bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Substituting Sunflower Oil with Starch‐Based Fat Replacers on Sensory Profile, Tribology, and Rheology of Reduced‐Fat Mayonnaise‐Type Emulsions
Authors: Agyei‐Amponsah Joyce , Macakova Lubica , DeKock Henrietta L. , Emmambux Mohammad N.
Published: October 2020

This study investigates the effect of substituting sunflower oil with two starch‐based fat‐replacers on the rheological and lubricating properties, as well as the sensory properties of reduced‐fat mayonnaise‐type emulsions. Lipid‐modified maize starch fat replacers containing amylose–lipid complexes, maize starch with 1.5% stearic acid and maize starch with 2% monoglyceride, are used to formulate reduced‐fat mayonnaise‐type emulsions at 0% (full‐fat control), 50%, 80%, and 98% level of oil replacement. Reduced‐fat emulsions containing starch/monoglyceride are rated similar (p > 0.05) to the full‐fat mayonnaise at all the oil replacement levels in terms of smoothness, creaminess, melting, and mouth‐coating. They also have similarities in terms of thickness and easy‐to‐swallow sensory attributes, up to a 50% substitution level. For the corresponding starch/stearic acid emulsions, the smoothness, thickness, creaminess, and mouth‐coating attributes are rated lower while the melting and easy‐to‐swallow attributes are rated higher than for the starch/monoglyceride emulsions. In general, all the reduced‐fat emulsions exhibit good lubrication. The ability of the reduced‐fat emulsions to support the highly viscous structure provided by the presence of amylose–lipid complexes in the fat replacers is better for the starch/monoglyceride fat replacer than for the starch/stearic acid fat replacer.
Swelling and Shrinking Behavior of Modified Starch Biopolymer with Iron Oxide
Authors: Kumar Sunny , Madan Sapana , Bariha Nilambar , Suresh S
Published: October 2020

Rapid consumption of petroleum‐based polymers has resulted in the growth of global production but such polymers have a limited source and slow degradation rate. Biopolymers are an alternative sustainable material that can be synthesized using natural sources. In this study, a starch‐based biopolymer composite is synthesized using various concentrations of iron oxide as a binder. A decreased absorption of water is found with an increase in binder concentration. The swelling (absorption) and shrinking (desorption) behaviors of biopolymers are studied as a function of pH, sodium chloride salt, and alcohol (methanol and ethanol). The diffusion model is used to study the absorption and desorption behavior of the biopolymer. Electron microscopy and elemental analysis find iron and oxygen atoms at the composite surface. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction confirm that iron oxide is bound with starch. The mechanical hardness of the biocomposites is studied at varied of binder concentrations. This biocomposite can be utilized in packaging, electronics, sensor, and biomedical applications.
The rise and shine of yeast optogenetics
Authors: Figueroa David , Rojas Vicente , Romero Andres , Larrondo Luis F. , Salinas Francisco
Published: October 2020

Optogenetics refers to the control of biological processes with light. The activation of cellular phenomena by defined wavelengths has several advantages compared with traditional chemically inducible systems, such as spatiotemporal resolution, dose–response regulation, low cost, and moderate toxic effects. Optogenetics has been successfully implemented in yeast, a remarkable biological platform that is not only a model organism for cellular and molecular biology studies, but also a microorganism with diverse biotechnological applications. In this review, we summarize the main optogenetic systems implemented in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which allow orthogonal control (by light) of gene expression, protein subcellular localization, reconstitution of protein activity, and protein sequestration by oligomerization. Furthermore, we review the application of optogenetic systems in the control of metabolic pathways, heterologous protein production and flocculation. We then revise an example of a previously described yeast optogenetic switch, named FUN‐LOV, which allows precise and strong activation of the target gene. Finally, we describe optogenetic systems that have not yet been implemented in yeast, which could therefore be used to expand the panel of available tools in this biological chassis. In conclusion, a wide repertoire of optogenetic systems can be used to address fundamental biological questions and broaden the biotechnological toolkit in yeast.
Quantitative methods in microscopy to assess pollen viability in different plant taxa
Authors: Ascari Lorenzo , Novara Cristina , Dusio Virginia , Oddi Ludovica , Siniscalco Consolata
Published: October 2020

