bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mycotoxin exposure and human cancer risk: A systematic review of epidemiological studies
Authors: Claeys Liesel , Romano Chiara , De Ruyck Karl , Wilson Hayley , Fervers Beatrice , Korenjak Michael , Zavadil Jiri , Gunter Marc J. , De Saeger Sarah , De Boevre Marthe , Huybrechts Inge
Published: May 2020

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in investigating the carcinogenicity of mycotoxins in humans. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of data linking exposure to different mycotoxins with human cancer risk. Publications (2019 and earlier) of case–control or longitudinal cohort studies were identified in PubMed and EMBASE. These articles were then screened by independent reviewers and their quality was assessed according to the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Animal, cross‐sectional, and molecular studies satisfied criteria for exclusion. In total, 14 articles were included: 13 case–control studies and 1 longitudinal cohort study. Included articles focused on associations of mycotoxin exposure with primary liver, breast, and cervical cancer. Overall, a positive association between the consumption of aflatoxin‐contaminated foods and primary liver cancer risk was verified. Two case–control studies in Africa investigated the relationship between zearalenone and its metabolites and breast cancer risk, though conflicting results were reported. Two case–control studies investigated the association between hepatocellular carcinoma and fumonisin B1 exposure, but no significant associations were observed. This systematic review incorporates several clear observations of dose‐dependent associations between aflatoxins and liver cancer risk, in keeping with IARC Monograph conclusions. Only few human epidemiological studies investigated the associations between mycotoxin exposures and cancer risk. To close this gap, more in‐depth research is needed to unravel evidence for other common mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A. The link between mycotoxin exposures and cancer risk has mainly been established in experimental studies, and needs to be confirmed in human epidemiological studies to support the evidence‐based public health strategies.
Lost capacity in emergency departments and its economic implications: A simulation study and economic analysis
Authors: Moore Nicholas , Middleton Paul M , Ren Shiquan
Published: May 2020

Objective

To determine the effect of lost bed capacity (LBC) on the overall capacity of an ED, and to estimate the costs attributable to excess stay in the ED beyond that required for actual emergency care.

Methods

This was a retrospective simulation and health economic evaluation, using data from a single‐centre tertiary level ED. Data from all patients who presented to the ED during a 1‐month period and triaged to receive an acute bed in order to undergo their emergency care were included. The main outcomes measured were the change in overall ED length of stay, and costs attributable to LBC, in both discharged and admitted patients.

Results

Overall daily median ED length of stay decreased by 182 min (95% confidence interval 165–198; P < 0.01) in the simulated cohort when LBC was removed. Within the admitted cohort, the median cost attributable to LBC was AUD$202.99 (95% confidence interval $186.50–$216.70) per patient. We estimate the cost of an ED bed to be AUD$164.59 per hour.

Conclusions

A substantial amount of ED length of stay is due to patients remaining in the ED for time after their emergency care is concluded. This likely represents a substantial overall monetary cost to the Australian healthcare system.
The Water‐Year Water Balance of the Colorado River Basin
Authors: McCabe Gregory J. , Wolock David M.
Published: May 2020

Model‐estimated monthly water balance components (i.e., potential evapotranspiration, actual evapotranspiration, and runoff (R)) for 146 United States (U.S.) Geological Survey 8‐digit hydrologic units located in the Colorado River Basin (CRB) are used to examine the temporal and spatial variability of the CRB water balance for water years 1901 through 2014 (a water year is the period from October 1 of one year through September 30 of the following year). Results indicate that the CRB can be divided into six subregions with similar temporal variability in monthly R. The water balance analyses indicated that approximately 75% of total water‐year R is generated by just one CRB subregion and that most of the R in the basin is derived from surplus (S) water generated during the months of October through April. Furthermore, the analyses show that temporal variability in S is largely controlled by the occurrence of negative atmospheric pressure anomalies over the northwestern conterminous U.S. (CONUS) and positive atmospheric pressure anomalies over the southeastern CONUS. This combination of atmospheric pressure anomalies results in an anomalous flow of moist air from the North Pacific Ocean into the CRB, particularly the Upper CRB. Additionally, the occurrence of extreme dry and wet periods in the CRB appears to be related to variability of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.
Validation of DNA test for hip dysplasia failed in Danish Labrador Retrievers
Authors: Bruun C. S. , Bank A. , Ström A. , Proschowsky H. F. , Fredholm M.
Published: May 2020

Canine hip dysplasia is characterized by poor hip joint conformation and laxity. The disease is a complex trait influenced by both genetics and environment. Diagnosis and quantification of hip dysplasia are performed by radiographic examination of the hip joint and the diagnosis is used for making breeding decisions in many breeds. A prognostic genetic test (the Dysgen test) based on seven associated SNPs has been developed in a study based on Spanish Labrador Retrievers. In our study this test has been evaluated in 39 Danish Labrador Retrievers with known radiographic hip score: 14 with hip dysplasia (grade D or E) and 25 without hip dysplasia (grade A or B). There was no significant correlation between the Dysgen test results and the radiographic hip status (P = 0.3203) in these dogs, indicating that Dysgen test results obtained for Danish Labrador Retrievers have no prognostic value.
Does the Market Listen to the Government? Evidence from China Central Television
Authors: Hong Yun , Jiang Yanhui
Published: May 2020

