bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing Requests in Multilingual Classroom Interaction: A Case of Second Language Development in Middle Childhood
Authors: Routarinne Sara , Ahlholm Maria
Published: August 2020

Much research has been conducted in adult second language learning through interaction, but knowledge about the child language learner has remained scarce. To address social language development in middle childhood, the article presents a longitudinal case study concerning a nine-year-old L1 Russian-speaking learner of Finnish. The data consist of 48 h of video-recorded lessons. By examining requests, the article demonstrates how a learner’s actions built on interaction, the affordances of the local context and embodiment, and access to multiple languages identifiable as Russian, English, and Finnish. The analysis focuses on the very beginning of language learning and the middle of the academic year. Through a detailed analysis of multimodal interaction, the study demonstrates the progress from simple language such as free-standing nouns and adjectives to more complex language in actions such as requests constructed as clauses by the focal learner. In addition, the analysis enhances understanding of the development of multilingual competence in interaction. Finally, the results indicate that learning a language is intertwined with embodied interactional competence and growth in linguistic repertoires.
Validating 1-Year Reliable Change Methods
Authors: Hammers Dustin B , Porter Sariah , Dixon Ava , Suhrie Kayla R , Duff Kevin
Published: August 2020

Objective

reliable change methods can assist in the determination of whether observed changes in performance are meaningful. The current study sought to validate previously published 1-year standardized regression-based (SRB) equations for commonly administered neuropsychological measures that incorporated baseline performances, demographics, and 1-week practice effects.

Method

Duff et al.’s SRB prediction equations were applied to an independent sample of 70 community-dwelling older adults with either normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment, assessed at baseline, at 1 week, and at 1 year.

Results

minimal improvements or declines were seen between observed baseline and observed 1-year follow-up scores, or between observed 1-year and predicted 1-year scores, on most measures. Relatedly, a high degree of predictive accuracy was observed between observed 1-year and predicted 1-year scores across cognitive measures in this repeated battery.

Conclusions

these results, which validate Duff et al.’s SRB equations, will permit clinicians and researchers to have more confidence when predicting cognitive performance on these measures over 1 year.
An examination of reliable change methods for measuring cognitive change with the Cogstate Computerized Battery: Research and clinical implications
Authors: Gates Thomas M , Kamminga Jody , Jayewardene Avindra , Vincent Trina , Quan Dick , Brew Bruce J , Bloch Mark , Cysique Lucette A
Published: August 2020

Objective

To compare the performance of four reliable change (RC) methods with respect to measuring cognitive change on the Cogstate Computerized Battery (CCB).

Method

We assessed cognitive change in 57 healthy, urban, well-educated males on the CCB at baseline and 6 months (Median age = 50, 65% university-educated). The study CCB version comprised seven measures covering attention, processing speed, verbal learning, and memory. Raw scores were z-score transformed using age-corrected Cogstate norms (CN) or the sample mean and standard deviation (internal standardization [IS]), and then averaged to create composite z-scores. Composite scores were entered into four RC formulae. RC was defined based on a 90% two-tailed confidence interval. Change scores were compared as continuous (z-scores) and ordinal variables (RC outcomes).

Results

CCB composite score reliability (rXY = .78–.79) was replicated in an age- and sex-matched Cogstate database sample of similar size. There was good overall agreement between the four RC methods (Bland–Altman Mdiff = .00; 95% limits of agreement with the mean—CN: z = ± .90; IS: z = ± .93), with each model adhering closely to the 10% rate of RC expected by chance alone (largest χ2 = .86, p = .99). Initial norming strategy (CN or IS) did not affect these outcomes.

Conclusions

Norming strategy and RC method choice did not significantly impact cognitive change predictions on CCB composite scores. A series of example case data are provided to practically demonstrate the steps involved in applying the longitudinal norms generated in this study. Research in more diverse normative samples is warranted.
First Demonstration of Double Dissociation between COMT-Met158 and COMT-Val158 Cognitive Performance When Stressed and When Calmer
Authors: Zareyan Shahab , Zhang Haolu , Wang Juelu , Song Weihong , Hampson Elizabeth , Abbott David , Diamond Adele
Published: August 2020

We present here the first evidence of the much-predicted double dissociation between the effect of stress on cognitive skills [executive functions (EFs)] dependent on prefrontal cortex (PFC) by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype. The COMT gene polymorphism with methionine (Met) at codon 158 results in more dopamine (DA) in PFC and generally better EFs, while with valine (Val) at codon 158 the result is less PFC DA and generally poorer EFs. Many have predicted that mild stress, by raising PFC DA levels should aid EFs of COMT-Vals (bringing their PFC DA levels up, closer to optimal) and impair EFs of COMT-Mets (raising their PFC DA levels past optimal). We tested 140 men and women in a within-subject crossover design using extremely mild social evaluative stress. On trials requiring EFs (incongruent trials) of the Flanker/Reverse Flanker task, COMT-Val158 homozygotes performed better when mildly stressed than when calmer, while COMT-Met158 carriers performed worse when mildly stressed. Two other teams previously tried to obtain this, but only found stress impairing EFs of COMT-Mets, not improving EFs of COMT-Vals. Perhaps we found both because we used a much milder stressor. Evidently, the bandwidth for stress having a facilitative effect on EFs is exceedingly narrow.
Odor-Mediated Group Organization and Coordination in the Termite-Raiding Ant Megaponera analis (Mayr)
Authors: Yusuf Abdullahi A , Frank Erik T , Fombong Ayuka T , Pirk Christian W W , Crewe Robin M , Schmitt Thomas , Strube-Bloss Martin , Gordon Ian , Torto Baldwyn
Published: August 2020

