bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential for endozoochorous seed dispersal by sheep and goats: Risk of weed seed transport via animal faeces
Authors: Oveisi Mostafa , Ojaghi Ahmad , Rahimian Mashhadi Hamid , Müller‐Schärer Heinz , Reza Yazdi Kamran , Pourmorad Kaleibar Behnaz , Soltani Elias
Published: December 2020

Endozoochory is known as an important mechanism for the spread of weeds. We carried out experiments to assess the fate of seeds of several weed species (Convolvulus arvensis, Cuscuta campestris, Rumex crispus, Hordeum spontaneum and Sorghum halepense) after passing through the gut of sheep and goat. Eighteen animals of both sheep and goat received diet mixed with seeds of the weed species or control with only wheat bran (five weed species + control × three replications). Results showed that a higher proportion of seeds were missing after passage through the sheep gut than in goats. In goats, a greater proportion of seeds were dead after passage, but the number of seeds collected from dung was also greater. Weed species differed, with the highest seed recovery and viability in Cuscuta campestris. Based on time of seed passages through the animal gut estimated for the different weed species, we recommend that sheep should be kept in a corral for 96 hr to minimise seed transportation via their faeces. For goats, if R. crispus and C. arvensis seeds could be excluded from the diet, then maintaining them for 96 hr in an animal stall would ensure little seed transportation via dung, but we found R. crispus and C. arvensis seeds to be present and viable in goat dung even 120 hr after feeding. Very large numbers of viable seeds can be found in goat and sheep dung, so the use of rotted manure is highly recommended to avoid transportation of viable seeds via manure fertilisers.
THE FINAL DOMINO: YASIR QADHI, YOUTUBE, AND EVOLUTION
Authors: Moran Glen
Published: December 2020

Debates around the compatibility or mutual exclusivity between Islam and evolution have received increasing academic attention in recent years. While research into Islam and evolution has often focused on the views of Muslim publics, a body of literature has emerged that has focused on the views of Muslim clerics and public figures. However, little research has been conducted about how prominent Muslim voices have used online platforms, such as YouTube, to promote their own views on Islam and evolution. This article explores the online video presentations of one such figure, namely, the American Muslim theologian Dr Yasir Qadhi. The article will demonstrate that Qadhi holds a relatively nuanced position on the compatibility between Islam and evolution, based on his understanding of the scientific consensus and Islamic scripture. Furthermore, it will also explore how Qadhi appeals directly to Muslims to reject many of the most common creationist arguments against evolution.
Effects of face masks on acoustic analysis and speech perception: Implications for peri-pandemic protocols
Authors: Magee Michelle , Lewis Courtney , Noffs Gustavo , Reece Hannah , Chan Jess C. S. , Zaga Charissa J. , Paynter Camille , Birchall Olga , Rojas Azocar Sandra , Ediriweera Angela , Kenyon Katherine , Caverlé Marja W. , Schultz Benjamin G. , Vogel Adam P.
Published: December 2020

Wearing face masks (alongside physical distancing) provides some protection against infection from COVID-19. Face masks can also change how people communicate and subsequently affect speech signal quality. This study investigated how three common face mask types (N95, surgical, and cloth) affected acoustic analysis of speech and perceived intelligibility in healthy subjects. Acoustic measures of timing, frequency, perturbation, and power spectral density were measured. Speech intelligibility and word and sentence accuracy were also examined using the Assessment of Intelligibility of Dysarthric Speech. Mask type impacted the power distribution in frequencies above 3 kHz for the N95 mask, and above 5 kHz in surgical and cloth masks. Measures of timing and spectral tilt mainly differed with N95 mask use. Cepstral and harmonics to noise ratios remained unchanged across mask type. No differences were observed across conditions for word or sentence intelligibility measures; however, accuracy of word and sentence translations were affected by all masks. Data presented in this study show that face masks change the speech signal, but some specific acoustic features remain largely unaffected (e.g., measures of voice quality) irrespective of mask type. Outcomes have bearing on how future speech studies are run when personal protective equipment is worn.
Effects of noise precursors on the detection of amplitude and frequency modulation for tones in noise
Authors: Mesik Juraj , Wojtczak Magdalena
Published: December 2020

Recent studies on amplitude modulation (AM) detection for tones in noise reported that AM-detection thresholds improve when the AM stimulus is preceded by a noise precursor. The physiological mechanisms underlying this AM unmasking are unknown. One possibility is that adaptation to the level of the noise precursor facilitates AM encoding by causing a shift in neural rate-level functions to optimize level encoding around the precursor level. The aims of this study were to investigate whether such a dynamic-range adaptation is a plausible mechanism for the AM unmasking and whether frequency modulation (FM), thought to be encoded via AM, also exhibits the unmasking effect. Detection thresholds for AM and FM of tones in noise were measured with and without a fixed-level precursor. Listeners showing the unmasking effect were then tested with the precursor level roved over a wide range to modulate the effect of adaptation to the precursor level on the detection of the subsequent AM. It was found that FM detection benefits from a precursor and the magnitude of FM unmasking correlates with that of AM unmasking. Moreover, consistent with dynamic-range adaptation, the unmasking magnitude weakens as the level difference between the precursor and simultaneous masker of the tone increases.
Scientists rally around plan for fusion power plant
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: December 2020

