bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi‐dimensional biodiversity hotspots and the future of taxonomic, ecological and phylogenetic diversity: A case study of North American rodents
Authors: Smiley Tara M. , Title Pascal O. , Zelditch Miriam L. , Terry Rebecca C.
Published: January 2020

Aim

We investigate geographic patterns across taxonomic, ecological and phylogenetic diversity to test for spatial (in)congruency and identify aggregate diversity hotspots in relationship to present land use and future climate. Simulating extinctions of imperilled species, we demonstrate where losses across diversity dimensions and geography are predicted.

Location

North America.

Time period

Present day, future.

Major taxa studied

Rodentia.

Methods

Using geographic range maps for rodent species, we quantified spatial patterns for 11 dimensions of diversity: taxonomic (species, range weighted), ecological (body size, diet and habitat), phylogenetic (mean, variance, and nearest‐neighbour patristic distances, phylogenetic distance and genus‐to‐species ratio) and phyloendemism. We tested for correlations across dimensions and used spatial residual analyses to illustrate regions of pronounced diversity. We aggregated diversity hotspots in relationship to predictions of land‐use and climate change and recalculated metrics following extinctions of IUCN‐listed imperilled species.

Results

Topographically complex western North America hosts high diversity across multiple dimensions: phyloendemism and ecological diversity exceed predictions based on taxonomic richness, and phylogenetic variance patterns indicate steep gradients in phylogenetic turnover. An aggregate diversity hotspot emerges in the west, whereas spatial incongruence exists across diversity dimensions at the continental scale. Notably, phylogenetic metrics are uncorrelated with ecological diversity. Diversity hotspots overlap with land‐use and climate change, and extinctions predicted by IUCN status are unevenly distributed across space, phylogeny or ecological groups.

Main conclusions

Comparison of taxonomic, ecological and phylogenetic diversity patterns for North American rodents clearly shows the multifaceted nature of biodiversity. Testing for geographic patterns and (in)congruency across dimensions of diversity facilitates investigation into underlying ecological and evolutionary processes. The geographic scope of this analysis suggests that several explicit regional challenges face North American rodent fauna in the future. Simultaneous consideration of multi‐dimensional biodiversity allows us to assess what critical functions or evolutionary history we might lose with future extinctions and maximize the potential of our conservation efforts.
Effects of a Kinect‐based physical training program on body composition, functional fitness and depression in institutionalized older adults
Authors: Rica Roberta L , Shimojo Guilherme L , Gomes Michelli CSS , Alonso Angelica C , Pitta Rafael M , Santa‐Rosa Fernando A , Pontes Junior Francisco L , Ceschini Fabio , Gobbo Stefano , Bergamin Marco , Bocalini Danilo S
Published: January 2020

Exergames have already been used as therapeutic tools to enhance both physical and cognitive functions in older adults.

Aim

To evaluate the effects of a Kinect‐based physical activity program on the quality of life, depression, functional fitness and body composition in institutionalized older adults.

Methods

A total of 50 older adults aged >60 years were selected and randomized to a control and video game group. Body composition was determined by means of anthropometric measurements. Quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL‐BREF questionnaire, and depression was classified using the Beck Depression inventory. Functional fitness was assessed using the Arm Curl, Chair Stand, 8‐foot up‐and‐go, sit and reach, and the aerobic endurance test.

Results

After 12 weeks of protocol, we observed a significant improvement in all functional fitness parameters.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that a Kinect‐based physical activity program seems to positively impact the three domains related to quality of life and directly associated with age (physical, social and psychological domains), and to promote a more active lifestyle in institutions housing older individuals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••–••.
Differences in early‐phase insulin secretion and glucose disposition index between aged and middle‐aged patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
Authors: Yu Yun , Pan Fenghui , Cui Wenxia , Tang Wei , Hu Yun
Published: January 2020

Aim

This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate the differences in β‐cell function and insulin sensitivity between newly diagnosed aged and middle‐aged type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods

A total of 206 newly diagnosed T2DM patients aged ≥60 years (A‐DM group) and 206 newly diagnosed sex‐ and glycated hemoglobin‐matched T2DM patients aged <60 years (MA‐DM group) were recruited. All patients underwent the 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test. Plasma glucose, lipid profiles, liver and renal function, glycated hemoglobin, and insulin were measured. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, area under the curve of glucose during 0–30 min (GluAUC30) × area under the curve of insulin during 0–30 min (InsAUC30) and β‐cell function indexes were calculated.

Results

The mean age of the total 412 patients (356 men and 56 women) was 59.76 ± 13.32 years. There were no significant differences in GluAUC120 between the two groups (106.89 ± 27.70 in A‐DM vs 108.32 ± 27.58 in MA‐DM; P = 0.6), but ΔI30/ΔG30, InsAUC30 and GluAUC30 × InsAUC30 levels were significantly higher in the A‐DM group than in the MA‐DM group (3.55 ± 4.54 vs 2.53 ± 3.83; P = 0.014, and 39.19 ± 32.19 vs 32.71 ± 28.81; P = 0.032, 675.05 ± 475.60 vs 584.56 ± 450.23; P = 0.048, respectively). The glucose disposition index (GDI) of the A‐DM group was statistically higher than that of the MA‐DM group (0.38 ± 0.40 vs 0.30 ± 0.35; P = 0.018). Age was positively associated with ΔI30/ΔG30 (r = 0.117; P = 0.017) and GDI (r = 0.147; P = 0.003), but had no correlation with InsAUC30, InsAUC120 or GluAUC30 × InsAUC30. After multiple adjustments for confounders, including sex, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, triglyceride, total cholesterol and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, age was positively associated with ΔI30/ΔG30, InsAUC30, InsAUC120, GluAUC30 × InsAUC30 and GDI.

