bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Registries and databases—A European perspective
Authors: Ljung Rolf C. R.
Published: May 2020

Registries will enable cohort studies to be performed, which are usually considered to be the best quality of observational studies. The quality of data of registries can be increased if is it possible to merge results (‘crosstalk’) between registries. A prerequisite for that is an agreed uniform core set of data to be collected and uniform definitions on the items to be collected. This paper discusses problems and barriers with existing registries and provides recommendations from an EMA workshop (European Medicines Agency), for core common data sets and how to secure the quality of data collected. The PedNet registry including >2200 children with haemophilia is presented as an example of a registry/cohort study.
Pediatric Post‐Traumatic Headache and Implications for Return to Sport: A Narrative Review
Authors: Irwin Samantha L. , Kacperski Joanne , Rastogi Reena G.
Published: May 2020

Background

Headache attributed to mild traumatic injury of the head (aka: mild traumatic brain injury, mTBI), frequently abbreviated to Post‐Traumatic Headache (PTH), is one of the most common and disabling symptoms after a head injury. PTH often phenotypes to migraine. Evidence for treating PTH in the pediatric population is limited. Widely accepted guidelines do not exist to aid the clinician and there are currently no placebo‐controlled trials for the pharmacologic management of PTH in this age group. Recommendations for when to return a child or adolescent to sport if they develop and/or are being treated for persistent PTH (PPTH) are lacking. The objective of this narrative review is to review the implications of returning an adolescent with PPTH to sport.

Methods

Pediatric neurologists with special qualification in headache collaborated on this narrative review. Literature was searched up until Oct 2019 for articles pertaining to PTH, concussion, mTBI, and the return of a pediatric athlete to sport after mTBI. Article inclusion was at the discretion of the authors. There was author consensus regarding all recommendations made.

Conclusion

The authors recommend that strict adherence to the guidelines that return to sport cannot occur until a child is symptom free at rest, off any medication, may be unreasonable in certain situations. Symptom stability is the proposed new concept for return to sport.
Integration of an Objective Cognitive Assessment Into a Prognostic Index for 5‐Year Mortality Prediction
Authors: Kotwal Ashwin A. , Lee Sei J. , Dale William , Boscardin W. John , Waite Linda J. , Smith Alexander K.
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Prognostic indices rarely include cognition. We determined if a comprehensive cognitive screen or brief individual items were associated with improved mortality predictions of a widely used prognostic index.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The National Social Life Health and Aging Project Wave 2, a nationally representative, cross‐sectional, in‐home survey conducted in 2010 to 2011 on 3,199 community‐dwelling adults aged 60 to 99 years.

MEASUREMENTS

Cognition was measured using a Survey‐Adapted Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA‐SA) grouped into three screened categories: screen normal (≥24 points), screen positive for mild cognitive impairment (18‐23 points), and screen positive for dementia (<18 points). Single‐item cognitive measures included clock‐draw and five‐word delayed recall. We constructed a modified Lee Prognostic Index (range = 0–18 points) based on age, behavior, function, and comorbidities shown to predict long‐term mortality. We used logistic regression and the fraction of new information provided to determine if each cognitive measure improved the Lee index's 5‐year mortality prediction.

RESULTS

The sample was 54% female and had a mean age of 72 years, MoCA‐SA score of 22 (SD = 4.5), and Lee index of 7 (SD = 3). Regression analysis indicated the MoCA‐SA modestly improved the Lee index's mortality prediction (P < .001; fraction of new information provided = 0.06); for low Lee index scores (<4 points), the absolute mortality rate difference was 7% by cognitive status; and for higher Lee index scores (4–7 points or 8–12 points), the absolute mortality rate difference was 15% by cognitive status. The clock‐draw and delayed‐recall items added similar value to mortality predictions as the longer MoCA‐SA. Cognition had the third highest fraction of new information of all 13 Lee index items.

CONCLUSION

Incorporating a brief measure of cognition into a modified Lee index, even with single items, resulted in more accurate 5‐year mortality risk predictions. Cognition should be included in prognostic calculators in older adults given its independent association with mortality risk. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1796‐1802, 2020.
Clinical efficacy and reflectance confocal microscopy monitoring in moderate‐severe skin aging treated with a polyvinyl gel containing retinoic and glycolic acid: An assessor‐blinded 1‐month study proof‐of‐concept trial
Authors: Campione Elena , Cosio Terenzio , Lanna Caterina , Mazzilli Sara , Dika Emi , Bianchi Luca
Published: May 2020

Background

Retinoids and alpha‐hydroxy acids are commonly used topically as anti‐aging substances. Current medical devices contain retinoic acid (0.02%) and glycolic acid (4%) in a polyvinyl gel vehicle (R‐G gel). There are still no clinical data nor objective evaluation of the anti‐aging effect this product has in the short term.

Aims

To assess in a prospective 1‐month, noncomparative, primary outcome assessor‐blinded proof‐of‐concept trial the clinical efficacy, tolerability, and the skin cells modification (evaluated through reflectance confocal microscopy; RCM), of R‐G gel in skin aging treatment.

Methods

Twelve women with moderate‐severe skin aging (Glogau score ≥ 3) were enrolled. The product was applied on the face three times a week for 4 weeks. Study visits were performed at baseline and after 2 and 4 weeks. RCM evaluation was performed openly at each visit using Viva Scope 1500 to evaluate the left cheek (5 mm below the zygomatic process).

