bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nierenpathologische Befunde bei COVID-19-Patienten
Authors: Wiech Thorsten , Sperhake Jan-Peter , Zipfel Peter F. , Huber Tobias B.
Published: October 2020

Im Verlauf einer Infektion mit dem SARS-CoV-2-Virus kommt es nicht selten zu einer akuten Niereninsuffizienz. Bei einem Teil der Patienten liegt bereits ein vorbestehender chronischer Schaden vor, zumeist aufgrund einer hypertensiven Schädigung, zum Teil auch aufgrund einer diabetischen Glomerulosklerose. Wie es zur akuten Komponente eines Nierenversagens kommt, ist im Einzelnen nicht geklärt, eine akute T-Zell-vermittelte interstitielle Nephritis scheint typischerweise nicht zu bestehen. Über den angiotensin converting enzyme Rezeptor 2 treten die Viren in die menschlichen Zellen ein. Die Expression dieses Rezeptors in Nierenzellen und der Nachweis von Viren in der Niere legen nahe, dass es zu einer direkten Nierenzellschädigung durch das Virus kommen kann. Zusätzlich spielt wahrscheinlich auch eine indirekte Schädigung der Tubulusepithelzellen über durch die Viren induzierte Komplementfaktoren und Zytokine sowie über eine gestörte Perfusion, z. B. über Fibrinthromben sowie eine Kongestion bei Rechtsherzinsuffizienz eine Rolle. Zusammenfassend entsteht ein akutes Nierenversagen bei COVID-19-Patienten wahrscheinlich zumeist multifaktoriell.
The Direct Costs of Dravet's Syndrome before and after Diagnosis Assessment
Authors: Česká Katarína , Český Lukáš , Ošlejšková Hana , Aulická Štefánia
Published: October 2020

The objective of this study was to estimate the direct cost before and after diagnosis assessment in patients with Dravet's syndrome (DS). The basis of the economic study was to calculate the costs of health care before and after diagnosis of DS. We retrospectively evaluated all SCN1A positive patients with phenotype of DS treated in our hospital. Statistical analyses were performed by IBM SPSS Statistics 24.0 software. After the diagnosis of DS, there was a significant decline of health care costs (−85.6%) an average of €29.4 ± 26.1 monthly per patient. We estimated the monthly costs at €204.5 ± 167 (median: €193.9, range: €35.5–534.4) per patient before DS diagnosis. The major cost was for hospitalization in neurological department: €43.3 ± 52 (median: €21.9, range: €9.5–179.4) per patient. Minimal cost per patient per months before DS diagnosis was cost of psychological testing/care and complementary rehabilitation (0.13 and 0.6% of total cost). After DS diagnosis, the major cost was focused on nonhospitalization care of patients (64.8%), minimal (€0) for genetic testing and major for outpatient care (18%, mean: €5.3, median: €7). DS results in essential health care utilization and high financial burden before diagnosis elucidation caused by repeated hospitalization and extensive diagnostics tests of “epileptic encephalopathy of unknown etiology.” The results of this study point out that early assessment of the diagnosis leads to significant decrease of the financial costs because of adequate therapeutic management and exclusion of redundant diagnostic testing after elucidation of correct diagnosis.
Field discrete Monte Carlo simulation of electromagnetic scattering characteristics of plasma sheath
Authors: Jia Jieshu , Gao Ruilin , Xie Baozhuo , Liang Zichang , Wei Feiming , Zhang Yuan
Published: October 2020

The electromagnetic scattering of an ultra-high-speed plasma covered target is simulated by the field discrete Monte Carlo method. The flow field network is used to simulate the trajectory of electromagnetic wave particles according to the electromagnetic distribution parameters, and the electromagnetic characteristics are calculated according to the statistical parameters of the reflected particles. The computational time-consumption is less correlated with the incident electromagnetic wave frequency [except for the Radar Cross Section (RCS) valley characteristics], and it is convenient for parallel calculation, which realizes the fast calculation of the electromagnetic scattering of the electrically large plasma-covered target. On this basis, the electromagnetic scattering characteristics of the blunt cone hypervelocity target are calculated, and the main RCS reduction and enhancement mechanisms are given.
Drying behavior of magnetic nanofluid in ambient conditions
Authors: Nair N. , Bhatnagar S. P.
Published: October 2020

