bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non‐lethal message from the Holy Land: The first international conference on nonapoptotic roles of apoptotic proteins
Authors: Arama Eli , Baena‐Lopez Luis Alberto , Fearnhead Howard O.
Published: September 2020

Apoptosis is a major form of programmed cell death (PCD) that eliminates unnecessary and potentially dangerous cells in all metazoan organisms, thus ensuring tissue homeostasis and many developmental processes. Accordingly, defects in the activation of the apoptotic pathway often pave the way to disease. After several decades of intensive research, the molecular details controlling the apoptosis program have largely been unraveled, as well as the regulatory mechanisms of caspase activation during apoptosis. Nevertheless, an ever‐growing list of studies is suggesting the essential role of caspases and other apoptotic proteins in ensuring nonlethal cellular functions during normal development, tissue repair, and regeneration. Moreover, if deregulated, these novel nonapoptotic functions can also instigate diseases. The difficulty of identifying and manipulating the caspase‐dependent nonlethal cellular processes (CDPs), as well as the nonlethal functions of other cell death proteins (NLF‐CDPs), meant that CDPs and NLF‐CDPs have been only curiosities within the apoptotic field; however, the recent technical advancements and the latest biological findings are assigning an unanticipated biological significance to these nonapoptotic functions. Here, we summarize the various talks presented in the first international conference fully dedicated to discuss CDPs and NFL‐CDPs and named ‘The Batsheva de Rothschild Seminar on Non‐Apoptotic Roles of Apoptotic Proteins’. The conference was organized between September 22, 2019, and 25, 2019, by Eli Arama (Weizmann Institute of Science), Luis Alberto Baena‐Lopez (University of Oxford), and Howard O. Fearnhead (NUI Galway) at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, and hosted a large international group of researchers.
A submerged duckweed mutant with abundant starch accumulation for bioethanol production
Authors: Liu Yu , Xu Hua , Wang Yu , Tang Xianfeng , He Guo , Wang Shumin , Ma Yubin , Kong Yingzhen , Yu Changjiang , Zhou Gongke
Published: September 2020

Duckweed is one kind of promising bioenergy plant with prominent advantages such as fast growth rate and high starch content. However, almost all previous studies focused on the natural duckweed germplasms. In this study, heavy‐ion irradiation was used to establish a mutant library of Lemna aequinoctialis 6002, and one mutant named submarine‐1 (sub‐1) was screened, which could accumulate more starch but with smaller granules. Unexpectedly, under proper external growth conditions such as poor nutritional status and insufficient growth space, sub‐1 mutant would sink underwater due to formation of dense tissue structure and large amount of fine starch particles with the extension of cultivation time. The starch content in the sinking sub‐1 increased to over 45% (dry weight) and was 12% higher than the floating sub‐1, highlighting that submergence can be considered as a spontaneous and efficient indicator for screening of high‐starch duckweed. Additionally, the saccharification efficiency of starch and ethanol yield had increased in sub‐1 mutant compared to the wild type. Based on the unique characteristics of sub‐1 mutant, a cultivation model of submerged duckweed in a simulated aquaculture pond was designed to get more starch‐rich biomass, enabling effective production of renewable bioenergy.
Are signs and symptoms in cardiovascular rehabilitation correlated with heart rate variability? An observational longitudinal study
Authors: Takahashi Carolina , Ribeiro Felipe , Vanzella Laís Manata , Lima Isabelle Maina , Ricci‐Vitor Ana Laura , Christofaro Diego Giulliano Destro , Vanderlei Luiz Carlos Marques
Published: September 2020

Aim

To analyze the correlation between the appearance of signs/symptoms during a cardiovascular rehabilitation program and linear indexes of the heart rate variability (HRV) at rest.

Methods

To carry out the present observational longitudinal study, 48 patients were analyzed. The protocol was divided into two stages. First, the patients had their personal details collected, and the autonomic modulation at rest was evaluated by HRV. Second, they underwent 36 sessions of the cardiovascular rehabilitation program to evaluate signs/symptoms. Then, just for analysis of the data, they were divided into two groups: the group without signs/symptoms (n = 26; 65.15 ± 9.7 years); and the group with signs/symptoms (n = 22; 66.77 ± 14.4 years). The HRV indexes were compared by ancova. The effect size was measured through the partial eta‐squared. Pearson's and Spearman's correlations (P < 0.05) were used to analyze the data, and linear regression was applied.

Results

A total of 103 signs/symptoms occurred. The group with signs/symptoms presented lower values of HRV indexes when compared with the group without signs/symptoms, especially for the parasympathetic indexes with a large effect size. The root mean square of successive differences (rMSSD), percentage of adjacent RR intervals with a difference of duration >50 ms (pNN50), high‐frequency spectral component (HF) varying from 0.15 to 0.4 Hz (expressed as ms2), dispersion of the points perpendicular to the line of identity and represents the instantaneous record of the beat‐to‐beat variability (SD1) and SD1/scatter of points along the identity line and represents the HRV in long‐term records (SD2) index presented a negative correlation with the appearance of signs/symptoms. When the linear regression was applied, the rMSSD, SD1 and SD1/SD2 showed negative values of β (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Patients with lower HRV are more likely to have signs/symptoms. The rMSSD, pNN50, HF (expressed as ms2), SD1 and SD1/SD2 index presented a negative correlation with the appearance of signs/symptoms. For rMSSD, SD1 and SD1/SD2, the lower the values of these HRV indexes, the greater the risk of appearance of signs/symptoms. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 853–859.
Elite bargains and policy priorities in authoritarian regimes: Agenda setting in China under Xi Jinping and Hu Jintao
Authors: Chan Kwan Nok , Lam Wai Fung , Chen Shaowei
Published: September 2020

