bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pseudomonas atagosis sp. nov., and Pseudomonas akappagea sp. nov., New Soil Bacteria Isolated from Samples on the Volcanic Island Izu Oshima, Tokyo
Authors: Morimoto Yuh , Uwabe Kazuki , Tohya Mari , Hiramatsu Keiichi , Kirikae Teruo , Baba Tadashi
Published: March 2020

During the exploration of microbial natural resources, two strains of Pseudomonas, PS14T and PS24T, were isolated from samples taken from Izu Oshima, a volcanic island located 120 km southwest of central Tokyo. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that PS14T was most similar to Pseudomonas baetica a390T (99.6%) and Pseudomonas helmanticensis OHA11T (99.5%), and that PS24T was most similar to Pseudomonas qingdaonensis JJ3T (98.8%) and Pseudomonas lutea OK2T (98.7%). The major fatty acids of these two strains were C16:0 and C17:0 cyclo, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c), and summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or 18:1 ω6c). The phylogenetic analyses, DNA-DNA hybridization results and phenotypic traits indicated that PS14T and PS24T constitute two novel species, Pseudomonas atagosis sp. nov. (type strain PS14T = CECT 9940T, = LMG 31496T) and Pseudomonas akappagea sp. nov. (type strain PS24T = CECT 9941T, = LMG 31497T), respectively. The sequence data of the draft genomes of PS14T and PS24T were deposited in the GenBank database under accession numbers VXCA00000000 and VXCP00000000, respectively, and the sequence data of their 16S rRNA genes were deposited in the GenBank database under accession numbers MN396717 and MN382268, respectively.
Applicability of pulsed 2cLIF-EET for micro-droplet internal thermometry under evaporation conditions
Authors: Palmer Johannes , Schumacher Leif , Reddemann Manuel A. , Kirsch Valeri , Kneer Reinhold
Published: March 2020

The relatively new thermometry technique “pulsed 2cLIF with MDR-enhanced energy transfer” is tested for the first time on micro-droplet streams in a heated air flow. The method allows simultaneous measurements of the droplet internal temperature-field, droplet size and droplet velocity. Plausibility of the measurement results is evaluated by comparing results of various experimental conditions among each other and by comparison with analytic modeling. Overall, measurement results are plausible. However, measured temperature-fields are biased by the integral fluorescence signal and initial conditions of the models are limited by the Rayleigh jet breakup that creates the droplet stream.

Graphic abstract
Downregulation of SFRP1 is a protumorigenic event in hepatoblastoma and correlates with beta-catenin mutations
Authors: Regel Ivonne , Eichenmüller Melanie , Mahajan Ujjwal Mukund , Hagl Beate , Benitz Simone , Häberle Beate , Vokuhl Christian , von Schweinitz Dietrich , Kappler Roland
Published: March 2020

Background

Hepatoblastoma (HB) and pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the most common malignant liver tumors in childhood. Both tumor types exhibit genetic and epigenetic alterations in the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is a key regulator of liver progenitor cells in embryonic development. The tumors demonstrate a high rate of β-catenin mutations and gene expression changes of several WNT antagonists. However, the role of the WNT inhibitory factor secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) has not been addressed in pediatric liver cancer so far.

Results

In our study, we investigated the gene expression level, DNA methylation status and functional relevance of SFRP1 in HB cell lines and in pediatric liver tumor patient samples. SFRP1 was downregulated due to DNA promoter methylation in all tested HB cell lines. Overexpression of SFRP1 in HB cell lines diminished tumor cell proliferation, colony formation and migration potential. In addition, the SFRP1-expressing HB cell lines showed reduced WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway activity and decreased expression of WNT target genes. To evaluate the utility of SFRP1 as a biomarker in pediatric liver cancer, we determined the gene expression level and DNA methylation status of SFRP1 in 45 pediatric liver tumor patient samples. The correlation analysis of different clinical parameters and tumor characteristics revealed a significant correlation of reduced SFRP1 expression with the presence of mutant β-catenin. The methylation status of SFRP1 was furthermore associated to a pediatric liver tumor type with HCC-like characteristics, TERT mutations and an older age at diagnosis.

Conclusion

Altogether, our data demonstrate that the epigenetic suppression of the WNT/β-catenin antagonist SFRP1 has an important impact on the malignant behavior of HB cells. Although SFRP1 methylation is a common event in HCC-like pediatric liver tumors, its potential as a prognostic or diagnostic biomarker needs to be further investigated.
Inhibition of oxygen-sensing prolyl hydroxylases increases lipid accumulation in human primary tubular epithelial cells without inducing ER stress
Authors: Schley Gunnar , Grampp Steffen , Goppelt-Struebe Margarete
Published: March 2020

