bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of current frequency on the structure, composition and properties of oxide layers formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation on aluminum-silicon alloy
Authors: Polunin A V , Borgardt E D , Ivashin P V , Tverdokhlebov A Ya , Krishtal M M
Published: November 2019

Oxide layers formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on pre-eutectic aluminum-silicon alloy 361.0 (9.8 wt.% Si) at various current pulse frequencies (50, 500, and 1000 Hz) were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDXMA), x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) were applied for the investigation of the oxide layers. Thickness, roughness, microhardness, wear resistance and thermal conductivity of the obtained oxide layers were measured. It was found that at a forming current frequency of 500 Hz, the best productivity of forming of the oxide layer is achieved, and the layer has the best hardness and wear resistance, and the smallest roughness.
Influence of parameters of high-voltage electrospark dispersion of materials on granulometric composition of nanopowders
Authors: Savkin A V , Sleptsov V V , Kukuskin D Y , Tsyrkov R A
Published: November 2019

The influence of parameters of high-voltage electric spark dispersion of materials on the granulometric composition of nanopowders of metals and alloys is considered. The most interesting feature of the developed experimental setup is the presence of an air discharge gap (FV1), which creates an overvoltage on the working discharge gap (FV2). The discharge gaps form a voltage divider when the capacitor (C) is discharged. It was assumed that the voltage divider should have a significant impact on the operation of the experimental setup. Studies have shown that when the air gap (FV1) is much larger than the working gap (FV2), their exact ratios do not affect the size of the resulting nanoparticles. At such ratios of discharge gaps, the voltage divider allows to regulate only the performance of the process of obtaining nanopowders. The resulting silver nanopowders had a spherical shape and a rather narrow size distribution. It is necessary to further study the process of high-voltage spark dispersion of materials with a significant overvoltage of the discharge gap.
Influence of VIP treatment modes on nitride coatings formation with different crystallographic orientation
Authors: Smirnova A N , Petrov L M , Ashmarin A A , Ivanchuk S B , Semenov V D
Published: November 2019

The change in crystallographic orientation during nitride coatings formation based on titanium and zirconium is studied depending on changes in the concentration ratios for the gas and metal components of the plasma flows and their energy effects on the treated substrate during vacuum ion-plasma (VIP) treatment. It is shown that a decrease in the interaction energy of the gas-metal plasma flow with the surface contributes to the transition of the texture formation of the phase composition to the non-texture.
Residual stress in the surface layers of high-pressure compressor blades made of titanium alloys after surface treatment with high-current pulsed electron beams
Authors: Teryaev D A , Mokhov V S
Published: November 2019

The paper deals with the evaluation of residual stresses in the surface layer of titanium alloys as a result of electron beam processing and solving problems associated with increasing heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and fatigue strength.
Ti-Al system coatings synthesized in reaction gases
Authors: Vardanyan E L , Ramazanov K N , Nazarov A Yu , Nagimov R Sh
Published: November 2019

The results of the study of reaction gases influence on microhardness and adhesion properties of coatings based on the Ti-Al intermetallic system. The results of different reaction gases influence on the coatings properties are discussed. The tests result of the samples with a single-layer coating based on Ti-Al intermetallic deposited in the reaction gas environment showed that the coating deposited in the nitrogen environment has the highest elastic recovery coefficient and has approximately the same fracture onset load compared to coatings deposited in the oxygen and acetylene environments.
Cognition of complexity and trade-offs in a wildfire-prone social-ecological system
Authors: Hamilton M , Salerno J , Fischer A P
Published: November 2019

Wildfire risk is a defining environmental challenge throughout much of the American West, as well as in other regions where complex social and ecological dynamics defy simple policy or management solutions. In such settings, diverse forms of land use, livelihoods, and accompanying values provide the conditions for trade-offs (e.g. between protecting homes from uncontrollable fires and restoring low-severity fire to ecosystems as a natural disturbance process). Addressing wildfire risk requires grappling with these trade-offs at multiple levels—given the need for action by individuals as well as by large and diverse stakeholder groups—and under conditions of considerable complexity. We evaluated how individual and collective perception of trade-offs varies as a function of complexity through analysis of the cognitive maps—representations of perceived causal relationships among factors that structure an individual’s understanding of a system—of 111 stakeholders in the Eastern Cascades Ecoregion of central Oregon. Bayesian statistical analysis revealed a strong tendency against perception of trade-offs in individual maps, but not in a collective map that resulted from the aggregation of all individual cognitive maps. Furthermore, we found that lags (the number of factors that mediated the effect of an action on multiple valued outcomes) limited perception of trade-offs. Each additional intervening factor decreased the likelihood of a trade-off by approximately 52% in individual cognitive maps and by 10% in the collective cognitive map. However, the heterogeneity of these factors increased the likelihood of perception of trade-offs, particularly among individual cognitive maps, for which each unit increase of the Shannon diversity index translated into a 20-fold increase in the likelihood of perception of trade-offs. Taken together, these results suggest that features of complexity have distinct effects on individual—and collective-level perception of trade-offs. We discuss implications for wildfire risk decision-making in central Oregon and in other complex wildfire-prone social-ecological systems.
Identifying trade-offs and co-benefits of climate policies in China to align policies with SDGs and achieve the 2 °C goal
Authors: Liu Jing-Yu , Fujimori Shinichiro , Takahashi Kiyoshi , Hasegawa Tomoko , Wu Wenchao , Takakura Jun’ya , Masui Toshihiko
Published: November 2019

