bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro investigation of an intracranial flow diverter with a fibrin-based, hemostasis mimicking, nanocoating
Authors: Link Antonia , Michel Tatjana , Schaller Martin , Tronser Tina , Krajewski Stefanie , Cattaneo Giorgio
Published: November 2020

Flow diversion aims at treatment of intracranial aneurysms via vessel remodeling mechanisms, avoiding the implantation of foreign materials into the aneurysm sack. However, complex implantation procedure, high metal surface and hemodynamic disturbance still pose a risk for thromboembolic complications in the clinical praxis. A novel fibrin and heparin based nano coating considered as a hemocompatible scaffold for neointimal formation was investigated regarding thrombogenicity and endothelialization. The fibrin-heparin coating was compared to a bare metal as well as fibrin- or heparin-coated flow diverters. The implants were tested separately in regard to inflammation and coagulation markers in two different in vitro hemocompatibility models conducted with human whole blood (n = 5). Endothelialization was investigated through a novel dynamic in vitro cell seeding model containing primary human cells with subsequent viability assay. It was demonstrated that platelet loss and platelet activation triggered by presence of a bare metal stent could be significantly reduced by applying the fibrin-heparin, fibrin and heparin coating. Viability of endothelial cells after proliferation was similar in fibrin-heparin compared to bare metal implants, with a slight, non-significant improvement observed in the fibrin-heparin group. The results suggest that the presented nanocoating has the potential to reduce thromboembolic complications in a clinical setting. Though the new model allowed for endothelial cell proliferation under flow conditions, a higher number of samples is required to assess a possible effect of the coating.
Distribution of the coalescence times in a system of diffusion-aggregation of particle clusters in one dimension
Authors: Fortin Jean-Yves , Choi MooYoung
Published: November 2020

We consider the stochastic dynamics of a system of diffusing clusters of particles on a finite periodic chain. A given cluster of particles can diffuse to the right or left as a whole and merge with other clusters; this process continues until all the clusters coalesce. We examine the distribution of the cluster numbers evolving in time, by means of a general time-dependent master equation based on a Smoluchowski equation for local coagulation and diffusion processes. Further, the limit distribution of the coalescence times is evaluated when only one cluster survives.
Geometric-phase polarimetry
Authors: Garza-Soto Luis , De-Luna-Pamanes Alejandra , Melendez-Montoya Israel , Sanchez-Soria Natalia , Gonzalez-Hernandez Diana , Lopez-Mago Dorilian
Published: November 2020

This paper describes polarimetric strategies based on measuring the light’s geometric phase, which results from the evolution of the polarisation state while traversing an optical system. The system in question is described by a homogeneous Jones matrix, which by definition, contains mutually perpendicular eigenpolarisations. Our leading theory links the system’s Jones matrix parameters (eigenvalues and eigenvectors) with the input polarisation state and the geometric phase. We demonstrate two interferometric techniques. The first one measures the geometric phase based on the relative lateral fringe displacement between the interference pattern of two mutually-orthogonal polarisation states. The second technique uses the visibility of the interference fringes to determine the eigenpolarisations of the system. We present proof-of-principle experiments for both techniques.
Synergetic effect of growth factor and topography on fibroblast proliferation
Authors: Guo Zhenzhao , Genlong Jiao , Huang Zhiqiang , Li Hong , Ge Yao , Wu Zhe , Yu Pei , Li Zhizhong
Published: November 2020

An innovative basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) fibrous membrane with highly aligned structure is developed for guided tissue regeneration (GTR). The aligned membrane is fabricated by electrospinning. In order to make efficient use of bFGF, PCL electrospun fibrous membrane is firstly surface-coated by self-polymerization of dopamine, and followed by immobilization of heparin via covalent conjugation to the polydopamine (PDA) layer. Subsequently, bFGF is loaded by binding to heparin. The loading yield of bFGF on heparin-immobilized PDA-coated PCL membrane significantly increases to around 7 times as compared with that of pure PCL membrane. NIH-3T3 cells show an enhanced proliferation and exhibit a stretched morphology aligned along the direction of the fibers on the aligned membranes. However, aligned bFGF-loaded PCL membrane exhibit a similar morphology but a highest cell density prolonged till 9 days. The synergetic effect of growth factor and topography would effectively regulate cell proliferation.
Graded index multimode fibre as saturable absorber induced by nonlinear multimodal interference for ultrafast photonics
Authors: Wang Zhaokun , Wang D N , Zhu Tianyu , Chen Jikai , Chang Shuo
Published: November 2020