The role of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) pathway in renal lipid metabolism is largely unknown. As HIF stabilizing prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) inhibitors are currently investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of renal anemia, we studied the effects of genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition of PHDs on renal lipid metabolism in transgenic mice and human primary tubular epithelial cells (hPTEC). Tubular cell-specific deletion of HIF prolyl hydroxylase 2 (Phd2) increased the size of Oil Red-stained lipid droplets in mice. In hPTEC, the PHD inhibitors (PHDi) DMOG and ICA augmented lipid accumulation, which was visualized by Oil Red staining and assessed by microscopy and an infrared imaging system. PHDi-induced lipid accumulation required the exogenous availability of fatty acids and was observed in both proximal and distal hPTEC. PHDi treatment was not associated with structural features of cytotoxicity in contrast to treatment with the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A (CsA). PHDi and CsA differentially upregulated the expression of the lipid droplet-associated genes PLIN2, PLIN4 and HILPDA. Both PHDi and CsA activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) indicating the initiation of a metabolic stress response. However, only CsA triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as determined by the increased mRNA expression of multiple ER stress markers but CsA-induced ER stress was not linked to lipid accumulation. Our data raise the possibility that PHD inhibition may protect tubular cells from toxic free fatty acids by trapping them as triacylglycerides in lipid droplets. This mechanism might contribute to the renoprotective effects of PHDi in experimental kidney diseases.
On some properties of the number of permutations being products of pairwise disjoint d-cycles
Authors: Miska Piotr , Ulas Maciej
Published: March 2020

Let $$d\ge 2$$d≥2 be an integer. In this paper we study arithmetic properties of the sequence $$(H_d(n))_{n\in \mathbb {N}}$$(Hd(n))n∈N, where $$H_{d}(n)$$Hd(n) is the number of permutations in $$S_{n}$$Sn being products of pairwise disjoint cycles of a fixed length d. In particular we deal with periodicity modulo a given positive integer, behaviour of the p-adic valuations and various divisibility properties. Moreover, we introduce some related families of polynomials and study their properties. Among many results we obtain qualitative description of the p-adic valuation of the number $$H_{d}(n)$$Hd(n) extending in this way earlier results of Ochiai and Ishihara, Ochiai, Takegehara and Yoshida.
Growth-Promoting Treatment Screening for Corticospinal Neurons in Mouse and Man
Authors: Hanuscheck Nicholas , Schnatz Andrea , Thalman Carine , Lerch Steffen , Gärtner Yvonne , Domingues Micaela , Bitar Lynn , Nitsch Robert , Zipp Frauke , Vogelaar Christina F.
Published: March 2020

Neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) that project long axons into the spinal cord have a poor axon regenerative capacity compared to neurons of the peripheral nervous system. The corticospinal tract (CST) is particularly notorious for its poor regeneration. Because of this, traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that remains as yet uncured. Based on our recent observations that direct neuronal interleukin-4 (IL-4) signaling leads to repair of axonal swellings and beneficial effects in neuroinflammation, we hypothesized that IL-4 acts directly on the CST. Here, we developed a tissue culture model for CST regeneration and found that IL-4 promoted new growth cone formation after axon transection. Most importantly, IL-4 directly increased the regenerative capacity of both murine and human CST axons, which corroborates its regenerative effects in CNS damage. Overall, these findings serve as proof-of-concept that our CST regeneration model is suitable for fast screening of new treatments for SCI.
Attitudes towards climate change migrants
Authors: Helbling Marc
Published: March 2020

While climate change has become a salient political and social issue in Western societies, we know relatively little about how these societies will react to one of the potentially important consequences of climate change: increasing migration flows. By means of a representative online survey in Germany, this paper therefore investigates for the very first time to what extent citizens in industrialized societies are willing to accept climate change migrants, especially in comparison with other groups of migrants and refugees, and the circumstances and principles under which they would accept them. The findings show that climate change migrants receive high support levels comparable with those enjoyed by political refugees (migrants who need special protection) and that contrast with attitudes towards economic migrants (who are often not seen as in need of special protection). We also see that people are more likely to accept justifications for taking climate change migrants when they realize that the expected number of migrants is relatively low. While arguments about morality, corrective justice, and a country’s capacity lead to similar acceptance rates in general, the latter argument plays a more important role for highly educated people and non-environmentalists than the former two. The findings of this study allow us to better prepare for potential conflicts that might emerge with increasing migration flows caused by climate change.
Arthropod traits and assemblages differ between core patches, transient stepping-stones and landscape corridors
Authors: Pedley Scott M. , Dolman Paul M.
Published: March 2020

Context

Restoring landscape connectivity can mitigate fragmentation and improve population resilience, but functional equivalence of contrasting elements is poorly understood. Evaluating biodiversity outcomes requires examining assemblage-responses across contrasting taxa.

Objectives

We compared arthropod species and trait composition between contrasting open-habitat network elements: core patches, corridors (allowing individual dispersal and population percolation), and transient stepping-stones (potentially enhancing meta-population dynamics).

Methods

Carabids and spiders were sampled from core patches of grass-heath habitat (n = 24 locations across eight sites), corridors (trackways, n = 15) and recently-replanted clear-fells (transient patches, n = 19) set in a forest matrix impermeable to open-habitat arthropods. Species and trait (habitat association, diet, body size, dispersal ability) composition were compared by ordination and fourth corner analyses.