The Paris Agreement set long-term global climate goals to pursue stabilization of the global mean temperature increase at below 2 °C (the so-called 2 °C goal). Individual countries submitted their own short-term targets, mostly for the year 2030. Meanwhile, the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) were designed to help set multiple societal goals with respect to socioeconomic development, the environment, and other issues. Climate policies can lead to intended or unintended consequences in various sectors, but these types of side effects rarely have been studied in China, where climate policies will play an important role in global greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable development is a major goal. This study identified the extent to which climate policies in line with the 2 °C goal could have multi-sectoral consequences in China. Carbon constraints in China in the 2Deg scenario are set to align with the global 2 °C target based on the emissions per capita convergence principle. Carbon policies for NDC pledges as well as policies in China regarding renewables, air pollution control, and land management were also simulated. The results show that energy security and air quality have co-benefits related to climate policies, whereas food security and land resources experienced negative side effects (trade-offs). Near-term climate actions were shown to help reduce these trade-offs in the mid-term. A policy package that included food and land subsidies also helped achieve climate targets while avoiding the adverse side effects caused by the mitigation policies. The findings should help policymakers in China develop win–win policies that do not negatively affect some sectors, which could potentially enhance their ability to take climate actions to realize the global 2 °C goal within the context of sustainable development.
Absorbing phase transitions in a non-conserving sandpile model
Authors: Göbel Marvin , Gros Claudius
Published: November 2019

We introduce and study a non-conserving sandpile model, the autonomously adapting sandpile (AAS) model, for which a site topples whenever it has two or more grains, distributing three or two grains randomly on its neighboring sites, respectively with probability p  and

. The toppling process is independent of the actual number of grains z

i
of the toppling site, as long as

. For a periodic lattice the model evolves into an inactive state for small p , with the number of active sites becoming stationary for larger values of p . In one and two dimensions we find that the absorbing phase transition occurs for

and

.

The symmetry of bipartite lattices allows states in which all active sites are located alternatingly on one of the two sublattices, A and B, respectively for even and odd times. We show that the AB-sublattice symmetry is spontaneously broken for the AAS model, an observation that holds also for the Manna model. One finds that a metastable AB-symmetry conserving state is transiently observable and that it has the potential to influence the width of the scaling regime, in particular in two dimensions.

The AAS model mimics the behavior of integrate-and-fire neurons which propagate activity independently of the input received, as long as the threshold is crossed. Abstracting from regular lattices, one can identify sites with neurons and consider quenched networks of neurons connected to a fixed number G of other neurons, with G being drawn from a suitable distribution. The neuronal activity is then propagated to G other neurons. The AAS model is hence well suited for theoretical studies of nearly critical brain dynamics. We also point out that the waiting-time distribution allows an avalanche-free experimental access to criticality.
Modelling approach for predicting the superplastic deformation behaviour of titanium alloys with strain hardening/softening characterizations
Authors: Mosleh A O , Mestre-Rinn P , Khalil A M , Kotov A D , Mikhaylovskaya A V
Published: November 2019

This paper introduces an approach for modelling the flow behaviour of different titanium alloys (VT6, OT4-1 and VT14 alloys by Russian specifications) in superplastic deformation temperature and strain rate ranges. The initial microstructure parameters (

d

α
,
β

,

V

α
,
β

) before starting the deformation test were included in the constructed model for each alloy. The investigated alloys have different initial microstructures and flow behaviour characteristics. The isothermal uniaxial tensile deformation tests were performed at the superplastic deformation temperature and strain rate ranges of each alloy. The VT6, OT4-1 alloys were characterized by strain hardening effect during the deformation test, while VT14 alloy was characterized by strain softening effect. A comparison study between the experimental and modelled data was performed. The general equation of the constructed models was affected by the flow behaviour of the investigated alloys. The comparison results proved the good capability of the constructed models to predict the flow behaviour of the studied alloys. The correlation coefficient R was 0.98, 0.95 and 0.97 for VT6, OT4-1 and VT14, respectively. The predictability of the constructed model was assessed by the cross-validation technique, which ascertained the quality of the constructed model.
Urban carbon footprints: a consumption-based approach for Swiss households
Authors: Pang Melissa , Meirelles João , Moreau Vincent , Binder Claudia
Published: November 2019

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories form the basis of evidence-based climate change planning across the local, regional, national, and international levels. In this letter, we present a consumption-based GHG accounting approach for estimating the carbon footprint (CF) comprising direct and indirect emissions of households in Switzerland for 2008, 2011, and 2014 and examine the impact of urbanity and socioeconomic variables on these estimates. The CF model used herein couples regionalized household budget surveys (HBS) with environmentally-extended input-output analysis (EEIOA). We provide greater insight into the obscure process of combining bottom-up consumption data (i.e., HBS) and top-down input-output tables (IOT) in a CF model. The findings show that urban households tend to have lower direct emissions than rural households whereas indirect emissions are higher. Therefore, the nature of both direct and indirect emissions should be considered when evaluating the role of urbanization, as each has a different focus. Overall, our results indicate that income is the most important driver of household total cf Some local features specific to Switzerland have also been found to be important in shaping the relationship between the household CF and its drivers. We argue that household composition should be the focal point for future study of CF mitigation in Switzerland, and that policies should prioritise measures that target consumer behaviour and lifestyles, rather than solely focus on improving physical infrastructure and adopting new technologies.
Changes of precipitation and moisture extremes in ERA-interim reanalysis viewed from a new space
Authors: Zhang Banglin , Zhang Renhe , Wu Lin , Nie Changchun
Published: November 2019