This study explores the asset‐pricing function of CCTV (China Central Television) News in China. Results show that the economic focus and economic tone of CCTV News positively predict future aggregate stock market returns. We also find that the CCTV News economic focus betas and tone betas are positively related to cross‐sectional excess returns. The influence mechanism tests indicate that institutional investors decipher and absorb information from CCTV News faster and more effectively than retail investors. Finally, informed traders’ and analysts’ positive responses to CCTV News may partly explain the short‐term stock market reaction.
Investigation of systemic isosporosis outbreaks in an aviary of greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) and goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) and a possible link with local wild sparrows (Passer domesticus)
Authors: Gosbell MC , Olaogun OM , Luk KHY , Noormohammadi AH
Published: May 2020

Case Report

An outbreak of systemic isosporosis caused mortalities in greenfinches (Carduelis chloris) and goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) kept in an aviary in the western suburbs of Melbourne. The following year, a further outbreak in the same aviary occurred in a different flock of goldfinches. At the time of the second outbreak, dead and sick common sparrows (Passer domesticus) discovered near the aviary were also found to have systemic isosporosis.

Method

The systemic isosporosis was investigated and described using histopathology, electron microscopy and sequence analysis of the 18s gene.

Results

Isospora spp. infecting the greenfinch and the goldfinch caused significant thickening of the duodenal lamina propria. Measurements in the goldfinches showed an inverse correlation coefficient between the thickening of the duodenum and the weightof the birds. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of Isospora spp. within lymphocytes migrating into the lamina propria of the duodenum. Analysis of the 18s sequence discovered two different gene sequences across the three species of birds that didn't completely match any sequences previously deposited in GenBank.

Conclusion

Although the sparrows were found to have died from causes other than systemic Isospora, molecular studies of samples from their liver revealed the presence of an Isospora with 18s gene sequence identical to that found in the captive greenfinches.
Giving recipient communities a greater head start and including productive species boosts early resistance to invasion
Authors: Hess Manon Célia Morgane , Buisson Elise , Fontes Hugo , Bacon Léo , Sabatier Florent , Mesléard François
Published: May 2020

Questions

Giving a time advance to restored native plant species has recently been considered a promising way to improve their persistence and reduce invasion success (i.e., through priority effects). However, little is known about the influence of the elapsed time between seeding and invasion and its interaction with other characteristics such as species composition and density, despite the fact that it could substantially help developing effective management strategies.

Methods

In a pot experiment, we simulated invasion by three major invasive species (Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Bothriochloa barbinodis, and Cortaderia selloana) in soil covered with recipient communities differing in species composition (one, three or nine species), density (700 or 2,778 seeds/m2), and time advance (established one or five months previously). We assessed early invasion success by measuring seedling emergence and survival over six months.

Results

Early invasion success was mainly explained by recipient community's time advance and composition (or their interaction), while density had limited influence. Polycultures (three or nine species) showed generally greater invasion resistance, most likely due to high above‐ground biomass essentially produced by two species. Species composition interacted with time advance in two ways: (a) Bothriochloa barbinodis seedling emergence was impacted by composition only in communities having five months of advance, suggesting that the contribution of species composition to invasion resistance varies according to the age of the community, and (b) Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Cortaderia selloana survival was affected by time advance in polycultures only, which produced much more biomass than monocultures, implying that a greater head start provides a competitive advantage only if it allows a sufficient increase in biomass production.

Conclusions

Implementing revegetation as soon as site clearance work is over, as well as establishing productive native species may help reduce invasion success. How much of an advantage recipient community time advance represents depends on biomass production.
Linguistic comprehension and narrative skills predict reading ability: A 9‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Babayiğit Selma , Roulstone Sue , Wren Yvonne
Published: May 2020

Background

Linguistic comprehension and narrative skills encapsulate a complex array of grammatical and semantic skills that underpin complex reading comprehension processes. However, most research in this area has focused on children with reading difficulties and not on typically developing children. Also the research has mostly focused on short‐term effects of these skills on reading during the primary school years. Therefore, it remains unclear what specific role linguistic comprehension and narrative skills play in typically developing children’s reading beyond the primary school years.

Aims

With this 9‐year prospective longitudinal study, we sought to clarify the independent effects of linguistic comprehension and narrative skill (at 5 years of age) on children’s reading ability at 10 and 14 years of age.

Sample

We examined the data from 716 children (MAge = 67 months, SD = 2.13 months), which were drawn from a major population cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Methods

Children’s language skills were assessed at 5 and word reading and reading comprehension skills at 10 years of age. The reading achievement scores at 14 years of age were based on national curriculum test results.

Results

Linguistic comprehension and narrative skills at 5 years of age made unique and direct contributions to reading comprehension skills and reading achievement after accounting for general cognitive ability, memory, phonological skills, and mother's education. Moreover, listening comprehension predicted reading achievement even when prior reading skills were taken into account.

