bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Holding a stigmatizing attitude at the start of the COVID‐19 outbreak: A cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Smith Louise E. , Potts Henry W. W. , Amlȏt Richard , Fear Nicola T. , Michie Susan , Rubin G. James
Published: October 2021

Objectives

To identify the prevalence of a stigmatizing attitude towards people of Chinese origin at the start of the COVID‐19 outbreak in the UK population and investigate factors associated with holding the stigmatizing attitude.

Design

Online cross‐sectional survey conducted 10–13 February 2020 (n = 2006, people aged 16 years or over and living in the UK).

Methods

We asked participants to what extent they agreed it was best to avoid areas heavily populated by Chinese people because of the COVID‐19 outbreak. Survey materials also asked about: worry, perceived risk, knowledge, information receipt, perception of government response to COVID‐19, and personal characteristics. We ran binary logistic regressions to investigate associations between holding a stigmatizing attitude, personal characteristics, and psychological and contextual factors.

Results

26.1% people (95% CI 24.2–28.0%, n = 524/2006) agreed it was best to avoid areas heavily populated by Chinese people. Holding a stigmatizing attitude was associated with greater worry about COVID‐19, greater perceived risk of COVID‐19, and poorer knowledge about COVID‐19.

Conclusions

At the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic, a large percentage of the UK public endorsed avoiding areas in the UK heavily populated by people of Chinese origin. This attitude was associated with greater worry about, and perceived risk of, the COVID‐19 outbreak as well as poorer knowledge about COVID‐19. At the start of future novel infectious disease outbreaks, proactive communications from official sources should provide context and facts to reduce uncertainty and challenge stigmatizing attitudes, to minimize harms to affected communities.
News, noise, and Indian business cycle
Authors: Goyal Ashima , Kumar Abhishek
Published: October 2021

New Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models with various specifications of technology, markup, and interest rate shocks are estimated with Indian data using Kalman filter based pure and Bayesian likelihood estimation. Preference and interest rate shocks are found to be important for output determination, whereas markup and interest rate shocks are important for inflation. News, as contained in stock market variables and arising from anticipated interest rates, affects growth of gross domestic product. Interest rate shock is anticipated at horizon of one quarter and out of total variance explained by interest rate shock, one third is due to the anticipated shock. Anticipated interest rate shock diminishes the share of preference shock in output determination. Although markup shock has a large share, its persistence is low. There is evidence that permanent component of technology is not well anticipated. Once we incorporate this, technology shocks affect output more, although they still remain much below US levels. Implications for policy include forward guidance on interest rates, less reaction to short‐term supply shocks, and allowing technology shocks to play out.
Skin needling with 100% trichloroacetic acid vs. needling with bleomycin in the treatment of recalcitrant cutaneous warts
Authors: Mohta A. , Chand Ghiya B. , Dutt Mehta R. , Soni P. , Khokhar R. , Sharda P. , Ranga Z.
Published: October 2021

The treatment of warts has always been a challenging prospect for dermatologists. In some cases, these warts can become resistant or recalcitrant to treatment. Although a plethora of therapeutic and destructive options is available for wart management, to date no treatment has been found to be completely effective because none of the agents induce specific antiviral immunity. We conducted a study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of skin needling with topical 100% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) against the same type of skin needling with bleomycin in patients with recalcitrant cutaneous warts. In total, 33 (63.5%) patients in the TCA group and 35 (81.4%) in the bleomycin group had complete clearance of all the warts, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.13). There was also no statistically significant difference between the treated and untreated warts in the bleomycin group, whereas in the TCA group there was a significantly higher response rate in the treated warts. The most common adverse event (AE) in both groups was transient procedure site pain. We found that the use of needling plus TCA leads to a faster resolution of warts compared with needling plus bleomycin, with a comparable safety profile. Additionally, we found that TCA is superior to bleomycin for management of multiple warts. However, needling with either TCA or bleomycin has excellent and fairly comparable efficacy, and these methods should be used for the management of multiple or recalcitrant warts, as they have minimal AEs and recurrence rates.
Maxillary vertical alveolar ridge augmentation using computer‐guided sandwich osteotomy technique with simultaneous implant placement versus conventional technique: A pilot study
Authors: Nazzal Sharif Qassim , Al‐Dubai Mohammed , Mounir Ragia , Ali Sherif , Mounir Mohamed
Published: October 2021

Background

Sandwich osteotomy technique (Inlay bone grafting) is considered as a highly reliable procedure for vertical bone augmentation in the maxillary anterior esthetic zone. The aim of this study was to compare vertical bone gain and palatal tipping using computer‐guided inlay technique versus the conventional technique.

Material and methods

This was a randomized clinical trial including 12 patients who were randomly divided into two groups: sandwich osteotomy with simultaneous implant placement at the anterior maxillary esthetic zone (six patients) using patient‐specific guides (PSGs) in the study group versus conventional technique (six patients). In the control group, free‐hand sandwich osteotomy was done, while in the study group all the procedures were performed with two sequential PSGs with cutting slits, guiding holes, and implant sleeves. Radiographic assessment included measurements of linear changes in the vertical dimensions of the labial plate of bone and palatal tipping on cross‐sectional cuts of cone‐beam computed tomography using special software.

