bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Mixture-Function Mortality Model: Illustration of the Evolution of Premature Mortality
Authors: Zanotto Lucia , Canudas-Romo Vladimir , Mazzuco Stefano 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPremature mortality is often a neglected component of overall deaths, and the most difficult to identify. However, it is important to estimate its prevalence. Following Pearson’s theory about mortality components, a definition of premature deaths and a parametric model to study its transformations are introduced. The model is a mixture of three distributions: a Half Normal for the first part of the death curve and two Skew Normals to fit the remaining pieces. One advantage of the model is the possibility of obtaining an explicit equation to compute life expectancy at birth and to break it down into mortality components. We estimated the mixture model for Sweden, France, East Germany and Czech Republic. In addition, to the well-known reduction in infant deaths, and compression and shifting trend of adult mortality, we were able to study the trend of the central part of the distribution of deaths in detail. In general, a right shift of the modal age at death for young adults is observed; in some cases, it is also accompanied by an increase in the number of deaths at these ages: in particular for France, in the last twenty years, premature mortality increases.
Cardioprotective properties of leptin in patients with excessive body mass
Authors: Paduszyńska Aleksandra , Sakowicz Agata , Banach Maciej , Maciejewski Marek , Dąbrowa Marek , Bielecka-Dąbrowa Agata 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Adipose tissue is producing adipokines that play different roles in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease.

Aims
The study aimed to assess the role of selected biomarkers in hypertensive patients with overweight and obesity compared with those with normal body-mass index (BMI).

Methods
A total of 62 patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (median age 54 (46–58) yrs., 57% males) and 51 with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (median age 53 (48–59) yrs., 37% males) were enrolled. Biochemical parameters, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin; asymmetric dimethylarginine; interleukin 6; and N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen, were assessed in plasma. The evaluation of hemodynamic parameters was performed using SphygmoCor 9.0 tonometer. Echocardiography was performed using AlokaAlpha 10 Premier device.

Results
Overweight and obese patients had significantly higher concentration of leptin (34 vs 18 ng/ml; p = 0.03), ADMA (0.43 vs 0.38 μmol/l, p = 0.04), and lower concentration of adiponectin (5.3 vs 7 μg/ml, p = 0.01). The only significant difference in tonometry analysis was higher aortic pulse pressure (mmHg) in patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 group (34 vs 30; p = 0.03). These patients had also significantly lower peak systolic velocity and early diastolic velocity in tissue Doppler imaging of the right ventricle free wall at the level of the tricuspid annulus compared with controls (p = 0.02 and p = 0.001, respectively). The level of leptin is correlated negatively with the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (R Spearman = − 0.5; p = 0.002) and PWV (R = − 0.4; p = 0.01) and ADMA with total and LDL cholesterol (R = − 0.42; p = 0.008), and adiponectin is correlated positively with HDL cholesterol (R = 0.67; p = 0.0001).

Conclusions
Leptin concentrations were inversely proportional to LVMI and PWV in patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2.

Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov study ID: NCT04175080.
Surgical treatment and long-term outcome of aortic valve endocarditis with periannular abscess
Authors: Croon S. I. , Angkasuwan A. , van Straten A. H. , Khamooshian A. , Elenbaas T. W. , Soliman-Hamad M. A. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Objectives
Aortic valve endocarditis is occasionally complicated by periannular spreading of the infection and abscess formation, leading to a more aggressive course of the disease and life-threatening complications. This retrospective observational study investigated the long-term outcomes of patients with this complication, which was surgically managed with annular reconstruction and aortic valve replacement.

Methods
Between 1998 and 2018, 69 patients were identified with aortic valve endocarditis complicated by periannular abscess formation. All patients were treated with debridement of the infected tissue, gentamicin filling of abscess cavities, annulus reconstruction with bovine pericardium, and valve replacement. Long-term follow-up was performed to detect the rate of recurrence of endocarditis, aortic valve reoperation and survival.