Results

Each network element supported distinct arthropod assemblages with differing functional trait composition. Core patches were dominated by specialist dry-open habitat species while generalist and woodland species contributed to assemblages in connectivity elements. Nevertheless, transient patches (and to a lesser degree, corridors) supported dry-open species characteristic of the focal grass-heath sites. Trait associations differed markedly among the three elements. Dispersal mechanisms and their correlates differed between taxa, but dry-open species in transient patches were characterised by traits favouring dispersal (large running hunter spiders and large, winged, herbivorous carabids), in contrast to wingless carabids in corridors.

Conclusions

Core patches, dispersal corridors and transient stepping-stones are not functionally interchangeable within this system. Semi-natural core patches supported a filtered subset of the regional fauna. Evidence for enhanced connectivity through percolation (corridors) or meta-population dynamics (stepping stones) differed between the two taxa.
Disruptive papers published in Scientometrics: meaningful results by using an improved variant of the disruption index originally proposed by Wu, Wang, and Evans (2019)
Authors: Bornmann Lutz , Devarakonda Sitaram , Tekles Alexander , Chacko George
Published: March 2020

Wu et al. (Nature 566:378–382, 2019) introduced a new indicator measuring disruption ($${DI}_{1}$$DI1). Bornmann et al. (Do disruption index indicators measure what they propose to measure? The comparison of several indicator variants with assessments by peers, 2019. https://arxiv.org/abs/1911.08775) compared variants of the disruption index and pointed to $${DI}_{5}$$DI5 as an interesting variant. The calculation of a field-specific version of $${DI}_{5}$$DI5 (focusing on disruptiveness within the same field) for Scientometrics papers in the current study reveals that the variant is possibly able to identify landmark papers in scientometrics. This result is in contrast to the Scientometrics analysis previously published by Bornmann and Tekles (Scientometrics 120(1):331–336, 2019) based on the original disruption index ($${DI}_{1}$$DI1).
Evaluating semantometrics from computer science publications
Authors: Kreutz Christin Katharina , Sahitaj Premtim , Schenkel Ralf
Published: March 2020

Identification of important works and assessment of importance of publications in vast scientific corpora are challenging yet common tasks subjected by many research projects. While the influence of citations in finding seminal papers has been analysed thoroughly, citation-based approaches come with several problems. Their impracticality when confronted with new publications which did not yet receive any citations, area-dependent citation practices and different reasons for citing are only a few drawbacks of them. Methods relying on more than citations, for example semantic features such as words or topics contained in publications of citation networks, are regarded with less vigour while providing promising preliminary results. In this work we tackle the issue of classifying publications with their respective referenced and citing papers as either seminal, survey or uninfluential by utilising semantometrics. We use distance measures over words, semantics, topics and publication years of papers in their citation network to engineer features on which we predict the class of a publication. We present the SUSdblp dataset consisting of 1980 labelled entries to provide a means of evaluating this approach. A classification accuracy of up to .9247 was achieved when combining multiple types of features using semantometrics. This is +.1232 compared to the current state of the art (SOTA) which uses binary classification to identify papers from classes seminal and survey. The utilisation of one-vector representations for the ternary classification task resulted in an accuracy of .949 which is +.1475 compared to the binary SOTA. Classification based on information available at publication time derived with semantometrics resulted in an accuracy of .8152 while an accuracy of .9323 could be achieved when using one-vector representations.
Renaming States—A Case Study: Changing the Name of the Hungarian State in 2011. Its Background, Reasons, and Aftermath
Authors: Takács Peter
Published: March 2020

A provision of the Hungarian constitution, adopted in 2011, has renamed the state. The name changed from theRepublic of HungarytoHungary, while the form of the state has remained “republic”. The purpose of this study is to explore the meaning, significance, and several consequences of this provision. The analysis consists of three main parts. The first one gives a general overview of the functions of the names of states. It claims that not only names but also changing or modifying names of states—taking place either by name-giving or by shaping convention—can serve certain functions. The second part focuses on the historical and constitutional details of renaming the Hungarian state, and summarizes the legal context that provided the framework for the 2011 renaming. The third part outlines the arguments for the change, takes a look at the official justification and actual reasons, and reveals some of the consequences of the name change in the past decade. The main contention of the paper is that the renaming of the Hungarian state that took place in 2011 lacked any overt and reasonable justification, and is best explained as an expression of anti-republican sentiment, which indicated, and partly paved the way for the transition into a kind of an authoritarian regime. Finally, the study raises a possible interpretation of the renaming of the Hungarian state in 2011, the point of which is that it adumbrated many later changes in public law and political systems.
Oscillatory Convection Onset in a Porous Rectangle with Non-analytical Corners
Authors: Tyvand Peder Albert , Nøland Jonas Kristiansen
Published: March 2020