Results

All the procedures were uneventful except one case of the study group showed a cracked bony segment that did not affect the final outcome. Radiographic results showed comparable bone gain in both groups with no statistical significance difference (study group 4.4 mm, control group 3.9 mm). To the contrary, the computer‐guided approach significantly reduced the palatal tipping to 0.4 mm compared to 2.1 mm in the conventional group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p‐value <0.001).

Conclusion

Sandwich osteotomy using PSGs appears to be efficient and showed promising results regarding improving the palatal tipping compared to the free‐hand technique.
Evaluating variation in enhanced recovery for colorectal surgery: a report from the Surgical Care Outcomes Assessment Program
Authors: Weed Christina N. , Bernier Greta V. , Christante Dara H. , Feldmann Timothy , Flum David R. , Kaplan Jennifer A. , Moonka Ravi , Thirlby Richard C. , Simianu Vlad V.
Published: October 2021

Aim

Robust data demonstrate that enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) decrease length of stay, complications and cost. However, little is known about the reasons for variation in compliance with ERPs. The aim of this work was to confirm the efficacy of ERPs in a regional network, and to determine factors that are associated with ERP delivery in diverse hospital settings.

Method

A prospective cohort of patients was created by recording all elective colorectal operations at hospitals in the Surgical Care Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP). The delivery of 12 ERP components was tracked at all sites, and factors associated with ERP component delivery and affecting outcomes were reported.

Results

From 2016 to 2019, 9274 elective colorectal operations were performed at 36 hospitals. Indications were 48% cancer, 23% diverticulitis and 8% inflammatory bowel disease. Minimally invasive surgery was used in 71%. The proportion of cases with six or more ERP components received increased from 23% in 2016 to 50% in 2019. An increase in components was associated with a shorter length of stay and fewer combined adverse events and reinterventions. Further, increasing numbers of ERP components provided an incremental benefit to patients even when delivered in a low‐volume centre or by a low‐volume surgeon, and regardless of patient presentation.

Conclusion

At SCOAP hospitals, the delivery of increasing numbers of ERP components was associated with improved perioperative outcomes and decreased complications after elective colorectal surgery. The variation in delivery of these evidence‐based components in subsets of our cohort indicates an important opportunity for quality improvement initiatives.
The way forward in medical and ethical antenatal counselling for neurological anomalies
Authors: Ferrand Amaryllis , Racine Eric
Published: October 2021

This commentary is on the invited reviews by Hart et al. on pages 14–22 and pages 23–39 of this issue.
Adolescents' perceptions of barriers and facilitators to engaging in mental health treatment: A qualitative meta‐synthesis
Authors: Roberts Mia , Jones Jacqueline , Garcia Lorraine , Techau Aimee
Published: October 2021

Problem

One in seven children, aged 3–17, have a mental health diagnosis with suicide being the second leading cause of death in the United States in persons aged 10–24. Adolescents are at high risk for mental health disorders, substance use, and risky behaviors, yet most adolescents never receive treatment. Research is needed to answer the question, “What are adolescents' perceived barriers and facilitators to engaging in mental health treatment?”

Methods

A four‐step qualitative meta‐synthesis design included: A structured research question and search strategy, data immersion through quality appraisal, thematic synthesis of primary research studies, and reciprocal translation of derived themes.

Findings

Eight studies met inclusion criteria. Autonomy was the primary theme that emerged. Meta‐synthesis produced five subthemes: (a) choice as integral to engagement, (b) stigma as barrier to engagement, (c) quality of the therapeutic relationship as integral to engagement, (d) systemic influences as both barrier and facilitator to engagement, and (e) mental health literacy as crucial factor in decision to engage.

Conclusion

Adolescents require autonomy to engage in mental health treatment. Improving treatment engagement in adolescents requires interventions that address their ability to be autonomous.
Influence of adjacent teeth on the accuracy of intraoral scanning systems for class II inlay preparation
Authors: Kim Jae‐Hoon , Son Sung‐Ae , Lee Hyeonjong , Yoo Yeon‐Jee , Hong Seoung‐Jin , Park Jeong‐Kil
Published: October 2021

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the presence of adjacent teeth on the accuracy of intraoral scanning (IOS) systems for class II inlay preparation.

Materials and Methods

The mesio‐occlusal inlay preparation was prepared in an anatomical model of the maxillary molar. The prepared tooth was secured to a typodont with the mesial adjacent tooth removed or in situ. Ten digital impressions of the inlay preparation were acquired using three IOS systems (CEREC Primescan, 3Shape TRIOS 3, and Medit i500). A laboratory scanner (3Shape E3) was used to obtain the reference scan data. The mean absolute deviation values were calculated to evaluate the accuracy of the digital models.

Results

The group with the adjacent teeth present showed lower trueness and precision compared to that without the adjacent tooth (p < .05). Significant differences were observed among the IOS systems (p < .05). Primescan showed the highest accuracy, irrespective of the presence of adjacent teeth.

