bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of urban and rural environmental quality: the opinions of residents of the region
Authors: Baklanov I S , Baklanova O A , Nesmeyanov E E , Ivashova V A , Kabardokova L A
Published: October 2020

The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the opinions of the rural and urban settlements’ population of the Stavropol Territory on the qualitative characteristics of the living environment. The quality of life in the village, which to a small extent depends on the state of the environment (transport accessibility of infrastructure and social facilities, road and pavement, lighting, etc.), plays a significant role in the choice of permanent residence. Currently, the rural population has high demands on the living environment. Rural settlements have territorial-landscape, climatic features, the historically established traditional spatial organization of rural settlements and the social lifestyle of the villager. Therefore, the urban model of improvement in rural areas cannot be used. It is important to study the opinions of local residents to understand the directions of transformation and improve the quality of the environment of rural settlements. Directions for the development of the environment of a settlement significantly depend on the characteristics of traditional socio-cultural practices of the population. This study allows us to more accurately formulate the desired contours of the model of the environment of settlements. On the example of a comparative analysis of the problems of transport accessibility of social infrastructure by residents in different types of settlements, we have shown the actual discrepancy in their significance. To plan directions for the development of rural transport infrastructure, it is necessary to solve the issues of hard cover for light-duty vehicles that are designed to carry small cargoes necessary for personal subsidiary plots.
Strategy for the urban environment development of the regional capital: prospects and challenges
Authors: Ivashova V A , Tokareva G V , Narozhnaya G A , Zvereva L A , Bondarenko N G
Published: October 2020

The article discusses approaches to strategic planning of the urban environment of the regional capital and the challenges that need to be overcome in the course of preparing a strategic development project. Strategic planning of the urban environment of the regional capital has its own important distinctive features. This is due to the status and mission of the administrative centre of the territory. A review of the literature shows the relevance of the research topic and social practice of solving current and future challenges. The strategic planning of the urban environment of the regional capital should be based on such criteria as the involvement of citizens in strategic planning and assessment of the effectiveness of strategies, harmonious development of the urban ecosystem, sustainable social and economic development of the city, infrastructural and administrative support for innovation, increasing social capital, safety of the urban environment in all its manifestations and ensuring the democratic rights and freedoms of citizens. We show the key challenges and vectors of development of the urban environment on the example of the analysis of the development strategy of the capital of the southern region of Russia – Stavropol. The results of a survey of citizens and the business community give an idea of the comfortable urban environment in terms of living and doing business, they are an important addition to understanding the problem areas of the regional capital development.
Visual comfort in the organic architecture of an individual residential building
Authors: Ilvitskaya S V , Lobkova T V , Lobkov V A
Published: October 2020

Organic architecture is based on unity with the natural context. Moreover, the natural environment in all its diversity has a positive effect on humans. Visual comfort is one of the necessary components of the sustainable architecture of an individual home. And visual auspiciousness as one of the aspects of environmental friendliness is gradually beginning to be included in the number of components of “green design”. The article discusses and analyzes the relationship of the principles of organic architecture with techniques for ensuring visual comfort of the architectural space of an individual residential building.
Three-dimensional scanning of a figure as the basis for mass customization of industrial clothing collections
Authors: Petrosova I A , Andreeva E G , Romanovsky R S , Kopwlov A A , Rodionova M A
Published: October 2020

The subject of research is clothing development according to individual design chosen by a consumer. The application of the concept of mass customization has become one of the most high-demanded areas of development in light industry. Manufacturers invest heavily in the development of software products, which can help the consumer to choose the right-sized and well-fitting clothes from industrial collections on manufacturers’ websites. While constructing clothing designs on an individual order, and then while manufacturing process under conditions of industrial flow production, exact body dimensions are extremely important. The world light industry is actively using digital technologies in order to measure shapes and determine body features (made-to-measure systems). Such systems make it possible to better take into account the individual characteristics of customers, which allow designing high-quality clothing, characterized by a good fit on a figure of a particular consumer. There is a developed system for obtaining a digital image of a shape, which based on the use of depth sensors. An experimental study of the anthropometric matching of clothes with a figure in a virtual environment was carried out by comparing scanned three-dimensional models of figures with and without clothes. The permissible values of projection gaps were revealed, within them the product visually corresponds to a figure. An approach where there is an information which consists of customers’ preferences, dimensional characteristics, shape and body type in specially created databases, which are used when it is necessary to help to create clothing products that are best suited to the consumer in size and design, is proposed.
Motion design in 1990-2010 and its entertainment function: social and technological aspects
Authors: Petrukhina O V
Published: October 2020

The increased importance of applied animation associated with the active introduction of products of motion design into national design practice requires due attention and research. In order to understand and use correctly the techniques and principles of modern design activities related to dynamic images, it is necessary to study its origins and conduct a historical analysis of expressive methods and means. The paper studies one of the stages in the development of motion design, covering the 1990-2010s and describes the types and techniques of applied animation used in advertising.
The development of protected natural areas and adjacent territories
Authors: Roshchupkina O E , Perkova M V , Baklazenko E V , Vaytens A G
Published: October 2020