Visual and olfactory communications are vital for coordinated group hunting in most animals. To hunt for prey, the group-raiding termite specialist ant Megaponera analis, which lacks good vision, must first confirm the presence or absence of conspecific raiders. Here, we show that M. analis uses olfactory cues for intraspecific communication and showed greater preference for conspecific odors over clean air (blank) or odors from its termite prey. Chemical analysis of ant volatiles identified predominantly short-chained hydrocarbons. Electrophysiological analysis revealed differential sensory detection of the odor compounds, which were confirmed in behavioral olfactometric choice assays with odor bouquets collected from major and minor castes and the 2 most dominant volatiles and n-undecane n-tridecane. A comparative analysis of the cuticular hydrocarbon profile with those of the short-chained odor bouquet of different populations shows a high divergence in the long-chained profile and a much-conserved short-chained odor bouquet. This suggests that there is less selection pressure for divergence and individual recognition in the short- than the long-chained odor profiles. We conclude that olfactory communication serves as an alternative to visual or sound communication, especially during group raids in M. analis when ants are not in direct contact with one another.
The Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index Predicts Mortality in a Community-recruited Cohort of People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Who Use Illicit Drugs
Authors: Reddon Hudson , Grant Cameron , Nosova Ekaterina , Fairbairn Nadia , Barrios Rolando , Justice Amy C , Nolan Seonaid , Socias M Eugenia , Milloy M-J
Published: August 2020

The Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) index combines commonly collected clinical biomarkers to estimate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease severity. Among a prospective cohort of people living with HIV who use illicit drugs (PWUD) (n = 948), we found that the VACS index was significantly associated with mortality over a 20-year study period.
Using Serologic Testing to Assess the Effectiveness of Outbreak Control Efforts, Serial Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing, and Cohorting of Positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Patients in a Skilled Nursing Facility
Authors: Dora Amy V , Winnett Alexander , Fulcher Jennifer A , Sohn Linda , Calub Feliza , Lee-Chang Ian , Ghadishah Elham , Schwartzman William A , Beenhouwer David O , Vallone John , Graber Christopher J , Goetz Matthew Bidwell , Bhattacharya Debika
Published: August 2020

We characterized serology following a nursing home outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) where residents were serially tested by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and positive residents were cohorted. When tested 46–76 days later, 24 of 26 RT-PCR–positive residents were seropositive; none of the 124 RT-PCR–negative residents had confirmed seropositivity, supporting serial SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing and cohorting in nursing homes.
Measurement Recorder: developing a useful tool for making species descriptions that produces computable phenotypes
Authors: Cui Hong , Zhang Limin , Ford Bruce , Chen Hsin-liang , Macklin James A , Reznicek Anton , Starr Julian
Published: August 2020

To use published phenotype information in computational analyses, there have been efforts to convert descriptions of phenotype characters from human languages to ontologized statements. This postpublication curation process is not only slow and costly, it is also burdened with significant intercurator variation (including curator–author variation), due to different interpretations of a character by various individuals. This problem is inherent in any human-based intellectual activity. To address this problem, making scientific publications semantically clear (i.e. computable) by the authors at the time of publication is a critical step if we are to avoid postpublication curation. To help authors efficiently produce species phenotypes while producing computable data, we are experimenting with an author-driven ontology development approach and developing and evaluating a series of ontology-aware software modules that would create publishable species descriptions that are readily useable in scientific computations. The first software module prototype called Measurement Recorder has been developed to assist authors in defining continuous measurements and reported in this paper. Two usability studies of the software were conducted with 22 undergraduate students majoring in information science and 32 in biology. Results suggest that participants can use Measurement Recorder without training and they find it easy to use after limited practice. Participants also appreciate the semantic enhancement features. Measurement Recorder’s character reuse features facilitate character convergence among participants by 48% and have the potential to further reduce user errors in defining characters. A set of software design issues have also been identified and then corrected. Measurement Recorder enables authors to record measurements in a semantically clear manner and enriches phenotype ontology along the way. Future work includes representing the semantic data as Resource Description Framework (RDF) knowledge graphs and characterizing the division of work between authors as domain knowledge providers and ontology engineers as knowledge formalizers in this new author-driven ontology development approach.
Better Together? Combining Cover Crop Mulches, Organic Herbicides, and Weed Seed Biological Control in Reduced-Tillage Systems
Authors: Lewis Danielle G , Cutulle Matthew A , Schmidt-Jeffris Rebecca A , Blubaugh Carmen K
Published: August 2020

