bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resource quality determines the evolution of resistance and its genetic basis
Authors: Roberts Katherine E. , Meaden Sean , Sharpe Stephen , Kay Suzanne , Doyle Toby , Wilson Drew , Bartlett Lewis J. , Paterson Steve , Boots Mike
Published: August 2020

Parasites impose strong selection on their hosts, but the level of any evolved resistance may be constrained by the availability of resources. However, studies identifying the genomic basis of such resource‐mediated selection are rare, particularly in nonmodel organisms. Here, we investigated the role of nutrition in the evolution of resistance to a DNA virus (PiGV), and any associated trade‐offs in a lepidopteran pest species (Plodia interpunctella). Through selection experiments and whole‐genome resequencing, we identify genetic markers of resistance that vary between the nutritional environments during selection. We do not find consistent evolution of resistance in the presence of virus but rather see substantial variation among replicate populations. Resistance in a low‐nutrition environment is negatively correlated with growth rate, consistent with an established trade‐off between immunity and development, but this relationship is highly context dependent. Whole‐genome resequencing of the host shows that resistance mechanisms are likely to be highly polygenic and although the underlying genetic architecture may differ between high and low‐nutrition environments, similar mechanisms are commonly used. As a whole, our results emphasize the importance of the resource environment on influencing the evolution of resistance.
Effect of orthostasis on the regulation of skin blood flow in upper and lower extremities in human
Authors: Tikhonova Irina V. , Grinevich Andrey A. , Guseva Irina E. , Tankanag Arina V.
Published: August 2020

Objective

The research is aimed to investigate interactions between cardiovascular signals and to assess contributions of central and local mechanisms to skin blood flow regulation in upper and lower extremities at rest and under orthostasis.

Methods

Heart rate variability, respiration, forearm, and foot skin blood flow were assessed at rest and during postural test in 25 healthy volunteers. Spectral analysis was performed. Phase synchronization degree of analyzed signals was determined by group phase wavelet coherence function.

Results

Skin blood flow was lower on foot at rest and during postural test than on forearm. High‐frequency component of heart rate variability was higher at ~0.3 Hz during postural test versus rest. Blood flow oscillation amplitudes on the foot were lower in frequency range including respiratory interval at rest than on forearm. Postural exposure increased amplitude of foot blood flow oscillations in respiratory interval and decreased amplitudes in cardiac interval versus rest. Orthostasis increased group wavelet phase coherence between foot blood flow and heart rate variability or respiration, as well as between forearm and foot blood flow at 0.3 Hz corresponding to respiration.

Conclusions

The contribution of central mechanisms associated with respiration to blood flow regulation increased in lower extremities during orthostasis.
Vocalizations of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) and their influence on the soundscape of the western Canadian Arctic
Authors: Heimrich Annika F. , Halliday William D. , Frouin‐Mouy Héloïse , Pine Matthew K. , Juanes Francis , Insley Stephen J.
Published: August 2020

The soundscape is a crucial habitat feature for marine mammals. This study investigates the contribution of bearded seal vocalizations to the soundscape in the western Canadian Arctic, and also the vocal characteristics of bearded seals relative to sea ice conditions. Passive acoustic data were recorded near Sachs Harbour between August 2015 and July 2016. Sound pressure levels (SPL) in the 50–1,000 Hz and 1–10 kHz bands increased as the total duration of all bearded seal vocalizations increased, and this relationship was moderated by sea ice concentration. Bearded seals in this region had an overlapping vocal repertoire with bearded seals in other areas of the Arctic, and had seven additional vocalizations that have not been previously documented for this region. This study is the first detailed assessment of the influence of bearded seal calls on SPL, which shows the high potential of bearded seals to influence underwater sound levels during the mating season. Bearded seals live in a changing Arctic seascape, and their influence on the soundscape may shift as sea ice continues to diminish. It is imperative that acoustic monitoring continues within the Arctic, and this study provides a baseline for future monitoring as the Arctic continues to change.
Psychosocial strategies for physiotherapy: A qualitative examination of physiotherapists' reported training preferences
Authors: Driver Christina , Lovell Geoff P. , Oprescu Florin
Published: August 2020

Physiotherapists report using a range of psychosocial strategies in their practice, yet, barriers to implementation include lack of time, limited knowledge, and minimal training. This research aimed to establish what training physiotherapists have had with regards to psychosocial strategies, why they think they would benefit from more training, what training they want, and delivery preferences. Content analysis of answers to four open‐ended, online survey questions collected from Australian physiotherapists (N = 208) was conducted. Physiotherapists reported having minimal training specific to psychosocial strategies. Physiotherapists reported wanting training in assessment and management of psychosocial issues, and practical application of specific psychosocial strategies. Didactic and interactive training delivered by experts who understand the psychosocial needs of their patients, and the constraints of physiotherapy practice was preferred. These findings suggest that training in psychosocial strategies at the undergraduate level and continued professional development are necessary. Specifically, training in the assessment and management of psychosocial factors, and in referral processes is warranted, and should be applicable and appropriate for rehabilitation settings. Training should be both didactic and interactive as outlined in the proposed framework.
Plant‐parasitic nematode secreted peptides hijack a plant secretory pathway
Authors: Frei dit Frey Nicolas , Favery Bruno
Published: August 2020

