bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predation by introduced cats Felis catus on Australian frogs: compilation of species records and estimation of numbers killed
Authors: Woinarski J. C. Z. , Legge S. M. , Woolley L. A. , Palmer R. , Dickman C. R. , Augusteyn J. , Doherty T. S. , Edwards G. , Geyle H. , McGregor H. , Riley J. , Turpin J. , Murphy B. P.
Published: April 2020

Abstract
ContextWe recently estimated the numbers of reptiles, birds and mammals killed by cats (Felis catus) in Australia, with these assessments providing further evidence that cats have significant impacts on Australian wildlife. No previous studies have estimated the numbers of frogs killed by cats in Australia and there is limited comparable information from elsewhere in the world.
AimsWe sought to (1) estimate the numbers of frogs killed by cats in Australia and (2) compile a list of Australian frog species known to be killed by cats.
MethodsFor feral cats, we estimated the number of frogs killed from information on their frequency of occurrence in 53 cat dietary studies (that examined stomach contents), the mean number of frogs in dietary samples that contained frogs, and the numbers of cats in Australia. We collated comparable information for take of frogs by pet cats, but the information base was far sparser.
Key resultsFrogs were far more likely to be reported in studies that sampled cat stomachs than cat scats. The mean frequency of occurrence of frogs in cat stomachs was 1.5%. The estimated annual per capita consumption by feral cats in Australia’s natural environments is 44 frogs, and, hence, the annual total take is estimated at 92 million frogs. The estimated annual per capita consumption by pet cats is 0.26 frogs, for a total annual kill of one million frogs by pet cats. Thirty native frog species (13% of the Australian frog fauna) are known to be killed by cats: this tally does not include any of the 51 threatened frog species, but this may simply be because no cat dietary studies have occurred within the small ranges typical of threatened frog species.
ConclusionsThe present study indicated that cats in Australia kill nearly 100 million frogs annually, but further research is required to understand the conservation significance of such predation rates.
ImplicationsThe present study completed a set of reviews of the impacts of cats on Australian terrestrial vertebrates. Cat predation on Australian frogs is substantial, but is likely to be markedly less than that on Australian reptiles, birds and mammals.
Les cigognes de Cîteaux attendant la bénédiction du prieur
Authors: Berlioz Jacques
Published: April 2020

Dans son Dialogue des miracles, composé entre 1219 et 1223, le moine cistercien Césaire de Heisterbach propose deux récits présentés comme des ‘miracles’: les pigeons auxquels un chevalier donna la permission de s’envoler; les cigognes auxquelles le prieur de Cîteaux donna la bénédiction. Ces deux exempla (le second est ici plus particulièrement analysé) offrent des détails très réalistes qui, semblant issus de l’observation ou provenant de sources savantes, participent à l’authenticité des ‘miracles’, qui possèdent une évidente portée morale. Le récit du départ des cigognes est mis au service tant du respect de la discipline monastique que de la lutte contre l’ingratitude face aux bénéfices dus à Dieu. À l’argument a fortiori (des oiseaux pourtant privés de raison font leçon aux hommes) s’ajoute celui d’une fusion ontologique entre l’homme et l’oiseau: la cigogne, tolérée dans les abbayes cisterciennes pour son utilité (elle chasse les animaux nuisibles) est au Moyen Âge plus qu’un oiseau. Des croyances de métamorphose bien attestées en Occident en font un homme une fois qu’elle est parvenue, au terme de sa migration, en Orient. De plus, la cigogne a quasiment taille humaine. Sa couleur dominante, le blanc, renvoie à l’habit des Cisterciens. Le moine peut se projeter, voire s’assimiler à la cigogne. La force du récit exemplaire s’en voit ainsi affermie.
Changes in countermovement jump performance and subjective readiness‐to‐train scores following a simulated soccer match
Authors: Lombard Wayne , Starling Lindsay , Wewege Luke , Lambert Michael
Published: April 2020

The study investigated whether countermovement jump (CMJ) metrics and subjective responses to a readiness‐to‐train questionnaire (RTT‐Q) tracked simulated match‐induced acute fatigue. This was a randomized cross‐over repeated measures study. Participants were assigned into one of two groups; CONTROL or LIST. The LIST group performed the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Run (LIST), which was designed to simulate the demands of a soccer match. The CONTROL performed light physical activity at an intensity of <65% of maximal heart rate. Each group performed three CMJ's and completed an RTT‐Q before (PRE), and again at 24 and 48 h after the LIST and/or CONTROL interventions. At 24 h there were significant differences in RTT‐Q answers between the Pre and 24 h for the LIST group for questions; “Do you feel physically strong today?” and “Do you have muscle soreness today?” (p = 0.02 and 0.0008, respectively). The questions “Do you feel mentally strong today?” and “Do you have muscle soreness today?” (p = 0.02 and p = 0.0001 respectively) were the only questions that had a significant difference between Pre and 48 h for the LIST group. None of the CMJ metrics (LIST or CONTROL) changed significantly at any stage of the experiment. Although fatigue was detected by changes in the RTT‐Q at 24 and 48 h after the LIST, none of the CMJ metrics changed. These findings suggest that subjective measures are more sensitive to low‐level fatigue than objective measures, thus effective monitoring should include both.
Effect of graphene grain boundaries on MoS2/graphene heterostructures*
Authors: Zhang Yue , Zhang Xiangzhe , Deng Chuyun , Ge Qi , Huang Junjie , Lu Jie , Lin Gaoxiang , Weng Zekai , Zhang Xueao , Cai Weiwei
Published: April 2020