Results

Eleven subjects concluded the trial. At baseline, the Glogau score was 3.4 ± 0.5 and decreased significantly at week 4 (P = .0001; ANOVA test) to 2.7 ± 0.6. Significant reductions of dark spots (−40%) and severity of wrinkles (−12%) were observed at week 4 compared to baseline. The RCM score improved significantly at week 4 with the recovery of the polygonal keratinocytes pattern as the central aspect observed.

Conclusion

The gel containing retinoic acid and glycolic acid showed significant improvements of the clinical signs of severe skin aging with a concomitant improvement of epidermal and dermal structures evaluated via RCM.
Enactive Aesthetics: The Poetics of Hup Incantation
Authors: Epps Patience , Ramos Danilo Paiva
Published: May 2020

This paper explores the genre of incantation as it is practiced by the Hup (Makú) people of the northwest Amazon, and considers the challenges it brings to our conceptions of verbal art and its documentation. Hup incantation is fundamentally multifaceted, bringing to bear multiple performative events, voices, and audiences across ritual and social contexts. It is also both highly artistic and maximally enactive, such that its aesthetic and utilitarian features not only coexist, but also co‐engender, each promoting the elaboration of the other. As we argue here, the incantation invites us to reexamine our understanding of poetics, and epitomizes the paradox of commensurability that challenges any documentation of language and culture.
Arguments surrounding the essentiality of boron to vascular plants
Authors: McGrath Steve P.
Published: May 2020

This article is a Commentary on González‐Fontes (226: 1228–1230), Lewis (2020a, 226: 1231), Wimmer et al. (226: 1232–1237), Lewis (2020b, 226: 1238–1239)
A role for the Auxin Response Factors ARF6 and ARF8 homologs in petal spur elongation and nectary maturation in Aquilegia
Authors: Zhang Rui , Min Ya , Holappa Lynn D. , Walcher‐Chevillet Cristina L. , Duan Xiaoshan , Donaldson Emily , Kong Hongzhi , Kramer Elena M.
Published: May 2020

The petal spur of the basal eudicot Aquilegia is a key innovation associated with the adaptive radiation of the genus. Previous studies have shown that diversification of Aquilegia spur length can be predominantly attributed to variation in cell elongation. However, the genetic pathways that control the development of petal spurs are still being investigated.

Here, we focus on a pair of closely related homologs of the AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR family, AqARF6 and AqARF8, to explore their roles in Aquileiga coerulea petal spur development.

Expression analyses of the two genes show that they are broadly expressed in vegetative and floral organs, but have relatively higher expression in petal spurs, particularly at later stages. Knockdown of the two AqARF6 and AqARF8 transcripts using virus‐induced gene silencing resulted in largely petal‐specific defects, including a significant reduction in spur length due to a decrease in cell elongation. These spurs also exhibited an absence of nectar production, which was correlated with downregulation of STYLISH homologs that have previously been shown to control nectary development.

This study provides the first evidence of ARF6/8 homolog‐mediated petal development outside the core eudicots. The genes appear to be specifically required for cell elongation and nectary maturation in the Aquilegia petal spur.
Maize BIG GRAIN1 homolog overexpression increases maize grain yield
Authors: Simmons Carl R. , Weers Benjamin P. , Reimann Kellie S. , Abbitt Shane E. , Frank Mary J. , Wang Wuyi , Wu Jingrui , Shen Bo , Habben Jeffrey E.
Published: May 2020

The Zea Mays BIG GRAIN 1 HOMOLOG 1 (ZM‐BG1H1) was ectopically expressed in maize. Elite commercial hybrid germplasm was yield tested in diverse field environment locations representing commercial models. Yield was measured in 101 tests across all 4 events, 26 locations over 2 years, for an average yield gain of 355 kg/ha (5.65 bu/ac) above control, with 83% tests broadly showing yield gains (range +2272 kg/ha to −1240 kg/ha), with seven tests gaining more than one metric ton per hectare. Plant and ear height were slightly elevated, and ear and tassel flowering time were delayed one day, but ASI was unchanged, and these traits did not correlate to yield gain. ZM‐BG1H1 overexpression is associated with increased ear kernel row number and total ear kernel number and mass, but individual kernels trended slightly smaller and less dense. The ZM‐BG1H1 protein is detected in the plasma membrane like rice OS‐BG1. Five predominant native ZM‐BG1H1 alleles exhibit little structural and expression variation compared to the large increased expression conferred by these ectopic alleles.
The Effect of Beliefs on Policy Instrument Preferences: The Case of Swiss Renewable Energy Policy
Authors: Kammermann Lorenz , Angst Mario
Published: May 2020

