bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Lumbar Movement Patterns of Allied Health Professionals in an Australian Health Care Facility
Authors: Vuillermin Georde , Bowles Kelly-Ann , Iles Ross , Williams Cylie
Published: April 2021

Health professionals responsible for return to work plans have little data about allied health movement to guide recommendations following lower back injury. This study aimed to quantify the lumbar movement patterns of allied health professionals within a health care facility throughout a normal workday. An observational case study was undertaken at a public health care facility with 122 allied health professionals. The lumbar movements were recorded with the ViMove together with pain scale measurement. The mean (SD) recording time for allied health was 7.7 (0.7) hours. A mean (SD) 3 (1.4) hours total were spent in standing, 3.8 (1.7) hours in sitting, and 0.8 (0.4) hours in locomotion. Forty-nine flexions were recorded on average per session, most identified as short term (<30 s) within low range (0°–20°). Lumbar movement patterns differed among professions. Thirty-seven (31%) participants reported a history of lower back injury, and 57 (47%) reported low back pain at the end of their workday. This study provides an insight into allied health professionals’ back movement in a hospital or community-based health care setting. These data may inform those who make return to work recommendations or provide rehabilitation services for allied health professionals working with a lower back injury.
Exercising for future generations
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: April 2021

A placenta-to-fetus pathway transmits the benefits of maternal exercise on the metabolic health of offspring.
Differential Performance of CoronaCHEK SARS-CoV-2 Lateral Flow Antibody Assay by Geographic Origin of Samples
Authors: Baker Owen R. , Grabowski M. Kate , Galiwango Ronald M. , Nalumansi Aminah , Serwanga Jennifer , Clarke William , Hsieh Yu-Hsiang , Rothman Richard E. , Fernandez Reinaldo E. , Serwadda David , Kagaayi Joseph , Lutalo Tom , Reynolds Steven J. , Kaleebu Pontiano , Quinn Thomas C. , Laeyendecker Oliver
Published: April 2021

We assessed the performance of the CoronaCHEK lateral flow assay on samples from Uganda and Baltimore to determine the impact of geographic origin on assay performance. Plasma samples from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR-positive individuals (Uganda, 78 samples from 78 individuals, and Baltimore, 266 samples from 38 individuals) and from prepandemic individuals (Uganda, 1,077, and Baltimore, 532) were evaluated.
A Family of Toxoplasma gondii Genes Related to GRA12 Regulate Cyst Burdens and Cyst Reactivation
Authors: Guevara Rebekah B. , Fox Barbara A. , Bzik David J.
Published: April 2021

If host immunity weakens,
Toxoplasma gondii
cysts recrudesce in the central nervous system and cause a severe toxoplasmic encephalitis. Current therapies target acute stage infection but do not eliminate chronic cysts.
Predicting COVID-19 Severity with a Specific Nucleocapsid Antibody plus Disease Risk Factor Score
Authors: Sen Sanjana R. , Sanders Emily C. , Gabriel Kristin N. , Miller Brian M. , Isoda Hariny M. , Salcedo Gabriela S. , Garrido Jason E. , Dyer Rebekah P. , Nakajima Rie , Jain Aarti , Caldaruse Ana-Maria , Santos Alicia M. , Bhuvan Keertna , Tifrea Delia F. , Ricks-Oddie Joni L. , Felgner Philip L. , Edwards Robert A. , Majumdar Sudipta , Weiss Gregory A.
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over two million deaths worldwide. Despite efforts to fight the virus, the disease continues to overwhelm hospitals with severely ill patients.
Ehrlichia chaffeensis TRP120 Is a Wnt Ligand Mimetic That Interacts with Wnt Receptors and Contains a Novel Repetitive Short Linear Motif That Activates Wnt Signaling
Authors: Rogan Madison R. , Patterson LaNisha L. , Byerly Caitlan D. , Luo Tian , Paessler Slobodan , Veljkovic Veljko , Quade Bethany , McBride Jere W.
Published: April 2021

Upon infecting mammalian hosts,
Ehrlichia chaffeensis
establishes a replicative niche in microbe-eating immune system cells where it expertly orchestrates infection and spread. One of the ways
Ehrlichia
survives within these phagocytes is by activating evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways including the Wnt pathway; however, the molecular details of pathway hijacking have not been defined.
Longitudinal Profiling of the Macaque Vaginal Microbiome Reveals Similarities to Diverse Human Vaginal Communities
Authors: Rhoades Nicholas S. , Hendrickson Sara M. , Gerken Danielle R. , Martinez Kassandra , Slayden Ov D. , Slifka Mark K. , Messaoudi Ilhem
Published: April 2021

It is widely accepted that the “healthy” vaginal microbiome of women in the developed world is dominated by
Lactobacillus
species. However, in the developing world, many asymptomatic women harbor diverse vaginal microbial communities that are typically associated with bacterial vaginosis.
Red cell transfusion thresholds for preterm infants: finally some answers
Authors: Bell Edward F
Published: April 2021

