bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Geographic Location on Saskatchewan Prostate Cancer Patient Treatment Choices: A Multilevel and Spatial Analysis
Authors: Andkhoie Mustafa , Szafron Michael
Published: June 2020

Objective

The purpose of this study was to estimate the relationship between remoteness and the initial chosen treatment (active surveillance/watchful waiting (AS/WW), radiation therapy (RT), surgery, chemotherapy (CT), or hormonal therapy (HT) for prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods

This study built 2 multilevel generalized linear models via a binomial link for each treatment type (one with only covariates and one with 2 additional study variables to the covariate model). The study also used cluster analysis using the Global and local Moran's I spatial statistics to find any complementary results to the above models.

Results

This study found that patients living in the rural areas have lower odds (OR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.45‐0.77; P < .001) of having surgery compared to patients living in the greater urban areas. Among patients whose closest PCa assessment center is Regina, patients living in the greater urban areas have higher odds (OR = 1.66; 95% CI, 1.03‐2.68; P = .039) of choosing RT compared to patients living in the rural areas. There was no statistically significant effect of remoteness on whether one chose HT or AS/WW.

Conclusions

There are regional disparities to PCa treatment utilization. Living in rural areas affects choosing surgery and, in certain localized geographical regions, affects choosing RT. For non‐curative treatments (ie, AS/WW and HT), we did not find any association with geographical remoteness.
Shift‐work‐related sleep disruption and the risk of decline in cognitive function: The CRUISE Study
Authors: Thomas Jana , Overeem Sebastiaan , Dresler Martin , Kessels Roy P. C. , Claassen Jurgen A. H. R.
Published: June 2020

Acute total sleep deprivation and partial sleep deprivation have negative impacts on cognitive performance. Studies in subjects who regularly experience sleep loss, however, are rare and often restricted to examination of internal sleeping disorders. To address this issue, we set up a pilot study to explore the effects of a week characterized by sleep disruption on cognitive functioning, using a case–control setting in a maritime pilot group with chronic exposure to intermittent extrinsic, work‐related sleep disruption. Twenty maritime pilots (aged 30–50 years) were compared to sex‐ and education‐matched controls with normal sleep behaviour, from the same age range. We assessed subjective and objective cognitive function, including attention, psychomotor speed, memory and executive function using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Although we were able to confirm poorer sleep in maritime pilots and subjective complaints in some cognitive domains, we did not find objective cognitive deficits in the maritime pilot group compared to controls without sleep disruption. This could suggest that in this group of healthy, young maritime pilots, exposure to sleep disruption resulted in some subjective cognitive complaints, but objective deficits of cognitive function were not detected in comparison with a non‐pilot control group. However, given the small sample size, the absence of an effect does not exclude the possibility that sleep disruption could result in cognitive deficits in general. Therefore, our findings have to be confirmed in future prospective studies with a larger sample size and matched controls, regarding age, education and work history.
Thrombocytosis is associated with worse survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Po‐Hong , Hsu Chia‐Yang , Su Chien‐Wei , Huang Yi‐Hsiang , Hou Ming‐Chih , Rich Nicole E. , Fujiwara Naoto , Hoshida Yujin , Singal Amit G. , Huo Teh‐Ia
Published: June 2020

Background & Aims

Thrombocytosis is associated with more aggressive tumour biology in many malignancies. There are limited data in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which often occurs in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. We aimed to explore the prognostic value of thrombocytosis in two cohorts of patients with HCC.

Methods

We included 3561 patients from Taiwan and 1145 patients from the USA. Thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet count < 150×109/L and thrombocytosis as ≥ 300 × 109/L at HCC diagnosis. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to identify independent predictors of survival.

Results

Thrombocytosis was present in 9.0% and 6.9% of Taiwan and USA patients respectively. Compared to patients with normal platelet counts and those with thrombocytopenia, patients with thrombocytosis had larger tumours, increased vascular invasion and a higher proportion had extrahepatic metastases in both cohorts. In multivariable analysis, thrombocytosis (aHR 1.40, 95% CI 1.23‐1.60) and thrombocytopenia (aHR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04‐1.23) were both associated with worse survival after adjusting for age, gender, liver disease aetiology, Child‐Pugh score, maximal tumour size, tumour nodularity, vascular invasion, lymph node or distant metastasis, performance status and alpha‐fetoprotein level. Patients with thrombocytosis had a median survival of 6 and 4 months in the Taiwan and USA cohorts, compared to 32 and 14 months for those with normal platelet counts and 38 and 16 months for thrombocytopenic patients.

