bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probing leptogenesis and pre-BBN universe with gravitational waves spectral shapes
Authors: Samanta Rome , Datta Satyabrata
Published: November 2021

Abstract

On the frequency-amplitude plane, Gravitational Waves (GWs) from cosmic strings show a flat plateau at higher frequencies due to the string loop dynamics in standard radiation dominated post-inflationary epoch. The spectrum may show an abrupt upward or a downward trend beyond a turning point frequency f*, if the primordial dark age prior to the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN), exhibits non-standard cosmic histories. We argue that such a spectral break followed by a rising GW amplitude which is a consequence of a post-inflationary equation of state (ω > 1/3) stiffer than the radiation (ω = 1/3), could also be a strong hint of a leptogenesis in the seesaw model of neutrino masses. Dynamical generation of the right handed (RH) neutrino masses by a gauged U(1) symmetry breaking leads to the formation of a network of cosmic strings which emits stochastic GWs. A gravitational interaction of the lepton current by an operator of the form ∂μRjμ — which can be generated in the seesaw model at the two-loop level through RH neutrino mediation, naturally seeks a stiffer equation of state to efficiently produce baryon asymmetry proportional to 1 − 3ω. We discuss how GWs with reasonably strong amplitudes complemented by a neutrino-less double beta decay signal could probe the onset of the most recent radiation domination and lightest RH neutrino mass at the intermediate scales.
Sepsisassoziierte Todesfälle in Deutschland: Charakteristika und regionale Variation
Authors: Fleischmann-Struzek Carolin , Rose Norman , Reinhart Konrad
Published: November 2021

Hintergrund

Sepsis ist weltweit jährlich für geschätzt 11 Mio. Todesfälle verantwortlich. Die Epidemiologie sepsisassoziierter Todesfälle ist in Deutschland unzureichend verstanden, da Sepsis bisher nicht über die deutsche unikausale Todesursachenstatistik erfasst werden kann.

Ziel der Arbeit

Epidemiologie und Charakteristika sepsisassoziierter Krankenhaustodesfälle sollen analysiert sowie regionale Unterschiede beschrieben werden.

Material und Methoden

Retrospektive Beobachtungsstudie basierend auf der deutschlandweiten fallpauschalenbezogenen Krankenhausstatistik (DRG-Statistik) 2016. Sepsisassoziierte Krankenhaustodesfälle wurden über explizite und implizite Sepsis-ICD-10-GM(Internationale statistische Klassifikation der Krankheiten und verwandter Gesundheitsprobleme, 10. Revision, German Modification)-Codierungen identifiziert. Verstorbene wurden anhand der klinischen Merkmale und ihres Wohnortes entsprechend Amtlichem Gemeindeschlüssel (AGS-5-Steller) charakterisiert. Basierend auf der Bevölkerungsstatistik wurde der Anteil an den Gesamttodesfällen ermittelt.

Ergebnisse

2016 gab es in Deutschland 58.689 mit explizit codierter Sepsis assoziierte Krankenhaustodesfälle (14,1 % aller Krankenhaustodesfälle). Die Mortalität betrug 73/100.000 Einwohner und variierte 1,8-fach zwischen den Bundesländern und 7,9-fach zwischen den Kreisen. 6,4 % der deutschlandweiten Todesfälle waren sepsisassoziierte Krankenhaustodesfälle. Dieser Anteil war am höchsten in der Altersgruppe der 40- bis 64-Jährigen (9,6 %) und höher bei Männern als bei Frauen (7,7 % vs. 5,2 %). Im Vergleich dazu betrug der Anteil von implizit codierten sepsisassoziierten Krankenhaustodesfällen 47,2 % an allen Krankenhaustodesfällen und 21,6 % an allen Todesfällen.

Diskussion

Auch wenn die direkte Todesursache nicht sicher ableitbar ist, lässt sich aus dem hohen Anteil sepsisassoziierter Todesfälle an den Krankenhaustodesfällen der Bedarf weiterer Forschung und epidemiologischer Surveillance ableiten, zum Beispiel in Kohortenstudien oder auf Basis von multikausalen Todesursachenstatistiken.
Impact of Type of Gastrectomy on Death from Pneumonia in Elderly Patients with Gastric Cancer Over the Long Term
Authors: Eto Kojiro , Yoshida Naoya , Iwatsuki Masaaki , Iwagami Shiro , Yamashita Kohei , Nakamura Kenichi , Harada Kazuto , Sawayama Hiroshi , Ishimoto Takatsugu , Baba Yoshifumi , Miyamoto Yuji , Baba Hideo
Published: November 2021

Background

Gastrectomy may induce significant postoperative disabilities and worsen the quality of life in elderly patients. Without a functioning esophagogastric junction (EGJ), swallowing is impaired because of the anatomical and physiological changes after surgery, which increases the risk of postoperative pneumonia. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of the type of surgical procedure on death from pneumonia in elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC) over the long term.

Methods

We analyzed the data of 343 patients with GC who underwent curative gastrectomy in our hospital. We divided the patients into elderly and non‐elderly groups. Among them, 109 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent curative resection were analyzed, their clinicopathological factors and clinical outcomes were compared, and the impact of the type of surgical procedure on death from pneumonia over the long term was evaluated. The institutional scientific review board of Kumamoto University Hospital was approved for data collection and analysis (No. 1037).

