bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular systematics reveals the origins of subsociality in tortoise beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae)
Authors: Leocádio Michele , Simões Marianna V. P. , Sekerka Lukas , Schrago Carlos G. , Mermudes José R. M. , Windsor Donald M.
Published: May 2020

Subsocial behaviour is known to occur in at least 19 insect orders and 17 families of Coleoptera. Within the leaf beetle family, Chrysomelidae, extended maternal care is reported in only 2 of 15 subfamilies: Cassidinae and Chrysomelinae. Although the emergence of subsociality in insects has received much attention, extensive analyses on the evolution of this behaviour based on phylogenetic approaches are missing. Subsociality is recorded in 33 species of tortoise beetles belonging to the tribes Mesomphaliini and Eugenysini. A molecular phylogenetic reconstruction of these tribes and the remaining five Neotropical tribes of cassidine tortoise beetles was used to investigate the evolution of maternal care and to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among Neotropical cassidine tribes. A phylogeny was constructed using 90 species and three loci from both mitochondrial and nuclear genes (COI, CAD and 28S). Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses based on a concatenated dataset recovered two independent origins, with no evidence of reversal to solitary behaviour. One origin comprises three Mesomphaliini genera tightly associated with Convolvulaceae, and the other consists of the genus Eugenysa Chevrolat (Eugenysini), a small clade embedded within a group feeding exclusively on Asteraceae. A previous hypothesis suggesting dual origins on different host plants was confirmed, whereas other hypotheses based on a phylogenetic reconstruction of Cassidinae could not be sustained. Our analysis also revealed that the tribe Mesomphaliini is a monophyletic taxon if Eugenysini is included, and for this reason, we re‐establish synonymy of both tribes. We also provide nine new records of subsociality for tortoise beetles species.
Donald Trump, legitimisation and a new political rhetoric
Authors: Ross Andrew S. , Rivers Damian J.
Published: May 2020

The rise to the US Presidency of Donald Trump has been accompanied by the emergence of a new political rhetoric, one that is most frequently observed on the social media platform Twitter. Although Twitter has been a feature of political campaigns and communication for several years now, the public has not been exposed to the de‐professionalised, informal use demonstrated by Trump. The rhetoric of Trump can be said in large part to be influenced by his personal history, and his persona as a celebrity TV star, especially through the informality, insults inclusive of nicknaming, and framing himself as a winner and opponents as losers. Although this new rhetorical style is present in all his discourse on Twitter, we focus this study on Trump's pursuit of legitimacy for his proposed border wall on the US–Mexico border, and do so from a Critical Discourse Analysis perspective by utilising Reyes’ (2011) framework for legitimisation in political discourse.
Adopting epidemiological approaches for herbicide resistance monitoring and management
Authors: Comont David , Neve Paul
Published: May 2020

The widespread use and increasing reliance on herbicides for weed control has resulted in a global epidemic of evolved herbicide resistance in weed populations. In response, there has been a great deal of research effort to document resistance cases, understand the genetic and physiological mechanisms of resistance and use models and model organisms to explore resistance management strategies. Here, we argue that the field of epidemiology, which systematically studies the extent, distribution and determinants of a harmful organism or condition, can greatly contribute to our efforts to understand the emergence, selection and spread of herbicide resistance. By systematically collecting data on weed abundance and distribution, the frequency and mechanisms of resistance, and agronomic and environmental metadata, it is possible to develop statistical models that identify the underlying relationships between these elements. In doing so, these approaches can provide novel insight into the relative importance, origin and spread of different resistance mechanisms, and the agronomic, ecological and evolutionary drivers that dictate the dynamics of resistance evolution at local to global scales. Emerging technologies in weed surveillance, genomics and resistance diagnostics, statistics and data science will greatly facilitate the collection and analysis of large‐scale data sets, providing unprecedented potential for epidemiological analyses of the evolution of herbicide resistance at landscape scales.
Regulatory aspects of xenotransplantation in Korea
Authors: Kwon Ivo , Park Chung‐Gyu , Lee SeungHwan
Published: May 2020

Background

The xenotransplant clinical trial with human subjects seems to be technically feasible, however, it needs the strict regulatory framework from the domestic as well as the international level to make sure the safety of the human subject and the general public.

Methods

The authors reviewed and introduced the current regulations regarding the xenotransplant clinical trial in Korea focusing on the recently stipulated act (Advanced Regenerative Medicine and Biopharmacology Act, ARMBA) and the role of the related government agencies and health institutions.

