+(0.54\pm 0.01)$$

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s
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)

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x

+

(
0.54
±
0.01
)

, reaching stability after approximately 10 irradiation cycles. BeO was shown to have potentially higher accuracy than Al2O3:C, with less variation between individual doses. Both OSLD showed good linearity between 0.2–5.0 Gy. Between these bounds, Al2O3:C demonstrated a strong linear response following the trend $$Dose_{Al_{2}O_{3}, group(adj)}=(1.00\pm 0.09)x-(0.02\pm 0.04)\,{\text{Gy}}$$

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)

Gy

, however beyond this showed deviation from linearity, resulting in a measured dose of $$12.0\pm 0.2$$

12.0
±
0.2

Gy at 10.0 Gy dose delivery. BeO showed strong linearity across the full examined range of 0.2–10.0 Gy with following a model of $$Dos{e}_{BeO, ind}=(0.98\pm 0.01)x+(0.04\pm 0.01)$$

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)

Gy with a recorded dose at 10.0 Gy delivery as $$9.9\pm 0.1$$

9.9
±
0.1

Gy. In conclusion, BeO does show large variance in sensitivity between individual OSLD and a considerable initial variance and decline in dose–response, however after pre-conditioning and individual normalisation to offset OSLD specific sensitivity BeO provides not only a viable alternative to Al2O3:C, but potentially provide higher accuracy, precision and reproducibility for in-vivo dosimetry.
Nonlocal fractional system involving the fractional p, q-Laplacians and singular potentials
Authors: Biroud Kheireddine
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we will focus on following nonlocal quasilinear elliptic system with singular nonlinearities: $$\begin{aligned} (S) \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} (-\Delta )_{p}^{s_1} u =\dfrac{1}{v^{\alpha _1}}+v^{\beta _1}&{} \text { in }\Omega , \\ (-\Delta )_{q}^{s_2} u =\dfrac{1}{u^{\alpha _2}}+u^{\beta _2}&{} \text { in }\Omega , \\ u,v=0 &{} \text { in } ({I\!\!R}^N\setminus \Omega ) , \\ u,v>0 &{} \text { in } \Omega , \end{array} \right. \end{aligned}$$

(
S
)

(
-
Δ
)

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s
1

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=

1

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)

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=
0

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)
,

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>
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in

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,

where $$\Omega \subset {I\!\!R}^N$$

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⊂

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be a smooth bounded domain, $$s_1,\,s_2\in (0,1)$$

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1

,

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∈

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, $$\alpha _1$$

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, $$\alpha _2$$

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, $$\beta _1$$

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, $$\beta _2$$

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are suitable positive constants, $$(-\Delta )_{p}^{s_1}$$

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-
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)

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and $$(-\Delta )_{q}^{s_2}$$

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-
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)

q

s
2

are the fractional $$p-\text {Laplacian}$$

p
-
Laplacian

and $$q-\text {Laplacian}$$

q
-
Laplacian

operators. Using approximating arguments, Rabinowitz bifurcation Theorem, and fractional Hardy inequality, we are able to show the existence of positive solution to the above system.
Submaximal Fitness Tests in Team Sports: A Theoretical Framework for Evaluating Physiological State
Authors: Shushan Tzlil , McLaren Shaun J. , Buchheit Martin , Scott Tannath J. , Barrett Steve , Lovell Ric
Published: July 2022

