bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The elicitor protein BcIEB1 and the derived peptide ieb35 provide long‐term plant protection
Authors: Pérez‐Hernández Alicia , González Mario , González Celedonio , Brito Nélida
Published: March 2020

BcIEB is a small protein secreted by the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea that is recognized as a pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP) by plants. This activity is mapped to a highly conserved region of 35 amino acids, the peptide ieb35. Moreover, it has been shown that the protein and the peptide induce systemic resistance to B. cinerea after their infiltration into tobacco leaves. In this work, the possible use of BcIBE1 or ieb35 as plant protective agents has been tested. Tobacco plants were sprayed, infiltrated, or treated at the seedling stage with the protein or the peptide, and plant susceptibility to pathogens with different lifestyles was then studied at various times after treatment. The results showed that both BcIEB1 and ieb35 caused a similar reduction in the lesion sizes caused by B. cinerea and in colonization by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci (reduced by c. 30% and c. 40%, respectively), independently of the treatment type. In addition, the number of B. cinerea inoculations leading to successful infections was also reduced in plants infiltrated or sprayed with BcIEB1/ieb35. The defence‐related genes PR1a, NPR1, and osmotin ap24 were all induced by the protein and the peptide. BcIEB1, and especially ieb35, may be considered as a potential environmentally friendly treatment to increase plant resistance to pathogens.
Ovarian and uterine arteries blood flow waveform response in the first two cycles following superstimulation in cows
Authors: Abdelnaby Elshymaa A. , Abo El‐Maaty Amal M. , El‐Badry Diya A.
Published: March 2020

To investigate the ovarian and uterine blood flow responses, hemodynamic, circulating ovarian hormones and nitric oxide (NO) after end of treatment by Folltropin. Holstein Friesian (12) cows previously synchronized with CIDR underwent Doppler ultrasound after administrating of FSH daily for 4 days in eight injections started on day 10 of the second ovulation (day −5). Oestradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and nitric oxide (NOMs) were measured. During the follicular phase, follicle area and antrum area of the second cycle reached maximum value on the day of ovulation compared with that in the first cycle, while during the luteal phase, both showed a pattern of increase and decrease. The luteal area and total coloured area increased till day 10 in the first and second cycle. The first cycle ipsilateral ovarian artery (Ov.A) had higher pulsatility (PI) (p = .001), resistance (RI) (p = .001), peak velocity (PSV) (p = .009) and lower end‐diastolic velocity (EDV) (p = .003) compared with the second cycle. The increased ipsilateral Ov.A PSV (p = .009) was accompanied by lower EDV. The first cycle ipsilateral middle uterine artery (MUA) had higher PI (p = .001) and RI (p = .001), with lower PSV (p = .001) and EDV (p = .001). It was concluded that blood flow of ovarian and middle uterine arteries changed after the end of superstimulation as the increased ipsilateral Ov. A and MUA PSVs accompanied by lower EDV and both Doppler indices that reflect the amount of ovarian and uterine blood flow waveform.
Tariff liberalization and product standards: Regulatory chill and race to the bottom?
Authors: Aisbett Emma , Silberberger Magdalene
Published: March 2020

Does tariff liberalization cause regulatory chill by putting downward pressure on health, safety, and environmental standards? Or does it cause a race to the top as governments seek to use standards as nontariff barriers to trade? There remains remarkably little empirical evidence to answer these long‐debated questions. We seek to address this lack by analyzing annual country‐by‐industry data on notifications of changes in sanitary and phytosanitary standards by world trade organization members. Our results suggest that the impact of increased trade pressure depends on whether domestic producers are likely to gain or lose from a change in standards. Regulatory chill is the dominant response in most countries, but countries in which producers can adapt to standards relatively cheaply appear to race to the top. Consequently, tariff liberalization encourages divergence in standards across countries.
Reflective Listening Visualization: Enhancing Interdisciplinary Disaster Research through the Use of Visualization Techniques
Authors: DeRouen JoAnne , Smith Kari J.
Published: March 2020

Reflective Listening Visualization is an interdisciplinary research method and iterative process that includes the participation and involvement of multiple team members of different disciplines when (1) conducting in‐depth interviews, (2) performing thematic analysis of the interview data, (3) using the emergent themes as basis to design visual representations of the themes, (4) presenting the visuals back to the interviewee for feedback, and (5) using the feedback to confirm the visual, refine the existing visual, or to create a new visual. Fundamentally, the Reflective Listening Visualization technique is an enhanced communication tool that aims to increase the community member's voice and to verify the understanding of their experiences, ideas, and concerns while also enhancing the interdisciplinary learning potential of the research team. In this article, we describe the Reflective Listening Visualization process and discuss how the Reflective Listening Visualization process allows for (1) improved communication between interdisciplinary team members, (2) understanding of residents’ wants and needs for their community, (3) increasing rapport with residents, (4) building trust between residents and between residents and researchers, (5) accurate representation of residents ideas, and (6) community members to become motivated about the possibilities of the future of their community.
Insights From Modeling Preventive Supplemental Immunization Activities as a Strategy to Eliminate Wild Poliovirus Transmission in Pakistan and Afghanistan
Authors: Kalkowska Dominika A. , Thompson Kimberly M.
Published: March 2020

