bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental evidences support the existence of an aggregation/disaggregation step in the Turkevich synthesis of gold nanoparticles
Authors: Méndez Eduardo , Fagúndez Pablo , Sosa Paola , Gutiérrez María Victoria , Botasini Santiago
Published: October 2020

Turkevich method is one of the most employed techniques to synthesize gold nanoparticles. Despite its simplicity, the mechanism has been an issue of debate over the past years. The general belief is that particles are formed by a classical nucleation and growth theory, originally described by LaMer’s model. In the present work, we provide new experimental evidences that supports either LaMer’s theory and their detractors. In the former model, it is proposed that particles are generated by a burst nucleation form the initial ‘seeds’, from which their growth in a second and quasi-independent step. Instead, our experiments (DLS, UV/VIS and TEM measurements) support the idea that nanoparticles ‘seeds’ tend to form large intermediate clusters at the beginning of the synthesis, that afterwards disassemble to yield the final nanoparticles. However, unlike other reports, we propose that during the cluster formation the particles do not coalesce, instead they come close to each other without losing their identity. As the synthesis continues, these clusters are progressively separated into the final particles. As a consequence, a path to synthesize ultra-narrow size nanoparticles is provided, along with their stability against salt aggregation, and shelf-time. We found that these ultra-homogeneous nanoparticles are stable for several months, making them suitable for many applications in the biomedical and analytical research.
Symmetry induced phonon renormalization in few layers of 2H-MoTe2 transistors: Raman and first-principles studies
Authors: Das Subhadip , Debnath Koyendrila , Chakraborty Biswanath , Singh Anjali , Grover Shivani , Muthu D V S , Waghmare U V , Sood A K
Published: October 2020

Understanding of electron–phonon coupling (EPC) in two-dimensional (2D) materials manifesting as phonon renormalization is essential to their possible applications in nanoelectronics. Here we report in situ Raman measurements of electrochemically top-gated 2, 3 and 7 layered 2H-MoTe2 channel based field-effect transistors. While the

E

2
g

1

and B2g
phonon modes exhibit frequency softening and linewidth broadening with hole doping concentration (p) up to ∼2.3 × 1013/cm2, A1g
shows relatively small frequency hardening and linewidth sharpening. The dependence of frequency renormalization of the

E

2
g

1

mode on the number of layers in these 2D crystals confirms that hole doping occurs primarily in the top two layers, in agreement with recent predictions. We present first-principles density functional theory analysis of bilayer MoTe2 that qualitatively captures our observations, and explain that a relatively stronger coupling of holes with

E

2
g

1

or B2g
modes as compared with the A1g
mode originates from the in-plane orbital character and symmetry of the states at valence band maximum. The contrast between the manifestation of EPC in monolayer MoS2 and those observed here in a few-layered MoTe2 demonstrates the role of the symmetry of phonons and electronic states in determining the EPC in these isostructural systems.
Optimizing laser–plasma interactions for ion acceleration using particle-in-cell simulations and evolutionary algorithms
Authors: Smith Joseph R , Orban Chris , Morrison John T , George Kevin M , Ngirmang Gregory K , Chowdhury Enam A , Roquemore W Mel
Published: October 2020

The development of ultra-intense laser-based sources of high energy ions is an important goal, with a variety of potential applications. One of the barriers to achieving this goal is the need to maximize the conversion efficiency from laser energy to ion energy. We apply a new approach to this problem, in which we use an evolutionary algorithm to optimize conversion efficiency by exploring variations of the target density profile with thousands of one-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. We then compare this ‘optimal’ target identified by the one-dimensional PIC simulations to more conventional choices, such as with an exponential scale length pre-plasma, with fully three-dimensional PIC simulations. The optimal target outperforms the conventional targets in terms of maximum ion energy by 20% and show a noticeable enhancement of conversion efficiency to >2 MeV ions. This target geometry enhances laser coupling to the electrons, while still allowing the laser to strongly reflect from an effectively thin target. These results underscore the potential for this statistics-driven approach to guide research into optimizing laser–plasma simulations and experiments.
Absorbing-state transition in a coevolution model with node and link states in an adaptive network: network fragmentation transition at criticality
Authors: Saeedian Meghdad , San Miguel Maxi , Toral Raul
Published: October 2020

We consider a general model in which there is a coupled dynamics of node states and link states in a network. This coupled dynamics coevolves with dynamical changes of the topology of the network caused by a link rewiring mechanism. Such coevolution model features the interaction of the local dynamics of node and link states with the nonlocal dynamics of link rewiring in a random network. The coupled dynamics of the states of the nodes and the links produces by itself an absorbing phase transition which is shown to be robust against the link rewiring mechanism. However, the dynamics of the network gives rise to significant physical changes, specially in the limit in which some links do not change state but are always rewired. Firstly a network fragmentation occurs at the critical line of the absorbing-state transition, and only at this line, so that fragmentation is a manifestation of criticality. Secondly, in the active phase of the absorbing-state transition, finite-size fluctuations take the system to a single network component consensus phase, while other configurations are possible in the absence of rewiring. In addition, this phase is reached after a survival time that scales linearly with system size, while the survival time scales exponentially with system size when there is no rewiring. A social interpretation of our results contribute to the description of processes of emergence of social fragmentation and polarization.
A narrow window of summer temperatures associated with shrub growth in Arctic Alaska
Authors: Andreu-Hayles Laia , Gaglioti Benjamin V , Berner Logan T , Levesque Mathieu , Anchukaitis Kevin J , Goetz Scott J , D’Arrigo Rosanne
Published: October 2020

