bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Physical Feature Extraction of Fermented Cocoa Bean with Digital Image Processing
Authors: Radi  , Sukartiko Anggoro C. , Prasetya Kurniawan M. , Agus Pamudji R. , Saragi Gabriel C. , Bangun Bayu P. , Putri Dena P.
Published: October 2019

The study aimed to develop software for estimating the size of the fermented cocoa bean. The size of cocoa bean is one of the quality attributes needed in secondary cocoa processing, especially those related to the activities of sorting and preparing raw materials. This system was developed by adopting digital image processing techniques, starting from sample preparation and followed by capturing the image of cocoa bean samples, converting the color image into monochrome, segmentation, improving image results with a combination of dilation and erosion processes, to the feature extraction as the final stage. The extracted features of the beans’ size are length, width, circumference, and area of the samples, all measured in pixel unit. The features, called as estimated size, were then regressed to the real samples’ size, called as physical features, measured physically in the laboratory. The obtained regression formula showed a strong relationship between the estimated and physical features. The strong correlation between the two features enables the development of a rapid estimation of the physical features of cocoa beans based on digital image processing
Development of “Wheel Hoe” Appropriate Tool for Supporting Organic Farming
Authors: Hildayani O , Putri R E , Andasuryani
Published: October 2019

Development of “Wheel Hoe” is aimed to produce the multifunction tools according to the agriculture field condition in West Sumatra. Wheel Hoe has three implements which used to trim weeds (blade assembly), to cultivate a soil (tine cultivator), to make the drainage (furrower) on the dried soils. This research did at The Laboratory of Production and Agricultural Machinery Management, Agricultural Engineering Program, Agricultural Technology Faculty, Andalas University. The research method is designing a prototype wheel hoe and testing in West Sumatra through observations involved: the speed, wheel slip, work capacity, spacious efficient, and time lost of wheel hoe. Wheel hoe used an engine 5 HP by Dymos. In this research have been produced a wheel hoe that has a dimension length: 180cm, width: 60cm and height: 100cm and weight: 145.35 kg. Wheel hoe test result used tine cultivator implement with an average speed of 0,01 m/s. The width of the plowed land with tine cultivator implement is 50cm. the spacious efficient of wheel hoe using the implement of tine cultivator is high on a red-yellow podsolic soil as much as 97,67% and tine cultivator on andosol soil and litosol soil as much as 96,12 % and 96,17%. Base on the spacious efficient has been got, so we got a conclusion that wheel hoe using tine cultivator implement can be used on all of the type soil in West Sumatra.
Analysis of Relationship Between Production Factors of Citra Water Apple Business in Hamlet II Paya Salit, Langkat District
Authors: Marisa J , Sitepu S A
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between land area, fertilizer, insecticide, and labor to the production of citra water apple business in Hamlet II Paya Salit Langkat. This research type is descriptive research that is researcher describe condition of variable of cultivation business of citra water apple. Population in this research is all farmer of citra water apple that exist in Hamlet II Paya Salit. The analytical method used is Chi-Square analysis using SPSS 18.0 software. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between land area, fertilizer, insecticide and labor on the production of citra water apple business in Hamlet II Paya Salit Langkat District with the correlation of the relationship between the business area, fertilizer to the production of 91.4%, and the correlation of labor relations with production of 87.4% and the correlation of the insecticide relationship with the production of 52.9%.
Silicon micromachining with nanometer-thin boron masking and membrane material
Authors: Liu Xingyu , Italiano Joe , Scott Robin , Nanver Lis K
Published: October 2019

Chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) conditions were investigated for enabling the growth of pure boron (PureB) on Si with low stress and at as low as possible temperature. The application of the B as masking material for Si wet etching by tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and as membrane material was demonstrated for B deposition temperatures down to 300 °C. Layer thickness in the range 4 nm to 40 nm was applied. In a Si epitaxy reactor system a close to zero-stress condition was found at ∼600 °C, and in an atomic-layer deposition system operated in CVD mode, loosely-bonded 300 °C layers without measurable stress were realized. The compactness of the layers was evaluated by monitoring the etch rate in standard aluminum wet etchant and by observing electron transmissivity, confirming a clear relationship between deposition conditions, compactness and stress.
An extensive review of tools for manual annotation of documents
Authors: Neves Mariana , Ševa Jurica
Published: October 2019

Motivation

Annotation tools are applied to build training and test corpora, which are essential for the development and evaluation of new natural language processing algorithms. Further, annotation tools are also used to extract new information for a particular use case. However, owing to the high number of existing annotation tools, finding the one that best fits particular needs is a demanding task that requires searching the scientific literature followed by installing and trying various tools.

Methods

We searched for annotation tools and selected a subset of them according to five requirements with which they should comply, such as being Web-based or supporting the definition of a schema. We installed the selected tools (when necessary), carried out hands-on experiments and evaluated them using 26 criteria that covered functional and technical aspects. We defined each criterion on three levels of matches and a score for the final evaluation of the tools.