Organic vegetable farmers rely heavily on labor-intensive tillage for weed management, which adversely affects soil health and harms beneficial insects that consume crop pests and weed seeds. Using cover crop residues as a weed-suppressive mulch enables some reduction in tillage, and combining this tool with recently developed organic herbicides may further enhance weed suppression in vegetable production. However, organic herbicides may also adversely affect beneficial insects, and their nontarget effects are unknown. Here, we examine the combined impacts of cultural and chemical tools on weed cover while monitoring activity of beneficial epigeal insects and measuring rates of weed seed biological control to assess potential nontarget effects of organic herbicides. In a 2-yr experiment, we compared three cover crop mulch treatments and three organic herbicide treatments (capric/caprylic acid, corn gluten meal, and herbicide-free) in a reduced-tillage system. Organic herbicides led to no reductions in beneficial insect activity nor weed seed biocontrol. In both years, capric/caprylic acid herbicide and cover crop mulches reduced weed pressure relative to a fallow control treatment, whereas corn gluten meal had no effect. In year 2, a combination of cover crop mulch with organic herbicide had the greatest weed suppression relative to the fallow control. Integrated weed management is a perpetual challenge, but our results suggest that organic herbicides used in concert with cover crop mulch may enhance weed control and reduce the need for tillage, with limited collateral damage to natural enemies.
Evolutionary perspectives on human behavior during the coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Brüne Martin , Wilson Daniel R
Published: August 2020

The coronavirus pandemic constitutes a global challenge to society and medicine. Here, we review evolutionary insights that are relevant for the understanding of how people respond to the pandemic and what to expect in the aftermath of the crisis. Specifically, we argue that the behavioral immune system (BIS) and sickness behavior (SB) comprise two adaptive responses to impending and actual infection, respectively, and that individuals activating their BIS differ from those showing SB in important ways that may have implications for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Moreover, we reframe some of the behavioral health issues associated with the pandemic in a game-theoretical scenario, illustrating the difficulties that arise when public health is treated as a ‘public good’.

Lay summary: The coronavirus pandemic constitutes a global challenge to society and medicine. In this article, we employ evolutionary theory to improve our understanding of how people respond to the pandemic. Specifically, we argue that human behavior is guided by ancient mechanisms involving either the avoidance of infection or defense against attacks in times of enhanced vulnerability. Moreover, we reframe some of the behavioral health issues associated with the pandemic in a game-theoretical scenario. This helps understand why most people comply with rules of social distancing, while a minority fails to do so for very different reasons. The evolutionary perspective also allows making some predictions for the course of the pandemic.
ANMCO POSITION PAPER: The role of cardiology in the management of the health needs in the post-Covid-19 era
Authors: Murrone Adriano , Colivicchi Furio , Roncon Loris , Caldarola Pasquale , Amodeo Vincenzo , Urbinati Stefano , Di Lenarda Andrea , Valente Serafina , Aspromonte Nadia , Cipriani Manlio , Domenicucci Stefano , Francese Giuseppina Maura , Imazio Massimo , Scotto di Uccio Fortunato , Scherillo Marino , Di Pasquale Giuseppe , Gulizia Michele Massimo , Gabrielli Domenico
Published: August 2020

At the end of 2019 a new Coronavirus appeared in China and, from there, it spread to the rest of the world. On 24th May, 2020, the confirmed cases in the world were more than 5 million and the deaths almost 350.000. At the end of May, Italy reported more than 27.000 cases among healthcare professionals and 163 deaths among physicians. The National Health Systems from almost all over the world, including Italy’s, were unprepared for this pandemic, and this generated important consequences of organizational nature. All elective and urgent specialized activities were completely reorganized, and many hospital units were partially or completely converted to the care of the COVID-19 patients. A significant reduction in hospital admissions for acute heart disease were recorded during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and, in order to gradually resume hospital activities, the Italian National Phase 2 Plan for the partial recovery of activities, must necessarily be associated with a Phase 2 Health Plan. In regards to the cardiac outpatient activities we need to identify short term goals, i.e. reschedule the suspended outpatient activities, revise the waiting lists, review the ‘timings’ of the bookings. This will reduce the number of available examinations compared to the pre-Covid-19 era. The GP’s collaboration could represent an important resource, a structured telephone follow-up plan is advisable with the nursing staff’s involvement. It is equally important to set medium-long term goals, the pandemic could be an appropriate moment for making a virtue of necessity. It is time to reason on prescriptive appropriateness, telemedicine implementation intended as integration to the traditional management. It is time to restructure the cardiological units related to the issue of structural adjustment to the needs for functional isolation. Moreover, the creation of ‘grey zones’ with multidisciplinary management according to the intensity of care levels seems to be necessary as well as the identification of Covid dedicated cardiologies. Finally, the pandemic could represent the opportunity for a permanent renovation of the cardiological and territorial medicine activities.
Role of the rabbit whole-heart model for electrophysiologic safety pharmacology of non-cardiovascular drugs
Authors: Ellermann Christian , Wolfes Julian , Eckardt Lars , Frommeyer Gerrit
Published: August 2020

