bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A post‐IR IRSL chronology and dust mass accumulation rates of the Nosak loess‐palaeosol sequence in northeastern Serbia
Authors: Perić Zoran M. , Marković Slobodan B. , Sipos György , Gavrilov Milivoj B. , Thiel Christine , Zeeden Christian , Murray Andrew S.
Published: July 2020

In the Middle Danube Basin, Quaternary deposits are widely distributed in the Vojvodina region where they cover about 95% of the area. Major research during the last two decades has been focused on loess deposits in the Vojvodina region. During this period, loess in the Vojvodina region has become one of the most important Pleistocene European continental climatic and environmental records. Here we present the dating results of 15 samples taken from the Nosak loess‐palaeosol sequence in northeastern Serbia in order to establish a chronology over the last three glacial–interglacial cycles. We use the pIRIR290 signal of the 4–11 μm polymineral grains. The calculated ages are within the error limits partially consistent with the proposed multi‐millennial chronostratigraphy for Serbian loess. The average mass accumulation rate for the last three glacial–interglacial cycles is 265 g m−2 a−1, which is in agreement with the values of most sites in the Carpathian Basin. Our results indicate a highly variable deposition rate of loess, especially during the MIS 3 and MIS 6 stages, which is contrary to most studies conducted in Serbia where linear sedimentation rates were assumed.
Being a bright snake: Testing aposematism and mimicry in a neotropical forest
Authors: Banci Karina R. S. , Eterovic André , Marinho Patrícia S. , Marques Otavio A. V.
Published: July 2020

Based on color patterns and behavioral similarities, venomous coral snake Micrurus corallinus (Elapidae) may act as a model for two polymorphic species, Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Dipsadidae) and Micrurus decoratus (Elapidae). Plasticine replicas were used to investigate the aposematism of these coloration patterns and whether these species may be part of mimetic complexes in two Atlantic Forest localities in Southeast Brazil. Coral replicas were more avoided when set upon a white background, evincing that the pattern may act aposematically in contrast with light substrates. Birds attacked all four patterns equally during the mimicry experiments. Birds of prey, known to be effective in predating snakes, are quite abundant in the study areas, which may have led to this lack of avoidance. Accordingly, they predated more adult‐sized replicas, which could be more dangerous. Interestingly, opossum avoided the Micrurus corallinus and Erythrolamprus aesculapii replicas that resembled the model. This suggests that opportunistic predators, as the opossum may be important selective agents in mimicry complexes.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Evaluating community effects of a Keystone Ant,Azteca sericeasur,onInga michelianaleaf litter decomposition in a shaded coffee agro‐ecosystem
Authors: Schmitt Lauren , Aponte‐Rolón Bolívar , Perfecto Ivette
Published: July 2020

Our research examined the effect ofAzteca sericeasur,a keystone arboreal ant, on the decomposition of leaf litter of the shade tree,Inga micheliana,in coffee agro‐ecosystems. This interaction is important in understanding spatial heterogeneity in decomposition. We hypothesized thatA. sericeasurcould affect leaf litter decomposition by excluding other ants, which could release decomposers, like collembolans, from predation pressure. Determining the relative strengths of these interactions can illuminate the importance ofA. sericeasurin decomposition and nutrient cycling processes. We assessed the ant and arthropod communities surrounding 10 pairs of trees, where each pair included one shade tree with an establishedA. sericeasurnest. Tuna baits were used in conjunction with pitfall traps to assess the ant and arthropod community, and litterbags withI. michelianaleaf litter were used to assess rates of decomposition. The species richness of ants did not change in proximity toA. sericeasurnests, though the ant communities were distinct. Abundance of Collembola and community composition of other invertebrates did not change in the presence ofA. sericeasurnests, and there were no differences in leaf litter decomposition rates. This contradicts past studies that suggestA. sericeasurreduces ant species richness in its territory. We suggest that other ants may avoidA. sericeasurby moving within and beneath the leaf litter. Our results indicate that there is no net effect ofA. sericeasuron leaf litter decomposition.
Standardized Data Structures in Rare Diseases: CDISC User Guides for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Mullin Ariana P. , Corey Diane , Turner Emily C. , Liwski Richard , Olson Daniel , Burton Jackson , Sivakumaran Sudhir , Hudson Lynn D. , Romero Klaus , Stephenson Diane T. , Larkindale Jane
Published: July 2020

Interest in drug development for rare diseases has expanded dramatically since the Orphan Drug Act was passed in 1983, with 40% of new drug approvals in 2019 targeting orphan indications. However, limited quantitative understanding of natural history and disease progression hinders progress and increases the risks associated with rare disease drug development. Use of international data standards can assist in data harmonization and enable data exchange, integration into larger datasets, and a quantitative understanding of disease natural history. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires the use of Clinical Data Interchange Consortium (CDISC) Standards in new drug submissions to help the agency efficiently and effectively receive, process, review, and archive submissions, as well as to help integrate data to answer research questions. Such databases have been at the core of biomarker qualification efforts and fit‐for‐purpose models endorsed by the regulators. We describe the development of CDISC therapeutic area user guides for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease through Critical Path Institute consortia. These guides describe formalized data structures and controlled terminology to map and integrate data from different sources. This will result in increased standardization of data collection and allow integration and comparison of data from multiple studies. Integration of multiple data sets enables a quantitative understanding of disease progression, which can help overcome common challenges in clinical trial design in these and other rare diseases. Ultimately, clinical data standardization will lead to a faster path to regulatory approval of urgently needed new therapies for patients.
An Investigation of the Metabolism and Excretion of KD101 and Its Interindividual Differences: A Microtracing Mass Balance Study in Humans
Authors: Kim Anhye , Dueker Stephen R. , Hwang Jun Gi , Yoon Jangsoo , Lee Sang‐Won , Lee Hye Suk , Yu Byung‐Yong , Yu Kyung‐Sang , Lee Howard
Published: July 2020