Results and Conclusion

Korea is ready to conduct the xenotransplant clinical trial with human subjects in the current regulatory framework satisfying the requirements of the international guidance. The responsible governmental agencies would collaborate in control the xenotransplant clinical trial under the ARMBA and other related acts and guidance.
An Approach to the Ethics of Archaeogaming
Authors: Graham Shawn
Published: May 2020

Virtual worlds are human worlds thus ethical places/spaces. Through an authethnography of play, I try to surface and contextualize some of what I see as the ethical issues that archaeogaming presents, which I frame as provocations for further discussion. What defines 'archaeogaming' is our identity as archaeologists, and so the ethics of archaeogaming must be the ethics of archaeology; ethics are not integral to a game but emerge at the intersection of play and design.
Effect of noise and reverberation on speech intelligibility for cochlear implant recipients in realistic sound environments
Authors: Badajoz-Davila Javier , Buchholz Jörg M. , Van-Hoesel Richard
Published: May 2020

Previous studies have suggested a strong effect of reverberation on speech intelligibility (SI) in cochlear implant (CI) recipients. In many of them, different reverberation conditions were obtained by altering the acoustic absorption of a single room, thereby omitting the effect of the room volume. In addition, studies that have investigated the combined effects of reverberation and noise on SI have overlooked the effect of reverberation on the modulation of the noise. In the present study, SI was measured unilaterally in 12 CI recipients in quiet and in noise using a three-dimensional loudspeaker array. Target speech was convolved with room impulse responses (RIRs) recorded at three talker-to-listener distances in five physical rooms with distinct reverberation times. Noise consisted of four two-talker dialogues convolved with RIRs measured at fixed positions around the listener. Results in quiet suggest that a significant drop in SI occurs mainly at long talker-to-listener distances, and small reverberant rooms affect SI the most. In noise, the most detrimental type of noise is anechoic as it is the most modulated. Overall, the results suggest that at fixed signal-to-noise ratios the effects of noise and reverberation are smallest at short distances in large rooms or in small rooms with some reverberation.
Persistence Dynamics of Antimicrobial-Resistant
Neisseria
in the Pharynx of Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Thapa Eliza , Knauss Hanna M. , Colvin Benjamin A. , Fischer Benjamin A. , Weyand Nathan J.
Published: May 2020

Pharyngeal infections by
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
are often asymptomatic, making them difficult to treat. However,
in vivo
animal modeling of human pharyngeal infections by pathogenic
Neisseria
species is challenging due to numerous host tropism barriers. We have relied on rhesus macaques to investigate pharyngeal persistence of naturally occurring
Neisseria
species in response to antibiotics. These species include
Neisseria mucosa
,
Neisseria oralis
, and a species unique to macaques.
Chlamydia
Lipooligosaccharide Has Varied Direct and Indirect Roles in Evading both Innate and Adaptive Host Immune Responses
Authors: Wang Xisheng , Rockey Daniel D. , Dolan Brian P.
Published: May 2020

Chlamydia
bacteria are obligate intracellular pathogens which can cause a variety of disease in humans and other vertebrate animals. To successfully complete its life cycle,
Chlamydia
must evade both intracellular innate immune responses and adaptive cytotoxic T cell responses. Here, we report on the role of the chlamydial lipooligosaccharide (LOS) in evading the immune response.
Chlamydia
infection is known to block the induction of apoptosis. However, when LOS synthesis was inhibited during
Chlamydia trachomatis
infection, HeLa cells regained susceptibility to apoptosis induction following staurosporine treatment.
Host Fatty Acid Utilization by Staphylococcus aureus at the Infection Site
Authors: Frank Matthew W. , Yao Jiangwei , Batte Justin L. , Gullett Jessica M. , Subramanian Chitra , Rosch Jason W. , Rock Charles O.
Published: May 2020

The shortage of antibiotics against drug-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
has led to the development of new drugs targeting the elongation cycle of fatty acid (FA) synthesis that are progressing toward the clinic. An objection to the use of FA synthesis inhibitors is that
S. aureus
can utilize exogenous FAs to construct its membrane, suggesting that the bacterium would bypass these therapeutics by utilizing host FAs instead. We developed a mass spectrometry workflow to determine the composition of the
S. aureus
membrane at the infection site to directly address how
S. aureus
uses host FAs.
S. aureus
strains that cannot acquire host FAs are as effective in establishing an infection as the wild type, but strains that require the utilization of host FAs for growth were attenuated in the mouse thigh infection model. We find that
S. aureus
does utilize host FAs to construct its membrane, but host FAs do not replace the requirement for pentadecanoic acid, a branched-chain FA derived from isoleucine (or leucine) that predominantly occupies the 2 position of
S. aureus
phospholipids. The membrane phospholipid structure of
S. aureus
mutants that cannot utilize host FAs indicates the isoleucine is a scarce resource at the infection site. This reliance on the
de novo
synthesis of predominantly pentadecanoic acid that cannot be obtained from the host is one reason why drugs that target fatty acid synthesis are effective in treating
S. aureus
infections.
Administration of Exogenous Melatonin Improves the Diurnal Rhythms of the Gut Microbiota in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Yin Jie , Li Yuying , Han Hui , Ma Jie , Liu Gang , Wu Xin , Huang Xingguo , Fang Rejun , Baba Kenkichi , Bin Peng , Zhu Guoqiang , Ren Wenkai , Tan Bie , Tosini Gianluca , He Xi , Li Tiejun , Yin Yulong
Published: May 2020

