bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital platform of scientific and technological competencies
Authors: Ilyina E A , Kurevlev M I , Mantsevich N M , Motkina Yu V , Sartori A V , Sushkov P V
Published: April 2020

Nowdays changes in the hitech market occur quickly. The higher ability of scientific organization to change, the higher its chances to become a technological and scientific leader. One of the key factors for the successful implementation of scientific developments is scientific and technical competencies that allow ones to correctly assess the current status in order to forecast the technological risks of both R&D company and its partners. Usually scientific and technical competences are based on sciencemetric indicators (scientific indices, publications, patents, etc.). However there are a lot of examples of successfully documented scientific results on paper, which are not followed by implementation into industry for whatever reasons. Therefore it is proposed in this report to modify the competence indicators set by adding of TRL indices of completed and current projects. A unified digital platform is supposed to include information base on sciencemetric indicators, existing technologies and ones under development, implemented and current R&D/scientific projects, experimental equipment database, computer codes, scientific and technical services of organizations within Rosatom State Corporation, as well as independent confirmation of this information from open sources. The platform will become a unified information array for a full description of scientific and technical competencies of R&D companies. The platform should cover not only the scientific organizations of the outline of the State Corporation, but also associated universities with the ability to describe the competences of scientific organizations form adjacent industries. The digital platform of scientific and technical competencies is a tool to effectively inform customers and potential partners to support decision-making process. The platform will allow to present data on scientific and technical activities in a single information space, use it to search for potential partners, and to exhibit Rosatom’s own capabilities to external users. The platform will allow users to establish R&D network which helps to launch new innovative projects.
SPH simulation of plastic deformation in high velocity impact welding process of 6061-T6 alloy plates
Authors: Emurlaeva Yu Yu , Aleksandrova N S , Bataev I A
Published: April 2020

In this study, the plastic deformation process of two plates of aluminum alloy 6061-T6 was simulated at different collision point velocities using the method of smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (SPH). The results of numerical simulation were compared with the results obtained in experimental and theoretical studies of other authors. The data obtained indicate that the SPH method reproduces the wavy interface between the plates, which was previously observed in numerous experiments. In addition, SPH simulation allows one to study in better detail the features of plastic deformation occurring near the interlayer boundaries, in particular at the vortex zones.
Neural simulation of ball mill grinding process
Authors: Zakamaldin A A , Shilin A A
Published: April 2020

This study is aimed at getting simplified model of mill filling technological process of fine crushing in a closed-circuit grinding with screen separation. Optimal and simple model structure are supposed to be used in adaptive predictive control loop. The minor factors that directly affect the mill load indicator are not taken into account, since some of them cannot be directly measured, and other ones affect the process only in the long term. In this paper the athors considered mill filling process identification in the center-discharge ball mill by the method of neural networks (NN). The method includes the identification of the nonlinear process using nonlinear autoregressive with external input (NARX) neural network. The most accurate model was found by varying the structural parameters of the network. The best models were tested in the course of the actual grinding process. The best estimation of the NN model to the real object is obtained with 72.1% match.
Information reservation of cyber-physical production of the Industry 4.0
Authors: Zakoldaev D A , Gurjanov A V , Shukalov A V , Zharinov I O
Published: April 2020

An actual task has been studied to organize informative reserving of the production data and link channels in the Industry 4.0 smart factory. Informative reserving principles in a digital company are done by duplicating informative link channels into a single company communication environment. Connection channels duplicating creates the production division informative redundancy for the technological operations completion results data. The smart factory informative reserving increase company functionality reliability and provides functional and informative smart factory functionality. There are schemes of cyber and physical production components informative reserving and types of connection channels are defined which are used as primary and reserve lines of the information transmission. There are ways of informative reserving based on the technologies of Bluetooth, Ethernet and Internet of Things (IoT). Main way of cyber and physical production informative reserving is done in system level and is duplicating of the IoT wireless channel with a wired channel of the Ethernet connection and transmitting of duplicating messages. Auxiliary way of cyber and physical production informative reserving is done in local level of the production data exchange among cyber and physical systems with a Bluetooth channel.
Analysis of Pressure and Dynamic Tests of the Blocked Wheel Pair
Authors: Shiler V V , Shiler A V , Galiev I I , Petrov G I
Published: April 2020

The paper describes a modular design of a wheelset. Three prototypes of wheelsets and track were manufactured using the π theorem. Full-scale wheelsets for a cargo car truck were also manufactured. The results compare the movement dynamics of conventional and modular wheel-sets mounted on cargo car trucks.
The Development of Digital Technologies in Mining Machinery Technical Maintenance
Authors: Klishin V I , Gerike B L , Mokrushev A A
Published: April 2020

