bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Momentum and Pressure Balance of a Comet Ionosphere
Authors: Williamson H. N. , Nilsson H. , Stenberg Wieser G. , Eriksson A. I. , Richter I. , Goetz C.
Published: July 2020

We calculate the momentum flux and pressure of ions measured by the Ion Composition Analyzer (ICA) on the Rosetta mission at comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko. The total momentum flux stays roughly constant over the mission, but the contributions of different ion populations change depending on heliocentric distance. The magnetic pressure, calculated from Rosetta magnetometer measurements, roughly corresponds with the cometary ion momentum flux. When the spacecraft enters the solar wind ion cavity, the solar wind fluxes drop drastically, while the cometary momentum flux becomes roughly 10 times the solar wind fluxes outside of the ion cavity, indicating that pickup ions behave similarly to the solar wind ions in this region. We use electron density from the Langmuir probe to calculate the electron pressure, which is particularly important close to the comet nucleus where flow changes from antisunward to radially outward.
Deep Learning as a Tool to Forecast Hydrologic Response for Landslide‐Prone Hillslopes
Authors: Orland Elijah , Roering Joshua J. , Thomas Matthew A. , Mirus Benjamin B.
Published: July 2020

Empirical thresholds for landslide warning systems have benefitted from the incorporation of soil‐hydrologic monitoring data, but the mechanistic basis for their predictive capabilities is limited. Although physically based hydrologic models can accurately simulate changes in soil moisture and pore pressure that promote landslides, their utility is restricted by high computational costs and nonunique parameterization issues. We construct a deep learning model using soil moisture, pore pressure, and rainfall monitoring data acquired from landslide‐prone hillslopes in Oregon, USA, to predict the timing and magnitude of hydrologic response at multiple soil depths for 36‐hr intervals. We find that observation records as short as 6 months are sufficient for accurate predictions, and our model captures hydrologic response for high‐intensity rainfall events even when those storm types are excluded from model training. We conclude that machine learning can provide an accurate and computationally efficient alternative to empirical methods or physical modeling for landslide hazard warning.
A compendium of genome-wide sequence reads from NBS (nucleotide binding site) domains of resistance genes in the common potato
Authors: Prakash Celine , Trognitz Friederike Ch , Venhuizen Peter , von Haeseler Arndt , Trognitz Bodo
Published: July 2020

SolariX is a compendium of DNA sequence tags from the nucleotide binding site (NBS) domain of disease resistance genes of the common potato, Solanum tuberosum Group Tuberosum. The sequences, which we call NBS tags, for nearly all NBS domains from 91 genomes—representing a wide range of historical and contemporary potato cultivars, 24 breeding programs and 200 years—were generated using just 16 amplification primers and high-throughput sequencing. The NBS tags were mapped to 587 NBS domains on the draft potato genome DM, where we detected an average, over all the samples, of 26 nucleotide polymorphisms on each locus. The total number of NBS domains observed, differed between potato cultivars. However, both modern and old cultivars possessed comparable levels of variability, and neither the individual breeder or country nor the generation or time appeared to correlate with the NBS domain frequencies. Our attempts to detect haplotypes (i.e., sets of linked nucleotide polymorphisms) frequently yielded more than the possible 4 alleles per domain indicating potential locus intermixing during the mapping of NBS tags to the DM reference genome. Mapping inaccuracies were likely a consequence of the differences of each cultivar to the reference genome used, coupled with high levels of NBS domain sequence similarity. We illustrate that the SolariX database is useful to search for polymorphism linked with NBS-LRR R gene alleles conferring specific disease resistance and to develop molecular markers for selection.
Shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis from leaf and root explants of Scaevola sericea
Authors: Liang Hanzhi , Xiong Yuping , Guo Beiyi , Yan Haifeng , Jian Shuguang , Ren Hai , Zhang Xinhua , Li Yuan , Zeng Songjun , Wu Kunlin , Zheng Feng , Teixeira da Silva Jaime A. , Xiong Youhua , Ma Guohua
Published: July 2020

An efficient regeneration system via shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis from in vitro leaf and root explants was established for Scaevola sericea for the first time. The highest axillary shoot proliferation coefficient (4.8) was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.1 mg/L α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) every 45 days. Young in vitro leaves and roots, which were used as explants, were cultured onto medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. Our results showed that only cytokinins BA and thidiazuron (TDZ), could induce adventitious shoots and somatic embryos from leaf and root explants. The optimal medium to achieve this was MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/L BA and which induced most adventitious shoots (2.7) and somatic embryos (17.3) from leaf explants within 30 days. From root explants, 1.1 adventitious shoots and 7.6 somatic embryos could be induced on MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/L TDZ. Histological observation showed that both somatic embryos and adventitious shoots were originated from homogeneous parenchyma and the development of somatic embryos was visible. Maximum rooting percentage (99.0%) was achieved on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/L NAA. Well-rooted plantlets, which were transplanted into a substrate of pure river sand, displayed a high survival percentage of 91.7% after transplanting for 45 days while the best substrate for plantlet growth was river sand: coral sand (1:1).
Chemical composition and anti-oxidant potential on essential oils of Thymus quinquecostatus Celak. from Loess Plateau in China, regulating Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway in zebrafish
Authors: He Ting , Li Xiao , Wang Xiaoping , Xu Xiao , Yan Xin , Li Xiang , Sun Siqi , Dong Ying , Ren Xueyang , Liu Xiaoyun , Wang Yu , Sui Hong , Xia Qing , She Gaimei
Published: July 2020

