bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the integration of chronic care elements in primary health care for people with mental illness: a longitudinal study in Nepal conducted among primary health care workers
Authors: Upadhaya Nawaraj , Jordans Mark J. D. , Adhikari Ramesh P. , Gurung Dristy , Petrus Ruwayda , Petersen Inge , Komproe Ivan H.
Published: July 2020

Background

Despite many important developments in the global mental health arena in the past decade, many people with mental health problems still do not have access to good quality mental health care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceived impact of a mental health care package (MHCP) in integrating chronic care elements in primary health care for people with mental illness.

Methods

A controlled pre-post study design was used in 20 primary health care facilities in Chitwan, Nepal. We compared 10 health facilities that had implemented a MHCP (intervention group), with 10 health facilities that had not implemented the MHCP (comparative control group) but provided regular physical health services. We administered the Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (ACIC) tool on a group basis within all 20 health facilities among 37 health workers. Data was collected at three time points; at baseline, midline (at 13 months from baseline) and end line (at 25 months from baseline).

Results

From baseline to end line, we see a notable shift in the level of support reported by the intervention health facilities compared to those in the comparative control group. While at baseline 10% of the intervention health facilities had basic support for the implementation of chronic illness care, at the end line, 90% of the intervention group reported having reasonable support with the remaining 10% of the intervention facilities reporting that they had full support. In contrast, 20% of the health facilities in the comparative control group at end line still reported having limited support for the implementation of chronic illness care, with the remaining 80% only managing to shift to the next level which is basic support.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that training and supervision of primary health care workers in the implementation of MHCP interventions can lead to strengthening of the system to better address the needs of patients with chronic mental health problems. However, substantial financial and coordination inputs are needed to implement the MHCP. The comparative control group also demonstrated improvements, possibly due to the administration of the ACIC tool and components of counselling services for family planning and HIV/AIDS services.
The state of emergency medical services and acute health facility care in Uganda: findings from a National Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Ningwa Albert , Muni Kennedy , Oporia Frederick , Kalanzi Joseph , Zziwa Esther Bayiga , Biribawa Claire , Kobusingye Olive
Published: July 2020

Background

There is limited information on the state of emergency medical services (EMS) in Uganda. The available evidence is from studies that focused on either assessing EMS capacity and gaps at the national level especially in Kampala or identifying risk factors for specific emergency medical conditions (e.g., injuries). In this study, we sought to provide a snapshot of the state of EMS in Uganda by assessing the pre-hospital and hospital emergency care capacity at both national and sub-national (district) levels.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional national survey administering structured questionnaires to EMS providers and policy makers from 38 randomly selected districts across seven of the 14 health regions of Uganda. This resulted in a study sample of 111 health facilities and 52 pre-hospital service providers. We collected data on six pillars of EMS whose frequencies and percentages were calculated and qualitatively compared for different levels of the health care system.

Results

At the time of this study, Uganda did not have any EMS policy or guidelines. In addition, there was no functional toll-free number for emergency response in the country. However, Ministry of Health reported that a taskforce had been set up to lead development of EMS policy, guidelines, and standards including establishment of a toll-free emergency number.

At the sub-national level, ambulances lacked the products and supplies needed to provide pre-hospital care, and mainly functioned as emergency transport vehicles, with no capacity for medical care.

Only 16 (30.8%) of the 52 pre-hospital providers assessed had standard ambulances with required equipment, medicines, and personnel. The rest of the service providers had improvised ambulances that were not equipped to provide pre-hospital care.

Traffic police and bystanders were the first responders to the majority (> 90%) of the emergency cases.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal weaknesses at every level of what should be a critical component in the health care system – one that deals with the ability to treat life-threatening conditions in a time sensitive manner. The Ministry of Health needs to speed up efforts to provide policies and guidelines, and to increase investments for the creation of a functional EMS in Uganda.
Wonky whales: the evolution of cranial asymmetry in cetaceans
Authors: Coombs Ellen J. , Clavel Julien , Park Travis , Churchill Morgan , Goswami Anjali
Published: July 2020

Background

Unlike most mammals, toothed whale (Odontoceti) skulls lack symmetry in the nasal and facial (nasofacial) region. This asymmetry is hypothesised to relate to echolocation, which may have evolved in the earliest diverging odontocetes. Early cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) such as archaeocetes, namely the protocetids and basilosaurids, have asymmetric rostra, but it is unclear when nasofacial asymmetry evolved during the transition from archaeocetes to modern whales. We used three-dimensional geometric morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods to reconstruct the evolution of asymmetry in the skulls of 162 living and extinct cetaceans over 50 million years.

Results

In archaeocetes, we found asymmetry is prevalent in the rostrum and also in the squamosal, jugal, and orbit, possibly reflecting preservational deformation. Asymmetry in odontocetes is predominant in the nasofacial region. Mysticetes (baleen whales) show symmetry similar to terrestrial artiodactyls such as bovines. The first significant shift in asymmetry occurred in the stem odontocete family Xenorophidae during the Early Oligocene. Further increases in asymmetry occur in the physeteroids in the Late Oligocene, Squalodelphinidae and Platanistidae in the Late Oligocene/Early Miocene, and in the Monodontidae in the Late Miocene/Early Pliocene. Additional episodes of rapid change in odontocete skull asymmetry were found in the Mid-Late Oligocene, a period of rapid evolution and diversification. No high-probability increases or jumps in asymmetry were found in mysticetes or archaeocetes. Unexpectedly, no increases in asymmetry were recovered within the highly asymmetric ziphiids, which may result from the extreme, asymmetric shape of premaxillary crests in these taxa not being captured by landmarks alone.

