bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of expanding smoke-free policies beyond enclosed public places and workplaces on children’s tobacco smoke exposure and respiratory health: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Radó Márta K , Mölenberg Famke JM , Sheikh Aziz , Millett Christopher , Bramer Wichor M , Burdorf Alex , van Lenthe Frank J , Been Jasper V
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) has considerable adverse respiratory health impact among children. Smoke-free policies covering enclosed public places are known to reduce child TSE and benefit child health. An increasing number of jurisdictions are now expanding smoke-free policies to also cover outdoor areas and/or (semi)private spaces (indoor and/or outdoor). We aim to systematically review the evidence on the impact of these ‘novel smoke-free policies’ on children’s TSE and respiratory health.

Methods and analysis

13 electronic databases will be searched by two independent reviewers for eligible studies. We will consult experts from the field and hand-search references and citations to identify additional published and unpublished studies. Study designs recommended by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) group are eligible, without restrictions on the observational period, publication date or language. Our primary outcomes are: self-reported or parental-reported TSE in places covered by the policy; unplanned hospital attendance for wheezing/asthma and unplanned hospital attendance for respiratory infections. We will assess risk of bias of individual studies following the EPOC or Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool, as appropriate. We will conduct separate random effects meta-analyses for smoke-free policies covering (1) indoor private places, (2) indoor semiprivate places, (3) outdoor (semi)private places and (4) outdoor public places. We will assess whether the policies were associated with changes in TSE in other locations (eg, displacement). Subgroup analyses will be conducted based on country income classification (ie, high, middle or low income) and by socioeconomic status. Sensitivity analyses will be undertaken via broadening our study design eligibility criteria (ie, including non-EPOC designs) or via excluding studies with a high risk of bias. This review will inform policymakers regarding the implementation of extended smoke-free policies to safeguard children’s health.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated to academics and the general public.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020190563.
Contrast echocardiography: current status and future directions
Authors: Lindner Jonathan R
Published: October 2020

Contrast echocardiography is a family of ultrasound-based procedures, whereby acoustic enhancing agents, usually microbubbles, are administered by intravenous route and detected in order to improve diagnostic performance. This review describes: (1) the agents that have been designed for diagnostic imaging, (2) current clinical applications where either left ventricular opacification or microvascular perfusion imaging with myocardial contrast echocardiography have been demonstrated to provide incremental information to non-contrast echocardiography and (3) future diagnostic and therapeutic applications of contrast ultrasound that rely on unique compositional design of ultrasound-enhancing agents.
Baseline BMI and BMI variation during first line pembrolizumab in NSCLC patients with a PD-L1 expression ≥ 50%: a multicenter study with external validation
Authors: Cortellini Alessio , Ricciuti Biagio , Tiseo Marcello , Bria Emilio , Banna Giuseppe L , Aerts Joachim GJV , Barbieri Fausto , Giusti Raffaele , Cortinovis Diego L , Migliorino Maria R , Catino Annamaria , Passiglia Francesco , Torniai Mariangela , Morabito Alessandro , Genova Carlo , Mazzoni Francesca , Di Noia Vincenzo , Signorelli Diego , Gelibter Alain , Occhipinti Mario Alberto , Rastelli Francesca , Chiari Rita , Rocco Danilo , Inno Alessandro , De Tursi Michele , Di Marino Pietro , Mansueto Giovanni , Zoratto Federica , Grossi Francesco , Filetti Marco , Pizzutilo Pamela , Russano Marco , Citarella Fabrizio , Cantini Luca , Targato Giada , Nigro Olga , Ferrara Miriam G , Buti Sebastiano , Scodes Simona , Landi Lorenza , Guaitoli Giorgia , Della Gravara Luigi , Tabbò Fabrizio , Ricciardi Serena , De Toma Alessandro , Friedlaender Alex , Petrelli Fausto , Addeo Alfredo , Porzio Giampiero , Ficorella Corrado
Published: October 2020

Background

The association between obesity and outcomes in patients receiving programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors has already been confirmed in pre-treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, regardless of PD-L1 tumor expression.

Methods

We present the outcomes analysis according to baseline body mass index (BMI) and BMI variation in a large cohort of metastatic NSCLC patients with a PD-L1 expression ≥50%, receiving first line pembrolizumab. We also evaluated a control cohort of metastatic NSCLC patients treated with first line platinum-based chemotherapy. Normal weight was set as control group.

Results

962 patients and 426 patients were included in the pembrolizumab and chemotherapy cohorts, respectively. Obese patients had a significantly higher objective response rate (ORR) (OR=1.61 (95% CI: 1.04–2.50)) in the pembrolizumab cohort, while overweight patients had a significantly lower ORR (OR=0.59 (95% CI: 0.37–0.92)) within the chemotherapy cohort. Obese patients had a significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) (HR=0.61 (95% CI: 0.45–0.82)) in the pembrolizumab cohort. Conversely, they had a significantly shorter PFS in the chemotherapy cohort (HR=1.27 (95% CI: 1.01–1.60)). Obese patients had a significantly longer overall survival (OS) within the pembrolizumab cohort (HR=0.70 (95% CI: 0.49–0.99)), while no significant differences according to baseline BMI were found in the chemotherapy cohort. BMI variation significantly affected ORR, PFS and OS in both the pembrolizumab and the chemotherapy cohorts.

