bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An approach to study electron and positron scattering from NH3 and PH3 using the analytic static potential
Authors: Mahato Dibyendu , Sharma Lalita , Srivastava Rajesh
Published: September 2020

A detailed study of the elastic scattering of electrons and positrons from two C3v symmetrical molecules viz ammonia and phosphine molecules is presented. The partial wave phase shift analysis method with complex optical potential consisting of static, exchange, polarization and an imaginary absorption potentials has been used. In contrast to the previously used similar approaches, the present method is quite different in the sense that we have obtained the required static potential in an analytical form using correctly represented Gaussian molecular wave functions for NH3 and PH3 in our calculations. The differential, integrated, momentum transfer, absorption and total cross sections are calculated and reported in the incident electron and positron energy range of 10–500 eV. In order to test the applicability of our approach, the present results are compared with the available previous measurements and theoretical calculations and a good agreement is found.
High performance Li-ion capacitor fabricated with dual graphene-based materials
Authors: Sui Dong , Wu Manman , Liu Yiyang , Yang Yanliang , Zhang Hongtao , Ma Yanfeng , Zhang Long , Chen Yongsheng
Published: September 2020

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) are now drawing increasing attention because of their potential to overcome the current energy limitations of supercapacitors and power limitations of lithium-ion batteries. In this work, we designed LICs by combining an electric double-layer capacitor cathode and a lithium-ion battery anode. Both the cathode and anode are derived from graphene-modified phenolic resin with tunable porosity and microstructure. They exhibit high specific capacity, superior rate capability and good cycling stability. Benefiting from the graphene-enhanced electrode materials, the all graphene-based LICs demonstrate a high working voltage (4.2 V), high energy density of 142.9 Wh kg−1, maximum power density of 12.1 kW kg−1 with energy density of 50 Wh kg−1, and long stable cycling performance (with ∼88% capacity retention after 5000 cycles). Considering the high performance of the device, the cost-effective and facile preparation process of the active materials, this all graphene-based lithium-ion capacitor could have many promising applications in energy storage systems.
An information theory model for optimizing quantitative magnetic resonance imaging acquisitions
Authors: Mitchell Drew P , Hwang Ken-Pin , Bankson James A , Jason Stafford R , Banerjee Suchandrima , Takei Naoyuki , Fuentes David
Published: September 2020

Acquisition parameter selection is currently performed empirically for many quantitative MRI (qMRI) acquisitions. Tuning parameters for different scan times, tissues, and resolutions requires some amount of trial and error. There is an opportunity to quantitatively optimize these acquisition parameters in order to minimize variability of quantitative maps and post-processing techniques such as synthetic image generation. The objective of this work is to introduce and evaluate a quantitative method for selecting parameters that minimize image variability. An information theory framework was developed for this purpose and applied to a 3D-quantification using an interleaved Look-Locker acquisition sequence with T2 preparation pulse (3D-QALAS) signal model for qMRI. In this framework, mutual information is used to measure the information gained by a measurement as a function of acquisition parameters, quantifying the information content of potential acquisitions and allowing informed parameter selection. The information theory framework was tested on artificial data generated from a representative mathematical phantom, measurements acquired on a qMRI multiparametric imaging standard phantom, and in vivo measurements in a human brain. The phantom measurements showed that higher mutual information calculated by the model correlated with smaller coefficient of variation in the reconstructed parametric maps, and in vivo measurements demonstrated that information-based calibration of acquisition parameters resulted in a decrease in parametric map variability consistent with model predictions.
Improved negative bias stability of sol–gel processed Ti-doped SnO2 thin-film transistors
Authors: Lee Won-Yong , Lee Hyunjae , Ha Seunghyun , Lee Changmin , Bae Jin-Hyuk , Kang In-Man , Jang Jaewon
Published: September 2020

Sol–gel-processed Ti-doped SnO2 thin-film transistors (TFTs) were successfully fabricated for the first time, and the effects of the concentration of the Ti dopant on their structural, chemical, and optical properties were investigated. The introduced Ti dopant showed potential as a promising oxygen vacancy suppressor. Additionally, the results showed that the 0.1 wt% Ti-doped SnO2 TFT had a field-effect mobility of 10.21 cm2 V−1 s−1, a subthreshold swing of 0.87, and an I
on/I
off value of ∼1 × 108, as well as good negative bias stress characteristics. The success of the Ti doping could be attributed to its small ionic size, high Lewis acid strength, and strong bonding strength. Therefore, the introduced sol–gel-processed Ti-doped SnO2 TFTs stand as promising candidates with potential for application in transparent displays as well as larger area electronics applications.
Fire-catalyzed vegetation shifts in ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests of the western United States
Authors: Davis Kimberley T , Higuera Philip E , Dobrowski Solomon Z , Parks Sean A , Abatzoglou John T , Rother Monica T , Veblen Thomas T
Published: September 2020

