bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) is a cellular efflux transporter for paracetamol glutathione and cysteine conjugates
Authors: Koenderink Jan B. , van den Heuvel Jeroen J. M. W. , Bilos Ab , Vredenburg Galvin , Vermeulen Nico P. E. , Russel Frans G. M.
Published: May 2020

Paracetamol (acetaminophen, APAP) overdose is a leading cause of acute drug-induced liver failure. APAP hepatotoxicity is mediated by the reactive metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). NAPQI is inactivated by conjugation with glutathione (GSH) to APAP-GSH, which is further converted into its cysteine derivative APAP-CYS. Before necrosis of hepatocytes occurs, APAP-CYS is measurable in plasma of the affected patient and it has been proposed as an early biomarker of acetaminophen toxicity. APAP-GSH and APAP-CYS can be extruded by hepatocytes, but the transporters involved are unknown. In this study we examined whether ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters play a role in the cellular efflux of APAP, APAP-GSH, and APAP-CYS. The ABC transport proteins P-gp/ABCB1, BSEP/ABCB11, BCRP/ABCG2, and MRP/ABCC1-5 were overexpressed in HEK293 cells and membrane vesicles were produced. Whereas P-gp, BSEP, MRP3, MRP5, and BCRP did not transport any of the compounds, uptake of APAP-GSH was found for MRP1, MRP2 and MRP4. APAP-CYS appeared to be a substrate of MRP4 and none of the ABC proteins transported APAP. The results suggest that the NAPQI metabolite APAP-CYS can be excreted into plasma by MRP4, where it could be a useful biomarker for APAP exposure and toxicity. Characterization of the cellular efflux of APAP-CYS is important for its development as a biomarker, because plasma concentrations might be influenced by drug-transporter interactions and upregulation of MRP4.
Well-posedness and qualitative behaviour of the Mullins-Sekerka problem with ninety-degree angle boundary contact
Authors: Abels Helmut , Rauchecker Maximilian , Wilke Mathias
Published: May 2020

We show local well-posedness for a Mullins-Sekerka system with ninety degree angle boundary contact. We will describe the motion of the moving interface by a height function over a fixed reference surface. Using the theory of maximal regularity together with a linearization of the equations and a localization argument we will prove well-posedness of the full nonlinear problem via the contraction mapping principle. Here one difficulty lies in choosing the right space for the Neumann trace of the height function and showing maximal$$L_p{-}L_q$$Lp-Lq-regularity for the linear problem. In the second part we show that solutions starting close to certain equilibria exist globally in time, are stable, and converge to an equilibrium solution at an exponential rate.
Cross-linking/mass spectrometry at the crossroads
Authors: Piersimoni Lolita , Sinz Andrea
Published: May 2020

Cross-linking/mass spectrometry (XL-MS) has come a long way. Originally, XL-MS was used to study relatively small, purified proteins. Meanwhile, it is employed to investigate protein-protein interactions on a proteome-wide level, giving snapshots of cellular processes. Currently, XL-MS is at the intersection of a multitude of workflows and the impact this technique has in addressing specific biological questions is steadily growing. This article is intended to give a bird’s-eye view of the current status of XL-MS, the benefits of using MS-cleavable cross-linkers, and the challenges posed in the future development of this powerful technology. We also illustrate how XL-MS can deliver valuable structural insights into protein complexes when used in combination with other structural techniques, such as electron microscopy.
A drug–drug interaction study to evaluate the impact of peficitinib on OCT1- and MATE1-mediated transport of metformin in healthy volunteers
Authors: Shibata Mai , Toyoshima Junko , Kaneko Yuichiro , Oda Kazuo , Nishimura Tetsuya
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Peficitinib is an oral pan-Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Co-administration of peficitinib with metformin, a type 2 diabetes therapy, can occur in clinical practice. Hepatic and renal uptake of metformin is mediated by organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) and OCT2, respectively, and its renal excretion by multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1) and MATE2-K. This study investigated the effect of peficitinib on metformin pharmacokinetics in vitro and in healthy volunteers.

Methods

Inhibitory effects of peficitinib and its metabolite H2 on metformin uptake into human OCT1/2- and MATE1/2-K-expressing cells were assessed in vitro. In an open-label, drug–drug interaction study, 24 healthy volunteers received a single dose of metformin 750 mg on Days 1 and 10, and a single dose of peficitinib 150 mg on Days 3 and 5–11. Blood and urine samples were collected pre-dose on Days 1 and 10, and at intervals ≤ 48 h post-dose. Metformin concentration was determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its pharmacokinetic parameters calculated.

Results

Peficitinib, but not H2, inhibited metformin uptake into OCT1- and MATE1/2-K-expressing cells. Repeated-dose administration of peficitinib reduced metformin area under the concentration–time curve from 0 h extrapolated to infinity (AUCinf) by 17.4%, maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) by 17.0%, and renal clearance (CLR) by 12.9%. Co-administration of peficitinib with metformin was generally well tolerated.