In Russia, the most common form of preservation of specially protected natural areas is formation of nature reserves. Due to nature protection regulations, which limit activities within the boundaries of the reserve, and due to the difference between the natural boundaries and those of the protected natural areas, the authors propose the strategy for urban development of the territories adjacent to the protected natural areas. The study identifies the main types of the areas adjacent to the reserves and provides their classification. It is proposed to form three zones: strictly preserved, buffer and protected natural zones. Strategies for urban planning development of the territories adjacent to the protected natural areas and measures have been developed for three sites of the Belogorye reserve: Forest on Vorskla, Yamskaya Steppe, Stenki Izgorya. This will ensure preservation of unique natural complexes; strengthen the natural framework of the region and stabilize the ecological situation; intensify research and educational activities in the reserves; enhance the socio-economic development of the territories adjacent to the reserve and the development of the region’s tourist and recreational infrastructure.
Possibilities to integrate wearable biomonitoring sensors into adaptive lighting systems
Authors: Roslyakova S V , Chirimisina D A , Lyubakova Y S
Published: October 2020

There are two trends in modern lighting: the first one is lighting intelligence and adaptability, and the other is an orientation on the biological effects of light on the human body. This article analyzes the possibilities for further development of adaptive lighting systems from human biomonitoring data integration point of view. A review of wearable medical devices, which in the future could work as sensors of an adaptive lighting system, is presented.
Architecture of medium- and multistoried residential buildings with steel framework
Authors: Shamaeva T V , Zinkevich E S
Published: October 2020

In this article, the object of research is multistoried buildings and medium-rise buildings with a steel framework as load-bearing structures, which have been built over the past 13 years. Advantages and disadvantages, characteristic features of the architectural design of these buildings have been specified. As a result of the work it has been revealed that architectural solutions depend directly on the structural solutions of the metal frame when the number of floors is from 3 to 21; the space-planning type is used as sectional and corridor, etc. A number of disadvantages have been identified such as: the choice of a structural system depends on the number of stories in the building; a narrow range of steel products is for the civil construction; there are no typical architectural units, etc. As for the advantages, there are various solutions for facade systems; short installation times are compared with the “all-season” construction; the load on the foundation from a metal frame is less than that from a monolithic one. There is a possibility of using prefabricated standard elements of the frame-modular construction of the building, adaptation of the building to another function. Galvanized steel structures have turned out to be more resistant to external factors.
The effects of aging on the cyclical thermal shock response of a copper-beryllium alloy as a substrate of cooling wheel in planar flow casting process
Authors: Li Deren , Lu Zhichao
Published: October 2020

In planar flow casting (PFC) process, the molten alloy from nozzle exerts cyclical thermal shock on the substrate surface of cooling wheel and the cyclical thermal shock causes damage to the substrate surface in the form of defects. In this paper, a 2D numerical model was explored and the cyclical thermal shock on the surface of cooling wheel was simulated by numerical method using practical casting parameters. A batch of hot rolled copper-beryllium (Cu-2Be) cylindrical rings was prepared and subjected to solution annealing and aging treatments. The coefficients of thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficients and mechanical properties of Cu-2Be rings with different aging conditions were measured. The metallograph and SEM of the Cu-2Be rings subjected to 105 cycles of thermal shock were examined. The simulation results show that the surface temperature underneath the puddle is heated up drastically to a maximum temperature around 350 °C and cooled down to a minimum temperature around 140 °C in each revolution in quasi-steady process, and the lower thermal conductivity leads to the higher surface temperature for Cu-2Be substrate. The mechanical and physical responses of a Cu-2Be alloy aged at different conditions as a substrate of cooling wheel have been investigated after 105 cycles of thermal shock in practical casting. It was observed that the cyclical thermal shock leads to damage to Cu-2Be surface which affects the surface quality of as-cast ribbon. It was found that higher thermal expansion coefficient of Cu-2Be alloy leads to large magnitude of surface expansion and surface shrinkage which results in crack damage while lower thermal expansion coefficient of Cu-2Be alloy resulting from higher temperature aging is benefit to reducing the magnitude of surface expansion and surface shrinkage but the strength of Cu-2Be substrate is also reduced and intergranular erosion occurs after 105 cycles of thermal shock.
Nano-CaCO3 synthesis by jet-reactor from calcium carbide slag
Authors: Mao Shuaidong , Liu Yan , Zhang Ting-an , Li Xiaolong
Published: October 2020

Nano-CaCO3 was producted by using carbide slag in the self-designed jet-reactor. The effect of different operating parameter such as CO2 flow rate and concentration, liquid flow rate and concentration of Ca(OH)2 on the CaCO3 particle size and morphology has been investigated in this paper. The obtained calcite particle were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the calcite about 50–200 nm was obtained under the reaction conditions of the saturation of calcium hydroxide as 1, the flow rate as 1.5 l min−1, the CO2 flow rate as 50 ml min−1, the concentration as 100%, and the SDS amount 2%.
Camera-based CW Diffuse Optical Tomography for obtaining 3D absorption maps by means of digital tomosynthesis
Authors: Carbone N A , Vera D A , Iriarte D I , Pomarico J A , Macdonald R , Grosenick D
Published: October 2020

