bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carving beams of light
Authors: Zamboni-Rached Michel
Published: February 2021

Some years after the appearance of the so-called non-diffracting beams, there was the development of methods capable of structuring them spatially, with the so-called frozen wave method being the first and, perhaps, the most efficient one. That method allows for modelling the longitudinal intensity pattern of non-diffracting beams, but it is little efficient in controlling their transverse spatial pattern, granting only the possibility of choosing their transverse dimensions, which remain invariant throughout the propagation. In this work, we have extended the frozen wave method in such a way, to control the transverse beam structure along the propagation, in addition to the longitudinal pattern. The new transversally and longitudinally structured beams can have potential applications in areas such as photonics, optical manipulation, optical atom guidance, and lithography.
Simultaneous refractive index and temperature sensing based on a fiber surface waveguide and fiber Bragg gratings
Authors: Chen Qi , Wang D. N. , Gao Feng
Published: February 2021

An optical fiber sensor based on a fiber surface waveguide and Bragg grating is proposed for a simultaneous refractive index (RI) and temperature sensing. The device consists of two fiber Bragg gratings fabricated by a femtosecond laser, one of which is situated in the fiber core for temperature sensing; the other is located in the fiber surface waveguide for both temperature and RI measurements. The RI and temperature sensitivities achieved are 10.3 nm/RIU and 9.94 pm/°C, respectively. The device is featured with a compact structure, high robustness, and convenient operation.
Signatures of a frequency-modulated comb in a VECSEL
Authors: Kriso Christian , Barua Avijit , Mohiuddin Obaid , Möller Christoph , Ruiz-Perez Antje , Stolz Wolfgang , Koch Martin , Rahimi-Iman Arash
Published: February 2021

Optical frequency combs based on mode-locked lasers have revolutionized many areas of science and technology, such as precision metrology, optical frequency synthesis, and telecommunications. In recent years, a particular kind of frequency comb has been observed in edge-emitting semiconductor lasers where the phase difference between longitudinal laser modes is fixed but not zero. This results in a linearly chirped output in the time domain with nearly constant intensity. Here, by using coherent beatnote spectroscopy, we show that such a comb regime can also exist in vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers, as evidenced for a specific part of the laser spectrum. Our findings may not only lead to a better understanding of the physics of frequency-modulated combs but also enable comb applications with high optical power per comb line and flexible emission wavelengths.
Low-energy-threshold deep-ultraviolet generation in a small-mode-area hollow-core fiber
Authors: Xiong Daiqi , Luo Jiaqi , Hassan Muhammad Rosdi Abu , Wu Xu , Chang Wonkeun
Published: February 2021

We demonstrate the generation of wavelength-tunable deep-ultraviolet pulses in a small-mode-area hollow-core fiber fabricated by tapering a nodeless tubular-type hollow-core fiber. Down-scaling of the cross-sectional geometry reduces the pump energy requirement for inducing sufficient nonlinear effects, presenting a unique opportunity for staging low-energy-threshold gas-based nonlinear optics. We report the onset of the ultraviolet light with the pump pulse energy as low as 125 nJ. Our numerical analysis shows that the frequency conversion arises due to soliton phase matching, and therefore shot-to-shot coherence of the ultraviolet emission is well-preserved. It offers a promising platform for a compact ultraviolet frequency comb source.
A model of developmental canalization, applied to human cranial form
Authors: Mitteroecker Philipp , Stansfield Ekaterina
Published: February 2021

Developmental mechanisms that canalize or compensate perturbations of organismal development (targeted or compensatory growth) are widely considered a prerequisite of individual health and the evolution of complex life, but little is known about the nature of these mechanisms. It is even unclear if and how a “target trajectory” of individual development is encoded in the organism’s genetic-developmental system or, instead, emerges as an epiphenomenon. Here we develop a statistical model of developmental canalization based on an extended autoregressive model. We show that under certain assumptions the strength of canalization and the amount of canalized variance in a population can be estimated, or at least approximated, from longitudinal phenotypic measurements, even if the target trajectories are unobserved. We extend this model to multivariate measures and discuss reifications of the ensuing parameter matrix. We apply these approaches to longitudinal geometric morphometric data on human postnatal craniofacial size and shape as well as to the size of the frontal sinuses. Craniofacial size showed strong developmental canalization during the first 5 years of life, leading to a 50% reduction of cross-sectional size variance, followed by a continual increase in variance during puberty. Frontal sinus size, by contrast, did not show any signs of canalization. Total variance of craniofacial shape decreased slightly until about 5 years of age and increased thereafter. However, different features of craniofacial shape showed very different developmental dynamics. Whereas the relative dimensions of the nasopharynx showed strong canalization and a reduction of variance throughout postnatal development, facial orientation continually increased in variance. Some of the signals of canalization may owe to independent variation in developmental timing of cranial components, but our results indicate evolved, partly mechanically induced mechanisms of canalization that ensure properly sized upper airways and facial dimensions.
Estimating the extrinsic incubation period of malaria using a mechanistic model of sporogony
Authors: Stopard Isaac J. , Churcher Thomas S. , Lambert Ben
Published: February 2021

