bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Towards a Global Vision of the Church”
Authors:   Study Group II Working on Ecclesiology Subgroup 1, Boukis Sotiris , Ghazaryan Drissi Ani , Mielcarek Krzysztof
Published: November 2019

After the publication of The Church: Towards a Common Vision (TCTCV) in 2013, the major task and challenge for the Faith and Order Commission's Study Group II has been the progress of the multilateral ecumenical dialogue on ecclesiology. The two subgroups of Study Group II have been working in close cooperation with each other, focusing on two major ways to achieve this progress.

The focus of Subgroup 2 has been to harvest the fruits of the official responses to TCTCV. This is being done by the collection and analysis of the official responses to TCTCV, the identification of some key themes and issues that emerge from them, and the evaluation of how they point to the next steps. So far 74 responses have been received; however, geographically speaking, there has been essentially no response from the global South (there have been no responses from Africa, no responses from Latin America, and one from Asia); and, denominationally speaking, roughly 10 percent of the responses come from churches or streams that have not been part of the “traditional” ecumenical movement.

Nevertheless, the latter regions and denominational families are crucial: they represent the largest and fastest‐growing part of global Christianity, and thus it is impossible to have a really “universal” and contemporary‐sensitive approach to ecclesiology without substantial input from them. Many of them have also not always been clearly or strongly part of the ecclesiological conversation before TCTCV, and thus it is even more important to include them from now on, and be enriching the multilateral ecclesiological conversation with their contributions as well.

Hence, the focus of Subgroup 1 has been to broaden the table of ecclesiological dialogue, by getting into more and wider conversations with ecclesiological perspectives from regions (especially from Asia, Africa, and Latin America), denominational families (e.g., evangelical, Pentecostal, Independent churches, etc.), and forms of being church (e.g., movements, new monasticism, online churches, etc.) “which have not always been clearly or strongly part of discussions on the way to TCTCV, and whose understandings of ecclesiology we want to discover and to enter into dialogue with” (Caraiman minutes, p. 55; cf. Krakow report p. 1).
State‐level estimates of excess hospitalizations and deaths associated with influenza
Authors: Czaja Christopher A. , Miller Lisa , Colborn Kathryn , Cockburn Myles G. , Alden Nisha , Herlihy Rachel K. , Simões Eric A. F.
Published: November 2019

Background

National estimates of influenza burden may not reflect state‐level influenza activity, and local surveillance may not capture the full burden of influenza.

Methods

To provide state‐level information about influenza burden, we estimated excess pneumonia and influenza (P&I) and respiratory and circulatory (R&C) hospitalizations and deaths in Colorado from local hospital discharge records, death certificates, and influenza virus surveillance using negative binomial models.

Results

From July 2007 to June 2016, influenza was associated with an excess of 17 911 P&I hospitalizations (95%CI: 15 227, 20 354), 30 811 R&C hospitalizations (95%CI: 24 344, 37 176), 1,064 P&I deaths (95%CI: 757, 1298), and 3828 R&C deaths (95%CI: 2060, 5433). There was a large burden of influenza A(H1N1) among persons aged 0‐64 years, with high median seasonal rates of excess hospitalization among persons aged 0‐4 years. Persons aged ≥65 years experienced the largest numbers and highest median seasonal rates of excess hospitalization and death associated with influenza A (H3N2). The burden of influenza B was generally lower, with elevated median seasonal rates of excess hospitalization among persons aged 0‐4 years and ≥65 years.

Conclusions

These findings complement existing influenza surveillance. Periodic state‐level estimates of influenza disease burden may be useful for setting state public health priorities and planning prevention and control initiatives.
The potential of additive manufacturing technologies and their processing parameters for the fabrication of all‐ceramic crowns: A review
Authors: Methani Mohammad Mujtaba , Revilla‐León Marta , Zandinejad Amirali
Published: November 2019

Objective

This article aims to provide a review of the additive manufacturing technologies and the processing parameters that have been investigated for the fabrication of all ceramic crowns.

Overview

Additive manufacturing has crept its way into the field of dentistry for the fabrication of resin and metal prosthesis. To evaluate the current status of additive manufacturing for the fabrication of all ceramic crowns, literature review was targeted to include publications pertaining to the fabrication of dental ceramics and all ceramic crowns. With respect to the additive manufacturing of dental ceramics, five technologies have been investigated to date: stereolithography, material extrusion, powder based fusion, direct inkjet printing, and binder jetting. The processing parameters and experimental outcomes were collated and described for each of the aforementioned technologies.

Conclusion

Additive manufacturing has demonstrated promising experimental outcomes and corroborated to the fabrication all ceramic crowns. However, the technology is yet to witness a commercial breakthrough within this domain.