Graded index multimode fibre (GIMF) has emerged as a promising platform for two- and three-dimensional nonlinear optics. Based on the nonlinear multimodal interference technique, GIMF has demonstrated the saturable absorption effect and applied for fibre-based-laser short pulse generation as versatile, wideband ultrafast optical switches. Herein, this review presents the basic principles and the optical properties of the GIMF-based saturable absorber (SA). With this proposed GIMF-based SA device, mode-locking fibre lasers in the wavelength range of 1, 1.55, and 2 μm are realized. Particular focus is on the tunable and multi-wavelength mode-locked fibre lasers, various kinds of soliton generation and large energy soliton generation and a detailed summary of the current advances are given.
Vasohibin-2 Aggravates Development of Ascending Aortic Aneurysms but not Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms nor Atherosclerosis in ApoE-Deficient Mice
Authors: Otaka Nozomu , Uchida Haruhito A , Okuyama Michihiro , Hada Yoshiko , Onishi Yasuhiro , Kakio Yuki , Takeuchi Hidemi , Umebayashi Ryoko , Tanabe Katsuyuki , Subramanian Venkateswaran , Daugherty Alan , Sato Yasufumi , Wada Jun
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Vasohibin-2 (VASH2) has been isolated as a homologue of vasohibin-1 (VASH1) that promotes angiogenesis counteracting with VASH1. Chronic angiotensin II (AngII) infusion promotes both ascending and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAs) in mice. The present study aimed to investigate whether exogenous VASH2 influenced AngII-induced vascular pathology in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice.

METHODS

Male, ApoE−/− mice (9–14 weeks old) were injected with Ad LacZ or Ad VASH2. After a week, saline or AngII (1,000 ng/kg/minute) was infused into the mice subcutaneously via mini-osmotic pumps for 3 weeks. Consequently, all these mice were divided into 4 groups: saline + LacZ (n = 5), saline + VASH2 (n = 5), AngII + LacZ (n = 18), and AngII + VASH2 (n = 17).

RESULTS

Exogenous VASH2 had no significant effect on ex vivo maximal diameters of abdominal aortas (AngII + LacZ: 1.67 ± 0.17 mm, AngII + VASH2: 1.52 ± 0.16 mm, n.s.) or elastin fragmentation and accumulation of inflammatory cells. Conversely, exogenous VASH2 significantly increased intima areas of aortic arches (AngII + LacZ: 16.6 ± 0.27 mm2, AngII + VASH2: 18.6 ± 0.64 mm2, P = 0.006). VASH2 effect of AngII-induced ascending AAs was associated with increased cleaved caspase-3 abundance. AngII-induced atherosclerosis was not altered by VASH2.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated that augmented VASH2 expression had no effect of AngII-induced abdominal AAs or atherosclerosis, while increasing dilation in the ascending aorta.
Progress and challenge for computational quantification of tissue immune cells
Authors: Chen Ziyi , Wu Aiping
Published: November 2020

Tissue immune cells have long been recognized as important regulators for the maintenance of balance in the body system. Quantification of the abundance of different immune cells will provide enhanced understanding of the correlation between immune cells and normal or abnormal situations. Currently, computational methods to predict tissue immune cell compositions from bulk transcriptomes have been largely developed. Therefore, summarizing the advantages and disadvantages is appropriate. In addition, an examination of the challenges and possible solutions for these computational models will assist the development of this field. The common hypothesis of these models is that the expression of signature genes for immune cell types might represent the proportion of immune cells that contribute to the tissue transcriptome. In general, we grouped all reported tools into three groups, including reference-free, reference-based scoring and reference-based deconvolution methods. In this review, a summary of all the currently reported computational immune cell quantification tools and their applications, limitations, and perspectives are presented. Furthermore, some critical problems are found that have limited the performance and application of these models, including inadequate immune cell type, the collinearity problem, the impact of the tissue environment on the immune cell expression level, and the deficiency of standard datasets for model validation. To address these issues, tissue specific training datasets that include all known immune cells, a hierarchical computational framework, and benchmark datasets including both tissue expression profiles and the abundances of all the immune cells are proposed to further promote the development of this field.
On the complexity of haplotyping a microbial community
Authors: Nicholls Samuel M , Aubrey Wayne , De Grave Kurt , Schietgat Leander , Creevey Christopher J , Clare Amanda
Published: November 2020

Motivation

Population-level genetic variation enables competitiveness and niche specialization in microbial communities. Despite the difficulty in culturing many microbes from an environment, we can still study these communities by isolating and sequencing DNA directly from an environment (metagenomics). Recovering the genomic sequences of all isoforms of a given gene across all organisms in a metagenomic sample would aid evolutionary and ecological insights into microbial ecosystems with potential benefits for medicine and biotechnology. A significant obstacle to this goal arises from the lack of a computationally tractable solution that can recover these sequences from sequenced read fragments. This poses a problem analogous to reconstructing the two sequences that make up the genome of a diploid organism (i.e. haplotypes) but for an unknown number of individuals and haplotypes.

Results

The problem of single individual haplotyping was first formalized by Lancia et al. in 2001. Now, nearly two decades later, we discuss the complexity of ‘haplotyping’ metagenomic samples, with a new formalization of Lancia et al.’s data structure that allows us to effectively extend the single individual haplotype problem to microbial communities. This work describes and formalizes the problem of recovering genes (and other genomic subsequences) from all individuals within a complex community sample, which we term the metagenomic individual haplotyping problem. We also provide software implementations for a pairwise single nucleotide variant (SNV) co-occurrence matrix and greedy graph traversal algorithm.