High-quality pollen is a prerequisite for plant reproductive success. Pollen viability and sterility can be routinely assessed using common stains and manual microscope examination, but with low overall statistical power. Current automated methods are primarily directed towards the analysis of pollen sterility, and high throughput solutions for both pollen viability and sterility evaluation are needed that will be consistent with emerging biotechnological strategies for crop improvement. Our goal is to refine established labelling procedures for pollen, based on the combination of fluorescein (FDA) and propidium iodide (PI), and to develop automated solutions for accurately assessing pollen grain images and classifying them for quality. We used open-source software programs (CellProfiler, CellProfiler Analyst, Fiji and R) for analysis of images collected from 10 pollen taxa labelled using FDA/PI. After correcting for image background noise, pollen grain images were examined for quality employing thresholding and segmentation. Supervised and unsupervised classification of per-object features was employed for the identification of viable, dead and sterile pollen. The combination of FDA and PI dyes was able to differentiate between viable, dead and sterile pollen in all the analysed taxa. Automated image analysis and classification significantly increased the statistical power of the pollen viability assay, identifying more than 75,000 pollen grains with high accuracy (R2 = 0.99) when compared to classical manual counting. Overall, we provide a comprehensive set of methodologies as baseline for the automated assessment of pollen viability using fluorescence microscopy, which can be combined with manual and mechanized imaging systems in fundamental and applied research on plant biology. We also supply the complete set of pollen images (the FDA/PI pollen dataset) to the scientific community for future research.
The relation between teacher self-reported individualization and student-perceived teaching quality in linguistically heterogeneous classes: an exploratory study
Authors: Hachfeld Axinja , Lazarides Rebecca
Published: October 2020

Germany historically responded to student diversity by tracking students into different schools beginning with grade 5. In the last decades, sociopolitical changes, such as an increase in “German-as-a-second-language” speaking students (GSL), have increased diversity in all tracks and have forced schools to consider forms of individualization. This has opened up the scientific debate in Germany on merits and limitations of individualization for different student groups within a tracked system and heterogeneous classes. The aim of the present exploratory study was to examine how individualized teaching (i.e., teacher self-reported individualized teaching practices and individual reference norm orientation) is related to student-perceived teaching quality. Additionally, we considered moderation effects of classroom composition in relation to achievement and proportion of GSL students. Longitudinal data came from 35 mathematics classes with 659 9th and 10th grade students. Results showed significant relation between teacher self-reported individualized teaching practices and individual reference norm orientation and monitoring. Regarding the composition effects, the proportion of GSL students in class moderated the relation between teacher self-reported individual reference norm orientation and cognitive activation. Our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence that classroom composition can differentially impact the relation between teachers’ behaviors and students’ perceptions of teaching quality.
Cybersecurity in PACS and Medical Imaging: an Overview
Authors: Eichelberg Marco , Kleber Klaus , Kämmerer Marc
Published: October 2020

This article provides an overview on the literature published on the topic of cybersecurity for PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications Systems) and medical imaging. From a practical perspective, PACS specific security measures must be implemented together with the measures applicable to the IT infrastructure as a whole, in order to prevent incidents such as PACS systems exposed to access from the Internet. Therefore, the article first offers an overview of the physical, technical and organizational mitigation measures that are proposed in literature on cybersecurity in healthcare information technology in general, followed by an overview on publications discussing specific cybersecurity topics that apply to PACS and medical imaging and present the “building blocks” for a secure PACS environment available in the literature. These include image de-identification, transport security, the selective encryption of the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) header, encrypted DICOM files, digital signatures and watermarking techniques. The article concludes with a discussion of gaps in the body of published literature and a summary.
Assessment of paddy fields’ damage caused by Cyclone Nargis using MODIS time-series images (2004–2013)
Authors: Omori Keisuke , Sakai Toru , Miyamoto Jun , Itou Akihiko , Oo Aung Naing , Hirano Akira
Published: October 2020

The Ayeyarwady Delta in the Bay of Bengal, the rice bowl of Myanmar, depends on natural conditions, especially rainfall. During the dry season, the delta’s coastal zone experiences saline water intrusion due to its low-lying topography. On May 2, 2008, Cyclone Nargis made landfall and crossed Ayeyarwady Region and Yangon City, affecting more than 50 townships and causing massive destruction of personal property and natural ecosystems. There is no doubt that Nargis caused an unprecedented large-scale disaster, but there is no objective method to quantify crop yield and salinity damage in the delta post-Nargis. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to clarify the changes in vegetation in paddy fields in the Ayeyarwady Delta using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data pre- and post-Nargis and determine whether this method can be applied to measure crop and salinity damage. The study used daily composite data at a 250-m resolution (MOD09GQ, collection 6) from 2004 to 2013 and calculated NDVI and salinity indices smoothed by locally weighted regression (Lowess). Based on the results of our studies, NDVI peak value in 2008 was lower by 19% compared to 2007 data, and that the NDVI peak values declined for three straight years since May 2008 when Nargis struck. However, salinity damage evaluation pre- and post-Nargis (using the salinity index equation) showed that soil electrical conductivity did not tend to move up in the post-Nargis dry season (2009), indicating that the decrease in NDVI values was not due to salinity damage.
The link between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and entrepreneurial orientation in Japanese business owners
Authors: Wismans Annelot , Kamei Katsuyuki , Thurik Roy , Torrès Olivier
Published: October 2020

