bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parliamentary Questions as an Instrument for Geographic Representation: The Hard Case of Portugal
Authors: Borghetto Enrico , Santana‐Pereira José , Freire André
Published: February 2020

This article asks whether and why, in a system lacking electoral incentives to cultivate personal votes, MPs might choose to signal to geographic constituents. It explores this question by analysing the number of written parliamentary questions submitted to the Portuguese parliament on two issues – unemployment and crime – between 2009 and 2015, and asking if MPs are more inclined to table questions on specific issues when their districts suffer particularly from related problems. The article finds evidence that constituency‐level problem pressure does matter for the signalling activities of MPs, although policy specialization remains the main driver of their issue emphasis. This finding contributes new knowledge to the ongoing debate on the factors accounting for the representative relationship between MPs and constituents, by drawing attention to the importance of district‐level problem pressure as one of the drivers of issue sponsorship in parliament.
Is All Politics Indeed Local? A Comparative Study of Dual Mandate‐Holders’ Role Attitudes and Behaviours in Parliament
Authors: Van de Voorde Nicolas , de Vet Benjamin
Published: February 2020

The practice of dual mandate‐holding, i.e. the simultaneous occupation of a political mandate at the (sub)national and the local level, is understudied in the comparative literature. Dual mandate‐holders embody the most direct link between local and central government, yet research has disregarded whether these actors actually feel and act as local ambassadors in parliament. In this article, we study whether councillors in parliament feel responsive for local grievances in terms of their respective role attitudes and behaviour, using the PARTIREP Comparative MP Survey. The estimated regression models demonstrate that dual mandate‐holders indeed perceive themselves as local brokers, even when controlling for various systemic‐, party‐ and individual‐level factors. On the other hand, they struggle to translate their localized attitudes into localized parliamentary behaviour, which could call one of the main arguments in favour of dual mandate‐holding into question.
Gonality of dynatomic curves and strong uniform boundedness of preperiodic points
Authors: Doyle John R. , Poonen Bjorn
Published: February 2020

Fix$d\geqslant 2$and a field$k$such that$\operatorname{char}k\nmid d$. Assume that$k$contains the$d$th roots of$1$. Then the irreducible components of the curves over$k$parameterizing preperiodic points of polynomials of the form$z^{d}+c$are geometrically irreducible and have gonality tending to$\infty$. This implies the function field analogue of the strong uniform boundedness conjecture for preperiodic points of$z^{d}+c$. It also has consequences over number fields: it implies strong uniform boundedness for preperiodic points of bounded eventual period, which in turn reduces the full conjecture for preperiodic points to the conjecture for periodic points. Our proofs involve a novel argument specific to finite fields, in addition to more standard tools such as the Castelnuovo–Severi inequality.
Activity of Cefiderocol and Comparators against Isolates from Cancer Patients
Authors: Rolston Kenneth V. I. , Gerges Baghat , Shelburne Samuel , Aitken Samuel L. , Raad Issam , Prince Randall A.
Published: February 2020

Cefiderocol inhibited 97.5% of 478 Gram-negative isolates from cancer patients at ≤4 mg/liter. It had potent activity against extended-spectrum β-lactamase-positive
Enterobacteriaceae
, carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
(CRE), and nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli, including
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
,
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
, and
Acinetobacter
species isolates. Amikacin, ceftazidime-avibactam, and meropenem had appreciable activity against non-CRE
Enterobacteriaceae
.
Early Bactericidal Activity Trial of Nitazoxanide for Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Walsh K. F. , McAulay K. , Lee M. H. , Vilbrun S. C. , Mathurin L. , Jean Francois D. , Zimmerman M. , Kaya F. , Zhang N. , Saito K. , Ocheretina O. , Savic R. , Dartois V. , Johnson W. D. , Pape J. W. , Nathan C. , Fitzgerald D. W.
Published: February 2020

This study was conducted in treatment-naive adults with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to assess the safety, bactericidal activity, and pharmacokinetics of nitazoxanide (NTZ). This was a prospective phase II clinical trial in 30 adults with pulmonary tuberculosis. Twenty participants received 1 g of NTZ orally twice daily for 14 days. A control group of 10 participants received standard therapy over 14 days. The primary outcome was the change in time to culture positivity (TTP) in an automated liquid culture system.
An Individual Participant Data Population Pharmacokinetic Meta-analysis of Drug-Drug Interactions between Lumefantrine and Commonly Used Antiretroviral Treatment
Authors: Francis Jose , Barnes Karen I. , Workman Lesley , Kredo Tamara , Vestergaard Lasse S. , Hoglund Richard M. , Byakika-Kibwika Pauline , Lamorde Mohammed , Walimbwa Stephen I. , Chijioke-Nwauche Ifeyinwa , Sutherland Colin J. , Merry Concepta , Scarsi Kimberley K. , Nyagonde Nyagonde , Lemnge Martha M. , Khoo Saye H. , Bygbjerg Ib C. , Parikh Sunil , Aweeka Francesca T. , Tarning Joel , Denti Paolo
Published: February 2020

