bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benefits of Freewriting in an EFL Academic Writing Classroom
Authors: Park Jeongyeon
Published: February 2020

This study explores possible benefits of freewriting for EFL students’ writing anxiety and fluency. Thirty university students who were enrolled in an academic writing class participated in the study. Pre- and post-writing anxiety surveys, freewritings, pre- and post-essays, and student reflections were collected as data. The study found that EFL students experience varying degrees of writing anxiety, and anxious students tended to perform poorly on the writing test. Analysis of 540 freewritings revealed that all students’ fluency improved as the semester progressed, showing a similar trend. Students generally reported positive attitudes toward the freewriting activity. They largely agreed that it improved their confidence, lessened their fear of evaluation, and deepened their thinking skills, but they disliked the absence of feedback, the topic selection, and the activity’s time limits. Benefits, possible adaptations, and the pedagogic value of freewriting were also discussed in the study.
A Truly Pathological Case: Kropotkin, War and Anarchist Remembrance
Authors: Adams Matthew S
Published: February 2020

This article examines anarchist responses across three generations to the split in the anarchist movement at the outbreak of the First World War. Focusing on appreciations of Peter Kropotkin’s role in that division, it demonstrates how shifting contextual circumstances and a developing memory of the war subsequently reshaped the narrative of these events in ways that reflected the broader memory of the war. Arguing that curation of a political tradition’s history is central to the self-identity of that tradition, the article investigates this process as successive generations of anarchists tried to make sense of the anarchist split in 1914, and, in turn, define their own political projects.
Correlation between Organelle Genetic Variation and RNA Editing in Dinoflagellates Associated with the Coral Acropora digitifera
Authors: Shoguchi Eiichi , Yoshioka Yuki , Shinzato Chuya , Arimoto Asuka , Bhattacharya Debashish , Satoh Noriyuki
Published: February 2020

In order to develop successful strategies for coral reef preservation, it is critical that the biology of both host corals and symbiotic algae are investigated. In the Ryukyu Archipelago, which encompasses many islands spread over ∼500 km of the Pacific Ocean, four major populations of the coral Acropora digitifera have been studied using whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequence analysis (Shinzato C, Mungpakdee S, Arakaki N, Satoh N. 2015. Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis explains coral diversity and recovery in the Ryukyu Archipelago. Sci Rep. 5:18211.). In contrast, the diversity of the symbiotic dinoflagellates associated with these A. digitifera populations is unknown. It is therefore unclear if these two core components of the coral holobiont share a common evolutionary history. This issue can be addressed for the symbiotic algal populations by studying the organelle genomes of their mitochondria and plastids. Here, we analyzed WGS data from ∼150 adult A. digitifera, and by mapping reads to the available reference genome sequences, we extracted 2,250 sequences representing 15 organelle genes of Symbiodiniaceae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of these mitochondrial and plastid gene sets revealed that A. digitifera from the southern Yaeyama islands harbor a different Symbiodiniaceae population than the islands of Okinawa and Kerama in the north, indicating that the distribution of symbiont populations partially matches that of the four host populations. Interestingly, we found that numerous SNPs correspond to known RNA-edited sites in 14 of the Symbiodiniaceae organelle genes, with mitochondrial genes showing a stronger correspondence than plastid genes. These results suggest a possible correlation between RNA editing and SNPs in the two organelle genomes of symbiotic dinoflagellates.
Relative Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccines Among the United States Elderly, 2018–2019
Authors: Izurieta Hector S , Chillarige Yoganand , Kelman Jeffrey , Wei Yuqin , Lu Yun , Xu Wenjie , Lu Michael , Pratt Douglas , Wernecke Michael , MaCurdy Thomas , Forshee Richard
Published: February 2020

Background

Studies among individuals ages ≥65 years have found a moderately higher relative vaccine effectiveness (RVE) for the high-dose (HD) influenza vaccine compared with standard-dose (SD) products for most seasons. Studies during the A(H3N2)-dominated 2017–2018 season showed slightly higher RVE for the cell-cultured vaccine compared with SD egg-based vaccines. We investigated the RVE of influenza vaccines among Medicare beneficiaries ages ≥65 years during the 2018–2019 season.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study using inverse probability of treatment weighting and Poisson regression to evaluate RVE in preventing influenza hospital encounters.

Results

Among 12 777 214 beneficiaries, the egg-based adjuvanted (RVE, 7.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9%–11.4%) and HD (RVE, 4.9%; 95% CI, 1.7%–8.1%) vaccines were marginally more effective than the egg-based quadrivalent vaccines. The cell-cultured quadrivalent vaccine was not significantly more effective than the egg-based quadrivalent vaccine (RVE, 2.5%; 95% CI, −2.4% to 7.3%).