We present a novel method for obtaining a 3D absorption map of a tissue-like turbid slab in the near-infrared spectral range by tomosynthesis. Transmittance data are obtained for a large number of oblique projection directions by scanning a cw laser source across the surface of the slab and by using a CCD camera for spatially resolved light detection. A perturbation model of light transport is used to convert the intensity maps for the different projections into absorption maps. By applying the tomosynthesis approach to these new maps, 3D absorption information on embedded inclusions has been obtained for the first time. The number and the positions of the lateral offset detectors have been optimized by employing a structural similarity index for comparison of the reconstructed with the true absorption data. We present 3D reconstruction of absorption maps using both Monte Carlo simulations and experiments on phantoms with breast-like optical properties. A comparison with conventional 3D reconstruction by a finite element approach shows the superior location performance of tomosynthesis.
𝐶*-algebras, groupoids and covers of shift spaces
Authors: Brix Kevin , Carlsen Toke
Published: October 2020

To every one-sided shift space

X

\mathsf {X}

we associate a cover

X

~

\widetilde {\mathsf {X}}

, a groupoid

G

X

\mathcal {G}_\mathsf {X}

and a

C
∗

\mathrm {C^*}

-algebra

O

X

\mathcal {O}_\mathsf {X}

. We characterize one-sided conjugacy, eventual conjugacy and (stabilizer-preserving) continuous orbit equivalence between

X

\mathsf {X}

and

Y

\mathsf {Y}

in terms of isomorphism of

G

X

\mathcal {G}_\mathsf {X}

and

G

Y

\mathcal {G}_\mathsf {Y}

, and diagonal-preserving

∗

^*

-isomorphism of

O

X

\mathcal {O}_\mathsf {X}

and

O

Y

\mathcal {O}_\mathsf {Y}

. We also characterize two-sided conjugacy and flow equivalence of the associated two-sided shift spaces

Λ

X

\Lambda _\mathsf {X}

and

Λ

Y

\Lambda _\mathsf {Y}

in terms of isomorphism of the stabilized groupoids

G

X

×

R

\mathcal {G}_\mathsf {X}\times \mathcal {R}

and

G

Y

×

R

\mathcal {G}_\mathsf {Y}\times \mathcal {R}

, and diagonal-preserving

∗

^*

-isomorphism of the stabilized

C
∗

\mathrm {C^*}

-algebras

O

X

⊗

K

\mathcal {O}_\mathsf {X}\otimes \mathbb {K}

and

O

Y

⊗

K

\mathcal {O}_\mathsf {Y}\otimes \mathbb {K}

. Our strategy is to lift relations on the shift spaces to similar relations on the covers.

Restricting to the class of sofic shifts whose groupoids are effective, we show that it is possible to recover the continuous orbit equivalence class of

X

\mathsf {X}

from the pair

(

O

X

,
C
(

X

)
)

(\mathcal {O}_\mathsf {X}, C(\mathsf {X}))

, and the flow equivalence class of

Λ

X

\Lambda _\mathsf {X}

from the pair

(

O

X

⊗

K

,
C
(

X

)
⊗

c
0

)

(\mathcal {O}_\mathsf {X}\otimes \mathbb {K}, C(\mathsf {X})\otimes c_0)

. In particular, continuous orbit equivalence implies flow equivalence for this class of shift spaces.
Global expanding solutions of compressible Euler equations with small initial densities
Authors: Parmeshwar Shrish , Hadžić Mahir , Jang Juhi
Published: October 2020

We prove the existence of a large class of global-in-time expanding solutions to vacuum free boundary compressible Euler flows without relying on the existence of an underlying finite-dimensional family of special affine solutions of the flow.
Markers of Follicular Helper T Cells Are Occasionally Expressed in T-Cell or Histiocyte-Rich Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Atypical Paracortical HyperplasiaA Diagnostic Pitfall For T-Cell Lymphomas of T Follicular Helper Origin
Authors: Abukhiran Ibrahim , Syrbu Sergei I , Holman Carol J
Published: October 2020

Objectives

Follicular helper T cell (TFH) markers are expressed in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma of the TFH phenotype (PTCL-TFH). However, differential expression and coexpression of these markers in benign and other malignant lymphoid proliferations have not been well studied.

Methods

We performed programmed death-1 (PD-1), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13), inducible costimulator (ICOS), CD10, and B-cell lymphoma 6 protein (BCL-6) immunohistochemistry on AITL, PTCL not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), PTCL-TFH, T-cell or histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (THRLBCL), classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), atypical paracortical hyperplasia (PCH), progressive transformation of germinal centers (PTGC), and reactive follicular hyperplasia (RFH).

