bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Umgang mit der ethischen Bewertung bei studentischen
Forschungsarbeiten – Ergebnisse einer Befragung an gesundheitsbezogenen
Fachbereichen in Deutschland
Authors: Seifert Imke , Konusch Saskia , Gerhardus Ansgar
Published: June 2020

Hintergrund Forschungsprojekte in den Gesundheitswissenschaften
berühren häufig ethisch sensible Bereiche. Mit zunehmend
empirisch angelegten Abschlussarbeiten und Konzepten wie dem Forschenden
Lernen steigt der Bedarf an Ethikvoten bei studentischen Arbeiten. Ein
einheitliches Verfahren für den Umgang mit studentische Arbeiten
liegt in Deutschland nicht vor. Dies kann dazu führen, dass
Forschungsarbeiten ohne ein Ethikvotum durchgeführt werden, obwohl
es notwendig gewesen wäre.

Ziel dieser Studie war es, zu erfahren wie verschiedene Hochschulen
mit der ethischen Bewertung bei studentischen Forschungsarbeiten umgehen.
Methode Von Mai bis Juni 2018 wurden Online-Fragebögen an 132
Studiengänge an 112 Hochschulen mit Public Health, gesundheits- und
pflegewissenschaftlichem Bezug sowie universitäre
Studiengänge der Psychologie geschickt. Zusätzlich wurden
telefonische Interviews mit vier ausgewählten
Studiengangsverantwortlichen geführt.

Ergebnisse Studiengangsverantwortliche von 55 der 132 angeschriebenen
Studiengänge nahmen an der Befragung teil. Unterstützungen
für Studierende bei ethischen Fragestellungen ihrer
Forschungsarbeiten werden von 84% der Antwortenden
gewährleistet. Ein festgelegtes Verfahren für den Umgang mit
(möglicherweise) ethisch beurteilungsbedürftigen
studentischen Forschungsarbeiten existiert nur bei 39% der
Antwortenden. Unterschiedliche Lösungsansätze wurden von
ausgewählten Studiengangsverantwortlichen ausführlich
vorgestellt, wie z. B. der Einsatz von Checklisten, die Einrichtung
studiengangsinterner Ethikkommissionen oder Ethikberatungen.

Schlussfolgerung Alle befragten Studiengangsverantwortlichen erkennen
die Notwendigkeit sich mit der Frage von Ethikvoten bei studentischen
Forschungsarbeiten zu beschäftigen. An einigen Hochschulen
existieren bereits Verfahren um damit umzugehen. Diese können als
Orientierung für andere Hochschulen dienen.
Daucosterol linolenate from Sweet Potato Suppresses MCF7-Xenograft-Tumor Growth through Regulating PI3K/AKT Pathway
Authors: Han Bing , Jiang Lingmin , Jiang Pu , Zhou Deqi , Jia Xiaoxin , Li Xuegang , Ye Xiaoli
Published: June 2020

Sweet potato is a functional food with potential antitumor properties, but the bioactive constituents and biological mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of daucosterol linolenate extracted from sweet potato and its potential mechanism. An MTT assay indicated that DLA inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer MCF-7 cells but had only weak effects on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231, 4T1, and MCF-10A cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that daucosterol linolenate induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. Experiments with MCF-7 xenograft in nude mice further confirmed that DLA inhibited tumor growth dose-dependently. After DLA treatment, the expressions of B-cell lymphoma 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor were decreased and that of cleaved caspase 3 was increased as compared to the TC group. DLA also down-regulated the expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B and repressed insulin-induced phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B activation. Our findings suggest that DLA suppresses breast tumor growth through inactivating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway.
Construction and Comparison of Predictive Models for Length of Stay after Total Knee Arthroplasty: Regression Model and Machine Learning Analysis Based on 1,826 Cases in a Single Singapore Center
Authors: Li Hui , Jiao Juyang , Zhang Shutao , Tang Haozheng , Qu Xinhua , Yue Bing
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model for length of stay (LOS) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Between 2013 and 2014, 1,826 patients who underwent TKA from a single Singapore center were enrolled in the study after qualification. Demographics of patients with normal and prolonged LOS were analyzed. The risk variables that could affect LOS were identified by univariate analysis. Predictive models for LOS after TKA by logistic regression or machine learning were constructed and compared. The univariate analysis showed that age, American Society of Anesthesiologist level, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, general anesthesia, and operation duration were risk factors that could affect LOS (p < 0.05). Comparing with logistic regression models, the machine learning model with all variables was the best model to predict LOS after TKA, of whose area of operator characteristic curve was 0.738. Machine learning algorithms improved the predictive performance of LOS prediction models for TKA patients.
Nanocrystalline materials prove stable enough to be used in for ballistic protection
Authors: Mandel Savannah
Published: June 2020

Laser shocking of a nanocrystalline copper tantalum alloy demonstrates that the material possesses key attributes for the design of advanced protective systems.
Photonic glass based structural color
Authors: Shang Guoliang , Eich Manfred , Petrov Alexander
Published: June 2020

