bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The contribution of cooking appliances and residential traffic proximity to aerosol personal exposure
Authors: Shehab M. , Pope F. D. , Delgado-Saborit J. M.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Indoor and outdoor factors affect personal exposure to air pollutants. Type of cooking appliance (i.e. gas, electricity), and residential location related to traffic are such factors. This research aims to investigate the effect of cooking with gas and electric appliances, as an indoor source of aerosols, and residential traffic as outdoor sources, on personal exposures to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter lower than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and ultrafine particles (UFP).

Methods

Forty subjects were sampled for four consecutive days measuring personal exposures to three aerosol pollutants, namely PM2.5, BC, and UFP, which were measured using personal sensors. Subjects were equally distributed into four categories according to the use of gas or electric stoves for cooking, and to residential traffic (i.e. houses located near or away from busy roads).

Results/conclusion

Cooking was identified as an indoor activity affecting exposure to aerosols, with mean concentrations during cooking ranging 24.7–50.0 μg/m3 (PM2.5), 1.8–4.9 μg/m3 (BC), and 1.4 × 104–4.1 × 104 particles/cm3 (UFP). This study also suggest that traffic is a dominant source of exposure to BC, since people living near busy roads are exposed to higher BC concentrations than those living further away from traffic. In contrast, the contribution of indoor sources to personal exposure to PM2.5 and UFP seems to be greater than from outdoor traffic sources. This is probably related to a combination of the type of building construction and a varying range of activities conducted indoors. It is recommended to ensure a good ventilation during cooking to minimize exposure to cooking aerosols.
Radiometric Autonomous Navigation Fused with Optical for Deep Space Exploration
Authors: Ely Todd A. , Seubert Jill , Bradley Nicholas , Drain Ted , Bhaskaran Shyam
Published: January 2021

With the advent of the Deep Space Atomic Clock, operationally accurate and reliable one-way radiometric data sent from a radio beacon (i.e., a DSN antenna or other spacecraft) and collected using a spacecraft’s radio receiver enables the development and use of autonomous radio navigation. This work examines the fusion of radiometric data with optical data (i.e. OpNav) to yield robust and accurate trajectory solutions that include selected model reductions and computationally efficient navigation algorithms that can be readily adopted for onboard, autonomous navigation. The methodology is characterized using a representative high-fidelity simulation of deep space cruise, approach, and delivery to Mars. The results show that the combination of the two data types yields solutions that are almost an order of magnitude more accurate than those obtained using each data type by itself. Furthermore, the combined data solutions readily meet representative entry navigation requirements (in this case at Mars).
Insights on safety and efficacy of renal artery denervation for uncontrolled-resistant hypertension in a high risk population with chronic kidney disease: first Italian real-world experience
Authors: Marin Federico , Fezzi Simone , Gambaro Alessia , Ederle Francesco , Castaldi Gianluca , Widmann Maddalena , Gangemi Concetta , Ferrero Valeria , Pesarini Gabriele , Pighi Michele , Ribichini Flavio L.
Published: January 2021

Aims

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of catheter-based radiofrequency renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) in a daily practice population of patients with uncontrolled resistant hypertension, on top of medical therapy.

Methods

Consecutive unselected patients with uncontrolled resistant hypertension undergoing RSD were enrolled. Office and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurements were collected at baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months after RSD. Efficacy was assessed even in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 45 mL/min/1.73 m2. Patients were defined as responders if systolic BP decreased by at least 5 mmHg at ambulatory BP or by 10 mmHg at office BP at their last follow-up visit.

Results

Forty patients with multiple comorbidities underwent RSD from 2012 to 2019. Baseline office and ambulatory BP was 159.0/84.9 ± 26.2/14.9 mmHg and 155.2/86.5 ± 20.9/14.0 mmHg, respectively. At 12-month follow up a significant reduction in office and ambulatory systolic BP, respectively by − 19.7 ± 27.1 mmHg and by − 13.9 ± 23.6 mmHg, was observed. BP reduction at 12-month follow-up among patients with eGFR < 45 mL/min was similar to that obtained in patients with higher eGFR. Twenty-nine patients (74.4%) were responders. Combined hypertension, higher ambulatory systolic BP and lower E/E’ at baseline emerged as predictors of successful RSD at univariate analysis. No major complications were observed and renal function (was stable up to 12 months), even in patients with the lowest eGFR values at baseline.

Conclusion

RSD is safe and feasible in patients with uncontrolled resistant hypertension on top of medical therapy, even in a high-risk CKD population with multiple comorbidities, with a significant reduction in systolic BP and a trend towards a reduction in diastolic BP lasting up to 12 months.