Results
Mean age was 58 ± 15 years, 81% of patients were male, and the infected valve was native in 51% of all patients. The overall mortality was 36%, with a 30-day mortality of 13% and 120–day mortality of 16%. Five- and 10-year survival was 69.4 ± 12.0% and 55.7 ± 14.3%, respectively. Ten-year freedom from recurrent endocarditis was 83.5 ± 13.3%.

Conclusion
Endocarditis with annular abscess remains associated with high morbidity and mortality and aggressive treatment of the infected tissue and abscess cavities is crucial. Compared with earlier literature, long-term outcome of annular reconstruction in this series is comparable to that of aortic root replacement.
Does Skin Tone Matter? Immigrant Mobility in the U.S. Labor Market
Authors: Han JooHee 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA rich literature has documented the negative association between dark skin tone and many dimensions of U.S.-born Americans’ life chances. Despite the importance of both skin tone and immigration in the American experience, few studies have explored the effect of skin tone on immigrant assimilation longitudinally. I analyze data from the New Immigrant Survey (NIS) 2003 to examine how skin tone is associated with occupational achievement at three time points: the last job held abroad, the first job held in the United States, and the current job. Dark-skinned immigrants experience steeper downward mobility at arrival in the United States and slower subsequent upward mobility relative to light-skinned immigrants, net of human and social capital, race/ethnicity, country of origin, visa type, and demographics. These findings shed light on multiple current literatures, including segmented assimilation theory, the multidimensionality of race, and the U.S. racial hierarchy.
Enhancing Capacitance Performance of Ti3C2Tx MXene as Electrode Materials of Supercapacitor: From Controlled Preparation to Composite Structure Construction
Authors: Zang Xiaobei , Wang Jiali , Qin Yijiang , Wang Teng , He Chengpeng , Shao Qingguo , Zhu Hongwei , Cao Ning 
Published: March 2020

AbstractTi3C2Tx, a novel two-dimensional layer material, is widely used as electrode materials of supercapacitor due to its good metal conductivity, redox reaction active surface, and so on. However, there are many challenges to be addressed which impede Ti3C2Tx obtaining the ideal specific capacitance, such as restacking, re-crushing, and oxidation of titanium. Recently, many advances have been proposed to enhance capacitance performance of Ti3C2Tx. In this review, recent strategies for improving specific capacitance are summarized and compared, for example, film formation, surface modification, and composite method. Furthermore, in order to comprehend the mechanism of those efforts, this review analyzes the energy storage performance in different electrolytes and influencing factors. This review is expected to predict redouble research direction of Ti3C2Tx materials in supercapacitors.
The Effects of Androgens on Cardiometabolic Syndrome: Current Therapeutic Concepts
Authors: Kirlangic Omer Faruk , Yilmaz-Oral Didem , Kaya-Sezginer Ecem , Toktanis Gamze , Tezgelen Aybuke Suveyda , Sen Ekrem , Khanam Armagan , Oztekin Cetin Volkan , Gur Serap 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIntroductionCardiometabolic syndrome (CMS), as a bunch of metabolic disorders mainly characterized by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, atherosclerosis, central adiposity, and abdominal obesity triggering androgen deficiency, is one of the most critical threats to men. Although many significant preclinical and clinical findings explain CMS, new approaches toward common pathophysiological mechanisms and reasonable therapeutic targets are lacking.AimTo gain a further understanding of the role of androgen levels in various facets of CMS such as the constellation of cardiometabolic risk factors including central adiposity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, and arterial hypertension and to define future directions for development of effective therapeutic modalities.MethodsClinical and experimental data were searched through scientific literature databases (PubMed) from 2009 to October 2019.Main Outcome MeasureEvidence from basic and clinical research was gathered with regard to the causal impact and therapeutic roles of androgens on CMS.ResultsThere are important mechanisms implicated in androgen levels and the risk of CMS. Low testosterone levels have many signs and symptoms on cardiometabolic and glycometabolic risks as well as abdominal obesity in men.Clinical ImplicationsThe implications of the findings can shed light on future improvements in androgen levels and add potentially predictive risk for CMS, as well as T2DM, abdominal obesity to guide clinical management in the early stage.Strengths & LimitationsThis comprehensive review refers to the association between androgens and cardiovascular health. A limitation of this study is the lack of large, prospective population-based studies that analyze the effects of testosterone treatment on CMS or mortality.ConclusionLow testosterone levels have several common features with metabolic syndrome. Thus, testosterone may have preventive role in the progress of metabolic syndrome and subsequent T2DM, abdominal obesity, and cardiovascular disease and likely affect aging men’s health mainly through endocrine and vascular mechanisms. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the therapeutic interventions directed at preventing CMS in men.
Laser-Based Devices for Female Genitourinary Indications: Position Statements From the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM)
Authors: Romero-Otero Javier , Lauterbach Roy , Aversa Antonio , Serefoglu Ege Can , García-Gómez Borja , Parnham Arie , Skrodzka Marta , Krychman Michael , Reisman Yacov , Corona Giovanni , Lowenstein Lior 
Published: March 2020

