bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic differentiation of co-occurring Accumulibacter clades revealed through genome-resolved metatranscriptomics
Authors: McDaniel Elizabeth A. , Moya-Flores Francisco , Beach Natalie Keene , Camejo Pamela Y. , Oyserman Ben O. , Kizaric Matthew , Khor Eng Hoe , Noguera Daniel R. , McMahon Katherine D.
Published: November 2020

Natural microbial communities consist of closely related taxa that may exhibit phenotypic differences and inhabit distinct niches. However, connecting genetic diversity to ecological properties remains a challenge in microbial ecology due to the lack of pure cultures across the microbial tree of life.‘CandidatusAccumulibacter phosphatis’ is a polyphosphate-accumulating organism that contributes to the Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) biotechnological process for removing excess phosphorus from wastewater and preventing eutrophication from downstream receiving waters. Distinct Accumulibacter clades often co-exist in full-scale wastewater treatment plants and lab-scale enrichment bioreactors, and have been hypothesized to inhabit distinct ecological niches. However, since individual strains of the Accumulibacter lineage have not been isolated in pure culture to date, these predictions have been made solely on genome-based comparisons and enrichments with varying strain composition. Here, we used genome-resolved metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to explore the activity of co-existing Accumulibacter strains in an engineered bioreactor environment. We obtained four high-quality genomes of Accumulibacter strains that were present in the bioreactor ecosystem, one of which is a completely contiguous draft genome scaffolded with long Nanopore reads. We identified core and accessory genes to investigate how gene expression patterns differed among the dominating strains. Using this approach, we were able to identify putative pathways and functions that may confer distinct functions to Accumulibacter strains and provide key functional insights into this biotechnologically significant microbial lineage.

IMPORTANCE

‘CandidatusAccumulibacter phosphatis’ is a model polyphosphate accumulating organism that has been studied using genome-resolved metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics to understand the EBPR process. Within the Accumulibacter lineage, several similar but diverging clades are defined by shared sequence identity of the polyphosphate kinase (ppk1)locus. These clades are predicted to have key functional differences in acetate uptake rates, phage defense mechanisms, and nitrogen cycling capabilities. However, such hypotheses have largely been made based on gene-content comparisons of sequenced Accumulibacter genomes, some of which were obtained from different systems. Here, we performed time-series genome-resolved metatranscriptomics to explore gene expression patterns of co-existing Accumulibacter clades in the same bioreactor ecosystem. Our work provides an approach for elucidating ecologically relevant functions based on gene expression patterns between closely related microbial populations.
SAICAr-dependent and independent effects of ADSL deficiency on neurodevelopment
Authors: Dutto Ilaria , Gerhards Julian , Herrera Antonio , Junza Alexandra , Yanes Oscar , Boeckx Cedric , Burkhalter Martin D. , Pons Sebastian , Philipp Melanie , Lüders Jens , Stracker Travis H.
Published: November 2020

Adenylosuccinate Lyase (ADSL) functions in thede novopurine biosynthesis pathway. ADSL deficiency (ADSLD) causes numerous neurodevelopmental pathologies, including microcephaly and autism spectrum disorder. ADSLD patients have normal purine nucleotide levels but exhibit accumulation of the dephosphorylated ADSL substrates SAICAr and S-Ado. SAICAr was implicated in the neurotoxic effects of ADSLD, although its role remains unknown. We examined the effects of ADSL depletion in human cells and found increased DNA damage signaling, that was rescued by nucleosides, and impaired primary ciliogenesis, that was rescued by reducing SAICAr. By analyzing ADSL deficient chicken and zebrafish embryos we observed impaired neurogenesis and microcephaly, and neuroprogenitor attrition in zebrafish was rescued by reducing SAICAr. Zebrafish embryos also displayed phenotypes commonly linked to ciliopathies. Our results suggest that both reduced purine levels and SAICAr accumulation contribute to neurodevelopmental pathology in ADSLD and defective ciliogenesis may influence the ADSLD phenotypic spectrum.
The Selenoprotein P 3’ untranslated region is an RNA binding protein platform that fine tunes selenocysteine incorporation
Authors: Shetty Sumangala P. , Kiledjian Nora T. , Copeland Paul R.
Published: November 2020

Selenoproteins contain the 21st amino acid, selenocysteine (Sec), which is incorporated at select UGA codons when a specialized hairpin sequence, the Sec insertion sequence (SECIS) element, is present in the 3’ UTR. Aside from the SECIS, selenoprotein mRNA 3’ UTRs are not conserved between different selenoproteins within a species. In contrast, the 3’-UTR of a given selenoprotein is often conserved across species, which supports the hypothesis that cis-acting elements in the 3’-UTR other than the SECIS exert post-transcriptional control on selenoprotein expression. In order to determine the function of one such SECIS context, we chose to focus on the plasma selenoprotein, SELENOP, which is required to maintain selenium homeostasis as a selenium transport protein that contains 10 Sec residues. It is unique in that its mRNA contains two SECIS elements in the context of a highly conserved 843-nucleotide 3’ UTR. Here we have used RNA affinity chromatography and identified PTBP1 as the major RNA binding protein that specifically interacts with the sequence between the two SECIS elements. We then used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to delete two regions surrounding the first SECIS element. We found that these sequences are involved in regulating SELENOP mRNA and protein levels, which are inversely altered as a function of selenium concentrations.
Beyond fear centers - a distributed fMRI-based neuromarker for the subjective experience of fear
Authors: Zhou Feng , Zhao Weihua , Qi Ziyu , Geng Yayuan , Yao Shuxia , Kendrick Keith M. , Wager Tor D. , Becker Benjamin
Published: November 2020