Plenty of non-cardiovascular drugs alter cardiac electrophysiology and may ultimately lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. In clinical practice, measuring the QT interval as a marker for the repolarization period is the most common tool to assess the electrophysiologic safety of drugs. However, the sole measurement of the QT interval may be insufficient to determine the proarrhythmic risk of non-cardiovascular agents. Several other markers are considered in pre-clinical safety testing to determine potential harm on cardiac electrophysiology. Besides measuring typical electrophysiologic parameters such as repolarization duration, whole-heart models allow the determination of potential predictors for proarrhythmia. Spatial and temporal heterogeneity as well as changes of shape of the action potential can be easily assessed. In addition, provocation manoeuvers (either by electrolyte imbalances or programmed pacing protocols) may induce sustained arrhythmias and thereby determine ventricular vulnerability to arrhythmias. Compared with the human heart, the rabbit heart possesses a similar distribution of ion currents that govern cardiac repolarization, resulting in a rectangular action potential configuration in both species. In addition, similar biophysical properties of rabbit and human cardiac ion channels lead to a comparable pharmacologic response in human and rabbit hearts. Of note, arrhythmia patterns resemble in both species due to the similar effective size of human and rabbit hearts. Thus, the rabbit heart is particularly suitable for testing the electrophysiologic safety of drugs. Several experimental setups have been developed for studying cardiac electrophysiology in rabbits, ranging from single cell to tissue preparations, whole-heart setups, and in vivo models.
Association of obesity and diabetes with physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption in stroke survivors
Authors: Bailey Ryan R , Singleton John Robinson , Majersik Jennifer J
Published: August 2020

Background

Engaging in unhealthy behaviours [poor diet, insufficient physical activity (PA)] increases risk for recurrent stroke and can be compounded by obesity and diabetes, but the association of obesity and diabetes with poor diet and insufficient PA in stroke survivors is unknown.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare prevalences of low fruit and vegetable consumption (low FV consumption, <1 fruit and <1 vegetable daily) and low physical activity (low PA, <150 minutes of weekly moderate-intensity PA) in stroke survivors, stratified by obesity–diabetes status (neither condition, obesity only, diabetes only, both conditions).

Methods

Cross-sectional data from 32 876 non-institutionalized, US stroke survivors aged ≥45 years from the 2015 and 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were examined. Weighted, age-adjusted prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of the investigated unhealthy behaviours (adjusted for sex, age, race, income, education and marital status) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results

Prevalences of low FV consumption and low PA exceeded 50% across all obesity–diabetes categories. Compared with respondents with neither obesity nor diabetes, AORs for low PA were increased for respondents with both obesity and diabetes (2.02, 95% CI: 1.72–2.37) and respondents with obesity only (1.31, 1.13–1.53); AORs for low FV consumption did not differ across obesity–diabetes categories.

Conclusions

Results indicated a joint effect of obesity and diabetes with low PA among stroke survivors. Regardless of obesity–diabetes status, however, prevalence of low FV consumption and low PA exceeded 50%. Targeted interventions that modify these unhealthy behaviours among stroke survivors should be explored.
Public health insurance and birth outcomes: evidence from Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Gardezi Najam uz Zehra
Published: August 2020

Public health insurance targeted towards low-income households has gained traction in many developing countries. However, there is limited evidence as to the effectiveness of these programs in countries where institutional constraints may limit participation by the eligible population. This paper evaluates a recent health insurance initiative introduced in Pakistan and discusses whether eligibility for the programme improves maternal health seeking behaviour. The Prime Minister National Health Program provides free insurance coverage to low-income families. The programme is in the early phases of implementation and has, since 2016, only been rolled out in a few eligible districts within the country. This allows for a comparison of eligible households in districts where the programme has been introduced to those that are eligible to receive insurance at a future date. Using repeated cross-sectional data from multiple rounds of representative household survey, a difference-in-difference model has been estimated. Results show that at least for a specific beneficiary group (i.e. pregnant women), there has been a positive increase in utilization of hospital services. Furthermore, we provide evidence using mother fixed effects that the programme increased the likelihood of a child’s birth being documented. Since possession of a birth certificate can secure civic rights for a child, this is an unintended but positive outcome of the programme.
Constraining Images of Quadratic Arboreal Representations
Authors: Ferraguti Andrea , Pagano Carlo
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we prove several results on finitely generated dynamical Galois groups attached to quadratic polynomials. First, we show that, over global fields, quadratic post-critically finite (PCF) polynomials are precisely those having an arboreal representation whose image is topologically finitely generated. To obtain this result, we also prove the quadratic case of Hindes’ conjecture on dynamical non-isotriviality. Next, we give two applications of this result. On the one hand, we prove that quadratic polynomials over global fields with abelian dynamical Galois group are necessarily PCF, and we combine our results with local class field theory to classify quadratic pairs over ${ {\mathbb{Q}}}$ with abelian dynamical Galois group, improving on recent results of Andrews and Petsche. On the other hand, we show that several infinite families of subgroups of the automorphism group of the infinite binary tree cannot appear as images of arboreal representations of quadratic polynomials over number fields, yielding unconditional evidence toward Jones’ finite index conjecture.
A High-Throughput Assay for Circulating Antibodies Directed Against the S Protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
Authors: Weiss Svenja , Klingler Jéromine , Hioe Catarina , Amanat Fatima , Baine Ian , Arinsburg Suzanne , Kojic Erna Milunka , Stoever Jonathan , Liu Sean T H , Jurczyszak Denise , Bermudez-Gonzalez Maria , Simon Viviana , Krammer Florian , Zolla-Pazner Susan
Published: August 2020

