bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coadaptation between host genome and microbiome under long-term xenobiotic-induced selection
Authors: Wang Guan-Hong , Dittmer Jessica , Douglas Brecia , Huang Long , Brucker Robert M.
Published: May 2021

Long-term host microbiome structure selection drives host genome evolution and adaptation.
Structural insights into the cross-neutralization of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 by the human monoclonal antibody 47D11
Authors: Fedry Juliette , Hurdiss Daniel L. , Wang Chunyan , Li Wentao , Obal Gonzalo , Drulyte Ieva , Du Wenjuan , Howes Stuart C. , van Kuppeveld Frank J.M. , Förster Friedrich , Bosch Berend-Jan
Published: May 2021

Cryo-EM reveals the molecular basis of SARS-CoV-2 cross-neutralization by the monoclonal antibody 47D11.
Aftermath
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: May 2021

By allowing scientists to study their suffering, atomic bomb survivors have transformed our understanding of radiation's health effects.
Fatal attraction to light at night pummels insects
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: May 2021

Fearing artificial lights add to an "insect apocalypse," researchers seek solutions.
USDA now only partially inspects some animal labs
Authors: Grimm David
Published: May 2021

Internal documents reveal agency moved to "focused" inspections to save work.
Itaconate is an effector of a Rab GTPase cell-autonomous host defense pathway against
Salmonella
Authors: Chen Meixin , Sun Hui , Boot Maikel , Shao Lin , Chang Shu-Jung , Wang Weiwei , Lam Tukiet T. , Lara-Tejero Maria , Rego E. Hesper , Galán Jorge E.
Published: May 2021

Rab32 puts itaconate where it's needed

Myeloid cells can restrict the replication of intracellular bacterial pathogens such as
Salmonella
using a Rab family guanosine triphosphatase called Rab32. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Chen
et al.
report that Rab32 and its exchange factor, BLOC3, interact with aconitate decarboxylase 1 (IRG1). This complex enables the direct delivery of IRG1's antimicrobial product, itaconate, from the mitochondria to
Salmonella
-containing vacuoles. Itaconate concentrations in vacuoles correlated with bacterial survival, highlighting the biological relevance of this metabolite during infections. Similar findings in
Escherichia coli
–infected cells suggest that this is a more general phenomenon in which mitochondria and the Rab32 pathway play a critical role in antibacterial host defense.

Science
, this issue p.
450
Large-scale mutation in the evolution of a gene complex for cryptic coloration
Authors: Villoutreix Romain , de Carvalho Clarissa F. , Soria-Carrasco Víctor , Lindtke Dorothea , De-la-Mora Marisol , Muschick Moritz , Feder Jeffrey L. , Parchman Thomas L. , Gompert Zach , Nosil Patrik
Published: May 2021

How stick insects got their colors

Stick insects of the genus
Timema
show variations in color that are likely due to selection for camouflage on their plant hosts. Some species are only brown or only green, whereas others span from reddish-pink hues to green to brown. To identify the genetics underlying this variation, Villoutreix
et al.
sequenced most extant California
Timema
species and identified a deletion that correlated with green body coloration in some species. However, this deletion appeared to be limited to the Northern California clade, with more species in the Southern California clade retaining this locus. In these southern species, a nongreen body color is likely caused by mutation. Even among closely related species, adaptive evolution can converge on the same phenotype from different evolutionary processes.

Science
, this issue p.
460
The activities of drug inactive ingredients on biological targets
Authors: Pottel Joshua , Armstrong Duncan , Zou Ling , Fekete Alexander , Huang Xi-Ping , Torosyan Hayarpi , Bednarczyk Dallas , Whitebread Steven , Bhhatarai Barun , Liang Guiqing , Jin Hong , Ghaemi S. Nassir , Slocum Samuel , Lukacs Katalin V. , Irwin John J. , Berg Ellen L. , Giacomini Kathleen M. , Roth Bryan L. , Shoichet Brian K. , Urban Laszlo
Published: May 2021

Inactive ingredients may not be inert

Most drug formulations comprise mainly inactive ingredients known as excipients. Excipients are tested in animal studies and do not display toxicity at allowed concentrations, but their interaction with molecular targets has not been systematically explored. Pottel
et al.
examined excipient activity by combining large-scale computational screening with targeted experimental testing. They identified 38 excipients with activities against 44 targets. Several excipients were active in cell panels that predict tissue-level toxicity, and two are suggested to reach concentrations in vivo that overlap with their in vitro activities. Although most excipients are inert, some have activity that deserves further consideration.

Science
, this issue p.
403
Remote structuring of near-field landscapes
Authors: Ginis Vincent , Piccardo Marco , Tamagnone Michele , Lu Jinsheng , Qiu Min , Kheifets Simon , Capasso Federico
Published: May 2021

Sculpting the optical near field

In the generation of electromagnetic fields, light can be broken down into two components: the far field, which we generally see and is caused by propagating waves, and the near field. The near field presents the nonpropagating component of the electromagnetic field at subwavelength distance from the source of radiation. Probing the near field, however, can also provide detailed, subwavelength information about the emitting source. Ginis
et al.
present a nanophotonic-based method for controlling and manipulating the near-field landscape. This approach provides the possibility of exploiting the near-field component of light for on-chip applications that would normally require bulky optics.

