bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No evidence for an adaptive role of early molt into breeding plumage in a female fairy wren
Authors: Nolazco Sergio , Hall Michelle L , Kingma Sjouke A , Delhey Kaspar , Peters Anne
Published: November 2019

The evolution of ornaments as sexually selected signals is well understood in males, but female ornamentation remains understudied. Fairy wrens offer an excellent model system, given their complex social structure and mating systems, and the diversity of female ornamentation. We investigated whether early molt into ornamental breeding plumage plays an adaptive role in females of the monogamous purple-crowned fairy wren Malurus coronatus, the only fairy wren known to have female seasonal plumage. Using 6 years of monitoring, we found that the timing of female molt was similar to males, but there was no evidence for assortative mating. Like males (previous study), older and dominant individuals acquired their breeding plumage earlier; however, in contrast to males, early molt did not seem to be costly since unfavorable environmental conditions or previous reproductive effort did not delay molt. Early female molt was not associated with any indicator of reproductive quality nor did it attract additional offspring care by their partners. We also found no association between early molt and the likelihood of acquiring a dominant (breeding) position or with the presence or proximity to same-sex rivals. Our study results, which are similar to previous findings in conspecific males, suggest that directional selection for early molt might be relaxed in this species, in contrast to other genetically polygamous fairy wrens in which early molt predicts extrapair mating success in males. However, the finding that molt timing is status dependent raises the possibility that other attributes of the ornament may fulfill an adaptive function in females.
Politics and practices of inclusion: intersectional participatory action research
Authors: Wheeler Joanna , Shaw Jackie , Howard Jo
Published: November 2019

A politics of exclusion is gaining ground in the global North and South, actively excluding and delegitimizing certain groups. At the same time, in global policy discourse, such as the sustainable development goals, there is an increasing focus on inclusion of the most marginalized and a reduction of inequalities. This article explores the politics and practice of inclusion through grounded examples of intersectional participatory action research (PAR). It uses examples from South Africa and India to consider the added value of taking an intersectional approach to PAR. We trace how intersectionality in practice draws attention to hidden knowledge and experience, challenges discriminatory labels, and requires careful navigation between individual and group processes. We analyse the potential for PAR processes to enable groups to surface and acknowledge inequalities across difference. We propose that, through creative processes and iterative dialogue and reflection, exclusionary attitudes and discourses which undermine people’s agency can be challenged, and alternative, inclusive narratives may be constructed. Finally, we argue that this process is relevant to wider political debates.
Long-term follow-up after transatrial–transpulmonary repair of tetralogy of Fallot: influence of timing on outcome
Authors: van den Bosch Eva , Bogers Ad J J C , Roos-Hesselink Jolien W , van Dijk Arie P J , van Wijngaarden Marie H E J , Boersma Eric , Nijveld Aagje , Luijten Linda W G , Tanke Ronald , Koopman Laurens P , Helbing Willem A
Published: November 2019

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to report the long-term serial follow-up after transatrial–transpulmonary repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and to describe the influence of the timing of the repair on outcome.

METHODS

We included all patients with TOF who had undergone transatrial–transpulmonary repair between 1970 and 2012. Records were reviewed for patient demographics, operative details and events during the follow-up period (death, pulmonary valve replacement, cardiac reinterventions and hospitalization/intervention for arrhythmias). In patients with elective early primary repair of TOF after 1990, a subanalysis of the optimal timing of TOF repair was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 453 patients were included (63% male patients; 65% had transannular patch); 261 patients underwent primary elective repair after 1990. The median age at TOF repair was 0.7 years (25th–75th percentile 0.3–1.3) and decreased from 1.7 to 0.4 years from before 1990 to after 2000, respectively (P < 0.001). The median follow-up duration after TOF repair was 16.8 years (9.6–24.7). Events developed in 182 (40%) patients. In multivariable analysis, early repair of TOF (<6 months) [hazard ratio (HR) 3.06; P < 0.001] and complications after TOF repair (HR 2.18; P = 0.006) were found to be predictive for an event. In a subanalysis of the primary repair of TOF after 1990, the patients (n = 125) with elective early repair (<6 months) experienced significantly worse event-free survival compared to patients who had elective repair later (n = 136). In multivariable analysis, early repair (HR 3.00; P = 0.001) and postoperative complications (HR 2.12; P = 0.010) were associated with events in electively repaired patients with TOF.

