bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical investigation of HSC column under axial and flexural loading using 3D-NLFEA
Authors: Pradnyanita P , Piscesa B , Attard M M , Faimun  , Samani A K
Published: November 2020

High strength concrete (HSC) has been widely used as material for Reinforced Concrete (RC) column in high rise building in the past two decades. However, ductility of HSC column was one of the main concerns in design. The ductility of HSC column is much lower compared to normal-strength concrete. To increase the ductility of HSC column, the use of adequate transverse reinforcement can be used. In this paper, numerical investigation of HSC column available in the literature is modelled using an inhouse finite element package called 3D-NLFEA. The modelled specimen consisted of HSC columns with dimension 305 m x 305 m x 1473 mm and is subjected to constant axial load and incremental displacement control which act as a shear load up to failure. From the comparisons with the available test results, it was found out that the prediction using 3D-NLFEA agrees well with the test results. This paper also discusses the yield point location of bars in the load-deflection curve, length of bar that yields, buckling of compression bar, and concrete which cracked or crushed.
Demand analysis at Tanah Grogot Airport East Kalimantan
Authors: Suharso A B K , Ahyudanari E
Published: November 2020

Tanah Grogot Airport is an airport proposed by the Paser Regency Regional Government to facilitate the people’s movement. During this time, the people of Paser Regency have to travel long distances with long travel time between regions. The airport‘s presence is expected to be able to have shorter travel time between regions because the transportation access between regions is already equipped with air transportation. If there are people or foreign tourists who want to travel quickly, they can use air transportation at this airport. Thus, it is necessary to analyze whether Tanah Grogot Airport has sufficient demand, which will affect the continuity of the airport‘s operations. The analysis in this research considers the following variables, i.e., the land and air accessibility based on travel time, vehicle operating costs, the flight network, market share value, and analysis of demand from the existing airports to Tanah Grogot Airport. The method uses stated preference and binary logistic regression. The outcome of this research is the estimation of demand at Tanah Grogot Airport East Kalimantan.
Student satisfaction with the performance of Surabaya school buses
Authors: Lincoln M C P , Widyastuti H
Published: November 2020

School transportation facilities in the city of Surabaya are increasingly being upgraded to serve the needs of education. In 2019, there have been 7 School Bus units operating in several points in South, East, North and West Surabaya. The addition of this mode is intended to fulfill and facilitate the journey of the citizens of Surabaya to school; in addition, to reduce the number of students using private vehicles to school. However, to find out the interests of school bus users, it is necessary to know the performance of school bus services and passenger satisfaction. This study aims to measure the performance and service of school buses, as well as the level of student satisfaction. Data collection in this study uses several methods, namely questionnaire survey, observations and interviews. The data were analyzed using two methods, namely descriptive analysis with standard public service calculations and the Importance Performance Analysis method. Based on the results of the analysis, the performance of the Surabaya School Bus was categorized as “Good”. At the level of satisfaction, there are 5 attributes considered important, 7 attributes have good performance, 1 attribute is not prioritized, and 3 attributes have good performance but are not considered important.
The real operational cost for managing Semarang river polder drainage system
Authors: Hartawan F , Wahyudi S I
Published: November 2020

To resolve tidal flood and flooding problem, the Semarang city government has made various efforts such as building reservoirs in the upstream area, normalizing the rivers, developing polder drainage systems, and preventing sea water intrusion by building sea dike and river embankments. The method is quite effective to prevent the occurrence of rob (tidal flood), but water from the upstream area cannot flow by gravity to the sea. Water flows from upstream through the canals into a retention pond, and then pumping it into the sea. The Semarang River drainage polder system consists of some rivers (Semarang River, Asin River, Baru River), Retention Pool and Pump Station at the mouth of the Semarang River. Sustainability of the polder system requires an effective system of operation and maintenance. This study aims to determine the real need cost for a good operation of the Polder Drainage System. The research method used is quantitative description analysis. Data collection techniques using interviews, observation, and document review. The result show that budget component consists of fuel consumption, electricity, lubricants, spare parts, services, and inspection step. The difference in the amount of financing each year is due to fluctuations in rainfall intensity per month, the combination power supply by electricity and generator.
The analysis of water balanced in Bendo Reservoir using Dynamic System
Authors: Margini N F , Anwar N , Wardoyo W
Published: November 2020

This research was conducted to analyze balancing the storage capacity of the Bendo Reservoir with the quantity of water needed. Bendo Reservoir located in Nginden Sawo Village, Ponorogo Regency is one of the multipurpose reservoirs in Indonesia designed for irrigation, water supply, and simultaneously hydroelectric power. The water available is observed to be decreasing along with climate change, thereby, requiring an appropriate reservoir operational system. Several methods have been designed to achieve this purpose through the use of vast and complex variables but this study used a Dynamic Systems approach for analysis. Hhowever, involved the use of two scenarios in the simulation model to obtain the most optimum results. A period of 5 years was simulated and the result showed water shortage started in the 54th month for scenario 2, 49th month for scenario 1, and 46th month for the base model. Therefore, means scenario 2 has the most optimum conditions and recommended as the appropriate solution for Bendo Reservoir water distribution.
T
1-mapping and dielectric properties evaluation of a 3D printable rubber-elastomeric polymer as tissue mimicking materials for MRI phantoms
Authors: Talalwa Lotfi , Natour Ghaleb , Bauer Andreas , Drzezga Alexander , Gordji-Nejad Ali , Beer Simone
Published: November 2020