Graphic abstract
What drives TFP long-run dynamics in five large European economies?
Authors: Bellocchi Alessandro , Sanchez Carrera Edgar J. , Travaglini Giuseppe
Published: January 2021

The aim of this paper is to study the long-run cointegrating relationship ofTFPin a panel of five large European economies, namely France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK. We test whetherTFPis determined by the so-called “capital misallocation effects, scale effects, and labor market effects”. By considering aggregate data, over the period 1983–2017, we employ dynamic panel cointegration techniques to identify the long-run component ofTFP. We get two main results. First, the interest rate, the real compensation and the real exchange rate have a positive impact on TFP. Then, the incidence of temporary employment (a proxy of labor market flexibility) has a negative effect onTFP. Moreover, for robustness, we run a panel VECM to check for causalities among the variables. Notably, this further excercise confirms the existence of a strong and positive long-run relationship betweenTFPand prices. We conclude that coordinated policies on the issue of interest rate, exchange rate, labour cost and regulation, may allow to reassemble the productivity slowdown puzzle and strengthen the European economic structure.
Environmental factors affecting the wintering raptor community in Armenia, Southern Caucasus
Authors: Chiatante Gianpasquale , Panuccio Michele
Published: January 2021

The species–habitat relationships can change during the year because of the seasonality of resources. Therefore, the investigation of habitat use by animals in each season plays a fundamental role in their conservation. The main aim of this research was to investigate the raptor community that spends the winter in Armenia, southern Caucasus, and to explore its relationship with environmental features, such as land use and topography. During January 2012, we collected data by carrying out 15 roadside counts along which we calculated three community parameters: the relative abundance, the species richness, and the species diversity. Then, we carried out a multiple linear regression with the Information-Theoretic Approach, to explain the relationship between the parameters and environmental variables. Besides, we computed a Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) between the species and the environment around their observations. As a general pattern, the community was associated with permanent crops, maybe because of their heterogeneity, which in turn allows them to support higher densities of prey during the winter. The most abundant species was the Black Kite (Milvus migrans), followed by the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus). To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies investigating the wintering raptor community in the Caucasus, with raptors generally studied in this area during the breeding season and migration.
Natural Cycle Results in Lower Implantation Failure than Ovarian Stimulation in Advanced-Age Poor Responders Undergoing IVF: Fertility Outcomes from 585 Patients
Authors: De Marco Maria Paola , Montanari Giulia , Ruscito Ilary , Giallonardo Annalise , Ubaldi Filippo Maria , Rienzi Laura , Costanzi Flavia , Caserta Donatella , Schimberni Mauro , Schimberni Matteo
Published: January 2021

To compare pregnancy rate and implantation rate in poor responder women, aged over 40 years, who underwent natural cycle versus conventional ovarian stimulation. This is a retrospective single-center cohort study conducted at the GENERA IVF program, Rome, Italy, between September 2012 and December 2018, including only poor responder patients, according to Bologna criteria, of advanced age, who underwent IVF treatment through Natural Cycle or conventional ovarian stimulation. Between September 2012 and December 2018, 585 patients were included within the study. Two hundred thirty patients underwent natural cycle and 355 underwent conventional ovarian stimulation. In natural cycle group, both pregnancy rate per cycle (6.25 vs 12.89%, respectively, p = 0.0001) and pregnancy rate per patient101 with at least one embryo-transfer (18.85 vs 28.11% respectively, p = 0.025) resulted significant reduced. Pregnancy rate per patient managed with conventional ovarian stimulation resulted not significantly different compared with natural cycle (19.72 vs 15.65% respectively, p = 0.228), but embryo implantation rate was significantly higher in patients who underwent natural cycle rather than patient subjected to conventional ovarian stimulation (13 vs 8.28% respectively, p = 0.0468). No significant difference could be detected among the two groups in terms of abortion rate (p = 0.2915) or live birth pregnancy (p = 0.2281). Natural cycle seems to be a valid treatment in patients over 40 years and with a low ovarian reserve, as an alternative to conventional ovarian stimulation.
Colorectal Cancer Prevention in Lung Transplant Recipients: The Need for an Enhanced Surveillance Protocol
Authors: Dameworth Jonathan L. , Colburn Luc , Corrigan Devin , Driessen Rebecca , Chapple Kristina , Gagliano Ronald A. , Walia Rajat , Row David
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND:

Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk for noncutaneous neoplasms, including colorectal cancer (CRC). We evaluated precancerous lesions detected by post-transplant surveillance colonoscopy to infer the rate at which new adenomas develop in this population.

STUDY DESIGN:

We reviewed all patients who underwent lung transplant between January 2013 and August 2017 at our institution. Those with post-transplant survival <1 year, personal history of CRC, previous lung transplant, and lack of pretransplant colonoscopy were excluded.

RESULTS:

During the study period, 411 patients underwent lung transplant; 237 met inclusion criteria. Median age at transplant was 63.6 (interquartile range [IQR] 59.2-68.3) years. Most recipients were immunosuppressed with a combination of prednisone, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. At least 1 adenoma was found in 92 patients (38.8%) pretransplant and in 118 patients (49.8%) from 1 to 5 years post-transplant, with 68.6% identified at 1 year. Most adenomas were identified proximal to the splenic flexure. Multiple (≥3) adenomas were found in 31.4% of positive colonoscopies. Within 5 years after transplant, patients with a positive pretransplant colonoscopy had significantly more positive post-transplant colonoscopies than patients with a negative pretransplant colonoscopy (63.0% vs 41.4%, p < 0.001). No de novo CRC was identified.

