bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A singularity removal method for coupled 1D–3D flow models
Authors: Gjerde Ingeborg G. , Kumar Kundan , Nordbotten Jan M.
Published: December 2019

In reservoir simulations, the radius of a well is inevitably going to be small compared to the horizontal length scale of the reservoir. For this reason, wells are typically modelled as lower-dimensional sources. In this work, we consider a coupled 1D–3D flow model, in which the well is modelled as a line source in the reservoir domain and endowed with its own 1D flow equation. The flow between well and reservoir can then be modelled in a fully coupled manner by applying a linear filtration law. The line source induces a logarithmic-type singularity in the reservoir pressure that is difficult to resolve numerically. We present here a singularity removal method for the model equations, resulting in a reformulated coupled 1D–3D flow model in which all variables are smooth. The singularity removal is based on a solution splitting of the reservoir pressure, where it is decomposed into two terms: an explicitly given, lower-regularity term capturing the solution singularity and some smooth background pressure. The singularities can then be removed from the system by subtracting them from the governing equations. Finally, the coupled 1D–3D flow equations can be reformulated so they are given in terms of the well pressure and the background reservoir pressure. As these variables are both smooth (i.e. non-singular), the reformulated model has the advantage that it can be approximated using any standard numerical method. The reformulation itself resembles a Peaceman well correction performed at the continuous level.
A parametric acceleration of multilevel Monte Carlo convergence for nonlinear variably saturated flow
Authors: Kumar Prashant , Rodrigo Carmen , Gaspar Francisco J. , Oosterlee Cornelis W.
Published: December 2019

We present a multilevel Monte Carlo (MLMC) method for the uncertainty quantification of variably saturated porous media flow that is modeled using the Richards equation. We propose a stochastic extension for the empirical models that are typically employed to close the Richards equations. This is achieved by treating the soil parameters in these models as spatially correlated random fields with appropriately defined marginal distributions. As some of these parameters can only take values in a specific range, non-Gaussian models are utilized. The randomness in these parameters may result in path-wise highly nonlinear systems, so that a robust solver with respect to the random input is required. For this purpose, a solution method based on a combination of the modified Picard iteration and a cell-centered multigrid method for heterogeneous diffusion coefficients is utilized. Moreover, we propose a non-standard MLMC estimator to solve the resulting high-dimensional stochastic Richards equation. The improved efficiency of this multilevel estimator is achieved by parametric continuation that allows us to incorporate simpler nonlinear problems on coarser levels for variance reduction while the target strongly nonlinear problem is solved only on the finest level. Several numerical experiments are presented showing computational savings obtained by the new estimator compared with the original MC estimator.
Expanding Clinical Phenotype and Novel Insights into the Pathogenesis of ICOS Deficiency
Authors: Abolhassani Hassan , El-Sherbiny Yasser M. , Arumugakani Gururaj , Carter Clive , Richards Stephen , Lawless Dylan , Wood Philip , Buckland Matthew , Heydarzadeh Marzieh , Aghamohammadi Asghar , Hambleton Sophie , Hammarström Lennart , Burns Siobhan O , Doffinger Rainer , Savic Sinisa
Published: December 2019

Background

Inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) deficiency has been categorized as a combined immunodeficiency often complicated by enteropathies, autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation, and malignancy. We report seven new patients and four novelICOSmutations resulting in a common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)–like phenotype and show that dysregulated IL-12 release, reduced cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA4) expression, and skewing towards a Th1-dominant phenotype are all associated with inflammatory complications in this condition.

Methods

A combination of whole exome and Sanger sequencing was used to identify novel mutations. Standard clinical and immunological evaluation was performed. FACS and ELISA-based assays were used to study cytokine responses and ICOS/ICOSL/CTLA4 expression following stimulation of whole blood and PBMCs with multiple TLR ligands, anti-CD3, and PHA.

Results

Four novel ICOS mutations included homozygous c.323_332del, homozygous c.451C>G, and compound heterozygous c.58+1G>A/c.356T>C. The predominant clinical phenotype was that of antibody deficiency associated with inflammatory complications in 4/7 patients. Six out of seven patients were treated with immunoglobulin replacement and one patient died from salmonella sepsis. All patients who were tested showed reduced IL-10 and IL-17 cytokine responses, normal IL-1β, IL6, and TNF release following LPS stimulation and highly elevated IL-12 production in response to combined LPS/IFNγ stimulation. This was associated with skewing of CD4+T cells towards Th1 phenotype and increased expression of ICOSL on monocytes. Lastly, reduced CTLA4 expression was found in 2 patients. One patient treated with ustekinumab for pancytopenia due to granulomatous bone marrow infiltration failed to respond to this targeted therapy.

