bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrokinetic effects in helical flow of non-linear viscoelastic fluids
Authors: Ghosh Uddipta
Published: May 2020

Helical flows of complex fluids through annular regions have been studied extensively for their large spectrum of applications ranging from extrusion to mud drilling. Such flows include an axial flow in the presence of cylinder rotations, and they become coupled for complex fluids because of their shear thinning nature. Flows in annular confinements also find important applications in porous media and many biological and chemical systems, where electrokinetic effects in the form of surface charge and Electrical Double Layers (EDLs) might also play important roles. However, studies on helical flows of complex fluids in the presence of such effects are rather scarce. As such, here, we investigate helical flows of non-linear viscoelastic fluids in the presence of electrokinetic influences. We show that it is possible to write semi-analytical solutions for the velocity and the stress fields, even when the effects of EDL are present. We demonstrate that electro-osmotic effects compound the influence of the cylinder rotation, which can rapidly accelerate the volume throughput, even for moderate viscoelasticity. Our analysis brings out novel scaling regimes between the axial throughput and viscoelasticity. We further analyze to probe into the streaming potential resulting from a purely pressure driven flow and show that similar to the volume throughput, angular rotation also helps the streaming potential grow rapidly, even when the fluid is weakly viscoelastic.
Asymmetric flows of complex fluids past confined cylinders: A comprehensive numerical study with experimental validation
Authors: Varchanis Stylianos , Hopkins Cameron C. , Shen Amy Q. , Tsamopoulos John , Haward Simon J.
Published: May 2020

Three non-Newtonian constitutive models are employed to investigate how fluid rheological properties influence the development of laterally asymmetric flows past confined cylinders. First, simulations with the shear-thinning but inelastic Carreau–Yasuda model are compared against complementary flow velocimetry experiments on a semidilute xanthan gum solution, showing that shear-thinning alone is insufficient to cause flow asymmetry. Next, simulations with an elastic but non-shear-thinning finitely extensible non-linear elastic dumbbell model are compared with experiments on a constant viscosity solution of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in an aqueous glycerol mixture. The simulations and the experiments reveal the development of an extended downstream wake due to elastic stresses generated at the stagnation point but show no significant lateral asymmetries of the flow around the sides of the cylinder. Finally, the elastic and shear-thinning linear Phan–Thien–Tanner (l-PTT) model is compared with experimental velocimetry on a rheologically similar solution of PEO in water. Here, at low flow rates, lateral symmetry is retained, while the growth of a downstream elastic wake is observed, in qualitative similarity to the non-shear-thinning elastic fluids. However, above a critical flow rate, the flow bifurcates to one of the two stable and steady laterally asymmetric states. Further parameter studies with the l-PTT model are performed by varying the degrees of shear-thinning and elasticity and also modifying the confinement of the cylinder. These tests confirm the importance of the coupling between shear-thinning and elasticity for the onset of asymmetric flows and also establish stability and bifurcation diagrams delineating the stable and unstable flow states.
Spot on: using camera traps to individually monitor one of the world’s largest lizards
Authors: Moore Harry A. , Champney Jacob L. , Dunlop Judy A. , Valentine Leonie E. , Nimmo Dale G.
Published: May 2020

Abstract
ContextEstimating animal abundance often relies on being able to identify individuals; however, this can be challenging, especially when applied to large animals that are difficult to trap and handle. Camera traps have provided a non-invasive alternative by using natural markings to individually identify animals within image data. Although camera traps have been used to individually identify mammals, they are yet to be widely applied to other taxa, such as reptiles.
AimsWe assessed the capacity of camera traps to provide images that allow for individual identification of the world’s fourth-largest lizard species, the perentie (Varanus giganteus), and demonstrate other basic morphological and behavioural data that can be gleaned from camera-trap images.
MethodsVertically orientated cameras were deployed at 115 sites across a 10000km2 area in north-western Australia for an average of 216 days. We used spot patterning located on the dorsal surface of perenties to identify individuals from camera-trap imagery, with the assistance of freely available spot ID software. We also measured snout-to-vent length (SVL) by using image-analysis software, and collected image time-stamp data to analyse temporal activity patterns.
ResultsNinety-two individuals were identified, and individuals were recorded moving distances of up to 1975m. Confidence in identification accuracy was generally high (91%), and estimated SVL measurements varied by an average of 6.7% (min=1.8%, max=21.3%) of individual SVL averages. Larger perenties (SVL of >45cm) were detected mostly between dawn and noon, and in the late afternoon and early evening, whereas small perenties (SVL of <30cm) were rarely recorded in the evening.
ConclusionsCamera traps can be used to individually identify large reptiles with unique markings, and can also provide data on movement, morphology and temporal activity. Accounting for uneven substrates under cameras could improve the accuracy of morphological estimates. Given that camera traps struggle to detect small, nocturnal reptiles, further research is required to examine whether cameras miss smaller individuals in the late afternoon and evening.
ImplicationsCamera traps are increasingly being used to monitor reptile species. The ability to individually identify animals provides another tool for herpetological research worldwide.
A mode of cell adhesion and migration facilitated by CD44-dependent microtentacles
Authors: Wolf Kayla J. , Shukla Poojan , Springer Kelsey , Lee Stacey , Coombes Jason D. , Choy Caleb J. , Kenny Samuel J. , Xu Ke , Kumar Sanjay
Published: May 2020

