bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The International Norm–Practice Relationship, Contested States, and the EU’s Territorial (Un)Differentiation toward Palestine and Western Sahara
Authors: Bouris Dimitris , Fernández-Molina Irene 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
This article addresses the relationship—and incongruences—between international norms and practices in EU foreign policy with a particular focus on the EU’s dealing with situations of contested statehood resulting from foreign occupation. To this purpose, we revisit the literature on the international norm–practice nexus, dynamics, and mismatches—including debates on hypocrisy—and we conceptualize territorial (un)differentiation from the perspective of both norms and practices. We then examine the extent to which and how normative change and practical change have taken place, and mutually interacted, in the EU’s territorial (un)differentiation toward Israel–Palestine and Morocco–Western Sahara. We draw on the scholarship on the international norm life cycle, which we also replicate as an analytical framework to empirically track the processes of emergence, cascade, and internalization of practices. Based on our case studies, we argue that, while emerging EU territorial differentiation toward Israel–Palestine has resulted from a process in which normative change and practical change have become entangled in a feedback loop, and the norm–practice gap has tended to be closed, in the case of Morocco–Western Sahara there has been substantial normative change but practices have remained unaltered, which has led such gap—and the perception of EU hypocrisy—to widen.
The Strategic Use of Legitimizing Norms in Unilateral Declarations of Independence
Authors: Kartsonaki Argyro 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Issuing a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) is one of the strategies secessionists use to attract attention and further their goal for statehood. This article sheds light on how secessionists instrumentalize universal norms in their UDIs to legitimize their independence and increase their chances of attracting international support. It examines UDIs issued from 1970 to 2022, investigating whether secessionists invoked universal norms and, if so, which ones. By mapping UDIs over time, the analysis shows that there are changes in which legitimizing norms are invoked in UDIs proclaimed during the Cold War, during the prevalence of the liberal international order, and during its following purported decline. The article argues that secessionists strategically manipulate the use of norms and formulate their UDIs accordingly to appeal to the endorsed legitimizing norms of the international order at the time of their secession. UDIs therefore reflect the normative trends of any given international order signaling also transitions from one order to another.
The Politics of State Recognition: Norms, Geopolitics, and the East Pakistan Crisis
Authors: Price Megan 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
In recent years, International Relations theorists have observed a resurgence in geopolitical rivalry, much of which is coalescing around cases of contested statehood. Yet, while there is a considerable volume of work on state recognition, the field would benefit from incorporating alternate approaches to geopolitics. A common approach entails treating geopolitical interests as independent variables for comparison against other factors. However, in prioritizing the comparison of variables, such work tells us less about how particular geopolitical interests arise in connection to cases of contested statehood. This paper therefore instead proposes a discursive approach to geopolitical interests. Following this approach, theorists will be able to treat grand strategies in a similar manner to the way the recognition scholarship already treats norms—as ideas that shape the dynamics of recognition but seldom point directly to specific recognition stances. By enabling theorists to account for the role of choice, contingency, and contestation in mediating grand strategies, this approach yields more comprehensive explanations of geopolitical interest and state recognition. In advancing its discursive approach to geopolitics and state recognition, this paper engages and extends recent constructivist work on grand strategy. The paper then illustrates the approach using the example of US policy toward the 1971 East Pakistan Crisis.
Endoscopic Tissue Expander Implantation in Postburn Reconstruction: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Manasyan Artur , Johnson Maxwell B 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Tissue expansion generates new tissue that can be used in postburn reconstruction. Expanders are placed through small incisions, requiring difficult and sometimes blind dissection to prepare an adequate pocket. Recently, the use of endoscopy to assist in expander placement has been described, which may improve intraoperative visualization and allow for a smaller incision. In this review, we summarize the existing literature on endoscopic tissue expander (TE) placement in postburn reconstruction and highlight areas for future research.