This article explores how beliefs affect preferences leading to policy instrument choices of elite actors. Beliefs are general attitudes regarding a given policy field, for example toward the role of the state or the urgency of a problem. Both beliefs and preferences are central for applications of Sabatier’s Advocacy Coalition Framework, but their interrelationship has remained undertheorized. Understanding how beliefs and preferences are linked can provide important insights into policy instrument choice, while improving the comparability of studies across policy subsystems. The article compares the relative contribution of beliefs to shaping instrument choices of elite actors in the domain of Swiss renewable energy policy. Results suggest that beliefs are likely to play a prominent role in shaping instrument choice. We find that policy core beliefs translate into preferences through a process involving two main pathways. First, some policy beliefs primarily influence the preferred characteristics of the overall instrument mix. Second, some policy beliefs are primarily associated with preferences for specific instruments. Some policy beliefs are influential via both pathways. These, therefore, emerge as especially important factors shaping the policy process. Our results offer insights for policymakers into how potential future conflicts in negotiations can be attenuated.
Evaluating the Perceived Efficacy of Randomized Security Measures at Airports
Authors: Stotz Tamara , Bearth Angela , Ghelfi Signe Maria , Siegrist Michael
Published: May 2020

Both the increase in traveler numbers and the heightened threat posed by terrorism in recent years represent significant challenges to airport security measures. To ensure that a high level of security is maintained, randomized security checks have been proposed as a promising alternative to traditional security approaches. The use of randomized checks means that only a specific number of people are selected for security screening. However, the likely effects of such a change in security procedures on travelers’ security perceptions and on the deterrence of criminal activities remain unclear. Thus, the present study examines how varying the percentage of people screened during security checks influences people's security perceptions. In two online experiments, the participants were asked to imagine that they sought to smuggle an explosive dummy past an airport security check. The only information provided was the number of people screened during security checks, which was manipulated between‐subjects in the first experiment and within‐subjects in the second experiment. The participants then had to rate their security perception (i.e., the perceived likelihood of successfully smuggling the explosive dummy). The findings show that people perceive traditional security checks to be safer than randomized checks, irrespective of whether 90% or 30% of people are screened. Hence, if randomized security checks would indeed be implemented, it would automatically lead to a decreased perception of security. Furthermore, this decreased security perception might lead to an actual reduction in security, as the deterrence of criminal activities could also be reduced.
Impact of asthma and its medication on salivary characteristics and oral health in adolescents: A cross‐sectional comparative study
Authors: Bairappan Santhiya , Puranik Manjunath P. , R Sowmya K.
Published: May 2020

Objective

To assess and compare the salivary characteristics and oral health and to evaluate the impact of asthma and its medication on dental caries among adolescents with and without asthma.

Methods

A cross‐sectional comparative study was conducted among 50 asthmatic and 50 nonasthmatic adolescents aged 12‐15 years in Bangalore City. Data were acquired using a structured questionnaire. Salivary samples were collected to determine the flow rate, pH, buffering capacity, and Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli counts. Oral health assessment was performed using WHO 2013 proforma. Inferential statistics such as chi‐square, student's t‐test, spearman's correlation, multinomial logistic. and stepwise linear regression were applied with P < .05 considered as significant.

Results

Asthmatic participants had significantly higher mean number of teeth with dental caries, gingival bleeding, and dental erosion than nonasthmatics (P < .05). The prevalence of fluorosis, traumatic dental injuries, and oral mucosal lesions in asthmatics were 34.0%, 38.0%, and 28.0%, respectively. Most of the asthmatic participants required preventive or routine (18.0%) and prompt treatment (30.0%). Statistically significant difference was found in the flow rate, pH, buffering capacity, S. mutans and Lactobacilli counts, and Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index between asthmatic and nonasthmatic participants. Severity of asthma, medication use, and dental caries experience significantly correlated with low salivary flow rate, pH and buffering capacity, and higher levels of S. mutans and Lactobacilli (P < .001). Asthmatic participants had significantly higher odds of having very low unstimulated salivary flow rate (odds ratio [OR] = 3.2), buffering capacity (OR = 2.94), highly acidic pH (OR = 3.65), high risk of S. mutans (OR = 6.02), and DMFT ≥ 1 (OR = 2.06) than nonasthmatics (P < .05).

Conclusion

Salivary characteristics and oral health were significantly poor in asthmatic adolescents. Asthma and its medications had significant impact on salivary characteristics and dental caries among asthmatic adolescents.
Cost‐effectiveness evaluation of the PROPPR trial transfusion protocols
Authors: Callcut Rachael A. , Simpson Kit N. , Baraniuk Sarah , Fox Erin E. , Tilley Barbara C. , Holcomb John B. ,   PROPPR Study Group
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

There have been no prior investigations of the cost effectiveness of transfusion strategies for trauma resuscitation. The Pragmatic, Randomized, Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios (PROPPR) study was a Phase III multisite, randomized trial in 680 subjects comparing the efficacy of 1:1:1 transfusion ratios of plasma and platelets to red blood cells with the 1:1:2 ratio. We hypothesized that 1:1:1 transfusion results in an acceptable incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio, when estimated using patientsʼ age‐specific life expectancy and cost of care during the 30‐day PROPPR trial period.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes were prospectively collected, and subjects were matched 1:2 to subjects in the Healthcare Utilization Program State Inpatient Data to estimate cost weights. We used a decision tree analysis, combined with standard costs and estimated years of expected survival to determine the cost effectiveness of the two treatments.

