bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations between eating disorders and illicit drug use among college students
Authors: Ganson Kyle T. , Murray Stuart B. , Nagata Jason M.
Published: February 2021

Objective

To estimate the associations between a positive eating disorder screen and any lifetime eating disorder diagnosis and illicit drug use among a large, diverse sample of college students.

Method

We analyzed data from the national (United States), cross‐sectional 2018–2019 Healthy Minds Study (HMS; n = 42,618; response rate: 16%). HMS collects information on the physical, mental, and social health of college students. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between a positive eating disorder screen (measured using the SCOFF) and any self‐reported lifetime eating disorder diagnosis and self‐reported illicit drug use in the past 30 days (any illicit drug use and use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, stimulants, ecstasy, opioids, benzodiazepines), while adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Among the sample, 54.34% (n = 28,608) were female and the mean age of participants was 23.30 (SE ± 0.05) years. Logistic regression analyses revealed unique associations between a positive eating disorder screen and any lifetime eating disorder diagnosis and illicit drug use among the sample of college student participants. A positive eating disorder screen was most strongly associated with methamphetamine use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43–10.78), and any lifetime eating disorder diagnosis was most strongly associated with benzodiazepine use (AOR 3.42, 95% CI 2.28–5.13).

Discussion

Illicit drug use is common among college students who screen positive for an eating disorder and report any lifetime eating disorder diagnosis. The co‐occurring nature of eating disorders and illicit drug use may complicate treatment and lead to compounded adverse health outcomes.
Brain‐Responsive Neurostimulation for the treatment of adults with epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis complex: A case series
Authors: McDermott Danielle S. , Mirro Emily A. , Fetrow Kirsten , Burdette David E. , Chen Stephanie , Hopp Jennifer , Masel Todd , Johnson Emily A. , Elefant Felicia M. K. , Le Scheherazade , Patra Sanjay E. , Brown Mesha‐Gay , Haneef Zulfi
Published: February 2021

Objective

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder primarily characterized by the development of multisystem benign tumors. Epilepsy is the most common neurologic manifestation, affecting 80%‐90% of TSC patients. The diffuse structural brain abnormalities and the multifocal nature of epilepsy in TSC pose diagnostic challenges when evaluating patients for epilepsy surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the safety experience and efficacy outcomes of five adult TSC patients who were treated with direct brain‐responsive neurostimulation (RNS System, NeuroPace, Inc).

Results

The average follow‐up duration was 20 months. All five patients were responders (≥50% disabling seizure reduction) at last follow‐up. The median reduction in disabling seizures was 58% at 1 year and 88% at last follow‐up. Three of the five patients experienced some period of seizure freedom ranging from 3 months to over 1 year.

Significance

In this small case series, we report the first safety experience and efficacy outcomes in patients with TSC‐associated drug‐resistant focal epilepsy treated with direct brain‐responsive neurostimulation.
Parametric analysis and new design formulas of a prefabricated energy‐dissipating composite slotted shear wall
Authors: Shen Shao‐Dong , Pan Peng , He Zhi‐Zhou , Xiao Gen‐Qi , Li Xiang‐Jie
Published: February 2021

In a conventional wall frame system, shear walls typically exhibit less deformation capacity under earthquakes than the frame. In this study, an innovative prefabricated slotted composite shear wall was proposed, abbreviated as CDSW. Featured with concrete‐filled‐tube (CFT) wall segments, I‐shaped steel connectors, vertical slots and bolted connections with the frame, the CDSW has significantly improved deformation capacity, energy dissipation capacity and construction efficiency compared with conventional shear walls. Its seismic behaviors were investigated through applying quasi‐static cyclic loads, where the specimen exhibited satisfactory cyclic response. Based on the test results, finite element analysis (FEA) models were established to validate the test results, and 12 parametric FEA cases were conducted to optimize the parameters of CDSWs. A new design method of a CDSW with highly accurate formulas was proposed based on a new parameter termed as equivalent stiffness ratio (ESR). With ESR, the stiffness and internal force of a CDSW can be obtained with satisfactory precision. Based on the analytical result and the new design formulas, it can be concluded that the ESR between 0.706 and 1.25 is recommended for practical engineering applications, which took into consideration the governing factors of yield and peak strength, stiffness, deformation capacity and energy dissipation. Additionally, the installation of the upper and lower sets of connectors at about 40% and 60% of the height of CDSW is suggested, respectively.
Hydrocracking process and kinetic equation: Effect of the fluoride on the performance of the Ni‐Mo catalyst
Authors: Tavasoli Ahmad , Taghizadeh Yusefabad Ehsan , Zamani Yahya
Published: February 2021