CONCLUSIONS:

Lung transplant recipients have a significantly higher risk of adenoma formation than average-risk adults (25%–30% national detection rate). This increase occurs in the early post-transplant period (within 3 years). An enhanced CRC surveillance protocol for lung transplant recipients is needed.
Effect of Sexual Esteem and Sexual Communication on the Relationship Between Body Image and Sexual Function in Chinese Heterosexual Women
Authors: Wu Ting , Zheng Yong
Published: January 2021

Background

Sexual self-esteem and communication on sexual issues with a partner contribute greatly to an individual’s quality of sex life; however, their effects on the relationship between body image and sexual function are underexplored.

Aim

To test a serial mediating pathway of sexual self-esteem and sexual communication underlying the relationship between body image and sexual function.

Methods

A total of 510 women aged 18–53 years (mean = 28, SD = 5.5) who were involved in an intimate relationship completed an online survey.

Outcomes

Women’s (i) body appreciation, (ii) body image self-consciousness during sexual intimacy, (iii) sexual self-esteem, (iv) dyadic sexual communication, (v) negative disclosure apprehension, and (vi) sexual function were assessed.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that sexual self-esteem and dyadic sexual communication played a serial mediating role in the relationship between body image (body appreciation and body image self-consciousness during sexual intimacy) and sexual function, and the relationship between body image and arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Sexual self-esteem and negative disclosure apprehension also played a serial mediating role in the relationship between body image and sexual pain. In addition, dyadic sexual communication played a unique mediating role in the relationship between body image and sexual function, which is isolated from the effect of sexual self-esteem.

Clinical Implications

Women’s sexual self-esteem and sexual communication with their partner can make beneficial contributions to the relationship between body image and sexual function. Therefore, promoting women’s positive body image, sexual self-esteem, and sexual communication skills deserves attention from women themselves and clinicians.

Strengths & Limitations

This study used a robust method of data analysis to test the mediating effect of sexual self-esteem and sexual communication to clarify the mechanism underlying the relationship between body image and sexual function among Chinese women; however, causal conclusions cannot be drawn. Furthermore, various demographics including participants’ age, education level, sexual orientation—factors such as relationship status and length, relationship functioning, and partner-related variables—and other aspects of sexual self-concept and sexual communication should be examined in future research.

CONCLUSION

The current study indicates that women’s thoughts and feelings regarding sexuality and communicating sexual issues with their partner are associated closely with their body image and sexual function.
Nitrogen Isotopes in Deep Time
Authors: Mettam Colin , Zerkle Aubrey L.
Published: January 2021

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for life, and its sources and cycling have varied over earth history. Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen compounds (expressed as δ15N, in ‰) are preserved in the sedimentary record and track these changes, providing important insights into associated biogeochemical feedbacks. Here we review the use of nitrogen stable isotope geochemistry in unravelling the evolution of the global N cycle in deep time. We highlight difficulties with preservation, unambiguous interpretations, and local versus global effects. We end with several case studies illustrating how depositional and stratigraphic context is crucial in reliably interpreting δ15N records in ancient marine sediments, both in ancient anoxic (Archean) and more recent well oxygenated (Phanerozoic) environments.
Soju
Authors: Park Hyunhee
Published: January 2021

Hyunhee Park offers the first global historical study of soju, the distinctive distilled drink of Korea. Searching for soju's origins, Park leads us into the vast, complex world of premodern Eurasia. She demonstrates how the Mongol conquests of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries wove together hemispheric flows of trade, empire, scientific and technological transfer and created the conditions for the development of a singularly Korean drink. Soju's rise in Korea marked the evolution of a new material culture through ongoing interactions between the global and local and between tradition and innovation in the adaptation and localization of new technologies. Park's vivid new history shows how these cross-cultural encounters laid the foundations for the creation of a globally connected world.
The Political Economy of Gulf Defense Establishments
Authors: Barany Zoltan
Published: January 2021

The six monarchies on the Arabian Peninsula have devoted enormous sums to defense in past decades. Nevertheless, the gap between their expensive armaments and their capacity to deter aggression and/or project military strength has narrowed but little in that time. This Element takes a political economy approach and argues that structural factors inherent in the Gulf states' political systems prohibit civilian oversight of the defense sector and are responsible for this outcome. Lax restraints on military outlays, in turn, enable widespread corruption, lead to large-scale waste, and account for the purchasing of unneeded, unsuitable, and incompatible weapons systems. The Element explores the challenges caused by plummeting oil prices and the resulting budget cuts and considers the development of domestic defense industries in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, intended as a part of their economic diversification program. The setbacks of the Saudi-led coalition's on-going war in Yemen starkly illustrate the narrative.
The EU-Japan Security Dialogue
Authors: Mykal Olena
Published: January 2021

This volume examines the security dialogue between Japan and the European Union since the establishment of the official European Community-Japan cooperation efforts in the late 1950s. Olena Mykal investigates how international events' particularly the terrorist attacks in New York on 9/11 and the EU's proposal to lift its arms embargo on China – have strengthened the dialogue over the past decade.
Players Unleashed!
Authors: Sihvonen Tanja
Published: January 2021

It has been ten years since video game giant Electronic Arts first released The Sims, the best-selling game that allows its players to create a household and then manage every aspect of daily life within it. And since its debut, gamers young and old have found ways to 'mod' The Sims, a practice in which gamers manipulate the computer code of a game, and thereby alter it to add new content and scenarios.