Extremely low birthweight infants become anaemic during their care in the neonatal intensive care unit because of the physiological anaemia experienced by all newborn infants compounded by early umbilical cord clamping, blood loss by phlebotomy for laboratory monitoring and delayed erythropoiesis. The majority of these infants receive transfusions of packed red blood cells, usually based on haemoglobin values below a certain threshold. The haemoglobin or haematocrit thresholds used to guide transfusion practices vary with infant status and among institutions and practitioners. Previous smaller studies have not given clear guidance with respect to the haemoglobin thresholds that should trigger transfusions or even if this is the best way to decide when to transfuse an infant. Two large clinical trials of similar design comparing higher and lower haemoglobin thresholds for transfusing extremely low birthweight infants were recently published, the ETTNO and TOP trials. These trials found reassuringly conclusive and concordant results. Within the range of haemoglobin transfusion thresholds studied, there was no difference in the primary outcome (which was the same in both studies), neurodevelopmental impairment at 2 years’ corrected age or death before assessment, in either study. In addition, there was no difference in either study in either of the components of the primary outcome. In conclusion, haemoglobin transfusion thresholds within the ranges used in these trials, 11–13 g/dL for young critically ill or ventilated infants and 7–10 g/dL for stable infants not requiring significant respiratory support, can be safely used without expecting adverse consequences on survival or neurodevelopment.
Artery of Percheron infarct: a diagnostic challenge
Authors: Morais Joana , Oliveira Ana Andrade , Burmester Inês , Pires Olga
Published: April 2021

The artery of Percheron is a rare anatomical variation that supplies thalamus and the midbrain. A stroke in this area is a rare event. The presentation varies widely, with some bizarre disturbances, like transient episodic loss of consciousness similar to coma, somnolence, cognition and memory impairment and psychosis. We report a case of a patient who presented at the emergency department with a sudden change of consciousness. During the observation, she oscillated reactive state of consciousness with obnubilation similar to coma. The first exams were normal, which include a cranial CT of the brain, and so the patient was kept under observation. The final diagnosis was only possible 24 hours later with cranial CT where an ischaemic lesion on the Percheron territory was identified. This case highlights an unusual clinic and a difficult neuroimaging stroke diagnosis of a rare condition, that is unknown to most of the physicians.
Rabies encephalitis
Authors: Chaudhary Shyam Chand , Khandelwal Akash , Tandon Ruchika , Sawlani Kamal Kumar
Published: April 2021

Rabies is an almost always fatal disease that physicians and patients dread due to its dismal prognosis and limited treatment options. Transmission of this disease occurs through the bite of dogs and wild animals (like jackal in our case). Other rare forms of transmission may be through inhalation in bat-infested caves and human-to-human transmission by infected corneal transplants, solid organ and tissue transplantation, and sometimes in laboratory settings. Its diagnosis is usually clinical in the absence of availability of special laboratory investigations at the point-of-care facility. Few people have described the role of imaging in diagnosis. We hereby report a patient with rabies encephalitis, having a history of jackal bite and classical MRI findings that we can use for early diagnosis in the absence of typical clinical features and specialised diagnostic testing.
Seromadesis following total hip resurfacing by aspiration and injection of doxycycline
Authors: Farrier Adam James , Holland Jim
Published: April 2021

Here, we present an interesting case of seroma following hip resurfacing arthroplasty in a 69-year-old man. During the postoperative recovery, the patient made rapid progress and returned to intense activity within the 6-week period. He subsequently developed further right hip pain and swelling. On further examination and on ultrasound scan, a lateral thigh collection was noted. All inflammatory markers were within normal parameters; clinically, there was no evidence of active infection. On initial aspiration and washout, there was a large sterile haemoserous collection. The patient subsequently underwent further aspiration due to persistent collection. After this a revision procedure was performed in two stages with excision of the seroma cavity superficial to fascia lata. Methicillin-sensitiveStaphylococcus aureuswas grown on extended cultures which was treated successfully with antibiotics. After the second stage revision to total hip replacement, this cavity then recollected. A further trial of aspiration with injection of 200 mg doxycycline, a known sclerosing agent, was performed. The seroma resolved.
Traumatic damage to the liver capsule: an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction
Authors: Aloni Kymberlie , Harris Holly , Colucci Gianluca , McFall Malcolm
Published: April 2021

A 61-year-old man presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain. Three months prior to presentation, he had sustained blunt trauma to his right side while cycling, but had not sought medical attention. On admission, a CT scan showed small bowel obstruction (SBO) and he underwent an emergency open laparotomy. Intraoperatively, a subcapsular liver haematoma was identified, with incarcerated, necrotic small bowel within the liver capsule. The patient underwent deroofing of the haematoma with an omental patch and a small bowel resection with primary anastomosis. We believe this is the first reported case of SBO secondary to small bowel herniation into the liver capsule following trauma.
COVID-19 triggering mucormycosis in a susceptible patient: a new phenomenon in the developing world?
Authors: Revannavar Shweta Mallikarjun , P S Supriya , Samaga Laxminarayana , V K Vineeth
Published: April 2021

