bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs on risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Nygård Lotta H. , Talala Kirsi , Taari Kimmo , Tammela Teuvo L.J. , Auvinen Anssi , Murtola Teemu J.
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND

Inflammation may play a role in pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, the role of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as BPH risk factor is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine risk of BPH by NSAID use in a population‐based cohort.

METHODS

A total of 74 754 Finnish men without previous BPH at baseline in 1996‐1999 were linked to national medication reimbursement database for information on physician‐prescribed NSAID purchases during 1995‐2009. Information on BPH procedures and diagnoses was obtained from national Care Register for Health Care. Cox regression with adjustment for age and use of cholesterol‐lowering, antidiabetic and antihypertensive medication, with NSAID use as time‐dependent variable was used to analyse the risk of BPH surgery, medication use, and recorded diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of the subjects 57 707 men (77.2%) used prescription NSAIDs. The risk of BPH was elevated among NSAID users compared to non‐users: HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.97‐2.10 for BPH medication use, HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.47‐1.71 for recorded diagnosis and HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.49‐1.74 for surgery. The risk increase correlated with duration of NSAID usage, less with annual dosage. Nevertheless, the risk increase was observed already at short‐term and low‐dosage use.

CONCLUSIONS

NSAID use is associated with an increased risk of BPH. The association is affected by systematic differences by NSAID use as the risk increase was observed already at short‐term use. Nevertheless, the association correlated with duration of use, suggesting that NSAID usage or the conditions indicating it may increase BPH risk.
Higher ocean wind speeds during marine cold air outbreaks
Authors: Kolstad E. W.
Published: May 2017

Marine cold air outbreaks (MCAOs) are large‐scale events in which cold air masses are advected over open ocean. It is well‐known that these events are linked to the formation of polar lows and other mesoscale phenomena associated with high wind speeds, and that they therefore in some cases represent a hazard to maritime activities. However, it is still unknown whether MCAOs are generally conducive to higher wind speeds than normal. Here this is investigated by comparing ocean near‐surface wind speeds during MCAOs in atmospheric reanalysis products with different horizontal grid spacings, along with two case‐studies using a convection‐permitting numerical weather prediction model. The study regions are the Labrador Sea and the Greenland–Iceland–Norwegian (GIN) Seas, where MCAOs have been shown to be important for air–sea interaction and deep water formation. One of the main findings is that wind speeds during the strongest MCAO events are higher than normal and higher than wind speeds during less severe events. Limited evidence from the case‐studies suggests that reanalyses with grid spacings of more than 50 km underestimate winds driven by the large ocean–atmosphere energy fluxes during MCAOs. The peak times of MCAOs usually occur when baroclinic waves pass over the regions. Therefore, the strong wind episodes during MCAOs generally last for just a few days. However, MCAOs as defined here can persist for 50 days or more.
Do we excrete what we eat? Analysis of stable nitrogen isotope ratios of human urinary urea
Authors: Hülsemann Frank , Koehler Karsten , Flenker Ulrich , Schänzer Wilhelm
Published: May 2017

Rationale

Natural stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) are frequently used for the determination of provenance and dietary assessment of recent and ancient humans. Although individual δ15N values typically correspond to the dietary δ15N composition, they are also affected by metabolic conditions. Preferred matrices for the measurement of human δ15N values have been hair, nail or blood. The goal of this study was to validate a novel approach for the assessment of the δ15N values from urinary urea, the principal end‐product of human N metabolism.

Methods

The method, which involves the precipitation of urea from urine using xanthydrol, was validated using fortified urea solutions. Intra‐ and inter‐individual variance of the δ15N values of urinary urea was determined from samples obtained from multiple human subjects.

Results

Precipitation with xanthydrol did not alter the δ15N values of urea. The mean δ15N value in urinary urea from human subjects from Germany was +4.4 ± 0.6 ‰, which corresponds to the estimated dietary composition. It falls below previously reported δ15N values for human tissue and blood samples. Longitudinal analyses over 7 days illustrate short‐time changes linked to varying protein intake.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that δ15N values can be measured reliably from human urine and that the method is suitable to monitor rapid dietary and metabolic changes of an individual. Our findings further confirm that urinary urea is depleted in 15N compared with human tissue but within the range of the δ15N composition of the diet. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonlinear control for reactive navigation of a nonholonomic robot for environmental nongradient‐based extremum seeking in maze‐like scenes
Authors: Matveev Alexey S. , Ovchinnikov Kirill S. , Savkin Andrey V.
Published: May 2017

A single Dubins car‐like mobile robot travels with a constant speed in a planar workspace cluttered with arbitrarily complex obstacles, possibly maze‐like ones. An unknown scalar field is defined on the plane. The sensors supply the robot with the field value at its current location and its distance to the nearest obstacle. We present a new control law that drives the robot to the location where the field attains its maximum, while avoiding collisions with the obstacles. This is justified by a mathematically rigorous global convergence result and is confirmed via computer simulations. The proposed algorithm does not use gradient estimation and is nondemanding with respect to computation and motion. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The dual‐process theory and understanding of stocks and flows
Authors: Baghaei Lakeh Arash , Ghaffarzadegan Navid
Published: May 2017