The analytical theory on Darcy–Bénard convection is dominated by normal-mode approaches, which essentially reduce the spatial order from four to two. This paper goes beyond the normal-mode paradigm of convection onset in a porous rectangle. A handpicked case where all four corners of the rectangle are non-analytical is therefore investigated. The marginal state is oscillatory with one-way horizontal wave propagation. The time-periodic convection pattern has no spatial periodicity and requires heavy numerical computation by the finite element method. The critical Rayleigh number at convection onset is computed, with its associated frequency of oscillation. Snapshots of the 2D eigenfunctions for the flow field and temperature field are plotted. Detailed local gradient analyses near two corners indicate that they hide logarithmic singularities, where the displayed eigenfunctions may represent outer solutions in matched asymptotic expansions. The results are validated with respect to the asymptotic limit of Nield (Water Resour Res 11:553–560, 1968).
Inter-letter spacing, inter-word spacing, and font with dyslexia-friendly features: testing text readability in people with and without dyslexia
Authors: Galliussi Jessica , Perondi Luciano , Chia Giuseppe , Gerbino Walter , Bernardis Paolo
Published: March 2020

Over the last years, several studies have suggested a possible link between dyslexia and deficits in low-level visual processing (e.g., excessive crowding). At the same time, specially designed “dyslexia-friendly” fonts appeared on the market. This class of fonts presents two main features: the particular graphic characteristics of the letterform designed to avoid confusion between similarly shaped letters, and wider inter-letter and inter-word spacing to limit crowding. The literature testing the efficacy of “dyslexia-friendly” fonts in improving reading accuracy and increasing reading speed is controversial. We evaluated the impact of letterform (with vs. without dyslexia-friendly graphic features), inter-letter spacing (standard vs. increased), and inter-word spacing (standard vs. increased) on reading accuracy and speed. Two groups of 64 children each, with and without dyslexia, read aloud 8 equivalent texts. The data collected failed to show any effect from the letterform. As regards spacing, the data showed that reading speed is impaired by an increase in inter-letter spacing not combined with an adequate increase in inter-word spacing.
Isolation of Bordetella trematum from the respiratory tract of a patient with lung cancer: a case report
Authors: Kukla Rudolf , Svarc Michal , Bolehovska Radka , Ryskova Lenka , Paterova Pavla , Fajfr Miroslav , Malisova Lucia , Zemlickova Helena
Published: March 2020

We report the case of isolation ofBordetella trematumfrom the respiratory tract of a patient with lung carcinoma. This gram-negative, opportunistic rod was firstly described in 1996. To date, only several strains ofBordetella trematumhave been isolated and reported, mostly from skin and soft tissue infections. The patient was admitted to the ICU of the Pulmonary Department in incipient septic shock with respiratory failure. Intravenous fluid resuscitation and non-invasive ventilation were administered immediately. A broad spectrum antibiotic piperacillin/tazobactam was administered empirically after sampling of material for microbiological examination. The bronchoscopy showed a large cavern of decayed tumour invading into mediastinum. Both sample cultures showed significant quantities of gram-negative non-fermenting bacteria. The isolate was identified using MALDI-TOF MS asBordetella trematumand the identification was confirmed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. In the last few years, routine bacterial identification using MALDI-TOF MS has enabled correct discrimination of this species. Nevertheless, isolation ofBordetella trematumin clinical samples is still very uncommon, and it is appropriate to confirm the species identification via 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first case ofB. trematumisolated from the human respiratory tract since its first description. The clinical significance ofBordetella trematumin the rapid deterioration of the patient’s status remains unclear.
Alternative and complementary therapies in osteoarthritis and cartilage repair
Authors: Fuggle N. R. , Cooper C. , Oreffo R. O. C. , Price A. J. , Kaux J. F. , Maheu E. , Cutolo M. , Honvo G. , Conaghan P. G. , Berenbaum F. , Branco J. , Brandi M. L. , Cortet B. , Veronese N. , Kurth A. A. , Matijevic R. , Roth R. , Pelletier J. P. , Martel-Pelletier J. , Vlaskovska M. , Thomas T. , Lems W. F. , Al-Daghri N. , Bruyère O. , Rizzoli R. , Kanis J. A. , Reginster J. Y.
Published: March 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint condition and, with a burgeoning ageing population, is due to increase in prevalence. Beyond conventional medical and surgical interventions, there are an increasing number of ‘alternative’ therapies. These alternative therapies may have a limited evidence base and, for this reason, are often only afforded brief reference (or completely excluded) from current OA guidelines. Thus, the aim of this review was to synthesize the current evidence regarding autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), vitamin D and other alternative therapies. The majority of studies were in knee OA or chondral defects. Matrix-assisted ACI has demonstrated exceedingly limited, symptomatic improvements in the treatment of cartilage defects of the knee and is not supported for the treatment of knee OA. There is some evidence to suggest symptomatic improvement with MSC injection in knee OA, with the suggestion of minimal structural improvement demonstrated on MRI and there are positive signals that PRP may also lead to symptomatic improvement, though variation in preparation makes inter-study comparison difficult. There is variability in findings with vitamin D supplementation in OA, and the only recommendation which can be made, at this time, is for replacement when vitamin D is deplete. Other alternative therapies reviewed have some evidence (though from small, poor-quality studies) to support improvement in symptoms and again there is often a wide variation in dosage and regimens. For all these therapeutic modalities, although controlled studies have been undertaken to evaluate effectiveness in OA, these have often been of small size, limited statistical power, uncertain blindness and using various methodologies. These deficiencies must leave the question as to whether they have been validated as effective therapies in OA (or chondral defects). The conclusions of this review are that all alternative interventions definitely require clinical trials with robust methodology, to assess their efficacy and safety in the treatment of OA beyond contextual and placebo effects.
The longitudinal role of mathematics anxiety in mathematics development: Issues of gender differences and domain‐specificity
Authors: Wang Zhe , Rimfeld Kaili , Shakeshaft Nicholas , Schofield Kerry , Malanchini Margherita
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Mathematics anxiety (MA) is an important risk factor hindering the development of confidence and capability in mathematics and participation in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce. The aim of the present study is to further our understanding of these relations in adolescence by adopting a threefold approach. First, we adopted a longitudinal design to clarify the temporal order in the developmental relations between (a) MA and mathematics achievement and (b) MA and mathematics self‐perceived ability. Second, we investigated whether the developmental relations between MA and mathematics achievement/self‐perceived ability differed between boys and girls. Finally, we explored the domain‐specificity of MA by examining its role in foreign language (L2) learning.