A middle-aged woman with diabetes presented with left-sided facial pain, complete ptosis and fever of short duration. On presentation, she had hyperglycaemia without ketosis. There was total ophthalmoplegia of the left eye with a visual acuity of 6/36. She incidentally tested positive for COVID-19. CT paranasal sinus and MRI brain revealed left-sided pansinusitis with acute infarct in the left parieto-occipital region without angioinvasion. An emergency functional endoscopic sinus procedure was done, which confirmed mucormycosis on histopathological examination. After 1 week of conventional amphotericin B and antibiotics, repeat CT brain showed improvement in mucosal thickening and sinusitis. This case is a rare presentation of mucormycosis associated with rapid progression to orbital apex syndrome with brain infarction in a patient with non-ketotic diabetes and COVID-19. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent further end-organ damage. It is also interesting that there was no angioinvasion and transient periarterial inflammation was attributed to brain infarction.
New-onset psychosis due to COVID-19
Authors: Kozato Nana , Mishra Monisha , Firdosi Mudasir
Published: April 2021

This is a case report of a middle-aged man with no psychiatric history who presented with severe anxiety and psychotic symptoms from COVID-19. Following his discharge from intensive care unit, he was unable to sleep, was increasingly agitated and was observed hitting his head off the walls, causing haematomas. He remained highly anxious and developed paranoid delusions and auditory and tactile hallucinations, needing admission to a psychiatric ward. Treatment with antipsychotic medication gradually improved his symptoms in a few weeks. This case report highlights the new onset of psychosis due to COVID-19 infection. It demonstrates the importance of early identification and treatment of neuropsychiatric complications within an acute hospital setting. Furthermore, there is a need for research in this area to help in the prevention and treatment of such psychiatric complications due to COVID-19.
Influencing factors and their relationships of risk perception and decision-making behaviour of polypharmacy in patients with chronic diseases: a qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Liu Yuxin , Wang Ruoxi , Huang Rui , Cao Yan , Wang Jia , Feng Da
Published: April 2021

Objectives

In order to understand the influencing factors of the medication-taking behaviour in patients with chronic diseases, reveal the deep-seated causes underlying the phenomenon of polypharmacy, explore the formation rules of the risk perception of polypharmacy and how risk perception affect the medication decision-making behaviour of patients with chronic diseases.

Design

A qualitative descriptive design was used. Study data were collected through semi-structured interviews with patients and physicians. We used the grounded theory approach to refine influencing factors, followed by interpretative structural modelling that analysed the interaction between these factors.

Setting

Patients from two hospitals, two nursing homes and two communities. Physicians from two community hospitals in Wuhan, China.

Participants

Patients with chronic diseases with high willingness to cooperate and good communication ability. Physicians with rich experience in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Results

Twenty-nine interviews were conducted (20 patients and 9 physicians). A total of 35 influencing factors of the medication-taking behaviours in patients with chronic diseases were extracted from the interview data, further integrated into 10 integrated influencing factors and ultimately clustered into three aspects: ‘medication benefit’, ‘medication risk’ and ‘medication strategy’. Medication risk can be divided into four specific dimensions: economic risk, physical risk, psychosocial risk and time risk. 10 integrated influencing factors constituted the interpretative structural model of the medication decision-making behaviours in patients with chronic diseases.

Conclusions

The causes underlying the medication decision-making behaviour of patients with chronic diseases are complex, involving a series of influencing factors such as their risk perception of the medication-taking behaviour. In order to alleviate the adverse effects of polypharmacy on patients’ health and medical costs, further safety measures should be proposed to improve the medication-taking behaviour in patients with chronic diseases based on the relationship and internal mechanism of the influencing factors of the medication decision-making behaviour.
The gender wage gap among medical specialists: a quantitative analysis of the hourly pay of publicly employed senior doctors in New Zealand
Authors: Sin Isabelle , Bruce-Brand Bronwyn , Chambers Charlotte Nesta Louise
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To estimate the gender gap in hourly wages earned by medical specialists in their main jobs after controlling for age, number of hours worked and medical specialty.

Design

Observational using governmental administrative and survey data.

Setting

New Zealand public employed medical workforce.

Participants

3510 medical specialists who were employed for wages or a salary in a medical capacity by a New Zealand district health board (DHB) at the time of the March 2013 census, whose census responses on hours worked were complete and can be matched to tax records of earnings to construct hourly earnings.

Main outcome measures

Hourly earnings in the DHB job calculated from usual weekly hours worked reported in the census and wage or salary earnings paid in the month recorded in administrative tax data.

Results

In their DHB employment, female specialists earned on average 12.5% lower hourly wages than their male counterparts of the same age, in the same specialty, who work the same number of hours (95% CI 9.9% to 15.1%). Adding controls for a wide range of personal and work characteristics decreased the estimated gap only slightly to 11.2% (95% CI 8.6% to 13.8%). At most, 4.5 percentage points can be explained by gender differences in experience at the same age.