CONCLUSIONS

Transatrial–transpulmonary repair of TOF before the age of 6 months may be associated with more events during the long-term follow-up period.
The Neues Kreuzberger Zentrum: Urban Planners, Property Developers and Fractious Left Politics in West Berlin, 1963–1974*
Authors: Verlaan Tim
Published: November 2019

During the early 1960s, elected officials and urban planners designated large swathes of West Berlin as redevelopment areas, most notably the district of Kreuzberg SO36. With the help of private developers, an underexamined group of stakeholders in urban planning, local residents were to be rehoused in spacious apartment blocks equipped with modern facilities. The construction history of the Neues Kreuzberger Zentrum housing complex is a classic yet understudied example of how public and private actors attempted to work together in the field of postwar urban planning. Soon after the plan was publicly announced, the public consensus on urban redevelopment altered. Criticism came from young professionals in the field of architecture and planning as well as neighbourhood action groups, who were eventually followed by public officials. This article investigates how and why the mood changed inside and outside the field of West German architecture and urban planning. Current historiography tends to neglect the role of private entrepreneurs in urban redevelopment efforts. By examining the politics leading up to the construction of the Neues Kreuzberger Zentrum, this article sheds a fresh light on the modus operandi of the West German welfare state on the local level and how it responded to bottom-up demands for democratization and transparency. The interaction between local authorities, commercial interests and the public is innovatively brought together into a single analytical framework by consulting a wide array of primary sources, most prominently articles by West Berlin’s alternative and mainstream press, architecture and planning journals and minutes from official meetings.
Aging Alters Cerebrovascular Endothelial GPCR and K+ Channel Function: Divergent Role of Biological Sex
Authors: Hakim Md A , Chum Phoebe P , Buchholz John N , Behringer Erik J
Published: November 2019

Age-related dementia entails impaired blood flow to and throughout the brain due, in part, to reduced endothelial nitric oxide signaling. However, it is unknown whether sex affects cerebrovascular Gq-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and K+ channels underlying endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH) during progressive aging. Thus, we simultaneously evaluated intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and membrane potential (Vm) of intact endothelial tubes freshly isolated from posterior cerebral arteries of young (4–6 mo), middle-aged (12–16 mo), and old (24–28 mo) male and female C57BL/6 mice. Purinergic receptor function (vs. muscarinic) was dominant and enhanced for [Ca2+]i increases in old females versus old males. However, Ca2+-sensitive K+ channel function as defined by NS309-evoked Vm hyperpolarization was mildly impaired in females versus males during old age. This sex-based contrast in declined function of GPCRs and K+ channels to produce EDH may support a greater ability for physiological endothelial GPCR function to maintain optimal cerebral blood flow in females versus males during old age. As reflective of the pattern of cerebral blood flow decline in human subjects, inward-rectifying K+ (KIR) channel function decreased with progressive age regardless of sex. Combined age-related analyses masked male versus female aging and, contrary to expectation, hydrogen peroxide played a minimal role. Altogether, we conclude a sex-based divergence in cerebrovascular endothelial GPCR and K+ channel function while highlighting a previously unidentified form of age-related endothelial dysfunction as reduced KIR channel function.
Weak palaeointensity results over a Pliocene volcanic sequence from Lesser Caucasus (Georgia): transitional record or time averaged field?
Authors: Sánchez-Moreno Elisa M , Calvo-Rathert Manuel , Goguitchaichvili Avto , Tauxe Lisa , Vashakidze George T , Lebedev Vladimir A
Published: November 2019

A palaeointensity study has been carried out on a Pliocene sequence of 20 consecutive lava flows where previous directional results seem to reflect anomalous behaviour of the Earth's magnetic field (EMF), which can be explained by a polarity transition record or non-averaged palaeosecular variation or both. Here, we perform a total of 55 palaeointensity determinations using the original Thellier–Thellier (TT) method and 100 with the IZZI method. We assess the performance of our selection criteria using a set of strict threshold values applied to a set of test data whose TRMs were acquired in known fields. Absolute palaeointensity determinations that passed our selection criteria were obtained on four specimens with the TT method and on 41 specimens with the IZZI method. Application of reliability criteria at a site level yielded palaeointensity results in 8 of 20 studied lava flows. We obtained median values of VADM between 28.9 and 45.6 ZAm2 for the reverse polarity lower Apnia section, while the normal polarity upper section displayed a single value of 54.6 ZAm2. The low palaeointensity values before a transitional direction lava flow and the higher value after it, suggest the common behaviour at the start of a polarity reversal and the recovery after it. However, an isolated record of a stable EMF, where the intensity is lower than the current for the same location (83.7 ZAm2), cannot be discarded. Consequently, this interpretation would support a weak time-averaged field.
Evaluating temporal stability of the New Zealand quasigeoid following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake using satellite radar remote sensing
Authors: McCubbine J C , Stagpoole V , Caratori Tontini F , Featherstone W E , Garthwaite M C , Brown N J , Amos M J , Fukuda Y , Kazama T , Takiguchi H , Nishijima J
Published: November 2019