Results

There were significantly higher levels of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and poor nutrition in the elderly group; however, gender, BMI and factors related to pneumonia did not differ significantly between groups. The median duration of follow‐up time 1588 days. On the multivariate analysis, age and surgical procedure were selected as independent predictive factors for pneumonia‐related survival.

Conclusion

Preservation of the EGJ as much as possible while maintaining curability is useful for reducing postoperative death from pneumonia over the long term in elderly patients with gastric cancer.
Systematic review of renal denervation for the management of cardiac arrhythmias
Authors: Nantha Kumar Nakulan , Nyatsuro Kuda , Ahmad Shiraz , Fazmin Ibrahim T. , Saadeh Khalil , Tse Gary , Jeevaratnam Kamalan
Published: November 2021

Background

In the wake of the controversy surrounding the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial and data from subsequent trials, this review aims to perform an updated and more comprehensive review of the impact of renal sympathetic denervation on cardiac arrhythmias.

Methods and results

A systematic search was performed using the Medline, Scopus and Embase databases using the terms “Renal Denervation” AND “Arrhythmias or Atrial or Ventricular”, limited to Human and English language studies within the last 10 years. This search yielded 19 relevant studies (n = 6 randomised controlled trials, n = 13 non-randomised cohort studies) which comprised 783 patients. The studies show RSD is a safe procedure, not associated with increases in complications or mortality post-procedure. Importantly, there is no evidence RSD is associated with a deterioration in renal function, even in patients with chronic kidney disease. RSD with or without adjunctive pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is associated with improvements in freedom from atrial fibrillation (AF), premature atrial complexes (PACs), ventricular arrhythmias and other echocardiographic parameters. Significant reductions in ambulatory and office blood pressure were also observed in the majority of studies.

Conclusion

This review provides evidence based on original research that ‘second generation’ RSD is safe and is associated with reductions in short-term blood pressure and AF burden. However, the authors cannot draw firm conclusions with regards to less prominent arrhythmia subtypes due to the paucity of evidence available. Large multi-centre RCTs investigating the role of RSD are necessary to comprehensively assess the efficacy of the procedure treating various arrhythmias.

Graphic abstract
Gender benefit in laparoscopic surgical performance using a 3D-display system: data from a randomized cross-over trial
Authors: Busshoff Jana , Datta Rabi R. , Bruns Thomas , Kleinert Robert , Morgenstern Bernd , Pfister David , Chiapponi Costanza , Fuchs Hans F. , Thomas Michael , Gietzelt Caroline , Hedergott Andrea , Möller Desdemona , Hellmich Martin , Bruns Christiane J. , Stippel Dirk L. , Wahba Roger
Published: November 2021

Background

The use of 3D technique compared to high-resolution 2D-4K-display technique has been shown to optimize spatial orientation and surgical performance in laparoscopic surgery. Since women make up an increasing amount of medical students and surgeons, this study was designed to investigate whether one gender has a greater benefit from using a 3D compared to a 4K-display system.

Methods

In a randomized cross-over trial, the surgical performance of male and female medical students (MS), non-board certified surgeons (NBCS), and board certified surgeons (BCS) was compared using 3D- vs. 4K-display technique at a minimally invasive training parkour with multiple surgical tasks and repetitions.

Results

128 participants (56 women, 72 men) were included. Overall parkour time in seconds was 3D vs. 4K for all women 770.7 ± 31.9 vs. 1068.1 ± 50.0 (p < 0.001) and all men 664.5 ± 19.9 vs. 889.7 ± 31.2 (p < 0.001). Regarding overall mistakes, participants tend to commit less mistakes while using the 3D-vision system, showing 10.2 ± 1.1 vs. 13.3 ± 1.3 (p = 0.005) for all women and 9.6 ± 0.7 vs. 12.2 ± 1.0 (p = 0.001) for all men. The benefit of using a 3D system, measured by the difference in seconds, was for women 297.3 ± 41.8 (27.84%) vs. 225.2 ± 23.3 (25.31%) for men (p = 0.005). This can be confirmed in the MS group with 327.6 ± 65.5 (35.82%) vs. 249.8 ± 33.7 (32.12%), p = 0.041 and in the NBCS group 359 ± 52.4 (28.25%) vs. 198.2 ± 54.2 (18.62%), p = 0.003. There was no significant difference in the BCS group.

Conclusion

3D laparoscopic display technique optimizes surgical performance compared to the 2D-4K technique for both women and men. The greatest 3D benefit was found for women with less surgical experience. As a possible result of surgical education, this gender specific difference disappears with higher grade of experience. Using a 3D-vision system could facilitate surgical apprenticeship, especially for women.
Increase in the Prevalence of Online Pornography Use: Objective Data Analysis from the Period Between 2004 and 2016 in Poland
Authors: Lewczuk Karol , Wójcik Adrian , Gola Mateusz
Published: November 2021