The grain boundaries of graphene are disordered topological defects, which would strongly affect the physical and chemical properties of graphene. In this paper, the spectral characteristics and photoresponse of MoS2/graphene heterostructures are studied. It is found that the blueshift of the G and 2D peaks of graphene in Raman spectrum is due to doping. The lattice mismatch at the graphene boundaries results in a blueshift of MoS2 features in the photoluminescence spectra, comparing to the MoS2 grown on SiO2. In addition, the photocurrent signal in MoS2/hexagonal single-crystal graphene heterostructures is successfully captured without bias, but not in MoS2/polycrystalline graphene heterostructures. The electron scattering at graphene grain boundaries affects the optical response of MoS2/graphene heterostructures. The photoresponse of the device is attributed to the optical absorption and response of MoS2 and the high carrier mobility of graphene. These findings offer a new approach to develop optoelectronic devices based on two-dimensional material heterostructures.
Chaotic signal denoising algorithm based on sparse decomposition*
Authors: Huang Jin-Wang , Lv Shan-Xiang , Zhang Zu-Sheng , Yuan Hua-Qiang
Published: April 2020

Denoising of chaotic signal is a challenge work due to its wide-band and noise-like characteristics. The algorithm should make the denoised signal have a high signal to noise ratio and retain the chaotic characteristics. We propose a denoising method of chaotic signals based on sparse decomposition and K-singular value decomposition (K-SVD) optimization. The observed signal is divided into segments and decomposed sparsely. The over-complete atomic library is constructed according to the differential equation of chaotic signals. The orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm is used to search the optimal matching atom. The atoms and coefficients are further processed to obtain the globally optimal atoms and coefficients by K-SVD. The simulation results show that the denoised signals have a higher signal to noise ratio and better preserve the chaotic characteristics.
A systematic review of the energy and climate impacts of teleworking
Authors: Hook Andrew , Court Victor , Sovacool Benjamin K , Sorrell Steve
Published: April 2020

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) increasingly enable employees to work from home and other locations (‘teleworking’). This study explores the extent to which teleworking reduces the need to travel to work and the consequent impacts on economy-wide energy consumption. The paper provides a systematic review of the current state of knowledge of the energy impacts of teleworking. This includes the energy savings from reduced commuter travel and the indirect impacts on energy consumption associated with changes in non-work travel and home energy consumption. The aim is to identify the conditions under which teleworking leads to a net reduction in economy-wide energy consumption, and the circumstances where benefits may be outweighed by unintended impacts. The paper synthesises the results of 39 empirical studies, identified through a comprehensive search of 9000 published articles. Twenty six of the 39 studies suggest that teleworking reduces energy use, and only eight studies suggest that teleworking increases, or has a neutral impact on energy use. However, differences in the methodology, scope and assumptions of the different studies make it difficult to estimate ‘average’ energy savings. The main source of savings is the reduced distance travelled for commuting, potentially with an additional contribution from lower office energy consumption. However, the more rigorous studies that include a wider range of impacts (e.g. non-work travel or home energy use) generally find smaller savings. Despite the generally positive verdict on teleworking as an energy-saving practice, there are numerous uncertainties and ambiguities about its actual or potential benefits. These relate to the extent to which teleworking may lead to unpredictable increases in non-work travel and home energy use that may outweigh the gains from reduced work travel. The available evidence suggests that economy-wide energy savings are typically modest, and in many circumstances could be negative or non-existent.
On certain distance and degree based topological indices of Zeolite LTA frameworks
Authors: Prabhu S , Murugan G , Cary Michael , Arulperumjothi M , Liu Jia-Bao
Published: April 2020

Zeolites are aluminosilicates with extensive application both commercially and in materials science. Current applications include dehydrating natural gas and in humidity sensors. Synthesis of new frameworks is an important area of research in chemistry and materials science. The Zeolite LTA framework in particular is getting much attention in this area due to its potential for application. Topological indices are graph invariants which provide information on the structure of graphs and have proven very useful in quantitative structure activity relationships (QSAR) and quantitative structure property relationships (QSPR) at predicting important chemico-phyiscal aspects of chemical compounds. In this paper we compute nine of the most significant distance based topological indices of the Zeolite LTA framework and thirteen valency based molecular descriptors.
Effect of hydrogen embrittlement and non-metallic inclusions on tensile fracture properties of 55CrSi spring steel
Authors: Li Na , Wang Wei , Liang Qimin
Published: April 2020

