bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-Hospital Telehealth Supports Care for Neonatal Patients in Strict Isolation
Authors: Umoren Rachel A. , Gray Megan M. , Handley Sarah , Johnson Nathaniel , Kunimura Christina , Mietzsch Ulrike , Billimoria Zeenia , Lo Mark D.
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of “in-hospital” inpatient telemedicine within a children's referral hospital to facilitate inpatient care activities such as interprofessional rounding and the provision of supportive services such as lactation consultations to pediatric patients in strict isolation. To test the feasibility of in-hospital video telemedicine, a dedicated telemedicine device was set up in the patient's room. This device and the accompanying Bluetooth stethoscope were used by the health care team located just outside the room for inpatient rounding and consultations from supportive services. Video telemedicine facilitated inpatient care and interactions with support services, reducing the number of health care providers with potential exposure to infection and decreasing personal protective equipment use. In the setting of strict isolation for highly infectious viral illness, telemedicine can be used for inpatient care activities such as interprofessional rounding and provision of supportive services.

Key Points
Long-term benefits and short-term costs: small vertebrate responses to predator exclusion and native mammal reintroductions in south-western New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Roshier David A. , Hotellier Felicity L , Carter Andrew , Kemp Leah , Potts Joanne , Hayward Matt W. , Legge Sarah M.
Published: April 2020

Abstract
ContextThe success of conservation fences at protecting reintroduced populations of threatened mammals from introduced predators has prompted an increase in the number and extent of fenced exclosures. Excluding introduced species from within conservation fences could also benefit components of insitu faunal assemblages that are prey for introduced predators, such as reptiles and small mammals. Conversely, reintroduced mammals may compete with smaller mammals and reptiles for resources, or even prey on them.
AimsIn a 10-year study from 2008, we examine how small terrestrial vertebrates respond to the exclusion of introduced predators, the feral cat (Felis catus) and red fox (Vulpes Vulpes), introduced herbivores and the reintroduction of regionally extinct mammal species.
MethodsDifferences in the yearly relative abundance of reptiles and mammals according to habitat type and whether sites were fenced or not, were tested using multivariate generalised linear models. Next, we calculated univariate P-values to identify individual species that showed significant relationships, positive and negative, with any of the explanatory variables.
Key resultsTotal captures of reptiles were lower inside the conservation fence in all years, whereas total captures of small mammals were markedly higher inside the fenced area, notably in dasyurids.
ConclusionOur results showed that conservation fences can deliver benefits for some fauna (but not all) beyond facilitating the reintroduction of highly threatened mammals.
ImplicationsOur results demonstrated the consequential impacts of introduced predators on the Australian small mammal fauna, and showed that predator-exclusion fences can be an effective conservation intervention for this guild.
Variable-stiffness tensegrity spine
Authors: Zappetti Davide , Arandes Roc , Ajanic Enrico , Floreano Dario
Published: April 2020

Vertebrates, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, with their ability to change the stiffness of the spine to increase load-bearing capability or flexibility, have inspired roboticists to develop artificial variable-stiffness spines. However, unlike their natural counterparts, current robotic spine systems do not display robustness or cannot adjust their stiffness according to their task. In this paper, we describe a novel variable-stiffness tensegrity spine, which uses an active mechanism to add or remove a ball-joint constrain among the vertebrae, allowing transition among different stiffness modes: soft mode, global stiff mode, and directional stiff mode. We validate the variable-stiffness properties of the tensegrity spine in experimental bending tests and compare results to a model. Finally, we demonstrate the tensegrity spine system as a continuous variable-stiffness manipulator and highlight its advantages over current systems.
Future Circular Collider beam screen: progress on Tl-1223 HTS coating
Authors: Leveratto A , Saba A , Holleis S , Himmerlich M , Henrist B , Fernandez-Peña S , Moros A , Bernardi J , Eisterer M , Bernini C , Vaglio R , Putti M , Ferdeghini C , Calatroni S , Bellingeri E
Published: April 2020

Thallium-1223, a superconductor with high critical temperature (T
c ∼ 120 K) and high irreversibility line is a promising alternative to copper layers as a low surface impedance material in particle accelerator components. In the existing design of the Future Circular Collider (FCC-hh), for reasons of cryogenic efficiency and vacuum stability, the beam screen that shields the dipoles from synchrotron radiation has to stay at best in the temperature range between 40 and 60 K, in which copper surface resistance might be too high to prevent beam instabilities due to wakefields. This paper reports the progress on the realization of thallium-1223 based high temperature superconducting (HTS) coatings realized by electrochemical deposition. The study of the Tl-1223 phase has been carried out on precursor-pellets and films. Transport characterization revealing a very high irreversibility line and also high local critical currents obtained from Scanning Hall Probe Microscopy (SHPM) measurements will be shown. A first analysis of compatibility in vacuum has been carried out and the generation of secondary electrons (SEY) has been investigated as well.