Conclusions

ICOS deficiency is associated with defective T cell activation, with simultaneously enhanced stimulation of monocytes. The latter is likely to result from a lack of ICOS/ICOSL interaction which might be necessary to provide negative feedback which limits monocytes activation.
Is the Peer Presence Effect on Heightened Adolescent Risky Decision-Making only Present in Males?
Authors: Defoe Ivy N. , Dubas Judith Semon , Dalmaijer Edwin S. , van Aken Marcel A. G.
Published: December 2019

Social neurodevelopmental imbalance models posit that peer presence causes heightened adolescent risk-taking particularly during early adolescence. Evolutionary theory suggests that these effects would be most pronounced in males. However, the small but growing number of experimental studies on peer presence effects in adolescent risky decision-making showed mixed findings, and the vast majority of such studies did not test for the above-described gender and adolescent phase moderation effects. Moreover, most of those studies did not assess the criterion validity of the employed risky decision-making tasks. The current study was designed to investigate the abovementioned hypotheses among a sample of 327 ethnically-diverse Dutch early and mid-adolescents (49.80% female; Mage = 13.61). No main effect of peer presence on the employed risky-decision making task (i.e., the stoplight game) was found. However, the results showed a gender by peer presence moderation effect. Namely, whereas boys and girls engaged in equal levels of risks when they completed the stoplight game alone, boys engaged in more risk-taking than girls when they completed this task together with two same-sex peers. In contrast, adolescent phase did not moderate peer presence effects on risk-taking. Finally, the results showed that performance on the stoplight game predicted self-reported real-world risky traffic behavior, alcohol use and delinquency. Taken together, using a validated task, the present findings demonstrate that individual differences (i.e., gender) can determine whether the social environment (i.e., peer presence) affect risk-taking in early- and mid-adolescents. The finding that performance on a laboratory risky decision-making task can perhaps help identify adolescents that are vulnerable to diverse types of heightened risk behaviors is an important finding for science as well as prevention and intervention efforts.
Non-isothermal kinetics: best-fitting empirical models instead of model-free methods
Authors: Várhegyi Gábor , Wang Liang , Skreiberg Øyvind
Published: December 2019

The isoconversional (or model-free) methods cannot provide meaningful kinetic description for most samples in thermal analysis. Nevertheless, they can serve as empirical models. A usable empirical model should describe well the observed data and should be suitable for predictions, too. For this purpose, the functions in the isoconversional kinetic equation were parametrized, and the parameters were determined by the method of least squares. This procedure ensures that the data calculated from the model would be close to the experimental data. The present work supplemented a preceding work of Várhegyi (Energy and Fuels 33:2348–2358, 2019) by further considerations and by various evaluations on the TGA curves of a wood sample. The prediction capabilities of the models were also tested. It was found that an evaluation based on three experiments with constant heating rates could predict well two further experiments with stepwise temperature programs. Furthermore, a modification of the model was proposed and examined. The aim of this modification was to improve the fit quality without increasing the number of parameters in the least-squares procedure.
Major seed size QTL on chromosome A05 of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is conserved in the US mini core germplasm collection
Authors: Chu Ye , Chee Peng , Isleib Thomas G. , Holbrook C. Corley , Ozias-Akins Peggy
Published: December 2019

Pod and seed size are important characteristics for the peanut industry and have been under strong selection pressure since peanut domestication. In order to dissect the genetic control of peanut pod and seed size, a recombinant inbred mapping population from a cross of Florida-07 by GP-NC WS 16 was used to determine the genomic regions associated with traits including 100 pod weight, 100 seed weight, pod weight of double-seeded pods, seed weight of double-seeded pods, and area of double-seeded pods. Nine QTL on linkage groups (LGs) A05, A06, A09, B10, B04, A03, B05, and B08 were associated with pod and seed size. A majority of the QTL have small effects except the locus on LG A05 (93 to 102 Mbp) which explained up to 66% phenotypic variation for all measured pod and seed traits. A comparison of QTL previously reported for yield component traits showed a common QTL on LG A05 was detected in two genetic populations whose parentage is distinct from those used in this study. The markers tightly linked to this major QTL were informative in distinguishing large versus small-seeded germplasm lines in the mini core collection originating from thirty-one countries, suggesting selection for this seed size QTL in large-seeded ecotypes. However, the large seed size allele appeared to co-segregate with a late leaf spot disease susceptibility allele inherited from the Florida-07 parent. Therefore, peanut breeders need to weigh the pros and cons before integrating the large seed size QTL from Florida-07 in their breeding program.
School alienation and academic achievement in Switzerland and Luxembourg: a longitudinal perspective
Authors: Morinaj Julia , Hadjar Andreas , Hascher Tina
Published: December 2019