Road map calls for Department of Energy to fund applied as well as basic research.
Recent global decline of CO
2
fertilization effects on vegetation photosynthesis
Authors: Wang Songhan , Zhang Yongguang , Ju Weimin , Chen Jing M. , Ciais Philippe , Cescatti Alessandro , Sardans Jordi , Janssens Ivan A. , Wu Mousong , Berry Joseph A. , Campbell Elliott , Fernández-Martínez Marcos , Alkama Ramdane , Sitch Stephen , Friedlingstein Pierre , Smith William K. , Yuan Wenping , He Wei , Lombardozzi Danica , Kautz Markus , Zhu Dan , Lienert Sebastian , Kato Etsushi , Poulter Benjamin , Sanders Tanja G. M. , Krüger Inken , Wang Rong , Zeng Ning , Tian Hanqin , Vuichard Nicolas , Jain Atul K. , Wiltshire Andy , Haverd Vanessa , Goll Daniel S. , Peñuelas Josep
Published: December 2020

A decline in the carbon fertilization effect

One source of uncertainty in climate science is how the carbon fertilization effect (CFE) will contribute to mitigation of anthropogenic climate change. Wang
et al.
explored the temporal dynamics of CFE on vegetation photosynthesis at the global scale. There has been a decline over recent decades in the contribution of CFE to vegetation photosynthesis, perhaps owing to the limiting effects of plant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. This declining trend has not been adequately accounted for in carbon cycle models. CFE thus has limitations for long-term mitigation of climate change, and future warming might currently be underestimated.

Science
, this issue p.
1295
Inhibition of prostaglandin-degrading enzyme 15-PGDH rejuvenates aged muscle mass and strength
Authors: Palla A. R. , Ravichandran M. , Wang Y. X. , Alexandrova L. , Yang A. V. , Kraft P. , Holbrook C. A. , Schürch C. M. , Ho A. T. V. , Blau H. M.
Published: December 2020

Maintaining muscle

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), an eicosanoid that mediates inflammatory responses, also supports the function of muscle stem cells. Palla
et al.
found that loss of PGE2 in aging mice contributes to loss of muscle and appears to be a consequence of increased activity of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), an enzyme that degrades PGE2 (see the Perspective by Becker and Rudolph). Restoring PGE2 concentrations by inhibiting 15-PGDH in older mice improved muscle function. Decreased activity of 15-PGDH in older animals had beneficial effects that included decreased proteolysis and transforming growth factor–β signaling and increased mitochondrial function and autophagy. The findings reveal a potential therapeutic strategy to help maintain muscle mass and function during aging.

Science
, this issue p.
eabc8059
; see also p.
462
Myxococcus xanthus Predation of Gram-Positive or Gram-Negative Bacteria Is Mediated by Different Bacteriolytic Mechanisms
Authors: Arend Kirstin I. , Schmidt Janka J. , Bentler Tim , Lüchtefeld Carina , Eggerichs Daniel , Hexamer Hannah M. , Kaimer Christine
Published: December 2020

Predation is an important survival strategy of the widespread myxobacteria, but it remains poorly understood on the mechanistic level. Without a basic understanding of how prey cell killing and consumption is achieved, it also remains difficult to investigate the role of predation for the complex myxobacterial lifestyle, reciprocal predator-prey relationships, or the impact of predation on complex bacterial soil communities.
Differential crustal rotation and its control on giant ore clusters along the eastern margin of Tibet
Authors: Deng Jun , Wang Qingfei , Gao Liang , He Wenyan , Yang Zhenyu , Zhang Shihong , Chang Lijun , Li Gongjian , Sun Xiang , Zhou Daoqing
Published: December 2020

Controls on the formation and distribution of mineralization in continental collisional settings remain unclear. However, our synthesis of diverse geophysical data sets from the eastern margin of Tibet revealed that differential crustal rotation played a key role in the production of a variety of mineralization types. Due to Cenozoic continental collision between India and Eurasia, the elongated continental blocks in the eastern margin of Tibet were extruded and reoriented. Prior to block extrusion in the Eocene, two giant porphyry-skarn ore clusters formed at the boundaries between the central segment and both the northern and southern segments of the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan suture zone. These crustal segment boundaries displayed counterclockwise rotation, due to clockwise rotation of the central segment relative to both the essentially immobile northern and southern segments, combined with crust-mantle decoupling. This is considered to have induced crustal friction and resultant generation of fertile magmas that formed the porphyry-skarn Cu-Au deposits. During Oligocene–Miocene block extrusion, differential rotation of upper crust occurred on the western and eastern sides of the north-northwest–trending Central Axis fault in the Lanping-Simao basin. Two Oligocene–Miocene Mississippi Valley–type ore clusters occur on fault segments with anomalous differential rotation of 70° to 80°, suggesting that this differential rotation resulted in local extension with consequent ore-fluid influx.
Reconstructing Neoproterozoic seawater chemistry from early diagenetic dolomite
Authors: Crockford Peter W. , Kunzmann Marcus , Blättler Clara L. , Kalderon-Asael Boriana , Murphy Jack G. , Ahm Anne-Sofie , Sharoni Shlomit , Halverson Galen P. , Planavsky Noah J. , Halevy Itay , Higgins John A.
Published: December 2020