Conclusion

Thrombocytosis is independently associated with increased tumour burden and worse overall survival among HCC patients.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) to explore the molecular adaptations to fresh water
Authors: Zhang Qi‐Lin , Li Hong‐Wei , Dong Zhi‐Xiang , Yang Xiao‐Jie , Lin Lian‐Bing , Chen Jun‐Yuan , Yuan Ming‐Long
Published: June 2020

Aquatic insects are well adapted to freshwater environments, but the molecular basis of these adaptations remains largely unknown. Most firefly species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are terrestrial, but the larvae of several species are aquatic. Here, larval and adult transcriptomes fromAquatica leii(freshwater) andLychnuris praetexta(terrestrial) were generated to test whether the genes associated with metabolic efficiency and morphology have undergone adaptive evolution to fresh water. The aquatic fireflies had a significantly lower ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions than the terrestrial insects, indicating a genomewide evolutionary constraint in the aquatic fireflies. We identified 341 fast‐evolving genes and 116 positively selected genes in the aquatic fireflies. Of these, 76 genes exhibiting both fast evolution and positive selection were primarily involved in ATP production, energy metabolism and the hypoxia response. We identified 7,271 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) inA. leii(adults versus larvae) and 8,309 DEGs inL. praetexta(adults versus larvae). DEGs specific to the aquatic firefly (n = 1,445) were screened via interspecific comparisons (A. leiiversusL. praetexta) and were significantly enriched for genes involved in metabolic efficiency (e.g., ATP production, hypoxia, and immune responses) and certain aspects of morphology (e.g., cuticle chitin, tracheal and compound eye morphology). These results indicate that sequence and expression‐level changes in genes associated with both metabolic efficiency and morphological attributes related to the freshwater lifestyle contributed to freshwater adaptation in fireflies. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of aquatic adaptation in insects.
Communication and representation understood as sender–receiver coordination
Authors: Planer Ronald J. , Godfrey‐Smith Peter
Published: June 2020

Modeling work by Brian Skyrms and others in recent years has transformed the theoretical role of David Lewis's 1969 model of signaling. The latter can now be understood as a minimal model of communication in all its forms. In this article, we explain how the Lewis model has been generalized, and consider how it and its variants contribute to ongoing debates in several areas. Specifically, we consider connections between the models and four topics: The role of common interest in communication, signaling within the organism, meaning, and the evolution of human communication and language.
Much at stake in knowledge
Authors: Dinges Alexander , Zakkou Julia
Published: June 2020

Orthodoxy in the contemporary debate on knowledge ascriptions holds that the truth‐value of knowledge ascriptions is purely a matter of truth‐relevant factors. One familiar challenge to orthodoxy comes from intuitivepractical factor effects. But practical factor effects turn out to be hard to confirm in experimental studies, and where they have been confirmed, they may seem easy to explain away. We suggest a novel experimental paradigm to show that practical factor effects exist. It trades on the idea that people retract knowledge attributions when practical factors shift. We also explain why the resulting data raise a serious challenge to orthodoxy.
The Child Feeding Guide: A digital health intervention for reducing controlling child feeding practices and maternal anxiety over time
Authors: Haycraft E. , Witcomb G. L. , Farrow C.
Published: June 2020

Fussy eating and food refusal are common in young children. These behaviours can contribute to anxiety or concern in parents and caregivers, who have called for credible support to help them navigate the challenges of feeding young children. Given recent increases in technology, and use of the Internet as a trusted source of parenting support, the Child Feeding Guide digital health intervention was created to provide evidence‐based support to parents and caregivers to help them to feed children and establish healthy eating habits from the early years. An evaluation was conducted with 25 mothers (with a child aged 6 months to 4 years) who used the Child Feeding Guide website/app over 4 weeks. Mothers provided information about their feeding practices and anxiety levels at baseline, and again 4 weeks later, and answered questions regarding the acceptability and use of the digital support resource. Significant decreases were seen in maternal anxiety and in maternal use of pressure to eat and restriction of food from children for weight reasons. Mothers reported that the Child Feeding Guide was easy to use, that they valued its credibility and reassurances, and that its content helped them to better understand their child’s eating behaviour. These promising findings suggest that naturalistic use of a digital health intervention could contribute to reductions in mothers’ use of controlling feeding practices and levels of anxiety. Such findings are important for supporting the development of healthy eating habits in young children and are likely to be relevant to health and childcare professionals.
Functional traits determine why species belong to the dark diversity in a dry grassland fragmented landscape
Authors: Belinchón Rocío , Hemrová Lucie , Münzbergová Zuzana
Published: June 2020

A challenge for nature conservation is to know why many species are absent from suitable habitats and whether they might be able to disperse and to establish. Here, we used 272 dry grassland patches within a fragmented landscape to investigate the role of local abiotic conditions and dispersal filtering in determining the likelihood of vascular plants to belong to the dark diversity (i.e. absent portion of the species pool). First, we quantified the species (SD), functional (FD) and phylogenetic (PD) diversity of both observed and dark communities. Second, we determined the roles of abiotic, present‐day and historical landscape configuration variables in shaping their patterns. Third, we evaluated the importance of each variable in determining their species. Environmental filtering was assessed as effects of local abiotic conditions and dispersal filtering as the effects of present‐day and historical landscape configuration. Dispersal filtering was also estimated by comparing dispersal traits of observed and dark diversity. Finally, we assessed community completeness to determine how much of the species pool was realized within a local community. We found higher SD in the observed compared to the dark communities, but PD did not differ. Contrary to expectations, dark communities resembled higher FD compared to the observed communities. Species with low dispersal capacity, low competitive abilities and high stress‐tolerance were more often absent. Observed and dark diversities were mostly affected by local abiotic variables. In the observed communities, present‐day landscape configuration variables affected SD while historical landscape configuration variables explained FD and PD. In the dark communities, we found the opposite pattern. Completeness was affected by present‐day and historical patch size. Our results explain why dry grassland species may belong to the dark diversity and highlight the importance of local abiotic and dispersal traits of the species to conserve dry grasslands in changing landscapes.
Collaborative communication efficiency is linked to relationship satisfaction in dating couples
Authors: Bannon Sarah M. , Taggart Tenille C. , Kehoe Caitlin M. , O'Leary K. Daniel
Published: June 2020