Warming in recent decades has triggered shrub expansion in Arctic and alpine tundra, which is transforming these temperature-limited ecosystems and altering carbon and nutrient cycles, fire regimes, permafrost stability, land-surface climate-feedbacks, and wildlife habitat. Where and when Arctic shrub expansion happens in the future will depend in part on how different shrub communities respond to warming air temperatures. Here, we analyze a shrub ring-width network of 18 sites consisting of Salix spp. and Alnus viridis growing across the North Slope of Alaska (68–71°N; 164–149°W) to assess shrub temperature sensitivity and compare radial growth patterns with satellite NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) data since 1982. Regardless of site conditions and taxa, all shrubs shared a common year-to-year growth variability and had a positive response to daily maximum air temperatures (Tmax) from ca. May 31 (i.e. Tmax ∼6 °C) to early July (i.e. Tmax ∼12 °C), two-thirds of which were significant correlations. Thus, the month of June had the highest shrub growth-temperature sensitivity. This period coincides with the seasonal increase in temperature and phenological green up on the North Slope indicated by both field observations and the seasonal cycle of NDVI (a proxy of photosynthetic activity). Nearly all of the sampled shrubs (98%) initiated their growth after 1960, with 74% initiated since 1980. This post-1980 shrub-recruitment pulse coincided with ∼2 °C warmer June temperatures compared to prior periods, as well as with positive trends in shrub basal area increments and peak summer NDVI. Significant correlations between shrub growth and peak summer NDVI indicate these radial growth patterns in shrubs reflect tundra productivity at a broader scale and that tundra vegetation on the North Slope of Alaska underwent a greening trend between 1980 and 2012.
Pan American interactions of Amazon precipitation, streamflow, and tree growth extremes
Authors: Stahle D W , Torbenson M C A , Howard I M , Granato-Souza D , Barbosa A C , Feng S , Schöngart J , Lopez L , Villalba R , Villanueva J , Fernandes K
Published: October 2020

Rainfall and river levels in the Amazon are associated with significant precipitation anomalies of opposite sign in temperate North and South America, which is the dominant mode of precipitation variability in the Americas that often arises during extremes of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This co-variability of precipitation extremes across the Americas is imprinted on tree growth and is detected when new tree-ring chronologies from the eastern equatorial Amazon are compared with hundreds of moisture-sensitive tree-ring chronologies in mid-latitude North and South America from 1759 to 2016. Pan-American co-variability exists even though the seasonality of precipitation and tree growth only partially overlaps between the Amazon and mid-latitudes because ENSO forcing of climate can persist for multiple seasons and can orchestrate a coherent response, even where the growing seasons are not fully synchronized. The tree-ring data indicate that the El Niño influence on inter-hemispheric precipitation and tree growth extremes has been strong and stable over the past 258-years, but the La Niña influence has been subject to large multi-decadal changes. These changes have implications for the dynamics and forecasting of hydroclimatic variability over the Americas and are supported by analyses of the available instrumental data and selected climate model simulations.
Impacts of COVID-19-related social distancing measures on personal environmental sound exposures
Authors: Smith Lauren M , Wang Linyan , Mazur Kuba , Carchia Michael , DePalma Glen , Azimi Reza , Mravca Samantha , Neitzel Richard L
Published: October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has created substantial and dynamic disruptions in society, personal behavior, and potentially chronic sound exposures, which are associated with hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, and other health impacts. Leveraging preliminary data from our unique nationwide Apple Hearing Study, we explored changes in personal sound exposures resulting from COVID-19-related social distancing. Volunteer participants opted to share environmental sound data from their Apple Watch and headphone sound data from their iPhone. Participants for this analysis were chosen from four states which exhibited diverse responses to COVID-19. Equivalent continuous average sound exposures (in A-weighted decibels, dBA) were computed per person-day and normalized to 8 hour LEX8h exposures. Daily mean LEX8h exposures across two time periods, a baseline period (before the first known US COVID-19 death at the time of analysis) and an intervention period (starting with each state’s first COVID-related public health social distancing announcement and ending on April 22, 2020) were defined to assess changes in sound exposure. We modeled sound levels across 5,894 participants and 516,729 monitored days using a linear mixed-effects model with random effects for participant. The overall reduction in LEX8h between baseline and intervention was 2.6 ± 0.05 dBA (mean ± SE). There was a significant day-of-week effect during the baseline period, with the lowest exposures on Monday and the highest on Saturday. This effect was not noted during the intervention period. COVID-19 social distancing measures were associated with an approximately 3 dBA reduction in personal environmental sound exposures; this represents a substantial and meaningful reduction in this harmful exposure. Our analysis demonstrates the utility of everyday use devices in detecting behavior and exposure changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the usefulness of longitudinal, large-scale characterization of personal exposures and health impacts using wearable technology.
Dimethyl Ether (DME) and DME/LPG mixtures resistance characteristics of modified natural rubber compounds
Authors: Handayani H , Cifriadi A , Ramadhan A , Falaah A F , Hermawan N , Yuliarita E
Published: October 2020