RESULTS

The 1:1:1 group had higher overall costs for the blood products but were more likely to achieve hemostasis and decreased hemorrhagic death by 24 hours (p = 0.006). For every 100 patients treated in the 1:1:1 group, eight more achieved hemostasis than in the 1:1:2 group. At 30 days, the total hospital cost per 100 patients was $5.6 million in the 1:1:1 group compared with $5.0 million in the 1:1:2 group. For each 100 patients, the 1:1:1 group had 218.5 more years of life expectancy. This was at a cost of $2994 per year gained.

CONCLUSION

The 1:1:1 transfusion ratio in severely injured hemorrhaging trauma patients is a very cost‐effective strategy for increasing hemostasis and decreasing trauma deaths.
Body composition of medium to giant breed dogs with or without cranial cruciate ligament disease
Authors: Santarossa Amanda , Gibson Thomas W. G. , Kerr Carolyn , Monteith Gabrielle J. , Durzi Tiffany , Gowland Shannon , Verbrugghe Adronie
Published: May 2020

Objective

To describe the body composition of dogs with or without cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease.

Study design

Cross‐sectional.

Animals

Adult dogs in which CCL disease was diagnosed (n = 30) and adult dogs without clinical signs of orthopedic disease (n = 30).

Methods

Body weight, body condition score, and muscle condition score (MCS) were recorded. Body composition of the whole body and pelvic limbs were assessed by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry. Body condition score, whole body, and pelvic limb body composition measurements were compared by using general linear mixed‐model analysis of variance. Muscle condition score between groups was assessed by using a Mann–WhitneyUtest, while paired data were analyzed by using a Wilcoxon signed‐rank test.

Results

Body fat percentage (P < .0001) was higher in affected dogs (38.78% ± 1.40) than in control dogs (27.49% ± 1.24). Affected dogs had lower MCS (1.90 ± 0.13,P < .0001) compared with control dogs (2.77 ± 0.08). The affected pelvic limb of affected dogs contained less lean soft tissues (P < .0001) but more fat (P= .0451) compared with the contralateral pelvic limb.

Conclusion

Dogs with CCL disease were overweight compared with the control group.

Clinical significance

Dogs that are overweight may be predisposed to developing CCL disease. Body composition changes in the pelvic limbs should be considered when managing the care of these dogs.
Tonal mapping of Xi'an Mandarin and Standard Chinese
Authors: Liu Min , Chen Yiya , Schiller Niels O.
Published: May 2020

One long-neglected fact in linguistic research on Standard Chinese (SC) is that most speakers of SC also speak a local dialect, which may share phonological features with SC. Tonal information can be a determinant of the phonological similarities or differences between some Chinese dialects and SC, yet relatively little empirical research has been conducted on the tonal system of other language varieties in Chinese aside from SC. Among these dialects, Xi'an Mandarin (XM) is particularly interesting for the seemingly simple, yet intricate mapping between its lexical tones with those in SC. In this study, the tonal systems of XM and SC were compared empirically. Tones with similar contours from XM and SC were paired, and both tone production and perception experiments were carried out on bidialectal speakers of XM and SC. The two experiments together showed that there is indeed systematic mapping of tones between XM and SC. The degree of similarity of the mapped tone pair in tone perception was largely dependent on the acoustic phonetic similarity between the tones in tone production, with a phonological rule playing a role in the tone pair of low contour.
Dialectal variation of duration patterns in Finnmark North Sámi quantity
Authors: Hiovain Katri , Vainio Martti T. , Šimko Juraj
Published: May 2020

Ternary length contrast is a rare phonological feature, investigated here both in terms of its realization and possible undergoing changes. In North Sámi, a phonetically under-documented and endangered Fenno-Ugric language spoken by indigenous people in Northern Europe, the ternary quantity contrast is assumed to be signalled by a progressive lengthening of a consonant and a compensatory shortening of the previous vowel. This study evaluates this assumption and compares the realization of the length contrasts in two dialects, the Western and Eastern Finnmark North Sámi. The results show that while the contrast between the short and the two longer quantities is robustly signaled regardless of the dialect, the durational differences between the two longer quantities are maintained only in the Eastern dialect. On the other hand, a vowel quantity contrast independent of the quantity of the following consonant is present in the Western but not in the Eastern dialect. Further, comparing the phonetic realization of the ternary quantity contrast for speakers of different ages presents evidence of a language change: the results indicate an ongoing neutralization of the ternary contrast in younger speakers, which points to a possible disappearance of this rare typological feature in Finnmark North Sámi.
The acoustics of three-way lateral and nasal palatalisation contrasts in Scottish Gaelic
Authors: Nance Claire , Kirkham Sam
Published: May 2020

This paper presents an acoustic description of laterals and nasals in an endangered minority language, Scottish Gaelic (known as “Gaelic”). Gaelic sonorants are reported to take part in a typologically unusual three-way palatalisation contrast. Here, the acoustic evidence for this contrast is considered, comparing lateral and nasal consonants in both word-initial and word-final position. Previous acoustic work has considered lateral consonants, but nasals are much less well-described. An acoustic analysis of twelve Gaelic-dominant speakers resident in a traditionally Gaelic-speaking community is reported. Sonorant quality is quantified via measurements of F2–F1 and F3–F2 and observation of the whole spectrum. Additionally, we quantify extensive devoicing in word-final laterals that has not been previously reported. Mixed-effects regression modelling suggests robust three-way acoustic differences in lateral consonants in all relevant vowel contexts. Nasal consonants, however, display lesser evidence of the three-way contrast in formant values and across the spectrum. Potential reasons for lesser evidence of contrast in the nasal system are discussed, including the nature of nasal acoustics, evidence from historical changes, and comparison to other Goidelic dialects. In doing so, contributions are made to accounts of the acoustics of the Celtic languages, and to typologies of contrastive palatalisation in the world's languages.
An acoustic phonetic description of Nungon vowels
Authors: Sarvasy Hannah , Elvin Jaydene , Li Weicong , Escudero Paola
Published: May 2020