The pairing of calcium and magnesium isotopes (δ44/40Ca, δ26Mg) has recently emerged as a useful tracer to understand the environmental information preserved in shallow-marine carbonates. Here, we applied a Ca and Mg isotopic framework, along with analyses of carbon and lithium isotopes, to late Tonian dolostones, to infer seawater chemistry across this critical interval of Earth history. We investigated the ca. 735 Ma Coppercap Formation in northwestern Canada, a unit that preserves large shifts in carbonate δ13C values that have been utilized in global correlations and have canonically been explained through large shifts in organic carbon burial. Under the backdrop of these δ13C shifts, we observed positive excursions in δ44/40Ca and δ7Li values that are mirrored by a negative excursion in δ26Mg values. We argue that this covariation is due to early diagenetic dolomitization of aragonite through interaction with contemporaneous seawater under a continuum of fluid- to sediment-buffered conditions. We then used this framework to show that Tonian seawater was likely characterized by a low δ7Li value of ∼13‰ (∼18‰ lower than modern seawater), as a consequence of a different Li cycle than today. In contrast, δ13C values across our identified fluid-buffered interval are similar to modern seawater. These observations suggest that factors other than shifts in global seawater chemistry are likely responsible for such isotopic variation.
Mercury fluxes record regional volcanism in the South China craton prior to the end-Permian mass extinction
Authors: Shen Jun , Chen Jiubin , Algeo Thomas J. , Feng Qinglai , Yu Jianxin , Xu Yi-Gang , Xu Guozhen , Lei Yong , Planavsky Noah J. , Xie Shucheng
Published: December 2020

Enhanced regional subduction-related volcanism in the South China craton concurrent with Siberian Traps large igneous province magmatism was a likely contributor to major biotic and environmental stresses associated with the Permian-Triassic boundary (ca. 252 Ma) mass extinction. However, the timing, intensity, and duration of this regional volcanic activity remain uncertain. We analyzed mercury (Hg) concentrations in three widely separated marine sections in the South China craton (Shangsi, Ganxi, and Chaohu) as well as Hg isotopic compositions in one section (Shangsi) from the Upper Permian (Changhsingian) through the lowermost Triassic (Induan) in order to track volcanic inputs. Four mercury enrichment (ME) intervals, dating to the lowermost Changhsingian (ME1), mid–Clarkina changxingensis zone (ME2), upper C. changxingensis to lower C. yini zones (ME3), and latest Permian mass extinction (LPME) interval (ME4), were recognized on the basis of elevated Hg/total organic carbon ratios. These records provide evidence of strong volcanism in the Tethyan region starting ∼2 m.y. before the LPME, whereas only the ME4 event is recorded in extra-Tethyan sections. Mercury isotopes support the inference that pre-LPME Hg peaks were related to regional subduction-related volcanism, and that Hg emissions at the LPME were the result of Siberian Traps large igneous province intrusions into organic-rich sediments. This study demonstrates the feasibility of distinguishing flood-basalt from subduction-related volcanic inputs on the basis of marine sedimentary Hg records.
Supplemental Material: Timing of closure of the Meso-Tethys Ocean: Constraints from remnants of a 141–135 Ma ocean island within the Bangong–Nujiang Suture Zone, Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Fan Jian-Jun , al. et
Published: December 2020

Analytical methods and data for the Zhonggang igneous–sedimentary rocks.
Shewanella: an important, emerging and lethal pathogen in a patient with recurrent presentations of cholangitis
Authors: Hong Jason , Steen Christopher , Wong Enoch , Keong Ben
Published: December 2020

We present a case of recurrent cholangitis caused byShewanella algae, a lethal, emerging pathogen that clinicians should be made aware of. An 86-year-old man with a history of gastrectomy for peptic ulcer disease and a cerebrovascular accident with known choledocholithiasis presented with recurrent episodes of cholangitis that failed conservative antibiotic treatment regimens.Shewanellahas been described to have increasing resistance to piperacillin and tazobactam. BothS. algaeand multidrug-resistantEscherichia coliwere co-isolated in this patient, which required broader spectrum antibiotics for successful treatment and management. A high index of suspicion is required if the history is suggestive of marine or aquatic exposure, which could expose the patient to this lethal pathogen. Re-thinking and re-taking the history are important cornerstones in refining the diagnosis when faced with recurrent presentations of the same problem.
Transoesophageal endobronchial ultrasound-guided needle aspiration (EUS-B-NA) for poorly accessible thoracic lesions: a case series
Authors: Quigley David , Nadarajan Parthiban , O Connell Finbar
Published: December 2020