The use of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Indonesia is quite high, the volume reaches 6.7 million tons per year. Indonesia currently still imports 70% of its domestic consumption of LPG, or about IDR 40 trillion. Imports of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) continues to increase every year. Dimethyl ether (DME) is one alternative to renewable fuels because its availability in the country is quite abundant. When DME applied as household fuels, some components such as metals and rubber should include resistance to DME, such as stoves, rubber hoses, rubber components in regulators and tube valves. Lemigas has succeeded in developing a DME resistant stove but still not found a rubber that is resistant to DME. This research aims to find a natural rubber formula that is resistant to DME and DME / LPG mixture. The study was conducted by varying the dose of sulphur (0.5, 1.5, and 3.5 phr) using 2 types of elastomer, Natural Rubber (NR) and Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR). Immersion was carried out in DME and 3 variations of the DME/LPG mixture (10/90, 20/80, 30/70). The results showed that the compound formula using natural rubber with a sulphur dose of 1.5 phr has the best resistance to DME and DME/LPG mixtures.
Assessment of a pharmacy technician medication history program
Authors: Baker Danielle E , Hollinger Meredith K , Mieure Katherine D
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To determine the percentage of unintentional prior-to-admission (PTA) medication list discrepancies captured by second-source verification.

Methods

A prospective, randomized, controlled intervention was conducted on all patients admitted to a large academic medical center with a PTA medication list completed by a pharmacy technician from December 2018 through January 2019. Excluded patients included those admitted as observation status or discharged prior to the time of second-source verification. The following data was collected: patient’s medical record number, age, admission date and time, service admitted to, date and time of completed PTA medication list, date and time of second-source verification, type of second-source verification, medication name, dose, route, frequency, formulation, and confidence level of pharmacy technician completing the initial PTA medication list. Second-source verification was conducted on all medications from a patient’s PTA medication list after completion by a pharmacy technician.

Results

There were a total of 992 medications from the 200 randomly assigned patients with a completed PTA medication list by a pharmacy technician during the study time frame. Of these medications, 116 (11.7%) contained a discrepancy identified by second-source verification. The most common type of discrepancy was omission (67%) followed by dosing, frequency, and formulation. The median time to complete second-source verification was 9 minutes (interquartile range, 5-17 minutes).

Conclusion

Second-source verification at the time of hospital admission helps identify medication discrepancies and may improve medication use safety and prescribing pattern and, accordingly, may contribute to reducing medication errors.
Personality does not predict individual niche variation in a freshwater fish
Authors: Kerr Nicky R , Ingram Travis
Published: October 2020

Animal populations can exhibit considerable interindividual variation in both behavioral traits and niche use, but the potential connections between these characteristics are rarely compared for the same individuals. We aimed to test whether behavioral syndromes were predictive of individual diet or microhabitat in a native New Zealand freshwater fish, Gobiomorphus cotidianus. We carried out laboratory behavioral assays and repeated habitat and diet measurements in a seminatural mesocosm system. We found considerable repeatability in individual behavior, largely consistent with a proactive/reactive behavioral syndrome. We also found modest individual repeatability in microhabitat use and relatively strong individual specialization in diet. However, no measure of niche use in the mesocosms was significantly predicted by individual personality. Further studies of this type will be needed to assess whether links between individual behavior and resource use are more important in other species or ecological contexts.
Laryngeal Chemoreflex in Health and Disease: A Review
Authors: Pathak Shivani , Slovarp Laurie , Clary Matthew S , Jetté Marie E
Published: October 2020

The larynx plays a key role in airway protection via the laryngeal chemoreflex (LCR). This involuntary reflex can be evoked when hazardous substances activate mucosal receptors, which send signals to be processed within the brainstem. Although the LCR is meant to be protective, the reflex can become hyperstimulated, even to benign stimuli, which can result in pathological disorders, such as chronic cough and inducible laryngeal obstruction. In this review, we will outline the mechanism of the LCR and its associated pathological disorders.
Theory of Mind (ToM) Development in Thai Deaf Children
Authors: Siriattakul Parinya , Suttiwan Panrapee , Slaughter Virginia , Peterson Candida C
Published: October 2020

This study explored theory of mind (ToM) development in school-aged deaf children. To address new questions, we gave a standard, well-controlled false-belief test to a large (n = 200) sample of severely-to-profoundly deaf children aged 8–15 years in a non-Western culture (Thailand). There were 190 deaf children of hearing parents and 10 deaf native signers with signing deaf parents, consistent with overall population ratios. Comparing our Thai sample’s ToM performance on standard tests of false-belief understanding with that reported in past studies, our results showed a 67% ToM success rate for Thai severely-to-profoundly deaf children of hearing parents similar to collective findings from past research on smaller samples in Australia, Estonia, France, Great Britain, Sweden, and the United States. Our Thai deaf native signers likewise performed equivalently to native signers of similar age studied in past research in Australia and the United States. Collectively, the detailed findings of our study suggest promising new directions for future studies to pursue in order to build upon this novel and theoretically provocative evidence about how ToM development and ToM delay unfold for school-aged deaf children growing up in varied cultures, school settings, and family circumstances.
Explaining Ethnic Violence: On the Relevance of Geographic, Social, Economic, and Political Factors in Hate Crimes on Refugees
Authors: Liebe Ulf , Schwitter Nicole
Published: October 2020

