bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovative Technologies of Personnel Management as a Basis for Professional Training of Future Human Resources Managers
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Xulin Zhou
Published: December 2020

The article, based on the analysis of domestic and foreign scientific literature, has revealed the formation of human resources management as an important part of the theory and practice of personnel management and the basis of professional training of future human resources (HR) managers. The place of innovative technologies within the conceptual field of personnel management has been shown, and the definition of the concept «innovative technologies of personnel management» and «innovative personnel technologies» has been given. The author has proven that the classification of innovative technologies of personnel management based on personnel processes, which is built on a set of interrelated activities of personnel management, is the most common. The main groups of innovative technologies of personnel management have been characterized: the formation of personnel reserve; the assessment of business professional and personal qualities; the creation of a system of motivation; the personnel training; the development of leaders and talents; the formation and development of corporate culture; the formation and development of teams; conflict management. The nomenclature of the innovative technologies has also been disclosed, as well as their purpose in the holistic process of personnel work in an organization. The most significant system innovative personnel technologies have been determined: the grade system of rewards; technologies of career planning and individual employee development; methods of creating project teams and forming the organization corporate culture.
F. R. Dunaevsky’s Pedagogical Utopia in the Context of the Epoch
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Kononov Illya
Published: December 2020

The article attempts to systematically present pedagogical views of the leader of the Kharkiv School of the Scientific Organization of Labor, the director of the All-Ukrainian Institute of Labor F. R. Dunaevsky (1887 – 1960). It analyzes his work «The Task of Enlightenment», which is considered to be a pedagogical utopia. It was designed by the author as a story about the Palace of Creation, but the topology of Palace in the work is changing. In some parts of the text the author is talking about a real magnificent building standing in a huge park, which also performs educational functions in relation to the youngest children. There is a variety of classrooms on different floors of the building. In these classrooms, young people study in the process of solving various problems. The education process is built according to a concentric system. Learning takes place in accordance with individual interests and at an individual pace for each student. The tasks of learning merge with the tasks of science. In other places of the text, the topology of the Palace appears as the topology of a social institution, in which the tasks of education merge, wider than enlightenment, science and the production of scientific instruments and tools. Here, the Palace of Creation is worth being perceived as a metaphor for a broad social movement. It has been shown that the author did not turn pedagogical utopia into a technological social project, since it was intended to play the role of a methodological guide in specific studies within the scientific organization of labor. It contributed to the development of a humanistic concept of professional selection. The pedagogical views of F. R. Dunaevsky developed under the influence of works by A. A. Bogdanov and Proletkult (proletarian culture). The ideas were polemically opposed to the concept of «social education», which at that time was being developed under the leadership of the Commissar of Education of the Ukrainian SSR G.F. Grinko. This concept suggested the expropriation of children by the state from the family, ignoring the child’s personality in the educational process focused on the team. The family by itself was seen by G. F. Grinko as a decaying institution. F. R. Dunaevsky advocated the development of personality as the basis of the viability of the team.
Anaesthesia of the patient with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Díaz-Delgado Oscar Bautista , Alderson Briony
Published: December 2020

Chronic kidney disease is common, particularly in geriatric animals. General anaesthesia is usually required for routine procedures (dental prophylaxis, ovariohysterectomy or castration) and emergency procedures, which may have profound effects on the body, especially on cardiac output, subsequent blood pressure and on the perfusion of different vital organs. It is essential to understand the effects of renal dysfunction on the patient, as well as the effects that anaesthesia and surgery may have on the kidneys. The understanding of renal physiology, along with the effect of drug choices, is key to successful management of chronic renal failure.
The gastrointestinal microbiome – what do we know now and what will we learn next?
Authors: Groves Ellie
Published: December 2020

As a result of technological advances in recent years, particularly the advent of a number of molecular tools in the research setting, a growing body of evidence has started to elucidate the importance of the gastrointestinal microbiome in a variety of interactions with the host. It is now thought to have a number of significant effects on a host's health, including aiding digestion, providing nutritional benefits to the host, immune regulation and defence against enteropathogens. It also has extra-intestinal roles including brain development, which in turn influence appetite and behaviour. Every individual harbours a unique microbiome that is also dynamic. Genetic and environmental factors including stress, diet and antibiotics can all have a significant impact on microbiome make-up, both during development and throughout life. The gastrointestinal microbiome has also been directly implicated in the pathogeneses of both gastrointestinal and systemic disease, particularly enteropathies and diseases such as obesity. There is also a growing interest in its role in communicating with and potentially influencing brain function, referred to as the ‘microbiota–gut–brain axis’. Manipulation of the microbiome has been associated with changes in behaviour, such as the onset of anxious behaviours in dogs, mice and humans. This has also been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's in humans. This article explores our current understanding of the gastrointestinal microbiome and its role in both health and disease, as well as the role that dysbiosis may play in disease states. It briefly considers ways in which we may be able to manipulate it therapeutically in companion animals. It also looks at some of the unanswered questions that remain, and considers the potential next steps for researchers.
Parasite risks from raw meat-based diets for companion animals
Authors: Overgaauw Paul A. M.
Published: December 2020