Conclusions

We did not find major effectiveness differences between licensed vaccines used among the elderly during the 2018–2019 season. Consistent with prior research, we found that the egg-based adjuvanted and HD vaccines were slightly more effective than the egg-based quadrivalent vaccines.
Tolerogenic properties of CD206+ macrophages appeared in the sublingual mucosa after repeated antigen-painting
Authors: Yang Yue , Nagai Shigenori , Kang Siwen , Xia Yulong , Kawano Yohei , Miyake Kensuke , Karasuyama Hajime , Azuma Miyuki
Published: February 2020

The sublingual mucosa (SLM) in the oral cavity is utilized as the site for sublingual immunotherapy to induce tolerance against allergens. We previously reported that CD206+ round-type macrophage-like cells were induced in the SLM after repeated antigen (e.g. cedar pollen or fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC))-painting. In this study, we examined the phenotypic and functional properties of CD206+ cells induced by repeated FITC-painting on the SLM. CD206+ cells after the repeated FITC-painting possessed a macrophage-like CD11b+Ly6C+ F4/80+CD64+ phenotype and expressed TIM-4, which was expressed in tolerogenic tissue-resident macrophages, at a high level. SLM CD206+ cells preferentially expressed molecules related to endocytosis and homeostatic processes, including the novel B7 family of immune checkpoint molecules, as assessed by microarray analyses. SLM CD206+ cells showed preferential expression of M2-related genes such as Fizz1, Aldh1a1 and Aldh1a2 but not Ym-1 and Arginase-1. A CD206+ cell-rich status inhibited OVA-specific CD4+ T-cell responses but reciprocally enhanced the proportion of both IL-10+CD4+ cells and Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells in regional lymph nodes. Co-culture of CD206+ cells with dendritic cells (DCs) showed that IL-12 production was suppressed in DCs concurrent with the decline of the MHC class IIhiCD86+ population, which was restored by neutralization of IL-10. These results demonstrate SLM CD206+ cells show the feature of tolerogenic macrophages and down-regulate the antigen-presenting cell function of mature DCs resulting in the inhibition of CD4+ T-cell responses.
EXpectation Propagation LOgistic REgRession on permissioned blockCHAIN (ExplorerChain): decentralized online healthcare/genomics predictive model learning
Authors: Kuo Tsung-Ting , Gabriel Rodney A , Cidambi Krishna R , Ohno-Machado Lucila
Published: February 2020

Objective

Predicting patient outcomes using healthcare/genomics data is an increasingly popular/important area. However, some diseases are rare and require data from multiple institutions to construct generalizable models. To address institutional data protection policies, many distributed methods keep the data locally but rely on a central server for coordination, which introduces risks such as a single point of failure. We focus on providing an alternative based on a decentralized approach. We introduce the idea using blockchain technology for this purpose, with a brief description of its own potential advantages/disadvantages.

Materials and Methods

We explain how our proposed EXpectation Propagation LOgistic REgRession on Permissioned blockCHAIN (ExplorerChain) can achieve the same results when compared to a distributed model that uses a central server on 3 healthcare/genomic datasets, and what trade-offs need to be considered when using centralized/decentralized methods. We explain how the use of blockchain technology can help decrease some of the problems encountered in decentralized methods.

Results

We showed that the discrimination power of ExplorerChain can be statistically similar to its counterpart central server-based algorithm. While ExplorerChain inherited some benefits of blockchain, it had a small increased running time.

Discussion

ExplorerChain has the same prerequisites as a distributed model with a centralized server for coordination. In a manner similar to secure multi-party computation strategies, it assumes that participating institutions are honest, but “curious.”

Conclusion

When evaluated on relatively small datasets, results suggest that ExplorerChain, which combines artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies, performs as well as a central server-based method, and may avoid some risks at the cost of efficiency.
Structure Elucidation of Urinary Metabolites of Fentanyl and Five Fentanyl Analogs using LC-QTOF-MS, Hepatocyte Incubations and Synthesized Reference Standards
Authors: Wallgren Jakob , Vikingsson Svante , Rautio Tobias , Nasr Enas , Åstrand Anna , Watanabe Shimpei , Kronstrand Robert , Gréen Henrik , Dahlén Johan , Wu Xiongyu , Konradsson Peter
Published: February 2020

Fentanyl analogs constitute a particularly dangerous group of new psychoactive compounds responsible for many deaths around the world. Little is known about their metabolism, and studies utilizing liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF-MS) analysis of hepatocyte incubations and/or authentic urine samples do not allow for determination of the exact metabolite structures, especially when it comes to hydroxylated metabolites. In this study, seven motifs (2-, 3-, 4- and β-OH as well as 3,4-diOH, 4-OH-3-OMe and 3-OH-4-OMe) of fentanyl and five fentanyl analogs, acetylfentanyl, acrylfentanyl, cyclopropylfentanyl, isobutyrylfentanyl and 4F-isobutyrylfentanyl were synthesized. The reference standards were analyzed by LC–QTOF-MS, which enabled identification of the major metabolites formed in hepatocyte incubations of the studied fentanyls. By comparison with our previous data sets, major urinary metabolites could tentatively be identified. For all analogs, β-OH, 4-OH and 4-OH-3-OMe were identified after hepatocyte incubation. β-OH was the major hydroxylated metabolite for all studied fentanyls, except for acetylfentanyl where 4-OH was more abundant. However, the ratio 4-OH/β-OH was higher in urine samples than in hepatocyte incubations for all studied fentanyls. Also, 3-OH-4-OMe was not detected in any hepatocyte samples, indicating a clear preference for the 4-OH-3-OMe, which was also found to be more abundant in urine compared to hepatocytes. The patterns appear to be consistent across all studied fentanyls and could serve as a starting point in the development of methods and synthesis of reference standards of novel fentanyl analogs where nothing is known about the metabolism.
Screening Mammography: Guidelines versus Clinical Practice
Authors: Oudsema Rebecca , Hwang Esther , Steinberger Sharon , Yip Rowena , Margolies Laurie R
Published: February 2020

Objective

To understand physicians’ comprehension of breast cancer screening guidelines and the existing literature on breast cancer screening, and whether this contributes to how patient screening is implemented in clinical practice.

