bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in dermatomyositis using integrated bioinformatics method
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhao Wen-Jia , Wu Yuan-Hao
Published: August 2020

Dermatomyositis is a common connective tissue disease. The occurrence and development of dermatomyositis is a result of multiple factors, but its exact pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Here, we used biological information method to explore and predict the major disease related genes of dermatomyositis and to find the underlying pathogenic molecular mechanism.

The gene expression data of GDS1956, GDS2153, GDS2855, and GDS3417 including 94 specimens, 66 cases of dermatomyositis specimens and 28 cases of normal specimens, were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The 4 microarray gene data groups were combined to get differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichments of DEGs were operated by the database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery and KEGG orthology based annotation system databases, separately. The protein–protein interaction networks of the DEGs were built from the STRING website. A total of 4097 DEGs were extracted from the 4 Gene Expression Omnibus datasets, of which 2213 genes were upregulated, and 1884 genes were downregulated. Gene ontology analysis indicated that the biological functions of DEGs focused primarily on response to virus, type I interferon signaling pathway and negative regulation of viral genome replication. The main cellular components include extracellular space, cytoplasm, and blood microparticle. The molecular functions include protein binding, double-stranded RNA binding and MHC class I protein binding. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly involved in the toll-like receptor signaling pathway, cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway, complement and coagulation cascades, arginine and proline metabolism, phagosome signaling pathway. The following 13 closely related genes, XAF1, NT5E, UGCG, GBP2, TLR3, DDX58, STAT1, GBP1, PLSCR1, OAS3, SP100, IGK, and RSAD2, were key nodes from the protein–protein interaction network.

This research suggests that exploring for DEGs and pathways in dermatomyositis using integrated bioinformatics methods could help us realize the molecular mechanism underlying the development of dermatomyositis, be of actual implication for the early detection and prophylaxis of dermatomyositis and afford reliable goals for the curing of dermatomyositis.
Persistent SARS-COV-2 RNA positivity in a patient for 92 days after disease onset
Authors: Wang Junxue , Hang Xiaofeng , Wei Bo , Li Dingchen , Chen Fangyan , Liu Wei , Yang Chaojie , Miao Xiaohui , Han Li
Published: August 2020

Rationale:

Recently, patients with COVID-19 who showed persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test results despite resolved clinical symptoms have attracted a lot of attention. We report the case of a patient with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), who achieved clinical recovery but showed persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test results until Day 92 after disease onset.

Patient concerns:

The patient is a 50-year-old man with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Diagnoses:

COVID-19 pneumonia.

Interventions:

The patient was quarantined for 105 days. Of these, inpatient quarantine lasted for 75 days. When the nucleic acid test results were negative for 3 consecutive days, the patient was discharged at Day 75 after disease onset. During this period, multiple samples were collected from the patient's body surface, the surrounding environment, and physical surfaces, but none of these tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. These samples included those from anal swabs, hands, inner surface of mask, cell phone, bed rails, floor around the bed, and toilet bowl surface. However, nucleic acid retest results on Day 80 and Day 92 after disease onset were positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids.

Outcomes:

The patient continued with quarantine and observation at home. After the test results on Days 101 and 105 after disease onset were negative, quarantine was terminated at last.

Lessons:

Per our knowledge, this is the longest known time that a patient has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids. No symptoms were observed during follow-up. During hospitalization, the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid positivity was not observed in samples from the body surface and surrounding environment, and no verified transmission event occurred during the quarantine at home. After undergoing clinical recovery a minority of patients with COVID-19 have shown long-term positive results for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. This has provided new understanding and research directions for coronavirus infection. Long-term follow-up and quarantine measures have been employed for such patients. Further studies are required to analyze potential infectivity in such patients and determine whether more effective antiviral drugs or regimens to enable these patients to completely clear viral infection should be researched.
Development of early warning and rapid response system for patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19)
Authors: Zhou Hua , Huang Huibin , Xie Xiaolei , Gao Jiandong , Wu Ji , Zhu Yan , He Wei , Liu Jingyuan , Li Ang , Xu Yuan
Published: August 2020

Background:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused serious damage to public health. COVID-19 has no vaccine or specific therapy; its mortality rate increases significantly once patients deteriorate. Furthermore, intensive monitoring of COVID-19 is limited by insufficient medical resources and increased risks of exposure to medical staff. We therefore aim to build an early warning and rapid response system (EWRRS) to address these problems.

