bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining two-dimensional Fröhlich model and enhancing the electron mobility of monolayer InSe by dielectric engineering
Authors: Ma Jinlong , Xu Dongwei , Hu Run , Luo Xiaobing
Published: July 2020

In polar compounds, Fröhlich interaction plays an important role in electrical transport, and it is highly dependent on the dimensionality. In two-dimensional (2D) materials, Fröhlich interaction cannot be correctly described by the analytical model available for bulk materials, which prevents the employment of the state-of-the-art first-principles calculation of electrical transport based on maximally localized Wannier functions interpolation. Recently, an approximate 2D Fröhlich model with screened dielectric properties is proposed. Selecting the strong polar material of monolayer InSe, we examine the accuracy of this 2D Fröhlich model by comparing the electron mobility calculated using this model with that based on direct density functional perturbation theory calculations of 2D Fröhlich interaction. It is found that the 2D Fröhlich model can guarantee fairly good results with an advantage of tremendously reduced computational consumption. Using this model, the modulation of the electron mobility of monolayer InSe by the dielectric environment is studied. The electron mobility can be drastically enhanced by coating high-dielectric materials, with room-temperature mobility improved from about 100cm2V−1s−1 to about 500cm2V−1s−1, due to the strong suppression of Fröhlich scattering.
Stable charged exciton in a ZnO/(Zn,Mg)O quantum well at near room temperature
Authors: Muszyński M. , Teisseyre H. , Sobczak K. , Suffczyński J.
Published: July 2020

We report on the binding energy of a charged exciton (trion) confined in a single, epitaxially grown 1.7 nm thick ZnO/(Zn,Mg)O quantum well as large as 22 meV or 27.6 meV when determined in micro-photoluminescence or transmission measurements, respectively. Charged exciton emission is found to persist up to near room temperature. The binding energy comparable to thermal energy at room temperature is promising for trion based spintronic and optoelectronic applications.
Real-space formulation of the stress tensor for O(N) density functional theory: Application to high temperature calculations
Authors: Sharma Abhiraj , Hamel Sebastien , Bethkenhagen Mandy , Pask John E. , Suryanarayana Phanish
Published: July 2020

We present an accurate and efficient real-space formulation of the Hellmann–Feynman stress tensor for O(N) Kohn–Sham density functional theory (DFT). While applicable at any temperature, the formulation is most efficient at high temperature where the Fermi–Dirac distribution becomes smoother and the density matrix becomes correspondingly more localized. We first rewrite the orbital-dependent stress tensor for real-space DFT in terms of the density matrix, thereby making it amenable to O(N) methods. We then describe its evaluation within the O(N) infinite-cell Clenshaw–Curtis Spectral Quadrature (SQ) method, a technique that is applicable to metallic and insulating systems, is highly parallelizable, becomes increasingly efficient with increasing temperature, and provides results corresponding to the infinite crystal without the need of Brillouin zone integration. We demonstrate systematic convergence of the resulting formulation with respect to SQ parameters to exact diagonalization results and show convergence with respect to mesh size to the established plane wave results. We employ the new formulation to compute the viscosity of hydrogen at 106 K from Kohn–Sham quantum molecular dynamics, where we find agreement with previous more approximate orbital-free density functional methods.
Natural behaviours, their drivers and their implications for laying hen welfare
Authors: Hemsworth Paul H. , Edwards Lauren E.
Published: July 2020

Some believe that farm animals need to be kept in conditions that provide ‘natural’ aspects in the animal’s environment and, thus, provide the opportunity for the animals to perform their full ‘behavioural repertoire’. Captivity may restrict either behaviours that animals have instinctive, intrinsic propensities to perform whatever the environment or behaviours that are elicited by deficits in the animals’ environment. Behavioural restriction may also thwart general motivation to seek variety and/or avoid monotonous conditions. Appreciating whether an animal suffers if deprived of the opportunity to perform natural behaviour requires, first, an understanding of how the behaviour in question is elicited and controlled, the effects of early experience and genetics on the behaviour and the behaviour of the species in the wild, and, second, the behavioural, physiological and fitness effects of deprivation of the behaviour. Housing laying hens in conventional cages compromises their behavioural repertoire, such as nesting in a nest box, dust bathing, perching and foraging, and the present review focuses on the welfare implications if these natural behaviours are thwarted in modern poultry production. A floor space of <561 cm2/hen increases physiological stress, reduces egg production and increases mortality in laying hens. There is also evidence of behavioural restriction in terms of reduced wing stretching, leg stretching, tail wagging, locomotion, floor and object pecking and preening with floor space in the range of 542–750 cm2/hen. Preference and motivation research has indicated that laying hens value resources such as nest boxes for oviposition, substrates for foraging and dust bathing, and perches for roosting. However, there is no convincing evidence that deprivation of these resources results in physiological stress. Furthermore, apart from adverse effects of the absence of perches on bone strength, there is no evidence that deprivation of nest boxes, perches, and foraging and dust-bathing substrates results in reduction in fitness such as reduced egg production or health. Nevertheless, preference research has indicated that the opportunity to utilise these resources, particularly nest boxes, may elicit positive emotional states in laying hens. Therefore, it is important to understand both how motivated the animal is to choose an option or perform a behaviour as well as the consequences of depriving the animal of this opportunity.
Sleep tight and wake-up early: nocturnal transpiration traits to increase wheat drought tolerance in a Mediterranean environment
Authors: Schoppach Rémy , Sinclair Thomas R. , Sadok Walid
Published: July 2020