Team-sports staff often administer non-exhaustive exercise assessments with a view to evaluating physiological state, to inform decision making on athlete management (e.g., future training or recovery). Submaximal fitness tests have become prominent in team-sports settings for observing responses to a standardized physical stimulus, likely because of their time-efficient nature, relative ease of administration, and physiological rationale. It is evident, however, that many variations of submaximal fitness test characteristics, response measures, and monitoring purposes exist. The aim of this scoping review is to provide a theoretical framework of submaximal fitness tests and a detailed summary of their use as proxy indicators of training effects in team sports. Using a review of the literature stemming from a systematic search strategy, we identified five distinct submaximal fitness test protocols characterized in their combinations of exercise regimen (continuous or intermittent) and the progression of exercise intensity (fixed, incremental, or variable). Heart rate-derived indices were the most studied outcome measures in submaximal fitness tests and included exercise (exercise heart rate) and recovery (heart rate recovery and vagal-related heart rate variability) responses. Despite the disparity between studies, these measures appear more relevant to detect positive chronic endurance-oriented training effects, whereas their role in detecting negative transient effects associated with variations in autonomic nervous system function is not yet clear. Subjective outcome measures such as ratings of perceived exertion were less common in team sports, but their potential utility when collected alongside objective measures (e.g., exercise heart rate) has been advocated. Mechanical outcome measures either included global positioning system-derived locomotor outputs such as distance covered, primarily during standardized training drills (e.g., small-sided games) to monitor exercise performance, or responses derived from inertial measurement units to make inferences about lower limb neuromuscular function. Whilst there is an emerging interest regarding the utility of these mechanical measures, their measurement properties and underpinning mechanisms are yet to be fully established. Here, we provide a deeper synthesis of the available literature, culminating with evidence-based practical recommendations and directions for future research.
Archaeology, Metal Detecting, and Citizen Science in the Czech Republic
Authors: Komoróczy Balázs
Published: July 2022

Although the legal conditions are perceived as restrictive, metal detecting has become a popular activity in the Czech Republic. In 2017, a questionnaire survey revealed that a significant segment of this community is made up of passionate people interested in history and archaeology. The majority of professional archaeologists consider metal-detecting finds to be important and believe that cooperation with metal detectorists is necessary, beneficial, and acceptable. A collaborative project called “Joint Forces in Order to Discover the Common Archaeological Heritage of the South Moravian Region” aims to create conditions for citizen science among the metal detectorists in the region. By using tools such as expert workshops for the employees of professional institutions, meetings, educational workshops and field activities with interested members of the public, and production and distribution of printed and digital information materials, the partners in the program have long endeavored to improve the mutual understanding of all relevant actors of society and administration. The creation of circles of citizen collaborators is in progress in several archaeological institutions; nevertheless, this process is far from over. In 2020, with the creation of the Portal of Amateur Collaborators, this activity acquired a unified digital scheme for the registration of finds.
Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss: Legal Basis for Excise Tax and Other Government Action to Protect Consumers from a Public Health Menace
Authors: Velasquez Katrina , Ivie Allison , Fegely Shanna R. , Raffoul Amanda , Vitagliano Julia A. , Roberto Christina A. , Austin S. Bryn
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Dietary supplements sold for weight loss pose a risk to public health due to deceptive claims and unscrupulous manufacturing practices in the context of weak federal regulation. Efforts to strengthen U.S. federal oversight have not been successful, thus action at the state and local levels should be explored. This study investigates proposed action to impose excise taxes on weight-loss supplements.

Methods

We reviewed U.S. federal law on taxation at federal, state, and local levels and precedent for taxation of harmful consumer products to promote public health. We assessed the rationale, legal viability, and potential effectiveness of proposed excise taxes on weight loss supplements.

Results

Taxation of tobacco and sweetened beverages is effective in reducing consumer use. Imposition of excise taxes on weight-loss supplements is within the authority of federal, state, and local governments, though is least politically feasible at the federal level. State or local taxation of these products has clear rationale, legal viability, and likelihood of effectiveness in reducing the public health burden posed by these products.

Conclusions

Excise taxation is an effective policy intervention to reduce consumer use, particularly among youth, and is a promising public health strategy to decrease consumer exposure to noxious weight-loss supplements.
Impact of targeted intervention using a collaborative approach for oral third-generation cephalosporins: An interrupted time-series analysis
Authors: Yamaguchi Ryo , Okamoto Koh , Yamamoto Takehito , Harada Sohei , Tanaka Takehiro , Suzuki Hiroshi , Moriya Kyoji
Published: July 2022

Objectives:

To assess the effectiveness of a targeted intervention using a collaborative approach, added to a comprehensive educational intervention, to facilitate the appropriate use of oral third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs).

Design:

Quasi-experimental study.

Setting:

The University of Tokyo Hospital, a tertiary-care teaching hospital.

Participants:

Approximately 2,000,000 outpatients and 80,000 inpatients at the hospital between April 2017 and March 2020.