The specific neural systems underlying the subjective feeling of fear remain vigorously debated in affective neuroscience. Here, we combined functional MRI with machine learning to identify and evaluate a sensitive and generalizable neural signature predictive of the momentary self-reported subjective fear experience across discovery (n=67), validation (n=20) and generalization (n=31) cohorts. We systematically demonstrate that accurate fear prediction crucially requires distributed brain systems, with important contributions from cortical (e.g., prefrontal, midcingulate and insular cortices) and subcortical (e.g., thalamus, periaqueductal gray, basal forebrain and amygdala) regions. We further demonstrate that the neural representation of subjective fear is distinguishable from the representation of conditioned threat and general negative affect. Overall, our findings suggest that subjective fear, which exhibits distinct neural representation with some other aversive states, is encoded in distributed systems rather than isolated ‘fear centers’. This signature provides a neuromarker for monitoring fear-related neuropathology and evaluating novel treatments targeting pathological fear.
Assembly of two novel coordination polymers by selecting ditopic or chelating auxiliary ligands with naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid: synthesis, structure and luminescence sensing
Authors: Zuo Yuxiang , Yang Jie , Chen Cheng , Xue Yun-Shan , Zhang Jun
Published: November 2020

The FeIII ion as a ubiquitous metal plays a key role in biochemical processes. Iron deficiency or excess in the human body can induce various diseases. Thus, effective detection of the FeIII ion has been deemed an issue of focus. To develop more crystalline chemical sensors for the selective detection of Fe3+, two novel two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers, namely, poly[[[μ-bis(pyridin-4-yl)amine-κ2
N:N′](μ-naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylato-κ2
O
2:O
6)zinc(II)] 0.5-hydrate], {[Zn(C12H6O4)(C10H9N3)]·0.5H2O}
n
, 1, and poly[(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine-κ2
N,N′)(μ-naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylato-κ2
O
2:O
6)hemi(μ-naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid-κ2
O
2:O
6)copper(II)] [Cu(C12H6O4)(C12H12N2)(C12H8O4)0.5]
n
, 2, have been prepared using solvothermal methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that compound 1 is an undulating twofold interpenetrated 2D (4,4)-sql network and compound 2 is a twofold interpenetrated 2D honeycomb-type network with a (6,3)-hcb topology. In addition, 1 exhibits highly selective sensing for the Fe3+ ion.
X-ray crystal structure of trans-bis(pyridin-3-yl)ethylene: comparing the supramolecular structural features among the symmetrical bis(n-pyridyl)ethylenes (n = 2, 3, or 4) constitutional isomers
Authors: Quentin Jay , Reinheimer Eric W. , MacGillivray Leonard R.
Published: November 2020

The molecular structure of trans-bis(pyridin-3-yl)ethylene (3,3′-bpe), C12H10N2, as determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction is reported. The molecule self-assembles into two dimensional arrays by a combination of C—H...N hydrogen bonds and edge-to-face C—H...π interactions that stack in a herringbone arrangement perpendicular to the crystallographic c-axis. The supramolecular forces that direct the packing of 3,3′-bpe as well as its packing assembly within the crystal are also compared to those observed within the structures of the other symmetrical isomers trans-1,2-bis(n-pyridyl)ethylene (
n
,
n

′-bpe, where n = n′ = 2 or 4).
Arginine off-kilter: guanidinium is not as planar as restraints denote
Authors: Moriarty Nigel W. , Liebschner Dorothee , Tronrud Dale E. , Adams Paul D.
Published: November 2020

Crystallographic refinement of macromolecular structures relies on stereochemical restraints to mitigate the typically poor data-to-parameter ratio. For proteins, each amino acid has a unique set of geometry restraints which represent stereochemical information such as bond lengths, valence angles, torsion angles, dihedrals and planes. It has been shown that the geometry in refined structures can differ significantly from that present in libraries; for example, it was recently reported that the guanidinium moiety in arginine is not symmetric. In this work, the asymmetry of the Nɛ—Cζ—Nη1 and Nɛ—Cζ—Nη2 valence angles in the guanidinium moiety is confirmed. In addition, it was found that the Cδ atom can deviate significantly (more than 20°) from the guanidinium plane. This requires the relaxation of the planar restraint for the Cδ atom, as it otherwise causes the other atoms in the group to compensate by distorting the guanidinium core plane. A new set of restraints for the arginine side chain have therefore been formulated, and are available in the software package Phenix, that take into account the asymmetry of the group and the planar deviation of the Cδ atom. This is an example of the need to regularly revisit the geometric restraint libraries used in macromolecular refinement so that they reflect the best knowledge of the structural chemistry of their components available at the time.
(E)-3-Thia-1,5(1,3)-dibenzenacycloundecaphan-8-ene-6,11-dione 3,3-dioxide
Authors: Kotha Sambasivarao , Gupta Naveen Kumar , Ansari Saima
Published: November 2020

