bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extension of the phenotypic spectrum of GLE1‐related disorders to a mild congenital form resembling congenital myopathy
Authors: Cerino Mathieu , Di Meglio Chloé , Albertini Francesca , Audic Frédérique , Riccardi Florence , Boulay Christophe , Philip Nicole , Bartoli Marc , Lévy Nicolas , Krahn Martin , Chabrol Brigitte
Published: June 2020

Background

GLE1 (GLE1, RNA Export Mediator, OMIM#603371) variants are associated with severe autosomal recessive motor neuron diseases, that are lethal congenital contracture syndrome 1 (LCCS1, OMIM#253310) and congenital arthrogryposis with anterior horn cell disease (CAAHD, OMIM#611890).

The clinical spectrum of GLE1‐related disorders has been expanding these past years, including with adult‐onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) GLE1‐related forms, especially through the new molecular diagnosis strategies associated with the emergence of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. However, despite this phenotypic variability, reported congenital or ALS adult‐onset forms remain severe, leading to premature death.

Methods

Through multidisciplinary interactions between our Neuropediatric and Medical Genetics departments, we were able to diagnose two siblings presenting with congenital disorder, using an NGS approach accordingly to the novel French national recommendations.

Results

Two siblings with very similar clinical features, meaning neuromuscular disorder of neonatal onset with progressive improvement, were examined in our Neuropediatrics department. The clinical presentation evoked initially congenital myopathy with autosomal recessive inheritance. However, additional symptoms such as mild dysmorphic features including high anterior hairline, downslanted palpebral fissures, anteverted nares, smooth philtrum with thin upper‐lip, narrow mouth and microretrognathia or delayed expressive language and postnatal growth retardation were suggestive of a more complex clinical presentation and molecular diagnosis. Our NGS approach revealed an unexpected molecular diagnosis for these two siblings, meaning the presence of the homozygous c.1808G>T GLE1 variant.

Conclusions

We here report the mildest phenotype ever described, in two siblings carrying the homozygous c.1808G>T GLE1 variant, further widening the clinical spectrum of GLE1‐related diseases. Moreover, by reflecting current medical practice, this case report confirms the importance of establishing regular multidisciplinary meetings, essential for discussing such difficult clinical presentations to finally enable molecular diagnosis, especially when NGS technologies are used.
Determining loss tangent values of dry granite for potential S‐band applications
Authors: Helhel Selcuk , Kocakusak Atalay , Sunel Merve
Published: June 2020

Examination of the historical buildings and the modern buildings for varying applications and specific absorption rate (SAR) reduction for certain applications from security to health concerns find significant attention in both engineering and science. Applications related to an electromagnetic field and material interaction require the determination of the dielectric coefficients of materials. Both ground‐penetrating radar, which is one of the nondestructive examination methods used during the examination of the historical and modern buildings, and SAR techniques manipulating materials' properties for reduction of specific absorption rates use complex dielectric permittivity of materials. The proposed study as a novelty deals with complex dielectric permittivity in the S‐band region for nine different types of granite commonly used in the construction industry. The standard waveguide method is used as a measurement method. The mean εr for granite is measured as 4.49, and the mean tangent loss is measured as 0.45. Correspondingly, unlike the literature, a model that calculates the relative dielectric constant and dielectric loss value is obtained.
Linear energy transfer weighted beam orientation optimization for intensity‐modulated proton therapy
Authors: Gu Wenbo , Ruan Dan , Zou Wei , Dong Lei , Sheng Ke
Published: June 2020

Purpose

In intensity‐modulated proton therapy (IMPT), unaccounted‐for variation in biological effectiveness contributes to the discrepancy between the constant relative biological effectiveness (RBE) model prediction and experimental observation. It is desirable to incorporate biological doses in treatment planning to improve modeling accuracy and consequently achieve a higher therapeutic ratio. This study addresses this demand by developing a method to incorporate linear energy transfer (LET) into beam orientation optimization (BOO).

Methods

Instead of RBE‐weighted dose, this LET weighted BOO (LETwBOO) framework uses the dose and LET product (LET  D) as the biological surrogate. The problem is formulated with a physical dose fidelity term, a LET  D constraint term, and a group sparsity term. The LET  D of organs at risks is penalized for minimizing the biological effect while maintaining the physical dose objectives. Group sparsity is used to reduce the number of active beams from 600–800 non‐coplanar candidate beams to between 2 and 4. This LETwBOO method was tested on three skull base tumor (SBT) patients and three bilateral head‐and‐neck (H&N) patients. The LETwBOO plans were compared with IMPT plans using manually selected beams with only physical dose constraint (MAN) and the initial MAN plan reoptimized with additional LET  D constraint (LETwMAN).

