bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Size and democracy revisited – Vom Einfluss der Kreisgröße auf das Wählerverhalten in Deutschland
Authors: Zabler Steffen , Reclam Raphael , Grohs Stephan
Published: January 2020

Die Frage nach dem Zusammenhang zwischen der Größe von Gebietskörperschaften und politischer Partizipation erfährt vor dem Hintergrund der gescheiterten Kreisgebietsreformen in Brandenburg und Thüringen neue Aufmerksamkeit. Besonders in den Vordergrund gerückt sind dabei Arbeiten, die davon ausgehen, dass in größeren Kreisstrukturen die politische Integrationskraft abnimmt und damit das Partizipationsverhalten – gerade auch bei Wahlen – negativ beeinflusst wird, obwohl weder die Theorie noch die bisherige Empirie eindeutige Hinweise darauf liefern. Auf der Basis struktureller Daten für alle deutschen Landkreise und mithilfe eines hierarchischen Regressionsmodells zeigt sich für die Bundestagswahl 2017 empirisch kein derartiger Effekt: Unter Kontrolle zusätzlicher Variablen weisen größere Kreise weder eine niedrigere Wahlbeteiligung noch einen höheren AfD-Wähleranteil auf. Eventuelle Zusammenhänge zwischen der Größe von Landkreisen und dem Wahlverhalten lassen sich vielmehr durch systematische Bundesländerunterschiede erklären als durch die Größe der Kreise an sich. Damit liefert diese Untersuchung einen wichtigen und überaus praxisrelevanten Beitrag zur Versachlichung der Diskussion über Kreisgebietsreformen.
Adapting global shared socio-economic pathways for national scenarios in Japan
Authors: Chen He , Matsuhashi Keisuke , Takahashi Kiyoshi , Fujimori Shinichiro , Honjo Keita , Gomi Kei
Published: January 2020

Shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs) are alternative global development scenarios focused on the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. However, global SSPs would need revised versions for regional or local assessment, which is the so-called extended version, because global narratives may lack region-specific important drivers, national policy perspectives, and unification of data for each nation. Thus, it is necessary to construct scenarios that can be used for governments in response to the SSPs to reflect national and sub-national unique situations. This study presents national SSP scenarios, specifically focusing on Japan (hereafter, Japan SSPs), as well as a process for developing scenarios that qualitatively links to global SSPs. We document the descriptions of drivers and basic narratives of Japan SSPs coherent with global SSPs, based on workshops conducted by local researchers and governments. Moreover, we provide a common data set of population and GDP using the national scale. Japan SSPs emphasized population trends different from global SSPs and influencing factors, citizen participation, industrial development resulting from economic change, distribution, and inequality of sub-national population, among others. We selected data sets from existing population projections that have been widely used by Japanese researchers; the data show that the population and GDP of Japan SSPs are expected to be about 20–25% less than global SSPs by 2100.
Maximum observed likelihood prediction of future record values
Authors: Volovskiy Grigoriy , Kamps Udo
Published: January 2020

Point prediction of future upper record values is considered. For an underlying absolutely continuous distribution with strictly increasing cumulative distribution function, the general form of the predictor obtained by maximizing the observed predictive likelihood function is established. The results are illustrated for the exponential, extreme-value and power-function distributions, and the performance of the obtained predictors is compared to that of maximum likelihood predictors on the basis of the mean squared error and the Pitman’s measure of closeness criteria. For exponential and extreme-value distributions, it is shown that under slight restrictions, the maximum observed likelihood predictor outperforms the maximum likelihood predictor in terms of both performance criteria.
The Polyharmonic Bergman Space for the Union of Rotated Unit Balls
Authors: Grzebuła Hubert
Published: January 2020

In the paper we consider the polyharmonic Bergman space for the union of the rotated unit Euclidean balls. Using so called zonal polyharmonics we derive the formulas for the kernel of this space. Moreover, we study the weighted polyharmonic Bergman space. By the same argument we get the Bergman kernel for this space.
Vigorous, dedicated, and absorbed: Factor structure, reliability, and validity of the polish version of the sport engagement scale
Authors: Stolarski Maciej , Pruszczak Dominika , Waleriańczyk Wojciech
Published: January 2020

The concept of sport engagement, emerging from the application of major ideas of positive psychology in sport science, has become a valuable conceptual and practical addition to understanding athlete burnout. The present article reports the major results of an attempt to develop a Polish version of the Sport Engagement Scale, a brief metric created to measure athletes’ engagement for both research and practical purposes. Study 1, conducted on a sample of Polish athletes (N = 214) supports the original three-factor structure of engagement comprising the dimensions of Vigor, Dedication, and Absorption. A single-factor model also fit the data well, suggesting that calculating a general engagement factor is also justifiable. The internal consistency of the scale, as well as its associations with athletic burnout, competition anxiety, personality traits, declared sport level, and number of hours spent in training, provide evidence for sufficient concurrent criterion validity and the reliability of the scale for both research and applied purposes. Study 2, conducted on a sample of athletes taking part in a half marathon run (N = 135), provides evidence for the scale’s predictive criterion validity with respect to objective performance: greater engagement, particularly scores in the Vigor subscale, predicted significantly better running performance. In the discussion, we summarize the present findings, commenting on their limitations and highlighting future research paths for the phenomenon of sport engagement.
Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic vein tumor thrombosis protruding into the inferior vena cava by conversion surgery following chemotherapy with regorafenib: a case report
Authors: Takeda Kazuhisa , Tsurumaru Yuji , Yamamoto Yuji , Araki Kentaro , Kogure Yu , Mori Koichi , Nakagawa Kazuya , Shimizu Tetsuya , Matsuda Goro , Niino Hitoshi , Sekido Hitoshi , Kobayashi Satoshi , Morimoto Manabu , Kunisaki Chikara , Endo Itaru
Published: January 2020

