bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the effect of linear feedback and parametric pumping on a resonator’s frequency stability
Authors: Mohammadi Zohreh , Heugel Toni L , Miller James M L , Shin Dongsuk D , Kwon Hyun-Keun , Kenny Thomas W , Chitra Ramasubramanian , Zilberberg Oded , Villanueva Luis Guillermo
Published: August 2020

Resonant sensors based on micro- and nano-electro mechanical systems (M/NEMS) are ubiquitous in many sensing applications due to their outstanding performance capabilities, which are directly proportional to the quality factor (Q) of the devices. We address here a recurrent question in the field: do dynamical techniques that modify the effective Q (namely parametric pumping and direct drive velocity feedback) affect the performance of said sensors? We develop analytical models of both cases, while remaining in the linear regime, and introduce noise in the system from two separate sources: thermomechanical and amplifier (read-out) noise. We observe that parametric pumping enhances the quality factor in the amplitude response, but worsens it in the phase response on the resonator. In the case of feedback, we find that Q is enhanced in both cases. Then, we establish a solution for the noisy problem with direct drive and parametric pumping simultaneously. We also find that, in the case when thermomechanical noise dominates, no benefit can be obtained from either artificial Q-enhancement technique. However, in the case when amplifier noise dominates, we surprisingly observe that a significant advantage can only be achieved using parametric pumping in the squeezing region.
Quantifying the contribution of temperature anomaly to stroke risk in China
Authors: Xue Tao , Guan Tianjia , Zheng Yixuan , Zhang Qiang , Guo Jian , Liu Yuanli , Zhu Tong
Published: August 2020

Epidemiological studies have quantitatively linked adverse health outcomes, including stroke, to ambient temperature. However, such analyses cannot be applied to estimate disease burden attributable to climate change, because they assume a theoretical minimum risk reference based on an optimal temperature, which is a post hoc estimator that cannot be generalized to the unstudied locations. In this study, we used temperature anomaly (TA), an alternative indicator of climate change, in epidemiological studies to address this issue. We associated geo-coded nationwide stroke data (n = 11 144) from 2000 to 2016 in China to TA with a lag-distributed nonlinear model. For 0–2 lagged days, the risk of stroke increased by 20% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3%–40%) for irregular cold and 19% (95% CI: 3%–37%) for irregular heat. The exposure-response function was estimated as a U-shaped curve centered at a TA value of 0. Based on the function, an estimated 3.42% of stroke cases were attributable to TA. In addition, there were more strokes attributable to heat (2.05%) than cold (1.38%). TA-attributable strokes due to climate change increased by 0.019% (95% CI: 0.008%–0.031%) per year. Furthermore, the long-term trend was dominated by the increase in events involving heat. In contrast to cold-attributable stroke, which potentially decreased by 0.004% (95% CI: −0.005%–0.013%) per year, the heat-attributable burden increased by 0.023% (95% CI: 0.012%–0.034%) per year. We also found that ischemic stroke was associated with cold (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.00–1.38), while hemorrhagic stroke was associated with heat (OR = 1.66, 1.07–2.58). Our findings are of importance to public health for climate change mitigation and for predictions of future effects in climate change scenarios.
Exact solution of coupled 1D non-linear Burgers’ equation by using Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM): A review
Authors: Kapoor Mamta
Published: August 2020

In the current paper, a review of the Homotopy perturbation method is offered thoroughly to fetch the analytical solution of coupled 1D non-linear Burgers’ equation. The exact solution of the coupled 1D Burgers’ equation is attained in the system of a power series, (convergent in nature). A suitable optimal of the initial condition leads towards the vital exact solution after some iterative phases.
Limited effects of exposure to fake news about climate change
Authors: Drummond Caitlin , Siegrist Michael , Árvai Joseph
Published: August 2020

The spread of ‘fake news,’ information that mimics credible reporting in format but not in content or intent, poses potential threats to public health and democracy by misinforming citizens. Understanding whether and how fake news influences individuals’ policy-relevant beliefs and decisions is needed to inform policies and practices to address it. In a preregistered experiment, we ask how exposure to fake climate news casting doubt on the existence of climate change influences individuals’ expressed belief in climate change, their estimate of the scientific consensus regarding it, and their overall trust in scientists. We find little effect of exposure to fake climate news on any of our three dependent variables. Effect sizes associated with exposure were very small, and demographics and political ideology were stronger predictors of beliefs. Our findings suggest exposure to fake climate news is unlikely to strongly influence climate skepticism.
Repeating Authorial Blackface in Analogous Adaptation of Probably GhostwrittenThe Dark Child
Authors: Larsen Mads
Published: August 2020

After decades of investigation, leading scholars conclude that the founding novel of francophone African literature was likely written by Europeans. Camara Laye’s The Dark Child (1953) was sold as an autobiography and became the most read African novel in French. The idyllic narrative that African critics accused of colonial apologetics is now accused by Western scholars of being the product of an anti-independence conspiracy supported by François Mitterrand. When claims of ghost-writing were still dismissed as petty African jealousy, Laurent Chevallier relocated Laye’s childhood story to present-day Guinea with an analogous film adaptation that both builds on and parallels the novel. The French director introduces L’enfant noir (1995) not as his own interpretation but that of Laye’s relatives who also act in his film. Although Chevallier sells his story as authentically local, his Eurocentric adaptation of gender, polygamy, and reproduction has provoked accusations of Western plotting against African values.
Characteristics and Effectiveness of Alcohol Website Age Gates Preventing Underage User Access
Authors: Barry Adam E , Primm Kristin , Russell Hannah , Russell Alex M
Published: August 2020

Aims

Examine and evaluate the overall effectiveness of age gates preventing access of underage users to alcohol websites.

