bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatially explicit models for exploring COVID‐19 lockdown strategies
Authors: O'Sullivan David , Gahegan Mark , Exeter Daniel J. , Adams Benjamin
Published: May 2020

This article describes two spatially explicit models created to allow experimentation with different societal responses to the COVID‐19 pandemic. We outline the work to date on modeling spatially explicit infective diseases and show that there are gaps that remain important to fill. We demonstrate how geographical regions, rather than a single, national approach, are likely to lead to better outcomes for the population. We provide a full account of how our models function, and how they can be used to explore many different aspects of contagion, including: experimenting with different lockdown measures, with connectivity between places, with the tracing of disease clusters, and the use of improved contact tracing and isolation. We provide comprehensive results showing the use of these models in given scenarios, and conclude that explicitly regionalized models for mitigation provide significant advantages over a “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach. We have made our models, and their data, publicly available for others to use in their own locales, with the hope of providing the tools needed for geographers to have a voice during this difficult time.
Antimicrobial resistance and recurrent bacterial urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients following kidney transplantation: A single‐center experience
Authors: Greissman Samantha , Mattiazzi Adela , Mendoza Maria , Natori Yoichiro , Grady Mackenzie , Quinonez Jose , Zukerman Ryan , Camargo Jose F. , Morris Michele I. , Simkins Jacques , Guerra Giselle , Abbo Lilian M.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The burden of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and risk factors for developing infections with multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) post‐kidney transplantation (KT) are poorly understood.

Methods

Single‐center retrospective cohort study (January 2015‐December 2017) evaluating first and recurrent episodes of bacteriuria and subsequent analysis of episodes caused by MDROs up to 6 months post‐KT. Donor and recipient variables were reviewed.

Results

A total of 743 adults underwent single KT during the study period, and 106 patients were hospitalized with bacteriuria. 45% were asymptomatic in their first episode. 73.6% had a single episode, and 26.4% had 2 or more episodes. A total of 28 patients had recurrent episodes; 64.3% had an MDRO on the first episode and 78.6% on the second episode. Escherichia coli was the most common organism isolated, 88.5% were resistant to trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (TMP‐SMX), 9.3% were extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase (ESBL) producers, and 38.1% were MDROs. Body mass index ≥30 was significantly associated with the presence of MDROs in both univariate and multivariate analyses (RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.01‐1.88; OR 3.26, CI 1.29‐8.25). A total of 12 donors had bacteremia or bacteriuria and 6 (50%) with E coli. A total of 10 KT recipients received antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent donor‐derived infections.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a significant proportion of patients develop recurrent bacteriuria post‐transplantation; of those, more than half caused by MDROs. There is a possible association between obesity and MDROs in KT recipients that merits further investigation. With the global crisis in antimicrobial resistance, innovative strategies are needed to prevent and treat UTIs in KT patients.
Ocular manifestations of pregnancy and labour: from the innocuous to the sight threatening
Authors: Patil Ajay D , Ellabban Abdallah A , Patil Dilip B , Yorston David , Williamson Thomas H , Laidlaw David A , Vize Colin J , Hingorani Melanie , Morris Edward P
Published: May 2020

Key content

Pregnancy may precipitate several physiological changes that can have ocular consequences; many of these are innocuous and require little more than reassurance for the patient.

There are uncommon instances of new sight‐threatening pathology that necessitate a prompt approach.

Pregnant women presenting to the ophthalmologist with ocular symptoms can cause concern because alternative differentials may need to be considered; and the potential teratogenic or fetotoxic effects of investigations or treatment mean that management decisions may, in some cases, differ to those of the nonpregnant patient.

Learning objectives

To be aware of both physiological and pathological ocular changes that may occur during pregnancy.

To develop a greater understanding of investigations and management of ophthalmic and neuro‐ophthalmic disorders in pregnancy.

To develop an understanding of referral pathways, enabling an optimal outcome for both mother and baby.
A scoping review of world Englishes in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Hillman Sara , Selvi Ali Fuad , Yazan Bedrettin
Published: May 2020

This study presents the first scoping review (Arksey & O'Malley, 2005; Levac, Colquhoun, & O'Brien, 2010) of world Englishes (WE) research in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – providing a knowledge synthesis of studies related to the sociolinguistic dynamics and realities of English(es) in one of the most underexplored WE contexts. Although the burgeoning research on English in the region focuses on macro sociolinguistic issues, language policy and planning, and language teaching and learning, there is a pressing need for a systematic investigation of scholarship with an exclusive WE perspective (Mahboob, 2013). On this premise, we map the body of WE literature pertinent to this region during the last two decades (2000–2019). We provide an overview of the state of the research activity, helping to identify the knowledge gaps and determine a fruitful research agenda for scholars interested in the diverse issues of WE in the MENA region.
Elbow proprioception is normal in patients with a congenital absence of functional muscle spindles
Authors: Smith Lyndon , Norcliffe‐Kaufmann Lucy , Palma Jose‐Alberto , Kaufmann Horacio , Macefield Vaughan G.
Published: May 2020

Key points

Individuals with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type III (HSAN III), also known as Riley–Day syndrome or familial dysautonomia, do not have functional muscle spindle afferents but do have essentially normal cutaneous mechanoreceptors.

