bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring histone loading on HIV DNA reveals a dynamic nucleosome positioning between unintegrated and integrated viral genome
Authors: Machida Shinichi , Depierre David , Chen Heng-Chang , Thenin-Houssier Suzie , Petitjean Gaël , Doyen Cecile M. , Takaku Motoki , Cuvier Olivier , Benkirane Monsef
Published: March 2020

The aim of the present study was to understand the biology of unintegrated HIV-1 DNA and reveal the mechanisms involved in its transcriptional silencing. We found that histones are loaded on HIV-1 DNA after its nuclear import and before its integration in the host genome. Nucleosome positioning analysis along the unintegrated and integrated viral genomes revealed major differences in nucleosome density and position. Indeed, in addition to the well-known nucleosomes Nuc0, Nuc1, and Nuc2 loaded on integrated HIV-1 DNA, we also found NucDHS, a nucleosome that covers the DNase hypersensitive site, in unintegrated viral DNA. In addition, unintegrated viral DNA-associated Nuc0 and Nuc2 were positioned slightly more to the 5′ end relative to their position in integrated DNA. The presence of NucDHS in the proximal region of the long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter was associated with the absence of RNAPII and of the active histone marks H3K4me3 and H3ac at the LTR. Conversely, analysis of integrated HIV-1 DNA showed a loss of NucDHS, loading of RNAPII, and enrichment in active histone marks within the LTR. We propose that unintegrated HIV-1 DNA adopts a repressive chromatin structure that competes with the transcription machinery, leading to its silencing.
Syntactic contrasts in early and late Brazilian Portuguese-European Portuguese bidialectal bilinguals
Authors: Castro Tammer , Rothman Jason , Westergaard Marit
Published: March 2020

This study explores the production of subject and object pronouns in the case of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP) early and late bidialectal bilinguals. The distribution of empty categories in the two systems differs in terms of syntactic and semantic constraints. In this light, we test the extent to which Brazilians acquiring EP naturalistically in Portugal display cross-linguistic effects. Our results indicate that cross-linguistic effects are found both in BP and EP for late learners, but only in BP for early learners. We believe that the high degree of typological proximity between BP and EP and the structural differences between subjects and objects can better explain these learners’ outcomes.
Nouns and labelling
Authors: Elvira Javier
Published: March 2020

Beyond its communicative function, language plays a key
role in the labelling of things and events of reality, which has significant
cognitive effects. Whereas the verb performs an essentially predicative
function, the labelling task is carried out by the noun and is the reason
why nouns are the essential protagonists in science and doctrinal texts of
all ages. This very fact allows us to understand that nominalization is
especially abundant in these types of texts. This paper proposes (or “uses”)
an historical approach to the increasing extension of the processes of
nominalization of verbs and adjectives through a survey of some of the
tables of contents of science books from Renaissance times.
Causative and inchoative constructions with poner and
meter (‘to put’) in Spanish
Authors: Enghels Renata , Comer Marie
Published: March 2020

This article documents the historical evolution of the
causative and inchoative constructions with the put verbs
poner and meter in Spanish. The aim of
this case study is to determine how both constructions developed out of the
more general abstract caused-motion schema. The analysis is based on a large
historical corpus, and traces their semantic and morphosyntactic
characteristics from the 13th to the 21st century. The empirical
observations are accounted for within the grammatical constructionalization
framework. By adopting a network approach we argue that four
micro-constructions emerged simultaneously, but that their
constructionalization process has been completed to a varying extent.
Individual differences are traced back to the upwards strength of the core
semantics of the nucleus verb, and the sideward impact of other members in
the network.
A note on the relative diachronic productivity of metaphor and
metonymy
Authors: Geeraerts Dirk , De Laet Lisbeth
Published: March 2020

The assumption that the progress of culture is
characterized by an increase in abstract thinking (in terms of the
Vygotskyan model of cognitive development) suggests that the proportion of
productive metaphor compared to metonymy increases over time. However, a
large-scale investigation of metonymical and metaphoric shifts recorded in
Buck’s dictionary of Indo-European synonyms does not support that
suggestion.
Diesel Exhaust Exposure during Farming Activities: Statistical Modeling of Continuous Black Carbon Concentrations
Authors: Sauvé Jean-François , Stapleton Emma M , O’Shaughnessy Patrick T , Locke Sarah J , Josse Pabitra R , Altmaier Ralph W , Silverman Debra T , Liu Danping , Albert Paul S , Beane Freeman Laura E , Hofmann Jonathan N , Thorne Peter S , Jones Rena R , Friesen Melissa C
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Daily driving of diesel-powered tractors has been linked to increased lung cancer risk in farmers, yet few studies have quantified exposure levels to diesel exhaust during tractor driving or during other farm activities. We expanded an earlier task-based descriptive investigation of factors associated with real-time exposure levels to black carbon (BC, a surrogate of diesel exhaust) in Iowa farmers by increasing the sample size, collecting repeated measurements, and applying statistical models adapted to continuous measurements.