The molecular structure of the title cyclophane, C20H18O4S, has two benzyl groups, a sulfone group, and two carbonyl groups adjacent to a double bond. The phenyl rings do not show intramolecular stacking.
Effects of zirconium addition on electrochemical and mechanical properties of Mg-3Zn-1Ca-1RE alloy
Authors: Mousavian Seyed Mohammad Hossein , Tabaian Seyed Hadi , Badihehaghdam Mohammadhassan
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The effect of zirconium, zinc, calcium and rare earth group as the alloying elements on mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of magnesium alloys was investigated in the simulated body fluid.

Design/methodology/approach

Pure magnesium and the alloying elements were melted and zirconium was finally added to obtain different alloys. The castings were annealed and some samples were aged heat treated. X-ray fluorescence was used for the elemental analysis and LSV was used for electrochemical corrosion evaluations.

Findings

Results showed that corrosion resistance decreases with increasing zirconium content. The lowest corrosion rate was obtained for the samples containing 0.3% and 0.45% of Zr from annealed and aging heat-treated samples, respectively. Yield stress enhances with increasing the zirconium content and degrades by the aging heat treatment.

Originality/value

These alloys were studied for the first time. Effect of casting without using protective flux and vacuum furnaces. Effect of annealing at 440°C for 2 h and artificial aging at 200°C for 16 h. Alloy’s electrochemical behavior on the body’s simulation environment has been investigated. Improvement of mechanical properties after annealing heat treatment by high zirconium percentage.
A systematic literature review on supply chain risk management: is healthcare management a forsaken research field?
Authors: Senna Pedro , Reis Augusto , Santos Igor Leão , Dias Ana Claudia , Coelho Ormeu
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present a systematic literature review (SLR) to investigate how supply chain risk management (SCRM) is applied to the healthcare supply chains and which improvement opportunities are being missed in this segment.

Design/methodology/approach

This SLR used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method to answer three research questions: (1) Which are the main gaps concerning healthcare supply chain risk management (HCSCRM)? (2) What is the definition of HCSCRM? and (3) What are the risk management techniques and approaches used in healthcare supply chains?

Findings

The authors present a complete summary of the HCSCRM body of research, investigating research strings like clinical engineering and high reliability organizations (HROs) and its relations with HCSCRM; (1) This research revealed the five pillars of HCSCRM; (2) The authors proposed a formal definition for HCSCRM considering all the literature blocks explored and (3) The authors generated a list of risks present in healthcare supply chains resulting from extensive article research.

Research limitations/implications

The authors only reviewed international journal articles (published in the English language), excluding conference papers, dissertations and theses, textbooks, book chapters, unpublished articles and notes. In addition, the study did not thoroughly investigate specific countries' particularities concerning how the healthcare providers are organized.

Originality/value

The contribution of this article is threefold: (1) To the best of authors knowledge, there is no other SLR about HCSCRM published in the scientific literature by the time of realization of authors’ work, suggesting that is the first effort to fulfill this research gap; (2) Following the previous contribution, in this work the authors propose a first formal definition for HCSCRM and (3) The authors analyzed concepts such as clinical engineering and HROs to establish the building blocks of HCSCRM.
Developing a QFD model for prioritizing the CSFs of ERP based on the enablers of organizational agility
Authors: Ahmadzadeh Ali , Sheikh Aboumasoudi Abbas , Shahin Arash , Teimouri Hadi
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to develop a model for prioritizing the critical success factors (CSF) of enterprise resources planning (ERP) based on the enablers of organizational agility (OA).

Design/methodology/approach

First, the CSFs of ERP and the enablers of OA have been identified and classified using Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and then a three-phase quality function deployment (QFD) model has been designed to prioritize the influencing and influenced criteria. The proposed approach has been examined in the banking sector.

Findings

Major findings indicated that organizational structure, IT technology infrastructure, and commitment and support by top managers were selected as indicators with top priority.

Research limitations/implications

Research variables were limited to the enablers of OA and the CSFs of ERP; analysis was time-consuming due to the interconnected multiple QFD phases, and findings were limited to the selected branches of a bank. The bank managers were suggested to enhance their commitment and support toward ERP. Also, it was recommended to the managers to evaluate their organizational structure and empower it as much as possible toward the fulfillment of customers' requirements and customers' expected agility.

