bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant growth rate and nitrogen uptake shape rhizosphere bacterial community composition and activity in an agricultural field
Authors: Emmett Bryan D. , Buckley Daniel H. , Drinkwater Laurie E.
Published: September 2019

Plant–microbial interactions in the rhizosphere are an essential link in soil nitrogen (N) cycling and plant N supply. Plant phenotype and genotype interact with the soil environment to determine rhizosphere community structure and activity. However, the relative contributions of plant identity, phenology and soil resource availability in shaping rhizosphere effects are not well understood.

Four summer annuals and a collection of maize hybrids were grown in a common garden experiment conducted at two levels of organic nutrient availability. Plant biomass, N accumulation, rhizosphere bacterial community composition, and rhizosphere potential extracellular enzyme activity were assessed at vegetative, flowering and grain‐filling stages of maize.

Plant N uptake was strongly coupled with protease activity in the rhizosphere. Temporal trends in rhizosphere community composition varied between plant species. Changes in rhizosphere community composition could be explained by variation in plant growth dynamics.

These findings indicate that species‐level variation in plant growth dynamics and resource acquisition drive variation in rhizosphere bacterial community composition and activity linked to plant N uptake.
Beyond dispersal versus philopatry? Alternative behavioural tactics of juvenile roe deer in a heterogeneous landscape
Authors: Ducros Delphine , Morellet Nicolas , Patin Rémi , Atmeh Kamal , Debeffe Lucie , Cargnelutti Bruno , Chaval Yannick , Lourtet Bruno , Coulon Aurélie , Hewison A. J. Mark
Published: September 2019

Although inter‐individual heterogeneity in many aspects of dispersal behaviour is widely reported, this key life‐history trait is predominantly modelled as a dichotomous state of philopatry versus dispersal. The increasing body of evidence for dispersal syndromes (i.e. a suite of correlated morphological, behavioural and life‐history traits associated with dispersal) implies substantial but, to date, undocumented individual heterogeneity in behavioural tactics during dispersal. Using a large sample (n = 154) of GPS monitored juvenile roe deer Capreolus capreolus, we evaluated among‐individual behavioural heterogeneity in dispersal tactics, and the individual and environmental drivers of these alternative tactics. We developed a sequential three‐stage decision tree based on space use stability, exploration events and the directionality of movement. We identified six discrete alternative behavioural tactics during the dispersal period which were characterised by different timing, amplitude and duration in movement: slightly less than half of the deer were sedentary, either ‘strictly philopatric’ or ‘explorers’, which subsequently settled on their natal range; around 40% dispersed (‘classic dispersal’), of which, one in six subsequently aborted, moving back to their natal range (‘aborted dispersal’); finally, around 15% expressed either a ‘progressive dispersal’ tactic, gradually moving away from their natal area to settle elsewhere, or a ‘multi‐range’ tactic. The propensity to express an alternative dispersal tactic was strongly influenced by an individual's local environment. In particular, when landscape heterogeneity, resource quality and human‐related disturbance in the natal range were low, individuals were 1) more likely to adopt the alternative tactics of either progressive dispersal or multi‐ranging, but 2) also more likely to abort their dispersal attempt. Our work indicates that natal dispersal is likely not a single uniform behaviour, but that individuals may adopt a variety of alternative movement tactics which are likely governed by different selection pressures, with potentially important impacts for population dynamics and functioning.
Evaluational adjectives
Authors: Silk Alex
Published: September 2019

This paper demarcates a theoretically interesting class of evaluational adjectives. This class includes predicates expressing various kinds of normative and epistemic evaluation, such as predicates of personal taste, aesthetic adjectives, moral adjectives, and epistemic adjectives, among others. Evaluational adjectives are distinguished, empirically, in exhibiting phenomena such as discourse‐oriented use, felicitous embedding under the attitude verb ‘find’, and sorites‐susceptibility in the comparative form. A unified degree‐based semantics is developed: What distinguishes evaluational adjectives, semantically, is that they denote context‐dependent measure functions (evaluational perspectives)—context‐dependent mappings to degrees of taste, beauty, probability, etc., depending on the adjective. This perspective‐sensitivity characterizing the class of evaluational adjectives cannot be assimilated to vagueness, sensitivity to an experiencer argument, or multidimensionality; and it cannot be demarcated in terms of pretheoretic notions of subjectivity, common in the literature. I propose that certain diagnostics for “subjective” expressions be analyzed instead in terms of a precisely specified kind of discourse‐oriented use of context‐sensitive language. I close by applying the account to ‘find x PRED’ ascriptions.
Assessing Engineering Resilience for Systems with Multiple Performance Measures
Authors: Specking Eric , Cottam Bobby , Parnell Gregory , Pohl Edward , Cilli Matthew , Buchanan Randy , Wade Zephan , Small Colin
Published: September 2019

