bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring Complex Morphological Traits with 3D Photogrammetry: A Case Study with Deer Antlers
Authors: Tsuboi Masahito , Kopperud Bjørn Tore , Syrowatka Christine , Grabowski Mark , Voje Kjetil L. , Pélabon Christophe , Hansen Thomas F.
Published: March 2020

The increasing availability of 3D-imaging technology provides new opportunities for measuring morphology. Photogrammetry enables easy 3D-data acquisition compared to conventional methods and here we assess its accuracy for measuring the size of deer antlers, a complex morphological structure. Using a proprietary photogrammetry software, we generated 3D images of antlers for 92 individuals from 29 species of cervids that vary widely in antler size and shape and used these to measure antler volume. By repeating the process, we found that the relative error averaged 8.5% of object size. Errors in converting arbitrary voxel units into real volumetric units accounted for 70% of the measurement variance and can therefore be reduced by replicating the conversion. We applied the method to clay models of known volume and found no indication of bias. The estimation was robust against variation in imaging device, distance and operator, but approximately 40 images per specimen were necessary to achieve good precision. We used the method to show that conventional measures of main-beam length are relatively poor estimators of antler volume. Using loose antlers of known weight, we also showed that the volume may be a relatively poor predictor of antler weight due to variation in bone density across species. We conclude that photogrammetry can be an efficient and accurate tool for measuring antlers, and likely many other complex morphological traits.
Four Dimensions of the Cardiac Myocyte Epigenome: from Fetal to Adult Heart
Authors: Rommel Carolin , Hein Lutz
Published: March 2020

Purpose of Review

Development, physiological growth and the response of the heart to injury are accompanied by changes of the transcriptome and epigenome of cardiac myocytes. Recently, cell sorting and next generation sequencing techniques have been applied to determine cardiac myocyte-specific transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of studies analysing the transcriptome and epigenome of cardiac myocytes in mouse and human hearts during development, physiological growth and disease.

Recent Findings

Adult cardiac myocytes express > 12,600 genes, and their expression levels correlate positively with active histone marks and inversely with gene body DNA methylation. DNA methylation accompanied the perinatal switch in sarcomere or metabolic isoform gene expression in cardiac myocytes, but remained rather stable in heart disease. DNA methylation and histone marks identified > 100,000 cis-regulatory regions in the cardiac myocyte epigenome with a dynamic spectrum of transcription factor binding sites. The ETS-related transcription factor ETV1 was identified as an atrial-specific element involved in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation.

Thus, dynamic development of the atrial vs. ventricular cardiac myocyte epigenome provides a basis to identify location and time-dependent mechanisms of epigenetic control to shape pathological gene expression during heart disease. Identifying the four dimensions of the cardiac myocyte epigenome, atrial vs. ventricular location, time during development and growth, and disease-specific signals, may ultimately lead to new treatment strategies for heart disease.
More toilet infrastructures do not nullify open defecation: a perspective from squatter settlements in megacity Mumbai
Authors: Biswas Rathin , Arya Kavi , Deshpande Shankar
Published: March 2020

Sanitation problems faced by the humanity are tightly coupled with the ever-growing water problems. Better sanitation infrastructures ensure sustainable solutions to the health and water issues faced by the majority of the urban population on the planet. In this study, we investigated sanitation status for squatter settlements in Mumbai, a major global megacity. We observe that capacity building in terms of adequate toilet infrastructure alone cannot eliminate open defecation. There is a huge need for more toilet blocks in Mumbai’s wards, even after considering unusable public and community toilets into account, since 71–99% out of 8417 toilets are not in good condition. We contend that the normal perception regarding more toilet infrastructures and its alleviating effect on open defecation is not always directly correlated and is an emerging as well as a complex urban issue. We corroborate the need for addressing associated governance issues along with capacity building, which will help stakeholders to identify the prevailing sanitation scenario towards further policy amendments. Further, effectively identifying the trends and processes entangled in the urban sanitation issues can ensure a more sustainable resource utilization situation and a better standard of living for the urban poor.
Baseline frailty status and outcomes important for shared decision-making in older adults receiving transcatheter aortic valve implantation, a prospective observational study
Authors: Skaar Elisabeth , Øksnes Anja , Eide Leslie Sofia Pareja , Norekvål Tone Merete , Ranhoff Anette Hylen , Nordrehaug Jan Erik , Forman Daniel Edward , Schoenenberger Andreas W. , Hufthammer Karl Ove , Kuiper Karel Kier-Jan , Bleie Øyvind , Packer Erik Jerome Stene , Langørgen Jørund , Haaverstad Rune , Schaufel Margrethe Aase
Published: March 2020

Aims

The objective of this study was to examine baseline frailty status (including cognitive deficits) and important clinical outcomes, to inform shared decision-making in older adults receiving transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods and results

We conducted a prospective, observational study of 82 TAVI patients, recruited 2013 to 2015, with 2-year follow-up. Mean age was 83 years (standard deviation (SD) 4.7). Eighteen percent of the patients were frail, as assessed with an 8-item frailty scale. Fifteen patients (18%) had a Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score below 24 points at baseline, indicating cognitive impairment or dementia and five patients had an MMSE below 20 points. Mean New York Heart Association (NYHA) class at baseline and 6 months was 2.5 (SD 0.6) and 1.4 (SD 0.6), (p < 0.001). There was no change in mean Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) scale between baseline and 6 months, 54.2 (SD 11.5) and 54.5 (SD 10.3) points, respectively, mean difference 0.3 (p = 0.7). At 2 years, six patients (7%) had died, four (5%, n = 79) lived in a nursing home, four (5%) suffered from disabling stroke, and six (7%) contracted infective endocarditis.