Conclusions

Early ancestors of living whales had little cranial asymmetry and likely were not able to echolocate. Archaeocetes display high levels of asymmetry in the rostrum, potentially related to directional hearing, which is lost in early neocetes—the taxon including the most recent common ancestor of living cetaceans. Nasofacial asymmetry becomes a significant feature of Odontoceti skulls in the Early Oligocene, reaching its highest levels in extant taxa. Separate evolutionary regimes are reconstructed for odontocetes living in acoustically complex environments, suggesting that these niches impose strong selective pressure on echolocation ability and thus increased cranial asymmetry.
The cost-effectiveness of controlling dengue in Indonesia using wMel Wolbachia released at scale: a modelling study
Authors: Brady Oliver J. , Kharisma Dinar D. , Wilastonegoro Nandyan N. , O’Reilly Kathleen M. , Hendrickx Emilie , Bastos Leonardo S. , Yakob Laith , Shepard Donald S.
Published: July 2020

Background

Release of virus-blocking Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes is an emerging disease control strategy that aims to control dengue and other arboviral infections. Early entomological data and modelling analyses have suggested promising outcomes, and wMel Wolbachia releases are now ongoing or planned in 12 countries. To help inform government, donor, or philanthropist decisions on scale-up beyond single city releases, we assessed this technology’s cost-effectiveness under alternative programmatic options.

Methods

Using costing data from existing Wolbachia releases, previous dynamic model-based estimates of Wolbachia effectiveness, and a spatially explicit model of release and surveillance requirements, we predicted the costs and effectiveness of the ongoing programme in Yogyakarta City and three new hypothetical programmes in Yogyakarta Special Autonomous Region, Jakarta, and Bali.

Results

We predicted Wolbachia to be a highly cost-effective intervention when deployed in high-density urban areas with gross cost-effectiveness below $1500 per DALY averted. When offsets from the health system and societal perspective were included, such programmes even became cost saving over 10-year time horizons with favourable benefit-cost ratios of 1.35 to 3.40. Sequencing Wolbachia releases over 10 years could reduce programme costs by approximately 38% compared to simultaneous releases everywhere, but also delays the benefits. Even if unexpected challenges occurred during deployment, such as emergence of resistance in the medium-term or low effective coverage, Wolbachia would remain a cost-saving intervention.

Conclusions

Wolbachia releases in high-density urban areas are expected to be highly cost-effective and could potentially be the first cost-saving intervention for dengue. Sites with strong public health infrastructure, fiscal capacity, and community support should be prioritised.
Assessment of thoracic volume changes after the collapse of lateral rib fractures based on chest computed tomography data: computer simulation and a multiple variable linear regression analysis
Authors: Chen Xiao-Kun , Liu Yi-Jun , Guo Fu-Zheng , Deng Jiu-Xu , Xiong Jian , Wang Tian-Bing , Jiang Bao-Guo
Published: July 2020

Background

Chest blunt trauma (CBT) and the resultant rib fractures often lead to thoracic collapse. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of displacement of the rib fracture and thoracic collapse on the thoracic volume by using normal chest CT data.

Methods

In this retrospective study, seven consecutive normal participants were selected from our hospital between June and July 2018. Normal thoracic models were reconstructed, followed by simulation of lateral fractures through the 4th to 9th ribs under three collapse modes with 1–5 cm of collapse. The thoracic collapse models (n = 630) were reconstructed using 3Dmax 2014. We calculated the thoracic volume and reduction percentage for each thoracic collapse model. Linear regression-based comparisons of thoracic volume reductions were performed.

Results

In all three collapse modes, the degree of the collapse was linearly correlated with the mean thoracic volume reduction. The reduction percentage in the posterior collapse mode was higher than that in the anterior collapse mode (P < 0.001). The largest volume reductions in the anterior, posterior, and simultaneous collapse models were in the 6th rib fracture model (P < 0.001), 8th rib fracture model (P < 0.001), and 7th rib fracture model (P < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions

The influences of rib fracture displacement and collapse on the thoracic volume in the 6th through 8th ribs are critical in lateral rib fractures. For patients with 6th to 8th rib fractures and posterior rib collapse, surgical intervention to restore thoracic volume may be more essential.
Report of a de novo c.2605C > T (p.Pro869Ser) change in the MED13L gene and review of the literature for MED13L-related intellectual disability
Authors: Yi Zhi , Zhang Ying , Song Zhenfeng , Pan Hong , Yang Chengqing , Li Fei , Xue Jiao , Qu Zhenghai
Published: July 2020

Background

MED13L-related intellectual disability is a new syndrome that is characterized by intellectual disability (ID), motor developmental delay, speech impairment, hypotonia and facial dysmorphism. Both the MED13L haploinsufficiency mutation and missense mutation were reported to be causative. It has also been reported that patients carrying missense mutations have more frequent epilepsy and show a more severe phenotype.

