bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What influences child feeding in the Northern Triangle? A mixed‐methods systematic review
Authors: Deeney Megan , Harris‐Fry Helen
Published: May 2020

Optimising child feeding behaviours could improve child health in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, where undernutrition rates remain high. However, the design of interventions to improve child feeding behaviours is limited by piecemeal, theoretically underdeveloped evidence on factors that may influence these behaviours. Between July 2018 and January 2020, we systematically searched Cochrane, Medline, EMBASE, Global Health and LILACS databases, grey literature websites and reference lists, for evidence of region‐specific causes of child feeding behaviours and the effectiveness of related interventions and policies. The Behaviour Change Wheel was used as a framework to synthesise and map the resulting literature. We identified 2,905 records and included 68 relevant studies of mixed quality, published between 1964 and 2019. Most (n = 50) were quantitative, 15 were qualitative and three used mixed methods. A total of 39 studies described causes of child feeding behaviour; 29 evaluated interventions or policies. Frequently cited barriers to breastfeeding included mothers' beliefs and perceptions of colostrum and breast milk sufficiency; fears around child illness; and familial and societal pressures, particularly from paternal grandmothers. Child diets were influenced by similar beliefs and mothers' lack of money, time and control over household finances and decisions. Interventions (n = 22) primarily provided foods or supplements with education, resulting in mixed effects on breastfeeding and child diets. Policy evaluations (n = 7) showed positive and null effects on child feeding practices. We conclude that interventions should address context‐specific barriers to optimal feeding behaviours, use behaviour change theory to apply appropriate techniques and evaluate impact using robust research methods.
Objective methods for graphical structural learning
Authors: Petrakis Nikolaos , Peluso Stefano , Fouskakis Dimitris , Consonni Guido
Published: May 2020

Graphical models are used for expressing conditional independence relationships among variables by the means of graphs, whose structure is typically unknown and must be inferred by the data at hand. We propose a theoretically sound Objective Bayes procedure for graphical model selection. Our method is based on the Expected‐Posterior Prior and on the Power‐Expected‐Posterior Prior. We use as input of the proposed methodology a default improper prior and suggest computationally efficient approximations of Bayes factors and posterior odds. In a variety of simulated scenarios with varying number of nodes and sample sizes, we show that our method is highly competitive with, or better than, current benchmarks. We also discuss an application to protein‐signaling data, which wieldy confirms existing results in the scientific literature.
Spectrum Arguments, Parity and Persistency
Authors: Herlitz Anders
Published: May 2020

Abstract

This article shows that introducing the positive comparative relation parity only helps one block so‐called “Spectrum Arguments” in order to avoid their unsavoury implications if one specifies parity in a specific way with respect to its persistence. The article illustrates how parity must both admit of persistency and be weakly non‐persistent for parity to block Spectrum Arguments, and identifies some consequences of that discovery for the general debate on Spectrum Arguments, value theory and comparability problems.
The Effect of Compression Applied Through Constrained Lateral Eccentricity on the Failure Mechanics and Flexibility of the Human Cervical Spine
Authors: Melnyk Angela , Whyte Tom , Thomson Vanessa , Marion Travis , Yamamoto Shun , Street John , Oxland Thomas R. , Cripton Peter A.
Published: May 2020

In contrast to sagittal plane spine biomechanics, little is known about the response of the cervical spine to axial compression with lateral eccentricity of the applied force. This study evaluated the effect of lateral eccentricity on the kinetics, kinematics, canal occlusion, injuries, and flexibility of the cervical spine in translationally constrained axial impacts. Eighteen functional spinal units were subjected to flexibility tests before and after an impact. Impact axial compression was applied at one of three lateral eccentricity levels based on percentage of vertebral body width (low = 5%, medium = 50%, high = 150%). Injuries were graded by dissection. Correlations between intrinsic specimen properties and injury scores were examined for each eccentricity group. Low lateral force eccentricity produced predominantly bone injuries, clinically recognized as compression injuries, while medium and high eccentricity produced mostly contralateral ligament and/or disc injuries, an asymmetric pattern typical of lateral loading. Mean compression force at injury decreased with increasing lateral eccentricity (low = 3098 N, medium = 2337 N, and high = 683 N). Mean ipsilateral bending moments at injury were higher at medium (28.3 N·m) and high (22.9 N·m) eccentricity compared to low eccentricity specimens (0.1 N·m), p < 0.05. Ipsilateral bony injury was related to vertebral body area (VBA) (r = −0.974, p = 0.001) and disc degeneration (r = 0.851, p = 0.032) at medium eccentricity. Facet degeneration was correlated with central bony injury at high eccentricity (r = 0.834, p = 0.036). These results deepen cervical spine biomechanics knowledge in circumstances with coronal plane loads.
Chemical vapor deposition of sp2-boron nitride on Si(111) substrates from triethylboron and ammonia: Effect of surface treatments
Authors: Souqui Laurent , Pedersen Henrik , Högberg Hans
Published: May 2020

