bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual inspection with acetic acid screening for cervical cancer among women receiving anti‐retroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection in northern Tanzania
Authors: Chinn Justine O. , Runge Ava S. , Dinicu Andreea I. , Chang Jenny , Maher Justine A. , Crawford Elizabeth W. , Naaseh Ariana , Cooper Emma C. , Zezoff Danielle C. , White Kayla M. , Lucas Alexa N. , Bera Kevin R. , Bernstein Megan , Hari Anjali , Ziogas Argyrios , Tewari Sujata E. , Pearre Diana C. , Tewari Krishnansu S.
Published: October 2021

Aim

To evaluate visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) screening for cervical cancer among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive patients in an East African community.

Methods

During a July 2018 cervical cancer screen‐and‐treat in Mwanza, Tanzania, participants were offered free cervical VIA screening, cryotherapy when indicated, and HIV testing. Acetowhite lesions and/or abnormal vascularity were designated VIA positive in accordance with current guidelines. The association between VIA results and HIV status was compared using Chi‐square and Fisher exact tests.

Results

Eight hundred and twenty‐four of 921 consented participants underwent VIA screening and 25.0% (n = 206) were VIA positive. VIA‐positive nonpregnant women (n = 147) received cryotherapy and 15 (1.8%) with cancerous‐appearing lesions were referred to Bugando Hospital. Sixty‐six women were HIV‐positive and included 25 diagnosed with HIV at the cervical cancer VIA screening and 41 with a prior diagnosis of HIV who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the time of cervical cancer VIA screening. Sixty‐four of these 66 patients, were screened with VIA. HIV infection was not associated with VIA findings. Abnormal VIA positive screening was observed in 20.3% (n = 13) of HIV‐positive patients and in 24.4% (n = 145) of HIV‐negative patients (p = 0.508). A nonsignificant trend of higher VIA positive screens among newly diagnosed HIV patients of 26.1% (n = 6) versus patients with preexisting HIV on ART of 17.1% (n = 7) was observed (p = 0.580).

Conclusion

The unexpected lack of correlation between HIV infection and VIA positivity in a community with access to ART warrants additional research regarding the previously described role of ART in attenuating HPV‐mediated neoplasia.
Bicycle injuries presenting to the emergency department during COVID‐19 lockdown
Authors: Shack Melissa , L Davis Adrienne , WJ Zhang Evangeline , Rosenfield Daniel
Published: October 2021

Aim

Since the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic, there have been many changes in the presenting complaints in paediatric emergency departments (EDs). We sought to characterise the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on bicycle‐related injuries in children presenting to a tertiary care paediatric ED.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive, cross‐sectional study of ED visits to a large urban tertiary children's hospital, comparing March to October 2020 (the study period) to the same date range 2 years prior (i.e. March to October 2018–2019). We included children 0–17.99 years presenting for a bicycle‐related injury. We compared absolute visit counts of bike injuries per month, demographics, triage acuity, injury type and disposition.

Results

A total of 1215 bike‐related visits were analysed. There were 234 presentations in 2018 (March to October), 305 in 2019, and 676 in 2020. Overall, the mean age was 9.5 years (standard deviation 5.5–13.5), there were 67% males, median Canadian Emergency Department Triage and Acuity Scale score was 3 (interquartile range 3–4) and the most common injuries were fractures (n = 471, 38.8%). There were significantly more bike injuries presenting to the ED per month in the COVID group, 33.7(17.9) versus 84.5(61.4) (two‐tailed P value = 0.041). There was no statistical difference in ‘severe injuries’ pre‐ versus post‐COVID (odds ratio 0.815 (95% confidence interval 0.611–1.088), P = 0.165).

Conclusion

There was a significant increase in bicycle‐related injuries presenting to our ED during the pandemic, compared to previous years. Evaluating these trends will allow for the exploration of harm reduction strategies for preventing future bicycle‐related injuries.
Covid and China's BRI in Iraq and Syria
Authors: Hoh Anchi
Published: October 2021

During the Covid‐19 pandemic, China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in the Middle East first struggled but soon stabilized. This article studies the why and how by examining the cases of Iraq and Syria to observe the ways China handled its international business operations in the time of Covid. Prior to that, despite international criticism and doubts, China's BRI had continued to thrive. In the Middle East and North Africa, China had been forming partnerships under BRI with many countries and sought to connect with national development plans such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, Kuwait's Vision 2035, and Qatar's Vision 2030. After the Covid‐19 outbreak in December 2019, in anticipation of a resultant global economic recession, China's economy experienced a 6.8 percent contraction in the first quarter of 2020. Recently, China reported 2.3 percent overall GDP growth in 2020 and an 18.3 percent growth spurt in the first quarter of 2021. These developments prompt one to ask, what impact has Covid‐19 had—or what effects will it have—on China's BRI projects in the Middle East?

