bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Daily Links Between Helping Behaviors and Emotional Well‐Being During Late Adolescence
Authors: Armstrong‐Carter Emma , Guassi Moreira João F. , Ivory Susannah L. , Telzer Eva H.
Published: August 2020

We investigated daily associations between helping behaviors and emotional well‐being during late adolescence, examining whether these links depend on the recipient of help (i.e., friend vs. roommate), type of help (i.e., instrumental vs. emotional), and individual differences in the helper (i.e., gender and empathy). First‐year college students (N = 411, 63.5% women, Mage = 18.62 years) completed diary checklists for eight days, reporting whether they provided instrumental and emotional support to a friend or roommate, and positive and negative emotions. On days that adolescents provided instrumental assistance to friends they felt more positive affect, but men also felt more negative affect. Providing instrumental and emotional support to roommates and providing emotional support to friends did not predict daily emotions.
Health professionals' perception of the New Zealand National Child Protection Alert System: An online survey
Authors: Kelly Patrick , Basu Carmen , Graham Veronica T , Chan Carol , Ritchie Miranda , Wilson Denise , Seymour Fred
Published: August 2020

Aim

To describe the multi‐disciplinary child protection teams which administer the National Child Protection Alert System in District Health Boards in New Zealand and the understanding and perceptions of that system held by team members.

Methods

This is a mixed‐method observational study. In December 2016 and January 2017, all child protection alert system multi‐disciplinary team members were invited to participate in an online survey. Quantitative data were expressed with simple descriptive statistics. Qualitative findings were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Ninety‐one (56.9%) of 160 team members nationwide completed the survey. All 20 District Health Boards and multiple disciplines were represented. Most respondents agreed that they received good information to make decisions (74/90, 82.2%), that it was usually easy to reach consensus (82/91, 90.1%), that the system helped to keep children safe (72/91, 79.1%) and that it did not stigmatise families (49/91, 53.9%). Qualitative analysis identified considerable variation in understanding of the system and a need for more training to support more consistent implementation of the system.

Conclusions

Overall, health professionals responsible for the child protection alert system regard it positively but express a need for more training for team members and front‐line staff to maximise the system's potential and minimise any risk of stigmatisation.
Effects of dietary supplementation with herbal extract mixture on growth performance, organ weight and intestinal morphology in weaning piglets
Authors: Wang Meiwei , Huang Huijun , Hu Yangping , Liu Yiting , Zeng Xiao , Zhuang Yu , Yang Huansheng , Wang Lei , Chen Shuai , Yin Lanmei , He Shengwen , Zhang Shuo , Li Xiaozhen , He Shanping
Published: August 2020

Background

Many countries are increasingly prohibiting the addition of antibiotics in livestock diets. Therefore, herb extracts have gradually drawn attention to substitute antibiotics. Our present study aimed to determine the effects of herbal extract mixture (HEM) in dietary on growth performance, organ weight, intestinal morphology and intestinal nutrient transporters in weaned pigs.

Methods

27 piglets (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]; Body Weight (BW) = 5.99 ± 0.13 kg) were weaned at day 21 and randomly divided into three groups (n = 9 piglets/group). All piglets received a basal diet containing similar amounts of nutrients for 14 days. The three groups were the control (no additive), the antibiotics (375 mg/kg chlortetracycline, 20%, 500 mg/kg enramycin, 4%, 1,500 mg/kg oxytetracycline calcium, 50%) and the HEM group (1000 mg/kg extract mixture of golden‐and‐silver honeysuckle, huangqi, duzhong leaves and dangshen). After 14 d of treatment, we collected tissue samples to measure organ weight, intestinal parameters, intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal mRNA expression of nutrient transporters.

Results

The HEM group had no effects on growth performance and organ weight of weaned pigs. But compared with the control group, both HEM and antibiotics improved intestinal morphology, and HEM elevated the expression of nutrient transporters in ileum (SLC6A9, SLC15A1, and SLC5A1). HEM significantly decreased the activities of maltase in ileum and the ratio of small intestinal weight to BW than control group.

Conclusions

These results indicate benefit effects of the supplementation of HEM in diet, including modulating intestinal morphology and increasing the mRNA expression of nutrients transporters. These findings suggest that HEM provides novel insights into a variety of herbal extract mixtures to replace antibiotics in animal production.
After the nursery: Regional and broad‐scale movements of sharks tagged in the Caribbean
Authors: Legare Bryan , DeAngelis Bryan , Skomal Gregory
Published: August 2020