Availability and implementation

Our reference implementation of the described pairwise SNV matrix (Hansel) and greedy haplotype path traversal algorithm (Gretel) is open source, MIT licensed and freely available online at github.com/samstudio8/hansel and github.com/samstudio8/gretel, respectively.
Comparison of subtyping methods for neuroimaging studies in Alzheimer’s disease: a call for harmonization
Authors: Mohanty Rosaleena , Mårtensson Gustav , Poulakis Konstantinos , Muehlboeck J-Sebastian , Rodriguez-Vieitez Elena , Chiotis Konstantinos , Grothe Michel J , Nordberg Agneta , Ferreira Daniel , Westman Eric ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: November 2020

Biological subtypes in Alzheimer’s disease, originally identified on neuropathological data, have been translated to in vivo biomarkers such as structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), to disentangle the heterogeneity within Alzheimer’s disease. Although there is methodological variability across studies, comparable characteristics of subtypes are reported at the group level. In this study, we investigated whether group-level similarities translate to individual-level agreement across subtyping methods, in a head-to-head context. We compared five previously published subtyping methods. Firstly, we validated the subtyping methods in 89 amyloid-beta positive Alzheimer’s disease dementia patients (reference group: 70 amyloid-beta negative healthy individuals) using sMRI. Secondly, we extended and applied the subtyping methods to 53 amyloid-beta positive prodromal Alzheimer’s disease and 30 amyloid-beta positive Alzheimer’s disease dementia patients (reference group: 200 amyloid-beta negative healthy individuals) using sMRI and tau PET. Subtyping methods were implemented as outlined in each original study. Group-level and individual-level comparisons across methods were performed. Each individual subtyping method was replicated, and the proof-of-concept was established. At the group level, all methods captured subtypes with similar patterns of demographic and clinical characteristics, and with similar cortical thinning and tau PET uptake patterns. However, at the individual level large disagreements were found in subtype assignments. Although characteristics of subtypes are comparable at the group level, there is a large disagreement at the individual level across subtyping methods. Therefore, there is an urgent need for consensus and harmonization across subtyping methods. We call for establishment of an open benchmarking framework to overcome this problem.
Clinical Experience With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2–Related Illness in Children: Hospital Experience in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: van der Zalm Marieke M , Lishman Juanita , Verhagen Lilly M , Redfern Andrew , Smit Liezl , Barday Mikhail , Ruttens Dries , da Costa A’ishah , van Jaarsveld Sandra , Itana Justina , Schrueder Neshaad , Van Schalkwyk Marije , Parker Noor , Appel Ilse , Fourie Barend , Claassen Mathilda , Workman Jessica J , Goussard Pierre , Van Zyl Gert , Rabie Helena
Published: November 2020

Background

Children seem relatively protected from serious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–related disease, but little is known about children living in settings with high tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden. This study reflects clinical data on South African children with SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

We collected clinical data of children aged <13 years with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 presenting to Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, between 17 April and 24 July 2020.

Results

One hundred fifty-nine children (median age, 48.0 months [interquartile range {IQR}, 12.0–106.0 months]) were included. Hospitalized children (n = 62), with a median age of 13.5 months (IQR, 1.8–43.5 months) were younger than children not admitted (n = 97; median age, 81.0 months [IQR, 34.5–120.5 months]; P < .01.). Thirty-three of 159 (20.8%) children had preexisting medical conditions. Fifty-one of 62 (82.3%) hospitalized children were symptomatic; lower respiratory tract infection was diagnosed in 21 of 51 (41.2%) children, and in 11 of 16 (68.8%) children <3 months of age. Respiratory support was required in 25 of 51 (49.0%) children; 13 of these (52.0%) were <3 months of age. One child was HIV infected and 11 of 51 (21.2%) were HIV exposed but uninfected, and 7 of 51 (13.7%) children had a recent or new diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Conclusions

Children <1 year of age hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in Cape Town frequently required respiratory support. Access to oxygen may be limited in some low- and middle-income countries, which could potentially drive morbidity and mortality. HIV infection was uncommon but a relationship between HIV exposure, tuberculosis, and SARS-CoV-2 should be explored.
Racial Disparities in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Mortality Are Driven by Unequal Infection Risks
Authors: Zelner Jon , Trangucci Rob , Naraharisetti Ramya , Cao Alex , Malosh Ryan , Broen Kelly , Masters Nina , Delamater Paul
Published: November 2020

Background

As of 1 November 2020, there have been >230 000 deaths and 9 million confirmed and probable cases attributable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the United States. However, this overwhelming toll has not been distributed equally, with geographic, race/ethnic, age, and socioeconomic disparities in exposure and mortality defining features of the US coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic.

Methods

We used individual-level COVID-19 incidence and mortality data from the state of Michigan to estimate age-specific incidence and mortality rates by race/ethnic group. Data were analyzed using hierarchical Bayesian regression models, and model results were validated using posterior predictive checks.