Methods

The expanded study added 43 days of sampling, for a total of 63 sample days conducted in 2015 and 2016 on 31 Iowa farmers. Real-time, continuous monitoring (30-s intervals) of personal BC concentrations was performed using a MicroAeth AE51 microaethelometer affixed with a micro-cyclone. A field researcher recorded information on tasks, fuel type, farmer location, and proximity to burning biomass. We evaluated the influence of these variables on log-transformed BC concentrations using a linear mixed-effect model with random effects for farmer and day and a first-order autoregressive structure for within-day correlation.

Results

Proximity to diesel-powered equipment was observed for 42.5% of the overall sampling time and on 61 of the 63 sample days. Predicted geometric mean BC concentrations were highest during grain bin work, loading, and harvesting, and lower for soil preparation and planting. A 68% increase in BC concentrations was predicted for close proximity to a diesel-powered vehicle, relative to far proximity, while BC concentrations were 44% higher in diesel vehicles with open cabins compared with closed cabins. Task, farmer location, fuel type, and proximity to burning biomass explained 8% of within-day variance in BC concentrations, 2% of between-day variance, and no between-farmer variance.

Conclusion

Our findings showed that farmers worked frequently near diesel equipment and that BC concentrations varied between tasks and by fuel type, farmer location, and proximity to burning biomass. These results could support the development of exposure models applicable to investigations of health effects in farmers associated with exposure to diesel engine exhaust.
An overview of agent-based models in plant biology and ecology
Authors: Zhang Bo , DeAngelis Donald L
Published: March 2020

Agent-based modelling (ABM) has become an established methodology in many areas of biology, ranging from the cellular to the ecological population and community levels. In plant science, two different scales have predominated in their use of ABM. One is the scale of populations and communities, through the modelling of collections of agents representing individual plants, interacting with each other and with the environment. The other is the scale of the individual plant, through the modelling, by functional–structural plant models (FSPMs), of agents representing plant building blocks, or metamers, to describe the development of plant architecture and functions within individual plants. The purpose of this review is to show key results and parallels in ABM for growth, mortality, carbon allocation, competition and reproduction across the scales from the plant organ to populations and communities on a range of spatial scales to the whole landscape. Several areas of application of ABMs are reviewed, showing that some issues are addressed by both population-level ABMs and FSPMs. Continued increase in the relevance of ABM to environmental science and management will be helped by greater integration of ABMs across these two scales.
Going with the flow: analysis of population structure reveals high gene flow shaping invasion pattern and inducing range expansion of Mikania micrantha in Asia
Authors: Banerjee Achyut Kumar , Hou Zhuangwei , Lin Yuting , Lan Wentao , Tan Fengxiao , Xing Fen , Li Guanghe , Guo Wuxia , Huang Yelin
Published: March 2020

Background and Aims

Mikania micrantha, a climbing perennial weed of the family Asteraceae, is native to Latin America and is highly invasive in the tropical belt of Asia, Oceania and Australia. This study was framed to investigate the population structure of M. micrantha at a large spatial scale in Asia and to identify how introduction history, evolutionary forces and landscape features influenced the genetic pattern of the species in this region.

Methods

We assessed the genetic diversity and structure of 1052 individuals from 46 populations for 12 microsatellite loci. The spatial pattern of genetic variation was investigated by estimating the relationship between genetic distance and geographical, climatic and landscape resistances hypothesized to influence gene flow between populations.

Key Results

We found high genetic diversity of M. micrantha in this region, as compared with the genetic diversity parameters of other invasive species. Spatial and non-spatial clustering algorithms identified the presence of multiple genetic clusters and admixture between populations. Most of the populations showed heterozygote deficiency, primarily due to inbreeding, and the founder populations showed evidence of a genetic bottleneck. Persistent gene flow throughout the invasive range caused low genetic differentiation among populations and provided beneficial genetic variation to the marginal populations in a heterogeneous environment. Environmental suitability was found to buffer the detrimental effects of inbreeding at the leading edge of range expansion. Both linear and non-linear regression models demonstrated a weak relationship between genetic distance and geographical distance, as well as bioclimatic variables and environmental resistance surfaces.

Conclusions

These findings provide evidence that extensive gene flow and admixture between populations have influenced the current genetic pattern of M. micrantha in this region. High gene flow across the invaded landscape may facilitate adaptation, establishment and long-term persistence of the population, thereby indicating the range expansion ability of the species.
Retrospective Analysis of the Test of Memory Malingering in a Low Intellectual Quotient Intractable Epilepsy Sample
Authors: Grant Alexandra F , Werner Nicole J
Published: March 2020

Objective

The Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) is commonly used by neuropsychologists (Sharland, M. J., & Gfeller, J. D. (2007). A survey of neuropsychologists’ beliefs and practices with respect to the assessment of effort. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22 (2), 213–223); however there is variable research regarding its use in low intelligence and epileptic populations (Hill, S. K., Ryan, L. M., Kennedy, C. H., & Malamut, B. L. (2003). The relationship between measures of declarative memory and the Test of Memory Malingering in patients with and without temporal lobe dysfunction. Journal of Forensic Neuropsychology, 3 (3), 1–18; Hurley, K. E., & Deal, W. P. (2006). Assessment instruments measuring malingering used with individuals who have mental retardation: Potential problems and issues. Mental Retardation, 44 (2), 112–119; Simon, M. J. (2007). Performance of mentally retarded forensic patients on the Test of Memory Malingering. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63 (4), 339–344). The present study evaluates whether the standard TOMM cutoffs are resistant to low estimated IQ (≤80) in a clinical sample of patients with intractable epilepsy. A second aim is to decipher possible relationships between the TOMM and memory performance.