Science
, this issue p.
436
Reversible fusion and fission of graphene oxide–based fibers
Authors: Chang Dan , Liu Jingran , Fang Bo , Xu Zhen , Li Zheng , Liu Yilun , Brassart Laurence , Guo Fan , Gao Weiwei , Gao Chao
Published: May 2021

Reversible fiber fusion and fission

Materials that can cycle between states are of interest for actuators, soft robotics, or recoverable membranes for separations. Chang
et al.
show that a collection of graphene oxide fibers can fuse into a single stronger fiber upon immersion in a solvent, extraction, and drying under tension (see the Perspective by Cruz-Silva and Elías). The geometrical deformation of the fibers during drying and swelling plays an important role in the reversible cycles, with a large volume change between the dried and swelled fibers. Moreover, fibers made from polymers, glass, metal, or silk can be given these abilities when coated with a micron-sized layer of graphene oxide.

Science
, this issue p.
614
; see also p.
573
Tying amines down for stable CO
2
capture
Authors: Peh Shing Bo , Zhao Dan
Published: May 2021

Sequestering greenhouse gas for different fuel mixes requires better sorbent stability
Systemic racism persists in the sciences
Authors: Wingfield Adia Harvey
Published: May 2021

It's tempting to think of medicine and health care as objective and neutral, driven solely by scientific principles and free inquiry. Indeed, scientists go through extensive measures to make their research bias-free. However, recent developments show that despite the best efforts, racial disparities persist in the health care system even when they are unintentional.
A rooted phylogeny resolves early bacterial evolution
Authors: Coleman Gareth A. , Davín Adrián A. , Mahendrarajah Tara A. , Szánthó Lénárd L. , Spang Anja , Hugenholtz Philip , Szöllősi Gergely J. , Williams Tom A.
Published: May 2021

Reconstructing ancestral bacteria

The origin of the eubacteria and phylogenetic relationships between subgroups have been difficult to resolve. Applying a phylogenetic analysis and recent computational methods to the expanded diversity of bacterial sequences from metagenomic analyses, Coleman
et al.
infer the root of the eubacterial tree (see the Perspective by Katz). The root was determined without using the Archaea as an outgroup, to avoid the possibility of a false result due to long branch attraction. This method places the eubacterial root in the neighborhood of Fusobacteriota. Using this information, the authors reconstructed the eubacterial ancestor, identifying that this organism likely had a double-membrane cell envelope, flagellum-mediated motility, antiphage defense mechanisms, and diverse metabolic pathways.

Science
, this issue p.
eabe0511
; see also p.
574
Extreme altitudes during diurnal flights in a nocturnal songbird migrant
Authors: Sjöberg Sissel , Malmiga Gintaras , Nord Andreas , Andersson Arne , Bäckman Johan , Tarka Maja , Willemoes Mikkel , Thorup Kasper , Hansson Bengt , Alerstam Thomas , Hasselquist Dennis
Published: May 2021

High fliers

Migrating from hemisphere to hemisphere is a global strategy for many bird species. Despite allowing birds to track productivity, these long-distance movements bring them in contact with inhospitable regions such as deserts and oceans. Sjöberg
et al.
used geolocators to monitor flight in great reed warblers (
Acrocephalus arundinaceus
) and found that when over these types of regions, this normally nocturnal migrating species flew both day and night. During the day, the birds increased the altitudes at which they flew, rising to more than 5000 meters. Such behavior may allow them to avoid heat stress or other daytime threats during migration.

Science
, this issue p.
646
Direct observation of deterministic macroscopic entanglement
Authors: Kotler Shlomi , Peterson Gabriel A. , Shojaee Ezad , Lecocq Florent , Cicak Katarina , Kwiatkowski Alex , Geller Shawn , Glancy Scott , Knill Emanuel , Simmonds Raymond W. , Aumentado José , Teufel John D.
Published: May 2021

Quantum entanglement goes large

Quantum entanglement occurs when two separate entities become strongly linked in a way that cannot be explained by classical physics; it is a powerful resource in quantum communication protocols and advanced technologies that aim to exploit the enhanced capabilities of quantum systems. To date, entanglement has generally been limited to microscopic quantum units such as pairs or multiples of single ions, atoms, photons, and so on. Kotler
et al.
and Mercier de Lépinay
et al.
demonstrate the ability to extend quantum entanglement to massive macroscopic systems (see the Perspective by Lau and Clerk). Entanglement of two mechanical oscillators on such a large length and mass scale is expected to find widespread use in both applications and fundamental physics to probe the boundary between the classical and quantum worlds.

Science
, this issue p.
622
, p.
625
; see also p.
570
Interfacial toughening with self-assembled monolayers enhances perovskite solar cell reliability
Authors: Dai Zhenghong , Yadavalli Srinivas K. , Chen Min , Abbaspourtamijani Ali , Qi Yue , Padture Nitin P.
Published: May 2021

Tougher solar cell interfaces

The low formation energies of the active layers in perovskite solar cells lead to low-toughness materials that are compliant and soft, which limits their interface stability and long-term reliability. Dai
et al.
show that treatment with iodine-terminated self-assembled monolayers that react with surface hydroxyl groups (which ultimately creates unwanted charge traps and voids) leads to a 50% increase of adhesion toughness between the electron transport layer and a mixed-composition perovskite thin film. The projected point at which 80% of the operating efficiency in perovskite solar cells was still retained increased from ∼700 to 4000 hours for 1-sun exposure with continuous maximum power point tracking.