The gut microbiota is strongly shaped by a high-fat diet, and obese humans and animals are characterized by low gut microbial diversity and impaired gut microbiota compositions. Comprehensive data on mammalian gut metagenomes shows gut microbiota exhibit circadian rhythms, which is disturbed by a high-fat diet. On the other hand, melatonin is a natural and ubiquitous molecule showing multiple mechanisms of regulating the circadian clock and lipid metabolism, while the role of melatonin in the regulation of the diurnal patterns of gut microbial structure and function in obese animals is not yet known. This study delineates an intricate picture of melatonin-gut microbiota circadian rhythms and may provide insight for obesity intervention.
Emergence of
mcr-9.1
in Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Clinical
Enterobacteriaceae
in Pretoria, South Africa: Global Evolutionary Phylogenomics, Resistome, and Mobilome
Authors: Osei Sekyere John , Maningi Nontuthuko E. , Modipane Lesedi , Mbelle Nontombi Marylucy
Published: May 2020

Colistin is currently the last-resort antibiotic for difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. However, colistin resistance genes that can move from bacteria to bacteria have emerged, threatening the safe treatment of many bacterial infections. One of these genes,
mcr-9.1
, has emerged in South Africa in bacteria that are multidrug resistant, further limiting treatment options for clinicians. In this work, we show that this new gene is disseminating worldwide through
Enterobacter
and
Salmonella
species through multiple plasmids. This worrying observation requires urgent action to prevent further escalation of this gene in South Africa and Africa.
Combined RNAseq and ChIPseq Analyses of the BvgA Virulence Regulator of Bordetella pertussis
Authors: Coutte Loïc , Antoine Rudy , Slupek Stephanie , Solans Luis , Derop Julien , Bonnefond Amelie , Hot David , Locht Camille
Published: May 2020

Bordetella pertussis
, the etiological agent of whooping cough, remains a major global health problem. Despite the global usage of whole-cell vaccines since the 1950s and of acellular vaccines in the 1990s, it still is one of the most prevalent vaccine-preventable diseases in industrialized countries. Virulence of
B. pertussis
is controlled by BvgA/S, a two-component system responsible for upregulation of virulence-activated genes (
vag
s) and downregulation of virulence-repressed genes (
vrg
s). By transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq) analyses, we identified more than 270
vag
s or
vrg
s, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIPseq) analyses revealed 148 BvgA-binding sites, 91 within putative promoter regions, 52 within open reading frames, and 5 in noncoding regions. Some
vag
s, such as
dnt
and
fhaL
, do not contain a BvgA-binding site, suggesting indirect regulation. In contrast, several
vrg
s and some genes not identified by RNAseq analyses under laboratory conditions contain strong BvgA-binding sites, indicating previously unappreciated complexities of BvgA/S biology.
A sub-centennial-scale optically stimulated luminescence chronostratigraphy and late Holocene flood history from a temperate river confluence
Authors: Pears Ben , Brown Antony G. , Toms Phillip S. , Wood Jamie , Sanderson David , Jones Richard
Published: May 2020

River confluences can be metastable and contain valuable geological records of catchment response to decadal- to millennial-scale environmental change. However, in alluvial reaches, flood stratigraphies are particularly hard to date using 14C. In this paper, we use a novel combination of optically stimulated luminescence and multiproxy sedimentological analyses to provide a flood record for the confluence of the Rivers Severn and Teme (United Kingdom) over the past two millennia, which we compare with independent European climate records. The results show that by ca. 2000 yr B.P., the Severn-Teme confluence had stabilized and overbank alluviation had commenced. Initially, this occurred from moderately high flood magnitudes between ca. 2000 and 1800 yr B.P. (50 BCE–150 CE), but was followed from 1800 to 1600 yr B.P. (150–350 CE) by fine alluvial deposition and decreased flood intensity. From 1600 to 1400 yr B.P. (350–550 CE), the accumulation rate increased, with evidence of large flood events associated with the climatic deterioration of the Dark Age Cold Period. Following a period of reduced flood activity after ca. 1400 yr B.P. (ca. 550 CE), larger flood events and increase in accumulation rate once again became more prevalent from ca. 850 yr B.P. (ca. 1100 CE), coincident with the start of the Medieval Climate Anomaly, a period associated with warmer, wetter conditions and increased land-use intensity. This state persisted until ca. 450 yr B.P. (ca. 1500 CE), after which increased flood magnitudes can be associated with climatic variations during the Little Ice Age. We demonstrate that from the combination of high-resolution dating techniques and multiple analytical parameters, distinctive phases of relative flood magnitude versus flood duration can be determined to a detailed chronological precision beyond that possible from 14C dating. This permits the identification of the regional factors behind floodplain sedimentation, which we correlate with the intensification of land-use and climatic drivers over the last two millennia.
Supplemental Material: Interpreting and reporting 40Ar/39Ar geochronologic data
Authors: Schaen Allen J.
Published: May 2020

Two different examples of 40Ar/39Ar data sets archived via FAIR data principles.
Intraocular leucocyte subpopulations analysis by multiparametric flow cytometry in human uveitis
Authors: Carreño Ester , Serrano Cristina , Muñoz Nelida , Romero-Bueno Fredeswinda , Sánchez Pernaute Olga , Alejandre Nicolas
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study was to describe the cellular infiltrate in aqueous and vitreous samples of patients with uveitis analysed by multiparametric flow cytometry.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of aqueous and vitreous samples analysed by flow cytometry for diagnostic purposes, in cases of masquerade syndromes and infectious and non-infectious uveitis. Data collected included demographics, anatomical classification of uveitis, phenotypic diagnosis, anterior chamber cells grading, vitreous haze and time of follow-up since presentation to sample obtained.