This article is a Commentary on Wang et al. (2021), 229: 563–574.
How the stomate got his pore: very long chain fatty acids and a structural cell wall protein sculpt the guard cell outer cuticular ledge
Authors: Hunt Lee , Gray Julie E.
Published: August 2020

This article is a Commentary on Tang et al. (2020), 228: 1880–1896.
Plasticity in branching and crown architecture helps explain how tree diversity increases tropical forest production
Authors: Cushman K. C. , Machado Jose‐Luis
Published: August 2020

This article is a Commentary on Guillemot et al. (2020), 228: 1256–1268.
Allelic variation in rice Fertilization Independent Endosperm 1 contributes to grain width under high night temperature stress
Authors: Dhatt Balpreet K. , Paul Puneet , Sandhu Jaspreet , Hussain Waseem , Irvin Larissa , Zhu Feiyu , Adviento‐Borbe Maria Arlene , Lorence Argelia , Staswick Paul , Yu Hongfeng , Morota Gota , Walia Harkamal
Published: August 2020

A higher minimum (night‐time) temperature is considered a greater limiting factor for reduced rice yield than a similar increase in maximum (daytime) temperature. While the physiological impact of high night temperature (HNT) has been studied, the genetic and molecular basis of HNT stress response remains unexplored.

We examined the phenotypic variation for mature grain size (length and width) in a diverse set of rice accessions under HNT stress. Genome‐wide association analysis identified several HNT‐specific loci regulating grain size as well as loci that are common for optimal and HNT stress conditions.

A novel locus contributing to grain width under HNT conditions colocalized with Fie1, a component of the FIS‐PRC2 complex. Our results suggest that the allelic difference controlling grain width under HNT is a result of differential transcript‐level response of Fie1 in grains developing under HNT stress.

We present evidence to support the role of Fie1 in grain size regulation by testing overexpression (OE) and knockout mutants under heat stress. The OE mutants were either unaltered or had a positive impact on mature grain size under HNT, while the knockouts exhibited significant grain size reduction under these conditions.
Looking into ‘hair tonics’ for cotton fiber initiation
Authors: Wang Lu , Kartika Dewi , Ruan Yong‐Ling
Published: August 2020

Cotton fiber is the most important source of cellulose for the global textile industry. These hair‐like single‐celled trichomes develop from ovule epidermis. They are classified into long spinnable lint and short fuzz. A key objective in the cotton industry is to breed elite cultivars with fuzzless seeds carrying high lint yield. Molecular basis underlying lint and fuzz initiation remains obscure. Recent studies indicate fiber initiation is under the control of MYB‐bHLH‐WDR (MBW) transcription factor complex. Based on molecular genetic studies and gene expression patterns linking fiber phenotypes, we propose that specific but different sets of MBW genes are required to precisely regulate the initiation of the lint and fuzz fibers. Emerging evidence further points to sugar signaling as a ‘hair‐tonic’ to boost fiber initiation through interaction with MBW complex and auxin signaling. An integrative model is provided as a conceptual framework for future studies to dissect the molecular network responsible for cotton fiber initiation.
Transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 through breast milk and breastfeeding: a living systematic review
Authors: Centeno‐Tablante Elizabeth , Medina‐Rivera Melisa , Finkelstein Julia L. , Rayco‐Solon Pura , Garcia‐Casal Maria Nieves , Rogers Lisa , Ghezzi‐Kopel Kate , Ridwan Pratiwi , Peña‐Rosas Juan Pablo , Mehta Saurabh
Published: August 2020

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is caused by infection with a novel coronavirus strain, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). At present, there is limited information on potential transmission of the infection from mother to child, particularly through breast milk and breastfeeding. Here, we provide a living systematic review to capture information that might necessitate changes in the guidance on breast milk and breastfeeding given the uncertainty in this area. Our search retrieved 19,414 total records; 605 were considered for full‐text eligibility and no ongoing trials were identified. Our review includes 340 records, 37 with breast milk samples and 303 without. The 37 articles with analyzed breast milk samples reported on 77 mothers who were breastfeeding their children; among them, 19 of 77 children were confirmed COVID‐19 cases based on RT‐PCR assays, including 14 neonates and five older infants. Nine of the 68 analyzed breast milk samples from mothers with COVID‐19 were positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA; of the exposed infants, four were positive and two were negative for COVID‐19. Currently, there is no evidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission through breast milk. Studies are needed with longer follow‐up periods that collect data on infant feeding practices and on viral presence in breast milk.
The impact of COVID‐19 on food systems, safety, and security—a symposium report
Authors: Cable Jennifer , Jaykus Lee‐Ann , Hoelzer Karin , Newton John , Torero Maximo
Published: August 2020