To search for an answer, this study zooms in to two of the hardest‐hit Arab countries: Iraq and Syria. Both represent an investment environment entirely different from those of the affluent Gulf Arab states. Throughout Covid‐19, Iraq and Syria have been facing insufficient public‐health facilities and a lack of medical equipment, on top of political instability and economic challenges. This study looks at how China managed its BRI operations in Iraq and Syria during this crisis.
Damage detection of nonlinear structures using probability density ratio estimation
Authors: Zhang Yulong , Macdonald John H.G. , Liu Song , Harper Paul W.
Published: October 2021

This study focuses on vibration‐based damage detection for a structure that has nonlinear behavior even in the undamaged state. Based on the vibration responses of a single sensor, a non‐Gaussian multivariate probability density function (PDF) is developed and used as a feature. The change between the PDF of the undamaged state and that of a potentially damaged state is used to indicate the damage. Since what of interest is the change of the PDF, instead of estimating the two PDFs separately, the ratio of them is estimated directly using a density ratio estimation method. In addition, principal component analysis is applied to reduce the dimensionality of the PDFs. The effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method are demonstrated in two case studies: an experimental nonlinear beam and simulations of an offshore wind turbine subjected to nonlinear pile‐soil interaction. Compared with a second‐order statistical method, the proposed method shows better damage detection performance due to the integration of higher order statistical information.
On the set of robust sustainable thresholds
Authors: Gajardo Pedro , Hermosilla Cristopher , Picarelli Athena
Published: October 2021

In natural resource management, or more generally in the study of sustainability issues, the objective often consists of maintaining the state of a given system within a desirable configuration, typically established in terms of standards or thresholds. For instance, in fisheries management, the procedure for designing policies may include maintaining the spawning stock biomass over a precautionary threshold and ensuring minimal catches. With the evolution of some natural resources, under the action of controls and uncertainties, being represented by a dynamical system in discrete time, the aim of this paper is to characterize the set of robust sustainable thresholds. That is, the thresholds for which there exists a trajectory satisfying, for all possible uncertainty scenarios, prescribed constraints parametrized by such thresholds. This set provides useful information to users and decision‐makers, illustrating the tradeoffs between constraints. Using optimal control, maximin and level‐set approaches, we characterize the weak Pareto front of the set of robust sustainable thresholds and derive a numerical method for computing the entire set, as we show with a numerical example relying on renewable resource management.

Recommandation for Resource Managers

For biological, ecological or social systems, identifying robust sustainable thresholds that it is possible not to exceed over time regardless of uncertain future scenarios, is a fundamental challenge to operate in a sustainable way.

The set of robust sustainable thresholds provides useful information to users and decision‐makers, illustrating the tradeoffs between constraints.

The computation of the weak‐Pareto front of the set of sustainable thresholds provides a tool for the management and visualization of multiple objectives related to sustainability that can be accomplished in a robust manner, allowing to observe the (in)compatibility of multiple objectives and their tradeoffs.
Can Policies Stall the Fertility Fall? A Systematic Review of the (Quasi‐) Experimental Literature
Authors: Bergsvik Janna , Fauske Agnes , Hart Rannveig Kaldager
Published: October 2021

In the course of the twentieth century, social scientists and policy analysts have produced a large volume of literature on whether policies boost fertility. This paper describes the results of a systematic review of the literature on the effects of policy on fertility since 1970 in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Empirical studies were selected through extensive systematic searches, including studies using an experimental or quasi‐experimental design. Thirty‐five studies were included, covering reforms of parental leave, childcare, health services, and universal child transfers. In line with previous reviews, we find that childcare expansions increase completed fertility, while increased cash transfers have temporary effects. New evidence on parental leave expansions, particularly from Central Europe, suggests larger effects than previously established. High‐earning couples benefit more from parental leave expansions, while expanding childcare programs can reduce social inequalities on other domains. Subsidizing assisted reproductive treatments shows some promise of increasing birth rates for women over the age of 35. Countries that to date have limited support for families can build on solid evidence if they choose to expand these programs.
Combined drought and bark beetle attacks deplete non‐structural carbohydrates and promote death of mature pine trees
Authors: Erbilgin Nadir , Zanganeh Leila , Klutsch Jennifer G. , Chen Shih‐hsuan , Zhao Shiyang , Ishangulyyeva Guncha , Burr Stephen J. , Gaylord Monica , Hofstetter Richard , Keefover‐Ring Ken , Raffa Kenneth F. , Kolb Thomas
Published: October 2021

How carbohydrate reserves in conifers respond to drought and bark beetle attacks are poorly understood. We investigated changes in carbohydrate reserves and carbon‐dependent diterpene defences in ponderosa pine trees that were experimentally subjected to two levels of drought stress (via root trenching) and two types of biotic challenge treatments (pheromone‐induced bark beetle attacks or inoculations with crushed beetles that include beetle‐associated fungi) for two consecutive years. Our results showed that trenching did not influence carbohydrates, whereas both biotic challenges reduced amounts of starch and sugars of trees. However, only the combined trenched‐bark beetle attacked trees depleted carbohydrates and died during the first year of attacks. While live trees contained higher carbohydrates than dying trees, amounts of constitutive and induced diterpenes produced did not vary between live and beetle‐attacked dying trees, respectively. Based on these results we propose that reallocation of carbohydrates to diterpenes during the early stages of beetle attacks is limited in drought‐stricken trees, and that the combination of biotic and abiotic stress leads to tree death. The process of tree death is subsequently aggravated by beetle girdling of phloem, occlusion of vascular tissue by bark beetle‐vectored fungi, and potential exploitation of host carbohydrates by bark beetle symbionts as nutrients.
Maternal versus paternal living kidney transplant donation is associated with lower rejection in young pediatric recipients: A Collaborative Transplant Study report
Authors: Engels Geraldine , Döhler Bernd , Tönshoff Burkhard , Oh Jun , Kruchen Anne , Müller Ingo , Süsal Caner
Published: October 2021