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has long been a common diagnostic tool used in the diagnosis of pulmonary pathologies. In the last decade, increased interest has been shown in its usage via the oesophagus for sampling lesions inaccessible via the airways. We describe three cases in which we used this modality to biopsy lesions not visualised via conventional EBUS and which would be too risky to be attempted via a CT-guided biopsy with a high likelihood of complications. More focused education on using EBUS via the oesophagus for respiratory trainees could greatly improve overall clinical practice. It improves the diagnostic yield of lesions and prevents subsequent referral to gastrointestinal colleagues which may delay diagnosis especially during the COVID-19 pandemic as was the case in our patient cohort where services are already limited. EBUS, due to its smaller size, is less irritant to the upper airways and requires less sedation than endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) scopes. It is also shorter than an EUS scope improving manoeuvrability. Each of our cases resulted in early histological diagnosis and subsequent appropriate treatment.
Invasive pneumococcal disease confirmed in five different sites including Austrian syndrome in a male patient with methamphetamine abuse
Authors: Mekraksakit Poemlarp , Elmassry Mohamed , Leelaviwat Natnicha , Nugent Kenneth
Published: December 2020

A 60-year-old man with no significant medical history was found unresponsive by his neighbour; he had neck stiffness on physical examination in the emergency department. He later developed acute hypoxic respiratory failure requiring endotracheal intubation. He is a binge drinker on weekends, and methamphetamine was detected in his urine. Contrast-enhanced CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis revealed multifocal pneumonia, bilateral psoas abscesses and right infraspinatus muscle abscess. Blood, sputum and cerebrospinal fluid cultures grew Streptococcus pneumoniae. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed tricuspid endocarditis with mild valve insufficiency. He was initially treated with intravenous antibiotics and underwent incision and drainage of right psoas abscess. However, he still had recurrent fever and confusion. Repeat TTE showed larger vegetation, and he also developed septic emboli at the posterior basal right lower lobe pulmonary artery. The patient underwent tricuspid valve debridement and was finally discharged after completing 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotic treatment.
Cascade screening for glaucoma in high-risk family members of African-Caribbean glaucoma patients in an urban population in London
Authors: Nagar Anindyt , Myers Sam , Kozareva Diana , Simcoe Mark , Hammond Christopher
Published: December 2020

Background/aims

Cascade screening has been used successfully in relatives of patients with inherited cancers and other genetic diseases to identify presymptomatic disease. This study was designed to examine if this approach would be successful in a high-risk group: first-degree relatives (FDR) of African-Caribbean glaucoma patients resident in London.

Methods

African-Caribbean patients (probands) with glaucoma from an inner London hospital setting in a deprived area were asked to disseminate personalised information to their FDR over the age of 30 and to arrange a free hospital-based screening. Data collected, including optical coherence tomography imaging, were reviewed by a glaucoma specialist and if glaucoma was diagnosed or suspected, local specialist referral via family doctor was made.

Results

203 probands were recruited from glaucoma clinics. 248 suitable FDR were identified as potentially eligible to attend screening. 57 (23%) FDR made contact with the research team of whom 18 (7%) attended a subsequent screening visit. No patients were diagnosed with glaucoma; one participant was diagnosed as glaucoma suspect. Reasons for poor uptake included reluctance by probands to involve their family members, and retirees spending significant time abroad.

Conclusion

Cascade screening of FDR of African-Caribbean glaucoma patients in inner city London was unsuccessful. Research confidentiality guidance prohibiting research teams directly contacting family members was a barrier. Greater community engagement, community-based screening and permission to contact FDR directly might have improved uptake.
‘Going the distance’: an independent cohort study of engagement and dropout among the first 100 000 referrals into a large-scale diabetes prevention program
Authors: Howarth Elizabeth , Bower Peter J , Kontopantelis Evangelos , Soiland-Reyes Claudia , Meacock Rachel , Whittaker William , Cotterill Sarah
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Diabetes prevention programs (DPPs) are effective, in a pre-diabetic population, in reducing weight, lowering glycated hemoglobin and slowing the progression to diabetes. Little is known about the relationship between participation in DPPsand participant characteristics or service delivery. We investigated uptake and retention in England’s NHS DPP, reporting on variability among patient subgroups, providers, and sites.

Research design and methods

This prospective cohort study included 99 473 adults with non-diabetic hyperglycemia referred to the English DPP between 2016 and 2017. The program seeks to change health behaviors by offering at least 16 hours of group education and exercise. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to analyze variation in uptake, retention, and completion.

Results

Uptake among 99 473 adults referred to the program was 56% (55 275). Among 55 275 who started the program, 34% (18 562) achieved the required dose and 22% (12 127) completed the full course. After adjustment for variation in case mix, substantial heterogeneity in uptake and retention was seen across four service providers (uptake OR 1.77 (1.33, 2.34), 4.30 (3.01, 6.15), and 1.45 (1.07, 1.97) compared with the reference provider) and between sites (uptake for typical individuals ranged from 0.32 to 0.78 across the middle 95% of sites, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.07). Higher levels of retention and completion were seen where some out-of-hours provision was offered (retention OR 1.32 (1.25, 1.39)).