Methods

A survey of 18 questions was distributed across the United States via e-mail and social media resources to physicians and medical students of all disciplines and levels of training. Responses from 728 physicians and medical students were reviewed. Respondents were from over 200 different institutions and over 60 different medical specialties.

Results

Our survey demonstrates that more than half of the participants felt uncomfortable in their knowledge of breast cancer screening recommendations (399/728, 54.8%) and existing literature on breast cancer screening (555/728, 76.2%). When stratified based on level of training, those at the attending level reported a greater level of comfort in their knowledge of breast cancer screening recommendations (168/238, 70.6%) and literature (95/238, 39.9%) compared with respondents at the trainee level. Attending physicians are also more likely to recommend screening for patients between the ages of 40–49 years old (209/238, 87.7%) compared to those at the trainee level. Responses on whether to screen based on age were most consistent for patients ages 50–74, with greater than 90% of the respondents endorsing screening mammogram for this age group in all levels of training. There were greater inconsistencies in the support to screen age groups 40–49 and 75+ .

Conclusions

The results showed a disparity in screening practices by clinicians in all levels of training, particularly for patients ages 40–49 and 75+ , and for the interval of screening. Later initiation with less frequent intervals between screens may reduce the impact of screening on mortality reduction.
The Use of Dietary Antifungal Agent Terbinafine in Artificial Diet and Its Effects on Some Biological and Biochemical Parameters of the Model Organism Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Kastamonuluoğlu Suzan , Büyükgüzel Kemal , Büyükgüzel Ender
Published: February 2020

Diet quality widely affects the survival, development, fecundity, longevity, and hatchability of insects. We used the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) to determine the effects of the antifungal, antibiotic terbinafine on some of its’ biological parameters. The effects of terbinafine on malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) contents and the activity of the detoxification enzyme, glutathione S-transferase (GST), in the midgut of seventh-instar larvae of G. mellonella were also investigated. The insects were reared on an artificial diet containing terbinafine at concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 g. The survival rates at all development stages of G. mellonella were significantly decreased at all terbinafine concentrations. The females from a control diet produced 82.9 ± 18.1 eggs; however, this number was significantly reduced to 51.4 ± 9.6 in females given a 0.1 g terbinafine diet. The highest concentration of terbinafine (1 g) completely inhibited egg laying. Terbinafine significantly increased MDA content and GST activity in the midgut tissue of seventh-instar larvae in a dose-dependent manner. Relative to controls, these low dietary concentrations of terbinafine significantly increased midgut PCO content; a 0.1 g terbinafine concentration raised PCO content from 155.19 ± 21.8 to 737.17 ± 36.4 nmol/mg protein. This study shows concentration-dependent effects on the biological traits of the greater wax moth G. mellonella, including the oxidative status and detoxification capacity of the midgut. Low terbinafine concentrations may be possible for use as an antifungal agent in insect-rearing diets.
Gross stomach morphology in akodontine rodents (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae: Akodontini): a reappraisal of its significance in a phylogenetic context
Authors: Pardiñas Ulyses F J , Cañón Carola , Galliari Carlos A , Brito Jorge , Bernal Hoverud Nuria , Lessa Gisele , de Oliveira João Alves
Published: February 2020

Akodontini, the second largest tribe within sigmodontine rodents, encompasses several stomach morphologies. This is striking because most sigmodontine groups of comparable taxonomic rank are very conservative in this respect. Based on extensive sampling of newly dissected specimens (213 stomachs representing 36 species), as well as published examples, covering almost all akodontine living genera (15 of 16), we undertook a reappraisal of the gross morphology of this organ. We then mapped this information, together with gallbladder occurrence, in a refined multilocus molecular phylogeny of the tribe. We surveyed three different configurations of stomachs in akodontines, according to the degree of development and location of the glandular epithelium; in addition, two minor variations of one of these types were described. Of the five major clades that integrate Akodontini, four are characterized by a single stomach morphology, while one clade exhibits two morphologies. Mapping stomach type on the phylogeny recovered two configurations for the most recent ancestor of Akodontini. A revised survey of gallbladder evidence also revealed overlooked congruencies. The observed stomach diversity and its arrangement in the phylogeny, along with additional morphological characters and the genetic diversity among the main clades, supports the necessity of changes in the current classification of the tribe. Recognition of subtribes or partitioning of Akodontini into several additional tribes of equal rank could be suitable options.
Ovarian and Breast Cancer Risks Associated With Pathogenic Variants in RAD51C and RAD51D
Authors: Yang Xin , Song Honglin , Leslie Goska , Engel Christoph , Hahnen Eric , Auber Bernd , Horváth Judit , Kast Karin , Niederacher Dieter , Turnbull Clare , Houlston Richard , Hanson Helen , Loveday Chey , Dolinsky Jill S , LaDuca Holly , Ramus Susan J , Menon Usha , Rosenthal Adam N , Jacobs Ian , Gayther Simon A , Dicks Ed , Nevanlinna Heli , Aittomäki Kristiina , Pelttari Liisa M , Ehrencrona Hans , Borg Åke , Kvist Anders , Rivera Barbara , Hansen Thomas V O , Djursby Malene , Lee Andrew , Dennis Joe , Bowtell David D , Traficante Nadia , Diez Orland , Balmaña Judith , Gruber Stephen B , Chenevix-Trench Georgia , Investigators kConFab , Jensen Allan , Kjær Susanne K , Høgdall Estrid , Castéra Laurent , Garber Judy , Janavicius Ramunas , Osorio Ana , Golmard Lisa , Vega Ana , Couch Fergus J , Robson Mark , Gronwald Jacek , Domchek Susan M , Culver Julie O , de la Hoya Miguel , Easton Douglas F , Foulkes William D , Tischkowitz Marc , Meindl Alfons , Schmutzler Rita K , Pharoah Paul D P , Antoniou Antonis C
Published: February 2020