Recently, efforts to model and assess a system's resilience to disruptions due to environmental and adversarial threats have increased substantially. Researchers have investigated resilience in many disciplines, including sociology, psychology, computer networks, and engineering systems, to name a few. When assessing engineering system resilience, the resilience assessment typically considers a single performance measure, a disruption, a loss of performance, the time required to recover, or a combination of these elements. We define and use a resilient engineered system definition that separates system resilience into platform and mission resilience. Most complex systems have multiple performance measures; this research proposes using multiple objective decision analysis to assess system resilience for systems with multiple performance measures using two distinct methods. The first method quantifies platform resilience and includes resilience and other “ilities” directly in the value hierarchy, while the second method quantifies mission resilience and uses the “ilities” in the calculation of the expected mission performance for every performance measure in the value hierarchy. We illustrate the mission resilience method using a transportation systems‐of‐systems network with varying levels of resilience due to the level of connectivity and autonomy of the vehicles and platform resilience by using a notional military example. Our analysis found that it is necessary to quantify performance in context with specific mission(s) and scenario(s) under specific threat(s) and then use modeling and simulation to help determine the resilience of a system for a given set of conditions. The example demonstrates how incorporating system mission resilience can improve performance for some performance measures while negatively affecting others.
‘Contradictions in having care providers with a South Sami background who speak South Sami’: older South Sami People in Sweden's expectations of home nursing care
Authors: Ness Tove Mentsen , Söderberg Siv , Hellzèn Ove
Published: September 2019

The Sami are an indigenous population with multiple languages and dialects living in northern areas of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula. The South Sami population lives in central regions of Sweden and Norway, and consist of about 2000 people. In this study, 56 older South Sami people from Sweden participated. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted over the telephone and analysed through qualitative content analysis. The main findings show that older South Sami people's expectations of having care providers with a South Sami background speaking South Sami in home nursing care contain contradictions in and between participants. Participants had different preferences regarding having care providers with a South Sami background speaking South Sami in the future. When providing care to older South Sami people, individual adjustments are of importance, and our study showed that participants had different expectations despite having similar backgrounds.
Reasons for sleeping difficulties as perceived by adolescents: a content analysis
Authors: Jakobsson Malin , Josefsson Karin , Högberg Karin
Published: September 2019

Sleeping difficulties are increasingly prevalent among adolescents worldwide and have negative consequences for adolescent health and education. The aim of this study was to describe the reasons for sleeping difficulties as perceived by adolescents. Sleeping difficulties include insufficient sleep, trouble falling asleep, waking up at night or sleep that does not leave an individual rested. Data were collected in 2015 using an open‐ended question. The sample consisted of n = 475 adolescents from a city in Sweden, aged 15–16 years, with self‐assessed sleeping difficulties. The results described the reasons for the adolescents’ sleeping difficulties, at a general, thematic level, as an imbalance between requirements and preconditions, distributed to stress, technology use, poor sleep habits, existential thoughts, needs and suffering. To find a balance in their daily lives, adolescents may need support from parents, school nurses and school health services to deal with their sleeping difficulties.
Sand dunes and valley fills from Preboreal glacial‐lake outburst floods in south‐eastern Norway – beyond the aeolian paradigm
Authors: Hansen Louise , Tassis Georgios , Høgaas Fredrik
Published: September 2019

A major glacial‐lake outburst flood in the Glomma valley, south‐eastern Norway, took place during the final decay of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet. A combined morphological, geophysical and sedimentological study provides new insight into the variety of processes and deposits of the flood. The studied succession, some tens of metres in thickness, comprises the fill of a major flood basin that developed during hydraulic ponding. Large‐scale sand dunes and bars accumulated downstream of locations with expanding flow. Most notable are 10 m high, concentric dune ridges that accumulated downstream of a topographical constriction hosting a high‐velocity flow. Flow expansion at the outlet generated intense turbulence and scouring. The sand‐loaded eddies helped feeding the semi‐stationary dune ridges that grew vertically and downflow under high aggradation rates. Internal structures vary but reflect an overall shift in sedimentation from prevailing supercritical flow to overall subcritical flow conditions at high flood levels. Loading by water and sediment caused large‐scale, synsedimentary deformation, increasing local accommodation space. Fast‐falling flood levels caused stronger flow locally, while mud and fine sand settled in stagnant pools. The fall caused a significant drop in hydrostatic pressure. This triggered a release of excess pore pressure causing massive dewatering and fluidisation. Water‐escape structures include numerous (sub)vertical pipes. The present study shows that outburst flood‐generated, large‐scale dunes can develop in well‐sorted, fine sand and are thereby easily confused with aeolian deposits. Several dune fields in south‐eastern Norway are here reinterpreted as the product of at least two major flood events. Sandy dune fields with similar characteristics elsewhere in Scandinavia should likely also be reinterpreted, and the role of outburst floods during the final deglaciation of Scandinavia has seemingly been underestimated. The study emphasises the importance of ponding, flow expansion, sorting, rapidly changing pressure conditions and deformation for outburst flood‐related sedimentation.
Serum levels of epithelial‐derived mediators and interleukin‐4/interleukin‐13 signaling after bronchial challenge with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in patients with allergic asthma
Authors: Kalinauskaite‐Zukauske Virginija , Janulaityte Ieva , Januskevicius Andrius , Malakauskas Kestutis
Published: September 2019