Increased wildfire activity combined with warm and dry post-fire conditions may undermine the mechanisms maintaining forest resilience to wildfires, potentially causing ecosystem transitions, or fire-catalyzed vegetation shifts. Stand-replacing fire is especially likely to catalyze vegetation shifts expected from climate change, by killing mature trees that are less sensitive to climate than juveniles. To understand the vulnerability of forests to fire-catalyzed vegetation shifts it is critical to identify both where fires will burn with stand-replacing severity and where climate conditions limit seedling recruitment. We used an extensive dendrochronological dataset to model the influence of seasonal climate on post-fire recruitment probability for ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. We applied this model to project annual recruitment probability in the US intermountain west under contemporary and future climate conditions, which we compared to modeled probability of stand-replacing fire. We categorized areas as ‘vulnerable to fire-catalyzed vegetation shifts,’ if they were likely to burn at stand-replacing severity, if a fire were to occur, and had post-fire climate conditions unsuitable for tree recruitment. Climate suitability for recruitment declined over time in all ecoregions: 21% and 15% of the range of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir, respectively, had climate conditions unsuitable for recruitment in the 1980s, whereas these values increased to 61% (ponderosa pine) and 34% (Douglas-fir) for the future climate scenario. Less area was vulnerable to fire-catalyzed vegetation shifts, but these values also increased over time, from 6% and 4% of the range of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir in the 1980s, to 16% (ponderosa pine) and 10% (Douglas-fir) under the future climate scenario. Southern ecoregions had considerably higher vulnerability to fire-catalyzed vegetation shifts than northern ecoregions. Overall, our results suggest that the combination of climate warming and an increase in wildfire activity may substantially impact species distributions through fire-catalyzed vegetation shifts.
Hidden singularities in 3D vector fields
Authors: Pang Xiaoyan , Feng Chen , Nyamdorj Bujinlkham , Zhao Xinying
Published: September 2020

In this article we show that in a three dimensional (3D) optical vector field there exist two types of hidden singularities, one is spin density (SD) phase singularity and the other is SD vector singularity, which are both unique to 3D fields. The nature of these SD singularities is discussed and their connection with traditional optical singularities is also examined. Especially it is shown that in a 3D field with purely transverse SD (‘photonic wheels’), these two types of singularities exhibit very interesting behaviors: they are exactly mapped to each other regardless of their different physical meanings and different topological structures. Our work supplies a fundamental theory for the SD singularities and will provide a new way for further exploration of 3D vector fields.
Investigations on probability of defect detection using differential filtering for pulse compression favourable frequency modulated thermal wave imaging for inspection of glass fibre reinforced polymers
Authors: Kher Vansha , Mulaveesala Ravibabu , Rani Anju , Arora Vanita
Published: September 2020

Thermal Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation (TNDT&E) plays a crucial role in industrial quality control and structural health monitoring of a variety of materials. Among various TNDT&E modalities, active Infrared Thermography (IRT) has emerged as an extremely promising approach and has gained enormous significance due to its quick, whole field, non-contact and quantitative defect detection capabilities. Pulse Compression favourable Thermal Wave Imaging (PCTWI) especially Frequency Modulated Thermal Wave Imaging (FMTWI) has become popular among a number of active IRT techniques because of increment in defect detection sensitivity as well as test resolution. The present work attempts to explore the applicability of differential filtering post processing scheme for pulse compression favourable FMTWI for enhanced detection contrast, resolution and Probability of Detection (PoD). The proposed scheme has been applied on a Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) sample with sub-surface flat bottom hole (FBH) defects located inside the sample at different depths. The results presented clearly demonstrate that the differential contrast approach enhances the defect detection probabilities by considering maximum and minimum deviation dip values as a figure of merit. Hence, pulse compression favourable FMTWI employing differential filtering manifests higher Probability of Detection (PoD) for defects located at different depths as compared to taking into account the peak Correlation Coefficient (CC) as a statistical figure of merit. Further Probability of Detection (PoD) of the pulse compression favourable FMTWI technique has been improved by differential filtering post-processing based scheme that reduces the memory requirement, computational cost as well as complexity.
Predicting Neuropsychological Impairment in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Clinical Measures, Treatment, and Neuropsychiatry Symptoms
Authors: Lozano-Soto Elena , Cruz-Gómez Álvaro Javier , Gutiérrez Rafael , González Macarena , Sanmartino Florencia , Rashid-Lopez Raúl , Espinosa-Rosso Raúl , Forero Lucía , González-Rosa Javier J
Published: September 2020

Objective

This retrospective observational study aimed to define neuropsychological impairment (NI) profiles and determine the influence of clinical, demographic, and neuropsychiatric measures in specific cognitive domains in a cohort of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients.

Methods

Ninety-one RRMS patients underwent a neurological examination and a brief neuropsychological assessment. Patients were classified according to the disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) received (platform or high-efficacy). Differences between groups and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the predictive value of the assessed measures in cognitive performance.