Results

The LETwBOO plans show superior physical dose and LET  D sparing. On average, the [mean, maximal] doses of organs at risks (OARs) in LETwBOO are reduced by [2.85, 4.6] GyRBE from the MAN plans in the SBT cases and reduced by [0.9, 2.5] GyRBE in the H&N cases, while LETwMAN is comparable to MAN. cLET × Ds of PTVs are comparable in LETwBOO and LETwMAN, where c is a scaling factor of 0.04 μm/keV. On average, in the SBT cases, LETwBOO reduces the OAR [mean, maximal] cLET × D by [1.1, 2.9] Gy from the MAN plans, compared to the reduction by LETwMAN from MAN of [0.7, 1.7] Gy. In the H&N cases, LETwBOO reduces the OAR [mean, maximal] cLET × D by [0.8, 2.6] Gy from the MAN plans, compared to the reduction by LETwMAN from MAN of [0.3, 1.2] Gy.

Conclusion

We developed a novel LET weighted BOO method for IMPT to generate plans with improved physical and biological OAR sparing compared with the plans unaccounted for biological effects from BOO.
Psychometric properties of factors influencing Healthcare Career Choice Scale
Authors: Almutary Hayfa , Al‐Moteri Modi
Published: June 2020

Aim

The aim of this paper was to modify Factors Influencing Teaching Choice scale (FIT‐Choice scale) to be appropriate for healthcare professionals and to assess the psychometric properties of the modified scale.

Design

A cross‐sectional study was used.

Methods

A convenience sample of 395 students at the preparatory stage of their health path participated in study to evaluate the psychometric properties of “Healthcare Career Choice Scale” (HCC Scale). The study involves two phases: instrument modification and psychometric evaluation.

Results

The content validity index was 0.88. Using factor analysis, 12 factors were extracted and explained 71.8% of the total variance. The internal consistency was demonstrated with Cronbach's α = .91.
Gene–environment interplay and MicroRNAs in cleft lip and cleft palate
Authors: Iwata Junichi
Published: June 2020

Cleft lip (CL) with/without cleft palate (CP) (hereafter CL/P) is the second most common congenital birth defect, affecting 7.94 to 9.92 children per 10 000 live births worldwide, followed by Down syndrome. An increasing number of genes have been identified as affecting susceptibility and/or as causative genes for CL/P in mouse genetic and chemically induced CL and CP studies, as well as in human genome‐wide association studies and linkage analysis. While marked progress has been made in the identification of genetic and environmental risk factors for CL/P, the interplays between these factors are not yet fully understood. This review aims to summarize our current knowledge of CL and CP from genetically engineered mouse models and environmental factors that have been studied in mice. Understanding the regulatory mechanism(s) of craniofacial development may not only advance our understanding of craniofacial developmental biology, but could also provide approaches for the prevention of birth defects and for tissue engineering in craniofacial tissue regeneration.
Bioreducible cationic random copolymer for gene delivery
Authors: Muhammad Khan , Zhou Jiaying , Ullah Ihsan , Zhao Jing , Muhammad Ayaz , Xia Shihai , Zhang Wencheng , Feng Yakai
Published: June 2020

Cationic polymers have been widely investigated for gene delivery, although their low transfection efficiency and high cytotoxicity limit their application. We synthesized a bioreducible cationic random copolymer, poly(cystamine bisacylamide‐aminoethyl piperazine)‐co‐poly(cystamine bisacylamide‐histamine) (denoted as CBA‐AEP‐His) from N,N′‐cystamine bis acrylamide (CBA) with aminoethyl piperazine (AEP) and histamine (His). CBA‐AEP‐His copolymer possesses disulfide linkages that endow it with redox‐responsivity to the intracellular environment. This polymer efficiently condenses pZNF580 into complexes with the size of 160 ± 4 nm to 280 ± 5 nm and positive zeta potential of 20 ± 0.3 mV to 30 ± 0.4 mV. The gel‐retardation assay shows that CBA‐AEP‐His can retard pZNF580 even at a low mass ratio of 1/1. The gene complexes were triggered to release pZNF580 when exposed to the reducing environment of dithiothreitol (DTT). CBA‐AEP‐His random copolymer presented higher buffer capacity owing to its His moieties, which protected pZNF580 from DNase degradation. The gene transfection results reveal that CBA‐AEP‐His can efficiently deliver pZNF580 and transfect EA. Hy926 cells. The MTT assay indicates that CBA‐AEP‐His and its complexes exhibit lower cytotoxicity than PEI25KDa. These results illustrate that CBA‐AEP‐His had promising properties for gene delivery, which may provide a suitable platform for the development of a non‐viral gene carrier.
Daily received support and relational functioning in HCT survivors and their caregivers
Authors: Kroemeke Aleksandra , Sobczyk‐Kruszelnicka Małgorzata
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Numerous authors have expressed their interest in adjustment and social support in the context of cancer. However, none of the previous studies has directly examined the models describing the links between daily social support and adjustment fluctuation, particularly at the relational level. This study aimed to verify the additive and buffering models of daily received support regarding the relational level of patient‐caregiver relationship, that is, the relationship‐related stress and relationship satisfaction following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).

Methods

Two hundred patient‐caregiver dyads participated in a 28‐day diary study that was started on the first day after post‐HCT discharge. The participants rated the extent of daily relationship‐related stress, relationship satisfaction, and received support every evening during the study. The analyses were based on the actor‐partner interdependence moderation model.