Conclusions

Linguistic comprehension and narrative skills are related but distinct oral language skills that continue to influence children's reading development beyond the primary school years.
How do Visitors Perceive the Role of Authentic Objects in Museums?
Authors: Schwan Stephan , Dutz Silke
Published: May 2020

The study investigated visitors’ notions of authentic objects across nine different German museums, three science and technology, three natural history, and three cultural history. The findings build on prior studies into visitors’ conceptions of authenticity of artifacts in science museums, indicating a nuanced role of authentic objects for museum exhibitions from the visitors' perspective. The results were generally consistent across all three museum types. Visitors emphasized cognitive effects of authentic objects, wanted authentic objects to be accompanied by additional information, and considered replicas to be legitimate substitutes. Visitors indicated that they accept that authentic objects could include modifications or improvements if the original object contained elements that were fragile or subject to harm from their use in an exhibition setting.
Does the right ventricle experiment morphologic and functional changes similarly to the left ventricle during pregnancy?
Authors: del Prado Díaz Susana , de la Calle María , Valbuena‐López Silvia C. , Montoro López Nieves , Merás Colunga Pablo , Bartha Jose Luis , Guzmán‐Martínez Gabriela
Published: May 2020

Objective

Morphological and functional right ventricular (RV) changes during normal pregnancy remain poorly characterized. Similar to left ventricle, RV load and function are expected to change, and establishing reference values for RV during a healthy pregnancy is critical for the evaluation of pregnancy‐related heart disease. The aim of the study was to describe RV adaptation in a prospective cohort.

Methods

Serial echocardiographic examinations were performed in second trimester (24 ± 2 weeks), third (32 ± 2 week) trimester, and postpartum (>3 months after delivery). Nulliparous women were evaluated as control group. RV linear dimensions, areas, and function were assessed and compared.

Results

Forty‐three pregnant women were evaluated and compared with nineteen nulliparous women as control. Function parameters decreased along gestation. RV fractional area fell from second to third trimester (52.01 ± 0.92 vs 48.73 ± 0.97, P < .05), as well as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (2.62 ± 0.05 vs 2.41 ± 0.05, P < .05); however, RV longitudinal strain (L) decreased earlier, showing main changes from second trimester (26.17 ± 0.86 vs 22.71 ± 0.57, P < .003, control vs second trimester). S′‐wave velocity followed a different pattern without changes during pregnancy. RV diameters significantly increased during pregnancy: basal (3.65 ± 0.06 vs 3.90 ± 0.06, P < .05), mid‐ (2.70 ± 0.06 vs 3.00 ± 0.07, P < .05), longitudinal (6.90 ± 0.09 vs 7.32 ± 0.11, P < .05), and right ventricle outflow tract proximal diameter (3.20 ± 0.06 vs 3.44 ± 0.06, P < .05). RV areas also suffered early variation during pregnancy. In postpartum evaluation, all these changes were reversed.

Conclusion

During pregnancy, RV experiments important variations. RV size increases, and its function decreases. Changes in LS were earlier compared with other function measures.
Parent–Child Conflict Profiles in Chinese American Immigrant Families: Links to Sociocultural Factors and School‐Age Children's Psychological Adjustment
Authors: Chung Sara , Zhou Qing , Kho Carmen , Main Alexandra
Published: May 2020

Research suggests that parent–child conflict is a salient family process in Asian immigrant families and often a stressful experience for Asian American youth due to value discrepancies between Asian and Western cultures. The present study examined ratings of parent–child conflict across conflict topics from parents' and children's perspectives in a sample of Chinese American immigrant families with school‐age children (N = 239; age = 7.5–11 years). Latent profile analyses identified three parent‐rated conflict profiles and four child‐rated conflict profiles. Parent and child conflict profiles were unrelated to each other and differentially related to family sociocultural factors and children's psychological adjustment. Parents' moderate conflict profile scored highest on parent‐rated child behavior problems and had the highest household density and lower parent Chinese orientation. Children's moderate‐specific and high conflict profiles scored higher on child‐reported behavior problems than the low conflict profile. These results highlight the need to assess family conflict from both parents' and children's perspectives and target parent–child conflict communication as a pathway to prevent or reduce behavioral problems in Chinese American children of immigrant families.
Cumulative damage model based on equivalent fatigue under multiaxial thermomechanical random loading
Authors: Li Luo‐Jin , Shang De‐Guang , Li Dao‐Hang , Xue Long , Liu Xiao‐Dong , Yin Xiang , Zhang Cheng‐Cheng , Chen Bo
Published: May 2020

A new creep–fatigue damage cumulative model is proposed under multiaxial thermomechanical random loading, in which the damage at high temperature can be divided into the pure fatigue damage and the equivalent fatigue damage from creep. During the damage accumulation process, the elementary percentage of the equivalent fatigue damage increment is proportional to that of the creep damage increment, and the creep damage is converted to the equivalent fatigue damage. Moreover, combined with a multiaxial cyclic counting method, a life prediction method is developed based on the proposed creep–fatigue damage cumulative model. In the developed life prediction method, the effects of nonproportional hardening on the fatigue and creep damages are considered, and the influence of mean stress on damage is also taken into account. The thermomechanical fatigue experimental data for thin‐walled tubular specimen of superalloy GH4169 under multiaxial constant amplitude and variable amplitude loadings were used to verify the proposed model. The results showed that the proposed method can obtain satisfactory life prediction results.
Effects of starting position, distance and ending point in a walking speed test among older adults
Authors: Zhao Yanan , Wu Tingting , Wei Yuan
Published: May 2020

Aims

This study examined the effects of the starting position, distance and ending point on walking speed in older adults with both the usual and maximum walking speeds.