Intervention:

The targeted intervention using the collaborative approach was implemented in the departments with the highest use of oral 3GCs (ophthalmology and dermatology departments). Interrupted time-series analysis was applied to assess the change in days of therapy (DOT) of oral 3GCs between the preintervention period (April 2017–April 2019) and the postintervention period (May 2019–March 2020) for both inpatients and outpatients.

Results:

After the introduction of the targeted intervention with oral 3GCs, a significant immediate reduction of 13.48 DOT per 1,000 patient days was detected in inpatients (P < .001). However, no significant change in slope was observed before and after the intervention (−0.02 DOT per 1,000 patient days per month; P = .94). Although a temporary increase was observed after the targeted intervention in outpatients, the slope significantly decreased (−0.69 DOT per 1,000 outpatient visits per month; P = .044). No differences were observed in the use of other oral antibiotics after the intervention.

Conclusions:

The targeted intervention contributed to a reduction in DOT of oral 3GCs in both inpatients and outpatients. Targeted interventions using a collaborative approach might be helpful in further decreasing the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Vietnam Marine Life Disaster: A Test Case of a Home State’s Jurisdiction in Taiwan
Authors: Po Chia-Yun
Published: July 2022

Victims of transnational human rights violations caused by multinational corporations (MNCs) are often confronted with substantial impediments to effective remedies. While justice is de facto unattainable in host state courts, due to weak government or the absence of judicial independence, barriers that prevent victims from litigating in home states are no less insurmountable. Transnational litigation in home states has faced jurisdictional challenges. Defendant corporations have argued that home state courts are not the most appropriate forum to hear a case involving foreign torts.1
A taste for all things Byzantine: Byzantium in the collections of Antonis Benakis
Authors: Drandaki Anastasia
Published: July 2022

‘His pockets were always full of treasures. What marvellous things you could find in them! Nails, marbles, pebbles, sponges, twine, maybe a chewed piece of gum, and always that crystal triangle piece from the church chandelier that would shine brilliantly when held up to the sun.’ With these words, Penelope Delta, the famous children's writer and sister of Antonis Benakis, painted a portrait of her brother as a child in her much-loved book Trelantonis (Crazy Antonis). In this book, dedicated to the childhood adventures of the Benaki family siblings, and set in the cosmopolitan yet conservative colonial environment of the upper middle-class Greeks of late nineteenth-century Alexandria, Antonis was always the protagonist. (Fig. 1)
Does social influence affect COVID-19 vaccination intention among the unvaccinated?
Authors: Salali Gul Deniz , Uysal Mete Sefa , Bozyel Gizem , Akpinar Ege , Aksu Ayca
Published: July 2022

Conformist social influence is a double-edged sword when it comes to vaccine promotion. On the one hand, social influence may increase vaccine uptake by reassuring the hesitant about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine; on the other hand, people may forgo the cost of vaccination when the majority is already vaccinated – giving rise to a public goods dilemma. Here, we examine whether available information on the percentage of double-vaccinated people affects COVID-19 vaccination intention among unvaccinated people in Turkey. In an online experiment, we divided participants (n = 1013) into low, intermediate and high social influence conditions, reflecting the government's vaccine promotion messages. We found that social influence did not predict COVID-19 vaccination intention, but psychological reactance and collectivism did. People with higher reactance (intolerance of others telling one what to do and being sceptical of consensus views) had lower vaccination intention, whilst people with higher collectivism (how much a person considers group benefits over individual success) had higher vaccination intention. Our findings suggest that advertising the percentage of double-vaccinated people is not sufficient to trigger a cascade of others getting themselves vaccinated. Diverse promotion strategies reflecting the heterogeneity of individual attitudes could be more effective.
Development and deployment of tools for rapid response notification of Monkeypox exposure, exposure risk assessment and stratification, and symptom monitoring
Authors: Simpson Lynn A. , Macdonald Kaitlin , Searle Eileen F. , Shearer Jennifer A. , Dimitrov Dimitar , Foley Daniel , Morales Eduardo , Shenoy Erica S.
Published: July 2022

Objectives:

Public health authorities recommend symptom monitoring of healthcare personnel (HCP) after defined exposures to monkeypox. We report on the rapid development and implementation of mobile responsive survey solutions for notification of possible exposure, exposure risk assessment and stratification, and symptom monitoring.