Conclusions

Male specialists earn a large and statistically significant premium over their female colleagues. Age, specialty and hours of work do not appear to drive these wage gaps. These findings suggest that employment agreements that specify minimum wages for each level of experience, and progression through these levels, are insufficient to eliminate gender wage gaps between similar men and women with the same experience.
Experiences and views of receiving and delivering information about recovery in acquired neurological conditions: a systematic review of qualitative literature
Authors: Burton Louisa-Jane , Forster Anne , Johnson Judith , Crocker Thomas F. , Tyson Sarah F. , Wray Faye , Clarke David J.
Published: April 2021

Objective

To review and synthesise qualitative literature relating to the views, perceptions and experiences of patients with acquired neurological conditions and their caregivers about the process of receiving information about recovery; as well as the views and experiences of healthcare professionals involved in delivering this information.

Design

Systematic review of qualitative studies.

Data sources

MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science and the Cochrane library were searched from their inception to July 2019.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two reviewers extracted data from the included studies and assessed quality using an established tool. Thematic synthesis was used to synthesise the findings of included studies.

Results

Searches yielded 9105 titles, with 145 retained for full-text screening. Twenty-eight studies (30 papers) from eight countries were included. Inductive analysis resulted in 11 descriptive themes, from which 5 analytical themes were generated: the right information at the right time; managing expectations; it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it; learning how to talk about recovery and manage emotions; the context of uncertainty.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the inherent challenges in talking about recovery in an emotional context, where breaking bad news is a key feature. Future interventions should focus on preparing staff to meet patients’ and families’ information needs, as well as ensuring they have the skills to discuss potential recovery and break bad news compassionately and share the uncertain trajectory characteristic of acquired neurological conditions. An agreed team-based approach to talking about recovery is recommended to ensure consistency and improve the experiences of patients and their families.
International randomised controlled trial evaluating metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetic cigarette smokers following switching to combustion-free nicotine delivery systems: the DIASMOKE protocol
Authors: Krysinski Arkadiusz , Russo Cristina , John Sarah , Belsey Jonathan D , Campagna Davide , Caponnetto Pasquale , Vudu Lorina , Lim Chong Wei , Purrello Francesco , Di Mauro Maurizio , Iqbal Farrukh , Fluck David , Franek Edward , Polosa Riccardo , Sharma Pankaj
Published: April 2021

This article has been retracted.
Treatment choices for diabetic macular oedema: a guideline for when to consider an intravitreal corticosteroid, including adaptations for the COVID-19 era
Authors: Downey Louise , Acharya Nachiketa , Devonport Helen , Gale Richard , Habib Maged , Manjunath Vina , Mukherjee Rajarshi , Severn Philip
Published: April 2021

First-line treatment of centrally involved diabetic macular oedema (CI-DMO) is often with an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agent. Although this can provide efficacy in the majority of eyes, a sizeable proportion do not respond sufficiently and many continue to receive anti-VEGF therapy after it may be optimal. This imposes a treatment burden on both patients and clinicians and, most importantly of all, can be sight threatening. Changing treatment to an intravitreal corticosteroid implant at the appropriate time may help optimise patient outcomes and reduce injection frequency, thereby reducing treatment burden.

Eight retina specialists convened to discuss how to ensure eyes with CI-DMO receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy are evaluated for a potential change to intravitreal corticosteroid therapy at the most effective time in their treatment journey. They concluded that clear criteria on when to consider changing treatment would be helpful and so developed a consensus guideline covering key decision points such as when and how to assess response to anti-VEGF therapy, when to consider a change to corticosteroid therapy and when and how to assess the response to corticosteroid therapy.

The guideline was developed before the COVID-19 pandemic but, with the additional challenges arising from this including even greater pressure on clinic capacity, it is more important than ever to reconsider current working practices and adopt changes to improve patient care while also easing pressure on clinic capacity, reducing hospital visits and maintaining patient safety. This publication therefore also includes suggestions for adapting the guidelines in the COVID-19 era.
Unplanned hospitalisations in older people: illness trajectories in the last year of life
Authors: Szilcz Máté , Wastesson Jonas W , Johnell Kristina , Morin Lucas
Published: April 2021

Objective

Unplanned hospitalisations can be burdensome for older people who approach the end of life. Hospitalisations disrupt the continuity of care and often run against patients’ preference for comfort and palliative goals of care. This study aimed to describe the patterns of unplanned hospitalisations across illness trajectories in the last year of life.

Methods

Longitudinal, retrospective cohort study of decedents, including all older adults (≥65 years) who died in Sweden in 2015. We used nationwide data from the National Cause of Death Register linked at the individual level with several other administrative and healthcare registers. Illness trajectories were defined based on multiple-cause-of-death data to approximate functional decline near the end of life. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) for unplanned hospitalisations were modelled with zero-inflated Poisson regressions.

Results

In a total of 77 315 older decedents (53% women, median age 85.2 years), the overall incidence rate of unplanned hospitalisations during the last year of life was 175 per 100 patient-years. The adjusted IRR for unplanned hospitalisation was 1.20 (95%CI 1.18 to 1.21) times higher than average among decedents who followed a trajectory of cancer. Conversely, decedents who followed the trajectory of prolonged dwindling had a lower-than-average risk of unplanned hospitalisation (IRR 0.66, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.68). However, these differences between illness trajectories only became evident during the last 3 months of life.

