bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spasticity and pain in adults with cerebral palsy
Authors: Flanigan Megan , Gaebler‐Spira Deborah , Kocherginsky Masha , Garrett Ariane , Marciniak Christina
Published: October 2019

Aim

To evaluate whether spasticity measures are related to pain in adults with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method

This cross‐sectional study recruited individuals aged 16 to 89 years with a diagnosis of CP. Participants completed the Penn Spasm Frequency Scale (PSFS), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and PROMIS Pain Interference measures. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Tardieu spasticity angles of six joints were rated and summed to composite MAS and Tardieu scores for each participant. Associations between spasticity and pain measures were evaluated.

Results

Forty‐seven participants (27 females, 20 males) with a mean age of 35 years 7 months (range 18–77y) spanning all Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels were included. Twenty‐six participants reported their average pain level on BPI as greater than 0 over the past week (median pain level 4.0). Median PSFS was 1.0 (range 0.0–1.0) and this correlated with average BPI and Pain Interference T scores (median 40.7; ρ=0.33 and ρ=0.31 respectively [both p=0.01]). When adjusted for pain medication use and age, MAS correlated with BPI (ρ=0.30; p=0.04). Other pain and spasticity measures, or GMFCS level, were not significantly related with pain interference or BPI rating. Age was weakly associated with BPI (slope=0.10; p<0.01).

Interpretation

PROMIS Pain Interference was lower than population‐based norms. Patient‐rated spasm frequency demonstrated better association with pain levels and interference than physician‐rated MAS and Tardieu.

What this paper adds

Pain was not associated with Gross Motor Function Classification System level.

Pain increased with age, as anticipated.

Self‐reported spasm scores were associated with increased pain in contrast to clinical examination scales.

Adjusted, summed spasticity on the Modified Ashworth Scale was associated with pain scores on the Brief Pain Inventory.

Although pain is experienced by adults with cerebral palsy, pain did not interfere with activities.
Towards sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management in the African Great Lakes
Authors: Cowx Ian G. , Ogutu‐Owhayo Richard
Published: October 2019

Inland fisheries play important roles in food and economic security in the riparian countries surrounding the Great Lakes of Africa. However, the lakes are being systematically degraded by anthropogenic pressures, in combination with the huge population growth prevalent in the region. This paper summarises the outcomes of an international conference to develop a ‘Strategy for Conservation and Sustainable Development of the African Great Lakes Region in a Changing Climate’, held in Uganda in 2017, with particular attention on the potential for fisheries and aquaculture. The paper highlights options for addressing the problems facing the aquatic resources and specifically the importance of effective management of the fisheries and ecosystems of the Great Lakes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals to ensure food and nutritional security and sustainable livelihoods. There is need to improve fisheries assessment and determine the value of the fisheries (and aquaculture). Fisheries legislation, regulation and enforcement need revision and co‐management mechanisms require rethinking. There is considerable potential for aquaculture, and especially cage culture, to increase fish production, but there is an urgent need to address technical, social, environmental and input requirements. It is also imperative that best practices guidelines are developed that will support cage culture production practices.
The city of Matera and its ‘Sassi’ (Italy): an opportunity to broadcast geology in the European Capital of Culture 2019
Authors: Chiarella Domenico , Festa V. , Sabato L. , Tropeano M.
Published: October 2019

Matera is an ancient city located at the top of Italy's high heel that has been anointed the European Capital of Culture 2019 and which, since 1993, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. The close relationship between the urban development of the old town and its geology offers the unique opportunity to discover, in one shot, the cultural and geological history of a wonderful city that is often left out of the spotlight. As a corollary to this, the rupestrian old town of Matera and nearby areas are known also for having been the location of several movies (e.g. Bond 25 ‘No time to die’). Accordingly, media and tourists alike are showing a growing interest in Matera.
Growing up a geologist—John Phillips and William Smith
Authors: Morgan Nina
Published: October 2019

William Smith's 1815 Map of the Geology of England and Wales was a ground‐breaking achievement that changed the understanding of geology forever. However, perhaps Smith's greatest contribution to science lay in nurturing the talent of his orphaned nephew, John Phillips, who grew up to become one of the most versatile and distinguished geologists and polymaths of the nineteenth century.
Species‐level, but not family‐level diet breadth predicts geographic distribution of Sydney butterflies
Authors: Morimoto Juliano
Published: October 2019

Diet specialisation drives life‐history adaptations and is an important factor determining the geographic distribution of species.

Previous empirical studies have shown that diet specialists should compose the majority of species in a given location, and theory predicts that generalists should have higher geographic distribution range compared with specialists (the niche breadth‐range size hypothesis). Although the evidence in support of these predictions remain scarce for herbivorous insects from isolated regions of the world such as Sydney on the east coast of Australia.

Here, I compiled data from a public database to test these predictions. By measuring the diet breadth and geographic distribution of Sydney butterflies, I showed that species‐, genus‐ and family‐level diet breadth agree with worldwide patterns for Lepidoptera, whereby diet breadth is composed largely of specialist species with a long tail of generalists.

Furthermore, species‐ and genus‐ (but not family‐)level diet breadths were positively correlated with geographic distribution, providing supporting evidence for the niche breadth‐range size hypothesis.