Chemical profile and antioxidant potency of essential oils (EOs) of Thymus quinquecostatus Celak. (thyme oils) obtained from Loess Plateau in China had been studied. 130 constituents of thyme oils were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and carvacrol ethyl ether was firstly reported as a new natural product, which has been used as a synthetic flavoring substance with no safety concern. The thyme oils showed the anti-oxidant activity using 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and conferred protection against oxidative stress in zebrafish. In addition, a class of carvacrol analogues was found to develop as potential natural antioxidant products of thyme oils from Loess Plateau by the correlation analysis. YL-thyme oil performed the best antioxidant activity in this research, which could be recommended as preferred sources of thyme oils. Furthermore, YL-thyme oil exhibited a potent antioxidant capacity by reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, enhancing the endogenous antioxidant system, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and activation of Keap1/Nrf2 pathway in zebrafish.
Engagement in video and audio narratives: contrasting self-report and physiological measures
Authors: Richardson Daniel C. , Griffin Nicole K. , Zaki Lara , Stephenson Auburn , Yan Jiachen , Curry Thomas , Noble Richard , Hogan John , Skipper Jeremy I. , Devlin Joseph T.
Published: July 2020

Stories play a fundamental role in human culture. They provide a mechanism for sharing cultural identity, imparting knowledge, revealing beliefs, reinforcing social bonds and providing entertainment that is central to all human societies. Here we investigated the extent to which the delivery medium of a story (audio or visual) affected self-reported and physiologically measured engagement with the narrative. Although participants self-reported greater involvement for watching video relative to listening to auditory scenes, stronger physiological responses were recorded for auditory stories. Sensors placed at their wrists showed higher and more variable heart rates, greater electrodermal activity, and even higher body temperatures. We interpret these findings as evidence that the stories were more cognitively and emotionally engaging at a physiological level when presented in an auditory format. This may be because listening to a story, rather than watching a video, is a more active process of co-creation, and that this imaginative process in the listener’s mind is detectable on the skin at their wrist.
Effects of pterostigma structure on vibrational characteristics during flight of Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: Song Z. L. , Tong J. , Yan Y. W. , Sun J. Y.
Published: July 2020

The hind wings of beetles are deployable and play an essential role in flight. In the Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the pterostigma (pst) is found in the middle of the hind wing instead of at the tip of the hind wing. This paper investigates the effect of the pst on the vibrational characteristics during the flight of H. axyridis. Based on cross sections of the pst and veins as well as the morphology and nanomechanical properties of the hind wing, including the wing membrane and veins, three three-dimensional coupling models, Models I–III, of hind wings with/without pst structures and veins with varying or uniform reduced moduli are established. Modal analysis results for these three models show that the vibrational characteristics and deformation tendencies change the flight performance of the hind wing models with pst structures compared with that of the other models. The results in this paper reveal that the pst structure has an important influence on vibrational characteristics and deformation tendencies and, hence, on flight performance; the relationships between the body mass and the area of the hind wing, which have significant implications for the design of biomimetic deployable wing structures for micro air vehicles (MAVs), are also analyzed.
DA-CapsNet: dual attention mechanism capsule network
Authors: Huang Wenkai , Zhou Fobao
Published: July 2020

A capsule network (CapsNet) is a recently proposed neural network model with a new structure. The purpose of CapsNet is to form activation capsules. In this paper, our team proposes a dual attention mechanism capsule network (DA-CapsNet). In DA-CapsNet, the first layer of the attention mechanism is added after the convolution layer and is referred to as Conv-Attention; the second layer is added after the PrimaryCaps and is referred to as Caps-Attention. The experimental results show that DA-CapsNet performs better than CapsNet. For MNIST, the trained DA-CapsNet is tested in the testset, the accuracy of the DA-CapsNet is 100% after 8 epochs, compared to 25 epochs for CapsNet. For SVHN, CIFAR10, FashionMNIST, smallNORB, and COIL-20, the highest accuracy of DA-CapsNet was 3.46%, 2.52%, 1.57%, 1.33% and 1.16% higher than that of CapsNet. And the results of image reconstruction in COIL-20 show that DA-CapsNet has a more competitive performance than CapsNet.
Imaging switchable magnetoelectric quadrupole domains via nonreciprocal linear dichroism
Authors: Kimura Kenta , Katsuyoshi Tsukasa , Sawada Yuya , Kimura Shojiro , Kimura Tsuyoshi
Published: July 2020