Conclusion

Our study highlights that, during the last 3 months of life, unplanned hospitalisations are increasingly frequent. Policies aiming to reduce burdensome care transitions should consider the underlying illness trajectories.
Association of census tract-level incarceration rate and life expectancy in New York State
Authors: Holaday Louisa W , Howell Benjamin , Thompson Keitra , Cramer Laura , Wang Emily Ai-hua
Published: April 2021

Background

Jail incarceration rates are positively associated with mortality at the county level. However, incarceration rates vary within counties, limiting the generalisability of this finding to neighbourhoods, where incarceration may have the greatest effects.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of census tract-level state imprisonment rates in New York State (2010) and life expectancy data from the US Small-area Life Expectancy Estimates Project (2010–2015). We modelled fixed-effects for counties and controlled for tract-level poverty, racial makeup, education, and population density from the American Community Survey (2010–2014), and violent crime data from the New York City Police Department (2010). We also examined interactions between incarceration rate and poverty, racial makeup, and population density on life expectancy.

Results

Life expectancy at the highest quintile of incarceration was 5.5 years lower than in the lowest quintile, and over 2 years lower in a fully-adjusted model. Census tract-level poverty and racial makeup both moderated the association between incarceration and life expectancy.

Conclusion

Census tract-level incarceration is associated with lower life expectancy. Decarceration, including alternatives to incarceration, and release of those currently incarcerated, may help to improve life expectancy at the neighbourhood level.
Experimental analysis of rolling dynamic compaction using transparent soils and particle image velocimetry
Authors: Chen Yue , Jaksa Mark B. , Kuo Yien-Lik , Airey David W.
Published: April 2021

Rolling dynamic compaction (RDC) is a soil compaction technique, which is capable of improving thick layers of soil at a relatively fast operating speed. The paper presents the results of laboratory experiments conducted on 1:13 scale models of the four-sided, 8 and 12 t, Broons BH-1300 and BH-1300 HD impact rollers, respectively, to study the performance of the scale model at four different operating speeds. A series of laboratory tests is undertaken using transparent soils and the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique to investigate the effectiveness of the models. The transparent soil employed in this study consists of fused quartz and a pore fluid that matched the refractive index of the fused quartz. A one-particle thick layer of coloured fused quartz is embedded in the centre plane of the transparent soil to visualize soil internal displacements and a digital camera is used to capture the speckled pattern during the scale model testing process. The results show that the heavier module induces greater soil displacements at each operating speed. The optimal operating speed is approximately 299 mm/s for both module weights. The most significant soil displacements occur within the first 20 passes and no obvious ground improvement is observed after 35 passes. The results of this study demonstrate the unique capability of transparent soil to study soil displacements induced by the ground improvement scale models.
Productivity of coastal Douglas-fir and western redcedar in response to species mixture, planting density, and soil carbon:nitrogen ratio
Authors: Omari Kwadwo , Kranabetter John Marty , de Montigny Louise
Published: April 2021

Mixed-species plantations have been suggested as ecologically and economically viable alternatives to monocultures. We examined the growth response of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don in Lamb.) to different species mixtures (Douglas-fir : western redcedar mixtures of 1:0, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:1) and planting densities (500, 1000, and 1500 stems·ha−1) in a dry maritime forest on eastern Vancouver Island, Canada. Twenty-two years postplanting, species mixture significantly affected diameter and height growth (p < 0.001), with stand diameter and height generally decreasing with increasing redcedar composition. Inherent variation in soil productivity across the plantation (carbon:nitrogen ratio) equally constrained stand growth. The widest spacing had larger diameter than the closest spacing (p = 0.025) but the least stand basal area compared with the other spacing treatments (p = 0.003–0.031). Stand volume was significantly affected by mixture × density interaction (p = 0.024) and generally declined with increasing proportion of redcedar and decreasing stand density. In the first decades after plantation establishment, inherent species growth traits and soil fertility were most important in dictating stand productivity. Because of the differences in resource utilization of both species, stand dynamics may change as competition for light and soil resources increases. Evaluation of silvicultural recommendations regarding mixtures of both species will continue with plantation development.
Black holes in 4D Einstein–Maxwell–Gauss–Bonnet gravity coupled with scalar fields
Authors: Wang Yi-Li , Ge Xian-Hui
Published: April 2021

Einstein–Maxwell–Gauss–Bonnet-axion theory in 4-dimensional spacetime is investigated in this paper through a “Kaluza–Klein-like” process. Dual to systems at finite temperature with background magnetic field on three dimensions, the four-dimensional dyonic black hole solution coupled with higher derivative terms is obtained. After the tensor-type perturbation is added, the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio is calculated at high temperature and low temperature separately. The behaviour of shear viscosity to entropy density ratio of uncharged black holes is found to be similar with that in 5-dimensional spacetime, violating the Kovtun–Starinets–Son bound as well when temperature becomes lower. In addition, the main feature of this ratio remains almost unchanged in 4 dimensions, which is characterised by $$(T/\varDelta )^2$$

(
T
/
Δ
)