Thin films of the sp2-hybridized polytypes of boron nitride (BN) are interesting materials for several electronic applications such as UV devices. Deposition of epitaxial sp2-BN films has been demonstrated on several technologically important semiconductor substrates such as SiC and Al2O3 and where controlled thin film growth on Si would be beneficial for integration of sp2-BN in many electronic device systems. The authors investigate the growth of BN films on Si(111) by chemical vapor deposition from triethylboron [B(C2H5)3] and ammonia (NH3) at 1300 °C with focus on treatments of the Si(111) surface by nitridation, carbidization, or nitridation followed by carbidization prior to BN growth. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shows that the BN films deposited exhibit sp2 bonding. X-ray diffraction reveals that the sp2-BN films predominantly grow amorphous on untreated and pretreated Si(111), but with diffraction data showing that turbostratic BN can be deposited on Si(111) when the formation of Si3N4 is avoided. The authors accomplish this condition by combining the nitridation procedure with reactions from the walls on which BxC had previously been deposited.
Temporal Variability and Ecological Interactions of Parasitic Marine Syndiniales in Coastal Protist Communities
Authors: Anderson Sean R. , Harvey Elizabeth L.
Published: May 2020

Protist parasites in the marine alveolate group, Syndiniales, have been observed within infected plankton host cells for decades, and recently, global-scale efforts (Tara Ocean exploration) have confirmed their importance within microbial communities. Yet, protist parasites remain enigmatic, particularly with respect to their temporal dynamics and parasite-host interactions. We employed weekly 18S amplicon surveys over a full year in a coastal estuary, revealing strong temporal shifts in Syndiniales parasites, with highest relative abundance during warmer summer to fall months. Though influenced by temperature, Syndiniales population dynamics were also driven by a high frequency of biological interactions with other protist groups, as determined through co-occurrence network analysis. Parasitic interactions implied by the network highlighted a range of confirmed (dinoflagellates) and putative (diatoms) interactions and suggests parasites may be less selective in their preferred hosts. Understanding parasite-host dynamics over space and time will improve our ability to include parasitism as a loss term in microbial food web models.
Temozolomide antagonizes oncolytic immunovirotherapy in glioblastoma
Authors: Saha Dipongkor , Rabkin Samuel D , Martuza Robert L
Published: May 2020

Background

Temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy is a current standard of care for glioblastoma (GBM), however it has only extended overall survival by a few months. Because it also modulates the immune system, both beneficially and negatively, understanding how TMZ interacts with immunotherapeutics is important. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) is a new class of cancer therapeutic with both cytotoxic and immunostimulatory activities. Here, we examine the combination of TMZ and an oHSV encoding murine interleukin 12, G47Δ-mIL12, in a mouse immunocompetent GBM model generated from non-immunogenic 005 GBM stem-like cells (GSCs.

Methods

We first investigated the cytotoxic effects of TMZ and/or G47Δ-IL12 treatments in vitro, and then the antitumor effects of combination therapy in vivo in orthotopically implanted 005 GSC-derived brain tumors. To improve TMZ sensitivity, O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) was inhibited. The effects of TMZ on immune cells were evaluated by flow cytometery and immunohistochemistry.

Results

The combination of TMZ+G47Δ-IL12 kills 005 GSCs in vitro better than single treatments. However, TMZ does not improve the survival of orthotopic tumor-bearing mice treated with G47Δ-IL12, but rather can abrogate the beneficial effects of G47Δ-IL12 when the two are given concurrently. TMZ negatively affects intratumor T cells and macrophages and splenocytes. Addition of MGMT inhibitor O6-benzylguanine (O6-BG), an inactivating pseudosubstrate of MGMT, to TMZ improved survival, but the combination with G47Δ-IL12 did not overcome the antagonistic effects of TMZ treatment on oHSV therapy.

Conclusions

These results illustrate that chemotherapy can adversely affect oHSV immunovirotherapy. As TMZ is the standard of care for GBM, the timing of these combined therapies should be taken into consideration when planning oHSV clinical trials with chemotherapy for GBM.
Gestational postprandial insulin sensitivity in the Sprague Dawley rat: the putative role of hepatic insulin sensitizing substance in glucose partitioning in pregnancy
Authors: Lovat Nicole E.J. , Legare Dallas J. , Gieni Randall S. , Lautt W. Wayne
Published: May 2020

Pregnancy requires adaptation of maternal insulin sensitivity. In the fed state, a pulse of insulin stimulates glucose uptake and nutrient energy storage via insulin-dependent as well as hepatic insulin sensitizing substance (HISS)-dependent action. HISS is released by the liver in the fed state in the presence of signals integrated through the liver and a pulse of insulin. HISS promotes glucose storage as glycogen in heart, kidney, and skeletal muscle but not in gut, liver, or adipose tissue. HISS is also responsible for the vasodilatory action previously attributed to insulin. The rapid insulin sensitivity test (RIST), a dynamic euglycemic clamp, can quantitate both HISS-dependent and insulin-dependent glucose uptake. The RIST was used to characterize postprandial insulin sensitivity in the Sprague Dawley rat and the changes in the partitioning of nutrient energy throughout gestation. Early pregnancy demonstrated increased insulin sensitivity attributable to HISS-dependent glucose uptake with unchanged insulin-dependent glucose uptake, preserved plasma insulin concentration, and reduced plasma triglyceride concentration compared to the virgin. In late pregnancy, there was reduced HISS-dependent and insulin-dependent glucose uptake accompanied by increased plasma insulin and triglyceride concentration compared to the virgin. These results suggest an important role for HISS in glucose partitioning in pregnancy.
Gorenstein objects in the category of N-complexes
Authors: Lu Bo
Published: May 2020

