bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical modeling of ignition enhancement by repetitive nanosecond discharge in a hydrogen/air mixture II: forced ignition
Authors: Wang Yuan , Guo Peng , Chen Haitao , Chen Zheng
Published: October 2020

Non-equilibrium plasma has promising applications in combustion enhancement. In this study, 1D simulations are conducted for the forced ignition process using non-equilibrium plasma generated by repetitively pulsed nanosecond discharge (NSD). The ignition kernel is induced by a discharge area with NSD and it develops and propagates in a static stoichiometric hydrogen/air mixture. The objective is to assess how the characteristics of NSD affect the ignition delay time and ignition kernel development during the forced ignition process. Similar to the homogeneous ignition considered in part I, the forced ignition process is found to be strongly affected by the pulse number, discharge frequency, discharge radius, total input energy, and input energy per pulse of NSD. For a fixed input energy per pulse, the ignition delay time decreases and the propagation speed of the initial ignition kernel increases with the pulse number, discharge frequency and discharge radius. However, for a fixed total input energy, the ignition delay time increases and the propagation speed of the initial ignition kernel decreases with the pulse number. Furthermore, it is found that the promotion of ignition kernel development and propagation in the forced ignition by NSD are mainly due to the kinetic effect rather than the thermal effect.
Positronium formation at 4H SiC(0001) surfaces
Authors: Kawasuso A , Wada K , Miyashita A , Maekawa M , Iwamori H , Iida S , Nagashima Y
Published: October 2020

Positronium formation at 4H SiC(0001) surfaces were investigated upon the removal of natural oxide layers by hydrofluoric acid etching and heat treatment at 1000 K in ultra-high vacuum. Two types of positronium were observed in the positronium time-of-flight (PsTOF) measurements irrespective of conduction type and surface polarity. One type formed the major part of the PsTOF spectrum with a maximum energy of 4.7 ± 0.3 eV. This energy exceeded the theoretical value calculated with valence electrons. The PsTOF spectrum shape was different from those of metal surfaces, suggesting that the surface state electrons or conduction electrons need to be considered as the positronium source. Another positronium appeared at 1000 K in the tail of the PsTOF spectrum with a maximum energy of 0.2–0.5 eV. This thermally-assisted athermal positronium may be formed via the surface state positrons and electrons.
Metastable ferromagnetic flux closure-type domains in strain relaxed Gd0.1Ca0.9MnO3 thin films
Authors: Schulman A , Palonen H , Lähteenlahti V , Beiranvand A , Huhtinen H , Paturi P
Published: October 2020

We have systematically studied the structural, electrical transport, and magnetic properties of Gd0.1Ca0.9MnO3 thin films in function of thickness, which ranged from 22 nm up to 220 nm. We have found that, although no strong substrate-induced strain was detected for any thickness, a sudden change in the electric transport properties was observed when the film thickness increases above 80 nm. While thinner samples are insulating in the whole temperature range, the samples thicker than 80 nm show a clear insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) at around 100 K. The IMT coincides with the appearance of a ferromagnetic phase that is absent in the thinner samples. We associate this change in behavior with a critical film thickness that induces a sudden change in domain configuration, from in-plane domain to a closed flux-type domain with out-of-plane orientations. These out-of-plane oriented domains are meta-stable ferromagnetic in nature and result in an IMT which is accompanied by a hysteretic magnetoresistance behavior.
Imaginary-time time-dependent density functional theory for periodic systems
Authors: McFarland John , Manousakis Efstratios
Published: October 2020

Imaginary-time time-dependent density functional theory (it-TDDFT) has been proposed as an alternative method for obtaining the ground state within density functional theory (DFT) which avoids some of the difficulties with convergence encountered by the self-consistent-field (SCF) iterative method. It-TDDFT was previously applied to clusters of atoms where it was demonstrated to converge in select cases where SCF had difficulty with convergence. In the present work we implement it-TDDFT propagation for periodic systems by modifying the Quantum ESPRESSO (QE) package, which uses a plane-wave basis with multiple
k
points, and has the options of non-collinear and DFT + U calculations using ultra-soft or norm-conserving pseudo potentials. We demonstrate that our implementation of it-TDDFT propagation with multiple
k
points is correct for DFT + U non-collinear calculations and for DFT + U calculations with ultra-soft pseudo potentials. Our implementation of it-TDDFT propagation converges to the exact SCF energy (up to the decimal guaranteed by double precision) in all but one case where it converged to a slightly lower value than SCF, suggesting a useful alternative for systems where SCF has difficulty reaching the Kohn–Sham (KS) ground state. In addition, we demonstrate that more rapid convergence can be achieved if we use adaptive-size imaginary-time-steps for different kinetic-energy plane-waves.
Ionising radiation as a risk factor for lymphoma: a review
Authors: Harbron Richard W , Pasqual Elisa
Published: October 2020