More than 24 million infections with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were confirmed globally by September 2020. While polymerase chain reaction–based assays are used for diagnosis, there is a need for high-throughput, rapid serologic methods. A Luminex binding assay was developed and used to assess simultaneously the presence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–specific antibodies in human serum and plasma. Clear differentiation was achieved between specimens from infected and uninfected subjects, and a wide range of serum/plasma antibody levels was delineated in infected subjects. All 25 specimens from 18 patients with COVID-19 were positive in the assays with both the trimeric spike and the receptor-binding domain proteins. None of the 13 specimens from uninfected subjects displayed antibodies to either antigen. There was a highly statistically significant difference between the antibody levels of COVID-19–infected and –uninfected specimens (P < .0001). This high-throughput antibody assay is accurate, requires only 2.5 hours, and uses 5 ng of antigen per test.
Seasonal Human Coronavirus Respiratory Tract Infection in Recipients of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Piñana Jose Luis , Xhaard Aliénor , Tridello Gloria , Passweg Jakob , Kozijn Anne , Polverelli Nicola , Heras Inmaculada , Perez Ariadna , Sanz Jaime , Berghuis Dagmar , Vázquez Lourdes , Suárez-Lledó María , Itäla-Remes Maija , Ozcelik Tulay , Iturrate Basarán Isabel , Karakukcu Musa , Al Zahrani Mohsen , Choi Goda , Cuesta Casas Marián Angeles , Batlle Massana Montserrat , Viviana Amato , Blijlevens Nicole , Ganser Arnold , Kuskonmaz Baris , Labussière-Wallet Hélène , Shaw Peter J , Yegin Zeynep Arzu , González-Vicent Marta , Rocha Vanderson , Ferster Alina , Knelange Nina , Navarro David , Mikulska Malgorzata , de la Camara Rafael , Styczynski Jan
Published: August 2020

Background

Little is known about characteristics of seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) (NL63, 229E, OC43, and HKU1) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

Methods

This was a collaborative Spanish and European bone marrow transplantation retrospective multicenter study, which included allo-HSCT recipients (adults and children) with upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) and/or lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by seasonal HCoV diagnosed through multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays from January 2012 to January 2019.

Results

We included 402 allo-HSCT recipients who developed 449 HCoV URTD/LRTD episodes. Median age of recipients was 46 years (range, 0.3–73.8 years). HCoV episodes were diagnosed at a median of 222 days after transplantation. The most common HCoV subtype was OC43 (n = 170 [38%]). LRTD involvement occurred in 121 episodes (27%). HCoV infection frequently required hospitalization (18%), oxygen administration (13%), and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (3%). Three-month overall mortality after HCoV detection was 7% in the whole cohort and 16% in those with LRTD. We identified 3 conditions associated with higher mortality in recipients with LRTD: absolute lymphocyte count <0.1 × 109/mL, corticosteroid use, and ICU admission (hazard ratios: 10.8, 4.68, and 8.22, respectively; P < .01).

Conclusions

Seasonal HCoV after allo-HSCT may involve LRTD in many instances, leading to a significant morbidity.
Findings From a Probability-Based Survey of United States Households About Prevention Measures Based on Race, Ethnicity, and Age in Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
Authors: Sauceda John A , Neilands Torsten B , Lightfoot Marguerita , Saberi Parya
Published: August 2020

We investigated individual behaviors taken by white, African American, and Latino United States (US) households in response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and likelihood of using digital tools for symptom surveillance/reporting. We analyzed cross-sectional week 1 data (April 2020) of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Impact Survey in a large, nationally representative sample of US adults. In general, all groups engaged in the same prevention behaviors, but whites reported being more likely to use digital tools to report/act on symptoms and seek testing, compared with African Americans and Latinos. Individual behaviors may not explain COVID-19 case disparities, and digital tools for tracking should focus on uptake among race/ethnic minorities.
The effects of acupressure on post-cesarean pain and analgesic consumption: a randomized single-blinded placebo-controlled study
Authors: Akgün Mehtap , Boz İlkay
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To assess the effects of P6 and LI4 acupressure on post-caesarean pain and analgesic consumption.