Structural coloration, which is based on spectrally selective scattering from optical structures, has recently attracted wide attention as a replacement of pigment colors based on the selective light absorption in chemical structures. Structural colors can be produced from transparent non-toxic materials and provide high stability under solar radiation. To provide angle independent non-iridescent colors, the structure should combine spectral selectivity with an isotropic response. Photonic glass (PhG), a disordered arrangement of monodisperse spheres, is a versatile structure to achieve that, which provides isotropic spectral selectivity via short-range order and Mie resonances. However, conventional PhGs show low color purity that hinders their future application. The interplay of single-particle scattering, short-range order, broadband absorption, and Fresnel reflection is a route to improve the color. In this perspective, we review the field of PhG based structural colors and discuss the physical mechanism behind the color generation by several established theories. We point out the current challenges in the theory and possible directions to improve color purity.
Aero-ZnS architectures with dual hydrophilic–hydrophobic properties for microfluidic applications
Authors: Plesco Irina , Braniste Tudor , Wolff Niklas , Gorceac Leonid , Duppel Viola , Cinic Boris , Mishra Yogendra Kumar , Sarua Andrei , Adelung Rainer , Kienle Lorenz , Tiginyanu Ion
Published: June 2020

Here, we report on a new aero-material, called aero-ZnS, representing self-organized architectures made of ZnS hollow micro-tetrapod structures with nanoscale thin walls. The fabrication process is based on the hydride vapor phase epitaxy of CdS on sacrificial micro-tetrapods of ZnO with simultaneous or subsequent transformation of CdS into ZnS and removal of the sacrificial ZnO crystals. The nanostructure of the obtained ZnS hollow micro-tetrapods exhibits the polytypic intergrowth of wurtzite- and sphalerite-type phases perpendicular to their close packed planes. The inner surface of the micro-tetrapod walls preserves oxygen sites, as demonstrated by imaging based on electron energy-loss filtering. The self-organized aero-ZnS architecture proves to be hydrophilic under tension and hydrophobic when compressed against water. Self-propelled liquid marbles assembled using ZnS hollow micro-tetrapod structures are demonstrated.
New insights on microscopic interpretation of adsorption isotherms of ionophores (manganese–porphyrin complexes) using statistical physics formalism
Authors: A. Alyousef Haifa , Ben Yahia Mohamed , Aouaini Fatma
Published: June 2020

Equilibrium adsorbed amounts of manganese on porphyrins were determined at 288 K and 308 K using the quartz crystal microbalance strategy. The experimental measurements were achieved in order to compare the adsorption capacities of the tetratolylporphyrin and the tetraphenylporphyrin for ionophore investigation. The aim of this work is to examine these isotherms at the ionic scale in order to elucidate physical clarifications about the microscopic interactions between the manganese ions and the two complexing porphyrins (TTP and TPP). Indeed, statistical physics formalism is employed by the intermediate of the parameters contained in the expressions of the single-layer and the quadruple-layer models to evaluate the materials employed for ionophore fabrication. Results indicated that high attraction was shown between manganese ions and the sites of tetratolylporphyrins. Energetic investigation (through statistical physics approach and density functional theory method) revealed that the Mn–TTP complex was chemically bonded. The interpretation of the van der Waals parameters confirms the highest stability of the Mn(Cl)2–TTP among all complexes. This study contributes new tips on the theoretical and the experimental understanding of ionophore adsorption. The novel results of this research are the Mn(Cl)2 is the most useful adsorbate material because chlorine ions do not have any impact on the complexation mechanism and the tetratolylporphyrin is the finest complexing adsorbent in terms of stability.
A comprehensive ARPES study on the type-II Dirac semimetal candidate Ir1−xPtxTe2
Authors: Jiang Juan , Lee Sangjae , Fei Fucong , Song Fengqi , Vescovo Elio , Kaznatcheev Konstantine , Walker Frederick J. , Ahn Charles H.
Published: June 2020

The transition metal dichalcogenide Ir1−xPtxTe2 displays both superconductivity and a topological band structure. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we obtain a comprehensive understanding of the three-dimensional electronic structure in the normal state of Ir1−xPtxTe2 for doping levels from x = 0.1 to 0.4, which spans the composition range of a superconducting state to a non-superconducting state. Many features of the electronic structure can be attributed to strong Te–Te interactions between the layers of the layered crystal structure and can be resolved by photon energy dependent measurements. We demonstrate that the type-II Dirac fermions can be successfully tuned via Pt doping, where the Dirac point lies close to the Fermi level for x = 0.1. The band evolution vs doping provides a clearer understanding of the relationship between the superconductivity and electronic structure. In addition, the β band in the superconducting samples locates the system close to a type-II van Hove singularity, where spin triplet paring symmetry has been predicted. Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the band structure of Ir1−xPtxTe2, and we discuss the possibilities of the existence of topological superconductivity in this system.
Hybrid electrochemical supercapacitor based on birnessite-type MnO2/carbon composite as the positive electrode and carbonized iron-polyaniline/nickel graphene foam as a negative electrode
Authors: Rantho M. N. , Madito M. J. , Oyedotun K. O. , Tarimo D. J. , Manyala N.
Published: June 2020

