bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global warming readiness: Feasibility of enhanced biological phosphorus removal from wastewater at 35°C
Authors: Qiu Guanglei , Law Yingyu , Zuniga-Montanez Rogelio , Lu Yang , Roy Samarpita , Thi Sara Swa , Hoon Huiyi , Nguyen Thi Quynh Ngoc , Eganathan Kaliyamoorthy , Liu Xianghui , Nielsen Per H. , Williams Rohan B.H. , Wuertz Stefan
Published: February 2021

Recent research has shown enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) from municipal wastewater at warmer temperatures around 30°C to be stable in both laboratory-scale reactors and full-scale treatment plants. In the context of a changing climate, the feasibility of EBPR at even higher temperatures is of interest. We operated two lab-scale EBPR sequencing batch reactors with alternating anaerobic and aerobic phases for over 300 days at 30°C and 35°C, respectively, and followed the dynamics of the communities of phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs) and competing glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) using a combination of 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, quantitative PCR and fluorescent in-situ hybridization analyses. Stable and nearly complete P removal was achieved at 30°C; similarly, long term P removal was stable at 35°C with effluent PO43−-P concentrations < 0.5 mg/L on half of all monitored days. Diverse and abundantCa.Accumulibacter amplicon sequence variants were closely related to those found in temperate environments, suggesting that EBPR at this temperature does not require a highly specialized PAO community. The slow-feeding strategy used effectively limited the carbon uptake rates of GAOs, allowing PAOs to outcompete GAOs at both temperatures.CandidatusCompetibacter was the main GAO, along with cluster IIIDefluviicoccusmembers. These organisms withstood the slow-feeding regime, suggesting that their bioenergetic characteristics of carbon uptake differ from those of their tetrad-forming relatives. This specific lineage of GAOs warrants further study to establish how complete P removal can be maintained. Comparative cycle studies at two temperatures for each reactor revealed higher activity ofCa. Accumulibacter when the temperature was increased from 30°C to 35°C, suggesting that the stress was a result of the higher carbon (and/or P) metabolic rates of PAOs and GAOs, the resultant carbon deficiency, and additional community competition. An increase in the TOC to PO43--P ratio (from 25:1 to 40:1) effectively eased the carbon deficiency and benefited the proliferation of PAOs. In general, the slow-feeding strategy and sufficiently high carbon input benefited a high and stable EBPR at elevated temperature and represent basic conditions for full-scale applications.
NEIL1 and NEIL2 DNA glycosylases regulate anxiety and learning in a cooperative manner
Authors: Hildrestrand Gunn A. , Rolseth Veslemøy , Kunath Nicolas , Suganthan Rajikala , Jensen Vidar , Bugaj Anna M. , Fernandez-Berrocal Marion S. , Bøe Sikko Sunniva , Vetlesen Susanne , Kuśnierczyk Anna , Olsen Ann-Karin , Gützkow Kristine Bjerve , Rowe Alexander D. , Wang Wei , Moldestad Olve , Syrstad Monica Dahl , Slupphaug Geir , Eide Lars , Klungland Arne , Sætrom Pål , Luna Luisa , Ye Jing , Scheffler Katja , Bjørås Magnar
Published: February 2021

Oxidative DNA damage in the brain has been implicated in neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. DNA glycosylases initiate base excision repair (BER), the main pathway for oxidative DNA base lesion repair. NEIL1 and NEIL3 DNA glycosylases alter cognition in mice, the role of NEIL2 remains unclear. Here, we investigate the impact of NEIL2 and its potential overlap with NEIL1 on behavior in single and double knock-out mouse models.Neil1-/-Neil2-/-mice displayed hyperactivity, reduced anxiety and improved learning. Hippocampal oxidative DNA base lesion levels were comparable between genotypes, no mutator phenotype was found. Impaired canonical repair was thus not the cause of altered behavior. Electrophysiology indicated reduced stratum oriens afferents in the hippocampal CA1 region inNeil1-/-Neil2-/-. Within CA1, NEIL1 and NEIL2 jointly regulated transcription in genes relevant for synaptic function. Thus, we postulate a cooperative function of NEIL1 and NEIL2 in genome regulation beyond canonical BER modulating memory formation and anxiety.
Reliability of web-based affective auditory stimulus presentation
Authors: Seow Tricia X.F. , Hauser Tobias U.
Published: February 2021

Web-based experimental testing has seen an exponential growth in psychology and cognitive neuroscience. However, paradigms involving affective auditory stimuli have yet to adapt to the online approach due to concerns about the lack of experimental control and other technical challenges. In this study, we assessed if sounds commonly used to evoke affective responses in-lab can be used online. Using recent developments to increase sound presentation quality, we selected 15 commonly used sound stimuli and assessed their impact on valence and arousal states in a web-based experiment. Our results reveal good test-retest reliability and good internal consistency, with results comparable to in-lab studies. Additionally, we compared a variety of previously used unpleasant stimuli, allowing us to identify the most aversive of these sounds. Our findings demonstrate that affective sounds can be reliably delivered through web-based platforms, which helps facilitate the development of new auditory paradigms for affective online experiments.
Force-dependent activation of actin elongation factor mDia1 protects the cytoskeleton from mechanical damage and facilitates stress fiber repair
Authors: Valencia Fernando R. , Sandoval Eduardo , Liu Jian , Plotnikov Sergey V.
Published: February 2021

