bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcome in Relation to Drinking Goals in Alcohol-Dependent Individuals: A Follow-up Study 2.5 and 5 Years After Treatment Entry
Authors: Berglund Kristina J , Rauwolf Kerstin K , Berggren Ulf , Balldin Jan , Fahlke Claudia
Published: April 2019

Aims

To evaluate the long-term treatment outcome (up to 5 years) with respect to different drinking goals of patients.

Methods

Alcohol-dependent individuals (n = 349) were recruited from three alcohol treatment units. They were interviewed using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). They were sub-grouped according to their goal at treatment entry: abstinence, low- risk drinking and no decided goal.

Results

Patients with abstinence as a goal at treatment entry reported at 2.5 years follow-up a higher abstinence rate, a more pronounced reduction in alcohol consumption, reduction in total number of DSM-IV criteria, higher frequency of low-risk drinking and fewer diagnoses of alcohol dependence compared to the groups who had low risk drinking as a goal or no decided goal. This improvement remained basically unchanged in all three groups at 5 years follow-up, suggesting long-term stability after the treatment interventions

Conclusions

The findings suggest that: (1) alcohol-dependent patients who have abstinence as their own drinking goal have a more favorable treatment outcome than those who have low-risk drinking as a goal or no decided goal. (2) Abstinence as a drinking goal should be considered for those who have a longer duration (for example more than 10 years) of their alcohol-related problems. (3) Patients who have no decided goal should be recommended abstinence as a drinking goal.
FuncTree2: an interactive radial tree for functional hierarchies and omics data visualization
Authors: Darzi Youssef , Yamate Yuta , Yamada Takuji
Published: April 2019

Functional annotations and their hierarchical classification are widely used in omics workflows to build novel insight upon existing biological knowledge. Currently, a plethora of tools is available to explore omics datasets at the level of functional annotations, but there is a lack of feature rich and user-friendly tools that help scientists take advantage of their hierarchical classification for additional and often invaluable insights. Here, we present FuncTree2, a user-friendly web application that turns hierarchical classifications into interactive and highly customizable radial trees, and enables researchers to visualize their data simultaneously on all its levels. FuncTree2 features mapping of data from multiple samples and several navigation features like zooming, panning, re-rooting and collapsing of nodes or levels.

Availability and implementation

FuncTree2 is freely available at https://bioviz.tokyo/functree2/ as a web application and a REST API. Source code is available on GitHub https://github.com/yamada-lab/functree-ng.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Cooperation With the Police Against Corruption: Exploring the Roles of Legitimacy, Deterrence and Collective Action Theories
Authors: Tankebe Justice
Published: April 2019

In explaining public willingness to cooperate with the police, researchers have disproportionally emphasized legitimacy. Deterrence is presumed to be irrelevant; where it is considered, the approach appears perfunctory. Using survey data from 530 young adults in Ghana, this study examines the relative importance of deterrence and legitimacy perceptions in shaping willingness to report corruption transactions to the police. The results showed that perceptions of legitimacy did not affect the young adults’ willingness to report corruption to the police. The most important and consistent predictors of willingness to report corruption to the police were deterrence-based perceptions, specifically, of the certainty of being apprehended for engaging in corrupt transactions, of the severity of sanctions against such transactions and of the perceived cooperative intentions of other citizens. Deterrence proved particularly salient among those who claimed ignorance of where to report corrupt transactions.
Phospho-valproic acid (MDC-1112) suppresses glioblastoma growth in preclinical models through the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation
Authors: Luo Dingyuan , Fraga-Lauhirat Magdalena , Millings Jonathan , Ho Cristella , Villarreal Emily M , Fletchinger Teresa C , Bonfiglio James V , Mata Leyda , Nemesure Matthew D , Bartels Lauren E , Wang Ruixue , Rigas Basil , Mackenzie Gerardo G
Published: April 2019

New therapeutic strategies against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are urgently needed. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), constitutively active in many GBM tumors, plays a major role in GBM tumor growth and represents a potential therapeutic target. We have documented previously that phospho-valproic acid (MDC-1112), which inhibits STAT3 activation, possesses strong anticancer properties in multiple cancer types. In this study, we explored the anticancer efficacy of MDC-1112 in preclinical models of GBM, and evaluated its mode of action. MDC-1112 inhibited the growth of multiple human GBM cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Normal human astrocytes were resistant to MDC-1112, indicating selectivity. In vivo, MDC-1112 reduced the growth of subcutaneous GBM xenografts in mice by up to 78.2% (P < 0.01), compared with the controls. Moreover, MDC-1112 extended survival in an intracranial xenograft model. Although all vehicle-treated mice died by 19 days of treatment, 7 of 11 MDC-1112-treated mice were alive and healthy by the end of 5 weeks, with many showing tumor regression. Mechanistically, MDC-1112 inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation at the serine 727 residue, but not at tyrosine 705, in vitro and in vivo. STAT3 overexpression rescued GBM cells from the cell growth inhibition by MDC-1112. In addition, MDC-1112 reduced STAT3 levels in the mitochondria and enhanced mitochondrial levels of reactive oxygen species, which triggered apoptosis. In conclusion, MDC-1112 displays strong efficacy in preclinical models of GBM, with the serine 727 residue of STAT3 being its key molecular target. MDC-1112 merits further evaluation as a drug candidate for GBM.

