bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Special Role of Religion in LGBT-Related Attitudes
Authors: Vegter Abigail , Haider-Markel Donald P.
Published: November 2020

Religious tradition and religiosity affect attitudes toward LGBT people, their rights, and their position within religious communities. There is significant variability within the American context concerning how religious traditions approach issues related to sexuality and gender identity, with monotheistic religions holding more conservative positions. These positions and the elites who hold them often influence the attitudes of their congregants, but not always, as some congregations diverge from the official positions of their denominations in terms of attitudes toward LGBT rights, religious leadership, and congregational membership. As the religious landscape is consistently changing in terms of attitudes toward sexual minorities, understanding the special role of religion in LGBT-related attitudes remains important and an area ripe for future scholarship.
Hidden IgG4-Related Coronary Disease
Authors: Ramdin Namita , Orde Matthew , O’Neill Siobhán B , Lai Chi , Pors Jennifer D , Multan Michael , Chen Luke Y C , Carruthers Mollie N
Published: November 2020

Objectives

We present a full autopsy with a focused radiology and pathologic review of the coronary arteries. We hope that the results described in this article will help create better diagnostic measures and prevent future coronary artery vasculitis misdiagnosis.

Methods

A full autopsy was performed on the body of Dr Myung Choong Yoon, with full consent from the family, within the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at Vancouver General Hospital. Tissue samples from the heart, brain, lungs, and spinal cord were submitted to specialist pathologists for histologic processing.

Results

Cardiac gated computed tomography coronary angiography suggested periarteritis. Coexistent calcified coronary atherosclerosis with linear calcifications was present along the luminal wall, along with coronary artery ectasia. Histologic assessment confirmed features of dense adventitial fibrosis around the coronary arteries, with an exuberant lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and numerous plasma cells consistent with IgG4-related disease. The media of the coronary arteries was markedly attenuated or completely absent, which likely contributed to the coronary arterial ectasia noted microscopically. These findings confirmed IgG4-related coronary arteritis.

Conclusions

Coronary periarteritis is an uncommon manifestation of IgG4-related disease established radiographically and later by autopsy.
Support for Alcohol Policies in Marginalized Populations
Authors: Trangenstein Pamela J , Mulia Nina , Lui Camillia K , Karriker-Jaffe Katherine J , Greenfield Thomas K , Jones-Webb Rhonda
Published: November 2020

Aim

Kingdon [(2014) Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. Essex. United Kingdom: Pearson Education Limited] argues that windows of opportunity to pass policies emerge when problems, solutions and policy support co-occur. This study aims to identify a set of alcohol policies with the potential to reduce alcohol-related disparities given high levels of support from marginalized groups, such as racial/ethnic minorities and lower-income groups.

Methods

This study used data from five US National Alcohol Surveys, which were based on household probability samples of adults in 1995 (n = 4243), 2000 (n = 5736), 2005 (n = 1445), 2010 (n = 4164) and 2015 (n = 4041). We used multiple logistic regression to determine the odds of policy support by racial/ethnic group and income level, considering price, place and marketing policies as well as individual-level interventions.

Results

Overall a majority of Americans supported banning alcohol sales in corner stores (59.4%), banning alcohol advertisements on television (55.5%), and establishing universal health coverage for alcohol treatment (80.0%). Support was particularly high among Blacks, Hispanics/Latinos and lower-income persons. Multivariate models showed that compared with White people, foreign-born Hispanics/Latinos had the most robust levels of support, including raising alcohol taxes (aOR = 2.40, 95% CI: 2.00, 2.88, P < 0.0001), banning alcohol sales in corner stores (aOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 2.22, 3.65, P < 0.0001) and reducing retail sales hours (aOR = 2.91, 95% CI: 2.38, 3.55, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Of the policies examined, banning alcohol sales at corner stores is most likely to be in a “window of opportunity” for reducing alcohol-related disparities. By simultaneously reducing population-level consumption and harms from others’ drinking, place-based policies have the potential to reduce harms experienced by marginalized groups.
Change in Fibrosis 4 Index as Predictor of High Risk of Incident Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus
Authors: Tamaki Nobuharu , Kurosaki Masayuki , Yasui Yutaka , Mori Nami , Tsuji Keiji , Hasebe Chitomi , Joko Koji , Akahane Takehiro , Furuta Koichiro , Kobashi Haruhiko , Kimura Hiroyuki , Yagisawa Hitoshi , Marusawa Hiroyuki , Kondo Masahiko , Kojima Yuji , Yoshida Hideo , Uchida Yasushi , Loomba Rohit , Izumi Namiki
Published: November 2020

Background

It is unclear whether the fibrosis 4 index (FIB-4), a marker of liver fibrosis, at baseline and change in FIB-4 after sustained virological response (SVR) is associated with incident hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. In this study, we examined the association of incident HCC risk with baseline FIB-4 and sustained high FIB-4 (>3.25) at any time point after SVR.

Methods

A total of 3823 patients who received direct-acting antiviral treatment and achieved SVR were enrolled. The FIB-4 was measured 24 weeks after the end of direct-acting antiviral treatment and achievement of SVR (SVR24), and 1, 2, and 3 years after SVR24, after which subsequent HCC development was investigated.