A machine‐learning algorithm revealed that the positive relationship between diet breadth and geographic distribution was likely to be influenced by a common evolutionary history amongst species.

The findings of this study in Sydney butterflies provide support for an important yet debated ecological hypothesis, thereby contributing to our understanding of ecological and nutritional factors driving butterfly species distribution.
INVESTIGATING NONNEUTRALITY IN A STATE‐DEPENDENT PRICING MODEL WITH FIRM‐LEVEL PRODUCTIVITY SHOCKS
Authors: Dotsey Michael , Wolman Alexander L.
Published: October 2019

In a model with fixed cost of price adjustment and idiosyncratic shocks, two parameterizations match a large set of microeconomic facts, yet display different degrees of nonneutrality. Although there is substantial nonneutrality in both cases, the model does not behave like a time‐dependent model, as changes in the distribution of firms account for roughly a third of the short‐run response of the price level to a monetary shock. We use the model to examine how aggregating firm behavior can generate flat hazards; we also find that a recently developed steady‐state statistic is an imperfect guide to characterizing nonneutrality.
Effects of water‐soluble soybean polysaccharide on rheological properties, stability and lipid digestibility of oil‐in‐water emulsion during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion
Authors: Udomrati Sunsanee , Pantoa Thidarat , Gohtani Shoichi , Nakajima Mitsutoshi , Uemura Kunihiko , Kobayashi Isao
Published: October 2019

Water‐soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) is a naturally occurring emulsifier. SSPS was used as the sole emulsifier to stabilize an oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsion. The effects were investigated of different SSPS concentrations (3–20% (w/w)) on the lipid digestibility, rheological properties and stability of O/W emulsions during in vitro digestion model. The droplet size of the emulsions tended to increase during the oral phase because the emulsions were unstable and droplets coalesced, except with a SSPS concentration of 20% (w/w). The presence of SSPS markedly reduced the free fatty acid (FFA) content after its stabilized O/W emulsion passed through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The amount of FFA significantly decreased as the concentration of SSPS increased due to SSPS stabilization film on oil droplet surface and high viscous system. SSPS may be an attractive alternative ingredient to control the lipid digestibility of emulsions for various food products.
Evolving role of Instagram in #medicine
Authors: Wong Xin L. , Liu Rose C. , Sebaratnam Deshan F.
Published: October 2019

Social media has become an integral part of daily life and its use is becoming increasingly intertwined with the healthcare sector. Instagram is a free photo and video sharing social media application that has been utilised extensively in visually rich fields within medicine. Herein, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of its use in modern medicine.
Facilitating the social behaviour of bull elephants in zoos
Authors: Hartley M. , Wood A. , Yon L.
Published: October 2019

In the wild, bull elephants socialize with conspecifics of all ages and both sexes, and young bulls develop social bonds with other elephants which will be sustained throughout their lives. Significant progress has been made towards providing an environment that facilitates social behaviour and multi‐generational family structure for female elephants in zoos. However, it is more complex and challenging to build facilities and manage groups of elephants in ways that allow fission–fusion herd dynamics and give the elephants choice over their environment. For bulls, this is further complicated by their potential strength and aggressive behaviour. To advance the development of best‐practice management for zoo elephants and achieve high standards of welfare, it is necessary to improve our understanding of the social and behavioural needs of bull elephants, and implement radical and innovative solutions to their care. In this paper we (1) consider how the social behaviour of bull elephants is addressed in zoos, comparing their social management with their behaviour in the wild, (2) contribute novel preliminary data about how these issues are addressed, and (3) propose some new approaches to the management of bull elephants in zoos for the future.
Grain‐filling response of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to post‐anthesis shading in a humid climate
Authors: Shimoda Seiji , Sugikawa Yoichi
Published: October 2019

To assess the impacts of clouds during the grain‐filling period on the leaf senescence and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), we conducted a 4‐year plot shading experiment in a well‐drained Andosol in northern Japan. Plants were shaded after the beginning of anthesis in mid‐June, which corresponds to a naturally cloudy period in the study region. The effect of shading depended on its synchronization with soil drying, which affected leaf senescence. Grain yield was determined by solar radiation at the beginning of the grain‐filling period, except in 2015, which was a dry year. Later anthesis in 2016 and 2017 significantly reduced the number and weight of individual grains in the shading treatments. Moreover, “Kitahonami”, with late anthesis, showed a significantly slower increase in the individual‐grain weight during the grain‐filling process after shading than “Yumechikara”. When the duration between anthesis and shading was short, shading significantly reduced the number and weight of grains, and later anthesis makes it more likely that regional reduced light levels are encountered, resulting in fewer grains; the sensitivity of individual‐grain weight to shading synchronized with an increase in grain protein contents. Our results suggest that in wet years, later anthesis makes it easier to encounter regional reduced light and fewer grains; in addition, insufficient light limits photosynthesis under shade and decreases yield.
“Constructing a health assessment questionnaire for people with intellectual disabilities: A cognitive interview study”
Authors: Bakker‐van Gijssel Esther J. , Lucassen Peter L. B. J. , olde Hartman Tim C. , Assendelft Willem J. J. , van Schrojenstein Lantman‐de Valk Henny M. J.
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Health assessment instruments can help to raise awareness among general practitioners of specific health problems in people with intellectual disabilities (PID). The present authors developed a health assessment questionnaire using the cognitive interview technique (CI) to improve the comprehensibility. The utility of this approach to questionnaire development involving PID is assessed.