Lack of muscle spindle feedback from the legs may account for the poor proprioception at the knee and the ataxic gait typical of HSAN III.

Given that functional muscle spindle afferents are also absent in the upper limb, we assessed whether proprioception at the elbow was likewise compromised.

Passive joint angle matching showed that proprioception was normal at the elbow, suggesting that individuals with HSAN III rely more on cutaneous afferents around the elbow.

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type III (HSAN III) is a rare neurological condition that features a marked ataxic gait that progressively worsens over time. We have shown that functional muscle spindle afferents are absent in the upper and lower limbs in HSAN III, and we have argued that this may account for the ataxia. We recently used passive joint angle matching to demonstrate that proprioception of the knee joint is very poor in HSAN III but can be improved towards normal by application of elastic kinesiology tape across the knee joints, which we attribute to the presence of intact cutaneous mechanoreceptors. Here we assessed whether proprioception was equally compromised at the elbow joint, and whether it could be improved through taping. Proprioception at the elbow joint was assessed using passive joint angle matching in 12 HSAN III patients and 12 age‐matched controls. There was no difference in absolute error, gradient or correlation coefficient of the relationship between joint angles of the reference and indicator arms. Unlike at the knee, taping did not improve elbow proprioception in either group. Clearly, the lack of muscle spindles compromised proprioception at the knee but not at the elbow, and we suggest that the HSAN III patients rely more on proprioceptive signals from the skin around the elbow.
Local Constitutive Behavior of Undermatched Welded Joints in Pipeline Steel Using Digital Image Correlation Technology
Authors: Wu X. , Shuai J. , Xu K. , Lv Z.
Published: May 2020

Although the identification of local constitutive behaviors is possible based on digital image correlation (DIC), few studies have been reported that characterize the properties of the girth-welded joints of pipeline steel. The DIC technique was used to measure the strain fields of undermatched girth-welded joints of X80 pipeline steel under uniaxial tension in this paper. First, microstructure optical observations and micrometer hardness measurements were used to test the size and hardness of the subregions in the specimens. Second, the local strain data in different regions of the girth-welded joint were obtained via DIC technology, and the stress data were obtained via uniaxial tensile tests. Then, the stress–strain relationships of the weld metal (WM), base metal (BM), and subregions of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the girth-welded joints of pipeline steel were obtained. Finally, the constitutive parameters of the Ramberg–Osgood model in the different regions were determined by curve fitting of the strain and stress data. The local yield strength, elastic modulus, and hardening exponent of the welded joints were obtained. The yield stresses of the different subregions of the welded steel joint followed the sequence BM > WM > HAZ, which was consistent with the results of the hardness measurements. The hardening exponents of the different subregions of the welded steel joint followed the sequence HAZ > WM> BM.
Nonsmooth Dynamics of a Gear–Wheelset System of Railway Vehicles Under Traction/Braking Conditions
Authors: Wang Jinhai , Yang Jianwei , Zhao Yue , Bai Yongliang , He Yuping
Published: May 2020

Gear–wheelset system is a crucial substructure in railway vehicles which affects the operation safety and system reliability, especially in the process of traction and braking conditions. Unlike the general gear transmission system, the gear–wheelset system of railway vehicles operates under an environment with several nonsmooth factors; therefore, it is necessary to analyze the nonsmooth dynamics of the gear–wheelset system for understanding dynamic characteristics better. Herein, a planar dynamic model of the gear–wheelset system of railway vehicles considering motor-driving torque, braking torque, wheel–rail nonlinear interaction forces, nonlinear meshing damping, and piecewise continuous time-varying meshing stiffness is proposed. Then, the proposed model is validated by a simpack model using wheelset's longitudinal velocity. Subsequently, two numerical simulations were performed to reveal the nonsmooth dynamic characteristics under traction and braking conditions. The simulation results indicate that the dynamic stationary point exists in nonsmooth dynamics under traction and braking conditions, which is a critical boundary for transiting any state to a dynamic equilibrium. Besides, the results exhibit the inseparable relationship between time-frequency dynamic characteristics, slip velocity, and wheel–rail nonlinear interaction forces. The effects of harmonic torque under traction conditions and compound braking behavior under braking conditions significantly affect these dynamic characteristics. Additionally, sufficient driving torque can increase the proportion of forward contact and improve the smoothness of the rotation, and the intermittent gear contact phenomenon occurs alternately and frequently in the traction condition. Conversely, only reverse contact occurs in the braking condition.
Interfacial Behavior of Flux Residues and Its Impact on Copper/Underfill Adhesion in Microelectronic Packaging
Authors: Andre John S. , Ulrich Nathan , Ji Karen , Chen Zhan
Published: May 2020