Results

We evaluated 78 tools and selected the following 15 for a detailed evaluation: BioQRator, brat, Catma, Djangology, ezTag, FLAT, LightTag, MAT, MyMiner, PDFAnno, prodigy, tagtog, TextAE, WAT-SL and WebAnno. Full compliance with our 26 criteria ranged from only 9 up to 20 criteria, which demonstrated that some tools are comprehensive and mature enough to be used on most annotation projects. The highest score of 0.81 was obtained by WebAnno (of a maximum value of 1.0).
SPARSim single cell: a count data simulator for scRNA-seq data
Authors: Baruzzo Giacomo , Patuzzi Ilaria , Di Camillo Barbara
Published: October 2019

Motivation

Single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) count data show many differences compared with bulk RNA-seq count data, making the application of many RNA-seq pre-processing/analysis methods not straightforward or even inappropriate. For this reason, the development of new methods for handling scRNA-seq count data is currently one of the most active research fields in bioinformatics. To help the development of such new methods, the availability of simulated data could play a pivotal role. However, only few scRNA-seq count data simulators are available, often showing poor or not demonstrated similarity with real data.

Results

In this article we present SPARSim, a scRNA-seq count data simulator based on a Gamma-Multivariate Hypergeometric model. We demonstrate that SPARSim allows to generate count data that resemble real data in terms of count intensity, variability and sparsity, performing comparably or better than one of the most used scRNA-seq simulator, Splat. In particular, SPARSim simulated count matrices well resemble the distribution of zeros across different expression intensities observed in real count data.

Availability and implementation

SPARSim R package is freely available at http://sysbiobig.dei.unipd.it/? q=SPARSim and at https://gitlab.com/sysbiobig/sparsim.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Development of a new mouse model for coxsackievirus-induced myocarditis by attenuating coxsackievirus B3 virulence in the pancreas
Authors: Pinkert Sandra , Pryshliak Markian , Pappritz Kathleen , Knoch Klaus , Hazini Ahmet , Dieringer Babette , Schaar Katrin , Dong Fengquan , Hinze Luisa , Lin Jie , Lassner Dirk , Klopfleisch Robert , Solimena Michele , Tschöpe Carsten , Kaya Ziya , El-Shafeey Muhammad , Beling Antje , Kurreck Jens , Van Linthout Sophie , Klingel Karin , Fechner Henry
Published: October 2019

Aims

The coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) mouse myocarditis model is the standard model for investigation of virus-induced myocarditis but the pancreas, rather than the heart, is the most susceptible organ in mouse. The aim of this study was to develop a CVB3 mouse myocarditis model in which animals develop myocarditis while attenuating viral infection of the pancreas and the development of severe pancreatitis.

Methods and results

We developed the recombinant CVB3 variant H3N-375TS by inserting target sites (TS) of miR-375, which is specifically expressed in the pancreas, into the 3ʹUTR of the genome of the pancreo- and cardiotropic CVB3 variant H3. In vitro evaluation showed that H3N-375TS was suppressed in pancreatic miR-375-expressing EndoC-βH1 cells >5 log10, whereas its replication was not suppressed in isolated primary embryonic mouse cardiomyocytes. In vivo, intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of H3N-375TS to NMRI mice did not result in pancreatic or cardiac infection. In contrast, intravenous (i.v.) administration of H3N-375TS to NMRI and Balb/C mice resulted in myocardial infection and acute and chronic myocarditis, whereas the virus was not detected in the pancreas and the pancreatic tissue was not damaged. Acute myocarditis was characterized by myocardial injury, inflammation with mononuclear cells, induction of proinflammatory cytokines, and detection of replicating H3N-375TS in the heart. Mice with chronic myocarditis showed myocardial fibrosis and persistence of H3N-375TS genomic RNA but no replicating virus in the heart. Moreover, H3N-375TS infected mice showed distinctly less suffering compared with mice that developed pancreatitis and myocarditis after i.p. or i.v application of control virus.

Conclusion

In this study, we demonstrate that by use of the miR-375-sensitive CVB3 variant H3N-375TS, CVB3 myocarditis can be established without the animals developing severe systemic infection and pancreatitis. As the H3N-375TS myocarditis model depends on pancreas-attenuated H3N-375TS, it can easily be used in different mouse strains and for various applications.
Interstitial and Granulomatous Lung Disease in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients
Authors: Eliadou Elena , Moleiro Joana , Ribaldone Davide Giuseppe , Astegiano Marco , Rothfuss Katja , Taxonera Carlos , Ghalim Fahd , Carbonnel Franck , Verstockt Bram , Festa Stefano , Maia Luís , Berrozpe Ana , Zagorowicz Edyta , Savarino Edoardo , Ellul Pierre , Vavricka Stephan R , Calvo Marta , Koutroubakis Ioannis , Hoentjen Frank , Salazar Luis Fernández , Callela Francesca , Cañete Pizarro Fiorella , Soufleris Konstantinos , Sonnenberg Elena , Cavicchi Maryan , Wypych Joanna , Hommel Christophe , Ghiani Alessandro , Fiorino Gionata ,   ECCO CONFER COMMITTEE
Published: October 2019

Background

Interstitial lung [ILD] disease and granulomatous lung disease [GLD] are rare respiratory disorders that have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Clinical presentation is polymorphic and aetiology is unclear.

