bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unlocking The Potential Of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) In Nigeria: A Technical And Market Analysis
Authors: Adamu Ahmed
Published: December 2024

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a viable
energy alternative in Nigeria, focusing on its technical and market feasibility. Nigeria, with substantial natural
gas reserves, has yet to fully exploit CNG for transportation and cooking due to infrastructure limitations, high
conversion costs, and low public awareness. The analysis compares the advantages of CNG over other fuels, such
as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and diesel, highlighting its higher combustion efficiency, lower emissions, and
suitability for high-compression engines. The study identifies key challenges, including infrastructure deficits and
safety concerns, and proposes solutions to mitigate these barriers. The potential market for CNG in transportation
and cooking sectors in Nigeria is vast, with significant cost savings and environmental benefits. Strategic
initiatives, including government incentives, public awareness campaigns, and infrastructure development, are critical to unlocking the potential of CNG, positioning it as a cornerstone of sustainable energy future in Nigeria.
Effect Of Financial Literacy On Investment Decisions Among Digital Customers Of Microfinance Banks In Nairobi Kenya
Authors: . .
Published: December 2024

In the developing nations, low-income individuals often lack access to regular income streams to cope with
unforeseen events. Microfinance banks exist to provide low-income individuals with alternative financial
solutions when they are turned away by traditional banks. Nonetheless, accomplishing this existence is made
more troublesome or unimaginable due to lack of financial literacy. From a population of approximately 50
million individuals, only 38% of Kenyans are financially literate according to the Global Financial Literacy
Survey report (2021). The poll further shows financial literacy levels of other nations. For example, Uganda's
rate was 34%, while Tanzania and South Africa were rated at 40% and 42% accordingly. Moreover, it is worth
noting that Kenya Vision 2030 (2008), outlined the desire for the country to achieve an 80% financial literacy
level by the end of year 2012. These statistics demonstrate that people are ill-prepared to deal with the changes
taking place in the field of finance. The research explored the effect of financial literacy on investment decisions
among digital customers of microfinance banks in Nairobi, Kenya. The expected utility hypothesis, the hypothesis
of planned behaviour, and the dual process hypothesis guided as the establishment for this examination. The
outcome of the research revealed that there was a positive and significant relationship between financial
behaviour and investment choices made by digital customers of microfinance banks. Financial knowledge and
investment decisions were found to have a statistically significant and positive effect among microfinance banks
digital clients. Lastly, the research revealed a strong and positive link between financial attitude and investment
decisions made by digital clients of microfinance banks in Nairobi Kenya. The study recommended that
microfinance bank digital customers should be conscious of their personal financial behavioral and take necessary measures to minimize impact on their investment decisions
Addressing Barriers To Trade Finance In African Markets: Opportunities For U.S. Partnership
Authors: . .
Published: December 2024

Trade finance is a cornerstone of global economic development, enabling the movement of goods and services
across borders while ensuring economic growth. However, in African markets, significant barriers, including
inadequate collateral, fragmented regulatory frameworks, and insufficient financial infrastructure, hinder access
to trade finance. These challenges disproportionately affect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), stifling
their potential to drive regional and global trade. This article explores the persistent challenges African
economies face in securing trade finance and examines the critical role of U.S.-Africa partnerships in addressing
these barriers. The study highlights the transformative potential of U.S. initiatives such as Prosper Africa and
innovative public-private partnerships by analyzing the impact of regulatory constraints, currency volatility, and
infrastructural deficits. It also emphasizes the importance of capacity building, technological innovation, and
policy harmonization in enhancing Africa’s trade finance space. The findings advocate for sustained
collaboration between African governments, U.S. policymakers, and multilateral organizations to implement
scalable and inclusive trade finance solutions. Such partnerships are essential for unlocking Africa’s trade potential, driving sustainable development, and cementing the U.S. as a strategic partner in Africa's economic future
A systematic review of depression literacy: Knowledge, help‐seeking and stigmatising attitudes among adolescents
Authors: Singh Sarbhan , Zaki Rafdzah Ahmad , Farid Nik Daliana Nik
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Depression is a common mental health disorder and affects many adolescents worldwide. Depression literacy can improve mental health outcomes. The aim of this study was to collate and analyse the extant evidence on depression literacy among adolescents, with particular focus on tools used to examine depression literacy and the findings on components of depression literacy.

Methods

Nine electronic databases and 1 grey literature source were searched for studies published in English between January 2006 and December 2018 and involving adolescents aged 10–19 years. We included studies that reported on components of depression literacy such as knowledge, help‐seeking and stigmatising attitudes. We excluded qualitative studies. Two independent reviewers verified that the studies met the inclusion criteria, assessed the quality of the studies and extracted their characteristics. The data were descriptively analysed and appraised using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS), Cochrane Collaboration's tool and the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies (QATSQ).

