bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New findings of oribatid mites of the family Oppiidae (Acari: Oribatida) from Babeldaob Island of Palau

Authors: Bayartogtokh Badamdorj , Shimano Satoshu
Published: July 2020

We found four species of oribatid mites belonging to family Oppiidae from Babeldaob Island of Palau Republic, which is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. Two new species, Anomaloppia babeldaobensis sp. nov. and Oxyoppia palauensis sp. nov. are described from litter and soil in a secondary forest of Palau, and supplementary descriptions of two hitherto known species, Arcoppia corniculifera (Mahunka 1978) and Arcoppia hammerae Rodríguez & Subías, 1984 are provided, which are reported for the first time from the Oceania region. Following the descriptions and comparisons, aspects of the taxonomy, distribution and habitat ecology of studied species are discussed.
Bismuth acetate by XPS
Authors: Rodriguez-Pereira Jhonatan , Rincón-Ortiz Sergio A. , Ospina Rogelio
Published: July 2020

Bismuth (III) acetate was analyzed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The specimen is a powder purchased from Sigma Aldrich. The sample was fixed to a stainless-steel sample holder with copper 3MTM double-sided adhesive tape. Survey spectra, Bi 4f, O 1s, C 1s, Bi 4d, Bi 5d, Bi 6s core levels, and valence band spectra were acquired. The results showed how the elements in the structure of bismuth acetate are related.
Improvement of extra low impact energy SIMS data reduction algorithm for process control
Authors: Merkulov Alexandre , Peres Paula , Soulard Kilian , Larson David John , Sivaramakrishnan Karthik
Published: July 2020

This work explores quantitative boron depth profiling in the top first nanometer using dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Dynamic SIMS measurements were performed with a magnetic sector CAMECA IMS Wf/SC Ultra, using extremely low impact energy O2+ (below 250 eV) sputtering. It was concluded that the modification of quantification protocol by the creation of a surface transient curve can provide a tool for the accurate characterization of low energy implantation wafers, including boron, under extremely low energy sputtering conditions with an oxygen beam.
Atomic layer deposition of germanium-selenium-tellurium compounds for low-leakage, tunable ovonic threshold switches
Authors: Adinolfi Valerio , Laudato Mario , Clarke Ryan , Narasimhan Vijay K. , Cheng Lanxia , Littau Karl
Published: July 2020

Chalcogenide compounds are leading a revolution in the electronic memories space. Phase-change-memory (PCM) elements and ovonic threshold switches (OTSs) combined in the cross-point (X-point) architecture produce memory arrays with access and write times orders of magnitude faster than state-of-the-art flash nands and also provide nonvolatile storage, a larger scale of integration compared to traditional memory arrays, and the opportunity to develop beyond von Neumann architectures to support computationally demanding applications such as artificial intelligence. The commercial success of chalcogenide X-point arrays will depend on the ability to integrate chalcogenide films into sophisticated three-dimensional architectures such as vertical structures for economical manufacturing. To do so, highly conformal deposition techniques are required such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). State-of-the-art chalcogenide cross-point devices are currently fabricated using PVD, which fails to provide any film conformality. ALD PCMs with performance comparable to their PVD counterparts have been demonstrated; however, fabricating OTS selectors using ALD remains a challenge. Here, we present an approach to deposit ALD ternary germanium-selenium-tellurium (Ge-Se-Te) spanning a wide range of compositions. The ALD Ge-Se-Te films show excellent conformality, low surface roughness, and good compositional homogeneity. We fabricated OTS devices and demonstrated the ability to produce low leakage selectors with threshold voltage tuning achieved by control over the film composition.
Thorium tetrafluoride analyzed by XPS
Authors: Feng Xu , Davis Brenton , Zhang Jinsuo
Published: July 2020

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was performed on a freshly exposed thorium tetrafluoride (ThF4) granule surface. The sample surface exhibits stoichiometric ThF4 with hydrocarbon contamination and an oxide impurity which is tentatively attributed to thorium oxyfluoride.
Automated Classification of Postural Control for Individuals With Parkinson’s Disease Using a Machine Learning Approach: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Li Yumeng , Zhang Shuqi , Odeh Christina
Published: July 2020

The purposes of the study were (1) to compare postural sway between participants with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and healthy controls and (2) to develop and validate an automated classification of PD postural control patterns using a machine learning approach. A total of 9 participants in the early stage of PD and 12 healthy controls were recruited. Participants were instructed to stand on a force plate and maintain stillness for 2 minutes with eyes open and eyes closed. The center of pressure data were collected at 50 Hz. Linear displacements, standard deviations, total distances, sway areas, and multiscale entropy of center of pressure were calculated and compared using mixed-model analysis of variance. Five supervised machine learning algorithms (ie, logistic regression, K-nearest neighbors, Naïve Bayes, decision trees, and random forest) were used to classify PD postural control patterns. Participants with PD exhibited greater center of pressure sway and variability compared with controls. The K-nearest neighbor method exhibited the best prediction performance with an accuracy rate of up to 0.86. In conclusion, participants with PD exhibited impaired postural stability and their postural sway features could be identified by machine learning algorithms.
Comparing Learners’ Attitude, Knowledge, and Behaviors for Active Living in Physical Education Between Two Middle Schools
Authors: Liu Yang , Chen Senlin , Gu Xiangli
Published: July 2020