Results

CXCL13 and ICOS were more sensitive but less specific for AITL than PD-1, CD10, and BCL-6. Moreover, 74% of AITL (none of PTCL-NOS or PTCL-TFH) coexpressed more than 2 TFH markers. In background T cells of THRLBCL, 70% of cases coexpressed more than 1 marker. The background T cells of CHL expressed all TFH markers except CD10 in all cases. In addition, 13% of PCH cases coexpressed more than 1 marker. In RFH and PTGC, all markers were expressed mainly in germinal centers with rare extrafollicular staining.

Conclusions

AITL, PTCL-NOS, and PTCL-TFH show differential expression of TFH markers. AITL frequently coexpresses more than 2 TFH markers. TFH markers can be expressed in PCH and in background T cells of THRLBCL and CHL. Consequently, caution should be used before a diagnosis of AITL is established, particularly with limited samples.
Impact of collaborative clinician visits on postdischarge total cost of care in a polypharmacy population
Authors: Herges Joseph R , Borah Bijan J , Moriarty James P , Garrison Gregory M , Gullerud Rachel E , Angstman Kurt B
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of a collaborative intervention by pharmacists and primary care clinicians on total cost of care, including costs of inpatient readmissions, emergency department visits, and outpatient care, at 30, 60, and 180 days after hospital discharge in a population of patients at high risk for readmission due to polypharmacy.

Methods

A retrospective study of cost outcomes in a cohort of adult patients discharged from a single institution from July 1, 2013 to March 25, 2016, was conducted. All patients had at least 10 medications listed on their discharge list, including at least 1 drug frequently associated with adverse events leading to hospital readmission. About half of the cohort (n = 496) attended a postdischarge visit involving both a pharmacist and a primary care clinician (a physician, physician assistant, or licensed nurse practitioner); this was designated the pharmacist/clinician collaborative (PCC) group. The remainder of the cohort (n = 500) attended a visit without pharmacist involvement; this was designated as the usual care (UC) group. Costs were compared using a quantile regression to assess the potential heterogeneous impacts of the PCC intervention across different parts of the cost distribution. All outcomes were adjusted for differences in baseline characteristics.

Results

At 30 days post index discharge, there was a significant decrease in total costs in the 10th and 90th cost quantiles in the PCC cohort vs the UC cohort, without a statistically significant decrease in the 25th, 50th or 75th quantiles. The difference was significant in the 75th and 90th quantiles at 60 days and in the 25th, 50th, and 75th quantiles at 180 days. There was a nonsignificant cost reduction in all other quantiles.

Conclusion

Medically complex patients had a significantly lower total cost of care in approximately half of the adjusted cost quantiles at 30, 60, and 180 days after hospital discharge when they had a PCC visit. PCC visits can improve patient clinical outcomes while improving cost metrics.
Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase: A Useful Marker of Habitual Drinking in Cases of Alcohol-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
Authors: Hamada Hidetoshi , Ando Wataru , Takao Masaki , Sugano Nobuhiko
Published: October 2020

Aims

Alcohol intake is one of the factors associated with the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), and its epidemiological information regarding alcohol intake depends on patients’ self-reports. Therefore, we analysed the efficacy of laboratory tests as an objective diagnostic tool to indicate habitual drinking in patients with alcohol-associated ONFH.

Methods

This study included 109 consecutive patients diagnosed with ONFH who underwent primary hip surgery in our institution between 2010 and 2018. The patients were classified into group AL (alcohol-associated ONFH; n = 26) and group NO (alcohol-unassociated ONFH; n = 83), based on their self-reported information. Serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol and triglycerides were compared between both groups. The sensitivities and specificities with the optimal cut-off values for detecting alcohol-associated ONFH were compared among these markers.

Results

The median serum levels of GGT, AST and ALT were significantly higher in the AL group than in the NO group. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.795 for GGT, 0.731 for AST and 0.709 for ALT. The optimal cut-off level of GGT as a marker for alcohol-associated ONFH was 36.5 units/L, with a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 80%, and it was found to be the best marker among the other examined laboratory markers.

Conclusion

Serum GGT level is a useful laboratory marker with moderate accuracy that indicates habitual drinking in patients with alcohol-associated ONFH.
RepeatFS: a file system providing reproducibility through provenance and automation
Authors: Westbrook Anthony , Varki Elizabeth , Thomas W Kelley
Published: October 2020

Motivation

Reproducibility is of central importance to the scientific process. The difficulty of consistently replicating and verifying experimental results is magnified in the era of big data, in which bioinformatics analysis often involves complex multi-application pipelines operating on terabytes of data. These processes result in thousands of possible permutations of data preparation steps, software versions and command-line arguments. Existing reproducibility frameworks are cumbersome and involve redesigning computational methods. To address these issues, we developed RepeatFS, a file system that records, replicates and verifies informatics workflows with no alteration to the original methods. RepeatFS also provides several other features to help promote analytical transparency and reproducibility, including provenance visualization and task automation.