Methods

In total, 101 older community‐dwellers aged between 60 and 74 years were included in this cross‐sectional study. Participants were instructed to walk two distances (i.e., 10 and 25 m) at usual and maximum speeds twice. The paired t‐test was used to examine the effects of starting positions (static start vs. dynamic start) and ending points (known vs. unknown ending point) on walking speed. Analysis of variance was used to explore walking speed differences among 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 25 m walking tests.

Results

Differences in walking speed between static start and dynamic start became larger with a decrease in the walking distance (Cohen's d: 4 m > 6 m > 10 m), and differences were larger in tests at the maximum walking speed (Cohen's d = 0.28–0.85) compared with those at usual walking speed (Cohen's d = 0.21–0.67). The walking speed increased with distance, but no significant changes were found among 10, 15, 20 and 25 m tests at the usual speed. Trivial speed differences were observed in walking speed between known (mean = 1.23–1.82 m/s) and unknown ending points (mean = 1.27–1.86 m/s; Cohen's d < 0.20).

Conclusions

Test parameters, particularly the starting position and walk distance, do influence walking speed measured in the short‐distance walking speed test among older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••–•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••–••.
Females compensate for moult‐associated male nest desertion in Hooded Warblers
Authors: Harrod William D. , Mumme Ronald L.
Published: May 2020

Uniparental offspring desertion occurs in a wide variety of avian taxa and usually reflects sexual conflict over parental care. In many species, desertion yields immediate reproductive benefits for deserters if they can re‐mate and breed again during the same nesting season; in such cases desertion may be selectively advantageous even if it significantly reduces the fitness of the current brood. However, in many other species, parents desert late‐season offspring when opportunities to re‐nest are absent. In these cases, any reproductive benefits of desertion are delayed, and desertion is unlikely to be advantageous unless the deserted parent can compensate for the loss of its partner and minimize costs to the current brood. We tested this parental compensation hypothesis in Hooded Warblers Setophaga citrina, a species in which males regularly desert late‐season nestlings and fledglings during moult. Females from deserted nests effectively doubled their provisioning efforts, and nestlings from deserted nests received just as much food, gained mass at the same rate, and were no more likely to die from either complete nest predation or brood reduction as young from biparental nests. The female provisioning response, however, was significantly related to nestling age; females undercompensated for male desertion when the nestlings were young, but overcompensated as nestlings approached fledging age, probably because of time constraints that brooding imposed on females with young nestlings. Overall, our results indicate that female Hooded Warblers completely compensate for male moult‐associated nest desertion, and that deserting males pay no reproductive cost for desertion, at least up to the point of fledging. Along with other studies, our findings support the general conclusion that late‐season offspring desertion is likely to evolve only when parental compensation by the deserted partner can minimize costs to the current brood.
Factors influencing acceptance of robotics in hospital pharmacy: a longitudinal study using the Extended Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Hogan Jane , Grant Gary , Kelly Fiona , O'Hare Jennie
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To explore factors influencing hospital pharmacy staff acceptance of a pharmacy robotic dispensing system during implementation and over time.

Methods

A single centred, prospective, longitudinal cohort quantitative study was conducted in an Australian tertiary public hospital using the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (ETAM). Staff were surveyed during the implementation of a pharmacy dispensing robot (May 2016) and again after working with the system for fifteen months (August 2017). Fishers exact test and correlation analysis of paired responses were used to identify significant factors influencing use of the system between the two time points.

Key findings

Sixty four respondents completed surveys during implementation (n=64) and 34-paired surveys were collected fifteen months later. Respondents were predominantly young, female with a tertiary qualification. Initial perceptions did not change over time, with the exception of reliability. Departmental leaders had greatest influence on technology acceptance during implementation and over time. Other key factors correlating with acceptance included: how useful the robot was perceived to be; ease of use and how relevant the robot was for an individual role. Higher levels of education had a negative association with usage during implementation and age was not a factor.

