bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Vlastra Wieneke , van Nieuwkerk Astrid C. , Bronzwaer Anne‐Sophie G.T. , Versteeg Adriaan , Bron Esther E. , Niessen Wiro J. , Mutsaerts Henk J.M.M. , van der Ster Björn J.P. , Majoie Charles B.L.M. , Biessels Geert J. , Nederveen Aart J. , Daemen Mat J.A.P. , van Osch Matthias J.P. , Baan Jan , Piek Jan J. , Van Lieshout Johannes J. , Delewi Ronak
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a minimally invasive, life‐saving treatment for patients with severe aortic valve stenosis that improves quality of life. We examined cardiac output and cerebral blood flow in patients undergoing TAVI to test the hypothesis that improved cardiac output after TAVI is associated with an increase in cerebral blood flow.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

European high‐volume tertiary multidisciplinary cardiac care.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty‐one patients (78.3 ± 4.6 years; 61% female) with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis.

MEASUREMENTS

Noninvasive prospective assessment of cardiac output (L/min) by inert gas rebreathing and cerebral blood flow of the total gray matter (mL/100 g per min) using arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging in resting state less than 24 hours before TAVI and at 3‐month follow‐up. Cerebral blood flow change was defined as the difference relative to baseline.

RESULTS

On average, cardiac output in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis increased from 4.0 ± 1.1 to 5.4 ± 2.4 L/min after TAVI (P = .003). The increase in cerebral blood flow after TAVI strongly varied between patients (7% ± 24%; P = .41) and related to the increase in cardiac output, with an 8.2% (standard error = 2.3%; P = .003) increase in cerebral blood flow per every additional liter of cardiac output following the TAVI procedure.

CONCLUSION

Following TAVI, there was an association of increase in cardiac output with increase in cerebral blood flow. These findings encourage future larger studies to determine the influence of TAVI on cerebral blood flow and cognitive function.
Involvement of the C‐terminal domain in cell surface localization and G‐protein coupling of mGluR6
Authors: Rai Dilip , Akagi Takumi , Shimohata Atsushi , Ishii Toshiyuki , Gangi Mie , Maruyama Takuma , Wada‐Kiyama Yuko , Ogiwara Ikuo , Kaneda Makoto
Published: October 2020

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 6, mGluR6, interacts with scaffold proteins and Gβγ subunits via its intracellular C‐terminal domain (CTD). The mGluR6 pathway is critically involved in the retinal processing of visual signals. We herein investigated whether the CTD (residues 840–871) was necessary for mGluR6 cell surface localization and G‐protein coupling using mGluR6‐CTD mutants with immunocytochemistry, surface biotinylation assays, and electrophysiological approaches. We used 293T cells and primary hippocampal neurons as model systems. We examined C‐terminally truncated mGluR6 and showed that the removal of up to residue 858 did not affect surface localization or glutamate‐induced G‐protein‐mediated responses, whereas a 15‐amino acid deletion (Δ857‐871) impaired these functions. However, a 21‐amino acid deletion (Δ851‐871) restored surface localization and glutamate‐dependent responses, which were again attenuated when the entire CTD was removed. The sequence alignment of group III mGluRs showed conserved amino acids resembling an ER retention motif in the CTD. These results suggest that the intracellular CTD is required for the cell surface transportation and receptor function of mGluR6, whereas it may contain regulatory elements for intracellular trafficking and signaling.

image
Numbsense of shape, texture, and objects after left parietal infarction: A case report
Authors: Hanada Keisuke , Yokoi Kayoko , Futamura Akinori , Kinoshita Yuji , Sakamoto Kazutaka , Ono Kenjiro , Hirayama Kazumi
Published: October 2020

Numbsense is a phenomenon, wherein patients can correctly respond to somatosensory stimuli at a higher rate than expected by chance, but cannot perceive the same stimuli consciously. Previously, numbsense has been reported in tactile localization of stimuli on the patient’s own body. Here, we describe a patient with numbsense that involved touched objects. The patient could not recognize the majority of somatosensory stimuli after left parietal infarction, but could correctly select shape, texture, and object stimuli more frequently than expected by chance.
Functional properties of single motor units in the human medial pterygoid muscle: Thresholds
Authors: Chen Hui , Whittle Terry , Gal John , Klineberg Iven J. , Murray Greg M.
Published: October 2020

Background

Little is known regarding the functional properties of single motor units (SMUs) in the medial pterygoid muscle (MPt) during jaw movements.

Objectives

The aims are (a) to report the thresholds of onset of MPt SMUs during 4 goal‐directed jaw movement tasks, and (b) to determine whether the threshold of onset of SMU activation varies with the velocity of jaw movement and the location within the muscle.

Methods

Intra‐muscular electrodes were inserted in the right MPt of 18 participants performing ipsilateral (right), contralateral, protrusive and opening‐closing jaw movements recorded at 2 velocities. Task phases were as follows: BEFORE, OUT, HOLDING, RETURN and AFTER. SMU onset thresholds were determined from the displacement (mm) of the lower mid‐incisor point. Electrode location within 4 arbitrary muscle divisions was determined with computer tomography. Statistical tests: Spearman's correlations, Kruskal‐Wallis tests; significance accepted at P < .05.