Methods of functional diagnostics for technical conditions of rolling element bearings are studied in the paper. Their strengths and shortcomings are revealed. The model of shock pulses formation in the event of faults in the rolling element bearings is built. The possibility to apply wavelet-transformation for detecting these faults and defining technical condition of mining machinery assembly units is introduced.
Electromagnetic Method for Determining the Internal Resistance of Conductive Materials
Authors: Kuznetsov F Y
Published: April 2020

The electromagnetic method of vibration diagnostics of rod conductive parts is theoretically described. Natural frequencies of the transverse oscillations of the rod are determined for various boundary conditions. In theory, method of experimental determination of internal friction coefficient of electrically conductive materials is developed.
Identification of Mathematical Model of Drying Unit
Authors: Perevoshchikov F P , Vuong N V , Shabo A K , Shilin A A
Published: April 2020

In air drainage systems, the process of reducing moisture content is based on its cooling down to the dew point and the precipitation of liquid into the condensate. Under isobaric cooling, the dew point temperature depends on the relative humidity and temperature in the drained space, which in turn can be controlled by the temperature of the heater and the air flow rate created by the fan, the main part of which is the electric drive.
Power Parameters Automated Calculation for Transmission with Intermediate Rolling Bodies and Free Cage
Authors: Efremenkov E A , Bonnard E
Published: April 2020

In the article, techniques complex of the transmission with IRBFC power parameters determination are considered. Moreover, software of automated calculation of the power parameters is created based on the techniques. The software consists of two parts: program of the mechanical transmission creating as a computer object; program of the graphical user interface creating. In general, the software makes it possible to determine the distribution of forces and contact stresses in engagement along the cycloidal profile of gear, to determine the maximum force and contact stress in engagement and to generate a file in excel format with all calculated data.
Association Between Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence and Hypertension Management Among US Adults
Authors: Fang Jing , Chang Tiffany , Wang Guijing , Loustalot Fleetwood
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Medication nonadherence is an important element of uncontrolled hypertension. Financial factors frequently contribute to nonadherence. The objective of this study was to examine the association between cost-related medication nonadherence (CRMN) and self-reported antihypertensive medication use and self-reported normal blood pressure among US adults with self-reported hypertension.

METHODS

Participants with self-reported hypertension from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey were included (n = 7,498). CRMN was defined using standard questions. Hypertension management included: (i) self-reported current antihypertensive medication use and (ii) self-reported normal blood pressure within the past 12 months. Adjusted prevalence and prevalence ratios of hypertension management indicators among those with and without CRMN were estimated.

RESULTS

Overall, 10.7% reported CRMN, 83.6% reported current antihypertensive medication use, and 67.4% reported normal blood pressure within past 12 months. Adjusted percentages of current antihypertensive medication use (88.6% vs. 82.9%, P < 0.001) and self-reported normal blood pressure (69.8% vs. 59.5%, P = 0.002) were higher among those without CRMN compared with those with CRMN. Adjusted prevalence ratios showed that, compared with those with CRMN, those without CRMN were more likely to report current antihypertensive medication use (odds ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.12) and self-reported normal blood pressure (1.15 (1.07–1.23)).

CONCLUSIONS

Among US adults with self-reported hypertension, those without CRMN were more likely to report current antihypertensive medication use and normal blood pressure within the past 12 months. Financial barriers to medication adherence persist and impact hypertension management.
The Impact of Appetite-Regulating Neuropeptide Leptin on Alcohol Use, Alcohol Craving and Addictive Behavior: A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Data
Authors: Bach Patrick , Koopmann Anne , Kiefer Falk
Published: April 2020

Aims

The appetite regulating hormone leptin, which is mainly secreted from adipose tissue, is an important regulator of food intake and modulator of reward-driven behavior. Leptin exerts its biological actions via binding to the leptin receptor, which is expressed in the hypothalamus, but also in the hippocampus, the amygdala and the substantia nigra. In the ventral tegmental area (VTA), leptin attenuates the firing rate of dopaminergic neurons that project to the Nucleus accumbens (NAc), which serves as relay to other brain areas of the “addiction network”, such as the prefrontal cortex. This suggests that leptin plays a role in the processing of rewards in the context of substance use disorders such as alcohol use disorder, especially through attenuation of dopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic reward system. This supports the plausibility of leptin’s potential effects in alcohol use disorder.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE from 1990 to February 2020. All abstracts were screened for relevance and we only included publications reporting original data with a full text available in English language. Studies that did not report leptin-data, reviews or case reports/series were not included.

Results

We identified a total of N=293 studies of whom a total of N=55 preclinical and clinical studies met the specified criteria. N=40 studies investigated the effects of alcohol on leptin plasma levels, N=9 studies investigated the effects of leptin on alcohol craving and N=6 studies investigated the effects of leptin on relapse and alcohol consumption.