Case presentation

We report a child with ID, speech impairment, severe motor developmental delay, facial deformity, hypotonia, muscular atrophy, scoliosis, odontoprisis, abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG), and congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) combined with high ureter attachment. We used whole-exome sequencing (WES) to detect the genetic aberration of the child and found a de novo mutation, c.2605C > T (p.Pro869Ser), in the MED13L gene. Neither of her parents carried the mutation. Additionally, we review the literature and summarize the phenotypes and features of reported missense mutations. After reviewing the literature, approximately 17 missense mutations in 20 patients have been reported thus far. For 18 patients (including our case) whose clinical manifestations were provided, 100% of the patients had ID or developmental delay (DD). A total of 88.9, 83.3 and 66.7% of the patients had speech impairment, delayed milestones and hypotonia, respectively. A total of 83.3% of the patients exhibited craniofacial deformity or other dysmorphic features. Behavioral difficulties and autistic features were observed in 55.6% of the patients. Cardiac anomalies were seen in only 27.8% of the patients. Of these patients, 44.4% had epileptic seizures. Of the 17 mutations, 2 were located in the N-terminal domain, 8 were located in the C-terminal domain, and 1 was located in an α-helical sequence stretch. One of them was located in the MID domain of the MedPIWI module.

Conclusions

We report a new patient with a reported missense mutation, c.2605C > T (p.Pro869Ser), who exhibited some infrequent manifestations except common phenotypes, which may broaden the known clinical spectrum. Additionally, by reviewing the literature, we also found that patients with missense mutations have a higher incidence of seizures, MRI abnormalities, autistic features and cardiac anomalies. They also have more severe ID and hypotonia. Our case further demonstrates that Pro869Ser is a hotspot mutation of the MED13L gene.
Genes adapt to outsmart gene-targeting strategies in mutant mouse strains by skipping exons to reinitiate transcription and translation
Authors: Hosur Vishnu , Low Benjamin E. , Li Daniel , Stafford Grace A. , Kohar Vivek , Shultz Leonard D. , Wiles Michael V.
Published: July 2020

Background

Gene disruption in mouse embryonic stem cells or zygotes is a conventional genetics approach to identify gene function in vivo. However, because different gene disruption strategies use different mechanisms to disrupt genes, the strategies can result in diverse phenotypes in the resulting mouse model. To determine whether different gene disruption strategies affect the phenotype of resulting mutant mice, we characterizedRhbdf1mouse mutant strains generated by three commonly used strategies—definitive-null, targeted knockout (KO)-first, and CRISPR/Cas9.

Results

We find thatRhbdf1responds differently to distinct KO strategies, for example, by skipping exons and reinitiating translation to potentially yield gain-of-function alleles rather than the expected null or severe hypomorphic alleles. Our analysis also revealed that at least 4% of mice generated using the KO-first strategy show conflicting phenotypes.

Conclusions

Exon skipping is a widespread phenomenon occurring across the genome. These findings have significant implications for the application of genome editing in both basic research and clinical practice.
Understanding Horizontal Gene Transfer network in human gut microbiota
Authors: Li Chen , Chen Jiaxing , Li Shuai Cheng
Published: July 2020

Background

Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) is the process of transferring genetic materials between species. Through sharing genetic materials, microorganisms in the human microbiota form a network. The network can provide insights into understanding the microbiota. Here, we constructed the HGT networks from the gut microbiota sequencing data and performed network analysis to characterize the HGT networks of gut microbiota.

Results

We constructed the HGT network and perform the network analysis to two typical gut microbiota datasets, a 283-sample dataset of Mother-to-Child and a 148-sample dataset of longitudinal inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) metagenome. The results indicated that (1) the HGT networks are scale-free. (2) The networks expand their complexities, sizes, and edge numbers, accompanying the early stage of lives; and microbiota established in children shared high similarity as their mother (p-value = 0.0138), supporting the transmission of microbiota from mother to child. (3) Groups harbor group-specific network edges, and network communities, which can potentially serve as biomarkers. For instances, IBD patient group harbors highly abundant communities of Proteobacteria (p-value = 0.0194) and Actinobacteria (p-value = 0.0316); children host highly abundant communities of Proteobacteria (p-value = 2.8785$$e^{-5}$$

e

-
5

) and Actinobacteria (p-value = 0.0015), and the mothers host highly abundant communities of Firmicutes (p-value = 8.0091$$e^{-7}$$

e

-
7

). IBD patient networks contain more HGT edges in pathogenic genus, including Mycobacterium, Sutterella, and Pseudomonas. Children’s networks contain more edges from Bifidobacterium and Escherichia.

