bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Complexity Reduction to Moral Character: A Deweyian Reading of Luhmann's Social Systems Theory
Authors: Valentinov Vladislav , Pies Ingo
Published: December 2017

Taking account of the widest possible range of consequences of one's action takes centre stage in John Dewey's pragmatist ethics, which likewise acknowledges that the ability to do so depends on the individual moral character. In contrast, Luhmann's theory of complexity‐reducing systems underscores the difficulties that social systems experience in registering the consequences of their operations in the overwhelmingly complex environment. Drawing upon Dewey's concept of moral character, the paper argues that social systems can be infused with an interest in controlling those consequences that pose risks to their sustainability. From an institutional economics perspective, this interest is shown to be implicated in the justification of the firm ownership in Alchian and Demsetz's theory of the firm. From the business ethics perspective, a similar interest is shown to underpin corporate social responsibility activities. Both perspectives acknowledge the effect of the corporate moral character on the predictability, reliability, and orderliness of corporate behaviour. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uterine artery Doppler: Changing Concepts in Prediction and Prevention of PE and FGR
Authors: Lakshmy Selvaraj Ravi , Praveenkumar Masilamani , Shobana Umapathy , Thasleem Ziyaulla
Published: December 2017

One of the most promising screening tools in detection of PE and FGR is uterine artery Doppler velocimetry. The underlying pathology for the development of PE is thought to be due to defective trophoblastic invasion of uterine spiral arteries. Increased impedance during mid-trimester is known to be associated with a high incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes. High resistance in uterine arteries can be observed as early in the first trimester in cases with impaired placentation. The predictive efficacy of first trimester UtA Doppler has improved after the development of risk specific algorithm by including maternal characteristics, biophysical and biochemical parameters. With the understanding of late onset FGR and PE, it was realised that first trimester UtA Doppler may not serve as an efficient marker to identify this group which led to the evolution of its assessment in third trimester. The importance of UtA Doppler in third trimester is its ability to differentiate a physiologically small baby from a pathologically small fetus, which is growth restricted. PE and FGR remains an important cause of maternal and fetal mortality and its prediction is a challenging task which needs to be done early in gestation. Low dose aspirin when started before 16 weeks in the truly high risk population has proven to significantly reduce PE and FGR. To initiate aspirin therapy, the development of first trimester risk prediction model remains the key component. This paper is a review of the predictive efficacy of UtA Doppler in detecting uteroplacental insufficiency in each of the three trimesters.
Bayesian Downscaling Methods for Aggregated Count Data
Authors: Michaud Clayton P. , Sproul Thomas W.
Published: December 2017

Policy-critical, micro-level statistical data are often unavailable at the desired level of disaggregation. We present a Bayesian methodology for “downscaling” aggregated count data to the micro level, using an outside statistical sample. Our procedure combines numerical simulation with exact calculation of combinatorial probabilities. We motivate our approach with an application estimating the number of farms in a region, using count totals at higher levels of aggregation. In a simulation analysis over varying population sizes, we demonstrate both robustness to sampling variability and outperformance relative to maximum likelihood. Spatial considerations, implementation of “informative” priors, non-spatial classification problems, and best practices are discussed.
Resistance, Evasion, and Inequality: Legal Consciousness of Intellectual Property Laws in Two Chinese Markets
Authors: SU Lillian Hsiao-Ling
Published: December 2017

How does an intellectual property (IP) legal regime affect those who make their living on counterfeit commodities, and in return how do these people respond to the implementation of IP laws? In this ethnographic study, I analyze the effects of an IP legal regime in two Chinese markets, and use legal consciousness theories and methods to show how this legal regime results in greater social inequality. While the majority of business owners in my study engage in counterfeiting, their tactics in response to the enforcement of IP laws vary significantly. Small shopkeepers at one market, the primary target of enforcement, adopt the legal consciousness of resistance. Established trademark and logo owners at the other market adopt tactics of evasion to maintain the appearance of lawful practices. I argue that these two types of tactics embody different forms of legal consciousness. The divergent tactical responses strengthen the second group of business owners who have greater power and resources at the expense of the first group who have less, thus aggravating their socioeconomic disparities.
Can we extend local sea-ice measurements to satellite scale? An example from the N-ICE2015 expedition
Authors: Rösel Anja , King Jennifer , Doulgeris Anthony P. , Wagner Penelope M. , Johansson A. Malin , Gerland Sebastian
Published: December 2017