In this work, a birnessite-type MnO2/carbon composite with hierarchical nanostructures was synthesized using KMnO4 solution and spent printing carbon grains. A hybrid electrochemical supercapacitor device was fabricated based on the birnessite-type MnO2–carbon composite electrode and carbonized iron-polyaniline/nickel graphene foam as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. At the lowest specific current of 1.0 A g−1 and cell potential of 2.2 V in 2.5M KNO3 electrolyte, the device displayed a high energy and power density of 34.6 W h kg−1 and 1100.0 W kg−1, respectively. The device further displayed long-term cycling stability with a capacitance retention of 98% over 10 000 galvanostatic charge–discharge cycles at 10 A g−1. This device displays the overall excellent electrochemical performance.
Language brokering by young adults
Authors: Martínez-Gómez Aída
Published: June 2020

This study explores the “who, what, where, and how” of language brokering as performed by young adults. Given that the backgrounds of child language brokers merge with the socialization processes that encompass early adulthood, their potentially unique experiences may reveal valuable information about language brokering that can contribute to the advancement of academic, professional, and educational endeavors. This study examines the ontological narratives of 21 college-age language brokers in the United States to illustrate if and how their insights expand the limits of traditional views of interpreter-mediated interaction (e.g., in terms of settings, communication channels, degree of active participation).
Enhanced H-H binding and consequent H-aggregation around dislocation in α-Fe lattice
Authors: Cui Yanguang , Hu Chuanzhu , Yu Ping , Xie Dongyue , Kong Lingti , Rong Yonghua , Wen Mao , Zou Jianxin
Published: June 2020

H-H binding energies in tetragonal and octahedral sites (TS & OS) of α-Fe lattice were calculated by density functional theory (DFT) under correction of elastic energy. Strong attractive interactions were identified as H atoms were incorporated in 3rd and 4th nearest OS neighbors. OS-type H-aggregated clusters with binding energies exceeding 200 meV were identified. Monte Carlo simulation of H-loading indicates abnormal H-aggregation behavior around a 1/2[111]

(
10

1
¯

)

edge dislocation in relation with the enhanced H-H binding specifically in OS of α-Fe lattice.
Methane emissions from on-road vehicles in China: a case study in an urban tunnel
Authors: Zhang Yanli , Huang Xiaoqing , Luo Shilu , Pei Chenglei , Huang Zuzhao , Wang Yujun , Zhang Zhou , Xiao Shaoxuan , Song Wei , Wang Xinming
Published: June 2020

Reducing emissions of methane (CH4) in developed regions and urban areas is a practical way to curb the unexpected surge in global CH4 levels in recent decades. Traffic emissions are among the important anthropogenic CH4 emission sources in megacities, yet CH4 emissions from on-road vehicles are less characterized and not well addressed. Based on tunnel tests in an urban tunnel in south China, a real-world emission factor (EF) of CH4 was measured to be 0.26 ± 0.03 g·km−1 (mean ±95% C.I.) for on-road vehicle fleet which including gasoline vehicles, diesel vehicles, and liquefied petroleum gas vehicles, with an average CH4/CO2 mass ratio of 40.6E-5 g·g−1, and CH4 could account for 1.3% of vehicle CO2-equivalent emissions. Using the measured CH4/CO2 ratio and available automobile CO2 emission estimates, traffic CH4 emissions in 2014 could have reached 333 Gg and represented 0.6% of total anthropogenic CH4 emissions in China, approximately four times the previous reported value of 79 Gg. Our results indicate that improving energy efficiency would have co-benefits for reducing traffic emissions of CH4, as observed EFs of CH4 are positively correlated with that of CO2, and over 90% of traffic CH4 emissions in China could be avoided if the traffic CH4/CO2 ratio can be an order of magnitude lower as previously observed in a tunnel in Switzerland.
Laser printed metal halide perovskites
Authors: Tyznik Colin , Lamport Zachary A , Sorli Jeni , Becker-Koch David , Vaynzof Yana , Loo Yueh-Lin , Jurchescu Oana D
Published: June 2020

Hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites enable the production of semiconductor devices at low cost from solution processing. Their remarkable structural versatility offers unique and diverse physical properties, leading to their incorporation in a wide variety of applications. One major limitation is the significant negative environmental impact associated with developing perovskite devices; common solvents used in perovskite film deposition are highly toxic, which represents a barrier to the transfer to an industrial setting of the perovskite technology. Here we report on the fabrication and characterisation of the first laser printed organic–inorganic perovskite films. The method is solvent-free, scalable and low-cost, allowing fast deposition over large areas and with minimal material waste. We show that the laser printed perovskite films are crystalline and exhibit electrical properties on par with single crystals, despite the fact that the microstructure consists of randomly oriented crystallites. The toner used during printing is designed for optimal film transfer and the vertical separation of its components results in a segregation of the perovskite film in the middle of the stack, therefore also encapsulating the perovskite layer, a process that yields a remarkable resilience to defect formation upon environmental exposure.
Predicted strong coupling of solid-state spins via a single magnon mode
Authors: Candido Denis R , Fuchs Gregory D , Johnston-Halperin Ezekiel , Flatté Michael E
Published: June 2020