Results and conclusion

Fifty of the 14,626 references identified met the inclusion criteria. Depression literacy was most commonly (58%) assessed using tools that utilize a vignette‐based methodology. A lack of uniformity in reporting of depression literacy was noted. Adolescents were poor at recognising depression, likely to seek help from informal sources and tended to attach stigma to depression. The implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions made for future research.
Severity of Salmonella infection among sickle cell diseases pediatric patients
Authors: AlFawaz Tariq , Alzumar Omar , AlShahrani Dayel , Alshehri Mohammed
Published: June 2019

Introduction:

Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects millions worldwide. It has a spectrum of clinical manifestations. However, SCD is more prone to have invasive infection compared with normal individual, and one of the main pathogen of concern is salmonella, where the individual with SCD is more susceptible to salmonella infection. Furthermore, several distinct clinical syndromes can develop in children infected with salmonella, depending on both host factors and the specific serotype involved

Objectives:

We aim to describe the infection patterns and whole range of potential complications in children with SCD exposed to invasive salmonella infection.

Method:

This is a retrospective observational cohort study which was conducted at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 2012 and 2018. All sickle cell patients who are exposed to invasive salmonella infections and treated in our hospital over the last 6 years were included in our study.

Results:

Six patients were enrolled in the study, five males and one female with ratio of (M: F) 5:1, age range from 20 months–14 years, and the diagnosis at admission were as follows: (three as vasooclusive crisis, three as infection) with different kind of infections (three sepsis, three septic arthritis, four osteomyelitis, one meningitis, one myositis, one periorbital cellulitis, one diskitis), where three (50%) suffered multiple sites of infections and the other three (50%) with one site of infection, two (50%) of osteomyelitis patients suffered multifocal infection. Species identification is as follows: (three group D, one group C, and two were not specified), only two occasions where resistant to ciprofloxacin while all others were pan sensitive. Fever was prolonged (take more than seven days to subside even with appropriate therapy and intervention) in five out of six.

Conclusions:

Multiple site of infection, sever osteomylitis, and delay in fever response consolidated the fact of high virulence of salmonella in SCD patients. We did not encounter significant resistant rate to both quinolone and cephalosporin.
Oldest Meteorite Collection Found in World’s Oldest Desert
Authors: Morton Mary
Published: June 2019

Rare 2-million-year record reveals the meteorite flux rate.
Glycosylation profiling of selected proteins in cerebrospinal fluid from Alzheimer's disease and healthy subjects
Authors: Quaranta Alessandro , Karlsson Isabella , Ndreu Lorena , Marini Federico , Ingelsson Martin , Thorsén Gunnar
Published: June 2019

Alteration of glycosylation has been observed in several diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
A stable silver metallacage with solvatochromic and mechanochromic behavior for white LED fabrication
Authors: Lu Zhixiang , Cheng Yi , Fan Wenwen , Yang Shaoxiong , Liu Xiaolan , Qin Yu , Zhao Ruidun , Zheng Liyan , Zhang Hongbin
Published: June 2019

The novel fluorescent tetragonal face-to-face structure of Ag-TBI-TPE metallacage not only possesses excellent properties of strong fluorescence and high stability but also exhibits significant solvatochromic and mechanochromic behaviors.
Chiral metallic glass nanolattices with combined lower density and improved auxeticity
Authors: Chen Zhe , Liu Haishun , Li Wenyu , Mo Jinyong , Wang Mingzi , Zhang Yue , Li Jingyan , Jiang Qi , Yang Weiming , Tang Chunguang
Published: June 2019

Chiral metallic glass nanolattices with cavities were constructed, which indicates improved auxeticity and ultimate tensile strength.
A [2]pseudorotaxane based on a pillar[6]arene and its application in the construction of a metallosupramolecular polymer
Authors: Xia Danyu , Lv Xiaoqing , Chen Kexian , Wang Pi
Published: June 2019

A novel metallosupramolecular polypseudorotaxane was constructed by pillar[6]arene-based host–guest recognition and metal coordination.
Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide assisted dual-functional separator coating materials based on covalent organic frameworks for high-performance lithium–selenium sulfide batteries
Authors: Yang Yan , Hong Xu-Jia , Song Chun-Lei , Li Guo-Hui , Zheng Yi-Xin , Zhou Dan-Dan , Zhang Min , Cai Yue-Peng , Wang Hongxia
Published: June 2019

COFs with selective adsorption of LiTFSI may serve as a bifunctional separator coating material for high-performance Li–SeS2 cells.
The regenerated silk fibroin hydrogel with designed architecture bioprinted by its microhydrogel
Authors: Dong Tao , Mi Ruixin , Wu Mi , Zhong Nongping , Zhao Xia , Chen Xin , Shao Zhengzhong
Published: June 2019

The regenerated silk fibroin microhydrogel with thixotropic property could be bioprinted and then ripened to a tough hydrogel because of the change in “the second network” of the microhydrogel.
Perovskite white light-emitting diodes based on a molecular blend perovskite emissive layer
Authors: Chang Che-Yu , Solodukhin Alexander N. , Liao Shih-Yu , Mahesh K. P. O. , Hsu Ching-Ling , Ponomarenko Sergei A. , Luponosov Yuriy N. , Chao Yu-Chiang
Published: June 2019