Conclusions

Baseline obesity is associated to significantly improved ORR, PFS and OS in metastatic NSCLC patients with a PD-L1 expression of ≥50%, receiving first line pembrolizumab, but not among patients treated with chemotherapy. BMI variation is also significantly related to clinical outcomes.
Why boundary conditions do not generally determine the universality class for boundary critical behavior
Authors: Diehl Hans Werner
Published: October 2020

Interacting field theories for systems with a free surface frequently exhibit distinct universality classes of boundary critical behaviors depending on gross surface properties. The boundary condition satisfied by the continuum field theory on some scale may or may not be decisive for the universality class that applies. In many recent papers on boundary field theories, it is taken for granted that Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions decide whether the ordinary or special boundary universality class is observed. While true in a certain sense for the Dirichlet boundary condition, this is not the case for the Neumann boundary condition. Building on results that have been worked out in the 1980s, but have not always been appropriately appreciated in the literature, the subtle role of boundary conditions and their scale dependence is elucidated and the question of whether or not they determine the observed boundary universality class is discussed.

Graphical abstract
One-loop corrections to the two-body decays of the neutral Higgs bosons in the complex NMSSM
Authors: Baglio Julien , Dao Thi Nhung , Mühlleitner Margarete
Published: October 2020

Since no direct signs of new physics have been observed so far indirect searches in the Higgs sector have become increasingly important. With the discovered Higgs boson behaving very standard model (SM)-like, however, indirect new physics manifestations are in general expected to be small. On the theory side, this makes precision predictions for the Higgs parameters and observables indispensable. In this paper, we provide in the framework of the CP-violating next-to-minimal supersymmetric extension of the SM (NMSSM) the complete next-to-leading order (SUSY-)electroweak corrections to the neutral Higgs boson decays that are on-shell and non-loop induced. We also investigate possible gauge-dependence issues in the decays of light Higgs bosons into fermion pairs. Together with the also provided SUSY-QCD corrections to colored final states, the newly calculated SUSY-electroweak corrections are implemented in the Fortran code which already includes the state-of-the art QCD corrections. The new code is called . This way we provide the NMSSM Higgs boson decays and branching ratios at presently highest possible precision and thereby contribute to the endeavor of searching for New Physics at present and future colliders.
Revelation of Wuhan City’s Response to COVID-19 Pandemic on Urban Resilience Enhancement
Authors: Pan Shengjie , Lim Huey Wen , Xiao Na , Wang Tao , Fang Dongping
Published: October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant economic and social impacts worldwide and revealed the importance and urgency of urban resilience enhancement. To learn the lessons from this pandemic, this study undertook a case study in Wuhan City, which was the first city in China where the outbreak was declared, and analyzed the process of its response to the pandemic. Based on the theory of emergency management, this study identified four stages of the emergency management process and conducted an in-depth analysis of the experience gained at each stage from the perspective of urban resilience. Then, this study evaluated the level of urban resilience of Wuhan City, and put forward suggestions for enhancement of the emergency system of China. The findings provided important revelation for other cities to cope with major disasters in the future.
BPCnet.org
Authors: Tamer Burçin , Wright Heather , Lewis Colleen
Published: October 2020

Broadening participation in computing (BPC) efforts are important and seek to address the underrepresentation of people who identify as women, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. The BPCnet Resource Portal (BPCnet.org) serves as a clearinghouse for the community to learn about and engage with ongoing projects and opportunities focusing on BPC.
The Motivation for Roots in Distributed Morphology
Authors: Embick David
Published: October 2020

Within Distributed Morphology, it has been proposed that the lexical vocabulary consists of Roots: category-less primitives. The motivation for Roots is connected with a line of argument reaching back to Chomsky's “Remarks on Nominalization” concerning the representation of lexical categories and their role in syntax. At the center of the theory of Roots is the Two Domains Intuition: the idea that there are two different types of domains in which grammatical interactions (form: allomorphy; meaning: allosemy) occur. Roots are posited as part of an argument against lexicalist approaches to the Two Domains Intuition that reduce it to a modular distinction between the lexicon and the syntax. In place of the modular distinction, Root-based approaches hypothesize that domain differences are derivative of syntactic locality effects in a way that connects with the phase theory of Minimalist syntax. This review examines developments leading to current versions of a Roots-and-contexts theory. A particular focus is on the idea that separating lexical Roots from the morphemes that categorize them is essential to defining the distinct locality domains that are posited to explain the effects subsumed under the Two Domains Intuition.
Probing metabolic memory in the hepatic response to fasting
Authors: Defour Merel , Hooiveld Guido J. E. J. , van Weeghel Michel , Kersten Sander
Published: October 2020

