bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The semen microbiome and its impact on sperm function and male fertility: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Farahani Linda , Tharakan Tharu , Yap Tet , Ramsay Jonathan W. , Jayasena Channa N. , Minhas Suks
Published: August 2020

Background

Male factor is attributable in up to 50% of cases of infertility. In vitro studies demonstrate that bacteria can negatively impact sperm function. The use of next‐generation sequencing techniques has provided a better understanding of the human microbiome, and dysbiosis has been reported to impact health. Evidence regarding the impact of the semen microbiome on sperm function and fertility remains conflicting.

Materials and methods

A systematic search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Reviews and Meta‐analysis (PRISMA) statement. The databases MEDLINE, OVID and PubMed were searched to identify English language studies related to the identification of bacteria in the semen of infertile and fertile men, between 1992 and 2019. Fifty‐five observational studies were included, with 51 299 subjects. We included studies identifying bacteria using next‐generation sequencing, culture or polymerase chain reaction.

Results

The semen microbiome was rich and diverse in both fertile and infertile men. Three NGS studies reported clustering of the seminal microbiome with a predominant species. Lactobacillus and Prevotella were dominant in respective clusters. Lactobacillus was associated with improvements in semen parameters. Prevotella appeared to exert a negative effect on sperm quality. Bacteriospermia negatively impacted sperm concentration and progressive motility, and DNA fragmentation index (DFI; MD: 3.518, 95% CI: 0.907 to 6.129, P = .008).

There was an increased prevalence of ureaplasma urealyticum in infertile men (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.47‐3.46). Ureaplasma urealyticum negatively impacted concentration and morphology. There was no difference in the prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis between fertile and infertile men and no significant impact on semen parameters. Enterococcus faecalis negatively impacted total motility, and Mycoplasma hominis negatively impacted concentration, PM and morphology.

Discussion and conclusions

Ureaplasma urealyticum, Enterococcus faecalis, Mycoplasma hominis and Prevotella negatively impact semen parameters, whereas Lactobacillus appears to protect sperm quality. These findings may facilitate the development of novel therapies (eg probiotics), although the evidence regarding the impact of the seminal microbiome on fertility is inconclusive and further studies are needed to investigate this association.
Comparison of growth and morphology of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in BSK‐H and BSK‐II media stored for prolonged periods
Authors: Veinović Gorana , Ćakić Sanja , Mihaljica Darko , Sukara Ratko , Tomanović Snežana
Published: August 2020

Barbour‐Stoenner‐Kelly II (BSK‐II) and BSK‐H media were used for cultivation and isolation of fastidious Borrelia species ‐ the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis. Culture media have a limited shelf life and require adequate storage. Our goal was to assess how the growth of Borrelia would be affected by prolonged storage of media and inadequate storage conditions (BSK‐H stored at +4 °C for 2.5 years and BSK‐II stored at −20 °C for 11 years). Growth of different Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia lusitaniae and Borrelia valaisiana strains was assessed during 2 weeks of incubation at 33 °C. Monitored parameters included cell count per mL, morphology and motility. The results of this study have shown weaker growth of borrelia strains in BSK‐H at +4 °C (median final cell number of 1.5 × 106/mL) than in BSK‐II at −20 °C (median final cell number of 7.75 × 106/mL) and in fresh BSK‐H media (median final cell number of 8.95 × 106/mL). Duration of storage of media had no impact on Borrelia morphology and motility. Our results indicate that temperature of −20 °C is optimal for long‐term storage of medium, BSK‐II stored for 11 years provided effective support to growth of Borrelia and may be employed for cultivation.
PCSK2 expression in neuroendocrine tumors points to a midgut, pulmonary, or pheochromocytoma–paraganglioma origin
Authors: Remes Satu Maria , Leijon Helena , Vesterinen Tiina , Louhimo Johanna , Pulkkinen Ville , Ezer Sini , Kere Juha , Haglund Caj , Arola Johanna
Published: August 2020

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are often diagnosed from the metastases of an unknown primary tumor. Specific immunohistochemical (IHC) markers indicating the location of a primary tumor are needed. The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 2 (PCSK2) is found in normal neural and neuroendocrine cells, and known to express in NETs. We investigated the tissue microarray (TMA) of 86 primary tumors from 13 different organs and 9 metastatic NETs, including primary tumor‐metastasis pairs, for PCSK2 expression with polymer‐based IHC. PCSK2 was strongly positive in all small intestine and appendiceal NETs, the so‐called midgut NETs, in most pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, and in some of the typical and atypical pulmonary carcinoid tumors. NETs showing strong positivity were re‐evaluated in larger tumor cohorts confirming the primary observation. In the metastases, the expression of PCSK2 mirrored that of the corresponding primary tumors. We found negative or weak staining in NETs from the thymus, gastric mucosa, pancreas, rectum, thyroid, and parathyroid. PCSK2 expression did not correlate with Ki‐67 in well‐differentiated NETs. Our data suggest that PCSK2 positivity can indicate the location of the primary tumor. Thus, PCSK2 could function in the IHC panel determined from screening metastatic NET biopsies of unknown primary origins.
Expert‐based measures of human impact to vegetation
Authors: Zinnen Jack , Spyreas Greg , Erdős László , Berg Christian , Matthews Jeffrey W.
Published: August 2020