Despite the considerable amount of attention presently devoted to the high accessibility of online pornography, very little formal analyses have been carried out to show how the advent and proliferation of Internet technology has changed the prevalence of pornography use in populations. We conducted a preliminary analysis based on objective website traffic data, representing the changes in the number of (1) Internet users generally and (2) online pornography users specifically, between 2004 and 2016 in Poland. We observed a clear increase in the estimated number of people using online pornography in the analyzed period. The estimated number of general population members viewing pornography on the Internet increased over three times (310%) between October 2004 and October 2016–starting from an estimated 2.76 million in the first period to 8.54 million in the last. At the same time, we did not observe a clear increase in the percentage of Internet users who viewed online pornography in the same time period. Additionally, pornography viewership on the Internet was almost 2 times more prevalent among male (47%) than female Internet users (27%), and most popular in the 18–27 age group. Since our analysis is based on objective data, it does not share the limitations inherent in self-reports. However, our approach also has several important limitations (e.g., the analysis does not include online activity generated on mobile devices and under a private browsing mode); thus, the results should be interpreted with caution.
Overturning of the façade in single-nave churches under seismic loading
Authors: de Felice Gianmarco , Fugger Rebecca , Gobbin Francesca
Published: November 2021

The out-of-plane collapse of the façade represents one of the major threats and the most frequent cause of damages of churches due to strong earthquakes. Due to the slenderness of the façade and the lack of adequate connections to the side walls and the wooden roof, the seismic action can trigger the overturning. A detailed assessment is therefore required to judge whether or not to intervene. This paper presents an approach for the seismic assessment of the stability of the façade, through a discrete element model based on a photographic survey, with the aim of representing the actual geometry and arrangement of the stone units and their effects on the kinematics of the overturning. The collapse mechanism is simulated with both, quasi-static pushover and dynamic pulse-based analyses and the results compared to those of conventional rigid-body kinematics. The proposed approach is then applied to seven masonry churches that suffered severe damages during the 2009 L’Aquila (Italy) earthquake and the failure mode provided by the analyses is compared to the damages caused by the earthquake. The method is able to give a reliable estimate of the expected failure mechanism, taking into account the quality of the masonry and the connections to the side walls, while also providing the seismic acceleration required to trigger the motion and the ultimate displacement beyond which collapse occurs.
Diversity of resident plant communities could weaken their allelopathic resistance against alien and native invaders
Authors: Yuan Ling , Li Junmin , van Kleunen Mark
Published: November 2021

Elton’s classic diversity-invasibility hypothesis posits that diversity of resident communities increases resistance against invaders. We tested whether the diversity-invasibility relationsip might be mediated by allelopathic effects of the resident species. In a large germination experiment, we exposed seeds of six alien and six native test species to leachates of one, three, six or twelve species. The leachates tended to slightly delay germination, and almost all single-species leachates reduced the proportion of germinated seeds. Nevertheless, the overall effect of the plant leachate mixtures on the proportion of germinated seeds was not significant. This was because a higher diversity of the leachates increased the proportion of germinated seeds, particularly for native test species. Among the six alien test species, it was only the most invasive one that benefited from increased diversity of the leachates, just like the natives did. Overall, our findings suggest that allelopathy of diverse communities does not provide resistance but could actually facilitate the germination of invaders.
Community-Based Support and Social Services and Their Association with Frailty Factors in Older People with Intellectual Disability and Affective and Anxiety Disorders: A Swedish National Population-Based Register Study
Authors: El Mrayyan Nadia , Bökberg Christina , Eberhard Jonas , Ahlström Gerd
Published: November 2021

Affective and anxiety diagnoses are common in older people with intellectual disability (ID). The aim was to describe support and social services for older people with ID and affective and/or anxiety diagnoses, also to investigate in this study group the association between support and social services and frailty factors in terms of specialist healthcare utilisation, multimorbidity, polypharmacy, level of ID and behavioural impairment. Data was selected from four population-based Swedish national registries, on 871 identified persons with affective and/or anxiety diagnoses and ID. Multivariate regression analysis was used to investigate associations between frailty factors during 2002–2012 and social services in 2012. People with multimorbidity who frequently utilised specialist healthcare were less likely to utilise residential arrangements. Those with polypharmacy were more likely utilise residential arrangements, and receive personal contact. People with moderate, severe/profound levels of ID were more likely to utilise residential arrangements and to pursue daily activities.
Easier Said Than Done: The Challenge to Teach “Personal Recovery” to Mental Health Professionals Through a Short, Targeted and Structured Training Programme
Authors: Giusti Laura , Ussorio Donatella , Salza Anna , Casacchia Massimo , Roncone Rita
Published: November 2021

This study assesses the effectiveness of our short Personal Recovery Training Program (PRTP) for mental health professionals. Fifty-two healthcare professionals from Italian mental health services and forty students in psychiatric rehabilitation completed the Recovery Knowledge Inventory (RKI) pre- and post-training, divided into two groups: the PRTP (N = 45) and the Family Psychoeducational Training Program (FPTP; N = 47). Participants’ understanding of personal recovery improved more significantly for those in the PRTP than for those in the FPTP group in two domains, “Roles and responsibilities” and “Non-linearity of the recovery process”; the FPTP group showed a significant improvement in the “Role of self-definition and peers in recovery” domain. Two consumers were involved in the PRTP and represented a resource to help participants understand the personal recovery process. Our findings indicate that a brief PRTP supported by consumers can improve staff and students' recovery orientation. The translation of the training into clinical practice remains unevaluated.
Mental Health in Children of Immigrants in Germany: The Role of Socio-Demographic and Immigration-Related Characteristics
Authors: Runge Ronja A. , Glaesmer Heide , Schmitz Julian , Nesterko Yuriy
Published: November 2021

