bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opportunities for recycling in an automated clinical chemistry laboratory produced by the comprehensive metabolic panel
Authors: Glover Raeshun T , Booth Garrett S , Wiencek Joesph R
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Clinical laboratories perform a variety of tests for which biomedical waste is a byproduct. Of these, the complete metabolic panel (CMP) produces a significant portion of this waste. We investigated specific waste subsequent to performing CMPs over the course of a year and analyzed what percentage of the waste produced could have been recycled.

Methods

Patient testing volumes were collected retrospectively from July 14, 2021, to July 14, 2022, for individual assays within the CMP performed on Abbott Alinity c instruments (n = 6). The average weights for components of the reagent kits, which includes wedges, boxes, and package inserts, were calculated. These weights, in conjunction with total patient testing volumes, were used to determine the amount of waste produced.

Results

A total of 1089.2 kg of reagent kit waste was estimated to be produced by performing CMPs throughout a year. Of this waste, most (855.5 kg) was not recyclable, but a subset (233.6 kg) was. Overall, 21.4% of the total specific waste weight was found to be recyclable.

Conclusions

The CMP contributes a substantial amount of waste when performed on chemistry analyzer platforms in the clinical laboratory. Paper inserts and cardboard packaging, however, presented opportunities for recycling.
Mating assortment and the strength of sexual selection in a polyandrous population of Cook Strait giant weta
Authors: Kelly Clint D , Gwynne Darryl T
Published: April 2023

Polyandry can profoundly affect the strength of pre-copulatory sexual selection acting on males because each additional mate acquired by a female means that, all else being equal, a male’s paternity share declines. However, accruing additional mates could benefit male fitness if males with greater mating success also tend to have less promiscuous females as partners. If this is indeed the case, then males should experience strong sexual selection to acquire more mates. We tested these predictions by collecting detailed mating data on male and female Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa) in the wild via daily radio tracking. Our sexual network-based approach indeed revealed that the most polygynous male D. rugosa mated the least polyandrous females. This finding therefore suggests that the most successful males likely face lower intensities of sperm competition and so should be selected to accrue more mates. Further, our selection analysis revealed significant pre-copulatory sexual selection on males with those having relatively smaller body size, lighter body mass, and longer legs accruing more mates than otherwise. Thus, it appears that both pre- and post-copulatory episodes of sexual selection reinforce the same male phenotype.
Intraoperative functional remapping unveils evolving patterns of cortical plasticity
Authors: Ng Sam , Valdes Pablo A , Moritz-Gasser Sylvie , Lemaitre Anne-Laure , Duffau Hugues , Herbet Guillaume
Published: April 2023

The efficiency with which the brain reorganizes following injury not only depends on the extent and the severity of the lesion, but also on its temporal features. It is established that diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGG), brain tumours with a slow-growth rate, induce a compensatory modulation of the anatomo-functional architecture, making this kind of tumours an ideal lesion model to study the dynamics of neuroplasticity. Direct electrostimulation (DES) mapping is a well-tried procedure used during awake resection surgeries to identify and spare cortical epicentres which are critical for a range of functions. Because DLGG is a chronic disease, it inevitably relapses years after the initial surgery, and thus requires a second surgery to reduce tumour volume again. In this context, contrasting the cortical mappings obtained during two sequential neurosurgeries offers a unique opportunity to both identify and characterize the dynamic (i.e. re-evolving) patterns of cortical re-arrangements.

Here, we capitalized on an unprecedented series of 101 DLGG patients who benefited from two DES-guided neurosurgeries usually spaced several years apart, resulting in a large DES dataset of 2082 cortical sites. All sites (either non-functional or associated with language, speech, motor, somatosensory and semantic processing) were recorded in Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) space. Next, we used a multi-step approach to generate probabilistic neuroplasticity maps that reflected the dynamic rearrangements of cortical mappings from one surgery to another, both at the population and individual level.

Voxel-wise neuroplasticity maps revealed regions with a relatively high potential of evolving reorganizations at the population level, including the supplementary motor area (SMA, Pmax = 0.63), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC, Pmax = 0.61), the anterior ventral premotor cortex (vPMC, Pmax = 0.43) and the middle superior temporal gyrus (STG Pmax = 0.36). Parcel-wise neuroplasticity maps confirmed this potential for the dlPFC (Fisher's exact test, PFDR-corrected = 6.6 × 10−5), the anterior (PFDR-corrected = 0.0039) and the ventral precentral gyrus (PFDR-corrected = 0.0058). A series of clustering analyses revealed a topological migration of clusters, especially within the left dlPFC and STG (language sites); the left vPMC (speech arrest/dysarthria sites) and the right SMA (negative motor response sites). At the individual level, these dynamic changes were confirmed for the dlPFC (bilateral), the left vPMC and the anterior left STG (threshold free cluster enhancement, 5000 permutations, family-wise error-corrected).