We investigate changes of total column water vapor (TCWV) and total precipitation (TP) from the reanalysis ERA-Interim monthly data (1979–2016) in a new space spanned by their ascending values and show that TP extremes increase much more than TCWV extremes do. The trend of the maximum TCWV is 0.47 kg m−2/decade, which is equivalent to approximately 0.76%/decade. The trend of the maximum TP is 3.78 mm day−1/decade, which is approximately 8 times the TCWV trend. The trends of extreme TP, defined as the 90th, 95th, 99th, 99.9th, 99.99th percentiles and the maximum of the monthly precipitation values, are 0.63, 1.05, 1.26, 3.29, 10.4, and 12.0%/decade, respectively. These values are larger than the trends of extreme TCWV, ranging from 0.41% to 0.76%/decade.
A note on the normal filters extension property
Authors: Hayut Yair
Published: November 2019

We show that if

λ

>
κ

=
λ

\lambda ^{>\kappa } = \lambda

and every normal filter on

P
κ

λ

P_\kappa \lambda

can be extended to a

κ
\kappa

-complete ultrafilter, then so does every

κ
\kappa

-complete filter on

λ
\lambda

. This answers a question of Gitik.
D-finiteness, rationality, and height
Authors: Bell Jason , Nguyen Khoa , Zannier Umberto
Published: November 2019

Motivated by a result of van der Poorten and Shparlinski for univariate power series, Bell and Chen prove that if a multivariate power series over a field of characteristic

0
0

is D-finite and its coefficients belong to a finite set, then it is a rational function. We extend and strengthen their results to certain power series whose coefficients may form an infinite set. We also prove that if the coefficients of a univariate D-finite power series “look like” the coefficients of a rational function, then the power series is rational. Our work relies on the theory of Weil heights, the Manin–Mumford theorem for tori, an application of the Subspace Theorem, and various combinatorial arguments involving heights, power series, and linear recurrence sequences.
Internality of logarithmic-differential pullbacks
Authors: Jin Ruizhang , Moosa Rahim
Published: November 2019

A criterion in the spirit of Rosenlicht is given, on the rational function

f
(
x
)

f(x)

, for when the planar vector field

{

y
′

=
x
y

x
′

=
f
(
x
)

}

\left \{\begin {smallmatrix} y’=xy\\ x’=f(x) \end {smallmatrix}\right \}

admits a pair of algebraically independent first integrals over some extension of the base field. This proceeds from model-theoretic considerations by working in the theory of differentially closed fields of characteristic zero and asking: If

D
⊆

A

1

D\subseteq \mathbb A^1

is a strongly minimal set internal to the constants, when is

log

δ

−
1

⁡
(
D
)

\operatorname {log}_{\delta }^{-1}(D)

, the pullback of

D
D

under the logarithmic derivative, itself internal to the constants?
Functional characterization of MCAK/Kif2C cancer mutations using high-throughput microscopic analysis
Authors: Wagenbach Mike , Vicente Juan Jesus , Ovechkina Yulia , Domnitz Sarah , Wordeman Linda
Published: November 2019

MCAK/Kif2C is a microtubule-depolymerizing kinesin. Its activity can be rapidly quantified in fluorescently labeled cells using Cell Profiler. This method was used to interrogate MCAK/Kif2C missense mutations catalogued in the cBioPortal database. A majority of the mutations tested are deleterious and likely to increase karyotype evolution in cancer.
Female-to-Male Gender-Confirming Drainless Mastectomy May Be Safe in Obese Males
Authors: Pittelkow Eric M , Duquette Stephen P , Rhamani Farrah , Rogers Corianne , Gallagher Sidhbh
Published: November 2019

Background

Gender dysphoria is a medical condition associated with suicidality. Transgender men who have undergone female-to-male (FTM) chest reconstruction report higher quality of life and reduced gender dysphoria. It has been reported that transgender men are at higher risk of obesity.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes and complications between different classes of obesity in FTM transgender patients who underwent chest masculoplasty.

Methods

A retrospective review of 145 consecutive patients who underwent mastectomy with free nipple graft was conducted. Postoperative outcomes and complications were collected. Patients were divided into nonobese (body mass index [BMI] <30 kg/m2), obese (BMI 30-39.9 kg/m2), morbidly obese (BMI 40-49.9 kg/m2), and super obese (BMI >50 kg/m2) groups.

Results

Sixty-six of the 145 patients were not obese, 52 were obese, 22 were morbidly obese, and 5 were super obese. There was a statistically significant increase in amount of breast tissue resected between each of the 4 groups (866.8 g vs 1672.4 g vs 3157.1 g vs 4827.6 g; P ≤ 0.0005) as BMI increased, respectively. There was a significant difference in operative time between the nonobese and obese groups (128.7 vs 134.6 vs 150.5 vs 171 minutes; P = 0.026). A significant increase in postoperative infections was observed between the morbidly obese, super obese, and the nonobese group (P = 0.048).