Design

This was a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled study conducted in a university-affiliated obstetrics clinic between July 2017 and July 2018.

Participants

Women (n = 132) were randomly assigned to acupressure (n = 44), placebo (n = 44) and control (n = 44) groups.

Setting

All groups received routine nursing care and analgesia protocol for post-cesarean pain. Acupressure was performed in two sessions, the postpartum second and fourth hours, with the following protocol: bilaterally to P6 (point on wrist) and LI4 (point on hand) points (for 3 minutes on each point). In the placebo group, it was just touched without the pressure on acupressure points, but the main difference was that touching was too superficial to have a therapeutic effect. The control group received only routine nursing care and analgesia protocol for post-cesarean pain.

Main Outcome Measures

The post-caesarean pain was evaluated four times before and after each session using Visual Analog Scale for pain. Also, the analgesia protocol for post-cesarean pain was recorded for all women.

Results

The acupressure group experienced the lowest level of post-cesarean pain compared with the placebo and control groups (P = 0.000). The consumption of pethidine hydrochloride and paracetamol was statistically lower in the acupressure group compared with the placebo and control groups (respectively, P = 0.002 and P = 0.040).

Conclusion

Acupressure is an effective method for reducing post-cesarean pain and analgesic consumption. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04337801.
Effects of the number of sperm and site of uterine semen deposition on conception rate and the number of embryos in weaned sows receiving a single fixed-time insemination
Authors: Belstra Brad A , Willenburg Kilby L , Gómez-López Domingo H , Knox Robert V , Stewart Kara R
Published: August 2020

Reducing the number of sperm needed to produce a litter with artificial insemination (AI) allows greater use of higher genetic merit boars. Induced ovulation with single fixed-time artificial insemination (SFTAI), combined with intrauterine (IUI) or deep uterine insemination (DUI), could improve fertility with low numbers of sperm. The objectives of the study were to determine the fertility effects of sperm numbers and the site of insemination. At weaning (0 h), sows (n = 534) were assigned by parity and estrus induction method (equine chorionic gonadotropin [eCG] or Control) to receive 1,200 × 106 sperm by IUI; 600, 300, or 150 × 106 sperm by IUI or DUI; or 75 × 106 sperm by DUI. At 80 h postweaning, sows received OvuGel and 26 h later a SFTAI using pooled semen. Sows were exposed to boars once daily and ultrasound was performed to determine follicle size and time of ovulation. Following SFTAI, sows were slaughtered 27 d after AI to determine pregnancy and litter traits. Data were analyzed using different models to test for effects of estrus induction, interaction of three levels of sperm (600 to 150) with two levels for site (IUI vs. DUI), and the overall effects of AI method (eight treatments). There was no effect (P > 0.05) of estrus induction on estrus (93%) within 5 d of weaning or on follicle size (6.1 mm) at OvuGel, but wean-to-estrus interval (3.8 vs. 4.0 d) was slightly reduced (P < 0.01) as was AI-to-ovulation interval (15.9 vs. 17.0 h, P = 0.04) for eCG and Control, respectively. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of estrus induction on pregnancy rate (78.6%), number of corpora lutea (CL; 21.7), or number of viable embryos (12.2). There was no effect of number of sperm or site of insemination and no interaction (P > 0.05) on pregnancy rate (range: 80.9% to 70.5%), but AI occurring after ovulation reduced the pregnancy rate (P < 0.02). The total number of embryos (range: 16.5 to 10.3) was not affected by estrus induction, number of sperm, or site of insemination (P > 0.05), but was influenced by AI treatment (P < 0.01). Treatments with a higher number of sperm (1,200 and 600) had more embryos compared with those with a lower number of sperm (300 to 75). The numbers of embryos also increased with the number of CL (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that the lower number of sperm affects litter size more than the pregnancy status. Acceptable fertility can be achieved with low numbers of sperm when using a SFTAI and uterine deposition, but AI-to-ovulation interval and ovulation rate influence final fecundity.
Effects of novel dental chews on oral health outcomes and halitosis in adult dogs
Authors: Carroll Meredith Q , Oba Patricia M , Sieja Kelly M , Alexander Celeste , Lye Lynn , de Godoy Maria R C , He Fei , Somrak Amy J , Keating Stephanie C J , Sage Adrianna M , Swanson Kelly S
Published: August 2020