The absorption, metabolism, and excretion (AME) profiles of KD101, currently under clinical development to treat obesity, were assessed in humans using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) after a single oral administration of KD101 at 400 mg and a microdose of 14C‐KD101 at ~ 35.2 μg with a total radioactivity of 6.81 kBq. The mean total recovery of administered radioactivity was 85.2% with predominant excretion in the urine (78.0%). The radio‐chromatographic metabolite profiling showed that most of the total radioactivity in the plasma and the urine was ascribable to metabolites. The UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), including UGT1A1, UGT1A3, and UGT2B7, might have contributed to the interindividual variability in the metabolism and excretion of KD101. The microtracing approach using AMS is a useful tool to evaluate the AME of a drug under development without risk for high radiation exposure to humans.
Exploratory Analysis of the Factors Associated With Success Rates of Confirmatory Randomized Controlled Trials in Cancer Drug Development
Authors: Wu Can , Ono Shunsuke
Published: July 2020

This study examined the outcomes of recent confirmatory randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in phase III that were initiated between 2005 and 2017 for oncologic drugs in the United States and identified several factors that were associated with the success of RCTs. Our regression analysis showed that studies with progression‐free survival or response rate as primary end point were more likely to succeed than studies with overall survival (odds ratio (OR) = 2.94 and 6.23, respectively). The status of development was also linked with success rates. Studies for non‐lead indication tended to have lower success rates than studies for lead indication (OR = 0.68). Studies for first‐line therapy were observed to have low success rates compared with studies for post second‐line therapies (OR = 0.37). Studies for which strong prior evidence was not listed in their publication tended to be more successful than studies that followed rigorous RCTs or single arm studies for the indication. These results suggest that historical success rates may reflect not only the important features of trials, which can be observed directly from study design and results, but also the background status of trials in clinical development pathways.
Educational Assessment of the Post‐Pandemic Age: Chinese Experiences and Trends Based on Large‐Scale Online Learning
Authors: Su Hong
Published: July 2020

Owing to the break‐out of the COVID‐19 pandemic, students have to take more online learning than offline, and large‐scale education assessment programs have to be suspended or postponed. How could education assessment adapt to large‐scale online learning? How could the effect and safety of online assessment be improved? What role should formative assessment play in student admissions? How could different assessment results be linked? Reflections on and trends of the Chinese experiences are presented in this article. Based on cross‐cultural comparison research, measures to be recommended are as follows: reviewing previous theories, improving existing methods continuously, and developing assessment techniques innovatively according to new application scenarios.
Recent silent infarcts do not increase the risk of haemorrhage after intravenous thrombolysis
Authors: Stösser S. , Ullrich L. , Kassubek J. , Ludolph A. C. , Schocke M. , Neugebauer H.
Published: July 2020

Background and purpose

Haemorrhagic transformation (HT) is one of the main risks of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for acute ischaemic stroke. Contraindications serve to exclude patients at high risk of HT after IVT. One of these contraindications is a stroke within the preceding 3 months. It is unclear if this contraindication should include recent clinically silent infarcts (RSIs). The aim of this study was to investigate whether RSIs are associated with a higher risk of HT and a worse clinical outcome after IVT for acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods

In a retrospective monocentric cohort study, all patients who received IVT for acute ischaemic stroke based on magnetic resonance imaging were assessed over 5 years. RSIs were defined as lesions with diffusion restriction and positive signal on fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequences. Patients with RSIs (RSI+) were compared to patients without RSIs (RSI−) regarding HT after IVT and clinical outcome.

Results

In all, 981 patients who had received IVT for acute ischaemic stroke demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging were identified. RSIs were detected in 115 patients (11.5%). HT after IVT was observed in 32 (28.3%) RSI+ and 56 (25.8%) RSI− patients (P = 0.624). Symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage was noted in two (1.8%) RSI+ and five (2.3%) RSI− patients (P = 1.000). No differences in clinical outcome were observed.