Conclusions

TAVI patients had improvement in symptoms and maintenance of activity of daily living at 6 months. They had low mortality and most patients lived in their own home 2 years after TAVI. Complications like death, stroke, and endocarditis occurred. Some patients had cognitive impairment before the procedure which might influence decision-making. Our findings may be used to develop pre-TAVI decision aids.
High-Voltage Flexible Aqueous Zn-Ion Battery with Extremely Low Dropout Voltage and Super-Flat Platform
Authors: Chen Zhe , Wang Panpan , Ji Zhenyuan , Wang Hua , Liu Jie , Wang Jiaqi , Hu Mengmeng , Huang Yan
Published: March 2020

Flexible rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted extensive attentions in the energy storage field due to their high safety, environmental friendliness, and outstanding electrochemical performance while the exploration of high-voltage aqueous ZIBs with excellent rate capability is still a great challenge for the further application them in flexible and wearable electronics. Herein, we fabricated a 2.4 V high-voltage flexible aqueous ZIB, being among the highest voltage reported in aqueous ZIBs. Moreover, it exhibits extremely flat charging/discharging voltage platforms and the dropout voltage is only 0.1 V, which is the smallest gap in all aqueous batteries to our best knowledge. Furthermore, the prepared ZIB performs high rate capability of 25 C and energy density of 120 Wh kg−1 and exhibits excellent safety under various destructive conditions including hammering, sewing, punching, and soaking. These extraordinary results indicate the great application potential of our high-voltage flexible aqueous ZIB in wearable electronics.
Urban Transects and Trunk Roads: Observations in Hamburg
Authors: Klein Timotheus , Clausen Sebastian
Published: March 2020

The International Hamburg Bauforum, a periodic workshop for several 100 s of architects and town planners, in 2019 focused on “Magistralen”, trunk roads with large traffic volumes that shape the adjacent urban fabric in manifold ways. This study aimed to support the Bauforum with qualitative background about the land use and socioeconomic patterns along the road axis. The longitudinal examination resembles the urban-to-rural—transect school of thought in urban planning and supplies quantitative empirical data to support the corresponding discussions. Our study shows that the transect approach, applied to a radial trunk road, is a helpful systematic approach to analyse a succession urban space along the whole of the road and determine sections that deserve more detailed analysis. Further, we see considerable potential of the approach to illustrate and explain sociodemographic and economic developments of the city as a whole, especially using data and comparing the transect diagrams from different points in time.
Analyticity and large time behavior for the Burgers equation and the quasi-geostrophic equation, the both with the critical dissipation
Authors: Iwabuchi Tsukasa
Published: March 2020

This paper is concerned with the Cauchy problem of the Burgers equation with the critical dissipation. The well-posedness and analyticity in both of the space and the time variables are studied based on the frequency decomposition method. The large time behavior is revealed for any large initial data. As a result, it is shown that any smooth and integrable solution is analytic in space and time as long as time is positive and behaves like the Poisson kernel as time tends to infinity. The corresponding results are also obtained for the quasi-geostrophic equation.
GPS 5.0: An Update on the Prediction of Kinase-Specific Phosphorylation Sites in Proteins
Authors: Wang Chenwei , Xu Haodong , Lin Shaofeng , Deng Wankun , Zhou Jiaqi , Zhang Ying , Shi Ying , Peng Di , Xue Yu
Published: March 2020

In eukaryotes, protein phosphorylation is specifically catalyzed by numerous protein kinases (PKs), faithfully orchestrates various biological processes, and reversibly determines cellular dynamics and plasticity. Here we report an updated algorithm of Group-based Prediction System (GPS) 5.0 to improve the performance for predicting kinase-specific phosphorylation sites (p-sites). Two novel methods, position weight determination (PWD) and scoring matrix optimization (SMO), were developed. Compared with other existing tools, GPS 5.0 exhibits a highly competitive accuracy. Besides serine/threonine or tyrosine kinases, GPS 5.0 also supports the prediction of dual-specificity kinase-specific p-sites. In the classical module of GPS 5.0, 617 individual predictors were constructed for predicting p-sites of 479 human PKs. To extend the application of GPS 5.0, a species-specific module was implemented to predict kinase-specific p-sites for 44,795 PKs in 161 eukaryotes. The online service and local packages of GPS 5.0 are freely available for academic research at http://gps.biocuckoo.cn.
Venetoclax and decitabine for treatment of relapsed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Farhadfar Nosha , Li Ying , May William S. , Adams Carolyn Brooke
Published: March 2020