Results

Daily deviations in received support were directly associated with concurrent and lagged daily deviations in relationship satisfaction, regardless of relationship‐related stress level in both patients and caregivers. In addition, in caregivers, the effect of daily deviations in received support on relationship satisfaction depended on deviations in relationship‐related stress and was significant on the days with higher relationship‐related stress.

Conclusions

The findings supported both the additive (in patients and caregivers) and the buffering hypotheses (in caregivers) of daily received support in patient‐caregiver dyads during the first month following HCT. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are further highlighted.
Adherence to key domains in low back pain guidelines: A cross‐sectional study of Danish physiotherapists
Authors: Husted Maja , Rossen Camilla B. , Jensen Tue S. , Mikkelsen Lone R. , Rolving Nanna
Published: June 2020

Objective

The aim of the study was threefold: Firstly, to investigate the adherence to clinical practice guidelines for low back pain (LBP) among Danish physiotherapists with regard to three key domains: (a) activity, (b) work and (c) psychosocial risk factors. Secondly, to investigate whether adherence differed between physiotherapists working in private clinics (private physiotherapists) and physiotherapists working at public healthcare centres (public physiotherapists). Thirdly, to describe the physiotherapists' treatment modalities for patients with LBP.

Methods

A cross‐sectional online survey was conducted with 817 physiotherapists working in the Central Denmark Region. Adherence to the guideline domains was assessed using two vignettes. The difference in adherence between the groups was assessed using the Chi‐squared test. Treatment modalities were reported using descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 234 physiotherapists responded, hereof 163 private physiotherapists and 71 public physiotherapists (response rate 29%). The proportions of physiotherapists managing the patients strictly in line with the guideline domains were 32% (activity), 16% (work) and 82% (psychosocial risk factors) for Vignette 1 and 6% (activity), 53% (work) and 60% (psychosocial risk factors) for Vignette 2. Public physiotherapists were more likely to manage patients strictly in line with guidelines for assessing the psychosocial risk factors compared to private physiotherapist (Vignette 1: 92% vs. 77% p = .030; Vignette 2:70% vs. 55% p = .035). Regarding the other two domains, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of adherence (p > .05). Concerning treatment modalities, the majority of physiotherapists instructed the patients in adopting an exercise program or informed the patients about the benign nature and prognosis of LBP.

Conclusion

Overall, the participating Danish physiotherapists strictly adhered to only one out of three key domains. This underlines the importance of bringing focus on implementing the current guidelines' recommendations in clinical practice.
Evolution of growth traits in invasive Pereskia aculeata (Cactaceae): testing the EICA hypothesis using its specialist herbivore, Catorhintha schaffneri (Coreidae)
Authors: Egbon Ikponmwosa N , Paterson Iain D , Compton Stephen , Hill Martin
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Species introduced into new habitats are fitter than their native populations, as hypothesized by the ‘evolution of increased competitive ability’ (EICA). Here, Pereskia aculeata Miller was used as a model to test EICA and explore how ‘enemy release’ may have influenced the invasion success of its 400‐year‐old introduced populations (genotypes) compared with native populations. Plant growth traits (height and shoot length) of 15 genotypes [four from the introduced range (South Africa) and 11 from the native range (Brazil and Argentina, Venezuela and The Dominican Republic)] were assessed. Damage and impact of a shoot‐feeding, sap‐sucking specialist Catorhintha schaffneri Brailovsky & Garcia on ten genotypes were also compared.

RESULTS

All but one of the invasive genotypes were significantly taller than native genotypes. Although the invasive genotypes were relatively more damaged by herbivory than some of the native genotypes, the observed differences were not explained completely by their origins. Nonetheless, the findings partially supported the predictions of the EICA hypothesis because invasive genotypes were generally taller than native genotypes, but did not fully support the hypothesis because they were not always more damaged than the native genotypes by C. schaffneri.

CONCLUSION

Invasive genotypes had an advantage in the introduced range as they can climb neighbouring vegetation more quickly than native genotypes, but the damage incurred by the invasive genotypes relative to the native genotypes suggests only that C. schaffneri would be as damaging in South Africa, where it serves as a biocontrol agent, as it is in its native distribution in Brazil. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Odorant‐binding proteins involved in sex pheromone and host‐plant recognition of the sugarcane borer Chilo infuscatellus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
Authors: Liu Yuying , Hu Yuwei , Bi Jie , Kong Xiaotong , Long Guangyan , Zheng Ya , Liu Kaiyu , Wang Yufeng , Xu Hanliang , Guan Chuxiong , Ai Hui
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Pheromone‐binding proteins (PBPs) are responsible for transporting sex pheromones and general odorant‐binding proteins (GOBPs) have been proposed to transport host‐plant volatiles. A large number of OBPs have been identified from Lepidoptera species. However, olfactory molecular biology and physiology studies on PBP and GOBP in sugarcane pests are limited. Chilo infuscatellus is one of the most widely distributed pests in sugarcane‐producing areas.