Over the last decades, the number of immigrants in Germany has been rising steadily. One result of this is that currently, around 40% of children in the country have immigrant parents. Existing studies report rather mixed results concerning their mental health outcomes. The present study provides some insight into factors that affect the mental health of this population. We compared emotional and behavioral problems (assessed via the SOEP-SDQ) in 5- to 10- year-old children of immigrants and their native German peers (N = 2441). We considered socioeconomic status as well as immigration-related characteristics of parents (age at immigration, country of origin, perceived discrimination, host country language skills, and immigrant generation). We examined the mental health status of the parents as a possible mediator between these characteristics and the children’s mental health outcomes. We did not find a difference in emotional and behavioral problems between immigrant and native children living in Germany. Low socioeconomic status was associated with more emotional and behavioral problems in both immigrant and native German children. Younger age at immigration to Germany in fathers and poorer German language skills among mothers were found to be directly associated with poorer mental health in children of immigrants. Mothers’ mental health status mediated the effects of perceived discrimination and mothers’ German language skills. The results underline the urgent need for a more detailed examination of immigration-related characteristics in immigrants living in Germany in order to better understand and prevent possible mental health-related disadvantages among their children.
Modeling Magnetic Particle Imaging for Dynamic Tracer Distributions
Authors: Brandt Christina , Schmidt Christiane
Published: November 2021

Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is a promising tracer-based, functional medical imaging technique which measures the non-linear magnetization response of magnetic nanoparticles to a dynamic magnetic field. For image reconstruction, system matrices from time-consuming calibration scans are used predominantly. Finding modeled forward operators for magnetic particle imaging, which are able to compete with measured matrices in practice, is an ongoing topic of research. The existing models for magnetic particle imaging are by design not suitable for arbitrary dynamic tracer concentrations. Neither modeled nor measured system matrices account for changes in the concentration during a single scanning cycle. In this paper we present a new MPI forward model for dynamic concentrations. A static model will be introduced briefly, followed by the changes due to the dynamic behavior of the tracer concentration. Furthermore, the relevance of this new extended model is examined by investigating the influence of the extension and example reconstructions with the new and the standard model.
Towards Optimized Bioavailability of 99mTc-Labeled Barbiturates for Non-invasive Imaging of Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity
Authors: Honold Lisa , Austrup Melanie , Faust Andreas , Konken Christian Paul , Schwegmann Katrin , Zinnhardt Bastian , Daniliuc Constantin Gabriel , Haufe Günter , Schäfers Michael , Kopka Klaus , Hermann Sven
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Dysregulated activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) drives a variety of pathophysiological conditions. Non-invasive imaging of MMP activity in vivo promises diagnostic and prognostic value. However, current targeting strategies by small molecules are typically limited with respect to the bioavailability of the labeled MMP binders in vivo. To this end, we here introduce and compare three chemical modifications of a recently developed barbiturate-based radiotracer with respect to bioavailability and potential to image MMP activity in vivo.

Methods

Barbiturate-based MMP inhibitors with an identical targeting unit but varying hydrophilicity were synthesized, labeled with technetium-99m, and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Biodistribution and radiotracer elimination were determined in C57/BL6 mice by serial SPECT imaging. MMP activity was imaged in a MMP-positive subcutaneous xenograft model of human K1 papillary thyroid tumors. In vivo data were validated by scintillation counting, autoradiography, and MMP immunohistochemistry.

Results

We prepared three new 99mTc‐labeled MMP inhibitors, bearing either a glycine ([99mTc]MEA39), lysine ([99mTc]MEA61), or the ligand HYNIC with the ionic co-ligand TPPTS ([99mTc]MEA223) yielding gradually increasing hydrophilicity. [99mTc]MEA39 and [99mTc]MEA61 were rapidly eliminated via hepatobiliary pathways. In contrast, [99mTc]MEA223 showed delayed in vivo clearance and primary renal elimination. In a thyroid tumor xenograft model, only [99mTc]MEA223 exhibited a high tumor-to-blood ratio that could easily be delineated in SPECT images.

Conclusion

Introduction of HYNIC/TPPTS into the barbiturate lead structure ([99mTc]MEA223) results in delayed renal elimination and allows non-invasive MMP imaging with high signal-to-noise ratios in a papillary thyroid tumor xenograft model.
Remote enrollment into a telehealth-delivering patient portal: Barriers faced in an urban population during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Francke Jordan A. , Groden Phillip , Ferrer Christopher , Bienstock Dennis , Tepper Danielle L. , Chen Tania P. , Sanky Charles , Grogan Tristan R. , Weissman Matthew A.
Published: November 2021