Method

A qualitative approach using the CI was employed. The study included PID and their caregivers. The present authors interviewed 14 participants in 5 subsequent rounds. After each round, the questionnaire was adjusted until saturation was reached.

Results

Three hundred and sixty three identified problems led to 316 changes to the questionnaire. Most problems (102) concerned the comprehension of the question, followed by problems in the “missing answer categories” and “inaccurate instruction” section.

Conclusion

The comprehensible health assessment questionnaire can help PID to take an active role in communication with their GP. The use of CI helped to improve the questionnaire. CI is a usable and valuable procedure for PID.
Status of periodontal health in German patients suffering from chronic kidney disease—Data from the GCKD study
Authors: Dannewitz Bettina , Sommerer Claudia , Stölzel Peggy , Baid‐Agrawal Seema , Nadal Jennifer , Bärthlein Barbara , Wanner Christoph , Eckardt Kai‐Uwe , Zeier Martin , Schlagenhauf Ulrich , Krane Vera , Jockel‐Schneider Yvonne
Published: October 2019

Aim

To assess the prevalence and severity of periodontitis in patients with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) and comparing the results with the self‐reported periodontitis awareness of the study subjects.

Material and methods

The periodontal status of 270 patients with moderate CKD randomly selected from a cohort of 5,217 subjects participating in the prospective observational German Chronic Kidney Disease (GCKD) project was analysed by recording bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Furthermore, the awareness of the study subjects of their periodontal conditions was evaluated by a self‐reported questionnaire.

Results

24.4% of the CKD study patients showed no or only mild signs of periodontal disease, 47.6% displayed moderate and 27% severe periodontitis. Questionnaire data revealed that 62.3% of the study subjects with severe periodontitis were not aware of the presence of the disease, 44.4% denied having received any systematic periodontal therapy so far, although 50% of them indicated to visit their dentist regularly for professional tooth cleanings.

Conclusion

While the clinical study data confirm an increased prevalence of periodontitis in CKD patients, their self‐reported awareness of periodontitis was low.
Prevalence and burden of HBV co‐infection among people living with HIV: A global systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Platt Lucy , French Clare E. , McGowan Catherine R. , Sabin Keith , Gower Erin , Trickey Adam , McDonald Bethan , Ong Jason , Stone Jack , Easterbrook Philippa , Vickerman Peter
Published: October 2019

Globally, in 2017 35 million people were living with HIV (PLHIV) and 257 million had chronic HBV infection (HBsAg positive). The extent of HIV‐HBsAg co‐infection is unknown. We undertook a systematic review to estimate the global burden of HBsAg co‐infection in PLHIV. We searched MEDLINE, Embase and other databases for published studies (2002‐2018) measuring prevalence of HBsAg among PLHIV. The review was registered with PROSPERO (#CRD42019123388). Populations were categorized by HIV‐exposure category. The global burden of co‐infection was estimated by applying regional co‐infection prevalence estimates to UNAIDS estimates of PLHIV. We conducted a meta‐analysis to estimate the odds of HBsAg among PLHIV compared to HIV‐negative individuals. We identified 506 estimates (475 studies) of HIV‐HBsAg co‐infection prevalence from 80/195 (41.0%) countries. Globally, the prevalence of HIV‐HBsAg co‐infection is 7.6% (IQR 5.6%‐12.1%) in PLHIV, or 2.7 million HIV‐HBsAg co‐infections (IQR 2.0‐4.2). The greatest burden (69% of cases; 1.9 million) is in sub‐Saharan Africa. Globally, there was little difference in prevalence of HIV‐HBsAg co‐infection by population group (approximately 6%‐7%), but it was slightly higher among people who inject drugs (11.8% IQR 6.0%‐16.9%). Odds of HBsAg infection were 1.4 times higher among PLHIV compared to HIV‐negative individuals. There is therefore, a high global burden of HIV‐HBsAg co‐infection, especially in sub‐Saharan Africa. Key prevention strategies include infant HBV vaccination, including a timely birth‐dose. Findings also highlight the importance of targeting PLHIV, especially high‐risk groups for testing, catch‐up HBV vaccination and other preventative interventions. The global scale‐up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for PLHIV using a tenofovir‐based ART regimen provides an opportunity to simultaneously treat those with HBV co‐infection, and in pregnant women to also reduce mother‐to‐child transmission of HBV alongside HIV.
Exploring the drivers of population structure across desert snakes can help to link micro and macroevolution
Authors: Alencar Laura R. V. , Quental Tiago B.
Published: October 2019