Science
, this issue p.
618
Sex chromosome transformation and the origin of a male-specific X chromosome in the creeping vole
Authors: Couger Matthew B. , Roy Scott W. , Anderson Noelle , Gozashti Landen , Pirro Stacy , Millward Lindsay S. , Kim Michelle , Kilburn Duncan , Liu Kelvin J. , Wilson Todd M. , Epps Clinton W. , Dizney Laurie , Ruedas Luis A. , Campbell Polly
Published: May 2021

Mystery solved?

Chromosomal sex determination arises when an autosomal locus acquires a sex-determining function. In some taxa, this process occurs often. The XY system in mammals, however, has been evolutionarily stable across a wide array of species. Fifty years ago, a variation on this norm was described in the creeping vole (
Microtus oregoni
), but the details have remained mostly unknown. Couger
et al.
sequenced the sex chromosomes in this species and found that the Y chromosome has been lost, the male-determining chromosome is a second X that is largely homologous to the female X, and both the maternally inherited and male-specific sex chromosomes carry vestiges of the ancestral Y.

Science
, this issue p.
592
Quantum walks on a programmable two-dimensional 62-qubit superconducting processor
Authors: Gong Ming , Wang Shiyu , Zha Chen , Chen Ming-Cheng , Huang He-Liang , Wu Yulin , Zhu Qingling , Zhao Youwei , Li Shaowei , Guo Shaojun , Qian Haoran , Ye Yangsen , Chen Fusheng , Ying Chong , Yu Jiale , Fan Daojin , Wu Dachao , Su Hong , Deng Hui , Rong Hao , Zhang Kaili , Cao Sirui , Lin Jin , Xu Yu , Sun Lihua , Guo Cheng , Li Na , Liang Futian , Bastidas V. M. , Nemoto Kae , Munro W. J. , Huo Yong-Heng , Lu Chao-Yang , Peng Cheng-Zhi , Zhu Xiaobo , Pan Jian-Wei
Published: May 2021

Simulating quantum walkers

Quantum walks are the quantum mechanical analogs of classical random walks, describing the propagation of a quantum walker across a lattice, and find application in developing algorithms for simulating quantum many-body systems. Gong
et al.
used an 8-by-8 two-dimensional (2D) superconducting qubit square lattice containing 62 functional qubits to show how multiple (two) walkers traverse a 2D qubit array, interfering as they go. The authors were also able to program the paths that the walkers follow, demonstrating a Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which a single or multiple quantum walkers coherently traverse two paths before interfering and exiting at a single port. The results illustrate the potential for superconducting-based quantum processors in simulating large-scale quantum systems.

Science
, abg7812, this issue p.
948
Efficacy of Omadacycline against Escherichia coli in a Mouse Urinary Tract Infection Model
Authors: Singh Kavindra V. , Murray Barbara E.
Published: May 2021

In a mouse urinary tract infection model, omadacycline (OMC) was comparable to gentamicin and better than ciprofloxacin (CIP) against a tetracycline-susceptible (TET-S), CIP-resistant (CIP-R)
Escherichia coli
strain. Gentamicin showed better efficacy than OMC against a TET-R, CIP-R
E. coli
strain, and OMC again showed better efficacy than CIP against this strain. OMC may warrant further study as a potential option for urinary tract infection treatment against CIP-R
E. coli
strains.
Supplemental Material: Intra-oceanic submarine arc evolution recorded in an ~1-km-thick rear-arc succession of distal volcaniclastic lobe deposits
Authors: Johnson K. , Marsaglia Kathleen M. , al. et
Published: May 2021

Figures S1–S4. Includes seismic lines and location map for them, as well as backscatter and bathymetry data near the West Mariana Ridge analogue.
Medication discrepancies in transition of care of hospitalised children in Brazil: a multicentric study
Authors: Aires-Moreno Giulyane Targino , Alcântara Thaciana dos Santos , Araújo Dyego Carlos Souza Anacleto de , Soares Simony da Mota , Gubert Vanessa Terezinha , Marcon de Oliveira Vanessa , Ferreira Cristiane Munaretto , Vasconcelos-Pereira Erica Freire , Lira Ana Rafaela Pires , Chemello Clarice , Oliveira Layse Maria Soares de , Oliveira-Filho Alfredo Dias de , Lyra Jr Divaldo
Published: May 2021

Objective

To determine the incidence of medication discrepancies in transition points of care of hospitalised children.

Design

A prospective observational multicentre study was carried out between February and August 2019. Data collection consisted of the following steps: sociodemographic data collection, clinical interview with the patient’s caregiver, review of patient prescriptions and evaluation of medical records. Medication discrepancies were classified as intentional (documented or undocumented) and unintentional. In addition, discrepancies identified were categorised according to the medication discrepancy taxonomy. Unintentional discrepancies were assessed for potential clinical harm to the patient.

Setting

Paediatric clinics of four teaching hospitals in Brazil.

Patients

Children aged 1 month–12 years.