Method:

The research is designed as a prospective cohort study, to verify a dynamic and interactive evaluation system; it includes patient self-reporting, active monitoring, early alarming and treatment recommendations. Adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 will be recruited from Sept 2020 to Aug 2021 at a tertiary contagious hospital. Patients with life expectancy <48 hours, pregnant or lactating, in immunosuppression states or end-stage diseases will be excluded. The intervention is implementation of EWRRS to detect early signs of clinical deterioration of COVID-19 patients, to provide timely and efficient treatment suggestions by the system. EWRRS can determine the classification and interactive evaluation of patient information; the determination is based on the application of 3 different scenario modules, separately driven by patients, nurses, and physicians. The primary outcome is change in disease severity category after treatment. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients with different disease severity types; critical deterioration events; patients who had unplanned transfers to an intensive care unit (ICU) and required critical care interventions; intervals from warning to implementation of clinical interventions; hospital mortality; length of ICU and hospital stay; workload of medical staff and risks of exposure to COVID-19.

Discussion:

Our hypothesis is that EWRRS provides an example of an early identification, warning, and response system for COVID-19. In addition, EWRRS can potentially be extended to use as a grading metric for general critically ill patients in an ICU setting.
Chinese herbal medicine Yanghe decoction for knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Xu Xiaosheng , Wan Yi , Gong Liangjin , Ma Zeren , Xu Tao
Published: August 2020

Background:

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been widely used to treat knee osteoarthritis (KOA), among which Yanghe decoction (YHD) is one of the commonly used prescriptions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of YHD in the treatment of KOA.

Methods:

Six databases, including Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database and Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database will be searched from their inception to July 2020. Two researchers will independently select studies, collect data and evaluate the quality of included studies. Statistical analysis will be processed by RevMan V.5.3 software.

Results:

This study will provide an assessment of the current state of YHD in the treatment of KOA, aiming to show the efficacy and safety of YHD.

Conclusion:

This study will provide evidence to judge whether YHD is an effective intervention for KOA.
The feasibility of Chinese massage as an auxiliary way of replacing or reducing drugs in the clinical treatment of adult type 2 diabetes
Authors: Zhang Xiaolin , Cao Di , Yan Minhui , Liu Mingjun
Published: August 2020

Background:

At present, metformin is mainly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). When the therapeutic effect is achieved, there are side effects and secondary failure will occur if taken for a long time. It is of great significance to actively explore the clinical scheme of reducing drug use while ensuring the therapeutic effect of T2DM.

Objective:

To evaluate the feasibility of Chinese massage (CM) in the treatment of T2DM.

Methods:

Literature retrieval is divided into 2 aspects: Electronic Retrieval and Personal Check. We will search PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, Cochrane Central, which were registered in international clinical trials registry platform systems, select all eligible studies published before November 2, 2019, and use Personal Check method to retrieve papers, conference papers, ongoing experiments, internal reports, and so on. With fasting blood glucose, 2-hour fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin index as the main observation indexes, we also pay attention to traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score scale, insulin resisting index, body mass index , serum total cholesterol, Curative effect and the occurrence of all adverse reactions in drug treatment.

Of the research group 2 researchers respective selected literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias. After that we used Revman 5.7 and Stata 12.1 statistical software for meta-analysis.

Results:

A total of 769 subjects were included in 10 studies for meta-analysis. Compared with metformin hydrochloride tablets, CM plus baseline treatment can reduce fasting plasma glucose (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−0.54, −0.13], Z = 3.15, P = .002), 2 hours postprandial blood glucose (WMD = −0.52, 95% CI [−0.70, −0.34), Z = 5.66, P < .00001], hemoglobin A1c (WMD = 0.12, 95% CI [0.04, 0.20], Z = 2.94, P = .003), fasting insulin (WMD = −3.59, 95% CI [−5.56, −1.42], Z = 10.29,

P < .00001), traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score scale (WMD = −4.55, 95% CI [−7.58, −1.51], Z = 2.94, P = .003),

homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (WMD = −1.76, 95% CI [−2.25, −1.27), Z = 7.08, P < .00001),

body mass index (WMD = −1.28, 95% CI [−1.65, −0.92], Z = 6.91, P < .00001), serum total cholesterol (WMD = −1.01, 95% CI [−1.14, −0.83], Z = 15.51, P < .00001), meanwhile, the effective rate was increased (risk ratio [RR] = 1.31, 95% CI [1.21, 1.42], Z = 6.57, P < .00001).

Conclusion:

CM combined with metformin hydrochloride tablet has a synergistic effect. It can not only be used as an auxiliary treatment of T2DM, but also as an important reference way of reducing drug treatment of T2DM, improving Clinical Efficacy and reducing adverse reactions.