For an integer [Formula: see text] and three subcategories [Formula: see text] of modules, we study the notion of [Formula: see text]-Gorenstein [Formula: see text]-complexes. We show that under certain hypotheses, an [Formula: see text]-complex [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-Gorenstein if and only if [Formula: see text] is a [Formula: see text]-Gorenstein module for each [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are [Formula: see text]-acyclic for any [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] denote the subcategory of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]-complexes and [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]-complexes, respectively. Also, the stability of [Formula: see text]-Gorenstein [Formula: see text]-complexes is considered. As applications, not only some known results are encompassed, but also some new results are obtained, for instance, some equivalent characterizations for Ding injective [Formula: see text]-complexes and Gorenstein AC-injective [Formula: see text]-complexes are given.
Infectious Risk of the Hospital Environment in the Center of Morocco: A Case of Care Unit Surfaces
Authors: Jaouhar Samira , El Ouali Lalami Abdelhakim , Ouarrak Khadija , Bouzid Jawad , Maoulouaa Mohammed , Bekhti Khadija
Published: May 2020

Background. Equipment and hospital surfaces constitute a microbial reservoir that can contaminate hospital users and thus create an infectious risk. The aim of this work, which was carried out for the first time at a hospital in Meknes (regional hospital in the center of Morocco), is to evaluate the microbiological quality of surfaces and equipment in three potential risk areas (burn unit, operating room, and sterilization service). Methods. This study was carried out over a period of 4 months (February–May 2017). A total of 60 samples were taken by swabbing according to the standard (ISO/DIS 14698-1 (2004)) in an environment of dry area and equipment after biocleaning. Isolation and identification were performed according to conventional bacteriological methods and by microscopic observation for fungi. Results. The study showed that 40% of surface samples were contaminated after biocleaning. The burn unit recorded a percentage of 70% contamination (p value <0.001), 13% for the sterilization service, and 7% for the operating room. 89% of the isolates were identified as Gram-positive bacteria against 11% for fungi (p value <0.001). Bacterial identification showed coagulase-negative staphylococci (32%), Bacillus spp. (16%), Corynebacterium (8%), and oxidase-negative Gram-positive bacillus (40%) while fungal identification showed Aspergillus niger (n = 2) and Aspergillus nidulans (n = 1). Conclusion. To control the infectious risk related to equipment and hospital surfaces, it would be necessary to evaluate the disinfection protocol applied in these units.
Testing the Constraint Theory of Addiction: Cannabis Constraints Discriminate Users from Nonusers and Heavy from Light Users
Authors: Hammersley Richard , Holmes Nick , Reid Marie
Published: May 2020

Constraint theory (Hammersley, 2014) offers a novel way of understanding addiction as a lack of cognitive, behavioural, and social constraints on substance use. Here, cannabis constraints were studied in a large online opportunity sample: N = 302; 205 men, 97 women. Age ranged from 14 to 60 years (mean = 25, SD = 8.0). Most participants were from UK or North America. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing 15 cannabis constraints and standard self-report frequency measures of drug use. Factor analysis of the constraint questionnaire found 15 factors, similar to those proposed theoretically. These factors could discriminate well between past and current users and heavy and light users. The best discriminator was concerns about the possibility of becoming addicted; the less concerned the heavier was use, although those who actually felt addicted were more concerned than others. Past users also constrained due to using legal highs instead, concerns about illegality, and using only when others used. Light users constrained due to availability and cost issues, as well as unpleasant effects. These findings suggest that there is utility in constraint theory and that heavy use occurs due to a relative lack of constraints.
Flow Enhancement of Mineral Pastes to Increase Water Recovery in Tailings: A Matlab-Based Imaging Processing Tool
Authors: Mondaca S. L. , Leiva C. A. , Acuña C. A. , Serey E. A.
Published: May 2020

The rate of growth of mining copper industry in Chile requires higher consumption of water, which is a resource limited in quality and quantity and a major point of concern in present times. In addition, the efficient use of water is restricted due to high levels of evaporation (10 to 15 (l/m2) per day), in particular at the north highland mining sites (Chile). On the contrary, the final disposal of tailings is mainly on pond, which loses water by evaporation and in some cases by percolation. An alternative are the paste thickeners, which generate stable paste (70% solids), reducing evaporation and percolation and therefore reducing water make up. Water is a resource with more demand as the industries are expanding, making the water recovery processes more of a necessity than a simple upgrade in efficiency. This technology was developed in Canada (early 80s) and it has widely been used in Australia (arid zones with similar weather conditions to Chile), although few plants are using this technology. The tendency in the near future is to move from open ponds to paste thickeners. One of the examples of this is Minera El Tesoro. This scenario requires developing technical capacity in both paste flow characterization and rheology modifiers (fluidity enhancer) in order to make possible the final disposal of this paste. In this context, a new technique is introduced and experimental results of fluidity modifiers are discussed. This study describes how water content affects the flow behavior and depositional geometry of tailings and silica flour pastes. The depositional angle determined from the flume tests, and the yield stresses is determined from slump test and a rheological model. Both techniques incorporate digital video and image analysis. The results indicate that the new technique can be incorporated in order to determine the proper solid content and modifiers to a given fluidity requirement. In addition, the experimental results showed that the pH controls strongly the fluid paste behavior.
Nonlinear Dynamic Behaviour Analysis of a Clutch System with Uncertainties Using Polynomial Chaos and the Constrained Harmonic Balance Method
Authors: Trinh M.-H. , Berger S. , Aubry E.
Published: May 2020