Conclusion

Slight changes in AUCinf, Cmax and CLR of metformin were observed when co-administered with peficitinib; however, these changes were considered not clinically relevant.
Hybrid PET/MR imaging for the prediction of left ventricular recovery after percutaneous revascularisation of coronary chronic total occlusions
Authors: Vitadello Teresa , Kunze Karl P. , Nekolla Stephan G. , Langwieser Nicolas , Bradaric Christian , Weis Florian , Cassese Salvatore , Fusaro Massimiliano , Hapfelmeier Alexander , Lewalter Thorsten , Schwaiger Markus , Kastrati Adnan , Laugwitz Karl-Ludwig , Rischpler Christoph , Ibrahim Tareq
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To evaluate myocardial viability assessment with hybrid 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging ([18F]FDG-PET/MR) in predicting left ventricular (LV) wall motion recovery after percutaneous revascularisation of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO).

Methods and results

Forty-nine patients with CTO and corresponding wall motion abnormality (WMA) underwent [18F]FDG-PET/MR imaging for viability assessment prior to percutaneous revascularisation. After 3–6 months, 23 patients underwent follow-up MR to evaluate wall motion recovery. In total, 124 segments were assigned to the CTO territories, while 80 segments displayed impaired wall motion. Of these, 68% (54) were concordantly viable in PET and MR; conversely, only 2 segments (2%) were assessed non-viable by both modalities. However, 30% showed a discordant viability pattern, either PET non-viable/MR viable (3 segments, 4%) or PET viable/MR non-viable (21 segments, 26%), and the latter revealed a significant wall motion improvement at follow-up (p = 0.033). Combined imaging by [18F]FDG-PET/MR showed a fair accuracy in predicting myocardial recovery after CTO revascularisation (PET/MR area under ROC curve (AUC) = 0.72, p = 0.002), which was superior to LGE-MR (AUC = 0.66) and [18F]FDG-PET (AUC = 0.58) alone.

Conclusion

Hybrid PET/MR imaging prior to CTO revascularisation predicts more accurately the recovery of dysfunctional myocardium than PET or MR alone. Its complementary information may identify regions of viable myocardium with increased potential for functional recovery.
Measurement of sedentary time and physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis: an ActiGraph and activPAL™ validation study
Authors: O’Brien Ciara M. , Duda Joan L. , Kitas George D. , Veldhuijzen van Zanten Jet J. C. S. , Metsios George S. , Fenton Sally A. M.
Published: May 2020

Accurate measurement of sedentary time and physical activity (PA) is essential to establish their relationships with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) outcomes. Study objectives were to: (1) validate the GT3X+ and activPAL3μ™, and develop RA-specific accelerometer (count-based) cut-points for measuring sedentary time, light-intensity PA and moderate-intensity PA (laboratory-validation); (2) determine the accuracy of the RA-specific (vs. non-RA) cut-points, for estimating free-living sedentary time in RA (field-validation).Laboratory-validation: RA patients (n = 22) were fitted with a GT3X+, activPAL3μ™ and indirect calorimeter. Whilst being video-recorded, participants undertook 11 activities, comprising sedentary, light-intensity and moderate-intensity behaviours. Criterion standards for devices were indirect calorimetry (GT3X+) and direct observation (activPAL3μ™).Field-validation: RA patients (n = 100) wore a GT3X+ and activPAL3μ™ for 7 days. The criterion standard for sedentary time cut-points (RA-specific vs. non-RA) was the activPAL3μ™. Results of the laboratory-validation: GT3X—receiver operating characteristic curves generated RA-specific cut-points (counts/min) for: sedentary time = ≤ 244; light-intensity PA = 245–2501; moderate-intensity PA ≥ 2502 (all sensitivity ≥ 0.87 and 1-specificity ≤ 0.11). ActivPAL3μ™—Bland–Altman 95% limits of agreement (lower–upper [min]) were: sedentary = (− 0.1 to 0.2); standing = (− 0.7 to 1.1); stepping = (− 1.2 to 0.6). Results of the field-validation: compared to the activPAL3μ™, Bland–Altman 95% limits of agreement (lower–upper) for sedentary time (min/day) estimated by the RA-specific cut-point = (− 42.6 to 318.0) vs. the non-RA cut-point = (− 19.6 to 432.0). In conclusion, the activPAL3μ™ accurately quantifies sedentary, standing and stepping time in RA. The RA-specific cut-points offer a validated measure of sedentary time, light-intensity PA and moderate-intensity PA in these patients, and demonstrated superior accuracy for estimating free-living sedentary time, compared to non-RA cut-points.
In vivo biomimetic calcification of selected organic scaffolds using snail shell regeneration: a new methodological approach
Authors: Machałowski Tomasz , Wysokowski Marcin , Petrenko Iaroslav , Langer Enrico , Tsurkan Dmitry , Jesionowski Teofil , Ehrlich Hermann
Published: May 2020

In vivo biomimetic biomineralization using living organisms known as biomineralizers is currently a major research trend. Industrially cultivated terrestrial snails, such as the common garden snailCornu aspersum, represent a simple model organism that is ideal for use in experiments on the regeneration of the calcified shell after the excavation of a corresponding shell fragment. The mollusk’s artificially damaged shell is regenerated via the formation of an organic regenerative membrane, which serves as a native template for in vivo biocalcification. In this study, for the first time, a special plexiglass device for non-lethal fixation of living snails, enabling real-time monitoring of their ability to regenerate their shells using digital microscopy, has been proposed and tested. As an alternative to natural biomineralization using the mollusk’s own sources, we propose chitin- and collagen-based templates, which have been shown to be effectively calcified by living snails. The results indicate that the type of organic template used for in vivo biomineralization has a substantial effect on the nature of the mineral phases.
Sheaf-Theoretic Stratification Learning from Geometric and Topological Perspectives
Authors: Brown Adam , Wang Bei
Published: May 2020