Background

Approximately 1700 children per year with end‐stage kidney disease undergo kidney transplantation in Europe and the United States of America; 30%–50% are living donor kidney transplantations. There may be immunological differences between paternal and maternal donors due to transplacental exchange of cells between the mother and fetus during pregnancy leading to microchimerism. We investigated whether the outcome of living‐related kidney transplantation in young children is different after maternal compared with paternal organ donation.

Methods

Using the international Collaborative Transplant Study (CTS) database, we analyzed epidemiological data of 7247 children and adolescents aged <18 years who had received a kidney transplant from either mother or father. Risk of treated rejection episodes and death‐censored graft failure were computed using the Kaplan‐Meier method and multivariable Cox regression.

Results

In the recipient age group 1–4 years, the rate of treated rejection episodes in recipients of kidneys from maternal donors (N = 195) during the first 2 years post‐transplant was significantly lower (hazard ratio HR = 0.47, p = .004) than in patients receiving kidneys from paternal donors (N = 179). This association between donor sex and risk of treated rejections was not observed in children aged 5–9 years. The 5‐year death‐censored graft survival in children aged 1–4 years with a maternal or paternal donor was comparable.

Conclusions

Maternal kidney donation in young pediatric renal transplant recipients is associated with an approximately 50% lower rate of treated rejection than paternal kidney donation. Whether this phenomenon is due to maternal microchimerism‐induced donor‐specific hyporesponsiveness must be evaluated in prospective mechanistic studies.
Meta‐analysis of whether influenza vaccination attenuates symptom severity in vaccinated influenza patients
Authors: Pan Ye , Du Lijiang , Gan Quan , Ma Wei , Wang Meifen , Lu Zhiying , Luo Yunjiao
Published: October 2021

Background

Influenza vaccination has been associated with decreased risk of influenza‐related infections. However, associations between influenza vaccination and the severity of influenza cases have not been systematically summarized. We conducted a meta‐analysis to evaluate whether influenza vaccination could attenuate symptom severity in vaccinated influenza patients.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed using the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus databases. A quantitative synthesis of the data was conducted using a fixed/random effects model in the meta‐analysis.

Results

A total of seven studies, involving 6342 vaccinated and 7036 non‐vaccinated patients were included. Compared with non‐vaccinated, vaccinated patients were significantly less likely to develop a fever (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.43–0.89), be admitted to the ICU (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64–0.97), suffer mortality (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.34–0.89), stay in the ICU (WMD = ‐1.37, 95% CI: ‐2.15 to ‐0.60) or stay in the hospital (WMD = ‐0.32, 95% CI: ‐0.61 to ‐0.04).

Conclusion

Those benefits that could be highlighted in the communication material to enhance the uptake of influenza vaccination among both the public health nurses and the community as a whole.
Histological characterization of the early‐stage infection events of Setosphaeria turcica in maize
Authors: Fang Ya‐Li , Zhou Yao‐Yao , Li Xin , Gao Yue , Wang De‐Long , Liu Min‐Jie , Zhang Zhi‐Jia
Published: October 2021

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) caused by Setosphaeria turcica is a major foliar disease of maize. The early‐stage infection events of this pathogen on maize leaves are unclear. We investigated the optimum temperature for conidial germination and appressorium formation, and characterized penetration and growth of S. turcica in maize leaf sheath and onion epidermis cells, including use of histological staining to assess plant cell viability. The results showed that the optimum temperature for conidial germination and appressorium formation was 20°C. On the maize leaf sheath, the appressoria were formed by germinated conidia, and penetration on the epidermal cells occurred at 8 h postinoculation (hpi). Round vesicles developed beneath the appressoria. Between 16 and 24 hpi, the branched invasive hyphae invaded three to five adjacent cells at most infection sites. The invasive hyphae tended to move along the cell wall and crossed from one cell to another. In the onion epidermis cells, the appressoria formed at 8 hpi, and in most cases the epidermal cells were penetrated through the juncture of the cell walls. At 16–24 hpi, the primary hyphal terminus swelled to a vesicle. The maize leaf sheath cells died at 8 hpi, whereas the onion cells did not. Our findings documented in detail the penetration and invasive hyphal growth in maize leaf sheath and onion epidermis, as well as viability of plant cells, at the early stages of infection, and provide a foundation for elucidating the underlying mechanism of S. turcica–maize interactions.
Growth and transpiration of soybean genotypes with HaHB4® transcription factor for drought tolerance
Authors: Minussi Winck José Eduardo , Sarmento Luiz Felipe Vieira , Zanon Alencar Junior , Librelon Samira Santiago , Garcia Alexandre , Streck Nereu Augusto
Published: October 2021