The present paper investigates the fluoride effects on the performance of the Ni‐Mo/ASA‐Al2O3 catalyst. The Ni‐Mo‐F0/ASA‐Al2O3 and Ni‐Mo‐F3.6/ASA‐Al2O3 catalysts were prepared and characterized using a number of techniques such as BET, XRD, XRF, and NH3‐TPD. The performance of the catalysts was investigated in the N‐hexadecane hydrocracking, and liquid products were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC‐MS). Results showed when the fluoride was loaded to the catalysts, the N‐hexadecane conversion increase, from 88.44% to 98.83%, and the selectivity of light gas products increase slightly, from 4.64% to 8.14%. Finally, the performance of the Ni‐Mo‐F3.6/ASA‐Al2O3 catalyst was studied in the VGO hydrocracking and discrete lumping kinetic equations of this process were investigated. In this study, the production of the produced oil cuts, diesel, kerosene, naphtha, and gas was formulated and the kinetic constants of the VGO hydrocracking in the presence of the catalyst were calculated using the Levenberg‐Marquardt algorithm.
Leveraging the replication‐competent avian‐like sarcoma virus/tumor virus receptor‐A system for modeling human gliomas
Authors: Kanvinde Pranjali P. , Malla Adarsha P. , Connolly Nina P. , Szulzewsky Frank , Anastasiadis Pavlos , Ames Heather M. , Kim Anthony J. , Winkles Jeffrey A. , Holland Eric C. , Woodworth Graeme F.
Published: February 2021

Gliomas are the most common primary intrinsic brain tumors occurring in adults. Of all malignant gliomas, glioblastoma (GBM) is considered the deadliest tumor type due to diffuse brain invasion, immune evasion, cellular, and molecular heterogeneity, and resistance to treatments resulting in high rates of recurrence. An extensive understanding of the genomic and microenvironmental landscape of gliomas gathered over the past decade has renewed interest in pursuing novel therapeutics, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, glioma‐associated macrophage/microglia (GAMs) modulators, and others. In light of this, predictive animal models that closely recreate the conditions and findings found in human gliomas will serve an increasingly important role in identifying new, effective therapeutic strategies. Although numerous syngeneic, xenograft, and transgenic rodent models have been developed, few include the full complement of pathobiological features found in human tumors, and therefore few accurately predict bench‐to‐bedside success. This review provides an update on how genetically engineered rodent models based on the replication‐competent avian‐like sarcoma (RCAS) virus/tumor virus receptor‐A (tv‐a) system have been used to recapitulate key elements of human gliomas in an immunologically intact host microenvironment and highlights new approaches using this model system as a predictive tool for advancing translational glioma research.
10‐hydroxy‐2‐decenoic acid a bio‐immunomodulator in tissue engineering; generates tolerogenic dendritic cells by blocking the toll‐like receptor4
Authors: Eslami‐kaliji Farshid , Sarafbidabad Mohsen , Kiani‐Esfahani Abbas , Mirahmadi‐Zare Seyede Zohreh , Dormiani Kianoush
Published: February 2021

Dendritic cells (DCs), in response to the biomaterials, utilize toll‐like receptors (TLRs) to become mature or tolerogenic through TLRs‐dependent signaling pathways, especially TLR4. Regarding the physicochemical properties of biomaterials, some of such signaling pathways are activated. Unsaturated fatty acids have been explored as an antagonist for TLRs and lead to the tolerogenic phenotype of DCs. Here we showed that, although cultured DCs on both chitosan and Alginate‐polyethyleneimine (Alg‐PEI) films became fully mature, 10‐hydroxy‐2‐decanoic acid (10‐HDA), an unsaturated fatty acid found in royal jelly, led to the tolerogenic immunophenotype of DCs on both films. The cultured cells on the films possessed iDCs‐like morphology in the presence of 10‐HDA. Moreover, 10‐HDA expressed lower levels of CD80, CD83, CD86, and HLA‐DR, a higher level of IL‐10, and lower level of IL‐12 in the cultured DCs on both films. Furthermore, HEK293T cells expressing only TLR4 (HEK‐TLR4 cells) were co‐cultured with LPS, a specific agonist for TLR4, and 10‐HDA. The 10‐HDA significantly reduced the expression of tumor necrosis factor‐a (TNF‐α) in the HEK‐TLR4 cells compared to treated only with LPS. These findings indicate that the 10‐HDA acts as an antagonist of TLR4; therefore, potentially can be used in autoimmune diseases and preventing the rejection of biomaterials implantation and allograft transplantation.
Taxonomy and utility in the diagnostic classification of mental disorders
Authors: Evans Spencer C. , Roberts Michael C. , Guler Jessy , Keeley Jared W. , Reed Geoffrey M.
Published: February 2021

Objective

One strategy for improving the clinical utility of mental health diagnostic systems is to better align them with how clinicians conceptualize psychopathology in practice. This approach was used in International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD‐11) development, but its underlying assumption—a link between taxonomic “fit” and clinical utility—remains untested.

Methods

Using data from global mental health clinician samples (combined N = 5404), we investigated the association between taxonomic fit and clinical utility in mental disorder categories.

Results

The overall association between fit and utility was positive (r = 0.19) but statistically not different from zero (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.06, 0.43) in this small sample (N = 39 ICD/DSM categories). However, a positive association became clear after correcting for outliers (r = 0.34 [0.05, 0.58] or higher). Further insights were apparent for specific diagnoses given their locations in the scatterplot.