The encouraging results, although not conclusive, will state that thallium-based phase could be suitable for the proposed application.
THz electrodynamics of BaFe1.91Ni0.09As2 film analyzed in the framework of multiband Eliashberg theory
Authors: Ummarino G A , Muratov A V , Kadyrov L S , Gorshunov B P , Richter S , Anna Thomas A , Hühne R , Aleshchenko Y A
Published: April 2020

The temperature dependences of the plasma frequency, superfluid density and London penetration depth were determined from the terahertz spectra of conductivity and the dielectric permittivity of BaFe1.91Ni0.09As2 film with critical temperature T

c
 = 19.6 K. Part of the experimental data were analyzed within a simple three-band Eliashberg model where the mechanism of superconducting coupling is mediated by antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations, whose characteristic energy Ω0 scales with T

c
according to the empirical law

Ω

0

=
4.65

k

B

T

c

, and with a total electron-boson coupling strength λ

tot
 = 2.17.
Comparison between the use of uniform and non-uniform light absorption profiles in modelling organic photovoltaics
Authors: Hassan Husna A , Inche Ibrahim M L
Published: April 2020

To avoid complexity, a uniform light absorption profile is usually used when modelling organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs). However, the actual light absorption profile is not uniform. It is found that a uniform light absorption profile can be used as a replacement for the actual non-uniform light absorption profile in modelling an OPV provided that the actual light absorption profile inside the OPV has a peak absorption value that is roughly less than twice its average absorption value. Nevertheless, the use of a uniform light absorption profile in investigating the effect of a certain parameter (e.g. the active layer thickness) on the performance of OPVs should still be used with care if variations in the value of the said parameter lead to different light absorption profiles.
A collocation method based on Genocchi operational matrix for solving Emden-Fowler equations
Authors: Isah Abdulnasir , Phang Chang
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we solved the first kind and second kind Emden-Fowler type equations by using scheme involving Genocchi polynomials. Using the nice properties of Genocchi polynomials, which is the member of Appell polynomials, we construct the Genocchi operational matrices of derivative. Then, we use collocation scheme together with this operational matrix to transform the Emden-Fowler equation to a matrix equation. Hence we obtain a system of algebraic equations with unknown coefficients, solving this system will lead to the solution of Emden-Fowler type equations. This Emden-Fowler equation is a singular second order differential equation which many numerical methods may fail to solve the problem effectively. Error analysis on standard Emden-Fowler type equations for this proposed method is shown. We finally solve some numerical examples and compare to other numerical scheme to show the efficiency, simplicity and accuracy of the method.
Statistical Analysis Investigation on Vegetable Oils Stability during Deep Frying using Selected Quality Parameters
Authors: Daoud Jamal I , Mirghani Mohamed E S
Published: April 2020

The frying process is complicated because of a large number of parameters involved and the interactions between them. High stability liquid oils are in great demand. The best way to decide on the fats and oils suitability for frying is to study their natural stability to oxidation. In this study, consecutive deep-fat frying was done by using potato chips in palm oil, cottonseed oil and groundnut oil at 170 °C. All oils used were refined, bleached and deodorised from good quality authentic crude oils. The study was used to investigate the influence of frying time on oil quality by measuring the concentration of tocopherol content (TC), iodine value (IV), peroxide value (PV), free fatty acids (FFA) and polymer content (PC). Changes in these parameters were determined on the oil samples taken periodically during frying. A MANOVA statistical model was used for the investigations of oil quality parameters while used continuously in frying potato chips. The analysis which was implemented using XLSTAT is showing that the frying time has a significant impact on the compositions of the frying oil. A significant increase in PV, FFA and PC was observed during frying while a decrease in the concentration of TC and IV values was observed. The result concluded that refined, bleached deodorised palm oil is more stable during deep-fat frying compared to cottonseed oil followed by groundnut oil.
Statistical investigation for cutting force and surface roughness of S45C steel in turning processes by I-kazTM method
Authors: Samin R , Nuawi M Z , Haris S M , Ghani J A
Published: April 2020

This paper presents a statistical analysis to investigatethe correlation between cutting forces and surface roughness values in turning process. Although the correlation of machining processes has been widely studied in metal cutting, it still presents a challenge as surface roughness has to be considered for product quality and it is hard to ensure that this requirement will be achieved. The paper also presents a statistical analysis of signal processing from the force signal in time domain. The cutting force was measured during machining using Kistler 9129AA dynamometer to monitor the force signals and the data was analysed using statistical methods such as skewness, kurtosis and I-kazTM method. The statistical methods were used to data analysis to assess the effect of force signals during the machining process. The results show that the relationship between I-kaz coefficients (Ƶ
∞) from the I-kazTM method and surface roughness values (Ra and Rz) can be considered very highly correlated.
Subset Selection in High-Dimensional Genomic Data using Hybrid Variational Bayes and Bootstrap priors
Authors: Olaniran O R , Abdullah M A A
Published: April 2020