Methods

This was an ECCO-CONFER project. Cases of concomitant ILD or GLD and IBD, or drug-induced ILD/GLD, were collected. The criteria for diagnosing ILD and GLD were based on definitions from the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society and on the discretion of reporting clinician.

Results

We identified 31 patients with ILD. The majority had ulcerative colitis [UC] [n = 22]. Drug-related ILD was found in 64% of these patients, 25 patients [80.6%] required hospitalisation, and one required non-invasive ventilation. The causative drug was stopped in all drug-related ILD, and 87% of patients received systemic steroids. At follow-up, 16% of patients had no respiratory symptoms, 16% had partial improvement, 55% had ongoing symptoms, and there were no data in 13%. One patient was referred for lung transplantation, and one death from lung fibrosis was reported. We also identified 22 GLD patients: most had Crohn’s disease [CD] [n = 17]. Drug-related GLD was found in 36% of patients and 10 patients [45.4%] required hospitalisation. The causative drug was stopped in all drug-related GLD, and 81% of patients received systemic steroids. Remission of both conditions was achieved in almost all patients.

Conclusions

ILD and GLD, although rare, can cause significant morbidity. In our series, over half of cases were drug-related and therefore focused pharmacovigilance is needed to identify and manage these cases.
Aortic arch variant with a common origin of the innominate and left carotid artery as a determinant of thoracic aortic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Marrocco-Trischitta Massimiliano M , Alaidroos Moad , Romarowski Rodrigo M , Milani Valentina , Ambrogi Federico , Secchi Francesco , Glauber Mattia , Nano Giovanni
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the ‘bovine’ arch [i.e. arch variant with a common origin of the innominate and left carotid artery (CILCA)] is associated with an increased risk of thoracic aortic disease (TAD). The study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched to identify all case series reporting about CILCA arch and TAD between January 2008 and December 2018. A total of 485 studies were screened. The prevalence of CILCA arch was assessed, and data analysis was performed considering the difference in the risk of TAD for presence versus absence of CILCA arch. Eight studies enrolling 11 381 subjects were retrieved for quantitative analysis. The proportion of TAD among CILCA arch patients was higher [41.5% (28.1–56.4)] than the proportion among patients with standard arch configuration 34.0% (20.1–51.4). The odds ratio of developing TAD was 1.4 times higher in subjects with CILCA arch (95% confidence interval 1.068–1.839). The test for an overall effect indicated a significant association between CILCA arch and TAD (P < 0.015). The I2 was 78.1% with a value of P < 0.001 for heterogeneity. The Egger test did not show evidence of publication bias (P = 0.317). In conclusion, our meta-analysis supports the hypothesis of a correlation between the presence of CILCA arch and the onset of TAD. Our results warrant a specific and long-term surveillance for patients with this anatomical variant, and a thorough awareness of its potential clinical implications during image interpretation.
Robotic totally endoscopic beating-heart bypass to the right coronary artery: first worldwide experience
Authors: Balkhy Husam H , Kitahara Hiroto , Mitzman Brian , Nisivaco Sarah
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVES

Left coronary vessels are the usual targets in totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB). Grafting of the right coronary artery (RCA) has been limited using this approach because of anatomic and technical difficulties. We report a first series of robotic beating-heart TECAB to the RCA via a right-chest approach.

METHODS

From July 2013 to April 2019, patients who underwent robotic beating-heart TECAB with the right internal mammary artery to the RCA were reviewed. Port placement in the right chest mirrored standard left-sided ports. Indications for right internal mammary artery to RCA bypass were RCA disease not amenable to percutaneous intervention and anomalous origin of the RCA.

RESULTS

Right internal mammary artery–RCA bypass was performed in 16 patients (mean age 60.6 ± 13.5, 75% male). All cases were completed without conversion to sternotomy or mini-thoracotomy. Cardiopulmonary bypass was required in 1 patient to expose the posterior descending artery. Mean procedure time was 223 ± 49 min, with half of the patients extubated in the operating room (50%). Mean intraoperative transit-time graft flow was 87.0 ± 19.3 ml/min, and a pulsatility index of 1.2 ± 0.2. Mean length of stay was 2.3 ± 1.2 days. No mortality was observed at mean follow-up time of 20.6 months. One patient required repeat RCA revascularization for progression of native disease 43.7 months after the surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Robotic beating-heart TECAB for isolated RCA disease is a feasible operation in selected patients. This technique is possible even for the posterior descending artery.
First 2-D intrinsic and scattering attenuation images of Mt Etna volcano and surrounding region from active seismic data
Authors: Ibáñez Jesús M , Castro-Melgar Ignacio , Cocina Ornella , Zuccarello Luciano , Branca Stefano , Del Pezzo Edoardo , Prudencio Janire
Published: October 2019

