bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lineage‐based functional types: characterising functional diversity to enhance the representation of ecological behaviour in Land Surface Models
Authors: Griffith Daniel M. , Osborne Colin P. , Edwards Erika J. , Bachle Seton , Beerling David J. , Bond William J. , Gallaher Timothy J. , Helliker Brent R. , Lehmann Caroline E. R. , Leatherman Lila , Nippert Jesse B. , Pau Stephanie , Qiu Fan , Riley William J. , Smith Melinda D. , Strömberg Caroline A. E. , Taylor Lyla , Ungerer Mark , Still Christopher J.
Published: July 2020

Process‐based vegetation models attempt to represent the wide range of trait variation in biomes by grouping ecologically similar species into plant functional types (PFTs). This approach has been successful in representing many aspects of plant physiology and biophysics but struggles to capture biogeographic history and ecological dynamics that determine biome boundaries and plant distributions. Grass‐dominated ecosystems are broadly distributed across all vegetated continents and harbour large functional diversity, yet most Land Surface Models (LSMs) summarise grasses into two generic PFTs based primarily on differences between temperate C3 grasses and (sub)tropical C4 grasses. Incorporation of species‐level trait variation is an active area of research to enhance the ecological realism of PFTs, which form the basis for vegetation processes and dynamics in LSMs. Using reported measurements, we developed grass functional trait values (physiological, structural, biochemical, anatomical, phenological, and disturbance‐related) of dominant lineages to improve LSM representations. Our method is fundamentally different from previous efforts, as it uses phylogenetic relatedness to create lineage‐based functional types (LFTs), situated between species‐level trait data and PFT‐level abstractions, thus providing a realistic representation of functional diversity and opening the door to the development of new vegetation models.
The Law Pandemics and Presidential Power: A Taxonomy
Authors: Rudalevige Andrew , Yu Victoria E.
Published: July 2020

Presidential power in a pandemic, as in other domestic crises, is largely a function of congressional delegation. A variety of statutes grant the president broad authority in times of emergency, including power over industrial production and quarantine power during outbreaks of communicable disease. Wide administrative discretion is spread across the U.S. Code more generally and may be implemented via executive order, regulations, or guidance documents. But while these powers may appear broad, they are hardly “total,” as President Donald Trump has asserted, and the president’s ability (or willingness) to use them is bounded by federalism, the potential constraints of legislative pushback, and political considerations.
First risk, next reward? A new clinico‐radiological risk model predicts mortality in rheumatoid arthritis‐associated interstitial lung disease
Authors: Parker Matthew J.S. , Corte Tamera J.
Published: July 2020

See related article
Improving medical students’ confidence in end‐of‐life consultations
Authors: Bansal Aarti , Monk Alice , Norman Megan , Fingas Samuel
Published: July 2020

Background

End‐of‐life discussions are associated with improved quality of care for patients. In the UK, the General Medical Council outlines a requirement for medical graduates to involve patients and their families in discussions on their care at the end‐of‐life. However medical students feel ill‐equipped to conduct these discussions.

Methods

In 2018, Sheffield Medical School introduced a small group role‐play session on end‐of‐life discussions for all final year medical students. Scenarios were devised to improve confidence in the following learning domains: communicating prognosis with patients and family; ascertaining patient’s goals, values and preferred place of death; discussing escalation of treatment, discussing do not attempt resuscitation orders, care in the dying phase of illness and pre‐emptive prescribing. Evaluation was conducted over 16 weeks with a before and after questionnaire. Students rated their confidence in the above learning domains on a Likert‐style scale and explained their ratings in free‐text boxes.

Results

There was a 76% response rate to the questionnaire and analysis showed statistically significant improvements in confidence across all learning domains following the session. Qualitative analysis of free‐text responses showed that prior to the sessions, students expressed low confidence due to lack of experience and fear of upsetting patients. After the session students felt they had gained skills but expressed persistent anxiety and a desire for further practice.

Conclusions

Our innovation suggests that the opportunity to experience End‐of‐life discussions through role‐play can significantly improve students’ confidence in conducting these conversations. However, repeated sessions are likely necessary for students to feel prepared upon graduation.
Tourmaline composition and boron isotopes record lateritic weathering during the Great Oxidation Event
Authors: Cabral Alexandre Raphael , DeFerreira Tiago Henrique , Lana Cristiano , de Castro Marco P. , Queiroga Gláucia
Published: July 2020

Identifying evidence of oxidative weathering in the geological record is essential to trace the evolution of Earth's atmosphere oxygenation. Metamorphosed residues of lateritic weathering have been identified as two rock types in the 2.1‐Ga‐old Cercadinho Formation, Piracicaba Group, Quadrilátero Ferrífero of Minas Gerais. One is tourmaline–hematite–sillimanite–kyanite quartzite; the other is rutile–tourmaline–hematite–muscovite phyllite. Both rocks have abundant tourmaline with δ11B values between about −17‰ and −13‰. The Cercadinho tourmaline is roughly parallel to the povondraite–“oxy‐dravite” join of meta‐evaporitic tourmaline, in its more aluminous segment, offset to higher contents of iron. These compositional and isotopic characteristics of the Cercadinho tourmaline indicate that continental evaporitic brines interacted with aluminium‐ and iron‐rich residues of lateritic weathering. The abundance of disseminated tourmaline, a mineral poorly reported from palaeosols worldwide, implies a boron‐rich brine overprint on the lateritic profile before the onset of metamorphism, reflecting a climatic change from humid to arid conditions in a continental setting. The recognition of lateritic weathering in the Cercadinho Formation contributes to the amount of evidence for increased levels of atmospheric oxygen between 2.22 and 2.06 Ga ago.
Vaso‐occlusive crisis in a sickle cell patient after transfusion‐transmitted dengue infection
Authors: Santos Flávia L. S. , Slavov Svetoslav N. , Bezerra Rafael S. , Santos Elaine V. , Silva‐Pinto Ana C. , Morais Ana L. L. , Sá Mariana B. , Ubiali Eugênia M. A. , De Santis Gil C. , Covas Dimas T. , Kashima Simone
Published: July 2020