Early adolescence represents a particularly sensitive period in the life of young learners, which is accompanied by an increase in school alienation. Due to its harmful nature (Hascher and Hadjar in Educ Res 60:171–188, 2018.10.1080/00131881.2018.1443021), school alienation may lead to unfavorable consequences such as low academic achievement (Johnson in J Educ Technol Soc 8:179–189, 2005; Reinke and Herman in Psychol Schools 39:549–559, 2002). This study investigates the longitudinal relationship between school alienation domains, namely alienation from learning, from teachers, and from classmates, and academic achievement among secondary school students of grade 7 to grade 9 in Switzerland and Luxembourg. Data were collected from 403 students in the Swiss canton of Bern and 387 students in Luxembourg who participated in three waves of the “School Alienation in Switzerland and Luxembourg (SASAL)” research project. Cross-lagged modeling was applied to examine the correlations between school alienation domains and academic achievement at each of the three time points, the temporal stability of school alienation domains and academic achievement, and their cross-lagged effects across time, controlling for students’ gender, school track, parental occupational status, and migration background. Results show that the pattern of relationships is defined by the school alienation domain and the cultural context, pointing to the complex interplay between the multidimensional construct of school alienation and academic outcomes of secondary school students.
Eine Krise der sozialen Anerkennung? Ergebnisse einer Bevölkerungsbefragung zu Alltagserfahrungen der Wert- und Geringschätzung in Deutschland
Authors: Schneickert Christian , Delhey Jan , Steckermeier Leonie C.
Published: December 2019

Der vorliegende Beitrag präsentiert erstmalig Ergebnisse zum Ausmaß, der Verteilung und den Folgen individuell erlebter Wert- und Geringschätzung in Deutschland anhand von Daten aus der Innovationsstichprobe des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP-IS 2016). Zum einen adressieren wir damit einen grundlegenden Tatbestand des sozialen Lebens – persönliche Erfahrungen der Anerkennung und Abwertung im Alltag. Zum anderen schließen wir an aktuelle Gegenwartsanalysen und öffentliche Diskurse an, die von Abwertungserfahrungen und fehlender Anerkennung als Ursachen sozialer Probleme und Konflikte ausgehen. Dabei stehen drei sozialstrukturelle Differenzierungen im Fokus: (1) sozioökonomische Unterschiede zwischen sozialen Schichten einerseits sowie soziokulturelle Unterschiede zwischen (2) Ost- und Westdeutschen und (3) Menschen mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund andererseits. Empirisch zeigt sich, dass die Menschen in Deutschland insgesamt viel Wertschätzung erfahren, besonders in lebensweltlichen Kontexten wie der Familie. Die Arbeitswelt ist hingegen ein eher ambivalenter Erfahrungskontext, der von Wert- und Geringschätzung geprägt ist. Während wir große Schichtunterschiede (insbesondere nach Einkommen, Bildungsgrad und Erwerbsstatus) finden, lassen sich weder zwischen Ost- und Westdeutschen noch bezüglich eines Migrationshintergrundes wesentliche Unterschiede im Ausmaß berichteter Wert- und Geringschätzung feststellen. Positive wie negative Erfahrungen beeinflussen schließlich die persönliche Lebenszufriedenheit sowie die Zufriedenheit mit der Demokratie, können allerdings nur die geringeren Zufriedenheiten der unteren Schichten zu einem gewissen Teil erklären, nicht aber die der ostdeutschen Bevölkerung. Insgesamt zeigt der Beitrag, dass für die soziologische Analyse von Wert- und Geringschätzung die Perspektive vertikaler Ungleichheiten wichtiger ist als die der soziokulturellen Zugehörigkeiten.
Bioassessment of Mandakini River with the help of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the vicinity of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
Authors: Rawat Anjani , Gulati Gunjan , Maithani Rajat , Sathyakumar S. , Uniyal V. P.
Published: December 2019

Increasing advancement in development activities in the Indian Himalayan region in tandem with changing climate is influencing the ecological patterns of rivers. Thus, the present study investigates the effect of various degrees of anthropogenic stresses and possible implication of thermal dynamics of river water on the macroinvertebrate community in the Mandakini River, which flows in the vicinity of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. The main objective was to study the community structure of macroinvertebrates in the Mandakini River and to calculate the effect of anthropogenic stresses on the macroinvertebrate community, particularly on Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera. The study was carried out in 10 spatially located sampling stations, and the frequency of sampling was divided into pre- and post-monsoon season (May and November 2017). Based on the degree of anthropogenic stresses, sampling locations were divided into least (Sonprayag), medium (Ukhimath), and high disturbed (Rudraprayag) sites. A total of 3257 individuals belonging to 7 orders and 21 families were found in both the sampling season. Diptera and Trichoptera were dominant orders in both the seasons, whereas Baetidae (Ephemeroptera), Hydropsychidae, Leptoceridae (Trichoptera) and Chironomidae (Diptera) were dominant families. Shannon diversity index varies from 2.048 to 2.25 in the least disturbed site (Sonprayag), 0.186–2.446 in medium disturbance (Ukhimath), and 1.362–2.271 in the highly disturbed site (Rudraprayag) in both the sampling season. Quantification of the EPT index shows a negative trend with an increase in anthropogenic stress, and it was least in Rudraprayag as compared to the other two sites. Result of one-way ANOVA shows a significant difference in diversity between pre- and post-monsoon season (p < 0.05). Analyzing the research gaps, it is recommended to have long-term ecological monitoring of high altitude and glacier-fed rivers and streams to obtain robust information regarding the dynamics of the riverine ecosystem in Garhwal Himalayas.
The extraordinary autonomy of sports bodies under Swiss law: lessons to be drawn
Authors: Baddeley Margareta
Published: December 2019