In industrialised countries, dogs and cats are more often fed raw meat-based diets. There are microbial hazards associated with raw meat and these can introduce the risk of insufficient nutrition, as a result of nutritional imbalances and deficiencies. A literature review has been carried out to evaluate the risks of parasite infections in companion animals resulting from raw meat-based diets. Parasites present in raw meat use dogs and cats as part of their life cycle, these include protozoa such as Toxoplasma, Sarcocystis, Cystoisospora, Neospora and Hammondia; the nematodes Toxocara spp. and Trichinella; and the tapeworms Taenia spp., Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis. Because of the lack of prevalence data, a valuable risk analysis is difficult. However, the life cycles demonstrate that eating raw meat-based diets and prey animals, can be a route of infection. Such agents can also be present in slaughtered animals. Infections can induce disease in intermediate hosts, but also in humans and other animal species, as an environment can be contaminated with oocysts or eggs. Several parasites can be transmitted via the alimentary route when raw meat-based diets are fed to companion animals. The best prevention method is to feed your companion animals commercial food or to cook meat and organs before feeding.
How to … support residents, their families and staff suffering from depression
Authors: Ashurst Adrian
Published: December 2020

In this article, Adrian Ashurst discusses the importance of providing effective support to those who are affected by the second wave of the COVID-19 virus and experiencing signs of depression.
Leaving work in the care home
Authors: Mendes Aysha
Published: December 2020

Maintaining good mental health has become a high-priority topic of discussion, but finding a work-life balance—an important factor—in healthcare is often difficult. Continuing her column on mental health in care homes, Aysha Mendes offers some effective and practical solutions to help care professionals and residents.
A novel antimicrobial coating to prevent periprosthetic joint infection
Authors: Ramalhete Rita , Brown Robyn , Blunn Gordon , Skinner John , Coathup Melanie , Graney Ian , Sanghani-Kerai Anita
Published: December 2020

Aims

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a debilitating condition with a substantial socioeconomic burden. A novel autologous blood glue (ABG) has been developed, which can be prepared during surgery and sprayed onto prostheses at the time of implantation. The ABG can potentially provide an antimicrobial coating which will be effective in preventing PJI, not only by providing a physical barrier but also by eluting a well-known antibiotic. Hence, this study aimed to assess the antimicrobial effectiveness of ABG when impregnated with gentamicin and stem cells.

Methods

Gentamicin elution from the ABG matrix was analyzed and quantified in a time-dependent manner. The combined efficiency of gentamicin and ABG as an anti-biofilm coating was investigated on titanium disks.

Results

ABG-gentamicin was bactericidal from 10 μg/ml and could release bactericidal concentrations over seven days, preventing biofilm formation. A concentration of 75 μg/ml of gentamicin in ABG showed the highest bactericidal effect up to day 7. On titanium disks, a significant bacterial reduction on ABG-gentamicin coated disks was observed when compared to both uncoated (mean 2-log reduction) and ABG-coated (mean 3-log reduction) disks, at days 3 and 7. ABG alone exhibited no antimicrobial or anti-biofilm properties. However, a concentration of 75 μg/ml gentamicin in ABG sustains release over seven days and significantly reduced biofilm formation. Its use as an implant coating in patients with a high risk of infection may prevent bacterial adhesion perioperatively and in the early postoperative period.

Conclusion

ABG’s use as a carrier for stem cells was effective, as it supported cell growth. It has the potential to co-deliver compatible cells, drugs, and growth factors. However, ABG-gentamicin’s potential needs to be further justified using in vivo studies. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(12):848–856.
Hip preservation surgery and the acetabular fossa
Authors: Slullitel Pablo A. , Coutu Daniel , Buttaro Martin A. , Beaule Paul Edgar , Grammatopoulos George
Published: December 2020