Several studies have observed a relationship between (subclinical levels of) attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and entrepreneurship. Recently, Yu et al. (Entrep Theory Pract10.1177/1042258719892987, 2019) and Wismans et al. (Appl Psychol 69:1093–111210.1111/apps.12247, 2020) observed a positive association between hyperactivity and entrepreneurial orientation (EO). The present study seeks to replicate these findings in an entirely different culture, that of Japan. Moreover, because of the low internal consistency of the hyperactivity measure across studies, we study the individual contributions of the hyperactivity items. Using a sample of 255 Japanese business owners, we conducted OLS regressions and PLS-structural equation modelling. The results of our study on the ADHD-EO relationship in Japan are partly in line with previous findings: the positive link between hyperactivity and EO is again confirmed. In contrast with the results of previous studies, we find a positive link between overall ADHD symptoms and EO using both methods and a positive link between attention-deficit and EO using one of the methods (PLS-SEM). Cultural differences may explain these different findings. When the two hyperactivity items are separated, they appear to have different associations with EO. One item, measuring mental hyperactivity, is strongly positively associated with EO, whereas the other item, measuring physical hyperactivity, is not associated with EO. This result is a new and interesting finding that is replicated in the current study using the French dataset of Wismans et al. (Appl Psychol 69:1093–111210.1111/apps.12247, 2020) but which warrants further research.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Newborns and their Mothers—Novel Approaches to Early Detection, Treatment and Prevention of a Global Health Issue
Authors: Gramer Gwendolyn , Hoffmann Georg F.
Published: October 2020

Vitamin B12 deficiency, mostly of maternal origin in newborns, is a well treatable condition but can cause severe neurologic sequelae. In women of childbearing age and pregnant women worldwide vitamin B12 deficiency has been reported with frequencies of 10%–50%. Children with vitamin B12 deficiency are asymptomatic at birth but may develop severe multisystemic symptoms, including irreversible developmental impairment in the second half-year of life. Early detection of vitamin B12 deficiency allows for presymptomatic treatment. This article provides an overview over the function of vitamin B12 and discusses causes and frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in newborns, infants, and women of childbearing age. It describes novel successful approaches to newborn screening (NBS) for vitamin B12 deficiency and results of a pilot study which performed systematic NBS for vitamin B12 deficiency using so-called second-tier strategies by measuring homocysteine and methylmalonic acid in dried blood spots. Recommendations for diagnostics in mothers of children with vitamin B12 deficiency are described as well as results of systematic work-up in mothers and treatment and follow-up of children with vitamin B12 deficiency detected by NBS. Treatment options of vitamin B12 deficiency are presented including a newly developed standardized supplementation scheme with exclusively oral vitamin B12 supplementation. Recommendations for preventive approaches to vitamin B12 deficiency for children and mothers are stated. Many children worldwide could benefit from systematic inclusion of vitamin B12 deficiency into NBS panels. In addition, preventive approaches to maternal vitamin B12 deficiency should be implemented systematically during maternal care.
Experimental study and modeling of water-based fluid imbibition process in Middle and Lower Indus Basin Formations of Pakistan
Authors: Khan Muhammad Arqam , Haneef Javed , Lalji Shaine Mohammadali , Ali Syed Imran
Published: October 2020

Wellbore instability is one of the major problems that arise in drilling shale formations. Drilling in these formations may lead to breakouts and induce fractures. In Pakistan, drilling companies face quiet a number of formations that are shaly in nature and are candidates for wellbore instability issues. To counter these issues, it is required to have good understanding about the composition of the shale and its chemical reactivity with drilling fluids. Shale samples of three different formations have been obtained. These samples belong to two different regions of Indus Basin of Pakistan and were subjected to cation exchange capacity test and X-rays diffraction analysis to determine the reactivity and mineralogy, respectively. The samples were then tested for swelling properties using linear dynamic swell meter. The testing was done in two different water-based drilling fluids. The increase in height and swelling percentage for each sample was then recorded against each type of drilling fluid. A comparative analysis was done as to what type of drilling fluid systems out of the two used in the swelling test would best inhibit the swelling nature of shale for each formation in these regions of Pakistan. Finally, analytical and numerical modeling was performed on each shale sample. It was observed that the swelling parameter A (total swelling) increases significantly for Middle Indus Basin Shale Formation, and on the contrary, the filtration term (C) becomes independent of time after certain period of testing.
Positionspapier der Österreichische Alzheimer Gesellschaft (ÖAG)
Authors: Defrancesco Michaela , Bancher Christian , Dal-Bianco Peter , Hinterhuber Hartmann , Schmidt Reinhold , Struhal Walter , Ransmayr Gerhard , Stögmann Elisabeth , Marksteiner Josef
Published: October 2020