Regorafenib is an oral multikinase inhibitor affecting angiogenesis, oncogenesis, metastasis, and tumor immunity. As a systemic treatment, it has been shown to provide survival benefits in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients progressing on sorafenib treatment. We report herein a case of HCC with hepatic vein tumor thrombosis protruding into the inferior vena cava (IVC-HVTT) which was successfully treated by surgery following second-line chemotherapy with regorafenib. A 79-year-old man with chronic hepatitis was diagnosed with HCC. Computed tomography revealed a solitary tumor in segments 7 and 8 and an IVC-HVTT from the right hepatic vein. Since IVC-HVTT removal is a difficult procedure, the tumor was diagnosed as unresectable, and administration of sorafenib was started. Five weeks later, the lesion had increased in size by 15.3%; subsequently, regorafenib was given as second-line therapy for 12 months. After shrinkage of the IVC-HVTT, the patient was referred to our hospital for surgery. One month after the cessation of regorafenib, an extended resection of segment 8 and total removal of the IVC-HVTT was successfully performed without using total hepatic vascular exclusion. There were no serious postoperative complications. Additionally, there has been no recurrence for about 2 years since the initial therapy.
On $$L_p$$-solvability of stochastic integro-differential equations
Authors: Gyöngy István , Wu Sizhou
Published: January 2020

A class of (possibly) degenerate stochastic integro-differential equations of parabolic type is considered, which includes the Zakai equation in nonlinear filtering for jump diffusions. Existence and uniqueness of the solutions are established in Bessel potential spaces.
Encapsulation of MnS Nanocrystals into N, S-Co-doped Carbon as Anode Material for Full Cell Sodium-Ion Capacitors
Authors: Li Shaohui , Chen Jingwei , Xiong Jiaqing , Gong Xuefei , Ciou Jinghao , Lee Pooi See
Published: January 2020

Sodium-ion capacitors (SICs) have received increasing interest for grid stationary energy storage application due to their affordability, high power, and energy densities. The major challenge for SICs is to overcome the kinetics imbalance between faradaic anode and non-faradaic cathode. To boost the Na+ reaction kinetics, the present work demonstrated a high-rate MnS-based anode by embedding the MnS nanocrystals into the N, S-co-doped carbon matrix (MnS@NSC). Benefiting from the fast pseudocapacitive Na+ storage behavior, the resulting composite exhibits extraordinary rate capability (205.6 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1) and outstanding cycling stability without notable degradation after 2000 cycles. A prototype SIC was demonstrated using MnS@NSC anode and N-doped porous carbon (NC) cathode; the obtained hybrid SIC device can display a high energy density of 139.8 Wh kg−1 and high power density of 11,500 W kg−1, as well as excellent cyclability with 84.5% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles. The superior electrochemical performance is contributed to downsizing of MnS and encapsulation of conductive N, S-co-doped carbon matrix, which not only promote the Na+ and electrons transport, but also buffer the volume variations and maintain the structure integrity during Na+ insertion/extraction, enabling its comparable fast reaction kinetics and cyclability with NC cathode.
Electrical Excitation of Long-Range Surface Plasmons in PC/OLED Structure with Two Metal Nanolayers
Authors: Konopsky Valery , Prokhorov Valery , Lypenko Dmitry , Dmitriev Artem , Alieva Elena , Dietler Giovanni , Sekatskii Sergey
Published: January 2020

A current-driven source of long-range surface plasmons (LRSPs) on a duplex metal nanolayer is reported. Electrical excitation of LRSPs was experimentally observed in a planar structure, where an organic light-emitting film was sandwiched between two metal nanolayers that served as electrodes. To achieve the LRSP propagation in these metal nanolayers at the interface with air, the light-emitting structure was bordered by a one-dimensional photonic crystal (PC) on the other side. The dispersion of the light emitted by such a hybrid PC/organic-light-emitting-diode structure (PC/OLED) comprising two thin metal electrodes was obtained, with a clearly identified LRSP resonance peak.
Privacy concerns in the smart home context
Authors: Guhr Nadine , Werth Oliver , Blacha Philip Peter Hermann , Breitner Michael H.
Published: January 2020