Purpose: The study purpose was to examine performance differences in physical education among learners from two middle schools from two different states. Methods: Performance in physical education was represented by attitude toward physical education, knowledge of physical activity and fitness, and active living behaviors (i.e., physical activity and sedentary behavior). The sixth, seventh, and eighth graders of a midwestern state school (n = 397) and a deep southern state school (n = 350) completed the surveys (N = 747). Results: The authors observed statistically significant school differences in physical activity and fitness knowledge and physical activity behavior (favoring the deep southern state school), and in attitude and sedentary behavior (favoring the midwestern state school). The authors also found stronger associations between attitude and physical activity (but weaker associations between attitude and sedentary behavior) among the deep southern state school students than the midwestern state school students. Conclusion: These observed performance differences and their pedagogical ramifications are discussed in relation to sociodemographic and environmental factors.
BNIP-2 retards breast cancer cell migration by coupling microtubule-mediated GEF-H1 and RhoA activation
Authors: Pan Meng , Chew Ti Weng , Wong Darren Chen Pei , Xiao Jingwei , Ong Hui Ting , Chin Jasmine Fei Li , Low Boon Chuan
Published: July 2020

BNIP-2 acts as a brake on cell migration by scaffolding Rho and GEFs.
Wuhan coronavirus hunter Shi Zhengli speaks out
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: July 2020

China's "Bat Woman" denies responsibility for the pandemic, demands apology from Trump.
The immunogenetics of sexual parasitism
Authors: Swann Jeremy B. , Holland Stephen J. , Petersen Malte , Pietsch Theodore W. , Boehm Thomas
Published: July 2020

Reconfiguring an immune response

The deep sea is a vast and generally empty environment. Finding a mate can thus be difficult. In response to this situation, one group of deep-sea denizens, the anglerfishes, have evolved a system in which males attach to females, in some cases permanently, through fusion of tissues and connection of circulatory systems. Such attachment greatly challenges the immune systems of the fish. Swann
et al.
found that these challenges have been met by the evolution of increasingly reduced immune responses among anglerfish species, including the loss of what have been considered essential vertebrate responses. These shifts suggest that vertebrate immune systems may be more flexible over evolutionary time than was previously thought.

Science
, this issue p.
1608
Proton-electron mass ratio from laser spectroscopy of HD
+
at the part-per-trillion level
Authors: Patra Sayan , Germann M. , Karr J.-Ph. , Haidar M. , Hilico L. , Korobov V. I. , Cozijn F. M. J. , Eikema K. S. E. , Ubachs W. , Koelemeij J. C. J.
Published: July 2020

A very precise ratio

The value of the ratio of the masses of the proton and the electron has a bearing on the values of other physical constants. This ratio is known to a very high precision. Patra
et al.
improved this precision even further by measuring particular frequencies in the rovibrational spectrum of the hydrogen deuteride molecular ion (HD
+
) (see the Perspective by Hori). To reach this high precision, the researchers placed the HD
+
molecules in an ion trap and surrounded them by beryllium ions. The cold beryllium ions then helped cool the HD
+
molecules, making the HD
+
spectral lines narrow enough that the proton-electron mass ratio could be extracted by comparison with theoretical predictions.

Science
, this issue p.
1238
; see also p.
1160
Human fetal microglia acquire homeostatic immune-sensing properties early in development
Authors: Kracht L. , Borggrewe M. , Eskandar S. , Brouwer N. , Chuva de Sousa Lopes S. M. , Laman J. D. , Scherjon S. A. , Prins J. R. , Kooistra S. M. , Eggen B. J. L.
Published: July 2020

The development of microglia

Microglia are the brain's immune cells, and they play important roles in health and neurodegenerative disease. Kracht
et al.
performed single-cell analysis of human microglial gene expression and chromatin accessibility and compared the results with those of other studies of human and mice microglial development. By using in situ validation, these data identify fetal microglial subsets that appear to be distinct from adult human microglia, suggesting functional differences between the developing and mature brain.

Science
, this issue p.
530
Exceptional plasticity in the bulk single-crystalline van der Waals semiconductor InSe
Authors: Wei Tian-Ran , Jin Min , Wang Yuecun , Chen Hongyi , Gao Zhiqiang , Zhao Kunpeng , Qiu Pengfei , Shan Zhiwei , Jiang Jun , Li Rongbin , Chen Lidong , He Jian , Shi Xun
Published: July 2020

Deformable semiconductors

Semiconductors are usually brittle and do not deform easily. Wei
et al.
found that bulk single crystals of indium selenide instead have excellent flexibility (see the Perspective by Han). The deformability comes from the compliant intralayer bonding between indium and selenium. The authors used these observations along with a previously discovered silver sulfide to determine a deformability factor for materials that may help find other deformable semiconductors.

Science
, this issue p.
542
; see also p.
509
Ancient orogenic and monsoon-driven assembly of the world’s richest temperate alpine flora
Authors: Ding Wen-Na , Ree Richard H. , Spicer Robert A. , Xing Yao-Wu
Published: July 2020

Origins of an alpine flora

The evolution of high mountain floras is strongly influenced by tectonic and climatic history. Dinget al.document the timing, tempo, and mode by which the world's most species-rich alpine flora, that of the Tibet-Himalaya-Hengduan region, was assembled. Alpine assemblages in the region are older than previously thought, with lineages tracing their alpine ancestry to the early Oligocene—older than any other modern alpine system. Alpine species diversified faster during periods of orogeny and intensification of the Asian monsoon, and the Hengduan Mountains—the most species-rich area in this region—played a key biogeographic role as the location of the earliest pulse of alpine diversification in the Oligocene.

