Recurrent ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the upper thoracic region 10 years after initial decompression

Background: Posterior decompression surgery consisting of laminoplasty is generally considered be the treatment of choice for upper thoracic OPLL. Here, we describe a patient who, 10 years following a C3–T4 level laminectomy, developed recurrent OPLL at the T2–3 level with kyphosis requiring a posterior fusion. Case Description: A 64-year-old male with CT documented OPLL at the C3–4, C6–7, and T1–4 levels, originally underwent a cervicothoracic laminectomy with good results. However, 10 years later, when T2–3 OPLL recurred along with kyphosis, he warranted an additional posterior fusion. Conclusion: Due to the long-term risks of developing kyphotic deformity/instability, more patients undergoing initial decompressive surgery alone for upper thoracic OPLL should be considered for primary fusions.

A Snapshot of the Crisis of COVID-19: Estimate of the Employment Impact Due to Lockdowns in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became a national health crisis, the local government of the Cagayan de Oro City (CDOC) did not implement total lockdown. The COVID-19 Adjustment Measure Program adopted by the local government probably affected the April 2020 Labor Force Survey that showed that Region 10 posted an employment rate of 88.9%, which is higher than the national average of 82.3% (Department of Labor and Employment, Region Office No. X (DOLE-X). NorMin secures highest employment rate amid COVID 19. 2020. Available from: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1044898 [Accessed 9th May 2021]). Despite the regional figure being 6.6 percentage points higher than the national one, there is a decrease in employed persons by around 400,000 from 2.302 million persons employed in April 2019 to 1.883 million in April 2020 (Department of Labor and Employment, Region Office No. X (DOLE-X). NorMin secures highest employment rate amid COVID 19. 2020. Available from: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1044898 [Accessed 9th May 2021]). Hence, the study determines the effect of COVID-19 protective measures implemented by the government on the economy of CDOC. Using the barangay-level and selected sectoral-level data on business registration, and employment data between 2010 and 2019, the study estimates that one-week lockdown means a [Formula: see text] 1,825 loss of income for a minimum-wage employee. One-month lockdown costs [Formula: see text]7,300 foregone income, while one-quarter lockdown (or a half of six months) is equivalent to [Formula: see text]21,900 income loss. We recommend 10 policy interventions, but the government should also think big and invest its resources into programs that create a multiplier effect on the economy. Multipliers are interventions that create ripples or positive impacts on other sectors and/or economic participants.

Grass ecosystems in agrolandscapes of the Yeletsky District of the Central Russian Province forest-steppe zone of the Central Chernozem Region of Russia

In order to study the spatial distribution of biological and ecological patterns of grass ecosystems, we conducted an agrolandscape-ecological zoning of the territory of the Central Chernozem Region of Russia (CCR) on the basis of the author’s methodology. According to the zoning data, it is established that 75% of the territory of the CCR belongs to the forest-steppe zone. The Central Russian province of the forest-steppe zone covers 67% of the territory of the CCR. Yeletsky district occupies the eastern spurs of the Central Russian upland. The area of the district is 1929.7 thousand hectares. Most of the district (90%) is located in the Lipetsk region, 10% – in the Kursk region. In the past, the watersheds of the district were occupied by meadow steppes and partly oak forests. Currently, more than 80% of the district’s territory is occupied by agricultural land (arable land, pastures, hayfields). The structure of land is dominated by arable land-67% of the total area of the district, pastures occupy 11%, hayfields – 3%, forests – 7%, shrubs – 2%, under water and swamps – 1%, other land – 8%. The grass ecosystems of the meadow steppes preserved along the gullies and slopes are mainly used as natural grasslands (NG) and make up 79% of all NG of the Yelets District. The most common are the downed tipchak pastures on the slopes of different steepness. The yield of these pastures is 8–12 centners per hectare of dry eaten mass.

