bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic and functional specialisations of the pancreatic beta cell: gene disallowance, mitochondrial metabolism and intercellular connectivity
Authors: Rutter Guy A. , Georgiadou Eleni , Martinez-Sanchez Aida , Pullen Timothy J.
Published: September 2020

All forms of diabetes mellitus involve the loss or dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells, with the former predominating in type 1 diabetes and the latter in type 2 diabetes. Deeper understanding of the coupling mechanisms that link glucose metabolism in these cells to the control of insulin secretion is therefore likely to be essential to develop new therapies. Beta cells display a remarkable metabolic specialisation, expressing high levels of metabolic sensing enzymes, including the glucose transporter GLUT2 (encoded by SLC2A2) and glucokinase (encoded by GCK). Genetic evidence flowing from both monogenic forms of diabetes and genome-wide association studies for the more common type 2 diabetes, supports the importance for normal glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of metabolic signalling via altered ATP generation, while also highlighting unsuspected roles for Zn2+ storage, intracellular lipid transfer and other processes. Intriguingly, genes involved in non-oxidative metabolic fates of the sugar, such as those for lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) and monocarboxylate transporter-1 ([MCT-1] SLC16A1), as well as the acyl-CoA thioesterase (ACOT7) and others, are selectively repressed (‘disallowed’) in beta cells. Furthermore, mutations in genes critical for mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, such as TRL-CAG1–7 encoding tRNALeu, are linked to maternally inherited forms of diabetes. Correspondingly, impaired Ca2+ uptake into mitochondria, or collapse of a normally interconnected mitochondrial network, are associated with defective insulin secretion. Here, we suggest that altered mitochondrial metabolism may also impair beta cell–beta cell communication. Thus, we argue that defective oxidative glucose metabolism is central to beta cell failure in diabetes, acting both at the level of single beta cells and potentially across the whole islet to impair insulin secretion.
An atlas on risk factors for type 2 diabetes: a wide-angled Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Larsson Susanna C.
Published: September 2020

Aims/hypothesis

The aim of this study was to use Mendelian randomisation (MR) to identify the causal risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Methods

We first conducted a review of meta-analyses and review articles to pinpoint possible risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Around 170 possible risk factors were identified of which 97 risk factors with available genetic instrumental variables were included in MR analyses. To reveal more risk factors that were not included in our MR analyses, we conducted a review of published MR studies of type 2 diabetes. For our MR analyses, we used summary-level data from the DIAbetes Genetics Replication And Meta-analysis consortium (74,124 type 2 diabetes cases and 824,006 controls of European ancestry). Potential causal associations were replicated using the FinnGen consortium (11,006 type 2 diabetes cases and 82,655 controls of European ancestry). The inverse-variance weighted method was used as the main analysis. Multivariable MR analysis was used to assess whether the observed associations with type 2 diabetes were mediated by BMI. We used the Benjamini–Hochberg method that controls false discovery rate for multiple testing.

Results

We found evidence of causal associations between 34 exposures (19 risk factors and 15 protective factors) and type 2 diabetes. Insomnia was identified as a novel risk factor (OR 1.17 [95% CI 1.11, 1.23]). The other 18 risk factors were depression, systolic BP, smoking initiation, lifetime smoking, coffee (caffeine) consumption, plasma isoleucine, valine and leucine, liver alanine aminotransferase, childhood and adulthood BMI, body fat percentage, visceral fat mass, resting heart rate, and four plasma fatty acids. The 15 exposures associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes were plasma alanine, HDL- and total cholesterol, age at menarche, testosterone levels, sex hormone binding globulin levels (adjusted for BMI), birthweight, adulthood height, lean body mass (for women), four plasma fatty acids, circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D and education years. Eight associations remained after adjustment for adulthood BMI. We additionally identified 21 suggestive risk factors (p < 0.05), such as alcohol consumption, breakfast skipping, daytime napping, short sleep, urinary sodium, and certain amino acids and inflammatory factors.

Conclusions/interpretation

The present study verified several previously reported risk factors and identified novel potential risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Prevention strategies for type 2 diabetes should be considered from multiple perspectives on obesity, mental health, sleep quality, education level, birthweight and smoking.

Graphical abstract
Stress-induced alterations of social behavior are reversible by antagonism of steroid hormones in C57/BL6 mice
Authors: Gasser Benedikt Andreas , Kurz Johann , Senn Walter , Escher Genevieve , Mohaupt Markus Georg
Published: September 2020