In this study, the Variational Bayes (VB) approach was hybridized with the bootstrap prior procedure to improve the accuracy of subset selection as well as optimizing the algorithm time in modelling high-dimensional genomic data with inherent sparse structure. The new hybrid VB approach is shown to yields a minimal sufficient statistic which under mild regularity conditions converges to the true sparse structure. Simulation and real-life high-dimensional genomic data experiments revealed comparable empirical performance with other competing frequentist and Bayesian methods. In addition, a new fast algorithm that illustrates the procedure was developed and implemented in the environment of R statistical software as package “VBbootprior”.
Analysis of wage distribution in Malaysia
Authors: Bahar Mahdir , Kamu Assis , Jantan Norhayati , Gabda Darmesah
Published: April 2020

Labor force demand in Malaysia has grown significantly over the decades since the independence era. Changes in economic structure have led to changes in labor force utilization. There are hundreds of studies had been done to investigate the determinants of wages, including human capital factor, demographic factor as well as job characteristic. The objective of this paper is to examine the determinant of wages in Malaysia using the Salaries and Wages Survey, 2016 conducted by the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Based on the analysis of mean differences, the average wage is significantly different for all variables, including age, ethnicity, marital status, education level and occupation. Even in the analysis of the distribution for men and women, the difference in average wage is also identified for each occupation category and sector of the industry.
Evaluation of Guiera Senegalenses on Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Among Sudanese Adult Patients
Authors: Mohammed A H , Mirghani M E S , Elnour A A M , Abdelbaset M
Published: April 2020

Guiera senegalensis (GS) reflects the reduced glucose exposure of erythrocytes over a preceding time frame proportional to erythrocyte survival. GS is thus an anti-diabetic function of the glucose-time curve, an educationally useful concept to aid teaching and clinical judgment. Sixty-one newly diagnosed patients with an average age of 48.2 years and weight of 64.9 kg have participated in the study. Participants were significantly different in their educational, socioeconomic levels, and most of them have no family history of diabetes. To evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of GS, the patients were divided into four groups (G1, G2, G3 and G4) and treated with four different doses of the aqueous extract of the herb ( 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 Oz of GS boiled for 10 minutes in 0.5-litre water). The experiment has lasted for five days for each group, and the blood glucose level of the patients was checked using GOD –POD method, at fasting (FBS) and following two hours after the breakfast (RBS). Another group of 30 patients (control) received Douniel drug (5mg/day/person) instead of the GS herb extract and checked for glucose level with the same procedure mentioned above. The results revealed that blood glucose level (mg/dl) for all patients lowered by 9% after every 24 hours of the treatment and by 35% at the end of the treatment. The average fasting and random blood glucose levels were significantly (P<0.001) reduced from 326.21 and 322.95 mg/dl at the start of the treatment to 213.57 and 202.87 mg/dl sequentially at the end of the treatment. The herb significantly (P<0.001) reduced the blood glucose levels, however, with negligible side effects (vomiting on two patients of group G4). Similar hypoglycemic effects on random blood sugar for both the herb extract and Daniel drugs noticed. However, the average fasting blood glucose level of patients treated with herb extract (266.21 mg/dl) was significantly (P<0.001) lower than that of patients treated with the Daniel drug (280.47 mg/dl). Accordingly, the action of this herb may be similar to that of Douniel drug. However, it might have more prolonged action than Douniel. The study strongly recommends GS as a potential herb for the treatment of type II diabetes.
The effect of marine parameters on salinity via statistical approaches
Authors: Mohamad Hamzah F , Mohammed S N S , Syed Abdullah SM , Abdul Maulud K N , Mohd Razali S F , Kamarudin M K A
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships between water quality parameters of marine water and to determine parameters that affect much on salinity of surface water. This is a quantitative study which focusses on modelling of salinity on three marine parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen and conductivity) from six monitoring stations in the Straits of Johor, Malaysia. Pearson correlation indicates the occurrence of significant linear relationship between salinity and conductivity for each station. The regression model of salinity shows some significant effects of a few marine parameters. A significant correlation of about 0.8 between salinity and conductivity for all stations shows that their relationship is moderately high as compared to temperature and dissolved oxygen. The fitted models indicate that similar ecological conditions can be observed at one of the monitoring stations for each Western and Eastern parts of the Straits of Johor as the salinity is dominantly influenced by the changes in temperature, dissolved oxygen and conductivity.
Solar reflective pavements—A policy panacea to heat mitigation?
Authors: Middel Ariane , Turner V Kelly , Schneider Florian A , Zhang Yujia , Stiller Matthew
Published: April 2020

