bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forecasters fear threat of 5G wireless rollout
Authors: Popkin Gabriel
Published: August 2019

U.S. agencies battle over appropriate signal limits.
Cancer therapy returns to original target: HIV
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: August 2019

Human trial planned after successful test of engineered T cells in mice.
Synthetic sequence entanglement augments stability and containment of genetic information in cells
Authors: Blazejewski Tomasz , Ho Hsing-I , Wang Harris H.
Published: August 2019

Overlapping genes for synthetic biology

Overlapping genes yield multiple distinct proteins when translated in alternative reading frames of the same nucleotide sequence. Blazejewski
et al.
developed a computational algorithm to predict de novo sequence entanglement and experimentally generated functional synthetic overlapping genes. When a sequence of interest was co-encoded with an essential gene in a living bacterium, its evolutionary stability substantially increased. When a gene of interest was synthetically overlapped with a toxin gene, its horizontal gene transfer frequency between bacteria was strongly suppressed. This generalizable strategy for designing, building, and testing overlapping genes helps stabilize vertical gene evolution and restrict horizontal gene flow.

Science
, this issue p.
595
Fields on fire: Alternatives to crop residue burning in India
Authors: Shyamsundar P. , Springer N. P. , Tallis H. , Polasky S. , Jat M. L. , Sidhu H. S. , Krishnapriya P. P. , Skiba N. , Ginn W. , Ahuja V. , Cummins J. , Datta I. , Dholakia H. H. , Dixon J. , Gerard B. , Gupta R. , Hellmann J. , Jadhav A. , Jat H. S. , Keil A. , Ladha J. K. , Lopez-Ridaura S. , Nandrajog S. P. , Paul S. , Ritter A. , Sharma P. C. , Singh R. , Singh D. , Somanathan R.
Published: August 2019

Farmer profit can be increased and air quality improved
Vascular regulation of antitumor immunity
Authors: Munn Lance L. , Jain Rakesh K.
Published: August 2019

Improving vascular function provides opportunities to enhance immunotherapy
Ultrahigh–energy density lead-free dielectric films via polymorphic nanodomain design
Authors: Pan Hao , Li Fei , Liu Yao , Zhang Qinghua , Wang Meng , Lan Shun , Zheng Yunpeng , Ma Jing , Gu Lin , Shen Yang , Yu Pu , Zhang Shujun , Chen Long-Qing , Lin Yuan-Hua , Nan Ce-Wen
Published: August 2019

Ultrahigh energy density dielectric film

Dielectrics help hold charge as capacitors and are fundamental energy storage components. Improving energy density and other properties may help these materials be more competitive with batteries for energy storage applications. Pan
et al.
introduced a specific type of nanodomain structure in a BiFeO
3
-BaTiO
3
-SrTiO
3
solid solution that dramatically increased the energy density. The nanodomains were organized so as to minimize energy loss during polarization switching. The enhancement in the dielectric properties suggests that the strategy may be useful for designing high-performance dielectrics.

Science
, this issue p.
578
Structure elucidation of colibactin and its DNA cross-links
Authors: Xue Mengzhao , Kim Chung Sub , Healy Alan R. , Wernke Kevin M. , Wang Zhixun , Frischling Madeline C. , Shine Emilee E. , Wang Weiwei , Herzon Seth B. , Crawford Jason M.
Published: August 2019

Double warhead does DNA damage

Strains of the human gut bacterium
Escherichia coli
carrying the
clb
gene cluster produce a secondary metabolite dubbed colibactin and have been provocatively linked to colorectal cancer in some models. Colibactin has been difficult to isolate in full, but pieces of the structure have been worked out, including an electrophilic warhead. Xue
et al.
found that colibactin contains two conjoined warheads, which is consistent with its ability to alkylate and cross-link DNA. Chemical synthesis and comparison to cell coculture confirm the structure and properties of this unstable and potentially carcinogenic metabolite.

Science
, this issue p.
eaax2685
Exploring genetic interaction manifolds constructed from rich single-cell phenotypes
Authors: Norman Thomas M. , Horlbeck Max A. , Replogle Joseph M. , Ge Alex Y. , Xu Albert , Jost Marco , Gilbert Luke A. , Weissman Jonathan S.
Published: August 2019

Manifold destiny

Mapping of genetic interactions (GIs) is usually based on cell fitness as the phenotypic readout, which obscures the mechanistic origin of interactions. Norman
et al.
developed a framework for mapping and understanding GIs. This approach leverages high-dimensional single-cell RNA sequencing data gathered from CRISPR-mediated, pooled perturbation screens. Diverse transcriptomic phenotypes construct a “manifold” representing all possible states of the cell. Each perturbation and GI projects the cell state to a particular position on this manifold, enabling unbiased ordering of genes in pathways and systematic classifications of GIs.