Knowledge of Arctic sea-ice conditions is of great interest for Arctic residents, as well as for commercial usage, and to study the effects of climate change. Information gained from analysis of satellite data contributes to this understanding. In the course of using in situ data in combination with remotely sensed data, the question of how representative local scale measurements are of a wider region may arise. We compare in situ total sea-ice thickness measurements from the Norwegian young sea ICE expedition in the area north of Svalbard with airborne-derived total sea-ice thickness from electromagnetic soundings. A segmented and classified synthetic aperture radar (SAR) quad-pol ALOS-2 Palsar-2 satellite scene was grouped into three simplified ice classes. The area fractions of the three classes are: 11.2% ‘thin’, 74.4% ‘level’, and 14.4% ‘deformed’. The area fractions of the simplified classes from ground- and helicopter-based measurements are comparable with those achieved from the SAR data. Thus, this study shows that there is potential for a stepwise upscaling from in situ, to airborne, to satellite data, which allow us to assess whether in situ data collected are representative of a wider region as observed by satellites.
Readmissions With Multidrug-Resistant Infection in Patients With Prior Multidrug Resistant Infection
Authors: Burnham Jason P. , Kwon Jennie H. , Olsen Margaret A. , Babcock Hilary M. , Kollef Marin H.
Published: December 2017

OBJECTIVE

To determine incidence of and risk factors for readmissions with multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections among patients with previous MDRO infection.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort of patients admitted between January 1, 2006, and October 1, 2015.

SETTING

Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a 1,250-bed academic tertiary referral center in St Louis, Missouri.

METHODS

We identified patients with MDROs obtained from the bloodstream, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)/bronchial wash, or other sterile sites. Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) and European CDC definitions of MDROs were utilized. All readmissions ≤1 year from discharge from the index MDRO hospitalization were evaluated for bloodstream, BAL/bronchial wash, or other sterile site cultures positive for the same or different MDROs.

RESULTS

In total, 4,429 unique patients had a positive culture for an MDRO; 3,453 of these (78.0%) survived the index hospitalization. Moreover, 2,127 patients (61.6%) were readmitted ≥1 time within a year, for a total of 5,849 readmissions. Furthermore, 512 patients (24.1%) had the same or a different MDRO isolated from blood, BAL/bronchial wash, or another sterile site during a readmission. Bone marrow transplant, end-stage renal disease, lymphoma, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa during index hospitalization were factors associated with increased risk of having an MDRO isolated during a readmission. MDROs isolated during readmissions were in the same class of MDRO as the index hospitalization 9%–78% of the time, with variation by index pathogen.

CONCLUSIONS

Readmissions among patients with MDRO infections are frequent. Various patient and organism factors predispose to readmission. When readmitted patients had an MDRO, it was often a pathogen in the same class as that isolated during the index admission, with the exception of Acinetobacter (~9%).

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:12–19
Frontogenesis and frontal arrest of a dense filament in the oceanic surface boundary layer
Authors: Sullivan Peter P. , McWilliams James C.
Published: December 2017

The evolution of upper ocean currents involves a set of complex, poorly understood interactions between submesoscale turbulence (e.g. density fronts and filaments and coherent vortices) and smaller-scale boundary-layer turbulence. Here we simulate the lifecycle of a cold (dense) filament undergoing frontogenesis in the presence of turbulence generated by surface stress and/or buoyancy loss. This phenomenon is examined in large-eddy simulations with resolved turbulent motions in large horizontal domains using${\sim}10^{10}$grid points. Steady winds are oriented in directions perpendicular or parallel to the filament axis. Due to turbulent vertical momentum mixing, cold filaments generate a potent two-celled secondary circulation in the cross-filament plane that is frontogenetic, sharpens the cross-filament buoyancy and horizontal velocity gradients and blocks Ekman buoyancy flux across the cold filament core towards the warm filament edge. Within less than a day, the frontogenesis is arrested at a small width,${\approx}100~\text{m}$, primarily by an enhancement of the turbulence through a small submesoscale, horizontal shear instability of the sharpened filament, followed by a subsequent slow decay of the filament by further turbulent mixing. The boundary-layer turbulence is inhomogeneous and non-stationary in relation to the evolving submesoscale currents and density stratification. The occurrence of frontogenesis and arrest are qualitatively similar with varying stress direction or with convective cooling, but the detailed evolution and flow structure differ among the cases. Thus submesoscale filament frontogenesis caused by boundary-layer turbulence, frontal arrest by frontal instability and frontal decay by forward energy cascade, and turbulent mixing are generic processes in the upper ocean.
Closing Gaps in Indigenous Undergraduate Higher Education Outcomes: Repositioning the Role of Student Support Services to Improve Retention and Completion Rates
Authors: Nakata Martin , Nakata Vicky , Day Andrew , Peachey Michael
Published: December 2017

The current change agenda to improve the persistently lower rates of access, participation and outcomes of Indigenous Australians in higher education is a broad one that attempts to address the complex range of contributing factors. A proposition in this paper is that the broad and longer-term focus runs the risk of distracting from the detailed considerations needed to improve support provisions for enrolled students in the immediate term. To bring more attention to this area of indicated change, we revisit ‘the gaps’ that exist between the performance of Indigenous and all other domestic students and the role that student support services have to play in improving retention and completion rates of enrolled Indigenous students. We outline some principles that can guide strategies for change in Indigenous undergraduate student support practices in Australian universities to respond to individual student needs in more effective and timely ways. These are illustrated using examples from the redevelopment of services provided by an Indigenous Education centre in a Go8 university, along with data gathered from our ARC study into Indigenous academic persistence in formal learning across three Australian universities.
MONUMENTS AND LANDSCAPE: INVESTIGATING A PREHISTORIC MONUMENT COMPLEX AT LOCHBROW, DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
Authors: Millican Kirsty , Goodchild Helen , Graves McEwan Dorothy
Published: December 2017