This study is a comprehensive acoustic description and analysis of the six vowels /i e a u o ɔ/ in the Towet dialect of the Papuan language Nungon ⟨yuw⟩ of northeastern Papua New Guinea. Vowel tokens were extracted from a corpus of audio speech recordings created for general language documentation and grammatical description. To assess the phonetic correlates of a claimed phonological vowel length distinction, vowel duration was measured. Multi-point acoustic analyses enabled investigation of mean vowel F1, F2, and F3; vowel trajectories, and coarticulation effects. The three Nungon back vowels were of particular interest, as they contribute to an asymmetrical, back vowel-heavy array, and /o/ had previously been described as having an especially low F2. The authors found that duration of phonologically long and short vowels differed significantly. Mean vowel formant measurements confirmed that the six phonological vowels form six distinct acoustic groupings; trajectories show slightly more formant movement in some vowels than was previously known. Adjacent nasal consonants exerted significant effects on vowel formant measurements. The authors show that an uncontrolled, general documentation corpus for an under-described language can be mined for acoustic analysis, but coarticulation effects should be taken into account.
Acoustic phonetic study of the Sora vowel system
Authors: Horo Luke , Sarmah Priyankoo , Anderson Gregory D. S.
Published: May 2020

This paper is an acoustic phonetic study of vowels in Sora, a Munda language of the Austroasiatic language family. Descriptions here illustrate that the Sora vowel system has six vowels and provide evidence that Sora disyllables have prominence on the second syllable. While the acoustic categorization of vowels is based on formant frequencies, the presence of prominence on the second syllable is shown through temporal features of vowels, including duration, intensity, and fundamental frequency. Additionally, this paper demonstrates that acoustic categorization of vowels in Sora is better in the prominent syllable than in the non-prominent syllable, providing evidence that syllable prominence and vowel quality are correlated in Sora. These acoustic properties of Sora vowels are discussed in relation to the existing debates on vowels and patterns of syllable prominence in Munda languages of India. In this regard, it is noteworthy that Munda languages, in general, lack instrumental studies, and therefore this paper presents significant findings that are undocumented in other Munda languages. These acoustic studies are supported by exploratory statistical modeling and statistical classification methods.
A formant study of the alveolar versus retroflex contrast in three Central Australian languages: Stop, nasal, and lateral manners of articulation
Authors: Tabain Marija , Butcher Andrew , Breen Gavan , Beare Richard
Published: May 2020

This study presents formant transition data from 21 speakers for the apical alveolar∼retroflex contrast in three neighbouring Central Australian languages: Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara, and Warlpiri. The contrast is examined for three manners of articulation: stop, nasal, and lateral /t ∼ ʈ/ /n ∼ ɳ/, and /l ∼ ɭ/, and three vowel contexts /a i u/. As expected, results show that a lower F3 and F4 in the preceding vowel signal a retroflex consonant; and that the alveolar∼retroflex contrast is most clearly realized in the context of an /a/ vowel, and least clearly realized in the context of an /i/ vowel. Results also show that the contrast is most clearly realized for the stop manner of articulation. These results provide an acoustic basis for the greater typological rarity of retroflex nasals and laterals as compared to stops. It is suggested that possible nasalization of the preceding vowel accounts for the poorer nasal consonant results, and that articulatory constraints on lateral consonant production account for the poorer lateral consonant results. Importantly, differences are noticed between speakers, and it is suggested that literacy plays a major role in maintenance of this marginal phonemic contrast.
Acoustics of Kalasha laterals
Authors: Kochetov Alexei , Petersen Jan Heegård , Arsenault Paul
Published: May 2020

Kalasha, a Northwestern Indo-Aryan language spoken in a remote mountainous region of Pakistan, is relatively unusual among languages of the region as it has lateral approximants contrasting in secondary articulation—velarization and palatalization (/ɫ/ vs /lʲ/). Given the paucity of previous phonetic work on the language and some discrepancies between descriptive accounts, the nature of the Kalasha lateral contrast remains poorly understood. This paper presents an analysis of fieldwork recordings with laterals produced by 14 Kalasha speakers in a variety of lexical items and phonetic contexts. Acoustic analysis of formants measured during the lateral closure revealed that the contrast was most clearly distinguished by F2 (as well as by F2-F1 difference), which was considerably higher for /lʲ/ than for /ɫ/. This confirms that the two laterals are primarily distinguished by secondary articulation and not by retroflexion, which is otherwise robustly represented in the language inventory. The laterals showed no positional differences but did show considerable fronting (higher F2) next to front vowels. Some inter-speaker variation was observed in the realization of /ɫ/, which was produced with little or no velarization by older speakers. This is indicative of a change in progress, resulting in an overall enhancement of an otherwise auditorily vulnerable contrast.
Non-Wear Time and Presentation of Compositional 24-Hour Time-Use Analyses Influence Conclusions About Sleep and Body Mass Index in Children
Authors: Haszard Jillian J. , Meredith-Jones Kim , Farmer Victoria , Williams Sheila , Galland Barbara , Taylor Rachael
Published: May 2020