Despite improvements in first-line treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), the outcome of relapsed T-ALL remains dismal with less than 7% achieving a long-term survival. Thus, there is an unmet need for new treatment strategies to improve outcomes in this setting. Suppression of apoptosis is one of the hallmarks of anticancer drug resistance. Hence, over the past few years, antiapoptotic proteins have become an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in several hematologic malignancies. Venetoclax (ABT-199) is a novel, orally bioavailable small-molecule inhibitor of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), a key regulator of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Recent preclinical studies have suggested that inhibition of BCL-2 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with T-ALL. Herein, we report a case of clinical response to venetoclax in combination with a hypomethylating agent in a patient with relapsed T-ALL after allogeneic stem cell transplant and review the existing literature.
Obesity and helicobacter pylori infection in adults with non specific colitis
Authors: Al-Khalidy Huda Saleem H.
Published: March 2020

Background Non specific colitis is defined as inflammatory condition of the colon that when examined microscopically lacks any characteristic features of any specific form of colitis and is commonly seen in reports of colonoscopy biopsies. There are many factors that cause it like obesity and H pylori.

Aim of the study To determine the association of obesity and H pylori as contributory factors to this disease.

Patients and methods This is a case-controlled study was carried out in Al-Kindy College of Medicine from January 2017 to June 2018. Sixty individuals were included; forty of them had non specific colitis. The rest were healthy control group. Demographic information's were taken like age and sex. Anthropometric measurement like weight in kilograms (kg), height in meters (m), waist circumference in centimeters (cm), and body mass index was done. H pylori IgG was done to both groups.

Results Study results indicated that this disease was more common with increasing age, there is a significant difference (p = 0.002) between patients (48.12 ± 1.50) and control group (41.00 ± 1.10) regarding age. BMI of the patients is significantly higher in patients group (29.21 ± 0.41; p = 0.000) than the control (22.23 ± 0.41). Patients with non specific colitis showed significant (p = 0.000) increased in H pylori infection 33 (82.5%) compared with control group 2 (10%).

Conclusions Obesity and infection withH pylori may predispose to non specific colitis.
Burden of antibiotic allergy labels in Australian aged care residents: Findings from a national point-prevalence survey
Authors: Travis Laura , Worth Leon J. , Trubiano Jason , Thursky Karin , Bennett Noleen
Published: March 2020

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of antibiotic allergy labels (AALs) in Australian aged care residents and to describe the impact of labels on antibiotic prescribing practices.

Design:

Point-prevalence survey.

Setting:

Australian residential aged care facilities.

Participants:

We surveyed 1,489 residents in 407 aged care facilities.

Methods:

Standardized data were collected on a single day between June 1 and August 31, 2018, for residents prescribed an antibiotic. An AAL was reported if it was documented in the resident’s health record. Resident-level data were used to calculate overall prevalence, and antibiotic-level data were used to report relative frequency of AALs for individual antibiotics and classes.

Results:

Among 1,489 residents, 356 (24%) had 1 or more documented AALs. The AALs for penicillin (28.3%), amoxicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (10.5%), cefalexin (7.2%), and trimethoprim (7.0%) were most commonly reported. The presence of an AAL was associated with significantly less prescribing of penicillins (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.31–0.62; P < .001) and significantly more prescribing of lincosamides (OR, 4.81; P < .001), macrolides (OR, 2.03; P = .007), and tetracyclines (OR, 1.54; P = .033). Of residents with AALs, 7 residents (1.9%) were prescribed an antibiotic that was listed on the allergy section of their health record.

Conclusions:

A high prevalence of AALs was observed among residents of Australian aged care facilities, comparable to the prevalence of AALs in high-risk hospitalized patients. Significant increases in prescribing of lincosamide, macrolide, and tetracycline agents poses a potential risk to aged populations, and future studies must evaluate the benefits of AAL delabelling programs tailored for aged care settings.
Psychological and Social Adjustment as Antecedents of High School Students’ Future Expectations
Authors: Verdugo Laura , Sánchez-Sandoval Yolanda
Published: March 2020

This study examines the association between psychosocial adjustment and future expectations in early adolescence. This research tries to fill some gaps in the literature on how current adjustment might be an antecedent of early adolescents’ future expectations. Participants were 781 students (mean age = 12.37 years). Data were collected in 11 schools. The results revealed statistically significant correlations between self-esteem, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, emotional and behavioural problems, educational and social adjustment, and future expectations. The structural equation model confirmed a positive relation between psychosocial adjustment and these adolescents’ future expectations. The main contribution of this research is to further our comprehension of the development of adolescents’ future expectations and the way in which psychosocial adjustment has an impact on such development. Future expectations are an important protective factor for healthy development in adolescence, as thinking about the future motivates everyday behaviour and influences choices, decisions and future activities.
Shari‘a Consciousness: Law and Lived Religion among California Muslims
Authors: Massoud Mark Fathi , Moore Kathleen M.
Published: March 2020