Methods
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were utilized to conduct this review. The following databases were queried for the initial search of relevant articles: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The data were assessed qualitatively due to the heterogeneity in reporting between the studies.

Results
Our literature query yielded 1023 studies. Sixteen manuscripts underwent full-text review, and 7 met inclusion criteria. All studies demonstrated that the endoscopic approach led to successful tissue expansion. Four articles performed a comparative analysis between the open and endoscopic approach, all of which found a significant reduction in complications like seroma, hematoma formation, and device exposure with endoscopic TE implantation. Two studies demonstrated that the use of endoscopy significantly reduced operative time and length of stay.

Conclusion
Endoscopy is a safe and effective tool in tissue expansion for postburn reconstruction. Further prospective research should include evaluating the cost-benefit of this approach and long-term outcomes for patients who have undergone endoscopic-assisted TE placement.
Lymphopenia after palliative radiotherapy for vertebral metastases
Authors: Takeda Kazuya , Umezawa Rei , Yamamoto Takaya , Takahashi Noriyoshi , Suzuki Yu , Kishida Keita , Omata So , Jingu Keiichi 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Lymphopenia is a well-known side effect of radiotherapy and has been shown to have a negative impact on patient outcomes. However, the extent of lymphopenia caused by palliative radiotherapy and its effect on patient prognosis has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of lymphopenia after palliative radiotherapy for vertebral metastases and to determine their effects on patients’ survival outcomes. We conducted a retrospective analysis for patients who underwent palliative radiotherapy for vertebral metastases and could be followed up for 12 weeks. Lymphocyte counts were documented at baseline and throughout the 12-week period following the start of radiotherapy and their medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) were recorded. Exploratory analyses were performed to identify predictive factors for lymphopenia and its impact on overall survival (OS). A total of 282 cases that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The median baseline lymphocyte count was 1.26 × 103/μl (IQR: 0.89–1.72 × 103/μl). Peak lymphopenia occurred at a median of 26 days (IQR: 15–45 days) with a median nadir of 0.52 × 103/μl (IQR: 0.31–0.81 × 103/μl). Long-term analysis of patients surviving for 1 year showed that lymphopenia persisted at 1 year after radiotherapy. The main irradiation site, radiation field length and pretreatment lymphocyte count were significantly related to grade 3 or higher lymphopenia. Lymphopenia was identified as a significant predictor of OS by multivariate Cox regression analysis. This study demonstrated the incidence of lymphopenia after palliative radiotherapy for vertebral metastases and its effect on patients’ OS.
Measurements of the z &gt; 5 Lyman-α forest flux autocorrelation functions from the extended XQR-30 data set
Authors: Wolfson Molly , Hennawi Joseph F , Bosman Sarah E I , Davies Frederick B , Lukić Zarija , Becker George D , Chen Huanqing , Cupani Guido , D’Odorico Valentina , Eilers Anna-Christina , Haehnelt Martin G , Keating Laura C , Kulkarni Girish , Lai Samuel , Mesinger Andrei , Walter Fabian , Zhu Yongda 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
We present the first observational measurements of the Lyman-α (Ly α) forest flux autocorrelation functions in ten redshift bins from 5.1 ≤ z ≤ 6.0. We use a sample of 35 quasar sightlines at z &gt; 5.7 from the extended XQR-30 data set; these data have signal-to-noise ratios of &gt;20 per spectral pixel. We carefully account for systematic errors in continuum reconstruction, instrumentation, and contamination by damped Ly α systems. With these measurements, we introduce software tools to generate autocorrelation function measurements from any simulation. Our measurements of the smallest bin of the autocorrelation function increase with redshift when normalizing by the mean flux, 〈F〉. This increase may come from decreasing 〈F〉 or increasing mean free path of hydrogen-ionizing photons, λmfp. Recent work has shown that the autocorrelation function from simulations at z &gt; 5 is sensitive to λmfp, a quantity that contains vital information on the ending of reionization. For an initial comparison, we show our autocorrelation measurements with simulation models for recently measured λmfp values and find good agreements. Further work in modelling and understanding the covariance matrices of the data is necessary to get robust measurements of λmfp from this data.
Revisiting flares in Sagittarius A* based on general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations of black hole accretion
Authors: Lin Xi , Yuan Feng 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