Conclusions

Chest wall reconstruction in FTM and nonbinary transgender people is important in relieving gender dysphoria. Postoperative complications were not significantly increased in obese patients (30-39.9 kg/m2). Delaying surgery for weight loss may not be necessary unless patients are morbidly obese.

Level of Evidence: 4
Easy-HLA: a validated web application suite to reveal the full details of HLA typing
Authors: Geffard Estelle , Limou Sophie , Walencik Alexandre , Daya Michelle , Watson Harold , Torgerson Dara , Barnes Kathleen C ,   on behalf of CAAPA, Cesbron Gautier Anne , Gourraud Pierre-Antoine , Vince Nicolas
Published: November 2019

Motivation

The HLA system plays a pivotal role in both clinical applications and immunology research. Typing HLA genes in patient and donor is indeed required in hematopoietic stem cell and solid-organ transplantation, and the histocompatibility complex region exhibits countless genetic associations with immune-related pathologies. Since the discovery of HLA antigens, the HLA system nomenclature and typing methods have constantly evolved, which leads to difficulties in using data generated with older methodologies.

Results

Here, we present Easy-HLA, a web-based software suite designed to facilitate analysis and gain knowledge from HLA typing, regardless of nomenclature or typing method. Easy-HLA implements a computational and statistical method of HLA haplotypes inference based on published reference populations containing over 600 000 haplotypes to upgrade missing or partial HLA information: ‘HLA-Upgrade’ tool infers high-resolution HLA typing and ‘HLA-2-Haplo’ imputes haplotype pairs and provides additional functional annotations (e.g. amino acids and KIR ligands). We validated both tools using two independent cohorts (total n = 2500). For HLA-Upgrade, we reached a prediction accuracy of 92% from low- to high-resolution of European genotypes. We observed a 96% call rate and 76% accuracy with HLA-2-Haplo European haplotype pairs prediction. In conclusion, Easy-HLA tools facilitate large-scale immunogenetic analysis and promotes the multi-faceted HLA expertise beyond allelic associations by providing new functional immunogenomics parameters.

Availability and implementation

Easy-HLA is a web application freely available (free account) at: https://hla.univ-nantes.fr.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Bayesian sparse multiple regression for simultaneous rank reduction and variable selection
Authors: Chakraborty Antik , Bhattacharya Anirban , Mallick Bani K
Published: November 2019

We develop a Bayesian methodology aimed at simultaneously estimating low-rank and row-sparse matrices in a high-dimensional multiple-response linear regression model. We consider a carefully devised shrinkage prior on the matrix of regression coefficients which obviates the need to specify a prior on the rank, and shrinks the regression matrix towards low-rank and row-sparse structures. We provide theoretical support to the proposed methodology by proving minimax optimality of the posterior mean under the prediction risk in ultra-high-dimensional settings where the number of predictors can grow subexponentially relative to the sample size. A one-step post-processing scheme induced by group lasso penalties on the rows of the estimated coefficient matrix is proposed for variable selection, with default choices of tuning parameters. We additionally provide an estimate of the rank using a novel optimization function achieving dimension reduction in the covariate space. We exhibit the performance of the proposed methodology in an extensive simulation study and a real data example.
The Ventral Striatum is a Key Node for Functional Recovery of Finger Dexterity After Spinal Cord Injury in Monkeys
Authors: Suzuki Michiaki , Onoe Kayo , Sawada Masahiro , Takahashi Nobuaki , Higo Noriyuki , Murata Yumi , Tsukada Hideo , Isa Tadashi , Onoe Hirotaka , Nishimura Yukio
Published: November 2019

In a recent study, we demonstrated that the ventral striatum (VSt) controls finger movements directly during the early recovery stage after spinal cord injury (SCI), implying that the VSt may be a part of neural substrates responsible for the recovery of dexterous finger movements. The VSt is accepted widely as a key node for motivation, but is not thought to be involved in the direct control of limb movements. Therefore, whether a causal relationship exists between the VSt and motor recovery after SCI is unknown, and the role of the VSt in the recovery of dexterous finger movements orfinger movements in general after SCI remains unclear. In the present study, functional brain imaging in a macaque model of SCI revealed a strengthened functional connectivity between motor-related areas and the VSt during the recovery process for precision grip, but not whole finger grip after SCI. Furthermore, permanent lesion of the VSt impeded the recoveryof precision grip, but not coarse grip. Thus, the VSt was needed specifically for functional recovery of dexterous finger movements. These results suggest that the VSt is the key node of the cortical reorganization required for functional recovery of finger dexterity.
Public health events in the maritime transport sector
Authors: Martinez C Varela , Hadjichristodoulou C , Mouchtouri B
Published: November 2019

Introduction

A literature review to describe evidence on communicable diseases affecting people on ships or at ports, from 1990 to 2013 was carried out. Also, a literature review on radiological and chemical events of public health relevance associated with ships or at ports, from 1940 to 2013 was performed.