We present 2-D attenuation images of the Mt Etna volcanic region on the basis of separation of intrinsic and scattering effects. The analysis presented here exploits a large active seismic database that fully covers the area under study. We observe that scattering effects dominate over intrinsic attenuation, suggesting that the region is very heterogeneous. Comparison with analyses conducted at other volcanoes reveals that the Mt Etna region is characterized by high intrinsic attenuation, resulting from the presence of large volcanoclastic deposits at shallow depth. The 2-D distributions of intrinsic and scattering anomalies show the presence of regions characterized by high and low attenuation effects, corresponding to several tectonic and volcanic features. In particular, we identify a high attenuation region in the SW sector of the Mt Etna volcanic complex, which is correlated with high seismicity rates and volcanism. This work supports the hypothesis of a link between the dynamics of the SW flank and the recharge of the volcano in the last decades, occurring under the summit crater and, secondarily, the upper South rift zone.
Clashing Traditions: German Foreign Policy in a New Era
Authors: Gaskarth Jamie , Oppermann Kai
Published: October 2019

A series of crises over the last decade have put pressure on Europe's fundamental ordering principles. In response, German policymakers have scrambled to reinterpret Germany's foreign policy for a new era. To understand this process, the authors utilize an interpretivist approach, analyzing the discourse of German foreign policymakers through the lens of four traditions of thought informing debates: regionalism, pacifism, realism, and hegemonism. The article suggests that despite serious challenges, prevailing patterns of belief centered round regionalism and pacifism, supported by a particular civilian understanding of hegemony, persist. Yet, Germany's allies are challenging this framework and calling for it to accept more responsibility for regional and global security. As a result, a realist tradition is reemerging in Germany's discourse. The taxonomy provided here allows a richer understanding of these debates as well as an appreciation of how policymakers mobilize ideas to resist or enable policy change.
The Lotus Case in Context
Authors: Beaulac Stéphane
Published: October 2019

This chapter addresses the significance of the 1927 case of SS Lotus to assess jurisdiction in international law from a historical perspective. It situates the Lotus case in its historical context by considering the influence of the Westphalian legal order and Emer de Vattel’s understanding of state sovereignty on the Court’s judgment. The influence of both of these frameworks supports the positivistic stance taken by the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ) in this decision, which remains present in the more recent jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). By examining the Lotus case, the chapter then looks at the theoretical assumptions that underpin state sovereignty and jurisdiction in international law.
Navigating Diffuse Jurisdictions
Authors: Quane Helen
Published: October 2019

This chapter studies the jurisdictional boundaries between state and non-state law with specific reference to religious, or customary, law. The determination of these regulatory forms as state law depends on the extent to which they perform prescriptive, adjudicative, or enforcement functions. Indeed, the boundaries between state and non-state law are not as stable as they may appear, as they are liable to shift according to circumstances and over time. The chapter then argues that the issue of classification acquires resonance in cases where legal pluralism occurs as the character and scope of a state’s exercise of jurisdiction becomes far more ambiguous in such situations. This can create uncertainty about the jurisdiction of the respective systems, the status of norms from one system that are given effect in another, and how these norms should be interpreted and applied given their concurrent existence within more than one legal system.
Deepening the Conversation between Socio-Legal Theory and Legal Scholarship about Jurisdiction
Authors: Valverde Mariana
Published: October 2019

This chapter examines the relationship between social theory and legal studies, paying close attention to the theoretical implications of specific legal technicalities by borrowing methodologies originating from non-legal disciplines. Social theorists who want to engage with and contribute to socio-legal scholarship can draw on actual legal quandaries and real-world governance dilemmas to help generate theoretical insights that may perhaps borrow their underlying epistemology from non-legal theorists, but that also draw substantially on close studies of legal processes, particularly the often-ignored theoretical significance of law’s own procedures and knowledge moves. The chapter then reveals how the substantial benefits may be derived from this genuine exercise in interdisciplinarity by harnessing considerations of scale, temporality, materiality, and narrative affect, as far as the jurisdiction is concerned.
Cosmopolitan Jurisdiction and the National Interest
Authors: Ryngaert Cedric
Published: October 2019

This chapter explores the exercise of jurisdiction in the common interest. Drawing on realism and actual practice, it is posited that the exercise of jurisdiction in the common interest is unlikely unless the state has a nexus to the situation subject to regulation. The presence of a nexus may in fact serve to allocate jurisdictional authority and responsibility and encourage action in the common interest. In practice, cosmopolitan jurisdiction is hardly exercised. Scarce resources, fear of retaliation or reciprocity, and lack of local interest in global issues may cause states to forego assertions of cosmopolitan jurisdiction, unless a ‘national interest’ can be identified. The chapter then considers the actual practice of universal criminal jurisdiction.
The Establishment, Change, and Expansion of Jurisdiction through Treaties
Authors: Kritsiotis Dino
Published: October 2019