The ability of ionising radiation to induce lymphoma is unclear. Here, we present a narrative review of epidemiological evidence of the risk of lymphoma, including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM), among various exposed populations including atomic bombing survivors, industrial and medical radiation workers, and individuals exposed for medical purposes. Overall, there is a suggestion of a positive dose-dependent association between radiation exposure and lymphoma. The magnitude of this association is highly imprecise, however, with wide confidence intervals frequently including zero risk. External comparisons tend to show similar incidence and mortality rates to the general population. Currently, there is insufficient information on the impact of age at exposure, high versus low linear energy transfer radiation, external versus internal or acute versus chronic exposures. Associations are stronger for males than females, and stronger for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and MM than for Hodgkin lymphoma, while the risk of radiation-induced CLL may be non-existent. This broad grouping of diverse diseases could potentially obscure stronger associations for certain subtypes, each with a different cell of origin. Additionally, the classification of malignancies as leukaemia or lymphoma may result in similar diseases being analysed separately, while distinct diseases are analysed in the same category. Uncertainty in cell of origin means the appropriate organ for dose response analysis is unclear. Further uncertainties arise from potential confounding or bias due to infectious causes and immunosuppression. The potential interaction between radiation and other risk factors is unknown. Combined, these uncertainties make lymphoma perhaps the most challenging malignancy to study in radiation epidemiology.
Exact lattice-model calculation of boundary modes for Weyl semimetals and graphene
Authors: Kaladzhyan Vardan , Pinon Sarah , Bardarson Jens H , Bena Cristina
Published: October 2020

We provide an exact analytical technique to obtain within a lattice model the wave functions of the edge states in zigzag- and bearded-edge graphene, as well as of the Fermi-arc surface states in Weyl semimetals described by a minimal bulk model. We model the corresponding boundaries as an infinite scalar potential localized on a line, and respectively within a plane. We use the T-matrix formalism to obtain the dispersion and the spatial distribution of the corresponding boundary modes. Furthermore, to demonstrate the power of our approach, we write down the surface Green’s function of the considered Weyl semimetal model, and we calculate the quasiparticle interference patterns originating from an impurity localized at the respective surface.
Strong large-scale climate response to North American sulphate aerosols in CESM
Authors: García-Martínez Ivonne M , Bollasina Massimo A , Undorf Sabine
Published: October 2020

The effects of increased North American sulphate aerosol emissions on the climate of Mexico and the United States (U.S.) during 1950–1975 are investigated by using two sets of transient coupled experiments with the Community Earth System Model, one with historically evolving emissions, and a second one where North American SO2 emissions are kept at their pre-industrial levels. The 1950–1975 increase in North American sulphate aerosols is found to have regional and remote impact. Over central U.S. and northern Mexico, the strengthening and westward expansion of the North Atlantic Subtropical High and subsequent intensification of the low-level easterlies, along with local aerosol interactions with radiation and clouds, cause a cooling trend and enhance precipitation. The interaction between the enhanced moisture transport across the Gulf of Mexico and the elevated topography of central Mexico favours positive rainfall on the Atlantic side while suppressing it on the Pacific side. These continental anomalies are embedded in a hemispheric-wide upper-tropospheric teleconnection pattern over the mid-latitudes, extending from the Pacific to the Atlantic basin. Details of the underlying mechanisms—in particular the prominent role of dynamical adjustments—are provided. With SO2 emissions considerably reduced in the U.S., and the expectation of a continued global decline throughout the 21st century, this study sheds light upon possible ongoing and future regional climate responses to changes in anthropogenic forcing.
From oxygen sensing to angiogenesis: Targeting the hypoxia signaling pathway in metastatic kidney cancer
Authors: Chung Clement
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This article summarizes examples of current and emerging therapies that target the hypoxia and angiogenesis signaling pathways in the clear cell type of renal cell cancer (RCC), with an emphasis on the hypoxia signaling pathway.

Mammalian cells transduce signals of decreased oxygen to hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), an intracellular heterodimer that mediates the adaptation of normal and tumor cells to oxygen deprivation. HIF is frequently overexpressed in cancer cells and is involved in the transcriptional activation of many genes essential for cell invasion, migration, survival, and angiogenesis (including vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]). Moreover, HIF confers resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy and is associated with poor prognosis in patients with cancer. Blocking the activity of HIF inhibits the expression of VEGF and oncogenic pathways, resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth. Interestingly, activation of oncogenes and/or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (eg, the gene encoding von Hippel-Lindau [VHL] tumor suppressor protein) can activate tumorigenesis even with normal levels of oxygen, providing support for the notion that the HIF-VHL-VEGF axis is amenable to targeted therapies for the treatment of RCC. This article highlights the current understanding of the hypoxia signaling pathway and its relevance to RCC development. Pharmacologic agents targeting the hypoxia and angiogenesis signaling pathways are discussed.