In this study, a new series of 3D printable rubber-elastomeric polymer called PORO-LAY materials have been investigated regarding their suitability to serve as tissue mimicking materials (TMMs) for MRI phantoms. PORO-LAY materials have been previously used in biofuel cell developments, particle filtrations and modeling elastic tissues. We evaluated the electrical permittivity, electrical conductivity, spin-lattice T
1-relaxation time and acquired the MRI contrast for simple and multi-material complex 3D printed shapes made of PORO-LAY materials at 3.0 T. The results showed a T
1 diversity within PORO-LAY materials, which reveals in different MR image contrasts. The outcome favors PORO-LAY as an appropriate candidate that can be used in multi-materials additive manufacturing to produce realistic shapes such as white/grey matter structures for MRI phantoms with visible clear contrast. Finally, this study could serve as a reference and guideline when using these materials as tissue mimicking materials for different types of human body tissues and provide a promising opportunity to design novel phantoms for a wide range of MRI applications.
Effect of pore morphology and surface roughness on wettability of porous titania films
Authors: Xiong Bangyun , Li Jingjing , He Chunqing , Tang Xiuqin , Lv Zizhao , Li Xiaofeng , Yan Xiqiang
Published: November 2020

Surface hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of titania (TiO2) films, spin-coated on silicon wafers, were tuned by introducing surface mesopores with various morphologies using a triblock copolymer F38 as the template agent of different weight ratios via a sol-gel method. It is found that both the porosity (2.92 ∼ 33.03%) and the surface roughness (0.22 ∼ 0.43 nm for arithmetic mean roughness and 0.28 ∼ 0.58 nm for root mean square roughness) of the films increase monotonically as increasing F38 ratio from 5 to 25 wt%, accompanied by distinct changes of pore morphology from isolated mesopores with pore sizes of 5 ∼ 7 nm to longer worm-like pores (30 ∼ 100 nm in length). The apparent static contact angle (θ*) of the films with isolated mesopores is enhanced from ca. 90.6° to 100.1° as indicated by an increase of the roughness factor with incresing F38 from 5 to 15 wt%, which is in qualitative agreement with the Wenzel’s equation. Interestingly, the films with interconnected worm-like pores show obvious hydrophilicity (θ* = 80.7°) with further increasing F38 ratio higher than 20 wt%. The reversed surface wettability show that not only surface roughness but also pore morphology could significantly affect the wettability of the mesoporous TiO2 films.
RF heating in cavity-bellows of CW SRF cryomodule
Authors: Saini A , Lunin A , Solyak N , Sukhanov A , Yakovlev V
Published: November 2020

In a cryomodule, bellows are commonly used to connect two adjacent superconducting cavities. It provides cavities a mechanical flexibility facilitating for thermal contraction or expansion during temperature transitions. While heat from superconducting cavities are removed from helium flowing through their jackets, non-superconducting bellows are cooled down through a relatively slow process of conduction cooling by adjacent superconducting cavities. An excessive heat deposition to the bellows could results in unsustainable rise in temperature that could lead to a thermal runaway. Because of the bellows proximity to the superconducting cavities, resulting thermal runaway could disrupt performance of the cavities and therefore, overall operation. For this reason, the paper presents a comprehensive assessment of RF heating resulting from most potent dynamic heating mechanisms in the interconnecting cavity bellows of 1.3 GHz, continuous wave, cryomodule of the Linac Coherent Light Source-II linear accelerator. Studies are performed for two types of the bellows surfaces i.e. stainless-steel and copper. The results show that RF heating at stainless-steel surface is about four times higher than at copper surface. In this work we also develop a simplified analytical model to analyse the bellows surface temperature growth resulting from RF heating. The model shows a good agreement with numerical analysis and indicates a temperature growth of up to 70 K in stainless-steel bellows in the steady state. Calculations also show that a thin copper coating of 15 μm on stainless-steel surface not only reduces RF heating but also confines the temperature growth well within 10 K. The studies presented here attribute practical importance guiding to characterize copper coating requirements for non-superconducting components in a cryomodule and allowing to model a more relevant cryogenic heat load budget accounting for bellows heating.
Coordination of NMCP1- and NMCP2-class proteins within the plant nucleoskeleton
Authors: Blunt Endia L. , Shandler Jason A. , Hughes Erika J. , Sussman Hayley , Christopherson Rachel C. , Richards Eric J.
Published: November 2020

