bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Free-ranging horse management in Australia, New Zealand and the United States: socio-ecological dimensions of a protracted environmental conflict
Authors: Scasta J. D. , Adams M. , Gibbs R. , Fleury B.
Published: May 2020

Management of free-ranging horses (Equus ferus caballus) is a complex socio-ecological issue in Australia (AU), New Zealand (NZ), and the United States (US). In these countries, horses are the results of colonial introductions and occupy very harsh rangeland environments exerting a grazing disturbance that has generated ecological concerns. Although many social and ecological concerns are similar, each country also has nuances. In 2018, we conducted a field-based comparison of AU, NZ, and US using an inductive approach to identify similarities, differences, and emerging themes through conversations with >100 individuals from New South Wales Australia, the North Island of New Zealand, and the western US. Additional data sources included field observations and archival documents. Consistent emergent themes identified included: strong public emotion, politicization of management, population growth concerns, negative ecological impact concerns, agreement that horses should be treated humanely, disagreement as to what practices were the most humane, interest and scepticism about fertility control, the need for transparency, compromise to accommodating horses and acknowledgement of social values, and recognition that collaboration is the only means to achieve both healthy rangelands and healthy horses. Unique themes identified included: NZ empowering advocate groups to become part of the solution, conflict between horses and livestock is a mostly US conflict, equids originated in the US, concern about the sustainability of adoption programs, different expectations/options for management on private lands, cultural history such as brumby running in AU, permanent branding of horses in the US, litigation as a uniquely US strategy (although a judgement on recent AU litigation is pending), government data accepted to guide removals in NZ but not always in AU or US, and complex heterogeneous land surface ownership patterns makes management difficult in the US. The difficulty of horse management in these countries is attributed to social intricacies rather than biological/ecological gaps of knowledge.
On the right track: placement of camera traps on roads improves detection of predators and shows non-target impacts of feral cat baiting
Authors: Wysong Michael L. , Iacona Gwenllian D. , Valentine Leonie E. , Morris Keith , Ritchie Euan G.
Published: May 2020

Abstract ContextTo understand the ecological consequences of predator management, reliable and accurate methods are needed to survey and detect predators and the species with which they interact. Recently, poison baits have been developed specifically for lethal and broad-scale control of feral cats in Australia. However, the potential non-target effects of these baits on other predators, including native apex predators (dingoes), and, in turn, cascading effects on lower trophic levels (large herbivores), are poorly understood. AimsWe examined the effect that variation in camera trapping-survey design has on detecting dingoes, feral cats and macropodids, and how different habitat types affect species occurrences. We then examined how a feral cat poison baiting event influences the occupancy of these sympatric species. MethodsWe deployed 80 remotely triggered camera traps over the 2410-km2 Matuwa Indigenous Protected Area, in the semiarid rangelands of Western Australia, and used single-season site-occupancy models to calculate detection probabilities and occupancy for our target species before and after baiting. Key resultsCameras placed on roads were ~60 times more likely to detect dingoes and feral cats than were off-road cameras, whereas audio lures designed to attract feral cats had only a slight positive effect on detection for all target species. Habitat was a significant factor affecting the occupancy of dingoes and macropodids, but not feral cats, with both species being positively associated with open woodlands. Poison baiting to control feral cats did not significantly reduce their occupancy but did so for dingoes, whereas macropodid occupancy increased following baiting and reduced dingo occupancy. ConclusionsCamera traps on roads greatly increase the detection probabilities for predators, whereas audio lures appear to add little or no value to increasing detection for any of the species we targeted. Poison baiting of an invasive mesopredator appeared to negatively affect a non-target, native apex predator, and, in turn, may have resulted in increased activity of large herbivores. ImplicationsManagement and monitoring of predators must pay careful attention to survey design, and lethal control of invasive mesopredators should be approached cautiously so as to avoid potential unintended negative ecological consequences (apex-predator suppression and herbivore release).
Gone with a trace?
Authors: Larsen Tori , Johansson Christer
Published: May 2020

PRO is a theoretically attractive empty category proposed to fill the subject position in non-finite clauses. This chapter is concerned with the empirical evidence for PRO. We investigate reactivation patterns in Control sentences in Norwegian with data from two reaction time experiments. We use a picture recognition task to measure the time and position of PRO antecedent reactivation during sentence processing. The data analysis explores a baseline that has the ability to separate syntactic priming (correct PRO antecedent reactivation) and repetition priming. We find a significant effect of position and an effect of syntactic priming for Subject Control using mixed effects models. We discuss possible theoretical implications and necessary future research.
Windows of attention and the polysemy of V-kai
Authors: Wang Liansheng
Published: May 2020

This paper analyses the polysemy of the structure of
V-kai based on windows of attention and finds that it has
three different meanings, including result, result and direction, condition, which
respectively include some different subordinate meanings. It is the result of
different patterns of path windowing. Specifically, result is the result of final
path windowing. Result and direction is the result of medial and final path
windowing. Condition is the result of initial and medial path windowing. Making
use of mechanism of analogy, metaphor and metonymy, they produce some different
subordinate meanings. Because of economy principle of language, it is necessary
for the language construction to change from expressing one meaning to expressing
more, leading to the increase of semantic capacity.
Representations of Pinkunsheng in China’s university
media
Authors: Chen Yuping
Published: May 2020

This paper aims to examine the representations of
Pinkunsheng or Jingjikunnan xuesheng
(hereafter Pinkunsheng) (i.e. low-income college students) in
China through examining campus newspapers (Xiaobao), which
constitute the major print medium at universities. Given that the admission rate
of Pinkunsheng in agricultural, forestry and normal universities
is relatively higher than other universities, three Xiaobao (i.e.

