bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential expression of miRNAs and their target genes: Exploring a new perspective of acquired aplastic anemia pathogenesis
Authors: Srivastava Jyotika , Chaturvedi Chandra P. , Rahman Khaliqur , Gupta Ruchi , Sharma Akhilesh , Chandra Dinesh , Singh Manish K. , Gupta Anshul , Yadav Sanjeev , Nityanand Soniya
Published: June 2020

Introduction

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in orchestrating T cell differentiation and activation and may thus play a vital role in acquired aplastic anemia (aAA). The study aimed to evaluate the differential expression of selected miRNAs and their relevant target genes in bone marrow samples of aAA patients.

Methods

Differential expression of 8 miRNAs viz; hsa‐miR‐126‐3p, miR‐145‐5p, miR‐155‐5p, miR‐150‐5p, miR‐146b‐5p, miR‐34a, miR‐29a, and miR‐29b was evaluated in the bone marrow mononuclear cells of aAA patients. TaqMan microRNA assay was performed for preparing the cDNA of specific miRNA, followed by expression analysis using qRT‐PCR. Data were normalized using two endogenous controls, RNU6B and RNU48. Delta‐delta CT method was used to calculate the fold change (FC) of miRNA expression in individual samples, and a FC of >1.5 was taken as significant. Target genes of these miRNAs were evaluated by qRT‐PCR.

Results

Thirty five samples of aAA patients and 20 controls were evaluated. Irrespective of the disease severity, five miRNAs were found to be deregulated; miR‐126 (FC‐0.348; P‐value‐.0001) and miR‐145 (FC‐0.31; P‐value‐.0001) were downregulated, while miR‐155 (FC‐3.50; P‐value‐.0067), miR‐146 (FC‐3.13; P‐value‐.0105), and miR‐150 (FC‐5.78; P‐value‐.0001) were upregulated. Target gene study revealed an upregulation of PIK3R2, MYC, SOCS1, and TRAF‐6, and downregulation of MYB.

Conclusion

This is the first study from the Indian subcontinent demonstrating the presence of altered miRNA expression in the bone marrow samples of aAA patients, suggesting their role in the pathogenesis of the disease. A comprehensive study focusing on the effect of these miRNA‐mRNA interactions is likely to open new avenues of management.
Change Rippling through Our Waters and Culture
Authors: Martin Christine , Doyle John , LaFrance JoRee , Lefthand Myra J. , Young Sara L. , Three Irons Emery , Eggers Margaret J.
Published: June 2020

It is well established that climate change is already causing a wide variety of human health impacts in the United States and globally, and that for many reasons Native Americans are particularly vulnerable. Tribal water security is particularly threatened; the ways in which climate changes are damaging community health and well‐being through impacts on water resources have been addressed more thoroughly for Tribes in coastal, arid, and sub‐arctic/arctic regions of the United States. In this article, Crow Tribal members from the Northern Plains describe the impacts of climate and environmental change on local water resources and ecosystems, and thereby on Tribal community health and well‐being. Formal, qualitative research methodology was employed drawing on interviews with 26 Crow Tribal Elders. Multiple determinants of health are addressed, including cultural, social, economic, and environmental factors. The sense of environmental‐cultural‐health loss and despair at the inability to address the root causes of climate change are widespread. Yet the co‐authors and many other Tribal members are actively prioritizing, addressing, and coping with some of the local impacts of these changes, and are carrying on Apsáalooke [Crow] lifeways and values.
The Effect of Personality Traits on Risk of Incident Pre‐dementia Syndromes
Authors: Ayers Emmeline , Gulley Emma , Verghese Joe
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVES

Personality traits have been shown to be associated with the risk of dementia; less is known about their association with pre‐dementia syndromes. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of personality traits as predictors of incident pre‐dementia, motoric cognitive risk (MCR), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) syndromes.

DESIGN

We prospectively examined the association between five personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness) and the risk of incident MCR or MCI. MCR builds on MCI operational definitions, substituting the cognitive impairment criterion with slow gait, and it is associated with increased risk for both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

SETTING

Community based.

PARTICIPANTS

Nondemented participants (n = 524; 62% women) aged 65 years and older.

MEASUREMENTS

Cox proportional hazard analysis, adjusted for demographics and disease burden, was used to evaluate the risk of each pre‐dementia syndrome based on baseline personality traits, measured using the Big Five Inventory.

RESULTS

Over a median follow‐up of 3 years, 38 participants developed incident MCR, and 69 developed incident MCI (41 non‐amnestic and 28 amnestic subtypes). Openness was associated with a reduced risk of developing incident MCR (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = .94; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .89‐.99), whereas neuroticism was associated with an increased risk of incident non‐amnestic MCI (aHR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.01‐1.11). These associations remained significant even after considering the confounding effects of lifestyle or mood. None of the personality traits were associated with MCI overall or amnestic MCI.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide evidence of a distinct relationship between personality traits and development of specific pre‐dementia syndromes. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1554‐1559, 2020.
Is the beneficial use of wood ash environmentally beneficial? A screening‐level life cycle assessment and uncertainty analysis
Authors: Gaudreault Caroline , Lama Ilich , Sain Derek
Published: June 2020