Conclusions

Aged patients have relatively higher early‐phase insulin secretion and GDI than middle‐aged patients in newly diagnosed T2DM. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••–••.
Exploration of zinc borophosphate glasses as dispersion media for SiAlON phosphors
Authors: Segawa Hiroyo , Ohki Shinobu , Deguchi Kenzo , Shimizu Tadashi , Hirosaki Naoto
Published: January 2020

Ca‐α‐SiAlON:Eu2+ oxynitride phosphors are typical luminescent materials with high thermal tolerances. A series of zinc borophosphate glass samples (ZnO–B2O3–P2O5) were prepared to investigate their ability to disperse Ca‐α‐SiAlON:Eu2+ phosphor powders and to obtain phosphor‐in‐glass (PiG). PiG was prepared with SiAlON and zinc borophosphate glass through a melting process, and seven types of PiGs were successfully obtained without obvious degradation of SiAlON. In particular, PiGs prepared from 30ZnO–40B2O3–30P2O5 and 60ZnO–30B2O3–10P2O5 (mol%) glasses showed the highest quantum efficiency (QE). The glass structures of the mother glasses were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy; it was important to reduce the Q0 species of PO4 units and 4‐coordinate boron for a high QE. From the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, it was established that ZnAl2O4 was formed around the SiAlON powders in PiG composed of the 60ZnO–30B2O3–10P2O5 (mol%) glass.
Influence of various fish constituents on inactivation efficacy of plasma‐activated water
Authors: Zhao Yi‐Ming , Ojha Shikha , Burgess Catherine M. , Sun Da‐Wen , Tiwari Brijesh K.
Published: January 2020

Plasma‐activated water (PAW) is an effective disinfectant against a wide range of microorganisms, but its effect on food products is limited. This study aimed to investigate the fluid environment on the inactivation efficacy of PAW and its application on fish decontamination. Three organic media (fish gelatin, fish oil and fish homogenate) at 5%, 10% and 20%, and inorganic media of phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) and water were inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens at a final concentration of 7 log10 CFU per mL. The inoculated media were treated by an atmospheric cold plasma jet at 30 kV for 5 min and stored at 4 °C for 24 h, during which the inactivation effects were determined at different exposure times. The physicochemical properties of the media were measured. Furthermore, PAW generated for 15 min was applied to P. fluorescens‐inoculated fish. The results showed that PAW achieved a complete inactivation immediately after treatment, while there was almost no reduction for plasma‐activated PBS even after 24 h. Reduced inactivation efficacy was observed for the organic media except for fish oil, and the inactivation rates were in inverse correlation to the concentrations of organic material. PAW treatment obtained 0.4 log reduction on fish. This study revealed that the fluid environment had a great influence on the inactivation efficacy of PAW, and PAW can be a potential sanitiser for fish decontamination.
Strengthening timely detection and reporting of unusual respiratory events from health facilities in Yaoundé, Cameroon
Authors: Alroy Karen A. , Gwom Luc Christian , Ndongo Chanceline Bilounga , Kenmoe Sebastien , Monamele Gwladys , Clara Alexey , Whitaker Brett , Manga Henri , Tayimetha Carolle Yanique , Tseuko Dorine , Etogo Bienvenu , Pasi Omer , Etoundi Alain Georges , Seukap Elise , Njouom Richard , Balajee Arunmozhi
Published: January 2020

Background

The International Health Regulations state that early detection and immediate reporting of unusual health events is important for early warning and response systems.

Objective

To describe a pilot surveillance program established in health facilities in Yaoundé, Cameroon in 2017 which aimed to enable detection and reporting of public health events.

Methods

Cameroon’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cameroon Pasteur Center, and National Public Health Laboratory, implemented event‐based surveillance (EBS) in nine Yaoundé health facilities. Four signals were defined that could indicate possible public health events, and a reporting, triage, and verification system was established among partner organizations. A pre‐defined laboratory algorithm was defined, and a series of workshops trained health facilities, laboratory, and public health staff for surveillance implementation.

Results

From May 2017 to January 2018, 30 signals were detected, corresponding to 15 unusual respiratory events. All health facilities reported a signal at least once, and more than three‐quarters of health facilities reported ≥2 times. Among specimens tested, the pathogens detected included Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Staphylococcus aureus, Pneumocystis jiroveci, influenza A (H1N1) virus, rhinovirus, and adenovirus.