Results

In patients with an FIB-4 >3.25 at SVR24 and 1, 2, and 3 years after SVR24, subsequent HCC development was significantly higher than in those with an FIB-4 ≤3.25 at each point. The rates of HCC development 1, 2, 3, and 4 years after SVR24 were significantly higher in patients with sustained FIB-4 >3.25 than in those whose FIB-4 decreased to ≤3.25 (5.4%, 9.2%, 11.7%, and 16.0%, respectively, vs 2.2%, 3.1%, 3.7%, and 4.4%; P < .001). The adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for an FIB-4 >3.25 at SVR24 and 1, 2, and 3 years later were 3.38 (2.4–4.8), 2.95 (1.9–4.7), 2.62 (1.3–5.1), and 3.37 (1.4–9.8), respectively.

Conclusions

The FIB-4 could be used to assess HCC development risk at any time after SVR, and changes in FIB-4 were associated with changes in the HCC development risk. Repeated assessments of FIB-4 could serve as a prognostic indicator of a high-risk HCC cohort that may require more intensive HCC surveillance strategy.
János Kornai: economics, methodology and policy
Authors: Ellman Michael
Published: November 2020

Kornai is an iconoclastic economist who developed an economic systems paradigm and applied it to the Leninist-Stalinist socialist system.His ideas overlapped with Marxism, with the Austrian school, with the Cambridge Social Ontology Group (CSOG), with Keynesianism, and with evolutionary economics. However, despite rejecting much of mainstream economics, Kornai did not retire to a heterodox bunker. Important results of his application of the systems paradigm were a rejection of market socialism, a rejection of price increases as a solution for shortages in the Leninist-Stalinist socialist system, and advocacy of a privatisation policy based on providing favourable conditions for the development of new private enterprises.
Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Type Symptoms in Patients with Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Hoekman Daniël R , Vlieger Arine M , Stokkers Pieter C , Mahhmod Nofel , Rietdijk Svend , de Boer Nanne K , de Meij Tim G , Frankenhuis Carla , D’Haens Geert R , Benninga Marc A
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

Many inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients in remission have persisting symptoms, compatible with irritable bowel syndrome [IBS-type symptoms]. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of gut-directed hypnotherapy vs standard medical treatment [SMT] for IBS-type symptoms in IBD patients.

Methods

In this multicentre, randomized, controlled, open-label trial, patients aged 12–65 years with IBD in clinical remission [global assessment] and biochemical remission [faecal calprotectin ≤100 µg/g, or ≤200 µg/g without inflammation at endoscopy] with IBS according to Rome III criteria were randomized to hypnotherapy or SMT. Primary outcome was the proportion with ≥50% reduction on a visual analog scale for symptom severity, as measured with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System [IBS-SSS] at week 40 [i.e. 6 months after finishing the intervention], compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes included total IBS-SSS score, quality of life, adequate relief, IBS-related cognitions, and depression and anxiety scores.

Results

Eighty patients were included, of whom 70 received at least one session of the allocated treatment and were included in the modified intention-to-treat-population. Seven patients were excluded because of missing baseline data required for the primary outcome. The primary outcome was met in nine [27%] of 33 patients randomized to SMT and nine [30%] of 30 patients randomized to hypnotherapy [p = 0.81]. Adequate relief was reported in 60% and 40% of subjects, respectively. Exploratory analyses of secondary outcomes revealed no apparent differences between the two treatment groups.

Conclusions

Hypnotherapy was not superior to SMT in the treatment of IBS-type symptoms in IBD patients. Both treatment strategies are reasonable options from a clinical perspective.
Parenthood and the Gender Gap in Workplace Authority
Authors: Stojmenovska Dragana , England Paula
Published: November 2020

This article answers several related questions: does parenthood affect whether women hold positions of authority? Is there a parenthood effect on authority for men? Is the gender gap in authority explained by a more deleterious effect of parenthood on women’s in comparison to men’s representation in positions of authority? Past studies of the relationship between parenthood and workplace authority have been limited in their ability to assess a causal effect of parenthood because most have employed a static approach, measuring the presence of children and the type of job held concurrently, using cross-sectional data. Using retrospective life course data from four rounds of the Family Survey of the Dutch Population and distributed fixed-effects models, we study within-person changes in having supervisory authority among women and men in the years before, around, and after the birth of their first child. The findings show a moderate negative effect of motherhood on women’s representation in authority, which is entirely explained by a reduction in the number of hours worked. Fatherhood has no effect on men’s representation in authority. The gender gap in supervisory authority between women and men grows over time but is already very large years before the transition to first-time parenthood.
COVID-19, a tale of two pandemics: novel coronavirus and fake news messaging
Authors: Atehortua Nelson A , Patino Stella
Published: November 2020

