bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Informal Emptying Business in Mandalay: Its Reasons and Financial Impacts
Authors: Naing Wutyi , Harada Hidenori , Fujii Shigeo , Hmwe Chaw Su Su
Published: December 2019

Globally, 2.8 billion people use on-site sanitation facilities, which need regular emptying of accumulated fecal sludge. Illegal dumping from informal emptying businesses, one of the major challenges in environmental management, is widely observed. Considering Mandalay, Myanmar, this study aimed to determine why informal emptying businesses are selected and estimate the lost revenue for a formal emptying service provider (FP) due to the informal businesses. We interviewed 400 households on their recognition and experiences regarding emptying services and willingness-to-pay for improved service. Revenue loss was estimated by comparing the present and theoretical maximum revenues. Results showed that 91.0% of households recognized FP only. Among 134 emptying-experienced households, 32.8%, 59.7%, and 4.5% chose FP with legal contact, FP with illegal contact, and informal service providers, respectively. The service fees from FP with illegal contact did not become revenue for FP; this was a major informal emptying business in the city. Differently from previous studies, the major illegal dumping was done by FP in this area. A great financial loss was estimated that FP lost 76.5% of the theoretical maximum revenue due to informal business. Logistic regression analysis indicated people’s intention to shorten the waiting time through illegal contact, even by paying a higher fee. As emptying services are typically required immediately after fecal sludge is over-accumulated, shorter waiting times and faster contact methods were the reasons why the informal business was selected. Less bureaucratic and more customer friendly system could reduce revenue loss, charge more, and increase profits.
Correction to: Dietary intake of total polyphenols and the risk of all-cause and specific-cause mortality in Japanese adults: the Takayama study
Authors: Taguchi Chie , Kishimoto Yoshimi , Fukushima Yoichi , Kondo Kazuo , Yamakawa Michiyo , Wada Keiko , Nagata Chisato
Published: December 2019

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.
Scleral buckling—a brief historical overview and current indications
Authors: Wang Aijing , Snead Martin P.
Published: December 2019

The key to successful management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is to find and seal all of the retinal breaks, and the two main surgical techniques used to achieve this are scleral bucking (SB) or pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Techniques for SB have remained mostly unchanged for the last 60 years, whilst PPV techniques and instruments have developed substantially over that time and have greatly contributed to increased success rate for types and configurations of retinal detachments unsuitable or difficult to manage with buckling alone. However, there is a growing dependency to rely on PPV as the sole and only approach for repair of all types of retinal detachment, such that some centres are no longer offering training in scleral buckling. There are also many studies comparing SB with PPV, but many of these lack information on the type, technique or rationale for deployment of the buckle. Many studies deploy the same scleral buckle technique without customising it to the type, position or number of tears being treated. Scleral buckling is not a one-size-fits-all technique. It requires careful patient selection and careful buckle selection and orientation tailored to the tear(s) to ensure success. When used appropriately, it is a simple and highly effective technique, particularly for retinal dialyses, round retinal hole detachments and selected cases of retinal detachment associated with horseshoe retinal tears. There is no doubt that for some more complex cases, such as multiple large breaks, giant retinal tears, bullous detachments and cases complicated by proliferative retinopathy, PPV offers a safer and more effective management. However, SB remains an important and relevant surgical technique, and for the right cases, the results can be superior to PPV with reduced comorbidity.
Pharmaco-epidemiological research on herbal medicinal products in the paediatric population: data from the PhytoVIS study
Authors: Nieber Karen , Raskopf Esther , Möller Johanna , Kelber Olaf , Fürst Robert , Shah-Hosseini Kija , Singh Jaswinder , Kraft Karin , Mösgens Ralph
Published: December 2019

In paediatrics, clinical study data are limited, especially on herbal medicinal products. To address this gap, 2063 datasets from the paediatric population were evaluated in the PhytoVIS data base. By screening for paediatric data, information on indication, gender, treatment, co-medication and tolerability were evaluated. The majority of patients was treated because of common cold, fever, digestive complaints, skin diseases, sleep disturbances and anxiety. The perceived effect of the therapy was rated in 84% of the patients as very good or good without adverse events. The data shed light on a still neglected field of phyto-pharmacotherapy by giving information on the use of herbal medicines in an unselected cohort of paediatric patients. The results confirm the good clinical effects and safety of herbal medicinal products in this patient population and show that they are widely used in Germany.What is Known:• In Germany, about 85% of children receive one or more herbal medicinal products per year.• Despite international initiatives to promote clinical research in paediatrics, there are still many gaps of knowledge in the use of drugs in paediatrics.What is New:• The PhytoVIS project evaluated 2063 data sets from the paediatric population using herbal medicinal products.• The majority of patients was treated because of common cold, fever, digestive complaints, skin diseases, sleep disturbances and anxiety, and 84% of the patients rated the therapy as very good or good without adverse events.
Neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease: facts and hopes
Authors: Salamon András , Zádori Dénes , Szpisjak László , Klivényi Péter , Vécsei László
Published: December 2019