Background

Human impact has had a profound influence on modern vegetation. Expert‐based vegetation indicator systems have been developed to measure and characterize human impacts on vegetation. Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) is a widely used, primarily North American system for assessing degradation and natural quality through species‐based values called coefficients of conservatism. The hemeroby and naturalness indicator value (NIV) systems were independently developed for users to assess human impacts in Europe. Despite the similarities among these indicator systems, there is no mutual recognition among them, and they have developed and operate in relative isolation from one another.

Approach

We review the FQA, hemeroby, and NIV systems to provide a basic summary of the three systems and to evaluate them, highlighting their nearly identical core mechanics and conceptual commonalities. We also compare and contrast the three systems to less integrative ecological indicator systems that can be used to indirectly measure human impact, notably the Ellenberg system.

Findings

We describe how FQA and naturalness indicator values, in particular, could be considered twin systems. Despite these core similarities, users of these systems do not cite each other, potentially overlooking benefits from applying methods and concepts from separate systems. The FQA, hemeroby, and NIV systems have unique weaknesses, strengths, and primary applications compared to other ecological indicator systems.

Conclusions

We conclude by discussing the future role and utility of the three specialized human impact indicator systems for scientists and practitioners. Human impact indicator values may be valuable for use in basic research, but arguably their most important applications are in the practice of conservation, such as monitoring restored ecosystems.
Traumatic dental injuries in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: Factors influencing teachers’ management practices
Authors: Gaffar Balgis , AlHumaid Jehan , Ashraf Nazir Muhammad , Alonaizan Faisal
Published: August 2020

Background/Aims

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in children frequently occur in schools where teachers can play an important role in their management. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess schoolteachers’ knowledge and the factors that determine their management of TDIs.

Materials and methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia from January to June 2018. Data were collected through an online pre‐tested questionnaire. The questionnaire collected demographic data and included questions that assessed participants’ knowledge and management practices for TDI. Chi‐square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed.

Results

A total of 443 teachers were included in the study, and 72.5% of the participants were females. The prevalence of TDIs was 49% yet only 7.2% of the participants reported managing dental trauma. Fights (22.8%) and falls (21.7%) were the most common causes of dental injuries. Mean TDI knowledge score was 2.75 ± 2.05, but only 47.2% were willing to receive training about TDI management. Regarding supportive environments, 75.8% of teachers reported having safety playgrounds, however 10.6% reported having a nurse in schools. After controlling for other variables, male respondents were 3.85 times more likely to manage TDIs than female respondents (P = .001). Similarly, previous knowledge of dental trauma management (OR = 4.32,P < .001) and having less than 50 students in class (OR = 2.61,P = .021) were significantly associated with TDI management.

Conclusion

The teachers demonstrated inadequate knowledge about TDIs which were highly prevalent in primary schools. Male gender, having knowledge of TDI management and teaching less students were associated with increased likelihood of TDI management. There is a crucial need for the reinforcement of policies that support school safety and a supportive environment.
On the effect of neuronal spatial subsampling in small‐world networks
Authors: Bonzanni Mattia , Bockley Kimberly M. , Kaplan David L.
Published: August 2020

The analysis of real‐world networks of neurons is biased by the current ability to measure just a subsample of the entire network. It is thus relevant to understand if the information gained in the subsamples can be extended to the global network to improve functional interpretations. Here we showed how average clustering coefficient (CC), average path length (PL), and small‐world propensity (SWP) scale when spatial sampling is applied to small‐world networks. This extraction mimics the measurement of physical neighbors by means of electrical and optical techniques, both used to study neuronal networks. We applied this method to in silico and in vivo data and we found that the analyzed properties scale with the size of the sampled network and the global network topology. By means of mathematical manipulations, the topology dependence was reduced during scaling. We highlighted the behaviors of the descriptors that, qualitatively, are shared by all the analyzed networks and that allowed an approximated prediction of those descriptors in the global graph using the subgraph information. In contrast, below a spatial threshold, any extrapolation failed; the subgraphs no longer contain enough information to make predictions. In conclusion, the size of the chosen subgraphs is critical to extend the findings to the global network.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase is required for epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis in mice
Authors: Dang Erle , Man George , Zhang Jiechen , Lee Dale , Mauro Theodora M. , Elias Peter M. , Man Mao-Qiang
Published: August 2020