Methods

Retrospective data analysis was conducted between 2010 and 2019 on 42 adults with intractable epilepsy who completed a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation as part of screening procedures for epilepsy surgery. IQ estimates and TOMM were administered to all participants. Some were also administered memory- and mood-related measures.

Results

Traditional TOMM cutoffs demonstrated excellent specificity with only one participant scoring below the cutoff score on the Retention Trial, but not on Trial 2. The TOMM significantly correlated with several scores on various memory tests.

Conclusions

The TOMM may be appropriate for use in low intellectually functioning populations with intractable epilepsy given the excellent specificity seen in this study. Future studies may seek to better understand the relationship between TOMM and memory performance in other low-functioning populations.
Ultrasound to Improve the Safety and Efficacy of Lipofilling of the Temples
Authors: Kadouch Jonathan , Schelke Leonie W , Swift Arthur
Published: March 2020

Background

Autologous fat is known for a reliable and natural safety profile, but complications do occur—even serious vascular adverse events.

Objectives

The authors sought to examine doppler-ultrasound (DUS) imaging for the harvesting and subsequent facial implantation of autologous fat tissue.

Methods

All patients underwent lipofilling treatment of the temporal fosse of the face. DUS examination was performed for preprocedural vascular mapping and imaging of previously injected (permanent) fillers. In addition, the injection of autologous fat was performed DUS-guided.

Results

Twenty patients (all female; mean age, 57.9 years; range, 35-64 years). DUS examination showed that 16 of the 20 patients (80%) had been injected with resorbable or nonresorbable fillers elsewhere in the past. The temporal artery could be visualized and avoided in all cases. An average of 1.1 cc of autologous fat was injected in the temporal fossa per side. One case of edema and nodules was described, but no other adverse events were reported.

Conclusions

The utilization of DUS can add valuable information to a lipofilling procedure and should be considered an integral part of a safe lipofilling treatment.

Level of Evidence: 4
Post-Bariatric Abdominoplasty: Analysis of 406 Cases With Focus on Risk Factors and Complications
Authors: Schlosshauer Torsten , Kiehlmann Marcus , Jung Diana , Sader Robert , Rieger Ulrich M
Published: March 2020

Background

Post-bariatric patients present a surgical challenge within abdominoplasty because of residual obesity and major comorbidities. In this study, we analyzed complications following abdominoplasty in post-bariatric patients and evaluated potential risk factors associated with these complications.

Objectives

The authors sought to determine the complications and risk factors following abdominoplasty in post-bariatric patients.

Methods

A retrospective study of patients who underwent abdominoplasty was performed from January 2009 to December 2018 at our institution. Variables analyzed were sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, surgical technique, operative time, resection weight, drain output, and complications.

Results

A total of 406 patients were included in this study (320 female and 86 male) with a mean age of 44.4 years and a BMI of 30.6 kg/m2. Abdominoplasty techniques consisted of traditional (64.3%), fleur-de-lis technique (27.3%), and panniculectomy without umbilical displacement (8.4%). Overall complications recorded were 41.9%, the majority of these being wound-healing problems (32%). Minor and major complications were found in 29.1% and 12.8% of patients, respectively. A BMI value of ≥30 kg/m2 was associated with an increased risk for wound-healing problems (P = 0.001). The frequency of total complications was significantly related to age (P = 0.007), BMI (P = 0.004), and resection weight (P = 0.001). Abdominoplasty technique tended to influence total complications.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates in a fairly large sample of post-bariatric patients (n = 406) that abdominoplasty alone can be performed safely, with an acceptable complication rate. Age, BMI, and resection weight are shown to be significant risk factors for total complications. The role of surgical technique needs to be evaluated further.

Level of Evidence: 4
Secondary Composite Breast Augmentation: Concept and Outcomes, Introduction to a Layered Approach
Authors: Auclair Eric , Marchac Alexandre , Kerfant Nathalie
Published: March 2020

Background

Secondary procedures following breast augmentation are often more difficult than primary cases because the soft-tissue envelope changes over time.

Objectives

This study was conducted to confirm the utility of a composite technique in breast revisional surgery.

Methods

This was a 9-year retrospective chart and photographic data study of one surgeon’s experience with the combined use of fat and implants in revisional cases. The 148 patients had a follow-up at least 1 year after surgery. Our approach consists of a detailed analysis of the different layers covering the implant and yields a treatment plan addressing all issues involving the secondary breast.