Plasticity of cell mechanics underlies a wide range of cell and tissue behaviors allowing cells to migrate through narrow spaces, resist shear forces, and safeguard against mechanical damage. Such plasticity depends on spatiotemporal regulation of the actomyosin cytoskeleton, but mechanisms of adaptive change in cell mechanics remain elusive. Here, we report a mechanism of mechanically activated actin polymerization at focal adhesions, specifically requiring the actin elongation factor mDia1. By combining live-cell imaging with mathematical modelling, we show that actin polymerization at focal adhesions exhibits pulsatile dynamics where spikes of mDia1 activity are triggered by contractile forces. The suppression of mDia1-mediated actin polymerization increases tension on stress fibers leading to an increased frequency of spontaneous stress fiber damage and decreased efficiency of zyxin-mediated stress fiber repair. We conclude that tension-controlled actin polymerization acts as a safety valve dampening excessive tension on the actin cytoskeleton and safeguarding stress fibers against mechanical damage.

Valenciaet al.report that tension-controlled actin polymerization at focal adhesions mediated by formin mDia1 controls mechanical tension on stress fibers. Suppression of mDia1 increases tension on the actin cytoskeleton leading to a higher rate of stress fiber damage and less efficient stress fiber repair.
Study of the X-ray radiation interaction with a multislit collimator for the creation of microbeams in radiation therapy
Authors: Pellicioli P. , Donzelli M. , Davis J. A. , Estève F. , Hugtenburg R. , Guatelli S. , Petasecca M. , Lerch M. L. F. , Bräuer-Krisch E. , Krisch M.
Published: February 2021

Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) is a developing radiotherapy, based on the use of beams only a few tens of micrometres wide, generated by synchrotron X-ray sources. The spatial fractionation of the homogeneous beam into an array of microbeams is possible using a multislit collimator (MSC), i.e. a machined metal block with regular apertures. Dosimetry in MRT is challenging and previous works still show differences between calculated and experimental dose profiles of 10–30%, which are not acceptable for a clinical implementation of treatment. The interaction of the X-rays with the MSC may contribute to the observed discrepancies; the present study therefore investigates the dose contribution due to radiation interaction with the MSC inner walls and radiation leakage of the MSC. Dose distributions inside a water-equivalent phantom were evaluated for different field sizes and three typical spectra used for MRT studies at the European Synchrotron Biomedical beamline ID17. Film dosimetry was utilized to determine the contribution of radiation interaction with the MSC inner walls; Monte Carlo simulations were implemented to calculate the radiation leakage contribution. Both factors turned out to be relevant for the dose deposition, especially for small fields. Photons interacting with the MSC walls may bring up to 16% more dose in the valley regions, between the microbeams. Depending on the chosen spectrum, the radiation leakage close to the phantom surface can contribute up to 50% of the valley dose for a 5 mm × 5 mm field. The current study underlines that a detailed characterization of the MSC must be performed systematically and accurate MRT dosimetry protocols must include the contribution of radiation leakage and radiation interaction with the MSC in order to avoid significant errors in the dose evaluation at the micrometric scale.
The effect of additive particle size on the anti-corrosion behavior of PU coating
Authors: Tan Hai , Guo Yanbao , Wang Junqiang , Wang Deguo , Cui Yongjie
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of additive particle size on the anti-corrosion behaviors of polyurethane (PU) coating.

Design/methodology/approach

The graphite (Gr) and poly-graphite (PGr) were used as large size additive and small size additive, respectively. The immersion test and electrochemical test were used to study the corrosion behaviors.

Findings

In the immersion test, the surface of the bare steel sample was corroded uniformly. However, for the steel samples with coatings, the surfaces were corroded locally. This phenomenon showed that the coating can isolate artificial sea-water and samples and then decreased the corrosion rate. Furthermore, the most severe corrosion was observed on the sample with the Gr/PU coating compared with other anti-corrosion coatings. The results of the electrochemical measurements indicated that the corrosion rate of the sample with PGr/PU coating was approximately two times lower than that of the sample with the Gr/PU coating and the sample with PGr/PU coating was hardest to be corroded.

Originality/value

To have a more objective and direct recognition of the particle size effect on the coating quality.
Catching silver consumers in China: an integrated model of Chinese older adults' use of social networking technology
Authors: Su Jin , Tong Xiao
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to gain a more holistic understanding of Chinese older adults' perceptions and use of social networking technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) and expectation-confirmation (ECM) theory, the study proposed an integrated social media user engagement model and tested the model utilizing the data collected from 323 Chinese older adults.