Broad‐scale movements (10s–100s km) of highly migratory species, such as sharks, present unique management challenges as fish migrate across international boundaries, thereby exposing them to different levels of anthropogenic pressure. Lemon sharks and blacktip sharks are well‐studied throughout their range in the western North Atlantic, but broad‐scale movements in the Caribbean region are largely unknown. Utilizing 10 years (2004–2014) of acoustic and conventional tagging data, this study presents the post‐nursery movements of young of the year (YOY) and juvenile blacktip (n = 198) and lemon (n = 130) sharks tagged in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). A total of five (2.5%) blacktip sharks were recaptured by recreational and commercial fishers in the greater Caribbean and as far north as the southeastern coast of the United States, moving between 2 and 2,200 km and crossing a minimum of six international boundaries. Of the acoustically tagged blacktip (n = 88) and lemon (n = 45) sharks, 28 (32%) and 16 (24%), respectively, were detected outside the boundaries of the nursery area in which they were tagged, dispersing throughout the USVI territory; blacktip sharks were acoustically detected beyond territorial waters as far as Florida, United States (1,881 km). Both species transited through local marine protected areas but did not establish residency resulting in little protection. This is the first study to examine connectivity between blacktip shark populations of the USVI and the east coast of the United States.
Machine learning to extract communication and history‐taking skills in OSCE transcripts
Authors: Jani Karan H. , Jones Kai A. , Jones Glenn W. , Amiel Jonathan , Barron Beth , Elhadad Noémie
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Observed Structured Clinical Exams (OSCEs) allow assessment of, and provide feedback to, medical students. Clinical examiners and standardised patients (SP) typically complete itemised checklists and global scoring scales, which have known shortcomings. In this study, we applied machine learning (ML) to label some communication skills and interview content information in OSCE transcripts and to compare several ML methodologies by performance and transferability.

Methods

One‐hundred and twenty‐one transcripts of two OSCE scenarios were manually annotated per utterance across 19 communication skills and content areas. Utterances were converted to two types of numeric sentence vector representations and were paired with three types of ML algorithms. First, ML models (MLMs) were evaluated using a five K‐fold cross‐validation technique on all transcripts in one scenario to generate precision and recall, and their harmonic mean, F1 scores. Second, ML models were trained on all 101 transcripts from scenario 1 and tested for transferability on 20 scenario 2 transcripts.

Results

Performance testing in the K‐fold cross‐validation demonstrated relatively high mean F1 scores: median 0.87 and range 0.53‐0.98 across all 19 labels. Transferability testing demonstrated success: F1 median 0.76 and range 0.46‐0.97. The combination of a bi‐directional long short‐term memory neural network (biLSTM) algorithm with GenSen numeric sentence vector representations was associated with greater F1 scores across both performance and transferability (P < .005).

Conclusions

We report the first application of ML in the context of student‐SP OSCEs. We demonstrated that several MLMs automatically labelled OSCE transcripts for a range of interview content and some clinical communications skills. Some MLMs achieved greater performance and transferability. Optimised MLMs could provide automated and accurate assessment of OSCEs with potential to track student progress and identify areas for further practice.
Analytic Versus Holistic Recognition of Chinese Words Among L2 Learners
Authors: JIANG NAN , HOU FENGYUN , JIANG XIN
Published: August 2020

In studying the relationship between word recognition and reading development, a distinction is made between analytic and holistic processing of words. These strategies are often assessed in a length effect in an alphabetic language or in a stroke‐number effect in a logographic language. Analytical processing is associated with a robust length or stroke‐number effect while holistic processing is reflected in smaller or a lack of such effects. Research has shown that skilled readers employ holistic processing while less skilled readers rely more on analytical processing. The present study examined analytic versus holistic word recognition among second language learners by comparing learners of Chinese as a second language (CSL) and Chinese native speakers (NSs) in a lexical decision task. Thirty Chinese NSs and 28 CSL learners were tested on 90 disyllabic Chinese words that varied in stroke number from 5 to 27. A robust stroke‐number effect was found among CSL participants but not among NS controls. The findings raised a number of theoretical and pedagogical issues in relation to word recognition and reading development among CSL learners and among second language learners in general.
Clinical benefits of Tocilizumab in COVID‐19‐related cytokine release syndrome in a patient with end‐stage kidney disease on haemodialysis in Australia
Authors: Stephen Shiny , Park Yeung‐Ae , Chrysostomou Anastasia
Published: August 2020

COVID‐19 remains a global pandemic with more than 10 million cases and half a million deaths worldwide. The disease manifestations in patients with chronic kidney disease and especially those on haemodialysis are still being understood, with only a few overseas case series, and small observational trials thus far. It appears that the disease is more severe in this patient cohort. Part of the pathophysiology of severe COVID‐19 is related to accompanying cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Tocilizumab, an interleukin‐6 inhibitor, has been trialled for treatment of CRS in COVID‐19, but not yet approved. We present a case of an Australian patient on long‐term haemodialysis with severe COVID‐19 who was successfully treated with Tocilizumab. The peak of her illness was on day 7, with a C‐reactive protein of 624 mg/L (reference < 5 mg/L), ferritin of 5293 ng/mL (reference 30‐500 ng/mL), and interleukin‐6 level 1959.7 pg/mL, consistent with CRS. She was severely hypoxic on a ventilator, with rising inotropic requirements. With the use of Tocilizumab, there was a significant and immediate response in her inflammatory markers, and she made a steady recovery. The patient was discharged home 6 weeks after presentation.
Accumulation of phosphorylated TDP‐43 in the cytoplasm of Schwann cells in a case of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Nakamura‐Shindo Keiko , Sakai Kenji , Shimizu Ai , Ishida Chiho , Yamada Masahito
Published: August 2020

