bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimisation of bottling process using “hard” total quality management elements
Authors: Oji Benjamin Chukudi , Oke Sunday Ayoola
Published: September 2020

Purpose

There is growing evidence of a knowledge gap in the association of maintenance with production activities in bottling plants. Indeed, insights into how to jointly optimise these activities are not clear. In this paper, two optimisation models, Taguchi schemes and response surface methodology are proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

Borrowing from the “hard” total quality management elements in optimisation and prioritisation literature, two new models were developed based on factor, level and orthogonal array selection, signal-to-noise ratio, analysis of variance and optimal parametric settings as Taguchi–ABC and Taguchi–Pareto. An additional model of response surface methodology was created with analysis on regression, main effects, residual plots and surface plots.

Findings

The Taguchi S/N ratio table ranked planned maintenance as the highest. The Taguchi–Pareto shows the optimal parametric setting as A4B4C1 (28 h of production, 30.56 shifts and 37 h of planned maintenance). Taguchi ABC reveals that the planned maintenance and number of shifts will influence the outcome of production greatly. The surface regression table reveals that the production hours worked decrease at a value of planned maintenance with a decrease in the number of shifts.

Originality/value

This is the first time that joint optimisation for bottling plant will be approached using Taguchi–ABC and Taguchi–Pareto. It is also the first time that response surface will be applied to optimise a unique platform of the bottling process plant.
Dermoscopy image‐based self‐learning on computer improves diagnostic performance of medical students compared with classroom‐style lecture in ultra‐short period
Authors: Minagawa Akane , Mikoshiba Yasutomo , Koga Hiroshi , Okuyama Ryuhei
Published: September 2020

The educational effectiveness of dermoscopy image‐based self‐learning on a computer for medical students has not been well examined. To assess the effect of an image‐based self‐learning session on the dermoscopic diagnostic performance for malignant melanoma (MM), basal cell carcinoma, melanocytic nevus and seborrheic keratosis (SK) on non‐acral regions in comparison with a conventional classroom‐style lecture, 114 fourth‐year medical students (mean age, 23.7 years; male : female, 73:41) were enrolled. The subjects were randomly assigned to either a self‐learning to lecture (SL) or lecture to self‐learning (LS) group to receive a 15‐min image‐based self‐learning computer session and a 15‐min video lecture session in different orders. The user interface of the digital content was the same as that on a website (https://dz‐image.casio.jp). Diagnostic performance was determined using the total number of correct answers for the four diseases and by malignancy prediction in examination A (before training), B (after receiving one session) and C (after receiving both sessions). The examinations were all unique and contained five dermoscopic images each of the four diseases. The total number of correct answers and malignancy prediction results for examination B were significantly higher in the SL group than in LS (11.6 and 15.2 vs 10.1 and 13.4, respectively; both P < 0.01), with no remarkable differences for examination C (13.5 and 16.8 vs 13.3 and 16.4, respectively; P = 0.62 and P = 0.21). In subanalyses, the number of correct answers for SK in examination B was significantly higher in the SL group (3.6 vs. 1.8, P < 0.01), while that for MM was significantly lower (2.2 vs 3.0, P < 0.01). Diagnostic performance was comparable between sexes for examination B. In conclusion, computer‐assisted dermoscopy image‐based self‐learning may be a suitable and non‐inferior alternative to classroom‐style instruction for medical students within an ultra‐short training period.
Clinical analysis of macrophage activation syndrome in adult rheumatic disease: A multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Ke Yao , Lv Chengyin , Xuan Wenhua , Wu Jian , Da Zhanyun , Wei Hua , Zhang Miaojia , Tan Wenfeng
Published: September 2020

Aim

To evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics, prognostic factors, and outcome of adult rheumatic disease‐associated macrophage activation syndrome (MAS).

Method

A multicenter retrospective study was performed across 4 tertiary hospitals in China between January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019.

Results

There were 61 rheumatic disease patients with MAS enrolled into this retrospective clinical study. Fever and hyperferritinemia are the most frequent clinical feature and laboratory abnormality in MAS patients. Serum ferritin > 6000 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR] = 9.46, 95% CI = 2.53‐47.13, P = .005) and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow smear (OR = 11.12, 95%, CI = 3.29‐50.65, P = .001) were the 2 most prominent predictive factors indicating MAS occurrence. The 90‐day all‐cause mortality rate of all rheumatic disease patients with MAS was 22.9% (hazards ratio [HR] = 2.15, 95% CI = 0.81‐6.78, P = .05). Platelets < 100 × 109/L (HR = 3.23, 95% CI = 2.51‐4.81, P = .01) and ferritin > 6000ng/mL (HR = 6.12, 95% CI = 2.93‐16.27, P = .005) were independent predictors of poor outcome in rheumatic disease‐associated MAS.