Science, this issue p.578
Adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 in BALB/c mice for testing vaccine efficacy
Authors: Gu Hongjing , Chen Qi , Yang Guan , He Lei , Fan Hang , Deng Yong-Qiang , Wang Yanxiao , Teng Yue , Zhao Zhongpeng , Cui Yujun , Li Yuchang , Li Xiao-Feng , Li Jiangfan , Zhang Na-Na , Yang Xiaolan , Chen Shaolong , Guo Yan , Zhao Guangyu , Wang Xiliang , Luo De-Yan , Wang Hui , Yang Xiao , Li Yan , Han Gencheng , He Yuxian , Zhou Xiaojun , Geng Shusheng , Sheng Xiaoli , Jiang Shibo , Sun Shihui , Qin Cheng-Feng , Zhou Yusen
Published: July 2020

Modeling SARS-CoV-2 in mice

Among the research tools necessary to develop medical interventions to treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, high on the list are informative animal models with which to study viral pathogenesis. Gu
et al.
developed a mouse model in which a SARS-CoV-2 strain was infectious and could cause an inflammatory response and moderate pneumonia. Adaptation of this viral strain in the mouse appeared to be dependent on a critical amino acid change, Asn
501
to Tyr (N501Y), within the receptor-binding domain of the viral spike protein. The new mouse model was used to study neutralizing antibodies and a vaccine candidate against the virus.

Science
, this issue p.
1603
Context is key to olfaction
Smellosophy: What the Nose Tells the Mind
A. S. Barwich
Harvard University Press, 2020. 384 pp.
Authors: McGann John P.
Published: July 2020

How we experience smell has more to do with us than with the odor itself
Fine-tuning receptor–G protein activation and signaling
Authors: Lebon Guillaume
Published: July 2020

The activation rate of downstream G proteins imprints receptor signaling
Cautious optimism
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: July 2020

The first half of 2020 has seen extraordinary accomplishments in science. The international scientific community has described the genomic sequence of the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and structures of its important proteins, elucidated principal aspects of the immune response, identified neutralizing antibodies that can serve as therapeutics, and developed promising vaccines. There is much more to learn about COVID-19 and its cause, but the achievements so far are remarkable. So why doesn't this progress feel like the triumph that it is?
Climate and provenance variation across the mid-Pleistocene transition revealed through sedimentology, geochemistry, and rock magnetism of the Blackwater Draw Formation, Southern High Plains, Texas, USA
Authors: Stine* J. , Sweet D.E. , Geissman J.W. , Baird H. , Ferguson J.F.
Published: July 2020

The mid-Pleistocene transition is a time interval between ca. 1.2 and 0.7 Ma during which a shift occurred from ~41 k.y. glacial-interglacial cycles to ~100 k.y. cycles. Although the mid-Pleistocene transition has been well documented in global marine records, its effects in continental environments, including North America, are incompletely understood owing to the paucity of terrestrial sediment records spanning the entire Quaternary. A notable exception is the ca. 1.4 Ma and younger Blackwater Draw Formation, an extensive eolian sequence on the Southern High Plains of the United States. Intervals of the Blackwater Draw Formation section that are inferred to span the mid-Pleistocene transition can be divided into pre–, syn–, and post–mid-Pleistocene transition parts. Weathering profiles in the pre–mid-Pleistocene transition section are dominated by weakly developed soils formed in arid environments, as evidenced by well-expressed pedogenic carbonate horizons, lack of clay formation during hydrolysis, and magnetically soft, coarse-grained magnetite/maghemite populations. Conversely, the syn– and post–mid-Pleistocene transition intervals demonstrate an increase in weathering intensity by an abrupt increase in clay content formed in part by hydrolysis of feldspars, soil profiles that demonstrate leaching and illuviation, and a fining-upward grain size of the magnetite/maghemite population. Sedimentologic, geochemical, and rock-magnetic data are consistent with a southern and coarser sediment source derived from the Pecos River drainage prior to the mid-Pleistocene transition, followed by a mixture of northern and southern sources during and after the mid-Pleistocene transition. Overall, our results indicate that pre–mid-Pleistocene transition conditions on the Southern High Plains were arid with wind energy sufficient to mobilize sand sheets out of the Pecos River and deposit them on the plateau. The syn– and post–mid-Pleistocene transition environments reflect somewhat wetter conditions and potentially an influx of silt from the north, in addition to continued sand derived from the Pecos River valley. The wetter conditions and silt influx may have resulted from longer-lived and more robust glacial activity in the Northern Hemisphere that characterized the post–mid-Pleistocene transition Earth system.
Miocene high-temperature leucogranite magmatism in the Himalayan orogen
Authors: Gao Peng , Zheng Yong-Fei , Mayne Matthew Jason , Zhao Zi-Fu
Published: July 2020