In this paper, a screening‐level life cycle assessment (LCA) approach is used to compare the potential environmental benefits and tradeoffs of different management options for wood ash, namely, agricultural land application, forest soil amendment, use in forest roads, use in concrete and mortar, and landfilling. Uncertainty analyses are used to evaluate the generalizability of the results obtained. Although decisions regarding the selection of a beneficial use option are site‐specific and depend on available local markets and wood ash characteristics, this study shows that it is possible to draw a few general conclusions from the application of LCA. All beneficial use (BU) options showed lower environmental indicator scores than those associated with landfilling, in addition to net potential environmental benefits. From an environmental perspective, results suggest that, only in a few situations, beneficially using wood ash might not produce potential net environmental benefits but would still be preferred over landfilling, and in a very few cases, landfilling would be preferred over a BU option. For instance, net environmental benefits may be compromised if wood ash needs to be transported over long distances before it can be beneficially used. Out of the four BU options evaluated, the use of wood ash in concrete to replace Portland cement showed the greatest potential environmental benefits. However, the application of wood ash on agricultural or forest land showed greater environmental benefits than the use in concrete in cases where both its liming and fertilizing potentials are assumed to be achieved at the same time.
Correlia: an ImageJ plug‐in to co‐register and visualise multimodal correlative micrographs
Authors: ROHDE FLORENS , BRAUMANN ULF‐DIETRICH , SCHMIDT MATTHIAS
Published: June 2020

The correlation of different microscopic imaging techniques alongside with microanalytical methods is crucial to better understand biological processes on a subcellular level. For that, micrographs and chemical maps exhibiting both, very different spatial resolution and field‐of‐view but also a highly multimodal content has to be co‐registered. We developed the ImageJ/Fiji plug‐in Correlia that provides an environment for handling multimodal correlative microscopy data. Several linear and nonlinear registration methods using either feature or area‐based similarity measures can flexibly be cascaded to align and warp 2D microscopy data sets. The registration of data sets containing light‐ and electron micrographs as well as chemical maps acquired by secondary‐ion mass spectroscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy is demonstrated. Correlia is an open‐source tool developed particularly for the registration and analysis of highly multimodal 2D correlative microscopy data.

Lay Description

If a microscopic object is imaged correlatively by two or more different microscopes the acquired micrographs will have to be overlaid accurately using an image‐registration software. In cases of relatively similar image content creating such an overlay is straight‐forward but what if the fields‐of‐view and resolutions of the micrographs differ significantly? What if there are distortions in a micrograph which have to be corrected before creating an overlay? What if furthermore a chemical map shall be overlaid that merely shows regions in which a certain chemical element is present? The rapidly increasing number of applications in correlative microscopy is calling for an easy‐to‐use and flexible image registration software that can deal with these challenges. Having that in mind, we developed Correlia, an ImageJ/Fiji plug‐in that provides an environment for handling multimodal 2D correlative microscopy data‐sets. It allows for creating overlays using different registration algorithms that can flexibly be cascaded. In this paper we describe what is happening ‘under the hood’ and give two example data‐sets from microbiology which were registered using Correlia. Correlia is open source software and available from www.ufz.de/correlia ‐ including introductory examples, as the authors would like to encourage other scientists to process their individual correlative microscopy data using Correlia.
Laser‐assisted topical steroid application versus steroid injection for treating keloids: A split side study
Authors: Abd El‐Dayem Dina H. , Nada Hesham A. , Hanafy Noha S. , Elsaie Mohamed L.
Published: June 2020

Background

Approaches to improve keloid scars include intralesional corticosteroid injections and fractional lasers exclusively. The combinative use of ablative fractional laser therapy and occluded topical corticosteroid as a drug delivery method enhances therapeutic outcome of two efficient scar therapy modules into one simple synergistic module.

Aim

To compare the therapeutic effect of combining two modalities of scar treatment, the first is fractional ablative laser treatment and the other is occluded topical corticosteroid to the standard use of intralesional steroid injection.

Methods

Keloids from thirty suffering patients were split faced into two identical parts; one part received an intralesional corticosteroid injection while the other part was treated first with fractional ablative 2940 nm Er: YAG laser followed by occluded topical application of steroid cream. Four treatment sessions were performed with 4‐week interval between sessions. Every session was assessed photographically and using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS).

Results

The mean keloid VSS before treatment was 6.9 ± 1.9. After treatment, the mean keloid VSS of the injection side became 2.63 ± 2.09, and mean keloid VSS of the laser‐treated side became 2.07 ± 2.02. Each of the treated halves showed a statistically significant improvement in their VSS. However, no statistically significant differences were observed for either of the treated halves over the other one.

Conclusion

Although intralesional steroids injection is the standard procedure for treatment of keloid scars, the use of ablative fractional laser‐assisted delivery of topical steroid can offer a safer and a better aesthetic treatment option.
How self‐esteem and narcissism differentially relate to high and (un)stable feelings of status and inclusion
Authors: Benson Alex J. , Giacomin Miranda
Published: June 2020

Objective

We tested how self‐esteem and grandiose narcissism are associated with people's level and instability of status and inclusion.