Findings

The results reveal that half of the relationships in the proposed model were supported. Specifically, performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence and hedonic motivation were all found to have a significant positive influence on perceived value. In addition, the results confirmed the positive impact of facilitating conditions on satisfaction. Both perceived value and satisfaction were also found to have a significant positive effect on Chinese older adults' intention to engage in social networking technology.

Originality/value

Chinese older adults are embracing Internet technologies at a greater rate; thus, understanding their perspectives of social networking technology offers valuable insights. This empirical study enhances understanding of the nature and strength of the relationships in the proposed integrated social media user engagement model in the context of Chinese older adults.
Socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghana's economy: challenges and prospects
Authors: Aduhene David Tanoh , Osei-Assibey Eric
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The world's economies are on their knees following the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic over the past 8 months. Growing number of researches has been conducted on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on developed countries with little attention on developing countries, who are still grappling with the negative impact of the coronavirus. The rationale for this study is to assess the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghana's economy and government response to the pandemic as well as policy options to revive the ailing economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study explored the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus on Ghana's economy using a discourse analysis with data from various secondary sources to analyze the impact of the pandemic from the Ghanaian perspective.

Findings

The findings from the discourse analysis revealed that the coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted on the socio-economic situation of the citizens of Ghana. Whiles an estimated 42,000 people lost their jobs in the first two months of the pandemic in Ghana, tourist attraction sector of the country alone lost $171 million dollars in the past three months due to the partial lockdown and closure of tourism and hospitality centers in the country. The study revealed that Ghana's healthcare system has been overwhelmed by the number of increasing cases in the country to extent of making use of temporary structures as isolation and treatment centers of the pandemic. The study revealed that Ghana may convert these challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic into prospects and opportunities by investing massively in the health sector and creating support for the SMEs which creates massive employment for many Ghanaians.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 on Ghana's economy and how the pandemic has negatively affected the country. The study is an exploratory study that makes use of secondary data. However, conducting a study with primary data sources from specific communities or regions in the country may not produce the same results. The results from the primary level or community level may be different from the general results obtained from the study. In future it is expected that the study focuses specifically on the extent of the coronavirus pandemic on Ghana's fiscal deficit which seems to have ballooned in recent times.

Originality/value

The study is the first of its kind to extensively explore the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Ghanaian economy. The novelty of this paper is that it recognizes governments response to the pandemic and proposes three practical measures adopted to put the country's economy back on its feet through survive, revive and ensuring growth in all sectors of the economy.
Robust visual-inertial odometry with point and line features for blade inspection UAV
Authors: Ma Yufei , Wang Shuangxin , Yu Dingli , Zhu Kaihua
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to enable the unmanned aerial vehicles to inspect the surface condition of wind turbine in close range when the global positioning system signal is not reliable, and further improve its intelligence. So a visual-inertial odometry with point and line features is developed.

Design/methodology/approach

Visual front-end combining point and line features, as well as its purification strategies, are first presented to improve the robustness of feature tracking in low-textured scene and rapidity of segment detector. Additionally, the inertial measurement is integrated between keyframes as constrain to reduce tracking error existed in visual-only system. Second, the graph-based visual-inertial back-end is constructed. To parameterize line features effectively, the infinite line representation not sensitive to outdoor light is employed, in which Plücker and Cayley are selected for line re-projection and nonlinear optimization. Furthermore, Jacobians of the line re-projection errors are analytically derived for better accuracy.

Findings

Experiments are performed in various scenes of the wind farm. The results demonstrate that the tight-coupled visual-inertial odometry with point and line features is more precise on all the samples than conventional algorithms in complex wind farm environments. Additionally, the constructed line feature map can be used in the following research for autonomous navigation.

Originality/value

The proposed visual-inertial odometry works robustly in strong electromagnetic interference, low-textured and illumination-change wind farm.
Lifting the lid on the black box of corporate real estate decision-making; dealing with surplus property
Authors: Cooke Howard , Appel-Meulenbroek Rianne , Arentz Theo
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the variables that influence corporate real estate (CRE) decision-making and gauge their relative importance to each other, thereby understanding the consequent challenges/implications for CRE managers (CREM’s).

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were undertaken with experienced CREM’s using the causal network elicitation technique to create decision networks for the variables they considered for the specifically defined scenario: dealing with surplus property from a change of business strategy. These networks illustrate the complexity of the mental representations required for the realignment of the CRE portfolio. The key variables are more extensive than alignment theory suggests, namely, financial stakeholders. Additional variables identified include risk, lease accounting, costs, financial analysis, business metrics and motivational drivers. The latter indicates the importance of self-esteem and peer recognition for CREM’s and financial benefits for the C-suite. Accordingly strategy alignment needs to incorporate CRE both in terms of strategy creation and implementation.