High-profile decisions of the sports governing bodies and subsequent judicial decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, the Swiss Federal Tribunal and, sometimes, the European Court of Human Rights frequently draw wide public attention to the fact that in litigations of the sports world, the decisions of the sports governing bodies will generally be upheld on court appeal. This is due to the extraordinary autonomy that sports governing bodies enjoy under Swiss law, deriving on the one hand from the liberal legislations in Switzerland governing associations and arbitration, and on the other hand, from their equally liberal application by the courts, especially in sports-related cases. While the high degree of self-regulation and arbitration in sports allowed the efficient handling of the increasingly complex activities of international sports and of the ever-rising cases of contention among its stakeholders, it is also necessary to point out the flaws of the resulting situation: for the governing bodies of international sports, self-regulation serves primarily the smooth organization of sports, while the specific interests of the subjects of their rules, in particular those of the lower level sports organizations and of athletes, are of secondary importance or may fall completely by the way-side. By contrast, state and international political and judiciary bodies must weigh the interests and rights of all parties involved when regulating relations or deciding in litigation between private parties, so as to ensure that the essential rights of the weaker parties are respected in all situations. This is a heavy responsibility for courts facing the bulk and the power of international sports governing bodies, foremost the Swiss Federal Tribunal, and to a certain extent also the Swiss legislator.
Micromechanical modeling of polycrystalline high manganese austenitic steel subjected to abrasive contact
Authors: Lindroos Matti , Laukkanen Anssi , Andersson Tom
Published: December 2019

This study focuses on microstructural and micromechanical modeling of abrasive sliding contacts of wear-resistant Hadfield steel. 3D finite element representation of the microstructure was employed with a crystal plasticity model including dislocation slip, deformation twinning, and their interactions. The results showed that deformation twinning interacting with dislocations had a key role in the surface hardening of the material, and it was also important for the early hardening process of the sub-surface grains beyond the heavily distorted surface grains. The effects of grain orientation and microstructural features were discussed and analyzed according to the micromechanical model to give a perspective to the anisotropy of the material and the feasibility of using micromechanics in virtual material design.
Three questions about happiness
Authors: HELLIWELL JOHN F.
Published: December 2019

The paper by Frijters, Clark, Krekel and Layard makes a strong historical case for treating happiness as a primary measure of human welfare. They argue that it is now time to revamp the science of policy-making to re-establish this central tradition, building on recent progress in measuring and understanding subjective wellbeing. I agree with them. There are three key questions raised in or by their presentation that need further evidence. I shall try to address these in turn. The questions relate to how to measure happiness, how to measure and deal with inequality and how to take due account of the social context of wellbeing, including the need to achieve consistency between individual and societal happiness.
Finding the VOICE: organic carbon isotope chemostratigraphy of Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous Arctic Canada
Authors: Galloway Jennifer M. , Vickers Madeleine L. , Price Gregory D. , Poulton Terence , Grasby Stephen E. , Hadlari Thomas , Beauchamp Benoit , Sulphur Kyle
Published: December 2019

A new carbon isotope record for two high-latitude sedimentary successions that span the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary interval in the Sverdrup Basin of Arctic Canada is presented. This study, combined with other published Arctic data, shows a large negative isotopic excursion of organic carbon (δ13Corg) of 4‰ (V-PDB) and to a minimum of −30.7‰ in the probable middle Volgian Stage. This is followed by a return to less negative values ofc. −27‰. A smaller positive excursion in the Valanginian Stage ofc. 2‰, reaching maximum values of −24.6‰, is related to the Weissert Event. The Volgian isotopic trends are consistent with other high-latitude records but do not appear in δ13Ccarbrecords of Tethyan Tithonian strata. In the absence of any obvious definitive cause for the depleted δ13Corganomaly, we suggest several possible contributing factors. The Sverdrup Basin and other Arctic areas may have experienced compositional evolution away from open-marine δ13C values during the Volgian Age due to low global or large-scale regional sea levels, and later become effectively coupled to global oceans by Valanginian time when sea level rose. A geologically sudden increase in volcanism may have caused the large negative δ13Corgvalues seen in the Arctic Volgian records but the lack of precise geochronological age control for the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary precludes direct comparison with potentially coincident events, such as the Shatsky Rise. This study offers improved correlation constraints and a refined C-isotope curve for the Boreal region throughout latest Jurassic and earliest Cretaceous time.
Ménière's disease clinical subtypes in a population from the USA
Authors: Crossley J , Hussaini A S , Kim H J , Hoa M
Published: December 2019

Objective

To ascertain the distribution of Ménière's disease phenotype subgroups in a US-based cohort, based on a recently introduced classification scheme utilising a Spanish and Portuguese cohort.