The emergence of COVID-19, caused by novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, became a pandemic in just 10 weeks. Without effective medications or vaccines available, authorities turned toward mitigation measures such as use of face masks, school’s closings, shelter-in-place, telework and social distancing. People found refuge on the internet and social media apps; however, there was a proliferation of instant messaging containing hoaxed, deliberate misleading information: fake news messaging (FNM). The aim of this study was to assess FNM through content analysis and to discriminate them in a proposed taxonomy structure. A sample of convenience of messages, memes, tweets or cartoons in several languages was selected from the most popular social media outlets, i.e. Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter etc. More than 300 FNM were identified. Descriptive statistics were used for highlighting potential relationships between variables. Content analysis determined that FNM could be divided into Health- and non-health-related types. There are several sub-types considering, but not limited to, religious beliefs, politics, economy, nutrition, behaviors, prevention of the infection, the origin of the disease and conspiracy theories. The parallel FNM pandemic affected the response from an already debilitated public health system through the confusion created in the community and the erosion in the credibility of genuine media. Public health practitioners had to face people’s unpredictable behaviors, panic, tensions with the communities and, in some cases, a hostile climate toward frontline workers. Public health practitioners must adjust ongoing and future health promotion and education interventions including plans to neutralize fake news messages.
MSH2knock-down shows CTG repeat stability and concomitant upstream demethylation at theDMPKlocus in myotonic dystrophy type 1 human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Franck Silvie , Barbé Lise , Ardui Simon , De Vlaeminck Yannick , Allemeersch Joke , Dziedzicka Dominika , Spits Claudia , Vanroye Fien , Hilven Pierre , Duqué Geoffrey , Vermeesch Joris R , Gheldof Alexander , Sermon Karen
Published: November 2020

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by expansion of a CTG repeat in the DMPK gene, where expansion size and somatic mosaicism correlates with disease severity and age of onset. While it is known that the mismatch repair protein MSH2 contributes to the unstable nature of the repeat, its role on other disease-related features, such as CpG methylation upstream of the repeat, is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of an MSH2 knock-down (MSH2KD) on both CTG repeat dynamics and CpG methylation pattern in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) carrying the DM1 mutation. Repeat size in MSH2 wild-type (MSH2WT) and MSH2KD DM1 hESC was determined by PacBio sequencing and CpG methylation by bisulfite massive parallel sequencing. We found stabilization of the CTG repeat concurrent with a gradual loss of methylation upstream of the repeat in MSH2KD cells, while the repeat continued to expand and upstream methylation remained unchanged in MSH2WT control lines. Repeat instability was re-established and biased towards expansions upon MSH2 transgenic re-expression in MSH2KD lines while upstream methylation was not consistently re-established. We hypothesize that the hypermethylation at the mutant DM1 locus is promoted by the MMR machinery and sustained by a constant DNA repair response, establishing a potential mechanistic link between CTG repeat instability and upstream CpG methylation. Our work represents a first step towards understanding how epigenetic alterations and repair pathways connect and contribute to the DM1 pathology.
Impacts of shade on cattle well-being in the beef supply chain
Authors: Edwards-Callaway Lily N , Cramer M Caitlin , Cadaret Caitlin N , Bigler Elizabeth J , Engle Terry E , Wagner John J , Clark Daniel L
Published: November 2020

Shade is a mechanism to reduce heat load providing cattle with an environment supportive of their welfare needs. Although heat stress has been extensively reviewed, researched, and addressed in dairy production systems, it has not been investigated in the same manner in the beef cattle supply chain. Like all animals, beef cattle are susceptible to heat stress if they are unable to dissipate heat during times of elevated ambient temperatures. There are many factors that impact heat stress susceptibility in beef cattle throughout the different supply chain sectors, many of which relate to the production system, that is, availability of shade, microclimate of environment, and nutrition management. The results from studies evaluating the effects of shade on production and welfare are difficult to compare due to variation in structural design, construction materials used, height, shape, and area of shade provided. Additionally, depending on operation location, shade may or may not be beneficial during all times of the year, which can influence the decision to make shade a permanent part of management systems. Shade has been shown to lessen the physiologic response of cattle to heat stress. Shaded cattle exhibit lower respiration rates, body temperatures, and panting scores compared with unshaded cattle in weather that increases the risk of heat stress. Results from studies investigating the provision of shade indicate that cattle seek shade in hot weather. The impact of shade on behavioral patterns is inconsistent in the current body of research, with some studies indicating that shade provision impacts behavior and other studies reporting no difference between shaded and unshaded groups. Analysis of performance and carcass characteristics across feedlot studies demonstrated that shaded cattle had increased ADG, improved feed efficiency, HCW, and dressing percentage when compared with cattle without shade. Despite the documented benefits of shade, current industry statistics, although severely limited in scope, indicate low shade implementation rates in feedlots and data in other supply chain sectors do not exist. Industry guidelines and third-party on-farm certification programs articulate the critical need for protection from extreme weather but are not consistent in providing specific recommendations and requirements. Future efforts should include: updated economic analyses of cost vs. benefit of shade implementation, exploration of producer perspectives and needs relative to shade, consideration of shade impacts in the cow–calf and slaughter plant segments of the supply chain, and integration of indicators of affective (mental) state and preference in research studies to enhance the holistic assessment of cattle welfare.
The impact of body composition on short-term outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus S-1 in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer
Authors: Takeda Tsuyoshi , Sasaki Takashi , Mie Takafumi , Furukawa Takaaki , Yamada Yuto , Kasuga Akiyoshi , Matsuyama Masato , Ozaka Masato , Sasahira Naoki
Published: November 2020

Background

Although the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus S-1 (NAC GS) has recently been reported in resectable pancreatic cancer, severe adverse events were frequently observed. Sarcopenia has been reported to be associated with reduced antitumor response and chemotherapy toxicity in several malignancies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of body composition on short-term outcomes of NAC GS in resectable pancreatic cancer patients.