Parity-odd magnetoelectric multipoles such as magnetic quadrupoles and toroidal dipoles contribute to various symmetry-dependent magnetic phenomena and formation of exotic ordered phases. However, the observation of domain structures emerging due to symmetry breaking caused by these multipoles is a severe challenge because of their antiferromagnetic nature without net magnetization. Here, we report the discovery of nonreciprocal linear dichroism for visible light (~4% at 1.8 eV) in a magnetic quadrupole ordered phase of antiferromagnetic Pb(TiO)Cu4(PO4)4, which enables the identification of magnetic quadrupole domains of opposite signs. Symmetry considerations indicate that nonreciprocal linear dichroism is induced by the optical magnetoelectric effect, i.e., the linear magnetoelectric effect for electromagnetic waves. Using the nonreciprocal linear dichroism, we successfully visualize spatial distributions of quadrupole domains and their isothermal electric-field switching by means of a transmission-type polarized light microscope. The present work exemplifies that the optical magnetoelectric effect efficiently visualizes magnetoelectric multipole domains responding to external perturbations.
Enhanced electrical and broad spectral (UV-Vis-NIR) photodetection in a Gr/ReSe2/Gr heterojunction
Authors: Elahi Ehsan , Khan Muhammad Farooq , Rehman Shania , Khalil H. M. Waseem , Rehman Malik Abdul , Kim Deok-kee , Kim Honggyun , Khan Karim , Shahzad Moazzam , Iqbal Muhammad Waqas , Basit Muhammad Abdul , Khan Fasihullah
Published: July 2020

Excellent electrical and photoelectrical study of vertical integration by layered two-dimensional materials having gate tunable broad spectral (UV-Vis-NIR) light detection response.
Nitrogenous carbon dot decorated natural microcline: an ameliorative dual fluorometric probe for Fe3+ and Cr6+ detection
Authors: Bardhan Souravi , Roy Shubham , Chanda Dipak Kr. , Ghosh Saheli , Mondal Dhananjoy , Das Solanky , Das Sukhen
Published: July 2020

This work reports a C-dot loaded natural microcline based selective and sensitive dual fluorescent probe for hazardous Fe3+ and Cr6+ detection in water along with its effects in real-life water samples.
Natural Gas-Oxygen Combustion in a Super-Critical Carbon Dioxide Gas Turbine Combustor
Authors: Komarov Ivan , Kharlamova Daria , Makhmutov Bulat , Shabalova Sofia , Kaplanovich Ilya
Published: July 2020

The paper presents results for chemical kinetics of combustion process in the combustor of oxy-fuel cycle super-critical carbon dioxide gas turbine based on the Allam thermodynamic cycle. The work shows deviation of the normal flame propagation velocity for the case of transition from the traditional natural gas combustion in the N2 diluent environment to the combustion at super-high pressure up to 300 bar in CO2 diluent. The chemical kinetics parametric study involved the Chemkin code with the GRI-Mesh 3.0 kinetic mechanism. This mechanism provides good correspondence between calculation results and test data. The CO2 and N2 diluents temperature, pressure and contents influence the flame propagation velocity and the chemical kinetics parameters in the two gas turbine types. It is demonstrated that the CO2 diluent slows down chemical reactions stronger than the N2 one. The flame propagation velocity in carbon dioxide is four time smaller than in the N2 one. In the oxy-fuel cycle combustor a pressure increase reduces the flame propagation velocity. Increase of the CO2 content from 60 to 79% reduces the flame propagation velocity for 65% at atmospheric pressure and for 94% at super-critical pressure. An increase of the combustor inlet mixture temperature from 300 to 1100 K at super-critical pressure causes the flame propagation velocity increase for 94%. The flame propagation velocities compatible with the traditional gas turbines may be reached at the CO2 diluent content of the O2 + CO2 mixture in the active combustion zone must be below 50%.
Optimize the cost of paying for electricity in the water supply system by using accumulating tanks
Authors: Kapanski Alexei , Hruntovich Nadezhda , Bakhur Siarhei , Markaryants Larisa , Dolomanyak Leonid
Published: July 2020

The article considers the method of optimizing the pumps in the water supply system of the first water rise station in the zones of the day, where there is a different system of payment for electric energy. To assess the regulatory capacity of pumps on a temporary parameter, the authors of the article propose to use existing water tanks in the water supply system, which act as a buffer, smoothing the unevenness of water consumption. The studies have revealed that the comprehensive optimization of pumps on the criterion of minimizing specific electricity consumption by lifting water and optimizing the operation of pumps in the zones of the day allows to significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce the cost of extraction and transportation of water to the consumer. In the article, the authors examine an algorithm that allows us to assess the economic potential of pump regulation in the real-world conditions of the system.
Solution-processed TiO2 as a hole blocking layer in PEDOT:PSS/n-Si heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Karim Md. Enamul , Saiful Islam A.T.M. , Nasuno Yuki , Kuddus Abdul , Ishikawa Ryo , Shirai Hajime
Published: July 2020

The junction properties at the solution-processed titanium dioxide (TiO2)/n-type crystalline Si(n-Si) interface were studied for poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/n-Si heterojunction solar cells by the steady-state photovoltaic performance and transient reverse recovery characterizations. The power conversion efficiency could be increased from 11.23% to 13.08% by adjusting the layer thickness of TiO2 together with increasing open-circuit voltage and suppressed dark saturation current density. These findings originate from the enhancement of the carrier collection efficiency at the n-Si/cathode interface. The transient reverse recovery characterization revealed that the surface recombination velocity S was ∼375 cm/s for double TiO2 interlayer of ∼2 nm thickness. This value was almost the same as that determined by microwave photoconductance decay measurement. These findings suggest that solution-processed TiO2 has potential as a hole blocking layer for the crystalline Si photovoltaics.
CD89/CD35 Expression Ratio in Salivary Neutrophil as an Early Detection Marker for Severe Early Childhood Caries
Authors: Luthfi Muhammad , Oki Aqsa Sjuhada , Indrawati Retno , Rifai Muhaimin , Dachlan Yoes Prijatna , Razak Fathilah Abdul
Published: July 2020

Objectives To analyze CD35/CD89 expression ratio on the surface of neutrophils as an early detection marker for S-ECC.

