bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lateral Oscillation and Body Compliance Help Snakes and Snake Robots Stably Traverse Large, Smooth Obstacles
Authors: Fu Qiyuan , Gart Sean W , Mitchel Thomas W , Kim Jin Seob , Chirikjian Gregory S , Li Chen
Published: March 2020

Snakes can move through almost any terrain. Similarly, snake robots hold the promise as a versatile platform to traverse complex environments such as earthquake rubble. Unlike snake locomotion on flat surfaces which is inherently stable, when snakes traverse complex terrain by deforming their body out of plane, it becomes challenging to maintain stability. Here, we review our recent progress in understanding how snakes and snake robots traverse large, smooth obstacles such as boulders and felled trees that lack “anchor points” for gripping or bracing. First, we discovered that the generalist variable kingsnake combines lateral oscillation and cantilevering. Regardless of step height and surface friction, the overall gait is preserved. Next, to quantify static stability of the snake, we developed a method to interpolate continuous body in three dimensions (3D) (both position and orientation) between discrete tracked markers. By analyzing the base of support using the interpolated continuous body 3-D kinematics, we discovered that the snake maintained perfect stability during traversal, even on the most challenging low friction, high step. Finally, we applied this gait to a snake robot and systematically tested its performance traversing large steps with variable heights to further understand stability principles. The robot rapidly and stably traversed steps nearly as high as a third of its body length. As step height increased, the robot rolled more frequently to the extent of flipping over, reducing traversal probability. The absence of such failure in the snake with a compliant body inspired us to add body compliance to the robot. With better surface contact, the compliant body robot suffered less roll instability and traversed high steps at higher probability, without sacrificing traversal speed. Our robot traversed large step-like obstacles more rapidly than most previous snake robots, approaching that of the animal. The combination of lateral oscillation and body compliance to form a large, reliable base of support may be useful for snakes and snake robots to traverse diverse 3-D environments with large, smooth obstacles.
Parties versus democracy: Addressing today’s political party threats to democratic rule
Authors: Daly Tom Gerald , Jones Brian Christopher
Published: March 2020

The growing threat to liberal democracy worldwide is, in many ways, a political party threat. Recent years have witnessed the rise of a range of authoritarian populist, illiberal, far-right, nativist, and extremist parties. Some have entered government in countries including Hungary, Poland, Austria, and Italy. Germany’s Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD) is now the main parliamentary opposition. Beyond Europe we see democratic structures threatened or incrementally dismantled through the subversion of an established democratic party by an outsider (e.g. Donald Trump in the United States or Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines) or ascendance of the extremist wing of a right-wing party (e.g. India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)). Parties and party leaders occupying an ill-defined space on the political spectrum—a form of “far-right lite”—today generally present a much greater threat to democratic governance than overtly antidemocratic fringe outfits, such as Germany’s National Democratic Party (NPD). The ambiguity of such parties, their growing size, their entry into government, the subversion of “good” democratic parties by a “bad” leadership, and the rise of the “shadow party” and intensifying external control mean that contemporary political party threats seriously frustrate the possibility of remedial action afforded by existing public law and policy mechanisms. They also require us to reflect anew on crafting novel remedies and to revisit our deep assumptions about parties as creatures of central constitutional importance.
Is aortic valve replacement with a minimally invasive extracorporeal circuit a contemporary option for octogenarians?
Authors: El-Essawi Aschraf , Follis Marco , Brouwer René , Breitenbach Ingo , Groeger Steffen , Anssar Marcel , Harringer Wolfgang
Published: March 2020

OBJECTIVES

Minimally invasive extracorporeal circuits have been introduced to cardiac surgery in an attempt to reduce the negative effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on patient outcome. On the other hand, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) provides an excellent option to replace the aortic valve without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. Several studies have compared TAVR to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) but none have utilized a minimally invasive extracorporeal circuit.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed the results of both procedures among octogenarians operated in our department from 2003 to 2016. Excluded were patients with an active endocarditis, a history of previous cardiac surgery, as well as those who had a minimally invasive surgical approach. This yielded 81 and 142 octogenarians in the SAVR and TAVR groups, respectively. To compensate for a lack of randomization, we performed a propensity score analysis, which yielded 68 patient pairs for the final analysis.

RESULTS

The 30-day postoperative mortality was lower in the SAVR group (1.5% vs 5.9%) but not statistically significant (P  = 0.4). In contrast, the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was lower in the TAVR group (13% vs 29%) but also non-significant (P  = 0.2). Finally, the incidence of paravalvular leakage was in favour of the SAVR group (2.9% vs 52%; P  = 0.001) while the transfusion requirement was significantly lower in the TAVR group (29% vs 72%; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SAVR utilizing a minimally invasive extracorporeal circuit improves the quality of patient care and can offer an alternative to TAVR in octogenarians.
Capacity allocation of HESS in micro-grid based on ABC algorithm
Authors: Zhang Yu , Yan Zhe , Zhou Cui Cui , Wu Tie Zhou , Wang Yue Yang
Published: March 2020