中国农大校报 (Xiaobao of China Agricultural University),

南京林业大学报
(Xiaobao of Nanjing Forestry
University) and
北京师范大学校报
(Xiaobao of Beijing
Normal University)) were identified as data sources. Drawing on the
theory of identity centrality (Rosenberg
1979) and taking a sociocultural linguistic approach to identity
（Bucholtz and Hall 2004, 2005, 2008), this paper finds that different relations of identity are employed in
diverse types of text to represent disparate identity dimensions of
Pinkunsheng. Information reports tend to highlight their
powerlessness in economic terms, whereas campus-based recounts and narratives
foreground their high motivation, their goal-oriented psychological strength and
their academic endeavour. This study sets out to make a contribution to current
research on the media representations of Pinkunsheng in China,
thereby providing insights into the discourses of low-income college students in
contemporary China.
Translating puns in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Authors: Xu Samantha Zhan
Published: May 2020

This paper takes a pragmatic perspective and draws upon a
relevance-theoretic approach to examine how the issue of (un)translatability is
addressed in English to Chinese translation, based on three Chinese translations
of the English classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland taken
from three significant periods in China’s contemporary literary and socio-economic
history. Pun emerges in the novel, which has been renowned for its “impossibility”
to be translated, as the most outstanding type of (un)translatability. A
successful translation under the relevance-theoretic framework, which views
translation as a communicative act, calls for an interpretive resemblance between
source text and target text rather than equivalence (Sperber and Wilson 1986; Gutt 1991, 2014). This paper takes the translation of puns in Alice in
Wonderland, as a case study, and employs Delabastita’s (1996) typology of puns and translation
methods to analyse and contrast the three translators’ strategies. By assessing
the degree of relevance achieved in the three translations and to what extent the
new relevance resembles the original one, this study finds that the translators
show different patterns in their approaches towards (un)translatability. The
socio-cultural environments and the translators’ own subjectivity are found to be
major contributive factors in communicating what’s deemed relevant to the target text
audience.
Translation and re-narration of Nainai
Authors: Xiao Jiayan , Yang Qing , He Shiyao
Published: May 2020

This case study is exemplified to probe into the distinctions
between English translations either by English native translators Hawkes, Joly and
Bonsall, or Chinese translator Yang in translating the personal deictic
Nainai as appellation in chapter 27 of Honglou
Meng, to sort out what cognition of Chinese culture they retained and
intended to consolidate and evaluate if the translation(s) have convinced positive
traditional Chinese culture. The discussion covers the reliable narration and
unreliable narration of interpersonal relationship, social status, and
modification based on the pragmatic study of the social and personal deictic
Nainai as appellation in the discourse, suggesting that the
cultural stance adopted by the translators can be the key factor in the wording
and consequently in re-narrating the interpersonal relationship and their social
status, with the intention of classifying the factors of improving the
intercultural communication, a more positive response of Honglou
Meng and the culture the work has embedded with, simultaneously better
reproduction of the traditional Chinese culture can be developed.
Effect of in situ phases on microstructure and properties in Al–Bi immiscible alloy
Authors: Man Tiannan , Xiang Zhaolong , Zhang Lin , Wang Engang
Published: May 2020

Al–Bi immiscible alloy is of particular interest as potential self-lubricating wear materials with a homogeneous distribution of minority phase. However, it is difficult to obtain a homogeneous microstructure by conventional casting methods due to liquid phase separation of Al–Bi immiscible alloy. We have developed a new strategy to restrain liquid phase separation and improve the properties of Al–Bi immiscible alloy by in situ phases. The in situ AlB2 phase acts as heterogeneous nucleation site to accelerate the nucleation and slow down the velocity of the Bi-rich droplet, resulting in a significant size reduction and a homogeneous microstructure of Al–Bi immiscible alloy. The self-lubricating wear resistance of Al–Bi immiscible alloy can be further enhanced by in situ Al2Cuphase.
Suppressing transition metal dissolution and deposition in lithium-ion batteries using oxide solid electrolyte coated polymer separator*
Authors: Yan Zhao , Pan Hongyi , Wang Junyang , Chen Rusong , Luo Fei , Yu Xiqian , Li Hong
Published: May 2020