Conclusions

In this review of preclinical and clinical data, we assess the role of leptin in alcohol use and the development and maintenance of an alcohol use disorder, alcohol craving and relapse. Integrating the existing preclinical and clinical data on leptin may reveal new and innovative targets for the treatment of substance use disorders in the future.
Sex Differences in Functional Connectivity of the Salience, Default Mode, and Central Executive Networks in Youth with ASD
Authors: Lawrence Katherine E , Hernandez Leanna M , Bowman Hilary C , Padgaonkar Namita T , Fuster Emily , Jack Allison , Aylward Elizabeth , Gaab Nadine , Van Horn John D , Bernier Raphael A , Geschwind Daniel H , McPartland James C , Nelson Charles A , Webb Sara J , Pelphrey Kevin A , Green Shulamite A , Bookheimer Susan Y , Dapretto Mirella ,   GENDAAR Consortium
Published: April 2020

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with the altered functional connectivity of 3 neurocognitive networks that are hypothesized to be central to the symptomatology of ASD: the salience network (SN), default mode network (DMN), and central executive network (CEN). Due to the considerably higher prevalence of ASD in males, however, previous studies examining these networks in ASD have used primarily male samples. It is thus unknown how these networks may be differentially impacted among females with ASD compared to males with ASD, and how such differences may compare to those observed in neurotypical individuals. Here, we investigated the functional connectivity of the SN, DMN, and CEN in a large, well-matched sample of girls and boys with and without ASD (169 youth, ages 8–17). Girls with ASD displayed greater functional connectivity between the DMN and CEN than boys with ASD, whereas typically developing girls and boys differed in SN functional connectivity only. Together, these results demonstrate that youth with ASD exhibit altered sex differences in these networks relative to what is observed in typical development, and highlight the importance of considering sex-related biological factors and participant sex when characterizing the neural mechanisms underlying ASD.
Bone mineral density and mortality in end-stage renal disease patients
Authors: Iseri Ken , Dai Lu , Chen Zhimin , Qureshi Abdul Rashid , Brismar Torkel B , Stenvinkel Peter , Lindholm Bengt
Published: April 2020

Osteoporosis characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) as assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is common among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and associates with high fracture incidence and high all-cause mortality. This is because chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorders (CKD-MBDs) promote not only bone disease (osteoporosis and renal dystrophy) but also vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease. The disturbed bone metabolism in ESRD leads to ‘loss of cortical bone’ with increased cortical porosity and thinning of cortical bone rather than to loss of trabecular bone. Low BMD, especially at cortical-rich bone sites, is closely linked to CKD-MBD, vascular calcification and poor cardiovascular outcomes. These effects appear to be largely mediated by shared mechanistic pathways via the ‘bone–vascular axis’ through which impaired bone status associates with changes in the vascular wall. Thus, bone is more than just the scaffolding that holds the body together and protects organs from external forces but is—in addition to its physical supportive function—also an active endocrine organ that interacts with the vasculature by paracrine and endocrine factors through pathways including Wnt signalling, osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK)/RANK ligand system and the Galectin-3/receptor of advanced glycation end products axis. The insight that osteogenesis and vascular calcification share many similarities—and the knowledge that vascular calcification is a cell-mediated active rather than a passive mineralization process—suggest that low BMD and vascular calcification (‘vascular ossification’) to a large extent represent two sides of the same coin. Here, we briefly review changes of BMD in ESRD as observed using different DXA methods (central and whole-body DXA) at different bone sites for BMD measurements, and summarize recent knowledge regarding the relationships between ‘low BMD’ and ‘fracture incidence, vascular calcification and increased mortality’ in ESRD patients, as well as potential ‘molecular mechanisms’ underlying these associations.
Electrolyte disorders secondary to venetoclax
Authors: van der Lubbe Nils , Lugtenburg Pieternella J , Hoorn Ewout J
Published: April 2020

Emerging cancer drugs introduce new forms of nephrotoxicity that may also present as electrolyte disorders. Here, we report a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who developed severe hypokalaemia with concurrent hypophosphataemia, hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia secondary to venetoclax. Although electrolyte disorders have been reported during treatment with venetoclax, these were ascribed to tumour lysis prophylaxis. Based on the temporal relationship and urinary studies, we show that venetoclax can cause these electrolyte disorders, likely through an effect on the proximal and distal convoluted tubule. In patients treated with venetoclax, we recommend close monitoring of electrolytes and avoiding co-medication that can contribute to electrolyte disorders.
Early lactate changes improve the outcome prediction for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Lin Ting-Tse , Lin Ming-Hsien , Wu Cho-Kai , Lin Lian-Yu , Lin Jou-Wei , Lin Shien-Fong , Hwang Juey-Jen , Chen Yih Sharng
Published: April 2020

OBJECTIVES

Serial lactate (clearance) data are commonly used for risk stratification in patients receiving veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (ECLS).