What explains agenda outcomes in authoritarian regimes? Existing research attributes policy priorities to either the autocrat's survival needs or the co‐optation of external interests. The former leaves out policy choices beyond the calculus of regime survival; and the latter elite power play that bears more immediately on government priorities than activities at the fringe. We hypothesize that officials working under autocrats who seek co‐optative elite bargains are more likely to prioritize domain‐specific concerns and less inclined to disrupt the status quo than those under leaders who rule with coercion. Our comparison of the Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping administrations of China reveals patterns consistent with these hypotheses: Hu's “steward” leadership is associated with increased agenda inertia and diversity, whereas policy priorities change in greater frequency and converge to a stronger focus under Xi's “strongman” rule. These contrasts are also clearer in policy venues closer to the central leader's direct control.
Fossil viruses
Authors: Tucker Maurice
Published: September 2020

Viruses are very much in the news these days, unfortunately, but what about their geological history? Are viruses preserved in the fossil record? If so, how does that happen, and how far back do they go? And what about the roles of viruses in the environment? Are they significant or were they just the nasty invisible parasites we regard them to be today, disrupting life as we know it and leading to the very sad and untimely death of 1000s of people? Or were they both—good and bad? This article explores some of these issues.
Serum Gas6 and Axl as non‐invasive biomarkers of advanced histological stage in primary biliary cholangitis
Authors: Hayashi Manabu , Abe Kazumichi , Fujita Masashi , Takahashi Atsushi , Hashimoto Yuko , Ohira Hiromasa
Published: September 2020

Aim

Advanced histological stage is an important factor in individual risk stratification in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Non‐invasive biomarkers for advanced histological stage are needed. We assessed the utility of Gas6 and Axl as biomarkers for advanced histological stage in patients with PBC.

Methods

A total of 113 biopsy‐proven PBC patients and 20 healthy controls were included in this study. Serum Axl and Gas6 were measured using enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay. The Gas6 / albumin ratio and Axl / albumin ratio were also evaluated as biomarkers of histological stage.

Results

Serum Axl (42.6 ng/mL vs. 30.6 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and Gas6 (21.1 ng/mL vs. 18.8 ng/mL, P = 0.007) levels in PBC patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. The Axl / albumin ratio was 10.4, and the Gas6 / albumin ratio was 7.6 in patients with PBC. Gas6 and Axl were significantly correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, albumin, and platelets. Gas6 and Axl levels in patients with an advanced Scheuer stage and an advanced Nakanuma stage were significantly higher than those in other patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of Axl, Gas6, Axl / albumin, and Gas6 / albumin for diagnosing Scheuer stage 4 was 0.733, 0.837, 0.845, and 0.893, respectively. The AUROC of Axl, Gas6, Axl / albumin, and Gas6 / albumin for diagnosing Nakanuma stage 4 was 0.794, 0.834, 0.869, and 0.898, respectively.

Conclusion

High levels of Gas6 and Axl were associated with advanced histological stage in PBC patients. Furthermore, the Gas6 / albumin ratio and the Axl / albumin ratio showed a high AUROC for diagnosing advanced histological stage.
Tailored pore structures and mechanical properties of porous alumina ceramics prepared with corn cob pore‐forming agent
Authors: Dele‐Afolabi T. T. , Azmah Hanim M. A. , Ojo‐Kupoluyi O. J. , Calin R. , Zuhri M. Y. M.
Published: September 2020

In this work, the effects of porosity and different particle sizes of pore‐forming agent on the mechanical properties of porous alumina ceramics have been reported. Different grades of porous alumina ceramics were developed using corn cob (CC) of different weight contents (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) and particle sizes (<63 µm, 63‐125 µm and 125‐250 µm) as the pore‐forming agent. Experimental results showed that total porosity and pore cavity size of the porous alumina ceramics increased with rising addition of CC pore former. Total porosity increased with increasing particle size of CC with the Al2O3‐<63CC5 sample exhibiting the lowest total porosity of 41.3 vol% while the highest total porosity of 68.1 vol% was exhibited by the Al2O3‐125‐250CC20. The particle size effect of CC on the mechanical properties revealed that diametral tensile strength and hardness of the porous alumina ceramics deteriorated with increasing particle size of CC pore former. The Al2O3‐<63CC5 sample exhibited the highest diametral tensile strength and hardness of 25.1 MPa and 768.2 HV, respectively, while Al2O3‐125‐250CC20 exhibited the lowest values of 1.1 MPa and 35.9 HV. Overall, porous alumina ceramics with the smallest pore sizes under each particle size category exhibited superior mechanical properties in their respective categories.
HDAC6‐mediated α‐tubulin deacetylation suppresses autophagy and enhances motility of podocytes in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Liang Tiantian , Qi Chunfang , Lai Yuxiong , Xie Jianteng , Wang Huizhen , Zhang Li , Lin Ting , Jv Menglei , Li Jing , Wang Yanhui , Zhang Yifan , Chen Zujiao , Qiu Xueqian , Li Ruizhao , Li Zhilian , Ye Zhiming , Liu Shuangxin , Liang Xinling , Shi Wei , Wang Wenjian
Published: September 2020