In the micro-electronics industry, flux treatment on copper is an important procedure to ensure maximum adhesion to copper. In this research, sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy has been applied to investigate molecular behavior of flux molecules at buried copper and underfill (UF) interfaces in situ. SFG is a second-order nonlinear optical spectroscopic technique, which can provide molecular structural information of surfaces and interfaces with a submonolayer interface specificity. Two model fluxes, adipic acid and phenylacetic acid, and a commercial no-clean flux were examined. Without washing or heating the surface of flux-treated copper, the buried interfaces between copper (treated with flux) and UF are dominated by ordered epoxy in UF. Washing or heating the surface of flux-treated copper leads to disordered copper/UF interfaces, greatly increasing the adhesion. The buried interfacial structures obtained from SFG results are well correlated to the adhesion strengths measured using the lap shear testing method. This research demonstrates the importance of the washing or heating steps of substrate surfaces to increase the interfacial adhesion.
Fatigue Properties and Microstructure of SnAgCu Bi-Based Solder Joint
Authors: Jian Minghong , Su Sinan , Hamasha Sa'd , Hamasha Mohammad M. , Alkhazali Atif
Published: May 2020

The reliability of solder joints plays a critical role in electronic assemblies. SnAgCu solder alloys with doped elements such as Bi and Sb is one of the candidates for high reliability applications. However, the mechanical and fatigue properties of the actual solder joint structure have not been studied for these new alloys. In this paper, a cyclic fatigue test was conducted on individual real solder joints of different alloys, including SnAgCu, SnCu–Bi, SnAgCu–Bi, and SnAgCu–BiSb. The fatigue property of those solder joints was analyzed based on the characteristic fatigue life and stress–strain, hysteresis, loops. The results show that solder joints with both Ag and Bi content have a better fatigue resistance than the solder joints with Ag or Bi content only. The results of SnAgCu and SnCu–Bi solder alloys show similar fatigue performance. Also, the fatigue performance of SnAgCu–Bi is close to SnAgCu–BiSb in the accelerated test. But the SnAgCu–Bi alloy is estimated to have a longer characteristic life under low-stress amplitude cycling. The microstructure analysis shows a bismuth-rich phase formed around the Ag3Sn precipitates. Adding bismuth in the solder alloy can significantly improve the fatigue properties through solid solution hardenings. On another hand, the plastic strain range and work dissipation were measured from the hysteresis loops for all tests. The Morrow Energy and the Coffin–Manson models were developed from the fitted data to predict the fatigue life as a function of work dissipation and plastic strain range.
Boron liquid metal alloy ion sources for special focused ion beam applications
Authors: Bischoff Lothar , Klingner Nico , Mazarov Paul , Pilz Wolfgang , Meyer Fabian
Published: May 2020

Focused ion beam (FIB) processing has been established as a well-suited and promising technique in R&D in nearly all fields of nanotechnology for patterning and prototyping on the micro- and nanometer scale and below. Among other concepts, liquid metal alloy ion sources (LMAISs) are one of the alternatives to conventional gallium beams to extend the FIB application field. To meet the rising demand for light ions, different boron containing alloys were investigated in this work. A promising solution was found in a Co31Nd64B5 based LMAIS which will be introduced in more detail. Besides cobalt as a ferromagnetic element and the rare earth element neodymium, boron, in particular, is of interest for special FIB applications like local p-type doping for which resolution of about 30 nm has been achieved so far.
Pinna-related transfer functions and lossless wave equation using finite-difference methods: Validation with measurements
Authors: Prepelit,ă Sebastian T. , Gómez Bolaños Javier , Geronazzo Michele , Mehra Ravish , Savioja Lauri
Published: May 2020

Nowadays, wave-based simulations of head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) lack strong justifications to replace HRTF measurements. The main cause is the complex interactions between uncertainties and biases in both simulated and measured HRTFs. This paper deals with the validation of pinna-related high-frequency information in the ipsilateral directions-of-arrival, computed by lossless wave-based simulations with finite-difference models. A simpler yet related problem is given by the pinna-related transfer function (PRTF), which encodes the acoustical effects of only the external ear. Results stress that PRTF measurements are generally highly repeatable but not necessarily easily reproducible, leading to critical issues in terms of reliability for any ground truth condition. On the other hand, PRTF simulations exhibit an increasing uncertainty with frequency and grid-dependent frequency changes, which are here quantified analyzing the benefits in the use of a unique asymptotic solution. In this validation study, the employed finite-difference model accurately and reliably predict the PRTF magnitude mostly within ±1 dB up to ≈8 kHz and a space- and frequency-averaged spectral distortion within about 2 dB up to ≈ 18 kHz.
Normative Data for Sweat Rate and Whole-Body Sodium Concentration in Athletes Indigenous to Tropical Climate
Authors: Rivera-Brown Anita M. , Quiñones-González José R.
Published: May 2020