Methods

Data were collected from 1043 Italian high school students. Students reported their anxiety, self‐perceived ability, and school achievement in mathematics and L2 over two separate waves, one semester apart.

Results

Using multi‐group cross‐lagged panel analyses, we found that (a) mathematics achievement predicted MA longitudinally, whereas MA did not predict subsequent mathematics achievement; (b) there was a negative reciprocal relation between MA and mathematics self‐perceived ability in male, but not female students; and (c) there were longitudinal relations between MA and L2 achievement and self‐perceived ability above and beyond L2 anxiety.

Conclusions

These findings support the deficit view of the developmental relation between MA and mathematics achievement, highlight high school male students as a vulnerable group evincing vicious transactions between high anxiety and low self‐efficacy in mathematics, and reveal the importance of internal cross‐domain comparison processes in MA development.
Self-representations on social media
Authors: Cocq Coppélie , Ljuslinder Karin
Published: March 2020

This article examines self-representations in a social media campaign against the discrimination of people with disabilities. We focus specifically on how these representations are related to various narratives and discourses, and in what ways the representations either adhere to or challenge normative discourses, or whether they offer counter-discourses. Considering that our cultural assumptions are influenced by the representations we are exposed to, we also discuss the possible potential of self-representations for the audience of the campaign. The empirical material consists of a digital activism campaign conducted on Instagram in Sweden that was constructed through self-representations (photos and short texts). The study combines discourse analysis and visual analysis with focus on how the persons present themselves in the campaign, how disability is mentioned and/or displayed, and how a presentation adheres to or challenges a model of understanding disability, such as the medical or social models. We found a diverse set of claims, all with the common goal of acknowledging discrimination, in order to make it visible and bring about change. The narratives identified indicate a variety of strategies for understanding disability and various styles that people adopt to relate to established discourses on disabilities. Through this campaign, the bloggers could find and provide support, but they also took the stage by requesting that the audience listen. The campaign examined in this study can be further understood as an effort and a step towards increased visibility and politicization of disability.
Invariant density and time asymptotics for collisionless kinetic equations with partly diffuse boundary operators
Authors: Lods B. , Mokhtar-Kharroubi M. , Rudnicki R.
Published: March 2020

This paper deals with collisionless transport equations in bounded open domains

\mathrm{\Omega } \subset \mathbb{R}^{d}

(d⩾2)

with

\mathcal{C}^{1}

boundary

∂Ω

, orthogonally invariant velocity measure

\boldsymbol{m}(\mathrm{d}v)

with support

V \subset \mathbb{R}^{d}

and stochastic partly diffuse boundary operators

\mathsf{H}

relating the outgoing and incoming fluxes. Under very general conditions, such equations are governed by stochastic

C_{0}

-semigroups

\left(U_{\mathsf{H}}(t)\right)_{t⩾0}

on

L^{1}(\mathrm{\Omega } \times V,\mathrm{d}x \otimes \boldsymbol{m}(\mathrm{d}v))

. We give a general criterion of irreducibility of

\left(U_{\mathsf{H}}(t)\right)_{t⩾0}

and we show that, under very natural assumptions, if an invariant density exists then

\left(U_{\mathsf{H}}(t)\right)_{t⩾0}

converges strongly (not simply in Cesarò means) to its ergodic projection. We show also that if no invariant density exists then

\left(U_{\mathsf{H}}(t)\right)_{t⩾0}

is
sweeping
in the sense that, for any density

φ

, the total mass of

U_{\mathsf{H}}(t)\varphi

concentrates near suitable sets of zero measure as

t\rightarrow + \infty

. We show also a general weak compactness theorem of interest for the existence of invariant densities. This theorem is based on several results on smoothness and transversality of the dynamical flow associated to

\left(U_{\mathsf{H}}(t)\right)_{t⩾0}

.
Convex integration solutions to the transport equation with full dimensional concentration
Authors: Modena Stefano , Sattig Gabriel
Published: March 2020