Conclusions

The events detected in this pilot were caused by routine respiratory bacteria and viruses, and no novel influenza viruses or other emerging respiratory threats were identified. The surveillance system, however, strengthened relationships and communication linkages between health facilities and public health authorities. Astute clinicians can play a critical role in early detection and EBS is one approach that may enable reporting of emerging outbreaks and public health events.
DC electrical degradation of YSZ: Voltage‐controlled electrical metallization of a fast ion conducting insulator
Authors: Alvarez Ana , Dong Yanhao , Chen I‐Wei
Published: January 2020

DC electrical degradation as a form of dielectric and resistance breakdown is common in thin‐film devices including resistance‐switching memory. To obtain design data and to probe the degradation mechanism, highly accelerated lifetime tests (HALT) are often conducted at higher temperatures with thicker samples. While the mechanism is well established in semiconducting oxides such as perovskite titanates, it is not in stabilized zirconia and other fast oxygen‐ion conductors that have little electronic conductivity. Here we model the mechanism by an oxygen‐driven, transport‐limited, metal‐insulator transition, which finds support in rich experimental observations—including in situ videos and variable temperature studies—of yttria‐stabilized zirconia. This demonstrates that although (electro) reduction does not appreciably alter oxygen stoichiometry in stabilized zirconia, which is fixed by the dopant concentration, it can still raise the chemical potential of electrons enough to eventually reach the conduction‐band level, thereby triggering the insulator‐to‐metal transition and resistance degradation. These results are contrasted with the findings in semiconducting titanates and resistance memory, and to provide new insight into ceramic processing with extremely rapid heating and cooling such as flash sintering and melt processing.
Imidazolium salts as alternative compounds to control diseases caused by plant pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Neves Y.F. , Eloi A.C.L. , de Freitas H.M.M. , Soares E.G.O. , Rivillo D. , Demétrio da Silva V. , Schrekker H.S. , Badel J.L.
Published: January 2020

Aims

To evaluate the inhibitory effect of five structurally different imidazolium salts on the in vitro growth of plant pathogenic bacteria that belong to divergent taxonomic genera as well as their ability to reduce the severity of common bacterial blight of common bean caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli and bacterial speck of tomato caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato.

Methods and Results

Growth inhibition of Xanthomonas, Pseudomonas, Erwinia, Pectobacterium and Dickeya strains by imidazolium salts was assessed in vitro by radial diffusion on agar medium and by ressazurin reduction in liquid medium. The reduction of common bacterial blight and bacterial speck symptoms and the area under de disease progress curves were determined by spraying two selected imidazolium salts on healthy plants 48 h prior to inoculation with virulent strains of the bacterial pathogens. All imidazolium salts inhibited the growth of all plant pathogenic bacteria when tested by radial diffusion on agar medium. The strength of inhibition differed among imidazolium salts when tested on the same bacterial strain and among bacterial strains when tested with the same imidazolium salt. In liquid medium, most imidazolium salts presented the same minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration values (200 µmol l−1), the most notable exception of which was the MIC (at least 1000 µmol l−1) for the dicationic MImC10MImBr2. The imidazolium salts C16MImBr and C16MImCl caused significant reductions in the severity of common bacterial blight symptoms when compared with nontreated plants.

Conclusion

Imidazolium salts inhibit the in vitro growth of plant pathogenic bacteria and reduce plant disease symptoms to levels comparable to an authorized commercial antibiotic product.

Significance and Impact of the Study

New compounds exhibiting broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with potential use in agriculture were identified.
Coping with the commute: behavioural responses to wind conditions in a foraging seabird
Authors: Collins Philip M. , Green Jonathan A. , Elliott Kyle H. , Shaw Peter J. A. , Chivers Lorraine , Hatch Scott A. , Halsey Lewis G.
Published: January 2020

Movement is a necessary yet energetically expensive process for motile animals. Yet how individuals modify their behaviour to take advantage of environmental conditions and hence optimise energetic costs during movement remains poorly understood. This is especially true for animals that move through environments where they cannot easily be observed. We examined the behaviour during commuting flights of black‐legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla breeding on Middleton Island, Alaska in relation to wind conditions they face. By simultaneously deploying GPS and accelerometer devices on incubating birds we were able to quantify the timing, destination, course and speed of flights during commutes to foraging patches, as well as how wing beat frequency and strength relate to flight speeds. We found that kittiwakes did not preferentially fly in certain wind conditions. However, once in the air they exhibited plasticity through modulation of effort by increasing air speed (the speed at which they fly relative to the wind) when travelling into headwinds and decreasing their air speed when flying with tailwinds. Moreover, we identified a biomechanical link behind this behaviour: that to achieve these changes in flight speeds, kittiwakes altered their wing beat strength, but not wing beat frequency. Using this information, we demonstrate that the cost of flying into a headwind outweighs the energy saving benefit of flying with a tailwind of equivalent speed; therefore, exploiting a tailwind when commuting to a foraging patch would not be beneficial if having to return in the same direction with the same conditions. Our findings suggest that extrinsic factors, such as prey availability, have a more influential role in determining when and where kittiwakes fly during foraging trips than do wind conditions. However, once flying, kittiwakes exhibit behavioural plasticity to minimise transport costs.
Evaluation of cardiac synchrony in left bundle branch pacing: Insights from echocardiographic research
Authors: Cai Binni , Huang Xinyi , Li Linlin , Guo Jincun , Chen Simei , Meng Fanqi , Wang Huimin , Lin Biqin , Su Maolong
Published: January 2020

Aim

The aim of this study is to assess if left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) can preserve physiological cardiac synchrony and deliver favorable hemodynamic effects.