We investigate a sheaf-theoretic interpretation of stratification learning from geometric and topological perspectives. Our main result is the construction of stratification learning algorithms framed in terms of a sheaf on a partially ordered set with the Alexandroff topology. We prove that the resulting decomposition is the unique minimal stratification for which the strata are homogeneous and the given sheaf is constructible. In particular, when we choose to work with the local homology sheaf, our algorithm gives an alternative to the local homology transfer algorithm given in Bendich et al. (Proceedings of the 23rd Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, pp. 1355–1370, ACM, New York, 2012), and the cohomology stratification algorithm given in Nanda (Found. Comput. Math. 20(2), 195–222, 2020). Additionally, we give examples of stratifications based on the geometric techniques of Breiding et al. (Rev. Mat. Complut. 31(3), 545–593, 2018), illustrating how the sheaf-theoretic approach can be used to study stratifications from both topological and geometric perspectives. This approach also points toward future applications of sheaf theory in the study of topological data analysis by illustrating the utility of the language of sheaf theory in generalizing existing algorithms.
Derivation of a Homogenized Bending–Torsion Theory for Rods with Micro-Heterogeneous Prestrain
Authors: Bauer Robert , Neukamm Stefan , Schäffner Mathias
Published: May 2020

In this paper we investigate rods made of nonlinearly elastic, composite–materials that feature a micro-heterogeneous prestrain that oscillates (locally periodic) on a scale that is small compared to the length of the rod. As a main result we derive a homogenized bending–torsion theory for rods as$\Gamma $Γ-limit from 3D nonlinear elasticity by simultaneous homogenization and dimension reduction under the assumption that the prestrain is of the order of the diameter of the rod. The limit model features a spontaneous curvature–torsion tensor that captures the macroscopic effect of the micro-heterogeneous prestrain. We devise a formula that allows to compute the spontaneous curvature–torsion tensor by means of a weighted average of the given prestrain. The weight in the average depends on the geometry of the composite and invokes correctors that are defined with help of boundary value problems for the system of linear elasticity. The definition of the correctors depends on a relative scaling parameter$\gamma $γ, which monitors the ratio between the diameter of the rod and the period of the composite’s microstructure. We observe an interesting size-effect: For the same prestrain a transition from flat minimizers to curved minimizers occurs by just changing the value of$\gamma $γ. Moreover, in the paper we analytically investigate the microstructure-properties relation in the case of isotropic, layered composites, and consider applications to nematic liquid–crystal–elastomer rods and shape programming.
Moral Luck, Responsibility, and Systems of Tort Liability
Authors: Voyiakis Emmanuel
Published: May 2020

Bernard Williams drew our attention to what might be wrong with denying the role of luck in our understanding of agency and responsibility. Susan Wolf and David Enoch, in separate works, have asked us to focus instead on what might be virtuous and valuable in embracing that role, and on how our institutions might assist us in that regard. They claim that the agent who ‘takes’ a responsibility that law or morality do not already assign to them may be displaying a special moral virtue or exercising a distinctive moral power. I raise some objections to Wolf’s and Enoch’s case for that claim, and query some of its purported institutional implications for tort law systems.
Retributivism, Justification and Credence: The Epistemic Argument Revisited
Authors: Jeppsson Sofia M. I.
Published: May 2020

Harming other people is prima facie wrong. Unless we can be very certain that doing so is justified under the circumstances, we ought not to do it. In this paper, I argue that we ought to dismantle harsh retributivist criminal justice systems for this reason; we cannot be sufficiently certain that the harm is justified. Gregg Caruso, Ben Vilhauer and others have previously argued for the same conclusion; however, my own version sidesteps certain controversial premises of theirs. Harsh retributivist criminal justice can only be morally right if the following three propositions are true: Moral responsibility exists, retributivism is right, and we can find out how much punishment offenders deserve for their crimes. Suppose that we initially assign a high credence to each of the three propositions; I assume for the sake of argument that there are good arguments in support of each. Nevertheless, these arguments ultimately depend on intuitions. Since we have philosophical peers whose intuitions differ from ours, we ought to downgrade our credence in each. However, even slightly less credence in each proposition means far less credence in a conjunction of all three. Since the stakes are high and there are morally safer options for a criminal justice system, we ought to dismantle harsh retributivist ones.
What should organic farmers grow: heritage or modern spring wheat cultivars?
Authors: Løes Anne-Kristin , Frøseth Randi B. , Dieseth Jon Arne , Skaret Josefine , Lindö Caroline
Published: May 2020