Quasigeoid models can be determined from surface gravity anomalies, so are sensitive to changes in the shape of the topography as well as changes in gravity. Here we present results of forward modelling gravity/quasigeoid changes from synthetic aperture radar data following the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake with land uplift of up to 10 m. We assess the impact of the topographic deformation on the reference surface of the New Zealand vertical datum in lieu of costly field gravity field measurements. The most significant modelled gravity and quasigeoid changes are—2.9 mGal and 5–7 mm, respectively. We compare our forward modelled gravity signal to terrestrial gravity observation data and show that differences between the data sets have a standard deviation of ±0.1 mGal. The largest modelled change in the quasigeoid is an order of magnitude smaller than the 57.7 mm estimated precision of the most recently computed NZGeoid model over the Kaikōura region. Modelled quasigeoid changes implied by this particular deformation event are not statistically significant with respect to estimated precision of the New Zealand quasigeoid model.
A new method for absolute underground positioning based on transient electromagnetics
Authors: Malecki S , Börner R-U , Spitzer K
Published: November 2019

We present a procedure for localizing underground positions using a time-domain inductive electromagnetic (EM) method. The position to be localized is associated with an EM receiver placed inside the Earth. An EM field is generated by one or more transmitters located at known positions at the Earth’s surface. We then invert the EM field data for the receiver positions using a trust-region algorithm.

For any given time regime and source–receiver geometry, the propagation of the electromagnetic fields is determined by the electrical conductivity distribution within the Earth. We show that it is sufficient to use a simple 1-D model to recover the receiver positions with reasonable accuracy. Generally, we demonstrate the robustness of the presented approach.

Using confidence ellipses and confidence intervals we assess the accuracy of the recovered location data. The proposed method has been extensively tested against synthetic data obtained by numerical experiments. Furthermore, we have successfully carried out a location recovery using field data. The field data were recorded within a borehole in Alberta (Canada) at 101.4 m depth. The recovered location of the borehole receiver differs from the actual location by 0.70 m in the horizontal plane and by 0.82 m in depth.
Detection and lexicographic treatment of salient features in e-dictionaries for African languages1
Authors: Prinsloo D J
Published: November 2019

As for many e-dictionaries across the globe, e-dictionaries for African languages embarked on the unfortunate route of being ‘paper dictionaries on computer’ often simply enhanced with additional search features or simply by perpetuating the practice followed in paper dictionaries of compiling e-dictionaries which are just translated word lists. In this article it will be argued that e-dictionaries for African languages should firstly be compiled through maximum utilization of ‘true electronic’ features enabled by the computer era. Secondly, specific attention should be given to the salient features of the Bantu language family, taking Sepedi (Northern Sotho) as a case in point. Thirdly attention is given to the issue of dictionary survival in the information era and how innovative e-support systems can contribute to ensure that future dictionaries will remain the preferred point of departure for users for information retrieval.
Blake, bubbles and boundary element methods
Authors: Ohl Siew-Wan , Bin Md. Rahim Md Haiqal Haqim , Klaseboer Evert , Cheong Khoo Boo
Published: November 2019

Professor John Blake spent a considerable part of his scientific career on studying bubble dynamics and acoustic cavitation. As Blake was a mathematician, we will be focusing on the theoretical and numerical studies (and much less on experimental results). Rather than repeating what is essentially already known, we will try to present the results from a different perspective as much as possible. This review will also be of interest for readers who wish to know more about the boundary element method in general, which is a method often used by Blake and his colleagues to simulate bubbles. We will, however, not limit the discussion to bubble dynamics but try to give a broad discussion on recent advances and improvements to this method, especially for potential problems (Laplace) and wave equations (Helmholtz). Based on examples from Blake’s work, we will guide the reader and show some of the mysteries of bubble dynamics, such as why jets form in collapsing bubbles near rigid surfaces. Where appropriate, we will illustrate the concepts with examples drawn from numerical simulations and experiments.
Estimating the Global Prevalence, Disease Progression, and Clinical Outcome of Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection
Authors: Miao Zhijiang , Zhang Shaoshi , Ou Xumin , Li Shan , Ma Zhongren , Wang Wenshi , Peppelenbosch Maikel P , Liu Jiaye , Pan Qiuwei
Published: November 2019

Background

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) coinfects with hepatitis B virus (HBV) causing the most severe form of viral hepatitis. However, its exact global disease burden remains largely obscure. We aim to establish the global epidemiology, infection mode-stratified disease progression, and clinical outcome of HDV infection.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis with a random-effects model and performed data synthesis.

Results

The pooled prevalence of HDV is 0.80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63–1.00) among the general population and 13.02% (95% CI, 11.96–14.11) among HBV carriers, corresponding to 48–60 million infections globally. Among HBV patients with fulminant hepatitis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma, HDV prevalence is 26.75% (95% CI, 19.84–34.29), 25.77% (95% CI, 20.62–31.27), and 19.80% (95% CI, 10.97–30.45), respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of HDV infection among HBV patients with chronic liver disease compared with asymptomatic controls is 4.55 (95% CI, 3.65–5.67). Hepatitis delta virus-coinfected patients are more likely to develop cirrhosis than HBV-monoinfected patients with OR of 3.84 (95% CI, 1.79–8.24). Overall, HDV infection progresses to cirrhosis within 5 years and to hepatocellular carcinoma within 10 years, on average.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that HDV poses a heavy global burden with rapid progression to severe liver diseases, urging effective strategies for screening, prevention, and treatment.
Comparative Study of Imputation Algorithms Applied to the Prediction of Student Performance
Authors: Crespo-Turrado Concepción , Casteleiro-Roca José Luis , Sánchez-Lasheras Fernando , López-Vázquez José Antonio , De Cos Juez Francisco Javier , Pérez Castelo Francisco Javier , Calvo-Rolle José Luis , Corchado Emilio
Published: November 2019