The dissolution of transition metal (TM) cations from oxide cathodes and the subsequent migration and deposition on the anode lead to the deconstruction of cathode materials and uncontrollable growth of solid electrode interphase (SEI). The above issues have been considered as main causes for the performance degradation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, we reported that the solid oxide electrolyte Li1.5Al0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3 (LATP) coating on polyethylene (PE) polymer separator can largely block the TM dissolution and deposition in LIBs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), second ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), and Raman spectroscopy characterizations reveal that the granular surface of the LATP coating layer is converted to a dense morphology due to the reduction of LATP at discharge process. The as-formed dense surface layer can effectively hinder the TM deposition on the anode electrode and inhibit the TM dissolution from the cathode electrode. As a result, both the LiCoO2/SiO-graphite and LiMn2O4/SiO-graphite cells using LATP coated PE separator show substantially enhanced cycle performances compared with those cells with Al2O3 coated PE separator.
Electrical and thermoelectric study of two-dimensional crystal of NbSe2*
Authors: Li Xin-Qi , Li Zhi-Lin , Zhao Jia-Ji , Wu Xiao-Song
Published: May 2020

We report experimental investigation of the resistivity and Nernst effect in two-dimensional (2D) NbSe2 crystals. A strongly enhanced Nernst effect, 100 times larger than that in bulk NbSe2, caused by moving vortices is observed in thin film. It is found that in the low temperature, high magnetic field regime, pinning effects show little dependence on the thickness and resistivity of the superconductor films. Strong Nernst signals persist above the superconducting transition, suggesting that the Nernst effect is a sensitive probe to superconducting fluctuations. A magnetic field induced superconductor--insulator transition (SIT) is evident, which is surprising in that such a SIT usually takes place in disordered dirty superconductors, while our samples are highly crystalline and close to the clean limit. Hence, our results expand the scope of SIT into 2D crystal clean superconductors.
Novel compact and lightweight coaxial C-band transit-time oscillator*
Authors: Deng Xiao-Bo , He Jun-Tao , Ling Jun-Pu , Deng Bing-Fang , Song Li-Li , Yang Fu-Xiang , Xu Wei-Li
Published: May 2020

Compactness and miniaturization have become increasingly important in the development of high-power microwave devices. Based on this rising demand, a novel C-band coaxial transit-time oscillator (TTO) with a low external guiding magnetic field is proposed and analyzed. The proposed device has the following advantages: simple structure, short axial length, high power conversion efficiency, and low external guiding magnetic field, which are of great significance for developing the compact and miniaturized high-power microwave devices. The application of a shorter axial length is made possible by the use of a transit radiation mechanism. Also, loading the opening foil symmetrically to both ends of the buncher helps reduce the external magnetic field of the proposed device. Unlike traditional foils, the proposed opening foil has a circular-hole; therefore, the electron beam will not bombard the conductive foil to generate plasma. This makes it possible to realize long pulse and high repetition rate operation of the device in future experiments. Through numerical calculation and PIC particle simulation, the stability of the intense relativistic electron beam (IREB) and the saturation time of the device are improved by using the conductive foil. The voltage and current of the diode are 548 kV and 11.4 kA, respectively. Under a 0.4-T external guiding magnetic field, a C-band output microwave with a frequency of 4.27 GHz and power of 1.88 GW can be generated. The power conversion efficiency of the proposed device is about 30%.
The role of perennation traits in plant community soil frost stress responses
Authors: Lubbe Frederick Curtis , Henry Hugh A L
Published: May 2020

Background and Aims

Herbaceous plants can survive periods of prolonged freezing as below-ground structures or seed, which can be insulated from cold air by soil, litter or snow. Below-ground perennial structures vary in both form and their exposure to soil frost, and this structural variation thus may be important in determining the responses of plant communities to frost stress.

Methods

We conducted a suite of snow removal experiments in a northern temperate old field over 3 years to examine the relative freezing responses of different plant functional groups based on below-ground perennation traits. A litter removal treatment was added in the third year. Species-level percentage cover data were recorded in May, June and September then pooled by functional group.

Key Results

Snow removal decreased total plant cover, and this response was particularly strong and consistent among years for tap-rooted and rhizomatous species. The snow removal responses of cover for plants with root buds and new recruits from seed varied from positive to negative among years. The cover of rootstock plants consistently increased in response to snow removal. Rhizomatous species were generally the most vulnerable to litter removal.

Conclusions

This study is the first to explore the effects of variation in frost severity on the responses of different plant perennation trait functional groups. The responses of herbaceous species to frost may become increasingly important in northern temperate regions in the coming decades as a result of declining snow cover and increasing temperature variability. Our results reveal substantial variation in responses among perennation trait functional groups, which could drive changes in species abundance in response to variation in soil frost.
Public health investments and mortality risk in Brazilian peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Loesch Gustavo , Cruz June A W , Pecoits-Filho Roberto , Figueiredo Ana E , Barretti Pasqual , de Moraes Thyago P
Published: May 2020

Background

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) treatment is very costly and accounts for a significant percentage of public healthcare expenditures. Beyond direct costs, dialysis patients use other healthcare levels, but the impact of public investment on each of these levels is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between direct financing at different healthcare levels and overall mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods

We included all adult incident PD patients from a Brazilian prospective, nationwide PD cohort. Overall mortality was the primary outcome of interest. We used a three-level multilevel survival analysis to investigate whether mortality was associated with the investments destined to different levels of healthcare complexity: (i) primary, (ii) medium and high and (iii) professional healthcare training and community awareness.