Himalayan leucogranites of Cenozoic age are generally attributed to partial melting of metasedimentary rocks at low temperatures of <770 °C. It is unknown what the spatial distribution and characteristics of high-temperature (>800 °C) leucogranites are in the Himalayan orogen. The present study reports the occurrence of such leucogranites in the collisional orogen. We use the Ti-in-zircon thermometry in combination with the thermodynamically calibrated relationships of T-aSiO2-aTiO2 to retrieve crystallization temperatures of Miocene (ca. 17 Ma) two-mica granites from Yalaxiangbo, in the eastern Himalaya, SE Tibet. The results give the maximum temperature as high as ∼850 °C for granite crystallization, providing a significant constraint on the nature of thermal sources. Phase equilibrium modeling using metasedimentary rocks as the source rocks indicates that felsic melts produced at ∼850 °C and 6–10 kbar can best match the target leucogranites in lithochemistry. In this regard, the anatectic temperatures previously obtained for the production of Himalayan leucogranites would probably be underestimated to some extent. Such high temperatures are difficult to explain purely by the internal heating of the thickened orogenic crust. Instead, they require an extra heat source, which would probably be provided by upwelling of asthenospheric mantle subsequent to thinning of the orogenic lithospheric mantle by foundering along the convergent plate boundary. Therefore, the Himalayan leucogranites of Miocene age would be derived from partial melting of the metasedimentary rocks in the post-collisional stage.
Supplemental Material: Stress in the tropics? Impact of a latitudinal seawater δ18O gradient on Middle Jurassic temperature reconstructions at low latitudes
Authors: Alberti Matthias , al. et
Published: July 2020

Geochemical datasets and additional information on materials, methodology, and results.
Supplemental Material: Stratigraphic correlation chart of Carboniferous–Paleogene rocks of Mexico, adjacent southwestern United States, Central America, and Colombia
Authors: Lawton Timothy , al. et
Published: July 2020

Three-sample data set, Table S1: Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology of Todos Santos Formation, and Plate 1
Parental experiences of being approached to join multiple neonatal clinical trials: qualitative study (PARENT)
Authors: Richards Judy , Rankin Judith , Juszczak Ed , Dorling Jon , McGuire William , Embleton Nicholas D
Published: July 2020

Objective

To explore parents’ perceptions and experience of being approached for enrolment of their preterm infant in more than one trial or study.

Design

A qualitative study involving 17 in-depth semistructured interviews, with parents who had been approached for multiple studies and who subsequently consented for their infant(s) to join at least one. Parents who declined all studies were not approached.

Setting and participants

Parents of preterm infants receiving care at one of three neonatal intensive care units in the north of England.

Findings

Most parents did not view concurrent participation in multiple trials or studies as a significant issue within the wider context of their infant’s care. Most parents did not feel pressured into enrolling their infant into more than one study, but some suggested that participation in several provided justification for the subsequent refusal to join others, articulating feeling of guilt at saying ‘no’, and others appeared fatigued by multiple approaches. Parents focused on the perceived risks and benefits of each individual study and, while acknowledging that making a fully informed decision was not possible, largely agreed due to their belief in the benefits of research, trust in the health professionals caring for their baby and a range of complex personal motivations.

Conclusions

Parents valued the autonomy to make decisions about participation and felt, with hindsight, that their decisions were right. Research teams could be more aware of parental feelings of guilt or gratitude that may motivate them to give consent. Similarly, the capacity of parents to fully remember details of multiple studies when they are stressed, and their infant is sick, should be taken into consideration, and continued efforts should be made to ensure ongoing consent to participation.
The remaining unknowns: a mixed methods study of the current and global health research priorities for COVID-19
Authors: Norton Alice , De La Horra Gozalo Arancha , Feune de Colombi Nicole , Alobo Moses , Mutheu Asego Juliette , Al-Rawni Zainab , Antonio Emilia , Parker James , Mwangi Wayne , Adhiambo Wesonga Colette , Marsh Kevin , Tufet Marta , Piot Peter , Lang Trudie
Published: July 2020

Introduction

In March 2020, the WHO released a Global Research Roadmap in an effort to coordinate and accelerate the global research response to combat COVID-19 based on deliberations of 400 experts across the world. Three months on, the disease and our understanding have both evolved significantly. As we now tackle a pandemic in very different contexts and with increased knowledge, we sought to build on the work of the WHO to gain a more current and global perspective on these initial priorities.

Methods

We undertook a mixed methods study seeking the views of the global research community to (1) assess which of the early WHO roadmap priorities are still most pressing; (2) understand whether they are still valid in different settings, regions or countries; and (3) identify any new emerging priorities.

Results

Thematic analysis of the significant body of combined data shows the WHO roadmap is globally relevant; however, new important priorities have emerged, in particular, pertinent to low and lower middle-income countries (less resourced countries), where health systems are under significant competing pressures. We also found a shift from prioritising vaccine and therapeutic development towards a focus on assessing the effectiveness, risks, benefits and trust in the variety of public health interventions and measures. Our findings also provide insight into temporal nature of these research priorities, highlighting the urgency of research that can only be undertaken within the period of virus transmission, as well as other important research questions but which can be answered outside the transmission period. Both types of studies are key to help combat this pandemic but also importantly to ensure we are better prepared for the future.