The tensile fracture behavior of 55CrSi spring steels were investigated. The results demonstrate that interior inclusion and hydrogen level has a significant effect on ductility and a minimal effect on tensile strength of the spring steel. It was due to the effect of cracking from MgO-Al2O3 spinel inclusion or the inclusions with a mixture of CaO, SiO2 and part of Al2O3 due to hydrogen. The results of SEM showed that the ductility reduction is connected with the formation of ‘fisheye’ which formed under the influence of mobile hydrogen. For the specimen containing MgO-Al2O3 spinel inclusion, the fracture surface in the ‘fisheye’ area is mainly composed of three regions including typical quasi-cleavage mixed intergranular fracture, dimple mixed transgranular fractures and ductile fracture from the interior to the edge, whereas there is no obvious transition zone from brittle fracture to dimple fracture in the ‘fisheye’ area of the specimen containing inclusions with a mixture of CaO, SiO2 and part of Al2O3.
Barusiban, a selective oxytocin receptor antagonist: placental transfer in rabbit, monkey, and human†
Authors: Helmer Hanns , Saleh Leila , Petricevic Ljubomir , Knöfler Martin , Reinheimer Torsten M
Published: April 2020

The use of drugs in pregnancy always raises concerns regarding potential fetal exposure and possible adverse effects through their accumulation in fetal tissues and organs. Barusiban is an oxytocin antagonist under development for potential use as tocolytic in preterm-labor patients. It displays greater affinity for the oxytocin receptor compared to vasopressin V1A receptor and would thus not interfere with vasopressin-induced effects of the V1A receptor. Barusiban placental transfer was determined in the rabbit and cynomolgus monkey and in an ex vivo human cotyledon model. In the rabbit, there was an approximately 5% transfer of barusiban from the maternal to the fetal blood, without significant accumulation in any of the investigated fetal tissues. In the cynomolgus monkeys, the mean fetal plasma barusiban concentration was 9.1% of the maternal level. This was similar to the percentage of barusiban transfer in the human placental single cotyledon, which once equilibrated ranged between 9.3 and 11.0% over the observation period. The transfer of the small-molecule antipyrine as a comparator in this human model was approximately three times greater. The similarity in the degree of transfer in the cynomolgus monkey and human cotyledon, while being less in the rabbit, may reflect the species-specific placental barrier structure between the maternal and fetal compartments. In conclusion, limited placental transfer of barusiban occurred in all three models. The similarity of barusiban transfer in the cynomolgus and the human placental single cotyledon suggests the latter ex vivo model to be useful in assessing future drug candidates to be used in pregnant women.
Plasma or Serum: Which Is Preferable for Mutation Detection in Liquid Biopsy?
Authors: Pittella-Silva Fabio , Chin Yoon Ming , Chan Hiu Ting , Nagayama Satoshi , Miyauchi Eisaku , Low Siew-Kee , Nakamura Yusuke
Published: April 2020

Background

Blood-based analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising tool for cancer screening, monitoring relapse/recurrence and evaluating response to treatment. Although plasma is widely used to obtain ctDNA, biorepositories worldwide possess a huge number of serum samples and comparative studies on the use of serum vs plasma as ctDNA sources are essential.

Methods

We analyzed cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from matched EDTA-plasma and serum samples from healthy donors and patients with colorectal or lung cancer, and used targeted next-generation sequencing to evaluate mutation detection efficiency and reproducibility. Matched samples from healthy individuals were spiked with reference oligonucleotides and sequenced using the Ion-S5 Oncomine-Pan-Cancer panel. Detection efficiency in matched samples from patients with cancer was evaluated using 2 distinct gene panels and compared to mutations found in tissue-biopsy samples at diagnosis.

Results

Mean total cfDNA was 55% higher in serum samples and the presence of longer DNA fragments was significantly increased in serum compared with plasma samples (P = 0.0001 to 0.015). Spiked mutated nucleotides were detected in both samples, but allele frequencies (AF) were approximately half in serum compared with plasma, suggesting ctDNA from serum was more diluted by DNA of noncancerous origins. Matched samples from patients with cancer revealed that up to 44.8% of mutations with low AF were missed in serum samples and concordance rates with somatic mutations found in tissue biopsy at diagnosis was better in plasma samples.

Conclusion

The use of serum in retrospective studies should consider the limitations for detecting low AF mutations. Plasma is clearly preferable for prospective clinical applications of liquid biopsy.
The thrombotic risk of spaceflight: has a serious problem been overlooked for more than half of a century?
Authors: Limper Ulrich , Tank Jens , Ahnert Tobias , Maegele Marc , Grottke Oliver , Hein Marc , Jordan Jens
Published: April 2020

The first ever venous thrombotic condition associated with spaceflight, an internal jugular vein thrombus requiring anticoagulation, has recently been reported. Systematic investigation of space travel-associated thrombotic risk has not been conducted. Cellular, animal, and human studies performed in ground-based models and in actual weightlessness revealed influences of weightlessness and gravity on the blood coagulation system. However, human study populations were small and limited to highly selected participants. Evidence in individuals with medical conditions and older persons is lacking. Evidence for thrombotic risk in spaceflight is unsatisfactory. This issue deserves further study in heterogeneous, high risk populations to find prevention strategies and to enable safe governmental and touristic human spaceflight.
Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Extraordinary Diversity of Venom Peptides in Unexplored Predatory Gastropods of the Genus Clavus
Authors: Lu Aiping , Watkins Maren , Li Qing , Robinson Samuel D , Concepcion Gisela P , Yandell Mark , Weng Zhiping , Olivera Baldomero M , Safavi-Hemami Helena , Fedosov Alexander E
Published: April 2020