Results

We evaluated 5707 incident PD patients from 78 Brazilian cities, which were divided into four quartiles for each healthcare level (Groups I–IV). After taking the highest quartile (Group IV) as a reference, investment in the primary health level was not associated with patient survival. Otherwise, medium and high complexity levels were associated with higher mortality risk. Also, investment in healthcare manager training and community awareness had an impact on patient survival.

Conclusions

Investments in different levels of the healthcare system have distinct impacts on PD patient survival. Investment in healthcare manager training and community awareness seems to be a promising strategy on which to focus, given the relatively low cost and positive impact on outcome.
Thoracic duct identification with indocyanine green fluorescence during minimally invasive esophagectomy with patient in prone position
Authors: Vecchiato Massimo , Martino Antonio , Sponza Massimo , Uzzau Alessandro , Ziccarelli Antonio , Marchesi Federico , Petri Roberto
Published: May 2020

Chylothorax is a serious complication of transthoracic esophagectomy. Intraoperative thoracic duct (TD) identification represents a possible tool for preventing or repairing its lesions, and it is most of the time difficult, even during high-definition thoracoscopy. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the feasibility of using near-infrared fluorescence-guided thoracoscopy to identify TD anatomy and check its intraoperative lesions during minimally invasive esophagectomy. A 0.5 mg/kg solution of indocyanine green (ICG) was injected percutaneously in the inguinal nodes of 19 patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy in a prone position, before thoracoscopy. TD anatomy and potential intraoperative lesions were checked with the KARL STORZ OPAL1® Technology. In all of the 19 patients where transthoracic esophagectomy was feasible, the TD was clearly identified after a mean of 52.7 minutes from injection time. The TD was cut for oncological radicality in two patients, and it was successfully ligated under the ICG guide. No postoperative chylothorax or adverse reactions from the ICG injection occurred. The TD identification with indocyanine green fluorescence during minimally invasive esophagectomy is a simple, effective, and non-time-demanding tool; it may become a standard procedure to prevent postoperative chylothorax.
Robotic-assisted single-incision gastric mobilization for minimally invasive oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer: preliminary results
Authors: Huang Yu-Han , Chen Ke-Cheng , Lin Sian-Han , Huang Pei-Ming , Yang Pei-Wen , Lee Jang-Ming
Published: May 2020

OBJECTIVES

With the gradual acceptance of robotic-assisted surgery to treat oesophageal cancer and the application of a single-port approach in several abdominal procedures, we adopted a single-port technique in robotic-assisted minimally invasive oesophagectomy during the abdominal phase for gastric mobilization and abdominal lymph node dissection.

METHODS

Robotic-assisted oesophagectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection in the chest were followed by robotic-assisted gastric mobilization and conduit creation with abdominal lymph node dissection, which were performed via a periumbilicus single incision. The oesophagogastrostomy was accomplished either in the chest (Ivor Lewis procedure) or neck (McKeown procedure) depending on the status of the proximal resection margin.

RESULTS

The procedure was successfully performed on 11 patients with oesophageal cancer from January 2017 to December 2018 in our institute. No surgical or in-hospital deaths occurred, though we had one case each of anastomotic leakage, pneumonia and hiatal hernia (9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Robotic single-incision gastric mobilization for minimally invasive oesophagectomy for treating oesophageal cancer seems feasible. Its value in terms of perioperative outcome and long-term survival results awaits future evaluation.
Age Discrimination in Hiring Decisions: A Factorial Survey among Managers in Nine European Countries
Authors: Lössbroek Jelle , Lancee Bram , van der Lippe Tanja , Schippers Joop
Published: May 2020

This article analyses old-age discrimination in managers’ hypothetical hiring decisions. We expect that older job candidates are less likely to be hired than equally qualified younger candidates. Statistical discrimination theory argues that when recruiters have more information about the candidate’s skills, age is less important for hiring decisions. Given inconclusive results of previous studies, we elaborate on the theory by focusing on the content rather than the amount of information. We argue that information is primarily influential if it debunks, rather than confirms, ageist stereotypes. To test this argument, a factorial survey was conducted among 482 managers in nine European countries. The findings show that older candidates indeed receive lower hireability scores, and this finding is robust across countries and sectors. However, we do not find that stereotype-rejecting information moderates age discrimination: it does not matter whether recruiters have information that debunks or confirms ageist stereotypes; age is equally important in both situations. Our findings suggest that for hiring decisions, the valuation of applicants’ skills and their age are largely independent.
Global analysis of the slope of forest land
Authors: Lundbäck Mikael , Persson Henrik , Häggström Carola , Nordfjell Tomas
Published: May 2020