Science
, this issue p.
786
Generation and manipulation of Schrödinger cat states in Rydberg atom arrays
Authors: Omran A. , Levine H. , Keesling A. , Semeghini G. , Wang T. T. , Ebadi S. , Bernien H. , Zibrov A. S. , Pichler H. , Choi S. , Cui J. , Rossignolo M. , Rembold P. , Montangero S. , Calarco T. , Endres M. , Greiner M. , Vuletić V. , Lukin M. D.
Published: August 2019

Entanglement goes large

The success of quantum computing relies on the ability to entangle large-scale systems. Various platforms are being pursued, with architectures based on superconducting qubits and trapped atoms being the most advanced. By entangling up to 20 qubits, Omran
et al.
and Song
et al.
—working with Rydberg atom qubits and superconducting qubits, respectively—demonstrate how far these platforms have reached. The demonstrated controllable generation and detection of entanglement on such quantum systems is promising for the development of large-scale quantum processors.

Science
, this issue p.
570
, p.
574
Comment on “Observation of alkaline earth complexes M(CO)
8
(M = Ca, Sr, or Ba) that mimic transition metals”
Authors: Landis Clark R. , Hughes Russell P. , Weinhold Frank
Published: August 2019

Wu
et al
. (Reports, 31 August 2018, p. 912) claim that recently characterized octacarbonyls of Ca, Sr, and Ba mimic the classical Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson bonding motif of transition metals. This claim, which contradicts known chemistry and computed electron density distributions, originates in the assumption of a flawed reference state for energy decomposition analyses.
Ferromagnetism in magic-angle graphene
Authors: Pixley Jed H. , Andrei Eva Y.
Published: August 2019

A small rotation between two graphene sheets results in unusual magnetic properties
Finding the location of a fast radio burst
Authors: Petroff Emily
Published: August 2019

Precision interferometry allows identification of the host galaxy of a single fast radio burst
Trypanosoma cruzi
Phosphomannomutase and Guanosine Diphosphate-Mannose Pyrophosphorylase Ligandability Assessment
Authors: Zmuda Filip , Shepherd Sharon M. , Ferguson Michael A. J. , Gray David W. , Torrie Leah S. , De Rycker Manu
Published: August 2019

Chagas’ disease, which is caused by the
Trypanosoma cruzi
parasite, has become a global health problem that is currently treated with poorly tolerated drugs that require prolonged dosing. Therefore, there is a clinical need for new therapeutic agents that can mitigate these issues. The phosphomannomutase (PMM) and GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GDP-MP) enzymes form part of the
de novo
biosynthetic pathway to the nucleotide sugar GDP-mannose.
patD
, a Gene Regulated by NtcA, Is Involved in the Optimization of Heterocyst Frequency in the Cyanobacterium
Anabaena
sp. Strain PCC 7120
Authors: Wang Li , Lin Gui-Ming , Niu Tian-Cai , Zhang Shao-Ran , Zhang Ju-Yuan , Tang Guo-Fang , Chen Wenli , Zhang Cheng-Cai
Published: August 2019

Microorganisms have evolved various strategies in order to adapt to the environment and compete with other organisms. Heterocyst differentiation is a prokaryotic model for studying complex cellular regulation. The NtcA-regulated gene
patD
controls the ratio of heterocysts relative to vegetative cells on the filaments of
Anabaena
sp. strain PCC 7120. Such a regulation provides a mechanism through which carbon fixation by vegetative cells and nitrogen fixation by heterocysts are properly balanced to ensure optimal growth and keep a competitive edge for long-term survival.
Cell Line Models for Human Cytomegalovirus Latency Faithfully Mimic Viral Entry by Macropinocytosis and Endocytosis
Authors: Lee Jeong-Hee , Pasquarella Joseph R. , Kalejta Robert F.
Published: August 2019

Primary cells cultured
in vitro
currently provide the highest available relevance for examining molecular and genetic requirements for the establishment, maintenance, and reactivation of HCMV latency. However, their expense, heterogeneity, and intransigence to both long-term culture and molecular or genetic modification create rigor and reproducibility challenges for HCMV latency studies. There are several cell line models for latency not obstructed by deficiencies inherent in primary cells. However, many researchers view cell line studies of latency to be physiologically irrelevant because of the perception that these models display numerous and significant differences from primary cells. Here, we show that the very first step in a latent HCMV infection, entry of the virus into cells, occurs in cell line models in a manner indistinguishable from that in which it occurs in primary CD34
+
hematopoietic progenitor cells. Our data argue that experimental HCMV latency is much more similar than it is different in cell lines and primary cells.
Identification of the Capsid Binding Site in the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Nuclear Egress Complex and Its Role in Viral Primary Envelopment and Replication
Authors: Takeshima Kosuke , Arii Jun , Maruzuru Yuhei , Koyanagi Naoto , Kato Akihisa , Kawaguchi Yasushi
Published: August 2019

Binding of HSV-1 NEC to nucleocapsids has been thought to promote nucleocapsid budding at the inner nuclear membrane and subsequent incorporation of nucleocapsids into vesicles during nuclear egress of nucleocapsids. However, data to directly support this hypothesis have not been reported thus far. In this study, we have present data showing that two amino acids in the membrane-distal face of the HSV-1 NEC, which contains the putative capsid binding site based on the solved NEC structure, were in fact required for efficient NEC binding to nucleocapsids and for efficient incorporation of nucleocapsids into vesicles during primary envelopment. This is the first report showing direct linkage between NEC binding to nucleocapsids and an increase in nucleocapsid incorporation into vesicles during herpesvirus primary envelopment.
High potency multistrain probiotic improves liver histology in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a randomised, double-blind, proof of concept study
Authors: Duseja Ajay , Acharya Subrat K , Mehta Manu , Chhabra Shruti ,   Shalimar, Rana Satyavati , Das Ashim , Dattagupta Siddhartha , Dhiman Radha K , Chawla Yogesh K
Published: August 2019

Objective

Pharmacological treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still evolving. Probiotics could be a promising treatment option, but their effectiveness needs to be established. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a high potency multistrain probiotic in adult patients with NAFLD.