Clinical Significance

Additive manufacturing mitigates raw material wastage and tooling stresses that are associated with milling of ceramics. Continued research and development can lead to its approbation as an alternate technology for manufacturing all ceramic restorations.
Understanding Determinants of Sustainability Through a Realist Investigation of a Large‐Scale Quality Improvement Initiative (Lean): A Refined Program Theory
Authors: Flynn Rachel , Scott Shannon D.
Published: November 2019

Background

Implementation science research seeks to understand ways to best ensure uptake of research‐based initiatives to health care; however, there is little research done on how to sustain such efforts. Sustainability is the degree to which an initiative continues to be used in practice after efforts of implementation have ended. Sustainability research is a growing field of implementation science that needs further research to understand how to predict and measure the long‐term use of effective initiatives to improve health care. The question of what influences the sustainability of research‐based initiatives to improve health care remains unknown.

Purpose

The purpose of this article was to present a refined program theory on the contextual factors and mechanisms that influence the sustainability of one large‐scale quality management initiative (Lean) in pediatric health care.

Design

We conducted a multiphase realist investigation to explain under what contexts, for whom, how, and why Lean efforts are sustained or not sustained in pediatric health care through the generation of an explanatory program theory.

Methods

This article presents the theoretical triangulation of our multiphase realist investigation, resulting in a refined program theory. We integrated the initial program theories (IPTs) from each research phase to form a refined program theory. It involved going back and forth from the initial IPT to the findings from each phase and our middle‐range theories and examining the most substantiated IPTs on the contextual factors and mechanisms that influenced the sustainability of Lean efforts.

Findings

The refined program theory depicts the complex nature to sustaining Lean efforts and that sustainability as a small, often unrepresentative portion of something much larger or more complex that cannot yet be seen or understood. The approach and nature of implementation is critical to shaping contexts for sustainability. Outcomes from implementation become facilitating or hindering contexts for sustainability. Customization to context is an important contextual factor for sustainability. Sense making, value congruency, and staff engagement are critical aspects from early implementation that enable or hinder processes of sustainment. Such mechanisms can trigger staff empowerment that can lead to a greater likelihood of sustainability.

Conclusions

These findings have important implications for sustainability research, in understanding the determinants of sustainability of research‐based initiatives in health care.

Clinical Relevance

It is important to understand and explain determinants of sustainability through theory‐driven evaluative research in order to assist key stakeholders in sustaining the effective research‐based initiatives made to improve healthcare services, patient care, and outcomes.
Using multiple data analysis methods to guide makeup remover wipe optimization in a design of experiments consumer home use test
Authors: Xing Huaxing , Vaught Claudette , Chambers Edgar
Published: November 2019

To stay ahead of the competition companies often look at the product category for optimization. A consumer design of experiments study was conducted with various analyses to understand the best product feature combinations for maximizing consumer acceptance and purchase intent (PI) for makeup remover wipes. A blind, sequential monadic, 6‐weeks home use test with a balanced incomplete block design was conducted with 963 consumers in the United States and United Kingdom. Eighteen prototypes were selected with different combinations of four factors (formula, thickness, weight, and lotion add‐on). Each participant evaluated six of the 18 prototypes. Weekly online questionnaires were used to capture questions covering overall liking (OL), PI, skin feel, texture of the fabric, and so on. A simulation model was generated to identify the best factor combination with highest PI and OL for product optimization. Driver's analysis; sensitivity analysis, a new method not often used in the sensory and consumer research; and penalty analysis provided more in‐depth understanding of product performance. The learning from this study guided the product development team to determine the factor combination for the product optimization and provide direction on future planning for the category.

Practical applications

The use of multiple analyses with studies such as a design of experiment or other category appraisal type studies can provide additional information to researchers and help to identify both those aspects that drive acceptance or purchase intent as well as those factors that could reduce consumer interest. Although the information sometimes may appear “at odds with each other,” careful study often provides insights that may have been lost without the additional analyses.
Positive effects of dietary supplementation of three probiotics on milk yield, milk composition and intestinal flora in Sannan dairy goats varied in kind of probiotics
Authors: Ma Zhen‐Zhu , Cheng Yu‐Yang , Wang Sheng‐Qi , Ge Jian‐Zhen , Shi Huai‐Ping , Kou Jian‐Cun
Published: November 2019

In this study, we investigated the effects ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae(SC),Bacillus subtilis(BS) andEnterococcus faecalis(EF), singly and in combination, on the dry matter intake (DMI), milk production and composition, and faecal microflora of Saanen dairy goats. Fifty goats were randomly divided into five groups: (a) basal diet (control); (b) basal diet + SC; (c) basal diet + BS; (d) basal diet + EF; and (e) basal diet + mixed probiotics. Each treated animal received 5 g/d of probiotics for a total administration of 5 × 1,011 CFU/goat per day. The inclusion ofB. subtilisandE. faecalisin the diet of lactating Saanen goats increased DMI (p < .05). Enhanced milk yield was observed with BS and EF. Milk fat percentage was significantly increased by feeding mixed probiotics compared with the control (p < .05); supplying SC, BS and mixed probiotics enhanced the protein percentage (p < .05). The milk lactose percentage in the SC and BS groups was higher than in the control (p < .05). The amount of milk total solids was higher after feeding EF or mixed probiotics than in the control group (p < .05). Non‐fat solids showed no notable differences among groups (p > .05). There was no significant influence on gut bacterial abundance and diversity from adding these three probiotics, singly or in combination.Bacteroidales,Escherichia–ShigellaandChristensenellaceaeabundances were decreased by supplying these probiotics butSuccinivibrionaceaeincreased. In conclusion, there were positive influences of probiotic feed supplementation on intake, milk performance and intestinal microecology.
Nutritional status of Tajik children and women: Transition towards a double burden of malnutrition
Authors: Barth‐Jaeggi Tanja , Zandberg Lizelle , Bahruddinov Mutribjon , Kiefer Sabine , Rahmarulloev Sherali , Wyss Kaspar
Published: November 2019