Conclusions

Results suggest a positive link between taxonomic fit and clinical utility in mental disorder diagnoses, highlighting future research directions.
“Never sacrifice anything to laboratory work”: The “physiological psychology” of Charles Richet (1875–1905)
Authors: Evrard Renaud , Gumpper Stéphane , Beauvais Bevis , Alvarado Carlos S.
Published: February 2021

Whilst best known as a Nobel laureate physiologist, Charles Robert Richet (1850–1935) was also a pioneer of scientific psychology. Starting in 1875 Richet had a leading role in the habilitation of hypnosis, in the institutionalization of psychology in France, and in the introduction of methodological innovations. Authoring several psychology books, Richet's works contributed to the recognition of the scientific nature of the discipline. This role is often underplayed by some historians and psychology textbooks in favor of his later position as a proponent of the controversial discipline he christened metapsychics in 1905, which today lies within the province of parapsychology. In this article, we show how his psychological approach guided by physiology, or physiological psychology, facilitated the reception of psychology. We hypothesize a strong continuity between his physiological psychology and his metapsychics, as he himself considered metapsychics as an advanced branch of physiology, and thus also an outpost of psychology.
Prenatal development in Lagostomus maximus (Rodentia, Chinchillidae): A unique case among eutherian mammals of physiological embryonic death
Authors: Acuña Francisco , Barbeito Claudio G. , Portiansky Enrique L. , Miglino María A. , Flamini Mirta A.
Published: February 2021

Embryonic death followed by resorption is a conserved process in mammals. Among the polyovular species, Lagostomus maximus (plains viscacha) constitutes a model of early and physiological embryonic death, since out of a total of 10–12 implants, 8–10 are resorbed during early/intermediate gestation, surviving are only the most caudal implantations of each uterine horn. This regular reproductive event is unique to this species, but many characteristics of the implantations during the early gestation of L. maximus, when embryonic death processes begin are unknown. The aim of the present work was to analyze the implantation sites of this species using morphological, morphometric, histochemical, lectinhistochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques to infer the possible causes of this event. Macroscopically, the length and width of the implantation sites significantly increased in a craniocaudal direction. Histochemically, the implantation sites did not differ in the expression of glycoconjugates and glycosidic residues. Furthermore, no variations were observed in cell renewal, hormone receptor expression, and decidualization. Both the glandular and vascular areas of the implantation sites significantly increased in the craniocaudal axis. Some necrotic cells and an inflammatory response with a predominance of lymphocytes and fibrin were observed in the cranial and middle but not in the caudal implantation sites. We conclude that signs of embryonic death and resorption are already observed in the early gestation of L. maximus. Our results reaffirm the hypothesis that postulates the key potential role of uterine glands and blood vessels in the gestation of the species, with emphasis on embryonic death. This pattern of embryonic death in L. maximus makes this species an unconventional mammalian model, which adds to the peculiarities of polyovulation (200–800 oocytes/estrus) and hemochorial placentation.
Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Jakarta: Evidence of entrepreneurial leadership
Authors: Wulandari Respati , Zoubir Yahia H.
Published: February 2021

The Catholic Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia, has existed for more than 200 years. Throughout its development, it has faced numerous internal and external challenges. To address these challenges, the role of parish priests has changed from being primarily that of a religious leader, to include being a leader and manager of an organization. Using a theoretical framework of entrepreneurial leadership consisting of 14 precursors, and conducting interviews with 19 priests in charge of parishes, this article shows how the parish priests in the Archdiocese of Jakarta behave as entrepreneurs. It illustrates entrepreneurial behavior within the Church, which, unlike for‐profit organizations, is not orientated towards financial growth. The study shows that the 14 precursors of entrepreneurial leadership can also be applied to the activities of Roman Catholic priests in Jakarta. It lays the groundwork for further research by grouping the 14 precursors into three new categories. It also demonstrates that entrepreneurial leadership in non‐profit activities mirrors entrepreneurial leadership in for‐profit organizations, with the main difference being that there is no material (financial) expectation.
Retail employee theft: When retail security alone is not enough
Authors: Korgaonkar Pradeep , Becerra Enrique P. , Mangleburg Tamara , Bilgihan Anil
Published: February 2021

Retailers and local governments lose revenue, and inevitably consumers pay higher prices due to theft. In 2018, the amount lost to employee theft per incident was $1361. This is in comparison to the amount per incident lost to shoplifting of $302. Despite this difference, the scholarly attention in marketing on retail employee theft is sparse. The current study aims to fill this gap. The framework developed and tested is based on routine activity theory, the theory of reasoned action and findings from the retailing and management literature. Data were collected from a national sample of 665 retail employees. The framework simultaneously examines the influence of attitudes, antecedents, and social norms regarding stealing on employee intentions to steal and the influence of a moral compass and organizational commitment on attitudes toward stealing and intentions to steal. Results indicate that attitudes toward stealing are driven by the availability of suitable targets, the absence of guardianship, and a moral compass. Behavioral intentions to steal are influenced by attitudes toward stealing, suitable targets (but indirectly), and the employee's level of employment.
Understanding the potential adoption of autonomous vehicles in China: The perspective of behavioral reasoning theory
Authors: Huang Youlin , Qian Lixian
Published: February 2021

Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous vehicles (AVs) are one of the most disruptive technologies to reduce road incidents, improve road efficiency and enhance mobility for underserved populations. However, existing literature of AV adoption is either based on descriptive analysis or simple applications of conventional behavioral frameworks. Drawing on behavioral reasoning theory (BRT), we examine the effect of reasoning process on consumers' attitudes and intentions toward adopting AVs, and how their psychological traits moderates the relationships. By conducting a nationwide survey in China (n = 849), we identify positive (negative) effects of individuals' reasons for (against) adopting AVs on their adoption intentions for AVs, and positive influence of face consciousness on the reasoning process. More importantly, we find that the psychological trait of need for uniqueness strengthens the association between consumers' reasoning for AVs and their adoption intention, while the risk aversion trait intensifies the negative relationships between consumers' reasoning against AVs and their attitude/adoption intention. We contribute to the literature of AI adoption by establishing the important roles of consumers' reasons for and against such innovations. We also extend the BRT framework by identifying the roles of psychological traits in moderating the relationships among reasoning, attitude, and adoption intention.
The adoption of AI service robots: A comparison between credence and experience service settings
Authors: Park Sungjun S. , Tung ChunTing D. , Lee Heejung
Published: February 2021

Would consumers experience the same psychological processes when adopting AI service robots in different service areas? Results of multigroup structural equation modeling (n = 517) indicate that consumers' psychological processes are not the same in different service areas. Specifically, how consumers perceive AI service robots' usefulness is shown to be a significant underlying mechanism affecting consumers' attitudes toward adopting AI service robots in a service setting with a credence attribute (e.g., a hospital), but is not significant for a service setting with an experience attribute (e.g., a café). Furthermore, regardless of the different service settings, both privacy concerns and trust toward AI technology are shown to be significant antecedents, consistent with previous literature. Our results provide empirical insights at the intersection of psychology, marketing, and AI technology on how consumers adapt to using service robots across different service areas.
The investigation of genetic and clinical features in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia in central‐Southern China
Authors: Wang Chen , Zhang Yun‐Jian , Xu Ci‐Hao , Li De , Liu Zhi‐Jun , Wu Yan
Published: February 2021

Objective

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders. We describe the genetic and clinical features of a cohort of five HSP families from central‐southern China.

Methods

Using targeted exome‐sequencing technology, we investigated the genetic and clinical features in five HSP families. We reviewed the clinical histories of these patients as well as the molecular and functional characterization of the associated gene variants. We also performed functional analysis of an intron variant of SPAST in vitro.

Results

We identified a known SPAST mutation (p.Pro435Leu) in a family with autosomal dominant HSP (AD‐HSP) and four novel variants in two HSP families and a sporadic case. These identified four novel variants included a variant in SPG11 (p.Val1979Ter), two variants in B4GALNT1 (p.Ser475Phe and c.1002 + 2 T > G), and a splicing site variant in SPAST (c.1245+5G>A). Minigene analysis of the splicing variant in SPAST (c.1245+5G>A) revealed that the mutation resulted in mRNAs with a loss of exon 9. The SPG4 family carrying c.1245+5G>A variant in SPAST exhibited genetic anticipation, with a decreased age at onset and increased severity in successive generations. The proband with p.Val1979Ter variant in SPG11 showed characteristic clinical features of early‐onset, severe spasticity, and corpus callosum atrophy which were highly suggestive of the diagnosis of SPG11‐associated HSP.

Conclusions

Our findings strongly support variable phenotype of B4GALNT1‐related SPG26 and also expand the clinical and mutation spectrum of HSP caused by mutations in SPAST, SPG11, and B4GALNT1. These results will help to improve the efficiency of early diagnosis in patients clinically suspected of HSP.
Genetic etiology study of four Chinese families with two nonsyndromic deaf children in succession by targeted next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Xiao Caixia , Liu Shuang , Wang Hongyue , Ding Yibing , Chen Yaqiu , Liu Haiyan
Published: February 2021

Background

Genetic components contribute significantly to the cause of hearing loss. Nonsyndromic hearing loss has been shown to have high genetic heterogeneity. For families who had given birth to two nonsyndromic deaf children in succession, it seems that their deafness was highly related to genetics.

Objectives

This study aimed to disclose the genetic causes of the subjects from the four Chinese families with two nonsyndromic deaf children in succession who failed to find the genetic etiology of the hearing loss by common deafness genetic screening (GJB2, GJB3, SLC26A4, and MT‐RNR1, including 20 hot variants in 4 genes).

Methods

Targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of 127 known deafness genes was performed in probands of four families, followed by a series of comprehensive analyses of all family members combined with a literature review of related genes.