Significance

We identify a mechanism used by tumor cells to adhere to and migrate through a nanoporous, three-dimensional extracellular matrix characteristic of brain tissue. In this mechanism, cells engage hyaluronic acid, a key component within brain matrix, by assembling “microtentacles” that can extend tens of micrometers from the cell body and adhere to the matrix via the CD44 receptor. We also elucidate a molecular mechanism through which these structures can support motility based on the interplay of actin, microtubules, IQGAP1, and CLIP170. Analogous structures have previously been observed in circulating tumor cells and hypothesized to facilitate endothelial attachment and extravasation. Our studies strongly support this concept and further indicate that microtentacles can facilitate adhesion and invasion into tissue.
Oocytes can efficiently repair DNA double-strand breaks to restore genetic integrity and protect offspring health
Authors: Stringer Jessica M. , Winship Amy , Zerafa Nadeen , Wakefield Matthew , Hutt Karla
Published: May 2020

Female fertility and offspring health are critically dependent on an adequate supply of high-quality oocytes, the majority of which are maintained in the ovaries in a unique state of meiotic prophase arrest. While mechanisms of DNA repair during meiotic recombination are well characterized, the same is not true for prophase-arrested oocytes. Here we show that prophase-arrested oocytes rapidly respond to γ-irradiation–induced DNA double-strand breaks by activating Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated, phosphorylating histone H2AX, and localizing RAD51 to the sites of DNA damage. Despite mobilizing the DNA repair response, even very low levels of DNA damage result in the apoptosis of prophase-arrested oocytes. However, we show that, when apoptosis is inhibited, severe DNA damage is corrected via homologous recombination repair. The repair is sufficient to support fertility and maintain health and genetic fidelity in offspring. Thus, despite the preferential induction of apoptosis following exogenously induced genotoxic stress, prophase-arrested oocytes are highly capable of functionally efficient DNA repair. These data implicate DNA repair as a key quality control mechanism in the female germ line and a critical determinant of fertility and genetic integrity.
The Greek connective gar
Authors: Casson Sarah
Published: May 2020

Traditional accounts of the Greek connective gar offer an inadequate causal definition,
while multiplying descriptive categories. Linguistic accounts have paid little attention to the role of
gar in different kinds of communication. This article proposes a relevance-theoretic procedural
explanation which provides a unifying cognitive explanation for gar’s communicative role.
Gar indicates that the premise it introduces is relevant in relation to a previously communicated
claim, which, when combined with implicit assumptions, it strengthens. This strengthening may work itself out
differently in diverse kinds of communication: typically, as confirmation in argumentation, and explanation in
narrative. Perceived differences in stylistic effects sometimes associated with gar are attributable
not to multiple functions, but to recognition of differing communicator goals in narrative and argumentation.
When
EVERYTHING
STANDS OUT, Nothing Does
Authors: Scott Kate , Jackson Rebecca
Published: May 2020

Writers often use typographical features such as capitalization, boldface or underlining to draw attention
to particular words or phrases in a written text. In this article we use ideas from the relevance-theoretic pragmatic
framework to discuss how use of typographical features may convey meaning and/or produce stylistic or literary effects
in written texts. We show how typography, like prosody in spoken language, can be used intentionally to guide a
reader’s interpretation. We discuss a range of examples to show how typographical features are interpreted relative to
the rest of the text and relative to the cultural norms and expectations associated with a particular language and
writing system.
Relevance, style and multimodality
Authors: Sasamoto Ryoko , O'Hagan Minako
Published: May 2020

Brightly coloured textual inserts, which often occupy a sizable part of the TV screen, have become a key
feature in Japanese TV. This paper unpacks the contribution of such multimodal stimuli to inference, and the
consequences this has for the interpretation process. Using data derived from a mixed-methods approach (i.e.
eye-tracking and a multimodal content analysis), we evaluate the relationship between cognitive processing and
communicative stimuli. We demonstrate how typographical features (colours and fonts) are used as highlighting
stylistic devices by TV producers to manipulate the viewer comprehension process by guiding the audience to an
intended interpretation. The results suggest how editorial choices regarding typographical features to trigger certain
effects might be subsumed under the current view of style in relevance theory.
Towards a relevance-theoretic account of hate speech
Authors: Linde-Usiekniewicz Jadwiga
Published: May 2020