The study of evaporation patterns of liquid drops is a growing field of research with numerous applications in inkjet printing, controlled particle deposition, self-assembly, etc. After the liquid in a drop completely evaporates, it leaves behind the constituent particles in various patterns on the substrate. This depends on factors such as ambient temperature, substrate’s thermal conductivity, particle size, and density. Ferrofluids are known to show a variety of magnetic field dependent properties. Controllable evaporation using ferrofluids can result in desired patterns of particles on a substrate. However, before studying the evaporation of these nanofluids in the presence of magnetic field, their drying behavior under ambient conditions needs to be studied. Here, kerosene-based ferrofluid droplets were allowed to evaporate under ambient conditions. Video analysis of particle motion showed a Marangoni flow inside the drop. At the early stages of evaporation, non-interacting Marangoni instability loops were observed with equidistant empty lines between them propagating in the radial direction. These lines merged in the later stages of evaporation. The particles moved from the center toward the contact line and reversed their direction at a very close distance from the contact line, moving toward the top of the drop through the liquid–air interface. The distance of the point of reverse motion, called the stagnation point, was measured from the contact line, and it agrees with an existing theory. Moreover, the measurements of contact angle and mass evolution indicate that this evaporation follows the model of thin droplets. After drying, the ring pattern was observed on the substrate with a central accumulation of particles. The region between the central accumulation and the outer ring was seen to be empty. The size of this empty region decreased with increasing droplet size and increasing volume fraction of the nanoparticles. This study may help in understanding the drying behavior of magnetic nanofluids under ambient conditions for self-assembly and inkjet printing applications. The drying behavior in the presence of external magnetic field will be discussed in the future.
A new model for the effective thermal conductivity of polycrystalline solids
Authors: Badry Fergany , Ahmed Karim
Published: October 2020

We introduce a novel model for the effective thermal conductivity of polycrystalline solids based on the thin-interface description of grain boundaries (GBs). In contrast to existing models, our new model treats a GB as an autonomous “phase” with its own thermal conductivity. The Kapitza resistance/conductance of a thin interface is then derived in terms of the interface thermal conductivity and width. In turn, the effective thermal conductivity of polycrystals is derived in terms of grain size, grain and GB conductivities, and GB width. This treatment allows the model to simulate the change of the Kapitza resistance/conductance with segregation/doping, GB structure/phase transition, or GB decohesion. Moreover, since the model assumes a finite width for GBs, it is expected to give better predictions than its sharp-interface-based counterparts for nanoscale grains. The predictions of the new model deviate from the corresponding ones from existing models by 1%–100% as the grain size approaches the GB width. High-fidelity finite-element simulations were conducted to validate the predictions of the new model. These simulations proved the higher accuracy of the new model. We also discuss how to generalize this treatment to other types of interfaces in heterogeneous materials. The advantages and limitations of the new model are summarized, and some future directions are highlighted.
Influence of eutectic microstructure on the critical current density of V1−xZrx superconductors
Authors: Sharath Chandra L. S. , Ramjan SK. , Paul Sabyasachi , Venkatesh R. , Kumar Kranti , Banerjee A. , Chattopadhyay M. K.
Published: October 2020

We present here the studies on the effect of annealing on the structural and magnetic properties of V1−xZrx (x = 0.33 and 0.40) superconducting alloys. We show that the γ-ZrV2 phase grows at the expense of (α-Zr)-(γ-ZrV2) eutectic microstructure when V1−xZrx alloys are annealed at 1473 K for one week. The annealed samples predominantly have a γ-ZrV2 phase with small amounts of β-V and α-Zr phases. The irreversibility field, critical current density, and pinning force density of the as-cast samples are found to be significantly higher than those of annealed alloys. These results indicate that eutectic microstructure is important in utilizing these materials for high field applications.
Unraveling the electronic structures in different phases of gadolinium sesquioxides performed by electron energy loss spectroscopy
Authors: Shu Guo-Jiun , Liou Sz-Chian , Chun-Hsin Kuo W. , Wu Chien-Ting , Wu Pei-Chieh , Klingshirn Christopher J. , Kwo Jueinai , Hong Minghwei
Published: October 2020

The gadolinium sesquioxide (Gd2O3) with its bandgap of ∼5.4 eV and high dielectric permittivity and refractive index has been used widely in optics, magnetic resonance imaging, and high k dielectrics. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) reveals spectral features at 13.5 eV and 15 eV, which can be interpreted as surface and volume plasmons, respectively. The unusual surface exciton polariton, with surface resonances associated with excitonic onsets, was also observed at ∼7.5 eV. Because of the differences in electronic structures between the cubic and the monoclinic phases of Gd2O3, it is straightforward to distinguish the two phases using the low-loss regime and O K-edge as a fingerprint. We further successfully performed EELS and electron diffraction to identify the crystalline phase of a single-crystal Gd2O3 film epitaxially grown on a Si(111) substrate.
Cyclic peptides can engage a single binding pocket through highly divergent modes
Authors: Patel Karishma , Walport Louise J. , Walshe James L. , Solomon Paul D. , Low Jason K. K. , Tran Daniel H. , Mouradian Kevork S. , Silva Ana P. G. , Wilkinson-White Lorna , Norman Alexander , Franck Charlotte , Matthews Jacqueline M. , Guss J. Mitchell , Payne Richard J. , Passioura Toby , Suga Hiroaki , Mackay Joel P.
Published: October 2020

Significance

Large DNA-encoded libraries of cyclic peptides are emerging as powerful sources of molecules to tackle challenging drug targets. The structural and functional diversity contained within these libraries is, however, little explored. Here we demonstrate that one such library contains members that use unexpectedly diverse mechanisms to recognize the same surface on the same target proteins with high affinity and specificity. This range of binding modes is much larger than observed in natural ligands of the same proteins, demonstrating the power and versatility of the technology. Our data also reveal opportunities for the development of more sophisticated approaches to achieving specificity when trying to selectively target one member of a family of closely related proteins.
Simulation of EM loads acting on the plasma-facing units of ITER divertor cassette
Authors: Arslanova D N , Belov A V , Gapionok E I , Kukhtin V P , Lamzin E A , Lyublin B V , Rodin I Y , Sytchevsky S E
Published: October 2020