Methods

Assess the characteristics of digital age gates among the top 25 alcohol brands among American adolescents, including type of age gate employed and resulting actions of repeated access requests indicating the user was under the legal drinking age.

Results

All official alcohol brand websites examined included an age gate, requiring either entering one’s date of birth (DOB, 91%) or clicking a yes/no box indicating they were of legal drinking age (9%). Only one out of every five alcohol websites blocked futures attempts to gain access after entering a response indicating the user was under the legal drinking age. Users were allowed indefinite attempts to enter a DOB that was of legal drinking age, with the majority of websites subsequently granting access even after multiple underage entries.

Conclusions

Alcohol website visitors with minimal arithmetic abilities, such as very young youth, are able to employ ‘trial and error’ to eventually enter an acceptable legal drinking DOB and gain access. Alcohol brand age gates are weak, at best, and likely an inconsequential barrier that someone with limited math abilities can easily overcome.
First Real-world Evidence of Meningococcal Group B Vaccine, 4CMenB, Protection Against Meningococcal Group W Disease: Prospective Enhanced National Surveillance, England
Authors: Ladhani Shamez N , Campbell Helen , Andrews Nick , Parikh Sydel R , White Joanne , Edelstein Michael , Clark Stephen A , Lucidarme Jay , Borrow Ray , Ramsay Mary E
Published: August 2020

Background

4CMenB is a protein-based meningococcal B vaccine, but the vaccine antigens may be present on non–group B meningococci. In September 2015, the UK implemented 4CMenB into the national infant immunization program, alongside an emergency adolescent meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) program to control a national outbreak of group W (MenW) disease caused by a hypervirulent strain belonging to the ST-11 clonal complex. The adolescent program aimed to provide direct protection for adolescents and indirect protection across the population.

Methods

Public Health England conducts meningococcal disease surveillance in England. MenW cases confirmed during 4 years before and 4 years after implementation of both vaccines were analyzed. Poisson models were constructed to estimate direct protection against MenW disease offered by the infant 4CMenB program along with the indirect impact of the adolescent MenACWY program in children eligible for 4CMenB but not MenACWY.

Results

Model estimates showed 69% (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR], .31; 95% CI, .20–.67) and 52% (aIRR, .48; 95% CI, .28–.81) fewer MenW cases than predicted among age-cohorts that were fully- and partly-eligible for 4CMenB, respectively. There were 138 MenW cases in <5-year-olds. 4CMenB directly prevented 98 (95% CI, 34–201) cases, while the MenACWY program indirectly prevented an additional 114 (conservative) to 899 (extreme) cases over 4 years. Disease severity was similar in 4CMenB-immunized and unimmunized children.

Conclusions

This is the first real-world evidence of direct protection afforded by 4CMenB against MenW:cc11 disease. 4CMenB has the potential to provide some protection against all meningococcal serogroups.
Are our phylomorphospace plots so terribly tangled? An investigation of disorder in data simulated under adaptive and nonadaptive models
Authors: Stayton C Tristan
Published: August 2020

Contemporary methods for visualizing phenotypic evolution, such as phylomorphospaces, often reveal patterns which depart strongly from a naïve expectation of consistently divergent branching and expansion. Instead, branches regularly crisscross as convergence, reversals, or other forms of homoplasy occur, forming patterns described as “birds’ nests”, “flies in vials”, or less elegantly, “a mess”. In other words, the phenotypic tree of life often appears highly tangled. Various explanations are given for this, such as differential degrees of developmental constraint, adaptation, or lack of adaptation. However, null expectations for the magnitude of disorder or “tangling” have never been established, so it is unclear which or even whether various evolutionary factors are required to explain messy patterns of evolution. I simulated evolution along phylogenies under a number of varying parameters (number of taxa and number of traits) and models (Brownian motion, Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU)-based, early burst, and character displacement (CD)] and quantified disorder using 2 measures. All models produce substantial amounts of disorder. Disorder increases with tree size and the number of phenotypic traits. OU models produced the largest amounts of disorder—adaptive peaks influence lineages to evolve within restricted areas, with concomitant increases in crossing of branches and density of evolution. Large early changes in trait values can be important in minimizing disorder. CD consistently produced trees with low (but not absent) disorder. Overall, neither constraints nor a lack of adaptation is required to explain messy phylomorphospaces—both stochastic and deterministic processes can act to produce the tantalizingly tangled phenotypic tree of life.
A Collection of Benchmark Data Sets for Knowledge Graph-based Similarity in the Biomedical Domain
Authors: Cardoso Carlota , Sousa Rita T , Köhler Sebastian , Pesquita Catia
Published: August 2020

The ability to compare entities within a knowledge graph is a cornerstone technique for several applications, ranging from the integration of heterogeneous data to machine learning. It is of particular importance in the biomedical domain, where semantic similarity can be applied to the prediction of protein–protein interactions, associations between diseases and genes, cellular localization of proteins, among others. In recent years, several knowledge graph-based semantic similarity measures have been developed, but building a gold standard data set to support their evaluation is non-trivial.