This paper presents the results of a survey project investigating a complex of prehistoric archaeological sites at Lochbrow, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. An Early Neolithic timber cursus, Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age timber circles and Bronze Age round barrows were first recorded as cropmarks on aerial photographs in the 1980s and 1990s. The Lochbrow Landscape Project set out to investigate and understand this lesser-known complex of prehistoric sites and their layout in the landscape using non-destructive survey techniques, including geophysical survey, experiential survey and re-assessment of aerial photographs. A pilot survey was undertaken in 2010 followed by a series of short field seasons from 2011 to 2015. Interpretation of the results from geophysical survey has proved challenging because of strong geological and geomorphological signals, but has been successful in detecting both the features known from aerial photographs and additional archaeological features. The simple step of marking out the known archaeology on the ground has provided additional insights into the landscape context of the known monuments and elements of their morphology. This indicates that the monuments were closely tied to their landscape context and that the monument boundaries were used to influence the experience of being within the monuments. Overall, the research has been successful in enriching our understanding of the complex of prehistoric sites known at Lochbrow.
Indigenous Resurgence: The Drive for Renewed Engagement and Reciprocity in the Turn Away from the State
Authors: Elliott Michael
Published: December 2017

“Indigenous resurgence” centres on three contentions: (1) that colonialism is an active structure of domination premised, at base, on Indigenous elimination; (2) that the prevailing normative-discursive environment continues to reflect this imperative; and (3) that Indigenous peoples must therefore turn away from this hostile environment and pursue independent programmes of social and cultural rejuvenation. The principal movement advocated under the resurgence paradigm thus appears as one of disengagement with the settler order. I also argue, however, that there is an important secondary drive within the movement that presses in the opposite direction. It figures further engagement both as a longer term goal (in the form of renewed dialogue on decolonization) and as an immediate imperative (in order to expose and remove obstacles to reciprocal dialogue). I aim, here, to excavate this secondary drive and consider what it connotes in terms of settler engagement.
The Instrumental Value Arguments for National Self-Determination
Authors: LEE HSIN-WEN
Published: December 2017

David Miller argues that national identity is indispensable for the successful functioning of a liberal democracy. National identity makes important contributions to liberal democratic institutions, including creating incentives for the fulfilment of civic duties, facilitating deliberative democracy, and consolidating representative democracy. Thus, a shared identity is indispensable for liberal democracy and grounds a good claim for self-determination. Because Miller’s arguments appeal to the instrumental values of a national culture, I call his argument ‘instrumental value’ arguments. In this paper, I examine the instrumental value arguments and show that they fail to justify a group’s right to self-determination.
Plant extracts as a natural treatment against the fish ectoparasite Neobenedenia sp. (Monogenea: Capsalidae)
Authors: Trasviña-Moreno A.G. , Ascencio F. , Angulo C. , Hutson K.S. , Avilés-Quevedo A. , Inohuye-Rivera R.B. , Pérez-Urbiola J.C.
Published: December 2017

The toxicity of water–ethanol extracts of garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), basil (Ocimum basilicum), bitter chaparro (Castela tortuousa), onion (Allium cepa) and papaya (Carica papaya) against adults, eggs and oncomiracidia of Neobenedenia spp. parasites was examined. Parasites were exposed to continuous immersion and treated as follows: extracts were tested at three dilutions: 1:10, 1:50 and 1:100 made with filtered seawater (35 g l–1); ethanol (70%) was evaluated at the same dilutions of 1:10 (7% ethanol), 1:50 (1.4% ethanol) and 1:100 (0.07% ethanol) and a seawater (35 g l–1) control. The antiparasitic effect was measured on: (1) adult survival, egg production and time to detachment from the culture vessel; (2) egg development and cumulative egg hatching; and (3) oncomiracidia survival. All three dilutions of ginger and dilutions 1:100 and 1:50 of basil extract reduced adult survival in vitro, time to detachment from the surface of the culture vessel, egg production and oncomiracidia survival. Bitter chaparro extract reduced adult egg production and oncomiracidia survival. Hatching success was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in basil extract (1:100) to 86.6% compared to the seawater control (100%). Dilutions 1:10 of ginger and basil exhibited the highest impact on the biological parameters of Neobenedenia sp. Our study demonstrates that water–ethanol extracts of ginger, basil and bitter chaparro are toxic against Neobenedenia sp. life stages.
An analysis of true- and false-positive results of vocal fold uptake in positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging
Authors: Seymour N , Burkill G , Harries M
Published: December 2017

Objectives:

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose has a major role in the investigation of head and neck cancers. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose is not a tumour-specific tracer and can also accumulate in benign pathology. Therefore, positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan interpretation difficulties are common in the head and neck, which can produce false-positive results. This study aimed to investigate patients detected as having abnormal vocal fold uptake on fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography.