Telehealth drastically reduces the time burden of appointments and increases access to care for homebound patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many outpatient practices closed, requiring an expansion of telemedicine capabilities. However, a significant number of patients remain unconnected to telehealth-capable patient portals. Currently, no literature exists on the success of and barriers to remote enrollment in telehealth patient portals. From March 26 to May 8, 2020, a total of 324 patients were discharged from Mount Sinai Beth Israel (MSBI), a teaching hospital in New York City. Study volunteers attempted to contact and enroll patients in the MyChart patient portal to allow the completion of a post-discharge video visit. If patients were unable to enroll, barriers were documented and coded for themes. Of the 324 patients discharged from MSBI during the study period, 277 (85%) were not yet enrolled in MyChart. Volunteers successfully contacted 136 patients (49% of those eligible), and 39 (14%) were successfully enrolled. Inability to contact patients was the most significant barrier. For those successfully contacted but not enrolled, the most frequent barrier was becoming lost to follow-up (29% of those contacted), followed by lack of interest in remote appointments (21%) and patient technological limitations (9%). Male patients, and those aged 40–59, were significantly less likely to successfully enroll compared to other patients. Telehealth is critical for healthcare delivery. Remote enrollment in a telemedicine-capable patient portal is feasible, yet underperforms compared to reported in-person enrollment rates. Health systems can improve telehealth infrastructure by incorporating patient portal enrollment into in-person workflows, educating on the importance of telehealth, and devising workarounds for technological barriers.
Stories of Change in Nutrition in Ghana: a focus on stunting and anemia among children under-five years (2009 – 2018)
Authors: Aryeetey Richmond , Atuobi-Yeboah Afua , Billings Lucy , Nisbett Nicholas , van den Bold Mara , Toure Mariama
Published: November 2021

The current study aimed to understand why child stunting and anemia (CS&A) rates declined in Ghana between 2009 and 2018, and which priority policies and programs will further improve nutrition outcomes. Trends and potential drivers of stunting (height-for-age z-score < -2.0 SD) and anemia (hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL), and decomposition analysis of DHS data (2003 to 2014) were conducted. The quantitative evidence was triangulated with Net-Map analysis of nutrition stakeholder relationships and influence, desk review of policies and programs 2009–2019, and in-depth interviews with 25 stakeholders who provided additional insights to explain CS&A trends. Declines in stunting (29.6%) and anemia (14.1%) in children were observed at the national level, but with important subgroup variations. Decomposition analyses identified changes in the household, maternal, and child characteristics (including wealth, use of antenatal services, maternal education, and immunization) as correlates of anemia reduction. Stunting reduction was linked with changes in bed-net utilization, household wealth, and pregnancy care service utilization. Additionally, multiple policies and programs initiated/implemented across multiple sectors were considered potentially relevant to CS&A reduction over time, including those focused on infant and young child feeding, water and sanitation, social protection, and health care access. Initiation/strengthening of these interventions was stimulated by awareness creation and subsequently increased prioritization of stunting. However, program delivery was limited by deficits in government funding, perceived low priority of child anemia, low implementation capacity and coverage, and weak coherence across sectors. Reduced CS&A resulted from improved access to services implemented across multiple sectors, albeit limited by implementation scale and capacity. Further reduction in CS&A requires enhanced multi-sectorally coordinated actions and capacity.
Pore structural characteristics and methane adsorption capacity of transitional shale of different depositional and burial processes: a case study of shale from Taiyuan formation of the Southern North China basin
Authors: Xu Qiuchen , Wang Haizhou , Guo Ruiliang , Liu Peng , Shi Dishi , Liu Enran , Zhang Yang , Wei Keyi
Published: November 2021

Pore structural characteristics and methane adsorption capacity are two significant aspects affecting shale gas potential, but the impact of deposition and burial processes on these two aspects is not clear. Hence, the shale samples of Taiyuan Formation deposited continuously and experienced multi-stage tectonic uplift in Fuyang-Bozhou area of Southern North China Basin were collected in this study. Based on the total organic carbon content analysis, mineral composition determination, low-pressure CO2 and N2 adsorption, high-pressure methane adsorption and argon ion polishing-field emission scanning electron microscope observation. The impact of depositional and burial processes variation on shale reservoir physical properties and adsorption performance is studied. The results display that the pore types of shale samples which were continues deposited and experienced multi-stage tectonic uplift have no obvious differences, while the pore volume as well as specific surface area (SSA) of micropores and mesopores of shale samples under multi-stage tectonic uplift are larger significantly. Meanwhile, the roughness of shale pores increases also. The decrease of loading pressure caused by multi-stage tectonic uplift may be the main factor for the pore structure changes of shale sample. Compared with the continuous deposited samples, the shale samples under multi-stage tectonic uplift have stronger methane adsorption capacity, which is relevant to the greater SSA of micropores as well as mesopores. This study provides an example and new revelation for the influence of depositional and burial processes on shale pore structure and methane adsorption capacity.
Correction to: The Coupling Effect of Flood Discharge and Storm Surge on Extreme Flood Stages: A Case Study in the Pearl River Delta, South China
Authors: Wang Xianwei , Guo Yu , Ren Jie
Published: November 2021

The authors' affiliations were missing in the pdf version of this article. The original article has been corrected.
A Global Multiregional Proteomic Map of the Human Cerebral Cortex
Authors: Guo Zhengguang , Shao Chen , Zhang Yang , Qiu Wenying , Li Wenting , Zhu Weimin , Yang Qian , Huang Yin , Pan Lili , Dong Yuepan , Sun Haidan , Xiao Xiaoping , Sun Wei , Ma Chao , Zhang Liwei
Published: November 2021