Our food systems depend on complex interactions between farmers and food producers, local and federal governments, and consumers. Underlying these interactions are economic, environmental, and societal factors that can impact the types of food available, access to food, affordability, and food safety. The recent SARS‐CoV‐2 global pandemic has affected multiple aspects of our food systems, from federal governments’ decisions to limit food exports, to the ability of government agencies to inspect food and facilities to the ability of consumers to dine at restaurants. It has also provided opportunities for societies to take a close look at the vulnerabilities in our food systems and reinvent them to be more robust and resilient. For the most part, how these changes ultimately affect the safety and accessibility of food around the world remains to be seen.
The NO–cGMP–PKG pathway in skeletal remodeling
Authors: Kim Se‐Min , Yuen Tony , Iqbal Jameel , Rubin Mishaela R. , Zaidi Mone
Published: August 2020

The nitric oxide (NO)–cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)–protein kinase G (PKG) pathway plays a critical role in skeletal homeostasis. Preclinical data using NO and its donors and genetically modified mice demonstrated that NO was required in bone remodeling and partly mediated the anabolic effects of mechanical stimuli and estrogen. However, the off‐target effects and tachyphylaxis of NO limit its long‐term use, and previous clinical trials using organic nitrates for osteoporosis have been disappointing. Among the other components in the downstream pathway, targeting cGMP‐specific phosphodiesterase to promote the NO–cGMP–PKG signal is a viable option. There are growing in vitro and in vivo data that, among many other PDE families, PDE5A is highly expressed in skeletal tissue, and inhibiting PDE5A using currently available PDE5A inhibitors might increase the osteoanabolic signal and protect the skeleton. These preclinical data open the possibility of repurposing PDE5A inhibitors for treating osteoporosis. Further research is needed to address the primary target bone cell of PDE5A inhibition, the contribution of direct and indirect effects of PDE5A inhibition, and the pathophysiological changes in skeletal PDE5A expression in aging and hypogonadal animal models.
Creation of male‐sterile lines that can be restored to fertility by exogenous methyl jasmonate for the establishment of a two‐line system for the hybrid production of rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Pak Haksong , Wang Haoyi , Kim Yusin , Song Unchol , Tu Mengxin , Wu Dezhi , Jiang Lixi
Published: August 2020

Male sterility is widely used in the production of hybrid seeds in rice, but the use of genic male sterility is limited because of the high labour cost for maintaining male‐sterile lines. Previous studies using T‐DNA insertional mutagenesis demonstrated that disrupting the expression of oxophytodienoic acid reductase 3 (OPR3), which is involved in the jasmonate biosynthesis pathway, results in a kind of male sterility that can be restored to fertility by exogenous jasmonate in Arabidopsis. Here, we created male‐sterile mutations by editing the second and fourth exons of OsOPR7 in rice through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated system 9. The induced mutagenesis at these exons resulted in 31.8% and 23.9% male‐sterile plants in the T0 generation, respectively. We screened male‐sterile lines that can be restored to fertility by exogenous methyl jasmonate in the T0, T1 and T2 rice populations and characterized the anther and agronomic traits of the transgenic plants. Results showed the successful generation of male‐sterile lines through the silencing of OsOPR7, the orthologous gene of Arabidopsis OPR3, in a field crop, paving the way for the establishment of a two‐line system for rice hybrid production. The system consists of a male‐sterile line that can be maintained by spraying methyl jasmonate and a restoring line that confers pollen.
Morphological evolution in melanoma in situ using revised pattern analysis
Authors: Ramji Rajan , Oakley Amanda , Rademaker Marius
Published: August 2020

Sequential digital dermoscopic imaging (SDDI) compares surface microscopy images of skin lesions over multiple time points. We utilized a retrospective SDDI cohort to investigate the development of dermoscopic features associated with malignancy in melanoma in situ (MIS). A total of 124 in situ melanomas were assessed from 110 Caucasian patients aged ≥18 years, with ≥2 serial images obtained between 1999 and 2017 and followed for a mean 41 months (3–142). As a positive control group, 58 invasive melanomas from 53 patients were also reviewed. Change in MIS size or number of colours correlated to time (bothp < .001). The odds of MIS displaying ≥3 clues to malignancy also correlated to time (OR 5.6–52.1) (p < .05). 75% of in situ melanomas matched a dermoscopic subtype on final imaging. While a clinically significant minority of in situ melanomas were unchanged or lost dermoscopic features, lesions predominantly increased in morphological complexity over time. Longer follow‐up periods allow dermoscopic features associated with malignancy and histopathological progression to develop.
Recent advances in the application of predictive coding and active inference models within clinical neuroscience
Authors: Smith Ryan , Badcock Paul , Friston Karl J.
Published: August 2020