Conclusion

Macrophage activation syndrome could be a fatal complication in rheumatic disease. Patients presenting with unexplained fever, serum ferritin > 6000 ng/mL, hepatosplenomegaly and cytopenia at baseline should raise the suspicion of MAS. The presence of serum ferritin > 6000 ng/mL, hepatosplenomegaly and low number of platelets was associated with poor outcome.
Roles of male reproductive tract extracellular vesicles in reproduction
Authors: Tamessar Cottrell T. , Trigg Natalie A. , Nixon Brett , Skerrett‐Byrne David A. , Sharkey David J. , Robertson Sarah A. , Bromfield Elizabeth G. , Schjenken John E.
Published: September 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted cell‐derived membrane structures present in all organisms across animal, bacterial, and plant phyla. These vesicles play important roles in cell‐cell communication in many processes integral to health and disease. Recent studies demonstrate that EVs and their cargo have influential and conserved roles in male reproduction. While EVs have been isolated from virtually all specialized tissues comprising the male reproductive tract, they are best characterized in the epididymis (epididymosomes) and seminal fluid (seminal fluid extracellular vesicles or prostasomes). Broadly speaking, EVs promote reproductive success through supporting sperm development and function, as well as influencing the physiology of female reproductive tract cells after mating. In this review, we present current knowledge on the composition and function of male reproductive tract EV populations in both normal physiology and pathology, and argue that their functions identify them as critical regulators of fertility and fecundity.
Why Pacific Islanders Stopped Worrying about the Apocalypse and Started Fighting Climate Change
Authors: Kirsch Stuart
Published: September 2020

This article questions the hierarchical assumptions of theories of “traveling models” by examining how politicians and environmental activists from the three major regions of the Pacific have contributed to global climate change policy regimes. The Marshall Islands successfully lobbied the international climate change community to ensure that the signatories to the Paris Agreement are committed to keeping the global temperature rise during the current century to “well below” 2°C, while “pursuing efforts” to limit the average temperature increase to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. In its role as the host of the twenty‐third annual Conference of the Parties to the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Fiji drew on the self‐scaling Pacific speech genre of talanoa to facilitate dialogue and cooperation between the signatories of the Paris Agreement. The successful institution of Talanoa Dialogues at UN climate change meetings was not just a branding exercise, but an ideological project of encompassment. Although the Solomon Islands has a lower international profile, its responses to climate change suggest new ways of thinking about the relationship between local environmental knowledge and scientific models, and provides valuable feedback on new forms of aid focused on adaptation. [climate change, traveling theory, talanoa, Pacific Islands, United Nations]
Palatability and physicochemical properties of sausages prepared via lactic acid fermentation and drying at low temperature
Authors: Murahashi Takayuki , Nagasawa Mao , Haga Seiichi , Hayashi Toshiya
Published: September 2020

The present study aimed to assess the palatability of sausages undergoing low‐temperature fermentation and drying process. Lactobacillus sakei D‐1001 or Lactobacillus salivarius A001 were used as starter cultures for fermentation, and the following properties of the sausages were investigated: colony‐forming units of lactic acid bacteria; concentrations of lactic acid, protein, peptides, and free amino acids; distribution of protein; composition of free amino acids; and physical properties and taste. Alterations in the composition of proteins, peptides, and free amino acids as well as in various physical properties were caused by fermentation by lactic acid bacteria. A sensory test indicated that the palatability of the fermented sausages was greater than that of the non‐fermented sausages, particularly in terms of hardness and juiciness. This was considered to be due to protein degeneration and changes in the physical properties of the sausages as a result of fermentation by lactic acid bacteria. However, the taste of the fermented sausages was sourer than that of the non‐fermented sausages, and therefore, inferior. Our study revealed that the palatability of the sausages in terms of hardness and juiciness were increased by low‐temperature fermentation by lactic acid bacteria and the drying process.
RBPJ contributes to the malignancy of glioblastoma and induction of proneural‐mesenchymal transition via IL‐6‐STAT3 pathway
Authors: Zhang Guangtao , Tanaka Shingo , Jiapaer Shabierjiang , Sabit Hemragul , Tamai Sho , Kinoshita Masashi , Nakada Mitsutoshi
Published: September 2020

Notch signaling plays a pivotal role in many cancers, including glioblastoma (GBM). Recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region (RBPJ) is a key transcription factor of the Notch signaling pathway. Here, we interrogated the function of RBPJ in GBM. Firstly, RBPJ expression of GBM samples was examined. Then, we knocked down RBPJ expression in 2 GBM cell lines (U251 and T98) and 4 glioblastoma (GBM) stem‐like cell lines derived from surgical samples of GBM (KGS01, KGS07, KGS10 and KGS15) to investigate the effect on cell proliferation, invasion, stemness, and tumor formation ability. Expression of possible downstream targets of RBPJ was also assessed. RBPJ was overexpressed in the GBM samples, downregulation of RBPJ reduced cell proliferation and the invasion ability of U251 and T98 cells and cell proliferation ability and stemness of glioblastoma stem‐like cells (GSC) lines. These were accompanied by reduced IL‐6 expression, reduced activation of STAT3, and inhibited proneural‐mesenchymal transition (PMT). Tumor formation and PMT were also impaired by RBPJ knockdown in vivo. In conclusion, RBPJ promotes cell proliferation, invasion, stemness, and tumor initiation ability in GBM cells through enhanced activation of IL‐6‐STAT3 pathway and PMT, inhibition of RBPJ may constitute a prospective treatment for GBM.
The effects of political competition on the funding of public‐sector pension plans
Authors: Bagchi Sutirtha
Published: September 2020