Results

A significant inverse relation occurred between velocity and threshold for the RETURN of the ipsilateral movement (n = 62 SMU thresholds), while a significant positive relation occurred for the OUT of the contralateral movement (n = 208); there were no significant associations for the protrusive (n = 131) and opening‐closing (n = 58) tasks. Significant threshold differences occurred across the 4 muscle divisions only during the OUT of the contralateral and protrusive movements. Some evidence was provided for gender differences in MPt SMU properties.

Conclusions

The absence of a significant inverse relation between velocity and SMU threshold for most recorded movements suggests the MPt acts as a stabilizer of the jaw in horizontal and opening‐closing jaw movements.
Effects of land‐use changes on Brazilian bats: a review of current knowledge
Authors: Mendes Poliana , Srbek‐Araujo Ana Carolina
Published: October 2020

One third of Brazil has been converted to human‐modified lands, emphasising the need to understand biodiversity’s responses to land‐use changes. To address this issue, we reviewed 53 studies on the effects of land‐use changes on bats in the country from 1990 to 2018. Bats were chosen because they contribute towards numerous ecosystem services, including seed dispersal and insect control.

For each study, we obtained data on the biome where fieldwork was conducted, participating institutes, sampling method, sampling effort, main results and academic impact. Spatial scales of studies were divided into ‘local’, ‘fragment’, ‘landscape’ or ‘metapopulation’.

Our results indicate an increasing interest in bats and land‐use changes in Brazil over time; however, no trend in academic impact factor was found. Studies carried out in the Atlantic Forest were the most common, appearing earlier in the literature, but studies in Amazonia, often from long‐term research, had larger sampling efforts, were published in higher impact factor journals and received more citations.

We identified several gaps in the literature: 1) lack of acoustic surveys complementing mist‐netting, 2) telemetry studies were rare, 3) underrepresentation of the Caatinga biome, along with Pantanal and Grasslands (= Pampa), and 4) fewer studies using the landscape and fragment scale than local studies. We suggest that future research should focus on filling those gaps.

Bat diversity is often found to be positively related to forest cover, fragment size and natural vegetation. Logging and agroforestry seem to have the lesser impact on bats compared to agriculture and urbanisation. Only haematophagous bats are benefited by pastures.

We found guild‐specific responses to land‐use changes. Haematophagous batsseem to be the least impacted by them compared to other guilds, while animalivorous bats are particularly impacted by habitat fragmentation. Facing continuous deforestation, we can expect that bat diversity in Brazil will possibly reduce. Conservation efforts should focus on species shown to be sensitive to land‐use changes, especially where higher deforestation rates are expected.
Molecular insights into effector binding by DgoR, a GntR/FadR family transcriptional repressor of D‐galactonate metabolism in Escherichia coli
Authors: Arya Garima , Pal Mohinder , Sharma Monika , Singh Bhupinder , Singh Swati , Agrawal Vishal , Chaba Rachna
Published: October 2020

Several GntR/FadR transcriptional regulators govern sugar acid metabolism in bacteria. Although effectors have been identified for a few sugar acid regulators, the mode of effector binding is unknown. Even in the overall FadR subfamily, there are limited details on effector‐regulator interactions. Here, we identified the effector‐binding cavity in Escherichia coli DgoR, a FadR subfamily transcriptional repressor of D‐galactonate metabolism that employs D‐galactonate as its effector. Using a genetic screen, we isolated several dgoR superrepressor alleles. Blind docking suggested eight amino acids corresponding to these alleles to form a part of the effector‐binding cavity. In vivo and in vitro assays showed that these mutations compromise the inducibility of DgoR without affecting its oligomeric status or affinity for target DNA. Taking Bacillus subtilis GntR as a representative, we demonstrated that the effector‐binding cavity is similar among FadR subfamily sugar acid regulators. Finally, a comparison of sugar acid regulators with other FadR members suggested conserved features of effector‐regulator recognition within the FadR subfamily. Sugar acid metabolism is widely implicated in bacterial colonization and virulence. The present study sets the basis to investigate the influence of natural genetic variations in FadR subfamily regulators on their sensitivity to sugar acids and ultimately on host‐bacterial interactions.
Characterisation of Medicago truncatula CLE34 and CLE35 in nitrate and rhizobia regulation of nodulation
Authors: Mens Celine , Hastwell April H. , Su Huanan , Gresshoff Peter M. , Mathesius Ulrike , Ferguson Brett J.
Published: October 2020

Legumes form a symbiosis with atmospheric nitrogen (N2)‐fixing soil rhizobia, resulting in new root organs called nodules that enable N2‐fixation. Nodulation is a costly process that is tightly regulated by the host through autoregulation of nodulation (AON) and nitrate‐dependent regulation of nodulation. Both pathways require legume‐specific CLAVATA/ESR‐related (CLE) peptides.

Nitrogen‐induced nodulation‐suppressing CLE peptides have not previously been investigated in Medicago truncatula, for which only rhizobia‐induced MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 have been characterised. Here, we report on novel peptides MtCLE34 and MtCLE35 in nodulation control.