Forests of the world constitute one-third of the total land area and are critical for e.g. carbon balance, biodiversity, water supply and as source for bio-based products. Although the terrain within forest land has a great impact on accessibility, there is a lack of knowledge about the distribution of its variation in slope. The aim was to address that knowledge gap and create a globally consistent dataset of the distribution and area of forest land within different slope classes. A Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis was performed using the open-source QGIS, GDAL and R software. The core of the analysis was a digital elevation model and a forest cover mask, both with a final resolution of 90 m. The total forest area according to the forest mask was 4.15 billion hectares whereof 82 per cent was on slope < 15°. The remaining 18 per cent was distributed over the following slope classes, with 6 per cent on a 15–20° slope, 8 per cent on a 20–30° slope and 4 per cent on a slope > 30°. Out of the major forestry countries, China had the largest proportion of forest steeper than 15° followed by Chile and India. A sensitivity analysis with 20 m resolution resulted in increased steep areas by 1 per cent point in flat Sweden and by 11 per cent points in steep Austria. In addition to country-specific and aggregated results of slope distribution and forest area, a global raster dataset is also made freely available to cover user-specific areas that are not necessarily demarcated by country borders. Apart from predicting the regional possibilities for different harvesting equipment, which was the original idea behind this study, the results can be used to relate geographical forest variables to slope. The results could also be used in strategic forest fire fighting and large-scale planning of forest conservation and management.
De Novo Genome Assembly of Limpet Bathyacmaea lactea (Gastropoda: Pectinodontidae): The First Reference Genome of a Deep-Sea Gastropod Endemic to Cold Seeps
Authors: Liu Ruoyu , Wang Kun , Liu Jun , Xu Wenjie , Zhou Yang , Zhu Chenglong , Wu Baosheng , Li Yongxin , Wang Wen , He Shunping , Feng Chenguang , Zhang Haibin
Published: May 2020

Cold seeps, characterized by the methane, hydrogen sulfide, and other hydrocarbon chemicals, foster one of the most widespread chemosynthetic ecosystems in deep sea that are densely populated by specialized benthos. However, scarce genomic resources severely limit our knowledge about the origin and adaptation of life in this unique ecosystem. Here, we present a genome of a deep-sea limpet Bathyacmaea lactea, a common species associated with the dominant mussel beds in cold seeps. We yielded 54.6 gigabases (Gb) of Nanopore reads and 77.9-Gb BGI-seq raw reads, respectively. Assembly harvested a 754.3-Mb genome for B. lactea, with 3,720 contigs and a contig N50 of 1.57 Mb, covering 94.3% of metazoan Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs. In total, 23,574 protein-coding genes and 463.4 Mb of repetitive elements were identified. We analyzed the phylogenetic position, substitution rate, demographic history, and TE activity of B. lactea. We also identified 80 expanded gene families and 87 rapidly evolving Gene Ontology categories in the B. lactea genome. Many of these genes were associated with heterocyclic compound metabolism, membrane-bounded organelle, metal ion binding, and nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism. The high-quality assembly and in-depth characterization suggest the B. lactea genome will serve as an essential resource for understanding the origin and adaptation of life in the cold seeps.
Transcriptome-Wide Comparisons and Virulence Gene Polymorphisms of Host-Associated Genotypes of the Cnidarian Parasite Ceratonova shasta in Salmonids
Authors: Alama-Bermejo Gema , Meyer Eli , Atkinson Stephen D , Holzer Astrid S , Wiśniewska Monika M , Kolísko Martin , Bartholomew Jerri L
Published: May 2020

Ceratonova shasta is an important myxozoan pathogen affecting the health of salmonid fishes in the Pacific Northwest of North America. Ceratonova shasta exists as a complex of host-specific genotypes, some with low to moderate virulence, and one that causes a profound, lethal infection in susceptible hosts. High throughput sequencing methods are powerful tools for discovering the genetic basis of these host/virulence differences, but deep sequencing of myxozoans has been challenging due to extremely fast molecular evolution of this group, yielding strongly divergent sequences that are difficult to identify, and unavoidable host contamination. We designed and optimized different bioinformatic pipelines to address these challenges. We obtained a unique set of comprehensive, host-free myxozoan RNA-seq data from C. shasta genotypes of varying virulence from different salmonid hosts. Analyses of transcriptome-wide genetic distances and maximum likelihood multigene phylogenies elucidated the evolutionary relationship between lineages and demonstrated the limited resolution of the established Internal Transcribed Spacer marker for C. shasta genotype identification, as this marker fails to differentiate between biologically distinct genotype II lineages from coho salmon and rainbow trout. We further analyzed the data sets based on polymorphisms in two gene groups related to virulence: cell migration and proteolytic enzymes including their inhibitors. The developed single-nucleotide polymorphism-calling pipeline identified polymorphisms between genotypes and demonstrated that variations in both motility and protease genes were associated with different levels of virulence of C. shasta in its salmonid hosts. The prospective use of proteolytic enzymes as promising candidates for targeted interventions against myxozoans in aquaculture is discussed. We developed host-free transcriptomes of a myxozoan model organism from strains that exhibited different degrees of virulence, as a unique source of data that will foster functional gene analyses and serve as a base for the development of potential therapeutics for efficient control of these parasites.
Effect of a Practice-wide Anti-TNF Proactive Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Program on Outcomes in Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Lyles John L , Mulgund Aditi A , Bauman Laura E , Su Weizhe , Fei Lin , Chona Deepika L , Sharma Puneet , Etter Renee K , Hellmann Jennifer , Denson Lee A , Minar Phillip , Dykes Dana M , Rosen Michael J
Published: May 2020