Treating malaria in HIV-coinfected individuals should consider potential drug-drug interactions. Artemether-lumefantrine is the most widely recommended treatment for uncomplicated malaria globally. Lumefantrine is metabolized by CYP3A4, an enzyme that commonly used antiretrovirals often induce or inhibit. A population pharmacokinetic meta-analysis was conducted using individual participant data from 10 studies with 6,100 lumefantrine concentrations from 793 nonpregnant adult participants (41% HIV-malaria-coinfected, 36% malaria-infected, 20% HIV-infected, and 3% healthy volunteers).
Impact of Changes in Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Location and Ownership on the Practice of Infectious Diseases
Authors: Pentella Michael , Weinstein Melvin P. , Beekmann Susan E. , Polgreen Philip M. , Ellison Richard T.
Published: February 2020

The number of onsite clinical microbiology laboratories in hospitals is decreasing, likely related to the business model for laboratory consolidation and labor shortages, and this impacts a variety of clinical practices, including that of banking isolates for clinical or epidemiologic purposes. To determine the impact of these trends, infectious disease (ID) physicians were surveyed regarding their perceptions of offsite services. Clinical microbiology practices for retention of clinical isolates for future use were also determined.
Crystal Structure of African Swine Fever Virus pS273R Protease and Implications for Inhibitor Design
Authors: Li Guobang , Liu Xiaoxia , Yang Mengyuan , Zhang Guangshun , Wang Zhengyang , Guo Kun , Gao Yuxue , Jiao Peng , Sun Jixue , Chen Cheng , Wang Hao , Deng Weilong , Xiao Huihe , Li Sizheng , Wu Haoru , Wang Ying , Cao Lin , Jia Zihan , Shang Luqing , Yang Cheng , Guo Yu , Rao Zihe
Published: February 2020

African swine fever virus, a large and complex icosahedral DNA virus, causes a deadly infection in domestic pigs. In addition to Africa and Europe, countries in Asia, including China, Vietnam, and Mongolia, were negatively affected by the hazards posed by ASFV outbreaks in 2018 and 2019, at which time more than 30 million pigs were culled. Until now, there has been no vaccine for protection against ASFV infection or effective treatments to cure ASF. Here, we solved the high-resolution crystal structure of the ASFV pS273R protease. The pS273R protease has a two-domain structure that distinguishes it from other members of the SUMO protease family, while the unique “arm domain” has been proven to be essential for its hydrolytic activity. Moreover, the peptidomimetic aldehyde compounds designed to target the substrate binding pocket exert prominent inhibitory effects and can thus be used in a potential lead for anti-ASFV drug development.
Chlamydial MreB Directs Cell Division and Peptidoglycan Synthesis in Escherichia coli in the Absence of FtsZ Activity
Authors: Ranjit Dev K. , Liechti George W. , Maurelli Anthony T.
Published: February 2020

The study of
Chlamydia
growth and cell division is complicated by its obligate intracellular nature and biphasic lifestyle.
Chlamydia
also lacks the universal division protein FtsZ. We employed the cell division system of
Escherichia coli
as a surrogate to identify chlamydial cell division proteins. We demonstrate that chlamydial MreB, together with chlamydial RodZ, forms a cell division and growth complex that can replace FtsZ activity and support cell division in
E. coli
. Chlamydial RodZ plays a major role in directing chlamydial MreB localization to the cell division site. It is likely that the evolution of chlamydial MreB and RodZ to form a functional cell division complex allowed
Chlamydia
to dispense with its FtsZ-based cell division machinery during genome reduction. Thus, MreB-RodZ represents a possible mechanism for cell division in other bacteria lacking FtsZ.
Respiratory Viral Infection Alters the Gut Microbiota by Inducing Inappetence
Authors: Groves Helen T. , Higham Sophie L. , Moffatt Miriam F. , Cox Michael J. , Tregoning John S.
Published: February 2020

The gut microbiota has an important role in health and disease: gut bacteria can generate metabolites that alter the function of immune cells systemically. Understanding the factors that can lead to changes in the gut microbiome may help to inform therapeutic interventions. This is the first study to systematically dissect the pathway of events from viral lung infection to changes in gut microbiota. We show that the cellular immune response to viral lung infection induces inappetence, which in turn alters the gut microbiome and metabolome. Strikingly, there was an increase in lipids that have been associated with the resolution of disease. This opens up new paths of investigation: first, what is the (presumably secreted) factor made by the T cells that can induce inappetence? Second, is inappetence an adaptation that accelerates recovery from infection, and if so, does the microbiome play a role in this?
New Pathogenesis Mechanisms and Translational Leads Identified by Multidimensional Analysis of Necrotizing Myositis in Primates
Authors: Kachroo Priyanka , Eraso Jesus M. , Olsen Randall J. , Zhu Luchang , Kubiak Samantha L. , Pruitt Layne , Yerramilli Prasanti , Cantu Concepcion C. , Ojeda Saavedra Matthew , Pensar Johan , Corander Jukka , Jenkins Leslie , Kao Lillian , Granillo Alejandro , Porter Adeline R. , DeLeo Frank R. , Musser James M.
Published: February 2020