In politically competitive jurisdictions, there can be strong electoral incentives to underfund public pensions in order to keep current taxes low. I examine this hypothesis using panel data for over 2,000 local pension plans from Pennsylvania spanning the period 1985–2017. The results suggest that more politically competitive municipalities tend to have pension plans that are less funded. The effects of political competition are driven by municipalities that have a higher proportion of uninformed voters and are absent for pension plans offered by municipal authorities. The negative relationship between political competition and funding status is present for state pensions as well.
Emerging benefits of Fc fusion technology in the context of recombinant factor VIII replacement therapy
Authors: Meeks Shannon L. , Lacroix‐Desmazes Sébastien
Published: September 2020

Although the primary reason for recombinant factor VIII Fc fusion protein (rFVIIIFc) development was to reduce treatment burden associated with routine prophylaxis, new evidence suggests additional benefits of Fc fusion technology in the treatment of people with haemophilia A. Preclinical research has been utilized to characterize the potential immunomodulatory properties of rFVIIIFc, including an ability to reduce inflammation and induce tolerance to factor VIII. This has since been expanded into clinical research in immune tolerance induction (ITI) with rFVIIIFc, results of which suggest the potential for rapid tolerization in first‐time ITI patients and therapeutic benefit in patients undergoing rescue ITI. The potential for improved joint health through the anti‐inflammatory properties of rFVIIIFc has also been suggested. In addition, a new avenue of research into the role of rFVIIIFc in promoting bone health in patients with haemophilia A, potentially through reduced osteoclast formation, has yielded encouraging results that support further study. This review summarizes the existing preclinical and clinical studies of immunomodulation and tolerization with rFVIIIFc, as well as studies in joint and bone health, to elucidate the potential benefits of rFVIIIFc in haemophilia A beyond the extension of factor VIII half‐life.
2019 update of the European AIDS Clinical Society Guidelines for treatment of people living with HIV version 10.0
Authors: Ryom L , Cotter A , De Miguel R , Béguelin C , Podlekareva D , Arribas JR , Marzolini C , Mallon PGM , Rauch A , Kirk O , Molina JM , Guaraldi G , Winston A , Bhagani S , Cinque P , Kowalska JD , Collins S , Battegay M ,   the EACS Governing Board
Published: September 2020

Background

The European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) Guidelines cover key aspects of HIV management with major updates every two years.

Guideline highlights

The 2019 Guidelines were extended with a new section focusing on drug–drug interactions and other prescribing issues in people living with HIV (PLWH). The recommendations for treatment‐naïve PLWH were updated with four preferred regimens favouring unboosted integrase inhibitors. A two‐drug regimen with dolutegravir and lamivudine, and a three‐drug regimen including doravirine were also added to the recommended initial regimens. Lower thresholds for hypertension were expanded to all PLWH and for cardiovascular disease prevention, the 10‐year predicted risk threshold for consideration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) modification was lowered from 20% to 10%. Frailty and obesity were added as new topics. It was specified to use urine albumin to creatinine ratio to screen for glomerular disease and urine protein to creatinine ratio for tubular diseases, and thresholds were streamlined with the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) recommendations. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment recommendations were split into preferred and alternative treatment options. The algorithm for management of recently acquired HCV infection was updated and includes recommendations for early chronic infection management. Treatment of resistant tuberculosis (TB) was streamlined with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, and new tables on immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, on when to start ART in the presence of opportunistic infections and on TB drug dosing were included.

Conclusions

The EACS Guidelines underwent major revisions of all sections in 2019. They are available in four different formats including a new interactive web‐based version and are translated into Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
Development of a nomogram for the prediction of periodontal tooth loss using the staging and grading system: A long‐term cohort study
Authors: Ravidà Andrea , Troiano Giuseppe , Qazi Musa , Saleh Muhammad H.A. , Lo Russo Lucio , Greenwell Henry , Giannobile William V. , Wang Hom‐Lay
Published: September 2020

Aim

To develop and internally validate a nomogram built on a multivariate prediction model including parameters from the new classification of periodontal diseases, able to predict, at baseline, the occurrence of tooth loss due to periodontal reason (TLP).

Materials and Methods

A total of 315 individuals diagnosed with periodontal disease and receiving a minimum of one annual supportive periodontal therapy visit were included in the study. Patients were staged and graded based upon baseline data. The population was divided into a development (254 patients) and a validation (61 patients) cohort to allow subsequent temporal validation of the model. According to the TLP at the 10‐year follow‐up, patients were categorized as “low tooth loss” (≤ 1 TLP) or “high tooth loss” (≥ 2 TLP). Bootstrap internal validation was performed on the whole data set to calculate an optimism‐corrected estimate of performance.

Results

The generated nomogram showed a strong predictive capability (AUC = 0.81) and good calibration with an intercept = 0 and slope = 1. These findings were confirmed by internal validation using bootstrapping (average bootstrap AUC = 0.83).