The speed, or efficiency, in which people communicate is linked to positive interpersonal outcomes. However, no studies of communication efficiency have examined romantic partners, making it unclear whether efficient communication is linked to relationship satisfaction above and beyond previously identified communication skills (e.g., problem‐solving). We recruited dating couples (N = 56) to attend a laboratory session to complete survey measures and a collaborative communication task. Multilevel models demonstrated that both task efficiency (β = −.36, p = .04) and self‐reported problem‐solving communication skills (β = .28, p = .002) were associated with relationship satisfaction. Results suggest that communication task efficiency can be meaningfully applied to the study of romantic relationships and couple communication skills.
Resistance profiles of Botrytis cinerea populations to several fungicide classes on greenhouse tomato and strawberry in Lebanon
Authors: Habib Wassim , Saab Carine , Malek Robert , Kattoura Louis , Rotolo Caterina , Gerges Elvis , Baroudy Farah , Pollastro Stefania , Faretra Francesco , De Miccolis Angelini Rita M.
Published: June 2020

Tomato and strawberry are the most important protected crops in Lebanon and are seriously affected by grey mould disease, caused by Botrytis cinerea. In the present study, the fungicide sensitivity assays revealed medium to high frequencies of B. cinerea isolates resistant to benzimidazoles, dicarboximides, and anilinopyrimidines on tomato and strawberry. Fludioxonil‐ and boscalid‐resistant mutants were uncommonly found at generally low frequency on both crops. Resistance to fenhexamid was detected in only one site on tomato but in most sites on strawberry with high frequencies, and the occurrence of resistance to QoI fungicides was ascertained on both crops. The majority of the tested isolates (>90%) exhibited multiple fungicide resistance, and isolates resistant to the seven antibotrydial fungicide classes were detected on strawberry in three locations. A high level of resistance was shown by B. cinerea mutants resistant to boscalid, fenhexamid, and QoI fungicides, while two levels of moderate and high resistance to anilinopyrimidines were identified. Genetic analysis revealed point mutations in the target genes commonly associated with resistance in B. cinerea isolates, with all mutants resistant to dicarboximides, fenhexamid, boscalid, and QoI fungicides carrying single‐nucleotide polymorphims in BcOS1 (I365S/N, Q369P, and N373S), Erg27 (F412V/I), SdhB (H272R/Y), and cytb (G143A) genes, respectively. The general incorrect use of fungicides has caused the development and spread of fungicide resistance as a widespread phenomenon on protected tomato and strawberry in Lebanon. The implementation of appropriate antiresistance strategies is highly recommended.
Colonic mucormycosis in solid organ transplantation: Case report and review of the literature (colonic mucormycosis after DDLT)
Authors: Petrochko Jameson Moore , Abrahamian Gregory , Cigarroa Francisco , Thomas Elizabeth
Published: June 2020

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that can occur throughout the body and carries a high mortality. Colonic mucormycosis is an uncommon form of the disease whose successful treatment relies upon a high degree of clinical suspicion and early, often empiric, therapy. We report colonic mucormycosis in a liver transplant patient and review the literature on colonic mucormycosis in solid organ transplant recipients.
Study of Erosion Behavior in Elbows Mounted in Series Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Method
Authors: Xie Zhenqiang , Cao Xuewen , Zhang Juni , Sun Xiaoyang , Fu Chenyang , Wu Chao
Published: June 2020

To date, numerous studies using experimental methods or computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate erosion in elbows have been published. However, most of these studies focused on erosion caused by large particles flowing through a single elbow, whereas erosion due to small particles in elbows mounted in series is largely ignored. Studying erosion in elbows mounted in series is essential for improving the design of pipeline systems. In this paper, a CFD model is developed and validated against experimental data in the literature. The effects of both the connecting length (i.e., the distance between two elbows connected in series) and the elbow radius of curvature on erosion behavior were investigated using the verified model. In addition, the Dean number and Stokes number were used to investigate particle motion. The results show that erosion in the second elbow first decreases and then increases, as the connecting length increases, and the maximum erosion zone always occurs in the first elbow. However, when the number of elbows is increased to four, interestingly, the maximum erosion zone is located in the fourth elbow. The findings are valuable and provide guidance for designing novel pipeline systems that can mitigate erosion.
Experimental Investigations of Cavitation Performance Breakdown in an Axial Waterjet Pump
Authors: Chen Huang , Doeller Nick , Li Yuanchao , Katz Joseph
Published: June 2020