To achieve a complete organic value chain, we need organic seed from cultivars adapted to organic growing. A separate breeding for organic growing is difficult to achieve in small markets. Many breeding goals are equal for organic and conventional cereals, and cultivars failing to qualify as a commercial variety for conventional growing may possibly perform well in organic growing, with different regimes of fertilisation and plant protection. A field trial was conducted over 2 years to compare 25 cultivars of spring wheat, ranging from one land race and some old varieties released between 1940 and 1967, to modern market varieties and breeding lines. Grain yield, agronomic characteristics and grain and flour quality, including mineral content, were recorded. The performance of the 20 most interesting cultivars in artisan bread baking was measured, as were sensory attributes in sourdough bread from six cultivars. Modern varieties and breeding lines gave higher yields and had larger kernels, better grain filling, higher falling numbers and higher SDS-sedimentation volumes compared with old cultivars. The old cultivars, on average, had higher concentrations of minerals, although the growing site had a strong effect on mineral concentrations. Bread from modern cultivars performed best in a baking test. Several sensory attributes such as juiciness, chew resistance, firmness, acid taste and vinegar odour varied significantly between the six tested cultivars. Land races and old varieties have an important cultural value, and many consumers are willing to pay a premium price for such products. This will be required since yield levels are often considerably lower, especially with humid weather conditions at harvest.
Job loss at home: children’s school performance during the Great Recession
Authors: Ruiz-Valenzuela Jenifer
Published: May 2020

This paper studies the intergenerational impact of parental job loss on school performance during the Great Recession in Spain. Collecting data through parental surveys in a school in the province of Barcelona, I obtain information about the parental labour market status before and after the Great Recession. I can then link this information to repeated information on their children’s school performance, for a sample of over 300 students. Using individual fixed effects, the estimates show a negative and significant decrease on average grades of around 15% of a standard deviation after father’s job loss. These results are mainly driven by those students whose fathers suffer long unemployment spells. In contrast, the average impact of mother’s job loss on school performance is close to zero and non-significant. The decline in school performance during the Great Recession after father’s job loss, particularly among disadvantaged students, could result in detrimental long-term effects that might contribute to increased inequality. This could be an important and underemphasised cost of recessions.
CD105 is a prognostic marker and valid endothelial target for microbubble platforms in cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Nair Amit , Ingram Nicola , Verghese Eldo T. , Wijetunga Imeshi , Markham Alexander F. , Wyatt Judy , Prasad K. Rajendra , Coletta P. Louise
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The current treatment outcomes in cholangiocarcinoma are poor with cure afforded only by surgical extirpation. The efficacy of targeting the tumoural endothelial marker CD105 in cholangiocarcinoma, as a basis for potential microbubble-based treatment, is unknown and was explored here.

Methods

Tissue expression of CD105 was quantified using immunohistochemistry in 54 perihilar cholangiocarcinoma samples from patients who underwent resection in a single centre over a ten-year period, and analysed against clinicopathological data. In vitro flow assays using microbubbles functionalised with CD105 antibody were conducted to ascertain specificity of binding to murine SVR endothelial cells. Finally, CD105-microbubbles were intravenously administered to 10 Balb/c nude mice bearing heterotopic subcutaneous human extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (TFK-1 and EGI-1) xenografts after which in vivo binding was assessed following contrast-enhanced destruction replenishment ultrasound application.

Results

Though not significantly associated with any examined clinicopathological variable, we found that higher CD105 expression was independently associated with poorer patient survival (median 12 vs 31 months; p = 0.002). In vitro studies revealed significant binding of CD105-microbubbles to SVR endothelial cells in comparison to isotype control (p = 0.01), as well as in vivo to TFK-1 (p = 0.02) and EGI-1 (p = 0.04) mouse xenograft vasculature.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that CD105 is a biomarker eminently suitable for cholangiocarcinoma targeting using functionalised microbubbles.
Seasonal Differences in Rural Particulate Matter Ecotoxicity
Authors: Kováts Nora , Fábián Virág Adrienn , Hubai Katalin , Diósi Dorina , Sainnokhoi Tsend-Ayush , Békéssy Zsófia , Teke Gábor
Published: May 2020

The composition of atmospheric particulate matter, including particle-bound polyaromatic hydrocarbons, generally shows a clear seasonal pattern which is reflected in its ecotoxicity as well. This study aimed at characterising seasonal differences in the ecotoxicity of rural aerosol samples applying both luminescent bacteria and higher plants as test organisms. Higher plant phytotoxicity was assessed by the Sinapis alba root growth inhibition test and the Vegetative Vigour Test. Different bioassays and end-points showed different sensitivity: while the Sinapis alba assay showed no toxic effect, luminescent bacteria proved an excellent screening tool, detecting no toxicity in the summer sample and the highest inhibition in the winter sample, with EC20 = 9.87%. In the case of Vegetative Vigour Test, parallel application of different end-points revealed that atmospheric particulate matter might have a Janus-faced effect: stimulation of photosynthetic pigments due to nutrient content and growth impairment due to toxic components.
‘Makin’ it’ in the Heartland: Exploring perceptions of success among second‐generation immigrant youth in St. Louis
Authors: Sichling Florian , Karamehic‐Muratovic Ajlina
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Debates in the literature on youth transitions and on immigrant adaptation acknowledge that recent societal shifts have altered the conditions for young people growing up today. As a result, traditional notions of success may limit our understanding of the mechanisms that lead to differential transitional and adaptation pathways among today's children of immigrants. This study explores the definitions of success among a sample of Bosnian‐origin youth in St. Louis.