Results

In crude and age-standardized analyses we found rates of incidence and mortality more than twice as high than for Whites for all groups except Native Americans. Blacks experienced the greatest burden of confirmed and probable COVID-19 (age-standardized incidence, 1626/100 000 population) and mortality (age-standardized mortality rate, 244/100 000). These rates reflect large disparities, as Blacks experienced age-standardized incidence and mortality rates 5.5 (95% posterior credible interval [CrI], 5.4–5.6) and 6.7 (95% CrI, 6.4–7.1) times higher than Whites, respectively. We found that the bulk of the disparity in mortality between Blacks and Whites is driven by dramatically higher rates of COVID-19 infection across all age groups, particularly among older adults, rather than age-specific variation in case-fatality rates.

Conclusions

This work suggests that well-documented racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality in hard-hit settings, such as Michigan, are driven primarily by variation in household, community, and workplace exposure rather than case-fatality rates.
ECMELLA: successful rescue cardiopulmonary support in post-coronary artery bypass graft cardiogenic shock with cardiac arrest—case report
Authors: Nogueira Zara Chan , Trevas Sara , Ferreira Hilaryano , Côrte-Real Hugo
Published: November 2020

Background

Cardiogenic shock is the main cause of death in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndromes, with a high mortality rate. The management of graft thrombosis after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is challenging and the best revascularization strategy is not well defined. In patients who develop cardiac arrest due to graft thrombosis, the benefits of mechanical support during advanced cardiac life support are uncertain. Rescue extracorporeal cardiac bypass resuscitation has been used in the context of cardiopulmonary arrest, with survival rates of around 34.7% of which 28.5% with good neurological outcome.

Case summary

We present here the case of a patient who developed cardiogenic shock after CABG graft occlusion. The patient suffered refractory cardiac arrest during percutaneous revascularization and received rescue cardiopulmonary support. Revascularization was achieved and there was a successful resuscitation with the placement of venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and an Impella CP device. After a 29-day hospitalization the patient was discharged with no neurological sequelae.

Discussion

Although there is limited evidence of the benefit of a combined use of mechanical support (VA-ECMO with other mechanical devices) in the management of cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest following CABG surgery, there seems to be a lower mortality with this approach, and possibly more favourable neurological outcomes. Further research is needed to elucidate the advantages of Impella vs. intra-aortic balloon pump combined with VA-ECMO in such patients.
Does Regime Change Affect Intergenerational Mobility? Evidence from German Reunification
Authors: Grätz Michael
Published: November 2020

This study uses the natural experiment of German reunification and a difference-in-differences approach to test whether the political and economic transition in East Germany in 1990 affected intergenerational occupational and educational mobility. Results obtained using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study show that German reunification did neither strongly affect occupational nor educational mobility. These findings are robust to operationalizing social origin in various ways. Admittedly, reunification may have had small or long-term effects on occupational and educational mobility that cannot be uncovered with the data and research design employed in this study. However, the findings rule out that there were large, short- or medium-term effects of German reunification on intergenerational mobility. These findings are at odds with theories that argue that institutional change has strong, immediate causal effects on intergenerational mobility.
Health Disparities of Older Adults in California: The Role of Sexual Identity and Latinx Ethnicity
Authors: Choi Soon Kyu , Kittle Krystal , Meyer Ilan H
Published: November 2020

Background and Objectives

We examined the health disparities of older adults (age 50 and older) in California at the intersection of sexual identity and Latinx ethnicity, by comparing the prevalence of health outcomes of 4 groups: LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) Latinx, straight Latinx, LGB non-Latinx, and straight non-Latinx older adults.

Research Design and Methods

Data were from the 2015–2016 California Health Interview Survey. Multivariable logistic regressions tested differences among the 4 groups and the effect of covariates on prevalence of mental and physical health outcomes. We compared LGB and straight people within the same ethnic groups and Latinx and non-Latinx people within the same sexual identity groups to understand the intersectional effect of Latinx ethnicity and LGB identity.

Results

Tests by sexual identity showed that among Latinx older adults, more LGB than non-LGB people experienced serious psychological distress. Among non-Latinx older adults, there were no health disparities due to sexual identity. Tests by Latinx ethnicity showed that among LGB older adults, more Latinx than non-Latinx people were obese. Among straight people, more Latinx than non-Latinx older people had poor health, diabetes, and obesity.