Conclusion

We hope these findings will help guide decision-making across the broad research system including the multilateral partners, research funders, public health practitioners, clinicians and civil society.
Excess cases of influenza and the coronavirus epidemic in Catalonia: a time-series analysis of primary-care electronic medical records covering over 6 million people
Authors: Coma Redon Ermengol , Mora Nuria , Prats-Uribe Albert , Fina Avilés Francesc , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel , Medina Manuel
Published: July 2020

Objectives

There is uncertainty about when the first cases of COVID-19 appeared in Spain. We aimed to determine whether influenza diagnoses masked early COVID-19 cases and estimate numbers of undetected COVID-19 cases.

Design

Time-series study of influenza and COVID-19 cases, 2010–2020.

Setting

Primary care, Catalonia, Spain.

Participants

People registered in primary-care practices, covering >6 million people and >85% of the population.

Main outcome measures

Weekly new cases of influenza and COVID-19 clinically diagnosed in primary care.

Analyses

Daily counts of both cases were computed using the total cases recorded over the previous 7 days to avoid weekly effects. Epidemic curves were characterised for the 2010–2011 to 2019–2020 influenza seasons. Influenza seasons with a similar epidemic curve and peak case number as the 2019–2020 season were used to model expected case numbers with Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average models, overall and stratified by age. Daily excess influenza cases were defined as the number of observed minus expected cases.

Results

Four influenza season curves (2011–2012, 2012–2013, 2013–2014 and 2016–2017) were used to estimate the number of expected cases of influenza in 2019–2020. Between 4 February 2020 and 20 March 2020, 8017 (95% CI: 1841 to 14 718) excess influenza cases were identified. This excess was highest in the 15–64 age group.

Conclusions

COVID-19 cases may have been present in the Catalan population when the first imported case was reported on 25 February 2020. COVID-19 carriers may have been misclassified as influenza diagnoses in primary care, boosting community transmission before public health measures were taken. The use of clinical codes could misrepresent the true occurrence of the disease. Serological or PCR testing should be used to confirm these findings. In future, this surveillance of excess influenza could help detect new outbreaks of COVID-19 or other influenza-like pathogens, to initiate early public health responses.
Ways Ahead: developing a supported self-management programme for people living with low- and intermediate-grade gliomas - a protocol for a multi-method study
Authors: Rimmer Ben , Dutton Lizzie , Lewis Joanne , Burns Richéal , Gallagher Pamela , Williams Sophie , Araujo-Soares Vera , Finch Tracy , Sharp Linda
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Living with and beyond a diagnosis of a low- and intermediate-grade glioma (LIGG) can adversely impact many aspects of people’s lives and their quality of life (QoL). In people with chronic conditions, self-management can improve QoL. This is especially true if people are supported to self-manage. Supported self-management programmes have been developed for several cancers, but the unique challenges experienced by LIGG survivors mean these programmes may not be readily transferable to this group. The Ways Ahead study aims to address this gap by exploring the needs of LIGG survivors to develop a prototype for a supported self-management programme tailored to this group.

Methods and analysis

Ways Ahead will follow three sequential phases, underpinned by a systematic review of self-management interventions in cancer. In phase 1, qualitative methods will be used to explore and understand the issues faced by LIGG survivors, as well as the barriers and facilitators to self-management. Three sets of interviews will be conducted with LIGG survivors, their informal carers and professionals. Thematic analysis will be conducted with reference to the Theoretical Domains Framework and Normalisation Process Theory. Phase 2 will involve co-production workshops to generate ideas for the design of a supported self-management programme. Workshop outputs will be translated into a design specification for a prototype programme. Finally, phase 3 will involve a health economic assessment to examine the feasibility and benefits of incorporating the proposed programme into the current survivorship care pathway. This prototype will then be ready for testing in a subsequent trial.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been reviewed and approved by an National Health Service Research Ethics Committee (REC ref: 20/WA/0118). The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, broadcast media, the study website, The Brain Tumour Charity and stakeholder engagement activities.
Nasopharyngeal density of respiratory viruses in childhood pneumonia in a highly vaccinated setting: findings from a case–control study
Authors: Bhuiyan Mejbah Uddin , Snelling Tom , Sikazwe Chisha , Lang Jurissa , Borland Meredith , Martin Andrew , Richmond Peter , Jaffe Adam , Smith David , Blyth Christopher
Published: July 2020

Background

Detection of pneumonia-causing respiratory viruses in the nasopharynx of asymptomatic children has made their actual contribution to pneumonia unclear. We compared nasopharyngeal viral density between children with and without pneumonia to understand if viral density could be used to diagnose pneumonia.

Methods

Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) were collected from hospitalised pneumonia cases at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and contemporaneous age-matched controls at PMH outpatient clinics and a local immunisation clinic in Perth, Australia. The density (copies/mL) of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A virus (InfA), human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and rhinovirus in NPS was determined using quantitative PCR. Linear regression analysis was done to assess the trend between viral density and age in months. The association between viral density and disease status was examined using logistic regression. Area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves were assessed to determine optimal discriminatory viral density cut-offs.

Results

Through May 2015 to October 2017, 230 pneumonia cases and 230 controls were enrolled. Median nasopharyngeal density for any respiratory virus was not substantially higher in cases than controls (p>0.05 for each). A decreasing density trend with increasing age was observed—the trend was statistically significant for RSV (regression coefficient −0.04, p=0.004) but not for other viruses. After adjusting for demographics and other viral densities, for every log10copies/mL density increase, the odds of being a case increased by six times for RSV, three times for HMPV and two times for InfA. The AUROC curves were <0.70 for each virus, suggesting poor case–control discrimination based on viral density.