This experimental study examines the mechanisms causing cavitation breakdown in an axial waterjet pump. The database includes performance curves, images of cavitation, measured changes to endwall pressure as the blade passes, as well as velocity and pressure distributions inside the blade passage, the latter estimated using Bernoulli's Equation in the rotor reference frame. They show that cavitation breakdown is associated with a rapid expansion of the attached cavitation on the blade suction side (SS) into the blade overlap region, blocking part of the entrance to this passage, increasing the velocity and reducing the pressure along the pressure side (PS) of the blade. Initially, expansion of the SS cavitation compensates for the reduced PS pressure, resulting in a slight increase in performance. Further reduction of the inlet pressure causes a rapid decrease in performance as the SS pressure remains at the vapor pressure, while the PS pressure keeps on decreasing. In addition, during the breakdown, entrainment of the cloud cavitation by the tip leakage vortex generates the previously observed perpendicular cavitating vortices (PCVs) that extend across the passage and reduce the through-flow area in the tip region. Tests have been repeated after installing circumferential casing grooves aimed at manipulating the tip leakage flow and reduce the formation of PCVs. These grooves indeed reduce the tip region blockage during early phases. However, they have a small effect on the performance degradation by cavitation breakdown, presumably owing to their limited effect on the attached SS cavitation and tip region cloud cavitation.
Enhancing Wear Resistance of Selective Laser Melted Parts: Influence of Energy Density
Authors: Yang Y. , Zhu Y. , Yang H.
Published: June 2020

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a rapidly developing metal additive manufacturing technology. SLM process parameters have a direct impact on the microstructure of parts, which further affect wear behaviors. Increasing the wear resistance by tailoring process parameters, instead of postprocessing, is crucial for enhancing surface properties of the SLM-fabricated parts with complicated structures. In this study, 316L stainless steel samples were fabricated using different energy densities by varying hatch spacing and scanning speed. The relative density and hardness were measured, and the microstructures were examined. The wear resistance was evaluated by performing scratch tests. Results show that high hardness was found in the bottom region of the samples by small hatch spacings and the highest hardness of 302.8 ± 4.3 HV was measured in the sample by a hatch spacing of 10 μm. With the increase of energy density from 178 to 533 J/mm3 by reducing hatch spacing, the fraction of cellular structures decreases and columnar structures are more likely to be aligned in a relatively constant tilted angle from the build direction, which significantly improve the ability to resist slipping and deformation, indicated by 90.1%, 45.0%, and 15.7% reductions in wear rates under 1, 3, and 5 N, respectively. With the increase of energy density from 182 to 545 J/mm3 by reducing the scanning speed, the number of cellular structures increases but pores also form, which negatively affects wear resistance.
Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of Bi-Maxillary Osteotomy Using the Stress Distribution on the Temporomandibular Joint When Doing Anterior Teeth Occlusion
Authors: Ma He-Di , Wang Quan-Yi , Teng Hai-Dong , Zheng Ting-Hui , Liu Zhan
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate how sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and Le Fort 1 osteotomy affected the stress distribution of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) during an anterior teeth bite using the three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) method. Fourteen orthognathic surgery patients were examined with mandibular prognathism, facial asymmetry, and mandibular retraction. They underwent Le Fort 1 osteotomy in conjunction with SSRO. In addition, ten asymptomatic subjects were recruited as the control group. The 3D models of the mandible, disc, and maxilla were reconstructed according to cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Contact was used to simulate the interaction of the disc-condyle, disc-temporal bone, and upper-lower dentition. Muscle forces and boundary conditions corresponding to the anterior occlusions were applied on the models. The stresses on the articular disc and condyle in the pre-operative group were significantly higher than normal. The contact stress and minimum principal stress in TMJ for patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) were abnormally higher. The peak stresses of the TMJ of the patients under anterior occlusions decreased after bimaxillary osteotomy. No postoperative TMD symptoms were found. Maxillofacial deformity led to excessive stress on the TMJ. Bimaxillary osteotomy can partially improve the stress distributions of the TMJ and relieve the symptoms of TMD.
A Grain Size-Dependent Equation for Creep Rupture Life of Grade 91 Steel Verified Up To 233,000 Hours
Authors: Maruyama K. , Sekido N. , Yoshimi K. , Yamamoto Y.
Published: June 2020