During sporogony, malaria-causing parasites infect a mosquito, reproduce and migrate to the mosquito salivary glands where they can be transmitted the next time blood feeding occurs. The time required for sporogony, known as the extrinsic incubation period (EIP), is an important determinant of malaria transmission intensity. The EIP is typically estimated as the time for a given percentile, x, of infected mosquitoes to develop salivary gland sporozoites (the infectious parasite life stage), which is denoted by EIPx. Many mechanisms, however, affect the observed sporozoite prevalence including the human-to-mosquito transmission probability and possibly differences in mosquito mortality according to infection status. To account for these various mechanisms, we present a mechanistic mathematical model, which explicitly models key processes at the parasite, mosquito and observational scales. Fitting this model to experimental data, we find greater variation in the EIP than previously thought: we estimated the range between EIP10 and EIP90 (at 27°C) as 4.5 days compared to 0.9 days using existing statistical methods. This pattern holds over the range of study temperatures included in the dataset. Increasing temperature from 21°C to 34°C decreased the EIP50 from 16.1 to 8.8 days. Our work highlights the importance of mechanistic modelling of sporogony to (1) improve estimates of malaria transmission under different environmental conditions or disease control programs and (2) evaluate novel interventions that target the mosquito life stages of the parasite.
On the importance of evolving phenotype distributions on evolutionary diversification
Authors: Henriques Gil Jorge Barros , Ito Koichi , Hauert Christoph , Doebeli Michael
Published: February 2021

Evolutionary branching occurs when a population with a unimodal phenotype distribution diversifies into a multimodally distributed population consisting of two or more strains. Branching results from frequency-dependent selection, which is caused by interactions between individuals. For example, a population performing a social task may diversify into a cooperator strain and a defector strain. Branching can also occur in multi-dimensional phenotype spaces, such as when two tasks are performed simultaneously. In such cases, the strains may diverge in different directions: possible outcomes include division of labor (with each population performing one of the tasks) or the diversification into a strain that performs both tasks and another that performs neither. Here we show that the shape of the population’s phenotypic distribution plays a role in determining the direction of branching. Furthermore, we show that the shape of the distribution is, in turn, contingent on the direction of approach to the evolutionary branching point. This results in a distribution–selection feedback that is not captured in analytical models of evolutionary branching, which assume monomorphic populations. Finally, we show that this feedback can influence long-term evolutionary dynamics and promote the evolution of division of labor.
Genomic rearrangements generate hypervariable mini-chromosomes in host-specific isolates of the blast fungus
Authors: Langner Thorsten , Harant Adeline , Gomez-Luciano Luis B. , Shrestha Ram K. , Malmgren Angus , Latorre Sergio M. , Burbano Hernán A. , Win Joe , Kamoun Sophien
Published: February 2021

Supernumerary mini-chromosomes–a unique type of genomic structural variation–have been implicated in the emergence of virulence traits in plant pathogenic fungi. However, the mechanisms that facilitate the emergence and maintenance of mini-chromosomes across fungi remain poorly understood. In the blast fungusMagnaporthe oryzae(Syn.Pyricularia oryzae), mini-chromosomes have been first described in the early 1990s but, until very recently, have been overlooked in genomic studies. Here we investigated structural variation in four isolates of the blast fungusM.oryzaefrom different grass hosts and analyzed the sequences of mini-chromosomes in the rice, foxtail millet and goosegrass isolates. The mini-chromosomes of these isolates turned out to be highly diverse with distinct sequence composition. They are enriched in repetitive elements and have lower gene density than core-chromosomes. We identified several virulence-related genes in the mini-chromosome of the rice isolate, including the virulence-related polyketide synthaseAce1and two variants of the effector geneAVR-Pik. Macrosynteny analyses around these loci revealed structural rearrangements, including inter-chromosomal translocations between core- and mini-chromosomes. Our findings provide evidence that mini-chromosomes emerge from structural rearrangements and segmental duplication of core-chromosomes and might contribute to adaptive evolution of the blast fungus.
An open label, block randomized, community study of the safety and efficacy of co-administered ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine plus albendazole vs. diethylcarbamazine plus albendazole for lymphatic filariasis in India
Authors: Jambulingam Purushothaman , Kuttiatt Vijesh Sreedhar , Krishnamoorthy Kaliannagounder , Subramanian Swaminathan , Srividya Adinarayanan , Raju Hari Kishan K. , Rahi Manju , Somani Roopali K. , Suryaprakash Mallanna K. , Dwivedi Gangeshwar P. , Weil Gary J.
Published: February 2021

Background

Better drug regimens for mass drug administration (MDA) could accelerate the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF). This community study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of MDA with IDA (ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) or DA (diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) in India.