The hybrid energy storage system (HESS) is a key component for smoothing fluctuation of power in micro-grids. An appropriate configuration of energy storage capacity for micro-grids can effectively improve the system economy. A new method for HESS capacity allocation in micro-grids based on the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is proposed. The method proposed a power allocation strategy based on low pass filter (LPF) and fuzzy control. The strategy coordinates battery and supercapacitor operation and improves the battery operation environment. The fuzzy control takes the state of charge (SOC) of the battery and supercapacitors as the input and the correction coefficient of the time constant of the LPF filter as the output. The filter time constant of the LPF is timely adjusted, and the SOC of the battery and supercapacitor is stable within the limited range so that the overcharge and over-discharge of the battery can be avoided, and the lifetime of the battery is increased. This method also exploits sub-algorithms for supercapacitors and battery capacity optimization. Besides, the Monte Carlo simulation of the statistic model is implemented to eliminate the influence of uncertain factors such as wind speed, light intensity and temperature. The ABC algorithm is used to optimize the capacity allocation of hybrid energy storage, which avoids the problem of low accuracy and being easy to fall into the local optimal solution of the supercapacitors and battery capacity allocation sub-algorithms, and the optimal allocation of the capacity of the HESS is determined. By using this method, the number of supercapacitors required for the HESS is unchanged, and the number of battery is reduced from 75 to 65, which proves the rationality and economy of the proposed method.
Identification of New Psychoactive Substances in Seized material Using UHPLC–QTOF-MS and An Online Mass Spectral Database
Authors: von Cüpper Maria , Dalsgaard Petur Weihe , Linnet Kristian
Published: March 2020

The unpredictable pharmacological and toxicological effects associated with the recreational use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) represent a threat to the public health. Analysts are constantly facing a challenge to identify these designer drugs. In this article, five seized samples were submitted for analysis using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC–QTOF-MS). To tentatively identify the NPS in the samples, the potential usage of an online mass spectral database (HighResNPS.com) was explored by searching the exact mass of the precursor ion and evaluating the fragmentation profile. This approach successfully identified a suspected candidate compound present in three of the five samples. However, conclusive identification of the remaining two was not possible, due to indistinguishable fragmentation profiles of positional isomers. Therefore, complementary analytical methodologies are of paramount importance. In light of the above, HighResNPS.com is a useful tool in presumptively identifying an NPS without a reference standard.
In Vivo Metabolites of AB-PINACA in Solid Tissues Obtained from Its Abuser: Comparison with In Vitro Experiment
Authors: Minakata Kayoko , Hasegawa Koutaro , Yamagishi Itaru , Nozawa Hideki , Suzuki Masako , Kitamoto Takuya , Suzuki Osamu , Watanabe Kanako
Published: March 2020

In this study, solid tissues such as the lung, liver, kidney and urine were highlighted to profile the AB-PINACA in vivo metabolites in a fatal abuse case, although such metabolite analysis is usually made with urine specimens. We compared the relative peak intensities of in vivo metabolites of AB-PINACA in lung, liver, kidney and urine specimens collected at the autopsy of its abuser with its in vitro metabolites in human hepatocytes. The metabolites of AB-PINACA in tissues were extracted after homogenization. The urine specimen and portions of the extracted metabolites from tissues were firstly hydrolyzed with β-glucuronidase, and the metabolites were extracted. For in vitro experiment, AB-PINACA was incubated with human hepatocytes for 3 h to produce its metabolites. The identification of the in vivo and in vitro metabolites was performed using liquid chromatography (LC)–high-resolution Orbitrap-tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS), and the relative intensities of these metabolites were measured using low resolution LC–quadrupole-ion trap-MS-MS. Thirteen metabolites of AB-PINACA were characterized in vivo in several human specimens and in in vitro human hepatocytes. They were produced by the terminal amide hydrolysis to carboxylic acid, hydroxylation, carbonyl formation and/or glucuronidation. The most detectable metabolite in the hepatocytes, lung or liver was the one produced by the terminal amide hydrolysis, whereas the top metabolite in the kidney or urine was the one produced by hydroxylation or carbonyl formation on the pentyl side chain after the terminal amide hydrolysis, respectively. At least 12 metabolites of AB-PINACA were detected in authentic human lung, liver or kidney specimen from a cadaver. It is concluded that the postmortem metabolite profiling of AB-PINACA can be fulfilled with solid tissues, and the lung and kidney were most recommendable especially when urine specimen is not available.
First Report of a Mesonivirus and Its Derived Small RNAs in an Aphid Species Aphis citricidus (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Implying Viral Infection Activity
Authors: Chang Tengyu , Guo Mengmeng , Zhang Wei , Niu Jinzhi , Wang Jin-Jun
Published: March 2020