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things, intelligent systems are increasingly finding their way into everyday life and into people’s homes. With the spread of these technologies, there is a growing concern about what sensitive data is collected and what it is used for. Unfortunately, the role of privacy has remained largely unexplored in the smart home (SH) usage context. This study addresses this gap in literature: to what extend users’ concerns for information privacy influence the intended SH usage. This study takes an interactional psychology perspective and links the dimensions of the privacy concerns to the intention to use SH devices. Therefore, a multi-theoretical model using Smart PLS 3.2.8 was tested. This study contributes to the literature on privacy, and SH usage by exploring how and why privacy concerns influence participants’ intended SH usage. The findings, derived from the empirical study emphasize the importance of addressing privacy concerns because they are capable of directly and indirectly influencing the intended SH usage. Finally, the results which indicate new directions for privacy and SH research are discussed and implications for research and practice are given.
Giving Voice to Clinical Study Participants: Development and Deployment of Sequential Patient Experience Surveys for Global Clinical Studies
Authors: Manning Elizabeth , Herndon Mitch , Frye Wendy , Ice Tammy S. , Thyssen Nadia , Pushparajah Daphnee S. , Yates Stephen L.
Published: January 2020

Background

Biopharmaceutical companies are piloting patient experience surveys (PES) to help enhance patient satisfaction with clinical studies. However, most PES have been conducted at study close-out, which can hinder recall and responsiveness, and at a limited number of sites, which restricts their applicability to global studies. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of developing sequential PES, which would be deployed globally, and to provide practical recommendations based on our real-world experience.

Methods

To develop sequential PES (introductory, interim, close-out), we customized a previously developed patient experience close-out survey. Extensive input was gained from multiple stakeholders (e.g., survey experts, patient advisors, psychometricians, clinical trialists, lawyers). To deploy the PES in global studies, we prepared PES-specific ethics committee submissions, training materials (e.g., slides, videos), and PES invitation aids (postcards, digital app reminders).

Results

Developing and deploying sequential PES in global clinical studies was feasible. The 3-part online PES (25 to 37 questions per survey) passed health literacy testing. To facilitate benchmarking, the PES included core questions (including a Net Promoter Score question). The PES gained ethics approval and was deployed globally in 2017–2018 in 12 phase 2 and 3 clinical studies in North America, Europe, and the Asia–Pacific. Based on the real-world insights gained and the challenges encountered, we have made recommendations for PES.

Conclusions

Our practical recommendations on the development and deployment of sequential global PES may assist others to implement PES efficiently and effectively, allowing them to gain feedback from patients globally during clinical studies.
A Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerability of On-Demand Oral Pregablin (150 mg and 75 mg) in Treatment of Premature Ejaculation
Authors: El Najjar Mohamed Refaat , El Hariri Mohamed , Ramadan Ali , Hefny Hashem Abd-Alrahman
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Although premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction, the available options for PE treatment remain unsatisfactory.

Aim

To evaluate the effect of on-demand oral pregabalin on the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT).

Method

We conducted a multiarm double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial that enrolled 120 patients with PE who were divided equally into 3 groups (A, B, and C). 4 patients were excluded, 39 patients received 150 mg pregabalin (group A), 39 patients received 75 mg pregabalin (group B), and 38 patients received placebo (group C). All patients were encouraged to engage in sexual relations twice per week for 2 weeks and to take the medication 1–2 hours before sexual intercourse. A stopwatch was used to evaluate IELT.

Main Outcome Measure

The main outcome measure are the improvement of IELT and the reported adverse events.

Results

IELT significantly improved in patients who received 150 mg pregabalin, but there was no change in the other groups.

Clinical Implications

Most PE patients showed a significant improvement after receiving on-demand pregabalin (150 mg).

Strength & Limitations

The strength of this study is that it is the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of pregabalin in treatment of PE. The main limitations were the small number of patients, IELT was the only primary outcome of the study, and the pregabalin cap can be identified by the patient.

Conclusion

Oral pregabalin seems to be a promising drug for additional evaluation as a new treatment for PE. More studies are needed to evaluate the suitable dose, duration, timing, and its safety profile.
A Nightmare or a Noble Dream? Establishing Investor Obligations Through Treaty-Making and Treaty-Application
Authors: KRAJEWSKI Markus
Published: January 2020

This article assesses different approaches currently discussed and developed in international human rights and investment law to establish investor obligations. The article begins with a general framework of analysing and comparing these approaches. Next, attempts to include direct obligations of business entities in international human rights treaties are discussed. Despite earlier indications the recent initiative to create a legally binding instrument on business and human rights will most likely not include direct obligations for business entities. Subsequently, the article assesses the development of investor obligations in new international investment treaties and through the interpretation and application of existing international investment agreements. Arguably, the former will not lead to binding obligations in the foreseeable future and the latter rests on methodologically questionable grounds. Consequently, the article suggests that the way forward will require domestic legislation in host and home states to establish investor obligations which can be taken into account when interpreting existing investment treaty clauses requiring the investor to adhere to domestic law. This would reflect recent trends both in investment law reforms as well as the business and human rights movement.
The expressiveness of quasiperiodic and minimal shifts of finite type
Authors: DURAND BRUNO , ROMASHCHENKO ANDREI
Published: January 2020