Results

Thirty-one samples (17 aqueous and 14 vitreous fluids) from 31 patients, 18 men, were analysed. The mean age at the time of sample collection was 60.23±17.03 years. The most frequent anatomical classification was panuveitis (14 of 31). T cells accounted for the main cellular component in the majority of the samples (10 of 13 aqueous samples; 7 of 14 in vitreous samples). CD4:CD8 ratios ranged from 0.21 to 16.3 in the case of aqueous samples and from 0.5 to 9.7 in the case of vitreous samples.

Discussion

Flow cytometry analysis of aqueous and vitreous samples from patients with uveitis could provide insight into the pathogenesis of human uveitis and help develop accurate animal models which better mimic human disease.
Epidemiology of 2000 Chinese uveitis patients from Northeast China
Authors: Hao Tianyu , Yang LI , Li Bowen , Chen Xiangtong , Li Dongchen , Liu Xiaoli
Published: May 2020

Aims

To study the clinical characteristics of 2000 patients with uveitis admitted to the ophthalmology centre of the Second Hospital of Jilin University.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed 2000 patients with uveitis who were admitted to the uveitis clinic of the Second Hospital of Jilin University from July 2010 to June 2019 and analysed data on sex, onset age, onset season, anatomical classification, visual acuity and compared the results with those of other investigation studies.

Results

Among 2000 uveitis patients, the mean age of onset was 39.9±14.9 years. There were 946 male patients (47.3%) and 1054 female patients (52.7%). By anatomical classification, panuveitis was the most common (986 cases, 49.3%), followed by anterior uveitis (786 cases, 39.3%), posterior uveitis (119 cases, 6.0%) and intermediate uveitis (109 cases, 5.5%). Among anterior uveitis cases, ankylose spondylitis (207 cases, 26.34%), Fuchs syndrome (74 cases, 9.41%) and viral uveitis (71 cases, 9.03%) were the most common. Among panuveitis cases, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (372 cases, 37.73%), Behcet’s disease (142 cases, 14.40%) and sympathetic ophthalmitis (33 cases, 3.35%) were the most common. Uveitis often occurs during the autumn–winter transition period. The prevalence of anterior uveitis is highest in November, and statistical analysis shows that the incidence of uveitis has a significant correlation with the month. Panuveitis has the most significant effect on vision.

Conclusion

Panuveitis and anterior uveitis are the most common anatomical classifications of uveitis, which has a significant impact on vision, and their incidence is related to seasonal changes.
United States university-based officer training and its influence on physical assessment test performance
Authors: Tom Jessica C , Schilling B K , Poston B , Turner C L , Radzak K N
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Cadets participating in Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) at US universities undergo both Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) evaluations prior to commissioning. The current study examined the relationship between ROTC physical training (PT) attendance and performance in the APFT and OPAT, and characterised physical activity of cadets outside of PT.

Methods

Twenty-six cadets’ (21 males; age=20.81±2.48 years; height=171.16±8.62 cm; body mass=75.49±13.17 kg; body mass index=25.68±3.37 kg/m2) PT attendance, and diagnostic (week 1) and record (week 13) OPAT and APFT scores were documented. Paired samples t-tests evaluated differences in APFT and OPAT scores between the diagnostic and record tests. Pearson correlations were utilised to determine if a relationship existed between PT attendance and test performance. Participating cadets also completed monthly self-reported physical activity questionnaire (September, October, November); findings were reported using descriptive statistics.

Results

Cadets attended 87% of PT sessions between OPAT administrations and 85% between APFT administrations. Cadets significantly improved the following test components: standing long jump (p=0.034), seated power throw (p=0.029), shuttle run (p=0.005), sit-ups (p=0.003) and 2-mile run (p=0.045). A significant, positive correlation was found between PT attendance and APFT sit-ups improvements (r=0.473, p=0.015). Cadets’ frequently reported additional physical activity days per week (range: 2.8–3.1 aerobic, 3.2–3.8 strength/power, 2.9–3.2 core strength/endurance).

Conclusions

Regular participation in a single semester of ROTC PT was found to significantly increase cadets’ scores in some, but not all, components of the APFT and OPAT. Self-reported physical activity results indicate that cadets regularly train outside of organised PT.
Behavioural and pharmaceutical interventions for the prevention of skin cancers in solid organ transplant recipients: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Authors: James Laura J , Saglimbene Valeria , Wong Germaine , Tong Allison , Luu Laurence Don Wai , Craig Jonathan , Howard Kirsten , Howell Martin
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of skin cancer, affecting more than 50% of recipients. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of interventions for behavioural change for sun protection or skin cancer prevention in solid organ transplant recipients.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and CINAHL from inception to November 2019.