RESULTS

Three PBPs (CinfPBP1, CinfPBP2 and CinfPBP3) and two GOBPs (CinfGOBP1 and CinfGOBP2) were identified, and five olfactory gene transcripts were abundantly expressed in antennae of C. infuscatellus. Binding assays showed that CinfPBP1–3 exhibited strong binding affinity for the sex pheromone components Z11‐16:OH and 16:OH of C. infuscatellus. Meanwhile, CinfGOBP1–2 had high binding affinity with host‐plant volatiles from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). Field‐trapping results suggested that four volatile components, octadecane, (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, α‐terpineol and hexadecane from host plants and sex pheromone mixed baits have synergistic roles in attracting C. infuscatellus adult moths.

CONCLUSION

Functional characterization of CinfPBPs and CinfGOBPs in C. infuscatellus could help us find new environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional pest control using pesticides in sugarcane fields. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
A macroeconomic hedge portfolio and the cross section of stock returns
Authors: Renz Maximilian , Stotz Olaf
Published: June 2020

We use a stock's returns on days when important macroeconomic news is released to form a hedge portfolio, which is long (short) in stocks which have a sensitive (insensitive) reaction to the surprise component of the macroeconomic news. This macroeconomic hedge portfolio (MHP) earns a risk premium of about 5% p.a. over time and a similar premium when used as a risk factor in an asset pricing model. This premium can be interpreted as a cost of an insurance against unexpected changes in an investor's marginal utility. We show that risk premiums associated with the MHP are estimated with a higher precision than traditional macroeconomic tracking portfolios. Furthermore, when the MHP is present in a common factor model, risk factors like high minus low lose much of their ability to explain the cross section of stock returns.
Non‐operating earnings and firm risk*
Authors: Jory Surendranath , Ngo Thanh , Wang Hongxia
Published: June 2020

We find that non‐operating earnings reduce total earnings volatility, stock price volatility, idiosyncratic risk, and crash risk. The risk‐reducing effects of non‐operating earnings are higher than those of operating earnings for risk measures based on stock market data. Non‐operating earnings serve to mitigate risks among firms with operating losses, high financial leverage, high growth uncertainty, and low‐ability managers.
Houston/Harris County gender & sexuality data: Initial report
Authors: Gregory Elizabeth , Miller Audrey K.
Published: June 2020

The University of Houston Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality (UH IRWGS) documents and analyzes gender and sexuality dynamics in Harris County, as they intersect with race, ethnicity, class, age, and other identify factors, exploring their effects on individual lives and the wider economy and society. This report provides initial data to spur dialogue, especially with regard to issues of current and future workforce, health, civic participation, and in/equity. Findings documented here include new analyses of select local gender and sexuality data, derived from the annual US Census and other sources, as well as some national and other comparison data, and some relevant preexistent analyses by others. These baseline data and data on other relevant topics not covered here will be expanded upon in IRWGS research and reports going forward.
Role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Nanosafety
Authors: Winkler David A.
Published: June 2020

Robotics and automation provide potentially paradigm shifting improvements in the way materials are synthesized and characterized, generating large, complex data sets that are ideal for modeling and analysis by modern machine learning (ML) methods. Nanomaterials have not yet fully captured the benefits of automation, so lag behind in the application of ML methods of data analysis. Here, some key developments in, and roadblocks to the application of ML methods are reviewed to model and predict potentially adverse biological and environmental effects of nanomaterials. This work focuses on the diverse ways a range of ML algorithms are applied to understand and predict nanomaterials properties, provides examples of the application of traditional ML and deep learning methods to nanosafety, and provides context and future perspectives on developments that are likely to occur, or need to occur in the near future that allow artificial intelligence to make a deeper contribution to nanosafety.
Small shelly fossils and carbon isotopes from the early Cambrian (Stages 3–4) Mural Formation of western Laurentia
Authors: Skovsted Christian B. , Balthasar Uwe , Vinther Jakob , Sperling Erik A.
Published: June 2020

The extraordinary window of phosphatized and phosphatic small shelly fossils (SSF) during the early and middle Cambrian is an important testament to the radiation of biomineralizing metazoans. While SSF are well known from most Cambrian palaeocontinents during this time interval, western Laurentia has relatively few SSF faunas. Here we describe a diverse SSF fauna from the early Cambrian (Stages 3–4) Mural Formation at three localities in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, complemented by carbon isotope measurements to aid in a potential future bio‐chemostratigraphic framework. The fauna expands the recorded SSF assemblage diversity in western Laurentia and includes several brachiopods, four bradoriids, three chancelloriids, two hyoliths, a tommotiid and a helcionellid mollusc as well as echinoderm ossicles and specimens of Microdictyon, Volborthella and Hyolithellus. New taxa include the tommotiid genus Canadiella gen. nov., the new bradoriid species Hipponicharion perforata sp. nov. and Pseudobeyrichona taurata sp. nov. Compared with contemporaneous faunas from western Laurentia, the fauna is relatively diverse, particularly in taxa with originally phosphatic shells, which appear to be associated with archaeocyathid build‐ups. This suggests that the generally low faunal diversity in western Laurentia may be at least partly a consequence of poor sampling of suitable archaeocyathan reef environments. In addition, the tommotiid Canadiella filigrana appears to be of biostratigraphical significance in Cambrian Stage 3 strata of western Laurentia, and the unexpected high diversity of bradoriid arthropods in the fauna also suggests that this group may prove useful for biostratigraphical resolution in the region.
Uniform convergence of penalized splines
Authors: Xiao Luo , Nan Zhe
Published: June 2020