Research in clinical neuroscience is founded on the idea that a better understanding of brain (dys)function will improve our ability to diagnose and treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. In recent years, neuroscience has converged on the notion that the brain is a ‘prediction machine,’ in that it actively predicts the sensory input that it will receive if one or another course of action is chosen. These predictions are used to select actions that will (most often, and in the long run) maintain the body within the narrow range of physiological states consistent with survival. This insight has given rise to an area of clinical computational neuroscience research that focuses on characterizing neural circuit architectures that can accomplish these predictive functions, and on how the associated processes may break down or become aberrant within clinical conditions. Here, we provide a brief review of examples of recent work on the application of predictive processing models of brain function to study clinical (psychiatric) disorders, with the aim of highlighting current directions and their potential clinical utility. We offer examples of recent conceptual models, formal mathematical models, and applications of such models in empirical research in clinical populations, with a focus on making this material accessible to clinicians without expertise in computational neuroscience. In doing so, we aim to highlight the potential insights and opportunities that understanding the brain as a prediction machine may offer to clinical research and practice.
Motor development in children 0‐2 years pre‐ and post‐LTX, a prospective study
Authors: Bos G. J. F. Joyce , Timmer Carola Y. , Lelieveld Otto T. H. M. , Scheenstra Rene , Sauer Pieter J. J. , Geertzen Jan H. B. , Dijkstra Pieter U.
Published: August 2020

To determine prospectively gross and fine motor development of children <2 years of age, who undergo LTX.

In this prospective study, children aged <2 years who undergo LTX were tested using the motor scale of the Bayley Scales of infant and toddler development, 3rd edition Dutch version. Testing was done during screening pre‐ and post‐LTX: at the time of hospital discharge (2‐6 weeks), at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Z‐scores were calculated.

Twenty‐nine children participated in this study, 14 boys, median age 6 months, at screening for LTX. Gross motor skills were delayed pre‐LTX (Z‐score −1.3). Fine motor skills were normal (Z‐score 0.3). Immediately post‐LTX, both skills reduced, and at 1 year post‐LTX, gross motor skills Z‐score was −1.0 and fine motor skills Z‐score 0.0.

Both gross and fine motor skills Z‐scores decline post‐LTX and tend to recover after 1 year, gross motor skills to low normal and fine motor skills to normal levels. Monitoring of gross motor development and attention on stimulating gross motor development post‐LTX remains important, to enable participation in physical activity and sport for health benefits later in life.
Silicon suppresses zinc uptake through down‐regulating zinc transporter gene in rice
Authors: Huang Sheng , Ma Jian Feng
Published: August 2020

One of the beneficial effects of silicon (Si) is to improve nutrient imbalance including deficiency and excess of nutrients, however the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the interaction between Si and zinc (Zn) in rice by using a mutant (lsi1) defective in Si uptake and its wild‐type (WT, cv. Oochikara) at different Zn levels. High Zn inhibited the root elongation of both WT and lsi1 mutant, but Si did not alleviate this inhibition in both lines. By contrast, Si supply decreased Zn concentration in both the roots and shoots of the WT, but not in the lsi1 mutant. A short‐term (24 h) labeling experiment with stable isotope 67Zn showed that Si decreased 67Zn uptake, but did not affect the root‐to‐shoot translocation and distribution ratio to different organs of 67Zn in the WT. Furthermore, Si accumulated in the shoots, rather than Si in the external solution, is required for suppressing Zn uptake, but this was not caused by Si‐decreased transpiration. A kinetic study showed that Si did not affect Km value of root Zn uptake, but decreased Vmax value in the WT. Analysis of genes related with Zn transport showed that among ZIP family genes, the expression of only OsZIP1 implicated in Zn uptake, was down‐regulated by Si in the WT, but not in the lsi1 mutant. These results indicate that Si accumulated in the shoots suppresses the Zn uptake through down‐regulating the transporter gene involved in Zn uptake in rice.
Shared correlates of prescription drug misuse and severe suicide ideation among clinical patients at risk for suicide
Authors: Logan Joseph E. , Ertl Allison M. , Rostad Whitney L. , Herbst Jeffrey H. , Ashby Plant E.
Published: August 2020

Objective

Unintentional drug overdose and suicide have emerged as public health problems. Prescription drug misuse can elevate risk of overdose. Severe suicidal ideation increases risk of suicide. We identified shared correlates of both risk factors to inform cross‐cutting prevention efforts.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study using the Military Suicide Research Consortium's Common Data Elements survey; 2012–2017 baseline data collected from 10 research sites were analyzed. The sample included 3962 clinical patients at risk of suicide. Factors examined in relation to the outcomes, prescription drug misuse and severe suicidal ideation, included demographic characteristics and symptoms of: hopelessness; anxiety; post‐traumatic stress disorder; alcohol use; other substance use; prior head/neck injury; insomnia; and belongingness. Poisson regression models with robust estimates provided adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 97.5% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Medium and high (vs. low) levels of insomnia were positively associated with prescription drug misuse (aPRs p < 0.025). Medium (vs. low) level of insomnia was positively associated with severe suicidal ideation (aPR: 1.09; CI: 1.01–1.18). Medium and high (vs. low) levels of perceived belongingness were inversely associated with both outcomes (aPRs p < 0.025).