Methods

A retrospective, cross-sectional, single-institutional chart review was conducted. The electronic medical records of Ménière's disease patients were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes at a tertiary referral centre and reviewed to extract subgroup-defining features. Patients with definite Ménière's disease as per American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery criteria were categorised into one of five subgroups, for unilateral and bilateral Ménière's disease.

Results

Eighty-one patients with definite Ménière's disease were identified. Seventy-two cases of unilateral Ménière's disease were observed: 52.8 per cent were type 1, 20.8 per cent were type 2, 4.2 per cent were type 3, 18.1 per cent were type 4, and 4.2 per cent were type 5. This cohort differed significantly in distribution to a comparison Mediterranean cohort (p < 0.01). Nine cases of bilateral Ménière's disease were observed.

Conclusion

The distribution of unilateral Ménière's disease subtypes in this US population was different from that observed in a European population.
Potential ecological and socio-economic effects of a novel megaherbivore introduction: the hippopotamus in Colombia
Authors: Subalusky Amanda L. , Anderson Elizabeth P. , Jiménez Germán , Post David M. , Lopez David Echeverri , García-R. Sebastián , Nova León Laura J. , Reátiga Parrish Juan F. , Rojas Ana , Solari Sergio , Jiménez-Segura Luz F.
Published: December 2019

Introduced species can have strong ecological, social and economic effects on their non-native environment. Introductions of megafaunal species are rare and may contribute to rewilding efforts, but they may also have pronounced socio-ecological effects because of their scale of influence. A recent introduction of the hippopotamusHippopotamus amphibiusinto Colombia is a novel introduction of a megaherbivore onto a new continent, and raises questions about the future dynamics of the socio-ecological system into which it has been introduced. Here we synthesize current knowledge about the Colombian hippopotamus population, review the literature on the species to predict potential ecological and socio-economic effects of this introduction, and make recommendations for future study. Hippopotamuses can have high population growth rates (7–11%) and, on the current trajectory, we predict there could be 400–800 individuals in Colombia by 2050. The hippopotamus is an ecosystem engineer that can have profound effects on terrestrial and aquatic environments and could therefore affect the native biodiversity of the Magdalena River basin. Hippopotamuses are also aggressive and may pose a threat to the many inhabitants of the region who rely upon the Magdalena River for their livelihoods, although the species could provide economic benefits through tourism. Further research is needed to quantify the current and future size and distribution of this hippopotamus population and to predict the likely ecological, social and economic effects. This knowledge must be balanced with consideration of social and cultural concerns to develop appropriate management strategies for this novel introduction.
Developmental pathways from preschool irritability to multifinality in early adolescence: the role of diurnal cortisol
Authors: Kessel Ellen M. , Frost Allison , Goldstein Brandon L. , Black Sarah R. , Dougherty Lea R. , Carlson Gabrielle A. , Klein Daniel N.
Published: December 2019

Background

Early irritability predicts a broad spectrum of psychopathology spanning both internalizing and externalizing disorders, rather than any particular disorder or group of disorders (i.e. multifinality). Very few studies, however, have examined the developmental mechanisms by which it leads to such phenotypically diverse outcomes. We examined whether variation in the diurnal pattern of cortisol moderates developmental pathways between preschool irritability and the subsequent emergence of internalizing and externalizing symptoms 9 years later.

Method

When children were 3 years old, mothers were interviewed about children's irritability and completed questionnaires about their children's psychopathology. Six years later, children collected saliva samples at wake-up and bedtime on three consecutive days. Diurnal cortisol patterns were modeled as latent difference scores between evening and morning samples. When children were approximately 12 years old, mothers again completed questionnaires about their children's psychopathology.

Results

Among children with higher levels of irritability at age 3, a steeper diurnal cortisol slope at age 9 predicted greater internalizing symptoms and irritability at age 12, whereas a blunted slope at age 9 predicted greater externalizing symptoms at age 12, adjusting for baseline and concurrent symptoms.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that variation in stress system functioning can predict and differentiate developmental trajectories of early irritability that are relatively more internalizing v. those in which externalizing symptoms dominate in pre-adolescence.
Review Essay: On Settler Colonialism
Authors: Bruyneel Kevin
Published: December 2019

As the late Patrick Wolfe phrased it, “settler colonizers come to stay: invasion is a structure not an event.” Settler colonialism as a “structure not an event” captures the idea that settler colonial invasion of Indigenous lands should not be contained as a phenomenon of the past, but rather is continually reproduced throughout the history and present of settler societies such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel. To say this is also to raise the question of how to trace and analyze the development, legitimization, and maintenance of the colonial structures in these societies: those built on the dispossession and occupation of stolen lands. To this end, Rita Dhamoon's definition of settler colonialism helps in thinking of it as “not only a structure but also a process, an activity for assigning political meanings, and organizing material structures driven by forces of power.” Dhamoon points us toward attending rigorously to this process in ideological, institutional, structural, and historical terms.
Nietzsche on the Rise of Strong Political States and Their Cultivation of Higher Individuals
Authors: Townsend Simon
Published: December 2019