Findings

These networks illustrate the complexity of the mental representations required for the realignment of the CRE portfolio. The key variables are more extensive than alignment theory suggests, namely, financial stakeholders. Additional variables identified include risk, lease accounting, costs, financial analysis, business metrics and motivational drivers. The latter indicates the importance of self-esteem and peer recognition for CREM’s and financial benefits for the C-suite. Accordingly, strategy alignment needs to incorporate CRE both in terms of strategy creation and implementation.

Originality/value

This research appears to be the first that looks in detail at the mental representations used by decision-makers while making CRE decisions.
Optimal pricing strategy in uncertain dual distribution channel with retail services
Authors: Farham-Nia Saied , Ghaffari-Hadigheh Alireza
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to study the optimal pricing decision in a supply chain with a dual distribution channel in a centralized and decentralized decision-making systems and investigate the economic impact of retail services on pricing behaviors with respect to the power structures.

Design/methodology/approach

To reach the equilibrium behavior of decision-makers, two-stage optimization, the Stackelberg game and the Bertrand–Nash game have been used. Also, to explore the effect of environmental uncertainty on the behavior of decision-maker, demand functions are characterized as an uncertain price dependent, service dependent and channel dependent. Decision parameters are based on experts’ belief degree, in the sense of uncertainty theory initiated by Liu (2007).

Findings

Obtained results reveal that the retail services have a strategic role in the centralized supply chain and the decentralized supply chain with dominant manufacturer, while both the supply chain and the consumer suffer from higher environmental indeterminacy.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on possible scenarios of dual distribution system only. Further research is recommended to investigate the applicability of the authors framework in different distribution systems.

Practical implications

The study findings are believed to be valuable for supply chains and organizations about to make a strategic decision on price of their good/service.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the scarce literature on Uncertainty Theory initiated by Liu (2007), and combination of it with Game Theory for pricing in distribution system of supply chains. The study also contributes by investigating impact of non-price competitive factor (level of service) on pricing strategy.
Investigating thermal supplementation of an aquaponics system under severe climate conditions
Authors: Van Beukering Chris , Hertzog Pierre , Swart Arthur James
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Climate change strains scarce water resources and food production infrastructure, necessitating establishment of sound scientific basis for operation of sustainable alternative food production methodologies - such as aquaponics, which promises high yield versus small footprint. In a climate (such as in Bloemfontein, South Africa) including temperatures below freezing, real-time aquaponics monitoring and control is necessary to mitigate thermal losses and to ensure sustainability of fish stock and bio-filter micro-organisms. The system thermal energy also needs sustainable supplementation during wintertime. This study/paper aims to address the problem of monitoring and controlling thermal energy in a medium sized aquaponics system, to ensure biological sustainability, especially during extreme cold weather events.

Design/methodology/approach

Required supplementation was determined and the aquaponics system described and quantified in terms of mass-flow power transfer by measuring loop differential temperature and flow rate. Cold front temperature data evaluation determined implementation suitability and -sustainability. Subsystem temperature contributions to the main reservoir, and their cumulative influence on the biological component, were considered.

Findings

Results indicate thermal supplementation enabled 1.3 °C temperature loss mitigation for a 42-kl water reservoir over a period of three days, offsetting severe system temperature decrease during a cold front event, and preventing organism mortality

Originality/value

Quantification of flow loop power transfer, and successful supplementation monitoring and control, demonstrates the approach and implementation merit in the Bloemfontein area. Wi-Fi-enabled online real-time data potentially facilitates incorporation into the concept of “Sustainable Smart Cities”.
Low spatial congruence between temporal functional β‐diversity and temporal taxonomic and phylogenetic β‐diversity in British avifauna
Authors: Tsianou Mariana A. , Touloumis Konstantinos , Kallimanis Athanasios S.
Published: February 2021

Assessing spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity change is essential to understand how communities vary over time and confront to environmental changes for the resilience of ecosystem functioning. We use data from two bird atlases of Britain collected during the breeding periods 1988–1991 and 2008–2011 to measure temporal β‐diversity of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic dimensions and examine the relationship and the level of congruence of the three dimensions of temporal β‐diversity and their respective partitioned components (turnover‐nestedness). Temporal β‐diversity, turnover and nestedness patterns were highly congruent for the taxonomic and phylogenetic dimension, although these dimensions were weakly associated with the functional dimension. We found higher levels of temporal changes for the taxonomic (mean Jaccard β‐diversity 0.27) and phylogenetic (mean Jaccard β‐diversity 0.21) dimensions than for the functional dimension (mean Jaccard β‐diversity 0.09), implying that despite the changes in species composition the functional composition of the communities remained less affected. For taxonomic and phylogenetic dimensions, turnover contributed more than nestedness to shaping β‐diversity, while for functional β‐diversity the two components contributed similarly. Communities at higher altitudes were also more functionally similar in 20 years but with more changes in taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity possibly due to environmental filtering. We hypothesize that the low congruence might be due to species with extreme trait values persisting throughout time and retaining the volume of functional space and thus contributing to the low temporal change of functional diversity despite the high levels of change in species composition, perhaps an indication of functional “stability.”
Regulating greenhouse gas emissions by an inter‐temporal policy mix: an experimental investigation*
Authors: Ancev Tiho , Baltaduonis Rimvydas , Immer‐Bernold Elizabeth
Published: February 2021