We present a collection of 21 benchmark data sets that aim at circumventing the difficulties in building benchmarks for large biomedical knowledge graphs by exploiting proxies for biomedical entity similarity. These data sets include data from two successful biomedical ontologies, Gene Ontology and Human Phenotype Ontology, and explore proxy similarities calculated based on protein sequence similarity, protein family similarity, protein–protein interactions and phenotype-based gene similarity. Data sets have varying sizes and cover four different species at different levels of annotation completion. For each data set, we also provide semantic similarity computations with state-of-the-art representative measures.

Database URL: https://github.com/liseda-lab/kgsim-benchmark.
Assessing Vocabulary in Deaf and Hearing Children using Finnish Sign Language
Authors: Kanto Laura , Syrjälä Henna , Mann Wolfgang
Published: August 2020

This study investigates children’s vocabulary knowledge in Finnish Sign Language (FinSL), specifically their understanding of different form-meaning mappings by using a multilayered assessment format originally developed for British Sign Language (BSL). The web-based BSL vocabulary test by Mann (2009) was adapted for FinSL following the steps outlined by Mann, Roy and Morgan (2016) and piloted with a small group of deaf and hearing native signers (N = 24). Findings showed a hierarchy of difficulty between the tasks, which is concordant with results reported previously for BSL and American Sign Language (ASL). Additionally, the reported psychometric properties of the FinSL vocabulary test strengthen previous claims made for BSL and ASL that the underlying construct is appropriate for use with signed languages. Results also add new insights into the adaptation process of tests from one signed language to another and show this process to be a reliable and valid way to develop assessment tools in lesser-researched signed languages such as FinSL.
The highly conserved chromosomal periodicity of transcriptomes and the correlation of its amplitude with the growth rate in Escherichia coli
Authors: Nagai Motoki , Kurokawa Masaomi , Ying Bei-Wen
Published: August 2020

The growth rate, representing the fitness of a bacterial population, is determined by the transcriptome. Chromosomal periodicity, which is known as the periodic spatial pattern of a preferred chromosomal distance in microbial genomes, is a representative overall feature of the transcriptome; however, whether and how it is associated with the bacterial growth rate are unknown. To address these questions, we analysed a total of 213 transcriptomes of multiple Escherichia coli strains growing in an assortment of culture conditions varying in terms of temperature, nutrition level and osmotic pressure. Intriguingly, Fourier transform analyses of the transcriptome identified a common chromosomal periodicity of transcriptomes, which was independent of the variation in genomes and environments. In addition, fitting of the data to a theoretical model, we found that the amplitudes of the periodic transcriptomes were significantly correlated with the growth rates. These results indicated that the amplitude of periodic transcriptomes is a parameter representing the global pattern of gene expression in correlation with the bacterial growth rate. Thus, our study provides a novel parameter for evaluating the adaptiveness of a growing bacterial population and quantitatively predicting the growth dynamics according to the global expression pattern.
Switch from minimally invasive biventricular mechanical support to cardiopulmonary bypass during heart transplant
Authors: Settepani Fabrizio , Marianeschi Stefano Maria , Costetti Alessandro , Russo Claudio Francesco
Published: August 2020

An easily reproducible surgical technique to switch from percutaneous minimally invasive biventricular mechanical support to cardiopulmonary bypass during heart transplantation is illustrated. After cannulation of the distal ascending aorta with a standard arterial cannula, the ProtekDuo® cannula and the ProtekSolo® Transseptal cannula were partially retracted to reach the superior and inferior vena cava, respectively, and connected to the pump circuit for the venous drainage. With this cardiopulmonary bypass configuration, orthotopic heart transplantation was routinely performed and, at the end of the procedure, the 2 cannulas were uneventfully removed.
Impact of COVID-19 on the food supply chain
Authors: Aday Serpil , Aday Mehmet Seckin
Published: August 2020

A pandemic is not a new event encountered in the history of humanity because mankind has faced various pandemics in history. The common point of pandemics is their serious negative effects on the global economy. Considering the food supply chain, one of the most important sectors of the economy, it has been seen that COVID-19 has an impact on the whole process from the field to the consumer. In the light of recent challenges in food supply chain, there is now considerable concern about food production, processing, distribution, and demand. COVID-19 resulted in the movement restrictions of workers, changes in demand of consumers, closure of food production facilities, restricted food trade policies, and financial pressures in food supply chain. Therefore, governments should facilitate the movement of workers and agri-food products. In addition, small farmers or vulnerable people should be supported financially. Facilities should change the working conditions and maintain the health and safety of employees by altering safety measures. Food protectionist policies should be avoided to prevent an increase in food prices. In conclusion, each country must realize the severity of the situation and sometimes should tighten or loosen the measures according to the spread of the pandemic. The supply chain also should be flexible enough to respond to the challenges in the food supply chain. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the agriculture and food sector and to summarize the recommendations required to reduce and control the effect of the pandemic.
Religious dietary rules and their potential nutritional and health consequences
Authors: Chouraqui Jean-Pierre , Turck Dominique , Briend André , Darmaun Dominique , Bocquet Alain , Feillet François , Frelut Marie-Laure , Girardet Jean-Philippe , Guimber Dominique , Hankard Regis , Lapillonne Alexandre , Peretti Noel , Roze Jean-Christophe , Siméoni Umberto , Dupont Christophe ,   the Committee on Nutrition of the French Society of Pediatrics
Published: August 2020