Conclusions

The detection of RSIs in patients treated with IVT for acute ischaemic stroke was not associated with a higher risk of HT or a worse clinical outcome. The results of this study argue against considering RSIs as a contraindication for IVT.
Automating test oracles from restricted natural language agile requirements
Authors: Malik Maryam Imtiaz , Sindhu Muddassar Azam , Khattak Akmal Saeed , Abbasi Rabeeh Ayaz , Saleem Khalid
Published: July 2020

Manual testing of software requirements written in natural language for agile or any other methodology requires more time and human resources. This leaves the testing process error prone and time consuming. For satisfied end users with bug‐free software delivered on time, there is a need to automate the test oracle process for natural language or informal requirements. The automation of the test oracle is relatively easier with formal requirements, but this task is difficult to achieve with natural language requirements. This study proposes an approach called Restricted Natural Language Agile Requirements Testing (ReNaLART) to automate the test oracle from restricted natural language agile requirements. For this purpose, it uses an existing user story template with some modifications for writing user stories. This helps in identifying test input and expected output for a user story. For comparison of expected and observed outputs it makes use of a regex pattern and string distance functions. It is capable of assigning different types of verdicts automatically depending upon the similarity/dissimilarity between observed and expected outputs of user stories. ReNaLART is validated using several case studies of different domains, namely, OLX Pakistan, Mental Health Tests, McDelivery Pakistan, BlueStacks, Power Searching with Google, TensorFlow Playground, w3Schools 2018 offline and Touch'D. It revealed several faults in five of the above listed eight applications. Plus, the proposed test oracle on an average took 0.02 s for test data generation, expected output generation and verdict assignment. Both these facts show the fault revealing effectiveness and efficiency of ReNaLART.
Anomalies enhanced: A portfolio rebalancing approach
Authors: Han Yufeng , Huang Dayong , Zhou Guofu
Published: July 2020

Many anomalies are based on firm characteristics and rebalanced yearly ignoring any information during the year. In this paper, we provide two dynamic trading strategies to rebalance anomaly portfolios monthly. For eight major anomalies, we find that dynamic trading strategies substantially enhance their economic value with improvements in the Fama and French five‐factor alpha ranging from 0.40% to 0.75% per month. Our findings indicate that many well‐known anomalies can be more profitable than previously thought if managed with our dynamic trading strategies. This much improved performance, which relies on both the anomalies and the trading strategies, raises a new challenge for theoretical explanations.
Working at gender? An autoethnography
Authors: O'Shea Saoirse Caitlin
Published: July 2020

In this essay I wish to explore the idea of work in relation to the arguments that trans folk ‘[claim] an illegitimate sex/gender status” in order to ‘pass” whilst cisgender people are just ‘doing gender rather than passing” it. Such a denaturalisation of our sex/gender implicitly requires that we both work at passing and that passing is our very work; a work that we are driven to, can never fulfill and that indelibly inscribes us as duplicitous, inauthentic, unnatural and monstrous. (I pronominally include myself because I am a non‐binary trans person). As a non‐binary person my work is to manage the erasure of my gender in favour of a binary choice or be undocumented and so be excluded from legal, paid employment.
Severe haemophilia A children on low‐dose tertiary prophylaxis showed less joint deterioration and better maintenance of functional independence than children on on‐demand treatment: A 6‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Liu Ying , Chen Lixia , Li Kuixing , Shi Mingnan , Poon Man‐Chiu
Published: July 2020

Background

In countries with limited resource, haemophilia patients have to choose low‐dose prophylaxis or on‐demand treatment (ODT) because of economic constraints. Whether low‐dose prophylaxis can achieve better joint function outcome than ODT over long‐term remains unclear.

Aim

To investigate the long‐term effect of low‐dose tertiary prophylaxis versus ODT on joint health in severe haemophilia A children.

Methods

This was a retrospective study. We enrolled and followed 34 severe haemophilia boys in China receiving on‐demand treatment (n = 18) or low‐dose prophylaxis (10‐15 IU/kg, 2‐3 times per week) for a medium‐term (6‐18 months, n = 9) or longer‐term (19‐30 months, n = 7). We evaluated their haemophilia joint health score (HJHS) 2.1 and functional independence score in haemophilia (FISH) at baseline and at their 6‐year follow‐up visits. Their annual bleeding rate (ABR) and annual joint bleeding rate (AJBR) were also recorded.

Results

During the 6‐year follow‐up period, ABR and AJBR were similar between the 2 prophylaxis groups, with each of the 2 prophylaxis group rates being significantly better (lower) than the ODT group (P < .05). Compared to baseline values, evaluation at 6‐year follow‐up showed HJHS improvement in both prophylaxis groups, although significantly (P < .05) only in the longer‐term prophylaxis group. The FISH score showed insignificant change in patients in each prophylaxis cohort, compared to significant worsening (P < .05) in the ODT group.

Conclusion

Low‐dose tertiary prophylaxis reduced ABR and AJBR of children with severe haemophilia and better maintained their functional independence by the FISH over the long term. Longer‐term prophylaxis also improved their joint health status by the HJHS.
A panel of stomach‐specific biomarkers (GastroPanel®) for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis: A prospective, multicenter study in a low gastric cancer incidence area
Authors: Chapelle Nicolas , Petryszyn Pawel , Blin Justine , Leroy Maxime , Le Berre‐Scoul Catherine , Jirka Iva , Neunlist Michel , Moussata Driffa , Lamarque Dominique , Olivier Raphael , Tougeron David , Mosnier Jean‐François , Matysiak‐Budnik Tamara
Published: July 2020

Background

Analysis of serum biomarkers for the assessment of atrophic gastritis (AG), considered as gastric precancerous lesion, is of growing interest and recommended by current guidelines. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a panel of biomarkers (GastroPanel®) for the detection of AG in France, a country of a low gastric cancer (GC) incidence.