In wheat, night-time transpiration rate (TRN) could amount to 14–55% of daytime transpiration rate (TR), depending on the cultivar and environment. Recent evidence suggests that TRN is much less responsive to soil drying than daytime TR, and that such ‘wasteful’ water losses would increase the impact of drought on yields. In contrast, other evidence indicates that pre-dawn, circadian increases in TRN may enable enhanced radiation use efficiency, resulting in increased productivity under water deficit. Until now, there have been no attempts to evaluate these seemingly conflicting hypotheses in terms of their impact on yields in any crop. Here, using the Mediterranean environment of Tunisia as a case study, we undertook a simulation modelling approach using SSM-Wheat to evaluate yield outcomes resulting from these TRN trait modifications. TRN represented 15% of daytime TR-generated yield penalties of up to 20%, and these worsened when TRN was not sensitive to soil drying TR. For the same TRN level (15%), simulating a predawn increase in TRN alleviated yield penalties, leading to yield gains of up to 25%. Overall, this work suggests that decreasing TRN but increasing pre-dawn circadian control would be a viable breeding target to increase drought tolerance in a Mediterranean environment.
Realizing an online conference
Authors: Busse Beatrix , Kleiber Ingo
Published: July 2020

This paper aims to assist future organizers of international online conferences with designing and realizing these
events. On the basis of the authors’ experience of having to move a corpus linguistics conference – originally planned as a
physical event – into the digital space, this paper describes the conference’s organization and management structure, outlines the
software and communication tools used and sketches what is important to foster interaction and discourse among participants. The
paper contains a manual and a checklist for preparing an online conference, and a discussion of the chances of online and hybrid
conferences in terms of outreach, Open Access and co-creation. It ends with an appeal to colleagues to devise conferences with
courage, develop new ways of transferring linguistic research findings (to the public) and to move out of their comfort zones to
sustainably use the digital transformation for innovative paths of exchanging research findings.
Durgapal IV model considering the minimal geometric deformation approach
Authors: Tello-Ortiz Francisco , Rincón Ángel , Bhar Piyali , Gomez-Leyton Y.
Published: July 2020

The present article reports the study of local anisotropic effects on Durgapal's fourth model in the context of gravitational decoupling via the minimal geometric deformation approach. To achieve this, the most general equation of state relating the components of the θ−sector is imposed to obtain the decoupler function

. In addition, certain properties of the obtained solution, such as the behavior of the salient material content threading the stellar interior; causality and energy conditions; hydrostatic balance through the modified Tolman−Oppenheimer−Volkoff conservation equation and stability mechanism against local anisotropies using the adiabatic index; sound velocity of the pressure waves; convection factor; and the Harrison−Zeldovich−Novikov procedure, are investigated to check whether the model is physically admissible or not. Regarding the stability analysis, it is found that the model presents unstable regions when the sound speed of the pressure waves and convection factor are used in distinction with the adiabatic index and Harrison−Zeldovich−Novikov case. To produce a more realistic picture, the numerical data for some known compact objects were determined and different values of the parameter

were considered to compare with the GR case, i.e.,

.
Multi-pole dark energy *
Authors: Feng Chao-Jun , Zhai Xiang-Hua , Li Xin-Zhou
Published: July 2020

A scalar field with a pole in its kinetic term is often used to study cosmological inflation; it can also play the role of dark energy, which is called the pole dark energy model. We propose a generalized model where the scalar field may have two or even multiple poles in the kinetic term, and we call it the multi-pole dark energy. We find that the poles can place some restrictions on the values of the original scalar field with a non-canonical kinetic term. After the transformation to the canonical form, we get a flat potential for the transformed scalar field even if the original field has a steep one. The late-time evolution of the universe is obtained explicitly for the two pole model, while dynamical analysis is performed for the multiple pole model. We find that it does have a stable attractor solution, which corresponds to the universe dominated by the potential of the scalar field.
The U.S. consumer phosphorus footprint: where do nitrogen and phosphorus diverge?
Authors: Metson Geneviève S , MacDonald Graham K , Leach Allison M , Compton Jana E , Harrison John A , Galloway James N
Published: July 2020

Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are essential nutrients for food production but their excess use in agriculture can have major social costs, particularly related to water quality degradation. Nutrient footprint approaches estimate N and P release to the environment through food production and waste management and enable linking these emissions to particular consumption patterns. Following an established method for quantifying a consumer-oriented N footprint for the United States (U.S.), we calculate an analogous P footprint and assess the N:P ratio across different stages of food production and consumption. Circa 2012, the average consumer’s P footprint was 4.4 kg P capita−1 yr−1 compared to 22.4 kg N capita−1 yr−1 for the food portion of the N footprint. Animal products have the largest contribution to both footprints, comprising >70% of the average per capita N and P footprints. The N:P ratio of environmental release based on virtual nutrient factors (kilograms N or P per kilogram of food consumed) varies considerably across food groups and stages. The overall N:P ratio of the footprints was lower (5.2 by mass) than for that of U.S. food consumption (8.6), reinforcing our finding that P is managed less efficiently than N in food production systems but more efficiently removed from wastewater. While strategies like reducing meat consumption will effectively reduce both N and P footprints by decreasing overall synthetic fertilizer nutrient demands, consideration of how food production and waste treatment differentially affect N and P releases to the environment can also inform eutrophication management.
Activity of carbonyl cyanide-3-chlorophenylhydrazone on biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa using quantum dots-meropenem conjugates as nanotools
Authors: Silva Júnior Valdemir V , Raposo Bruno L , Lopes Ana C S , Araújo Paulo S R , Fontes Adriana , Cabral Filho Paulo E , Maciel Maria A V
Published: July 2020

Hospital infections associated with multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a worldwide public health problem. Efflux systems and biofilm formation are mechanisms related to resistance to carbapenemics. In this study, quantum dots (QDs) were used to evaluate the effect of carbonyl cyanide-3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), an efflux pump system inhibitor, on biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance profile of P. aeruginosa strains. For this, QDs were covalently conjugated to meropenem (MPM) and incubated with a P. aeruginosa resistant isolate (P118) or a control sensitive strain (ATCC Pa27853). P118 was also analyzed with conjugates after previous CCCP efflux inhibitor incubation. Fluorescence microscopy images showed that both sensitive and resistant bacteria were efficiently labeled. Nevertheless, P118 isolates presented fluorescent cell agglomerates, suggesting biofilm formation. The addition of the CCCP changed the labeling profile of the resistant isolate, and the absence of agglomerates was observed, indicating no biofilm formation. Genetic assays revealed the presence of MexA and MexE genes encoding channel proteins from efflux pump systems in both resistant and sensitive strains. Disk-diffusion and broth microdilution tests determined drug susceptibility profiles in the presence and absence of CCCP for P118 isolates. We verified that the CCCP efflux system inhibitor may contribute to P. aeruginosa resistant phenotype reduction for some antimicrobials. This study verified the efficiency of QD-MPM conjugates to trigger and study biofilm formation, or its inhibition, before and after CCCP addition. QDs conjugated to antimicrobials can be used as nanotools to investigate multidrug-resistant bacterial strains on biofilm formation.
The use of antifreeze proteins to modify pore structure in directionally frozen alginate sponges for cartilage tissue engineering
Authors: Sturtivant Alexander , Callanan Anthony
Published: July 2020

It is thought that osteoarthritis is one of the world’s leading causes of disability, with over 8.75 million people in the UK alone seeking medical treatment in 2013. Although a number of treatments are currently in use, a new wave of tissue engineered structures are being investigated as potential solutions for early intervention. One of the key challenges seen in cartilage tissue engineering is producing constructs that can support the formation of articular cartilage, rather than mechanically inferior fibrocartilage. Some research has suggested that mimicking structural properties of the natural cartilage can be used to enhance this response. Herein directional freezing was used to fabricate scaffolds with directionally aligned pores mimicking the mid-region of cartilage, anti-freeze proteins were used to modify the porous structure, which in turn effected the mechanical properties. Pore areas at the tops of the scaffolds were 180.46 ± 44.17 μm2 and 65.66 ± 36.20 μm2 for the AFP free and the AFP scaffolds respectively, and for the bases of the scaffolds were 91.22 ± 19.05 μm2 and 69.41 ± 21.94 μm2 respectively. Scaffolds were seeded with primary bovine chondrocytes, with viability maintained over the course of the study, and regulation of key genes was observed.
Ultraviolet and viruses
Authors: Durrani Matin
Published: July 2020

Many of Donald Trump’s supporters – and surely all his detractors – would agree that he’s said and Tweeted some pretty bizarre and controversial things during his time as US president.
High ambitions for net carbon neutral
Authors: Pugh Jonathan , McKillop Julia
Published: July 2020

In response to Kate Ravilious’ feature “Life in a carbon-neutral world” (April pp32–37), in which she looks at the changes society will need to make on a day-to-day basis, to move towards a net-carbon-zero world.
Making images with sound
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: July 2020

Floating visual displays created using acoustically levitated particles could lead to galleries of singing heads, and advances in contactless manufacturing. Michael Allen investigates
Spectral response of chlorophyll content during leaf senescence in European beech trees
Authors: Morley Peter J , Jump Alistair S , West Martin D , Donoghue Daniel N M
Published: July 2020