Allergens are the main trigger that enhances airway type 2 inflammation, and the epithelium is the first line of defense that reacts to its exposure. Therefore, epithelial‐derived mediators, such as interleukin (IL)‐25, IL‐33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and ezrin, may play a role as alarmins in IL‐4/IL‐13 signaling in allergic asthma (AA). We investigated the serum levels of IL‐25, IL‐33, TSLP, ezrin, IL‐4 and IL‐13, after bronchial challenge with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in patients with AA. We examined 18 subjects: nine steroid‐free stable patients with AA sensitized to D. pteronyssinus and nine non‐atopic healthy subjects (HS). Bronchial allergen challenge was performed using inhaled D. pteronyssinus allergen. IL‐4, IL‐13, IL‐25, IL‐33, TSLP and ezrin levels in serum were measured by ELISA at two time points ‐ before and 24 hours after bronchial allergen challenge. The serum levels of IL‐25, TSLP and ezrin did not differ between AA and HS groups at baseline. However, after allergen exposure, significant increases in serum levels of IL‐25, TSLP and ezrin were observed only in patients with AA. The serum level of IL‐33 at baseline was significantly higher in the AA group compared with HS, but the allergen challenge did not provoke an increase of this cytokine in any group. IL‐4 and IL‐13 levels were significantly higher at baseline in the AA group compared with HS and, after allergen exposure, were significantly increased in the AA group, with no effect on HS. Thus, the epithelial‐derived mediators IL‐25, TSLP and ezrin, via IL4/IL13 signaling, enhance type 2 inflammation after bronchial challenge with D. pteronyssinus in AA.
TIM‐3: An emerging target in the liver diseases
Authors: Zhao Lizhen , Yu Guoyi , Han Qi , Cui Congxian , Zhang Bei
Published: September 2019

T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain‐containing molecule 3 (TIM‐3) is found expression in the surface of terminally differentiated T cells and belongs to the TIM family of type Ⅰ transmembrane proteins. It binds to the ligand Galectin‐9 and mediates T cell apoptosis. As the research progresses, TIM‐3 is also expressed in Th17, NK, monocyte, which binds to ligand and induce immune peripheral tolerance in both mice and man. Numerous researches have demonstrated that TIM‐3 influences liver diseases, including liver‐associated chronic viral infection, liver fibrosis, liver cancer et al and suggest new approaches to intervention. Currently, targeted therapy of TIM‐3 is a new treatment in the field of immunization. Although many studies have proven that TIM‐3 has an inhibitory effect in vivo, the specific mechanism is not clear. Herein, we summarize the important role of TIM‐3 in the regulation of liver disease and prospects for future clinical research. TIM‐3 will provide new targets for improving clinical liver disease.
Characterization of three novel HLA‐DQA1*03:03:01 variants, identified in Brazilian individuals
Authors: Vianna Romulo , Porto Luís Cristóvão
Published: September 2019

Characterization of three novel HLA‐DQA1*03:03:01 variants, HLA‐DQA1*03:03:01:08, ‐DQA1*03:03:01:09, and ‐DQA1*03:03:01:10.
The Scene Perception & Event Comprehension Theory (SPECT) Applied to Visual Narratives
Authors: Loschky Lester C. , Larson Adam M. , Smith Tim J. , Magliano Joseph P.
Published: September 2019

Understanding how people comprehend visual narratives (including picture stories, comics, and film) requires the combination of traditionally separate theories that span the initial sensory and perceptual processing of complex visual scenes, the perception of events over time, and comprehension of narratives. Existing piecemeal approaches fail to capture the interplay between these levels of processing. Here, we propose the Scene Perception & Event Comprehension Theory (SPECT), as applied to visual narratives, which distinguishes between front‐end and back‐end cognitive processes. Front‐end processes occur during single eye fixations and are comprised of attentional selection and information extraction. Back‐end processes occur across multiple fixations and support the construction of event models, which reflect understanding of what is happening now in a narrative (stored in working memory) and over the course of the entire narrative (stored in long‐term episodic memory). We describe relationships between front‐ and back‐end processes, and medium‐specific differences that likely produce variation in front‐end and back‐end processes across media (e.g., picture stories vs. film). We describe several novel research questions derived from SPECT that we have explored. By addressing these questions, we provide greater insight into how attention, information extraction, and event model processes are dynamically coordinated to perceive and understand complex naturalistic visual events in narratives and the real world.
Understanding the role of China's domestic market in the (unequal) growth of world economy
Authors: Chung Sunghoon
Published: September 2019

This study investigates the rising role of China's domestic market expansion from 1995 to 2011 in the world economy's growth. China maintained high domestic expenditure growth during the entire period, with even bigger increases in the last years, when the global financial crisis and subsequent economic recovery occurred. The expenditures facilitated rapid growth through high demand for durable goods, which are produced across widely fragmented Asian channels. At the same time, China integrated further into the global economy and imported intermediate goods increasingly became embedded in goods for domestic sale. These two forces combined to magnify the impact of China's market expansion on foreign economies but disproportionately more on its neighbouring countries and sectors related to durable goods production. Specifically, our estimates suggest that the expenditure growth in China over the 2009–11 period added about 1 percentage point to the annual GDP growth rate in Taiwan, Malaysia and Korea, while the NAFTA and EU member countries typically benefited by less than 0.1 percentage point.
Discriminatory features of acute eosinophilic dermatitis with oedema (Wells‐like syndrome) and sterile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's‐like syndrome) in dogs
Authors: Bradley Charles W. , Cain Christine L. , Wong Talia S. , Ferracone Jacquelyn D. , Goldschmidt Kyle H. , Mauldin Elizabeth A.
Published: September 2019

Background

Canine acute eosinophilic dermatitis with oedema (CAEDE) and sterile neutrophilic dermatosis have overlapping clinical and histopathological features.