Methods:

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans were identified over a 15-month period where reports contained evidence of unilateral vocal fold uptake or vocal fold pathology. Patients’ notes and laryngoscopy results were analysed.

Results:

Forty-six patients were identified as having abnormal vocal fold uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Twenty-three patients underwent positron emission tomography-computed tomography and flexible laryngoscopy: 61 per cent of patients had true-positive positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans and 39 per cent had false-positive scan results.

Conclusion:

Most patients referred to ENT for abnormal findings on positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans had true-positive findings. Asymmetrical fluorine-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose uptake should raise suspicion of vocal fold pathology, accepting a false-positive rate of approximately 40 per cent.
“On the other hand the accused is a woman…”: Women and the Death Penalty in Post-Independence Ireland
Authors: Black Lynsey
Published: December 2017

Hannah Flynn was sentenced to death on February 27, 1924. She had been convicted of the murder of Margaret O'Sullivan, her former employer. Hannah worked for Margaret and her husband Daniel as a domestic servant, an arrangement that ended with bad feeling on both sides when Hannah was dismissed. On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1923, while Daniel was at church, Hannah returned to her former place of work, and killed 50-year-old Margaret with a hatchet. At her trial, the jury strongly recommended her to mercy, and sentence of death was subsequently commuted to penal servitude for life. Hannah spent almost two decades in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, from where she was conditionally released on October 23, 1942 to the Good Shepherd Magdalen Laundry in Limerick. Although there is no precise date available for Hannah's eventual release from there, it is known that “a considerable time later,” and at a very advanced age, she was released from the laundry to a hospital, where she died. The case of Hannah Flynn, and the use of the Good Shepherd Laundry, represents an explicitly gendered example of the death penalty regime in Ireland following Independence in 1922, particularly the double-edged sword of mercy as it was experienced by condemned women.
Association between malaria incidence and meteorological factors: a multi-location study in China, 2005–2012
Authors: XIANG J. , HANSEN A. , LIU Q. , TONG M. X. , LIU X. , SUN Y. , CAMERON S. , HANSON-EASEY S. , HAN G. S. , WILLIAMS C. , WEINSTEIN P. , BI P.
Published: December 2017

This study aims to investigate the climate–malaria associations in nine cities selected from malaria high-risk areas in China. Daily reports of malaria cases in Anhui, Henan, and Yunnan Provinces for 2005–2012 were obtained from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Generalized estimating equation models were used to quantify the city-specific climate–malaria associations. Multivariate random-effects meta-regression analyses were used to pool the city-specific effects. An inverted-U-shaped curve relationship was observed between temperatures, average relative humidity, and malaria. A 1 °C increase of maximum temperature (Tmax) resulted in 6·7% (95% CI 4·6–8·8%) to 15·8% (95% CI 14·1–17·4%) increase of malaria, with corresponding lags ranging from 7 to 45 days. For minimum temperature (Tmin), the effect estimates peaked at lag 0 to 40 days, ranging from 5·3% (95% CI 4·4–6·2%) to 17·9% (95% CI 15·6–20·1%). Malaria is more sensitive to Tmin in cool climates and Tmax in warm climates. The duration of lag effect in a cool climate zone is longer than that in a warm climate zone. Lagged effects did not vanish after an epidemic season but waned gradually in the following 2–3 warm seasons. A warming climate may potentially increase the risk of malaria resurgence in China.
An outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 associated with contaminated salad leaves: epidemiological, genomic and food trace back investigations
Authors: MIKHAIL A. F. W. , JENKINS C. , DALLMAN T. J. , INNS T. , DOUGLAS A. , MARTÍN A. I. C. , FOX A. , CLEARY P. , ELSON R. , HAWKER J.
Published: December 2017

In August 2015, Public Health England detected an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serotype O157:H7 caused by contaminated salad leaves in a mixed leaf prepacked salad product from a national retailer. The implicated leaves were cultivated at five different farms and the zoonotic source of the outbreak strain was not determined. In March 2016, additional isolates from new cases were identified that shared a recent common ancestor with the outbreak strain. A case–case study involving the cases identified in 2016 revealed that ovine exposures were associated with illness (n = 16; AOR 8·24; 95% CI 1·55–39·74). By mapping the recent movement of sheep and lambs across the United Kingdom, epidemiological links were established between the cases reporting ovine exposures. Given the close phylogenetic relationship between the outbreak strain and the isolates from cases with ovine exposures, it is plausible that ovine faeces may have contaminated the salad leaves via untreated irrigation water or run-off from fields nearby. Timely and targeted veterinary and environmental sampling should be considered during foodborne outbreaks of STEC, particularly where ready to eat vegetables and salads are implicated.
Refining the assessment of disrupted maternal communication: Using item response models to identify central indicators of disrupted behavior
Authors: Haltigan John D. , Madigan Sheri , Bronfman Elisa , Bailey Heidi N. , Borland-Kerr Catherine , Mills-Koonce Roger , Lyons-Ruth Karlen
Published: December 2017

The Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification (AMBIANCE; Bronfman, Madigan, & Lyons-Ruth, 2009–2014; Bronfman, Parsons, & Lyons-Ruth, 1992–2004) is a widely used and well-validated measure for assessing disrupted forms of caregiver responsiveness within parent–child interactions. However, it requires evaluating approximately 150 behavioral items from videotape and extensive training to code, thus making its use impractical in most clinical contexts. Accordingly, the primary aim of the current study was to identify a reduced set of behavioral indicators most central to the AMBIANCE coding system using latent-trait item response theory (IRT) models. Observed mother–infant interaction data previously coded with the AMBIANCE was pooled from laboratories in both North America and Europe (N = 343). Using 2-parameter logistic IRT models, a reduced set of 45 AMBIANCE items was identified. Preliminary convergent and discriminant validity was evaluated in relation to classifications of maternal disrupted communication assigned using the full set of AMBIANCE indicators, to infant attachment disorganization, and to maternal sensitivity. The results supported the construct validity of the refined item set, opening the way for development of a brief screening measure for disrupted maternal communication. IRT models in clinical scale refinement and their potential for bridging clinical and research objectives in developmental psychopathology are discussed.
Gene × Environment contributions to autonomic stress reactivity in youth
Authors: Allegrini Andrea G. , Evans Brittany E. , de Rooij Susanne , Greaves-Lord Kirstin , Huizink Anja C.
Published: December 2017

Dysregulated physiological stress reactivity has been suggested to impact the development of children and adolescents with important health consequences throughout the life span. Both environmental adversity and genetic predispositions can lead to physiological imbalances in stress systems, which in turn lead to developmental differences. We investigated genetic and environmental contributions to autonomic nervous system reactivity to a psychosocial stressor. Furthermore, we tested whether these effects were consistent with the differential susceptibility framework. Composite measures of adverse life events combined with socioeconomic status were constructed. Effects of these adversity scores in interaction with a polygenic score summarizing six genetic variants, which were hypothesized to work as susceptibility factors, were tested on autonomic nervous system measures as indexed by heart rate and heart rate variability. Results showed that carriers of more genetic variants and exposed to high adversity manifested enhanced heart rate variability reactivity to a psychosocial stressor compared to carriers of fewer genetic variants. Conversely, the stress procedure elicited a more moderate response in these individuals compared to carriers of fewer variants when adversity was low.
Lexical and prosodic routinization in conceptional orality: conversational self-reformulation in French
Authors: STAHNKE JOHANNA
Published: December 2017

The present study investigates the functions and forms of conversational self-reformulation in spoken French. (Self-)Reformulations in general are a typical feature of unplanned and spontaneous conceptional orality (as opposed to conceptional distance; Koch and Oesterreicher, 1985). They exhibit retrospective modification of a reference expression, which is semantically equivalent in paraphrases and semantically different in corrections. The latter are therefore communicatively more problematic with regard to discourse intervention and turn-taking. As for the linguistic marking of self-reformulation, paraphrases are preferably introduced by lexically polyfunctional markers and prosodic deaccentuation, while corrections are marked by lexically monofunctional and prosodically overaccented structures. Since the accessibility to context-dependent forms is specifically related to conceptional orality, a more important linguistic marking of self-reformulation is hypothesized to occur in conceptional orality when compared to conceptional distance. The results of an empirical study contrasting two conceptionally different corpora suggest a generalization of paraphrastic markers in conceptional orality. This tendency is attributed to speaker-strategic routinization in which corrections are re-marked as paraphrases in order to avoid conversational intervention and, as a consequence, turn-taking. When taken over by other speakers, this routine may cause variation and, eventually, linguistic change.
A case study of vocalic false starts in a French corpus
Authors: BERGOUNIOUX GABRIEL
Published: December 2017

This article, based on a French oral corpus, discusses the standing and the interpretation of some vocalic false starts. It recaps the characteristics of false starts and presents the spoken data on which this study is grounded. It details the false starts in the corpus that begin with a vowel in order to draw some conclusions about their form, focusing on the differences between what would be expected and a few discrepancies. The analysis starts from the auditors' perception and proposes an interpretation of the effects of morphophonological constraints.
Financial development and prehistoric geographical isolation: global evidence
Authors: Kodila-Tedika Oasis , Asongu Simplice A. , Cinyabuguma Matthias , Tchamyou Vanessa S.
Published: December 2017

Using cross-country differences in the degree of isolation before the advent of technologies in sea and air transportation, we assess the relationship between geographical isolation and financial development across the globe. We find that prehistoric geographical isolation has been beneficial to development because it has contributed to contemporary cross-country differences in financial intermediary development. The relationship is robust to alternative samples, different estimation techniques, outliers and varying conditioning information sets. The established positive relationship between geographical isolation and financial intermediary development does not significantly extend to stock market development.
Prepare for Take-Off: Fasten Your Seatbelt and Keep a Magnet in Your Pocket!
Authors: Roche Nicolas-Charles , Thabouillot Oscar , Bouvier Francois , Paule Philippe
Published: December 2017

Fainting on a plane is quite common, and stewards are used to taking care of things. Statistically, there is always a physician on board. This Letter to the Editor details a case report that deals with inappropriate pacemaker inhibition during a flight.