Conclusions

Research should evaluate whether addressing sleep problems and improving belongingness can reduce prescription drug misuse and suicidal ideation simultaneously.
Counterspaces, Counterstructures: Low‐Income, First‐Generation, And Working‐Class Students’ Peer Support At Selective Colleges1
Authors: Lee Elizabeth M. , Harris Jacob
Published: August 2020

Low‐income, first‐generation, and/or working‐class students (LIFGWC) attending selective colleges and universities must navigate class‐dominant spaces, often encountering microaggressions. In this paper, we examine how LIFGWC students support themselves and one another by analyzing the efforts of campus groups focused on LIFGWC students’ needs. We draw on the framework of counterspaces to show the provision of both peer‐to‐peer social connection and the creation of new services for LIFGWC students, such as career advising. We refer to these latter efforts as counterstructures. We introduce this term to highlight the structural location of these efforts and the ways that students are doing work that the college—whether in the form of administrators, staff, or faculty—typically should be doing. We contribute both to the understanding of ways that selective campuses underserve LIFGWC students and to research on the use of counterspaces in providing support in majority/minority spaces.
“Big Brother’s Bigger Brother”: The Visual Politics of (Counter) Surveillance in Baltimore
Authors: Snyder Benjamin H.
Published: August 2020

In 2016, without the knowledge of its citizens, Baltimore City Police deployed a military aerial surveillance technology called Wide Area Motion Imagery (WAMI), which can track the movements of every person in public view over the entire city. Though the trial of the “spy plane,” as the program was dubbed, quickly ended in scandal, organizers from Baltimore’s low‐income minority neighborhoods successfully rebooted the program in 2020, this time framing WAMI partly as a tool of “sousveillance” (watching “from below”) that can track the movements of police officers. The paper shows how organizers “rebranded” WAMI around two conceptions of sousveillance—“citizen‐centered” and “state‐centered”—creating an unlikely coalition of supporters from both pro‐ and anti‐policing sides of the criminal justice reform debate. But while the renewed program has vowed to be a “Big Brother” to the state, it will continue to be used for traditional surveillance, raising troubling questions about privacy. The article sheds light on the politics of watching and being watched in the era of technology‐driven criminal justice reform.
Reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Authors: Pawlowska Anna B. , Karras Nicole A. , Liu Huaying , DiMundo Julie , Cheng Jerry C. , Sun Weili , Armenian Saro , Yang Dongyun , Palmer Joycelynne M. , Bell Alison , Tahoun Ahmed , Tegtmeier Bernard , Dadwal Sanjeet , Rosenthal Joseph
Published: August 2020

Background

Reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) occurs in 30%‐50% of patients (pts) who receive allogeneic (allo) hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT). However, the recommendation for post‐transplant HHV‐6 monitoring and treatment in pediatric pts is not well established.

Methods

HHV‐6 incidence rates and the clinical outcomes were reported for 139 pediatric pts (≤18 years) undergoing first allo‐HCT at City of Hope from July 2011 to July 2017, for whom HHV‐6 was monitored weekly throughout HCT hospitalization. For 57 pediatric pts, who underwent first HCT from January 2009 to July 2011, HHV‐6 was tested as clinically indicated and only rates of HHV‐6 viremia were collected.

Results

From July 2011 to July 2017, HHV‐6 was detected in 88/139 pts (63%). The frequency of HHV‐6 viremia was associated with malignant diagnoses, myeloablative conditioning, and cord blood HCT. Treatment with antiviral agents was offered to symptomatic pts with a higher viral load (VL), for whom the time to VL clearance was longer and the frequency of subsequent recurrences was higher. Pts with a lower VL cleared HHV‐6 without treatment. HHV‐6 viremia was associated with a higher frequency of grade II‐IV acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) (P = .022), but did not affect overall survival (OS), disease‐free survival (DFS), non‐relapsed mortality (NRM), myeloid, or platelet (Plt) engraftment.

Conclusions

HHV‐6 weekly screening is not necessary for all HCT pts but may be considered for high‐risk pts with malignant diagnoses undergoing cord blood HCT; otherwise, HHV‐6 should be tested as clinically indicated. Only symptomatic pts (especially with a high VL > 25 000) could benefit from treatment. HHV‐6 viremia at the time of initiation and administration of the conditioning regimen cleared promptly without the need to augment the transplant process.
Neglected tropical diseases in Brazil: lack of correlation between disease burden, research funding and output
Authors: Fonseca Bruna de Paula , Albuquerque Priscila Costa , Zicker Fabio
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To assess the correlation between the burden of seven priority neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) included in the Brazilian National Agenda of Priorities in Health Research – tuberculosis, Chagas disease, leprosy, malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue and schistosomiasis – and their respective research funding and output.

Methods

This retrospective review obtained data on disease burden from the Global Burden of Disease Study and funding data from open access sources. Publications were retrieved from Scopus and SciELO, and characterised according to the type of research conducted. Correlation between funding, research output and burden was assessed by comparing the 'expected' and 'observed' values for funding and publications relative to the proportional burden for each disease.