We report a new positive-sense single-stranded RNA (ss RNA+) virus from the brown citrus aphid Aphis citricidus. The 20,300 nucleotide (nt)-long viral genome contains five open-reading frames and encodes six conserved domains (TM2, 3CLpro, TM3, RdRp, Zm, and HEL1). Phylogenetic analysis and amino acid sequence analysis revealed this virus might belong to an unassigned genus in the family Mesoniviridae. The presence of the virus was also confirmed in the field population. Importantly, analysis of the virus-derived small RNAs showed a 22-nt peak, implying that viral infection triggers the small interfering RNA pathway as antiviral immunity in aphids. This is the first report of a mesonivirus in invertebrates other than mosquitoes.
Nationwide survey of radiation therapy in Japan for lung cancer complicated with interstitial lung disease
Authors: Hagiwara Yasuhito , Nakayama Yuko , Kudo Shigehiro , Hayakawa Toyokazu , Nakamura Naoki , Kitamoto Yoshizumi , Takahashi Shigeo , Tsujino Kayoko , Kubo Nobuteru , Tamaki Yukihisa , Nagata Yasushi ,   The Japan Radiation Oncology Study Group (JROSG) Working Subgroup for Lung and Mediastinal Tumors
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this study was to clarify the opinions of radiation oncologists in Japan regarding treatment for lung cancer complicated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) by a questionnaire survey, and the risk of acute exacerbation (AE) after radiotherapy. Questionnaires were sent to all of the facilities in which radiation therapy is performed for lung cancer in Japan by using the mailing list of the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology (JASTRO). The questionnaire survey was conducted to clarify who judges the existence of ILD, the indications for radiation therapy in cases of ILD-combined lung cancer, and the ratio of ILD-combined lung cancer in lung cancer patients treated with radiation therapy. Patients with ILD-combined lung cancer who received radiotherapy during the period from April 2014 to March 2015 were retrospectively analysed. Any cases of AE without any other obvious cause were included. ILD confirmation was performed by central radiologists using computed tomography images. A total of 47 facilities responded to the questionnaire. Radiation therapy was an option in cases of ILD-combined lung cancer in 39 (83%) of the facilities. The indication for radiation therapy was based on image findings in 35 (90%) of the 39 facilities in which radiation therapy was acceptable or was a choice in some cases of ILD. The final indication was based on the opinion of the pulmonologist in 29 (74%) of those 39 facilities. In fiscal year 2014, a total of 2128 patients in 38 facilities received chest irradiation. Seventy-eight (3.7%) of those 2128 patients had ILD-combined lung cancer. Sixty-seven patients were included in patient analysis. AE occurred in 5 patients (7.5%), and one of those 5 patients (20.0%) died from radiation-induced AE. The median period from radiotherapy to AE was 4 months (range, 2–7 months). The following four independent risk factors for AE were identified in univariate analysis: non-advanced age (<75 years), increased C-reactive protein level (≥0.3 mg/dl), adjuvant chemotherapy and ≥ Grade 2 radiation pneumonitis. Radiotherapy was an option for lung cancer even in cases with ILD in 83% (39/47) of the facilities in Japan. Seventy-eight (3.7%) of 2128 patients who received radiation therapy for lung cancer had ILD. Radiotherapy for ILD-combined lung cancer may induce AE at a substantial rate and AE can be life-threatening. Minimizing the risk of radiation pneumonitis might enable the risk of AE to be reduced.
High dose rate interstitial brachytherapy for early stage lip cancer using customized dental spacer
Authors: Masui Koji , Yamazaki Hideya , Suzuki Gen , Shimizu Daisuke , Kawabata Kanako , Noguchi Naoki , Takenaka Tadashi , Yoshida Ken , Murakami Naoya , Naito Masayuki , Yamamoto Toshiro , Kanamura Narisato , Komori Satoshi , Oshita Akifumi , Asai Jun , Yamada Kei
Published: March 2020

The present study aimed to report the efficacy and toxicity of our high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for early stage lip cancer (LC) using customized dental spacers. A retrospective analysis was performed among six patients with early stage LC treated with HDR interstitial brachytherapy between April 2015 and August 2019 using customized dental spacers. The total treatment dose was 49 Gy/7 fractions or 54 Gy/9 fractions. The median follow-up duration for the patients was 13 (range: 2–52) months. All patients completed the entire brachytherapy protocol safely and have experienced no local recurrence thus far. The CTV D100 and D90 values per fraction were median 100 (range: 98.3–100) % prescribed dose (PD) and median 133.4 (range: 129.3–138.9) % PD, respectively. The D2cc and D0.1cc values per fraction for the mandible were median 1.07 (range, 0.79–1.88) Gy and median 1.65 (range: 1.21–2.83) Gy, D2cc and D0.1cc values per fraction for oral cavity were median 1.48 (range, 1.31–1.72) Gy and median 2.73 (range: 1.79–2.88) Gy, respectively. Acute toxicities encountered were mucositis and lip edema limited to the irradiated area; none of them was beyond grade 2 and all were resolved within 1–2 months after treatment. We did not observe any late grade 2 adverse events or worse. This study shows that the adverse effects of HDR brachytherapy for early stage LC can be minimized using a dental spacer. Cooperation with the dentistry department is essential to make spacers that are individually customized for each patient.
SuperCLASS – III. Weak lensing from radio and optical observations in Data Release 1
Authors: Harrison Ian , Brown Michael L , Tunbridge Ben , Thomas Daniel B , Hillier Tom , Thomson A P , Whittaker Lee , Abdalla Filipe B , Battye Richard A , Bonaldi Anna , Camera Stefano , Casey Caitlin M , Demetroullas Constantinos , Hales Christopher A , Jackson Neal J , Kay Scott T , Manning Sinclaire M , Peters Aaron , Riseley Christopher J , Watson Robert A ,   (SuperCLASS Collaboration)
Published: March 2020