Many Western societies experience recurring patterns of violence against ethnic minorities, immigrants, refugees, and other asylum seekers, making it important to better understand which conditions increase (or decrease) the likelihood of hate crimes. In this article, we test the relevance of different geographic, social, economic, and political conditions for attacks on refugees. To this end, we conduct an event-history analysis for Germany between 2014 and 2017, when Germany experienced a sharp rise and subsequent decline in assaults on refugees with up to 142 personal and miscellaneous (such as assaults and insults) and 11 arson attacks on refugee homes and refugees per week. We analyse these incidents at the district level and derive hypotheses from theoretical considerations on geographic proximity, social similarity, political opportunity structures, competition for resources, opportunities of contact with foreigners, and differences between East and West Germany. Irrespective of the type of attack, the results of Cox regression models support our theoretical reasoning on diffusion processes, geographical proximity, and the contact hypothesis. There is no support for the model-adopter similarity and competition-for-resources hypothesis. The type of violence matters with regard to the importance of political opportunity structures and differences between East and West Germany. Our findings show the importance of differentiating between different types of violence and accounting for the context-dependency of ethnic violence for future research.
Visual Acuity in the Flying Snake, Chrysopelea paradisi
Authors: Zamore Shaz A , Araujo Nicole , Socha John J
Published: October 2020

Synopsis

Visual control during high-speed aerial locomotion requires a visual system adapted for such behaviors. Flying snakes (genus: Chrysopelea) are capable of gliding at speeds up to 11 m s− 1 and perform visual assessments before take-off. Investigating mechanisms of visual control requires a closed-loop experimental system, such as immersive virtual arenas. To characterize vision in the flying snake Chrysopelea paradisi, we used digitally reconstructed models of the head to determine a 3D field of vision. We also used optokinetic drum experiments and compared slow-phase optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) speeds to calculate visual acuity, and conducted preliminary experiments to determine whether snakes would respond to closed-loop virtual stimuli. Visual characterization showed that C. paradisi likely has a large field of view (308.5 ± 6.5° azimuthal range), with a considerable binocular region (33.0 ± 11.0° azimuthal width) that extends overhead. Their visual systems are broadly tuned and motion-sensitive, with mean peak OKN response gains of 0.50 ± 0.11, seen at 46.06 ± 11.08 Hz, and a low spatial acuity, with mean peak gain of 0.92 ± 0.41, seen at 2.89 ± 0.16 cycles per degree (cpd). These characteristics were used to inform settings in an immersive virtual arena, including frame rate, brightness, and stimulus size. In turn, the immersive virtual arena was used to reproduce the optokinetic drum experiments. We elicited OKN in open-loop experiments, with a mean gain of 0.21 ± 0.9, seen at 0.019 ± 6 × 10−5 cpd and 1.79 ± 0.01 Hz. In closed-loop experiments, snakes did not exhibit OKN, but held the image fixed, indicating visual stabilization. These results demonstrate that C. paradisi responds to visual stimuli in a digital virtual arena. The accessibility and adaptability of the virtual setup make it suitable for future studies of visual control in snakes and other animals in an unconstrained setting.
Experimental Infection of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) With Bourbon Virus (Orthomyxoviridae: Thogotovirus)
Authors: Godsey Marvin S , Rose Dominic , Burkhalter Kristin L , Breuner Nicole , Bosco-Lauth Angela M , Kosoy Olga I , Savage Harry M
Published: October 2020

Following the recent discovery of Bourbon virus (BRBV) as a human pathogen, and the isolation of the virus from Amblyomma americanum (L.) collected near the location of a fatal human case, we undertook a series of experiments to assess the laboratory vector competence of this tick species for BRBV. Larval ticks were infected using an immersion technique, and transstadial transmission of virus to the nymphal and then to the adult stages was demonstrated. Transstadially infected nymphs transmitted virus to adult ticks at very high rates during cofeeding, indicating the presence of infectious virus in the saliva of engorging ticks. Vertical transmission by transstadially infected females to their progeny occurred, but at a low rate. Rabbits fed on by infected ticks of all active life stages developed high titers of antibody to the virus, demonstrating host exposure to BRBV antigens/live virus during tick blood feeding. These results demonstrate that A. americanum is a competent vector of BRBV and indicate that cofeeding could be critical for enzootic maintenance.
Phylogenetic Network of Mitochondrial COI Gene Sequences Distinguishes 10 Taxa Within the Neotropical Albitarsis Group (Diptera: Culicidae), Confirming the Separate Species Status of Anopheles albitarsis H (Diptera: Culicidae) and Revealing a Novel Lineage, Anopheles albitarsis J
Authors: Motoki Maysa T , Linton Yvonne-Marie , Conn Jan E , Ruiz-Lopez Fredy , Wilkerson Richard C
Published: October 2020