This study determined normative data for sweat rate (SR) and whole-body (WB) sweat sodium concentration [Na+] in athletes indigenous to a tropical climate, categorized by age, gender, and sport classification. We analyzed data from 556 athletes (386 adult and 170 young) in endurance (END), team/ball (TBA), and combat (COM) sports exercising in tropical environments (wet bulb globe temperature = 29.4 ± 2.1 °C). SR was calculated from change in body weight corrected for urine output and fluid/food intake. Sweat was collected using absorbent patches, and regional [Na+] was determined using an ion selective analyzer and normalized to WB sweat [Na+]. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. SR was higher in males compared with females in both young (24.2 ± 7.7 ml·kg−1·hr−1 vs. 16.7 ± 5.7 ml·kg−1·hr−1) and adult (22.8 ± 7.4 ml·kg−1·hr−1 vs. 18.6 ± 7.0 ml·kg−1·hr−1) athletes, in END sports in girls (END = 19.1 ± 6.0 ml·kg−1·hr−1; TBA = 14.6 ± 4.5 ml·kg−1·hr−1), and in adult males (END = 25.2 ± 6.3 ml·kg−1·hr−1; TBA = 19.1 ± 7.2 ml·kg−1·hr−1; COM = 18.4 ± 8.5 ml·kg−1·hr−1) and females (END = 23.5 ± 5.6 ml·kg−1·hr−1; TBA = 14.2 ± 5.2 ml·kg−1·hr−1; COM = 15.3 ± 5.2 ml·kg−1·hr−1); p < .05. WB sweat [Na+] was higher in adult athletes than in young athletes (43 ± 10 mmol/L vs. 40 ± 9 mmol/L, p < .05). These norms provide a reference range for low, low average, average high, and high SR and WB sweat [Na+], which serve as a guide for fluid replacement for athletes who live and train in the tropics.
IGF-1 receptor activity in the Golgi of migratory cancer cells depends on adhesion-dependent phosphorylation of Tyr
1250
and Tyr
1251
Authors: Rieger Leonie , O’Shea Sandra , Godsmark Grant , Stanicka Joanna , Kelly Geraldine , O’Connor Rosemary
Published: May 2020

Translocation of the IGF-1 receptor to the Golgi promotes cancer cell migration.
Taenia solium Cysticercosis and Its Impact in Neurological Disease
Authors: Garcia Hector H. , Gonzalez Armando E. , Gilman Robert H.
Published: May 2020

Taenia solium
neurocysticercosis (NCC) is endemic in most of the world and contributes significantly to the burden of epilepsy and other neurological morbidity. Also present in developed countries because of immigration and travel, NCC is one of few diseases targeted for eradication. This paper reviews all aspects of its life cycle (taeniasis, porcine cysticercosis, human cysticercosis), with a focus on recent advances in its diagnosis, management, and control. Diagnosis of taeniasis is limited by poor availability of immunological or molecular assays.
Persistent Asymptomatic Human Infections by Salmonella enterica Serovar Newport in China
Authors: Paudyal Narayan , Pan Hang , Wu Beibei , Zhou Xiao , Zhou Xin , Chai Wenqing , Wu Qingqing , Li Shuning , Li Fang , Gu Guimin , Wang Haoqiu , Hu Qinghua , Xu Xuebin , Li Yan , Yue Min
Published: May 2020

Human infections caused by
Salmonella
Newport generally lead to gastrointestinal diseases. These infections are normally self-limiting; however, in certain cases, broad-spectrum antimicrobials are prescribed for the treatment. The Chinese National Foodborne Disease Surveillance Network has reported a gradual increase in the incidence of multidrug-resistant
S
. Newport infections in humans. After careful evaluation of the dynamic relationship among the clinical findings, the age group, and the genomic sequence data, it was found that young patients represented the major group with persistent diarrhea, whereas adults were either asymptomatic or diarrheic. Furthermore, all these strains contained multiple acquired antimicrobial resistance determinants, which limited the use of antimicrobials for human patients of all age groups. This analysis of the laboratory-confirmed cases, coupled with genetic analysis of the corresponding pathogen, revealed that antimicrobial treatment of persistent infections by
S
. Newport in infants and toddlers, and in asymptomatic or diarrheic adults, may not be successful. If the antimicrobials must be prescribed at all, they must be used with caution because of the presence of multiple acquired antimicrobial resistance determinants in such strains.
Comparative Analysis of AbaR-Type Genomic Islands Reveals Distinct Patterns of Genetic Features in Elements with Different Backbones
Authors: Bi Dexi , Zheng Jiayi , Xie Ruting , Zhu Yin , Wei Rong , Ou Hong-Yu , Wei Qing , Qin Huanlong
Published: May 2020

AbaR-type genomic islands (AbaRs) are well-known elements that can cause antimicrobial resistance in
Acinetobacter baumannii
. These elements contain diverse and complex genetic configurations involving different but related backbones with acquisition of diverse mobile genetic elements and antimicrobial resistance genes. Understanding their structural diversity is far from complete. In this study, we performed a large-scale comparative analysis of AbaRs, including nonresistance but closely related islands. Our findings offered a comprehensive and interesting view of their genetic features, which allowed us to correlate the structural modulation signatures, antimicrobial resistance patterns, insertion loci, as well as host clonal distribution of these elements to backbone types. This study provides insights into the evolution of these elements, explains the association between their antimicrobial resistance gene profiles and clonal distribution, and could facilitate establishment of a more proper nomenclature than the term “AbaR” that has been variously used.
Novelty in the gut: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19
Authors: Suresh Kumar Vishnu Charan , Mukherjee Samiran , Harne Prateek Suresh , Subedi Abinash , Ganapathy Muthu Kuzhali , Patthipati Venkata Suresh , Sapkota Bishnu
Published: May 2020

Background

The COVID-19 epidemic has affected over 2.6 million people across 210 countries. Recent studies have shown that patients with COVID-19 experience relevant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the GI symptoms of COVID-19.

Methods

A literature search was conducted via electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar, from inception until 20 March 2020. Data were extracted from relevant studies. A systematic review of GI symptoms and a meta-analysis comparing symptoms in severe and non-severe patients was performed using RevMan V.5.3.