Background

The purpose of this study was to estimate precise age-specific tubo-ovarian carcinoma (TOC) and breast cancer (BC) risks for carriers of pathogenic variants in RAD51C and RAD51D.

Methods

We analyzed data from 6178 families, 125 with pathogenic variants in RAD51C, and 6690 families, 60 with pathogenic variants in RAD51D. TOC and BC relative and cumulative risks were estimated using complex segregation analysis to model the cancer inheritance patterns in families while adjusting for the mode of ascertainment of each family. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

Pathogenic variants in both RAD51C and RAD51D were associated with TOC (RAD51C: relative risk [RR] = 7.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.60 to 10.19; P = 5 × 10-40; RAD51D: RR = 7.60, 95% CI = 5.61 to 10.30; P = 5 × 10-39) and BC (RAD51C: RR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.39 to 2.85; P = 1.55 × 10-4; RAD51D: RR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.24 to 2.72; P = .002). For both RAD51C and RAD51D, there was a suggestion that the TOC relative risks increased with age until around age 60 years and decreased thereafter. The estimated cumulative risks of developing TOC to age 80 years were 11% (95% CI = 6% to 21%) for RAD51C and 13% (95% CI = 7% to 23%) for RAD51D pathogenic variant carriers. The estimated cumulative risks of developing BC to 80 years were 21% (95% CI = 15% to 29%) for RAD51C and 20% (95% CI = 14% to 28%) for RAD51D pathogenic variant carriers. Both TOC and BC risks for RAD51C and RAD51D pathogenic variant carriers varied by cancer family history and could be as high as 32–36% for TOC, for carriers with two first-degree relatives diagnosed with TOC, or 44–46% for BC, for carriers with two first-degree relatives diagnosed with BC.

Conclusions

These estimates will facilitate the genetic counseling of RAD51C and RAD51D pathogenic variant carriers and justify the incorporation of RAD51C and RAD51D into cancer risk prediction models.
Definitive chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: outcomes for borderline-resectable disease
Authors: Ishikura Satoshi , Kondo Takuhito , Murai Taro , Ozawa Yoshiyuki , Yanagi Takeshi , Sugie Chikao , Miyakawa Akifumi , Shibamoto Yuta
Published: February 2020

Definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) is the standard treatment for unresectable esophageal cancer. Induction chemotherapy has been actively investigated for borderline-resectable and unresectable disease, but the superiority over dCRT has yet to be confirmed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of dCRT with special interest in borderline-resectable disease. Patients with esophageal cancer treated with dCRT between January 2004 and November 2016 were included in this retrospective analysis. Chemotherapy consisted of two cycles of cisplatin (70–75 mg/m2) on day 1 and 5-fluorouracil (700–1000 mg/m2 per day) on days 1–4 or low-dose cisplatin (10 mg/m2 per day) and 5-fluorouracil (175 mg/m2 per day) for 20 days. Radiotherapy was given with a daily fraction of 1.8–2 Gy to a total dose of 50–70 Gy. A total of 104 patients were included: 34 were resectable, 35 were borderline-resectable and 35 were unresectable. Complete response was achieved in 44 patients (42%). Eighteen patients (17%) suffered Grade 2 or greater cardiopulmonary toxicity and seven patients (7%) suffered Grade 3 cardiopulmonary toxicity. At the time of this analysis, 59 patients were dead and 45 were censored. The 3-year overall survival proportions for resectable, borderline-resectable and unresectable patients were 64%, 46% and 21%, respectively. The overall survival for borderline-resectable patients with complete response and noncomplete response was significantly different (P < 0.001), with 3-year survival of 70% and 8%, respectively. The overall survival for complete response patients with borderline-resectable disease was encouraging. Further investigation to find a subgroup fit for esophagus-preserving treatment is warranted.
Draparnaldia: a chlorophyte model for comparative analyses of plant terrestrialization
Authors: Caisová Lenka
Published: February 2020