Recent evidence suggests that using the analytic mode of thinking (System 2) can improve people's performance in stock–flow (SF) tasks. In this paper, we further investigate the effects by implementing several different interventions in two studies. First, we replicate a previous finding that answering analytical questions before the SF task approximately doubles the likelihood of answering the stock questions correctly. We also investigate effects of three other interventions that can potentially prime participants to use their System 2. Specifically, the first group is asked to justify their response to the SF task; the second group is warned about the difficulty of the SF task; and the third group is offered information about cognitive biases and the role of the analytic mode of thinking. We find that the second group showed a statistically significant improvement in their performance. We claim that there are simple interventions that can modestly improve people's response in SF tasks. Copyright © 2017 System Dynamics Society
Sensitivity analysis for models with multiple behavior modes: a method based on behavior pattern measures
Authors: Hekimoğlu Mustafa , Barlas Yaman
Published: May 2017

Sensitivity analysis of system dynamics models is essentially about sensitivity of patterns of output behaviors to inputs, since system dynamics modeling is behavior pattern oriented. In this study, a regression‐based procedure for pattern sensitivity analysis is developed, by defining behavior pattern measures such as equilibrium level, trend, inflection point, or oscillation amplitude. A unique feature of the procedure is that it takes into account the possibility of a model generating multiple behavior modes. This pattern‐oriented procedure is next applied to the tipping point project management model and a generic supply line model. These test applications yield sensitivity results that are meaningful, and also consistent with previously available sensitivity information about the parameters of these models. Finally, our pattern sensitivity analysis is shown to be a useful and effective method also for oscillatory system dynamics models, an unsolved sensitivity problem previously in the literature. Copyright © 2017 System Dynamics Society
High temperature oxidation of HP40 alloy under H2–H2O and air atmospheres: a surface study
Authors: Bao Binbin , Liu Jinglei , Zhang Kai , Xu Hong
Published: May 2017

In the present work, high temperature oxidation of HP40 alloy was carried out at 1050 °C under H2–H2O and air atmospheres; the influence of atmosphere on surface morphology and composition was studied. Octahedral crystals with considerable spalled regions are present on the surface of alloy oxidized under air, the oxide scale composes of MnCr2O4, Cr2O3 and (Fe, Ni)Cr2O4 and spalled regions exhibit base alloy and SiO2‐rich regions. The surface of alloy oxidized under H2–H2O is fully covered by small granular crystals and blade‐type structures without spallation, and the oxide scale composes of MnCr2O4 and Cr2O3. Moreover, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows considerable difference in chemical valence states of Mn, Cr and O elements on both alloy surfaces, and hydroxyl compounds exist on the alloy oxidized under H2–H2O atmosphere. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Learning curve estimation in medical devices and procedures: hierarchical modeling
Authors: Govindarajulu Usha S. , Stillo Marco , Goldfarb David , Matheny Michael E. , Resnic Frederic S.
Published: May 2017

In the use of medical device procedures, learning effects have been shown to be a critical component of medical device safety surveillance. To support their estimation of these effects, we evaluated multiple methods for modeling these rates within a complex simulated dataset representing patients treated by physicians clustered within institutions. We employed unique modeling for the learning curves to incorporate the learning hierarchy between institution and physicians and then modeled them within established methods that work with hierarchical data such as generalized estimating equations (GEE) and generalized linear mixed effect models. We found that both methods performed well, but that the GEE may have some advantages over the generalized linear mixed effect models for ease of modeling and a substantially lower rate of model convergence failures. We then focused more on using GEE and performed a separate simulation to vary the shape of the learning curve as well as employed various smoothing methods to the plots. We concluded that while both hierarchical methods can be used with our mathematical modeling of the learning curve, the GEE tended to perform better across multiple simulated scenarios in order to accurately model the learning effect as a function of physician and hospital hierarchical data in the use of a novel medical device. We found that the choice of shape used to produce the ‘learning‐free’ dataset would be dataset specific, while the choice of smoothing method was negligibly different from one another. This was an important application to understand how best to fit this unique learning curve function for hierarchical physician and hospital data. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Constrained Kaplan–Meier curve and empirical likelihood
Authors: Zhou Mai , Yang Yifan
Published: May 2017

The Kaplan–Meier curve and the namesake Kaplan–Meier 1958 paper is the most cited statistical paper in the history. We study the error analysis of the popular Kaplan–Meier curve. We describe in detail and recommend a method based on the calculation of constrained Kaplan–Meier curve and the recently developed Empirical Likelihood theory. Examples are given illustrating how such error analysis are carried out, using the software R and package KMC. WIREs Comput Stat 2017, 9:e1400. doi: 10.1002/wics.1400

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > EM Algorithm

Algorithms and Computational Methods > Maximum Likelihood Methods

Algorithms and Computational Methods > Numerical Methods
Contemporary Approaches to Perioperative IV Fluid Therapy
Authors: Myles Paul S. , Andrews Sam , Nicholson Jonathan , Lobo Dileep N. , Mythen Monty
Published: May 2017

Background

Intravenous fluid therapy is required for most surgical patients, but inappropriate regimens are commonly prescribed. The aim of this narrative review was to provide evidence‐based guidance on appropriate perioperative fluid management.