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing dual chamber pacemaker implantation for sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and a normal cardiac function with a narrow QRS complex were recruited for the study. Electrocardiogram and echocardiographic examinations were performed during ventricular pacing‐on and native‐conduction modes. The QRS duration (QRSd), systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI), and the standard deviation of time‐to‐peak contraction velocity in left ventricular (LV) 12 segments (Tsd‐12‐LV) were measured to evaluate LV synchrony. The stroke volume (SV) and the degree of atrioventricular valvular regurgitation were also assessed.

Results

A total of 40 patients underwent LBBP, while another 38 patients underwent right ventricular septum pacing (RVSP) as control group. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. With LBBP, the paced QRSd was slightly wider than the intrinsic QRSd (101.03 ± 8.79 ms vs 91.06 ± 14.17 ms, P < .0001) while the LV mechanical synchrony during LBBP pacing mode was similar to that of native‐conduction mode (SDI, 3.14 ± 2.49 vs 2.70 ± 1.68, P = 0.129; Tsd‐12‐LV, 26.43 ± 15.55 vs 25.61 ± 16.07, P = .671) in the LBBP group. The LV synchrony in the LBBP group was superior to the RVSP group significantly. No significant differences in SV (64.08 ± 16.97 mL vs 65.45 ± 18.68 mL, P = .241) or the degree of atrioventricular valvular regurgitation were noted between LBBP capture and native‐conduction modes.

Conclusion

LBBP could preserve satisfactory LV synchrony and result in favorable hemodynamic effects.
The association between serum vitamin D level and risk and prognosis of melanoma: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tsai T.‐Y. , Kuo C.‐Y. , Huang Y.‐C.
Published: January 2020

Background

Vitamin D has antineoplastic effects, but the synthesis of vitamin D requires ultraviolet radiation, a known risk factor for melanoma.

Objective

To investigate the correlations between serum vitamin D levels and risk and prognosis of melanoma.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted. Online databases were searched on 31 Oct 2018.

Results

Twenty‐five studies with a total of 11166 patients with melanoma were included. There was no significant difference in serum vitamin D levels between patients with melanoma and controls [standardized mean difference (SMD), −0.185; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.533 to 0.162]. However, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in patients with melanoma than that in controls (odds ratio, 2.115; 95% CI, 1.151–3.885). In terms of prognosis, serum vitamin D levels were significantly higher in melanoma patients with lower Breslow thickness (≦1 vs. >1 mm: SMD, 0.243; 95% CI, 0.160–0.327). Moreover, melanoma patients with lower vitamin D levels had a significantly higher mortality rate (hazard ratio, 1.558; 95% CI, 1.258–1.931).

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher Breslow thickness and mortality in melanoma patients.
Hornstein–Knickenberg syndrome vs. Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome: a critical review of an unjustified designation
Authors: Happle R.
Published: January 2020

The disorder that is presently called ‘Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome’ was in reality delineated in 1975 by Otto P. Hornstein and Monika Knickenberg from Erlangen (Germany) who emphasized that the occurrence of multiple ‘perifollicular fibromas’ represented a distinct autosomal dominant trait heralding extracutaneous cancer proneness. By contrast, Arthur R. Birt, Georgina R. Hogg and W. James Dubé from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, claimed in 1977 that they had discovered ‘a previously unrecognized hereditary pilar hamartoma’ for which they proposed the name ‘fibrofolliculoma’, to be distinguished from the perifollicular fibromas as reported by Hornstein and Knickenberg. Today, many authors believe that ‘fibrofolliculoma’ is identical with ‘perifollicular fibroma’, but for the purpose of the present article this question can be left open. More importantly, the Canadian authors did not mention any association with extracutaneous cancer proneness within the large family examined in Winnipeg, nor when discussing the report from Erlangen, which means that they have neither described nor redescribed the syndrome that presently bears their names. Hence, the autosomal dominant disorder of multiple perifollicular fibromas heralding proclivity to extracutaneous cancer should be called after the original authors, Hornstein–Knickenberg syndrome.
Optimizing distribution of droneports for emergency monitoring of flood disasters in China
Authors: Lu Ming , Liao Xiaohan , Yue Huanyin , Huang Yaohuan , Ye Huping , Xu Chenchen , Huang Shifeng
Published: January 2020