Necrotizing myositis caused by
Streptococcus pyogenes
has high morbidity and mortality rates and relatively few successful therapeutic options. In addition, there is no licensed human
S. pyogenes
vaccine. To gain enhanced understanding of the molecular basis of this infection, we employed a multidimensional analysis strategy that included dual RNA-seq and other data derived from experimental infection of nonhuman primates. The data were used to target five streptococcal genes for pathogenesis research, resulting in the unambiguous demonstration that these genes contribute to pathogen-host molecular interactions in necrotizing infections. We exploited fitness data derived from a recently conducted genome-wide transposon mutagenesis study to discover significant correlation between the magnitude of bacterial virulence gene expression
in vivo
and pathogen fitness. Collectively, our findings have significant implications for translational research, potentially including vaccine efforts.
Contributions of Spore Secondary Metabolites to UV-C Protection and Virulence Vary in Different Aspergillus fumigatus Strains
Authors: Blachowicz Adriana , Raffa Nicholas , Bok Jin Woo , Choera Tsokyi , Knox Benjamin , Lim Fang Yun , Huttenlocher Anna , Wang Clay C. C. , Venkateswaran Kasthuri , Keller Nancy P.
Published: February 2020

Fungal spores contain secondary metabolites that can protect them from a multitude of abiotic and biotic stresses. Conidia (asexual spores) of the human pathogen
Aspergillus fumigatus
synthesize several metabolites, including melanin, which has been reported to be important for virulence in this species and to be protective against UV radiation in other fungi. Here, we investigate the role of melanin in diverse isolates of
A. fumigatus
and find variability in its ability to protect spores from UV-C radiation or impact virulence in a zebrafish model of invasive aspergillosis in two clinical strains and one ISS strain. Further, we assess the role of other spore metabolites in a clinical strain of
A. fumigatus
and identify fumiquinazoline as an additional UV-C-protective molecule but not a virulence determinant. The results show differential roles of secondary metabolites in spore protection dependent on the environmental stress and strain of
A. fumigatus
. As protection from elevated levels of radiation is of paramount importance for future human outer space explorations, the discovery of small molecules with radiation-protective potential may result in developing novel safety measures for astronauts.
Prophage-Mediated Disruption of Genetic Competence in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
Authors: Brooks Michael R. , Padilla-Vélez Lyan , Khan Tarannum A. , Qureshi Azaan A. , Pieper Jason B. , Maddox Carol W. , Alam Md Tauqeer
Published: February 2020

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
is a bacterium responsible for clinically important infections in dogs and can infect humans. In this study, we performed genomic analysis of 371
S. pseudintermedius
isolates to understand the evolution of antibiotic resistance and virulence in this organism. The analysis covered significant reported clones, including ST71 and ST68, the major epidemic clones of Europe and North America, respectively. We show that the prevalence of genes associated with antibiotic resistance, virulence, prophages, and horizontal gene transfer differs among clones. ST71 and ST68 carry prophages with novel virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Importantly, site-specific integration of a prophage, SpST71A, has led to the disruption of the genetic competence operon
comG
in ST71 clone. A functional
comG
is essential for the natural uptake of foreign DNA and thus plays an important role in the evolution of bacteria. This study provides insight into the emergence and evolution of antibiotic resistance and virulence in
S. pseudintermedius
, which may help in efforts to combat this pathogen.
Visual and refractive outcomes and complications in femtosecond laser-assisted versus conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery: findings from a randomised, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Dzhaber Daliya , Mustafa Osama M , Alsaleh Fares , Daoud Yassine J
Published: February 2020

Background/aim

To compare visual and refractive outcomes, changes in intraocular pressure (IOP), and complications of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) to conventional phacoemulsification surgery (CPS) in paired eyes from the same patients.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of an intraindividual, randomised, controlled clinical trial including 110 paired eyes from 55 patients that were randomised into either FLACS or CPS groups. Outcomes were recorded at baseline and postoperatively during a 3-month follow-up period.

Results

Uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity were similar between FLACS and CPS over the follow-up period (p>0.05). The mean absolute refractive error was not significantly different between the two groups at postoperative month 1 (POM1) (0.3±0.2 D in FLACS vs 0.4±0.3 D in CPS, p=0.18) and month 3 (POM3) (0.3±0.3 D in FLACS vs 0.3±0.3 D in CPS, p=0.71). IOP was statistically higher in the FLACS group on postoperative day 1 (20.6±5.7 mm Hg for FLACS and 18.0±4.9 mm Hg for CPS, p=0.01). However, it was similar between the two groups subsequently (p>0.05). Intraoperatively, one case of posterior capsular block syndrome was observed in the FLACS group. Postoperatively, one case of newly developed glaucoma was observed in the FLACS group and one case of retinal tears in the CPS group.

Conclusion

The 3-month postoperative refractive and visual outcomes were comparable between FLACS and CPS in paired eyes from the same patients. Complication rate was low in the study population.
ORCA study: real-world versus reading centre assessment of disease activity of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD)
Authors: Liakopoulos Sandra , Spital Georg , Brinkmann Christian K , Schick Tina , Ziemssen Focke , Voegeler Jessica , Koch Mirja , Kirchhof Bernd , Holz Frank G , Pauleikhoff Daniel , Schmitz-Valckenberg Steffen
Published: February 2020

Background/aims

The prospective, non-interventional ORCA module of the OCEAN study (Observation of Treatment Patterns with Lucentis in Approved Indications) evaluated the qualiy of spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) image interpretation and treatment decisions by clinicians in Germany and the impact on visual outcomes over 24 months in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods

2286 SD-OCT scans of 205 eyes were independently evaluated by clinicians and reading centres (RCs) regarding signs of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) activity, including presence of intraretinal fluid, subretinal fluid, and/or increase in pigment epithelial detachments. Agreement between clinicians and RCs was calculated. Treatment decisions by clinicians and the impact on treatment outcomes were evaluated.