Student performance and its evaluation remain a serious challenge for education systems. Frequently, the recording and processing of students’ scores in a specific curriculum have several flaws for various reasons. In this context, the absence of data from some of the student scores undermines the efficiency of any future analysis carried out in order to reach conclusions. When this is the case, missing data imputation algorithms are needed. These algorithms are capable of substituting, with a high level of accuracy, the missing data for predicted values. This research presents the hybridization of an algorithm previously proposed by the authors called adaptive assignation algorithm (AAA), with a well-known technique called multivariate imputation by chained equations (MICE). The results show how the suggested methodology outperforms both algorithms.
Insights into formation scenarios of massive early-type galaxies from spatially resolved stellar population analysis in CALIFA
Authors: Zibetti Stefano , Gallazzi Anna R , Hirschmann Michaela , Consolandi Guido , Falcón-Barroso Jesús , van de Ven Glenn , Lyubenova Mariya
Published: November 2019

We perform spatially resolved stellar population analysis for a sample of 69 early-type galaxies (ETGs) from the CALIFA integral field spectroscopic survey, including 48 ellipticals and 21 S0’s. We generate and quantitatively characterize profiles of light-weighted mean stellar age and metallicity within ≲2Re, as a function of radius and stellar-mass surface density μ*. We study in detail the dependence of profiles on galaxies’ global properties, including velocity dispersion σe, stellar mass, morphology. ETGs are universally characterized by strong, negative metallicity gradients ($\sim \!-0.3\, \text{dex}$ per Re) within 1Re, which flatten out moving towards larger radii. A quasi-universal local μ*–metallicity relation emerges, which displays a residual systematic dependence on σe, whereby higher σe implies higher metallicity at fixed μ*. Age profiles are typically U-shaped, with minimum around 0.4 Re, asymptotic increase to maximum ages beyond $\sim 1.5\, $Re, and an increase towards the centre. The depth of the minimum and the central increase anticorrelate with σe. A possible qualitative interpretation of these observations is a two-phase scenario. In the first phase, dissipative collapse occurs in the inner 1Re, establishing a negative metallicity gradient. The competition between the outside-in quenching due to feedback-driven winds and some form of inside-out quenching, possibly caused by central AGN feedback or dynamical heating, determines the U-shaped age profiles. In the second phase, the accretion of ex-situ stars from quenched and low-metallicity satellites shapes the flatter stellar population profiles in the outer regions.
A two-fluid model for black-hole accretion flows: Particle acceleration, outflows, and TeV emission
Authors: Lee Jason P , Becker Peter A
Published: November 2019

The multi-wavelength spectrum observed from M87 extends from radio wavelengths up to TeV γ-ray energies. The radio through GeV components have been interpreted successfully using SSC models based on misaligned blazar jets, but the origin of the intense TeV emission detected during flares in 2004, 2005, and 2010 remains puzzling. It has been previously suggested that the TeV flares are produced when a relativistic proton jet originating in the core of M87 collides with a molecular cloud (or stellar atmosphere) located less than one parsec from the central black hole. We explore this scenario in detail here using a self-consistent model for the acceleration of relativistic protons in a shocked, two-fluid ADAF accretion disc. The relativistic protons accelerated in the disc escape to power the observed jet outflows. The distribution function for the jet protons is used to compute the TeV emission produced when the jet collides with a cloud or stellar atmosphere. The simulated broadband radiation spectrum includes radio, X-ray, and GeV components generated via synchrotron, as well as TeV emission generated via the production and decay of muons, positrons, and electrons. The self-consistency of the model is verified by computing the relativistic particle pressure using the distribution function, and comparing it with the relativistic particle pressure obtained from the hydrodynamical model. We demonstrate that the model is able to reproduce the multi-wavelength spectrum from M87 observed by VERITAS and HESS during the high-energy flares in 2004, 2005, and 2010.
Internal shocks from variable outflows in classical novae
Authors: Steinberg Elad , Metzger Brian D
Published: November 2019