Material and Methods

In this prospective, multicenter, cross‐sectional study, consecutive patients considered at increased risk of GC and undergoing upper endoscopy with gastric biopsies were included. Blood samples were collected for the analysis of GastroPanel® (association of Pepsinogens I and II, Gastrin‐17, and Helicobacter pylori serology) using ELISA. The results of GastroPanel® were compared to the results of histology considered as the reference.

Results

Between 2016 and 2019, 344 patients (148 cases with AG, 196 controls without AG) were included. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values for the detection of AG by GastroPanel® were of 39.9% (95% CI 31.9; 48.2), 93.4% (95% CI 88.9; 96.4), 81.9 (95% CI 71.1; 90.0), and 67.3 (95% CI 61.4; 72.8), respectively. The sensitivity was significantly higher for the detection of severe AG [60.8% (95% CI 46.1; 74.6) P = .015] and corpus AG [61.0% (95% CI 49.2; 72.0), P = .004]. Diagnostic performances of GastroPanel® tended to be better than those of Pepsinogen I alone, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = .068).

Conclusion

Serum pepsinogen and GastroPanel® tests show promising results for the detection of AG, especially of corpus AG and severe AG, in patients at high risk of GC in France.
Bardet‐Biedlsyndrome: Weight patterns and genetics in a rare obesity syndrome
Authors: Pomeroy Jeremy , Krentz Anthony D. , Richardson Jesse G. , Berg Richard L. , VanWormer Jeffrey J. , Haws Robert M.
Published: July 2020

Background

Bardet‐Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare genetic disorder that severely inhibits primary cilia function. BBS is typified by obesity in adulthood, but pediatric weight patterns, and thus optimal periods of intervention, are poorly understood.

Objectives

To examine body mass differences by age, gender, and genotype in children and adolescents with BBS.

Methods

We utilized the largest international registry of BBS phenotypes. Anthropometric and genetic data were obtained from medical records or participant/family interviews. Participants were stratified by age and sex categories. Genotype and obesity phenotype were investigated in a subset of participants with available data.

Results

Height and weight measurements were available for 552 unique individuals with BBS. The majority of birth weights were in the normal range, but rates of overweight or obesity rapidly increased in early childhood, exceeding 90% after age 5. Weight z‐scores in groups >2 years were above 2.0, while height z‐scores approached 1.0, but were close to 0.0 in adolescents. Relative to those with the BBS10 genotype, the BBS1 cohort had a lower BMI z‐score in the 2‐5 and 6‐11 age groups, with similar BMI z‐scores thereafter. Children with biallelic loss of function (LOF) genetic variants had significantly higher BMI z‐scores compared to missense variants.

Conclusion

Despite normal birth weight, most individuals with BBS experience rapid weight gain in early childhood, with high rates of overweight/obesity sustained through adolescence. Children with LOF variants are disproportionally affected. Our findings support the need for earlier recognition and initiation of weight management therapies in BBS.
Getting the COVID‐19 pandemic into perspective: a nursing imperative
Authors: McDonald Tracey
Published: July 2020

As we approach the seventh month of the latest pandemic to wreak havoc and death across all societies, it beggars belief that many world and national leaders have acted surprised at the speed and destructive efficiency of COVID‐19. Nurses are not surprised by the level of misery and devastation that infectious diseases can cause. We have seen it all before. In every outbreak through history, nurses have responded to the dangers that direct engagement with such crises entails. The inherent risks nurses face in controlling potentially fatal pathogens are compounded by flaccid public policy and incompetent management, resulting in poorly resourced preparedness for the epidemics and pandemics that routinely punctuate our history. That nurses are repeatedly placed in such precarious work environments is an indictment on all involved. Over time, nurses responding to populations in crisis have learned not to rely too heavily on those occupying leadership positions for front‐line resources and protection or even early warnings or open disclosure about contagion risk, case numbers and outcomes. Once the danger has passed, the usual public expressions of gratitude for nurses who put themselves in harm’s way to help victims of these catastrophes seem to fade, amid hasty efforts to consolidate policies, processes and hierarchies back to the same settings that allowed the current crisis to flourish. So far in this pandemic, an unconfirmed number of nurses and other health workers have either died usually as a result of their involvement with infectious patients or become infected themselves. Data collection on this is haphazard at best, with nurse deaths absorbed within the aggregated morbidity data reported on during pandemics. This is despite nurses being the prominent professional workforce providing crucial front‐line interventions to protect public health. It is time nurses involved themselves with the overdue reformation of public health policies, information management and health systems that would seek to return nurses to precarious work environments and trivialize foreseeable risks to us, our communities and patients.
Materials research & measurement needs for ceramics additive manufacturing
Authors: Allen Andrew J. , Levin Igor , Witt Suzanne E.
Published: July 2020