Many countries use supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) with oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) to keep their population immunity to transmission high using preventive, planned SIAs (pSIAs) and outbreaks response SIAs (oSIAs). Prior studies suggested that investment in pSIAs saved substantial health and financial costs due to avoided outbreaks. However, questions remain about the benefits of SIAs, particularly with the recent introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) into routine immunization in all OPV‐using countries. The mounting costs of polio eradication activities and the need to respond to oSIAs threatens the use of limited financial resources for pSIAs, including in the remaining countries with endemic transmission of serotype 1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) (i.e., Pakistan and Afghanistan). A recent updated global poliovirus transmission model suggested that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is not on track to stop transmission of WPV1 in Pakistan and Afghanistan. We use the updated global model to explore the role of pSIAs to achieve WPV1 eradication. We find that unless Pakistan and Afghanistan manage to increase the quality of bivalent OPV (bOPV) pSIAs, which we model as intensity (i.e., sufficiently high‐coverage bOPV pSIAs that reach missed children), the model does not lead to successful eradication of WPV1. Achieving WPV1 eradication, the global objectives of the GPEI, and a successful polio endgame depend on effective and sufficient use of OPV. IPV use plays a negligible role in stopping transmission in Pakistan and Afghanistan and most other countries supported by the GPEI, and more IPV use will not help to stop transmission.
Adipose‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells suppress osteoclastogenesis and bone erosion in collagen‐induced arthritis
Authors: Chang Qing , Li Chao , Lu Yunjie , Geng Rui , Wei Ji‐nan , Hu Jun‐zheng
Published: March 2020

Osteoclasts are responsible for bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and adipose‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs) can inhibit experimental collagen‐induced arthritis model. This study aims to determine whether ADSCs also suppresses osteoclastogenesis and bone erosion in collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). Osteoclasts were induced from bone marrow‐derived CD11b+ cells with receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κ B ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF) stimulation and assessed with tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. For human cells, osteoclasts were produced from human CD14+ cells. ADSCs were generated and added to cultures with different ratios with CD11b+ cells. Transwell and antibody blockade experiments were performed to define the mechanism of action. NF‐κB and RANKL expression were determined by Western blotting and RT‐qPCR. About 2 × 106 ADSCs or fibroblast cells were adoptively transferred to DBA1/J mice on day 14 after immunization with type II collagen/complete Freund's adjuvant (CII/CFA) while the onset and severity of the CIA were monitored. Adipose‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells but not fibroblast cells completely suppressed osteoclastogenesis in vitro for human and mice. ADSCs injected after immunization and before of onset of CIA significantly suppressed disease development. Treatment with ADSCs dramatically decreased the levels of NF‐κB p65/p50 in osteoclasts in vitro and P65/50 and RANKL expression by synovial tissues in vivo. We have demonstrated that ADSCs can inhibit RANKL‐induced osteoclasts genesis via CD39 signals. Our findings also suggest that ADSCs can inhibit osteoclasts genesis without the involvement of regulatory T cells. ADSCs might represent a promising strategy for stem cell‐based therapies for RA. Thus, manipulation of ADSCs may have therapeutic effects on RA and other bone erosion–related diseases.
The relationship between dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and problematic social networking sites use
Authors: Balıkçı Kuzeymen , Aydın Orkun , Sönmez İpek , Kalo Bengü , Ünal‐Aydın Pınar
Published: March 2020

Social networking sites (SNSs) enrol new subscribers each day. However, problematic SNS use has undesirable effects on psychological functioning. Therefore, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to the development of problematic SNS use. Very few studies have focused on revealing the underlying mechanisms of problematic SNS use. Although many past studies have examined the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and Internet addiction, the association between metacognitive beliefs and problematic SNS use has not been adequately explored. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between metacognitive beliefs and problematic SNS use among young adults. A total of 308 individuals participated in this study. A socio‐demographic data form, the Metacognitions Questionnaire‐30 (MCQ‐30), and Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS) were administered. Group comparisons were performed using multivariate analysis of covariance. Pearson's correlational and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between metacognitive beliefs and problematic SNS use. The SNS addicts scored higher in all of the SMAS assessments. When compared to non‐addicts, SNS addicts obtained higher scores on all the subtests of the SMAS and MCQ‐30 except cognitive self‐consciousness. The negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry, cognitive confidence, and need for control thoughts were associated with SMAS mood modification, relapse and conflict subdimensions. Our findings revealed that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs are related to problematic SNS use among young adults. These findings indicate that mental health workers should consider the modification of metacognitive beliefs in the treatment of problematic SNS use.
Expansive and contractive communication scope: A construal level perspective on the relationship between interpersonal distance and communicative abstraction
Authors: Wakslak Cheryl , Joshi Priyanka
Published: March 2020