Shari‘a (commonly translated as Islamic law) is at the epicenter of anti-Muslim discourses in the United States. How do Muslims in the United States understand and experience shari‘a in the context of virulent attacks on it and on Islam and Muslims more generally? This article explores the meanings Californian Muslims give to and the intentions they derive from shari‘a when dominant discourses represent shari‘a as a cause for concern in American life. Drawing from fieldwork and interviews with Muslims across California, as well as scholarship on legal consciousness and lived religion, we document three interrelated stages of shari‘a consciousness:perceivingshari‘a and discriminatory depictions of it;educatingoneself about shari‘a’s social and political relevance; andforming an intentionfor social action. Documenting these interrelated stages and theorizing the relationship between legal consciousness, religion, and inequality, this article reveals how religious identity formation is a significant precursor of legal mobilization and how nonstate normative orders provide interpretive frames for understanding human rights and social justice. Ultimately, legal consciousness may stem from sacred sensibilities and the desire to be a more ethical servant of God and not merely to be a more ethical subject of the state.
Introduction to the geothermal play and reservoir geology of the Netherlands
Authors: Mijnlieff Harmen F.
Published: March 2020

The Netherlands has ample geothermal resources. During the last decade, development of these resources has picked up fast. In 2007 one geothermal system had been realised; to date (1 January 2019), 24 have been. Total geothermal heat production in 2018 was 3.7 PJ from 18 geothermal systems. The geothermal sources are located in the same reservoirs/aquifers in which the oil and gas accumulations are hosted: Cenozoic, Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous, Triassic and Rotliegend reservoirs. Additionally, the yet unproven hydrocarbon play in the Lower Carboniferous (Dinantian) Limestones delivered geothermal heat in two geothermal systems. This is in contrast to the Upper Cretaceous and Upper Carboniferous with no producing geothermal systems but producing hydrocarbon fields. Similar to hydrocarbon development, developing the geothermal source relies on fluid flow through the reservoir. For geothermal application a transmissivity of 10 Dm is presently thought to be a minimum value for a standard doublet system. Regional mapping of the geothermal plays, with subsequent resource mapping, by TNO discloses the areas with favourable transmissivity within play areas for geothermal development. The website www.ThermoGis.nl provides the tool to evaluate the geothermal plays on a sub-regional scale. The Dutch geothermal source and resource portfolio can be classified using geothermal play classification of, for example, Moeck (2014). An appropriate adjective for play classification for the Dutch situation would be the predominant permeability type: matrix, karst, fracture or fault permeability. The Dutch geothermal play is a matrix-permeability dominated ‘Hot Sedimentary Aquifer’, ‘Hydrothermal’ or ‘Intra-cratonic Conductive’ play. The Dutch ‘Hot Sedimentary Aquifer’ play is subdivided according to the lithostratigraphical annotation of the reservoir. The main geothermal plays are the Delft Sandstone and Slochteren Sandstone plays.
Wholegrain and legume consumption and the 5-year incidence of age-related cataract in the Blue Mountains Eye Study
Authors: Tan Ava Grace , Flood Victoria M. , Kifley Annette , Russell Joanna , Cumming Robert G. , Mitchell Paul , Wang Jie Jin
Published: March 2020

The present study aims to investigate the effect of wholegrain and legume consumption on the incidence of age-related cataract in an older Australian population-based cohort. The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a population-based cohort study of eye diseases among older adults aged 49 years or older (1992–1994, n 3654). Of 2334 participants of the second examination of the BMES (BMES 2, 1997–2000), 1541 (78·3 % of survivors) were examined 5 years later (BMES 3) who had wholegrain and legume consumption estimated from the FFQ at BMES 2. Cataract was assessed using photographs taken during examinations following the Wisconsin cataract grading system. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess associations with the 5-year incidence of cataract from BMES 2 (baseline) to BMES 3. The 5-year incidence of cortical, nuclear and posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract was 18·2, 16·5 and 5·9 %, respectively. After adjustment for age, sex and other factors, total wholegrain consumption at baseline was not associated with incidence of any type of cataract. High consumption of legumes showed a protective association for incident PSC cataract (5th quintile: adjusted OR 0·37; 95 % CI 0·15, 0·92). There was no significant trend of this association across quintiles (P = 0·08). In this older Australian population, we found no associations between wholegrain intake at baseline and the 5-year incidence of three cataract types. However, intake of legumes in the highest quintile, compared with the lowest quintile, may protect against PSC formation, a finding needing replication in other studies.
Low hydration status may be associated with insulin resistance and fat distribution: analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008–2010
Authors: Min Hyang K. , Ko Hyun Y. , Kim Jin T. , Bankir Lise , Lee Sung W.
Published: March 2020