Results

Pooled data from 2477 patients with a reverse transcription-PCR-positive COVID-19 infection across 17 studies were analysed. Our study revealed that diarrhoea (7.8%) followed by nausea and/or vomiting (5.5 %) were the most common GI symptoms. We performed a meta-analysis comparing the odds of having GI symptoms in severe versus non-severe COVID-19-positive patients. 4 studies for nausea and/or vomiting, 5 studies for diarrhoea and 3 studies for abdominal pain were used for the analyses. There was no significant difference in the incidence of diarrhoea (OR=1.32, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.18, Z=1.07, p=0.28, I
2
=17%) or nausea and/or vomiting (OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.42 to 2.19, Z=0.10, p=0.92, I
2
=55%) between either group. However, there was seven times higher odds of having abdominal pain in patients with severe illness when compared with non-severe patients (OR=7.17, 95% CI 1.95 to 26.34, Z=2.97, p=0.003, I
2
=0%).

Conclusion

Our study has reiterated that GI symptoms are an important clinical feature of COVID-19. Patients with severe disease are more likely to have abdominal pain as compared with patients with non-severe disease.
Community health workers in palliative care provision in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review of the literature
Authors: MacRae MacKenzie Clark , Fazal Owais , O'Donovan James
Published: May 2020

Background

Community health workers (CHWs) are currently deployed in improving access to palliative care in a limited number of low-income or middle-income countries (LMICs). This review therefore aimed to document evidence from LMICs regarding (1) where and how CHWs are currently deployed in palliative care delivery, (2) the methods used to train and support CHWs in this domain, (3) the evidence surrounding the costs attached with deploying CHWs in palliative care provision and (4) challenges and barriers to this approach.

Methods

We conducted a systematic scoping review of the literature, adhering to established guidelines. 11 major databases were searched for literature published between 1978 and 2019, as well as the grey literature.

Findings

13 original studies were included, all of which were conducted in sub-Saharan African countries (n=10) or in India (n=3). Ten described a role for CHWs in adult palliative care services, while three described paediatric services. Roles for CHWs include raising awareness and identifying individuals requiring palliative care in the community, therapeutic management for pain, holistic home-based care and visitation, and provision of psychological support and spiritual guidance. Reports on training context, duration and outcomes were variable. No studies conducted a formal cost analysis. Challenges to this approach include training design and sustainability; CHW recruitment, retention and support; and stigma surrounding palliative care.

Conclusion

Despite relatively limited existing evidence, CHWs have important roles in the delivery of palliative care services in LMIC settings. There is a need for a greater number of studies from different geographical contexts to further explore the effectiveness of this approach.
Parenthood and pregnancy in Australians receiving treatment for end-stage kidney disease: protocol of a national study of perinatal and parental outcomes through population record linkage
Authors: Hewawasam Erandi , Gulyani Aarti , Davies Christopher E , Sullivan Elizabeth , Wark Sally , Clayton Philip A , McDonald Stephen P , Jesudason Shilpanjali
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Achieving parenthood is challenging in individuals receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT; dialysis or kidney transplantation) for end-stage kidney disease. Decision-making regarding parenthood in RRT recipients should be underpinned by robust data, yet there is limited data on parental factors that drive adverse health outcomes. Therefore, we aim to investigate the perinatal risks and outcomes in parents receiving RRT.

Methods and analysis

This is a multijurisdictional probabilistic data linkage study of perinatal, hospital, birth, death and renal registers from 1991 to 2013 from New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. This study includes all babies born ≥20 weeks’ gestation or 400 g birth weight captured through mandated data collection in the perinatal data sets. Through linkage with the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) registry, babies exposed to RRT (and their parents) will be compared with babies who have not been exposed to RRT (and their parents) to determine obstetric and fetal outcomes, birth rates and fertility rates. One of the novel aspects of this study is the method that will be used to link fathers receiving RRT to the mothers and their babies within the perinatal data sets, using the birth register, enabling the identification of family units. The linked data set will be used to validate the parenthood events directly reported to ANZDATA.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained from Human Research Ethics Committees (HREC) and Aboriginal HREC in each jurisdiction. Findings of this study will be disseminated at scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed journals in tabular and aggregated forms. De-identified data will be presented and individual patients will not be identified. We will aim to present findings to relevant stakeholders (eg, patients, clinicians and policymakers) to maximise translational impact of research findings.
Should free-text data in electronic medical records be shared for research? A citizens’ jury study in the UK
Authors: Ford Elizabeth , Oswald Malcolm , Hassan Lamiece , Bozentko Kyle , Nenadic Goran , Cassell Jackie
Published: May 2020

Background

Use of routinely collected patient data for research and service planning is an explicit policy of the UK National Health Service and UK government. Much clinical information is recorded in free-text letters, reports and notes. These text data are generally lost to research, due to the increased privacy risk compared with structured data. We conducted a citizens’ jury which asked members of the public whether their medical free-text data should be shared for research for public benefit, to inform an ethical policy.

Methods

Eighteen citizens took part over 3 days. Jurors heard a range of expert presentations as well as arguments for and against sharing free text, and then questioned presenters and deliberated together. They answered a questionnaire on whether and how free text should be shared for research, gave reasons for and against sharing and suggestions for alleviating their concerns.