High-resolution observations with GRAVITY-Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) instrument have provided abundant information about the flares in Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole in our Galactic centre, including the time-dependent location of the centroid (a ‘hotspot’), the light curve, and polarization. Yuan et al. (2009) proposed a ‘coronal mass ejection’ model to explain the flares and their association with the plasma ejection. The key idea is that magnetic reconnection in the accretion flow produces the flares and results in the formation and ejection of flux ropes. The dynamical process proposed in the model has been confirmed by three-dimensional general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations in a later work. Based on this scenario, in our previous works the radiation of the flux rope has been calculated analytically and compared to the observations. In the present paper, we develop the model by directly using numerical simulation data to interpret observations. We first identify flux ropes formed due to reconnection from the data. By assuming that electrons are accelerated in the reconnection current sheet and flow into the flux rope and emit their radiation there, we have calculated the time-dependent energy distribution of electrons after phenomenologically considering their injection due to reconnection acceleration, radiative and adiabatic cooling. The radiation of these electrons is calculated using the ray-tracing approach. The trajectory of the hotspot, the radiation light curve during the flare, and the polarization are calculated. These results are compared with the GRAVITY observations and good consistencies are found.
Toward a universal theory of consciousness
Authors: Kanai Ryota , Fujisawa Ippei 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
While falsifiability has been broadly discussed as a desirable property of a theory of consciousness, in this paper, we introduce the meta-theoretic concept of “Universality” as an additional desirable property for a theory of consciousness. The concept of universality, often assumed in physics, posits that the fundamental laws of nature are consistent and apply equally everywhere in the universe and remain constant over time. This assumption is crucial in science, acting as a guiding principle for developing and testing theories. When applied to theories of consciousness, universality can be defined as the ability of a theory to determine whether any fully described dynamical system is conscious or non-conscious. Importantly, for a theory to be universal, the determinant of consciousness needs to be defined as an intrinsic property of a system as opposed to replying on the interpretation of the external observer. The importance of universality originates from the consideration that given that consciousness is a natural phenomenon, it could in principle manifest in any physical system that satisfies a certain set of conditions whether it is biological or non-biological. To date, apart from a few exceptions, most existing theories do not possess this property. Instead, they tend to make predictions as to the neural correlates of consciousness based on the interpretations of brain functions, which makes those theories only applicable to brain-centric systems. While current functionalist theories of consciousness tend to be heavily reliant on our interpretations of brain functions, we argue that functionalist theories could be converted to a universal theory by specifying mathematical formulations of the constituent concepts. While neurobiological and functionalist theories retain their utility in practice, we will eventually need a universal theory to fully explain why certain types of systems possess consciousness.
Key Informants’ Perceptions of Health Equity and Racial Justice Impacts of the 2019 Massachusetts An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control
Authors: Tan Andy S L , Roberts Jane , Liu Jessica , P. Hanby Elaine , Gundersen Daniel A , Reynolds Matthew J , Winickoff Jonathan P , Gottlieb Mark A , Emmons Karen M 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Introduction
The Massachusetts legislature passed An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control in November 2019 to restrict retail sales of flavored commercially manufactured tobacco products including menthol products, increase penalties for violating the law’s provisions, and provide health insurance coverage for tobacco treatment.

Aims and Methods
This study explores key informants’ perceptions of intended and unintended impacts of implementation of the 2019 Massachusetts statewide law through a health equity and racial justice lens. We conducted in-depth interviews with 25 key informants from three key informant groups (public health officials and advocates, clinicians, and school staff) between March 2021 and April 2022. Using deductive codes on unintended impacts of the implementation of the law’s policies, we conducted a focused analysis to identify impacts that were perceived and observed by informants from different key informant groups.