Materials and Methods Saliva was collected from 4- to 6-year-old kindergarten students. Salivary neutrophils were obtained by instructing the subjects to rinse their mouth with 1 mL of sterile 1.5% NaCl for 30 seconds before expectorating it into a sterile glass. The expression of CFSE+CD35+ and CFSE+CD89+was measured and analyzed using flow cytometry.

Results The expression of CFSE+CD89+ in the caries-free group (2.46 ± 0.39) was significantly lower than that in the S-ECC group (3.41 ± 1.11), with a p-value of 0.0001, while the expression of CFSE+CD35+ in the caries-free group was (2.35 ± 0.56) compared with (1.54 ± 0.35) (p = 0.0001) in the S-ECC group.

Conclusions The expression ratio of CFSE+CD89+ and CFSE+CD35+constitutes a marker for S-ECC.
Mechanistic determinants of effector-independent motor memory encoding
Authors: Kumar Adarsh , Panthi Gaurav , Divakar Rechu , Mutha Pratik K.
Published: July 2020

Significance

Humans are sensitive to errors in their movements and learn from them. Years of work in sensorimotor neuroscience has shown that learning actions with one effector engenders motor memories that comprise effector-independent representations. We probe the mechanisms and neuroanatomical substrates that are causally associated with the encoding of these memory components. Using a combination of behavioral experiments, computational modeling, and brain stimulation in humans, we show that such representations are encoded via a parietal-dependent, implicit mechanism that evolves gradually during learning. By uncovering the computations underlying encoding of effector-independent memories and assigning a causal role to posterior parietal cortex, our results compel an appreciation of the contributions of association cortices to the learning and memory of new motor acts.
Ultrahigh-throughput magnetic sorting of large blood volumes for epitope-agnostic isolation of circulating tumor cells
Authors: Mishra Avanish , Dubash Taronish D. , Edd Jon F. , Jewett Michelle K. , Garre Suhaas G. , Karabacak Nezihi Murat , Rabe Daniel C. , Mutlu Baris R. , Walsh John R. , Kapur Ravi , Stott Shannon L. , Maheswaran Shyamala , Haber Daniel A. , Toner Mehmet
Published: July 2020

Significance

Isolation of sufficient numbers of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in cancer patients could provide an alternative to invasive tumor biopsies, providing multianalyte cell-based biomarkers that are not available from current plasma circulating tumor DNA sequencing. Given the average prevalence at one CTC per billion blood cells, very large blood volumes must be screened to provide enough CTCs for reliable clinical applications. By creating an ultrahigh-throughput magnetic sorter, we demonstrate the efficient removal of leukocytes from near whole blood volume equivalents. Combined with leukapheresis to initially concentrate blood mononuclear cells, this
LP
CTC-iChip platform will enable noninvasive sampling of cancer cells in sufficient numbers for clinical applications, ranging from real-time pharmacokinetic monitoring of drug response to tissue-of-origin determination in early-stage cancer screening.
Desire, liturgy, andthe joint construction of narrativein a teacher preparation program
Authors: Renga Ian Parker
Published: July 2020

Treating narrative as a social practice has enabled examination of the identity work accomplished through interactive story construction within various communities, including teacher preparation programs. Largely unaddressed in this literature is the presence of desire – the sense of longing conveyed through expressed wants, wishes, and hopes – and how it works in and through narrative practice. FollowingJames K. A. Smith (2009), I posit that some stories may be liturgical in their conscripting of tellers and listeners into narratives that shape their identities and direct their desires. To explore this empirically, I examined desire in the joint construction of a professional identity narrative – teacher as lifelong learner – within an urban teacher residency. My analysis suggests that program leaders’ expressed desiresofandforthe novice teachers established the leaders’ authority and worked to conscript novices into the narrative. However, novices were actively negotiating the narrative and the desirability of the professional identity.
Enhancement of pearlite transformation by Warm Rolling in 1.0C-1.5Cr Steel
Authors: Zhao Xiao-Yu , Zhao Xian-Ming , Han Huai-Bin , Dong Chun-Yu , Yang Yang
Published: July 2020

Isothermal and non-isothermal pearlite transformations under 840°C warm-rolled and 950°C hot-rolled were researched. It was found that the pearlite nuclei at grain boundary and defects were increased by warm deformation. The results showed that the incubation time was shortened in the isothermal pearlite transformation and the volume fraction of pearlite was increased in continuous cooling condition by warm deformation. The pearlite transformation behaviour under continuous cooling condition was predicted by the formula of Umemoto. The critical cooling rates of the fully pearlite structures formed under warm deformation condition and hot deformation condition were calculated.
Deciphering and predicting CD4+ T cell immunodominance of influenza virus hemagglutinin
Authors: Cassotta Antonino , Paparoditis Philipp , Geiger Roger , Mettu Ramgopal R. , Landry Samuel J. , Donati Alessia , Benevento Marco , Foglierini Mathilde , Lewis David J.M. , Lanzavecchia Antonio , Sallusto Federica
Published: July 2020