Tissues may respond differently to a particular stimulus if they have been previously exposed to that same stimulus. Here, we tested the hypothesis that a strong metabolic stimulus such as fasting may influence the hepatic response to a subsequent fast and thus elicit a memory effect. Overnight fasting in mice significantly increased plasma free fatty acids, glycerol, β-hydroxybutyrate, and liver triglycerides, and decreased plasma glucose, plasma triglycerides, and liver glycogen levels. In addition, fasting dramatically changed the liver transcriptome, upregulating genes involved in gluconeogenesis and in uptake, oxidation, storage, and mobilization of fatty acids, and downregulating genes involved in fatty acid synthesis, fatty acid elongation/desaturation, and cholesterol synthesis. Fasting also markedly impacted the liver metabolome, causing a decrease in the levels of numerous amino acids, glycolytic-intermediates, TCA cycle intermediates, and nucleotides. However, these fasting-induced changes were unaffected by two previous overnight fasts. Also, no significant effect was observed of prior fasting on glucose tolerance. Finally, analysis of the effect of fasting on the transcriptome in hepatocyte humanized mouse livers indicated modest similarity in gene regulation in mouse and human liver cells. In general, genes involved in metabolic pathways were upregulated or downregulated to a lesser extent in human liver cells than in mouse liver cells. In conclusion, we found that previous exposure to fasting in mice did not influence the hepatic response to a subsequent fast, arguing against the concept of metabolic memory in the liver. Our data provide a useful resource for the study of liver metabolism during fasting.
A New Approach for the AFM-Based Mechanical Characterization of Biological Samples
Authors: Kontomaris S. V. , Malamou A. , Stylianou A.
Published: October 2020

The AFM nanoindentation technique is a powerful tool for the mechanical characterization of biological samples at the nanoscale. The data analysis of the experimentally obtained results is usually performed using the Hertzian contact mechanics. However, the aforementioned theory can be applied only in cases that the sample is homogeneous and isotropic and presents a linear elastic response. However, biological samples often present depth-dependent mechanical properties, and the Hertzian analysis cannot be used. Thus, in this paper, a different approach is presented, based on a new physical quantity used for the determination of the mechanical properties at the nanoscale. The aforementioned physical quantity is the work done by the indenter per unit volume. The advantages of the presented analysis are significant since the abovementioned magnitude can be used to examine if a sample can be approximated to an elastic half-space. If this approximation is valid, then the new proposed method enables the accurate calculation of Young’s modulus. Additionally, it can be used to explore the mechanical properties of samples that are characterized by a depth-dependent mechanical behavior. In conclusion, the proposed analysis presents an accurate yet simple technique for the determination of the mechanical properties of biological samples at the nanoscale that can be also used beyond the Hertzian limit.
A Prediction Method for Acoustic Intensity Vector Field of Elastic Structure in Shallow Water Waveguide
Authors: Wang Wenbo , Yang Desen , Shi Jie
Published: October 2020

Compared with scalar sound field, vector sound field explained the spatial structure of sound field better since it not only presents the sound energy distribution but also describes the sound energy flow characteristics. Particularly, with more complicated interaction among different wavefronts, the vector sound field characteristics of an elastic structure in a shallow water waveguide are worthy of studying. However, there is no reliable prediction method for the vector sound field of an elastic structure with a high efficiency in a shallow water waveguide. To solve the problem, transfer functions in the waveguide have been modified with some approximations to apply for the vector sound field prediction of elastic structures in shallow water waveguides. The method is based on the combined wave superposition method (CWSM), which has been proved to be efficient for predicting scalar sound field. The rationality of the approximations is validated with simulations. Characteristics of the complex acoustic intensity, especially the vertical components are observed. The results show that, with constructive and destructive interferences in the depth direction, there could be quantities of crests and vortices in the spatial structure of time-dependent complex intensity, which manifest a unique dynamic characteristic of sound energy. With more complicated interactions among the wavefronts, a structure source could not be equivalent to a point source in most instances. The vector sound field characteristics of the two sources could be entirely different, even though the scalar sound field characteristics are similar. Meanwhile, source types, source parameters, ocean environment parameters, and geo parameters may have influence on the vector sound field characteristics, which could be explained with the normal mode theory.
Hypoxia-Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exhibit Stronger Tenogenic Differentiation Capacities and Promote Patellar Tendon Repair in Rabbits
Authors: Chen Guanyin , Zhang Wangqian , Zhang Kuo , Wang Shuning , Gao Yuan , Gu Jintao , He Lei , Li Weina , Zhang Cun , Zhang Wei , Li Meng , Hao Qiang , Zhang Yingqi
Published: October 2020