Results

We identified pathogenic variants in three families including c.919‐2A>G/c.1985G>A in SLC26A4; c.109G>A (p.V37I) in GJB2; and m.7505T>C in MT‐TS1. Sanger sequencing confirmed that these variants segregated with the hearing impairment of each family. We also identified c.331C>T/c.625‐5C>T/c.5717G>A in CDH23; c.138T>C in POU3F4 in two families, in which the pathogenicity in clinical was likely pathogenic or unknown.

Conclusions

Using the NGS detection technology, we found the genetic etiology of the HL in part of deaf families. Our study provided a useful piece of information for the variant spectrum of hearing loss in Chinese families with two deaf children in succession.
Training approach expands EBT for children with BH needs
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: February 2021

Although evidence‐based treatments (EBTs) are considered best practices, making them widely available for children and families in community and clinical settings has proven challenging, with many children still not receiving EBTs, according to a new issue brief from the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut Inc. (CHDI). CHDI leaders, however, highlight a promising strategy for expanding the availability of EBTs so that more children and families can access high‐quality care.
British study: PTSD symptoms present in COVID‐19 survivors
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: February 2021

While much has been studied and researched about the mental health implications of the pandemic, a new study has found post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in patients with COVID‐19.
CUL4B renders breast cancer cells tamoxifen‐resistant via miR‐32‐5p/ER‐α36 axis
Authors: Wang Yuxing , Pan Xiaohua , Li Yanjun , Wang Ru , Yang Yuanyuan , Jiang Baichun , Sun Gongping , Shao Changshun , Wang Molin , Gong Yaoqin
Published: February 2021

Tamoxifen (TAM) resistance is a significant clinical challenge in endocrine therapies for estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive breast cancer patients. Cullin 4B (CUL4B), which acts as a scaffold protein in CUL4B–RING ubiquitin ligase complexes (CRL4B), is frequently overexpressed in cancer and represses tumor suppressors through diverse epigenetic mechanisms. However, the role and the underlying mechanisms of CUL4B in regulating drug resistance remain unknown. Here, we showed that CUL4B promotes TAM resistance in breast cancer cells through a miR‐32‐5p/ER‐α36 axis. We found that upregulation of CUL4B correlated with decreased TAM sensitivity of breast cancer cells, and knockdown of CUL4B or expression of a dominant‐negative CUL4B mutant restored the response to TAM in TAM‐resistant MCF7‐TAMR and T47D‐TAMR cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that CUL4B renders breast cancer cells TAM‐resistant by upregulating ER‐α36 expression, which was mediated by downregulation of miR‐32‐5p. We further showed that CRL4B epigenetically represses the transcription of miR‐32‐5p by catalyzing monoubiquitination at H2AK119 and coordinating with PRC2 and HDAC complexes to promote trimethylation at H3K27 at the promoter of miR‐32‐5p. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of CRL4B/PRC2/HDAC complexes significantly increased TAM sensitivity in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings thus establish a critical role for the CUL4B–miR‐32‐5p–ER‐α36 axis in the regulation of TAM resistance and have important therapeutic implications for combined application of TAM and the inhibitors of CRL4B/PRC2/HDAC complex in breast cancer treatment. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Peptide and protein engineering by modification of backbone and sidechain functional groups
Authors: Kordbacheh Shadi , Kasko Andrea M
Published: February 2021

Modifications of the sidechain and backbone of peptides and proteins are commonly used to improve their stability, to enhance their biological function, to enable and improve imaging and detection capabilities via conjugation to imaging agents and to otherwise introduce new properties. The most common approaches for modification and conjugation typically target amino acids such as lysine and cysteine. However, less abundant residues such as tyrosine, methionine and tryptophan are also potential targets for orthogonal modification. Non‐traditional modifications of common amino acids such as cysteine can also be used to introduce novel functional groups in a peptide sidechain. Additionally, modification via sortase is also very precise and site specific in biological conditions. This mini‐review article describes recent advances in selective modification reactions of peptides and proteins via these less common approaches. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Resistance to spirodiclofen in Brevipalpus yothersi (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Brazilian citrus groves: detection, monitoring, and population performance
Authors: M Rocha Claudiane , F Della Vechia Jaqueline , J Savi Patrice , Omoto Celso , J Andrade Daniel
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

Brevipalpus yothersi mite is the main vector of Citrus leprosis virus (CiLV), the causal agent of citrus leprosis disease. The acaricide spirodiclofen has been widely used to control this mite. However, failures in control using spirodiclofen have been frequently reported by citrus growers. In this study, we estimated the diagnostic concentration to monitor the resistance to spirodiclofen of B. yothersi populations collected in nine citrus groves in Brazil. We then selected the B. yothersi population that showed lowest mortality with the estimated diagnostic concentration of spirodiclofen to characterize the frequency of resistant individuals, as well as demographic and life table parameters.