Nitric oxide (NO) regulates a variety of epidermal functions, including epidermal proliferation, differentiation and cutaneous wound healing. However, whether nitric oxide (NO) and its synthetic enzymes regulate epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis is not clear. In the present study, we employed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) KO mice to explore the role of iNOS in epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis. Our results showed that iNOS mice displayed a comparable levels of basal transepidermal water loss rates, stratum corneum hydration and skin surface pH to their wild‐type mice, but epidermal permeability barrier recovery was significantly delayed both 2 and 4 hours after acute barrier disruption by tape stripping. In parallel, expression levels of mRNA for epidermal differentiation‐related proteins and lipid synthetic enzymes were lower in iNOS KO mice versus wild‐type controls. Topical applications of two structurally unrelated NO donors to iNOS KO mice improved permeability barrier recovery kinetics and upregulated expression levels of mRNA for epidermal differentiation‐related proteins and lipid synthetic enzymes. Together, these results indicate that iNOS and its product regulate epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis in mice.
Does exposure to controlling parental feeding practices during adolescence predict disordered eating behaviors 8 years later in emerging adulthood?
Authors: Hazzard Vivienne M. , Loth Katie A. , Berge Jerica M. , Larson Nicole I. , Fulkerson Jayne A. , Neumark‐Sztainer Dianne
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To examine how exposure to controlling parental feeding practices during adolescence is associated with disordered eating behaviors in emerging adulthood.

Methods

Data were analyzed from 543 males and 769 females (Mageat baseline = 14.5 years,Mageat follow‐up = 22.7 years) and their parents who participated in the population‐based EAT 2010‐2018 and Project F‐EAT studies. Parental food restriction and pressure‐to‐eat practices were assessed with items from the Child Feeding Questionnaire. Regression models predicted chronic dieting, unhealthy weight control behaviors, and binge eating, adjusted for demographic covariates, adiposity, and outcome at baseline.

Results

Overall, exposure to controlling parental feeding practices during adolescence was not associated with disordered eating behaviors at eight‐year follow‐up, with one exception. Among males, maternal pressure‐to‐eat was associated with greater risk of chronic dieting in emerging adulthood.

Conclusions

By emerging adulthood, other factors may be more salient with regard to disordered eating outcomes than parental feeding practices during adolescence.
Reduced recurrence of low‐risk non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer is associated with low urine‐specific gravity
Authors: Iwasawa Tomohiro , Niwa Naoya , Matsumoto Kazuhiro , Komatsuda Akari , ide Hiroki , Oya Mototsugu
Published: August 2020

Objective

To investigate the association between urine‐specific gravity and oncological outcomes in patients with non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer.

Methods

We identified 433 primary non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer patients who underwent transurethral resection between 2002 and 2016. The association between urine‐specific gravity and tumor recurrence was statistically evaluated.

Results

A total of 211 (48.7%) patients received adjuvant bacillus Calmette–Guérin therapy. During the median follow‐up period of 60 months, 155 (35.8%) patients experienced at least one tumor recurrence. Of them all, 95 (21.9%) and 338 (78.1%) patients had high (>1.020) and low (≤1.020) urine‐specific gravity, respectively. The Kaplan–Meier curve suggested that recurrence‐free survival was significantly lower in patients with a high urine‐specific gravity; however, the multivariate analysis failed to show that urine‐specific gravity is significantly associated with tumor recurrence. In 222 (51.3%) patients who had not received bacillus Calmette–Guérin therapy, the Kaplan–Meier curve also suggested that recurrence‐free survival was significantly lower in patients with a high urine‐specific gravity. Multivariate analysis showed that age >70 years (hazard ratio 1.69, P = 0.02), grade 3 tumor (hazard ratio 1.81, P = 0.03) and high urine‐specific gravity (hazard ratio 1.87, P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for tumor recurrence.

Conclusion

High urine‐specific gravity is an independent risk factor for tumor recurrence in non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer patients who have not received bacillus Calmette–Guérin therapy. Our results suggest that hydration status might have some clinical impacts on bladder tumor recurrence.
The cytotoxic molecule granulysin is capable of inducing either chemotaxis or fugetaxis in dendritic cells depending on maturation: a role for Vδ2+γδ T cells in the modulation of immune response to tumour?
Authors: Sparrow Emma L. , Fowler Daniel W. , Fenn Joe , Caron Jonathan , Copier John , Dalgleish Angus G. , Bodman‐Smith Mark D.
Published: August 2020