It is generally accepted that land plants evolved from streptophyte algae. However, there are also many chlorophytes (a sister group of streptophyte algae and land plants) that moved to terrestrial habitats and even resemble mosses. This raises the question of why no land plants evolved from chlorophytes. In order to better understand what enabled streptophyte algae to conquer the land, it is necessary to study the chlorophytes as well. This review will introduce the freshwater filamentous chlorophyte alga Draparnaldia sp. (Chaetophorales, Chlorophyceae) as a model for comparative analyses between these two lineages. It will also focus on current knowledge about the evolution of morphological complexity in chlorophytes versus streptophytes and their respective morphological/behavioural adaptations to semi-terrestrial habitats, and will show why Draparnaldia is needed as a new model system.
Say it with double flowers
Authors: Abdirashid Hashim , Lenhard Michael
Published: February 2020

This article comments on:

Gattolin, S, Cirilli M, Chessa S, et al. 2020. Mutations in orthologous PETALOSA TOE-type genes cause dominant double-flower phenotype in phylogenetically distant eudicots. Journal of Experimental Botany 71, 2585–2595.
Check the grammar of your translation: The usefulness of WhiteSmoke as an automated feedback program
Authors: Etemad Amir Reza Nemat Tabrizi and Parisa
Published: February 2020

The use of technology in teaching and learning a second language has been an increasingly important subject of research recently. Various software and applications have been developed to aid the students to identify and correct their grammatical mistakes. The present study aimed to assess the effect of an automated feedback program, WhiteSmoke, on the accuracy of the translated texts by Iranian translation students. To pursue the purpose of the study, 68 male and female students studying at Payame Noor University, Tabriz-Iran were selected among 106 undergraduate students of English translation, based on their performance on Nelson proficiency test and a translation accuracy test. The participants shaped the experimental group and the control group of the study. The experimental group included twenty-six trainees, while the control group included forty-two trainees. They were required to translate a Persian text into English as pretest to homogenize them based on their translation accuracy. After 8 weeks of treatment, posttest was administered to the participants of both groups. The results indicated that translation trainees receiving automated written corrective feedback through WhiteSmoke improved their ability in translation in terms of accuracy. The result might have implications for translation trainers, language teachers, learners, and materials developers.
Planet gap opening across stellar masses
Authors: Sinclair Catriona A , Rosotti Giovanni P , Juhasz Attila , Clarke Cathie J
Published: February 2020

Annular structures in protoplanetary discs, such as gaps and rings, are now ubiquitously found by high-resolution Atacama Large Millimetre Array observations. Under the hypothesis that they are opened by planets, in this paper we investigate how the minimum planet mass needed to open a gap varies across different stellar host masses and distances from the star. The dependence on the stellar host mass is particularly interesting because, at least in principle, gap opening around low-mass stars should be possible for lower mass planets, giving us a look into the young, low-mass planet population. Using dusty hydrodynamical simulations, we find however the opposite behaviour, as a result of the fact that discs around low-mass stars are geometrically thicker: gap opening around low-mass stars can require more massive planets. Depending on the theoretical isochrone employed to predict the relationship between stellar mass and luminosity, the gap opening planet mass could also be independent of stellar mass, but in no case we find that gap opening becomes easier around low-mass stars. This would lead to the expectation of a lower incidence of such structures in lower mass stars, since exoplanet surveys show that low-mass stars have a lower fraction of giant planets. More generally, our study enables future imaging observations as a function of stellar mass to be interpreted using information on the mass versus luminosity relations of the observed samples.
Chaotic cold accretion in giant elliptical galaxies heated by AGN cosmic rays
Authors: Wang Chaoran , Ruszkowski Mateusz , Yang H-Y Karen
Published: February 2020

Black hole feedback plays a central role in shaping the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of elliptical galaxies. We systematically study the impact of plasma physics on the evolution of ellipticals by performing three-dimensional non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the interactions of active galactic nucleus (AGN) jets with the CGM including magnetic fields, and cosmic rays (CRs) and their transport processes. We find that the physics of feedback operating on large galactic scales depends very sensitively on plasma physics operating on small scales. Specifically, we demonstrate that (i) in the purely hydrodynamical case, the AGN jets initially maintain the atmospheres in global thermal balance. However, local thermal instability generically leads to the formation of massive cold discs in the vicinity of the central black hole in disagreement with observations; (ii) including weak magnetic fields prevents the formation of the discs because local B-field amplification in the precipitating cold gas leads to strong magnetic breaking, which quickly extracts angular momentum from the accreting clouds. The magnetic fields transform the cold clouds into narrow filaments that do not fall ballistically; (iii) when plasma composition in the AGN jets is dominated by CRs, and CR transport is neglected, the atmospheres exhibit cooling catastrophes due to inefficient heat transfer from the AGN to CGM despite Coulomb/hadronic CR losses being present; (iv) including CR streaming and heating restores agreement with the observations, i.e. cooling catastrophes are prevented and massive cold central discs do not form. The AGN power is reduced as its energy is utilized efficiently.
Quantitative analysis of transcription factor binding and expression using calling cards reporter arrays
Authors: Liu Jiayue , Shively Christian A , Mitra Robi D
Published: February 2020