In Players Unleashed! 'the first study of its kind' Tanja Sihvonen provides a fascinating examination of modding, tracing its evolution and detailing its impact on The Sims and the game industry as a whole. Along the way, Sihvonen shares insights into specific modifications and the cultural contexts from which they emerge.
A Human Rights Agenda for the Biden Administration
Authors: Cleveland Sarah H.
Published: January 2021

The Biden administration has much to do to restore the United States’ credibility as a human rights leader and to strengthen the human rights system in an era of rising right-wing nationalism, authoritarianism, and competition for global power. In doing so, it needs to lead by example by putting its own house in order, and act with both courage and humility in the face of deep global skepticism and distrust. Specifically, the administration should pursue five stages of engagement on human rights: reverse and revoke measures taken by the Trump administration, reaffirm the United States’ traditional commitments to human rights at home and abroad, rebuild the State Department and diplomatic corps, reengage with international and regional mechanisms through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and reconceptualize the United States’ twenty-first century relationship to human rights. All of the other topics addressed in this symposium—climate, health, elections, migration, structural racism, and trade—implicate human rights. None can be adequately addressed without a robust U.S. human rights agenda.
International agricultural trade forecasting using machine learning
Authors: Gopinath Munisamy , Batarseh Feras A. , Beckman Jayson , Kulkarni Ajay , Jeong Sei
Published: January 2021

Focusing on seven major agricultural commodities with a long history of trade, this study employs data-driven analytics to decipher patterns of trade, namely using supervised machine learning (ML), as well as neural networks. The supervised ML and neural network techniques are trained on data until 2010 and 2014, respectively. Results show the high relevance of ML models to forecasting trade patterns in near- and long-term relative to traditional approaches, which are often subjective assessments or time-series projections. While supervised ML techniques quantified key economic factors underlying agricultural trade flows, neural network approaches provide better fits over the long term.
A healthcare worker and patient-informed approach to oral antibiotic decision making during the hospital-to-home transition
Authors: Sharara Sima L. , Arbaje Alicia I. , Cosgrove Sara E. , Gurses Ayse P. , Dzintars Kathryn , Ladikos Nicholas , Qasba S. Sonia , Keller Sara C.
Published: January 2021

In a qualitative study of healthcare workers and patients discharged on oral antibiotics, we identified 5 barriers to antibiotic decision making at hospital discharge: clinician perceptions of patient expectations, diagnostic uncertainty, attending physician–led versus multidisciplinary team culture, not accounting for total antibiotic duration, and need for discharge prior to complete data.
The Role of Communities in the Transmission of Political Values: Evidence from Forced Population Transfers
Authors: Charnysh Volha , Peisakhin Leonid
Published: January 2021

This article evaluates the role of community bonds in the long-term transmission of political values. At the end of World War II, Poland's borders shifted westward, and the population from the historical region of Galicia (now partly in Ukraine) was displaced to the territory that Poland acquired from Germany. In a quasi-random process, some migrants settled in their new villages as a majority group, preserving communal ties, while others ended up in the minority. The study leverages this natural experiment of history by surveying the descendants of these Galician migrants. The research design provides an important empirical test of the theorized effect of communities on long-term value transmission, which separates the influence of family and community as two competing and complementary mechanisms. The study finds that respondents in Galicia-majority settlements are now more likely to embrace values associated with Austrian imperial rule and are more similar to respondents whose families avoided displacement.
Explaining the Relationship Between Class Position and Political Preferences: A Long-Term Panel Analysis of Intra-Generational Class Mobility
Authors: Langsæther Peter Egge , Evans Geoffrey , O'Grady Tom
Published: January 2021

Past findings on the connection between class position and political preferences are overwhelmingly derived from cross-sectional studies, which provided a limited basis for inferring causality. This study uses long-term panel data on thousands of British respondents to measure the impact of intra-generational class mobility across a range of political identities and preferences. Upward class mobility leads to small increases in economic conservatism, but party choice, class identity and attitudes to non-economic issues do not change. This updating of economic values is much smaller than cross-sectional differences between classes. These results are consistent with the short-run effects of class mobility operating primarily through a limited economic self-interest mechanism. Beliefs that are plausibly unconnected to economics are unaffected. The overall association between class and a range of identities, opinions and preferences is therefore more likely to be caused by early life experiences and longer-term socialization than by the immediate material interests associated with jobs.
Distributive Politics in Canada: The Case of Infrastructure Spending in Rural and Suburban Districts
Authors: Jacques Olivier , Ferland Benjamin
Published: January 2021