We describe the first results on weak gravitational lensing from the SuperCLASS survey: the first survey specifically designed to measure the weak lensing effect in radio-wavelength data, both alone and in cross-correlation with optical data. We analyse $1.53 \, \mathrm{deg}^2$ of optical data from the Subaru telescope and $0.26 \, \mathrm{deg}^2$ of radio data from the e-MERLIN and VLA telescopes (the DR1 data set). Using standard methodologies on the optical data only we make a significant (10σ) detection of the weak lensing signal (a shear power spectrum) due to the massive supercluster of galaxies in the targeted region. For the radio data we develop a new method to measure the shapes of galaxies from the interferometric data, and we construct a simulation pipeline to validate this method. We then apply this analysis to our radio observations, treating the e-MERLIN and VLA data independently. We achieve source densities of $0.5 \,$ arcmin−2 in the VLA data and $0.06 \,$ arcmin−2 in the e-MERLIN data, numbers which prove too small to allow a detection of a weak lensing signal in either the radio data alone or in cross-correlation with the optical data. Finally, we show preliminary results from a visibility-plane combination of the data from e-MERLIN and VLA which will be used for the forthcoming full SuperCLASS data release. This approach to data combination is expected to enhance both the number density of weak lensing sources available, and the fidelity with which their shapes can be measured.
An ALMA survey of the SCUBA-2 CLS UDS field: physical properties of 707 sub-millimetre galaxies
Authors: Dudzevičiūtė U , Smail Ian , Swinbank A M , Stach S M , Almaini O , da Cunha E , An Fang Xia , Arumugam V , Birkin J , Blain A W , Chapman S C , Chen C-C , Conselice C J , Coppin K E K , Dunlop J S , Farrah D , Geach J E , Gullberg B , Hartley W G , Hodge J A , Ivison R J , Maltby D T , Scott D , Simpson C J , Simpson J M , Thomson A P , Walter F , Wardlow J L , Weiss A , van der Werf P
Published: March 2020

We analyse the physical properties of a large, homogeneously selected sample of ALMA-located sub-millimetre galaxies (SMGs). This survey, AS2UDS, identified 707 SMGs across the ∼1 deg2 field, including ∼17 per cent, which are undetected at K ≳ 25.7 mag. We interpret their ultraviolet-to-radio data using magphys and determine a median redshift of z = 2.61 ± 0.08 (1σ range of z = 1.8–3.4) with just ∼6 per cent at z > 4. Our survey provides a sample of massive dusty galaxies at z ≳ 1, with median dust and stellar masses of Md = (6.8 ± 0.3) × 108 M⊙ (thus, gas masses of ∼1011 M⊙) and M* = (1.26 ± 0.05) × 1011 M⊙. We find no evolution in dust temperature at a constant far-infrared luminosity across z ∼ 1.5–4. The gas mass function of our sample increases to z ∼ 2–3 and then declines at z > 3. The space density and masses of SMGs suggest that almost all galaxies with M* ≳ 3 × 1011 M⊙ have passed through an SMG-like phase. The redshift distribution is well fit by a model combining evolution of the gas fraction in haloes with the growth of halo mass past a critical threshold of Mh ∼ 6 × 1012 M⊙, thus SMGs may represent the highly efficient collapse of gas-rich massive haloes. We show that SMGs are broadly consistent with simple homologous systems in the far-infrared, consistent with a centrally illuminated starburst. Our study provides strong support for an evolutionary link between the active, gas-rich SMG population at z > 1 and the formation of massive, bulge-dominated galaxies across the history of the Universe.
Zeeman molecular probe for tests of fundamental physical constants
Authors: Augustovičová Lucie D , Špirko Vladimír
Published: March 2020

The impact of the Zeeman effect on the Λ-doublet spectra of diatomic radicals is analysed from the point of view of a possible cosmological variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio, μ. The actual model calculations performed for the 2Π3/2 and 2Π1/2 states of 16OH reveal that the Λ-doublet energy levels of diatomic radicals can be tuned to degeneracy by means of the Zeeman effect using realistic magnetic fields. Tuning this degeneracy allows for a dramatic enhancement of the relative mass sensitivity coefficients of the corresponding transitions and for a substantial reduction of their Doppler broadening. Moreover, unlike their field-free counterparts associated with the degeneracies arising due to the A ∼ 4B situations (A and B being the spin–orbit and rotation constant, respectively), the electric dipole allowed e ↔f Zeeman-tuned transitions exhibit favourable intensities, thus evidencing their promising potential.
The MALATANG survey: dense gas and star formation from high-transition HCN and HCO+ maps of NGC 253
Authors: Jiang Xue-Jian , Greve Thomas R , Gao Yu , Zhang Zhi-Yu , Tan Qinghua , de Grijs Richard , Ho Luis C , Michałowski Michał J , Currie Malcolm J , Wilson Christine D , Brinks Elias , Ao Yiping , Zhao Yinghe , He Jinhua , Harada Nanase , Yang Chentao , Jiao Qian , Chung Aeree , Lee Bumhyun , Smith Matthew W L , Liu Daizhong , Matsushita Satoki , Shi Yong , Imanishi Masatoshi , Rawlings Mark G , Zhu Ming , Eden David , Davis Timothy A , Li Xiaohu
Published: March 2020