Some aspects of electromagnetic (EM) simulation of the central divertor cassettes (CDC) in the ITER tokamak are described. The study is focused on EM loads anticipated on the plasma-facing units (PFU) of CDC. The paper is devoted to the EM simulations of the most dangerous scenarios associated with high mechanical stresses: fast downward vertical displacement events of Categories II and III with 36-ms linear current quench (FD VDE-II and FD VDE-III with 36-ms LCQ). The selected events have been analyzed using the original TORNADO code intended for simulation of transient EM processes in 3D solids using the finite element representation. Results of computations include evolutions of EM loads on PFUs in the form of integral EM forces and moments, their peak values and relevant time points.
Structure of microplasma discharge on titanium surface covered with thin dielectric film
Authors: Ivanov V A , Konyzhev M E , Dorofeyuk A A , Kamolova T I
Published: October 2020

The spatial structure of the pulsed microplasma discharge (discharge duration is 100 μs, the amplitude of the discharge current is 200 A) was experimentally studied. The discharge is initiated on the titanium sample surface covered with the thin dielectric (titanium oxide) film with a thickness of ~10 nm. The sample was exposed to the pulsed plasma flow (the plasma density is 2 × 1013 cm–3, and the pulse duration is 25 μs). It was found that the microplasma discharge glow has the branched dendrite structure, which consists of a large number of cathode spots (brightly glowing localized formations) randomly distributed over the metal surface. As a result of interaction between the microplasma discharge and the titanium sample, erosion occurs on its surface. The erosion structure is visually “identical” to the discharge glow structure. It was ascertained that the erosion pattern on the titanium surface consists of a large number of individual microcraters with characteristic sizes from 0.3 to 10 μm randomly distributed over an area of approximately 1 cm2. All together, these microcraters form the branched dendrite structure. It was also ascertained that the microplasma discharge propagates along the titanium surface covered with a thin dielectric (titanium oxide) film at an average velocity of approximately 70 m/s, and this propagation has a “jumping” character: the plasma of burning cathode spots initiates the excitation of new cathode spots at distances of 3–30 microns from them.
Excitation of a layered medium by 𝑁 sources: Scattering relations, interaction cross sections and physical bounds
Authors: Kalogeropoulos Andreas , Tsitsas Nikolaos
Published: October 2020

A layered medium is excited by

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external or internal point sources. Boundary-value problems for the generated acoustic waves are formulated. General scattering and optical theorems are established relating the involved fields and far-field patterns due to groups of sources. Interaction scattering cross sections are defined and associated physical bounds are derived. The large-

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behavior of these cross sections is also investigated. Numerical results are presented demonstrating the variations of the interaction cross sections and their physical bounds.
Leveraging Technology to Blend Large-Scale Epidemiologic Surveillance With Social and Behavioral Science Methods: Successes, Challenges, and Lessons Learned Implementing the UNITE Longitudinal Cohort Study of HIV Risk Factors Among Sexual Minority Men in the United States
Authors: Rendina H Jonathon , Talan Ali J , Tavella Nicola F , Matos Jonathan Lopez , Jimenez Ruben H , Jones S Scott , Salfas Brian , Westmoreland Drew
Published: October 2020

The use of digital technologies to conduct large-scale research with limited interaction (i.e., no in-person contact) and objective endpoints (i.e., biological testing) has significant potential for the field of epidemiology, but limited research to date has been published on the successes and challenges of such approaches. We analyzed data from a cohort study of sexual minority men across the United States, collected using digital strategies during a 10-month period from 2017 to 2018. Overall, 113,874 individuals were screened, of whom 26,000 were invited to the study, 10,691 joined the study, and 7,957 completed all enrollment steps, including return of a human immunodeficiency virus–negative sample. We examined group differences in completion of the steps towards enrollment to inform future research and found significant differences according to several factors, including age and race. This study adds to prior work to provide further proof-of-concept for this limited-interaction, technology-mediated methodology, highlighting some of its strengths and challenges, including rapid access to more diverse populations but also potential for bias due to differential enrollment. This method has strong promise, and future implementation research is needed to better understand the roles of burden, privacy, access, and compensation, to enhance representativeness and generalizability of the data generated.
Epigenetically regulated gene expression profiles reveal four molecular subtypes with prognostic and therapeutic implications in colorectal cancer
Authors: Wang Xiaokang , Liu Jinfeng , Wang Danwen , Feng Maohui , Wu Xiongzhi
Published: October 2020