Case Report

A 26‐year‐old woman with sickle cell disease (SCD) on chronic transfusion therapy complained of severe arthralgia, myalgia, abdominal pain, headache, and fever 24 hours after transfusion of a red blood cells (RBCs). Dengue virus (DENV) infection was suspected and the patient was hospitalized for clinical support and RBC transfusion, to lower the hemoglobin S to less than 30%. The patientʼs clinical condition improved approximately 8 days after the onset of symptoms.

Results

DENV type 2 (DENV‐2) TaqMan real‐time polymerase chain reaction was negative in the patient's pretransfusion sample while the posttransfusion sample was positive (Ct, 27.8), suggesting a high viral load and an acute infection. To investigate DENV transfusion transmission (TT‐DENV) the stored donor serum was tested and was also positive (Ct, 25.8). Molecular typing confirmed the presence of DENV‐2. The phylogenetic analysis of the DENV‐2 strains obtained from both donor and patient samples were classified as the Southeast Asia‐American genotype (Genotype III) and demonstrated 100% genomic identity, indicating TT‐DENV.

Conclusion

This is the first description of TT‐DENV in a SCD patient. A presumed high viral load in the transfused RBC unit probably determined the early clinical manifestation. In endemic regions dengue fever should be considered as differential diagnosis in SCD patients with fever and acute pain crisis, mainly during DENV outbreaks.
Factors associated with rabies vaccination of dog shelter staff in the United States
Authors: Cain Cassie J. , Woodruff Kimberly A. , Loftin Christina M. , Smith David R.
Published: July 2020

US animal shelters house and care for dogs with unknown medical histories. Such unknown medical backgrounds pose concern for zoonotic transmission of diseases to the shelter staff. One important zoonotic exposure is to rabies virus which is almost always fatal after the onset of symptoms. The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of dog shelters associated with the probability that the shelter had a policy to vaccinate shelter personnel against rabies. Five states with an established shelter registry were selected from each geographic region of the United States. A list of shelters within those states was developed from the registry list, through Internet searches and comparisons with other known lists. At least two forms of direct communication were used to ensure that humane organizations met the study definition of a dog shelter. In total, 342 of 461 (73%) shelters that met the study definition were visited by a team of students. Forty‐two of 332 (13%) shelters responding to the question required staff to be vaccinated against rabies. Logistic regression was utilized to test shelter characteristics for association with the probability that they have a rabies vaccination policy for shelter staff. Municipally funded shelters were more likely to vaccinate staff for rabies than shelters funded privately (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.40–6.39). These results demonstrate that shelter funding source may influence rabies control programmes in shelters.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Walter Andrew
Published: July 2020

Studies in Engineering and Technology (SET) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether SET publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 7, Number 1Alexander Medvedev, Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TTI), LatviaAlexander Pisarevskiy, Bauman Moscow State Tecnnical University, RussiaArnaud Duchosal, University of Montpellier, FranceGirish Upreti, Methodist University, USAHala Abd El Megeed, National Institute for Standards, EgyptHassan Shaaban, Egyption Atomic Authority (EAEA), EgyptHossam Zaqoot, Ministry of Environmental Affairs, GazaHossein Moayedi, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, MalaysiaJose Hernandez, Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission, ChileMahdieh Zabihimayvan, Wright State University, USAMarco A Ruano, Economics Department Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, SpainMohammad Reza Barati, Flinders University, AustraliaPau Redon, Fundación Hospital General de Valencia, SpainSimona Rainis, RARDARFVG, ItalyTangming Yuan, University of York, UKTony di Feo, Natural Resources Canadanior Engineer, CanadaWael Salah, Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie, PalestineYao Liu, University Malaysia Pahang, MalaysiaYi Zheng, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), USA Andrew WalterEditorial AssistantStudies in Engineering and Technology-------------------------------------------Redfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USATel: 1-503-828-0536 ext. 504Fax: 1-503-828-0537E-mail: set@redfame.comURL: http://set.redfame.com
Disproportionate loss of excitatory inputs to smaller phrenic motor neurons following cervical spinal hemisection
Authors: Rana Sabhya , Zhan Wen‐Zhi , Mantilla Carlos B. , Sieck Gary C.
Published: July 2020

Key points

Motor units, comprising a motor neuron and the muscle fibre it innervates, are activated in an orderly fashion to provide varying amounts of force.