Ältere Menschen sind durch die COVID-19 Pandemie besonders betroffen. Die meisten der Verstorbenen sind ältere Erwachsene, von denen ein Großteil vorbestehende Gesundheitsprobleme hatten. Weltweit leiden mehr als 50 Mio. – in Österreich etwa 140.000 Menschen an Demenz. Demenz hat sich in einer alternden Gesellschaft zu einer Pandemie entwickelt. Der Doppelschlag von Demenz- und COVID-19-Pandemien hat bei diesen Menschen und deren Angehörigen große Besorgnis ausgelöst. Die Covid-19-Pandemie stellt Patienten mit Demenz und deren Angehörige vor große Herausforderungen: 1. durch begrenzten Zugang zu genauen Informationen über die COVID-19-Pandemie, Schwierigkeiten, sich an Schutzverfahren, wie das Tragen von Masken, zu erinnern oder die ihnen zur Verfügung gestellten Informationen zu verstehen. 2. Demenzpatienten leben allein oder mit ihrem Ehepartner, ihren Bezugspersonen zu Hause oder in Pflegeheimen. Um die Ansteckungsgefahr in Pflegeheimen zu verringern, wurden Besuche in Pflegeheimen und Langzeitpflegeeinrichtungen verboten. Sozialdistanzierende Maßnahmen sind flächendeckend eingesetzt worden. Folglich verloren ältere Bewohner den persönlichen Kontakt zu ihren Familienmitgliedern und wurden sozial isoliert. Auch Gruppenaktivitäten in Pflegeheimen wurden verboten. Es wurde beobachtet, dass unter dem doppelten Stress der Angst vor Infektionen und der Sorge um den Zustand der Bewohner das Angstniveau unter dem Personal in den Pflegeheimen im Verlauf der vollständigen Abschottung zunahm und Anzeichen von Erschöpfung und Burnout auftraten. Die Österreichische Alzheimer Gesellschaft (ÖAG), wie auch bereits andere internationale Gesellschaften, möchten mit diesem Artikel aufgrund der akuten COVID-19-Krise Menschen mit Demenz und ihr Betreuungsumfeld unterstützen. Neben dem physischen Schutz vor Virusinfektionen sollten auch Empfehlungen für die psychische Gesundheit und Möglichkeiten der psychosozialen Unterstützung auf verschiedenen Ebenen aufgezeigt werden.
Direct Laser Processing of Two-Scale Periodic Structures for Superhydrophobic Surfaces Using a Nanosecond Pulsed Laser
Authors: Shimada Hidenori , Kato Shunichi , Watanabe Takumi , Yamaguchi Masaki
Published: October 2020

Hierarchical structures are promising geometries for superhydrophobic surfaces, however a processing method with a single laser light source that is capable of both one-pass and rapid processing has not been established. The purpose of this study was to propose a concept of direct laser processing of two-scale periodic structures exhibiting superhydrophobicity. We hypothesized that the molten material that occurs due to the expanding plasma and that is squeezed around the micro-holes could play an active role in the processing of two-scale periodic structures. Percussion drilling using a nanosecond pulsed laser (532 nm wavelength) was performed on a steel surface. Twenty four different test-pieces were prepared using pitch (16–120 μm), number of repetition shots (1–120), and fluence (2.49–20 J/cm2), as the parameters. As the results, micro-holes with bank-shaped outer rims were formed. The maximum apparent contact angle was 161.4° and the contact angle hysteresis was 4.2° for a pitch of 80 μm and 20 repetition shots. The calculated results for the apparent contact angles were consistent with the measured results. Finally, an equation for estimating the processing rate was proposed. We demonstrated that this direct processing method can achieve a maximum processing rate of 823 mm2/min.
Synergistic modification of the tribological properties of polytetrafluoroethylene with polyimide and boron nitride
Authors: Xie Chaojie , Wang Kejian
Published: October 2020

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) blended with polyimide (PI) and filled with boron nitride (BN) is prepared through cold pressing and sintering for composites with remarkable wear resistance and reduced coefficient of friction (COF). The characterizations show that BN and PI at different levels, improve the hardness, dynamic thermo-mechanical modulus, thermal conductivity, and tribological properties of PTFE. PI boosts the dispersion and bonding of BN in PTFE. In dry sliding friction of a block-on-ring tribometer, the wear rate and COF of 10:10:80 BN/PI/PTFE reduce to almost 1/300 and 80% of those of pure PTFE, respectively, as the wear mechanism transition from being adhesive to partially abrasive. This occurs only when the additives BN and PI induce a synergistic effect, that is, at concentrations that are not higher than ca. 10 wt% and 15 wt%, respectively. The obvious agglomeration at high percentages of added PI and severe conditions (400 N and 400 rpm) induce strong adhesive failure. The variations in the tensile properties, hardness, crystallization, and microstructure of the composites correspond to different effects. The multiple parameters of the plots of wear and friction are transformed into their contour curves. The mechanism transition maps aid in understanding the influence of various test conditions and composite compositions on the contact surfaces in the space-time framework of wear.
Why Can We Make Anything from Lignin Except Money? Towards a Broader Economic Perspective in Lignin Research
Authors: Wenger Julia , Haas Verena , Stern Tobias
Published: October 2020

Purpose of Review

As a major component of wood, lignin is regarded as a promising, bio-based compound which could strongly influence the forest-based circular bioeconomy. Much research has been conducted on the material use of lignin, but the lignin commercialization process is still under development; few commercial production facilities and larger-scale applications are available. Therefore, we present a review of recent research papers on the economic perspectives on lignin.