Periodontal disease (PD) is the most common clinical condition occurring in adult dogs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits of daily dental chew administration on oral health outcomes in adult dogs. Twelve adult (mean age = 5.31 ± 1.08 yr; mean BW = 13.12 ± 1.39 kg) female beagle dogs were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design consisting of 28-d periods. On day 0 of each period, teeth were cleaned by a veterinary dentist blinded to treatments. Teeth then were scored for plaque, calculus, and gingivitis by the same veterinary dentist on day 28 of each period. Breath samples were measured for malodor (volatile sulfur compounds) on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 27 of each period. All dogs consumed the same commercial dry diet throughout the study. Control dogs were offered the diet only (CT), while treatment groups received the diet plus one of three dental chews. Two novel chews (Bones & Chews Dental Treats [BC]; Chewy, Inc., Dania Beach, FL and Dr. Lyon’s Grain-Free Dental Treats [DL]; Dr. Lyon’s, LLC, Dania Beach, FL) and a leading brand chew (Greenies Dental Treats [GR]; Mars Petcare US, Franklin, TN) were tested. Each day, one chew was provided 4 h after mealtime. All tooth scoring data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Halimeter data were analyzed using repeated measures using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS and testing for differences due to treatment, time, and treatment * time interaction. Data are reported as LS means ± SEM with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. DL performed at the same level as the leading brand, GR, as both resulted in lower (P < 0.05) plaque coverage and thickness scores, calculus coverage scores, and day 27 volatile sulfur concentrations compared with CT. Additionally, DL reduced (P < 0.05) volatile sulfur compounds on day 14 when compared with CT. BC reduced (P < 0.05) calculus coverage and day 27 volatile sulfur concentrations compared with CT. Our results suggest that the dental chews tested in this study may help slow the development and/or progression of PD in dogs.
Cryptic species inGlossophaga soricina(Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae): do morphological data support molecular evidence?
Authors: Calahorra-Oliart Adriana , Ospina-Garcés Sandra M , León-Paniagua Livia
Published: August 2020

Cryptic species, defined as those that are morphologically indistinguishable but phylogenetically distinct, are common in bats and correspond to the majority of newly described species. Such seems to be the case of Glossophaga soricina, a generalist, glossophagine bat that is broadly distributed throughout the Neotropics. Several studies have found high levels of molecular variation within G. soricina, suggesting that it could be a cryptic species complex. Here, we explore data derived from two-dimensional geometric morphometric analyses of cranial characters and their covariation with environmental variables, aiming to test the existence of more than one species grouped within it and to contribute to the knowledge of its variation and evolutionary history. Variation in shape and size of skull and mandible supports the two main mitochondrial lineages reported in previous studies, one corresponding to the east side of the Andes (subspecies G. s. soricina) and the other one corresponding to populations from Mesoamerica and the west side of the Andes, in turn composed of at least three monophyletic and morphologically differentiated taxa. Environmental variables correlate with shape variation and might be responsible for convergences in shape and size between the species with the smallest distributions. Based on the evidence we present in this work we elevate four subspecies to the taxonomic level of species. The correct names for the species of the analyzed complex are: G. soricina (Pallas 1766), G. mutica Merriam 1898, G. antillarum Rehn 1902, and G. valens Miller 1913.
Postoperative small bowel obstruction secondary to single malformed staple following laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy
Authors: DiChiacchio Laura , O’Neill Natalie A , Kligman Mark , Bafford Andrea C
Published: August 2020

Surgical staplers are ubiquitous in gastrointestinal surgery, especially laparoscopy. Intraperitoneal staples are designed to be inert and are generally regarded as benign; however, complications from primarily malformed staples can rarely occur. Here, we present a case of early mechanical postoperative small bowel obstruction due to a surgical staple following laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy and end ileostomy creation performed for medically refractory ulcerative colitis. Management consisted of diagnostic laparoscopy and careful extraction of a malformed surgical staple tethering a loop of small bowel to the rectal stump. Eight similar cases following gastrointestinal surgery have been identified in the literature, all occurring in the first 2 weeks following laparoscopic appendectomy. To our knowledge, this is the first case described following laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy, with high-grade small bowel obstruction at the level of the rectal stump staple line.
Sex tourism, disease migration and COVID-19: lessons learnt and best practices moving forward
Authors: Hillis Alyson , Leavey Conan , Kewley Stephanie , Church Susan , Van Hout Marie Claire
Published: August 2020

COVID-19 has closed borders and halted trade across industries, including sex tourism. With the waning of the pandemic, we anticipate a surge in risky sexual behaviour, reigniting international to domestic and community disease transmission and migration. This is a call to action to scale-up preparedness for the future diversification of contagious and infectious diseases.
Open sets in computability theory and reverse mathematics
Authors: Normann Dag , Sanders Sam
Published: August 2020