Perovskite white light-emitting diodes with only a single emissive layer were realized with CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.3, 0.49).
Ultrasensitive room temperature ppb-level NO2 gas sensors based on SnS2/rGO nanohybrids with P–N transition and optoelectronic visible light enhancement performance
Authors: Huang Yifan , Jiao Weicheng , Chu Zhenming , Ding Guomin , Yan Meiling , Zhong Xue , Wang Rongguo
Published: June 2019

SnS2/rGO gas sensors were developed, with P–N transition response for room temperature ppb-level NO2 detection and visible light illumination enhancement behavior.
Block normalised iterative hard thresholding algorithm for compressed sensing
Authors: Zhang Xiaobo , Xu Wenbo , Lin Jiaru , Dang Yifei
Published: June 2019

In this letter, the authors propose block normalised iterative hard thresholding (BNIHT) algorithm for the recovery of block sparse signal, in which the non‐zero elements are presented in clusters. Based on block restricted isometry property, the sufficient conditions to guarantee the convergence of BNIHT are derived. In addition, the number of required iterations is obtained. The simulation experiment shows that BNIHT algorithm is superior to the block IHT (BIHT) algorithm when the step size satisfies .
Broadband heterodyne detection of terahertz‐waves using rectangular‐waveguide‐input Fermi‐level managed barrier diode module
Authors: Ito H. , Ishibashi T.
Published: June 2019

A zero‐biased Fermi‐level managed barrier diode that was packaged with a WR‐3 rectangular‐waveguide‐input port was developed. For direct (square‐law) detection operations, the fabricated module exhibited a 3 dB bandwidth covering the whole WR‐3 band. The intermediate frequency bandwidth in heterodyne detection was, therefore, dominated by the bandwidth of the integrated preamplifier, and it was measured to be about 40 GHz. The minimum noise‐equivalent power obtained was as low as 7 × 10−18 W/Hz at around 300 GHz even with a very low local oscillator power of 30 μW.
Saturated fault tolerant control based on partially decoupled unknown‐input observer: a new integrated design strategy
Authors: Hashemi Mojtaba , Egoli Ali Kamali , Naraghi Mahyar , Tan Chee Pin
Published: June 2019

This study presents a fault tolerant control (FTC) scheme based on fault estimation (FE) for a system subject to input saturation, uncertainty, ‐bounded disturbance and additive faults. In this study, the saturation is represented in polytopic form, and the disturbance is partitioned into matched and unmatched parts. For the FE scheme, a partially‐decoupled unknown input observer is introduced to completely compensate for the matched part and only the unmatched part affects the FE performance. The FE and FTC schemes are integrated to ensure that the resulting closed‐loop system is stable with ‐gain performance. Furthermore, all sufficient conditions for robust performance are derived and cast as linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Usage of the Young relation removes equality constraints, and thus all LMIs are solvable in a single step. Numerical simulations are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Design of a high‐gain silicon BJT and an E‐pHEMT hybrid matrix amplifier with an optimum filter‐matching technique
Authors: Sangaran Pragash , Kumar Narendra , Paoloni Claudio
Published: June 2019

Software‐defined radio (SDR) is an advanced wireless transmission paradigm that supports all the consumer wireless protocols such as 2G, 3G, Long‐Term Evolution, Wi‐Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth, and Zigbee, by software rather than hardware. A typical frequency band of operation is in the range of 0.5–6 GHz. The challenge to bring an SDR system on portable devices is the availability of ultra‐wide‐band compact amplifiers with a high gain over a wide frequency band. A novel hybrid silicon bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and an enhancement‐mode pseudomorphic‐high‐electron‐mobility‐transistor (E‐pHEMT) matrix amplifier with two rows and four columns (2 × 4) of transistors are designed, realised, and tested demonstrating a 0.65–5.8 GHz frequency band to satisfy the SDR specifications. The novel optimum filter‐matching technique is applied to optimise the performance and overcome the limit of the hybrid approach. The proposed matrix amplifier exhibits an average gain of 37.5 dB and an average output power of 18 dBm across the 0.65–5.8 GHz band with only 3 V supply voltage. The gain is the highest in the state of the art for the frequency range. A bandwidth of 5.15 GHz, 20.3 dBm above the 1‐dB compression point at 1.35 GHz, 10–16% power added efficiency, and 1.2 W DC power consumptions are obtained.
Compressing bistatic SAR target signatures with sparse‐limited persistence scattering models
Authors: Sugavanam Nithin , Ertin Emre , Burkholder Robert
Published: June 2019

Here, the authors study the modelling of bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) target signatures. They focus on building concise models inspired by physical phenomenology that explain target reflectivity over a wide range of bistatic angles and target pose. A regularised inversion method is proposed that decomposes the target into a set of scattering centres with limited persistence by utilising the model‐based sparsity of scattering coefficients. The resulting sparse model can be used for online estimation of target signatures at much faster speeds than simulation or database approaches. Based on the prior work on parametric models derived for canonical reflectors, the authors hypothesise that the scattering coefficient as a function of the viewing angle is embedded in a low‐dimensional subspace spanned by a set of functions or dictionary atoms that have a support, which is concentrated in the viewing angle domain. Exploiting the differentiability of the observation model in the scattering centre locations and the parameters associated with the basic functions, the authors propose a method to estimate the scattering centre locations in the continuum avoiding gridding errors. Using numerical simulations, they verify that the proposed method obtains a succinct representation of these objects using a sufficiently small set of scattering centres.
Head-Up Tilt Test in Risk Stratification of Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Sediva Hana , Hnat T. , Bonaventura J. , Slesarenko J. , Veselka J.
Published: June 2019

Conflicting results have been published considering the role of head-up tilt test (HUTT) positivity as a prognostic factor in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The relationship between HCM patients' genotype and their HUTT results has not been previously reported.