A unilateral C2 spinal hemisection (C2SH) disrupts predominant excitatory input from medulla, causing cessation of inspiratory‐related diaphragm muscle activity, whereas higher force, non‐ventilatory diaphragm activity persists.

In this study, we show a disproportionately larger loss of excitatory glutamatergic innervation to small phrenic motor neurons (PhMNs) following C2SH, as compared with large PhMNs ipsilateral to injury.

Our data suggest that there is a dichotomy in the distribution of inspiratory‐related descending excitatory glutamatergic input to small vs. large PhMNs that reflects their differential recruitment.

Excitatory glutamatergic input mediating inspiratory drive to phrenic motor neurons (PhMNs) emanates primarily from the ipsilateral ventrolateral medulla. Unilateral C2 hemisection (C2SH) disrupts this excitatory input, resulting in cessation of inspiratory‐related diaphragm muscle (DIAm) activity. In contrast, after C2SH, higher force, non‐ventilatory DIAm activity persists. Inspiratory behaviours require recruitment of only smaller PhMNs, whereas with more forceful expulsive/straining behaviours, larger PhMNs are recruited. Accordingly, we hypothesize that C2SH primarily disrupts glutamatergic synaptic inputs to smaller PhMNs, whereas glutamatergic synaptic inputs to larger PhMNs are preserved. We examined changes in glutamatergic presynaptic input onto retrogradely labelled PhMNs using immunohistochemistry for VGLUT1 and VGLUT2. We found that 7 days after C2SH there was an ∼60% reduction in glutamatergic inputs to smaller PhMNs compared with an ∼35% reduction at larger PhMNs. These results are consistent with a more pronounced impact of C2SH on inspiratory behaviours of the DIAm, and the preservation of higher force behaviours after C2SH. These results indicate that the source of glutamatergic synaptic input to PhMNs varies depending on motor neuron size and reflects different functional control – perhaps separate central pattern generator and premotor circuits. For smaller PhMNs, the central pattern generator for inspiration is located in the pre‐Bötzinger complex and premotor neurons in the ventrolateral medulla, sending predominantly ipsilateral projections via the dorsolateral funiculus. C2SH disrupts this glutamatergic input. For larger PhMNs, a large proportion of excitatory inputs appear to exist below the C2 level or from contralateral regions of the brainstem and spinal cord.
Incremental Model Predictive Control of Active Suspensions With Estimated Road Preview Information From a Lead Vehicle
Authors: Song Siyang , Wang Junmin
Published: July 2020

In preview-based vehicle suspension applications, the preview of the road profile is highly dependent on the preview sensors. In some scenarios such as heavy traffic situations, the preview of road profile can only be estimated by other vehicles because the view of the preview sensors may be blocked by other vehicles. The estimated preview road information can contain errors, which thus requires the controller to have a good robust performance. In this paper, an incremental model predictive control (MPC) strategy for active suspension systems along with a road profile estimator using preview information from a lead vehicle is proposed. The efficacy of the proposed strategy is experimentally validated on two scaled-down active suspension stations with comparison to two conventional active suspension control approaches.
A Subject-Specific Analysis of the Kinematic Constraint Imposed by the Relink Trainer
Authors: Ward Sarah , Wiedemann Lukas , Kora Kazuto , McDaid Andrew
Published: July 2020

The relink trainer (RLT) is a novel end-effector device designed for gait-retraining poststroke. The user's foot is constrained to a specific kinematic trajectory relative to the trainer, while the hip and knee are unconstrained. As the RLT only fixes the footplate trajectory, the expected constraint on the hip and knee angles will be subject-specific due to individual lower limb geometries. This study had two objectives (1) to calculate the subject-specific theoretical joint angle trajectories, the RLT should constrain the hip and knee angle to using computer simulation, assuming a fixed hip position relative to the RLT, and (2) experimentally determine the actual hip and knee joint angle trajectories of healthy users walking in the RLT, and compare them to the theoretical joint angle trajectories. The root-mean-square (RMS) error between joint trajectories obtained from motion capture and simulation ranged from 4.31 deg to 20.51 deg for the hip and between 4.48 deg and 22.58 deg for the knee, suggestive of moderate to poor accuracy and distinct kinematic adaptation strategies when using the RLT. A linear fit method (LFM) was used to determine the similarity between the obtained and simulated joint angle trajectories. LFM results would suggest that users' hip and knee joint angles follow the simulated joint angle trajectories when walking in the RLT; however, the actual joint angle trajectories are offset from the simulation trajectories. Post hoc analyses suggest hip motion when using the RLT influences the hip and knee angle trajectory differences for participants.
Enhancing the Accuracy of Vertical Ground Reaction Force Measurement During Walking Using Pressure-Measuring Insoles
Authors: DeBerardinis Jessica , Trabia Mohamed B. , Dufek Janet S. , Le Gall Yann , Da Silva Sacoto Nicolas
Published: July 2020