Recent Findings

Research has been conducted on lignin application areas such as lignin-derived polymeric materials, polymer and composite systems, applications for microsized and nanosized lignin, energy storage, and renewable chemicals. On the whole, the life cycle assessment results indicate that lignin-based innovations can be environmentally beneficial. Techno-economic studies identified the lignin feedstock cost and the achievable product price as the most sensitive factors. Recently, researchers pointed out information asymmetries between different stakeholder groups concerning lignin-containing products.

Although most of the relevant papers presented a technical perspective of lignin, a smaller set of general economic statements about lignin appear in these papers. These statements refer to lignin underutilization, limited markets, resource abundancy, and barriers to utilization. The literature on technical lignin with an economic perspective can be divided into two different streams: several techno-economic papers and fewer socio-economic papers. The former placed a primary focus on production processes from a profit maximization perspective, but attempts were also made in the latter to explain the socio-technical innovation system. To date, lignin researchers have focused mainly on internal (direct) factors but have not yet sufficiently considered external (indirect) factors.
Evolutionary optimization of neural network to predict sediment transport without sedimentation
Authors: Ebtehaj Isa , Bonakdari Hossein , Zaji Amir Hossein , Gharabaghi Bahram
Published: October 2020

Sedimentation in open channels occurs frequently and is relative to system inflow. The long-term retention of sediments on channel beds can increase the possibility of variations in deposits and their eventual consolidation. This study compares three hybrid artificial intelligence methods in estimating sediment transport without sedimentation (STWS). We employed the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) methods in combination with the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to overcome the weakness of ANN training with conventional algorithms. We used the ICA, GA and PSO methods to optimize the weights of the ANN layers. Using dimensional analysis, we placed the effective parameters in predicting sediment transport into five non-dimensional groups. Six models are proposed and run using three hybrid methods (18 models in total). As the comparisons demonstrate, the proposed combined models are more accurate than ANN and existing equations in estimating the densimetric Froude number (Fr). However, we found the ICA–ANN superior to GA–ANN and PSO–ANN, as it produces explicit solutions to the problem. The ICA–ANN has the lowest prediction uncertainty band for Fr of all developed models. Moreover, the variation trend of the Fr for all input variables (except overall friction factor of sediment) is a second-order polynomial.
Clinical Assessment of the Medial Longitudinal Arch in Children: Rater Agreement and Relationship to Objective Foot Arch Measurements
Authors: Stotz Andreas , Hollander Karsten , Heidt Christoph , Sehner Susanne , Zech Astrid
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this study was to (1) investigate the agreement among clinical experts regarding the classification of the medial longitudinal arch in children and to (2) examine the relationship between the expert ratings and the static and dynamic foot arch measurements. Eleven foot experts were asked to identify foot arches of seventy-four children (mean ± SD age of 9.0 ± 1.81 years) using three categories (low, normal, and high arch). Additionally, dynamic footprint data of all children were captured with a pedobarographic platform. For static arch measurements, a specially constructed caliper was used to assess heel-to-toe length and dorsum height. Agreement among raters was determined using the kappa statistic. For comparisons between clinical rating and diagnostic systems, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and ordinal logistic regression were calculated. The combined kappa score for all three arch types (0.422, 32.8%) shows borderline moderate agreement between raters. Area under the curves (AUC) values of the ROC curves ranging from 0.48 to 0.68 show poor relationship between quantitative and qualitative arch height measurements. The highest agreement was found for the dynamic arch index and foot experts’ ratings for low arched vs non-low arched feet (AUC = 0.68) and normal vs low arched feet (AUC = 0.67). The results of this study showed borderline moderate agreement among clinical experts in the clinical assessment of the medial longitudinal plantar arch in children. Also, only a poor relationship between the clinical foot arch assessments and the static and dynamic foot measurements was revealed. Further research is necessary to establish an accurate and consistent diagnostic system for the measurement of the medial longitudinal arch in children.
Use of a comprehensive program to review religious and personal seasonal influenza vaccination exemption requests by healthcare personnel
Authors: Boone Benjamin C. , Johnson Rochelle T. , Rolando Lori A. , Talbot Thomas R.
Published: October 2020

Objective:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) requires that all faculty and staff receive the seasonal influenza vaccine annually or receive an approved vaccine exemption, either for a medical or deeply held religious or personal belief. We sought to understand the underlying principles behind these exemption requests and their interaction with a multidisciplinary exemption review process.

Design:

All of the personal and religious exemption requests at VUMC for 3 consecutive influenza seasons from 2015 to 2018 were analyzed, categorizing these requests by 1 of 12 standardized employee categories and 1 of 18 unique reasons for vaccine exemption.

Setting:

Tertiary-care academic medical center.

Participants:

Healthcare personnel (HCP).