Results

We used RepeatFS to successfully visualize and replicate a variety of bioinformatics tasks consisting of over a million operations with no alteration to the original methods. RepeatFS correctly identified all software inconsistencies that resulted in replication differences.

Availabilityand implementation

RepeatFS is implemented in Python 3. Its source code and documentation are available at https://github.com/ToniWestbrook/repeatfs.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Estimates of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Among Children in Senegal: Results From 2 Consecutive Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trials in 2010 and 2011
Authors: Niang Mbayame Nd , Sugimoto Jonathan D , Diallo Aldiouma , Diarra Bou , Ortiz Justin R , Lewis Kristen D C , Lafond Kathryn E , Halloran M Elizabeth , Widdowson Marc-Alain , Neuzil Kathleen M , Victor John C
Published: October 2020

Background

We report results of years 2 and 3 of consecutive cluster-randomized controlled trials of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3) in Senegal.

Methods

We cluster-randomized (1:1) 20 villages to annual vaccination with IIV3 or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) of age-eligible residents (6 months–10 years). The primary outcome was total vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza illness (LCI) among age-eligible children (modified intention-to-treat population [mITT]). Secondary outcomes were indirect (herd protection) and population (overall community) vaccine effectiveness.

Results

We vaccinated 74% of 12 408 age-eligible children in year 2 (June 2010–April 11) and 74% of 11 988 age-eligible children in year 3 (April 2011–December 2011) with study vaccines. Annual cumulative incidence of LCI was 4.7 (year 2) and 4.2 (year 3) per 100 mITT child vaccinees of IPV villages. In year 2, IIV3 matched circulating influenza strains. The total effectiveness was 52.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32.3–67.0), and the population effectiveness was 36.0% (95% CI, 10.2–54.4) against LCI caused by any influenza strain. The indirect effectiveness against LCI by A/H3N2 was 56.4% (95% CI, 39.0–68.9). In year 3, 74% of influenza detections were vaccine-mismatched to circulating B/Yamagata and 24% were vaccine-matched to circulating A/H3N2. The year 3 total effectiveness against LCI was −14.5% (95% CI, −81.2–27.6). Vaccine effectiveness varied by type/subtype of influenza in both years.

Conclusions

IIV3 was variably effective against influenza illness in Senegalese children, with total and indirect vaccine effectiveness present during the year when all circulating strains matched the IIV3 formulation.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT00893906.
Anthropocene-related disease
Authors: Gluckman Peter D , Low Felicia M , Hanson Mark A
Published: October 2020

While the Anthropocene is often discussed in terms of the health of the planet, there has been less attention paid to its impact on the health of humans. We argue that there is now sufficient evidence of broad and growing adverse effects on human health to consider Anthropocene-related diseases and their impact on public health as a category of conditions needing specific recognition and preventative action. Using the examples of climate change-related health challenges, non-communicable disease, antimicrobial resistance and the unique challenges of the digital environment, we discuss how the profound and pervasive environmental changes of the Anthropocene can affect our health, with broad effects on societal health. We frame this concept in terms of human evolutionary history and cultural evolution’s runaway characteristics, reflecting our drive for continual and cumulative innovation for reasons beyond simply survival and Darwinian fitness. As the causative agents are often remote from those populations most adversely affected, prevention and mitigation require collective societal and policy actions.

Lay summary: There is increasing evidence that our uniquely evolved ability to modify our environments rapidly and at an accelerating pace is having impacts on our health, particularly non-communicable diseases and poor mental wellbeing. Reframing these public health challenges as Anthropocene-related diseases emphasizes the need for collective responsibility and systems approaches to prevention.
Validity of the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) to evaluate severity of disability
Authors: Tarazona Belisa , González-Enríquez Jesús , Almazán-Isla Javier , Alcalde-Cabero Enrique , de Pedro-Cuesta Jesús , Galán Iñaki
Published: October 2020

Our aim was to estimate the validity of the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) when measuring the severity level of disability. Data came from 153 residents of Spain, who requested an evaluation of their degree of disability. We compared disability classifications (severe vs. non-severe) from GALI against those from the 36-item questionnaire WHODAS 2.0, the current gold standard measure of disability. The sensitivity of GALI to detect severe disability was 58.3% [95% confidence interval (CI):43.2–72.4], and the specificity was 84.8% (95% CI: 76.4–91.0). Thus, the validity of GALI to accurately categorize the degree of severity of an individual’s disability is not high, this in great part due to its limited sensitivity.
Culture Volume Influences the Dynamics of Adaptation under Long-Term Stationary Phase
Authors: Gross Jonathan , Avrani Sarit , Katz Sophia , Hilau Sabrin , Hershberg Ruth
Published: October 2020