Results
Perceived or observed impacts of the law were identified across multiple levels by key informants and included concerns related to three broad themes: 1) intended impacts on health equity and racial justice, 2) ongoing availability of restricted products undermining the intended impact of the law, and 3) inequitable targeting by the policies and enforcement among communities of color.

Conclusions
Future evaluation is needed to assess the intended and unintended impacts of implementation of the Massachusetts law to maximize the potential of the policies to reduce tobacco-related health disparities. We discuss implications and recommendations for achieving a national policy and equitable enforcement of flavored tobacco sales restrictions.

Implications
This qualitative study among 25 key informants including public health and tobacco control advocates, clinicians, and school staff obtained perspectives of intended and unintended health equity and racial justice impacts of the 2019 Massachusetts An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control. Findings and recommendations from this study can inform monitoring efforts to assess the law’s impacts in Massachusetts and the adoption of similar flavored tobacco sales restrictions and other tobacco control policies in other states to maximize the health equity benefits and minimize unintended impacts.
A Systematic Investigation of Tobacco Industry Sourced Data Relating to Illicit Tobacco Trade Featured in Pakistan’s Media Coverage (2015–2020)
Authors: Gallagher Allen William Andrew , Sheikh Zaineb Danish , Khan Zohaib , Aftab Urooj , Rahim Mariyam , Ullah Asad , Ullah Safat , Ul Haq Hessam , Siddiqi Kamran 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Previous evidence suggests the tobacco industry uses media to disseminate misleading narratives relating to illicit tobacco trade (ITT) as part of efforts to influence policy outcomes. Such evidence is largely high-income countries (HIC) focused, resulting in a literature gap for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Pakistan and its annual budget cycle are used as a case study for addressing this gap.

Aims and Methods
Electronic English-language articles from newspapers in Pakistan (328) were sourced from LexisNexis and a sub-sample of Urdu-language electronic articles (12) were identified through internet searches. The articles were published between 2015 and 2020 and included claims/estimates relating to ITT, which were coded to identify cited data sources. Changes in media coverage before and after Pakistan’s annual budget announcements were explored via Wilcoxon signed rank and Poisson regression tests.

Results
Of the 357 claims/estimates analyzed, 66 (20%) were industry-funded. The most prevalent sources were national government bodies (36.6%) and tobacco companies or their representatives (15.1%). Wilcoxon signed-rank and Poisson regression tests on the frequency of English-language articles both created a p-value of &lt; .05 for the frequency of relevant articles between the months of April and May, compared to the other months, indicating statistical significance.

Conclusions
There was a statistically significant increase in the number of English-language articles featuring claims/estimates relating to Pakistan’s ITT in the months leading up to the annual budget each year. The government should consider measures to improve transparency standards within media coverage and promote factcheck journalism to safeguard against industry tactics to manipulate public discourses.