The double burden of malnutrition, an emerging concern in developing countries, can exist at various levels: individual, household, and population. Here, we explore the nutritional status of Tajik women (15–49 years) and children (5–59 months) focusing on overweight/obesity along with undernutrition (underweight, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies). For this, nutritional markers (haemoglobin (Hb), transferrin receptor (TfR), serum ferritin (Sf), retinol binding protein (RBP), vitamin D, serum folate, and urinary iodine), height, and weight were assessed from 2,145 women and 2,149 children. Dietary intake, weaning, and breastfeeding habits were recorded using a 24‐hr recall and a questionnaire. Overweight (24.5%) and obesity (13.0%) are increasing among Tajik women compared with previous national surveys (2003 and 2009). Prevalence of iron deficiency and anaemia was 38.0% and 25.8%, respectively; 64.5% of women were iodine deficient, 46.5% vitamin A deficient, and 20.5% had insufficient folate levels. Women in rural areas had significantly lower iron status and body mass index and higher iodine intake compared with urban areas; 20.9% of children were stunted, 2.8% wasted, 6.2% underweight, 52.4% iron deficient, and 25.8% anaemic; all more prominent in rural areas. Dietary diversity was higher among urban women. Intraindividual or household double burden was not seen. In summary, double burden of malnutrition constituted an increase in overweight among women, especially in urban areas, and persisting levels of undernutrition (stunting, iron, and vitamin A deficiency), predominately in rural areas. A holistic, innovative approach is needed to improve infant and young children feeding and advise mothers to maintain an adequate diet.
Short‐term impact of an oral health program for adults with cerebral palsy
Authors: Bizarra Maria de Fátima , Ribeiro Graça Sandra
Published: November 2019

Aim

To evaluate the impact of an oral health program for institutionalized individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and their caregivers, after 2 and 6 months.

Methods

Sixty‐two CP individuals in four homes were selected for intervention group (n = 31) and control group (n = 31). An oral hygiene practices questionnaire was applied to all caregivers at the baseline. Both groups received awareness sessions, practical demonstration of toothbrushing and adaptive techniques with role‐play. In the study group, individual oral hygiene monitoring was also performed in the first 2 months. A gingival and an oral hygiene indexes were performed at the beginning, after 2 and 6 months of intervention.

Results

There was a significant reduction of gingival (p < 0.001) and oral hygiene (p < 0.001) indexes at 2 and 6 months in the intervention group with the most significant reductions at 2 months. Caregivers reported opening the mouth (84.6%) and swallowing toothpaste (61.5%) as the most important difficulties in performing toothbrushing.

Conclusion

It was found that frequent and individualized monitoring of plaque control was essential to reduce dental plaque and gingivitis levels and that awareness sessions were not enough to produce clinically significant result.
A generalized semiparametric regression and its efficient estimation
Authors: Lin Lu , Liu Lili , Cui Xia , Wang Kangning
Published: November 2019

We investigate a generalized semiparametric regression. Such a model can avoid the risk of wrongly choosing the base measure function. We propose a profile likelihood to efficiently estimate both parameter and nonparametric function. The main difference from the classical profile likelihood is that the profile likelihood proposed is a functional of the base measure function, instead of a function of a real variable. By making the most of the structure information of the semiparametric exponential family, we get an explicit expression of the estimator of the least favorable curve. It ensures that the new profile likelihood is computationally simple. Due to the use of the least favorable curve, the semiparametric efficiency is achieved successfully and the estimation bias is reduced significantly. Simulation studies can illustrate that our proposal is much better than the existing methodologies for most cases under study, and is robust to the different model conditions.
Mediator subunit OsMED14_1 plays an important role in rice development
Authors: Malik Naveen , Ranjan Rajeev , Parida Swarup K. , Agarwal Pinky , Tyagi Akhilesh K.
Published: November 2019