Emissions taxes impose a fixed price on emissions, whereas under tradable permit schemes prices emerge in the secondary permit market. The delayed price discovery under tradable permits creates uncertainty about the future cost of compliance that liable emitters face. To mitigate this uncertainty, some jurisdictions have designed policies to regulate GHG with an emissions tax that is in force for several years, subsequently transforming into a tradable permit scheme. This paper examines the effects that this staged transition – from no regulation to a regulation by a tax, to a regulation by tradable permits – has on abatement investment, quantity of emissions, permit prices and overall regulation efficiency. The effects of the inter‐temporal mix of policy instruments are compared to the effects of single policy instrument: a tax‐only, and a tradable permit‐only regulation. Our investigation relied on laboratory economics methods to test economic behaviour under these three policy regimes. We find that a staged transition from a tax to a tradable permit scheme results in more socially desirable outcomes on a range of criteria when compared to a regulation based solely on tradable permits, and specifically, it improves ability to make better abatement investment decisions.
Inverted colonic diverticulum: An endoscopic examination and presentation
Authors: Gulaydin Nihat , Iliaz Raim , Ersoz Feyzullah
Published: February 2021

Objective

We aimed to determine the frequency, morphological features, differential diagnosis, possible adverse events of inverted colonic diverticulum (ICD), which may be misdiagnosed as polyps.

Methods

In all, 810 patients who underwent a colonoscopy between April 2016 and November 2019 were included in the study, and their data were evaluated retrospectively. Colonoscopic procedures were performed at a single center by the same endoscopist.

Results

Among all the 810 patients, the prevalence of diverticulum was 29.58% (121/409) in men and 25.19% (n = 101/401) in women, respectively. ICD was observed in 1.73% (n = 14) of all patients, including 11 (78.57%) men (aged 63.2 ± 12.95 years [range 47–90 years]) and three women (60.3 ± 4.04 years [range 58–65 years]). Most (63.16% [12/19]) ICD lesions were localized in the sigmoid colon. And the diagnosis was confirmed by eversion using biopsy forceps in 78.95% of them. One patient developed perforation after polypectomy with hot biopsy forceps and was treated by surgical operation.

Conclusions

ICD is a common lesion that may lead to serious adverse events if misdiagnosed as polyps. Differential diagnosis of ICD is crucial during the colonoscopy.
Organising Everyday Resistance: An Ethnographic Study of Rickshaw Drivers in Bogotá
Authors: Vargas Ana M.
Published: February 2021

Workers in the informal transport sector are often exposed to multiple forms of workplace violence, for instance by the police and their colleagues. Through a collection of rich ethnographic stories and using the concept of popular resistance, this article investigates how and under what conditions rickshaw drivers in Bogotá resist violence in their workplace. The results reveal that rickshaw associations have been essential in articulating acts of everyday resistance to the legal ban on this activity, such regulating routes, fees and stops. However, associations have created new forms of oppression, being labelled as mafia‐like organisations, showing that resistance can also translate into new forms of domination. Contrary to the argument that everyday resistance is uncoordinated, this article shows that acts of everyday resistance can be organised by actors that switch between different individual and collective strategies. Thus, organisations can provide a framework to resist the law on an everyday basis.
Elevation and leaf litter interact in determining the structure of ant communities on a tropical mountain
Authors: Moses Jimmy , Fayle Tom M. , Novotny Vojtech , Klimes Petr
Published: February 2021

Tropical mountains encompass a wide range of environmental conditions and are useful models for studying drivers of community structure. Invertebrate species richness and abundance show various elevational patterns. However, the drivers of these differences are not well understood, although microhabitat complexity is potentially important. We studied ground‐dwelling ants using pitfall trapping and hand collection on Mt. Wilhelm (Papua New Guinea) from 169 to 3,795 m a. s. l. We tested for the effects of elevation and leaf litter depth (as a measure of microhabitat complexity) on ant abundance, species richness, and composition. We sampled 118 species, with ants present up to 2,331 m a. s. l. Species richness peaked at mid‐elevation (~700 m), but the elevational pattern for abundance varied depending on sampling scale. Leaf litter depth negatively affected abundance once elevation had been accounted for, while elevation and litter depth had an interactive effect on species richness. Species richness was positively related to litter depth at lower elevations, but negatively above ~ 700 m. Species composition varied with elevation and less strongly with leaf litter depth. We speculate that in the lowlands, litter depth rather than temperature limits ant communities. At high elevations, the deeper litter decreases temperature of the litter layer, and temperature becomes limiting. At mid‐elevations, temperature is not yet too low, and litter is still relatively deep, hence generating a mid‐elevation peak in ant richness. Our results may explain differing richness‐elevation patterns of litter arthropods around the world and provide testable predictions for future studies on this topic.
Neurofilament light chain levels reflect outcome in a patient with glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibody–positive autoimmune encephalitis under immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy
Authors: Piepgras Johannes , Müller Aneka , Steffen Falk , Lotz Johannes , Loquai Carmen , Zipp Frauke , Dresel Christian , Bittner Stefan
Published: February 2021