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is the specific subtype of HDACs which preferentially located in the cytoplasm, and is crucial in insulin signalling. However, the role of HDAC6 in type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains undefined. In current study, we observed that HDAC6 was markedly activated in the kidneys of type 2 diabetic patients and db/db mice with albuminuria, along with the advanced glycation end products (AGE)‐treated podocytes. Selective inhibition of HDAC6 activity protected kidneys from hyperglycaemia in db/db mice. Notably, overexpressing HDAC6 inhibited autophagy and promoted motility aside from the apoptosis of podocytes exposed to AGE. We further determined that HDAC6 regulated the autophagy partially by decreasing the acetylation of α‐tubulin at the residue of lysine 40. In contrast, we confirmed that there was no interaction of HDAC6 with α‐tubulin at the sites of lysine 112 and lysine 352. Consistently, inhibiting HDAC6 by siRNA or the selective inhibitor, tubacin, restored the autophagy level and motility of podocytes and rescued podocytes from AGE stimulation. We provide strong evidence of an unexpected role of HDAC6 in the cascade that modulates podocytes autophagy and motility, enlightening that HDAC6 may be a promising therapeutic target for DN treatment.
Pyrophosphate therapy prevents trauma‐induced calcification in the mouse model of neurogenic heterotopic ossification
Authors: Tőkési Natália , Kozák Eszter , Fülöp Krisztina , Dedinszki Dóra , Hegedűs Nikolett , Király Bálint , Szigeti Krisztián , Ajtay Kitti , Jakus Zoltán , Zaworski Jeremy , Letavernier Emmanuel , Pomozi Viola , Váradi András
Published: September 2020

Trauma‐induced calcification is the pathological consequence of complex injuries which often affect the central nervous system and other parts of the body simultaneously. We demonstrated by an animal model recapitulating the calcification of the above condition that adrenaline transmits the stress signal of brain injury to the calcifying tissues. We have also found that although the level of plasma pyrophosphate, the endogenous inhibitor of calcification, was normal in calcifying animals, it could not counteract the acute calcification. However, externally added pyrophosphate inhibited calcification even when it was administered after the complex injuries. Our finding suggests a potentially powerful clinical intervention of calcification triggered by polytrauma injuries which has no effective treatment.
Comparative proteomic analysis of osteogenic differentiated human adipose tissue and bone marrow‐derived stromal cells
Authors: Dadras Mehran , May Caroline , Wagner Johannes Maximilian , Wallner Christoph , Becerikli Mustafa , Dittfeld Stephanie , Serschnitzki Bettina , Schilde Lukas , Guntermann Annika , Sengstock Christina , Köller Manfred , Seybold Dominik , Geßmann Jan , Schildhauer Thomas Armin , Lehnhardt Marcus , Marcus Katrin , Behr Björn
Published: September 2020

Mesenchymal stromal cells are promising candidates for regenerative applications upon treatment of bone defects. Bone marrow‐derived stromal cells (BMSCs) are limited by yield and donor morbidity but show superior osteogenic capacity compared to adipose‐derived stromal cells (ASCs), which are highly abundant and easy to harvest. The underlying reasons for this difference on a proteomic level have not been studied yet. Human ASCs and BMSCs were characterized by FACS analysis and tri‐lineage differentiation, followed by an intraindividual comparative proteomic analysis upon osteogenic differentiation. Results of the proteomic analysis were followed by functional pathway analysis. 29 patients were included with a total of 58 specimen analysed. In these, out of 5148 identified proteins 2095 could be quantified in >80% of samples of both cell types, 427 in >80% of ASCs only and 102 in >80% of BMSCs only. 281 proteins were differentially regulated with a fold change of >1.5 of which 204 were higher abundant in BMSCs and 77 in ASCs. Integrin cell surface interactions were the most overrepresented pathway with 5 integrins being among the proteins with highest fold change. Integrin 11a, a known key protein for osteogenesis, could be identified as strongly up‐regulated in BMSC confirmed by Western blotting. The integrin expression profile is one of the key distinctive features of osteogenic differentiated BMSCs and ASCs. Thus, they represent a promising target for modifications of ASCs aiming to improve their osteogenic capacity and approximate them to that of BMSCs.
Non‐coding RNAs in aortic dissection: From biomarkers to therapeutic targets
Authors: Cheng Mengdie , Yang Yanyan , Xin Hai , Li Min , Zong Tingyu , He Xingqiang , Yu Tao , Xin Hui
Published: September 2020