Results:

Among the 3 influenza seasons, 1.1%–2.1% of all VUMC HCP requested religious or personal exemption from vaccination. The frequency of religious and personal exemption approval increased annually from 296 of 452 (65.5%) to 196 of 248 (80.2%) to 283 of 323 (87.6%) over the 3 seasons, representing a statistically significant increase each year. Of the 5 most common reasons against vaccination, 4 were explicitly religious in nature; the most common reason was that the “body is a temple or sacred.” Nonclinical staff submitted the most religious and personal exemption requests of any job category, submitting approximately one-third of all requests every year.

Conclusions:

These results demonstrate how detailed the personal or religious convictions behind vaccine avoidance can be among HCP and how vaccine avoidance stems from much more than simple misinformation regarding vaccination. The intersection between misinformation and personal or religious beliefs provides a unique opportunity to address HCP opinions toward vaccination in an exemption and appeals process like the one described here.
Executive Order 13928 on Blocking Property of Certain Persons Associated with the International Criminal Court
Authors: Van Schaack Beth
Published: October 2020

On June 11, 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 13928 Blocking Property of Certain Persons Associated with the International Criminal Court under the authority vested in him by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and other federal statutes. Although the Trump Administration had earlier threatened aggressive action against the International Criminal Court (ICC), the issuance of the E.O. followed a ruling by the ICC Appeals Chamber authorizing the Prosecutor to commence an investigation into the situation in Afghanistan, which might implicate U.S. persons. The E.O. declared the ICC's “illegitimate assertion of jurisdiction” over U.S. personnel and the personnel of “certain of its allies” to be “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States” within the meaning of IEEPA. It is a sweeping measure, blocking all property within the United States owned by designated natural or legal person (section 1); barring any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services to, or for the benefit of, designated persons (section 3), including even the donation of food, clothing, or medicine (section 2). The E.O. also authorized the imposition of certain immigration restrictions, including suspension of entry into the United States of ICC officials and their immediate family members (Section 4).
Natural history in the physician's study: Jan Swammerdam (1637–1680), Steven Blankaart (1650–1705) and the ‘paperwork’ of observing insects
Authors: KLERK SASKIA
Published: October 2020

While some seventeenth-century scholars promoted natural history as the basis of natural philosophy, they continued to debate how it should be written, about what and by whom. This look into the studios of two Amsterdam physicians, Jan Swammerdam (1637–80) and Steven Blankaart (1650–1705), explores natural history as a project in the making during the second half of the seventeenth century. Swammerdam and Blankaart approached natural history very differently, with different objectives, and relying on different traditions of handling specimens and organizing knowledge on paper, especially with regard to the way that individual observations might be generalized. These traditions varied from collating individual dissections into histories, writing both general and particular histories of plants and animals, collecting medical observations and applying inductive reasoning. Swammerdam identified the essential changes that insects underwent during their life cycle, described four orders based on these ‘general characteristics’ and presented his findings in specific histories that exemplified the ‘general rule’ of each order. Blankaart looked to the collective observations of amateurs to support his reputation as a man of medicine, but this was not supposed to lead to any kind of generalization. Their work alerts us to the variety of observational practices that were available to them, and with what purposes they made these their own.
Variation in Australian durum wheat germplasm for productivity traits under irrigated and rainfed conditions: genotype performance for agronomic traits and benchmarking
Authors: Kadkol Gururaj , Smith Alison , Cullis Brian , Chenu Karine
Published: October 2020

A set of durum wheat genotypes from New South Wales (NSW, Durum Breeding Australia (DBA) Northern Program), South Australia (SA, DBA Southern Program and Australian Grain Technology), ICARDA and CIMMYT (International Centre for Research in Dryland Agriculture and International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement) was evaluated over 3 years (2012–2014) in field trials containing rainfed and watered blocks in Narrabri, NSW, Australia. Data on yield and other agronomic traits were analysed using a multi-environment trial approach that accommodated the factorial treatment structure (genotype by irrigation regime) within individual trials. Considerable variation was observed in the durum germplasm for productivity and grain quality traits. DBA Bindaroi (NSW) and 101042 (ICARDA) were the top yielders in watered and rainfed blocks, respectively. The yield was positively and strongly related to both harvest index and grains/m2,but grains/m2was negatively related to thousand grain weight (TGW) and positively related to screenings. TGW and screenings were strongly negatively related and TGW and grains/m2showed a weak positive relationship. Promising genotypes were identified, with superior traits to both the bread wheat check, EGA Gregory and the durum check, Caparoi. Overall, lines from SA and ICARDA were superior for yield but those from NSW were superior for quality parameters including TGW and screenings. These results suggested the possibility of developing high yielding high-quality durum varieties by crossing NSW lines with SA, CIMMYT and ICARDA lines through simultaneous selection for yield, TGW and low screenings. The results also suggested that productivity in rainfed conditions was positively related to productivity under watering, but further research is required to establish this.
Socio-demographic and trauma-related predictors of depression within eight weeks of motor vehicle collision in the AURORA study
Authors: Joormann Jutta , McLean Samuel A. , Beaudoin Francesca L. , An Xinming , Stevens Jennifer S. , Zeng Donglin , Neylan Thomas C. , Clifford Gari , Linnstaedt Sarah D. , Germine Laura T. , Rauch Scott L. , Musey Paul I. , Hendry Phyllis L. , Sheikh Sophia , Jones Christopher W. , Punches Brittany E. , Fermann Gregory , Hudak Lauren A. , Mohiuddin Kamran , Murty Vishnu , McGrath Meghan E. , Haran John P. , Pascual Jose , Seamon Mark , Peak David A. , Pearson Claire , Domeier Robert M. , Sergot Paulina , Merchant Roland , Sanchez Leon D. , Rathlev Niels K. , Peacock William F. , Bruce Steven E. , Barch Deanna , Pizzagalli Diego A. , Luna Beatriz , Harte Steven E. , Hwang Irving , Lee Sue , Sampson Nancy , Koenen Karestan C. , Ressler Kerry J. , Kessler Ronald C.
Published: October 2020