Methods

Thirty-nine liver biopsy-proven patients with NAFLD were randomised in a double-blind fashion to either lifestyle modifications plus an oral multistrain probiotic (675 billion bacteria daily, n=19) or identical placebo (n=20) for 1 year. Lifestyle modifications included regular exercise for all and control of overweight/obesity (with additional dietary restrictions), hypertension and hyperlipidaemia in those with these risk factors. Primary objective of the study was the histological improvement in NAFLD activity score (NAS) and its components and secondary objectives were improvement in alanine transaminase (ALT) and cytokine profile.

Results

Thirty (76.9%) out of 39 patients with NAFLD completed the study with 1 year of follow-up. A repeat liver biopsy at 1 year could be done in 10 patients (52.6%) in probiotic group and five patients (25%) in placebo group. In comparison to baseline, hepatocyte ballooning (p=0.036), lobular inflammation (p=0.003) and NAS score (p=0.007) improved significantly at 1 year in the probiotic group. When compared with placebo, the NAS score improved significantly in the probiotic group (p=0.004), along with improvements in hepatocyte ballooning (p=0.05) and hepatic fibrosis (p=0.018). A significant improvement in levels of ALT (p=0.046), leptin (p=0.006), tumour necrosis factor-α (p=0.016) and endotoxins (p=0.017) was observed in probiotic group in comparison to placebo at 1 year. No significant adverse events were reported in the study.

Conclusion

Patients with NAFLD managed with lifestyle modifications and multistrain probiotic showed significant improvement in liver histology, ALT and cytokines.

Trial registration number

The clinical trial is registered with CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRYINDIA (CTRI);http://ctri.nic.in, No. CTRI/2008/091/000074
Community pharmacy medication review, death and re-admission after hospital discharge: a propensity score-matched cohort study
Authors: Lapointe-Shaw Lauren , Bell Chaim M , Austin Peter C , Abrahamyan Lusine , Ivers Noah M , Li Ping , Pechlivanoglou Petros , Redelmeier Donald A , Dolovich Lisa
Published: August 2019

Background

In-hospital medication review has been linked to improved outcomes after discharge, yet there is little evidence to support the use of community pharmacy-based interventions as part of transitional care.

Objective

To determine whether receipt of a postdischarge community pharmacy-based medication reconciliation and adherence review is associated with a reduced risk of death or re-admission.

Design

Propensity score-matched cohort study.

Setting

Ontario, Canada

Participants

Patients over age 66 years discharged home from an acute care hospital from 1 April 2007 to 16 September 2016.

Exposure

MedsCheck, a publicly funded medication reconciliation and adherence review provided by community pharmacists.

Main outcome

The primary outcome was time to death or re-admission (defined as an emergency department visit or urgent rehospitalisation) up to 30 days. Secondary outcomes were the 30-day count of outpatient physician visits and time to adverse drug event.

Results

MedsCheck recipients had a lower risk of 30-day death or re-admission (23.4% vs 23.9%, HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.00, p=0.02), driven by a decreased risk of death (1.7% vs 2.1%, HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.86) and rehospitalisation (11.0% vs 11.4%, HR 0.96, 95% 0.93–0.99). In a post hoc sensitivity analysis with pharmacy random effects added to the propensity score model, these results were substantially attenuated. There was no significant difference in 30-day return to the emergency department (22.5% vs 22.8%, HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.01) or adverse drug events (1.5% vs 1.5%, HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.12). MedsCheck recipients had more outpatient visits (mean 2.11 vs 2.09, RR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02, p=0.02).

Conclusions and relevance

Among older adults, receipt of a community pharmacy-based medication reconciliation and adherence review was associated with a small reduced risk of short-term death or re-admission. Due to the possibility of unmeasured confounding, experimental studies are needed to clarify the relationship between postdischarge community pharmacy-based medication review and patient outcomes.
Assessment of the awareness and usages of family planning methods in the Lebanese community
Authors: El Khoury Ghada , Salameh Pascale
Published: August 2019

Background

Worldwide, one in three women has unmet family planning (FP) needs because of difficulties in accessing or using contraceptives. In Lebanon, information from the scientific literature on the national prevalence of contraceptive use appears scarce.

Objective

In view of this, we measured the current Lebanese national prevalence of FP methods’ uptake among women and men of reproductive age, and we assessed barriers for potential unmet need.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey on a nationally representative sample of 825 married women (aged 15–49 years) and men of reproductive age (aged 18+ years). We used the validated Demographic & Health Survey (DHS) data collection tool and analysed data with SPSS Version 22.0 with p values <0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results

We found that the current prevalence of contraceptive use is 55.6%, the unmet need is 11.4%, the total demand for FP is 67% and the percentage of satisfied demand for FP is 83%. Despite favourable knowledge of and access to FP methods as well as positive attitudes towards FP; there is a clear stagnation in the rate of contraception use over the past four decades. The identified major factors hindering the use of FP methods in Lebanon appear to be religion, age and lower educational levels.