Neurological immune‐mediated side effects are rare but often severe complications of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. This report describes a severe case of nivolumab/ipilimumab‐associated glutamic acid decarboxylase 65–positive autoimmune encephalitis. It proposes neurofilament light chain levels, a biomarker indicating axonal damage, in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum as a putative novel biomarker for this diagnostically and therapeutically challenging entity with an often unfavorable outcome. Additionally, we provide an overview of previous reports of patients developing autoimmune encephalitis under ICI treatment.
Biogenic amines content changes during storage and establishment of shelf life prediction model of red bean curd
Authors: Li Xingyan , Meng Jiahui , Zeng Qingzhi , Xiong Xiaolin , Ren Xueyan , Kong Qingjun
Published: February 2021

Sensory evaluation, physicochemical indicator, and microbiological indicator of red bean curd storaged at different temperature were examined. In addition, biogenic amines (BAs) were also quantified using high‐performance liquid chromatography to determine their levels in red bean curd. The BAs content is the main factors affecting the safety of red bean curd products. Four bioamines (putrescine, cadaverine, tyramine, and histamine) were detected in red bean curd during storage, but tryptamine and phenylethylamine were not detected. The results showed that total acid and tyramine content were negatively correlated with sensory scores, which were chosen as key indicators, and a shelf‐life prediction model was developed using the Arrhenius equation, the relative error of shelf life prediction model was less than 10%. This study provided a basis for intelligent predictive of package, storage, and circulation of red bean curd, which can help solve in different temperature and storage conditions of fermented bean curd storage differences of practical problems.
Perceptions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities about COVID‐19 in Spain: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Amor A. M. , Navas P. , Verdugo M. Á. , Crespo M.
Published: February 2021

Background

As the world battles COVID‐19, there is a need to study the perceptions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) about the effects of the pandemic and associated lockdown on their lives. This work explores the perceptions of Spaniards with IDD during the lockdown with respect to four topics: access to information, emotional experiences, effects on living conditions and access to support.

Methods

The topics were explored using a subset of 16 closed‐ended questions from an online survey. In total, 582 participants with IDD completed the survey. The frequencies and percentages of responses to the questions were calculated, and chi‐square tests performed to explore the relationship between participants' sociodemographic characteristics and responses. Given that people differed in the way in which they completed the survey, the relationship between participants' responses and completion method was also analysed.

Results

Participants reported that the pandemic and subsequent lockdown have had a deleterious effect on their emotional well‐being (around 60.0% of participants) and occupations (48.0% of students and 72.7% of workers). Although access to information and support was reportedly good overall, being under the age of 21 years and studying were associated with perceptions reflecting poorer access to information (V = .20 and V = .13, respectively) and well‐being support (V = .15 and V = .13, respectively). Being supported by a third party to complete the survey was consistently related to perceptions of worse outcomes.

Conclusions

The study yielded data on the perceptions of people with IDD regarding the effects that COVID‐19 and the subsequent lockdown have had on their lives. Suggestions on how to overcome the difficulties reported and future lines of research are discussed.
Agreement in Risk of Bias Assessment Between RobotReviewer and Human Reviewers: An Evaluation Study on Randomised Controlled Trials in Nursing‐Related Cochrane Reviews
Authors: Hirt Julian , Meichlinger Jasmin , Schumacher Petra , Mueller Gerhard
Published: February 2021

Purpose

RobotReviewer is a machine learning system for semi‐automated assistance in risk of bias assessment. The tools’s performance in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the field of nursing remains unknown. We aimed therefore to evaluate the agreement in risk of bias assessment between RobotReviewer and human reviewers.

Design

Evaluation study using a retrospective diagnostic design.

Methods

We used RobotReviewer as the index test and human reviewers’ risk of bias assessment reported in Cochrane reviews as the reference test. A convenience sample of electronically available English‐language full texts of RCTs included in Cochrane reviews with nurs* in the title were eligible for inclusion. In this context, we assessed random sequence generation, allocation concealment, and blinding (personnel or participants and assessors) corresponding to Cochrane risk of bias version 2011. Two independent research teams performed and double‐checked data extraction and analysis. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the area under the ROC curve, predictive values, observed percentage of agreement, and Cohen’s kappa (including confidence intervals, if applicable).