New therapeutic options are needed for glioblastoma. The novel agent MDC-1112 is an effective anticancer agent in multiple animal models of glioblastoma, and its mechanism of action involves the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation, primarily at its Serine 727 residue.
Circulating obesity-driven biomarkers are associated with risk of clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a two-stage, case-control study
Authors: Wang Qinchuan , Tu Huakang , Zhu Meiling , Liang Dong , Ye Yuanqing , Chang David W , Long Yin , Wu Xifeng
Published: April 2019

Obesity is one of modifiable risk factors for clear cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC). We aim to identify the association between obesity-driven biomarkers and ccRCC risk. This is a retrospective, two-phase, case-control study involving 682 cases and 733 controls. Obesity-driven biomarkers [gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), C-peptide, insulin, resistin, adipsin, peptide YY, pancreatic polypeptide, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, lipocalin2, leptin, adiponectin] were measured using the Milliplex method. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the associations between biomarkers and ccRCC risk. Results revealed that GIP, C-peptide, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were consistently distinct between cases and controls. These markers were significantly associated with ccRCC risk in both phases (except C-peptide). In the combined population, compared with individuals with low levels of the biomarkers, individuals with high level of GIP [odds ratio (OR) = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.40–0.67] had lower risk, whereas individuals with high levels of C-peptide (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.15–1.87), IL-6 (OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.50–3.22), TNF-α (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.49–2.43) had significantly higher risk. Stratified analysis showed consistent associations with ccRCC risk in most subgroups (P < 0.05). The risk score based on the IL-6, TNF-α and GIP was positively associated with ccRCC risk in a dose-response manner (P for trend = 2.18E-13). Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas indicate that insulin signaling, IL-6 signaling and TNF-α signaling were enhanced in tumors. Collectively, our study demonstrates the integrative effect of insulin resistance and inflammation in ccRCC development, which may elucidate the basis of association between obesity and carcinogenesis. Further confirmation in prospective cohort studies are warranted for clinical applications in prevention and precision medicine of ccRCC.
Financial markets and the working class in the USA: an empirical investigation of financial stress
Authors: McCormack Michael J
Published: April 2019

This paper investigates the relationship between financial stress and the working class in the USA. Employing a financial stress index created from the Survey of Consumer Finances, I show that working class households are nearly twice as likely to be financially stressed than wealthier non-working class households from 1992 to 2016. A possible explanation of this result could be that the financial expropriation of personal income among the working class has the effect of increasing that group’s financial stress relative to wealthier classes. Working class households in the USA have struggled to afford means of subsistence in lieu of lacklustre wage growth and a tattered safety net. Financial expropriation of these households has operated in tandem with this precarity, increasing financial stress in a time of financialised capitalism.
Hard water syndrome: a case series of 30 patients from a London haemodialysis unit
Authors: Leonard Hugh , Pile Taryn
Published: April 2019

Severe and life-threatening hypercalcaemia can develop in haemodialysis patients dialysed against a dialysate with a high calcium concentration, the so-called hard water syndrome. Here we describe the development of hard water syndrome in 30 patients following sequential failure of the reverse osmosis unit and water softeners. Serum calcium levels rose from 2.43 ± 0.19 to 3.92 ± 0.51 mmol/L after exposure. All patients required emergency haemodialysis and four acutely deteriorated, one of whom was 24 weeks pregnant. This is the largest reported series of patients affected by this rare and severe condition. This event led to the introduction of processes to minimize future risks.
Urgent-start peritoneal dialysis results in fewer procedures than hemodialysis
Authors: Wang Delin , Calabro-Kailukaitis Nathan , Mowafy Mahmoud , Kerns Eric S , Suvarnasuddhi Khetisuda , Licht Jonah , Ahn Sun H , Hu Susie L
Published: April 2019

Background

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an underutilized modality for hospitalized patients with an urgent need to start renal replacement therapy in the USA. Most patients begin hemodialysis (HD) with a tunneled central venous catheter (CVC).

Methods

We examined the long-term burden of dialysis modality-related access procedures with urgent-start PD and urgent-start HD in a retrospective cohort of 73 adults. The number of access-related (mechanical and infection-related) procedures for each modality was compared in the first 30 days and cumulatively through the duration of follow-up.

Results

Fifty patients underwent CVC placement for HD and 23 patients underwent PD catheter placement for urgent-start dialysis. Patients were followed on average >1 year. The PD group was significantly younger, with less diabetes, with a higher pre-dialysis serum creatinine and more likely to have a planned dialysis access. The mean number of access-related procedures per patient in the two groups was not different at 30 days; however, when compared over the duration of follow-up, the number of access-related procedures was significantly higher in the HD group compared with the PD group (4.6 ± 3.9 versus 0.61 ± 0.84, P < 0.0001). This difference persisted when standardized to procedures per patient-month (0.37 ± 0.57 versus 0.081 ± 0.18, P = 0.019). Infection-related procedures were similar between groups. Findings were the same even after case-matching was performed for age and diabetes mellitus with 18 patients in each group.