The Neotropical Albitarsis Group is a complex assemblage of essentially isomorphic species which currently comprises eight recognized species—five formally described (Anopheles albitarsis Lynch-Arribalzaga, An. deaneorum Rosa-Freitas, An. janconnae Wilkerson and Sallum, An. marajoara Galvao and Damasceno, An. oryzalimnetes Wilkerson and Motoki) and three molecularly assigned (An. albitarsis F, G & I)—and one mitochondrial lineage (An. albitarsis H). To further explore species recognition within this important group, 658 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) were analyzed from 988 specimens from South America. We conducted statistical parsimony network analysis, generated estimates of haplotype, nucleotide, genetic differentiation, divergence time, and tested the effect of isolation by distance (IBD). Ten clusters were identified, which confirmed the validity of the eight previously determined species, and confirmed the specific status of the previous mitochondrial lineage An. albitarsis H. High levels of diversity were highlighted in two samples from Pará (= An. albitarsis J), which needs further exploration through additional sampling, but which may indicate another cryptic species. The highest intra-specific nucleotide diversity was observed in An. deaneorum, and the lowest in An. marajoara. Significant correlation between genetic and geographical distance was observed only in An. oryzalimnetes and An. albitarsis F. Divergence time within the Albitarsis Group was estimated at 0.58–2.25 Mya, during the Pleistocene. The COI barcode region was considered an effective marker for species recognition within the Albitarsis Group and a network approach was an analytical method to discriminate among species of this group.
Monte Carlo simulations of fast Newtonian and mildly relativistic shock breakout from a stellar wind
Authors: Ito Hirotaka , Levinson Amir , Nakar Ehud
Published: October 2020

Strong explosion of a compact star surrounded by a thick stellar wind drives a fast (>0.1c) radiation mediated shock (RMS) that propagates in the wind, and ultimately breaks out gradually once photons start escaping from the shock transition layer. In exceptionally strong or aspherical explosions, the shock velocity may even be relativistic. The properties of the breakout signal depend on the dynamics and structure of the shock during the breakout phase. Here we present, for the first time, spectra and light curves of the breakout emission of fast Newtonian and mildly relativistic shocks, that were calculated using self-consistent Monte Carlo simulations of finite RMS with radiative losses. We find a strong dependence of the νFν peak on shock velocity, ranging from ∼1 keV for vs/c = 0.1 to ∼100 keV for vs/c = 0.5, with a shift to lower energies as losses increase. For all cases studied the spectrum below the peak exhibits a nearly flat component (Fν ∼ ν0) that extends down to the break frequency below which absorption becomes important. This implies much bright optical/ultraviolet emission than hitherto expected. The computed light curves show a gradual rise over tens to hundreds of seconds for representative conditions. The application to SN 2008D/XRT 080109 and the detectability limits are also discussed. We predict a detection rate of about one per year with eROSITA.
Disability Rating Scale in the First Few Weeks After a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury as a Predictor of 6-Month Functional Outcome
Authors: Yamal Jose-Miguel , Aisiku Imoigele P , Hannay H Julia , Brito Frances A , Robertson Claudia S
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

An early acute marker of long-term neurological outcome would be useful to help guide clinical decision making and therapeutic effectiveness after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). We investigated the utility of the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) as early as 1 wk after TBI as a predictor of favorable 6-mo Glasgow Outcome Scale extended (GOS-E).

OBJECTIVE

To determine the predictability of a favorable 6-mo GOS-E using the DRS measured during weeks 1 to 4 of injury.

METHODS

The study is a sub analysis of patients enrolled in the Epo Severe TBI Trial (n = 200) to train and validate L1-regularized logistic regression models. DRS was collected at weeks 1 to 4 and GOS-E at 6 mo.

RESULTS

The average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.82 for the model with baseline demographic and injury severity variables and week 1 DRS and increased to 0.88 when including weekly DRS until week 4.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that week 1 to 4 DRS may be predictors of favorable 6-mo outcome in severe TBI patients and thus useful both for clinical prognostication as well as surrogate endpoints for adaptive clinical trials.
The Normative Complexity of Private SecurityBeyond Legal Regulation and Stigmatization
Authors: Noortmann Math , Koning Juliette
Published: October 2020

This chapter discusses the normative complexity of private security. It formulates a critique of the stigmatization of private security companies and of the emphasis in the literature on the limitations of legal regulation, highlighting the role of self-regulation in the form of corporate ethics and (international) branch standards. Based on a review of scholarly literature, (inter)national cases, and examples from fieldwork in South Africa, the chapter captures the growing plurality of actors and voices in a vastly diversifying private security sector. In order to overcome the traditional bias regarding private security and its corporate sector, the authors advocate an organizational anthropological approach to uncover regulatory alternatives and the ethical and normative diversity that is essential to a comprehensive understanding of the privatization of security.
Anthropology, Law, and EmpireFoundations in Context
Authors: Chanock Martin
Published: October 2020