Pressure-measuring insoles can be an attractive tool for measuring ground reaction force (GRF) since they are portable and can record multiple consecutive steps. Several researchers have, however, observed that these insoles are less accurate than instrumented force platforms. To address this issue, the authors identified transfer functions that best described each insole size to enhance the measurements of the vertical component of GRF during walking. GRF data were collected from 29 participants (6/23 male/female, 24.3 ± 6.7 yrs, 70.4 ± 23.9 kg, 1.66 ± 0.11 m) using Medilogic® pressure-measuring insoles and Kistler® force platforms for three walking trials. Participants provided the institutionally approved written consent (IRB #724468). The data from both instruments were preprocessed. A subset of the data was used to train the system identification toolbox (matlab) to identify the coefficients of several candidate transfer functions for each insole size. The resulting transfer functions were compared using all available data for each insole to assess which one modified the insole data to be closer to that of the force platform. All tested transfer functions moved the vertical component of GRF closer to the corresponding force platform data. Each insole size had a specific transfer model that that yielded the best results. Using system identification techniques produced transfer functions that, when using insole data of the vertical component of GRF as input, produced output that is comparable to the corresponding measurement using an instrumented force platform.
Effects of arsenic implantation and rapid thermal annealing on ZnO nanorods for p-type doping
Authors: Choi Jinseok , An Sung Jin
Published: July 2020

Ion implantation is a useful method of fabricating p-type zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods; however, it typically causes structural defects in the substrate material. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) is a well-known annealing process in the semiconductor industry used to restore lattice defects, and it has the advantage of a fast processing time. Herein, we report on the effects of arsenic (As) implantation and RTA on ZnO nanorods for p-type doping. As+ ions were implanted using a mid-current ion implanter. A long-duration RTA of over 10 min that was used to activate the implanted As+ ions and recover the destroyed ZnO lattice changed the morphology of the As+-ion-implanted regions. The structural recovery after RTA at over 750 °C for 1 min was significant. In the low-temperature photoluminescence spectra, a new acceptor-bound exciton emission (A°X) peak associated with the As acceptor was observed. When RTA was conducted at 950 °C, p-type behavior of the As-doped ZnO nanorods could be observed, and the hole concentration was determined to be 6.311 × 1016 cm−3. This result indicates that the implanted As+ ions were activated as p-type dopants for 1 min.
Argon and oxygen plasma treatment increases hydrophilicity and reduces adhesion of silicon-incorporated diamond-like coatings
Authors: Movahed Saeid , Nguyen Alexander K. , Goering Peter L. , Skoog Shelby A. , Narayan Roger J.
Published: July 2020

In this study, the structure, adhesion, and cell viability characteristics of silicon-incorporated diamond-like carbon (Si-DLC) coatings on fused silica substrates were investigated. The effects of argon and oxygen postprocessing plasma treatments on the Si-DLC coatings were also studied. The contact angle results showed that the Si-DLC coatings were more hydrophilic than the uncoated surfaces, and postprocessing plasma treatment increased the hydrophilicity of the Si-DLC coatings. Atomic force microscopy and profilometry confirmed that postprocessing plasma treatment increased the thickness and roughness of the Si-DLC coatings. The results of microscratch testing indicated that the plasma treatments reduced the adhesion of the coatings. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed the presence of carbon, oxygen, and silicon in the Si-DLC coatings before and after the plasma treatments. These results show that the postprocessing plasma treatment significantly reduced the atomic percentage of the carbon in the Si-DLC coatings. XPS also confirmed the presence of carbon in the form of sp3(C—C), sp2(C=C), C—O, and C=O bonds in the Si-DLC coatings; it showed that postprocessing treatments significantly increased the percentage of oxygen in the Si-DLC coatings. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed features associated with C—OH stretching, C—H bending, as well as Si—CH2 and C—H bending in the Si-DLC coating. The XPS and FTIR results confirmed that the plasma treatment caused dissociation of the sp2 and sp3 bonds and formation of C—OH bonds. The contact angle data indicated that postprocessing treatment increased the hydrophilicity of the Si-DLC coating. Similar to the uncoated substrates, L929 cells showed no change in cell viability when cultured on Si-DLC coatings. These results of the study indicate the suitability of Si-DLC coatings as inert coatings for medical and biotechnology applications.
Acute Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) With Blood Flow Restriction: The Effect of Restriction Pressures
Authors: Head Paul , Waldron Mark , Theis Nicola , Patterson Stephen David
Published: July 2020

Context: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) has been shown to improve muscular strength and size better than NMES alone. However, previous studies used varied methodologies not recommended by previous NMES or BFR research. Objective: The present study investigated the acute effects of NMES combined with varying degrees of BFR using research-recommended procedures to enhance understanding and the clinical applicability of this combination. Design: Randomized crossover. Setting: Physiology laboratory. Participants: A total of 20 healthy adults (age 27 [4] y; height 177 [8] cm; body mass 77 [13] kg). Interventions: Six sessions separated by at least 7 days. The first 2 visits served as familiarization, with the experimental conditions performed in the final 4 sessions: NMES alone, NMES 40% BFR, NMES 60% BFR, and NMES 80% BFR. Main Outcome Measures: Maximal voluntary isometric contraction, muscle thickness, blood pressure, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and pain were all recorded before and after each condition. Results: The NMES 80% BFR caused greater maximal voluntary isometric contraction decline than any other condition (−38.9 [22.3] N·m, P < .01). Vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscle thickness acutely increased after all experimental conditions (P < .05). Pain and ratings of perceived exertion were higher after NMES 80% BFR compared with all other experimental conditions (P < .05). No cardiovascular effects were observed between conditions. Conclusion: The NMES combined with 80% BFR caused greater acute force decrement than the other conditions. However, greater perceptual ratings of pain and ratings of perceived exertion were observed with NMES 80% BFR. These acute observations must be investigated during chronic interventions to corroborate any relationship to changes in muscle strength and size in clinical populations.
Giant isotope effect on phonon dispersion and thermal conductivity in methylammonium lead iodide
Authors: Manley M. E. , Hong K. , Yin P. , Chi S. , Cai Y. , Hua C. , Daemen L. L. , Hermann R. P. , Wang H. , May A. F. , Asta M. , Ahmadi M.
Published: July 2020