Methodology/Principal findings

This two-armed, open-labelled, block randomised, community study was conducted in LF endemic villages in Yadgir district, Karnataka, India. Consenting participants ≥5 years of age were tested for circulating filarial antigenemia (CFA) and microfilaremia (Mf) before treatment with a single oral dose of IDA or DA. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored actively for two days and passively for five more days. Persons with positive CFA or Mf tests at baseline were retested 12-months post-treatment to assess treatment efficacy.

Baseline CFA and Mf-rates were 26.4% and 6.9% in IDA and 24.5% and 6.4% in DA villages respectively. 4758 and 4160 participants received IDA and DA. Most AEs were mild after both treatments; fewer than 0.1% of participants experienced AEs with severity > grade 1. No serious AEs were observed. Fever, headache and dizziness were the most common AEs. AE rates were slightly higher after IDA than DA (8.3% vs. 6.4%, P<0.01). AEs were more frequent in females and Mf-positives after either treatment, but significantly more frequent after IDA (40.5% vs 20.2%, P < 0.001).

IDA was more effective for clearing Mf than DA (84% vs. 61.8%, P < 0.001). Geometric mean Mf counts per 60μl in retested Mf-positives decreased by 96.4% from 11.8 after IDA and by 90.0% from 9.5 after DA. Neither treatment was effective for clearing CFA.

Conclusions/Significance

IDA had an acceptable safety profile and was more effective for clearing Mf than DA. With adequate compliance and medical support to manage AEs, IDA has the potential to accelerate LF elimination in India.

Trial registration

Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI No/2016/10/007399)
Examining the Ugandan health system’s readiness to deliver rheumatic heart disease-related services
Authors: Ndagire Emma , Kawakatsu Yoshito , Nalubwama Hadija , Atala Jenifer , Sarnacki Rachel , Pulle Jafesi , Kyarimpa Rakeli , Mwima Rachel , Kansiime Rosemary , Okello Emmy , Lwabi Peter , Beaton Andrea , Sable Craig , Watkins David
Published: February 2021

Background

In 2018, the World Health Assembly mandated Member States to take action on rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which persists in countries with weak health systems. We conducted an assessment of the current state of RHD-related healthcare in Uganda.

Methodology/Principal findings

This was a mixed-methods, deductive simultaneous design study conducted in four districts of Uganda. Using census sampling, we surveyed health facilities in each district using an RHD survey instrument that was modeled after the WHO SARA tool. We interviewed health workers with experience managing RHD, purposively sampling to ensure a range of qualification and geographic variation. Our final sample included 402 facilities and 36 health workers. We found major gaps in knowledge of clinical guidelines and availability of diagnostic tests. Antibiotics used in RHD prevention were widely available, but cardiovascular medications were scarce. Higher levels of service readiness were found among facilities in the western region (Mbarara district) and private facilities. Level III health centers were the most prepared for delivering secondary prevention. Health worker interviews revealed that limited awareness of RHD at the district level, lack of diagnostic tests and case management registries, and absence of clearly articulated RHD policies and budget prioritization were the main barriers to providing RHD-related healthcare.

Conclusions/Significance

Uganda’s readiness to implement the World Health Assembly RHD Resolution is low. The forthcoming national RHD strategy must focus on decentralizing RHD diagnosis and prevention to the district level, emphasizing specialized training of the primary healthcare workforce and strengthening supply chains of diagnostics and essential medicines.
Trust and transparency in times of crisis: Results from an online survey during the first wave (April 2020) of the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK
Authors: Enria Luisa , Waterlow Naomi , Rogers Nina Trivedy , Brindle Hannah , Lal Sham , Eggo Rosalind M. , Lees Shelley , Roberts Chrissy h.
Published: February 2021

Background

The success of a government’s COVID-19 control strategy relies on public trust and broad acceptance of response measures. We investigated public perceptions of the UK government’s COVID-19 response, focusing on the relationship between trust and perceived transparency, during the first wave (April 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

Methods

Anonymous survey data were collected (2020-04-06 to 2020-04-22) from 9,322 respondents, aged 20+ using an online questionnaire shared primarily through Facebook. We took an embedded-mixed-methods approach to data analysis. Missing data were imputed via multiple imputation. Binomial & multinomial logistic regression were used to detect associations between demographic characteristics and perceptions or opinions of the UK government’s response to COVID-19. Structural topic modelling (STM), qualitative thematic coding of sub-sets of responses were then used to perform a thematic analysis of topics that were of interest to key demographic groups.