RocheNC, ThabouillotO, BouvierF, PauleP. Prepare for take-off: fasten your seatbelt and keep a magnet in your pocket!. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(1):114–115.
Peripheral levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in youths in ultra-high risk for psychosis: a pilot study
Authors: Zeni-Graiff Maiara , Rios Adiel C. , Maurya Pawan K. , Rizzo Lucas B. , Sethi Sumit , Yamagata Ana S. , Mansur Rodrigo B. , Pan Pedro M. , Asevedo Elson , Cunha Graccielle R. , Zugman André , Bressan Rodrigo A. , Gadelha Ary , Brietzke Elisa
Published: December 2017

Introduction

Oxidative stress has been documented in chronic schizophrenia and in the first episode of psychosis, but there are very little data on oxidative stress prior to the disease onset.

Objective

This work aimed to compare serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in young individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) of developing psychosis with a comparison healthy control group (HC).

Methods

Thirteen UHR subjects and 29 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this study. Clinical assessment included the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS), the Semi-Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-I (SCID-I) or the Kiddie-SADS-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. Activities of SOD and GPx were measured in serum by the spectrophotometric method using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

Results

After adjusting for age and years of education, there was a significant lower activity of SOD and lower GPX activity in the UHR group compared to the healthy control group (rate ratio [RR]=0.330, 95% CI 0.187; 0.584, p<0.001 and RR=0.509, 95% CI 0.323; 0.803, p=0.004, respectively). There were also positive correlations between GAF functioning scores and GPx and SOD activities.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that oxidative imbalances could be present prior to the onset of full-blown psychosis, including in at-risk stages. Future studies should replicate and expand these results.
Misbehaved masculines: Incidental acquisition of grammatical gender in L2 German during reading
Authors: BORDAG DENISA , KIRSCHENBAUM AMIT , ROGAHN MARIA , OPITZ ANDREAS , TSCHIRNER ERWIN
Published: December 2017

The present study explores the early stages of incidental acquisition of grammatical gender during reading in German as a second language (L2) using a self-paced reading paradigm. The results show that advanced L2 learners are sensitive to gender agreement violations after as few as three to four exposures to a novel noun within a short text. The results also indicate that the acquisition of grammatical gender from syntactic context is gender dependent: Whereas gender violation effects were observed for feminine and neuter nouns, no such effects were observed for masculine nouns.
Analysis of sexual healthcare provided by school nurses
Authors: Beech Sarah , Sayer Lynn
Published: December 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore the role and activities of the school nursing service in sexual health within a large inner London borough.

Background

School nurses (SNs) are specialist community public health nurses working with the school age population to promote their health and well-being and therefore are arguably in a prime position to promote the sexual health of children and young people. This is particularly pertinent in inner city boroughs where the rates of sexually transmitted infections and under-18 conceptions are a significant problem.

Methods

Following a review of the literature, a mixed methods study was undertaken which included an audit of documentary data to identify the referrals received in relation to sexual health and also included questionnaire surveys of school staff and SNs on their views of the role of the SN in sexual health.

Findings

SNs and school staff identified that SNs have a role in sexual health, which was reflected in the referrals received during the audit of documentary data. There appeared to be inconsistencies across the service and evidence suggested that the school nursing service may be underutilised in comparison to the number of students who require sexual health support. The current service appears to be predominantly reactive, particularly for males and those less than 12 years old. However, both SNs and school staff would like to see a more preventative approach; including greater sexual health promotion, condom distribution and school health clinics.
Ground-based detection of a cloud of methanol from Enceladus: when is a biomarker not a biomarker?
Authors: Drabek-Maunder E. , Greaves J. , Fraser H. J. , Clements D. L. , Alconcel L.-N.
Published: December 2017

Saturn's moon Enceladus has vents emerging from a sub-surface ocean, offering unique probes into the liquid environment. These vents drain into the larger neutral torus in orbit around Saturn. We present a methanol (CH3OH) detection observed with IRAM 30-m from 2008 along the line-of-sight through Saturn's E-ring. Additionally, we also present supporting observations from the Herschel public archive of water (ortho-H2O; 1669.9 GHz) from 2012 at a similar elongation and line-of-sight. The CH3OH 5(1,1)-4(1,1) transition was detected at 5.9σ confidence. The line has 0.43 km s−1 width and is offset by +8.1 km s−1 in the moon's reference frame. Radiative transfer models allow for gas cloud dimensions from 1750 km up to the telescope beam diameter ~73 000 km. Taking into account the CH3OH lifetime against solar photodissociation and the redshifted line velocity, there are two possible explanations for the CH3OH emission: methanol is primarily a secondary product of chemical interactions within the neutral torus that: (1) spreads outward throughout the E-ring or (2) originates from a compact, confined gas cloud lagging Enceladus by several km s−1. We find either scenario to be consistent with significant redshifted H2O emission (4σ) measured from the Herschel public archive. The measured CH3OH:H2O abundance (>0.5%) significantly exceeds the observed abundance in the direct vicinity of the vents (~0.01%), suggesting CH3OH is likely chemically processed within the gas cloud with methane (CH4) as its parent species.
CAN MODALITIES SAVE NAIVE SET THEORY?
Authors: FRITZ PETER , LEDERMAN HARVEY , LIU TIANKAI , SCOTT DANA
Published: December 2017