Transcriptomic deregulation by epigenetic mechanisms plays a crucial role in the heterogeneous progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Herein, we first demonstrated that the frequencies of the aberrancies of DNA methylation-correlated (METcor) and microRNA (miRNA)-correlated (MIRcor) genes were significantly co-regulated. Next, through integrative clustering of the expression profiles of METcor and MIRcor genes, four molecular subtypes were identified in CRC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas and then validated in four independent datasets. More importantly, the four subtypes were well characterized and showed distinct clinical and molecular features: (i) S-I: high metabolic activity, sensitive to 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and good prognosis; (ii) S-II: moderate metabolic activity, marked proliferation, frequent KRAS mutation and intermediate prognosis; (iii) S-III: moderate metabolic activity, marked proliferation, promoter DNA hypermethylation, high mutation burden, frequent BRAF and EGFR mutations, moderate levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signals, immune-inflamed phenotype, sensitive to cetuximab and death protein-1 inhibitor treatment and relatively poor prognosis and (iv) S-IV: miRNA overexpression, stem/serrated/mesenchymal-like properties, hypoxia, high levels of EMT and TGFβ signals, immune-excluded phenotype and poor prognosis. Overall, this study established a molecular classification based on epigenetically regulated gene expression profiles, thereby providing a better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying CRC heterogeneity.
Neutral and adaptive genomic variation in hybrid zones of two ecologically divergedPetuniaspecies (Solanaceae)
Authors: Caballero-Villalobos Lina , Silva-Arias Gustavo A , Turchetto Caroline , Giudicelli Giovanna C , Petzold Earl , Bombarely Aureliano , Freitas Loreta B
Published: October 2020

Hybridization between closely related plant species is a widespread phenomenon with significant evolutionary consequences, so natural hybrid zones provide exciting opportunities to study the processes of genetic differentiation and species formation. In Petunia, genetics, ecology and evolution of pollination syndromes have been thoroughly studied and related to the development of prezygotic isolation barriers between species. However, to date, no studies have explored the importance of extrinsic post-zygotic barriers such as environmental selection as drivers of reproductive isolation. In this study, we applied a population genetics approach to understand the speciation of two partially sympatric taxa of Petunia Juss that hybridize in the wild despite having strong differences in pollination syndrome, mating system and environmental requirements. We evaluated 58 individuals from seven allopatric and two contact zones of Petunia axillaris and P. exserta with genomic data to study the population genetic structure and gene exchange between these species and scan for potential loci under natural selection related to the preservation of species barriers. We explicitly evaluated the time, intensity and direction of interspecific migration, testing for alternative demographic scenarios. The genetic structure showed well-differentiated species-level lineages, and poor differentiation among populations of P. axillaris; P. exserta populations were highly structured, with several well-differentiated intraspecific lineages. Our data provide evidence for admixture with low asymmetric gene flow from P. axillaris to P. exserta associated with recent secondary contact, suggesting that pollinator specificity is not the only trait responsible for species integrity in this system. Combining the results from FST outlier and genotype–phenotype association methods, we identified 54 non-synonymous candidate variants under natural selection. Those variants are found in 35 coding sequences from which we found genes related to light-response networks, supporting that extrinsic factors such as habitat preferences can also provide a mechanism of reproductive isolation between Petunia spp. We argue that a set of pre- and post-zygotic barriers in conjunction with demographic processes maintain the species integrity.
Sensitive and Fast Determination of Ceftiofur in Honey and Veterinary Formulation by HPLC-UV Method with Pre-column Derivatization
Authors: Rashed Noha , Zayed Sahar , Fouad Fatma , Abdelazeem Amany
Published: October 2020

A novel, sensitive and rapid high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of ceftiofur by pre-column derivatization with 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate. Analysis was performed within 5 min on a Kinetex C18 column based on core-shell technology. The mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-water (50:50, v/v) pumped isocratically at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min under UV detection at 254 nm. The factors affecting the derivatization reaction and separation conditions were carefully evaluated and optimized. The method was linear over the concentration range of 45–450 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 3.29 ng/mL and limit of quantitation of 10.97 ng/mL. The new method was successfully applied for the analysis of ceftiofur in the veterinary formulation and honey with average recoveries of 100.78% and 98. 83%, respectively. The present method is suitable and favorable for the analysis of ceftiofur on account of its sensitivity, rapidity and cost-effectiveness. In addition, it could have significant application for the determination of ceftiofur in other food products.
Procedural recommendations of cardiac PET/CT imaging: standardization in inflammatory-, infective-, infiltrative-, and innervation- (4Is) related cardiovascular diseases: a joint collaboration of the EACVI and the EANM: summary
Authors: Slart Riemer H J A , Glaudemans Andor W J M , Gheysens Olivier , Lubberink Mark , Kero Tanja , Dweck Marc R , Habib Gilbert , Gaemperli Oliver , Saraste Antti , Gimelli Alessia , Georgoulias Panagiotis , Verberne Hein J , Bucerius Jan , Rischpler Christoph , Hyafil Fabien , Erba Paola A ,   4Is Cardiovascular Imaging: a joint initiative of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM)
Published: October 2020