Conclusion

This study identified critical insights influencing staff acceptance of pharmacy robots that will help inform future implementation. The influence of pharmacy leaders emerged as key influence on technology acceptance. Leveraging on this influence a communication strategy prior to implementation should include information on useful functions and known benefits of the system customised for individual roles.
Transvaginal mesh, gender and the ethics of clinical innovation
Authors: Wiersma Miriam , Kerridge Ian , Lipworth Wendy
Published: May 2020

On 10 October 2018, Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt issued a national apology to the Australian women who experienced ‘horrific outcomes’ following surgery using transvaginal mesh—acknowledging the ‘historic agony and pain that has come from mesh implantation’. This apology followed many decades of ‘innovative’ use of transvaginal mesh for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. We use the case of transvaginal mesh to explore how clinical innovation may not only harm patients, but also entrench vulnerability and exacerbate existing inequities—in this case, those relating to gender.
Overcoming barriers to women's workplace leadership: insights from the interaction of formal and informal support mechanisms in trade unions
Authors: Dean Mark , Perrett Robert
Published: May 2020

Women face gendered barriers to union leadership. In‐depth interviews with UK and Australian female senior trade union leaders investigated how mentoring strategies can help women overcome barriers to leadership. Formal mentoring is most important, but the interaction of mentoring and informal support networks bolsters gender equality and workplace democracy.
Research review: A meta‐analysis of the international prevalence and comorbidity of mental disorders in children between 1 and 7 years
Authors: Vasileva Mira , Graf Ramona K. , Reinelt Tilman , Petermann Ulrike , Petermann Franz
Published: May 2020

Background

Children younger than 7 years can develop mental disorders that might manifest differently than in older children or adolescents. However, little is known about the prevalence of mental disorders at this early age.

Methods

We systematically searched the literature in the databases Web of Science, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, MEDLINE, and Embase to identify epidemiological studies of community samples published between 2006 and 2020. A series of meta‐analyses was conducted to estimate the pooled worldwide prevalence of mental disorders in general, specific mental disorders, and comorbidity in young children.

Results

A total of ten epidemiological studies reporting data on N = 18,282 children (12–83 months old) from eight countries met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of mental disorders in general was 20.1%, 95% CI [15.7, 25.4]. Most common disorders were oppositional defiant disorder (4.9%, 95% CI [2.5, 9.5]) and attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (4.3%, 95% CI [2.5, 7.2]). The prevalence of any anxiety disorders was 8.5%, 95% CI [5.2, 13.5], and of any depressive disorders was 1.1%, 95% CI [0.8, 1.6]. Comorbidity was estimated at 6.4%, 95% CI [1.3, 54.0].

Conclusions

The literature search reveals that the epidemiology of mental disorders in children younger than 7 years is still a neglected area of research. The findings also indicate that there are a significant number of young children suffering from mental disorders who need appropriate age‐adapted treatment.
The ups and downs of social life: Within‐person variations in daily status and inclusion differentially predict self‐regard and interpersonal behavior
Authors: Mahadevan Nikhila , Gregg Aiden P. , Sedikides Constantine
Published: May 2020

Objective

Grounded in sociometer theory and hierometer theory, the current research examined, for the first time, how within‐person fluctuations in people's status and inclusion relate to their self‐regard and interpersonal behavior.

Method

We conducted a 10‐day diary study and analyzed the data using multilevel modeling. Participants (N = 415) completed daily measures of their status, inclusion, self‐esteem, narcissism, assertiveness, and affiliativeness.

Results

On days when both their status and inclusion were higher, participants reported higher self‐esteem, but only on days when their status was higher did they report higher narcissism. Furthermore, on days when their self‐esteem was higher, participants behaved more assertively and more affiliatively, but only on days when their narcissism was higher, did they behave more assertively. These patterns persisted after controlling for baseline individual differences in all constructs. Self‐esteem, moreover, mediated the links between daily status and assertiveness, and between daily inclusion and affiliativeness; narcissism, in contrast, mediated the link between daily status and assertiveness only.

Conclusions

This research replicates at the within‐person level empirical links previously found at the between‐person level. The results suggest that narcissism operates chiefly as a hierometer (tracking status and regulating assertiveness), whereas self‐esteem additionally operates as a sociometer (also tracking inclusion and regulating affiliativeness).
Comparing manual and automatic scoring of sleep monitoring data from portable polygraphy
Authors: Kristiansen Stein , Traaen Gunn Marit , Øverland Britt , Plagemann Thomas , Gullestad Lars , Akre Harriet , Nikolaidis Konstantinos , Aakerøy Lars , Hunt Tove E. , Loennechen Jan Pål , Steinshamn Sigurd , Bendz Christina , Anfinsen Ole‐Gunnar , Goebel Vera
Published: May 2020

We used sleep monitoring data from a study that investigated the prevalence, characteristics, risk factors and type of sleep apnea (SA) in 579 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Most patients were screened for two nights, resulting in 1,043 sleep recordings that each contained data from one night. SA was diagnosed using the Nox T3 portable sleep monitor. An experienced sleep specialist scored the recordings manually using Noxturnal software. A total of 157 women (27%) and 422 men (73%) were examined; 477 (82.7%) had an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5/hr, whereas moderate to severe SA (AHI ≥ 15/hr) was diagnosed in 243 patients (42.1%). The AHI derived from automatic and manual scoring showed a good agreement (Pearson's r coefficient of 0.96). The median difference in AHI was very small (i.e., 0.72 [mean difference, 1.06]), but was statistically significant (p < .0001). Automatic scoring classified sleep recordings with more than 90% accuracy into SA categories of mild (AHI ≥ 5/hr), moderate (AHI ≥ 15/hr) and severe (AHI ≥ 30/hr). We found a minor (11%–21%) mis‐estimation of the number of recordings right above and below the boundary separating mild and moderate SA. The accuracy of automatic scoring differed from recording to recording, especially regarding the sensitivity of detecting disrupted breathing events. We found low to moderate agreement for the duration of disrupted breathing events (r = .53), for which the automatic scoring led to a statistically significant overestimation by 5.22 s (p < .0001).
Inclusive Language for Exclusive Policies: Restrictive Migration Governance in Chile, 2018
Authors: Finn Victoria , Umpierrez de Reguero Sebastián
Published: May 2020