Cities worldwide are piloting the use of solar reflective coatings on roads to mitigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI). Solar reflective pavement has been praised as simple, low-cost solution with a demonstrated ability to reduce surface temperature. Less well understood is the effect of solar reflective coatings on radiant heat, which influences human thermal exposure and comfort. We present the first biometeorological observations of solar reflective coating to investigate its thermal performance from a pedestrian perspective. Hourly transects were conducted in two Los Angeles neighborhoods with MaRTy, a mobile platform that measures air, surface, and mean radiant temperature. Transects were performed on July 30, 2019, a typical summer day with low wind speeds and maximum air temperature of 31 °C. The surface temperature of coated asphalt concrete was 4 °C to 6 °C lower than that of regular asphalt concrete, but coated surfaces reflected 118 Wm−2 more shortwave radiation on average and up to 168 Wm−2 more at noon. In the evening, MaRTy observed 20 to 30 Wm−2 of added reflected shortwave radiation on sidewalks next to the reflective pavement. Mean radiant temperature over reflective pavement was 4 °C higher during midday. Although air temperature was reduced by 0.5 °C in the afternoon, after-sunset cooling was negligible. Findings illustrate the benefits and disadvantages of reflective pavement with respect to various thermal performance metrics. Cities should weigh the tradeoffs of UHI mitigation, thermal exposure, implementation and maintenance costs, lifecycle, and other competing priorities in the context of space use.
Non-concentration of the chromatic number of a random graph
Authors: Heckel Annika
Published: April 2020

We show that the chromatic number ofGn,12G_{n, \frac {1}{2}}is not concentrated on fewer thann14−εn^{\frac {1}{4}-\varepsilon }consecutive values. This addresses a longstanding question raised by Erdős and several other authors.
Hausdorff dimension of non-conical limit sets
Authors: Kapovich Michael , Liu Beibei
Published: April 2020

Geometrically infinite Kleinian groups have non-conical limit sets with the cardinality of the continuum. In this paper, we construct a geometrically infinite Fuchsian group such that the Hausdorff dimension of the non-conical limit set equals zero. For finitely generated, geometrically infinite Kleinian groups, we prove that the Hausdorff dimension of the non-conical limit set is positive.
Accounting for Social Perspectives: An Exploratory Study of Approved Mental Health Professional Practice
Authors: Karban Kate , Sparkes Tony , Benson Steve , Kilyon Jen , Lawrence Jill
Published: April 2020

The role of the Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) in England and Wales was intended to provide a social perspective as a ‘counterweight’ to a medical perspective when compulsory detention to psychiatric care is being considered as part of an assessment under the 1983 Mental Health Act (MHA). However, with few exceptions, there is relatively little written about AMHPs’ understandings of a social perspective and their experiences of applying this in practice. This article will discuss the findings of a small-scale qualitative study involving twelve AMHPs, highlighting the different accounts of how social perspectives may be understood and implemented. Some of the tensions that may arise when undertaking MHA assessments and the challenges of implementing a social perspective in practice will be considered. The conclusion will recognise the complexity of AMHP practice and the diverse ways in which AMHPs attempt to apply a social perspective. It is clear, however, that an understanding of social perspectives is firmly embedded in the practice of the AMHPs involved in this study.
Patterns of Cortical Folding Associated with Autistic Symptoms in Carriers and Noncarriers of the 22q11.2 Microdeletion
Authors: Gudbrandsen Maria , Mann Caroline , Bletsch Anke , Daly Eileen , Murphy Clodagh M , Stoencheva Vladimira , Blackmore Charlotte E , Rogdaki Maria , Kushan Leila , Bearden Carrie E , Murphy Declan G M , Craig Michael C , Ecker Christine
Published: April 2020

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a genetic condition accompanied by a range of psychiatric manifestations, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It remains unknown, however, whether these symptoms are mediated by the same or distinct neural mechanisms as in idiopathic ASD. Here, we examined differences in lGI associated with ASD in 50 individuals with 22q11.2DS (n = 25 with ASD, n = 25 without ASD) and 81 individuals without 22q11.2DS (n = 40 with ASD, n = 41 typically developing controls). We initially utilized a factorial design to identify the set of brain regions where lGI is associated with the main effect of 22q11.2DS, ASD, and with the 22q11.2DS-by-ASD interaction term. Subsequently, we employed canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to compare the multivariate association between variability in lGI and the complex clinical phenotype of ASD between 22q11.2DS carriers and noncarriers. Across approaches, we established that even though there is a high degree of clinical similarity across groups, the associated patterns of lGI significantly differed between carriers and noncarriers of the 22q11.2 microdeletion. Our results suggest that ASD symptomatology recruits different neuroanatomical underpinnings across disorders and that 22q11.2DS individuals with ASD represent a neuroanatomically distinct subgroup that differs from 22q11.2DS individuals without ASD and from individuals with idiopathic ASD.
Introduction of Group Electronic Monitoring of Hand Hygiene on Inpatient Units: A Multicenter Cluster Randomized Quality Improvement Study
Authors: Leis Jerome A , Powis Jeff E , McGeer Allison , Ricciuto Daniel R , Agnihotri Tanya , Coyle Natalie , Williams Victoria , Moore Christine , Salt Natasha , Wong Louis , McCreight Liz , Sivaramakrishna Sajeetha , Junaid Shara , Cao Xinghan , Muller Matthew
Published: April 2020

Background

The current approach to measuring hand hygiene (HH) relies on human auditors who capture <1% of HH opportunities and rapidly become recognized by staff, resulting in inflation in performance. Group electronic monitoring is a validated method of measuring HH adherence, but data demonstrating the clinical impact of this technology are lacking.