Leaf chlorophyll content declines in response to environmental stressors and during natural senescence periods. Assessments of forest health and vulnerability to stressors require repeated measurements of forest health to quantify declines in chlorophyll content and identify shifts in the timing of key phenological events. Although remote sensing is ideal for making reliable and repeated forest health measurements to assess forest response to environmental change over large areas, reliable warning systems for monitoring plant health are lacking. To facilitate the estimation of chlorophyll content from remotely sensed data, we define the relationships between leaf chlorophyll content and spectral indices in European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica). We show that hand-held chlorophyll meters can be calibrated to leaf chlorophyll content providing a non-destructive method for rapid assessment of leaf chlorophyll content in the field. Spectral indices based on the red edge spectral region have the strongest relationship with leaf chlorophyll content (mND705 R
2 = 0.95, RMSE = 4.70; mSR705 R
2 = 0.95, RMSE = 4.71) but are unable to discriminate between photosynthetically active leaves and inactive leaves. Alternative spectral indices can discriminate effectively between photosynthetically active and inactive leaves but are less well suited to defining declines in chlorophyll content. These findings reveal key research needs for improving the use of remote sensing data for forest health assessments.
Experiences of Discrimination Are Associated With Worse Metabolic Syndrome Severity Among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study
Authors: Cardel Michelle I , Chi Xiaofei , Min Yuan-I , Sims Mario , Musani Solomon K , Dulin Akilah , Gravlee Clarence C , Smith Steven M , DeBoer Mark D , Gurka Matthew J
Published: July 2020

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Although the development of MetS is attributed to known lifestyle factors, perceived discrimination may also contribute to MetS development and severity.

Purpose

We examined the associations of perceived discrimination with MetS severity among African American adults at baseline and 8-year follow-up.

Methods

Three thousand eight hundred and seventy participants (mean age 53.8 ± 13.0; 63.1% female) without diabetes and no missing MetS severity scores at baseline were included. Each self-reported measure of discrimination at baseline (everyday, lifetime, and burden of lifetime) was classified into tertiles (low, medium, high). After adjustment for demographics and MetS risk factors, associations of discrimination were examined with a sex- and race/ethnicity-specific MetS severity Z-score. We employed a mixed model approach that allowed for the assessment of an overall association between reported discrimination at baseline and MetS severity, and for the possible change over time.

Results

Sex and age differences were observed in experiences with discrimination, such that men reported higher levels of all aspects of discrimination relative to women. Everyday discrimination decreased with age, whereas lifetime discrimination increased with age (p < .05). Independent of lifestyle and demographic factors, everyday and lifetime discrimination were significantly associated with MetS severity (p = .003 and p = .017, respectively) and the associations remained constant over the 8 years (i.e., no interaction with time).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that, in a large community-based sample of African Americans, discrimination is a salient psychosocial risk factor for severity of MetS.
Leaflet thrombosis after valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case series
Authors: Aktuerk Dincer , Mirsadraee Saeed , Quarto Cesare , Davies Simon , Duncan Alison
Published: July 2020

Background

Valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation (ViV-TAVI) in degenerated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is an alternative to redo-SAVR. However, reports on leaflet thrombosis following ViV-TAVI are emerging and subclinical thrombosis has gained recent attention. Although the incidence of transcatheter heart valve (THV) thrombosis after TAVI for native aortic valve disease is low, current imaging studies suggest the incidence of subclinical THV thrombosis may be significantly higher. While anticoagulation strategies for THV patients for native aortic stenosis presenting with symptomatic obstructive thrombosis has been described, the optimal management and anticoagulation therapy of patients with THV thrombosis following ViV-TAVI are less evident.

Case summary

We report a case series of three patients presenting with early and late THV thrombosis after ViV-TAVI. Two patients presented clinically on single antiplatelet therapy and one patient presented with subclinical valve thrombosis whilst taking a non-vitamin K oral anticoagulation agent.

Discussion

Leaflet thrombosis after ViV-TAVI is an important cause of THV degeneration and may present subclinically. Imaging modalities such as serial transthoracic echocardiograms and multidetector computerized tomography aid diagnosis and guide management. Patient-individualized risk- vs. -benefit prophylactic post-procedural oral anticoagulation may be indicated.
Single-clausewhen-defining models in English monolingual pedagogical dictionaries
Authors: Ptasznik Bartosz
Published: July 2020

The paper is concerned with the single-clause when-definition, which is a common folk-defining style that has been established by lexicographers in English monolingual learners’ dictionaries (the Big Five), especially the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English and Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. In brief, the single-clause when-definition format can be applied to explain the meaning of abstract nouns and it closely resembles the double-clause (full-sentence) definition, which can also begin with a subordinating conjunction such as when or if. However, the when-definition does not include the word which is being defined (definiendum) and it is formed out of a single, subordinate clause. This definition-type has received metalexicographers’ attention as it appears to, in general, limit the effectiveness of correct extraction of word class information from abstract noun entries in contrast to the traditional defining model – the analytical definition. In this paper, an attempt is made to investigate two types of single-clause when-defining models: (1) when + personal pronoun; and (2) when + indefinite pronoun (someone/something).1 The collected evidence from the Linear Mixed-effects Modelling analysis indicates that the effect of when-definition  type on syntactic  class  identification  accuracy is statistically significant at the 8% level of significance, with the when + personal pronoun defining style being the superior defining model.
Local Langlands Correspondence for Regular Supercuspidal Representations of GL(n)
Authors: Oi Masao , Tokimoto Kazuki
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we prove the coincidence of Kaletha’s recent construction of the local Langlands correspondence for regular supercuspidal representations with Harris–Taylor’s one in the case of general linear groups. The keys are Bushnell–Henniart’s essentially tame local Langlands correspondence and Tam’s result on Bushnell–Henniart’s rectifiers. By combining them, our problem is reduced to an elementary root-theoretic computation on the difference between Kaletha’s and Tam’s $\chi $-data.
Serum Sodium and Potassium Distribution and Characteristics in the US Population, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2016
Authors: Overwyk Katherine J , Pfeiffer Christine M , Storandt Renee J , Zhao Lixia , Zhang Zefeng , Campbell Norm R C , Wiltz Jennifer L , Merritt Robert K , Cogswell Mary E
Published: July 2020