Conclusions

Urgent-start PD results in fewer invasive access procedures compared with urgent-start HD long term, and should be considered for urgent-start dialysis.
Combining Watermarking and Hyper-Chaotic Map to Enhance the Security of Stored Biometric Templates
Authors: Abdul Wadood , Nafea Ohoud , Ghouzali Sanaa
Published: April 2019

There are a number of issues related to the development of biometric authentication systems, such as privacy breach, consequential security and biometric template storage. Thus, the current paper aims to address these issues through the hybrid approach of watermarking with biometric encryption. A multimodal biometric template protection approach with fusion at score level using fingerprint and face templates is proposed. The proposed approach includes two basic stages, enrollment stage and verification stage. During the enrollment stage, discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is applied on the face images to embed the fingerprint features into different directional sub-bands. Watermark embedding and extraction are done by quantizing the mean values of the wavelet coefficients. Subsequently, the inverse DWT is applied to obtain the watermarked image. Following this, a unique token is assigned for each genuine user and a hyper-chaotic map is used to produce a key stream in order to encrypt a watermarked image using block-cipher. The experimentation results indicate the efficiency of the proposed approach in term of achieving a reasonable error rate of 3.87%.
Free margin length and geometric height in aortic root dilatation and leaflet prolapse: implications for aortic valve repair surgery
Authors: Tamer Saadallah , Mastrobuoni Stefano , van Dyck Michel , Navarra Emiliano , Bollen Xavier , Poncelet Alain , Noirhomme Philippe , Astarci Parla , El Khoury Gebrine , de Kerchove Laurent
Published: April 2019

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to assess the aortic leaflet free margin length (FML) and geometric height (gH) in a normal aortic valve (AV), aorta dilatation and aortic leaflet prolapse.

METHODS

We measured the FML and gH intraoperatively in 132 patients operated on for aortic insufficiency, aortic dilatation, endocarditis or fibroelastoma. Patients were divided into 3 groups: normal tricuspid AV (group 1, n = 12), aortic dilatation (group 2, tricuspid = 43, bicuspid = 18) and leaflet prolapse (group 3, tricuspid = 32, bicuspid = 27). The FML and gH were compared between the groups and between the leaflets within each group.

RESULTS

In a normal tricuspid AV, the mean FML and gH were 34.7 ± 3.1 mm and 18.8 ± 1.7 mm, respectively. In group 2 tricuspid, the FML and gH were greater than those in group 1 (FML 43.7 ± 4.4, P < 0.001; gH 21.2 ± 1.8, P = 0.003). In group 3, tricuspid, the FML of the prolapsing leaflet was greater than the FML of the non-prolapsing leaflet (48.3 ± 5.4 vs 42.2 ± 3.6; P < 0.001). In group 2, bicuspid, FML of both leaflets were similar in group 2, but augmented on the fused leaflet compared to the non-fused leaflet in group 3 (fused 55.4 ± 6.3; non-fused 46.2 ± 6.2; P < 0.001). In groups 2 and 3 bicuspid, the gH of the non-fused leaflet was systematically greater than the fused leaflet (group 2 non-fused 24.6 ± 2.5 vs fused 20.4 ± 2.1; P < 0.001)

CONCLUSIONS

In aortic dilatation and leaflet prolapse, FML and, to a lesser extent, gH increased significantly compared to those of normal AV function. FML and gH dimensions also depended on the valve configuration (tricuspid/bicuspid). These data provide new insight into the pathomorphology of AV disease and will serve to further develop new methods of AV repair based on intraoperative measurements of the FML.
High prevalence of early arch reobstruction after arch repair in patients with anomalous right subclavian artery
Authors: Ravintharan Nandhini , d’Udekem Yves , Henry Matthew , Brink Johann , Konstantinov Igor E , Brizard Christian P , Lee Melissa G Y
Published: April 2019

OBJECTIVES

Having an anomalous right subclavian artery has been quoted to be a risk factor for early and late adverse events. We wanted to determine the rate of adverse outcomes in patients who have undergone arch repair with an associated anomalous right subclavian artery.

METHODS

The follow-up of 76 patients, with an anomalous right subclavian artery, who underwent arch repair at a single institution for various indications between 1981 and 2017 was reviewed.

RESULTS

There were 12 patient deaths. Twenty-three patients required an aortic arch reintervention (17 surgeries, 2 of which were indicated for bronchial obstruction). At last follow-up, 8 of 54 surviving patients (15%) had arch reobstruction (peak gradient >25 mmHg or reintervention). Freedom from aortic arch obstruction at 10 and 15 years was 51% [95% confidence interval (CI) 36–65%] and 35% (95% CI 19–51%), respectively. Neither the complete resection of the adjacent ridge nor the detachment and reimplantation of the anomalous subclavian vessel seemed to have an impact on the rate of reobstruction [hazard ratio (HR) 1.6, 95% CI 0.77–3.5; P = 0.2 and HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.083–4.5; P = 0.6, respectively].