Methods

A stepped-wedge cluster randomized quality improvement study was performed on 26 inpatient medical and surgical units across 5 acute care hospitals in Ontario, Canada. The intervention involved daily HH reporting as measured by group electronic monitoring to guide unit-led improvement strategies. The primary outcome was monthly HH adherence (percentage) between baseline and intervention. Secondary outcomes included transmission of antibiotic-resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other healthcare-associated infections.

Results

After adjusting for the correlation within inpatient units and hospitals, there was a significant overall improvement in HH adherence associated with the intervention (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.73 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.47–1.99]; P < .0001). Monthly HH adherence relative to the intervention increased from 29% (1 395 450/4 544 144) to 37% (598 035/1 536 643) within 1 month, followed by consecutive incremental increases up to 53% (804 108/1 515 537) by 10 months (P < .0001). There was a trend toward reduced healthcare-associated transmission of MRSA (IRR, 0.74 [95% CI, .53–1.04]; P = .08).

Conclusions

The introduction of a system for group electronic monitoring led to rapid, significant improvements in HH performance within a 2-year period. This method offers significant advantages over direct observation for measurement and improvement of HH.
Prediction for Progression Risk in Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia: The CALL Score
Authors: Ji Dong , Zhang Dawei , Xu Jing , Chen Zhu , Yang Tieniu , Zhao Peng , Chen Guofeng , Cheng Gregory , Wang Yudong , Bi Jingfeng , Tan Lin , Lau George , Qin Enqiang
Published: April 2020

Background

We aimed to clarify high-risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with multivariate analysis and establish a predictive model of disease progression to help clinicians better choose a therapeutic strategy.

Methods

All consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to Fuyang Second People’s Hospital or the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between 20 January and 22 February 2020 were enrolled and their clinical data were retrospectively collected. Multivariate Cox regression was used to identify risk factors associated with progression, which were then were incorporated into a nomogram to establish a novel prediction scoring model. ROC was used to assess the performance of the model.

Results

Overall, 208 patients were divided into a stable group (n = 168, 80.8%) and a progressive group (n = 40,19.2%) based on whether their conditions worsened during hospitalization. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that comorbidity, older age, lower lymphocyte count, and higher lactate dehydrogenase at presentation were independent high-risk factors for COVID-19 progression. Incorporating these 4 factors, the nomogram achieved good concordance indexes of .86 (95% confidence interval [CI], .81–.91) and well-fitted calibration curves. A novel scoring model, named as CALL, was established; its area under the ROC was .91 (95% CI, .86–.94). Using a cutoff of 6 points, the positive and negative predictive values were 50.7% (38.9–62.4%) and 98.5% (94.7–99.8%), respectively.

Conclusions

Using the CALL score model, clinicians can improve the therapeutic effect and reduce the mortality of COVID-19 with more accurate and efficient use of medical resources.
Effect of Throat Washings on Detection of 2019 Novel Coronavirus
Authors: Guo Wen-Liang , Jiang Qian , Ye Feng , Li Shao-Qiang , Hong Cheng , Chen Li-Yan , Li Shi-Yue
Published: April 2020

The 2019 novel coronavirus was detected in self-collected throat washings. The positive testing rate of throat washing was much higher than that of nasopharyngeal swabs. Throat washing is a promising candidate for 2019-nCoV screening and monitoring due to its noninvasiveness and reliability.
The Malleability Narrative in Entertainment and Social Media: Explaining Pathways to Happiness in Media Content
Authors: Vandenbosch Laura , Eggermont Steven
Published: April 2020

Media effects research has documented the prevalence of different ideals in media content, and their effects on media users. We developed a framework for the representation of such ideals, and that may increase our understanding of the effects media have on users' well-being. Drawing on cultural sociology, communication theory, and psychological literature, we introduce the malleability narrative of mediated ideals, described as “a collection of media representations of a variety of ideals that tend to be portrayed as within reach for anyone who is committed to pursuing his/her own self-interest.” The aim of the framework is to foster content analytical research on the occurrence of the malleability narrative in popular media and to stimulate audience research on interactions between media users and the malleability narrative in media, while taking account of different explanatory routes and the heterogeneity of the audience.
The perception of youth health centres’ friendliness: does it differ between immigrant and Swedish-Scandinavian youths?
Authors: Baroudi Mazen , San Sebastian Miguel , Hurtig Anna-Karin , Goicolea Isabel
Published: April 2020

Background

Ensuring a good quality service and equal access according to need for all young people is a key objective of the Swedish health system. The aim of this study was to explore youths’ perception of youth health centres’ (YHCs’) friendliness and to assess the differences in perception between immigrant and Swedish-Scandinavian youths.

Methods

All YHCs in the four northern counties in Sweden were invited (22 centres), and 20 agreed to participate. Overall, 1089 youths aged 16–25 years answered the youth-friendly health services-Sweden questionnaire between September 2016 and February 2017. Thirteen sub-domains of friendliness were identified and their scores were calculated. Multilevel analysis was used to examine the differences in perception between immigrant and Swedish-Scandinavian youths.