Conclusion

Hence, we proposed the HGT network constructions from the gut microbiota sequencing data. The HGT networks capture the host state and the response of microbiota to the environmental and host changes, and they are essential to understand the human microbiota.
Genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D pathway influence 25(OH)D levels and are associated with atopy and asthma
Authors: Galvão Alana Alcântara , de Araújo Sena Flávia , Andrade Belitardo Emília Maria Medeiros de , de Santana Maria Borges Rabelo , Costa Gustavo Nunes de Oliveira , Cruz Álvaro Augusto , Barreto Maurício Lima , Costa Ryan dos Santos , Alcantara-Neves Neuza Maria , Figueiredo Camila Alexandrina
Published: July 2020

Background

Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, has been associated with atopy and lack of asthma control. Our objective was to investigate associations between variants in genes of vitamin D pathway with serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), atopy, asthma and asthma severity in teenagers from Northeast Brazil.

Methods

This is a cross sectional study nested in a cohort population of asthma. 25(OH)D was quantified from 968 of 11–17 years old individuals by ELISA. Asthma diagnosis was obtained by using the ISAAC Phase III questionnaire. Specific IgE was determined by ImmunoCAP; genotyping was performed using the 2.5 HumanOmni Biochip from Illumina. Statistical analyses were performed in PLINK 1.07 and SPSS 22.1.

Results

After quality control, 104 Single Nucleotides Variants (SNVs) in vitamin D pathway genes, typed in 792 individuals, were included in the analysis. The allele A of rs10875694 on VDR was positively associated with atopy (OR = 1.35; 95% CI 1.01–1.81). The allele C of rs9279 on VDR, was negatively associated with asthma risk (OR = 0.66; 95% CI 0.45–0.97), vitamin D insufficiency (OR = 0.78; 95% CI 0.70–0.96) and higher VDR expression. Two variants in VDR were associated with asthma severity, the allele A of rs2189480 (OR = 0.34; 95% CI 0.13–0.89) and the allele G of rs4328262 (OR = 3.18; 95% CI 1.09–9.28). The combination of variants in CYP2R1 and CYP24A1 (GAC, to rs10500804, rs12794714 and rs3886163, respectively) was negatively associated with vitamin D production (β = − 1.24; 95% CI − 2.42 to − 0.06).

Conclusions

Genetic variants in the vitamin D pathway affect vitamin D serum levels and, thus, atopy and asthma.
Exploring heterologous prime-boost vaccination approaches to enhance influenza control in pigs
Authors: Li Chong , Culhane Marie R. , Cheeran Maxim , Galina Pantoja Lucina , Jansen Micah L. , Amodie Deborah , Mellencamp Martha A. , Torremorell Montserrat
Published: July 2020

Influenza A viruses evolve rapidly to escape host immunity. In swine, this viral evolution has resulted in the emergence of multiple H1 and H3 influenza A virus (IAV) lineages in the United States (US) pig populations. The heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy is a promising way to deal with diverse IAV infection in multiple animal models. However, whether or not this vaccination strategy is applicable to US swine to impart immunity against infection from North American strains of IAV is still unknown. We performed a vaccination-challenge study to evaluate the protective efficacy of using multivalent inactivated vaccine and/or a live attenuated IAV vaccine (LAIV) in pigs following multiple prime-boost vaccination protocols against a simultaneous H1N1 and H3N2 IAV infection. Our data show that pigs in the heterologous prime-boost vaccination group had more favorable outcomes consistent with a better response against virus challenge than non-vaccinated pigs. Additionally, delivering a multivalent heterologous inactivated vaccine boost to pigs following a single LAIV administration was also beneficial. We concluded the heterologous prime boost vaccination strategy may potentiate responses to suboptimal immunogens and holds the potential applicability to control IAV in the North American swine industry. However, more studies are needed to validate the application of this vaccination approach under field conditions.
Radiographic analysis and virtual cleaning of a bioarchaeological remain enclosed in mineral deposits from a limestone cave
Authors: Eppenberger Patrick E. , Čavka Mislav , Radović Siniša , Paar Dalibor , Buzjak Nenad , Ahern James C. M. , Biedermann Philipp , Gruber Philipp , Novak Mario , Janković Ivor
Published: July 2020

In limestone caves, environmental processes often cause alterations of human or animal skeletal remains, complicating classical analytical methods. Exemplary, a proximal femoral skeletal fragment, enclosed by a thick layer of speleothemic calcite deposits, was discovered during the exploration of the Bedara cave in Žumberak, Croatia. An examination without removal of the surrounding mineral deposits, possibly leading to damage of the specimen, was, therefore, desirable.

We describe and discuss the applied techniques, including clinical computed tomography, virtual cleaning by a specially developed segmentation protocol using an open-source DICOM viewer, and virtual visualisation and dimensioning using computer-aided design software, so that this “hidden” specimen could be non-invasively examined in great detail. We also report on the circumstances and origin of the find, the results of radiocarbon dating, and its anatomical and taxonomic identification, according to which, the bone fragment belonged to a wild boar (Sus scrofa) from the timeframe of the Middle Eneolithic Retz-Gajary culture in the region (4,781 ± 35 years before present). This study provides a reference for future paleontological and anthropological analyses, seeking to unlock the enormous potential of anatomical studies of comparable skeletal remains that are either petrified or enclosed in speleothemic deposits.
Role of positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in breast cancer
Authors: Shawky Mohamed , Ali Zeinab Abd Elaziz , Hashem Dina Hamdy , Houseni Mohamed
Published: July 2020

Background

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women and the most common cause of deaths in women worldwide.