This chapter studies the insufficiency of the so-called traditional principles of jurisdiction—territoriality, nationality, protection, universality, and passive personality—when set against jurisdictional provisions of treaties and in customary international law. In increasing and discernible measure, treaties have invoked a veritable suite of ‘jurisdictional possibilities’ over time, often making greater demands on states than is found in—to take an early example—the 1926 Slavery Convention. By way of treaty design, states have accentuated the form and shape of the jurisdictional power of states that is to be engaged: there is no question that jurisdiction has come to form a much more pronounced and explicit part of the strategization toward common ends on a host of matters ranging from the counterfeiting of currency to human trafficking.
The Evolving Nature of the Jurisdiction of the Security Council
Authors: Kerschischnig Georg , Montejo Blanca
Published: October 2019

This chapter studies the original conception of the Security Council’s jurisdiction and contrasts it with the way its jurisdiction has developed and expanded in practice since the end of the Cold War. The Security Council’s jurisdiction—which is principally political and informed primarily by political rather than legal considerations—rests on a limited legal framework consisting of provisions in the UN Charter and of the Council’s own provisional rules of procedure. Nevertheless, the Security Council’s jurisdiction has expanded considerably since the end of the Cold War and has expanded into areas beyond international security. One notable area in which the Council’s competence has increased in this period is that of sanctions. These jurisdiction-related developments in the Council’s practice reflect a world in which the line between national and international jurisdiction are no longer clear or desirable. At the same time, the Council has also increased its interaction with UN Member States and with civil society.
Jurisdiction and International Territorial Administration
Authors: Summers James
Published: October 2019

This concluding chapter discusses jurisdiction and international territorial administration. Such territorial administration regimes have been created where international organizations or states collectively have had to step in to stabilize or reconstruct a particular country or region, and this kind of administration creates a very distinctive and complex environment for jurisdiction. The chapter then explores five different aspects of jurisdiction in relation to these administrations. First, it looks at the basis on which these bodies might assert jurisdiction over a territory and its people. Second, it examines how this jurisdiction can be exercised within the domestic legal systems of these territories. Third, it investigates jurisdiction over international crimes, which may be shared between different international bodies. Fourth, it considers the impact of international organizations’ immunities on jurisdiction, including, fifth, their significance for human rights jurisdiction.
Regional Peace and Security
Authors: Sidhu Waheguru Pal Singh
Published: October 2019

This chapter discusses the development of regional peace and security in Asia and the Pacific. Since the end of the Cold War and the resurgence of Asian economies, there has been significant movement in the establishment of peace and security institutions. Notable among them are the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). This movement was partly due to regional hegemons seeking a greater role in their neighbourhood and partly due to smaller states seeking to manage the regional hegemons. Simultaneously, China and India also began playing a crucial role in shaping the evolving norms relating to climate change, cyber security, energy security, trade, and outer space. The chapter also considers the impact of the United Nations Charter, the prohibition on the use of force, and collective security in the region.
Japan
Authors: Matsui Shigenori
Published: October 2019

This chapter examines international law in Japan. It begins by looking at Japan’s embroilment with international law in the course of its efforts to revise the unequal treaties which had been concluded with about a dozen Occidental states while Japan was categorized as one of the ‘barbarian’ states in the world. After gradually overcoming this unequal status, it became a late-coming big power around the end of World War I. This big power then plunged into World War II, with the result that it was then branded an aggressor state and was penalized in an international tribunal. After that defeat, it turned into both a serious complier of new—that is, post-World War II—international law and a state deeply obedient to the United States. These factors have brought about complex international law behaviour as well as serious constraints in Japan’s choice of international law action.
Cambodia
Authors: Mohan Mahdev
Published: October 2019

This chapter studies international law in Cambodia. Cambodia’s evolving relationship with public international law must be understood in the context of the nation’s unique history and circumstances, which are marked by colonization, conflict, Vietnamese occupation, territorial administration, civil war, transitional justice, and state-building. Cambodia’s legal system has undergone significant changes from the early days of unwritten customary laws, to the imposition of French civil law, and thereafter the ‘legal vacuum’ created by the ultra-Marxist Khmer Rouge regime that left Cambodia in a state of war and international isolation until the 1980s. The chapter then outlines key aspects of international law in and apropos Cambodia that illustrate Cambodia’s reception of public international law, and its position as an active participant in the international legal system. Cambodia has certainly taken strides in its participation in dispute resolution on the international plane. However, its tryst with international law is a fractious one.
Myanmar
Authors: Renshaw Catherine
Published: October 2019