Various disturbances of social behavior, such as autism, depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder, have been associated with an altered steroid hormone homeostasis and a dysregulation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. A link between steroid hormone antagonists and the treatment of stress-related conditions has been suggested. We evaluated the effects of stress induction on social behavior in the three chambers and its potential reversibility upon specific steroid hormone antagonism in mice. C57BL/6 mice were stressed twice daily for 8 days by chronic swim testing. Social behavior was evaluated by measuring, first, the preference for sociability and, second, the preference for social novelty in the three-chamber approach before and after the chronic swim test. The reversibility of behavior upon stress induction was analyzed after applying steroid hormone antagonists targeting glucocorticoids with etomidate, mineralocorticoids with potassium canrenoate, and androgens with cyproterone acetate and metformin. In the chronic swim test, increased floating time from 0.8 ± 0.2 min up to 4.8 ± 0.25 min was detected (p < 0.01). In the three-chamber approach, increased preference for sociability and decreased preference for social novelty was detected pre- versus post-stress induction. These alterations of social behavior were barely affected by etomidate and potassium canrenoate, whereas the two androgen antagonists metformin and cyproterone acetate restored social behavior even beyond baseline conditions. The alteration of social behavior was better reversed by the androgen as compared with the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid antagonists. This suggests that social behavior is primarily controlled by androgen rather than by glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid action. The stress-induced changes in preference for sociability are incompletely explained by steroid hormone action alone. As the best response was related to metformin, an effect via glucose levels might confound the results and should be subject to future research.
Washington units, semispecial units, and annihilation of class groups
Authors: Greither Cornelius , Kučera Radan
Published: September 2020

Special units are a sort of predecessor of Euler systems, and they are mainly used to obtain annihilators for class groups. So one is interested in finding as many special units as possible (actually we use a technical generalization called “semispecial”). In this paper we show that in any abelian field having a real genus field in the narrow sense all Washington units are semispecial, and that a slightly weaker statement holds true for all abelian fields. The group of Washington units is very often larger than Sinnott’s group of cyclotomic units. In a companion paper we will show that in concrete families of abelian fields the group of Washington units is much larger than that of Sinnott units, by giving lower bounds on the index. Combining this with the present paper gives strong annihilation results.
Pressure-Enabled Drug Delivery Approach in the Pancreas with Retrograde Venous Infusion of Lipiodol with Ex Vivo Analysis
Authors: Arepally Aravind , Chomas James , Katz Steven C. , Jaroch David , Kolli K. Pallav , Prince Ethan , Liddell Robert P.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To determine the safety and feasibility of pancreatic retrograde venous infusion (PRVI) utilizing a microvalvular infusion system (MVI) to deliver ethiodized oil (lipiodol) by means of the Pressure-Enabled Drug Delivery (PEDD) approach.

Methods

Utilizing transhepatic access, mapping of the pancreatic body and head venous anatomy was performed in 10 swine. PEDD was performed by cannulation of veins in the head (n = 4) and body (n = 10) of the pancreas with a MVI (Surefire® Infusion System (SIS), Surefire Medical, Inc (DBA TriSalus™ Life Sciences)) followed by infusion with lipiodol. Sets of animals were killed either immediately (n = 8) or at 4 days post-PRVI (n = 2). All pancreata were harvested and studied with micro-CT and histology. We also performed three-dimensional volumetric/multiplanar imaging to assess the vascular distribution of lipiodol within the glands.

Results

A total of 14 pancreatic veins were successfully infused with an average of 1.7 (0.5–2.0) mL of lipiodol. No notable change in serum chemistries was seen at 4 days. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of lipiodol deposition was statistically increased both within the organ in target relative to non-target pancreatic tissue and compared to extra pancreatic tissue (p < 0.05). Histological evaluation demonstrated no evidence of pancreatic edema or ischemia.

Conclusions

PEDD using the RVI approach for targeted pancreatic infusions is technically feasible and did not result in organ damage in this pilot animal study.
Insights into leading edge vortex formation and detachment on a pitching and plunging flat plate
Authors: Kissing Johannes , Kriegseis Jochen , Li Zhenyao , Feng Lihao , Hussong Jeanette , Tropea Cameron
Published: September 2020

The present study is a prelude to applying different flow control devices on pitching and plunging airfoils with the intention of controlling the growth of the leading edge vortex (LEV); hence, the lift under unsteady stall conditions. As a pre-requisite the parameters influencing the development of the LEV topology must be fully understood and this constitutes the main motivation of the present experimental investigation. The aims of this study are twofold. First, an approach is introduced to validate the comparability between flow fields and LEV characteristics of two different facilities using water and air as working media by making use of a common baseline case. The motivation behind this comparison is that with two facilities the overall parameter range can be significantly expanded. This comparison includes an overview of the respective parameter ranges, control of the airfoil kinematics and careful scrutiny of how post-processing procedures of velocity data from time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) influence the integral properties and topological features used to characterise the LEV development. Second, and based on results coming from both facilities, the appearance of secondary structures and their effect on LEV detachment over an extended parameter range is studied. A Lagrangian flow field analysis based on finite-time Lyapunov Exponent (FTLE) ridges allows precise identification of secondary structures and reveals that their emergence is closely correlated to a vortex Reynolds number threshold computed from the LEV circulation. This threshold is used to model the temporal onset of secondary structures. Further analysis indicates that the emergence of secondary structures causes the LEV to stop accumulating circulation if the shear layer angle at the leading edge of the flat plate has ceased to increase. This information is of particular importance for advanced flow control applications, since efforts to strengthen and/or prolong LEV growth rely on precise knowledge about where and when to apply flow control measures.