We report on a recent workshop dedicated to additive manufacturing (AM) of ceramics that was held at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in November 2019. This two‐day all‐invited meeting brought together experts from industry, government agencies and academia to review the state of the field and identify the most pressing applied materials research and metrology issues which, if addressed, could accelerate the incorporation of AM methods into commercial ceramic manufacturing. Besides the AM technologies, the discussions included consideration of the necessary post‐processing steps. We highlight some of the successes and challenges for the adoption of ceramics AM on an industrial scale, as viewed by the workshop participants. We also propose actions for the ceramic community to facilitate the wider commercialization of these fabrication methods.
A treasure from the past: Former sperm whale distribution in Indonesian waters unveiled using distribution models and historical whaling data
Authors: Sahri Achmad , Putra Mochamad I. H. , Mustika Putu L. K. , Murk Albertinka J.
Published: July 2020

Aim

This study is the first in Indonesia to assess historical sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) seasonal distributions by combining historical whaling data with environmental factors associated with sperm whale habitat preferences. As current records of whale occurrence covering the whole of Indonesian waters are incomplete, we used historical whaling data summarized by Charles Haskins Townsend in 1935 to model its potential distribution for each season.

Location

Indonesian waters (92‐143E, 9N‐14S).

Taxa

Sperm whale (P. macrocephalus).

Methods

We used a presence‐only habitat model – Maximum Entropy (Maxent) –, and a presence–pseudo‐absence method – generalized additive model (GAM) – with nine submerged topographic variables to predict historical seasonal distributions.

Results

Both Maxent and GAM predict similar potential distribution which align closely with the whaling data. The results indicate that in four areas in the eastern part of Indonesia, no seasonal differences occurred in sperm whale distribution, while noticeable seasonal differences were indicated in other areas. The key parameters that characterize sperm whale habitat in both models were distance to coast, distance to −1,000 and −5,000 m isobaths, and submarine key features such as trough and trench.

Main conclusions

The historical catch data of this species can be used to describe the historical species distribution and provide a baseline to assess present distribution, prioritize current research and monitoring and recommend future data collection. Our models also predict distributions that are significantly larger than the ones occupied by sperm whales nowadays, another example of a shifting baseline. Our study demonstrates the benefits of incorporating historical whaling data into habitat models for ecological investigation and to inform conservation efforts for cetaceans.
Association between the triglyceride–glucose index and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Liu Li , Xia Rui , Song Xiaoqing , Zhang Benping , He Wentao , Zhou Xinrong , Li Shengzhong , Yuan Gang
Published: July 2020

Aims/Introduction

The triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index has been proposed as a reliable and simple marker of insulin resistance. We investigated the association between TyG index and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

A consecutive case series of 682 adult patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology at the Tongji Hospital (Wuhan, Hubei, China) from January 2007 to December 2009 was included in this cross‐sectional analysis. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, correlation analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were carried out.

Results

A total of 232 (34.0%) participants were identified with DN. Compared with the non‐DN group, the DN group had longer disease duration, and higher bodyweight, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, serum uric acid, 24 h‐urinary albumin, TyG index and homeostasis model assessment 2 estimates for insulin resistance (HOMA2‐IR; P < 0.05 for each). The TyG index with an optimal cut‐off point >9.66 showed a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.67 (P = 0.002) than HOMA2‐IR (area under the curve 0.61, P = 0.029) on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for DN identification. Additionally, the TyG index positively correlated with the levels of metabolic indicators (bodyweight, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, serum uric acid, fasting glucose and HOMA2‐IR) and natural logarithmic 24 h‐urinary albumin (P < 0.05 for each), but not natural logarithm of estimated glomerular filtration rate. On multiple regression analysis, an increased TyG index was shown to be an independent risk factor (odds ratio 1.91, P = 0.001) for DN.

Conclusions

The TyG index was independently associated with DN in patients with type 2 diabetes, and was a better marker than HOMA2‐IR for identification of DN in type 2 diabetes patients.
Magnetic Patterning of Vorticella convallaria in a Microfluidic Device
Authors: Butler Trevor C. , Zhang Jieyu , Zhang Haipeng , Ryu Sangjin , Greene Amy Styer
Published: July 2020

We describe an inexpensive magnetic cell patterning method as a tool for protozoologists. The ciliate Vorticella convallaria is useful for various biofluidics applications. Here, we show that V. convallaria will ingest metal beads and that permanent magnets can be used to pattern cells in Petri dishes or a microfluidic device. Patterning is reversibly achieved by placing magnets at the point of desired cell attachment. Analogous magnetic manipulation could be performed using other phagocytic cells.
Post‐partum interval and time to pregnancy in a prospective preconception cohort
Authors: Willis Sydney K. , Hatch Elizabeth E. , Wesselink Amelia K. , Rothman Kenneth J. , Mikkelsen Ellen M. , Ahrens Katherine A. , Wise Lauren A.
Published: July 2020

Background

Little is known about the influence of the post‐partum interval—defined as the time between giving birth and attempting to conceive again—on subsequent fecundability.

Objectives

We evaluated the association between the post‐partum interval and fecundability in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a web‐based prospective preconception cohort of pregnancy planners from the United States and Canada.