Long-Term Patterns and Trends of Shortwave Global Irradiance over the Euro-Mediterranean Region

The spatiotemporal patterns and trends of shortwave global irradiance (SWGI) are a crucial factor affecting not only the climate but also sectors of the economy. In this work, the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset is employed and evaluated against in situ measurements from a dense network of surface stations operated by the National Observatory of Athens over Greece, revealing a good agreement between the two datasets. Then, the spatiotemporal variability of SWGI is investigated over the Euro-Mediterranean region (10° W–42° E and 30° N–52° N) for a 40-year period (1981–2020). SWGI exhibits a smooth latitudinal variability from north to south of −5.4 W/m2/degree on an annual scale, while it varies significantly on a seasonal basis and is almost four times lower in the winter than in the summer. The SWGI trend during the analyzed period was found to be positive and statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Spring and summer are the periods where positive and the strongest rates of SWGI trends are evident, while in the winter and autumn, negative or neutral trends were found. The increasing SWGI trend shows a slowdown during the beginning of the 2000s in all seasons, except autumn. The SWGI trend decreases by about −0.06 W/m2/decade every 100 m of elevation increase.

Analysis on the Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of the Shallow Soil Temperature of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Shallow soil refers to the soil layer within 50 cm underground. Shallow soil temperature (ST) affects many processes that occur in the soil. Therefore, the study of shallow ST is of great significance in understanding energy, hydrological cycles and climate change. This work collected the observational data from 141 meteorological stations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 1981 to 2020, analyzed the ST as well as its temporal and spatial change characteristics at different levels. The results show that: 1) The shallow ST has a gradually increasing trend from north to south, from west to east. From the perspective of time characteristics, the increasing trend is obvious. The temperature increase of 0–20 cm (the surface layer of the shallow soil) is roughly the same. The average annual is 9.15–9.57 ℃, the interdecadal variabilities are 0.49–0.53 K/10a. The average annual of 40 cm (the bottom layer) is 8.69 ℃, the interdecadal variability reaches by 0.98 K/10a; 2) Judging from the 12 regions of 20 cm, the temperature increase trend is obvious, but there are certain regional differences. The average value ranges from 4.3 ℃ (region 4, Qaidam Plateau) to 18.1 ℃ (region 10, Southeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau), the difference is nearly 14 K. The standard deviation ranges from 0.38 K (region 10) to 0.82 K (region 11, Northern Qiangtang Plateau); 3) The results of the reanalysis data are lower than the observational data. This work is significant for understanding the characteristics of the ST evolution and the land-atmosphere interaction on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Study of elite black currant varieties selected at the Federal Agrarian Scientific Centre of the North-East

Elite varieties of black currant selected at the Federal Agrarian Scientific Centre of the North-East were studied with the purpose of identifying samples with an optimal combination of high productivity, large fruit, good taste, resistance to big bud mite and powdery mildew. The studies were carried out in 2015–2019 on a site located in the central agro-climatic zone of the Kirov region. 10 elite black currant varieties of 2013 planting were investigated. The varieties of Arkadiya and Vologda were used as control. The counts and observations were carried out using conventional methods. The combination of high productivity, its sustainability and high self-fertility was noted in varieties 71-2-07, 65-1-07 and 64-4-07. In terms of resistance to the pest, two highly resistant samples 71-2-07 and 65-1-07 were identified, which showed no signs of damage during the study period. The damage by big bud mite remained low across the entire experimental site. The average negative effect of big bud mite on the yield was found (r = -0.48). In the following 7 elite forms — 71-2-07, 65-1-07, 70-5-07, 46-1-07, 12-1-07, 15-1-07, 20-1-07 (70.0 % of the studied material), the maximum degree of damage by powdery mildew did not exceed 1.0 points, which indicates their high resistance. The combination of high resistance to big bud mites and resistance to powdery mildew was found in varieties 71-2-07 and 65-1-07. During the study period, 9 elite black currant varieties produced large-fruited berries. Out of these 9 forms, 3 (71-2-07, 64-4-07, 12-1-07) showed significantly higher values of this indicator compared to the Vologda control. Sample 27-1-07 was distinguished by a combination of large fruit, good taste and low acidity, as well as by high contents of ascorbic acid and dry matter. Sources of economically valuable traits were identified in 2 samples: 65-1-07 having a combination of high productivity, large fruit, high self-fertility, good taste, resistance to big bud mites and powdery mildew; 64-4-07 having a combination of high productivity, large fruit and high self-fertility. These genotypes can be recommended as a starting material for further breeding. On the basis of the results obtained, the Ariel variety (71-2-07) was forwarded to the State Variety Testing in 2020.