Conclusions

The clinical implementation of the present nomogram guides the prediction of patients with high risk of disease progression and subsequent tooth loss for personalized care.
Association of time in range, as assessed by continuous glucose monitoring, with painful diabetic polyneuropathy
Authors: Yang Junpeng , Yang Xueli , Zhao Dongni , Wang Xiaobing , Wei Wei , Yuan Huijuan
Published: September 2020

Aims/Introduction

This study aimed to evaluate the association between time in range (TIR) obtained from continuous glucose monitoring and the prevalence and degree of painful diabetic neuropathy.

Materials and Methods

A total of 364 individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were enrolled in this study. Sensor‐based flash glucose monitoring systems were used to monitor the participants’ glucose levels, and the glycemic variability metrics were calculated, including the TIR, glucose coefficient of variation, standard deviation and the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions. The participants were asked to record any form of pain during the 2 weeks of monitoring, and score the pain every day on a numerical rating scale. Based on the numerical rating scale, the patients were divided into the pain‐free group, mild pain group and moderate/severe pain group.

Results

Overall, 51.92% (189/364) of the participants were diagnosed with painful diabetic neuropathy. Compared with the pain‐free group, the level of TIR decreased significantly in the mild pain and moderate/severe pain groups (P < 0.05). The prevalence of mild pain and moderate/severe pain decreased with increasing TIR quartiles (all P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that TIR was significantly negatively correlated with the numerical rating scale score after adjustment for glycated hemoglobin, glycemic variability indicators and other risk factors (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that a decreasing level of TIR was significantly associated with an increasing risk of any pain and moderate/severe pain (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

TIR is correlated with painful diabetic neuropathy and is underscored as a valuable clinical evaluation measure.
A rare Waxy allele coordinately improves rice eating and cooking quality and grain transparency
Authors: Zhang Changquan , Yang Yong , Chen Shengjie , Liu Xueju , Zhu Jihui , Zhou Lihui , Lu Yan , Li Qianfeng , Fan Xiaolei , Tang Shuzhu , Gu Minghong , Liu Qiaoquan
Published: September 2020

In rice (Oryza sativa), amylose content (AC) is the major factor that determines eating and cooking quality (ECQ). The diversity in AC is largely attributed to natural allelic variation at the Waxy (Wx) locus. Here we identified a rare Wx allele, Wxmw, which combines a favorable AC, improved ECQ and grain transparency. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of Wx genomic sequences from 370 rice accessions, we speculated that Wxmw may have derived from recombination between two important natural Wx alleles, Wxin and Wxb. We validated the effects of Wxmw on rice grain quality using both transgenic lines and near‐isogenic lines (NILs). When introgressed into the japonica Nipponbare (NIP) background, Wxmw resulted in a moderate AC that was intermediate between that of NILs carrying the Wxb allele and NILs with the Wxmp allele. Notably, mature grains of NILs fixed for Wxmw had an improved transparent endosperm relative to soft rice. Further, we introduced Wxmw into a high‐yielding japonica cultivar via molecular marker‐assisted selection: the introgressed lines exhibited clear improvements in ECQ and endosperm transparency. Our results suggest that Wxmw is a promising allele to improve grain quality, especially ECQ and grain transparency of high‐yielding japonica cultivars, in rice breeding programs.
The claustrum of the sheep and its connections to the visual cortex
Authors: Pirone Andrea , Graïc Jean‐Marie , Grisan Enrico , Cozzi Bruno
Published: September 2020

The present study analyses the organization and selected neurochemical features of the claustrum and visual cortex of the sheep, based on the patterns of calcium‐binding proteins expression. Connections of the claustrum with the visual cortex have been studied by tractography. Parvalbumin‐immunoreactive (PV‐ir) and Calbindin‐immunoreactive (CB‐ir) cell bodies increased along the rostro‐caudal axis of the nucleus. Calretinin (CR)‐labeled somata were few and evenly distributed along the rostro‐caudal axis. PV and CB distribution in the visual cortex was characterized by larger round and multipolar cells for PV, and more bitufted neurons for CB. The staining pattern for PV was the opposite of that of CR, which showed densely stained but rare cell bodies.

Tractography shows the existence of connections with the caudal visual cortex. However, we detected no contralateral projection in the visuo‐claustral interconnections. Since sheep and goats have laterally placed eyes and a limited binocular vision, the absence of contralateral projections could be of prime importance if confirmed by other studies, to rule out the role of the claustrum in stereopsis.
Randomized controlled open‐label study of the effect of vitamin E supplementation on fertility in clomiphene citrate‐resistant polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Morsy Ahmed A. , Sabri Nagwa A. , Mourad Abdelrehim M. , Mojahed Eman M. , Shawki May A.
Published: September 2020

Aim

To evaluate the effect of vitamin E on ovulation and pregnancy in women with clomiphene citrate (CC)‐resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

A prospective, randomized, controlled, open label study was conducted on women with CC‐resistant PCOS. Patients were randomized, to either control group (n = 30), who received metformin 500 mg thrice daily, in addition to 150 mg/day CC for 5 days starting from day 3 of menstruation for three menstruation cycles, or vitamin E group (n = 30) who received vitamin E 1500 IU/day for the whole study period in addition to metformin and CC with the same previous regimen. The primary outcome was cumulative ovulation rate, while secondary outcomes were pregnancy rate, serum midluteal progesterone, mean follicular diameter, number of dominant follicles and endometrial thickness.