FDG-PET/CT was used in the early stage, estimation of the therapeutic response, revelation of recurrent disease, and distal metastasis. However, with the increasing use of FDG PET/CT, sites of accelerated activity have been occasionally found out in unexpected locations which may not correlate with the patient’s clinical history or the expected propagation of the primary malignancy.

The aim of this study is to detect the diagnostic value of PET/CT in breast cancer patients; comparing PET/CT performance with that of contrast-enhanced CT in diagnosis of breast cancer and distant metastasis.

Results

The study included 30 female patients with breast cancer, mean age 53.56 years ± 10.64 (SD), age range 33–73 years. PET/CT detect contralateral breast affection in 2 patients (6.7%), and distant metastasis was seen on PET/CT. Sites of distant metastasis included the bone (n = 12), axillary lymph nodes (n = 11), cervical lymph nodes (n = 6), mediastinal lymph nodes (n = 12), abdominal lymph nodes (n = 8), liver (n = 5), lung (n = 11), and other visceral sites metastasis (n = 9). PET/CT detected breast lesions with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 95.4%. In contrast, the sensitivity and specificity of CT alone were 81.2% and 90.4%, respectively.

Conclusion

PET/CT has superiority over CT alone in revelation of breast lesions and distant metastases.
Preserving postharvest storage quality of fresh-cut cactus pears by using different bio-materials
Authors: Kahramanoğlu İbrahim , Usanmaz Serhat , Okatan Volkan , Wan Chunpeng
Published: July 2020

Background

Cactus pear (
Opuntia ficus
-
indica
(L.) Miller) is an important food source for human beings but its consumption and marketability are limited due to the presence of spines and glochids on the fruit surface. Fresh-cut, ready-to-eat cactus pears have higher preference than the whole fruits. However, fresh-cut fruits have tissue wounding and quick deterioration, which decrease the marketability of the products. Therefore, present study was aimed to improve the storage quality of ready-to-eat cactus pears with the application of environmentally friendly bio-materials.

Methods

Fruits of present study were hand collected by a traditional way from a farm located in Yayla village of Northern Cyprus. Fruits were then peeled to prepare fresh-cut prickly pears for further experiments. Fruit peeling was carried out in three steps: (i) slicing off and discarding the both ends of the prickly pears, (ii) making one long vertical slice down the body, and (iii) peeling back the skin by sliping our finger into the slice and preparing a peeled prickly pear without skin. The six treatments of present study are: (1) control—dipping the fruits into distilled water, (2) covering the fruits with
Vitis vinifera
leaves, (3) dipping the fruits into jelly, (4) dipping the fruits into
Aloe vera
gel, (5) dipping the fruits into
Portulaca oleracea
extract and (6) dipping the fruits into cactus gel. Totally 108 fruits (replications) were used for each treatment and 18 fruits from each treatment were selected for quality analysis with 3-days interval (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 days). Fruits of each treatment (6 from same treatment) were placed into an open plastic box (dimensions: 20 * 13 * 5 cm; material: PET) and was covered with a stretch film (LLDPE, 10 µm) for storage. The fruit boxes were stored at storage rooms adjusted to 5 ± 1 °C and 55 ± 5% relative humidity.

Results

Results showed that, all treatments have varying positive effects on the prevention of weight loss. Among them, the highest positive effect was received from
A. vera
gel treatment (0.98%), and is followed by cactus gel (1.15%),
V. vinifera
leaf (1.39%) and jelly (1.61%) at the end of the experiments (18 days).
A. vera
gel and cactus gel were also found to have highest influence on the prevention of off-odor and decay incidence; and to protect the sensory and visual quality of the ready-to-eat cactus pears.

Conclusions

Results suggested that the postharvest storage duration of ready-to-eat cactus pears might be extended from 9 to 15 days with the use of
Aloe vera
gel or cactus gel.
Thresholds and Endocrine Disruptors: An Endocrine Society Policy Perspective
Authors: Demeneix Barbara , Vandenberg Laura N , Ivell Richard , Zoeller R Thomas
Published: July 2020

The concept of a threshold of adversity in toxicology is neither provable nor disprovable. As such, it is not a scientific question but a theoretical one. Yet, the belief in thresholds has led to traditional ways of interpreting data derived from regulatory guideline studies of the toxicity of chemicals. This includes, for example, the use of standard “uncertainty factors” when a “No Adverse Effect Level” (or similar “benchmark dose”) is either observed, or not observed. In the context of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), this approach is demonstrably inappropriate. First, the efficacy of a hormone on different endpoints can vary by several orders of magnitude. This feature of hormone action also applies to EDCs that can interfere with that hormone. For this reason, we argue that the choice of endpoint for use in regulation is critical, but note that guideline studies were not designed with this in mind. Second, the biological events controlled by hormones in development not only change as development proceeds but are different from events controlled by hormones in the adult. Again, guideline endpoints were also not designed with this in mind, especially since the events controlled by hormones can be both temporally and spatially specific. The Endocrine Society has laid out this logic over several years and in several publications. Rather than being extreme views, they represent what is known about hormones and the chemicals that can interfere with them.
Differential encoding of signals and preferences by noradrenaline in the anuran brain
Authors: Burmeister Sabrina S. , Rodriguez Moncalvo Verónica G. , Pfennig Karin S.
Published: July 2020