Results

Jurors were in favour of sharing medical data and agreed this would benefit health research, but were more cautious about sharing free-text than structured data. They preferred processing of free text where a computer extracted information at scale. Their concerns were lack of transparency in uses of data, and privacy risks. They suggested keeping patients informed about uses of their data, and giving clear pathways to opt out of data sharing.

Conclusions

Informed citizens suggested a transparent culture of research for the public benefit, and continuous improvement of technology to protect patient privacy, to mitigate their concerns regarding privacy risks of using patient text data.
Analysis of a diesel engine fueled with ternary fuel blends and alumina nano-additives at various combustion chamber geometries
Authors: Jayaseelan George Antony Casmir , Dhas Anderson Arul Gnana , Venu Harish , Jayaraman Jayaprabakar , Appavu Prabhu
Published: May 2020

The present study investigates the impact of various combustion chamber geometries in a direct injection engine fueled with diesel–biodiesel–ethanol blends mixed with alumina nano-additives, named as high-performance fuel (HPF). The HPF was subjected to various combustion bowl geometries including standard hemispherical chamber geometry (SG), shallow depth reentrant bowl geometry (CG1), toroidal reentrant chamber geometry (CG2), and toroidal chamber geometry (CG3). Performance results reveal that in comparison with the SG-HPF arrangement, brake thermal efficiency increased by 11.51% and brake-specific energy consumption decreased by 10.37% when using the CG2-HPF arrangement. For emmisions, CG2-HPF reduced carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and smoke emissions by 33.53%, 18.35%, and 14.37%, respectively, in comparison with SG-HPF. Regarding combustion, CG2-HPF resulted in a high heat release rate owing to the reentrant chamber profile of CG2 which improves the air–fuel mixture rate, atomization, and evaporation rate, resulting in more efficient combustion, increased cylinder pressure, and increased heat release rate. Thanks to the geometry of the reentrant profile, the turbulent kinetic energy of the fuel mixture is maintained and returned to the combustion zone. Thus, the stagnation of rich mixtures within the combustion zone tend to decrease. Overall, the CG2 geometry was found to be the optimum geometry profile for HPF, based on improved performance and combustion characteristics, as well as reduced exhaust emissions.
Adaptive wave neural network nonsingular terminal sliding mode control for an underwater manipulator with force estimation
Authors: Han Lijun , Tang Guoyuan , Zhou Zengcheng , Huang Hui , Xie De
Published: May 2020

This paper proposes an adaptive wave neural network nonsingular terminal sliding mode control (AWNN-NTSMC) strategy with force estimation, which is exploited to address the path tracking control problem of the underwater manipulator under lumped disturbances. The proposed control scheme contains three parts: a nonsingular terminal sliding mode surface (NTSMS) part, an AWNN part, and a force estimation part. The NTSMS is designed to make the system states achieve fast convergence in the sliding mode phase. The AWNN theory is utilized to approximate the lumped disturbances via online adjustment of the network parameters. The force estimation method is applied in compensating the effect of external force on the control system. Besides, a saturated function instead of the signum function is used aiming to the chattering suppression. Asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed by the Lyapunov stability. Finally, by using a six degree of freedom (DOF) underwater manipulator, comparative simulation results validate the better tracking performance and stronger robustness against disturbances of our proposed scheme.
On the origin of divergences in time-dependent orbifolds
Authors: Arduino Andrea , Finotello Riccardo , Pesando Igor
Published: May 2020

We consider time-dependent orbifolds in String Theory and we show that divergences are not associated with a gravitational backreaction since they appear in the open string sector too. They are related to the non existence of the underlying effective field theory as in several cases fourth and higher order contact terms do not exist. Since contact terms may arise from the exchange of string massive states, we investigate and show that some three points amplitudes with one massive state in the open string sector are divergent on the time-dependent orbifolds. To check that divergences are associated with the existence of a discrete zero eigenvalue of the Laplacian of the subspace with vanishing volume, we construct the Generalized Null Boost Orbifold where this phenomenon can be turned on and off.
(F,G)-operator frames for ℒ(ℋ,𝒦)
Authors: Sedghi Moghaddam J. , Najati A. , Ghobadzadeh F.
Published: May 2020

The concept of [Formula: see text]-frames was recently introduced by Găvruta7 in Hilbert spaces to study atomic systems with respect to a bounded linear operator. Let [Formula: see text] be a unital [Formula: see text]-algebra, [Formula: see text] be finitely or countably generated Hilbert [Formula: see text]-modules, and [Formula: see text] be adjointable operators from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we study a class of [Formula: see text]-bounded operators and [Formula: see text]-operator frames for [Formula: see text]. We also prove that the pseudo-inverse of [Formula: see text] exists if and only if [Formula: see text] has closed range. We extend some known results about the pseudo-inverses acting on Hilbert spaces in the context of Hilbert [Formula: see text]-modules. Further, we also present some perturbation results for [Formula: see text]-operator frames in [Formula: see text].
Noether generators and the Klein–Gordon potential on spaces with nonzero Weyl tensor
Authors: Jamal Sameerah , Mathebula A. , Shabbir Ghulam
Published: May 2020