Conclusion

The nasopharyngeal density of respiratory viruses was not significantly higher in children with pneumonia than those without; however, the odds of being a case increased with increased density for some viruses. The utility of viral density, alone, in defining pneumonia was limited.
Prenatal clinical manifestations in individuals withCOL4A1/2variants
Authors: Itai Toshiyuki , Miyatake Satoko , Taguri Masataka , Nozaki Fumihito , Ohta Masayasu , Osaka Hitoshi , Morimoto Masafumi , Tandou Tomoko , Nohara Fumikatsu , Takami Yuichi , Yoshioka Fumitaka , Shimokawa Shoko , Okuno-Yuguchi Jiu , Motobayashi Mitsuo , Takei Yuko , Fukuyama Tetsuhiro , Kumada Satoko , Miyata Yohane , Ogawa Chikako , Maki Yuki , Togashi Noriko , Ishikura Teruyuki , Kinoshita Makoto , Mitani Yusuke , Kanemura Yonehiro , Omi Tsuyoshi , Ando Naoki , Hattori Ayako , Saitoh Shinji , Kitai Yukihiro , Hirai Satori , Arai Hiroshi , Ishida Fumihiko , Taniguchi Hidetoshi , Kitabatake Yasuji , Ozono Keiichi , Nabatame Shin , Smigiel Robert , Kato Mitsuhiro , Tanda Koichi , Saito Yoshihiko , Ishiyama Akihiko , Noguchi Yushi , Miura Mazumi , Nakano Takaaki , Hirano Keiko , Honda Ryoko , Kuki Ichiro , Takanashi Jun-ichi , Takeuchi Akihito , Fukasawa Tatsuya , Seiwa Chizuru , Harada Atsuko , Yachi Yusuke , Higashiyama Hiroyuki , Terashima Hiroshi , Kumagai Tadayuki , Hada Satoshi , Abe Yoshiichi , Miyagi Etsuko , Uchiyama Yuri , Fujita Atsushi , Imagawa Eri , Azuma Yoshiteru , Hamanaka Kohei , Koshimizu Eriko , Mitsuhashi Satomi , Mizuguchi Takeshi , Takata Atsushi , Miyake Noriko , Tsurusaki Yoshinori , Doi Hiroshi , Nakashima Mitsuko , Saitsu Hirotomo , Matsumoto Naomichi
Published: July 2020

Background

Variants in the type IV collagen gene (COL4A1/2) cause early-onset cerebrovascular diseases. Most individuals are diagnosed postnatally, and the prenatal features of individuals withCOL4A1/2variants remain unclear.

Methods

We examinedCOL4A1/2in 218 individuals with suspectedCOL4A1/2-related brain defects. Among those arising fromCOL4A1/2variants, we focused on individuals showing prenatal abnormal ultrasound findings and validated their prenatal and postnatal clinical features in detail.

Results

PathogenicCOL4A1/2variants were detected in 56 individuals (n=56/218, 25.7%) showing porencephaly (n=29), schizencephaly (n=12) and others (n=15). Thirty-four variants occurred de novo (n=34/56, 60.7%). Foetal information was available in 47 of 56 individuals, 32 of whom (n=32/47, 68.1%) had one or more foetal abnormalities. The median gestational age at the detection of initial prenatal abnormal features was 31 weeks of gestation. Only 14 individuals had specific prenatal findings that were strongly suggestive of features associated withCOL4A1/2variants. Foetal ventriculomegaly was the most common initial feature (n=20/32, 62.5%). Posterior fossa abnormalities, including Dandy-Walker malformation, were observed prenatally in four individuals. Regarding extrabrain features, foetal growth restriction was present in 16 individuals, including eight individuals with comorbid ventriculomegaly.

Conclusions

Prenatal observation of ventriculomegaly with comorbid foetal growth restriction should prompt a thorough ultrasound examination andCOL4A1/2gene testing should be considered when pathogenic variants are strongly suspected.
Spontaneous clearance of genital and extragenitalNeisseria gonorrhoeae: data from GToG
Authors: Mensforth Sarah , Ayinde Oluseyi Cyril , Ross Jonathan
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Neisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) infection can resolve without antibiotic treatment, however the literature describing the frequency of clearance at individual sites, how rapidly it occurs and potential predictive factors is limited. In this analysis of a subpopulation identified from a large multicentre UK cohort, we describe the overall rate of spontaneous clearance of infection and explore factors associated with this.

Methods

Data from the Gentamicin compared with Ceftriaxone for the Treatment of Gonorrhoea randomised controlled trial consisting of 720 patients with NG were analysed. A subgroup of individuals had both a pretrial test sample and a trial enrolment sample taken. Those who had cleared NG between initial presentation and subsequent entry into the trial without antibiotic treatment were deemed to have spontaneously cleared. Sociodemographic characteristics, sexual history and sites of infection for those who spontaneously cleared infection were compared with that of those who did not. We also estimated the time interval to clearance.