To study the high-transition dense-gas tracers and their relationships to the star formation of the inner ∼2 kpc circumnuclear region of NGC 253, we present HCN J = 4−3 and HCO+ J = 4−3 maps obtained with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. Using the spatially resolved data, we compute the concentration indices r90/r50 for the different tracers. HCN and HCO+ 4–3 emission features tend to be centrally concentrated, which is in contrast to the shallower distribution of CO 1–0 and the stellar component. The dense-gas fraction (fdense, traced by the velocity-integrated-intensity ratios of HCN/CO and HCO+/CO) and the ratio R31 (CO 3–2/1–0) decline towards larger galactocentric distances, but increase with higher star formation rate surface density. The radial variation and the large scatter of fdense and R31 imply distinct physical conditions in different regions of the galactic disc. The relationships of fdense versus Σstellar, and SFEdense versus Σstellar are explored. SFEdense increases with higher Σstellar in this galaxy, which is inconsistent with previous work that used HCN 1–0 data. This implies that existing stellar components might have different effects on the high-J HCN and HCO+ than their low-J emission. We also find that SFEdense seems to be decreasing with higher fdense which is consistent with previous works, and it suggests that the ability of the dense gas to form stars diminishes when the average density of the gas increases. This is expected in a scenario where only the regions with high-density contrast collapse and form stars.
It’s Up to You
Authors: Clarke Randolph
Published: March 2020

Part of our ordinary conception of our freedom is the idea that commonly when we act—and often even when we don’t act—it is up to us whether we do this or that. This paper examines efforts to spell out what must be the case for this idea to be correct. Several claims regarding the basic metaphysics of agential powers are considered; they are found not to shed light on the issue. Thinking about agents’ psychological capacities provides some illumination, though the idea of freedom remains puzzling.
Carnosine and histidine-containing dipeptides improve dyslipidemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Menon Kirthi , Marquina Clara , Hoj Pernille , Liew Danny , Mousa Aya , de Courten Barbora
Published: March 2020

Context

Cardiovascular disease is a major public health problem and represents a significant burden of disease globally. Lifestyle interventions have their limitations and an intervention that will effectively address cardiovascular risk factors to help reduce this growing burden of disease is required.

Objective

Carnosine and other histidine-containing dipeptides (HCDs) have exerted positive effects on cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in animal and human studies. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the effects of HCDs on cardiovascular outcomes in line with the PRISMA guidelines.

Data Sources

The Medline, Medline in process, Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, and All EBM databases were searched from inception until January 25, 2019, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of HCDs on cardiovascular outcomes, compared with placebo or controls.

Data Extraction

Basic characteristics of the study and populations, interventions, and study results were extracted. The grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation approach was used to assess the quality of evidence for each outcome.

Data Analysis

A total of 21 studies were included. Of these, 18 were pooled for meta-analysis (n = 913). In low risk of bias studies, HCD-supplemented groups had lower total cholesterol (n = 6 RCTs; n = 401; weighted mean difference [WMD], −0.32 mmol/L [95%CI, −0.57 to −0.07], P = 0.01) and triglyceride levels (n = 6 RCTs; n = 401; WMD, −0.14 mmol/L [95%CI, −0.20 to −0.08], P < 0.001) compared with controls. In studies using carnosine, triglycerides levels were also lower in the intervention group vs controls (n = 5 RCTS; n = 309; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in blood pressure, heart rate, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or the total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio between groups.

Conclusions

Carnosine and other HCDs may have a role in improving lipid profiles. Larger studies with sufficient follow-up are necessary to confirm these findings and explore the use of HCDs in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Systemic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration no.: CRD42017075354
Chronic Pain Increases the Risk for Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Events: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Asia
Authors: Chung Kun-Ming , Ho Chung-Han , Chen Yi-Chen , Hsu Chien-Chin , Chiu Chong-Chi , Lin Hung-Jung , Wang Jhi-Joung , Huang Chien-Cheng
Published: March 2020

Objective

Chronic pain (CP) may increase the risk for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs); however, this issue is still unclear in the Asian population. We conducted this study to delineate it.

Design

From the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 17,614 participants (<65 years) with CP and matched them by age and sex at a 1:2 ratio to participants without CP, who made up the comparison cohort. Several causes of CP and its underlying comorbidities were also analyzed.

Outcome Measure

A comparison of MACCE occurring in the two cohorts was performed via follow-up until 2015.

Results

The mean age (SD) was 50.2 (11.5) years and 50.4 (11.7) years in participants with and without CP, respectively. In both cohorts, the percentage of female participants was 55.5%. Common causes of CP were spinal disorders (23.9%), osteoarthritis (12.4%), headaches (11.0%), gout (10.2%), malignancy (6.2%), and osteoporosis (4.5%). After adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal diseases, hyperlipidemia, liver diseases, dementia, and depression, participants with CP had a higher risk for MACCE than those without CP (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3 − 1.4). After conducting subgroup analyses, an increased risk was also found for all-cause mortality (AHR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1 − 1.8), acute myocardial infarction (AHR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0 − 1.4), and stroke (AHR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.3 − 1.4).