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with an anomalous right subclavian artery are at risk of arch reobstruction necessitating reintervention but long-term follow-up was unable to demonstrate the mechanism of this obstruction in patients with this anomaly.
Time of maxillary molar distalization with non-compliance intraoral distalizing appliances: a meta-analysis
Authors: Bellini-Pereira Silvio Augusto , Pupulim Daniela Cubas , Aliaga-Del Castillo Aron , Henriques José Fernando Castanha , Janson Guilherme
Published: April 2019

Background/Objective

To assess the mean maxillary molar distalization time with non-compliance intraoral distalizing appliances.

Search methods and selection criteria

Database search included PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, Lilacs, and a partial grey literature through Google Scholar and OpenGrey. The search was performed until May 2017 and updated on February 2019, without limitations regarding publication year or language. Controlled clinical trials (randomized and non-randomized prospective studies) reporting duration of maxillary molar distalization of Class II patients treated with intraoral distalizers were included.

Data collection and analysis

For the trials’ quality assessment, the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Cochrane Collaboration’s ROBINS-I tool were used for the randomized controlled trials and non-randomized prospective studies, respectively. Database research, risk of bias (RoB) assessment, and extraction of data were performed by two independent investigators, with inclusion of a third reviewer, if disagreements emerged. Data was combined through a random-effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses regarding side of force application, type of anchorage, amount of molar distalization, and sensitivity analysis comparing study designs were also performed. Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE and SORT approaches.

Results

Nine studies were included in the qualitative analysis; however, a meta-analysis was performed with only four studies, due to the presence of high RoB in the other studies. The random-effects meta-analysis assumes that the mean distalization time with distalizers is 8.34 months (95% confidence interval: 6.10, 10.58). Another meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between distalization time and the type of anchorage (conventional or skeletal), resulting in no significant difference. Both meta-analyses presented low-quality evidence.

Limitations

The major limitation of this meta-analysis is the fact that distalization time can be affected by a great range of factors.

Conclusions and implications

Correction of a half-to-full cusp Class II molar relationship with intraoral distalizers can be achieved in 8.34 months, and this distalization time may not be affected by the kind of anchorage used.

Registration

The protocol for this systematic review was based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 5.1.0 and was registered at PROSPERO database (http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42017068737). This systematic review is reported according to the PRISMA statement.
The impact of social prescribing services on service users: a systematic review of the evidence
Authors: Pescheny Julia V , Randhawa Gurch , Pappas Yannis
Published: April 2019

Background

Social prescribing initiatives are widely implemented in the UK National Health Service to integrate health and social care. Social prescribing is a service in primary care that links patients with non-medical needs to sources of support provided by the community and voluntary sector to help improve their health and wellbeing. Such programmes usually include navigators, who work with referred patients and issue onward referrals to sources of non-medical support. This systematic review aimed to assess the evidence of service user outcomes of social prescribing programmes based on primary care and involving navigators.

Methods

We searched 11 databases, the grey literature, and the reference lists of relevant studies to identify the available evidence on the impact of social prescribing on service users. Searches were limited to literature written in English. No date restrictions were applied, and searches were conducted to June 2018. Findings were synthesized narratively, employing thematic analysis. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool Version 2011 was used to evaluate the methodological quality of included studies.

Results

Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The evidence base is mixed, some studies found improvements in health and wellbeing, health-related behaviours, self-concepts, feelings, social contacts and day-to-day functioning post-social prescribing, whereas others have not. The review also shows that the evaluation methodologies utilized were variable in quality.

Conclusion

In order to assess the success of social prescribing services, more high quality and comparable evaluations need to be conducted in the future.

International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews number: CRD42017079664
Henipavirus infection of the central nervous system
Authors: Dawes Brian E , Freiberg Alexander N
Published: April 2019

Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus are highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses of the genus Henipavirus, family Paramyxoviridae. These viruses were first identified as the causative agents of severe respiratory and encephalitic disease in the 1990s across Australia and Southern Asia with mortality rates reaching up to 75%. While outbreaks of Nipah and Hendra virus infections remain rare and sporadic, there is concern that NiV has pandemic potential. Despite increased attention, little is understood about the neuropathogenesis of henipavirus infection. Neuropathogenesis appears to arise from dual mechanisms of vascular disease and direct parenchymal brain infection, but the relative contributions remain unknown while respiratory disease arises from vasculitis and respiratory epithelial cell infection. This review will address NiV basic clinical disease, pathology and pathogenesis with a particular focus on central nervous system (CNS) infection and address the necessity of a model of relapsed CNS infection. Additionally, the innate immune responses to NiV infection in vitro and in the CNS are reviewed as it is likely linked to any persistent CNS infection.
Induction of triacylglycerol synthesis in yeast by cell cycle arrest
Authors: Madeira Juliana B , Matos Gabriel S , Messias Laryssa S , Bozaquel-Morais Bruno L , Masuda Claudio A , Montero-Lomeli Monica
Published: April 2019