The nodulation‐suppressing CLE peptides of five legume species were classified into three clades based on sequence homology and phylogeny. This approached identified MtCLE34 and MtCLE35 and four new CLE peptide orthologues of Pisum sativum. Whereas MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 are induced by rhizobia, MtCLE34 and MtCLE35 respond to both rhizobia and nitrate. MtCLE34 was identified as a pseudogene lacking a functional CLE‐domain. MtCLE35 was found to inhibit nodulation in a SUNN‐ and RDN1‐dependent manner via overexpression analysis.

Together, our findings indicate that MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 have a specific role in AON, while MtCLE35 regulates nodule numbers in response to both rhizobia and nitrate. MtCLE34 likely had a similar role to MtCLE35, but its function was lost due to a premature nonsense mutation.
Optimal preoperative neoadjuvant therapy for resectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Leng Xue‐Feng , Daiko Hiroyuki , Han Yong‐Tao , Mao You‐Sheng
Published: October 2020

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, especially in East Asia. ESCC accounts for more than 90% of esophageal cancer. Currently, neoadjuvant therapy in combination with surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment. However, the overall survival rate of patients with locally advanced ESCC is not satisfactory even when treated following the standard treatment guidelines. With neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, chemotherapy, or emerging immunotherapy, continuous exploration of efficacy in relation to ESCC is expected to improve overall survival further. Here, we review and summarize current evidence for efficacy of preoperative therapy for locally advanced ESCC.
Effects of perioperative oral care on postoperative inflammation following heart valve surgery
Authors: Nishi Hiromi , Takahashi Shinya , Ohta Kouji , Takamoto Megumi , Shigeishi Hideo , Go Seimei , Obayashi Taiji , Yoshioka Yukio , Konishi Masaru , Shimizu Yoshitaka , Yano Kanako , Miyagawa Tsuyoshi , Kakimoto Naoya , Ohge Hiroki , Kawaguchi Hiroyuki , Kurihara Hidemi
Published: October 2020

Objective

Whether oral health care during the perioperative period can lead to a better outcome after heart valve surgery has not been adequately elucidated. We examined the effects of perioperative oral care on postoperative inflammation response in patients who underwent heart valve surgery.

Materials and Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 223 patients scheduled for single valve heart surgery were divided into the oral care, who underwent professional teeth cleaning or scaling within 3 days prior to surgery, and also following surgery at least twice a week (n = 111), and non‐oral care (n = 112) groups. After propensity score matching, records of both groups (80:80) were examined after surgery to evaluate inflammation markers (white blood cell count [WBC], neutrophil/white blood cell ratio [NWR], C‐reactive protein [CRP] level, body temperature [BT]).

Results

WBC, NWR, CRP level, and BT were increased in both groups the day following surgery. Thereafter, CRP level, WBC, NWR, and BT on various days after surgery in the oral care group showed greater decreases as compared to the non‐oral care group.

Conclusions

Perioperative oral health care can decrease postoperative inflammation in patients undergoing heart valve surgery and may be important to ensure a better outcome in those patients.
Australian forests, megafires and the risk of dwindling carbon stocks
Authors: Bowman David M.J.S. , Williamson Grant J. , Price Owen F. , Ndalila Mercy N. , Bradstock Ross A.
Published: October 2020

Over the Austral spring and summer of 2019/20 > 7 million ha of Eucalyptus forest and woodland, including some of Australia's most carbon dense ecosystems, were burnt on the east coast of Australia. We estimated bootstrapped mean CO2 emissions of c. 0.67 Pg, with other available estimates ranging from 0.55 to 0.85 Pg. Eucalyptus forests are renowned for their ability to resist and recover from wildfire so it would be expected that emitted CO2 will be reabsorbed. The combination of drought and frequent fires is likely reducing the capacity to recover from the fire so future Australian forests may store less carbon. Broadscale prescribed burning is a widely promoted approach to reduce uncontrolled wildfires, yet the benefits for the management of carbon stores are controversial. Prescribed burning can reduce carbon losses from subsequent wildfire, yet the “carbon costs” of it may equal or outweigh the “carbon benefits” in reduced wildfire emissions. Likewise, mechanical thinning of vegetation to reduce fuel loads also carries heavy carbon costs with uncertain carbon benefits. Research involving empirical measurements, modelling and a mix of large‐scale management intervention is urgently required to determine what interventions can maximise carbon storage in the face of climate change‐driven fires.
Pediatric maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis: Retrospective review of signs, symptoms, and associated conditions
Authors: Gurnee Emily A. , Johansen Maija L. , Phung Thuy L. , Guo Emily L. , Fong Aaron , Tollefson Megha , Nguyen Henry , Brandling‐Bennett Heather , Moriarty Natalie , Paller Amy S. , Huynh Thy N. , Lawley Leslie P.
Published: October 2020

Background/Objectives

Though maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis is the most common form of pediatric mastocytosis, it remains unclear which patients will experience severe symptoms. We sought to better define the presentation and the cutaneous and systemic signs and symptoms in patients with maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis.

Methods

We analyzed retrospective data on 227 patients diagnosed with maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis prior to age 15 years from five US clinical sites. We collected data on signs, symptoms, age of onset, and laboratory testing.

Results

Median age of onset of maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis was 3 months, with 94% of patients presenting prior to age 2 (range 0‐15 years). Patients presenting before age 2 had significantly lower serum tryptase level (P = .019). Greater number of skin lesions (P = .006), number of reported skin signs and symptoms (P < .001), and higher tryptase levels (P < .001) were associated with more systemic symptoms.