The Brodmann area (BA)-based map is one of the most widely used cortical maps for studies of human brain functions and in clinical practice; however, the molecular architecture of BAs remains unknown. The present study provided a global multiregional proteomic map of the human cerebral cortex by analyzing 29 BAs. These 29 BAs were grouped into 6 clusters based on similarities in proteomic patterns: the motor and sensory cluster, vision cluster, auditory and Broca’s area cluster, Wernicke’s area cluster, cingulate cortex cluster, and heterogeneous function cluster. We identified 474 cluster-specific and 134 BA-specific signature proteins whose functions are closely associated with specialized functions and disease vulnerability of the corresponding cluster or BA. The findings of the present study could provide explanations for the functional connections between the anterior cingulate cortex and sensorimotor cortex and for anxiety-related function in the sensorimotor cortex. The brain transcriptome and proteome comparison indicates that they both could reflect the function of cerebral cortex, but show different characteristics. These proteomic data are publicly available at the Human Brain Proteome Atlas (www.brain-omics.com). Our results may enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of brain functions and provide an important resource to support human brain research.
Turkeys Befriend a Girl: Turkey Husbandry, Ceremonialism, and Tales of Resistance during the Pueblo Revolt Era
Authors: McNeil Lynda D.
Published: November 2021

From Basketmaker II to Pueblo II (200 BC–AD 1150), turkey husbandry flourished among Ancestral Pueblos inhabiting the northern and southern San Juan areas (300 BC–AD 1250) and the Rio Grande Valley (AD 1250– 1700) due to the ritual-symbolic importance of turkey feathers to rainmaking ideology. As primary caregivers, Ancestral Puebloan women's long-lasting social bond with domesticated turkeys was disrupted by Spanish maize and textile tribute (encomienda) systems and demands on Native labor (repartimiento) of the mid-1600s, a major factor contributing to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Despite the Spanish assault on their culture, Native people clandestinely practiced kachina religion by reusing turkey feather ceremonial objects, seeking refuge in ancestral mesa-top villages, and repurposing Spanish ecclesiastical materials as part of a pan-Pueblo resistance and revitalization movement. This study examines a previously overlooked form of Native resistance to Franciscan conversion efforts—“turkey girl” tales that appropriated and repurposed a Spanish religious folktale. Evidence suggests that these tales were authored by Pueblo Revolt–era war captains who attended Franciscan mission schools around the 1630s. To varying degrees, these “turkey girl” tales express nativist resistance to Franciscan conversion efforts, commitment to revitalization ideology, and pan-Pueblo ethnogenesis.
A modified Delphi approach to develop a trial protocol for antibiotic de-escalation in patients with suspected sepsis
Authors: Yarrington Michael E. , Moehring Rebekah W. , David Michael Z. , Hamilton Keith W. , Klompas Michael , Rhee Chanu , Hsueh Kevin , Ashley Elizabeth Dodds , Sinkowitz-Cochran Ronda L. , Ryan Matthew , Anderson Deverick J. ,   for the DETOURS Expert Panel of the CDC Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: November 2021

Background:

Early administration of antibiotics in sepsis is associated with improved patient outcomes, but safe and generalizable approaches to de-escalate or discontinue antibiotics after suspected sepsis events are unknown.

Methods:

We used a modified Delphi approach to identify safety criteria for an opt-out protocol to guide de-escalation or discontinuation of antibiotic therapy after 72 hours in non-ICU patients with suspected sepsis. An expert panel with expertise in antimicrobial stewardship and hospital epidemiology rated 48 unique criteria across 3 electronic survey rating tools. Criteria were rated primarily based on their impact on patient safety and feasibility for extraction from electronic health record review. The 48 unique criteria were rated by anonymous electronic survey tools, and the results were fed back to the expert panel participants. Consensus was achieved to either retain or remove each criterion.

Results:

After 3 rounds, 22 unique criteria remained as part of the opt-out safety checklist. These criteria included high-risk comorbidities, signs of severe illness, lack of cultures during sepsis work-up or antibiotic use prior to blood cultures, or ongoing signs and symptoms of infection.

Conclusions:

The modified Delphi approach is a useful method to achieve expert-level consensus in the absence of evidence suifficient to provide validated guidance. The Delphi approach allowed for flexibility in development of an opt-out trial protocol for sepsis antibiotic de-escalation. The utility of this protocol should be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.
Ascending–descending and direct–inverse cascades of Reynolds stresses in turbulent Couette flow
Authors: Chiarini Alessandro , Mauriello Mariadebora , Gatti Davide , Quadrio Maurizio
Published: November 2021

The interaction between small- and large-scale structures and the coexisting bottom-up and top-down processes are studied in a turbulent plane Couette flow, where space-filling longitudinal rolls appear at relatively low values of the Reynolds number

$Re$

. A direct numerical simulation database at

$Re_\tau =101$

is built to replicate the highest

$Re$

considered in recent experimental work by Kawata & Alfredsson (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 120, 2018, 244501). Our study is based on the exact budget equations for the second-order structure function tensor