RESULTS

Variability was higher between populations in terms of susceptibility to spirodiclofen. The frequency of resistant eggs between populations ranged from 0.7% to 85.8%. The resistance ratio of B. yothersi to spirodiclofen was low to moderate. Survival rates of the immature stage, total adult longevity, oviposition days, and female fecundity were lower in the resistant strain. Furthermore, net reproduction rate, intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, and mean length of a generation were also lower in the R strain.

CONCLUSION

Although variations in resistance to spirodiclofen were observed between populations, the resistance ratio was low to moderate. Such data can be useful in the development of resistance management strategies for B. yothersi in Brazilian citrus groves. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Teacher self‐disclosure in adult ESL curriculum
Authors: Rosborough Alessandro , Zhang Shaoan , McCafferty Steven G.
Published: February 2021

Teacher self‐disclosure (TSD) in second language education curricula includes a teacher’s social and personal experiences, family, opinions, likes and dislikes, and identity as contexts and examples for teaching vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Using contexts from the teacher’s self‐disclosure, language learners can connect to their new communities and social situations associated with learning a second language. This study investigated the potential of TSD to support the intersection between second language teaching curriculum as a lexico‐syntactic system with a more sociocultural communicative usage activity perspective. The analysis suggests that TSD provided authentic contextualizations for the grammar or vocabulary objectives being taught. For their part, the teachers spontaneously integrated TSD, demonstrating their curriculum‐making abilities by providing meanings and cultural insights not readily available in the standardized lesson.
Supporting Scientific Discussions: Moving Kindergartners’ Conversations Forward
Authors: West JoAnne M. , Wright Tanya S. , Gotwals Amelia W.
Published: February 2021

Background knowledge and oral language have long been linked to reading and writing outcomes. Discussions are one way to build both oral language and background knowledge. Nevertheless, designing discussions to support children’s content knowledge and oral language development, as well as build discipline specific speaking practices, can prove challenging. This article describes discussions in one kindergarten classroom during a unit on force and motion. Throughout the unit, children were supported to discuss force and motion in multiple ways and across different types of activities.
Incremental treatments of the full configuration interaction problem
Authors: Eriksen Janus J. , Gauss Jürgen
Published: February 2021

The recent many‐body expanded full configuration interaction (MBE‐FCI) method is reviewed by critically assessing its advantages and drawbacks in the context of contemporary near‐exact electronic structure theory. Besides providing a succinct summary of the history of MBE‐FCI to date within a generalized and unified theoretical setting, its finer algorithmic details are discussed alongside our optimized computational implementation of the theory. A selected few of the most recent applications of MBE‐FCI are revisited, before we close by outlining its future research directions as well as its place among modern near‐exact wave function‐based methods.

This article is categorized under:

Electronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure Methods
No-scale hybrid inflation with R-symmetry breaking
Authors: Moursy Ahmad
Published: February 2021

Abstract

In this paper we provide a no-scale supergravity scenario of hybrid inflation with R-symmetry being broken maximally. We investigate the inflation dynamics in details in both cases of pure F-term hybrid inflation and when adding constant Fayet-Iliopoulos D-terms. The effective inflation potential is asymptotically flat in a region of the parameter space in both cases. We explore all regions in the parameter space when discussing the constraints from the observables. We point out a connection between inflation, R-symmetry breaking and GUT scales. The moduli backreaction and SUSY breaking effects are investigated in a specific stabilization mechanism. We emphasis that a successful reheating is not affected by R-symmetry breaking, but it has interesting consequences. We study the reheating in flipped GUT model. We argue in favor of Z2 symmetry associated with flipped GUT models to avoid phenomenologically dangerous operators and allow for decay channels for the inflaton to right-handed neutrinos (sneutrinos).
Atmospheric CO2 availability induces varying responses in net photosynthesis, toxin production and N2 fixation rates in heterocystous filamentous Cyanobacteria (Nostoc and Nodularia)
Authors: Wannicke Nicola , Herrmann Achim , Gehringer Michelle M.
Published: February 2021

Heterocystous Cyanobacteria of the genus Nodularia form major blooms in brackish waters, while terrestrial Nostoc species occur worldwide, often associated in biological soil crusts. Both genera, by virtue of their ability to fix N2 and conduct oxygenic photosynthesis, contribute significantly to global primary productivity. Select Nostoc and Nodularia species produce the hepatotoxin nodularin and whether its production will change under climate change conditions needs to be assessed. In light of this, the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 availability on growth, carbon and N2 fixation as well as nodularin production were investigated in toxin and non-toxin producing species of both genera. Results highlighted the following:

Biomass and volume specific biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) rates were respectively almost six and 17 fold higher in the aquatic Nodularia species compared to the terrestrial Nostoc species tested, under elevated CO2 conditions.

There was a direct correlation between elevated CO2 and decreased dry weight specific cellular nodularin content in a diazotrophically grown terrestrial Nostoc species, and the aquatic Nodularia species, regardless of nitrogen availability.

Elevated atmospheric CO2 levels were correlated to a reduction in biomass specific BNF rates in non-toxic Nodularia species.