Results

Most respondents (95.1%) supported government enforcement of behaviour change. While 52.1% of respondents thought the government was making good decisions, differences were apparent across demographic groups, for example respondents from Scotland had lower odds of responding positively than respondents in London. Higher educational levels saw decreasing odds of having a positive opinion of the government response and decreasing household income associated with decreasing positive opinion. Of respondents who thought the government was not making good decisions 60% believed the economy was being prioritised over people and their health. Positive views on government decision-making were associated with positive views on government transparency about the COVID-19 response. Qualitative analysis about perceptions of government transparency highlighted five key themes: (1) the justification of opacity due to the condition of crisis, (2) generalised mistrust of politics, (3) concerns about the role of scientific evidence, (4) quality of government communication and (5) questions about political decision-making processes.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that trust is not homogenous across communities, and that generalised mistrust, concerns about the transparent use and communication of evidence and insights into decision-making processes can affect perceptions of the government’s pandemic response. We recommend targeted community engagement, tailored to the experiences of different groups and a new focus on accountability and openness around how decisions are made in the response to the UK COVID-19 pandemic.
Evolutionary history of Carnivora (Mammalia, Laurasiatheria) inferred from mitochondrial genomes
Authors: Hassanin Alexandre , Veron Géraldine , Ropiquet Anne , Jansen van Vuuren Bettine , Lécu Alexis , Goodman Steven M. , Haider Jibran , Nguyen Trung Thanh
Published: February 2021

The order Carnivora, which currently includes 296 species classified into 16 families, is distributed across all continents. The phylogeny and the timing of diversification of members of the order are still a matter of debate. Here, complete mitochondrial genomes were analysed to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships and to estimate divergence times among species of Carnivora. We assembled 51 new mitogenomes from 13 families, and aligned them with available mitogenomes by selecting only those showing more than 1% of nucleotide divergence and excluding those suspected to be of low-quality or from misidentified taxa. Our final alignment included 220 taxa representing 2,442 mitogenomes. Our analyses led to a robust resolution of suprafamilial and intrafamilial relationships. We identified 21 fossil calibration points to estimate a molecular timescale for carnivorans. According to our divergence time estimates, crown carnivorans appeared during or just after the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum; all major groups of Caniformia (Cynoidea/Arctoidea; Ursidae; Musteloidea/Pinnipedia) diverged from each other during the Eocene, while all major groups of Feliformia (Nandiniidae; Feloidea; Viverroidea) diversified more recently during the Oligocene, with a basal divergence ofNandiniaat the Eocene/Oligocene transition; intrafamilial divergences occurred during the Miocene, except for the Procyonidae, asPotosseparated from other genera during the Oligocene.
Confocal imaging capacity on a widefield microscope using a spatial light modulator
Authors: Wang Yao L. , Grooms Noa W. F. , Civale Sabrina C. , Chung Samuel H.
Published: February 2021

Confocal microscopes can reject out-of-focus and scattered light; however, widefield microscopes are far more common in biological laboratories due to their accessibility and lower cost. We report confocal imaging capacity on a widefield microscope by adding a spatial light modulator (SLM) and utilizing custom illumination and acquisition methods. We discuss our illumination strategy and compare several procedures for postprocessing the acquired image data. We assessed the performance of this system for rejecting out-of-focus light by comparing images taken at 1.4 NA using our widefield microscope, our SLM-enhanced setup, and a commercial confocal microscope. The optical sectioning capability, assessed on thin fluorescent film, was 0.85 ± 0.04 μm for our SLM-enhanced setup and 0.68 ± 0.04 μm for a confocal microscope, while a widefield microscope exhibited no sectioning capability. We demonstrate our setup by imaging the same set of neurons in C. elegans on widefield, SLM, and confocal microscopes. SLM enhancement greatly reduces background from the cell body, allowing visualization of dim fibers nearby. Our SLM-enhanced setup identified 96% of the dim neuronal fibers seen in confocal images while a widefield microscope only identified 50% of the same fibers. Our microscope add-on represents a very simple (2-component) and inexpensive (<$600) approach to enable widefield microscopes to optically section thick samples.
Poor diet quality is associated with self-reported knee pain in community-dwelling women aged 50 years and older
Authors: Shin Woo-young , Kim Jung-ha
Published: February 2021

In the current study, we aimed to examine the association between knee pain and diet quality in women aged ≥ 50 years using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This was a population-based, cross-sectional study. Diet quality was assessed using the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I), and knee pain and osteoarthritis were self-reported. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to adjust for age, body mass index, household income, marital status, education, occupation, smoking status, hazardous alcohol use, regular physical activity, menopause, and chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, osteoarthritis, and depression. A total of 3,881 women were included in this study, and the prevalence of knee pain was 25.4%. The intakes of total energy, protein, and fat were lower in women with knee pain than in those without (all P < 0.01), while the carbohydrate intake was higher (P = 0.01). No significant differences were noted in the scores for variety, overall balance, and moderation components, except for the item of total fat intake, between the DQI-I scores for women with and without knee pain, after adjusting for age. Women without knee pain showed higher scores in several items of the adequacy component (P < 0.05) than did women with knee pain. The total DQI-I scores were lower in women with knee pain than in women without knee pain, after adjusting for covariates, including osteoarthritis (OR = 0.985, 95% CI = 0.973–0.997, P = 0.01). Knee pain independent of osteoarthritis was associated with poor diet quality in community-dwelling women aged ≥ 50 years.
Beta-blocker and survival in patients with lung cancer: A meta-analysis
Authors: Lei Zhen , Yang Weiyi , Zuo Ying
Published: February 2021