$\left \langle {\delta u_i \delta u_j} \right \rangle$

, i.e. the anisotropic generalized Kolmogorov equations (AGKE). The AGKE study production, redistribution, transport and dissipation of every Reynolds stress tensor component, considering simultaneously the physical space and the space of scales, and properly define the concept of scale in the inhomogeneous wall-normal direction. We show how the large-scale energy-containing motions are involved in the production and redistribution of the turbulent fluctuations. Both bottom-up and top-down interactions occur, and the same is true for direct and inverse cascading. The wall-parallel components

$\left \langle {\delta u \delta u} \right \rangle$

and

$\left \langle {\delta w \delta w} \right \rangle$

show that both small and large near-wall scales feed the large scales away from the wall. The wall-normal component

$\left \langle {\delta v \delta v} \right \rangle$

is different, and shows a dominant top-down dynamics, being produced via pressure-strain redistribution away from the wall and transferred towards near-wall larger scales via an inverse cascade. The off-diagonal component shows a top-down interaction, with both direct and inverse cascades, albeit the latter takes place within a limited range of scales.
Public Distrust in Disputed Elections: Evidence from Latin America
Authors: Hernández-Huerta Victor , Cantú Francisco
Published: November 2021

The comparative literature on democratization has shown that election trust depends as much on subjective factors as on the objective conditions of the process. This literature, however, has thus far overlooked the consequences of candidates refusing to concede an electoral defeat. This letter argues that a disputed electoral outcome further inflames negative perceptions of electoral integrity among voters who supported a losing candidate. We bring support for this claim from a multilevel regression that includes data from the AmericasBarometer surveys on almost 100,000 respondents across 49 elections in 18 Latin American countries. We combine these responses with an original database of disputed elections in the region. The empirical findings demonstrate the eroding effect of challenged election outcomes on voters' election trust, particularly among those who voted for a losing candidate. The findings underscore an intuitive yet untested pattern: candidates' refusal to accept the electoral outcome is a strong signal among their supporters, increasing their distrust on the integrity of the process.
Socio-ecological determinants of under-five mortality in Nigeria: exploring the roles of neighbourhood poverty and use of solid cooking fuel
Authors: Imo Chukwuechefulam Kingsley , Wet-Billings Nicole De
Published: November 2021

Globally, despite the decline in under-five mortality rate from 213 per 1000 live births in 1990 to 132 per 1000 live births in 2018, the pace of decline has been slow, and this can be attributed to poor progress in child survival interventions, including those aimed at reducing children’s exposure to household pollution. This study examined the influence of neighbourhood poverty and the use of solid cooking fuels on under-five mortality in Nigeria. Data for the study comprised a weighted sample of 124,442 birth histories of childbearing women who reported using cooking fuels in the kitchens located within their house drawn from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Descriptive and analytical analyses were carried out, including frequency tables, Pearson’s chi-squared test and multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional regression model. The results showed that the risk of under-five mortality was significantly associated with mothers residing in areas of high neighbourhood poverty (HR: 1.44, CI: 1.34–1.54) and the use of solid cooking fuels within the house (HR: 2.26, CI: 2.06–2.49). Government and non-governmental organizations in Nigeria should initiate strategic support and campaigns aimed at empowering and enlightening mothers on the need to reduce their use of solid cooking fuels within the house to reduce harmful emissions and their child health consequences.
RESPONDING TO VIOLENCE: LITURGY, AUTHORITY AND SACRED PLACES,c.900–c. 1150
Authors: Hamilton Sarah
Published: November 2021

The principle that church buildings constitute sacred spaces, set apart from the secular world and its laws, is one of the most enduring legacies of medieval Christianity in the present day. When and how church buildings came to be defined as sacred has consequently received a good deal of attention from modern scholars. What happened when that status was compromised, and ecclesiastical spaces were polluted by acts of violence, like the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral? This paper investigates the history of rites for the reconciliation of holy places violated by the shedding of blood, homicide or other public acts of ‘filthiness’ which followed instances such as Becket's murder. I first identify the late tenth and early eleventh centuries in England as crucial to the development of this rite, before asking why English bishops began to pay attention to rites of reconciliation in the years around 1000ce. This paper thus offers a fresh perspective on current understandings of ecclesiastical responses to violence in these years, the history of which has long been dominated by monastic evidence from west Frankia and Flanders. At the same time, it reveals the potential of liturgical rites to offer new insights into medieval society.
Trends and determinants of minimum dietary diversity among children aged 6–23 months: a pooled analysis of Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys from 2007 to 2017
Authors: Paramashanti Bunga A , Huda Tanvir M , Alam Ashraful , Dibley Michael J
Published: November 2021

Objective:

To examine minimum dietary diversity (MDD) trends and determinants among children aged 6–23 months.

Design:

Secondary analysis of the Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys (IDHS) between 2007 and 2017. The primary outcome was MDD, the consumption of at least five out of eight food groups (MDD-8). We included a total of 5015 (IDHS 2007), 5050 (IDHS 2007) and 4925 (IDHS 2017) children aged 6 to 23 months to estimate trends of MDD-8 and to identify factors associated with MDD-8. We used multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for the complex sampling design to investigate the association between the study factors and MDD-8.

Setting:

Indonesia.

Participant:

A total of 14 990 children aged 6–23 months.