As our understanding of hip function and disease improves, it is evident that the acetabular fossa has received little attention, despite it comprising over half of the acetabulum’s surface area and showing the first signs of degeneration. The fossa’s function is expected to be more than augmenting static stability with the ligamentum teres and being a templating landmark in arthroplasty. Indeed, the fossa, which is almost mature at 16 weeks of intrauterine development, plays a key role in hip development, enabling its nutrition through vascularization and synovial fluid, as well as the influx of chondrogenic stem/progenitor cells that build articular cartilage. The pulvinar, a fibrofatty tissue in the fossa, has the same developmental origin as the synovium and articular cartilage and is a biologically active area. Its unique anatomy allows for homogeneous distribution of the axial loads into the joint. It is composed of intra-articular adipose tissue (IAAT), which has adipocytes, fibroblasts, leucocytes, and abundant mast cells, which participate in the inflammatory cascade after an insult to the joint. Hence, the fossa and pulvinar should be considered in decision-making and surgical outcomes in hip preservation surgery, not only for their size, shape, and extent, but also for their biological capacity as a source of cytokines, immune cells, and chondrogenic stem cells.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(12):857–869.
Lathe Parameters Optimization for UD-GFRP Composite Part Turning with PCD Tool by Taguchi Method
Authors: NARESH Hazari , CHINMAYA PRASAD Padhy
Published: December 2020

The aerospace and automobile sectors are widely utilized the polymer composites. The composite materials, like unidirectional glass fiber reinforced polymer (UD-GFRP), is difficult to machine due to its anisotropic that is non-homogeneous character and such material requires special cutting tools. The proposed work is going to examine the tool wear, quality of the surface and forces generated in the various stages of inputs given to the machining of unidirectional glass fiber reinforced polymer (UD-GFRP) composites. The assessment of the machining incorporates tool wear investigations, surface roughness investigations and quality of material by varying input parameters. The Taguchi optimization technique with experimental design of L9 orthogonal array employed. The parameters range identified by trail runs and observations of conducted machining utilized for optimization. The Turning process parameters of cutting velocity or speed, rate of tool movement or feed rate and cutting depth on composite part or depth of cut were considered. The other factors, like tool material i.e., Poly-Crystalline Diamond (PCD) tool, its cutting regime (dry), profile of cutting tool are considered as constant parameters. The responses, like tool wear, surface finish, and cutting force, were measured against various input parameters, while machining the composite (UD-GFRP) composite part. The objective of this research is to establish relationship among various operating parameters to achieve desired results. That is major focus of the work on the economic condition for getting better values based on setting of input parameters.
Influence of friction in a case of impact simulation
Authors: OJOC George-Ghiocel , RUS Viorel Totolici , POPESCU Christian , PIRVU Catalin , DELEANU Lorena
Published: December 2020

This paper presents an analysis of two cases, simulating the impact of a cylindical projectile on a perfectly rigid plate. One case is run without friction, the second one is run taking into account a friction coeficient between the plate and the projectile. The authors used for the projectile the same material constitutive model for both cases, based on experimental data and model developed by Johnson and Cook. Here, the comparing criteria were the maximum value of von Mises stress, the velocity and acceleration of the central point on the opposite face to the contact face of the projectile. Introducing friction, the simulation is more realistic. Taking into account friction, the projectile is less deformed and there was no edge breakage, at the same time moment.
Researches Concerning the Lubrication of
Profiled Surfaces in Slip Boundary Conditions
Authors: RADULESCU Alexandru Valentin , RADULESCU Irina
Published: December 2020

The paper investigates the squeeze film process for non-Newtonian fluids between two circular parallel profiled surfaces. The lower surface is characterized by the existence of a cylindrical or spherical dimple in the center, which is specific for profiled surfaces by texturing. In order to integrate the Reynolds equation, the slip boundary conditions on the upper surface have been assumed. Finally, the pressure distribution and the loading capacity of the non-Newtonian film are obtained.
A new approach for quantifying thermal barrier effect. Case study: RE_20 enamel
Authors: TURCU Ramona-Nicoleta , PENCEA Ion , BRANZEI Mihai , MANOLIU Victor , STEFAN Adriana , POPESCU-ARGES Alina Cristina , IOAN Mihaita , CALOTA Iulian Virgil
Published: December 2020

Thermal barrier coatings (TBC) are designed to reduce the temperatures at the surface of metallic hot working pieces. A new refractory enamel, denoted RE_20, was developed at INCAS SA. The RE_20 is designed to protect pieces made of EI 468 superalloys. Thermal barrier effect (TBE) is frequently used in the literature to refer to the temperature decreasing at the heat exposed surface, but it is not defined as a quantitative measurand. The paper aims to mitigate this shortcoming by introducing two measurands for a proper assessment of the TBE i.e. relative temperature decreasing (RTD) and relative heat flow decreasing (RHD). The TBE depends on the working temperature, therefore it has to be estimated at elevate temperatures in the 900-1100oC range. This is possible only through thermal diffusivity flash method (ThDM) which facilitates measurements up to 1000oC. Two mathematical models were derived for RTD and RHD. The models were applied to the RE_20/ EI868 systems for two cases: as obtained and as cyclic thermal shock tested at 900oC. The paper addresses the following novelties: two new measurands (RTD, RHD), the TBE behavior depending on the working temperature and the TBE dependance on upper temperature of the thermal shock.
Study over volcanic ash contamination conditions of Romanian air space-Etna
Authors: URLEA Ana Denisa , STEFAN Sabina , BARBU Nicu , CALCAN Andreea
Published: December 2020