Background

Reports on the feasibility and effectiveness of translating proactive, antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for inflammatory bowel disease into practice-wide quality improvement (QI) are lacking. We aimed to determine whether a TDM QI program improved outcomes at a large academic pediatric gastroenterology practice.

Methods

We instituted local anti-TNF TDM practice guidelines to proactively monitor and optimize drug levels (goal >5 μg/mL). We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort analysis of patient outcomes before (pre-TDM) and after (post-TDM) guideline institution and assessed the independent effect by multivariable regression. Primary outcome was sustained clinical remission (SCR22-52), defined as physician global assessment (PGA) of inactive from 22 to 52 weeks and off corticosteroids at 52 weeks.

Results

We identified 108 pre-TDM and 206 post-TDM patients. The SCR22-52 was achieved in 42% of pre-TDM and 59% of post-TDM patients (risk difference, 17.6%; 95% CI, 5.4–29%; P = 0.004). The post-TDM group had an increased adjusted odds of achieving SCR22-52 (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.27–3.26; P = 0.003). The adjusted risk of developing high titer antidrug antibodies (ADAs) was lower in the post-TDM group (hazard ratio, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.09–0.35; P < 0.001). Although the risk of anti-TNF cessation for any reason was not significantly different, there was a lower adjusted risk of cessation related to any detectable ADA in the post-TDM group (hazard ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26–0.77; P = 0.003).

Conclusions

A practice-wide proactive anti-TNF TDM QI program improved key clinical outcomes at our institution, including sustained clinical remission, incidence of high titer ADA, and anti-TNF cessation related to ADA.
Post-occupancy evaluation of outdoor thermal comfort in hot arid zone
Authors: Shawesh Rawan , Mohamed Mady
Published: May 2020

Human comfort and healthy environments lie at the core of every debate about outdoor spaces nowadays. Thermal comfort is a vital concern for planners and designers in order to produce a healthy and thermally comfortable environment, since the influence of different climates and user groups has been found to greatly alter the range of responses for thermal comfort calculations. This requires Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) with an integration of the appropriate outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) index. This paper presents the results of a detailed assessment for the OTC in hot arid zone (HAZ) using the most suitable thermal index. A case study was selected from Effat Campus, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to represent the HAZ. Subjective assessment employed the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and the predictive mean vote (PMV) thermal indices in analysing the results of online and self-directed questionnaires while objective assessment employed a hand-held anemometer that was used to measure wind speed, whereas the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) SD Card Logger with a black globe thermometer 75 mm in diameter and emissivity of 0.95 was used to measure the globe temperature. The physical measurements were later used to calculate the mean radiant temperature (MRT) and consequently the PET index using RayMan Software. The results confirmed the significance of the shading strategy on OTC. The study revealed that there is no percentage as shading is permitting people to use the space; otherwise, in hot arid zone, the space would be completely unusable under the sun while the PET is more suitable than the PMV index.
Feasibility of hybrid renewable heating system application in poultry house: a case study of East Midlands, UK
Authors: Cui Yuanlong , Theo Elmer , Gurler Tugba , Su Yuehong , Saffa Riffat
Published: May 2020

Currently, there has been an obvious lack of innovation within poultry houses heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system design that deals with both energy efficiency and poultry welfare issues. This paper presents an innovative and renewable heating system for poultry house application to meet the welfare living environment requirement for breeding, to improve the energy efficiency of HVAC system and to decrease fossil fuel consumption and harmful gas emissions. The purpose of this study is to design, develop and test the highly efficient hybrid heating system via an integrated photovoltaic/thermal array with polyethylene heat exchanger coupled to geothermal heat pump system based on the East Midlands’ climate conditions in the UK. The numerical model is established based on finite volume method and solved by using Engineering Equation Solver, and a good agreement with less than 15% difference between the numerical and experimental results is achieved. The results indicate that the annual electrical and thermal output are 11867 kWh and 30245 kWh, respectively, which not only could fulfil the poultry house electrical need, but also can provide ~43.5% electricity demand of the heat pump compressor operating.
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 But Not A(H3N2) Virus Infection Induces Durable Seroprotection: Results From the Ha Nam Cohort
Authors: Hoa Le Nguyen Minh , Sullivan Sheena G , Mai Le Quynh , Khvorov Arseniy , Phuong Hoang Vu Mai , Hang Nguyen Le Khanh , Thai Pham Quang , Thanh Le Thi , Carolan Louise , Anh Dang Duc , Duong Tran Nhu , Bryant Juliet E , van Doorn H Rogier , Wertheim Heiman F L , Horby Peter , Fox Annette
Published: May 2020

Background

The extent to which influenza recurrence depends upon waning immunity from prior infection is undefined. We used antibody titers of Ha-Nam cohort participants to estimate protection curves and decay trajectories.