Release of granulysin by γδ T cells contributes to tumour cell killing. A cytolytic 9000 MW isoform of granulysin kills tumour cells directly, whereas a 15 000 MW precursor has been hypothesized to cause both the maturation and migration of dendritic cell (DC) populations. Recruiting DC to a tumour is beneficial as these cells initiate adaptive immune responses, which contribute to the eradication of malignancies. In this study, Vδ2+ γδ T cells were activated by stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with zoledronic acid or Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), or were isolated and cultured with tumour targets. Although a large proportion of resting Vδ2+ γδ T cells expressed 15 000 MW granulysin, 9000 MW granulysin expression was induced only after stimulation with BCG. Increased levels of activation and granulysin secretion were also observed when Vδ2+ γδ T cells were cultured with the human B‐cell lymphoma line Daudi. High concentrations of recombinant 15 000 MW granulysin caused migration and maturation of immature DC, and also initiated fugetaxis in mature DC. Conversely, low concentrations of recombinant 15 000 MW granulysin resulted in migration of mature DC, but not immature DC. Our data therefore support the hypothesis that Vδ2+ γδ T cells can release granulysin, which may modulate recruitment of DC, initiating adaptive immune responses.
Six‐month‐old infants recognize phrases in song and speech
Authors: Hahn Laura E. , Benders Titia , Snijders Tineke M. , Fikkert Paula
Published: August 2020

Infants exploit acoustic boundaries to perceptually organize phrases in speech. This prosodic parsing ability is well‐attested and is a cornerstone to the development of speech perception and grammar. However, infants also receive linguistic input in child songs. This study provides evidence that infants parse songs into meaningful phrasal units and replicates previous research for speech. Six‐month‐old Dutch infants (n = 80) were tested in the song or speech modality in the head‐turn preference procedure. First, infants were familiarized to two versions of the same word sequence: One version represented a well‐formed unit, and the other contained a phrase boundary halfway through. At test, infants were presented two passages, each containing one version of the familiarized sequence. The results for speech replicated the previously observed preference for the passage containing the well‐formed sequence, but only in a more fine‐grained analysis. The preference for well‐formed phrases was also observed in the song modality, indicating that infants recognize phrase structure in song. There were acoustic differences between stimuli of the current and previous studies, suggesting that infants are flexible in their processing of boundary cues while also providing a possible explanation for differences in effect sizes.
The experience of being a father of a son or daughter with an intellectual disability: Older fathers’ perspectives
Authors: Dunn Kirsty , Jahoda Andrew , Kinnear Deborah
Published: August 2020

Background

As life expectancy for people with an intellectual disability increases, there is a growing cohort of older father carers. This study aimed to gain a more in‐depth understanding of older father carers’ experiences of parenting.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 7 older fathers (M = 63.9 years) and analysed using constructivist grounded theory.

Results

Three conceptual categories were identified. “Wearing different hats: how fathers’ sense of identity had altered over the years. “Family comes first”: importance placed on the family unit. “Getting on in years”: the challenges faced by ageing fathers parenting their son/daughter.

Conclusions

Fathers re‐evaluated their priorities and found a new identity in their parenting role, although they continued to see themselves as secondary carers. Fathers worried about the future as their health declined but drew strength from the benefits they had derived and the challenges that they had overcome to do their best for their son/daughter and their family.
Macro‐scale variation and environmental predictors of flowering and fruiting phenology in the Chinese angiosperm flora
Authors: Du Yanjun , Mao Lingfeng , Queenborough Simon A. , Primack Richard , Comita Liza S. , Hampe Arndt , Ma Keping
Published: August 2020

Aim

The timing of reproduction is a major determinant of the geographical distribution of plant species and resulting patterns of community assembly, yet few studies have assessed how the reproductive phenology of plant assemblages varies across large geographical and environmental gradients. In addition, it remains poorly known to what extent phenological trends and their drivers differ between flowering and fruiting phases or among different growth forms. To address these knowledge gaps, we examined the reproductive phenology and potential climatic drivers in herbaceous and woody species in ecosystems across China that varied in climate (temperate to tropical) seasonality and elevation.

Location

China.

Methods

We used data from theFlora Republicae Popularis Sinicaeto estimate angiosperm flowering (n = 16,717 species) and fruiting (n = 11,605) phenology for 100 x 100 km grid cells (n = 943) throughout China. We assessed large‐scale geographical trends in mean flowering and fruiting date and the time needed for fruit development. The relationships of these phenological variables with seven climate variables were examined using both ordinary and spatial linear regression.

Results

Higher latitudes and elevations had considerably reduced length of the reproductive season, with later flowering and earlier fruiting than lower latitudes and elevations. Woody plant assemblages flowered markedly earlier and needed three times longer for fruit development, and tended to show steeper geographical trends in reproductive phenology than herbaceous assemblages. Herbs and woody species differed strongly in their climatic triggers of flowering but largely shared the same cues for fruiting.