Results

More than two-thirds of the patients showed NI. Specifically, mild to moderate NI was presented in approximately half of the participants. Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT-3) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) were the most frequently impaired cognitive tests (45.3% and 41.3%, respectively) followed by phonemic verbal fluency (PVF) (27.8%). Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), age, depressive symptoms, and disease duration were the best predictors of SDMT (R2 = .34; p < .01), whereas disease duration, EDSS, and anxiety-state levels predicted PASAT-3 (R2 = .33, p < .01). Educational level, age, EDSS, and depressive symptoms demonstrated the strongest association with PVF (R2 = .31, p < .01).

Conclusions

Our results indicated a significant prevalence of NI in RRMS patients that was not dependent on the DMT type. In addition to the meaningful working memory (PASAT-3) and information processing speed (SDMT) impairments found, PVF deficits may also be an important marker of cognitive impairment in RRMS patients. This study supports the relevance of standard clinical measures and reinforces the importance of quantifying clinical and neuropsychiatric symptoms to predict subsequent cognitive performance on a similar multiple sclerosis phenotype and disease stage.
Negative Binomial mixed models estimated with the maximum likelihood method can be used for longitudinal RNAseq data
Authors: Tsonaka Roula , Spitali Pietro
Published: September 2020

Time-course RNAseq experiments, where tissues are repeatedly collected from the same subjects, e.g. humans or animals over time or under several different experimental conditions, are becoming more popular due to the reducing sequencing costs. Such designs offer the great potential to identify genes that change over time or progress differently in time across experimental groups. Modelling of the longitudinal gene expression in such time-course RNAseq data is complicated by the serial correlations, missing values due to subject dropout or sequencing errors, long follow up with potentially non-linear progression in time and low number of subjects. Negative Binomial mixed models can address all these issues. However, such models under the maximum likelihood (ML) approach are less popular for RNAseq data due to convergence issues (see, e.g. [1]). We argue in this paper that it is the use of an inaccurate numerical integration method in combination with the typically small sample sizes which causes such mixed models to fail for a great portion of tested genes. We show that when we use the accurate adaptive Gaussian quadrature approach to approximate the integrals over the random-effects terms, we can successfully estimate the model parameters with the maximum likelihood method. Moreover, we show that the boostrap method can be used to preserve the type I error rate in small sample settings. We evaluate empirically the small sample properties of the test statistics and compare with state-of-the-art approaches. The method is applied on a longitudinal mice experiment to study the dynamics in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Contact:s.tsonaka@lumc.nl

Roula Tsonaka is an assistant professor at the Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center. Her research focuses on statistical methods for longitudinal omics data. Pietro Spitali is an assistant professor at the Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center. His research focuses on the identification of biomarkers for neuromuscular disorders.
BEST: a Shiny/R web-based application to easily retrieve cross-related enzyme functional parameters and information from BRENDA
Authors: Hidalgo Juan Saez , Oróstica Karen Y , Sanchez–Daza Anamaria , Olivera–Nappa Álvaro
Published: September 2020

Motivation

BRENDA is the largest enzyme functional database, containing information of 84 000 experimentally characterized enzyme entries. This database is an invaluable resource for researchers in the biological field, which classifies enzyme-related information in categories that are very useful to obtain specific functional and protein engineering information for enzyme families. However, the BRENDA web interface, the most used by researchers with a non-informatic background, does not allow the user to cross-reference data from different categories or sub-categories in the database. Obtaining information in an easy and fast way, in a friendly web interface, without the necessity to have a deep informatics knowledge, will facilitate and improve research in the enzymology and protein engineering field.

Results

We developed the Brenda Easy Search Tool (BEST), an interactive Shiny/R application that enables querying the BRENDA database for complex cross-tabulated characteristics, and retrieving enzyme-related parameters and information readily and efficiently, which can be used for the study of enzyme function or as an input for other bioinformatics tools.

Availability and implementation

BEST and its tutorial are freely available from https://pesb2.cl/best/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
On order determination by predictor augmentation
Authors: Luo Wei , Li Bing
Published: September 2020

In many dimension reduction problems in statistics and machine learning, such as in principal component analysis, canonical correlation analysis, independent component analysis and sufficient dimension reduction, it is important to determine the dimension of the reduced predictor, which often amounts to estimating the rank of a matrix. This problem is called order determination. In this article, we propose a novel and highly effective order-determination method based on the idea of predictor augmentation. We show that if the predictor is augmented by an artificially generated random vector, then the parts of the eigenvectors of the matrix induced by the augmentation display a pattern that reveals information about the order to be determined. This information, when combined with the information provided by the eigenvalues of the matrix, greatly enhances the accuracy of order determination.
Mapping Progressive Gray Matter Alterations in Early Childhood Autistic Brain
Authors: Guo Xiaonan , Duan Xujun , Suckling John , Wang Jia , Kang Xiaodong , Chen Heng , Biswal Bharat B , Cao Jing , He Changchun , Xiao Jinming , Huang Xinyue , Wang Runshi , Han Shaoqiang , Fan Yun-Shuang , Guo Jing , Zhao Jingping , Wu Lijie , Chen Huafu
Published: September 2020