In this study, we found that cell cycle arrest induced by alpha-factor mating pheromone (G1), hydroxyurea (S) or nocodazole (G2/M) was associated to increased lipid droplet (LD) content. To identify novel cell cycle genes involved in LD homeostasis, we screened a deletion library for strains with altered LD levels. Among the mutants related to mitotic cell cycle, we found 24 hits that displayed a significantly higher LD content. Ontology mapping showed that neither a biological process nor a specific cell cycle phase was enriched among the hits. We decided to further study the role of SWI4 on LD homeostasis as it is involved in G1/S transition, a stage where lipolysis is active. The high LD content of swi4Δ mutant was not due to inhibition of lipolysis, but due to an increase in triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis. In addition, deletion of the AMP kinase gene SNF1 or inhibition of TORC1 activity, both known regulators of LD homeostasis, further increased the LD content of a swi4Δ mutant. These findings highlight a role of the cell cycle regulator SWI4 in the coordination of lipid metabolism which is independent of the TORC1 and SNF1/AMPK pathways.
Exploring the bidirectional associations between loneliness and cognitive functioning over 10 years: the English longitudinal study of ageing
Authors: Yin Jiamin , Lassale Camille , Steptoe Andrew , Cadar Dorina
Published: April 2019

Background

As the population ages, cognitive decline and dementia have become major health concerns in the UK. Loneliness has been linked to cognitive decline, but the reverse causality of this association remains unclear. This study aims to examine whether there is a bidirectional relationship between loneliness and cognitive function in older English adults (age 50 years and over) over a 10-year follow-up.

Methods

Data came from a nationally representative sample of 5885 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), free of stroke or dementia and followed every 2 years up to wave 7 (2014–15). At each wave, cognitive function was measured with word recall and verbal fluency tests, and loneliness was measured with the abridged version of the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Bivariate dual change score models were used to assess the multivariate associations between loneliness and cognitive function, used interchangeably as exposures and outcomes.

Results

Greater loneliness at baseline was associated with poorer memory [β intercept = −0.03, standard error (SE) = 0.01, P  =  0.016] and verbal fluency (β intercept = −0.01, SE  =  001, P =  0.027) at baseline, and with a stronger linear rate of decline in both memory (β linear slope = −0.07, SE  =  001, P  ≤ 0.001) and verbal fluency (β linear slope = −0.09, SE  =  0.03, P =  0.003) over a 10-year follow-up period, although the performance on verbal fluency did not change substantially on average over this period. We also found that higher baseline memory, but not verbal fluency, predicted a slower change in loneliness (β linear slope = −0.01, SE  =  001, P =  0.004) and that a linear decline in memory was associated with an acceleration in loneliness (β quadratic slope = −0.02, SE  =  001, P  ≤ 0.001) during follow-up.

Conclusions

Higher loneliness is associated with poorer cognitive function at baseline and contributes to a worsening in memory and verbal fluency over a decade. These factors seem, however, to be partially intertwined, since baseline memory and its rate of decline also contribute to an increase in loneliness over time.
Finite Symmetric Integral Tensor Categories with the Chevalley Property with an Appendix by Kevin Coulembier and Pavel Etingof
Authors: Etingof Pavel , Gelaki Shlomo
Published: April 2019

We prove that every finite symmetric integral tensor category $\mathcal{C}$ with the Chevalley property over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p>2$ admits a symmetric fiber functor to the category of supervector spaces. This proves Ostrik’s conjecture [25, Conjecture 1.3] in this case. Equivalently, we prove that there exists a unique finite supergroup scheme $\mathcal{G}$ over $k$ and a grouplike element $\epsilon \in k\mathcal{G}$ of order $\le 2$, whose action by conjugation on $\mathcal{G}$ coincides with the parity automorphism of $\mathcal{G}$, such that $\mathcal{C}$ is symmetric tensor equivalent to $\textrm{Rep}(\mathcal{G},\epsilon )$. In particular, when $\mathcal{C}$ is unipotent, the functor lands in $\textrm{Vec}$, so $\mathcal{C}$ is symmetric tensor equivalent to $\textrm{Rep}(U)$ for a unique finite unipotent group scheme $U$ over $k$. We apply our result and the results of [17] to classify certain finite dimensional triangular Hopf algebras with the Chevalley property over $k$ (e.g., local), in group scheme-theoretical terms. Finally, we compute the Sweedler cohomology of restricted enveloping algebras over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p>0$, classify associators for their duals, and study finite dimensional (not necessarily triangular) local quasi-Hopf algebras and finite (not necessarily symmetric) unipotent tensor categories over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p>0$. The appendix by K. Coulembier and P. Etingof gives another proof of the above classification results using the recent paper [4], and more generally, shows that the maximal Tannakian and super-Tannakian subcategory of a symmetric tensor category over a field of characteristic $\ne 2$ is always a Serre subcategory.
Ascorbic Acid Improves the Stability of Buprenorphine in Frozen Whole Blood Samples
Authors: Sørensen Lambert K , Hasselstrøm Jørgen B
Published: April 2019

Buprenorphine (BUP) was not long-term stable in whole blood samples preserved with fluoride citrate (FC) and fluoride oxalate (FX) mixtures when stored at −20°C. On average, only half of the initial concentrations of BUP was recovered after 12 weeks of storage at −20°C when interrupted by 3–4 thaw/freeze cycles. Norbuprenorphine (NBUP) was less unstable; approximately 90% was recovered after 12 weeks of storage at −20°C. The instability was less at 5°C, but the formation of BUP and NBUP from their glucuronides was observed at that temperature, especially in FC-preserved blood. The substances were stable for at least 5 months when stored uninterrupted at −80°C. The instability of BUP and NBUP in FC- and FX-preserved whole blood stored at −20°C was eliminated when the samples were modified with 30 mM ascorbic acid (ASC) prior to storage. The mean recoveries were greater than 95% after a 5-month interrupted storage period at −20°C when modified with ASC.
A novel angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitory peptide derived from the glutelin of vinegar soaked black soybean and its antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Zhang Yueyuan , Zhang Yanling , Chen Peiyao , Shu Fengjue , Li Kai , Qiao Liansheng , Chen Zujun , Wang Lingzhi
Published: April 2019