2

at low temperature T, with $$\varDelta $$
Δ
proportional to the coefficient $$\beta $$
β
from scalar fields. The difficulty in causal analysis is also discussed, which is mainly caused by the vanishing momentum term in equations of motion.
The anomalous production of multi-leptons and its impact on the measurement of Wh production at the LHC
Authors: Hernandez Yesenia , Kumar Mukesh , Cornell Alan S. , Dahbi Salah-Eddine , Fang Yaquan , Lieberman Benjamin , Mellado Bruce , Monnakgotla Kgomotso , Ruan Xifeng , Xin Shuiting
Published: April 2021

Anomalies in multi-lepton final states at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have been reported in Refs. (von Buddenbrock et al., J Phys G 45(11):115003, arXiv:1711.07874 [hep-ph], 2018; Buddenbrock et al., JHEP 1910:157, arXiv:1901.05300 [hep-ph], 2019). These can be interpreted in terms of the production of a heavy boson, H, decaying into a standard model (SM) Higgs boson, h, and a singlet scalar, S, which is treated as a SM Higgs-like boson. This process would naturally affect the measurement of the Wh signal strength at the LHC, where h is produced in association with leptons and di-jets. Here, h would be produced with lower transverse momentum, $$p_{Th}$$

p

Th

, compared to SM processes. Corners of the phase-space are fixed according to the model parameters derived in Refs. (von Buddenbrock et al., J Phys G 45(11):115003, arXiv:1711.07874 [hep-ph], 2018; von Buddenbrock et al., Eur Phys J C 76(10):580, arXiv:1606.01674 [hep-ph], 2016) without additional tuning, thus nullifying potential look-else-where effects or selection biases. Provided that no stringent requirements are made on $$p_{Th}$$

p

Th

or related observables, the signal strength of Wh is $$\mu (Wh)=2.41 \pm 0.37$$

μ
(
W
h
)
=
2.41
±
0.37

. This corresponds to a deviation from the SM of $$3.8\sigma $$

3.8
σ

. This result further strengthens the need to measure with precision the SM Higgs boson couplings in $$e^+e^-$$

e
+

e
-

, and $$e^-p$$

e
-

p

collisions, in addition to pp collisions.
Improvements on dipole shower colour
Authors: Holguin Jack , Forshaw Jeffrey R. , Plätzer Simom
Published: April 2021

The dipole formalism provides a powerful framework from which parton showers can be constructed. In a recent paper (Forshaw et al. 2020), we proposed a dipole shower with improved colour accuracy and in this paper we show how it can be further improved. After an explicit check at $${\mathcal {O}}(\alpha _{\mathrm {s}}^{2})$$

O
(

α

s

2

)

we confirm that our original shower performs as it was designed to, i.e. inheriting its handling of angular-ordered radiation from a coherent branching algorithm. We also show how other dipole shower algorithms fail to achieve this. Nevertheless, there is an $${\mathcal {O}}(\alpha _{\mathrm {s}}^{2})$$

O
(

α

s

2

)

topology where it differs at sub-leading $$N_{\mathrm {c}}$$

N
c

from a coherent branching algorithm. This erroneous topology can contribute a leading logarithm to some observables and corresponds to emissions that are ordered in $$k_t$$

k
t

but not angle. We propose a simple, computationally efficient way to correct this and assign colour factors in accordance with the coherence properties of QCD to all orders in $$\alpha _{\mathrm {s}}$$

α
s

.
Blockchain Technology: Opportunities and Challenges for Small and Large Banks During COVID-19
Authors: Dicuonzo Grazia , Donofrio Francesca , Fusco Antonio , Dell’Atti Vittorio
Published: April 2021

New technologies are assuming a prominent role in the transformation of economic and social systems and are capturing the interest of many businesses and international institutions. Blockchain is an emerging technology that is relevant in all sectors, as its applications can be adapted to multiple contexts with possible significant advantages for business. The ability to perform transactions without a central entity acting as a trust guarantor, typical of blockchain, offers the opportunity to rethink the way business processes are managed. Based on the case study methodology, this work aims to understand how blockchain could affect the business model in the banking sector and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the implementation of blockchain.
Board Composition and Voluntary Risk Disclosure During Uncertainty
Authors: Adelopo Ismail , Yekini Kemi C. , Maina Robert , Wang Yan
Published: April 2021

This study examines the relationship between board composition and voluntary risk disclosure during uncertainty for a sample of United Kingdom-listed companies. A strand of the disclosure literature focusing on the impact of the board on corporate disclosure argues that board composition influences the extent and quality of corporate disclosure, but such literature has largely used data from stable periods and rarely on risk disclosure. Instead, using agency theory, we examine the impact of board composition on risk disclosure during corporate uncertainty for a sample of UK-listed companies for the period 2006–2015. We used content analysis to derive our measure of risk disclosure and measure board composition based on its size, independence, meeting frequency, and gender diversity. Our regression analyses controlled for the extent of firms’ agency costs, firm risk level, and the impact of mandatory risk disclosure regulation, among other control variables. Consistent with our hypotheses, we find that board size and board independence are positively associated with firms’ risk disclosure during uncertainty, but board meeting frequency and gender diversity seem inconsequential for risk disclosure. Firms’ risk disclosure is positively associated with risk level and mandatory risk disclosure. Our results are robust to alternative model specifications and endogeneity concerns. We highlight the implications of our findings for management practice and regulations.
Distributed Identity Management for Semantic Entities Based on Graph Signatures and owl:sameAs
Authors: Schönteich Falko , Scherp Ansgar , Kasten Andreas
Published: April 2021