With this summarized document we share the standard for positron emission tomography (PET)/(diagnostic)computed tomography (CT) imaging procedures in cardiovascular diseases that are inflammatory, infective, infiltrative, or associated with dysfunctional innervation (4Is) as recently published in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. This standard should be applied in clinical practice and integrated in clinical (multicentre) trials for optimal standardization of the procedurals and interpretations. A major focus is put on procedures using [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ([18F]FDG), but 4Is PET radiopharmaceuticals beyond [18F]FDG are also described in this summarized document. Whilst these novel tracers are currently mainly applied in early clinical trials, some multicentre trials are underway and we foresee in the near future their use in clinical care and inclusion in the clinical guidelines. Diagnosis and management of 4Is related cardiovascular diseases are generally complex and often require a multidisciplinary approach by a team of experts. The new standards described herein should be applied when using PET/CT and PET/magnetic resonance, within a multimodality imaging framework both in clinical practice and in clinical trials for 4Is cardiovascular indications.
Transanal vs laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a multicenter randomized phase III clinical trial (TaLaR trial) protocol
Authors: Kang Liang , Zeng Ziwei , Luo Shuangling , Zhang Hong , Wang Quan , Ren Mingyang , Wu Miao , Tong Weidong , Xu Qing , Xiao Yi , Wu Aiwen , Chen Yuan-Guang , Feng Bo , Shen Zhanlong , Huang Liang , Zhang Xingwei , Zheng Minhua , Wang Jian-Ping
Published: October 2020

Background

Total mesorectum excision (TME) is considered the standard surgical procedure for rectal-cancer treatment. Transanal TME (taTME) is a new procedure to treat low rectal cancer. Some published studies have proven that taTME can provide a better-quality resected specimen in low-rectal-cancer patients in comparison to the transabdominal procedure, yet long-term outcomes must be investigated. We designed this non-inferiority trial (TaLaR trial) to compare short-term and long-term outcomes between taTME and laparoscopic TME (lapTME) for rectal cancer.

Methods

The TaLaR trial is a phase III open-labeled multicenter randomized–controlled trial. Patients who are diagnosed with rectal cancer with no more than T3N2 stage, and with the tumor location below the peritoneal reflection by magnetic resonance imaging scan, digital rectal examination, or colonoscopy, qualify for this study. After calculating, a total of 1,114 patients (557 per group) will be randomly allocated to either the taTME or the lapTME group. Primary endpoints are the 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate. Secondary endpoints include specimen quality, perioperative results, pelvic and anal function, and quality of life.

Discussion

The TaLaR trial is expected to clarify whether taTME can achieve comparable oncological outcomes, as well as improve specimen quality and recovery conditions in rectal-cancer patients compared with lapTME.
Volunteer Motivation and Retention of Older Peer Walk Leaders: A 4-Month Long Investigation
Authors: Kritz Marlene , Ntoumanis Nikos , Mullan Barbara , Stathi Afroditi , Thøgersen-Ntoumani Cecilie
Published: October 2020

Background and Objectives

Peer volunteers offer a promising avenue for promoting physical activity in older adults. However, recruiting and retaining such volunteers are challenging. We aimed to examine longitudinally factors that determine whether older volunteer walk leaders will persist in their role.

Research Design and Methods

We recruited older adults volunteering as walk leaders, from retirement villages in Perth, at the start of a 16-week walking intervention. Using a mixed-methods multiple case study design, informed by self-determination theory, we examined the motivational processes of three profiles: Dropouts, Completers, and Extenders. One male and 10 female (medianAge = 75 years, age range: 66–83 years) peer walk leaders were interviewed twice over 4 months, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Questionnaires provided information on volunteer characteristics, leadership confidence, and volunteer motivation.

Results

Self-orientated goals, obligation and guilt, emotional exhaustion, lack of psychological need satisfaction, and perceived lack of support were barriers to volunteer persistence. Social confidence and relatedness satisfaction motivated volunteers to persist until program completion (Completers). Altruistic goals, using sustainable helping strategies, psychological need satisfaction, optimism, and enjoyment were important for continuing the role after the program (Extenders).

Discussion and Implications

Results describe how differences in volunteer motives, personal characteristics, and training may affect motivational processes that determine persistence as an older peer walk leader. We provide suggestions on selecting, training, and supporting older volunteer walk leaders to facilitate their retention.
Artificial intelligence and China's authoritarian governance
Authors: Zeng Jinghan
Published: October 2020

China has adopted a proactive and strategic approach to embrace the age of artificial intelligence (AI). This article argues that China's bold AI practices are part of its broad and incoherent adaptation strategy to governance by digital means. AI is part of a digital technology package that the Chinese authoritarian regime has actively employed not only to improve public service, but also to strengthen its authoritarian governance. China's digital progress benefits from its huge internet market, strong state power and weak civil awareness, making it more competitive than western democratic societies where privacy concern restricts their AI development. However, China's ambitious AI plan contains considerable risks; its overall impact depends on how AI affects major sources of political legitimacy including economic growth, social stability and ideology. China's approach is gambling on its success in (a) delivering a booming AI economy, (b) ensuring a smooth social transformation towards the age of AI and (c) proving ideological superiority of its authoritarian and communist values.
Trail camera video systems: investigating their utility in interpreting patterns of marine, recreational, trailer-boat fishers’ access to an offshore Marine Park in differing weather conditions
Authors: Lynch T P , Foster S , Devine C , Hegarty A , McEnnulty F , Burton M , Lyle J M
Published: October 2020