Graphical abstract
Functional diversity of habitat formers declines scale-dependently across an environmental stress gradient
Authors: Cappelatti Laura , Mauffrey Alizée R. L. , Griffin John N.
Published: September 2020

Marine habitat formers such as seaweeds and corals are lynchpins of coastal ecosystems, but their functional diversity and how it varies with scale and context remains poorly studied. Here, we investigate the functional diversity of seaweed assemblages across the rocky intertidal stress gradient at large (zones) and small (quadrat) scales. We quantified complementary metrics of emergent group richness, functional richness (functional space occupied) and functional dispersion (trait complementarity of dominant species). With increasing shore height, under species loss and turnover, responses of functional diversity were scale- and metric-dependent. At the large scale, functional richness contracted while—notwithstanding a decline in redundancy—emergent group richness and functional dispersion were both invariant. At the small scale, all measures declined, with the strongest responses evident for functional and emergent group richness. Comparisons of observed versus expected values based on null models revealed that functional richness and dispersion were greater than expected in the low shore but converged with expected values higher on the shore. These results show that functional diversity of assemblages of marine habitat formers can be especially responsive to environmental stress gradients at small scales and for richness measures. Furthermore, niche-based processes at the small—neighbourhood—scale can favour co-occurrence of functionally distinctive species under low, but not high, stress, magnifying differences in functional diversity across environmental gradients. As assemblages of marine habitat formers face accelerating environmental change, further studies examining multiple aspects of functional diversity are needed to elucidate patterns, processes, and ecosystem consequences of community (dis-)assembly across diverse groups.
Daily and seasonal variabilities of thermal stress (based on the UTCI) in air masses typical for Central Europe: an example from Warsaw
Authors: Okoniewska Monika
Published: September 2020

The objective of research involved the comparison of daily and seasonal courses of thermal stress occurring in Central Europe depending on the inflowing air mass. The analysis used data from Warsaw (1991–2000), including air temperature (°C), water vapour pressure (hPa), wind speed (m s−1) and cloud cover (%). Universal thermal climate index was calculated and subsequently averaged for the individual months and four types of atmospheric air masses: polar maritime (mP), arctic(A), polar continental (cP) and tropical (T). The studies analysed differences in daily patterns of the averaged values of universal thermal climate index between air masses and determined the frequency of days with various types of thermal stress in individual air masses. The analyses indicated that under the conditions of Central Europe, the highest daily variance of biothermal conditions occurs between the masses of cP and T in the spring and autumn. Considerably greater diversity of biothermal conditions was observed between the masses during daytime compared with nighttime, especially in the warm half of the year. The thermal stress, which can be encountered in Central Europe, ranges from an “extreme cold stress” in winter at night and early morning hours to “very strong heat stress” in summer at noon. Extreme thermal stress is related primarily to the masses of cP, A and T. The most optimal biothermal conditions occur during the advection of mP air.
Refining projected multidecadal hydroclimate uncertainty in East-Central Europe using CMIP5 and single-model large ensemble simulations
Authors: Topál Dániel , Hatvani István Gábor , Kern Zoltán
Published: September 2020

Future hydroclimate projections of global climate models for East-Central Europe diverge to a great extent, thus, constrain adaptation strategies. To reach a more comprehensive understanding of this regional spread in model projections, we make use of the CMIP5 multi-model ensemble and six single-model initial condition large ensemble (SMILE) simulations to separate the effects of model structural differences and internal variability, respectively, on future hydroclimate projection uncertainty. To account for model uncertainty, we rank 32 CMIP5 models based on their predictive skill in reproducing multidecadal past hydroclimate variability. Specifically, we compare historical model simulations to long instrumental and reanalysis surface temperature and precipitation records. The top 3–ranked models—that best reproduce regional past multidecadal temperature and precipitation variability—show reduced spread in their projected future precipitation variability indicating less dry summer and wetter winter conditions in part at odds with previous expectations for Central Europe. Furthermore, not only does the regionally best performing CMIP5 models belong to the previously identified group of models with more realistic land-atmosphere interactions, their future summer precipitation projections also emerge from the range of six SMILEs’ future simulations. This suggests an important role for land-atmosphere coupling in regulating hydroclimate uncertainty on top of internal variability in the upcoming decades. Our results help refine the relative contribution of structural differences between models in affecting future hydroclimate uncertainty in the presence of irreducible internal variability in East-Central Europe.
Does implantoplasty affect the failure strength of narrow and regular diameter implants? A laboratory study
Authors: Bertl Kristina , Isidor Flemming , von Steyern Per Vult , Stavropoulos Andreas
Published: September 2020

Objective

To assess whether the impact of implantoplasty (IP) on the maximum implant failure strength depends on implant type/design, diameter, or material.