Conclusion

Children with maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis, who have greater skin involvement, higher serum tryptase level, and more skin signs and symptoms, are more likely to have systemic symptoms.
Ectoparasite‐induced increase in Drosophila host metabolic rate
Authors: Brophy Taylor , Luong Lien T.
Published: October 2020

Parasites exert numerous effects upon their hosts, including physiological and metabolic changes that can in turn influence various aspects of host life history. Using flow‐through respirometry, we investigated how infection intensity of an ectoparasitic mite (Macrocheles subbadius) affects the respiratory rate (CO2 production) of its host Drosophila nigrospiracula. Mean fly respiratory rate increased with infection intensity with the strongest effect, a 40% increase relative to uninfected controls, occurring with three mites attached. We also verified the causal relationship between elevated respiration rate and mite attachment by examining changes in host respiration before and after mite exposure. We found that the rate of CO2 production increased by 11% for individual flies following parasite attachment. Fly locomotor activity was not significantly different between infected and uninfected individuals. Metabolic rate of hosts increased as a result of infection in an intensity dependent manner and was not simply due to changes in host activity. These results demonstrate that parasites can have a significant influence on the energy requirements of their host, which may account for the parasite‐mediated loss in host fitness.
In situ study of cellular immune response in human cutaneous lesions caused byLeishmania (Viannia) panamensisin Panama
Authors: Gonzalez Kadir , Calzada José Eduardo , Tomokane Thaise Yumie , Pacheco Carmen Maria Sandoval , Flores Gabriela Venicia Araujo , Castro Gomes Cláudia Maria , Pereira Corbett Carlos Eduardo , Saldaña Azael , Laurenti Marcia Dalastra
Published: October 2020

Aims

Leishmaniasis is considered a disease with multiple clinical/immunopathological characteristics, depending on the immunity of the host and the species of the parasite. In Panama, the most prevalent species that causes localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) isLeishmania (Viannia) panamensis, and its immune response is poorly studied. Therefore, we evaluated by immunohistochemistry, the in situ immune response during this infection.

Methods and Results

Biopsies from Panamanian patients with LCL were collected and processed by histological techniques. Infection byL. (V.) panamensiswas demonstrated by isolation in culture and molecular characterization by Hsp70‐RFLP. The in situ immune response was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The immune response was characterized by predominance of T cells, mainly CD8 cells that showed positive correlation with IFN‐γ and Granzyme B. CD4 cells presented positive correlation with both IFN‐γ and IL‐13, pointed by mixed cellular immune response. Regulatory response was characterized by FoxP3 cells, which showed positive correlation to IL‐10 but not with TGF‐β.

Conclusions

L. (V.) panamensisinfection triggers a mixed cellular immune response, characterized by the presence of pro‐inflammatory, anti‐inflammatory and regulatory elements in the skin lesion of Panamanian patients. These data contribute to a better understanding of the immunopathogenesis ofLeishmania Vianniainfection in Panama.
Antiwomen But Proquota: Disaggregating Sexism and Support for Gender Quota Policies
Authors: Beauregard Katrine , Sheppard Jill
Published: October 2020

Previous research on support for gender quotas focuses on attitudes toward gender equality and government intervention as explanations. We argue the role of attitudes toward women in understanding support for policies aiming to increase the presence of women in politics is ambivalent—both hostile and benevolent forms of sexism contribute in understanding support, albeit in different ways. Using original data from a survey conducted on a probability‐based sample of Australian respondents, our findings demonstrate that hostile sexists are more likely to oppose increasing of women's presence in politics through the adoption of gender quotas. Benevolent sexists, on the other hand, are more likely to support these policies than respondents exhibiting low levels of benevolent sexism. We argue this is because benevolent sexism holds that women are pure and need protection; they do not have what it takes to succeed in politics without the assistance of quotas. Finally, we show that while women are more likely to support quotas, ambivalent sexism has the same relationship with support among both women and men. These findings suggest that aggregate levels of public support for gender quotas do not necessarily represent greater acceptance of gender equality generally.
And he shall rule over you: Genesis and the sexes in Marguerite de Navarre’s Heptaméron
Authors: Haake Gregory
Published: October 2020

In the prologue to Marguerite de Navarre’s Heptaméron, Hircan pronounces, ‘In the game, we are all equal.’ This declaration of equality among the group of would‐be storytellers is a surprising one, but its meaning – and Marguerite's point – is unclear. Is this a nascent feminist statement, or is it a theological one about the status of human beings before their God? In this paper, I will explore how the Heptaméron's frame story, along with the content of the tales themselves, both reveal Marguerite's approach to the question of equality between the sexes. Reading the Heptaméron through the biblical and exegetical lens of the book of Genesis suggests that a truce in the battle of the sexes may be more a question of accepting hard realities rather than hoping that men and women can overcome divisions that go back to the Fall.
General vs health‐specific consideration of immediate and future consequences to explain eating and exercise behavior in a Norwegian student population: A randomized survey experiment
Authors: Pozolotina Tatiana , Olsen Svein O.
Published: October 2020

