bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High post‐treatment serum soluble receptor‐binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells (sRCAS1) levels is associated with poor survival of patients with cervical cancer
Authors: Szubert Sebastian , Dziobek Konrad , Wicherek Łukasz
Published: January 2020

Aim

Receptor‐binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells (sRCAS1) is responsible for induction of selective immunosuppression. In addition, preclinical studies have shown that sRCAS1 levels may reflect cancer aggressiveness. The main aim of our study was to analyze pre‐ and post‐treatment levels of sRCAS1 in the sera of patients treated for cervical cancer and to evaluate whether the levels change during treatment and their impact on patient prognosis.

Methods

The study included 49 patients suffering from cervical cancer. The early stage cervical cancer patients (14) were treated surgically, while the advanced stage patients (35) underwent radiochemotherapy. Serum sRCAS1 levels were evaluated both before and after intervention with the use of the ELISA method.

Results

We have found that median serum sRCAS1 levels of patients before intervention were not significantly different from the levels assessed after intervention. There were also no differences when pre‐ and post‐treatment levels were compared within the group of early and of advanced stage patients. Serum sRCAS1 levels were not influenced by either the histopathological type of the tumor or the methods of treatment. High post‐intervention sRCAS1 levels indicated shortened OS when compared to low sRCAS1 levels. Neither pre‐intervention sRCAS1 levels nor the alteration in sRCAS1 levels during treatment were associated with patient prognosis. In multivariate analysis, post‐treatment sRCAS1 levels and clinical stage of cervical cancer remained as independent predictors of survival.

Conclusion

High post‐treatment serum sRCAS1 level in cervical cancer patients seems to be a negative prognostic factor for patient overall survival.
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections among pregnant women with and without previous abortions in the west of Iran
Authors: Raissi Vahid , Taghipour Ali , Navi Zahra , Etemadi Soudabeh , Sohrabi Zahra , Sohrabi Nasrin , Getso Muhammad , Shamsaei Sina , Fasihi Karami Maryam , Raiesi Omid
Published: January 2020

Aim

In spite of the importance of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis among the high‐risk groups, such as pregnant women, the infections are categorized as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections can cause systemic and ocular diseases in infants during pregnancy. In this study, we investigated seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and their co‐infection in pregnant women and non‐pregnant women referred to the healthcare facilities of Ilam province, west of Iran.

Methods

A total of 378 sera samples (189 pregnant women and 189 non‐pregnant women) was investigated for the presence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii and Toxocara spp. by Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The samples of all pregnant women with abortion (56 cases) were also evaluated for IgM anti‐toxoplasmosis antibody by ELISA method. Moreover, associated factors were obtained from the participant's questionnaires. Data analysis for this study was performed using the spss software version 20.

Results

Seroprevalence of T. gondii, Toxocara spp., and their co‐infection in pregnant women was 39.7%, 21.2% and 9.5%, respectively. Regarding the risk factors, the contact with a cat (P = 0.04) and dog (P = 0.00) were significantly associated with T. gondii and Toxocara spp., respectively.

Conclusion

This study highlighted the importance of serological diagnosis before pregnancy. Moreover, we believe that more epidemiological studies are needed for a better understanding of overlaps between T. gondii and Toxocara spp. in pregnant women.
Insights for clinical diagnostic indicators of virus and host in chronic hepatitis B infection
Authors: Ou Qishui , Guo Jianhui , Zeng Yongbin , Chen Huijuan
Published: January 2020

Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which is stably present in the nucleus of hepatocytes, is an important indicator for evaluating antiviral efficacy. Since cccDNA quantification requires an invasive procedure, serum biological markers that can effectively reflect the transcriptional activity of intrahepatic virus and the efficacy of treatment are required. Here, from the aspects of virus and host, we outline the focus of clinical research of HBV in recent years, including HBV RNA, empty virus, hepatitis B core‐related antigen and changes in the immune response. We briefly discuss their significance in predicting disease activity and monitoring treatment response in chronic hepatitis B. On this basis, some issues worthy of attention in laboratory diagnosis are proposed.
Long‐term safety and efficacy results in hepatitis C virus genotype 1‒infected patients receiving ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir + dasabuvir ± ribavirin in the TOPAZ‐I and TOPAZ‐II trials
Authors: Poordad Fred , Castro RuiSarmento E. , Asatryan Armen , Aguilar Humberto , Cacoub Patrice , Dieterich Douglas , Marinho Rui Tato , Carvalho Armando , Siddique Asma , Hu Yiran Bonnie , Charafeddine Mariem , Bondin Mark , Khan Nader , Cohen Daniel E. , Felizarta Franco
Published: January 2020