Penalized splines are popular for nonparametric regression. We establish the minimax rate optimality of penalized splines for uniform convergence, thus improving the existing rate in the literature. The result is applicable to several types of penalized splines that are commonly used and holds under mild conditions on the design points.
Blockchain: A future technology for registrars?
Authors: Taylor Alexander , Parks Rodney
Published: June 2020

Higher education continues to face economic pressure to deliver a student‐centered education to meet the needs of today's employers. Throughout the higher education ecosystem, some institutions have shifted strategic priorities to focus on the application of new technologies and use data to drive business processes. Additionally, some higher education institutions have shifted their attention to alternative, modular‐based programming to address skills identified by employers. But if employers seek workers with these competencies, how can employers verify these skills assertions by education providers are reliable? How can employers affirm these skills were overseen by legitimate education providers? Some of these concerns may be addressed by the use of blockchain technology.
Our natural “makeup” reveals more than it hides: Modeling the skin and its microbiome
Authors: Hussan Jagir R. , Hunter Peter J.
Published: June 2020

Skin is our primary interface with the environment. A structurally and functionally complex organ that hosts a dynamic ecosystem of microbes, and synthesizes many compounds that affect our well‐being and psychosocial interactions. It is a natural platform of signal exchange between internal organs, skin resident microbes, and the environment. These interactions have gained a great deal of attention due to the increased prevalence of atopic diseases, and the co‐occurrence of multiple allergic diseases related to allergic sensitization in early life. Despite significant advances in experimentally characterizing the skin, its microbial ecology, and disease phenotypes, high‐levels of variability in these characteristics even for the same clinical phenotype are observed. Addressing this variability and resolving the relevant biological processes requires a systems approach. This review presents some of our current understanding of the skin, skin–immune, skin–neuroendocrine, skin–microbiome interactions, and computer‐based modeling approaches to simulate this ecosystem in the context of health and disease. The review highlights the need for a systems‐based understanding of this sophisticated ecosystem.

This article is categorized under:

Infectious Diseases > Computational Models
Inter-Comparison of Ground Gravity and Vertical Height Measurements at Collocated IGETS Stations
Authors: Rosat Severine , Boy Jean-Paul , Bogusz Janusz , Klos Anna
Published: June 2020

Vertical displacements and time-varying gravity fluctuations are representative of various deformation mechanisms of the Earth occurring at different spatial and temporal scales. The inter-comparison of ground-gravity measurements with vertical surface displacements enables to estimate the transfer function of the Earth at various time-scales related to the rheological properties of the Earth. In this paper, we estimate the gravity-to-height changes ratio at seasonal time-scales due mostly to hydrological mass variabilities. We investigate this ratio at nine sites where Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Superconducting Gravimeter continuous measurements are collocated. Predicted gravity-to-height change ratios for a hydrological model are around −2 nm/s2/mm when there is no local mass effect. This is in agreement with theoretical modeling for an elastic Earth’s model. Spectral analysis of vertical displacement and surface gravimetric time-series show a coherency larger than 50% at seasonal time-scales at most sites. The obtained gravity-to-height change ratios range between −5 and −2 nm/s2/mm for stations Lhasa, Metsahovi, Ny-Alesund, Onsala, Wettzell and Yebes. At Canberra and Sutherland, this ratio is close to zero. Finally, at Strasbourg site the coherency is low and the ratio is positive because of local mass effects affecting gravimetric records.
Desynchronization and Wave Pattern Formation in MPI-Parallel and Hybrid Memory-Bound Programs
Authors: Afzal Ayesha , Hager Georg , Wellein Gerhard
Published: June 2020

Analytic, first-principles performance modeling of distributed-memory parallel codes is notoriously imprecise. Even for applications with extremely regular and homogeneous compute-communicate phases, simply adding communication time to computation time does often not yield a satisfactory prediction of parallel runtime due to deviations from the expected simple lockstep pattern caused by system noise, variations in communication time, and inherent load imbalance. In this paper, we highlight the specific cases of provoked and spontaneous desynchronization of memory-bound, bulk-synchronous pure MPI and hybrid MPI+OpenMP programs. Using simple microbenchmarks we observe that although desynchronization can introduce increased waiting time per process, it does not necessarily cause lower resource utilization but can lead to an increase in available bandwidth per core. In case of significant communication overhead, even natural noise can shove the system into a state of automatic overlap of communication and computation, improving the overall time to solution. The saturation point, i.e., the number of processes per memory domain required to achieve full memory bandwidth, is pivotal in the dynamics of this process and the emerging stable wave pattern. We also demonstrate how hybrid MPI-OpenMP programming can prevent desirable desynchronization by eliminating the bandwidth bottleneck among processes. A Chebyshev filter diagonalization application is used to demonstrate some of the observed effects in a realistic setting.
Synergy Between Radionuclide and Infrasound Observations and Atmospheric Transport Modelling Simulations: Case of Bogoslof
Authors: Kuśmierczyk-Michulec J. , Bittner P. , Mialle P. , Kalinowski M.
Published: June 2020