Methods

Eligible women were aged 21‐45 years, attempting pregnancy, and not using fertility treatment. Women completed a baseline questionnaire to ascertain information on demographics, life style factors, and reproductive history, including detailed information on all previous pregnancies. They completed bi‐monthly follow‐up questionnaires for up to 12 months to update pregnancy status over time. We used proportional probabilities regression models to estimate fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for sociodemographic and reproductive history covariates. Analyses were restricted to multiparous women who had been attempting pregnancy with the same male partner for ≤6 menstrual cycles at enrolment.

Results

During 2013‐2019, 1489 female participants contributed 959 pregnancies and 5003 cycles. The median post‐partum interval was 18 months. Compared with a 12‐ to 23‐month post‐partum interval, FRs for post‐partum intervals of <12, 24‐47, and ≥48 months were 0.89 (95% CI 0.77, 1.04), 1.06 (95% CI 0.91, 1.23), and 0.81 (95% CI 0.62, 1.05), respectively. When restricting to women without a history of subfertility, results were consistent for long post‐partum interval and attenuated for short post‐partum interval.

Conclusions

Among North American pregnancy planners, long post‐partum intervals (≥48 months) were associated with slightly reduced fecundability. Short post‐partum intervals (<12 months) were weakly associated with reduced fecundability in some subgroups including women with a history of caesarean delivery and planned pregnancies.
Temporal stability of cavity‐nesting bee and wasp communities in different types of reforestation in southeastern Amazonia
Authors: Araújo Gustavo J. , Stork‐Tonon Danielle , Izzo Thiago J.
Published: July 2020

Global initiatives to recover degraded areas have intensified in recent years. However, the effectiveness of different reforestation practices in restoring habitat stability and essential resources for species over time is poorly known. We tested the degree of temporal stability of bee and wasp communities reestablishiment in different types of forest regeneration compared to intact primary forest in southern Amazonia. Using trap‐nest sampling, we collected, during 12 months, information about the nesting species in six different types of treatments: pastures, teak reforestation, fig and mixed native species, natural regeneration forest, and forest primary. We observed that in all reforested treatments, the abundance and richness of both bees and wasps were greater than in pasture sites. However, not all reforestation strategies had the same degree of effectiveness in maintaining the stability of bee and wasp communities over time than observed in primary forest communities. The high temporal variation in teak structure promoted high instability in bee and wasp communities over time. In contrast, reforestation using perennial species, such as fig or mixed species, resulted in a greater temporal stability of bee and wasp communities, although dissimilarity to primary forest remained high. Communities in natural regeneration were the most similar to primary forest, with high similarity of species composition and high temporal stability across seasons. Our findings suggest that reforestation strategies that promote increased complexity of vegetation structure, and better resemble “natural” forests in the provision of habitat resources throughout the year, will better restore and maintain communities through time.
Influence of immunosuppression on seroconversion against SARS‐CoV‐2 in two kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Wang Aileen X. , Quintero Cardona Orlando , Ho Dora Y. , Busque Stephan , Lenihan Colin R.
Published: July 2020

Solid organ transplant recipients are at risk for infectious complications due to chronic immunosuppression. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in the United States has raised growing concerns for the transplant patient population. We seek to add to the current limited literature on COVID‐19 in transplant recipients by describing the clinical course of two kidney transplant recipients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection monitored by both RT‐PCR and serology. Through careful adjustment of their immunosuppression regimen, both patients had excellent recovery with intact graft function and development of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies.
A retrospective analysis on the outcome of 18 dogs with malignant ovarian tumours
Authors: Goto Sho , Iwasaki Ryota , Sakai Hiroki , Mori Takashi
Published: July 2020

Little evidence is available regarding the prognosis of dogs with malignant ovarian tumours. The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the outcomes and determine the prognostic factors for dogs with malignant ovarian tumours following treatment, including surgery with or without adjuvant therapy. Eighteen dogs were studied, their median age was 12 years (range: 7‐15 years), and their median body weight was 6.9 kg (range: 2.3‐17.8 kg). Following histopathologic diagnoses revealed that granulosa cell tumour was the most common type (n = 9), followed by dysgerminoma (n = 5), and adenocarcinoma (n = 4). Eleven dogs had surgery alone. Seven dogs had surgery with adjuvant therapy, including chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The median survival time (ST) was 1009 days when only deaths owing to the ovarian tumours were considered, and predictors of median ST were T‐category (≥ T3, 443 days vs ≤ T2, 1474 days; P = .002), presence of metastatic disease (present, 391 days vs absent, 1474 days; P < .001) and lymphovascular space invasion (present, 428 days vs absent, 1474 days; P = .003) in a univariate analysis. Median ST in dogs with granulosa cell tumour seemed longer than in dogs with dysgerminoma and adenocarcinoma, although the difference was statistically insignificant (1474 days vs 458 days, respectively; P = .10). Considering the good prognosis, aggressive treatment can be recommended for dogs with malignant ovarian tumours, especially early‐stage cases. Despite metastasis being present at diagnosis, half of the dogs with metastasis survived for more than 1 year.
Travelling Educational Change and Cultural Diversity in the Czech Republic
Authors: Moree Dana
Published: July 2020