Grade 91 steel is widely used as steam pipes in ultrasupercritical (USC) steam boilers. In residual creep life assessment of the pipes by calculation, one needs creep rupture life of the steel as a function of stress and temperature in a time range longer than 105 h. Four regions with different creep rupture characteristics appear in a stress versus creep rupture life diagram of the steel. Main steam pipes made of the steel are used in a long-term region with low values of stress exponent and activation energy for creep rupture life (referred to as region G in this paper). Creep rupture lives of the steel in this region vary from heat to heat depending on their prior austenite grain size. This paper proposes a grain size-dependent equation representing creep rupture life of the steel in region G. The equation is verified with creep rupture data up to 232,833 h at 600 °C. Region G is absent in some heats with a large grain size. The equation can rationalize the absence in the heats. In a stress versus creep rupture life diagram of grade 92 steel, there is the same long-term region G. In the region, a creep rupture life of each heat is dependent on its grain size as is the case in grade 91 steel. The proposed equation accords well with the creep rupture lives of the grade 92 steel in region G.
Backstepping Control of Open-Chain Linkages Actuated by Antagonistic Hill Muscles
Authors: Warner Holly , Richter Hanz , van den Bogert Antonie J.
Published: June 2020

For human–machine interaction, the forward progression of technology, particularly controls, regularly brings about new possibilities. Indeed, healthcare applications have flourished in recent years, including robotic rehabilitation, exercise, and prosthetic devices. Testing these devices with human subjects is inherently risky and frequently inconsistent. This work offers a novel simulation framework toward overcoming many of these difficulties. Specifically, generating a closed-loop dynamic model of a human or a human subsystem that can connect to device simulations allows simulated human–machine interaction. In this work, a muscle-actuated open kinematic chain linkage is generated to simulate the human, and a backstepping controller based on inverse dynamics is derived. The control architecture directly addresses muscle redundancy, and two options to resolve this redundancy are evaluated. The specific case of a muscle-actuated arm linkage is developed to illustrate the framework. Trajectory tracking is achieved in simulation. The muscles recruited to meet the tracking goal are in agreement with the method used to solve the redundancy problem. In the future coupling such simulations to any relevant simulation of a machine will provide safe, insightful preprototype test results.
Modeling and Experimental Validation of a Reed Check Valve for Hydraulic Applications
Authors: Knutson Anthony L. , Van de Ven James D.
Published: June 2020

Reed valves are a type of check valve commonly found in a wide range of applications including air compressors, internal combustion engines, musical instruments, and even the human heart. While reed valves have been studied extensively in these applications, published research on the modeling and application of reed valves in hydraulic systems is sparse. Because the spring and mass components of a reed valve are contained in a single element, it is light and compact compared to traditional disk, poppet, or ball style check valves. These advantages make reed valves promising for use in high-frequency applications such as piston pumps, switch-mode hydraulics, and digital hydraulics. Furthermore, the small size and fast response of reed valves provide an opportunity to design pumps capable of operating at higher speeds and with lower dead volumes, thus increasing efficiency and power density. In this paper, a modeling technique for reed valves is presented and validated in a hydraulic piston pump test bed. Excellent agreement between modeled and experimentally measured reed valve opening is demonstrated. Across the range of experimental conditions, the model predicts the pump delivery with an error typically less than 1% with a maximum error of 2.2%.
High power impulse magnetron sputtering of diamond-like carbon coatings
Authors: Kubart Tomas , Aijaz Asim , Andersson Joakim , Ferreira Fabio , Oliveira João Carlos , Sobetkii Arcadie , Parau Anca Constantina , Vitelaru Catalin
Published: June 2020

High power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) of diamond-like carbon coatings is reviewed. Three variations of HiPIMS were used to deposit diamond-like carbon coatings: use of neon as compared to argon for sputtering, very high discharge peak current density in an Ar atmosphere, and the use of bursts of short sputtering pulses. All three variations were able to provide sufficient ion-to-neutral ratios to effectively control the coating quality using substrate bias. The resulting coatings are typically smooth, amorphous, hard (up to 25 GPa), and dense but have low stress (below 2.5 GPa). The coatings exhibit an increased stability at higher temperature (up to 500 °C) compared to the coatings prepared using standard magnetron sputtering. The resulting coatings also exhibited low wear rates in ambient ball-on-disc tests (2.1 × 10−8 mm3 N−1 m−1). These improvements are explained in terms of the rate of sputtered carbon atom ionization in the plasma and material transport to the substrate. However, the chemical bonding in the films is not yet well understood as relatively low sp3 bond content has been observed.
Effects of acoustic and semantic cues on listening effort during native and non-native speech perception
Authors: Borghini Giulia , Hazan Valerie
Published: June 2020

Relative to native listeners, non-native listeners who are immersed in a second language environment experience increased listening effort and a reduced ability to successfully perform an additional task while listening. Previous research demonstrated that listeners can exploit a variety of intelligibility-enhancing cues to cope with adverse listening conditions. However, little is known about the implications of those speech perception strategies for listening effort. The current research aims to investigate by means of pupillometry how listening effort is modulated in native and non-native listeners by the availability of semantic context and acoustic enhancements during the comprehension of spoken sentences. For this purpose, semantic plausibility and speaking style were manipulated both separately and in combination during a speech perception task in noise. The signal to noise ratio was individually adjusted for each participant in order to target 50% intelligibility level. Behavioural results indicated that native and non-native listeners were equally able to fruitfully exploit both semantic and acoustic cues to aid their comprehension. Pupil data indicated that listening effort was reduced for both groups of listeners when acoustic enhancements were available, while the presence of a plausible semantic context did not lead to a reduction in listening effort.
Role of Toxin-Antitoxin-Regulated Persister Population and Indole in Bacterial Heat Tolerance
Authors: Masuda Yoshimitsu , Sakamoto Erika , Honjoh Ken-ichi , Miyamoto Takahisa
Published: June 2020