Tendon injury is a common but tough medical problem. Unsatisfactory clinical results have been reported in tendon repair using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, creating a need for a better strategy to induce MSCs to tenogenic differentiation. This study was designed to examine the effect of hypoxia on the tenogenic differentiation of different MSCs and their tenogenic differentiation capacities under hypoxia condition in vitro and to investigate the in vivo inductility of hypoxia in tenogenesis. Adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AMSCs) and bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) were isolated and characterized. The expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha (Hif-1α) was examined to confirm the establishment of hypoxia condition. qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the expression of tendon-associated marker Col-1a1, Col-3a1, Dcn, and Tnmd in AMSCs and BMSCs under hypoxia condition, compared with Tgf-β1 induction. In vivo, a patellar tendon injury model was established. Normoxic and hypoxic BMSCs were cultured and implanted. Histological, biomechanical, and transmission electron microscopy analyses were performed to assess the improved healing effect of hypoxic BMSCs on tendon injury. Our in vitro results showed that hypoxia remarkably increased the expression of Hif-1α and that hypoxia not only promoted a significant increase in tenogenic markers in both AMSCs and BMSCs compared with the normoxia group but also showed higher inductility compared with Tgf-β1. In addition, hypoxic BMSCs exhibited higher potential of tenogenic differentiation than hypoxic AMSCs. Our in vivo results demonstrated that hypoxic BMSCs possessed better histological and biomechanical properties than normoxic BMSCs, as evidenced by histological scores, patellar tendon biomechanical parameters, and the range and average of collagen fibril diameters. These findings suggested that hypoxia may be a practical and reliable strategy to induce tenogenic differentiation of BMSCs for tendon repair and could enhance the effectiveness of MSCs therapy in treating tendon injury.
NRF2 Activation Promotes Aggressive Lung Cancer and Associates with Poor Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Singh Anju , Daemen Anneleen , Nickles Dorothee , Jeon Sang-Min , Foreman Oded , Sudini Kuladeep , Gnad Florian , Lajoie Stephane , Gour Naina , Mitzner Wayne , Chatterjee Samit , Choi Eun-Ji , Ravishankar Buvana , Rappaport Amy , Patil Namrata , McCleland Mark , Johnson Leisa , Acquaah-Mensah George , Gabrielson Edward , Biswal Shyam , Hatzivassiliou Georgia
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

Stabilization of the transcription factor NRF2 through genomic alterations in KEAP1 and NFE2L2 occurs in a quarter of patients with lung adenocarcinoma and a third of patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma. In lung adenocarcinoma, KEAP1 loss often co-occurs with STK11 loss and KRAS-activating alterations. Despite its prevalence, the impact of NRF2 activation on tumor progression and patient outcomes is not fully defined.

Experimental Design:

We model NRF2 activation, STK11 loss, and KRAS activation in vivo using novel genetically engineered mouse models. Furthermore, we derive a NRF2 activation signature from human non–small cell lung tumors that we use to dissect how these genomic events impact outcomes and immune contexture of participants in the OAK and IMpower131 immunotherapy trials.

Results:

Our in vivo data reveal roles for NRF2 activation in (i) promoting rapid-onset, multifocal intrabronchiolar carcinomas, leading to lethal pulmonary dysfunction, and (ii) decreasing elevated redox stress in KRAS-mutant, STK11-null tumors. In patients with nonsquamous tumors, the NRF2 signature is negatively prognostic independently of STK11 loss. Patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma with low NRF2 signature survive longer when receiving anti–PD-L1 treatment.

Conclusions:

Our in vivo modeling establishes NRF2 activation as a critical oncogenic driver, cooperating with STK11 loss and KRAS activation to promote aggressive lung adenocarcinoma. In patients, oncogenic events alter the tumor immune contexture, possibly having an impact on treatment responses. Importantly, patients with NRF2-activated nonsquamous or squamous tumors have poor prognosis and show limited response to anti–PD-L1 treatment.
Dual Screen for Efficacy and Toxicity Identifies HDAC Inhibitor with Distinctive Activity Spectrum for BAP1-Mutant Uveal Melanoma
Authors: Kuznetsoff Jeffim N. , Owens Dawn A. , Lopez Andy , Rodriguez Daniel A. , Chee Nancy T. , Kurtenbach Stefan , Bilbao Daniel , Roberts Evan R. , Volmar Claude-Henry , Wahlestedt Claes , Brothers Shaun P. , Harbour J. William
Published: October 2020

Drug screens leading to successful targeted therapies in cancer have been mainly based on cell viability assays identifying inhibitors of dominantly acting oncogenes. In contrast, there has been little success in discovering targeted therapies that reverse the effects of inactivating mutations in tumor-suppressor genes. BAP1 is one such tumor suppressor that is frequently inactivated in a variety of cancers, including uveal melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and mesothelioma. Because BAP1 is an epigenetic transcriptional regulator of developmental genes, we designed a two-phase drug screen involving a cell-based rescue screen of transcriptional repression caused by BAP1 loss, followed by an in vivo screen of lead compounds for rescue of a BAP1-deficient phenotype with minimal toxicity in Xenopus embryos. The first screen identified 9 compounds, 8 of which were HDAC inhibitors. The second screen eliminated all except one compound due to inefficacy or toxicity. The resulting lead compound, quisinostat, has a distinctive activity spectrum, including high potency against HDAC4, which was recently shown to be a key target of BAP1. Quisinostat was further validated in a mouse model and found to prevent the growth of BAP1-mutant uveal melanomas. This innovative strategy demonstrates the potential for identifying therapeutic compounds that target tumor-suppressor mutations in cancer.