Distributed Identity Management (DIM) refers to the ability of defining distributed identities of agents and roles, i.e. a single agent is represented using multiple unique identifiers managed in different namespaces and may have various roles across those namespaces. We propose semDIM, a novel approach for Semantic DIM based on a Semantic Web architecture. For the first time, semDIM provides a framework for a distributed definition and management of entities such as persons being part of an organization, groups, and roles across namespaces. It is suitable for informal, i.e. social networks, as well as for professional networks such as cross-organizational collaborations. In addition, the framework ensures authenticity, authorization and integrity for such distributed identities by featuring certificate-based graph signatures. Beyond the capabilities of existing Identity Management solutions, we allow distributed identifiers and management of groups (consisting of agents and sub-groups) and roles as “first-class entities”. semDIM uses owl:sameAs relations to represent and verify distributed identities via formal reasoning. This concept enables novel functionalities for DIM, as these entities can be identified, related to one another, as well as be managed across namespaces. Our semDIM approach consists of a modular software architecture, a process model using a novel approach for pattern-based concurrency control, as well as a set of state-of-the-art formal OWL ontology patterns. The use of formal patterns ensures semantic interoperability, and extensibility for future requirements. Thereby, our approach can be combined with other applications based on the same or related patterns. We evaluate semDIM in the context of a real-world scenario of securely exchanging DIM information across organizations.
Temporally Adaptive Shading Reuse for Real-Time Rendering and Virtual Reality
Authors: Mueller Joerg H. , Neff Thomas , Voglreiter Philip , Steinberger Markus , Schmalstieg Dieter
Published: April 2021

Temporal coherence has the potential to enable a huge reduction of shading costs in rendering. Existing techniques focus either only on spatial shading reuse or cannot
adaptively
choose temporal shading frequencies. We find that temporal shading reuse is possible for extended periods of time for a majority of samples, and we show under which circumstances users perceive temporal artifacts. Our analysis implies that we can approximate shading gradients to efficiently determine when and how long shading can be reused. Whereas visibility usually stays temporally coherent from frame to frame for more than 90%, we find that even in heavily animated game scenes with advanced shading, typically more than 50% of shading is also temporally coherent. To exploit this potential, we introduce a temporally adaptive shading framework and apply it to two real-time methods. Its application saves more than 57% of the shader invocations, reducing overall rendering times up to

in virtual reality applications without a noticeable loss in visual quality. Overall, our work shows that there is significantly more potential for shading reuse than currently exploited.
Discovering intersectionality part I
Authors: Brown Quincy , Kumar Neha , Thomas Jakita , To Alexandra , Rankin Yolanda
Published: April 2021

In this forum we explore different perspectives for how to apply intersectionality as a critical framework for design across multiple contexts.
--- Yolanda A. Rankin
and
Jakita O. Thomas, Editors
How the ideology of monolingualism drives us to monolingual interaction
Authors: Pérez-Quiñones Manuel , Salas Consuelo Carr
Published: April 2021

Community + Culture features practitioner perspectives on designing technologies for and with communities. We highlight compelling projects and provocative points of view that speak to both community technology practice and the interaction design field as a whole.
--- Sheena Erete, Editor
Immersive performance and inclusion through a lens of the social model of disability
Authors: Dixon Hazel
Published: April 2021

This forum is dedicated to exploring the notion of meaningfulness in design processes, taking the perspectives of community groups, nongovernmental organizations, and those who are marginalized in society as starting points. Authors will reflect conceptually and methodologically on practical engagements.
--- Rosanna Bellini
and
Angelika Strohmayer, Editors
Utopian futures for sexuality, aging, and design
Authors: Schulte Britta , Søndergaard Marie Louise Juul , Brankaert Rens , Morrissey Kellie
Published: April 2021

The
Interactions
website (interactions.acm.org) hosts a stable of bloggers who share insights and observations on HCI, often challenging current practices. Each issue we'll publish selected posts from some of the leading and emerging voices in the field.
Origins, Biology, and Diseases of Tissue Macrophages
Authors: Cox Nehemiah , Pokrovskii Maria , Vicario Rocio , Geissmann Frederic
Published: April 2021

Tissue-resident macrophages are present in most tissues with developmental, self-renewal, or functional attributes that do not easily fit into a textbook picture of a plastic and multifunctional macrophage originating from hematopoietic stem cells; nor does it fit a pro- versus anti-inflammatory paradigm. This review presents and discusses current knowledge on the developmental biology of macrophages from an evolutionary perspective focused on the function of macrophages, which may aid in study of developmental, inflammatory, tumoral, and degenerative diseases. We also propose a framework to investigate the functions of macrophages in vivo and discuss how inherited germline and somatic mutations may contribute to the roles of macrophages in diseases.
Control of Immunity by the Microbiota
Authors: Ansaldo Eduard , Farley Taylor K. , Belkaid Yasmine
Published: April 2021