This study is focused on finding the hypothetical conditions under of which the Romanian air space could be affected by a volcanic ash-like pollutant originating from Etna Volcano. We describe the plume transport behaviour, on its way to Romania, using the mass loading distribution displayed by the HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model output. From the WLK (Wetterlagen-klassifikation) catalogue we have specific day sequences showing more than three days of a south-western circulation with a wet anticyclonic pattern over Romania. The resulting 24 cases in a period spanning more than a decade (2004-2014) displayed that the chances of contamination would be better for a quiescent environment around Etna’s summit. There were found ten cases in quiescent atmosphere and only four cases in windy atmosphere with Romanian air space contamination. Although it was not possible to determine the effective concentration of the fine ash pollutant it was possible to isolate the mass loading distribution in time. As the study cases displayed one order of magnitude difference between mass loading distributions it became obvious that the behaviour of the mass loading distribution in time has a directly dependence on the environmental stratification of the Etna’s summit atmosphere.
Air Transport Terrorism: One of the most Feared Types of Asymmetric Security Threat
Authors: IVANČÍK Radoslav , NEČAS Pavel
Published: December 2020

This paper presents the ongoing research and, deals, in the framework of interdisciplinary scientific research, with various military and non-military threats and their negative impact on the security of contemporary human society. In this research, the authors point out the continuous deterioration of the global and regional security environment and the growth of symmetric and asymmetric security threats with focus on the air transport, and the resulting negative consequences for the security of the states and their citizens. In order to contribute to the development of security science, the authors examine the issues of terrorism as an asymmetric security threat, focusing in particular on terrorism and terrorist activities of the air transport and measures taken to eliminate terrorism in the airspace.
Preliminary calculation of the landing gear of a military training aircraft
Authors: NICOLIN Ilie , NICOLIN Bogdan Adrian
Published: December 2020

The paper presents a preliminary calculation method, which is easy to apply for pre-dimensioning the landing gear. Preliminary calculation of the landing gear includes estimating the loads on landing and determining the position of the nose landing gear and the main landing gear of a military training aircraft. Another purpose of the preliminary calculation is to ensure the stability of a military training aircraft on landing and take-off, as well as to ensure the lateral stability of the aircraft during ground operations such as taxiing, landing or take-off.
A Preliminary Study of Parameter Estimation for Fixed Wing Aircraft and High Endurability Parafoil Aerial Vehicle
Authors: JAISWAL Roli , PRAKASH Om , CHATURVEDI Sudhir Kumar
Published: December 2020

High Endurability Aerial vehicle includes Airship, Powered parafoil aerial vehicle (PPAV). These flying aerial vehicles have excellent endurance and durability. Nowadays, research in lighter than air technology is pacing up fast. In the past years, the design and development of high endurable flying vehicle has grown due to their application in monitoring of floods/ drought, aerial photography, transportation, surveillance in terrain prone areas, reconnaissance missions etc. System Identification is a mathematical tool applied to develop mathematical model of any physical system based on measured data. Research on System Identification of these types of vehicles is on latest trends. Dynamic modelling of these types of vehicles is more complex than fixed wing aircraft. A detail Literature review in system Identification of PPAV and fixed wing aircraft is presented aiming to provide a source of information for researchers to make vehicle fully autonomous from manual controls. Various system Identification Techniques to estimate parameters of flying aerial vehicles are discussed. Longitudinal stability derivatives of fixed wing Hansa-3 aircraft and PPAV are compared. The methodology used in this study to estimate the longitudinal stability derivatives is ML Method. The results obtained in form of stability derivatives of Hansa-3 aircraft and Powered parafoil aerial vehicle are presented in tabular form. This study will give insight of identification techniques used to estimate parameters.
Development of a highly efficient, strongly coupled organic light-emitting diode based on intracavity pumping architecture
Authors: Chang Jui-Fen , Lin Tong-Yu , Hsu Chia-Fu , Chen Szu-Yu , Hong Shun-Yu , Ciou Guo-Sian , Jaing Cheng-Chung , Lee Cheng-Chung
Published: December 2020