Abstract

Background
Laser-based technologies have been commercially marketed as “wonder treatments” without a sufficient and adequate body of evidence. In addition, on July 30, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning regarding the safety of the use of laser-based devices for the following indications: vaginal “rejuvenation” or cosmetic vaginal procedures, vaginal conditions and symptoms related to menopause, urinary incontinence, and sexual function.

Aim
To perform a thorough review of the available literature regarding laser-based vaginal devices for the treatment of female genitourinary indications and summarize the results in several short statements according to the level of evidence.

Methods
A comprehensive review of the literature regarding laser treatments for gynecological indications was performed based on several databases. Eligible were studies that included at least 15 patients.

Outcomes
Several aspects, including preclinical data, have been investigated. For each topic covered, data on laser-based devices were analyzed.

Results
Despite the high heterogeneity of studies and its limitations, the committee released several statements regarding the use of laser-based devices for genitourinary indications.

Clinical Implications
Available data in the clinical setting are still poor, and the impact of these technologies on vaginal symptoms and signs has not been clearly established.

Strengths & Limitations
All studies have been evaluated by a panel of experts providing recommendations for clinical practice.

Conclusion
It is too early in the evolution and research of laser-based devices to make decisive recommendations regarding vaginal treatments. There is grave need to carry out randomized controlled trials with proper design for safety reasons, possible harm, and short-/long-term benefits for the different indications studied.
Do Conditional Cash Transfers Empower Women? Insights from Brazil’s Bolsa Família
Authors: Sugiyama Natasha Borges , Hunter Wendy 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTConditional cash transfer programs (CCTs) have emerged as an important social welfare innovation across the Global South in the last two decades. That poor mothers are typically the primary recipients of the grants renders easy, but not necessarily correct, the notion that CCTs empower women. This article assesses the relationship between the world’s largest CCT, Brazil’s Bolsa Família, and women’s empowerment. To systematize and interpret existing research, including our own, it puts forth a three-part framework that examines the program’s effects on economic independence, physical health, and psychosocial well-being. Findings suggest that women experience some improved status along all three dimensions, but that improvements are far from universal. A core conclusion is that the broader institutional context in which the Bolsa Família is embedded—that is, ancillary services in health and social assistance—is crucial for conditioning the degree of empowerment obtained.
On Steenrod 𝕃-homology, generalized manifolds, and surgery
Authors: Hegenbarth Friedrich , Repovš Dušan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to show the importance of the Steenrod construction of homology theories for the disassembly process in surgery on ageneralized n-manifoldXn, in order to produce an element of generalized homology theory, which is basic for calculations. In particular, we show how to construct an element of thenth Steenrod homology group$H^{st}_{n} (X^{n}, \mathbb {L}^+)$, where 𝕃+is the connected covering spectrum of the periodic surgery spectrum 𝕃, avoiding the use of thegeometricsplitting procedure, the use of which is standard in surgery ontopologicalmanifolds.
Correlates of Warning: Territory, Democracy, and Casualty Aversion in Terrorist Tactics
Authors: Brown Joseph M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractTerrorists attack civilian targets but there is variation in how many civilians they kill. Terrorists may deliberately harm civilians, or they may adopt a less bloody approach, demolishing businesses, transit systems, and other civilian property while employing tactics to avert civilian casualties. One such tactic is to warn civilians before an attack, allowing them to flee the area. With warnings as an example, this study considers why terrorists might adopt casualty-aversion tactics. An analysis of 12,235 bombings by 131 terrorist groups in the years 1970 to 2016 finds that warnings are most common when terrorists fight democracies and when they lack territorial strongholds. Ideological factors such as religion are not significant predictors of warnings. These findings suggest a need to revisit the claim that religion incentivizes indiscriminate terrorism. They also suggest a strategic logic behind casualty-aversion tactics. Terrorists fighting democracies may spare civilians to appear legitimate in citizens’ eyes. Terrorists without strongholds may spare civilians because they rely on the state's population for support. At first glance, my findings appear to contradict civil war literature arguing that militants with strongholds use violence more discriminately. However, terrorism occurs in areas of state control. Militants with strongholds can use indiscriminate terrorism against state-governed civilians without alienating their own supporters elsewhere.