The expression of HaHB4® transcription factor reduces soybean sensitivity to abiotic stresses, such as water deficit. Studies that quantify the tolerance of HaHB4® soybean to the soil water content in comparison with cultivars currently sown in Brazil are lacking. The objective of this study was to determine the level of drought tolerance of soybean genotypes expressing the HaHB4® transcription factor (TS18‐6‐610108 and TS18‐6‐610084) and commercial cultivars (TMG 7063 IPRO and BS IRGA 1642 IPRO) subjected to water deficit during the vegetative phase. We used the fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) approach. Parameters related to leaf transpiration, dry matter accumulation, water use efficiency (WUE), and transpiration coefficient (TC) were evaluated in the four soybean genotypes and two treatments (T1—100% replacement of transpired water and T2—without replacement of transpired water). The FTSW threshold for the decline in transpiration was evaluated to identify the onset of water stress in soybean. TS18‐6‐610108 and BS IRGA 1642 IPRO maintains potential transpiration at low FTSW values. The TS18‐6‐610108 genotype has 14% higher WUE than the sensitive cultivar under water deficit. Under well‐irrigated conditions, the HaHB4® genotypes showed the highest TC values, which indicate well‐functioning physiological processes.
Pulmonary fibrosis associated with telomere‐related gene mutations: A complex inheritance
Authors: Borie Raphael , Renzoni Elisabetta
Published: October 2021

See related article
On Identifiability and Consistency of The Nugget in Gaussian Spatial Process Models
Authors: Tang Wenpin , Zhang Lu , Banerjee Sudipto
Published: October 2021

Spatial process models popular in geostatistics often represent the observed data as the sum of a smooth underlying process and white noise. The variation in the white noise is attributed to measurement error, or microscale variability, and is called the ‘nugget’. We formally establish results on the identifiability and consistency of the nugget in spatial models based upon the Gaussian process within the framework of in-fill asymptotics, that is the sample size increases within a sampling domain that is bounded. Our work extends results in fixed domain asymptotics for spatial models without the nugget. More specifically, we establish the identifiability of parameters in the Matérn covariogram and the consistency of their maximum likelihood estimators in the presence of discontinuities due to the nugget. We also present simulation studies to demonstrate the role of the identifiable quantities in spatial interpolation.
A Discrete Kernel Stick-Breaking Model for Detecting Spatial Boundaries in Hydraulic Fracturing Wastewater Disposal Well Placement Across Ohio
Authors: Warren Joshua L. , Cai Jiachen , Johnson Nicholaus P. , Deziel Nicole C.
Published: October 2021

Detecting sharp differences, or boundaries, in areal data can uncover important biological, physical and/or social differences between spatial regions. We introduce a new discrete areal data kernel function for use in the kernel stick-breaking process framework that is shown to yield improved (i) detection of spatial boundaries, (ii) estimation of regression parameters and (iii) model fit through a simulation study and comparison with existing approaches. We use the model to analyse county-level hydraulic fracturing Class II injection well counts in Ohio, where interesting boundary patterns may exist due to the close connection between hydraulic fracturing and shale rock formations. Class II injection wells are used for disposing hydraulic fracturing liquid waste and may pose an environmental risk for surrounding communities. Counties located on the Devonian shale with increased poverty, less income equality, smaller proportion of the population that is white, and increased population density are found to contain more wells, with the relationship reversed for counties off the shale. Results suggest that the new method provides improved model fit and is robust to the exclusion of an important spatially varying covariate, while also detecting boundaries surrounding different shale rock formations. The method is implemented in the R package KSBound.
The relationship between periodontal disease and cognitive impairment in older adults of Korea
Authors: Kim Dong‐Hee , Han Gyeong‐Soon
Published: October 2021

Aims

A potential association between the periodontal disease and cognitive impairment has been suggested, but the results are not yet conclusive. This study investigated the association between the two diseases.

Methods and results

This study included 140 individuals (M: 48, F: 92, average age: 77.2). For assessing cognitive ability, MMSE‐KC was used. The BGI index categorizes the periodontal disease based on important clinical parameters. In model 1 using the BGI index and the number of residual teeth as independent variables, the cognitive function status was significantly lower in the DL/MB group (β = ‐0.294), DL/LB group (β = ‐0.237). In Model 2 including systemic disease was the DL/MB group (β = ‐0.316) and in Model 3 which also added demographic characteristics, the DL/MB group (β = ‐0.229) was identified as a related factor (p < .05).

Conclusion

It can be concluded that periodontal disease is strongly associated with cognitive ability.
Parental perception of oral health related quality of life and barriers to access dental care among children with intellectual needs in Kottayam, central Kerala‐A cross sectional study
Authors: Puthiyapurayil Jeeva , Anupam Kumar TV , Syriac Gibi , R Maneesha , KT Raseena , Najmunnisa
Published: October 2021

Aim

To evaluate the parental perception of oral health related quality of life and barriers to access dental care among children with intellectual needs.

Method

This cross sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 300 parents of children aged 4–12 years with intellectual needs (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism). Data on oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) were collected with parental‐caregivers perceptions questionnaire (P‐CPQ). DMFT/dmft index was used to express caries prevalence as per World Health Organisation. Chi–squared test, analysis of variance,t–test and correlation were performed.