Setting:

An academic health center in Boston, Massachusetts, after admission of first diagnosed case of monkeypox in the United States during the current global outbreak.

Participants:

Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) design and programmers, infection control, occupational health, and emergency preparedness specialists, and HCP with possible exposure to monkeypox.

Interventions:

Design and deployment of REDCap tools to identify HCP with possible exposure to monkeypox, to perform exposure risk assessment and stratification for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), and to conduct symptom monitoring during the exposure window. Project enhancements included dashboards for HCP tracking and short message service (SMS text) reminders for symptom monitoring.

Results:

Tools to support the contact tracing and exposure investigation were deployed within 24 hours of identification of a patient with suspected monkeypox, with the full suite in production within 4 days of confirmation of the monkeypox diagnosis. Clinical follow-up of HCP was integrated into the design, and real-time versioning allowed for improvements in HCP symptom monitoring compliance and enhanced tracking.

Conclusions:

During the current monkeypox outbreak, timely and comprehensive evaluation of potential HCP exposures is necessary but presents logistical challenges. Rapid development of monkeypox-specific solutions using REDCap facilitated flexibility in design and approach, and integration of targeted clinical support enhanced functionality.
Party system closure and the liberal dimension of democracy: a double-edged sword
Authors: Mölder Martin , Enyedi Zsolt , Casal Bértoa Fernando
Published: July 2022

An institutionalized party system is often regarded as a precondition for a well-functioning democracy. Recent recesses in democracy and, in particular, in the liberal dimension of democracy in relatively established party systems, however, warrant a fresh look into how party system institutionalization shapes liberal democracy. We use a dataset that covers 58 European party systems over more than a century to assess how party system institutionalization in the governmental arena – closure – is related to more robust liberal democracy. Our results show that stable coalition combinations are conducive to higher levels of liberalism, while infrequent government changes and the exclusion of new parties from the governmental arena have a detrimental role.
Estrategias de comunicación transmedia en campañas políticas: Los casos de Colombia y México en las elecciones presidenciales de 2018
Authors: Montoya-Bermúdez Diego , Ferré-Pavia Carme
Published: July 2022

El objetivo de este estudio es analizar hasta qué punto los cibermedios han permeado el ejercicio electoral latinoamericano. Los casos de estudio se centran en las campañas políticas presidenciales de los candidatos que disputaron las elecciones de Colombia y México en el 2018, bajo la perspectiva de la comunicación transmedia que permite la expansión de un relato a través de diversas plataformas. Asimismo, se propone de manera innovadora un modelo de sistemas intermediales transmedia como una propuesta metodológica de comunicación en escenarios electorales propios del contexto de la llamada cultura de convergencia mediática. La hipótesis de partida asume que lo transmedia no se hace todavía patente en los mensajes políticos y electorales. La metodología se centra en los casos de estudio de los principales candidatos y el análisis de contenido de sus webs y redes sociales (Twitter, Facebook y YouTube). El resultado evidencia cómo el discurso político usado por los candidatos migró a las plataformas digitales, pero mantuvo la tipología propia de los medios tradicionales, desconociendo aún las posibilidades que ofrece eltransmedia storytellingpara incentivar la participación activa de los posibles electores en la producción de contenidos para la campaña.
On the osmotic pressure of cells
Authors: Wennerström Håkan , Oliveberg Mikael
Published: July 2022