Predatory gastropods of the superfamily Conoidea number over 12,000 living species. The evolutionary success of this lineage can be explained by the ability of conoideans to produce complex venoms for hunting, defense, and competitive interactions. Whereas venoms of cone snails (family Conidae) have become increasingly well studied, the venoms of most other conoidean lineages remain largely uncharacterized. In the present study, we present the venom gland transcriptomes of two species of the genus Clavus that belong to the family Drilliidae. Venom gland transcriptomes of two specimens of Clavus canalicularis and two specimens of Clavus davidgilmouri were analyzed, leading to the identification of a total of 1,176 putative venom peptide toxins (drillipeptides). Based on the combined evidence of secretion signal sequence identity, entire precursor similarity search (BLAST), and the orthology inference, putative Clavus toxins were assigned to 158 different gene families. The majority of identified transcripts comprise signal, pro-, mature peptide, and post-regions, with a typically short (<50 amino acids) and cysteine-rich mature peptide region. Thus, drillipeptides are structurally similar to conotoxins. However, convincing homology with known groups of Conus toxins was only detected for very few toxin families. Among these are Clavus counterparts of Conus venom insulins (drillinsulins), porins (drilliporins), and highly diversified lectins (drillilectins). The short size of most drillipeptides and structural similarity to conotoxins were unexpected, given that most related conoidean gastropod families (Terebridae and Turridae) possess longer mature peptide regions. Our findings indicate that, similar to conotoxins, drillipeptides may represent a valuable resource for future pharmacological exploration.
Probing depth and lateral variations of upper-mantle seismic anisotropy from full-waveform inversion of teleseismic body-waves
Authors: Beller Stephen , Chevrot Sébastien
Published: April 2020

While seismic anisotropy can potentially provide crucial insights into mantle dynamics, 3-D imaging of seismic anisotropy is still a challenging problem. Here, we present an extension of our regional full-waveform inversion method to image seismic anisotropy in the lithosphere and asthenosphere from teleseismic P and S waveforms. The models are parametrized in terms of density and the 21 elastic coefficients of the fourth-order elasticity tensor. The inversion method makes no a priori assumptions on the symmetry class or on the orientation of the symmetry axes. Instead, the elasticity tensors in the final models are decomposed with the projection method. This method allows us to determine the orientation of the symmetry axes and to extract the contributions of each symmetry class. From simple synthetic experiments, we demonstrate that our full-waveform inversion method is able to image complex 3-D anisotropic structures. In particular, the method is able to almost perfectly recover the general orientation of the symmetry axis or complex layered anisotropic models, which are both extremely challenging problems. We attribute this success to the joint exploitation of both P and S teleseismic waves, which constrain different parts of the elasticity tensor. Another key ingredient is the pre-conditioning of the gradient with an approximate inverse Hessian computed with scattering integrals. The inverse Hessian is crucial for mitigating the artefacts resulting from the uneven (mostly vertical) illumination of teleseismic acquisitions.
Seismic noise attenuation using an online subspace tracking algorithm
Authors: Zhou Yatong , Li Shuhua , Zhang Dong , Chen Yangkang
Published: April 2020

We propose a new low-rank based noise attenuation method using an efficient algorithm for tracking subspaces from highly corrupted seismic observations. The subspace tracking algorithm requires only basic linear algebraic manipulations. The algorithm is derived by analysing incremental gradient descent on the Grassmannian manifold of subspaces. When the multidimensional seismic data are mapped to a low-rank space, the subspace tracking algorithm can be directly applied to the input low-rank matrix to estimate the useful signals. Since the subspace tracking algorithm is an online algorithm, it is more robust to random noise than traditional truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) based subspace tracking algorithm. Compared with the state-of-the-art algorithms, the proposed denoising method can obtain better performance. More specifically, the proposed method outperforms the TSVD-based singular spectrum analysis method in causing less residual noise and also in saving half of the computational cost. Several synthetic and field data examples with different levels of complexities demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the presented algorithm in rejecting different types of noise including random noise, spiky noise, blending noise, and coherent noise.
Mapping the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as a Living Instrument
Authors: Keane David
Published: April 2020

The ‘living instrument’ doctrine has emerged as a key vehicle for evolution and innovation within the International Convention on the Elimination of  All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). Originating in the case law of the European Court of   Human Rights, the doctrine has been adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and, it is argued, all the United Nations treaty bodies. Yet its origins and meaning under ICERD have not been explored. This article investigates its first invocation in an individual communication, Hagan v Australia. It contrasts regional case law, where individual judgments set key interpretive standards, with an international individual communications system that has evolved asymmetrically across the United Nations treaties and does not perform the same standard-setting role. The significance of concluding observations and general recommendations in understanding ICERD as a living instrument is detailed. The living instrument approach in recent inter-State complaints before the International Court of Justice and the Committee is discussed. In conclusion, the need to map ICERD as a living instrument across the multiplicity of its supervisory mechanisms is emphasised.
When public participation matters: The 2010–2013 Icelandic constitutional process
Authors: Landemore Hélène
Published: April 2020