Method

The analysis is based on the first wave of in‐depth qualitative interviews with 58 Bosnian second‐generation youth (age 15–23) in St. Louis. Interviews lasted 45–90 min, were conducted in English, transcribed and coded following an inductive analytic logic.

Results

Overall the respondents complemented traditional notions of success, such as material stability and family formation with more subjective indicators such as self‐fulfillment and happiness.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the importance for future waves of data collection to trace how definitions of success evolve and how they shape particular trajectories of the youth in our study. On a more general level, these findings urge researchers to incorporate definitions of success that are not primarily based on social and economic status mobility in an effort to generate a more nuanced understanding of the adaptations and transitions to adulthood of today's children of immigrants.
Nontrivial solutions to Serrin's problem in annular domains
Authors: Sciaraffia Luciano , Kamburov Nikola
Published: May 2020

We construct nontrivial bounded, real analytic domains

\mathrm{\Omega } \subseteq \mathbb{R}^{n}

of the form

\mathrm{\Omega }_{0} \setminus \overline{\mathrm{\Omega }}_{1}

, bifurcating from annuli, which admit a positive solution to the overdetermined boundary value problem

\left\{\begin{matrix} −\mathrm{\Delta }u = 1,\:u > 0 & \text{ in }\mathrm{\Omega }, \\ u = 0,\:\partial _{\nu }u = \text{const} & \text{ on }\partial \mathrm{\Omega }_{0}, \\ u = \text{const},\:\partial _{\nu }u = \text{const} & \text{ on }\partial \mathrm{\Omega }_{1}, \\ \end{matrix}\right.

where
ν
stands for the inner unit normal to ∂Ω. From results by Reichel [1] and later by Sirakov [2], it was known that the condition

\partial _{\nu }u \leq 0

on

\partial \mathrm{\Omega }_{1}

is sufficient for rigidity to hold, namely, the only domains which admit such a solution are annuli and solutions are radially symmetric. Our construction shows that the condition is also necessary. In addition, we show that the constructed domains are self-Cheeger.
SfM Photogrammetric Field Methods for Historic Burial Excavations: The Case of Bethel Cemetery
Authors: Badillo Alex Elvis , Myers Joshua A. , Peterson Ryan J.
Published: May 2020

In this article, we present a unique case study in Indianapolis, Indiana, where cultural resource management (CRM) archaeologists, alongside various university archaeologists, tested the use of SfM photogrammetry to effectively replace traditional archaeological methods of mapping and documentation during the excavation of over 500 historic burials. This project was designed with the intention of using SfM photogrammetry for 3D mapping and documentation from its inception, implementing formal procedures and protocols for data collection creating a standard workflow. To our knowledge, this is the first integrated use of SfM at this scale on an archaeological project in Indiana. By the close of fieldwork, over 300 burials had been digitally recorded, and measurable 3D models were generated. We found that the standard photogrammetry workflow implemented for single context excavation was largely successful. First, we outline the data collection process for 3D mapping of single-context excavations at Bethel Cemetery. This is followed by a description of the problems encountered during data collection and the ways the photogrammetry team adapted to variability in field environments for photocapture. Finally, we recommend the adoption of these methods by practitioners/academics as standard practice in the archaeological excavation of human remains.
Ethics and Best Practices for Mapping Archaeological Sites
Authors: Smith Cecilia
Published: May 2020

Archaeologists are tasked with balancing a call to open data and the need to maintain confidentiality of sensitive archaeological site locations. Low-resolution mapping and data aggregation are the methods most commonly used to hide site locations; however, we understand little of the effectiveness of these practices. Trends in geomasking, obscuring observed geographic points, to anonymize public health data are suggested as a source of methods for sharing archaeological site data. Archaeologists have available to them a number of geomasking methods that balance open data and site security in different ways. Low-resolution mapping at several scales and random direction with fixed radius, random perturbation donut, and Gaussian donut techniques are tested on a set of archaeological site locations. Random perturbation donuts resulted in the best balance between obscuring archaeological locations and conveying observed spatial patterning. Researchers should carefully consider how they convey archaeological location data, as commonly used low-resolution scales may not provide the desired level of obscurity. Researchers should also be explicit as to how and why their methods of site visualization are chosen.
Coronavirus Disease Health Care Delivery Impact on African Americans
Authors: Chaturvedi Rahul , Gabriel Rodney A
Published: May 2020

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected over 1.5 million individuals and led to over 91, 000 deaths in the United States (US) alone as of May 20th, 2020. Minority populations, however, continue to be a high-risk population to contract the SARS-CoV-2 infection. While socioeconomic inequality may help to explain why minority ethnic populations are contracting the SARS-CoV-2 in larger proportions, the reason for elevated mortality rates in African Americans is still unknown. African Americans are less likely than whites to utilize high-quality hospitals, ambulatory care services, and regular primary care providers; this is most likely a result of barriers to accessing high quality treatment, as African Americans have substantially higher uninsured rates. However, previous reports have shown that regardless of insurance status, African Americans are more likely to be directed toward lower quality treatment plans compared to their white counterparts, and that physicians carry implicit biases that negatively impact treatment regimens for these minority populations. While income, education, and access to healthcare should be revised in due time, in the short term physicians should do everything possible to learn about implicit biases that may exist in healthcare, as the first step to minimize implicit biases is to recognize that they exist.
Understanding the Predictors that Contribute to Liberian Health Care Workers Feeling Protected From Ebola While at Work
Authors: Enriquez Kayla , Udhayashankar Kanagasabai , Niescierenko Michelle
Published: May 2020

Objective:

To assess Liberian health care workers’ feelings around safety in returning to work in the setting of the Ebola virus disease outbreak of 2014–2015 after receiving infection prevention and control (IPC) training.