Method

In Studies 1 and 2, we used latent profile analysis (Study 1, N = 989; Study 2, N = 470, 111 teams) to examine how people felt about their level and instability of status and inclusion. In Study 3, we used daily diary reports (N = 287, 1,286 daily observations) to track people's level and instability of status and inclusion.

Results

Higher levels of status and inclusion did not always correspond to more stable beliefs about one's social standing. Self‐esteem predicted higher and more stable feelings of status and inclusion. Although narcissistic admiration also predicted higher levels of status and inclusion, we found mixed evidence regarding its link to the instability of such feelings. Narcissistic rivalry, however, predicted more unstable feelings of status and inclusion.

Conclusions

By modeling the heterogeneity of status and inclusion feelings across subgroups (Studies 1 and 2) and documenting the degree of instability people experience regarding such feelings (Study 3), these results provide insight into how self‐esteem and narcissism relate to the level and instability of status and inclusion.
Hypothyroidism in restless legs syndrome
Authors: Ahmed Nada , Kandil Mohamed , Elfil Mohamed , Jamal Abdalla , Koo Brian B.
Published: June 2020

The diurnal nature of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and its response to dopamine hint that hormones are central in RLS pathophysiology. Hypothyroidism has been linked to RLS, but studies are limited. This study's objective is to determine whether RLS is more prevalent in persons with hypothyroidism and whether hypothyroidism is more prevalent in RLS sufferers. Persons with hypothyroidism and controls were recruited through an on‐line registry of potential research participants. RLS was assessed using the Cambridge‐Hopkins questionnaire. RLS persons and controls were recruited through RLS Foundation and on‐line registry advertisements and assessed for hypothyroidism by self‐report. The International RLS Study Group Severity Scale assessed RLS severity; 266 hypothyroid subjects and 321 controls were comparable in age (52.3 ± 13.4 versus 53.9 ± 11.7 years; p = .14) and gender (91.7% versus 91.3% women; p = .85), as were 354 RLS and 313 controls (59.1 ± 13.2 versus 58.2 ± 13.6 years; p = .41; 80.8% versus 78.3% women; p = .42). Hypothyroid participants versus controls had a significantly higher prevalence of RLS (14.3% versus 8.1%; p = .02). RLS participants versus controls had a significantly higher prevalence of hypothyroidism (22.3% versus. 13.8%; p = .005). RLS severity was similar in persons with and without hypothyroidism. Among 73 persons with RLS and hypothyroidism, 14 previously were hyperthyroid versus 0 of 37 persons with hypothyroidism alone (p = .004). RLS prevalence is increased in individuals with hypothyroidism; hypothyroidism prevalence is increased in individuals with RLS. Persons with hypothyroidism and RLS are significantly more likely than those with hypothyroidism alone to have had hyperthyroidism prior to hypothyroidism. Associations between RLS and thyroid disease may shed light on complex biological mechanisms underlying RLS.
Preparing mechanisms for protecting traditional knowledge in Iran utilizing the experiences of India
Authors: Tavassoli Naini Manuchehr , Allahvakil Naser , Mazaheri Rasoul
Published: June 2020

Traditional knowledge is a kind of science and experience that has been gained after many years of experience in indigenous and local communities in certain geographic regions. With the increasing expansion of trade exchanges in the international arena, the need to support this knowledge is felt more than ever. The efforts of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, which began in 2000 with the aim of drafting an international document for the protection of traditional knowledge, has continued, and various countries have, in parallel, taken actions in their domestic law to support traditional knowledge. In Iran, the Intellectual Property Policy Council is also preparing a draft law to support traditional knowledge. The result of this research is stated Since India has taken actions in supporting traditional knowledge from many years ago and has achieved some success both domestically and internationally given the historical, cultural, and legal affinities of India and Iran, its experiences can be useful in the field of legislation and more than that, the establishment of mechanisms for the collection and consolidation of information and protection of Iranian traditional knowledge as one of the richest sources in Asia.
Transitional dynamics of the R&D growth model with public education
Authors: Hirono Makoto
Published: June 2020

This study analyzes the transition dynamics of the R&D‐based growth model with public education, based on [Prettner, K. (2014). The non‐monotonous impact of population growth on economic prosperity. Economics Letters, 124, 93–95]. We show that the equilibrium path can be monotonous or oscillatory, but may not converge depending on the value of parameters. Thus, we determine and indicate the sufficient condition for long‐run oscillation to emerge. In addition, we find that the technological progress rate speeds up during the long‐run balanced growth path when income tax rates for public education rise. This result is consistent with empirical analysis.
Postoperative pain and psychological outcomes following minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair: A report from the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Improvement Network
Authors: Uhl Kristen M. , Wilder Robert T. , Fernandez Allison , Huang Henry , Muhly Wallis T. , Zurakowski David , Cravero Joseph P.
Published: June 2020

Background

Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) is associated with less tissue trauma; however, it may result in increased postoperative pain. Pain experience is a known risk factor for the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms, though there are little data on its relationship with long‐term psychological outcomes following major surgery in pediatric patients.

Aims

In this study, we examined the relationship between immediate postoperative pain and psychological outcomes at 2 weeks and three months after discharge in a cohort of pediatric patients who underwent MIRPE. We sought to determine whether immediate postoperative pain levels were associated with ongoing distress related to aspects of surgery at both time points. We were also interested in how psychological symptoms related to persistent pain concerns.