We report for the first time the presence of phosphorylated transactivation response DNA‐binding protein of 43 kDa (p‐TDP‐43)‐immunoreactive cytoplasmic inclusions in Schwann cells in an autopsy case of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). An 81‐year‐old woman with no family history of neuromuscular disorders noticed difficulty in handling chopsticks due to weakness of the hands. She then developed weakness of the lower and upper limbs and dyspnea. Neurological examination at the age of 83 years revealed disorientation, severe weakness of the facial muscles, tongue, neck and extremities, and fasciculations in the thighs. She exhibited hyperactive jaw jerk and lower limb deep tendon reflexes and normal upper limb deep tendon reflexes, and left extensor plantar response was observed. The patient was diagnosed as having sporadic ALS. An autopsy performed at the age of 84 years revealed widespread p‐TDP‐43‐immunoreactive neuronal and glial cytoplasmic inclusions in the cerebrum, brain stem, and spinal cord, in addition to some Bunina bodies. Moreover, a small number of p‐TDP‐43‐immunoreactive inclusions were found in the facial or accoustic nerve (indistinguishable), spinal cord anterior roots, cauda equina, and peripheral nerves in the dorsal root ganglia. Immunohistochemical staining for p‐TDP‐43 revealed just a few p‐TDP‐43‐immunoreactive inclusions surrounding axons in the cervical and lumbar anterior roots. Double immunofluorescence analysis revealed that these inclusions were co‐localized with S‐100 protein β, suggesting that these inclusions were localized in the cytoplasm of Schwann cells. The peripheral nervous system including Schwann cells may be involved in TDP‐43 pathology in ALS.
Role of rs6265 BDNF polymorphisms and post‐stroke dysphagia recovery—A prospective cohort study
Authors: Oh Hyun Mi , Kim Tae‐Woo , Park Hae‐Yeon , Kim Youngkook , Park Geun‐Young , Im Sun
Published: August 2020

Background

Previous studies suggest that specific genes may predispose some to increased risk of dysphagia in the geriatric population, but whether these genes may affect swallowing recovery after a stroke is unknown. This study investigated whether single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), catechol‐O‐methyl transferase, apolipoprotein E, interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist, and dopamine, which have been linked to swallowing, could adversely affect the prognosis of post‐stroke dysphagia.

Methods

In this study, 218 subjects with confirmed post‐stroke dysphagia were enrolled. The primary endpoint was failed recovery from nil per mouth (NPM) status with the first 3 months post‐stroke.

Key Results

The Val/Val group from the rs6265, BDNF, showed higher score changes on the Functional Oral Intake Scale at 1 month. The proportion of patients with recovery from NPM status within the first 1 month was 60.8% in the Val/Val group, which was statistically higher than those in the Met allele groups (38.1%, P = .017). At 3 months, the BDNF rs6265 showed significant group differences in Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile© score changes with the Val/Val allele leading to greater improvement. However, no single SNP was associated with increased risk of poor recovery with persistence of NPM at 3 months post‐stroke.

Conclusions and Inferences

Those with the dominant Val/Val phenotype of BDNF manifested with faster and greater improvement than the Met‐phenotypes. Based on our results, the BDNF Val allele may play a positive role with faster score improvement and rapid recovery from NPM than the Met allele.

Clinical Trials gov: NCT03577444 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03577444).
Marine regime shifts impact synchrony of deep‐sea fish growth in the northeast Atlantic
Authors: Tanner Susanne E. , Giacomello Eva , Menezes Gui M. , Mirasole Alice , Neves João , Sequeira Vera , Vasconcelos Rita P. , Vieira Ana Rita , Morrongiello John R.
Published: August 2020

The complexity and spatio–temporal scale of populations’ dynamics influence how populations respond to large‐scale ecological pressures. Detecting and attributing synchrony (i.e. temporally coincident fluctuations in populations’ parameters) is key as synchronous populations can become more vulnerable to stochastic events that can affect the viability of harvest and have profound consequences to community structure. Here, we aimed to estimate the level of synchrony in fish growth within and among species across 1 million km2 and identify the environmental drivers contributing to synchronous population fluctuations. We developed otolith increment‐based growth chronologies for two deep‐sea scorpaenid fishes (Helicolenus dactylopterus and Pontinus kuhlii) from geographically and bathymetrically disjunct populations in the northeast Atlantic (one species in three locations; two species with different depth preferences). We used hierarchical models to partition variation in growth within and between populations attributing it to intrinsic (age, species, population) and extrinsic (environmental variables) drivers. We assessed synchrony in growth variation within and among species and identified common change points in population specific growth patterns. We documented time‐variant synchrony in growth variation of geographically and bathymetrically segregated deep‐sea fish populations, lasting 25 and 18 years, respectively. The observed synchrony was likely driven by shared environmental forcing (Moran effect) as large‐scale climate indices (East Atlantic pattern and North Atlantic Oscillation) were important environmental drivers of overall growth variation while the onset of synchrony in growth variation was likely related to marine regime shifts occurring in a wide area of the northeast Atlantic that affected the entire ecosystem. However, our capacity to extrapolate growth information across species and locations was dependent on the timing and magnitude of environmental change. Developing a better understanding of the mechanisms driving growth synchrony is key to ensure sustainable management of populations in habitats that are fragile and highly sensible to environmental change, such as the deep‐sea.
High Hip Center Technique in Total Hip Arthroplasty for Crowe Type II–III Developmental Dysplasia: Results of Midterm Follow‐up
Authors: Shen Junmin , Sun Jingyang , Ma Haiyang , Du Yinqiao , Li Tiejian , Zhou Yonggang
Published: August 2020

Objectives

We aimed to show the utility of high hip center technique used in patients with Crowe II–III developmental dysplasia of the hip at the midterm follow‐up and evaluated the clinical and radiographic results between different heights of hip center.