We report a highly efficient polariton organic light-emitting diode (POLED) based on an intracavity pumping architecture, where an absorbing J-aggregate dye film is used to generate polariton modes and a red fluorescent OLED is used for radiative pumping of emission from the lower polariton (LP) branch. To realize the device with large-area uniformity and adjustable coupling strength, we develop a spin-coating method to achieve high-quality J-aggregate thin films with controlled thickness and absorption. From systematic studies of the devices with different J-aggregate film thicknesses and OLED injection layers, we show that the J-aggregate film and the pump OLED play separate roles in determining the coupling strength and electroluminescence efficiency, and can be simultaneously optimized under a cavity design with a good LP-OLED emission overlap for effective radiative pumping. By increasing the absorption with thick J-aggregate film and improving the electron injection of pump OLED with Li2CO3 interlayer, we demonstrate the POLED with a large Rabi splitting energy of 192 meV and a maximum external quantum efficiency of 1.2%, a record efficiency of POLEDs reported so far. This POLED architecture can be generally applied for exploration of various organic materials to realize novel polariton devices and electrically pumped lasers.
Generalized Kerker’s conditions under normal and oblique incidence using the polarizability tensors of nanoparticles
Authors: Hesari-Shermeh Maryam , Abbasi-Arand Bijan , Yazdi Mohammad
Published: December 2020

The polarizability tensors of a particle are its characteristic parameters, which once obtained, can be applied as equivalent representations of the particle in any problems involving plane wave illuminations. In this paper, the generalized Kerker’s conditions for unidirectional scattering are derived, in the case of normal and oblique incidence, in terms of the polarizability tensors of any arbitrary nanostructures in homogeneous media and located on dielectric substrates. In order to present structures that corroborate the conditions derived from such polarizabilities, first, the effect of constituent material on the frequency response of the nanoparticle is investigated. Then, the dimensions of nanostructures that satisfy the first and second Kerker’s conditions are evaluated, while it is also ascertained that by varying the excitation wavelengths in an individual nanoparticle, switching between forward and backward unidirectional scattering can be achieved. This creates numerous attractive possibilities for the manipulation of optical pressure forces. Moreover, the influence of impinging direction upon the forward-to-backward scattering ratio is studied. Since, in many applications, nanoparticles are situated on dielectric substrates to make the structures more practically feasible, in this work, the effect of substrates on the Kerker’s conditions are evaluated. It is shown that the presence of a substrate adds new dimensions of polarizability to the structure. Despite this new polarizability, two structures are engineered, here, which create strong asymmetrical scattering over a wide frequency range and wide angle of incidence.
Direct phase modulation via optical injection: theoretical study
Authors: Shakhovoy Roman , Puplauskis Marius , Sharoglazova Violetta , Duplinskiy Alexander , Zavodilenko Vladimir , Losev Anton , Kurochkin Yury
Published: December 2020

Direct phase modulation via optical injection is a newly developed method for coding the phase of a gain-switched laser, which meets high requirements placed on transmitters for quantum key distribution: compactness, low losses, compatibility with CMOS technologies, and the absence of undesirable effects leading to the side-channel information leakage. Despite the successful implementation and good prospects for the further development of this system, there is still a lack of theoretical investigations of this scheme in the literature. Here, for the first time, we perform its theoretical analysis. We study the influence of the spontaneous emission noise, examine the role of the gain non-linearity, and consider the temperature drift effect. The results obtained reveal that these phenomena significantly affect system performance. We have tried to formulate here practical instructions, which will help to take these features into account when elaborating and employing the optical-injection-based phase modulator.
Effect of ADC parameters on neural network based chaotic optical communication
Authors: Yang Zhao , Ke Junxiang , Hu Weisheng , Yi Lilin
Published: December 2020

The performance of traditional chaotic optical communications depends on the matching parameters of the chaotic transmitter and receiver. The chaotic receiver based on the neural network (NN) can solve the dependence on matching parameters, but the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) has an effect on the decryption performance. In this paper, the effects of sampling rate and digitalizing bit for ADC on NN-based chaotic optical communication systems with different feedback strengths at different bit rates are numerically studied. The results show that the requirements for ADC will be higher if the feedback becomes stronger. In order to achieve higher speed chaotic optical communications, the ADC with higher performance is needed. These results can give guidance for the applications of NN-based high-speed chaotic optical communication systems.
Computational study on ratio-sensing in yeast galactose utilization pathway
Authors: Hong Jiayin , Hua Bo , Springer Michael , Tang Chao
Published: December 2020