We propose an approach to realize a hybrid quantum system composed of a diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center spin coupled to a magnon mode of the low-damping, low-moment organic ferrimagnet vanadium tetracyanoethylene. We derive an analytical expression for the spin-magnon cooperativity as a function of NV position under a micron-scale perpendicularly magnetized disk, and show that, surprisingly, the cooperativity will be higher using this magnetic material than in more conventional materials with larger magnetic moments, due to in part to the reduced demagnetization field. For reasonable experimental parameters, we predict that the spin-magnon-mode coupling strength is g ∼ 2π×10 kHz. For isotopically pure 12C diamond we predict strong coupling of an NV spin to the unoccupied magnon mode, with cooperativity

C

λ

=
15

for a wide range of NV spin locations within the diamond, well within the spatial precision of NV center implantation. Thus our proposal describes a practical pathway for single-spin-state-to-single-magnon-occupancy transduction and for entangling NV centers over micron length scales.
3D-printed fuel-cell bipolar plates for evaluating flow-field performance
Authors: Piri Hossein , Bi Xiaotao T , Li Hui , Wang Haijiang
Published: June 2020

In the last decade, many researchers have focused on developing fuel-cell flow-field designs that homogeneously distribute reactants with an optimum pressure drop. Most of the previous studies are numerical simulations and the few experimental studies conducted have used very simple flow-field geometries due to the limitations of the conventional fabrication techniques. 3D printing is an excellent rapid prototyping method for prototyping bipolar plates (BPPs) to perform experiments on new flow-field designs. The present research investigates the applicability of different 3D-printed BPPs for studying fluid-dynamic behaviour. State-of-the-art flow-field designs are fabricated using PolyJet 3D printing, stereolithographic apparatus (SLA) 3D printing and laser-cutter technologies, and the pressure-drop and velocity profiles are measured for each plate. The results demonstrate that SLA BPPs have great promise in serving as a screening tool in modifying flow-field design with a small feature size.
Autophagy and Tumor Database: ATdb, a novel database connecting autophagy and tumor
Authors: Chen Kelie , Yang Dexin , Zhao Fan , Wang Shengchao , Ye Yao , Sun Wenjie , Lu Haohua , Ruan Zhi , Xu Jinming , Wang Tianru , Lu Guang , Wang Liming , Shi Yu , Zhang Honghe , Wu Han , Lu Weiguo , Shen Han-Ming , Xia Dajing , Wu Yihua
Published: June 2020

Autophagy is an essential cellular process that is closely implicated in diverse pathophysiological processes and a variety of human diseases, especially tumors. Autophagy is regarded as not only an anti-cancer process in tumorigenesis but also a pro-tumor process in progression and metastasis according to current research. It means the role of autophagy in tumor is considered to be complex, controversial and context dependent. Hence, a comprehensive database is of great significance to obtain an in-depth understanding of such complex correlations between autophagy and tumor. To achieve this objective, here we developed the Autophagy and Tumor Database (named as ATdb, http://www.bigzju.com/ATdb/#/) to compile the published information concerning autophagy and tumor research. ATdb connected 25 types of tumors with 137 genes required for autophagy-related pathways, containing 219 population filters, 2650 hazard ratio trend plots, 658 interacting microRNAs, 266 interacting long non-coding RNAs, 155 post-translational modifications, 298 DNA methylation records, 331 animal models and 70 clinical trials. ATdb could enable users to search, browse, download and carry out efficient online analysis. For instance, users can make prediction of autophagy gene regulators in a context-dependent manner and in a precise subpopulation and tumor subtypes. Also, it is feasible in ATdb to cluster tumors into distinguished groups based on the gene-related long non-coding RNAs to gain novel insights into their potential functional implications. Thus, ATdb offers a powerful online database for the autophagy community to explore the complex world of autophagy and tumor.

Database URL: http://www.bigzju.com/ATdb/#/
Injunctive Relief under Anti-monopoly Law for the Holders of SEPs
Authors: Tang Yaojia , Tang Chunhui
Published: June 2020

In this article we develop a simple economic model to analyse the effects of injunctions obtained by the holders of standard essential patents (SEPs), which shows that patent hold-ups involve two types of behaviours in the context of SEP-encumbered fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) commitments. One is general trading hold-up, which is a phenomenon described in transaction cost economics; the other is an abuse of market power prohibited by anti-trust law and/or competition policy. Therefore, it is utterly vital to identify the proper role of private governance and anti-trust intervention. A FRAND commitment does not include a waiver of the right of the holder of an SEP to seek injunctions. The holder of an SEP still can obtain injunctions. However, the granting of injunctions for holders of SEPs should be limited in special circumstances, so as to balance the interests of patentee and user. The holder of an SEP seeking an injunction against a willing licensee may not necessarily constitute an abuse of dominance; anti-trust scrutiny needs to pay much attention to anti-competitive effects. China’s Patent Law lacks provisions regarding injunctive relief. China’s Civil Procedure Law is vague with regard to the granting of injunctions, as are relevant judicial interpretations by the Supreme People’s Court. The decision in InterDigital and the draft of the Anti-monopoly Guidelines (2017) in China demonstrate there are some issues which need  to be resolved for the Anti-monopoly Law and the enforcement thereof.
Saving Ireland in Juteopolis: Gender, Class and Diaspora in the Irish Ladies’ Land League
Authors: Whelehan Niall
Published: June 2020