To understand the underlying mechanisms generating population genetic divergence and structure is a critical step towards understanding how biodiversity evolves at both micro‐ and macroevolutionary scales. At the population‐level, geographic isolation as well as adaptation to local environmental conditions can generate different patterns of spatial genetic variation among populations. Specific organismal traits as well as the characteristics of the environment might influence the process under which populations become spatially structured. In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Myers et al. (2019) present an integrative approach to investigate if the Cochise filter barrier (CFB), lying between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts, and the surrounding river networks were relevant in driving the population structure of 13 snake species. While local environmental conditions seem to predominantly contribute to lineage divergence, traditionally studied vicariant barriers seem to have played a minor role in shaping population structure across the studied species. This study brings insights into how population‐level processes could contribute to the formation of incipient species, which ultimately might affect the speciation rates measured at macroevolutionary scales. Hence, Myers et al. (2019) not only represents an integrative study aiming to understand the drivers of population genetic divergence, but also a potentially important contribution to our ongoing challenge in linking micro‐ and macroevolution.
A conserved GH17 glycosyl hydrolase from plant pathogenic Dothideomycetes releases a DAMP causing cell death in tomato
Authors: Ökmen Bilal , Bachmann Daniel , de Wit Pierre J.G.M.
Published: October 2019

To facilitate infection, pathogens deploy a plethora of effectors to suppress basal host immunity induced by exogenous microbe‐associated or endogenous damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). In this study, we have characterized family 17 glycosyl hydrolases of the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum (CfGH17) and studied their role in infection. Heterologous expression of CfGH17‐1 to 5 by potato virus X in different tomato cultivars showed that CfGH17‐1 and CfGH17‐5 enzymes induce cell death in Cf‐0, Cf‐1 and Cf‐5 but not in Cf‐Ecp3 tomato cultivars or tobacco. Moreover, CfGH17‐1 orthologues from other phytopathogens, including Dothistroma septosporum and Mycosphaerella fijiensis, also trigger cell death in tomato. CfGH17‐1 and CfGH17‐5 are predicted to be β‐1,3‐glucanases and their enzymatic activity is required for the induction of cell death. CfGH17‐1 hydrolyses laminarin, a linear 1,3‐β‐glucan with 1,6‐β linkages. CfGH17‐1 expression is down‐regulated during the biotrophic phase of infection and up‐regulated during the necrotrophic phase. Deletion of CfGH17‐1 in C. fulvum did not reduce virulence on tomato, while constitutive expression of CfGH17‐1 decreased virulence, suggesting that abundant presence of CfGH17‐1 during biotrophic growth may release a DAMP that activates plant defence responses. Under natural conditions CfGH17‐1 is suggested to play a role during saprophytic growth when the fungus thrives on dead host tissue, which is in line with its high levels of expression at late stages of infection when host tissues have become necrotic. We suggest that CfGH17‐1 releases a DAMP from the host cell wall that is recognized by a yet unknown host plant receptor.
Ghrelin abates bacterial translocation following burn injury by improving gastric emptying
Authors: Sallam Hanaa S. , Urvil Petri , Savidge Tor C. , Chen Jiande D. Z.
Published: October 2019

Background

In severe burns, increased intestinal permeability facilitates bacterial translocation, resulting in systemic endotoxemia and multi‐organ failure. We investigated the role of burn‐induced gastrointestinal dysmotility (BIGD) in promoting bacterial translocation following burn injury, and the protective effect of ghrelin in this process.

Methods

We assessed gastric emptying (GE%) and intestinal transit (IT by geometric center “GC”) in a 60% total body surface area scald burn rat model and measured bacterial counts in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and distal small intestine by colony‐forming unit per gram of tissue (CFU/g). A group of animals was treated with ghrelin or saline after burn.

Key Results

Scald burn was associated with a significant delay in GE (62% ± 4% vs 74% ± 4%; P = .02) and a trend of delay in intestinal transit (GC: 5.5 ± 0.1 vs 5.8 ± 0.2; P = .09). Concurrently, there was a marginal increase in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (6 × 105 vs 2 × 105 CFU/g; P = .05) and significant translocation to MLN (2 × 102 vs 4 × 101; P = .03). We observed a negative correlation between GE and intestinal bacterial overgrowth (rs = −0.61; P = .002) and between IT and translocation (rs = −0.63; P = .004). Ghrelin administration significantly accelerated GE following burn injury (91% ± 3% vs 62% ± 4; P = .03), reduced small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and completely inhibited translocation to MLN (0.0 vs 5 × 102; P = .01).

Conclusions & Inferences

Burn‐induced gastrointestinal dysmotility is correlated with the systemic translocation of gram‐negative gut bacteria that are implicated in multiple organ failure in burn patients. Therapeutic interventions to restore BIGD are warranted (Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2012, 24, 78).
Auxin guides roots to avoid obstacles during gravitropic growth
Authors: Zhang Yuzhou , Friml Jiří
Published: October 2019

This article is a Commentary on Lee et al., 255: 1285–1296.
Treatment decisions of UK hospital optometrists and ophthalmologists in patients with nAMD: a vignette study
Authors: Creer Rosalind C , Roberts Stephen A , Aslam Tariq M , Balaskas Konstantinos , Chhabra Ramandeep , Mahmood Sajjad , Turner George S , Harper Robert A
Published: October 2019

Purpose

A vignette study to examine treatment decisions made by UK hospital optometrists in patients with neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD) and the effect of optometrists’ experience on agreement.