Conclusion

Development of novel therapeutic agents that target the hypoxia and angiogenesis signaling pathways holds promise in the management of metastatic clear cell RCC.
Male–male contest limits the expression of assortative mate preferences in a polymorphic poison frog
Authors: Yang Yusan , Richards-Zawacki Corinne L
Published: October 2020

Codivergence of sexual traits and mate preferences can lead to assortative mating and subsequently reproductive isolation. However, mate choice rarely operates without intrasexual competition, and the effects of the latter on speciation are often overlooked. Maintaining trait polymorphisms despite gene flow and limiting assortative female preferences for less-competitive male phenotypes are two important roles that male–male competition may play in the speciation process. Both roles rely on the assumption that male–male competition limits the expression of divergent female preferences. We tested this assumption in the highly color-polymorphic strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio). Females prefer males of the local color, suggesting that reproductive isolation may be evolving among color morphs. However, this inference does not account for male–male competition, which is also color-mediated. We housed females with two differently colored males, and compared reproductive patterns when the more attractive male was the territory holder versus when he was the nonterritorial male. Females mated primarily with the territory winner, regardless of coloration, suggesting that when a choice must be made between the two, male territoriality overrides female preferences for male coloration. Our results highlight the importance of considering the combined effects of mate choice and intrasexual competition in shaping phenotypic divergence and speciation.
Effects of Urethritis on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Semen: Implications for HIV Prevention and Cure
Authors: Chen Jane S , Matoga Mitch , Massa Cecilia , Tegha Gerald , Ndalama Beatrice , Bonongwe Naomi , Mathiya Esther , Jere Edward , Banda Gabriel , Loftis Amy J , Lancaster Kathryn E , Miller William C , Hoffman Irving F , Cohen Myron S
Published: October 2020

Background

Prior to the widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), men living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with urethritis had increased concentrations of HIV in semen. This study aims to better evaluate HIV shedding in men with urethritis receiving ART, and its implications for the cure of HIV.

Methods

Men living with HIV with urethritis taking ART ≥12 weeks were enrolled at a sexually transmitted infections clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi. Study follow-up included visits at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks after urethritis diagnosis and treatment. Matched blood and semen samples were collected at all visits, and all additional episodes of urethritis were followed with extra visits 1, 2, and 4 weeks after treatment.

Results

There were 111 men enrolled in the study between January 2017–March 2019, and 77 (69%) were suppressed in the blood (<400 copies/mL). Among the 77 men, 87 episodes of urethritis were evaluated during follow-up. Of the 87 episodes, 15 episodes (17%) had instances of seminal viral shedding ≥400 copies/mL despite viral suppression in the blood. During nonurethritis follow-up, ≤6% of men at each visit had a viral load ≥400 copies/mL in the semen while maintaining viral suppression in the blood.

Conclusions

An HIV cure requires the elimination of HIV from every body compartment, but available ART does not currently accomplish this. Our study highlights the male genital tract as a local source of HIV that can be reversibly activated. A better understanding of this phenomenon is important to advance the HIV cure field.
Compression with Wildcards: From CNFs to Orthogonal DNFs by Imposing the Clauses One-by-One
Authors: Wild Marcel
Published: October 2020

We present a novel technique for converting a Boolean conjunctive normal form (CNF) into an orthogonal disjunctive normal form (DNF), aka exclusive sum of products. Our method (which will be pitted against a hardwired command from Mathematica) zooms in on the models of the CNF by imposing its clauses one by one. Clausal imposition invites parallelization, and wildcards beyond the common don’t-care symbol compress the output. The method is most efficient for few but large clauses. Generalizing clauses, one can in fact impose superclauses. By definition, superclauses are obtained from clauses by substituting each positive literal by an arbitrary conjunction of positive literals.
Archives, Collections and Curatorship: Live Archive Projects in a Design History Learning Setting
Authors: Willcocks Judy
Published: October 2020

This article outlines a methodology for using uncatalogued archive material in a design history learning setting. The study references concepts such as experiential learning1 and object-based or object-centred learning,2 and draws on student reports and interviews to explore the potency of the learning experience. Using a specific case study addressing archives relating to Basic Design pedagogy at the Central School of Arts and Crafts it summarises the practicalities of enabling students to work with uncatalogued archive material and explores the pedagogic frameworks required to engage with curatorial practices in this context. Based on the case, the article recommends a flexible approach to archive material that has not yet been subject to formal archiving processes, viewing this as a time when a rich range of narratives can be uncovered through collaborative practice. It also references the history of design history and argues for more attention to be paid to the impact of design pedagogies on the creative and production processes. While the contents of the article are relevant to archival practice beyond the UK it is worth noting that the perspectives and stories considered in the article are UK-centred.
Jaguar (Panthera onca) density and tenure in a critical biological corridor
Authors: Foster R J , Harmsen B J , Urbina Y L , Wooldridge R L , Doncaster C P , Quigley H , Figueroa O A
Published: October 2020