Methods

From December 2003 to November 2013, we retrospectively evaluated 69 patients (85 hips) with Crowe II–III dysplasia who underwent a high hip center cementless total hip arthroplasty. The patients were divided into two groups according to the height of hip center, respectively group A (≥ 22 mm and < 28 mm) and group B (≥28 mm). The survivorship outcomes and radiographic and clinical results, including the vertical and horizontal distances of hip center, femoral offset, abductor lever arm, cup inclination, leg length discrepancy, Trendelenburg sign, and limp were evaluated.

Results

The mean follow‐up time was 8.9 ± 1.8 years. The mean location of the hip center from the inter‐teardrop was 25.1 ± 1.6 mm vertically and 30.0 ± 3.8 mm horizontally in group A, and 33.1 ± 4.8 mm vertically and 31.4 ± 6.1 mm horizontally in group B. Eleven hips of group B showed a lateralization over 10 mm, and the same was shown in one hip in group A (P = 0.012). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in postoperative femoral offset, abductor lever arm, leg length discrepancy and cup inclination. At the final follow up, the mean WOMAC and Harris hip score were significantly improved in both groups. Of the 85 hips, four hips in group A and three hips in group B showed a positive Trendelenburg sign. Additionally, four patients in group A and two patients in group B presented with a limp. No significant differences were shown regarding the Harris hip score, WOMAC score, Trendelenburg sign, and limp between two groups. One hip of group A was revised by reason of dislocation at 8.3 years after surgery. One hip of group B was diagnosed with osteolysis and underwent a revision at 8.1 years after surgery. The Kaplan–Meier implants survivorship rates at the final follow‐up for all‐causes revisions in group A and group B were similar (96.7% [95% confidence interval, 90.5%–100%] and 96.2% [95% confidence interval, 89.0%–100%], respectively).

Conclusions

The high hip center technique is a valuable alternative to achieve excellent midterm results for Crowe II–III developmental dysplasia of the hip. Further, between the groups with differing degrees of HHC, there were no significant differences in outcomes or survivorship in our study.
Effects of 660‐nm and 780‐nm Laser Therapy on ST88‐14 Schwann Cells
Authors: Andreo Lucas , Mesquita‐Ferrari Raquel Agnelli , Grenho Liliana , Gomes Pedro de Sousa , Bussadori Sandra Kalil , Fernandes Kristianne Porta Santos , Fernandes Maria Helena
Published: August 2020

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the comparative effects of red (660‐nm) and near‐infrared (780‐nm) low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) on viability, mitochondrial activity, morphology and gene expression of growth factors on Schwann cells (SC). ST88‐14 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 with 10 mM of HEPES, 2 mM of glutamine, 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotic‐antimycotic solution at 37°C in humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2. Cells were detached with trypsin and centrifugated at 231 g for 5 min at 10°C, and the pellet (8 × 104 cells/tube) was irradiated at the bottom of 50 ml polypropylene tube with a Twin‐Laser system (660 and 780 nm, 40 mW, 1 mW cm−2, 3.2 and 6.4 J, 80 and 160 J cm−2 with 80 and 160 s). After 1, 3 and 7 days, the analysis was performed. After irradiation, the SC increase mitochondrial activity, gene expression of the neural growth factors NGF and BDNF, and cell migration and increase the G2/M cells. SC showed neuronal morphology, normal F‐actin cytoskeleton organization and positive labeling for S100. PBM increased metabolic activity, mitosis and gene expression when irradiated with red and infrared LLLT. An increase in cell migration was obtained when irradiated with infrared LLLT.
E Hine: Young Māori mothers talk about welfare benefits
Authors: Cram Fiona , Adcock Anna , O'Brien Micheal , Lawton Beverley
Published: August 2020

E Hine was a longitudinal qualitative Kaupapa Māori (by Māori, for Māori) research study involving 44 young Māori women who were first interviewed in 2012‐2013 and followed through their pregnancies and until their babies were 2 years old. The present analysis of the E Hine database examines the young women's experiences of accessing welfare benefits through Work and Income. Welfare benefits were not the central focus of the E Hine study, but often came up in conversations with the young women and their whānau (family). As a result, E Hine offers those considering ways to improve welfare benefit policy and service delivery a frank account of how young Māori mothers and their whānau see and experience the system. Four themes arose from participants' talk: what being on the benefit was like, their positive and negative impressions of Work and Income, and how they took control of their situation. In common with other recent qualitative studies, the findings suggest potential to improve the experience of the welfare benefit system by providing support within the context of culturally‐responsive, caring, trust relationships that help unlock the potential of young Māori parents.
Identification of the novel HLA‐C*15:219 allele in a volunteer donor from the China Marrow Donor Program
Authors: Zhang Li‐Qun , Xiao Yao , Zhou Xiao‐Yang , Li Jin , Cai Jian‐Ping
Published: August 2020