Vertical Characteristics of Raindrops Size Distribution over Sumatra Region from Global Precipitation Measurement Observation

The climatology of the vertical profile of raindrops size distribution (DSD) over Sumatra Region (10° S – 10° N, 90° E – 110° E) has been investigated using Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) level 2 data from January 2015 to June 2018. DSD's vertical profile was observed through a vertical profile of corrected radar reflectivity (Ze) and two parameters of normalized gamma DSD, i.e., mass-weight mean diameter (Dm) and total drops concentration (Nw). Land-ocean contrast and rain type dependence of DSD over Sumatra were clearly observed. The values of Dm and Nw were larger in the land than in the ocean. Negative and positive gradients of Dm toward the surface were dominant during stratiform and convective rains, respectively, consistent with the Z gradient. Moreover, the negative gradient of stratiform rain in the ocean is larger than in land. Thus, the depletion of large drops is dominant over the ocean, which is due to the break-up process that can be observed from the increase of Nw. Raindrop growth of convective rains is more robust over the ocean than land that can be seen from a larger value of Dmgradient. The BB strength is slightly larger over land and coastal region than over the ocean, indicating that the riming process is more dominant over land and coastal regions than the ocean. Doi: 10.28991/esj-2021-01274 Full Text: PDF

Local Perception about Caesarian Section among Post Caesarian Section Women in Pakistan

Birthing is a critical moment in the life of a mother. The biomedical practice of the Caesarian Section (C-section) does not exist in a vacuum but is under the influence of the sociocultural environment. However, deciding between methods of birth and the perception about the C-section shows a gap and dearth in the present literature. This paper aims at understanding what social and cultural factors construct the perceptions and experiences of the Caesarian Section among post-C-section- women belonging to different socio-economic statuses. Moreover, it explores how these factors influence Pakistani women’s decision-making regarding childbirth methods. The paper uses a qualitative yet multi-sited locale approach, employing semi-structured interviews from 20 post-C-section women mainly from Islamabad and Rawalpindi region; 10 women belong to lower socio-economic status whereas, 10 to the upper one. Different themes from data were identified and obtained for analysis. The perception and experience of the C-section fluctuate with social, economic, and cultural factors. The influence of biomedical and intra-household politics on the decision of C-section is much conspicuous and evident. Affluent families practice C-sections under dominant power dynamics without any reasoning. For those who can afford C-section, is perceived as a luxury and artificial motherhood in the eyes of ‘’the others’’ whereas, normal birthing was true and natural motherhood. The social construction of the C-section suggests that social and cultural forces play a decisive role. C-section is only acceptable if there is an emergency otherwise natural birth is the most suitable method of childbirth. Along with advocating C-sections in critical medical conditions, an awareness campaign against C-sections is also imperative for it has severe consequences.

Management equity incentives and stock price crash risk: “Golden handcuffs” or “gold watch”

This paper expands the previous research on management equity incentives (MEIs) and stock price crash risk by distinguishing between the "gold watch" region and the "golden handcuff" regions in MEIs. By using an estimation of the gold watch region and the golden handcuff regions based on 6,675 annual observations of China’s A-share listed companies, the stock price crash risk is found to be negatively correlated with MEIs in the golden handcuff regions (0–10%, 30%-100%) and is positively correlated with MEIs in the gold watch region (10%-30%). A further investigation of the mediating effects of peer effects on MEIs and the stock price crash risk reveals that peer effects have a partial mediation effect at the level of peer managers’ shareholding and mediate the relationship between MEIs and the stock price crash risk.