This article analyses the interconnectedness of travelling policy and domestic top-down and bottom-up processes in the case of a country going through a transformation from a communist to a more open system. This interconnectedness and the dilemmas it poses will be examined in several steps. After a theoretical introduction to the concept of travelling policy and domestic bottom-up and top-down processes, we will introduce the initial situation of the educational system in the Czech Republic around 1989. We will then analyse the process of educational change, and we will describe how Czech teachers view this change by presenting the results of qualitative research among these teachers. Finally, we will concentrate on the diversity issue as one part of the process of educational change. A diversity aspect was chosen because on this issue we can demonstrate the influences of travelling policy on top and bottom development.
Nurseries - Educational or Social Institutions?
Authors: Baďuríková Zita
Published: July 2020

The paper presents recent approaches to institutional education of children under three years in a wider international and European context. It introduces concepts of creation of educational programs for children in some countries of Europe and the USA. Unlike in former socialist countries, the issue of young children education is in focus in countries with a developed system of pre-school education, including educational training of people working in various types of nurserie.
Self-Efficacy Versus Gender: Project-Based Active Learning Techniques in Biomedical Engineering Introductory Computer Programming Courses
Authors: Cyrus Rezvanifar S. , Amini Rouzbeh
Published: July 2020

Engineering education has increasingly embraced active learning techniques within a variety of curricula. In particular, project-based active learning techniques have a significant potential to enhance students' learning experience. In this study, we implemented project-based techniques in biomedical engineering (BME) classes, and we investigated the effects of active learning on students' self-efficacy as an effective predictor of students' academic persistence and their career decision-making. Differences in self-efficacy were compared across genders. A high level of internal consistency was observed for both academic and career-oriented scales, as determined by Cronbach's alpha values of 0.908 and 0.862, respectively. While average scores of all survey questions indicated improvement in students' academic and career-oriented self-efficacy measures, significant improvements were observed in “clearer vision of programming application in engineering” and “BME careers,” as well as in “expectation of success in a future BME career that involves developing medical devices” after the completion of the project-based activity (p = 0.002, 0.023, and 0.034, respectively). For two of the survey questions, female students reflected a significantly lower “self-confidence about understanding the most complex course material” as well as a significantly lower “willingness to have a future career in BME that involves intensive computer programing” as compared to male students (p = 0.035 and 0.024, respectively). We have further discussed possible explanations for the observed differences and multiple potential ways to enhance gender equality in STEM fields from a self-efficacy standpoint.
Investigation of TiN film on an RF ceramic window by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Peng Zhen , Chen Gen , Zhao Yan-Ping , Zhang Xin , Song Yun-Tao , Shirkov Grigori , Karamysheva Galina , Karamyshev Oleg , Calabretta Luciano , Caruso Antonio
Published: July 2020

To reduce the secondary emission yield of an RF window ceramic so as to suppress the occurrence of a multipactor, we propose coating the window with a titanium nitride (TiN) film by atomic layer deposition. We investigate two groups of samples with film thicknesses of 56 and 8 nm, respectively, to analyze the composition and optimize the coating thickness of the TiN film on the ceramic. For the first group of samples (56 nm films), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the film can be divided into three mixed layers: a top layer composed of TiOxNy and TiO2; a middle layer consisting of TiN, TiOxNy, TiO2, and TiC; and a bottom layer called a diffusion layer, formed by decreasing TiN, TiOxNy, TiO2, TiC, and increasing Al2O3 as the ceramic is approached. The depth of this bottom layer is ∼8 nm. Two more films (8 nm films) in the second group of samples were grown on a 96 ceramic and silicon to determine the sheet resistance, those on silicon is ∼1 kΩ/□ as measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. According to the XPS results of the two 8 nm films, the content of TiOxNy and TiO2 increased while TiN content decreased in the film on 96 ceramic, compared to the film on silicon. Therefore, the 8 nm film is suitable for use as a coating for the RF window to weaken the multipactor effect and lower conductivity. To test the film performance, an RF ceramic window is coated with an 8 nm TiN film. Low-power measurements show that, within a frequency of 100 MHz, the 8 nm film on the RF ceramic window has a negligible effect on its transmission characteristics. 8 kW RF power tests indicate that the film coating can significantly improve the power transmission, anti-multipaction, and stability of the RF window.
Evolution and epidemic spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil
Authors: Candido Darlan S. , Claro Ingra M. , de Jesus Jaqueline G. , Souza William M. , Moreira Filipe R. R. , Dellicour Simon , Mellan Thomas A. , du Plessis Louis , Pereira Rafael H. M. , Sales Flavia C. S. , Manuli Erika R. , Thézé Julien , Almeida Luiz , Menezes Mariane T. , Voloch Carolina M. , Fumagalli Marcilio J. , Coletti Thaís M. , da Silva Camila A. M. , Ramundo Mariana S. , Amorim Mariene R. , Hoeltgebaum Henrique H. , Mishra Swapnil , Gill Mandev S. , Carvalho Luiz M. , Buss Lewis F. , Prete Carlos A. , Ashworth Jordan , Nakaya Helder I. , Peixoto Pedro S. , Brady Oliver J. , Nicholls Samuel M. , Tanuri Amilcar , Rossi Átila D. , Braga Carlos K. V. , Gerber Alexandra L. , de C. Guimarães Ana Paula , Gaburo Nelson , Alencar Cecila Salete , Ferreira Alessandro C. S. , Lima Cristiano X. , Levi José Eduardo , Granato Celso , Ferreira Giulia M. , Francisco Ronaldo S. , Granja Fabiana , Garcia Marcia T. , Moretti Maria Luiza , Perroud Mauricio W. , Castiñeiras Terezinha M. P. P. , Lazari Carolina S. , Hill Sarah C. , de Souza Santos Andreza Aruska , Simeoni Camila L. , Forato Julia , Sposito Andrei C. , Schreiber Angelica Z. , Santos Magnun N. N. , de Sá Camila Zolini , Souza Renan P. , Resende-Moreira Luciana C. , Teixeira Mauro M. , Hubner Josy , Leme Patricia A. F. , Moreira Rennan G. , Nogueira Maurício L. ,   Brazil-UK Centre for Arbovirus Discovery, Diagnosis, Genomics and Epidemiology (CADDE) Genomic Network, Ferguson Neil M. , Costa Silvia F. , Proenca-Modena José Luiz , Vasconcelos Ana Tereza R. , Bhatt Samir , Lemey Philippe , Wu Chieh-Hsi , Rambaut Andrew , Loman Nick J. , Aguiar Renato S. , Pybus Oliver G. , Sabino Ester C. , Faria Nuno Rodrigues
Published: July 2020