When monitoring marine recreational fishers at sub-bio-regional scales—for example those who are accessing a Marine Park—on-site sampling is often required. This poses various logistical challenges, such as the efficient timing of intercept interviews. Here, we examine these challenges, combining trail cameras, closed-circuit television (CCTV), weather stations, and interviews at boat ramps that bracket an offshore Marine Park. Trail camera results were similar to those from a CCTV system co-located at one of the boat ramps. Fishers’ boat launches peaked early, but return times varied considerably by ramp and weather. Both the numbers of launches and trip durations were strongly responsive to good weather, particularly at ramps used for offshore fishing. Weather was a more important factor to predict the likelihood of intercept interview opportunities than holiday period, which may reflect changing dynamics in work culture and improvements in weather prediction. Interviewed fishers reported preferences to individual ramps over the fishing season and nearly all trips to the Marine Park were reported by fishers accessing just one ramp. The strong relationships between fishing, weather, and ramp, observed by the trail camera and correlated with the weather station data, may allow for the efficient targeting of intercept interviews and potentially the modelling of fishing effort.
Impact of arginine supplementation on serum prolactin and mRNA abundance of amino acid transporter genes in mammary tissue of lactating sows
Authors: Krogh Uffe , Farmer Chantal , Huber Lee-Anne , Theil Peter K , Trottier Nathalie L
Published: October 2020

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that supplemental dietary Arg to late-pregnant and lactating sows increases serum prolactin concentrations and mRNA abundance of SLC7A1, SLC7A2, and SLC6A14 in mammary parenchymal tissue. From day 108 of gestation and until day 21 of lactation, sows were fed a diet either supplemented with 0.10 g of l-Arg/kg body weight (BW) per day (n = 10, ARG) or 0.34 g of l-Glu/kg BW per day (n = 10, control). Litters were standardized to 10 piglets on day 1 of lactation and piglets were weighed on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 of lactation. Sow BW was recorded on day 108 of gestation and days 1, 10, and 21 of lactation. Lactation sow feed intake was recorded daily. Mammary parenchymal tissue was biopsied on day 5 of lactation to measure mRNA abundance SLC7A1, SLC7A2, and SLC6A14. On days 4 and 18 of lactation, blood samples were collected from sows at 2, 4, and 6 hr postfeeding to measure serum prolactin concentrations. Milk samples were collected on days 4, 10, and 18 of lactation to measure fat, lactose, urea N, and true protein concentrations. Sow BW, backfat, and feed intake over all sampling days did not differ between treatments. Piglet BW on d 1 tended to be greater for the ARG treatment than the control treatment (P = 0.12). Sow milk yield and composition (fat, protein, lactose, and urea N) and mammary mRNA abundance of candidate genes did not differ between the ARG and the control group. Compared to controls, serum prolactin concentrations tended to be greater (P = 0.08) in ARG sows on day 4 of lactation, and did not differ on day 18. Current findings show a potential beneficial effect of dietary supplementation with Arg to late-pregnant multiparous sows on BW of their piglets on day 1. Dietary Arg supplementation at a rate of 0.10 g/kg BW during late pregnancy and lactation tended to increase serum prolactin concentrations with no increase in mammary transcript abundance of SLC7A1, SLC7A2, and SLC6A14 in early lactation.
A new cryptic species of yellow-eared bat Vampyressa melissa species complex (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Colombia
Authors: Morales-Martínez Darwin M , Rodríguez-Posada Miguel E , Ramírez-Chaves Héctor E
Published: October 2020

The Vampyressa melissa species complex comprises three rare bat species poorly represented in museum collections. Vampyressa melissa and V. sinchi are restricted to the eastern slope of the Andes, while V. elisabethae only is known from Panama, in Central America. The species complex has received recent attention in terms of systematic reviews, which concluded in the description of two species: one from Panama (V. elisabethae) and one from Colombia (V. sinchi). Vampyressa melissa recently was reported from the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia, in the department of Casanare. However, morphological and genetic (Cytochrome b) comparisons showed that these specimens belong to an undescribed species of the genus. The new species is the smallest member of the V. melissa complex and has a unique set of morphological characters compared to other Vampyressa species. Molecular evidence shows that the new species is sister to V. melissa (sensu stricto) from Colombia and Peru, albeit with high genetic divergence (7.9%). Nevertheless, Cytochrome b sequences of V. elisabethae and V. sinchi still are unknown. This new species increases to six the number of species in the genus. Vampyressa melissa, V. sinchi, and the new species, exhibit restricted distributions in the eastern slopes of the Andean Cordillera, in specific altitudinal ranges. Because of geographic constraints, their biological rarity, and the high deforestation rates in their distributional area, we suggest that these three species must be considered as taxa threatened with extinction.
NGO standing in petroleum pollution litigation in Nigeria—Centre for Oil Pollution Watch v Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
Authors: Anozie Miriam Chinyere , Wingate Emmanuel Onyedi
Published: October 2020

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been at the forefront of securing environmental justice for the people of Nigeria’s Niger Delta suffering the effects of pollution arising from petroleum exploitation. Standing constraints have, however, limited NGOs’ abilities to access the courts to prevent or remedy pollution. This article analyses the recent decision of Nigeria’s Supreme Court in Center for Oil Pollution Watch v Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). It finds that environmental NGOs, previously unable to institute action under existing public interest litigation procedures, can now institute action in their own rights to prevent or remedy environmental pollution in Nigeria.
MBE Transitions to the Open Access Publication Model in 2021
Authors: Kumar Sudhir , Rowe Heather
Published: October 2020