People adopt an expansive relational scope when communicating with psychologically distant audiences and a contractive relational scope when communicating with psychologically near audiences. We review recent research that has adopted a Construal Level Theory perspective to examine the impact of psychological distance of an audience on interpersonal communication. People communicate more abstractly when communicating with a distant audience and more concretely when communicating with an audience that is more proximal; correspondingly, communicating abstractly orients people toward more distant others and communicating concretely toward more proximal others. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the relationship between distance and communicative abstraction is dynamic and is influenced by communication goals and situational contexts. Moreover, a communicator's level of abstraction is consequential, influencing both how the communicator is perceived by observers and the potential effectiveness of the communication. We close by pointing to additional open questions and areas for future research.
Systematic review of interventions for reducing stigma experienced by children with disabilities and their families in low‐ and middle‐income countries: state of the evidence
Authors: Smythe Tracey , Adelson Jaimie D , Polack Sarah
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To identify and assess the evidence for interventions to reduce stigma experienced by children with disabilities and their families in low‐ and middle‐income settings.

Methods

Systematic review of seven databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, PsycINFO, Social Policy and Practice, CINAHL, IBSS) for studies of interventions that aimed to reduce stigma for children with disabilities published from January 2000 to April 2018. Data were extracted on study population, study design, intervention level(s) and target group, and type(s) of stigma addressed. A narrative approach was used to synthesise the results.

Results

Twenty studies were included. The majority (65%) of interventions targeted enacted stigma (negative attitudes) and the most common intervention approach was education/training (63%). Over half (54%) of interventions were delivered at the organisational/institutional level, and only four studies targeted more than one social level. The most common disability targeted was epilepsy (50%) followed by intellectual impairment (20%). The majority of studies (n = 18/20, 90%) found a reduction in a component of stigma; however, most (90%) studies had a high risk of bias.

Conclusions

This review highlights the lack of quality evidence on effective stigma‐reduction strategies for children with disabilities. Validation and consistent use of contextually relevant scales to measure stigma may advance this field of research. Studies that involve people with disabilities in the design and implementation of these strategies are needed.
High‐content imaging and structure‐based predictions reveal functional differences between Niemann‐Pick C1 variants
Authors: Vanharanta Lauri , Peränen Johan , Pfisterer Simon G. , Enkavi Giray , Vattulainen Ilpo , Ikonen Elina
Published: March 2020

The human Niemann‐Pick C1 (NPC1) gene encoding a 1278 amino acid protein is very heterogeneous. While some variants represent benign polymorphisms, NPC disease carriers and patients may possess rare variants, whose functional importance remains unknown. An NPC1 cDNA construct known as NPC1 wild‐type variant (WT‐V), distributed between laboratories and used as a WT control in several studies, also contains changes regarding specific amino acids compared to the NPC1 Genbank reference sequence. To improve the dissection of subtle functional differences, we generated human cells stably expressing NPC1 variants from the AAVS1 safe‐harbor locus on an NPC1‐null background engineered by CRISPR/Cas9 editing. We then employed high‐content imaging with automated image analysis to quantitatively assess LDL‐induced, time‐dependent changes in lysosomal cholesterol content and lipid droplet formation. Our results indicate that the L472P change present in NPC1 WT‐V compromises NPC1 functionality in lysosomal cholesterol export. All‐atom molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the L472P change alters the relative position of the NPC1 middle and the C‐terminal luminal domains, disrupting the recently characterized cholesterol efflux tunnel. These results reveal functional defects in NPC1 WT‐V and highlight the strength of simulations and quantitative imaging upon stable protein expression in elucidating subtle differences in protein function.
Financial globalisation and the labour share in developing countries: The type of capital matters
Authors: van Treeck Katharina , Wacker Konstantin M.
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we investigate how de facto financial globalisation has influenced the labour share in developing countries. Our main argument is the need to distinguish between different types of capital in this context as they differ in their effect on the host countries' production process and vary concerning their bargaining power vis‐à‐vis labour. Our econometric analysis of the impact of foreign direct versus portfolio investment in a sample of about 40 developing and transition countries after 1992 supports this claim. Using different panel data techniques to address potential endogeneity problems, we find that foreign direct investment has a positive effect on the labour share in developing countries, while the impact of portfolio investment is significantly smaller and potentially negative. Our results also highlight that de facto foreign investment cannot explain the decline of the labour share in developing countries over the investigated period.
Bionic women and men ‐ Part 2: Arterial stiffness in heart failure patients implanted with left ventricular assist devices
Authors: McDonnell Barry J. , Rosenblum Hannah , Cornwell William K. , Kanwar Manreet , Cockcroft John R. , Stöhr Eric J.
Published: March 2020

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

This review discusses how implantation of continuous flow left ventricular assist devices impact arterial stiffness and outcome.

What advances does it highlight?