We study multidimensional minimal and quasiperiodic shifts of finite type. We prove for these classes several results that were previously known for the shifts of finite type in general, without restriction. We show that some quasiperiodic shifts of finite type admit only non-computable configurations; we characterize the classes of Turing degrees that can be represented by quasiperiodic shifts of finite type. We also transpose to the classes of minimal/quasiperiodic shifts of finite type some results on subdynamics previously known for effective shifts without restrictions: every effective minimal (quasiperiodic) shift of dimension $d$ can be represented as a projection of a subdynamics of a minimal (respectively, quasiperiodic) shift of finite type of dimension $d+1$.
War crimes allegations and the UK: towards a fairer investigative process
Authors: Williams Andrew
Published: January 2020

War crimes allegations have dogged the UK military for decades. Yet there is no settled process to deal with them. Different legal responses deployed have all suffered from complaints of unfairness. This paper proposes foundations for a more satisfactory approach based on an existing three-part consensus. First, that norms governing individual and systemic conduct in military conflict are relatively undisputed; secondly, that the state has a non-negotiable investigatory duty should a suspected breach occur; and thirdly, that any investigation should take into account the context within which it is conducted. The paper then advances three propositions: (1) first order principles of practicability, expertise, and investigator independence should provide the non-negotiable foundations of any response; (2) second order or subsidiary principles including promptness, adequacy, reasonable transparency, and respect for basic standards of natural justice should apply when practicable; and (3) a standing institution designed to comply with the first and second order principles would provide a fairer process for all participants (accused, victim and the wider national and international communities) whilst also fulfilling coherence and legal certainty requirements. The paper concludes that current structures cannot fulfil these demands and it explores the basis for a better alternative.
Outbursts of the black hole X-ray transient KV UMa (XTE J1118+480) in the optical band
Authors: Šimon Vojtěch
Published: January 2020

KV UMa (XTE J1118+480) is an X-ray binary that is known to undergo outbursts in 2000 and 2005. This paper presents the discovery of a large outburst starting in 1927 on the archival photographic plates and an analysis of the long-term optical activity of this system. We used the photographic data from DASCH (Digital Access to a Sky Century @ Harvard). We placed the 1927 outburst in the context of the observed outbursts of KV UMa. We show that it is a double event, with a precursor similar to the one of the outbursts in 2000. We find a big difference between the 1927 and 2000 outbursts as regards the length of the gap between the precursor and the main outburst. It is more than 250 d in 1927, whereas it is about 20 d in 2000, although the brightnesses of all peaks are mutually comparable. We also show that the individual optical outbursts of KV UMa differ from each other by the duration of the stage of a slow decline of brightness (sometimes roughly a plateau). This determines the length of the entire main outburst. Both the peak magnitude and the brightness of the outburst when the slow decline transitions to a steep final decaying branch plausibly reproduce in all three outbursts. In the interpretation, the short duration of the precursor is caused by the fact that only the thermal-viscous instability operated in the accretion disk while also the tidal instability of the disk contributed in the subsequent main outburst.
Dietary intake from complementary feeding is associated with intestinal barrier function and environmental enteropathy in Brazilian children from the MAL-ED cohort study
Authors: Costa P. N. , Soares A. M. , Filho J. Q. , Junior F. S. , Ambikapathi R. , Rogawski McQuade E. T. , Guerrant R. L. , Caulfield L. E. , Lima A. A. M. , Maciel B. L. L.
Published: January 2020

A child’s diet contains nutrients and other substances that influence intestinal health. The present study aimed to evaluate the relations between complementary feeding, intestinal barrier function and environmental enteropathy (EE) in infants. Data from 233 children were obtained from the Brazilian site of the Etiology, Risk Factors, and Interactions of Enteric Infections and Malnutrition and the Consequences for Child Health and Development Project cohort study. Habitual dietary intake from complementary feeding was estimated using seven 24-h dietary recalls, from 9 to 15 months of age. Intestinal barrier function was assessed using the lactulose–mannitol test (L–M), and EE was determined as a composite measure using faecal biomarkers concentrations – α-1-antitrypsin, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neopterin (NEO) at 15 months of age. The nutrient adequacies explored the associations between dietary intake and the intestinal biomarkers. Children showed adequate nutrient intakes (with the exception of fibre), impaired intestinal barrier function and intestinal inflammation. There was a negative correlation between energy adequacy and L–M (ρ = −0·19, P < 0·05) and between folate adequacy and NEO concentrations (ρ = −0·21, P < 0·01). In addition, there was a positive correlation between thiamine adequacy and MPO concentration (ρ = 0·22, P < 0·01) and between Ca adequacy and NEO concentration (ρ = 0·23; P < 0·01). Multiple linear regression models showed that energy intakes were inversely associated with intestinal barrier function (β = −0·19, P = 0·02), and fibre intake was inversely associated with the EE scores (β = −0·20, P = 0·04). Findings suggest that dietary intake from complementary feeding is associated with decreased intestinal barrier function and EE in children.
Otogenic intracranial complications: a 10-year retrospective review in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Khuzwayo Z B , Enicker B
Published: January 2020

Objectives

To analyse the data for patients with otogenic intracranial complications during the study period and draw a comparison with internationally published literature.

Method

A retrospective, observational study was conducted, covering a 10-year period between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2012.