Conclusions

This study provides the first independent assessment of participation in the English DPP and the first study internationally to examine the impact of DPP service delivery on participation. When implementing a large-scale DPP, heterogeneity in service provision between different providers and sites can result in variable participation beyond that attributable to case mix, with potential consequences for effectiveness and health inequalities. Extending out-of-hours provision may improve participation in prevention programs.
The empirical evidence underpinning the concept and practice of person-centred care for serious illness: a systematic review
Authors: Giusti Alessandra , Nkhoma Kennedy , Petrus Ruwayda , Petersen Inge , Gwyther Liz , Farrant Lindsay , Venkatapuram Sridhar , Harding Richard
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Person-centred care has become internationally recognised as a critical attribute of high-quality healthcare. However, the concept has been criticised for being poorly theorised and operationalised. Serious illness is especially aligned with the need for person-centredness, usually necessitating involvement of significant others, management of clinical uncertainty, high-quality communication and joint decision-making to deliver care concordant with patient preferences. This review aimed to identify and appraise the empirical evidence underpinning conceptualisations of ‘person-centredness’ for serious illness.

Methods

Search strategy conducted in May 2020. Databases: CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Ovid Global Health, MEDLINE and PsycINFO. Free text search terms related to (1) person-centredness, (2) serious illness and (3) concept/practice. Tabulation, textual description and narrative synthesis were performed, and quality appraisal conducted using QualSyst tools. Santanaet al’s person-centred care model (2018) was used to structure analysis.

Results

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow data: n=12,446 studies screened by title/abstract, n=144 full articles assessed for eligibility, n=18 studies retained. All studies (n=18) are from high-income countries, and are largely of high quality (median score 0.82). The findings suggest that person-centred care encompasses the patient and family being respected, given complete information, involved in decision-making and supported in their physical, psychological, social and existential needs. The studies highlight the importance of involving and supporting family/friends, promoting continuation of normality and self-identity, and structuring service organisation to enable care continuity.

Conclusion

Person-centred healthcare must value the social network of patients, promote quality of life and reform structurally to improve patients’ experience interacting with the healthcare system. Staff must be supported to flexibly adapt skills, communication, routines or environments for individual patients. There remains a need for primary data investigating the meaning and practice of PCC in a greater diversity of diagnostic groups and settings, and a need to ground potential components of PCC within broader universal values and ethical theory.
Precarity and clinical determinants of healthcare-seeking behaviour and antibiotic use in rural Laos and Thailand
Authors: Haenssgen Marco J , Charoenboon Nutcha , Xayavong Thipphaphone , Althaus Thomas
Published: December 2020

Background

The social determinants of health are a decisive yet persistently understudied area for tackling global health challenges like antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Precarity is one determinant whose importance is increasingly recognised, which we define here as ‘a form of pernicious self-dependence that undermines individuals’ control over their own lives and limits their ability to flexibly respond to crises’. We aimed to assess the relationship between precarity, other forms of deprivation and healthcare-seeking behaviour by asking, ‘What is the impact of precarity, marginalisation and clinical presentation on healthcare-seeking behaviour?’ and ‘Do patients experiencing precarious livelihoods have clinically less advisable healthcare-seeking behaviour?’

Methods

We used healthcare-seeking behaviour census survey data from rural Thailand and Laos, wherein five rural communities were surveyed two times over a period of 3 months (2-month recall period). Using descriptive statistical and multivariate logistic regression analysis on the illness level, we studied precarity alongside clinical presentation, marginalisation and facilitating solutions during an illness (eg, health-related phone use) as determinants of healthcare-seeking behaviour in the form of healthcare access and antibiotic use.

Results

The data included 1421 illness episodes from 2066 villagers. Patients in precarious circumstances were up to 44.9 percentage points more likely to misuse antibiotics in the presence of situational facilitators (predicted antibiotic misuse: 6.2% (95% CI: 0.9% to 11.4%) vs 51.1% (95% CI: 16.6% to 85.5%) for precarious circumstances with/without facilitation). Marginalisation was linked to lower antibiotic use, but this did not translate into clinically more advisable behaviour. Clinical presentation played only a minor role in determining healthcare access and antibiotic use.

Conclusions

This study underlines the importance of context and local livelihoods in tackling drug resistance. While supporting the growing emphasis on AMR-sensitive development policy, we call for future research to study systematically the healthcare-seeking behaviour impact of precarious livelihoods, social policy and community development initiatives.