Mediator, a multisubunit co‐activator complex, regulates transcription in eukaryotes and is involved in diverse processes in Arabidopsis through its different subunits. Here, we have explored developmental aspects of one of the rice Mediator subunit gene OsMED14_1. We analyzed its expression pattern through RNA in situ hybridization and pOsMED14_1:GUS transgenics that showed its expression in roots, leaves, anthers and seeds prominently at younger stages, indicating possible involvement of this subunit in multiple aspects of rice development. To understand the developmental roles of OsMED14_1 in rice, we generated and studied RNAi‐based knockdown rice plants that showed multiple effects including less height, narrower leaves and culms with reduced vasculature, lesser lateral root branching, defective microspore development, reduced panicle branching and seed set, and smaller seeds. Histological analyses showed that slender organs were caused by reduction in both cell number and cell size in OsMED14_1 knockdown plants. Flow cytometric analyses and expression analyses of cell cycle‐related genes revealed that defective cell‐cycle progression led to these defects. Expression analyses of auxin‐related genes and indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) immunolocalization study indicated altered auxin level in these knockdown plants. Reduction of lateral root branching in knockdown plants was corrected by exogenous IAA supplement. OsMED14_1 physically interacts with transcription factors YABBY5, TAPETUM DEGENERATION RETARDATION (TDR) and MADS29, possibly regulating auxin homeostasis and ultimately leading to lateral organ/leaf, microspore and seed development.
Analytical performance of canine acylated and unacylated ghrelin enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays
Authors: Lass Julie , Nielsen Mette L. , Bjørnvad Charlotte R. , Vitger Anne D. , Cremer Signe E.
Published: November 2019

Objectives

Ghrelin is a major appetite‐stimulating hormone. It circulates as acylated ghrelin (AG) and unacylated ghrelin (UAG), which could have different metabolic actions in obesity. Our objective was to study the analytical performance of two new canine AG and UAG ELISAs using blood samples from healthy, normal‐weight dogs. Additionally, the effect of a protease inhibitor (PI) on short‐term sample storage was analyzed.

Methods

The intra‐ and inter‐assay precision for low, intermediate, and high AG and UAG concentrations, accuracy, limits of quantification (LQ), and detection limit (DL) of a blank sample were determined in ten healthy dogs. To study the effects of a PI on ghrelin concentrations, and AG and UAG concentrations were compared in five canine plasma samples stored for 1 month with (PI+), without (PI−), and with PI added at sample thawing (PI+th).

Results

The intra‐ and inter‐assay coefficients of variation were 1.8%‐5.7% and 2.9%‐6.4% for the AG assay, and 0.8%‐7.5% and 2.8%‐13.4% for the UAG assay, respectively. Accuracy analyses showed nonsignificant deviation from linearity for the AG (R2 = .99; Runs test: P = .37) and UAG (R2 = .99; Runs test: P = .42) assays. For the AG assay, the upper LQ was >1261 pg/mL, the lower LQ was 6.2 pg/mL, and the DL was 0.3 pg/mL. For the UAG assay, the upper LQ was >1785 pg/mL, the lower LQ was 16.3 pg/mL, and the DL was 1.8 pg/mL. No differences in the AG (P = .54) and UAG (P = .95) concentrations were detected in the plasma samples subjected to PI+, PI−, and PI+th.

Conclusion

The AG and UAG ELISA assays had acceptable precision, accuracy, lower LQ, and DLs, but upper LQ could not be established. An influence of the PI on short‐term storage was not detectable. Long‐term storage ± PI was not evaluated and should be investigated further.
Insulin‐induced membrane permeability to glucose in human muscles at rest and following exercise
Authors: McConell Glenn K. , Sjøberg Kim A. , Ceutz Frederik , Gliemann Lasse , Nyberg Michael , Hellsten Ylva , Frøsig Christian , Kiens Bente , Wojtaszewski Jørgen F. P. , Richter Erik A.
Published: November 2019

Key points

Increased insulin action is an important component of the health benefits of exercise, but its regulation is complex and not fully elucidated.

Previous studies of insulin‐stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the skeletal muscle membrane found insufficient increases to explain the increases in glucose uptake.

By determination of leg glucose uptake and interstitial muscle glucose concentration, insulin‐induced muscle membrane permeability to glucose was calculated 4 h after one‐legged knee‐extensor exercise during a submaximal euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp.

It was found that during submaximal insulin stimulation, muscle membrane permeability to glucose in humans increases twice as much in previously exercised vs. rested muscle and outstrips the supply of glucose, which then becomes limiting for glucose uptake.

This methodology can now be employed to determine muscle membrane permeability to glucose in people with diabetes, who have reduced insulin action, and in principle can also be used to determine membrane permeability to other substrates or metabolites.

Increased insulin action is an important component of the health benefits of exercise, but the regulation of insulin action in vivo is complex and not fully elucidated. Previously determined increases in skeletal muscle insulin‐stimulated GLUT4 translocation are inconsistent and mostly cannot explain the increases in insulin action in humans. Here we used leg glucose uptake (LGU) and interstitial muscle glucose concentration to calculate insulin‐induced muscle membrane permeability to glucose, a variable not previously possible to quantify in humans. Muscle membrane permeability to glucose, measured 4 h after one‐legged knee‐extensor exercise, increased ∼17‐fold during a submaximal euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp in rested muscle (R) and ∼36‐fold in exercised muscle (EX). Femoral arterial infusion of NG‐monomethyl l‐arginine acetate or ATP decreased and increased, respectively, leg blood flow (LBF) in both legs but did not affect membrane glucose permeability. Decreasing LBF reduced interstitial glucose concentrations to ∼2 mM in the exercised but only to ∼3.5 mM in non‐exercised muscle and abrogated the augmented effect of insulin on LGU in the EX leg. Increasing LBF by ATP infusion increased LGU in both legs with uptake higher in the EX leg. We conclude that it is possible to measure functional muscle membrane permeability to glucose in humans and it increases twice as much in exercised vs. rested muscle during submaximal insulin stimulation. We also show that muscle perfusion is an important regulator of muscle glucose uptake when membrane permeability to glucose is high and we show that the capillary wall can be a significant barrier for glucose transport.
Development and Testing of a Brief Play Space Audit Tool
Authors: Gustat Jeanette , Anderson Christopher E. , Slater Sandy J.
Published: November 2019