Our study demonstrated that a small persister population exhibits significantly higher heat tolerance than normal cells and that this small fraction contributes to the heat tolerance of the total bacterial population. This study also demonstrated that indole, known to inhibit persister formation, and its derivatives are very promising candidates to reduce the heat tolerance of not only normal bacterial cells but also persister cells.
An ECF41 Family σ Factor Controls Motility and Biogenesis of Lateral Flagella in Azospirillum brasilense Sp245
Authors: Dubey Ashutosh Prakash , Pandey Parul , Singh Vijay Shankar , Mishra Mukti Nath , Singh Sudhir , Mishra Rajeev , Tripathi Anil Kumar
Published: June 2020

Among extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors, ECF41-type σ factors are unique due to the presence of a large C-terminal extension in place of a cognate anti-σ factor, which regulates their activity. Despite their wide distribution and abundance in bacterial genomes, their physiological or behavioral roles are not known. We show here an indirect negative role of an ECF41-type of σ factor in the expression of lateral flagellar genes and motility in
A. brasilense
. This study suggests that the motility of
A. brasilense
might be controlled by a regulatory cascade involving RpoE10, an unknown repressor, LafR1, and lateral flagellar genes, including that encoding Laf1.
Strict Assembly Restriction of Peptides from Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Presented by Rabbit Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Molecule RLA-A1
Authors: Zhang Qingxu , Liu Kefang , Yue Can , Zhang Di , Lu Dan , Xiao Wenling , Liu Peipei , Zhao Yingze , Gao Guolan , Ding Chunming , Lyu Jianxin , Liu William J.
Published: June 2020

We screened rabbit MHC class I RLA-A1-restricted peptides from the capsid protein VP60 of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and determined the structures of RLA-A1 complexed with three peptides, VP60-1, VP60-2, and VP60-10. From the structures, we found that the peptide binding motifs of RLA-A1 are extremely constraining. Thus, there is a generally restricted peptide selection for RLA-A1 compared to that for human HLA-A*0201. In addition, uncommon residues Gly53, Val55, and Glu56 of RLA-A1 are located between the 310helix and α1 helix, which makes the steric position of the 310helix in RLA-A1 much closer to the α2 helix than that found in other mammalian MHC class I molecules. This special conformation between the 310helix and α1 helix plays a pivotal role in rabbit MHC class I assembly. Our results provide new insights into MHC class I molecule assembly and peptide presentation of domestic mammals. Furthermore, these data also broaden our knowledge on T-cell immunity in rabbits and may also provide useful information for vaccine development to prevent infectious diseases in rabbits.
Archaeal Chromatin Proteins Cren7 and Sul7d Compact DNA by Bending and Bridging
Authors: Zhang Zhenfeng , Zhan Zhengyan , Wang Bing , Chen Yuanyuan , Chen Xiuqiang , Wan Cuihong , Fu Yu , Huang Li
Published: June 2020

A long-standing question is how chromosomal DNA is packaged in Crenarchaeota, a major group of archaea, which synthesize large amounts of unique small DNA-binding proteins but in general contain no archaeal histones. In the present work, we tested our hypothesis that the two well-studied crenarchaeal chromatin proteins Cren7 and Sul7d compact DNA by both DNA bending and bridging. We show that the two proteins are capable of compacting DNA, albeit with different efficiencies and in different manners, at the single molecule level. We demonstrate for the first time that the two proteins, which have long been regarded as DNA binders and benders, are able to mediate DNA bridging, and this previously unknown property of the proteins allows DNA to be packaged into highly condensed structures. Therefore, our results provide significant insights into the mechanism and kinetics of chromosomal DNA organization in Crenarchaeota.
Roles of Organohalide-Respiring
Dehalococcoidia
in Carbon Cycling
Authors: Yang Yi , Sanford Robert , Yan Jun , Chen Gao , Cápiro Natalie L. , Li Xiuying , Löffler Frank E.
Published: June 2020

The class
Dehalococcoidia
within the
Chloroflexi
phylum comprises the obligate organohalide-respiring genera
Dehalococcoides
,
Dehalogenimonas
, and “
Candidatus
Dehalobium.” Knowledge of the unique ecophysiology and biochemistry of
Dehalococcoidia
has been largely derived from studies with enrichment cultures and isolates from sites impacted with chlorinated pollutants; however, culture-independent surveys found
Dehalococcoidia
sequences in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial biomes considered to be pristine (i.
Todd’s paresis following vasovagal syncope provoked by tilt-table testing
Authors: Moloney David , Pérez-Denia Laura Perez , Kenny Rose Anne
Published: June 2020