Public participation in constitution-making is now both an established international norm and a widespread practice. But what does public participation really mean and when can it be said to matter? This article documents the case of public participation in constitution-making that took place in Iceland between 2010 and 2013. The Icelandic case is interesting both for the innovative ways in which the public was involved but also because public participation in the process can be shown to have made a causal difference to the resulting text. The quasi-natural experiment setup of the Icelandic constitutional process makes it possible to compare the textual output of expert groups and that of the non-professional politicians on the Constitutional Council who crowdsourced their work to the larger public. The comparison suggests that on some crucial aspects the more inclusively written text is marginally but significantly better than that written by experts alone.
Non-uniform sizing of PV cells in the dense-array module to match the non-uniform illumination in dish-type CPV systems
Authors: Lv Hui , Huang Xiaochuan , Li Jin , Huang Weiwei , Li Yan , Su Yuehong
Published: April 2020

To reduce the efficiency reduction caused by non-uniformity of illumination, a dense-array module with non-uniform sizing of photovoltaic (PV) cells is proposed for dish-type concentrating PV systems. The non-uniform-sized dense-array module has been designed and analyzed theoretically at the ideal irradiance of Gaussian distribution, which consists of 48 silicone solar cells. Using the ZEMAX optical simulation software, the realistic distribution of the Gaussian-like facula on the PV module has been modelled in a dish-type concentrator system. The experiments are done under the conditions of different alignments to imitate the different two-axis tracking accuracy with or without a homogenizer. Besides, the performances of dense-array modules with the classical uniform-sized and the proposed non-uniform-sized PV cells are analyzed under various illumination distributions using ZEMAX, respectively. Results show that when the deviation angle of tracking is 0, 0.02, 0.2, the photoelectric conversion efficiency and output power of the proposed non-uniform size dense-array module considerably exceeds the traditional uniform size module. Furthermore, when the tracking deviation angle is no more than 0.02°, it is a very definite possibility that the dish-type concentrator system with non-uniform-sized dense-array module need not a homogenizer as a secondary optical element, which may hence simplify the system structure.
Changing Expectation: Prenatal Care and the Creation of Healthy Pregnancy
Authors: Howard Agnes R
Published: April 2020

In the early to mid-twentieth-century United States, prenatal care helped reshape pregnancy by extending medical directives into the everyday life of pregnant women. What began with minimal strategies for a few women at high risk grew into a “lifestyle” for all expecting babies. Maternity manuals helped popularize this process. Studying revisions of a widely circulated and publicly funded manual, Prenatal Care, from the U.S. Children’s Bureau between 1913 and 1983, shows that prenatal-care standards offered women healthy pregnancies on condition that they abandon older ways of understanding pregnancy and become maternity patients. Prenatal Care taught women to take positive steps to enhance outcomes, but a woman’s active role in her own pregnancy was complicated by the fact that the guides made obedience to her doctor her primary responsibility.
Plasticity Is Key to Success of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Invasion
Authors: Little Catherine M , Chapman Thomas W , Hillier N Kirk
Published: April 2020

After its initial discovery in California in 2008, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura has become one of the most important invasive agricultural pest insects across climate zones in much of Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Populations of D. suzukii have demonstrated notable behavioral and physiological plasticity, adapting to diverse environmental and climatic conditions, interspecific competition, novel food sources, and potential predators. This adaptability and plasticity have enabled rapid range expansion and diversified niche use by D. suzukii, making it a species particularly suited to changing habitats and conditions. This article reviews factors and evidence that influence plasticity in D. suzukii and promotes this species’ invasiveness.
Realized Variance Modeling: Decoupling Forecasting from Estimation*
Authors: Cipollini Fabrizio , Gallo Giampiero M , Palandri Alessandro
Published: April 2020

This article evaluates the in-sample fit and out-of-sample forecasts of various combinations of realized variance models and functions delivering estimates (estimation criteria). Our empirical findings highlight that: independently of the econometrician’s forecasting loss (FL) function, certain estimation criteria perform significantly better than others; the simple ARMA modeling of the log realized variance generates superior forecasts than the Heterogeneous Autoregressive (HAR) family, for any of the FL functions considered; the (2, 1) parameterizations with negative lag-2 coefficient emerge as the benchmark specifications generating the best forecasts and approximating long-range dependence as does the HAR family.
Panmixia in a sea ice-associated marine mammal: evaluating genetic structure of the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) at multiple spatial scales
Authors: Beatty William S , Lemons Patrick R , Sethi Suresh A , Everett Jason P , Lewis Cara J , Lynn Robert J , Cook Geoffrey M , Garlich-Miller Joel L , Wenburg John K
Published: April 2020