Results

CNV activity was detected by RCs on 1578 scans (69.0%) and by clinicians on 1392 scans (60.9%), with agreement in 74.9% of cases. Of the 1578 scans with RC detected CNV activity, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections were performed by clinicians in only 35.5% (560/1578). In 19.7% of cases (311/1578), lack of treatment was justified by patients request, termination criteria or chronic cystoid spaces without other signs for CNV activity. In 44.8% of cases (707/1578) with RC detected CNV activity, clinicians claimed no treatment was necessary despite having correctly detected CNV activity in about 2/3 of these cases. In 34% of cases with presumed undertreatment, visual acuity declined in the following visit.

Conclusion

Although broad agreement on CNV activity parameters was observed between clinicians and RCs, correct identification of CNV activity did not always lead to the initiation of (re-)treatment. To preserve vision over time, correct interpretation of SD-OCT scans and careful retreatment decisions are required.

Trial registration number

NCT02194803.
Surgathon: a new model for creating a surgical innovation ecosystem in low-resource settings
Authors: Mitra Shivani , Ashby Joanna , Muhumuza Arsen , Ndayishimiye Isaac , Wasserman Isaac , Santhirapala Vatshalan , Peters Alexander W , Vervoort Dominique , Jacob Oshin , Gnanaraj Jesudian , Ganesh Praveen , Afshar Salim
Published: February 2020

Innovation ecosystems and emerging technologies can potentially accelerate the access to safe, affordable surgical care in low-resource settings. There is a need to develop localised innovation ecosystems that can establish an initial culture and catalyse the creation, adoption and diffusion of innovation. The surgathon model outlines one approach to seeding surgical innovation ecosystems. International academic institutions collaborated on six global surgery, innovation and ethics-themed hackathons (‘surgathons’) across India and Rwanda between 2016 and 2019. Over 1598 local multidisciplinary students participated, learning about challenges in the delivery of surgical care and ideating solutions that could leverage appropriate technology and resources for impact. Pursuing student ideas and evaluating their implementation past the surgathons continues to be an active effort. Surgathons have unfolded in different permutations based on local faculty, institution and health system context. The surgathon model is a novel method of priority setting challenges in global surgery and utilises locally driven expertise and innovation capacity to derive ethical solutions. The model offers a path for low-resource setting students and faculty to learn, advocate and innovate for improved surgical care.
Comparative study of treatment interventions for patellar tendinopathy: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: López-Royo Maria Pilar , Gómez-Trullén Eva Maria , Ortiz-Lucas Maria , Galán-Díaz Rita Maria , Bataller-Cervero Ana Vanessa , Al-Boloushi Zaid , Hamam-Alcober Yasmina , Herrero Pablo
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Patellar tendinopathy is a degenerative disease of the patellar tendon, which affects athletes from a variety of sports, and is especially predominant in sports involving high-impact jumping. The aim of this study is to determine the additional effect of two interventions combined with eccentric exercise and compare which one is the most effective at short-term and long-term follow-up for patients with patellar tendinopathy.

Methods and analysis

This study is a randomised controlled trial with blinded participants. Measurements will be carried out by a specially trained blinded assessor. A sample of 57 patients with a medical diagnosis of patellar tendinopathy will participate in this study and will be divided into three treatment groups. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to receive either: (a) treatment group with percutaneous needle electrolysis, (b) treatment group with dry needling or (c) treatment group with placebo needling. In addition, all groups will perform eccentric exercise. Functionality and muscle strength parameters, pain, ultrasound appearances and patient perceived quality of life shall be evaluated using the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment for patellar (VISA-P), jump tests, Visual Analogue Scale, ultrasound images and Short Form-36 (SF-36), respectively. Participants will be assessed at baseline, at 10 weeks and at 22 weeks after baseline. The expected findings will allow us to advance in the treatment of this injury, as they will help determine whether a needling intervention has additional effects on an eccentric exercise programme and whether any of the needling modalities is more effective than the other.

Ethics and dissemination

This protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Aragon (N° PI15/0017). The trial will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Trial registration number

NCT02498795
Patient safety in ambulatory care from the patient's perspective: a retrospective, representative telephone survey
Authors: Geraedts Max , Krause Svenja , Schneider Michael , Ortwein Annette , Leinert Johannes , de Cruppé Werner
Published: February 2020

Objectives

Data on patient safety problems (PSPs) in ambulatory care are scarce. The aim of the study was to record the frequency, type, severity and point of origin of PSPs in ambulatory care in Germany.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting

Computer-assisted telephone interviews with randomly recruited citizens aged ≥40 years in Germany who were asked about their experiences with PSPs in ambulatory care.

Participants

10 037 citizens ≥40 years.