Methods

Fourteen implants each of different type/design [bone (BL) and tissue level (TL)], diameter [narrow (3.3 mm) and regular (4.1 mm)], and material [titanium grade IV (Ti) and titanium-zirconium alloy (TiZr)] of one company were used. Half of the implants were subjected to IP in a computerized torn. All implants were subjected to dynamic loading prior to loading until failure to simulate regular mastication. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed with maximum implant failure strength as dependent variable and IP, implant type/design, diameter, and material as predictors.

Results

Implants subjected to IP and TL implants showed statistically significant reduced implant failure strength irrespective of the diameter compared with implants without IP and BL implants, respectively. Implant material had a significant impact for TL implants and for regular diameter implants, with TiZr being stronger than Ti. During dynamic loading, 1 narrow Ti TL implant without IP, 4 narrow Ti TL implants subjected to IP, and 1 narrow TiZr TL implant subjected to IP were fractured.

Conclusion

IP significantly reduced the maximum implant failure strength, irrespective implant type/design, diameter, or material, but the maximum implant failure strength of regular diameter implants and of narrow BL implants remained high.

Clinical Relevance

IP seems to have no clinically relevant impact on the majority of cases, except from those of single narrow Ti TL implants, which may have an increased risk for mechanical complications. This should be considered for peri-implantitis treatment planning (e.g., communication of potential complications to the patient), but also in the planning of implant installation (e.g., choosing TiZr instead of Ti for narrow implants).
Fluoride removal efficiencies of Al-EC and Fe-EC reactors: process optimization using Box–Behnken design of the surface response methodology
Authors: Nyangi Magori J. , Chebude Yonas , Kilulya Kessy F.
Published: September 2020

In this study, surface response methodology was employed to investigate the effect of different interacting factors on the removal of fluoride from synthetic water using aluminum electrocoagulation (Al-EC) and iron electrocoagulation (Fe-EC) in different reactors. Box–Behnken design of a Design Expert version 11 was used for the optimization and evaluation of the process independent variables: applied electric density, initial pH, initial fluoride concentration and treatment time on the efficiency of fluoride removal as a response. Results showed that the effect of current density and initial fluoride concentration was significant model terms for fluoride reduction in Fe-EC and Al-EC reactors, respectively. The Al-EC reactor model presented the R2 value of 79.2% while Fe-EC presented R2 value of 75.8%, showing that both models can predict the response well. The reduction by 94% (initial concentration of 16 mgF/L) was established at optimal operating parameters of 18.5 mAcm−2, pH 6.80 in 50 min using Al-EC. On the other hand, 16 mgF/L was reduced by 92% to 1.28 mgF/L in Fe-EC reactor at optimal condition of 6.5 mAcm−2, pH 6.50 in 50 min. Experimental results correlated well to the model predicted results that were 95 and 94% for Al-EC and Fe-EC, respectively. Both reactors manage to reduce fluoride to a level recommended by WHO (≤ 1.5 mg/L) for drinking purpose.
Insight into the hidden bacterial diversity of Lake Balaton, Hungary
Authors: Tóth E. , Toumi M. , Farkas R. , Takáts K. , Somodi Cs. , Ács É.
Published: September 2020

In the present study, the prokaryotic community structure of the water of Lake Balaton was investigated at the littoral region of three different points (Tihany, Balatonmáriafürdő and Keszthely) by cultivation independent methods [next-generation sequencing (NGS), specific PCRs and microscopy cell counting] to check the hidden microbial diversity of the lake. The taxon-specific PCRs did not show pathogenic bacteria but at Keszthely and Máriafürdő sites extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing microorganisms could be detected. The bacterial as well as archaeal diversity of the water was high even when many taxa are still uncultivable. Based on NGS, the bacterial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria, while the most frequent Archaea belonged to Woesearchaeia (Nanoarchaeota). The ratio of the detected taxa differed among the samples. Three different types of phototrophic groups appeared: Cyanobacteria (oxygenic phototrophic organisms), Chloroflexi (anaerobic, organotrophic bacteria) and the aerobic, anoxic photoheterotrophic group (AAPs). Members of Firmicutes appeared only with low abundance, and Enterobacteriales (order within Proteobacteria) were present also only in low numbers in all samples.
THE FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF CENTRAL ELEMENT THEORY
Authors: BADANO MARIANA VANESA , VAGGIONE DIEGO JOSE
Published: September 2020

We give a short proof of the fundamental theorem of central element theory (see: Sanchez Terraf and Vaggione, Varieties with definable factor congruences, T.A.M.S. 361). The original proof is constructive and very involved and relies strongly on the fact that the class be a variety. Here we give a more direct nonconstructive proof which applies for the more general case of a first-order class which is both closed under the formation of direct products and direct factors.
Colostrum from primiparous Holstein cows shows higher antioxidant activity than colostrum of multiparous ones
Authors: Moretti Débora B. , Santos Caroline B. , Alencar Severino M. , Machado-Neto Raul
Published: September 2020