I argue that Nietzsche offers an account of how strong political states develop and how the highest forms of individuality emerge when the political will of these strong states weakens. Communities develop strength in proportion to the hostility of their environment. In order to flourish in a hostile environment, they must cultivate powerful and ambitious citizens by intensifying their most powerful drives, such as a lust for power. To control these citizens they must ruthlessly suppress individuality and allow these drives to be discharged in ways that do not threaten the community. This is achieved through an inflexible value system. When the political will of the state declines and this moral code weakens, the highest forms of individuality emerge. This account clarifies why Nietzsche tends to praise aristocratic states and brings into focus the obstacles to achieving the highest forms of human flourishing within a democratic state.
English use by the heads of state at the United Nations General Assembly
Authors: Kawashima Tomoyuki
Published: December 2019

How do people choose a language when they are proficient in more than one language? This research sheds light on language choice, English use in particular, in diplomacy where an individual speaks primarily for negotiation on behalf of an organization or a community. Nick (2001: 39) argued that ‘language is not a simple tool … but very often the very essence of the diplomatic vocation’. Despite its importance, little has been investigated about language choice in diplomatic meetings (Finsen, 2016). Wodak, Krzyzanowski and Forchtner (2012), one of the few studies, illustrated that 45% of the overall percentage of languages in the European Parliament (EP) meetings was English. To accumulate more data of English use in diplomacy, this research investigated addresses made by the heads of state at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (GA). The EP is the law-making institution of the European Union (EN) (European Union, 2019), and the UN and the EU have contrasting language policies. Under the EU's non-restrictive language policy, national languages of all 23 members are included in the official languages (Finsen, 2016). On the other hand, the UN restricts the number of official languages to six, namely Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. This makes a difference in the payment for interpretation services. If representatives would like to speak in Portuguese, the EU provides interpretation. However, the UN does not. The speakers need to provide interpretation into one of the six official languages on their own. These contrasting language policies between the EU and the UN can influence language choice at the UN meetings. Moreover, the UN has a larger number of member states than the EU, and many of them belong to other language or regional organizations. Therefore, this study focuses on the prevalence of English use by the heads of state at the UN GA meetings according to five language and two regional groups.
Influenza activity prediction using meteorological factors in a warm temperate to subtropical transitional zone, Eastern China
Authors: Liu Wendong , Dai Qigang , Bao Jing , Shen Wenqi , Wu Ying , Shi Yingying , Xu Ke , Hu Jianli , Bao Changjun , Huo Xiang
Published: December 2019

Influenza activity is subject to environmental factors. Accurate forecasting of influenza epidemics would permit timely and effective implementation of public health interventions, but it remains challenging. In this study, we aimed to develop random forest (RF) regression models including meterological factors to predict seasonal influenza activity in Jiangsu provine, China. Coefficient of determination (R2) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were employed to evaluate the models' performance. Three RF models with optimum parameters were constructed to predict influenza like illness (ILI) activity, influenza A and B (Flu-A and Flu-B) positive rates in Jiangsu. The models for Flu-B and ILI presented excellent performance with MAPEs <10%. The predicted values of the Flu-A model also matched the real trend very well, although its MAPE reached to 19.49% in the test set. The lagged dependent variables were vital predictors in each model. Seasonality was more pronounced in the models for ILI and Flu-A. The modification effects of the meteorological factors and their lagged terms on the prediction accuracy differed across the three models, while temperature always played an important role. Notably, atmospheric pressure made a major contribution to ILI and Flu-B forecasting. In brief, RF models performed well in influenza activity prediction. Impacts of meteorological factors on the predictive models for influenza activity are type-specific.
The Ethics of Medical AI and the Physician-Patient Relationship
Authors: DALTON-BROWN SALLY
Published: December 2019

This article considers recent ethical topics relating to medical AI. After a general discussion of recent medical AI innovations, and a more analytic look at related ethical issues such as data privacy, physician dependency on poorly understood AI helpware, bias in data used to create algorithms post-GDPR, and changes to the patient–physician relationship, the article examines the issue of so-called robot doctors. Whereas the so-called democratization of healthcare due to health wearables and increased access to medical information might suggest a positive shift in the patient-physician relationship, the physician’s ‘need to care’ might be irreplaceable, and robot healthcare workers (‘robot carers’) might be seen as contributing to dehumanized healthcare practices.
Accelerated idioventricular rhythm resulting in torsades de pointes and cardiac arrest in a child: successfully cryoablated in left’coronary cusp
Authors: Ergul Yakup , Kafali Hasan C. , Uysal Fahrettin
Published: December 2019