Nodularin producers exhibited stronger stimulation of net photosynthesis rates (NP) and growth (more positive Cohen’s d) and less stimulation of dark respiration and BNF per volume compared to non-nodularin producers under elevated CO2 levels.

This study is the first to provide information on NP and nodularin production under elevated atmospheric CO2 levels for Nodularia and Nostoc species under nitrogen replete and diazotrophic conditions.
The creation of a neural network based capability profile to enable generative design and the manufacture of functional FDM parts
Authors: Goudswaard Mark , Hicks Ben , Nassehi Aydin
Published: February 2021

In order to manufacture functional parts using filament deposition modelling (FDM), an understanding of the machine’s capabilities is necessary. Eliciting this understanding poses a significant challenge due to a lack of knowledge relating manufacturing process parameters to mechanical properties of the manufactured part. Prior work has proposed that this could be overcome through the creation of capability profiles for FDM machines. However, such an approach has yet to be implemented and incorporated into the overall design process. Correspondingly, the aim of this paper is two-fold and includes the creation of a comprehensive capability profile for FDM and the implementation of the profile and evaluation of its utility within a generative design methodology. To provide the foundations for the capability profile, this paper first reports an experimental testing programme to characterise the influence of five manufacturing parameters on a part’s ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and tensile modulus (E). This characterisation is used to train an artificial neural network (ANN). This ANN forms the basis of a capability profile that is shown to be able to represent the mechanical properties with RMSEP of 1.95 MPa for UTS and 0.82 GPa for E. To validate the capability profile, it is incorporated into a generative design methodology enabling its application to the design and manufacture of functional parts. The resulting methodology is used to create two load bearing components where it is shown to be able to generate parts with satisfactory performance in only a couple of iterations. The novelty of the reported work lies in demonstrating the practical application of capability profiles in the FDM design process and how, when combined with generative approaches, they can make effective design decisions in place of the user.
Initial Data Rigidity Results
Authors: Eichmair Michael , Galloway Gregory J. , Mendes Abraão
Published: February 2021

We prove several rigidity results related to the spacetime positive mass theorem. A key step is to show that certain marginally outer trapped surfaces are weakly outermost. As a special case, our results include a rigidity result for Riemannian manifolds with a lower bound on their scalar curvature.
Health‐Related Behaviours, HIV and Active Tuberculosis are Associated with Perioperative Adverse Events Following Emergency Laparotomy at a Tertiary Surgical Service in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa
Authors: Smith Michelle T. D. , Bruce John L. , Clarke Damian L.
Published: February 2021

Introduction

This project aims to define the common comorbidities associated with patients undergoing emergency laparotomy in South Africa, to review the impact of these comorbidities on outcome and to attempt to model these various factors.

Method

A retrospective review of all patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for an emergency general surgical condition was performed from the prospectively entered Hybrid Electronic Medical Registry (HEMR). Univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to establish associations and independent risk factors for developing an adverse event.

Results

Over a six‐year time period, a total of 1464 patients underwent emergency laparotomy. The median age was 34 years. Males constituted 58.8% (861) of the patients and 754 patients (51.5%) experienced at least one adverse event. The mortality rate was 12 percent. Comorbidities and social factors were documented in 912 patients (62.3%). The rate of adverse events among patients with comorbidities was 59% (538). Patients without comorbidities or significant social factors had an adverse event rate of 39.1% (216). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The most frequent comorbidity in our sample was HIV, followed by hypertension, underlying malignancy, diabetes mellitus, active TB and cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion

Emergency laparotomy in South Africa is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The patients are younger than in high‐income countries. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, HIV and active TB are associated with the development of an AE.
Effects of corallivory and coral colony density on coral growth and survival
Authors: Kopecky Kai L. , Cook Dana T. , Schmitt Russell J. , Stier Adrian C.
Published: February 2021

A suite of processes drive variation in coral populations in space and time, yet our understanding of how variation in coral density affects coral performance is limited. Theory predicts that reductions in density can send coral populations into a predator pit, where concentrated corallivory maintains corals at low densities. In reality, how variation in coral density alters corallivory rates is poorly resolved. Here, we experimentally quantified the effects of corallivory and coral density on growth and survival of small colonies of the staghorn coral Acropora pulchra. Our findings suggest that coral density and corallivory have strong but independent effects on coral performance. In the presence of corallivores, corals suffered high but density-independent mortality. When corallivores were excluded, however, vertical extension rates of colonies increased with increasing densities. While we found no evidence for a predator pit, our results suggest that spatio-temporal variation in corallivore and coral densities can fundamentally alter population dynamics via strong effects on juvenile corals.
Specific sagittal alignment patterns are already present in mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Schlösser Tom P. C. , Castelein René M. , Grobost Pierre , Shah Suken A. , Abelin-Genevois Kariman
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The complex three-dimensional spinal deformity in AIS consists of rotated, lordotic apical areas and neutral junctional zones that modify the spine’s sagittal profile. Recently, three specific patterns of thoracic sagittal ‘malalignment’ were described for severe AIS. The aim of this study is to define whether specific patterns of pathological sagittal alignment are already present in mild AIS.