Not all patients implanted with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices show an increase in arterial stiffness. However, in those patients where arterial stiffness increases, levels of composite outcome (stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding, pump thrombosis and death) is significantly higher than those who's arterial stiffness does not increase.

In parallel with the major advances in clinical care, technological advancements and implantation of mechanical circulatory support in patients with severe heart failure have resulted in these patients living longer. However, these patients are still at increased risk of stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding. The unique continuous flow produced by various left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) has been suggested as one potential reason for this increased risk of stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding. Furthermore, these continuous‐flow (CF) devices challenge our understanding of circulatory blood pressure and flow regulation in relationship to organ health. In healthy pulsatile and dynamic systems, arterial stiffness is a major independent risk factor for stroke. However, to date, there are limited data regarding the impact of CF‐LVAD therapy on arterial stiffness. The purpose of this report is to discuss the variable impact of CF‐LVAD therapy on arterial stiffness and attempt to highlight some potential mechanisms linking these associations in this unique population.
From bedside‐to‐bench: What disease‐associated variants are teaching us about the NMDA receptor
Authors: Amin Johansen B. , Moody Gabrielle R. , Wollmuth Lonnie P.
Published: March 2020

NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are glutamate‐gated ion channels that contribute to nearly all brain processes. Not surprisingly then, genetic variations in the genes encoding NMDAR subunits can be associated with neurodevelopmental, neurological and psychiatric disorders. These disease‐associated variants (DAVs) present challenges, such as defining how DAV‐induced alterations in receptor function contribute to disease progression and how to treat the affected individual clinically. As a starting point to overcome these challenges, we need to refine our understanding of the complexity of NMDAR structure function. In this regard, DAVs have expanded our knowledge of NMDARs because they do not just target well‐known structure‐function motifs, but rather give an unbiased view of structural elements that are important to the biology of NMDARs. Indeed, established NMDAR structure‐function motifs have been validated by the appearance of disorders in patients where these motifs have been altered, and DAVs have identified novel structural features in NMDARs such as gating triads and hinges in the gating machinery. Still, the majority of DAVs remain unexplored and occur at sites in the protein with unidentified function or alter receptor properties in multiple and unanticipated ways. Detailed mechanistic and structural investigations are required of both established and novel motifs to develop a highly refined pathomechanistic model that accounts for the complex machinery that regulates NMDARs. Such a model would provide a template for rational drug design and a starting point for personalized medicine.

image
Limited capacity for ipsilateral secondary motor areas to support hand function post‐stroke
Authors: Wilkins Kevin B. , Yao Jun , Owen Meriel , Karbasforoushan Haleh , Carmona Carolina , Dewald Julius P.A.
Published: March 2020

Key points

Ipsilateral‐projecting corticobulbar pathways, originating primarily from secondary motor areas, innervate the proximal and even distal portions, although they branch more extensively at the spinal cord.

It is currently unclear to what extent these ipsilateral secondary motor areas and subsequent cortical projections may contribute to hand function following stroke‐induced damage to one hemisphere.

In the present study, we provide both structural and functional evidence indicating that individuals increasingly rely on ipsilateral secondary motor areas, although at the detriment of hand function.

Increased activity in ipsilateral secondary motor areas was associated with increased involuntary coupling between shoulder abduction and finger flexion, most probably as a result of the low resolution of these pathways, making it increasingly difficult to open the hand.

These findings suggest that, although ipsilateral secondary motor areas may support proximal movements, they do not have the capacity to support distal hand function, particularly for hand opening.

Recent findings have shown connections of ipsilateral cortico‐reticulospinal tract (CRST), predominantly originating from secondary motor areas to not only proximal, but also distal muscles of the arm. Following a unilateral stroke, CRST from the ipsilateral side remains intact and thus has been proposed as a possible backup system for post‐stroke rehabilitation even for the hand. We argue that, although CRST from ipsilateral secondary motor areas can provide control for proximal joints, it is insufficient to control either hand or coordinated shoulder and hand movements as a result of its extensive spinal branching compared to contralateral corticospinal tract. To address this issue, we combined magnetic resonance imaging, high‐density EEG, and robotics in 17 individuals with severe chronic hemiparetic stroke and 12 age‐matched controls. We tested for changes in structural morphometry of the sensorimotor cortex and found that individuals with stroke demonstrated higher grey matter density in secondary motor areas ipsilateral to the paretic arm compared to controls. We then measured cortical activity when participants were attempting to generate hand opening either supported on a table or when lifting against a shoulder abduction load. The addition of shoulder abduction during hand opening increased reliance on ipsilateral secondary motor areas in stroke, but not controls. Crucially, the increased use of ipsilateral secondary motor areas was associated with decreased hand opening ability when lifting the arm as a result of involuntary coupling between the shoulder and wrist/finger flexors. Taken together, this evidence implicates a compensatory role for ipsilateral (i.e. contralesional) secondary motor areas post‐stroke, although with no apparent capacity to support hand function.
Recent Progress in Reducing the Uncertainty in and Improving Pyranometer Calibrations
Authors: Myers Daryl R. , Stoffel Thomas L. , Reda Ibrahim , Wilcox Stephen M. , Andreas Afshin M.
Published: March 2020