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 855 patients who had undergone ECLS due to cardiac (n = 578) and non-cardiac (n = 277) aetiologies between 2002 and 2013 at National Taiwan University Hospital. Serial lactate (clearance) data were collected before ECLS and at 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h after ECLS. To investigate the impact of lactate (clearance) levels on 180-day survival, we performed linear mixed model and joint model analyses using the Bayesian approach.

RESULTS

Among the 855 patients, 564 (65.9%) patients died within 180 days after ECLS cannulation. The joint model showed that the effect of lactate on survival was null in both the reduced model and the fully adjusted model. However, an effect of lactate clearance on survival was observed in the reduced model [estimate 0.004; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.002–0.006] and the fully adjusted model (estimate 0.003; 95% CI 0.001–0.005). In a further secondary analysis, lactate clearance (hazard ratio 0.861; 95% CI 0.813–0.931) at 16 h after ECLS cannulation was determined to be a risk factor for mortality. According to a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the SAVE score combined with lactate clearance (area under curve = 0.881) showed good outcome discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporating lactate clearance at 16 h after ECLS cannulation into the SAVE system improved the predictive value for mortality in patients receiving ECLS.
Implementing the new European Regulations on medical devices—clinical responsibilities for evidence-based practice: a report from the Regulatory Affairs Committee of the European Society of Cardiology
Authors: Fraser Alan G , Byrne Robert A , Kautzner Josef , Butchart Eric G , Szymański Piotr , Leggeri Ilaria , de Boer Rudolf A , Caiani Enrico G , Van de Werf Frans , Vardas Panagiotis E , Badimon Lina
Published: April 2020

The new European Union (EU) law governing the regulatory approval of medical devices that entered into force in May 2017 will now take effect from 26 May 2021. Here, we consider how it will change daily practice for cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and healthcare professionals. Clinical evidence for any high-risk device must be reported by the manufacturer in a Summary of Safety and Clinical Performance (SSCP) that will be publicly available in the European Union Database on Medical Devices (Eudamed) maintained by the European Commission; this will facilitate evidence-based choices of which devices to recommend. Hospitals must record all device implantations, and each high-risk device will be trackable by Unique Device Identification (UDI). Important new roles are envisaged for clinicians, scientists, and engineers in EU Expert Panels—in particular to scrutinize clinical data submitted by manufacturers for certain high-risk devices and the evaluations of that data made by notified bodies. They will advise manufacturers on the design of their clinical studies and recommend to regulators when new technical specifications or guidance are needed. Physicians should support post-market surveillance by reporting adverse events and by contributing to comprehensive medical device registries. A second law on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices will take effect from 2022. We encourage all healthcare professionals to contribute proactively to these new systems, in order to enhance the efficacy and safety of high-risk devices and to promote equitable access to effective innovations. The European Society of Cardiology will continue to advise EU regulators on appropriate clinical evaluation of high-risk devices.
Apolipoprotein E and Health in Older Men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project
Authors: Le Couteur David G , Stanaway Fiona , Waite Louise M , Cullen John , Lindley Richard I , Blyth Fiona M , Naganathan Vasi , Cumming Robert G , Handelsman David J
Published: April 2020

APOE genotype has been associated with various age-related outcomes including Alzheimer’s disease, frailty, and mortality. In this study, the relationship between health, particularly cognitive function, and APOE was investigated in older men from the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (n = 1,616; age 76.9 ± 5.5 years [range 70–97 years]; Australia). Baseline characteristics and survival up to 12 years were determined. Frailty was measured using Cardiovascular Health study (CHS) criteria and Rockwood frailty index, and cognition using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrookes Cognitive Examination. APOE ε4 was less common in the oldest men and those born in Mediterranean countries. APOE ε2 was beneficially associated with cholesterol, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transaminase, glucose, and HDL cholesterol while APOE ε4 was adversely associated with cholesterol and albumin. APOE ε4 was associated with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease when adjusted for age and region of birth (ε4 homozygotes Odds ratio (OR) 7.0; ε4 heterozygotes OR 2.4, p < .05), and APOE ε2 had a small positive association with cognition. On multivariate regression, overall cognitive function in the entire cohort was associated with age, country of birth, education, and frailty (all p < .001). APOE was not associated with frailty or survival. In conclusion, age and region of birth influenced distribution of APOE genotype in older men. Although APOE ε4 was associated with Alzheimer’s disease, overall cognitive function in the cohort was associated more strongly with frailty than APOE genotype.
Strengthening human and physical infrastructure of primary healthcare settings to deliver hypertension care in Vietnam: a mixed-methods comparison of two provinces
Authors: Meiqari Lana , Nguyen Thi-Phuong-Lan , Essink Dirk , Wright Pamela , Scheele Fedde
Published: April 2020