This chapter discusses international law in Myanmar. The efforts of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Commission of Inquiry to eradicate the use of forced labour in Myanmar, and the nature of the military regime’s response to these efforts, represent a remarkable chapter in the history of international law. Of note, first, is the determination of the ILO to test the limits of its power to enforce compliance with the resolutions of its governing body. Second, Myanmar’s engagement with the ILO clarified the vexed issue of what constitutes a peremptory norm of international law. Third, civil litigation in the United States around the issue of forced labour by transnational corporations in Myanmar uncovered the scope and potential for domestic courts to apply international law. Finally, Myanmar’s variable and often extreme responses to the Commission’s findings demonstrate the dynamics of state resistance to and engagement with international law.
Pakistan
Authors: Soofi Ahmer Bilal
Published: October 2019

This chapter evaluates international law in Pakistan. In the international arena, Pakistan was collectively recognized as a sovereign state within the community of nations by gaining membership of the United Nations. Pakistan is also a member of various other international and regional governmental organizations. Now enshrined in the country’s Constitution of 1973 are principles of policy for the state to ‘promote international peace and security, foster goodwill and friendly relations among all nations and encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means’. With regards to its international law obligations, Pakistan operates as a dualist state: The Rules of Business 1973 empower the Cabinet to sign and ratify international treaties and agreements on behalf of the state, following which the Parliament is tasked with their incorporation via implementing legislation. The chapter then highlights Pakistan’s contribution to international law, through state practice or otherwise, as well as the role of international law in Pakistan’s domestic jurisprudence.
Central Asian States
Authors: Girshovich Marina
Published: October 2019

This chapter describes the experiences of five Central Asian states—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—with international law over the past three decades, identifying some of the distinctive features of Central Asian states’ approaches towards international law. The commonalities in the stance of Central Asian states on matters of international law are determined by the context of their emergence as sovereign states at the end of the Cold War, their common history as former Soviet republics, their belonging to the Eurasian group of continental legal systems, and their common status as landlocked developing states. At the same time, each Central Asian state has its own specifics, with differences in their foreign policy priorities, levels of economic development, and resource endowment. The chapter then reviews the participation of Central Asian states in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), particularly their experiences with the CIS Economic Court.
South Pacific Island States
Authors: Corrin Jennifer
Published: October 2019

This chapter explores international law in the South Pacific Island states of Oceania. While there are some commonalities, the area is one of immense cultural and biological diversity. South Pacific Island states are beset by plural legal systems, where state laws coexist with non-state laws, at times operating side by side and at others overlapping or even intermingling. These competing domestic laws are not the only sources of law to contend with; international law plays an increasingly large role in these countries. While international law is traditionally regarded as the law governing the relationship between states, ‘modern’ international law includes rules relating to individuals and non-state bodies. This additional layer of law increases the complexities of the relationship between formal and customary laws. The chapter then focuses on international law in common law island states in the Pacific, specifically looking at the South Pacific Island states which have ratified the Pacific Island States Trade Agreement.
New Zealand
Authors: Keith Kenneth
Published: October 2019

This concluding chapter discusses New Zealand’s interaction with international law, adopting a chronological approach which takes account of the increasing authority of New Zealand’s institutions since 1840, when British colonization began. Over this period, New Zealand has developed and diversified its international trading, political, and strategic relations with other states, and has experienced the broadening and deepening of international law which has responded to massive scientific, technical, environmental, and geopolitical developments. The chronological approach also helps to identify major changes in New Zealand’s positions on, and contributions to, international law. Also central are New Zealand’s geography and population. It was first settled by Polynesians and later populated by Europeans, mainly British, who began to arrive only 200 years ago. Now, New Zealand has a rapidly diversifying population, with increasing numbers of people relocating from the Pacific and Asia.
ATLASGAL – physical parameters of dust clumps associated with 6.7 GHz methanol masers
Authors: Billington S J , Urquhart J S , König C , Moore T J T , Eden D J , Breen S L , Kim W-J , Thompson M A , Ellingsen S P , Menten K M , Wyrowski F , Leurini S
Published: October 2019

We have constructed the largest sample of dust-associated class II 6.7 GHz methanol masers yet obtained. New measurements from the the Methanol MultiBeam (MMB) Survey were combined with the 870 $\mu$m APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy (ATLASGAL) and the 850 $\mu$m JCMT Plane Survey (JPS). Together with two previous studies we have now identified the host clumps for 958 methanol masers across the Galactic Plane, covering approximately 99 per cent of the MMB catalogue and increasing the known sample of dust-associated masers by over 30 per cent. We investigate correlations between the physical properties of the clumps and masers using distances and luminosities drawn from the literature. Clumps hosting methanol masers are significantly more compact and have higher volume densities than the general population of clumps. We determine a minimum volume density threshold of n(H2) ≥ 104 cm−3 for the efficient formation of intermediate- and high-mass stars. We find 6.7 GHz methanol masers are associated with a distinct part of the evolutionary process (Lbol/Mfwhm ratios of between 100.6 and 102.2) and have well defined turning on and termination points. We estimate the lower limit for the mass of embedded objects to be ≥6 M⊙ and the statistical lifetime of the methanol maser stage to be ∼3.3 × 104 yrs. This suggests that methanol masers are indeed reliable tracers of high mass star formation, and indicates that the evolutionary period traced by this marker is relatively rapid.
Imprints of temperature fluctuations on the z ∼ 5 Lyman-α forest: a view from radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of reionization
Authors: Wu Xiaohan , McQuinn Matthew , Kannan Rahul , D’Aloisio Anson , Bird Simeon , Marinacci Federico , Davé Romeel , Hernquist Lars
Published: October 2019