Material States: China, Russia, and the incorporation of a cross-border indigenous people
Authors: PULFORD ED 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe once-unified indigenous northeast Asian people known as the Hezhe in China and the Nanai in Russia are little-discussed in any discipline, but their long experiences of cross-border division and, more recently, renewed inter-community contact, offer us a new framework for understanding both Chinese and Russian states in the region. As I show here ethnographically, today's Hezhe in northern Heilongjiang province (China) and Nanai in Khabarovsk territory (Russia) live amid the physical furniture of very different polities. But rather than merely reflecting their separation, I argue, these distinct surroundings in fact invite us to consider how the incorporation of Nanai/Hezhe into China and Russia have beenconstitutedin important ways by the uses and flows of material objects. In support of this argument, which draws on recent anthropological insights concerning materiality to push back against existing identity-, landscape-, or production-focused theories of Chinese and Russian power, I examine sources in several languages to develop alongue duréeaccount of materially mediated interactions between Nanai/Hezhe and China and Russia. From early imperial tribute through to socialist command economies to postsocialist cross-border trade, I show how—with notable continuity—states have been embodied in flows and usage of goods, bringing about the incorporation of Hezhe and Nanai into separate realms with immanent material existences.
Backgammon and cosmology at the Sasanian court
Authors: Gardner Iain 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe Middle Persian text The Explanation of Chess and the Invention of Backgammon (WČ) is dated to the reign of Xusrō I. It describes a contest between the Persian and Indian kings represented by their leading wise men. The famous sage Wuzurgmihr defeats his Indian counterpart at chess and invents the game of backgammon, the board being given cosmological significance with the turning of the counters and roll of the die corresponding to fate. This article presents a new textual source where many of the same themes are evident: the courtly context, the competition between rival sages from Persia and India, the interpretation in terms of cosmology and fate. However, this new source is from the fourth century ce or earlier and the personages involved are different, raising vital questions about the history of the topic and its development in Persian and other late antique literatures.
Children's epistemic inferences through modal verbs and prosody
Authors: ARMSTRONG Meghan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis study explores how young children infer nuances in epistemic modality through prosody. A forced-choice task was used, testing children's (ages three to seven) comprehension of themight/willdistinction (modal condition) as well their ability to modulate the strength ofmightthrough two prosodic tunes (prosody condition). Positive and negative valence conditions were included. Younger children were shown to start off performing above chance for the modal condition, and at around chance for the prosody condition, but after age four performance on the prosody condition quickly improved. For both modal verbs and prosody, children performed significantly better when valence was positive. By age seven, children performed at ceiling for all conditions. Qualitative analysis of children's justifications for prosody responses showed metalinguistic awareness of prosodic meaning as early as age four, with the ability to relate prosody to epistemic modal meaning becoming quite common by age seven.
A shape grammar for the building-type definition of the ancient Greek and Roman library and the evaluation of library plans
Authors: Mamoli Myrsini 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis paper presents in detail a parametric shape grammar for the generation of ancient Greek and Roman library plans. Ancient Libraries showcase a significant variability of scale, monumentality, and design with the use of different architectural components, and researchers cannot identify them as easily as other building types. The grammar is in 2D and captures all the variability of libraries from the simpler forms of the Hellenistic period to the more monumental of the Roman period, creating a vast range of designs. The paper presents the grammar-generated plans of the known libraries based on the evidence in the archaeological record. A frequency analysis of the occurrence of the rules in the derivations ranks the different characteristics of libraries and the architectural forms with which they occur in the corpus, to determine the probability of specific rules and to interpret them as mandatory or optional. The contribution of this work is that the shape grammar summarizes the design principles of ancient libraries visually and helps establish the building type of the ancient library. The frequency analysis assists tremendously in the reconstruction of fragmentarily preserved ancient libraries by providing a system in the reconstruction of the missing parts, when ambiguity is involved.
Nationalism and the Pan-historical Perspective in Early Middle Age Archaeology
Authors: Bálint Csanád 
Published: March 2020