Hypothesis/Objectives

The objective of this study was to identify features that differentiate these entities.

Animals

Forty dogs.

Methods and materials

Retrospective case series. Forty cases with diagnoses of eitherCAEDEand/or sterile neutrophilic dermatosis were included based on histopathological review. Medical records (29 of 40 dogs) were reviewed for clinical findings and historical data. Commercially available immunohistochemical stains for granulocytes and a Luna stain were performed (40 of 40 dogs) to assess the granulocytic infiltrate.

Results

Nineteen cases had been previously diagnosed asCAEDE, seven cases had been designated as sterile neutrophilic dermatosis and 14 cases had overlapping features. Based on review and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, 30 cases with >12% eosinophils, enumerated by Luna staining, were diagnosed as eosinophilic dermatitis and oedema. Ten cases were diagnosed as sterile neutrophilic dermatosis. Dogs withCAEDEfrequently had gastrointestinal signs (24 of 30;80%) and pruritus (11 of 30;33%). In dogs with sterile neutrophilic dermatosis, five of 10 (50%) had diagnoses of or histories compatible with immune‐mediated polyarthropathy.

Conclusions and clinical importance

In this case series, CAEDE was encountered more frequently than neutrophilic dermatosis and could be distinguished by the eosinophilic infiltrate, aided by a Luna stain. Concurrent arthralgia was more frequently identified with neutrophilic dermatosis. It remains unclear whetherCAEDEand sterile neutrophilic dermatosis are separate disease entities or varied manifestations of the same disease.
Subcutaneous maternal resveratrol treatment increases uterine artery blood flow in the pregnant ewe and increases fetal but not cardiac growth
Authors: Darby Jack R. T. , Saini Brahmdeep S. , Soo Jia Yin , Lock Mitchell C. , Holman Stacey L. , Bradshaw Emma L. , McInnes Steven J. P. , Voelcker Nicolas H. , Macgowan Christopher K. , Seed Mike , Wiese Michael D. , Morrison Janna L.
Published: September 2019

Key points

Substrate restriction during critical developmental windows of gestation programmes offspring for a predisposition towards cardiovascular disease in adult life.

This study aimed to determine the effect of maternal resveratrol (RSV) treatment in an animal model in which chronic fetal catheterisation is possible and the timing of organ maturation reflects that of the human.

Maternal RSV treatment increased uterine artery blood flow, fetal oxygenation and fetal weight.

RSV was not detectable in the fetal circulation, indicating that it may not cross the sheep placenta.

This study highlights RSV as a possible intervention to restore fetal substrate supply in pregnancies affected by placental insufficiency.

Suboptimal in utero environments with reduced substrate supply during critical developmental windows of gestation predispose offspring to non‐communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Improving fetal substrate supply in these pregnancies may ameliorate the predisposition these offspring have toward adult‐onset CVD. This study aimed to determine the effect of maternal resveratrol (RSV) supplementation on uterine artery blood flow and the direct effects of RSV on the fetal heart in a chronically catheterised sheep model of human pregnancy. Maternal RSV treatment significantly increased uterine artery blood flow as measured by phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging, mean gestational fetal and as well as fetal weight. RSV was not detectable in the fetal circulation, and mRNA and protein expression of the histone/protein deacetylase SIRT1 did not differ between treatment groups. No effect of maternal RSV supplementation on AKT/mTOR or CAMKII signalling in the fetal left ventricle was observed. Maternal RSV supplementation is capable of increasing fetal oxygenation and growth in an animal model in which cardiac development parallels that of the human.
Physics-Driven Regularization of Deep Neural Networks for Enhanced Engineering Design and Analysis
Authors: Nabian Mohammad Amin , Meidani Hadi
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we introduce a physics-driven regularization method for training of deep neural networks (DNNs) for use in engineering design and analysis problems. In particular, we focus on the prediction of a physical system, for which in addition to training data, partial or complete information on a set of governing laws is also available. These laws often appear in the form of differential equations, derived from first principles, empirically validated laws, or domain expertise, and are usually neglected in a data-driven prediction of engineering systems. We propose a training approach that utilizes the known governing laws and regularizes data-driven DNN models by penalizing divergence from those laws. The first two numerical examples are synthetic examples, where we show that in constructing a DNN model that best fits the measurements from a physical system, the use of our proposed regularization results in DNNs that are more interpretable with smaller generalization errors, compared with other common regularization methods. The last two examples concern metamodeling for a random Burgers’ system and for aerodynamic analysis of passenger vehicles, where we demonstrate that the proposed regularization provides superior generalization accuracy compared with other common alternatives.
Effect of the Field Shaper Geometries in Electromagnetic Crimping of Tubes on Rods
Authors: Kumar Ramesh , Kore Sachin D.
Published: September 2019