NMCP proteins with extended coiled-coil domains are major structural components of the nucleoskeleton in plant cells. We show that the three NMCP1-type proteins in Arabidopsis maintain the nuclear pool of the single NMCP2-type protein, which gains access to the nucleus through interaction with the importin-α isoform, IMPA-1.
Computational drug repositioning based on multi-similarities bilinear matrix factorization
Authors: Yang Mengyun , Wu Gaoyan , Zhao Qichang , Li Yaohang , Wang Jianxin
Published: November 2020

With the development of high-throughput technology and the accumulation of biomedical data, the prior information of biological entity can be calculated from different aspects. Specifically, drug–drug similarities can be measured from target profiles, drug–drug interaction and side effects. Similarly, different methods and data sources to calculate disease ontology can result in multiple measures of pairwise disease similarities. Therefore, in computational drug repositioning, developing a dynamic method to optimize the fusion process of multiple similarities is a crucial and challenging task. In this study, we propose a multi-similarities bilinear matrix factorization (MSBMF) method to predict promising drug-associated indications for existing and novel drugs. Instead of fusing multiple similarities into a single similarity matrix, we concatenate these similarity matrices of drug and disease, respectively. Applying matrix factorization methods, we decompose the drug–disease association matrix into a drug-feature matrix and a disease-feature matrix. At the same time, using these feature matrices as basis, we extract effective latent features representing the drug and disease similarity matrices to infer missing drug–disease associations. Moreover, these two factored matrices are constrained by non-negative factorization to ensure that the completed drug–disease association matrix is biologically interpretable. In addition, we numerically solve the MSBMF model by an efficient alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm. The computational experiment results show that MSBMF obtains higher prediction accuracy than the state-of-the-art drug repositioning methods in cross-validation experiments. Case studies also demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method in practical applications. Availability: The data and code of MSBMF are freely available at https://github.com/BioinformaticsCSU/MSBMF. Corresponding author: Jianxin Wang, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, P. R. China. E-mail: jxwang@mail.csu.edu.cn Supplementary Data: Supplementary data are available online at https://academic.oup.com/bib.
Quantification of spatial tumor heterogeneity in immunohistochemistry staining images
Authors: Chervoneva Inna , Peck Amy R , Yi Misung , Freydin Boris , Rui Hallgeir
Published: November 2020

Motivation

Quantitative immunofluorescence is often used for immunohistochemistry quantification of proteins that serve as cancer biomarkers. Advanced image analysis systems for pathology allow capturing expression levels in each individual cell or subcellular compartment. However, only the mean signal intensity within the cancer tissue region of interest is usually considered as biomarker completely ignoring the issue of tumor heterogeneity.

Results

We propose using immunohistochemistry image-derived information on the spatial distribution of cellular signal intensity (CSI) of protein expression within the cancer cell population to quantify both mean expression level and tumor heterogeneity of CSI levels. We view CSI levels as marks in a marked point process of cancer cells in the tissue and define spatial indices based on conditional mean and conditional variance of the marked point process. The proposed methodology provides objective metrics of cell-to-cell heterogeneity in protein expressions that allow discriminating between different patterns of heterogeneity. The prognostic utility of new spatial indices is investigated and compared to the standard mean signal intensity biomarkers using the protein expressions in tissue microarrays incorporating tumor tissues from 1000+ breast cancer patients.

Availability and Implementation: The R code for computing the proposed spatial indices is included as supplementary material

 

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Identification of Chemopreventive Components from Halophytes Belonging to Aizoaceae and Cactaceae Through LC/MS—Bioassay Guided Approach
Authors: Hamed Ahmed R , El-Hawary Seham S , Ibrahim Rana M , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan , El-Halawany Ali M
Published: November 2020

Six halophytes, namely, Aptenia cordifolia var. variegata, Glottiphyllum linguiforme, Carpobrotus edulis, Ferocactus glaucescens, F. pottsii and F. herrerae were investigated for chemopreventive effect. Prioritization of most promising plant for further investigation was carried out through an integrated liquid chromatography–high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry profiling—bioassay guided approach. NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) induction in cultured murine hepatoma cells (Hepa-1c1c7) and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages (RAW 264.7) were carried out to investigate chemopreventive effect. Bioassay data revealed that F. herrerae, A. cordifolia, C. edulis and F. glaucescens were the most active with 2-, 1.7-, 1.6- and 1.5-folds induction of NQO-1 activity. Only F. glaucescens exhibited >50% inhibition of NO release. LCMS profiling of the F. glaucescens revealed its high content of flavonoids, a known micheal acceptor with possible NQO-1 induction, as proved by quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Thus, the extract of F. glaucescens was subjected to chromatographic fractionation leading to the isolation of four compounds including (i) 2S-naringenin, (ii) trans-dihydrokaempferol (aromadendrin), (iii) 2S-naringenin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and (iv) kaempferol-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (populnin). The current study through an LCMS dereplication along with bio guided approach reported the activity of populnin as NO inhibitor and NQO-1 inducer with promising chemopreventive potential.
Optimal Feature Selection and Hybrid Classification for Autism Detection in Young Children
Authors: Guruvammal S , Chellatamilan T , Deborah L Jegatha
Published: November 2020