Conclusions

The presence of the adjacent tooth negatively affected the accuracy of all the IOSs tested. Although the performance of Primescan was superior to that of TRIOS 3 and i500, each IOS system showed clinically acceptable levels of accuracy for class II inlay preparation.

Clinical Significance

The adjacent tooth can be a confounding factor for accurate digital impressions of class II inlay preparation.
Development and process parameter optimization with an integrated test bench for rolling and forming strips of oolong tea
Authors: Jia Jiangming , Zhang Chenan , Yuan Bin , Chen Zhiwei , Chen Jianneng
Published: October 2021

To solve the problems associated with the low rate of single‐use tea formation in oolong tea rolling equipment and the need for multiple rolling and formation processes, a new rolling and formation process is proposed. Based on the traditional rolling process, a heavy pressure holding process is added to keep the tea in a tight and curved state after the rolling is completed. Based on the traditional 25‐type rolling machine, the overall structure design of a test bench with integrated rolling and formation is described, and the control system of the test bench is established. In this article, a new orthogonal experiment using 12 factors and 3 levels for the rolling and formation of oolong tea strips is conducted, and the optimal process parameters are obtained. The experiment is carried out under the optimum process parameters, and the experimental results show that the strip formation rate of oolong tea is 77.37%, the tea breakage rate is 3.73%, and the time efficiency is 1.062 g s−1. Compared with the traditional rolling process, the formation rate and time efficiency of this process are significantly improved, and the comprehensive score is 1.613 times higher than that of the traditional rolling process. This shows that the new rolling and formation process improves the strip formation rate and efficiency of oolong tea production to ensure tea quality.

Practical Applications

Oolong tea is popular because of its high medicinal value and lasting fragrance. Efficient rolling and forming equipment can improve the efficiency of oolong tea production. The optimal parameters also provide a reference for rolling and forming equipment.
Measurement error in research on financial literacy: How much error is there and how does it influence effect size estimates?
Authors: Gignac Gilles E. , Ooi Elizabeth
Published: October 2021

Financial literacy is often measured with only three to five questions, suggesting challenges with achieving respectable levels of internal consistency reliability. Based on our review, we found financial literacy tests composed of three and five test questions yielded mean reliability estimates of 0.40 (k = 7; N = 167,075) and 0.54 (k = 8; N = 57,937), respectively: values less than minimally acceptable for even exploratory research. Based on our more comprehensive review of 52 samples and a variety of financial literacy tests (3–45 questions), researchers are recommended to measure financial literacy with a minimum of 13–15 questions. Finally, we conclude that the potential impact of financial literacy on various outcome variables has been underestimated substantially in many previous investigations, as the relatively low levels of internal consistency reliability in the financial literacy test scores attenuated the obtained effects estimated from the observed scores.
Sociological limits and prospects of contemporary cultural evolutionary theory
Authors: Rutar Tibor
Published: October 2021

What can sociology learn about the logic of social behaviour from the field of cultural evolution? How can sociology enrich cultural evolutionary theory? In this article, I present and examine cultural evolutionary theory by specifying its various proposed mechanisms, such as cultural drift, biased transmission and cultural selection (including cultural group selection), and by investigating concrete examples of social phenomena to which the theory has been applied. My findings are three‐fold. First, cultural evolutionary mechanisms should not be dismissed by sociologists but instead, given their strong explanatory power in certain cases, incorporated into their basic theoretical toolkit. Second, one mechanism, i.e. cultural selection, can even underpin a more nuanced and micro‐founded sociological functionalism that avoids some of the errors of structural functionalism. This, however, should not be celebrated too soon as the applicability of cultural selection is more limited than cultural evolutionists acknowledge. Third, drawing on historical sociology and comparative politics I also uncover further important sociological limitations of the cultural evolutionary approach that should be heeded by the latter. I focus on two: (1) its inapplicability to cases of intentional decision‐making and strategizing, and (2) its inability to subsume the phenomenon of social power.
Developmental Trajectories of Early Higher‐Order Thinking Talk Differ for Typically Developing Children and Children With Unilateral Brain Injuries
Authors: Frausel Rebecca R. , Vollman Elayne , Muzard Antonia , Richland Lindsey E. , Goldin‐Meadow Susan , Levine Susan C.
Published: October 2021

The use of higher‐order thinking talk (HOTT), where speakers identify relations between representations (e.g., comparison, causality, abstraction) is examined in the spontaneous language produced by 64 typically developing (TD) and 46 brain‐injured children, observed from 14–58 months at home. HOTT is less frequent in lower‐income children and children with brain injuries, but effects differed depending on HOTT complexity and type of brain injury. Controlling for income, children with larger and later‐occurring cerebrovascular infarcts produce fewer surface (where relations are more perceptual) and structure (where relations are more abstract) HOTT utterances than TD children. In contrast, children with smaller and earlier occurring periventricular lesions produce HOTT at comparable rates to TD children. This suggests that examining HOTT development may be an important tool for understanding the impacts of brain injury in children. Theoretically, these data reveal that both neurological (size and timing of brain injury) and environmental (family income) factors contribute to these skills.
“I didn't mean to suggest anything like that!”: Deniability and context reconstruction
Authors: Mazzarella Diana
Published: October 2021