Electromagnetic crimping is a solid state, high-speed, and high strain-rate joining process. Finite element analysis, as well as experimental study, was carried out on three types of field shapers, namely, tapered, taper-stepped, and stepped. In all three field shapers, the effective length, outer diameter, inner diameter, total length, and materials properties were constant. These field shapers were kept inside the same multi-turn solenoid coil for all the experiments. It was found that the taper-stepped field shaper results better regarding impact velocity, Lorentz force, temperature generation, less heating, and uniformity in crimping among the three types of field shapers.
A General Purpose Robotic Hand Exoskeleton With Series Elastic Actuation
Authors: Refour Eric M. , Sebastian Bijo , Chauhan Raghuraj J. , Ben-Tzvi Pinhas
Published: September 2019

This paper describes the design and control of a novel hand exoskeleton. A subcategory of upper extremity exoskeletons, hand exoskeletons have promising applications in healthcare services, industrial workplaces, virtual reality, and military. Although much progress has been made in this field, most of the existing systems are position controlled and face several design challenges, including achieving minimal size and weight, difficulty enforcing natural grasping motions, exerting sufficient grip strength, ensuring the safety of the users hand, and maintaining overall user friendliness. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel, slim, lightweight linkage mechanism design for a hand exoskeleton with a force control paradigm enabled via a compact series elastic actuator. A detailed design overview of the proposed mechanism is provided, along with kinematic and static analyses. To validate the overall proposed hand exoskeleton system, a fully integrated prototype is developed and tested in a series of experimental trials.
Lack of therapeutic efficacy of an antibody to α
4
β
7
in SIVmac251-infected rhesus macaques
Authors: Abbink Peter , Mercado Noe B. , Nkolola Joseph P. , Peterson Rebecca L. , Tuyishime Hubert , McMahan Katherine , Moseley Edward T. , Borducchi Erica N. , Chandrashekar Abishek , Bondzie Esther A. , Agarwal Arshi , Belli Aaron J. , Reimann Keith A. , Keele Brandon F. , Geleziunas Romas , Lewis Mark G. , Barouch Dan H.
Published: September 2019

An antibody is not the antidote

An HIV therapeutic that would give long-term remission without sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a long-term goal. Byrareddy
et al.
[
Science
354
, 197 (2016)] reported that treating simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)–positive macaques with an antibody against integrin α
4
β
7
during and after ART results in sustained virologic control after stopping all treatment. Three studies in this issue question the reproducibility of that result. Di Mascio
et al.
sequenced the virus used in the 2016 study and found that it was a variant with a stop codon in the
nef
gene rather than a wild-type virus. Abbink
et al.
used the same antibody for α
4
β
7
as before but tested control of a more commonly used pathogenic virus. Iwamato
et al.
used the same
nef
-stop virus as in the earlier paper but combined the antibody against the integrin with an antibody against the SIV envelope glycoprotein, which also blocks viral binding of the integrin. None of these three new studies found that treating with the antibody had any effect on virologic control after stopping ART treatment.

Science
, this issue p.
1025
, p.
1029
, p.
1033
Atomically precise, custom-design origami graphene nanostructures
Authors: Chen Hui , Zhang Xian-Li , Zhang Yu-Yang , Wang Dongfei , Bao De-Liang , Que Yande , Xiao Wende , Du Shixuan , Ouyang Min , Pantelides Sokrates T. , Gao Hong-Jun
Published: September 2019

Precisely folding nanographene

Graphene nanostructures that would result from folding or rolling graphene monolayers or bilayers have been predicted to have a number of interesting electronic properties, but control over such folding processes has been limited. Chen
et al.
used a scanning tunneling microscope tip to fold and unfold graphene nanoislands etched on graphite surfaces at low temperatures (4 kelvin). The fold angle could be precisely controlled to create different twist angles in bilayer graphene and a tubelike edge in folded graphene. They also folded 5 ring–7 ring defects and explored this heterojunction with scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

Science
, this issue p.
1036
Single-nanowire spectrometers
Authors: Yang Zongyin , Albrow-Owen Tom , Cui Hanxiao , Alexander-Webber Jack , Gu Fuxing , Wang Xiaomu , Wu Tien-Chun , Zhuge Minghua , Williams Calum , Wang Pan , Zayats Anatoly V. , Cai Weiwei , Dai Lun , Hofmann Stephan , Overend Mauro , Tong Limin , Yang Qing , Sun Zhipei , Hasan Tawfique
Published: September 2019

Miniaturizing spectrometers

Spectroscopy is a ubiquitous characterization tool spanning most scientific and many industrial disciplines. Most handheld spectrometers are based on tabletop optical components, which limits the scale to which these spectrometers can be shrunk. To address the desire for miniaturized spectrometers with a micrometer-scale (and smaller) footprint, Yang
et al.
developed such a microspectrometer based on single, compositionally engineered nanowire. This result is a practical step forward for the use of other light-sensitive nanomaterials for such ultra-miniaturized spectroscopy platforms.