Findings

A total of 248 children were included, 77.0% (n=191) patients had at least one intentional discrepancy; 20.2% (n=50) patients had at least one unintended discrepancy and 15.3% (n=38) patients had at least one intentional discrepancy and an unintentional one. The reason for the intentional discrepancy was not documented in 49.6% (n=476) of the cases. The most frequent unintentional discrepancy was medication omission (54.1%; n=66). Low potential to cause discomfort was found in 53 (43.4%) unintentional discrepancies, while 55 (45.1%) had the potential to cause moderate discomfort and 14 (11.5%) could potentially cause severe discomfort.

Conclusions

Although most medication discrepancies were intentional, the majority of these were not documented by the healthcare professionals. Unintentional discrepancies were often related to medication omission and had a potential risk of causing harm to hospitalised children.
Intrapartum group B Streptococcal prophylaxis and childhood weight gain
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Sagori , Bryan Matthew , Dhudasia Miren B , Quarshie William , Gerber Jeffrey S , Grundmeier Robert W , Koebnick Corinna , Sidell Margo A , Getahun Darios , Sharma Andrea J , Spiller Michael W , Schrag Stephanie J , Puopolo Karen Marie
Published: May 2021

Objective

To determine the difference in rate of weight gain from birth to 5 years based on exposure to maternal group B streptococcal (GBS) intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP).

Design

Retrospective cohort study of 13 804 infants.

Setting

Two perinatal centres and a primary paediatric care network in Philadelphia.

Participants

Term infants born 2007–2012, followed longitudinally from birth to 5 years of age.

Exposures

GBS IAP defined as penicillin, ampicillin, cefazolin, clindamycin or vancomycin administered ≥4 hours prior to delivery to the mother. Reference infants were defined as born to mothers without (vaginal delivery) or with other (caesarean delivery) intrapartum antibiotic exposure.

Outcomes

Difference in rate of weight change from birth to 5 years was assessed using longitudinal rate regression. Analysis was a priori stratified by delivery mode and adjusted for relevant covariates.

Results

GBS IAP was administered to mothers of 2444/13 804 (17.7%) children. GBS IAP-exposed children had a significantly elevated rate of weight gain in the first 5 years among vaginally-born (adjusted rate difference 1.44% (95% CI 0.3% to 2.6%)) and caesarean-born (3.52% (95% CI 1.9% to 5.2%)) children. At 5 years, the rate differences equated to an additional 0.24 kg among vaginally-born children and 0.60 kg among caesarean-born children.

Conclusion

GBS-specific IAP was associated with a modest increase in rate of early childhood weight gain. GBS IAP is an effective intervention to prevent perinatal GBS disease-associated morbidity and mortality. However, these findings highlight the need to better understand effects of intrapartum antibiotic exposure on childhood growth and support efforts to develop alternate prevention strategies.
Tropical pyomyositis in scrub typhus: a rare association
Authors: Chandra Atanu , Ray Aritra Kumar , Hati Arkapravo , Chakraborty Uddalak
Published: May 2021

Tropical pyomyositis manifests as single or multiple abscesses inside skeletal muscles and it has a higher prevalence in immunocompromised patients. Scrub typhus, a zoonotic disease is caused byOrientia tsutsugamushiand the clinical manifestations range from simple febrile illness to organ threatening complications. Here, we present a rare case of an immunocompetent young man diagnosed as tropical pyomyositis in association with scrub typhus. Imaging of both thighs revealed multiple intramuscular abscesses. Blood and aspirated pus were culture negative. Patient was treated aggressively with parenteral antibiotics (linezolid, clindamycin and meropenem) and surgical debridement. But, fever did not subside and total leucocyte count remained persistently high. After serological confirmation of scrub typhus, the patient was put on oral doxycycline and he had a dramatic improvement within next few days. To the best of our knowledge, this is probably the first reported case of tropical pyomyositis in association with scrub typhus.
Primary elbow osteoarthritis presenting as ulnar nerve palsy with claw hand
Authors: Spalkit Stanzin , Sinha Anindita , Prakash Mahesh , Tripathy Satyaswarup
Published: May 2021

A 59-year-old woman was referred with weakness, paraesthesia, numbness and clawing of the little and ring fingers for the last 2 years. MRI of the cervical spine was normal and nerve conduction velocity revealed abnormality of the ulnar nerve. Ultrasound and MRI showed medial osteophytes and effusion of the elbow joint with stretched and thinned ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel. The patient underwent release and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve with significant relief of symptoms.
Retinal pigment epithelium melanin distribution estimated by polarisation entropy and its association with retinal sensitivity in patients with high myopia
Authors: Harimoto Akira , Obata Ryo , Yamamoto Motoshi , Aoki Nobuyori , Yamanari Masahiro , Sugiyama Satoshi , Kitano Marie , Fujita Asahi , Minami Takahiro , Ueda Kohei , Azuma Keiko , Inoue Tatsuya , Aihara Makoto , Kato Satoshi
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To investigate retinal sensitivity of highly myopic eyes without choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) or patchy chorioretinal atrophy (PCA) and investigated its association with anatomical characteristics including melanin distribution at the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which was evaluated with polarisation-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT).

Design

Retrospective consecutive observational cohort study.