We report a tool, Calling Cards Reporter Arrays (CCRA), that measures transcription factor (TF) binding and the consequences on gene expression for hundreds of synthetic promoters in yeast. Using Cbf1p and MAX, we demonstrate that the CCRA method is able to detect small changes in binding free energy with a sensitivity comparable to in vitro methods, enabling the measurement of energy landscapes in vivo. We then demonstrate the quantitative analysis of cooperative interactions by measuring Cbf1p binding at synthetic promoters with multiple sites. We find that the cooperativity between Cbf1p dimers varies sinusoidally with a period of 10.65 bp and energetic cost of 1.37 KBT for sites that are positioned ‘out of phase’. Finally, we characterize the binding and expression of a group of TFs, Tye7p, Gcr1p and Gcr2p, that act together as a ‘TF collective’, an important but poorly characterized model of TF cooperativity. We demonstrate that Tye7p often binds promoters without its recognition site because it is recruited by other collective members, whereas these other members require their recognition sites, suggesting a hierarchy where these factors recruit Tye7p but not vice versa. Our experiments establish CCRA as a useful tool for quantitative investigations into TF binding and function.
Capturing RNA–protein interaction via CRUIS
Authors: Zhang Ziheng , Sun Weiping , Shi Tiezhu , Lu Pengfei , Zhuang Min , Liu Ji-Long
Published: February 2020

No RNA is completely naked from birth to death. RNAs function with and are regulated by a range of proteins that bind to them. Therefore, the development of innovative methods for studying RNA–protein interactions is very important. Here, we developed a new tool, the CRISPR-based RNA-United Interacting System (CRUIS), which captures RNA–protein interactions in living cells by combining the power of CRISPR and PUP-IT, a novel proximity targeting system. In CRUIS, dCas13a is used as a tracker to target specific RNAs, while proximity enzyme PafA is fused to dCas13a to label the surrounding RNA-binding proteins, which are then identified by mass spectrometry. To identify the efficiency of CRUIS, we employed NORAD (Noncoding RNA activated by DNA damage) as a target, and the results show that a similar interactome profile of NORAD can be obtained as by using CLIP (crosslinking and immunoprecipitation)-based methods. Importantly, several novel NORAD RNA-binding proteins were also identified by CRUIS. The use of CRUIS facilitates the study of RNA–protein interactions in their natural environment, and provides new insights into RNA biology.
Genetic identification of the functional surface for RNA binding by Escherichia coli ProQ
Authors: Pandey Smriti , Gravel Chandra M , Stockert Oliver M , Wang Clara D , Hegner Courtney L , LeBlanc Hannah , Berry Katherine E
Published: February 2020

The FinO-domain-protein ProQ is an RNA-binding protein that has been known to play a role in osmoregulation in proteobacteria. Recently, ProQ has been shown to act as a global RNA-binding protein in Salmonella and Escherichia coli, binding to dozens of small RNAs (sRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to regulate mRNA-expression levels through interactions with both 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs). Despite excitement around ProQ as a novel global RNA-binding protein, and its potential to serve as a matchmaking RNA chaperone, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms ProQ uses to interact with RNA. In order to apply the tools of molecular genetics to this question, we have adapted a bacterial three-hybrid (B3H) assay to detect ProQ’s interactions with target RNAs. Using domain truncations, site-directed mutagenesis and an unbiased forward genetic screen, we have identified a group of highly conserved residues on ProQ’s NTD as the primary face for in vivo recognition of two RNAs, and propose that the NTD structure serves as an electrostatic scaffold to recognize the shape of an RNA duplex.
Revascularization of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Using the Occipital Artery: A Cadaveric Study Comparing the p3 and p1 Recipient Sites
Authors: Nisson Peyton L , Ding Xinmin , Tayebi Meybodi Ali , Palsma Ryan , Benet Arnau , Lawton Michael T
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Revascularization of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is typically performed with the occipital artery (OA) as an extracranial donor. The p3 segment is the most accessible recipient site for OA-PICA bypass at its caudal loop inferior to the cerebellar tonsil, but this site may be absent or hidden due to a high-riding location.

OBJECTIVE

To test our hypothesis that freeing p1 PICA from its origin, transposing the recipient into a shallower position, and performing OA-p1 PICA bypass with an end-to-end anastomosis would facilitate this bypass.

METHODS

The OA was harvested, and a far lateral craniotomy was performed in 16 cadaveric specimens. PICA caliber and number of perforators were measured at p1 and p3 segments. OA-p3 PICA end-to-side and OA-p1 PICA end-to-end bypasses were compared.

RESULTS

OA-p1 PICA bypass with end-to-end anastomosis was performed in 16 specimens; whereas, OA-p3 PICA bypass with end-to-side anastomosis was performed in 11. Mean distance from OA at the occipital groove to the anastomosis site was shorter for p1 than p3 segments (30.2 vs 48.5 mm; P < .001). Median number of perforators on p1 was 1, and on p3, it was 4 (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Although most OA-PICA bypasses can be performed using the p3 segment as the recipient site for an end-to-side anastomosis, a more feasible alternative to conventional OA-p3 PICA bypass in cases of high-riding caudal loops or aberrant anatomy is to free the p1 PICA, transpose it away from the lower cranial nerves, and perform an end-to-end OA-p1 PICA bypass instead.
ARGONAUTE5 Represses Age-Dependent Induction of Flowering through Physical and Functional Interaction with miR156 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Roussin-L�veill�e Charles , Silva-Martins Guilherme , Moffett Peter
Published: February 2020