The early detection of autism spectrum disorder acts as a risk in the infants and toddlers as per the increase over the early invention awareness. Hence, this paper has made an effort to introduce a new autism detection technique in young children, which poses three major phases called weighted logarithmic transformation, optimal feature selection and classification. Initially, weighted transformation in the input data is carried out that correctly distinguishes the interclass labels, and it is determined to be the specified features. Because of the presence of numerous amounts of features, the ‘prediction’ becomes a serious issue, and therefore the optimal selection of features is important. Here, for optimal feature selection process, a new Levi Flight Cub Update-based lion algorithm (LFCU-LA) is introduced that can be a modification in lion algorithm. Once the optimal features are selected, they are given to the classification process that exploits a hybrid classifier: deep belief network (DBN) and neural network (NN). Additionally, the most important contributions in the hidden neurons of DBN and NN were optimally selected that paves way for exact detection.
Cephalometric effects of Pushing Splints 3 compared with rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy in Class III malocclusion children: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Galeotti Angela , Martina Stefano , Viarani Valeria , Franchi Lorenzo , Rongo Roberto , D’Antò Vincenzo , Festa Paola
Published: November 2020

Background

Pushing Splints 3 (PS3) device was recently introduced for the treatment of Class III malocclusion in children.

Objectives

To assess the effect on the sagittal maxillary position (SNA, primary outcome) of PS3 therapy compared with rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy (RME/FM) and to compare skeletal and dento-alveolar effects in growing Class III patients.

Trial design

This trial was a single-centre randomized controlled trial with two groups randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio of equal size by sealed-envelope randomization, conducted at the Dentistry Unit of Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS (Rome, Italy).

Methods

A total of 48 patients with Class III malocclusion were included in the study and randomly allocated to the two groups: PS3 therapy and RME/FM therapy. Only the RME/FM group underwent palatal expansion, and both groups were instructed to wear the appliances 14 hours/day. Pre- (T0) and post-treatment (T1) cephalograms were taken. An independent sample t-test and regression analysis were used to analyse the data (P value <0.05). Researchers involved in statistics and tracings were blinded to the treatment allocation.

Results

A total of 42 patients (21 for each group) completed the study. The maxillary sagittal position improved similarly in both groups (SNA = 0.4°; P = 0.547). A statistically significant decrease of SNPg angle (−1.6°; P < 0.001) and increase of ANPg angle (1.4°; P = 0.018) were found in the RME/FM group compared with PS3 group. CoGoMe angle significantly decreased in RME/FM group compared with PS3 group (−1.7°; P = 0.042). The regression analysis showed an association between SN/MP angle at T0 and the differences between T1 and T0 of SNPg (B = 0.13; P = 0.005) and SN/MP (B = −0.19; P = 0.034). Only three patients (PS3 = 2; RME/FM = 1) had breakages of the devices.

Limitations

Results are limited to short-term effects.

Conclusion

RME/FM therapy and PS3 are both effective therapies for the early correction of Class III malocclusion. The PS3 controlled better mandibular divergency reducing the clockwise rotation in patients with higher mandibular inclination.

Registration

This study was not registered in a clinical trial registry.
Multi-species relationships in legume roots: From pairwise legume-symbiont interactions to the plant – microbiome – soil continuum
Authors: Tsiknia Myrto , Tsikou Daniela , Papadopoulou Kalliope K , Ehaliotis Constantinos
Published: November 2020

Mutualistic relationships of legume plants with, either bacteria (like rhizobia) or fungi (like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi), have been investigated intensively, usually as bi-partite interactions. However, diverse symbiotic interactions take place simultaneously or sequentially under field conditions. Their collective, but not additive, contribution to plant growth and performance remains hard to predict, and appears to be furthermore affected by crop species and genotype, non-symbiotic microbial interactions and environmental variables. The challenge is: (i) to unravel the complex overlapping mechanisms that operate between the microbial symbionts as well as between them, their hosts and the rhizosphere (ii) to understand the dynamics of the respective mechanisms in evolutionary and ecological terms. The target for agriculture, food security and the environment, is to use this insight as a solid basis for developing new integrated technologies, practices and strategies for the efficient use of beneficial microbes in legumes and other plants. We review recent advances in our understanding of the symbiotic interactions in legumes roots brought about with the aid of molecular and bioinformatics tools. We go through single symbiont-host interactions, proceed to tripartite symbiont-host interactions, appraise interactions of symbiotic and associative microbiomes with plants in the root-rhizoplane-soil continuum of habitats and end up by examining attempts to validate community ecology principles in the legume-microbe-soil biosystem.
Multiple Alu exonization in 3’UTR of a primate specific isoform of CYP20A1 creates a potential miRNA sponge
Authors: Bhattacharya Aniket , Jha Vineet , Singhal Khushboo , Fatima Mahar , Singh Dayanidhi , Chaturvedi Gaura , Dholakia Dhwani , Kutum Rintu , Pandey Rajesh , Bakken Trygve E , Seth Pankaj , Pillai Beena , Mukerji Mitali
Published: November 2020