Results

Parents of children who fell in the high severity DMFT category reported higher score in all four domains of OHRQoL when compared to low severity and moderate severity. Parents of children suffering from autism had higher score in all four domain of OHRQoL (p = .000).Majority of the parents rated their children's oral health as either fair (47%) or poor (42%). Predominant barriers for access dental care were financial difficulties (35.3%), lack of knowledge about dental care (24%), transportation difficulties (15%).

Conclusion

The present study revealed that higher caries prevalence has negative impact on OHRQoL of children with intellectual needs and their parents faced certain barriers for accessing dental care.
Longitudinal associations between parental and offspring’s leisure‐time physical activity: The Young Finns Study
Authors: Yang Xiaolin , Kukko Tuomas , Hirvensalo Mirja , Biddle Stuart J.H. , Rovio Suvi P. , Pahkala Katja , Hutri‐Kähönen Nina , Raitakari Olli T. , Tammelin Tuija H.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The longitudinal influence of parental leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) on their offspring's LTPA is poorly understood. This study examined the longitudinal associations between parental LTPA and offspring's LTPA at two‐time intervals.

Method

Child (offspring) participants (N = 3596) were enrolled from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study in 1980. Their LTPA was self‐rated through nine phases from baseline to 2018 and categorized by year into youth (1980‒1986) and adult (1992‒2018) LTPA. Parental LTPA was assessed with a single self‐reported question at three phases from 1980 to 1986. Latent growth curve modeling stratified by gender was fitted to estimate the potential pathways between parental LTPA and offspring's youth and adult LTPA.

Results

Higher initial levels of paternal and maternal LTPA were independently associated with greater initial levels of youth and adult LTPA of offspring in both genders, respectively, except maternal LTPA, which did not associate with male offspring's adult LTPA. The initial levels of paternal LTPA were directly related to changes in male offspring's youth LTPA after adjusting for age, residential place, paternal education and occupation, having siblings, and offspring's body mass index.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that the initial levels of parental LTPA are directly linked to the initial levels of offspring's LTPA during youth and adulthood, while changes in parental LTPA are unrelated to changes in offspring's youth and adult LTPA for either gender over time. These results imply that higher initial levels of LTPA in parents may serve as a predictor of offspring's LTPA across life stages.
Impacts of field margin orientation on populations of soil‐dwelling invertebrates in relation to the direction and intensity of field traffic
Authors: Carlesso Léa , Beadle Andrew , Cook Samantha M. , Hartwell Graham , Mead Andrew , Ritz Karl , Sparkes Debbie , Wu Lianhai , Murray Phil J.
Published: October 2021

Sown field margins are a central part of agri‐environmental schemes aiming to improve biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. Despite the knowledge that key services are delivered by belowground biodiversity, the impacts of field margins on populations of soil invertebrates both within the margins and the neighbouring crops remain unclear. We investigated the effect of field margin orientation with respect to the direction of the tramlines upon populations of soil‐dwelling mesofauna with focus on Acari (mites) and Collembola (springtails). Two margins on adjacent sides of the same field and their neighbouring cropped areas were examined: one margin oriented perpendicular to the tramlines, and one parallel to the tramlines. This sampling design was repeated on two farms with distinct soil management (no till vs. minimum tillage) and crop rotation (diverse‐long‐rotation vs. cereal/oilseed‐short‐rotation) in two seasons (autumn vs. spring) over two years. The distribution of invertebrates in the cropped areas depended on the orientation of the margins and the taxa studied. Reduced abundance of Collembola and Acari were found at both farms in the cropped area where machinery turns (margin perpendicular to tramlines), in comparison with the cropped area where margins and tramlines were parallel. This study suggests the existence of interacting impacts between the margins and field operations (trafficking and resulting compaction) on populations of soil mesofauna.
Toward an Understanding of Cognitive Mapping Ability Through Manipulations and Measurement of Schemas and Stress
Authors: Maxim Paulina , Brown Thackery I.
Published: October 2021

Daily function depends on an ability to mentally map our environment. Environmental factors such as visibility and layout, and internal factors such as psychological stress, can challenge spatial memory and efficient navigation. Importantly, people vary dramatically in their ability to navigate flexibly and overcome such challenges. In this paper, we present an overview of “schema theory” and our view of its relevance to navigational memory research. We review several studies from our group and others, that integrate manipulations of environmental complexity and affective state in order to gain a richer understanding of the mechanisms that underlie individual differences in navigational memory. Our most recent data explicitly link such individual differences to ideas rooted in schema theory, and we discuss the potential for this work to advance our understanding of cognitive decline with aging. The data from this body of work highlight the powerful impacts of individual cognitive traits and affective states on the way people take advantage of environmental features and adopt navigational strategies.
Taxonomic identity of Crepidiastrum ×nakaii recorded on Hongdo Island
Authors: JANG Young-Jong , CHOI Byoung-Hee
Published: October 2021