Originality/value

The development of the QFD matrices and dividing the factors of each research variables into influencing and influenced factors distinguished this study from the literature.
Performance implications of combining creative and imitative innovation strategies
Authors: Moon Changho , Acquaah Moses
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance effects of pure innovation strategies (creative and imitative) versus the combination of the two innovation strategies (combination innovation strategy) and to determine whether implementing the combination innovation strategy produces an incremental performance benefit over the pure innovation strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

We used archival data from the Korea Innovation Survey (KIS) completed by a large sample of South Korea manufacturing firms and some financial data provided by the South Korea Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI). We used hierarchical multiple regression analysis to analyze the data from 486 firms.

Findings

The findings indicated that firms implementing any of the three innovation strategies of creative innovation, imitative innovation and combination innovation outperforms noninnovators. Results also show that while firms implementing the combination innovation strategy perform better than those implementing imitative innovation strategies, they do not significantly differ in performance from firms implementing the creative innovation strategy. Moreover, we find no performance difference between creative innovation and imitative innovation strategies.

Practical implications

The study highlights the importance of combination innovation strategies for manufacturing firms that rely on imitative innovation strategies to gain competitive advantage in the market. However, it demonstrates that firms that are successful in using creative innovation strategies must use their resources in exploiting that advantage.

Originality/value

Although extant studies have demonstrated the importance of both creative innovation and imitative innovation strategies in enhancing performance, it is not clear whether implementing both strategies at the same time has incremental value for firms. This study focusses on empirically examining the performance implications of creative innovation and imitative innovation strategies, and whether the pursuit of a combination innovation strategy (simultaneous pursuit of both innovation strategies) provides any incremental benefit is unique.
Enhancing customer-brand relationship by leveraging loyalty program experiences that foster customer-brand identification
Authors: Shin Minjung , Back Ki-Joon , Lee Choong-Ki , Lee Young-Sub
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate ways in which hotel loyalty programs can be designed to enhance customer’s identification with a hotel brand and develop a sustainable customer-brand relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a cross-sectional design survey questionnaire for data collection and used structural equation modeling data analysis to test the conceptual model.

Findings

The three loyalty program experiences proposed (member-to-member similarity, memorable loyalty program experience and loyalty program social benefits) exerted significant positive effects on customer-brand identification (CBI), which, in turn, influences customer-brand relationship elements, including trust, commitment and switching resistance.

Originality/value

This study expands the scope of CBI literature, which previously focused substantially on brand level experiences, by being the first to explore a new set of CBI antecedents with a focus on loyalty program experiences. Furthermore, the current study’s findings delineate specific strategies to uphold the social and experiential aspects of loyalty programs that can develop sustainable customer-brand relationships.
Troubled IS/IT projects: searching for the root causes
Authors: Rocchi Paolo , Za Stefano
Published: November 2020

Purpose

For decades, troubled information systems (IS)/information technology (IT) projects have continued to lose billions of dollars all over the world. The purpose of this paper is to look for the root causes of this widespread and important phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper begins with a concise survey of empirical research and shows that a significant proportion of project failures are derived from the behavior of managers rather than from objective or technical obstacles. Although researchers have made significant efforts to improve the professional conduct of managers, the situation ameliorated only slowly. This raises the issue of a possible hidden cause lying behind the perceived determinants of failure; the authors, therefore, look for the root-cause of this broad noteworthy phenomenon and apply the techniques typical of “root-cause analysis”.

Findings

IS/IT managers handling troubled projects worldwide have nothing in common except for a similar cultural basis. As students, they learned the fundamental concepts of informatics, and it is, therefore, natural to hypothesize a specific cause and effect relationship between these lessons and the ineffective behaviors of managers. A careful analysis shows that computing theories are narrow, self-referential and abstract, and this negatively affects the conduct of managers, who have broad, practical responsibilities.

Practical implications

The cultural causes of runaway projects require advanced theoretical research on the foundations of computer science to create a comprehensive and consistent construct that can support the manifold duties of IS/IT project leaders. A future theoretical structure will underpin innovative courses in universities and professional organizations, making leaders more aware of their roles and more capable of managing them.

Originality/value

In general, when a problem is traced to its origin, it can be eradicated. This work offers evidence that the root causes of troubled projects lie in the management culture, and therefore, the professional preparation of managers needs to be improved so to remove the present difficulties in IS/IT projects.
Reduction of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 infectivity by admissible concentration of ozone gas and water
Authors: Murata Takayuki , Komoto Satoshi , Iwahori Satoko , Sasaki Jun , Nishitsuji Hironori , Hasebe Terumitsu , Hoshinaga Kiyotaka , Yuzawa Yukio
Published: November 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is causing the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Because complete elimination of SARS‐CoV‐2 appears difficult, decreasing the risk of transmission is important. Treatment with 0.1 and 0.05 ppm ozone gas for 10 and 20 hr, respectively, decreased SARS‐CoV‐2 infectivity by about 95%. The magnitude of the effect was dependent on humidity. Treatment with 1 and 2 mg/L ozone water for 10 s reduced SARS‐CoV‐2 infectivity by about 2 and 3 logs, respectively. Our results suggest that low‐dose ozone, in the form of gas and water, is effective against SARS‐CoV‐2.
Frugivory underpins the nitrogen cycle
Authors: Villar Nacho , Paz Claudia , Zipparro Valesca , Nazareth Sergio , Bulascoschi Leticia , Bakker Elisabeth S. , Galetti Mauro
Published: November 2020

Tropical rainforests are populated by large frugivores that feed upon fruit‐producing woody species, yet their role in regulating the cycle of globally important biogeochemical elements such as nitrogen is still unknown. This is particularly relevant because tropical forests play a prominent role in the nitrogen cycle and are becoming rapidly defaunated. Furthermore, frugivory is not considered in current plant‐large herbivore‐nutrient cycling frameworks exclusively focused on grazers and browsers.