Phonon coupling to organic molecule dynamics yields giant isotope effects on transport properties.
Human sperm uses asymmetric and anisotropic flagellar controls to regulate swimming symmetry and cell steering
Authors: Gadêlha Hermes , Hernández-Herrera Paul , Montoya Fernando , Darszon Alberto , Corkidi Gabriel
Published: July 2020

Human sperm create the optical illusion of symmetric swimming in 2D using asymmetric beating in 3D.
Dorsoventral polarity directs cell responses to migration track geometries
Authors: Wisniewski Emily O. , Mistriotis Panagiotis , Bera Kaustav , Law Robert A. , Zhang Jitao , Nikolic Milos , Weiger Michael , Parlani Maria , Tuntithavornwat Soontorn , Afthinos Alexandros , Zhao Runchen , Wirtz Denis , Kalab Petr , Scarcelli Giuliano , Friedl Peter , Konstantopoulos Konstantinos
Published: July 2020

Dorsoventral polarity directs confined cell migration mode and efficiency by tuning nuclear stiffness and RhoA activity.
Maintenance of mid-latitude oceanic fronts by mesoscale eddies
Authors: Jing Zhao , Wang Shengpeng , Wu Lixin , Chang Ping , Zhang Qiuying , Sun Bingrong , Ma Xiaohui , Qiu Bo , Small Justing , Jin Fei-Fei , Chen Zhaohui , Gan Bolan , Yang Yun , Yang Haiyuan , Wan Xiuquan
Published: July 2020

Vertical heat transport by ocean mesoscale eddies plays an important role in maintaining western boundary current extension fronts.
ELKS1 controls mast cell degranulation by regulating the transcription of Stxbp2 and Syntaxin 4 via Kdm2b stabilization
Authors: Lam Hiu Yan , Arumugam Surendar , Bae Han Gyu , Wang Cheng Chun , Jung Sangyong , St. John Ashley Lauren , Hong Wanjin , Han Weiping , Tergaonkar Vinay
Published: July 2020

ELKS1 controls mast cell degranulation by regulating the transcription of Stxbp2 and Syntaxin 4 via Kdm2b stabilization.
Development of a pH-responsive polymersome inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy blockade
Authors: Xu Funeng , Li Xilin , Huang Xuehui , Pan Jingmei , Wang Yi , Zhou Shaobing
Published: July 2020

A dual drug–loaded, pH-responsive polymersome can induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy blockade in cancer cells.
The Hydroxyquinol Degradation Pathway in Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 and
Agrobacterium
Species Is an Alternative Pathway for Degradation of Protocatechuic Acid and Lignin Fragments
Authors: Spence Edward M. , Scott Heather T. , Dumond Louison , Calvo-Bado Leonides , di Monaco Sabrina , Williamson James J. , Persinoti Gabriela F. , Squina Fabio M. , Bugg Timothy D. H.
Published: July 2020

There is a well-established paradigm for degradation of protocatechuic acid via the β-ketoadipate pathway in a range of soil bacteria. In this study, we have found the existence of a second pathway for degradation of protocatechuic acid in
Rhodococcus jostii
RHA1, via hydroxyquinol (benzene-1,2,4-triol), which establishes a metabolic link between protocatechuic acid and hydroxyquinol. The presence of this pathway in a lignin-degrading
Agrobacterium
sp. strain suggests the involvement of the hydroxyquinol pathway in the metabolism of degraded lignin fragments.
The Endoribonuclease RNase E Coordinates Expression of mRNAs and Small Regulatory RNAs and Is Critical for the Virulence of Brucella abortus
Authors: Sheehan Lauren M. , Budnick James A. , Fyffe-Blair Jaquille , King Kellie A. , Settlage Robert E. , Caswell Clayton C.
Published: July 2020

Brucellosis is a debilitating disease of humans and animals globally, and there is currently no vaccine to combat human infection by
Brucella
spp. Moreover, effective antibiotic treatment in humans is extremely difficult and can lead to disease relapse. Therefore, it is imperative that systems and pathways be identified and characterized in the brucellae so new vaccines and therapies can be generated. In this study, we describe the impact of the endoribonuclease RNase E on the control of mRNA and small regulatory RNA (sRNA) levels in
B. abortus
, as well as the importance of RNase E for the full virulence of
B. abortus
. This work greatly enhances our understanding of ribonucleases in the biology and pathogenesis of
Brucella
spp.
Protein Nanowires: the Electrification of the Microbial World and Maybe Our Own
Authors: Lovley Derek R. , Holmes Dawn E.
Published: July 2020