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. Behind the symptoms there is a complex pathological mechanism which leads to a dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Despite the strong efforts, curative treatment has not been found yet. To prevent a further cell death, numerous molecules were tested in terms of neuroprotection in preclinical (in vitro, in vivo) and in clinical studies as well. The aim of this review article is to summarize our knowledge about the extensively tested neuroprotective agents (Search period: 1991–2019). We detail the underlying pathological mechanism and summarize the most important results of the completed animal and clinical trials. Although many positive results have been reported in the literature, there is still no evidence that any of them should be used in clinical practice (Cochrane analysis was performed). Therefore, further studies are needed to better understand the pathomechanism of PD and to find the optimal neuroprotective agent(s).
Diagnostic and medical needs for therapeutic drug monitoring of antibiotics
Authors: Mabilat Claude , Gros Marie Francoise , Nicolau David , Mouton Johan W. , Textoris Julien , Roberts Jason A. , Cotta Menino O. , van Belkum Alex , Caniaux Isabelle
Published: December 2019

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antibiotics has been practiced for more than half a century, but it is still not widely applied for infected patients. It has a traditional focus on limiting toxicity of specific classes of antibiotics such as aminoglycosides and vancomycin. With more patients in critical care with higher levels of sickness severity and immunosuppression as well as an increasingly obese and ageing population, an increasing risk of suboptimal antibiotic exposure continues to escalate. As such, the value of TDM continues to expand, especially for beta-lactams which constitute the most frequently used antibiotic class. To date, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of infectious microbes rather than classification in terms of susceptible and resistant can be reported. In parallel, increasingly sophisticated TDM technology is becoming available ensuring that TDM is feasible and can deliver personalized antibiotic dosing schemes. There is an obvious need for extensive studies that will quantify the improvements in clinical outcome of individual TDM-guided dosing. We suggest that a broad diagnostic and medical investigation of the TDM arena, including market analyses and analytical technology assessment, is a current priority.
Solving the fair electric load shedding problem in developing countries
Authors: Oluwasuji Olabambo Ifeoluwa , Malik Obaid , Zhang Jie , Ramchurn Sarvapali Dyanand
Published: December 2019

Often because of limitations in generation capacity of power stations, many developing countries frequently resort to disconnecting large parts of the power grid from supply, a process termed load shedding. This leaves households in disconnected parts without electricity, causing them inconvenience and discomfort. Without fairness being taken into due consideration during load shedding, some households may suffer more than others. In this paper, we solve the fair load shedding problem (FLSP) by creating solutions which connect households to supply based on some fairness criteria (i.e., to fairly connect homes to supply in terms of duration, their electricity needs, and their demand), which we model as their utilities. First, we briefly describe some state-of-art household-level load shedding heuristics which meet the first criteria. Second, we model the FLSP as a resource allocation problem, which we formulate into two Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) problems based on the Multiple Knapsack Problem. In so doing, we use the utilitarian, egalitarian and envy-freeness social welfare metrics to develop objectives and constraints that ensure our FLSP solutions results in fair allocations that consider the utilities of agents. Then, we solve the FLSP and show that our MIP models maximize the groupwise and individual utilities of agents, and minimize the differences between their pairwise utilities under a number of experiments. When taken together, our endeavour establishes a set of benchmarks for fair load shedding schemes, and provide insights for designing fair allocation solutions for other scarce resources.
Respect the Author: a Research Ethical Principle for Readers
Authors: Ahlin Marceta Jesper
Published: December 2019

Much of contemporary research ethics was developed in the latter half of the twentieth century as a response to the unethical treatment of human beings in biomedical research. Research ethical considerations have subsequently been extended to cover topics in the sciences and technology such as data handling, precautionary measures, engineering codes of conduct, and more. However, moral issues in the humanities have gained less attention from research ethicists. This article proposes an ethical principle for reading for research purposes: Respect the author.
The Distinction Between Thermal Nonequilibrium and Thermal Instability
Authors: Klimchuk James A.
Published: December 2019

For some forms of steady heating, coronal loops are in a state of thermal nonequilibrium and evolve in a manner that includes accelerated cooling, often resulting in the formation of a cold condensation. This is frequently confused with thermal instability, but the two are in fact fundamentally different. We explain the distinction and discuss situations where they may be interconnected. Large-amplitude perturbations, perhaps associated with MHD waves, likely play a role in explaining phenomena that have been attributed to thermal nonequilibrium but also seem to require cross-field communication.
Determination of nest occupation and breeding effect of the white stork by human-mediated landscape in Western Poland
Authors: Bialas Joanna T. , Dylewski Łukasz , Tobolka Marcin
Published: December 2019