Autism spectrum disorder is an early-onset neurodevelopmental condition. This study aimed to investigate the progressive structural alterations in the autistic brain during early childhood. Structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were examined in a cross-sectional sample of 67 autistic children and 63 demographically matched typically developing (TD) children, aged 2–7 years. Voxel-based morphometry and a general linear model were used to ascertain the effects of diagnosis, age, and a diagnosis-by-age interaction on the gray matter volume. Causal structural covariance network analysis was performed to map the interregional influences of brain structural alterations with increasing age. The autism group showed spatially distributed increases in gray matter volume when controlling for age-related effects, compared with TD children. A significant diagnosis-by-age interaction effect was observed in the fusiform face area (FFA, Fpeak = 13.57) and cerebellum/vermis (Fpeak = 12.73). Compared with TD children, the gray matter development of the FFA in autism displayed altered influences on that of the social brain network regions (false discovery rate corrected, P < 0.05). Our findings indicate the atypical neurodevelopment of the FFA in the autistic brain during early childhood and highlight altered developmental effects of this region on the social brain network.
National Immunization Campaigns With Oral Polio Vaccine May Reduce All-cause Mortality: An Analysis of 13 Years of Demographic Surveillance Data From an Urban African Area
Authors: Andersen Andreas , Fisker Ane Bærent , Nielsen Sebastian , Rodrigues Amabelia , Benn Christine Stabell , Aaby Peter
Published: September 2020

Background

Between 2002 and 2014, Guinea-Bissau had 17 national campaigns with oral polio vaccine (OPV) as well as campaigns with vitamin A supplementation (VAS), measles vaccine (MV), and H1N1 influenza vaccine. We examined the impact of these campaigns on child survival.

Methods

We examined the mortality rate between 1 day and 3 years of age of all children in the study area. We used Cox models with age as underlying time to calculate adjusted mortality rate ratios (MRRs) between “after-campaign” mortality and “before-campaign” mortality, adjusted for temporal change in mortality and stratified for season at risk.

Results

Mortality was lower after OPV-only campaigns than before, with an MRR for after-campaign vs before-campaign being 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI], .67–.85). Other campaigns did not have similar effects, the MRR being 1.22 (95% CI, 1.04–1.44) for OPV + VAS campaigns, 1.39 (95% CI, 1.20–1.61) for VAS-only campaigns, 1.32 (95% CI, 1.09–1.60) for MV + VAS campaigns, and 1.13 (95% CI, .86–1.49) for the H1N1 campaign. Thus, all other campaigns differed significantly from the effect of OPV-only campaigns. Effects did not differ for trivalent, bivalent, or monovalent strains of OPV. With each additional campaign of OPV only, the mortality rate declined further (MRR, 0.86 [95% CI, .81–.92] per campaign). With follow-up to 3 years of age, the number needed to treat to save 1 life with the OPV-only campaign was 50 neonates.

Conclusions

OPV campaigns can have a much larger effect on child survival than otherwise assumed. Stopping OPV campaigns in low-income countries as part of the endgame for polio infection may increase child mortality.
RBX7455, a Non-frozen, Orally Administered Investigational Live Biotherapeutic, Is Safe, Effective, and Shifts Patients’ Microbiomes in a Phase 1 Study for Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infections
Authors: Khanna Sahil , Pardi Darrell S , Jones Courtney , Shannon William D , Gonzalez Carlos , Blount Ken
Published: September 2020

Background

Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections (rCDI) are a global public health threat. To reduce rCDI, microbiota-restoring therapies are needed, particularly standardized, easy-to-administer formulations.

Methods

This phase I open-label trial assessed the safety, efficacy in preventing rCDI recurrence, and intestinal microbiome effects of RBX7455, a room temperature-stable, orally administered investigational live biotherapeutic. Adult participants with 1 or more prior episodes of rCDI received: 4 RBX7455 capsules twice daily for 4 days (group 1); 4 RBX7455 capsules twice daily for 2 days (group 2); or 2 RBX7455 capsules twice daily for 2 days (group 3). For all groups, the first dose was administered in clinic, with remaining doses self-administered at home. Adverse events were monitored during and for 6 months after treatment. Treatment success was defined as rCDI prevention through 8 weeks after treatment. Participants’ microbiome composition was assessed prior to and for 6 months after treatment.

Results

Nine of 10 group 1 patients (90%), 8 of 10 group 2 patients (80%), and 10 of 10 group 3 patients (100%) were recurrence-free at the 8-week endpoint with durability to 6 months. Seventy-five treatment-emergent adverse events were observed in 27 participants with no serious investigational product-related events. Prior to treatment, participants’ microbiomes were dissimilar from the RBX7455 composition with decreased Bacteroidia- and Clostridia-class bacteria, whereas after treatment, responders’ microbiomes showed increased Bacteroidia and Clostridia.