Methods

Patients with nAMD attending Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, UK were identified as potential candidates for the case series of vignettes. The cases were chosen to reflect a varied case‐mix with respect to difficulty as well as ensuring good quality of the images. Each vignette included a history summary consisting of the number of previous injections given and visual acuity measurements at baseline, the previous visit, and the current visit. Images were compiled to show baseline fundus photographs and ocular coherence tomography (OCT) images with the current visit images on which the treatment decision was to be made along with the images from the previous visit. Hospital optometrists were recruited and asked to complete the series of vignettes, deciding if treatment was required at that visit and how confident they felt with that decision. Their responses were compared to the reference standard created by a consensus of consultant ophthalmologists with a sub‐speciality interest in medical retina.

Results

Regarding treatment decision for optometrists, the percentage correct value was 75% with the sensitivity being 75.6% (95% CI 70.1–80.3) and the specificity as 75.1% (95% CI 72.1–77.8). No statistically significant difference was found between differing levels of experience. However, there was a significant difference in confidence levels between groups. Potentially sight threatening decisions accounted for 6.4% of the optometrists’ decisions, 3.5% were made with a high confidence rating suggesting no discussion with an ophthalmologist was required.

Conclusions

Although the optometrists showed modest agreement with the reference standard in a series of cases that have higher than average complexity, the optometrists showed a similar amount of variability within their treatment decisions compared to the reference standard. The optometrists were therefore not inferior in their performance compared to the ophthalmologists and this can be seen as supporting evidence for their extended role within this clinical area. Experience did not have an effect on ‘correct’ treatment decisions although there was a statistically significant effect on increasing confidence of treatment decision.
The Course of Immune Stimulation by Photodynamic Therapy: Bridging Fundamentals of Photochemically Induced Immunogenic Cell Death to the Enrichment of T‐Cell Repertoire
Authors: Nath Shubhankar , Obaid Girgis , Hasan Tayyaba
Published: October 2019

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potentially immunogenic and FDA‐approved antitumor treatment modality that utilizes the spatiotemporal combination of a photosensitizer, light and oftentimes oxygen, to generate therapeutic cytotoxic molecules. Certain photosensitizers under specific conditions, including ones in clinical practice, have been shown to elicit an immune response following photoillumination. When localized within tumor tissue, photogenerated cytotoxic molecules can lead to immunogenic cell death (ICD) of tumor cells, which release damage‐associated molecular patterns and tumor‐specific antigens. Subsequently, the T‐lymphocyte (T cell)–mediated adaptive immune system can become activated. Activated T cells then disseminate into systemic circulation and can eliminate primary and metastatic tumors. In this review, we will detail the multistage cascade of events following PDT of solid tumors that ultimately lead to the activation of an antitumor immune response. More specifically, we connect the fundamentals of photochemically induced ICD with a proposition on potential mechanisms for PDT enhancement of the adaptive antitumor response. We postulate a hypothesis that during the course of the immune stimulation process, PDT also enriches the T‐cell repertoire with tumor‐reactive activated T cells, diversifying their tumor‐specific targets and eliciting a more expansive and rigorous antitumor response. The implications of such a process are likely to impact the outcomes of rational combinations with immune checkpoint blockade, warranting investigations into T‐cell diversity as a previously understudied and potentially transformative paradigm in antitumor photodynamic immunotherapy.
Distribution of Pseudocercospora species causing Sigatoka leaf diseases of banana in Uganda and Tanzania
Authors: Kimunye J. N. , Were E. , Mussa F. , Tazuba A. , Jomanga K. , Viljoen A. , Swennen R. , Muthoni F. K. , Mahuku G.
Published: October 2019

Sigatoka leaf diseases are a major constraint to banana production. A survey was conducted in Tanzania and Uganda to assess the distribution of Pseudocercospora species and severity of Sigatoka leaf diseases. Pseudocercospora species were identified using species‐specific primers. Sigatoka‐like leaf diseases were observed in all farms and on all cultivars, but disease severity varied significantly (P < 0.001) between countries, districts/regions within countries, altitudinal ranges and banana cultivars. In all regions except Kilimanjaro, P. fijiensis, the causal agent of black Sigatoka, was the only pathogen associated with Sigatoka disease. Mycosphaerella musae was associated with Sigatoka‐like symptoms in Kilimanjaro region. Black Sigatoka disease was more severe in Uganda, with a mean disease severity index (DSI) of 37.5%, than in Tanzania (DSI = 19.9%). In Uganda, black Sigatoka disease was equally severe in Luwero district (mean DSI = 40.4%) and Mbarara district (mean DSI = 37.9%). In Tanzania, black Sigatoka was most severe in Kagera region (mean DSI = 29.2%) and least in Mbeya region (mean DSI = 11.5%). Pseudocercospora fijiensis, the most devastating sigatoka pathogen, was detected at altitudes of up to 1877 m a.s.l. This range expansion of P. fijiensis, previously confined to altitudes lower than 1350 m a.s.l. in East Africa, is of concern, especially for smallholder banana farmers growing the susceptible East African Highland bananas (EAHB). Among the banana varieties sampled, the EAHB, FHIA hybrids and Mchare were the most susceptible. Here, the loss of resistance in Yangambi KM5, a banana variety previously resistant to P. fijiensis, is reported for the first time.
HLA‐DQB1*03:13 identified in two unrelated Taiwanese individuals
Authors: Yang Kuo‐Liang , Lin Py‐Yu
Published: October 2019