Taken as a whole, our results provide a critical insight into the dynamic potential of DLGG-induced continuing rearrangements of the cerebral cortex, with considerable implications for re-operations.
Farewell to Compulsory Jurisdiction
Authors: Ulfstein Geir
Published: April 2023

While a significant number of states have deposited declarations under article 36(2) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice recognizing the ICJ’s compulsory jurisdiction over their disputes, the United Kingdom is the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that maintains such a declaration. However, the UK’s recent reservations undermine its declaration’s ability to ensure compulsory jurisdiction over the UK’s disputes. This article first interrogates whether the UK’s reservations exclude in practice the jurisdiction of the Court, such that none of the permanent members of the Security Council are subject to compulsory jurisdiction under the optional clause. Second, it contemplates the reasons underlying the UK’s new approach to its declaration, exploring whether these are peculiar to the UK, or are rather indicative of a broader backlash against international courts and tribunals.
“Are you me?”: understanding the political potential of feminist identity spaces on Reddit during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Laughlin Corrina , Li Meng
Published: April 2023

In this study we performed a critical discourse analysis of the r/workingmoms subreddit during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic (March–May 2020). Using this data we argue that Reddit’s platform can facilitate what we schematize as feminist “identity spaces.” We use the heuristic of “spaces” rather than “networks” or “online communities” and connect this theorization to our understanding of the discursive work on the subreddit which facilitates in-group communication and situated structural critique. However, we also interrogate the political possibilities of identity spaces and understand them as a symptom of what Angela McRobbie has called “the cultural politics of disarticulation.” Ultimately, we argue that the same platform affordances that allow for identity spaces to thrive also limit their political potency and we frame this within Lauren Berlant’s theorization of “cruel optimism.”
Combined cold, heat and power (CCHP) systems and fuel cells for CCHP applications: a topological review
Authors: Bayendang Nganyang Paul , Kahn Mohamed Tariq , Balyan Vipin
Published: April 2023

As the basis for the study, this manuscript was written at a time when the energy crisis is affecting most parts of the world and most especially the prevailing and rampant electricity crisis in most developing countries. As a result, 50 combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) systems studies were reviewed, which included the internal combustion engine (ICE), Stirling engine, biomass, micro turbine, solar and biogas, photovoltaic (PV) and gas turbine, wind turbine, PV and micro-turbine, solid-oxide and phosphoric-acid fuel cells (FCs), ICE and thermoelectric generator, low-temperature (LT) polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), inlet air throttling gas turbine, ground source heat pump (GSHP) micro gas turbine and PV, ICE and GSHP, ICE with dehumidification and refrigeration, 5-kW PEM FC, thermoelectric cooler and LT-PEM FC, Stirling engine and molten carbonate FC, thermo-acoustic organic Rankine cycle, solar-thermal, geothermal, integrated energy systems, power- and heat-storage systems, energy-conversion systems, thermodynamic and thermo-economic optimization strategies, working fluids based on hydrogen, helium as well as ammonia, H2O, CO2 etc. Of these reviewed CCHP systems, FC-based CCHP systems were of the greatest interest, particularly the PEM FC. Consequently, FCs were further investigated, whereby the seven popular types of FCs identified and classified were summarily compared with each other, from which the PEM FC was preferred due to its practical popularity. However, PEM FCs, like all FCs, are susceptible to the fuel-starvation phenomenon; therefore, six FC-assisted schemes were examined, from which the FC assisted with the supercapacitor and battery technique was the most widely applied. In sum, the significance of the study entails assorted CCHP systems, FCs, their highlights, their applications and their pros and cons in a single reference document that anyone can easily use to holistically understand the characteristics of the CCHP systems. The study concludes with our perspective, by which we formulate and propose an alternative innovative unique CCHP system model under research, which is based exclusively on green technologies: FCs, lithium-ion battery, ultracapacitor, thermoelectricity and an energy-management system using MATLAB®.
Evidence for adaptation of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) on large-thorn hawthorn, Crataegus macracantha, in Okanogan County, Washington State, USA
Authors: Yee Wee L , Milnes Joshua M , Goughnour Robert B , Bush Michael R , Ray Hood Glen , Feder Jeffrey L
Published: April 2023

The apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), was introduced from eastern North America into western North America via infested apples (Malus domestica Borkhausen) about 44 yr ago, where it subsequently adapted to 2 hawthorn species, Crataegus douglasii Lindley and C. monogyna Jacquin. Here, we test whether R. pomonella has also adapted to large-thorn hawthorn, Crataegus macracantha Loddiges ex Loudon, in Okanogan County, Washington State, USA. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, fruit of C. macracantha were shown to ripen in late September and were infested at rates from 0.7% to 3.0%. In laboratory rearing studies, large-thorn hawthorn flies from C. macracantha eclosed on average 9–19 days later than apple flies from earlier ripening apple (August–early September), consistent with large-thorn hawthorn flies having adapted to the later fruiting phenology of its host. In a laboratory no-choice test, significantly fewer (64.8%) large-thorn hawthorn than apple flies visited apples. In choice tests, greater percentages of large-thorn hawthorn than apple flies resided on and oviposited into C. macracantha versus apple fruit. Large-thorn hawthorn flies were also smaller in size than apple flies. Our results provide further support for the recursive adaptation hypothesis that R. pomonella has rapidly and independently specialized phenologically and behaviorally to different novel hawthorn hosts since its introduction into the Pacific Northwest of the USA, potentially leading to host race formation.
Political Activists as Free Riders: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment
Authors: Hager Anselm , Hensel Lukas , Hermle Johannes , Roth Christopher
Published: April 2023