Here we used a long‐term replicated paired control‐exclusion experiment in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, where peccaries and tapirs are the largest native frugivores, to examine the impact of large ground‐dwelling frugivores on modulating soil nitrogen cycling, considering their effects across a gradient of abundance of a hyper‐dominant palm.

We found that both large frugivores and dominant palms play a substantial role in modulating ammonium availability and nitrification rates. Large frugivores increased ammonium by 95%, which also increased additively with palm abundance. Nitrification rates increased with palm abundance in the presence of large frugivores, but not on exclosure plots. Large frugivores also stimulated the regulation of the functions of soil‐nitrifying microorganisms, and modulated the landscape‐scale variance in nitrogen availability. Such joint effects of large frugivores and palms are consistent with the notion of ‘fruiting lawns’.

Our study indicates that frugivory plays a pivotal role in zoogeochemistry in tropical forests by regulating and structuring the nitrogen cycle, urging to accommodate frugivory in plant‐large herbivore‐nutrient cycling frameworks. It also indicates that defaunation, deforestation and illegal palm and timber harvesting seriously affect nitrogen cycling in tropical forests, that play a prominent role in the global cycle of this nutrient.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Unexpected death in a young man associated with a unilateral swollen leg: Pathological and toxicological findings in a fatal snakebite from Deinagkistrodon acutus (Chinese moccasin)
Authors: Huang Fang , Zhao Shuquan , Tong Fang , Liang Yue , Le Grange Jehane Michael , Kuang Wenhua , Zhou Yiwu
Published: November 2020

Deinagkistrodon acutus (D. acutus), also known as the Chinese moccasin, is a viper species found throughout the southeastern parts of China, northern Vietnam and Laos. D. acutus envenomation can result in coagulopathy and lead to death if not treated correctly. A 20‐year‐old man was discovered with a severely swollen left thigh with overlying dark purple, discolored skin. He was immediately transported to hospital. Laboratory examinations revealed dysfunctional coagulation and fluid‐electrolyte imbalances. He died 2 h later despite resuscitation efforts. Surveillance footage revealed that he had walked through a grass field while returning home that night. Autopsy and pathological examination findings revealed a large area of muscle necrosis of the left thigh, renal tubular necrosis, and hepatocyte necrosis. Potential fang marks were found on the decedent's jeans. Due to our suspicions, we performed specific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and detected D. acutus venom in the kidneys, left thigh muscle, liver, lung, spleen, and heart tissues of the decedent. In conclusion, the clinical manifestations, autopsy, histopathological examination, ELISA, and investigation results confirmed D. acutus envenomation.
Statistical comparisons of blood alcohol samples from 6‐mL and 10‐mL grey‐top tubes
Authors: Olds Maria L. , Naquin Jennifer L.
Published: November 2020

Historically, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) studies utilized a 1% concentration of the preservative sodium fluoride (NaF), leaving an information gap supporting usage of lower concentrations of NaF to preserve ethanol. As many forensic laboratories utilize Becton, Dickinson and Company 6‐mL gray‐top tubes (0.25% NaF), statistical comparisons were conducted to determine whether significant differences exist between BAC values obtained from 6‐mL tubes versus 10‐mL tubes (1% NaF). Whole blood was spiked at three concentrations, (0.04, 0.08, and 0.15 g/100 mL) and aliquoted into tubes at “low,” “medium,” and “high” fill volumes. Tubes were split into refrigerated or ambient storage and analyzed after 1, 3, 5, 7, and 30 days, using headspace gas chromatography. Each 6‐mL and 10‐mL tube pair, prepared, stored, and analyzed under identical conditions, was compared by t‐test (95% confidence level). For refrigerated tubes, 32 of 45‐tube pairs did not reject the null hypothesis (that 6‐mL and 10‐mL tubes yield equivalent BACs), and 31 of 45 ambient stored tube pairs did not reject the null hypothesis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) found no significant differences between 6‐mL and 10‐mL gray‐top tubes for 0.04 and 0.15 g/100 mL concentrations over 30 days; significant differences were observed for 0.08 g/100 mL concentration tubes, which warrants further study. Paired t‐tests of grouped samples found no significant differences between 6‐mL and 10‐mL tubes at any concentration.
Inferring patterns of sympatry among large carnivores in Manas National Park – a prey‐rich habitat influenced by anthropogenic disturbances
Authors: Lahkar D. , Ahmed M. F. , Begum R. H. , Das S. K. , Harihar A.
Published: November 2020