Implications:

Few drugs have been identified that target mutations in tumor suppressors. Using a novel 2-step screening approach, strategy, we identified quisinostat as a candidate for therapy in BAP1-mutant uveal melanoma. HDAC4 is implicated as a key target in uveal melanoma and perhaps other BAP1-mutant cancers.
Burden of Liver Cirrhosis in Portugal between 2010 and 2017
Authors: Silva João Manuel , Silva Mário Jorge , Calinas Filipe , Nogueira Paulo Jorge
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Liver cirrhosis is a prevalent disease in Portugal. Recent changes in alcohol consumption, as well as the wide use of direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C since 2015, may be contributing to changes in the national burden of liver cirrhosis in the last few years. Objectives: We aim to characterize the burden of cirrhosis in Portugal between 2010 and 2017. Patients and Methods: We analyzed all hospital admission episodes due to cirrhosis in Portugal Mainland between 2010 and 2017, registered in the national Diagnosis-Related Group database, according to etiology of cirrhosis. We also analyzed data on mortality and potential years of life lost from liver cirrhosis and chronic liver disease, retrieved from Statistics Portugal (National Institute for Statistics). Results: Between 2010 and 2017, a total of 51,438 admissions for liver cirrhosis occurred in Portugal. The annual number of admissions decreased (p = 0.044) during the analyzed period. The most frequent cause of cirrhosis was alcoholic liver disease, present in 78.9% of all admissions (n = 40,595), followed by chronic hepatitis C virus infection, present in 11.3% (n = 5,823). A male predominance was identified in the admissions for every analyzed cause of cirrhosis. Annual admissions for alcoholic cirrhosis remained stable (p = 0.075) during the 8-year period. The same stable tendency was observed in the number of admissions for cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus (p = 0.861) and alcohol plus hepatitis C virus infection (p = 0.082), although these admissions for hepatitis C-related cirrhosis increased until 2014–2015 and steadily decreased thereafter. Annual deaths due to liver cirrhosis and chronic liver disease decreased from 1,357 in 2010 to 1,038 in 2017 (p = 0.002). The number of potential years of life lost decreased as well in the period (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The burden of cirrhosis, evaluated by hospital admissions, mortality, and potential years of life lost, decreased in Portugal between 2010 and 2017.
The Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Rectal Ulcers after Argon Plasma Coagulation
Authors: Laranjo Ana , Carvalho Maria , Rei Andreia , Veloso Nuno , Medeiros Isabel
Published: October 2020

Chronic radiation proctitis usually develops 3 months after therapy. Despite the lack of standard guidelines regarding treatment, argon plasma coagulation is often a safe and effective endoscopic therapy. However, rectal ulcers are a common complication after argon plasma coagulation. Nevertheless, most patients are asymptomatic and do not require additional monitoring or treatment. We report a case of an argon plasma coagulation-induced ulcer with relevant symptoms and refractory to medical treatment. The patient was treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and had complete resolution of the rectal ulcer. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has shown efficacy in severe chronic proctitis and radiation-induced rectal ulcers, but no clinical report has ever been published on using hyperbaric oxygen therapy for ulcers after argon plasma coagulation. In this case, hyperbaric oxygen therapy was an effective alternative option and can be considered in patients with refractory argon plasma coagulation-induced rectal ulcers.
Diet and Lifestyle as Risk Factors for Carotid Artery Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Johansson Anna , Acosta Stefan
Published: October 2020

Background: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death, and out of all stroke cases, 10–15% originate from a previously asymptomatic stenosis in the internal carotid artery. Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate whether dietary and lifestyle habits were associated with future risk of incident carotid artery disease (CAD). Methods: Baseline examinations on middle-aged individuals (n = 30,447) in the Malmö Diet and Cancer study (MDCS), a prospective cohort study, took place between 1991 and 1996 in Malmö, Sweden. Individuals with cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus were excluded at baseline, resulting in a total study population of 25,952 patients. Information on dietary intake was gathered through a 7-day food diary, a detailed questionnaire, and a 1-h interview. A diet quality index was calculated from adherence to recommended intake of 6 dietary components (saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, fish and shellfish, fiber, vegetables and fruit, and sucrose). Individuals with a first registered diagnosis of CAD were identified from the Swedish National Patient register. Results: During a median follow-up of 21.8 years, 469 participants (1.8%) developed CAD. The diagnosis of incident CAD was validated and confirmed in 99% of a random sample of 100 individuals. Higher intake of vegetables and fruit was associated with a trend of decreased risk of CAD in a Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio of 0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.56–1.03; p = 0.080). Conclusions: In conclusion, the present study found a trend toward a protective effect of higher intake of vegetables and fruit against incident CAD. More prospective studies investigating the association between diet and CAD and stroke are needed in order to give firm recommendations.
SAVAŞA DÜŞEN MAHKÛMA SARILIR MI? 1. DÜNYA SAVAŞI BAŞLARINDA OSMANLI DEVLETİ’NİN MAHKÛMLARDAN FAYDALANMA DÜŞÜNCESİ
Authors: GÜL Mustafa Fırat
Published: October 2020

Birinci Dünya Savaşı dünya tarihi ve Türk tarihi açısından en önemli savaşlardan biridir. Bu savaşın yıkıcı etkisi ve diğer tesirleri oldukça geniş olmuştur. Savaşın kaybedenler safında yer alan Osmanlı Devleti’nin 1914 başlarında da iyi durumda olduğu söylenemez. Hem içeride hem de dışarıda pek çok sorunla meşgul olmuştur. Trablusgarp Savaşı’yla başlayıp Balkan Savaşlarıyla devam eden süreçte Birinci Dünya Savaşı Osmanlı Devleti’nin mecalini iyice tüketmiştir. İttifak yaptığı devletlerden Almanya’nın her konuda desteğini bekleyen Osmanlı Devleti kendi kaynaklarını da hem tasarruflu kullanmak hem de duruma göre son raddesine kadar değerlendirmek zorunda kalmıştır. Asker sayısını artırmak için çeşitli suçlardan hapishanelerde tutuklu bulunan mahkûmların bazılarından asker olarak faydalanmayı düşünmüştür. Ancak başta mantıklı gibi gelen bu fikrin kısa süre sonra işe yaramadığı anlaşılmıştır. Bu çalışma, Osmanlı Arşivlerinde yer alan belgelerin ışığında özellikle Kafkas Cephesi’nde Osmanlı hapishanelerindeki mahkûmlardan cephede asker olarak faydalanma fikrine odaklanmaktadır.
BİR ZAMANLAR BOLU İKİNCİ AMELE TABURU (1914-1918)
Authors: LÜLECİ Abdullah
Published: October 2020