Aortic dissection (AD) is the rupture of the aortic intima, causing the blood in the cavity to enter the middle of the arterial wall. Without urgent and proper treatment, the mortality rate increases to 50% within 48 hours. Most patients present with acute onset of symptoms, including sudden severe pain and complex and variable clinical manifestations, which can be easily misdiagnosed. Despite this, the molecular mechanisms underlying AD are still unknown. Recently, non‐coding RNAs have emerged as novel regulators of gene expression. Previous studies have proven that ncRNAs can regulate several cardiovascular diseases; therefore, their potential as clinical biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for AD has aroused widespread interest. To date, several studies have reported that microRNAs are crucially involved in AD progression. Additionally, several long non‐coding RNAs and circular RNAs have been found to be differentially expressed in AD samples, suggesting their potential roles in vascular physiology and disease. In this review, we discuss the functions of ncRNAs in AD pathophysiology and highlight their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AD. Meanwhile, we present the animal models previously used for AD research, as well as the specific methods for constructing mouse or rat AD models.
Skin transcriptome, tissue distribution of mucin genes and discovery of simple sequence repeats in crucian carp (Carassius auratus)
Authors: Bai Jie , Hu Xiucai , Lü Aijun , Wang Ruixia , Liu Rongrong , Sun Jingfeng , Niu Yuchen
Published: September 2020

Crucian carp (Carassius auratus) is one of the major freshwater species and important food fish in China. Fish skin acts as the first line of defence against pathogens, yet its molecular and immune mechanism remains unclear. In this study, a de novo transcriptome assembly of C. auratus skin was performed with the Illumina Hiseq 2000 platform. A total of 49,154,776 clean reads were assembled, among which 60,824 (46.86%), 37,103 (28.59%), 43,269 (33.33%) unigenes were annotated against National Center for Biotechnology Information, Gene Onotology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases, respectively. KEGG Orthology categories were significantly involved in immune system (20.50%), signal transduction (18.04%) and mucosal mucin genes (e.g., muc2, muc5AC, muc5B, muc17, muc18). The high expression of muc18 gene was observed in brain; that of muc2 in intestine; and that of muc5AC in skin, liver, spleen, intestine and muscle. Moreover, the potential 28,928 simple sequence repeats with the three most abundant dinucleotide repeat motifs (AC/GT, AG/CT, AT/AT) were detected in C. auratus. To authors’ knowledge, this is the first report to describe the transcriptome analysis of C. auratus skin, and the outcome of this study contributed to the understanding of mucosal immune response of the skin and molecular markers in cyprinid species.
The origin of Wxla provides new insights into the improvement of grain quality in rice
Authors: Zhou Hao , Xia Duo , Zhao Da , Li Yanhua , Li Pingbo , Wu Bian , Gao Guanjun , Zhang Qinglu , Wang Gongwei , Xiao Jinghua , Li Xianghua , Yu Sibin , Lian Xingming , He Yuqing
Published: September 2020

Appearance and taste are important factors in rice (Oryza sativa) grain quality. Here, we investigated the taste scores and related eating‐quality traits of 533 diverse cultivars to assess the relationships between—and genetic basis of—rice taste and eating‐quality. A genome‐wide association study highlighted the Wx gene as the major factor underlying variation in taste and eating quality. Notably, a novel waxy (Wx) allele, Wxla, which combined two mutations from Wxb and Wxin, exhibited a unique phenotype. Reduced GBSSI activity conferred Wxla rice with both a transparent appearance and good eating quality. Haplotype analysis revealed that Wxla was derived from intragenic recombination. In fact, the recombination rate at the Wx locus was estimated to be 3.34 kb/cM, which was about 75‐fold higher than the genome‐wide mean, indicating that intragenic recombination is a major force driving diversity at the Wx locus. Based on our results, we propose a new network for Wx evolution, noting that new Wx alleles could easily be generated by crossing genotypes with different Wx alleles. This study thus provides insights into the evolution of the Wx locus and facilitates molecular breeding for quality in rice.
Dehydroepiandrosterone at birth: Response to stress and relation to demographic, pregnancy and delivery factors
Authors: Kamin Hayley S. , Bhatt Samarth S. , Mulligan Connie J. , Kertes Darlene A.
Published: September 2020

Enhanced production of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) by the foetal hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis enables maturational events critical for labour induction and neonatal adaptation. Despite knowledge of the interconnected nature of maternal and foetal physiology and dramatic changes in DHEA production after birth, few studies have examined DHEA levels in newborns and none have examined DHEA’s response to acute stress. Understanding normative patterns of early DHEA activity is needed to accurately assess functioning of the biological stress system with relevance for health and development. The present study analysed DHEA concentrations and change after stress among 93 newborns and associations with pregnancy, delivery and demographic risk factors. Three saliva samples, collected prior to and following a blood draw stressor, were used to determine baseline and stress reactive DHEA levels. Mothers self‐reported on health behaviours during pregnancy. Data on obstetric factors were obtained from medical records. DHEA levels declined from pre‐ to post‐stressor assessments. Results also showed that post‐stressor DHEA change was significantly associated with administration of medications used to treat pain and accelerate labour. However, there was no significant variation in DHEA pre‐stress levels or change after stress as a function of time after birth. By capturing DHEA levels after birth, the present study provides a window into prenatal health of the HPA system. The study also advances knowledge of DHEA in newborns by providing data on reference levels and important covariates. This information on basic adrenal physiology provides a foundation that can be expanded on to enhance understanding of early hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis activity.
Audit of paediatrician recognition of children's vulnerability to harm at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
Authors: Mahindroo Sargun , Smith Anne S , Roberts Gehan
Published: September 2020

Aim

Vulnerable children can be defined as those at risk of child abuse and neglect and long‐term adverse health, neurodevelopmental and behavioural outcomes. This study examined whether a cohort of paediatricians and advanced trainees at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, recognised children's vulnerability.