Methodology

Databases reviewed were: Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Spanish Society of Maritime Medicine, and WebPages of WHO, The International Radio Medical Advice Centre, International Atomic Energy Agency, European Maritime Safety Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Spanish Nuclear Safety Council and the Major Accident Reporting System.

Results

From 1990 to 2013, 196 outbreaks relating to ships or ports with more than 24,000 cases and 19 deaths were published. 59% of outbreaks (n = 116) were food- and waterborne, causing 82% (n = 19741) of cases and 12 deaths (11 deaths due to Legionella, case fatality ratio of 7%); almost a third was caused by norovirus. Respiratory diseases, mainly Influenza, caused 18% of outbreaks and 2 deaths. Thirteen radiological events were published that affected 500 persons and caused 47 deaths, 24 due to exposure to elevated levels of radiation. During the study period 94 chemical events were published, of which 69 events affected people and in the remaining events only a public health risk was present. These 69 chemical events generated almost 12,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths. Thirty countries, including all EU Member States, Norway and Iceland, were requested to complete the questionnaires regarding identification of authorities and practices for management of radiological and chemical events.

Conclusions

Food- and waterborne diseases are most reported; followed by respiratory diseases. Legionellosis accounted for the highest case fatality ratio. Tuberculosis was reported only on seafarers from cargo or fishing vessels and vaccine preventable diseases was mainly reported on crew members from cruise ships.
Ethnic disparity in health literacy related to interaction with the health care provider
Authors: Villadsen S F
Published: November 2019

With the current orientation towards patient-centered care, the health literacy level is an important predictor for the engagement in preventive health care services. Research has shown that adult immigrants have lower levels of health literacy compared to the host populations, however little is known about the health literacy of pregnant, immigrant women. The aim of this study was to analyze whether ethnic minority women found it more difficult to actively engage with their health professionals than ethnic Danish women did.

Using cross-sectional data we studied the difference in the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) domain on actively engagement with health care providers between non-Western born and ethnic Danish women (n = 406). Pregnant women were recruited in 2016 from the largest maternity ward in Denmark. The mean health literacy level of actively engagement for ethnic Danish women was 4.15 and for non-Western born women, it was 3.97. In an adjusted model the non-Western born women had 1.15 (CI:-0.30; -0.01) lower levels of actively engagement compared to ethnic Danish women.

These results indicate that this domain of the HLQ seems to be a useful link in understanding ethnic inequality in birth outcomes and thus relevant in the effect evaluation of the MAMAACT study. Currently, the health care system in Denmark has not focused on intercultural competence. The lower levels of self-reported ability to engage with health care providers and the known perspectives of lower patient safety in immigrant groups calls for more research in the interactional dynamics. A theoretical analysis using the concept of cultural health capital could be interesting for assessing how health care providers and non-Western women might value certain attitudes and behaviors exchanged during the encounter differently, which could lead to imbalance as the health care provider has more influence in this setting.
General practitioners’ considerations when deciding whether to initiate end-of-life conversations: a qualitative study
Authors: Thomas Hayley R , Deckx Laura , Sieben Nicolas A , Foster Michele M , Mitchell Geoffrey K
Published: November 2019

Background

End-of-life discussions often are not initiated until close to death, even in the presence of life-limiting illness or frailty. Previous research shows that doctors may not explicitly verbalize approaching end-of-life in the foreseeable future, despite shifting their focus to comfort care. This may limit patients’ opportunity to receive information and plan for the future. General Practitioners (GPs) have a key role in caring for increasing numbers of patients approaching end-of-life.

Objective

To explore GPs’ thought processes when deciding whether to initiate end-of-life discussions.

Methods

A qualitative approach was used. We purposively recruited 15 GPs or GP trainees from South-East Queensland, Australia, and each participated in a semi-structured interview. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Australian GPs believe they have a responsibility to initiate end-of-life conversations, and identify several triggers to do so. Some also describe caution in raising this sensitive topic, related to patient, family, cultural and personal factors.

Conclusions

These findings enable the development of approaches to support GPs to initiate end-of-life discussions that are cognizant both of GPs’ sense of responsibility for these discussions, and factors that may contribute to caution initiating them, such as anticipated patient response, cultural considerations, societal taboos, family dynamics and personal challenges to doctors.
Titer regulation in arthropod-Wolbachia symbioses
Authors: López-Madrigal Sergio , Duarte Elves H
Published: November 2019

Symbiosis between intracellular bacteria (endosymbionts) and animals are widespread. The alphaproteobacterium Wolbachia pipientis is known to maintain a variety of symbiotic associations, ranging from mutualism to parasitism, with a wide range of invertebrates. Wolbachia infection might deeply affect host fitness (e.g. reproductive manipulation and antiviral protection), which is thought to explain its high prevalence in nature. Bacterial loads significantly influence both the infection dynamics and the extent of bacteria-induced host phenotypes. Hence, fine regulation of bacterial titers is considered as a milestone in host-endosymbiont interplay. Here, we review both environmental and biological factors modulating Wolbachia titers in arthropods.
Rage against the machine: does machine-to-machine communication fall within the scope of the confidentiality principle?
Authors: Storms Stijn , Valcke Peggy , Kindt Els
Published: November 2019