The Measurements and Instrumentation Team within the Distributed Energy Resources Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL, calibrates pyranometers for outdoor testing solar energy conversion systems. The team also supports climate change research programs. These activities led NREL to improve pyranometer calibrations. Low thermal-offset radiometers measuring the sky diffuse component of the reference solar irradiance removes bias errors on the order of 20 Watts per square meter (W/m2) in the calibration reference irradiance. Zenith angle dependent corrections to responsivities of pyranometers removes 15 to 30 W/m2 bias errors from field measurements. Detailed uncertainty analysis of our outdoor calibration process shows a 20% reduction in the uncertainty in the responsivity of pyranometers. These improvements affect photovoltaic module and array performance characterization, assessment of solar resources for design, sizing, and deployment of solar renewable energy systems, and ground-based validation of satellite-derived solar radiation fluxes.
Direct observation of topological edge states in silicon photonic crystals: Spin, dispersion, and chiral routing
Authors: Parappurath Nikhil , Alpeggiani Filippo , Kuipers L. , Verhagen Ewold
Published: March 2020

We directly observe the spin, dispersion, and guiding of topological states in photonic crystals.
Initialization of quantum simulators by sympathetic cooling
Authors: Raghunandan Meghana , Wolf Fabian , Ospelkaus Christian , Schmidt Piet O. , Weimer Hendrik
Published: March 2020

We demonstrate the preparation of ground states of largely arbitrary Hamiltonians by sympathetic cooling with a single particle.
One-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride conducting channel
Authors: Park Hyo Ju , Cha Janghwan , Choi Min , Kim Jung Hwa , Tay Roland Yingjie , Teo Edwin Hang Tong , Park Noejung , Hong Suklyun , Lee Zonghoon
Published: March 2020

The 6′6′ twin boundary of two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride is an ultimate one-dimensional conducting channel.
Ultrahigh areal number density solid-state on-chip microsupercapacitors via electrohydrodynamic jet printing
Authors: Lee Kwon-Hyung , Lee Seong-Sun , Ahn David B. , Lee Jaehyun , Byun Doyoung , Lee Sang-Young
Published: March 2020

Solid-state microsupercapacitors with ultrahigh areal-number-density are integrated on a chip via high-fidelity printing.
Emergent collective colloidal currents generated via exchange dynamics in a broken dimer state
Authors: Massana-Cid Helena , Ortiz-Ambriz Antonio , Vilfan Andrej , Tierno Pietro
Published: March 2020

Colloidal currents can be generated via a novel exchange mechanism based on combination of confinement and dipolar interactions.
One-component order parameter in URu
2
Si
2
uncovered by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy and machine learning
Authors: Ghosh Sayak , Matty Michael , Baumbach Ryan , Bauer Eric D. , Modic K. A. , Shekhter Arkady , Mydosh J. A. , Kim Eun-Ah , Ramshaw B. J.
Published: March 2020

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy and machine learning are used to rule out many theories of hidden order in URu
2
Si
2
.
Antithetic population response to antibiotics in a polybacterial community
Authors: Galera-Laporta L. , Garcia-Ojalvo J.
Published: March 2020

The collective response of mixed bacterial ecosystems to antibiotics can be opposite to that of single-species cultures.
Heat shocks T cells down a path to disease
Authors: Lichtman Andrew H.
Published: March 2020

Febrile temperatures enhance differentiation of CD4
+
T cells into pathogenic T
H
17 cells that contribute to autoimmune disease.
Predictive models of medication non-adherence risks of patients with T2D based on multiple machine learning algorithms
Authors: Wu Xing-Wei , Yang Heng-Bo , Yuan Rong , Long En-Wu , Tong Rong-Sheng
Published: March 2020

Objective

Medication adherence plays a key role in type 2 diabetes (T2D) care. Identifying patients with high risks of non-compliance helps individualized management, especially for China, where medical resources are relatively insufficient. However, models with good predictive capabilities have not been studied. This study aims to assess multiple machine learning algorithms and screen out a model that can be used to predict patients’ non-adherence risks.

Methods

A real-world registration study was conducted at Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from 1 April 2018 to 30 March 2019. Data of patients with T2D on demographics, disease and treatment, diet and exercise, mental status, and treatment adherence were obtained by face-to-face questionnaires. The medication possession ratio was used to evaluate patients’ medication adherence status. Fourteen machine learning algorithms were applied for modeling, including Bayesian network, Neural Net, support vector machine, and so on, and balanced sampling, data imputation, binning, and methods of feature selection were evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). We use two-way cross-validation to ensure the accuracy of model evaluation, and we performed a posteriori test on the sample size based on the trend of AUC as the sample size increase.