Floods occur frequently, impacting large areas, displacing thousands of people and causing great losses. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) remote sensing is easy to obtain high‐resolution image that is immensely helpful to timely assess the flood situation and provide scientific decision‐making for emergency rescue. The important roles of UAV remote sensing have been widely recognized. However, the sudden onset of floods and lack of UAV resources deployed nearby have restricted rapid response of UAVs in emergency rescue. A UAV remote sensing observation network on a regional scale has been proposed to deal with these emergencies. However, how to build this UAV network and where to deploy UAV resources are still mysterious. In this study, the Maximum Covering Location Problem (MCLP) model was improved to distribute a series number of droneports in China. Finally, 81 droneports were selected from 268 potential facility points, which covered 61.84% risk of total demand area. Droneports have been allocated near flood‐prone areas and most floods in China can be monitored within 2 hours, which is critical for saving lives and reducing losses. The construction of UAV airport networks will surely contribute to an integrated disaster emergency observation system combining satellite, airplane, UAV, and ground observations in China.
Treatment of fresh produce with a Salmonella‐targeted bacteriophage cocktail is compatible with chlorine or peracetic acid and more consistently preserves the microbial community on produce
Authors: Moye Zachary D. , Das Chythanya Rajanna , Tokman Jeffrey I. , Fanelli Brian , Karathia Hiren , Hasan Nur A. , Marek Patrick J. , Senecal Andre G. , Sulakvelidze Alexander
Published: January 2020

Diets rich in minimally processed foods are associated with numerous health benefits, in part, due to their diverse, natural microbiota. However, antimicrobials, such as chlorine and peracetic acid (PAA), that are used to address food safety concerns may damage the natural microflora of fresh produce. One promising approach for targeting pathogenic bacteria in foods without impacting the normal food microbiota are bacteriophages. In this study, we observed that combinational treatment of conventional antimicrobials (PAA and chlorine) and bacteriophages, specifically the Salmonella‐targeted preparation SalmoFresh, retained the bactericidal effectiveness of individual interventions, and in some cases, achieved substantially increased efficacy. Additionally, the bacterial microbiomes of farm fresh and organic produce were less affected after phage treatment compared to PAA and chlorine. Finally, our study revealed that resistance rates against SalmoFresh were relatively minor and unaffected by the stresses introduced after chemical washes and/or bacteriophage treatment.
Sporadic hereditary neuropathies misdiagnosed as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: Pitfalls and red flags
Authors: Campagnolo Marta , Taioli Federica , Cacciavillani Mario , Ruiz Marta , Luigetti Marco , Salvalaggio Alessandro , Castellani Francesca , Testi Silvia , Ferrarini Moreno , Cavallaro Tiziana , Gasparotti Roberto , Fabrizi Gian Maria , Briani Chiara
Published: January 2020

Hereditary neuropathies may be misdiagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). A correct diagnosis is crucial for avoiding unnecessary therapies and access genetic counseling. We report on nine patients (seven men, mean age 49.2 ± 16.1) diagnosed with and treated as CIDP, in whom mutations or variants of unknown significance (VUS) in genes associated with hereditary neuropathies were reported. All underwent neurological and neurophysiological examination, eight also cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. In 4/9, nerve ultrasound and/or MR‐neurography were performed. All the patients complained of progressive upper or lower limbs sensory‐motor symptoms, with heterogeneous disease duration (1‐34 years, mean 8.6 ± 10.8). Neurophysiology showed demyelinating signs in seven patients, mixed findings with predominant axonal damage in two patients. Neuroimaging disclosed diffuse abnormalities at proximal and distal segments. Molecular screening showed PMP22 duplication in two patients, mutations in the MPZ, EGR2, and GJB1 genes were reported in each of the remaining patients. The two patients with mixed neurophysiological findings had p.Val30Met mutation in the transthyretin gene. Two patients had VUS in the MARS and HSPB1 genes. Four patients had partial response to immunomodulant therapies, and CSF and neurophysiological features suggesting an inflammatory condition concomitant with the hereditary neuropathy. Hereditary neuropathy may be misdiagnosed with CIDP. The most common pitfalls are CSF (high protein levels and oligoclonal bands), incorrect interpretation of neurophysiology, and transient benefit from therapies. Neuroimaging may be helpful in cases with atypical presentations or when severe axonal damage complicate the neurophysiological interpretation.
Comparative study of low‐dose versus standard single‐dose methotrexate: A novel approach for medical treatment of ectopic pregnancy
Authors: Aydın Gültekin A. , Özgen Gülten , Yavuz Arzu
Published: January 2020

Aim

Methotrexate (MTX) treatment at a dose of 50 mg/m2 of body surface area (BSA) is an effective and widely used treatment method in ectopic pregnancy. However, there is a limited number of studies investigating lower MTX doses. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of lower MTX doses in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

Methods

This retrospective study included a total of 112 patients who were hospitalized due to ectopic pregnancy and administered single‐dose MTX. The patients were divided into three groups according to the dose given as 22–40 mg/m2 of BSA (n = 17), 41–49 mg/m2 of BSA (n = 81) and ≥ 50 mg/m2 of BSA (n = 14). Data including demographic characteristics of the patients, previous history of ectopic pregnancy, previous gynecological surgeries, the use of in vitro fertilization techniques, ultrasonographic findings, beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (β‐hCG) levels, pre‐treatment endometrial sampling, MTX doses applied, and the need for a surgical intervention during follow‐up were retrieved from the hospital records.

Results

Of the patients, 16.96% (n = 19) were operated at the end of treatment, irrespective of the pre‐treatment β‐hCG levels with a success rate of 83% (n = 93). Fourteen (12.5%) of the patients received the second dose of MTX. The overall success rate was 89.2% in patients with a β‐hCG level of ≤5000 mIU/mL.