Background

Beta-blocker (BB) is suggested to have anticancer efficacy. However, the potential influence of BB use on overall survival (OS) in patients with lung cancer remains undetermined. We aimed to evaluate the above relationship in an updated meta-analysis.

Methods

Observational studies comparing OS between users and non-users of BB with lung cancer were identified by search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane’s Library. A random-effect model was used to pool the results.

Results

Ten retrospective cohort studies with 30870 patients were included. Overall, BB use was not associated with significantly improved OS in lung cancer (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.98 to 1.06, p = 0.33) with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 29%). Stratified analyses showed similar results in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, in studies with BB use before and after the diagnosis of lung cancer, and in studies with or without adjustment of smoking. Use of BB was associated with improved OS in patients with stage III lung cancer (HR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85 to 0.98, p = 0.02) and in patients that did not receive surgery resection (HR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.64 to 0.96, p = 0.02), while use of non-selective BB was associated with worse OS (HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.28, p = 0.03).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis of retrospective cohort studies does not support a significant association between BB use and improved OS in lung cancer.
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 administered as a dextranomar microsphere biofilm enhances immune responses against human rotavirus in a neonatal malnourished pig model colonized with human infant fecal microbiota
Authors: Michael Husheem , Paim Francine C. , Miyazaki Ayako , Langel Stephanie N. , Fischer David D. , Chepngeno Juliet , Goodman Steven D. , Rajashekara Gireesh , Saif Linda J. , Vlasova Anastasia Nickolaevna
Published: February 2021

Human rotavirus (HRV) is a leading cause of diarrhea in children. It causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where HRV vaccine efficacy is low. The probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle (EcN) 1917 has been widely used in the treatment of enteric diseases in humans. However, repeated doses of EcN are required to achieve maximum beneficial effects. Administration of EcN on a microsphere biofilm could increase probiotic stability and persistence, thus maximizing health benefits without repeated administrations. Our aim was to investigate immune enhancement by the probiotic EcN adhered to a dextranomar microsphere biofilm (EcN biofilm) in a neonatal, malnourished piglet model transplanted with human infant fecal microbiota (HIFM) and infected with rotavirus. To create malnourishment, pigs were fed a reduced amount of bovine milk. Decreased HRV fecal shedding and protection from diarrhea were evident in the EcN biofilm treated piglets compared with EcN suspension and control groups. Moreover, EcN biofilm treatment enhanced natural killer cell activity in blood mononuclear cells (MNCs). Increased frequencies of activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in systemic and intestinal tissues and activated conventional dendritic cells (cDC) in blood and duodenum were also observed in EcN biofilm as compared with EcN suspension treated pigs. Furthermore, EcN biofilm treated pigs had increased frequencies of systemic activated and resting/memory antibody forming B cells and IgA+ B cells in the systemic tissues. Similarly, the mean numbers of systemic and intestinal HRV-specific IgA antibody secreting cells (ASCs), as well as HRV-specific IgA antibody titers in serum and small intestinal contents, were increased in the EcN biofilm treated group. In summary EcN biofilm enhanced innate and B cell immune responses after HRV infection and ameliorated diarrhea following HRV challenge in a malnourished, HIFM pig model.
Dehydroepiandrostenedione sulphate (DHEAS) levels predict high risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in subclinical hypothyroidism
Authors: Shukla Ravindra , Ganeshani Mayank , Agarwal Monica , Jangir Rakesh , Kandel Gaurav , Sankanagoudar Shrimanjunath , Srivastava Shival
Published: February 2021

Introduction

The presence of rheumatism is well recognized in primary hypothyroidism. Dehydroepiandrstenedione sulphate (DHEAS) is associated with rheumatological diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aims to explore relationship between joint pains and DHEAS levels in primary hypothyroidism.

Methods

Retrospective study of 78 subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism, with TSH within reference range. The joint pains were evaluated by European Union League against rheumatism (EULAR-CSA) score and compared with serum DHEAS, RA factor, Anti-TPO antibody, highly sensitive C-recative protein (hsCRP), vitamin D levels.

Result

DHEAS levels <43.6 mcg/dl significantly predicted clinical features of pre RA as assessed by EULAR CSA criteria with acceptable specificity (82%). EULAR CSA score is fairly valid in assessing imminent RA in primary hypothyroidism.