Systematic review registration:

PROSPERO CRD42020158839
Clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of Chinese dermatomyositis patients with malignancies
Authors: Shao Chi , Li Shan , Sun Yuxin , Zhang Ying , Xu Kai , Zhang Xin , Huang Hui
Published: August 2020

Although a strong association between idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) and malignancy has been widely reported, few studies have solely focused on the concurrence of dermatomyositis (DM) and malignancies (DM-malignancy).

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 37 DM-malignancy cases among 363 DM patients admitted to our hospital between January 2012 and December 2017.

(1) The mean age at DM diagnosis was higher for DM-malignancy patients than for DM-non-malignancy patients [(54.76 ± 9.77) years vs (48.57 ± 12.82) years, t = 2.84, P = .005]. (2) Gynecological malignancies (35.90%/14 cases) were the most common malignancies. Malignancies were diagnosed before DM for 7 DM-malignancy patients. The interval between the DM and malignancy diagnoses for the remaining 32 DM-malignancy patients was less than 6 months for 18 patients (46.15%), less than 1 years for 23 patients (58.9%), and less than 2 years for 29 patients (74.26%). (3) There was no significant difference either in antinuclear antibody or anti-Ro-52 positivity between the 2 groups (P > .05). (4) Multivariate analysis demonstrated that DM onset age ≥50 years and concurrence with ILD increased the risk of death for DM patients [hazard ratio (HR): 1.62 and 2.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.08–2.43) and (1.47–5.02); P = .02 and 0.001, respectively], and male gender decreased the risk of death [HR 0.66, 95% CI (0.44–0.98), P = .04]. DM-malignancy patients were older than DM-non-malignancy patients. Gynecological malignancies were the most common malignancies among these patients. A DM onset age ≥50 years, female sex and the presence of ILD were independent risk factors for death.
Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine on blood glucose fluctuations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Leng Yulin , Zhou Xiujuan , Xie Ziyan , Hu Zhipeng , Gao Hong , Liu Xiaoke , Xie Hongyan , Fu Xiaoxu , Xie Chunguang
Published: August 2020

Background:

As one of the major chronic diseases that seriously threaten human health, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a global public health problem. Blood glucose fluctuation is a risk factor independent of hyperglycemia. At present, the measures to treat blood glucose fluctuations in patients with T2DM are insufficient in effectiveness and safety. Medical practice and clinical studies have proved that Chinese herbal medicine has obvious advantages in reducing blood glucose fluctuations. In this systematic review, we will assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of blood glucose fluctuations in patients with T2DM.

Methods:

We will search related literature of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Database, and will manually search grey documents such as literature such as conference articles and references articles. Eligible randomized controlled trials will be screened based on inclusion criteria, and data extraction, risk of bias assessment, publication bias assessment, subgroup analysis, and quality assessment will be performed. Review Manager version 5.3 software and stata version 13 software will be used for data analysis. Each process is independently conducted by 2 researchers, and if there is any objection, it will be submitted to the third researcher for resolution.

Results:

This study will provide evidence for the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of blood glucose fluctuations in patients with T2DM. Outcome measures include mean amplitude of glycemic excursions, 24 hours mean blood glucose, standard deviations of blood glucose, mean of daily differences, coefficient of variation, glucose time in range, fasting blood glucose, 2 hours postprandial blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, HOMA-β, HOMA-IR, quality of life questionnaire, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, and adverse event.
Tripterygium and its plant extraction for systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Chen Fangying , Liu Junting , Zhao Zhimin , Li Ziping , Wu Kuanyu
Published: August 2020

Background:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a diffuse connetive tissue disease, which is difficult to be conquered. However, the traditional Chinese medicine is significant in the treatment. And the Chinese medicine tripterygium and its plant extraction can help us to overcome this disease, to some extent.

Methods:

The deadline should be from inception to February 2020 by computer from the databases: the Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science in English and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Chinese Science, Chinese Traditional Medicine Database, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database in Chinese. Included criteria are randomized controlled trials. The primary outcomes are the clinical symptoms, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index and quality of life questionnaire (the top 10 frequency). We will use RevMan 5.0 statistical software for data synthesis, sensitivity analysis, meta regression, subgroup analysis, and risk of bias assessment. The publish bias will be assessed by a funnel plot and the funnel plot symmetries will be evaluated by Begg and Egger tests. We will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system to assess the quality of evidence.

Results:

This article will give a protocol for meta analysis which can make sure the efficacy and side effect of the tripterygium and its plant extraction for SLE.

Conclusion:

The efficacy and side effect of the tripterygium and its plant extraction for SLE will be evaluated.

Ethics and dissemination:

Without personal information involved, ethical approval and informed consent form is no need. The review will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal prospectively to spread our findings.