We estimated jaguar density and tenure, and investigated ranging behavior, using camera traps across the Maya Forest Corridor, a human-influenced landscape in central Belize that forms the only remaining connection for jaguar populations inhabiting two regional forest blocks: the Selva Maya and the Maya Mountain Massif. Jaguars were ubiquitous across the study area. Similar to the neighboring Selva Maya, mean density ranged from 1.5 to 3.1 jaguars per 100 km2, estimated by spatial capture-recapture models. Cameras detected almost twice as many males as females, probably reflecting detection bias, and males ranged more widely than females within the camera grid. Both sexes crossed two major rivers, while highway crossings were rare and male-biased, raising concern that the highway could prevent female movement if traffic increases. Jaguars were more transient where the landscape was fragmented with settlements and agriculture than in contiguous forest. Compared with jaguars in the protected forests of the Maya Mountains, jaguars in central Belize displayed a lower potential for investment in intraspecific communication, indicative of a lower quality landscape; however, we did detect mating behavior and juveniles. Tenure of individuals was shorter than in the protected forests, with a higher turnover rate for males than females. At least three-quarters of reported jaguar deaths caused by people were male jaguars, and the majority was retaliation for livestock predation. Jaguars seem relatively tolerant to the human-influenced landscape of central Belize. However, intensification of game hunting and lethal control of predators would threaten population persistence, while increased highway traffic and clear-cutting riparian forest would severely limit the corridor function. Our results show that the viability of the corridor, and thus the long-term survival of jaguar populations in this region, will depend on appropriate land-use planning, nonlethal control of livestock predators, enforcement of game hunting regulations, and wildlife-friendly features in future road developments.
Is There a Minimum Number of Landmarks That Optimizes the Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) Wings?
Authors: Beriotto Agustina C , Garzón Maximiliano J , Schweigmann Nicolás
Published: October 2020

Culicids are the most significant arthropods affecting human health. Thus, their correct identification is critical. The use of Geometric Morphometrics (GM) has been recently incorporated into mosquito taxonomy and has begun to complement classic diagnostic techniques. Since sampling size depends on the number of Landmarks (LMs) used, this study aimed to establish the minimum number of wing LMs needed to optimize GM analysis of mosquito species and/or genera from urban and peri-urban areas of Argentina. Female left wings were used for the optimization phase, in which 17 LMs were reduced to four by iterative LM exclusion. To verify its efficiency, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Discriminant Analysis (DA), and Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) were performed. Additionally, a phenogram was constructed to visualize the results. We observed that five LMs for the PCA, CVA, and phenogram and nine for the DA enabled discrimination and/or clustering of almost all species and genera. Therefore, we tested the LM selection by using nine LMs and adding new species. The resulting PCA showed little overlap between species and almost all species clustered as expected, which was also reflected in the phenogram. Significant differences were found between wing shape among all species, together with a low total error rate in the DA. In conclusion, the number of LMs can be reduced and still be used to effectively differentiate and cluster culicids. This is helpful for better exploitation of available material and optimization of data processing time when classic taxonomy methods are inadequate or the material is scarce.
Intra-fractional patient setup error during fractionated intracranial stereotactic irradiation treatment of patients wearing medical masks: comparison with and without bite block during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ohira Shingo , Kanayama Naoyuki , Komiyama Riho , Ikawa Toshiki , Toratani Masayasu , Ueda Yoshihiro , Washio Hayate , Miyazaki Masayoshi , Koizumi Masahiko , Teshima Teruki
Published: October 2020

The immobilization of patients with a bite block (BB) carries the risk of interpersonal infection, particularly in the context of pandemics such as COVID-19. Here, we compared the intra-fractional patient setup error (intra-SE) with and without a BB during fractionated intracranial stereotactic irradiation (STI). Fifteen patients with brain metastases were immobilized using a BB without a medical mask, while 15 patients were immobilized without using a BB and with a medical mask. The intra-SEs in six directions (anterior–posterior (AP), superior–inferior (SI), left–right (LR), pitch, roll, and yaw) were calculated by using cone-beam computed tomography images acquired before and after the treatments. We analyzed a total of 53 and 67 treatment sessions for the with- and without-BB groups, respectively. A comparable absolute mean translational and rotational intra-SE was observed (P > 0.05) in the AP (0.19 vs 0.23 mm with- and without-BB, respectively), SI (0.30 vs 0.29 mm), LR (0.20 vs 0.29 mm), pitch (0.18 vs 0.27°), roll (0.23 vs 0.23°) and yaw (0.27 vs 22°) directions. The resultant planning target volume (PTV) margin to compensate for intra-SE was <1 mm. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the intra-SE and treatment times. A PTV margin of <1 mm was achieved even when patients were immobilized without a BB during STI dose delivery.
Direct evidence for crossover and chromatid interference in meiosis of two plant hybrids (Lolium multiflorum×Festuca pratensisandAllium cepa×A. roylei)
Authors: Ferreira Marco Tulio Mendes , Glombik Marek , Perničková Kateřina , Duchoslav Martin , Scholten Olga , Karafiátová Miroslava , Techio Vania Helena , Doležel Jaroslav , Lukaszewski Adam J , Kopecký David
Published: October 2020