Background

The vast majority of the world population declares affiliation to a religion, predominantly Christianity and Islam. Many religions have special dietary rules, which may be more or less strictly adhered to.

Methods

Religious food rules were collected from holy books and religious websites as well as their translation into dietary practices. The literature was searched for potential associations between these rules and potential nutritional consequences.

Results

Jewish, Islamic and Indian religions support prolonged breastfeeding. Religious avoidance of alcohol is probably beneficial to health. When strictly applied, a few rules may lead to nutritional inadequacies, mainly in populations living in unfavourable socio-economic or environmental conditions. In Jewish and Muslim observants, animal slaughtering procedures may increase the risk of iron deficiency. Jews may be at risk of excess sodium intake related to home-prepared foods. A vegan diet, as observed by some believers, often by drifting from original precepts, or by some Hindus or Buddhists, may result in vitamin B12, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium and n-3 fatty acids deficiencies.

Conclusion

When implemented in accordance with the rules, most religious food precepts are not detrimental to health, as suggested by the fact that they have more or less been followed for millennia. Nevertheless, some practices may lead to nutritional inadequacies, such as iron, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12 deficiencies. Patients with low socio-economic status, children and women of childbearing age are of particular risk of such deficiencies. Being aware of them should help health professionals to take an individualized approach to decide whether to supplement or not.
Sensitive, Highly Multiplexed Sequencing of Microhaplotypes From thePlasmodium falciparumHeterozygome
Authors: Tessema Sofonias K , Hathaway Nicholas J , Teyssier Noam B , Murphy Maxwell , Chen Anna , Aydemir Ozkan , Duarte Elias M , Simone Wilson , Colborn James , Saute Francisco , Crawford Emily , Aide Pedro , Bailey Jeffrey A , Greenhouse Bryan
Published: August 2020

Background

Targeted next-generation sequencing offers the potential for consistent, deep coverage of information-rich genomic regions to characterize polyclonal Plasmodium falciparum infections. However, methods to identify and sequence these genomic regions are currently limited.

Methods

A bioinformatic pipeline and multiplex methods were developed to identify and simultaneously sequence 100 targets and applied to dried blood spot (DBS) controls and field isolates from Mozambique. For comparison, whole-genome sequencing data were generated for the same controls.

Results

Using publicly available genomes, 4465 high-diversity genomic regions suited for targeted sequencing were identified, representing the P. falciparum heterozygome. For this study, 93 microhaplotypes with high diversity (median expected heterozygosity = 0.7) were selected along with 7 drug resistance loci. The sequencing method achieved very high coverage (median 99%), specificity (99.8%), and sensitivity (90% for haplotypes with 5% within sample frequency in dried blood spots with 100 parasites/µL). In silico analyses revealed that microhaplotypes provided much higher resolution to discriminate related from unrelated polyclonal infections than biallelic single-nucleotide polymorphism barcodes.

Conclusions

The bioinformatic and laboratory methods outlined here provide a flexible tool for efficient, low-cost, high-throughput interrogation of the P. falciparum genome, and can be tailored to simultaneously address multiple questions of interest in various epidemiological settings.
How Does Blood-Retinal Barrier Breakdown Relate to Death and Disability in Pediatric Cerebral Malaria?
Authors: MacCormick Ian J C , Barrera Valentina , Beare Nicholas A V , Czanner Gabriela , Potchen Michael , Kampondeni Samuel , Heyderman Robert S , Craig Alister G , Molyneux Malcolm E , Mallewa Macpherson , White Valerie A , Milner Dan , Hiscott Paul , Taylor Terrie E , Seydel Karl B , Harding Simon P
Published: August 2020

Background

In cerebral malaria, the retina can be used to understand disease pathogenesis. The mechanisms linking sequestration, brain swelling, and death remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that retinal vascular leakage would be associated with brain swelling.

Methods

We used retinal angiography to study blood-retinal barrier integrity. We analyzed retinal leakage, histopathology, brain magnatic resonance imaging (MRI), and associations with death and neurological disability in prospective cohorts of Malawian children with cerebral malaria.

Results

Three types of retinal leakage were seen: large focal leak (LFL), punctate leak (PL), and vessel leak. The LFL and PL were associated with death (odds ratio [OR] = 13.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.21–33.78 and OR = 8.58, 95% CI = 2.56–29.08, respectively) and brain swelling (P < .05). Vessel leak and macular nonperfusion were associated with neurological disability (OR = 3.71, 95% CI = 1.26–11.02 and OR = 9.06, 95% CI = 1.79–45.90). Large focal leak was observed as an evolving retinal hemorrhage. A core of fibrinogen and monocytes was found in 39 (93%) white-centered hemorrhages.