Trial registration number

NCT03241316.
Management of immune checkpoint therapy for patients with cancer in the face of COVID-19
Authors: Shen Chen , Li Qianru , Wei Yongchang , Li Yuting , Li Jun , Tao Juan
Published: December 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 challenges the medical system by interfering with routine therapies for many patients with chronic diseases. In patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), difficulties also arise from the incomplete understanding of the intricate interplay between their routine treatment and pathogenesis of the novel virus. By referring to previous ICI-based investigations, we speculate that ICIs themselves are not linked to high-infection risks of respiratory diseases or inflammation-related adverse effects in patients with cancer. Moreover, ICI treatment may even enhance coronavirus clearance in some patients with malignant tumor by boosting antiviral T-cell responsiveness. However, the ‘explosive’ inflammation during COVID-19 in some ICI-treated patients with cancer was illustrated as exuberant immunopathological damage or even death. In case of the COVID-19 immunopathogenesis fueled by ICIs, we propose a regular monitor of pathogenic T-cell subsets and their exhaustion marker expression (eg, Th17 and interleukin (IL)-6-producing Th1 subsets with surface programmed death 1 expression) to guide the usage of ICI. Here we aimed to address these considerations, based on available literature and experience from our practice, that may assist with the decision-making of ICI administration during the pandemic.
Reaccessing an occluded radial artery for neuroendovascular procedures: techniques and complication avoidance
Authors: Majmundar Neil , Wilkinson D Andrew , Catapano Joshua S , Cole Tyler S , Baranoski Jacob F , Ducruet Andrew F , Albuquerque Felipe C
Published: December 2020

Background

Radial artery occlusion (RAO) occurs in 1% to 10% of cases following transradial arterial access (TRA) for neuroendovascular procedures. When repeat access is required in patients discovered to have RAO, a transfemoral approach is often used. This study reports experience with repeat TRA procedures at a single center and techniques for reaccessing an occluded radial artery in select patients.

Methods

The electronic records of all patients who underwent multiple neuroendovascular procedures with an attempted TRA as the index procedure at a single center from July 2019 through February 2020 were reviewed.

Results

There were 656 TRA attempts for diagnostic angiography or intervention from July 2019 through February 2020. A total of 106 patients underwent a repeated attempt at TRA. Techniques for reaccessing an occluded radial artery were implemented halfway through the study period. One hundred patients (94.3%) had a successful second radial catheterization. Six patients required conversion to a transfemoral approach: five for RAO and one for radial branch perforation during the index procedure. After we implemented our techniques for reaccess, four additional patients with RAO successfully underwent TRA. There were no short-term complications, including pain, vessel perforation, forearm hematoma, or hand ischemia, following successful repeat catheterization of a previously occluded radial artery.

Conclusion

RAO is not an absolute limitation for attempting TRA in patients undergoing repeat catheterization. Reaccessing the radial artery after occlusion is feasible for repeat neuroendovascular procedures.
SciSpends: an exploratory survey investigating nonreimbursed expenses in biological sciences
Authors: Favaro Brett , Hind-Ozan Edward
Published: December 2020

Socio-economic barriers to participation in science are harmful to the enterprise. One barrier is the phenomenon of scientists paying for expenses related to the conduct of research that are not reimbursed (which we termed “Scispends” for social media discourse). We conducted an online survey that asked self-selecting respondents to report the amount of money they spent on nonreimbursed expenses, including both costs incurred in the past 12 months and one-time startup costs associated with their current position. We received 857 responses that met criteria for inclusion and reported descriptive statistics summarizing nonreimbursed expenses across career stages. We found the median total of nonreimbursed expenses for the past 12 months was $1680 and the median one-time expenses were $2700, and that as a proportion of income these expenses were highest for those earliest in their careers. We found 13% of respondents spent more on unreimbursed expenses than they earned in a year. All cost categories were skewed, with most respondents reporting little or no expense, whereas a minority experienced high expenses. These results should be interpreted with caution due to survey’s exploratory design, but they suggest that formal surveys should be conducted by scientific societies, funding agencies, and academic institutions to properly assess the causes of nonreimbursed expenses and determine how this barrier can be minimized.
Probing jet medium interactions via Z(H) + jet momentum imbalances
Authors: Chen Lin , Wei Shu-Yi , Zhang Han-Zhong
Published: December 2020

Different types of high energy hard probes are used to extract the jet transport properties of the Quark-Gluon Plasma created in heavy-ion collisions, of which the heavy boson tagged jets are undoubtedly the most sophisticated due to its clean decay signature and production mechanism. In this study, we used the resummation improved pQCD approach with high order correction in the hard factor to calculate the momentum ratio $$x_J$$

x
J

distributions of Z and Higgs (H) tagged jets. We found that the formalism can provide a good description of the 5.02 TeV pp data. Using the BDMPS energy loss formalism, along with the OSU 2 + 1D hydro to simulate the effect of the medium, we extracted the value of the jet transport coefficient to be around $${\hat{q}}_0=4\sim 8~\text {GeV}^2/\text {fm}$$

q
^

0

=
4
∼
8

GeV
2

/
fm

by comparing with the Z + jet PbPb experimental data. The H + jet $$x_J$$

x
J

distribution were calculated in a similar manner in contrast and found to have a stronger Sudakov effect as compared with the Z + jet distribution. This study uses a clean color-neutral boson as trigger to study the jet quenching effect and serves as a complimentary method in the extraction of the QGP’s transport coefficient in high energy nuclear collisions.
Acupuncture for Cancer Pain — An Adjuvant Therapy for Cancer Pain Relief
Authors: Liang Qi , Zhang Ke , Wang Sumeng , Xu Xian , Liu Yiqian , Cui Shiyun , Liu Lingxiang
Published: December 2020