We present one-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations including radiative losses, of internal shocks in the outflows from classical novae, to explore the role of shocks in powering multiwavelength emission from radio to gamma-ray wavelengths. Observations support a picture in which the initial phases of some novae generate a slow, equatorially focused outflow (directly from the outer Lagrange point, or from a circumbinary disc), which then transitions to, or is overtaken by, a faster more isotropic outflow from the white dwarf which collides and shocks the slower flow, powering gamma-ray and optical emission through reprocessing by the ejecta. However, the common occurrence of multiple peaks in nova light curves suggests that the outflow’s acceleration need not be monotonic, but instead can involve successive transitions between ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ modes. Such a time-fluctuating outflow velocity naturally can reproduce several observed properties of nova, such as correlated gamma-ray and optical flares, expansion of the photosphere coincident with (though lagging slightly) the peak flare luminosity, and complex time evolution of spectral lines (including accelerating, decelerating, and merging velocity components). While the shocks are still deeply embedded during the gamma-ray emission, the onset of ∼keV X-ray and ∼10 GHz radio synchrotron emission is typically delayed until the forward shock of the outermost monolithic shell (created by merger of multiple internal shock-generated shells) reaches a sufficiently low column through the dense external medium generated by the earliest phase of the outburst.
VLT/SINFONI study of black hole growth in high-redshift radio-loud quasars from the CARLA survey
Authors: Marinello M , Overzier R A , Röttgering H J A , Kurk J D , De Breuck C , Vernet J , Wylezalek D , Stern D , Duncan K J , Hatch N , Kashikawa N , Lin Y-T , Nemmen R S , Saxena A
Published: November 2019

We present Very Large Telescope/Spectrograph for INtegral Field Observations in the Near Infrared (VLT/SINFONI) observations of 35 quasars at 2.1 < z < 3.2, the majority of which were selected from the Clusters Around Radio-Loud AGN (CARLA) survey. CARLA quasars have large C iv-based black hole masses (MBH > 109 M⊙) and powerful radio emission ($P_{500\, \rm MHz}$ > 27.5 W Hz−1). We estimate H α-based MBH, finding a scatter of 0.35 dex compared to C iv. We evaluate several recipes for correcting C iv-based masses, which reduce the scatter to 0.24 dex. The radio power of the radio-loud quasars is at most weakly correlated with the interconnected quantities H αwidth, L5100, and MBH, suggesting that it is governed by different physical processes. However, we do find a strong inverse correlation between C iv blueshift and radio power linked to higher Eddington ratios and L5100. Under standard assumptions, the black hole (BH) growth time is longer than the cosmic age for many CARLA quasars, suggesting that they must have experienced more efficient growth in the past. If these BHs were growing from seeds since the epoch of reionization, it is possible that they grew at the Eddington limit like the quasars at z ∼ 6–7, and then continued to grow at the reduced rates observed until z ∼ 2–3. Finally, we study the relation between MBH and environment, finding a weak positive correlation between MBH and galaxydensity measured by CARLA.
Computing the small-scale galaxy power spectrum and bispectrum in configuration space
Authors: Philcox Oliver H E , Eisenstein Daniel J
Published: November 2019

We present a new class of estimators for computing small-scale power spectra and bispectra in configuration space via weighted pair and triple counts, with no explicit use of Fourier transforms. Particle counts are truncated at $R_0\sim 100\, h^{-1}\, \mathrm{Mpc}$ via a continuous window function, which has negligible effect on the measured power spectrum multipoles at small scales. This gives a power spectrum algorithm with complexity $\mathcal {O}(NnR_0^3)$ (or $\mathcal {O}(Nn^2R_0^6)$ for the bispectrum), measuring N galaxies with number density n. Our estimators are corrected for the survey geometry and have neither self-count contributions nor discretization artefacts, making them ideal for high-k analysis. Unlike conventional Fourier-transform-based approaches, our algorithm becomes more efficient on small scales (since a smaller R0 may be used), thus we may efficiently estimate spectra across k-space by coupling this method with standard techniques. We demonstrate the utility of the publicly available power spectrum algorithm by applying it to BOSS DR12 simulations to compute the high-k power spectrum and its covariance. In addition, we derive a theoretical rescaled-Gaussian covariance matrix, which incorporates the survey geometry and is found to be in good agreement with that from mocks. Computing configuration- and Fourier-space statistics in the same manner allows us to consider joint analyses, which can place stronger bounds on cosmological parameters; to this end we also discuss the cross-covariance between the two-point correlation function and the small-scale power spectrum.
Estimating trajectories of meteors: an observational Monte Carlo approach – II. Results
Authors: Vida Denis , Brown Peter G , Campbell-Brown Margaret , Wiegert Paul , Gural Peter S
Published: November 2019