Results

There was an emphasis in basic biomedical research (average 30% of publications) and a shortage of health policy and systems (average 7%) and social sciences research (average 3%). Research output and funding were poorly correlated with disease burden. Tuberculosis, Chagas disease and schistosomiasis accounted for more than 75% of total NTD‐related DALYs, but accounted for only 34% of publications. Leprosy, leishmaniasis and malaria, together, received 49% of NTD‐related funding despite being responsible for only 9% of DALYs.

Conclusions

The analysis evidenced a lack of correlation between disease burden, research output and government funding for priority NTDs in Brazil. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring health needs, research investments and outputs to inform policy and optimise the uptake of evidence for action, particularly in developing countries, where resources are scarce and the research capacity is limited. The results contribute to health policy by highlighting the need for improving coordination of scientific activities and public health needs for effective impact.
The Arabidopsis CRUMPLED LEAF protein, a homolog of the cyanobacterial bilin lyase, retains the bilin‐binding pocket for a yet unknown function
Authors: Wang Fangfang , Fang Jun , Guan Kaoling , Luo Shengji , Dogra Vivek , Li Bingqi , Ma Demin , Zhao Xinyan , Lee Keun Pyo , Sun Pengkai , Xin Jian , Liu Tong , Xing Weiman , Kim Chanhong
Published: August 2020

The photosynthetic bacterial phycobiliprotein lyases, also called CpcT lyases, catalyze the biogenesis of phycobilisome, a light‐harvesting antenna complex, through the covalent attachment of chromophores to the antenna proteins. The Arabidopsis CRUMPLED LEAF (CRL) protein is a homolog of the cyanobacterial CpcT lyase. Loss of CRL leads to multiple lesions, including localized foliar cell death, constitutive expression of stress‐related nuclear genes, abnormal cell cycle, and impaired plastid division. Notwithstanding the apparent phenotypes, the function of CRL still remains elusive. To gain insight into the function of CRL, we examined whether CRL still retains the capacity to bind with the bacterial chromophore phycocyanobilin (PCB) and its plant analog phytochromobilin (PΦB). The revealed structure of the CpcT domain of CRL is comparable to that of the CpcT lyase, despite the low sequence identity. The subsequent in vitro biochemical assays found, as shown for the CpcT lyase, that PCB/PΦB binds to the CRL dimer. However, some mutant forms of CRL, substantially compromised in their bilin‐binding ability, still restore the crl‐induced multiple lesions. These results suggest that although CRL retains the bilin‐binding pocket, it seems not functionally associated with the crl‐induced multiple lesions.
Differential submergence tolerance between juvenile and adult Arabidopsis plants involves the ANAC017 transcription factor
Authors: Bui Liem T. , Shukla Vinay , Giorgi Federico M. , Trivellini Alice , Perata Pierdomenico , Licausi Francesco , Giuntoli Beatrice
Published: August 2020

Plants need to attune their stress responses to the ongoing developmental programmes to maximize their efficacy. For instance, successful submergence adaptation is often associated with a delicate balance between saving resources and their expenditure to activate measures that allow stress avoidance or attenuation. We observed a significant decrease in submergence tolerance associated with ageing in Arabidopsis thaliana, with a critical step between 2 and 3 weeks of post‐germination development. This sensitization to flooding was concomitant with the transition from juvenility to adulthood. Transcriptomic analyses indicated that a group of genes related to abscisic acid and oxidative stress response was more highly expressed in juvenile plants than in adult ones. These genes are induced by the endomembrane tethered transcription factor ANAC017 that was in turn activated by submergence‐associated oxidative stress. A combination of molecular, biochemical and genetic analyses showed that these genes are located in genomic regions that move towards a heterochromatic state with adulthood, as marked by lysine 4 trimethylation of histone H3. We concluded that, while the mechanisms of flooding stress perception and signal transduction were unaltered between juvenile and adult phases, the sensitivity that these mechanisms set into action is integrated, via epigenetic regulation, into the developmental programme of the plant.
How do I…Incorporate a two‐sample blood type verification in a pediatric hospital?
Authors: Gálvez Jorge , Hsu Grace , Dubow Scott , Obermeier Leslie , Blair Pamala , Friedman David , Sesok‐Pizzini Deborah
Published: August 2020

Background

The AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) regulations call on blood banks to address the risk of misidentification of a patient's blood type, which can result in transfusion of a mismatched product. Transfusion of mismatched blood product is potentially fatal due to acute hemolytic transfusion reaction and is considered a preventable event. CAP regulations outline options to reduce risk of mistransfusion by either documenting the ABO group of the intended recipient on a second sample collected at a separate phlebotomy, or utilizing a mechanical barrier system or electronic identification verification system that ensures the patient from whom the pretransfusion specimen was collected is the same patient who is about to be transfused.

Study Design and Methods

An electronic or barrier system was not available for implementation at our institution, therefore we developed a protocol for a two‐sample verification system. The first determination is performed on a current sample and the second by one of the following methods: (a) comparison with previous laboratory records, (b) testing a second sample collected at a time different from the first sample (i.e., laboratory specimen available with a different timestamp, or a new blood sample).