Electrically conductive protein nanowires appear to be widespread in the microbial world and are a revolutionary “green” material for the fabrication of electronic devices. Electrically conductive pili (e-pili) assembled from type IV pilin monomers have independently evolved multiple times in microbial history as have electrically conductive archaella (e-archaella) assembled from homologous archaellin monomers. A role for e-pili in long-range (micrometer) extracellular electron transport has been demonstrated in some microbes.
T Cell Receptor Diversity and Lineage Relationship between Virus-Specific CD8 T Cell Subsets during Chronic Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection
Authors: Chang Yun Min , Wieland Andreas , Li Zheng-rong , Im Se Jin , McGuire Donald J. , Kissick Haydn T. , Antia Rustom , Ahmed Rafi
Published: July 2020

CD8 TCR repertoires responding to chronic viral infections (HIV, hepatitis C virus [HCV], Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], and cytomegalovirus [CMV]) have limited breadth and diversity. How these repertoires change and are maintained throughout the chronic infection are unknown. We thus characterized the LCMV-specific CD8 TCR repertoires of stem-like and terminally exhausted subsets generated during chronic LCMV infections. During chronic LCMV infections, the repertoires started as diverse but became more clonal at the late time point. Further, the exhausted subset was composed of dominant clonotypes that were shared with the stem-like subset. Together, we demonstrate that the TCR repertoire contracts over time and is almost exclusively derived from the stem-like subset late during the persistent viral infection. Our data suggest that dominant clonotypes in the exhausted subset are derived from a diverse pool of stem-like clonotypes, which may be contributing to the clonality observed during chronic viral infections.
Rapid eruption of silicic magmas from the Paraná magmatic province (Brazil) did not trigger the Valanginian event
Authors: Rocha Brenda C. , Davies Joshua H.F.L. , Janasi Valdecir A. , Schaltegger Urs , Nardy Antônio J.R. , Greber Nicolas D. , Lucchetti Ana Carolina F. , Polo Liza A.
Published: July 2020

The Valanginian Stage is marked by a period of global positive δ13C carbon cycle perturbation and biotic crises, which are collectively referred to as the Valanginian event (VE). Many attempts have been made to link the Paraná-Etendeka large igneous province volcanism with the VE. However, currently there is no conclusive proof to support this hypothesis, since the timing and duration of the volcanic activity are not known with sufficient precision. In this study, we significantly revise the time scales of magmatism and environmental impact of the Paraná magmatic province (PMP) in Brazil with new high-precision zircon U-Pb ages from the low-Ti Palmas and high-Ti Chapecó sequences. Our data demonstrate that significant volumes of low-Ti silicic rocks from the PMP erupted rapidly at ca. 133.6 Ma within 0.12 ± 0.11 k.y. The age of the high-Ti Chapecó sequence from central PMP is constrained at ca. 132.9 Ma and thus extends the duration of magmatic activity by ∼700 k.y. Our new ages are systematically younger than previous ages and postdate the major positive carbon isotope excursion, indicating that PMP silicic magmatism did not trigger the VE but could have contributed to extending its duration. Within the framework of the stratigraphic column of the PMP, the earliest low-Ti basalts could have been responsible for the VE if they are at least 0.5 m.y. older than the low-Ti silicic rocks dated herein.
Indo-Atlantic plate accelerations around the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary: A time-scale error, not a plume-push signal
Authors: Pérez-Díaz L. , Eagles G. , Sigloch K.
Published: July 2020

It has been suggested that plume arrival at the base of the lithosphere introduces a push force that overwhelms the balance of torques driving plate circuits, leading to plate-tectonic reorganizations. Among the most compelling evidence in support of a “plume-push” mechanism is the apparent coincidence between eruption of the Deccan flood basalts around 67–64 Ma and a short-lived increase in Indian (and decrease in African) plate speed. Using existing and newly calculated high-resolution plate-motion models, we show that plate divergence rates briefly increased throughout the Indo-Atlantic circuit, contrary to the expected effects of plume-push. We propose that this circuit-wide spike in divergence rates is best explained as the artifact of a magnetic reversal time-scale error around the much studied Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, and that the period spanning chrons C29–C28 lasted 70% longer than currently assumed. Corrected for this error, the residual long-term patterns of Indo-Atlantic plate motions and accompanying plate-tectonic reorganization are explicable in terms of maturation of the circuit’s spreading ridges, without invoking a significant plume-push force.
Supplemental Material: Geothermal energy and ore-forming potential of 600 °C mid-ocean-ridge hydrothermal fluids
Authors: Bali Enikő , al. et
Published: July 2020

Methods, materials, detailed results of heating experiments, magmatic fluid or modified seawater, Figures S1–S5, and Tables S1–S3.
Supplemental Material: Forearc magmatic evolution during subduction initiation: Insights from an Early Cretaceous Tibetan ophiolite and comparison with the Izu-Bonin-Mariana forearc
Authors: Dai Jin-Gen , al. et
Published: July 2020

Detailed analytical methods in Text S1, major- and trace-element compositions of clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and amphibole, whole-rock major and trace elements, Sr-Nd isotopic data, and zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf data in Tables S1–S7; Figures S1–S5.
Incidence and risk factors for falls among community-dwelling elderly subjects on a 1-year follow-up: a prospective cohort study from Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Authors: Sasidharan Divyamol K , Vijayakumar Priya , Raj Manu , Soman Sumi , Antony Libin , Sudhakar Abish , Kabali Conrad
Published: July 2020

Objectives

There is limited knowledge regarding epidemiology and risk of falls among the elderly living in low-income and middle-income countries. In this situation, the current study aims to report the incidence of falls and associated risk factors among free living elderly population from Kerala, India.