Conclusion

We suggest the implementation of effective interventions at the national level to promote and encourage the uptake of modern FP methods among couples. The latter will further promote maternal and child health, as well as empower women to fulfil their equal function in society.
A 5-year evaluation of the emergency contraception enhanced community pharmacy service provided in Wales
Authors: Mantzourani Efi , Hodson Karen , Evans Andrew , Alzetani Sarah , Hayward Rebecca , Deslandes Rhian , Hughes Mary Louise , Holyfield Gareth , Way Cheryl
Published: August 2019

Background

Access to emergency contraception (EC) has been a core component of attempts to address high teenage pregnancy rates in Wales. A national service was commissioned in 2011, allowing supply of EC free of charge from community pharmacies (CPs). This study investigated 5 years of the EC service, to describe its use and investigate changes in the pattern of use over time.

Methods

Secondary analyses of data from all National Health Service funded CP EC consultations in Wales between 1 August 2012 and 31 July 2017 (n=181 359). Data comprised standardised clinical and demographic information, in the form of predefined service user responses, submitted for reimbursement by CPs.

Results

Overall service provision remained relatively consistent over the study period, with women aged between 13 and 59 years accessing the service. An association was observed between the time since unprotected sexual intercourse and the day on which the service was accessed (Χ2(18)=16 292.327, p<0.001). Almost half (47.9%) of requests were because no contraception had been used, with a strong and positive association for teenagers and women aged 40+ years. A statistically significant and increasing percentage of consultations were accompanied by further sexual health advice (r=0.7, p<0.01).

Conclusions

Access to EC through CPs is contributing to reducing teenage conceptions and termination rates. However, action is needed to increase contraception use in all age groups. Reduced availability of CP services on Sundays is a barrier to timely EC access. Findings support an expanded role for community pharmacists in provision of regular contraception.
Non-superiority of lumen-apposing metal stents over plastic stents for drainage of walled-off necrosis in a randomised trial
Authors: Bang Ji Young , Navaneethan Udayakumar , Hasan Muhammad K , Sutton Bryce , Hawes Robert , Varadarajulu Shyam
Published: August 2019

Objective

Although lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) are increasingly used for drainage of walled-off necrosis (WON), their advantage over plastic stents is unclear. We compared efficacy of LAMS and plastic stents for WON drainage.

Design

Patients with WON were randomised to endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage using LAMS or plastic stents. Primary outcome was comparing total number of procedures to achieve treatment success defined as symptom relief in conjunction with WON resolution on CT at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were treatment success, procedure duration, clinical/stent-related adverse events, readmissions, length of hospital stay (LOS) and costs.

Results

60 patients underwent LAMS (n=31) or plastic stent (n=29) placement. There was no significant difference in total number of procedures performed (median 2 (range 2–7) LAMS vs 3 (range 2–7) plastic, p=0.192), treatment success, clinical adverse events, readmissions, LOS and overall treatment costs between cohorts. Although procedure duration was shorter (15 vs 40 min, p<0.001), stent-related adverse events (32.3% vs 6.9%, p=0.01) and procedure costs (US$12 155 vs US$6609, p<0.001) were higher with LAMS. Significant stent-related adverse events were observed ≥3 weeks postintervention in LAMS cohort. Interim audit resulted in protocol amendment where CT scan was obtained at 3 weeks postintervention followed by LAMS removal if WON had resolved. After protocol amendment, there was no significant difference in adverse events between cohorts.

Conclusion

Except for procedure duration, there was no significant difference in treatment outcomes between LAMS and plastic stents. To minimise adverse events with LAMS, patients should undergo follow-up imaging and stent removal at 3 weeks if WON has resolved.

Trial registration number

NCT02685865.
Hazardous children’s products on the Australian and US market 2011–2017: an empirical analysis of child-related product safety recalls
Authors: Niven Catherine M , Mathews Ben , Harrison James E , Vallmuur Kirsten
Published: August 2019

Objective

While there is evidence that unsafe children’s products are entering the Australian market, with increasing product safety recalls, no research has examined the nature of recalls or their trends over time. This research analyses Australian and US child-related product safety recall data to better understand the frequency and nature of unsafe children’s products, emerging hazard trends and cross-jurisdictional similarities and differences. Results can inform improved childhood injury prevention policy and regulation strategies in Australia.

Method

Empirical analysis of child-related product safety recalls in Australia and the USA over the period 2011–2017.

Results

Cross-jurisdictional comparison revealed similarities in Australia and the USA, with over 80% of recalled products occurring in four industry segments (toys/games, household furniture/furnishings, clothing and sports equipment) and a common leading hazard of choking. Australia and the USA also had a similar number of child-related recalls over the study period (Australia: 652, USA: 668). Disparate trends included a 21% decrease in US child-related recalls over the study period, with most recalled products still complying with mandated safety requirements. In contrast, Australian child-related recalls increased by 88% over the study period, with the majority of recalled products failing to comply with mandated safety requirements. Based on US child-related recall data, the leading cause of injuries was the child falling, the most severe injuries related to furniture/furnishings and the most frequent injuries related to sports equipment.