Alu repeats contribute to phylogenetic novelties in conserved regulatory networks in primates. Our study highlights how exonized Alus could nucleate large-scale mRNA-miRNA interactions. Using a functional genomics approach, we characterize a transcript isoform of an orphan gene, CYP20A1 (CYP20A1_Alu-LT) that has exonization of 23 Alus in its 3’UTR. CYP20A1_Alu-LT, confirmed by 3’RACE, is an outlier in length (9 kb 3’UTR) and widely expressed. Using publically available datasets, we demonstrate its expression in higher primates and presence in single nucleus RNA-seq of 15928 human cortical neurons. miRanda predicts ∼4700 miRNA recognition elements (MREs) for ∼1000 miRNAs, primarily originated within these 3’UTR-Alus. CYP20A1_Alu-LT could be a potential multi-miRNA sponge as it harbors ≥10 MREs for 140 miRNAs and has cytosolic localization. We further tested whether expression of CYP20A1_Alu-LT correlates with mRNAs harboring similar MRE targets. RNA-seq with conjoint miRNA-seq analysis was done in primary human neurons where we observed CYP20A1_Alu-LT to be downregulated during heat shock response and upregulated in HIV1-Tat treatment. 380 genes were positively correlated with its expression (significantly downregulated in heat shock and upregulated in Tat) and they harbored MREs for nine expressed miRNAs which were also enriched in CYP20A1_Alu-LT. MREs were significantly enriched in these 380 genes compared to random sets of differentially expressed genes (p = 8.134e-12). Gene ontology suggested involvement of these genes in neuronal development and hemostasis pathways thus proposing a novel component of Alu-miRNA mediated transcriptional modulation that could govern specific physiological outcomes in higher primates.
Positive Cones and Gauges on Algebras With Involution
Authors: Astier Vincent , Unger Thomas
Published: November 2020

We extend the classical links between valuations and orderings on fields to Tignol–Wadsworth gauges and positive cones on finite-dimensional simple algebras with involution. We also study the compatibility of gauges and positive cones and prove lifting results in the style of the Baer–Krull theorem for fields.
Predicting load on ground anchor using a metaheuristic optimized least squares support vector regression model: a Taiwan case study
Authors: Cheng Min-Yuan , Cao Minh-Tu , Tsai Po-Kun
Published: November 2020

Failure of ground anchor is a major cause of landslides and severe natural hazards, especially in the highly developed mountainous areas such as New Taipei City. Accurately estimating load on ground anchors is thus essential for evaluating the stability status of slope to prevent landslide from happening. This study first employed correlation analyses to identify possible influential factors of load on ground anchors. Second, various artificial intelligence models were used to map the relationship of the found influencing factors with the current load on ground anchors. The results indicated that the symbiotic organisms search-optimized least squares support vector regression (SOS-LSSVR) model had the optimal accuracy by earning the smallest value of mean absolute percentage error (9.10%) and the most outstanding value of correlation coefficient (R = 0.988). The study applied the established inference model for the real case of estimating load on un-monitoring ground anchors. The analyzed results strongly advised administrators to conduct site surveying and patrolling more frequently to take early proper actions. In summary, the obtained results have demonstrated SOS-LSSVR as an effective alternative for the conventional subjective evaluation methods, which is able to rapidly provide accurate values of load on un-monitoring ground anchors.
An Analysis of Sectional Title Dispute Resolution in South Africa
Authors: Baboolal-Frank Rashri
Published: November 2020

This article aims to explore alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, which are relevant to sectional titles schemes disputes. The alternative dispute resolution mechanisms will be discussed as an innovative trend to resolve disputes, especially in foreign jurisdictions. In South Africa there are challenges that confront South Africa because litigation is in many instances the cause of the break-down of relationships and may cause a rift and hinder development within a particular scheme. This article aims to address, on the one hand, particular pitfalls in sectional title scheme litigation, and on the other hand to address possible solutions through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Testing the Independent and Joint Contribution of Exposure to Neurodevelopmental Adversity and Childhood Trauma to Risk of Psychotic Experiences in Adulthood
Authors: Liu Yiwen , Mendonça Marina , Cannon Mary , Jones Peter B , Lewis Glyn , Thompson Andrew , Zammit Stanley , Wolke Dieter
Published: November 2020