Results

The study comprised 108 patients (66 males (61.1 per cent) and 42 females (38.9 per cent)), of which 75 per cent were aged less than 20 years. Post-auricular swelling, otorrhoea and a decreased level of consciousness were the most frequently reported symptoms in patients with otogenic intracranial complications. Patients with human immunodeficiency virus did not show any different patterns in terms of presentation and outcome.

Conclusion

A triad of post-auricular swelling, otorrhoea and a decreased level of consciousness should make the clinician more heedful of otogenic intracranial complications. Patients with human immunodeficiency virus and human immunodeficiency virus negative patients were equally affected and had similar presentations. Early surgical management of patients was associated with shorter hospital stays and better outcomes.
Epistaxis and atorvastatin: is there an association and are clinicians aware? A retrospective audit of 100 patients
Authors: Heward E , Lau A S
Published: January 2020

Objective

Epistaxis is a common ENT presentation. The British National Formulary lists epistaxis as a common side effect of atorvastatin. This study aimed to better understand the relationship between epistaxis and atorvastatin use, and determine whether ENT doctors are aware of its side effect profile.

Methods

A retrospective analysis over 10 months identified 100 individuals who presented to hospital with epistaxis. A questionnaire of 24 ENT registrars was undertaken.

Results

Of the 100 patients admitted with epistaxis, 27 were receiving atorvastatin and 21 simvastatin. None of the 24 ENT registrars were aware that epistaxis was a listed common side effect of atorvastatin.

Conclusion

There was no apparent difference in the proportion of patients admitted with epistaxis taking atorvastatin versus simvastatin. Epistaxis is an unknown side effect of atorvastatin; doctors have an obligation to be aware of the pharmaceutical literature and to consider alternatives, particularly in re-admissions cases.
Ecological release in lizard endoparasites from the Atlantic Forest, northeast of the Neotropical Region
Authors: Teixeira Adonias A. Martins , Riul Pablo , Brito Samuel Vieira , Araujo-Filho João A. , Teles Diêgo Alves , Almeida Waltécio de Oliveira , Mesquita Daniel Oliveira
Published: January 2020

We compared lizard endoparasite assemblages between the Atlantic Forest and naturally isolated forest enclaves to test the ecological release hypothesis, which predicts that host specificity should be lower (large niche breadth) and parasite abundance should be greater for parasites from isolated forest enclaves (poor assemblages) than for parasites from the coastal Atlantic Forest (rich assemblages). Parasite richness per specimen showed no difference between the isolated and non-isolated areas. Parasite abundance did not differ between the isolated and non-isolated areas but showed a positive relationship with parasite richness considering all areas (isolated and non-isolated). Furthermore, host specificity was positively related to parasite richness. Considering that host specificity is inversely proportional to the host range infected by a parasite, our results indicate that in assemblages with greater parasite richness, parasites tend to infect a smaller range of hosts than do those in simple assemblages. In summary, our study partially supports the ecological release hypothesis: in assemblages with greater parasite richness, lizard parasites from Atlantic Forest are able to increase their parasite abundance (per host), possibly through facilitated infection; however, the amplitude of infected hosts only expands in poor assemblages (lower parasite richness).
Plasmodium transmission differs between mosquito species and parasite lineages
Authors: Gutiérrez-López Rafael , Martínez-de la Puente Josué , Gangoso Laura , Soriguer Ramón , Figuerola Jordi
Published: January 2020

Factors such as the particular combination of parasite–mosquito species, their co-evolutionary history and the host's parasite load greatly affect parasite transmission. However, the importance of these factors in the epidemiology of mosquito-borne parasites, such as avian malaria parasites, is largely unknown. Here, we assessed the competence of two mosquito species [Culex pipiens and Aedes (Ochlerotatus) caspius], for the transmission of four avian Plasmodium lineages (Plasmodium relictum SGS1 and GRW11 and Plasmodium cathemerium-related lineages COLL1 and PADOM01) naturally infecting wild house sparrows. We assessed the effects of parasite identity and parasite load on Plasmodium transmission risk through its effects on the transmission rate and mosquito survival. We found that Cx. pipiens was able to transmit the four Plasmodium lineages, while Ae. caspius was unable to transmit any of them. However, Cx. pipiens mosquitoes fed on birds infected by P. relictum showed a lower survival and transmission rate than those fed on birds infected by parasites related to P. cathemerium. Non-significant associations were found with the host–parasite load. Our results confirm the existence of inter- and intra-specific differences in the ability of Plasmodium lineages to develop in mosquito species and their effects on the survival of mosquitoes that result in important differences in the transmission risk of the different avian malaria parasite lineages studied.
Direct onshore wind predicts daily swimmer's itch (avian schistosome) incidence at a Michigan beach
Authors: Sckrabulis Jason P. , Flory Alan R. , Raffel Thomas R.
Published: January 2020