Conclusion

This study shows that lower MTX doses than 50 mg/m2, which has been considered standard treatment and widely used in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy for nearly three decades, are effective with similar success rates.
Yawning while scrolling? Examining gender differences in the association between smartphone use and sleep quality
Authors: Amez Simon , Vujić Sunčica , Soffers Pieter , Baert Stijn
Published: January 2020

The negative consequences of deteriorated sleep have been widely acknowledged. Therefore, research on the determinants of poor sleep is crucial. A factor potentially contributing to poor sleep is the use of a smartphone. This study aims to measure the association between overall daily smartphone use and both sleep quality and sleep duration. To this end, we exploit data on 1,889 first‐year university students. Compared with previous research we control for a large set of observed confounding factors. Higher overall smartphone use is associated with lower odds of experiencing a good sleep. In addition, we explore heterogeneous differences by socioeconomic factors not yet investigated. We find that the negative association between smartphone use and sleep quality is mainly driven by female participants.
Domain‐General Learning and Memory Substrates of Reading Acquisition
Authors: Earle F. Sayako , Del Tufo Stephanie N. , Evans Tanya M. , Lum Jarrad A. G. , Cutting Laurie E. , Ullman Michael T.
Published: January 2020

Prior research has demonstrated that linguistic skills and knowledge contribute to successful reading acquisition. In contrast, little is known about the influence of domain‐general learning abilities on reading. To investigate associations between general memory functions and reading during the early stages of learning to read, performance measures of word‐level reading and of declarative and procedural learning were obtained in a cohort of 140 children, annually during their first 4 years of school. We hypothesized that differences in learning task performance would relate to reading ability in the early years, when children are first learning to read. We employed a series of linear mixed effects models to test the relationships between learning abilities and reading across time. Declarative learning performance predicted reading ability in first grade, while procedural learning performance predicted reading ability in second grade. Our findings suggest that reading acquisition may depend in part on general capacities for learning.
Biogeography, habitat transitions and hybridization in a radiation of South American silverside fishes revealed by mitochondrial and genomic RAD data
Authors: Hughes Lily C. , Cardoso Yamila P. , Sommer Julie A. , Cifuentes Roberto , Cuello Mariela , Somoza Gustavo M. , González‐Castro Mariano , Malabarba Luiz R. , Cussac Victor , Habit Evelyn M. , Betancur‐R. Ricardo , Ortí Guillermo
Published: January 2020

Rivers and lake systems in the southern cone of South America have been widely influenced by historical glaciations, carrying important implications for the evolution of aquatic organisms, including prompting transitions between marine and freshwater habitats and by triggering hybridization among incipient species via waterway connectivity and stream capture events. Silverside fishes (Odontesthes) in the region comprise a radiation of 19 marine and freshwater species that have been hypothesized on the basis of morphological or mitochondrial DNA data to have either transitioned repeatedly into continental waters from the sea or colonized marine habitats following freshwater diversification. New double digest restriction‐site associated DNA data presented here provide a robust framework to investigate the biogeographical history of and habitat transitions inOdontesthes. We show thatOdontesthessilversides originally diversified in the Pacific but independently colonized the Atlantic three times, producing three independent marine‐to‐freshwater transitions. Our results also indicate recent introgression of marine mitochondrial haplotypes into two freshwater clades, with more recurring instances of hybridization among Atlantic‐ versus Pacific‐slope species. In Pacific freshwater drainages, hybridization with a marine species appears to be geographically isolated and may be related to glaciation events. Substantial structural differences of estuarine gradients between these two geographical areas may have influenced the frequency, intensity and evolutionary effects of hybridization events.
Ethnography in health professions education: Slowing down and thinking deeply
Authors: Bressers Guusje , Brydges Madison , Paradis Elise
Published: January 2020

Context

Ethnography has been gaining appreciation in the field of health professions education (HPE) research, yet it remains misunderstood. Our article contributes to this growing literature by describing some of the key tensions with which both aspiring and seasoned ethnographers should productively struggle.

Methods

We respond to the injunction made by Varpio et al (2017) that HPE researchers should ground their methodological ventures in their historical and philosophical tenets. To do so, we first review core ethnographic texts that provide a background for ethnographic research in HPE, then provide an orienting definition to bind the specificities of ethnographic research. Finally, we review core theoretical and practical considerations for ethnographic research.

Results

Ethnography is a slow and deep approach to knowledge production, and as such it requires careful engagement with theory and deliberate choice of methods. Core theoretical tensions include the ontological, epistemological and axiological dimensions of ethnography, and concerns with quality and rigour. Practical tensions include the scope and remit of ethnography, the importance of observing naturally occurring behaviour and the crafting of rich field notes.