One nucleotide substitution in codon 67 of HLA‐DQB1*03:01:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA‐DQB1*03:13.
New Hybrid Hole Cleaning Model for Vertical and Deviated Wells
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed Abdulhamid , Elzenary Mahmoud , Elkatatny Salaheldin
Published: October 2019

Drilled cuttings transportation from the bottom hole to the surface to maintain efficient hole cleaning is a challenging issue while drilling vertical, deviated, high angle, and extended reach wells. This is attributed to the huge number of the parameters affecting the ability of the drilling fluid to leave the drilled solids. Drilling fluid rheology, density, and flowrate, hole size, drill pipe size, hole inclination, and rate of penetration are all confirmed experimentally to affect the effectiveness of the drilling mud to lift the fluid and keep a clean hole. Several parameters were developed earlier to account for the hole cleaning conditions, most of these parameters lake to including many of the parameters influencing the hole cleaning conditions. In this study, a new hole cleaning parameter was developed, which is called hole cleaning factor (HCF). The HCF parameter was developed based on the cutting carrying index (CCI) parameter, and it considered the effect of the drilling fluid rheology, density, and flowrate, the hole size, drill pipe size, hole inclination, and rate of penetration to identify the hole cleaning condition. The HCF model was applied in an oil well from North Africa to predict the hole cleaning condition at different 135 points where the depth ranges from 33 to 12,854 ft. The outcomes of the HCF were well correlated with the real-field scenarios, where the crew members faced by erratic torque with differentiation in drilling parameters resulting in worst stuck pipe conditions at the same depths as predicted by the HCF parameter. The developed HCF model will help the drilling engineers to avoid many issues while drilling such as cutting accumulation and drill pipe sticking. The predictability of the HCF model was compared with commercially available software, and the results indicated a good match between the predictability of the HCF model and the commercial software.
An Experimental and Numerical Study of Wall Effect on Freeze Valve Performance in a Molten Salt Reactor
Authors: Aji Indarta Kuncoro , Tatsuya Tokushima , Kinoshita Motoyasu , Okawa Tomio
Published: October 2019

Freeze valve is an important passive safety system used in the molten salt reactor (MSR). In the freeze valve, salt is frozen by external cooling in the pipe connecting the reactor core and drain tanks. On the occasion of station blackout, the cooling system stops and the frozen salt melts automatically to open the freeze valve. Then, the molten salt containing fuel is drained out from the reactor core to the drain tanks and the nuclear reactions stop passively. Obviously, the melting time of frozen salt is important from the viewpoint of MSR safety. In this study, experiments and numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the effects of important parameters on the opening time of freeze valve. A particular attention was paid to the effect of pipe wall since its thermal conductivity is much higher than that of salt. The calculated opening time agreed with the experimental results fairly well, indicating that the present numerical model is useful to investigate the opening time of freeze valve in accidental condition of MSR.
Comparison of estimated 20-Hz pulse fin whale source levels from the tropical Pacific and Eastern North Atlantic Oceans to other recorded populations
Authors: Miksis-Olds Jennifer L. , Harris Danielle V. , Heaney Kevin D.
Published: October 2019

Passive acoustic monitoring, mitigation, animal density estimation, and comprehensive understanding of the impact of sound on marine animals all require accurate information on vocalization source level to be most effective. This study focused on examining the uncertainty related to passive sonar equation terms that ultimately contribute to the variability observed in estimated source levels of fin whale calls. Differences in hardware configuration, signal detection methods, sample size, location, and time were considered in interpreting the variability of estimated fin whale source levels. Data from Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean and off Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean provided the opportunity to generate large datasets of estimated source levels to better understand sources of uncertainty leading to the observed variability with and across years. Average seasonal source levels from the Wake Island dataset ranged from 175 to 188 dB re 1 μPa m, while the 2007–2008 seasonal average detected off Portugal was 189 dB re 1 μPa m. Owing to the large inherent variability within and across this and other studies that potentially masks true differences between populations, there is no evidence to conclude that the source level of 20-Hz fin whale calls are regionally or population specific.
The Isometric Midthigh Pull in Basketball: An Effective Predictor of Sprint and Jump Performance in Male, Adolescent Players
Authors: Scanlan Aaron T. , Wen Neal , Guy Joshua H. , Elsworthy Nathan , Lastella Michele , Pyne David B. , Conte Daniele , Dalbo Vincent J.
Published: October 2019

Purpose: To examine correlations between peak force and impulse measures attained during the isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) and basketball-specific sprint and jump tests. Methods: Male, adolescent basketball players (N = 24) completed a battery of basketball-specific performance tests. Testing consisted of the IMTP (absolute and normalized peak force and impulse at 100 and 250 ms); 20-m sprint (time across 5, 10, and 20 m); countermovement jump (CMJ; absolute and normalized peak force and jump height); standing long jump (distance); and repeated lateral bound (distance). Correlation and regression analyses were conducted between IMTP measures and other attributes. Results: An almost perfect correlation was evident between absolute peak force attained during the IMTP and CMJ (r = .94, R2 = 56%, P < .05). Moderate to very large correlations (P < .05) were observed between IMTP normalized peak force and 5-m sprint time (r = −.44, R2 = 19%), 10-m sprint time (r = −.45, R2 = 20%), absolute (r = .57, R2 = 33%), normalized (r = .86, R2 = 73%) CMJ peak force, and standing long-jump distance (r = .51, R2 = 26%). Moderate to very large correlations were evident between impulse measures during the IMTP and 5-m sprint time (100 ms, r = −.40, R2 = 16%, P > .05) and CMJ absolute peak force (100 ms, r = .73, R2 = 54%; 250 ms, r = .68, R2 = 47%; P < .05). Conclusions: The IMTP may be used to assess maximal and rapid force expression important across a range of basketball-specific movements.
Quantum plasmonic control of trions in a picocavity with monolayer WS
2
Authors: He Zhe , Han Zehua , Yuan Jiangtan , Sinyukov Alexander M. , Eleuch Hichem , Niu Chao , Zhang Zhenrong , Lou Jun , Hu Jonathan , Voronine Dmitri V. , Scully Marlan O.
Published: October 2019