Hate speech has been studied as a social, psychological and legal phenomenon in various frameworks
offered by relevant disciplines, with most famous account being Judith Butler’s analysis of hate speech in
terms of Austinian speech act theory. This chapter explores the possibility of applying relevance-theoretic
analysis to hate speech. It argues that all kinds of hate speech, ranging from most direct to most covert, are
instances of ostensive behavior that requires being processed together with some mental representations,
corresponding to either intuitive or reflected beliefs about generalized inferiority of a group of people by
virtue of their race, ethnicity, faith/atheism, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or etc. or, their
corresponding meta-representations, for greatest (tentatively optimal) relevance.
MiR-153-5p promotes sensibility of colorectal cancer cells to oxaliplatin via targeting Bcl-2-mediated autophagy pathway
Authors: He Yong , Zhang Ling , Tan Fei , Wang Li-Fang , Liu De-Hui , Wang Rong-Juan , Yin Xiong-Zhang
Published: May 2020

Oxaliplatin (L-OHP) is one of the effective chemotherapeutic drugs for colorectal cancer (CRC). Further investigation into the molecular mechanism of chemoresistance could improve outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer. Recently, microRNAs have been reported as a key in drug resistance of tumors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of miR-153-5p in L-OHP-resistant CRC cells, and its underlying mechanism. Downregulation of miR-153-5p was observed in CRC cells, while upregulation of miR-153-5p enhances the chemosensitivity of CRC/L-OHP cells. The autophagy of CRC/L-OHP cells was markedly increased after exposure to L-OHP but abolished by the upregulation of miR-153-5p. Dual-luciferase reporter assays validated that Bcl-2 was a direct target of miR-153-5p. In conclusion, our data suggested that miR-153-5p was a mediator of cisplatin resistance in colorectal cancer by affecting Bcl-2-mediated autophagy, indicating a new therapeutic target for CRC treatment.
Evaluation of a multidisciplinary approach to reduce internal medicine readmissions using a readmission prediction index
Authors: McConachie Sean M , Raub Joshua N , Yost Raymond , Monday Lea , Agrawal Shivani , Tannous Pierre
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Readmission prediction indices are used to stratify patients by the risk of hospital readmission. We describe the integration of a 30-day hospital readmission prediction index into the electronic medical record (EMR) and its impact on pharmacist interventions during transitions of care (TOC).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare 30-day readmission rates between adult internal medicine inpatients admitted by a multidisciplinary team providing TOC services (the TOC group) and those who received usual care (the control group). Interventions by a pharmacist serving on the TOC team were guided by an EMR-integrated readmission index, with patients at the highest risk for readmission receiving targeted pharmacist interventions. Inpatient encounters (n = 374) during the 5-month study period were retrospectively identified. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to analyze differences in nominal and nonparametric continuous variables, respectively. Logistic regression was performed to identify variables associated with 30-day readmissions. The log-rank test was used to analyze hazard ratios for readmission outcomes in the 2 cohorts.

Results

Thirty-day readmission rates did not differ significantly in the TOC group and the control group (20.9% vs 18.3%, P = 0.52). However, patients who received additional direct pharmacist interventions, as guided by use of a hospital readmission index, had a lower 30-day readmission rate than patients who did not (11.4% vs 21.7%, P = 0.04). The readmission index score was significantly associated with the likelihood of 30-day readmission (odds ratio for readmission, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.34; P < 0.01). The difference in unadjusted log-rank scores at 30 days with and without pharmacist intervention was not significant (P = 0.05). A mean of 4.5 medication changes were identified per medication reconciliation performed by the TOC pharmacist.

Conclusion

A multidisciplinary TOC team approach did not reduce the 30-day readmission rate on an internal medicine service. However, patients who received additional direct pharmacist interventions guided by a readmission prediction index had a reduced readmission rate.
An early Oligocene stem Galbulae (jacamars and puffbirds) from southern France, and the position of the Paleogene family Sylphornithidae
Authors: Duhamel Anaïs , Balme Christine , Legal Stéphane , Riamon Ségolène , Louchart Antoine
Published: May 2020

Together, puffbirds (Bucconidae) and jacamars (Galbulidae) form the suborder Galbulae, sister group of all other Piciformes. Hitherto, the Galbulae had no ascertained pre-Pleistocene fossil record, and all previous alleged candidates have been refuted, except possibly the Sylphornithidae. Here we describe a wing of a tiny fossil bird from the early Oligocene of the Luberon region (southern France), which we assign to the Galbulae, as a new genus and species. Several characters, especially of the ulna and wing phalanx 1 of digit II, exclude the Passeriformes and Zygodactylidae, and indicate a representative of the Piciformes. Among Piciformes, absence of papillae remigales caudales and several characters of the wing phalanx 1 of digit II make it possible to assign the fossil to the Galbulae, and exclude all other clades. The fossil Sylphornithidae, with the carpometacarpus of Sylphornis being available, show some similarity with the Luberon fossil. The combination of features of the wing elements leads to the placement of the new fossil as stem Galbulae, and tentatively within the family Sylphornithidae. As such, it fills a gap and permits to better assign the whole enigmatic tiny sylphornithids, otherwise essentially known from leg bones. This yields the first firm pre-Pleistocene fossil record for the Galbulae. Today, both the Bucconidae and Galbulidae live exclusively in tropical America. The presence of stem Galbulae in the Oligocene of Europe, and probably the late Eocene, is a new example of a present-day Neotropical clade that had stem representatives in the Paleogene of Europe.
iBioProVis: interactive visualization and analysis of compound bioactivity space
Authors: Donmez Ataberk , Rifaioglu Ahmet Sureyya , Acar Aybar , Doğan Tunca , Cetin-Atalay Rengul , Atalay Volkan
Published: May 2020