Design

Prospective cohort study with stratified random cluster sampling.

Setting

The study location was Ernakulam, Kerala, India, and we collected information via house visits using a questionnaire. During the research, the subjects were followed up prospectively for 1 year by phone at intervals of 3 months and missing subjects were contacted by house visits.

Participants

Community-dwelling elderly above 65 years of age.

Results

We recruited a total of 1000 participants out of which a total of 201 (20.1%) subjects reported a fall during the follow-up. The incidence rate of falls was 31 (95% CI 27.7 to 34.6) per 100 person-years. Female sex (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.10, p=0.027), movement disorders including Parkinsonism (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.00 to 5.05, p=0.048), arthritis (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.09, p=0.026), dependence in basic activities of daily living (OR, 3.49, 95% CI 2.00 to 6.09, p<0.001), not using antihypertensive medications (OR, 1.53, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.13, p=0.012), living alone during daytime (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.59 to 6.71, p=0.001) and a history of falls in the previous year (OR, 2.25, 95% CI 1.60 to 3.15, p<0.001) predicted a fall in the following year.

Conclusions

One in five community-dwelling senior citizen fall annually and one in four who fall are prone to fall again in the following year. Interventions targeting falls among the elderly need to focus on modifiable risk factors such as living alone during daytime, movement disorders, arthritis and dependence on basic activities of daily living.
‘Transgender Education for Affirmative and Competent HIV and Healthcare (TEACHH)’: protocol of community-based intervention development and a non-randomised multisite pilot study with pre–post test design in Canada
Authors: Lacombe-Duncan Ashley , Logie Carmen H , Persad Yasmeen , Leblanc Gabrielle , Nation Kelendria , Kia Hannah , Scheim Ayden I , Lyons Tara , Loutfy Mona
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Educational workshops are a promising strategy to increase healthcare providers’ ability to provide gender-affirming care for transgender (trans) people. This strategy may also reduce healthcare providers’ stigma towards trans people and people living with HIV. There is less evidence, however, of educational workshops that address HIV prevention and care among trans women. This protocol details development and pilot testing of the Transgender Education for Affirmative and Competent HIV and Healthcare intervention that aims to increase gender-affirming HIV care knowledge and perceived competency, and to reduce negative attitudes/biases, among providers.

Methods and analysis

This community-based research (CBR) project involves intervention development and implementation of a non-randomised multisite pilot study with pre–post test design. First, we conducted a qualitative formative phase involving focus groups with 30 trans women and individual interviews with 12 providers to understand HIV care access barriers for trans women and elicit feedback on a proposed workshop. Second, we will pilot test the intervention with 90–150 providers (n=30–50×3 in-person settings). For pilot studies, primary outcomes include feasibility (eg, completion rate) and acceptability (eg, workshop satisfaction). Secondary preintervention and postintervention outcomes, assessed directly preceding and following the workshop, include perceived competency, attitudes/biases towards trans women with HIV, and knowledge needed to provide gender-affirming HIV care. Primary outcomes will be summarised as frequencies and proportions (categorical variables). We will conduct paired-sample t-tests to explore the direction of preintervention and postintervention differences for secondary outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the University of Toronto HIV Research Ethics Board (Protocol Number: 00036238). Study findings will be disseminated through community forums with trans women and service providers; manuscripts submitted to peer reviewed journals; and conferences. Findings will inform a larger CBR research agenda to remove barriers to engagement in HIV prevention/care among trans women across Canada.

Trial registration number

NCT04096053; Pre-results.
Open-label, multicentre, single-arm trial of monthly injections of depot buprenorphine in people with opioid dependence: protocol for the CoLAB study
Authors: Larance Briony , Byrne Marianne , Lintzeris Nicholas , Nielsen Suzanne , Grebely Jason , Degenhardt Louisa , Shahbazi Jeyran , Shanahan Marian , Lancaster Kari , Dore Gregory , Ali Robert , Farrell Michael
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Opioid agonist treatment is effective for opioid dependence and newer extended-release buprenorphine (BUP-XR) injections represent a significant development. The Community Long-Acting Buprenorphine (CoLAB) study aims to evaluate client outcomes among people with opioid dependence receiving 48 weeks of BUP-XR treatment, and examines the implementation of BUP-XR in diverse community healthcare settings in Australia.

Methods and analysis

The CoLAB study is a prospective single-arm, multicentre, open-label trial of monthly BUP-XR injections in people with opioid dependence. Participants are being recruited from a network of general practitioner and specialist drug treatment services located in the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in Australia. Following a minimum 7 days on 8–32 mg of sublingual buprenorphine (±naloxone), participants will receive monthly subcutaneous BUP-XR injections administered by a healthcare practitioner at intervals of 28 days (−2/+14 days). The primary endpoint is participant retention in treatment at 48 weeks after treatment initiation. Secondary endpoints will evaluate dosing schedule variations, craving, withdrawal, substance use, health and well-being, and client-reported treatment experience. Qualitative and costing substudies will examine implementation barriers and facilitators at the client and provider level.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received ethics approval from the St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (Ref. HREC/18/SVH/221). The findings will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at national and international scientific conferences, and in relevant community organisation publications and forums.