Results

A total of 401 patients out of 630 candidates were investigated, of which 85 were evaluated as poor adherence (21.20%). A total of 16 variables were selected as potential variables for modeling, and 300 models were built based on 30 machine learning algorithms. Among these algorithms, the AUC of the best capable one was 0.866±0.082. Imputing, oversampling and larger sample size will help improve predictive ability.

Conclusions

An accurate and sensitive adherence prediction model based on real-world registration data was established after evaluating data filling, balanced sampling, and so on, which may provide a technical tool for individualized diabetes care.
Do recent immigrants have similar obstetrical care and perinatal complications as long-term residents? A retrospective exploratory cohort study in Brussels
Authors: Paquier Leila , Barlow Patricia , Paesmans Marianne , Rozenberg Serge
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Recent immigrants (RIs) face various barriers affecting quality of care. The main research question assessed whether perinatal complications (during pregnancy, labour, delivery and neonatal period) were similar in RIs to those in long-term residents (LTRs). The secondary question assessed whether prenatal and perinatal care was similar in the two groups.

Methods

This is a monocentric observational study, carried out in Brussels between November 2016 and March 2017 (n=1365). We surveyed 892 pregnant women during prenatal consultations and immediate postpartum period in order to identify RIs of less than 3 years (n=230, 25%) and compared them with LTRs (n=662). Sociodemographic data, baseline health status, prenatal care, obstetrical and neonatal complications were compared between these two groups. Multivariable binary logistic regression was conducted to examine the occurrence of perinatal complications (during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and neonatal period) between RIs and LTRs after adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

RIs were living more frequently in precarious conditions. RIs were younger (p<0.001) and had a lower body mass index (p<0.001) than LTRs. Prenatal care was often delayed in RIs, resulting in fewer evaluations during the first trimester (p<0.001). They had a lower prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (p<0.05) and less complications during the pregnancy even after adjustment for confounding factors. Similar obstetrical care during labour and delivery occurred. After adjustment for confounding factors, no differences in labour and delivery complications were observed. Although RIs’ newborns had a lower umbilical cord blood pH (<0.05), a lower 1 min of life Apgar score (p<0.01) and more frequently required respiratory assistance (p<0.05), no differences in the composite endpoint of neonatal complications were observed. No increase in complications in the RI group was detected whatever the considered period.

Conclusion

RIs had less optimal prenatal care but this did not result in more obstetrical and perinatal complications.
Duration of sick leave after active surveillance, surgery or radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Plym Anna , Clements Mark , Voss Margaretha , Holmberg Lars , Stattin Pär , Lambe Mats
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To compare the loss of working time due to sick leave by treatment strategy for localised prostate cancer.

Design

Nationwide cohort study.

Setting

Sweden.

Participants

A total of 15 902 working-aged men with localised low or intermediate-risk prostate cancer diagnosed during 2007–2016 from the Prostate Cancer Data Base Sweden, together with 63 464 prostate cancer-free men. Men were followed until 2016.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Using multistate Markov models, we calculated the proportion of men on work, sick leave, disability pension and death, together with the amount of time spent in each state. All-cause and cause-specific estimates were calculated.

Results

During the first 5 years after diagnosis, men with active surveillance as their primary treatment strategy spent a mean of 17 days (95% CI 15 to 19) on prostate cancer-specific sick leave, as compared with 46 days (95% CI 44 to 48) after radical prostatectomy and 44 days (95% CI 38 to 50) after radiotherapy. The pattern was similar after adjustment for cancer and sociodemographic characteristics. There were no differences between the treatment strategies in terms of days spent on sick leave due to depression, anxiety or stress. Five years after diagnosis, over 90% of men in all treatment strategies were free from sick leave, disability pension receipt and death from any cause.

Conclusions

Men on active surveillance experienced less impact on working life compared with men who received radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy. From a long-term perspective, there were no major differences between treatment strategies. Our findings can inform men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer on how different treatment strategies may affect their working lives.
Primary care patient and practitioner views of weight and weight-related discussion: a mixed-methods study
Authors: McHale Calum T , Laidlaw Anita H , Cecil Joanne E
Published: March 2020

Objective

To understand the beliefs that primary care practitioners (PCPs) and patients with overweight and obesity have about obesity and primary care weight management in Scotland.

Setting

Seven National Health Service (NHS) Scotland primary care centres.

Participants

A total of 305 patients and 14 PCPs (12 general practitioners; two practice nurses) participated.

Design and methodology

A cross-sectional mixed-methods study. PCPs and patients completed questionnaires assessing beliefs about obesity and primary care weight communication and management. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with PCPs to elaborate on questionnaire topics. Quantitative and qualitative data were synthesised to address study objectives.

Results

(1) Many patients with overweight and obesity did not accurately perceive their weight or risk of developing weight-related health issues; (2) PCPs and patients reported behavioural factors as the most important cause of obesity, and medical factors as the most important consequence; (3) PCPs perceive their role in weight management as awareness raising and signposting, not prevention or weight monitoring; (4) PCPs identify structural and patient-related factors as barriers to weight communication and management, but not PCP factors.