The kin structure of a species at relatively fine spatial scales impacts broad-scale patterns in genetic structure at the population level. However, kin structure rarely has been elucidated for migratory marine mammals. The Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) exhibits migratory behavior linked to seasonal patterns in sea ice dynamics. Consequently, information on the spatial genetic structure of the subspecies, including kin structure, could aid wildlife managers in designing future studies to evaluate the impacts of sea ice loss on the subspecies. We sampled 8,303 individual walruses over a 5-year period and used 114 single-nucleotide polymorphisms to examine both broad-scale patterns in genetic structure and fine-scale patterns in relatedness. We did not detect any evidence of genetic structure at broad spatial scales, with low FST values (≤ 0.001) across all pairs of putative aggregations. To evaluate kin structure at fine spatial scales, we defined a walrus group as a cluster of resting individuals that were less than one walrus body length apart. We found weak evidence of kin structure at fine spatial scales, with 3.72% of groups exhibiting mean relatedness values greater than expected by chance, and a significantly higher overall observed mean value of relatedness within groups than expected by chance. Thus, the high spatiotemporal variation in the distribution of resources in the Pacific Arctic environment likely has favored a gregarious social system in Pacific walruses, with unrelated animals forming temporary associations.
A 70% Reduction in Mosquito Populations Does Not Require Removal of 70% of Mosquitoes
Authors: Lega J , Brown H E , Barrera R
Published: April 2020

We added a vector control component to our existing abundance model to simulate intensive vector control in Puerto Rico. Removing 20–30% of gravid females in the model matches observed 60–80% reductions. The model’s capacity to reproduce vector control increases its utility for planning and evaluation strategies.
Baseline Susceptibility Status of Florida Populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus
Authors: Parker Casey , Ramirez Daviela , Thomas Carol , Connelly C Roxanne
Published: April 2020

Resistance to insecticides used to control mosquito vectors threatens the ability of mosquito-control organizations to protect public health. Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) are invasive species widely distributed throughout Florida and have been implicated in recent epidemics of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses. Knowledge of the susceptibility status of these mosquito species to pyrethroid and organophosphate active ingredients (AIs) is needed to inform product selection and treatment decisions. The susceptibility of 37 Ae. aegypti and 42 Ae. albopictus populations from Florida was assessed in response to six pyrethroid and three organophosphate AIs using the CDC bottle bioassay method. Of all bioassays completed with a pyrethroid AI, 95% for Ae. aegypti and 30% for Ae. albopictus resulted in a resistant outcome. For organophosphate AIs, ~31% of assays conducted for both species were classified as resistant. The highest frequency of susceptibility for both species was observed in response to the organophosphate AI, naled. Lambda-cyhalothrin was the only pyrethroid to result in a susceptible status for Ae. aegypti and also had the highest frequency of susceptibility for Ae. albopictus. Resistance was detected to every AI tested for both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, but there was a pronounced trend of pyrethroid resistance in Florida populations of Ae. aegypti. The results of this work provide evidence for the need to decrease reliance on pyrethroids and to implement different methods of control of Ae. aegypti in Florida.
Association of Body Mass Index With Colorectal Cancer Risk by Genome-Wide Variants
Authors: Campbell Peter T , Lin Yi , Bien Stephanie A , Figueiredo Jane C , Harrison Tabitha A , Guinter Mark A , Berndt Sonja I , Brenner Hermann , Chan Andrew T , Chang-Claude Jenny , Gallinger Steven J , Gapstur Susan M , Giles Graham G , Giovannucci Edward , Gruber Stephen B , Gunter Marc , Hoffmeister Michael , Jacobs Eric J , Jenkins Mark A , Le Marchand Loic , Li Li , McLaughlin John R , Murphy Neil , Milne Roger L , Newcomb Polly A , Newton Christina , Ogino Shuji , Potter John D , Rennert Gad , Rennert Hedy S , Robinson Jennifer , Sakoda Lori C , Slattery Martha L , Song Yiqing , White Emily , Woods Michael O , Casey Graham , Hsu Li , Peters Ulrike
Published: April 2020

Background

Body mass index (BMI) is a complex phenotype that may interact with genetic variants to influence colorectal cancer risk.

Methods

We tested multiplicative statistical interactions between BMI (per 5 kg/m2) and approximately 2.7 million single nucleotide polymorphisms with colorectal cancer risk among 14 059 colorectal cancer case (53.2% women) and 14 416 control (53.8% women) participants. All analyses were stratified by sex a priori. Statistical methods included 2-step (ie, Cocktail method) and single-step (ie, case-control logistic regression and a joint 2-degree of freedom test) procedures. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

Each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI was associated with higher risks of colorectal cancer, less so for women (odds ratio [OR] = 1.14, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.11 to 1.18; P = 9.75 × 10–17) than for men (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.20 to 1.32; P = 2.13 × 10–24). The 2-step Cocktail method identified an interaction for women, but not men, between BMI and a SMAD7 intronic variant at 18q21.1 (rs4939827; Pobserved = .0009; Pthreshold = .005). A joint 2-degree of freedom test was consistent with this finding for women (joint P = 2.43 × 10–10). Each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI was more strongly associated with colorectal cancer risk for women with the rs4939827-CC genotype (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.16 to 1.32; P = 2.60 × 10–10) than for women with the CT (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.09 to 1.19; P = 1.04 × 10–8) or TT (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.14; P = .02) genotypes.