How does a citizen’s decision to participate in political activism depend on the participation of others? We conduct a nationwide natural field experiment in collaboration with a major European party during a recent national election. In a party survey, we randomly provide canvassers with true information about the canvassing intentions of their peers. When learning that more peers participate in canvassing than previously believed, canvassers significantly reduce both their canvassing intentions and behaviour. An additional survey among party supporters underscores the importance of free-riding motives and reveals that there is strong heterogeneity in motives underlying supporters’ behavioural responses.
Continuity of care and treatment intensity at the end of life in Swiss cancer patients
Authors: Bähler Caroline , Näpflin Markus , Scherer Martin , Blozik Eva
Published: April 2023

Background

Continuity of care (COC) was shown to be associated with fewer hospitalizations. We aimed to evaluate whether COC was associated with intensive intervention(s) at the end of life (IEOL), a preference-sensitive outcome, in cancer patients.

Methods

The study is based on claims data of patients with incident use of anti-neoplastics in Switzerland. COC Index, Usual Provider Continuity score, Sequential Continuity index and Modified Modified Continuity Index were calculated based on consultations with the usual ambulatory care physician. Treatment intensity was evaluated in the last 6 months of life, and COC was evaluated in months 18–6 before death in those who died between 24 and 54 months after incident cancer. IEOL comprised life-sustaining interventions (cardiac catheterization, cardiac assistance device implantation, pulmonary artery wedge monitoring, cardiopulmonary resuscitation/cardiac conversion, gastrostomy, blood transfusion, dialysis, mechanical ventilator utilization and intravenous antibiotics) and measures specifically used in cancer patients (last dose of chemotherapy ≤14 days of death, a new chemotherapy regimen starting <30 days before death, ≥1 emergency visit in the last month of life, ≥1 hospital admission or spending >14 days in hospital in the last month of life and death in an acute-care hospital).

Results

All COC scores were inversely associated with the occurrence of an IEOL, as were older age, homecare nursing utilization and density of ambulatory care physicians. For COC Index, odds ratio was 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.37–0.83).

Conclusions

COC scores were consistently and inversely related to IEOL. The study supports efforts to improve COC for cancer patients at their end of life.
Trends in public attitudes to permitting cannabis for recreational use: analysis of Irish survey data since 2002
Authors: Mongan Deirdre , Millar Seán R , O’Dwyer Claire , Galvin Brian , Smyth Bobby P
Published: April 2023

Background

There has been considerable debate around the liberalization of cannabis laws in many countries. Given recent changes in cannabis policy, and the current discussion regarding cannabis legalization in Ireland, the aim of this study was to examine changes in attitudes over time towards permitting recreational cannabis use.

Methods

We analyzed data from Ireland’s 2002/03 (n = 4918); 2006/07 (n = 4967); 2010/11 (n = 5119); 2014/15 (n = 5937); 2019/20 (n = 3982) National Drug Prevalence Surveys. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with being in favour of the use of cannabis for recreational purposes.

Results

The results indicate that there is minority support for permitting recreational cannabis use, which ranged from 19.1% in 2006/07 to 29.9% in 2019/20. In multivariable analysis being male and living in Dublin were significant predictors of agreeing with recreational cannabis use, as were being either a recent or past cannabis user, knowing cannabis users, perceiving cannabis use as not being a great risk, and not disapproving of cannabis use. Subjects aged less than 35 years and those who had completed primary education only were significantly less likely to agree with permitting recreational cannabis use.

Conclusion

The results from this study indicate that there is minority support for allowing recreational cannabis use. Support was highest among recent cannabis users, consistent with previous studies. The relative lack of support for recreational cannabis use among younger respondents was surprising and warrants further research.
Climate-driven shifts in plant and fungal communities can lead to topsoil carbon loss in alpine ecosystems
Authors: Moravcová Andrea , Barbi Florian , Brabcová Vendula , Cajthaml Tomáš , Martinović Tijana , Soudzilovskaia Nadia , Vlk Lukáš , Baldrian Petr , Kohout Petr
Published: April 2023