Contemporary liberal democracies have employed exclusive or restrictive language, such as promising stricter border control, to ease domestic concerns about increased immigration, while simultaneously maintaining inclusive outcomes by accepting immigrants to support labor markets or to concur with global norms. Dynamic changes in migration flows disrupt this exclusive–inclusive balance known as the policy gap. Aligned with the South American shift since 2016 to more restrictive migration measures, in 2018, Chile’s new administration proposed legislation to replace the migration law, started a regularization process, and issued two executive decrees to change nationality‐specific visa procedures. We analyze the language, timing, and implementation of the decrees as units of analysis, juxtaposing their apparent versus actual purposes. Since Chile positions restrictive measures as protective of immigrants, this case of migration governance inverses the policy gap debate; now, inclusive language disguises exclusive outcomes.
Monitoring of Reading Comprehension Across the First, Second, and Third Language: Domain‐General or Language‐Specific?
Authors: Silawi Razan , Shalhoub‐Awwad Yasmin , Prior Anat
Published: May 2020

This study examined the monitoring abilities of trilinguals in reading comprehension, addressing the following questions: Is comprehension monitoring related to reading comprehension across first, second, and third languages? Is comprehension monitoring shared across the languages of trilingual adults (domain‐general) or rather linked to language proficiency (language‐specific)? Eighty undergraduates, trilingual in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, read three texts in each language, answered multiple‐choice questions, and rated their confidence in their responses. From this we derived the absolute and relative accuracy of monitoring. The results showed links between accurate monitoring and successful comprehension in all the languages of participants, but these were weaker in English, the least proficient language. Further, the results lend some support to the involvement of both domain‐general and language‐specific processes in comprehension monitoring. Specifically, monitoring seems to be utilized similarly by individuals to support comprehension across the first and second languages, but is less well generalized to the third language.
Molecular detection of Candidatus Rickettsia asembonensis in fleas collected from pets and domestic animals in Puducherry, India
Authors: Nataraj N. , Muthuraman K. , Sundaram D. , Ayyanar E. , Ashokkumar M. , Kasinathan G. , Devaraju P.
Published: May 2020

Rickettsia are obligate intracellular pathogens transmitted by arthropod vectors. The re‐emergence of several rickettsioses imposes severe global health burden. In addition to the well‐established rickettsial pathogens, newer rickettsial species and their pathogenic potentials are being uncovered. There are many reports of spotted and typhus fever caused by rickettsiae in India. Hence, in this study we screened the ectoparasites of pet and domestic animals for the presence of rickettsia using polymerase chain reaction. Nine cat flea samples (Ctenocephalides felis felis), that tested positive for the presence of rickettsia were subjected to Multi Locus Sequence Typing. Nucleotide sequencing and Phylogenetic analysis of gltA, ompB and 16rrs genes revealed that the rickettsiae detected in cat fleas was Rickettsia asembonensis. Further studies are required to assess Rickettsia asembonensis pathogenic potential to human and its enzootic maintenance of in various hosts and vectors.
Adverse labour market impacts of childhood and adolescence overweight and obesity in Western societies—A literature review
Authors: Reiband Hanna Kruse , Heitmann Berit L. , Sørensen Thorkild I.A.
Published: May 2020

Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents are major health issues of today with both somatic and psychosocial consequences in childhood, adolescence and adulthood and potentially adverse effects for adult social life. We conducted a narrative review of the literature about the association of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence with possible adverse impact on labour market in adulthood. By PubMed and Google Scholar searches, we identified 12 original, prospective studies from Western countries and extracted data from these studies. We discuss the possible explanations of the associations and the conceptual and methodological challenges in these studies. Despite inherent difficulties in interpreting results, partly due to differences in outcome definitions, ages at exposure, measurements of overweight and obesity, confounder control and societal differences, the studies indicate adverse labour market impacts on adult wage and employment. Furthermore, penalties seemed present even if the excessive weight was lost before adulthood, and women seemed more affected than men, especially when weight persisted into adulthood. While both health and lower education might contribute to explain the adverse labour market outcomes, also discrimination, stigmatization and the development of cognitive and noncognitive skills seemed to influence the outcomes. Prevention of these adverse labour market impacts likely requires multilevel efforts.
Negative pressure drainage‐assisted irrigation for maxillofacial space infection
Authors: Zhao Ning , Liu Yi , Yue Jin , Xu Yao‐xiang , Fu Zhen‐zhen , Ding Qian , Xiao Wen‐lin
Published: May 2020

Objective

In this study, the clinical effect of negative pressure drainage‐assisted irrigation (NPDI) technique was evaluated in treating maxillofacial space infection (MSI) by comparing with traditional technique.