Discussion and Implications

The compounded effect of Latinx and LGB identity on psychological distress is notable. However, most health disparities were among straight older adults, between Latinx and non-Latinx people, indicating that Latinx, not sexual identity, nor their intersection, was most influential. Given the importance of sociodemographic factors on health outcomes, programs targeting LGB older adults should take a comprehensive approach to understand their experiences as ethnic minorities.
A framework policy analysis of national health insurance policymaking in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Roll Amy , Katz Aaron , Lane Jeff
Published: November 2020

National health insurance (NHI) is a financing mechanism established by a national government with the goal of covering all or almost all of its citizens. A number of low- and middle-income countries have established NHIs as part of a strategy to progress towards universal health coverage. The establishment of an NHI presents a potentially significant shift in national health sector governance, but little is available in the literature regarding how policymaking authority and health governance is shared between NHIs and ministries of health (MOHs). To answer this question, we conducted a descriptive, qualitative comparative analysis of policies, including legislation, guidelines and webpages, from four sub-Saharan African countries that have established or are in the process of establishing an NHI scheme as of 2019 (Ghana, Kenya, Zambia and South Africa). We developed a novel conceptual framework comprising 16 NHI policy domains and conducted a deductive review of relevant policies. We then extracted and indexed policy elements according to this framework to facilitate comparative analysis. We found substantial variation across countries in the types of policies developed and the decision-making authority around those policies. MOHs in all four countries retained at least some decision-making power over the NHIs through regulations and appointment of board members. However, NHIs were often delegated policymaking authority in key areas including financing mechanisms, provider payments, member payments, benefit schemes, accreditation and relationships with private health insurance schemes. The results of this analysis illustrate many aspects of health regulatory power and oversight that will need to be defined as part of establishing NHIs. The approaches from these four countries and the conceptual framework presented in this manuscript may be helpful for other countries in evaluating differing approaches to shared health governance between NHIs and MOHs.
Power, control, communities and health inequalities I: theories, concepts and analytical frameworks
Authors: Popay Jennie , Whitehead Margaret , Ponsford Ruth , Egan Matt , Mead Rebecca
Published: November 2020

This is Part I of a three-part series on community empowerment as a route to greater health equity. We argue that community ‘empowerment’ approaches in the health field are increasingly restricted to an inward gaze on community psycho-social capacities and proximal neighbourhood conditions, neglecting the outward gaze on political and social transformation for greater equity embedded in foundational statements on health promotion. We suggest there are three imperatives if these approaches are to contribute to increased equity. First, to understand pathways from empowerment to health equity and drivers of the depoliticisation of contemporary empowerment practices. Second, to return to the original concept of empowerment processes that support communities of place/interest to develop capabilities needed to exercise collective control over decisions and actions in the pursuit of social justice. Third, to understand, and engage with, power dynamics in community settings. Based on our longitudinal evaluation of a major English community empowerment initiative and research on neighbourhood resilience, we propose two complementary frameworks to support these shifts. The Emancipatory Power Framework presents collective control capabilities as forms of positive power. The Limiting Power Framework elaborates negative forms of power that restrict the development and exercise of a community’s capabilities for collective control. Parts II and III of this series present empirical findings on the operationalization of these frameworks. Part II focuses on qualitative markers of shifts in emancipatory power in BL communities and Part III explores how power dynamics unfolded in these neighbourhoods.
Endothelial cell apicobasal polarity coordinates distinct responses to luminally versus abluminally delivered TNF-α in a microvascular mimetic
Authors: Salminen Alec T , Tithof Jeffrey , Izhiman Yara , Masters Elysia A , McCloskey Molly C , Gaborski Thomas R , Kelley Douglas H , Pietropaoli Anthony P , Waugh Richard E , McGrath James L
Published: November 2020

Endothelial cells (ECs) are an active component of the immune system and interact directly with inflammatory cytokines. While ECs are known to be polarized cells, the potential role of apicobasal polarity in response to inflammatory mediators has been scarcely studied. Acute inflammation is vital in maintaining healthy tissue in response to infection; however, chronic inflammation can lead to the production of systemic inflammatory cytokines and deregulated leukocyte trafficking, even in the absence of a local infection. Elevated levels of cytokines in circulation underlie the pathogenesis of sepsis, the leading cause of intensive care death. Because ECs constitute a key barrier between circulation (luminal interface) and tissue (abluminal interface), we hypothesize that ECs respond differentially to inflammatory challenge originating in the tissue versus circulation as in local and systemic inflammation, respectively. To begin this investigation, we stimulated ECs abluminally and luminally with the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) to mimic a key feature of local and systemic inflammation, respectively, in a microvascular mimetic (μSiM-MVM). Polarized IL-8 secretion and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) transmigration were quantified to characterize the EC response to luminal versus abluminal TNF-α. We observed that ECs uniformly secrete IL-8 in response to abluminal TNF-α and is followed by PMN transmigration. The response to abluminal treatment was coupled with the formation of ICAM-1-rich membrane ruffles on the apical surface of ECs. In contrast, luminally stimulated ECs secreted five times more IL-8 into the luminal compartment than the abluminal compartment and sequestered PMNs on the apical EC surface. Our results identify clear differences in the response of ECs to TNF-α originating from the abluminal versus luminal side of a monolayer for the first time and may provide novel insight into future inflammatory disease intervention strategies.
Decreased plasma rifapentine concentrations associated with AADAC single nucleotide polymorphism in adults with tuberculosis
Authors: Weiner Marc , Gelfond Jon , Johnson-Pais Teresa L , Engle Melissa , Johnson John L , Whitworth William C , Bliven-Sizemore Erin , Nsubuga Pheona , Dorman Susan E , Savic Rada ,   the Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics Group of Tuberculosis Trials Consortium, Weiner Marc , Savic Rada , Whitworth William C , Engle Melissa , Dooley Kelly , Nsubuga Pheona , Ricaldi Jessica , Vernon Andrew
Published: November 2020

Background

Rifapentine exposure is associated with bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but high interindividual variation in plasma concentrations is encountered.