Conclusion

These results provide novel insights on a potential mechanism through which a SMAD7 variant, previously identified as a susceptibility locus for colorectal cancer, and BMI may influence colorectal cancer risk for women.
Containing COVID-19 in rural and remote areas: experiences from China
Authors: Liu Xiucheng , Zhang Dianan , Sun Teng , Li Xiang , Zhang Hao
Published: April 2020

Although the COVID-19 outbreak initially mainly affected highly urbanized settings, eventually it will reach rural and remote populations resulting in even worse outcomes due to the lack of access to testing, health care and slower implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions. Here we describe the containment efforts in rural China.
Volumetric analysis of IDH-mutant lower-grade glioma: a natural history study of tumor growth rates before and after treatment
Authors: Huang Raymond Y , Young Robert J , Ellingson Benjamin M , Veeraraghavan Harini , Wang Wei , Tixier Florent , Um Hyemin , Nawaz Rasheed , Luks Tracy , Kim John , Gerstner Elizabeth R , Schiff David , Peters Katherine B , Mellinghoff Ingo K , Chang Susan M , Cloughesy Timothy F , Wen Patrick Y
Published: April 2020

Background

Lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and/or 2 (IDH1/2) mutations have long survival times, making evaluation of treatment efficacy difficult. We investigated the volumetric growth rate of IDH mutant gliomas before and after treatment with established glioma therapies to determine whether a significant change in growth rate could be documented and perhaps be used in the future to evaluate treatment response to investigational agents in LGG trials.

Methods

In this multicenter retrospective study, 230 adult patients with IDH1/2 mutated LGGs (World Health Organization grade II or III) undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy for progressive non-enhancing tumor were identified. Subjects were required to have 3 MRI scans containing T2/fluid attenuated inversion recovery imaging spanning a minimum of 6 months prior to treatment. A mixed-effect model was used to estimate tumor growth prior to treatment. A subset of 95 patients who received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy and had 2 posttreatment imaging time points available were evaluated for change in pre- and posttreatment volumetric growth rates using a piecewise mixed model.

Results

The pretreatment volumetric growth rate across all 230 patients was 27.37%/180 days (95% CI: [23.36%, 31.51%]). In the 95 patients with both pre- and posttreatment scans available, there was a significant difference in volumetric growth rates before (26.63%/180 days, 95% CI: [19.31%, 34.40%]) and after treatment (−15.24% /180 days, 95% CI: [−21.37%, −8.62%]) (P < 0.0001). The growth rates for patient subgroup with 1p/19q codeletion (N = 118) was significantly slower than the rate of the 1p/19q non-codeleted group (N = 68) (22.84% vs 35.49%, P = 0.0108).

Conclusion

In this study, we evaluated the growth rates of IDH mutant gliomas before and after standard therapy. Further study is needed to establish whether a change in growth rate is associated with patient survival and its use as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials for IDH mutant LGGs.
Suspended Deportation Orders: A Proposed Law Reform
Authors: Collinson Jonathan
Published: April 2020

The Immigration Act 2014, the UK statutory law governing deportation, requires deportation as the normal consequence of criminal offending by a foreign national. Deportation is a binary institution; a foreign national offender (FNO) is made subject to a deportation order and deported from the UK, or they are not. This is problematic because it creates two kinds of ‘hard cases’ on either side of the statutory categories for exemption from deportation on the basis of an FNO’s article 8 ECHR family life. This article proposes the introduction of a ‘suspended deportation order’ so as to create a third possible disposal for deportation appeals as a means by which to tackle the problems arising from the binary outcomes to deportation appeals. The article examines suspended prison sentences as a model for the rationale and practical application of a ‘suspended deportation order’, noting both similarities and differences to this fixture of sentencing law.
The Effectiveness of Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Axial Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis
Authors: Conger Aaron , Sperry Beau P , Cheney Cole W , Burnham Taylor M , Mahan Mark A , Onofrei Ligia V , Cushman Daniel M , Wagner Graham E , Shipman Hank , Teramoto Masaru , McCormick Zachary L
Published: April 2020

Objective

Determine the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the treatment of axial low back pain (LBP) with or without leg pain.

Design

Systematic review.

Subjects

Persons aged ≥18 with axial LBP with or without accompanying leg pain.

Intervention

Traditional low-frequency, burst, or high-frequency SCS.

Comparison

Sham, active standard of care treatment, or none.

Outcomes

The primary outcome was ≥50% pain improvement, and the secondary outcome was functional improvement measured six or more months after treatment intervention.

Methods

Publications in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases were reviewed through September 19, 2019. Randomized or nonrandomized comparative studies and nonrandomized studies without internal controls were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and GRADE system were used to assess individual study characteristics and overall quality.