Escherichia coli and many other bacterial species, which are incapable of sporulation, can nevertheless survive within resource exhausted media by entering a state termed long-term stationary phase (LTSP). We have previously shown that E. coli populations adapt genetically under LTSP in an extremely convergent manner. Here, we examine how the dynamics of LTSP genetic adaptation are influenced by varying a single parameter of the experiment—culture volume. We find that culture volume affects survival under LTSP, with viable counts decreasing as volumes increase. Across all volumes, mutations accumulate with time, and the majority of mutations accumulated demonstrate signals of being adaptive. However, positive selection appears to affect mutation accumulation more strongly at higher, compared with lower volumes. Finally, we find that several similar genes are likely involved in adaptation across volumes. However, the specific mutations within these genes that contribute to adaptation can vary in a consistent manner. Combined, our results demonstrate how varying a single parameter of an evolutionary experiment can substantially influence the dynamics of observed adaptation.
Life-Space Mobility and Active Aging as Factors Underlying Quality of Life Among Older People Before and During COVID-19 Lockdown in Finland—A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Rantanen Taina , Eronen Johanna , Kauppinen Markku , Kokko Katja , Sanaslahti Sini , Kajan Niina , Portegijs Erja
Published: October 2020

Background

Social distancing, that is, avoiding places with other people and staying at home, was recommended to prevent viral transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. Potentially, reduced out-of-home mobility and lower activity levels among older people may lower their quality of life (QOL). We studied cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of and changes in life-space mobility, active aging, and QOL during COVID-19 social distancing compared to 2 years before.

Methods

Altogether 809 community-living participants initially aged 75, 80, or 85 years of our active aging study (AGNES) conducted in 2017–2018 took part in the current AGNES-COVID-19 survey in May and June 2020. Outdoor mobility was assessed with the Life-Space Assessment (range 0–120). Active approach to life was assessed with the University of Jyväskylä Active Aging Scale (range 0–272), and QOL with the shortened Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (range13–65; higher scores better for all). Data were analyzed with General Estimating Equations, General Linear Models, and One-way analysis of variance.

Results

Life-space mobility (B −10.8, SE 0.75, p < .001), the active aging score (B −24.1, SE 0.88, p < .001), and the QOL score (B −1.65, SE 0.21, p < .001) were lower during COVID-19 social distancing versus 2 years before. Concurrent life-space mobility and active aging scores, age, and sex explained 48% of QOL at the baseline and 42% during social distancing. Longitudinally, steeper declines in all 3 variables coincided.

Conclusion

The observed declines indicate compliance with social distancing recommendation, but underline the importance of participation in meaningful life situations as a factor underlying good QOL also during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Development and Evaluation of the Eight-Item Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES-8)
Authors: Ritter Philip L , Sheth Khushboo , Stewart Anita L , Gallagher-Thompson Dolores , Lorig Kate
Published: October 2020

Background and Objectives

This paper describes the development and evaluation of a short caregiving self-efficacy measure. The self-administered 8-item Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES-8) was developed to reflect components of typical caregiver support interventions and to be practical for inclusion in future self-efficacy and caregiving research.

Research Design and Methods

We administered the CSES-8 in 2 samples: participants in an intervention for caregivers of persons with cognitive disabilities, and a voluntary online survey for caregivers of adults. We evaluated the completion rate, item-scale correlations, reliability, descriptive statistics, and preliminary construct validity of the CSES-8 in both samples, and sensitivity to change in the intervention sample.

Results

The intervention caregivers’ sample (N = 158) was 85% female (mean age = 65 years). The online survey sample (N = 138) was 90% female (mean age = 78). In both samples, the CSES-8 had excellent internal consistency reliability (.89 and .88) and good distribution with sufficient variability to detect change. Test–retest reliability was good in the online sample (.73). As evidence of construct validity, most hypotheses were confirmed in both samples. The CSES-8 was sensitive to change at 6 months for caregivers in the intervention program (p < .001).

Discussion and Implications

The CSES-8 is short, comprehensive with respect to common components of interventions to improve caregivers’ quality of life, and sensitive to change. It can serve a useful role exploring mechanisms by which caregiver intervention studies work, and it can be helpful in examining whether self-efficacy mediates the effect of these interventions on various outcomes such as psychological well-being.
Insights into the origin and magnitude of capture and handling-related stress in a coastal elasmobranch Carcharhinus limbatus
Authors: Weber D Nick , Janech Michael G , Burnett Louis E , Sancho Gorka , Frazier Bryan S
Published: October 2020