In this paper we confront the technological notion of machine-to-machine communication (M2M) to the legal principle of confidentiality of communications (art. 5.1 ePrivacy Directive) in order to determine whether M2M is a protected communication. After demonstrating the answer is not straightforwardly found in the legal text we turn our attention to other aspects which can have an impact on the matter. We build up our case by considering four different levels. At the first level we ask whether the concepts used in the legal definition of ‘communication’ allow for the inclusion of M2M. At the second level we involve the history of the ePrivacy Directive in the discussion. At the third level the values behind the confidentiality principle come into play. Lastly at the fourth level we look at the issue from a practical stance. The resulting picture points towards the inclusion of M2M in the scope of the confidentiality principle.
Uniformizing the Moduli Stacks of Global G-Shtukas
Authors: Arasteh Rad E , Hartl Urs
Published: November 2019

This is the 2nd in a sequence of articles, in which we explore moduli stacks of global $\mathfrak{G}$-shtukas, the function field analogs for Shimura varieties. Here $\mathfrak{G}$ is a flat affine group scheme of finite type over a smooth projective curve $C$ over a finite field. Global $\mathfrak{G}$-shtukas are generalizations of Drinfeld shtukas and analogs of abelian varieties with additional structure. We prove that the moduli stacks of global $\mathfrak{G}$-shtukas are algebraic Deligne–Mumford stacks separated and locally of finite type. They generalize various moduli spaces used by different authors to prove instances of the Langlands program over function fields. In the 1st article we explained the relation between global $\mathfrak{G}$-shtukas and local ${{\mathbb{P}}}$-shtukas, which are the function field analogs of $p$-divisible groups. Here ${{\mathbb{P}}}$ is the base change of $\mathfrak{G}$ to the complete local ring at a point of $C$. When ${{\mathbb{P}}}$ is smooth with connected reductive generic fiber we proved the existence of Rapoport–Zink spaces for local ${{\mathbb{P}}}$-shtukas. In the present article we use these spaces to (partly) uniformize the moduli stacks of global $\mathfrak{G}$-shtukas for smooth $\mathfrak{G}$ with connected fibers and reductive generic fiber. This is our main result. It has applications to the analog of the Langlands–Rapoport conjecture for our moduli stacks.
An evidence-based bundle improves the quality of care and outcomes of patients with candidaemia
Authors: Cardozo Celia , Cuervo Guillermo , Salavert Miguel , Merino Paloma , Gioia Francesca , Fernández-Ruiz Mario , López-Cortés Luis E , Escolá-Vergé Laura , Montejo Miguel , Muñoz Patricia , Aguilar-Guisado Manuela , Puerta-Alcalde Pedro , Tasias Mariona , Ruiz-Gaitán Alba , González Fernando , Puig-Asensio Mireia , Vena Antonio , Marco Francesc , Pemán Javier , Fortún Jesús , Aguado José María , Almirante Benito , Soriano Alejandro , Carratalá Jordi , Garcia-Vidal Carolina ,   GEMICOMED (SEIMC) and the Spanish CANDI-Bundle Group, Martínez J A , Morata L , Rodríguez-Nuñez O , Guerrero M A , Ayats J , Grau I , Calabuig E , Castro I , Cuéllar S , Martín-Dávila P , Gómez-García de la Pedrosa E , Pérez-Ayala A , Losada I , Navarro M D , Suarez A I , Martin-Gomez M T , Rodríguez-Alvarez R , López-Soira L , Bouza E , Guinea J , Martín C
Published: November 2019

Background

Candidaemia is a leading cause of bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients all over the world. It remains associated with high mortality.

Objectives

To assess the impact of implementing an evidence-based package of measures (bundle) on the quality of care and outcomes of candidaemia.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify measures related to better outcomes in candidaemia. Eight quality-of-care indicators (QCIs) were identified and a set of written recommendations (early treatment, echinocandins in septic shock, source control, follow-up blood culture, ophthalmoscopy, echocardiography, de-escalation, length of treatment) was prospectively implemented. The study was performed in 11 tertiary hospitals in Spain. A quasi-experimental design before and during bundle implementation (September 2016 to February 2018) was used. For the pre-intervention period, data from the prospective national surveillance were used (May 2010 to April 2011).

Results

A total of 385 and 263 episodes were included in the pre-intervention and intervention groups, respectively. Adherence to all QCIs improved in the intervention group. The intervention group had a decrease in early (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.23–0.89; P = 0.022) and overall (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.4–0.94; P = 0.023) mortality after controlling for potential confounders.

Conclusions

Implementing a structured, evidence-based intervention bundle significantly improved patient care and early and overall mortality in patients with candidaemia. Institutions should embrace this objective strategy and use the bundle as a means to measure high-quality medical care of patients.
Stigmasterol as a potential biomarker for amphotericin B resistance in Leishmania donovani
Authors: Bansal Ruby , Sen Shib Sankar , Muthuswami Rohini , Madhubala Rentala
Published: November 2019

Background

Leishmania donovani, a protozoan parasite, is the primary causative agent for visceral leishmaniasis. Toxicity and increased resistance to existing drugs have led to an urgent need for identifying new drugs and drug targets. Understanding the risks and mechanisms of resistance is of great importance. Amphotericin B (AmB) is a polyene antimicrobial, the mainstay therapy for visceral leishmaniasis in several parts of India.