Eligibility criteria

We included randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effect of behavioural or pharmaceutical interventions on behavioural change or skin cancer prevention in solid organ transplant recipients.

Data extraction and synthesis

Risks of bias and evidence certainty were assessed using Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation framework.

Results

Twenty trials (n=2295 participants) were included. It is uncertain whether behavioural interventions improve sun protection behaviour (n=3, n=414, standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.89, 95% CI −0.84 to 2.62, I2=98%) and knowledge (n=4, n=489, SMD 0.50, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.87, I2=76%) as the quality of evidence is very low. We are uncertain of the effects of mammalian target of rapamaycin inhibitors on the incidence of non-melanocytic skin cancer (n=5, n=1080, relative risk 0.46, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.75, I2 =72%) as the quality of evidence is very low.

Conclusions

Behavioural and pharmaceutical preventive interventions may improve sun protective behaviour and knowledge, and reduce the incidence of non-melanocytic skin cancer, but the overall quality of the evidence is very low and insufficient to guide decision-making and clinical practice.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017063962.
Postpartum lifestyle interventions among women with pre-eclampsia: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Haugdahl Hege Selnes , Sandsæter Heidi Linn , Lysne Marianne , Bjerkeset Ottar , Uhrenfeldt Lisbeth , Horn Julie
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Compared to women with normotensive pregnancies, women with a history of pre-eclampsia have a roughly fourfold increased risk of developing chronic arterial hypertension and a twofold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity, weight loss, smoking cessation and healthy diet, are effective for CVD prevention in the general population. However, no scoping review or systematic review of postpartum lifestyle interventions among women with pre-eclampsia have, to our best knowledge, been performed. The objective of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the available research literature on postpartum lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk of CVD among women with pre-eclampsia.

Methods and analysis

The protocol is based on the framework outlined by Arksey and O’Malley. Databases to be searched include: PubMed, Embase CINAHL and the JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports. The search will be performed after the publication of this protocol (estimated to be 1 June 2020) and will be repeated 1 month prior to the submission for publication of the final review (estimated to be 1 January 2021). The review will consider studies that include women in the postpartum period (in particular, but not restricted to, the first 12 months after delivery), with a history of pre-eclampsia. Data will be extracted by two independent reviewers using a data extraction tool including specific details about the population, concept, context, study methods and key findings relevant to the review objective. Any disagreements between the reviewers will be resolved through discussion, or with a third reviewer. The extracted data will be presented in diagrammatic or tabular form that align with the objective of this scoping review. A narrative summary will accompany the tabulated and/or charted results and will describe how the results relate to the reviews objective and questions.

Ethics and dissemination

Since all data will be obtained from publicly available materials, the proposed scoping review does not require ethical approval. The results will be submitted for publication in an open-access peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences.
Innovative equipment to monitor and control salt usage when cooking at home: iMC SALT research protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Gonçalves Carla , Silva-Santos Tânia , Abreu Sandra , Padrão Patrícia , Graça Pedro , Oliveira Luis , Esteves Sílvia , Norton Pedro , Moreira Pedro , Pinho Olívia
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Excessive salt intake is a public health concern due to its deleterious impact on health. Most of the salt consumed come from those that are added when cooking. This study will improve knowledge on the effectiveness of interventions to reduce salt consumption among consumers.

Methods and analysis

In this randomised clinical trial, we will be evaluating the efficacy of an intervention—the Salt Control H, an innovative prototype equipment to monitor and control use of salt when cooking—among workers from a public university, with the aim of reducing their dietary salt intake. We will randomly select 260 workers who meet the eligibility criteria and who are enrolled to an occupational health appointment and randomise them into one of the two arms of the study (either control or intervention), with matched baseline characteristics (sex and hypertension). The intervention will last for 8 weeks, during which the participants will use the equipment at home to monitor and control their use of salt when cooking. The main outcome will be 24-hour urinary sodium excretion at baseline, at fourth and eighth weeks of intervention, and at 6 months after intervention.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for the study has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João. The results of the investigation will be published in peer-reviewed scientific papers and presented at international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT03974477

Equipment provisional patent number

Registered at INPI: 20191000033265.
Foot health and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Reinoso-Cobo Andres , Gijon-Nogueron Gabriel , Caliz-Caliz Rafael , Ferrer-Gonzalez Miguel Angel , Vallejo-Velazquez Maria Teresa , Miguel Morales-Asencio Jose , Ortega-Avila Ana Belen
Published: May 2020

Objective

The aim of this study is to identify foot health factors related to the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Setting

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 293 subjects were analysed, 229 of whom were in the RA group and 64 in the control group. In the RA group, 173 patients were female, and 50 in the control group.

Participants

Patients with foot pain and RA (according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism 2010 rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria) and with foot pain but no RA were recruited (Granada, Spain).