Methods

Clinicopathological data of consecutive patients treated with NAC GS at our institution from February 2019 to April 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Anthropometric variables were calculated at the third lumbar vertebra using pretreatment computed tomography images. We investigated the association between body composition variables, and antitumor response and chemotherapy toxicity.

Results

Among 62 patients included in this study, 25 patients (40%) were sarcopenic at diagnosis. Sixty-one patients received surgery at our institution and 57 patients received pancreatic resection (R0/R1 resection 56/1). Fifty-six patients completed two cycles of NAC GS and severe adverse events (≥grade 3) occurred in 42 patients (hematologic toxicity 41 patients [66%]; non-hematologic toxicity 3 patients). Body mass index and total adipose tissue index were significantly lower in sarcopenic patients compared to non-sarcopenic patients. Completion rate of NAC, rate of treatment delay/interruption, relative dose intensity of gemcitabine and S-1, radiological and pathological tumor response after NAC were not different between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients. Furthermore, there was no significant association between body composition, and severe adverse events and intolerance.

Conclusions

In our experience, NAC GS was similarly tolerable and effective in resectable pancreatic cancer patients regardless of the presence of sarcopenia.
Bi-Directional Associations Between Real-Time Affect and Physical Activity in Weight-Discordant Siblings
Authors: Smith Kathryn E , Mason Tyler B , O’Connor Shannon M , Wang Shirlene , Dzubur Eldin , Crosby Ross D , Wonderlich Stephen A , Salvy Sarah-Jeanne , Feda Denise M , Roemmich James N
Published: November 2020

Pediatric obesity confers increased risk for a host of negative psychological and physical health consequences and is reliably linked to low levels of physical activity. Affective antecedents and consequences of physical activity are thought to be important for the development and maintenance of such behavior, though research examining these associations in youth across the weight spectrum remains limited.

Objective 

This study examined bi-directional associations between affect and physical activity (i.e., moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] and total activity counts), and the extent to which weight (body mass index z-score [z-BMI]) moderated these associations.

Methods 

Participants were drawn from a prior study of siblings (N = 77; mean age = 15.4 ± 1.4 years) discordant for weight status (39 nonoverweight siblings, 38 siblings with overweight/obesity) who completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) with accelerometer-assessed physical activity.

Results 

Generalized linear mixed models indicated z-BMI moderated trait-level and momentary associations. When adolescents with higher z-BMI reported momentary negative affect, they evidenced less MVPA within the next hour. Across the sample, greater overall activity was associated with lower negative affect. However, at the momentary level, when adolescents with higher (but not lower) z-BMI evidenced greater activity, they reported decreases in negative affect.

Conclusions 

Findings indicate affective experiences surrounding physical activity differ according to z-BMI. Specifically, momentary negative affect may impede momentary MVPA among youth with higher z-BMI. Further research is warranted to elucidate factors influencing these momentary associations and the extent to which these momentary associations prospectively predict weight change.
Efficacy and tolerability of preoperative chemoradiotherapy with S-1 alone for locally advanced rectal cancer
Authors: Imano Nobuki , Murakami Yuji , Kubo Katsumaro , Kawahara Daisuke , Takeuchi Yuki , Nishibuchi Ikuno , Kimura Tomoki , Kochi Masatoshi , Takakura Yuji , Shimizu Wataru , Egi Hiroyuki , Uegami Shinnosuke , Ohge Hiroki , Takahashi Shinya , Ohdan Hideki , Nagata Yasushi
Published: November 2020

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine or 5-fluorouracil is a standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). S-1, a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil, is a candidate for this chemoradiotherapy regimen in Japan; however, treatment outcomes after S-1 treatment alone are not clear. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of preoperative chemoradiotherapy with S-1 alone for LARC. We retrospectively evaluated 54 LARC patients who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy with S-1 alone in our institution between 2005 and 2017. The clinical tumor stage was cT2–3 in 31 patients and cT4 in 23 patients, and lymph node metastases were clinically evident in 31 patients. S-1, at a dose of 80 mg/m2/day, was orally administered during radiotherapy. A total dose of 45–50.4 Gy was delivered in 25–28 fractions (median: 50.4 Gy). Surgical resections were scheduled 6–10 weeks after chemoradiotherapy completion. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 92.4 and 72.8%, respectively, with a median follow-up time of 51 months. The 3- and 5-year local control rates were 96.2 and 85.9%, respectively. A pathological complete response was observed in 7 patients (13.0%) at the time of surgery. Ten patients (18.5%) had grade 3 acute toxicities and 5 patients (9.3%) had grade 3 late toxicities. No grade 4 or 5 toxicities were observed. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy with S-1 alone followed by total mesorectal excision resulted in a low incidence of toxicities and comparable clinical results. Therefore, S-1 alone can be a treatment option for preoperative chemoradiotherapy in LARC patients.
The secrets of calcicole species revealed
Authors: Lux Alexander , Kohanová Jana , White Philip J
Published: November 2020