Science
, this issue p.
1017
Maternal microbiota in pregnancy and early life
Authors: McDonald Braedon , McCoy Kathy D.
Published: September 2019

The maternal microbiota shape offspring development, including susceptibility to some illnesses
Synthesis and observation of non-Abelian gauge fields in real space
Authors: Yang Yi , Peng Chao , Zhu Di , Buljan Hrvoje , Joannopoulos John D. , Zhen Bo , Soljačić Marin
Published: September 2019

An optical contortionist

The development of gauge fields is fundamental to our theoretical understanding of interactions in physical systems. There are two kinds of fields: Abelian, in which the measured effects on an observable parameter are commutative; and non-Abelian (noncommutative), where the sequence in which the field is applied matters. The latter are more difficult to realize in solid-state systems, but recent theoretical work has suggested that these could be synthesized optically. Yang
et al.
generated non-Abelian gauge fields by cascading multiple nonreciprocal optical elements and verified this accomplishment by the observed interference patterns in a Sagnac interferometer. Having a system that is tunable between Abelian and non-Abelian regimes will be important for studying complex topological states in photonic platforms.

Science
, this issue p.
1021
New middle chapter in the story of human evolution
Authors: Schaefer Nathan K. , Shapiro Beth
Published: September 2019

Analyzing genomic data from ancient humans illuminates South Asian ancestry
Replaced right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm managed with coil embolisation
Authors: Bains Lovenish , Kori Ronal , Sharma Raman , Kaur Daljit
Published: September 2019

A 20-year-old male patient presented to our emergency surgery department with blunt trauma to the abdomen and in a state of shock. The patient was resuscitated and a Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) was done which showed a grade 2 liver injury involving segment VIII. The patient was managed conservatively and discharged after 8 days. The patient again presented after 3 weeks with severe anaemia, fever and melena. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed bile mixed with blood at the ampulla of Vater, consistent with haemobilia. CT angiography showed grade 2 injury of the liver with large haematoma in segment VIII. A large right subcapsular collection, a saccular area consistent with pseudoaneurysm of the replaced right hepatic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery, was seen. A replaced left hepatic artery arising from the left gastric artery was also observed. The patient underwent right hepatic artery coil embolisation, with postprocedure digital subtraction scan showing no extravasation of contrast. The patient recovered well in the follow-up.
Intraperitoneal duodenal perforation secondary to early migration of biliary stent: closure with through-the-scope clip
Authors: Jadallah Khaled , Alzubi Bara , Sweidan Aroob , Almanasra Abdel R
Published: September 2019

Endoscopic biliary stenting is a well-recognised method of palliation of malignant biliary obstruction. Distal stent migration causing duodenal perforation is an uncommon complication of this procedure and is usually delayed. Early stent migration resulting in duodenal perforation is extremely rare and can be easily overlooked. We present a case of stent migration and resultant intraperitoneal duodenal perforation that occurred 24 hours following plastic stent insertion for a malignant biliary stricture in a 63-year-old woman. The patient required emergent abdominal laparoscopy with the placement of intraperitoneal drain, followed by endoscopic extraction of the stent and closure of the defect using a through-the-scope clip. This case report addresses intraperitoneal duodenal perforation secondary to early migration of biliary stents. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of prompt diagnosis and the use of endoclips in the management of this serious complication of endoprosthesis.
Management of early PEG tube dislodgement: simultaneous endoscopic closure of gastric wall defect and PEG replacement
Authors: Cmorej Peter , Mayuiers Matthew , Sugawa Choichi
Published: September 2019

A 53-year-old man with dysphagia underwent uneventful placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube for long-term enteral feeding access. 11 hours after the procedure, it was discovered that he had accidentally dislodged the feeding tube. On physical examination, he was found to have a benign abdomen without evidence of peritonitis or sepsis. He was observed overnight with serial abdominal examinations and nasogastric decompression. In the morning, he was taken back to the endoscopy suite where endoscopic clips were employed to close the gastric wall defect and a PEG tube was replaced at an adjacent site. The patient was fed 24 hours thereafter and discharged from the hospital 48 hours after the procedure. Early accidental removal of a PEG tube in patients without sepsis or peritonitis can be safely treated with simultaneous endoscopic closure of the gastrotomy and PEG tube replacement, resulting in earlier enteral feeding and shorter hospital stay.
Evaluation of the risk factors associated with conversion of intended deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty to penetrating keratoplasty
Authors: Myerscough James , Friehmann Asaf , Bovone Cristina , Mimouni Michael , Busin Massimo
Published: September 2019

Background/aims

To identify and evaluate risk factors associated with the need to convert intended deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) to penetrating keratoplasty (PK).