Method

A prospective study was conducted in 58 patients with MSI. The patients were randomly divided into two groups based on different treatment techniques. Thirty patients receiving NPDI were included in NPDI group, and 28 patients receiving traditional technique were included in traditional group. Case data (gender, age, etiology, concurrent illness, diabetes, involved spaces, preoperative white cell count, airway control method) and clinical effect (postoperative hospital stay, total cost of admission) for the two groups were analyzed.

Results

Patients in both groups were cured clinically. There were no significant differences in gender, age, etiology, concurrent illness, diabetes, involved spaces, preoperative white cell count, and airway control method in NPDI group and traditional group (p > .05). The postoperative hospital stay and the total cost of admission in the NPDI group were significantly lower than the traditional group (p < .001).

Conclusion

Negative pressure drainage‐assisted irrigation used in the treatment of MSI can shorten the postoperative hospital stay, reduce the total cost of admission, and show favorably clinical effect. It is a clinically recommended method for MSI.
Maize ZmPT7 regulates Pi uptake and redistribution which is modulated by phosphorylation
Authors: Wang Fang , Cui Peng‐Juan , Tian Yan , Huang Yun , Wang Hai‐Feng , Liu Fang , Chen Yi‐Fang
Published: May 2020

Phosphorus, an essential mineral macronutrient, is a major constituent of fertilizers for maize (Zea mays L.) production. However, the molecular mechanisms of phosphate (Pi) acquisition in maize plants and its redistribution remain unclear. This study presents the functional characterization of ZmPT7 in Pi uptake and redistribution in maize. The ZmPT7 was expressed in roots and leaves, and induced during Pi starvation. The ZmPT7 complemented the Pi‐uptake deficiency of yeast mutant phoΔnull and Arabidopsis mutant pht1;1Δ4Δ, indicating that ZmPT7 functioned as a Pi transporter. We generated zmpt7 mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 and ZmPT7‐overexpressing lines. The zmpt7 mutants showed reduced, whereas the ZmPT7‐overexpressing lines displayed increased Pi‐uptake capacity and Pi redistribution from old to young leaves, demonstrating that ZmPT7 played central roles in Pi acquisition and Pi redistribution from old to young leaves. The ZmCK2 kinases phosphorylated ZmPT7 at Ser‐521 in old maize leaves, which enhanced transport activity of ZmPT7. The Ser‐520 of Arabidopsis AtPHT1;1, a conserved residue of ZmPT7 Ser‐521, was also phosphorylated by AtCK2 kinase, and the mutation of Ser‐520 to Glu (phosphorylation mimic) yielded enhanced transport activity of AtPHT1;1. Taken together, these results indicate that ZmPT7 plays important roles in Pi acquisition and redistribution, and its transport activity is modulated by phosphorylation.
Insufficient nitrogen supply from symbiotic fixation reduces seasonal crop growth and nitrogen mobilization to seed in highly productive soybean crops
Authors: Cafaro La Menza Nicolas , Monzon Juan Pablo , Lindquist John L. , Arkebauer Timothy J. , Knops Johannes M. H. , Unkovich Murray , Specht James E. , Grassini Patricio
Published: May 2020

Nitrogen (N) supply can limit the yields of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in highly productive environments. To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying this limitation, seasonal changes in N dynamics, aboveground dry matter (ADM) accumulation, leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of absorbed radiation (fAPAR) were compared in crops relying only on biological N2 fixation and available soil N (zero‐N treatment) versus crops receiving N fertilizer (full‐N treatment). Experiments were conducted in seven high‐yield environments without water limitation, where crops received optimal management. In the zero‐N treatment, biological N2 fixation was not sufficient to meet the N demand of the growing crop from early in the season up to beginning of seed filling. As a result, crop LAI, growth, N accumulation, radiation‐use efficiency and fAPAR were consistently higher in the full‐N than in the zero‐N treatment, leading to improved seed set and yield. Similarly, plants in the full‐N treatment had heavier seeds with higher N concentration because of greater N mobilization from vegetative organs to seeds. Future yield gains in high‐yield soybean production systems will require an increase in biological N2 fixation, greater supply of N from soil or fertilizer, or alleviation of the trade‐off between these two sources of N in order to meet the plant demand.
Transient elastography assessment of liver allograft fibrosis in pediatric transplant recipients
Authors: Lee Christine K. , Nastasio Silvia , Mitchell Paul D. , Fawaz Rima , Elisofon Scott A. , Vakili Khashayar , Kim Heung Bae , Nguyen Denis , Jonas Maureen M.
Published: May 2020