Results

On average, revisional surgery was performed 8.66 years after the first augmentation. The mean age of the patients at revision surgery was 42 years (range, 22.2-70.7 years). The mean fat harvest was 600 mL (range, 100-3000 mL) and the mean volume of fat reinjected was 153 mL (range, 60-400 mL). The mean volume before and after revision was the same (288 mL vs 289 mL). At the original surgery, the breast implants were located in a subpectoral pocket in 78.7% of the patients and, at the revision surgery, in a subglandular pocket in 74.8% of the patients. Within the first 2 years, 13 patients (8.7%) underwent reoperation for additional fat grafting. Among 45 preoperative breast capsular contractures, there were 8 recurrences in the first 3 years resulting in 4 reoperations.

Conclusions

Secondary breast augmentation cannot rely solely on implant exchange. Because the soft-tissue envelope also ages over time, fat grafting is mandatory in the vast majority of secondary cases. A rigorous preoperative analysis enables breast defects to be treated appropriately.

Level of Evidence: 4
Sexually dimorphic traits and male fertility in a paper wasp
Authors: de Souza André Rodrigues , Santos Eduardo Fernando , Nascimento Fábio Santos Do , Stanyon Roscoe , Lino-Neto José , Beani Laura
Published: March 2020

Females of many social Hymenoptera commit their reproductive potential to a single male; they mate once and never re-mate. Sexual selection theory predicts that under this regimen female precopulatory mate choice is crucial. The targets of female choice, male secondary sexual traits, should convey information about the functional fertility of the male. Here, we evaluated semen quality and its correlates in the paper wasp Polistes dominula, a monandric species with a lek-based mating system. The main goal of the study was to test whether sperm viability and the total number of sperm covaried with sexually dimorphic abdominal spots, body size and parasitic infection by Xenos vesparum. Surprisingly, superior male fertility was not predicted by attractive sexual traits, such as little round spots and large body size. We also found no effect of the parasite on male fertility, sexual ornamentation or body size. We found only that sperm viability was positively associated with the number of sperm. Moreover, there was evidence of a counterintuitive relationship between (sexually unattractive) large irregular spots and large body size of dominant successful males. Overall, our results suggest a condition-dependent trade-off between body size and costly sexual signals.
hCG Improves Luteal Function and Promotes Progesterone Output through the Activation of JNK Pathway in the Luteal Granulosa Cells of the Stimulated IVF Cycles†
Authors: Bildik Gamze , Akin Nazli , Esmaeilian Yashar , Hela Francesko , Yakin Kayhan , Onder Tamer , Urman Bulent , Oktem Ozgur
Published: March 2020

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a luteotropic hormone that promotes the survival and steroidogenic activity of corpus luteum (CL) by acting through luteinizing hormone receptors (LHRs) expressed on luteinized theca and granulosa cells (GCs). Therefore, it is used to support luteal phase in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles to improve clinical pregnancy rates and prevent miscarriage. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this action of hCG is not well characterized. To address this question, we designed an in vitro translational research study on the luteal GCs obtained from 58 IVF patients. hCG treatment at different concentrations and time points activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway and significantly increased its endogenous kinase activity along with upregulated expression of steroidogenic enzymes (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (stAR), 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD)) in a dose-dependent manner in the luteal GCs. As a result, in vitro P production of the cells was significantly enhanced after hCG. When JNK pathway was inhibited pharmacologically or knocked-down with small interfering RNA luteal function was compromised, P4 production was declined along with the expression of stAR and 3β-HSD in the cells. Further, hCG treatment after JNK inhibition failed to correct the luteal defect and promote P4 output. Similar to hCG, luteinizing hormone (LH) treatment improved luteal function as well and this action of LH was associated with JNK activation in the luteal GCs. These findings could be important from the perspective of CL biology and luteal phase in human because we for the first time identify a critical role for JNK signaling pathway downstream LHR activation by hCG/LH in luteal GCs.

Summary Sentence

JNK signaling pathway plays a central role in the upregulated expression of the steroidogenic enzymes StAR and 3b-HSD and augmented progesterone production by hCG/LH in human luteal granulosa cells.
Retrospective chart review: seasonal variation in incidence of bolus impaction is maintained and statistically significant in subgroups with atopy and eosinophilic esophagitis
Authors: Ekre Mattias , Tytor Jakob , Bove Mogens , Bergquist Henrik , Larsson Helen
Published: March 2020

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory condition with eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa. The most prominent symptom is dysphagia, which may result in esophageal bolus impaction in need of surgical extraction. To investigate whether an earlier reported seasonal variation in esophageal bolus impaction present only in a subgroup of patients with EoE and atopic disorders could be confirmed in this larger study. A single center retrospective chart review of patients who were diagnosed with esophageal bolus impaction between January 2004 and December 2017 was performed. Clinical, epidemiological and histologic data were collected. A total of 755 cases with esophageal bolus impaction were reviewed. A significantly higher occurrence of soft bolus impaction in summer and fall was shown in cases with confirmed EoE and in cases with atopy but not in the nonatopic group or in the group with a negative biopsy result. EoE was found in 48% of biopsied patients. A significant seasonal variation in cases with esophageal bolus impaction and concomitant atopy and EoE is confirmed, but the study design does not allow a causative role of allergens to be established.
Standardized surgical technique for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy
Authors: Paradela de la Morena Marina , De La Torre Bravos Mercedes , Fernandez Prado Ricardo , Minasyan Anna , Garcia-Perez Alejandro , Fernandez-Vago Luis , Gonzalez-Rivas Diego
Published: March 2020