Choosing an appropriate nest site is essential for successful breeding. Changes in land use cause populations of many species to decline although some species adapt to anthropogenic changes. The white storkCiconia ciconiacommonly uses artificial nest sites. Recently, white storks from Western Europe have been using landfills as feeding sites; the beginnings of this process are being observed in Central-Eastern Europe. The study aimed to determine factors influencing the probability of nest occupation and breeding effect in a Central-Eastern European population of white storks. We used long-term data from Western Poland on breeding effect, nest occupation, the structure supporting the nest, the proximity of the nearest landfills, landfill area, and land cover. The probability of nest occupation was significantly dependent on habitat quality (based on the share of the preferred type of land cover), the structure supporting the nest, and landfill proximity within a specific year. The breeding effect was influenced by habitat quality and nesting structure. We demonstrate that the type of nesting structure is an important factor influencing both the probability of nest reoccupation and breeding effect. However, the significance of landfills appears to be growing, and in recent years, storks prefer occupying nests closer to landfills, which may have significant consequences for the population of the white stork.
Organoids from the Human Fetal and Adult Pancreas
Authors: Balak Jeetindra R. A. , Juksar Juri , Carlotti Françoise , Lo Nigro Antonio , de Koning Eelco J. P.
Published: December 2019

Purpose of Review

Novel 3D organoid culture techniques have enabled long-term expansion of pancreatic tissue. This review comprehensively summarizes and evaluates the applications of primary tissue–derived pancreatic organoids in regenerative studies, disease modelling, and personalized medicine.

Recent Findings

Organoids derived from human fetal and adult pancreatic tissue have been used to study pancreas development and repair. Generated adult human pancreatic organoids harbor the capacity for clonal expansion and endocrine cell formation. In addition, organoids have been generated from human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in order to study tumor behavior and assess drug responses.

Pancreatic organoids constitute an important translational bridge between in vitro and in vivo models, enhancing our understanding of pancreatic cell biology. Current applications for pancreatic organoid technology include studies on tissue regeneration, disease modelling, and drug screening.
High-performance transparent conducting films of long single-walled carbon nanotubes synthesized from toluene alone
Authors: Ding Er-Xiong , Hussain Aqeel , Ahmad Saeed , Zhang Qiang , Liao Yongping , Jiang Hua , Kauppinen Esko I.
Published: December 2019

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) transparent conducting films (TCFs) are attracting increasing attention due to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Toluene is a proposed carbon source for SWCNT synthesis, but the growth parameters of SWCNTs and their TCF optoelectronic performance (i.e., sheet resistance versus transmittance) have been insufficiently evaluated. Here, we have for the first time reported a systematic study of the fabrication of high-performance SWCNT TCFs using toluene alone as the carbon source. The mechanisms behind each observed phenomenon were elucidated using optical and microscopy techniques. By optimizing the growth parameters, high yields of SWCNT TCFs exhibiting a considerably low sheet resistance of 57 Ω/sq at 90% transmittance were obtained. This competitive optoelectronic performance is mainly attributable to long SWCNT bundles (mean length is 41.4 μm) in the film. Additionally, a chirality map determined by electron diffraction displays a bimodal distribution of chiral angles divided at 15°, which is close to both armchair and zigzag edges. Our study paved the way towards scaled-up production of SWCNTs for the fabrication of high-performance TCFs for industrial applications.
A case of severe megacolon due to acquired isolated hypoganglionosis after low anterior resection for lower rectal cancer
Authors: Tominaga Tetsuro , Nagayama Satoshi , Takamatsu Manabu , Miyanari Shun , Nagasaki Toshiya , Yamaguchi Tomohiro , Akiyoshi Takashi , Konishi Tsuyoshi , Fujimoto Yoshiya , Fukunaga Yosuke , Ueno Masashi
Published: December 2019

Acquired isolated hypoganglionosis is a rare intestinal neurological disease, which presents in adulthood with the clinical symptoms of chronic constipation. A 39-year-old man underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection and covering ileostomy for locally advanced-rectal cancer. A 6-month course of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was completed, followed by closure of the ileostoma. After the closure, he developed severe colitis which required 1-month of hospitalization. Mucosal erosions and pseudo-membrane formation were evident on colonoscopy and severe mucosal damage characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells and crypt degeneration were pathologically confirmed. Even after the remission of the colitis, he suffered from severe constipation and distention. At 4 years after the stoma closure, he decided to undergo laparoscopic total colectomy. Histopathologically, the nerve fibers and ganglion cells became gradually scarcer from the non-dilated to dilated regions. Immunohistochemical staining examination confirmed that the ganglion cells gradually decreased and became degenerated from the normal to dilated region, thereby arriving at the final diagnosis of isolated hypoganglionosis. The patient recovered without any complications and there has been no evidence of any relapse of the symptoms. We present a case of acquired isolated hypoganglionosis-related megacolon, which required laparoscopic total colectomy, due to severe enterocolitis following stoma closure.
Production logging via coiled tubing fiber optic infrastructures (FSI) and its application in shale gas wells
Authors: Meng Xuangang , Wang Weijia , Shen Zhenzhen , Xiong Jiangyong , Zhang Heng
Published: December 2019