Background: Spaces that promote play are important for the physical, social, and psychological growth of children. Public spaces, including playgrounds, provide an important venue for children to engage in play. A simple tool is needed to evaluate playground features and conditions. Methods: A simple play space audit instrument to assess the presence and condition of playground features was tested on a sample of 70 playgrounds during the summer of 2017, in Chicago, IL. Duplicate observations were collected on 17 playgrounds. Frequencies of features were tabulated, and reliability of variables was assessed using percent agreement and kappa statistic. Scores were created to summarize playground “playability,” overall and within domains of general overview, surface, path, and play equipment/structure features. Results: The tool demonstrated acceptable reliability with high kappa values between .79 and .90 for all items in domains. The overall score, general overview score, and play equipment/structure scores were correlated with mean playground usage. Conclusions: This brief instrument allows reliable assessment of playground features and their conditions. The scoring method generates a summary of playground conditions and features, which facilitates comparison of playgrounds. This tool has the potential to assist communities in evaluating their play spaces and identifying where to focus resources for improvements.
Rescue from a fiery death: A therapeutic endeavor
Authors: Kayagaki Nobuhiko , Dixit Vishva M.
Published: November 2019

Inhibiting cell death by pyroptosis could limit inflammatory diseases and cancer
Exebacase Demonstrates
In Vitro
Synergy with a Broad Range of Antibiotics against both Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Watson Aubrey , Sauve Karen , Cassino Cara , Schuch Raymond
Published: November 2019

In vitro
synergy between an antimicrobial protein lysin (cell wall hydrolase) called exebacase and each of 12 different antibiotics was examined against
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates using a nonstandard medium approved for exebacase susceptibility testing by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. In the checkerboard assay format, fractional inhibitory concentration index values of ≤0.5, consistent with synergy, were observed for the majority of interactions tested.
Reintroducing mothur: 10 Years Later
Authors: Schloss Patrick D.
Published: November 2019

More than 10 years ago, we published the paper describing the mothur software package in
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. Our goal was to create a comprehensive package that allowed users to analyze amplicon sequence data using the most robust methods available. mothur has helped lead the community through the ongoing sequencing revolution and continues to provide this service to the microbial ecology community.
AfsK-Mediated Site-Specific Phosphorylation Regulates DnaA Initiator Protein Activity in Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Łebkowski Tomasz , Wolański Marcin , Ołdziej Stanisław , Flärdh Klas , Zakrzewska-Czerwińska Jolanta
Published: November 2019

This work provides insights into the phosphorylation of the DnaA initiator protein in
Streptomyces coelicolor
and suggests a novel bacterial regulatory mechanism for initiation of chromosome replication. Although phosphorylation of DnaA has been reported earlier, its biological role was unknown. This work shows that upon phosphorylation, the cooperative binding of the replication origin by DnaA may be disturbed. We found that AfsK kinase is responsible for phosphorylation of DnaA. Upon upregulation of AfsK, chromosome replication occurred further from the hyphal tip. Orthologs of AfsK are exclusively found in mycelial actinomycetes that are related to
Streptomyces
and exhibit a complex life cycle. We propose that the AfsK-mediated regulatory pathway serves as a nonessential, energy-saving mechanism in
S. coelicolor
.
Is Real-Time PCR Targeting Rep 529 Suitable for Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis in Patients Infected with Non-Type II Strains in North America?
Authors: Pomares Christelle , Estran Remy , Press Cynthia J. , Bera Aaron , Ramirez Raymund , Montoya Jose G. , Robert Gangneux Florence
Published: November 2019

Toxoplasma gondii
DNA detection is essential to antenatally diagnose a congenital infection and reactivation of a past infection in an immunocompromised patient. Initially, PCR methods targeted the 35-fold repetitive B1 gene, and more recently, coding sequence Rep 529 has been preferred, as it was reported to be repeated 200- to 300-fold and yielded far better sensitivity than amplification of the B1 sequence. To date, few data are available in regard to the efficacy of Rep 529 for non-type II genotypes.
Murine Coronavirus Infection Activates the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in an Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase-Independent Manner, Contributing to Cytokine Modulation and Proviral TCDD-Inducible-PARP Expression
Authors: Grunewald Matthew E. , Shaban Mohamed G. , Mackin Samantha R. , Fehr Anthony R. , Perlman Stanley
Published: November 2019