First established in New York in 1880, the Irish Ladies’ Land League soon had branches across Ireland, the USA, Britain, Canada and Australasia and represented an unprecedented advance in Irish women’s political activism. In Dundee, Scotland the organization found a particularly receptive environment due to the distinctive gender balance of the Irish community there, with working-class women a large majority. This article analyses how a transnational movement translated into a local setting and how emigrants’ activism was shaped by factors of class, gender and religion. The circulation of mobile agitators and newspapers connected local branches in Dundee with the wider world of the Irish land reform movement, and this article seeks to uncover a more textured picture of the people who collected funds, attended rallies, and who are too often considered in the plural, as anonymous supporters grouped together under ethnic or political banners. The picture that emerges challenges existing views of the Ladies’ Land League as a predominantly middle-class affair. In Dundee the members were overwhelmingly working-class and their harsh experiences in the city’s jute industry shaped their activism. Local Catholic networks and ideas of religious humanitarianism contributed significantly to the branches, yet clergymen did not direct their activities, rather they responded to women’s mobilization.
AbGRI4, a novel antibiotic resistance island in multiply antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates
Authors: Chan Agnes P , Choi Yongwook , Clarke Thomas H , Brinkac Lauren M , White Richard C , Jacobs Michael R , Bonomo Robert A , Adams Mark D , Fouts Derrick E
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To investigate the genomic context of a novel resistance island (RI) in multiply antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates and global isolates.

Methods

Using a combination of long and short reads generated from the Oxford Nanopore and Illumina platforms, contiguous chromosomes and plasmid sequences were determined. BLAST-based analysis was used to identify the RI insertion target.

Results

Genomes of four multiply antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii clinical strains, from a US hospital system, belonging to prevalent MLST ST2 (Pasteur scheme) and ST281 (Oxford scheme) clade F isolates were sequenced to completion. A class 1 integron carrying aadB (tobramycin resistance) and aadA2 (streptomycin/spectinomycin resistance) was identified. The class 1 integron was 6.8 kb, bounded by IS26 at both ends, and embedded in a new target location between an α/β-hydrolase and a reductase. Due to its novel insertion site and unique RI composition, we suggest naming this novel RI AbGRI4. Molecular analysis of global A. baumannii isolates identified multiple AbGRI4 RI variants in non-ST2 clonal lineages, including variations in the resistance gene cassettes, integron backbone and insertion breakpoints at the hydrolase gene.

Conclusions

A novel RI insertion target harbouring a class 1 integron was identified in a subgroup of ST2/ST281 clinical isolates. Variants of the RI suggested evolution and horizontal transfer of the RI across clonal lineages. Long- and short-read hybrid assembly technology completely resolved the genomic context of IS-bounded RIs, which was not possible using short reads alone.
Validation of Acrylic Paint as a Marking Technique for Examining Mating Success of the Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)
Authors: Jones Brittny M , Tomberlin Jeffery K
Published: June 2020

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is mass produced worldwide for use in waste management and the production of an alternative protein for use as feed. However, few publications have explored its adult behavior, particularly mating, as a means to optimize egg production in colony. In addition, there is limited knowledge of appropriate marking techniques to explore the mating behavior of this insect. The goal of this study was to validate water-based acrylic paint pens as a possible marking tool for behavioral studies with adult black soldier flies. Adult black soldier flies (<24-h old) were marked with green, gold, red, or white acrylic paint. Adult longevity, as well as the number of matings (mating success) were recorded for each treatment. Regardless of marking, 1) adult females lived ~7 d, whereas males lived 9 d, 2) mating frequency peaked 2 d after initiation of the experiment, 3) approximately 30% of adults across treatments were recorded mating, and 4) egg production and hatch rate were not affected. This marking technique did not affect the parameters measured, suggesting that it is suitable for experiments requiring a reliable marking technique.
Morrisons off the hook as employers welcome clarity on vicarious liability for data breach
Authors: Flett Emma , Wilson Jenny , Gover Rebecca
Published: June 2020

The UK Supreme Court has granted the appeal of supermarket chain WW Morrison Supermarkets plc (Morrisons), finding that the Court of Appeal had misunderstood a number of the governing principles of vicarious liability. Considering Morrisons’ liability afresh, the Supreme Court clarified that the motive and authorized acts of the wrongdoing employee are highly material to a finding of vicarious liability, whilst a causal chain of events is not. Whilst Morrisons’ victory is a welcome clarification on the law of vicarious liability, data controllers should take note: had Morrisons not been a sophisticated data controller paying particular attention to its obligations under data protection legislation, the outcome would likely have been more of a cautionary tale.
Using Design Interventions to Develop Communication Solutions for Integrated Pest Management
Authors: Mueller Daren S , Stewart Austin , Clifford Ryan , Iles Laura , Sisson Adam J , Staker Jay
Published: June 2020