Background

Concern has been expressed by some that sodium reduction could lead to increased prevalence of hyponatremia and hyperkalemia for specific population subgroups. Current concentrations of serum sodium and potassium in the US population can help address this concern.

Methods

We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2016 to examine mean and selected percentiles of serum sodium and potassium by sex and age group among 25 520 US participants aged 12 years or older. Logistic regression models with predicted residuals were used to examine the age-adjusted prevalence of low serum sodium and high serum potassium among adults aged 20 or older by selected sociodemographic characteristics and by health conditions or medication use.

Results

The distributions of serum sodium and potassium concentrations were within normal reference intervals overall and across Dietary Reference Intake life-stage groups, with a few exceptions. Overall, 2% of US adults had low serum sodium (<135 mmol/L) and 0.6% had high serum potassium (>5 mmol/L). Prevalence of low serum sodium and high serum potassium was higher among adults aged 71 or older (4.7 and 2.0%, respectively) and among adults with chronic kidney disease (3.4 and 1.9%), diabetes (5.0 and 1.1%), or using certain medications (which varied by condition), adjusted for age; whereas, prevalence was <1% among adults without these conditions or medications.

Conclusions

Most of the US population has normal serum sodium and potassium concentrations; these data describe population subgroups at higher risk of low serum sodium and high serum potassium and can inform clinical care.
Genomic diversity revealed by whole-genome sequencing in three Danish commercial pig breeds
Authors: Cai Zexi , Sarup Pernille , Ostersen Tage , Nielsen Bjarne , Fredholm Merete , Karlskov-Mortensen Peter , Sørensen Peter , Jensen Just , Guldbrandtsen Bernt , Lund Mogens Sandø , Christensen Ole Fredslund , Sahana Goutam
Published: July 2020

Whole-genome sequencing of 217 animals from three Danish commercial pig breeds (Duroc, Landrace [LL], and Yorkshire [YY]) was performed. Twenty-six million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 8 million insertions or deletions (indels) were uncovered. Among the SNPs, 493,099 variants were located in coding sequences, and 29,430 were predicted to have a high functional impact such as gain or loss of stop codon. Using the whole-genome sequence dataset as the reference, the imputation accuracy for pigs genotyped with high-density SNP chips was examined. The overall average imputation accuracy for all biallelic variants (SNP and indel) was 0.69, while it was 0.83 for variants with minor allele frequency > 0.1. This study provides whole-genome reference data to impute SNP chip-genotyped animals for further studies to fine map quantitative trait loci as well as improving the prediction accuracy in genomic selection. Signatures of selection were identified both through analyses of fixation and differentiation to reveal selective sweeps that may have had prominent roles during breed development or subsequent divergent selection. However, the fixation indices did not indicate a strong divergence among these three breeds. In LL and YY, the integrated haplotype score identified genomic regions under recent selection. These regions contained genes for olfactory receptors and oxidoreductases. Olfactory receptor genes that might have played a major role in the domestication were previously reported to have been under selection in several species including cattle and swine.
MGMT Promoter Methylation Status Is Not Related to Histological or Radiological Features in IDH Wild-type Glioblastomas
Authors: Mikkelsen Vilde Elisabeth , Dai Hong Yan , Stensjøen Anne Line , Berntsen Erik Magnus , Salvesen Øyvind , Solheim Ole , Torp Sverre Helge
Published: July 2020

O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation is an important favorable predictive marker in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). We hypothesized that MGMT status could be a surrogate marker of pretreatment tumor biology observed as histopathological and radiological features. Apart from some radiological studies aiming to noninvasively predict the MGMT status, few studies have investigated relationships between MGMT status and phenotypical tumor biology. We have therefore aimed to investigate such relationships in 85 isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild-type GBMs. MGMT status was determined by methylation-specific PCR and was assessed for associations with 22 histopathological features, immunohistochemical proliferative index and microvessel density measurements, conventional magnetic resonance imaging characteristics, preoperative speed of tumor growth, and overall survival. None of the investigated histological or radiological features were significantly associated with MGMT status. Methylated MGMT status was a significant independent predictor of improved overall survival. In conclusion, our results suggest that MGMT status is not related to the pretreatment phenotypical biology in IDH wild-type GBMs. Furthermore, our findings suggest the survival benefit of MGMT methylated GBMs is not due to an inherently less aggressive tumor biology, and that conventional magnetic resonance imaging features cannot be used to noninvasively predict the MGMT status.
Vaccination Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
Authors: Plotkin Stanley A
Published: July 2020