Conclusions

CP is associated with increased occurrence of MACCE. Early detection and interventions for CP are suggested.
The Chinese Warrants Bubble: Evidence from Brokerage Account Records
Authors: Pearson Neil D , Yang Zhishu , Zhang Qi
Published: March 2020

We use brokerage account records to study trading during the Chinese put warrants bubble and find evidence consistent with extrapolative theories of speculative asset price bubbles. We identify the event that started the bubble and show that investors engaged in a form of feedback trading based on their own past returns. The interaction of feedback trading with the precipitating event caused additional buying and price increases in a feedback loop, and estimates of the trading volume due to this mechanism explain prices and returns during the bubble.
Creditor Rights, Technology Adoption, and Productivity: Plant-Level Evidence
Authors: Ersahin Nuri
Published: March 2020

I use U.S. Census microdata to analyze the effect of stronger creditor rights on productivity. Following the adoption of antirecharacterization laws that give lenders greater access to the collateral of firms in financial distress, treated plants’ total factor productivity increases by 2.6%. This effect is concentrated among plants belonging to financially constrained firms. I explore the underlying mechanism and find that treated plants change the composition of their investments and their workforce toward newer capital and skilled labor. My results suggest that stronger creditor rights relax borrowing constraints and help firms adopt more efficient production technologies.
Patients’ attitudes and experiences of transition from paediatric to adult healthcare in rheumatology: a qualitative systematic review
Authors: Kelly Ayano , Niddrie Fiona , Tunnicliffe David J , Matus Gonzalez Andrea , Hanson Camilla , Jiang Ivy , Major Gabor , Singh-Grewal Davinder , Tymms Kathleen , Tong Allison
Published: March 2020

Objectives

We aimed to describe patients’ attitudes and experiences of transition from paediatric to adult healthcare in rheumatology to inform patient-centred transitional care programmes.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL to August 2019 and used thematic synthesis to analyse the findings.

Results

From 26 studies involving 451 people with juvenile-onset rheumatic conditions we identified six themes: a sense of belonging (comfort in familiarity, connectedness in shared experiences, reassurance in being with others of a similar age, desire for normality and acceptance); preparedness for sudden changes (confidence through guided introductions to the adult environment, rapport from continuity of care, security in a reliable point of contact, minimizing lifestyle disruptions); abandonment and fear of the unknown (abrupt and forced independence, ill-equipped to hand over medical information, shocked by meeting adults with visible damage and disability, vulnerability in the loss of privacy); anonymous and dismissed in adult care (deprived of human focus, sterile and uninviting environment, disregard of debilitating pain and fatigue); quest for autonomy (controlled and patronized in the paediatric environment, liberated from the authority of others, freedom to communicate openly); and tensions in parental involvement (overshadowed by parental presence, guilt of excluding parents, reluctant withdrawal of parental support).

Conclusion

Young people feel dismissed, abandoned, ill-prepared and out of control during transition. However, successful transition can be supported by preparing for changes, creating a sense of belonging and negotiating parental involvement and autonomy. Incorporating patient-identified priorities into transitional services may improve satisfaction and outcomes in young people with juvenile-onset rheumatic conditions.
EVALUATION OF RADIATION DOSE FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING MAMMOGRAPHY IN QATAR
Authors: AlNaemi Huda , Aly Antar , J Omar Ahmed , AlObadli Amal , Ciraj-Bjelac Olivera , Kharita Mohamad Hassan , Rehani Madan M
Published: March 2020

In the absence of information on radiation doses in mammography in the Gulf countries, this study was designed to assess patient dose in terms of entrance surface air kerma and average glandular dose (AGD) in three mammography units in Qatar that covers 21% of all mammography systems in the country. The study of 150 patients involving 600 projections indicated that the average value of AGD in patients was 2.2 mGy for cranio-caudal and 2.5 mGy for mediolateral-oblique views, respectively. Dose assessment was also performed for polymethyl methacrylate phantoms of thicknesses, ranging from 20 to 80 mm. Comparing the patient dose values with several other publications in literature for full-field digital mammography, our values are typically higher, which can be likely attributed to the larger compressed breast thickness.
The adoption issue: the illegitimate logic of Hand v George
Authors: Cooper QC Gilead
Published: March 2020

Article 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms guarantees the right to respect for family life and draws no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. This has been interpreted by the English court as meaning that the Adoption Act 1976, which required an adopted child to be treated as a child of the adopter (and not the child of any other person), is discriminatory in failing to apply retrospectively to the construction of an existing instrument such as a will or a trust. But the position of adopted children is different from that of illegitimate children: an illegitimate child has no family other than its natural parents, whereas an adopted child remains the child of its natural parents unless and until the law provides otherwise. The 1976 Act did not “deprive” an adopted child of its rights against the family that adopted it: on the contrary, the Act preserved the child’s rights under pre-existing instruments. There is no infringement of the right to respect for family life in this arrangement—it is simply a question of which family the right attaches to. Furthermore, since a will “speaks from death”, its meaning cannot be changed retrospectively. The decision in Hand v George to “read down” the provisions of the 1976 Act so as to interpret words expressly stating that the Act “does not” apply to an existing instrument as meaning that it “does” apply to an existing instrument was not warranted by anything in the Convention, and exceeded the limits of statutory construction by overriding the clear and express intention of parliament.
Potential Neutralizing Antibodies Discovered for Novel Corona Virus Using Machine Learning
Authors: Magar Rishikesh , Yadav Prakarsh , Farimani Amir Barati
Published: March 2020