We construct infinitely many incompressible Sobolev vector fields

u \in C_{t}W_{x}^{1,\tilde p}

on the periodic domain

\mathbb{T}^{d}

for which uniqueness of solutions to the transport equation fails in the class of densities

\rho \in C_{t}L_{x}^{p}

, provided

1/ p + 1/ \tilde p> 1 + 1/ d

. The same result applies to the transport-diffusion equation, if, in addition,

p^{′} < d

.
The first case of acute myeloid leukaemia/myeloid sarcoma with cytokeratin expression on blasts diagnosed on urine specimen
Authors: Comerford Claire , Mhaolcatha Sarah Ni , Hayes Brian , Mykytiv Vitaliy
Published: March 2020

Here we describe a rare case of renal myeloid sarcoma, first discovered incidentally on routine urine analysis, which is one of the first of it’s kind to be reported. We describe the vanishingly rare phenomenon of renal myeloid sarcoma presenting without haematological manifestation while also highlighting the often inevitable transformative nature of the disease. We also describe the unusual immunohistochemistry findings, in particular the cytokeratin expression, that is not usually typical of such cases. We briefly discuss use of PET-CT for the disease response monitoring. We summarize treatment that has included palbociclib, use of which was previously reported only in small series of patients with AML with KMT2A mutation.
Bed topography and subglacial landforms in the onset region of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream
Authors: Franke Steven , Jansen Daniela , Binder Tobias , Dörr Nils , Helm Veit , Paden John , Steinhage Daniel , Eisen Olaf
Published: March 2020

The Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS) is an important dynamic component for the total mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet, as it reaches up to the central divide and drains 12% of the ice sheet. The geometric boundary conditions and in particular the nature of the subglacial bed of the NEGIS are essential to understand its ice flow dynamics. We present a record of more than 8000 km of radar survey lines of multi-channel, ultra-wideband radio echo sounding data covering an area of 24 000 km2, centered on the drill site for the East Greenland Ice-core Project (EGRIP), in the upper part of the NEGIS catchment. Our data yield a new detailed model of ice-thickness distribution and basal topography in the region. The enhanced resolution of our bed topography model shows features which we interpret to be caused by erosional activity, potentially over several glacial–interglacial cycles. Off-nadir reflections from the ice–bed interface in the center of the ice stream indicate a streamlined bed with elongated subglacial landforms. Our new bed topography model will help to improve the basal boundary conditions of NEGIS prescribed for ice flow models and thus foster an improved understanding of the ice-dynamic setting.
A characterization of 3D steady Euler flows using commuting zero-flux homologies
Authors: PERALTA-SALAS DANIEL , RECHTMAN ANA , TORRES DE LIZAUR FRANCISCO
Published: March 2020

We characterize, using commuting zero-flux homologies, those volume-preserving vector fields on a 3-manifold that are steady solutions of the Euler equations for some Riemannian metric. This result extends Sullivan’s homological characterization of geodesible flows in the volume-preserving case. As an application, we show that steady Euler flows cannot be constructed using plugs (as in Wilson’s or Kuperberg’s constructions). Analogous results in higher dimensions are also proved.
Over-winter persistence of supraglacial lakes on the Greenland Ice Sheet: results and insights from a new model
Authors: Law Robert , Arnold Neil , Benedek Corinne , Tedesco Marco , Banwell Alison , Willis Ian
Published: March 2020

We present a newly developed 1-D numerical energy-balance and phase transition supraglacial lake model: GlacierLake. GlacierLake incorporates snowfall, in situ snow and ice melt, incoming water from the surrounding catchment, ice lid formation, basal freeze-up and thermal stratification. Snow cover and temperature are varied to test lake development through winter and the maximum lid thickness is recorded. Average wintertime temperatures of −2 to$-30^{\circ }{\rm C}$and total snowfall of 0 to 3.45 m lead to a range of the maximum lid thickness from 1.2 to 2.8 m after${\sim }250$days, with snow cover exerting the dominant control. An initial ice temperature of$-15^{\circ }{\rm C}$with simulated advection of cold ice from upstream results in 0.6 m of basal freeze-up. This suggests that lakes with water depths above 1.3 to 3.4 m (dependent on winter snowfall and temperature) upon lid formation will persist through winter. These buried lakes can provide a sizeable water store at the start of the melt season, expedite future lake formation and warm underlying ice even in winter.
PLATO'S PHAEDO: ARE THE PHILOSOPHERS’ PLEASURES OF LEARNING PURE PLEASURES?
Authors: Mouroutsou Georgia
Published: March 2020

Though Plato's Phaedo does not focus on pleasure, some considerable talk on pleasure takes place in it. Socrates argues for the soul's immortality and, while doing so, hopes to highlight to his companions how important it is to take care of our soul by focussing on the intellect and by neglecting the bodily realm as far as is possible in this life. Doing philosophy, so his argument goes, is something like dying, if we grant that death is the separation of the soul from the body and notice that genuine philosophers wish nothing else than to be detached from the bodily realm. For indulging into bodily pleasures has detrimental consequences on the soul, impeding the search of truth and distorting reality, and so philosophers should undertake to purify themselves from all bodily concerns and gratifications and love the objects of learning and knowledge without deviation and distraction. On the contrary, ordinary people fall for the bodily realm as the only real domain that should therefore be of priority and of their earnest concern.
GLOBAL SCIENCE, NATIONAL HORIZONS: SOUTH AFRICA IN DEEP TIME AND SPACE
Authors: DUBOW SAUL
Published: March 2020