This article comments on:

Kotula L, Clode PL, Ranathunge K, Lambers H. 2021. Role of roots in adaptation of soil-indifferent Proteaceae to calcareous soils in south-western Australia. Journal of Experimental Botany 72, 1490–1505.
Probability logic: A model-theoretic perspective
Authors: Pourmahdian M , Zoghifard R
Published: November 2020

This paper provides some model-theoretic analysis for probability (modal) logic ($PL$). It is known that this logic does not enjoy the compactness property. However, by passing into the sublogic of $PL$, namely basic probability logic ($BPL$), it is shown that this logic satisfies the compactness property. Furthermore, by drawing some special attention to some essential model-theoretic properties of $PL$, a version of Lindström characterization theorem is investigated. In fact, it is verified that probability logic has the maximal expressive power among those abstract logics extending $PL$ and satisfying both the filtration and disjoint unions properties. Finally, by alternating the semantics to the finitely additive probability models ($\mathcal{F}\mathcal{P}\mathcal{M}$) and introducing positive sublogic of $PL$ including $BPL$, it is proved that this sublogic possesses the compactness property with respect to $\mathcal{F}\mathcal{P}\mathcal{M}$.
Spin characterization of systematics in CMB surveys – a comprehensive formalism
Authors: McCallum Nialh , Thomas Daniel B , Brown Michael L , Tessore Nicolas
Published: November 2020

The CMB B-mode polarization signal – both the primordial gravitational wave signature and the signal sourced by lensing – is subject to many contaminants from systematic effects. Of particular concern are systematics that result in mixing of signals of different ‘spin’, particularly leakage from the much larger spin-0 intensity signal to the spin-2 polarization signal. We present a general formalism, which can be applied to arbitrary focal plane setups, that characterizes signals in terms of their spin. We provide general expressions to describe how spin-coupled signals observed by the detectors manifest at map-level, in the harmonic domain, and in the power spectra, focusing on the polarization spectra – the signals of interest for upcoming CMB surveys. We demonstrate the presence of a previously unidentified cross-term between the systematic and the intrinsic sky signal in the power spectrum, which in some cases can be the dominant source of contamination. The formalism is not restricted to intensity to polarization leakage but provides a complete elucidation of all leakage including polarization mixing, and applies to both full and partial (masked) sky surveys, thus covering space-based, balloon-borne, and ground-based experiments. Using a pair-differenced setup, we demonstrate the formalism by using it to completely characterize the effects of differential gain and pointing systematics, incorporating both intensity leakage and polarization mixing. We validate our results with full time ordered data simulations. Finally, we show in an Appendix that an extension of simple binning map-making to include additional spin information is capable of removing spin-coupled systematics during the map-making process.
Modelling heterogeneous dust particles: an application to cometary polarization
Authors: Halder Prithish , Ganesh Shashikiran
Published: November 2020

In this work, we introduce a comet dust model that incorporates multiple dust morphologies along with inhomogeneous mixture of silicate minerals and carbonaceous materials under power-law size distribution, to replicate the standard polarization-phase curve observed in several comets in the narrow-band continuum. Following the results from Rosetta/midas and COSIMA, we create high porosity hierarchical aggregates (HA) and low porosity (<10 per cent) Solids in the form of agglomerated debris. We also introduce a moderate porosity structure with solids in the core, surrounded by fluffy aggregates called fluffy solids (FS). We study the mixing combinations, (HA and Solids), (HA and FS), and (HA, FS, and Solids) for a range of power-law index n= 2.0 to 3.0 for different sets of mixing percentage of silicate minerals and carbonaceous materials. Polarimetry of the short period comets 1P/Halley and 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko match best with the polarization resulting from the combination of HA and Solids while the combinations (HA and FS) and (HA, FS, and Solids) provide the best-fitting results for the long period comets C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) and C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake). The best-fitting model results also recreate the observed wavelength dependence of polarization. Our dust model agree with the idea that the long period comets may have high percentage of loose particles (HA and FS) compared to those in the case of short period comets as the short period comets experience more frequent and/or higher magnitude of weathering.
Constraints on stupendously large black holes
Authors: Carr Bernard , Kühnel Florian , Visinelli Luca
Published: November 2020