Objectives

To investigate a genomic association with interindividual variation of rifapentine exposure, SNPs of six human genes involving rifamycin metabolism (AADAC, CES2), drug transport (SLCO1B1, SLCO1B3) and gene regulation (HNF4A, PXR) were evaluated.

Methods

We characterized these genes in 173 adult participants in treatment trials of the Tuberculosis Trials Consortium. Participants were stratified by self-identified race (black or non-black), and rifapentine AUC from 0 to 24 h (AUC0–24) was adjusted by analysis of covariance for SNPs, rifapentine dose, sex, food and HIV coinfection. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT01043575.

Results

The effect on rifapentine least squares mean AUC0–24 in black participants overall decreased by –10.2% for AADAC rs1803155 G versus A allele (Wald test: P = 0.03; false discovery rate, 0.10). Black participants with one G allele in AADAC rs1803155 were three times as likely to have below target bactericidal rifapentine exposure than black participants with the A allele (OR, 2.97; 95% CI: 1.16, 7.58). With two G alleles, the OR was greater. In non-black participants, AADAC rs1803155 SNP was not associated with rifapentine exposure. In both black and non-black participants, other evaluated genes were not associated with rifapentine exposure (P > 0.05; false discovery rate > 0.10).

Conclusions

Rifapentine exposure in black participants varied with AADAC rs1803155 genotype and the G allele was more likely to be associated with below bactericidal target rifapentine exposure. Further pharmacogenomic study is needed to characterize the association of the AADAC rs1803155 with inadequate rifapentine exposure in different patient groups.
Spillovers and strategic interaction in immigration policies
Authors: Görlach Joseph-Simon , Motz Nicolas
Published: November 2020

Asylum policies are interdependent across countries: policy choices in one country can affect refugee flows into neighbouring countries and may provoke policy changes there, in an a priori unknown direction. We formulate a dynamic model of refugees’ location choices and of the strategic interaction among destinations that we fit to Syrian refugee migration to Europe. We find that south and southeastern European countries view recognition rates as strategic substitutes, whereas the same policies can be strategic complements in northern Europe. Our findings imply that regression frameworks which use cross-country variation to estimate the effects of recognition rates on immigration underestimate (overestimate) the effect if this policy is a strategic substitute (complement).
Short Persistence and Vector Susceptibility to Ficam 80WP (bendiocarb active ingredient) During Pilot Application of Indoor Residual Spraying in Burkina Faso, West Africa
Authors: Hien Aristide Sawdetuo , Soma Dieudonné Diloma , Somé Fabrice Anyirekun , Namountougou Moussa , Poda Serge Bèwadéyir , Ouédraogo Georges Anicet , Diabaté Abdoulaye , Dabiré Roch Kounbobr
Published: November 2020

Indoor residual spraying (IRS) was applied in addition to the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets in the South West in Burkina Faso, where Anopheles gambiae s.l. the major malaria vector was resistant to pyrethroids. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and residual life of bendiocarb (active ingredient) used for spraying on different wall surfaces (mud and cement). Cone bioassays were done monthly with the susceptible An. gambiae ‘Kisumu’ strain and the local wild populations to determine the duration for which insecticide was effective in killing mosquitoes. Cone bioassay data showed low efficacy and short persistence of bendiocarb applied on mud and cement walls, lasting 2 mo with the susceptible insectary strain and less than 1 mo with An. gambiae wild populations. In addition, WHO tube assays confirmed resistance of An. gambiae wild populations to 0.1% bendiocarb with mortality rates less than 80% in both study sites (sprayed and unsprayed sites). The pilot study of IRS with bendiocarb showed that the residual efficacy of bendiocarb was very short, and resistance to bendiocarb was confirmed in wild populations of An. gambiae s.l. Therefore, Ficam 80 WP was not suitable for IRS in this area due to the short residual duration related mainly to vectors resistance to bendiocarb. While waiting for innovative malaria control tool, alternative insecticide (organophosphate or neonicotinoid classes) or combinations of insecticides have to be used for insecticide resistance management in Burkina Faso.
Intraspecific differentiation in seed flooding tolerance ofEchinochloa crusgallivar.zelayensispopulation in shores of a giant reservoir along altitudinal gradients
Authors: Liu Songping , Lin Feng , Su Xiaolei , Ayi Qiaoli , Niu Hangang , Shi Shaohua , Wan Binna , Zeng Bo , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: November 2020

Aims

In a large dam-regulated reservoir with regular hydrological pattern and strong flooding gradients across shore elevations, plants inhabiting in different shore elevations have to confront long-lasting flooding of differential intensities every year. Such persistent stress may lead to intraspecific differentiation of flooding tolerance in seeds. Echinochloa crusgalli var. zelayensis is a dominant annual plant in the shores of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), which plays an important role in the shore vegetation. The objective of this study is to check whether intraspecific differentiation of seed flooding tolerance has occurred among E. crusgalli var. zelayensis populations in the TGR shores and whether such differentiation is associated with weak seed dispersal.