In this study, we investigate the potential functions [Formula: see text] that appear in the Lagrangian [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the metric of an arbitrary space. Our approach is based on a connection between the conformal Killing group associated with [Formula: see text] and the Noether symmetries of [Formula: see text]. To this effect, we select certain spaces that are characterized by a nonzero Weyl tensor.
The Influence of Hydrophilic Decoration on X-ray Excited Luminescence Nanoparticles to Singlet Oxygen Production
Authors: Zhu Xiaosheng , Tian Yi , Dai Lei , Wang Qiaofeng , Shi Mei , Pang Cui , Wu Jianwei , Hu Jinwei , Fan Hao , Song Chaojun , Liu Wenchao , Fan Li
Published: May 2020

(1) Background: Though X-ray excited photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) breakthrough the bottom neck of PDT application in deep tumor by overcoming light penetration depth limitation, the quantum yield of the hydrophilic X-PDT nanoparticles (NPs) still hampered its further application in vivo. Thus, establishing a proper hydrophilic decoration method which can maximally maintain the quantum yield of X-ray excited luminescent NPs is of urgent demand. (2) Methods: We synthesized NaGdF4: [Formula: see text] (NGF) as X-ray excited luminescent NPs and conducted hydrophilic decoration by two hydrophilic ligands, polyethylene glycol-NH2 (PEG) and cysteamine (Cy) via place exchange reaction, and coupled with photosensitizer (MC540) to form a X-PDT nanosystem. We also conducted experiments in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the efficacy of the X-PDT system. (3) Results: Both PEG and Cy decoration NPs presented excellent emission intensity, which could well excite the coupled photosensitizer MC540 to generate significant X-PDT efficacy under low-dose X-ray radiation. Especially for the NGF-Cy-MC540 treatment group, the cell viability reduced to [Formula: see text]% under 0.3[Formula: see text]Gy radiation and [Formula: see text]% under only 0.1[Formula: see text]Gy radiation, which is the lowest radiation dosage in the literature reports so far. In vivo experiment showed about 36% of tumor inhibition rate under 0.3[Formula: see text]Gy X-ray. Besides, no biotoxicity was observed in NGF groups even in high concentrations, demonstrating good biocompatibility. (4) Conclusions: The hydrophilic decoration method by Cy or PEG via place exchange reaction may pave a brand new way and strategy for X-PDT further clinical application.
Porous Ti2Nb10O29−x Microspheres Wrapped by Holey-Reduced Graphene Oxide as Superior Anode Material for High-rate Performance Lithium-ion Storage
Authors: Luo Nan , Chen Guoliang , Shang Yunfan , Lu Suyang , Mei Jun , Tang Changyu , He Zhoukun , Zeng Wenwen , Zhan Haoran
Published: May 2020

Ti2[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] (TNO) is considered as a potential anode material due to its high capacity/power density and reliable safety. However, its poor electronic conductivity restricts its rate performance, which is important for its application in electric vehicles (EVs). In this study, we fabricated a hybrid of Ti2[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]/holey-reduced graphene oxide (TNOx/HRGO) by a two-step method. In the structure of TNOx/HRGO, TNOx microspheres with oxygen vacancies are wrapped by gossamer-like HRGO. The oxygen vacancies of TNOx and the high conductivity of HRGO can effectively enhance the electronic conductivity of the TNOx/HRGO hybrid, and the HRGO holes are beneficial for the transmission of lithium-ion ([Formula: see text]). The synergy effect of above features improves the rate performance of the TNOx/HRGO hybrid. In addition, the existence of HRGO can buffer volume expansion during the insertion processes of [Formula: see text], which can improve cyclic stability of the TNOx/HRGO hybrid. Consequently, the TNOx/HRGO electrode has excellent lithium-ion storage capacity, with high-rate performance (242[Formula: see text]mAh/g at 10∘C, 225[Formula: see text]mAh/g at 20∘C and 173[Formula: see text]mAh/g at 40∘C) and excellent cyclic stability (98.0% capacity retention after 300 cycles at 10∘C). This work reveals that TNOx/HRGO can be a potential anode material for high-rate-performance lithium-ion storage.
Book review of "Design, ecology, politics: towards the ecocene" by Joanna Boehnert (2018). Bloomsbury Academic.
Authors: Cheek Ryan
Published: May 2020

Design, Ecology, Politics: Towards the Ecocene is a must-read for any communication design educator or practitioner concerned with the deleterious effects of the Anthropocene (or its critical counterpart the Capitalocene), which names the current geological era marked by human dominance over environmental processes. In this book, Dr. Joanna Boehnert deftly incorporates ecological thinking into design pedagogy to articulate a path forward for a new era of human-environment relations built on cooperation rather than exploitation. Existential threats abound in a modern era built on endless consumption and production cycles driven by market logic. For too long, designers have tacitly participated in the destructive tendencies of the neoliberal political project by convincing themselves and others that their work is neutral. This book is a wake-up call that highlights the role that design has played in constructing the precarious conditions of the modern world and, more importantly, the role designers could play in charting a way out of the mess humanity has made.
Book review of "Bodies in flux: scientific methods for negotiating medical uncertainty" by Christa Teston (2017). University of Chicago Press.
Authors: Browning Ella R.
Published: May 2020