The study of the nonlinear dynamic behaviour of friction systems in general and of clutch systems in particular remains an open problem. Noise and vibrations induced by friction in the sliding phase of a clutch are very sensitive to design parameters. The latter have significant dispersions. In the study of the system stability, the problem is not only to know if the parameter values lead to the appearance of unstable equilibrium points; the real challenge lies in estimating the vibration levels when such unstable equilibrium points occur. This estimation is analyzed using the limit cycles. This article aims to study the ability of robust approaches based on developments in nonintrusive generalized polynomial chaos and a constrained harmonic balance method to estimate the vibration levels through the limit cycles of a clutch system in the presence of uncertainty. The purpose is to provide a low-cost, high precision approach, compared to the classic Monte Carlo method.
Postnatal Corticosteroids Policy for Very Preterm Infants and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Nuytten Alexandra , Behal Hélène , Duhamel Alain , Jarreau Pierre-Henri , Torchin Heloïse , Milligan David , Maier Rolf F. , Zemlin Michael , Zeitlin Jennifer , Truffert Patrick ,   on behalf of the EPICE Research Group
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Postnatal corticosteroids (PNC) are effective for reducing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in very preterm neonates but are associated with adverse effects including an increased risk of cerebral palsy. PNC use in Europe is heterogeneous across regions. This study aimed to assess whether European neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) with a low use of PNC or an explicit policy to reduce PNC use had higher risks of mortality or BPD. Methods: We included 3,126 infants in 105 NICUs born between 24 + 0 and 29 + 6 weeks’ gestational age in 19 regions in 11 countries in the EPICE cohort. First, we identified clusters of NICUs using hierarchical clustering based on PNC use and BPD prevalence and compared case mix and mortality between the clusters. Second, a multilevel analysis was performed to evaluate the association between a restrictive PNC policy and BPD occurrence. Results: There were 3 clusters of NICUs: 52 with low PNC use and a low BPD rate, 37 with low PNC use and a high BPD rate, and 16 with high PNC use and a medium BPD rate. Neonatal mortality did not differ between clusters (p = 0.88). A unit policy of restricted PNC use was not associated with a higher risk of BPD (odds ratio 0.68; 95% confidence interval: 0.45–1.03) after adjustment. Conclusion: Up to 49% of NICUs had low PNC use and low BPD rates, without a difference in mortality. Infants hospitalized in NICUs with a stated policy of low PNC use did not have an increased risk of BPD.
Circulating Myostatin Levels Decrease Transiently after Implantation of a Hip Hemi-Arthroplasty
Authors: Kerschan-Schindl Katharina , Tiefenböck Thomas M. , Föger-Samwald Ursula , Payr Stephan , Frenzel Stephan , Marculescu Rodrig , Gleiss Andreas , Sarahrudi Kambiz , Pietschmann Peter
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Muscle and bone metabolism are both important for the healing of fractures and the regeneration of injured muscle tissue. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate myostatin and other regulating factors in patients with hip fractures who underwent hemi-arthroplasty. Methods: Serum levels of myostatin (MSTN), follistatin (FSTN), dickkopf-1 (Dkk1), and periostin (PSTN) as well as markers of bone turnover were evaluated in patients with hip fractures before surgery and twice in the 2 weeks after surgery. These parameters were also evaluated in age- and gender-matched subjects without major musculoskeletal injury. Results: MSTN was transiently reduced; its opponent FSTN was transiently increased. Dkk1, the negative regulator of bone mass, and PSTN, a marker of subperiosteal bone formation, increased after surgery. With regard to markers of bone turnover, resorption was elevated during the entire period of observation whereas the early bone formation marker N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen was elevated 12 days after surgery. Conclusions: Unexpectedly, MSTN, a negative regulator of muscle growth, was reduced after surgery compared with before surgery. As musculoskeletal markers are altered during bone healing, they do not reflect general bone metabolism after fracture or joint arthroplasty. This is important because many elderly patients receive treatment for osteoporosis.
Mapeamento Metodológico de Teses e Dissertações no Âmbito do Programa Brasileiro de Pós-Graduação em Turismo (PPGTUR) da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)
Authors: Maranhão Christiano Henrique da Silva
Published: May 2020