Conclusions

Three dosing regimens of RBX7455 were safe and effective at preventing rCDI. Responders’ microbiomes converged toward the composition of RBX7455. These results support its continued clinical evaluation.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT02981316.
Identifying female phenotypes that promote behavioral isolation in a sexually dimorphic species of fishEtheostoma zonale
Authors: Roberts Natalie S , Mendelson Tamra C
Published: September 2020

In sexually dimorphic species characterized by exaggerated male ornamentation, behavioral isolation is often attributed to female preferences for conspecific male signals. Yet, in a number of sexually dimorphic species, male mate choice also results in behavioral isolation. In many of these cases, the female traits that mediate species boundaries are unclear. Females in sexually dimorphic species typically lack many of the elaborate traits that are present in males and that are often used for taxonomic classification of species. In a diverse and largely sexually dimorphic group of fishes called darters (Percidae: Etheostoma), male mate choice contributes to behavioral isolation between a number of species; however, studies addressing which female traits males prefer are lacking. In this study, we identified the dominant female pattern for two sympatric species, Etheostoma zonale and Etheostoma barrenense, using pattern energy analysis, and we used discriminate function analysis to identify which aspects of female patterning can reliably classify species. We then tested the role of female features in male mate choice for E. zonale, by measuring male preference for computer animations displaying the identified (species-specific) conspecific features. We found that the region above the lateral line is important in mediating male mate preferences, with males spending a significantly greater proportion of time with animations exhibiting conspecific female patterning in this region than with animations exhibiting heterospecific female patterning. Our results suggest that the aspects of female phenotypes that are the target of male mate choice are different from the conspicuous male phenotypes that traditionally characterize species.
Exaggerated postprandial GLP-1 secretion following esophagectomy is not associated with gastric emptying and intestinal transit
Authors: Murphy C F , Elliott J A , Docherty N G , Mohamed A A , Vincent R P , Ravi N , Reynolds J V , le Roux C W
Published: September 2020

Esophagectomy causes postprandial symptoms associated with an exaggerated postprandial gut hormone response. This study aimed to compare the gastrointestinal transit time of patients 1 year after esophagectomy with unoperated controls, including its relation to satiety gut hormone release. In this cross-sectional study, consecutive, disease-free patients after esophagectomy with pyloroplasty were compared with unoperated control subjects to assess gastric emptying (GE) and cecal arrival time (CAT). Serial plasma samples were collected before, and for 300 minutes after, a mixed-meal challenge. Body composition was assessed, and symptom scores were calculated. Eleven patients 1 year post-esophagectomy (age: 62.6 ± 9.8, male: 82%) did not show a significantly different GE pattern compared with 10 control subjects (P = 0.245). Rather, patients could be categorized bimodally as exhibiting either rapid or slow GE relative to controls. Those with rapid GE trended toward a higher postprandial symptom burden (P = 0.084) without higher postprandial glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion (P = 0.931). CAT was significantly shorter after esophagectomy (P = 0.043) but was not significantly associated with GE, GLP-1 secretion, or symptom burden. Neither early nutrient delivery to the proximal small intestine nor to the colon explains the exaggerated postprandial GLP-1 response after esophagectomy. GE varies significantly in these patients despite consistent pyloric management.
Anastomotic stricture indexes for endoscopic balloon dilation after esophageal atresia repair: a single-center study
Authors: Huang Jinshi , Liao Junmin , Yang Shen , Zhang Yanan , Zhao Yong , Gu Yichao , Hua Kaiyun , Li Shuangshuang , Xia Leizhen , Cai Siyu
Published: September 2020

We investigated changes in anastomotic stricture indexes (SIs) and stricture diameter (SD) between before and 6 months after the first dilatation in children with anastomotic stricture after esophageal atresia (EA) repair and identified predictors of medium-term dilatation success (success for at least 3 months). We retrospectively reviewed the records and measurement indexes of patients who underwent post-EA repair endoscopic balloon dilatation between November 2017 and August 2019 in our hospital. We identified diagnostic and performance indicators that predicted medium-term dilatation success by univariate and multivariate analyses and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Sixty patients (34 boys and 26 girls) showed post-EA repair anastomotic stricture. Paired sample t-tests showed that SD (P < 0.001), upper pouch SI (U-SI, P < 0.001), lower pouch SI (L-SI, P < 0.001), upper pouch esophageal anastomotic SI (U-EASI, P < 0.001) and lower pouch EASI (L-EASI, P < 0.001) were significantly better at 6 months after than before the first dilatation. Logistic regression analysis showed that dilatation number (P = 0.002) and U-SI at 6 months after the first dilatation (P = 0.019) significantly predicted medium-term dilatation success. ROC curve analysis revealed that combining U-SI (cut-off value = 55.6%) and dilatation number (cut-off value = 10) had good accuracy in predicting medium-term dilatation success 6 months after the first dilatation (area under the curve-ROC: 0.95). In conclusion, endoscopic balloon dilatation significantly improved SD and SIs in children with post-EA repair anastomotic stricture. Dilatation number and U-SI at 6 months after the first dilatation were useful in predicting medium-term dilatation success and could represent a supplementary method to improve judgment regarding whether further dilatation is needed 6 months after the first dilatation.
Revealing the Diet of Generalist Insect Predators in Strawberry Fields: Not Only Pests, But Other Predators Beware
Authors: Krey K L , Cooper W R , Renkema J M
Published: September 2020