The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with HCM and their HUTT results in regard to its value for outcome prediction and to investigate the relation of patients' genotype and their HUTT results.

Seventy-four (51 ± 15 years; 42% women; median follow-up 72 months) HCM patients were divided into two groups based on their HUTT results and were retrospectively analyzed. In 67 (90.5%) subjects included in the analysis, next-generation sequencing-based genomic testing was performed. A composite end point of unexplained syncope, heart failure hospitalization, and death was defined.

A total of 14 patients (18.9%) had positive HUTT (HUTT+), whereas 60 (81.1%) had negative HUTT (HUTT–). Except for the New York Heart Association functional class (p = 0.01), both groups had similar characteristics. Positive genotype was evenly distributed between the two groups. Composite end point occurred in 5 patients (35.7%) in HUTT+ group versus 14 (23.3%) patients in HUTT– group (p = 0.33).

We did not find a relationship between HUTT results and long-term outcome. We found no association between HUTT results and genotype.
Myocardial Infarction as a Transient Risk Factor for Incident Venous Thromboembolism: Results from a Population-Based Case–Crossover Study
Authors: Sejrup Joakim K. , Børvik Trond , Grimnes Gro , Isaksen Trond , Hindberg Kristian , Hansen John-Bjarne , Morelli Vania M. , Brækkan Sigrid K.
Published: June 2019

Patients with myocardial infarction (MI) are at increased short-term risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The mechanisms behind this association are unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of acute MI as a transient risk factor for incident VTE while taking other concomitant VTE risk factors into account. We conducted a case–crossover study of VTE patients (n = 707) recruited from the fourth survey of the Tromsø Study. VTE risk factors and hospitalizations were registered during the 90-day period preceding the VTE diagnosis (hazard period) and in four 90-day control periods. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for VTE according to acute MI and after adjustment for other risk factors. Additionally, we applied a mediation analysis to quantify how much the known transient risk factors account for the observed effect of MI on VTE risk. MI was recorded in 13 (1.8%) of the hazard periods and in 6 (0.2%) of the control periods, which yielded a crude OR of 11.9 (95% CI: 3.9–36.7). Adjustment for immobilization and infection yielded an OR of 2.7 (95% CI: 0.6–11.2). The OR was attenuated to 2.6 (95% CI: 0.6–11.9) after further adjustment for major surgery, trauma, red blood cell transfusion, and central venous catheterization. Approximately 60% of the association between MI and VTE was mediated through infection and immobilization. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the increased VTE risk after MI may to a large extent be explained by concomitant conditions related to MI, particularly infections and immobilization.
Laboratory Monitoring in Emicizumab-Treated Persons with Hemophilia A
Authors: Müller Jens , Pekrul Isabell , Pötzsch Bernd , Berning Beate , Oldenburg Johannes , Spannagl Michael
Published: June 2019

Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked hereditary bleeding disorder caused by deficiency of coagulation factor (F) VIII activity. One of the greatest complications in the treatment of HA is the development of neutralizing alloantibodies, known as FVIII inhibitors. HA patients who develop FVIII inhibitors have limited treatment options available to them and experience greater disease- and treatment-related burdens than HA patients without FVIII inhibitors. Emicizumab, a recently approved bispecific monoclonal antibody, mimics the function of FVIIIa by bridging FIXa and FX to restore effective hemostasis. Although emicizumab and FVIII show some functional similarities, several key differences influence the results of standard laboratory assays when conducted in the presence of emicizumab, and can result in a misleading interpretation of coagulation assays in emicizumab-treated patients. Here, we discuss current laboratory monitoring methods, including activated partial thromboplastin time, FVIII one-stage clotting assays, FVIII chromogenic assays, and global coagulations assays; address why these conventional methods may be inappropriate for monitoring of HA patients receiving emicizumab; and suggest alternative methods applicable to monitoring HA treatment in an evolving treatment landscape.
Findings to Leptomeningeal Metastases in Lung Cancer: A Case Report
Authors: de Noronha Thiago Rodrigo , Fock Ricardo Ambrósio
Published: June 2019

Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) is defined as diffuse or focal infiltration of malignant cells into the meninges that bathe the brain and spinal subarachnoid. All malignant tumors may cause LM; however, there are several tumor entities that are more frequently associated with leptomeningeal spread than others such as lung cancer, breast carcinoma, melanoma, and hematologic neoplasms as well as primary brain tumor. Here, we present a case of LM from a 53-year-old woman with lung tumor and show the importance of cerebrospinal fluid analysis in the diagnosis of LM.
Cormac McCarthy, Marilynne Robinson, and the Responsibility to Protect
Authors: Morrison Spencer
Published: June 2019