Known as a benign arrhythmia and normally requiring no specific treatment, accelerated idioventricular rhythm can rarely degenerate to a life-threatening arrhythmia. Here, we present a child with left coronary cusp-originating accelerated idioventricular rhythm, degenerating into torsades de pointes and resulting in cardiac arrest, which was ablated with a cryocatheter. An 11-year-old boy, followed due to asymptomatic accelerated idioventricular rhythm before, was referred to our department because he had experienced an aborted cardiac arrest during sleep. He had been resuscitated for 5 minutes. Twenty-four-hour Holter-ECG revealed incessant accelerated idioventricular rhythm, consisting up to 90% of the whole record and two torsades de pointes attacks, triggered by accelerated idioventricular rhythm-induced “R on T” phenomenon, and resulting in syncope and cardiac arrest. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed no structural cardiac defect but mild left ventricular systolic dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 45% and shortening fraction 23%. An electrophysiologic study was conducted, and accelerated idioventricular rhythm focus was mapped to left aortic coronary cusp. A cryocatheter with an 8-mm tip was preferred for successful ablation of the accelerated idioventricular rhythm focus, due to close neighbourhood to coronary ostium. The patient was discharged in 3 days without any premature ventricular contractions or accelerated idioventricular rhythm and with normalised cardiac functions. After 9 months on follow-up, he was still asymptomatic, without any premature ventricular contractions or accelerated idioventricular rhythm and with normal cardiac functions. Although the clinical course of accelerated idioventricular rhythm is known as benign, accelerated idioventricular rhythm can rarely degenerate to a life-threatening arrhythmia. In such cases, electrophysiologic study and catheter ablation are a good option in such cases with accelerated idioventricular rhythm for an ultimate cure.
Subgroup stratification of adult diffuse gliomas and outcomes: an adaptation of the updated WHO classification in a resource-constrained environment
Authors: Naveen T. , Uday Krishna A. S. , Santosh Vani , Arivazhagan A. , Lokesh V.
Published: December 2019

Introduction:

The updated World Health Organization 2016 classification of central nervous system tumours recommends the addition of molecular parameters to histological diagnosis. In a resource-constrained setting, molecular testing such as gene sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridisation is not feasible for all the patients. We assessed the utility of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1/R132H) gene and alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X linked gene (ATRX) to stratify adult diffuse gliomas into subgroups and analysed the outcomes.

Materials/Methods:

Fifty-eight patients with grades III/IV astrocytic gliomas were tested by IHC for IDH1/R132H and ATRX mutation as per the standard protocol and were later stratified into three subgroups based on IHC. IDH1/R132H positive/ATRX retained gliomas were stratified as group 1 (G1), IDH1/R132H positive/ATRX lost were grouped as G2 and IDH1/R132H negative (with or without ATRX loss) as G3. All patients underwent adjuvant therapy as per the Stupp regimen. Outcomes and survival were analysed by Kaplan–Meier analysis using SPSS 21.v.

Results:

Median age of the cohort of 58 patients (male: 39, female: 19) was 40 years. Histologically, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AOD) were seen in 23:17:18 patients. Forty-eight percent were tested positive for IDH1/R132H, 62% had retained ATRX protein stratifying patients into three subgroups (G1:14, G2:14, G3:30). The G3 group contained both AA and GBM cases. At median follow-up of 18 months, overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort was 76%, higher in G1, compared to G2 and G3 (log-rankp = 0·01). In comparison to various factors such as age, gender, location of the lesion and presenting symptom on survival among various groups, we found that gender of the patient in group I (men vs. women,p = 0·02), laterality of the tumour in group II (right vs. left,p = 0·07) and age of the patient in group III (<45 vs. >45,p = 0·01) demonstrated significant impact on OS.

Conclusion:

Subgroup stratification of adult diffuse gliomas based on IHC for IDH/R132H and ATRX demonstrates that group 1 was the most favourable prognostic factor. In a resource-constrained environment, IHC alone may guide appropriate management decision for the majority of adult diffuse gliomas, gene sequencing reserved for IDH1/R132H negative GBM in patients less than 45 years of age.
Hard-to-Survey Populations and Respondent-Driven Sampling: Expanding the Political Science Toolbox
Authors: Khoury Rana B.
Published: December 2019

Survey research can generate knowledge that is central to the study of collective action, public opinion, and political participation. Unfortunately, many populations—from undocumented migrants to right-wing activists and oligarchs—are hidden, lack sampling frames, or are otherwise hard to survey. An approach to hard-to-survey populations commonly taken by researchers in other disciplines is largely missing from the toolbox of political science methods: respondent-driven sampling (RDS). By leveraging relations of trust, RDS accesses hard-to-survey populations; it also promotes representativeness, systematizes data collection, and, notably, supports population inference. In approximating probability sampling, RDS makes strong assumptions. Yet if strengthened by an integrative multimethod research design, it can shed light on otherwise concealed—and critical—political preferences and behaviors among many populations of interest. Through describing one of the first applications of RDS in political science, this article provides empirically grounded guidance via a study of activist refugees from Syria. Refugees are prototypical hard-to-survey populations, and mobilized ones are even more so; yet the study demonstrates that RDS can provide a systematic and representative account of a vulnerable population engaged in major political phenomena.
Detecting Evidential Value and p-Hacking With the p-Curve Tool
Authors: Erdfelder Edgar , Heck Daniel W.
Published: December 2019