In the first paper of this series, we examined existing methods of optical meteor trajectory estimation and developed a novel method which simultaneously uses both the geometry and the dynamics of meteors to constrain their trajectories. We also developed a simulator which uses an ablation model to generate realistic synthetic meteor trajectories which we use to test meteor trajectory solvers. In this second paper, we perform simulation validation to estimate radiant and velocity accuracy, which may be achieved by various meteor observation systems as applied to several meteor showers. For low-resolution all-sky systems, where the meteor deceleration is generally not measurable, the multi-parameter fit method assuming a constant velocity better reproduces the radiant and speed of synthetic meteors. For moderate field of view systems, our novel method performs the best at all convergence angles, while multi-parameter fit methods generally produce larger speed errors. For high-resolution, narrow field of view systems, we find our new method of trajectory estimation reproduces radiant and speed more accurately than all other methods tested. The ablation properties of meteoroids are commonly found to be the limiting factor in velocity accuracy. We show that the true radiant dispersion of meteor showers can be reliably measured with moderate field of view (or more precise) systems provided appropriate methods of meteor trajectory estimation are employed. Finally, we compare estimated and real angular radiant uncertainty and show that for the solvers tested the real radiant error is on average underestimated by a factor of two.
Increased risk of developing peripheral artery disease in hemodialysis patients receiving statin treatments: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Hsu Yueh-Han , Sung Fung-Chang , Muo Chih-Hsin , Chuang Shao-Yuan , Chen Chun-Ming , Hsu Chung Y , Hsu Chih-Cheng
Published: November 2019

Background

Few investigations have evaluated the influences on peripheral arterial disease (PAD) risk of statin treatment in hemodialysis (HD) subjects with hyperlipidemia (HL).

Methods

From the National Health Insurance Research Dataset, we identified 3658 HD patients with statin therapy for HL as the statin cohort, and then selected, by 1:1 propensity score matching, 3658 HD patients with HL but without statin use as the nonstatin cohort in 2000–07. The cohorts were followed through until the end of 2011. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to assess the hazard ratio (HR) of PAD development.

Results

The average follow-up period was 4.18 years; the incident PAD risk was 1.35-fold greater in statin users than in nonusers (16.87 versus 12.46/1000 person-years), with an adjusted HR (aHR) of 1.34 for PAD [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–1.62]. The PAD risk increases were significant for patients receiving fluvastatin (aHR 1.88; 95% CI 1.12–3.14) and atorvastatin (aHR 1.60; 95% CI 1.24–2.08). The risk increased with higher annual average statin dosage (P for trend <0.0001); the risk was higher for those receiving moderate-intensity statin treatment. The sensitivity test revealed similar findings.

Conclusions

HD patients with HL on statin medication were at increased PAD risk, which increased with cumulative statin dosage. Thorough considerations are needed before prescribing statins to HD patients.
Cytomegalovirus ventriculoencephalitis presenting with hydrocephalus in a patient with advanced HIV infection
Authors: John Kevin John , Gunasekaran Karthik , Sultan N , Iyyadurai Ramya
Published: November 2019

A 38-year-old lady with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection presented to the emergency department with headache, vomiting and fluctuating alertness for 3 weeks. On examination, she had tachycardia, bilateral papilledema, restriction of upward gaze, gaze-evoked nystagmus and signs of meningeal irritation. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed hydrocephalus and periventricular high T2-signal regions with restriction on diffusion-weighted imaging. Polymerase chain reaction done on the cerebrospinal fluid obtained after the insertion of an external ventricular drain was positive for cytomegalovirus (CMV). She was treated with intravenous ganciclovir followed by oral valganciclovir with which she made a dramatic recovery. CMV ventriculoencephalitis can present with hydrocephalus in HIV-infected individuals. A high index of suspicion must be maintained to diagnose this disease and start appropriate therapy on time.
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with unusual cytogenetic findings: one more case and review of the literature
Authors: Ioannou Maria , Perivoliotis Konstantinos , Zaharos Nikolaos-Marios , Tsanakas Athanasios , Tepetes Konstantinos , Koukoulis George
Published: November 2019

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), a histological subtype of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), is characterized by an unfavorable clinical outcome. In most ARMS cases, an indicative chromosomal alteration is identified. The recurrent translocation of FKHR with either PAX3 or PAX7 genes results in the encoding of chimeric transcription factors that boost tumorigenesis. Besides structural mutations, the copy number of these genes also contributes to the oncogenic activity. In our case, a 12-year-old female patient was diagnosed with a 4 cm pelvic mass. Histopathological examination indicated an alveolar type of RMS. Subsequent FISH analysis with a dual color break-apart probe identified positive signals of FKHR3 gene break, as well as the rare event of a synchronous aneuploidy and gene deletion of FKHR. Our findings lead to the conclusion that a systematic break-apart probe FKHR FISH analysis in ARMS, confirms the diagnosis and elucidates the full spectrum of genomic alterations of this malignancy.
Thriving, not just surviving, with motor neurone disease. The outcome of the first pre-emptive ‘triple-ostomy’
Authors: Russell Thomas , Paul Daniel , Scott-Morgan Peter , Wright Maree , Kenefick Nick
Published: November 2019