Methods

Data on patients undergoing MIRPE across 14 institutions were collected as part of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Improvement Network (SPAIN). Patients were contacted at 2 weeks and three months following discharge to track pain levels and assess psychological distress using a self‐report questionnaire. Patients were grouped into cohorts based on self‐report of distress related to aspects of surgery, nonsurgical distress, or absence of distress.

Results

Analysis revealed that a higher proportion of children reporting ongoing distress related to surgery at both 2 weeks and 3 months experienced higher immediate postoperative pain levels. A subset of patients with complete data sets for 2 weeks and 3 months (N = 76) was further examined. Among the 47 patients who endorsed surgical distress at 2 weeks, 25 (53.2%) continued to endorse surgical distress at 3 months. Additionally, report of surgical distress at 3 months was associated with longer‐term postoperative pain.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that, in patients undergoing MIRPE, the presence of distress at 2 weeks and 3 months may be associated with higher immediate postoperative pain levels.
The Transaction Costs of Government Responses to the COVID‐19 Emergency in Latin America
Authors: Ramírez de la Cruz Edgar E. , Grin Eduardo José , Sanabria‐Pulido Pablo , Cravacuore Daniel , Orellana Arturo
Published: June 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic has created a crisis that is challenging national and local governments to innovate in their responses to novel problems. Despite similarities to the challenges confronted in developed countries, for Latin American governments, these problems are amplified by structural obstacles such as social inequalities. These countries must respond with capacities and resources that are often limited by spoils systems and by social and political polarization. This essay provides an overview of some innovative practices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. In particular, this essay concentrates on some salient collaborative efforts in the region. To draw lessons from these practices, the authors focus on the formal and informal institutions that facilitate or obstruct collaboration across jurisdictions. The findings are discussed in terms of the transaction costs of collaboration identified in these experiences.
Stalin's Well‐Kept Garden: Horticulture, Aesthetics, and Soviet Statecraft
Authors: BIRD ROBERT
Published: June 2020

In a widespread image of the late 1930s the Soviet state is represented as a garden tended by the wise and attentive Stalin. Not only does this garden naturalize the dynamic and multiethnic modern state as a single organic totality, as in Zygmunt Bauman's notion of the totalitarian “gardening state”; the garden also presents the Soviet state as a new ecology (rather than just an economy) based on homologous relations between nature, technology, industry, morality and aesthetics. In the strictly aesthetic dimension the image of the garden helps define Socialist Realism as a modeling aesthetic, that is, one that is directed at providing not only a mimetic microcosm, but also a means of governing the world. After analyzing the image of the Soviet state as garden in avant‐garde and Socialist Realist poets ranging from Nikolai Zabolotskii to Elizaveta Polonskaia, the essay focuses on its explication in the cinema, especially in Aleksandr Dovzhenko's 1949 film Michurin, which is read as a defense of Socialist Realism as a modeling aesthetic, as the nursery of a new material and aesthetic ecology, and as a science‐fiction pastoral.
Inequalities in treatment planning for children with intellectual disabilities: A questionnaire study of dentists in Europe
Authors: Camoin Ariane , Tardieu Corinne , Dany Lionel , Saliba‐Serre Bérengère , Faulks Denise , Coz Pierre Le
Published: June 2020

Background

Children with intellectual disabilities experience major inequality in the field of oral health, including a higher number of extracted teeth. The literature explains this difference in terms of higher levels of dental disease but does not mention the possibility of inequality in the treatment options offered these children.

Aim

The aim is to investigate whether the same treatment options are offered by practitioners to children with and without intellectual disability in equivalent clinical circumstances.

Design

A scenario involving a clinical dental situation was developed, with one varying parameter: the patient described was a child with or without cerebral palsy.

Results

One hundred and thirty‐nine dental specialists from France and Europe were recruited. A large number of practitioners (68%) chose the same treatment for both patients, but 32% declared modifying the dental treatment planning in the case of the child with cerebral palsy. The most frequently chosen treatment for the scenario of irreversible pulpitis for the child without disability was conservative endodontic treatment (73%) whereas the most frequently chosen treatment for the child with intellectual disability was tooth extraction (54%).

Discussion

These results are discussed in terms of beneficence, fear of restorative failure, lack of guidelines, practitioner experience and the implications for equity in healthcare.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DQA1*01:48 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Cargou Marine , Andreani Marco , Testa Giuseppe , Guidicelli Gwendaline , Visentin Jonathan
Published: June 2020

HLA‐DQA1*01:48 differs from HLA‐DQA1*01:02:01:04 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 160 in exon 3.
Comparison of ABO antibody titration, IgG subclasses and qualitative haemolysin test to reduce the risk of passive haemolysis associated with platelet transfusion
Authors: Bastos Eduardo Peres , Castilho Lilian , Bub Carolina Bonet , Kutner Jose Mauro
Published: June 2020

Background

One of the strategies used to reduce the risk of haemolysis due to ABO‐minor incompatible platelet transfusions is to perform a screening test to identify group O donors with high titres of anti‐A and anti‐B. However, critical immunoglobulin M/ immunoglobulin G (IgM/IgG) titres remain unclear.