Exposure to neurodevelopmental adversity and childhood trauma are both independently associated with psychosis. However, there is little research on the mechanism underlying their relationship with each other. The current study investigated both the independent and joint effects of neurodevelopmental adversity and childhood trauma to better understand the etiology of psychosis. A large population-based cohort (N = 3514) followed from birth was assessed on psychotic experiences (PE) at 24 years. Neurodevelopmental adversity included obstetric complications (birth weight, gestational age, in-utero influenza exposure, resuscitation) and developmental impairment (cognitive and motor impairments). Trauma exposure included caregiver and peer inflicted trauma up to 17 years. Multiple regression models tested their independent and interactive effect on PE, and path analysis estimated the indirect effect of neurodevelopmental adversity on PE via trauma. Neurodevelopmental adversity (OR = 1.32, 95%CI: 1.08–1.62) and trauma (OR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.65–2.36) independently increased the odds of PE. There was also an indirect relationship between neurodevelopmental adversity and PE via increased exposure to childhood trauma (β = 0.01, 95%CI: 0.004–0.024). In particular, peer bullying mediated the association between developmental impairment to PE (β = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.01–0.03). In conclusion, children with neurodevelopmental adversity, in particular those with developmental impairment, are more likely to be exposed to trauma. This new etiological understanding of psychosis suggests that PE may be partially modifiable through reducing exposure to peer bullying, especially in children with developmental impairment.
Mandibular advancement splint response is associated with the pterygomandibular raphe
Authors: Brown Elizabeth C , Jugé Lauriane , Knapman Fiona L , Burke Peter G R , Ngiam Joachim , Sutherland Kate , Butler Jane E , Eckert Danny J , Cistulli Peter A , Bilston Lynne E
Published: November 2020

Study Objectives

To investigate whether the presence of tendinous PMR could predict treatment outcome and how it affects lateral wall mechanical properties. Mandibular advancement increases the lateral dimensions of the nasopharyngeal airway via a direct connection from the airway to the ramus of the mandible. The anatomical structure in this region is the pterygomandibular raphe (PMR), but a tendinous component is not always present. Whether tendon presence influences treatment outcome is unknown.

Methods

In total, 105 participants with obstructive sleep apnea completed detailed anatomical magnetic resonance imaging with and without mandibular advancement. The study design was case–control. Variables were compared between participants with and without the tendon present.

Results

The amount of maximum mandibular advancement decreased when pterygomandibular tendon was present (4.0 ± 1.2 mm present versus 4.6 ± 1.4 mm absent, p = 0.04). PMR tendon-absent participants had a lower posttreatment apnea hypopnea index (16 ± 12 events/hour tendon present versus 9 ± 9 events/hour absent, p = 0.007) and were more likely to have complete response (63% versus 36%, p = 0.02). However, tendon-absent participants were more likely to not complete the study (χ 2 (3) = 10.578, p = 0.014). Tendon-absent participants had a greater increase in midline anteroposterior airway diameter (1.6 ± 1.7 mm versus 0.6 ± 2.3 mm, p = 0.04).

Conclusion

When PMR tendon is absent, treatment response and amount of maximum advancement improve, possibly at the expense of reduced splint tolerability. Tendon presence may help predict a group less likely to respond to mandibular advancement splint therapy.
UNEXPLAINED VISUAL LOSS AFTER GAS TAMPONADE FOR MACULA-ON RETINAL DETACHMENT
Authors: Iuliano Lorenzo , Corbelli Eleonora , Ramoni Andrea , Bandello Francesco , Codenotti Marco
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

To identify the incidence rate and the clinical characteristics of unexplained visual loss after gas tamponade for primary macula-sparing rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Methods:

Retrospective longitudinal analysis of all subjects undergoing vitrectomy with gas for primary macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment from 2010 to 2019. Outcome was the unexplained visual loss evaluated after gas absorption, defined as a loss of vision to less than 20/200 without evident causes. The diagnostic workup was reviewed.

Results:

Nine eyes with unexplained visual loss of 357 surgeries were found. The incidence proportion was 2.52 new cases every 1,000 eyes affected by macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated with gas per year. All subjects had an absolute central scotoma, with a median postoperative visual acuity of 20/1,600 (counting fingers). Structural findings were consistent with an axonal damage; all eyes had microcystoid macular edema and reduced thickness of both macular ganglion cell and retinal nerve fiber layers. No photoreceptor structural damages were noted.