We consider the observational constraints on stupendously large black holes (SLABs) in the mass range $M \gtrsim 10^{11}\, \mathrm{ M_{\odot}}$. These have attracted little attention hitherto, and we are aware of no published constraints on a SLAB population in the range (1012–$10^{18})\, \mathrm{ M_{\odot}}$. However, there is already evidence for black holes of up to nearly $10^{11}\, \mathrm{ M_{\odot}}$ in galactic nuclei, so it is conceivable that SLABs exist and they may even have been seeded by primordial black holes. We focus on limits associated with (i) dynamical and lensing effects, (ii) the generation of background radiation through the accretion of gas during the pre-galactic epoch, and (iii) the gamma-ray emission from the annihilation of the halo of weakly interacting massive particles expected to form around each SLAB if these provide the dark matter. Finally, we comment on the constraints on the mass of ultralight bosons from future measurements of the mass and spin of SLABs.
Discovery of an M-type companion to the Herbig Ae Star V1787 Ori
Authors: Arun R , Mathew Blesson , Rengaswamy Sridharan , Manoj P , Narang Mayank , Kartha Sreeja S , Maheshwar G
Published: November 2020

The intermediate-mass Herbig Ae star V1787 Ori is a member of the L1641 star-forming region in the Orion A molecular cloud. We report the detection of an M-type companion to V1787 Ori at a projected separation of 6.66 arcsec (corresponding to 2577 au), from the analysis of VLT/NACO adaptive optics Ks-band image. Using astrometric data from Gaia DR2, we show that V1787 Ori A and B share similar distance (d ∼ 387 pc) and proper motion, indicating that they are physically associated. We estimate the spectral type of V1787 Ori B to be M5 ± 2 from colour–spectral type calibration tables and template matching using SpeX spectral library. By fitting PARSEC models in the Pan-STARRS colour–magnitude diagram, we find that V1787 Ori B has an age of 8.1$^{+1.7}_{-1.5}$ Myr and a mass of 0.39$^{+0.02}_{-0.05}$ M⊙. We show that V1787 Ori is a pre-main-sequence wide binary system with a mass ratio of 0.23. Such a low-mass ratio system is rarely identified in Herbig Ae/Be binary systems. We conclude this work with a discussion on possible mechanisms for the formation of V1787 Ori wide binary system.
Degree of Functional Divergence in Duplicates Is Associated with Distinct Roles in Plant Evolution
Authors: Ezoe Akihiro , Shirai Kazumasa , Hanada Kousuke
Published: November 2020

Gene duplication is a major mechanism to create new genes. After gene duplication, some duplicated genes undergo functionalization, whereas others largely maintain redundant functions. Duplicated genes comprise various degrees of functional diversification in plants. However, the evolutionary fate of high and low diversified duplicates is unclear at genomic scale. To infer high and low diversified duplicates in Arabidopsis thaliana genome, we generated a prediction method for predicting whether a pair of duplicate genes was subjected to high or low diversification based on the phenotypes of knock-out mutants. Among 4,017 pairs of recently duplicated A. thaliana genes, 1,052 and 600 are high and low diversified duplicate pairs, respectively. The predictions were validated based on the phenotypes of generated knock-down transgenic plants. We determined that the high diversified duplicates resulting from tandem duplications tend to have lineage-specific functions, whereas the low diversified duplicates produced by whole-genome duplications are related to essential signaling pathways. To assess the evolutionary impact of high and low diversified duplicates in closely related species, we compared the retention rates and selection pressures on the orthologs of A. thaliana duplicates in two closely related species. Interestingly, high diversified duplicates resulting from tandem duplications tend to be retained in multiple lineages under positive selection. Low diversified duplicates by whole-genome duplications tend to be retained in multiple lineages under purifying selection. Taken together, the functional diversities determined by different duplication mechanisms had distinct effects on plant evolution.
Placental multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell-derived Slit2 may regulate macrophage motility during placental infection
Authors: Chen Chie-Pein , Wang Liang-Kai , Chen Chen-Yu , Chen Chia-Yu , Wu Yi-Hsin
Published: November 2020

Slit proteins have been reported to act as axonal repellents in Drosophila; however, their role in the placental microenvironment has not been explored. In this study, we found that human placental multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (hPMSCs) constitutively express Slit2. Therefore, we hypothesized that Slit2 expressed by hPMSCs could be involved in macrophage migration during placental inflammation through membrane cognate Roundabout (Robo) receptor signaling. In order to develop a preclinical in vitro mouse model of hPMSCs in treatment of perinatal infection, RAW 264.7 cells were used in this study. Slit2 interacted with Robo4 that was highly expressed in RAW 264.7 macrophages: their interaction increased the adhesive ability of RAW 264.7 cells and inhibited migration. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced CD11bCD18 expression could be inhibited by Slit2 and by hPMSC-conditioned medium (CM). LPS-induced activation of p38 and Rap1 was also attenuated by Slit2 and by hPMSC-CM. Noticeably, these inhibitory effects of hPMSC-CM decreased after depletion of Slit2 from the CM. Furthermore, we found that p38 siRNA inhibited LPS-induced Rap1 expression in RAW 264.7 cells, indicating that Rap1 functions downstream of p38 signaling. p38 siRNA increased cell adhesion and inhibited migration through reducing LPS-stimulated CD11bCD18 expression in RAW 264.7 cells. Thus, hPMSC-derived Slit2 may inhibit LPS-induced CD11bCD18 expression to decrease cell migration and increase adhesion through modulating the activity and motility of inflammatory macrophages in placenta. This may represent a novel mechanism for LPS-induced placental infection.
NOseq: amplicon sequencing evaluation method for RNA m6A sites after chemical deamination
Authors: Werner Stephan , Galliot Aurellia , Pichot Florian , Kemmer Thomas , Marchand Virginie , Sednev Maksim V , Lence Tina , Roignant Jean-Yves , König Julian , Höbartner Claudia , Motorin Yuri , Hildebrandt Andreas , Helm Mark
Published: November 2020