The chemical potential of water ($ {\mu}_{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}} $) provides an essential thermodynamic characterization of the environment of living organisms, and it is of equal significance as the temperature. For cells,$ {\mu}_{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}} $is conventionally expressed in terms of the osmotic pressure (πosm). We have previously suggested that the main contribution to the intracellular πosmof the bacteriumE. coliis from soluble negatively-charged proteins and their counter-ions. Here, we expand on this analysis by examining how evolutionary divergent cell types cope with the challenge of maintaining πosmwithin viable values. Complex organisms, like mammals, maintain constant internal πosm≈ 0.285 osmol, matching that of 0.154 M NaCl. For bacteria it appears that optimal growth conditions are found for similar or slightly higher πosm(0.25-0.4 osmol), despite that they represent a much earlier stage in evolution. We argue that this value reflects a general adaptation for optimising metabolic function under crowded intracellular conditions. Environmental πosmthat differ from this optimum require therefore special measures, as exemplified with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. To handle such situations, their membrane encapsulations allow for a compensating turgor pressure that can take both positive and negative values, where positive pressures allow increased frequency of metabolic events through increased intracellular protein concentrations. A remarkable exception to the rule of 0.25-0.4 osmol, is found for halophilic archaea with internal πosm≈ 15 osmol. The internal organization of these archaea differs in that they utilize a repulsive electrostatic mechanism operating only in the ionic-liquid regime to avoid aggregation, and that they stand out from other organisms by having no turgor pressure.
Liberal Plebeianism: John Stuart Mill on Democracy, Oligarchy, and Working-Class Mobilization
Authors: ARLEN GORDON
Published: July 2022

How should democratic societies address inequality in an age of plutocratic encroachment and populist indignation? What role should popular movements play in progressive reform efforts? This article turns to the nineteenth-century liberalism of John Stuart Mill for insights on an essential challenge facing democracy today: how to mobilize social movements against intensifying oligarchic threats while safeguarding liberal-democratic values. I advance a novel reading of Mill as a proponent of “liberal plebeianism”—that is, as an activist-theorist who confronted the threat of oligarchy by promoting working-class mobilization within a liberal, parliamentary framework. I trace two discourses within Mill’s writings and speeches: an antioligarchic discourse focused on countering “sinister interests” and a mobilization discourse focused on working-class incorporation. Both follow from Mill’s conviction that liberal reformers should operate as “tribunes of the poor.” This reading helps to clarify Mill’s contested legacy and provides potential resources for understanding how a plebeian orientation might enliven liberal democracy today.
Association between breast-feeding exposure and duration with offspring’s dietary patterns over 1 year of age: a systematic review of observational studies
Authors: Eslami Omid , Shidfar Farzad
Published: July 2022

Some evidence suggests that breast-feeding may modify food preferences in the later years of life. The present study aimed to provide a systematic review of observational studies investigating the association between exposure to breast milk and its duration with data-driven or hypothesis-driven (or diet quality scores) dietary patterns over 1 year of age. The databases of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for observational studies published from January 2010 until July 2021, which led to the identification of twenty-two eligible articles. There was considerable heterogeneity between studies in terms of assessment of exposure and outcome. Of the eleven studies that assessed data-driven dietary patterns, ten reported a significant association for at least one identified dietary pattern. Overall, being breast-fed and a longer duration of any/exclusive breast-feeding were associated with higher scores on healthy dietary patterns characterised mainly by high loadings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. In comparison, a negative association was found for unhealthy dietary patterns rich in foods with high content of added sugar, salt and saturated fats. In terms of diet quality scores, nine out of eleven studies reported a significant positive association between the duration of any breast-feeding and adherence to recommended healthy diets or dietary guidelines. In conclusion, the evidence from this review was generally in support of the hypothesis indicating breast-feeding is associated with healthy dietary patterns at later ages. However, due to the methodological limitations in the available studies, further research is warranted to elucidate solid evidence on this topic.
ARS ADEO LATET (OVID, METAMORPHOSES 10.252)
Authors: Panegyres Konstantine
Published: July 2022

The problems recently detected in the famous words ars adeo latet arte sua (Ov. Met. 10.252) can be resolved if the line is repunctuated on the basis of an unjustly neglected interpretation put forward by Byzantine and Renaissance scholars.
Linking grain yield and lodging resistance with growth patterns in rice
Authors: Huang Min , Lei Tao , Cao Jialin , Tao Zui , Cao Fangbo , Chen Jiana , Yin Xiaohong , Zou Yingbin
Published: July 2022