Methods

Retrospective institutional cohort study including all consecutive eyes undergoing intended DALK between May 2015 and October 2018 at ‘Villa Igea’ Hospital (Forli, Italy). The indications for surgery were categorised as (1) keratoconus without scarring; (2) keratoconus with scarring; (3) non-keratoconus without scarring; and (4) non-keratoconus with scarring. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed, introducing, as independent variables, those that reached a significance level of less than 0.05 in univariate analysis. The main outcome measure was whether or not conversion to a PK occurred.

Results

705 eyes were included, with conversion to PK occurring in 16.2% (n=114) of cases. The factors that remained significant in multivariate analysis were corneal scarring (OR=3.52, p<0.001), manual dissection (OR=42.66, p<0.001), type 2 bubble (OR=90.65, p<0.001) and surgeon inexperience (OR=10.86, p<0.001). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve based on the factors significant in the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis achieved a sensitivity of 89.5% (95% CI 82.3% to 94.4%) and a specificity of 80.2% (95% CI 76.8% to 83.3%) with an area under the ROC curve of 0.91 (95% CI 0.88 to 0.93) (p<0.001)

Conclusion

Occurrence of a type 2 bubble, the need for manual dissection, the presence of scarring and surgeon inexperience are independent risk factors for the need to convert intended DALK to PK. Correct identification and management of the type of bubble achieved during pneumatic dissection is instrumental in minimising the rate of conversion to PK.
Protocol for the VAL-MAP 2.0 trial: a multicentre, single-arm, phase III trial to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual-assisted lung mapping by bronchoscopic dye injection and microcoil implementation in patients with small pulmonary nodules in Japan
Authors: Ueda Keiko , Uemura Yukari , Sato Masaaki
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Tumour localisation is important for successful resection of lung nodules with optimal resection margins in sublobar resection. Virtual-assisted bronchoscopic localisation technique combined with dye marking and microcoil placement (VAL-MAP 2.0) is a minimally invasive, virtual-assisted, bronchoscopic technique that combines dye marking and microcoil implementation. As indwelling microcoils can provide information on the depth from the lung surface, they can be applied for deeply located small lung tumours that are barely identifiable by surface dye marking. This proposed study will examine the effectiveness of VAL-MAP 2.0 in patients with small pulmonary nodules.

Methods and analysis

This is a multicentre, prospective, single-arm, clinical trial. A total of 65 patients will be registered to undergo VAL-MAP 2.0 followed by thoracoscopic surgery. The primary outcome is successful resection, defined as resection of the lesion with optimal resection margins. The goal of the study is the achievement of a successful resection rate of 80%.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the Clinical Research Review Boards of the University of Tokyo (approval number 218 003SP) for all institutes, and the Technical Review Board for Advanced Medicine Category B of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Results of the primary and secondary endpoints will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration number

jRCTs031180099
Analysis of anticholinergic and sedative medicine effects on physical function, cognitive function, appetite and frailty: a cross-sectional study in Australia
Authors: Lim Renly , Kalisch Ellett Lisa M , Widagdo Imaina S , Pratt Nicole L , Roughead Elizabeth Ellen
Published: September 2019

Objective

To test the association between use of medicines with anticholinergic or sedative properties and physical function, cognitive function, appetite and frailty.

Design, setting and participants

This cross-sectional study analysed baseline data collected as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a population-based cohort of 2087 participants aged 65 years or over living in South Australia.

Main outcome measures

Physical function was measured at baseline using measures including hand grip strength, walking speed, chair stands, activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Cognitive function was measured using Mini-Mental State Examination. Appetite was measured using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression question 2. Frailty was measured using frailty index. The association between use of anticholinergics or sedatives and physical or cognitive function, appetite, or frailty was assessed using analysis of covariance and ordinal or binary logistic regression.

Results

Almost half of the population were using anticholinergics or sedatives (n=954, 45.7%). Use of anticholinergics was significantly associated with poorer grip strength, slower walking speed, poorer IADL and poorer appetite. Use of sedatives was significantly associated with poorer grip strength, slower walking speed and poorer IADL. We found no significant association between medicine use and cognitive function. Users of anticholinergics or sedatives were significantly more likely to be frail compared with non-users.

Conclusion

Use of medicines with anticholinergic or sedative properties is significantly associated with poorer physical function, poorer appetite and increased frailty. Early identification of signs and symptoms of deterioration associated with medicine use is particularly important in older people so that worsening frailty and subsequent adverse events are prevented.
Mental health specialist video consultations for patients with depression or anxiety disorders in primary care: protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial
Authors: Tönnies Justus , Hartmann Mechthild , Wensing Michel , Szecsenyi Joachim , Icks Andrea , Friederich Hans-Christoph , Haun Markus W
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Most people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders are entirely treated in primary care. Due to growing challenges in ageing societies, for example, patients’ immobility and multimorbidity, the transition to specialised care becomes increasingly difficult. Although the co-location of general practitioners and mental health specialists improves the access to psychosocial care, integrated in-person approaches are not practical for rural and single-doctor practices with limited personnel and financial resources. Treating primary care patients via internet-based video consultations by remotely located mental health specialists bears the potential to overcome structural barriers and provide low-threshold care. The aim of this randomised controlled feasibility trial is to investigate the feasibility of implementing of mental health specialist video consultations in primary care practices.