A 38-year-old woman presented with a history of recurrent episodes of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) with seizure-like activity and post-TLOC left sided paresis. Electroencephalogram and MRI of the brain were normal, and events were not controlled by anti-convulsant therapy. Tilt testing produced reflex mixed pattern vasovagal syncope, with exact symptom reproduction, including bilateral upper and lower limb myoclonic movements and post-TLOC left hemiparesis that persisted for 27 min. A witness for the tilt event confirmed reproduction of patients ‘typical’ TLOC event. Syncope is the most frequent cause of TLOC. Myoclonic movements during syncope are not uncommon and can be misdiagnosed as epilepsy. It is rare to experience paresis after syncope, which in this case, lead to misdiagnosis and unnecessary anti-convulsant treatment.
COVID-19 presenting with diarrhoea and hyponatraemia
Authors: Ata Fateen , Almasri Hussam , Sajid Jamal , Yousaf Zohaib
Published: June 2020

COVID-19 is a viral disease with a high infectivity rate. The full spectrum of the disease is not yet understood. This understanding may help in limiting potential exposure. We present a young man with diarrhoea, abdominal pain and hyponatraemia who turned out to be positive for COVID-19.
Optical coherence tomography-angiography for monitoring neovascularisations in
macular telangiectasia type 2
Authors: Tzaridis Simone , Hess Kristina , Friedlander Martin , Holz Frank G
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To evaluate the utility of optical coherence tomography-angiography
(OCT-A) for monitoring activity, progression and response to therapy of
neovascularisations (NVs) secondary to macular telangiectasia type 2
(MacTel).

Methods

In a retrospective analysis, eyes with NVs secondary to MacTel were
reviewed over a period of ≥8 months. Examinations at monthly intervals included
visual acuity testing, dilated funduscopy, spectral domain-OCT and OCT-A. Eyes
were treated with intravitreal VEGF (vascular endothelial growth
factor)-inhibitors following a pro-re-nata (PRN) regime, and treatment
decisions were based on morphological signs of activity as determined by B-scan
OCT and funduscopy. Signs of neovascular activity were defined as an increase
in retinal thickness, presence/increase of intraretinal/subretinal fluid and
haemorrhages.

Results

A total of 19 eyes from 17 patients were analysed. Patients were evaluated
over a mean period of 13.4 months (range: 8.9 to 24.2). OCT-A permitted the
monitoring of both treatment effects (regression) and progression (growth) of
NVs, but not neovascular activity. The growth of neovascular vessels was
detectable in OCT-A before signs of activity occurred on OCT. NVs showed a
progressive growth over time despite PRN-treatment and preferentially grew and
extended within areas characterised by a focal reduction of choriocapillaris
perfusion.

Conclusions

The results indicate that OCT-A represents a useful imaging modality for
monitoring NV-progression and treatment effects in MacTel. We demonstrate its
advantages over conventional B-scan OCT imaging, including an earlier detection
of NV-progression, and propose an adjustment of the current OCT-controlled PRN
treatment regime in order to prevent NV-progression and subsequent functional
loss in neovascular MacTel.
Why can’t I exercise during pregnancy? Time to revisit medical ‘absolute’ and ‘relative’ contraindications: systematic review of evidence of harm and a call to action
Authors: Meah Victoria L , Davies Gregory A , Davenport Margie H
Published: June 2020

Background

Clinical guidelines recommend pregnant women without contraindication engage in regular physical activity. This is based on extensive evidence demonstrating the safety and benefits of prenatal exercise. However, certain medical conditions or contraindications warrant a reduction, modification or cessation of activity due to potential health risks.

Aim

To review and evaluate the evidence related to medical disorders which may warrant contraindication to prenatal exercise.

Methods

Online databases were searched up to 5 April 2019. Forty-four unique studies that reported data on our Population (pregnant women with contraindication to exercise), Intervention (subjective/objective measures of acute or chronic exercise), Comparator (not essential) and Outcomes (adverse maternal or fetal outcomes) were included in the review.

Key findings

We found that the majority of medical conditions listed as contraindications were based on expert opinion; there is minimal empirical evidence to demonstrate harm of exercise and benefit of activity restriction. We identified 11 complications (eg, gestational hypertension, twin pregnancy) previously classified as contraindications where women may in fact benefit from regular prenatal physical activity with or without modifications. However, the evidence suggests that severe cardiorespiratory disease, placental abruption, vasa previa, uncontrolled type 1 diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction, active preterm labour, severe pre-eclampsia and cervical insufficiency are associated with strong potential for maternal/fetal harm and warrant classification as absolute contraindications.

Conclusion

Based on empirical evidence, we provide a call to re-evaluate clinical guidelines related to medical disorders that have previously been considered contraindications to prenatal exercise. Removing barriers to physical activity during pregnancy for women with certain medical conditions may in fact be beneficial for maternal–fetal health outcomes.
Migrant workers and COVID-19
Authors: Koh David
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Daily numbers of COVID-19 in Singapore from March to May 2020, the cause of a surge in cases in April and the national response were examined, and regulations on migrant worker accommodation studied.

Methods

Information was gathered from daily reports provided by the Ministry of Health, Singapore Statues online and a Ministerial statement given at a Parliament sitting on 4 May 2020.