iBioProVis is an interactive tool for visual analysis of the compound bioactivity space in the context of target proteins, drugs and drug candidate compounds. iBioProVis tool takes target protein identifiers and, optionally, compound SMILES as input, and uses the state-of-the-art non-linear dimensionality reduction method t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE) to plot the distribution of compounds embedded in a 2D map, based on the similarity of structural properties of compounds and in the context of compounds’ cognate targets. Similar compounds, which are embedded to proximate points on the 2D map, may bind the same or similar target proteins. Thus, iBioProVis can be used to easily observe the structural distribution of one or two target proteins’ known ligands on the 2D compound space, and to infer new binders to the same protein, or to infer new potential target(s) for a compound of interest, based on this distribution. Principal component analysis (PCA) projection of the input compounds is also provided, Hence the user can interactively observe the same compound or a group of selected compounds which is projected by both PCA and embedded by t-SNE. iBioProVis also provides detailed information about drugs and drug candidate compounds through cross-references to widely used and well-known databases, in the form of linked table views. Two use-case studies were demonstrated, one being on angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein which is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike protein receptor. ACE2 binding compounds and seven antiviral drugs were closely embedded in which two of them have been under clinical trial for Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19).

Availability and implementation

iBioProVis and its carefully filtered dataset are available at https://ibpv.kansil.org/ for public use.

Contact

vatalay@metu.edu.tr

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
SOMM4mC: a second-order Markov model for DNA N4-methylcytosine site prediction in six species
Authors: Yang Jiali , Lang Kun , Zhang Guangle , Fan Xiaodan , Chen Yuanyuan , Pian Cong
Published: May 2020

Motivation

DNA N4-methylcytosine (4mC) modification is an important epigenetic modification in prokaryotic DNA due to its role in regulating DNA replication and protecting the host DNA against degradation. An efficient algorithm to identify 4mC sites is needed for downstream analyses.

Results

In this study, we propose a new prediction method named SOMM4mC based on a second-order Markov model, which makes use of the transition probability between adjacent nucleotides to identify 4mC sites. The results show that the first-order and second-order Markov model are superior to the three existing algorithms in all six species (Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Arabidopsis thaliana, Escherichia coli, Geoalkalibacter subterruneus and Geobacter pickeringii) where benchmark datasets are available. However, the classification performance of SOMM4mC is more outstanding than that of first-order Markov model. Especially, for E.coli and C.elegans, the overall accuracy of SOMM4mC are 91.8% and 87.6%, which are 8.5% and 6.1% higher than those of the latest method 4mcPred-SVM, respectively. This shows that more discriminant sequence information is captured by SOMM4mC through the dependency between adjacent nucleotides.

Availability and implementation

The web server of SOMM4mC is freely accessible at www.insect-genome.com/SOMM4mC.

Contact

chenyuanyuan@njau.edu.cn or piancong@njau.edu.cn
Phylogenetic relationships based on nuclear and plastid DNA sequences reveal recent diversification and discordant patterns of morphological evolution of the Chilean genera of Gilliesieae (Amaryllidaceae: Allioideae)
Authors: Escobar Inelia , Ruiz-Ponce Eduardo , Rudall Paula J , Fay Michael F , Toro-Núñez Oscar , Villalobos-Barrantes Heidy M , Baeza Carlos M
Published: May 2020

Gilliesieae are a South American tribe of Amaryllidaceae characterized by high floral diversity. Given different taxonomic interpretations and proposals for generic and specific relationships, a representative phylogenetic analysis is required to clarify the systematics of this group. The present study provides a framework for understanding phylogenetic relationships and contributing to the development of an appropriate taxonomic treatment of Gilliesieae. Molecular analyses, based on nuclear (ITS) and plastid DNA sequences (trnL-F and rbcL), resolve with strong support the monophyly of the tribe and the differentiation of two major clades. Clade I comprises the genera Gilliesia, Gethyum and Solaria and Clade II includes Miersia and Speea. These well-supported clades are mostly congruent with vegetative and karyotype characters rather than, e.g., floral symmetry. At the generic level, all molecular analyses reveal the paraphyly of Gilliesia and Miersia. Gethyum was found to be paraphyletic, resulting in the confirmation of Ancrumia as a distinct genus. Several instances of incongruent phylogenetic signals were found among data sets. The calibrated tree suggests a recent diversification of the tribe (Pliocene–Pleistocene), a contemporary process of speciation in which instances of hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting could explain patterns of paraphyly and incongruence of floral morphology.
High Burden of Bloodstream Infections Associated With Antimicrobial Resistance and Mortality in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Pune, India
Authors: Johnson Julia , Robinson Matthew L , Rajput Uday C , Valvi Chhaya , Kinikar Aarti , Parikh Tushar B , Vaidya Umesh , Malwade Sudhir , Agarkhedkar Sharad , Randive Bharat , Kadam Abhay , Smith Rachel M , Westercamp Matthew , Mave Vidya , Gupta Amita , Milstone Aaron M , Manabe Yukari C
Published: May 2020

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat to newborns in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study in 3 tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Pune, India, to describe the epidemiology of neonatal bloodstream infections (BSIs). All neonates admitted to the NICU were enrolled. The primary outcome was BSI, defined as positive blood culture. Early-onset BSI was defined as BSI on day of life (DOL) 0–2 and late-onset BSI on DOL 3 or later.