Results

Our sample consisted of 971 Swedish-Scandinavian youths (89.2%) and 118 immigrants (10.8%). Generally, both groups perceived the services to be very friendly. All 13 sub-domains were rated more than three in a four-point scale except for fear of exposure and parental support of psychosocial services. However, immigrant youths perceived YHCs less friendly than their counterparts, particularly regarding the domains of equity, respect, quality and parental support.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that even though youths perceived YHCs as highly friendly, there is a space for improvement regarding access to health care. Our findings highlight the importance of an open and culturally sensitive attitude of the staff and the need to engage parents and community as a key to improve immigrant youths’ accessibility to health care.
Measurements of the seismoelectric responses in a synthetic porous rock
Authors: Wang Jun , Zhu Zhenya , Gao Yongxin , Morgan Frank Dale , Hu Hengshan
Published: April 2020

Seismoelectric measurements are conducted with a synthetic porous rock sample to model an ocean exploration. Two kinds of seismoelectric coupling signals, that is, the interfacial EM wave signal and the coseismic electric signal, have been recorded by the electrodes buried inside a rock sample instead of those located in the fluid or in the solid region near the interface as performed in previous works. These seismoelectric signals are clearly observed and identified with a high signal-to-noise ratio. The characteristics of the measured interfacial EM wave and coseismic electric signals are analysed with the experimental data. We also simulate the seismoelectric conversion fields and make a comparison between the measured and simulated seismoelectric signals. The result shows that the simulated and measured signals match well for both the interfacial EM wave and the coseismic electric fields accompanying the fast P wave. Our results also show that the amplitudes of seismoelectric signals are in the order of tens to hundreds of microvolts with our experimental system. This confirms that the seismoelectric signals are measurable in the interior of the rocks with current measurement techniques, suggesting the seismoelectric measurement to be a potential method for studying characteristics of the material beneath the seafloor.
Patients With Combined Thermal and Intraabdominal Injuries: More Salvageable Than Not
Authors: Chang Jaimie , Hejna Emily , Fu Chih-Yuan , Bajani Francesco , Tatabe Leah , Schlanser Victoria , Kaminsky Matthew , Dennis Andrew , Starr Frederick , Messer Thomas , Poulakidas Stathis , Bokhari Faran
Published: April 2020

This study aims to better characterize the course and outcome of the uncommon subset of trauma patients with combined thermal and intraabdominal organ injuries. The National Trauma Data Bank was queried for burn patients with intraabdominal injury treated in all U.S. trauma centers from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2015. General demographics, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), shock index (SI), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) for burn, Injury Severity Score (ISS), blood transfusions, and abdominal surgery were evaluated. During the 5-year study period, there were 334 burn patients with intraabdominal injury, 39 (13.2%) of which received abdominal surgery. Burn patients who underwent operations had more severe injuries reflected by higher SI, AIS, ISS, blood transfusion, and worse outcomes including higher mortality, longer hospital and ICU length of stay, and more ventilator days compared to patients who did not undergo an operation. Nonsurvivors also exhibited more severe injuries, and a higher proportion received abdominal operation compared to survivors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GCS on arrival, SI, AIS, ISS, blood transfusion, and abdominal operation to be independent risk factors for mortality. Propensity score matching to control covariables (mean age, systolic blood pressure on arrival, GCS on arrival, SI, ISS, time to operation, blood transfusion, and comorbidities) showed that of trauma patients who received abdominal operation, those with concomitant burn injury exhibited a higher rate of complications but no significant difference in mortality compared to those without burns, suggesting that patients with concomitant burns are not less salvageable than nonburned trauma patients.
A new species of Tantulocarida (Crustacea) parasitic on a deep-water cumacean host from the southwestern Atlantic, with a review of tantulocaridan host utilization, distribution, and diversity
Authors: Petrunina Alexandra S , Huys Rony
Published: April 2020