Method

We did a systematic literature search of the literature to identify relevant studies and meta‐analyses to develop recommendations.

Results

Of 275 retrieved articles, we identified 25 articles to inform this review. “Normal” saline (0.9% sodium chloride) is not physiological and can result in sodium overload and hyperchloremic acidosis. Starch colloid solutions are not recommended in surgical patients at‐risk of sepsis or renal failure. Most surgical patients can have clear fluids and/or administration of carbohydrate‐rich drinks up to 2 h before surgery. An intraoperative goal‐directed fluid strategy may reduce postoperative complications and reduce hospital length of stay. Regular postoperative assessment of the patient’s fluid status and requirements should include looking for physical signs of dehydration or hypovolemia, or fluid overload. Both hypovolemia and salt and water overload lead to adverse events, complications and prolonged hospital stay. Urine output can be an unreliable indicator of hydration status in the postoperative surgical patient. Excess fluid administration has been linked to acute kidney injury, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and cardiac and pulmonary complications.

Conclusion

There is good evidence supporting the avoidance of unnecessary fasting and the value of an individualized perioperative IV fluid regimen, with transition to oral fluids as soon as possible, to help patients recover from major surgery.
Accessing Monomers, Surfactants, and the Queen Bee Substance by Acrylate Cross‐Metathesis of Long‐Chain Alkenones
Authors: O’Neil Gregory W. , Williams John R. , Craig Alexander M. , Nelson Robert K. , Gosselin Kelsey M. , Reddy Christopher M.
Published: May 2017

Polyunsaturated long‐chain alkenones are a unique class of lipids biosynthesized in significant quantities (up to 20% of cell carbon) by several algae including the industrially grown marine microalgae Isochrysis. Alkenone structures are characterized by a long linear carbon chain (35–40 carbons) with one to four trans double bonds and terminating in a methyl or ethyl ketone. Alkenones were extracted and isolated from commercially obtained Isochrysis biomass and then subjected to cross‐metathesis (CM) with methyl acrylate or acrylic acid using the Hoveyda–Grubbs metathesis initiator. Within 1 h at room temperature alkenones were consumed; however, complete fragmentation (i.e., conversion to the smallest subunits by double bond cleavage) required up to 16 h. Analysis of the reaction mixture by gas chromatography and comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography revealed a predictable product mixture consisting primarily of long‐chain (mostly C17) acids (or methyl esters from CM with methyl acrylate) and diacids (or diesters), along with smaller amounts (~5%) of the honey bee “queen substance” (E)‐9‐oxo‐decenoic acid. Together, these compounds comprise a diverse mixture of valuable chemicals that includes surfactants, monomers, and an agriculturally relevant bee pheromone.
Imaging therapy response of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with FDG PET, CT and MRI: a systematic review
Authors: Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss Antonia , Ronellenfitsch Ulrich , Cheng Caixia , Pan Leyun , Sachpekidis Christos , Hohenberger Peter , Henzler Thomas
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Improvement of the therapeutic approaches in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) by the introduction of targeted therapies requires appropriate diagnostic tools, which allow sufficient assessment of therapeutic response, including differentiation of true progression from pseudoprogression due to myxoid degeneration or intratumoral hemorrhage. In this literature review the impact and limitations of different imaging modalities used in GIST therapy monitoring are discussed.

Methods

PubMed and Cochrane library search were performed using appropriate keywords. Overall, 39 original papers fulfilled the defined criteria and were included in this systematic review.

Results

Morphological imaging modalities like computed tomography (CT) are primarily used for both diagnosis and therapy monitoring. However, therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and other targeted therapies in GIST may lead only to a minor tumor volume reduction even in cases of response. Therefore, the use of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) has limitations. To overcome those limitations, modified response criteria have been introduced for the CT-based therapy assessment, like the Choi criteria as well as criteria based on dual energy CT studies. Functional imaging techniques, mostly based on FDG PET-CT are in use, in particular for the assessment of early treatment response.