Vinegar soaked black soybean is a traditional Chinese food widely used for the treatment of hypertension. While its pharmacodynamic substance was not fully unveiled. It contained abundant glutelin, thus the purpose of this study was to obtain potent antihypertensive peptides from vinegar soaked black soybean. Black soybean was soaked with vinegar and then glutelin was first catalyzed by alcalase. Ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography were sequentially applied to separate and purify the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from glutelin hydrolysates. As a result, the fraction L1-4 with the highest ACE inhibitory activity (83.41%) at the final concentration of 0.01 mg/ml was obtained and five peptides were then identified. These peptides were further optimized by virtual screening combining with in silico proteolysis. Finally, a novel tetrapeptide Phe-Gly-Ser-Phe (FGSF) was obtained. FGSF exhibited high in vitro ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 = 117.11 μM) and in vivo hypotensive effect which maximally reduced systolic blood pressure of 21.95 mmHg at 20 mg/kg body weight in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Our study demonstrated that FGSF derived from vinegar soaked black soybean might be used as a promising ingredient for pharmaceuticals against hypertension and its related diseases.
Stable mutants of restriction-deficient/modification-proficient Bacillus subtilis 168: hub strains for giant DNA engineering
Authors: Itaya Mitsuhiro , Sato Mitsuru , Watanabe Satoru , Yoshikawa Hirofumi , Tomita Masaru , Sato Rintaro
Published: April 2019

Bacillus subtilis 168 has been explored as a platform for the synthesis and transmission of large DNA. Two inherent DNA incorporation systems, natural transformation and pLS20-based conjugation transfer, enable rapid handling of target DNA. Both systems are affected by the Bsu restriction–modification system that recognizes and cleaves unmethylated XhoI sites, limiting the choice of target DNA. We constructed B. subtilis 168 with stable mutation for restriction-deficient and modification-proficient (r−m+). It was demonstrated that the r−m+ strains can incorporate and transfer synthesized DNA with multiple XhoI sites. These should be of value as hub strains to integrate and disseminate giant DNA between B. subtilis 168 derivatives.
A preliminary study of the effectiveness of cancer communication skills training for interdisciplinary staff
Authors: Hsu Tsui-Hsia , Li I-Chuan , Fang Chun-Kai , Tang Woung-Ru , Lin Chih-Tsun
Published: April 2019

Background

Studies have emphasized that the disclosure of a diagnosis and prognosis is the doctor’s responsibility, but little attention has been given to the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation.

Objective

Therefore, this study examined and compared the effectiveness of cancer communication skills training (CST) for doctors and interdisciplinary staff in Taiwan.

Methods

This study utilized a quasi-experimental design. The participants were 124 oncology professionals who participated in cancer CST. These 124 professionals included a group of 65 doctors and a group of 59 interdisciplinary professionals, both of which received the same CST. After the participants have received CST, the changes in their disease disclosure skills were evaluated.

Results

Significant pretest-posttest differences were observed in the overall truth-telling scores for both groups (doctors: t = 6.94, P < 0.001; interdisciplinary professionals: t = 7.71, P < 0.001) and in different constructs. However, in many items, the doctors demonstrated no progress after receiving the training (P > 0.05), whereas the interdisciplinary professionals demonstrated significant progress (P < 0.05). In particular, the doctors’ scores for ‘disclosing information in a monotonous tone’ showed significant retrogression (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the overall truth-telling scores of the two groups with regard to pre- and post-CST (P > 0.05 and P > 0.05, respectively), and there were also no significant differences in the four sub-scales’ scores.

Conclusion

The CST for interdisciplinary professionals improved their cooperation and communication skills.
Dipteran Attraction to a Variety of Baits: Implications for Trapping Studies as a Tool for Establishing Seasonal Presence of Significant Species
Authors: Harvey Michelle , Gasz Natalie , Woolley Zara , Roberts Lillian , Raven Nynke , Colbert Ariana , Law Kirby , Marshall Polly , Voss Sasha
Published: April 2019