Although 24-hour time-use data are increasingly being examined in relation to indices of health, consensus has yet to be reached about the best way to present estimates from compositional analyses. This analysis explored the impact of different presentations of results when assessing the relationship between 24-hour time-use and body mass index (BMI) z-score using compositional analysis of 5-day actigraphy data in 742 children. First it was found that reallocating non-wear time to day-time components only (sedentary behavior, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) before normalization to 24 hours provided stronger estimates with BMI z-score than simply removing non-wear time before normalization. Estimates for sleep time were substantially affected, where associations with BMI z-score nearly doubled (mean difference [95% CI] in BMI z-score for 10% longer sleep were −0.20 [−0.32, −0.08] compared to −0.11 [−0.23, 0.002]). Presenting estimates in terms of a greater number of minutes in a component, relative to all others, showed MVPA to be the strongest predictor of BMI z-score, while estimates in terms of the proportion of minutes showed sleep to be the strongest predictor. Both presentations have value. However, presentations in terms of one-to-one “substitutions” of time may need careful interpretation due to the uneven distribution of time in each component. In conclusion, when analyzing relationships between 24-hour time-use and health outcomes, non-wear time and presentation of estimates can impact final conclusions. As a result, the current understanding of the importance of sleep for child health may be underestimated.
Vapor-phase linker exchange of metal-organic frameworks
Authors: Wu Wufeng , Su Jingyi , Jia Miaomiao , Li Zhanjun , Liu Guoqiang , Li Wanbin
Published: May 2020

A solvent-free strategy of vapor-phase linker exchange is developed for postsynthetic modification of metal-organic frameworks.
Refined symmetry indicators for topological superconductors in all space groups
Authors: Ono Seishiro , Po Hoi Chun , Watanabe Haruki
Published: May 2020

A general framework is developed to aid the diagnosis of nontrivial topology in superconductors using their symmetry properties.
Structural basis for inhibition of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from SARS-CoV-2 by remdesivir
Authors: Yin Wanchao , Mao Chunyou , Luan Xiaodong , Shen Dan-Dan , Shen Qingya , Su Haixia , Wang Xiaoxi , Zhou Fulai , Zhao Wenfeng , Gao Minqi , Chang Shenghai , Xie Yuan-Chao , Tian Guanghui , Jiang He-Wei , Tao Sheng-Ce , Shen Jingshan , Jiang Yi , Jiang Hualiang , Xu Yechun , Zhang Shuyang , Zhang Yan , Xu H. Eric
Published: May 2020

A wrench in the works of COVID-19

Understanding the inner workings of the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may help us to disrupt it. Yin
et al.
focused on the viral polymerase essential for replicating viral RNA. They determined a structure of the polymerase bound to RNA and to the drug remdesivir. Remdesivir mimics an RNA nucleotide building block and is covalently linked to the replicating RNA, which blocks further synthesis of RNA. The structure provides a template for designing improved therapeutics against the viral polymerase.

Science
, this issue p.
1499
SARS-CoV-2 productively infects human gut enterocytes
Authors: Lamers Mart M. , Beumer Joep , van der Vaart Jelte , Knoops Kèvin , Puschhof Jens , Breugem Tim I. , Ravelli Raimond B. G. , Paul van Schayck J. , Mykytyn Anna Z. , Duimel Hans Q. , van Donselaar Elly , Riesebosch Samra , Kuijpers Helma J. H. , Schipper Debby , van de Wetering Willine J. , de Graaf Miranda , Koopmans Marion , Cuppen Edwin , Peters Peter J. , Haagmans Bart L. , Clevers Hans
Published: May 2020

Intestinal organoids as an infection model

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes an influenza-like disease with a respiratory transmission route; however, patients often present with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Moreover, the virus has been detected in anal swabs, and cells in the inner-gut lining express the receptor that SARS-CoV-2 uses to gain entry to cells. Lamers
et al.
used human intestinal organoids, a “mini-gut” cultured in a dish, to demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 readily replicates in an abundant cell type in the gut lining—the enterocyte—resulting in the production of large amounts of infective virus particles in the intestine. This work demonstrates that intestinal organoids can serve as a model to understand SARS-CoV-2 biology and infectivity in the gut.