Results:

Over the 10 years, the percentage of children who consumed a diversified diet was 53·1 % in 2007, 51·7 % in 2012 and 53·7 % in 2017. Multivariate analyses showed that older age children, higher maternal education, maternal weekly access to media, paternal non-agricultural occupation, history of at least four antenatal care visits and wealthier households were associated with the increased odds of MDD-8. Children living in rural areas, Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesia, were less likely to eat a diversified diet.

Conclusions:

The proportion of children meeting MDD-8 has stagnated in the last decade. Child, parental, health care, household and community factors are associated with MDD-8. Therefore, nutrition education programmes and behaviour change communication activities should target mothers and families from socio-economically and geographically disadvantaged populations.
Maternal iron-and-folic-acid supplementation and its association with low-birth weight and neonatal mortality in India
Authors: Rai Rajesh Kumar , De Neve Jan-Walter , Geldsetzer Pascal , Vollmer Sebastian
Published: November 2021

Objective:

The current study assessed intake of iron-and-folic-acid (IFA) tablet/syrup (grouped into none, < 100 d of IFA consumption or < 100 IFA and ≥ 100 d of IFA consumption or ≥ 100 IFA) among prospective mothers and its association with various stages of low-birth weight (ELBW, extremely low-birth weight; VLBW, very low-birth weight and LBW, low-birth weight) and neonatal mortality (death during day 0–1, 2–6, 7–27 and 0–27) in India.

Design:

The cross-sectional, nationally representative, 2015–2016 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) data were used. Weighted descriptive analysis and multiple binary logistic regression modelling were used.

Setting:

NFHS-4 covered 640 districts from thirty-seven states and union territories of India.

Participants:

A total of 120 374 and 143 675 index children aged 0–59 months were included to analyse LBW and neonatal mortality, respectively.

Results:

Overall, 30·7 % mothers consumed ≥ 100 IFA in 2015–2016, and this estimate ranged from 0·0 % in Zunheboto district of Nagaland state to 89·5 % in Mahe district of Puducherry of India. Multiple regression analysis revealed that children of mothers who consumed ≥ 100 IFA had lower odds of ELBW, VLBW, LBW and neonatal mortality during day 0–1, as compared with mothers who did not buy/receive any IFA. Consumption of IFA (< 100 IFA and ≥ 100 IFA) had a protective association with neonatal death during day 7–27 and 0–27. Consumption of IFA was not associated with neonatal death during day 2–6.

Conclusions:

While ≥ 100 IFA consumption during pregnancy was found to be associated with preventing select types of LBW and neonatal mortality, a large variation in coverage of ≥ 100 IFA consumption across 640 districts is concerning.
A Conceptual Framework to Map Responses to Hate Crime, Hate Incidents and Hate Speech: The Case of Australia
Authors: Vergani Matteo , Link Rouven
Published: November 2021

Responses to hate crimes, hate incidents and hate speech are characterised by an exceptional fragmentation in terminology and lack of coordination among governmental and non-governmental organisations. This article proposes a new conceptual framework to map the diversity of responses to hate crime, hate incidents and hate speech, with the aim of assessing gaps and needs in this important policy area. Using Australia as a case study, we create and analyse a database of 222 organisations running activities focusing on tackling hate against different target groups. The results highlight an uneven distribution of efforts across different geographical areas, types of activities and target groups. The majority of anti-hate efforts, especially by government organisations, focus on awareness raising and education rather than victim support and data collection. Racial and religious hate are the main foci of anti-hate efforts, compared to other forms of hate, such as anti-LGBTIQ+ and disablist hate.
Greener insurgencies? Engaging non-State armed groups for the protection of the natural environment during non-international armed conflicts
Authors: de La Bourdonnaye Thibaud
Published: November 2021

As belligerent parties, non-State armed groups (NSAGs) contribute to environmental damage in non-international armed conflicts. Drawing from the actual practice and doctrine of NSAGs, this article unpacks the legal and policy framework for engaging them on the protection of the environment. It analyzes the international humanitarian law rules protecting the environment binding on NSAGs. To improve environmental protection, a model of environmental responsibilities under international human rights law and international environmental law based on the NSAG's level of territorial control is suggested, as a matter of policy. This article then explores how to engage NSAGs on the legal and policy framework identified and proposes a model unilateral declaration for the protection of the natural environment.
Humanizing siege warfare: Applying the principle of proportionality to sieges
Authors: Nijs Maxime
Published: November 2021

Siege warfare and its devastating humanitarian consequences have been one of the defining features of contemporary armed conflicts. While the most apparent restriction of siege warfare appears to be provided by the prohibition against starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare, the prevailing restrictive interpretation of this prohibition has left civilians remaining in a besieged area unprotected from the hardships they endure. This article demonstrates that shifting the focus from the prohibition against starvation to the rules regulating humanitarian relief operations does not seem helpful due to the ambiguities regarding the requirement of consent and the right of control of the besieging party. In remedying this protection gap, this article examines whether and how the principle of proportionality applies in the context of a siege. After analyzing whether the encirclement and isolation aspect of a siege can be considered an attack in the sense of Article 49(1) of Additional Protocol I (AP I), to which the proportionality principle applies, the article investigates how this principle operates in the context of a siege. It will be demonstrated that Article 57(2)(b) of AP I requires that the proportionality of a siege must be continuously monitored.