Conclusion

Analysing recall data provides new insights into hazardous children’s products. Cross-jurisdictional comparison of data on recalls highlights disparities and indicates a need for reforms to improve regulation of children’s products in Australia.
Forecasting global road traffic injury mortality for 2030
Authors: Inada Haruhiko , Li Qingfeng , Bachani Abdulgafoor , Hyder Adnan A
Published: August 2019

Objective

To forecast the number and rate of deaths from road traffic injuries (RTI) in the world in 2030.

Methods

This study was a secondary analysis of annual country-level data of RTI mortality rates for 1990–2017 in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study, population projection for 2030, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita for 1990–2030 and average years of schooling among people aged 15 years+ for 1990–2030. We developed up to 6884 combinations of forecasting models for each subgroup stratified by country, sex and mode of transport using linear and squared year, GDP per capita and average years of schooling as potential predictors. We conducted a fixed-size, rolling window out-of-sample forecast to choose the best combination for each subgroup. In the validation, we used the data for 1990–2002, 1991–2003 and 1992–2004 (fit periods) to forecast mortality rates in 2015, 2016 and 2017 (test periods), respectively. We applied the selected combination of models to the data for 1990–2017 to forecast the mortality rate in 2030 for each subgroup. To forecast the number of deaths, we multiplied the forecasted mortality rates by the corresponding population projection.

Results

During the test periods, the selected combination of models produced the number of deaths that is higher than that estimated in the GBD Study by 5.1% collectively. Our model resulted in 1.225 million deaths and 14.3 deaths per 100 000 population in 2030, which were 1% and 12% less than those for 2017 in the GBD Study, respectively.

Conclusions

The world needs to accelerate its efforts towards achieving the Decade of Action for Road Safety goal and the Sustainable Development Goals target.
Conscientious objection: unmasking the impartial spectator
Authors: Saad Toni C
Published: August 2019

Hoping to bring some objectivity to the debate, Ben-Moshe has argued that conscientious objection in medicine should be accommodated based on its concordance with the ‘impartial spectator’, a metaphor for conscience drawn from the writings of Adam Smith. This response finds fault with this account on two fronts: first, that its claim to objectivity is unsubstantiated; second, that it implicitly relies on moral absolutes, despite claiming that conscience is a social construct, thereby calling its coherence and claims into question. Briefly, a traditional account of conscience is then described, before ending with a related thesis for future discussion.
Increasing the perceived relevance of cervical screening in older women who do not plan to attend screening
Authors: Marlow Laura A V , Ryan Mairead , Waller Jo
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Uptake of cervical screening among women aged 50–64 years is declining. Not feeling at risk because of current sexual behaviour is a reason some older women give for not being screened. We hypothesised that explaining the long interval between acquiring human papillomavirus (HPV) and developing cervical cancer would increase the relevance of screening in older women.

Methods

Women aged 50–64 years (n=597) who did not intend to go for screening were recruited through an online panel and randomised to one of three information conditions:cause only(basic information about HPV and cervical cancer),cause with basic timeline(also read a sentence describing the long interval between acquiring HPV and developing cervical cancer) andcause with explicit timeline(read the same as the timeline group alongside an explanation of what this means for older women). Perceived risk of cervical cancer, screening intention strength and understanding of HPV were assessed preinformation and postinformation exposure.

Results

Information condition was significantly associated with risk perceptions and intention strength postintervention (F(2,593)=6.26, p=0.002 and F(2,593)=4.98, p=0.007 respectively). Women in thecause with explicit timelinecondition were more likely to increase their risk perceptions and intention strength compared withcause only(24% vs 9% and 25% vs 13% for risk perceptions and intention, respectively). In thecause with explicit timelinegroup, women with 4–10 lifetime partners had higher odds of increasing their perceived risk and intention strength postintervention compared with those with 0–1 partners (OR=2.27, 95% CI 1.01 to 5.12 and OR=3.20, 95% CI 1.34 to 7.67, respectively).

Conclusions

Providing a clear explanation that decouples women’s perceived cervical cancer risk from their current sexual behaviour has the potential to increase perceived risk of cervical cancer and intentions to be screened among older women. Providing women with a clear cognitive representation of the aetiology of cervical cancer may be one approach to increasing screening uptake.
Aggregated North American safety performance functions for signalized and stop-controlled intersections
Authors: Northmore Andrew B. , Hildebrand Eric
Published: August 2019

The statistical analysis of intersection collisions has allowed practitioners to develop reliable local models for collision prediction. While many North American jurisdictions have developed such models, a gap remains for the development of safety performance functions that represent the average North American intersection collision expectation. Such models could be used in the development of national guidelines, benchmarking local models and hotspots, and by jurisdictions lacking the capacity to develop their own models. This research bridged that gap by developing aggregate models of collision expectations at stop-controlled and signalized intersections in North America. In analyzing the results, it was found that the Highway Safety Manual predictive equations are not a good representation of the average intersection collision expectation. Further, it was found that the aggregate models are particularly useful to practitioners looking to estimate the change in collisions resulting from signalization given the partial cancelling out of jurisdiction-level effects.
Evidence for early glaciation of southeastern Beringia
Authors: Savidge Rodney Arthur
Published: August 2019