Social preferences enable animals to selectively interact with some individuals over others. One influential idea for the evolution of social preferences is that preferred signals evolve because they elicit greater neural responses from sensory systems. However, in juvenile Plains spadefoot toad (Spea bombifrons), a species with condition-dependent mating preferences, responses of the preoptic area, but not of the auditory midbrain, mirror adult social preferences. To examine whether this separation of signal representation from signal valuation generalizes to other anurans, we compared the relative contributions of noradrenergic signalling in the preoptic area and auditory midbrain of S. multiplicata, a close relative to S. bombifrons. We manipulated body condition in juvenile toads by controlling diet and used high pressure liquid chromatography to compare call-induced levels of noradrenaline and its metabolite MHPG in the auditory midbrain and preoptic area of the two species. We found that noradrenaline and MHPG levels in the auditory system differed between species' calls, with higher levels measured in both species for the more energetic S. bombifrons call. In contrast, noradrenaline levels in the preoptic area mirrored patterns of social preferences in both S. bombifrons and S. multiplicata. That is, noradrenaline levels were higher in response to the preferred calls within each species and were modified by diet in S. bombifrons (with condition-dependent preferences) but not S. multiplicata (without condition-independent preferences). Our results are consistent with a potentially important role for preoptic noradrenaline in the development of social preferences and indicate that it could be a target of selection in the evolution of condition-dependent social preferences.
The energetic costs of living in the surf and impacts on zonation of shells occupied by hermit crabs
Authors: Alcaraz Guillermina , Toledo Brenda , Burciaga Luis M.
Published: July 2020

Crashing waves create a hydrodynamic gradient in which the most challenging effects occur at the wave breaking zone and decrease towards the upper protected tide pools. Hydrodynamic forces depend on the shape of the submerged body; streamlined shapes decrease drag forces compared to bluff or globose bodies. Unlike other animals, hermit crabs can choose their shell shape to cope with the effects of water flow. Hermit crabs occupy larger and heavier shells (conical shape) in wave-exposed sites than the ones used in the protected areas (globose shape). First, we investigated if a behavioral choice could explain the shells used in sites with different wave action. Then, we experimentally tested if the shells most frequently used in sites with different wave action reduce the energetic cost of coping with water flow. Metabolic rate was measured using a respirometric system fitted with propellers in opposite walls to generate bidirectional water flow. The choice of shell size when a large array of sizes are available was consistent with the shell size used in different intertidal sites; hermit crabs chose heavier conical shells in water flow conditions than in still water, and the use of heavy conical shells reduced the energetic cost of coping with water motion. In contrast to conical shells, small globose shells imposed lower energy costs of withstanding water flow than large globose shells. The size and type of shells used in different zones of the rocky shore were consistent with an adaptive response to reduce the energetic costs of withstanding wave action.
Host plant defense produces species specific alterations to flight muscle protein structure and flight-related fitness traits of two armyworms
Authors: Portman Scott L. , Felton Gary W. , Kariyat Rupesh R. , Marden James H.
Published: July 2020

Insects manifest phenotypic plasticity in their development and behavior in response to plant defenses, via molecular mechanisms that produce tissue-specific changes. Phenotypic changes might vary between species that differ in their preferred hosts and these effects could extend beyond larval stages. To test this, we manipulated the diet of southern armyworm (SAW; Spodoptera eridania) and fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda) using a tomato mutant for jasmonic acid plant defense pathway (def1), and wild type plants, and then quantified gene expression of Troponin t (Tnt) and flight muscle metabolism of the adult insects. Differences in Tnt spliceform ratios in insect flight muscles correlate with changes to flight muscle metabolism and flight muscle output. We found that SAW adults reared on induced def1 plants had higher relative abundances (RA) of the A isoform of Troponin t (Tnt A) in their flight muscles; in contrast, FAW adults reared on induced def1 plants had lower RAs of Tnt A in their flight muscles compared to adults reared on def1 and controls. Although mass-adjusted flight metabolic rates showed no independent host plant effects in either species, higher flight metabolic rates in SAW correlated with increased RAs of Tnt A. Flight muscle metabolism also showed an interaction of host plants with Tnt A in both species, suggesting that host plants might be influencing flight muscle metabolic output by altering Tnt. This study illustrates how insects respond to variation in host plant's chemical defense by phenotypic modifications to their flight muscle proteins, with possible implications for dispersal.
Impact of malaria on haematological parameters of urban, peri-urban and rural residents in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mutala Abdul-Hakim , Badu Kingsley , Owusu Christian , Agordzo Samuel Kekeli , Tweneboah Austine , Abbas Dawood Ackom , Addo Matthew Glover
Published: July 2020

Background: We aimed at investigating the impact of malaria on the haematological parameters of residents from different demographic settlements in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Malaria parasites trigger changes in certain haematological parameters, which may result in a number of clinical manifestations. Differences in demographic settlements, such as rural, peri-urban and urban settlements may also influence these changes, but this has not been extensively studied in Ghana.