The importance of CD4+ T helper (Th) cells is well appreciated in view of their essential role in the elicitation of antibody and cytotoxic T cell responses. However, the mechanisms that determine the selection of immunodominant epitopes within complex protein antigens remain elusive. Here, we used ex vivo stimulation of memory T cells and screening of naive and memory T cell libraries, combined with T cell cloning and TCR sequencing, to dissect the human naive and memory CD4+ T cell repertoire against the influenza pandemic H1 hemagglutinin (H1-HA). We found that naive CD4+ T cells have a broad repertoire, being able to recognize naturally processed as well as cryptic peptides spanning the whole H1-HA sequence. In contrast, memory Th cells were primarily directed against just a few immunodominant peptides that were readily detected by mass spectrometry–based MHC-II peptidomics and predicted by structural accessibility analysis. Collectively, these findings reveal the presence of a broad repertoire of naive T cells specific for cryptic H1-HA peptides and demonstrate that antigen processing represents a major constraint determining immunodominance.
Comparing Dynamics and Determinants of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Transmissions Among Healthcare Workers of Adult and Pediatric Settings in Central Paris
Authors: Contejean Adrien , Leporrier Jérémie , Canouï Etienne , Alby-Laurent Fanny , Lafont Emmanuel , Beaudeau Lauren , Parize Perrine , Lecieux Fabienne , Greffet Agnès , Chéron Gérard , Gauzit Rémy , Fourgeaud Jacques , L’Honneur Anne-Sophie , Tréluyer Jean-Marc , Charlier Caroline , Casetta Anne , Frange Pierre , Leruez-Ville Marianne , Rozenberg Flore , Lortholary Olivier , Kernéis Solen
Published: July 2020

Background

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have paid a heavy toll during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Routes of transmission remain to be fully understood.

Methods

This prospective study compared a 1500-bed adult and 600-bed pediatric setting of a tertiary-care university hospital located in central Paris. From 24 February until 10 April 2020, all symptomatic HCWs were screened for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on a nasopharyngeal swab. HCWs screened positive were questioned on their profession, symptoms, and occupational and nonoccupational exposures to SARS-CoV-2.

Results

Among 1344 HCWs tested, 373 were positive (28%) and 336 (90%) corresponding questionnaires were completed. Three hospitalizations and no deaths were reported. Most HCWs (70%) had patient-facing occupational activities (22% in COVID-19 dedicated units). The total number of HCW cases peaked on 23 March, then decreased slowly, concomitantly with a continuous increase of compliance to preventive measures (including universal medical masking and personal protective equipment [PPE] for direct care to COVID-19 patients). Attack rates were of 3.2% and 2.3% in the adult and pediatric settings, respectively (P = .0022). In the adult setting, HCWs more frequently reported exposure to COVID-19 patients without PPE (25% vs 15%, P = .046). Report of contacts with children attending out-of-home care facilities dramatically decreased over the study period.

Conclusions

Universal masking, reinforcement of hand hygiene, and PPE with medical masks for patients’ care allowed protection of HCWs and containment of the outbreak. Residual transmissions were related to persistent exposures with undiagnosed patients or colleagues and not to contacts with children attending out-of-home care facilities.
Welfare Chauvinism in the Face of Ethnic Diversity: A Vignette Experiment across Diverse and Homogenous Neighbourhoods on the Perceived Deservingness of Native and Foreign-Born Welfare Claimants
Authors: van der Meer Tom , Reeskens Tim
Published: July 2020

The tenuous relationship between ethnic diversity and welfare solidarity has become a central focus in sociological and political inquiry. Yet, the question whether ethnic composition of the residential environment affects welfare chauvinism (favouring an encompassing welfare state that is preserved for ingroup members) has remained fundamentally unanswered. This article integrates extensive experimental data on welfare solidarity with hypothetical, unemployed persons from domestic and foreign origin among 23,015 native participants (to isolate welfare chauvinism), and detailed registry data (on the residential neighbourhood of these participants) from the Netherlands. This combination of contextual and experimental data allows us to test rivalling theoretical arguments on the relationship between ethnic diversity and welfare chauvinism, namely conflict, contact, and constrict theory. The outcomes of this enriched vignette survey experiment show that ethnic diversity has a specific and sizeable effect on welfare chauvinism under a range of model specifications. Diverse neighbourhoods drive down natives’ support for welfare distribution with migrants but not with natives. Ethnic diversity thereby stimulates the deservingness gap between natives and migrants, i.e., welfare chauvinism. We discuss the implications of these findings for conflict, contact, and constrict theory.
Glucuronyl C5-epimerase is crucial for epithelial cell maturation during embryonic lung development
Authors: Cui Hao , Cheng Xiaowen , Batool Tahira , Zhang Xiao , Li Jin-Ping
Published: July 2020

Glucuronyl C5-epimerase (Hsepi) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate that is a sulfated polysaccharide expressed on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix of alveolar walls and blood vessels. Targeted interruption of the Hsepi gene, Glce, in mice resulted in neonatal lethality, which is most likely due to lung atelectasis. In this study, we examined the potential mechanisms behind the defect in lung development. Histological analysis of the lungs from embryos revealed no difference in the morphology between wild-type and mutant animals up to E16.5. This suggests that the initial events leading to formation of the lung primordium and branching morphogenesis are not disturbed. However, the distal lung of E17.5–18.5 mutants is still populated by epithelial tubules, lacking the typical saccular structural characteristic of a normal E17.5 lung. Immunostaining revealed strong signals of surfactant protein-C, but a weaker signal of T1α in the mutant lungs in comparison to WT littermates, suggesting differentiation of type I alveolar epithelial cells (AT1) is impaired. One of the parameters contributed to the failure of AT1 maturation is reduced vascularization in the developing lungs.
Intercostal nerve cryoablation versus thoracic epidural for postoperative analgesia following pectus excavatum repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Daemen Jean H T , de Loos Erik R , Vissers Yvonne L J , Bakens Maikel J A M , Maessen Jos G , Hulsewé Karel W E
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVES

Minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair via the Nuss procedure is associated with significant postoperative pain that is considered as the dominant factor affecting the duration of hospitalization. Postoperative pain after the Nuss procedures is commonly controlled by thoracic epidural analgesia. Recently, intercostal nerve cryoablation has been proposed as an alternative method with long-acting pain control and shortened hospitalization. The subsequent objective was to systematically review the outcomes of intercostal nerve cryoablation in comparison to thoracic epidural after the Nuss procedure.

METHODS

Six scientific databases were searched. Data concerning the length of hospital stay, operative time and postoperative opioid usage were extracted. If possible, data were submitted to meta-analysis using the mean of differences, random-effects model with inverse variance method and I2 test for heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Four observational and 1 randomized study were included, enrolling a total of 196 patients. Meta-analyses demonstrated a significantly shortened length of hospital stay [mean difference −2.91 days; 95% confidence interval (CI) −3.68 to −2.15; P < 0.001] and increased operative time (mean difference 40.91 min; 95% CI 14.42–67.40; P < 0.001) for cryoablation. Both analyses demonstrated significant heterogeneity (both I2 = 91%; P < 0.001). Qualitative analysis demonstrated the amount of postoperative opioid usage to be significantly lower for cryoablation in 3 out of 4 reporting studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Intercostal nerve cryoablation during the Nuss procedure may be an attractive alternative to thoracic epidural analgesia, resulting in shortened hospitalization. However, given the low quality and heterogeneity of studies, more randomized controlled trials are needed.
Assessment of Th1/Th2 cytokines among patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection
Authors: Alhetheel Abdulkarim , Albarrag Ahmed , Shakoor Zahid , Somily Ali , Barry Mazin , Altalhi Hifa , Bakhrebah Muhammed , Nassar Majed , Alfageeh Mohamed B , Assiri Ayed , Alfaraj Sarah H , Memish Ziad A
Published: July 2020

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a member of the beta-coronavirus genus of zoonotic origin that emerged in the Arabian Peninsula and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to assess the plasma levels of cytokines to evaluate the Th1/Th2 status among 46 MERS-CoV-infected patients (19 asymptomatic and 27 symptomatic) and 52 normal healthy controls using a customized luminex kit. Comparative analysis of data between MERS-CoV-infected patients and normal healthy controls revealed that although no difference was observed between asymptomatic MERS-CoV patients and controls, the mean plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-10 (44.69 ± 40.04 pg ml−1 versus 14.84 ± 6.96 pg ml−1; P < 0.0001), IL-4 (22.46 ± 8.02 pg ml−1 versus 16.01 ± 9.97 pg ml−1; P < 0.0001), IL-5 (10.78 ± 2.86 pg ml−1 versus 8.06 ± 1.41 pg ml−1; P < 0.0001) and IL-13 (14.51 ± 3.97 pg ml−1 versus 11.53 ± 4.16 pg ml−1; P < 0.003) in MERS-CoV symptomatic patients were significantly higher than the normal controls. The mean plasma levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-12 were no different among the study groups. The cytokine profile among symptomatic MERS-CoV-infected patients was skewed to a Th2 type immune response.
Emergence of ciprofloxacin heteroresistance in foodborne Salmonella enterica serovar Agona
Authors: Zhang Chuan-Zhen , Zhang Yan , Ding Xiao-Min , Lin Xiao-Ling , Lian Xin-Lei , Trampari Eleftheria , Thomson Nicholas M , Ding Huan-Zhong , Webber Mark A , Jiang Hong-Xia
Published: July 2020

Background

Bacterial heteroresistance has been increasingly identified as an important phenomenon for many antibiotic/bacterium combinations.

Objectives

To investigate ciprofloxacin heteroresistance in Salmonella and characterize mechanisms contributing to ciprofloxacin heteroresistance.

Methods

Ciprofloxacin-heteroresistant Salmonella were identified by population analysis profiling (PAP). Target mutations and the presence of PMQR genes were detected using PCR and sequencing. Expression of acrB, acrF and qnrS was conducted by quantitative RT–PCR. Competition ability and virulence were also compared using pyrosequencing, blue/white screening, adhesion and invasion assays and a Galleria model. Two subpopulations were whole-genome sequenced using Oxford Nanopore and Illumina platforms.

Results

PAP identified one Salmonella from food that yielded a subpopulation demonstrating heteroresistance to ciprofloxacin at a low frequency (10−9 to 10−7). WGS and PFGE analyses confirmed that the two subpopulations were isogenic, with six SNPs and two small deletions distinguishing the resistant from the susceptible. Both subpopulations possessed a T57S substitution in ParC and carried qnrS. The resistant subpopulation was distinguished by overexpression of acrB and acrF, a deletion within rsxC and altered expression of soxS. The resistant population had a competitive advantage against the parental population when grown in the presence of bile salts but was attenuated in the adhesion and invasion of human intestinal cells.