Improving grain yield and lodging resistance are two important targets for improving rice production. The aim of this study was to link grain yield and lodging resistance with growth patterns in rice. A nitrogen (N) fertilization experiment was conducted in 2020 and 2021, which consisted of two N rates (150 and 225 kg ha–1) and three N split-application ratios among the basal, early tillering, and panicle initiation stages (6:3:1, 5:3:2, and 4:3:3). The results demonstrated that increasing the N rate from 150 to 225 kg ha–1 did not affect grain yield but increased the plant lodging index by 16%. This increase in the plant lodging index was attributable to a higher plant fresh weight resulting from improved post-heading growth and a lower plant lodging load, which was partially due to a higher leaf area index. Altering the N split-application ratio from 6:3:1 to 4:3:3 increased grain yield by 4% but did not affect the plant lodging index in rice. The increase in grain yield was due to improved post-heading growth mainly resulting from increased radiation use efficiency during the post-heading period, which was partially attributable to increased specific leaf weight. An improvement in pre-heading growth in 2021 did not affect grain yield but increased the plant lodging load and decreased the plant lodging index by 36% compared to 2020. The improvement in pre-heading growth was due to a higher intercepted solar radiation resulting from higher leaf area index and incident solar radiation during the pre-heading period. The results of this study indicate that improving pre-heading growth can maintain grain yield and increase lodging resistance, while improving post-heading growth by increasing canopy radiation use efficiency (but not the leaf area index) can increase grain yield and maintain lodging resistance.
Enriques surfaces and an Apollonian packing in eight dimensions
Authors: Baragar Arthur
Published: July 2022

We call a packing of hyperspheres in n dimensions an Apollonian sphere packing if the spheres intersect tangentially or not at all; they fill the n-dimensional Euclidean space; and every sphere in the packing is a member of a cluster of
$n+2$
mutually tangent spheres (and a few more properties described herein). In this paper, we describe an Apollonian packing in eight dimensions that naturally arises from the study of generic nodal Enriques surfaces. The
$E_7$
,
$E_8$
and Reye lattices play roles. We use the packing to generate an Apollonian packing in nine dimensions, and a cross section in seven dimensions that is weakly Apollonian. Maxwell described all three packings but seemed unaware that they are Apollonian. The packings in seven and eight dimensions are different than those found in an earlier paper. In passing, we give a sufficient condition for a Coxeter graph to generate mutually tangent spheres and use this to identify an Apollonian sphere packing in three dimensions that is not the Soddy sphere packing.
The Power of Geographical Imaginaries in the European International Order: Colonialism, the 1884–85 Berlin Conference, and Model International Organizations
Authors: Yao Joanne
Published: July 2022

This article examines the emergence of early international organizations and efforts to export European institutional models to the periphery as part of the global expansion of a European international order. In particular, it focuses on the 1884–85 Berlin Conference as a pivotal moment in that expansion and the failed attempt to transplant the Treaty of Vienna model for transboundary river governance to the Congo River. Scholarship on the spread of institutions has highlighted the dangers of applying institutional models from one context to another, but there has been limited attention on why European institutional models are so compelling in the first place. Based on primary historical material, I show that despite some awareness among the diplomats at Berlin that the African context differed from the European one, this knowledge did not disrupt their underlying confidence in the Vienna model. I contend that the reason this model was so compelling was that it was built on two interrelated geographical imaginaries that constituted the diplomats’ understanding of the global and the political possibilities available to them. The first imaginary constituted the periphery as conceptually empty and ready to be remade by European models; the second constituted Europe as the generative site of universal models. Together, these taken-for-granted imaginaries made the diplomats’ practices of adopting the Vienna model seem natural and self-evident. These imaginaries continue to have implications for international politics today as we consider one-size-fits-all technocratic solutions and benchmarks for global progress.
Financial Costs of Judicial Inexperience: Evidence From Corporate Bankruptcies
Authors: Iverson Benjamin , Madsen Joshua , Wang Wei , Xu Qiping
Published: July 2022

Exploiting the random assignment of judges to corporate bankruptcy filings, we estimate financial costs of judicial inexperience. Despite new judges’ prior legal experience, formal education, and rigorous hiring process, their public Chapter 11 cases spend 19% more time in bankruptcy, realize 31% higher legal and professional fees, and 21% lower creditor recovery rates. Examining possible mechanisms, we find that new judges take longer to rule on motions and cases assigned to these judges file more plans of reorganization. Conservative estimates suggest that minor policy adjustments could increase creditor recoveries by approximately $16.8 billion for the public firms in our sample.