As current pain management methods cannot effectively control pain among cancer patients, acupuncture has developed as an adjuvant therapy for cancer pain relief. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in treating cancer pain remains controversial. Here, we briefly introduced the development of pain management, analgesic mechanisms, and acupuncture methods. Meanwhile, a comprehensive overview of acupuncture programs was provided in terms of different cancer types, sources, and degrees. Interestingly, acupuncture can treat both tumor-induced pain and therapy-induced pain well among cancer patients. We preliminarily summarized frequently-used acupoints for different types of cancer pain and found that needle retention time was mostly 30 min, and treatment cycle was two weeks. Additionally, clinicians consistently selected Ashi acupoint or bilateral Zusanli acupoint and combined multiple acupuncture methods for different degrees of cancer pain.
Effect of Bee Venom on an Experimental Cellular Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Ku Yong Ho , Kang Jae Hui , Lee Hyun
Published: December 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by the deposition of the [Formula: see text]-Amyloid peptide ([Formula: see text]A), which causes the inflammation of neurons. Bee venom (BV) elicits a strong anti-inflammatory response, and therefore we conducted an in vitro experiment to study the efficacy of BV in an AD cellular model. To mimic AD, the U87MG cell line was incubated for 168 hours with 2.5 [Formula: see text]M [Formula: see text]A. Changes were confirmed by microscopy, and peptides were measured under stain-free conditions using homo-tomography. Sulforhodamine B analysis was performed to analyze the cell viability. Real-Time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis was conducted to analyze mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (NF-[Formula: see text]B, COX-2, TNF-[Formula: see text], IL-1), and Western blot was performed to measure the Caspase-3 protein levels. BV showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations below 10 [Formula: see text]g/mL. The NF-[Formula: see text]B mRNA levels were not significantly different between the BV group and the control group. The amount of [Formula: see text]A accumulation in the BV group decreased significantly. The mRNA expression levels of COX-2, TNF-[Formula: see text], and IL-1 were significantly reduced using 10 [Formula: see text]g/mL of BV compared to those in the control group. Additionally, Caspase-3 levels were also reduced compared to those of the control group when BV was used at a concentration of 10 [Formula: see text]g/mL. BV could inhibit apoptosis and inflammatory responses in an AD cellular model. In addition, it prevented cell accumulation of [Formula: see text]A, an important pathogenic mechanism in AD.
NASH EQUILIBRIUM OF COLLECTIVE ACTION ON SOCIAL NETWORKS WITH INDIRECT CONNECTIONS AND SOCIAL CONTROL
Authors: LI QING-JUN , HU HAI-HUA
Published: December 2020

This study aims to investigate how various forms of social control, namely selective incentive and behavioral conformity, collectively rationalize participation in collective action, through indirect network connections. To address it, we use a public game model and analyze the equilibrium conditions of the emergence of collective action on centralized, star-shaped networks and on decentralized, loop-shaped networks. The results show that social control is effective in motivating contribution towards a public good; however, the effect is highly dependent on the ratio of the benefits derived from selective incentive versus behavioral conformity as well as on the structure of social networks. Moreover, we find that indirect network connections can be an important route through which social control can improve the emergence of collective action. These findings have important implications for collective action theory and for intervention in collective actions.
Nonlinear Correlation Analysis of Time Series Based on Complex Network Similarity
Authors: Nie Chun-Xiao
Published: December 2020

Characterizing the relationship between time series is an important issue in many fields, in particular, in many cases there is a nonlinear correlation between series. This paper provides a new method to study the relationship between time series using the perspective of complex networks. This method converts a time series into a distance matrix and constructs a sequence of nearest neighbor networks, so that the nonlinear relationship between time series is expressed as similarity between networks. In addition, based on the surrogate series, we applied [Formula: see text]-score to characterize the level of significance and analyzed some benchmark models. We not only use the artificial dataset and the real dataset to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, but also analyze its robustness, which provides an alternative method for detecting nonlinear relationships.
BILATERAL INSTRUMENTED WHEEL SYSTEM FOR MEASURING HANDRIM FORCES DURING MANUAL WHEELCHAIR PROPULSION
Authors: KIM YONG CHEOL , HEO YOON , NAM KI-TAE , KIM GYOO SUK , HONG EUNG-PYO
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this study was to design and validate a new bilateral instrumented wheel system (IWS) to measure triaxial handrim forces and torques simultaneously during the wheelchair propulsion. The designed and implemented system measures the force applied to the handrims on both sides of a manual wheelchair using 6-axis force/torque sensors. In addition, a user interface receives the measurements from the left and right IWSs. To verify the accuracy of the wheel system, we evaluate force and torque measurements during the static and dynamic tests. The maximum error in static measurements of force and torque are 4.29% and 1.95%, respectively. Likewise, dynamic tests using planar forces and axle torques provide low errors and measurements that are highly correlated with the expected values ([Formula: see text]). The results revealed that the proposed IWS can be used to measure bilateral 3D handrim reaction forces with acceptable accuracy.
Analysis of Collaboration Evolution in AHP Research: 1982–2018
Authors: Yu Dejian , Kou Gang , Xu Zeshui , Shi Shunshun
Published: December 2020