Intervention

Two researchers independently interviewed the patients to obtain data for the study.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Clinical data were obtained using the Short Form 12-Item questionnaire (quality of life) (primary outcome), Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS pain), the Manchester Foot Pain Disability Index (MFPDI) and the Foot Function Index (FFI). Anthropometric measurements were obtained using a foot measurement platform, the Foot Posture Index and the Manchester Scale of Hallux Valgus (secondary outcomes).

Results

Of the 293 subjects, 76.1% were female. Significant differences were observed between the RA and the control group (p<0.001) with regard to VAS pain (general, foot and hand), MFPDI and FFI. In terms of anthropometric measurements, significant differences were only recorded for midfoot and forefoot width (p=0.03). For the physical health component, multivariable linear regression with the parameters age, gender, VAS pain (general) and the presence of RA presented an R2value of 48.8%, while for the mental health component the corresponding value was 5.6%.

Conclusion

Morphological and structural characteristics of the foot are not necessarily associated with pain, disability and loss of function. The presence of RA, a higher score on VAS pain (general), female gender and older age are all associated with the physical component of the quality of life of patients with RA.
Determination of cerebrospinal fluid adenosine deaminase activity cut-off for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Toby Chun Hei , Chen Sammy Pak Lam , Mak Chloe Miu , Ching Chor Kwan , Luk Kristine Shik , Tsang Yat Ming , Leung Daniel Cheuk Wa
Published: May 2020

Aims

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a severe infection which may lead to serious complication and mortality. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential. There is a need for a simple and fast laboratory test to differentiate TBM from other causes.

Methods

Retrospective review was conducted for cerebrospinal fluid adenosine deaminase (CSF-ADA) activity which was measured at the Chemical Pathology Laboratory of Princess Margaret Hospital, the sole centre providing such service in Hong Kong, for 51 patients with suspected meningitis from nine local hospitals between June 2014 and July 2017. TBM diagnosis was defined by positive culture and/or nucleic acid amplification test result ofMycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex in CSF.

Results

CSF-ADA activity was significantly higher in the TBM group (8.6±2.1 IU/L, n=8) than that of the non-TBM group (2.8±5.9 IU/L, n=43). The optimal clinical cut-off of 5.1 U/L for TBM diagnosis in our laboratory yielded 100% sensitivity, 91% specificity, positive likelihood ratio of 10.8 and negative likelihood ratio of 0. In rare circumstance, false elevation may be seen in non-tuberculous cause, such as central nervous system lymphoma and fungal infection.

Conclusions

We recommend the use of CSF-ADA activity, which is a simple, fast and robust test for early differentiation of TBM from other causes, to facilitate timely initiation of antituberculous treatment and potentially improve patients’ outcome.
Trust, trustworthiness and sharing patient data for research
Authors: Sheehan Mark , Friesen Phoebe , Balmer Adrian , Cheeks Corina , Davidson Sara , Devereux James , Findlay Douglas , Keats-Rohan Katharine , Lawrence Rob , Shafiq Kamran
Published: May 2020

When it comes to using patient data from the National Health Service (NHS) for research, we are often told that it is a matter of trust: we need to trust, we need to build trust, we need to restore trust. Various policy papers and reports articulate and develop these ideas and make very important contributions to public dialogue on the trustworthiness of our research institutions. But these documents and policies are apparently constructed with little sustained reflection on the nature of trust and trustworthiness, and therefore are missing important features that matter for how we manage concerns related to trust. We suggest that what we mean by ‘trust’ and ‘trustworthiness’ matters and should affect the policies and guidance that govern data sharing in the NHS. We offer a number of initial, general reflections on the way in which some of these features might affect our approach to principles, policies and strategies that are related to sharing patient data for research. This paper is the outcome of a ‘public ethics’ coproduction activity which involved members of the public and two academic ethicists. Our task was to consider collectively the accounts of trust developed by philosophers as they applied in the context of the NHS and to coproduce an argumentative position relevant to this context.
Can China’s ‘standard of care’ for COVID-19 be replicated in Europe?
Authors: Raposo Vera Lucia
Published: May 2020

The Director-General of the WHO has suggested that China’s approach to the COVID-19 crisis could be the standard of care for global epidemics. However, as remarkable as the Chinese strategy might be, it cannot be replicated in other countries and certainly not in Europe. In Europe, there is a distribution of power between the European Union and its member states. In contrast, China’s political power is concentrated in the central government. This enables it to take immediate measures that affect the entire country, such as massive quarantines or closing borders. Moreover, the Chinese legal framework includes restrictions on privacy and other human rights that are unknown in Europe. In addition, China has the technological power to easily impose such restrictions. In most European countries, that would be science fiction. These conditions have enabled China to combat epidemics like no other country can. However, the WHO might have been overoptimistic. The Chinese standard of care for treating COVID-19 also raises problematic issues for human rights, and the real consequences of these actions remain to be seen.
Seropositivity rate and sociodemographic factors associated to HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis among parturients from Irene Neto Maternity of Lubango city, Angola
Authors: Oliveira Dinamene , Martins Maria do Rosário , Castro Rita , Cordeiro Lemuel , Barroso Maria Rosalina , Nazaré Maria Antónia , Pereira Filomena
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To characterise infections by HIV,Treponema pallidum,hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) in parturients admitted to Irene Neto Maternity, Lubango city, Huíla province, Angola, namely its seropositivity rate and its association with sociodemographic factors.