Inferring the mechanisms that facilitate sympatry amongst large mammalian carnivores in anthropogenically altered habitats is critical if conservation initiatives aimed to recover populations are to be effective. In this study, we assessed the utilization of space, time and prey resources by tigers Panthera tigris, leopards P. pardus and dholes Cuon alpinus  in Manas National Park (MNP), India – a site where prey densities are not limiting, yet anthropogenic influences alter the spatial and temporal behaviour of prey. We use photographic capture data and predator scats collected over three sampling years (2014–15, 2015–16 and 2016–17) to assess patterns of (a) spatial use using a multispecies species occupancy framework, (b) time–activity patterns and overlap between predators and prey using non‐parametric circular kernel‐density functions, (c) fine‐scale spatio‐temporal behaviour by comparing time‐to‐encounters of subsequent events and (d) predator diets by analysing prey remains in predator scats. Our results highlight that the predators segregate through fine‐scale spatio‐temporal avoidance rather than displaying population‐level changes in space‐use, activity patterns or food habits. Overlap in space‐use between tigers and leopards was high and time–activity patterns of the predators closely matched those of prey, suggesting that predators likely maximize resource acquisition in this prey‐rich environment. Ungulate prey dominated the diet of predators, resulting in the high dietary overlap. From our results, we infer patterns of sympatry among large carnivores in the face of anthropogenic influences and highlight the need to understand interspecific interactions within a community before initiating conservation actions aimed at recovering these endangered species.
Oral health perceptions and client satisfaction among homeless adults attending a community‐centred dental clinic
Authors: Hawkesford JL , Lette H , Saunders J , Slack‐Smith L
Published: November 2020

Background

The homeless face significant barriers accessing dental care. Community‐centred dental clinics might provide more accessible care to this group. This descriptive epidemiological study aimed to measure oral health perceptions and client satisfaction among homeless and similarly disadvantaged adults receiving community‐centred dental care.

Methods

A sample of 79 clients attending St Patrick’s Oral Health Clinic completed Locker’s Global Oral Health Item, the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire 4.

Results

High levels of satisfaction with St Patrick’s Oral Health Clinic were based on positive staff attitudes, low cost, time effectiveness and staff sensitivity to anxiety. Ideas for improvement included shorter treatment waiting lists, offering additional treatment types and better communication and advertisement of the service. Compared to the general Australian population, participants reported a relatively poor self‐perception of oral health and a high prevalence and severity of oral health impacts.

Conclusions

Participants experienced significant personal and social impacts due to their oral conditions. High levels of client satisfaction reflect the value of community‐centred dental care for this group. An understanding of factors influencing satisfaction might be useful for similar services providing oral care to homeless and similarly disadvantaged groups.
A functional mutation in the AMPD1 promoter region affects promoter activity and breast meat freshness in chicken
Authors: Yu S. , Wang G. , Liao J. , Chen X.
Published: November 2020

Freshness is an important index to determine the quality deterioration (protein degradation and changes in appearance) of chilled chicken meat and is a primary consideration of consumers. Adenosine monophosphate deaminase 1 (AMPD1) catalyzes the deamination of adenosine monophosphate to inosine monophosphate in skeletal muscle and is the rate‐limiting step in the purine nucleotide cycle. Inosine monophosphate is regarded as an important indicator of meat freshness in chicken. This study investigated the association of polymorphisms in the chicken AMPD1 promoter region with meat freshness during freezing storage. An SNP (c. –905G>A) was found to be associated with the freshness (K‐value) of chicken breast meat. Chickens with the AA genotype had significantly lower K‐values than those with GG and AG genotypes (P < 0.01). Individuals with the AA genotype also had higher breast meat AMPD1 mRNA levels than did those with the GG and AG genotypes (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). A luciferase assay revealed that genotype AA had greater transcriptional activity than genotype GG. Transcription factor binding site analysis identified distinct putative transcription factor binding sites in the two alleles of mutation site c. –905. In summary, we identified an SNP (c. –905G>A) in the promoter region of the AMPD1 gene that may modulate the binding affinity of different transcription factors to control AMPD1 expression and affect the freshness K‐value of chicken meat.
End‐point selection to determine the airway‐systemic ratio of inhaled corticosteroids in asthma
Authors: Lipworth Brian , Chan Rory , Kuo Chris Rui Wen
Published: November 2020

Key Points

The use of adenosine monophosphate challenge and basal cortisol as short‐term surrogate end points of airway‐systemic effects of inhaled corticosteroids in asthma is not suitable to properly determine the clinically relevant long‐term therapeutic index.
Learning Elastic Constitutive Material and Damping Models
Authors: Wang Bin , Deng Yuanmin , Kry Paul , Ascher Uri , Huang Hui , Chen Baoquan
Published: November 2020