Conclusion

Lower DHEAS predicts clinical features of imminent RA in subjects with primary hypothyroidism. This is akin to low DHEAS seen in many rheumatological disease with possibly similar mechanism. Another possibility is low DHEAS alters hepato-hypothalamo pituitary adrenal axis in presense of cytokines and induces a hitherto unrecognized state of pre rheumatoid arthritis like syndrome. Future studies on primary hypothyroidism should focus on role of lower DHEAS levels in inducing symptoms of fatigue and joint pains.
Can the establishment of National Key Ecological Functional Zones improve air quality?: An empirical study from China
Authors: Li Guangqin , Li Lingyu , Li Xing , Chen Yu
Published: February 2021

Drawing on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from satellite raster data and matching with the county-level socio-economic data from 2008 to 2015 in China, this paper investigates the impacts of the establishment of National Key Ecological Functional Zones (NKEFZ) on environmental quality by employing the difference-in-differences method, which was stablished in June 2011. The results indicate that the establishment of the NKEFZ significantly decreased the concentration values of PM2.5, a drop of about 20% during the study period, after the paper controls for other factors affecting air quality. The robustness tests using the maximum and medium concentration values of PM2.5 show similar results. Through further analysis, the paper finds that the establishment of NKEFZ can improve the ecological utilization efficiency of land.
Genome-wide association study on metabolite accumulation in a wild barley NAM population reveals natural variation in sugar metabolism
Authors: Gemmer Mathias Ruben , Richter Chris , Schmutzer Thomas , Raorane Manish L. , Junker Björn , Pillen Klaus , Maurer Andreas
Published: February 2021

Metabolites play a key role in plants as they are routing plant developmental processes and are involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Their analysis can offer important information on the underlying processes. Regarding plant breeding, metabolite concentrations can be used as biomarkers instead of or in addition to genetic markers to predict important phenotypic traits (metabolic prediction). In this study, we applied a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a wild barley nested association mapping (NAM) population to identify metabolic quantitative trait loci (mQTL). A set of approximately 130 metabolites, measured at early and late sampling dates, was analysed. For four metabolites from the early and six metabolites from the late sampling date significant mQTL (grouped as 19 mQTL for the early and 25 mQTL for the late sampling date) were found. Interestingly, all of those metabolites could be classified as sugars. Sugars are known to be involved in signalling, plant growth and plant development. Sugar-related genes, encoding mainly sugar transporters, have been identified as candidate genes for most of the mQTL. Moreover, several of them co-localized with known flowering time genes likePpd-H1,HvELF3,Vrn-H1,Vrn-H2 and Vrn-H3, hinting on the known role of sugars in flowering. Furthermore, numerous disease resistance-related genes were detected, pointing to the signalling function of sugars in plant resistance. An mQTL on chromosome 1H in the region of 13 Mbp to 20 Mbp stood out, that alone explained up to 65% of the phenotypic variation of a single metabolite. Analysis of family-specific effects within the diverse NAM population showed the available natural genetic variation regarding sugar metabolites due to different wild alleles. The study represents a step towards a better understanding of the genetic components of metabolite accumulation, especially sugars, thereby linking them to biological functions in barley.
Not by the light of the moon: Investigating circadian rhythms and environmental predictors of calling in Bornean great argus
Authors: Clink Dena J. , Groves Tom , Ahmad Abdul Hamid , Klinck Holger
Published: February 2021

Great argus pheasants are known for their elaborate visual mating displays, but relatively little is known about their general ecology. The use of passive acoustic monitoring—which relies on long-term autonomous recorders—can provide insight into the behavior of visually cryptic, yet vocal species such as the great argus. Here we report the results of an analysis of vocal behavior of the Bornean great argus (Argusianus argus grayi) in Sabah, Malaysia, using data collected with 11 autonomous recording units. Great argus regularly emitted two call types, the long call and the short call, and we found that although both call types were emitted throughout the day, the short calls were more likely to occur during the morning hours (06:00–12:00LT). Great argus were less likely to call if there was rain, irrespective of the time of day. A substantial portion of calls at our site (~20%) were emitted between the hours of 18:00–06:00LT. We found that for nighttime calls, calling activity increased during new moon periods and decreased during periods of rain. We attribute the negative influence of rain on calling to increased energetic costs of thermoregulation during wet periods, and propose that the influence of the lunar cycle may be related to increased predation risk during periods with high levels of moonlight. Little is known about the behavioral ecology of great argus on Borneo, so it is difficult to know if the results we report are typical, or if we would see differences in calling activity patterns depending on breeding season or changes in food availability. We advocate for future studies of great argus pheasant populations using paired camera and acoustic recorders, which can provide further insight into the behavior of this cryptic species.
23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)-targeted serotype-specific identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method
Authors: Lee Jiwon , Yoon Youngbae , Kim Eun Jin , Lee Donghyun , Baek Yeongjun , Takano Chika , Chang Bin , Iijima Takahiro , Kilgore Paul E. , Hayakawa Satoshi , Hoshino Tomonori , Kim Dong Wook , Seki Mitsuko
Published: February 2021