Alpine tundra ecosystems suffer from ongoing warming-induced tree encroachment and vegetation shifts. While the effects of tree line expansion on the alpine ecosystem receive a lot of attention, there is also an urgent need for understanding the effect of climate change on shifts within alpine vegetation itself, and how these shifts will consequently affect soil microorganisms and related ecosystem characteristics such as carbon storage. For this purpose, we explored relationships between climate, soil chemistry, vegetation, and fungal communities across seven mountain ranges at 16 alpine tundra locations in Europe. Among environmental factors, our data highlighted that plant community composition had the most important influence on variation in fungal community composition when considered in combination with other factors, while climatic factors had the most important influence solely. According to our results, we suggest that rising temperature, associated with a replacement of ericoid-dominated alpine vegetation by non-mycorrhizal or arbuscular mycorrhizal herbs and grasses, will induce profound changes in fungal communities toward higher dominance of saprotrophic and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the expense of fungal root endophytes. Consequently, topsoil fungal biomass and carbon content will decrease.
Bridging the gap with bacterial art
Authors: Frankel Eve , Temple Jasmine , Dikener Eliz , Berkmen Mehmet
Published: April 2023

Living art made with bacteria is gaining global attention, spreading from laboratories into the public domain: from school STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) events to art galleries, museums, community labs, and ultimately to the studios of microbial artists. Bacterial art is a synthesis of science and art that can lead to developments in both fields. Through the ‘universal language of art’, many social and preconceived ideas—including abstract scientific concepts—can be challenged and brought to the public attention in a unique way. By using bacteria to create publicly accessible art pieces, the barriers between humans and microbes can be lessened, and the artificial separation of the fields of science and art may be brought one step closer. Here, we document the history, impact, and current moment in the field of microbiologically inspired art for the benefit of educators, students, and the interested public. We provide a comprehensive historical background and examples of ancient bacterial art from cave paintings to uses in modern synthetic biology, a simple protocol for conducting bacterial art in a safe and responsible manner, a discussion of the artificial separation of science and art, and the future implications of art made from living microbes.
An engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 increase the production of indole lactic acid in the gut
Authors: Dimopoulou Chrysoula , Bongers Mareike , Pedersen Mikael , Bahl Martin I , Sommer Morten O A , Laursen Martin F , Licht Tine R
Published: April 2023

The expanding knowledge of the health impacts of the metabolic activities of the gut microbiota reinforces the current interest in engineered probiotics. Tryptophan metabolites, in particular indole lactic acid (ILA), are attractive candidates as potential therapeutic agents. ILA is a promising compound with multiple beneficial effects, including amelioration colitis in rodent models of necrotizing enterocolitis, as well as improved infant immune system maturation. In this work, we engineered and characterized in vitro and in vivo an Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 strain that produces ILA. The 2-step metabolic pathway comprises aminotransferases native of E. coli and a dehydrogenase introduced from Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis. Our results show a robust engineered probiotic that produces 73.4 ± 47.2 nmol and 149 ± 123.6 nmol of ILA per gram of fecal and cecal matter, respectively, three days after colonization in a mouse model. In addition, hereby is reported an engineered-probiotic-related increase of ILA in the systemic circulation of the treated mice. This strain serves as proof of concept for the transfer of capacity to produce ILA in vivo and as ILA emerges as a potent microbial metabolite against gastrointestinal inflammation, further development of this strain offers efficient options for ILA-focused therapeutic interventions in situ.
Genome-based classification of Pedobacter polysacchareus sp. nov., isolated from Antarctic soil producing exopolysaccharide
Authors: Wang Wenjing , Mu Hongmei , Ren Xingtao , Ouyang Qingqing , Li Jing
Published: April 2023

A psychrotolerant bacterial strain, designated ZS13-49T, with strong extracellular polysaccharide synthesis ability was isolated from soil collected in Antarctica and subjected to polyphasic taxonomic and comparative genomics. Chemotaxonomic features, including fatty acids, and polar lipid profiles, support the assignment of strain ZS13-49T to the genus Pedobacter. 16S rRNA gene phylogeny demonstrates that strain ZS13-49T forms a well-supported separate branch as a sister clade to Pedobacter gandavensis LMG 31462T and is clearly separated from Pedobacter steynii DSM 19110T and Pedobacter caeni DSM 16990T. Phylogenetic analysis showed strain ZS13-49T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (99.9%) with P. gandavensis LMG 31462T. However, the digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH), average nucleotide identity (ANI) value and average amino identity (AAI) value between strain ZS13-49T and P. gandavensis LMG 31462T were 26.5%, 83.3%, and 87.5%, respectively. Phylogenomic tree and a comparative genomic analysis indicated distinct characteristics to distinguish strain ZS13-49T from the closely related species. The complete genome sequence of strain ZS13-49T consists of 5 830 353 bp with 40.61% G + C content. Genomic features of strain ZS13-49T adapted to Antarctic environment were also revealed. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genomic data, strain ZS13-49T could be assigned to a novel species within the genus Pedobacter for which the name Pedobacter polysacchareus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZS13-49T ( = CCTCC AB 2019394T = KCTC 72824T).
Pathogen vacuole membrane contact sites – close encounters of the fifth kind
Authors: Vormittag Simone , Ende Rachel J , Derré Isabelle , Hilbi Hubert
Published: April 2023