Bibliometric analysis is effective for evaluating the merits of a given discipline. This study provides an analysis of collaboration evolution in analytic hierarchy process (AHP) research from 1982 to 2018. As an important developed approach of AHP, analytic network process (ANP) is also considered in this review. 9859 publications are harvested from Web of Science to conduct this bibliometric analysis. Country and institution are the two primary objectives to investigate the collaboration pattern of the 9859 publications. The most prolific countries and institutions are identified based on bibliometric indicators, and the collaboration relationships between connected countries or institutions are explored based on science mapping techniques. Further, a dynamic analysis is provided to investigate the collaboration evolution of AHP publications at the levels of country and institution. This study offers a new topic on the overview research of AHP publications, and could help in developing the collaboration evolution analysis in the AHP field.
EWNStream+: Effective and Real-time Clustering of Short Text Streams Using Evolutionary Word Relation Network
Authors: Yang Shuiqiao , Huang Guangyan , Zhou Xiangmin , Mak Vicky , Yearwood John
Published: December 2020

The real-time clustering of short text streams has various applications, such as event tracking, text summarization and sentimental analysis. However, accurately and efficiently clustering short text streams is challenging due to the sparsity problem (i.e., the limited information comprised in a single short text document leads to high-dimensional and sparse vectors when we represent short texts using traditional vector space models), topic drift and the fast generated text streams. In this paper, we provide an effective and real-time Evolutionary Word relation Network for short text streams clustering (EWNStream[Formula: see text]) method. The EWNStream[Formula: see text] method constructs a bi-weighted word relation network using the aggregated term frequencies and term co-occurrence statistics at corpus level to overcome the sparsity problem and topic drift of short texts. Better still, as the query window in the stream shifts to the newly arriving data, EWNStream[Formula: see text] is capable of incrementally updating the word relation network by incorporating new word statistics and decaying the old ones to naturally capture the underlying topic drift in the data streams and reduce the size of the network. The experimental results on a real-world dataset show that EWNStream[Formula: see text] can achieve better clustering accuracy and time efficiency than several counterpart methods.
Do Financial Development, Trade Openness and Political Stability Complement for Egypt’s Economic Growth?
Authors: Yakubu Zakaria , Loganathan Nanthakumar , Sethi Narayan , Golam Hassan Asan Ali
Published: December 2020

This study examines the complement of financial development, trade openness, political stability and integrating government expenditure on Egyptian economy using time series annual data covering the period 1977 until 2018. This study used the ARDL-ECM estimates to determine the long and short-run cointegration between the series. The estimated results indicated that the financial development enhances growth in the long-run, while the political stability undermined the economic growth in the long-run. Interestingly, we found financial development, trade openness and government expenditure Granger cause economic growth in the short-run, while political stability Granger causes economic growth in both short and long-run; and a similar result with the causal relationship appeared in the strong causal relationship condition. Overall, this study showed that both financial development and trade openness gave evidence of causing growth, but the political stability does not. Thus, the reform policies should continue, while adopting measures to ensure that all the determinants are complementing to growth in Egypt as they are all pivotal and it is imperative for policy analysts to put into perspective when formulating policies as the study captures a novel political stability variable towards growth.
New sequence stratigraphic framework on a ‘passive’ margin: implications for the post-break-up depositional environment and onset of glaciomarine conditions in NE Greenland
Authors: Petersen Thomas G.
Published: December 2020

Detailed sequence stratigraphic frameworks have been produced for most of the Cenozoic deposits around the North Atlantic and Greenland Sea. However, the sequence stratigraphic evolution of the NE Greenland shelf, a significant part of the Atlantic Ocean margin, has so far never been interpreted. This study provides, for the first time, a detailed sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the NE Greenland shelf since the late Eocene. The tectonic evolution, eustatic sea-level change and the impact of glaciations are integrated into a consistent geological history. Based on the identification of pronounced unconformities and their correlative conformities, ten stratigraphic sequences are identified. The onset of deposition is defined by a pronounced erosional event, where late Paleocene tectonic activity caused mass wasting of the uplifted footwall of the Danmarkshavn Ridge along a
c.
200 km section of the ridge. A second pronounced unconformity developed across the margin during the mid-Miocene, which caused forced regressive submarine fans to prograde across the margin. The following tectonic quiet period is overlain by glaciomarine deposits, with evidence of ice deformation reaching the present day shelf break. Unknown super-regional plate tectonic forces are suggested as a driver of sequence formation based on correlation with the Canadian Arctic.