Coronaviruses are a family of positive-sense RNA viruses with human and agricultural significance. Characterizing the mechanisms by which coronavirus infection dictates pathogenesis or counters the host immune response would provide targets for the development of therapeutics. Here, we show that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is activated in cells infected with a prototypic coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), resulting in the expression of several effector genes. AhR is important for modulation of the host immune response to MHV and plays a role in the expression of TiPARP, which we show is required for maximal viral replication. Taken together, our findings highlight a previously unidentified role for AhR in regulating coronavirus replication and the immune response to the virus.
Effectiveness of a multilevel intervention to reduce violence and increase condom use in intimate partnerships among female sex workers: cluster randomised controlled trial in Karnataka, India
Authors: Javalkar Prakash , Platt Lucy , Prakash Ravi , Beattie Tara S , Collumbien Martine , Gafos Mitzy , Ramanaik Satyanarayana , Davey Calum , Jewkes Rachel , Watts Charlotte , Bhattacharjee Parinita , Thalinja Raghavendra , DL Kavitha , Isac Shajy , Heise Lori
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Samvedana Plus is a multilevel intervention working with sex workers, their intimate partners (IPs) and communities to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) and to increase condom use within intimate relationships of sex workers in Northern Karnataka, India.

Methods

A cluster randomised controlled trial in 47 villages. Female sex workers with IPs in the last 6 months were eligible for baseline (2014), midline (2016) and endline (2017) surveys. 24 villages were randomised to Samvedana Plus and 23 to a wait-list control. Primary outcomes among sex workers included experience of physical and/or sexual IPV or severe physical/sexual IPV in the last 6 months and consistent condom use with their IP in past 30 days. Analyses adjusted for clustering and baseline cluster-level means of outcomes.

Result

Baseline (n=620) imbalance was observed with respect to age (33.9 vs 35.2) and IPV (31.4% vs 45.0%). No differences in physical/sexual IPV (8.1% vs 9.0%), severe physical/sexual IPV (6.9% vs 8.7%) or consistent condom use with IPs (62.5% vs 57.3%) were observed by trial arm at end line (n=547). Samvedana Plus was associated with decreased acceptance of IPV (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.62, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.94, p=0.025), increased awareness of self-protection strategies (AOR=1.73, 95% CI=1.04–2.89, p=0.035) and solidarity of sex workers around issues of IPV (AOR=1.69, 95% CI=1.02–2.82, p=0.042). We observed an increase in IPV between baseline (25.9%) and midline (63.5%) among women in Samvedana Plus villages but lower in comparison villages (41.8%–44.3%) and a sharp decrease at end line in both arms (~8%).

Conclusion

We found no evidence that Samvedana Plus reduced IPV or increased condom use, but it may impact acceptance of IPV, increase knowledge of self-protection strategies and increase sex worker solidarity. Inconsistencies in reported IPV undermined the ability of the trial to assess effectiveness.

Trial registration number

NCT02807259.
Artificial intelligence and big data facilitated targeted drug discovery
Authors: Liu Benquan , He Huiqin , Luo Hongyi , Zhang Tingting , Jiang Jingwei
Published: November 2019

Different kinds of biological databases publicly available nowadays provide us a goldmine of multidiscipline big data. The Cancer Genome Atlas is a cancer database including detailed information of many patients with cancer. DrugBank is a database including detailed information of approved, investigational and withdrawn drugs, as well as other nutraceutical and metabolite structures. PubChem is a chemical compound database including all commercially available compounds as well as other synthesisable compounds. Protein Data Bank is a crystal structure database including X-ray, cryo-EM and nuclear magnetic resonance protein three-dimensional structures as well as their ligands. On the other hand, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an important role in the drug discovery progress. The integration of such big data and AI is making a great difference in the discovery of novel targeted drug. In this review, we focus on the currently available advanced methods for the discovery of highly effective lead compounds with great absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity properties.
Learning to keep your balance
Authors: Nelson‐Pratt Adrian
Published: November 2019

Balancing your work and your life proving impossible? Finding you have no time to offer yourself the care you offer others? Adrian Nelson‐Pratt says the first step to rectifying the situation is to consider just how you are spending your days.
A modified Anderson–Grüneisen model for the pressure dependence of thermal expansivity
Authors: Dwivedi A.
Published: November 2019

The Anderson–Grüneisen theory of the thermal expansivity of solids has been modified so as to make it applicable for the entire range of compressions down to extreme compression in the limit of infinite pressure. The formulation for the pressure dependence of thermal expansivity has been developed using the thermodynamic constraints at boundary conditions. The volume–pressure–temperature data obtained from the Stacey reciprocal [Formula: see text] equation of state are used to determine the thermal expansivity of NaCl and MgO at simultaneously elevated pressures and temperatures. The results have been discussed and compared with recent studies.
Electron short-wave phonon scattering in crystals with chalcopyrite lattice
Authors: Tyuterev V.G.
Published: November 2019