Between the Klondike Plateau and Yukon–Tanana highlands of Yukon and Alaska, respectively, current maps explain glaciated alpine locales and periglacial areas in terms of localized Pliocene–Pleistocene montane ice caps, alpine glaciers, and periglacial changes. However, this region’s plateau topography is populated with long undulating ridges having wide flattened tops; it contrasts with relief of other regions of northwestern North America also affected by ice caps, cryoplanation, and erosion over similar duration during the same epochs. This region has received minimal research and appears to present a new opportunity for resolving outstanding glaciological and stratigraphy issues. The glaciological history is reviewed, placing particular emphasis upon the low-elevation ridges within the “unglaciated” region, suggesting that those ridges are relict arête/cirque remnants. Sites of subalpine glacial grooving and mountaintop planing are also identified, and a conglomeratic red bed containing erratic clasts is described. All indications point to the “unglaciated” region having been glaciated before late Pliocene. Two working hypotheses are proposed: (1) The landscape once supported a range of young mountains that became glaciated then overridden and pared to a plateau by an ice sheet. (2) Following deglaciation, an extended period of paraglacial activity removed most of the former drift and excised new valleys to give the region an unglaciated appearance, which thereafter became modified into its present state by local montane/alpine glaciations, interglacial cryoplanation, periglacial gelifraction, and erosion. In addition to Pliocene–Pleistocene glaciations, a northeastward advancing Miocene ice sheet seems plausible and, on the basis of paleographic considerations and lithology, a Cretaceous glaciation evidently is also not out of the question.
A detailed mathematical programming model for the optimal daily planning of sawmills
Authors: Vanzetti Nicolás , Broz Diego , Corsano Gabriela , Montagna Jorge M.
Published: August 2019

The daily production planning of sawmills is a critical task in pursuing the optimal exploitation of forest resources. Production planning determines which logs are to be processed, taking into account their characteristics with the aim of satisfying the demand for final products. Logs are turned into lumber when they are cut according to a set of available cutting patterns (CPs). The development of efficient production planning is a key factor in improving the productivity of sawmills, and mathematical modeling is a suitable technique to achieve this objective. In this paper, a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model for optimal daily production planning in sawmills is proposed. The model involves a set of CPs for each type of log, which is obtained through an exhaustive algorithm, attaining all possible feasible CPs. The proposed approach determines the optimal number of logs of each type to be cut, the selected CPs to be used, material inventory, demand fulfillment, and other industrial and commercial issues with the objective of maximizing the firm’s benefit, in reasonable computational time, considering the size of the problem.
THE EMERGENCE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY-BASED SECTORS: A PROXIMITY APPROACH BASED ON CHINESE PATENT DATA
Authors: ZHANG HUA , DECKER CHRISTOPHER , NI JINLAN
Published: August 2019

This paper analyzes the emergence of new technology-based sectors in China based on Chinese patent data. We apply the research framework based on product-space methodology to Chinese patent data and find that China displays similar characteristics to other developed countries. The technology structure based on local accumulated capabilities at the province level plays the biggest role in the emergence of new technology-based sectors. Furthermore, we find that the accumulated technological capabilities in adjacent provinces have positive spillover effects to this emergence and the accumulated technological capabilities in non-adjacent provinces have uncertain effects to this emergence; the spread of capabilities is constrained by geographical distance.
Modeling Software Patch Management Based on Vulnerabilities Discovered
Authors: Anand Adarsh , Bhatt Navneet , Aggrawal Deepti
Published: August 2019

A software system deals with various security implications after its release in the market. Correspondingly, firm releases security patches to counter those flaws discovered in the software system. A vendor releases a patch only if a vulnerability has been discovered in a software. It is an important aspect that encompasses the prediction of potential number of patches to be released to maintain the stability of a software. Vulnerability Discovery Models (VDMs) help a software vendor to acknowledge the security trends, forecast security investments and to plan patches, but very few attempts have been made to model the Vulnerability Patch Modeling (VPM) based on the impact of vulnerabilities discovered over the time period. In this proposal, we deduce a novel approach that addresses trend in the sequential development of patches based on the vendor or reporters fetching out the vulnerabilities in a software. The vulnerability trends in a software significantly affect the discovery process and later trigger a patch deployment to suppress the possible likelihood of a breach. The integrative approach underlines the association of vulnerability patch modeling with the vulnerability discovery phenomenon. To exemplify the proposed systematic structure, a statistical analysis has been conducted using real life vulnerability and patch datasets.
Reliability Improvement of Transformer Using Neural Network Approach
Authors: Chantola Neelam , Singh S. B. , Ekata
Published: August 2019