Verbal communication leaves room for interpretative disputes. Speakers can argue about what they mean by their words and negotiate their commitments in conversation. This article examines the deniability of implicitly communicated contents and addresses the question of what makes an act of denial seem more or less plausible to the addressee. I argue that denials bring about a process of reconstruction of the context of interpretation of the speaker's utterance and I illustrate how considerations of cognitive utility are the key determinant for distinguishing plausible from merely possible deniability.
Presence of galectin‐3 in peritoneal dialysate. Does it have a role in the peritoneal membrane inflammatory process?
Authors: Einbinder Yael , Siboni Ayala , Zaidenstein Shirley , Cohen‐Hagai Keren , Benchetrit Sydney , Zitman‐Gal Tali
Published: October 2021

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) causes structural and functional changes in the peritoneal membrane, which are attributed to local inflammatory process. This study assessed the presence of galectin‐3 (Gal‐3), a known inflammatory modulator, in dialysate effluent and correlated its levels with markers of inflammatory process. Gal‐3 levels in serum and dialysate effluent were measured in prevalent PD patients on morning visits (n = 27) or during peritoneal equilibration tests (PET, n = 16), it association with clinical and laboratory parameters, including dialysate/plasma creatinine (D/P creatinine) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels was analysed. Gal‐3 levels in dialysate effluent correlated with D/P creatinine (0.663, p = 0.005) and dialysate effluent IL‐6 levels (0.674, p = 0.002), but not with serum Gal‐3 levels or dialysis vintage. Patients who were high transporters had higher Gal‐3 levels in dialysate effluent, as compared to lower transporters. In multivariate regression analysis, dialysate IL‐6 level was the strongest predictor of dialysate Gal‐3 levels. This study found Gal‐3 in dialysate effluent correlated with D/P creatinine and dialysate IL‐6 levels. These findings may imply that Gal‐3 has a role in the intraperitoneal inflammatory process. However, this needs to be investigated further.
Dietary interventions on the prevention and management of diabetes in post‐kidney transplantation – A systematic review
Authors: Li Joanne , Chong Arian , Carey Sharon
Published: October 2021

Post‐transplant diabetes mellitus is associated with long‐term immunosuppression and weight gain, and is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, accelerated loss of graft and increased mortality. There is an absence of strong evidence‐based dietary guidelines for the prevention and management of post‐transplant diabetes mellitus in kidney transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to systematically review all dietary evidence for kidney transplant recipients on clinical outcomes relating to diabetes, patient‐reported outcomes and economic outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in August 2020 using the databases Medline, Embase, CENTRAL and CINAHL. Studies were critically appraised using Cochrane risk of bias tools and GRADE. A total of 12 studies and 1928 participants were included. Four papers focused on diet and exercise, one paper on diet only, two papers on magnesium supplementation, one paper on magnesium and fibre intake, two papers on Mediterranean diet, one paper on marine n‐3 fatty acid supplementation and one paper on fruit and vegetable intake. There were no significant effects on outcomes relating to dietary counselling, magnesium supplementation, magnesium and fibre intake or marine n‐3 fatty acid supplementation. Low‐quality evidence supports the Mediterranean diet in reducing the risk of post‐transplant diabetes mellitus and fasting plasma glucose levels. Low‐quality evidence suggests vegetable intake being associated with a lower risk of post‐transplant diabetes mellitus. This review demonstrates limited evidence for dietary interventions in the prevention and management of diabetes in post‐kidney transplantation. The findings suggest that further high‐quality research with robust study designs is required.
Linking fine‐root architecture, vertical distribution and growth rate in temperate mountain shrubs
Authors: Yang Yu , McCormack M. Luke , Hu Hui , Bao Weikai , Li Fanglan
Published: October 2021

Fine‐root branching, vertical distribution and morphology together with root growth rate are key dimensions that determine root strategies for belowground resource acquisition. However, few studies have addressed these traits together with coordinated measures of root growth rates, limiting generalizations about how these root traits coordinate among species. We conducted a common garden experiment to examine interspecific variation and coordination among architectural and morphological traits together with vertical distribution and growth rate of fine‐roots (≤ 2 mm in diameter) across 11 temperate shrub species. Across all species, root morphological traits showed only moderate differences among the first three branching orders and changed more dramatically in higher orders. We found that thin‐rooted shrub species had greater branching intensity than thick‐rooted species. Live fine‐root density (length and mass) decreased as an exponential pattern with increasing soil depth while the density of dead fine‐roots remained relatively constant. Patterns of fine‐root growth rates were independent of morphological and architectural traits, but were negatively related to rooting depth. The different root traits and relationships observed suggest diverse strategies for soil resource acquisition among shrub species. A deep root system would be associated with a slow growth rate. In contrast, the rooting depth was largely independent of root architecture and morphology.
Multi‐informant reports of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among adolescent inpatients
Authors: Augenstein Tara M. , Visser Katherine F. , Gallagher Katie , De Los Reyes Andres , D’Angelo Eugene J. , Nock Matthew K.
Published: October 2021

Objective

Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents, and suicidal thoughts represent key predictors to suicidal behavior. Yet, suicidal thoughts can be challenging to accurately assess. Symptoms that commonly co‐occur with suicidal thoughts, such as depressive symptoms, may provide valuable information for predicting these thoughts. Although clinicians commonly collect multi‐informant reports about adolescent depressive symptoms, these reports often yield discrepant findings as individual predictors of adolescents’ suicidal thoughts.