Conclusions

We determined that heteroresistance resulted from a combination of mutations in fluoroquinolone target genes and overexpression of efflux pumps associated with a deletion in rsxC. This study warns that ciprofloxacin heteroresistance exists in Salmonella in the food chain and highlights the necessity for careful interpretation of antibiotic susceptibility.
Antibiotic use in patients with COVID-19: a ‘snapshot’ Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI) survey
Authors: Beović Bojana , Doušak May , Ferreira-Coimbra João , Nadrah Kristina , Rubulotta Francesca , Belliato Mirko , Berger-Estilita Joana , Ayoade Folusakin , Rello Jordi , Erdem Hakan
Published: July 2020

Background

Antibiotics may be indicated in patients with COVID-19 due to suspected or confirmed bacterial superinfection.

Objectives

To investigate antibiotic prescribing practices in patients with COVID-19.

Methods

We performed an international web-based survey and investigated the pattern of antibiotic use as reported by physicians involved in treatment of COVID-19. SPSS Statistics version 25 was used for data analysis.

Results

The survey was completed by 166 participants from 23 countries and 82 different hospitals. Local guidelines for antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients were reported by 61.8% (n = 102) of participants and for 82.9% (n = 136) they did not differ from local community-acquired pneumonia guidelines. Clinical presentation was recognized as the most important reason for the start of antibiotics (mean score = 4.07 and SD = 1.095 on grading scale from 1 to 5). When antibiotics were started, most respondents rated as the highest the need for coverage of atypical pathogens (mean score = 2.8 and SD = 0.99), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (mean score = 2.67 and SD = 1.05 on bi-modal scale, with values 1 and 2 for disagreement and values 3 and 4 for agreement). In the patients on the ward, 29.1% of respondents chose not to prescribe any antibiotic. Combination of β-lactams and macrolides or fluoroquinolones was reported by 52.4% (n = 87) of respondents. In patients in the ICU, piperacillin/tazobactam was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic. The mean reported duration of antibiotic treatment was 7.12 (SD = 2.44) days.

Conclusions

The study revealed widespread broad-spectrum antibiotic use in patients with COVID-19. Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship principles is warranted to mitigate the negative consequences of antibiotic therapy.
The impact of sofosbuvir/daclatasvir or ribavirin in patients with severe COVID-19
Authors: Eslami Gholamali , Mousaviasl Sajedeh , Radmanesh Esmat , Jelvay Saeed , Bitaraf Saeid , Simmons Bryony , Wentzel Hannah , Hill Andrew , Sadeghi Anahita , Freeman James , Salmanzadeh Shokrollah , Esmaeilian Hani , Mobarak Morteza , Tabibi Ramin , Jafari Kashi Amir Hosein , Lotfi Zahra , Talebzadeh Seyed Mehdi , Wickramatillake Aseni , Momtazan Mahboobeh , Hajizadeh Farsani Majid , Marjani Sedigheh , Mobarak Sara
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir are direct-acting antivirals highly effective against hepatitis C virus. There is some in silico and in vitro evidence that suggests these agents may also be effective against SARS-CoV-2. This trial evaluated the effectiveness of sofosbuvir in combination with daclatasvir in treating patients with COVID-19.

Methods

Patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 on RT–PCR or bilateral multi-lobar ground-glass opacity on their chest CT and signs of severe COVID-19 were included. Subjects were divided into two arms with one arm receiving ribavirin and the other receiving sofosbuvir/daclatasvir. All participants also received the recommended national standard treatment which, at that time, was lopinavir/ritonavir and single-dose hydroxychloroquine. The primary endpoint was time from starting the medication until discharge from hospital with secondary endpoints of duration of ICU stay and mortality.

Results

Sixty-two subjects met the inclusion criteria, with 35 enrolled in the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir arm and 27 in the ribavirin arm. The median duration of stay was 5 days for the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir group and 9 days for the ribavirin group. The mortality in the sofosbuvir/daclatasvir group was 2/35 (6%) and 9/27 (33%) for the ribavirin group. The relative risk of death for patients treated with sofosbuvir/daclatasvir was 0.17 (95% CI 0.04–0.73, P = 0.02) and the number needed to treat for benefit was 3.6 (95% CI 2.1–12.1, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Given these encouraging initial results, and the current lack of treatments proven to decrease mortality in COVID-19, further investigation in larger-scale trials seems warranted.
Demand for Interpretation of a Urine Drug Testing Panel Reflects the Changing Landscape of Clinical Needs; Opportunities for the Laboratory to Provide Added Clinical Value
Authors: Yang Yifei K , Johnson-Davis Kamisha L , Kelly Brian N , McMillin Gwendolyn A
Published: July 2020

Background

The direct detection of drugs and metabolites in urine using a targeted panel offers sensitive and specific detection in comparison to the traditional approach to urine drug testing (screen with reflex of samples with positive results to confirmation testing). The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in clinical demand for the laboratory to provide interpretation of patient adherence and abstinence, based on reconciling laboratory results and individual patient medication information provided by the clinician. The shifts in toxicology testing likely reflect the inherent complexity of the data and associated interpretation.