Results

From 1 May 2017 until 30 April 2018, 4073 neonates were enrolled. Among at-risk neonates, 55 (1.6%) developed early-onset BSI and 176 (5.5%) developed late-onset BSI. The majority of BSIs were caused by gram-negative bacteria (GNB; 58%); among GNB, 61 (45%) were resistant to carbapenems. Klebsiella spp. (n = 53, 23%) were the most common cause of BSI. Compared with neonates without BSI, all-cause mortality was higher among neonates with early-onset BSI (31% vs 10%, P < .001) and late-onset BSI (24% vs 7%, P < .001). Non–low-birth-weight neonates with late-onset BSI had the greatest excess in mortality (22% vs 3%, P < .001).

Conclusions

In our cohort, neonatal BSIs were most commonly caused by GNB, with a high prevalence of AMR, and were associated with high mortality, even in term neonates. Effective interventions are urgently needed to reduce the burden of BSI and death due to AMR GNB in hospitalized neonates in LMIC.
The cruelest harvest: Virgilian agricultural pessimism in the poetry of the Brazilian colonial period
Authors: Vazquez Adriana
Published: May 2020

Classical imagery and mythological narratives provided ready literary analogues for framing European expansion into the New World in the colonial and early modern periods. This article examines the manipulation of classical images of agricultural fecundity and Virgilian pessimism in select works of two Brazilian poets working in the neoclassical tradition during the colonial period, José Basílio da Gama (1740–95) and Inácio José de Alvarenga Peixoto (1744–93), by which both poets advance a critique of Iberian expansion into Latin America. I argue that both poets, writing in dialogue with one another, activate an especially Virgilian agricultural imagery that sets war in contradiction to agricultural production in a post-colonial critique of European imperialist expansion into Brazil. The poetry of these figures exhibits a remarkable reversal of sympathies that distinguishes South American treatment of ancient material from that of European receptions that aligned imperial Europe with the Roman empire and its traditional heroes, a comparison established in order to justify colonialist expansion into the New World.
PvP01-DB: computational structural and functional characterization of soluble proteome of PvP01 strain of Plasmodium vivax
Authors: Singh Ankita , Kaushik Rahul , Chaurasia Dheeraj Kumar , Singh Manpreet , Jayaram B
Published: May 2020

Despite Plasmodium vivax being the main offender in the majority of malarial infections, very little information is available about its adaptation and development in humans. Its capability for activating relapsing infections through its dormant liver stage and resistance to antimalarial drugs makes it as one of the major challenges in eradicating malaria. Noting the immediate necessity for the availability of a comprehensive and reliable structural and functional repository for P. vivax proteome, here we developed a web resource for the new reference genome, PvP01, furnishing information on sequence, structure, functions, active sites and metabolic pathways compiled and predicted using some of the state-of-the-art methods in respective fields. The PvP01 web resource comprises organized data on the soluble proteome consisting of 3664 proteins in blood and liver stages of malarial cycle. The current public resources represent only 163 proteins of soluble proteome of PvP01, with complete information about their molecular function, biological process and cellular components. Also, only 46 proteins of P. vivax have experimentally determined structures. In this milieu of extreme scarcity of structural and functional information, PvP01 web resource offers meticulously validated structures of 3664 soluble proteins. The sequence and structure-based functional characterization led to a quantum leap from 163 proteins available presently to whole soluble proteome offered through PvP01 web resource. We believe PvP01 web resource will serve the researchers in identifying novel protein drug targets and in accelerating the development of structure-based new drug candidates to combat malaria.

Database Availability: http://www.scfbio-iitd.res.in/PvP01
The Impact of Terrorism on Individual Well-Being: Evidence from the Boston Marathon Bombing
Authors: Clark Andrew E , Doyle Orla , Stancanelli Elena
Published: May 2020

A growing literature has concluded that terrorism affects the economy, yet less is known about its impact on individual welfare. This article estimates the impact of the 2013 Boston marathon bombing on well-being, exploiting representative daily data from the American Time Use Survey and Well-Being Supplement. Using a combined regression discontinuity and differences-in-differences design, with the 2012 Boston marathon as a counterfactual, we find an immediate reduction in well-being of a third of a standard deviation. In particular, happiness declined sharply and negative emotions rose significantly. While the effects do not persist beyond one week, they may entail adverse health and economic consequences.
Safety and efficacy of transvenous mechanical lead extraction in patients with abandoned leads
Authors: Segreti Luca , Giannotti Santoro Mario , Di Cori Andrea , Fiorentini Federico , Zucchelli Giulio , Bernini Giulia , De Lucia Raffaele , Viani Stefano , Paperini Luca , Barletta Valentina , Soldati Ezio , Bongiorni Maria Grazia
Published: May 2020

Aims

Optimal management of redundant or malfunctioning leads is controversial. We aimed to assess safety and efficacy of mechanical transvenous lead extraction (TLE) in patients with abandoned leads.