To demonstrate a synergy between radionuclide (RN) and infrasound observations and Atmospheric Transport Modelling (ATM), the volcanic activity of Bogoslof in Alaska, USA, is used as an example. The study period covers 3 months of intense eruptive activity, from 19 December 2016 to 8 March 2017. During that period, the International Monitoring System (IMS) infrasound station located in Alaska, USA, recorded signals from three eruptive sequences. The second sequence was reported in the International Data Centre (IDC) Reviewed Event Bulletin (REB) with 3 infrasound stations: in Alaska, USA, in Kamchatka, Russian Federation and in Hawaii, USA. As reported by The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), during each of these events ash plumes reaching the altitude of more than 10 km were observed for several consecutive days. These observations were used to identify the length of each eruptive episode. To demonstrate the influence of volcanic ash on the berillium-7 (Be-7) activity concentration values measured by two IMS RN stations in Alaska, the ATM was used. To monitor the arrival time of a volcanic ash plume at the IMS stations, a series of 14 days forward simulations released daily from Bogoslof during each of these events, was generated. Comparison of Be-7 daily surface values with the seasonal median for the period of 9 years (2009–2017), revealed that an influx of volcanic ash up to the tropopause (1.5–12 km) tends to locally increase surface Be-7 concentrations in area under the influence of subsiding ash plume. It is also demonstrated that with the arrival of volcanic ash at the surface level, the enrichment in radioactive particulates like uranium, thorium, and potassium was observed.
Paramagnetic NMR in drug discovery
Authors: Softley Charlotte A. , Bostock Mark J. , Popowicz Grzegorz M. , Sattler Michael
Published: June 2020

The presence of an unpaired electron in paramagnetic molecules generates significant effects in NMR spectra, which can be exploited to provide restraints complementary to those used in standard structure-calculation protocols. NMR already occupies a central position in drug discovery for its use in fragment screening, structural biology and validation of ligand–target interactions. Paramagnetic restraints provide unique opportunities, for example, for more sensitive screening to identify weaker-binding fragments. A key application of paramagnetic NMR in drug discovery, however, is to provide new structural restraints in cases where crystallography proves intractable. This is particularly important at early stages in drug-discovery programs where crystal structures of weakly-binding fragments are difficult to obtain and crystallization artefacts are probable, but structural information about ligand poses is crucial to guide medicinal chemistry. Numerous applications show the value of paramagnetic restraints to filter computational docking poses and to generate interaction models. Paramagnetic relaxation enhancements (PREs) generate a distance-dependent effect, while pseudo-contact shift (PCS) restraints provide both distance and angular information. Here, we review strategies for introducing paramagnetic centers and discuss examples that illustrate the utility of paramagnetic restraints in drug discovery. Combined with standard approaches, such as chemical shift perturbation and NOE-derived distance information, paramagnetic NMR promises a valuable source of information for many challenging drug-discovery programs.
Rapid decline of Zika virus NS1 antigen-specific antibody responses, northeastern Brazil
Authors: Moreira-Soto Andres , de Souza Sampaio Gilmara , Pedroso Célia , Postigo-Hidalgo Ignacio , Berneck Beatrice Sarah , Ulbert Sebastian , Brites Carlos , Netto Eduardo Martins , Drexler Jan Felix
Published: June 2020

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a positive-stranded RNA virus within the Flaviviridae family. After decades of circulation in Asia, ZIKV was introduced to Brazil in 2014–2015, associated with a rise in congenital malformations. Unlike the genetically related dengue virus (DENV), ZIKV constitutes only one serotype. Although assumed that ZIKV infection may engender lifelong immunity, the long-term kinetics of ZIKV antibody responses are unclear. We assessed long-term kinetics of ZIKV NS1-IgG response in 144 individuals from 3 different subpopulations: HIV patients, tuberculosis patients and healthy individuals first tested in 2016 and retested 1.5–2 years after the 2015–2016 ZIKV epidemic in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, using a widely distributed NS1-based commercial ELISA. The seropositivity in 2016 reached 59.0% (85/144, 95% confidence interval (CI) 50.7–66.7%), and decreased to 38.6% (56/144, CI 31.3–47.0%) 1.5–2 years later. In addition, the median ZIKV NS1-ELISA reactivity for individuals that remained positive in both timepoints significantly decreased from a ratio of 4.4 (95% CI 3.8–5.0) to 1.6 (95% CI 1.6–1.9) over the 2-year interval (Z: − 6.1; p < 0.001) irrespective of the subpopulation analyzed. Initial 2016 DENV antibody response was non-significant between groups, suggesting comparable DENV background. The high 20.6% seroreversion suggest that widely used serologic tests may fail to account a considerable proportion of past ZIKV infections in flavivirus endemic countries. In addition, ZIKV immunity might be shorter-lived than previously thought, which may contribute to local ZIKV resurgence once individual immune responses wane sufficiently to reduce community protective immunity in addition to birth and migration.
Summer maximum temperature over the gulf cooperation council states in the twenty-first century: multimodel simulations overview
Authors: Almazroui Mansour
Published: June 2020