Methods

Retrospective testing results associated with a targeted urine drug panel and its related interpretation were collected from our laboratory. We examined the associated testing volume and positivity rates of each reported analyte over 5 consecutive years (2015–2019). Requests from clinicians for consultation regarding this test and use of interpretive comments for the most recent year (2019), as well as access to publicly available educational resources over two years (2018–2019) were collected.

Results

The changes in test ordering patterns demonstrate shifting of clinical demands for toxicology testing, by increased adoption of a targeted panel for which laboratory-based interpretation is provided. Positivity rates reflect national shifts in controlled substance prescriptions. Several consultative services were accessed by clinicians suggesting interest and need.

Conclusion

The value of clinical urine drug testing is improved by providing laboratory-based result interpretation and consultative services.
The risk of medically uncontrolled secondary hyperparathyroidism depends on parathyroid hormone levels at haemodialysis initiation
Authors: Tabibzadeh Nahid , Karaboyas Angelo , Robinson Bruce M , Csomor Philipp A , Spiegel David M , Evenepoel Pieter , Jacobson Stefan H , Ureña-Torres Pablo-Antonio , Fukagawa Masafumi , Al Salmi Issa , Liang Xinling , Pisoni Ronald L , Young Eric W
Published: July 2020

Background

Optimal parathyroid hormone (PTH) control during non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD) might decrease the subsequent risk of parathyroid hyperplasia and uncontrolled secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) on dialysis. However, the evidence for recommending PTH targets and therapeutic strategies is weak for ND-CKD. We evaluated the patient characteristics, treatment patterns and PTH control over the first year of haemodialysis (HD) by PTH prior to HD initiation.

Methods

We studied 5683 incident HD patients from 21 countries in Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study Phases 4–6 (2009–18). We stratified by PTH measured immediately prior to HD initiation and reported the monthly prescription prevalence of active vitamin D and calcimimetics over the first year of HD and risk of PTH >600 pg/mL after 9–12 months on HD.

Results

The 16% of patients with PTH >600 pg/mL prior to HD initiation were more likely to be prescribed active vitamin D and calcimimetics during the first year of HD. The prevalence of PTH >600 pg/mL 9–12 months after start of HD was greater for patients who initiated HD with PTH >600 (29%) versus 150–300 (7%) pg/mL (adjusted risk difference: 19%; 95% confidence interval : 15%, 23%). The patients with sustained PTH >600 pg/mL after 9–12 months on HD were younger, more likely to be black, and had higher serum phosphorus and estimated glomerular filtration rates at HD initiation.

Conclusions

Increased PTH before HD start predicted a higher PTH level 9–12 months later, despite greater use of active vitamin D and calcimimetics. More targeted PTH control during ND-CKD may influence outcomes during HD, raising the need for PTH target guidelines in these patients.
Party Organizations in Turkey and Their Consequences for Democracy
Authors: Laebens Melis G.
Published: July 2020

This chapter first describes the main features of contemporary party organizations in Turkey, focusing on five salient topics: a) leaders’ control over parties, b) political patronage and clientelism, c) the organization of mass participation, d) profiles of political elites, and e) party financing. The discussion highlights variation across parties due to different ideologies and organizational legacies. Two questions that motivate many studies of Turkey’s parties are then discussed in greater depth: Why are party leaders so dominant in party organizations? What are the consequences for democracy of leaders’ extensive control over the organizations? The chapter highlights the role of the 1980 military intervention in aggravating leadership domination in centrist parties, and argues that leadership domination contributed to the party system crisis of the late 1990s, as well as to the recent breakdown of democracy. Currently, the authoritarian and presidential institutional framework creates a new environment for political parties and may cause historically unprecedented transformations in party organizations, both positive and negative.
Perspectives and Approaches in AI Ethics
Authors: Gal Danit
Published: July 2020

This chapter focuses on Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean perspectives on and approaches to AI and robots, which can be tools and partners in the AI ethics debate. Each country, in its own way, debates its movement across the tool-partner spectrum. To date, South Korean policy makes a stand against partner AI and robots, while popular culture explores the idea. Chinese policy is headed in the direction of a tool-oriented AI and robotics ethical guidelines, while local practices and culture experiment with the idea of physical and spiritual partnership. Meanwhile, Japan’s social principles are also moving in the tool direction, but its society actively seeks and creates partner-like AI and robots. The chapter then considers two cross-cutting AI and robotics-related ethical issues: the Anthropomorphized Tools Paradox and female objectification. These issues underscore the question of “antisocial” technology. It is clear that both the Anthropomorphized Tools Paradox and female objectification in technology fall under “antisocial” development.
Beyond Bias
Authors: Barabas Chelsea
Published: July 2020

This chapter discusses contemporary debates regarding the use of artificial intelligence as a vehicle for criminal justice reform. It closely examines two general approaches to what has been widely branded as “algorithmic fairness” in criminal law: the development of formal fairness criteria and accuracy measures that illustrate the trade-offs of different algorithmic interventions; and the development of “best practices” and managerialist standards for maintaining a baseline of accuracy, transparency, and validity in these systems. Attempts to render AI-branded tools more accurate by addressing narrow notions of bias miss the deeper methodological and epistemological issues regarding the fairness of these tools. The key question is whether predictive tools reflect and reinforce punitive practices that drive disparate outcomes, and how data regimes interact with the penal ideology to naturalize these practices. The chapter then calls for a radically different understanding of the role and function of the carceral state, as a starting place for re-imagining the role of “AI” as a transformative force in the criminal legal system.