The 3‐DAA regimen consisting of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir (OBV/PTV/r + DSV) ± ribavirin (RBV) has shown high sustained virologic response rates (~95%) in phase 3 clinical trials including >2300 HCV genotype 1–infected patients. Real‐world evidence studies have confirmed the effectiveness of OBV/PTV/r ± DSV ± RBV in patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection and are consistent with clinical trial results. TOPAZ‐I and TOPAZ‐II are ongoing phase 3b trials, assessing safety, efficacy and long‐term progression of liver disease and clinical outcomes for up to 5 years post‐treatment in patients treated with OBV/PTV/r + DSV ± RBV. High rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) were achieved regardless of presence or absence of cirrhosis.In this report, we assessed the long‐term progression of liver disease and incidence of clinical outcomes up to 3 years of post‐treatment follow‐up in patients with chronic HCV GT1 infection who were treated with (OBV/PTV/r + DSV) ± RBV in the TOPAZ‐I and TOPAZ‐II studies. Improvements were observed in liver disease markers including FIB‐4, METAVIR and Child‐Pugh scores as well as platelet counts. Clinical outcomes related to long‐term progression of liver disease such as liver decompensation were infrequent (<1%). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurred in 1.4% of cirrhotic patients.
Comparison of cerebellomedullary and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid analysis in dogs with neurological disease
Authors: Lampe Rachel , Foss Kari D. , Vitale Samantha , Hague Devon W. , Barger Anne M.
Published: January 2020

Background

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis aids in categorizing underlying disease processes in patients with neurologic disease. Convention suggests that CSF should be collected caudal to the lesion. However, little evidence exists to justify this assertion.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Evaluate the clinicopathologic differences between CSF collected from the cerebellomedullary (CM) and lumbar cisterns in dogs presented for evaluation of neurologic disease.

Animals

Fifty‐one client‐owned dogs undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CSF collection for investigation of neurologic disease.

Methods

Cerebrospinal fluid was prospectively collected from the CM and lumbar cisterns in all patients. The total protein (TP) concentration, red blood cell (RBC) count, and total nucleated cell count (TNCC) were analyzed within 30 minutes of collection. Results and cytology findings were interpreted by a single pathologist.

Results

Fifty‐one paired samples were collected. The TNCC (P < .001), RBC (P < .001), and TP (P < .001) were different between collection sites. When grouped by neurolocalization, TP (intracranial,P < .001; cervical,P < .001; thoracolumbar,P < .001) and RBC (intracranial,P < .001; cervical,P ≤ .002; thoracolumbar,P= .006) counts were significantly different. The TNCC was significantly different in the cervical (P= .04) and thoracolumbar localizations (P= .004) but not for intracranial (P= .30) localizations. The pathologist's interpretation differed between sites in 66.7% of the cases (34/51).

Conclusions

In dogs with lesions that neurolocalized to the brain or cervical spinal cord, there may be clinical benefit in collecting fluid from both the CM and lumbar cisterns. In dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy, CSF collected from the CM cistern may not be representative of the underlying disease process.
Tales from the underground: Soil heterogeneity and not only above‐ground plant interactions explain fine‐scale species patterns in a Mediterranean dwarf‐shrubland
Authors: Pescador David S. , de la Cruz Marcelino , Chacón‐Labella Julia , Pavón‐García Javier , Escudero Adrián
Published: January 2020

Questions

The current paradigm of plant community assembly relies on a set of processes operating at particular spatial scales. It is assumed that as the spatial scale becomes finer, environmental filtering loses its importance in favor of biotic interactions and neutral processes. Thus, at the very fine spatial scale represented by a rectangular plot of 72.25 m2 in a Mediterranean semiarid dwarf‐shrubland, we ask: (a) are the spatial distributions of individuals of the different species explained by neutral models; (b) are these distributions dependent on above‐ground plant interactions with the dominant species in the community; and/or (c) are they responding to the spatial variation of different soil variables, in a kind of fine‐scale environmental filtering?

Location

Central Spain.

Methods

To assess the correlates of fine‐scale (i.e., from 0.05–2.00 m) spatial patterns of the species in the community, we fully mapped all perennial individuals inside the rectangular plot. For each species, we fitted one complete spatial randomness (CSR) model that does not assume spatial heterogeneity and three weighted‐average inhomogeneous Poisson process (IPP) models using six soil covariates, distribution patterns of the four above‐ground dominant plants in the community or both types of covariates. All models were evaluated and compared to select the best‐fitting weighted‐average model.

Results

We recorded 7,988 individuals of 22 species. Patterns of all species were appropriately explained by IPP models. For most species the best‐fitting weighted‐average model included both soil and dominant plants (i.e., 15) or only soil covariates (i.e., 6). The improvement provided by the best‐fitting weighted‐averaging model in comparison with the CSR model was consistently high (81%).

Conclusions

Our approach suggests that species in this dwarf‐shrubland are mainly structured by soil heterogeneity and modulated in some cases by the interactions established with the dominant species.
Landscapes of practice in medical education
Authors: Hodson Nathan
Published: January 2020