Crossing over, in addition to its strictly genetic role, also performs a critical mechanical function, by bonding homologues in meiosis. Hence, it is responsible for an orderly reduction of the chromosome number. As such, it is strictly controlled in frequency and distribution. The well-known crossover control is positive crossover interference which reduces the probability of a crossover in the vicinity of an already formed crossover. A poorly studied aspect of the control is chromatid interference. Such analyses are possible in very few organisms as they require observation of all four products of a single meiosis. Here, we provide direct evidence of chromatid interference. Using in situ probing in two interspecific plant hybrids (Lolium multiflorum×Festuca pratensis and Allium cepa×A. roylei) during anaphase I, we demonstrate that the involvement of four chromatids in double crossovers is significantly more frequent than expected (64% versus 25%). We also provide a physical measure of the crossover interference distance, covering ~30–40% of the relative chromosome arm length, and show that the centromere acts as a barrier for crossover interference. The two arms of a chromosome appear to act as independent units in the process of crossing over. Chromatid interference has to be seriously addressed in genetic mapping approaches and further studies.
Bias and discrimination: what do we know?
Authors: Giusta Marina Della , Bosworth Steven
Published: October 2020

The paper presents the economic literature on gender bias, illustrating the underpinnings in the psychology of bias and stereotyping; the incorporation of these insights into current theoretical and empirical research in economics; and the literature on methods to contrast bias, presenting evidence (where it exists) of their effectiveness. The second part of the paper presents results of an experiment in revealing unconscious bias.
Familial Mediterranean fever: clinical state of the art
Authors: Egeli B H , Ugurlu S
Published: October 2020

As the inflammation research improves year-by-year, so does our understanding of the autoinflammatory conditions. Over the past years, the number of monogenic autoinflammatory conditions snowballed thanks to our understanding of basic immunology and genetics. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), being the entrance to this fascinating world, still has clinical relevance as it enables us to understand our approach to these patients, treatment modalities and pathological mechanisms. This review can be used as a tool for clinicians already working with FMF patients to update themselves on recent scientific literature.
Segal’s Gamma rings and universal arithmetic
Authors: Connes Alain , Consani Caterina
Published: October 2020

Segal’s Γ-rings provide a natural framework for absolute algebraic geometry. We use G. Almkvist’s global Witt construction to explore the relation with J. Borger ${\mathbb F}_1$-geometry and compute the Witt functor-ring ${\mathbb W}_0({\mathbb S})$ of the simplest Γ-ring ${\mathbb S}$. We prove that it is isomorphic to the Galois invariant part of the BC-system, and exhibit the close relation between λ-rings and the Arithmetic Site. Then, we concentrate on the Arakelov compactification ${\overline{{\rm Spec\,}{\mathbb Z}}}$ which acquires a structure sheaf of ${\mathbb S}$-algebras. After supplying a probabilistic interpretation of the classical theta invariant of a divisor D on ${\overline{{\rm Spec\,}{\mathbb Z}}}$, we show how to associate to D a Γ-space that encodes, in homotopical terms, the Riemann–Roch problem for D.
Cohomology of the Universal Smooth Cubic Surface
Authors: Das Ronno
Published: October 2020

We compute the rational cohomology of the universal family of smooth cubic surfaces using Vassiliev’s method of simplicial resolution. Modulo embedding, the universal family has cohomology isomorphic to that of $\mathbb{P}^2$. A consequence of our theorem is that over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$, away from finitely many characteristics, the average number of points on a smooth cubic surface is q2+q + 1.
VARIATIONS IN SOIL RADON LEVELS DURING WINTER AND SPRING PERIODS
Authors: Gavriliev Sakhayaan , Petrova Tatiana , Miklyaev Petr , Nefedov Nikolay
Published: October 2020

Radon poses significant health risk due to inhalation and subsequent α-decay of its progeny and is the second biggest cause of lung cancer worldwide. In Russian Federation, radon flux density (RFD) measurements are performed routinely to assess radon safety of land lots before construction takes place. This study aims to show possible ‘weather’-influenced variations in RFD and radon activity concentration (RAC) that can occur during winter and spring periods in climatic conditions typical for territories with severe snowy winters. Results show that RFD correlates with weather, having a significant correlation with ambient air temperature in winter as well as spring periods and a weak inverse correlation with wind speed. In spring, RFD also responds to an increase in soil moisture, dropping severely because of rainfall. RAC, however, correlates very little with weather but has a weak inverse correlation with RFD.
Exit, voice and loyalty in the family: findings from a basic income experiment
Authors: Gonalons-Pons Pilar , Calnitsky David
Published: October 2020

This article investigates how a basic income could transform families and gender power relations within them. We draw on Hirschman’s exit, voice and loyalty framework to argue that a basic income can offer a structural foundation for a radical shift towards more equitable family relations. This is because a basic income can support couples through economic uncertainty and reduce women’s structural vulnerability to economic dependency within marriages that strips them of exit and voice. We build our case on novel data from an understudied social experiment from the late 1970s called the Manitoba Basic Income Experiment, or Mincome. Using difference-in-difference regression with individual fixed-effects, we analyze three types of family outcomes: separation, bargaining power and marital conflict. We find that during Mincome unhappy couples became more likely to consider separation, but that separation overall did not increase. We also find that Mincome reduced marital conflict associated with financial stressors and that some measures of wives’ bargaining power increased. Taken together, our results speak in favor of the view that a basic income has the potential to foster more equitable family lives.
Integrative taxonomy of enigmatic deep-sea true whelks in the sister-generaEnigmaticolusandThermosipho(Gastropoda: Buccinidae)
Authors: Chen Chong , Xu Ting , Fraussen Koen , Qiu Jian-Wen
Published: October 2020