Methods

Households (270) participated in influenza-like–illness (ILI) surveillance and provided blood at intervals spanning laboratory–confirmed virus transmission. Sera were tested in hemagglutination inhibition assay. Infection was defined as influenza virus-positive ILI and/or seroconversion. Median protective titers were estimated using scaled-logistic regression to model pretransmission titer against infection status in that season, limiting analysis to households with infection(s). Titers were modelled against month since infection using mixed-effects linear regression to estimate decay and when titers fell below protection thresholds.

Results

From December 2008–2012, 295 and 314 participants were infected with H1N1pdm09-like and A/Perth/16/09-like (H3N2Pe09) viruses, respectively. The proportion protected rose more steeply with titer for H1N1pdm09 than for H3N2Pe09, and estimated 50% protection titers were 19.6 and 37.3, respectively. Postinfection titers started higher against H3N2Pe09 but decayed more steeply than against H1N1pdm09. Seroprotection was estimated to be sustained against H1N1pdm09 but to wane by 8-months for H3N2Pe09.

Conclusions

Estimates indicate that infection induces durable seroprotection against H1N1pdm09 but not H3N2Pe09, which could in part account for the younger age of A(H1N1) versus A(H3N2) cases.
The effectiveness of full and partial travel bans against COVID-19 spread in Australia for travellers from China during and after the epidemic peak in China
Authors: Costantino Valentina , Heslop David J , MacIntyre C Raina
Published: May 2020

Background

Australia implemented a travel ban on China on 1 February 2020, while COVID-19 was largely localized to China. We modelled three scenarios to test the impact of travel bans on epidemic control. Scenario one was no ban; scenario two and three were the current ban followed by a full or partial lifting (allow over 100 000 university students to enter Australia, but not tourists) from the 8th of March 2020.

Methods

We used disease incidence data from China and air travel passenger movements between China and Australia during and after the epidemic peak in China, derived from incoming passenger arrival cards. We used the estimated incidence of disease in China, using data on expected proportion of under-ascertainment of cases and an age-specific deterministic model to model the epidemic in each scenario.

Results

The modelled epidemic with the full ban fitted the observed incidence of cases well, predicting 57 cases on March 6th in Australia, compared to 66 observed on this date; however, we did not account for imported cases from other countries. The modelled impact without a travel ban results in more than 2000 cases and about 400 deaths, if the epidemic remained localized to China and no importations from other countries occurred. The full travel ban reduced cases by about 86%, while the impact of a partial lifting of the ban is minimal and may be a policy option.

Conclusions

Travel restrictions were highly effective for containing the COVID-19 epidemic in Australia during the epidemic peak in China and averted a much larger epidemic at a time when COVID-19 was largely localized to China. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of travel bans applied to countries with high disease incidence. This research can inform decisions on placing or lifting travel bans as a control measure for the COVID-19 epidemic.
Migration and intercommunal relationships: an interdisciplinary and inter-regional dialogue
Authors: Thawnghmung Ardeth Maung , Fasolo Valeria
Published: May 2020

The growing significance of migration on a global scale is generating increased scholarly interest in the subject, offering a fuller and more nuanced understanding of the nature and implications of different types of migration. However, research to date has presented divergent findings on the factors influencing the presence or absence of migration-induced conflicts, as most contributions are single-case studies focusing on different regions, levels of analysis, and measurements, whether applied to ‘objective’ or ‘subjective’ situations. We develop a framework to assess a wide spectrum of interactions between ‘local’ residents and ‘migrant populations’ by integrating the literature on ethnic conflict and considering the findings of studies that have investigated developed countries separately from developing countries; utilized a methodology specific to a particular discipline; or have focused on a single historical time frame or level of analysis. We propose a distinctive way of organizing and integrating the literature, incorporating three levels of analysis (independent variables) and a wide range of responses (dependent variables). We demonstrate that this framework enables researchers who employ one level of analysis at the expense of the others, or consider only one aspect or level of conflict, to assess the limitations and representativeness of their case studies; to identify gaps in operationalization and measurements of concepts and definitions; and to become aware of the trade-offs involved in their selection and scope of analysis.
Subsidiarity and the Moral Justification of Intergovernmental Equalization Grants to Decentralized Governments
Authors: Drew Joseph , Miyazaki Masato
Published: May 2020