HLA‐C*15:219 differs from HLA‐C*15:02:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at position 17 in exon 1.
The administration of academic GIS certificates: A survey of program coordinators
Authors: Wikle Thomas , Sinton Diana
Published: August 2020

The academic GIS certificate has emerged as the most ubiquitous credential representing specialized knowledge and competency associated with geographic information systems, geographic information science, and related areas. While available at hundreds of public and private colleges and universities, GIS certificates are tremendously diverse in content, organization, and delivery. This article explores GIS certificates offered at U.S. institutions of higher education through an inventory of 385 certificate programs supplemented by in‐depth interviews of program faculty at 46 colleges or universities. Our findings are presented within larger themes tied to the quality, sustainability, and support of programs across topics that include marketing, curriculum design, delivery mode, faculty oversight, and institutional support.
Assessment of a downsized potassium adsorption filter designed to transfuse neonates
Authors: Ogasawara Kei , Ohto Hitoshi , Takano Nozomi , Nollet Kenneth E. , Go Hayato , Sato Maki , Momoi Nobuo , Hosoya Mitsuaki
Published: August 2020

Background

During storage, the potassium level of red blood cell (RBC) components increases, especially after irradiation. Neonates are prone to hyperkalemia, for example, non‐oliguric hyperkalemia, so using potassium adsorption filters during transfusion may be helpful. To overcome dilution of RBC components caused by saline priming of existing potassium adsorption filters, a downsized potassium adsorption filter for neonates (PAF‐n, Kawasumi Laboratories Inc., Tokyo, Japan) was developed.

Study Design and Methods

To assess the performance of PAF‐n, its adsorption efficiency and RBC recovery rate were evaluated by testing pre‐filtration and serial post‐filtration (0‐30 mL, 30‐60 mL, 60‐90 mL, and 90‐120 mL) samples from 8 RBC components.

Results

The average potassium adsorption rate of the PAF‐n was 90.5% ± 0.78%, and never less than 89.0% in any of 8 RBC components. RBC recovery rates were 99.3% ± 1.12%.

Conclusion

The PAF‐n showed an effective potassium ability with negligible RBC dilution.
Umbilical vein infusion of prostaglandin I2 increases ductus venosus shunting of oxygen‐rich blood but does not increase cerebral oxygen delivery in the fetal sheep
Authors: Darby Jack R. T. , Schrauben Eric M. , Saini Brahmdeep S. , Holman Stacey L. , Perumal Sunthara Rajan , Seed Mike , Macgowan Christopher K. , Morrison Janna L.
Published: August 2020

Key points

The ductus venosus (DV) is a dynamic fetal shunt that allows substrate‐rich blood from the umbilical vein to bypass the hepatic circulation.

In vitro studies suggest a direct role of prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) in the regulation of DV tone; however, the extent of this regulation has not been determined in utero.

4D flow and T2 oximetry magnetic resonance imaging can be combined to determine blood flow and oxygen delivery within the fetal circulation.

PGI2 increases DV shunting of substrate‐rich blood but this does not increase cerebral oxygen delivery.

During fetal development, the maintenance of adequate oxygen and nutrient supply to vital organs is regulated through specialized fetal shunts. One of these shunts, the ductus venosus (DV), allows oxygen‐rich blood to preferentially stream from the placenta toward the heart and brain. Herein, we combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that measure blood flow (4D flow) and oxygen saturation (T2 oximetry) in the fetal circuit to determine whether umbilical vein infusion of prostaglandin I2 (PGI2, regulator of DV tone ex utero) directly dilates the DV and thus increases the preferential streaming of oxygen‐rich blood toward the brain. At 114–115 days gestational age (dGA; term = 150 days), fetal sheep (n = 6) underwent surgery to implant vascular catheters in the fetal femoral artery, femoral vein, amniotic cavity and umbilical vein. Fetal MRI scans were performed at 119–124 dGA. 4D flow and T2 oximetry were performed to measure blood flow and oxygen saturation across the fetal circulation in both a basal state and whilst the fetus was receiving a continuous infusion of PGI2. The proportion of oxygenated blood that passed through the DV from the umbilical vein was increased by PGI2. Cerebral oxygen delivery was unchanged in the PGI2 state. This may be a result of decreased flow from the right to left side of the heart as blood flow through the foramen ovale was decreased by PGI2. We have shown that although PGI2 acts on the DV to increase the proportion of oxygen‐rich blood that bypasses the liver, this does not increase cerebral oxygen delivery in the fetal sheep.
Irradiation of nanoporous structures with light and heavy low-energy ions: Sputtering enhancement and pore sealing
Authors: Sycheva Anastasia A. , Voronina Ekaterina N. , Rakhimova Tatyana V. , Novikov Lev S. , Rakhimov Alexander T.
Published: August 2020