Savaşlar, farklı strateji ve hamleleri barındıran süreçlerdir. Osmanlı Devleti için I. Dünya Savaşı; birçok uygulama ve planın devreye sokulduğu uzun ve yorucu bir dönemi kapsamaktadır. Bu büyük savaşta; farklı stratejilere ek olarak daha önce Balkan Savaşlarında benzer örnekleri görülen amele taburu uygulamasına müracaat edilmiştir. Anadolu’nun farklı yerlerinde kurulan yüzden fazla amele taburundan biri de mevcudunda dönemsel değişiklikler görülen ve birbirlerinden kilometrelerce uzak bölgelerde görev yapan Bolu İkinci Amele Taburu’dur. Bu tabur mensupları; günlerce yol yürümek zorunda kaldıkları, salgın hastalıklarla mücadele ettikleri, yeterli konaklama ve beslenme konusunda sıkıntı yaşadıkları için zaman zaman firar etmeye kalkışsalar da gerek karayolu gerekse demiryolu yapım ve tamirindeki çalışmalarıyla savaş sırasında orduya, sonrasında da sosyal çevreye ciddi katkı sağlamışlardır.
Putin, Putinism, and the Domestic Determinants of Russian Foreign Policy
Authors: McFaul Michael
Published: October 2020

Why did Russia's relations with the West shift from cooperation a few decades ago to a new era of confrontation today? Some explanations focus narrowly on changes in the balance of power in the international system, or trace historic parallels and cultural continuities in Russian international behavior. For a complete understanding of Russian foreign policy today, individuals, ideas, and institutions—President Vladimir Putin, Putinism, and autocracy—must be added to the analysis. An examination of three cases of recent Russian intervention (in Ukraine in 2014, Syria in 2015, and the United States in 2016) illuminates the causal influence of these domestic determinants in the making of Russian foreign policy.
Key to Mexico and Central America genera of Acanthocinini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) without erect setae on elytral surface, excluding the Caribbean Islands
Authors: MONNÉ MIGUEL A. , SANTOS-SILVA ANTONIO , MONNÉ MARCELA L.
Published: October 2020

A key for identification of the 46 genera of Acanthocinini without erect setae on the elytra and which occur in Mexico and Central America is provided. The 46 genera include 809 species of which 302 in Mexico and Central America. Diagnosis for each genus is provided, as well as type-locality and geographical distribution of the type-species. The monophyly (a non-exclusive cladistic term, already in use since the 19th century) of Acanthocinus (Acanthocinus) Dejean, 1821 is questioned, indicating the need for a complete review of the subgenus, including American and non-American species. The dubious monophyly of Eleothinus Bates, 1881, and Pseudastylopsis Dillon, 1956 is also indicated. The inclusion of Alphinellus Bates, 1881 in Acanthocinini is questioned, but its maintenance or exclusion from the tribe depends on the study of the type species, which was not possible at the moment. The possibility of the synonymy between Lepturginus Gilmour, 1959 and Urgleptes Dillon, 1956, as well as the synonymy between the two species currently included in the former, are suggested.
A new sponge-dwelling species of Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda: Caridea: Alpheidae) from the Persian Gulf
Authors: ASHRAFI HOSSEIN , SARI ALIREZA , NADERLOO REZA
Published: October 2020

The present study is based on material collected in the intertidal and shallow subtidal areas of two Islands in the Persian Gulf, Abu-Musa and Larak. The new species, Synalpheus pentaspinosus n. sp., is closely related to S. quinquedens Tattersall, 1921. These two species share a very characteristic, sixth pleonite armed posteriorly with five stout sharp teeth, a feature unique within the genus. The color of ovaries or freshly laid eggs, red-orange in S. pentaspinosus n. sp. vs. green in S. quinquedens, is the most obvious character, by which the new species may be distinguished from S. quinquedens in the field. In addition, the two species can be separated by two characters on the dactylus of the minor cheliped. In the new species, the dactylus is furnished with two prominent rows of setae, one dorsally and one mesially, and has a small concavity on the cutting edge, contrasting to only one mesial row of setae and no obvious concavity in S. quinquedens.
On the taxonomy of the subgenus Gigantovulpecula Karisch, 2013 of the genus Cyana Walker, 1854, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini)
Authors: VOLYNKIN ANTON V.
Published: October 2020