Science
, this issue p.
50
Quercetin Blocks Ebola Virus Infection by Counteracting the VP24 Interferon-Inhibitory Function
Authors: Fanunza Elisa , Iampietro Mathieu , Distinto Simona , Corona Angela , Quartu Marina , Maccioni Elias , Horvat Branka , Tramontano Enzo
Published: May 2020

Ebola virus (EBOV) is among the most devastating pathogens causing fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans. The epidemics from 2013 to 2016 resulted in more than 11,000 deaths, and another outbreak is currently ongoing. Since there is no FDA-approved drug so far to fight EBOV infection, there is an urgent need to focus on drug discovery. Considering the tight correlation between the high EBOV virulence and its ability to suppress the type I interferon (IFN-I) system, identifying molecules targeting viral protein VP24, one of the main virulence determinants blocking the IFN response, is a promising novel anti-EBOV therapy approach.
Influence of
CYP2C8
,
CYP3A4
, and
CYP3A5
Host Genotypes on Early Recurrence of Plasmodium vivax
Authors: Almeida Anne C. G. , Puça Maria C. B. , Figueiredo Erick F. G. , Barbosa Laila R. , Salazar Yanka E. A. R. , Silva Emanuelle L. , Brito Marcelo A. M. , Siqueira André M. , Vieira José L. F. , Lacerda Marcus V. G. , Monteiro Wuelton M. , Melo Gisely C.
Published: May 2020

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are involved in the biotransformation of chloroquine (CQ), but the role of the different profiles of metabolism of this drug in relation to
Plasmodium vivax
recurrences has not been properly investigated. To investigate the influence of the CYP genotypes associated with CQ metabolism on the rates of
P. vivax
early recurrences, a case-control study was carried out. The cases included patients presenting with an early recurrence (CQ-recurrent individuals), defined as a recurrence during the first 28 days after initial infection and plasma concentrations of CQ plus desethylchloroquine (DCQ; the major CQ metabolite) higher than 100 ng/ml.
Fumonisin and Beauvericin Chemotypes and Genotypes of the Sister Species
Fusarium subglutinans
and
Fusarium temperatum
Authors: Fumero M. Veronica , Villani Alessandra , Susca Antonia , Haidukowski Miriam , Cimmarusti Maria T. , Toomajian Christopher , Leslie John F. , Chulze Sofia N. , Moretti Antonio
Published: May 2020

Fusarium subglutinans
and
F. temperatum
are sister species and maize pathogens commonly isolated worldwide that can produce several mycotoxins and cause seedling disease, stalk rot, and ear rot. The ability of these species to produce beauvericin and fumonisin mycotoxins is not settled, as reports of toxin production are not concordant at the species level. Our results are consistent with previous reports that strains of
F. subglutinans
produce neither fumonisins nor beauvericin. The status of toxin production by
F. temperatum
needs further work. Our strains of
F. temperatum
did not produce fumonisins, while some strains produced beauvericin and others did not. These results enable more accurate risk assessments of potential mycotoxin contamination if strains of these species are present. The nature of the genetic inactivation of BEA1 is consistent with its relatively recent occurrence and the close phylogenetic relationship of the two sister species.
Arthur Ramsden Jennings
Authors: Kelly Donald , Jennings Peter , Robertson Kathleen
Published: May 2020

A pathology lecturer, he taught generations of vet students as well as being an active collaborator in research. He died three months after his 100th birthday following a short illness.
Augmenting size models forPinus strobiformisseedlings using dimensional estimates from unmanned aircraft systems
Authors: Garms Cory G. , Flores-Rentería Lluvia , Waring Kristen , Whipple Amy , Wing Michael G. , Strimbu Bogdan M.
Published: May 2020

In forestry, common garden experiments traditionally require manual measurements and visual inspections. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are a newer method of monitoring plants that is potentially more efficient than traditional techniques. This study had two objectives: to assess the size and mortality of Pinus strobiformis Engelm. seedlings using UAS and to predict the second-year seedling size using manual measurements from the first year and from UAS size estimates. Raised boxes containing 150 seedlings were surveyed twice, one year apart, using multispectral UAS. Seedling heights and diameters at root collar (DRC) were measured manually in both years. We found that size estimates made using a vegetation mask were suitable predictors for size, while spectral indices were not. Furthermore, we provided evidence that inclusion of UAS size estimates as predictors improves the fit of the models. Our study suggests that common variables used in forest monitoring are not necessarily best suited for seedlings. Therefore, we created a new variable, called the longitudinal area (height × DRC), which proved to be a significant predictor for both height and DRC. Finally, we demonstrate that seedling mortality can be effectively measured from remotely sensed data, which is useful for common garden and regeneration studies.
Reducing moisture effects on soil organic carbon content prediction in visible and near-infrared spectra with an external parameter othogonalization algorithm
Authors: Cao Yue , Bao Nisha , Liu Shanjun , Zhao Wei , Li Shimeng
Published: May 2020

Field spectroscopy and other efficient hyperspectral techniques have been widely used to measure soil properties, including soil organic carbon (SOC) content. However, reflectance measurements based on field spectroscopy are quite sensitive to uncontrolled variations in surface soil conditions, such as moisture content; hence, such variations lead to drastically reduced prediction accuracy. The goals of this work are to (i) explore the moisture effect on soil spectra with different SOC levels, (ii) evaluate the selection of optimal parameter for external parameter othogonalization (EPO) in reducing moisture effect, and (iii) improve SOC prediction accuracy for semi-arid soils with various moisture levels by combing the EPO with machine learning method. Soil samples were collected from grassland regions of Inner Mongolia in North China. Rewetting laboratory experiments were conducted to make samples moisturized at five levels. Visible and near-infrared spectra (350–2500 nm) of soil samples rewetted were observed using a hand-held SVC HR-1024 spectroradiometer. Our results show that moisture influences the correlation between SOC content and soil reflectance spectra and that moisture has a greater impact on the spectra of samples with low SOC. An EPO algorithm can quantitatively extract information of the affected spectra from the spectra of moist soil samples by an optimal singular value. A SOC model that effectively couples EPO with random forest (RF) outperforms partial least-square regression (PLSR)-based models. The EPO–RF model generates better results with R2 of 0.86 and root-mean squared error (RMSE) of 3.82 g kg−1, whereas a PLSR model gives R2 of 0.79 and RMSE of 4.68 g kg−1.
Does Convergent-IFRS Adoption in China Increase Audit Fees?
Authors: Tsai Yu Ling , Huang Hua-Wei
Published: May 2020