Swimmer's itch (SI) is a painful rash caused by skin penetration by free-swimming infectious cercariae of avian schistosomes, snail-borne helminth parasites related to the causative agents of human schistosomiasis. The goal of this study was to determine if commonly collected environmental data could be used to predict daily fluctuations in SI incidence at an inland beach in northwestern Michigan. Lifeguards collected daily data over four summers, including the number of self-reported SI cases, total swimmers, water temperature, wind speed and wind direction. Mixed-effects binomial regression revealed that wind direction, wind speed and time of day were the best predictors of daily SI risk. Swimmers entering the water in the morning or on days with direct onshore wind perpendicular to the shoreline had the greatest SI risk. However, there was a negative effect of wind speed after accounting for direction, where SI risk was greatest on days with a gentle breeze originating directly offshore. These results suggest that at this beach, direct onshore winds generate a surface-water current that causes SI cercariae to aggregate in the shallow waters used by swimmers. Data are needed from additional sites to confirm whether the onshore wind is a generally important driver of SI incidence.
The way to the Antarctic Treaty: System of rules in times of global conflict
Authors: Rack U.
Published: January 2020

In 1940, a PhD was published in Germany about the claiming behaviour of several countries and the whaling industry in Antarctica. It shows already at this time that a need for regulation on that issue was required. The intertwined relationships between the claiming nations demanded an overarching framework where these complex issues could be managed. This paper elaborates on the state of the claiming parties before the 1940s and will demonstrate that the development for a comprehensive regulation was the only way to avoid a global conflict. The doctoral thesis from 1940 will be the focal point of the discussion.
Acquisition of aspect in L2: The computation of event completion by Japanese learners of English
Authors: Kaku-MacDonald Keiko , Liceras Juana M. , Kazanina Nina
Published: January 2020

Previous studies on the acquisition of semantics in the aspectual domain have suggested that a difficult case for achieving a targetlike representation in a second language arises when learners need to preempt a first language (L1) option (Gabriele, 2009). This study investigates this issue by focusing on a learning scenario where predicate-level variability exists in the L1 input. We investigate whether Japanese learners of English can learn to invalidate event cancellation readings (Tsujimura, 2003) in English and how such knowledge develops with increasing English proficiency. We address these questions by examining how Japanese learners of English interpret accomplishment predicates that allow an event cancellation reading in Japanese but not in English. A truth-value judgment task was administered to 60 beginner, 96 intermediate, and 40 advanced Japanese learners of English as well as 20 L1 English and 20 L1 Japanese speakers. Our results showed that Japanese learners of English progressed toward a targetlike representation of aspectual entailment. We argue that such progress follows two parallel routes: a grammatical route rooted in the learners’ growing awareness of the English determiner and number morphology combined with a statistical route rooted in the learners’ inferences based on missing data.
“Doing” Intergenerational Friendship: Challenging the Dominance of Age Homophily in Friendship
Authors: O’Dare Catherine Elliott , Timonen Virpi , Conlon Catherine
Published: January 2020

This article challenges the dominance of age homophily in the literature on friendship. Using findings from a recent study on intergenerational friendship, we put forward a new conceptualization of a homophily of doing-and-being in friendships between adults who are of different generations. This research took a qualitative approach using constructivist grounded theory methodology. Homophily of doing-and-being has three components: being “friends in action” (pursuing interests and leisure activities, or simply spending time together), being “not only old” (sharing identities beyond age), and sharing attitudes and approaches to friendship and life. Additionally, “differences” were an important element of interest between the intergenerational friends. Our discovery of the centrality of doing-and-being, and the relative insignificance of age homophily, constitute a novel way of looking at friendship, and a new way of conceptualizing how and why (older) adults make and maintain friendships.
Making inferences about non-detection observations to improve occurrence predictions in Venezuelan Psittacidae
Authors: FERRER-PARIS JOSÉ R. , SÁNCHEZ-MERCADO ADA
Published: January 2020

The global decline in psittacid populations highlights the need for monitoring programmes that allow us to estimate the level of confidence that can be placed in a non-detection observation in order to assess changes in range status. We used the detection/non-detection records for 26 psittacid species detected during the first national bird monitoring programme in Venezuela carried out in 2010 by the Neotropical Biodiversity Mapping Initiative. We fitted occupancy models and evaluate the suitability of the data to explain the lack of detections given the current sampling effort, and the expected occurrence probabilities due to environmental conditions (conditional probability of occurrence; ΨCONDL). We were able to fit reliable models for 13 of the 26 species detected. For Green-rumped ParrotletForpus passerinus, Blue-headed ParrotPionus menstrus, and Orange-winged AmazonAmazona amazonica, the probability of detection (p) under the current sampling effort was too low (> 0.2) in areas where environmental conditions would imply high ΨCONDL(< 0.3). This suggests that sampling effort should be increased to generate reliable estimations of occurrence. In contrast, for Scarlet MacawAra macao, Yellow-crowned AmazonAmazona ochrocephala, Orange-chinned ParakeetBrotogeris jugularisand Brown-throated ParakeetEupsittula pertinaxthe model estimated highp(< 0.3) and low ΨCONDL(> 0.2), suggesting that the species are reliably detected and better models could be obtained by including other predictive variables related to temporal use of resources and habitat heterogeneity. To improve the effectiveness of parrot monitoring programme in Neotropical countries, we suggest increasing the sampling effort, developing several surveys per year, and including variables related with temporal use of resources and habitat heterogeneity.
Left ventricular dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: James Katherine A. , Gralla Jane , Ridall Leslie A. , Do ThuyQuynh N. , Czaja Angela S. , Mourani Peter M. , Ciafaloni Emma , Cunniff Christopher , Donnelly Jennifer , Oleszek Joyce , Pandya Shree , Price Elinora , Yang Michele L. , Auerbach Scott R.
Published: January 2020