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery may be the approach for any thoracic procedure, from minor resections to complex reconstructive surgery. However, anatomical lobectomy represents its most common and clinically proven usage. A wide variety of information about uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies can be found in the literature and multimedia sources. This article focuses on updating the surgical technique and includes important aspects such as the geometric approach, anaesthesia considerations, operating room set-up, tips about the incision, instrumentation management and the operative technique to perform the 5 lobectomies. The following issues are explained for each lobectomy: anatomical considerations, surgical steps and technical advice. Medical illustrations and videos are included to clarify the text with the goal of describing a standard surgical practice.
Dynamics of bacterial composition in the locust reproductive tract are affected by the density-dependent phase
Authors: Lavy Omer , Gophna Uri , Gefen Eran , Ayali Amir
Published: March 2020

The important role that locust gut bacteria play in their host biology is well accepted. Among other roles, gut bacteria are suggested to be involved in the locust swarming phenomenon. In addition, in many insect orders, the reproductive system is reported to serve as a vector for trans-generation bacterial inoculation. Knowledge of the bacterial composition of the locust reproductive tract is, however, practically absent. Here we characterized the reproductive system bacterial composition of gregarious and solitary females. We investigated its temporal dynamics and how it interacts with the locust phase, by comparative sampling and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We revealed that the bacterial composition of the locust female reproductive tract is mostly constructed of three core genera: Micrococcus, Acinetobacter and Staphylococcus. While solitary females maintained a consistent bacterial composition, in the gregarious phase this consortium demonstrated large temporal shifts, mostly manifested by Brevibacterium blooms. These data are in accord with our previous report on the dynamics of locust hindgut bacterial microbiota, further indicating that locust endosymbionts are affected by their host population density. These newly understood dynamics may have implications beyond their contribution to our knowledge of locust ecology, as aggregation and mass migration are prevalent phenomena across many migrating animals.
Patterned Payments: Explaining Victim Group Variation in West German Reparations Policy
Authors: Greenstein Claire
Published: March 2020

Abstract∞

Why, once governments decide to pay reparations, do they fulfill their reparations promises to some groups and not to others? I argue that the organizational capacity of a victim group helps explain which groups receive reparations. I develop this argument through an in-depth case study of the postwar experience of German Sinti and Roma, supported by archival and interview data. I show that organized victim groups received reparations from the West German government in the 1950s, while Romani Germans, who did not organize until the late 1970s, were largely and deliberately excluded from receiving reparations payments until 1981, when the West German government created a reparations fund to benefit Romani German survivors. I show that this policy change cannot be understood without considering the efforts of Romani organizations.
Aquatic Models: Water Quality and Stability and Other Environmental Factors
Authors: Sanders Erik , Farmer Susan C
Published: March 2020

The use of aquatic animals in ecotoxicology, genetic, and biomedical research has grown immensely in recent years, especially due to the increased use of zebrafish in the laboratory setting. Because water is the primary environment of most aquatic species, the composition and management of this water is paramount to ensuring their health and welfare. In this publication, we will describe the important variables in water quality that can influence animal health and research results, using the zebrafish model for detailed specifics of optimal conditions. Wherever possible, recommendations are provided to reduce the potential impact of poor or highly variable water quality, and standards are given which can be used as institutional goals to maximize animal health and welfare and reduce research variability. It is increasingly important that authors of publications describing work done using aquatic models characterize water quality and other environmental conditions of the animal environment so that the work can be repeated and understood in context of these important factors. It is clear that there are a great many extrinsic factors which may influence research outcomes in the aquatics model laboratory setting, and consequently, an increased level of funding will be essential to support continued research exploring these and other important husbandry conditions. References from a large body of literature on this subject are provided.
The propagation and identification of ARMA demand under simple exponential smoothing: forecasting expertise and information sharing
Authors: Hsieh Meng-Chen , Giloni Avi , Hurvich Clifford
Published: March 2020

It is common for firms to forecast stationary demand using simple exponential smoothing (SES) due to the ease of computation and understanding of the methodology. We consider a retailer who observes autoregressive moving average (ARMA) demand but for the sake of convenience, uses the widely available SES method to forecast its demand. This creates a potential disconnect between the true mechanism generating demand and the forecasting methodology. We show that the supplier, given a sufficiently long history of the retailer’s orders, is always able to recover the retailer’s true shocks, and in addition is able to infer the true ARMA model generating the retailer’s demand process if the retailer shares its exponential smoothing parameter. We further prove that under these assumptions, the supplier is then able to infer the retailer’s demand as well. Thus, the supplier is in possession of expertise that would benefit the retailer. However, as a result of the supplier sharing its forecasting expertise, we demonstrate that the demand the supplier will face can have a smaller or larger mean squared forecast error than when the retailer uses the suboptimal SES forecast. In addition, we show that if the supplier provides its forecasting expertise to the retailer, there may be value in the retailer sharing its demand with the supplier. We also perform a simulation study for a special case of an AR(1) demand process and demonstrate that as the sample size of data increases, the difference of mean squared errors between the supplier’s estimations of the retailer’s demand shocks and the retailer’s true demand shocks converges to zero.
Consistency of the determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding in Ghana: insights from four Demographic and Health Survey datasets
Authors: Duodu Precious A , Duah Henry O , Dzomeku Veronica M , Boamah Mensah Adwoa B , Aboagye Mensah Josephine , Darkwah Ernest , Agbadi Pascal
Published: March 2020