Methods: We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study from January to December 2018 in three different settlements. A total of 598 participants were recruited. Blood smears were examined to detect and quantify malaria parasitaemia, while haematological parameters were measured using a haematology analyser.

Results: Participants from the rural settlement had the highest malaria prevalence (21.3%) compared to urban (11.8%) and peri-urban areas (13.3%); however, the peri-urban area had the highest median parasite density (568; IQR=190.0-1312.0). Age was significantly associated with the odds of malaria positivity (OR: 0.97; CI:0.96 — 0.99; p=4.96*10-4). When haematological parameters of the malaria-infected study participants were compared to the parameters of uninfected participants, red blood cell count (p=0.017), haemoglobin (p=0.0165), haematocrit (p=0.0015), mean corpuscular volume (p=0.0014), plateletcrit (p<0.0001) and platelet count (p<0.0001) were all significantly lower in the malaria infected group. In addition to age, haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels were also inversely correlated with the odds of testing positive for malaria, suggesting that children who were anaemic and/or thrombocytopaenic were likely to be infected. After fitting the data to a logistic regression model comprising the three variables, the model correctly categorised 78% of uninfected study participants, but only 50% of the malaria-positive participants.

Conclusions: Study participants who were positive for malaria were younger and had low haemoglobin and plateletcrit levels compared to uninfected individuals. Further studies are needed to more precisely elucidate the relationship between malaria infection,demographic and haematological parameters.
Continuous Storage Root Formation and Bulking in Sweetpotato
Authors: Bararyenya Astere , Tukamuhabwa Phinehas , Gibson Paul , Grüneberg Wolfgang , Ssali Reuben , Low Jan , Odong Thomas , Ochwo-Ssemakula Mildred , Talwana Herbert , Mwila Natasha , Mwanga Robert
Published: July 2020

This study investigated the phenotypic variation of continuous storage root formation and bulking (CSRFAB) growth patterns underlying the development of sweetpotato genotypes for identification of potential varieties adapted to piecemeal harvesting for small scale farmers. The research was conducted between September 2016 and August 2017 in Uganda. Genotypes from two distinct sweetpotato genepool populations (Population Uganda A and Population Uganda B) comprising 130 genotypes, previously separated using 31 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used. Measurements (4 harvest times with 4 plants each) were repeated on genotypes in a randomized complete block design with 2 replications in 2 locations for 2 seasons. We developed a scoring scale of 1 to 9 and used it to compare growth changes between consecutive harvests. Data analysis was done using residual or restricted maximum likelihood (REML). Data showed a non-linear growth pattern within and between locations, seasons, and genotypes for most traits. Some genotypes displayed early initiation and increase of bulking, while others showed late initiation. Broad sense heritability of CSRFAB was low due to large GxE interactions but higher in other traits  probably due to high genetic influence and the effectiveness of the methodology. A high level of reproducibility (89%) was observed comparing 2016B and 2017A seasons (A and B are first and second season, respectively) at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), Namulonge, Uganda. Choosing CSRFAB genotypes can more than double the sweetpotato production (average maximum yield of 13.1 t/ha for discontinuous storage root formation and bulking (DSRFAB) versus 28.6 t/ha for CSRFAB, demonstrating the importance of this underresearched component of storage root yield.
Francuskie Zjednoczenie Narodowe – stara partia w nowej odsłonie
Authors: Kosowska-Gąstoł Beata
Published: July 2020

French National Rally – an Old Party in a New Version

The changes in the French National Front in the second decade of the 21st century are generally associated with the advent of a new leader. In 2011, the then chairman Jean Marie Le Pen was replaced by his daughter Marine Le Pen. The reforms introduced by the new chairwoman, including a new party name – National Rally – are referred to as an attempt at dédiabolisation of the party, and they were expected to increase the party’s electoral support. The purpose of the article is to answer the questions about whether the change in party leadership caused profound ideological and programmatic transformation of the grouping or simply brought about changes in the image of the party and its leader. The article also examines the methods of political communication with voters, and whether we are still dealing with a niche and anti-establishment party or due to the reoccurring changes it has become part of the political mainstream.
Dobro wspólne czy interesy?
Authors: Homa Tomasz
Published: July 2020

The Common Good or the Interest? In Search for the Founding Stones of the Modern Society: Case Study – European Union

The philosophical reflection on the common good, as one of the primary normative principles, and in this sense also the “founding stones” of a well-structured social life, has a multifaceted, diverse range of proposed approaches and solutions and a well-documented output. Bearing in mind the centuries-long theoretical and practical importance and validity of this concept in the European thought and practice of socially and politically organized collective life, the subject of my reflections is to raise the question of the cognitive and normative importance and validity of this concept for today’s Europe in the context of the European Union project contained in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, signed on October 29, 2004 in Rome.
Naya Pakistan?
Authors: Kuszewska Agnieszka
Published: July 2020