Measures

A new questionnaire was developed to record patient experiences with PSPs in ambulatory care. The study reported here targets patient experiences in the last 12 months. The questionnaire focuses on PSPs in seven areas of medical treatment: anamnesis/diagnostic procedures; medication; vaccination, injection, infusion; aftercare; outpatient surgery; office administration; other areas. For each PSP reported, detailed questions were asked about the specialist group concerned, and, on the most serious harm, the severity of the harm and its consequences. The target parameters are presented as proportions with 95% CIs.

Results

1422 of the respondents (14%) reported 2589 PSPs. The areas most frequently affected by PSPs were anamnesis/diagnostic procedures (61%) and medication (15%). General practitioners accounted for 44% of PSPs, orthopaedists for 15% and internists for 10%. 75% of PSPs were associated with harm, especially unnecessarily prolonged pain or deterioration of health; 35% of PSPs led to permanent harm. 804 PSPs (32%) prompted patients to see another doctor for additional treatment; 255 PSPs (10%) required inpatient treatment.

Conclusion

PSPs experienced by patients are widespread in ambulatory care in Germany. The study reveals in which areas of medical treatment efforts to prevent PSPs could make the greatest contribution to improving patient safety. It also demonstrates the valuable contribution of patient reports to the analysis of PSPs.
Risks of developing ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in relation to silica dust exposure in Sweden: a case–control study
Authors: Wallden Albin , Graff Pål , Bryngelsson Ing-Liss , Fornander Louise , Wiebert Pernilla , Vihlborg Per
Published: February 2020

Objective

To determine whether occupational exposure to silica dust causes an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Design

Case–control study of CD (K50) and UC (K51) from 2007 through 2016. Controls were matched to cases (2:1) based on age, sex and county at the time of diagnosis. A job exposure matrix was used to estimate the occupational silica exposure of all cases and controls.

Setting

Medical and occupational data from the National Outpatient Register were used to implement a case–control analysis, while the two controls used for each case were selected from the National Register of the Total Population.

Participants

All men and women aged 20–65 years old who were diagnosed with CD (K50) and UC (K51) during the years of study were included and assigned two controls, resulting in 58 136 cases and 116 272 controls.

Main outcomes

Silica dust exposure correlates with an increased risk of developing UC in men and CD in women.

Results

The prevalence of UC was significantly higher in the group exposed to silica dust (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.21) than in controls, particularly in individuals with over 5 years exposure. When stratified by sex, a significantly increased OR was detected for men (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.22). This trend was also consistent with longer exposure times. The prevalence of UC was not increased in exposed women. The prevalence of CD was significantly increased among exposed women (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.65), but not for exposed men.

Conclusions

Silica dust exposure correlates with an increased risk of developing UC, especially in men, and the risk seems to increase with the duration and degree of exposure. Conversely, silica dust exposure correlates positively with the risk of developing CD in women.
Unusual clinical presentation of dystrophin‐deficient feline muscular dystrophy in the UK
Authors: Eiras‐Diaz Aldara , Prisco Francesco , Paciello Orlando , Waine Katie , Baiker Kerstin , Housley Daniel , Gardini Anna , Florey Jessica
Published: February 2020

An eight‐month‐old, male, neutered, domestic short hair cat was presented for further investigation of white granuloma‐like lesions on the tongue and recent onset regurgitation. The owner reported that the cat had an ‘unusual’ gait. Moderate increases in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminostransferase and markedly elevated creatine kinase were present. Thoracic radiographs revealed moderate‐to‐severe oesophageal impaction, cardiomegaly and an irregular appearance of the diaphragm. Endoscopy revealed a distended oesophagus with accumulation of ingesta. Difficulties were encountered when passing the endoscope through the cardia. Histology of the white granuloma‐like lesions were pathognomonic of calcinosis circumscripta. These features raised the suspicion of feline muscular dystrophy. Muscle biopsies and electromyography were declined, and the patient was euthanased. Postmortem examination, histopathology and immunohistochemistry were suggestive of dystrophin‐deficient muscular dystrophy (DDMD). This case emphasises the importance of including DDMD as a differential diagnosis for regurgitation and lingual calcinosis circumscripta in cats.
Spatiotemporal trends in cattle lungworm disease (Dictyocaulus viviparus) in Great Britain from 1975 to 2014
Authors: McCarthy Catherine , van Dijk Jan
Published: February 2020

Background

Clinical disease caused by the bovine lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus) causes significant welfare and economic problems for the livestock industry. Anecdotal reports suggest that the number of clinical cases has increased, particularly in Northern England and Scotland. However, these spatiotemporal changes have not been quantified and the current impact that the disease is having across Great Britain remains unclear.

Methods

Here, we report a retrospective analysis of the spatial distribution, seasonality and age of lungworm cases reported by the Veterinary Investigation Diagnosis Analysis database from 1975 to 2014.

Results

A sharp overall increase in the dictyocaulosis diagnostic rate (DR, cases / 1000 submissions) was observed, with, for example, median 2010–2014 DR 3.5 times as high as 1980–1984 DR. Such increases were most pronounced for Scotland, which became the region with the highest proportion of cases by 2009. Cases were increasingly diagnosed during the winter months (December–February).