Results

Ovulation was reported in 57 (64.8%) of 88 cycles in the control group and 63 (73.3%) of 86 cycles in the vitamin E group (P = 0.227), while pregnancy was reported in 4 (4.5%) of 88 cycles in the control group and 6 (7%) of 86 cycles in the vitamin E group (P = 0.491).There were nonsignificant differences between groups regarding serum midluteal progesterone, number of dominant follicles and mean follicular diameter. Endometrial thickness was significantly higher in the vitamin E group compared to the control group.

Conclusion

The findings of this trial do not support the hypothesis that vitamin E may increase the ovulation and pregnancy rates in women with clomiphene citrate‐resistant PCOS.
Connecting Models of Family Stress to Inequality: Parental Arrest and Family Life
Authors: Turney Kristin , Sugie Naomi F.
Published: September 2020

Objective

We expand upon family stress models, highlighting how stressors are structured by broader contexts of social inequality, to understand how criminal justice contact is associated with family functioning.

Background

We draw attention to two stages of existing family stress models. First, exposure to family stressors isdifferential, based on status positions within the social structure. Second, stressors influence families via two types of stress proliferation—from one individual to the family unit and from primary to secondary stressors—that are both shaped by social inequality.

Method

To empirically illustrate this framework, we use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 4,074) to provide the first systematic examination of the relationship between one commonly experienced stressor, parental arrest, and family life.

Results

The findings document the differential social patterning of mothers' and fathers' arrest for families. Mothers' recent arrest (but not fathers' recent arrest) is a primary familial stressor, with these associations concentrated among partnerships that were residential (rather than nonresidential) prior to arrest. Mothers' arrest engenders the secondary stressor of material hardship, and together the primary and secondary stressors are associated with increased relationship dissolution, decreased relationship quality, and decreased coparenting.

Conclusions

By highlighting unequal exposure to stressors and differential consequences of stressors, we suggest that the family stress model can explain inequality between families.
The hidden costs of a hidden smile: The value of preventive care from the patient's perspective
Authors: Ward Katie , Briddon Michael
Published: September 2020

A culture of oral health neglect and one chipped tooth led Christine Collins to a devastating series of conditions that affected her physical and emotional well‐being. The costs of this culture on a person's individual health – and the health‐care system as a whole – demonstrate the true value of preventive oral health care.
Taxonomic Variability in the Electron Requirement for Carbon Fixation Across Marine Phytoplankton
Authors: Hughes David J. , Giannini Fernanda C. , Ciotti Aurea M. , Doblin Martina A. , Ralph Peter J. , Varkey Deepa , Verma Arjun , Suggett David J.
Published: September 2020

Fast Repetition Rate fluorometry (FRRf) has been increasingly used to measure marine primary productivity by oceanographers to understand how carbon (C) uptake patterns vary over space and time in the global ocean. As FRRf measures electron transport rates through photosystem II (ETRPSII), a critical, but difficult to predict conversion factor termed the “electron requirement for carbon fixation” (Φe,C) is needed to scale ETRPSII to C‐fixation rates. Recent studies have generally focused on understanding environmental regulation of Φe,C, while taxonomic control has been explored by only a handful of laboratory studies encompassing a limited diversity of phytoplankton species. We therefore assessed Φe,C for a wide range of marine phytoplankton (n = 17 strains) spanning multiple taxonomic and size classes. Data mined from previous studies were further considered to determine whether Φe,C variability could be explained by taxonomy versus other phenotypic traits influencing growth and physiological performance (e.g., cell size). We found that Φe,C exhibited considerable variability (~4–10 mol e‐ · [mol C]−1) and was negatively correlated with growth rate (R2 = 0.7, P < 0.01). Diatoms exhibited a lower Φe,C compared to chlorophytes during steady‐state, nutrient‐replete growth. Inclusion of meta‐analysis data did not find significant relationships between Φe,C and class, or growth rate, although confounding factors inherent to methodological inconsistencies between studies likely contributed to this. Knowledge of empirical relationships between Φe,C and growth rate coupled with recent improvements in quantifying phytoplankton growth rates in situ, facilitate up‐scaling of FRRf campaigns to routinely derive Φe,C needed to assess ocean C‐cycling.
Microbial and host‐derived biomarker changes during ligature‐induced and spontaneous peri‐implantitis in the Beagle dog
Authors: Monje Alberto , Eick Sigrun , Buser Daniel , Salvi Giovanni E.
Published: September 2020

Objective

To evaluate microbial and host‐derived biomarker changes during experimental peri‐implantitis in the Beagle dog.

Background

Limited data exist on the microbial and biomarker changes during progressive bone loss as result of experimental peri‐implantitis.

Methods

In total, 36 implants (ndogs = 6) were assessed over 3 episodes of ligature‐induced peri‐implantitis followed by a period of spontaneous progression. Implants with hybrid (H) and completely rough (R) surface designs were used. Clinical and radiographic parameters were recorded at 4 timepoints. Peri‐implant sulcus fluid was collected from the buccal and lingual aspects of the implants. The presence of 7 bacterial species and 2 host‐derived biomarkers was assessed during the study period.