In Vietnam, the overall prevalence of hypertension (HTN) was 21%, with lower estimates for the prevalence of HTN awareness and treatment. The health systems, like other low- and middle-income countries, were designed to provide acute care for episodic conditions, rather than a chronic condition where patients need long-term care across time and disciplines. This article describes the delivery and organization of HTN care at primary healthcare (PHC) settings in both urban and rural areas at Hue Province of Central Vietnam in comparison with Thai Nguyen province in Northern Vietnam based on the infrastructure capacity and patients’ and providers’ perspectives and experiences We used mixed-methods design that included in-depth semi-structured interviews with patients and healthcare providers at purposively selected PHC facilities in two districts of each province and a modified version of the service availability and readiness assessment inventory at all PHC facilities. We found that HTN patients in both provinces can access healthcare services to diagnose, treat and control their HTN condition at the PHC level with a focus on district facilities. Health services in Hue have allowed commune health stations (CHSs) to provide routine monitoring and prescription refills for HTN patients while maintaining periodical visits to a higher level of care to monitor the stability of the disease. Such provision of care at CHSs remained restricted in Thai Nguyen. Further improvements are necessary for referral procedures, information system to allow for longitudinal follow-up across levels of care and defining a basic health insurance or benefits package, which meets patients’ preferences with a monthly timespan for prescription refills.
Gaining insight into the implementation of an e-learning smoking cessation course in Latin American countries
Authors: Vides-Porras Ana , Cáceres Paula , Company Assumpta , Guillen Olga , Arrien Martha Alicia , Castellano Yolanda , Margalef Mercè , Yantuche Wendy , Fernández Esteve , Martínez Cristina ,   the Group of Hospital Coordinators in the Fruitful Project
Published: April 2020

Continuous medical education focused on health problems emerging in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is scarce. Although tobacco consumption is increasing in LMICs, there is a lack of tobacco cessation training programs in these countries. To promote smoking cessation interventions in Bolivia, Guatemala and Paraguay, we adapted an e-learning program developed in Catalonia (Spain). This process evaluation study reports on reach, dose and satisfaction of participants with the course, as well as the contextual factors of its application. We conducted a multiple method evaluation, which included a survey and several focus groups, each one specific to the same type of healthcare professional (nurses, doctors, other professionals). Two hundred and ninety-two participants registered into the online course. The motivation for undertaking the course was different between doctors and nurses. The main sources of difficulty in enrolling and finishing the course were the technical problems experienced when accessing the platform, and lack of acquaintance with computers and the Internet in general. Our results show that implementing e-learning education in hospitals from LMICs is feasible, especially when there are similarities between participating countries and the country in which the original program was developed. However, several elements such as strong organizational commitment, technical support and resources and adequate communication channels should be provided to facilitate enrollment and training completion. Efforts to improve Internet access should be made to avoid jeopardizing students’ motivation to enroll and complete online training.
Central Extensions of Lie Groups Preserving a Differential Form
Authors: Diez Tobias , Janssens Bas , Neeb Karl-Hermann , Vizman Cornelia
Published: April 2020

Let $M$ be a manifold with a closed, integral $(k+1)$-form $\omega $, and let $G$ be a Fréchet–Lie group acting on $(M,\omega )$. As a generalization of the Kostant–Souriau extension for symplectic manifolds, we consider a canonical class of central extensions of ${\mathfrak{g}}$ by ${\mathbb{R}}$, indexed by $H^{k-1}(M,{\mathbb{R}})^*$. We show that the image of $H_{k-1}(M,{\mathbb{Z}})$ in $H^{k-1}(M,{\mathbb{R}})^*$ corresponds to a lattice of Lie algebra extensions that integrate to smooth central extensions of $G$ by the circle group ${\mathbb{T}}$. The idea is to represent a class in $H_{k-1}(M,{\mathbb{Z}})$ by a weighted submanifold $(S,\beta )$, where $\beta $ is a closed, integral form on $S$. We use transgression of differential characters from $ S$ and $ M $ to the mapping space $ C^\infty (S, M) $ and apply the Kostant–Souriau construction on $ C^\infty (S, M) $.
Longitudinal Change of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibodies in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Zhang Guoxin , Nie Shuke , Zhang Zhaohui , Zhang Zhentao
Published: April 2020

Background

A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has recently emerged and caused the rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide.

Methods

We did a retrospective study and included COVID-19 patients admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between 1 February and 29 February 2020. Antibody assay was conducted to detect COVID-19 envelope protein E and nucleocapsid protein N antigen.