Methods

We included highly myopic eyes (refractive error ≤−8.0 dioptres or axial length of ≥26.5 mm) from patients at the University of Tokyo Hospital. Retinal sensitivity was measured by microperimetry at 25 sectors within 6 degrees from the fovea. Depolarisation value, which reflected melanin pigmentation, was measured by a clinical prototype of PS-OCT and was parameterised as polarimetric entropy. Retinal sensitivity or entropy at the RPE in high myopia was compared with emmetropic control subjects. The association of retinal sensitivity with age, axial length, entropy, or choroidal thickness was assessed in per-eye and per-sector analysis.

Results

Twenty-three highly myopic eyes (age, 66.6±12.3 years) were included. The average retinal sensitivity was 25.3±3.0 dB, which was significantly decreased compared with the control (p<0.0001). The average entropy at the RPE in the highly myopic eyes was significantly lower than in the control (p<0.0001). Univariate analysis followed by multivariate analysis showed that besides age, axial length or choroidal thickness, RPE entropy was independently associated with retinal sensitivity (β=4.4; 95% CI 0.5 to 8.3; p=0.03).

Conclusions

Decreased depolarisation at the RPE measured with PS-OCT, which reflected altered melanin pigmentation, was independently associated with reduced retinal sensitivity in patients with early stages of myopic maculopathy without CNV or PCA.
Development and validation of a score to assess complexity of general internal medicine patients at hospital discharge: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Liechti Fabian D , Beck Thomas , Ruetsche Adrian , Roumet Marie C , Limacher Andreas , Tritschler Tobias , Donzé Jacques D
Published: May 2021

Objective

We aimed to develop and validate a score to assess inpatient complexity and compare its performance with two currently used but not validated tools to estimate complexity (ie, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), patient clinical complexity level (PCCL)).

Methods

Consecutive patients discharged from the department of medicine of a tertiary care hospital were prospectively included into a derivation cohort from 1 October 2016 to 16 February 2017 (n=1407), and a temporal validation cohort from 17 February 2017 to 31 March 2017 (n=482). The physician in charge assessed complexity. Potential predictors comprised 52 parameters from the electronic health record such as health factors and hospital care usage. We fit a logistic regression model with backward selection to develop a prediction model and derive a score. We assessed and compared performance of model and score in internal and external validation using measures of discrimination and calibration.

Results

Overall, 447 of 1407 patients (32%) in the derivation cohort, and 116 of 482 patients (24%) in the validation cohort were identified as complex. Eleven variables independently associated with complexity were included in the score. Using a cut-off of ≥24 score points to define high-risk patients, specificity was 81% and sensitivity 57% in the validation cohort. The score’s area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was 0.78 in both the derivation and validation cohort. In comparison, the CCI had an AUROC between 0.58 and 0.61, and the PCCL between 0.64 and 0.69, respectively.

Conclusions

We derived and internally and externally validated a score that reflects patient complexity in the hospital setting, performed better than other tools and could help monitoring complex patients.
Public health practicum: a scoping review of current practice in graduate public health education
Authors: Gummeson Hannah , Raj Goel Sonika , Elmusharaf Khalifa
Published: May 2021

Objectives

The objectives of this study are to (1) identify Graduate Public Health (GPH) programmes with an integrated practicum, (2) determine current practice for practicum design and (3) use the information to make recommendations to inform the design of Public Health Graduate programme practicums.

Design

Scoping review.

Data sources

Academic Ranking World Universities 2019 was used to identify top 10 institutions in each geographical hub offering GPH programmes. Each GPH programme website was searched for practicum information.

Eligibility criteria

GPH programmes offering a practice-based component as a requirement in their curriculum.

Data extraction and synthesis

One reviewer screened GPH websites for eligibility and extracted data. Verification of data for accuracy and completeness was done on 10% of the sample by the second author. Data were compiled into an Excel file and were analysed to describe the duration, timing, credit, contact hours, preceptor requirements, prerequisites, objectives, deliverables and methods of evaluation of the practice-based component.

Results

Out of the 108 GPH programmes screened, a total of 35 programmes were included. There was a significant variation in required practicum duration ranging from 4 to 16 weeks. Only 31% specifically outlined prerequisites to be completed before the initiation of the practicum. More than half (57%) had a published list of core competencies. A majority of practicum did not provide criteria for appropriate preceptors (63%) and their responsibilities (66%). All programmes listed assessment criteria however the majority (57%) did not specify if the practicum was graded or a for-credit component.

Conclusions

The integration of practical components into curricula is inconsistent. This research resulted in 14 recommendations intended to guide GPH practicum design. We propose that this study be used as a tool to spark a global dialogue about best practices in GPH education through the identification of common practices and opportunities for improvement.
Framework for the public health assessment of electronic cigarettes
Authors: Banks Emily , Martin Melonie , Harris Miranda
Published: May 2021

Background

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are relatively new products with substantial public health impacts. Evidence on their effects is diverse and emerging rapidly, presenting challenges to high-quality policymaking and decision-making. This paper addresses these challenges by developing and presenting a framework for the public health assessment of e-cigarettes, using the Australian context as an example.

Methods

Framework development involved stakeholder engagement, development of guiding principles, and consideration of existing relevant frameworks and the evidence requirements of current policy options, identified in published and grey literature.