Methods:

Academic Consortium Combating Ebola in Liberia (ACCEL) training surveys were done at 21 public, Liberian hospitals to understand health care workers’ attitudes surrounding Ebola and whether they felt safe while at work based on multiple factors. Logistic regression was used for analysis.

Results:

We found that health care workers feeling safe at work during the Ebola outbreak was primarily predicted by the number of IPC/Ebola trainings received pre-ACCEL interventions. Health care workers felt increasingly safer and motivated to return to work as trainings approached 3 (OR 8, p-value < 0.001); however, more than 3 trainings resulted in decreased safety and motivation. In addition, health care workers who reported washing their hands before and after patient contact were 3.4 times more likely to understand how to protect themselves from Ebola.

Conclusions:

These results help to better understand the utility of repeated trainings on health care worker practice attitudes and the importance of IPC policies within hospitals, such as hand hygiene promotion and education, when coordinating humanitarian efforts.
Temporal change of risk factors in hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection using time-trend analysis
Authors: Song Jiyoun , Cohen Bevin , Zachariah Philip , Liu Jianfang , Larson Elaine L.
Published: May 2020

Objective:

Given recent changes in the epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and prevention efforts, we investigated temporal changes over a period of 11 years (2006–2016) in incidence and risk factors for CDI.

Design:

Retrospective matched case-control study.

Setting/Patients:

Pediatric and adult inpatients (n = 694,849) discharged from 3 hospitals (tertiary and quaternary care, community, and pediatric) in a large, academic health center in New York City.

Methods:

Risk factors were identified in cases and controls matched by length of stay at a ratio of 1:4. A Cochran–Armitage or Mann-Kendall test was used to investigate trends of incidence and risk factors.

Results:

Of 694,849 inpatients, 6,038 (0.87%) had CDI: 44% of these cases were hospital acquired (HA-CDI) and 56% were community acquired (CA-CDI). We observed temporal downward trends in HA-CDI (−0.03% per year) and upward trends in CA-CDI (+0.04% per year). Over time, antibiotics were administered to more patients (+3% per year); the use of high-risk antibiotics declined (–1.2% per year); and antibiotic duration increased in patients with HA-CDI (+4.4% per year). Fewer proton-pump inhibitors and more histamine-2 blockers were used (−3.8% and +7.3% per year, respectively; all Ptrend <.05).

Conclusions:

Although the incidence of HA-CDI decreased over time, CA-CDI simultaneously increased. Continued efforts to assure judicious use of antibiotics in inpatient and community settings is clearly vital. Measuring the actual the level of exposure of an antibiotic (incidence density) should be used for ongoing surveillance and assessment.
‘Policing’ a pandemic: Garda wellbeing and COVID-19
Authors: Rooney L. , McNicholas F.
Published: May 2020

In response to the global pandemic COVID-19, the Irish government has called upon the Garda Síochána to implement an unparalleled mode of policing to mitigate and contain the spread of the Coronavirus. Studies investigating smaller scale epidemics, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), indicate that staff at the frontlines of an outbreak are exposed to an insuperable amount of stress and experience increased psychological morbidities as a result. Furthermore, research not only indicates that heighted levels of psychological distress are an occupational hazard associated with the law enforcement profession, but that members of the Garda Síochána feel their mental health needs are largely unmet by their organisation. Given the pandemic’s propensity to expose officers to indeterminate echelons of physical and psychological threat; there has never been a more appropriate time to explore the potential burdens associated with ‘policing’ a pandemic, question the governments capacity to address the psychological support needs of frontline professionals, and plan future research for best practice.
Assessment of the theory of planned behaviour in predicting potential intention and behaviour of positive thinking among a school-based sample of Iranian adolescents: a path analysis
Authors: Ghahremani Leila , Kaveh Mohammad Hossein , Tehrani Hadi , Orooji Arezoo , Jafari Alireza
Published: May 2020

This study aimed to determine the predictive power of the theory of planned behaviour in predicting the intention and behaviour of positive thinking in school students. A cross-sectional study was performed on 367 high school male students in Iran. Data were gathered using a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been confirmed before. Descriptive and inferential analysis (univariate and multiple logistic regression models, Pearson correlation) was performed using SPSS software V.20. AMOS version 22 was used to perform the path analysis. According to the results, the construct of attitude was the most important construct in predicting positive thinking intention. Finally, the theory of planned behaviour constructs could predict 36% of intention variance and 20% of behaviour variance of positive thinking. Since the construct of attitude is one of the most powerful constructs in predicting student positive thinking intention in male teens, it is recommended that more attention be paid to this construct in educational programs to improve the mental health of male high school students. The results of this study can help psychologists and counsellors, families, and teachers improve students’ mental health.
An n-dimensional chemotaxis system with signal-dependent motility and generalized logistic source: global existence and asymptotic stabilization
Authors: Lv Wenbin , Wang Qingyuan
Published: May 2020