Background

Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is a key strategy in averting neonatal deaths. However, studies on the facilitators and risk factors for EIBF are rare in Ghana. We examined trends in EIBF and its major facilitators and risk factors in Ghana using data from Demographic and Health Surveys from 1998 to 2014.

Methods

We used complete weighted data of 3194, 3639, 2909 and 5695 pairs of mothers ages 15–49 y and their children ages 0–5 y in the 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2014 surveys, respectively. We accounted for the complex sampling used in the surveys for both descriptive statistics and multiple variable risk ratio analysis.

Results

The proportion of children who achieved EIBF increased by about 2.5 times from 1998 to 2003 and there was a marginal increase in the proportion of children who achieved EIBF between 2003 and 2014. Children born by caesarean section were at higher risk of being breastfed later than 1 h across all four surveys. Being born in the Upper East Region (compared with the Western Region) of Ghana facilitated EIBF in 2003 and 2008.

Conclusions

The study revealed that the current estimate of the proportion of children achieving EIBF in Ghana was 55.1%, and delivery by caesarean section and region of residence consistently predicted the practice of EIBF in Ghana.
Urinary Tract Infection With Gram-Positive Bacteria Does Not Cause False-Positive Results with the Urine-Based Human Chorionic Gonadotropic Point-of-Care Assay
Authors: Mitchell Kaitlin F , Burnham Carey-Ann D , Gronowski Ann M
Published: March 2020

Background

False-positive results for human chorionic gonadotropic (hCG) on point-of-care (POC) devices can occur for a variety of technical and biological reasons. It has been postulated that urinary tract infection can result in false-positive POC hCG assays, but the cause of this phenomenon remains elusive. Gram-positive bacteria have previously been reported to express an hCG-like molecule. We investigated whether urinary tract infection with Gram-positive bacteria can result in false-positive POC hCG.

Methods

We utilized remnant clinical urine specimens that had been submitted for culture as part of evaluation for urinary tract infection. Urine specimens with >100,000 colony-forming units per milliliter of Gram-positive bacteria (n = 95) were tested on ICON 20 POC hCG tests (Beckman Coulter). Specimens from adult patients that had been collected for clinical testing in the prior 48 hours were included in the study, and only 1 specimen per patient was included.

Results

Of 95 patients with Gram-positive urine specimens, 42 (44%) were female, and the median age was 62 years. The most common bacteria identified during clinical urine culture of these patients’ specimens were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (36/95, 38%), Enterococcus species (34/95, 36%), and Streptococcus agalactiae (9/95, 9%). Five of 95 (5.3%) urine specimens were positive for POC hCG. Chart review revealed that 3 specimens were from pregnant women and 2 were from patients with cancer diagnoses.

Conclusions

Urine specimens from patients suspected to have urinary tract infection with Gram-positive organisms did not cause positive results on POC hCG test devices.
Determination of Low Levels of Mite and Insect Contaminants in Food and Feedstuffs by a Modified Flotation Method
Authors: Thind Bharat B
Published: March 2020

Extraneous material was separated from feed and food products by a modified technique in which kerosene is used in a specially designed flotation flask. This technique, although effective for analyzing feed and foods, presented limitations in the analysis of finely powdered materials. Some procedural modifications and an increased in the capacity of the flotation flask from 500 to 750 mL allowed a larger sample weight (20 g) to be analyzed for mites, insect fragments, and rodent hairs, with considerably reduced residue interference. In trials with a variety of products seeded with known numbers of mites, average recovery was 83%. Recoveries of 89% were obtained from flour samples seeded with insect fragments and rodent hairs. A new process of suspending extracted mites in a mixture of industrial methylated spirit (46%) and glycerol (54%) by volume was used to allow rapid and more precise estimates of mite populations in heavily infested samples.
Determination of Choline in Milk and Infant Formulas by Enzymatic Analysis: Collaborative Study
Authors: Woollard David C , Indyk Harvey E
Published: March 2020