Methods

An observational, cross-sectional and analytical facility-based survey was conducted among 500 parturients at Irene Neto Maternity, from October 2016 to September 2017. Women in labour were screened for antibodies against HIV-1/2,T. pallidumand HCV. Antigen detection was used to diagnose HBV infections. Sociodemographic data were also collected. The seropositivity rate and respective CIs were estimated at a level of 95%. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to explore the association between the studied infections and sociodemographic factors.

Results

In 11.8% of the parturients (95% CI 9.3 to 14.9), at least one infection was detected. HBV infection was the most common (8.6%), followed by HIV infection (3.0%) and syphilis (1.0%). Coinfection with HBV and HIV was observed in two parturients (0.4%) and HBV, HIV andT. pallidumwere all detected in one parturient (0.2%). No HCV infection was detected. For each additional year of formal education, pregnant women had a 10.0% lower chance of being infected with HBV (adjusted OR=0.900, 95% CI 0.816 to 0.992).

Conclusions

This study is one of the few reports contributing for the knowledge of some sexually transmitted infections epidemiology in Angola. The seropositivity rate of the studied infections is of concern, especially the high endemicity of HBV. There is a need for a stronger commitment and further research to design cost-effective public health and clinical interventions to improve the situation.
Erratum to: Flavor violating leptonic decays of $$\tau $$ and $$\mu $$ leptons in the Standard Model with massive neutrinos
Authors: Hernández-Tomé G. , López Castro G. , Roig P.
Published: May 2020

In the first paragraph of section 4, the sentence “Without loss of generality, we assume the CP-conserving scenario” is incorrect.
On variations of G in the geometric scalar theory of gravity
Authors: Bronnikov K. A.
Published: May 2020

We analyze the possible variability of the effective Newtonian gravitational constant $$G_{\mathrm{N}}$$GN in space and time in the framework of the geometric scalar theory of gravity suggested by Novello et al. (JCAP 06:014, 2013). Spatial variations of $$G_{\mathrm{N}}$$GN in the Solar system are shown to have orders of magnitude detectable by modern instruments. As to variations of $$G_{\mathrm{N}}$$GN with cosmological time, it is shown (at least for the particular formulation of the theory discussed in the original paper and the corresponding cosmological models) that these variations are more rapid than is allowed by observations.
Accretion onto some singularity-free black holes
Authors: Iftikhar Sehrish
Published: May 2020

This paper deals with the accretion onto some spherically symmetric singularity-free black holes with barotropic equation of state. We consider the black hole with Gauss hypergeometric function, regular phantom and charged noncommutative black hole. We formulate the general formalism for the spherically symmetric accretion and then found the dynamical quantities, fluid four-velocity, energy density and rate of accretion for the specific black holes. The critical accretion is discussed by finding critical radius, critical velocity and critical sound velocity. It is found that the black hole mass decreases with the accretion of phantom-like fluid.
MODULATED INFORMATION FLOWS IN FINANCIAL MARKETS
Authors: HOYLE EDWARD , MACRINA ANDREA , MENGÜTÜRK LEVENT ALI
Published: May 2020

We model continuous-time information flows generated by a number of information sources that switch on and off at random times. By modulating a multi-dimensional Lévy random bridge over a random point field, our framework relates the discovery of relevant new information sources to jumps in conditional expectation martingales. In the canonical Brownian random bridge case, we show that the underlying measure-valued process follows jump-diffusion dynamics, where the jumps are governed by information switches. The dynamic representation gives rise to a set of stochastically-linked Brownian motions on random time intervals that capture evolving information states, as well as to a state-dependent stochastic volatility evolution with jumps. The nature of information flows usually exhibits complex behavior, however, we maintain analytic tractability by introducing what we term the effective and complementary information processes, which dynamically incorporate active and inactive information, respectively. As an application, we price a financial vanilla option, which we prove is expressed by a weighted sum of option values based on the possible state configurations at expiry. This result may be viewed as an information-based analogue of Merton’s option price, but where jump-diffusion arises endogenously. The proposed information flows also lend themselves to the quantification of asymmetric informational advantage among competitive agents, a feature we analyze by notions of information geometry.
Primitive element pairs with a prescribed trace in the quartic extension of a finite field
Authors: Cohen Stephen D. , Gupta Anju
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we give a largely self-contained proof that the quartic extension [Formula: see text] of the finite field [Formula: see text] contains a primitive element [Formula: see text] such that the element [Formula: see text] is also a primitive element of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for any prescribed [Formula: see text].