Main conclusions

Woody species compensate for longer seed development times by an earlier onset of flowering, yet reproduction in both life‐forms has stronger climatic constraints. Distinct climatic drivers suggest that herbaceous and woody species assemblages will respond differently to climate change. Overall, our findings underpin the role of reproductive phenology as a key biological mechanism through which climate shapes large‐scale geographical trends in species richness, phylogenetic diversity and community assembly.
Habitat suitability ofRhincodon typusin three localities of the Gulf of California: Environmental drivers of seasonal aggregations
Authors: Petatán‐Ramírez David , Whitehead Darren A. , Guerrero‐Izquierdo Triana , Ojeda‐Ruiz Miguel A. , Becerril‐García Edgar E.
Published: August 2020

The whale shark is an endangered species that usually feeds in coastal areas of highly productive seas such as the Gulf of California, Mexico. This study aims to describe the effect of sea surface temperature, chlorophylla, bathymetry and slope on the habitat suitability of whale sharks in three important aggregation sites of the Gulf of California. A total of 2396 records of occurrence of whale sharks were obtained from international databases and scientific literature between 1996 and 2018. These records were used for the creation of a species distribution model using MaxEnt for each of the three aggregation sites. The concentration of chlorophyllaexplained 71% of the habitat suitability, followed by bathymetry and slope with a combined 17%, and sea surface temperature constituting 10% of the model. Habitat suitability was related to areas where nontargeted fisheries may impact whale sharks through bycatch, entanglement and ship strikes. The implications for the conservation of whale sharks should be considered for management decisions in terms of marine protected areas, fishing refugees or bans, and other regulations regarding fisheries activities.
Ultrasound‐assisted heat pump intermittent drying of adzuki bean seeds: Drying characteristics and parameter optimization
Authors: Yang Zongyu , Yang Zhao , Yu Fei , Tao Zhichao
Published: August 2020

To avoid the damage to seed quality and the extra energy consumption due to long time application of ultrasound, the feasibility of ultrasound‐assisted heat pump intermittent drying was studied. The effects of temperature, ultrasound power and intermittency ratio on the drying characteristics of adzuki bean seeds was investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the three parameters to evaluate their combined influence on effective moisture diffusivity (Deff), specific energy consumption, and germination percentage (GP). The results showed the introduction of intermittent process was of great significance to reduce energy consumption, but its influence on seed germination was not as good as expected. High GP could be obtained at low‐temperature drying with a proper fixed ultrasound power assisted. Proper ultrasound application had significant enhancing of drying characteristics of adzuki bean seeds. However, high power ultrasound would cause structural damage and weaken the seed viability through scanning electron microscopy analysis. Additionally, the optimum drying parameters determined by RSM were 37.10°C of temperature, 102.80 W of ultrasound power, and 0.59 of intermittency ratio. The results of verification experiments all performed better than the predicted values, proving the optimality of the combined drying strategy.

Practical applications

Ultrasound technology has been confirmed to enhance drying in the food processing field. However, some problems caused by ultrasound such as extra energy consumption and uncertain impact on product quality have been controversial. In this case, intermittent drying was applied in the ultrasound‐assisted heat pump system and the results confirmed the proposed drying technique could solve or alleviate these problems. The exploration of the optimum drying parameters based on response surface methodology further proved that it is suitable to introduce ultrasound assistance and intermittent treatment during heat pump drying. Under the general trend of reducing energy consumption and pursuing high drying quality, the proposed drying technique is extraordinarily promising.
Impact of Weight Status on the Cardiopulmonary Fitness Outcome of a School‐Based Physical Activity Program
Authors: Moon Rena C. , Cunningham Solveig A. , Gazmararian Julie
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of school‐based physical activity interventions for improving cardiopulmonary fitness (CPF) of overweight and obese children is not well established. In this study, we evaluated whether overweight and obese children had similar changes in body mass index (BMI) and CPF as normal weight children after participating in a program for one academic year.

METHODS

Using purposive sampling at the school level, we selected 16 program and 7 control schools in a large metropolitan area in the Southeast during the 2015‐2016 academic year. In these schools, 3396 fourth‐graders participated with parental consent. Of these, 2332 (68.7%) participated in BMI measures and 1780 (52.4%) in Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) measures for CPF at two time points.

RESULTS

Students of all weight statuses pre‐program did not show changes in BMI after program implementation. All students showed statistically significant improvements in the PACER test at follow‐up, regardless of their participation in the program. However, overweight and obese children showed less improvement in CPF level than their normal weight classmates, regardless of their participation in the program.

CONCLUSION

Special attention for improving engagements of overweight and obese children may be needed to achieve improvements in their CPF level similar to that of normal weight students.
Factors associated with the level of knowledge about hypertension in Malaysia: A short communication
Authors: Mohammed Ali Haider , Hassan Bassam Abdul Rasool , Suhaimi Azyyati Mohd , Blebil Ali , Dujaili Juman
Published: August 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify factors that have a correlation with hypertensive patients’ knowledge in Malaysia.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey and face-to-face interview methods were applied, and 1000 Malaysian adults were recruited to be involved in this study. The study was carried out in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, and self-administered questionnaire was adopted from previous literature study.

Key findings

Most respondents were female, and the mean age was 48 years old. Analytical test showed that there is an association between gender, age, race, location, education level, and source of information and their knowledge about hypertension. The odds of knowledge were higher among female, urban, higher level of education, young (≤50 years old), and Chinese and Malay respondents and those who got their information from health professionals.