We aimed to identify the association of hydration status with insulin resistance (IR) and body fat distribution. A total of 14 344 adults participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2010. We used urine specific gravity (USG) to indicate hydration status, and HOMA-IR (homoeostasis model assessment of IR) and trunk:leg fat ratio (TLR) as primary outcomes. In multivariate logistic regression, the OR per 0·01 increase in USG for high IR was 1·303 (95 % CI 1·185, 1·433;P< 0·001). In multivariate generalised additive model plots, increased USG showed a J-shaped association with logarithmic HOMA-IR, with the lowest Akaike’s information criterion score of USG 1·030. Moreover, increased USG was independently associated with increased trunk fat, decreased leg fat and increased TLR. In mediation analysis, the proportion of mediation effects of USG on TLR via IR was 0·193 (95 % CI 0·132, 0·285;P< 0·001), while the proportion of mediation effects of USG on IR via TLR was 0·130 (95 % CI 0·086, 0·188;P< 0·001). Increased USG, a sign of low hydration status and presumably high vasopressin, was associated with IR and poor fat distribution. Direct effect of low hydration status may be more dominant than indirect effect via IR or fat distribution. Further studies are necessary to confirm our findings.
Extra alliteration on stressed syllables in Old English poetry: types, uses and evolution
Authors: Griffith Mark
Published: March 2020

The article assesses the rhetorical uses of the main kinds of non-functional alliteration that are attested in Old English poetry, and gives complete lists of their incidence in all of the poems. Two main general types are isolated. Supererogatory alliteration does not depart from the known alliterative rules, and is deployed ornamentally with some freedom by at least some of the poets. Five sub-types are examined in turn: double alliteration in the a-verse, consonant cluster alliteration, alliteration which is continued across lines, patterned alternation of alliteration across lines, and enjambed alliteration (where the last stress of a line initiates the alliteration of the next). Secondly, licentious alliteration draws a line‘s final stress into alliteration in its own line. Four sub-types are considered: crossed, postponed, and transverse alliteration, and double alliteration in the b-verse. Whilst crossed alliteration appears quite freely, the primary alliteration of a line on the final stress is shown to be avoided almost completely. Most of the unusual uses of extra alliteration congregate in non-traditional or late poetry.
ORAL LANGUAGE PROFILES OF ENGLISH SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN ADOLESCENCE
Authors: Soto-Corominas Adriana , Paradis Johanne , Rusk Brian V. , Marinova-Todd Stefka , Zhang Xuan
Published: March 2020

It is often claimed that child English L2 learners take up to seven years to attain English skills commensurate with those of monolingual peers; however, existing research is insufficient to know if this claim is valid for oral language abilities in particular. This study examined the lexical and morphological abilities of English L2 learners and their monolingual peers (ages 12–15; N = 227) in Canadian middle schools to determine the timeline for convergence with monolinguals, and what factors predict individual differences among L2 learners. Having seven or more years of schooling was insufficient for all L2 learners to converge with monolinguals on all measures; moreover, growth in English abilities slowed after seven years. Regression analyses revealed that use of English with friends, parental education, and cognitive skills predicted individual variation in the L2 learners’ English abilities and, thus, contributed to their potential for convergence with monolinguals.
What mapping reveals: silk and the reorganization of urban space in Lyons, c. 1600–1900
Authors: Gauthiez Bernard
Published: March 2020

The article considers where and how the silk industry was located in the urban space of Lyons. It also explores how the changing nature of silk production and manufacture influenced the institutional arrangements and physical character of the city. Several sub-periods are considered between the early seventeenth to the early twentieth century, each with different spatial logics largely defined by changes in the governance of the trade. This study offers new insights into how a dominant industrial activity reorganized the spaces of a major city and how the resulting social structure affected its spatial pattern. In so doing, space is accorded a more central role in understanding urban development, while recognizing that social, economic and political forces also modify this materiality. Historical Geographical Information Systems (HGIS) facilitate greater precision in terms of urban locations and thereby utilize written qualitative and quantitative sources more effectively.
Analysing spatial relationships through the urban cadastre of nineteenth-century Rome
Authors: Lelo Keti
Published: March 2020

Urban history and urban cartography are closely linked. The analysis of spatial relationships through cartography enables a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of studied phenomena, and thus can be a valuable support to urban historians. In this context, the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century cadastres represent a fertile ground for experimentation in the quantitative analysis of urban space. The explicit relationships between the descriptive data of the cadastral registers and cadastral maps facilitate the computerization of this historical source and the construction of the spatial database. This article illustrates the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and geostatistical methods applied to urban historical studies, focusing on the analysis of socio-economic information retrieved from the Pio-Gregorian cadastre of Rome, from 1818 to 1824.
Rehabilitation needs in individuals with knee OA in rural Western Cape, South Africa: an exploratory qualitative study
Authors: Coetzee Marisa , Giljam-Enright Marlie , Morris Linzette Deidre
Published: March 2020

Background:

Current clinical practice guidelines have suggested that each individual with knee osteoarthritis (OA) should receive three core treatments from their health care provider. These core treatments comprise of exercise, education and weight loss. Identification of the health care and rehabilitation needs of individuals with knee OA in rural areas are imperative for focusing service delivery in a specific context in order to empower the individual. The aim of this study was to explore the rehabilitation needs of individuals with knee OA living in rural Western Cape in order to identify the gaps in services offered and inform rehabilitation programmes in these settings.

Methods:

Semi-structured in-depth individual interviews were performed on 16 individuals with knee OA living in rural settings of the Western Cape, South Africa. A deductive data analysis approach was used and the needs of the individuals were identified and categorised for interpretation and comparison with the reported services received.