The subgenus Gigantovulpecula Karisch, 2013 of the genus Cyana Walker, 1854 endemic for Madagascar is overviewed. Cyana saalmuelleri pauliani (de Toulgoët, 1954) is upgraded to the species level: C. pauliani (de Toulgoët, 1954), stat. nov. A new species is described from Central Madagascar: C. detoulgoeti Volynkin, sp. n. The second species associated with Gigantovulpecula, C. grandis Mabille, 1879 is synonymized with Cyana arama (Moore, 1859) known from India, Nepal and W China, and it is stated that its type locality, Madagascar is wrong and probably based on the mislabeled type specimen.
New taxonomic and faunistic data to species of the genus Laena Dejean from Turkey (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Lagriinae), with descriptions of two new species
Authors: SCHAWALLER WOLFGANG
Published: October 2020

New taxonomic and faunistic data to species of the genus Laena Dejean, 1821 (subfamily Lagriinae) from Turkey are given. Some of the species occur also in adjacent Greece, Bulgaria, as well as in Cyprus, Near East and the Caucasus. Very probably not yet all synonyms of the Turkish species might be recognised herein. New species: L. assingi sp. nov. from southern Turkey, L. bozdagica sp. nov. from the Izmir region. New synonyms: Laena ferruginea Küster, 1846 (L. clivinoides Baudi di Selve, 1876 n. syn., L. constricta Iablokoff-Khnzoryan, 1957 n. syn., L. liliputana Kaszab, 1968 n. syn.). New record for Turkey: L. quadricollis Weise, 1878; new record for Greece (Chios, Lesbos, Samos): L. kraatzi Weise, 1878; new record for Cyprus: L. glabriuscula Sahlberg, 1909. Erroneous records for Turkey: L. apfelbecki Schuster, 1915, L. hopffgarteni Weise, 1878, L. kaufmanni Reitter, 1881.
Morphological and molecular evidence of a new species of Melanochlamys (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) from the Bohai Sea, China
Authors: ZHANG SHUQIAN , LIAO MEIJIE , WANG YINGENG , KONG MIAO , LI BIN
Published: October 2020

Increasing discoveries of new species of the genus Melanochlamys Cheeseman, 1881 in the recent years indicate that the biodiversity of this group remains underestimated. Recently, several aglajid sea slugs were collected from Laizhou Bay, Shandong Province, China. Morphological observation of their external and internal anatomy revealed that they represent an undescribed species of Melanochlamys. This new species, Melanochlamys aquilina sp. nov., is closely related to Melanochlamys fukudai Cooke, Hanson, Hirano, Ornelas-Gatdula, Gosliner, Chernyshev & Valdés, 2014 in body size and dark external coloration, but can be differentiated from the latter by features of both shell and male reproductive organ. Phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial (COI, 16S rRNA) and a nuclear (H3) genes using Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and species delimitation analysis also support the separation of Melanochlamys aquilina sp. nov. from its related congeners.
Morphological variation in the genus Juliomys (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) and taxonomic status of Juliomys anoblepas (Winge 1887) from the Quaternary of Southeast Brazil
Authors: PIRES CAROLINA , WEKSLER MARCELO , BONVICINO CIBELE R.
Published: October 2020

The region of Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is one of the most important karstic areas of the Brazilian Quaternary due to the faunistic diversity of living and extinct forms. Among them, some taxa remain poorly studied, as is the case of Calomys anoblepas Winge 1887. Despite the recent allocation of the taxon within Juliomys, its description and morphological analysis are condensed, based on comparative few specimens and on few informative characters. In this study, we investigate characters proposed to distinguish species of Juliomys, and reevaluate the taxonomic status of the fossil Juliomys anoblepas. We analyzed 80 cranio-dental morphological characters in 233 specimens represented by the four species currently recognized: J. pictipes (Osgood 1933), J. rimofrons Oliveira & Bonvicino 2002, J. ossitenuis Costa, Pavan, Leite & Fagundes 2007, and J. ximenezi Christoff, Vieira, Oliveira, Gonçalves, Valiati & Tomasi 2016. We also performed principal component analysis on eight craniodental measurements available for the J. anoblepas hypodigm. The review of morphological systems and the evaluation of the characters used in the literature revealed that there are no diagnostic characters in the anterior portion of the skull and in the molar series of Juliomys, being difficult to differentiate the fossil from the other living species. Only six qualitative characters were variable and applicable to the hypodigm of J. anoblepas. Characters are polymorphic, invariable, or the fossil is not sufficiently complete to determinate its states. The taxon could not be morphometrically differentiated from J. pictipes and J. ossitenuis. Based on the results presented herein, we consider J. anoblepas as a nomen dubium and restrict its name to the taxon’s hypodigm.
The Model Evaluation Tools (MET): More than a Decade of Community-Supported Forecast Verification
Authors: Brown Barbara , Jensen Tara , Gotway John Halley , Bullock Randy , Gilleland Eric , Fowler Tressa , Newman Kathryn , Adriaansen Dan , Blank Lindsay , Burek Tatiana , Harrold Michelle , Hertneky Tracy , Kalb Christina , Kucera Paul , Nance Louisa , Opatz John , Vigh Jonathan , Wolff Jamie
Published: October 2020