Results

Guiding principles include the need for the framework to: be evidence based; include consideration of the likely balance of benefits and risks of e-cigarettes, uncertainty and safety; support equity; support the ongoing application of evidence to high-quality policy and practice; and consider potential competing interests. The framework draws upon: health technology assessment; health impact assessment; environmental health risk assessment; healthcare recommendations evidence evaluation; consumer goods regulation; medicine and chemical scheduling; tobacco product evaluation; previous reviews and the precautionary principle. Final framework components are: (1) characterisation of products under consideration; (2) definition of populations of interest; (3) characterisation of tobacco smoking, control and impacts on health and well-being; (4) review of evidence on patterns of e-cigarette use; (5) review of evidence on e-cigarette use and health outcomes; (6) assessment of likely risks, benefits and safety; (7) identification and assessment of policy options to optimise health outcomes.

Conclusions

Structured and ongoing public health assessment of e-cigarette use is likely to support health through enhancing evidence-based decision-making.
The simplest wormhole in Rastall and k-essence theories
Authors: Bronnikov Kirill A. , Barcellos Vinícius A. G. , de Carvalho Laura P. , Fabris Júlio C.
Published: May 2021

The geometry of the Ellis–Bronnikov wormhole is implemented in the Rastall and k-essence theories of gravity with a self-interacting scalar field. The form of the scalar field potential is determined in both cases. A stability analysis with respect to spherically symmetric time-dependent perturbations is carried out, and it shows that in k-essence theory the wormhole is unstable, like the original version of this geometry supported by a massless phantom scalar field in general relativity. In Rastall’s theory, it turns out that a perturbative approach reveals the same inconsistency that was found previously for black hole solutions: time-dependent perturbations of the static configuration prove to be excluded by the equations of motion, and the wormhole is, in this sense, stable under spherical perturbations.
A Two-stage Text Feature Selection Algorithm for Improving Text Classification
Authors: P Ashokkumar , G Siva Shankar , Srivastava Gautam , Maddikunta Praveen Kumar Reddy , Gadekallu Thippa Reddy
Published: May 2021

As the number of digital text documents increases on a daily basis, the classification of text is becoming a challenging task. Each text document consists of a large number of words (or features) that drive down the efficiency of a classification algorithm. This article presents an optimized feature selection algorithm designed to reduce a large number of features to improve the accuracy of the text classification algorithm. The proposed algorithm uses noun-based filtering, a word ranking that enhances the performance of the text classification algorithm. Experiments are carried out on three benchmark datasets, and the results show that the proposed classification algorithm has achieved the maximum accuracy when compared to the existing algorithms. The proposed algorithm is compared to Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency, Balanced Accuracy Measure, GINI Index, Information Gain, and Chi-Square. The experimental results clearly show the strength of the proposed algorithm.
Modeling Multiple Coexisting Category-Level Intentions for Next Item Recommendation
Authors: Xu Yanan , Zhu Yanmin , Yu Jiadi
Published: May 2021

Purchase intentions have a great impact on future purchases and thus can be exploited for making recommendations. However, purchase intentions are typically complex and may change from time to time. Through empirical study with two e-commerce datasets, we observe that behaviors of multiple types can indicate user intentions and a user may have multiple coexisting category-level intentions that evolve over time. In this article, we propose a novel Intention-Aware Recommender System (IARS) which consists of four components for mining such complex intentions from user behaviors of multiple types. In the first component, we utilize several Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) and an attention layer to model diverse user intentions simultaneously and design two kinds of Multi-behavior GRU (MGRU) cells to deal with heterogeneous behaviors. To reveal user intentions, we carefully design three tasks that share representations from MGRUs. The next-item recommendation is the main task and leverages attention to select user intentions according to candidate items. The remaining two (item prediction and sequence comparison) are auxiliary tasks and can reveal user intentions. Extensive experiments on the two real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our models compared with several state-of-the-art recommendation methods in terms of hit ratio and NDCG.
StyleFlow: Attribute-conditioned Exploration of StyleGAN-Generated Images using Conditional Continuous Normalizing Flows
Authors: Abdal Rameen , Zhu Peihao , Mitra Niloy J. , Wonka Peter
Published: May 2021

High-quality, diverse, and photorealistic images can now be generated by unconditional GANs (e.g., StyleGAN). However, limited options exist to control the generation process using (semantic) attributes while still

preserving the quality of the output. Further, due to the entangled nature of the GAN latent space, performing edits along one attribute can easily result in unwanted changes along other attributes. In this article, in the context of
conditional exploration
of entangled latent spaces, we investigate the two sub-problems of attribute-conditioned sampling and attribute-controlled editing. We present StyleFlow as a simple, effective, and robust solution to both the sub-problems by formulating conditional exploration as an instance of conditional continuous normalizing flows in the GAN latent space conditioned by attribute features. We evaluate our method using the face and the car latent space of StyleGAN, and demonstrate fine-grained disentangled edits along various attributes on both real photographs and StyleGAN generated images. For example, for faces, we vary camera pose, illumination variation, expression, facial hair, gender, and age. Finally, via extensive qualitative and quantitative comparisons, we demonstrate the superiority of StyleFlow over prior and several concurrent works. Project Page and Video:
https://rameenabdal.github.io/StyleFlow
.
Structure of Phycobilisomes
Authors: Sui Sen-Fang
Published: May 2021