Over several decades, the consideration of future consequences (CFC) construct has been used to explain and predict health behaviors. However, the reported associations between CFC and health behaviors are relatively weak, leading to the low explanatory power of the models. Recent research suggests that CFC can be a domain‐specific construct. In this study, we explored the psychometric properties of the Norwegian CFC‐general and CFC‐health questionnaires in terms of factor structure and discriminant and convergent validity and tested the association between the general and domain‐specific CFC and exercise and eating behaviors. In a randomized survey experiment, 1,001 university students were assigned to either a CFC‐general or a CFC‐health questionnaire. In the tested models, two dimensions of CFC, consideration of immediate consequences (CFC‐I) and consideration of future consequences (CFC‐F), were independent variables. The exercise and eating behaviors, measured both as self‐evaluated behaviors and self‐reported frequency measures, were dependent variables. The results showed that in both CFC‐general and CFC‐health, CFC‐I and CFC‐F are distinct dimensions that differentially explain variance in health behaviors. A domain‐specific CFC‐health explained a significantly higher amount of variance in self‐reported eating and exercising behaviors than a general CFC. Self‐evaluated health behaviors were better explained by CFC than self‐reported behavioral frequencies. Practical implications of the findings and avenues for future research are discussed.
A reproducing kernel Hilbert space log‐rank test for the two‐sample problem
Authors: Fernández Tamara , Rivera Nicolás
Published: October 2020

Weighted log‐rank tests are arguably the most widely used tests by practitioners for the two‐sample problem in the context of right‐censored data. Many approaches have been considered to make them more robust against a broader family of alternatives, including taking linear combinations, or the maximum among a finite collection of them. In this article, we propose as test statistic the supremum of a collection of (potentially infinitely many) weighted log‐rank tests where the weight functions belong to the unit ball in a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS). By using some desirable properties of RKHSs we provide an exact and simple evaluation of the test statistic and establish connections with previous tests in the literature. Additionally, we show that for a special family of RKHSs, the proposed test is omnibus. We finalize by performing an empirical evaluation of the proposed methodology and show an application to a real data scenario.
Soil dissolved organic carbon responses to sugarcane straw removal
Authors: Gmach Maria Regina , Kaiser Klaus , Cherubin Maurício Roberto , Cerri Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino , Lisboa Izaias Pinheiro , Vasconcelos Ana Luisa Soares , Siqueira‐Neto Marcos
Published: October 2020

Global demand for bioenergy increases interest in biomass‐derived fuels, as ethanol from sugarcane straw. However, straw is the main carbon source to soil and its removal reduces C input, affecting active fractions (dissolved organic carbon, DOC) and C storage. To quantify the effects of straw removal on DOC and C stocks, we built lysimeter system using soil (Rhodic Kandiudox) from sugarcane field. We evaluated four soil depths (1, 20, 50 and 100 cm) and four straw removal rates: no removal NR, medium MR, high HR and total TR, leaving 12, 6, 3 and 0 Mg/ha on the soil surface, respectively. After rainfall, drainage water was collected and analysed for DOC content. Soil C stocks were determined after the 17‐month. Total DOC released at 1‐cm depth amounted to 606, 500, 441 and 157 kg/ha in NR, MR, HR and TR, respectively. Net‐DOC suggests straw as the main source of DOC. Most of DOC in NR (50%) was retained within the 1–20 cm layer, resulting in higher C stock (10 Mg/ha) in the topsoil. In HR and MR, DOC retention was higher within 20–50 cm, suggesting differences in DOC composition. DOC in TR was 40% higher at 20 cm than at 1 cm, indicating C losses from topsoil. Low concentrations of DOC were found at 100‐cm depth, but representing 30% in TR. Straw removal for bioenergy production is sustainable, but we should leave at least 3 Mg/ha of straw to ensure DOC production and soil C storage, taking account the DOC contribution to key soil functions.
Do riparian buffer zones and new forest management practices reduce stream suspended sediment loads?: Re‐visiting the Afon Tanllwyth in Hafren Forest, Plynlimon, 20 years on
Authors: Stott Tim A.
Published: October 2020

Studies of forest clear‐felling operations in 1995–97 in the Afon Tanllwyth sub‐catchment of the upper River Severn on Plynlimon, mid‐Wales, by Stott et al. (Journal of Environmental Management (2001), 63, 3), indicated elevated suspended sediment loads (SSLs) immediately following timber harvesting. UK Forestry Commission (1993) Forests and Water Guidelines recommended that riparian buffer zones adjacent to streams were left unplanted. This study 20 years on assessed the SSLs at the same point in the Afon Tanllwyth for 21 months between January 2017 and September 2018. While SSLs reported by Stott et al. (Journal of Environmental Management (2001), 63, 3). increased during and after the clear‐felling operations, by 2017–18 (20 years later) they appear to have recovered to levels similar to those measured pre‐clear‐felling (1995), despite this study taking place only a few months after approximately 3 ha of mature forest was clear‐felled on the north side of the catchment. Although the mean monthly SSL for 2017–18 of 1628 ± 95 kg is slightly lower than the 1,800 ± 176 kg reported for 1995, the difference is not significant. When SSL is corrected for differences in total monthly flow the flow adjusted SSLs are 1,346 ± 132 kg for 1995 and 945 ± 55 kg for 2017–18, thus significantly lower in 2017–18. These new data for 2017–18 indicate that SSLs seem to have recovered to levels significantly below those measured and reported by Stott et al. (Journal of Environmental Management (2001), 63, 3–25) in 1995 pre‐clear‐felling period, likely as a result of the establishment of the 50 m buffer zone.
Development of an immunogenicity score for HLA‐DQ eplets: A conceptual study
Authors: Schawalder Lara , Hönger Gideon , Kleiser Marc , van Heck Michelle R. , van de Pasch Loes A. L. , Vendelbosch Sanne , Rozemuller Erik H. , Schaub Stefan
Published: October 2020