The plant known as “Hong-do-go-deul-ppae-gi” on Hongdo Island, belonging to the genus Crepidiastrum, has been recorded as C. ×nakaii, a hybrid between C. denticulatum and C. platyphyllum. During a survey of the flora of Hongdo Island, we reexamined the taxonomic identity of “Hong-do-go-deul-ppae-gi”. The morphological traits, geographical distribution, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of “Hong-do-go-deul-ppae-gi” were compared to related species within the genus. A morphological examination revealed that the plant was similar to C. lanceolatum in that it has subshrub stems with caudex stout, 8 inner involucrals bracts, and 10 to 12 florets. In contrast, similarities to C. denticulatum were observed in terms of radical leaves deciduous in the flowering period, cauline leaves membranous with acute serrations, and beaked achenes. Furthermore, C. denticulatum and C. lanceolatum grew on Hongdo Island and nearby areas, but C. platyphyllum was not distributed in these areas. The results of morphological and distributional investigations revealed that the Hongdo Island plant should be regarded as C. ×muratagenii, a hybrid between C. denticulatum and C. lanceolatum, not C. ×nakaii, which is a hybrid between C. denticulatum and C. platyphyllum. However, the resolution of the ITS sequences was insufficient such that we could not separate the examined species.
Re-examination of the vascular plants on Hongdo Island, Korea
Authors: JANG Young-Jong , PARK Jong-Soo , LEE Jin-Sil , LEE Ji-Yeon , CHOI Byoung-Hee
Published: October 2021

This study was carried out to survey the flora of Hongdo Island in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Specimens collected from previous Hongdo flora studies were reexamined using a relevant biodiversity database, and field surveys were carried out 22 times from April of 2003 to October of 2020. Based on the specimens collected during both previous studies and this study, the identified vascular plants of Hongdo consisted of 472 taxa comprising 102 families, 296 genera, 425 species, 6 subspecies, and 41 varieties. Among them, 111 taxa are newly recorded in this study, and 6 taxa are described in detail in terms of their morphological characteristics and habitat. Also, 29 taxa were reviewed or re-identified with corresponding taxonomic annotations. In Korea, Hongdo represents the northern distributional limit of the 4 taxa of Goodyera biflora, Damnacanthus major, Calanthe aristulifera, and Hemerocallis hongdoensis. Moreover, Hosta yingeri and Saussurea polylepis are endemic to Hongdo and nearby islands in Korea. Distribution maps of these species were prepared. Protected species designated by the Ministry of Environment were 7 taxa consisting of 2 taxa of level I, specifically Sedirea japonica and Neofinetia falcata, and 5 taxa of level II, which were Cymbidium macrorhizon, Woodwardia japonica, Dendrobium moniliforme, Calanthe aristulifera, and Bulbophyllum inconspicuum. Red list plants as designated by the National Institute of Biological Resources numbered 11 taxa. Naturalized plants numbered 40 taxa.
Two unrecorded Elymus taxa (Poaceae) newly added to Korean flora: E. humidus and E. shandongensis
Authors: CHOI Seung Se , KIM Jonghwan , PARK Yu Cheol , KIM Chul Hwan
Published: October 2021

Given that the Korean genus Elymus L. (Poaceae) is often confused with Agropyron Gaertn., the categories and characteristics of Elymus s.l. have been reviewed morphologically. Two unrecorded taxa of Elymus, E. humidus (Ohwi & Sakam.) T. Osada and E. shandongensis B. Salomon, not previously recorded in Korean flora to date, we report here as an unrecorded species based on samples collected from Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeollanam-do, and Jeollabuk-do. E. humidus is distinguished from other taxa in terms of its habitat around riversides, erect inflorescences, spikelets appressed to rachides of inflorescence, and new individuals asexually propagated at the lower nodes of aerial stems. E. shandongensis is similar to E. tsukushiensis var. transiens (Hack.) H. Osada but is distinguished by the flowering time, slightly curved inflorescences, number of veins of the glumes, and spikelets appressed to the rachides. Descriptions of the two unrecorded Korean taxa, photographs, and keys to neighboring taxa are presented.
Effect of Wave Instabilities in Thermal and Solutal Mixing of Double-Diffusive Opposed Jets Impinging in a Passive-Mixer
Authors: Khan Saleem A. , Hasan Nadeem
Published: October 2021

Two-dimensional (2D) numerical experiments are performed to investigate the flow instabilities and mixing of different nonisothermal counterflowing jets in a passive-mixer. The fluid is modeled as a binary mixture with thermal and solutal buoyancy effects considered through the Boussinesq approximation. The streams are arranged in a thermal and solutal buoyancy aiding configuration. Computations are carried out for three different ratios of the upper jet bulk velocity to the lower jet bulk velocity (VR), namely, VR = 0.5, 1.0, and 2. Within the parametric domain of RiT and RiC defined by region (RiT + RiC) ≤ 3, the instability causing transition from steady to unsteady flow regime is observed for VR = 1 and 2, while no transition is found to occur at VR = 0.5. Using Landau theory, it is established that the transition from steady to unsteady flow regime is a supercritical Hopf bifurcation. A complete regime map identifying the steady and unsteady flow regimes, within the parametric space of this study, is obtained by plotting the neutral curves of RiC and RiT (obtained using Landau theory) for different values of VR. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis of the unsteady flows at VR = 1 establishes the presence of standing waves. However, for VR = 2, the presence of degenerate pairs in the POD eigenspectrum ascertains the presence of traveling waves in the unsteady flows. The standing wave unsteady flow mode is found to yield the highest rate of mixing.
IL-10 induces a STAT3-dependent autoregulatory loop in T
H
2 cells that promotes Blimp-1 restriction of cell expansion via antagonism of STAT5 target genes
Authors: Poholek Amanda C. , Jankovic Dragana , Villarino Alejandro V. , Petermann Franziska , Hettinga Angela , Shouval Dror S. , Snapper Scott B. , Kaech Susan M. , Brooks Stephen R. , Vahedi Golnaz , Sher Alan , Kanno Yuka , O’Shea John J.
Published: October 2021