Findings:

The three major themes identified were ‘I would like to know more’, ‘There’s not much support from the clinic’ and ‘I don’t feel myself anymore’. These themes relate to the lack of disease-specific education, barriers in the health systems and service delivery resulting in individuals lack of self-worth and poor mental wellbeing. The results revealed the integral relationship between health care systems, service delivery and the effect on patient wellbeing.

Conclusion:

The rehabilitation needs of individuals with knee OA in rural areas advocates for addressing barriers in rural primary health care system such as adequate human resources, referral systems and continuity of care. This will allow for a comprehensive, person-centred and context-specific multidisciplinary approach focused on empowering individuals with knee OA through disease-specific education, improving functional participation and symptom management strategies. This could improve the social inclusion and mental wellbeing of individuals living with knee OA.
Digital protectionism and national planning in the age of the internet: the case of Iran
Authors: Yalcintas Altug , Alizadeh Naseraddin
Published: March 2020

What do regulations in the developing world tell us about the internet economy? In this paper, we argue that the ways in which developing nation states adjust to and legislate the internet depends upon whether they possess a national planning strategy for international data traffic. Focusing our attention on the global trade of intangible goods in Iran, we aim to demonstrate that digital protectionism causes, to varying degrees, suppression, censorship, and the violation of freedom of speech and other civil rights on the internet. Our results show that digital protectionism generated an emergence of domestic start-ups, with companies, such as Facenema and Soroush, operating in the Iranian market in the absence of global rivals such as Facebook and WhatsApp. Yet, digital protectionism and sanction-induced barriers have triggered social problems, besides the emergence of parastatals, securing the economy to an inefficient social and economic path towards digital development.
Temperature dependent dielectric spectroscopy of muscle tissue phantom
Authors: Fiser Ondrej , Ley Sebastian , Helbig Marko , Sachs Jürgen , Kantova Michaela , Vrba Jan
Published: March 2020

The temperature dependence of the dielectric parameters of tissues and tissue-mimicking phantoms is very important for non-invasive temperature measurement in medical applications using microwaves. We performed measurements of this dependence in the temperature range of 25–50°C using distilled water as a reference liquid commonly used in dielectric property studies. The results were compared with the literature model in the frequency range of 150–3000 MHz. Using this method, the temperature dependence of dielectric parameters of a new muscle tissue-mimicking phantom based on agar, polyethylene powder, and polysaccharide material TX-151 was measured in the temperature range of 25–50°C. The temperature dependence of the dielectric properties of this new muscle phantom was fitted to that of the two-pole Cole–Cole model and the deviation of the results between measured and modeled data was quantified.
Mutual-coupling reduction in triple-band MIMO antennas for WLAN using CSRRs
Authors: Najafy Vahid , Bemani Mohammad
Published: March 2020

For the requirements of low mutual-coupling MIMO antennas for WLAN, a new complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) unit cell is introduced in this paper. A microstrip-fed Vivaldi antenna array is designed for WLAN applications, where compact triple-band gap-complementary split-ring resonator unit cells are loaded between two antennas to examine the effect of unit cells on the rate of mutual-coupling reduction. By inserting the CSRR, the final design offered an improvement in decoupling by 8.5, 10.5, and 18 dB at 3.65, 4.9, and 5.8 GHz, respectively, compared with the reference antenna. By suppressing surface waves, antenna gain and front-to-back ratio are improved.
Tectonics and Landscape of the Central African Plateau and their Implications for a Propagating Southwestern Rift in Africa
Authors: Daly M. C. , Green P. , Watts A. B. , Davies O. , Chibesakunda F. , Walker R.
Published: March 2020

The Central African Plateau (CAP) covers a million square kilometers of African lithosphere absent of recent volcanism and intense seismicity. Treating the CAP erosion surface as a reference frame for measuring continental deformation reveals an active landscape of normal fault systems and crustal flexures. Free‐air gravity anomalies over the CAP reveal both a short‐wavelength (100–200 km) flexural and a longer‐wavelength (>500 km) mantle convective signature. Apatite fission track thermochronometry records the onset of regional cooling of the erosion surface below 60 °C between 38 and 22 Ma. The erosion surface was formed by the Latest Miocene and elevated to its present altitude (1,200 ± 50 m) in the Latest Miocene/Pliocene. High‐resolution Shuttle Radar Topography Mission‐ and LIDAR‐based digital elevation models of the erosion surface show active fault terraces and alluvial fan deformation associated with pre‐existing rift border faults. Flexural modeling of the footwall uplift of the Luangwa Rift border fault yields an effective elastic thickness of the CAP lithosphere of ~35 km. The rifting initiated in the Pliocene with, or soon after, elevation of the CAP. Subsequent Plio‐Pleistocene deformation of the CAP surface controls the Congo and Zambezi drainage systems and wetland locations. The CAP rifts link southwestward through the Zambezi, Kafue and Muchili Rifts to the Pleistocene aged Okavango and Eiseb Rifts of Botswana and Namibia, defining a propagating Southwestern Rift cutting the Nubian Plate. This active rift system developed along relatively thin (~150 km) lithosphere between the Congo and Kalahari cratons within crust inherited from Neoproterozoic collisional tectonics.
Food Sources of Benthic Communities at the Caiwei Guyot and Yap Trench, Northwestern Pacific Ocean: Inferences From Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes
Authors: Yang Zhi , Chen Jianfang , Wang Chunsheng , Zhang Dongsheng , Lu Bo , Wang Kui , Ran Lihua , Sun Dong , Lin Shiquan , Chen Qianna
Published: March 2020