Methods and analysis

Fifty primary care patients with significant depression and/or anxiety symptomatology will be randomised in two groups receiving either the treatment as usual as provided by their general practitioner or up to five video consultations conducted by a mental health specialist. The video consultations focus on (1) systematic diagnosis plus proactive monitoring using validated clinical rating scales, (2) the establishment of an effective working alliance and (3) a stepped-care algorithm within integrated care adjusting treatments based on clinical outcomes. We will investigate the following outcomes: effectiveness of the recruitment strategies, patient acceptance of randomisation, practicability of the technical and logistical processes related to implementing video consultations in the practices’ workflows, feasibility of the data collection and clinical parameters.

Ethics and dissemination

This trial has undergone ethical scrutiny and has been approved by the Medical Faculty of the University of Heidelberg Ethics Committee (S-634/2018). The findings will be disseminated to the research community through presentations at conferences and publications in scientific journals. This feasibility trial will prepare the ground for a large-scale, fully powered randomised controlled trial.

Trial registration number

DRKS00015812.
Dealing with maedi visna in UK sheep flocks
Authors: Ogden Nicky , Davies Peers , Lovatt Fiona
Published: September 2019

Background: Maedi visna (MV) is considered to be one of the ‘iceberg diseases’ of sheep; a group of infectious, production‐limiting diseases which are endemic to the UK. Characterised by slow, progressive onset, these diseases lie undetected and can have a large impact on flock efficiency. This group of diseases also includes border disease, caseous lymphadenitis, ovine Johne's disease and ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The prevalence and effects of these diseases within different UK flock types remains unknown.

Aim of the article: To highlight the increasing importance of MV within the national flock. Here, we discuss the production effects, diagnosis and control options for MV.
Importance of systematic deliberation and stakeholder presence: a national study of clinical ethics committees
Authors: Magelssen Morten , Pedersen Reidar , Miljeteig Ingrid , Ervik Håvard , Førde Reidun
Published: September 2019

Background

Case consultation performed by clinical ethics committees (CECs) is a complex activity which should be evaluated. Several evaluation studies have reported stakeholder satisfaction in single institutions. The present study was conducted nationwide and compares clinicians’ evaluations on a range of aspects with the CEC’s own evaluation.

Methods

Prospective questionnaire study involving case consultations at 19 Norwegian CECs for 1 year, where consultations were evaluated by CECs and clinicians who had participated.

Results

Evaluations of 64 case consultations were received. Cases were complex with multiple ethical problems intertwined. Clinicians rated the average CEC consult highly, being both satisfied with the process and perceiving it to be useful across a number of aspects. CEC evaluations corresponded well with those of clinicians in a large majority of cases. Having next of kin/patients present was experienced as predominantly positive, though practised by only half of the CECs. The educational function of the consult was evaluated more positively when the CEC used a systematic deliberation method.

Conclusions

CEC case consultation was found to be a useful service. The study is also a favourable evaluation of the Norwegian CEC system, implying that it is feasible to implement well-functioning CECs on a large scale. There are good reasons to involve the stakeholders in the consultations as a main rule.
Effects of biosolids amendments on American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) nest-site selection and diet
Authors: Buers Megan A. , Doyle Frank I. , Lawson Kirstie J. , Hodges Karen E.
Published: September 2019

Fertilization is a common practice, as it improves plant yields. In many areas, biosolids (remains from treated wastewater) are used instead of chemical fertilizers owing to multi-year nutrient release and positive changes in soils and water retention. Little is known about whether biosolids affect animal consumers. Here, we examine diets and nesting sites of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius Linnaeus, 1758) in British Columbia, Canada. Our major study area was a large cattle ranch that has been grazed for over a century and where biosolids were applied in the previous 1–3 years. Kestrels selected nests in areas with higher Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)) nest density and with a higher proportion of pastures with biosolids applications, but with less forest. Kestrels were observed more often on biosolids-amended pastures than in untreated areas. Kestrels primarily ate voles (genus Microtus Schrank, 1798), but also consumed grasshoppers (Orthoptera) late in the breeding season when grasshoppers were abundant. Kestrel diets were slightly more varied on a nearby control area than on the ranch. Our results suggest that biosolids applications improve prey availability for Kestrels, thus potentially acting as a restoration tool in areas with degraded habitats or where Kestrels have declined.
The numerical solution for BVP of the liquid film flow over an unsteady stretching sheet with thermal radiation and magnetic field using the finite element method
Authors: Khader M. M.
Published: September 2019

The method introduced in this paper is based on the finite element method. As an application for this efficient numerical method, we employ it in solving the system of ordinary differential equations which describes the thin-film flow and heat transfer with the effect of thermal radiation, magnetic field and slip velocity. The effect of the parameters which govern the proposed problem is discussed. From this theoretical and numerical study, it is observed that the slip velocity parameter tends to decrease the fluid velocity, whereas both the magnetic parameter and the radiation parameter can enhance the temperature distribution.