Este artigo busca analisar a estruturação dos principais aspectos metodológicos das teses e dissertações produzidas durante o primeiro decênio (2008-2018) de instituição do Programa de pós-graduação em turismo da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (PPGTUR/UFRN). Metodologicamente trata-se de um estudo exploratório-descritivo e analítico, de viés qualitativo, que utiliza a pesquisa bibliográfica, a pesquisa documental, a entrevista e a análise temática como ferramentas e/ou técnicas de coleta e análise de dados.  Como resultados expõe-se duas tendências que retratam o modo como os estudos vinculados ao PPGTUR/UFRN estruturam suas metodologias, expondo o que vem sendo operacionalizado no campo metodológico das teses e dissertações do aludido Programa, além de reforçar o empenho acadêmico pelo planejamento de pesquisas bem fundamentadas. Destaca-se ainda a presença de uma diversidade temática permeando o ambiente acadêmico do PPGTUR/UFRN, reflexo direto das distintas áreas de formação dos docentes e da heterogeneidade complexa inerente ao fenômeno turístico.
Produção de conhecimento em Turismo, Ensino Superior e Interdisciplinaridade na base de dados Scopus
Authors: Marinho Marcela Ferreira , Dos Santos Marcia Maria Cappellano , Ferreira Luciane Todeschini
Published: May 2020

Este artigo deriva do processo de revisão de literatura na base de dados Scopus como parte do desenvolvimento de projeto de pesquisa iniciado em 2015, que põe em foco relações entre o universo histórico-conceitual do Turismo, Ensino superior e Interdisciplinaridade. Ao mesmo tempo em que apresenta resultados desse processo, reflete, a partir de achados indiretos, sobre repercussões da escrita atinente ao gênero acadêmico “artigo acadêmico” no processo de revisão de literatura. Para a revisão, inicialmente, foram articuladas as palavras-chave concernentes às grandes áreas Turismo, Educação e Interdisciplinaridade. Diante de resultados obtidos não expressivos (três artigos), outros termos apontados e abordados nesses textos foram empregados no acesso à base, sempre articulados com “Turismo”: Ensino superior, Prática Pedagógica e Interdisciplinaridade, resultando desse processo 295 artigos. Na sequência, refinando os critérios de seleção, buscaram-se aqueles que continham a palavra “turismo” no título, assim como no resumo e nas palavras-chave, refletindo, coerentemente, a temática do texto. Foram identificados 78 artigos com esse processo de clivagem, ao qual sucedeu a leitura inspecional dos respectivos resumos. O descompasso entre título, palavra-chave e resumo levou à exclusão de dois trabalhos, restando para constituir o corpus de análise 76 artigos. Apesar da constatação de expressiva diversidade temática, não se encontraram estudos focalizando a relação conceitual dentro do escopo da pesquisa, o que lhe confere, assim, um espaço singular na produção acadêmica na área. Quanto aos achados indiretos, identificaram-se sinalizadores da inobservância da superestrutura do gênero “artigo acadêmico”, o que pode representar quantitativa e qualitativamente uma variável interveniente quando se busca acessar o conhecimento já produzido.
A preliminary survey of soil nemafauna of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa, India
Authors: Gaude Kiran , I.K. Pai
Published: May 2020

Nematological research in India is primarily focussed on major crops and animal parasitic groups, while ignoring free living groups in forest ecosystems.  In the present study, soil nemafauna of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa, India was assessed.  A total of 18 genera, 14 families, and five orders were recorded.  Among four orders, Dorylaimida was the most dominant one, which consists of 12 genera and nine families.  Among the 18 genera Sicaguttur, Qudsinema, Microdorylaimus, Longidorella, Paralongidorus, Xiphidorinae, Fuscheila and Chrysonema are reported for the first time from the state.  More such intensive survey will add more numbers of nematode species.
Morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies on Battarrea phalloides (Agaricales): a new report to Indian mycobiota
Authors: R. Kantharaja  , M. Krishnappa
Published: May 2020

The Scaly-stalked Puffball Battarrea phalloides (Dicks.) Pers. is recorded for the first time in India.  The fungus is reported from many countries across the continents and typically uncommon and rare in all regions.  It is Red Listed in most of the European countries and is under assessment in IUCN Global Fungal Red List Initiative.  The Indian sample of B. phalloides is reported from Kadur Taluk of Chikkamagaluru District, Karnataka with morpho-molecular data.
Diurnal observation of a Malayan Krait Bungarus candidus (Reptilia: Elapidae) feeding inside a building in Thailand
Authors: Hodges Cameron Wesley , D'souza Anji , Jintapirom Sira
Published: May 2020

Malayan Kraits Bungarus candidus have been reported to bite humans during the night after entering dwellings.  We report an observation of an adult krait feeding on a colubrid snake Chrysopelea ornata during the early morning, in the hallway of a large building at the center of a university campus in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.  To our knowledge, this is the first observation of a wild B. candidus feeding within a building.  This observation provides insight into why kraits enter human settlements, and since the event took place shortly after sunrise it also indicates that this nocturnal species can remain active during daylight when feeding.  Further studies will be required to determine how often B. candidus forages among human structures.
Children of the Waters: Whirlpools, Waiora, Baptism and Missio Dei
Authors: Te Rire Rev Hone , Taylor Steve
Published: May 2020

From space, the Pacific glitters in ocean blue. What might the world’s largest ocean contribute to missio Dei? A spiral methodology is used to trace connections between the baptism of Jesus, early Christian art, recent legal (Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal) research and indigenous knowing, including ocean voyaging, ancestor understandings of whirlpools, Māori water rites and oral history of river beings (taniwha).