Results

One hundred twelve patients were recruited with symptoms of fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia, and diarrhea. All patients underwent antibody tests. Fifty-eight (51.79%) were positive for both immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), 7 (6.25%) were negative for both antibodies, 1 (0.89%) was positive for only IgM, and 46 (41.07%) were positive for only IgG. IgM antibody appeared within a week post–disease onset, lasted for 1 month, and gradually decreased, whereas IgG antibody was produced 10 days after infection and lasted for a longer time. However, no significant difference in levels of IgM and IgG antibodies between positive and negative patients of nucleic acid test after treatment was found.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that serological tests could be a powerful approach for the early diagnosis of COVID-19.
A reform too few or a reform too many: Judicial review, appeals or a prosecutorial system under the UK Competition Act 1998?
Authors: Nazzini Renato
Published: April 2020

This article discusses the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) proposals to lower the standard of review of certain antitrust decisions in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) from a merits appeal to judicial review principles or some other limited basis, while retaining the CAT’s ‘full jurisdiction’ over fines, and to amend the CAT’s rules of procedure to restrict the admissibility of new evidence on appeal and the use of oral testimony. The argument developed in this article is that such proposals are: (i) in conflict with the constitutional principle of the rule of law; (ii) incompatible with the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA98); (iii) a step back even from the often criticized standard of review applied by the Union Courts in respect of European Commission’s decisions; (iv) inappropriate as a matter of policy. If the current regime needs improving to reduce the cost and length of the proceedings, then three options should be considered: (i) moving from a merits appeal to a merits review (Option 1); (ii) strengthening the independence of the decision-making panel within the CMA (Option 2), while lowering the standard of review to judicial review principles; (iii) establishing a prosecutorial model (Option 3). Option 3 is the most radical but should be given serious consideration as it is likely to be the best suited to achieving the policy objective of reducing the cost and length of competition proceedings while at the same time retaining rigorous scrutiny of the facts and economic evidence, which is key to ensuring not only the fairness, and therefore the legitimacy, of the system, but also its effectiveness.
sureLDA: A multidisease automated phenotyping method for the electronic health record
Authors: Ahuja Yuri , Zhou Doudou , He Zeling , Sun Jiehuan , Castro Victor M , Gainer Vivian , Murphy Shawn N , Hong Chuan , Cai Tianxi
Published: April 2020

Objective

A major bottleneck hindering utilization of electronic health record data for translational research is the lack of precise phenotype labels. Chart review as well as rule-based and supervised phenotyping approaches require laborious expert input, hampering applicability to studies that require many phenotypes to be defined and labeled de novo. Though International Classification of Diseases codes are often used as surrogates for true labels in this setting, these sometimes suffer from poor specificity. We propose a fully automated topic modeling algorithm to simultaneously annotate multiple phenotypes.

Materials and Methods

Surrogate-guided ensemble latent Dirichlet allocation (sureLDA) is a label-free multidimensional phenotyping method. It first uses the PheNorm algorithm to initialize probabilities based on 2 surrogate features for each target phenotype, and then leverages these probabilities to constrain the LDA topic model to generate phenotype-specific topics. Finally, it combines phenotype-feature counts with surrogates via clustering ensemble to yield final phenotype probabilities.

Results

sureLDA achieves reliably high accuracy and precision across a range of simulated and real-world phenotypes. Its performance is robust to phenotype prevalence and relative informativeness of surogate vs nonsurrogate features. It also exhibits powerful feature selection properties.

Discussion

sureLDA combines attractive properties of PheNorm and LDA to achieve high accuracy and precision robust to diverse phenotype characteristics. It offers particular improvement for phenotypes insufficiently captured by a few surrogate features. Moreover, sureLDA’s feature selection ability enables it to handle high feature dimensions and produce interpretable computational phenotypes.

Conclusions

sureLDA is well suited toward large-scale electronic health record phenotyping for highly multiphenotype applications such as phenome-wide association studies .
A Validated Real-Time PCR Method for the Specific Identification of Probiotic Strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103)
Authors: Shehata Hanan R , Newmaster Steven G
Published: April 2020

Background

Strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is one of the best-studied and most widely used probiotic strains, with various health benefits. Because probiotic health benefits and safety are strain specific, the availability of a reliable assay for specific identification of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is vital to ensure probiotic efficacy.

Objective

To design and validate a probe-based real-time PCR assay for specific identification of strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.

Method

Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology (RAST) was used to find a unique sequence region in the genome of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. A probe-based assay was designed and evaluated for specificity, sensitivity, efficiency, repeatability, and reproducibility.