Multistage stimulation operation using plug and perf technique is the main development mode in domestic shale gas play. Because of the particularity of well trajectory, well geometry caused by rapid drilling operation in shale gas wells, the residual plug debris after plug milling, the complexity of multiphase flow in horizontal section, etc., it is difficult for conventional production logging to meet the needs of shale gas wells. However, a number of shale gas wells need to be evaluated in the effects of well drilling and completion and fracturing, providing the guidance for the next fracturing design, so the production logging via coiled tubing fiber optic infrastructures (FSI) can satisfy the needs of shale gas wells, really reflect water holdup and gas holdup in different fracturing stage, and effectively evaluate fracturing effect of each stage.
Mössbauer Spectroscopic Study of Phosphatic Sediments Collected from Fatehgarh Formation of Northern Barmer Basin, Western Rajasthan
Authors: Mathur Sonal , Tripathi R.P. , Mathur S.C. , Mathur Saurabh
Published: December 2019

A unique thin ferruginous layer sandwiched between phosphatic sediments of the Fatehgarh Formation representing northern periphery of the Barmer basin, India. Magnetic separation of this layer yielded presence of magnetic glassy spherules of millimeter size. In the present investigation, Mössbauer and XRD study of twelve phosphatic sediments including ferruginous layer of Fatehgarh Formation was carried out. For the first time, a very unusual and complex pattern of Mössbauer parameters attributed to an unusual thermal history in late Cretaceous phosphatic sediments of the Barmer basin has been shown.
Appraisal of Seawater Mixing Index in Coastal Aquifer of Karaikal, Southern India Using Geospatial Technology
Authors: Sivaranjani S. , Ellappan Vinodhini , Karthick L.Avinash
Published: December 2019

Seawater intrusion promotes the salinity of groundwater and it poses a great environmental impact on a global scale. The selected study area Karaikal block, Tamil Nadu state coastal aquifers are potentially a major problem in terms of seawater intrusion. The present research aims to assess the hydrogeochemical processes and influence of seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifers using seawater mixing index. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for major ionic parameters, have higher conductivity, total dissolved solids, magnesium, sulphate, sodium and chloride. Thematic maps of factors influencing the sea water intrusion were prepared and overlaid using Geographical Information System (GIS). Good quality groundwater in the northern side indicate that the aquifer was unaffected by the seawater mixing. According to final GIS map, most of the region was severely affected by seawater intrusion due to over-exploitation of groundwater. The deteriorated groundwater resources in this coastal region raises environmental and health concerns.
Geophysical assessment of aquifer vulnerability and management: a case study of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State
Authors: Obiora Daniel N. , Ibuot Johnson C.
Published: December 2019

Seventeen vertical electrical soundings and seven electrical resistivity tomography profiles were carried out at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. The study involves the use of Schlumberger and Wenner electrodes configuration. The thrust of this work is on determining the vulnerability of the hydrogeological units by employing the aquifer vulnerability index (AVI) method. The resistivity data measured were interpreted manually and with computer software packages, which gave the resistivity, depth and thickness for each layer within the maximum current electrodes separation. The hydraulic conductivity (K) and hydraulic resistance (C) of the protective layers estimated from the primary parameters estimated have values ranging from 0.0434 to 0.4890 m day−1 and 38.37 to 1005.84 day−1, respectively. AVI of the study shows that the study area is characterised by low to high AVI with moderate AVI as dominant. This is to help in delineating aquifer protective zones and also possible locations, which further helps in groundwater resource exploration and management.
Assessing site form as an indicator of site quality in even-aged Pinus radiata D. Don stands in north-western Spain
Authors: Molina-Valero Juan Alberto , Diéguez-Aranda Ulises , Álvarez-González Juan Gabriel , Castedo-Dorado Fernando , Pérez-Cruzado César
Published: December 2019

Key message

Site form and site index have shown similar precision for estimating site quality in even-agedPinus radiataD. Don stands in north-western Spain. Additionally, SF presents the advantage that it does not require stand age information and can therefore be used in a wider set of situations in the forestry practice.

Context

Estimation of site quality is essential for characterizing, monitoring and predicting forest resources. Site index (i.e. the dominant height of the stand at a reference age) is ordinarily used to estimate site quality; however, this index is only useful for even-aged stands of known age. By contrast, SF is age-independent as it uses the dominant height of the stand at a reference dominant diameter.

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of SF and SI for site quality estimation in even-agedP. radiatastands.

Methods

Dynamic equations derived with the Generalized Algebraic Difference Approach (GADA) from the Hossfeld IV base model were fitted to predict site quality with both SI and SF. SF predictions were compared with SI regarding variability within the same plot and consistency in site quality predictions, using the observed maximum mean annual volume increment (MAI) as a direct measure of site quality.

Results

Both approaches showed good performance in model fitting and provided similar goodness-of-fit statistics and variability in the predictions. However, SI performed slightly stronger when related to MAI.