Results

Overall, the proportion who had spontaneous clearance was 20.5% (83/405). Clearance of infection occurred over a median of 10 days (IQR 7–15 days). The cohort who spontaneously cleared were similar to those who did not in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation, HIV status and previous NG infection. Chlamydia coinfection was more frequent in the ‘no spontaneous clearance group’ (11.1% (9/83) cf 22.0% (69/322)) (p=0.029). Dysuria was reported more often in the ‘no spontaneous clearance group’ (4.8% (4/83) cf 13.0% (42/322)) (p=0.035).

Conclusion

We present data from a large cohort of NG-infected individuals, of whom a significant proportion had spontaneous clearance of infection. This is consistent with previous smaller studies. If this is indicative of cure, point-of-care testing prior to treatment has the potential to reduce unnecessary exposure to antimicrobials. Further work to assess the importance of bacterial load, genotype and host immune response on spontaneous clearance of infection is required.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN51783227
Uneven genotypic diversity of Escherichia coli in fecal sources limits the performance of a library-dependent method of microbial source tracking on the southwestern French Atlantic coast
Authors: Garabetian Frédéric , Vitte Isabelle , Sabourin Antoine , Moussard Hélène , Jouanillou Adeline , Mornet Line , Lesne Mélanie , Lyautey Emilie
Published: July 2020

To develop a library-dependent method of tracking fecal sources of contamination of beaches on the Atlantic coast of southwestern France, a library of 6368 Escherichia coli isolates was constructed from samples of feces, from 40 known human or animal sources collected in the vicinity of Arcachon Bay in 2010, and in French Basque Country, Landes, and Béarn, between 2017 and 2018. Different schemes of source identification were tested: use of the complete or filtered reference library; characterization of the isolates by genotypic or proteomic profiling based on ERIC-PCR or MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, respectively; isolate by isolate assignment using either classifiers based on the Pearson similarity or SVM (support vector machine). With the exception of one source identification scheme, which was discarded since it used self-assignment, all tested schemes resulted in low rates of correct classification (<35%) and significant rates of incorrect classification (>15%). The heterogeneous coverage of E. coli genotypic diversity between sources and the uneven distribution of E. coli genotypes in the library likely explain the difficulties encountered in identifying the sources of fecal contamination. Shannon diversity index of sources ranged from 0 for several wildlife species sampled once to 3.03 for sewage treatment plant effluents sampled on various occasions, showing discrepancies between sources. The uneven genotypic composition of the library was attested by the value of the Pielou index (0.54), the high proportion of nondiscriminatory genotypes (>91% of the isolates), and the very low proportion of discriminatory genotypes (<3%). Since efforts made to constitute such a library are not affordable for routine analyses, the results question the relevance of developing such a method for identifying sources of fecal contamination on such a coastline.
Predictions for charmed nuclei based on $$Y_c N$$ forces inferred from lattice QCD simulations
Authors: Haidenbauer Johann , Nogga Andreas , Vidaña Isaac
Published: July 2020

Charmed nuclei are investigated utilizing$$\varLambda _c N$$ΛcNand$$\varSigma _c N$$ΣcNinteractions that have been extrapolated from lattice QCD simulations at unphysical masses of$$m_\pi = 410$$mπ=410–570 MeV to the physical point using chiral effective field theory as guideline. Calculations of the energies of$$\varLambda _c$$Λcsingle-particle bound states for various charmed nuclei from$$^{\ 5}_{\varLambda _c}$$Λc5Li to$$^{209}_{\varLambda _c}$$Λc209Bi are performed using a perturbative many-body approach. This approach allows one to determine the finite nuclei$$\varLambda _c$$Λcself-energy from which the energies of the different bound states can be obtained. Though the$$\varLambda _c N$$ΛcNinteraction inferred from the lattice results is only moderately attractive, it supports the existence of charmed nuclei. Already the lightest nucleus considered is found to be bound. The spin-orbit splitting of the p- and d-wave states turns out to be small, as in the case of single$$\varLambda $$Λhypernuclei. Additional calculations based on the Faddeev-Yakubovsky equations suggest that also$$A=4$$A=4systems involving a$$\varLambda _c$$Λcbaryon are likely to be bound, but exclude a bound$$^{\, 3}_{\varLambda _c}\hbox {He}$$Λc3Hestate.
Estimation of the number of affected people due to the Covid-19 pandemic using susceptible, infected and recover model
Authors: Hoque Md. Enamul
Published: July 2020

The Susceptible, Infected and Recover (SIR) model is a very simple model to estimate the dynamics of an epidemic. In the current pandemic due to Covid-19, the SIR model has been used to estimate the dynamics of infection for various infected countries. Numerical solutions are used to obtain the value of parameters for the SIR model. The maximum and minimum basic reproduction number (14.5 and 2.3) are predicted to be in Turkey and China, respectively.
Spectra of generalized windmill networks: Analytical solutions and applications
Authors: Liao Yunhua , Aziz-Alaoui M. A. , Chen Yu
Published: July 2020

The generalized windmill graphs are good models for many real-world networks. In this paper, we obtain analytic expressions for the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrices and of the Laplacian matrices of the generalized windmill graphs. Using this information, we study some structural and dynamical properties of these graphs. To the end, we investigate the metro networks of four France cities and propose our suggestions for the planning of public transport networks.
Hawking radiation of analogous acoustic black holes
Authors: Zhou Shiwei , Xiao Kui
Published: July 2020