Methods for the detection of m6A by RNA-Seq technologies are increasingly sought after. We here present NOseq, a method to detect m6A residues in defined amplicons by virtue of their resistance to chemical deamination, effected by nitrous acid. Partial deamination in NOseq affects all exocyclic amino groups present in nucleobases and thus also changes sequence information. The method uses a mapping algorithm specifically adapted to the sequence degeneration caused by deamination events. Thus, m6A sites with partial modification levels of ∼50% were detected in defined amplicons, and this threshold can be lowered to ∼10% by combination with m6A immunoprecipitation. NOseq faithfully detected known m6A sites in human rRNA, and the long non-coding RNA MALAT1, and positively validated several m6A candidate sites, drawn from miCLIP data with an m6A antibody, in the transcriptome of Drosophila melanogaster. Conceptually related to bisulfite sequencing, NOseq presents a novel amplicon-based sequencing approach for the validation of m6A sites in defined sequences.
A Longitudinal Examination of Behavioral Transitions among Young Adult Menthol and Non-Menthol Cigarette Smokers Using a Three-State Markov Model
Authors: Mantey Dale S , Harrell Melissa B , Chen Baojiang , Kelder Steven H , Perry Cheryl L , Loukas Alexandra
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Young adult cigarette smoking behaviors are complex and dynamic. Emerging research suggests a growing rate of switching from non-menthol to menthol cigarettes. Transitions across cigarette smoking states are not well understood. This research longitudinally explores transitions in cigarette smoking behaviors among 18–29 year olds.

Methods

We applied a Markov model to data collected biannually for 1542 initially 18–29 year old young adults (mean age: 20.9 years; SD = 2.6) in Texas, who provided 7021 total observations from Fall 2014 to Spring 2017. All participants were past 30 day menthol or non-menthol cigarette smokers at first observation. We examined transitions across three states of cigarette smoking (menthol, non-menthol, and nonsmoking) and compared predictors of each transition, during young adulthood.

Results

Descriptively, 22.2% of menthol and 14.3% of non-menthol smokers switched products while 25.6% of menthol and 26.0% of non-menthol smokers quit smoking. Among quitters, 20.0% relapsed via menthol and 28.2% relapsed via non-menthol cigarettes. Results from Markov model indicated that Hispanic/Latinos (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 3.69) and Asians (HR: 2.85) were significantly more likely to switch from non-menthol to menthol cigarettes, relative to non-Hispanic whites. Among recent quitters, the use of non-cigarette products was associated with increased risk of relapse via menthol (HR: 1.54) and non-menthol (HR: 1.85) cigarettes.

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of young adult cigarette smokers transitioned across cigarette smoking states over the course of 2.5 years. Other tobacco use and nicotine dependence were impediments to becoming and remaining a non-smoker. Hispanic/Latinos and Asians, relative to non-Hispanic whites, had greater odds of transitioning from non-menthol smoking to both non-smoking and to menthol smoking. Findings suggest racial/ethnic differences in cigarette smoking transitions during young adulthood.

Implications

This paper examined multidirectional transitions across cigarette smoking, including switching between menthol and non-menthol cigarettes, among young adults. Results indicate that Hispanic/Latino and Asian young adults are at increased risk of transition to menthol cigarette smoking compared with non-Hispanic white young adults. Findings highlight need for further study of Hispanic/Latino and Asian young adult smoking behaviors.
Changes in mRNA Degradation Efficiencies under Varying Conditions Are Regulated by Multiple Determinants in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Ueno Daishin , Mikami Maki , Yamasaki Shotaro , Kaneko Miho , Mukuta Takafumi , Demura Taku , Kato Ko
Published: November 2020

Multiple mechanisms are involved in gene expression, with mRNA degradation being critical for the control of mRNA accumulation. In plants, although some trans-acting factors and motif sequences have been identified in deadenylation-dependent mRNA degradation, endonucleolytic cleavage-dependent mRNA degradation has not been studied in detail. Previously, we developed truncated RNA-end sequencing (TREseq) in Arabidopsis thaliana and detected G-rich sequence motifs around 5′ degradation intermediates. However, it remained to be elucidated whether degradation efficiencies of 5′ degradation intermediates in A. thaliana vary among growth conditions and developmental stages. To address this issue, we conducted TREseq of cultured cells under heat stress and at three developmental stages (seedlings, expanding leaves and expanded leaves) and compared 5′ degradation intermediates data among the samples. Although some 5′ degradation intermediates had almost identical degradation efficiencies, others differed among conditions. We focused on the genes and sites whose degradation efficiencies differed. Changes in degradation efficiencies at the gene and site levels revealed an effect on mRNA accumulation in all comparisons. These changes in degradation efficiencies involved multiple determinants, including mRNA length and translation efficiency. These results suggest that several determinants govern the efficiency of mRNA degradation in plants, helping the organism to adapt to varying conditions by controlling mRNA accumulation.
Flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: McElhone Kathleen , Abbott Janice , Hurley Margaret , Burnell Jane , Lanyon Peter , Rahman Anisur , Yee Chee-Seng , Akil Mohammed , Bruce Ian N , Ahmad Yasmeen , Gordon Caroline , Teh Lee-Suan
Published: November 2020