Phycobilisomes (PBSs) are extremely large chromophore–protein complexes on the stromal side of the thylakoid membrane in cyanobacteria and red algae. The main function of PBSs is light harvesting, and they serve as antennas and transfer the absorbed energy to the reaction centers of two photosynthetic systems (photosystems I and II). PBSs are composed of phycobiliproteins and linker proteins. How phycobiliproteins and linkers are organized in PBSs and how light energy is efficiently harvested and transferred in PBSs are the fundamental questions in the study of photosynthesis. In this review, the structures of the red algae Griffithsia pacifica and Porphyridium purpureum are discussed in detail, along with the functions of linker proteins in phycobiliprotein assembly and in fine-tuning the energy state of chromophores.
Empirical Models of Industry Dynamics with Endogenous Market Structure
Authors: Berry Steven T. , Compiani Giovanni
Published: May 2021

This article reviews recent developments in the study of firm and industry dynamics, with a special emphasis on the econometric endogeneity of market structure. The endogeneity of market structure follows from the presence of serially correlated unobservable shocks to the profitability of firms’ dynamic decisions, a feature common to many empirical settings. Methods that ignore endogeneity can lead to misleading parameter estimates and misleading counterfactual results. We pay particular attention to extensions of standard two-step methods that leverage instrumental variables to address endogeneity in both single-agent and oligopoly models. A first step set-identifies dynamic policy functions together with serial correlation parameters, and a second step quickly solves for profit function parameters using an extension of existing forward-simulation methods. We discuss how these new methods provide a general solution to initial-conditions problems and how they can yield practical estimation strategies.
The Influence of Simmel on American Sociology Since 1975
Authors: Broćić Miloš , Silver Daniel
Published: May 2021

Recent decades have seen Georg Simmel's canonical status in American sociology solidify and his impact on research expand. A broad understanding of his influence, however, remains elusive. This review remedies this situation by evaluating Simmel's legacy in American sociology since 1975. We articulate Simmel's sociological orientation by elaborating the concepts of form, interaction, and dualism. Employing a network analysis of references to Simmel since 1975, we examine how Simmelian concepts have been adopted in research. We find Simmel became an anchor for change in urban and conflict studies, where scholars moved from his earlier functionalist reception toward a formalist interpretation. This formalist reception consolidated Simmel's status as a classic in network research and symbolic interactionism during the 1980s. Recent work in economic sociology and the sociology of culture, however, builds on Simmel's growing reception within relational sociology. We conclude with several ways to further articulate Simmel's ideas in the discipline.
Developing Effective Electrodes for Supercapacitors by Grafting of Trihydroxybenzene onto Activated Carbons
Authors: Malka David , Bublil Shaul , Attias Ran , Weitman Michal , Cohen Reut , Elias Yuval , Gofer Yosef , Brousse Thierry , Aurbach Doron
Published: May 2021

The specific capacity of activated carbon electrodes for supercapacitors may be enhanced with additional faradaic redox reactions by grafting of electroactive aromatic molecules with heteroatoms that act as redox centers. Such enrichment was demonstrated recently with anthraquinone and catechol using diazonium chemistry. Here, trihydroxybenzene, which has obvious advantages, was successfully grafted, yielding a mass enrichment of 25%. Electrochemical characterization in acidic aqueous solution after in situ methoxy deprotection demonstrated an initial specific capacity of 65 mAh g−1, which faded only slightly to 55 mAh g−1 after about 2000 cycles and remained stable for over 4500 cycles.
Oil Accumulation Model and Its Main Controlling Factors in Lower Yanchang Formation, Wuqi-Dingbianarea, Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Yin Jintao , Gao Chao , Zhu Mingjun , Wang Hui , Shi Peng , Chen Yi yi , Zhao Qianping , Zhang Lixia , Yu Bo
Published: May 2021

Based on the studies of sedimentary facies, oil-source correlation, formation pressure structure, homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions, etc., the oil and gas accumulation model and main controlling factors in lower Yanchang Formation in Wuqi-Dibian area have been discussed. It is believed that two sets of source rocks, C7 and C9, are developed in study area, and hydrocarbon produced from layers of C8 and C9 is mainly from C7 source rock, followed by C9, according to oil-source correlation; hydrocarbon-generating pressurization of C7 source rock is the main driving force for the downward migration of oil. The high value area formed by the low value of overpressure difference between C7 and C8 is the main hydrocarbon accumulation area; deltaic front subaqueous distributary channel and mouth bar in lower Yanchang formation are the main accumulation spaces due to their good porosity and permeability; besides, C8 reservoir shows the characteristics of “episodic filling and continuous accumulation,” and they both are the undersource reservoir-forming combination; it is believed that the distribution of oil reservoir in Triassic series is controlled by the factors of “near source, low pressure, superior facies.”
Nonpreferential Attachment Leads to Scale-Free or Not
Authors: Yan Chuankui , Meng Nan , Yang Yu
Published: May 2021

Many studies have considered the preferential attachment mechanism to cause scale-free networks. On the contrary, a network evolution model based on nonpreferential attachment is proposed to explain some non-scale-free network, and the existence of a stable degree distribution of the model is theoretically proven. Three methods are suggested to estimate the distribution. The model’s significance shows that preferential attachment is not the only mechanism of tail power-law distribution, which gives a reasonable explanation to non-scale-free phenomenon. Our results provide a new train of thought for understanding the degree distribution of network.
The Escalating Magnitude of COVID-19 Infections among the Northeastern Ethiopia Region: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Geto Zeleke , Gebremichael Saba , Belete Melaku Ashagrie , Gedefie Alemu , Molla Genet , Tesfaye Melkam , Demsiss Wondmagegn , Gebretsadik Daniel
Published: May 2021