From the first day of 2021, all manuscripts published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE) will be freely accessible online without a subscription. This exciting change will make all the MBE content available to all readers immediately upon publication.
Production of a novel heterodimeric two-chain insulin-Fc fusion protein
Authors: Faust Christine , Ochs Christian , Korn Marcus , Werner Ulrich , Jung Jennifer , Dittrich Werner , Schiebler Werner , Schauder Rolf , Rao Ercole , Langer Thomas
Published: October 2020

Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the pancreas. The physiological role of insulin is the regulation of glucose metabolism. Under certain pathological conditions the insulin levels can be reduced leading to the metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus (DM). For type 1 DM and, dependent on the disease progression for type 2 DM, insulin substitution becomes indispensable. To relieve insulin substitution therapy for patients, novel insulin analogs with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles aiming for long-lasting or fast-acting insulins have been developed. The next step in the evolution of novel insulins should be insulin analogs with a time action profile beyond 1–2 days, preferable up to 1 week.

Nowadays, insulin is produced in a recombinant manner. This approach facilitates the design and production of further insulin-analogs or insulin-fusion proteins. The usage of the Fc-domain from immunoglobulin as a fusion partner for therapeutic proteins and peptides is widely used to extend their plasma half-life. Insulin consists of two chains, the A- and B-chain, which are connected by two disulfide-bridges. To produce a novel kind of Fc-fusion protein we have fused the A-chain as well as the B-chain to Fc-fragments containing either ‘knob’ or ‘hole’ mutations. The ‘knob-into-hole’ technique is frequently used to force heterodimerization of the Fc-domain. Using this approach, we were able to produce different variants of two-chain-insulin-Fc-protein (tcI-Fc-protein) variants. The tcI-Fc-fusion variants retained activity as shown in in vitro assays. Finally, prolonged blood glucose lowering activity was demonstrated in normoglycemic rats. Overall, we describe here the production of novel insulin-Fc-fusion proteins with prolonged times of action.
Development and Validation of a Computerized Adaptive Assessment Tool for Discrimination and Measurement of Psychotic Symptoms
Authors: Guinart Daniel , de Filippis Renato , Rosson Stella , Patil Bhagyashree , Prizgint Lara , Talasazan Nahal , Meltzer Herbert , Kane John M , Gibbons Robert D
Published: October 2020

Objective

Time constraints limit the use of measurement-based approaches in research and routine clinical management of psychosis. Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) can reduce administration time, thus increasing measurement efficiency. This study aimed to develop and test the capacity of the CAT-Psychosis battery, both self-administered and rater-administered, to measure the severity of psychotic symptoms and discriminate psychosis from healthy controls.

Methods

An item bank was developed and calibrated. Two raters administered CAT-Psychosis for inter-rater reliability (IRR). Subjects rated themselves and were retested within 7 days for test-retest reliability. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was administered for convergent validity and chart diagnosis, and the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) was used to test psychosis discriminant validity.

Results

Development and calibration study included 649 psychotic patients. Simulations revealed a correlation of r = .92 with the total 73-item bank score, using an average of 12 items. Validation study included 160 additional patients and 40 healthy controls. CAT-Psychosis showed convergent validity (clinician: r = 0.690; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.610–0.757; self-report: r = .690; 95% CI: 0.609–0.756), IRR (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.733; 95% CI: 0.611–0.828), and test-retest reliability (clinician ICC = 0.862; 95% CI: 0.767–0.922; self-report ICC = 0.815; 95%CI: 0.741–0.871). CAT-Psychosis could discriminate psychosis from healthy controls (clinician: area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.965, 95% CI: 0.945–0.984; self-report AUC = 0.850, 95% CI: 0.807–0.894). The median length of the clinician-administered assessment was 5 minutes (interquartile range [IQR]: 3:23–8:29 min) and 1 minute, 20 seconds (IQR: 0:57–2:09 min) for the self-report.

Conclusion

CAT-Psychosis can quickly and reliably assess the severity of psychosis and discriminate psychotic patients from healthy controls, creating an opportunity for frequent remote assessment and patient/population-level follow-up.
Molecular Phylogenomics and Population Structure of Phytophthora pluvialis
Authors: Tabima Javier F. , Gonen Lilah , Gómez-Gallego Mireia , Panda Preeti , Grünwald Niklaus J. , Hansen Everett M. , McDougal Rebecca , LeBoldus Jared M. , Williams Nari M.
Published: October 2020