Conclusion

SF performed adequately in estimating site quality for even-agedP. radiatastands, with results comparable to those obtained using traditional SI.
Relapse of obsessive–compulsive disorder after cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: a case report
Authors: Velikić Vid , Wippel Andreas , Freidl Marion
Published: December 2019

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by repetitive, persistent and unwanted thoughts and ritualistic, repetitive behaviors. The pathophysiology of OCD involves many distinct cortical and subcortical regions and it has been reported that OCD may occur as a consequence of traumatic brain injury, infections and tumors as well as cerebrovascular insult such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). We here describe the case of a 36-year-old woman who developed OCD at the age of 13 with almost complete remission of the symptoms after a 1 year-long treatment. Interestingly, after suffering CVST at the superior sagittal sinus at the age of 33, she experienced a relapse of OCD. The patient was successfully treated with Sertraline and Clomipramine. Previous studies revealed cases of OCD following different cerebrovascular accidents, i.e. predominantly arterial stroke. However, the present case is the first to describe OCD after venous thrombosis. Based on our clinical experience, the most effective treatment of OCD after CVST represents the combination of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Sertraline and the tricyclic antidepressant Clomipramine.
Audiovisual Sexual Stimulation Improves Diagnostic Accuracy of Penile Doppler Ultrasound in Patients With Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Carneiro Felipe , Nascimento Bruno , Miranda Eduardo P. , Cury José , Cerri Giovanni G. , Chammas Maria Cristina
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Although penile Doppler ultrasound (PDU) is a useful tool in evaluating erectile dysfunction (ED), an optimal erectile response might be limited because of an increased sympathetic discharge. Audiovisual sexual stimulation (AVSS) has been suggested to help improving PDU performance.

Aim

To evaluate the use of AVSS as a tool to improve diagnostic accuracy of PDU studies.

Methods

A total of 40 men (mean age: 61.8 ± 10.2 years) with ED were enrolled. PDU sessions were performed in a randomized fashion as follows: session A under intracavernous injection (ICI) alone and session B under ICI and AVSS with 7-day interval between sessions. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistive index (RI) were measured 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes after ICI.

Main Outcome Measure

Comparisons between PSV, EDV, and RI values were performed with and without AVSS. Univariable and multivariable analyses including clinical and demographic parameters were performed to evaluate predictors of an abnormal PDU.

Results

23 patients performed the first session without AVSS, and 17 performed the first session with AVSS. EDV and RI were better in AVSS session (p = 0.022 and 0.019). PSV was not influenced by AVSS (p = 0.768). The proportion of patients whose diagnosis was changed because of the AVSS was 4 of 40 (10.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8–23.7%). Of 12 patients with venous leak observed on the PDU without AVSS, 3 turned into normal after AVSS (25.0%, 95% CI: 5.5–57.2%). Of 4 men with arterial insufficiency observed on the PDU on ICI alone, 1 became normal after AVSS (25.0%, 95% CI: 0.6–80.6%). International Index of Erectile Function-5 scores were lower in patients with abnormal PDU (6.3 ± 3.3 vs 12.0 ± 5.8, p=0.003). On multivariable analysis, DM and International Index of Erectile Function-5 scores were the only independent predictors of abnormal PDU studies.

Clinical Implications

False diagnoses of venous leak during PDU with ICI could be a result of an increased adrenergic discharge during the examination. Routine AVSS may be helpful to avoid error in diagnosis.

Strength & Limitations

The study has randomized the use of AVSS in different session orders. Only one previously published study has used this strategy to control the accommodation effect in repeat studies, a common source of bias in the PDU literature. The main limitation is the absence of a rigidity assessment and a redosing protocol.

Conclusion

Adding AVSS during PDU improves ICI response and may help clinicians evaluate penile hemodynamics more accurately.
Series of speciality membranes is designed to treat challenging industrial wastewater
Authors: Atkinson Simon
Published: December 2019

US-based Hydranautics – a membrane technology company that is part of Japan's Nitto Group – has launched a series of products that encompasses reverse osmosis to nanofiltration. Called the PRO series, these speciality membranes have been developed for use in applications that involve treating challenging industrial wastewater. This article briefly describes each product and how it is used.
Household carriage and acquisition of extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae: A systematic review
Authors: Martischang Romain , Riccio Maria E. , Abbas Mohamed , Stewardson Andrew J. , Kluytmans Jan A. J. W. , Harbarth Stephan
Published: December 2019

Objective:

The epidemiology of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) has been extensively studied in hospitals, but data on community transmission are scarce. We investigated ESBL-PE cocarriage and acquisition in households using a systematic literature review.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic literature search to retrieve cross-sectional or cohort studies published between 1990 and 2018 evaluating cocarriage proportions and/or acquisition rates of ESBL-PE among household members, without language restriction. We excluded studies focusing on animal-to-human transmission or conducted in nonhousehold settings. The main outcomes were ESBL-PE cocarriage proportions and acquisition rates, stratified according to phenotypic or genotypic assessment of strain relatedness. Cocarriage proportions of clonally related ESBL-PE were transformed using the double-arcsine method and were pooled using a random-effects model. Potential biases were assessed manually.