Conclusions

Blood-retina barrier breakdown occurs in 3 patterns in cerebral malaria. Associations between LFL, brain swelling, and death suggest that the rapid accumulation of cerebral hemorrhages, with accompanying fluid egress, may cause fatal brain swelling. Vessel leak, from barrier dysfunction, and nonperfusion were not associated with severe brain swelling but with neurological deficits, suggesting hypoxic injury in survivors.
Multiple sensory modalities in diurnal geckos is associated with the signalling environment and evolutionary constraints
Authors: Kabir Md Shakilur , Venkatesan Radhika , Thaker Maria
Published: August 2020

To be effective, animal signals need to be detectable in the environment, but their development and expression require resources. For multimodal communication, investment in elaborating traits in one modality could reduce the elaboration of traits in other modalities.

In Cnemaspis geckos, chemical signals for conspecific communication pre-dated the evolution of visual signals, allowing us to examine the potential trade-off in signal elaboration and the current habitat associations with signal use. We studied five species of Cnemaspis and quantified visual (patch size, colour characteristics) and chemical (secretory composition) traits in males, as well as key environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, light) in each of their habitats. Within species, we found some trade-off in the elaboration of signals, as the strength of several components in the visual and chemical modalities were negatively associated. Strength of some signal components in each modality was also independently associated with specific environmental parameters that affect their detection (visual traits) and persistence (chemical traits). Specifically, species with larger, brighter, and more saturated colour patches were found in habitats where the brightness and chroma of light were lower. Furthermore, environments with higher substrate temperature and higher relative humidity harboured species that produced secretions with a higher percentage of saturated and aromatic compounds. Thus, the elaboration of multimodal signals in this group of Cnemaspis geckos seem to increase efficiency of communication in the signalling-environment, but the strength of signals in different modalities are constrained by trade-offs in signal expression.
Evaluation and mitigation of the effects of in utero heat stress on piglet growth performance, postabsorptive metabolism, and stress response following weaning and transport
Authors: Maskal Jacob M , Duttlinger Alan W , Kpodo Kouassi R , McConn Betty R , Byrd Christopher J , Richert Brian T , Marchant-Forde Jeremy N , Lay Donald C , Perry Shelbi D , Lucy Matthew C , Safranski Tim J , Johnson Jay S
Published: August 2020

In utero heat stress (IUHS) increases the energy requirements of pigs during postnatal life, and this may compound weaning and transport stress. The study objective was to evaluate and mitigate the negative effects of IUHS following weaning and transport through the provision of a nutrient-dense (ND) nursery diet formulated to meet the greater energy requirements of IUHS pigs during the first 14 d postweaning and transport. Twenty-four pregnant gilts were exposed to thermoneutral (TN; n = 12; 17.5 ± 2.1 °C) or heat stress (HS; n = 12; cycling 26 to 36 °C) conditions for the first half of gestation (day 6 to 59) and then TN conditions (20.9 ± 2.3 °C) until farrowing. Nine TN gilts and 12 HS gilts produced litters. At weaning (16.2 ± 0.4 d), mixed-sex piglets (N = 160; 4.78 ± 0.15 kg body weight [BW]) were transported (loading + transport + unloading) for 11 h 40 min. Following transport, piglets were blocked into pens (n = 4 pigs/pen) by in utero and dietary treatments: in utero thermoneutral (IUTN) + control (C) diet (n = 10 pens), IUTN + ND (n = 10 pens), IUHS + C (n = 10 pens), and IUHS + ND (n = 10 pens). Treatment diets were fed from day 1 to 14 postweaning and transport (period 1), and the C diet was fed to all pigs from day 14 to 35 postweaning and transport (period 2). Production measures were taken in 7 d intervals to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily net energy intake (ADEI), gain:feed, and gain:net energy intake. Blood samples were collected prior to transport, following transport, and on days 2, 7, 14, 28, and 35 postweaning and transport to analyze cortisol, glucose, insulin, and nonesterified fatty acids. Behavior was assessed through video-recording on days 3, 5, 8, 11, and 13 postweaning and transport. In period 1, ADG was reduced (P = 0.04; 20.0 g/d) in IUHS vs. IUTN pigs. Pigs fed ND diets had reduced ADFI (P = 0.02; 9.3%) compared with C diet-fed pigs during period 1, which resulted in similar ADEI (P = 0.23; 1,115 ± 35 kcal/d). During transport, cortisol was decreased (P = 0.03; 25.8%) in IUHS vs. IUTN pigs. On day 2, glucose was decreased (P = 0.01; 13.8%) in IUHS vs. IUTN pigs. No in utero treatment-related behavior differences were observed but lying was reduced (P = 0.03; 6.5%) and standing was increased (P = 0.04; 14.1%) in ND vs. C pigs overall. In summary, IUHS reduced growth performance in pigs following weaning and transport, and providing an ND diet did not rescue the lost performance.
Evaluating Trends in Novel Psychoactive Substances Using a Sentinel Population of Electronic Dance Music Festival Attendees
Authors: Mohr Amanda L A , Fogarty Melissa F , Krotulski Alex J , Logan Barry K
Published: August 2020