Methods and results

Consecutive TLE procedures performed in our centre from January 2009 to December 2017 were considered. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of mechanical TLE in patients with abandoned (Group 1) compared to non-abandoned (Group 2) leads. We analysed 1210 consecutive patients that required transvenous removal of 2343 leads. Group 1 accounted for 250 patients (21%) with a total of 617 abandoned leads (26%). Group 2 comprised 960 patients (79%) with 1726 leads (74%). The total number of leads (3.0 vs. 2.0), dwelling time of the oldest lead (108.00 months vs. 60.00 months) and infectious indications for TLE were higher in Group 1. Clinical success was achieved in 1168 patients (96.5%) with a lower rate in Group 1 (90.4% vs. 98.1%; P < 0.001). Major complications occurred in only 9 patients (0.7%), without significant differences among the two groups. The presence of one or more abandoned leads [odds ratio (OR) 3.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–11.19; P = 0.037] and dwelling time of the oldest lead (OR 1.01 for a month; 95% CI 1.01–1.02; P < 0.001) were associated with a higher risk of clinical failure.

Conclusion

Transvenous mechanical lead extraction is a safe procedure also in high-risk settings, as patients with abandoned leads. Success rate resulted a bit lower, especially in the presence of abandoned leads with long implantation time.
Whole genome sequencing and antibiotic diffusion assays, provide new insight on drug resistance in the genus Pedobacter
Authors: Ullmann Ingvild Falkum , Nygaard Anders Benteson , Tunsjø Hege Smith , Charnock Colin
Published: May 2020

A total of four strains of the ‘environmental superbug’ Pedobacter isolated from sludge produced at Norwegian drinking water treatment plants, were characterized by whole genome sequencing and antibiotic susceptibility assays. As with previous studies on members of this genus, we found that the isolates were multi-drug resistant, and that this resistance included clinically important beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin. Using the minION sequencing platform (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) combined with HiSeq PE150 Illumina sequencing data, the four isolates were assembled into genomes of single contigs. Analysis of the genomes revealed potential genetic factors possibly underlying some of the specific resistances observed. Metallo-beta-lactamase activity was detected in one isolate, and the same isolate contained a putative metallo-betalactamase gene resembling pedo-2. Furthermore, several genes related to multidrug efflux systems were found using the resistance database CARD. Additionally, the present study extends our knowledge on the phylogeny of this genus, adding four new genomes to the existing 50.
Expansion of shrubs could result in local loss of soil bacterial richness in Western Greenland
Authors: Canini Fabiana , Zucconi Laura , Coleine Claudia , D'Alò Federica , Onofri Silvano , Geml József
Published: May 2020

Climate warming in Greenland is facilitating the expansion of shrubs across wide areas of tundra. Given the close association between plants and soil microorganisms and the important role of soil bacteria in ecosystem functioning, it is of utmost importance to characterize microbial communities of arctic soil habitats and assess the influence of plant edaphic factors on their composition. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicons to explore the bacterial assemblages of three different soil habitats representative of a plant coverage gradient: bare ground, biological soil crusts dominated by mosses and lichens and vascular vegetation dominated by shrubs. We investigated how bacterial richness and community composition were affected by the vegetation coverage, and soil pH, moisture and carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents. Bacterial richness did not correlate with plant coverage complexity, while community structure varied between habitats. Edaphic variables affected both the taxonomic richness and community composition. The high number of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) indicators of bare ground plots suggests a risk of local bacterial diversity loss due to expansion of vascular vegetation.
Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds extract plays a beneficial role on brain antioxidant and oxidative status in alloxan-induced Wistar rats
Authors: Pradeepkiran Jangampalli Adi , Nandyala Venkata Subbaiah , Bhaskar Matcha
Published: May 2020

Context

Trigonella foenum-graecum (TriFG) exhibits increased scavenger enzymatic activities and reduces the production of reactive oxygen species in diabetic rats.

Objective

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of TriFG on lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant status in brain tissue of rats exposed to alloxan.

Materials and Methods

Healthy male rats (180 ± 10 g) were allocated into five groups. Animals in group 1 maintained on normal tap water served as controls and rats in groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were treated as experimental groups. Rats in group 2 were intraperitoneally injected with alloxan (120 mg/kg BW) and treated as diabetic rats, whereas rats in groups 3 and 4 were maintained on same experimental regimen as that of rats in groups 1 and 2, respectively, and in addition, they were orally gavaged with herbal extracts of TriFG (0.25 g/kg BW). Diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide in group 5 were used as positive controls.