This essay describes a new context for understanding the political stakes of US fiction described as postsecular—namely, the emergence of global human rights consciousness in the later twentieth century. Placing Americanist literary criticism’s recent “religious turn” in dialogue with the field of literature and human rights yields new insights for each, I argue. To demonstrate the benefits of this critical dialogue, I interpret two major novels studied by the “religious turn”—Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead—in relation to the United Nations’ responsibility to protect doctrine, which has reshaped the concept and practice of humanitarian intervention in the twenty-first century. Each novel dramatizes a dying father’s strained deliberations over the ethics of intervention on behalf of a vulnerable child—the subject whose maturation provides the figural foundation for human rights consciousness—against potentially grave harm. Each, moreover, deploys language and concepts of spiritual ambiguity to illuminate ethical and epistemological dilemmas that beset decisions regarding whether or not to intervene. Locating sacredness in the subject of human rights, McCarthy’s and Robinson’s texts enmesh rights claims and spiritual idioms in ways that suggest new critical paths for both Americanists and scholars of human rights and literature.
Causes and consequences of intraspecific variation in animal responses to anthropogenic noise
Authors: Harding Harry R , Gordon Timothy A C , Eastcott Emma , Simpson Stephen D , Radford Andrew N
Published: June 2019

Anthropogenic noise is a recognized global pollutant, affecting a wide range of nonhuman animals. However, most research considers only whether noise pollution has an impact, ignoring that individuals within a species or population exhibit substantial variation in responses to stress. Here, we first outline how intrinsic characteristics (e.g., body size, condition, sex, and personality) and extrinsic factors (e.g., environmental context, repeated exposure, prior experience, and multiple stressors) can affect responses to environmental stressors. We then present the results of a systematic search of the anthropogenic-noise literature, identifying articles that investigated intraspecific variation in the responses of nonhuman animals to noise. This reveals that fewer than 10% of articles (51 of 589) examining impacts of noise test experimentally for intraspecific variation in responses; of those that do, more than 75% report significant effects. We assess these existing studies to determine the current scope of research and findings to-date, and to provide suggestions for good practice in the design, implementation, and reporting of robust experiments in this field. We close by explaining how understanding intraspecific variation in responses to anthropogenic noise is crucial for improving how we manage captive animals, monitor wild populations, model species responses, and mitigate effects of noise pollution on wildlife. Our aim is to stimulate greater knowledge and more effective management of the harmful consequences of this global pollutant.
Taxonomy of dark- and white-barked birches related to Betula pendula and B. pubescens (Betulaceae) in Ukraine based on both morphological traits and DNA markers
Authors: Tarieiev Andrii , Olshanskyi Igor , Gailing Oliver , Krutovsky Konstantin V
Published: June 2019

Distribution, taxonomy, nomenclature and molecular genetic data are presented for two closely related pairs of birch taxa: (1) dark-barked Betula pubescens var. sibakademica (Baran.) Kuzeneva (basionym B. sibakademica Baranov) and white-barked B. pubescens var. pubescens, and (2) dark-barked B. kotulae Zaverucha = B. pendula var. obscura (Kotula ex Fiek) Olšavská (basionym B. obscura Kotula ex Fiek, heterotypic synonym B. kotulae) and white-barked B. pendula, respectively. Using published data and sequences obtained in this study, it was found that, although these pairs can be distinguished not only by morphological characters but also by two diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2, no sequence differences within each pair were detected. These results suggest that the colour of the bark cannot be used as a taxonomic trait at the species level, and the dark-barked birches within each pair should not be treated as separate species or varieties, but as forms, respectively. Therefore, we reassessed the taxonomic status of B. sibakademica and B. kotulae using morphological traits and molecular genetic markers and suggest that B. pubescens f. sibakademica (Baranov) Tarieiev comb. nov. and B. pendula f. obscura (Kotula ex Fiek) Tarieiev comb. nov. should be used for them, respectively. Betula pubescens f. sibakademica was described in Ukraine for the first time.
Growth of two Atlantic Coast Piping Plover populations
Authors: Weithman Chelsea E , Robinson Samantha G , Hunt Kelsi L , Altman Jon , Bellman Henrietta A , DeRose-Wilson Audrey L , Walker Katie M , Fraser James D , Karpanty Sarah M , Catlin Daniel H
Published: June 2019