The argument is that indigenous Oceanic (Māori) understandings of water, in conversation with baptismal narratives, present missio Dei as an immersion in God. Mission is located not in the activity of the church – and hence mission expansion as part of European colonisation – but in the being and becoming of God. Creation and redemption are interconnected and an environmental ethic is expected. Children of the waters (ngā tamariki o te Moana nui a Kiwa) listen to creation’s voice (taniwha speaking) and act for the life (waiora) of water.
Women and the Project of Decolonization in Contemporary Africa: Are Gender Considerations de Rigueur?
Authors: Ipadeola Abosede Priscilla
Published: May 2020

The continent of Africa has been striving to emancipate itself from the state of irrelevance, poverty, underdevelopment, squalor, infrastructural decay and political and economic fiasco, which it has occupied for many centuries. Colonization is significant among the plethora of problems which are responsible for the pitiable condition which Africa has been since the continent’s colonial experience began. Because of the significant role which colonization plays in keeping the continent of Africa down, many African scholars argue that decolonization is the only elixir that can cure Africa of the slew of ailments and ills. Since this proposal became popular, efforts have been made to define the semantics, scope, and structure of decolonization. Although decolonization is imperative for Africa’s self-retrieval and self-redefinition, and it is important for development, this paper faults the current decolonization project because of the lacuna of not mainstreaming gender considerations in the agitations for decolonizing Africa.
Frantz Fanon, penseur de l’humanisme radical et précurseur des études postcoloniales
Authors: Turki Mohamed
Published: May 2020

Frantz Fanon s’est concentré principalement sur la violence comme moyen de résistance et de libération anticoloniale, mais aussi sur l’humanisme et les possibilités de sa réalisation. Il s’agit pour lui de dépasser la conception manichéenne de l’Europe, mais aussi de la Négritude à propos de l’homme et d’inventer comme il dit « l’homme total ». Le silence a régné assez longtemps sur la réception des œuvres de Fanon après sa mort, à l’exception de sa réhabilitation vingt ans après aux Antilles lors d’une commémoration. Depuis sa disparition, on est passé de la simple critique du colonialisme à partir du champ économique et politique vers le champ culturel plus complexe et l’essai d’une compréhension plus approfondie de notions telles que celles de « nation », « identité », « imaginaire » ou « hybridité ». De plus, à cette évolution a participé aussi bien le discours foucaldien à propos des pouvoirs que les études abordées par Gilles Deleuze et Jacques Derrida sur la connaissance et le sujet. Ces thèmes ont influencé énormément les auteurs américains des Études postcoloniales dans leurs approches critiques du fait colonial et des phénomènes socioculturels qui en résultent. Ce fut surtout le cas pour Edward Said ainsi que pour d’autres penseurs tels Achille Mbembe, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Homi K. Bhabha et bien d’autres. Mais ce sont avant tout Aimé Césaire, Frantz Fanon et Albert Memmi qui furent les théoriciens pionniers de ce mouvement. Ils ont en effet vécu la situation coloniale de manière directe et l’ont problématisée conceptuellement de sorte qu’ils ont dévoilé les différents aspects d’oppression et d’exclusion du colonialisme et donné ainsi une voix aux colonisés, subalternes et marginalisés.

Cet article va tenter tout d’abord de rappeler la part critique de Frantz Fanon à l’égard de l’humanisme classique européen, mais aussi à celui de la Négritude. Par la suite il essaie de présenter sa conception d’un humanisme radical qui prend en considération l’homme, dire même l’humanité dans toute sa totalité, et à la fin il aborde les répercussions de la pensée fanonienne sur l’évolution politique actuelle ainsi que sur les Études postcoloniales.
Thinking as a Dialogue: Phenomenality and Embodied Cognition in Yorùbá Thought System
Authors: Gbenga Fasiku
Published: May 2020

A thought is a mental state with a phenomenal aspect; it is essentially subjective. However, in Yorùbá thought system, a thought involves third persons or objective perspectival aspects. This is contrary to the nature of thoughts (mental states), hence the need to explain how the distinct properties of subjectivity and objectivity are found in Yorùbá thoughts system. The paper is divided into three parts. The first explores the nature of phenomenality in human mental states. The second explains that the Yorùbá thoughts system is linked with the embodied cognitive system. It is argued that when an average Yorùbá thinks, such a thought is a dialogue between the first person and third persons or objects (referred to as active external elements). The third part draws examples from Yorùbá thought system to illustrate the complementariness between the first-person character and the objective or external elements of mental state.
A Moral Insight into the Culture of Baby Farming and Harvesting for Ritual Sacrifices in Nigeria
Authors: Omonzejele Peter F.
Published: May 2020

Human ritual sacrifices are one of the cultural practices that are undertaken in Nigeria and in many West African countries. While such ritual sacrifices are utilized for different purposes, this paper, however, focuses on baby farming for the purpose of human child ritual sacrifice for community and individual utilizations. Recruiting women for the sole purpose of using them for procreation is exploitative as such young women are usually in dire economic situations. Baby farmers identify the economic vulnerabilities of such women and make them offers they cannot refuse. In like manner, helpless children who are harvested from the farms and who suffer gruesome deaths must be considered as the greatest victims in baby farming and harvesting arrangements. The paper stresses the need for stricter government vigilance and community sensitization to the horror of killing babies for sacrifice.
Mucor cheongyangensis, a new species isolated from the surface of Lycorma delicatula in Korea