Eplets are defined as distinct amino acid configurations on the surface of HLA molecules. The aim of this study was to estimate the immunogenicity of HLA‐DQ eplets in a cohort of 221 pregnancies with HLA‐DQ mismatches. We defined the immunogenicity of an eplet by the frequency of antibody responses against it. Around 90% of all listed DQB1 or DQA1 eplets were at least five times mismatched and thus included for the calculation of their immunogenicity. The DQB1 eplets with the five highest immunogenicity scores were 55PP, 52PR, 52PQ, 85VG and 45EV; 25% of all DQB1 eplets were not reacting. The DQA1 eplets with the five highest immunogenicity scores were 25YS, 47QL, 55RR, 187T and 18S; 17% of all DQA1 eplets were not reacting. The immunogenicity score had a slightly higher area under the curve to predict development of child‐specific antibodies than various molecular mismatch scores (eg, eplet mismatch load, amino acid mismatch load). Overlapping eplets were identified as a barrier to unambiguously assign the immunogenicity score based on HLA antibody reaction patterns. In this conceptual study, we explored the immunogenicity of HLA‐DQ eplets and created a map of potentially immunogenic regions on HLA‐DQ molecules, which requires validation in clinical transplant cohorts.
Genomic full‐length sequence of the HLA‐B*44:127 allele was identified in a Chinese bone marrow donor
Authors: Han Bin , Jiao Shu‐Xian , Hu Bin , Pang Shu‐Tao
Published: October 2020

Genomic full‐length sequence of HLA‐B*44:127 was identified in a Chinese individual by sequence‐based typing.
Chromosome reciprocal translocations have accompanied subspecies evolution in bananas
Authors: Martin Guillaume , Baurens Franc‐Christophe , Hervouet Catherine , Salmon Frédéric , Delos Jean‐Marie , Labadie Karine , Perdereau Aude , Mournet Pierre , Blois Louis , Dupouy Marion , Carreel Françoise , Ricci Sébastien , Lemainque Arnaud , Yahiaoui Nabila , D’Hont Angélique
Published: October 2020

Chromosome rearrangements and the way that they impact genetic differentiation and speciation have long raised questions from evolutionary biologists. They are also a major concern for breeders because of their bearing on chromosome recombination. Banana is a major crop that derives from inter(sub)specific hybridizations between various once geographically isolated Musa species and subspecies. We sequenced 155 accessions, including banana cultivars and representatives of Musa diversity, and genotyped‐by‐sequencing 1059 individuals from 11 progenies. We precisely characterized six large reciprocal translocations and showed that they emerged in different (sub)species of Musa acuminata, the main contributor to currently cultivated bananas. Most diploid and triploid cultivars analyzed were structurally heterozygous for 1 to 4 M. acuminata translocations, highlighting their complex origin. We showed that all translocations induced a recombination reduction of variable intensity and extent depending on the translocations, involving only the breakpoint regions, a chromosome arm, or an entire chromosome. The translocated chromosomes were found preferentially transmitted in many cases. We explore and discuss the possible mechanisms involved in this preferential transmission and its impact on translocation colonization.
Substrate Stiffness Modulates the Crosstalk Between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Macrophages
Authors: Sridharan Rukmani , Kelly Daniel J. , O'Brien Fergal J.
Published: October 2020

Upon implantation of a biomaterial, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and macrophages contribute to the wound healing response and the regeneration cascade. Although biomaterial properties are known to direct MSC differentiation and macrophage polarization, the role of biomaterial cues, specifically stiffness, in directing the crosstalk between the two cell types is still poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the role of substrate stiffness in modulating the immunomodulatory properties of MSCs and to shed light on their complex interactions with macrophages when presented with diverse biomaterial stiffness cues, a situation analogous to the implant environment where multiple cell types interact with an implanted biomaterial to determine regenerative outcomes. We show that MSCs do not play an immunomodulatory role in the absence of an inflammatory stimulus. Using collagen-coated polyacrylamide gels of varying stiffness values, we demonstrate that the immunomodulatory capability of MSCs in the presence of an inflammatory stimulus is not dependent on the stiffness of the underlying substrate. Moreover, using paracrine and direct contact culture models, we show that a bidirectional crosstalk between MSCs and macrophages is necessary for promoting anti-inflammatory responses and positive immunomodulation, which is dependent on the stiffness of the underlying substrate. We finally show that direct cell–cell contact is not essential for this effect, with paracrine interactions promoting immunomodulatory interactions between MSCs and macrophages. Together, these results demonstrate that biophysical cues such as stiffness that are presented by biomaterials can be tuned to promote positive interactions between MSCs and macrophages which can in turn direct the downstream regenerative response.
Tissue Engineering for Periodontal Ligament Regeneration: Biomechanical Specifications
Authors: Gauthier R. , Jeannin Christophe , Attik N. , Trunfio-Sfarghiu A-M , Gritsch K. , Grosgogeat B.
Published: October 2020