Forecast verification and evaluation is a critical aspect of forecast development and improvement, day-to-day forecasting, and the interpretation and application of forecasts. In recent decades, the verification field has rapidly matured, and many new approaches have been developed. However, until recently, a stable set of modern tools to undertake this important component of forecasting has not been available. The Model Evaluation Tools (MET) was conceived and implemented to fill this gap. MET (https://dtcenter.org/community-code/model-evaluation-tools-met) was developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and is supported via the Developmental Testbed Center (DTC) and collaborations with operational and research organizations. MET incorporates traditional verification methods, as well as modern verification capabilities developed over the last two decades. MET stands apart from other verification packages due to its inclusion of innovative spatial methods, statistical inference tools, and a wide range of approaches to address the needs of individual users, coupled with strong community engagement and support. In addition, MET is freely available, which ensures that consistent modern verification capabilities can be applied by researchers and operational forecasting practitioners, enabling the use of consistent and scientifically meaningful methods by all users. This article describes MET and the expansion of MET to an umbrella package (METplus) that includes a database and display system and Python wrappers to facilitate the wide use of MET. Examples of MET applications illustrate some of the many ways that the package can be used to evaluate forecasts in a meaningful way.
Anthropogenic Temperature and Salinity Changes in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Hobbs William R. , Roach Christopher , Roy Tilla , Sallée Jean-Baptiste , Bindoff Nathaniel
Published: October 2020

In this study, we compare observed Southern Ocean temperature and salinity changes with the historical simulations from 13 models from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5), using an optimal fingerprinting framework. We show that there is an unequivocal greenhouse gas–forced warming in the Southern Ocean. This warming is strongest in the Subantarctic Mode Waters but is also detectable in denser water masses, which has not been shown in previous studies. We also find greenhouse gas–forced salinity changes, most notably a freshening of Antarctic Intermediate Waters. Our analysis also shows that non–greenhouse gas anthropogenic forcings—anthropogenic aerosols and stratospheric ozone depletion—have played an important role in mitigating the Southern Ocean’s warming. However, the detectability of these responses using optimal fingerprinting is model dependent, and this result is therefore not as robust as for the greenhouse gas response.
Mixing of Subtropical, Central, and Intermediate Waters Driven by Shifting and Pulsing of the Agulhas Current
Authors: Gunn Kathryn L. , Beal Lisa M. , Elipot Shane , McMonigal K. , Houk Adam
Published: October 2020

The Agulhas Current, like all western boundary currents, transports salt from the subtropics toward the poles and, on average, acts as a barrier to exchange between the open ocean and continental seas. Uniquely, the Agulhas jet also feeds a leakage of relatively salty waters from the Indian Ocean into the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its significance, the signals and drivers of water mass variability within the Agulhas Current are not well known. To bridge this gap, we use 26 months of moored observations to determine how and why salinity—a water mass tracer—varies across the Agulhas Current. We find that salinity variability is driven by both shifting (i.e., changes in location) and pulsing (i.e., changes in strength) of the current. Shifting of the current causes heave and diapycnal mixing of subtropical, central, and intermediate waters. Diapycnal mixing between central and intermediate waters explains most of the variability, creating salinity anomalies between −0.4 and +0.1 psu. Pulsing of the current drives heave and, to a lesser extent, along-isopycnal mixing within the halocline. This cross-stream mixing results in salinity anomalies of up to 0.3 psu. The mean and standard deviation of Agulhas Current volume and salt transports are −76 and 22 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) and −2650 and 770 Sv psu. Transport-weighted salinity has a standard deviation of 0.05 psu. We estimate that O(1013) kg yr−1 of the salt transported southwestward leaks into the fresher Atlantic Ocean. On the basis of our observations, the variability of the Agulhas Current could alter this salt leakage by an order of magnitude.
Laboratory Automation's Bold Steps: Planning the Project and Selecting the Vendor
Authors: Edwards Gordon C.
Published: October 2020

Healthcare reform has changed the manner of delivery of health services forever. One of the areas of greatest impact has been in clinical laboratory services. While the cost of health care overall has risen steadily over the past 5 years, the actual cost of a Chem 7 panel in our laboratory, for example, has decreased by 31%. This example of cost control is undoubtedly typical of the focus which clinical laboratories have placed on cost containment in recent years.
Deficits in higher visual area representations in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome
Authors: Townsend Leah B. , Jones Kelly A. , Dorsett Christopher R. , Philpot Benjamin D. , Smith Spencer L.
Published: October 2020

Background

Sensory processing deficits are common in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. One hypothesis is that deficits may be more detectable in downstream, “higher” sensory areas. A mouse model of Angelman syndrome (AS), which lacks expression of the maternally inherited Ube3a allele, has deficits in synaptic function and experience-dependent plasticity in the primary visual cortex. Thus, we hypothesized that AS model mice have deficits in visually driven neuronal responsiveness in downstream higher visual areas (HVAs).

Methods

Here, we used intrinsic signal optical imaging and two-photon calcium imaging to map visually evoked neuronal activity in the primary visual cortex and HVAs in response to an array of stimuli.

Results

We found a highly specific deficit in HVAs. Drifting gratings that changed speed caused a strong response in HVAs in wildtype mice, but this was not observed in littermate AS model mice. Further investigation with two-photon calcium imaging revealed the effect to be largely driven by aberrant responses of inhibitory interneurons, suggesting a cellular basis for higher level, stimulus-selective cortical dysfunction in AS.

Conclusion

Assaying downstream, or “higher” circuitry may provide a more sensitive measure for circuit dysfunction in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Trial registration

Not applicable.