Sociocultural learning theories play an important part in medical education. When Etienne Wenger‐Trayner described ‘communities of practice’ oriented around three common features (mutual engagement, joint enterprise, shared repertoire), his approach was enthusiastically embraced across a range of fields, including those of clinical medicine and medical education. However, this model is limited by its focus on a single community. Recently, leading sociocultural learning theorists including Wenger‐Trayner have proposed the landscape of practice as a model for how learner identities develop, but this theory has not yet been utilised in medical education. In this Cross-cutting Edge paper, I describe the key features of landscapes of practice. The landscape of practice encompasses all the communities of practice, and learners can move between these. The boundaries between communities of practice are particularly fertile settings for learning, either through occasional forays across borders or through complete multimembership of two or more communities of practice. The capacity to navigate knowledge acquisition and identity formation across the landscape, known as ‘knowledgeability,’ therefore becomes crucial. This paper concludes by describing possible applications of the landscapes of practice model in medical education practice and research. The model provides a rich framework for approaching cross‐discipline learning, although it has been criticised for failing to address the difficulties created by wide disparities in power within communities and for an unrealistically collaborative (rather than competitive) view of boundary relations. Nevertheless, it provides a novel way of understanding the identity formation of medical trainees and students.
Motivational factors influencing student intentions to practise in underserved areas
Authors: Abbiati Milena , Savoldelli Georges L. , Baroffio Anne , Bajwa Nadia M.
Published: January 2020

Context

Exploring student intentions to practise in underserved areas (UAs) is necessary to inform the planning and training of the future medical workforce in order to increase effectiveness and fulfil societal needs. However, little is known about the motivational factors influencing these intentions. This paper explores medical students’ intentions to practise in UAs and the motivational factors predicting these intentions.

Methods

Eligible participants included graduating medical students from four of the five Swiss medical schools, who self‐reported specialty choice, intentions to practise in UAs, and motives that explained their career choices. Chi‐squared analysis was used to compare site, gender, specialty choice and UA practice intention. Motives were aggregated to obtain motivational factors using a principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Logistic regression was used to predict the effects of these motivational factors and of gender on UA practice intention.

Results

Of 1749 students included in the study, 240 (13.7%) expressed an intention to practise in UAs (62.1% of whom intended to practise in rural areas) and 719 (41.1%) were undecided. In those who wished to practise in UAs, general practice (21.6%) was the most preferred specialty. Motivational factors influencing specialty choice were intellectual challenge, work variety, work conditions and enthusiasm (Kaiser‐Meyer‐Olkin index 0.79, P < .001, 49.0% of variance explained). Students motivated by work variety (odds ratio [OR] 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2‐1.7) and by work conditions (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1‐1.6) were more likely to choose UAs and those motivated by intellectual challenge (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.3‐0.5) were less likely. Undecided students’ motivations were very similar to those of students interested in working in UAs.

Conclusions

The actual number of Swiss students interested in working in UAs is low and is probably insufficient to meet current societal needs. Work variety and work conditions appear to be factors that might attract interested and undecided students towards working in UAs.
The Bacillus subtilis dCMP deaminase ComEB acts as a dynamic polar localization factor for ComGA within the competence machinery
Authors: Burghard‐Schrod Marie , Altenburger Stephan , Graumann Peter L.
Published: January 2020

Bacillus subtilis can import DNA from the environment by an uptake machinery that localizes to a single cell pole. We investigated the roles of ComEB and of the ATPase ComGA during the state of competence. We show that ComEB plays an important role during competence, possibly because it is necessary for the recruitment of GomGA to the cell pole. ComEB localizes to the cell poles even upon expression during exponential phase, indicating that it can serve as polar marker. ComEB is also a deoxycytidylate monophosphate (dCMP) deaminase, for the function of which a conserved cysteine residue is important. However, cysteine‐mutant ComEB is still capable of natural transformation, while a comEB deletion strain is highly impaired in competence, indicating that ComEB confers two independent functions. Single‐molecule tracking (SMT) reveals that both proteins exchange at the cell poles between bound and unbound in a time scale of a few milliseconds, but turnover of ComGA increases during DNA uptake, whereas the mobility of ComEB is not affected. Our data reveal a highly dynamic role of ComGA during DNA uptake and an unusual role for ComEB as a mediator of polar localization, localizing by diffusion‐capture on an extremely rapid time scale and functioning as a moonlighting enzyme.
Conserved and nuanced hierarchy of gene regulatory response to hypoxia
Authors: Lee Travis A. , Bailey‐Serres Julia
Published: January 2020

A dynamic assembly of nuclear and cytoplasmic processes regulate gene activity. Hypoxic stress and the associated energy crisis activate a plurality of regulatory mechanisms including modulation of chromatin structure, transcriptional activation and post‐transcriptional processes. Temporal control of genes is associated with specific chromatin modifications and transcription factors. Genome‐scale technologies that resolve transcript subpopulations in the nucleus and cytoplasm indicate post‐transcriptional processes enable cells to conserve energy, prepare for prolonged stress and accelerate recovery. Moreover, the harboring of gene transcripts associated with growth in the nucleus and macromolecular RNA–protein complexes contributes to the preferential translation of stress‐responsive gene transcripts during hypoxia. We discuss evidence of evolutionary variation in integration of nuclear and cytoplasmic processes that may contribute to variations in flooding resilience.
Ameloblastoma with mucous cells: A clinicopathological, BRAF mutation, and MAML2 rearrangement study
Authors: Xia Rong‐Hui , Zhang Chun‐Ye , Sun Jing‐Jing , Tian Zhen , Hu Yu‐Hua , Gu Ting , Wang Li‐Zhen , Li Jiang
Published: January 2020

Objectives

To investigate the clinicopathological features, BRAF V600E mutation, and MAML2 rearrangement of ameloblastoma with mucous cell differentiation.