Monitoring and collection of fly taxa (Diptera: Calliphoridae; Muscidae; Sarcophagidae) of medical, veterinary, and agricultural importance is often routine practice, providing data on target species presence, distribution and abundance. Collection practices currently involve baited trapping and while an inherent bias accompanying the choice of bait is acknowledged, there is little consistency in bait choice between studies and insufficient assessment of trapping success rates for bait types in current use. This study aimed to examine the effect of bait choice on trapping results for six commonly used bait types; a commercial bait (Envirosafe Fly Attractant, Envirosafe Products) and a combination of mixtures of liver, horse manure and 5% sodium sulfide (Na2S). Trapping success was compared under different seasonal conditions (Summer, Autumn, and Spring) to determine the most attractive bait for calliphorid species, with a secondary comparison of kangaroo versus ox liver occurring under summer conditions. Baits containing Na2S were the most successful in captures of all target taxa, with the addition of manure desirable, yielding increased diversity of taxa. Kangaroo liver baits attracted high numbers of Chrysomya spp. (Robineau-Desvoidy, Diptera: Calliphoridae), while Lucilia spp. (Robineau-Desvoidy, Diptera: Calliphoridae) were comparatively underrepresented in traps using liver alone. The use of a combined ox liver/manure/Na2S bait is recommended as the gold standard for generic screening of necrophagous flies. Where more specific target fly taxa are desired, such as Chrysomya spp. or Lucilia spp. only, alternate baits such as kangaroo or lamb may prove more attractive/successful.
Towards automated reasoning in Herbrand structures
Authors: Cohen Liron , Rowe Reuben N S , Zohar Yoni
Published: April 2019

Herbrand structures have the advantage, computationally speaking, of being guided by the definability of all elements in them. A salient feature of the logics induced by them is that they internally exhibit the induction scheme, thus providing a congenial, computationally oriented framework for formal inductive reasoning. Nonetheless, their enhanced expressivity renders any effective proof system for them incomplete. Furthermore, the fact that they are not compact poses yet another proof-theoretic challenge. This paper offers several layers for coping with the inherent incompleteness and non-compactness of these logics. First, two types of infinitary proof system are introduced—one of infinite width and one of infinite height—which manipulate infinite sequents and are sound and complete for the intended semantics. The restriction of these systems to finite sequents induces a completeness result for finite entailments. Then, in search of effectiveness, two finite approximations of these systems are presented and explored. Interestingly, the approximation of the infinite-width system via an explicit induction scheme turns out to be weaker than the effective cyclic fragment of the infinite-height system.
Plastic hospitality: The empty signifier at the EU’s Mediterranean border
Authors: DeBono Daniela
Published: April 2019

Hospitality and hospitality-laden language feature highly among people working in or around structures of first reception in Italy and Malta, two countries at the European Union’s (EU) external border. This is peculiar because hospitality rarely features at first reception, which forms part of the state’s border system. Characteristically, security issues are prioritized, and the first reception system is managed by the member state’s security agents, in collaboration with EU and international security agents. In practice, first reception refers to the processes of identification, registration, and classification that irregular migrants go through after having crossed the border without authorization and, often, without identification. Drawing on long-term and multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork in Italy and Malta, this article examines some of the uses of hospitality language by a spectrum of territorial borderworkers operating with state, non-state, security, humanitarian, and activist entities in the two countries that are the object of this study. Discourse analysis yields interesting insights into how the use of the hospitality paradigm and hospitality terminology in first reception is less about hospitality practices and more about power. It proposes that the hospitality paradigm be conceptualized as a Laclauian empty signifier, and therefore, as a locus of power.
Applicability of the Mutation–Selection Balance Model to Population Genetics of Heterozygous Protein-Truncating Variants in Humans
Authors: Weghorn Donate , Balick Daniel J , Cassa Christopher , Kosmicki Jack A , Daly Mark J , Beier David R , Sunyaev Shamil R
Published: April 2019

The fate of alleles in the human population is believed to be highly affected by the stochastic force of genetic drift. Estimation of the strength of natural selection in humans generally necessitates a careful modeling of drift including complex effects of the population history and structure. Protein-truncating variants (PTVs) are expected to evolve under strong purifying selection and to have a relatively high per-gene mutation rate. Thus, it is appealing to model the population genetics of PTVs under a simple deterministic mutation–selection balance, as has been proposed earlier (Cassa et al. 2017). Here, we investigated the limits of this approximation using both computer simulations and data-driven approaches. Our simulations rely on a model of demographic history estimated from 33,370 individual exomes of the Non-Finnish European subset of the ExAC data set (Lek et al. 2016). Additionally, we compared the African and European subset of the ExAC study and analyzed de novo PTVs. We show that the mutation–selection balance model is applicable to the majority of human genes, but not to genes under the weakest selection.
Auxin and Cell Wall Crosstalk as Revealed by the Arabidopsis thaliana Cellulose Synthase Mutant Radially Swollen 1
Authors: Lehman Thiel A. , Sanguinet Karen A
Published: April 2019