Conclusions

The impact and the limitations of PET-based therapy monitoring, as well as its comparison with CT, MRI and survival data are discussed in this review. CT is still the standard method for the evaluation of therapy response despite its several limitations. FDG PET-CT is helpful for the assessment of early therapy response; however, more prospective data are needed to define its role as well as the appropriate time intervals for therapy monitoring. A multiparametric evaluation based on changes in both morphological and functional data has to be assessed in further prospective studies.
Adolescent cybervictimization – Who they turn to and their perceived school climate
Authors: Veiga Simão A.M. , Ferreira P. Costa , Freire I. , Caetano A.P. , Martins M.J. , Vieira C.
Published: May 2017

The purpose of this study was to understand how adolescent cybervictims perceive their school climate and whether telling school community members, such as teachers, play a significant role in these perceptions. Another objective was to understand whether age and gender played a significant role in the relation between whom cybervictims told and their perceived school climate. The Cybervictims Scale for Adolescents and Children and the Perceived School Climate Scale were applied to 3525 Portuguese students of whom 218 were cybervictims attending 6th, 8th, and 11th grades. Results showed that even though adolescent cybervictims reported cybervictimization more to friends and parents, those who told teachers about their experience, tended to report more positive perceptions of their school climate. Gender and age did not play a significant role in the relationship between cybervictimization and perceived school climate. Implications of the findings are discussed with regards to the role of teachers and in‐service training in preventing cyberbullying.
Syncope and paroxysmal atrioventricular block
Authors: Aste Milena , Brignole Michele
Published: May 2017

Current literature reveals three types of paroxysmal atrioventricular block (AVB) that can cause syncope:

Intrinsic paroxysmal atrioventricular block is due to an intrinsic disease of the AV conduction system; this type of “cardiac syncope” is also called Stokes‐Adams attack;

Extrinsic vagal paroxysmal atrioventricular block is linked to the effect of the parasympathetic nervous system on cardiac conduction and is one of the mechanisms involved in “reflex syncope.”

Extrinsic idiopathic paroxysmal atrioventricular block is associated with low levels of endogenous adenosine and is supposed to be one of the mechanisms involved in “low‐adenosine syncope.”

These three types of paroxysmal AVB present different clinical and electrocardiographic features. Additionally, the efficacy of cardiac pacing and theophylline therapy to prevent syncopal recurrences is also different for these three types of AVB.
Cognitive-Affective Dimensions of Female Orgasm: The Role of Automatic Thoughts and Affect During Sexual Activity
Authors: Tavares Inês M. , Laan Ellen T.M. , Nobre Pedro J.
Published: May 2017

Background

Cognitive-affective factors contribute to female sexual dysfunctions, defined as clinically significant difficulties in the ability to respond sexually or to experience sexual pleasure. Automatic thoughts and affect presented during sexual activity are acknowledged as maintenance factors for these difficulties. However, there is a lack of studies on the influence of these cognitive-affective dimensions regarding female orgasm.

Aim

To assess the role of automatic thoughts and affect during sexual activity in predicting female orgasm occurrence and to investigate the mediator role of these variables in the relation between sexual activity and orgasm occurrence.

Methods

Nine hundred twenty-six sexually active heterosexual premenopausal women reported on frequency of sexual activities and frequency of orgasm occurrence, cognitive factors, and social desirability. Participants completed the Sexual Modes Questionnaire–Automatic Thoughts Subscale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Socially Desirable Response Set. Multiple linear regressions and mediation analyses were performed, controlling for the effect of covariates such as social desirability, sociodemographic and medical characteristics, and relationship factors.

Outcomes

The main outcome measurement was orgasm frequency as predicted and mediated by automatic thoughts and affect experienced during sexual activities.

Results

The presence of failure thoughts and lack of erotic thoughts during sexual activity significantly and negatively predicted female orgasm, whereas positive affect experienced during sexual activity significantly and positively predicted female orgasm. Moreover, negative automatic thoughts and positive affect during sexual activity were found to mediate the relation between sexual activity and female orgasm occurrence.

Clinical Implications

These data suggest that the cognitive aspects of sexual involvement are critical to enhancing female orgasm experience and can aid the development of strategies that contemplate the central role of automatic thoughts and of positive emotions experienced during sexual activity.

Strengths and Limitations

Data were not collected face to face, which constitutes a strength of this study, because it is known that social desirability is lower in self-administered online questionnaires compared with traditional paper-and-pencil questionnaires, particularly for more sensitive sexual issues. The fact that the sample was composed of heterosexual, premenopausal, and relatively young women demands some caution regarding generalization of the present results.

Conclusion

The findings support the contribution of cognitive and affective factors to female orgasmic functioning. It is recommended that future research confirm these findings with other samples, particularly clinical samples of women with orgasmic difficulties.
Sovereignty and Territorial Temptation
Authors: Rossi Christopher
Published: May 2017

This powerful book stands on its head the most venerated tradition in international law and discusses the challenges of scarcity, sovereignty, and territorial temptation. Newly emergent resources, accessible through global climate change, discovery, or technological advancement, highlight time-tested problems of sovereignty and challenge liberal internationalism's promise of beneficial or shared solutions. From the High Arctic to the hyper-arid reaches of the Atacama Desert, from the South China Sea to the history of the law of the sea, from doctrinal and scholarly treatments to institutional forms of global governance, the historically recurring problem of territorial temptation in the ageless age of scarcity calls into question the future of the global commons, and illuminates the tendency among states to share resources, but only when necessary.
Blade element momentum theory extended to model low Reynolds number propeller performance
Authors: MacNeill R. , Verstraete D.
Published: May 2017