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil

Brazil has been hard-hit by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Candido
et al.
combined genomic and epidemiological analyses to investigate the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in the country. By setting up a network of genomic laboratories using harmonized protocols, the researchers found a 29% positive rate for SARS-CoV-2 among collected samples. More than 100 international introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into Brazil were identified, including three clades introduced from Europe that were already well established before the implementation of NPIs and travel bans. The virus spread from urban centers to the rest of the country, along with a 25% increase in the average distance traveled by air passengers before travel bans, despite an overall drop in short-haul travel. Unfortunately, the evidence confirms that current interventions remain insufficient to keep virus transmission under control in Brazil.

Science
, this issue p.
1255
Rapid Increase of CTX-M-Producing Shigella sonnei Isolates in Switzerland Due to Spread of Common Plasmids and International Clones
Authors: Campos-Madueno Edgar I. , Bernasconi Odette J. , Moser Aline I. , Keller Peter M. , Luzzaro Francesco , Maffioli Carola , Bodmer Thomas , Kronenberg Andreas , Endimiani Andrea
Published: July 2020

The Swiss Centre for Antibiotic Resistance (ANRESIS) has recently noted an increase of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant (ESC-R)Shigella sonneiisolates nationwide (3.8% in 2016 versus 37.5% in 2019). To understand this phenomenon, we analyzed 25 representative isolates (of which 14 were ESC-R) collected in Switzerland during 2016 to 2019. Whole-genome sequencing was achieved using both the Illumina and the Nanopore platforms. Both ESC-R and extended-spectrum cephalosporin-susceptible isolates belonged to sequence type 152 (ST152).
Evidence for a Growth Zone for Deep-Subsurface Microbial Clades in Near-Surface Anoxic Sediments
Authors: Lloyd Karen G. , Bird Jordan T. , Buongiorno Joy , Deas Emily , Kevorkian Richard , Noordhoek Talor , Rosalsky Jacob , Roy Taylor
Published: July 2020

Many studies show that the uncultured microbes that dominate global marine sediments do not actually increase in population size as they are buried in marine sediments; rather, they exist in a sort of prolonged torpor for thousands of years. This is because, although studies have shown biomass turnover in these clades, no evidence has ever been found that deeper sediments have larger populations for specific clades than shallower layers. We discovered that they actually do increase population sizes during burial, but only in the upper few centimeters. This suggests that marine sediments may be a vast repository of mostly nongrowing microbes with a thin and relatively rapid area of cell abundance increase in the upper 10 cm, offering a chance for subsurface organisms to undergo natural selection.
Relationship between Rainfall, Fecal Pollution, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Microbial Diversity in an Urbanized Subtropical Bay
Authors: Powers Nicole C. , Wallgren Hailey R. , Marbach Sandra , Turner Jeffrey W.
Published: July 2020

The presence of human enteric pathogens, stemming from fecal pollution, is a serious environmental and public health concern in recreational waters. Accurate assessments of fecal pollution are therefore needed to properly assess exposure risks and guide water quality policies and practices. In this study, the absence of a direct correlation between enterococci and source-specific human and animal markers disputes the utility of enterococci as an indicator of fecal pollution in urbanized subtropical bays. Moreover, the inverse correlation between enterococci and the human-specific marker HF183 indicates that recreational beach advisories, triggered by elevated enterococcus concentrations, are a misleading practice. This study clearly demonstrates that a multiparameter approach that includes the quantitation of host-specific markers, as well as analyses of microbial diversity, is a more effective means of assessing water quality in urbanized subtropical bays.