Generalist invertebrate predators contribute to pest management in agriculture, providing an important ecosystem service, particularly in organically managed fields. DNA-based methods to study food webs and feeding interactions in unrestricted field conditions have transformed dietary analysis of generalist predators. In this study, we used MiSeq next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology and universal arthropod primers to investigate the diet of several generalist insect predators collected in commercial organic Florida strawberry fields from November 2017 to March 2018. Of 12 predator insect taxa, Geocoris spp. (Say) (Hemiptera: Geocoridae) was the most abundant early in the growing season (November) and was collected consistently until the end of the season (early March). DNA sequences from 105 predator samples were matched to 44 arthropod families, and of these, 17 were categorized as pest families, 10 as nonpest or nonpredator families, and 17 as predator families. Drosophilidae was the most detected pest family, and Dolichopodidae was the most detected predator family. Prey diversity differed among the predators. Chrysoperla spp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) consumed more prey earlier in the season than did other predators, whereas the other predators consumed a greater diversity of other predators regardless of month. Our results showed a high amount of intraguild predation, but also that predators are contributing to pest suppression in organic strawberries and providing an important biological control service in Florida organic strawberries.
Surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot using autologous right atrial appendages: short- to mid-term results
Authors: Amirghofran Ahmadali , Edraki Fatemeh , Edraki Mohammadreza , Ajami Gholamhossein , Amoozgar Hamid , Mohammadi Hamid , Emaminia Abbas , Ghasemzadeh Bahram , Borzuee Mohammad , Peiravian Farah , Kheirandish Zahra , Mehdizadegan Nima , Sabri Mohammadreza , Cheriki Sirus , Arabi Hamid
Published: September 2020

OBJECTIVES

The prevention of pulmonary insufficiency (PI) is a crucial part of the tetralogy of Fallot repair. Many techniques have been introduced to construct valves from different materials for the right ventricular outflow tract, including the most commonly constructed monocusp valves. We are introducing a new bicuspid valve made intraoperatively using the autologous right atrial appendage (RAA) to prevent PI in these patients.

METHODS

The RAA valve was constructed and used in 21 patients with tetralogy of Fallot. The effective preservation of the native valve was impossible in all patients because of either a severe valve deformity or a small annulus. The RAA valve was created after ventricular septal defect closure and right ventricular outflow tract myectomy and was covered with a bovine transannular pericardial patch. The perioperative data were evaluated, and the echocardiography results were assessed immediately after operations and in follow-up with a median of 10.5 months. The data were retrospectively compared with 10 other patients with similar demographic data but with only transannular patches.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 13.3 months. No mortality or related morbidity occurred after repair using the RAA valve. The PI severity early after the operation was trivial or no PI in 18 patients, and mild PI was observed in 3 patients, which progressed to moderate PI in one of them in the mean 12-month follow-up period. Fifteen patients had mild or no pulmonary stenosis, while moderate pulmonary stenosis was observed in 6 others. Compared with the other 10 patients with only transannular patches, the RAA valve patients had prolonged operative and clamping times, but no difference in postoperative course and shorter hospital stays. The degree of PI was, of course, significantly less in the RAA valve patients, but pulmonary stenosis was the same.

CONCLUSIONS

The RAA valve construction is a safe and effective technique to prevent PI after the tetralogy of Fallot repair, at least in terms of short- and mid-term results. A longer follow-up period is needed to confirm if this new valve can eliminate or significantly delay the need for pulmonary valve replacement in these patients.
Fungi and viruses as important players in microbial mats
Authors: Carreira Cátia , Lønborg Christian , Kühl Michael , Lillebø Ana I , Sandaa Ruth-Anne , Villanueva Laura , Cruz Sónia
Published: September 2020

Microbial mats are compacted, surface-associated microbial ecosystems reminiscent of the first living communities on early Earth. While often considered predominantly prokaryotic, recent findings show that both fungi and viruses are ubiquitous in microbial mats, albeit their functional roles remain unknown. Fungal research has mostly focused on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems where fungi are known as important recyclers of organic matter, whereas viruses are exceptionally abundant and important in aquatic ecosystems. Here, viruses have shown to affect organic matter cycling and the diversity of microbial communities by facilitating horizontal gene transfer and cell lysis. We hypothesise fungi and viruses to have similar roles in microbial mats. Based on the analysis of previous research in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, we outline novel hypotheses proposing strong impacts of fungi and viruses on element cycling, food web structure and function in microbial mats, and outline experimental approaches for studies needed to understand these interactions.
Influence of hydrothermal alteration on the elastic behaviour and failure of heat-treated andesite from Guadeloupe
Authors: Nicolas A , Lévy L , Sissmann O , Li Z , Fortin J , Gibert B , Sigmundsson F
Published: September 2020