Background:

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is associated with progressive cardiorespiratory failure, including left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods and Results:

Males with probable or definite diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, diagnosed between 1 January, 1982 and 31 December, 2011, were identified from the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance Tracking and Research Network database. Two non-mutually exclusive groups were created: patients with ≥2 echocardiograms and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation-compliant patients with ≥1 recorded ejection fraction. Quantitative left ventricular dysfunction was defined as an ejection fraction <55%. Qualitative dysfunction was defined as mild, moderate, or severe. Progression of quantitative left ventricular dysfunction was modelled as a continuous time-varying outcome. Change in qualitative left ventricle function was assessed by the percentage of patients within each category at each age. Forty-one percent (n = 403) had ≥2 ejection fractions containing 998 qualitative assessments with a mean age at first echo of 10.8 ± 4.6 years, with an average first ejection fraction of 63.1 ± 12.6%. Mean age at first echo with an ejection fraction <55 was 15.2 ± 3.9 years. Thirty-five percent (140/403) were non-invasive positive pressure ventilation-compliant and had ejection fraction information. The estimated rate of decline in ejection fraction from first ejection fraction was 1.6% per year and initiation of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation did not change this rate.

Conclusions:

In our cohort, we observed that left ventricle function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy declined over time, independent of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation use. Future studies are needed to examine the impact of respiratory support on cardiac function.
Effective myocardial perfusion and concomitant haemodynamic status determine the clinical diversity of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery
Authors: Matoq Amr A. , Tsuda Takeshi
Published: January 2020

Background:

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital heart disease (CHD) with diverse clinical presentations despite the same anatomy. Factors determining this heterogeneous presentation are not well understood.

Method and Results:

We retrospectively investigated 14 patients (12 females) who underwent surgical repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. These patients were divided into three groups based upon the severity of initial presentation: (1) severe, life-threatening condition (n = 5), (2) mild-to-moderate distress (n = 6), and (3) asymptomatic (n = 3). All patients presented with left ventricular dilation and retrograde flow in left coronary artery by echocardiogram. Eight patients in (1) and (2) presented with severe left ventricular dysfunction. All but one showed abnormal ECG consistent with myocardial ischemia or infarction. Asymptomatic patients had preserved left ventricular systolic function despite ischemic findings on ECG. In 13 patients after surgical repair, all but one normalised left ventricular geometry and systolic function, suggesting nearly full myocardial recovery upon improvement of myocardial perfusion; 8 patients had residual echogenic papillary muscle with variable degree of mitral regurgitation.

Conclusions

Evidence of myocardial ischemic injury was present in all patients with anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery regardless of their initial presentation. Retrograde flow in left coronary artery, implying collateral vessel development from right coronary artery to left coronary artery, was noted in all patients, yet only few patients had preserved systolic function at the time of diagnosis. The balance between effective myocardial perfusion and a deleterious fistulous flow provided by these collaterals and the simultaneous haemodynamic status are what determine the clinical diversity of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.
Executive Functions do not Underlie Performance on the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT) in Healthy Younger and Older Adults
Authors: Baksh R. Asaad , Bugeja Tereża , MacPherson Sarah E.
Published: January 2020

Objective:

Current measures of social cognition have shown inconsistent findings regarding the effects of executive function (EF) abilities on social cognitive performance in older adults. The psychometric properties of the different social cognition tests may underlie the disproportional overlap with EF abilities. Our aim was to examine the relationship between social cognition and EF abilities using the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT; Baksh, R.A., Abrahams, S., Auyeung, B., & MacPherson, S.E. (2018). The Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT): Examining the effects of age on a new measure of theory of mind and social norm understanding.PloS One,13(4), e0195818.), a test assessing four different aspects of social cognition: cognitive theory of mind (ToM), affective ToM, interpersonal understanding of social norms, and intrapersonal understanding of social norms.

Method:

We administered the ESCoT, EF measures of inhibition, set shifting, updating, and a measure of processing speed to 30 younger and 31 older adults. We also administered the Visual Perspective Taking task (VPT) as a ToM test thought to be reliant on EF abilities.

Results:

Better performance on cognitive ToM was significantly associated with younger age and slower processing speed. Better performance on affective ToM and ESCoT total score was associated with being younger and female. Better performance on interpersonal understanding of social norms was associated with being younger. EF abilities did not predict performance on any subtest of the ESCoT. In contrast, on the VPT, the relationship between age group and performance was fully or partially mediated by processing speed and updating.