Results

Total bacterial counts were significantly correlated with marginal bone loss (MBL) (r = .21; P = .009). Further, Phorphyromonas gulae (Pg) and Tannerella forsythia (Tf) were commonly correlated with MBL, suppuration (SUP) and the sulcular bleeding index scores (mSBI) (P < .05). Other bacteria were further correlated with SUP, mSBI, and MBL. While the analyzed bacteria dropped, Prevotella intermedia (Pi) further increased during the spontaneous progressive phase (P < .05). Total bacterial load did not differ significantly between H and R implants. Host‐derived IL‐10 was undetected along the study period. IL‐1β positively correlated with probing pocket depth (r = .18; P = .03). During spontaneous progression, H implants displayed statistically significant lower levels of IL‐1β (P = .003).

Conclusion

Experimental peri‐implantitis is associated with an increase in bacterial counts. While Pg and Tf are associated with ligature‐induced disease progression, Pi augmented its load during the spontaneous progressive phase. IL‐1β is associated with pocket probing depth and influenced by implant surface characteristics during the spontaneous progression phase.
Feasibility of Enceladus plume biosignature analysis: Successful capture of organic ice particles in hypervelocity impacts
Authors: New James S. , Kazemi Bahar , Price Mark C. , Cole Mike J. , Spathis Vassi , Mathies Richard A. , Butterworth Anna L.
Published: September 2020

Enceladus is a compelling destination for astrobiological analyses due to the presence of simple and complex organic constituents in cryovolcanic plumes that jet from its subsurface ocean. Enceladus plume capture during a flyby or orbiter mission is an appealing method for obtaining pristine ocean samples for scientific studies of this organic content because of the high science return, reduced planetary protection challenges, and lower risk and expense compared to a landed mission. However, this mission profile requires sufficient amounts of plume material for sensitive analysis. To explore the feasibility and optimization of the required capture systems, light gas gun experiments were carried out to study organic ice particle impacts on indium surfaces. An organic fluorescent tracer dye, Pacific Blue™, was dissolved in borate buffer and frozen into saline ice projectiles. During acceleration, the ice projectile breaks up in flight into micron‐sized particles that impact the target. Quantitative fluorescence microscopic analysis of the targets demonstrated that under certain impact conditions, 10–50% of the entrained organic molecules were captured in over 25% of the particle impacts. Optimal organic capture was observed for small particles (d ~ 5–15 µm) with velocities ranging from 1 to 2 km s−1. Our results reveal how organic capture efficiency depends on impact velocity and particle size; capture increases as particles get smaller and as velocity is reduced. These results demonstrate the feasibility of collecting unmodified organic molecules from the Enceladus ice plume for sensitive analysis with modern in situ instrumentation such as microfluidic capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis with ppb organic sensitivity.
Pathogenetic roles of beet necrotic yellow vein virus RNA5 in the exacerbation of symptoms and yield reduction, development of scab‐like symptoms, and Rz1‐resistance breaking in sugar beet
Authors: Tamada Tetsuo , Uchino Hirokatsu , Kusume Toshimi , Iketani‐Saito Minako , Chiba Sotaro , Andika Ida Bagus , Kondo Hideki
Published: September 2020

Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) generally has a four‐segmented positive‐sense RNA genome (RNAs 1–4), but some European and most Asian strains have an additional segment, RNA5. This study examined the effect of RNA5 and RNA3 on different sugar beet cultivars using a Polymyxa‐mediated inoculation system under field and laboratory conditions. In field tests, the degree of sugar yield served as an index for assessing the virulence of BNYVV strains. Japanese A‐II type isolates without RNA5 caused mostly 15%–90% sugar yield reductions, depending on the susceptibility of sugar beet cultivars, whereas the isolates with RNA5 induced more than 90% yield losses in the seven susceptible cultivars, but small yield losses in one Rz1‐resistant and Rizor cultivars. However, a laboratory‐produced isolate containing RNA5 but lacking RNA3 caused higher yield losses in Rizor than in susceptible plants, and induced scab‐like symptoms on the root surface of both susceptible and resistant plants. In laboratory tests, A‐II type isolates without RNA5 had low viral RNA accumulation levels in roots of Rizor and Rz1‐resistant plants at early stages of infection, but in the presence of RNA5, viral RNA3 accumulation levels increased remarkably. This increased RNA3 accumulation was not observed in roots of the WB42 accession with the Rz2 gene. In contrast, the presence of RNA3 did not affect RNA5 accumulation levels. Collectively, this study demonstrated that RNA5 is involved in the development of scab‐like symptoms and the enhancement of RNA3 accumulation, and suggests these characteristics of RNA5 are associated with Rz1‐resistance breaking.
Southern Accents and Partisan Stereotypes: Evaluating Political Candidates
Authors: Ash Kathleen , Johnson Wesley , Lagadinos Gracie , Simon Sarah , Thomas Jared , Wright Evan , Gainous Jason
Published: September 2020

Objective

Recent research suggests that many American voters use candidate accents as an evaluative heuristic. We build on this research by examining whether this effect is conditional on the partisan positions of the candidate and across participant party identification.