A suite of blood chemistry parameters (including acid–base indicators and plasma electrolytes) was serially measured in blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus), captured via rod-and-reel, to gain a more thorough understanding of the physiological stress response to recreational capture. Sharks were caught both from the shore and from fishing vessels and experienced varying degrees of air exposure during handling. While all captured sharks exhibited a metabolic acidosis during the fight on the line (increasing lactate and decreasing pH and bicarbonate), the observed acidosis was compounded by a respiratory component (increasing pCO2) in sharks removed from the water during handling. Vessel-caught sharks handled in the water exhibited significantly greater increases in lactate and glucose (0.73 ± 0.21 mmoll−1 min−1 and 0.81 ± 1.07 mg dl−1 min−1, respectively) than sharks handled out of water (0.21 ± 0.17 mmoll−1 min−1 and −0.32 ± 1.05 mg dl−1 min−1; p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). These findings provide insights into how differences in recreational capture methods and air exposure can mediate the origin and magnitude of capture-related stress and highlight the importance of considering both sampling time (time from capture to phlebotomy) and sampling location (in water vs. out) in studies conducted on capture-related stress.
Low Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against A(H3N2)-Associated Hospitalizations in 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 of the Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN)
Authors: Martin Emily T , Cheng Caroline , Petrie Joshua G , Alyanak Elif , Gaglani Manjusha , Middleton Donald B , Ghamande Shekhar , Silveira Fernanda P , Murthy Kempapura , Zimmerman Richard K , Monto Arnold S , Trabue Christopher , Talbot H Keipp , Ferdinands Jill M ,   HAIVEN Study Investigators, Lamerato Lois E , Lauring Adam , Malosh Ryan E , Murthy Kempapura , McNeal Tresa , Chang Kevin , White Heath , Arroliga Alejandro , Kilpatrick Laurel , Wimberly Meredith , Escobedo Victor , Nichols JoAnn , Clipper Lydia , Raiyani Chandni , Chen Wencong , Robertson Anne , Rao Arundhati , Fader Robert , Walker Kimberly , Volz Marcus , Hughes Kailey , Saul Sean , Stiefel Lori , Susick Michael , Goundappa Balasubramani K , Rinaldo Charles , Williams John , Johnson Monika , Gealey Julie , Eng Heather , Saul Melissa
Published: October 2020

Background

The 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 influenza seasons were notable for the high number of hospitalizations for influenza A(H3N2) despite vaccine and circulating strain match.

Methods

We evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalization in the test-negative HAIVEN study. Nasal-throat swabs were tested by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for influenza and VE was determined based on odds of vaccination by generalized estimating equations. Vaccine-specific antibody was measured in a subset of enrollees.

Results

A total of 6129 adults were enrolled from 10 hospitals. Adjusted VE against A(H3N2) was 22.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3% to 35.0%), pooled across both years and 49.4% (95% CI, 34.3% to 61.1%) against B/Yamagata. In 2017–2018, the A(H3N2) VE point estimate for the cell-based vaccine was 43.0% (95% CI, −36.3% to 76.1%; 56 vaccine recipients) compared to 24.0% (95% CI, 3.9% to 39.9%) for egg-based vaccines. Among 643 with serology data, hemagglutinin antibodies against the egg-based A(H3N2) vaccine strain were increased in influenza-negative individuals.

Conclusions

Low VE for the A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 vaccine virus in both A(H3N2) seasons emphasizes concerns for continued changes in H3N2 antigenic epitopes, including changes that may impact glycosylation and ultimately reduce VE.
3D Anatomy of the Quail Lumbosacral Spinal Canal—Implications for Putative Mechanosensory Function
Authors: Kamska Viktoriia , Daley Monica , Badri-Spröwitz Alexander
Published: October 2020

Synopsis

Birds are diverse and agile vertebrates capable of aerial, terrestrial, aquatic, and arboreal locomotion. Evidence suggests that birds possess a novel balance sensing organ in the lumbosacral spinal canal, a structure referred to as the “lumbosacral organ” (LSO), which may contribute to their locomotor agility and evolutionary success. The mechanosensing mechanism of this organ remains unclear. Here we quantify the 3D anatomy of the lumbosacral region of the common quail, focusing on establishing the geometric and biomechanical properties relevant to potential mechanosensing functions. We combine digital and classic dissection to create a 3D anatomical model of the quail LSO and estimate the capacity for displacement and deformation of the soft tissues. We observe a hammock-like network of denticulate ligaments supporting the lumbosacral spinal cord, with a close association between the accessory lobes and ligamentous intersections. The relatively dense glycogen body has the potential to apply loads sufficient to pre-stress denticulate ligaments, enabling external accelerations to excite tuned oscillations in the LSO soft tissue, leading to strain-based mechanosensing in the accessory lobe neurons. Considering these anatomical features together, the structure of the LSO is reminiscent of a mass-spring-based accelerometer.
Presidential Address 2019: How Should Tax Progressivity Respond to Rising Income Inequality?
Authors: Heathcote Jonathan , Storesletten Kjetil , Violante Giovanni L
Published: October 2020

We address the question in the title in a heterogeneous-agent incomplete-market model featuring exogenous idiosyncratic risk, endogenous skill investment, and flexible labor supply. The tax and transfer schedule is restricted to being log-linear in income, a good description of the US system. Rising inequality is modeled as a combination of skill-biased technical change and growth in residual wage dispersion. When facing shifts in the income distribution like those observed in the United States, a utilitarian planner chooses higher progressivity in response to larger residual inequality but lower progressivity in response to widening skill price dispersion reflecting technical change. Overall, optimal progressivity is approximately unchanged between 1980 and 2016. We document that the progressivity of the actual US tax and transfer system has similarly changed little since 1980, in line with the model prescription.
Advanced Breast Cancer Definitions by Staging System Examined in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium
Authors: Kerlikowske Karla , Bissell Michael C. S , Sprague Brian L , Buist Diana S. M , Henderson Louise M , Lee Janie M , Miglioretti Diana L
Published: October 2020

Background

Advanced breast cancer is an outcome used to evaluate screening effectiveness. The advanced cancer definition resulting in the best discrimination of breast cancer death has not been studied in a breast imaging population.