Over 100 attempts are being made to develop a vaccine for use in the epidemic of COVID-19. Many different technologies are being used in an effort to prevent the infection or at least the disease.
‘Of Pride and Joy No Common Rate’: From the Surplus Women Problem to Surplus Jouissance in Margaret Oliphant’s Hester
Authors: Moore Ben
Published: July 2020

This article analyses Margaret Oliphant’s novel Hester (1883), arguing that it dramatizes a complex interplay of surplus labour, surplus capital, the figure of the surplus woman, and surplus jouissance. The central character, Hester, is read as a figure who embodies the surplus jouissance which is both necessary to and disruptive of modern capitalism, and which in the novel stands in opposition to the steady state of the respectable country bank, taken here to align with the Freudian pleasure principle. In support of this reading, the article traces a line from Hester back to the ‘surplus women debate’ of the 1850s and 60s, including Oliphant’s contribution to this debate in her 1858 article ‘The Condition of Women’. The novel itself is analysed through its epigraph, taken from a Charles Lamb poem of 1803, and through the multiple meanings of the concept of ‘chance’ which the text presents. My analysis proceeds by way of Freud, J. S. Mill, Marx and Lacan, finding that Lacan’s rereading of surplus labour as surplus jouissance ultimately provides the most productive way to read the text’s rearticulation of the surplus women problem.
Personnel protection strategy for healthcare workers in Wuhan during the COVID-19 epidemic
Authors: Hou Fan Fan , Zhou Fuling , Xu Xin , Wang Daowen , Xu Gang , Jiang Tao , Nie Sheng , Wu Xiaoyan , Ren Chanjun , Wang Guangyu , Lau Johnson Yiu-Nam , Wang Xinghuan , Zhang Kang
Published: July 2020

Objective

To identify the effectiveness of a personnel protection strategy in protection of healthcare workers from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Design

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 943 healthcare staff sent from Guangzhou to Wuhan to care for patients with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 received infection precaution training before their mission and were equipped with Level 2/3 personal protective equipment (PPE), in accordance with guidelines from the National Health Commission of China. We conducted a serological survey on the cumulative attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 among the healthcare workers sent to Wuhan and compared the seropositive rate to that in local healthcare workers from Wuhan and Jingzhou.

Results

Serial tests for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and tests for SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin M and G after the 6-8 week mission revealed a zero cumulative attack rate. Among the local healthcare workers in Wuhan and Jingzhou of Hubei Province, 2.5% (113 out of 4495) and 0.32% (10 out of 3091) had RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19, respectively. The seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgG, IgM, or both IgG/IgM positive) was 3.4% (53 out of 1571) in local healthcare workers from Wuhan with Level 2/3 PPE working in isolation areas and 5.4% (126 out of 2336) in healthcare staff with Level 1 PPE working in non-isolation medical areas, respectively.

Conclusions and relevance

Our study confirmed that adequate training/PPE can protect medical personnel against SARS-CoV-2.
Body sway predicts romantic interest in speed dating
Authors: Chang Andrew , Kragness Haley E , Tsou Wei , Bosnyak Dan J , Thiede Anja , Trainor Laurel J
Published: July 2020

Social bonding is fundamental to human society, and romantic interest involves an important type of bonding. Speed dating research paradigms offer both high external validity and experimental control for studying romantic interest in real-world settings. While previous studies focused on the effect of social and personality factors on romantic interest, the role of non-verbal interaction has been little studied in initial romantic interest, despite being commonly viewed as a crucial factor. The present study investigated whether romantic interest can be predicted by non-verbal dyadic interactive body sway, and enhanced by movement-promoting (‘groovy’) background music. Participants’ body sway trajectories were recorded during speed dating. Directional (predictive) body sway coupling, but not body sway similarity, predicted interest in a long-term relationship above and beyond rated physical attractiveness. In addition, presence of groovy background music promoted interest in meeting a dating partner again. Overall, we demonstrate that romantic interest is reflected by non-verbal body sway in dyads in a real-world dating setting. This novel approach could potentially be applied to investigate non-verbal aspects of social bonding in other dynamic interpersonal interactions such as between infants and parents and in non-verbal populations including those with communication disorders.
Judicial Anticipation of Legislation
Authors: Bailey Diggory
Published: July 2020

This note considers Re: A Company (Injunction to Restrain Presentation of Petition) [2020] EWHC 1406 (Ch) and Travelodge Ltd v. Prime Aesthetics Ltd [2020] EWHC 1217 (Ch) in the context of earlier case law and looks at the circumstances in which the courts have shown a willingness to have regard to the likelihood of future legislation.
Broccoli byproduct-wheat straw silage as a feed resource for fattening lambs1
Authors: Partovi Edris , Rouzbehan Yousef , Fazaeli Hasan , Rezaei Javad
Published: July 2020