Electronic dance music (EDM) festivals have become a popular venue for recreational drug use, including the use of traditional stimulants like 3,4-methylenendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Using this cohort of people who use drugs recreationally, this study sought to collect biological specimens and self-reported drug use data from EDM festival attendees in the United States to monitor regional and temporal trends related to NPS use and turnover between 2014 and 2017. Oral fluid samples were collected at three United States EDM festival locations, including Miami, Florida (2014 to 2017); Tampa, Florida (2017) and Atlanta, Georgia (2017). Samples were screened by liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and confirmed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Over the 4 years, 1,233 oral fluid samples were collected. With respect to self-reported drug use, 63% of respondents reported medicinal and/or recreational drug use within the last week. When comparing 4 years of data from Miami (2014 to 2017), NPS trends showed the disappearance of alpha-PVP after 2014 followed by a significant increase in ethylone positivity in 2015 and rapid decrease in 2016. Dibutylone was identified for the first time in Miami 2016, and N-ethyl pentylone was identified for the first time in Miami 2017. Additionally, 3,4-methylenendioxymethamphetamine positivity steadily increased from 2014 to 2017. A comparison across study sites (Miami, Tampa and Atlanta) and specific trends with respect to novel simulant use are described within. Using this opportunistic approach of monitoring drug trends, we have found that peak positivity of novel stimulants usually is within a year of their first detection. Understanding the dynamics of NPS drug markets will allow laboratories to plan for resource allocation and scope updates within a timely fashion to assist with the detection and confirmation of these emerging substances in samples submitted for forensic analysis.
Selective Linear Segmentation for Detecting Relevant Parameter Changes
Authors: Dufays Arnaud , Houndetoungan Elysee Aristide , Coën Alain
Published: August 2020

Change-point (CP) processes are one flexible approach to model long time series. We propose a method to uncover which model parameters truly vary when a CP is detected. Given a set of breakpoints, we use a penalized likelihood approach to select the best set of parameters that changes over time and we prove that the penalty function leads to a consistent selection of the true model. Estimation is carried out via the deterministic annealing expectation-maximization algorithm. Our method accounts for model selection uncertainty and associates a probability to all the possible time-varying parameter specifications. Monte Carlo simulations highlight that the method works well for many time series models including heteroskedastic processes. For a sample of fourteen hedge fund (HF) strategies, using an asset-based style pricing model, we shed light on the promising ability of our method to detect the time-varying dynamics of risk exposures as well as to forecast HF returns.
Insoluble Tau From Human FTDP-17 Cases Exhibit Unique Transmission Properties In Vivo
Authors: Weitzman Sarah A , Narasimhan Sneha , He Zhuohao , Changolkar Lakshmi , McBride Jennifer D , Zhang Bin , Schellenberg Gerard D , Trojanowski John Q , Lee Virginia M Y
Published: August 2020

One hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases is the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, a neuronal microtubule-associated protein, into structures known as neurofibrillary tangles. Tauopathies are heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases caused by the misfolding of the tau protein. It has been previously shown that the tau protein can spread from cell to cell in a prion-like manner. Tauopathies can be sporadic or familial, with the identification of pathogenic mutations in the microtubule-associated protein tau gene on chromosome 17 in the familial cases. Different frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-17 (FTDP-17) cases are associated with varying clinical presentations and types of neuropathology. We previously demonstrated that insoluble tau extracted from sporadic tauopathy human brains contain distinct tau strains, which underlie the heterogeneity of these diseases. Furthermore, these tau strains seeded tau aggregates that resemble human tau neuropathology in nontransgenic and 6hTau mice in vivo. Here, we show insoluble tau from human brains of FTDP-17 cases transmit different patterns of neuronal and glial tau pathology in vivo, similar to the sporadic tauopathies. This suggests that each of these tau mutations has unique properties that underlie the heterogeneity of FTDP-17 cases.
Contribution of plant traits to the explanation of temporal variations in carbon and water fluxes in semiarid grassland patches
Authors: Wang Mengyu , Lu Nan , Li Qinglin , Fang Weiwei , Fu Bojie
Published: August 2020

Aims

Accurate prediction of spatiotemporal variations in carbon and water fluxes of heterogeneous landscape is critical to comprehensively address the effects of climate change and vegetation dynamics on landscape and regional carbon and water cycling.

Methods

A field study was conducted to characterize the seasonal variations in gas fluxes and explore their relationships with abiotic and biotic factors in a small grassland landscape. Daytime carbon and water fluxes including net ecosystem exchange, gross ecosystem productivity, ecosystem respiration and evapotranspiration (ET) were measured for three types of grassland patches over a growing season using the closed chamber method. The key plant trait variables were measured, based on which community weighted mean (CWM) and functional variance (FDvar) were calculated.