Results and Discussion

Significant (P < 0.001) increase in the antioxidant enzymes with a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the lipid peroxidation levels were observed in the brain tissue of diabetic rats treated with TriFG extract as compared to diabetic and glibenclamide-treated rats. No significant changes were observed in pro- and antioxidant levels in brain tissue of rats treated with TriFG extract alone when compared to normal rats. In diabetic rats, brain mitochondrial and cytosolic enzymes like succinate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity levels were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with reversely increased was observed in lactate dehydrogenase activity (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The findings of the present study suggested that TriFG, through its antioxidant properties, protects brain tissue by mitigating oxidative stress induced by alloxan-exposed rats. TriFG extract significantly increased the antioxidant and oxidative properties in diabetic rats when compared with the control group rats.
Shifting from tobacco growing to alternatives in Malawi? A qualitative analysis of policy and perspectives
Authors: Lencucha Raphael , Moyo Takondwa , Labonte Ronald , Drope Jeffrey , Appau Adriana , Makoka Donald
Published: May 2020

Tobacco is the primary export commodity in Malawi and an important contributor to foreign earnings. The entrenchment of tobacco interests within government has partly explained why Malawi has lagged in its efforts to address the health consequences of tobacco and has been a vocal opponent of global tobacco control. Despite the extensive historical and entrenched relationship between the economy of Malawi and tobacco production, there have been important shifts at the highest policy levels towards the need to explore diversification in the agricultural sector. There is explicit recognition that alternatives to tobacco production must be pursued. This study provides an analysis of the policies and perspectives that characterize contemporary government approaches to tobacco and alternatives in Malawi by interviewing key government officials working on tobacco policy and reviewing recent policy documents. This research finds that there is openness and movement towards reducing tobacco growing in Malaw, including efforts to reduce tobacco dependency. Rather than a singular tobacco policy discourse in the country, there is a somewhat conflictual set of policies and perspectives on the future of tobacco in Malawi. Informing these policies and perspectives is the interplay between the economics of agricultural production (tobacco vs other crops), global markets (ranging from the ability to generate export earnings to the inability to compete with wealthier countries’ non-tobacco crop subsidies) and the lack of developed supply and value chains other than those created by the transnational tobacco industry. The implications for government policy supporting a move away from tobacco dependence are not straightforward: there is a need to fill the supply chain gap for alternative crops, which requires not only strong intersectoral support within the country (and some challenge to the residual pro-tobacco narratives) but also international support.
Diverse Teams Barriers and Benefits
Authors: Runciman Brian
Published: May 2020

BCS has produced an update of its diversity research for 2020. This year we put more focus on asking respondents for practical suggestions, what they’ve seen that is good and what works. Brian Runciman MBCS reports.
Digitising the NHS
Authors: Hamilton Johanna
Published: May 2020

When Jeremy Hunt commissioned the Wachter Review in 2015, it was to find out how the NHS could upgrade and transform through the effective use of digital working hand in glove with education. Sam Shah, NHS Clinician and former Director of Digital Development at NHSX, talks to Johanna Hamilton AMBCS about the challenges of transforming the world’s fifth largest employer.
Harassment at Work: Technical Guidance
Authors: Griffin Jenna
Published: May 2020

Gender inequality in tech has created an industry where women have less power and pay than male colleagues. Information Age compares men’s and women’s salaries in the tech industry by the size of the company uncovering the significant pay gap, especially in smaller organisations1, writes Jenna Griffin, Policy Programme Manager at BCS.
Is Your Head in the Clouds?
Authors: Passeri Paolo
Published: May 2020

Paolo Passeri, Cyber Intelligence Principal at Netskope, explains how to navigate data protection when using cloud services and three key routes for immediate success.
Aspergillus-related lung mass masquerading as a lung tumour
Authors: Mohamed Saifullah , Patel Akshay J , Darr A , Jawad Faisal , Steyn Richard
Published: May 2020

Aspergillus is a common environmental pathogen. However, clinically significant disease only occurs in a small proportion of patients. Although rare in its occurrence, it remains a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality in certain cohorts of patients. We describe a rare case of Aspergillus disease masquerading as a primary lung malignancy. Computer tomography pulmonary angiogram scan demonstrated a right upper lobe 8 x 6.5 cm soft-tissue lesion. Positron emission tomography CT demonstrated this lesion to be intensely fluorodeoxyglucose avid. Initial bronchoscopy demonstrated occluded subsegmental right upper lobe bronchus with white friable material. Follow-up bronchoscopy demonstrated evidence of a previous inflammatory process with cavitation and destruction of sub-lobar bronchial tree. Serial chest radiographs demonstrated almost complete resolution of the right upper lobe mass. Thus, this presentation of an Aspergillus-related lung mass masquerading as a primary lung malignancy provided several important learning points pertaining to diagnosis and ensuing management.
Implementation of a Multicomponent Fall Prevention Program: Contracting With Patients for Fall Safety
Authors: Bargmann Arrah L , Brundrett Stacey M
Published: May 2020