Electron short-wavelength phonon scattering is an effective channel for energy relaxation in crystals with a pseudo-direct optical gap. The equilibrium parameters of crystal structures and spectra of electrons and phonons in the ternary chalcopyrite compounds ZnSiP2 and ZnGeP2 are calculated self-consistently in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical calculations. The ab initio probabilities of phonon-assisted intervalley scattering of electrons in the conduction bands of the pseudo-direct-gap compounds ZnSiP2 and ZnGeP2 between the central Γ minima and the lowest lateral minima (valleys) at the T and N points have been calculated using the density functional perturbation theory. Electron–phonon scattering rates associated with intervalley phonons are calculated. Coupling constants for intervalley phonons in the chalcopyrite phosphides are close to their values in Si, Ge, and in the binary analog GaP.
Influence of red light on the expression of genes on stomatal formation in maize seedlings
Authors: Liu Tie Dong , Zhang Xi Wen , Xu Yong
Published: November 2019

Red light significantly affects the expression of plant photoreceptor genes and influences stomatal development through crosstalk of the constitutive photomorphogenic 1–cryptochrome–phytochrome signaling pathway. When blue light was replaced with red light, the expression levels of ZmCry1, ZmPhyB1, ZmEPF2, and ZmEPFL9 were enhanced, whereas that of ZmCOP1 was restricted. Moreover, the expression levels of ZmSPCH and ZmMUTE were also enhanced, but they were generally lower than those under white light. Consequently, stomatal formation, which was determined by net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, and transpiration rate, was inhibited through decreased stomatal index and stomatal density. We conclude that red light positively regulates EPFL9 in the intercellular signaling but reduces the positive regulation of blue light on COP1 and epidermal patterning factor 2 in the intracellular and intercellular signaling; therefore, though red light promotes the gene’s function on stomatal development of seedling maize, blue light maybe dominant to red light in seedling stage.
Muted responses to Ag accumulation by plankton to chronic and pulse exposure to silver nanoparticles in a boreal lake
Authors: Norman Beth C. , Frost Paul C. , Blakelock Graham C. , Higgins Scott N. , Hoque Md Ehsanul , Vincent Jennifer L. , Cetinic Katarina , Xenopoulos Marguerite A.
Published: November 2019

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an emerging class of contaminants with the potential to impact ecosystem structure and function. AgNPs are antimicrobial, suggesting that microbe-driven ecosystem functions may be particularly vulnerable to AgNP exposure. Predicting the environmental impacts of AgNPs requires in situ investigation of environmentally relevant dosing regimens over time scales that allow for ecosystem-level responses. We used 3000 L enclosures installed in a boreal lake to expose plankton communities to chronic and pulse AgNP dosing regimens with concentrations mimicking those recorded in natural waters. We compared temporal patterns of plankton responses, Ag accumulation, and ecosystem metabolism (i.e., daily ecosystem respiration, gross primary production, and net ecosystem production) for 6 weeks of chronic dosing and 3 weeks following a pulsed dose. Ag accumulated in microplankton and zooplankton, but carbon-specific Ag was nonlinear over time and generally did not predict plankton response. Ecosystem metabolism did not respond to either AgNP exposure type. This lack of response corresponded with weak microplankton responses in the chronic treatments but did not reflect the stronger microplankton response in the pulse treatment. Our results suggest that lake ecosystem metabolism is somewhat resistant to environmentally relevant concentrations of AgNPs and that organismal responses do not necessarily predict ecosystem-level responses.
Some symmetries and similarity solutions of the long-water wave hierarchy
Authors: Zhang Xiangzhi , Zhang Yufeng , Mei Jianqin
Published: November 2019

We introduce isospectral and non-isospectral Lax pairs, then apply the Tu scheme to generate the isospectral integrable hierarchy and the non-isospectral hierarchy, whose Hamiltonian structure, hereditary operator, symmetries are followed to obtain. In addition, a kind of Bäcklund transformation of the long-water wave hierarchy for the isospectral hierarchy is constructed. Through reductions of the isospectral hierarchy, we again get the long-water wave system whose similarity solutions, nonlinear self-adjointness and the non-invariant solutions are investigated, respectively, by the use of symmetry analysis. Finally, we make use of the weight method of the variables appearing in the long-water wave system to analyze the conservation laws of the system.
π-Electron delocalization and electronic transitions in oligomeric and polymeric phthalocyanine zinc(II) complexes. Part 1: Linear oligo- and one-dimensional polyphthalocyanines
Authors: Makarov Sergei G. , Schnurpfeil Günter , Ketkov Sergey Yu. , Wöhrle Dieter
Published: November 2019