STAT3-mediated Blimp-1 induction in T cells antagonizes STAT5’s role in promoting cell cycle and cell survival genes.
Interferon-driven deletion of antiviral B cells at the onset of chronic infection
Authors: Fallet Benedict , Narr Kerstin , Ertuna Yusuf I. , Remy Melissa , Sommerstein Rami , Cornille Karen , Kreutzfeldt Mario , Page Nicolas , Zimmer Gert , Geier Florian , Straub Tobias , Pircher Hanspeter , Larimore Kevin , Greenberg Philip D. , Merkler Doron , Pinschewer Daniel D.
Published: October 2021

Interferon-driven inflammation in chronic viral infection blocks generation of sustained B cell responses.

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Importance of vaccination for disease prevention in post-splenectomy patients
Authors: Foran Claire , Lapthorne Susan , Faller Eamonn , Sadlier Corinna
Published: October 2021

A fit middle aged man presented to the emergency department with headache, myalgia, vomiting, fever and rigours. He was hypotensive with mottled peripheries, tachycardic and dyspnoeic. The only significant medical history noted was an emergency splenectomy 30 years previously following a road traffic accident. The patient had been on prophylactic antibiotics initially and was vaccinated in line with recommendations at the time following splenectomy with no significant health issues in the intervening years. The patient was treated empirically for septic shock and meningitis based on presentation and admitted to the intensive care unit for pressor support and subsequently required intubation and ventilation. Investigations revealed bilateral pneumonia.Streptococcal pneumoniaeurinary antigen and serumS. pneumoniaePCR were positive supporting a diagnosis of invasive pneumococcal infection. A lumbar puncture was negative for meningitis. Distal mottling affecting all limbs progressed with resultant bilateral upper limb digit and below knee amputation. The patient subsequently required extensive rehabilitation. Following a prolonged tertiary and rehabilitation hospital admission, the patient made an exceptional recovery and was discharged home with ongoing appropriate support and home adaptation.
Small cell rectal cancer: a therapeutic challenge
Authors: Fitzhugh Alex , Corr Alison , Denton Arshi , Antoniou Anthony
Published: October 2021

A generally well 71-year-old man presented to his general practitioner with altered bowel habit and haematochezia. Colonoscopy revealed a malignant-appearing rectal mass, with histological features of extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC) of the rectum. Imaging demonstrated limited stage disease with a threatened circumferential resection margin. He was treated with a modified platinum chemoradiotherapy regimen for small cell lung cancer with an excellent response. Unfortunately, his cardiac function precluded surgery at the time and the patient subsequently developed hepatic metastases with local disease recurrence, and died 15 months following his initial diagnosis. Rectal EPSCC is a rare diagnosis, and this case represented a challenge for the multidisciplinary team given the limited evidence base. Medical therapy reflects extrapolation of small cell lung cancer treatment and the role of surgery is less clearly defined given aggressive and refractory disease is common. Immunotherapy, however, represents an exciting development for metastatic disease.
Takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination
Authors: Crane Phillip , Wong Chiew , Mehta Nilesh , Barlis Peter
Published: October 2021

The global COVID-19 pandemic remains challenging with efforts for community vaccination the primary strategy to control transmission and disease sequalae in the mid to long term. While several candidate vaccines have been approved for use, there is an ongoing discussion regarding potential vaccine-related adverse events. Notably, thrombotic thrombocytopaenia has been reported following ChAdOx1 nCov-19 (AstraZeneca) vaccination. We report the first known case of takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy 4 days after administration of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a 72-year-old man. While this condition remains one primarily seen in females, our case represents a new trigger that warrants careful consideration when assessing patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes following ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination.
Prognostic significance of drivers at work and learning styles in surgical training
Authors: Mellor Katie , Hopkins Luke , Robinson David Bryan Thomas , James Osian Penri , Luton Oliver , Brown Chris , Egan Richard John , Lewis Wyn G
Published: October 2021

Purpose of the study

Drivers at work (DW) and Learning Styles (LS) refer to contentious theories that aim to account for differential career development yet seldom feature in assessment. This study aimed to quantify the influence of core surgical trainees’ (CST) DW and LS on career progress.

Study design

DW questionnaires and Kolb LS inventories were distributed to 168 CSTs during five consecutive induction boot camps in a single-statutory education body. Primary outcome measures were membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) examination and national training number (NTN) success.