The chapter describes the history of the anthropology of law from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. It shows how legal anthropologists failed to foreground the profound economic changes brought about by imperialism, especially the impact of markets for labour and goods, along with the consequent legal individualization. It places the development of the discipline of legal anthropology firmly within the context of imperial rule, emphasizing the centrality of the fact that the subjects of study were also subjected to empires. Situated within this context, legal anthropology shared imperial governments’ agenda of searching indigenous legal systems for modes of authority and for rule-based law. Even as it cast aside its early racist and evolutionist premises, the discipline’s new functionalist methodology, because it was not attuned to recognizing and analysing change, failed to understand how new ideas about property and coercive marketization were affecting the legal worlds of imperial subjects.
Correlation Between Gut Microbiome Composition and Acute Pain Perception in Young Healthy Male Subjects
Authors: Shiro Yukiko , Arai Young-Chang , Ikemoto Tatsunori , Ueda Wasa , Ushida Takahiro
Published: October 2020

Objective

Recently, there has been growing interest in the gut–brain axis because it is emerging as a player influencing the health status of the host human. It is a known fact that the gut microbiome (GM) through the gut–brain axis has been implicated in numerous diseases. We previously reported that stool condition was associated with pain perception. Stool consistency and constipation are known to be associated with GM composition. Thus, we imagine that GM composition could influence pain perception. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between GM composition and pain perception and psychological states in young healthy male subjects.

Subjects

A total of 42 healthy young male volunteers completed the present study.

Methods

The volunteers’ pain perceptions were assessed by pressure pain threshold, current perception threshold, temporal summation of pain, and conditioned pain modulation, and a questionnaire on psychological state was obtained. During the current perception threshold examination, we used 5, 250, and 2,000 Hz to stimulate C, Aδ, and Aβ fibers. In addition, GM composition was evaluated by using 16S rRNA analysis.

Results

Pressure pain threshold showed a significant and negative correlation with Bacteroidetes phylum, in contrast to a significant and positive correlation with Firmicutes phylum. Current perception threshold of Aδ and Firmicutes phylum showed a significant correlation. There was a negative correlation between anxiety state and Bifidobacterium genus. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between psychological states and pain perceptions.

Conclusion

The present study showed that acute pain perception was associated with GM composition in young healthy males.
Amino acid digestibility coefficient values of animal protein meals with dietary protease for broiler chickens
Authors: Bertechini Antonio G , de Carvalho Júlio C C , Carvalho Andressa C , Dalolio Felipe S , Sorbara Jose O B
Published: October 2020

A digestibility experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary exogenous monocomponent protease on the coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and coefficient apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids in meat and bones meal (MBM), poultry byproducts meal (PBPM), and feather meal (FM). A total of 512 Cobb-500 male broiler chickens (aged 14 d) were randomly placed into 64 metabolism cages (8 birds per pen) and were allocated to eight treatments with eight replicates in a semi-controlled environmental room. The experimental diets consisted of the basal diet (corn/SBM) and the replacement of 300 g/kg on a weight basis with MBM, PBPM, or FM. The excreta were collected during 3 d (19 to 21 d), and the ileal digesta (using Celite as an indigestible marker) only 1 d (21 d). The protease contained 75,000 PROT units/g. The use of the enzyme increased (P < 0.05) ATTD for alanine, cysteine, glycine, and threonine in the basal diet and AID for the amino acids alanine, cysteine, glycine, lysine, threonine, and valine for the basal diet (vegetable). Regarding meals, there was an increase (P < 0.05) in the amino acid digestibility in large part due to the amino acids of MBM (14) and PBPM (9), with only five amino acids for FM. The amino acids glycine and threonine showed increases (P < 0.05) in both total and ileal digestibility for all animal meals and for the diet based on corn and soybean meal, which indicates a high specificity of the enzyme for these amino acids. The overall results obtained in this study found satisfactory effectiveness of this exogenous protease. The total collection method was lower by 1.83% of amino acids digestibility than the ileal method.
A Bayesian Method for Population-wide Cardiotoxicity Hazard and Risk Characterization Using an In Vitro Human Model
Authors: Blanchette Alexander D , Burnett Sarah D , Grimm Fabian A , Rusyn Ivan , Chiu Weihsueh A
Published: October 2020

Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes are an established model for testing potential chemical hazards. Interindividual variability in toxicodynamic sensitivity has also been demonstrated in vitro; however, quantitative characterization of the population-wide variability has not been fully explored. We sought to develop a method to address this gap by combining a population-based iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte model with Bayesian concentration-response modeling. A total of 136 compounds, including 54 pharmaceuticals and 82 environmental chemicals, were tested in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from 43 nondiseased humans. Hierarchical Bayesian population concentration-response modeling was conducted for 5 phenotypes reflecting cardiomyocyte function or viability. Toxicodynamic variability was quantified through the derivation of chemical- and phenotype-specific variability factors. Toxicokinetic modeling was used for probabilistic in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation to derive population-wide margins of safety for pharmaceuticals and margins of exposure for environmental chemicals. Pharmaceuticals were found to be active across all phenotypes. Over half of tested environmental chemicals showed activity in at least one phenotype, most commonly positive chronotropy. Toxicodynamic variability factor estimates for the functional phenotypes were greater than those for cell viability, usually exceeding the generally assumed default of approximately 3. Population variability-based margins of safety for pharmaceuticals were correctly predicted to be relatively narrow, including some below 10; however, margins of exposure for environmental chemicals, based on population exposure estimates, generally exceeded 1000, suggesting they pose little risk at current general population exposures even to sensitive subpopulations. Overall, this study demonstrates how a high-throughput, human population-based, in vitro-in silico model can be used to characterize toxicodynamic population variability in cardiotoxic risk.
L’arbitrabilité objective de l’acte uniforme relatif à l’arbitrage OHADA : étude holistique
Authors: Sossou Biadja Cassius Jean
Published: October 2020