This article examines the presence of geographically targeted spending in the allocation of infrastructure projects in Canada. Building on formal models of distributive politics, we expect government districts, core government districts and swing districts to be advantaged in terms of infrastructure projects. We also investigate whether characteristics of Members of Parliament (MPs), such as seniority or holding a cabinet position, influence the distribution of infrastructure projects. Empirically, we analyze the amount of funding allocated by Infrastructure Canada across non-urban federal electoral districts between 2006 and 2018. Our results indicate that non-urban governmental districts receive, on average, more money than opposition districts, and that this is even more the case for core government districts. In contrast, we found little evidence that cabinet ministers or senior MPs are able to attract more funding to their constituencies compared to other representatives.
Does the radioactive iodine dose affect smell, taste sensation and nose function?
Authors: Tutar B , Özülker T , Berkiten G , Karaketir S , Ekincioğlu M E , Saltürk Z , Onaran Ö , Gürpınar B , Karaketir Ş , Kumral T L , Uyar Y
Published: January 2021

Objective

To detect whether the adverse effects of post-operative radioactive iodine therapy following differentiated thyroid cancer on smell, taste and nasal functions were associated with radioactive iodine dose.

Methods

Fifty-one patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy because of differentiated thyroid cancer were divided into two groups depending on the post-operative radioactive iodine therapy dose: low dose group (50 mCi; 21 patients) and high dose group (100–150 mCi; 30 patients). The Sniffin’ Sticks smell test, the Taste Strips test and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test were performed on all patients one week before therapy, and at two months and one year following therapy.

Results

Statistically significant differences were detected in the Sniffin’ Sticks test results, total odour scores, total taste scores and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test results between the assessment time points. There was no statistically significant difference between the low and high dose groups in terms of odour, taste or Sino-Nasal Outcome Test scores either before or after therapy.

Conclusion

Radioactive iodine therapy has some short- and long-term adverse effects on nasal functions and taste and odour sensations, which affect quality of life. These effects are not dose-dependent.
Hearing results after stapedotomy for otosclerosis: comparison of prosthesis variables
Authors: Odat H , Kanaan Y , Alali M , Al-Qudah M
Published: January 2021

Objective

To evaluate the influence of different piston variables on hearing following stapedotomy.

Methods

Data were analysed in groups according to: piston material (titanium vs fluoroplastic), shaft diameter (0.4 mm vs 0.5 mm) and crimping style (manual crimping vs self-crimping). Pre- and post-operative average air–bone gap, air–bone gap difference, success rate and operative time were evaluated.

Results and conclusion

Fifty-one patients (58 ears) were included. A post-operative air–bone gap of 10 dB or lower was achieved in 44 cases, with a success rate of 75.9 per cent; 52 cases (89.7 per cent) had an air–bone gap of 20 dB or lower. The success rate was higher, but not significantly, in fluoroplastic than in titanium pistons (85 per cent vs 70 per cent). Pistons with shaft diameters of 0.5 mm and 0.4 mm had success rates of 79 per cent and 72 per cent, respectively. No significant differences were found for any audiometric parameters. There were no significant differences between manual crimping and self-crimping pistons in terms of audiometric results or success rate.
Use of lidocaine with phenylephrine (Co-phenylcaine) spray for anaesthesia of the external auditory canal
Authors: Lim A E , Alatsatianos A , Wardrop P
Published: January 2021

Objective

A method is described for topical local anaesthesia of the tympanic membrane and ear canal using lidocaine and phenylephrine (Co-phenylcaine) spray and soaked micropatties.

Discussion

The advantages of this method are discussed in comparison to existing methods.
Spatiotemporal analysis of the runaway distribution function from synchrotron images in an ASDEX Upgrade disruption
Authors: Hoppe M. , Hesslow L. , Embreus O. , Unnerfelt L. , Papp G. , Pusztai I. , Fülöp T. , Lexell O. , Lunt T. , Macusova E. , McCarthy P. J. , Pautasso G. , Pokol G. I. , Por G. , Svensson P. ,   the ASDEX Upgrade team,   the EUROfusion MST1 team
Published: January 2021

Synchrotron radiation images from runaway electrons (REs) in an ASDEX Upgrade discharge disrupted by argon injection are analysed using the synchrotron diagnostic tool Soft and coupled fluid-kinetic simulations. We show that the evolution of the runaway distribution is well described by an initial hot-tail seed population, which is accelerated to energies between 25–50 MeV during the current quench, together with an avalanche runaway tail which has an exponentially decreasing energy spectrum. We find that, although the avalanche component carries the vast majority of the current, it is the high-energy seed remnant that dominates synchrotron emission. With insights from the fluid-kinetic simulations, an analytic model for the evolution of the runaway seed component is developed and used to reconstruct the radial density profile of the RE beam. The analysis shows that the observed change of the synchrotron pattern from circular to crescent shape is caused by a rapid redistribution of the radial profile of the runaway density.
Response of a southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) population to three years of Marine Protected Area implementation within South Australia
Authors: McLeay Lachlan , Linnane Adrian , McGarvey Richard , Bryars Simon , Hawthorne Peter
Published: January 2021

The Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park (WKIMP) was declared as part of South Australia's representative system of Marine Protected Areas in 2009. Sanctuary Zone 3 (SZ-3) of the WKIMP is a no-take area protected from fishing since 1 October 2014 and is located within the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (NZRLF). In February 2017, a dedicated survey was undertaken to estimate the relative abundance (catch per unit effort (CPUE), kg/potlift) and size of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) inside and outside SZ-3. Survey results were then compared with historical estimates of abundance and size obtained from commercial fishery-dependent data. Survey estimates of relative abundance of legal-size lobsters were 4.4 times greater inside SZ-3 compared with outside in 2017. Since 2014, when fishing was last permitted inside SZ-3, the relative abundance of lobsters increased by 75%. The mean size of legal-size female and male lobsters also increased by 4.1% and 12.5%, respectively. The population responses recorded are consistent with the results recorded for southern rock lobster stocks in marine parks in other jurisdictions.
Psychological distress from early adulthood to early old age: evidence from the 1946, 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts
Authors: Gondek Dawid , Bann David , Patalay Praveetha , Goodman Alissa , McElroy Eoin , Richards Marcus , Ploubidis George B.
Published: January 2021

Background

Existing evidence on profiles of psychological distress across adulthood uses cross-sectional or longitudinal studies with short observation periods. The objective of this research was to study the profile of psychological distress within the same individuals from early adulthood to early old age across three British birth cohorts.

Methods

We used data from three British birth cohorts: born in 1946 (n= 3093), 1958 (n= 13 250) and 1970 (n= 12 019). The profile of psychological distress – expressed both as probability of being a clinical case or a count of symptoms based on comparable items within and across cohorts – was modelled using the multilevel regression framework.

Results

In both 1958 and 1970 cohorts, there was an initial drop in the probability of being a case between ages 23–26 and 33–34. Subsequently, the predicted probability of being a case increased from 12.5% at age 36 to 19.5% at age 53 in the 1946 cohort; from 8.0% at age 33 to 13.7% at age 42 in the 1958 cohort and from 15.7% at age 34 to 19.7% at age 42 in the 1970 cohort. In the 1946 cohort, there was a drop in the probability of caseness between ages 60–64 and 69 (19.5%v.15.2%). Consistent results were obtained with the continuous version of the outcome.

Conclusions

Across three post-war British birth cohorts midlife appears to be a particularly vulnerable phase for experiencing psychological distress. Understanding the reasons for this will be important for the prevention and management of mental health problems.
The Administrative Anatomy of Failure: The League of Nations Disarmament Section, 1919–1925
Authors: Ikonomou Haakon A.
Published: January 2021

This article investigates the creation and workings of the Disarmament Section of the League of Nations Secretariat. It shows that the Disarmament Section was an outlier of the Secretariat: supressed by the Great Powers, it had less autonomy than other parts of the administration, which from an early stage limited its bureaucratic practice to the production of information. This bureaucratic production created unreliable factual foundations for negotiations and unrealistic public expectations. Thus, the article argues that the troubled birth and administrative strangling of the Disarmament Section of the Secretariat should play a significant role in our understanding of the broader collapse of general disarmament. By making this argument, the article breaks new ground by introducing failure as an analytical category to understand the role and practices of international public administrations.
Intentions to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: the importance of perceived susceptibility to health risks
Authors: Dono Joanne , Ettridge Kerry A , Wakefield Melanie , Pettigrew Simone , Coveney John , Roder David , Durkin Sarah , Wittert Gary , Martin Jane , Miller Caroline L
Published: January 2021

Objective:

There are numerous health effects associated with excess sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. Interventions aimed at reducing population-level consumption require understanding of the relevant barriers and facilitators. This study aimed to identify the variables with the strongest relationship with intentions to reduce SSB consumption from a suite of variables derived from the literature.

Design:

Random-digit dialling of landline and mobile phones was used to survey adults using computer-assisted telephone interviews. The outcome variable was ‘likelihood of reducing SSB consumption in next 6 months’, and the predictor variables were demographics, SSB attitudes and behaviour, health risk perceptions and social/environmental exposure.

Setting:

Australia.

Participants:

A subsample of 1630 regular SSB consumers from a nationally representative sample of 3430 Australian adults (38 % female, 51 % aged 18–45 years, 56 % overweight or obese).

Results:

Respondents indicated that they were ‘not at all’ (30·1 %), ‘somewhat’ (43·9 %) and ‘very likely’ (25·3 %) to reduce SSB consumption. Multivariate nominal logistic regressions showed that perceiving future health to be ‘very much’ at risk was the strongest predictor of intention to reduce SSB consumption (OR = 8·1, 95 % CI 1·8, 37·0, P < 0·01). Other significant predictors (P < 0·01) included self-perceptions about too much consumption, habitual consumption, difficulty reducing consumption and likelihood of benefitting from reduced consumption.