Background

This is the first report on the association between trauma exposure and depression from the Advancing Understanding of RecOvery afteR traumA(AURORA) multisite longitudinal study of adverse post-traumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae (APNS) among participants seeking emergency department (ED) treatment in the aftermath of a traumatic life experience.

Methods

We focus on participants presenting at EDs after a motor vehicle collision (MVC), which characterizes most AURORA participants, and examine associations of participant socio-demographics and MVC characteristics with 8-week depression as mediated through peritraumatic symptoms and 2-week depression.

Results

Eight-week depression prevalence was relatively high (27.8%) and associated with several MVC characteristics (being passenger v. driver; injuries to other people). Peritraumatic distress was associated with 2-week but not 8-week depression. Most of these associations held when controlling for peritraumatic symptoms and, to a lesser degree, depressive symptoms at 2-weeks post-trauma.

Conclusions

These observations, coupled with substantial variation in the relative strength of the mediating pathways across predictors, raises the possibility of diverse and potentially complex underlying biological and psychological processes that remain to be elucidated in more in-depth analyses of the rich and evolving AURORA database to find new targets for intervention and new tools for risk-based stratification following trauma exposure.
Direct democracy, coalition size and public spending
Authors: Emmenegger Patrick , Leemann Lucas , Walter André
Published: October 2020

This article contributes to the literature on direct democracy and public spending in two ways. First, we explore how direct democratic institutions interact with a specific aspect of the representative system, the size of the governing coalition, to influence public spending. Second, based on newly collected data, we examine the relationship between three different direct democratic institutions, coalition size and public spending over the period from 1860 to 2015. Empirically, we find that initiatives increase the size of the public sector under single-party governments, but this positive relationship disappears as coalition size increases. In contrast, we find that financial referendums slow down the growth of public spending, while law referendums are not systematically associated with public spending. Finally, we find that the relationship between direct democratic institutions, coalition size and public spending does not change over time despite the long period under investigation.
Excess mortality in the United States during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rivera R. , Rosenbaum J. E. , Quispe W.
Published: October 2020

Deaths are frequently under-estimated during emergencies, times when accurate mortality estimates are crucial for emergency response. This study estimates excess all-cause, pneumonia and influenza mortality during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using the 11 September 2020 release of weekly mortality data from the United States (U.S.) Mortality Surveillance System (MSS) from 27 September 2015 to 9 May 2020, using semiparametric and conventional time-series models in 13 states with high reported COVID-19 deaths and apparently complete mortality data: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington. We estimated greater excess mortality than official COVID-19 mortality in the U.S. (excess mortality 95% confidence interval (CI) 100 013–127 501 vs. 78 834 COVID-19 deaths) and 9 states: California (excess mortality 95% CI 3338–6344) vs. 2849 COVID-19 deaths); Connecticut (excess mortality 95% CI 3095–3952) vs. 2932 COVID-19 deaths); Illinois (95% CI 4646–6111) vs. 3525 COVID-19 deaths); Louisiana (excess mortality 95% CI 2341–3183 vs. 2267 COVID-19 deaths); Massachusetts (95% CI 5562–7201 vs. 5050 COVID-19 deaths); New Jersey (95% CI 13 170–16 058 vs. 10 465 COVID-19 deaths); New York (95% CI 32 538–39 960 vs. 26 584 COVID-19 deaths); and Pennsylvania (95% CI 5125–6560 vs. 3793 COVID-19 deaths). Conventional model results were consistent with semiparametric results but less precise. Significant excess pneumonia deaths were also found for all locations and we estimated hundreds of excess influenza deaths in New York. We find that official COVID-19 mortality substantially understates actual mortality, excess deaths cannot be explained entirely by official COVID-19 death counts. Mortality reporting lags appeared to worsen during the pandemic, when timeliness in surveillance systems was most crucial for improving pandemic response.
Assessing the challenges to women’s access and implementation of text messages for nutrition behaviour change in rural Tanzania
Authors: Rothstein Jessica D , Klemm Rolf , Niyeha Debora , Smith Erin , Nordhagen Stella
Published: October 2020

Objective:

This process evaluation aimed to understand factors affecting the implementation of a government-sponsored short message service (SMS) programme for delivering nutrition information to rural populations, including message access, acceptability and putting messages into action.