Authors: NGUYEN THUONG T. T. , LEE HYANG BURM
Published: May 2020

A new species of Mucor, isolated from the surface of Lycorma delicatula collected at Cheongyang in the Chungnam Province of Korea, is described and compared with morphologically similar taxa. The phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the large subunit (28S) rDNA sequences revealed that this isolate is closely related to M. orantomantidis and M. guilliermondii. However, the new isolate differs from those by having larger sporangia (24.5–125 × 23.5–120 µm), rhizoid-like structures, and production of secondary sporangia from vesicles outside of the original sporangium. Here, this novel fungal taxon is proposed as Mucor cheongyangensis sp. nov.
Morphological and molecular evidence for two new species of Absidia from Neotropic soil

Authors: LIMA DIOGO X. , CORDEIRO THALLINE R. L. , DE SOUZA CARLOS A. F. , DE OLIVEIRA RAFAEL J. V. , LEE HYANG B. , SOUZA-MOTTA CRISTINA M. , SANTIAGO ANDRÉ L. C. M. DE AZEVEDO
Published: May 2020

During a survey of the diversity of Mucorales in Atlantic Forest and upland rainforest soils in northeastern Brazil, two strains belonging to Absidia were isolated. These strains are morphologically and molecularly (nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer ITS1–5.8–ITS2 and D1–D2 domains of nuc 28S rDNA) distinct from other Absidia species. Absidia cornuta sp. nov. presents exclusively cylindrical sporangiospores and up to three projections on columellae. Absidia pernambucoensis sp. nov. presents up to two apical projections on columellae and produces two types of sporangiospores: cylindrical and slightly cuneiform. Based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence, two new species of Absidia are proposed. An identification key for the species of Absidia with cylindrical sporangiospores found in the Neotropics is provided.
NOVELTIES IN BRAZILIAN BEGONIACEAE III: Begonia margaretiana, a new species from Rio de Janeiro state

Authors: KOLLMANN LUDOVIC JEAN CHARLES
Published: May 2020

Begonia margaretiana, a new species of Begonia sect. Pritzelia from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil is described. Begonia margaretiana is morphologically similar to Begonia paulensis, with which it is compared. The new species grow in hygrophilous Atlantic Forest in the south of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Description, comparisons with a morphologically similar species, etymology, taxonomic comments, illustrations, a map, and the conservation status of the new species are provided.
Plectranthias purpuralepis sp. nov., a new anthiadine perchlet from northern Taiwan (Perciformes: Serranidae)
Authors: TANG CHI-NGAI , LAI NOK-WAI , HO HSUAN-CHING
Published: May 2020

A new species of Plectranthias Bleeker is described on the basis of 16 specimens collected from northern Taiwan. The new species, Plectranthias purpuralepis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners in having pectoral and pelvic fins mostly covered with small scales, some white scales on dorsum turn purple when preserved, and the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin elements X, 16–17; 3rd dorsal-fin spine longest; pectoral-fin rays 14, all branched except for uppermost simple ray; principal caudal-fin rays 9+8; pored lateral-line scales 33–36; 6 diagonal rows of large scales on cheek; circumpeduncular scales 14; ca. 7 rows of large predorsal scales, 2 irregular rows of small scales extending to a line through posterior nostrils; no scales on maxilla and chin; posterior margin of preopercle serrated, ventral margin with 2 antrorse spines; and the greatest body depth 2.9–3.0 in SL.
Description of two new species of Dysidea (Porifera, Demospongiae, Dictyoceratida, Dysideidae) from Tauranga Harbour, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Authors: CORMACK SAMUEL P. MC , KELLY MICHELLE , BATTERSHILL CHRISTOPHER N.
Published: May 2020

Differentiation of species within the genus Dysidea Johnston, 1842 (Order Dictyoceratida Minchin, 1900, Family Dysideidae Gray, 1867) is extremely difficult as they lack spicules which are strongly diagnostic in other Demospongiae, and their primary and secondary fibres and the mesh that they form, may be irregular in shape and thickness, thus difficult to measure for comparisons. Here we review species of Dysidea known from the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), validating five species: Dysidea cristagalli Bergquist, 1961a, from the Hauraki Gulf; D. hirciniformis (Carter, 1885a) sensu Dendy (1924), from North Cape; D. navicularis Lendenfeld, 1888, from Port Lyttleton on the east coast of the South Island; D. ramsayi (Lendenfeld, 1888) from the Chatham Islands; D. spiculivora Dendy, 1924, from Cape Maria Van Diemen and the Three Kings Islands to the north of New Zealand. Dysidea fragilis (Montagu, 1818) sensu Bergquist (1961b), from Mernoo Bank on Chatham Rise, is now considered to be invalid, and D. elegans (Nardo, 1847) sensu Brøndsted (1927), from the Coromandel Peninsula, is considered unrecognisable. Several partially characterised species have also been cited in the literature. Two new species from Tauranga Harbour, on the northeast coast of the North Island, Dysidea tuapokere sp. nov. and D. teawanui sp. nov., are described. These descriptions are based on fresh material and in situ photography, facilitating clear, informative descriptions, that will enable ease of identification of these species in the future.
Impacts of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation on the Relationship of the Spring Arctic Oscillation and the Following East Asian Summer Monsoon
Authors: Chen Shangfeng , Chen Wen , Wu Renguang , Song Linye
Published: May 2020