This paper deals with reliability analysis of transformer using stochastic or random process through supplementary variable technique (SVT) and neural network approach. The failure of the considered complex system can occur due to the failure of breakdown voltage (BDV) and moisture content (MC) of insulating paper and oil. The repair rates for both insulation oil and insulation paper are presumed to be general, whereas for insulation, oil repair rates are exponentially distributed. Further, whenever there are two possibilities of repairs, it has been coupled using Gumbel–Hougaard copula. All types of failures and repair rates are treated as weights while analyzing with the help of neural network approach which are governed by exponential distribution. System state probabilities, up and down states probabilities and reliability are evaluated for the proposed model by using Markovian process with the help of Laplace transforms. Numerical examples are included to illustrate the results.
Empirical investigation of relationship between research and development intensity and firm performance: The role of ownership structure and board structure
Authors: Yousaf Muhammad Usman , Khurshid Muhammad Kashif , Ahmed Aftab , Zulfiqar Muhammad
Published: August 2019

Research and development is an emerging competitive advantage to gain maximum market share. This study is conducted to empirically investigate the relationship between research and development intensity and firm performance in selected non-financial firms listed at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). Moreover, the role of ownership structure and board structure have been evaluated between predictor and outcome variable. For this purpose, 27 non-financial firms listed on PSX have been selected for the period of eight years from 2009 to 2016 and unbalanced panel data was obtained. Research and development intensity has been used as an independent variable. ROA, ROE, and TQ are used as measures of financial performance, i.e., dependent variable. Ownership concentration, institutional ownership, and managerial ownership are used as the proxies for ownership structure. Board size, board independence, and board meeting frequency are used as the proxies for board structure. Moreover, firm size, firm age and leverage have also been used as a control variables in data analysis. Based on data analyses, it is concluded that research and development intensity has a positive and significant relationship with all three proxies of firm performance, i.e., ROA, ROE and Tobin’s Q. Afterward, the researchers have investigated the moderating role of ownership structure and board structure between research and development intensity and three proxies of firm performance. It is also concluded that in general ownership structure as well as board structure are negatively moderating the relationship between research and development intensity and firm performance which raises a question mark on the effectiveness of corporate governance mechanism in terms of R&D performance.
Provenance of Ordovician–Silurian and Carboniferous–Permian glaciogenic successions in Ethiopia revealed by detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology
Authors: Lewin Anna , Meinhold Guido , Hinderer Matthias , Dawit Enkurie L. , Bussert Robert , Berndt Jasper
Published: August 2019

Paleozoic sedimentary successions in northern Ethiopia contain evidence for two Gondwana glaciations during the Late Ordovician and Carboniferous–Permian. We compare the sediments of the two glaciations with respect to their detrital zircon U–Pb ages. The main age group for both formations is Pan-African (
c
. 700–550 Ma). However, the remaining spectra are different. The Upper Ordovician–Lower Silurian Enticho Sandstone is characterized by a Stenian–Tonian (
c.
1 Ga) zircon population. The Carboniferous–Permian Edaga Arbi Glacials contain a prominent
c.
800 Ma population. The Stenian–Tonian zircons are probably derived from the centre of the East African Orogen and were supplied via the Gondwana super-fan system. This material was transported by the Late Ordovician glaciers and formed the Enticho Sandstone. Tonian (
c.
800 Ma) zircons are abundant in the Ethiopian basement and represent the earliest formation stage of the southern Arabian–Nubian Shield. Glaciers of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age must have cut deeply into the basement for efficient erosion. No recycling of the Enticho Sandstone by the Edaga Arbi Glacials took place on a grand scale, probably because the sedimentation of the former was limited to northern Ethiopia, whereas the source area for the latter was to the south.

Supplementary material:
Laser ablation ICP-MS operation parameters and results are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4605548
Algorithm 998
Authors: Agulhari Cristiano M. , Felipe Alexandre , Oliveira Ricardo C. L. F. , Peres Pedro L. D.
Published: August 2019

The ROLMIP (Robust LMI Parser) is a toolbox specialized in control theory for uncertain linear systems, built to work under MATLAB jointly with YALMIP, to ease the programming of sufficient Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) conditions that, if feasible, assure the validity of parameter-dependent LMIs in the entire set of uncertainty considered. This article presents the new version of the ROLMIP toolbox, which was completely remodeled to provide a high-level user-friendly interface to cope with distinct uncertain domains (hypercube and multi-simplex) and to treat time-varying parameters in discrete- and continuous-time. By means of simple commands, the user is able to define polynomial matrices as well as to describe the desired parameter-dependent LMIs in an easy way, considerably reducing the programming time to end up with implementable LMI conditions. Therefore, ROLMIP helps the popularization of the state-of-the-art robust control methods for uncertain systems based on LMIs among graduate students, researchers, and engineers in control systems.
Cellular Logistics: Unraveling the Interplay Between Microtubule Organization and Intracellular Transport
Authors: Burute Mithila , Kapitein Lukas C.
Published: August 2019

Microtubules are core components of the cytoskeleton and serve as tracks for motor protein–based intracellular transport. Microtubule networks are highly diverse across different cell types and are believed to adapt to cell type–specific transport demands. Here we review how the spatial organization of different subsets of microtubules into higher-order networks determines the traffic rules for motor-based transport in different animal cell types. We describe the interplay between microtubule network organization and motor-based transport within epithelial cells, oocytes, neurons, cilia, and the spindle apparatus.
Modeling Turbulent Flows in Porous Media
Authors: Wood Brian D. , He Xiaoliang , Apte Sourabh V.
Published: August 2019