The aim of this study is to investigate whether the adoption of convergent-International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in China affects the audit fees of initial public offerings (IPO) firms. An empirical regression analysis using panel data for 1,094 nonfinancial IPOs (excluding season equity offers) of A-shares listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges between 2003 and 2012 is adopted. The results reveal that audit fees increase following convergent-IFRS adoption in China and additionally suggest that convergent-IFRS adoption eases the intense price competition that previously existed in China’s audit market and thus has important policy implications for regulators. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first reported attempt to adopt the IPO setting to examine the effects of convergent-IFRS adoption on audit fees and fills the gap in literature. Using a setting of IPOs enables this paper to further exclude the influence of quasi-rents derived from low-balling after initial audit engagement when testing audit fees.
Can thin coals be resolved in seismic data? An example of the challenges for Carboniferous (Visean to Westphalian) source-rock definition across the Elbow Spit Platform (Netherlands) and the Mid North Sea High (UK) through well synthetic modelling
Authors: Gallo Alessandro Boscolo , Kilhams Ben , de Keijzer Martin , Nicolai Carlo
Published: May 2020

The ability to predict coal units from seismic data has become important for hydrocarbon exploration, especially in areas away from traditional play sweetspots. An understanding of coal distribution/thickness from seismic data can influence the risking of basin source-rock presence/charge efficiency. A selection of wells is presented from the Carboniferous of the Elbow Spit Platform (Netherlands), the Mid North Sea High (UK) and adjacent areas. These wells penetrated various coal thicknesses, as well as sandstones, mudstones and thin limestones in different stratigraphic configurations. For each well, full-stack synthetic seismograms (acoustic impedance domain) using a conventional seismic wavelet are generated along with supporting rock physics. This analysis suggests, as a guideline, that coal thickness needs to meet a threshold of 25–35% of loop thickness to be uniquely distinguishable from the surrounding lithologies (discernible soft kick). If the coals are thinner than this threshold, they will be comparable to soft sandstone-related kicks, although some exceptions exist where thin coals directly overlie soft sandstone intervals. The exact percentage value will depend on seismic-data quality and rock properties. This study highlights the need for careful consideration of thin-coal seismic expression when devising interpretation strategies and risking source-rock presence.
Behavioral Implications of Causal Misperceptions
Authors: Spiegler Ran
Published: May 2020

This review presents an approach to modeling decision making under misspecified subjective models. The approach is based on the idea that decision makers impose subjective causal interpretations on observed correlations, and it borrows basic concepts and tools from the statistics and artificial intelligence literatures on Bayesian networks. While these background literatures used Bayesian networks as a platform for normative and computational analysis of probabilistic and causal inference, in the framework proposed here graphical models represent causal misperceptions and help analyze their behavioral implications. I show how this approach sheds light on earlier equilibrium models with nonrational expectations and demonstrate its scope of economic applications.
Multiracial Categorization, Identity, and Policy in (Mixed) Racial Formations
Authors: DaCosta Kimberly A.
Published: May 2020

This article examines recent developments in the literature on multiracial categorization, policy, and identity—one that has grown as data on multiracial populations have become widely available, particularly in the United States since the enumeration of multiple race responses was instituted in Census 2000. Significant new research takes advantage of the data generated by the Census providing new insights to questions and claims about the meanings of mixedness and racial boundaries in the United States that were largely speculative even a decade ago. Though this review focuses primarily on issues related to how state enumeration of mixed race populations reflects and engenders particular identity and group configurations, I also discuss emerging research on interracial intimacy—intermarriage and interracial births—the phenomena from which contemporary attention to multiracial categorization and identity arise. An increasingly internationalist discussion is challenging long-held interpretations of the meaning of intermarriage and multiracial identification for understanding emergent racial formations.
Double Swing Quiescent-Current: An Experimental Detection Method of Ferroelectricity in Very Leaky Dielectric Films
Authors: Dueñas Salvador , Castán Helena , Ossorio Óscar G. , Vinuesa Guillermo , García Héctor , Kukli Kaupo , Leskelä Markku
Published: May 2020

A new method to characterize the properties of leaky ferroelectric films is proposed. Double swing quiescent-current technique allows to obtain coercive field and remanent polarization in those cases in which high leakage, trap generation current and displacement current mask the ferroelectric terms themselves. Double swing quiescent-current technique allows to detect ferroelectric behavior even in highly conductive materials and obtain reliable values of the remanent polarization and coercive fields which are not affected by the parasitic effects of leakage and displacement currents. In this work, we demonstrate this technique for the case of amorphous SiO2-Nb2O5 nanolaminates and mixture films fabricated by atomic layer deposition.