Reports of invasive disease due toStreptococcus pneumoniaehave declined since the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV7 and PCV13). The incidence of invasive diseases due toS.pneumoniaethat are not addressed by the vaccines, however, has increased in children and adults, creating a global public health problem. Previously, we established the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for a PCV13 serotype-specific assay. In the current study, we developed a rapid, simple, and cost-effective assay to detect serotypes in the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) using the LAMP method. In this study, LAMP primer sets for serotypes 2, 8, 9N, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 17F, 20, 22F, and 33F ofS.pneumoniaewere developed. The reactivity, specificity, and sensitivity of LAMP assays were determined and compared to those of conventional PCR. The feasibility of LAMP assays in clinical application in patients with invasive pneumococcal diseases was validated by defining the detection limit of the LAMP assay with bacterial genomic DNA-spiked blood specimens. The specificity of each LAMP assay was determined using 44 serotypes of pneumococcal strains. Their sensitivity was 100 copies per reaction versus 103to 106copies per reaction for PCR assays. Using DNA-spiked blood specimens, excluding the LAMP assay that targeted serotype 22F (103copies per reaction), the limit of detection of the LAMP assay was similar to that with purified DNA as the template (102copies per reaction), compared with 103to >106copies per reaction for PCR assays. In conclusion, a rapid and simple LAMP-based PPSV23-targeted serotype detection assay was developed for use in many countries. This study is the first report of a LAMP-based assay for identification of PPSV23 serotypes. Further evaluation of this assay is needed through surveillance and vaccine efficacy studies.
Determinants of peripheral neuropathy among diabetic patients under follow-up in chronic care clinics of public hospitals at Gamo and Gofa zones, southern Ethiopia
Authors: Gebabo Teshale Fikadu , Zewdie Tadiwos Hailu , Shagaro Sewunet Sako , Haile Firehiwot
Published: February 2021

Background

Peripheral neuropathy is a leading cause of morbidity and increased mortality among diabetic patients. It is characterized by significant deficits in vibration and tactile sensation. With an annual incidence of 2%, it affects as many as 110 million people worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with peripheral neuropathy among diabetic patients in chronic care clinic in Gamo and Gofa zone, South Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution- based unmatched case control study was employed among 528 randomly selected participants using a pre-tested, interviewer-administered, and structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identifiy determinants of peripheral neuropathy using IBM SPSS version 25.

Result

The odds of being an urban dweller was 2.67 times higher among cases than controls [AOR = 2.67 (1.27, 5.63)]. The likelihood of fasting blood glucose level between 203 and 282 and 282 and above was 2.55 and 3.88 times higher among cases than controls [AOR = 2.55 (1.91, 7.16)] and [AOR = 3.88 (1.42, 10.60)] respectively. The probability of living with diabetes mellitus for 10 and more years was 3.88 times higher among cases than controls [AOR = 3.88 (1.42, 10.60)]. The odds of controlling glucose level after developing symptom was 5.33 times higher among cases than controls [AOR = 5.33 (1.28, 12.24)]. The probability of having high blood pressure was 2.36 times higher among cases than controls [AOR = 2.36 (1.26, 4.43)]. The likelihood of having a family history of complication from diabetes mellitus was 5.60 times higher among cases than controls [AOR = 5.60 (2.03, 15.43)]. The odds of exercising 3 times per week for 15 to 30 minutes and for less than 15 minutes were 2.96 and 4.92 times higher among cases than controls respectively [AOR = 2.96 (1.32, 6.61)] and AOR = 4.92, 95% CI (1.85, 13.04) respectively. The likelihood of having a waist circumference greater than or equal to 40 inch was 2.72 times higher among cases than controls [AOR = 2.72 (1.07, 6.94)].

Conclusion

This study showed that residence, duration of diabetic mellitus, family history of complication from diabetic mellitus, level of fasting blood glucose, method of glycemic control, having a high blood pressure/hypertension/, frequency and duration of physical activity and waist circumference were found to be determinants of peripheral neuropathy. Thus, the concerned health authorities and health professionals should target on these factors in their efforts to prevent peripheral neuropathy among diabetics in the study area.
Understanding tree failure—A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: van Haaften Marinus , Liu Yili , Wang Yuxin , Zhang Yueyue , Gardebroek Cornelis , Heijman Wim , Meuwissen Miranda
Published: February 2021