Results

RAST identified a unique gene coding for a hypothetical protein in the genome of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. The assay successfully amplified all 22 target samples and did not amplify any of the 28 non-target strains, achieving 100% true positive and 0% false positive results. The Limit of Detection (LOD) was determined to be 0.001 ng. Reaction efficiency values, from three dilution series, were 96.4%, 93.3%, and 96.8% with R square values of 0.9974, 0.9981, and 0.9998, respectively. Relative standard deviation (RSD, %) of repeatability was below 1% and RSD of reproducibility was below 4%.

Conclusions

This Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG specific assay proved to be specific, sensitive, efficient, and reproducible. Since the assay was evaluated on two real-time PCR platforms, including a portable one, the assay can be used for onsite testing throughout the supply chain.

Highlights

The availability of validated and reliable assays for strain-specific identification plays a vital role in achieving compliance in probiotic products.
Occurrence of Organochlorine Pesticides in Human Tissues Assessed Using a Microextraction Procedure and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Pastor Belda Marta , González-Franco José Antonio , Rubio Ricardo , Campillo Natalia , Hernández-Córdoba Manuel , Torres Carmen , Pérez-Cárceles María Dolores , Viñas Pilar
Published: April 2020

This work focuses on the development, validation and application of an analytical method for the determination of twenty organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in human tissues using salting-out liquid–liquid extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for sample preparation and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to analyze the obtained extracts. Measurement of the concentration levels of these toxics in tissues can be used to assess the risk of the population to exposure. The linearity of the proposed method was verified in the 10–1,000 ng/g range. The sensitivity was evaluated calculating the limits of detection (LODs) for 20 OCPs (α-, β-, γ- and δ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), α- and β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endrin ketone, endrin aldehyde, α- and γ-chlordane, 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide and methoxychlor), most of them being found between 1.0 and 16 ng/g. The intra- and interday precisions were <12% for relative standard deviation values. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by recovery studies, which gave recovery percentages in the 85–109% range. Seven different tissues (liver, kidney, heart, spleen, lung, brain and abdominal fat) from eight autopsies were analyzed, and only three cases were seen to have β-HCH and 4,4′-DDE in abdominal fat, while 4,4′-DDE was also detected in the heart of one case. The rest of the samples were free of the studied OCPs at least above the corresponding LODs.
Money Laundering and Central Bank Governance in The European Union
Authors: Demetriades Panicos , Vassileva Radosveta
Published: April 2020

Dirty money is often a by-product or a symptom of political corruption in the jurisdictions in which it originates. It can also spread corruption and erode democracy on its journey to its final destination. This typically involves multiple jurisdictions and is the reason why it is so hard to detect. Recently, a series of money laundering scandals have highlighted weaknesses in the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) framework of the European Union (EU), the implementation of which remains the responsibility of Member States. The paper argues that EU’s defences against money laundering have been weakened partly reflecting a little-known erosion in the independence of Member State central banks, which are often the AML supervisors. It puts forward a number of new proposals to strengthen the governance and AML/CFT implementation in the EU.
Boolean negation and non-conservativity III: the Ackermann constant
Authors: Øgaard Tore Fjetland
Published: April 2020

It is known that many relevant logics can be conservatively extended by the truth constant known as the Ackermann constant. It is also known that many relevant logics can be conservatively extended by Boolean negation. This essay, however, shows that a range of relevant logics with the Ackermann constant cannot be conservatively extended by a Boolean negation.
Estimating Loss Given Default from CDS under Weak Identification
Authors: Liu Lily Y
Published: April 2020

Existing reduced-form default intensity models that jointly estimate probability of default (PD) and loss given default (LGD) from credit default swaps (CDSs) produce dissimilar results, and there is little guidance on which time series specification to choose. This article develops a model of CDS term structure without parametric time series restrictions for PD and uses weak-identification robust methods to investigate whether separate identification of PD and LGD is still possible. Consistent with intuition about the identification strategy, the model is not globally identified. However, in my empirical application, LGD is precisely estimated for half of the firm-months under study, with resulting values much lower than conventional values. This implies that the risk-neutral PD and the risk premia on PD are underestimated when LGD is set to conventional values.
Adverse Birth Outcomes in Botswana Among Women With Vertically or Horizontally Acquired Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Fennell Christina , Seage George R , Zash Rebecca , Phiri Kelesitse , Diseko Modiegi , Mayondi Gloria , Lockman Shahin , Sekoto Tumalano , Mmalane Mompati , Makhema Joseph , Shapiro Roger
Published: April 2020

Background

Women with vertically acquired HIV (VHIV) may have a greater risk of adverse birth outcomes than women with horizontally acquired HIV (HHIV).

Methods

The Tsepamo study performed birth outcomes surveillance at 8 government delivery sites in Botswana from July 2014 through March 2019. Pregnant women diagnosed with HIV before their 11th birthday received VHIV status, and other women had HHIV. Small for gestational age (SGA), preterm delivery (PTD), stillbirth, and neonatal death were compared using χ2 and Fisher’s exact tests. Log-binomial regression models determined risk ratios (RRs).