Antioxidant components of colostrum prevent oxidative cell damage caused by free radicals that could harm the calf's development. The relationship of antioxidant potential of colostrum with parity is not well defined and could enlighten the importance of these components for the neonate and for the protection of the intestinal epithelium. The purpose of this work was to determine the antioxidant potential of colostrum from primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows in a commercial dairy farm. Samples from the first milk secretion from primiparous (first lactation, n = 8) and multiparous (second and third lactations, n = 8) Holstein cows were collected after birth of calves for determination of immune and antioxidant factors. The cows sampled in this study were vaccinated during pregnancy in order to improve colostrum quality. Colostrum from primiparous cows showed higher values of ceruloplasmin activity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and transferrin saturation index (TSI) than colostrum from multiparous cows (P < 0.05). The total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin concentration in the colostrum of primiparous cows showed a non-significant numerical decrease (P = 0.06) in relation to the value in the colostrum of multiparous cows. Concentration of proteins, immunoglobulin G, and activity of lactoperoxidase, lysozyme, glutathione peroxidase and catalase, in turn, did not differ (P > 0.05). Metabolic differences between primiparous and multiparous cows may have affected the antioxidative status of colostrum, since ORAC values were twice higher in first lactation cows. Lower values of transferrin and TIBC and higher TSI in colostrum from primiparous cows suggests a relationship between lower iron stock and higher antioxidant activity. Thus, this work indicates an important role of the antioxidant potential of colostrum for neonates from first-lactation cows. Additionally, the iron stock may be directly related to the higher antioxidant potential of the colostrum from primiparous cows, and further investigations are required.
Genetic analysis of persistency indices of milk yield in Jersey crossbred cattle
Authors: Koloi Subrata , Mandal Ajoy
Published: September 2020

The study reported in this Research Communication was conducted to estimate genetic parameters for different lactation persistency indices and their association with reproductive traits in Jersey crossbred cattle. Data on lactation traits (part lactation yields and 305-days milk yield) comprising all lactations as well as reproductive traits viz. calving interval, conception rate and gestation length of 378 Jersey crossbred cattle, maintained at National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, West Bengal, India, were collected over a period of 35 years (1982–2016). Five lactation persistency indices of animals (P21, P31, P32, P4 and P5) were calculated using ratio method. A total of six different animal models, ignoring or including maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects, were fitted for all persistency traits. The best model was chosen after testing the improvement of the log-likelihood values. The estimates of direct heritability were low in magnitude and ranged from 0.02 to 0.14 for the studied traits under the best fitted animal model. The permanent maternal environmental (c2) effects of different lactation persistency indices accounted for 2–9% of the total phenotypic variance in this study. Estimated genetic correlations of lactation persistency indices with all studied reproductive traits were low to moderate and negative (−0.11 to −0.68), except for calving interval. Phenotypic correlations of lactation persistency measures with studied reproductive traits were low (0.01 to 0.15). The low heritability estimates of all the persistency indices indicate some limited scope of genetic improvement of lactation persistency of animals through selection under the prevailing management conditions.
EVEN IN THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO L2 LEARNERS HAVE PERSISTENT DIFFICULTY PERCEIVING AND UTILIZING TONES IN MANDARIN
Authors: Pelzl Eric , Lau Ellen F. , Guo Taomei , DeKeyser Robert
Published: September 2020

Lexical tones are widely believed to be a formidable learning challenge for adult speakers of nontonal languages. While difficulties—as well as rapid improvements—are well documented for beginning second language (L2) learners, research with more advanced learners is needed to understand how tone perception difficulties impact word recognition once learners have a substantial vocabulary. The present study narrows in on difficulties suggested in previous work, which found a dissociation in advanced L2 learners between highly accurate tone identification and largely inaccurate lexical decision for tone words. We investigate a “best-case scenario” for advanced L2 tone word processing by testing performance in nearly ideal listening conditions—with words spoken clearly and in isolation. Under such conditions, do learners still have difficulty in lexical decision for tone words? If so, is it driven by the quality of lexical representations or by L2 processing routines? Advanced L2 and native Chinese listeners made lexical decisions while an electroencephalogram was recorded. Nonwords had a first syllable with either a vowel or tone that differed from that of a common disyllabic word. As a group, L2 learners performed less accurately when tones were manipulated than when vowels were manipulated. Subsequent analyses showed that this was the case even in the subset of items for which learners showed correct and confident tone identification in an offline written vocabulary test. Event-related potential results indicated N400 effects for both nonword conditions in L1, but only vowel N400 effects in L2, with tone responses intermediate between those of real words and vowel nonwords. These results are evidence of the persistent difficulty most L2 learners have in using tones for online word recognition, and indicate it is driven by a confluence of factors related to both L2 lexical representations and processing routines. We suggest that this tone nonword difficulty has real-world implications for learners: It may result in many toneless word representations in their mental lexicons, and is likely to affect the efficiency with which they can learn new tone words.
D-dimer levels on admission and all-cause mortality risk in COVID-19 patients: a meta-analysis
Authors: Simadibrata Daniel Martin , Lubis Anna Mira
Published: September 2020