Method

We tested the ability of specific patterns of multi‐informant reports to predict adolescents’ suicidal thoughts. Ninety adolescent inpatients and their parents (i.e., “dyads”) reported on adolescent depressive symptoms, and adolescents completed self‐report assessments of suicidal thoughts at baseline and three‐month follow‐up.

Results

Dyads displayed variability in reporting patterns, and these patterns uniquely predicted suicidal thoughts. Adolescents reporting elevated depressive symptoms displayed increased concurrent suicidal thoughts relative to adolescents reporting subthreshold depressive symptoms, regardless of parent report. Yet, only adolescents who reported elevated depressive symptoms and whose parents reported subthreshold adolescent depressive symptoms displayed increased future suicidal thoughts.

Conclusions

Identifying patterns of multiple informants’ reports about adolescent depressive symptoms may improve the prediction of suicidal thoughts. These findings have important implications for assessing adolescents at risk for suicide.
Wall-crossings and a categorification of K-theory stable bases of the Springer resolution
Authors: Su Changjian , Zhao Gufang , Zhong Changlong
Published: October 2021

We compare the $K$-theory stable bases of the Springer resolution associated to different affine Weyl alcoves. We prove that (up to relabelling) the change of alcoves operators are given by the Demazure–Lusztig operators in the affine Hecke algebra. We then show that these bases are categorified by the Verma modules of the Lie algebra, under the localization of Lie algebras in positive characteristic of Bezrukavnikov, Mirković, and Rumynin. As an application, we prove that the wall-crossing matrices of the $K$-theory stable bases coincide with the monodromy matrices of the quantum cohomology of the Springer resolution.
Virtual metrology modeling of reactive ion etching based on statistics-based and dynamics-inspired spectral features
Authors: Chien Kun-Chieh , Chang Chih-Hao , Djurdjanovic Dragan
Published: October 2021

Due to increasing demand on the fabrication yield and throughput in micro/nanoscale manufacturing, virtual metrology (VM) has emerged as an effective data-based approach for real-time process monitoring. In this work, a novel automated methodology, without the need for domain knowledge and experience, for extracting useful features from raw optical emission spectroscopy (OES) data is presented. Newly proposed OES features are combined with other types of data, which include tool settings, sensor readings, physical measurements, non-numerical data, and process control parameters. Using partial least squares and support vector regression, VM models for predicting the critical dimension after reactive ion etching are built. The results from the VM model indicate that the coefficient of determination of up to 0.65 and the root mean square Error of 0.08 can be achieved. Compared to the traditional features obtained by the current solution in industry, the performances of VM models via the proposed methodology can enhance the coefficient of determination by 62.5% and reduce the root mean square error by 23.1%.
Numerical investigation of the trapped modes in the presence of non-potential flow
Authors: Ma Congcong , Ramadan Islam , Ben Tahar Mabrouk
Published: October 2021

A calculation method is proposed to investigate trapped modes in a rigid waveguide with rigid obstacles in the presence of non-potential steady mean flow in a two-dimensional coordinate system. This method facilitates the investigation of trapped modes in the presence of non-potential flow. A coupled calculation method that combines computational fluid dynamics and computational aeroacoustics is used. Galbrun's equation of aeroacoustics is used and discretized by the finite element method. The boundary condition corresponding to the unbounded domain is modeled by the perfectly matched layer technique. The proposed approach facilitates the investigation of the trapped modes generated by obstacles with different geometrical shapes. The effects of both the dimensions of different geometrical shapes (e.g., thin plate, rectangular, and elliptical) and the presence of the non-potential flow on the trapped modes are studied. It is observed that the non-potential flow alters the pressure distribution around the obstacle and the frequencies of the trapped modes. The results show good agreement with the literature. Also, experimental investigations are performed to validate the model.
Draft Genome Sequence and Annotation of Acinetobacter soli AS15, Isolated from an Irish Hospital
Authors: Shaban Lawa , Ershova Anna S. , Hamrock Fergal J. , Shaibah Ali , Sulimani Maha M. , Amin Mohammad R. , Russell Jennifer N. , Ravichandran Rushiil , Schaffer Kirsten , Martins Marta , Cameron Andrew D. S. , Kröger Carsten
Published: October 2021

We report the draft genome sequence of
Acinetobacter soli
AS15, which was isolated in 2018 from a rectal screen of a patient at St. Vincent’s University Hospital (Dublin, Ireland). The draft genome sequence is 3,589,002 bp and was assembled into 82 contigs.
Whole-Genome Sequences of Enteroviruses D94 and D111 Isolated from Stool Specimens in Angola
Authors: Chern Shur-Wern W. , Gumede Nicksy , Castro Christina J. , Nix W. Allan , Ng Terry Fei Fan
Published: October 2021