Results:

We included 13 studies. Among 863 household members of ESBL-PE positive index cases, prevalence of ESBL-PE cocarriage ranged from 8% to 37%. Overall, 12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8%–16%) of subjects had a clonally related strain. Those proportions were higher forKlebsiella pneumoniae(20%–25%) than forEscherichia coli(10%–20%). Acquisition rates of clonally related ESBL-PE among 180 initially ESBL-PE–free household members of a previously identified carrier ranged between 1.56 and 2.03 events per 1,000 person weeks of follow-up. We identified multiple sources of bias and high heterogeneity (I2, 70%) between studies.

Conclusions:

ESBL-PE household cocarriage is frequent, suggesting intrafamilial acquisition. Further research is needed to evaluate the risk and control of ESBL-PE household transmission.
On resampling schemes for polytopes
Authors: Qi Weinan , Zarepour Mahmoud
Published: December 2019

The convex hull of a sample is used to approximate the support of the underlying distribution. This approximation has many practical implications in real life. To approximate the distribution of the functionals of convex hulls, asymptotic theory plays a crucial role. Unfortunately most of the asymptotic results are computationally intractable. To address this computational intractability, we consider consistent bootstrapping schemes for certain cases. Let$S_n=\{X_i\}_{i=1}^{n}$be a sequence of independent and identically distributed random points uniformly distributed on an unknown convex set in$\mathbb{R}^{d}$($d\ge 2$). We suggest a bootstrapping scheme that relies on resampling uniformly from the convex hull of$S_n$. Moreover, the resampling asymptotic consistency of certain functionals of convex hulls is derived under this bootstrapping scheme. In particular, we apply our bootstrapping technique to the Hausdorff distance between the actual convex set and its estimator. For$d=2$, we investigate the asymptotic consistency of the suggested bootstrapping scheme for the area of the symmetric difference and the perimeter difference between the actual convex set and its estimate. In all cases the consistency allows us to rely on the suggested resampling scheme to study the actual distributions, which are not computationally tractable.
Piecewise deterministic processes following two alternating patterns
Authors: Ratanov Nikita , Di Crescenzo Antonio , Martinucci Barbara
Published: December 2019

We propose a wide generalization of known results related to the telegraph process. Functionals of the simple telegraph process on a straight line and their generalizations on an arbitrary state space are studied.
On maxima of stationary fields
Authors: Soja-Kukieła N.
Published: December 2019

Let
$\{X_{\textbf{n}} \colon \textbf{n}\in{\mathbb Z}^d\}$
be a weakly dependent stationary random field with maxima
$M_{A} :=, \sup\{X_{\textbf{i}} \colon \textbf{i}\in A\}$
for finite
$A\subset{\mathbb Z}^d$
and
$M_{\textbf{n}} := \sup\{X_{\textbf{i}} \colon \mathbf{1} \leq \textbf{i} \leq \textbf{n} \}$
for
$\textbf{n}\in{\mathbb N}^d$
. In a general setting we prove that
${\mathbb{P}}(M_{(N_1(n),N_2(n),\ldots, N_d(n))} \leq v_n)$

$= \exp(\!- n^d {\mathbb{P}}(X_{\mathbf{0}} > v_n , M_{A_n} \leq v_n)) + {\text{o}}(1)$
for some increasing sequence of sets
$A_n$
of size
$ {\text{o}}(n^d)$
, where
$(N_1(n),N_2(n), \ldots,N_d(n))\to(\infty,\infty, \ldots, \infty)$
and
$N_1(n)N_2(n)\cdots N_d(n)\sim n^d$
. The sets
$A_n$
are determined by a translation-invariant total order
$\preccurlyeq$
on
${\mathbb Z}^d$
. For a class of fields satisfying a local mixing condition, including m-dependent ones, the main theorem holds with a constant finite A replacing
$A_n$
. The above results lead to new formulas for the extremal index for random fields. The new method for calculating limiting probabilities for maxima is compared with some known results and applied to the moving maximum field.
Martingale decomposition of an L2 space with nonlinear stochastic integrals
Authors: Simard Clarence
Published: December 2019

This paper generalizes the Kunita–Watanabe decomposition of an
$L^2$
space. The generalization comes from using nonlinear stochastic integrals where the integrator is a family of continuous martingales bounded in
$L^2$
. This result is also the solution of an optimization problem in
$L^2$
. First, martingales are assumed to be stochastic integrals. Then, to get the general result, it is shown that the regularity of the family of martingales with respect to its spatial parameter is inherited by the integrands in the integral representation of the martingales. Finally, an example showing how the results of this paper, with the Clark–Ocone formula, can be applied to polynomial functions of Brownian integrals.
Exponential convergence rate of ruin probabilities for level-dependent Lévy-driven risk processes
Authors: Goffard Pierre-Olivier , Sarantsev Andrey
Published: December 2019