Vesicular trafficking and membrane fusion are well-characterized, versatile, and sophisticated means of ‘long range’ intracellular protein and lipid delivery. Membrane contact sites (MCS) have been studied in far less detail, but are crucial for ‘short range’ (10–30 nm) communication between organelles, as well as between pathogen vacuoles and organelles. MCS are specialized in the non-vesicular trafficking of small molecules such as calcium and lipids. Pivotal MCS components important for lipid transfer are the VAP receptor/tether protein, oxysterol binding proteins (OSBPs), the ceramide transport protein CERT, the phosphoinositide phosphatase Sac1, and the lipid phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns(4)P). In this review, we discuss how these MCS components are subverted by bacterial pathogens and their secreted effector proteins to promote intracellular survival and replication.
Maturases and Group II Introns in the Mitochondrial Genomes of the Deepest Jakobid Branch
Authors: Galindo Luis Javier , Prokina Kristina , Torruella Guifré , López-García Purificación , Moreira David
Published: April 2023

Ophirinina is a recently described suborder of jakobid protists (Excavata) with only one described species to date, Ophirina amphinema. Despite the acquisition and analysis of massive transcriptomic and mitogenomic sequence data from O. amphinema, its phylogenetic position among excavates remained inconclusive, branching as sister group either to all Jakobida or to all Discoba. From a morphological perspective, it has not only several typical jakobid features but also unusual traits for this group, including the morphology of mitochondrial cristae (sac-shaped to flattened-curved cristae) and the presence of two flagellar vanes. In this study, we have isolated, morphologically characterized, and sequenced genome and transcriptome data of two new Ophirinina species: Ophirina chinija sp. nov. and Agogonia voluta gen. et sp. nov. Ophirina chinija differs from O. amphinema in having rounded cell ends, subapically emerging flagella and a posterior cell protrusion. The much more distantly related A. voluta has several unique ultrastructural characteristics, including sac-shaped mitochondrial cristae and a complex “B” fiber. Phylogenomic analyses with a large conserved-marker dataset supported the monophyly of Ophirina and Agogonia within the Ophirinina and, more importantly, resolved the conflicting position of ophirinids as the sister clade to all other jakobids. The characterization of the mitochondrial genomes showed that Agogonia differs from all known gene-rich jakobid mitogenomes by the presence of two group II introns and their corresponding maturase protein genes. A phylogenetic analysis of the diversity of known maturases confirmed that the Agogonia proteins are highly divergent from each other and define distant families among the prokaryotic and eukaryotic maturases. This opens the intriguing possibility that, compared to other jakobids, Ophirinina may have retained additional mitochondrial elements that may help to understand the early diversification of eukaryotes and the evolution of mitochondria.
Slip model with supershear rupture velocity and stress drop for an M4.5 aftershock of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence
Authors: Fletcher Jon B , Erdem Jemile E , Baker Lawrence M
Published: April 2023

We use records from 24 stations with epicentral distances under 50 km to invert for slip and rupture time of an M4.5 aftershock of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence. Slip was determined by inverting source time functions (STFs), which were obtained at each station by decomposing a main shock, in this case an M4.5 aftershock, into a series of subevents using an empirical Green's function (eGf) as a template. The technique is iterative in the time domain with a positivity constraint. The STFs are characterized by a single pulse with durations that were longer in the southeast direction (about 1.0 s) and shorter in the northwest direction (about 0.6 s) suggesting rupture directivity to the northwest. We inverted the STFs for slip using a tomographic algorithm from that uses a high-frequency approximation to ray theory for the forward problem. The tomographic algorithm solves for slip and rupture time on a grid of points, which provides a better strategy for elucidating directivity than a model that uses subfaults. We solve for the strike-slip intensity on a near-vertical plane striking northwest, similar to the M7.1. After nine iterations, the slip model reduces the chi-squared estimate of fit by 68 per cent. Most of the slip is to the northwest, with a narrow well-defined peak in slip about 0.3 km NW of the origin. The peak is fairly symmetrical and about 1.5 km across its base. The model shows significant directivity to the northwest as suggested by the azimuthal variation of the STF pulse widths. Rupture velocity increases from nucleation to the peak in slip, becomes supershear, and then slows to about 3.2 km s−1, but there is little slip beyond 0.8 s contour in the forward direction. It appears that the peak in slip contributed stress to accelerate the rupture to the northwest. Low-level, parabolic-shaped slip patterns are seen to the northwest, which could be where the rupture front is dying out. Similar, but fainter curves facing the southeast suggests some bilateral rupture but the rupture to the northwest was stronger. Static stress drop was calculated using a formula for an elastic half-space giving a maximum of 35 bars at the peak in slip, but smoothing controls the absolute value. The average over a presumed fault plane is about 1.4 bars, much less than the peak. Slip and stress drop are highly heterogeneous.
Revisiting the Framework for Compulsory Licensing of Patents in the European Union – Reflections on the European Commission’s Initiative
Authors: Lamping Matthias , Batista Pedro Henrique D , Correa Juan Ignacio , Hilty Reto M , Kim Daria , Slowinski Peter R , Steinhart Miriam
Published: April 2023

Within the scope of its initiative on ‘Compulsory Licensing in the EU’,8 the European Commission launched a call for evidence on 1 April 2022 and a public consultation on 7 July 2022 with the aim of gathering views from stakeholders. The objective of this initiative is to explore the possibility of revising the framework for compulsory licensing in the EU to make it more ‘adequately prepared and coordinated to tackle future crises’.9 The authors of this position paper welcome the Commission’s attempt to reinvigorate the public discourse on this important subject.