PROSPERO registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42020176444
Intensive care unit acquired weakness
Authors: Li Zheng , Cai Yitong , Zhang Qian , Zhang Peng , Sun Ruixiang , Jiang Haijiao , Wan JingJing , Wu Fang , Wang Xiaoye , Tao Xiubin
Published: August 2020

Background:

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is an acquired neuromuscular lesion and a common occurrence in patients who are critically ill. There are already systematic reviews on ICU-AW. Therefore, we provide a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews to improve the effectiveness of the construction of an evidence-based practice for prevention of ICU-AW.

Methods:

We will search the PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for the relevant systematic review or meta-analyses about ICU-AW. Study selection, data extraction, and the quality assessment of the included studies will be performed independently by 2 reviewers. And the methodological quality, report quality and evidence quality will be evaluated by Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews-2 tool, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses Statement checklist and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system, respectively.

Results:

This overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis will collect the evidence published about the ICU-AW.

Conclusion:

We hope that our research will contribute to clinicians and public decision making about the ICU-AW.

Registration number:

INPLASY202070067
Clinical outcome of different skin closure in total-knee arthroplasty: running subcuticular closure vs intermittent closure
Authors: Chen Liang , Yang Junxiao , Xie Jie , Hu Yihe , Zeng Min
Published: August 2020

An intermittent closure with silk suture is routinely used for closing different surgical wounds. However, subcuticular closure with absorbable sutures has gained considerable attention due to convenience and better cosmetic appearance.

To compare the clinical outcomes and risk of surgical-site infection of subcuticular and intermittent closure after total-knee arthroplasty (TKA), 106 patients that underwent TKA between January 2017 to June 2019 at the Department of Orthopedics in Xiangya Hospital of Centre South University were retrospectively assessed. Forty-three had received running subcuticular closure (group A) and 58 underwent intermittent closure (group B). The Knee Society score was measured before and 6 months after operation. Inflammation markers including the serum levels of procalcitonin, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate were evaluated before operation, 1 day after and 1 month after operation. Patient satisfaction with the closure was evaluated using the Likert scale at the last follow-up.

No significant difference was seen in the 6-month postoperative Knee Society score, or in the 1-day and 6-month postoperative inflammation marker levels between both groups (P > .05). Likert scores were higher in group A compared to group B (4.0 ± 1.0 vs 3.6 ± 1.2, P < .05).

Running subcuticular closure after TKA results in a better appearance compared to intermittent closure, although neither method has an advantage in terms of efficacy and risk of infection.
Standing Balance Strategies and Dual-Task Interference Are Differentially Modulated Across Various Sensory Contexts and Cognitive Tests in Individuals With Chronic Stroke
Authors: Jehu Deborah A. , Chan Lloyd L. , Pang Marco Y. C.
Published: August 2020

Background and Purpose:

Mental tracking and verbal fluency tests have been linked to poor mobility and falls; however, no studies have examined the influence of imposing these tests on standing balance post-stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate standing balance and cognitive performance across sensory conditions and cognitive tests post-stroke.

Methods:

Ninety-two participants with chronic stroke stood on dual-force platforms while performing various sensory conditions (eyes open/fixed surface, eyes closed/fixed surface, eyes open/sway-referenced surface, and eyes closed/sway-referenced surface) and cognitive tests (no cognitive test, serial subtractions, and verbal fluency). Equilibrium scores were computed based on the anterior-posterior sway angle. The number of correct verbal responses was recorded.

Results:

Performing serial subtractions during eyes closed/sway-referenced surface revealed the highest equilibrium score (64.0 ± 13.5), followed by the same sensory condition with added verbal fluency test (59.6 ± 15.1), followed by the single-task condition with no cognitive test (52.6 ± 20.9). The number of correct serial subtractions between seated (7.7 ± 3.7) and standing (7.2 ± 3.5) conditions was similar. A trend for more correct verbal fluency responses emerged when seated (8.1 ± 2.9) than the eyes open/sway-referenced surface condition (7.5 ± 2.8). Greater correct verbal fluency responses emerged when seated (8.6 ± 3.1) than the eyes closed/sway-referenced surface condition (7.8 ± 2.7).

Discussion and Conclusions:

Standing balance enhancement (higher equilibrium score/better balance) depends on the neuropsychological process targeted and the sensory input available post-stroke. Cognitive dual-task interference emerged for the verbal fluency test during the most attention demanding sensory condition. Cognitive tests that enhance standing balance should be considered in assessments and interventions to evaluate and improve dual-tasking post-stroke.

Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A321).
Paul O'Brien. 22 January 1954—16 October 2018
Authors: Lewis David J. , Winpenny Richard E. P.
Published: August 2020

Paul O'Brien, known affectionately as ‘POB’, was one of the most imaginative and creative materials chemists of his generation. He brought a deep understanding and knowledge of classical coordination chemistry to bear on routes to thin films and nanoparticles of technologically important materials, particularly metal chalcogenides. His development of molecular precursor chemistry as a method to produce very high quality materials safely, inexpensively and on a large scale laid the foundations for the successful technological exploitation of quantum dots. Paul had a compendious knowledge of science, particularly inorganic chemistry, and was passionate about the exploitation of science and engineering to improve society, both in the UK and around the world, most notably in Africa. He was a wonderful raconteur, and a great counsellor to his many friends, and a source of endless jokes (many of them bad). His greatest passion was science, yet somehow he also found time for other interests, including reading, hill-walking and camping, theatre and football. Paul was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme on his sixty-fourth birthday in January 2018, and this led to his retirement in July 2018 and his appointment as Emeritus Professor at the University of Manchester. He approached his illness with his usual scientific curiosity and optimism. He passed away peacefully with his beloved wife Kym by his side.
Stephen Moorbath. 9 May 1929 — 16 October 2016
Authors: Dewey J. F. , Taylor P. N.
Published: August 2020

Stephen Moorbath was an intellectual with eclectic interests across the sciences and humanities. In 1939, as a ten-year-old, he fled from Germany to England with his father. Stephen spent almost the whole of the rest of his life—from schoolboy to university professor—in Oxford, where he became one of the world's leading isotope geochemists. His academic career began with setting up Europe's first radiometric rock and mineral dating laboratory. In this laboratory, together with numerous colleagues and students, he applied the lead–lead, rubidium–strontium, potassium–argon and, later, samarium–neodymium isotopic dating methods to the solution of many geological problems. He made major contributions in establishing the chronology for the geological and tectonic evolution of Precambrian crust in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, in West Greenland, Zimbabwe, South India, and Ghana. He developed isotopic criteria for assessing the relative contributions of mantle and crustal sources to Tertiary igneous rocks in Scotland, Andean volcanics and the late Archaean granitoids of West Greenland. He established dating methods for sedimentary rocks: Rb–Sr for shales and Pb/Pb for Archaean limestone. Stephen's abiding geological passion was the study of the early Archaean, especially the Godthåbsfjord and Isukasia areas of West Greenland.
Inflationary routes to Gaussian curved topography
Authors: Siéfert Emmanuel , Warner Mark
Published: August 2020

Gaussian-curved shapes are obtained by inflating initially flat systems made of two superimposed strong and light thermoplastic impregnated fabric sheets heat-sealed together along a specific network of lines. The resulting inflated structures are light and very strong because they (largely) resist deformation by the intercession of stretch. Programmed patterns of channels vary either discretely through boundaries or continuously. The former give rise to faceted structures that are in effect non-isometric origami and that cannot unfold as in conventional folded structures since they present the localized angle deficit or surplus. Continuous variation of the channel direction in the form of spirals is examined, giving rise to curved shells. We solve the inverse problem consisting in finding a network of seam lines leading to a target axisymmetric shape on inflation. They too have strength from the metric changes that have been pneumatically driven, resistance to change being met with stretch and hence high forces like typical shells.
Statistics of geometric clusters in Potts model: statistical mechanics approach
Authors: Timonin P. N.
Published: August 2020

The percolation of Potts spins with equal values in Potts model on graphs (networks) is considered. The general method for finding the Potts clusters' size distributions is developed. It allows full description of percolation transition when a giant cluster of equal-valued Potts spins appears. The method is applied to the short-ranged q-state ferromagnetic Potts model on the Bethe lattices with the arbitrary coordination number
z
. The analytical results for the field-temperature percolation phase diagram of geometric spin clusters and their size distribution are obtained. The last appears to be proportional to that of the classical non-correlated bond percolation with the bond probability, which depends on temperature and Potts model parameters.
A new class of mass dimension one fermions
Authors: Vir Ahluwalia Dharam
Published: August 2020

These are notes on the square root of a 4 × 4 identity matrix and associated quantum fields of spin one half. The method is illustrated by constructing a new mass dimension one fermionic field. The presented field is local. The field energy is bounded from below. It is argued that these fermions are a first-principle candidate for dark matter with an unsuppressed quartic self-interaction.
A one-dimensional model for elasto-capillary necking
Authors: Lestringant Claire , Audoly Basile
Published: August 2020