Iowa State University’s (ISU) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program partnered with the ISU College of Design (COD) to use Design Thinking and other practical design methodologies and theories to identify and develop approaches to address IPM extension and communication issues. ISU IPM met with agriculture industry, program colleagues, and ISU COD faculty to discuss IPM-related needs in agriculture and to determine the program’s primary challenges. ISU COD faculty developed a two-semester course for undergraduate students, allocating various resources to solve these challenges. Undergraduates in the course, as the primary agents and problem solvers, developed various strategies the IPM program and its colleagues could implement. A model of interdisciplinary collaboration was developed, where design and science may function as equal partners in a design education setting. In our collaboration, the partners bought into a design-led process-based methodology that began with identifying IPM communication needs. This project resulted in unique design interventions to communicate IPM to stakeholders and the public, as well as created a model for interdisciplinary cooperation that can be exported to fields outside of agriculture and IPM.
Antidepressant Use in Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Danish Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Lund Lasse Wegener , Winther Jeanette Falck , Cederkvist Luise , Rechnitzer Catherine , Dalton Susanne Oksbjerg , Appel Charlotte Weiling , Schmiegelow Kjeld , Johansen Christoffer
Published: June 2020

Siblings of children with cancer experience severe stress early in life. Most studies of mental health problems in these siblings are limited by being small, cross-sectional, or self-reporting. In a population-based cohort study, we investigated the risk for antidepressant use by linking several nationwide, population-based registries comparing 6644 siblings of children diagnosed with cancer from 1991-2009 with 128 436 population-based sibling comparisons using the Cox proportional hazards model. Irrespective of cancer type, no increased risk of antidepressant use in siblings of children with cancer was found (hazard ratio = 1.00, 95% confidence interval = 0.91 to 1.11). However, data suggested that siblings being young at cancer diagnosis had an increased risk (2-sided Ptrend = .01). Interaction analyses showed no modifying effect of parental socioeconomic position or antidepressant use. Findings from this study with a very low risk of bias are reassuring and important for families facing childhood cancer and for clinicians counseling these families.
National Lung Cancer Screening Utilization Trends in the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Lewis Jennifer A , Samuels Lauren R , Denton Jason , Edwards Gretchen C , Matheny Michael E , Maiga Amelia , Slatore Christopher G , Grogan Eric , Kim Jane , Sherrier Robert H , Dittus Robert S , Massion Pierre P , Keohane Laura , Nikpay Sayeh , Roumie Christianne L
Published: June 2020

Background

Many Veterans are high risk for lung cancer. Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is an effective strategy for lung cancer early detection in a high-risk population. Our objective was to describe and compare annual and geographic utilization trends for LDCT screening in the Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA).

Methods

A national retrospective cohort of screened Veterans from January 1, 2011 to May 31, 2018 was used to calculate annual and regional rates of initial LDCT utilization per 1000 eligible Veterans. We identified Veterans with a first LDCT exam using common procedure terminology codes G0297 or 71250 and described as “lung cancer screening,” “screening,” or “LCS.” The number of screen-eligible Veterans per year was calculated as unique Veterans aged 55 to 80 years seen at a Veterans Affairs medical center (VAMC) in that year, multiplied by 32% (estimated proportion with eligible smoking history). We present 95% confidence intervals (CI) for rates.

Results

Screened Veterans had a mean age of 66.1 years (standard deviation [SD] = 5.6); 95.5% male; 77.4% Caucasian. There were 119 300 LDCT exams, of which 80 819 (67.7%) were initial. Nationally, initial screens increased from 0 (95% CI = 0.00 to 0.00) in 2011 to 29.6 (95% CI = 29.26 to 29.88) scans per 1000 eligible Veterans in 2018 (Ptrend < .001). Initial screens increased over time within all geographic regions, most prominently in northeastern and Florida VAMCs.

Conclusion

VHA LDCT utilization increased from 2011 to 2018. However, overall utilization remained low. Future interventions are needed to increase lung cancer screening utilization among eligible Veterans.
Mucinous cystic neoplasm of the liver: a case report
Authors: Yeh John , Palamuthusingam Pranavan
Published: June 2020

A 50-year-old woman was investigated for epigastric pain. Imaging revealed a multilocular cyst with multiple thin septae within segment IV of the liver, measuring up to 140 mm in diameter. There was associated bile duct dilatation. Given the patient’s symptoms, the size of the cyst and malignant potential, a hemi-hepatectomy was performed. Histopathology demonstrated a cyst lined by columnar mucinous epithelium with underlying ovarian-type stroma. Therefore, the diagnosis was mucinous cystic neoplasm of the liver (MCN-L). MCN-L is a rare disease, and the presence of bile duct dilatation is an even rarer finding. This article presents a case report and review of literature of this entity.
Requests for Information and Sector Inquiries
Authors: Kellerbauer Manuel , Strouvali Konstantina
Published: June 2020