Whelks in the sister-genera Enigmaticolus and Thermosipho (Gastropoda: Buccinidae) commonly inhabit deep-water hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps. Thermosipho desbruyeresi, originally described from the Lau Basin, was thought to occur in vents across the western Pacific, with Eosipho desbruyeresi nipponensis described from the Okinawa Trough treated as its junior synonym. However, new material collected from vents in the Okinawa Trough and seeps in the South China Sea exhibit key characteristics of Enigmaticolus. Re-examination of the types revealed that Eosipho d. nipponensis is actually morphologically distinct from Thermosipho desbruyeresi. A molecular phylogeny reconstructed using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene confirmed the placement of both taxa in Enigmaticolus and supported their distinctiveness at the species level. We, therefore, rehabilitate E. d. nipponensis as Enigmaticolus nipponensis comb. nov. and transfer T. desbruyeresi to the same genus, as Enigmaticolus desbruyeresi comb. nov. Our results also revealed that Enigmaticolus monnieri described from east Africa and E. inflatus described from the South China Sea are in fact conspecific with E. nipponensis. We discuss the distribution and biogeography, as well as morphological variability, of Enigmaticolus in the light of these new findings. Thermosipho is then left with only its type species, T. auzendei from the East Pacific vents. We have revised the diagnosis for the two genera, as well as the species included in them.
Art and Pediatric Orthopaedics: Sorolla and a Sad Inheritance
Authors: Joseph Benjamin
Published: October 2020

The Sad Inheritance painted by Sorolla depict children with polio. The clarity of the painting enables the viewer to identify gait abnormalities due to muscle paralysis.
Prognostic Nomograms to Predict Overall Survival and Cancer-specific Survival in Sacrum/Pelvic Chondrosarcoma (SC) Patients
Authors: Zheng Xuan-Qi , Huang Jin-Feng , Chen Dong , Lin Jia-Liang , Wu Ai-Min
Published: October 2020

Study Design:

A longitudinal cohort study.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors and determine the difference between different surgery scopes. Nomograms were constructed and validated to predict overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of sacrum/pelvic chondrosarcoma (SC) patients.

Summary of Background Data:

Chondrosarcoma is a bone malignancy which is reported to be resistant to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, surgery is the most preferred treatment method. However, this remains a great challenge due to the complex anatomy of the area.

Materials and Methods:

Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of patients with conventional SC between 1998 and 2016 was retrieved for analysis. Cox analysis was used to estimate the mortality hazards ratios among patients. Propensity score matching was used to compare different surgery scope. Nomograms were constructed to predict the OS and CSS of patients with SC.

Results:

A total of 377 patients were included in this study. The cutoff value for tumor size was considered to be 118 mm. The concordance indices (C-index) value for nomogram predictions of CSS were 0.871. Following propensity score matching, 158 patients were selected for the second time and its result showed no significant difference between the scope of surgery.

Conclusions:

Tumor size was considered to be closely related to the outcome of SC. There is no significant difference in the scope of surgery and limb salvage can be considered. The nomograms can precisely predict OS and CSS in patients with SC. These could help clinicians to perform survival assessments and identify patients at high risk.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV.
ATYPICAL CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY WITH CHOROIDAL DETACHMENT: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Manayath George J. , Kuthirummal Nikhil , Ranjan Ratnesh , Verghese Shishir , Venkatapathy Narendran
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

We describe long-term follow-up of a patient with atypical chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with inferior bullous retinal detachment and 360° choroidal detachment, findings on multimodal imaging, differential diagnoses, and treatment.

Methods:

Case report.

Results:

A 66-year-old male patient, known case of bilateral chronic central serous chorioretinopathy on follow-up, presented to us with sudden painless worsening of vision in the right eye. The fundus examination, optical coherence tomography, and fundus fluorescein angiography showed an atypical chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with inferior bullous retinal detachment and peripheral choroidal detachment. The patient underwent half-fluence photodynamic therapy in the right eye. At 3 months post-photodynamic therapy, there was resolution of choroidal detachment and minimal subretinal fluid was persisting in the inferior periphery, with improvement in visual acuity.

Conclusion:

Posterior choroidal loculation of fluid is a described entity in central serous chorioretinopathy. The possible explanations for anterior choroidal loculation of fluid in this case are: either a fresh excessive leakage of fluid from the posterior choroid and that fluid may have traversed to the peripheral choroid, or diffuse choroidal leakage extending up to the equatorial region, which resulted in peripheral choroidal thickening and suprachoroidal fluid accumulation.
The Effect of Integrating Primary Care and Mental Health Services on Diabetes and Depression
Authors: Wolff Lisa S. , Flynn Amy , Xuan Ziming , Errichetti Karen S. , Tapia Walker Stephanie , Brodesky Michelle K.
Published: October 2020

Background:

Health care delivery systems are increasingly integrating physical and mental health services to address patients’ complex needs, contain costs, and improve satisfaction. Therefore, it is critical to understand whether adoption of integrated care models is effective in diverse settings.