To the memory of Jurij Voronov archaeologist, Vice-Premier of Abkhazia murdered on 11 September 1995Nationalism is a most general and worldwide phenomenon, known at least since European antiquity. It is also present in archaeological research, more intensively indeed in Central and Eastern Europe than in its Western counterpart. It is mostly connected with national prehistory, and its basic questions concern ‘ancientness’, ‘previousness’ and a high(er) culture, which are always the issues put forth in a comparison with others. Its emergence becomes more direct when manipulating constructed histories. Yet a decrease of its overall influence may be expected in the long run. Panhistorism in archaeology partly stems from the overestimation of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century archaeological finds and was the view generally adopted by Soviet-type Marxism. Its aim is to render history useful for political manipulation. Its followers and advocates, however, are generally ill-informed about the methodological issues of research developed in the second half of twentieth century. We may, therefore, be somewhat more optimistic as to its impending disappearance.
Urbanization in an Underdeveloped City—Nanning, China and its Impact on a Heavy Rainfall Event in July
Authors: Xiao Zhixiang , Wang Ziqian , Huang Mingce , Luo Xiaoli , Liang Yiling , Lin Zhenmin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA rapid urbanization process is undergoing in China, exerting significant impacts on local weather and climate. However, rare study pays attention to the underdeveloped regions. An underdeveloped city of Nanning, in southwestern China, is experiencing considerable urbanization. The present urban area of Nanning is 2.8 times larger than that in 1980. Using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with an urban canopy model, two experiments with different urban land use are designed to investigate impacts of Nanning urbanization on a rainstorm occurred in July 2009. Results show simulated precipitation can be significantly improved by the experiment with urbanization effects included. Urbanization leads to a warmer and drier surface, which is favored for the formation of near‐surface low pressure and wind convergence over the city. But the warm‐dry air near urban surface cannot lead to deep convective activity, resulting in urban‐enhanced precipitation is dominated by the large‐scale precipitation. Such enhanced large‐scale precipitation has a positive contribution to atmospheric latent heat release, inducing a heating source in middle troposphere over the urban area. Then the cyclonic circulation around Nanning is intensified according to thermal adaption theory. The enhanced cyclonic circulation is beneficial for stronger moisture convergence and warm‐moist southwesterly flow transports into Guangxi from tropical oceans. Vertical motion is amplified by the coastal orographic uplift effect, and wind convergence over the Nanning downstream is also enhanced. Therefore, the convective precipitation dominantly enhances over the coastal and city's downstream regions, which is different from the urban‐increased large‐scale precipitation in the Nanning City area.