Objective

This study aimed to determine IgM titres of anti‐A and anti‐B in individual donor serum vs platelet products plasma and identify a possible association between IgM/IgG titres, haemolysin test and IgG subclasses in Brazilian blood donors from group O.

Methods

IgM anti‐A and Anti‐B titration tests were performed on single‐donor serum and platelet product plasma by gel agglutination (GA) at room temperature. For IgG anti‐A and anti‐B titration, serum was first treated with 0.01 M dithiothreitol (DTT), and the test was performed by GA with incubation at 37°C. Dilution of 1:64 as the cut‐off was considered for both IgM/IgG. The qualitative haemolysin test was performed in tube, adding AB fresh serum, with incubation at 37°C. IgG subclasses were determined by GA using specific monoclonal antibodies.

Results

An association between anti‐A and anti‐B IgM titres and haemolysin were demonstrated (P < .001). IgM titres in plasma samples from platelet components correlated to those in single‐serum samples. IgG1/IgG3 subclasses were associated with total haemolysis and titres above 64, whereas IgG2/IgG4 subclasses were associated with the absence of haemolysis and titres below 64 (P < .001).

Conclusion

Our data suggest that a value of 64 as a critical titre can be used as a screening test of anti‐A and anti‐B IgM to prevent transfusion reactions. This can be a safe and cost‐effective approach for managing ABO‐incompatible platelet transfusions.
Kathryn Howell (1939‐2020) “The Secretory Pathway was Imprinted in her Heart”
Authors: Bergeron John , Castle J. David
Published: June 2020

On April 10, 2020, a treasured cell biologist and ardent champion of the Golgi complex passed away. This has caused deep sadness, and we seek to commemorate her remarkable scientific contributions, her warm and generous personality, and her endearing sense of humor.
Multilingualism and the role of English in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Siemund Peter , Al‐Issa Ahmad , Leimgruber Jakob R. E.
Published: June 2020

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has witnessed an unprecedented economic and cultural development since its foundation in 1971. Foreign labor and investment play a central role in this development, yielding a sharp imbalance between the Emirati and the foreign population. A population of no less than 85 per cent of highly transient foreigners strongly impacts the local linguistic landscape, with many languages competing in the public sphere. English occupies a special role in this multilingual texture, as it is used as a foreign language, a second language, and a lingua franca. It occurs in its standardized varieties, but also in several non‐standard forms, as foreign labor is recruited from places formerly under British or American influence. Based on a new questionnaire study of 692 university students, we explore the tension between English and Arabic, the prominence of English, the increasing use of English as a home language, and the emergence of a new variety of English: ‘Gulf English’.
A new phytoptid mite from iconic Gondwanan plant: description of Solenocristus nothofagalis n. sp. (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae) from Argentina supplemented with sequences of nuclear ribosomal genes of Nothofagus pumilio (Nothofagaceae)

Authors: Chetverikov P.e. , Lotfollahi P. , Peralta L. , Romanovich A.e.
Published: June 2020

Plants of the genus Nothofagus (Fagales, Nothofagaceae) has ancient South American-Australasian disjunctive distribution and represent a perspective model for biogeographical studies in Eriophyoidea. Among six currently known eriophyoid genera reported from Nothofagus (Acalitus, Aceria, Austracus, Cymoptus, Rectalox, and Nothacus) only genus Cymoptus was registered in western and eastern distribution areas of Nothofagus. In this paper we describe a new vagrant species, Solenocristus nothofagalis n. sp. (Phytoptidae, Sierraphytoptinae) collected from lower leaf surface of Nothofagus pumilio in Los Glaciares National Park (Patagonia, Argentina). Because all mite specimens in the sample were dead, amplification of three marker genes (COI, 18S, 28S) performed ten days after collecting data was unsuccessful. Morphological identification of the host plant was confirmed using PCR method and resulted in new sequences of 18S (MT164471) and ITS1‒5.8S‒ITS2 region (MT164174) of N. pumilio, deposited in GenBank.
Lateral field excited quartz crystal microbalances for biosensing applications
Authors: Hartz Jequil S. R. , Emanetoglu Nuri W. , Howell Caitlin , Vetelino John F.
Published: June 2020

The most common bulk acoustic wave device used in biosensing applications is the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), in which a resonant pure shear acoustic wave is excited via electrodes on both major faces of a thin AT-cut quartz plate. For biosensing, the QCM is used to detect the capture of a target by a target-capture film. The sensitivity of the QCM is typically based solely on the detection of mechanical property changes, as electrical property change detection is limited by the electrode on its sensing surface. A modification of the QCM called the lateral field excited (LFE) QCM (LFE-QCM) has been developed with a bare sensing surface as both electrodes are now on a single face of the quartz plate. Compared to the QCM, the LFE-QCM exhibits significantly higher sensitivity to both electrical and mechanical property changes. This paper presents theoretical and experimental aspects of LFE-QCMs. In particular, the presence and strength of the usual and newfound LFE-QCM modes depend on the electrical properties of the film and/or sensing environment. This work also presents examples of experimental setups for measuring the response of an LFE-QCM, followed by results of LFE-QCMs used to detect liquid electrical and mechanical properties, chemical targets, and biological targets. Finally, details are given about the attachment of various target-capture films to the LFE-QCM surface to capture biomarkers associated with diseases such as cancer.
A VersaTile-driven platform for rapid hit-to-lead development of engineered lysins
Authors: Gerstmans H. , Grimon D. , Gutiérrez D. , Lood C. , Rodríguez A. , van Noort V. , Lammertyn J. , Lavigne R. , Briers Y.
Published: June 2020