Materials and Methods

Five cases of ameloblastoma with mucous cell differentiation were retrospectively studied. Clinicopathological features, BRAF V600E mutation, and MAML2 rearrangement were analyzed. Follow‐up information was available for all cases.

Results

Of five cases, two cases were male and three were female, aged 18–55 years. Four cases were located in the mandible and one case in the maxilla. Histologically, four of the five cases (80%) presented with cystic features and three of the five cases (60%) with varying degrees of squamous metaplasia. The mucous cells were located in the epithelial islands or the luminal aspect of the cystic cavities. The BRAF V600E mutation was found in three of five cases (60%). All the cases showed no MAML2 rearrangement. Two cases were recurrent lesions, and one case had a local recurrence during the follow‐up.

Conclusions

Ameloblastoma with mucous cell differentiation is closely related to the cystic features, squamous metaplasia, and shows a high prevalence of BRAF V600E mutation. The absence of MAML2 rearrangement reveals that ameloblastoma with mucous cell differentiation and central mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) are two distinct tumor entities.
Evaluation and acceptance of mobile‐electrocardiogram use in implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients – Can I see my ECG?
Authors: Sears Samuel F. , Kropp Caley M. , Tripp Connor , Sager David , Nekkanti Rajasekhar , Hammerle Joseph Carl , Wuensch Karl L. , Burch Ashley
Published: January 2020

Background

Medical technologies for consumers aim to help prevent, manage, and even forecast cardiovascular events, but their emotional impact is not fully known. The value of mobile‐electrocardiogram (mECG) technology to an existing group of cardiac patients is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of readily available mECG capability for a sample of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients.

Methods

Patients with ICDs (N = 51) were recruited and consented in a large academic cardiology clinic. Participants were given a mECG device and asked to take a 30‐ss reading at least once per day for 30 days. Technology satisfaction, cardiac anxiety, shock anxiety, and ICD device acceptance were measured pre‐ and post‐mECG usage.

Results

mECG technology was regularly used (M = 36.6 readings completed per month) and positively appraised by ICD patients (mean of 4.4 out of possible 5). Self‐reported symptoms of general cardiac anxiety were not significantly affected by the utilization of mECG technology. ICD specific measures were mixed with increased overall ICD device acceptance but also increased shock anxiety.

Conclusions

ICD patients positively viewed and used mECG technology regularly as prescribed. However, the overall psychological impact of mECG was mixed and suggests that ICD patients may have idiosyncratic adjustments to the increased access of cardiac device data.
Silencing of OsCV (chloroplast vesiculation) maintained photorespiration and N assimilation in rice plants grown under elevated CO2
Authors: Umnajkitikorn Kamolchanok , Sade Nir , Rubio Wilhelmi Maria del Mar , Gilbert Matthew E. , Blumwald Eduardo
Published: January 2020

High CO2 concentrations stimulate net photosynthesis by increasing CO2 substrate availability for Rubisco, simultaneously suppressing photorespiration. Previously, we reported that silencing the chloroplast vesiculation (cv) gene in rice increased source fitness, through the maintenance of chloroplast stability and the expression of photorespiration‐associated genes. Because high atmospheric CO2 conditions diminished photorespiration, we tested whether CV silencing might be a viable strategy to improve the effects of high CO2 on grain yield and N assimilation in rice. Under elevated CO2, OsCV expression was induced, and OsCV was targeted to peroxisomes where it facilitated the removal of OsPEX11‐1 from the peroxisome and delivered it to the vacuole for degradation. This process correlated well with the reduction in the number of peroxisomes, the decreased catalase activity and the increased H2O2 content in wild‐type plants under elevated CO2. At elevated CO2, CV‐silenced rice plants maintained peroxisome proliferation and photorespiration and displayed higher N assimilation than wild‐type plants. This was supported by higher activity of enzymes involved in NO3− and NH4+ assimilation and higher total and seed protein contents. Co‐immunoprecipitation of OsCV‐interacting proteins suggested that, similar to its role in chloroplast protein turnover, OsCV acted as a scaffold, binding peroxisomal proteins.
Category‐based attentional capture can be influenced by color‐ and shape‐dimensions independently in the conjunction search task
Authors: Wu Xia , Wang Xinxuan , Saab Rami , Jiang Yunpeng
Published: January 2020