In this Part 1 of our two part study, 1D-linear oligomeric phthalocyanine zinc(II) with fully annulated (fused) phthalocyanine macrocycles are described. By semi-empirical and DFT computational methods the UV-vis and near infrared spectra, including energy gaps, are thoroughly evaluated. The long-wavelength Q band of the oligophthalocyanines is compared with the long wavelength absorption band of analogous oligoacenes consisting of annulated benzene rings. In addition, graphene nanoribbons are considered. The aromaticity is especially interesting when considering Clar’s rule. Therefore it is the aim to get information about the extent of [Formula: see text]-electron delocalization in linear or semi-linear systems. Finally, the results of linear oligophthalocyanines are extrapolated to estimate the energy gap of 1D linear polyphthalocyanine by DFT, and the result is compared to the DFT calculation of the periodic structure with a plane-wave basis set. Part 2 will describe non-linear oligo- and two-dimensional polyphthalocyanines.
Behavioral biases and investors’ decision-making: The moderating role of socio-demographic variables
Authors: Katper Naveeda K. , Azam Muhammad , Karim Nazima Abdul , Zia Syeda Zinnaira
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of behavioral biases on investment decision, and the interaction effect of socio-demographic characteristics. Data were collected from a sample of 179 individual investors in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The authors conducted a hierarchical regression analysis to test the moderating effect of socio-demographic variables on behavioral biases. The results show that behavioral biases have a significant impact on investors’ decision-making. Moreover, socio-demographic variables (education, occupation and marital status) moderate the relationship between emotional biases and investors’ decision-making. This study provides a new addition to prior literature by investigating the impact of behavioral biases on investors’ decision-making, and the interaction effect of socio-demographic characteristics.
Vicariously Experiencing it all Without Going Outside
Authors: Lu Zhicong , Annett Michelle , Wigdor Daniel
Published: November 2019

The livestreaming industry in China is gaining greater traction than its European and North American counterparts and has a profound impact on the stakeholders' online and offline lives. An emerging genre of livestreaming that has become increasingly popular in China is outdoor livestreaming. With outdoor livestreams, streamers broadcast outdoor activities, travel, or socialize with passersby in outdoor settings, often for 6 or more hours, and viewers watch such streams for hours each day. However, given that professionally produced content about travel and outdoor activities are not very popular, it is currently unknown what makes this category of livestreams so engaging and how these techniques can be applied to other content or genres. Thus, we conducted a mixed methods study consisting of a survey (N=287) and interviews (N = 20) to understand how viewers watch and engage with outdoor livestreams in China. The data revealed that outdoor livestreams encompass many categories of content, environments and passersby behaviors create challenges and uncertainty for viewers and streamers, and viewers watch livestreams for surprising lengths of time (e.g., sometimes more than 5 continuous hours). We also gained insights into how live commenting and virtual gifting encourage engagement. Lastly, we detail how the behaviors of dedicated fans and casual viewers differ and provide implications for the design of livestreaming services that support outdoor activities.
Challenges and Design Considerations for Multimodal Asynchronous Collaboration in VR
Authors: Chow Kevin , Coyiuto Caitlin , Nguyen Cuong , Yoon Dongwook
Published: November 2019

Studies on collaborative virtual environments (CVEs) have suggested capture and later replay of multimodal interactions (e.g., speech, body language, and scene manipulations), which we refer to as multimodal recordings, as an effective medium for time-distributed collaborators to discuss and review 3D content in an immersive, expressive, and asynchronous way. However, there exist gaps of empirical knowledge in understanding how this multimodal asynchronous VR collaboration (MAVRC) context impacts social behaviors in mediated-communication, workspace awareness in cooperative work, and user requirements for authoring and consuming multimedia recording. This study aims to address these gaps by conceptualizing MAVRC as a type of CSCW and by understanding the challenges and design considerations of MAVRC systems. To this end, we conducted an exploratory need-finding study where participants (N = 15) used an experimental MAVRC system to complete a representative spatial task in an asynchronously collaborative setting, involving both consumption and production of multimodal recordings. Qualitative analysis of interview and observation data from the study revealed unique, core design challenges of MAVRC in: (1) coordinating proxemic behaviors between asynchronous collaborators, (2) providing traceability and change awareness across different versions of 3D scenes, (3) accommodating viewpoint control to maintain workspace awareness, and (4) supporting navigation and editing of multimodal recordings. We discuss design implications, ideate on potential design solutions, and conclude the paper with a set of design recommendations for MAVRC systems.
VidLyz
Authors: Dey Sanorita , Duff Brittany R.L. , Fu Wai-Tat , Karahalios Karrie
Published: November 2019

Videos are essential for successful crowdfunding campaigns. However, without knowledge of the underlying persuasion factors, novice entrepreneurs may find it difficult to optimize their videos for success. This paper presents VidLyz, a novel assistive tool that allows users to explore the implications of audience-engagement persuasion factors in the context of campaign videos through contrasting examples, crowd-sourced subjective ratings, and feedback on engagement factors. VidLyz promotes active thinking about the impact of audience persuasion factors in making an effective campaign video by guiding novice entrepreneurs in planning materials of their videos on their own, with consideration of the product category, the target audience, and audience-product interactions. To evaluate our system, we collected subjective ratings and feedback on persuasion factors for 140 Kickstarter campaign videos from 2100 crowd workers and presented them through our prototype VidLyz tool. A user study with 45 novice users and five previous campaign creators found that our tool was useful for understanding the implication and relative importance of the persuasion factors of the campaign videos. The interactive and active thinking elements of VidLyz promoted novice users to make coherent and persuasive pre-production plan (using storyboards) for their proposed campaign videos. A follow-up user study showed that these storyboards had a higher likelihood of getting funded by crowd workers than those with less persuasive pre-production plan. We concluded with design implications to better support novice entrepreneurs.