This chapter discusses the different types of requests for information in investigations. Simple requests for information are the most commonly used investigative measures. They are non-coercive measures, in that undertakings may choose not to answer and in that the absence of a reply does not in itself constitute proof of undertakings’ participation in an infringement. However, if they reply, they need to provide correct and non-misleading information. Decisions requesting information are coercive measures to the extent that the undertakings to which they are addressed are compelled to provide complete, correct, and non-misleading information within the time-limit set. Meanwhile, sector inquiries are initiated with a formal European Commission decision, allowing the Commission to investigate key sectors of the economy in order to deepen its understanding of how competition works in the markets and whether any malfunctioning of a given sector could be linked to concrete competition problems or possible infringements. The chapter then considers the substantive and procedural requirements for sending requests for information, as well as the duties and the rights of addressees of requests for information.
Interim Measures
Authors: Gál Gábor , Strouvali Konstantina
Published: June 2020

This chapter describes the imposition of interim measures and the procedure for imposing interim measures. In EU antitrust proceedings, interim measures aim to ensure the effectiveness of competition law enforcement. They do so by ensuring that while the investigation is being carried out, no serious and irreparable damage is caused that could not be remedied at the conclusion of the European Commission procedure. Article 8 of Regulation 1/2003 now expressly provides that in cases of urgency, due to the risk of serious and irreparable damage to competition, the Commission, acting on its own initiative, may by decision—on the basis of a prima facie finding of infringement—order interim measures. An important novelty brought about with this provision is that it makes the safeguarding of the public interest, rather than of individual rights, the focal point of interim measures. The chapter then explains the requirements for imposing interim measures, the type of measures that can be imposed, and the procedure for the adoption of interim measures.
Fines for Procedural Infringements and Periodic Penalties
Authors: Garrido Tatiana López , Papanikolaou Alexandros
Published: June 2020

This chapter analyses the European Commission’s practice concerning the imposition of fines for procedural infringements and the imposition of periodic penalties. Along with the competence to impose fines for substantive infringements of the competition rules, Regulation 1/2003 empowers the Commission to impose fines on undertakings (i) for failing to comply with their obligations to co-operate with the Commission in the course of antitrust proceedings or for obstructing its investigations, and (ii) for failing to comply with interim measures or binding commitments. In the latter case, fines are imposed in the form of lump sums or of periodic payments. Regulation 1/2003 also empowers the Commission to impose periodic penalties if undertakings fail to comply with Commission decisions. These powers, envisaged respectively in Article 23 and Article 24 of the Regulation, were conferred on the Commission in order to facilitate its task of supervising compliance with Articles 101 and 102 TFEU.
Big data or not enough? Zeta test reliability and the attribution of Henry VI
Authors: Barber Ros
Published: June 2020

In 2016, the editors of the New Oxford Shakespeare announced that certain Shakespeare plays could be attributed to co-authors, and certain anonymous plays to Shakespeare, on the basis of non-traditional attribution methods known collectively as computational stylistics, or stylometry. This article investigates the efficacy of a key algorithm used to attribute parts of the Henry VI plays to Christopher Marlowe, the Zeta method invented by John Burrows and adapted by Hugh Craig. Zeta, a test widely used in computational stylistics, is described by Gabriel Egan as ‘by some way the most powerful general-purpose authorship tool currently available’. This article offers extensive independent testing of Zeta. Following criticism of the existing method of Zeta analysis, this article introduces a new, statistically sound method for analysing Zeta results. It investigates a claim that the test is 99.9% reliable in differentiating Shakespeare’s style from Marlowe’s. Examining the conditions under which certain authors were ruled in or out of co-authorship of the Henry VI plays, it determines the effect of disparity in data set size on Zeta’s reliability, as well the effect of small data sets. Several test results confirm that Zeta is unduly influenced by genre. The article concludes that in the light of this study, the small canons of most Early Modern dramatists, particularly where they are genre-skewed like Marlowe’s, do not provide enough data for Zeta to be reliable
Distinct roles of structure-specific endonucleases EEPD1 and Metnase in replication stress responses
Authors: Sharma Neelam , Speed Michael C , Allen Christopher P , Maranon David G , Williamson Elizabeth , Singh Sudha , Hromas Robert , Nickoloff Jac A
Published: June 2020

Accurate DNA replication and segregation are critical for maintaining genome integrity and suppressing cancer. Metnase and EEPD1 are DNA damage response (DDR) proteins frequently dysregulated in cancer and implicated in cancer etiology and tumor response to genotoxic chemo- and radiotherapy. Here, we examine the DDR in human cell lines with CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of Metnase or EEPD1. The knockout cell lines exhibit slightly slower growth rates, significant hypersensitivity to replication stress, increased genome instability and distinct alterations in DDR signaling. Metnase and EEPD1 are structure-specific nucleases. EEPD1 is recruited to and cleaves stalled forks to initiate fork restart by homologous recombination. Here, we demonstrate that Metnase is also recruited to stalled forks where it appears to dimethylate histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36me2), raising the possibility that H3K36me2 promotes DDR factor recruitment or limits nucleosome eviction to protect forks from nucleolytic attack. We show that stalled forks are cleaved normally in the absence of Metnase, an important and novel result because a prior study indicated that Metnase nuclease is important for timely fork restart. A double knockout was as sensitive to etoposide as either single knockout, suggesting a degree of epistasis between Metnase and EEPD1. We propose that EEPD1 initiates fork restart by cleaving stalled forks, and that Metnase may promote fork restart by processing homologous recombination intermediates and/or inducing H3K36me2 to recruit DDR factors. By accelerating fork restart, Metnase and EEPD1 reduce the chance that stalled replication forks will adopt toxic or genome-destabilizing structures, preventing genome instability and cancer. Metnase and EEPD1 are overexpressed in some cancers and thus may also promote resistance to genotoxic therapeutics.
How Early Auditory Experience Affects Children’s Ability to Learn Spoken Words
Authors: Houston Derek M. , Chen Chi-hsin , Monroy Claire , Castellanos Irina
Published: June 2020