Results

We improved our transfusion process and implemented a policy to require a second sample to confirm a patient's blood type. We also implemented workflows to obtain blood type confirmation from history of a second blood type result from previous laboratory records, including a policy to accept previous blood type records from an outside laboratory.

Conclusions

We describe a practice change for two‐sample verification for type and screen in a large‐scale pediatric hospital. We outline specific workflows for pre‐operative and emergency transfusion scenarios, and pediatric‐specific challenges.
Global health and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine: a cross-sectional survey of members and fellows
Authors: Fernandez Emma , Rahman Najeeb , Hayton James , Crichton Claire , DeWitt Victoria , Cattermole Giles , Corn Olivia , Gidwani Shweta , Harrison Hooi-Ling , Lowsby Richard , Bruijns Stevan
Published: August 2020

Background

There is growing interest in global health participation among emergency care doctors in the UK. The aim of this paper was to describe the demographics of members and fellows of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine involved in global health, the work they are involved in, as well as the benefits and barriers of this work.

Methods

We conducted a survey to include members and fellows of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine describing the context of their global health work, funding arrangements for global health work and perceived barriers to, and benefits of, global health work.

Results

The survey collected 1134 responses of which 439 (38.7%) were excluded. The analysis was performed with the remaining 695 (61.3%) responses. Global health involvement concentrated around South Asia and Africa. Work contexts were mainly direct clinical service (267, 38%), curriculum development (203, 29%) and teaching short courses (198, 28%). Activity was largely self-funded, both international (539, 78%) and from UK (516, 74%). Global health work was not reported to contribute to appraisal by many participants (294, 42.3%). Funding (443, 64%) and protected time (431, 62%) were reported as key barriers to global health productivity.

Discussion

Participants largely targeted specialty development and educational activities. Lack of training, funding and supported time were identified as barriers to development. Galvanising support for global health through regional networks and College support for attracting funding and job plan recognition will help UK-based emergency care clinicians contribute more productively to this field.
Seven-step framework to enhance practitioner explanations and parental understandings of research without prior consent in paediatric emergency and critical care trials
Authors: Roper Louise , Lyttle Mark D , Gamble Carrol , Humphreys Amy , Messahel Shrouk , Lee Elizabeth D , Noblet Joanne , Hickey Helen , Rainford Naomi , Iyer Anand , Appleton Richard , Woolfall Kerry
Published: August 2020

Background

Alternatives to prospective informed consent enable the conduct of paediatric emergency and critical care trials. Research without prior consent (RWPC) involves practitioners approaching parents after an intervention has been given and seeking consent for their child to continue in the trial. As part of an embedded study in the ‘Emergency treatment with Levetiracetam or Phenytoin in Status Epilepticus in children’ (EcLiPSE) trial, we explored how practitioners described the trial and RWPC during recruitment discussions, and how well this information was understood by parents. We aimed to develop a framework to assist trial conversations in future paediatric emergency and critical care trials using RWPC.

Methods

Qualitative methods embedded within the EcLiPSE trial processes, including audiorecorded practitioner–parent trial discussions and telephone interviews with parents. We analysed data using thematic analysis, drawing on the Realpeet al(2016) model for recruitment to trials.

Results

We analysed 76 recorded trial discussions and conducted 30 parent telephone interviews. For 19 parents, we had recorded trial discussion and interview data, which were matched for analysis. Parental understanding of the EcLiPSE trial was enhanced when practitioners: provided a comprehensive description of trial aims; explained the reasons for RWPC; discussed uncertainty about which intervention was best; provided a balanced description of trial intervention; provided a clear explanation about randomisation and provided an opportunity for questions. We present a seven-step framework to assist recruitment practice in trials involving RWPC.

Conclusion

This study provides a framework to enhance recruitment practice and parental understanding in paediatric emergency and critical care trials involving RWPC. Further testing of this framework is required.
Cytosine arabinoside constant rate infusion without subsequent subcutaneous injections for the treatment of dogs with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin
Authors: Stee Kimberley , Broeckx Bart J G , Targett Mike , Gomes Sergio A , Lowrie Mark
Published: August 2020

Background

The administration of cytosine arabinoside (CA) by continuous rate infusion (CRI) at the time of diagnosis has been shown to improve the 3‐month survival of dogs diagnosed with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO), compared to subcutaneous administration. The benefit of administering subsequent sequential CA subcutaneous injections is unknown. This study compares the outcomes of a CA CRI protocol with (CRI+subcutaneous group) or without (CRI group) follow‐up CA subcutaneous injections; both groups received adjunctive prednisolone.

Methods

Forty‐two dogs diagnosed with MUO were recruited (CRI group) and compared with 41 historical control dogs (CRI+subcutaneous group) in a prospective, controlled clinical trial with 36 months of follow‐up.