This paper deals with different mechanisms of the interaction of light and heavy low-energy ions with nanoporous structures and main structural changes that occur in these structures under irradiation. The study was carried out using the molecular dynamics method for silicon models with pores of radius of 8 and 28 Å, which are structural analogs of porous films with low dielectric constant (low-k materials). Based on the results obtained, the mechanisms of interaction of light and heavy noble gas ions (He, Ne, Ar, and Xe) with these structures were compared, and the effects of ion mass and energy on processes of pore sealing were studied.
Indicators of anterior–posterior phase difference in glottal opening measured from natural production of vowels
Authors: Murtola Tiina , Alku Paavo
Published: August 2020

Voiced speech is generated by the glottal flow interacting with vocal fold vibrations. However, the details of vibrations in the anterior–posterior direction (the so-called zipper-effect) and their correspondence with speech and other glottal signals are not fully understood due to challenges in direct measurements of vocal fold vibrations. In this proof-of-concept study, the potential of four parameters extracted from high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV), electroglottography, and speech signals to indicate the presence of a zipper-type glottal opening is investigated. Comparison with manual labeling of the HSV videos highlighted the importance of multiple parameter-signal pairs in indicating the presence of a zipper-type glottal opening.
Pharmacodynamics of the Novel Metallo-β-Lactamase Inhibitor ANT2681 in Combination with Meropenem for the Treatment of Infections Caused by NDM-Producing
Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Das Shampa , Johnson Adam , McEntee Laura , Farrington Nicola , Kirby Adam , Unsworth Jennifer , Jimenez-Valverde Ana , Kolamunnage-Dona Ruwanthi , Bousquet Justine , Alibaud Laethitia , Sable Carole , Zalacain Magdalena , Everett Martin , Hope William
Published: August 2020

Enterobacteriaceae
that produce metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) are an emerging threat to public health. The metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor (MBLi) ANT2681 inhibits the enzymatic activity of MBLs through interaction with the dinuclear zinc ion cluster present in the active site that is common to these enzymes. ANT2681 is being codeveloped, with meropenem as the partner β-lactam, as a novel combination therapy for infections caused by MBL-producing bacteria. The pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of meropenem-ANT2681 were studied in a murine neutropenic thigh model of NDM-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
.
Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli to Fosfomycin as Measured by Four
In Vitro
Testing Methods
Authors: Karlowsky James A. , Lagacé-Wiens Philippe R. S. , Laing Nancy M. , Baxter Melanie R. , Adam Heather J. , Zhanel George G.
Published: August 2020

Clinical isolates of
Escherichia coli
(
n 
= 554) were tested against fosfomycin using agar dilution, disk diffusion, and Etest. Agar dilution (reference method) identified few isolates with fosfomycin MICs of 64 (
n 
= 3), 128 (
n 
= 4), and ≥256 μg/ml (
n 
= 2). Applying CLSI (M100, 2020) and EUCAST (v. 10.0, 2020) breakpoints, 98.9% and 98.4% (agar dilution), 99.
Neuronal Ablation of Alpha/Beta Interferon (IFN-α/β) Signaling Exacerbates Central Nervous System Viral Dissemination and Impairs IFN-γ Responsiveness in Microglia/Macrophages
Authors: Hwang Mihyun , Bergmann Cornelia C.
Published: August 2020

IFN-α/β induction limits CNS viral spread by establishing an antiviral state, but also promotes blood brain barrier integrity, adaptive immunity, and activation of microglia/macrophages. However, the extent to which glial or neuronal signaling contributes to these diverse IFN-α/β functions is poorly understood. Using a neurotropic mouse hepatitis virus encephalomyelitis model, this study demonstrated an essential role of IFN-α/β receptor 1 (IFNAR1) specifically in neurons to control virus spread, regulate IFN-γ signaling, and prevent acute mortality. The results support the notion that effective neuronal IFNAR1 signaling compensates for their low basal expression of genes in the IFN-α/β pathway compared to glia. The data further highlight the importance of tightly regulated communication between the IFN-α/β and IFN-γ signaling pathways to optimize antiviral IFN-γ activity.
L226Q Mutation on Influenza H7N9 Virus Hemagglutinin Increases Receptor-Binding Avidity and Leads to Biased Antigenicity Evaluation
Authors: Wang Yang , Lv Yunhua , Niu Xuefeng , Dong Ji , Feng Pei , Li Qinming , Xu Wei , Li Jiashun , Li Chufang , Li Jiahui , Luo Jia , Li Zhixia , Liu Yichu , Tan Yee-Joo , Pan Weiqi , Chen Ling
Published: August 2020