To investigate nutritional resources for benthic communities at two sites in the northwestern Pacific Ocean (the Caiwei Guyot and the Yap Trench), stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (δ13C and δ15N) were measured in the tissues of megabenthic consumers (Porifera, Asteroidea, Crinoidea, Holothuroidea, Ophiuroidea, Gammaridea, and Actiniaria) as well as four potential food sources (suspended particles, sinking particles, zooplankton, and sedimentary organic matter). Fast‐sinking particles are generally thought to be the primary food source for benthic consumers, but that paradigm does not seem to apply at these abyssal sites. Here the δ13C and δ15N signatures of fast‐sinking particles (as collected by sediment traps; δ13C = −24.1 to −22.6‰, δ15N = 1.4 to 5.4‰) were significantly lower than those of the megabenthos (δ13C = −20.1 to −16.1‰, δ15N = 10.2 to 17.9‰), indicating that these particles are not likely a direct food source for the animals. Buoyant particles (and slow‐sinking particles), on the other hand, seem to be a significant direct food source for the megabenthos. Sedimentary organic matter and zooplankton are also important direct food sources. Trophic level analysis similarly indicates a diversity of food sources and suggests that for at least some animals, microbes (e.g., bacteria) may be a food source as well.
Clinical Effectiveness of Insomnia Treatment in Adolescents With Comorbid Disorders: A Single Case Experimental Design Study
Authors: Groot Manon M. , de Bruin Eduard J.
Published: March 2020

Objective: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) is an effective treatment for insomnia in adolescents. Knowledge on how CBTI works in clinical practice in adolescents with comorbid disorders is still scarce. Methods: In current research, clinical efficacy of group-CBTI “SleepingSmart” was investigated in a single case experimental design with pre- and posttests and 2-months follow-up in five participants with comorbid complaints (aged 14–16). Results: After CBTI, insomnia complaints in all participants improved. In addition, sleep parameters improved for most participants. Analyses of process of change indicated that these improvements were related to the intensity of implementation of CBTI techniques, in particular sleep hygiene, and restriction of time in bed. In some participants, comorbid complaints also improved after CBTI. Conclusions: These results indicate that a comorbid condition doesn’t have to be a contraindication for CBTI. In addition, this study shows that CBTI can be an effective treatment for insomnia, and improvements seemed to be related to intensity of implementation of sleep hygiene, and restriction of time in bed.

Implications for Impact Statement

Sleep problems are comorbid to many forms of psychopathology. This study shows that group-CBTI can be effective for adolescents with insomnia and comorbid complaints, and most effect seemed to be caused by sleep hygiene practices and restriction of time in bed. This confirms the notion that sleep problems can be treated regardless of comorbid complaints.
Industry incentives and antibiotic resistance: an introduction to the antibiotic susceptibility bonus
Authors: Morel Chantal M. , Lindahl Olof , Harbarth Stephan , de Kraker Marlieke E. A. , Edwards Suzanne , Hollis Aidan
Published: March 2020

The scarcity of novel antibiotic compounds in a time of increasing resistance rates has begun to ring alarm bells at the highest echelons of government. Large new financial incentives to accelerate antibiotic research and development, such as market entry rewards (MERs), are being considered. However, there is little focus on how to sustain the efficacy of new, promising antibiotics reaching the market. Currently, inappropriate use of antibiotics is commonplace, which has accelerated resistance development. In an attempt to halt this trend, antibiotic stewardship policies are being implemented in many resource-rich settings. Unfortunately, this has not yet had an impact on the amount of antibiotics being prescribed globally. One important hurdle is misalignment of incentives. While governments and health services are incentivized to promote prudent use of this common good, pharmaceutical companies are incentivized to increase volume of sales to maximize profits. This problem must be addressed or else the major efforts going into developing new antibiotics will be in vain. In this paper we outline an approach to realign the incentives of pharmaceutical companies with wider antibiotic conservation efforts by making a staged bonus a component of an MER for antibiotic developers when resistance to their drug remains low over time. This bonus could address the lack of stewardship focus in any innovation-geared incentive.
Tailoring the molecular structure of crosslinked polymers for pervaporation desalination
Authors: Xue Yun Long , Huang Jin , Lau Cher Hon , Cao Bing , Li Pei
Published: March 2020