Conclusions:

Health risk perceptions had the strongest relationship with intentions to reduce consumption. Age and consumption perceptions were also predictors in the multivariate models, whereas social/environmental exposure variables were not. Interventions may seek to incorporate strategies to denormalise consumption practices and increase knowledge about perceived susceptibility to health risks.
Prospective association between dietary patterns and BMI Z-score in Brazilian adolescents
Authors: Arruda Neta Adélia CP , Farias Junior José Cazuza , Lima Ferreira Flávia EL , Marchioni Dirce M
Published: January 2021

Objective:

To identify dietary patterns and prospectively evaluate their influence on the BMI Z-score of adolescents.

Design:

A longitudinal study, using data from the Longitudinal Study on Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, Eating Habits and Adolescent Health – LONCAAFS.

Setting:

To obtain data on food consumption, a 24-h recall survey was conducted; a second 24-h recall was applied to 30 % of the sample in all waves. Dietary patterns were identified by exploratory factor analysis using principal components. BMI Z-score was determined according to the recommendation of the WHO, based on the BMI for age and sex. Socio-economic data, sedentary behaviour and physical activity level were obtained. Associations between BMI Z-score and dietary patterns and between BMI Z-score and variables of interest were determined using generalised estimating equations.

Participants:

Totally, 1431 adolescents were assessed in 2014, 1178 in 2015, 959 in 2016 and 773 in 2017, belonging to the public schools of João Pessoa, Northeast Brazil.

Results:

Three dietary patterns were identified throughout the study: ‘traditional’, ‘snacks’ and ‘Western’. The ‘Western’ dietary pattern was positively associated with BMI Z-score (β = 0·025; 95 % CI 0·002, 0·048), regardless of sex and physical activity level, prospectively.

Conclusion:

A dietary pattern composed of foods with high energy density, high fat and sugars, and low fibre influences the BMI Z-score of adolescents over time.
Impact of palliative care on end-of-life care and place of death in children, adolescents, and young adults with life-limiting conditions: A systematic review
Authors: Lin Shih-Chun , Huang Mei-Chih , Yasmara Deni , Wuu Huey-Lan
Published: January 2021

Objective

To determine the impact of palliative care (PC) on end-of-life (EoL) care and the place of death (PoD) in children, adolescents, and young adults with life-limiting conditions.

Method

Eight online databases (PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Airiti, GARUDA Garba Rujukan Digital, and OpenGrey) from 2010 to February 5, 2020 were searched for studies investigating EoL care and the PoD for pediatric patients receiving and not receiving PC.

Results

Of the 6,468 citations identified, 14 cohort studies and one case series were included. An evidence base of mainly adequate- and strong-quality studies shows that inpatient hospital PC, either with or without the provision of home and community PC, was found to be associated with a decrease in intensive care use and high-intensity EoL care. Conflicting evidence was found for the association between PC and hospital admissions, length of stay in hospital, resuscitation at the time of death, and the proportion of hospital and home deaths.

Significance of results

Current evidence suggests that specialist, multidisciplinary involvement, and continuity of PC are required to reduce the intensity of EoL care. Careful attention should be paid to the need for a longer length of stay in a medical setting late in life, and earlier EoL care discussion should take place with patients/caregivers, especially in regard to attempting resuscitation in toddlers, adolescents, and the young adult population. A lack of robust evidence has identified a gap in rigorous multisite prospective studies utilizing data collection.
The Role of the Environment in Overweight and Eating Behavior Variability: Insights from a Multivariate Twin Study
Authors: Herle Moritz , Madrid-Valero Juan J. , Morosoli José J. , Colodro-Conde Lucía , Ordoñana Juan
Published: January 2021

Research has emphasized the genetic basis of individual differences in body mass index (BMI); however, genetic factors cannot explain the rapid rise of obesity. Eating behaviors have been stipulated to be the behavioral expression of genetic risk in an obesogenic environment. In this study, we decompose variation and covariation between three key eating behaviors and BMI in a sample of 698 participants, consisting of 167 monozygotic, 150 dizygotic complete same-sex female twins and 64 incomplete pairs from a population-based twin registry in the southeast of Spain, The Murcia Twin Registry. Phenotypes were emotional eating, uncontrolled eating and cognitive restraint, measured by the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and objectively measured BMI. Variation in eating behaviors was driven by nonshared environmental factors (range: 56%−65%), whereas shared environmental and genetic factors were secondary. All three eating behaviors were correlated with BMI (r = .19–.25). Nonshared environmental factors explained the covariations (Emotional eating–Uncontrolled eating: rE = .54, 95% CI [.43, .64]; BMI–Cognitive restraint: rE = .15, 95% CI [.01, .28]). In contrast to BMI, individual differences in eating behaviors are mostly explained by nonshared environmental factors, which also accounted for the phenotypic correlation between eating behaviors and BMI. Due to the sample size, analyses were underpowered to detect contributions of additive genetic or shared environmental factors to variation and covariation of the phenotypes. Although more research is granted, these results support that eating behaviors could be viable intervention targets to help individuals maintain a healthy weight.
The effect of gum consumption on blood pressure as a risk factor for coronary heart disease: A meta-analysis of controlled trials
Authors: Shao Baowei , Li Haijie , Zhang Pengfei , Teng Xilong , Wang Honglu , Verdi Thais , Bhat Latha T. , Zhang Fengquan
Published: January 2021