The HI assay is a standard method for profiling the antigenic characterization of influenza viruses. Suspected antigenic changes based on HI divergency in H7N9 viruses during the 2016-2017 wave prompted the recommendation of new H7N9 candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs). In this study, we found that the L226Q substitution in HA of A/Guangdong/17SF003/2016 (H7/GD16) increased the viral receptor-binding avidity to red blood cells with no impact on the antigenicity of H7N9 virus. Although immune sera raised by an earlier vaccine strain (H7/AH13) showed poor HI titers against H7/GD16, the H7/AH13 immune sera had potent cross-neutralizing antibody titers against H7/GD16 and could provide complete passive protection against H7N9/GD16 virus challenge in mice. Our study highlights that receptor-binding avidity might lead to biased antigenic evaluation by using the HI assay. Other serological assays, such as the microneutralization (MN) assay, should be considered a complementary indicator for analysis of antigenic variation and selection of influenza CVVs.
The Ribbon-Helix-Helix Domain Protein CdrS Regulates the Tubulin Homolog
ftsZ2
To Control Cell Division in Archaea
Authors: Darnell Cynthia L. , Zheng Jenny , Wilson Sean , Bertoli Ryan M. , Bisson-Filho Alexandre W. , Garner Ethan C. , Schmid Amy K.
Published: August 2020

Healthy cell growth and division are critical for individual organism survival and species long-term viability. However, it remains unknown how cells of the domain
Archaea
maintain a healthy cell cycle. Understanding the archaeal cell cycle is of paramount evolutionary importance given that an archaeal cell was the host of the endosymbiotic event that gave rise to eukaryotes. Here, we identify and characterize novel molecular players needed for regulating cell division in archaea. These molecules dictate the timing of cell septation but are dispensable for growth between divisions. Timing is accomplished through transcriptional control of the cell division ring. Our results shed light on mechanisms underlying the archaeal cell cycle, which has thus far remained elusive.
The Gene Expression Profile of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Women with Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections Is Recapitulated in the Mouse Model
Authors: Frick-Cheng Arwen E. , Sintsova Anna , Smith Sara N. , Krauthammer Michael , Eaton Kathryn A. , Mobley Harry L. T.
Published: August 2020

Different experimental models have been used to study UPEC pathogenesis, including
in vitro
cultures in different media, tissue culture, and mouse models of infection. The last is especially important since it allows evaluation of mechanisms of pathogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies against UPEC. Bacterial physiology is greatly shaped by environment, and it is therefore critical to understand how closely bacterial physiology in any experimental model relates to human infection. In this study, we found strong correlation in bacterial gene expression between the mouse model and human UTI using identical strains, suggesting that the mouse model accurately mimics human infection, definitively supporting its continued use in UTI research.
The Unrecognized Threat of Secondary Bacterial Infections with COVID-19
Authors: Vaillancourt Mylene , Jorth Peter
Published: August 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the greatest pandemic of our generation, with 16 million people affected and 650,000 deaths worldwide so far. One of the risk factors associated with COVID-19 is secondary bacterial pneumonia. In recent studies on COVID-19 patients, secondary bacterial infections were significantly associated with worse outcomes and death despite antimicrobial therapies. In the past, the intensive use of antibiotics during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) pandemic led to increases in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Computational Basis for On-Demand Production of Diversified Therapeutic Phage Cocktails
Authors: Mageeney Catherine M. , Sinha Anupama , Mosesso Richard A. , Medlin Douglas L. , Lau Britney Y. , Rokes Alecia B. , Lane Todd W. , Branda Steven S. , Williams Kelly P.
Published: August 2020

The antibiotic resistance crisis has led to renewed interest in phage therapy as an alternative means of treating infection. However, conventional methods for isolating pathogen-specific phage are slow, labor-intensive, and frequently unsuccessful. We have demonstrated that computationally identified prophages carried by near-neighbor bacteria can serve as starting material for production of engineered phages that kill the target pathogen. Our approach and technology platform offer new opportunity for rapid development of phage therapies against most, if not all, bacterial pathogens, a foundational advance for use of phage in treating infectious disease.
Implications of legacy watershed disturbances for channel structure and salmon habitat availability under different low-flow levels: an analysis of 45 years of discharge–habitat relationships at Carnation Creek, British Columbia
Authors: Reid David A. , Pike Robin , Bird Stephen , Tschaplinski Peter , Wilford David
Published: August 2020

In streams where water availability is limited, conservative flow ranges are often adopted by water managers to ensure that streamflow is available to meet the ecological requirements of aquatic organisms. However, a variety of natural and anthropogenic disturbances can influence stream channel morphology and in-stream wood characteristics through time, potentially altering the availability of habitat at a given flow level. Using a 2D hydrodynamic modelling approach incorporating 45 years of detailed channel morphology data from Carnation Creek, British Columbia, this paper examines relationships between legacy (forestry-driven) watershed disturbance, changes to channel morphology, and habitat availability for juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) under nine flow levels. Results indicate that substantial variability in the abundance of salmonid habitat is present through time, even when modelled flow levels are held constant. Additionally, trade-offs were observed between availability of habitat types as discharge increased. Finally, modelling results indicate that habitat availability is reduced following historical harvesting. These findings suggest that legacy watershed disturbances affecting stream channel form and function are worth considering when allocating streamflow.
Thermodynamical and dynamical stability of a self-gravitating uncharged thin shell
Authors: Bergliaffa Santiago Esteban Perez , Chiapparini Marcelo , Reyes Luz Marina
Published: August 2020