We report the whole-genome sequences of new enterovirus D94 and D111 strains, isolated from a culture from stool specimens collected from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases for poliovirus surveillance in Angola during 2010.
IS
1294
Reorganizes Plasmids in a Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Strain
Authors: Pan Yushan , Zhang Tengli , Yu Lijie , Zong Zhiyong , Zhao Shiyu , Li Ruichao , Wang Qianqian , Yuan Li , Hu Gongzheng , He Dandan
Published: October 2021

The increasing resistance to β-lactams and aminoglycoside antibiotics, mainly due to extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and 16S rRNA methylase genes, is becoming a serious problem in Gram-negative bacteria. Plasmids, as the vehicles for resistance gene capture and horizontal gene transfer, serve a key role in terms of antibiotic resistance emergence and transmission.
Levels of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in Alternative Irrigation Water Vary Based on Water Source on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
Authors: Acheamfour Chanelle L. , Parveen Salina , Hashem Fawzy , Sharma Manan , Gerdes Megan E. , May Eric B. , Rogers Koriante , Haymaker Joseph , Duncan Rico , Foust Derek , Taabodi Maryam , Handy Eric T. , East Cheryl , Bradshaw Rhodel , Kim Seongyun , Micallef Shirley A. , Callahan Mary Theresa , Allard Sarah , Anderson-Coughlin Brienna , Craighead Shani , Gartley Samantha , Vanore Adam , Kniel Kalmia E. , Solaiman Sultana , Bui Anthony , Murray Rianna , Craddock Hillary A. , Kulkarni Prachi , Rosenberg Goldstein Rachel E. , Sapkota Amy R.
Published: October 2021

In the last several decades, Maryland’s Eastern Shore has seen significant declines in groundwater levels. While this area is not currently experiencing drought conditions or water scarcity, this research represents a proactive approach.
PABPC4 Broadly Inhibits Coronavirus Replication by Degrading Nucleocapsid Protein through Selective Autophagy
Authors: Jiao Yajuan , Kong Ning , Wang Hua , Sun Dage , Dong Sujie , Chen Xiaoyong , Zheng Hao , Tong Wu , Yu Hai , Yu Lingxue , Huang Yaowei , Wang Huan , Sui Baokun , Zhao Ling , Liao Ying , Zhang Wen , Tong Guangzhi , Shan Tongling
Published: October 2021

Emerging coronaviruses (CoVs) can cause severe diseases in humans and animals, but none of the currently available drugs or vaccines can effectively control these diseases. During viral infection, the host will activate the interferon (IFN) signaling pathways and host restriction factors in maintaining the innate antiviral responses and suppressing viral replication.
Standard Sample Storage Conditions Have an Impact on Inferred Microbiome Composition and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns
Authors: Poulsen Casper Sahl , Kaas Rolf Sommer , Aarestrup Frank M. , Pamp Sünje Johanna
Published: October 2021

Previous research has reported effects of DNA isolation, library preparation, and sequencing technology on metagenomics-based microbiome composition; however, the effect of biospecimen storage conditions has not been thoroughly assessed. We examined the effect of common sample storage conditions on metagenomics-based microbiome composition and found significant and, in part, systematic effects.
Trichomycete prevalence in Thomas Brook, Nova Scotia, exposed to different levels of human activity
Authors: Strongman D.B.
Published: October 2021

The Thomas Brook in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, was the focus of an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada wastershed evaluation of beneficial management practices (WEBs) project from 2004–2008. The stream is impacted by human activities along its course, with residential influences and farming operations. The water quality in Thomas Brook was assessed in 2006, and the current study done in 2011–2012 used the same standard invertebrate metrics to measure water quality. This project also examined the prevalence of gut endosymbionts (trichomycetes) in aquatic invertebrates to determine whether water quality affects this community of obligate microorganisms in their hosts. The water quality was improved in Thomas Brook in 2011/2012 compared with that measured in the earlier study. There were 34 taxa of trichomycetes recorded in benthic insects in the stream, including two new species. The trichomycete community was rich in dipteran hosts (midges and black fly larvae), but the prevalence of gut fungi in ephemeropteran (mayfly) nymphs in the system was low, perhaps due to the impact of human activities on water quality.
Characterization of chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) and pine mushrooms (Tricholoma magnivelare) in northern Saskatchewan
Authors: Ivanochko Gerry , Svendsen Erl , Hrycan William , Tanino Karen
Published: October 2021