Reionization leads to large spatial fluctuations in the intergalactic temperature that can persist well after its completion. We study the imprints of such fluctuations on the $z$ ∼ 5 Ly α forest flux power spectrum using a set of radiation-hydrodynamic simulations that model different reionization scenarios. We find that large-scale coherent temperature fluctuations bring ${\sim}20\text{--}60{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ extra power at k ∼ 0.002 s km−1, with the largest enhancements in the models where reionization is extended or ends the latest. On smaller scales (k ≳ 0.1 s km−1), we find that temperature fluctuations suppress power by ${\lesssim}10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. We find that the shape of the power spectrum is mostly sensitive to the reionization mid-point rather than temperature fluctuations from reionization’s patchiness. However, for all of our models with reionization mid-points of $z$ ≤ 8 ($z$ ≤ 12), the shape differences are ${\lesssim}20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ (${\lesssim}40{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) because of a surprisingly well-matched cancellation between thermal broadening and pressure smoothing that occurs for realistic thermal histories. We also consider fluctuations in the ultraviolet background, finding their impact on the power spectrum to be much smaller than temperature fluctuations at k ≳ 0.01 s km−1. Furthermore, we compare our models to power spectrum measurements, finding that none of our models with reionization mid-points of $z$ < 8 is strongly preferred over another and that all of our models with mid-points of $z$ ≥ 8 are excluded at 2.5σ. Future measurements may be able to distinguish between viable reionization models if they can be performed at lower k or, alternatively, if the error bars on the high-k power can be reduced by a factor of 1.5.
Evidence for spots on hot stars suggests major revision of stellar physics
Authors: Balona L A
Published: October 2019

It has long been thought that starspots are not present in the A and B stars because magnetic fields cannot be generated in stars with radiative envelopes. Space observations show that a considerable fraction of these stars varies in light with periods consistent with the expected rotation periods. Here we show that the photometric periods are the same as the rotation periods and that starspots are the likely cause for the light variations. This discovery has wide-ranging implications and suggests that a major revision of the physics of hot stellar envelopes may be required.
Direct interplay between stereochemistry and conformational preferences in aminoacylated oligoribonucleotides
Authors: Polyansky Anton A , Kreuter Mathias , Sutherland John D , Zagrovic Bojan
Published: October 2019

To address the structural and dynamical consequences of amino-acid attachment at 2′- or 3′-hydroxyls of the terminal ribose in oligoribonucleotides, we have performed an extensive set of molecular dynamics simulations of model aminoacylated RNA trinucleotides. Our simulations suggest that 3′-modified trinucleotides exhibit higher solvent exposure of the aminoacylester bond and may be more susceptible to hydrolysis than their 2′ counterparts. Moreover, we observe an invariant adoption of well-defined collapsed and extended conformations for both stereoisomers. We show that the average conformational preferences of aminoacylated trinucleotides are determined by their nucleotide composition and are fine-tuned by amino-acid attachment. Conversely, solvent exposure of the aminoacylester bond depends on the attachment site, the nature of attached amino acid and the strength of its interactions with the bases. Importantly, aminoacylated CCA trinucleotides display a systematically higher solvent exposure of the aminoacylester bond and a weaker dependence of such exposure on sidechain interactions than other trinucleotides. These features could facilitate hydrolytic release of the amino acid, especially for 3′ attachment, and may have contributed to CCA becoming the universal acceptor triplet in tRNAs. Our results provide novel atomistic details about fundamental aspects of biological translation and furnish clues about its primordial origins.
Racial Differences in Clinical Phenotype and Hospitalization of Blastomycosis Patients
Authors: Anderson Jennifer L , Frost Holly M , King Jennifer P , Meece Jennifer K
Published: October 2019

Background

Dimorphic fungal infections, such as blastomycosis, cause significant morbidity and mortality. Historically, blastomycosis studies have focused on non-Hispanic whites, which limits our understanding of the clinical presentation and outcomes for patients of other races and ethnicities. We evaluated whether clinical presentation and disease severity varied across racial and ethnic groups.

Methods

Blastomycosis patients were identified from Marshfield Clinic Health System and data were abstracted from electronic medical records. Blastomyces genotyping was performed for cases with available isolates. Bivariate analyses (χ 2 tests/analysis of variance) assessed associations of race and/or ethnicity, Blastomyces spp, and hospitalization status with demographics and clinical presentation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of race and/or ethnicity and hospitalization.