We find explicit estimates for the exponential rate of long-term convergence for the ruin probability in a level-dependent Lévy-driven risk model, as time goes to infinity. Siegmund duality allows us to reduce the problem to long-term convergence of a reflected jump-diffusion to its stationary distribution, which is handled via Lyapunov functions.
The alpha-mixture of survival functions
Authors: Asadi Majid , Ebrahimi Nader , Soofi Ehsan S.
Published: December 2019

This paper presents a flexible family which we call the
$\alpha$
-mixture of survival functions. This family includes the survival mixture, failure rate mixture, models that are stochastically closer to each of these conventional mixtures, and many other models. The
$\alpha$
-mixture is endowed by the stochastic order and uniquely possesses a mathematical property known in economics as the constant elasticity of substitution, which provides an interpretation for
$\alpha$
. We study failure rate properties of this family and establish closures under monotone failure rates of the mixture’s components. Examples include potential applications for comparing systems.
Fashion-making and co-creation in the transglobal landscape: Sino-Italian fashion as method
Authors: Ling Wessie , Segre Reinach Simona
Published: December 2019

The ‘making’ of fashion cannot merely refer to garment production and manufacturing. It is the prerequisite for a nation to actively participate on the global stage. To establish a ‘recognisable’ fashion image, a country must go far beyond the competition of a specialised garment and textile industry. Being recognised as the ‘author countries’ for fashion creation is part of a process in which the (re)negotiation of national hierarchies and roles are constantly at play. For a country or a city, expressing an instantly recognisable aesthetic has become an important corollary of the communication of political and economic strength. More than in the past centuries, fashion has been tasked with not only reflecting and representing social or individual needs, but also constructingex novoterritories in which old stereotypes and imaginary are creatively set free. This is because, unlike most production and commercial activities, fashion expresses an elaborate culture whose composition of symbols, ideologies and lifestyles (Crane 2004) can be drawn on. On the other hand, the accelerated production relocation in past decades has irrevocably changed the geography of fashion, as well as the rhetoric of the origin of national creativity. In particular, it leads one to wonder what happens when two or more players are engaged in the making of fashion. Specifically, what happens when Italy and China collaborate in transglobal fashion-making? How does one account for the national creativity that has sprung from the Sino-Italian co-creation? Drawing on accounts of Italian fashion and Chinese fashion, this article discusses the intricacy of Sino-Italian collaboration and the implications of such a fashion co-creation; it then reflects on transglobal fashion-making and proposes a framework for its examination.
Contingent Advantage? Sovereign Borrowing, Democratic Institutions and Global Capital Cycles
Authors: Ballard-Rosa Cameron , Mosley Layna , Wellhausen Rachel L
Published: December 2019

How do domestic and global factors shape governments’ capacity to issue debt in primary capital markets? Consistent with the ‘democratic advantage’, we identify domestic institutional mechanisms, including executive constraints and policy transparency, that facilitate debt issuance rather than electoral events. Most importantly, we argue that the democratic advantage is contingent: investors’ attention to domestic politics varies with conditions in global capital markets. When global financial liquidity is low, investors are risk-averse, and political risk constrains governments’ capacity to borrow. But when global markets are flush, investors are risk-tolerant and less sensitive to political risk. We support our argument with new data on 245,000 government bond issues in primary capital markets – the point at which governments’ costs of market access matter most – for 131 sovereign issuers (1990–2016). In doing so, we highlight the role of systemic factors, which are under-appreciated in much ‘open economy politics’ research, in determining access to capital markets.
Smallest weakly contractible non-contractible topological spaces
Authors: Cianci Nicolás , Ottina Miguel
Published: December 2019

We characterize the topological spaces of minimum cardinality which are weakly contractible but not contractible. This is equivalent to finding the non-dismantlable posets of minimum cardinality such that the geometric realization of their order complexes are contractible. Specifically, we prove that all weakly contractible topological spaces with fewer than nine points are contractible. We also prove that there exist (up to homeomorphism) exactly two topological spaces of nine points which are weakly contractible but not contractible.
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural formation and color change in lactose-hydrolyzed Dulce de leche
Authors: Francisquini Júlia d'Almeida , Rocha Júlia , Martins Evandro , Stephani Rodrigo , Henrique Fonseca da Silva Paulo , Toledo Renhe Isis Rodrigues , Tuler Perrone Ítalo , Fernandes de Carvalho Antônio
Published: December 2019

The work described in this Research Communication concerns the production of Dulce de leche (DL), that is a traditional product from South America obtained by concentration. Maillard reaction (MR) products are mainly responsible for the formation of color and flavor in this product. Lactose-hydrolyzed products have been developed to supply consumer demand, but this hydrolysis may affect the flavor, color, taste, texture and even some nutritional aspects of the product. We studied the influence of different levels of lactose-hydrolysis, sucrose addition and initial pH on the development of MR, appraised by the determination of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). A process simulator with multi-monitoring system was used to produce 15 DL. Box-Behnken 33 experimental design was applied for the three factors: pH, lactose-hydrolysis level and sucrose concentration. Lipids, protein, ashes, carbohydrates, water activity, dissolved solids, colorimetric analysis and HMF (free and total) are among the physicochemical attributes and MR indicators analyzed in this work. The products showed significant differences in composition but all the values were in agreement with the literature. Moreover, higher levels of lactose hydrolysis and higher pH presented a direct relation with the development of MR, observed by an increase in coloration (lower luminosity) and more formation of HMF, both free and total. The present study expands the knowledge about DL spread made of lactose-hydrolyzed milk, allowing the food industries to produce a lactose free DL with nutritional and sensory characteristics closer to the traditional product.
Substances, Agents and Processes
Authors: Steward Helen
Published: December 2019