To the memory of Prof. Grigori Mints, Stanford University

Born: June 7, 1939, St. Petersburg, Russia

Died: May 29, 2014, Palo Alto, California
Birth weight influences the kidney size and function of Bangladeshi children
Authors: Ferdous F. , Ma E. , Raqib R. , Wagatsuma Y.
Published: December 2017

Early-life conditions influence organ growth patterns and their functions, as well as subsequent risk for non-communicable chronic diseases in later life. A limited number of studies have determined that in Bangladesh, kidney size relates to its function among children as a consequence of the maternal and postnatal conditions. The present study objectives were to determine early-life conditions in relation to childhood kidney size and to compare their influences on kidney function. The study was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort of 1067 full-term singleton live births followed from fetal life onward. Kidney volume was measured by ultrasound in children at the age of 4.5 years (range 45–64 months), and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was assessed at the age of 9 years (range 96–116 months). The mean (s.d.) kidney volume of children at 4.5 years was 64.2 (11.3) cm3, with a significant mean difference observed between low birth weight and normal birth weight children (P<0.001). The multivariable model showed, changes in status from low birth weight to normal birth weight children, with kidney volume increases of 2.92 cm3/m2, after adjusting for the child’s age, sex, maternal age and early pregnancy body mass index, and socio-economic index variables. One-unit change in kidney volume (cm3/m2) improved the eGFR to 0.18 ml/min/1.73 m2. The eGFR in low birth weight children was 5.44 ml/min/1.73 m2 less than that in normal birth weight children after adjustments. Low birth weight leads to adverse effects on kidney size and function in children.
Psychogene neurologische Störungen: Klinik und elektrophysiologische Diagnostik
Authors: Dafotakis Manuel , Paus Sebastian
Published: December 2017

Etwa 5 % der in Ambulanzen für Bewegungsstörungen vorstelligen Patienten haben eine psychogene Erkrankung, die sich als Tremor, Myoklonus oder Dystonie präsentiert. Auch für Lähmungen und Sensibilitätsstörungen lässt sich in manchen Fällen kein organisches Korrelat nachweisen. Da die Diagnosestellung einer psychogenen Störung zeit- und kostenintensiv sein kann, sollte rationale Zusatzdiagnostik erfolgen, die sich am klinischen Syndrom orientiert. Neben klinischen Tests kommt dabei der Elektrophysiologie eine große Bedeutung zu.
Wenn es im Rücken und den Gelenken zwickt und der Bauch grummelt
Authors: Kellner Herbert
Published: December 2017

Liebe Kollegin, lieber Kollege,

diese Erfahrungen machen Patienten mit rheumatischen Erkrankungen täglich. Zwischen rheumatischen und gastroenterologischen Erkrankungen gibt es eine Vielzahl von Berührungspunkten, die sowohl bei Diagnostik als auch Therapie beachtet werden müssen. So sollte der umsichtige Rheumatologe bei primär rheumatischen Erkrankungen auch an mögliche gastroenterologische Organmanifestationen denken.
On the convergence and scaling of high-order statistical moments in turbulent pipe flow using direct numerical simulations
Authors: Bauer C. , Feldmann D. , Wagner C.
Published: December 2017

Direct numerical simulations of turbulent pipe flow in a flow domain of length L = 42R, friction Reynolds number in the range of 180 ≤ Reτ ≤ 1500, and two different wall-normal grid refinements were carried out and investigated in terms of high-order turbulence statistics. The phenomenology of large local wall-normal velocity fluctuations (velocity spikes) was discussed by means of time series and instantaneous flow-field realisations. Due to their rare appearance both in space and time, statistical high-order moments take a long time to converge. A convergence study was performed and for fully converged statistics the sensitivity of the grid resolution on the wall-normal kurtosis component value at the wall as well as the scaling behaviour of high-order statistics was investigated. The streamwise Reynolds stress as well as the streamwise skewness and the wall-normal flatness exhibited logarithmic Reynolds number dependencies in the vicinity of the wall and scaling laws were derived accordingly. In the bulk flow region, a sudden increase in magnitude in both the streamwise Reynolds stress and skewness was determined for the largest Reynolds number Reτ = 1500, while the profiles collapsed well in wall units for Reτ ≤ 720. Both Reynolds number dependencies in the near-wall and the bulk region could be related to large-scale outer-flow motions penetrating the buffer layer. While wavelengths related to larger-scale motions (λz ≈ 3R) were computed for Reynolds numbers up to Reτ = 720 by means of two-dimensional two-point velocity correlations, even larger wavelengths related to very-large-scale motions appeared for Reτ = 1500. They are probably the reason for the sudden increase in magnitude of streamwise Reynolds stress and skewness, respectively. With the aid of instantaneous flow-field realisations and conditional averaged statistics, the Reynolds dependency of the wall-normal flatness value at the wall was related to the scaling failure of the streamwise Reynolds stress peak. For the lowest Reynolds number (Reτ = 180), discrepancies between plane channel and pipe flow were found and discussed.
An adaptive mesh refinement-multiphase lattice Boltzmann flux solver for simulation of complex binary fluid flows
Authors: Yuan H. Z. , Wang Y. , Shu C.
Published: December 2017