Species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act are required to meet stated recovery goals for delisting. These goals often are developed early in the species’ conservation history and may need to be updated or refined as new information becomes available. The Atlantic Coast Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), which was listed more than 30 yr ago, has not met recovery goals through much of its range. Initial recovery goals included maintaining a reproductive output of 1.5 fledged chicks per pair for 5 yr. This goal was based on modelling that assumed equal survival rates for adults throughout the range, but recent studies suggest that demographic rates may vary with latitude. To investigate latitudinal variation, we developed demographic and population growth estimates for 2 breeding populations of Piping Plovers on the U.S. Atlantic Coast on Fire Island, New York (40.7°N), and on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (35.3°N) in 2013–2017. Breeding success (nest success and pre-fledge chick survival) varied annually but was lower in North Carolina than New York. Average adult true survival in New York (x̅ = 0.73, SE = 0.04) was similar to average survival in North Carolina (x̅ = 0.69, SE = 0.07). Annual post-fledging survival for both sites, however, was variable and often higher than had been previously reported for Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers (0.43–0.66 for New York; 0.31 and 1.0 for North Carolina). While the estimated reproductive output needed for a stationary population for both sites was similar (1.10 chicks per pair for New York, 95% CI: 0.83–1.41; 1.08 for North Carolina, 95% CI: 0.67–1.59), only the New York population achieved or exceeded these values during our study. Our findings suggest that understanding annual and latitudinal demographic variability would be helpful in refining recovery goals.
Combined alignments of sequences and domains characterize unknown proteins with remotely related protein search PSISearch2D
Authors: Yang Minglei , Zhang Wenliang , Yao Guocai , Zhang Haiyue , Li Weizhong
Published: June 2019

Iterative homology search has been widely used in identification of remotely related proteins. Our previous study has found that the query-seeded sequence iterative search can reduce homologous over-extension errors and greatly improve selectivity. However, iterative homology search remains challenging in protein functional prediction. More sensitive scoring models are highly needed to improve the predictive performance of the alignment methods, and alignment annotation with better visualization has also become imperative for result interpretation. Here we report an open-source application PSISearch2D that runs query-seeded iterative sequence search for remotely related protein detection. PSISearch2D retrieves domain annotation from Pfam, UniProtKB, CDD and PROSITE for resulting hits and demonstrates combined domain and sequence alignments in novel visualizations. A scoring model called C-value is newly defined to re-order hits with consideration of the combination of sequence and domain alignments. The benchmarking on the use of C-value indicates that PSISearch2D outperforms the original PSISearch2 tool in terms of both accuracy and specificity. PSISearch2D improves the characterization of unknown proteins in remote protein detection. Our evaluation tests show that PSISearch2D has provided annotation for 77 695 of 139 503 unknown bacteria proteins and 140 751 of 352 757 unknown virus proteins in UniProtKB, about 2.3-fold and 1.8-fold more characterization than the original PSISearch2, respectively. Together with advanced features of auto-iteration mode to handle large-scale data and optional programs for global and local sequence alignments, PSISearch2D enhances remotely related protein search.
The hypoxic expression of the glucose transporter RAG1 reveals the role of the bHLH transcription factor Sck1 as a novel hypoxic modulator in Kluyveromyces lactis
Authors: Santomartino Rosa , Ottaviano Daniela , Camponeschi Ilaria , Landicho Tracy Ann Alcarpio , Falato Luca , Visca Andrea , Soulard Alexandre , Lemaire Marc , Bianchi Michele Maria
Published: June 2019

Glucose is the preferred nutrient for most living cells and is also a signaling molecule that modulates several cellular processes. Glucose regulates the expression of glucose permease genes in yeasts through signaling pathways dependent on plasma membrane glucose sensors. In the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis, sufficient levels of glucose induction of the low-affinity glucose transporter RAG1 gene also depends on a functional glycolysis, suggesting additional intracellular signaling. We have found that the expression of RAG1 gene is also induced by hypoxia in the presence of glucose, indicating that glucose and oxygen signaling pathways are interconnected. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying this crosstalk. By analyzing RAG1 expression in various K. lactis mutants, we found that the bHLH transcriptional activator Sck1 is required for the hypoxic induction of RAG1 gene. The RAG1 promoter region essential for its hypoxic induction was identified by promoter deletion experiments. Taken together, these results show that the RAG1 glucose permease gene is synergistically induced by hypoxia and glucose and highlighted a novel role for the transcriptional activator Sck1 as a key mediator in this mechanism.
Dartington Hall and the Quest for ‘Life in its Completeness’, 1925–45
Authors: Neima Anna
Published: June 2019

In the wake of the First World War, reformers across the Western world questioned laissez-faire liberalism, the self-oriented and market-driven ruling doctrine of the nineteenth century. This philosophy was blamed, variously, for the war, for industrialization and for urbanization; for a way of life shorn of any meaning beyond getting and keeping; for the too great faith in materialism and in science; and for the loss of a higher, transcendent meaning that gave a unifying purpose to individual existence and to society as a whole. For many, the cure to these ills lay in reforming the liberal social framework in ways that made it more fulfilling to the whole person and that strengthened ties between individuals. This article looks at Dartington Hall as an outstanding practical example of this impulse to promote holistic, integrated living – exploring the project as an interlinked constellation of experiments in education, the arts, agriculture and social organization; and also looking at how Dartington’s philosophy and trajectory matched those of other such enterprises begun in interwar Britain and further afield, making it a bellwether of changes in reformist thinking across the century.
Challenges and Prospects for Testing the Mother’s Curse Hypothesis
Authors: Dowling Damian K , Adrian Rebecca E
Published: June 2019

Maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) renders selection blind to mutations whose effects are limited to males. Evolutionary theory predicts this will lead to the accumulation of a male-specific genetic load within the mitochondrial genomes of populations; that is, a pool of mutations that negatively affects male, but not female, fitness components. This principle has been termed the Mother’s Curse hypothesis. While the hypothesis has received some empirical support, its relevance to natural populations of metazoans remains unclear, and these ambiguities are compounded by the lack of a clear predictive framework for studies attempting to test Mother’s Curse. Here, we seek to redress this by outlining the core predictions of the hypothesis, as well as the key features of the experimental designs that are required to enable direct testing of the predictions. Our goal is to provide a roadmap for future research seeking to elucidate the evolutionary significance of the Mother’s Curse hypothesis.
The Impact of Unconscious Bias in Healthcare: How to Recognize and Mitigate It
Authors: Marcelin Jasmine R , Siraj Dawd S , Victor Robert , Kotadia Shaila , Maldonado Yvonne A
Published: June 2019

The increasing diversity in the US population is reflected in the patients who healthcare professionals treat. Unfortunately, this diversity is not always represented by the demographic characteristics of healthcare professionals themselves. Patients from underrepresented groups in the United States can experience the effects of unintentional cognitive (unconscious) biases that derive from cultural stereotypes in ways that perpetuate health inequities. Unconscious bias can also affect healthcare professionals in many ways, including patient-clinician interactions, hiring and promotion, and their own interprofessional interactions. The strategies described in this article can help us recognize and mitigate unconscious bias and can help create an equitable environment in healthcare, including the field of infectious diseases.
Susceptibility of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) to nitroxoline
Authors: Fuchs Frieder , Hamprecht Axel
Published: June 2019

Background

Infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) constitute a major global health concern and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Nitroxoline is an old antibiotic, which has recently been re-launched for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection. Because of low resistance rates it could be an interesting option for treatment of MDR isolates, yet data on CPE susceptibility are scarce.

Objectives

To analyse the in vitro activity of nitroxoline against CPE.

Methods

MICs of nitroxoline were determined by agar dilution for a collection of well-characterized carbapenemase producers (n = 105), producing OXA-48-like (n = 36), VIM (n = 21), IMI (n = 9), IMP (n = 6), NDM (n = 22), KPC (n = 11), OXA-58 (n = 2) and GES (n = 2). For comparison, MICs of ertapenem, imipenem and meropenem were determined by agar gradient diffusion.

Results

For all 105 isolates, the MIC50/90 of nitroxoline was 8/16 mg/L. All Escherichia coli isolates (30/30, 100%) showed low MICs of 2–8 mg/L and were susceptible to nitroxoline. MICs of 32 mg/L were recorded for five isolates of VIM- and IMI-producing Enterobacter cloacae (n = 3) and OXA- and VIM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 2).

Conclusions

Nitroxoline exhibited excellent in vitro activity against most isolates producing common and rare carbapenemases. If the current EUCAST susceptibility breakpoint of ≤16 mg/L for E. coli in uncomplicated urinary tract infections was applied, 95.2% (100/105) of isolates would be classified as susceptible. Nitroxoline could therefore be an alternative oral option for treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections caused by CPE.
Identification of Subterranean Termite Genus, Reticulitermes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) in Taiwan
Authors: Wu Chia-Chien , Tsai Cheng-Lung , Liang Wei-Ren , Takematsu Yoko , Li Hou-Feng
Published: June 2019

Species identification in the genus Reticulitermes is often difficult because of ambiguous morphological characters. Challenges in Reticulitermes spp. recognition have also been encountered in East Asia, including Taiwan. Because of unknown Reticulitermes taxa in Taiwan and the possible origin of alien Reticulitermes kanmonensis Takematsu in Japan and Korea, reexamining Reticulitermes fauna in Taiwan is imperative. To clarify the Reticulitermes fauna in Taiwan, this study applied two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase subunit II [COII] and 16S rDNA) and morphological characters for species delimitation. Reticulitermes specimens collected from 63 localities across the main and adjacent islands of Taiwan were analyzed. Phylogenetic analyses, morphological comparisons, and ecological traits suggested the existence of three species in Taiwan: Reticulitermes flaviceps (Oshima), R. kanmonensis, and Reticulitermes leptomandibularis Hsia and Fan. Altitudinal distributions among the three Reticulitermes termites tended to differ: R. flaviceps adapted to low hills, but R. kanmonensis and R. leptomandibularis occurred in medium mountainous areas. The combined data, including haplotype diversities and distribution range, suggest that 1) R. flaviceps is an endemic species and only found in Taiwan; 2) R. kanmonensis and R. leptomandibularis are both native species in Taiwan and China; 3) Japanese R. kanmonensis populations originated from southern China and/or Taiwan and that Korean populations were possibly introduced from Japan.
Beijing Internet Court denies copyright to works created solely by artificial intelligence
Authors: Chen Ming
Published: June 2019

Beijing Feilin Law Firm v Baidu Corporation, No 239 [2019], Civil First Instance, Beijing Internet Court, 25 April 2019
Combatting digital piracy in cinematographic works: Delhi High Court grants India’s first dynamic injunction against rogue websites
Authors: Panchal Mohit
Published: June 2019

Delhi High Court, UTV Software Communication Ltd. & Others v 1337X.to, 10 April 2019
Type IV tibial tubercle fracture—Salter–Harris type II variant
Authors: Andrews Kyle A , Gillette Marshall , Shah Ronit V , Mckean Lucas A , Sanford Christopher G
Published: June 2019