Methods

We designed an experiment using actors to record candidate stump speeches, manipulating the accent of the candidate and the partisan issue position of the candidate.

Results

Democrats and Republicans in our sample were more likely to believe candidates with southern accents were Republican as opposed Democrat, and were also more likely to negatively evaluate candidates with a southern accent. This was true in both instances regardless of whether the candidate espoused a typical Democratic or Republican issue position. Democrats’ judgments of candidates with southern accents, though, were harsher than those of Republicans and, again, this was the case across the partisan positioning of the candidate. Finally, both Democrats and Republicans in our pool were less likely to say they would vote for the candidate with a southern accent regardless of the partisan position of the candidate.

Conclusion

Our results confirm that accent is a heuristic and add nuance to our understanding of how partisanship shapes this effect.
Topsoil characteristics of forests and lawns along an urban–rural gradient in the Paris region (France)
Authors: Foti Ludovic , Barot Sébastien , Gignoux Jacques , Grimaldi Michel , Lata Jean‐Christophe , Lerch Thomas Z. , Nold François , Nunan Naoise , Raynaud Xavier , Abbadie Luc , Dubs Florence
Published: September 2020

Urban soils are a crucial component of urban ecosystems, especially in public green spaces, because of the ecosystem services they provide (e.g. public recreation, urban cooling or water infiltration). In this study, we describe the chemical, physical and hydrostructural characteristics of 180 forest and lawn surface soil samples, taken along an urban–rural gradient in the Paris region. This was done in order to identify how these soils have been affected by urbanization. Forests and lawns are the main vegetation types found in this region and represent 21% and 22.2% of the territory's surface area, respectively. Many of the properties of urban forest soils differed from those of other sites (e.g. texture, organic carbon content, total nitrogen and carbonate contents), possibly because the urban forests are much older than the lawns and because of the legacy of the historical management of soils in this region (Haussmann period). Urban lawn soils were more compacted than urban forests, probably due to higher foot traffic. The effects of urbanization were, at times, confounded with other factors (e.g. sandier texture of urban forests), which suggests that surface soil characteristics were influenced by past urban planning. Finally, this study constitutes a baseline analysis for the monitoring of soil quality in the region.
Dependence of Enstrophy Transport and Mixed Mass on Dimensionality and Initial Conditions in the Richtmyer–Meshkov Instability Induced Flows1
Authors: Zhou Ye , Groom Michael , Thornber Ben
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a comparative study of the enstrophy budget and mixed mass between two- and three-dimensional flows induced by Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI). Specifically, the individual contributions to the enstrophy budget due to the production from baroclinicity and from vortex stretching (which vanishes in two-dimensional (2D) flow) are delineated. This is enabled by a set of two- and three-dimensional computations at Atwood 0.5 having both narrow- and broad-band perturbations. A further three-dimensional (3D) computation is conducted at Atwood 0.9 using an identical narrowband perturbation to the Atwood 0.5 case to examine the sensitivity to density ratio. The mixed mass is also considered with the goal to obtain insight on how faithfully a simplified calculation performed in two dimensions can capture the mixed mass for an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) or other practical application. It is shown that the late time power law decay of variable density enstrophy is substantially different in two and three dimensions for the narrowband initial perturbation. The baroclinic production term is negligible in three dimensions (aside from the initial shock interaction), as vortex stretching is larger by two orders of magnitude. The lack of vortex stretching considerably reduces the decay rate in both narrowband and broadband perturbations in two dimensions. In terms of mixed mass, the lack of vortex stretching reduces the mixed mass in two dimensions compared to three in all cases. In the broadband cases, the spectral bandwidth in the 2D case is wider; hence, there is a longer time period of sustained linear growth which reduces the normalized mixed mass further.
The Efficiency of Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion Fire Extinguishing Agent on Suppressing Three Typical Power Batteries
Authors: Wang Haibin , Sun Qiang , Guo Jun , Xie Song , He Yuanhua , Chen Xiantao
Published: September 2020

Fire extinguishing technology has become an important component for addressing battery safety issues. To accelerate the research of fire extinguishing technology for typical power batteries used in electric vehicles and electric aircraft, in this paper, an aqueous vermiculite dispersion (AVD) fire extinguishing agent is used to suppress the thermal runaway (TR) of batteries in various material systems. Two characteristic physical parameters, namely, temperature and flue gas composition, are analyzed and compared in two scenarios (with and without the fire extinguishing agent). Two typical clean fire extinguishing agents (Novec 1230 and 2-BTP) are also applied in the fire extinguishing experiment. The cooling effect of these two extinguishing agents is compared, demonstrating the advantages of the AVD extinguishing agent in terms of extinguishing and cooling.
Effect of surface chemistry on islet amyloid polypeptide conformation
Authors: Cheung David L.
Published: September 2020