Results

A marked escalation in the daily number of new COVID-19 cases was seen in early April 2020. The majority of cases occurred among an estimated 295 000 low-skilled migrant workers living in foreign worker dormitories. As of 6 May 2020, there were 17 758 confirmed COVID-19 cases among dormitory workers (88% of 20 198 nationally confirmed cases). One dormitory housing approximately 13 000 workers had 19.4% of residents infected. The national response included mobilising several government agencies and public volunteers. There was extensive testing of workers in dormitories, segregation of healthy and infected workers, and daily observation for fever and symptoms. Twenty-four dormitories were declared as ‘isolation areas’, with residents quarantined for 14 days. New housing, for example, vacant public housing flats, military camps, exhibition centres, floating hotels have been provided that will allow for appropriate social distancing.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted migrant workers as a vulnerable occupational group. Ideally, matters related to inadequate housing of vulnerable migrant workers need to be addressed before a pandemic.
Using temporally explicit habitat suitability models to infer the migratory pattern of a large mobile shark
Authors: De Wysiecki Agustín María , Sánchez-Carnero Noela , Irigoyen Alejo Joaquín , Milessi Andrés Conrado , Colonello Jorge Horacio , Bovcon Nelson Darío , Cortés Federico , Barbini Santiago Aldo , Cedrola Paula Victoria , Coller Nidia Marina , Jaureguizar Andrés Javier
Published: June 2020

Conservation and management measures for large mobile sharks are more effective when information on migratory patterns and environmental cues are known. In the absence of long-term monitoring data or tracking programs, available information is based on occasional catch or sighting records from a variety of sources, usually constrained in space and time. This study demonstrates the utility of developing temporally explicit habitat suitability (HS) models to infer the migratory pattern of large mobile sharks. Bimonthly presence-only HS models (MaxEnt algorithm) were developed for the broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) in the southwest Atlantic based on an exhaustive collection of data records and ecologically relevant predictors. The six final models showed good predictive power and were evaluated with independent data. A migratory pattern characterized by two main displacements was inferred from the models. We show that HS models can be applied as a no-cost, desk-based alternative to infer broadscale movements of large mobile sharks. This methodology is relevant as an important first step toward informing management plans in data-poor and financially limited regions or regions under urgent conservation need.
Foliar sampling with an unmanned aerial system (UAS) reveals spectral and functional trait differences within tree crowns
Authors: Schweiger Anna K. , Lussier Desbiens Alexis , Charron Guillaume , La Vigne Hughes , Laliberté Etienne
Published: June 2020

Imaging spectroscopy is currently the best approach for continuously mapping forest canopy traits, which is important for ecosystem and biodiversity assessments. Ideally, models are trained with trait data from fully sunlit leaves from the top of the canopy. However, sampling leaves at the top of the canopy is often difficult, and sunlit foliage from the crown periphery is collected instead, assuming minimal within-crown trait variation among sunlit leaves. We tested the degree to which crown position affects foliar traits and spectra using mixed-effects models comparing sun leaves from the crown centre of mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) trees collected with DeLeaves, a novel twig-sampling unmanned aerial system device, with sun leaves from the crown periphery collected with a pole pruner. Sun leaves from the crown centre differed from sun leaves from the crown periphery in absorption, reflectance, transmittance, and a series of foliar traits, including leaf thickness, leaf mass, and leaf nitrogen content per unit area, demonstrating differences in resource allocation depending on sun exposure. Our study highlights the importance of accurately matching the location of foliar samples and spectral data and of sampling across gradients of intra-individual variation for the accurate prediction of foliar trait distributions across and within canopies using imaging spectroscopy.
Modeling of tree height–diameter relationships in the Atlantic Forest: effect of forest type on tree allometry
Authors: Cysneiros Vinicius Costa , Pelissari Allan Libanio , Gaui Tatiana Dias , Fiorentin Luan Demarco , Carvalho Daniel Costa de , Silveira Filho Telmo Borges , Machado Sebastião do Amaral
Published: June 2020

Tree height is one of the most important variables for quantitative assessment of forest stocks, but it is difficult to directly measure. Such allometric relationships of trees can vary between geographical regions, however, mainly due to climatic, edaphic, and floristic gradients. Based on the hypothesis that different forest types influence the generic modeling of tree height–diameter relationships on geographical scales, this study aimed to (i) fit equations to estimate tree height in Atlantic Forest types in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; (ii) compare efficiency and precision between generic and specific equations for forest types; and (iii) test the effect of different forest types and species on the height–diameter relationship. Four allometric models were tested for all forests (generic) and three main forest types (specific). Effects of tree size, forest types, and species on tree height estimation were analyzed using multiple linear models and mixed-effect linear models. A significant effect of forest type and species on tree height was seen, showing the need to apply local specific equations to minimize the effects that are not captured by generic equations. Differences in tree allometry between forest types were associated with temperature, rainfall, soil, and forest structure. These results confirm the effect of the local environment on the height–diameter relationship of trees as found over large scales in tropical forests.