It is generally assumed that deaf and hard-of-hearing children’s difficulties in learning novel words stem entirely from impaired speech perception. Degraded speech perception makes words more confusable, and correctly recognizing words clearly plays an important role in word learning. However, recent findings suggest that early auditory experience may affect other factors involved in linking the sound patterns of words to their referents. This chapter reviews those findings and discusses possible factors that may be affected by early auditory experience and, in turn, also affect the ability to learn word-referent associations. These factors include forming representations for the sound patterns of words, encoding phonological information into memory, sensory integration, and quality of language input. Overall, we learn that in order to understand and to help mitigate the difficulties deaf and hard-of-hearing children face in learning spoken words after cochlear implantation, we must look well beyond speech perception.
Dissociating the Impact of Auditory Access and Language Access in Deaf Children’s Cognitive Development
Authors: Hall Matthew L.
Published: June 2020

Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children have been claimed to lag behind their hearing peers in various domains of cognitive development, especially in implicit learning, executive function, and working memory. Two major accounts of these deficits have been proposed: one based on a lack of auditory access, and one based on a lack of language access. This chapter reviews these theories in relation to the available evidence and concludes that there is little evidence of direct effects of diminished auditory access on cognitive development that could not also be explained by diminished language access. Specifically, reports of deficits in implicit learning are not broadly replicable. Some differences in executive function do stem from deafness itself but are not necessarily deficits. Where clinically relevant deficits in executive function are observed, they are inconsistent with the predictions of accounts based on auditory access, but consistent with accounts based on language access. Deaf–hearing differences on verbal working memory tasks may indicate problems with perception and/or language, rather than with working memory. Deaf–hearing differences on nonverbal tasks are more consistent with accounts based on language access, but much more study is needed in this area. The chapter concludes by considering the implications of these findings for psychological theory and for clinical/educational practice and by identifying high-priority targets for future research.
The Neurobiology of Reading Differs for Deaf and Hearing Adults
Authors: Emmorey Karen
Published: June 2020

Recent neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies reveal how the reading system successfully adapts when phonological codes are relatively coarse-grained due to reduced auditory input during development. New evidence suggests that the optimal end-state for the reading system may differ for deaf versus hearing adults and indicates that certain neural patterns that are maladaptive for hearing readers may be beneficial for deaf readers. This chapter focuses on deaf adults who are signers and have achieved reading success. Although the left-hemisphere-dominant reading circuit is largely similar in both deaf and hearing individuals, skilled deaf readers exhibit a more bilateral neural response to written words and sentences than their hearing peers, as measured by event-related potentials and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Skilled deaf readers may also rely more on neural regions involved in semantic processing than hearing readers do. Overall, emerging evidence indicates that the neural markers for reading skill may differ for deaf and hearing adults.
Cognitive Development
Authors: Edwards Lindsey C. , Isquith Peter K.
Published: June 2020

The impact of cochlear implants (CIs) on the development of speech and language skills in deaf children is very well documented. The influence of CIs on the development of other cognitive abilities has been much less well researched and the findings are more variable. This chapter first briefly considers the evidence for changes in overall intellectual ability as demonstrated by global measures of IQ. This is followed by discussion of the evidence on the impact of CIs on the specific cognitive functions of attention, memory, and reasoning, each in terms of both verbal and visual/nonverbal processing. Evidence regarding the behavioral manifestations of these cognitive processes is also reviewed, all from preschool age through to college-age individuals. Finally, the implications for assessment of, and intervention for, differences in cognitive development as a result of cochlear implantation are briefly considered.
Translation at International Organizations
Authors: Prieto Ramos Fernando
Published: June 2020

This chapter explores how the legal functions of international organizations condition the scope and properties of translation-mediated multilingualism as implemented in three representative settings: the European Union, the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. To this end, a multimethod interdisciplinary approach is applied encompassing various analyses of institutional text corpora, legal instruments, language policy documents and interviews with translation service managers. The data obtained provide evidence of the interconnection and variations of underlying legal, textual and linguistic hierarchies, together with pragmatic and political factors, as reflected in translation directionality, strategies and quality assurance, and in multilingual text interpretation. It is argued that these aspects serve to reveal the “depth” of institutional multilingualism beyond the “breadth” of language coverage.