Recent research has indicated an increase in the likelihood and impact of tree failure. The potential for trees to fail relates to various biomechanical and physical factors. Strikingly, there seems to be an absence of tree risk assessment methods supported by observations, despite an increasing availability of variables and parameters measured by scientists, arborists and practitioners. Current urban tree risk assessments vary due to differences in experience, training, and personal opinions of assessors. This stresses the need for a more objective method to assess the hazardousness of urban trees. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of factors that influence tree failure including stem failure, root failure and branch failure. A systematic literature review according to the PRISMA guidelines has been performed in databases, supported by backward referencing: 161 articles were reviewed revealing 142 different factors which influenced tree failure. A meta-analysis of effect sizes and p-values was executed on those factors which were associated directly with any type of tree failure. Bayes Factor was calculated to assess the likelihood that the selected factors appear in case of tree failure. Publication bias was analysed visually by funnel plots and results by regression tests. The results provide evidence that the factors Height and Stem weight positively relate to stem failure, followed by Age, DBH, DBH squared times H, and Cubed DBH (DBH3) and Tree weight. Stem weight and Tree weight were found to relate positively to root failure. For branch failure no relating factors were found. We recommend that arborists collect further data on these factors. From this review it can further be concluded that there is no commonly shared understanding, model or function available that considers all factors which can explain the different types of tree failure. This complicates risk estimations that include the failure potential of urban trees.
Viewpoints of pregnant mothers and community health workers on antenatal care in Lweza village, Uganda
Authors: Delzer Mackenzie E. , Kkonde Anthony , McAdams Ryan M.
Published: February 2021

Background

Uganda is a low-income country with high fertility, adolescent birth, and maternal mortality rates. How Ugandan Ministry of Health antenatal education guidelines have been implemented into standardized health education and how pregnant women utilize health facilities remains unclear.

Objective

We aimed to determine how women obtain education during pregnancy, what guidelines health educators follow, and what barriers exist to receiving antenatal care in Lweza Village, Uganda.

Methods

Household surveys were conducted with women in Lweza who were or had previously been pregnant. Focus group discussions were conducted with community members and Lweza Primary School teachers. Interviews were conducted with key informants, including midwives, a traditional birth attendant, a community leader, and a Village Health Team member. Data collection was done in English along with a Luganda translator.

Results

Of the 100 household surveys conducted, 86% of women did not meet the WHO recommendation of 8 antenatal appointments during their pregnancies. Reasons cited for inadequate visits included facing long wait times (>7 h) at health facilities, getting education from family or traditional healers, or being told to delay antenatal care until 6 months pregnant. Informant interviews revealed that no standardized antenatal education program exists. Respondents felt least educated on family planning and postpartum depression, despite 37% of them reporting symptoms consistent with postpartum depression. Education was also lacking on the use of traditional herbs, although most women (60%) reported using them during pregnancy.

Conclusions

Most women in Lweza do not receive 8 antenatal appointments during their pregnancies or any standardized antenatal education. Educational opportunities on family planning, postpartum depression, and the safety of traditional herbs during pregnancy exist. Future studies should focus on ways to overcome barriers to antenatal care, which could include implementing community-based education programs to improve health outcomes for women in Lweza Village.
Nationwide survey on attitudes and perceived barriers toward provision of pharmaceutical care among final year undergraduate pharmacy students in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Tawfiq Ali M. , Alomar Muaed Jamal , Hassan Nageeb , Palaian Subish
Published: February 2021

Pharmaceutical care (PC) practice is still limited in the United Arab Emirates. It is crucial to understand pharmacy students’ attitudes and their perceived barriers towards PC provision, to evaluate the effectiveness of theoretical and practical curricula in creating positive attitudes toward PC. This study aims to assess attitudes of final year undergraduate pharmacy students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the barriers perceived by them to practice PC. A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted in February and March, 2020, involving colleges in UAE offering undergraduate pharmacy programs and having students in their final year. Participants filled a questionnaire covering attitudes’ items, based on the Pharmaceutical Care Attitudes Survey (PCAS), and several perceived barriers. A stratified sample of 193 students participated from six universities, 85% were females, 92.2% and 64.8% completed or engaged in community and hospital pharmacy training respectively, at the time of the study. Attitudes’ items receiving the highest agreement were PC will improve patient health (95.3%), all pharmacists should perform PC (93.3%) and PC would benefit pharmacists (92.7%). However, 44.6% agreed PC is not worth the additional workload. Females showed higher attitudes’ total scores, median (IQR): 55 (51–58) and 52 (49–55.5) for females and males respectively, P = 0.032. Having incomplete courses was also associated with lower scores, median (IQR): 55 (51–58) and 52 (48.5–55.5) for “No” and “Yes” respectively, P = 0.048. Poor image of the pharmacist’s role and lack of private counseling area or inappropriate pharmacy layout were the most perceived barriers, with around 78% agreement. In conclusion, final year undergraduate pharmacy students in the UAE have positive attitudes towards pharmaceutical care. The current curricula may be satisfactory in fostering positive attitudes among students. Poor image of the pharmacist’s role and lack of counseling area or inappropriate pharmacy layout were the main barriers identified, among other barriers.