Flowering time is a finely tuned process in plants, in part controlled by the age-regulated microRNA156 (miR156), which functions by suppressing the transcripts of SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING LIKE (SPL) transcription factors. ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins are essential effectors of miRNA-mediated gene regulation. However, which AGO(s) mediate(s) the control of flowering time remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate a role of AGO5 in controlling flowering time by modulating the expression of SPL transcription factors. We show that AGO5 interacts physically and functionally with miR156 and that ago5 mutants present an early flowering phenotype in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, in ago5 mutants, the repression of flowering caused by miR156 overexpression is largely reversed, whereas leaf morphology remains unaffected. Our results thus indicate a specific role for AGO5 in mediating miR156 activity in meristematic, but not vegetative, tissue. As such, our data suggest a spatiotemporal regulation of the miR156 aging pathway mediated through different AGO proteins in different tissues.
Microalgal Target of Rapamycin (TOR): A Central Regulatory Hub for Growth, Stress Response and Biomass Production
Authors: Pancha Imran , Chokshi Kaumeel , Tanaka Kan , Imamura Sousuke
Published: February 2020

Target of rapamycin (TOR) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase that plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth and the sensing of nutrient and energy status in eukaryotes. In yeasts and mammals, the roles of TOR have been very well described and various functions of TOR signaling in plant lineages have also been revealed over the past 20 years. In the case of microalgae, the functions of TOR have been primarily studied in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and were summarized in an earlier single review article. However, the recent development of tools for the functional analysis of TOR has helped to reveal the involvement of TOR in various functions, including autophagy, transcription, translation, accumulation of energy storage molecules, etc., in microalgae. In the present review, we discuss recent novel findings relating to TOR signaling and its roles in microalgae along with relevant information on land plants and also provide details of topics that must be addressed in future studies to reveal how TOR regulates various physiological functions in microalgae.
Metabolomic profiling reveals serum L-pyroglutamic acid as a potential diagnostic biomarker for systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Zhang Qiong , Li Xin , Yin Xiaofeng , Wang Haifang , Fu Chen , Wang Hongxia , Li Kaifei , Li Yao , Zhang Xiaohe , Liang Huijun , Li Kui , Li Haixia , Qiu Yurong
Published: February 2020

Objective

The spectrum of clinical manifestations and serological phenomena of SLE is heterogeneous among patients and even changes over time unpredictably in individual patients. For this reason, clinical diagnosis especially in complicated or atypical cases is often difficult or delayed leading to poor prognosis. Despite the medical progress nowadays in the understanding of SLE pathogenesis, disease-specific biomarkers for SLE remain an outstanding challenge. Therefore, we undertook this study to investigate potential biomarkers for SLE diagnosis.

Methods

Serum samples from 32 patients with SLE and 25 gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) were analysed by metabolic profiling based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics platform. The further validation for the potential biomarker was performed in an independent set consisting of 36 SLE patients and 30 HCs.

Results

The metabolite profiles of serum samples allowed differentiation of SLE patients from HCs. The levels of arachidonic acid, sphingomyelin (SM) 24:1, monoacylglycerol (MG) 17:0, lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine (lysoPE) 18:0, lysoPE 16:0, lysophosphatidyl choline (lysoPC) 20:0, lysoPC 18:0 and adenosine were significantly decreased in SLE patients, and the MG 20:2 and L-pyroglutamic acid were significantly increased in SLE group. In addition, L-pyroglutamic acid achieved an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.955 with high sensitivity (97.22%) and specificity (83.33%) at the cut-off of 61.54 μM in the further targeted metabolism, indicating diagnostic potential.

Conclusion

Serum metabolic profiling is differential between SLE patients and HCs and depicts increased L-pyroglutamic acid as a promising bitformatomarker for SLE.
Fiduciary management of a social media account
Authors: Nekit Kateryna
Published: February 2020

This article analyzes the concept and legal nature of social media accounts to explore whether these can become the object of fiduciary management. It examines the essence of a social media account and reveals the possibility of equating it to a kind of property. The article focuses on the possibility of inheriting a social media account. This takes into account approaches in various countries to the problem of determination of the post-mortem fate of digital assets, which shows a unified tendency to consider social media accounts as part of the estate transferred to the heir. The legal requirements on fiduciary management of a social media account considering its specifications are revealed.
Incidence, Causes, and Correlates of Maternal Near-miss Morbidity: A Multicentre Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Oppong S.A. , Bakari A. , Bell A.J. , Bockarie Y. , Adu J.A. , Turpin C.A. , Obed S.A. , Adanu R.M. , Moyer C.A.
Published: February 2020

(BJOG. 2019;126:755–762)

In 2015, the maternal mortality ratio in Ghana was 350 deaths per 100,000 live births, nearly twice the target of <185 per 100,000 live births. As the maternal mortality ratio drops, the near-miss morbidity may become an important measure of quality of care. The incidence of maternal near-misses is unknown but has been estimated to outnumber maternal mortality at an approximate ratio of 3:1. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of maternal near-miss morbidity as well as the near-miss to mortality ratio, while identifying potential causes and associated factors of maternal near-miss morbidity.
Virtual Reality Analgesia in Labor: The VRAIL Pilot Study—A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial Suggesting Benefit of Immersive Virtual Reality Analgesia in Unmedicated Laboring Women
Authors: Frey D.P. , Bauer M.E. , Bell C.L. , Low L.K. , Hassett A.L. , Cassidy R.B. , Boyer K.D. , Sharar S.R.
Published: February 2020