Polymer crosslinking imbues chemical stability to thin films at the expense of lower molecular transportation rates. Here in this work we deployed molecular dynamics simulations to optimise the selection of crosslinking compounds that overcome this trade-off relationship. We validated these simulations using a series of experiments and exploited this finding to underpin the development of a pervaporation (PV) desalination thin-film composite membrane with water fluxes reaching 234.9 ± 8.1 kg m−2 h−1 and salt rejection of 99.7 ± 0.2 %, outperforming existing membranes for pervaporation and membrane distillation. Key to achieving this state-of-the-art desalination performance is the spray coating of 0.73 μm thick crosslinked dense, hydrophilic polymers on to electrospun nanofiber mats. The desalination performances of our polymer nanocomposites are harnessed here in this work to produce freshwater from brackish water, seawater and brine solutions, addressing the key environmental issue of freshwater scarcity.
Endophilin-A3 and Galectin-8 control the clathrin-independent endocytosis of CD166
Authors: Renard Henri-François , Tyckaert François , Lo Giudice Cristina , Hirsch Thibault , Valades-Cruz Cesar Augusto , Lemaigre Camille , Shafaq-Zadah Massiullah , Wunder Christian , Wattiez Ruddy , Johannes Ludger , van der Bruggen Pierre , Alsteens David , Morsomme Pierre
Published: March 2020

While several clathrin-independent endocytic processes have been described so far, their biological relevance often remains elusive, especially in pathophysiological contexts such as cancer. In this study, we find that the tumor marker CD166/ALCAM (Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule) is a clathrin-independent cargo. We show that endophilin-A3—but neither A1 nor A2 isoforms—functionally associates with CD166-containing early endocytic carriers and physically interacts with the cargo. Our data further demonstrates that the three endophilin-A isoforms control the uptake of distinct subsets of cargoes. In addition, we provide strong evidence that the construction of endocytic sites from which CD166 is taken up in an endophilin-A3-dependent manner is driven by extracellular galectin-8. Taken together, our data reveal the existence of a previously uncharacterized clathrin-independent endocytic modality, that modulates the abundance of CD166 at the cell surface, and regulates adhesive and migratory properties of cancer cells.
Independent risk factors for death in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Yuh-Lih , Ko Hsin-Kuo , Lu Meng-Shui , Chou Chia-Lin , Su Kang-Cheng , Hsu Chia-Chen , Chou Kun-Ta , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Perng Diahn-Warng , Chou Yueh-Ching
Published: March 2020

The independent risk factors for death in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to investigate these independent risk factors and the relationship between mortality and the prescription patterns of anti-asthmatic medications in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation. Using a nested case–control design, we identified 267 cases (death after asthma admission) and 1035 controls (survival after asthma admission) from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 2001 to 2010. Conditional logistic regressions were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We identified the independent risk factors for death as the comorbidities of pneumonia (aOR 3.82, 95% CI 2.41–6.05), genitourinary disease (aOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.17–2.62), septicemia (aOR 4.26, 95% CI 2.61–6.94), diabetes mellitus (aOR 2.10, 95% CI 1.30–3.38), arrhythmia (aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.14–3.50), and a history of asthmatic hospitalization (aOR 4.48, 95% CI 2.77–7.25). Moreover, the use of short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) and the dosage of oral corticosteroids (OCSs) >70 mg prednisolone during previous hospitalization (all p < 0.05) and the dosage of OCSs ≥110 mg prednisolone/month (aOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.08–4.50) during outpatient treatment independently increased the risk of death. The inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) ≥4 canisters/year (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.19–0.78) independently reduced the risk of death. Specific comorbidities, asthma severity, and prescription patterns of SABA, OCSs, and ICSs were independently associated with mortality in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation. These results can be utilized to help physicians identify asthmatic patients who are at a higher mortality risk and to refine the management of the condition.
Innate and secondary humoral responses are improved by increasing the time between MVA vaccine immunizations
Authors: Palgen Jean-Louis , Tchitchek Nicolas , Rodriguez-Pozo André , Jouhault Quentin , Abdelhouahab Hadjer , Dereuddre-Bosquet Nathalie , Contreras Vanessa , Martinon Frédéric , Cosma Antonio , Lévy Yves , Le Grand Roger , Beignon Anne-Sophie
Published: March 2020

Comprehending the mechanisms behind the impact of vaccine regimens on immunity is critical for improving vaccines. Indeed, the time-interval between immunizations may influence B and T cells, as well as innate responses. We compared two vaccine schedules using cynomolgus macaques immunized with an attenuated vaccinia virus. Two subcutaneous injections 2 weeks apart led to an impaired secondary antibody response and similar innate myeloid responses to both immunizations. In contrast, a delayed boost (2 months) improved the quality of the antibody response and involved more activated/mature innate cells, induced late after the prime and responding to the recall. The magnitude and quality of the secondary antibody response correlated with the abundance of these neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells that were modified phenotypically and enriched prior to revaccination at 2 months, but not 2 weeks. These late phenotypic modifications were associated with an enhanced ex vivo cytokine production (including IL-12/23 and IL-1β) by PBMCs short after the second immunization, linking phenotype and functions. This integrated analysis reveals a deep impact of the timing between immunizations, and highlights the importance of early but also late innate responses involving phenotypical changes, in shaping humoral immunity.