Baseline data on the boreal jack pine associated chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius Fr.) and pine mushrooms (Tricholoma magnivelare (Peck) Redhead) in the Boreal Plain Ecozone of Saskatchewan were collected in five ecosites of productive mushroom areas. It investigated hourly weather parameters correlated with daily purchase volumes over 4 yrs; yield data over 5 yrs; and varying age, tree density, and species for presence of mushrooms in over 100 stands. All plots fell within the lichen jack pine (jP) ecosite with an overstory entirely of jack pine. The understory was dominated by reindeer lichen, bearberry, and blueberry. Plots were well- to rapidly drained, subxeric to submesic, with low nutrient regime. Both chanterelle and pine mushrooms were present in jack pine stands of < 20 yrs, with greatest occurrence in pure jack pine stands of 41–60 yrs in moderately open A-B canopy density. Weekly purchase data correlated with environmental parameters. Growing degree days (GDD) (base temperature 5 °C) + soil temperature (minimum 500 ± 70 GDD), + either soil moisture or precipitation (cumulative 50–100 mm) provided the highest regression value with chanterelle yield 6–13 wks prior to first appearance. The 5-yr total chanterelle yield from this region averaged 7100 kg·yr−1. Chanterelle cap diameter was a good predictor of fresh weight and proxy for yield. Pine mushroom was < 10% of chanterelle yield, averaging 1.72 kg·ha−1over 4 yrs based on 5 days picking. With future climate predictions of warmer and moister conditions, timing of fruiting body appearance is anticipated to advance.
Cultivatable bacterial community in water from Lai Nullah contaminated with household sewage and industrial waste is more diverse and populated compared with nonpolluted water
Authors: Khan Wishal , Yaseen Sobia , Waheed Abdul , Hasnain Zuhair , Jabeen Zahra , Yasmin Humaira , Shah Syed Muhammad Usman , Khan Nadir Zaman , Hassan Muhammad Nadeem , Mumtaz Saqib
Published: October 2021

The effect of environmental pollutants on living organisms can be assessed by studying the changes in the indigenous microbial community. Therefore, in this study, cultivatable bacterial community in nonpolluted as well as household sewage and industrially polluted water of Lai Nullah flowing through Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan was analyzed. Bacterial community composition and population present in the polluted water were significantly different from the nonpolluted water (P < 0.05). Nonpolluted water had much fewer species and population of bacteria compared with polluted water. Sequence analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA gene revealed that Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus plantarum, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Enterococcus faecalis, Acinetobacter guillouiae, Ralstonia sp., Comamonas sp., and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were specific to the polluted water. On the other hand, Aeromonas veronii, Exiguobacterium sp., and Lysinibacillus macroides were only found in the nonpolluted water. Among measured physicochemical parameters, higher colony count in the polluted water was best correlated with higher biological oxygen demand, phosphate, sodium, and chloride values (Spearman’s rho = 0.85). Concentration of heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead were below 0.03 μg·mL−1 at all the study sites. During plate assay, bacterial strains found at polluted sites showed resistance to selected heavy metals with highest minimum inhibitory concentration for lead (8 mmol·L−1) followed by copper (5 mmol·L−1), nickel (3 mmol·L−1), and cadmium (1 mmol·L−1). All the bacterial isolates also showed various levels of resistance against antibiotics ampicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and vancomycin using broth microdilution method. Current research provides new insight into the effect of household sewage and the industrially polluted water of Lai Nullah on the indigenous bacteria.
Lyapunov stability analysis for a discrete-time lattice hydrodynamic model with steady flow control
Authors: Jiang Shan , Xiong Wen-ze , Pan Dong-bo , Zhang Yu , Zhang Geng
Published: October 2021

This paper put forward a new discrete-time lattice hydrodynamic model with a steady flow control strategy. The controlled discrete-time lattice hydrodynamic model is theoretically studied by the discrete-time Lyapunov stability theory, and a sufficient stable condition to suppress traffic congestion is given in the form of linear matrix inequality. Also, the traffic flow evolution rules under different conditions of control gain are exhibited through numerical simulation, and the stabilization effect of the steady flow control strategy on traffic flow is verified intuitively.
Information spreading on metapopulation networks with heterogeneous contacting
Authors: Nie Yanyi , Pan Liming , Lin Tao , Wang Wei
Published: October 2021

Extensive real-data reveals that individuals exhibit heterogeneous contacting frequency in social systems. We propose a mathematical model to investigate the effects of heterogeneous contacting for information spreading in metapopulation networks. In the proposed model, we assume the number of contacting (NOC) distribution follows a specific distribution, including the normal, exponential, and power-law distributions. We utilize the Markov chain method to study the information spreading dynamics and find that mean and variance display no significant effect on the outbreak threshold for all the considered distributions. Under the same values of NOC distribution’s mean and variance, the information prevalence is largest when the distribution of NOC follows the normal distribution and second-largest for the exponential distribution, the smallest for the power-law distribution. When the distribution of NOC obeys the normal distribution, experimental results show that the information prevalence will decrease with individual contact ability heterogeneity. We observe similar phenomena when the distribution of NOC follows a power-law and exponential distribution. Furthermore, a larger mean of individual contact capacity distribution will result in higher information prevalence.
Comparative study of multicomponent Lattice Boltzmann models for binary mixture flows
Authors: Ho M. , Ammar S. , Leclaire S. , Reggio M. , Trépanier J.-Y.
Published: October 2021