The corresponding result has already been established for finite field extensions of degrees exceeding 4 in [Primitive element pairs with one prescribed trace over a finite field, Finite Fields Appl. 54 (2018) 1–14.].
Hydrothermal Synthesis of a Novel Mesoporous Silica Fluorescence Carbon Dots and Application in Cr(VI) and Folic Acid Detection
Authors: Tu Yujiao , Chen Xuemei , Xiang Yingying , Yuan Xiaotian , Qin Kunhao , Wei Yunlin , Xu Zhiwei , Zhang Qi , Ji Xiuling
Published: May 2020

Highly blue fluorescence carbon dots (CDs-MCM) were successfully prepared via a simple hydrothermal method with citric acid and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid doped mesoporous silica MCM-41. The CDs-MCM exhibited uniform particle size and possessed good excitation-dependent characteristic. It showed highly selectivity and sensitivity in detection of Cr(VI), folic acid and good linear ranges of 0–37.5[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M ([Formula: see text]) and 0–50[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M ([Formula: see text]). The low detection limits were 79.31[Formula: see text]nM and 118.73[Formula: see text]nM for Cr(VI) and folic acid, respectively. It revealed that inner filter effect dominated in Cr(VI) quenching of the CDs-MCM fluorescent, while that of folic acid belonged to static quenching. The CDs-MCM were successfully used to detect the Cr(Vl) and folic acid in water and vegetable samples with satisfactory results. It provided new insight into environmental Cr(VI) and folic acid detection.
Gaussian third-order Jacobsthal and Gaussian third-order Jacobsthal–Lucas polynomials and their properties
Authors: Cerda-Morales Gamaliel
Published: May 2020

In this paper, the Gaussian third-order Jacobsthal and Gaussian third-order Jacobsthal–Lucas polynomials are defined. Then Binet formula and generating functions of these numbers are given. Also, some summation identities for Gaussian third-order Jacobsthal and Gaussian third-order Jacobsthal–Lucas polynomials are obtained by using the recurrence relation satisfied by them. Then, some linear and quadratic relations are given between Gaussian third-order Jacobsthal and Gaussian third-order Jacobsthal–Lucas polynomials.
A variety of uncertainty principles for the Dunkl transform on ℝd
Authors: Soltani Fethi
Published: May 2020

In this work, we prove Clarkson-type and Nash-type inequalities in the Dunkl setting on [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]-functions. By combining these inequalities, we show Heisenberg-type inequalities for the Dunkl transform on [Formula: see text], and we deduce local-type uncertainty inequalities for the Dunkl transform on [Formula: see text].
TiO2 composite films on different substrates with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance
Authors: Han Ke , Li Guobao , Li Fang , Yao Mingming
Published: May 2020

For the sake of improving the photocatalytic performance of TiO2, we prepared the B/Ag/Fe tridoped TiO2 films on common glass and stone substrates by the sol–gel method. In this work, the optical absorption, recombination of photogenerated electrons (e−) and holes (h[Formula: see text]), crystal types, thermal stability, composition, specific surface area and photocatalytic activity of the modified TiO2 films were investigated. The results indicated that B/Ag/Fe tridoping not only enhanced the absorption of visible light by TiO2, but inhibited the recombination of electron–hole (e−/h[Formula: see text]) pairs. The tridoping also promoted the formation of anatase and prevented the transformation of anatase to rutile at high temperature. The composite TiO2 has a large specific surface area, about three times that of pure TiO2. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 films were evaluated by methyl green (MG) and formaldehyde degradation. In all samples, the B/Ag/Fe tridoped TiO2 film exhibited the highest degradation rate of MG under both ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. The improvement of photocatalytic performance of TiO2 films is due to the synergistic effect of the B/Ag/Fe tridoping, which enhances the absorption of visible light and prolongs the lifetime of e−/h[Formula: see text] pairs and facilitates transfer of interface charge.
GITT Analysis of Lithium Insertion Cathodes for Determining the Lithium Diffusion Coefficient at Low Temperature: Challenges and Pitfalls
Authors: Nickol A. , Schied T. , Heubner C. , Schneider M. , Michaelis A. , Bobeth M. , Cuniberti G.
Published: May 2020

Understanding the diffusion of lithium ions in electrode materials for lithium ion batteries is of great importance for their knowledge-based optimization and development of novel materials and cell designs. The galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) is widely applied in battery research to study the diffusion of lithium in anode and cathode materials depending on the degree of lithiation. While transport properties of electrode materials at high and ambient temperatures are largely available, low temperature diffusion and rate coefficients are hardly reported in the literature and vary by orders of magnitude for identical active materials. Herein, we demonstrate and discuss several challenges and pitfalls in the application and evaluation of GITT measurements for determining the effective chemical lithium ion diffusion coefficient in lithium insertion electrodes, which become especially important at low temperature. This includes theoretical considerations and an experimental analysis of the promising cathode material LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523) in the wide temperature range of −40 °C to 40 °C. We show how the choice of experimental conditions for the GITT measurements and of the subsequent mathematical evaluation significantly influence the derived diffusion coefficient. The results suggest that the large scattering of reported values of the diffusion coefficient could be caused by the use of different evaluation procedures. Simple calculation methods appear to be less suited the lower the temperature is. It is shown that the complementary use of GITT and EIS supplemented by detailed knowledge of the microstructure of the electrode significantly improves the accuracy of determining the diffusion coefficient.