A collaborative study was conducted on a coupled enzymatic–spectrophotometric method for the determination of choline in infant formula and milk powders. Twenty-nine laboratories participated in the analysis of 8 blind duplicates over the range of 45–175 mg/100 g sample. After the combined acid hydrolysis–phospholipase release of choline, incubation with choline oxidase in the presence of peroxidase and phenol generates a quinoneimine chromophore with 4-aminoantipyrine. Following raw data screening, overall mean RSDR was estimated at 5.14% (range, 4.26–6.34%) with a HORRAT value of 0.91 (range, 0.76–1.00) and an overall mean RSDr:RSDR value of 0.53 (range, 0.42–0.74). The method was also compared with alternative independent analytical techniques for several of the collaborative study samples.
Rapid Determination of Nosiheptide in Meat and Egg by Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection
Authors: Horii Shozo , Oku Naoto
Published: March 2020

A procedure was developed to determine nosiheptide residues in marketed meat and egg. Acetonitrile was used for the extraction, and the extract was partitioned with hexane to remove fat. The lower layer was reconstructed and quantitated by liquid chromatography using fluorescence detection at 357 nm excitation and 500 nm emission. The mobile phase consisted of 0.025% phosphoric acid–acetonitrile (50 + 50, v/v). Recoveries of nosiheptide from fortified samples ranged from 91.3 to 95.2% for swine muscle, 88.6 to 92.7% for chicken muscle, and 86.3 to 86.8% for egg. The method was used to monitor swine and chicken muscle and egg (20 samples each) in the market. Nosiheptide was not determined in all 60 samples.
Quantitative Relationship of Application Rate and Pesticide Residues in Greenhouse Tomatoes
Authors: Sadło Stanisław
Published: March 2020

The association between application rate of a pesticide and its residue in ripe tomatoes was studied. The average residue level (R) of any pesticide in ripe tomatoes remained in quantitative relation to its dose (D), expressed by the following regression equation: R = 0.24 D (mg/kg), where the numerical factor, 0.24, represents the average residue in mg/kg after application of 1 kg active ingredient per hectare with relative standard deviation of 23%. Quantitative association between these 2 factors enables evaluation of greenhouse tomato growers with respect to their observation of Good Agricultural Practice rules and the Plant Protection Act, obligatory in Poland since 1996, and thus may be a reliable basis for the registration of new agrochemicals.
Improved Determination of Mercury Complex with Thiomicher’s Ketone by β-Correction Spectrophotometry
Authors: Gao Hong-Wen , Zhang Sheng-Yi , Ye Su-Mei
Published: March 2020

Determination of the mercury complex formed with Thiomicher's ketone (TMK) was improved by β-correction spectrophotometry in the presence of a nonionic surfactant at pH 5. The complex formed was Hg(TMK)2, and its true molar absorptivity is reported for the first time: εHg(TMK)2560 = 1.04 × 105 L/mol·cm. In addition, the stability constant of Hg(TMK)2 was equal to 3.64 × 1010 at an ion strength of 0.01 at 20°C. Results from analyses of wastewater samples showed that the relative standard deviations were ≤8.3%, and the recoveries of mercury ranged from 90 to 110%.
Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Vanillin and Related Aromatic Compounds
Authors: Jagerdeo Eshwar , Passetti Erin , Dugar Sumer M
Published: March 2020

This paper describes a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for the determination of vanillin, associated natural aromatic compounds and/or synthetic precursors, ethyl vanillin, and coumarin, a commonly encountered adulterant in nonbeverage and beverage alcohol products using a ternary gradient mobile phase. The compounds were separated on a Nova-Pak C18 column by using water, methanol, and tetrahydrofuran as the mobile phase. Measurements were made by using a photodiode array detector at 275 nm. The choice of the mobile phase and the column provides baseline resolution of vanillin and the associated aromatic compounds commonly found in vanilla-flavoring material. Because this method provides low-level detection/quantitation, it is suitable for the characterization of vanilla flavoring materials that are currently added to vanilla flavored beverage alcohol products.
Determination of Histamine in Tomatoes by Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Bolygo Elek , Cooper Paul A , Jessop K Michael , Moffatt Frank
Published: March 2020

An improved capillary electrophoresis assay for histamine in crude extracts was developed and used to determine histamine levels in a selection of tomato fruits and pastes. Performance in terms of reproducibility and sensitivity was optimized by use of a high sensitivity detector flow cell, sodium hydroxide rinses, and a voltage gradient. The method was linear down to 0.2 μg/mL (signal-to-noise ratio = 4:1), which was below the endogenous level in all samples.
Determination of Aflatoxins in Grains and Raw Peanuts by a Rapid Procedure with Fluorometric Analysis
Authors: Malone Bruce R , Humphrey Craig W , Romer Tom R , Richard John L
Published: March 2020

A rapid, quantitative, inexpensive, and efficient method was developed to determine aflatoxins in corn, corn meal, popcorn, rice, wheat, cottonseed, and peanuts. Samples are ground and extracted with methanol–water (80 + 20). A portion of the extract is cleaned up by passage through a solid-phase separatory column, 500 μL purified extract is derivatized with a bromine reagent, and fluorescence of the solution is immediately quantified with a calibrated fluorometer containing a broad wavelength pulsed xenon light source. This method can quantify aflatoxin from 5 to 5000 ppb without dilution and was linear when applied to samples of noncontaminated corn spiked at 0 to 5000 μg aflatoxin B1/g. Correlation coefficients of the method with LC for multiple analyses for corn (n = 34), cottonseed (n = 32), and peanuts (n = 11) were 0.999, 0.995, and 0.980, respectively. Individual analyses may be conducted in less than 5 min, and grouping of samples is unnecessary. The sensitivity of the method for corn is 5 ppb and the fluorometer, under the operating conditions, has a limit of detection of 0.6 ng aflatoxin B1.
Interaction Between Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) and Coptera haywardi (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) for the Management of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Martínez-Barrera Olga Yaneth , Toledo Jorge , Cancino Jorge , Liedo Pablo , Gómez Jaime , Valle-Mora Javier , Montoya Pablo
Published: March 2020