Background. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is lethal and extremely contagious, with a rapidly rising global prevalence. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a global pandemic; it is reported to have spread to nearly every country in the world. However, the prevalence varies across developed and developing countries, as well as within different regions of the same country. It is not hidden that estimating the magnitude of COVID-19 infection from the community surveys is critical for public health policymakers to make decisions to deal with the outbreak, optimize measures, and design mitigation plans. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 01 July to 31 August 2020 in the northeastern Ethiopia region. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants from the community survey, contact traces from confirmed cases, and infection suspects. After extraction of viral nucleic acid from oropharyngeal specimen, the real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit was used for detecting novel coronavirus. Results. A total of 8752 study participants were included in this study. About 63.6% were males and 36.4% were females. Out of the total 8752 study participants, 291 (3.3%) were found to be infected with the virus. The first laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were detected in the fourth week of the study period, that is, from July 24 to July 31, 2020, and the peak prevalence was observed in the last two weeks. The COVID-19 infection was more prevalent among males and in the age group of 36–52 years. Participants tested via contact trace had 1.65 times (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.09–2.51,

P
=
0.018

) the likelihood of COVID-19 infection in comparison to the other forms of community surveys. Conclusion. The trend in the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the northeastern region has shown increment, and increasing testing capacity has a greater benefit in identifying early infection for the prevention, treatment, and control of the international pandemic.
Septic Shock and Spontaneous Gangrenous Gas Necrosis of the Spleen Secondary to Clostridium perfringens: The Importance of Source Control
Authors: Oskutis Morgan , Reaven Matthew
Published: May 2021

Clostridium perfringens is a rare cause of septic shock, occurring most frequently in immunocompromised patients. An uncommon cause of Clostridium perfringen septicemia is spontaneous gangrenous gas necrosis of the spleen, where the primary treatment is splenectomy. We present a case of septic shock caused by spontaneous gangrenous gas necrosis of the spleen secondary to Clostridium perfringens in a patient whose profound pancytopenia made obtaining definitive source control extremely difficult.
Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Myocardial Injury, Coagulopathy, and Other Potential Cardiovascular Implications of COVID-19
Authors: Schmid Aaron , Petrovic Marija , Akella Kavya , Pareddy Anisha , Velavan Sumathilatha Sakthi
Published: May 2021

COVID-19 was primarily identified as a respiratory illness, but reports of patients presenting initially with cardiovascular complaints are rapidly emerging. Many patients also develop cardiovascular complications during and after COVID-19 infection. Underlying cardiovascular disease increases the severity of COVID-19 infection; however, it is unclear if COVID-19 increases the risk of or causes cardiovascular complications in patients without preexisting cardiovascular disease. The review is aimed at informing the primary care physicians of the potential cardiovascular complications, especially in patients without underlying cardiovascular disease. A comprehensive literature review was performed on cardiac and vascular complications of COVID-19. The primary cardiac and vascular complications include myocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial injury, arrhythmia, heart failure, shock, multisystem inflammatory syndrome, venous and arterial thrombotic events, stroke, and coagulopathy. A detailed analysis of the pathogenesis revealed six possible mechanisms: direct cardiac damage, hypoxia-induced injury, inflammation, a dysfunctional endothelial response, coagulopathy, and the catecholamine stress response. Autopsy reports from studies show cardiomegaly, hypertrophy, ventricular dilation, infarction, and fibrosis. A wide range of cardiac and vascular complications should be considered when treating patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection. Elevated troponin and natriuretic peptides indicate an early cardiac involvement in COVID-19. Continuous monitoring of coagulation by measuring serum D-dimer can potentially prevent vascular complications. A long-term screening protocol to follow-up the patients in the primary care settings is needed to follow-up with the patients who recovered from COVID cardiovascular complications.
Assessment of Cesium Compound Behavior during Simultaneous Failure of Reactor Pressure Vessels and Spent Fuel Pools Using Modified ART Mod 2: Fukushima Daiichi Accident Simulation
Authors: Vechgama Wasin , Silva Kampanart
Published: May 2021

To support the regional strategy development of ASEAN NPSR using scientific research, Modified ART Mod 2 has been used to assess the fission product release from RPVs and SFPs independently. However, the Fukushima Accident suggested the possibility of simultaneous release from RPV and SFP which indicated the necessity of re-evaluation of the maximum source term. The objective was to assess the fission product behavior during a simultaneous failure in RPVs and SFPs of BWR type with Mark I containment design in multiple units using Modified ART Mod 2 in order to evaluate the maximum source term. The releases of cesium compounds in gas and aerosol forms from RPVs and SFPs of Units 1–3 of the Fukushima Daiichi NPP were selected as the case studies. It was found that the behavior of cesium compounds was mainly governed by the aerosols and atmospheric temperatures, which resulted in different characteristics in adsorption and thermophoresis. It also turned out that the simulation of a simultaneous release led to a smaller release than the summation of independent simulations of releases from RPV and SFP by 25%. This study helped estimate the maximum consequences in order to be able to effectively design the EPR for NPP accidents inside or outside the ASEAN region.