This paper defends a substance-based metaphysics for organisms against three arguments for thinking that we should replace a substantial understanding of living things with a processual one, which are offered by Dan Nicholson and John Dupré in their edited collection,Everything Flows: Towards a Processual Philosophy of Biology(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018). Dupré and Nicholson consider three main empirical motivations for the adoption of a process ontology in biology. These motivations are alleged to stem from facts concerning (i) metabolism; (ii) the life cycles of organisms; and (iii) ecological interdependence. The paper discusses each of the three arguments in turn and concludes that none gives us any compelling reason to abandon the metaphysics of things. At best, they are arguments against a kind of caricature substance metaphysics that ought never to have been in the running in any case. Then, at the end of the paper, it is suggested that there may be more positive arguments for insisting on retaining things in our metaphysics, arguments which, perhaps ironically (given the opposed standpoint ofEverything Flows) get their main impetus from the phenomenon of life.
Tell us how to engage you! Asking polar stakeholders about their engagement preferences
Authors: Baer Kristina C. , Latola Kirsi , Scheepstra Annette J. M.
Published: December 2019

The changes the polar regions face are too complex to be tackled by single scientific disciplines and in isolation from societal actors. Therefore, the call for polar research projects that engage with stakeholders outside academia increases. The ideal set-up of these projects is envisioned as an inclusive and action-oriented process that brings scientists and stakeholders together to identify pressing issues of societal and scientific relevance and to develop research projects that produce practical outcomes. However, working across disciplines and knowledge systems can be challenging. To better understand stakeholders’ motivation for engaging in polar science projects, to learn what stages of a project they are interested in and what their preferred modes of engagement are, stakeholders were surveyed as part of the EU-funded project EU-PolarNet. The results suggest that while most academic survey participants are eager to participate from problem definition to dissemination of results, most non-academic survey participants preferred interaction at the stages when results were disseminated and used for informed decision-making. The survey results have their limitations, yet they provide a basis for important future approaches to stakeholder engagement in polar research projects. They show that stakeholders prefer to engage in different stages of a research project depending on their specific needs and interests, while also acknowledging that additional support may be required to enable meaningful engagement throughout the research process.
Authenticating El Dorado: Frustrated Knowledge Production in Walter Ralegh'sDiscoverie of Guiana
Authors: Winchcombe Rachel
Published: December 2019

This article takes a fresh approach to Walter Ralegh's published account of his voyage to Guiana,The Discoverie of the Large, Rich, and Bewtiful Empyre of Guiana(1596), using it as a case study through which to explore the fragility of sixteenth-century processes of knowledge production about new lands. The article revisits this famous account in order to scrutinise in more detail the types of evidence Ralegh used to support his claims that a rich and powerful empire lay ready to be conquered by the English in the Amazon. This new analysis of Ralegh's narrative highlights the continued centrality of reputational models of authority in early modern travel literature and examines the types of evidence that could be employed by writers to support their suppositions when witness testimony was lacking. Ralegh's narrative illustrates that systems of knowledge production centred on the New World were, at the end of the sixteenth century, still in a state of flux. New ideas about what constituted credible knowledge, from firsthand experience to the collection of material artefacts, competed with older frameworks of authentication and authority. By examining knowledge production in frustration, and by dissecting Ralegh's failure to present a believable vision of El Dorado, this article throws into starker relief the many pitfalls and difficulties that beset those who attempted to present new and credible knowledge about the New World.
The Making of a Timber Colony: British North America, the Navy Board, and Global Resource Extraction in the Age of Napoleon
Authors: Crevier Martin
Published: December 2019

This article recounts the worldwide search for timber undertaken by the Navy Board, the administrative body under the authority of the Admiralty responsible for the supply of naval stores and the construction and repair of ships during the Napoleonic Wars. The closure of the Baltic by France and its European allies is considered the main factor in making British North America a timber colony. Yet the process through which the forests of the Laurentian Plateau and the North Appalachians came to fuel the dockyards of England and Scotland is taken for granted. To acquire this commodity, through merchants, diplomats, and commissioned agents, the power of the British state reached globally, reshaped ecological relationships, and integrated new landscapes to the Imperial economy. Many alternatives to the Baltic were indeed considered and tentatively exploited. Only a mixture of contingency, political factors, and environmental constraints forced the Board to contract in Lower Canada and New Brunswick rather than in areas such as the Western Cape, the Brazilian coast, or Bombay's hinterland.