Trial registration number

NCT03809143

Protocol identifier

CoLAB1801, V.4.0 dated 01 August 2019
Organisational culture and the integrated chronic diseases management model implementation fidelity in South Africa: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lebina Limakatso , Kawonga Mary , Alaba Olufunke , Khamisa Natasha , Otwombe Kennedy , Oni Tolu
Published: July 2020

Objective

To assess whether organisational culture influences the fidelity of implementation of the Integrated Chronic Disease Management (ICDM) model at primary healthcare (PHC) clinics.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

The ICDM model was introduced in South African clinics to strengthen delivery of care and improve clinical outcomes for patients with chronic conditions, but the determinants of its implementation have not been assessed.

Participants

The abbreviated Denison organisational culture (DOC) survey tool was administered to 90 staff members to assess three cultural traits: involvement, consistency and adaptability of six PHC clinics in Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and West Rand (WR) health districts.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Each cultural trait has three indices with five items, giving a total of 45 items. The items were scored on a Likert scale ranging from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree), and mean scores were calculated for each item, cultural traits and indices. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participants and clinics, and Pearson correlation coefficient to asses association between fidelity and culture.

Results

Participants’ mean age was 38.8 (SD=10.35) years, and 54.4% (49/90) were nurses. The overall mean score for the DOC was 3.63 (SD=0.58). The involvement (team orientation, empowerment and capability development) cultural trait had the highest (3.71; SD=0.72) mean score, followed by adaptability (external focus) (3.62; SD=0.56) and consistency (3.56; SD=0.63). There were no statistically significant differences in cultural scores between PHC clinics. However, culture scores for all three traits were significantly higher in WR (involvement 3.39 vs 3.84, p=0.011; adaptability 3.40 vs 3.73, p=0.007; consistency 3.34 vs 3.68, p=0.034).

Conclusion

Leadership intervention is required to purposefully enhance adaptability and consistency cultural traits of clinics to enhance the ICDM model’s principles of coordinated, integrated, patient-centred care.
Prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among adolescents in northeastern China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Duan Ruixin , Kou Changgui , Jie Jing , Bai Wei , Lan Xiaoxin , Li Yuanyuan , Yu Xiao , Zhu Bo , Yuan Haibo
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity among adolescents and evaluate the associated factors in this group in Changchun City in northeastern China.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 1955 adolescents aged 11–18 years was conducted in Changchun City using stratified cluster sampling. Parents and caregivers of children completed the questionnaires as requested without objection. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics and anthropometric parameters. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to analyse the relationship between overweight/obesity and related factors.

Results

In total, the prevalence of overweight was 12.7% (male 17.4%; female 10.1%) and of obesity was 4.9% (male 8.8%; female 3.1%) in Changchun, Jilin Province. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in boys than in girls (p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that overweight and obesity were significantly associated with male sex (OR=1.91, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.47), eating fresh fruits more than 2 days per week (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.84) and eating quickly (OR=1.37, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.78). Students who were not picky (OR=0.69, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.90) were less likely to be overweight, and adolescents whose father was overweight or obese (OR=0.67, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.86) or whose mother was overweight or obese (OR=0.72, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.99) were less likely to be overweight.

Conclusion

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents in Changchun has been high in recent years, and the prevalence was higher among boys than among girls. Sex, dietary habits (weekly frequency of fruit consumption, picky eating and slowness in eating) and parental weight were important factors for overweight and obesity in adolescents. Further research should be conducted on the health of adolescents in China, and further intervention measures should be implemented to reduce the prevalence of overweight/obesity.
Cost-effectiveness of rivaroxaban compared with enoxaparin plus warfarin for the treatment of hospitalised acute deep vein thrombosis in China
Authors: Yang Li , Wu Jingjing
Published: July 2020

Objective

Limited economic evaluation data for rivaroxaban compared with standard of care (SoC) exists in China. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of rivaroxaban compared with current SoC (enoxaparin overlapped with warfarin) for the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in China.

Methods

A Markov model was adapted from a payer’s perspective to evaluate the costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of patients with DVT treated with rivaroxaban or enoxaparin/warfarin. Clinical data from the EINSTEIN-DVT trial were obtained to estimate the transition probabilities. Data on Chinese health resource use, unit costs and utility parameters were collected from previously published literature and used to estimate the total costs and QALYs. The time horizon was set at 5 years and a 3-month cycle length was used in the model. A 5% discount rate was applied to the projected costs. One-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were undertaken to assess the impact of uncertainty on results.

Results

Rivaroxaban therapy resulted in an increase of 0.008 QALYs and was associated with lower total costs compared with enoxaparin/warfarin (US$4744.4 vs US$5572.4, respectively), demonstrating it to be a cost-saving treatment strategy. The results were mainly sensitive to length of hospitalisation due to DVT on enoxaparin/warfarin, cost per day of hospitalisation and the difference in length of stay of rivaroxaban-treated and enoxaparin/warfarin-treated patients.

Conclusion

Rivaroxaban therapy resulted in a cost saving compared with enoxaparin/warfarin for the anticoagulation treatment of patients with hospitalised acute DVT in China.

Trial registration number

NCT00440193; Post-results.