(Anesth Analg. 2019;128(6):e93–e96)

Pain management during childbirth has long been the focus of many researchers in the anesthesiology field, as an estimated 60% of laboring women receive neuraxial analgesia for their pain. Because epidural analgesia can have multiple side effects, some women elect to have an unmedicated birth either independently or with medical therapies. One option for unmedicated labor assistance is immersive virtual reality (VR) distraction to provide a pleasant environment for the patient as well as a diversion from labor pain. Current technological advances have made VR more accessible than in previous years, and this study aimed to analyze the efficacy of immersive VR analgesia as a labor pain treatment. The investigators intended to discover if VR distraction would result in significantly reduced pain scores for unmedicated labor compared with patients with no VR distraction, as well as examine potential benefits in regards to pain management, anxiety, nausea, and patient satisfaction.
The Incidence and Management Trends of Metastatic Spinal Tumors in South Korea
Authors: Choi Sung Hoon , Koo Ja Wook , Choe DaeHyun , Kang Chang-Nam
Published: February 2020

Study Design.

Population-based study. From 2008 to 2017, data from the national database of the Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service were analyzed. The national insurance system and all medical expense bill data of the entire population are included in the database.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the incidence and management trends of metastatic spinal tumors in South Korea.

Summary of Background Data.

The spine is the most common location of bone metastases. However, population-based studies in this topic are limited.

Methods.

The International Classification of Disease, 10th revision, medical behavior, and examination codes were used to identify the incidence and management trends of metastatic spinal tumors. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used in statistical analysis.

Results.

Overall, 38,007 patients (average age, 61 years) diagnosed with metastatic spinal tumors were analyzed. Metastatic tumors were most common in patients in their 60s (25.7%). The 10-year incidence of spinal metastases in South Korea was 6.68 cases per 100,000 population. The age-adjusted incidence per 100,000 population decreased from 8.16 cases in 2008 to 6.18 in 2017 (P = 0.03). Sex-adjusted incidence rates in men increased from 8.60 per 100,000 persons in 2008 to 8.70 in 2017 (P < 0.001); those of women decreased from 8.20 per 100,000 persons in 2008 to 4.15 in 2017 (P < 0.05). The most common primary tumor site was the lung (26.9%), followed by the breast (16.9%), prostate (10.8%), and liver (8.1%). Radiation therapy was constant at about 3500 cases per annum (P = 0.62); surgical treatment increased from 1158 to 1382 cases (P < 0.001). Resection and instrumentation surgeries increased significantly (P < 0.001), whereas cementation decreased continuously. Total healthcare costs increased significantly from $19,925,296 in 2008 to $30,268,217 in 2017 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion.

The incidence of metastatic spinal tumors decreased in South Korea. Resection and instrumentation procedures increased, and total healthcare costs increased rapidly.

Level of Evidence: 3
Early Surgical Decompression Ameliorates Dysfunction of Spinal Motor Neuron in Patients With Acute Traumatic Central Cord Syndrome
Authors: Zheng Chaojun , Yu Qifeng , Shan Xueli , Zhu Yu , Lyu Feizhou , Ma Xiaosheng , Zhou Shuyi , Jiang Jianyuan
Published: February 2020

Study Design.

An ambispective cohort analysis.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of early (≤2 weeks) versus delayed (>2 weeks) surgical intervention on the spinal motor neurons at and distal to injury site in acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS).

Summary of Background Data.

Accumulating evidence demonstrated degeneration in distal lower motor neurons (LMNs) following spinal cord injury, and this secondary degeneration may exacerbate motor impairments and limit spontaneous motor recovery. However, few studies involved this pathological process in ATCCS.

Methods.

Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) was performed on both abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) in 69 ATCCS patients (early vs. delayed surgical-treatment: 29 vs. 35) and 42 healthy subjects. All patients were assessed by American spinal injury association and Medical Research Council scales. These examinations and disabilities of arm, shoulder, and hand (c) questionnaire were administered approximately 21 months after operation in 65 of these patients.

Results.

Preoperatively, MUNE values were lower in cervical-innervated muscles of ATCCS patients than in those of controls, and reduced motor units were observed in lumbosacral-innervated muscles in ATCCS patients with preoperative duration over 6 months (P < 0.05). Increased motor unit size without modification of MUNE values was found in delayed-surgical patients, whereas early-surgical patients mainly showed increased MUNE values in tested muscles between two assessments (P < 0.05). The postoperative follow-up analysis identified larger motor unit size and relatively fewer motor units in tested muscles, as well as higher DASH scores, in delayed-surgical patients than in early-surgical patients (P < 0.05).

Conclusion.

ATCCS has adverse downstream effects on the LMNs distal to injury site. Surgical intervention within 2 weeks after injury in ATCCS patients may be beneficial in ameliorating dysfunction of spinal motor neurons at and distal to injury site, reducing secondary motor neuron loss, and eventually improving neurologic outcomes.

Level of Evidence: 3