Methods

We reviewed the clinical note in the electronic medical record (EMR) for 425 new patients presenting to five paediatric clinics between 1 July 2017 and 31 December 2017. We examined paediatrician documentation of adverse childhood experiences (ACE), risk and resilience factors, referrals for intervention to improve psychosocial well‐being and the application of ‘vulnerable child’ alert flags in the EMR to indicate vulnerability to harm. Children were deemed vulnerable if the paediatrician explicitly stated it in the EMR, if the child had a ‘vulnerable child’ alert placed in their record or had an appropriate referral for management of neurodevelopmental trauma.

Results

Of the original cohort, 8% was documented as vulnerable, 21% had a referral for intervention and 2% had a ‘vulnerable child’ alert. Overall, paediatricians infrequently documented ACE, risk and protective factors. The odds of identifying vulnerability increased with each added risk factor recorded (odds ratio (OR) 2.6, P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (1.9–3.5)), with an ACE score was >4 (OR 72, P < 0.001 (14.3–361)) and decreased with each added protective factor recorded (OR 0.6, P < 0.001 (0.5–0.8)).

Conclusion

Paediatricians infrequently document ACE, risk and protective factors and rarely ‘flag’ children's vulnerability to harm. Identification of the vulnerable child is correlated with documentation of risk and resilience factors at the initial consultation.
Laboratory examination of the physical properties of ordinary chondrites
Authors: Ostrowski D. , Bryson K.
Published: September 2020

Meteorites provide vast amounts of information on the makeup and history of the solar system. The physical properties help to understand meteor behavior in the atmosphere, model characteristics of parent bodies, and determine methods to deflect potentially hazardous objects. Density and porosity are two of the most important physical properties. All the examined ordinary chondrite falls have bulk densities and porosities near their respected class averages. Most of the studied Antarctic ordinary chondrites have porosities around 12% or higher caused by weathering, placing them near the top of the range of values for chondritic falls. A trend is observed in acoustic velocity, where any meteorite with porosity over 10% has a longitudinal velocity near half the value of the class average. Low porosity meteorites such as Tenham, Chelyabinsk impact melt, and MIL07036 have velocities well above their class averages. Emissivities across all meteorites follow the trend of decreasing emissivity with increasing temperature.
Toddler obesity prevention: A two‐generation randomized attention‐controlled trial
Authors: Black Maureen M. , Hager Erin R. , Wang Yan , Hurley Kristen M. , Latta Laura W. , Candelaria Margo , Caulfield Laura E.
Published: September 2020

Rapid weight gain increases risks of obesity and associated co‐morbidities. The objective was to reduce the rate of body mass index (BMI) growth (BMIzscore), relative to control. Secondary outcomes were toddler–mother physical activity, mealtime interactions and fruit/vegetable intake. The randomized three‐arm, eight‐session, 4‐month trial, conducted 2009–2013, included two intervention arms (responsive parenting and maternal lifestyle) and an attention control (home safety). Baseline and 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up evaluations included weight and length/height, ankle accelerometry, video‐recorded mealtime interactions (Emotional Availability Scales) and 24‐h diet recalls (Healthy Eating Index‐2015 [HEI‐2015]). Analyses used linear mixed‐effects models with repeated measures comparing intervention versus control changes in BMIzscore. We recruited 277 racially mixed (70% African American) toddler–mother dyads (mean ages 20.1 months and 27.3 years) from US WIC and primary care clinics and randomized them into intervention versus control; 31% toddlers and 73% mothers were overweight/obese. At follow‐up, changes in the rate of toddler BMIzscore and maternal BMI were non‐significant. Maternal lifestyle group toddlers and mothers spent 24.43 and 11.01 more minutes in physical activity (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.55, 46.32, and 95% CI: 1.48, 20.54, respectively). Fruit intake increased in both intervention groups. Hostile mealtime interactions increased in the maternal lifestyle group, and in supplementary analyses, mealtime interactions were significantly higher in the responsive parenting group than in the maternal lifestyles group, suggesting that toddler dietary interventions include responsive parenting. Intervention effects were stronger among older versus younger toddlers. Despite no impact on weight gain, additional research should examine integrated two‐generation responsive parenting and maternal lifestyle interventions among toddler–mother dyads.
A holin/peptidoglycan hydrolase‐dependent protein secretion system
Authors: Palmer Tracy , Finney Alexander J. , Saha Chayan Kumar , Atkinson Gemma C. , Sargent Frank
Published: September 2020