The periodontal biomechanical environment is very difficult to investigate. By the complex geometry and composition of the periodontal ligament (PDL), its mechanical behavior is very dependent on the type of loading (compressive versus tensile loading; static versus cyclic loading; uniaxial versus multiaxial) and the location around the root (cervical, middle, or apical). These different aspects of the PDL make it difficult to develop a functional biomaterial to treat periodontal attachment due to periodontal diseases. This review aims to describe the structural and biomechanical properties of the PDL. Particular importance is placed in the close interrelationship that exists between structure and biomechanics: the PDL structural organization is specific to its biomechanical environment, and its biomechanical properties are specific to its structural arrangement. This balance between structure and biomechanics can be explained by a mechanosensitive periodontal cellular activity. These specifications have to be considered in the further tissue engineering strategies for the development of an efficient biomaterial for periodontal tissues regeneration.
Managing the combined consequences of COVID-19 infection and lock-down policies on athletes: narrative review and guidelines proposal for a safe return to sport
Authors: Fabre Jean-Bernard , Grelot Laurent , Vanbiervielt William , Mazerie Julien , Manca Raphael , Martin Vincent
Published: October 2020

COVID-19 pandemic is a global health matter. The disease spread rapidly across the globe and brought the world of sports to an unprecedented stoppage. Usual symptoms of the disease are fever, cough, myalgia, fatigue, slight dyspnoea, sore throat and headache. In more severe cases, dyspnoea, hypoxaemia, respiratory failure, shock and multiorgan failure occur. This appears to be a self-limiting phenomenon related to individuals with coexisting medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. Nevertheless, cases have been reported in professional soccer players in extremely good fitness condition, demonstrating that athletes are not spared by the disease. Despite COVID-19 clinical manifestations are mainly respiratory, major cardiac complications are being reported, leading to acute myocarditis. One difficulty is that symptoms of COVID-19 vary among individuals, with athletes being affected with no apparent sign of the disease. This could be a real danger for amateur or professional athletes when returning to their usual training and thus to play. Another threat is that the lock-down policies did not allow most athletes to follow their usual training routines. There is thus a need for a careful approach by the sports medicine community to ensure safety of all athletes before they return to sport. Here, we propose evaluation guidelines of fitness and health of athletes to (1) reduce any lethal risk of practice, especially myocarditis and sudden cardiac death; (2) evaluate the combined consequences of the disease and detraining on the physical abilities and biological profile of athletes; and (3) monitor postinfection fatigue symptoms.
Addressing the low consumption of fruit and vegetables in England: a cost-effectiveness analysis of public policies
Authors: Pinho-Gomes Ana-Catarina , Knight Alec , Critchley Julia , Pennington Mark
Published: October 2020

Background

Most adults do not meet the recommended intake of five portions per day of fruit and vegetables (F&V) in England, but economic analyses of structural policies to change diet are sparse.

Methods

Using published data from official statistics and meta-epidemiological studies, we estimated the deaths, years-of-life lost (YLL) and the healthcare costs attributable to consumption of F&V below the recommended five portions per day by English adults. Then, we estimated the cost-effectiveness from governmental and societal perspectives of three policies: a universal 10% subsidy on F&V, a targeted 30% subsidy for low-income households and a social marketing campaign (SMC).

Findings

Consumption of F&V below the recommended five portions a day accounted for 16 321 [10 091–23 516] deaths and 238 767 [170 350–311 651] YLL in England in 2017, alongside £705 951 [398 761–1 061 559] million in healthcare costs. All policies would increase consumption and reduce the disease burden attributable to low intake of F&V. From a societal perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were £22 891 [22 300–25 079], £16 860 [15 589–19 763] and £25 683 [25 237–28 671] per life-year saved for the universal subsidy, targeted subsidy and SMC, respectively. At a threshold of £20 000 per life-year saved, the likelihood that the universal subsidy, the targeted subsidy and the SMC were cost-effective was 84%, 19% and 5%, respectively. The targeted subsidy would additionally reduce inequalities.

Conclusions

Low intake of F&V represents a heavy health and care burden in England. All dietary policies can improve consumption of F&V, but only a targeted subsidy to low-income households would most likely be cost-effective.
Association of public care in childhood with social, criminal, cognitive, and health outcomes in middle-age: five decades of follow-up of members of the 1958 birth cohort study
Authors: Xie Tiffany , de Mestral Carlos , Batty G David
Published: October 2020

Background

Children who have been exposed to public (out-of-home) care experience a range of negative outcomes by late adolescence and early adulthood. The longer-term impact of childhood care is, however, uncertain.

Aim

To examine if there is a prospective association between childhood public care and adverse life outcomes in middle-age.

Methods

We used data from the UK 1958 birth cohort study of 18 558 individuals. Parents reported offspring care status at age 7, 11 and 16. An array of social, criminal, cognitive, and health outcomes was self-reported by cohort members at age 42 (71% response proportion in eligible sample) and a cognitive test battery was administered at age 50 (62% response).