Propellers are the predominant propulsion source for small unmanned aerial vehicles. At low advance ratios, large sections of the propeller blade can be stalled, and the Reynolds number faced by each blade can be low. This leads to difficulties in modelling propeller performance, as the aerodynamic models coupled with blade element methods usually only provide aerodynamic data for an assumed aerofoil section, for a small angle-of-attack range and for a single Reynolds number, while rotational effects are often ignored. This is specifically important at low advance ratios, and a consistent evaluation of the applicability of various methods to improve aerodynamic modelling is not available. To provide a systematic appraisal, three-dimensional (3D) scanning is used to obtain the aerofoil sections that make up a propeller blade. An aerodynamic database is formed using each extracted aerofoil section, across a wide range of angles of attack and Reynolds numbers. These databases are then modified to include the effects of rotation. When compared with experimental results, significant improvement in modelling accuracy is shown at low advance ratios relative to a generic blade element-momentum model, particularly for smaller propellers. Notably, when considering small propeller performance, efficiency modelling is improved from within 30% relative to experimental data to within 5% with the use of the extended blade element momentum theory method. The results show that combining Viterna and Corrigan flat plate theory with the Corrigan and Schillings stall delay model consistently yields the closest match with experimental data.
The Brief Odor Detection Test (B-ODT) for Very Early Diagnosis of Cognitive Decline: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Savvoulidou Dimitra , Totikidou Efthymia , Varvesiotou Chariklia , Iakovidou Magda , Sfakianaki Ourania , Papantoniou Georgia , Masoura Elvira , Moraitou Despina
Published: May 2017

Olfactory impairment in older adults is associated with cognitive decline. This study describes the development of a Brief Odor Detection Test (B-ODT), and its pilot administration in community-dwelling older adults. The study aimed at examining whether the test could differentiate older adults with very mild cognitive impairment from their cognitively healthy counterparts. The sample consisted of 34 older adults (22 women), aged from 65 to 87 years. Participants were divided into two groups according to their general cognitive functioning. Odor detection was measured via vanillin solutions at the following concentrations: 150 mg/L, 30 mg/L, 15 mg/L, 3 mg/L, and .03 mg/L. The first condition of the test involved a scale administration of vanillin solutions. The second condition examined the change in air odour and it required vanillin solution of 30 mg/L and a metric ruler of 30 cm. The examiner had to place the solution at a specific distance point from each nostril. Odour identification sensitivity was secondarily measured. The results showed statistically significant differences in odour detection threshold between the two groups. In the unirhinal testing, left nostril differences of the two groups were definite. Hence, the B-ODT seems a promising instrument for very early cognitive impairment screening in older adult population.
THE HEALTH HUMP
Authors: Strulik Holger
Published: May 2017

In this paper, I suggest a novel explanation for a hump-shaped age-consumption profile, based on human aging. The model integrates health in the utility function and utilizes recent estimates of the effects of health on the marginal utility of consumption. The parsimonious model has a closed-form solution for the age of peak consumption and the consumption level at that age relative to initial consumption. A calibration of the model with data from gerontology produces an empirically plausible hump in consumption.
Physical measures for certain partially hyperbolic attractors on 3-manifolds
Authors: BORTOLOTTI RICARDO T.
Published: May 2017

In this work, we analyze ergodic properties of certain partially hyperbolic attractors whose central direction has a neutral behavior; the main feature is a condition of transversality between the projections of unstable leaves, projecting through the stable foliation. We prove that partial hyperbolic attractors satisfying this condition of transversality, neutrality in the central direction and regularity of the stable foliation admit a finite number of physical measures, coinciding with the ergodic u-Gibbs States, whose union of the basins has full Lebesgue measure. Moreover, we describe the construction of robustly non-hyperbolic attractors satisfying these properties.
THE LAND BEHIND THE LAND BEHIND BAGHDAD: ARCHAEOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES OF THE UPPER DIYALA (SIRWAN) RIVER VALLEY
Authors: Casana Jesse , Glatz Claudia
Published: May 2017

While the Diyala (Kurdish Sirwan) River Valley is storied in Near Eastern archaeology as home to the Oriental Institute's excavations in the 1930s as well as to Robert McC. Adams’ pioneering archaeological survey,The Land Behind Baghdad, the upper reaches of the river valley remain almost unknown to modern scholarship. Yet this region, at the interface between irrigated lowland Mesopotamia and the Zagros highlands to the north and east, has long been hypothesized as central to the origins and development of complex societies. It was hotly contested by Bronze Age imperial powers, and offered one of the principle access routes connecting Mespotamia to the Iranian Plateau and beyond. This paper presents an interim report of the Sirwan Regional Project, a regional archaeological survey undertaken from 2013–2015 in a 4000 square kilometre area between the modern city of Darbandikhan and the plains south of Kalar. Encompassing a wide range of environments, from the rugged uplands of the Zagros front ranges to the rich irrigated basins of the Middle Diyala, the project has already discovered a wealth of previously unknown archaeological sites ranging in date from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic through the modern period. Following an overview of the physical geography of the Upper Diyala/Sirwan, this paper highlights key findings that are beginning to transform our understanding of this historically important but poorly known region.
Punishing the “Others”
Authors: Light Michael T.
Published: May 2017