Methods

We collected seeds of E. crusgalli var. zelayensis from different populations in the TGR shores, and then placed them at four elevations in the shores flooded by reservoir impoundment. Parameters reflecting seed flooding tolerance including post-flooding percentage of intact seeds, seed germinability and seedling emergence rate were investigated for the seeds from different populations and undergoing flooding of different intensities. Floating time of seeds and speed of water level rise during impoundment were examined, and used to quantify dispersal potential of seeds in the shores of the TGR when flooded.

Important Findings

Both intact seed percentage and final seedling emergence rate after flooding significantly declined with increasing shore elevations where the seeds were collected, indicating that intraspecific differentiation in seed flooding tolerance has occurred among E. crusgalli var. zelayensis populations in the TGR shores after 7-year operation of the reservoir. The distance of seeds transported by rising water during reservoir impoundment was limited due to short-floating time of the seeds and relatively low speed of water level rise in the reservoir. This would be favourable to the development of intraspecific differentiation in seed flooding tolerance.
The successful use of collagenase for Ledderhose disease (plantar fibromatosis) in a paediatric patient: a case report
Authors: Mahmoud Arin , Kozhikunnath Arun , Buddhdev Pranai
Published: November 2020

Ledderhose disease is a connective tissue disorder involving proliferation of fibrous tissue in the plantar fascia of the foot. Histologically identical manifestations exist in the hand (Dupuytren’s contracture) and penis (Peyronie’s disease), and collagenase injections are approved as a treatment in both, however not in Ledderhose, where the treatment of choice remains surgical resection. Surgery is associated with high rates of recurrence and need for further surgery, so alternative therapies should be sought. Due to their histological and physiological similarities, it is likely that therapies useful in Dupuytren’s and Peyronie’s would be useful in Ledderhose. Two previous case reports investigating collagenase injections for Ledderhose disease in adults have shown conflicting results; this study demonstrates the efficacy of collagenase injections in a paediatric patient at 1-year follow-up.
Navigating the risks of flying during COVID-19: a review for safe air travel
Authors: Khatib Aisha N , Carvalho Anna-Maria , Primavesi Robert , To Kent , Poirier Vincent
Published: November 2020

Rationale for Review

With air travel restarting, there has been much discourse about the safety of flying during the pandemic. In travel medicine, risk assessment includes estimating baseline risk to the traveller, recognizing factors that may modify that risk, considering the role of interventions to decrease that risk and accounting for a traveller’s perception and tolerance of risk. The goals of this review are to identify the in-flight transmission risks of commercial air travel, provide recommendations about the risks of flying during the pandemic and propose strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Key Findings

The airline industry has taken a layered approach to increase passenger safety through effective onboard ventilation, extended ventilation at the gate, boarding and deplaning strategies, improved aircraft disinfection and pre-flight screening such as temperature checks and COVID-19 testing. Proximity to an index case may contribute to the risk of transmission more than the seat type or location. The use of face masks has significantly reduced onboard transmission, and mandatory in-flight mask-wearing policies are being enforced. Innovations such as digital health passports may help standardize screening entry requirements at airports and borders, allowing for a safer return to travel.

Recommendations

In-flight transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is a real risk, which may be minimized by combining mitigation strategies and infection prevention measures including mandatory masking onboard, minimizing unmasked time while eating, turning on gasper airflow in-flight, frequent hand sanitizing, disinfecting high touch surfaces, promoting distancing while boarding and deplaning, limiting onboard passenger movement, implementing effective pre-flight screening measures and enhancing contact tracing capability. Assessing risk is a cornerstone of travel medicine. It is important to evaluate the multiple factors contributing to the cumulative risk of an individual traveller during the COVID-19 pandemic and to employ a multi-pronged approach to reduce that risk.
The role of CLAVATA signalling in the negative regulation of mycorrhizal colonization and nitrogen response of tomato
Authors: Wang Chenglei , Velandia Karen , Kwon Choon-Tak , Wulf Kate E , Nichols David S , Reid James B , Foo Eloise
Published: November 2020