Tip-enhanced quantum plasmonics enables simultaneous nanoscale imaging and picoscale control of trions in monolayer WS
2
.
Microscopic origin of the chiroptical response of optical media
Authors: Davis Matthew S. , Zhu Wenqi , Lee Jay K. , Lezec Henri J. , Agrawal Amit
Published: October 2019

A generalized model framework is developed to describe the physical origin of the chiroptical response in optical media.
Stretchable elastic synaptic transistors for neurologically integrated soft engineering systems
Authors: Shim Hyunseok , Sim Kyoseung , Ershad Faheem , Yang Pinyi , Thukral Anish , Rao Zhoulyu , Kim Hae-Jin , Liu Yanghui , Wang Xu , Gu Guoying , Gao Li , Wang Xinran , Chai Yang , Yu Cunjiang
Published: October 2019

Fully rubbery synaptic transistors and neurologically integrated soft engineering systems are developed.
Electrically controlled liquid crystal elastomer–based soft tubular actuator with multimodal actuation
Authors: He Qiguang , Wang Zhijian , Wang Yang , Minori Adriane , Tolley Michael T. , Cai Shengqiang
Published: October 2019

An electrically-controlled soft tubular actuator is constructed for soft robotic applications.
Borophene-graphene heterostructures
Authors: Liu Xiaolong , Hersam Mark C.
Published: October 2019

Borophene and graphene form 2D lateral and vertical heterostructures with sharp and rotationally commensurate interfaces.
Griffithsin Retains Anti-HIV-1 Potency with Changes in gp120 Glycosylation and Complements Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies PGT121 and PGT126
Authors: Fischer Kathryn , Nguyen Kimberly , LiWang Patricia J.
Published: October 2019

Griffithsin (Grft) is an antiviral lectin that has been shown to potently inhibit HIV-1 by binding high-mannose N-linked glycosylation sites on HIV-1 gp120. A key factor for Grft potency is glycosylation at N295 of gp120, which is directly adjacent to N332, a target glycan for an entire class of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs).
Successful Systemic and Topical Treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus Otomastoiditis
Authors: van Wijk Floor , Waterval Jérôme , van Aerde Koen , Henriet Stefanie S. V. , Meijer F. J. Anton , Borra Lennaert C. , Aarnoutse Rob E. , van Ingen Jakko
Published: October 2019

Mycobacterium abscessus
is an extensively drug-resistant opportunistic pathogen that can cause chronic otomastoiditis. There are no evidence-based treatment regimens for this severe infection. We treated four children with
M. abscessus
otomastoiditis with a structured regimen of topical imipenem and tigecycline, intravenous imipenem and tigecycline, and oral clofazimine and azithromycin and adjunctive surgery. This structured approach led to cure, with 1 year of follow-up after treatment.
Capturing the Resistome: a Targeted Capture Method To Reveal Antibiotic Resistance Determinants in Metagenomes
Authors: Guitor Allison K. , Raphenya Amogelang R. , Klunk Jennifer , Kuch Melanie , Alcock Brian , Surette Michael G. , McArthur Andrew G. , Poinar Hendrik N. , Wright Gerard D.
Published: October 2019

Identification of the nucleotide sequences encoding antibiotic resistance elements and determination of their association with antibiotic resistance are critical to improve surveillance and monitor trends in antibiotic resistance. Current methods to study antibiotic resistance in various environments rely on extensive deep sequencing or laborious culturing of fastidious organisms, both of which are heavily time-consuming operations.
Susceptibility of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus to Five Quinazolinone Antibacterials
Authors: Ceballos Sara , Kim Choon , Qian Yuanyuan , Mobashery Shahriar , Chang Mayland , Torres Carmen
Published: October 2019

The
in vitro
activities of five quinazolinone antibacterials, compounds Q1 to Q5, were tested against 210 strains of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). The MIC
50
/MIC
90
values (in μg/ml) were as follows: Q1, 0.5/2; Q2, 1/4; Q3, 2/4; Q4, 0.06/0.25; and Q5, 0.125/0.5.
Crystal Structure of the Catalytic and Cytochrome
b
Domains in a Eukaryotic Pyrroloquinoline Quinone-Dependent Dehydrogenase
Authors: Takeda Kouta , Ishida Takuya , Yoshida Makoto , Samejima Masahiro , Ohno Hiroyuki , Igarashi Kiyohiko , Nakamura Nobuhumi
Published: October 2019