Attention can be involuntarily attracted by a distractor that matches the current attentional control settings (ACSs). However, it remains unclear whether two category‐specific ACSs can operate independently. By defining a target as a combination of two prototype‐based categories, the present event‐related potential (ERP) study investigated how color‐category and shape‐category ACSs operate within a search task paradigm and the effects of temporal task demands on these ACSs. The matching level between target and distractor was manipulated to separate the effects of each ACS. The relative position between target and distractor was employed to isolate the attentional processing of the distractor from the target. Furthermore, two display durations were used to manipulate the temporal task demands, including a short fixed window (800 ms) and a dynamic window extended until the user responded. Our results support a two‐stage selection scenario. In early stage, the color‐ and shape‐ACS independently guided attention to task‐relevant property (N2pc components) and suppressed attention toward task‐irrelevant properties (PD components). In late stage, these two independent ACSs were integrated into a holistic ACS to interfere with the consolidation (contralateral delay activity components) and behavioral performance (accuracy and RTs) of target identification. Moreover, an early N1/P1 component might reflect a preattentive enhancement of relevant information or a preattentive suppression of irrelevant objects. These two category‐specific ACSs weights differently in varied temporal task demands. These findings support the idea that independent early processing is followed by integrated late processing, which can be applied to category‐based attentional capture with different temporal task demands.
Who are you talking to? The role of addressee identity in utterance comprehension
Authors: Caffarra Sendy , Wolpert Max , Scarinci Dana , Mancini Simona
Published: January 2020

Experimental evidence suggests that speaker and addressee quickly adapt to each other from the earliest moments of sentence processing, and that interlocutor‐related information is rapidly integrated with other sources of nonpragmatic information (e.g., semantic, morphosyntactic, etc.). These findings have been taken as support for one‐step models of sentence comprehension. The results from the present event‐related potential study challenge this theoretical framework providing a case where discourse level information is integrated only at a late stage of processing, when morphosyntactic analysis has been already initiated. We considered the case of Basque allocutive agreement, where information about addressee gender is encoded in verbal inflection. Two different types of Basque grammatical violations were presented together with the corresponding control conditions: one could be detected based on a morphosyntactic mismatch (person agreement violation), while the other could be detected only if the addressee's gender was considered (allocutive violation). Morphosyntactic violations elicited greater N400 effects followed by P600 effects, while allocutive violations elicited only P600 effects. These results provide new constraints to one‐step accounts as they represent a case where speakers do not immediately adjust to the addressee's perspective. We propose that the relevance of discourse‐level information might be a crucial variable to reconcile the dichotomy between one‐ and two‐step models.
Acute stress impairs reward positivity effect in probabilistic learning
Authors: Zhang Xukai , Li Peng , Chen Jie , Li Hong
Published: January 2020

Decision making based on feedback learning requires a series of cognitive processes, including estimating the probability of particular outcomes and modulating expectations between expected versus actual outcomes. It has been suggested that stress affects decision making and subsequent processing of feedback valence and magnitude. However, less is known about the effect of acute stress on reward expectancy. In the current study, participants performed a probabilistic learning task, in which they learned an association between response and feedback within different reward expectancy trials (30% and 70%) under the conditions of stress (threat of shock) and safety (no shock). We recorded event‐related potentials (ERPs) to measure the reward positivity (RewP) which reflects reward prediction error signals during feedback processing. Behavioral data indicated that participants performed better in the 70% reward trials than in the 30% reward trials. However, no significant difference was observed between stress and safe conditions. Importantly, ERP results indicated that unexpected feedback elicited larger RewP than did expected feedback and this expectancy effect of RewP was reduced in the stress relative to safe condition. Moreover, the correlations between RewP and choice accuracy (70% − 30% reward condition) in the safe and stress conditions were in a similar pattern; yet, only in the stress condition the correlation reached significantly. This may indicate that blunted RewP was associated with impaired performance at an individual level. Our study provides ERP evidence that acute stress affects brain responses to reward prediction error processing, which may explain various abnormal learning behaviors associated with stress‐related disorders.
From marine deserts to algal beds: Treptacantha elegans revegetation to reverse stable degraded ecosystems inside and outside a No‐Take marine reserve
Authors: Medrano Alba , Hereu Bernat , Cleminson Maria , Pagès‐Escolà Marta , Rovira Graciel·la , Solà Jordi , Linares Cristina
Published: January 2020

Canopy‐forming algae play a key role in temperate coastal ecosystems sustaining complex habitats that provide food and refuge for rich associated biotic communities. These macroalgae are in decline in many coastal areas, where overgrazing by herbivores can lead to the loss of these highly structured and diverse habitats toward less complex sea urchin barren grounds. Once established, low productive barren grounds are considered stable states maintained by several positive feedback mechanisms that prevent the recovery of marine forests. To revert this global decline, restoration efforts and measures are being encouraged by EU regulations and local actions. Here, we tested the success of active revegetation techniques as a tool to promote functional and productive Treptacantha elegans forests in sea urchin barren grounds under different restoration strategies (active, and combined active with passive strategies). Active revegetation was performed in 6 barren grounds, 3 located inside a Mediterranean No‐Take marine reserve (active and passive strategy) and 3 outside (active strategy alone), following a three‐step protocol: (1) sea urchin population eradication, (2) seeding with Treptacantha elegans, and (3) enhancement of T. elegans recruitment. Revegetation success was assessed 1 year later in the six barren grounds, but was only achieved after combining active with passive restoration strategies. Our results encourage revegetation of barren grounds to shift from less productive habitats to complex T. elegans forests, highlight the potential of the combined passive and active restoration strategies, as well as the important role of marine reserves not only in conservation but also in ecological restoration.
Wild gregarious settlements of Ostrea edulis in a semi‐enclosed sea lough: a case study for unassisted restoration
Authors: Smyth David M. , Horne Nicholas S. , Ronayne Elli , Millar Rachel V. , Joyce Patrick W. S. , Hayden‐Hughes Maria , Kregting Louise
Published: January 2020