Metabolic networks undergo gene expression regulation in response to external nutrient signals. In microbes, the synthesis of enzymes that are used to transport and catabolize less preferred carbon sources is repressed in the presence of a preferred carbon source. For most microbes, glucose is a preferred carbon source, and it has long been believed that as long as glucose is present in the environment, the expression of genes related to the metabolism of alternative carbon sources is shut down, due to catabolite repression. However, recent studies have shown that the induction of the galactose (GAL) metabolic network does not solely depend on the exhaustion of glucose. Instead, the GAL genes respond to the external concentration ratio of galactose to glucose, a phenomenon of unknown mechanism that we termed ratio-sensing. Using mathematical modeling, we found that ratio-sensing is a general phenomenon that can arise from competition between two carbon sources for shared transporters, between transcription factors for binding to communal regulatory sequences of the target genes, or a combination of the aforementioned two levels of competition. We analyzed how the parameters describing the competitive interaction influenced ratio-sensing behaviors in each scenario and found that the concatenation of both layers of signal integration could expand the dynamical range of ratio-sensing. Finally, we investigated the influence of circuit topology on ratio-sensing and found that incorporating negative auto-regulation and/or coherent feedforward loop motifs to the basic signal integration unit could tune the sensitivity of the response to the external nutrient signals. Our study not only deepened our understanding of how ratio-sensing is achieved in yeast GAL metabolic regulation, but also elucidated design principles for ratio-sensing signal processing that can be used in other biological settings, such as being introduced into circuit designs for synthetic biology applications.
Bacteria use structural imperfect mimicry to hijack the host interactome
Authors: de Groot Natalia Sanchez , Torrent Burgas Marc
Published: December 2020

Bacteria use protein-protein interactions to infect their hosts and hijack fundamental pathways, which ensures their survival and proliferation. Hence, the infectious capacity of the pathogen is closely related to its ability to interact with host proteins. Here, we show that hubs in the host-pathogen interactome are isolated in the pathogen network by adapting the geometry of the interacting interfaces. An imperfect mimicry of the eukaryotic interfaces allows pathogen proteins to actively bind to the host’s target while preventing deleterious effects on the pathogen interactome. Understanding how bacteria recognize eukaryotic proteins may pave the way for the rational design of new antibiotic molecules.
Control of filament length by a depolymerizing gradient
Authors: Datta Arnab , Harbage David , Kondev Jane
Published: December 2020

Cells assemble microns-long filamentous structures from protein monomers that are nanometers in size. These structures are often highly dynamic, yet in order for them to function properly, cells maintain them at a precise length. Here we investigate length-dependent depolymerization as a mechanism of length control. This mechanism has been recently proposed for flagellar length control in the single cell organisms Chlamydomonas and Giardia. Length dependent depolymerization can arise from a concentration gradient of a depolymerizing protein, such as kinesin-13 in Giardia, along the length of the flagellum. Two possible scenarios are considered: a linear and an exponential gradient of depolymerizing proteins. We compute analytically the probability distributions of filament lengths for both scenarios and show how these distributions are controlled by key biochemical parameters through a dimensionless number that we identify. In Chlamydomonas cells, the assembly dynamics of its two flagella are coupled via a shared pool of molecular components that are in limited supply, and so we investigate the effect of a limiting monomer pool on the length distributions. Finally, we compare our calculations to experiments. While the computed mean lengths are consistent with observations, the noise is two orders of magnitude smaller than the observed length fluctuations.
The DIOS framework for optimizing infectious disease surveillance: Numerical methods for simulation and multi-objective optimization of surveillance network architectures
Authors: Cheng Qu , Collender Philip A. , Heaney Alexandra K. , Li Xintong , Dasan Rohini , Li Charles , Lewnard Joseph A. , Zelner Jonathan L. , Liang Song , Chang Howard H. , Waller Lance A. , Lopman Benjamin A. , Yang Changhong , Remais Justin V.
Published: December 2020

Infectious disease surveillance systems provide vital data for guiding disease prevention and control policies, yet the formalization of methods to optimize surveillance networks has largely been overlooked. Decisions surrounding surveillance design parameters—such as the number and placement of surveillance sites, target populations, and case definitions—are often determined by expert opinion or deference to operational considerations, without formal analysis of the influence of design parameters on surveillance objectives. Here we propose a simulation framework to guide evidence-based surveillance network design to better achieve specific surveillance goals with limited resources. We define evidence-based surveillance design as an optimization problem, acknowledging the many operational constraints under which surveillance systems operate, the many dimensions of surveillance system design, the multiple and competing goals of surveillance, and the complex and dynamic nature of disease systems. We describe an analytical framework—the Disease Surveillance Informatics Optimization and Simulation (DIOS) framework—for the identification of optimal surveillance designs through mathematical representations of disease and surveillance processes, definition of objective functions, and numerical optimization. We then apply the framework to the problem of selecting candidate sites to expand an existing surveillance network under alternative objectives of: (1) improving spatial prediction of disease prevalence at unmonitored sites; or (2) estimating the observed effect of a risk factor on disease. Results of this demonstration illustrate how optimal designs are sensitive to both surveillance goals and the underlying spatial pattern of the target disease. The findings affirm the value of designing surveillance systems through quantitative and adaptive analysis of network characteristics and performance. The framework can be applied to the design of surveillance systems tailored to setting-specific disease transmission dynamics and surveillance needs, and can yield improved understanding of tradeoffs between network architectures.
Evolution along the parasitism-mutualism continuum determines the genetic repertoire of prophages
Authors: Khan Amjad , Burmeister Alita R. , Wahl Lindi M.
Published: December 2020