The following report details the multidisciplinary treatment of a patient with motor neurone disease. The patient, who requested publication of this case, is a highly intelligent and distinguished robotic scientist. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2017 and his personal approach to his condition has been to use modern technology and all treatment options to maximise his quality and duration of life. After his research, the patient decided that his life would be significantly improved by formation of an elective ‘triple-ostomy’, this being an end colostomy and suprapubic catheter (for continence), and a percutaneous gastrostomy (for nutrition). We report the peri-operative multidisciplinary approach taken with this case, the surgical procedures, the potential risks and the outcome. The patient is delighted with the result and aims to raise awareness that this may be a treatment option in highly selected patients.
Varieties of Feminisms in Contemporary China: Local Reception and Reinvention of Liberal Feminism in Ford Foundation Projects
Authors: Yang R
Published: November 2019

This article explores how liberal feminism has been received and hybridized with local feminisms in post-socialist China. Based on interviews and documents from four Ford Foundation projects, the results show how local actors appropriated elements from three strands of feminism: liberal, socialist, and cultural. Conflicts among these strands were reconciled by de-emphasizing the structural origins of gender inequality and putting impetus for change on individual women. The human rights-based understandings of gender equality are thereby converted into women’s obligation to improve their “quality” and exercise their legal rights, which ignores intersectional disadvantages confronting rural women.
Craniodental and Postcranial Characters of Non-Avian Dinosauria Often Imply Different Trees
Authors: Li Yimeng , Ruta Marcello , Wills Matthew A
Published: November 2019

Despite the increasing importance of molecular sequence data, morphology still makes an important contribution to resolving the phylogeny of many groups, and is the only source of data for most fossils. Most systematists sample morphological characters as broadly as possible on the principle of total evidence. However, it is not uncommon for sampling to be focused on particular aspects of anatomy, either because characters therein are believed to be more informative, or because preservation biases restrict what is available. Empirically, the optimal trees from partitions of morphological data sets often represent significantly different hypotheses of relationships. Previous work on hard-part versus soft-part characters across animal phyla revealed significant differences in about a half of sampled studies. Similarly, studies of the craniodental versus postcranial characters of vertebrates revealed significantly different trees in about one-third of cases, with the highest rates observed in non-avian dinosaurs. We test whether this is a generality here with a much larger sample of 81 published data matrices across all major dinosaur groups. Using the incongruence length difference test and two variants of the incongruence relationship difference test, we found significant incongruence in about 50% of cases. Incongruence is not uniformly distributed across major dinosaur clades, being highest (63%) in Theropoda and lowest (25%) in Thyreophora. As in previous studies, our partition tests show some sensitivity to matrix dimensions and the amount and distribution of missing entries. Levels of homoplasy and retained synapomorphy are similar between partitions, such that incongruence must partly reflect differences in patterns of homoplasy between partitions, which may itself be a function of modularity and mosaic evolution. Finally, we implement new tests to determine which partition yields trees most similar to those from the entire matrix. Despite no bias across dinosaurs overall, there are striking differences between major groups. The craniodental characters of Ornithischia and the postcranial characters of Saurischia yield trees most similar to the “total evidence” trees derived from the entire matrix. Trees from these same character partitions also tend to be most stratigraphically congruent: a mutual consilience suggesting that those partitions yield more accurate trees. [Dinosauria; homoplasy; partition homogeneity.]
Prospective assessment of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy decision-making in women with average risk: an application of perceptual mapping
Authors: Greener Judith R , Bass Sarah B , Alhajji Mohammad , Gordon Thomas F
Published: November 2019

Women with early-stage unilateral breast cancer and no familial or genetic risk factors are increasingly electing contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM), despite the lack of evidence demonstrating improved outcomes. To better understand and extend the literature focused on treatment decision-making, a survey was conducted among women with early-stage breast cancer and no associated risk factors, who were in the process of making a surgical decision. This prospective study sought to expand our understanding of the factors that influence patients’ decision to have CPM, with the goal of providing healthcare providers with useful guidance in supporting breast cancer patients who are making treatment decisions. Data were collected for this prospective study through an internet survey. Results were analyzed using perceptual mapping, a technique that provides visual insight into the importance of specific variables to groups of women making different surgical decisions, not available through conventional analyses. Results suggest that women more likely to elect CPM demonstrate greater worry about breast cancer through experiences with others and feel the need to take control of their health through selection of the most aggressive treatment option. The information obtained offers guidance for the development of targeted intervention and counsel that will support patients’ ability to make high quality, informed decisions.
Cardiac metabolomic profile of the naked mole-rat—glycogen to the rescue
Authors: Faulkes Chris G. , Eykyn Thomas R. , Aksentijevic Dunja
Published: November 2019