Tantulocaridans (Class Tantulocarida) are primarily known to parasitize copepods, tanaidaceans, and isopods while only single species have been recorded from amphipod, ostracod, and cumacean hosts. Examination of a collection of deep-water peracarids from the Campos Basin off northeastern Brazil resulted in the discovery of a tantulus larva attached to a juvenile Styloptocuma angustatum (Jones, 1984) (Cumacea, Nannastacidae), representing a new species and only the fifth record for this host group. The new species is provisionally assigned to the genus AphotocentorHuys, 1991 (Cumoniscidae) based on the proximally dilated terminal caudal ramus setae, the conspicuous polygonal surface ornamentation on the thoracic somites, the spinous processes around the posterior border of the abdomen, the dorsal abdominal surface pattern consisting of four continuous transverse lamellae, and the spinular ornamentation on the protopods of legs 2–6. The tantulus of A. kolbasovisp. nov. is characterized by its large body size (175 μm), disproportionally long cephalic shield, the presence of paired papillae on the midventral surface of the cephalon, and the unique swimming leg setal formula, displaying the highest number of setation elements ever reported for leg 1. Except for the asymmetrically arranged median pores, the new species exhibits the full complement of cephalic pores, including the anterior pore AV. Current classification, known stages, tantulus body length, and distribution of all valid tantulocaridan species are presented. Literature records of Tantulocarida, including host group/species and depth, as well as those based exclusively on tantulus stages from the temporary meiobenthos or unidentified stages from the meroplankton are summarized. The authenticity of recently reported tantulus larvae on the lysianassid amphipod Lepidepecreella debroyeriSchiaparelli, Alvaro, Kilgallen, Scinto & Lörz, 2015 from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica) is scrutinized. Tumour-like anomalies on the exoskeleton of planktonic copepods in the central Red Sea and around hydrothermal vent fluids off Taiwan have erroneously been attributed to tantulocaridan infections.
Changes in aboveground locomotion of a scansorial opossum associated to habitat fragmentation
Authors: Delciellos Ana Cláudia , Ribeiro Suzy Emidio , Prevedello Jayme Augusto , Vieira Marcus Vinícius
Published: April 2020

Habitat fragmentation may affect animal movement patterns due to changes in intra- and interspecific interactions as well as in habitat quality and structure. Although the effects of habitat fragmentation on terrestrial movements are relatively well-known, it is unclear whether and how they affect aboveground locomotion of individuals. We compared aboveground locomotion of a Neotropical small mammal, the gray four-eyed opossum, Philander quica, between two forest fragments and two areas of continuous forest in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We 1) quantified support availability and tested for active selection of different support diameters and inclinations by individuals; and 2) compared support diameters and inclinations used (observed values) among areas and between males and females. Both males and females selected supports based on diameters and inclinations in forest fragments. In continuous forests sites, females selected supports based on diameters and inclinations, but males selected only support diameters. Frequency of support diameter use differed significantly between forest fragments and continuous forest sites and between males and females. Frequency of support inclination use differed significantly between areas only for females, and between sexes only in continuous forest sites. Sex-related differences in support selection and use are likely related to differences in body size and conflicting energetic and behavioral demands related to use of arboreal space. Site-related differences in aboveground movements likely reflect the effects of forest edges that result in increased use of thinner supports in forest fragments. These results complement our previous findings that habitat fragmentation reduces daily home ranges and increases the total amount of aboveground locomotion of P. quica, and provide a more thorough picture of how forest-dependent species are able to use and persist in small forest fragments.
Purple acid phosphatase 10c encodes a major acid phosphatase that regulates plant growth under phosphate-deficient conditions in rice
Authors: Deng Suren , Lu Linghong , Li Jingyi , Du Zezhen , Liu Tongtong , Li Wenjing , Xu Fangsen , Shi Lei , Shou Huixia , Wang Chuang
Published: April 2020

Whilst constitutive overexpression of particular acid phosphatases (APases) can increase utilization of extracellular organic phosphate, negative effects are frequently observed in these transgenic plants under conditions of inorganic phosphate (Pi) sufficiency. In this study, we identified rice purple acid phosphatase 10c (OsPAP10c) as being a novel and major APase that exhibits activities associated both with the root surface and with secretion. Two constructs were used to generate the OsPAP10c-overexpression plants by driving its coding sequence with either a ubiquitin promoter (UP) or the OsPAP10c-native promoter (NP). Compared with the UP transgenic plants, lower expression levels and APase activities were observed in the NP plants. However, the UP and NP plants both showed a similar ability to degrade extracellular ATP and both promoted root growth. The growth performance and yield of the NP transgenic plants were better than the wild-type and UP plants in both hydroponic and field experiments irrespective of the level of Pi supply. Overexpression of APase by its native promoter therefore provides a potential way to improve crop production that might avoid increased APase activity in untargeted tissues and its inhibition of the growth of transgenic plants.
Highly Effective Model for Implementation of In-House Platelets in a Tertiary Veteran Hospital Setting Without a Trauma Center
Authors: Petersen Jeffrey M , Patel Vijal , Jhala Darshana
Published: April 2020

Background

Platelet products have a limited shelf life and are costly. Therefore, to balance clinical usage/availability and wastage in a tertiary hospital setting without a trauma center, an innovative system model was established. This system reduced wastage by transferring platelet unit approaching their expiration date to a nearby facility (with the same blood supplier and a trauma center) before expiration, when there is no anticipated need for the product at the original location.

Methods

A review of data to determine the degree of platelet wastage and wastage costs one year before implementation of this measure in October 2017 and one year after implementation of this measure.

Results

Since the implementation of this measure, no platelet units have expired on the shelf. In contrast, from October 2016 to October 2017, before implementation of platelet transfer, platelet products expired regularly.