L’arbitrabilité est une notion qui peut paraître lourde et énigmatique, à première vue. Toutefois, la notion, faut-il le souligner, est polysémique. À raison de la détermination du champ d’application ratione personae de la convention d’arbitrage, elle vise à fixer la qualité des sujets du débat arbitral (on parle d’arbitrabilité subjective). En outre, à raison de la fixation de son champ d’application ratione materiae, il autorise à circonscrire les litiges susceptibles d’être traités par un arbitre (on parle d’arbitrabilité objective). S’il n’est point contesté que ce concept d’arbitrabilité constitue le socle de la compétence de l’arbitre, la compréhension de son mécanisme de fixation est essentielle pour la légitimation de son intervention. De ce point de vue, la lumière doit être faite, déjà en amont, sur sa conceptualisation afin d’éliminer les risques de mauvaise interprétation et de bien délimiter le champ d’application de la convention d’arbitrage.

En dépit du rôle important que ce concept joue dans l’arbitrage, le codificateur du droit commun de l’arbitrage OHADA, c’est-à-dire de l’Acte uniforme relatif au droit de l’arbitrage (AUA), lors de sa nouvelle révision, n’a pas saisi l’occasion de redéfinir sa portée, laissant ainsi toujours limité le cadre de la convention d’arbitrage. Ce faisant, en continuant par fonder le recours à l’arbitrage sur le critère de la libre disponibilité des droits en cause, et fort du monisme juridique qui s’applique à l’arbitrage selon l’AUA, cette norme n’exclut-elle pas de sa portée certaines catégories de rapports ayant un certain degré d’extranéité ? C’est à cette question fondamentale que la présente étude tente d’apporter les réponses idoines, eu égard à la teneur de l’article 2 alinéa 1er AUA soumis à une relecture à la fois critique et analytique, dans la perspective d’un arbitrage international.
‘Aulophyseter’rionegrensis(Cetacea: Odontoceti: Physeteroidea) from the Miocene of Patagonia (Argentina): a reappraisal
Authors: Paolucci Florencia , Fernández Marta S , Buono Mónica R , Cuitiño José I
Published: October 2020

The giant sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and the dwarf (Kogia sima) and pygmy (Kogia breviceps) sperm whales represent the only three extant species of physeteroids. This group has diversified during the Miocene, and the Miocene marine sediments of Patagonia (Argentina) hold one of the most important fossil records of physeteroids. In particular, ‘Aulophyseter’ rionegrensis (Gran Bajo del Gualicho Formation, Miocene), described based on two subcomplete skulls nearly a century ago, has been a problematic taxon because its generic assignation has been questioned in different works. Besides, recent phylogenetic analyses have also failed to recover the putative congeneric sister-group relationship between ‘A.’ rionegrensis and A. morricei (the type species). In this contribution, we re-describe ‘A.’ rionegrensis, evaluate its phylogenetic position and provide a taxonomic review of Aulophyseter. A detailed morphological comparison between ‘A.’ rionegrensis and A. morricei reveals several anatomical differences between them. Phylogenetic analyses recover ‘A.’ rionegrensis as a crown physeteroid, nested within Physeteridae, but not closely related to A. morricei. We provide the new generic name Cozzuoliphyseter gen. nov. for its reception. A preliminary re-assessment of material previously referred to Aulophyseter indicates that A. mediatlanticus, and also historical material of A. morricei, need to be reviewed.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Accessory Rod Position, Rod Material and Diameter, Use of Cross-connectors, and Anterior Column Support in a Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy Model
Authors: Gelb Daniel E. , Tareen Jarid , Jazini Ehsan , Ludwig Steven C. , Harris Jonathan A. , Amin Dhara B. , Wang Wenhai , Van Horn Margaret R. , Patel Pavan D. , Mirabile Belin A. , Bucklen Brandon S.
Published: October 2020

Study Design.

In silico finite element study.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of six construct factors on apical rod strain in an in silico pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) model: traditional inline and alternative Ames-Deviren-Gupta (ADG) multi-rod techniques, number of accessory rods (three- vs. four-rod), rod material (cobalt-chrome [CoCr] or stainless steel [SS] vs. titanium [Ti]), rod diameter (5.5 vs. 6.35 mm), and use of cross-connectors (CC), or anterior column support (ACS).

Summary of Background Data.