Design:

The study was nested within a larger randomised controlled trial. Cross-sectional data collection included structured surveys and in-depth interviews. Data were analysed for key trends and themes using Stata and ATLAS.ti software.

Setting:

The study took place in Tanzania’s Mtwara region.

Participants:

Surveys were conducted with 205 women and 93 men already enrolled in the randomised controlled trial. A sub-set of 30 women and 14 men participated in the in-depth interviews.

Results:

Among women relying on a spouse’s phone, sharing arrangements impeded regular SMS access; men were commonly away from home, forgot to share SMS or did not share them in women’s preferred way. Phone-owning women faced challenges related to charging their phones and defective handsets. Once SMS were delivered, most participants viewed them as trustworthy and comprehensible. However, economic conditions limited the feasibility of applying certain recommendations, such as feeding meat to toddlers. A sub-set of participants concurrently enrolled in an interpersonal counselling (IPC) intervention indicated that the SMS provided reminders of lessons learned during the IPC; yet, the SMS did not help participants contextualise information and overcome the challenges of putting that information into practice.

Conclusions:

The challenges to accessing and implementing SMS services highlighted here suggest that such platforms may work well as one component of a comprehensive nutrition intervention, yet not as an isolated effort.
Survival and growth of soil microbial communities under influence of sodium perchlorates
Authors: Cheptsov Vladimir , Belov Andrey , Soloveva Olga , Vorobyova Elena , Osipov George , Manucharova Natalia , Gorlenko Michael
Published: October 2020

Previously conducted space missions revealed the presence of perchlorates, which are known to have a high oxidizing potential in Martian regolith, at the level of 0.5%. Due to hygroscopic properties and crystallization features of perchlorate-containing solutions, assumptions leading to the possibility of the existence of liquid water in the form of brines, which can contribute to the vital activity of microorganisms, have been made. At the same time, high concentrations of perchlorates can inhibit the growth of microorganisms and cause their death. Previously performed studies have discovered the presence of highly diverse microbial communities in terrestrial perchlorate-containing soils and have also demonstrated the stability and activity of some prokaryotes cultured on highly concentrated perchlorates media (over 10%). Nevertheless, the limits of microbial tolerance to perchlorates and whether microbial communities are able to withstand the effects of high concentrations of perchlorates remain uncertain. The aim of this research was to study the reaction of microbial communities of hot-arid and cryo-arid soils and sedimentary rocks to the adding of a highly concentrated solution of sodium perchlorate (5%) in situ. An increase in the total number of prokaryotes, the number of metabolically active Bacteria and Archaea, and the variety of the consumed substrates were revealed. It was observed that in samples incubated with sodium perchlorate, a high taxonomic diversity of the microbial community is preserved at a level comparable to control sample. The study shows that the presence of high concentrations of sodium perchlorate (5%) in the soil does not lead to the death or significant inhibition of microbial communities.
Exploring the caregiver's experience in an innovative homebound hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program
Authors: Jenkelowitz Juliet , Garzon Margaux Genoff , Lynch Kathleen , Shuk Elyse , Feindler Eva , Landau Heather , Applebaum Allison
Published: October 2020

Objective

Home care for hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs), an alternative to traditional inpatient or outpatient recovery programs, is safe and feasible but may place greater demand on full-time caregivers. The goal of this study was to characterize the experiences of caregivers in a newly piloted homebound HSCT program as a means of identifying unmet needs and ensuring adequate support.

Method

A qualitative approach was utilized. Participants created self-recorded video diaries guided by open-ended prompts at designated time points throughout recovery and participated in a single follow-up interview within four weeks post-discharge. Diaries and interviews were transcribed, analyzed, and coded to identify recurrent ideas and themes.

Results

Data were collected from 12 caregivers of homebound HSCT patients. Thematic content analysis yielded four themes: facilitators (external support, sense of normalcy, and patient wellness), challenges (difficulties with transplant care instructions, managing the patient's physical and emotional health, and caregiver psychological distress), roles in recovery (caregiving responsibilities), and analysis of homebound experience (positive outcomes and suggestions for improvement).

Significance of results

Caregivers perceived the homebound program as offering high-quality medical care in a setting that provided a sense of normalcy, privacy, and greater level of oversight. Unmet needs included lacking preparedness in completing nursing responsibilities and handling caregiver and patient distress. While the homebound program was preferred to routine hospital care, psychotherapeutic support and programming to improve caregiver preparedness in a homebound HSCT recovery program is indicated.