Conclusion

This new system model is highly effective in maintaining platelet inventory without wastage.
GeV emission of gamma-ray binary with pulsar scenario
Authors: Xingxing Hu , Jumpei Takata , Qingwen Tang
Published: April 2020

We study GeV emission from gamma-ray binaries by assuming that the compact object is a young pulsar. We assume that the relativistic unshocked pulsar wind with a Lorentz factor of 104–5 can produce the GeV emission by the inverse-Compton scattering process in the dense soft-photon field of the companion star. The travel distance of the unshocked pulsar wind that moves toward the observer depends on the orbital phase of the pulsar. We discuss that the orbital modulation of the GeV emission is a result of combination of the effects of the travel distance of the unshocked pulsar wind and of the anisotropic soft-photon field of the companion star. In this paper, we study how the effect of the travel distance of the unshocked pulsar wind affects to the orbital modulation of GeV emission. We apply our scenario to two gamma-ray binaries, LMC P3 and 4FGL J1405.1−6119. We find that with the suggested system parameters of LMC P3, the observed amplitude of the orbital modulation and the peak width are more consistent with the model light curve by taking into account the effect of the travel distance. For LMC P3, we analyse the GeV spectrum with 8-yr Fermi-LAT data and discuss the broadband emission process in X-ray to TeV energy bands. We predict a possible system geometry for 4FGL J1405.1−6119 by fitting the GeV light curve.
Observing flare stars below 100 MHz with the LWA
Authors: Davis Ivey , Taylor Greg , Dowell Jayce
Published: April 2020

We observed the flare stars AD Leonis, Wolf 424, EQ Pegasi, EV Lacertae, and UV Ceti for nearly 135 h. These stars were observed between 63 and 83 MHz using the interferometry mode of the Long Wavelength Array. Given that emission from flare stars is typically circularly polarized, we used the condition that any significant detection present in Stokes I must also be present in Stokes V at the same time in order for us to consider it a possible flare. Following this, we made one marginal flare detection for the star EQ Pegasi. This flare had a flux density of 5.91 Jy in Stokes I and 5.13 Jy in Stokes V, corresponding to a brightness temperature 1.75 × 1016(r/r*)−2 K.
The Aphid X Chromosome Is a Dangerous Place for Functionally Important Genes: Diverse Evolution of Hemipteran Genomes Based on Chromosome-Level Assemblies
Authors: Li Yiyuan , Zhang Bo , Moran Nancy A
Published: April 2020

Different evolutionary forces shape gene content and sequence evolution on autosomes versus sex chromosomes. Location on a sex chromosome can favor male-beneficial or female-beneficial mutations depending on the sex determination system and selective pressure on different sexual morphs. An X0 sex determination can lead to autosomal enrichment of male-biased genes, as observed in some hemipteran insect species. Aphids share X0 sex determination; however, models predict the opposite pattern, due to their unusual life cycles, which alternate between all-female asexual generations and a single sexual generation. Predictions include enrichment of female-biased genes on autosomes and of male-biased genes on the X, in contrast to expectations for obligately sexual species. Robust tests of these models require chromosome-level genome assemblies for aphids and related hemipterans with X0 sex determination and obligate sexual reproduction. In this study, we built the first chromosome-level assembly of a psyllid, an aphid relative with X0 sex determination and obligate sexuality, and compared it with recently resolved chromosome-level assemblies of aphid genomes. Aphid and psyllid X chromosomes differ strikingly. In aphids, female-biased genes are strongly enriched on autosomes and male-biased genes are enriched on the X. In psyllids, male-biased genes are enriched on autosomes. Furthermore, functionally important gene categories of aphids are enriched on autosomes. Aphid X-linked genes and male-biased genes are under relaxed purifying selection, but gene content and order on the X is highly conserved, possibly reflecting constraints imposed by unique chromosomal mechanisms associated with the unusual aphid life cycle.
Targeted mRNA demethylation using an engineered dCas13b-ALKBH5 fusion protein
Authors: Li Jiexin , Chen Zhuojia , Chen Feng , Xie Guoyou , Ling Yuyi , Peng Yanxi , Lin Yu , Luo Nan , Chiang Cheng-Ming , Wang Hongsheng
Published: April 2020

Studies on biological functions of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in mRNA have drawn significant attention in recent years. Here we describe the construction and characterization of a CRISPR–Cas13b-based tool for targeted demethylation of specific mRNA. A fusion protein, named dm6ACRISPR, was created by linking a catalytically inactive Type VI-B Cas13 enzyme from Prevotella sp. P5–125 (dPspCas13b) to m6A demethylase AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5). dm6ACRISPR specifically demethylates m6A of targeted mRNA such as cytochrome b5 form A (CYB5A) to increase its mRNA stability. It can also demethylate β-catenin-encoding CTNNB1 mRNA that contains multiple m6A sites to trigger its translation. In addition, the dm6ACRISPR system incurs efficient demethylation of targeted epitranscriptome transcripts with limited off-target effects. Targeted demethylation of transcripts coding for oncoproteins such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and MYC can suppress proliferation of cancer cells. Together, we provide a programmable and in vivo manipulation tool to study mRNA modification of specific genes and their related biological functions.