The effect of feeding broccoli byproduct-wheat straw silage [BBWS; 69:31 ratio, dry matter (DM) basis] on performance, microbial N synthesis (MNS), rumen, and blood parameters in Fashandy lambs were evaluated. Three diets, with equal metabolizable energy and crude protein (CP) with a forage to concentrate ratio of 27:73 (DM basis), were formulated in which forage (lucerne and wheat straw) was replaced by BBWS (0, 100, or 200 g/kg of diet DM). These were assigned to three groups (n = 15/group) in a completely randomized block design for a 70-d period in which diets were offered as a total mixed ration. For each animal, dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), in vivo apparent digestibility, MNS, N retention, rumen, and blood parameters were measured. The BBWS diets had no influence on DMI, ADG, feed conversion efficiency, in vivo apparent digestibility coefficients of DM, organic matter, CP, and ash-free neutral detergent fiber. Neither MNS and N retention nor serum concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, creatinine, cholesterol, urea N, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, total protein, albumin, and globulin were affected. Rumen pH, NH3-N, short-chain fatty acid concentrations, the ratio of acetic to propionic acid, and protozoa numbers were, also, not influenced. In summary, BBWS may be fed to Fashandy lambs up to 200 g/kg of diet DM without any adverse impacts on growth performance.
Diurnal and dietary impacts on estimating microbial protein flow from urinary purine derivative excretion in beef cattle1
Authors: Crawford Grant I , MacDonald Jim C , Watson Andrea K , Erickson Galen E , Klopfenstein Terry J
Published: July 2020

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of diet composition and time of urine spot sampling on estimates of urinary purine derivative (PD) excretion. In Exp. 1, 116 individually fed crossbred heifers (407 ± 32 kg) were arranged in a randomized block design (82 d). Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial design, with two urine spot sample collection times (0700 and 1700 hours; AM and PM) and three diets: 85% steam-flaked corn (SFC); 85% SFC + 1.5% urea (UREA); or 25% SFC, 30% wet corn gluten feed, and 30% corn bran (BYPROD). In Exp. 2, six ruminally and duodenally fistulated steers (474 ± 37 kg) were arranged in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, with dietary treatments identical to Exp. 1 (63 d). Treatment diets were selected to result in varied amounts of microbial crude protein (MCP) in order to evaluate the accuracy of using estimates of urinary PD excretion to predict MCP. Urine spot samples were collected at 0700, 1200, 1700, and 2200 hours. No urine collection time × diet interactions occurred (P > 0.20) for any variable in either experiment. In Exp. 1, dry matter intake (DMI) was greatest with BYRPOD (10.40 kg/d) and lowest with SFC (7.90 kg/d; P < 0.05). Feed efficiencies were greatest for UREA (0.182) and least for SFC (0.141; P < 0.05). Urinary PD:creatinine (PD:C) ratio was greatest for BYPROD (1.25) and least for SFC (0.94; P < 0.05). Urine spot sampling time had a significant (P < 0.05) impact on PD:C, 1.03 for AM and 1.22 for PM samples. In Exp. 2, DMI was greater (P < 0.05) with BYPROD than with SFC and tended (P = 0.07) to be greater with BYPROD than with UREA. Ruminal pH was greatest for BYPROD (5.94; P < 0.05). Flow of MCP was 636, 829, and 1,056 g/d for SFC, UREA, and BYPROD, with BYPROD being greater (P < 0.05) than SFC and tending (P = 0.06) to be greater than UREA. Urinary PD:C was greater (P < 0.05) for BYPROD than SFC and tended (P = 0.09) to be greater for UREA than SFC. Urinary PD:C increased linearly (P < 0.05) with sampling time. Diets formulated to affect DMI and MCP flow resulted in differences in urinary PD excretion, and these results related well with MCP flow estimated from duodenal purines. Collecting spot samples of urine later in the day resulted in greater estimates of urinary PD excretion; purine and PD flows appear to increase with time after one morning feeding per day. This method is well suited to evaluating relative differences between treatments but should not be extrapolated to assume absolute values.
Effect of Oxytetracycline-Hydrochloride on Phytoplasma Titer and Symptom Progression of the 16SrIV-D Phytoplasma in Cabbage Palms from Florida
Authors: Soto Noemi , Humphries Alessandra R. , Mou De-fen , Helmick Ericka E. , Glover James P. , Bahder Brian W.
Published: July 2020