Objectives

In the present study, we established a line of AmB-resistant L. donovani promastigotes in vitro and demonstrated the molecular basis of resistance to AmB.

Methods

AmB-resistant promastigotes were generated and characterized to evaluate the mechanism of resistance to AmB. We examined the sterol composition of the promastigotes and the axenic amastigotes derived from the WT and AmB-resistant promastigotes. The role of the plant-like C-22 desaturase responsible for stigmasterol production was also evaluated in the AmB-resistant strain.

Results

The IC50 for resistant cells was four times higher than for the WT. AmB-resistant promastigotes showed an increase in the conversion of β-sitosterol into stigmasterol. The presence of higher amounts of stigmasterol in resistant promastigotes, as well as in axenic amastigotes, signifies its role in AmB resistance in Leishmania. The resistant strain showed reduced infectivity in vitro.

Conclusions

We have elucidated the mode of action and resistance mechanisms to the drug. However, further work is required to validate the potential role of stigmasterol in resistance and to help develop a diagnostic kit that can assist in diagnosing potentially resistant lines in the field.
The effect of pregnancy on nitrogen retention, maternal insulin sensitivity, and mRNA abundance of genes involved in energy and amino acid metabolism in gilts
Authors: Miller Emily G , Huber Lee-Anne , Cant John P , Levesque Crystal L , de Lange Cornelis F M
Published: November 2019

Twenty-one of each pregnant (P) and nonserviced, nonpregnant (NP) sister-pairs of gilts were selected to investigate the effect of pregnancy on protein deposition (Pd; whole body and maternal), insulin sensitivity, and mRNA abundance of genes involved in energy and AA metabolism. Between breeding (study day 0) and day 111, P and NP gilts received 2.16 kg of the experimental diet (3.34 Mcal ME/kg, 17.6% crude protein, 0.78% standardized ileal digestible lysine) that was formulated to meet the estimated ME requirements of pregnant gilts (and meet or exceed AA requirements). Nitrogen balances were conducted on day 63 and 102 ± 0.2 of the study during 4-d periods. Blood samples were collected on day 43, 56, 71, 85, 98, and 108 ± 0.3 of the study to determine plasma concentrations of fasted IGF-1, estradiol (E2), and estrone sulfate (E1S). Frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests (FSIGTT) were conducted on day 75 ± 0.7 in 6 P and 5 NP gilts and on day 107 ± 0.4 in 17 P and 17 NP gilts and the MINMOD approach was applied to evaluate whole body insulin sensitivity and pancreatic responsiveness. Longissimus muscle (LM) and s.c. adipose tissue (AD) samples were excised from 12 P and 12 NP gilts at day 111 ± 0.4 of the study after euthanasia to determine mRNA abundance of key genes. Whole body Pd was greater (P < 0.001) at day 102 and maternal Pd was lower (P < 0.002) at day 63 and 102 for P compared to NP gilts. Plasma concentrations of E1S and E2 increased (P < 0.05) with study day for P gilts and remained constant for NP gilts, which coincided with reduced plasma concentrations of IGF-1 and increased estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) mRNA abundance in LM of P gilts. Glucose effectiveness was not different between P and NP gilts, but whole body insulin sensitivity was lower (P = 0.004) in P compared to NP gilts on day 75 and 107, which corresponded with reduced mRNA abundances of SLC2A4, HK2, SREBF1, and FASN, and increased abundances of PDK4 and PPARGC1A in LM and AD. When fed identically, P gilts had greater whole body Pd at day 102, which reflects Pd in the pregnancy-associated tissues (at the expense of maternal Pd), likely driven by estrogen-stimulated insulin resistance in peripheral tissue and subsequent modulation of gene expression relating to glucose metabolism.
Model and Moment Selection in Factor Copula Models
Authors: Duan Fang , Manner Hans , Wied Dominik
Published: November 2019

This article develops a simultaneous model and moment selection procedure for factor copula models. Since the density of the factor copula is generally not known in closed form, widely used likelihood or moment-based model selection criteria cannot be directly applied on factor copulas. The new approach is inspired by the methods for generalized methods of moments proposed by Andrews (1999) and Andrews and Lu (2001). The consistency of the procedure is proved and Monte Carlo simulations show its good performance in finite samples in different scenarios of sample sizes and dimensions. The impact of the choice of moments in selected regions of the support on model selection and value-at-risk prediction is further examined by simulation and an application to a portfolio consisting of ten stocks in the Deutscher Aktienindex (DAX30) index.
Two New Species and New Records of Mites of the Genus Parichoronyssus (Acari: Macronyssidae) From South American Bats (Chiroptera), With a Key to the Known Species of the Genus
Authors: Morales-Malacara Juan B , Guerrero Ricardo
Published: November 2019

Derived from exhaustive search of mites of the genus Parichoronyssus associated with South American Bats, we found two new species associated with Phyllostomid, Emballonurid, and Noctiniolid bats: Parichoronyssus alexanderfaini n. sp. associated with Rhinophylla pumilio Peters; Parichoronyssus gettingeri n. sp. associated with Rhynchonycteris naso Wied-Newied, and Noctilio leporinus Linneo. Herein we give the description of those new species, and additionally is included several new records for Parichoronyssus from the region, as well as providing a key to the 11 species of Parichoronyssus.
New Species of the Genus Periglischrus (Acari: Spinturnicidae) from Monophyllus Bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in the West Indies, Including a Morphometric Analysis of Its Intraspecific Variation
Authors: Morales-Malacara Juan B , Castaño-Meneses Gabriela , Klompen Hans , Mancina Carlos A
Published: November 2019