Despite ongoing debates on the continued legal significance of citizenship in a globalized world, international comparative tests of the salience of citizenship under the law have yet to be undertaken. This article combines data from US and German courts with interviews of judges from both countries to 1) estimate the punishment consequences of lacking state membership; 2) compare the sentencing gap across international contexts, and; 3) identify and explicate the mechanisms linking citizenship to punishment considerations. Findings show noncitizens receive increased punishment in US and German courts net of legal factors, but this effect is less pronounced in Germany. The interviews suggest that a variety of intervening mechanisms explain these results. Prominent among these is that judges in both countries resent the fact that noncitizens compound their immigrant status with criminal transgressions. However, German judges place greater emphasis on consistency and proportionality at sentencing, thus guarding against overly harsh and disparate punishments.
Social Capital and Debt Contracting: Evidence from Bank Loans and Public Bonds
Authors: Hasan Iftekhar , Hoi Chun Keung , Wu Qiang , Zhang Hao
Published: May 2017

We find that firms headquartered in U.S. counties with higher levels of social capital incur lower bank loan spreads. This finding is robust to using organ donation as an alternative social capital measure and incremental to the effects of religiosity, corporate social responsibility, and tax avoidance. We identify the causal relation using companies with a social-capital-changing headquarters relocation. We also find that high-social-capital firms face loosened nonprice loan terms, incur lower at-issue bond spreads, and prefer public bonds over bank loans. We conclude that debt holders perceive social capital as providing environmental pressure that constrains opportunistic firm behaviors in debt contracting.
On Difficult New Terms: The business of lexicography in Mao Era China
Authors: ALTEHENGER JENNIFER E.
Published: May 2017

Entries in Mao Era reference works today serve as windows into the world of words and meanings of a bygone era. Dictionaries and encyclopaedias, though, did not speak with one voice, even under Communist Party control. Lexicography and the question of who would get to publish on and explain the meaning of the ‘new terms’ and ‘new knowledge’ of ‘New China’ were subject to constant debates. Lexicographers, editors, and publishers specialized in the business of setting up categories and, together with readers and state censors, they policed them. Following on their heels, this article examines four moments in Mao Era lexicography, ranging from the early years of transition to Chinese Communist Party rule to the height of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Internal reports and letter exchanges on the production and circulation of single-volume encyclopaedic dictionaries show who contributed to encyclopaedic work, how it was controlled, and why control and censorship were often far from simple. Taking lexicography seriously as a component of the socialist information economy after 1949 sheds light on complex processes of knowledge transmission that defy simple models of socialist state propaganda.
Detection of Babesia DNA in blood and spleen samples from Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) in Scotland
Authors: BARTLEY PAUL M. , WILSON CARI , INNES ELISABETH A. , KATZER FRANK
Published: May 2017

Babesia are intraerythrocytic parasites of importance worldwide within the fields of human and veterinary medicine, as some Babesia sp., including Babesia microti are potentially zoonotic and can cause fatal disease in both humans and animals. The aims of this study were to use a nested PCR (amplifying the 18S rRNA gene) to determine the presence and species of Babesia parasite DNA found in blood (n = 47) and spleen (n = 47) samples collected from Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) in Scotland. The results showed 28/47 (59·6%) blood and 14/47 (29·8%) spleen samples tested positive for the presence of Babesia DNA. Initial sequence analysis of the Babesia DNA identified three distinct sequence types (submitted to GenBank KX528553, KX528554 and KX528555), which demonstrated ⩾99% identity to Babesia sp. parasites previously identified in badgers in Spain (KT223484 and KT223485). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the three isolates are closely related to Babesia annae, B. microti and other Piroplasmida species found in wildlife. Further sequence analysis of the samples demonstrated that the badgers were routinely infected with more than one parasite isolate and there was also evidence of genetic recombination between the Babesia parasite isolates (submitted to GenBank KY250472 – KY250477)
Russia's strategy in the Arctic: cooperation, not confrontation
Authors: Staun Jørgen
Published: May 2017