Results

A total of 420 (3.8%) of 11 160 people in the analytical sample experienced childhood public care by age 16. Net of confounding factors, experience of public care (vs none) was linked to 11 of the 28 non-mutually exclusive endpoints captured in middle-age, with the most consistent effects apparent for psychosocial characteristics: 4/7 sociodemographic (eg, odds ratio; 95% confidence interval for homelessness: 2.1; 1.4 to 3.1); 2/2 antisocial (eg, use of illicit drug: 2.0; 1.2 to 3.5); 2/3 psychological (eg, mental distress: 1.6; 1.2 to 2.1); 1/3 health behaviours (eg, current cigarette smoker: 1.7; 1.3 to 2.2); 2/8 somatic health (physical disability: 2.7; 1.9 to 3.8); and 0/5 cognitive function (eg, beta coefficient; 95% confidence interval for immediate word recall: −0.1; −0.3 to 0.1) endpoints.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that selected associations apparent between childhood care and outcomes in adolescence and early adulthood are also evident in middle-age.
Bronchoscopic intratumoral injections of cisplatin and endostar as concomitants of standard chemotherapy to treat malignant central airway obstruction
Authors: Jiang Wenqing , Yang Xiaoping , Wang Xuekun , Li Yue , Yang Xinai , Wang Na , Yin Bin
Published: October 2020

Study Purpose

Malignant central airway obstruction (CAO) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with high morbidity and requires endobronchial palliative treatment to re-establish a free air passage. We investigate intratumoral therapy combining anti-angiogenic and cytotoxic as a feasible therapeutic modality to treat malignant CAO.

Study Design

Ten NSCLC subjects with symptomatic malignant CAO underwent endobronchial intratumoral cisplatin and Endostar co-injection after tumour debulking next to systemic cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Injection was performed immediately after debulking surgery and was then carried out on day 2, day 6 and day 10 past systemic chemotherapy. Nine subjects of control group constantly received traditional cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Bronchoscopy, CT scanning, histology, FEV1/FVC ratio, Karnofsky performance (KPS) and shortness of breath scores were analysed to assess therapeutic efficacy.

Results

All 10 subjects benefited from the intratumoral cisplatin and endostar co-injection and systemic chemotherapy combination therapy. Bronchoscopy and CT scanning analyses showed a massive airway widening after treatment. Increased KPS and reduced shortness of breath score were also observed. A substantial improvement of lung function was further confirmed by increased FEV1/FVC ratio. For subjects of control group, the improvement was moderate and obviously not as optimal as the 10 subjects with intratumoral injection.

Conclusions

We have shown that the intratumoral injection of cytotoxic cisplatin plus anti-angiogenic Endostar is an effective and safe adjuvant therapeutic option to treat malignant CAO in clinical practice. This time-staggered local and systemic treatment combination improves quality of life and clinical parameters, thus may provide a feasible therapeutic option for symptomatic CAO.
Revisiting the minimum length in the Schwinger–Keldysh formalism
Authors: Casadio Roberto , Kuntz Iberê
Published: October 2020

The existence of a minimum length in quantum gravity is investigated by computing the in-in expectation value of the proper distance in the Schwinger–Keldysh formalism. No minimum geometrical length is found for arbitrary gravitational theories to all orders in perturbation theory. Using non-perturbative techniques, we also show that neither the conformal sector of general relativity nor higher-derivative gravity features a minimum length. A minimum length scale, on the other hand, seems to always be present when one considers in-out amplitudes, from which one could extract the energy scale of scattering processes.
Novel insights in the Levy–Levy–Solomon agent-based economic market model
Authors: Beikirch Maximilian , Trimborn Torsten
Published: October 2020

The Levy–Levy–Solomon (LLS) model [M. Levy, H. Levy and S. Solomon, Econ. Lett.45, 103 (1994)] is one of the most influential agent-based economic market models. In several publications this model has been discussed and analyzed. Especially Lux and Zschischang [E. Zschischang and T. Lux, Physica A: Stat. Mech. Appl.291, 563 (2001)] have shown that the model exhibits finite-size effects. In this study, we extend existing work in several directions. First, we show simulations which reveal finite-size effects of the model. Second, we shed light on the origin of these finite-size effects. Furthermore, we demonstrate the sensitivity of the LLS model with respect to random numbers. Especially, we can conclude that a low-quality pseudo-random number generator has a huge impact on the simulation results. Finally, we study the impact of the stopping criteria in the market clearance mechanism of the LLS model.
An intermittent controller for robotic manipulator with uncertain dynamics in task space
Authors: Ma Mihua , Cai Jianping
Published: October 2020

An intermittent controller for robotic manipulator in the presence of dynamic uncertainties was developed in this paper. The adaptation law is designed to deal with the dynamic uncertainties. In task space, for given a desired position, the robot end-effector is able to reach the desired position under the designed intermittent controller. Different from most of the existing works on control of robotic manipulator, the designed controller only needs to receive the information of the desired position in some interval time, but not continuously. In addition, the intermittent control of robotic manipulator is discussed in task space instead of joint space. Based on an extended Barbalat’s Lemma, some simple control gains are obtained. As a direct application, we implement the proposed controller on a two-link robotic manipulator. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.