Results

Success rates were respectively 64.3 per cent and 65 per cent in the CRI and the CRI+subcutaneous groups at 40 weeks following diagnosis, and 32.5 per cent and 35.9 per cent at 36 months following diagnosis. The median time to relapse was 299 and 285 days for the CRI and the CRI+subcutaneous groups, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found (P≥0.05).

Conclusion

No clear benefit was identified in the administration of subsequent sequential CA subcutaneous injections after the first administration of CA by CRI for the treatment of dogs diagnosed with MUO.
Thermal Casimir effect with general boundary conditions
Authors: Muñoz-Castañeda J. M. , Santamaría-Sanz L. , Donaire M. , Tello-Fraile M.
Published: August 2020

In this paper we study the system of a scalar quantum field confined between two plane, isotropic, and homogeneous parallel plates at thermal equilibrium. We represent the plates by the most general lossless and frequency-independent boundary conditions that satisfy the conditions of isotropy and homogeneity and are compatible with the unitarity of the quantum field theory. Under these conditions we compute the thermal correction to the quantum vacuum energy as a function of the temperature and the parameters encoding the boundary condition. The latter enables us to obtain similar results for the pressure between plates and the quantum thermal correction to the entropy. We find out that our system is thermodynamically stable for any boundary conditions, and we identify a critical temperature below which certain boundary conditions yield attractive, repulsive, and null Casimir forces.
Resonance interaction between two entangled gravitational polarizable objects
Authors: Hu Yongshun , Hu Jiawei , Yu Hongwei , Wu Puxun
Published: August 2020

We investigate the resonance quadrupole-quadrupole interaction between two entangled gravitationally polarizable objects induced by a bath of fluctuating quantum gravitational fields in vacuum in the framework of linearized quantum gravity. Our result shows that, the interaction energy behaves as $$r^{-5}$$r-5 in the near regime, and oscillates with a decreasing amplitude proportional to $$r^{-1}$$r-1 in the far regime, where r is the distance between the two objects. Compared to the case when the two objects are in their ground states, the quantum gravitational interaction is significantly enhanced when the objects are in an entangled state. Remarkably, in the far regime, the resonance quantum gravitational interaction can give the dominating quantum correction to the Newtonian potential, since the extremum is much greater than the monopole-monopole quantum gravitational interaction.
Operational Research for Technology-Driven Supply Chains in the Industry 4.0 Era: Recent Development and Future Studies
Authors: Luo Suyuan , Choi Tsan-Ming
Published: August 2020

Today, supply chain operations have entered the Industry 4.0 era. Technologies, such as blockchain, big-data, artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing and cloud-computing, are all hot topics. Motivated by their importance, in this paper, we conduct a review of the closely related literature in the well-established mainstream operational research (OR) journals. From our research, we first examine the OR literature on Industry 4.0 related studies. Then we classify the technology-operations-related literature into three major categories, namely, information technologies for supply chain operations, technologies for sustainable operations, and technologies for production operations. Various less popular areas on technology-driven operations in supply chains, namely, technology licensing and outsourcing (TLO), online data, and risk, finance and security (RFS), are also examined. From the reviews, we identify the major research gaps. After that, we establish a future research agenda. We believed that this paper lays the foundation for further OR studies on technology-driven supply chain management in the Industry 4.0 era.
Studying the microhardness on the surface of SKD61 in PMEDM using tungsten carbide powder
Authors: Le Van Tao , Banh Tien Long , Tran Xuan Thai , Nguyen Thi Hong Minh , Le Van Thao
Published: August 2020

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) process is widely used to process hard materials in the industry. The process of electrical discharge is changed and called PMEDM when alloy powder is added in the oil dielectric. In this study, the effect of tungsten carbide alloy powder added in the dielectric on the microhardness of surface (HV) status of the workpiece SKD61 after machining is investigated. Studies show that the microhardness of surface obtained by PMEDM is generally better than that by normal EDM. The experiment shows that at the selected process window, adding the powder has resulted in an improvement of the microhardness up to 129.17%.
Local Stereo Matching: An Adaptive Weighted Guided Image Filtering-Based Approach
Authors: Zhang Ben , Zhu Denglin
Published: August 2020

Innovative applications in rapidly evolving domains such as robotic navigation and autonomous (driverless) vehicles rely on binocular computer vision systems that meet stringent response time and accuracy requirements. A key problem in these vision systems is stereo matching, which involves matching pixels from two input images in order to construct the output, a 3D map. Building upon the existing local stereo matching algorithms, this paper proposes a novel stereo matching algorithm that is based on a weighted guided filtering foundation. The proposed algorithm consists of three main steps; each step is designed with the goal of improving accuracy. First, the matching costs are computed using a unique combination of complementary methods (absolute difference, Census, and gradient algorithms) to reduce errors. Second, the costs are aggregated using an adaptive weighted guided image filtering method. Here, the regularization parameters are adjusted adaptively using the Canny method, further reducing errors. Third, a disparity map is generated using the winner-take-all strategy; this map is subsequently refined using a densification method to reduce errors. Our experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm provides a higher level of accuracy in comparison to a collection of the existing state-of-the-art local algorithms.