Russia's strategy in the Arctic is dominated by two overriding international relations (IR) discourses – or foreign policy directions. On the one hand, there is an IR-realism/geopolitical discourse that puts security first and often has a clear patriotic character, dealing with ‘exploring’, ‘winning’ or ‘conquering’ the Arctic and putting power, including military power, behind Russia's national interests in the area. Opposed to this is an IR-liberalism, international law-inspired and modernisation-focused discourse, which puts cooperation first and emphasises ‘respect for international law’, ‘negotiation’ and ‘cooperation’, and labels the Arctic as a ‘territory of dialogue’, arguing that the Arctic states all benefit the most if they cooperate peacefully. After a short but very visible media stunt in 2007 and subsequent public debate by proponents of the IR-realism/geopolitical side, the IR-liberalism discourse has been dominating Russian policy in the Arctic since around 2008–2009, following a pragmatic decision by the Kremlin to let the Foreign Ministry and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov take the lead in the Arctic. The question asked here is how solid is this IR-liberalist-dominated Arctic policy? Can it withstand the pressure from more patriotic minded parts of the Russian establishment?
Pollen larceny of the tropical weedSolanum torvumby a Fijian endemic halictine bee with implications for the spread of plants with specialized pollinator requirements
Authors: Staines Morgan , Vo Cathy , Puiu Natalie , Hayes Sarah , Tuiwawa Marika , Stevens Mark I. , Schwarz Michael P.
Published: May 2017

The ability of plants to colonize new habitats is influenced by their dependence on effective pollinators. This can be very important for plants that require specialized pollinators, especially when they disperse to islands that have low pollinator diversity. One form of specialization involves plants that require buzz-pollination, where bees must vibrate poricidal anthers at frequencies that allow pollen to be released. Pollen larceny is a phenomenon where insects ‘steal’ pollen from flowers which usually results in reduced pollination, but in some cases there can be a small contribution to pollination. Here we report pollen larceny in an endemic Fijian halictine beeHomalictus fijiensisthat steals pollen by chewing anthers of the invasive weedSolanum torvum, which is a pollen-only plant requiring buzz pollination. In over nine hours of observations at six sites whereH. fijiensisvisitedS. torvum, it never attempted to locate nectaries, it never buzzed anthers, and instead chewed anther tips, indicating an adaptation to exploit nectarless flowers with poricidal anthers without buzz-pollination. Analyses of 30 pollen loads fromH. fijiensiscollected fromS. torvumflowers indicate 27 of these containedS. torvumpollen, ranging from 1% to 99% of total pollen, indicating it is a pollen vector for this plant. Our findings support arguments that super-generalist pollinators in island ecosystems can promote the spread of invasive plants, but go further by indicating that super-generalist strategies can extend to plants with highly specialized pollinator requirements.
Exploring ‘islandness’ and the impacts of nature conservation through the lens of wellbeing
Authors: COULTHARD SARAH , EVANS LOUISA , TURNER RACHEL , MILLS DAVID , FOALE SIMON , ABERNETHY KIRSTEN , HICKS CHRISTINA , MONNEREAU IRIS
Published: May 2017

Motivated by growing concern as to the many threats that islands face, subsequent calls for more extensive island nature conservation and recent discussion in the conservation literature about the potential for wellbeing as a useful approach to understanding how conservation affects people's lives, this paper reviews the literature in order to explore how islands and wellbeing relate and how conservation might impact that relationship. We apply a three-dimensional concept of social wellbeing to structure the discussion and illustrate the importance of understanding island–wellbeing interactions in the context of material, relational and subjective dimensions, using examples from the literature. We posit that islands and their shared characteristics of ‘islandness’ provide a useful setting in which to apply social wellbeing as a generalizable framework, which is particularly adept at illuminating the relevance of social relationships and subjective perceptions in island life – aspects that are often marginalized in more economically focused conservation impact assessments. The paper then explores in more depth the influences of island nature conservation on social wellbeing and sustainability outcomes using two case studies from the global north (UK islands) and global south (the Solomon Islands). We conclude that conservation approaches that engage with all three dimensions of wellbeing seem to be associated with success.
New neutron time-of-flight (TOF) capability in PDF-4+ relational databases: digitized diffraction patterns and I/Ic for quantitative phases analysis
Authors: Faber J. , Kabekkodu S. , Blanton J. , Blanton T. , Fawcett T.
Published: May 2017

The PDF-4+ 2016 contains 271 449 entries with atomic coordinates that can be used to calculate neutron time-of-flight (TOF) powder diffraction patterns. These diffraction patterns can all be calculated on-the-fly. Three TOF results can be realized: the live calculation of on-the fly diffraction patterns, the population of static PDF® entries, and data for search/match tables for phase identification. In connection with search/match, we have extended the development of the I/Ic formalism to include both constant wavelength (CW) and TOF neutron diffraction data. It is shown that the wavelength dependence of X-ray and CW neutron data must be factored into the behavior of I/Ic, whereas this dependence is directly incorporated into TOF data.
An isolated outbreak of diphtheria in South Africa, 2015
Authors: MAHOMED S. , ARCHARY M. , MUTEVEDZI P. , MAHABEER Y. , GOVENDER P. , NTSHOE G. , KUHN W. , THOMAS J. , OLOWOLAGBA A. , BLUMBERG L. , MCCARTHY K. , MLISANA K. , DU PLESSIS M. , VON GOTTBERG A. , MOODLEY P.
Published: May 2017