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is known as the “third coenzyme” following nicotinamide and flavin. PQQ-dependent enzymes have previously been found only in prokaryotes, and the existence of a eukaryotic PQQ-dependent enzyme was in doubt. In 2014, we found an enzyme in mushrooms that catalyzes the oxidation of various sugars in a PQQ-dependent manner and that was a PQQ-dependent enzyme found in eukaryotes. This paper presents the X-ray crystal structures of this eukaryotic PQQ-dependent quinohemoprotein, which show the active site, and identifies the amino acid residues involved in the binding of the cofactor PQQ. The presented X-ray structures reveal that the AA12 domain is in a binary complex with the coenzyme, clearly proving that PQQ-dependent enzymes exist in eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes. Because no biosynthetic system for PQQ has been reported in eukaryotes, future research on the symbiotic systems is expected.
Predominance of Th1 Immune Response in Pleural Effusion of Patients with Tuberculosis among Other Exudative Etiologies
Authors: da Cunha Lisboa Vinícius , Ribeiro-Alves Marcelo , da Silva Corrêa Raquel , Ramos Lopes Isabelle , Mafort Thiago Thomaz , Santos Ana Paula , Porto Amadeu Thaís , Rufino Rogério , Silva Rodrigues Luciana
Published: October 2019

Pleural tuberculosis (PlTB), a common form of extrapulmonary TB, remains a challenge in the diagnosis among many causes of pleural effusion. We recently reported that the combinatorial analysis of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) from the pleural microenvironment was useful to distinguish pleural effusion caused by TB (microbiologically confirmed or not) among other etiologies.
Columbia River flood basalt flow emplacement rates—Fast, slow, or variable?
Authors: Reidel Stephen , Tolan Terry , Camp Victor
Published: October 2019

Emplacement models for voluminous sheet flows of the Columbia River flood basalts vary significantly in style and duration, with the latter ranging from as little as one week to decades and even centuries. Testing the efficacy of such models requires detailed field studies and close examination of each stratigraphic unit. The Steens Basalt, the oldest formation of the Columbia River flood basalts, differs from the later formations in that it is composed of stacked successions of thin, commonly inflated flow lobes combined into thicker compound flows, or flow fields. These flow lobes are of limited geographic extent, with relatively high emplacement rates, but they are otherwise similar to modern examples. Evidence for flow inflation in the much larger sheet flows of the Grande Ronde Basalt, Wanapum Basalt, and Saddle Mountains Basalt is also apparent, but with more variable rates of emplacement. For example, the Asotin and Umatilla Members (Saddle Mountains Basalt) and Sentinel Bluffs Member flows (Grande Ronde Basalt) erupted distinct compositions along their linear vent systems, but over 200 km west of their vents, these flows are no longer distinct. Instead, they exist as compositional zones of a single, moderately mixed lava flow. Such flows must have been emplaced rapidly, in perhaps weeks to months, while others have been shown to erupt over much longer time periods. We conclude that emplacement rates may be quite variable throughout the Columbia River flood basalt province, with thin flow units of Steens Basalt erupting continuously and rapidly, and larger inflated sheet flows erupting over variable time spans, some from a few weeks to months, and others over a duration of years.
40Ar/39Ar geochronologic evidence of Eurekan deformation within the West Spitsbergen Fold and Thrust Belt
Authors: Schneider David A. , Faehnrich Karol , Majka Jarosław , Manecki Maciej
Published: October 2019

Eocene Eurekan deformation has proven to be an enigmatic sequence of tectonic episodes dominated by tectonic plate compression and translation in the circum-Arctic region. Prins Karls Forland on western Spitsbergen is composed of Neoproterozoic siliciclastic metasediments of Laurentian affinity regionally metamorphosed to greenschist facies conditions. A crustal-scale ductile to brittle deformation zone, here named the Bouréefjellet fault zone, contains the amphibolite facies Pinkiefjellet Unit exposed between the lower metamorphic grade, upper structural unit of the Grampianfjella Group and the Scotiafjellet Group in the footwall. A preliminary age for the amphibolite facies metamorphism (ca. 360–355 Ma) indicates Ellesmerian tectonism, unlike other higher-grade basement rocks on Svalbard. Ten metasedimentary rocks from within the fault zone were collected for multiple single-grain fusion 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, with up to ten muscovite crystals dated per sample. High strain in the rocks is evinced by mylonitic structure, mica fish, and C’ shear zones, and dynamically recrystallized quartz with significant grain bulging and subgrain rotation, indicative of >350 °C temperatures. There is notable dispersion in the 40Ar/39Ar ages between samples, with single muscovite dates ranging from ca. 300 Ma to as young as 42 Ma, reflecting recrystallization and resetting of the muscovite. Younger, reproducible ages were obtained from samples that possess chemically homogeneous muscovite, yielding dates of 55–44 Ma for the Eurekan deformation on Prins Karls Forland. We suggest that Ellesmerian structures on Prins Karls Forland were reactivated during the Eocene (commencing as early as 55 Ma) progressing under warm, yet brittle, conditions that continued to 44 Ma. These 40Ar/39Ar muscovite dates are the first documented Eurekan deformation ages from Svalbard and enable a better understanding of the stages of Eurekan deformation in the Eocene to improve correlations across the circum-Arctic region.