The dynamical stability of massive thin shells with a given equation of state (EOS) (both for the barotropic and non-barotropic case) is here compared with the results coming from thermodynamical stability. Our results show that the restrictions in the para-meter space of equilibrium configurations of the shell following from thermodynamical stability are much more stringent that those obtained from dynamical stability. As a byproduct, we furnish evidence that the link between the maximum mass along a sequence of equilibrium configurations and the onset of dynamical stability is valid for EOS relating the pressure P, the energy density $$\sigma $$σ of the matter on the shell, and its radius R, namely $$P=P(R, \sigma )$$P=P(R,σ).
Conservation-Theory-Based Analysis Method About Effect of External Wind Disturbance on Small Civilian UAV
Authors: Bohang Wang , Daobo Wang
Published: August 2020

In the future civilian UAV market, low-altitude low-speed small UAV will obtain a dominant position. In order to achieve small UAV accurate navigation, researchers have devoted lots of efforts on disturbance-model-reference controllers to reject the external wind disturbance. As we all know, accurate modeling helps the efficiency of controller’s parameters. However, almost all the design processes of disturbance-model-reference controllers are based on speed triangle theory which fails to adequately explain the effect of external wind field disturbances on UAV. First, conservation of energy and momentum theory is used to prove that the traditional speed triangle theory is unreasonable to analyze the influence of external wind field on UAV. Then, a more accurate method based on the conservation of energy and momentum theory is proposed to correctly illustrate the effect of wind disturbance on UAV. Finally, two external wind disturbance UAV flight simulation platforms based on speed triangle theory and conservation of energy and momentum theory are implemented separately, showing the big difference between these two types of methods about presenting effect of external wind field on UAV.
Mapping Points of Interest Through Street View Imagery and Paid Crowdsourcing
Authors: Maddalena Eddy , Ibáñez Luis-Daniel , Simperl Elena
Published: August 2020

We present the Virtual City Explorer (VCE), an online crowdsourcing platform for the collection of rich geotagged information in urban environments. Compared to other volunteered geographic information approaches, which are constrained by the number and availability of mapping enthusiasts on the ground, the VCE uses digital street imagery to allow people to virtually explore a city from anywhere in the world, using a browser or a mobile phone. In addition, contributions in VCE are designed as paid microtasks—small jobs that can be carried out without any specific knowledge of the local area or previous mapping expertise in exchange for a fee. We tested the VCE in two cities to map points of interest (PoIs) in transport and mobility, using FigureEight to recruit participants. We were able to show that our platform enables crowdworkers to submit PoI location seamlessly, cover almost all of the tested areas, and discover several PoIs not reported by other approaches. This allows the VCE to complement existing approaches that leverage experts or grassroot communities.
Evolutionary Dynamics and Consequences of Parthenogenesis in Vertebrates
Authors: Fujita Matthew K. , Singhal Sonal , Brunes Tuliana O. , Maldonado Jose A.
Published: August 2020

Parthenogenesis is asexual reproduction without any required participation from males and, as such, is a null model for sexual reproduction. In a comparative context, we can expand our understanding of the evolution and ecology of sex by investigating the consequences of parthenogenesis. In this review, we examine the theoretical predictions of and empirical results on the evolution of asexual reproduction in vertebrates, focusing on recent studies addressing the origins and geographic spread of parthenogenetic lineages and the genomic consequences of an asexual life history. With advances in computational methods and genome technologies, researchers are poised to make rapid and significant progress in studying the origin and evolution of parthenogenesis in vertebrates, thus providing an important perspective on understanding biodiversity patterns of both asexual and sexual populations.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Cardiotoxicity: Understanding Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Characteristics and Finding a Cure
Authors: Waliany Sarah , Lee Daniel , Witteles Ronald M. , Neal Joel W. , Nguyen Patricia , Davis Mark M. , Salem Joe-Elie , Wu Sean M. , Moslehi Javid J. , Zhu Han
Published: August 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) attenuate mechanisms of self-tolerance in the immune system, enabling T cell responses to cancerous tissues and revolutionizing care for cancer patients. However, by loweringbarriers against self-reactivity, ICIs often result in varying degrees of autoimmunity. Cardiovascular complications, particularly myocarditis but also arrhythmias, pericarditis, and vasculitis, have emerged as significant complications associated with ICIs. In this review, we examine the clinical aspects and basic science principles that underlie ICI-associated myocarditis and other cardiovascular toxicities. In addition, we discuss current therapeutic approaches. We believe a better mechanistic understanding of ICI-associated toxicities can lead to improved patient outcomes by reducing treatment-related morbidity.
Communication—Solid-State Synthesis of Lithium Silicide
Authors: Balogh Michael P. , Jimenez Niccolo P. , Salvador James R. , Halalay Ion C.
Published: August 2020

Lithium silicide (Li-Si) compounds were synthesized by a reaction between ball-milled commercially available micron sized precursor powders of lithium hydride and silicon. The reaction occurs at ≤500 °C, with the composition controlled by the LiH-to-Si ratio. The products are crystalline equilibrium phases found in the Li-Si phase diagram. The synthesized Li-Si material has a particle size akin to that in the precursor Si, thus eliminating the need for attrition processing before electrode fabrication. Furthermore, the crack-free Li-Si particles may reduce gassing and improve capacity retention in cells. Synthesized Li-Si was also found to be relatively stable during handling in ambient air.