Conclusion:

The incidence of unexplained visual loss after gas tamponade for primary macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is 2.52 new cases every 1,000 eyes per year. This rare complication, which findings are suggestive of an axonal damage within retinal ganglion cells, remains a serious and unexplained concern for vitreoretinal surgeons.
Screening Adolescent Trauma Patients for Substance Use at 10 Pediatric Trauma Centers
Authors: Mello Michael J. , Becker Sara J. , Spirito Anthony , Bromberg Julie R. , Wills Hale , Barczyk Amanda , Lee Lois , Pruitt Charles , Ebel Beth E. , Zonfrillo Mark R. , Nimaja Evelyn , Scott Kelli , Kiragu Andrew , Nasr Isam W. , Aidlen Jeremy T. , Maxson R. Todd , Baird Janette
Published: November 2020

Background:

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma recommends universal alcohol screening be part of the evaluation of admitted trauma patients. Yet, suboptimal screening rates have been reported for admitted adult and adolescent trauma patients. This lack of screening, in turn, has limited the ability of trauma services to provide patients with brief interventions during their hospital admission and subsequent referrals to treatment after discharge. The primary aim of this study was to examine current rates of alcohol and other drug screening with admitted injured adolescents across a national cohort of 10 pediatric trauma centers.

Methods:

This retrospective observational study was nested within a larger adolescent screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment implementation study (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03297060). Ten pediatric trauma centers participated in a retrospective chart review of a random sample of adolescent trauma patients presenting for care between March 1, 2018, and November 30, 2018.

Results:

Three hundred charts were abstracted across the 10 participating trauma centers (n= 30 per site). Screening rates varied substantially across centers from five (16.7%) to 28 (93.3%) of the 30 extracted charts. The most frequent screening type documented was blood alcohol concentration (BAC) (N= 80, 35.2% of all screens), followed by the CRAFFT (N= 79, 26.3%), and then the urine drug screen (UDS) (N= 77, 25.6%). The BAC test identified 11 patients as positive for recent alcohol use. The CRAFFT identified 11 positive patients.

Conclusions:

Alcohol and drug screening is underutilized for adolescents admitted to pediatric trauma centers. More research is warranted on how best to utilize the teachable moment of the pediatric trauma visit to ensure comprehensive screening of adolescent alcohol or other drug (AOD) use.
Energetic mechanisms for coping with changes in resource availability
Authors: Auer Sonya K. , Solowey Julia R. , Rajesh Shreyas , Rezende Enrico L.
Published: November 2020

Given current anthropogenic alterations to many ecosystems and communities, it is becoming increasingly important to consider whether and how organisms can cope with changing resources. Metabolic rate, because it represents the rate of energy expenditure, may play a key role in mediating the link between resource conditions and performance and thereby how well organisms can persist in the face of environmental change. Here, we focus on the role that energy metabolism plays in determining organismal responses to changes in food availability over both short-term ecological and longer-term evolutionary timescales. Using a meta-analytical approach encompassing multiple species, we find that individuals with a higher metabolic rate grow faster under high food levels but slower once food levels decline, suggesting that the association between metabolism and life-history traits shifts along resource gradients. We also find that organisms can cope with changing resource availability through both phenotypic plasticity and genetically based evolutionary adaptation in their rates of energy metabolism. However, the metabolic rates of individuals within a population and of species within a lineage do not all respond in the same manner to changes in food availability. This diversity of responses suggests that there are benefits but also costs to changes in metabolic rate. It also underscores the need to examine not just the energy budgets of organisms within the context of metabolic rate but also how energy metabolism changes alongside other physiological and behavioural traits in variable environments.
A proof of validity for multiphase Whitham modulation theory
Authors: Bridges Thomas J. , Kostianko Anna , Schneider Guido
Published: November 2020

It is proved that approximations which are obtained as solutions of the multiphase Whitham modulation equations stay close to solutions of the original equation on a natural time scale. The class of nonlinear wave equations chosen for the starting point is coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations. These equations are not in general integrable, but they have an explicit family of multiphase wavetrains that generate multiphase Whitham equations, which may be elliptic, hyperbolic, or of mixed type. Due to the change of type, the function space set-up is based on Gevrey spaces with initial data analytic in a strip in the complex plane. In these spaces a Cauchy–Kowalevskaya-like existence and uniqueness theorem is proved. Building on this theorem and higher-order approximations to Whitham theory, a rigorous comparison of solutions, of the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations and the multiphase Whitham modulation equations, is obtained.
Microfluidic devices for the detection of viruses: aspects of emergency fabrication during the COVID-19 pandemic and other outbreaks
Authors: Berkenbrock José Alvim , Grecco-Machado Rafaela , Achenbach Sven
Published: November 2020

Extensive testing of populations against COVID-19 has been suggested as a game-changer quest to control the spread of this contagious disease and to avoid further disruption in our social, healthcare and economical systems. Nonetheless, testing millions of people for a new virus brings about quite a few challenges. The development of effective tests for the new coronavirus has become a worldwide task that relies on recent discoveries and lessons learned from past outbreaks. In this work, we review the most recent publications on microfluidics devices for the detection of viruses. The topics of discussion include different detection approaches, methods of signalling and fabrication techniques. Besides the miniaturization of traditional benchtop detection assays, approaches such as electrochemical analyses, field-effect transistors and resistive pulse sensors are considered. For emergency fabrication of quick test kits, the local capabilities must be evaluated, and the joint work of universities, industries, and governments seems to be an unequivocal necessity.
Plesio-geostrophy for Earth’s core: I. Basic equations, inertial modes and induction
Authors: Jackson Andrew , Maffei Stefano
Published: November 2020