Phytophthora pluvialis is an oomycete that was first isolated from soil, water, and tree foliage in mixed Douglas-fir−tanoak forests of the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW). It was then identified as the causal agent of red needle cast of radiata pine (Pinus radiata) in New Zealand (NZ). Genotyping-by-sequencing was used to obtain 1,543 single nucleotide polymorphisms across 145 P. pluvialis isolates to characterize the population structure in the PNW and NZ. We tested the hypothesis that P. pluvialis was introduced to NZ from the PNW using genetic distance measurements and population structure analyses among locations between countries. The low genetic distance, population heterozygosity, and lack of geographic structure in NZ suggest a single colonization event from the United States followed by clonal expansion in NZ. The PNW Coast Range was proposed as a presumptive center of origin of the currently known distribution of P. pluvialis based on its geographic range and position as the central cluster in a minimum spanning network. The Coastal cluster of isolates were located at the root of every U.S. cluster and emerged earlier than all NZ clusters. The Coastal cluster had the highest degree of heterozygosity (Hs = 0.254) and median pairwise genetic distance (0.093) relative to any other cluster. Finally, the rapid host diversification between closely related isolates of P. pluvialis in NZ indicate that this pathogen has the potential to infect a broader range of hosts than is currently recognized.
Assessing Changes and Associations in theXanthomonas perforansPopulation Across Florida Commercial Tomato Fields Via a Statewide Survey
Authors: Klein-Gordon Jeannie M. , Xing Yanru , Garrett Karen A. , Abrahamian Peter , Paret Matthews L. , Minsavage Gerald V. , Strayer-Scherer Amanda L. , Fulton James C. , Timilsina Sujan , Jones Jeffrey B. , Goss Erica M. , Vallad Gary E.
Published: October 2020

Before 1991, Xanthomonas euvesicatoria was the causal agent of bacterial spot of tomato in Florida but was quickly replaced by X. perforans. The X. perforans population has changed in genotype and phenotype despite lack of a clear selection pressure. To determine the current Xanthomonas population in Florida, we collected 585 Xanthomonas strains from 70 tomato fields, representing 22 farms across eight counties, in the Florida tomato production region. Strains were isolated from 23 cultivars across eight seed producers and were associated with eight transplant facilities during the fall 2017 season. Our collection was phenotypically and genotypically characterized. Only X. perforans was identified, and all strains except one (99.8%) were tolerant to copper sulfate and 25% of strains were resistant to streptomycin sulfate. Most of the strains (99.3%) that were resistant to streptomycin sulfate were sequence type 1. The X. perforans population consisted of tomato races 3 (8%) and 4 (92%) and all three previously reported sequence types, ranging from 22 to 46% frequency. Approximately half of all strains, none of which were sequence type 2, produced bacteriocins against X. euvesicatoria. Effector profiles were highly variable among strains, which could impact the strains’ host range. The effector xopJ4, which was previously thought to be conserved in X. perforans tomato pathogens, was absent in 19 strains. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and network analyses show how strains and strain traits were associated with production system variables, including anonymized farms and transplant facilities. These analyses show that the composition of the Florida X. perforans population is diverse and complex.
Efficacy of prostatic urethral lift compared with transurethral resection of the prostate
Authors: Mortzfeldt Anna
Published: October 2020

This article reviews the prostatic urethral lift (PUL) and its potential benefits and risks compared with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). TURP is the traditional procedure for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and is associated with ejaculatory and erectile dysfunction. PUL is a minimally invasive option, but its efficacy has not been well studied. A literature review indicates that both procedures should be afforded equal consideration, and both have limitations. Further long-term research is needed to establish if PUL is superior to TURP.
The Effect of Foot Massage on Peripheral Neuropathy-Related Pain and Sleep Quality in Patients With Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Authors: Sarısoy Pınar , Ovayolu Ozlem
Published: October 2020

This study, which was conducted on patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, aimed to evaluate the effect of foot massage on peripheral neuropathic pain and sleep quality. The survey was conducted between November 2018 and April 2019. Research data were collected through questionnaire, visual analogue scale (VAS), Douleur Neuropathique 4/Neuropathic Pain 4 (DN4) Questions, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Classical foot massage was applied to participants in the intervention group, and they received 3 sessions a week, with each session lasting for 20 minutes over a period 4 weeks. After each massage session, pain levels were again assessed using the VAS and DN4 questionnaires. It has been shown that foot massage intervention reduces the patients' pain levels and has a positive effect on their sleep quality. Accordingly, foot massage can be recommended to patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to reduce their peripheral neuropathy-related pain and improve their sleep quality.
Bilateral Nodular Episcleritis: A Rare Presentation of Relapsing Polychondritis
Authors: Meel Rachna , Das Deepsekhar , Bhadu Danveer , Sen Seema , Kishor Kriti , Pushker Neelam
Published: October 2020

Herein, the authors report a case of relapsing polychondritis (RP) presenting as isolated bilateral nodular episcleritis. A 23-year-old male presented to us with bilateral large ocular surface masses for which he had received antitubercular medications. A workup was performed to rule out infective, neoplastic, and immune etiologies, after which the patient was then treated empirically with systemic steroids. No response to steroids was noted, so the lesions were removed surgically. On follow up, he developed redness of both ears sparing the lobules. A biopsy from ear lesions supported the diagnosis of RP. At a follow up of 2 years, the patient is free of any ocular or systemic manifestation. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of RP presenting with bilateral giant nodular episcleritis and treated successfully with surgery. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for the management of such cases. A long-term close follow up is vital for early detection of associated malignancies like multiple myeloma.