Conclusions

We encourage ethnographers to pursue scholarship that challenges the status quo. Ethnographers should favour deep encounters with research participants, dig deep into the cultural and structural aspects of HPE and be reflexive about knowledge outputs. At a time in HPE when the pressures to publish are high, using ethnography as a research methodology offers an opportunity to slow down and think deeply.
Xanthomonas campestris sensor kinase HpaS co‐opts the orphan response regulator VemR to form a branched two‐component system that regulates motility
Authors: Li Rui‐Fang , Wang Xin‐Xin , Wu Liu , Huang Li , Qin Qi‐Jian , Yao Jia‐Li , Lu Guang‐Tao , Tang Ji‐Liang
Published: January 2020

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) controls virulence and plant infection mechanisms via the activity of the sensor kinase and response regulator pair HpaS/hypersensitive response and pathogenicity G (HrpG). Detailed analysis of the regulatory role of HpaS has suggested the occurrence of further regulators besides HrpG. Here we used in vitro and in vivo approaches to identify the orphan response regulator VemR as another partner of HpaS and to characterize relevant interactions between components of this signalling system. Bacterial two‐hybrid and protein pull‐down assays revealed that HpaS physically interacts with VemR. Phos‐tag SDS‐PAGE analysis showed that mutation in hpaS reduced markedly the phosphorylation of VemR in vivo. Mutation analysis reveals that HpaS and VemR contribute to the regulation of motility and this relationship appears to be epistatic. Additionally, we show that VemR control of Xcc motility is due in part to its ability to interact and bind to the flagellum rotor protein FliM. Taken together, the findings describe the unrecognized regulatory role of sensor kinase HpaS and orphan response regulator VemR in the control of motility in Xcc and contribute to the understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms used by Xcc during plant infection.
Critical perspectives on brand culture in the era of participatory and algorithmic media
Authors: Carah Nicholas , Brodmerkel Sven
Published: January 2020

Brands have become a ubiquitous feature of life in market‐based consumer societies. While marketers aim to establish brands as efficient devices for guiding purchase decisions, critical scholarship investigates how branding functions as a mode of exercising power by shaping consumers' identities and consumer culture more broadly. Beginning in the 1950s as a predominantly semiotic critique of advertising, critical research into branding has over the decades developed a more complex conceptualisation of brands and their interrelationship with “active” audiences and the cultural environment in which they operate. The first part of this essay summarises this conceptual evolution. It provides the necessary background for interrogating how brands engage with, shape, and capitalise on “algorithmic culture”. Recent dramatic changes in the data‐processing power of the developing algorithmic, platform‐dominated media environment is significantly altering the way brands operate and capitalise on consumer participation and popular culture. The present moment is therefore a crucial one to survey and evaluate emerging critical perspectives on brands and branding. By engaging with the current scholarship on social media, algorithms, and platforms, the second part of this essay outlines a number of novel and distinctive critiques emerging from this literature, which can help inform further research.
Refined Invariantism
Authors: Vollet Jacques‐Henri
Published: January 2020

A certain number of cases suggest that our willingness to ascribe “knowledge” can be influenced by practical factors. For revisionary proposals, they indicate that the truth‐values of “knowledge” ascriptions vary with practical factors. For conservative proposals, on the contrary, nothing surprising is happening. Standard pragmatic approaches appeal to pragmatic implicatures and psychological approaches to the idea that belief formation is influenced by practical factors. Conservative proposals have not yet offered a fully satisfactory explanation, though. In this article, I introduce and defend a third conservative proposal which I call “Refined Invariantism”. The two main claims of this proposal are that (1) we should distinguish between high stakes cases in which the subject does not believe (that he knows) the target proposition and those in which he believes (that he knows) the target proposition and that (2) we should adopt a psychological treatment for the first kind of case and a pragmatic treatment based on the epistemic standards for appropriate assertion and action for the second kind of case. I argue that this new combined approach avoids the main pitfalls of its two conservative rivals and that it gives new life to the generality objection levelled against revisionary views.
A contribution to the knowledge of the genus Valgothrombium Willmann, 1940 (Acari: Microtrombidiidae) from Turkey

Authors: Buğa Evren , Sevsay Sevgi
Published: January 2020

Larvae of Valgothrombium confusum (Berlese), V. major (Halbert) and V. valgum (George) were obtained by experimental rearing from field-collected females. Unknown larvae of V. confusum and V. major are described for the first time in this study. Additionally, morphological similarity among species of Valgothrombium are discussed. These three species are new records for the Turkish fauna.
Typha angustifolia L. pollen as an alternative food for the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Authors: Pascua Mariana Soledad , Rocca Margarita , Greco Nancy , Clercq Patrick De
Published: January 2020

Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) is considered a specialized predator of spider mites and has mainly been used to control Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). However, this phytoseiid is also able to feed and reproduce on certain pollens. In the present laboratory study, survival, development time, and reproduction of N. californicus were determined when reared on T. urticae, Typha angustifolia pollen, or on a combined diet of both foods. The immature stages of N. californicus developed faster when T. urticae was present in the diet. The total developmental time of females was longer when offered T. angustifolia pollen only (6.6 days), than when fed on T. urticae (4.5 days) or T. urticae + pollen (4.5 days). The oviposition rate of N. californicus was higher on the two diets containing T. urticae (3.1-3.3 eggs/female/day) than on T. angustifolia pollen alone (0.9 eggs/female/day). The intrinsic rates of natural increase (rm) were estimated to be 0.273, 0.268 and 0.149 females/female/day on T. urticae, T. urticae + T. angustifolia and T. angustifolia, respectively. Our results indicate that supplementing a T. urticae diet with T. angustifolia pollen would not improve population parameters. However, in the absence of spider mites, providing commercial pollen might help sustain populations of the phytoseiid in the field.
Modification of near band edge emission and structure with Ga-related clusters in Ga-doped ZnO nanocrystal films
Authors: Torchynska Tetyana V. , El Filali Brahim , Ballardo Rodriguez Chetzyl I. , Polupan Georgiy , Shcherbyna Lyudmula
Published: January 2020