Conclusion

The apparent spatiotemporal changes in lungworm epidemiology pose new challenges to cattle farmers in Great Britain. Farmers and veterinarians need to remain vigilant for this disease and consider it as a possible cause for milk production losses at any time of the year. Awareness levels may have to be raised particularly in northern England and Scotland.
Constraining top-quark couplings combining top-quark and $$\varvec{B}$$ decay observables
Authors: Bißmann Stefan , Erdmann Johannes , Grunwald Cornelius , Hiller Gudrun , Kröninger Kevin
Published: February 2020

We present a first, consistent combination of measurements from top-quark and B physics to constrain top-quark properties within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). We demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of this approach and detail the ingredients required for a proper combination of observables from different energy scales. Specifically, we employ measurements of the $$t\bar{t}\gamma $$tt¯γ cross section together with measurements of the $$\bar{B}\rightarrow X_s\gamma $$B¯→Xsγ branching fraction to test the Standard Model and look for new physics contributions to the couplings of the top quark to the gauge bosons within SMEFT. We perform fits of three Wilson coefficients of dimension-six operators considering only the individual observables as well as their combination to demonstrate how the complementarity between top-quark and B physics observables allows to resolve ambiguities and significantly improves the constraints on the Wilson coefficients. No significant deviation from the Standard Model is found with present data.
Five dimensional Chern–Simons gravity for the expanded (anti)-de Sitter gauge group $${\hbox {C}}_5$$
Authors: Paixão Matheus M. A. , Piguet Olivier
Published: February 2020

We study the Hamiltonian dynamics of a five-dimensional Chern–Simons theory for the gauge algebra $$C_5$$C5 of Izaurieta, Rodriguez and Salgado, the so-called $$\hbox {S}_H$$SH-expansão of the 5D (anti-)de Sitter algebra (a)ds, based on the cyclic group $${\mathbb {Z}}_4$$Z4. The theory consists of a 1-form field containing the (a)ds gravitation variables and 1-form field transforming in the adjoint representation of (a)ds. The gravitational part of the action necessarily contains a term quadratic in the curvature, beyond the Einstein–Hilbert and cosmological terms, for any choice of the two independent coupling constants. The total action is also invariant under a new local symmetry, called “crossed diffeomorphisms”, beyond the usual space-time diffeomorphisms. The number of physical degrees of freedom is computed. The theory is shown to be “generic” in the sense of Bañados, Garay and Henneaux, i.e., the constraint associated to the time diffeomorphisms is not independent from the other constraints.
Středa formula for charge and spin currents
Authors: Monaco Domenico , Moscolari Massimo
Published: February 2020

We consider a 2-dimensional Bloch–Landau–Pauli Hamiltonian for a spinful electron in a constant magnetic field subject to a periodic background potential. Assuming that the [Formula: see text]-component of the spin operator is conserved, we compute the linear response of the associated spin density of states to a small change in the magnetic field, and identify it with the spin Hall conductivity. This response is in the form of a spin Chern marker, which is in general quantized to a half-integer, and to an integer under the further assumption of time-reversal symmetry. Our result is thus a generalization to the context of the quantum spin Hall effect of the well-known formula by Středa, which is formulated instead for charge transport.
Artificial Intelligence-Based Fault Diagnosis for Condition Monitoring of Electric Motors
Authors: Sharma Amandeep , Mathew Lini , Chatterji Shantanu , Goyal Deepam
Published: February 2020

In the era of globalization, manufacturing industries are facing intense pressure to prevent unexpected breakdowns, reduce maintenance cost and increase plant availability. Induction motors are the most sought-after prime movers in modern-day industries due to their robustness. Recently, research has picked up a fervent pace in the area of fault diagnosis of electrical machines. This paper presents the application of Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based system to diagnose the vibration and Instantaneous Power (IP)-based responses of rolling element bearings and broken rotor bars in an induction motor. The dimensionality of the extracted features was reduced using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and thereafter the selected features were ranked in order of relevance using the Sequential Floating Forward Selection (SFFS) method for reducing the size of input features and finding the most optimal feature set. A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of SVM and ANN is carried out using statistical parameters extracted from vibration and IP signals. The highest accuracy of 92.5% and 98.2% was achieved for vibration and IP signatures, respectively, using the proposed SFFS-based feature selection technique and ANN classification method. The results reveal that ANN has better performance than SVM and the proposed strategy can be used for automatic recognition of machine faults. The use of this type of intelligent system helps in avoiding unwanted and unplanned system shutdowns due to the failure of the motor.
Flow and vorticity with varying chemical potential in relativistic heavy ion collisions
Authors: Saha Abhisek , Sanyal Soma
Published: February 2020

We study the vorticity patterns in relativistic heavy ion collisions with respect to the collision energy. The collision energy is related to the chemical potential used in the thermal — statistical models that assume approximate chemical equilibrium after the relativistic collision. We use the multiphase transport model (AMPT) to study the vorticity in the initial parton phase as well as the final hadronic phase of the relativistic heavy ion collision. We find that as the chemical potential increases, the vortices are larger in size. Using different definitions of vorticity, we find that vorticity plays a greater role at lower collision energies than at higher collision energies. We also look at other effects of the flow patterns related to the shear viscosity at different collision energies. We find that the shear viscosity obtained is almost a constant with a small decrease at higher collision energies. We also look at the elliptic flow as it is related to viscous effects in the final stages after the collision. Our results indicate that the viscosity plays a greater role at higher chemical potential and lower collision energies.
Resonance Analysis of Cantilever Plates Subjected to Moving Forces by a Semi-Analytical Method
Authors: Li Qi , Li Xing , Wu Qi
Published: February 2020