Conclusions:

These findings show that the ESCoT is a valuable measure of different aspects of social cognition and, unlike many established tests of social cognition, performance is not predicted by EF abilities.
Justifying Separate Experiences for Twins: Dorothy Burlingham’s Classic Twin Study/Twin Research Reviews: Monozygotic Twins with Maturity-Onset Diabetes, Gene Editing of Chinese Twins, Educational Disadvantage of Early-Born Twins and Developmental Trajectories of Movements in Fetal Twins/In the News: Twins with Nearly Identical License Plates, Rare Case of Fetus-in-Fetu, Twin Brothers Killed at Pearl Harbor, Death of a 96-Year-Old Twin Holocaust Survivor, Death of Male–Female Twin Toddlers in a Heated Car and Confusion of Identical Twin Politicians
Authors: Segal Nancy L.
Published: January 2020

This article explores the justification for providing separate experiences for twins. The focus is on Dorothy Burlingham’s (1952; Twins: A study of three sets of identical twins with 30 charts. London, UK: Imago) classic, in-depth study of three identical twin-pairs. Implications for how twins are raised currently will be examined. Reviews are presented of twin research concerning monozygotic twins with maturity-onset diabetes, gene editing of fetal Chinese twins, educational disadvantage of early-born twins, and developmental trajectories of twins’ prenatal movements. Some unusual experiences and situations involving twins that warrant media attention are also summarized. They include twins with nearly identical license plates, a rare case of fetus-in-fetu, twin brothers killed at Pearl Harbor, the death of a 96-year-old twin Holocaust survivor, the accidental death of male–female twin toddlers in a heated car and confusion over identical twin politicians.
Wenn Mitarbeiter „krankfeiern“
Authors: Rahn Elise
Published: January 2020

Zusammenfassung. Im internationalen Vergleich sind die Krankentage in Deutschland sehr hoch. Dies verursacht steigende Kosten in immenser Höhe. Damit einher geht der Wunsch bzw. die Notwendigkeit, den Krankenstand zu verringern, um somit den Produktivitätsverlust der Unternehmen zu mindern.
Stigmatisierung und Identitätsarbeit
Authors: Pauge Matthias , Neubauer Madeleine
Published: January 2020

Zusammenfassung. Schon im Untertitel der Studie „Stigma – Techniken der Bewältigung beschädigter Identität“ des Soziologen Ervin Goffman wird die Problematik deutlich, mit der die stigmatisierte Person zu kämpfen hat. Das Stigma schädigt das Selbstverständnis einer Person, sie muss fortan um ihre Identität ringen. Das Stigma, so Goffman, drängt sich auf als ein unverbesserlicher Makel, welcher den Betroffenen unfreiwillig in eine soziale Position rückt und für diesen einen veränderten sozialen Status bedeutet.
Ran an die Arbeit!
Authors: Niesing Philip
Published: January 2020

Zusammenfassung. Mit der Rubrik „Übergabe!“ will der junge Krankenpfleger Philip Niesing einen erfrischenden Blick auf den pflegerischen Alltag werfen. Mit dem Ausscheiden des verdienten Kollegen Bruno Hemkendreis und seiner Kolumne „Brunos Universum“ wollen wir einen jungen und hoffentlich unverstellten Blick auf den pflegerischen Alltag werfen.
Toward a Robust Plio‐Pleistocene Chronostratigraphy for ODP Site 762
Authors: Auer Gerald , De Vleeschouwer David , Christensen Beth A.
Published: January 2020

The advent of rapidly acquired proxy records provides paleoceanographers and paleoclimatologists with a wealth of high‐resolution data. These data are a boon for the community, as they enable millennial or even submillennial scale interpretation of past climate and ocean change. Multisite and multiproxy research permits regional and global correlations with high precision. Yet, accuracy is sometimes lost sight of, resulting in inaccurate age constraints. To highlight the importance of chronostratigraphic accuracy, we examine a recent publication by Stuut et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083035) that presents a chronostratigraphic framework potentially at odds with regional chronostratigraphy by up to 300 kyr in the Pliocene and 600 kyr in the Pleistocene. Using all available chronostratigraphic data, we provide an alternate integrated stratigraphic framework resulting in a higher degree of uniformity among regional climate archives and confirm the timing of a major climatic transition in Australia between ~3.55 and 3.3 Ma.
First Synoptic Observations of Geomagnetic Storm Effects on the Global‐Scale OI 135.6‐nm Dayglow in the Thermosphere by the GOLD Mission
Authors: Gan Quan , Eastes Richard W. , Burns Alan G. , Wang Wenbin , Qian Liying , Solomon Stanley C. , Codrescu Mihail V. , McInerney Joseph , McClintock William E.
Published: January 2020

The Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission provides, for the first time, a synoptic view of the thermospheric response to a moderate geomagnetic storm at a 30‐min cadence. The observations showed that the OI 135.6‐nm emission substantially decreased at middle and high latitudes, but it increased at low latitudes. The depletion pattern between 4 and 6 November 2018 was likely due to the strong upwelling of the high‐latitude thermosphere. The deepest depletion in brightness that occurred near local noon was of ~300–400 R (~35% of the quiet time background level) and displayed a striking westward movement. First‐principles modeling reasonably reproduced the overall morphology of brightness response to the geomagnetic storm despite the depletion magnitude in brightness being underestimated. The postprocessing of the simulation results revealed that the westward movement of the deepest depletion was attributable to the horizontal wind changes driven by the geomagnetic storm.