Conclusions

There are several factors have a great impact on hypertension knowledge in Malaysia; hence, understanding them makes it possible for the community to change public policies and educational programmes for the population that need it the most.
Deletion of csn2 gene affects acid tolerance and exopolysaccharide synthesis in Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Zhang Anqi , Chen Jiamin , Gong Tao , Lu Miao , Tang Boyu , Zhou Xuedong , Li Yuqing
Published: August 2020

Csn2 is an important protein of the CRISPR‐Cas system. The physiological function of this protein and its regulatory role in Streptococcus mutans, as the primary causative agent of human dental caries, is still unclear. In this study, we investigated whether csn2 deletion would affect S. mutans physiology and virulence gene expression. We used microscopic imaging, acid killing assays, pH drop, biofilm formation, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production tests to determine whether csn2 deletion influenced S. mutans colony morphology, acid tolerance/production, and glucan formation abilities. Comparisons were made between quantitative Real‐Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT‐PCR) data from the UA159 and csn2 deletion strain to determine the impact of csn2 knockout on S. mutans gene expression. The results showed that deletion of S. mutans csn2 changed its colony morphotype and made it more sensitive to acid. The expression levels of aciduricity genes, including leuA, leuB, leuC, and leuD, were significantly down‐regulated. Acid adaptation restored the aciduricity of csn2 mutant and enhanced the ability to synthesize EPS. The expression levels of EPS synthesis‐related genes, including gtfC and gtfD, were significantly up‐regulated after acid adaptation. In summary, deletion of S. mutans csn2 exerted multiple effects on the virulence traits of this pathogen, including acid tolerance and EPS formation, and that these alterations could partially be attributed to changes in gene expression upon loss of csn2. Understanding the function of csn2 in S. mutans might lead to novel strategies to prevent or treat imbalances in oral microbiota that may favor diseases.
Pediatric retransplantation of the liver: A prognostic scoring tool
Authors: Vock David M. , Kuehne Alexander , Northrop Elise F. , Matas Arthur J. , Larson Nath Catherine , Chinnakotla Srinath
Published: August 2020

Few prognostic models have been created in children that receive liver retransplantation (rLT). We examined the SRTR database of 731 children that underwent second liver transplant between 2002 and 2018. Proportional hazards models using backward variable selection were used to identify recipient, donor, and surgical characteristics associated with survival. A simple prognostic scoring system or nomogram (ie, each risk factor was weighted on a five‐point scale) was constructed based on the fitted model. Recipient age (P < .001), MELD/PELD (P < .001), recipient ventilated (P = .003), donor cause of death (P = .024), graft type (P = .045), first graft loss due to biliary tract complications (P = .048), and survival time of the first graft (P = .006) were significant predictors of retransplant survival. The bias‐corrected Harrell's C‐index for the multivariable model was 0.63. Survival was significantly different (P < .001) for those at low risk (0‐4 points), medium risk (5‐7 points), and high risk (8+ points). Survival was equivalent between low risk pediatric second transplant recipients and pediatric primary liver transplant recipients (P = .67) but significantly worse for medium‐ (P < .001) and high‐risk (P < .001) recipients. With simple clinical characteristics, this scoring tool can modestly discriminate between those children at high risk and those children at low risk of poor outcomes after second liver transplant.
Antennal sensitivity to female sex pheromone compounds of Spodoptera frugiperda males (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and associated field behaviour
Authors: Cruz‐Esteban Samuel
Published: August 2020

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the most important insect pests of corn, sorghum, rice, and grasses. The sex pheromone produced by S. frugiperda is composed of a mixture of esters. In this study, I determined the antennal responses of FAW males from 22 populations in Mexico to the components of the sex pheromone of this species: (Z)‐7‐dodecenyl acetate (Z7‐12:OAc), (Z)‐9‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z9‐14:OAc), and (Z)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate (Z11‐16:OAc) at four doses (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 μg). In addition, I evaluated the behavioural activity of single compounds in the field. The largest antennal responses of FAW males from all the sampled regions were elicited by Z9‐14:OAc (all doses evaluated) and Z7‐12:OAc (0.01, 0.1, and 1 μg). The male antennal responses evoked by Z11‐16:OAc were smaller but similar to responses to Z7‐12:OAc at lower doses (0.01 and 0.1 μg). In the field test, Z9‐14:OAc produced significantly higher captures of S. frugiperda males compared to Z7‐12:AOc and Z11‐16:OAc. Antennal responses were related to captures obtained in the field, supported by the positive correlation of these variables [electroantennography (EAG) response and behaviour], with the exception of Z7‐12:OAc, which elicited relatively large EAG responses but did not produce high captures of S. frugiperda. These results are of importance to agriculture, enabling the implementation of better methods of monitoring and controlling this pest, and support the suggestion that a mixture of Z9‐14:OAc and Z7‐12:OAc could represent an effective attractant for all evaluated populations of S. frugiperda in Mexico.
Adaptation of plant‐mycorrhizal interactions to moisture availability in prairie restoration
Authors: Lubin Terra K. , Alexander Helen M. , Bever James D.
Published: August 2020