Studies on the mechanical behaviour of rocks, including volcanic rocks, usually seek for unaltered and simple material: rocks without macroscopic defects. However, volcanic rocks are often naturally altered due to the circulation of hydrothermal fluids. This alteration may influence mechanical and physical properties. Here, we study the effect of hydrothermal alteration on the elasticity and failure properties of andesite. A homogeneous block of natural andesite was retrieved from a quarry. Three samples were first heat-treated and then artificially altered at different temperatures by soaking them in a brine for one month at a pressure of 20 MPa and temperatures of 80, 180 and 280 °C. Heat-treated unaltered and altered samples were hydrostatically loaded up to 50 MPa and unloaded, while strains and elastic wave velocities were recorded. Samples were also triaxially deformed to failure at a constant strain rate and a confining pressure of 15 MPa. At ambient pressure, increased alteration temperature resulted in increased wave propagation velocity, thus increased dynamic elastic moduli. During hydrostatic loading, volumetric deformation at a given effective pressure decreased with alteration temperature denoting increased static elastic moduli. During triaxial loading, the degree of alteration decreased elastic compaction and peak stress at failure. These observations are interpreted as the result of microcracks in-filling by alteration minerals, and in particular smectite, a swelling-clay mineral with a low friction coefficient. The mechanical behaviour of a volcanic rock subjected to triaxial loading was modelled with a damage model based on crack propagation from pre-existing flaws. A decreasing friction coefficient within the flanks of the cracks leads to a decrease of the peak stress and explains the experimental observations.
The Rotavirus Vaccine Story: From Discovery to the Eventual Control of Rotavirus Disease
Authors: Glass Roger I , Tate Jacqueline E , Jiang Baoming , Parashar Umesh
Published: September 2020

Worldwide, rotavirus is the leading pathogen causing severe diarrhea in children and a major cause of under 5 years mortality. In 1998, the first rotavirus vaccine, RotaShield, was licensed in the United States but a rare adverse event, intussusception, led to its withdrawal. Seven years passed before the next generation of vaccines became available, Rotarix (GSK) and Rotateq (Merck), and 11 years later, 2 additional vaccines from India, Rotavac (Bharat) and Rotasiil (Serum Institute), were recommended by World Health Organization for all children. Today, these vaccines are used in more than 100 countries and have contributed to marked decreases in hospitalizations and deaths from diarrhea. However, these live oral vaccines are less effective in low-income countries with high under 5 years mortality for reasons that are not understood. Efforts to develop new vaccines that avoid the oral route are in progress and will likely be needed to ultimately control rotavirus disease.
Peace Above the Glass Ceiling: The Historical Relationship between Female Political Empowerment and Civil Conflict
Authors: Dahlum Sirianne , Wig Tore
Published: September 2020

We investigate whether female political empowerment is conducive to civil peace, drawing on global data on female political empowerment over a 200-year period, from the Varieties of Democracy database. We augment previous research by expanding the temporal scope, looking at a novel inventory of female political empowerment measures, attending to reverse-causality and omitted variable issues, and separating between relevant causal mechanisms. We find a strong link between female political empowerment and civil peace, which is particularly pronounced in the twentieth century. We find evidence that this relationship is driven both by women’s political participation—particularly the bottom-up political participation of women, e.g., in civil society—and the culture that conduces it. This is the strongest evidence to date that there is a robust link between female political empowerment and civil peace, stemming from both institutional and cultural mechanisms.
Senescence-associated extracellular vesicle release plays a role in senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in age-associated diseases
Authors: Tanaka Yoko , Takahashi Akiko
Published: September 2020

Cellular senescence is an important tumour suppression mechanism that inhibits the proliferation of damaged cells. In senescent cells, irreparable DNA damage causes accumulation of genomic DNA fragments in the cytoplasm, which are recognized by the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon gene pathway, resulting in secretion of numerous inflammatory proteins. This phenomenon is called senescence-associated secretory phenotype, and results in multiple physiological or pathological processes in the body. In addition, DNA damage also increases small extracellular vesicle release from senescent cells. This review presents recent insights into the molecular mechanisms and biological functions of senescence-associated extracellular vesicle release that is associated with age-related diseases, particularly cancer.
Does hip preservation fellowship training flatten the learning curve associated with periacetabular osteotomy?
Authors: Smith Guy W , Lightfoot Nicholas J , Munro Jacob T , Boyle Matthew J
Published: September 2020

The Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) has been associated with a significant learning curve, with the majority of serious complications reported during the first 20–50 independent procedures. Our aim was to assess whether hip preservation fellowship training flattens the PAO learning curve with respect to complication profiles and 1-year patient-reported outcome measures (PROM). The clinical records of the first 50 PAOs (47 patients, median age 23.5 years) performed by a single surgeon after completion of a 12-month hip preservation fellowship programme were reviewed. The first 25 PAOs were compared with the second 25 PAOs with respect to complication profiles and PROM (modified Harris Hip Score, University of California Los Angeles activity score, pain visual analogue scale) at 12 months post-operatively. There were no significant between-group differences in demographic variables or pre-operative PROM. Twelve months post-operatively, no patients had experienced a major complication (Clavien–Dindo grades III–V). Twenty-three (46%) patients experienced at least one minor complication (grades I–II); 13 (52%) in the first group and 10 (40%) in the second group (no significant difference, P = 0.57). The most common complications were lateral femoral cutaneous nerve neuropraxia [14 patients (28%)] and allogenic blood transfusion [7 patients (14%)]. There were no significant between-group differences with respect to 1-year post-operative PROM or post-operative change in PROM (all P > 0.05). Although it is difficult to definitively conclude that hip preservation fellowship training is solely responsible for the reassuring outcomes in our series, we believe that such training can significantly flatten the learning curve associated with the Bernese PAO.
In-flight transmission of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the attack rates and available data on the efficacy of face masks
Authors: Freedman David O , Wilder-Smith Annelies
Published: September 2020