Propagation of sound waves in a flowing fluid can be viewed as a minimally coupled massless scalar field propagating in curved spacetime. The analogue Hawking radiation from a spherically symmetric acoustic black hole and a (2 + 1)-dimensional rotating acoustic black hole are investigated respectively in Damour–Ruffini’s method. The emission rate and Hawking temperature are obtained, which are related to acoustic black holes parameter.
Lorentz distributed wormhole solutions in f(T) gravity with off-diagonal tetrad under conformal motions
Authors: Ashraf Asifa , Mustafa G. , Ahmad Mushtaq , Hussain Ibrar
Published: July 2020

In this work, the possible existence of wormhole solutions have been investigated in the extended teleparallel [Formula: see text] theory of gravity by incorporating the Lorentzian source of non-commutative geometry through the conformal motion. The physical concept of conformal symmetry becomes more arguable when it is discussed in the background of non-commutative geometry, especially with the Lorentzian source. In this context, two specific different models of the extended teleparallel theory, that is, [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] (where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] being real constants and [Formula: see text] a positive integer) have been studied. The corresponding energy conditions are worked out and are analyzed graphically in the presence of the conformal motion with Lorentzian source. The presence of the exotic matter has been confirmed due to the violation of null energy conditions under some particular conditions, thereby proving the existence of the wormhole geometries in both of the models under investigation. Moreover, the stability of the wormhole geometries via the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov equation has been discussed. It is concluded that these wormhole solutions supported by the non-exotic matter truly exist and are well stable under the extended teleparallel gravity.
A scaling transformation method and exact solutions of nonlinear reaction–diffusion model
Authors: Wang Xin , Liu Yang
Published: July 2020

We find a very simple scaling transformation method by which a kind of rank non-homogenous second order nonlinear ODEs is reduced to an integral form. Comparing with the canonical-like transformation method and the first integral method, our method provides a simple mechanism of reduction of such equations. As an application, a reaction–diffusion equation with variable coefficients is integrated, and its exact cnoidal wave solution is obtained. Furthermore, by using the complete discrimination system for polynomial method, more exact solutions are obtained.
Finite irreducible conformal modules of rank two Lie conformal algebras
Authors: Xu Maosen , Hong Yanyong , Wu Zhixiang
Published: July 2020

In the present paper, we prove that any finite nontrivial irreducible module over a rank two Lie conformal algebra [Formula: see text] is of rank one. We also describe the actions of [Formula: see text] on its finite irreducible modules explicitly. Moreover, we show that all finite nontrivial irreducible modules of finite Lie conformal algebras whose semisimple quotient is the Virasoro Lie conformal algebra are of rank one.
Modified Hager–Zhang conjugate gradient methods via singular value analysis for solving monotone nonlinear equations with convex constraint
Authors: Sabi’u Jamilu , Shah Abdullah , Waziri Mohammed Yusuf , Ahmed Kabiru
Published: July 2020

Following a recent attempt by Waziri et al. [2019] to find an appropriate choice for the nonnegative parameter of the Hager–Zhang conjugate gradient method, we have proposed two adaptive options for the Hager–Zhang nonnegative parameter by analyzing the search direction matrix. We also used the proposed parameters with the projection technique to solve convex constraint monotone equations. Furthermore, the global convergence of the methods is proved using some proper assumptions. Finally, the efficacy of the proposed methods is demonstrated using a number of numerical examples.
CoO-Co2P composite nanosheets as highly active catalysts for sodium borohydride hydrolysis to generate hydrogen
Authors: Liu Hongyan , Shi Qianyu , Yang Yumei , Yu Ya-Na , Zhang Yan , Zhang Maosheng , Wei Lei , Lu Yanhong
Published: July 2020

In this paper, CoO[Formula: see text]Co2P composite nanocatalysts as highly active catalysts were successfully prepared for catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH[Formula: see text] to generate hydrogen. For catalyst preparation, pre-synthesized Co(OH)2 nanosheets were uniformly mixed with sodium hypophosphite (NaH2PO[Formula: see text] and then treated through vapor-phase phosphorization process. For characterization, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption measurement and X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS) were carried out, and traditional water-displacement method was performed to measure the hydrogen generation rate (HGR). It was found that component and catalytic activity of the composites were greatly affected by the ratio of Co(OH)2 to NaH2PO2. When the ratio was 2:1, the obtained catalyst composed of CoO and Co2P presented the highest HGR up to 3.94[Formula: see text]L min[Formula: see text] g[Formula: see text] using a 2[Formula: see text]wt.% NaBH[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]wt.% NaOH solution at [Formula: see text]C, and the apparent activation energy was detected as low as 27.4[Formula: see text]kJ mol[Formula: see text]. Additionally, the optimum CoO[Formula: see text]Co2P catalyst still retains 60% of the initial activity after recycling four times.
Safety Risks of Urban Spatial Agglomeration and Their Prevention and Control: Based on the Prevention and Control of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Authors: PAN Jiahua
Published: July 2020

The rampant spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is worth examining from different angles. From the angle of urban spatial patterns and urban morphology, urban spatial agglomeration, polarization of spatial patterns, and the concept of centralization adopted in planning urban space are objective conditions that have aggravated the pandemic. This paper examines the mechanisms and effects that may have helped the spread of the pandemic. Considering the rapid spread and severe outcome of the coronavirus disease due to the spatial agglomeration of urban population, it is required to make a trade-off among economic, ecological and safe rationalities, and put safe rationality first.