Transparent conducting Ga-doped ZnO films were grown by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis with the different Ga contents of 1.0–6.5 at. %. The Ga impact on the morphology, crystal structure, photoluminescence (PL), Ga cluster formation, and electrical resistivity of ZnO nanocrystal films has been investigated. ZnO-Ga films are characterized by the hexagonal wurtzite structure with the (002) preferential orientation. It was shown that the PL intensity of near band edge (NBE) emission band A (3.18 eV) enlarges at a Ga doping of 1.0–3.0 at. % together with the decrease in electrical resistivity. Simultaneously, the XRD peaks shift to high values due to the decrease in interplanar distances, and ZnO crystallinity improves. New NBE emission band B (3.08 eV) was detected in the PL spectra of films with the Ga content ≥3.0 at. %. The PL band B was assigned to the optical transitions via Ga-related clusters formed by Ga atoms at higher Ga concentrations. Simultaneously, the 2Θ positions of XRD peaks decrease, owing to the increase in the ZnO crystal lattice parameter, as well as the fall down in the NBE emission intensity and ZnO film crystallinity. To study the Ga ion charge states and Ga cluster formation in the ZnO:Ga films, x-ray photoelectron spectra have been investigated. The optimal Ga concentration in the ZnO films has been estimated.
Cross-correlation sensitivity kernels with respect to noise source distribution
Authors: Skarsoulis E. K. , Cornuelle B. D.
Published: January 2020

The cross correlation of the underwater noise field recorded at two receivers conveys information about the time-domain Green's function between the two locations, provided that sufficient energy is channeled into the acoustic paths connecting these. The efficiency of this procedure depends on the locations and characteristics of the receivers and noise sources, as well as on the refraction properties of the ocean sound channel. The sensitivity of the finite-frequency noise cross-correlation function with respect to the location and amplitude of the noise sources is studied here, taking into account the refractive features of the ocean environment. The sensitivity kernel describing changes in the cross-correlation envelope due to changes in the noise source distribution is used to highlight noise-source locations with maximum potential impact on the cross-correlation output.
Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Antimalarial Activity of the Novel
Plasmodium
Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase Inhibitor MMV390048 in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Sinxadi Phumla , Donini Cristina , Johnstone Hilary , Langdon Grant , Wiesner Lubbe , Allen Elizabeth , Duparc Stephan , Chalon Stephan , McCarthy James S. , Lorch Ulrike , Chibale Kelly , Möhrle Jörg , Barnes Karen I.
Published: January 2020

MMV390048 is a novel antimalarial compound that inhibits
Plasmodium
phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase. The safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic profile, and antimalarial activity of MMV390048 were determined in healthy volunteers in three separate studies. A first-in-human, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-ascending-dose study was performed. Additionally, a volunteer infection study investigated the antimalarial activity of MMV390048 using the
Plasmodium falciparum
induced blood-stage malaria (IBSM) model.
Subinhibitory Concentrations of Mupirocin Stimulate Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation by Upregulating
cidA
Authors: Jin Ye , Guo Yinjuan , Zhan Qing , Shang Yongpeng , Qu Di , Yu Fangyou
Published: January 2020

Previous studies have shown that the administration of antibiotics at subinhibitory concentrations stimulates biofilm formation by the majority of multidrug-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) strains. Here, we investigated the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of mupirocin on biofilm formation by the community-associated (CA) mupirocin-sensitive MRSA strain USA300 and the highly mupirocin-resistant clinical
S. aureus
SA01 to SA05 isolates.
In Vitro
Evaluation of Antifungal Drug Combinations against Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris Isolates from New York Outbreak
Authors: O’Brien Brittany , Chaturvedi Sudha , Chaturvedi Vishnu
Published: January 2020

Since 2016, New York hospitals and health care facilities have faced an unprecedented outbreak of the pathogenic yeast
Candida auris
. We tested over 1,000
C. auris
isolates from affected facilities and found high resistance to fluconazole (MIC > 256 mg/liter) and variable resistance to other antifungal drugs. Therefore, we tested if two-drug combinations are effective
in vitro
against multidrug-resistant
C. auris
.
Streptococcus suis Serotype 2 Infection Causes Host Immunomodulation through Induction of Thymic Atrophy
Authors: Wang Shujie , Lyu Chuang , Duan Guixin , Meng Fandan , Yang Yongbo , Yu Ying , He Xijun , Wang Zhenzhong , Gottschalk Marcelo , Li Ganwu , Cai Xuehui , Wang Gang
Published: January 2020

Streptococcus suisserotype 2 is an important bacterial pathogen of swine and is also an emerging zoonotic agent that may be harmful to human health. Although the virulence genes ofS. suishave been extensively studied, the mechanisms by which they damage the central immune organs have rarely been studied. In the current work, we wanted to uncover more details about the impact and mechanisms ofS. suison specific populations of thymic and immune cells in infected mice.