In his inaugural lecture, Saul Dubow, Smuts Professor of Commonwealth History at Cambridge University, discusses the modern history of science in South Africa in terms of ‘deep time’ and space, drawing links between developments in astronomy, palaeontology, and Antarctic research. He argues that Jan Smuts's synthetic discussion of South African science in 1925, followed by J. H. Hofmeyr's discussion of the ‘South Africanization’ of science in 1929, has parallels in post-apartheid conceptions of scientific-led nation-building, for example in Thabo Mbeki's elaboration of the ‘African Renaissance’. Yet, whereas the vision of science elaborated by Smuts was geared exclusively to white unity, Mbeki's Africanist vision of South African science was ostensibly more inclusive. The lecture concludes by considering South Africa as one of several middle order countries which have used national science and scientific patriotism to address experiences of colonialism and relations of inequality and to assert their influence in regional contexts.
Nutrition and cancer: evidence gaps and opportunities for improving knowledge
Authors: Thorne James L. , Moore J. Bernadette , Corfe Bernard M.
Published: March 2020

The Nutrition Society's 1st Annual Nutrition and Cancer Networking Conference brought together scientists from the fields of Nutrition, Epidemiology, Public Health, Medical Oncology and Surgery with representatives of the public, cancer survivors and cancer charities. Speakers representing these different groups presented the challenges to collaboration, how the needs of patients and the public can be met, and the most promising routes for future research. The conference programme promoted debate on these issues to highlight current gaps in understanding and barriers to generating and implementing evidence-based nutrition advice. The main conclusions were that the fundamental biology of how nutrition influences the complex cancer risk profiles of diverse populations needs to be better understood. Individual and population level genetics interact with the environment over a lifespan to dictate cancer risk. Large charities and government have a role to play in diminishing our current potently obesogenic environment and exploiting nutrition to reduce cancer deaths. Understanding how best to communicate, advise and support individuals wishing to make dietary and lifestyle changes, can reduce cancer risk, enhance recovery and improve the lives of those living with and beyond cancer.
Low-temperature storage of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, facilitates laboratory colony maintenance and population growth
Authors: Wang Chuanwen , Xu Xiaolin , Yu He , Huang Yu , Li Hao , Wan Qiang , Pan Baoliang
Published: March 2020

The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, is currently the most common ectoparasite affecting egg-laying hens. Since continuous culture of D. gallinae on birds is a biologically and economically costly endeavour, storage techniques for mites are urgently needed. Effects of temperature on adult and nymph survival were first studied to optimize storage conditions. Then, fecundity of D. gallinae was studied after mites were stored at optimal storage conditions. Results showed the survival rates of protonymphs (42.11%), deutonymphs (8.19%) and females (19.78%) at 5°C after 84 days were higher than those at 0, 25 and 30°C. Thereafter the fecundity and the capability of re-establishing colonies of D. gallinae were evaluated after they were stored for 40 and 80 days at 5°C. After storage, the mean number of eggs showed no statistical difference between treated (5°C for 40 or 80 days) and control groups (25°C for 7 days), while the hatching rates of eggs were in all cases above 97%. The dynamic changes of mite populations and egg numbers showed similar trends to the control group after the stored adult or nymph mites were fed on chicks. Dermanyssus gallinae can be successfully stored at 5°C for 80 days with no interference with the fecundity of mites, and the stored mites could re-establish colonies successfully. Adults and nymphs were two main stages with capability for low temperature storage. These results suggest that low temperature storage is a viable option for colony maintenance of D. gallinae under laboratory conditions.
Analysis of regulatory T cells and CTLA-4 expression in pregnant women according to seropositivity toToxoplasma gondii
Authors: Rezende-Oliveira Karine , Gómez-Hernández César , da Silva Marcos Vinicius , Helmo Fernanda Rodrigues , Rodrigues Virmondes
Published: March 2020

Pregnancy is considered a period in which immunomodulation occurs, although it is important for the maintenance of the foetus, could contribute to infections asToxoplasma gondii. Immune response cells such as regulatory T cells participate in this immunomodulation, and surface molecules such as CTLA-4 develop an immunosuppressive role, could contribute to the establishment of the parasite. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of regulatory T cells and the expression of CTLA-4 in parturient and non-pregnant seropositive and seronegative for anti-T. gondiiantibodies. Sixty-two participants were evaluated, 14 parturient with negative serology, 23 parturient with positive serology, 16 non-pregnant women seronegative and 9 non-pregnant women seropositive. Immunophenotyping was performed for characterize TCD4+Foxp3+ cells, T CD4+CD25-Foxp3+, TCD4+CD25highFoxp3+, TCD4+CTLA-4+, TCD4+CD25-CTLA-4+ and TCD4+CD25highCTLA-4+. We observed a lower level of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ cells from seropositive parturient compared with seropositive non-pregnant cells. Significative levels of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ cells from seronegative pregnant were observed compared with seropositive pregnant cells. Furthermore, the higher level of CD4+CD25-CTLA-4+ cells populations was detected in seropositive pregnant cells compared with seropositive non-pregnant. Although a significant increase in CTLA-4 cells was observed in pregnant women positive for anti-T. gondiiantibodies, this increase did not cause a risk of reactivation of the infection.
Free-living amoebae and their relationship to air quality in hospital environments: characterization of Acanthamoeba spp. obtained from air-conditioning systems
Authors: Wopereis Débora Borgert , Bazzo Maria Luiza , de Macedo Jefferson Peres , Casara Fabiana , Golfeto Lisléia , Venancio Eduardo , de Oliveira Jaquelline Germano , Rott Marilise Brittes , Caumo Karin Silva
Published: March 2020