The present study analyzes the Survivability for a Fit Human Threshold (SFHT) maximum temperature during the summer (June–August) over the six Middle Eastern countries known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the twenty-first century. An ensemble of three dynamically downscaled global climate models available from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) under the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios is used to analyze the future climate (2006–2099) over the region. The ground-truth air temperature for ten major cities across the GCC countries is utilized for model evaluation and to estimate the model-simulated temperature biases. Both positive and negative biases found during the present climate (1976–2005) are used to adjust the future temperature changes. These adjustments show that the summer maximum temperature is likely to increase continuously for most cities in the GCC countries at the rate of about 0.2 °C (0.6 °C) per decade under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) for the future period (2020–2099), which is significant at the 99% confidence level. For RCP8.5, the adjusted summer maximum temperature may exceed the SFHT limit of 42 °C in five capital cities of the GCC states and four major cities of Saudi Arabia. The projections based on adjusted values indicate that the average summer maximum temperature should not exceed 52 °C in any city investigated by the end of the twenty-first century. The daily maximum temperature is projected to exceed 55 °C in some cities in the GCC region by the end of the twenty-first century under a business-as-usual scenario that seems to be unrealistic if the biases are not taken into account. It is highly recommended that the GCC states should coordinate their efforts to respond appropriately to these projections using large ensembles of multimodel simulations while allowing for the associated uncertainty.
Study of tribological properties and lubrication mechanism of surfactant-coated anthracite sheets used as lubricant additives
Authors: Liu Hailong , Huang Yajing , Wang Yaozhu , Zhao Xiaomin , Chen Danqing , Chen Guohua
Published: June 2020

Anthracite sheets were coated by sorbitol fatty acid ester (span80) through ball-milling process. The tribological properties of the span80-coated anthracite sheets as the additive in polyalpha olefin were evaluated through a series of friction tests using a four ball machine. The results revealed that the span80-coated anthracite sheets exhibited excellent dispersion stability in base oil. In addition, compared with base oil, the average coefficient of friction, wear scar diameter, and wear volume of modified oil at a mass fraction of 0.03% span80-coated anthracite sheets decreased by 45.39%, 60.13%, and 95.95%, respectively. The oil containing span80-coated anthracite sheets achieved good friction-reducing and anti-wear effects over a wide range of applied loads, temperatures, or rotating speeds. Control experiments were performed as well. The results obtained using span80-coated anthracite sheets were superior to those obtained using pure anthracite. The lubrication mechanism was attributed to the synergistic action of the crystalline and amorphous carbon in anthracite sheets as they formed a protective film and played a mitigative role on the surface of friction pair, which mitigated the wear extent of the friction pair.
What Is a Child-Appropriate Interview? Interaction Between Child Witnesses and Police Officers
Authors: Melinder Annika , Magnusson Mikaela , Gilstrap Livia L.
Published: June 2020

Over the past decades, researchers have recognized a need to develop more suitable forensic interview protocols to meet children’s right to receive improved and adapted communication. This study examines to what extent a relatively novel implementation of an investigative protocol conducted by highly trained Norwegian police investigators helps children (n = 33), 3–15 years of age, to report more detailed information from a criminal allegation than a previous protocol. Additionally, we investigated the bidirectional dynamics between interviewees and interviewers. We predicted that children’s spontaneous recollection would elicit more open-ended and focused questions from interviewers, and increase their likelihood of posing more open questions. We expected wh-questions to produce more central details regarding the abuse, which in turn allows the interviewers to resist employing suggestive and leading questioning. Results confirm an enriched communication after open-ended questions compared to suggestive and closed questions. Specifically, children reported more detailed central information regarding the abuse after cued recall and wh-questions (ps < .001), and interviewers followed up with more facilitators when children reported details (ps < .001). When the child was reluctant (e.g., said no) or a brief yes, interviewers produced more suggestive questions (ps < .01). We conclude that children may need more communication aids to recount their stressful experiences in an investigative context than what traditional interview protocols provide.
Ejaculatory Dysfunction in Patients Presenting to a Men’s Health Clinic: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kasman Alex M. , Bhambhvani Hriday P. , Eisenberg Michael L.
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Prevalence and bother of ejaculatory dysfunction (EjD) has yet to be evaluated in a men’s health referral population.

Aim

To evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors of EjD in men presenting to a men’s health clinic.

Methods

A retrospective review examined patients presenting to an outpatient men’s health clinic who completed the Sexual Health Inventory for Men and the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire Ejaculatory Dysfunction (MSHQ-EjD) Short Form. Patient factors including demographics, comorbidities, and medication were examined. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcomes of this study are Sexual Health Inventory for Men and MSHQ-EjD scores.