Two lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) models for binary mixture flows are numerically compared. The first model solves the Navier–Stokes equations within the incompressible limit and considers the mixture as one single fluid. A multi relaxation time (MRT) collision operator tunes the fluid diffusivity independently of the fluid viscosity. The second model emerges from a different theoretical derivation of the kinetic theory, where the governing equations are recovered for each species of the mixture. A source term in the LBM defines the interspecies friction force and couples the species of the mixture. A pure diffusion flow and a 2D plane Poiseuille binary mixture flow verify both models in the incompressible limit where diffusive and viscous transport occurs. The influence of molecular mass ratio, dynamic viscosity ratio, and Schmidt number on species and mixture flow behavior is investigated. The numerical results show good agreement against their respective analytical solutions and capture the deviation between the velocity profiles according to the flow regime. The present numerical study underlines the difference between the models as a function of the flow regimes which was observed from the macroscopic governing equations.
Comments on two conditionally solvable quantum-mechanical models
Authors: Amore Paolo , Fernández Francisco M.
Published: October 2021

We analyze the results published in this journal about two conditionally solvable quantum-mechanical models. We show that the authors failed to derive the spectrum correctly because they did not take into consideration all the roots of the truncation condition used for that aim and did not interpret them correctly.
Numerical investigation of Belleville spring as an energy absorbing component
Authors: Chandak Archana , Gandhe Nagraj R.
Published: October 2021

Crashworthiness research has attracted significant attention, focusing on evaluating deformation behavior and selecting composite material components that act as energy-absorbing devices. Among the available composite materials, carbon fibers can absorb high energy during a crash. This paper presents the initial concept of the design application of a carbon fiber Belleville spring. The proposed design of the mechanism is directed to reduce the extent of the impact. An analytical approach is followed to calculate the energy absorbed during a crash. The parametric study is conducted for a different range of load [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]N to predict which spring material absorbs maximum energy. The impact on the occupant side is minimum by the finite element approach. A brief overview of the spring’s energy absorption capability is provided through Ansys, and a correlation is proposed, which helps predict the value of Energy for different loads.
On the topological compatibility of parallel tasks and computing systems
Authors: Zadorozhny A. F. , Melent’ev V. A.
Published: October 2021

The aspects of topological compatibility of parallel computing systems and tasks are investigated in the present contribution. Based on the original topological model of parallel computations and on the unconventional graph description by its projections, the introduction of appropriate indexes is proposed and elucidated. On the example of hypercubic computing system (CS) and tasks with ring and star information topologies, we demonstrate the determination of indexes and their use in a comparative analysis of the applicability of interconnect with a given topology to solve the tasks with the same and different types of information topologies.
SPILLOVER EFFECT OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE’S FORWARD GUIDANCE ON CHINA’S FINANCIAL MARKETS: FROM MECHANISM ANALYSIS TO EMPIRICAL TEST
Authors: DENG XIN , GE LIN , WU XUAN
Published: October 2021

This study analyzed the channels responsible for the spillover effect of the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) forward guidance on China’s financial markets with an event study and EGARCH model with data collected over the past decade. The Fed’s forward guidance affects China’s foreign exchange, bond, stock and money markets. In the three trading days before and after the event, China’s foreign exchange market had an instantaneous reaction, the bond and stock market had lagged reactions, and the money market reaction lasted for the full event window. The Fed’s forward guidance on China’s financial market differs based on the Fed’s monetary policy, guidance type and whether the guidance content is adjusted or not.
TUNABLE ELECTRON-SPIN POLARIZATION BY δ-POTENTIAL IN LAYERED SEMICONDUCTOR NANOSTRUCTURE
Authors: KONG YONG-HONG , LI AI-HUA , GONG YAN-JUN , FU XI
Published: October 2021

We theoretically explore how to control electron-spin polarization in layered semiconductor nanostructure (LSN) by a [Formula: see text]-potential realized by atomic-layer doping. Due to Rashba spin-orbit coupling, a considerable spin polarization still remains even through a [Formula: see text]-potential is embedded in the LSN. Spin polarization ratio can be controlled by altering weight or position of [Formula: see text]-potential. Based on such an LSN, a structurally-tunable electron-spin filter may be obtained for spintronics device applications.
Performance Analysis of Two-Stage Iterative Ensemble Method over Random Oversampling Methods on Multiclass Imbalanced Datasets
Authors: Sridhar S. , Kalaivani A.
Published: October 2021

Data imbalance occurring among multiclass datasets is very common in real-world applications. Existing studies reveal that various attempts were made in the past to overcome this multiclass imbalance problem, which is a severe issue related to the typical supervised machine learning methods such as classification and regression. But, still there exists a need to handle the imbalance problem efficiently as the datasets include both safe and unsafe minority samples. Most of the widely used oversampling techniques like SMOTE and its variants face challenges in replicating or generating the new data instances for balancing them across multiple classes, particularly when the imbalance is high and the number of rare samples count is too minimal thus leading the classifier to misclassify the data instances. To lessen this problem, we proposed a new data balancing method namely a two-stage iterative ensemble method to tackle the imbalance in multiclass environment. The proposed approach focuses on the rare minority sample’s influence on learning from imbalanced datasets and the main idea of the proposed approach is to balance the data without any change in class distribution before it gets trained by the learner such that it improves the learner’s learning process. Also, the proposed approach is compared against two widely used oversampling techniques and the results reveals that the proposed approach shows a much significant improvement in the learning process among the multiclass imbalanced data.