We have developed a novel platform for engineered lysins to fill the preclinical pipeline of antimicrobials.
Phase-dependent redox insulation in mussel adhesion
Authors: Valois Eric , Mirshafian Razieh , Waite J. Herbert
Published: June 2020

Liquid-liquid phase separation provides oxidation-prone proteins with appreciable redox stability.
A G protein–biased S1P
1
agonist, SAR247799, protects endothelial cells without affecting lymphocyte numbers
Authors: Poirier Bruno , Briand Veronique , Kadereit Dieter , Schäfer Matthias , Wohlfart Paulus , Philippo Marie-Claire , Caillaud Dominique , Gouraud Laurent , Grailhe Patrick , Bidouard Jean-Pierre , Trellu Marc , Muslin Anthony J. , Janiak Philip , Parkar Ashfaq A.
Published: June 2020

A biased S1P
1
agonist that preserves endothelial function without causing lymphopenia is identified.
The kinase IRAK4 promotes endosomal TLR and immune complex signaling in B cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Authors: Corzo Cesar A. , Varfolomeev Eugene , Setiadi A. Francesca , Francis Ross , Klabunde Sha , Senger Kate , Sujatha-Bhaskar Swathi , Drobnick Joy , Do Steven , Suto Eric , Huang Zhiyu , Eastham-Anderson Jeffrey , Katewa Arna , Pang Jodie , Domeyer Melanie , Dela Cruz Christopher , Paler-Martinez Andres , Lau Vivian W. C. , Hadadianpour Azadeh , Ramirez-Carrozi Vladimir , Sun Yonglian , Bao Katherine , Xu Daqi , Hunley Emily , Brightbill Hans D. , Warming Soren , Roose-Girma Merone , Wong Alfred , Tam Lucinda , Emson Claire L. , Crawford James J. , Young Wendy B. , Pappu Rajita , McKenzie Brent S. , Asghari Vida , Vucic Domagoj , Hackney Jason A. , Austin Cary D. , Lee Wyne P. , Lekkerkerker Annemarie , Ghilardi Nico , Bryan Marian C. , Kiefer James R. , Townsend Michael J. , Zarrin Ali A.
Published: June 2020

Inhibiting the kinase IRAK4 may suppress a multicellular autoinflammatory loop in patients with lupus.
Exocytosis of Progeny Infectious Varicella-Zoster Virus Particles via a Mannose-6-Phosphate Receptor Pathway without Xenophagy following Secondary Envelopment
Authors: Girsch James H. , Jackson Wallen , Carpenter John E. , Moninger Thomas O. , Jarosinski Keith W. , Grose Charles
Published: June 2020

The long-term goal of this research has been to determine why VZV, when grown in cultured cells, invariably is more cell associated and has a lower titer than other alphaherpesviruses, such as herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) or pseudorabies virus (PRV). Data from both HSV1 and PRV laboratories have identified a Rab6 secretory pathway for the transport of single enveloped viral particles from the
trans
-Golgi network within small vacuoles to the plasma membrane. In contrast, after secondary envelopment in fibroblasts or melanoma cells, multiple infectious VZV particles accumulated within large M6PR-positive late endosomes that were not degraded en route to the plasma membrane. We propose that this M6PR pathway is most utilized in VZV infection and least utilized in HSV1 infection, with PRV’s usage being closer to HSV1’s usage. Supportive data from other VZV, PRV, and HSV1 laboratories about evidence for two egress pathways are included.
Draft Genome Sequences of
Spirosoma agri
KCTC 52727 and
Spirosoma terrae
KCTC 52035
Authors: Rojas Julian , Ambika Manirajan Binoy , Ratering Stefan , Suarez Christian , Schnell Sylvia
Published: June 2020

Spirosoma agri
S7-3-3 (KCTC 52727) and
Spirosoma terrae
15J9-4 (KCTC 52035) are type strains isolated from an apple orchard and beach soil in South Korea, respectively; their draft genome sequences were assembled and annotated. The draft genome sequences of S7-3-3
T
(7,239,915 bp; G+C content, 50.6%) and 15J9-4
T
(7,551,610 bp; G+C content, 47.3%) are reported.
Kawasaki-like multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children during the covid-19 pandemic in Paris, France: prospective observational study
Authors: Toubiana Julie , Poirault Clément , Corsia Alice , Bajolle Fanny , Fourgeaud Jacques , Angoulvant François , Debray Agathe , Basmaci Romain , Salvador Elodie , Biscardi Sandra , Frange Pierre , Chalumeau Martin , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Cohen Jérémie F , Allali Slimane
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To describe the characteristics of children and adolescents affected by an outbreak of Kawasaki-like multisystem inflammatory syndrome and to evaluate a potential temporal association with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

General paediatric department of a university hospital in Paris, France.