Important Findings

The results showed that the temporal variations in the carbon and water fluxes were regulated by meteorological, soil and community functional variables. Inclusion of the CWM and FDvar of plant trait measures greatly improved the degree of explanation of the predict models. Specific leaf area and leaf δ13C content (Lδ13C) were the most important trait variables in affecting the variations of the gas fluxes. CWMs indices had greater importance than FDvar indices in predicting the variation of the C fluxes but FDvar indices were more important for ET than C fluxes. Our findings demonstrated that mass ratio hypothesis and the complementary effects hypothesis are not mutually exclusive but have different relative importance for different ecosystem processes. Community functional traits played important roles in predicting the spatiotemporal variations of carbon and water fluxes in semiarid grassland.
Leaf turgor loss point at full hydration for 41 native and introduced tree and shrub species from Central Europe
Authors: Kunert Norbert , Tomaskova Ivana
Published: August 2020

The last years, Central European forests have suffered from drought as a direct consequence of climate change. All these forests have a long management history and it lies in the landowner’s responsibility to replant damaged forests. Hence, landowners and the government are searching currently for species suitable to replant in areas affected by tree die-offs. It is a matter of fact that good knowledge of drought resistance of species is a critical measure for the current replanting efforts. We determined a widely recognized trait for leaf drought tolerance (leaf water potential at turgor loss point at full hydration, πtlp) in 41 woody species native or introduced in Central Europe. The osmometric rapid assessment method was used to measure the leaf osmotic potential at full hydration (πosm) of sun-exposed leaves and converted to πtlp. Mean πtlp of the native species was −2.33 ± 0.33 MPa. The less negative πtlp was found in the introduced species Aesculus hypocastania and was at −1.70 ± 0.11 MPa. The most negative πtlp, and thus the potentially highest drought tolerance, were found in the introduced species Pseudotsuga menzesii and was at −3.02 ± 0.14 MPa. High or less negative πtlp is associated with lower drought tolerance, whereas low or more negative πtlp stands for higher resistance to drought stress. For example, the two native species Illex aquifolium and Alnus glustinosa are species naturally associated with moist habitats and are characterized by the least negative πtlp of −1.75 ± 0.02 and −1.76 ± 0.03 MPa, respectively.
Middle segment-preserving pancreatectomy for multifocal pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma located in the head and tail of the pancreas: a case report
Authors: Nitta Nobuhito , Yamamoto Yusuke , Sugiura Teiichi , Okamura Yukiyasu , Ito Takaaki , Ashida Ryo , Ohgi Katsuhisa , Otsuka Shimpei , Sasaki Keiko , Uesaka Katsuhiko
Published: August 2020

A 77-year-old woman with a solitary existence was referred to our hospital for the treatment of pancreatic tumors. Computed tomography revealed an 18-mm mass in the pancreatic head that had invaded the right side of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and a 32-mm mass in the pancreatic tail. We performed middle segment-preserving pancreatectomy (MSPP) with SMV resection and reconstruction. The TNM classifications were T2, N1, M0, stage IIB in the pancreatic head, and T2, N0, M0, stage IB in the pancreatic tail, respectively. Postoperatively, the blood glucose was well controlled using only hypoglycemic drug, and insulin preparation was not necessary. No fatty diarrhea was found using a pancreatic enzyme supplement. After 9 months of follow-up, no recurrence was found. MSPP for pancreatic head and tail carcinomas seemed acceptable for both preserving the postoperative quality of life and ensuring curative resection especially in elderly patient with a solitary existence.
Extending Peer Support Across the Military Health System to Decrease Clinician Burnout
Authors: Keyser Erin A , Weir Larissa F , Valdez Michelle M , Aden James K , Matos Renée I
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Clinician burnout is widespread throughout medicine, affecting professionalism, communication, and increases the risk of medical errors, thus impacting safe quality patient care. Previous studies have shown Peer Support Programs (PSPs) promote workforce wellness by supporting clinicians during times of heightened stress and vulnerability. Although these programs have been implemented in large institutions, they have not been used in military hospitals, which have high staff turnover and added stressors of deployments.

Materials and Methods

In December 2018, 50 physicians received 5 hours of PSP training at a military hospital from a nationally recognized PSP expert, following the programmatic structure described by Shapiro and Galowitz (2016). Utilization of the program was tracked from December 2018 to December 2019, recording only classification of provider type, triggering event, and provider specialty to maintain confidentiality. Qualitative comments from recipients and supporters were saved anonymously for quality improvement purposes.

Results

In the first year of our PSP, 254 clinicians (102 [40.2%] residents/fellows, 91 [35.8%] staff physicians, 4 [1.6%] medical students, 35 [13.8%] nurses, 22 [8.7%] allied health) received 1:1 peer support. Primary specialties utilizing peer support included 135 (52.9%) medical, 59 (23.2%) surgical, 43 (16.9%) obstetric, and 18 (7.1%) pediatric. Patient death (25%), risk management notification (22%), medical error/complication (15%), and poor patient outcome (13%) were the most common events triggering peer support. Peer support was provided at 8 locations across the continental United States with universally positive comments from recipients.