Objective:

This study examined the effect of integrated care on physical and mental health outcomes among low-income Latino participants on the US-Mexico border.

Research Design:

In this quasi-experimental multisite study, individual-level data were pooled from 8 studies of locally adapted integrated care models.

Subjects:

Participants were 18 years or older and had 1 or more chronic conditions: diabetes, depression, hypertension, or obesity. The study enrolled 4226 participants with 2254 participants in the intervention group and 1972 in the comparison group.

Measures:

Primary outcomes were depressive symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score and blood glucose measured by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Blood pressure, body mass index, and quality of life were secondary outcomes.

Results:

Multivariable linear regression analyses indicated intervention participants had significantly lower Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores (β=−0.39, P=0.03) and HbA1c (β=−0.14, P=0.02) at 12 months compared with comparison group participants. Stratified analyses showed improvements in HbA1c were even greater among intervention participants who had diabetes, depression, severe and persistent mental illness, were older or female compared with their counterparts in the comparison group.

Conclusions:

Health care is constantly transforming, making it critical to study these changes across populations and settings. Findings from this study indicate that integrated care can significantly improve mental and physical health in an underserved Latino population.
Coaching Strategies Used to Support Interprofessional Teams in 3 Primary Care Centers
Authors: Lee Elizabeth A. , Hendricks Susan , LaMothe Julie , Draucker Claire Burke , Wright Lauren
Published: October 2020

Purpose/Aims

Clinical nurse specialists and other advanced practice registered nurses use healthcare team coaching to foster interprofessional practice and enhance healthcare quality. Although coaching has been shown to support positive changes in healthcare, little is known about how coaching strategies are used in practice. The purpose of this study was to describe the strategies used by an experienced healthcare team coach tasked with advancing interprofessional care and teamwork in primary care clinics.

Methods

This qualitative description study was part of a larger project that included an objective to increase interprofessional practice in 3 primary care clinics in the midwestern United States. Data drawn from 35 audio-recorded and transcribed coaching telephone calls were analyzed using content analysis.

Results

Twelve coaching strategies were identified and divided into the following groups: (a) enhancing team development, (b) affirming the work of the team, (c) facilitating progress, (d) providing resources, and (e) connecting work to theoretical frameworks.

Conclusions

The coaching strategies described in this study can inform the work of clinical nurse specialists and other advanced practice registered nurses charged with advancing interprofessional collaborative practice. Future research is recommended to examine the efficacy of strategies and develop a comprehensive model of healthcare team coaching.
Sphingomonas lacunae sp. nov., isolated from a freshwater pond
Authors: Sheu Shih-Yi , Yang Che-Chia , Sheu Der-Shyan , Tsai Jyh-Ming , Chen Wen-Ming
Published: October 2020

A novel bacterial strain, designated CSW-10T, isolated from a freshwater pond in Taiwan, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and formed yellow-coloured colonies. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °C, pH 7, and in the absence of NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and coding sequences of 92 protein clusters indicated that strain CSW-10Tformed a phylogenetic lineage in the genusSphingomonas. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity indicated that strain CSW-10Twas most closely related toSphingomonas fonticolaTNR-2T(97.6%). Strain CSW-10Tshowed 69.8–70.7% average nucleotide identity and 19.0–23.0% digital DNA–DNA hybridization identity with the strains of other relatedSphingomonasspecies. The major fatty acids of strain CSW-10Twere summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7cand/or C18:1ω6c) and C17:1ω6c. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, one uncharacterized sphingoglycolipid, five uncharacterized aminophospholipids, one uncharacterized phospholipid and one uncharacterized lipid. The predominant polyamines were homospermidine and spermidine. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. Genomic DNA G+C content of strain CSW-10Twas 62.0 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties and phylogenetic inference, strain CSW-10Tshould represent a novel species of the genusSphingomonas, for which the nameSphingomonas lacunaesp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CSW-10T(=BCRC 81190T=LMG 31340T).
Adenosine modulates extracellular glutamate levels via adenosine A2A receptors in the delayed-ethanol induced headache
Authors: Fried Nathan T. , Maxwell Christina R. , Hoek Jan B. , Elliott Melanie B. , Oshinsky Michael L.
Published: October 2020