Ostrea edulis was once prolific throughout Europe and considered as the continent's native oyster. However, O. edulis currently exists in small fragmented assemblages where natural unaided recovery is rarely encountered. This research identified the small semi‐enclosed sea Lough of Strangford on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland as one of the few locations within Europe where the native oyster displayed gregarious natural rejuvenation. On close examination, four influential parameters appeared to assist in concentrated settlement; raised topographical cultch formations, shell coverage, the number of fecund in situ adults, and site protection. If these components were to be combined and managed as part of reintroduction and restoration initiatives, high‐density settlements and self‐sustaining populations may be possible. The research also identified that unregulated harvesting of intertidal O. edulis assemblages has the potential to seriously hinder natural recoveries. Indeed, the findings suggest that a review of policy in regards to intertidal hand gathering is necessary. However, naturally occurring high‐density settlements recorded during this research should be inspirational to all involved in the restoration of the native oyster.
Late Holocene to Recent aragonite‐cemented transgressive lag deposits in the Abu Dhabi lagoon and intertidal sabkha
Authors: Ge Yuzhu , Pederson Chelsea L. , Lokier Stephen W. , Traas Jan P. , Nehrke Gernot , Neuser Rolf D. , Goetschl Katja E. , Immenhauser Adrian
Published: January 2020

Modern cemented intervals (beachrock, firmgrounds to hardgrounds and concretionary layers) form in the lagoon and intertidal sabkha of Abu Dhabi. Seafloor lithification actively occurs in open, current‐swept channels in low‐lying areas between ooid shoals, in the intertidal zone of the middle lagoon, some centimetres beneath the inner lagoonal seafloor (i.e. within the sediment column) and at the sediment surface the intertidal sabkha. The concept of ‘concretionary sub‐hardgrounds’, i.e. laminar cementation of sediments formed within the sediment column beneath the shallow redox boundary, is introduced and discussed. Based on calibrated radiocarbon ages, seafloor lithification commenced during the Middle to Late Holocene (ca 9000 cal yr bp), and proceeds to the present‐day. Lithification occurs in the context of the actualistic relative sea‐level rise shifting the coastline landward across the extremely low‐angle carbonate ramp. The cemented intervals are interpreted as parasequence boundaries in the sense of ‘marine flooding surfaces’, but in most cases the sedimentary cover overlying the transgressive surface has not yet been deposited. Aragonite, (micritic) calcite and, less commonly, gypsum cements lithify the firmground/hardground intervals. Cements are described and placed into context with their depositional and marine diagenetic environments and characterized by means of scanning electron microscope petrography, cathodoluminescence microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The morphology of aragonitic cements changes from needle‐shaped forms in lithified decapod burrows of the outer lagoon ooidal shoals to complex columnar, lath and platy crystals in the inner lagoon. Precipitation experiments provide first tentative evidence for the parameters that induce changes in aragonite cement morphology. Data shown here shed light on ancient, formerly aragonite‐cemented seafloors, now altered to diagenetic calcites, but also document the complexity of highly dynamic near coastal depositional environments.
The Curious Case of Cú Chulainn: Nationalism, Culture, and Meaning‐Making in the Contested Symbols of Northern Ireland
Authors: Goalwin Gregory J.
Published: January 2020

This article examines the ways that political movements utilize contested imagery to further ideological goals. While scholars have long recognized the importance of symbols for nationalism, most analyses rely on national symbols being relatively unambiguous. I seek to understand how such processes function when this is not the case, examining how organizations on both sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland deployed the same symbol – representations of the Irish hero Cú Chulainn – to support diametrically opposed political programmes. I argue that the different movements in Northern Ireland imbued symbols such as Cú Chulainn with their own meaning by emplotting them within their ideological narratives. These narratives shaped and gave significance to visual symbols, producing myths that sought to structure the ways members of society viewed the world. In return, these symbols and myths provided evidence which reciprocally strengthened and supported the ideological narratives of the movements that produced them, serving as potent reminders of the ideological worldview such narratives advocate.
A Month under Occupation: The State against Society
Authors: Bajoria Rishabh
Published: January 2020

These field notes present personal reflections and observations from the author's visit to Srinagar in June 2017, where he was working as an intern with the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons. The author's nascent understanding of India's attempts to assimilate the Kashmir Valley into the Indian Union was heavily influenced by the 2016 uprising in the Valley following the death of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Muzzafar Wani. The paper argues that the spatial manifestations of Indian occupation stimulate resistance among Kashmiris rather than engendering submission.
Social Media and the Dynamics of Radicalization and Violent Extremism among Female Migrant Workers
Authors: Mansour‐Ille Dina
Published: January 2020