Participants

21 children and adolescents (aged ≤18 years) with features of Kawasaki disease who were admitted to hospital between 27 April and 11 May 2020 and followed up until discharge by 15 May 2020.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcomes were clinical and biological data, imaging and echocardiographic findings, treatment, and outcomes. Nasopharyngeal swabs were prospectively tested for SARS-CoV-2 using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and blood samples were tested for IgG antibodies to the virus.

Results

21 children and adolescents (median age 7.9 (range 3.7-16.6) years) were admitted with features of Kawasaki disease over a 15 day period, with 12 (57%) of African ancestry. 12 (57%) presented with Kawasaki disease shock syndrome and 16 (76%) with myocarditis. 17 (81%) required intensive care support. All 21 patients had noticeable gastrointestinal symptoms during the early stage of illness and high levels of inflammatory markers. 19 (90%) had evidence of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RT-PCR result in 8/21, positive IgG antibody detection in 19/21). All 21 patients received intravenous immunoglobulin and 10 (48%) also received corticosteroids. The clinical outcome was favourable in all patients. Moderate coronary artery dilations were detected in 5 (24%) of the patients during hospital stay. By 15 May 2020, after 8 (5-17) days of hospital stay, all patients were discharged home.

Conclusions

The ongoing outbreak of Kawasaki-like multisystem inflammatory syndrome among children and adolescents in the Paris area might be related to SARS-CoV-2. In this study an unusually high proportion of the affected children and adolescents had gastrointestinal symptoms, Kawasaki disease shock syndrome, and were of African ancestry.
Diabetic retinopathy screening in persons with mental illness: a literature review
Authors: Bradley Elinor Rhian , Delaffon Vijay
Published: June 2020

People living with severe mental illness (SMI) have an increased risk of developing diabetes and are less likely to spontaneously report physical health concerns; they may therefore derive greater benefit from attending screening to prevent diabetic retinopathy.

We conducted a literature review to consider the uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) in people with mental illness.

People with a diagnosis of SMI and those with self-reported mental ill-health have reduced attendance at DRS, within the context of poorer compliance with general diabetic care. Anxiety and depression were noted as barriers in attending DRS.

People living with SMI require additional support to benefit from preventative health programmes such as DRS. Further research could support a better understanding of barriers to attendance, allowing effective support systems to be developed.
Improving venous thromboembolism prophylaxis through critical thinking and health informatics
Authors: Taha Haytham , Govindraj Ezhil , Jaber Filestin , Shehadeh Ghadah , Kelly Bernadette , Krishnan Siny , Hamed Wala Kamal
Published: June 2020

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in hospitalised patients. Mafraq Hospital, a 450-bed tertiary-level hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has identified VTE prevention as a critical patient safety measure and VTE prophylaxis as a key performance indicator (KPI). Mafraq Hospital VTE prevention policy states that all admitted adult patients 18 years and above should receive a VTE risk assessment, and all patients identified at risk of VTE with no contraindications should receive appropriate VTE prophylaxis within 24 hours of admission. In a move towards safer practices, our governing body, Abu Dhabi Health Services SEHA, has raised the VTE prophylaxis KPI target from 85% to 95% for all admitted adult patients within 24 hours of admission. Our average VTE prophylaxis rate was 87%, and achieving this new target was a challenge. We conducted this study on Mafraq Hospital Medical and Surgical wards. The study period was 12 months, from July 2018 to June 2019, and a total of 5475 patients were evaluated. Our aim was to improve VTE prophylaxis rates in order to ensure patient safety and reduce preventable harm. We used Caprini Model electronic VTE risk assessment computerised decision support tool to help identify VTE risk. A multidisciplinary task force team was formed and led this quality improvement project. The purpose of this publication was to indicate the quality improvement interventions implemented to enhance compliance with VTE prophylaxis using integrated critical thinking and health informatics and the outcomes of those interventions. Through implementing critical thinking and health informatics interventions, our VTE prophylaxis within 24 hours of admission rates improved from an average 87% in July 2018 to above 98%, and this improvement was sustained over the last 3 months of the study period April through June 2019.
Child modern slavery, trafficking and health: a practical review of factors contributing to children’s vulnerability and the potential impacts of severe exploitation on health
Authors: Wood Laura C N
Published: June 2020

Child trafficking is a form of modern slavery, a rapidly growing, mutating and multifaceted system of severe human exploitation, violence against children, child abuse and child rights violations. Modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) represents a major global public health concern with victims exposed to profound short-term and long-term physical, mental, psychological, developmental and even generational risks to health. Children with increased vulnerability to MSHT, victims (in active exploitation) and survivors (post-MSHT exploitation) are attending healthcare settings, presenting critical windows of opportunity for safeguarding and health intervention.

Recognition of child modern slavery victims can be very challenging. Healthcare providers benefit from understanding the diversity of potential physical, mental, behavioural and developmental health presentations, and the complexity of children’s responses to threat, fear, manipulation, deception and abuse.