D-dimer level on admission is a promising biomarker to predict mortality in patients with COVID-19. In this study, we reviewed the association between on-admission D-dimer levels and all-cause mortality risk in COVID-19 patients. Peer-reviewed studies and preprints reporting categorised D-dimer levels on admission and all-cause mortality until 24 May 2020 were searched for using the following keywords: ‘COVID-19’, ‘D-dimer’ and ‘Mortality’. A meta-analysis was performed to determine the pooled risk ratio (RR) for all-cause mortality. In total, 2911 COVID-19 patients from nine studies were included in this meta-analysis. Regardless of the different D-dimer cut-off values used, the pooled RR for all-cause mortality in patients with elevated vs. normal on-admission D-dimer level was 4.77 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.02–7.54). Sensitivity analysis did not significantly affect the overall mortality risk. Analysis restricted to studies with 0.5 μg/ml as the cut-off value resulted in a pooled RR for mortality of 4.60 (95% CI 2.72–7.79). Subgroup analysis showed that the pooled all-cause mortality risk was higher in Chinese vs. non-Chinese studies (RR 5.87; 95% CI 2.67–12.89 and RR 3.35; 95% CI 1.66–6.73; P = 0.29). On-admission D-dimer levels showed a promising prognostic role in predicting all-cause mortality in COVID-19 patients, elevated D-dimer levels were associated with increased risk of mortality.
Precedent Autonomy and Surrogate Decisionmaking After Severe Brain Injury
Authors: GRAHAM MACKENZIE
Published: September 2020

Patients with disorders of consciousness after severe brain injury need surrogate decision makers to guide treatment decisions on their behalf. Formal guidelines for surrogate decisionmaking generally instruct decision makers to first appeal to a patient’s written advance directive, followed by making a substituted judgment of what the patient would have chosen, and lastly, to make decisions according to what seems to be in the patient’s best medical interests. Substituted judgment is preferable because it is taken to preserve patient autonomy, by using a patient’s past wishes and values to reconstruct what they would have chosen for themselves. In this paper, the author argues that for a certain population of patients, the standard interpretation of substituted judgment cannot ensure the preservation of patient autonomy. Patients with “covert awareness” may continue to have values and an authentic sense of self, which may differ from their past values and wishes. Accordingly, surrogate decision makers should make decisions based on how the patient is likely to experience their condition in the present, rather than their past wishes and values.
Political Scientists: A Profile of Congressional Candidates with STEM Backgrounds
Authors: Motta Matthew
Published: September 2020

Candidates with STEM backgrounds ran for Congress in record numbers in 2018. Understanding who participates in this form of “mobilized science,” and whether they are successful, is important because these candidates may campaign—and ultimately take action—to advance science-informed policies. However, whereas there is ample journalistic coverage of individual candidates, few scholars have studied them collectively. I constructed a novel dataset that allowed me to descriptively profile almost 200 STEM candidates who ran in 2018 and to explore correlates of their electoral success. I find that three quarters of the candidates were first-time congressional candidates, most of whom were Democrats and men. Democratic incumbents and candidates endorsed by the 314 PAC were significantly more likely to advance to the general election. I also find that women Democrats with STEM backgrounds are as likely (and perhaps more likely) to advance to the general election. I conclude by discussing how these findings advance the study of mobilized science in an increasingly partisan era.
An investigation of consumers’ use of ‘dessert-only’ food retail outlets: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Randall Tennessee , Wright Poppy J , Wilkinson Laura L
Published: September 2020

Objective:

To understand how consumers use ‘dessert-only’ retail food outlets which represent one of the UK’s top ten growing retail business categories and a high-street source of energy-dense, low nutrient foods.

Design:

Responses to open-ended questions about dessert-only restaurant usage and closed-ended questions about demographic information including frequency of use and BMI were collected.

Setting:

Online questionnaire launched from the UK.

Participants:

Totally, 203 participants (female = 153; mean age = 33·5 years (sd = 14·2); mean BMI = 25·05 kg/m2 (sd = 5·29)) assisted with the study.

Results:

Quantitative results showed that participants used dessert-only restaurants infrequently, and qualitative results showed that they regarded a visit as a treat. Many participants also described ways that they modified their eating pattern to accommodate a visit. Thematic analysis also showed that consumer visits were influenced by properties of the foods on offer, opportunities for socialisation (especially with children) as well as convenience, price and a perceived relaxation of meal-time ‘rules’.