Gram‐negative bacteria have evolved numerous pathways to secrete proteins across their complex cell envelopes. Here, we describe a protein secretion system that uses a holin membrane protein in tandem with a cell wall‐editing enzyme to mediate the secretion of substrate proteins from the periplasm to the cell exterior. The identity of the cell wall‐editing enzymes involved was found to vary across biological systems. For instance, the chitinase secretion pathway of Serratia marcescens uses an endopeptidase to facilitate secretion, whereas the secretion of Typhoid toxin in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi relies on a muramidase. Various families of holins are also predicted to be involved. Genomic analysis indicates that this pathway is conserved and implicated in the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes and toxins for a range of bacteria. The pairing of holins from different families with various types of peptidoglycan hydrolases suggests that this secretion pathway evolved multiple times. We suggest that the complementary bodies of evidence presented is sufficient to propose that the pathway be named the Type 10 Secretion System (TXSS).
Presumed activated retinal astrocytes and Müller cells in healthy and glaucomatous eyes detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography
Authors: Cheung Hin , King Brett J , Gast Thomas J
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To investigate presumed activated retinal astrocytes and Müller cells (ARAM) detected by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and to investigate its presence in healthy controls as well as its relationship to posterior vitreal detachment (PVD) and glaucoma.

Methods

This retrospective study involved 1337 eyes of 805 controls between ages 8 and 90, and 250 eyes of 146 patients with glaucoma between the ages of 28 and 95. Subjects were counted as possessing ARAM only if they met the following criteria: (1) a patchy, discrete, glittering appearance on SLO, (2) a distinct, flat, hyper‐reflective layer at the internal limiting membrane on at least one B‐scan crossing the glittering area and (3) absence of any surface wrinkling retinopathy. The diagnosis of PVD was based on both the patient’s clinical examination and imaging data. Frequency tables were used to describe categorical variables and differences were compared by means of χ2. Analyses were separated based on right and left eye, first on controls and then between glaucomatous eyes and age‐similar sex‐matched controls.

Results

ARAM was found in both healthy controls and patients with glaucoma at similar frequencies. There was no association between having glaucoma and the presence of ARAM. ARAM was not different between the sexes but was associated with age and having a PVD.

Conclusions

This large retrospective study found that ARAM can be seen in healthy controls, is associated with PVD and possibly independently with age, and occurred at similar frequency in glaucomatous eyes.
Right ventricular septal pacing via transmural approach for resynchronization in a child with postoperative heart block
Authors: Carberry Thomas , Hauck Amanda , Backer Carl , Webster Gregory
Published: September 2020

An infant with transposition of the great arteries was paced for postoperative heart block (single‐site, right ventricular [RV] epicardial). She developed severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and septal dyskinesis. Resynchronization was performed at the age of 4 with an LV epicardial lead and an RV septal endocardial lead. The endocardial lead was affixed to the interventricular septum, then tunneled through the RV free wall and attached to an abdominal pulse generator. QRS duration decreased (176 to 122 ms) and LV ejection fraction improved (26 to 61%) and remained stable for 8 years. We present a case of successful resynchronization in congenital heart disease using a transmural RV septal lead.
Ampicillin‐sulbactam monotherapy in infants with febrile urinary tract infections
Authors: Song Ji Yeon , Yoo Sukdong , Lim Taek Jin , Byun Joung‐Hee , Jo Kyo Jin , Kim Hye‐Young , Park Su Eun , Kim Seong Heon
Published: September 2020

Background

Cephalosporin is the most commonly used empirical agent for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children. However, increasing use of cephalosporins can lead to an increase in resistant pathogens. This study therefore aims to investigate the effects of monotherapy with ampicillin‐sulbactam as an alternative to cephalosporins.

Methods

All 2‐ to 24‐month‐old patients who were hospitalized at Pusan National University Children’s Hospital due to a first episode of a febrile UTI during the 2‐year period from 2012 to 2014 were included in the study. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their empirical therapy (cefotaxime or ampicillin‐sulbactam). We determined the patients’ UTI pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibilities and compared the effectiveness and the occurrence of adverse effects of ampicillin‐sulbactam and cephalosporin therapy.

Results

Forty‐six patients were treated with cefotaxime (group A) and 41 patients with ampicillin‐sulbactam as the empirical antibiotic (group B). The most common pathogen in both groups was Escherichia coli, and antibiotic susceptibilities of the bacterial strains isolated from both groups were similar in ampicillin‐sulbactam and cefotaxime. In addition, there was no significant difference in the duration of fever after treatment between the two groups (group A: 2.0 versus group B: 3.0, P = 0.331). There were no treatment failures and no recurrence in either group, even in patients with resistant pathogens. The most common side effect of the antibiotic agents was diarrhea.