The African naked mole-rat (
Heterocephalus glaber
) is unique among mammals, displaying extreme longevity, resistance to cardiovascular disease and an ability to survive long periods of extreme hypoxia. The metabolic adaptations required for resistance to hypoxia are hotly debated and a recent report provides evidence that they are able to switch from glucose to fructose driven glycolysis in the brain. However, other systemic alterations in their metabolism are largely unknown. In the current study, a semi-targeted high resolution
1
H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) metabolomics investigation was performed on cardiac tissue from the naked mole-rat (NMR) and wild-type C57/BL6 mice to better understand these adaptations. A range of metabolic differences was observed in the NMR including increased lactate, consistent with enhanced rates of glycolysis previously reported, increased glutathione, suggesting increased resistance to oxidative stress and decreased succinate/fumarate ratio suggesting reduced oxidative phosphorylation and ROS production. Surprisingly, the most significant difference was an elevation of glycogen stores and glucose-1-phosphate resulting from glycogen turnover, that were completely absent in the mouse heart and above the levels found in the mouse liver. Thus, we identified a range of metabolic adaptations in the NMR heart that are relevant to their ability to survive extreme environmental pressures and metabolic stress. Our study underscores the plasticity of energetic pathways and the need for compensatory strategies to adapt in response to the physiological and pathological stress including ageing and ischaemic heart pathologies.
‘The most common grass, rush, moss, fern, thistles, thorns or vilest weeds you can find’: James Petiver's plants
Authors: Jarvis Charles E.
Published: November 2019

The dried plant specimens painstakingly acquired by the London apothecary James Petiver (
ca
 1663–1718) from around the world constitute a substantial, but underappreciated, component of the vast herbarium of Sir Hans Sloane, now housed at London's Natural History Museum. Petiver was an observant field biologist whose own collecting was focused in south-east England. However, he also obtained specimens from an astoundingly wide geographical area via numerous collectors, more than 160 of whose names are known. While many were wild-collected, gardens in Great Britain and abroad also played a role in facilitating the study of the many new and strange exotics that were arriving in Europe. A new estimate of the number of specimens present in Petiver's herbarium suggests a figure of
ca
 21 000 gatherings. In this article, the appearance of the bound volumes, and the arrangement of the specimens within them, is assessed and contrasted with those volumes assembled by Leonard Plukenet and Hans Sloane. Petiver's published species descriptions and illustrations are shown to be frequently associated with extant specimens, letters and other manuscripts, making the whole a rich archive for the study of early modern collecting of natural curiosities at a time of increasing ‘scientific’ purpose.
Reproductive Factors and Risk of Breast Cancer by Tumor Subtypes among Ghanaian Women: A Population-based Case-control Study
Authors: Figueroa Jonine D , Davis Lynn Brittny C , Edusei Lawrence , Titiloye Nicholas , Adjei Ernest , Clegg-Lamptey Joe-Nat , Yarney Joel , Wiafe-Addai Beatrice , Awuah Baffour , Duggan Maire A. , Wiafe Seth , Nyarko Kofi , Aitpillah Francis , Ansong Daniel , Hewitt Stephen M , Ahearn Thomas , Garcia-Closas Montserrat , Brinton Louise A
Published: November 2019

Background

Higher proportions of early-onset and estrogen receptor (ER) negative cancers are observed in women of African ancestry than in women of European ancestry. Differences in risk factor distributions and associations by age at diagnosis and ER status may explain this disparity.

Methods

We analyzed data from 1,126 women (aged 18–74 years) with invasive breast cancer and 2,106 population controls recruited from three hospitals in Ghana from 2013 to 2015. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for menstrual and reproductive factors using polytomous logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

Among controls, medians for age at menarche, parity, age at first birth, and breastfeeding/pregnancy were 15 years, 4 births, 20 years, and 18 months, respectively. For women ≥ 50 years, parity and extended breastfeeding were associated with decreased risks: >5 births vs. nulliparous, OR 0.40 (95% CI 0.20–0.83) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.51–0.98) for ≥19 vs. <13 breastfeeding months/pregnancy, which did not differ by ER. In contrast, for earlier onset cases (<50 years) parity was associated with increased risk for ER-negative tumors (P-heterogeneity by ER = 0.02), which was offset by extended breastfeeding. Similar associations were observed by intrinsic-like subtypes. Less consistent relationships were observed with ages at menarche and first birth.

Conclusion

Reproductive risk factor distributions are different from European populations but exhibited etiologic heterogeneity by age at diagnosis and ER status similar to other populations. Differences in reproductive patterns and subtype heterogeneity are consistent with racial disparities in subtype distributions.

Key Messages

Distribution of intrinsic-like breast cancer subtypes among Ghanaian women are distinct compared to European ancestry populations, with a higher proportion of ER-negative subtypes at younger ages.

Increasing number of births and extended breastfeeding were associated with reduced risk for both ER-positive and ER-negative subtypes among later-onset breast cancer cases (women age ≥50 years).

Extended breastfeeding offset a direct association that we observed of multiparity with early-onset (women age <50 years) ER-negative breast cancers.

Number of births and breastfeeding duration are much higher in Ghanaian women compared to women of European ancestry and African Americans, however the relationships with risk are consistent when assessed by molecular subtype.