Commonly used linear and nonlinear constitutive material models in deformation simulation contain many simplifications and only cover a tiny part of possible material behavior. In this work we propose a framework for learning customized models of deformable materials from example surface trajectories. The key idea is to iteratively improve a correction to a nominal model of the elastic and damping properties of the object, which allows new forward simulations with the learned correction to more accurately predict the behavior of a given soft object. Space‐time optimization is employed to identify gentle control forces with which we extract necessary data for model inference and to finally encapsulate the material correction into a compact parametric form. Furthermore, a patch based position constraint is proposed to tackle the challenge of handling incomplete and noisy observations arising in real‐world examples. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method with a set of synthetic examples, as well with data captured from real world homogeneous elastic objects.
Real Time Multiscale Rendering of Dense Dynamic Stackings
Authors: Michel É. , Boubekeur T.
Published: November 2020

Dense dynamic aggregates of similar elements are frequent in natural phenomena and challenging to render under full real time constraints. The optimal representation to render them changes drastically depending on the distance at which they are observed, ranging from sets of detailed textured meshes for near views to point clouds for distant ones. Our multiscale representation use impostors to achieve the mid‐range transition from mesh‐based to point‐based scales. To ensure a visual continuum, the impostor model should match as closely as possible the mesh on one side, and reduce to a single pixel response that equals point rendering on the other. In this paper, we propose a model based on rich spherical impostors, able to combine precomputed as well as dynamic procedural data, and offering seamless transitions from close instanced meshes to distant points. Our approach is architectured around an on‐the‐fly discrimination mechanism and intensively exploits the rough spherical geometry of the impostor proxy. In particular, we propose a new sampling mechanism to reconstruct novel views from the precomputed ones, together with a new conservative occlusion culling method, coupled with a two‐pass rendering pipeline leveraging early‐Z rejection. As a result, our system scales well and is even able to render sand, while supporting completely dynamic stackings.
SRNet: A 3D Scene Recognition Network using Static Graph and Dense Semantic Fusion
Authors: Fan Zhaoxin , Liu Hongyan , He Jun , Sun Qi , Du Xiaoyong
Published: November 2020

Point cloud based 3D scene recognition is fundamental to many real world applications such as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). However, most of existing methods do not take full advantage of the contextual semantic features of scenes. And their recognition abilities are severely affected by dynamic noise such as points of cars and pedestrians in the scene. To tackle these issues, we propose a new Scene Recognition Network, namely SRNet. In this model, to learn local features without being affected by dynamic noise, we propose Static Graph Convolution (SGC) module, which are then stacked as our backbone. Next, to further avoid dynamic noise, we introduce a Spatial Attention Module (SAM) to make the feature descriptor pay more attention to immovable local areas that are more relevant to our task. Finally, in order to make a more profound sense of the scene, we design a Dense Semantic Fusion (DSF) strategy to integrate multi‐level features during feature propagation, which helps the model deepen its understanding of the contextual semantics of scenes. By utilizing these designs, SRNet can map scenes to discriminative and generalizable feature vectors, which are then used for finding matching pairs. Experimental studies demonstrate that SRNet achieves new state‐of‐the‐art on scene recognition and shows good generalization ability to other point cloud based tasks.
Weakly Supervised Part‐wise 3D Shape Reconstruction from Single‐View RGB Images
Authors: Niu Chengjie , Yu Yang , Bian Zhenwei , Li Jun , Xu Kai
Published: November 2020

In order for the deep learning models to truly understand the 2D images for 3D geometry recovery, we argue that single‐view reconstruction should be learned in a part‐aware and weakly supervised manner. Such models lead to more profound interpretation of 2D images in which part‐based parsing and assembling are involved. To this end, we learn a deep neural network which takes a single‐view RGB image as input, and outputs a 3D shape in parts represented by 3D point clouds with an array of 3D part generators. In particular, we devise two levels of generative adversarial network (GAN) to generate shapes with both correct part shape and reasonable overall structure. To enable a self‐taught network training, we devise a differentiable projection module along with a self‐projection loss measuring the error between the shape projection and the input image. The training data in our method is unpaired between the 2D images and the 3D shapes with part decomposition. Through qualitative and quantitative evaluations on public datasets, we show that our method achieves good performance in part‐wise single‐view reconstruction.
Radiofrequency ablation of supraventricular arrhythmias after orthotopic heart transplantation: Long‐term follow‐up of a single‐center experience
Authors: Renedo María F. , González José L. , Giunta Gustavo A. , Giordanino Elián F. , Ameri Aldana S. , Mysuta Mauricio A. , Ramirez Debora A. , Favaloro Liliana E. , Favaloro Roberto R. , Absi Daniel O. , Galizio Néstor O. , Bertolotti Alejandro M.
Published: November 2020

Background

Supraventricular arrhythmias (SVAs), commonly managed with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), may occur after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT).

Methods

We retrospectively assessed 514 consecutive patients (pts.) undergoing OHT between January 1990 and July 2016 in a single‐center. Patients with SVAs managed with RFA were included. Mechanisms of genesis of SVAs, association with surgical techniques and outcomes, were analyzed.