Turbulent flows in porous media occur in a wide variety of applications, from catalysis in packed beds to heat exchange in nuclear reactor vessels. In this review, we summarize the current state of the literature on methods to model such flows. We focus on a range of Reynolds numbers, covering the inertial regime through the asymptotic turbulent regime. The review emphasizes both numerical modeling and the development of averaged (spatially filtered) balances over representative volumes of media. For modeling the pore scale, we examine the recent literature on Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models, large-eddy simulation (LES) models, and direct numerical simulations (DNS). We focus on the role of DNS and discuss how spatially averaged models might be closed using data computed from DNS simulations. A Darcy–Forchheimer-type law is derived, and a prior computation of the permeability and Forchheimer coefficient is presented and compared with existing data.
Exogenous PP2A inhibitor exacerbates the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via NOX2-dependent activation of miR21
Authors: Albadrani Muayad , Seth Ratanesh K. , Sarkar Sutapa , Kimono Diana , Mondal Ayan , Bose Dipro , Porter Dwayne E. , Scott Geoff I. , Brooks Bryan , Raychoudhury Samir , Nagarkatti Mitzi , Nagarkatti Prakash , Jule Yvon , Diehl Anna Mae , Chatterjee Saurabh
Published: August 2019

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging global pandemic. Though significant progress has been made in unraveling the pathophysiology of the disease, the role of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and its subsequent inhibition by environmental and genetic factors in NAFLD pathophysiology remains unclear. The present report tests the hypothesis that an exogenous PP2A inhibitor leads to hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis via an NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2)-dependent pathway in NAFLD. Results showed that microcystin (MC) administration, a potent PP2A inhibitor found in environmental exposure, led to an exacerbation of NAFLD pathology with increased CD68 immunoreactivity, the release of proinflammatory cytokines, and stellate cell activation, a process that was attenuated in mice that lacked the p47phox gene and miR21 knockout mice. Mechanistically, leptin-primed immortalized Kupffer cells (a mimicked model for an NAFLD condition) treated with apocynin or nitrone spin trap 5,5 dimethyl-1- pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) had significantly decreased CD68 and decreased miR21 and α-smooth muscle actin levels, suggesting the role of NOX2-dependent reactive oxygen species in miR21-induced Kupffer cell activation and stellate cell pathology. Furthermore, NOX2-dependent peroxynitrite generation was primarily responsible for cellular events observed following MC exposure since incubation with phenylboronic acid attenuated miR21 levels, Kupffer cell activation, and inflammatory cytokine release. Furthermore, blocking of the AKT pathway attenuated PP2A inhibitor-induced NOX2 activation and miR21 upregulation. Taken together, we show that PP2A may have protective roles, and its inhibition exacerbates NAFLD pathology via activating NOX2-dependent peroxynitrite generation, thus increasing miR21-induced pathology.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Protein phosphatase 2A inhibition causes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression via NADPH oxidase 2. In addition to a novel emchanism of action, we describe a new tool to describe NASH histopathology.
Current understanding of the effects of inspiratory resistance on the interactions between systemic blood pressure, cerebral perfusion, intracranial pressure, and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics
Authors: Winklewski Pawel J. , Wolf Jacek , Gruszecki Marcin , Wszedybyl-Winklewska Magdalena , Narkiewicz Krzysztof
Published: August 2019

Negative intrathoracic pressure (nITP) is generated by the respiratory muscles during inspiration to overcome inspiratory resistance, thus enabling lung ventilation. Recently developed noninvasive techniques have made it possible to assess the effects of nITP in real time in several physiological aspects such as systemic blood pressure (BP), intracranial pressure (ICP), and cerebral blood flow (CBF). It has been shown that nITP from 0 to −20 cmH2O elevates BP and diminishes ICP, which facilitates brain perfusion. The effects of nITP from −20 to −40 cmH2O on BP, ICP, and CBF remain largely unrecognized, yet even nITP at −40 cmH2O may facilitate CBF by diminishing ICP. Importantly, nITP from −20 to −40 cmH2O has been documented in adults in commonly encountered obstructive sleep apnea, which justifies research in this area. Recent revelations about interactions between ICP and BP have opened up new fields of research in physiological regulation and the pathophysiology of common diseases, such as hypertension, brain injury, and respiratory disorders. A better understanding of these interactions may translate directly into new therapies in various fields of clinical medicine.
Influence of Initial Contact Geometry on Mechanical Properties in Friction Welding of Dissimilar Materials Aluminum 6351 T6 and SAE 1020 Steel
Authors: Pinheiro Marlon A. , Bracarense Alexandre Q.
Published: August 2019

Friction welding is a solid-state bonding process that presents itself as an interesting option as it generates less residual stress, less distortion, and crack formation when compared to the fusion welding process. The characteristics of this process also allow satisfactory welding of dissimilar materials, with good results in terms of mechanical strength. In this work, the butt welding of aluminum ASTM A6351-T6 and SAE 1020 steel was carried out aiming at evaluating the effects of the initial contact geometry on the mechanical properties of the welded joint. The methodology consisted of friction weld aluminum bars with different initial contact geometry with steel bars in a machine specially developed for the application. The results indicated the influence of this parameter on the mechanical properties of the welded joint.