Methods

A total of 52 496 women aged 40-79 years participating in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium diagnosed with invasive cancer were staged using the 8th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) anatomic and prognostic pathologic systems and Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) tumor categories. We calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting 5-year breast cancer death and the sensitivity and specificity for predicting 5-year breast cancer death for 3 advanced cancer classifications: anatomic stage IIB or higher, prognostic pathologic stage IIA or higher, and TMIST advanced cancer.

Results

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting 5-year breast cancer death for AJCC anatomic stage, AJCC prognostic pathologic stage, and TMIST tumor categories were 0.826 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.817 to 0.835), 0.856 (95% CI = 0.846 to 0.866), and 0.789 (95% CI = 0.780 to 0.797), respectively. AJCC prognostic pathologic stage had statistically significantly better discrimination than AJCC anatomic stage (difference = 0.030, bootstrap 95% CI = 0.024 to 0.037) and TMIST tumor categories (difference = 0.067, bootstrap 95% CI = 0.059 to 0.075). The sensitivity and specificity for predicting 5-year breast cancer death for AJCC anatomic stage IIB or higher, AJCC prognostic pathologic stage IIA or higher, and TMIST advanced cancer were 72.6%, 76.7%, and 96.1%; and 78.9%, 81.6%, and 41.1%, respectively.

Conclusions

Defining advanced cancer as AJCC prognostic pathologic stage IIA or higher most accurately predicts breast cancer death. Use of this definition by investigators will facilitate comparing breast cancer screening effectiveness studies.
The effect of pre-impact spin on the Moon-forming collision
Authors: Ruiz-Bonilla S , Eke V R , Kegerreis J A , Massey R J , Teodoro L F A
Published: October 2020

We simulate the hypothesized collision between the proto-Earth and a Mars-sized impactor that created the Moon. Among the resulting debris disc in some impacts, we find a self-gravitating clump of material. It is roughly the mass of the Moon, contains $\sim 1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ iron like the Moon, and has its internal composition resolved for the first time. The clump contains mainly impactor material near its core but becomes increasingly enriched in proto-Earth material near its surface. The formation of this Moon-sized clump depends sensitively on the spin of the impactor. To explore this, we develop a fast method to construct models of multilayered, rotating bodies and their conversion into initial conditions for smoothed particle hydrodynamical (SPH) simulations. We use our publicly available code to calculate density and pressure profiles in hydrostatic equilibrium and then generate configurations of over a billion particles with SPH densities within 1 per cent of the desired values. This algorithm runs in a few minutes on a desktop computer, for 107 particles, and allows direct control over the properties of the spinning body. In comparison, alternative relaxation or spin-up techniques take hours on a supercomputer and the structure of the rotating body cannot be known beforehand. Collisions that differ only in the impactor’s initial spin reveal a wide variety of outcomes: a merger, a grazing hit-and-run, or the creation of an orbiting proto-Moon.
Self-interacting dark matter and the delay of supermassive black hole growth
Authors: Cruz A , Pontzen A , Volonteri M , Quinn T R , Tremmel M , Brooks A M , Sanchez N N , Munshi F , Di Cintio A
Published: October 2020

Using cosmological hydrodynamic simulations with physically motivated models of supermassive black hole (SMBH) formation and growth, we compare the assembly of Milky Way-mass (Mvir ≈ 7 × 1011 M⊙ at z = 0) galaxies in cold dark matter (CDM) and self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) models. Our SIDM model adopts a constant cross-section of 1 cm2 g−1. We find that SMBH formation is suppressed in the early Universe due to SIDM interactions. SMBH–SMBH mergers are also suppressed in SIDM as a consequence of the lower number of SMBHs formed. Lack of initial merger-driven SMBH growth in turn delays SMBH growth by billions of years in SIDM compared to CDM. Further, we find that this delayed growth suppresses SMBH accretion in the largest progenitors of the main SIDM galaxies during the first 5 Gyr of their evolution. Nonetheless, by z = 0.8 the CDM and SIDM SMBH masses differ only by around 0.2 dex, so that both remain compatible with the MBH–M* relation. We show that the reduced accretion causes the SIDM SMBHs to less aggressively regulate star formation in their host galaxies than their CDM counterparts, resulting in a factor of 3 or more stars being produced over the lifetime of the SIDM galaxies compared to the CDM galaxies. Our results highlight a new way in which SIDM can affect the growth and merger history of SMBHs and ultimately give rise to very different galaxy evolution compared to the classic CDM model.