Conclusions:

Despite some media opinion, this type of food retail outlet is being used somewhat judiciously by consumers. A fruitful public health focus may be on the management of treats within the broader context of the diet as opposed to targeting the treat itself, this may be especially helpful for parents/caregivers taking their children out for a treat to a dessert-only restaurant.
Planck frequencies as Schelling points in SETI
Authors: Wright Jason T.
Published: September 2020

In SETI, when searching for ‘beacons’ – transmissions intended for us and meant to get our attention – one must guess the appropriate frequency to search by considering what frequencies would be universally obvious to other species. This is a well-known concept in game theory, where such solutions to a non-communicative cooperative game (such as a mutual search) are called ‘Schelling points’. It is noteworthy, therefore, that when developing his eponymous units, Planck called them ‘natural’ because they ‘remain meaningful for all times and also for extraterrestrial and non-human cultures’. Here, I apply Planck's suggestion in the context of Schelling points in SETI with a ‘Planck Frequency Comb’, constructed by multiplying the Planck energy by integer powers of the fine structure constant. This comb includes a small number of frequencies in regions of the electromagnetic spectrum where laser and radio SETI typically operates. Searches might proceed and individual teeth in the comb, or at many teeth at once, across the electromagnetic spectrum. Indeed, the latter strategy can be additionally justified by the transmitter's desire to signal at many frequencies at once, to improve the chances that the receiver will guess one of them correctly. There are many arbitrary and anthropocentric choices in this comb's construction, and indeed one can construct several different frequency combs with only minor and arbitrary modifications. This suggests that it may be fruitful to search for signals arriving in frequency combs of arbitrary spacing. And even though the frequencies suggested here are only debatably ‘better’ than others proposed, the addition of the Planck Frequency Comb to the list of ‘magic frequencies’ can only help searches for extraterrestrial beacons.
To Disappear The Escuelas Normales Rurales:Political Anxieties, the Secretaría de Educación Pública, and Education Reform in Mexico in 1969
Authors: Villanueva Carla Irina
Published: September 2020

This article analyzes a 1969 education reform in Mexico that resulted in the closure of 14 of the then 29 escuelas normales rurales (rural teacher-training colleges) and the annihilation of their internal student organizing structures. I argue that the reform was politically motivated and impelled by the anxieties produced by student politics in the Cold War era. I show also how the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) participated in the authoritarian surveillance of students during the presidency of Díaz Ordaz and in a long campaign to delegitimize the Federación de Estudiantes Campesinos Socialistas de México (FECSM), the federation that united the students from these schools.
Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-Hyperaktivitätsstörung: Transitionspsychiatrie
Authors: Banaschewski Tobias , Roth-Sackenheim Christa , Berg Gundolf , Reif Andreas
Published: September 2020

Zusammenfassung. Die Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung ist mit einer epidemiologischen Prävalenz von etwa 5 % im Kindes- und Jugendalter und 2 bis 3 % im Erwachsenenalter eine der häufigsten psychischen Störungen, die häufig mit komorbiden Störungen und vielfältigen funktionellen Beeinträchtigungen einhergeht. Administrative Daten in Deutschland zeigen, dass in der Übergangsphase zum Erwachsenalter viele Patientinnen und Patienten mit ADHS trotz Persistenz der Symptomatik und funktioneller Beeinträchtigungen aus dem Versorgungssystem fallen. Mögliche Konsequenzen zur Verbesserung der Behandlung in der Transitionsphase werden diskutiert.
Transcriptomic analysis links diverse hypothalamic cell types to fibroblast growth factor 1-induced sustained diabetes remission
Authors: Bentsen Marie A. , Rausch Dylan M. , Mirzadeh Zaman , Muta Kenjiro , Scarlett Jarrad M. , Brown Jenny M. , Herranz-Pérez Vicente , Baquero Arian F. , Thompson Jonatan , Alonge Kimberly M. , Faber Chelsea L. , Kaiyala Karl J. , Bennett Camdin , Pyke Charles , Ratner Cecilia , Egerod Kristoffer L. , Holst Birgitte , Meek Thomas H. , Kutlu Burak , Zhang Yu , Sparso Thomas , Grove Kevin L. , Morton Gregory J. , Kornum Birgitte R. , García-Verdugo José-Manuel , Secher Anna , Jorgensen Rasmus , Schwartz Michael W. , Pers Tune H.
Published: September 2020

In rodent models of type 2 diabetes (T2D), sustained remission of hyperglycemia can be induced by a single intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1), and the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) was recently implicated as the brain area responsible for this effect. To better understand the cellular response to FGF1 in the MBH, we sequenced >79,000 single-cell transcriptomes from the hypothalamus of diabetic Lepob/ob mice obtained on Days 1 and 5 after icv injection of either FGF1 or vehicle. A wide range of transcriptional responses to FGF1 was observed across diverse hypothalamic cell types, with glial cell types responding much more robustly than neurons at both time points. Tanycytes and ependymal cells were the most FGF1-responsive cell type at Day 1, but astrocytes and oligodendrocyte lineage cells subsequently became more responsive. Based on histochemical and ultrastructural evidence of enhanced cell-cell interactions between astrocytes and Agrp neurons (key components of the melanocortin system), we performed a series of studies showing that intact melanocortin signaling is required for the sustained antidiabetic action of FGF1. These data collectively suggest that hypothalamic glial cells are leading targets for the effects of FGF1 and that sustained diabetes remission is dependent on intact melanocortin signaling.
Sequential drug release via chemical diffusion and physical barriers enabled by hollow multishelled structures
Authors: Zhao Decai , Yang Nailiang , Wei Yan , Jin Quan , Wang Yanlei , He Hongyan , Yang Yang , Han Bing , Zhang Suojiang , Wang Dan
Published: September 2020