Results

Query identified 262 publications; 17 were suitable for inclusion. For high-frequency SCS, the only level 1 study showed that 79% (95% confidence interval = 70–87%) of patients reported ≥50% pain improvement. For low-frequency SCS, the only level 1 study reported no categorical data for axial LBP-specific outcomes; axial LBP improved by a mean 14 mm on the visual analog scale at six months. Meta-analysis was not performed due to study heterogeneity.

Conclusions

According to GRADE, there is low-quality evidence that high-frequency SCS compared with low-frequency SCS is effective in patients with axial LBP with concomitant leg pain. There is very low-quality evidence for low-frequency SCS for the treatment of axial LBP in patients with concomitant leg pain. There is insufficient evidence addressing the effectiveness of burst SCS to apply a GRADE rating.
Methodological Quality of Physical Therapy Guidelines and Their Suitability for Adaptation: A Scoping Review
Authors: Becker Monika , Strunk Katharina , Buschhaus Niels , Bühn Stefanie , Pieper Dawid
Published: April 2020

Objective

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) can be characterized to the extent that they specifically address physical therapists and mainly contain recommendations for physical therapist interventions. The primary aim of this study was to identify existing physical therapy CPGs regardless of medical condition, with a secondary aim of assessing their methodological quality to determine whether they are potentially suitable for adaptation.

Methods

Systematic searches of the Medline and Physiotherapy Evidence Database were performed (August 2019), and the websites of World Confederation for Physical Therapy members were screened (September 2019). Only CPGs published in German or English were included. Two independent reviewers screened records according to previously defined inclusion criteria. Information was extracted regarding country of origin, year of publication, and clinical subject area addressed. Four independent reviewers assessed the quality of physical therapy CPGs using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation instrument. A descriptive data analysis was performed.

Results

Thirty-five CPGs met the inclusion criteria; 46% (16/35) of the included CPGs were from the United States, and 31% (11/35) were from the Netherlands. Assessment using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation tool resulted in the following domain scores, presented as median percentage (interquartile range): domain 1 (scope and purpose), 76 (63–92); domain 2 (stakeholder involvement), 63 (55–76); domain 3 (rigor of development), 67 (53–75); domain 4 (clarity of presentation), 74 (67–77); domain 5 (applicability), 44 (30–57); and domain 6 (editorial independence), 52 (35–66).

Conclusions

In general, the methodological quality of the included CPGs was moderate to good. Possibilities of adapting recommendations from existing CPGs should be considered with the development of new physical therapy CPGs.

Impact Statement

This study can raise awareness of existing physical therapy CPGs and can support their application by physical therapists. Further, the study can support decisions on adapting existing CPGs with the planning of new physical therapy CPGs.
P136 Adverse reaction with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy and management of symptoms: a single centre experience
Authors: Wildman Sabina H. A , Al-Obaidi Muthana
Published: April 2020

Background

IVIG is a therapeutic preparation comprising of pooled blood donated from large numbers of healthy people. There are different preparations of IVIG available. All should have high levels of IgG (>95%) but vary in concentrations, pH, stabilizing agents and IgA content. In inflammatory conditions, IVIG is often used as an adjunct therapy in patients with poor response to first line therapy and in general well tolerated. However adverse reactions can occur and vary in severity from mild constitutional symptoms to aseptic meningitis. The aim of this study was to identify patients who required IVIG within the paediatric rheumatology department at Great Ormond Street Hospital, the underlying diagnosis of these patients and the indication for starting treatment. The study also looked at the number of adverse drug reactions of patients requiring IVIG, the symptoms they presented with and the management of these symptoms.

Methods

A retrospective case review, of patients under the care of the paediatric rheumatology team who received IVIG between July 2013 to August 2018. We collected demographics including, age, sex, diagnosis of patients and indication for commencing IVIG, symptoms of any adverse drug reaction and management of symptoms.

Results

We identified 43 patients who required IVIG over the last 5 years as part of their treatment plan, of which 23 patients had a diagnosis of Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). Of the remaining patients 5 had a diagnosis of SLE, 4 with SRP positive mysositis, 2 with necrotising myositis and 2 with atypical systemic onset JIA. The main indication for starting treatment was for active or worsening skin disease, muscle weakness or both. From the 43 patients that required IVIG, 21 patients had an adverse drug reaction and 15/21 patients had a diagnosis of JDM. 5/21 patients had symptoms associated with aseptic meningitis (headache, photophobia and neck stiffness), 2 of which were unable to continue treatment. The remaining 16 patients had milder constitutional symptoms. Symptoms were managed by premedicating patients prior to subsequent IVIG treatment with a combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine, ondansetron or by reducing the rate of IVIG infusion or reducing the dose of IVIG from 2g/kg to 1g/kg.

Conclusion

We identified from the study, that half the patients requiring IVIG as part of their treatment plan had an adverse drug reaction of which half had a diagnosis of JDM. However, the majority of patients who had an adverse drug reaction had mild constitutional symptoms, relieved by premedication or by adjusting IVIG rate of infusion or dose. Only 2 patients were unable to continue IVIG treatment.

Disclosures

S.H.A. Wildman None. M. Al-Obaidi None.