The fast and untraceable virus mutations take lives of thousands of people before the immune system can produce the inhibitory antibody. Recent outbreak of novel coronavirus infected and killed thousands of people in the world. Rapid methods in finding peptides or antibody sequences that can inhibit the viral epitopes of COVID-19 will save the life of thousands. In this paper, we devised a machine learning (ML) model to predict the possible inhibitory synthetic antibodies for Corona virus. We collected 1933 virus-antibody sequences and their clinical patient neutralization response and trained an ML model to predict the antibody response. Using graph featurization with variety of ML methods, we screened thousands of hypothetical antibody sequences and found 8 stable antibodies that potentially inhibit COVID-19. We combined bioinformatics, structural biology, and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to verify the stability of the candidate antibodies that can inhibit the Corona virus.
Monocular vision is intrinsically unstable: a side-effect of binocular homeostasis
Authors: Reynaud Alexandre , Blaize Kévin , Chavane Frédéric , Hess Robert F.
Published: March 2020

It is now accepted that short-term deprivation of one eye in adults results in not only a post-deprivation strengthening of the vision in the previously deprived eye but also a deterioration in the vision of the previously non-patched eye. Such monocular deprivation of 1-2 hours induces changes that last approximately 30-90 minutes. There is some support for this neuroplastic effect being the consequence of a change in the contrast gain within the binocular circuity. What is not known is when these changes in gain are initiated. One possibility is that they are initiated only once the patch is removed. The other possibility is that they are the result of a slow build up from the moment the patch is first applied.

In this study, we measure monocular contrast detection thresholds of the non-deprived eye over time during the deprivation of the other eye. We show that contrast threshold increases over time during the deprivation of the other eye. This observation suggest that the patching effect is mediated by a slow build up over the deprivation period: reducing the vision of the non-deprived eye and enhancing the vision of the deprived eye reflecting reciprocal changes in sensitivity. These results highlight a hitherto unknown feature of human vision, namely that monocular visionper seis intrinsically unstable which is a consequence of the reciprocal inhibitory circuits that homeostatically regulate binocular vision. This questions a whole corpus of studies of visual function that rely on the assumption that monocular vision is intrinsically stable.
Scientometric Trends for Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Viral Infections
Authors: Kagan Dima , Moran-Gilad Jacob , Fire Michael
Published: March 2020

COVID-19 is the most rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreak in the past two decades. To provide a swift response to a novel outbreak, prior knowledge from similar outbreaks is essential. Here, we study the volume of research conducted on previous coronavirus outbreaks, specifically SARS and MERS, relative to other infectious diseases by analyzing over 35 million papers from the last 20 years. Our results demonstrate that previous coronavirus outbreaks have been understudied compared to other viruses. We also show that the research volume of emerging infectious diseases is very high after an outbreak and drops drastically upon the containment of the disease. This can yield inadequate research and limited investment in gaining a full understanding of novel coronavirus management and prevention. Independent of the outcome of the current COVID-19 outbreak, we believe that measures should be taken to encourage sustained research in the field.
Development and utilization of an intelligent application for aiding COVID-19 diagnosis
Authors: Meng Zirui , Wang Minjin , Song Huan , Guo Shuo , Zhou Yanbing , Li Weimin , Zhou Yongzhao , Li Mengjiao , Song Xingbo , Zhou Yi , Li Qingfeng , Lu Xiaojun , Ying Binwu
Published: March 2020

Background

COVID-19 has been spreading globally since emergence, but the diagnostic resources are relatively insufficient.

Results

In order to effectively relieve the resource deficiency of diagnosing COVID-19, we developed a machine learning-based diagnosis model on basis of laboratory examinations indicators from a total of 620 samples, and subsequently implemented it as a COVID-19 diagnosis aid APP to facilitate promotion.

Conclusions

External validation showed satisfiable model prediction performance (i.e., the positive predictive value and negative predictive value was 86.35% and 84.62%, respectively), which guarantees the promising use of this tool for extensive screening.
Consumption of Cattle Hide Singed with Scrap Tyre is Detrimental to the Liver, Heart and Kidney of Rats
Authors: Woko Eze. C. , Ibegbulem C.O. , Alisi Chinwe. S.
Published: March 2020