Conclusions

Incongruent and/or inaccurate beliefs held by PCPs and patient may present barriers to effective weight discussion and management in primary care. There is a need to review, standardise and clarify primary care weight management processes in Scotland. Acknowledging a shared responsibility for obesity as a disease may improve outcomes for patients with overweight and obesity.
Factors driving sexual dimorphism and colour variability in the Achala Copper Lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis), an endemic species to the highland mountains in central Argentina
Authors: Naretto S. , Chiaraviglio M.
Published: March 2020

The intensity of mating competition varies according to the temporal and spatial distribution of individuals. Measuring sexual dimorphism over time and interpreting the association between individuals is therefore important if we aim to understand how sexual traits are influenced. We examined sex differences in the Achala Copper Lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis (Gallardo, 1964)), an endemic species from the highest part of mountains of central Argentina. Over 4 years, we explored sex-specific variation in body size, head size, interlimb length, and body colouration. Furthermore, we evaluated how these traits varied temporally, and we also explored whether the spatial distribution of individuals is explained by variation in these traits. We found that P. achalensis is a species with sexual dimorphism in multiple characters, including body size, head size, and colouration. Interestingly, some traits related to mating, such as head width, show a temporal variability in both sexes, whereas other traits, such as colouration, varies seasonally only in males. Our results underline the intriguing possibility of seasonal morphological changes related to mating, and more broadly that sex differences are influenced by sexual selection pressures mediated by temporal variation in mate competition.
p-wave holographic superconductors with massive vector condensate in Born–Infeld electrodynamics
Authors: Srivastav Ankur , Ghorai Debabrata , Gangopadhyay Sunandan
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we have studied the effect of Born–Infeld electrodynamics in holographic p-wave superconductors with massive vector condensation. We have analysed this model in the probe limit using a variational method known as the Stürm–Liouville eigenvalue approach. For this p-wave holographic superconductor model, we have calculated the critical temperature $$T_{c}$$Tc as well as the value of the condensation operator for two different choices of $$m^{2}$$m2. We have also pointed out the similarities and dissimilarities between this model for $$m^{2} = 0$$m2=0 and p-wave holographic superconductor model constructed out of Einstein–Yang–Mills theory. We have then computed the conductivity of these holographic superconductor models using a self-consistent approach and have shown that the DC conductivity diverges.
On the quantization of Burgers vector and gravitational energy in the space-time of a conical defect
Authors: Carneiro F. L. , Ulhoa S. C. , da Rocha-Neto J. F. , Maluf J. W.
Published: March 2020

A conical topological defect is the result of translational and/or rotational deformations of spacetime, in particular the Burgers vector describes the translational deformation. Such a configuration represents a discontinuity, that cannot be removed by coordinate transformations, and is related to the spacetime torsion. Using the Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity (TERG), a gravitational theory that is dynamically equivalent to General Relativity (GR), we investigate the consequences of assuming a discrete Burgers vector on the geodesic motion of particles around a static conical defect. The result is a helical geodesic motion of a test particle around the defect, with a discrete step that depends on the magnitude of the dislocation.
Free energy and entropy for finite temperature quantum field theory under the influence of periodic backgrounds
Authors: Bordag M. , Muñoz-Castañeda J. M. , Santamaría-Sanz L.
Published: March 2020

The basic thermodynamic quantities for a non-interacting scalar field in a periodic potential composed of either a one-dimensional chain of Dirac $$\delta -\delta ^\prime $$δ-δ′ functions or a specific potential with extended compact support are calculated. First, we consider the representation in terms of real frequencies (or one-particle energies). Then we turn the axis of frequency integration towards the imaginary axis by a finite angle, which allows for easy numerical evaluation, and finally turn completely to the imaginary frequencies and derive the corresponding Matsubara representation, which this way appears also for systems with band structure. In the limit case $$T \rightarrow 0$$T→0 we confirm earlier results on the vacuum energy. We calculate for the mentioned examples the free energy and the entropy and generalize earlier results on negative entropy.
Analysis of the $$\psi (4040)$$ and $$\psi (4160)$$ decay into $$D^{(*)} {{\bar{D}}}^{(*)}$$, $$D_s^{(*)}{{\bar{D}}}_s^{(*)}$$
Authors: Bayar M. , Ikeno N. , Oset E.
Published: March 2020