An approximation is developed that lends itself to accurate description of the physics of fluid motions and motional induction on short time scales (e.g. decades), appropriate for planetary cores and in the geophysically relevant limit of very rapid rotation. Adopting a representation of the flow to be columnar (horizontal motions are invariant along the rotation axis), our characterization of the equations leads to the approximation we call
plesio-geostrophy
, which arises from dedicated forms of integration along the rotation axis of the equations of motion and of motional induction. Neglecting magnetic diffusion, our self-consistent equations collapse all three-dimensional quantities into two-dimensional scalars in an exact manner. For the isothermal magnetic case, a series of fifteen partial differential equations is developed that fully characterizes the evolution of the system. In the case of no forcing and absent viscous damping, we solve for the normal modes of the system, called inertial modes. A comparison with a subset of the known three-dimensional modes that are of the least complexity along the rotation axis shows that the approximation accurately captures the eigenfunctions and associated eigenfrequencies.
Spatial structure maintains diversity of pyocin inhibition in household
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Mojesky Aubrey A. , Remold Susanna K.
Published: November 2020

Nearly all bacteria produce narrow-spectrum antibiotics called bacteriocins. Studies have shown that bacteriocins can mediate microbial interactions, but the mechanisms underlying patterns of inhibition are less well understood. We assembled a spatially structured collection of isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
from bathroom and kitchen sink drains in nine households. Growth inhibition of these
P. aeruginosa
by bacteriocins, known as pyocins in this species, was measured using pairwise inhibition assays. Carbon source usage of these isolates was measured, and genetic distance was estimated using multilocus sequencing. We found that as the distance between sites of isolation increased, there was a significantly higher probability of inhibition, and that pyocin inhibition and susceptibility vary greatly among isolates collected from different houses. We also detected support for other mechanisms influencing diversity: inhibition outcomes were influenced by the type of drain from which isolates were collected, and while we found no indication that carbon source utilization influences inhibition, inhibition was favoured at an intermediate genetic distance. Overall, these results suggest that the combined effects of dispersal limitation among sites and competitive exclusion within them maintain diversity in pyocin inhibition and susceptibility phenotypes, and that additional processes such as local adaptation and effects of phylogenetic distance could further contribute to spatial variability.
The wisdom of stalemates: consensus and clustering as filtering mechanisms for improving collective accuracy
Authors: Winklmayr Claudia , Kao Albert B. , Bak-Coleman Joseph B. , Romanczuk Pawel
Published: November 2020

Groups of organisms, from bacteria to fish schools to human societies, depend on their ability to make accurate decisions in an uncertain world. Most models of collective decision-making assume that groups reach a consensus during a decision-making bout, often through simple majority rule. In many natural and sociological systems, however, groups may fail to reach consensus, resulting in stalemates. Here, we build on opinion dynamics and collective wisdom models to examine how stalemates may affect the wisdom of crowds. For simple environments, where individuals have access to independent sources of information, we find that stalemates improve collective accuracy by selectively filtering out incorrect decisions (an effect we call stalemate filtering). In complex environments, where individuals have access to both shared and independent information, this effect is even more pronounced, restoring the wisdom of crowds in regions of parameter space where large groups perform poorly when making decisions using majority rule. We identify network properties that tune the system between consensus and accuracy, providing mechanisms by which animals, or evolution, could dynamically adjust the collective decision-making process in response to the reward structure of the possible outcomes. Overall, these results highlight the adaptive potential of stalemate filtering for improving the decision-making abilities of group-living animals.
Development time mediates the effect of larval diet on ageing and mating success of male antler flies in the wild
Authors: Angell Christopher S. , Oudin Mathieu J. , Rode Nicolas O. , Mautz Brian S. , Bonduriansky Russell , Rundle Howard D.
Published: November 2020

High-quality developmental environments often improve individual performance into adulthood, but allocating toward early life traits, such as growth, development rate and reproduction, may lead to trade-offs with late-life performance. It is, therefore, uncertain how a rich developmental environment will affect the ageing process (senescence), particularly in wild insects. To investigate the effects of early life environmental quality on insect life-history traits, including senescence, we reared larval antler flies (
Protopiophila litigata
) on four diets of varying nutrient concentration, then recorded survival and mating success of adult males released in the wild. Declining diet quality was associated with slower development, but had no effect on other life-history traits once development time was accounted for. Fast-developing males were larger and lived longer, but experienced more rapid senescence in survival and lower average mating rate compared to slow developers. Ultimately, larval diet, development time and body size did not predict lifetime mating success. Thus, a rich environment led to a mixture of apparent benefits and costs, mediated by development time. Our results indicate that ‘silver spoon' effects can be complex and that development time mediates the response of adult life-history traits to early life environmental quality.