Rod fracture following lumbar PSO is frequently reported. Clinicians may modulate reconstructs with multiple rods, rod position, rod material and diameter, and with CC or ACS to reduce mechanical demand or rod contouring. A comprehensive evaluation of these features on rod strain is lacking.

Methods.

A finite element model (T12–S1) with intervertebral discs and ligaments was created and validated with cadaveric motion data. Apical rod strain of primary and accessory rods was collected for 96 constructs across all six construct factors, and normalized to the Ti two-rod control.

Results.

Regardless of construct features, CoCr and SS material reduced strain across all rods by 49.1% and 38.1%, respectively; increasing rod diameter from 5.5 mm to 6.35 mm rods reduced strain by 32.0%. Use of CC or lumbosacral ACS minimally affected apical rod strain (<2% difference from constructs without CC or ACS). Compared to the ADG technique, traditional inline reconstruction reduced primary rod strain by 32.2%; however, ADG primary rod required 14.2° less rod contouring. The inline technique produced asymmetrical loading between left and right rods, only when three rods were used.

Conclusion.

The number of rods and position of accessory rods affected strain distribution on posterior fixation. Increasing rod diameter and using CoCr rods was most effective in reducing rod strain. Neither CC nor lumbosacral ACS affected apical rod strain.

Level of Evidence: N/A
Responsiveness of the PROMIS-29 Scales in Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Khutok Kornkanok , Janwantanakul Prawit , Jensen Mark P. , Kanlayanaphotporn Rotsalai
Published: October 2020

Study Design.

Prospective cohort study.

Objective.

To evaluate responsiveness and estimate the minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 (PROMIS-29) scales in individuals with chronic low back pain.

Summary of Background Data.

The PROMIS-29 questionnaire assesses seven health-related quality-of-life domains. However, research to evaluate the responsiveness and MCIDs of the PROMS-29 scores in individuals with low back pain is limited.

Methods.

The study was conducted in physical therapy clinics in Thailand, using validated Thai versions of the study measures. One hundred and eighty-three individuals with chronic low back pain completed the PROMIS-29 at baseline and at 4-weeks follow-up. Perceived change in each domain assessed by the PROMIS-29 scales was assessed at 4 weeks using a 7-point measure of Global Perceived Effect (GPE). Responsiveness of the PROMIS-29 scale scores was evaluated by examining the effect sizes, the standardized response means (SRMs) for change over time, and examining these as a function of the GPE ratings. MCIDs for the scales were estimated by computing a half a standard deviation (SD) and standard error of measurement statistic for each scale.

Results.

The mean change scores, effect sizes, and SRMs increased as a function of the GPE ratings. Significant differences in change scores between those who reported that they were very much improved and those who did not improve were found for the PROMIS-29 Pain Intensity, Physical Function, and Anxiety scales. The correlations between changes scores and GPE ratings were mostly weak in magnitude. The MCID estimates computed as 0.50 of a SD unit and as a standard error of measurement showed similar values.

Conclusion.

The PROMIS-29 scale scores assessing pain intensity, physical function, and anxiety evidenced the most responsivity in the study sample. The results, when considered in light of the findings from other investigators, support 5.0 points as a reasonable MCID for most of the PROMIS-29 scales. Further studies are needed to determine the generalizability of the findings.

Level of Evidence: 2
Complication Events After Spinal Surgery Performed by American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Part II Candidates (2008–2017)
Authors: Yeung Caleb M. , Schoenfeld Andrew J. , Kang James D. , Makhni Melvin C.
Published: October 2020

Study Design.

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective.

To evaluate complications following spine surgery using American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons (ABOS) Part II examination data from 2008 to 2017.

Summary of Background Data.

Recent research has demonstrated the importance of surgical experience and clinical volume in minimizing complications after spine surgery. This may be challenging for orthopedic spine surgeons who are just starting their practice.

Methods.

We performed a retrospective review of surgical cases submitted to the ABOS by candidates taking the Part II Spine examination between 2008 and 2017. Complications, including peri-operative mortality as reported by candidates to the ABOS, were tracked over time. Complications were classified as surgical or medical using a predefined algorithm. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses adjusting for confounders were used to assess rates of complications and mortality over time. All analyses controlled for biologic sex, age, surgical diagnosis, and surgical location.

Results.

A total of 37,539 spine surgical patients were analyzed, with an average of 3754 cases performed each year. Following adjusted Poisson analysis, we determined that cases in 2017 had an increased likelihood of complications when compared to those treated in 2008 (IRR 1.20; 95% CI 1.09, 1.32). Similar findings were encountered for surgical complications (IRR 1.20; 95% CI 1.07, 1.34). In contrast, spine surgical cases reported to the ABOS in 2017 had a 55% lower likelihood of mortality when compared to procedures performed in 2008 (IRR 0.45; 95% CI 0.24, 0.84; P = 0.01).

Conclusions.

Our analysis of ABOS Part II candidates demonstrates that reported complication rates may be increasing while mortality is decreasing. The etiologies behind these findings are likely multifactorial. Encouragingly, we believe that observed reductions in mortality suggest overall improvements in patient safety following spine surgery. At a minimum, our data provide benchmarks through which spine surgeons, hospitals, and residency or fellowship programs can evaluate performance.

Level of Evidence: 4