The immune system has coevolved with extensive microbial communities living on barrier sites that are collectively known as the microbiota. It is increasingly clear that microbial antigens and metabolites engage in a constant dialogue with the immune system, leading to microbiota-specific immune responses that occur in the absence of inflammation. This form of homeostatic immunity encompasses many arms of immunity, including B cell responses, innate-like T cells, and conventional T helper and T regulatory responses. In this review we summarize known examples of innate-like T cell and adaptive immunity to the microbiota, focusing on fundamental aspects of commensal immune recognition across different barrier sites. Furthermore, we explore how this cross talk is established during development, emphasizing critical temporal windows that establish long-term immune function. Finally, we highlight how dysregulation of immunity to the microbiota can lead to inflammation and disease, and we pinpoint outstanding questions and controversies regarding immune system–microbiota interactions.
Natural Killer Cells: From Innate to Adaptive Features
Authors: Mujal Adriana M. , Delconte Rebecca B. , Sun Joseph C.
Published: April 2021

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that provide critical host defense against pathogens and cancer. Originally heralded for their early and rapid effector activity, NK cells have been recognized over the last decade for their ability to undergo adaptive immune processes, including antigen-driven clonal expansion and generation of long-lived memory. This review presents an overview of how NK cells lithely partake in both innate and adaptive responses and how this versatility is manifest in human NK cell–mediated immunity.
Biosphere Reserves in the Southwest of Ethiopia
Authors: Tadese Semegnew , Soromessa Teshome , Bekele Tesefaye , Meles Brhane
Published: April 2021

Forests that have a wide ecological gradient, diversity, and significant cover are confined in the southwestern part vis-à-vis other parts of Ethiopia, while the country is fronting biodiversity losses. The intention of this paper is comparative assessment of Majang, Kafa, Sheka, and Yayo biosphere reserves, located in the southwest of Ethiopia, regarding their status of plant diversity, challenges, and efforts of conservation. To this end, an extensive review of different journals, articles, and proceedings was made. Relevance to the objectives of the review was a selection criterion for sources inclusion. Consequently, the review indicates that all the biosphere reserves contained myriad plant biodiversity, specifically the “hotspot” of Afromontane rainforest biodiversity, with some degree of dissimilarities among them. For instance, the values of Shannon index illustrated a decreasing order in plant diversity as Sheka followed by Kafa, Yayo, and Majang biosphere reserve. Besides, out of the top ten documented plant families, the species richest families are Rubiaceae (15) in Yayo, Asteraceae (12) in Kafa, Euphorbiaceae (11) in Majang, and Asteraceae (11) in Sheka biosphere reserve, while the least species found in the families are as follows: Aspleniaceae and Sapindaceae in Majang; Poaceae, Solanaceae, and Araceae in Sheka; Celastraceae and Piperaceae in Kafa; and Fabacae and Solanaceae in Yayo. However, many challenges were encountered in all the biosphere reserves. The driving force behind is commercial coffee-tea plantation, agriculture expansion, overgrazing, firewood, charcoal, and other factors. Hence, to reduce forest conversion and biodiversity loss, the government of Ethiopia is creating conservation mechanism like the establishment of the protected area and biosphere reserve which is controlled and managed by the community and the government.
Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation of the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Action of Danning Tablets in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Lin Tong , Li Li , Liang Caijun , Peng Lisheng
Published: April 2021

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a rising global public health concern due to its prevalence. Danning Tablets (DNt), a composite prescription of Chinese herbal medicine, shows significant curative effects on NAFLD in clinical application. This study aimed to decipher the bioactive substances and potential mechanisms of action of DNt in the treatment of NAFLD, applying an integrated network pharmacology approach. First, the bioactive compounds of DNt were screened based on their pharmacokinetic properties, and the corresponding drug targets were predicted. Then, the NAFLD-related targets were collected. The overlapping targets between the putative targets of DNt and NAFLD-related targets were identified as the potential therapeutic targets of DNt against NAFLD. Subsequently, the networks were constructed and analyzed, and the key bioactive compounds and targets were screened out depending on their importance in the networks. Functional enrichment analysis was carried out to elucidate the potential mechanisms of DNt acting on NAFLD. Finally, a molecular docking simulation was implemented to assess the potential binding affinity between the key targets and the bioactive compounds. As a result, 43 bioactive compounds of DNt and 69 putative targets were identified. Based on the network analysis, we found seven key bioactive compounds (quercetin, ß-sitosterol, luteolin, kaempferol, supraene, curcumenolactone C, and stigmasterol) of DNt might treat NAFLD via intervening IL6, MAPK8, VEGFA, CASP3, ALB, APP, MYC, PPARG, and RELA. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that DNt might affect NAFLD by modulating the signaling pathways involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidation, insulin resistance (IR), atherosclerosis, and apoptosis. Furthermore, most key bioactive compounds might bind firmly with the key targets. This study predicted the multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway mechanisms of DNt in the treatment of NAFLD from a holistic perspective. DNt could be a promising agent for NAFLD, but further experimental verifications are still needed.