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widely dispersed in the environment, can cause opportunistic and non-opportunistic infections in humans and other animals. The aim of the present study was characterize FLA obtained from air-conditioners of a public hospital in the city of Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Fifty-four dust samples were collected of air conditioners, and were inoculated on 1.5% non-nutrient agar, overlaid with layers of Escherichia coli. Subsequently the isolates were axenised in PYG growth medium. The morphological and molecular characterization of the isolates was performed, as well as the tolerance (physiological) assays were used to evaluate the pathogenic potential. The results revealed the presence of FLA in 42 (77.8%) of the collected samples. Of these, 39 (92.9%) axenic isolates of FLA were obtained for morphological and genotypic studies. All the isolates characterized belong to the genus Acanthamoeba. Nineteen (48.7%) isolates belong to the genotype T4, 16 (41.0%) to the T5 genotype and 4 (10.3%) to genotype T11. Seven (18.0%) isolates were considered potentially pathogenic in tolerance assays. These findings require attention, considering the isolation environment and immunocompromised characteristics of many hospitalized patients.
BELIZE AND THE RBGE: REFLECTING ON 16 YEARS OF COLLABORATIVE TRAINING
Authors: Goodwin Z. A. , Stott G. L. , Ronse De Craene L. P. , Kay E. , Lopez G. N. , Haston E. , Harris D. J.
Published: March 2020

Between 2001 and 2017, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh conducted training and research in Belize built around an annual two-week field course, part of the Edinburgh M.Sc. programme in Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants, focused on tropical plant identification, botanical-collecting and tropical fieldwork skills. This long-term collaboration in one country has led to additional benefits, most notably capacity building, acquisition of new country records, completion of M.Sc. thesis projects and publication of the findings in journal articles, and continued cooperation. Detailed summaries are provided for the specimens collected by students during the field course or return visits to Belize for M.Sc. thesis projects. Additionally, 15 species not recorded in the national checklist for Belize are reported. The information in this paper highlights the benefits of collaborations between institutions and countries for periods greater than the typical funding cycles of three to five years.
The Epidemiological Presentation Pattern of Ebola Virus Disease Outbreaks: Changes from 1976 to 2019
Authors: Arcos González Pedro , Fernández Camporro Ángel , Eriksson Anneli , Alonso Llada Carmen
Published: March 2020

Introduction:

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is the international health emergency paradigm due to its epidemiological presentation pattern, impact on public health, resources necessary for its control, and need for a national and international response.

Study Objective:

The objective of this work is to study the evolution and progression of the epidemiological presentation profile of Ebola disease outbreaks since its discovery in 1976 to the present, and to explore the possible reasons for this evolution from different perspectives.

Methods:

Retrospective observational study of 38 outbreaks of Ebola disease occurred from 1976 through 2019, excluding laboratory accidents. United Nations agencies and programs; Ministries of Health; the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); ReliefWeb; emergency nongovernmental organizations; and publications indexed in PubMed, EmBase, and Clinical Key have been used as sources of data. Information on the year of the outbreak, date of beginning and end, duration of the outbreak in days, number of cases, number of deaths, population at risk, geographic extension affected in Km2, and time of notification of the first cases to the World Health Organization (WHO) have been searched and analyzed.

Results:

Populations at risk have increased (P = .024) and the geographical extent of Ebola outbreaks has grown (P = .004). Reporting time of the first cases of Ebola to WHO has been reduced (P = .017) and case fatality (P = .028) has gone from 88% to 62% in the period studied. There have been differences (P = .04) between the outbreaks produced by the Sudan and Zaire strains of the virus, both in terms of duration and case fatality ratio (Sudan strain 74.5 days on average and 62.7% of case fatality ratio versus Zaire strain with 150 days on average and 55.4% case fatality ratio).

Conclusion:

There has been a change in the epidemiological profile of the Ebola outbreaks from 1976 through 2019 with an increase in the geographical extent of the outbreaks and the population at risk, as well as a significant decrease in the outbreaks case fatality rate. There have been advances in the detection and management capacity of outbreaks, and the notification time to the WHO has been reduced. However, there are social, economic, cultural, and political obstacles that continue to greatly hinder a more efficient epidemiological approach to Ebola disease, mainly in Central Africa.