INTRODUCTION

Falls during hospitalizations can increase the length and cost of a hospital stay. Review of patient safety reports on a 26-bed medical-surgical telemetry unit revealed that the number of falls went from 6 in 2015 to 12 in 2016. The reports identified a knowledge gap in the patient population and nursing staff related to high fall risk interventions. A literature review suggests that patient-staff safety agreements, in combination with proper implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines, can successfully increase education and adherence to fall prevention measures and reduce the number of inpatient falls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The objective of this evidence-based practice project was to determine if the implementation of a patient fall safety agreement in combination with an existing evidence-based fall prevention bundle reduces the number of falls. Based on the literature review, the unit developed a multicomponent fall prevention program that emphasizes staff and patient education. The program consists of (1) assessment of the patient’s fall risk using the Johns Hopkins Fall Assessment Tool, (2) daily patient education on factors contributing to the patient’s fall risk during the shift assessment, (3) an educational handout on fall risk factors maintained at the bedside, (4) ensuring compliance with implementation of previously existing fall prevention measures, and (5) a patient fall safety agreement.

RESULTS

During the first 4 months, the fall rate decreased by 55% and staff compliance with interventions for high fall risk patients increased to 89%. To achieve added compliance, the unit implemented an incentive program, which resulted in the increased adherence to the fall risk interventions. The unit experienced 87 and 88 consecutive fall-free days, which was the longest consecutive days since May 2015. This project has reached sustainment and the unit continues to see a low fall rate, well below the national average for medical-surgical units.

CONCLUSION

One of the largest obstacles to this project was staff and leadership turnover. However, the project found that patient fall safety agreements facilitate a dialogue among staff and patients as well as encourage patients to take ownership of their own care. They improve the safety of patients and create a collaborative environment for nurses to conduct safe, quality patient care.
The Next Generation Fornax Survey (NGFS): VII. A MUSE view of the nuclear star clusters in Fornax dwarf galaxies
Authors: Johnston Evelyn J , Puzia Thomas H , D’Ago Giuseppe , Eigenthaler Paul , Galaz Gaspar , Häußler Boris , Mora Marcelo D , Ordenes-Briceño Yasna , Rong Yu , Spengler Chelsea , Vogt Frédéric , Côté Patrick , Grebel Eva K , Hilker Michael , Mieske Steffen , Miller Bryan , Sánchez-Janssen Ruben , Taylor Matthew A , Zhang Hong-Xin
Published: May 2020

Clues to the formation and evolution of nuclear star clusters (NSCs) lie in their stellar populations. However, these structures are often very faint compared to their host galaxy, and spectroscopic analysis of NSCs is hampered by contamination of light from the rest of the system. With the introduction of wide-field integral field unit (IFU) spectrographs, new techniques have been developed to model the light from different components within galaxies, making it possible to cleanly extract the spectra of the NSCs and study their properties with minimal contamination from the light of the rest of the galaxy. This work presents the analysis of the NSCs in a sample of 12 dwarf galaxies in the Fornax Cluster observed with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE). Analysis of the stellar populations and star formation histories reveal that all the NSCs show evidence of multiple episodes of star formation, indicating that they have built up their mass further since their initial formation. The NSCs were found to have systematically lower metallicities than their host galaxies, which is consistent with a scenario for mass assembly through mergers with infalling globular clusters, whilst the presence of younger stellar populations and gas emission in the core of two galaxies is indicative of in-situ star formation. We conclude that the NSCs in these dwarf galaxies likely originated as globular clusters that migrated to the core of the galaxy that have built up their mass mainly through mergers with other infalling clusters, with gas-inflow leading to in-situ star formation playing a secondary role.
The formation of type Ia supernovae from carbon–oxygen–silicon white dwarfs
Authors: Wu Chengyuan , Wang Bo , Wang Xiaofeng , Maeda Keiichi , Mazzali Paolo
Published: May 2020

The carbon–oxygen white dwarf (CO WD)+He star channel is thought to be one of the promising scenarios that produce young type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Previous studies found that if the mass-accretion rate is greater than a critical value, the He-accreting CO WD will undergo inwardly propagating (off-centre) carbon ignition when it increases its mass close to the Chandrasekhar limit. Previous works supposed that the inwardly propagating carbon flame would reach the centre, leading to the production of an oxygen–neon (ONe) WD that may collapse into a neutron star but not an SN Ia. However, it is still uncertain how the carbon flame propagates under the effect of mixing mechanisms. In the present work, we aim to investigate the off-centre carbon burning of He-accreting CO WDs by considering the effect of convective mixing. We found that the temperature of the flame is high enough to burn the carbon into silicon-group elements in the outer part of the CO core even if convective overshooting is considered, but the flame would quench somewhere inside the WD, resulting in the formation of a C–O–Si WD. Owing to the inefficiency of thermohaline mixing, the C–O–Si WD may explode as an SN Ia if it continues to grow in mass. Our radiation transfer simulations show that SN ejecta with silicon-rich outer layers will form high-velocity absorption lines in Si ii, leading to some similarities to a class of high-velocity SNe Ia in spectral evolution. We estimate that the birthrate of SNe Ia with Si-rich envelopes is ∼$1\times 10^{-4}\, \mbox{yr}^{-1}$ in our Galaxy.