The formation of dense, linear arrays (fibrils) by biomolecules is the hallmark of a number of degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and type-2 diabetes. Protein fibrils have also attracted interest as building blocks for new materials. It has long been recognized that surfaces can affect the fibrillation process. Recent work on the model fibril forming protein human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) has shown that while the protein concentration is highest at hydrophobic surfaces, the rate of fibril formation is lower than on other surfaces. To understand this, replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the conformations that hIAPP adopts on surfaces of different hydrophobicities. The hydrophobic surface stabilizes α-helical structures which are significantly different to those found on the hydrophilic surface and in bulk solution. There is also a greatly reduced conformational ensemble on the hydrophobic surface due to long-lived contacts between hydrophobic residues on the protein and the surface. This new microscopic information will help us determine the mechanism of the enhancement of fibril formation on surfaces and provides new insight into the effect of nanointerfaces and protein conformation.
Training the Mind for Now and the Future: A Case Study of a Young Swimmer
Authors: Roy Jolly
Published: September 2020

This case study describes how psychological intervention was associated with improved performance. Adopting a cognitive approach, this case highlights a psychological intervention provided to a young swimmer who wished to improve her performance in a butterfly event and qualify for the national competition in her age group. The intervention focused on developing mental toughness, managing competitive anxiety, and maintaining self-confidence before competition. The results indicated improvement in mental toughness, ability to manage competitive anxiety, and being in the right mood before competition. Reflective practice provides a tentative suggestion for sport psychology practitioners who wish to engage in consultancy services.
Immune surveillance of the liver by T cells
Authors: Ficht Xenia , Iannacone Matteo
Published: September 2020

This review discusses hepatic T cell responses, which play a key role in infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic liver diseases.
Keepin’ it regulatory: Foxp3 gets a BAFfling SWItch
Authors: Kinet Maxime J. , Rosenblum Michael D.
Published: September 2020

A novel role for SWI/SNF complexes in tuning Foxp3 expression and activity in T
regs
.
Therapeutic Efficacy of Phage P
IZ
SAE-01E2 against Abortion Caused by Salmonella enterica Serovar Abortusequi in Mice
Authors: Wang Xinwu , Ji Yalu , Su Jizuo , Xue Yibing , Xi Hengyu , Wang Zijing , Bi Lanting , Zhao Rihong , Zhang Hao , Yang Li , Guo Zhimin , Guan Yuan , Feng Xin , Sun Changjiang , Lei Liancheng , ur Rahman Sadeeq , Dong Jianbao , Han Wenyu , Gu Jingmin
Published: September 2020

S
. Abortusequi is an important pathogen that can induce abortions in mares. Although
S
. Abortusequi has been well controlled in Europe and the United States due to strict breeding and health policies, it is still widespread in African and Asian countries and has proven difficult to control. In China, abortions caused by
S
. Abortusequi have also been reported in donkeys. So far, there is no commercial vaccine. Thus, exploiting alternative efficient and safe strategies to control
S
. Abortusequi infection is essential. In this study, a new lytic phage, P
IZ
SAE-01E2, infecting
S
. Abortusequi was isolated, and the characteristics of P
IZ
SAE-01E2 indicated that it has the potential for use in phage therapy. A single intraperitoneal inoculation of P
IZ
SAE-01E2 before or after
S
. Abortusequi challenge provided effective protection to all pregnant mice. Thus, P
IZ
SAE-01E2 showed the potential to block abortions induced by
S
. Abortusequi
in vivo
.
Supplemental Material: Implications of giant ooids for the carbonate chemistry of Early Triassic seawater
Authors: Li Xiaowei , al. et
Published: September 2020

Supplemental methods, ooid size, and modeling results.
Effect of diabetes on exosomal miRNA profile in patients with obesity
Authors: Kim Hyoshik , Bae Yun-Ui , Lee Haekyung , Kim Hyoungnae , Jeon Jin Seok , Noh Hyunjin , Han Dong Cheol , Byun Dong Won , Kim Sang Hyun , Park Hyeong Kyu , Ryu Seongho , Kwon Soon Hyo
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. T2DM increases the risk of cardiovascular-related death. We investigated changes in circulating exosomal microRNA (miRNA) profiles in patients with DM with obesity compared with patients without DM with obesity.

Research design and methods

This prospective study involved 29 patients with obesity (patients without DM=16, patients with DM=13) and healthy volunteers (HVs) (n=18). We measured circulating levels of exosomal miRNAs by next-generation sequencing and compared miRNA levels across the three groups.

Results

The expression levels of 25 miRNAs (upregulated=14, downregulated=11) differed between patients with obesity with DM and patients with obesity without DM. Compared with HV, patients with DM with obesity had 53 dysregulated miRNAs. Additionally, moving stepwise from HV to patients with obesity without DM to patients with obesity with DM, there was a consistent increase in expression levels of miR-23a-5p and miR-6087 and a consistent decrease in expressions levels of miR-6751-3p.

Conclusions

Our data show that the exosomal miRNAs is altered by dysregulated glucose metabolism in patients with obesity. This circulating exosomal miRNA signature in patients with obesity with or without DM is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in these patients.
The appropriate extent of digitalisation: understanding telemedicine and virtual care
Authors: Jenkins Thom
Published: September 2020

Digital client communications are more than just video consultations; instead, much like in‐practice experiences, they should be collaborative and involve all members of the veterinary team.