This paper presents an adaptive mesh refinement-multiphase lattice Boltzmann flux solver (AMR-MLBFS) for effective simulation of complex binary fluid flows at large density ratios. In this method, an AMR algorithm is proposed by introducing a simple indicator on the root block for grid refinement and two possible statuses for each block. Unlike available block-structured AMR methods, which refine their mesh by spawning or removing four child blocks simultaneously, the present method is able to refine its mesh locally by spawning or removing one to four child blocks independently when the refinement indicator is triggered. As a result, the AMR mesh used in this work can be more focused on the flow region near the phase interface and its size is further reduced. In each block of mesh, the recently proposed MLBFS is applied for the solution of the flow field and the level-set method is used for capturing the fluid interface. As compared with existing AMR-lattice Boltzmann models, the present method avoids both spatial and temporal interpolations of density distribution functions so that converged solutions on different AMR meshes and uniform grids can be obtained. The proposed method has been successfully validated by simulating a static bubble immersed in another fluid, a falling droplet, instabilities of two-layered fluids, a bubble rising in a box, and a droplet splashing on a thin film with large density ratios and high Reynolds numbers. Good agreement with the theoretical solution, the uniform-grid result, and/or the published data has been achieved. Numerical results also show its effectiveness in saving computational time and virtual memory as compared with computations on uniform meshes.
Upshot of binary chemical reaction and activation energy on carbon nanotubes with Cattaneo-Christov heat flux and buoyancy effects
Authors: Lu Dianchen , Ramzan M. , Ahmad Shafiq , Chung Jae Dong , Farooq Umer
Published: December 2017

A mathematical model is framed to discuss the flow of carbon nanotube-suspended nanofluids with Cattaneo-Christov heat flux and binary chemical reaction. The flow analysis is performed in attendance of heat generation/absorption, energy activation, and buoyancy effects past a nonlinear stretched surface embedded in a non-Darcy permeable medium. A combination of varied nanotubes with base fluids is also taken into account. The Runge-Kutta fifth-order Fehlberg technique is engaged to find the numerical solution of a highly nonlinear problem. The impact of sundry parameters on involved distributions is illustrated graphically with requisite discussion keeping in view their physical aspects. Different tables that comprise numerically calculated values of numerous sundry parameters highlighting their physical significance are also erected. It is witnessed that velocity and temperature profiles are enhanced for mounting values of nanoparticle volume fraction parameters. Further, it is seen that for enhancing the value of the Prandtl number, the temperature profile decreases rapidly for single-walled carbon nanotubes than multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
Long-term fluctuations in distribution and populations of a threatened rodent (Pseudomys novaehollandiae) in coastal woodlands of the Otway Ranges, Victoria: a regional decline or extinction?
Authors: Wilson Barbara A. , Lock Mandy , Garkaklis Mark J.
Published: December 2017

Since European settlement Australian native rodents have experienced dramatic extinctions and declines. We investigated long-term population and distribution changes during 1981–2003, and known or potential causal factors of decline in the vulnerable New Holland mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae). We found that populations (n = 8) were extant for 1–6 years and were predominantly small, localised and extinction prone. High-density populations occurred after above-average rainfall but declined precipitously during drought. Wildfire resulted in the extirpation of some populations, while others survived in unburnt refugia. We propose that post-fire vegetation (3–7 years) contemporaneous with above-average rainfall delivered productive habitat resulting in both a population irruption, and recovery after wildfire. Population declines occurred in drought periods. Recent trapping at 42 sites (2013–17) failed to record any New Holland mice. The species has not been recorded since 2003. Recovery is unlikely without intensive management, focussed on remnant or reintroduced populations, including protection from habitat fragmentation and inappropriate fire regimes. Prevention of extinction of the species throughout its southern range will require similar management strategies.
Did Zaglossus bruijnii occur in the Kimberley region of Western Australia?
Authors: Burbidge Andrew A.
Published: December 2017

A 2012 paper reported the discovery of a specimen of Zaglossus bruijnii with a label attached that recorded that it had been collected at Mount Anderson, in the south-west Kimberley region of Western Australia, in 1901. Based on several lines of evidence, I argue that this distinctive long-beaked echidna is not, and has not been, part of the Kimberley region’s modern mammal fauna. The simplest and most plausible explanation is that the tag on the specimen came from another animal.