Depending on the issue to be addressed and the extent of the Commission’s willingness to reform, different regulatory approaches are conceivable. Subject to compatibility with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, these include:

Rather than making concrete recommendations on the regulatory approach, this paper addresses selected aspects by way of a preliminary, non-exhaustive note on: the proposed reform’s scope and the grounds for a compulsory licence; the requirements of prior negotiation and licensing failure; government use; procedural matters; compulsory licences for patent applications and products; the relation with other regulations and sui generis regimes (i.e. trade secret protection, regulatory data protection and supplementary protection certificates); the concept of adequate remuneration; compulsory licences for European patents with unitary effect; and the exhaustion of products placed on the market under a compulsory licence.

– soft law measures, such as guidelines and recommendations;

– harmonisation of national laws (substantive and/or procedural);10

– judicial cooperation (i.e. mutual recognition of judgments and of decisions in extrajudicial cases);11

– centralisation of granting and/or judicial review competences;

– creation of a supranational compulsory licence;

– or any combination thereof.
Antecedents and consequences of fake news exposure: a two-panel study on how news use and different indicators of fake news exposure affect media trust
Authors: Lee Sangwon , Gil de Zúñiga Homero , Munger Kevin
Published: April 2023

Despite abundant studies on “fake news,” the long-term consequences have been less explored. In this context, this study examines the dynamic relationship between traditional and social news media use, fake news exposure—measured as perceived fake news exposure and exposure to actual fake news stories, and mainstream media trust. We found interesting patterns across two U.S. panel survey studies. First, we found that exposure to fake news—regardless of how we measured it—decreased people’s trust in the mainstream media. Yet, we also found that while both social media and traditional news use were positively associated with exposure to actual fake news stories, only social media news use was positively associated with perceived fake news exposure. This finding implies that while many people believe that social media is the culprit of fake news exposure, traditional news use may also contribute to people’s exposure to popular fake news stories.
Comparative court-packing
Authors: Kosař David , Šipulová Katarína
Published: April 2023

In the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency, a fierce discussion over expanding the US Supreme Court erupted. However, the expansion of a court’s membership is just one of several court-packing techniques. Moreover, the American debate is peculiar due to the unique features of the US Supreme Court. The aim of this article is to look at court-packing from a comparative perspective, to link the debates on tinkering with courts’ composition on both sides of the Atlantic, and to bring into the conversation a diverse scholarship in the Global North and the Global South. Based on experience from other parts of the world, this article provides a new, broader definition of court-packing that includes not only expansion of the court in question, but also emptying and swapping strategies. It then discusses the typical justifications for and dangers of court-packing and provides a prospective pragmatic mid-level theory that allows us to assess whether a given court-packing plan is legitimate. It argues that the legitimacy of court-packing has two dimensions: one focusing on whether court-packing pursues a legitimate aim (ius ad bellum of court-packing) and a second dimension exploring whether court-packing itself is implemented legitimately (ius in bello of court-packing). This means that even if politicians have a “just cause” for court-packing, their actions are still limited.
Associations of life course obesity with endometrial cancer in the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2)
Authors: Harvey Summer V , Wentzensen Nicolas , Bertrand Kimberly , Black Amanda , Brinton Louise A , Chen Chu , Costas Laura , Dal Maso Luigino , De Vivo Immaculata , Du Mengmeng , Garcia-Closas Montserrat , Goodman Marc T , Gorzelitz Jessica , Johnson Lisa , Lacey James V , Liao Linda , Lipworth Loren , Lissowska Jolanta , Miller Anthony B , O'Connell Kelli , O’Mara Tracy A , Ou Xiao , Palmer Julie R , Patel Alpa V , Paytubi Sonia , Pelegrina Beatriz , Petruzella Stacey , Prizment Anna , Rohan Thomas , Sandin Sven , Setiawan Veronica Wendy , Sinha Rashmi , Trabert Britton , Webb Penelope M , Wilkens Lynne R , Xu Wanghong , Yang Hannah P , Zheng Wei , Clarke Megan A
Published: April 2023

Background

Adult obesity is a strong risk factor for endometrial cancer (EC); however, associations of early life obesity with EC are inconclusive. We evaluated associations of young adulthood (18–21 years) and adulthood (at enrolment) body mass index (BMI) and weight change with EC risk in the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2).