Findings

The selection process yielded 190 RCTs published between 1958 and 2016 in 23 Cochrane reviews published between 2000 and 2018. Missing assessments of risk of bias domains in Cochrane reviews or RobotReviewer yielded varying sample sizes per risk of bias domain. Sensitivity ranged from 0.44 to 0.88 and specificity from 0.48 to 0.95. Positive predictive value was highest for allocation concealment (0.79) and lowest for blinding assessors (0.25). Cohen’s kappa was moderate for randomization (0.52), allocation concealment (0.60), and for blinding of personnel/patients (0.43). Blinding of outcome assessors had only slight agreement (0.04).

Conclusions

This is the first evaluation of risk of bias assessment by RobotReviewer in RCTs included in nursing‐related Cochrane reviews. It yielded a moderate degree of agreement with human reviewers for randomization and allocation concealment, and an adequate sensitivity for detecting low risk of selection bias.

Clinical Relevance

Based on our results, using the RobotReviewer for risk of bias assessment in RCTs can be supportive in some risk of bias domains. However, human reviewers should supervise the semi‐automated assessment process.
Stop making sense?
Authors: Valdesolo Piercarlo
Published: February 2021

Epistemic emotions, like awe and wonder, involve a recognition that one can neither understand nor exert meaningful control over one's environment. While researchers and writers have emphasized the beneficial consequences of such states, their potentially destructive consequences have been underexamined. The conditions under which these states promote individual well‐being and societal flourishing must be specified.
Absolute blood volume variations and vascular refilling in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Álvarez Nadal Marta , Viera Ramírez Elizabeth Romelia , Martín Capón Irene , Fernández Lucas Milagros
Published: February 2021

The imbalance between ultrafiltration volume (UF) and vascular refilling is considered a major cause for intradialytic hypotension. Recent studies report a noninvasive method to estimate vascular refilling (VREF) by determining absolute blood volume (ABV). It was the aim of the study to analyze variations in ABV in a group of hemodialysis (HD) patients and examine VREF. Thirty one stable chronic HD patients were studied, aged 71.07 ± 13.31 years. Dialysis duration and UF requirements were based on physician prescription. VREF was calculated as: VREF = VUF − ΔV where ΔV is ABV variation during dialysis treatment. ABV at the beginning of the dialysis was 6.00 ± 2.39 L (92.82 ± 33.17 ml/kg) and at the end 5.38 ± 2.32 L (82.07 ± 31.41 ml/kg). Prescribed UF was 2.64 ± 0.83 L. Mean VREF was 2.05 ± 0.80 L, with a refilling fraction of 75.75 ± 12.79%. VREF was strongly correlated with UF volume (r2 0.877), and with pre‐dialysis volume overload (r2 0.617). Patients under beta‐blocker treatment showed significantly lower FREF. ABV measurement is an easy and noninvasive method that allows us to study VREF during HD. We found a strong correlation between VREF and UF.
Evaluation of the Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Timely Extubation of Critically Ill Adults: An Interprofessional Survey
Authors: Balas Michele C. , Tate Judith , Tan Alai , Pinion Brennon , Exline Matthew
Published: February 2021

Background

Spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) are an evidence‐based way of identifying patients ready for mechanical ventilation (MV) liberation. Despite their effectiveness, global SBT performance rates remain suboptimal, and many patients who demonstrate the ability to breathe on their own remain on MV. The factors that influence clinicians’ decision to discontinue MV following a successful SBT remain unclear.

Aims

The aim of this study was to explore the underlying causes of extubation delays in the intensive care unit (ICU) from an interprofessional perspective.

Methods

An exploratory, descriptive, cross‐sectional design was used. An online survey was administered in December 2019 to clinicians practicing in three ICUs at a single medical center in the U.S. Survey questions focused on clinicians’ perceptions of current MV liberation practices and perceived barriers or facilitators to timely extubation after a successful SBT.

Results

Of 425 eligible clinicians, 135 completed the survey (31.7% response rate). The majority of clinicians believed the current SBT and extubation process took too long (n = 108; 80.0%) and that this delay negatively affected patient outcomes. While professional groups differed in their rankings of importance, factors perceived to contribute to extubation delays most commonly included SBT timing, low provider confidence levels in making extubation decisions, and patient‐specific factors. Potential strategies to overcome these barriers included developing an automated extubation protocol, performing SBTs when the provider responsible for final extubation decisions is physically present, and decreasing clinician perception of reprimand or condemnation for failed extubations.