Results

Of 514 pts undergoing OHT, 53% (272 pts.) were managed with bicaval (BC) technique and 47% (242 pts.) with biatrial (BA) technique. Mean follow‐up 10 ± 8.4 years. Nine pts. (1.7%) developed SVA requiring RFA. The BC technique was performed in 4 pts., 3 pts. presented cavotricuspid isthmus‐dependent atrial flutter (CTI AFL), and 1 pt. double loop AFL. Five pts. were managed with BA technique, 4 pts. presented CTI AFL, and 1 pt. atrial tachycardia (AT). Mean time between OHT and SVA occurrence was 6.6 ± 5.5 years. The procedure was successful in 89% (8 pts.). Arrhythmia recurrence was seen in 3 pts (37%), all with BA technique.

Conclusion

Supraventricular arrhythmias in heart transplantation may be associated with the surgical scar. Identifying the mechanism is vital to choose the appropriate treatment with radiofrequency ablation.
Linking language to sensory experience: Onomatopoeia in early language development
Authors: Motamedi Yasamin , Murgiano Margherita , Perniss Pamela , Wonnacott Elizabeth , Marshall Chloë , Goldin‐Meadow Susan , Vigliocco Gabriella
Published: November 2020

A key question in developmental research concerns how children learn associations between words and meanings in their early language development. Given a vast array of possible referents, how does the child know what a word refers to? We contend that onomatopoeia (e.g. knock, meow), where a word's sound evokes the sound properties associated with its meaning, are particularly useful in children's early vocabulary development, offering a link between word and sensory experience not present in arbitrary forms. We suggest that, because onomatopoeia evoke imagery of the referent, children can draw from sensory experience to easily link onomatopoeic words to meaning, both when the referent is present as well as when it is absent. We use two sources of data: naturalistic observations of English‐speaking caregiver–child interactions from 14 up to 54 months, to establish whether these words are present early in caregivers’ speech to children, and experimental data to test whether English‐speaking children can learn from onomatopoeia when it is present. Our results demonstrate that onomatopoeia: (a) are most prevalent in early child‐directed language and in children's early productions, (b) are learnt more easily by children compared with non‐iconic forms and (c) are used by caregivers in contexts where they can support communication and facilitate word learning.
Diabetes distress instruments in adults with Type 1 diabetes: A systematic review using the COSMIN (COnsensus‐based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments) checklist
Authors: Kenny Eanna , O’Malley Róisín , Roche Kevin , Morrissey Eimear , Dinneen Sean F. , Byrne Molly , Casey Bláthín
Published: November 2020

Aims

To identify all extant instruments used to measure diabetes distress in adults with Type 1 diabetes and to evaluate the evidence for the measurement properties of these instruments.

Methods

Medline, Embase, CINAHL plus and PsycINFO were systematically searched from inception up until 12 March 2020 for all publications which evaluated the psychometric properties of diabetes distress measurement instruments. The quality of the methodology and the measurement properties in the identified studies were evaluated using the COnsensus‐based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines.

Results

Seven out of the 7656 articles retrieved in the search were included in the final review. Four diabetes distress measurement instruments were identified, none of which displayed evidence for all measurement properties specified in the COSMIN guidelines. The Problem Areas in Diabetes‐11 (PAID‐11) demonstrated the best psychometric properties, displaying strong evidence for structural validity, internal consistency, hypothesis testing, responsiveness and criterion validity. The Problem Areas in Diabetes scale (PAID) was the most frequently investigated instrument, demonstrating good relevance and hypothesis testing across four studies; however, concerns remain over its factor structure.

Conclusion

The PAID‐11 appears to be the most psychometrically sound instrument for measuring diabetes distress in adults with Type 1 diabetes, displaying strong evidence for a range of measurement properties. However, as only one study evaluated this instrument and its content validity has yet to be assessed, further validation is warranted. Additional qualitative work is needed to assess the content validity of these instruments among individuals with Type 1 diabetes.
A tale of two leeches: Toward the understanding of the evolution and development of behavioral neural circuits
Authors: Kuo Dian‐Han , De‐Miguel Francisco F. , Heath‐Heckman Elizabeth A. C. , Szczupak Lidia , Todd Krista , Weisblat David A. , Winchell Christopher J.
Published: November 2020

In the animal kingdom, behavioral traits encompass a broad spectrum of biological phenotypes that have critical roles in adaptive evolution, but an EvoDevo approach has not been broadly used to study behavior evolution. Here, we propose that, by integrating two leech model systems, each of which has already attained some success in its respective field, it is possible to take on behavioral traits with an EvoDevo approach. We first identify the developmental changes that may theoretically lead to behavioral evolution and explain why an EvoDevo study of behavior is challenging. Next, we discuss the pros and cons of the two leech model species, Hirudo, a classic model for invertebrate neurobiology, and Helobdella, an emerging model for clitellate developmental biology, as models for behavioral EvoDevo research. Given the limitations of each leech system, neither is particularly strong for behavioral EvoDevo. However, the two leech systems are complementary in their technical accessibilities, and they do exhibit some behavioral similarities and differences. By studying them in parallel and together with additional leech species such as Haementeria, it is possible to explore the different levels of behavioral development and evolution.