Cantilever plate structures are widely used in civil and aerospace engineering. Here, a semi-analytical method is proposed to calculate the dynamic responses of cantilever plates subjected to moving forces. The Rayleigh–Ritz method is used to obtain the semi-analytical modal frequencies and shapes of a thin, isotropic, and rectangular cantilever plate using the assumed mode shapes that fulfill the boundary conditions of the plate. The modal superposition method is used to decouple the motion equations of the cantilever plate to obtain a series of modal equations. Then, the generalized forces are transformed into a Fourier series in terms of discrete harmonic forces. The dynamic responses of the cantilever plate are obtained by superimposing the analytical responses of a number of single-degree-of-freedom modal systems under discrete harmonic forces. The proposed semi-analytical method is verified through comparison with the numerical method. Then, the vibration of the cantilever plate under the action of moving forces is investigated based on the semi-analytical results. It is found that the contribution of the high-order modes to the dynamic responses of the plate cannot be ignored. In addition, the wavelengths of the mode shapes not only affect the magnitude of the modal forces but also the dominant frequency of the modal forces. Resonant responses of the plate are produced by the moving forces when the load interval equals the wavelength of the mode shape of a high-order mode and the exciting frequency of the moving forces equals the natural frequency of this mode.
Impact of Diversification on Performance of Top Indian ICT Outsourcing Firms: An Entropy Analysis
Authors: Bera Subhasis , Chauhan Rajneesh
Published: February 2020

Indian outsourcing industry undeterred by recent plummeting growth of global ICT market is experiencing robust growth. Indian ICT firms, by and large, follow success breed success formula by replicating the strategies adopted by the leaders in the market. Two top Indian ICT outsourcing firms have adopted diversification strategy to expand their presence in multiple industry verticals across geographies by offering a diversified range of services. This study, using an entropy analysis, measures the degree of diversification of the top two and most successful Indian outsourcing firm in five different dimensions. The second part of the study analyzes the overall impact of diversification on the performance of the firm. This study reveals that although overall diversification signifies a positive impact on the firm performance, each dimension leaves a different impact on the different firms’ performance.
Removing Cd(II) from Aqueous Solution by Inverse Opal Hybrid SiO2
Authors: Wang Yanhong , Wang Xiuli , Wu Cuihong , Wang Xiaomei , Zhang Xu
Published: February 2020

A hybrid adsorbent with inverse opal (IO) structure was prepared for removing Cd(II) from aqueous solution. The functional polymeric chains were grafted from the pore wall of IO silica to prepare the porous hybrid material by surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization. Furthermore, the amidation reaction was carried out to obtain diethylenetriamine-modified hybrid adsorbent (IO SiO2-g-PAA-DETA). Batch adsorption of removing Cd(II) onto IO SiO2-g-PAA-DETA was studied as the effect of solution pH, adsorbent doses, contact time, ionic concentration, and temperature. When the grafted amount was 73%, the maximum adsorption capacity was obtained. The optimum adsorbent dose and pH value for adsorbing Cd(II) were found to be 5[Formula: see text]g/L and 0.5[Formula: see text]g/L, respectively. The adsorption capacity was almost unaffected by Na[Formula: see text] at low concentrations. The adsorption data was depicted by the corresponding models and the results displayed that adsorbing Cd(II) on IO SiO2-g-PAA-DETA followed the Freundlich and pseudo-first-order model. In addition, after six adsorption–desorption cycles, IO adsorbent could remain above 80% of the first adsorption ability while it was washed using 0.025[Formula: see text]M EDTA.
High Spin Polarization and Thermoelectric Efficiency of Half-Metallic Ferromagnetic CrYSn (Y=Ca, Sr) of Half-Heusler Compounds
Authors: Bouadjemi B. , Lantri T. , Matougui M. , Houari M. , Bentata R. , Aziz Z. , Bentata S.
Published: February 2020

In the present work we have performed self-consistent ab-initio calculation using the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method (FP-LAPW), based on the density functional theory (DFT) as implemented in the Wien2k code to study the structural, electronic, magnetic, thermodynamic and thermoelectric properties of the half-heusler compound CrYSn ([Formula: see text], Sr) using generalized gradient approximation (GGA) described by Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE), GGA+U and the modified Beck–Johnson correction (mBJ), the obtained results show that the compound is stable in the ferromagnetic state (FM) in [Formula: see text] phase on one hand and has a half-metallic character (metallic nature in spin up channel and semiconductor one in spin down channel with an indirect gap) on the other hand thus, the compound is a good candidate for spintronic applications, moreover it shows a very interesting thermoelectric predisposition in the minority spin or spin down channel at room temperature consisting of a very high Seebeck coefficient, high electrical conductivity and figure of merit near unity for the two compounds. The thermodynamic properties of CrCaSn and CrSrSn compounds using Gibbs code are studied for the first time. This study showed that these compounds can be used in extreme thermodynamic conditions. Since no experimental data were reported until now concerning this compound, our theoretical predictions of electronic, thermodynamic and thermoelectric properties are likely to be experimentally verified.
Applications of Light-Weight Wearable Devices to Online Programming of Industrial Dual-Arm Robots
Authors: Weng Ching-Yen , Yuan Qilong , Lim Zhong Jin , Chen I-Ming
Published: February 2020