This paper deals with the global existence for a class of Keller–Segel model with signal-dependent motility and general logistic term under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions in a higher-dimensional smoothly bounded domain, which can be written as
$$\eqalign{& u_t = \Delta (\gamma (v)u) + \rho u-\mu u^l,\quad x\in \Omega ,\;t > 0, \cr & v_t = \Delta v-v + u,\quad x\in \Omega ,\;t > 0.} $$It is shown that whenever ρ ∈ ℝ, μ > 0 and
$$l > \max \left\{ {\displaystyle{{n + 2} \over 2},2} \right\},$$then the considered system possesses a global classical solution for all sufficiently smooth initial data. Furthermore, the solution converges to the equilibrium
$$\left( {{\left( {\displaystyle{{\rho _ + } \over \mu }} \right)}^{1/(l-1)},{\left( {\displaystyle{{\rho _ + } \over \mu }} \right)}^{1/(l-1)}} \right)$$as t → ∞ under some extra hypotheses, where ρ+ = max{ρ, 0}.
Defending the Family: Female Begging and the Policing of Female Begging on the Streets of Pinochet's Santiago (1973–90)
Authors: Passmore Leith
Published: May 2020

Economic crises during Chile's civic–military dictatorship (1973–90) forced a growing number of people onto the streets, including women who commuted from peripheral neighbourhoods to beg in downtown Santiago. Under military rule, impoverished women in public spaces became a police problem. Despite their constant presence on the streets throughout the twentieth century, Chile's begging laws were rarely applied to women, except for a brief period under Pinochet, when begging emerged as a female crime in Santiago. This paper examines female begging and the policing of female begging, revealing both to be framed as a defence of the family.
From personalised nutrition to precision medicine: the rise of consumer genomics and digital health
Authors: Moore J. Bernadette
Published: May 2020

Advances in genomics generated the concept that a better understanding of individual characteristics, e.g. genotype, will lead to improved tailoring of pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies. Subsequent developments in proteomics and metabolomics, in addition to wearable technologies for tracking parameters, such as dietary intakes, physical activity, heart rate and blood glucose, have further driven this idea. Alongside these innovations, there has been a rapid rise in companies offering direct-to-consumer genetic and/or microbiome testing, in combination with the marketing of personalised nutrition services. Key scientific questions include how disparate datasets are integrated, how accurate are current predictions and how these may be developed in the future. In this regard, lessons can be learned from systems biology, which aims both to integrate data from different levels of organisation (e.g. genomic, proteomic and metabolomic) and predict the emergent behaviours of biological systems or organisms as a whole. The present paper reviews the origins and recent advancement of ‘big data’ and systems approaches in medicine and nutrition. Conclusions are that systems integration of multiple technologies has generated mechanistic insights and informed the evolution of precision medicine and personalised nutrition. Pertinent ethical issues include who is entitled to access new technologies and how commercial companies are storing, using and/or re-mining consumer data. Questions about efficacy (both long-term behavioural change and health outcomes), cost-benefit and impacts on health inequalities remain to be fully addressed.
Are benefit reductions an effective activation strategy? The case of the lowest benefit recipients in Denmark
Authors: HUSSAIN M. AZHAR , EJRNÆS MORTEN , LARSEN JØRGEN ELM
Published: May 2020

Decades of commitment to the basic principles of the Danish welfare state have been discarded with a new social policy reducing the benefits for people already at the bottom of the income ladder. The political intention is to increase job search via economic incentives that increase the gap between benefit income and market income. Using a panel dataset with benefit recipients, we show that the intended job search effect did not materialise to any significant extent; rather, the affected people became poorer because the vast majority of individuals could not respond to the economic incentives in the intended manner. Joblessness was not due to lack of incentives. This study confirms the importance of employability and self-efficacy, but it shows that health is an underlying variable that explains both of these factors and the recipients’ difficulties in getting a job. The results have two major social policy implications. Access to early retirement schemes should be easier for recipients who have serious health problems and therefore cannot respond to economic incentives, and there should be an increased focus on how to help the recipients without major health problems to develop self-efficacy.
Analysis of microwave backscattering from nonlinear sea surface with currents: doppler spectrum and SAR images
Authors: Su Xiang , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Dang Hongxing , Tan Xiaomin
Published: May 2020