Results

Of 108 responses received (response rate 64.3%), 64.8% were male and 35.2% female (p=0.003). DW spectrum was: please people (25.0%), be perfect (21.3%), hurry up (18.5%), be strong (13.9%) and try hard (0%, p<0.001). DW was either equivocal (n=14) or not provided (n=9) by 21.3% of CSTs. LS were: converging (34.3%), accommodating (28.7%), diverging (23.1%) and assimilating (13.9%, p=0.021). Men were more likely to be convergers (29/70, 41.4%), and women divergers (15/38, 39.5%, p=0.018) also preferring team-based LS (accommodating/diverging, 26/38 (68.4%) vs 30/70 (42.9%), p=0.010). MRCS success was not associated with DW (p=0.329) or LS (p=0.459). On multivariable analysis, NTN success was associated with LS (accommodators 64.5%, divergers 32.0%, OR 10.90, p=0.014), scholarly activity (OR 1.71, p=0.001), improving surgical training programme (OR 36.22, p=0.019) and universal ARCP 1 outcome (OR 183.77, p<0.001).

Conclusions

LS are associated with important differences in career progress with accommodator twofold more likely than diverger to achieve NTN.
Running Safety Assessment of Trains on Bridges under Earthquakes Based on Spectral Intensity Theory
Authors: Guo Wei , Wang Yang , Liu Hanyun , Long Yan , Jiang Lizhong , Yu Zhiwu
Published: October 2021

The main goal of this paper is to perform the safety assessment of high-speed trains (HSTs) on the simply supported bridges (SSBs) under low-level earthquakes, which are frequently encountered by HSTs, utilizing spectral intensity (SI) index. First, the HST’s limit displacements, which are calculated by using the multi-body train model with detailed wheel–rail relationship, varying with train speed, frequency and amplitude of a sinusoidal base excitation are obtained. Then, based on the obtained HST’s limit displacements, the spectral intensity limits (SIL) graded by the train’s running speed are calculated, and the relationship between the bridge seismic dynamic responses and the train’s running safety was established. Next, the method that utilizes the SI and the SIL indexes to evaluate the HST’s running safety was proposed and verified by comparing with the evaluation result of the train–track–bridge interaction model. Based on the proposed SI index, the HST’s running safety on the SSBs was evaluated under earthquakes, considering different pier heights and site types. The results showed that the low-frequency components of the ground motions are unfavorable to the HST’s running safety, and the height of bridge piers has a significant impact on running safety.
The bi-compact-Gδ-open topology
Authors: Prasannan A. R. , Barkha
Published: October 2021

This paper studies the bi-compact-[Formula: see text]-open topology on the family [Formula: see text] of all continuous functions from a completely regular space [Formula: see text] to the space [Formula: see text]. We compare this topology with open-point topology, bi-point-open topology and bi-compact-open topology and mention an example of a space asked in [P. Garg and S. Kundu, The compact-[Formula: see text]-open topology on [Formula: see text], Topology Appl. 159(8) (2012) 2082–2089] which satisfies [Formula: see text]. We also investigate submertrizability, mertrizability, separability, [Formula: see text]ech-completeness and Baire property of bi-compact-[Formula: see text]-open topology on [Formula: see text].
Phase structures and magnetostriction of Fe71.3Ga28.7 alloys prepared by different solidification rates
Authors: Mu Xing , Qi Yan , Yan Shaowen , Liu Yongqing , Cheng Chao , Xu Lihong , Zhang Hongping
Published: October 2021

Magnetostrictive property shows anisotropic characteristics, which are related to phase structure and crystal orientation. In this paper, phase structures and magnetostrictive properties of Fe[Formula: see text]Ga[Formula: see text] at different solidification rates during zone-melting directional solidification were studied. Results show that when the solidification rate exceeds 72 mm/h, the sample has a single A2 structure. A multiphase structure of D03 and A2 is formed when the solidification rate is 36 mm/h. The multiphase structure of L12 and A2 emerges in the sample prepared with a solidification rate of 18 mm/h. The samples with L12 and A2 multiphase structure have excellent low-field magnetostrictive properties, reaching 68 × 10[Formula: see text] under a magnetic field of 20 kA/m.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND COFFEE FARM RELOCATION IN ETHIOPIA: A REAL-OPTIONS APPROACH
Authors: CORATO LUCA DI , GINBO TSEGAYE
Published: October 2021

Climate change and emerging pests and diseases may negatively affect coffee yields and revenues in Ethiopian regions at low altitudes. Hence, the relocation of coffee farms to regions at higher altitudes has been suggested in order to assure sustainability and resilience for Ethiopian coffee production. In this paper, we study how sunk establishment costs, uncertain net returns and policy-induced incentives may affect the timing and value of a coffee farm relocation. This is done by developing a real-options model taking into account the relevant drivers of the farmer’s decision to relocate. We then present an empirical analysis examining a hypothetical relocation. We show that relocation is a rather attractive opportunity even though the presence of volatile net returns and relatively high establishment costs may induce its postponement. Thus, we determine the optimal amount of subsidy needed in order to foster the relocation process.