Dexterous manipulation of dual-arm robots in unstructured environments is very useful. Programming a dual-arm industrial robot to efficiently complete dexterous tasks, however, is especially challenging due to the complexity of its inverse kinematics, motion planning, dual-arm coordination with self-collision avoidance, and so on. This paper presents a systematic solution to accurately manipulate a dual-arm industrial robot on-site via light-weight wearable devices. In the developed system, the human operator directly drives the robot through the human arms motions tracked by the combination of inertial measurement units and handheld joystick controllers. A proper motion retargeting method with self-collision avoidance is used to enable the user to manipulate the robot directly through intuitive arm motions within a comfortable range and ensure the task manipulation with safety in unstructured environments. The developed system has been tested with various tasks, such as the manipulation of objects of different shapes, dexterous turn-over, and dual-arm coordination. Compared with the existing telerobotic systems, the developed system with simultaneous 14 degree-of-freedom teleoperation directly driven by light-weight wearable devices is able to handle more dexterous and accurate manipulation tasks with the capability of fast deployment and self-collision awareness. Such a solution could pave the way for online dual-arm robot programming on efficient manipulation skills transfer in the future.
Editors’ Choice—Review—Solid-State Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Sensors: Fundamentals, Materials and Applications
Authors: Mulmi Suresh , Thangadurai Venkataraman
Published: February 2020

The recent series of global catastrophic events (e.g., heatwaves, flooding) have again raised the concerns over the greater impact of climate change. The focus has been concentrated towards reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel based energy systems. It is necessary to build a commercially viable CO2 sensor with high reliability. The gas-sensing field has shifted from using a cumbersome gas-reference electrode to solid-state electrochemical devices because they can be employed to detect CO2 in real-time overcoming the limits of widely used IR-based CO2 sensors. Here, solid electrolytes and mixed conducting semiconductor-based gas sensors for various gaseous species including CO2 are reviewed. The study on semiconducting metal oxides (SMOs) has been pushed forward as a most viable option for commercializing monolithic all-solid-state electrochemical gas sensors. Among SMOs, the perovskite-type metal oxides are considered as one of the promising structures for next-generation greenhouse gas sensors due to their remarkable thermal and chemical stability. This article also includes the fundamental understanding of essential factors that govern the electrical signals in all-solid-state electrochemical gas sensors.
Critical Review—Electrocatalytic Sensors for Arsenic Oxo Species
Authors: Cox James A. , Rutkowska Iwona A. , Kulesza Pawel J.
Published: February 2020

Reliable sensing of arsenic in various samples including ground waters is of importance due to its high toxicity and increasing population in the environment. Electrochemical methods have inherent features permitting selective and sensitive sensing especially in field work or in situations where more expensive and sophisticated instrumentation is not an option. A characteristic of electrochemical methods for detection and speciation of arsenic including differentiation of its oxidation states originates from the need for catalyzing various electron transfer steps particularly between As(0), As(III) and As(V). Also reduction to arsine gas and possibility of electrochemical gas sensing is an analytical option. While typical electrochemical approaches utilizing stripping or pulse voltammetry permit direct determination of arsenic(III) at the ppb levels, there is a need for the development of electrocatalytic methodology toward direct electroreduction of As(V), e.g. with use of noble metal nanoparticles (including platinum) and their alloys. Detection limits, sensitivity and selectivity can be improved by sorption and preconcentration of As on polymer gels, metal oxides or certain metals (e.g. Au, Pt, and Ag). Observations made during electrocatalytic and photoelectrochemical reductions of bromates, nitrites and carbon dioxide with use of various metal and metal oxide nanostructures can serve as guides for such research.
Review—The “Real-Time” Revolution for In situ Soil Nutrient Sensing
Authors: Burton Lamar , Jayachandran K. , Bhansali S.
Published: February 2020

Globally, farmers are seeking advanced precision technology to help transform their practices into a more sustainable and productive agri-tech process. Accurate and real-time soil data has become one of the most valuable resources among farmers. Real-time soil sensor data can be exploited in manners that increase farm production and profit, maintain and increase product quality, promote food security, and ensure environmental protection. Researchers have already attempted to develop real-time in situ soil nutrient sensors based on optical and electrochemical techniques. Of these sensor systems, only a few of them are commercially available for monitoring. In this review, we present both available sensors and sensors under research in agriculture. Then briefly discuss both advantages and challenges to overcome in order to produce systems that deliver real-time quality soil information. Optical and electrochemical sensors are becoming less expensive to manufacture and can provide results that are comparable to laboratory soil analysis. Based on the literature presented here, there still exists a need to understand the effects of soil heterogeneity on the analytical performance of both electrochemical and optical systems when used in situ. By doing so, these sensors can be fully adopted as suitable commercial platforms. Overall, these sensors harness the potential to revolutionize decision management systems in agriculture as internet of things (IoT) soil nutrient sensors.