The interaction between the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) and the parasitoid Coptera haywardi (Oglobin), as potential biological control agents for Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) fruit flies, was evaluated under laboratory and semi-protected field cage conditions. The effects of the parasitoids and fungus were individually and jointly assessed in Plexiglas cages. Application of B. bassiana dry conidia to soil produced 40% mortality in A. obliqua adults. However, mortality was lower (21.2%) on evaluation under field cage conditions. According to the multiple decrement life table analysis, the probability of death of A. obliqua was 88% when C. haywardi parasitoids and B. bassiana conidia were used in conjunction, 89% when only C. haywardi parasitoids were released and 23% when only B. bassiana conidia were applied. These results demonstrate that no synergistic, additive or antagonistic interaction took place with the simultaneous use of these natural enemies, since the presence of B. bassiana had no effect on the C. haywardi parasitism. These results indicate that the parasitoid is a better natural enemy for the control of A. obliqua, and show that, although the two biological control agents can be used simultaneously, their joint application will not produce increased control.
Hepatitis C Care Continuum in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Positive Cohort: Data From the HIV Atlanta Veterans Affairs Cohort Study
Authors: Adekunle Ruth O , DeSilva Kathryn , Cartwright Emily J
Published: March 2020

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is associated with accelerated progression to cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver-associated death. It is fortunate that curative direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of HCV are widely available in the VA healthcare system. We attempted to identify, evaluate, and treat all HIV/HCV-coinfected persons at the Atlanta VA Healthcare System.

Methods

Human immunodeficiency virus/HCV-coinfected persons at Atlanta VA between 2015 and 2018 were identified using the HIV Atlanta Veterans Affairs Cohort Study and Hepatitis C VA Clinical Case Registry. Retrospective reviews of each electronic medical record were conducted by the hepatitis C clinical team for validation. The primary end point was achieving sustained virologic response.

Results

One hundred thirty-eight veterans with HIV and hepatitis C viremia were identified. One hundred twenty-five (90%) were evaluated for treatment and 113 (91%) were initiated on direct-acting antiviral therapy. Median age at initiation of treatment was 60 years and the majority were black race (90%). Genotype 1a was most common (70%) and 41% had compensated cirrhosis. One hundred eight completed treatment and 96% achieved sustained virologic response. Six veterans had virologic relapse; 4 had treatment-emergent resistance mutations in the NS5a gene. Mean CD4 was 580 cells/mm3 with HIV viral suppression in 82% of the cohort. In those not treated, unstable housing (25%), active substance use (31%), and psychiatric conditions (42%) were identified barriers to care.

Conclusions

Through a concerted, systematic effort, over 80% of HIV/hepatitis C persons in the Atlanta VA have been initiated on treatment for hepatitis C, 96% of which have been cured.
Quantitative Benefit-Risk Models Used for Rotavirus Vaccination: A Systematic Review
Authors: Arlegui Hugo , Nachbaur Gaëlle , Praet Nicolas , Bégaud Bernard
Published: March 2020

Background

Although rotavirus vaccines have proven to prevent the risk of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) in children under 5 years old, they are also associated with an increased transient risk of intussusception (IS). Several quantitative benefit-risk models (qBRm) are performed to measure this balance in hospitalizations and deaths prevented versus the ones induced.

Method

In this study, our objective was to provide a complete overview of qBRm used for rotavirus vaccination. We systematically searched 3 medical literature databases to identify relevant articles, in English, that were published between 2006 and 2019.

Results

Of the 276 publications screened, 14 studies using qBRm for rotavirus vaccination were retained, based on preselected criteria. Four were performed in low- and middle-income countries. Almost all (13 of 14) displayed the following characteristics: force of infection assumed to be constant over time (static model), indirect effect of rotavirus vaccination (herd effect) not considered, closed model (individuals not allowed to enter and/or exit the model over time), and aggregated level (no tracking of individual’s behavior). Most of the models were probabilistic (9 of 14) and reported sensitivity and/or scenario analyses (12 of 14). Input parameter values varied across studies. Selected studies suggest that, depending on the models used, for every IS hospitalization and death induced, vaccination would prevent, respectively, 190–1624 and 71–743 RVGE-related hospitalizations and deaths.

Conclusions

The benefits of rotavirus vaccination were shown to largely exceed the increased risk of IS, across all studies. Future research aiming to harmonize qBRm for rotavirus vaccination should ensure the comparability of studies and provide additional information for regulatory authorities, physicians, and patients.