Previous studies indicated that spring Arctic Oscillation (AO) can influence the following East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). This study reveals that the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) has a pronounced modulation of the spring AO–EASM connection. Spring AO has a close relation with the EASM during the negative AMO (−AMO) phase. However, during the positive AMO (+AMO) phase, the spring AO–EASM connection is weak. During the −AMO phase, a marked dipole atmospheric anomaly pattern (with an anticyclonic anomaly over the midlatitudes and a cyclonic anomaly over the subtropics) and a pronounced tripole sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly pattern is formed in the North Pacific during positive spring AO years. The cyclonic anomaly, SST, and precipitation anomalies over the subtropical western North Pacific (WNP) maintain and propagate southwestward in the following summer via a positive air–sea feedback, which further impacts the EASM variation. During the +AMO phase, the Pacific center of the spring AO (i.e., the anticyclonic anomaly over the midlatitudes) is weak. As such, the cyclonic anomaly cannot be induced over the subtropical WNP by the spring AO via wave–mean flow interaction. Hence, the spring AO–EASM connection disappears during the +AMO phase. The AMO impacts the Pacific center of the spring AO via modulating the Aleutian low intensity and North Pacific storm track intensity. The observed AMO modulation of the spring AO–EASM connection and Pacific center of the spring AO can be captured by the long historical simulation in a coupled global climate model.
Quality Indicators of Central Compartment Neck Dissection in Thyroid Surgery
Authors: Quimby Alexandra E. , Corsten Martin J. , Grose Elysia , Odell Michael , Johnson‐Obaseki Stephanie
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Quality metrics are an increasingly important means of improving patient care. Variability in the number of lymph nodes removed during central compartment lymph node dissection (CCLND) at the time of thyroidectomy has not been studied.

Study Design

A retrospective cohort study was performed using American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program (ACS‐NSQIP) data.

Setting

Centers in North America and worldwide contributing data to ACS‐NSQIP and performing thyroidectomy on adults in inpatient and outpatient settings were included.

Subjects and Methods

Adult patients undergoing thyroidectomy with or without CCLND were included. Outcomes of interest were number of nodes removed during CCLND and risks of postoperative hypocalcemia.

Results

In total, 6108 patients met inclusion criteria (1565 with CCLND). The median number of lymph nodes removed during CCLND was 2. There was no statistically significant association between postoperative hypocalcemia and CCNLD, regardless of number of nodes removed. However, we were underpowered to detect this association based on the overall low nodal yield of many CCLNDs performed.

Conclusion

In many cases where CCLND is documented as part of thyroidectomy, very few lymph nodes are removed. Our ability to draw conclusions regarding the effect of CCLND on postoperative hypocalcemia is restricted due to the limited nature of many CCLNDs performed.
ARTDeco: automatic readthrough transcription detection
Authors: Roth Samuel J. , Heinz Sven , Benner Christopher
Published: May 2020

Background

Mounting evidence suggests several diseases and biological processes target transcription termination to misregulate gene expression. Disruption of transcription termination leads to readthrough transcription past the 3′ end of genes, which can result in novel transcripts, changes in epigenetic states and altered 3D genome structure.

Results

We developed Automatic Readthrough Transcription Detection (ARTDeco), a tool to detect and analyze multiple features of readthrough transcription from RNA-seq and other next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays that profile transcriptional activity. ARTDeco robustly quantifies the global severity of readthrough phenotypes, and reliably identifies individual genes that fail to terminate (readthrough genes), are aberrantly transcribed due to upstream termination failure (read-in genes), and novel transcripts created as a result of readthrough (downstream of gene or DoG transcripts). We used ARTDeco to characterize readthrough transcription observed during influenza A virus (IAV) infection, validating its specificity and sensitivity by comparing its performance in samples infected with a mutant virus that fails to block transcription termination. We verify ARTDeco’s ability to detect readthrough as well as identify read-in genes from different experimental assays across multiple experimental systems with known defects in transcriptional termination, and show how these results can be leveraged to improve the interpretation of gene expression and downstream analysis. Applying ARTDeco to a gene expression data set from IAV-infected monocytes from different donors, we find strong evidence that read-in gene-associated expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) likely regulate genes upstream of read-in genes. This indicates that taking readthrough transcription into account is important for the interpretation of eQTLs in systems where transcription termination is blocked.

Conclusions

ARTDeco aids researchers investigating readthrough transcription in a variety of systems and contexts.
Correction to: Evidence for paternal DNA transmission to gynogenetic grass carp
Authors: Mao Zhuangwen , Fu Yeqing , Wang Yude , Wang Shi , Zhang Minghe , Gao Xin , Luo Kaikun , Qin Qinbo , Zhang Chun , Tao Min , Yao Zhanzhou , Liu Shaojun
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Correction to: Genome analysis of Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae isolates from invasive human infections reveals enrichment of virulence-related functions in lineage ST1256
Authors:   The Salmonella CYTED Network, Giner-Lamia Joaquín , Vinuesa Pablo , Betancor Laura , Silva Claudia , Bisio Julieta , Soleto Lorena , Chabalgoity José A. , Puente José Luis , García-del Portillo Francisco
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.