At the time of this writing, the New York Times reports that more than 10,000 people have died from the coronavirus worldwide. Healthcare systems across the globe are struggling to keep up with the number of cases being confirmed each day. Over 50 studies on the virus were published in January 2020 as scientists worked to better understand it and potentially develop a vaccine (McFall-Johnsen, 2020) but there has not yet been a vaccine developed. While this is not the only global health crisis happening in early 2020, it is likely the one to which many readers have paid closest attention. We cannot know now the impact the spread of the coronavirus will have on the globe and yet individuals and organizations are currently working to transform uncertainty about the virus into evidence that governments and the public can use to make actionable decisions. While the book under review here does not deal with the coronavirus specifically, it does engage with issues of key importance related to the coronavirus: those of medical certainty and those of medical uncertainty.
Updates from SIGDOC and CDQ
Authors: Richards Daniel P. , Ross Derek G.
Published: May 2020

On behalf of SIGDOC and CDQ, we wanted to reach out to all of you and thank you for all you do in this difficult time. Our organization's greatest strength is in its members, and we hope you are all staying as safe and sane as possible while COVID-19 changes the way we work and play.

SIGDOC has yet to reach an official decision on the viability or nature of our 2020 Conference in Denton, TX, but the Executive Committee along with this year's Conference Committee, lead by Stacey Pigg, are in consistent contact and weighing options. Above all else, our decision will be informed by the values that we have articulated as an organization, which are: valuing human well-being; engaging in financial stewardship; respecting labor; foregrounding accessibility; supporting early-career scholars; establishing continuity; managing community and networkbuilding; supporting innovation; valuing industry practices; and maintaining and facilitating interorganizational and international relationships. The option for SIGDOC 2020 that best addresses these core values will be the option we select. For now, we have confirmation that the proceedings publications will be moving forward and supported by ACM and included in the Digital Library regardless of the decision we make on the conference. This is great news, and fulfills our values in supporting scholarship and valuing the labor done by our authors, reviewers, and our program cochairs, Josephine Walwema and Daniel Hocutt, who have worked diligently in the midst of the pandemic.

CDQ will continue to publish as often as we are able. We understand that our workflows have changed, dramatically for some of us. So while it may be that extra time is occasionally needed for a review, we remain committed to providing you as rapid turnaround as we can, and publishing cutting-edge research on communication design through our original articles, experience reports, and book reviews. In this issue, for example, we are pleased to share with you Sonia Stephens and Dan Richards' "Story mapping and sea level rise: Listening to global risks at street level," and Jennifer Roth Miller, Brandy Dieterle, Jennifer deWinter, and Stephanie Vie's "Social media in professional, technical, and scientific communication programs: A heuristic to guide future use." These two excellent articles are accompanied by reviews of Jonanna Boehnert's Design, ecology politics: Towards the ecocene, reviewed by Ryan Cheek, and Christa Teston's Bodies in flux: Scientific methods for negotiating medical uncertainty, reviewed by Ella Browning.
Viral Hacks of the Plant Vasculature: The Role of Phloem Alterations in Systemic Virus Infection
Authors: Kappagantu Madhu , Collum Tamara D. , Dardick Christopher , Culver James N.
Published: May 2020

For plant viruses, the ability to load into the vascular phloem and spread systemically within a host is an essential step in establishing a successful infection. However, access to the vascular phloem is highly regulated, representing a significant obstacle to virus loading, movement, and subsequent unloading into distal uninfected tissues. Recent studies indicate that during virus infection, phloem tissues are a source of significant transcriptional and translational alterations, with the number of virus-induced differentially expressed genes being four- to sixfold greater in phloem tissues than in surrounding nonphloem tissues. In addition, viruses target phloem-specific components as a means to promote their own systemic movement and disrupt host defense processes. Combined, these studies provide evidence that the vascular phloem plays a significant role in the mediation and control of host responses during infection and as such is a site of considerable modulation by the infecting virus. This review outlines the phloem responses and directed reprograming mechanisms that viruses employ to promote their movement through the vasculature.
Decision-Making of a Dual-Channel Closed-Loop Supply Chain in the Context Government Policy: A Dynamic Game Theory
Authors: Zhang Xuemei , Li Qianwen , Qi Guohu
Published: May 2020

To analyze the effect of government reward-penalty policies (RPPs) on the decisions of a dual-channel closed-loop supply chain (CLSC), this paper endogenizes government decision variables to maximize social welfare and builds four decision-making models (without RPP, with carbon emission RPP, with recycling amount RPP, and with double RPP) by using a Stackelberg dynamic game between the government and supply chain members. The research results show that, (1) in the four models, there exist optimal prices and reward-penalty coefficients to maximize the supply chain members’ profits and social welfare. (2) Comparing with model W, under most conditions, three government RPPs decrease the demand for new products and increase the demand for remanufactured products. Comparing the case without RPP, R’s profit decreases, and when the carbon emission cap is very big and the lowest recycling amount is very small, M’s profit increases. (3) In most cases, the three government RPPs can effectively control the total carbon emission and increase the social welfare, but they damage the benefits of retailers and consumers. With the increase of the carbon emission intensity of remanufactured products, the government can implement the double RPP, the carbon emission RPP, and the recycling amount RPP in turn.