Results

In total, 477 patients were included. Age differences were observed across race and ethnicity categories (P < .0001). Non-Hispanic whites were oldest (median, 48 years; interquartile range [IQR], 31–62) and Asians were youngest (26 years; IQR, 19–41). Non-Hispanic whites (55%) and African Americans (52%) had underlying medical conditions more frequently than Hispanic whites (27%) and Asians (29%). Odds of hospitalization were 2 to 3 times higher for Hispanic whites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–1.7), American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) (aOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0–5.5), and Asian (aOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0–3.6) patients compared with non-Hispanic white patients. Ninety percent of Blastomyces dermatitidis infections occurred in non-Hispanic whites, whereas blastomycosis in Hispanic whites, AIAN, and Asian patients was frequently caused by Blastomyces gilchristii (P < .0001).

Conclusions

Hispanic whites, AIAN, and Asian blastomycosis patients were younger and healthier but more frequently hospitalized. Patients in these racial and ethnic groups may need more aggressive treatment and closer therapeutic monitoring.
Delayed Intracranial Parenchymal Changes After Aneurysmal Coil Embolization Procedures for Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Nakagawa Ichiro , Park Hun Soo , Kotsugi Masashi , Morisaki Yudai , Wada Takeshi , Aketa Shuta , Takayama Katsutoshi , Fujimoto Kenta , Deguchi Jun , Kichikawa Kimihiko , Nakase Hiroyuki
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUND

With the recent advances in endovascular treatment devices, it has become standard in wide-neck or large intracranial aneurysms to perform coil embolization with adjunctive techniques. However, device-related perioperative complications have been reported because of the use of more complex systems.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate patients who developed multiple parenchymal lesions after undergoing coil embolization for treating an unruptured intracranial aneurysm.

METHODS

This study investigated 305 consecutive patients who underwent coil embolization of unruptured intracranial aneurysms between 2015 and 2017. Delayed inflammatory changes referred to the delayed observation of multiple cerebral white matter lesions on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging at an area corresponding to the perfused area of the treatment target vessel. The timing and pattern of onset, device used, the combined use of adjunctive techniques, and the clinical course after steroid treatment were retrospectively investigated.

RESULTS

The 7 patients (2.3%) who showed delayed inflammatory changes were all women with a mean age of 59 yr. A mean duration from treatment to onset was 28 d. Symptoms were convulsions in 3 patients, hemiplegia in 2 patients, and homonymous hemianopia in 1 patient. All 7 patients were treated with adjunctive technique including stents, double catheter method, and balloon assist. Response to steroid treatment was satisfactory both clinically and on imaging in all 7 patients. Skin patch test was positive for nickel allergy in 2 patients.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians must be fully aware of symptomatic delayed inflammatory changes may occur after endovascular aneurysmal treatment with the use of various devices.
Jewish Literature of the Second Temple Period
Authors: Hogan Karina Martin
Published: October 2019

This essay showcases a sample of the diverse approaches to gender and sexuality that can be found in the literature of Second Temple Judaism. Within four of the major genres of Jewish literature during this period, it analyzes one example that makes particularly striking claims with respect to gender and sexuality: The Book of the Watchers, the Wisdom of Ben Sira, Jubilees, and Judith. Although all of the texts surveyed here come out of a culture with strong patriarchal tendencies, they do not all uphold patriarchal assumptions in equal measure or in the same ways. Taken together in their diversity, the texts demonstrate that the Jewish literary environment out of which the New Testament emerged was one in which sexuality was not a taboo subject but often provided an opportunity to reflect on the nature of the human person in relation to the divine.
Pauline Letters
Authors: Økland Jorunn
Published: October 2019

This chapter presents key terms and concepts in the study of ancient gender and sexuality. It outlines how knowledge of the terms and concepts’ historical developments as well as their internal relations in Pauline usage is essential in order to grasp Paul’s positions and his own praxis. It also demonstrates how issues of gender and sexuality are part of the core of Pauline theology. Rather than continuing the discussions of asceticism versus marriage in Pauline literature, the article suggests that a more recent term borrowed from gender studies, “intimacies,” may give new insights—not least into how Paul describes his own relationships to his most Significant Other(s). Key examples are Paul’s discussions of penises, foreskins, and circumcision and their attached privileges (hierarchy or equality? Galatians 3–4), and the role of asceticism (1 Corinthians). The chapter also includes a survey of how Paul describes his closest male and female partners.
Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles
Authors: Eyl Jennifer
Published: October 2019

The chapter examines the feminization of elite pagan men in Apocryphal Acts of Andrew. It argues that the ancient author constructs ascetic Christianity as the ideal realization of masculinity, whereby male and female converts control their passions and appetites. Simultaneously, elite pagan men are portrayed as appetitive, passionately emotional, and lacking self-control. Such ethical weakness was commonly thought to be characteristic of women. While attributing such ethical “femininity” to pagan men trades on ancient notions that women are prone to moral weakness, the author’s portrayal also dislodges ethical character from biological sex. Thus, men and women who take up Christianity in its ascetic forms are superior in ethics and gender, compared to those who reject ascetic Christianity.