An important problem with decentralized government relates to its tendency to create disparities between the various units with respect to their capability to provide public goods. In response to this problem, intergovernmental equalization grant transfers are a ubiquitous feature of many systems of decentralized government. However, since the earliest times, scholars of fiscal federalism have struggled to provide a convincing moral justification for providing intergovernmental equalization grants. We outline how the principle of subsidiarity might be employed to create a robust moral justification for providing equalization transfers. In addition, we explicate the steps required to operationalize a subsidiarity-based grant system and conclude with a consideration of some of the difficulties that might be encountered in doing so.
A common contaminant shifts impacts of climate change on a plant-microbe mutualism: effects of temperature, CO2and leachate from tire wear particles
Authors: O’Brien Anna M. , Lins Tiago F. , Yang Yamin , Frederickson Megan E. , Sinton David , Rochman Chelsea M.
Published: May 2020

Anthropogenic stressors, such as climate change or chemical pollution, affect individual species and alter species interactions. Moreover, species interactions can modify effects of anthropogenic stressors on interacting species - a process which may vary amongst stressors or stressor combinations. Most ecotoxicological work focuses on single stressors on single species. Here, we test hypotheses about multiple stressors (climate change and tire wear particles) and interacting species, and whether species interactions modify responses. We use duckweed and its microbiome to model responses of plant-microbe interactions. Climate change is occurring globally, and with increasing urbanization, tire wear particles increasingly contaminate road runoff. Their leachate is associated with zinc, PAHs, plastic additives, and other toxic compounds. We crossed perpendicular gradients of temperature and CO2in a well plate with factorial manipulation of leachate from tire wear particles and presence of duckweed microbiomes. We measured duckweed and microbial growth, duckweed greenness, and plant-microbe growth correlations. We found that tire leachate and warmer temperatures enhanced duckweed and microbial growth, but microbes diminished positive responses in duck-weed, meaning microbiomes became costly for duckweed. These costs of microbiomes were less-than-additive with warming and leachate, and might be caused by leachate-disrupted endocrine signaling in duckweed. We observed reduced greenness at higher CO2without tire leachate, suggesting a relative increase in plant nutrient demand, and possibly underlying positive plant-microbe growth correlations in these conditions, as microbes presumably increase nutrient availability. However, with tire leachate, growth correlations were never positive, and shifted negative at lower CO2, further suggesting leachate favors mutualism disruption. In summary, while individual stressors of global change can affect individual species, in ecology we know species interact; and in ecotoxicology, we know stressors interact. Our results demonstrate this complexity: multiple stressors can affect species interactions, and species interactions can alter effects of multiple stressors.
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and neutralizing activity in donor and patient blood from the San Francisco Bay Area
Authors: Ng Dianna L. , Goldgof Gregory M. , Shy Brian R. , Levine Andrew G. , Balcerek Joanna , Bapat Sagar P. , Prostko John , Rodgers Mary , Coller Kelly , Pearce Sandy , Franz Sergej , Du Li , Stone Mars , Pillai Satish K. , Sotomayor-Gonzalez Alicia , Servellita Venice , Martin Claudia Sanchez San , Granados Andrea , Glasner Dustin R. , Han Lucy M. , Truong Kent , Akagi Naomi , Nguyen David N. , Neumann Neil M. , Qazi Daniel , Hsu Elaine , Gu Wei , Santos Yale A. , Custer Brian , Green Valerie , Williamson Phillip , Hills Nancy K. , Lu Chuanyi M. , Whitman Jeffrey D. , Stramer Susan , Wang Candace , Reyes Kevin , Hakim Jill M.C. , Sujishi Kirk , Alazzeh Fariba , Pham Lori , Oon Ching-Ying , Miller Steve , Kurtz Theodore , Hackett John , Simmons Graham , Busch Michael P. , Chiu Charles Y.
Published: May 2020

We report very low SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in two San Francisco Bay Area populations. Seropositivity was 0.26% in 387 hospitalized patients admitted for non-respiratory indications and 0.1% in 1,000 blood donors. We additionally describe the longitudinal dynamics of immunoglobulin-G, immunoglobulin-M, and in vitro neutralizing antibody titers in COVID-19 patients. Neutralizing antibodies rise in tandem with immunoglobulin levels following symptom onset, exhibiting median time to seroconversion within one day of each other, and there is >93% positive percent agreement between detection of immunoglobulin-G and neutralizing titers.
Analysis of Ultrasonic Vocalizations from Mice Using Computer Vision and Machine Learning
Authors: Fonseca Antonio H. O. , Santana Gustavo M. , Bampi Sérgio , Dietrich Marcelo O.
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Mice emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) to transmit socially-relevant information. To detect and classify these USVs, here we describe the development of VocalMat. VocalMat is a software that uses image-processing and differential geometry approaches to detect USVs in audio files, eliminating the need for user-defined parameter tuning. VocalMat also uses computational vision and machine learning methods to classify USVs into distinct categories. In a dataset of >4,000 USVs emitted by mice, VocalMat detected more than >98% of the USVs and accurately classified ≈86% of USVs when considering the most likely label out of 11 different USV types. We then used Diffusion Maps and Manifold Alignment to analyze the probability distribution of USV classification among different experimental groups, providing a robust method to quantify and qualify the vocal repertoire of mice. Thus, VocalMat allows accurate and highly quantitative analysis of USVs, opening the opportunity for detailed and high-throughput analysis of this behavior.