The discovery of a new species, Periglischrus empheresotrichus, was determined through a review of museum collections, as well as a field survey of ectoparasites of island bats. This new species parasitizes on two bat species of the genus Monophyllus Leach, the Greater Antillean Long-tongued bat Monophyllus redmani Leach and the Lesser Antillean Long-tongued bat Monophyllus plethodon Miller. The female, male, deuthonymphs, and protonymph are described and illustrated. P. empheresotrichus n. sp. has an insular distribution, we evaluated the morphological variation of the adult populations, and concluded that intra-specific variation is correlated both with host species and locality (island) in the West Indies.
The risk and prevention of venous thromboembolism in the pregnant traveller
Authors: Karsanji Divya J , Bates Shannon M , Skeith Leslie
Published: November 2019

Background

The average risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in long haul travellers is approximately 2.8 per 1000 travellers, which is increased in the presence of other VTE risk factors. In pregnant long-haul travellers, little is known in terms of the absolute risk of VTE in these women and, therefore, there is limited consensus on appropriate thromboprophylaxis in this setting.

Objective

This review will provide guidance to allow practitioners to safely minimize the risk of travel-related VTE in pregnant women. The suggestions provided are based on limited data, extrapolated risk estimates of VTE in pregnant travellers and recommendations from published guidelines.

Results

We found that the absolute VTE risk per flight appears to be <1% for the average pregnant or postpartum traveller. In pregnant travellers with a prior history of VTE, a potent thrombophilia or strong antepartum risk factors (e.g. combination of obesity and immobility), the risk of VTE with travel appears to be >1%. Postpartum, the risk of VTE with travel may be >1% for women with thrombophilias (particularly in those with a family history) and other transient risk factors and in women with a prior VTE.

Conclusions

Based on our findings, we recommend simple measures be taken by all pregnant travellers, such as frequent ambulation, hydration and calf exercises. In those at an intermediate risk, we suggest a consideration of 20–30 mmHg compression stockings. In the highest risk group, we suggest careful consideration for low-molecular-weight heparin thromboprophylaxis. If there are specific concerns, we advise consultation with a thrombosis expert at the nearest local centre.
Lyα emitters in a cosmological volume II: the impact of the intergalactic medium
Authors: Gurung-López Siddhartha , Orsi Álvaro A , Bonoli Silvia , Padilla Nelson , Lacey Cedric G , Baugh Carlton M
Published: November 2019

In the near future galaxy surveys will target Lyman alpha emitting galaxies (LAEs) to unveil the nature of dark energy. It has been suggested that the observability of LAEs is coupled to the large scale properties of the intergalactic medium. Such coupling could introduce distortions into the observed clustering of LAEs, adding a new potential difficulty to the interpretation of upcoming surveys. We present a model of LAEs that incorporates $\rm {Ly}\alpha$ radiative transfer processes in the interstellar and intergalactic medium. The model is implemented in the GALFORM semi-analytic model of galaxy of formation and evolution. We find that the radiative transfer inside galaxies produces selection effects over galaxy properties. In particular, observed LAEs tend to have low metallicities and intermediate star formation rates. At low redshift we find no evidence of a correlation between the spatial distribution of LAEs and the intergalactic medium properties. However, at high redshift the LAEs are linked to the line of sight velocity and density gradient of the intergalactic medium. The strength of the coupling depends on the outflow properties of the galaxies and redshift. This effect modifies the clustering of LAEs on large scales, adding non linear features. In particular, our model predicts modifications to the shape and position of the baryon acoustic oscillation peak. This work highlights the importance of including radiative transfer physics in the cosmological analysis of LAEs.
Integrated approach to the PDR/H ii complex by the application of carbon radio recombination lines in the millimetre range and fine-structure lines of C ii and O i
Authors: Siddiqui S A , Khan Shafiqullah , Qaiyum A
Published: November 2019

We have performed self-consistent calculations to estimate the physical parameters of photodissociation regions (PDRs) associated with objects, namely, NGC 2024, Orion A and W3, using far-infrared continuum emission, fine-structure lines of C ii and O i, and radio recombination lines of carbon. Typically, PDRs separate H ii regions from the molecular cloud; therefore, necessary corrections for the contribution to C ii line emission due to the H ii region are made. For that purpose, using observational data, theoretical calculations are performed to obtain the best fit for the said observations. Three parameters, angular size, θ (in arcminutes), far-ultraviolet radiation field G0, and hydrogen density nH (which gives electron density and temperature), are varied, and the sets of parameters (G0 and nH) obtained for the NGC 2024, Orion A and W3 PDRs are (7.6 × 104 and 1.2 × 105 cm−3), (2.8 × 105 and 2.3 × 105 cm−3) and (3.7 × 105 and 1.9 × 105 cm−3), respectively. The relationship between line and continuum emissions from PDRs associated with H ii regions leads us to conclude that exciting stars for the NGC 2024, Orion A and W3 H ii regions are O8–O9V, O6–O7V and O5–O6V, respectively.