Integrated into their bacterial hosts’ genomes, prophage sequences exhibit a wide diversity of length and gene content, from highly degraded cryptic sequences to intact, functional prophages that retain a full complement of lytic-function genes. We apply three approaches—bioinformatics, analytical modelling and computational simulation—to understand the diverse gene content of prophages. In the bioinformatics work, we examine the distributions of over 50,000 annotated prophage genes identified in 1384 prophage sequences, comparing the gene repertoires of intact and incomplete prophages. These data indicate that genes involved in the replication, packaging, and release of phage particles have been preferentially lost in incomplete prophages, while tail fiber, transposase and integrase genes are significantly enriched. Consistent with these results, our mathematical and computational approaches predict that genes involved in phage lytic function are preferentially lost, resulting in shorter prophages that often retain genes that benefit the host. Informed by these models, we offer novel hypotheses for the enrichment of integrase and transposase genes in cryptic prophages. Overall, we demonstrate that functional and cryptic prophages represent a diversity of genetic sequences that evolve along a parasitism-mutualism continuum.
Community perspectives on scabies, impetigo and mass drug administration in Fiji: A qualitative study
Authors: Mitchell Elke , Bell Stephen , Thean Li Jun , Sahukhan Aalisha , Kama Mike , Koroivueti Aminiasi , Kaldor John , Steer Andrew , Romani Lucia
Published: December 2020

Scabies is endemic in Fiji and is a significant cause of morbidity. Little is known about the sociocultural beliefs and practices that affect the occurrence of scabies and impetigo, or community attitudes towards the strategy of mass drug administration that is emerging as a public health option for scabies and impetigo control in Fiji and other countries. Data were collected during semi-structured interviews with 33 community members in four locations in Fiji’s Northern Division. Thematic analysis examined participants’ lived experiences of scabies and impetigo; community knowledge and perceptions about scabies and impetigo aetiology and transmission; community-based treatment and prevention measures; and attitudes towards mass drug administration. Many indigenous Fijian (iTaukei) participants noted extensive and ongoing experience of scabies and impetigo among children in their families and communities, but only one participant of Indian descent (Indo-Fijian) identified personal childhood experience of scabies. Scabies and impetigo were perceived as diseases affecting children, impacting on school attendance and families’ quality of sleep. Awareness of scabies and impetigo was considerable, but there were major misconceptions around disease causation and transmission. Traditional remedies were preferred for scabies treatment, followed by biomedicines provided by local health centres and hospitals. Treatment of close household contacts was not prioritised. Attitudes towards mass drug administration to control scabies were mostly positive, although some concerns were noted about adverse effects and hesitation to participate in the planned scabies elimination programme. Findings from this first study to document perspectives and experiences related to scabies and impetigo and their management in the Asia Pacific region illustrate that a community-centred approach to scabies and impetigo is needed for the success of control efforts in Fiji, and most likely in other affected countries. This includes community-based health promotion messaging on the social dynamics of scabies transmission, and a campaign of education and community engagement prior to mass drug administration.
Multi-scale habitat assessment of pronghorn migration routes
Authors: Jakes Andrew F. , DeCesare Nicholas J. , Jones Paul F. , Gates C. Cormack , Story Scott J. , Olimb Sarah K. , Kunkel Kyran E. , Hebblewhite Mark
Published: December 2020