We have performed an analysis of the $$e^+ e^- \rightarrow D^{(*)} {{\bar{D}}}^{(*)}$$e+e-→D(∗)D¯(∗) data in the region of the $$\psi (4040)$$ψ(4040) and $$\psi (4160)$$ψ(4160) resonances which have a substantial overlap and require special care. By using the $$^3 P_0$$3P0 model to relate the different $$D^{(*)} {{\bar{D}}}^{(*)}$$D(∗)D¯(∗) production modes, we make predictions for production of these channels and compare with experiment and other theoretical approaches. As a side effect we find that these resonances qualify largely as $$c {{\bar{c}}}$$cc¯ states and the weight of the meson–meson components in the wave function is very small.
On the Ricci–Bourguignon flow
Authors: Ho Pak Tung
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we study the Ricci–Bourguignon flow of all locally homogenous geometries on closed three-dimensional manifolds. We also consider the evolution of the Yamabe constant under the Ricci–Bourguignon flow. Finally, we prove some results for the Bach-flat shrinking gradient soliton to the Ricci–Bourguignon flow.
Degeneracy second main theorem for meromorphic mappings and moving hypersurfaces with truncated counting functions and applications
Authors: Quang Si Duc
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we establish a new second main theorem for meromorphic mappings of [Formula: see text] into [Formula: see text] and moving hypersurfaces with truncated counting functions in the case, where the meromorphic mappings may be algebraically degenerate. A version of the second main theorem with weighted counting functions is also given. Our results improve the recent results on this topic. As an application, an algebraic dependence theorem for meromorphic mappings sharing moving hypersurfaces is given.
Spinning cosmic strings in conformal gravity
Authors: slagter Reinoud Jan , Duston Christopher Levi
Published: March 2020

We investigate the space–time of a spinning cosmic string in conformal invariant gravity, where the interior consists of a gauged scalar field. We find exact solutions of the exterior of a stationary spinning cosmic string, where we write the metric as [Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text] a dilaton field which contains all the scale dependences. The “unphysical” metric [Formula: see text] is related to the [Formula: see text]-dimensional Kerr space–time. The equation for the angular momentum [Formula: see text] decouples, for the vacuum situation as well as for global strings, from the other field equations and delivers a kind of spin-mass relation. For the most realistic solution, [Formula: see text] falls off as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] close to the core. The space–time is Ricci flat. The formation of closed timelike curves can be pushed to space infinity for suitable values of the parameters and the violation of the weak energy condition can be avoided. For the interior, a numerical solution is found. This solution can easily be matched at the boundary on the exterior exact solution by special choice of the parameters of the string. This example shows the power of conformal invariance to bridge the gap between general relativity and quantum field theory.
Binding energies and photoionization cross-sections of donor impurities in GaN/AlxGa1−xN spherical quantum dot under hydrostatic pressure
Authors: Li Shuo , Shi Lei , Yan Zu-Wei
Published: March 2020

In this paper, the binding energy and photoionization cross-section of donor impurity state in [Formula: see text] quantum dot structure are studied theoretically by using variational method. The variation of binding energy and photoionization cross-section with core and shell sizes at different impurity locations under hydrostatic pressure is calculated numerically. The results show that the binding energy decreases monotonously with the core size at different impurity locations for [Formula: see text] core/shell quantum dot. In contrast, for the inverted core/shell quantum dot, the binding energy exhibits different trends with the increase of core size at different impurity locations. But the binding energy decreases monotonically with the shell size for both of them. Moreover, when the photon energy is approximately equal to the donor binding energy, the peak of the photoionization cross-section appears. There will be different peak shifts under different conditions, and its peak intensity increases with the increase of core and shell sizes. When the hydrostatic pressure is applied, the binding energy and the peak strength of the photoionization cross-section increase with the increase of the pressure.
Topological Climate Change
Authors: Kypke Kolja L. , Langford William F.
Published: March 2020

This article presents a bifurcation analysis of a simple Energy Balance Model (EBM) of the Earth’s climate, which suggests that topological change has occurred in the paleoclimate history of the Earth. In the theory of dynamical systems, two systems that are topologically equivalent have solutions with the same qualitative behavior. A change in the topological equivalence class, as parameters are varied, is called a bifurcation. Thus, a bifurcation demarcates a significant change in the behavior of the solutions of a dynamical system. If that system represents climate, then that topological change may represent an abrupt transformation of the climate, occurring even with a very small change in the forcing parameters. In this paper, the existence of a cusp bifurcation is proven in a climate EBM. The existence of this cusp bifurcation implies the co-existence of two distinct stable equilibrium climate states (bistability), as well as the existence of abrupt transitions between these two states (fold bifurcations) in the EBM. These transitions are dependent on the past history of the system (hysteresis). The two universal unfolding parameters for the cusp bifurcation have been determined as functions of the relevant physical parameters. These ideas lead to the proposal of a new explanation for the so-called warm equable climate problem of the mid-Cretaceous and early Eocene. The analysis presented here implies that the mid-Cretaceous and early Eocene climate systems are topologically equivalent to each other, but they are not topologically equivalent to the preindustrial modern climate. The transition from the warm, equable paleoclimate to today’s cooler nonequable climate occurs via fold (or saddle-node) bifurcations in the EBM, which correspond to the Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT) at the south pole and the Pliocene-Pleistocene Transition (PPT) at the north pole, in the paleoclimate record of Earth.