The presence of essential amino acids in meat makes it a complete protein, this makes meat a highly sort after source of protein in the human diet. The World’s demand for animal-derived protein has been projected to double by 2050. As a result there is a resultant increase in livestock industries to meet this demand. While meat is generally consumed as a source of protein, processed cattle hide popularly known as “Kanda”in southeastern Nigeria is consumed as a substitute for meat though it may not necessarily provide the same level of nutritional value with meat. The method of processing this food delicacy (Kanda) by singeing with scrap tyre or firewood has opened the door for heavy metal and or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) contamination, thereby putting unsuspecting consumers at health risk. This study therefore investigated the effects of consuming scrap tyre-singed cattle hide and firewood singed cattle hide on the kidney, liver and heart of male Wistar rats. Consuming singed cattle hides significantly elevated some serum marker enzymes important in kidney, liver and heart damage i.e alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase, with the groups that were fed with the hide singed with scrap tyre showing severe elevations. Consuming the singedKandaalso significantly decreased the serum concentrations of K+, Na+, Cl−, and significantly increased HCO3−and urea concentration. An examination of the organ tissues also revealed serious morphological changes. In conclusion, consuming singedKandahad detrimental effects on the vital organs studied.
SSP: An R package to estimate sampling effort in studies of ecological communities
Authors: Guerra-Castro Edlin J. , Cajas Juan Carlos , Simões Nuno , Cruz-Motta Juan J , Mascaró Maite
Published: March 2020

SSP(simulation-based sampling protocol) is an R package that uses simulation of ecological data and dissimilarity-based multivariate standard error (MultSE) as an estimator of precision to evaluate the adequacy of different sampling efforts for studies that will test hypothesis using permutational multivariate analysis of variance. The procedure consists in simulating several extensive data matrixes that mimic some of the relevant ecological features of the community of interest using a pilot data set. For each simulated data, several sampling efforts are repeatedly executed andMultSEcalculated. The mean value, 0.025 and 0.975 quantiles ofMultSEfor each sampling effort across all simulated data are then estimated and standardized regarding the lowest sampling effort. The optimal sampling effort is identified as that in which the increase in sampling effort do not improve the precision beyond a threshold value (e.g. 2.5 %). The performance ofSSPwas validated using real data, and in all examples the simulated data mimicked well the real data, allowing to evaluate the relationshipMultSE–nbeyond the sampling size of the pilot studies.SSPcan be used to estimate sample size in a wide range of situations, ranging from simple (e.g. single site) to more complex (e.g. several sites for different habitats) experimental designs. The latter constitutes an important advantage, since it offers new possibilities for complex sampling designs, as it has been advised for multi-scale studies in ecology.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Modulates Sleep Through Hypothalamic Orexin Neurons
Authors: Zegarra-Valdivia Jonathan A. , Pignatelli Jaime , de Sevilla Maria Estrella Fernandez , Fernandez Ana M. , Munive Victor , Martinez-Rachadell Laura , Nuñez Angel , Aleman Ignacio Torres
Published: March 2020

Although metabolic and sleep disturbances are commonly associated, the underlying processes are not yet fully defined. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), an anabolic hormone that shows a circadian pattern in the circulation and activity-dependent entrance in the brain, is associated to sleep regulation along evolution. However, its role in this universal homeostatic process remains poorly understood. We now report that the activity of orexin neurons, a discrete cell population in the lateral hypothalamus that is involved in the circadian sleep/wake cycle and arousal, is modulated by circulating IGF-I. Furthermore, mice with blunted IGF-I receptor activity in orexin neurons have lower levels of orexin in the hypothalamus, show altered electrocorticographic patterns with predominant slow wave activity, reduced onset-sleep latency, and less transitions between sleep and awake stages. Collectively, these results extend the role of this pleiotropic growth factor to shaping sleep architecture through regulation of orexin neurons. We speculate that poor sleep quality associated to diverse conditions may be related to disturbed brain IGF-I input to orexin neurons.
Siderophores provoke extracellular superoxide production by carbon-starvingArthrobacterstrains when carbon sources recover
Authors: Ning Xue , Liang Jinsong , Men Yujie , Chang Yangyang , Bai Yaohui , Liu Huijuan , Wang Aijie , Zhang Tong , Qu Jiuhui
Published: March 2020

Superoxide and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the environment shape microbial communities1and drive transformation of metals2,3and inorganic/organic matter4,5. Taxonomically diverse bacteria and phytoplankton can produce extracellular superoxide during laboratory cultivation6-11. Understanding the physiological reasons for extracellular superoxide production by aerobes in the environment is a crucial question yet not fully solved. Here, we showed that iron-starvingArthrobactersp. QXT-31 (referred to asA.QXT-31 hereafter) secreted a type of siderophore (deferoxamine, DFO), which provoked extracellular superoxide production by carbon-starvingA.QXT-31 when carbon sources were recovered. Several other siderophores also demonstrated similar effects. RNA-Seq data hinted that DFO stripped iron from iron-bearing proteins in the electron transfer chain (ETC) of metabolically activeA.QXT-31, resulting in electron leakage from the electron-rich (resulting from carbons source metabolism) ETC and superoxide production. Considering that most aerobes secrete siderophore(s)12and often suffer from carbon starvation in the environment, certain aerobes are expected to produce extracellular superoxide when carbon source(s) recover/fluctuate, thus influencing the microbial community and cycling of many elements. In addition, an artificial iron-chelator (diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, DTPA) was widely used in microbial superoxide quantification. Our results showed that DTPA provoked superoxide production byA. QXT-31 and highlighted its potential interference in microbial superoxide quantification.