The strength and direction of plant response to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) is dependent on both abiotic and biotic contexts, often generating patterns of AM fungal mediation of plant adaptation. However, knowledge of plant‐community level effects of these interactions in grassland restoration is limited. We conducted a field inoculation experiment by inoculating five plant species native to a drier prairie and five plant species native to a moister prairie with mycorrhizal fungal communities from each prairie type. Species were paired by genus or family to account for phylogenetic effects. The inoculated plants were transplanted to study plots seeded with a restoration seed mix. Plots were manipulated to create either moister or drier conditions similar to environments of the plant species and mycorrhizal communities. In both transplanted and seeded plant species, we found that only drier prairie‐range species benefited from moisture‐regime matched AM fungal inoculum. Other seeded prairie plant species demonstrated a negative response to inoculation, likely due to the earlier successional stage of these species. Additionally, nonseeded plants benefited from inoculation in different ways: native nonseeded plants had highest cover with drier prairie inoculum in drier conditions, while nonnative plants had highest cover with moister prairie‐origin inoculum. These results suggest that use of local AM fungi may be particularly important in restorations at drier sites, even at relatively small differences in moisture availability. Further, specific knowledge of relative responsiveness of seeded plant species and nonseeded plant species to AM fungal inoculation will be useful in planning restorations.
Bayesian Analysis of Tests with Unknown Specificity and Sensitivity
Authors: Gelman Andrew , Carpenter Bob
Published: August 2020

When testing for a rare disease, prevalence estimates can be highly sensitive to uncertainty in the specificity and sensitivity of the test. Bayesian inference is a natural way to propagate these uncertainties, with hierarchical modelling capturing variation in these parameters across experiments. Another concern is the people in the sample not being representative of the general population. Statistical adjustment cannot without strong assumptions correct for selection bias in an opt-in sample, but multilevel regression and post-stratification can at least adjust for known differences between the sample and the population. We demonstrate hierarchical regression and post-stratification models with code in Stan and discuss their application to a controversial recent study of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a sample of people from the Stanford University area. Wide posterior intervals make it impossible to evaluate the quantitative claims of that study regarding the number of unreported infections. For future studies, the methods described here should facilitate more accurate estimates of disease prevalence from imperfect tests performed on non-representative samples.
Affective cosmopolitanisms in Singapore: Dancehall and the decolonisation of the self
Authors: Woods Orlando
Published: August 2020

This paper advances a new understanding of cosmopolitanism, one that is rooted in the affective potential of the body. It argues that while the self is often projected onto the body, so too can the body play an important role in (re)imagining the self. As such, the body can decolonise the self from the mind, from the expectations of society and culture, and from the normative epistemological underpinnings of academic knowledge production. I validate these theoretical arguments through an empirical focus on the practice of dancehall in Singapore. Dancehall is an emancipatory cultural movement that emerged in Jamaica in the late 1970s, and, among other things, has become known for its sexually provocative representation of the human body. Singapore, on the other hand, is a conservative Asian city‐state in which cosmopolitan self‐fashioning is an elite, top‐down process imparted by the government and education system. By reconciling dancehall culture in/and the Singapore context, I explore how Singaporean youths forge new, more affective, forms of cosmopolitan self‐realisation. Through dancehall, they learn how to engage with the self on their own terms, and thus realise new ways of being in the world.
Shale Digital Core Image Generation Based on Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Zha Wenshu , Li Xingbao , Li Daolun , Xing Yan , He Lei , Tan Jieqing
Published: August 2020

Stochastic reconstruction of digital core images is a vital part of digital core physics analysis, aiming to generate representative microstructure samples for sampling and uncertainty quantification analysis. This paper proposes a novel reconstruction method of the digital core of shale based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) with powerful capabilities of the generation of samples. GANs are a series of unsupervised generative artificial intelligence models that take the noise vector as an input. In this paper, the GANs with a generative and a discriminative network are created respectively, and the shale image with 45 nm/pixel preprocessed by the three-value-segmentation method is used as training samples. The generative network is used to learn the distribution of real training samples, and the discriminative network is used to distinguish real samples from synthetic ones. Finally, realistic digital core samples of shale are successfully reconstructed through the adversarial training process. We used the Fréchet inception distance (FID) and Kernel inception distance (KID) to evaluate the ability of GANs to generate real digital core samples of shale. The comparison of the morphological characteristics between them, such as the ratio of organic matter and specific surface area of organic matter, indicates that real and reconstructed samples are highly close. The results show that deep convolutional generative adversarial networks with full convolution properties can reconstruct digital core samples of shale effectively. Therefore, compared with the classical methods of reconstruction, the new reconstruction method is more promising.
Investigation of Gasoline Compression Ignition for Combustion Control
Authors: Ravaglioli Vittorio , Ponti Fabrizio , De Cesare Matteo
Published: August 2020