Implications
This paper is, to the best of our knowledge, the largest exploration of the use of data sourced from the tobacco industry within a country’s media that has been undertaken to date, utilizing a team of seven coders across the United Kingdom and Pakistan. Our findings reveal weaknesses within media coverage of ITT in Pakistan, both in English and Urdu language publications. We encourage the government to consider new standards to enhance transparency and promote factcheck journalism within media coverage in the country.
Pneumococcal Carriage in Burkina Faso After 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Introduction and Before a Schedule Change
Authors: Childs Lana , Ouedraogo Issa , Zoma Robert Lamoussa , Tarbangdo T Félix , Sawadogo Guetwendé , Aké H Flavien , Ouangraoua Soumeya , Sanou Soufiane , Tran Theresa , Velusamy Srinivasan , Adebanjo Tolulope , Van Beneden Chris A , McGee Lesley , Kobayashi Miwako 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundIn October 2013, Burkina Faso introduced 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) into the routine childhood immunization program using 3 primary doses with no booster. Previous pneumococcal carriage studies showed reductions in vaccine-type (VT) carriage in children aged &lt;5 years but not in older age groups.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, age-stratified pneumococcal carriage study among healthy persons aged ≥1 month in Bobo-Dioulasso in March 2020. Pneumococci isolated by culture from nasopharyngeal swabs (all participants) and oropharyngeal swabs (participants aged ≥5 years) were serotyped by polymerase chain reaction; a subset was serotyped by Quellung. Using data from a study with the same design from March 2017, we examined changes in pneumococcal carriage by age group.ResultsAmong 1005 (2017) and 1002 (2020) enrolled participants, VT carriage decreased (21.6% to 15.9%; adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 0.76 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .63–.92]). By age group, decline in VT carriage was significant among children aged 5–14 years (28.9% to 16.3%; aPR, 0.57 [95% CI, .39–.84]) but not among children aged &lt;5 years (22.4% to 19.1%; aPR, 0.87 [95% CI, .70–1.09]) or adults aged ≥15 years (12.0% to 5.5%; aPR, 0.52 [95% CI, .26–1.05]).ConclusionsBetween 3 and 6 years after PCV13 introduction, significant declines in VT carriage were observed in older children, possibly reflecting indirect effects of PCV13 use. VT carriage in children aged &lt;5 years remained stable with almost 1 in 5 carrying VT pneumococci, suggesting limitations to a PCV schedule without a booster dose.
Performance of and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Diagnostics Based on Symptom Onset and Close Contact Exposure: An Analysis From the Test Us at Home Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Herbert Carly , Wang Biqi , Lin Honghuang , Yan Yi , Hafer Nathaniel , Pretz Caitlin , Stamegna Pamela , Wright Colton , Suvarna Thejas , Harman Emma , Schrader Summer , Nowak Chris , Kheterpal Vik , Orvek Elizabeth , Wong Steven , Zai Adrian , Barton Bruce , Gerber Ben S , Lemon Stephenie C , Filippaios Andreas , Gibson Laura , Greene Sharone , Colubri Andres , Achenbach Chad , Murphy Robert , Heetderks William , Manabe Yukari C , O’Connor Laurel , Fahey Nisha , Luzuriaga Katherine , Broach John , Roth Kristian , McManus David D , Soni Apurv 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Understanding changes in diagnostic performance after symptom onset and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure within different populations is crucial to guide the use of diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2.

Methods
The Test Us at Home study was a longitudinal cohort study that enrolled individuals across the United States between October 2021 and February 2022. Participants performed paired antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests at home every 48 hours for 15 days and self-reported symptoms and known coronavirus disease 2019 exposures immediately before testing. The percent positivity for Ag-RDTs and RT-PCR tests was calculated each day after symptom onset and exposure and stratified by vaccination status, variant, age category, and sex.

Results
The highest percent positivity occurred 2 days after symptom onset (RT-PCR, 91.2%; Ag-RDT, 71.1%) and 6 days after exposure (RT-PCR, 91.8%; Ag-RDT, 86.2%). RT-PCR and Ag-RDT performance did not differ by vaccination status, variant, age category, or sex. The percent positivity for Ag-RDTs was lower among exposed, asymptomatic than among symptomatic individuals (37.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.7%–69.4%) vs 90.3% (75.1%–96.7%). Cumulatively, Ag-RDTs detected 84.9% (95% CI, 78.2%–89.8%) of infections within 4 days of symptom onset. For exposed participants, Ag-RDTs detected 94.0% (95% CI, 86.7%–97.4%) of RT-PCR–confirmed infections within 6 days of exposure.

Conclusions
The percent positivity for Ag-RDTs and RT-PCR tests was highest 2 days after symptom onset and 6 days after exposure, and performance increased with serial testing. The percent positivity of Ag-RDTs was lowest among asymptomatic individuals but did not differ by sex, variant, vaccination status, or age category.