Lethal bronzing (LB) is a phytoplasma disease of palms in Florida, U.S.A. Historically, the use of the antibiotic oxytetracycline-hydrochloride (OTC-HCl) was optimized to treat for LY, and currently label rates for OTC-HCl developed for LY are being used to treat palms preventatively against LB. Because of the economic impact of LB, assessing OTC-HCl against LB is essential for developing and optimizing management options for this disease. In this study, Sabal palmetto palms declining from LB were injected with OTC-HCl to assess efficacy on LB. Four groups of palms were selected that represented healthy palms, early symptomatic palms, palms with moderate symptoms, and palms with late-stage symptoms. Within each group, treatment palms injected with OTC-HCl and a control group with no antibiotics were tested weekly by quantitative PCR for 1 year. For asymptomatic palms, treated palms never developed symptoms or tested positive, whereas one of the control palms did. The early symptomatic palms that were treated had similar levels of phytoplasma to the control group but had much slower symptom development. Palms with moderate symptoms had no difference in titer between the treatment and the control group, but treated palms had much slower symptom development. Palms with late-stage symptoms showed no difference in phytoplasma titer or symptom progression between treated and control palms. These results suggest that label rates of OTC-HCl appear useful as a preventative against LB, but once symptoms develop, label rates cannot cure palms. In the meantime, removal of symptomatic palms is recommended.
A Greenhouse Method to Evaluate Sunflower Quantitative Resistance to Basal Stalk Rot Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Underwood William , Misar Christopher G. , Block Charles , Gulya Thomas J. , Talukder Zahirul , Hulke Brent S. , Markell Samuel G.
Published: July 2020

Resistance of sunflower to basal stalk rot (BSR) caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is quantitative, controlled by multiple genes contributing small effects. Consequently, artificial inoculation procedures allowing sufficient throughput and resolution of resistance are needed to identify highly resistant sunflower germplasm resources and to map loci contributing to resistance. The objective of this study was to develop a greenhouse-based method for evaluating sunflower quantitative resistance to BSR that would be simple, space- and time-efficient, high throughput, high resolution, and correlated with field observations. Experiments were conducted with 5-week-old sunflower plants and Sclerotinia-infested millet seed as inoculum to assess the impact of pot size and temperature and to determine the most favorable inoculum rate and placement. Subsequently, an additional experiment was performed to assess the correlation of the greenhouse inoculation procedure with field results by using a panel of 32 sunflower genotypes with known field response to BSR previously determined in multiyear, multilocation artificially inoculated trials. Experimental observations indicated that the newly developed greenhouse inoculation procedure provided improved resolution to identify highly resistant genotypes and was strongly correlated with field observations. This method will be useful for screening of sunflower experimental and breeding materials, disease phenotyping of genetic mapping populations, and evaluation of resistance to different pathogen isolates.
Seed-Transmitted Wheat Mosaic Virus in Sweet Corn in Utah
Authors: Nischwitz Claudia
Published: July 2020

Wheat mosaic virus (WMoV) (syn. High Plains virus) causes chlorotic streaks and mosaic on corn foliage, and it stunts ear development. In 2016 and 2017, plants in a sweet corn crop in northern Utah developed chlorotic streaking on leaves, and the plants remained stunted throughout the growing season but did not die after emergence. Symptoms ranged from bright yellow to nearly white streaks in stunted plants to faint chlorosis in plants that grew to normal height but only developed one ear or no ears. The symptoms resembled those caused by WMoV. Imaging using an unmanned aerial vehicle with a near-infrared camera showed that infected plants were scattered randomly across the field, a pattern often observed with seed-transmitted pathogen. All five symptomatic plants tested positive for WMoV. To confirm that no other virus was present, two samples of symptomatic plants were sent to a commercial laboratory, where they were screened for 11 viruses. They only tested positive for WMoV. In greenhouse grow-out tests, 83% of the seed germinated, and six plants developed symptoms in the first 5 weeks after emergence. The symptomatic seedlings were tested for WMoV, confirming infection. This study confirmed WMoV can be seed transmitted under field conditions.
Ceratocystis fimbriata Employs a Unique Infection Strategy Targeting Peltate Glandular Trichomes of Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) Plants
Authors: Sun Yong , Li Mengqiu , Wang Yansu , Li Lianwei , Wang Meng , Li Xintong , Xu Mengke , Loake Gary J. , Guo Ming , Jiang Jihong
Published: July 2020

The infection processes of Ceratocystis fimbriata BMPZ13 (BMPZ13) was elucidated on vegetative tissues of sweetpotato plants employing light and scanning electron microscopy. Vegetative tissues infected with C. fimbriata BMPZ13 by either wounding or nonwounding inoculation methods developed typical disease symptoms, establishing black rot in stems and necrosis on buds, young leaves, and stems of sprouts, in addition to wilt on leaves and shoot cuttings, typical of vascular associated diseases. The runner hyphae of C. fimbriata BMPZ13 formed from germinated conidia were able to directly penetrate the epidermal cuticle for initial infection and invade sweetpotato peltate glandular trichomes, specialized secretory structures to store and secrete metabolites. A two-step biotrophic phase was observed with nonwounding inoculation on leaves and stems, featuring both intercellular and intracellular invasive hyphae, with the latter found within living cells of the leaf epidermis. Subsequent to the biotrophic phase was a necrotrophic phase displaying cell death in infected leaves and veins. Additionally, this cell death was an iron-associated ferroptosis, supporting the notion that iron is involved in the necrotrophic phase of C. fimbriata BMPZ13 infection. Significantly, we establish that C. fimbriata employs a unique infection strategy: the targeting of peltate glandular trichomes. Collectively, our findings show that C. fimbriata is a plant fungal pathogen with a hemibiotrophic infection style in sweetpotato vegetative tissues.