To enable the study of open sets in computational approaches to mathematics, lots of extra data and structure on these sets is assumed. For both foundational and mathematical reasons, it is then a natural question, and the subject of this paper, what the influence of this extra data and structure is on the logical and computational properties of basic theorems pertaining to open sets. To answer this question, we study various basic theorems of analysis, like the Baire category, Heine, Heine–Borel, Urysohn and Tietze theorems, all for open sets given by their (third-order) characteristic functions. Regarding computability theory, the objects claimed to exist by the aforementioned theorems undergo a shift from ‘computable’ to ‘not computable in any type 2 functional’, following Kleene’s S1–S9. Regarding reverse mathematics, the latter’s main question, namely which set existence axioms are necessary for proving a given theorem, does not have a unique or unambiguous answer for the aforementioned theorems, working in Kohlenbach’s higher-order framework. A finer study of representations of open sets leads to the new ‘$\varDelta$-functional’ that has unique (computational) properties.
Incidence and Mechanisms of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Deployed Navy Active Duty Service Members Aboard Two U.S. Navy Air Craft Carriers
Authors: Hiebert Rudi , Brennan Tara , Campello Marco , Lis Angela , Ziemke Gregg , Faulkner Danielle , Weiser Sherri
Published: August 2020

Introduction

This brief report describes the number and nature of cases of musculoskeletal pain and injury among sailors and marines presenting to the ship’s physical therapist during recent, respective deployments of two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

Materials and Methods

The case definition for this study was cases of work-limiting medical complaints involving the musculoskeletal system presenting, or referred, to the ship’s physical therapy services for evaluation and treatment. The population for this study was drawn from ship’s company from two Nimitz class carriers on their respective deployments. Potential subjects were recruited at their index visit for their complaint. Participants completed a survey of their symptoms while at the ship’s medical department. Data for analysis consist of counts of cases, body part affected, self-reported mechanism of injury, age, and gender of the subject. Data were analyzed by generating descriptive tables.

Results

One hundred ninety-seven cases were captured across the two carriers. Injury to the low back was the most frequent (34%), followed by shoulder (25%) and knee (15%). Twenty one cases (11%) were reported to be exacerbation of previous injuries and the rest new injuries. Of the 176 new injury cases, 93 (53%) were of an insidious onset and the remainder had a specific, identifiable onset. Of the 82 cases with a specific identifiable onset, 38 cases (46%) occurred during participation in sport and exercise activity on board ship, and the remainder of the cases occurred during the performance of duty-related work. None of the cases required evacuation off of the ship.

Conclusion

Care should be used interpreting the results since participants were volunteers and a small proportion of eligible subjects chose not to participate in the study. Nevertheless, our data are generally consistent with other studies of musculoskeletal injury on board U.S. Navy ships and are useful for health care planning purposes and for planning for future studies that may take place on board U.S. Navy vessels. The novel and important finding of this study suggests that sports and exercise activity on board ship may warrant a new area of attention for safety.
Simulating pulsar glitches: anN-body solver for superfluid vortex motion in two dimensions
Authors: Howitt G , Melatos A , Haskell B
Published: August 2020

A rotating superfluid forms an array of quantized vortex lines that determine its angular velocity. The spasmodic evolution of the array under the influence of deceleration, dissipation, and pinning forces is thought to be responsible for the phenomenon of pulsar glitches, sudden jumps in the spin frequency of rotating neutron stars. We describe and implement an N-body method for simulating the motion of up to 5000 vortices in two dimensions and present the results of numerical experiments validating the method, including stability of a vortex ring and dissipative formation of an Abrikosov array. Vortex avalanches occur routinely in the simulations, when chains of unpinning events are triggered collectively by vortex–vortex repulsion, consistent with previous, smaller scale studies using the Gross–Pitaevskii equation. The probability density functions of the avalanche sizes and waiting times are consistent with both exponential and lognormal distributions. We find weak correlations between glitch sizes and waiting times, consistent with astronomical data and meta-models of pulsar glitch activity as a state-dependent Poisson process or a Brownian stress-accumulation process, and inconsistent with a threshold-triggered stress-release model with a single, global stress reservoir. The spatial distribution of the effective stress within the simulation volume is analysed before and after a glitch.
The stationary points of the hierarchical three-body problem
Authors: Hansen Bradley M S , Naoz Smadar
Published: August 2020

We study the stationary points of the hierarchical three body problem in the planetary limit (m1, m2 ≪ m0) at both the quadrupole and octupole orders. We demonstrate that the extension to octupole order preserves the principal stationary points of the quadrupole solution in the limit of small outer eccentricity e2 but that new families of stable fixed points occur in both prograde and retrograde cases. The most important new equilibria are those that branch off from the quadrupolar solutions and extend to large e2. The apsidal alignment of these families is a function of mass and inner planet eccentricity, and is determined by the relative directions of precession of ω1 and ω2 at the quadrupole level. These new equilibria are also the most resilient to the destabilizing effects of relativistic precession. We find additional equilibria that enable libration of the inner planet argument of pericentre in the limit of radial orbits and recover the non-linear analogue of the Laplace–Lagrange solutions in the coplanar limit. Finally, we show that the chaotic diffusion and orbital flips identified with the eccentric Kozai–Lidov mechanism and its variants can be understood in terms of the stationary points discussed here.