Conclusions

Ampicillin‐sulbactam could be an effective alternative to cephalosporin as empiric antibiotic for the treatment of first‐episode UTI in patients under 24 months of age.
Evaluation of the Long‐term Cumulative UVA Facial Exposure of Queensland School Teachers derived for an Extended Period from the OMI Satellite Irradiance
Authors: Jebar Mustapha A. A. , Downs Nathan J. , Parisi Alfio V. , Turner Joanna
Published: September 2020

This research presents a novel methodology for deriving the total daily broadband solar UVA (320–400 nm) received by school teachers during their working day from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite solar noon UVA irradiance measurements for a Queensland subtropical site (27.5°S, 152°E). Daily UVA exposures are weighted to the anatomical human cheek (anterior infra‐orbital region) for teachers wearing and not wearing broad‐brimmed hats. The method utilizes the OMI UVA irradiance data collected daily at high temporal resolution over 2005 to 2016 to derive the total daily UVA exposure to a horizontal plane. These horizontal plane exposures are scaled by factors to take into account the timing of outdoor activity. The relationship between exposures to a horizontal plane and those to a vertical plane and the protection provided by a broad‐brimmed hat was assessed to evaluate the total daily UVA exposures to the cheek for classroom and physical education teaching staff expected to be outside at different periods of the day. The developed method enables the total daily UVA exposure to specific anatomical sites to be evaluated from the satellite solar noon irradiance at locations that do not have access to surface‐based instrumentation capable of recording in the solar UVA waveband.
Effect of Position and Connected Atom on Photophysical and Photochemical Properties of Some Fluorinated Metallophthalocyanines
Authors: Sağlam Özgül , Farajzadeh Nazli , Yaşa Atmaca Göknur , Erdoğmuş Ali , Koçak Makbule Burkut
Published: September 2020

This study presents the preparation of a new phthalonitrile derivative namely 3‐(4‐(trifluoromethoxy)thiophenoxy)phthalonitrile (1) and a series of its metallated phthalocyanines (M = Zn (II) (1a) and In(III) (1b)). In addition, the peripheral analog of the indium phthalocyanine chloride (2b) was newly synthesized. Characterization of the resulting compounds was carried out by utilizing various spectroscopic methods such as FT‐IR, 1H NMR and UV‐Vis spectroscopy. The influence of concentration on aggregation properties of compound 1a was investigated at different concentrations of DMSO. The effect of solvent type on aggregation properties of compound 1a was studied, as well. According to the referred procedures, the macrocyclic molecules (2a, 3a‐b and 4a‐b) were prepared. The effect of some parameters including metal ion, the position of the substituent and the connected atom (oxo or thio) on photochemical and photophysical features of compounds (1a‐b, 2a‐b, 3a‐b, and 4a‐b) was studied for evaluation of their potential as a photosensitizer in PDT, comparatively. The highest singlet oxygen quantum yields (ΦΔ = 0.71 for 1a and 0.80 for 2b) were obtained for complexes 1a and 1b in DMSO. The photophysical and photochemical features of the studied macromolecules are therefore suitable for photodynamic therapy applications.
Combining permanent aerobiological networks and molecular analyses for large‐scale surveillance of forest fungal pathogens: A proof‐of‐concept
Authors: Aguayo Jaime , Husson Claude , Chancerel Emilie , Fabreguettes Olivier , Chandelier Anne , Fourrier‐Jeandel Céline , Dupuy Nadine , Dutech Cyril , Ioos Renaud , Robin Cécile , Thibaudon Michel , Marçais Benoit , Desprez‐Loustau Marie‐Laure
Published: September 2020

Forest disease management relies principally on a preventive approach in which epidemiological surveillance plays a crucial role. However, efficient and cost‐effective surveillance methods are not currently available for large spatial scales. Nevertheless, aerobiological networks have been set up for several decades in many countries to monitor pollen dispersal and provide real‐time assessments of allergenic risk. Here, we suggest that the same approach could be used for the surveillance of forest pathogens. Using molecular methods, we analysed samples from 12 sites of the French aerobiological network, at different dates. Both metabarcoding by high‐throughput sequencing (using two markers and two different bioinformatics approaches) and real‐time PCR targeting eight important forest pathogens were conducted. To validate the approach, temporal and spatial trends of spore detection were compared with field disease data. The metabarcoding approach demonstrated that many fungal plant pathogens could be found in aerobiological samples. Moreover, five of the eight targeted forest pathogens were detected by real‐time PCR, with temporal and spatial trends of spore capture consistent with field data. In particular, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was detected at high frequency in aerobiological samples in the areas where ash dieback has been present for the longest period of time, and at lower frequency in areas with more recent invasion. Spore detection of seasonal pathogens showed a temporal pattern similar to that of disease reports. Overall, our study provides a proof of concept that permanent aerobiological networks combined with molecular methods may provide a useful tool for large‐scale surveillance of forest pathogens.
Demons and exorcism in ancient Mesopotamia
Authors: Konstantopoulos Gina
Published: September 2020

This essay provides an introduction to the topic of demons and the means of opposing them in ancient Mesopotamia during the early third to late first millennia BCE. Demons and witchcraft were integrated aspects of the Mesopotamian world. They could threaten individuals, often causing illness or ill fortune, as well as target society as a whole, encroaching upon the protected and ordered world of the Mesopotamian city. There were a number of ways to counter such threats, such as protective amulets and incantations, but the foremost, particularly in the first millennium BCE, was the figure of theāšipu, or exorcist. A trained ritual professional, theāšipuhad a range of tools at his disposal, as well as the protection and sanction of the gods. This article provides an introduction to the issue of demons and exorcism by presenting four key aspects of this complex topic: first, an overview of characteristics and role of demons in Mesopotamia; second, a summary of the two notable demonic figures known as Lamashtu and Pazuzu; third, the demonic and chaotic figure of the witch; and fourth, an overview of theāšipuand his methods.
Challenges faced in managing adult asthma: A perspective from Asian countries
Authors: Dhar Raja , Ip Mary , Kulkarni Tarang , Kim Sang‐Heon , Perng Diahn‐Warng , Yao Xin , Iwanaga Takashi , Siyue Koh Mariko
Published: September 2020