Linking Evidence to Action

The MV liberation process is complex and dependent on the decisions of various ICU professionals. Clinicians perceive a number of potentially modifiable provider‐ and organizational‐level factors that cause extubation delays in everyday practice. Understanding and addressing these barriers is essential for improving ICU quality and patient outcomes. Future research should explore the effect of nurse and respiratory therapist‐driven extubation protocols on MV liberation rates.
Fracture Injury Risk of the Restrained Mandible to Anterior–Posterior Blunt Impacts
Authors: Daniel Ray W. , Weisenbach Charles A. , McGovern Shannon M. , Rooks Tyler F. , Chancey Valeta Carol , Brozoski Frederick T.
Published: February 2021

This study describes the results of anterior–posterior impacts conducted on the mandibles of 22 male postmortem human subjects (PMHSs). The objective of this study was to develop an injury criterion for the mandible based on blunt impact while the jaw was restrained. Previous studies have attempted to characterize the injury risk of blunt impact to the mandible; however, due to the translation of the mandible during impact and a limited number of fractured specimens, previous studies were not able to produce an injury criterion. Blunt impact to a restrained mandible is relevant to a wide array of helmeted individuals, including the military population and sports that require helmets with chinstraps. Therefore, in this study, specimens were positioned with restrained jaws and impacted using a monorail drop tower with a gravity-driven cylindrical impactor. Nineteen of 22 specimens sustained at least one fracture during testing. Injury cases had an average impact energy of 15.0 ± 5.7 J (11.1 ± 4.2 ft-lb) and a fracture force of 2684 ± 726 N (603 ± 163 lbf). Results were used to generate an impactor force based injury criterion through survival analysis. Risk of injury was modeled using a Weibull distribution and a 50% risk of injury was found to occur at approximately 2834 N (637 lbf). The developed injury risk curve can be used to characterize injury to the restrained mandible for future testing and research studies, especially in the development of maxillofacial protective equipment.
The fibrinolytic system enables the onset of
Plasmodium
infection in the mosquito vector and the mammalian host
Authors: Alves e Silva Thiago Luiz , Radtke Andrea , Balaban Amanda , Pascini Tales Vicari , Pala Zarna Rajeshkumar , Roth Alison , Alvarenga Patricia H. , Jeong Yeong Je , Olivas Janet , Ghosh Anil K. , Bui Hanhvy , Pybus Brandon S. , Sinnis Photini , Jacobs-Lorena Marcelo , Vega-Rodríguez Joel
Published: February 2021

Plasmodium
uses the fibrinolytic system to overcome physical barriers in the mosquito and vertebrate host.
AT-527, a Double Prodrug of a Guanosine Nucleotide Analog, Is a Potent Inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2
In Vitro
and a Promising Oral Antiviral for Treatment of COVID-19
Authors: Good Steven S. , Westover Jonna , Jung Kie Hoon , Zhou Xiao-Jian , Moussa Adel , La Colla Paolo , Collu Gabriella , Canard Bruno , Sommadossi Jean-Pierre
Published: February 2021

The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, is global and unprecedented. Although remdesivir has recently been approved by the FDA to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection, no oral antiviral is available for outpatient treatment.
Population Pharmacokinetics and Dosage Optimization of Linezolid in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients
Authors: Yang Mei , Zhao Libo , Wang Xiaohui , Sun Chen , Gao Hengmiao , Wang Xiaoling , Qian Suyun
Published: February 2021

Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibiotic exhibiting efficacy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-positive-related infections. However, its population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) profile in critically ill Chinese children has not been characterized.
On the Consequences of Poorly Defined Breakpoints for Rifampin Susceptibility Testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex
Authors: Köser Claudio U. , Georghiou Sophia B. , Schön Thomas , Salfinger Max
Published: February 2021

In a recent report of a systematic review of critical concentrations (CCs), the World Health Organization (WHO) lowered the rifampin (RIF) CC for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex using Middlebrook 7H10 medium and the Bactec mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 system from 1 to 0.5 μg/ml. The previous RIF CC for 7H10 had been in use for over half a century.
A Food Microbiology Classroom Activity to Draw Connections between Microbes and Students’ Lives
Authors: Westenberg David , Kopel Jonathan
Published: February 2021

Fermented foods have been prepared for millennia and every society around the world has traditional fermented foods and/or beverages that are identified with that culture. This is an excellent opportunity to help students draw connections between their everyday lives and the microbial sciences.
Scaffolded Curriculum for Developing Science Communication Skills in Life Science Undergraduates
†
Authors: Kelp Nicole C. , Hubbard Breeana
Published: February 2021

Strong communication skills are essential for future science professionals, but practical training has not been featured strongly in undergraduate curricula. To better train diverse life science majors in communication theory and skills, we created a foundational 200-level course and an advanced 400-level science communication course.
Glucose-6-Phosphate Acts as an Extracellular Signal of SagS To Modulate
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
c-di-GMP Levels, Attachment, and Biofilm Formation
Authors: Park Soyoung , Dingemans Jozef , Gowett Madison , Sauer Karin
Published: February 2021

Pathogens sense and respond to signals and cues present in their environment, including host-derived small molecules to modulate the expression of their virulence repertoire. Here, we demonstrate that the opportunistic pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
responds to glucose-6-phosphate.