Healthcare professionals are also encouraged to have influence, where possible, beyond the care of individual patients. Research, health insights, advocacy and promotion of MSHT survivor input enhances the collaborative development of evidence-based approaches to prevention, intervention and aftercare of affected children and families.
Efficacy and biomarker analysis of nivolumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with unresectable or metastatic biliary tract cancers: results from a phase II study
Authors: Feng Kaichao , Liu Yang , Zhao Yongtian , Yang Qingming , Dong Liang , Liu Jiejie , Li Xiang , Zhao Zhikun , Mei Qian , Han Weidong
Published: June 2020

Background

The prognosis of patients with unresectable or metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC) is unacceptably low. This study aimed to determine the efficacy, safety and predictive biomarkers of the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in combination with chemotherapy in advanced BTCs.

Methods

In this open-label, single-arm, phase II trial, a chemotherapy and immunotherapy combination consisting of gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2, cisplatin 75 mg/m2and nivolumab 3 mg/kg was administered every 3 weeks for up to six cycles. Maintenance treatment with gemcitabine plus nivolumab was administered to patients achieving disease control following the combination therapy. The primary outcome was the objective response rate. Secondary outcomes included safety, disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The exploratory objective was to assess biomarkers for predicting clinical response and prognosis.

Results

Thirty-two patients with a median age of 60 (range 27–69) years were enrolled. As of September 31, 2019, the median follow-up was 12.8 (95% CI 10.8 to 14.8) months. Twenty-seven response-evaluable patients received a median of 4 (IQR, 3–6) cycles of combination therapy, of whom 15 (55.6%) patients achieved an objective response, including 5 (18.6%) with a complete response (CR), and the DCR was 92.6%. Of the six patients in cohort A who were resistant to gemcitabine-based or cisplatin-based chemotherapy, one achieved CR and one achieved partial response. Thirteen of 21 chemotherapy-naive patients (61.9%) in cohort B achieved an objective response. The median PFS of all patients in cohorts A+B was 6.1 months. The median OS was 8.5 months, with a 33.3% 12-month OS rate. The most frequent grade 3 or higher adverse events were thrombocytopenia (56%) and neutropenia (22%). Fitness might be a biomarker for predicting clinical response. On-therapy changes in serum soluble FasL, MCP-1 and interferon-γ were correlated with prognosis.

Conclusions

Nivolumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin offers promising efficacy and a manageable safety profile for patients with advanced BTCs.

Trial registration number

NCT03311789
Systematic investigation of the particle spectra in heavy-ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider
Authors: Zheng Hua , Zhu Xiangrong , Zhu Lilin , Bonasera Aldo
Published: June 2020

We investigate the charged particle spectra produced in the heavy-ion collisions at nine centralities from different systems, i.e. [Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text] TeV and 5.02 TeV as well as [Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text] TeV, at Large Hadron Collider (LHC) using one empirical formula inspired by the stationary solution of the Fokker-Planck equation, dubbed as the generalized Fokker-Planck solution (GFPS). Our results show that the GFPS can reproduce the experimental particle spectrum up to transverse momentum [Formula: see text] about 45 GeV/c with the maximum discrepancy 30% covering 10 orders of magnitude. The discrepancy between the data and the results from the GFPS decreases to 15% when the maximum of the charged particle transverse momentum is cut to 20 GeV/c. We confirmed that the Tsallis distribution derived from the non-extensive statistics, which can reproduce the particle spectra produced in small collision systems, such as [Formula: see text], up to few hundreds GeV/c, can only apply to systematically study the particle spectra up to 8 GeV/c in [Formula: see text] collisions at LHC, as pointed out in the study of identified particle spectra in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV. A brief discussion on GFPS is also given.
Secure clustering-based energy efficient protocol using hybrid soft computing
Authors: Kaur Supreet , Joshi Vijay Kumar
Published: June 2020

A hybrid protocol is proposed which utilizes secure clustering and hybrid soft computing to improve the network lifetime. Ant colony optimization (ACO) and Particle swam optimization (PSO) with crossover operator are used to design a hybrid soft computing-based inter-cluster data aggregation. Initially, cluster heads are selected based upon adaptive threshold function. Recommendation-based signatures are then assigned to every aggregated data. Then, tree-based data aggregation comes in action and collects sensing information directly from cluster heads by utilizing short distance obtained from the hybrid soft computing. The use of compressive sensing reduces the packet size which is going to be transmitted in the sensor network. Extensive analysis shows that the hybrid protocol considerably enhances network lifetime by conserving the energy in more efficient manner than other protocols at present deployed for sensor networks.
Magnetic and structural properties of Mg(Ga0.95Fe0.05)2O4 crystal grown by optical floating zone method
Authors: Wang Liang-Ling , Liu Nian-Qiao , Cui Xiao-Jun
Published: June 2020

The crystal structure and magnetic properties of [Formula: see text] grown by optical floating zone method have been studied. The chemical composition and element ratio in the crystal were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra of the crystal reveal that it has a spinel structure with high crystallinity and purity. The magnetic domain period observed by using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) shows that the crystal has a stable multi-domain structure. According to the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) results, the magnetization increases nonlinearly with increasing magnetic field strength and approaches magnetic saturation, proving it is a paramagnetic medium. The magnetization decreases rapidly below Curie temperature and approaches stability with increasing temperature.