Future emission regulations for internal combustion engines require increasingly stringent reductions of engine-out emissions, especially NOx and particulate matter (PM), together with the continuous improvement of engine efficiency. In the current scenario, even though compression-ignited engines are still considered the most efficient and reliable technology for automotive applications, the use of diesel-like fuels has become a critical issue, since it is usually not compatible with the required emissions reduction. A large amount of research and experimentation is being carried out to investigate the combined use of compression-ignited engines and gasoline-like fuels, which proved to be very promising, especially in case the fuel is directly injected in the combustion chamber at high pressure. This work investigates the combustion process occurring in a light-duty compression-ignited engine while directly injecting only gasoline. A specific experimental setup has been designed to guarantee combustion stability over the whole operating range that is achieved controlling boost pressure and temperature together with all the injection parameters of the multijet pattern. The analysis of the experimental data clearly highlights how the variation of the control parameters affect the ignition process of small amounts of directly injected gasoline and the maximum achievable efficiency. In particular, the analysis of the sensitivity to the injection parameters allows identifying an ignition delay model and the key control parameters that might be varied to guarantee a robust control of combustion phasing within the cycle.
Fatigue of Metallic Glasses
Authors: Sha Zhendong , Lin Weihui , Poh Leong Hien , Xing Guichuan , Liu Zishun , Wang Tiejun , Gao Huajian
Published: August 2020

Metallic glasses (MGs) are often perceived as quintessential structural materials due to their superior mechanical properties such as high strength and large elastic limit. In practical applications, service conditions that introduce cyclic variations in stresses and strains are inevitably involved. The fatigue of MGs is thus a topic of research and practical interest. In this review, a brief introduction on MGs, their applications and challenges, is first provided. Next, experimental studies on fatigue behaviors of both macroscopic and nanoscale MGs are summarized. The range of topics covered include the stress-life behavior, fatigue-crack growth behavior, fatigue-fracture morphology, fatigue-failure mechanisms, as well as the effects of chemical composition, cycling frequency, loading condition, and sample size on the fatigue limits. Finally, recent progresses in simulation studies on the fatigue of MGs are discussed, with an emphasis placed on the atomic-level understanding of the fatigue mechanisms.
Projections of Wind Gusts for New York City Under a Changing Climate
Authors: Comarazamy Daniel , González-Cruz Jorge E. , Andreopoulos Yiannis
Published: August 2020

To determine potential changes in the frequency and intensity of future storm events due to climate change in New York City (NYC), a statistical downscaling technique is proposed. First, a historical benchmark was determined using weather station data from the John F. Kennedy (JFK) and La Guardia (LGA) airports for the period 1973–2017. This historical information was used to perform the bias-correction exercise of near-future (2011–2050) global circulation model (GCM) output (ORNL RegCM4; RCP 8.5). Results show that NYC is projected to experience higher wind gusts under a warming climate for the period 2017–2050 in comparison with the historical data period, with the most extreme event projected to produce a maximum wind gust of approximately 110 mph, a significant increase over the past maximum of 80 mph. The historical 700-year return period event was estimated at 115 mph, while the overall 700-year event (historical and projected) is estimated at 124 mph. The most extreme cases of maximum daily wind gusts are projected to occur during the winter and early spring seasons. No increase in the number of projected tropical storms was observed, but the intensity of the storms is projected to be higher than during the historical period. These changes in extreme wind events could have serious implications for NYC in terms of urban planning, potential power outages, transportation disruptions, impacts on building structures, and public safety.
On the Discretization of the Power-Law Hemolysis Model
Authors: Faghih Mohammad M. , Islam Ahmed , Sharp M. Keith
Published: August 2020

Flow-induced hemolysis remains a concern for blood-contacting devices, and computer-based prediction of hemolysis could facilitate faster and more economical refinement of such devices. While evaluation of convergence of velocity fields obtained by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations has become conventional, convergence of hemolysis calculations is also essential. In this paper, convergence of the power-law hemolysis model is compared for simple flows, including pathlines with exponentially increasing and decreasing stress, in gradually expanding and contracting Couette flows, in a sudden radial expansion and in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) channel. In the exponential cases, convergence along a pathline required from one to tens of thousands of timesteps, depending on the exponent. Greater timesteps were required for rapidly increasing (large exponent) stress and for rapidly decreasing (small exponent) stress. Example pathlines in the Couette flows could be fit with exponential curves, and convergence behavior followed the trends identified from the exponential cases. More complex flows, such as in the radial expansion and the FDA channel, increase the likelihood of encountering problematic pathlines. For the exponential cases, comparison of converged hemolysis values with analytical solutions demonstrated that the error of the converged solution may exceed 10% for both rapidly decreasing and rapidly increasing stress.