TE measures liver stiffness to assess fibrosis. Its use in post‐transplant patients was reported in few small pediatric studies. We evaluated TE ability to predict liver graft fibrosis in a large cohort while comparing it to the performance of APRI and FIB‐4. We also investigated the effect of graft type on LSMs. Patients at Boston Children's Hospital who underwent LT and LSM ≤ 1 year from biopsy (2007‐2018) were eligible. Ninety‐four patients (45%M) aged 1‐21 years (89% < 18 years; 13% < 2 years) were eligible. Median time between transplant/biopsy and LSM was 5.1 years and 52 days, respectively. Thirty‐nine percent received whole‐liver grafts, 54% TV grafts, and 6% as part of MV. At LSM, median ALT was 25 [IQR 16‐33] IU/L. Twenty‐one percent had METAVIR ≥ F2. LSM was statistically higher among those with significant fibrosis (METAVIR ≥ F2) compared to those with METAVIR F0/F1 (median [IQR] 7.5 [4.6, 13.6] vs 5.1 [4.0, 6.4] kPa, respectively) (P = .005 by Wilcoxon rank‐sum test). APRI and FIB‐4 distributions were not different across METAVIR stages. The AUROC for LSM was 0.71 (95% CI 0.56‐0.85) with an optimal cut‐point of 6.5 kPa. Graft type had no influence on the AUROC for LSM. TE is useful for assessing significant graft fibrosis in children and young adult LT recipients and performs better than APRI and FIB‐4. TV grafts demonstrate similar correlation with histology as whole‐liver grafts.
Predicting dam‐related downstream geomorphic response with widely available stream gauge data: A case study of the Godavari River Basin, India
Authors: Sanyal Joy , Dasgupta Priyanka , Kanae Shinjiro
Published: May 2020

Dam‐related downstream adjustments of riverbeds are normally investigated by analysing the trend in sediment supply and high flow events during the pre‐ and post‐dam periods. The required data for existing predictive models is not measured at river gauges, which limits the application of these tools. We derived the frequency of sediment‐transporting streamflow events (T*) and upstream sediment supply (S*) in the pre‐ and post‐dam periods with widely available gauged records and predicted changes in the downstream riverbed by adapting an existing model. Ten gauging stations in the Godavari River Basin, India, located downstream of dams, were chosen as study sites. Annually surveyed cross‐sections at each site validated the accuracy of the predicted dam‐related downstream changes. Then, a regression equation (R2 = 0.75) was established between T*/S* (independent variable) and changes in the downstream bed elevation (dependent variable) for the Godavari Basin. We recommended that similar local empirical equations be formulated for larger river basins. Models of large‐scale rainfall‐runoff and sediment transport processes that can account for the influence of dams, such as the Soil & Water Assessment Tool, can be paired with the proposed regression equation to estimate dam‐related downstream erosion and deposition with globally available data.
Detection of Sealant Delamination in Integrated Circuit Package Using Nondestructive Evaluation
Authors: Li Guoyi , Lee Hyunseong , Chattopadhyay Aditi , Kumar Neerukatti Rajesh , Liu Kuang C.
Published: May 2020

This paper presents the development of a nondestructive evaluation method for delamination detection in integrated circuit (IC) packages. The developed method allows for quantitative detection of sealant delamination between integrated heat sink (IHS) and substrate, which is considered a potential failure mechanism in IC packages. The proposed method is expected to overcome the destructive nature of most existing techniques, while maintaining low cost of development. The reported development consists of the following processes: First, flash thermographic analysis is investigated and shown to be incapable of detecting a realistic sealant delamination. Then, ultrasonic guided waves (UGWs) are used as the chosen interrogation method due to their sensitivity to small-size damage and structural thickness variations. The complexity of the received ultrasonic signals caused by the geometric heterogeneity is resolved using a time–frequency signal processing technique. The extracted ultrasonic information, including time-of-arrival (TOA) and amplitude of wave modes received from different sensing paths under multiple excitation frequencies, is then used to construct a feature space. A multivariate Gaussian model is implemented as an information fusion and delamination detection tool, which investigates the distribution of feature space including correlations between features. Results from the developed model are compared with two existing evaluation methods, including pullout force measurement and a delamination metric. The developed method is seen to possess a similar level of accuracy with a nondestructive nature.
Experimental Analysis of the Lift Force Discontinuity of a Spring-Loaded Pressure Safety Valve Working in Pneumatic Service
Authors: Zong Chaoyong , Zheng Fengjie , Li Qingye , Song Xueguan
Published: May 2020

Pressure safety valves (PSVs) are designed to provide ultimate protection for pressure systems. For design or optimization purpose, it is necessary to study the lift force exerted on the valve disk. Under special valve configuration, the lift force shows discontinuity with the increment of valve opening, which is an undesirable phenomenon because it may be the cause of some serious problems, such as unstable valve operations. To study their characteristics in depth, experimental investigations are conducted in this paper. For lift force measurement, an experimental rig was specially designed and built. A series of force tests were carried out, and the result indicates that two variables, namely, the position of the adjustment ring and the thickness of the valve nozzle, have great influence on lift force; under certain valve configurations, the lift force has a discontinuous performance; for different configurations, degrees and positions of force discontinuities are very different; lift forces are linear functions of the inlet pressures, and the slopes of the force changes are similar for different valve openings.