Identifying the mechanism behind delayed ethanol-induced headache (DEIH), otherwise known as the hangover headache, may provide insight into the mechanisms behind common headache triggers. Acetate was previously shown to be the key ethanol metabolite behind DEIH in the recurrent inflammatory stimulation (IS) rat model of headache. The reversal of trigeminal sensitivity following ethanol exposure with caffeine previously suggested a role of adenosine in DEIH. To characterize this, behavioral analysis and measurement of brainstem adenosine and glutamate with microdialysis and HPLC was performed while pharmacologically manipulating adenosine signaling in the IS and Spontaneous Trigeminal Allodynia (STA) rat models of headache. Blocking adenosine A2Areceptor activation with istradefylline or acetate transport into astrocytes with the monocarboxylate transporter competitive inhibitor, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (4-CIN), prevented acetate-induced trigeminal sensitivity. Blocking adenosine A1, A2B, and A3receptor signaling did not prevent trigeminal sensitivity. Compared to control rats, IS rats had greater increases in extracellular adenosine and glutamate within the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) of the brainstem during local acetate perfusion. Blocking transport of acetate into astrocytes with 4-CIN prevented the increase in adenosine and glutamate. Blocking A2Areceptor activation prevented the increase in extracellular glutamate, but not adenosine in the TNC. These data are the first to demonstrate the physiological consequence of acetate on adenosinergic systems within trigeminal pain by suggesting that acetate-induced trigeminal sensitivity in DEIH is mediated by adenosine A2Areceptor activation which modulates extracellular glutamate levels in the TNC.

Significance Statement

It is unknown how several common headache triggers induce headache pain. Since migraineurs are more sensitive to these triggers, studying the mechanisms behind their effects may reveal unique migraine pathophysiology. In this study, we explored the common headache trigger, ethanol, which migraineurs are particularly sensitive to. When ethanol is ingested, its quickly metabolized to acetaldehyde and subsequently into acetate. We find that acetate increases brainstem adenosine and causes trigeminal sensitivity, which is exacerbated in the rat headache model. Blocking either acetate uptake or adenosine signaling prevents trigeminal sensitivity and brainstem glutamatergic signaling, suggesting that adenosine is involved in the hangover headache and that differences in acetate metabolism may account for the increased sensitivity to ethanol in migraineurs.
DICE: Deep Significance Clustering for Outcome-Driven Stratification
Authors: Huang Yufang , Park Joel C. , Axsom Kelly M. , Subramanian Lakshminarayanan , Zhang Yiye
Published: October 2020

We present deep significance clustering (DICE), a framework for jointly performing representation learning and clustering for “outcome-driven” stratification. Motivated by practical needs in medicine to risk-stratify patients into subgroups, DICE brings self-supervision to unsupervised tasks to generate cluster membership that may be used to categorize unseen patients by risk levels. DICE is driven by a combined objective function and constraint which require a statistically significant association between the outcome and cluster membership of learned representations. DICE also performs a neural architecture search to optimize cluster membership and hyper-parameters for model likelihood and classification accuracy. The performance of DICE was evaluated using two datasets with different outcome ratios extracted from real-world electronic health records of patients who were treated for coronavirus disease 2019 and heart failure. Outcomes are defined as in-hospital mortality (15.9%) and discharge home (36.8%), respectively. Results show that DICE has superior performance as measured by the difference in outcome distribution across clusters, Silhouette score, Calinski-Harabasz index, and Davies-Bouldin index for clustering, and Area under the ROC Curve for outcome classification compared to baseline approaches.
A polymer gel index-matched to water enables diverse applications in fluorescence microscopy
Authors: Han Xiaofei , Su Yijun , White Hamilton , O’Neill Kate M. , Morgan Nicole Y. , Christensen Ryan , Potarazu Deepika , Vishwasrao Harshad D. , Xu Stephen , Sun Yilun , Huang Shar-yin , Moyle Mark W. , Dai Qionghai , Pommier Yves , Giniger Edward , Albrecht Dirk R. , Probst Roland , Shroff Hari
Published: October 2020

We demonstrate diffraction-limited and super-resolution imaging through thick layers (tens-hundreds of microns) of BIO-133, a biocompatible, UV-curable, commercially available polymer with a refractive index (RI) matched to water. We show that cells can be directly grown on BIO-133 substrates without the need for surface passivation and use this capability to perform extended time-lapse volumetric imaging of cellular dynamics 1) at isotropic resolution using dual-view light-sheet microscopy, and 2) at super-resolution using instant structured illumination microscopy. BIO-133 also enables immobilization of 1)Drosophilatissue, allowing us to track membrane puncta in pioneer neurons, and 2)Caenorhabditis elegans, which allows us to image and inspect fine neural structure and to track pan-neuronal calcium activity over hundreds of volumes. Finally, BIO-133 is compatible with other microfluidic materials, enabling optical and chemical perturbation of immobilized samples, as we demonstrate by performing drug and optogenetic stimulation on cells andC. elegans.
KMD clustering: Robust general-purpose clustering of biological data
Authors: Zelig Aviv , Kariti Hagai , Kaplan Noam
Published: October 2020

The noisy and high-dimensional nature of biological data has spawned advanced clustering algorithms that are tailored for specific biological datatypes. However, the performance of such methods varies greatly between datasets and they require post hoc tuning of cryptic hyperparameters. We present k minimal distance (KMD) clustering, a general-purpose method based on a generalization of single and average linkage hierarchical clustering. We introduce a generalized silhouette-like function to eliminate the cryptic hyperparameter k, and use sampling to enable application to million-object datasets. Rigorous comparisons to general and specialized clustering methods on simulated, mass cytometry and scRNA-seq datasets show consistent high performance of KMD clustering across all datasets.