Fractures about the tibial tubercle are uncommon fracture patterns, seen most often in adolescent males as they approach skeletal maturity. Compartment syndrome has a high association with these fractures requiring close monitoring, and a heightened level of suspicion. Tibial tubercle fractures are typically stratified using the Ogden classification. The type of intra-articular involvement and degree of displacement guide appropriate treatment. This report highlights a 14-year-old male patient who suffered a type IV tibial tubercle fracture with a unique Salter–Harris II, or transitional, component posteriorly that was unable to be closed reduced and developed compartment syndrome. He underwent fasciotomy, open reduction, and temporary external fixation. Once the status of the soft tissues improved, he underwent staged open reduction and internal fixation with skin grafting. The patient’s fracture and soft tissues healed and he currently ambulates without assistance or pain, and has returned to all desired activities including competitive sports.
Identifying optical turbulence profiles for realistic tomographic error in adaptive optics
Authors: Farley O J D , Osborn J , Morris T , Fusco T , Neichel B , Correia C , Wilson R W
Published: June 2019

For extremely large telescopes, adaptive optics will be required to correct the Earth’s turbulent atmosphere. The performance of tomographic adaptive optics is strongly dependent on the vertical distribution (profile) of this turbulence. An important way in which this manifests is the tomographic error, arising from imperfect measurement and reconstruction of the turbulent phase at altitude. Conventionally, a small number of reference profiles are used to obtain this error in simulation; however these profiles are not constructed to be representative in terms of tomographic error. It is therefore unknown whether these simulations are providing realistic performance estimates. Here, we employ analytical adaptive optics simulation that drastically reduces computation times to compute tomographic error for 10 691 measurements of the turbulence profile gathered by the Stereo-SCIDAR instrument at ESO Paranal. We assess for the first time the impact of the profile on tomographic error in a statistical manner. We find, in agreement with previous work, that the tomographic error is most directly linked with the distribution of turbulence into discrete, stratified layers. Reference profiles are found to provide mostly higher tomographic error than expected, which we attribute to the fact that these profiles are primarily composed of averages of many measurements resulting in unrealistic, continuous distributions of turbulence. We propose that a representative profile should be defined with respect to a particular system, and that as such simulations with a large statistical sample of profiles must be an important step in the design process.
Quantifying gene selection in cancer through protein functional alteration bias
Authors: Brandes Nadav , Linial Nathan , Linial Michal
Published: June 2019

Compiling the catalogue of genes actively involved in cancer is an ongoing endeavor, with profound implications to the understanding and treatment of the disease. An abundance of computational methods have been developed to screening the genome for candidate driver genes based on genomic data of somatic mutations in tumors. Existing methods make many implicit and explicit assumptions about the distribution of random mutations. We present FABRIC, a new framework for quantifying the selection of genes in cancer by assessing the effects of de-novo somatic mutations on protein-coding genes. Using a machine-learning model, we quantified the functional effects of ∼3M somatic mutations extracted from over 10 000 human cancerous samples, and compared them against the effects of all possible single-nucleotide mutations in the coding human genome. We detected 593 protein-coding genes showing statistically significant bias towards harmful mutations. These genes, discovered without any prior knowledge, show an overwhelming overlap with known cancer genes, but also include many overlooked genes. FABRIC is designed to avoid false discoveries by comparing each gene to its own background model using rigorous statistics, making minimal assumptions about the distribution of random somatic mutations. The framework is an open-source project with a simple command-line interface.
Risk of Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway gene polymorphisms in primary Sjögren’s syndrome
Authors: Fernández-Torres Javier , Pérez-Hernández Nonanzit , Hernández-Molina Gabriela , Martínez-Nava Gabriela A , Garrido-Rodríguez Daniela , López-Reyes Alberto , Rodríguez-Pérez José M
Published: June 2019

Objective

To explore genetic polymorphisms of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in primary SS (PSS).

Methods

We included 98 patients with PSS and 165 healthy volunteers. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. Through an open-array platform of low density, we genotyped 25 polymorphisms from 14 genes (WISP1, DKK1, SOST, FRZB, LRP1, LRP4, LRP5, LRP6, GSKB, ADAMTS5, GDF5, FMN2, ADIPOQ and COL11A1) involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. We compared the allelic and genotypic frequencies with Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression analysis adjusted by age, gender and individual admixture, as well as bootstrap-resampling analysis. We assessed the gene–gene interaction by the multifactor dimensionality reduction method.

Results

We found a positive significant association with four polymorphisms: LRP5 rs606989, FRZB rs409238, GSK3B rs2037547 and ADIPOQ rs2241766. All of them conferred risk for PSS, being the highest among subjects carrying three to four risk alleles (P < 0.001). According to a multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis, the best models included the LRP5 (rs606989), FRZB (rs409238) and ADIPOQ (rs2241766) polymorphisms.

Conclusion

LRP5, FRZB and ADIPOQ genes related in the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway increased the risk of PSS. Further research is needed to establish their functional role in this clinical entity.