Methods

We pooled data from nine case-control and 11 cohort studies in E2C2. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for BMI (kg/m2) in young adulthood and adulthood, with adjustment for BMI in adulthood and young adulthood, respectively. We evaluated categorical changes in weight (5-kg increments) and BMI from young adulthood to adulthood, and stratified analyses by histology, menopausal status, race and ethnicity, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use and diabetes.

Results

We included 14 859 cases and 40 859 controls. Obesity in adulthood (OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 2.47–3.29) and young adulthood (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.06–1.50) were positively associated with EC risk. Weight gain and BMI gain were positively associated with EC; weight loss was inversely associated with EC. Young adulthood obesity was more strongly associated with EC among cases diagnosed with endometrioid histology, those who were pre/perimenopausal, non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black, among never HRT users and non-diabetics.

Conclusions

Young adulthood obesity is associated with EC risk, even after accounting for BMI in adulthood. Weight gain is also associated with EC risk, whereas weight loss is inversely associated. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight over the life course is important for EC prevention efforts.
Drug-related problems as reason for emergency department visit: 3 years of the FARM-URG registry
Authors: Ruiz-Ramos Jesús ,   GRUPO REDFASTER-SEFH, Ruiz-Ramos Jesús , Perrín Rosario Santolaya , Martín Mª Ángeles García , Serrano Paloma Sempere , Riera Margarita Prats , Valls Montal Camil·la , Gutiérrez María del Mar García , Diaz Ana Such , Pinto Ana de Lorenzo , Hernanz Beatriz Calderón , Ramos Nuria Gala , Díez Montserrat Alonso , Sánchez Manuel Bonete , Palomares Ana Gines , Fernández Nerea , Ruiz Bárbara Úbeda , Pardo Ana Arancón , Cabet Macarena García-Trevijano , Pérez Álvaro Parea , Iglesias Manuel Busto , Borrego Ana Juanes , Clemente Yolanda Castellanos , del Mar García Gutiérrez María , Campaña Juan Manuel Real , Fernández Beatriz Somoza , Pérez Marina Fages , Altuna Ana Ayestarán , Banzo Josana Fierro , Candel Gregorio Romero , Ruiz-Morón Ana Fernández , García María Muñoz , Duat Antonia Balet , Martínez Raquel López , Alcon Emili Vallve , Fontelles Gemma Garreta , García Marta Maialen Mediavilla , Blanch Cristina Toro , Pérez Anna Fayet , Benito Anna Dordá , Rodríguez Marta , Albir Mª Jose Company , Rubio Celia Aparicio , Torres María Cuenca , Requejo Carmen Caballero , Grande Ana Suárez-Lledó , Casanova Javier Martínez , Vidal Jaime Barceló , Alarcón Alicia Rodríguez , Navarro Mª Rosario Ortíz , Blanco Cristina Calzón , Clavero Gemma Morla , Rodríguez Javier Ramos
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Drug-related problems (DRPs) are a well-known cause of emergency department (ED) visits. The objective of the FARM-URG project was to assess the prevalence of DRPs using an annual cross-sectional registry. Herein we report results of the first 3 years, indicating the prevalence of DRPs, drugs involved, and patient characteristics.

Methods

A point-prevalence multicenter study was conducted across EDs of hospitals in Spain. A specified day and hour was assigned to collect data from all adult patients attending the ED due to DRPs during three consecutive years. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, with data recorded in REDCap.

Key findings

Overall, 4752 patients were evaluated at 32 centres, of which 366 (7.7%) visited the ED due to DRPs, with a prevalence ranging from 0 to 16.7%. Antithrombotic drugs accounted for the highest number of DRPs, responsible for 96 (26.8%) episodes. Falls (n = 29; 8.0%) were the most frequent DRPs, followed by haemorrhage (n = 26; 7.12%). Furthermore, 198 (54.2%) reported DRPs were unrelated to medication errors, 80 (21.2%) were overdose errors, and 40 (11.0%) were attributed to poor treatment adherence. Of 366 DRPs-related visits, 54 (14.8%) were due to inappropriately prescribed drugs according to the STOPP-START criteria. Overall, 86 (23.5%) patients revisited the ED within 30 days of discharge, with 34 (9.4%) returning to the ED for new DRPs.