Hollow multishelled structures (HoMSs), with relatively isolated cavities and hierarchal pores in the shells, are structurally similar to cells. Functionally inspired by the different transmission forms in living cells, we studied the mass transport process in HoMSs in detail. In the present work, after introducing the antibacterial agent methylisothiazolinone (MIT) as model molecules into HoMSs, we discover three sequential release stages, i.e., burst release, sustained release and stimulus-responsive release, in one system. The triple-shelled structure can provide a long sterility period in a bacteria-rich environment that is nearly 8 times longer than that of the pure antimicrobial agent under the same conditions. More importantly, the HoMS system provides a smart responsive release mechanism that can be triggered by environmental changes. All these advantages could be attributed to chemical diffusion- and physical barrier-driven temporally-spatially ordered drug release, providing a route for the design of intelligent nanomaterials.
Developing a COVID-19 mortality risk prediction model when individual-level data are not available
Authors: Barda Noam , Riesel Dan , Akriv Amichay , Levy Joseph , Finkel Uriah , Yona Gal , Greenfeld Daniel , Sheiba Shimon , Somer Jonathan , Bachmat Eitan , Rothblum Guy N. , Shalit Uri , Netzer Doron , Balicer Ran , Dagan Noa
Published: September 2020

At the COVID-19 pandemic onset, when individual-level data of COVID-19 patients were not yet available, there was already a need for risk predictors to support prevention and treatment decisions. Here, we report a hybrid strategy to create such a predictor, combining the development of a baseline severe respiratory infection risk predictor and a post-processing method to calibrate the predictions to reported COVID-19 case-fatality rates. With the accumulation of a COVID-19 patient cohort, this predictor is validated to have good discrimination (area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve of 0.943) and calibration (markedly improved compared to that of the baseline predictor). At a 5% risk threshold, 15% of patients are marked as high-risk, achieving a sensitivity of 88%. We thus demonstrate that even at the onset of a pandemic, shrouded in epidemiologic fog of war, it is possible to provide a useful risk predictor, now widely used in a large healthcare organization.
Antimicrobial resistance at the human–animal interface in the Pastoralist Communities of Kasese District, South Western Uganda
Authors: Iramiot Jacob Stanley , Kajumbula Henry , Bazira Joel , Kansiime Catherine , Asiimwe Benon B.
Published: September 2020

Intensive usage of antimicrobials in the management of animal diseases leads to selection for resistance among microorganisms. This study aimed to assess antimicrobial use and to describe factors associated with the transmission of antimicrobial resistance between humans and animals in pastoralist communities of Kasese district. A mixed-methods approach was employed in this study. Rectal swabs were collected from the participants and cattle and transported in Carry–Blaire transport medium to the laboratory within 24 h of collection for culture and sensitivity to confirm carriage of multi-drug resistant bacteria. In-depth interviews were conducted among veterinary officers, veterinary drug vendors, human health facility in-charges in both public and private health facilities, and operators of human pharmacies and drug shops. Carriage of multi-drug resistant bacteria among humans was 88 (93%) and 76(80%) among cattle. Consumption of lakeshore water and carriage of multi-drug resistant bacteria in cattle were associated with carriage of multi-drug resistant bacteria in the human population. The prevalence of multi-drug resistance among organisms Isolated from both humans and animals was high. There is a high likelihood of transmission of multi-drug resistance between humans and animals.
Combining genetic markers with stable isotopes in otoliths reveals complexity in the stock structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
Authors: Brophy Deirdre , Rodríguez-Ezpeleta Naiara , Fraile Igaratza , Arrizabalaga Haritz
Published: September 2020

Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the two main spawning populations in the Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico occur together in the western, central and eastern Atlantic. Stock composition of catches from mixing areas is uncertain, presenting a major challenge to the sustainable management of the fisheries. This study combines genetic and chemical markers to develop an integrated method of population assignment. Stable isotope signatures (δ13C and δ18O) in the otolith core of adults from the two main spawning populations (adult baselines) showed less overlap than those of yearlings (12–18 months old) from western and eastern nursery areas suggesting that some exchange occurs towards the end of the yearling phase. The integrated model combined δ18O with four genetic markers (SNPs) to distinguish the adult baselines with greater accuracy than chemical or genetic markers alone. When used to assign individuals from the mixing areas to their population of origin, the integrated model resolved some (but not all) discrepancies between the chemistry and genetic methods. Some individuals in the mixing area had otolith δ18O values and genetic profiles which when taken together, were not representative of either population. These fish may originate from another Atlantic spawning area or may represent population contingents that move away from the main spawning areas during the first year of life. This complexity in stock structure is not captured by the current two-stock model.