Electromagnetic scattering from the sea surface is of great significance in radar detection, target recognition, ocean remote sensing, etc. By introducing the action spectrum, the modified spatio-temporal variation wave spectrum is used to establish a nonlinear sea surface with currents in this paper. Traditional capillary wave modification facet scattering model (CWMFSM) can only calculate the backscattering from the wind-driven sea surface. By using the new spatio-temporal variation wave spectrum to modify the scattering amplitude of every facet, the new CWMFSM can be used to calculate the nonlinear sea surface scattering with surface currents. Therefore, the model simultaneously considers the modulation of sea surface wind and currents to the radar back echo. The dependence of backscattering coefficient from nonlinear sea surface on the incident angle and the polarization are discussed. The results verify that the nonlinear model is more consistent with the measurement data. This paper also investigates the Doppler spectrum characteristics of the sea with currents. It is found that the effect of wave–current interaction on Doppler spectra is weaker than that of wave–wave interaction. The SAR images of nonlinear sea surfaces are also simulated and different bands, polarizations, and baseline length effects on sea current detection performance of along-track interference SAR are analyzed.
When Should the Majority Rule? Experimental Evidence for Madisonian Judgments in Five Cultures
Authors: Bor Alexander , Mazepus Honorata , Bokemper Scott E. , DeScioli Peter
Published: May 2020

In democracies, majority-rule voting is an esteemed rule for collective decisions, but its hazards have recently become apparent after a series of controversial referendums and ascendant populist leaders. Here, we investigate people’s judgments about when voting is appropriate for collective decisions across five countries with diverse cultures and political institutions (Denmark, Hungary, India, Russia, and USA). Participants read scenarios in which individuals with conflicting preferences need to make a collective decision. They judged whether the group should decide by voting, consensus, leadership, or chance. We experimentally manipulated whether the group contains a vulnerable minority – a smaller number of people with more at stake than the majority. In all five countries, participants generally preferred voting without a vulnerable minority, with relatively greater support for voting in more democratic countries. But, when the group included a vulnerable minority, participants in all countries reduced their support for voting and instead preferred consensus.
Vp/Vs Ratio of Incoming Sediments Off Cascadia Subduction Zone From Analysis of Controlled‐Source Multicomponent OBS Records
Authors: Zhu Jian , Canales J. Pablo , Han Shuoshuo , Carbotte Suzanne M. , Arnulf Adrien , Nedimović Mladen R.
Published: May 2020

P‐to‐S‐converted waves observed in controlled‐source multicomponent ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) records were used to derive the Vp/Vs structure of Cascadia Basin sediments. We used P‐to‐S waves converted at the basement to derive an empirical function describing the average Vp/Vs of Cascadia sediments as a function of sediment thickness. We derived one‐dimensional interval Vp/Vs functions from semblance velocity analysis of S‐converted intrasediment and basement reflections, which we used to define an empirical Vp/Vs versus burial depth compaction trend. We find that seaward from the Cascadia deformation front, Vp/Vs structure offshore northern Oregon and Washington shows little variability along strike, while the structure of incoming sediments offshore central Oregon is more heterogeneous and includes intermediate‐to‐deep sediment layers of anomalously elevated Vp/Vs. These zones with elevated Vp/Vs are likely due to elevated pore fluid pressures, although layers of high sand content intercalated within a more clayey sedimentary sequence, and/or a higher content of coarser‐grained clay minerals relative to finer‐grained smectite could be contributing factors. We find that the proto‐décollement offshore central Oregon develops within the incoming sediments at a low‐permeability boundary that traps fluids in a stratigraphic level where fluid overpressure exceeds 50% of the differential pressure between the hydrostatic pressure and the lithostatic pressure. Incoming sediments with the highest estimated fluid overpressures occur offshore central Oregon where deformation of the accretionary prism is seaward vergent. Conversely, landward vergence offshore northern Oregon and Washington correlates with more moderate pore pressures and laterally homogeneous Vp/Vs functions of Cascadia Basin sediments.
QBO‐MJO Connection in CMIP5 Models
Authors: Lim Yuna , Son Seok‐Woo
Published: May 2020

Recent studies have shown that the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) affects the boreal winter Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO), its teleconnection, and even its subseasonal prediction skill. Despite its widespread influences, the QBO‐MJO connection has rarely been examined with a climate model. Here, we demonstrate that the QBO‐MJO connection is not well reproduced in the four Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) models that internally generate the QBO. A weak hint of the QBO‐MJO connection is found only in the medium‐resolution Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI‐ESM‐MR). The MJO response to the QBO in this model, however, is not robust and is less organized than that in the observations. The reasons for no or weak QBO‐MJO connection in the climate model simulations are discussed in terms of the underestimated QBO and MJO amplitudes and weak static stability change in response to the QBO in the model.
Experimental Studies on Energy and Eigenvalue Based Spectrum Sensing Algorithms Using USRP Devices in OFDM Systems
Authors: Kumar Abhishek , Khan Amir Suhail , Modanwal Nitesh , Saha Seemanti
Published: May 2020

In this paper, first, energy detection (ED) based spectrum sensing inorthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system using National Instrument (NI) Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) 2942R software defined radio platform has been implemented. It is observed that in practical scenario ED scheme gives poor performance at low gain (G) values. To overcome the shortcomings of energy detection, we propose eigenvalue based detection of the primary user (PU) signal, where the ratio of the maximum eigenvalue to the average eigenvalue is used to detect the PU signal in both the single and multiple antenna systems/SISO and multiple‐input and multiple‐output (MIMO) based CR user. The analytical expression of the performance metric (probability of detection [Pd]) has been derived. Further, the experimental studies show that proposed technique gives optimum (Pd) in both SISO and MIMO case. It has been observed that the proposed technique outperforms the ED based detection even if the Tx‐Rx separation increases.