An outbreak of respiratory diphtheria occurred in two health districts in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa in 2015. A multidisciplinary outbreak response team was involved in the investigation and management of the outbreak. Fifteen cases of diphtheria were identified, with ages ranging from 4 to 41 years. Of the 12 cases that were under the age of 18 years, 9 (75%) were not fully immunized for diphtheria. The case fatality was 27%. Ninety-three household contacts, 981 school or work contacts and 595 healthcare worker contacts were identified and given prophylaxis against Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection. A targeted vaccination campaign for children aged 6–15 years was carried out at schools in the two districts. The outbreak highlighted the need to improve diphtheria vaccination coverage in the province and to investigate the feasibility of offering diphtheria vaccines to healthcare workers.
Spatial distribution of mumps in South Korea, 2001–2015: identifying clusters and population risk factors
Authors: CHOE Y.-J. , MIN K. , CHO S.-I.
Published: May 2017

In South Korea, the resurgence of mumps was noted primarily among school-aged children and adolescents since 2000. We analyzed spatial patterns in mumps incidence to give an indication to the geographical risk. We used National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System data from 2001 to 2015, classifying into three periods according to the level of endemicity. A geographic-weighted regression analysis was performed to find demographic predictors of mumps incidence according to district level. We assessed the association between the total population size, population density, percentage of children (age 0–19 years), timely vaccination rate of measles–mumps–rubella vaccines and the higher incidence rate of mumps. During low endemic periods, there were sporadic regional distributions of outbreak in the central and northern part of the country. During intermediate endemic periods, the increase of incidence was noted across the country. During high endemic period, a nationwide high incidence of mumps was noted especially concentrated in southwestern regions. A clear pattern for the mumps cluster shown through global spatial autocorrelation analysis from 2004 to 2015. The ‘non-timely vaccination coverage’ (P = 0·002), and ‘proportion of children population’ (P < 0·001) were the predictors for high mumps incidence in district levels. Our study indicates that the rate of mumps incidence according to geographic regions vary by population proportion and neighboring regions, and timeliness of vaccination, suggesting the importance of community-level surveillance and improving of timely vaccination.
Serological evidence of coronavirus infections in native hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas hamadryas) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: OLARINMOYE A.O. , OLUGASA B.O. , NIPHUIS H. , HERWIJNEN R.V. , VERSCHOOR E. , BOUG A. , ISHOLA O.O. , BUITENDIJK H. , FAGROUCH Z. , AL-HEZAIMI K.
Published: May 2017

The hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas hamadryas) is the only indigenous species of non-human primates (NHP) found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). There are no peer-reviewed publications on viral infections of the baboons of KSA. Apart from camels, other animals are likely sources of the novel Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV) for humans. We investigated evidence of highly pathogenic coronavirus infections including MERSCoV in a large group of commensal baboons accompanied by feral dogs, on the outskirts of Ta'if city, KSA, in February 2013. Fifty baboons (16 juveniles and 34 adults) were screened for serum antibodies to human coronaviruses (HCoV-043/-NL63/-229) and canine coronaviruses (CCoV-1-3) using direct Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique and for MERSCoV antibodies using Serum Neutralization Test (SNT). Of the 50 sampled baboons, 22% (n= 11) were seropositive to HCoVs, 10% (n= 5) were seropositive to CCoVs, while none had detectable MERSCoV antibodies. These findings bear potentially significant implications for public health, canine health and baboon conservation efforts, necessitating follow-up investigations and preventive measures at locations where baboons frequent human habitations, or are regarded as tourist attractions, in KSA.
The Conjunctiva-Associated Lymphoid Tissue in Chronic Ocular Surface Diseases
Authors: Mastropasqua Rodolfo , Agnifili Luca , Fasanella Vincenzo , Nubile Mario , Gnama Agbeanda A. , Falconio Gennaro , Perri Paolo , Di Staso Silvio , Mariotti Cesare
Published: May 2017

Ocular surface diseases (OSDs) represent a widely investigated field of research given their growing incidence and the negative impact on quality of life. During OSDs, cytokines generated by damaged epithelia trigger and deregulate the lymphoid cells composing the eye-associated lymphoid tissues, inducing an immune-mediated chronic inflammation that amplifies and propagates the disease during time. The conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue (CALT), given its particular position that permits immune cells covering the cornea, might play a crucial role in the development of OSDs. Despite the recognized inflammatory role of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in other stations taking contact with the external environment (gut or bronchus), CALT did not gain the deserved consideration. In the last years, the diffusion of the in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) stimulated the interest to CALT, especially in dry eye, ocular allergy, and glaucoma. Though the initial stimuli were different, IVCM documented similar changes, represented by increased lymphoid cells within the diffuse layer, follicles and interfollicular spaces. These findings, which need to be validated by immunohistology, support the CALT stimulation during OSDs. However, while an involvement of the CALT in OSDs is hypothesizable, the exact role of this structure in their pathogenesis remains unclear and warrants further investigations.