Asthma imposes a significant burden on the health system and patients' quality of life. Within Asia, there is large variability in several cultural, social and economic factors ultimately influencing the management of asthma. Differences in risk factors and asthma management practices across Asia make asthma a truly ‘mixed‐bag’ phenomenon. With the advent of biological agents and the consequent emphasis on asthma phenotyping and endotyping, it is more important than ever to understand the diverse nature of asthma as a disease. This is a collaborative review within Asia to highlight the differences in management of adult asthma, and the local modifications that are made to international guidelines. This review paves the way for a future Asian collaborative network in asthma epidemiological research.
Logistic Regression Models with Unspecified Low Dose–Response Relationships and Experimental Designs for Hormesis Studies
Authors: Kim Steven , Wand Jeffrey , Magana‐Ramirez Christina , Fraij Jenel
Published: September 2020

Hormesis refers to a nonmonotonic (biphasic) dose–response relationship in toxicology, environmental science, and related fields. In the presence of hormesis, a low dose of a toxic agent may have a lower risk than the risk at the control dose, and the risk may increase at high doses. When the sample size is small due to practical, logistic, and ethical considerations, a parametric model may provide an efficient approach to hypothesis testing at the cost of adopting a strong assumption, which is not guaranteed to be true. In this article, we first consider alternative parameterizations based on the traditional three‐parameter logistic regression. The new parameterizations attempt to provide robustness to model misspecification by allowing an unspecified dose–response relationship between the control dose and the first nonzero experimental dose. We then consider experimental designs including the uniform design (the same sample size per dose group) and the ‐optimal design (minimizing the standard error of an estimator for a parameter of interest). Our simulation studies showed that (1) the ‐optimal design under the traditional three‐parameter logistic regression does not help reducing an inflated Type I error rate due to model misspecification, (2) it is helpful under the new parameterization with three parameters (Type I error rate is close to a fixed significance level), and (3) the new parameterization with four parameters and the ‐optimal design does not reduce statistical power much while preserving the Type I error rate at a fixed significance level.
Importance sampling type estimators based on approximate marginal Markov chain Monte Carlo
Authors: Vihola Matti , Helske Jouni , Franks Jordan
Published: September 2020

We consider importance sampling (IS) type weighted estimators based on Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) targeting an approximate marginal of the target distribution. In the context of Bayesian latent variable models, the MCMC typically operates on the hyperparameters, and the subsequent weighting may be based on IS or sequential Monte Carlo (SMC), but allows for multilevel techniques as well. The IS approach provides a natural alternative to delayed acceptance (DA) pseudo‐marginal/particle MCMC, and has many advantages over DA, including a straightforward parallelization and additional flexibility in MCMC implementation. We detail minimal conditions which ensure strong consistency of the suggested estimators, and provide central limit theorems with expressions for asymptotic variances. We demonstrate how our method can make use of SMC in the state space models context, using Laplace approximations and time‐discretized diffusions. Our experimental results are promising and show that the IS‐type approach can provide substantial gains relative to an analogous DA scheme, and is often competitive even without parallelization.
Pseudo likelihood‐based estimation and testing of missingness mechanism function in nonignorable missing data problems
Authors: Chen Xuerong , Diao Guoqing , Qin Jing
Published: September 2020

In nonignorable missing response problems, we study a semiparametric model with unspecified missingness mechanism model and a exponential family model for response conditional density. Even though existing methods are available to estimate the parameters in exponential family, estimation or testing of the missingness mechanism model nonparametrically remains to be an open problem. By defining a “synthesis" density involving the unknown missingness mechanism model and the known baseline “carrier" density in the exponential family model, we treat this “synthesis" density as a legitimate one with biased sampling version. We develop maximum pseudo likelihood estimation procedures and the resultant estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal. Since the “synthesis" cumulative distribution is a functional of the missingness mechanism model and the known carrier density, proposed method can be used to test the correctness of the missingness mechanism model nonparametrically andindirectly. Simulation studies and real example demonstrate the proposed methods perform very well.
A Hundred Years from Weber: Science as Vocation and the Resurgence of National Populism1
Authors: Portes Alejandro
Published: September 2020

It has been 100 years since the death of Max Weber and 102 years since the publication of his classic essay “Science as a Vocation.” I review here several of the main ideas advanced in the essay. I then seek to apply a Weberian perspective to the analysis of the rise of national populism by considering first the historical‐structural origins of the present situation and second the meaning that it has for supporters of this movement. The evolution of world capitalism has had consequences that bear directly on the situation of the middle and working‐classes in the advanced countries and in their subsequent political reactions. Applying interpretive perspectives and using recent sociological field studies of the populist grass roots, I seek to understand the meaning that the situation has for supporters of the movement and its political implications. This understanding has direct consequences for current attempts to reverse a movement that has changed the course of recent history in the United States and elsewhere in the developed world.