Plant cells sheath themselves in a complex lattice of polysaccharides, proteins and enzymes forming an integral matrix known as the cell wall. Cellulose microfibrils, the primary component of cell walls, are synthesized at the plasma membrane by CELLULOSE SYNTHASE A (CESA) proteins throughout cellular growth and are responsible for turgor-driven anisotropic expansion. Associations between hormone signaling and cell wall biosynthesis have long been suggested, but recently direct links have been found revealing hormones play key regulatory roles in cellulose biosynthesis. The radially swollen 1 (rsw1) allele of Arabidopsis thaliana CESA1 harbors a single amino acid change that renders the protein unstable at high temperatures. We used the conditional nature of rsw1 to investigate how auxin contributes to isotropic growth. We found that exogenous auxin treatment reduces isotropic swelling in rsw1 roots at the restrictive temperature of 30ï¿½C. We also discovered decreases in auxin influx between rsw1 and wild-type roots via confocal imaging of AUX1-YFP, even at the permissive temperature of 19ï¿½C. Moreover, rsw1 displayed mis-expression of auxin-responsive and CESA genes. Additionally, we found altered auxin maxima in rsw1 mutant roots at the onset of swelling using DII-VENUS and DR5:vYFP auxin reporters. Overall, we conclude disrupted cell wall biosynthesis perturbs auxin transport leading to altered auxin homeostasis impacting both anisotropic and isotropic growth that affects overall root morphology.
EVALUATION OF A RADON AIR MONITOR IN THE MEASUREMENT OF RADON CONCENTRATION IN WATER IN COMPARISON WITH A LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTER
Authors: Higuchi Shoko , Kamishiro Yuuki , Ishihara Maki , Yasuoka Yumi , Mori Yasunori , Hosoda Masahiro , Iwaoka Kazuki , Tokonami Shinji , Takahashi Rikiya , Janik Miroslaw , Muto Jun , Nagahama Hiroyuki , Mukai Takahiro
Published: April 2019

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that the concentration of radon in water should be no more than 100 kBq m−3 (100 BqL−1) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission states that the limit of quantification (LOQ) of a method should be no more than one-fifth of this value. In this study, a degassing method with an RAD7 device was used to measure radon concentrations in water, compared to a liquid scintillation counter (LSC) method used as the reference, to investigate whether the numerical value of the LOQ of this method was more than 1/5 (20 kBq m–3) of 100 kBq m–3. The degassing method with leak prevention was shown to reach a target value of 20 kBq m−3 or less under a relative humidity of 6% or lower in the chamber of the RAD7 device. Accordingly, the RAD7 degassing method with leak prevention can be used to accurately measure radon concentrations in water within the guidance level set out by the WHO.
Israel: the trust law and the Hekdesh deed
Authors: Kaplan Alon , Eyal Lyat , Liberman Meytal
Published: April 2019

This article will review the provisions of the Israeli Trust Law, 1979, as they refer to the trust settled by Hekdesh deed, a legal structure with certain similarities to foundations in some foreign jurisdictions. The Israeli trust is not a separate legal entity thereby requiring an underlying company in various circumstances. The Hekdesh together with the underlying company are referred to in this article as the ‘Israeli Foundation’.
A Threshold-Based Decision-Support System for Fungicide Applications Provides Cost-Effective Control of Citrus Postbloom Fruit Drop
Authors: Gama Andre B. , Silva Junior Geraldo José , Peres Natalia A. , Edwards Molina Juan , de Lima Lilian M. , Amorim Lilian
Published: April 2019

Postbloom fruit drop (PFD) of citrus, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum sensu lato and C. gloeosporioides sensu lato, is an important disease in the humid tropics of the American continent. PFD mainly affects flowers, on which typical symptoms are characterized by orange-brown lesions with presence of acervuli. The disease has a sporadic occurrence, but preventative fungicide sprays are applied every season. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a fungicide spray strategy for PFD based on a predictive model of C. acutatum conidium germination linked to weather conditions. Fungicide sprays were performed when the model predicted pre-established thresholds of 10, 15, 20, and 25% of germinated spores (T10, T15, T20, and T25, respectively). Five experiments were conducted in two different seasons in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. PFD control efficacy of the threshold-based treatments was compared with a nontreated control and to a calendar-based spray system. Additionally, an economic analysis was performed to assess the gross income revenues of the fungicide spraying strategies. Disease control in plots treated at T10, T15, and T20 was as effective as the calendar-based strategy. The number of fungicide applications was reduced by 33 to 71% when sprays were applied at T15 and T20, and gross income increased or was comparable to that of the other treatments. Therefore, using a conidium germination model with a threshold of 15 or 20% is recommended as a spraying strategy for PFD management in Brazil.
Imbalance in the response of pre- and post-synaptic components to amyloidopathy
Authors: Stephen Terri-Leigh , Tamagnini Francesco , Piegsa Judith , Sung Katherine , Harvey Joshua , Oliver-Evans Alice , Murray Tracey K. , Ahmed Zeshan , Hutton Michael L. , Randall Andrew , O’Neill Michael J. , Jackson Johanna S.
Published: April 2019

Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-associated synaptic dysfunction drives the progression of pathology from its earliest stages. Aβ species, both soluble and in plaque deposits, have been causally related to the progressive, structural and functional impairments observed in AD. It is, however, still unclear how Aβ plaques develop over time and how they progressively affect local synapse density and turnover. Here we observed, in a mouse model of AD, that Aβ plaques grow faster in the earlier stages of the disease and if their initial area is > 500 µm2; this may be due to deposition occurring in the diffuse part of the plaque. In addition, synaptic turnover is higher in the presence of amyloid pathology and this is paralleled by a reduction in pre-but not post-synaptic densities. Plaque proximity does not appear to have an impact on synaptic dynamics. These observations indicate an imbalance in the response of the pre- and post-synaptic terminals and that therapeutics, alongside targeting the underlying pathology, need to address changes in synapse dynamics.