Plants form mutualistic nutrient-acquiring symbioses with microbes, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The formation of these symbioses is costly, and plants employ a negative feedback loop termed autoregulation of mycorrhizae (AOM) to limit formation of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). We provide evidence for the role of one leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (FAB), a hydroxyproline O-arabinosyltransferase enzyme (FIN), and additional evidence for one receptor-like protein (SlCLV2) in the negative regulation of AM formation in tomato. Reciprocal grafting experiments suggest that the FAB gene acts locally in the root, while the SlCLV2 gene may act in both the root and the shoot. External nutrients including phosphate and nitrate can also strongly suppress AM formation. We found that FAB and FIN are required for nitrate suppression of AM but are not required for the powerful suppression of AM colonization by phosphate. This parallels some of the roles of legume homologues in the autoregulation of the more recently evolved symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria leading to nodulation. This deep homology in the symbiotic role of these genes suggests that in addition to the early signalling events that lead to the establishment of AM and nodulation, the autoregulation pathway might also be considered part of the common symbiotic toolkit that enabled plants to form beneficial symbioses.
λ And: a post-main-sequence wind from a solar-mass star
Authors: Ó Fionnagáin D , Vidotto A A , Petit P , Neiner C , Manchester IV W , Folsom C P , Hallinan G
Published: November 2020

We investigate the wind of λ And, a solar-mass star that has evolved off the main sequence becoming a subgiant. We present spectropolarimetric observations and use them to reconstruct the surface magnetic field of λ And. Although much older than our Sun, this star exhibits a stronger (reaching up to 83 G) large-scale magnetic field, which is dominated by the poloidal component. To investigate the wind of λ And, we use the derived magnetic map to simulate two stellar wind scenarios, namely a ‘polytropic wind’ (thermally driven) and an ‘Alfven-wave-driven wind’ with turbulent dissipation. From our 3D magnetohydrodynamics simulations, we calculate the wind thermal emission and compare it to previously published radio observations and more recent Very Large Array observations, which we present here. These observations show a basal sub-mJy quiescent flux level at ∼5 GHz and, at epochs, a much larger flux density (>37 mJy), likely due to radio flares. By comparing our model results with the radio observations of λ And, we can constrain its mass-loss rate $\dot{M}$. There are two possible conclusions. (1) Assuming the quiescent radio emission originates from the stellar wind, we conclude that λ And has $\dot{M} \simeq 3 \times 10^{-9}$ M⊙ yr −1, which agrees with the evolving mass-loss rate trend for evolved solar-mass stars. (2) Alternatively, if the quiescent emission does not originate from the wind, our models can only place an upper limit on mass-loss rates, indicating that $\dot{M} \lesssim 3 \times 10^{-9}$ M⊙ yr −1.
Calibrating the binary black hole population in nuclear star clusters through tidal disruption events
Authors: Fragione Giacomo , Perna Rosalba , Loeb Abraham
Published: November 2020

As the sensitivity of gravitational wave (GW) instruments improves and new networks start operating, hundreds of merging stellar-mass black holes (SBHs) and intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) are expected to be observed in the next few years. The origin and distribution of SBH and IMBH binaries in various dynamical environments is a fundamental scientific question in GW astronomy. In this paper, we discuss ways tidal disruption events (TDEs) may provide a unique electromagnetic window into the assembly and merger of binary SBHs and IMBHs in nuclear star clusters (NSCs). We discuss how the host NSC mass and density and the slope of the BH mass function set the orbital properties and the masses of the binaries that undergo a TDE. For typical NSC properties, we predict a TDE rate of ∼10−6–10−7 yr−1 per galaxy. The light curve of TDEs in NSCs could be interrupted and modulated by the companion BH on the orbital period of the binary. These should be readily detectable by optical transient surveys such as the Zwicky Transient Facility and LSST.
Generation of gravitational waves and tidal disruptions in clumpy galaxies
Authors: Pestoni Boris , Bortolas Elisa , Capelo Pedro R , Mayer Lucio
Published: November 2020

Obtaining a better understanding of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) is crucial, as their properties could shed light on the origin and growth of their supermassive counterparts. Massive star-forming clumps, which are present in a large fraction of massive galaxies at z ∼ 1–3, are among the venues wherein IMBHs could reside. We perform a series of Fokker–Planck simulations to explore the occurrence of tidal disruption (TD) and gravitational wave (GW) events about an IMBH in a massive star-forming clump, modelling the latter so that its mass ($10^8 \, {\rm M}_{\odot}$) and effective radius (100 pc) are consistent with the properties of both observed and simulated clumps. We find that the TD and GW event rates are in the ranges of 10−6 to 10−5 and 10−8 to 10−7 yr−1, respectively, depending on the assumptions for the initial inner density profile of the system (ρ ∝ r−2 or ∝ r−1) and the initial mass of the central IMBH (105 or $10^3\, {\rm M}_{\odot}$). By integrating the GW event rate over z = 1–3, we expect that the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna will be able to detect ∼2 GW events per year coming from these massive clumps; the intrinsic rate of TD events from these systems amounts instead to a few 103 per year, a fraction of which will be observable by e.g. the Square Kilometre Array and the Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics. In conclusion, our results support the idea that the forthcoming GW and electromagnetic facilities may have the unprecedented opportunity of unveiling the lurking population of IMBHs.