We derive a nonlinear one-dimensional (1d) strain gradient model predicting the necking of soft elastic cylinders driven by surface tension, starting from three-dimensional (3d) finite-strain elasticity. It is asymptotically correct: the microscopic displacement is identified by an energy method. The 1d model can predict the bifurcations occurring in the solutions of the 3d elasticity problem when the surface tension is increased, leading to a localization phenomenon akin to phase separation. Comparisons with finite-element simulations reveal that the 1d model resolves the interface separating two phases accurately, including well into the localized regime, and that it has a vastly larger domain of validity than 1d models proposed so far.
Shifts in sexual dimorphism across a mass extinction in ostracods: implications for sexual selection as a factor in extinction risk
Authors: Martins Maria João Fernandes , Hunt Gene , Thompson Carmi Milagros , Lockwood Rowan , Swaddle John P. , Puckett T. Markham
Published: August 2020

Sexual selection often favours investment in expensive sexual traits that help individuals compete for mates. In a rapidly changing environment, however, allocation of resources to traits related to reproduction at the expense of those related to survival may elevate extinction risk. Empirical testing of this hypothesis in the fossil record, where extinction can be directly documented, is largely lacking. The rich fossil record of cytheroid ostracods offers a unique study system in this context: the male shell is systematically more elongate than that of females, and thus the sexes can be distinguished, even in fossils. Using mixture models to identify sex clusters from size and shape variables derived from the digitized valve outlines of adult ostracods, we estimated sexual dimorphism in ostracod species before and after the Cretaceous/Palaeogene mass extinction in the United States Coastal Plain. Across this boundary, we document a substantial shift in sexual dimorphism, driven largely by a pronounced decline in the taxa with dimorphism indicating both very high and very low male investment. The shift away from high male investment, which arises largely from evolutionary changes within genera that persist through the extinction, parallels extinction selectivity previously documented during the Late Cretaceous under a background extinction regime. Our results suggest that sexual selection and the allocation of resources towards survival versus reproduction may be an important factor for species extinction during both background and mass extinctions.
Harsh environments promote alloparental care across human societies
Authors: Martin J. S. , Ringen E. J. , Duda P. , Jaeggi A. V.
Published: August 2020

Alloparental care is central to human life history, which integrates exceptionally short interbirth intervals and large birth size with an extended period of juvenile dependency and increased longevity. Formal models, previous comparative research, and palaeoanthropological evidence suggest that humans evolved higher levels of cooperative childcare in response to increasingly harsh environments. Although this hypothesis remains difficult to test directly, the relative importance of alloparental care varies across human societies, providing an opportunity to assess how local social and ecological factors influence the expression of this behaviour. We therefore, investigated associations between alloparental infant care and socioecology across 141 non-industrialized societies. We predicted increased alloparental care in harsher environments, due to the fitness benefits of cooperation in response to shared ecological challenges. We also predicted that starvation would decrease alloparental care, due to prohibitive energetic costs. Using Bayesian phylogenetic multilevel models, we tested these predictions while accounting for potential confounds as well as for population history. Consistent with our hypotheses, we found increased alloparental infant care in regions characterized by both reduced climate predictability and relatively lower average temperatures and precipitation. We also observed reduced alloparental care under conditions of high starvation. These results provide evidence of plasticity in human alloparenting in response to ecological contexts, comparable to previously observed patterns across avian and mammalian cooperative breeders. This suggests convergent social evolutionary processes may underlie both inter- and intraspecific variation in alloparental care.
Host–microbiota–insect interactions drive emergent virulence in a complex tree disease
Authors: Doonan James M. , Broberg Martin , Denman Sandra , McDonald James E.
Published: August 2020

Forest declines caused by climate disturbance, insect pests and microbial pathogens threaten the global landscape, and tree diseases are increasingly attributed to the emergent properties of complex ecological interactions between the host, microbiota and insects. To address this hypothesis, we combined reductionist approaches (single and polyspecies bacterial cultures) with emergentist approaches (bacterial inoculations in an oak infection model with the addition of insect larvae) to unravel the gene expression landscape and symptom severity of host–microbiota–insect interactions in the acute oak decline (AOD) pathosystem. AOD is a complex decline disease characterized by predisposing abiotic factors, inner bark lesions driven by a bacterial pathobiome, and larval galleries of the bark-boring beetle
Agrilus biguttatus
. We identified expression of key pathogenicity genes in
Brenneria goodwinii
, the dominant member of the AOD pathobiome, tissue-specific gene expression profiles, cooperation with other bacterial pathobiome members in sugar catabolism, and demonstrated amplification of pathogenic gene expression in the presence of
Agrilus
larvae. This study highlights the emergent properties of complex host–pathobiota–insect interactions that underlie the pathology of diseases that threaten global forest biomes.
How to estimate community energy flux? A comparison of approaches reveals that size-abundance trade-offs alter the scaling of community energy flux
Authors: Ghedini Giulia , Malerba Martino E. , Marshall Dustin J.
Published: August 2020