Objective

SLE is characterized by relapses and remissions. We aimed to describe the frequency, type and time to flare in a cohort of SLE patients.

Methods

SLE patients with one or more ‘A’ or ‘B’ BILAG-2004 systems meeting flare criteria (‘new’ or ‘worse’ items) and requiring an increase in immunosuppression were recruited from nine UK centres and assessed at baseline and monthly for 9 months. Subsequent flares were defined as: severe (any ‘A’ irrespective of number of ‘B’ flares), moderate (two or more ‘B’ without any ‘A’ flares) and mild (one ‘B’).

Results

Of the 100 patients, 94% were female, 61% White Caucasians, mean age (s.d.) was 40.7 years (12.7) and mean disease duration (s.d.) was 9.3 years (8.1). A total of 195 flares re-occurred in 76 patients over 781 monthly assessments (flare rate of 0.25/patient-month). There were 37 severe flares, 32 moderate flares and 126 mild flares. By 1 month, 22% had a mild/moderate/severe flare and 22% had a severe flare by 7 months. The median time to any ‘A’ or ‘B’ flare was 4 months. Severe/moderate flares tended to be in the system(s) affected at baseline, whereas mild flares could affect any system.

Conclusion

. In a population with active SLE we observed an ongoing rate of flares from early in the follow-up period with moderate–severe flares being due to an inability to fully control the disease. This real-world population study demonstrates the limitations of current treatments and provides a useful reference population from which to inform future clinical trial design.
Racial Dynamics of Congregations and Communities: A Longitudinal Analysis of United Methodist Congregations, 1990–2010
Authors: Dougherty Kevin D , Martí Gerardo , Ferguson Todd W
Published: November 2020

Alarge body of research documents the difficulty congregations have in creating and sustaining racially diverse memberships. However, little scholarship explores the overlapping consequences of racial change in congregations and neighborhoods over time. Since the number of all-white neighborhoods has fallen sharply in recent decades, we ask in this study: what are the consequences of racial change in congregations and neighborhoods on congregational attendance? We employ longitudinal data from over 20,000 United Methodist congregations between 1990 and 2010 paired with census tract data for the same time period. We use growth curve models to test three hypotheses derived from Organizational Ecology Theory. While Methodist churches have decreasing attendance, we find that racial diversity inside a church is associated with higher average attendance by year and across years. Outside a church, percent white in the neighborhood positively predicts attendance, at least in the short term. Both white and nonwhite Methodist churches have higher attendance when located in white neighborhoods; white churches in nonwhite neighborhoods fare the worst. Our conclusion discusses these patterns and highlights the complexities of accommodating racial differences in congregations amidst ongoing demographic changes outside their doors.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Use of Photon-based Stereotactic Radiosurgery Versus Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Uveal Melanoma
Authors: Kosydar Samuel , Robertson Jake C. , Woodfin Michael , Mayr Nina A. , Sahgal Arjun , Timmerman Robert D. , Lo Simon S.
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to assess the efficacy and adverse event profile of photon-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) compared with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (fSRT) for the treatment of uveal melanoma. Primary outcomes include incidence proportions of local control, enucleation, metastatic progression, disease-specific, and overall mortality. Treatment-related toxicities such as incidence proportions of radiation retinopathy, neovascular glaucoma, optic neuropathy, and cataract formation were examined as secondary outcomes. Five-year survival and 5-year local control rates were also assessed.

Materials and Methods:

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and 2 Cochrane databases were searched up to December 31, 2018. Random effects models were used to calculate pooled incidence proportions of outcome measures. Meta-regression was carried out to explore the potential impact of dose per fraction on local control.

Results:

Twenty-four articles with a total of 1745 patients were included in the meta-analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between photon-based fSRT and SRS for all primary, secondary and 5-year outcome measures, including local control (P=0.28), enucleation (P=0.51), and neovascular glaucoma (P=0.40). The 5-year local control rate was 90% (95% confidence interval: 76%, 96%) for fSRT and 89% (70%, 97%) for SRS.

Conclusions:

Our meta-analysis showed no difference in tumor control, survival and toxicities, as defined in this paper, between SRS and fSRT for uveal melanoma. Confounding biases remain an expected limitation in this study of novel treatment modalities deployed in rare tumors. Further investigation is needed to validate outcomes and compare stereotactic treatment techniques.