We studied the habitat selection of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) during seasonal migration; an important period in an animal’s annual cycle associated with broad-scale movements. We further decompose our understanding of migration habitat itself as the product of both broad- and fine-scale behavioral decisions and take a multi-scale approach to assess pronghorn spring and fall migration across the transboundary Northern Sagebrush Steppe region. We used a hierarchical habitat selection framework to assess a suite of natural and anthropogenic features that have been shown to influence selection patterns of pronghorn at both broad (migratory neighborhood) and fine (migratory pathway) scales. We then combined single-scale predictions into a scale-integrated step selection function (ISSF) map to assess its effectiveness in predicting migration route habitat. During spring, pronghorn selected for native grasslands, areas of high forage productivity (NDVI), and avoided human activity (i.e., roads and oil and natural gas wells). During fall, pronghorn selected for native grasslands, larger streams and rivers, and avoided roads. We detected avoidance of paved roads, unpaved roads, and wells at broad spatial scales, but no response to these features at fine scales. In other words, migratory pronghorn responded more strongly to anthropogenic features when selecting a broad neighborhood through which to migrate than when selecting individual steps along their migratory pathway. Our results demonstrate that scales of migratory route selection are hierarchically nested within each other from broader (second-order) to finer scales (third-order). In addition, we found other variables during particular migratory periods (i.e., native grasslands in spring) were selected for across scales indicating their importance for pronghorn. The mapping of ungulate migration habitat is a topic of high conservation relevance. In some applications, corridors are mapped according to telemetry location data from a sample of animals, with the assumption that the sample adequately represents habitat for the entire population. Our use of multi-scale modelling to predict resource selection during migration shows promise and may offer another relevant alternative for use in future conservation planning and land management decisions where telemetry-based sampling is unavailable or incomplete.
Initial estimates of COVID-19 infections in hospital workers in the United States during the first wave of pandemic
Authors: Razzak Junaid A. , Bhatti Junaid A. , Tahir Muhammad Ramzan , Pasha-Razzak Omrana
Published: December 2020

Objective

We estimated the number of hospital workers in the United States (US) that might be infected or die during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the data in the early phases of the pandemic.

Methods

We calculated infection and death rates amongst US hospital workers per 100 COVID-19-related deaths in the general population based on observed numbers in Hubei, China, and Italy. We used Monte Carlo simulations to compute point estimates with 95% confidence intervals for hospital worker (HW) infections in the US based on each of these two scenarios. We also assessed the impact of restricting hospital workers aged ≥ 60 years from performing patient care activities on these estimates.

Results

We estimated that about 53,000 hospital workers in the US could get infected, and 1579 could die due to COVID19. The availability of PPE for high-risk workers alone could reduce this number to about 28,000 infections and 850 deaths. Restricting high-risk hospital workers such as those aged ≥ 60 years from direct patient care could reduce counts to 2,000 healthcare worker infections and 60 deaths.

Conclusion

We estimate that US hospital workers will bear a significant burden of illness due to COVID-19. Making PPE available to all hospital workers and reducing the exposure of hospital workers above the age of 60 could mitigate these risks.
Immunomodulatory drugs in multiple myeloma: Impact of the SCARMET (Self CARe and MEdication Toxicity) educational intervention on outpatients’ knowledge to manage adverse effects
Authors: Périchou Juliette , Ranchon Florence , Herledan Chloé , Huot Laure , Larbre Virginie , Carpentier Isabelle , Lazareth Anne , Karlin Lionel , Beny Karen , Vantard Nicolas , Schwiertz Vérane , Caffin Anne Gaelle , Baudouin Amandine , Sesques Pierre , Brisou Gabriel , Ghesquières Hervé , Salles Gilles , Rioufol Catherine
Published: December 2020

Long-term multiple myeloma therapy by immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) raises the question of management of adverse effects. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of an educational session for patients on the acquisition of knowledge to manage hematologic and thromboembolic adverse effects of IMiDs. In this prospective single-center study, patients attended an educational session with a hospital clinical pharmacist and a nurse. The primary endpoint was the patient’s level of knowledge for the management of IMiDs adverse effects, assess with a dedicated questionnaire administered before the session then 1 and 6 months after. Assessment of knowledge was combined with self-assessment of certainty. The secondary endpoints were adherence and IMiD treatment satisfaction. 50 patients were included. Patient knowledge increased at 1 month (p<0.001) despite a loss of knowledge at 6 months (p<0.05). Six months after the educational intervention, the number of patients with skills considered satisfactory by the pharmacist and nurse increased (p<0.01). Most patients showed satisfactory adherence, with medication possession ratio ≥ 80%. The Self CARe and MEdication Toxicity (SCARMET) study highlighted the impact of multidisciplinary follow-up in multiple myeloma patients to improve knowledge of toxicity self-management.
Computational analysis of the metal selectivity of matrix metalloproteinase 8
Authors: Long Zheng
Published: December 2020

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is a class of metalloenzyme that cleaves peptide bonds in extracellular matrices. Their functions are important in both health and disease of animals. Here using quantum mechanics simulations of the MMP8 protein, the coordination chemistry of different metal cofactors is examined. Structural comparisons reveal that Jhan-Teller effects induced by Cu(II) coordination distorts the wild-type MMP8 active site corresponding to a significant reduction in activity observed in previous experiments. In addition, further analysis suggests that a histidine to glutamine mutation at residue number 197 can potentially allow the MMP8 protein to utilize Cu(II) in reactions. Simulations also demonstrates the requirement of a conformational change in the ligand before enzymatic cleavage. The insights provided here will assist future protein engineering efforts utilizing the MMP8 protein.