Abstract. Simonsohn, Nelson, and Simmons (2014a) proposed p-curve – the distribution of statistically significant p-values for a set of studies – as a tool to assess the evidential value of these studies. They argued that, whereas right-skewed p-curves indicate true underlying effects, left-skewed p-curves indicate selective reporting of significant results when there is no true effect (“ p-hacking”). We first review previous research showing that, in contrast to the first claim, null effects may produce right-skewed p-curves under some conditions. We then question the second claim by showing that not only selective reporting but also selective nonreporting of significant results due to a significant outcome of a more popular alternative test of the same hypothesis may produce left-skewed p-curves, even if all studies reflect true effects. Hence, just as right-skewed p-curves do not necessarily imply evidential value, left-skewed p-curves do not necessarily imply p-hacking and absence of true effects in the studies involved.
How to Detect Publication Bias in Psychological Research
Authors: Renkewitz Frank , Keiner Melanie
Published: December 2019

Abstract. Publication biases and questionable research practices are assumed to be two of the main causes of low replication rates. Both of these problems lead to severely inflated effect size estimates in meta-analyses. Methodologists have proposed a number of statistical tools to detect such bias in meta-analytic results. We present an evaluation of the performance of six of these tools. To assess the Type I error rate and the statistical power of these methods, we simulated a large variety of literatures that differed with regard to true effect size, heterogeneity, number of available primary studies, and sample sizes of these primary studies; furthermore, simulated studies were subjected to different degrees of publication bias. Our results show that across all simulated conditions, no method consistently outperformed the others. Additionally, all methods performed poorly when true effect sizes were heterogeneous or primary studies had a small chance of being published, irrespective of their results. This suggests that in many actual meta-analyses in psychology, bias will remain undiscovered no matter which detection method is used.
Assessing the Contributions of Comet Impact and Volcanism Toward the Climate Perturbations of the Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum
Authors: Liu Zeyang , Horton Daniel E. , Tabor Clay , Sageman Bradley B. , Percival Lawrence M.E. , Gill Benjamin C. , Selby David
Published: December 2019

The Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum is marked by a prominent negative carbon‐isotope excursion, reflecting the injection of thousands of gigatons of isotopically light carbon into the atmosphere. The sources of the isotopically light carbon remain poorly constrained. Utilizing a multiproxy geochemical analysis (osmium isotopes, mercury, sulfur, and platinum group elements) of two Paleocene‐Eocene boundary records, we present evidence that a comet impact and major volcanic activity likely contributed to the environmental perturbations during the Paleocene‐Eocene interval. Additionally, Earth system model simulations indicate that stratospheric sulfate aerosols, commensurate with the impact magnitude, were likely to have caused transient cooling and reduced precipitation.
Observation of Nongyrotropic Electron Distribution Across the Electron Diffusion Region in the Magnetotail Reconnection
Authors: Li Xinmin , Wang Rongsheng , Lu Quanming , Hwang Kyoung‐Joo , Zong Qiugang , Russell Christopher T. , Wang Shui
Published: December 2019

Using measurements by the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft in the magnetotail, we studied electron distribution functions across an electron diffusion region. The dependence of the nongyrotropic distribution on the energy and vertical distance from the electron diffusion region midplane was revealed for the first time. The nongyrotropic distribution was observed everywhere except for an extremely narrow layer right at the electron diffusion region midplane. The energy of the nongyrotropic distribution increased with growth of the vertical distance from the midplane. For the electrons within certain energy range, they exhibited the nongyrotropic distribution at the distance further away from the midplane than that expected from the meandering motion. The correlation between the crescent‐shaped distribution with multiple stripes and the large Hall electric field was established. It appears that the measured nongyrotropic distribution and the crescent‐shaped distribution were caused by the meandering motion and the Hall electric field together.
Paleogene Marine and Terrestrial Development of the West Antarctic Rift System
Authors: Coenen J. J. , Scherer R. P. , Baudoin P. , Warny S. , Castañeda I. S. , Askin R.
Published: December 2019

Modeling the early development of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) hinges on the configuration and evolution of Paleogene terrestrial landscapes associated with the West Antarctic Rift System. A widely applied but previously untested paleotopographic reconstruction for the Eocene/Oligocene boundary suggests that much of central West Antarctica was as much as 1,000 m above sea level at that time, constituting a key nucleating site for an early WAIS. Here we show that Paleogene age marine and terrestrial microfossil assemblages and biomarkers in sediments recovered from beneath the WAIS provide direct evidence contrary to this widely utilized “maximum” paleotopographic reconstruction. These new constraints call for significantly modified tectonic and ice sheet model parameterization and also provide insights into modern differential uplift across the West Antarctic Rift System.