The absence of large numbers of published in-flight transmissions of SARS-CoV-2 is not definitive evidence of safety. All peer-reviewed publications of flights with possible transmission are categorized by the quantity of transmission. Three mass transmission flights without masking are contrasted to 5 with strict masking and 58 cases with zero transmission.
Spirals, shadows & precession in HD 100453 – II. The hidden companion
Authors: Nealon Rebecca , Cuello Nicolás , Gonzalez Jean-François , van der Plas Gerrit , Pinte Christophe , Alexander Richard , Ménard François , Price Daniel J
Published: September 2020

The protoplanetary disc HD 100453 exhibits a curious combination of spirals, shadows, and a relative misalignment between the observed outer disc and inferred inner disc. This disc is accompanied by a secondary star on a bound orbit exterior to the disc. Recent observations have suggested there may be an additional low-mass companion residing within the disc inner cavity. In our companion paper, the orbit of the secondary was shown to be misaligned by 61° to the plane of the outer disc. Here, we investigate the properties of the inner companion and the origin of the misalignment between the inner and outer discs. Using numerical simulations and synthetic observations, we show that the disc structure and kinematics are consistent with a ≲ 5 MJ planet located at 15 − 20 au. We find that the disc evolution over ∼50 binary orbits (∼105 yr) is governed by differential precession and to a lesser extent, the Kozai–Lidov effect. In our proposed model, the misalignment observed between the outer and inner disc arises naturally as a result of the misaligned outer companion driving the outer disc to precess more rapidly than the inner disc.
Exploring galaxy colour in different environments of the cosmic web with SDSS
Authors: Pandey Biswajit , Sarkar Suman
Published: September 2020

We analyse a set of volume-limited samples from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to study the dependence of galaxy colour on different environments of the cosmic web. We measure the local dimension of galaxies to determine the geometry of their embedding environments and find that filaments host a higher fraction of red galaxies than sheets at each luminosity. We repeat the analysis at a fixed density and recover the same trend, which shows that galaxy colours depend on geometry of environments besides local density. At a fixed luminosity, the fraction of red galaxies in filaments and sheets increases with the extent of these environments. This suggests that the bigger structures have a larger baryon reservoir favouring higher accretion and larger stellar mass. We find that the mean colour of the red and blue populations are systematically higher in the environments with smaller local dimension and increases monotonically in all the environments with luminosity. We observe that the bimodal nature of the galaxy colour distribution persists in all environments and all luminosities, which suggests that the transformation from blue to red galaxy can occur in all environments.
Bayesian inference for compact binary coalescences with bilby: validation and application to the first LIGO–Virgo gravitational-wave transient catalogue
Authors: Romero-Shaw I M , Talbot C , Biscoveanu S , D’Emilio V , Ashton G , Berry C P L , Coughlin S , Galaudage S , Hoy C , Hübner M , Phukon K S , Pitkin M , Rizzo M , Sarin N , Smith R , Stevenson S , Vajpeyi A , Arène M , Athar K , Banagiri S , Bose N , Carney M , Chatziioannou K , Clark J A , Colleoni M , Cotesta R , Edelman B , Estellés H , García-Quirós C , Ghosh Abhirup , Green R , Haster C-J , Husa S , Keitel D , Kim A X , Hernandez-Vivanco F , Magaña Hernandez I , Karathanasis C , Lasky P D , De Lillo N , Lower M E , Macleod D , Mateu-Lucena M , Miller A , Millhouse M , Morisaki S , Oh S H , Ossokine S , Payne E , Powell J , Pratten G , Pürrer M , Ramos-Buades A , Raymond V , Thrane E , Veitch J , Williams D , Williams M J , Xiao L
Published: September 2020

Gravitational waves provide a unique tool for observational astronomy. While the first LIGO–Virgo catalogue of gravitational-wave transients (GWTC-1) contains 11 signals from black hole and neutron star binaries, the number of observations is increasing rapidly as detector sensitivity improves. To extract information from the observed signals, it is imperative to have fast, flexible, and scalable inference techniques. In a previous paper, we introduced bilby: a modular and user-friendly Bayesian inference library adapted to address the needs of gravitational-wave inference. In this work, we demonstrate that bilby produces reliable results for simulated gravitational-wave signals from compact binary mergers, and verify that it accurately reproduces results reported for the 11 GWTC-1 signals. Additionally, we provide configuration and output files for all analyses to allow for easy reproduction, modification, and future use. This work establishes that bilby is primed and ready to analyse the rapidly growing population of compact binary coalescence gravitational-wave signals.