Conclusions

DRPs are frequently responsible for ED visits and are associated with a considerable percentage of post-discharge visits. The goal of the FARM-URG project is to periodically gather data to design and implement preventive measures.
The Normativity of Global Ordering Practices
Authors: Schmidt Dennis R , Williams John
Published: April 2023

This article integrates normative theoretical analysis into accounts of international order by connecting the study of international practice to debates about the nature and moral purpose of states’ social association. Combining English School and social practice theory with insights from scholarship on colonialism, race, and empire, we conceptualize international order as a dynamic, contested, but often stable and durable, set of patterns of practice and show how they set ethical reference points and privilege certain claims over others in relation to legitimate agency and morally appropriate conduct. To allow for a grounded normative analysis of global ordering practices, we connect actors’ capacity to exercise creative normative agency to debates about legitimate membership and morally appropriate conduct in international society. We highlight the normative significance of historical context for the study of international practices and illustrate our theoretical arguments with examples from various ordering practices, including international law, war, diplomacy, and economic practice, where actors frequently draw on foundational values to construct normative claims about inclusion and exclusion. At the same time, agents’ creative capacity to alter existing and create new rights and obligations has transformed our thinking, acting, and arguing about the nature and moral purpose of world order.
Characterization and optimization of bioluminescent bacterial cells immobilization process in calcium alginate hydrogel tablets
Authors: Harpaz Dorin , Zoabi Kosai , Eltzov Evgeni
Published: April 2023

Aims

Whole-cell biosensors are increasingly utilized in various applications. These platforms integrate cells with a signal measurement device. One of the main challenges in the development of such platforms is the immobilization matrix that is used to keep the cells stable, which also affects the portability of the device. In this study, a portable and simple immobilization of bioluminescent bacterial cells in calcium alginate hydrogel was examined.

Methods and results

The effects of several physical parameters were investigated (e.g. calcium alginate solution volume, drying, incubation time, mixing procedure, bacterial concentration, and tablet location within the cylinder). An alginate solution volume of 3 ml was preferred as well as the addition of 400 μl solution after the 15 min of compressing step and before the polymerization step. Also, a stirring mixing mode is favored over vortexing due to the creation of better homogenized tablets, as well as a bacterial concentration of 0.15 OD600nm that produced a high light response while maintaining a lower variance. Lastly, the findings showed a significantly higher response [induction factor (IF)] in the tablets using the optimized immobilization protocol (IF = 8.814) than the old one (IF = 1.979).

Conclusions

To conclude, bacterial cells immobilization in calcium alginate tablets provides improved sensitivity and storability.
Community- and data-driven homelessness prevention and service delivery: optimizing for equity
Authors: Kube Amanda R , Das Sanmay , Fowler Patrick J
Published: April 2023

Objective

The study tests a community- and data-driven approach to homelessness prevention. Federal policies call for efficient and equitable local responses to homelessness. However, the overwhelming demand for limited homeless assistance is challenging without empirically supported decision-making tools and raises questions of whom to serve with scarce resources.

Materials and Methods

System-wide administrative records capture the delivery of an array of homeless services (prevention, shelter, short-term housing, supportive housing) and whether households reenter the system within 2 years. Counterfactual machine learning identifies which service most likely prevents reentry for each household. Based on community input, predictions are aggregated for subpopulations of interest (race/ethnicity, gender, families, youth, and health conditions) to generate transparent prioritization rules for whom to serve first. Simulations of households entering the system during the study period evaluate whether reallocating services based on prioritization rules compared with services-as-usual.

Results

Homelessness prevention benefited households who could access it, while differential effects exist for homeless households that partially align with community interests. Households with comorbid health conditions avoid homelessness most when provided longer-term supportive housing, and families with children fare best in short-term rentals. No additional differential effects existed for intersectional subgroups. Prioritization rules reduce community-wide homelessness in simulations. Moreover, prioritization mitigated observed reentry disparities for female and unaccompanied youth without excluding Black and families with children.

Discussion

Leveraging administrative records with machine learning supplements local decision-making and enables ongoing evaluation of data- and equity-driven homeless services.

Conclusions

Community- and data-driven prioritization rules more equitably target scarce homeless resources.
Do releases of the mirid predator Macrolophus basicornis (Hemiptera: Miridae) together with the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) improve biological control of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in tomato?
Authors: Bueno Vanda H P , Montes Flavio C , Costaz Thibault , de Jong Peter W , Parra José R P , van Lenteren Joop C
Published: April 2023

During the past decade, the use of predatory mirids alone or combined with releases of egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma have been tested in Europe for biological control of the worldwide invasive pest, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). Here, we evaluated the control of this pest by the release of the Neotropical mirid Macrolophus basicornis (Stal), the Neotropic/Nearctic parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, and by combined releases of the predator and the parasitoid. Tests were conducted in greenhouse compartments during the summer and fall season. Each compartment contained 10 tomato plants in which only the pest was released or the pest with 1 or 2 natural enemies. Plant damage, and pest and natural enemy densities were checked weekly on one apical, medium, and bottom leaf of 5 plants. Both M. basicornis and T. pretiosum significantly reduced T. absoluta density when released alone. Combined releases resulted in a 10% higher reduction during the summer season, but not during the fall season. The damage caused by T. absoluta was significantly higher in control treatments than in all natural enemy treatments: at the end of the summer trial leaves were completely damaged in the control treatment, whereas only up to 25% leaf damage occurred in the natural enemy treatments. Combined releases did not result in lower damage than with releases of either M. basicornis or T. pretiosum. Practical aspects of single and combined releases are discussed.