Results

A total of 63 (24%) of patients presenting to the urology clinic were characterized as having EjD based on questionnaire responses. The mean age for men with EjD was 53.8 years, while those without was 42.6 years (P < .001). Of men with EjD, 74.6% were at least moderately bothered (MSHQ-EjD ≥3). Men with EjD were more likely to have erectile dysfunction (77.8%) compared with those without (21%, P < .001) as well as a history of a pelvic cancer (20.6% vs 6%, P = .001). On multivariable regression, erectile dysfunction (odds ratio: 15.04, 95% confidence interval: 6.76–35.92, P < .0001) and alpha inhibitor prescription (odds ratio: 6.82, 95% confidence interval: 1.57–30.16, P = .01) were associated with a higher odds of EjD. ED was found to be a mediator of the relationship between EjD and age, as the age association was lost in the ED population on multivariable regression compared with the non-ED population where it remained significant.

Conclusions

EjD is common among patients presenting to a men’s health clinic and may present at varying ages, though it is more common in those aged 50 years or older; it is independent of age and race. EjD is associated with erectile dysfunction, pelvic cancer history, and use of alpha inhibitors, presenting a population that could be considered for screening.

Kasman AM, Bhambhvani HP, Eisenberg ML. Ejaculatory Dysfunction in Patients Presenting to a Men’s Health Clinic: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Sex Med 2020;8:454–460.
Charting the life course: Emerging opportunities to advance scientific approaches using life course research
Authors: Hanson Heidi A. , Leiser Claire L. , Bandoli Gretchen , Pollock Brad H. , Karagas Margaret R. , Armstrong Daniel , Dozier Ann , Weiskopf Nicole G. , Monaghan Maureen , Davis Ann M. , Eckstrom Elizabeth , Weng Chunhua , Tobin Jonathan N. , Kaskel Frederick , Schleiss Mark R. , Szilagyi Peter , Dykes Carrie , Cooper Dan , Barkin Shari L.
Published: June 2020

Life course research embraces the complexity of health and disease development, tackling the extensive interactions between genetics and environment. This interdisciplinary blueprint, or theoretical framework, offers a structure for research ideas and specifies relationships between related factors. Traditionally, methodological approaches attempt to reduce the complexity of these dynamic interactions and decompose health into component parts, ignoring the complex reciprocal interaction of factors that shape health over time. New methods that match the epistemological foundation of the life course framework are needed to fully explore adaptive, multilevel, and reciprocal interactions between individuals and their environment. The focus of this article is to (1) delineate the differences between lifespan and life course research, (2) articulate the importance of complex systems science as a methodological framework in the life course research toolbox to guide our research questions, (3) raise key questions that can be asked within the clinical and translational science domain utilizing this framework, and (4) provide recommendations for life course research implementation, charting the way forward. Recent advances in computational analytics, computer science, and data collection could be used to approximate, measure, and analyze the intertwining and dynamic nature of genetic and environmental factors involved in health development.
A Fragile Network: Effecting Hail Insurance in Britain, 1840–1900
Authors: RANDALLS SAMUEL , KNEALE JAMES
Published: June 2020

Hail insurance in Britain emerged as a product by and for farming communities, expanding as wheat production rose in the mid-nineteenth century before declining in the latter decades of the century amidst wide-scale conversion from arable to livestock farming. Drawing on detailed research conducted in the remaining archives of the three major hail insurers in this period, we demonstrate the challenges of establishing a new insurance product for farmers. We argue that to make hail insurance effective, the insurance company’s central office collated and circulated information, rules, and paperwork to enable it to govern farmers, agents, and valuers at a distance. Such networks were fragile and required continual maintenance, whether to enhance reputation, manage farmers’ requests for new products, enforce rules, or tinker with rates in response to perceived risks and competitive pressures. Conceptualizing this emerging insurance business as a fragile network is a useful device demonstrating that paperwork, the governing of actors, and personal rivalries are as important as broader economic changes in explaining the development of a novel insurance product in this period.
The uncertain case for human-driven extinctions prior toHomo sapiens
Authors: Faith J. Tyler , Rowan John , Du Andrew , Barr W. Andrew
Published: June 2020

A growing body of literature proposes that our ancestors contributed to large mammal extinctions in Africa long before the appearance ofHomo sapiens, with some arguing that premodern hominins (e.g.,Homo erectus) triggered the demise of Africa's largest herbivores and the loss of carnivoran diversity. Though such arguments have been around for decades, they are now increasingly accepted by those concerned with biodiversity decline in the present-day, despite the near complete absence of critical discussion or debate. To facilitate that process, here we review ancient anthropogenic extinction hypotheses and critically examine the data underpinning them. Broadly speaking, we show that arguments made in favor of ancient anthropogenic extinctions are based on problematic data analysis and interpretation, and are substantially weakened when extinctions are considered in the context of long-term evolutionary, ecological, and environmental changes. Thus, at present, there is no compelling empirical evidence supporting a deep history of hominin impacts on Africa's faunal diversity.