Abstract. Guar gum has been used in the management of hypercholesterolemia, constipation, weight loss, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Our aim was to verify the hypothesis that Guar gum can be used as an alternative to pharmacological agents in the treatment of mild hypertension. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of Guar gum in reducing blood pressure. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed/Medline, Scopus and Google Scholar databases for studies published in the English language up to June 2020 which evaluated the effects of gum consumption on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Nine randomized clinical trials with suitable comparison groups (placebo/control) reported SBP and DBP as outcome measures. These trials involved in total 640 participants. The overall results indicated that the consumption of gum resulted in a significant change in SBP (WMD: −1.190 mmHg, 95% CI: −2.011, −0.370) and DBP (WMD: −1.101 mmHg, 95% CI: −1.597, −0.605). Moreover, the greatest reduction in blood pressure was seen in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome who consumed Guar gum (WMD: −3.375 mmHg). In addition, there was a significant decrease in SBP if the gum dosage was > 15 g (WMD: −6.637 mmHg) and if the intervention duration was > 12 weeks (WMD: −1.668 mmHg). The results of the present dose-response meta-analysis support the employment of gum consumption in the reduction of SBP and DBP. Based on the sub-group analyses, we highlight that the greatest decrease in SBP was experienced if the gum dosage was > 15 g and when the intervention lasted > 12 weeks.
Eddies Connect the Tropical Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Huang Minghai , Liang Xinfeng , Zhu Yingli , Liu Yonggang , Weisberg Robert H.
Published: January 2021

Numerical circulation modeling and observational studies have been conducted to understand the Loop Current (LC) system behaviors in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). One of the factors that may influence the LC are upstream eddies from within the Caribbean Sea. By combining satellite altimetry, sea surface salinity and ocean color data, we demonstrate that mesoscale eddies from the western tropical Atlantic Ocean can eventually make their way to the Gulf of Mexico and likely affect the LC. In addition, our study shows that freshwater of Amazon and Orinoco River origin trapped within mesoscale eddies can also enter the GoM, potentially affecting the GoM stratification. This study provides insights into understanding variations of the LC system and showcases the roles of mesoscale eddies in connecting the open ocean and regional seas.
Seasonal and Interannual Variability in the Sea Surface Temperature Front in the Eastern Pacific Ocean
Authors: Wang Yuntao , Liu Jin , Liu Hailong , Lin Pengfei , Yuan Yeping , Chai Fei
Published: January 2021

Fifteen years of satellite observations of sea surface temperature (SST) are used to identify frontal activities in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The frontogenesis and variability of frontal activities are mainly determined by wind forces. Strong frontal activities are distributed mainly near the coast and decrease with increasing offshore distance. The seasonal cycle dominates the variability in the SST frontal probability (FP) in coastal regions, and large interannual variability is identified in the tropics. Coastal frontal activities are driven by the local wind such that the equatorward wind stress forces coastal upwelling, which brings subsurface cold water to the surface and induces fronts. Frontal activities are generally enhanced during local summer, when an upwelling‐favorable wind prevails. A prominent offshore migration pattern is identified for mid‐latitude regions, and the associated propagation speed is consistent with the wind‐induced offshore Ekman transport and mesoscale eddies. The coastal tropical Pacific is also characterized by a strong FP with large seasonal variability. The corresponding fronts result from the confluence between the boundary current and wind‐driven cold water as the wind jet passes through mountain gaps. The frontal activities near the equator are driven by wind‐induced tropical upwelling associated with a westward propagation at speeds close to the speed of Rossby waves. In the tropics, strong interannual variability in FP is identified that is, modulated by the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation. Frontal activities are suppressed during El Niño years because trade winds are characterized by strong convergence, which induces downwelling and subsequently reduces FP.
A Local Split‐Step Wavelet Method for the Long Range Propagation Simulation in 2D
Authors: Bonnafont Thomas , Douvenot Rémi , Chabory Alexandre
Published: January 2021

Modeling long‐range propagation of electromagnetic waves is necessary to study the performance of systems, for applications such as radar or navigation. Such models generally rely on split‐step Fourier (SSF) because large mesh sizes can be used. The split‐step wavelet method (SSW) is a recently developed method allowing to perform the same simulations as with SSF but in a shorter computation time. This method requires the pre‐computation of a free‐space propagator. Up to now, one limitation of SSW is that the steps must remain constant during the propagation. In this study, we propose an improvement of SSW in terms of memory size and versatility. This improvement relies on the use of a set of propagators, that is, the propagation of elementary wavelets. The limited support of wavelets renders the computation of the set of propagators fast, approximately as fast as one step of propagation with SSW. First, a numerical test shows the advantage in terms of computation time. Second, a numerical experience shows the advantage in terms of memory. Finally, the SSW method is applied as the direct method for a radio occultation configuration.