Results

VHIV women (n = 402) aged 15–27 years were identified over 4 years of surveillance and compared with HHIV women (n = 8465) of the same age. VHIV women were more likely to use nevirapine (NVP)-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) in pregnancy and to have SGA and very SGA infants, but less likely to have very PTD infants. In unadjusted analyses, VHIV women had a higher risk of any adverse birth outcome combined (RR = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.36). After adjusting for potential confounders, particularly use of NVP-based regimens, the risk of adverse birth outcomes among VHIV and HHIV women was similar.

Conclusions

NVP-based ART is a primary and modifiable risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. Updating ART regimens could improve birth outcomes for women with HIV.
Arabidopsis K+ transporter HAK5-mediated high-affinity root K+ uptake is regulated by protein kinases CIPK1 and CIPK9
Authors: Lara Alberto , Ródenas Reyes , Andrés Zaida , Martínez Vicente , Quintero Francisco J , Nieves-Cordones Manuel , Botella M Angeles , Rubio Francisco
Published: April 2020

The high-affinity K+ transporter HAK5 is the major contributor to root K+ uptake from dilute solutions in K+-starved Arabidopsis plants. Its functionality is tightly regulated and its activity is enhanced under K+ starvation by the transcriptional induction of the AtHAK5 gene, and by the activation of the transporter via the AtCBL1–AtCIPK23 complex. In the present study, the 26 members of the Arabidopsis CIPK protein kinase family were screened in yeast for their capacity to activate HAK5-mediated K+ uptake. Among them, AtCIPK1 was the most efficient activator of AtHAK5. In addition, AtCIPK9, previously reported to participate in K+ homeostasis, also activated the transporter. In roots, the genes encoding AtCIPK1 and AtCIPK9 were induced by K+ deprivation and atcipk1 and atcipk9 Arabidopsis KO mutants showed a reduced AtHAK5-mediated Rb+ uptake. Activation of AtHAK5 by AtCIPK1 did not occur under hyperosmotic stress conditions, where AtCIPK1 function has been shown to be required to maintain plant growth. Taken together, our data contribute to the identification of the complex regulatory networks that control the high-affinity K+ transporter AtHAK5 and root K+ uptake.
Gene regulatory networks controlled by FLOWERING LOCUS C that confer variation in seasonal flowering and life history
Authors: Madrid Eva , Chandler John W , Coupland George
Published: April 2020

Responses to environmental cues synchronize reproduction of higher plants to the changing seasons. The genetic basis of these responses has been intensively studied in the Brassicaceae. The MADS-domain transcription factor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) plays a central role in the regulatory network that controls flowering of Arabidopsis thaliana in response to seasonal cues. FLC blocks flowering until its transcription is stably repressed by extended exposure to low temperatures in autumn or winter and, therefore, FLC activity is assumed to limit flowering to spring. Recent reviews describe the complex epigenetic mechanisms responsible for FLC repression in cold. We focus on the gene regulatory networks controlled by FLC and how they influence floral transition. Genome-wide approaches determined the in vivo target genes of FLC and identified those whose transcription changes during vernalization or in flc mutants. We describe how studying FLC targets such as FLOWERING LOCUS T, SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 15, and TARGET OF FLC AND SVP 1 can explain different flowering behaviours in response to vernalization and other environmental cues, and help define mechanisms by which FLC represses gene transcription. Elucidating the gene regulatory networks controlled by FLC provides access to the developmental and physiological mechanisms that regulate floral transition.
A Case of Scabies Presenting as Chronic Urticaria
Authors: Muller Imelda , Brinker Alyson
Published: April 2020

Scabies outbreaks are relatively common worldwide, particularly in communal living settings such as military barracks. The infestation is caused by the parasite Sarcoptes Scabiei and is easily treated once properly diagnosed. Classic symptoms include pruritus around the waist, wrists, and ankles.1 On physical examination, linear burrows visualized in finger web spaces is a typical finding.1 It is not uncommon, however, for scabies to present with a variety of other dermatologic manifestations, which can lead to a delayed or missed diagnosis. This case highlights a delayed diagnosis of scabies, initially presenting as urticaria in a 26-year-old active duty male living in military barracks where multiple previous outbreaks were identified. Providers should be aware of the oftentimes-elusive diagnosis of scabies and the many nonclassic dermatologic manifestations. A thorough skin examination with skin scrapings and examination of the finger web spaces should be considered in those with ambiguous skin rashes who are particularly at risk for scabies infection, such as military recruits, submariners, and other service members living in communal settings. Timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment is crucial to prevent reinfection and spread of scabies throughout these communal living settings.