Conclusions

Implementation of a PSP at our institution led to rapid utilization across multiple hospitals in the military health system, a model that could easily expand to deployed settings and remote locations. Access to peer support across the military health system could both mitigate the increased risks of military clinician burnout, and improve patient safety, healthcare worker resilience, and service member readiness.
Antifungal effect of anthraquinones againstCryptococcus neoformans: detection of synergism with amphotericin B
Authors: Brilhante Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira , dos Santos Araújo Géssica , Fonseca Xhaulla Maria Quariguasi Cunha , de Melo Guedes Glaucia Morgana , de Aguiar Lara , de Souza Collares Maia Castelo-Branco Débora , de Aguiar Cordeiro Rossana , Sidrim José Júlio Costa , Pereira Neto Waldemiro Aquino , Rocha Marcos Fábio Gadelha
Published: August 2020

The emergence of tolerant Cryptococcus neoformans strains to antifungals has been described. It has directed researchers to screen for new antimicrobial compounds. In this context, several plant-derived compounds, such as anthraquinones (aloe emodin, barbaloin, and chrysophanol), have been investigated for their antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effect of aloe emodin, barbaloin and chrysophanol on C. neoformans in vitro growth. In addition, the interaction between these anthraquinones and amphotericin B and itraconazole was evaluated. Initially, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these compounds were determined against 17 strains of C. neoformans by the broth microdilution method and then pharmacological interaction assays were performed with 15 strains by the checkerboard method. Aloe emodin, barbaloin, and chrysophanol showed minimum inhibitory concentrations of 236.82–473.65 μM (64–128 μg/mL), 153–306 μM (64–128 μg/ml) and ≥1007 μM (≥256 μg/ml), respectively. Furthermore, aloe emodin (11/15), barbaloin (13/15), and chrysophanol (12/15) showed pharmacological synergism (FICI < 0.5) with amphotericin B at subinhibitory concentrations (MIC/4). The itraconazole-aloe emodin interaction was additive (1/15) (0.5 < FICI < 1.0). The itraconazole-barbaloin interaction were synergistic (2/15) and additive (5/15); whereas itraconazole-chrysophanol interactions were additive (2/15). Anthraquinones, especially aloe emodin and barbaloin, present in vitro antifungal activity against C. neoformans and potentiate the antifungal activity of amphotericin B.
warpfield population synthesis: the physics of (extra-)Galactic star formation and feedback-driven cloud structure and emission from sub-to-kpc scales
Authors: Pellegrini Eric W , Reissl Stefan , Rahner Daniel , Klessen Ralf S , Glover Simon C O , Pakmor Rüdiger , Herrera-Camus Rodrigo , Grand Robert J J
Published: August 2020

We present a novel method to model galactic-scale star formation and emission of star clusters and a multiphase interstellar medium (ISM). We combine global parameters, including star formation rate and metallicity, with the 1D cloud evolution code warpfield to model the sources of feedback within a star-forming galaxy. Within individual star-forming regions, we include stellar evolution, stellar winds, radiation pressure, and supernovae, all coupled to the dynamical evolution of the 1D parental cloud in a highly non-linear fashion. Heating of the diffuse galactic gas and dust is calculated self-consistently with the age-, mass-, and density-dependent escape fractions of photons from these fully resolved local star-forming regions. We construct the interstellar radiation field, and we employ the multifrequency radiative transfer code polaris to produce synthetic emission maps for a one-to-one comparison with observations. We apply this to a cosmological simulation of a Milky-Way-like galaxy built-up in a high-resolution MHD simulation of cosmic structure formation. From this, we produce the multiscale/phase distribution of ISM density and temperature and present a synthesized all-sky H  α map. We use a multipole expansion to show that the resulting maps reproduce all observed statistical emission characteristics. Next, we predict [S iii] 9530 Å, a key emission line that will be observed in several large forthcoming surveys. It suffers less extinction than other lines and provides information about star formation in very dense environments that are otherwise observationally inaccessible optically. Finally, we explore the effects of differential extinction, and discuss the consequences for the interpretation of H α emission at different viewing angles by an extragalactic observer.
HORuS transmission spectroscopy of 55 Cnc e
Authors: Tabernero H M , Allende Prieto C , Zapatero Osorio M R , González Hernández J I , del Burgo C , García López R , Rebolo R , Abril-Abril M , Barreto R , Calvo Tovar J , Díaz Torres A , Fernández Izquierdo P , Gómez-Reñasco M F , Gracia-Témich F , Joven E , Peñate Castro J , Santana-Tschudi S , Tenegi F , Viera Martín H D
Published: August 2020

The High Optical Resolution Spectrograph (HORuS) is a new high-resolution echelle spectrograph available on the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). We report on the first HORuS observations of a transit of the super-Earth planet 55 Cnc e. We investigate the presence of Na i and Hα in its transmission spectrum and explore the capabilities of HORuS for planetary transmission spectroscopy. Our methodology leads to residuals in the difference spectrum between the in-transit and out-of-transit spectra for the Na i doublet lines of (3.4 ± 0.4) × 10−4, which sets an upper limit to the detection of line absorption from the planetary atmosphere that is one order of magnitude more stringent that those reported in the literature. We demonstrate that we are able to reach the photon-noise limit in the residual spectra using HORuS to a degree that we would be able to easily detect giant planets with larger atmospheres. In addition, we modelled the structure, chemistry, and transmission spectrum of 55 Cnc e using state-of-the-art open source tools.