Naya Pakistan? The Selected Issues of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy in View of the Transformations in the Regional Security The Islamic Republic of Pakistan faces many internal and external challenges and remains a major point of reference in contemporary international security analysis. This article examines selected issues relating to Pakistan’s foreign policy contextualized within the transformations in the security dynamics of South Asia. The specificity of the security environment in South Asia, the least politically and economically integrated region of the world, engaged in the protracted Kashmir conflict, serves as the starting point for the multi-dimensional study of the key objectives of Pakistan’s foreign strategy towards its neighbouring states, such as India, China and Afghanistan. Methodological approach for this research is based on offensive realism, which seems to present the appropriate explanatory tool for studying the South Asian securityrelated specificity. The naya (new) Pakistan narrative, promoted by the Prime Minister Imran Khan seems hardly a game-changing chapter in the history of the state. Analysis of Pakistan’s current policies, persistent domination of the army over the state’s bureaucracy, increasing dependency on external loans and bailouts provokes rather opposite conclusions. Pakistan’s strategic goals vis-à-vis Afghanistan and India exploit its own resources and strongly affect the regional security system whilst the country has no adequate means to achieve them. Consequently, there is a vital need of a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s regional security calculus from ideologically motivated, unfeasible claims to a more cooperative posture, supplemented by campaigns for de-radicalization. This research study was conducted during seven trips to Pakistan during the last decade; the results and conclusions of this study were discussed and debated with academics and other South Asia experts both in Asia and in Europe.
Ação “Lazer Mais Saúde”: experiências em promoção da atividade física nas Academias a Céu Aberto em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Authors: Vidigal José Mauro Silva , Caldeira João Rafael da Silva , Fermino Rogério César , Martins-Costa Hugo César , Fernandes Amanda Paula
Published: July 2020

Este estudo objetivou desenvolver e apresentar o modelo lógico da ação Lazer Mais Saúde (LMS), associada à ação de instalação das Academias a Céu Aberto (ACA) em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil. O modelo lógico foi baseado nas diretrizes do Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Foi realizado levantamento e análise de documentos e publicações ofciais produzidos entre 2009-2017. As primeiras ACA foram instaladas em 2010, totalizando 188 unidades em 2013 e 404 em 2017. O processo de instalação, manutenção, bem como, sensibilização e orientação de milhares de usuários das ACA foi conduzido. Em longo prazo, as ações vinculadas à ACA visam aumentar os níveis de atividade física de lazer na população-alvo e mitigar as desigualdades intraurbanas no acesso à atividade física. Este trabalho contribuiu para o registro sistemático das ações LMS e ACA em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. O LMS foi aperfeiçoado continuamente, através de intervenções baseadas em evidências de gestão.
Optically pumped HBr master oscillator power amplifier operating in the mid-infrared region
Authors: Koen Wayne , Jacobs Cobus , Esser M. J. Daniel , Strauss Hencharl J.
Published: July 2020

An optically end-pumped HBr master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) has been demonstrated for what we believe is the first time. It produced up to 10.3 mJ per pulse at 4.20 and 4.34 µm when pumped with a single-frequency Ho:YLF MOPA system at a pulse repetition frequency of 50 Hz. Wavelength selection with the use of an intracavity

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absorption cell was also demonstrated, forcing the oscillator to emit at 3.89, 4.13, and 4.16 µm simultaneously, with a maximum output energy of 6.5 mJ per pulse after amplification.
Enhanced resolution of holographic stereograms by moving or diffusing a virtual pinhole array
Authors: Wang Zi , Lv Guoqiang , Feng Qibin , Wang Anting , Ming Hai
Published: July 2020

In this paper, two different display modes, the “pinhole mode” and the “lens mode” of the pinhole-type integral imaging (PII) based hologram are demonstrated by proper use of random phase. The performances of resolution, fill factor and image depth, of the two display modes are analyzed. Two different methods, the moving array lenslet technique (MALT) and the high-resolution elemental image array (EIA) encoding are introduced for the spatial resolution enhancement of the two display modes, respectively. Both methods enhance the spatial resolution without increasing the total pixel number or the space-bandwidth product (SBP) of the hologram. Both simulation and optical experiments verify that the proposed methods enhance the spatial resolution of PII-based hologram at a very low cost.
Probability of orbital angular momentum modes carried by a finite energy frozen wave in turbulent seawater
Authors: Liang Qiyong , Yang Dongyu , Zhang Yixin , Zheng Yuan , Hu Lifa
Published: July 2020

By developing the spatial coherence radius of a collimated Gaussian beam, we derive the normalized received probability of orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes of the random finite energy frozen wave (FW) in anisotropic weak seawater turbulence based on Rytov theory. We investigate the influences of seawater turbulence and beam parameters on the normalized received probability of OAM modes. This study concludes that the normalized received probability of signal OAM modes increases as the anisotropic factor of the seawater turbulence increases. The rate of dissipation of kinetic energy per unit mass of fluid and the inner scale of turbulence but the normalized received probability of signal OAM modes decreases as the increase of temperature-salinity contribution ratio and the dissipation rate of the mean-squared temperature. For the smaller received diameter of the receiver, larger transverse size and longer signal wavelength, the signal OAM modes achieve the higher normalized received probability. The normalized received probability of signal OAM modes is independent of the quantum number of OAM modes in weak seawater turbulence. The security of signal transmission can be enhanced by designing the position and interval of signals that can be detected along the optical path.