Female migrant workers, especially domestic workers, have often been portrayed as victims of exploitation, abuse, violence, and marginalization in the literature. In recent years, however, reports on the radicalization of female migrant workers and their engagement in terrorism have started to emerge. Female migrant workers, who were otherwise only nominally religious before migrating for work, are reportedly embracing radicalized forms of religion and violence after being exposed to extremist content on social media. This paper sheds light on this phenomenon in relation to the widespread use of social media. It fits within an emerging body of literature that is beginning to portray these workers as agents for change and of their own destiny rather than helpless subjects and victims of exploitation. The paper examines the role of religion and religious institutions as a means for coping as well as for empowerment, emancipation, and resistance. It also questions the interlinkages between the feminization of international labour migration and violent extremism, and it calls for more research on the lived experiences of vulnerable female workers in order to better understand the complex and multifaceted dynamics of radicalization and violent extremism within the context of migration, especially in relation to the role of technology.
Unconventional economic policies and sentiment: An international assessment
Authors: Gagnon Marie‐Helene , Gimet Celine
Published: January 2020

This paper estimates, using Bayesian and global VARs, the spillover effects of unconventional fiscal and monetary policies implemented in the United States and in the Eurozone during the last decade. Consumer confidence and investor sentiment indicators are introduced in the models in order to highlight the signalling channel in the responses to economic policy innovations in times of crisis. Our results reveal that consumer and investor perceptions of innovative economic measures are relevant to study the pass‐through of economic policies to the real sector in times of crisis and zero lower bound interest rates. In particular, the signalling channel plays an important role in successful unconventional economic policies. Moreover, if unconventional economic policies have an impact abroad, the effects are similar to those measured in the domestic country/region. Consequently, coordination and transparency are a prerequisite for ensuring short‐term growth after a global financial crisis.
Industrial policy in the era of global value chains: Towards a developmentalist framework drawing on the industrialisation experiences of South Korea and Taiwan
Authors: Hauge Jostein
Published: January 2020

In this paper, I present a framework for GVC‐oriented industrial policy that merges the so‐called GVC perspective and the so‐called developmentalist perspective—the latter of which is a perspective that industrial policy is most often analysed through, but has been somewhat neglected by the GVC perspective. I argue that the GVC perspective too quickly dismisses the relevance of industrial policy in the East Asian development experience, particularly those in South Korea and Taiwan between roughly 1960 and 1990. By drawing on the industrialisation experiences of these two countries, my framework for industrial policy suggests that the GVC perspective's ideas for industrial policy would be strengthened by more clearly acknowledging the continued importance of three observations by the developmentalist perspective: (a) the need for governments in developing countries to bargain with foreign investors for the purpose of domestic industrialisation; (b) policy design should not only focus on increasing exports, but also focus on replacing some imports with domestic production; and (c) linking up to the value chains of transnational corporations based in high‐income countries can bring about some benefits, but ultimately, successful industrialisation necessitates a degree of competing with transnational corporations. State‐owned enterprises have historically played an important role in this respect.
Near-Zero CO2 Emissions Power Plant Based on High Temperature Fuel Cells
Authors: Carapellucci Roberto , Cipollone Roberto , Di Battista Davide
Published: January 2020

The recent awareness on the environmental issues related to global warming is leading to the search for always more efficient energy conversion systems and, mainly, with very low carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, they are strictly related to the combustion reaction of fossil fuels which is the main process of the actual power generation technology. In this regard, fuel cells are energy conversion systems which are characterized by higher efficiency and near-zero CO2 emissions. Their novel integration with conventional power plants participates to the concept of the decarbonization of the economy.

In this work, the integration of two high temperature fuel cells (HTFC) with a gas turbine power plant has been proposed and investigated, thanks to the combination of a physical model of the fuel cells and a numerical one of the components involved in the gas turbine cycle. In the layout studied, fresh air is compressed, pre-heated and used in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), where the high operating temperature and the exothermic process give exhaust gases at very high temperatures, suitable for an expansion in a turbine. After the expansion, the gases are rich of CO2 and, so, they can be sent to the cathode side of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC). Hence, the so-defined integrated plant is composed by three power units: a turbine, a SOFC and a MCFC; operating pressure, fuel need, oxygen and carbon dioxide utilizations in the fuel cells are parameterized in order to optimize the whole plant and find additional room of energy exploitation. Moreover, the MCFC acts as an active device for carbon separation, introducing further environmental benefits.
Study of Angle-of-Attack (AoA) for Airfoil in Deterministic Lateral Displacement (DLD)
Authors: Ahasan Kawkab , Kim Jong-Hoon
Published: January 2020

Deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) is a method of inertial size-based particle separation with potential applications in high throughput sample processing, such as the fractionation of blood or the purification of target species like viral particles or circulating tumor cells. Recently, it has been shown that symmetric airfoils with neutral angle-of-attack (AoA) can be used for high-throughput design of DLD device, due to their mitigation of vortex effects and preservation of flow symmetry under high Reynolds number (Re) conditions. While high-Re operation with symmetric airfoils has been established, the effect of AoA for airfoil on the DLD performance has not been characterized. In this study, we present a high-Re investigation with symmetric airfoil-shaped pillars having positive and negative 15 degree AoA. Both positive and negative AoA configurations yield significant flow anisotropy at higher flow rates. The stronger shift of the critical diameter (Dc) was observed with negative AoA, but not in positive AoA device. The most likely contributor may be the growing anisotropy that develops in the AoA device at higher flow rates. This study shows that high-Re DLD design with airfoil shaped pillars requires significant consideration for pillar orientation to control flow symmetry.
Four-dimensional micro-building blocks
Authors: Huang T.-Y. , Huang H.-W. , Jin D. D. , Chen Q. Y. , Huang J. Y. , Zhang L. , Duan H. L.
Published: January 2020