Size and metabolism are highly correlated, so that community energy flux might be predicted from size distributions alone. However, the accuracy of predictions based on interspecific energy–size relationships relative to approaches not based on size distributions is unknown. We compare six approaches to predict energy flux in phytoplankton communities across succession: assuming a constant energy use among species (per cell or unit biomass), using energy–size interspecific scaling relationships and species-specific rates (both with or without accounting for density effects). Except for the per cell approach, all others explained some variation in energy flux but their accuracy varied considerably. Surprisingly, the best approach overall was based on mean biomass-specific rates, followed by the most complex (species-specific rates with density). We show that biomass-specific rates alone predict community energy flux because the allometric scaling of energy use with size measured for species in isolation does not reflect the isometric scaling of these species in communities. We also find energy equivalence throughout succession, even when communities are not at carrying capacity. Finally, we discuss that species assembly can alter energy–size relationships, and that metabolic suppression in response to density might drive the allometry of community energy flux as biomass accumulates.
Competitive advantage of rare behaviours induces adaptive diversity rather than social conformity in skill learning
Authors: Aljadeff Naama , Giraldeau Luc-Alain , Lotem Arnon
Published: August 2020

Recent studies have emphasized the role of social learning and cultural transmission in promoting conformity and uniformity in animal groups, but little attention has been given to the role of negative frequency-dependent learning in impeding conformity and promoting diversity instead. Here, we show experimentally that under competitive conditions that are common in nature, social foragers (although capable of social learning) are likely to develop diversity in foraging specialization rather than uniformity. Naive house sparrows that were introduced into groups of foraging specialists did not conform to the behaviour of the specialists, but rather learned to use the alternative food-related cues, thus forming groups of complementary specialists. We further show that individuals in such groups may forage more effectively in diverse environments. Our results suggest that when the benefit from socially acquired skills diminishes through competition in a negative frequency-dependent manner, animal societies will become behaviourally diverse rather than uniform.
Eusociality influences the strength of negative selection on insect genomes
Authors: Imrit Mohammad A. , Dogantzis Kathleen A. , Harpur Brock A. , Zayed Amro
Published: August 2020

While much of the focus of sociobiology concerns identifying genomic changes that influence social behaviour, we know little about the consequences of social behaviour on genome evolution. It has been hypothesized that social evolution can influence the strength of negative selection via two mechanisms. First, division of labour can influence the efficiency of negative selection in a caste-specific manner; indirect negative selection on worker traits is theoretically expected to be weaker than direct selection on queen traits. Second, increasing social complexity is expected to lead to relaxed negative selection because of its influence on effective population size. We tested these two hypotheses by estimating the strength of negative selection in honeybees, bumblebees, paper wasps, fire ants and six other insects that span the range of social complexity. We found no consistent evidence that negative selection was significantly stronger on queen-biased genes relative to worker-biased genes. However, we found strong evidence that increased social complexity reduced the efficiency of negative selection. Our study clearly illustrates how changes in behaviour can influence patterns of genome evolution by modulating the strength of natural selection.
Decadal changes in blood δ
13
C values, at-sea distribution, and weaning mass of southern elephant seals from Kerguelen Islands
Authors: Mestre Julie , Authier Matthieu , Cherel Yves , Harcourt Rob , McMahon Clive R. , Hindell Mark A. , Charrassin Jean-Benoît , Guinet Christophe
Published: August 2020

Changes in the foraging environment and at-sea distribution of southern elephant seals from Kerguelen Islands were investigated over a decade (2004–2018) using tracking, weaning mass, and blood δ
13
C values. Females showed either a sub-Antarctic or an Antarctic foraging strategy, and no significant shift in their at-sea distribution was detected between 2004 and 2017. The proportion of females foraging in sub-Antarctic versus Antarctic habitats did not change over the 2006–2018 period. Pup weaning mass varied according to the foraging habitat of their mothers. The weaning mass of sub-Antarctic foraging mothers' pups decreased by 11.7 kg over the study period, but they were on average 5.8 kg heavier than pups from Antarctic foraging mothers. Pup blood δ
13
C values decreased by 1.1‰ over the study period regardless of their sex and the presumed foraging habitat of their mothers. Together, these results suggest an ecological change is occurring within the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean with possible consequences on the foraging performance of southern elephant seals. We hypothesize that this shift in δ
13
C is related to a change in primary production and/or in the composition of phytoplankton communities, but this requires further multidisciplinary investigations.
Vibrio algicola sp. nov., isolated from the surface of coralline algae
Authors: Geng Yu-Hui , He Xiao-Yan , Li Na , Li Jian , Gu Tie-Ji , Sun Xiao-Meng , Song Xiao-Yan , Chen Xiu-Lan , Zhang Yu-Zhong , Qin Qi-Long , Zhang Xi-Ying
Published: August 2020

A Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, facultative anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1977T, was isolated from the surface of coralline algae collected from the intertidal zone at Qingdao, PR China. The strain grew at 10–35 °C, pH 4.5–8.5 and with 1–8.5% (w/v) NaCl. It reduced nitrate to nitrite and hydrolysed Tween 20 and DNA. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1977T was affiliated with the genus

Vibrio

, having the highest sequence similarity (97.6 %) to the type strain of

Vibrio casei

, followed by those of another five species (95.6–97.6 %) in the Rumoiensis clade of the genus

Vibrio

. However, the in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (75.3–75.9 %) and average nucleotide identity (21.6–22.8 %) values of SM1977T against these close relatives were all below the corresponding thresholds to discriminate bacterial species. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16:1
 ω7c and/or C16:1
 ω6c), C16:0 and summed feature 8 (C18:1
 ω6c and /or C18:1
 ω7c). The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The sole respiratory quinone was Q-8. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1977T, determined from the obtained whole genomic sequence, was 42.3 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic results obtained in this study, strain SM1977T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus

Vibrio

, for which the name Vibrio algicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1977T (=MCCC 1K04351T=KCTC 72847T).
Aeromedical retrieval diagnostic trends during a period of Coronavirus 2019 lockdown
Authors: Gardiner Fergus W , Gillam Marianne , Churilov Leonid , Sharma Pritish , Steere Mardi , Hanna Michelle , Hooper Andrew , Quinlan Frank
Published: August 2020

Background

We aimed to compare the pre, lockdown, and post-lockdown aeromedical retrieval (AR) diagnostic reasons and patient demographics during a period of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) social isolation.

Methods

An observational study with retrospective data collection, consisting of Australians who received an AR between the 26 January to the 23 June 2020. The main outcome measures were patient diagnostic category proportions and trends prior (28 January to 15 March), during (16 March to 4 May), and following (5 May to 23 June 2020) social isolation restrictions.

Results

There were 16981 ARs consisting of 1959 (11.5) primary evacuations (PE) and 12724 (88.5) inter-hospital transfer (IHT), with a population median age of 52 years old (interquartile range [IQR]

29.0–69.0), with 49.0% (n = 8283) of the cohort being male and 38.0% (n = 6399) being female. There were a total of 6 confirmed and 209 suspected cases of COVID-19, with the majority of cases (n = 114;

53.0%) in the social isolation period. As compared to pre-restriction, the odds of retrieval for the restriction and post-restriction period differed across time between the major diagnostic groups. This included, an increase in cardiovascular retrieval for both restriction and post-restriction periods (OR 1.12 95% CI 1.02-1.24 and OR 1.18 95% CI 1.08-1.30 respectively), increases in neoplasm in the post restriction period (OR 1.31 95% CI 1.04-1.64), and increases for congenital conditions in the restriction period (OR 2.56 95% CI 1.39-4.71). Cardiovascular and congenital conditions had increased rates of priority 1 patients in the restriction and post restriction periods. There was a decrease in endocrine and metabolic disease retrievals in the restriction period (OR 0.72 95% CI 0.53-0.98). There were lower odds during the post-restriction period for a retrievals of the respiratory system (OR 0.78 95% CI 0.67-0.93), and disease of the skin (OR 0.78 95% CI 0.6-1.0). Distribution between the 2019 and 2020 time periods differed (p< 0.05), with the lockdown period resulting in a significant reduction in activity.

Conclusion

The lockdown period resulted in increased AR rates of circulatory and congenital conditions. However, this period also resulted in a reduction of overall activity, possibly due to a reduction in other infectious disease rates, such as influenza, due to social distancing.
Towards chronomic medicine: Enrichment and linkage of chronotype markers with rare disease associated genes
Authors: Malik Basimah T , Hearn Timothy J
Published: August 2020

The role of the circadian clock is becoming apparent in many aspects of human health and disease. Large scale GWAS studies have delivered high numbers of genetic markers for chronotype, which can be used to find links to Mendelian disorders. We used the variants in the 1,000 genomes study to estimate linkage disequilibrium for these chronotype markers. We analysed genes in high linkage disequilibrium with the chronotype markers for enrichment of disease-causing genes, and looked for enrichment of common HPO terms in the wider disease associated genes. We identified that two cardiovascular disorders, cardiomyopathy, and the inherited cardiac arrhythmia Long QT Syndrome, along with the immune system disorder complement component 2 deficiency were significantly enriched MIM diseases. In contrast the most common HPO terms were developmental and neurological terms. This analysis provides a starting point for identifying the circadian contribution to disease outside of the core circadian clock genes, by providing candidate conditions and loci for identifying circadian modifier variants.