Methods

Lateral spinal radiographs of 192 mild (10°–20°) and 253 severe (> 45°) AIS patients and 156 controls were derived from an international consortium. Kyphosis characteristics (T4–T12 thoracic kyphosis, T10–L2 angle, C7 slope, location of the apex of kyphosis and of the inflection point) and sagittal curve types according to Abelin-Genevois were systematically compared between the three cohorts.

Results

Even in mild thoracic AIS, already 49% of the curves presented sagittal malalignment, mostly thoracic hypokyphosis, whereas only 13% of the (thoraco) lumbar curves and 6% of the nonscoliosis adolescents were hypokyphotic. In severe AIS, 63% had a sagittal malalignment. Hypokyphosis + thoracolumbar kyphosis occurred more frequently in high-PI and primary lumbar curves, whereas cervicothoracic kyphosis occurred more in double thoracic curves.

Conclusions

Pathological sagittal patterns are often already present in curves 10°–20°, whereas those are rare in non-scoliotic adolescents. This suggests that sagittal ‘malalignment’ patterns are an integral part of the early pathogenesis of AIS.
Optimization framework for DFG-based automated process discovery approaches
Authors: Augusto Adriano , Dumas Marlon , La Rosa Marcello , Leemans Sander J. J. , vanden Broucke Seppe K. L. M.
Published: February 2021

The problem of automatically discovering business process models from event logs has been intensely investigated in the past two decades, leading to a wide range of approaches that strike various trade-offs between accuracy, model complexity, and execution time. A few studies have suggested that the accuracy of automated process discovery approaches can be enhanced by means of metaheuristic optimization techniques. However, these studies have remained at the level of proposals without validation on real-life datasets or they have only considered one metaheuristic in isolation. This article presents a metaheuristic optimization framework for automated process discovery. The key idea of the framework is to construct a directly-follows graph (DFG) from the event log, to perturb this DFG so as to generate new candidate solutions, and to apply a DFG-based automated process discovery approach in order to derive a process model from each DFG. The framework can be instantiated by linking it to an automated process discovery approach, an optimization metaheuristic, and the quality measure to be optimized (e.g., fitness, precision, F-score). The article considers several instantiations of the framework corresponding to four optimization metaheuristics, three automated process discovery approaches (Inductive Miner—directly-follows, Fodina, and Split Miner), and one accuracy measure (Markovian F-score). These framework instances are compared using a set of 20 real-life event logs. The evaluation shows that metaheuristic optimization consistently yields visible improvements in F-score for all the three automated process discovery approaches, at the cost of execution times in the order of minutes, versus seconds for the baseline approaches.
Cyanobacteria-shrimp colonies in the Mariana Islands
Authors: Leber Christopher A. , Reyes Andres Joshua , Biggs Jason S. , Gerwick William H.
Published: February 2021

Cyanobacteria have multifaceted ecological roles on coral reefs. Moorena bouillonii, a chemically rich filamentous cyanobacterium, has been characterized as a pathogenic organism with an unusual ability to overgrow gorgonian corals, but little has been done to study its general growth habits or its unique association with the snapping shrimp Alpheus frontalis. Quantitative benthic surveys, and field and photographic observations were utilized to develop a better understanding of the ecology of these species, while growth experiments and nutrient analysis were performed to examine how this cyanobacterium may be benefiting from its shrimp symbiont. Colonies of M. bouillonii and A. frontalis displayed considerable habitat specificity in terms of occupied substrate. Although found to vary in abundance and density across survey sites and transects, M. bouillonii was consistently found to be thriving with A. frontalis within interstitial spaces on the reef. Removal of A. frontalis from cyanobacterial colonies in a laboratory experiment altered M. bouillonii pigmentation, whereas cyanobacteria-shrimp colonies in the field exhibited elevated nutrient levels compared to the surrounding seawater.
Parameterised complexity of model checking and satisfiability in propositional dependence logic
Authors: Mahmood Yasir , Meier Arne
Published: February 2021

Dependence Logic was introduced by Jouko Väänänen in 2007. We study a propositional variant of this logic(PDL)and investigate a variety of parameterisations with respect to central decision problems. The model checking problem (MC) ofPDLisNP-complete (Ebbing and Lohmann, SOFSEM 2012). The subject of this research is to identify a list of parameterisations (formula-size, formula-depth, treewidth, team-size, number of variables) under which MC becomes fixed-parameter tractable. Furthermore, we show that the number of disjunctions or the arity of dependence atoms (dep-arity) as a parameter both yield a paraNP-completeness result. Then, we consider the satisfiability problem (SAT) which classically is known to beNP-complete as well (Lohmann and Vollmer, Studia Logica 2013). There we are presenting a different picture: under team-size, or dep-arity SAT isparaNP-complete whereas under all other mentioned parameters the problem isFPT. Finally, we introduce a variant of the satisfiability problem, asking for a team of a given size, and show for this problem an almost complete picture.