We proposed a programmable modular design strategy for constructing complex 3D-to-3D shape morphing systems.
Ultrafast x-ray diffraction study of melt-front dynamics in polycrystalline thin films
Authors: Assefa Tadesse A. , Cao Yue , Banerjee Soham , Kim Sungwon , Kim Dongjin , Lee Heemin , Kim Sunam , Lee Jae Hyuk , Park Sang-Youn , Eom Intae , Park Jaeku , Nam Daewoong , Kim Sangsoo , Chun Sae Hwan , Hyun Hyojung , Kim Kyung sook , Juhas Pavol , Bozin Emil S. , Lu Ming , Song Changyong , Kim Hyunjung , Billinge Simon J. L. , Robinson Ian K.
Published: January 2020

Laser melting of polycrystalline metals starts at the internal grain boundaries and propagates into the grains.
Shape-morphing living composites
Authors: Rivera-Tarazona L. K. , Bhat V. D. , Kim H. , Campbell Z. T. , Ware T. H.
Published: January 2020

Baker’s yeast embedded in a hydrogel enables the engineering of smart materials that change shape in response to specific cues.
Light-degradable hydrogels as dynamic triggers for gastrointestinal applications
Authors: Raman Ritu , Hua Tiffany , Gwynne Declan , Collins Joy , Tamang Siddartha , Zhou Jianlin , Esfandiary Tina , Soares Vance , Pajovic Simo , Hayward Alison , Langer Robert , Traverso Giovanni
Published: January 2020

Light-triggerable hydrogels enable on-demand degradation of gastrointestinal-resident devices, reducing the need for invasive interventions.
Monolithic mtesla-level magnetic induction by self-rolled-up membrane technology
Authors: Huang Wen , Yang Zhendong , Kraman Mark D. , Wang Qingyi , Ou Zihao , Rojo Miguel Muñoz , Yalamarthy Ananth Saran , Chen Victoria , Lian Feifei , Ni Jimmy H. , Liu Siyu , Yu Haotian , Sang Lei , Michaels Julian , Sievers Dane J. , Eden J. Gary , Braun Paul V. , Chen Qian , Gong Songbin , Senesky Debbie G. , Pop Eric , Li Xiuling
Published: January 2020

3D coil structures through 2D processing, combined with ferrofluid core, achieve unprecedented high magnetic flux density.
Picosecond-resolution phase-sensitive imaging of transparent objects in a single shot
Authors: Kim Taewoo , Liang Jinyang , Zhu Liren , Wang Lihong V.
Published: January 2020

Integration of dark-field microscopy into compressed ultrafast photography enables 1 THz real-time imaging of transparent objects.
Long-term colorectal cancer incidence after adenoma removal and the effects of surveillance on incidence: a multicentre, retrospective, cohort study
Authors: Cross Amanda J , Robbins Emma C , Pack Kevin , Stenson Iain , Kirby Paula L , Patel Bhavita , Rutter Matthew D , Veitch Andrew M , Saunders Brian P , Duffy Stephen W , Wooldrage Kate
Published: January 2020

Objective

Postpolypectomy colonoscopy surveillance aims to prevent colorectal cancer (CRC). The 2002 UK surveillance guidelines define low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk groups, recommending different strategies for each. Evidence supporting the guidelines is limited. We examined CRC incidence and effects of surveillance on incidence among each risk group.

Design

Retrospective study of 33 011 patients who underwent colonoscopy with adenoma removal at 17 UK hospitals, mostly (87%) from 2000 to 2010. Patients were followed up through 2016. Cox regression with time-varying covariates was used to estimate effects of surveillance on CRC incidence adjusted for patient, procedural and polyp characteristics. Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) compared incidence with that in the general population.

Results

After exclusions, 28 972 patients were available for analysis; 14 401 (50%) were classed as low-risk, 11 852 (41%) as intermediate-risk and 2719 (9%) as high-risk. Median follow-up was 9.3 years. In the low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk groups, CRC incidence per 100 000 person-years was 140 (95% CI 122 to 162), 221 (195 to 251) and 366 (295 to 453), respectively. CRC incidence was 40%–50% lower with a single surveillance visit than with none: hazard ratios (HRs) were 0.56 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.80), 0.59 (0.43 to 0.81) and 0.49 (0.29 to 0.82) in the low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk groups, respectively. Compared with the general population, CRC incidence without surveillance was similar among low-risk (SIR 0.86, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.02) and intermediate-risk (1.16, 0.97 to 1.37) patients, but higher among high-risk patients (1.91, 1.39 to 2.56).

Conclusion

Postpolypectomy surveillance reduces CRC risk. However, even without surveillance, CRC risk in some low-risk and intermediate-risk patients is no higher than in the general population. These patients could be managed by screening rather than surveillance.