bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing Economic/Environmental Sustainability Trade‐offs in Procurement Episodes with Industrial Suppliers
Authors: Saunders Lance W. , Paul Brooks J. , Merrick Jason R. W. , Autry Chad W.
Published: January 2020

Literature supports that buyers can influence suppliers to adopt sustainable practices. Much of this literature, however, is descriptive and takes only the perspective of a buyer trying to diffuse sustainability into its supply base. Alternatively, this study augments the literature through the development of a prescriptive mathematical model that maximizes a supplier's expected revenue from making a bid to a large buyer, inclusive of a sustainability criterion. Specifically, the model uses decision theory to determine an optimal level of sustainability to integrate into a bid to balance economic vs. sustainable trade‐offs based on perceived buyer preference. To illustrate the model's utility, it is then applied to a rich scenario, using data from an industrial supplier bidding for a contract to distribute a fuel additive in Brazil by balancing the trade‐off between decreased carbon emissions and increased distribution cost. A sensitivity analysis is then performed to illustrate how different forms of the buyer's objective function would influence the propagation of sustainability into optimal supplier bids. The research thereby adds to our understanding of sustainable sourcing by prescriptively modeling both buyer and supplier perspectives, when analyzing how buyer preferences can drive supplier behavior.
Stress responsive gene regulation in relation to hydrogen sulfide in plants under abiotic stress
Authors: Pandey Akhilesh K. , Gautam Arti
Published: January 2020

Plants often face a variety of abiotic stresses, which affects them negatively and lead to yield loss. The antioxidant system efficiently removes excessive reactive oxygen species and maintains redox homeostasis in plants. With better understanding of these protective mechanisms, recently the concept of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and its role in cell signaling has become the center of attention. H2S has been recognized as a third gasotransmitter and a potent regulator of growth and development processes such as germination, maturation, senescence and defense mechanism in plants. Because of its gaseous nature, H2S can diffuse to different part of the cells and balance the antioxidant pools by supplying sulfur to cells. H2S showed tolerance against a plethora of adverse environmental conditions like drought, salt, high temperature, cold, heavy metals and flood via changing in level of osmolytes, malonaldialdehyde, Na+/K+ uptake, activities of H2S biosynthesis and antioxidative enzymes. It also promotes cross adaptation through persulfidation. H2S along with calcium, methylglyoxal and nitric oxide, and their cross talk induces the expression of mitogen activated protein kinases as well as other genes in response to stress. Therefore, it is sensible to evaluate and explore the stress responsive genes involved in H2S regulated homeostasis and stress tolerance. The current article is aimed to summarize the recent updates on H2S‐mediated gene regulation in special reference to abiotic stress tolerance mechanism, and cross adaptation in plants. Moreover, new insights into the H2S‐associated signal transduction pathway have also been explored.
Evaluation of the factors that affect the pregnancy rates during embryo transfer in beef heifers
Authors: Alkan Hasan , Karaşahin Tahir , Dursun Şükrü , Satılmış Fatma , Erdem Hüseyin , Güler Mehmet
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the transfer side, transfer location, cervix transfer score, type and diameter of corpus luteum (CL) during embryo transfer on pregnancy rates in beef heifers. Progesterone‐based synchronization and superovulation protocol were applied to Simmental cows used as donors (n = 168). Uterine flushings were performed on day 7 following artificial insemination. Obtained Code I (excellent or good) and II (fair) quality embryos were transferred to recipient beef heifers (n = 561). During embryo transfer, side of transfer (right or left), transfer location (the cranial or middle third of uterine horn), cervix transfer score (easy, moderate or difficult) and type (CLa, CLb and CLc) and diameter of CL were determined. Pregnancy rates following the transfer of Code I and II embryos were 44.66% and 33.07%, respectively (p < .05). The rates of pregnancy after transfers to the right and left uterine horn were 37% and 42.2%, respectively (p > .05). The pregnancy rates were 41.2%, 34.9% and 30.3% for cervix transfer scores as easy, moderate and difficult, respectively (p > .05). Pregnancy rates after transfer to the cranial third and middle third were 41.06% and 29.67%, respectively (p < .05). According to types of CL, pregnancy rates were 31.7%, 40.4% and 45.3% for CLa, CLb and CLc, respectively (p < .05). Moreover, it was found that as the CL diameter increased, the pregnancy rates increased. As a result, it was concluded that there was no effect of side of transfer and cervix transfer score, but embryo quality, transfer location, type and diameter of CL had significant effects on the pregnancy rate during embryo transfer in beef heifers.
miR‐362 knock‐down promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in porcine immature Sertoli cells by targeting the RMI1 gene
Authors: Ran Maoliang , Luo Hui , Gao Hu , Tang Xiangwei , Chen Yao , Zeng Xinyu , Weng Bo , Chen Bin
Published: January 2020

Immature Sertoli cell proliferation determines the total number of mature Sertoli cells and further regulates normal spermatogenesis. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that microRNAs (miRNAs) play regulatory roles in immature Sertoli cell proliferation, while the functions and mechanisms of the Sertoli cells of domestic animals are poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the roles of miR‐362 in cell proliferation and apoptosis of porcine immature Sertoli cells. The results showed that miR‐362 inhibition promoted the entrance of cells into the S phase and increased the expressions of cell cycle‐related genes c‐MYC, CNNE1, CCND1 and CDK4. Knock‐down of miR‐362 also promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis, which was demonstrated by the results from cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine (EdU) and Annexin V‐FITC/PI staining assays. The recQ‐mediated genome instability protein 1 (RMI1) gene was identified as a potential target gene of miR‐362 via luciferase reporter assay, and miR‐362 repressed the protein expression of RMI1 in porcine immature Sertoli cells. siRNA‐induced RMI1 knock‐down further abolished the effects of miR‐362 inhibition on porcine immature Sertoli cells. Collectively, we concluded that miR‐362 knock‐down promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in porcine immature Sertoli cells by targeting the RMI1 gene, which indicates that miR‐362 determines the fate of immature Sertoli cells.
Acute‐phase proteins, cortisol and haematological parameters in ewes during the periparturient period
Authors: Greguła‐Kania Monika , Kosior‐Korzecka Urszula , Patkowski Krzysztof , Juszczuk‐Kubiak Edyta , Plewik Michał , Gruszecki Tomasz Maria
Published: January 2020

Numerous subclinical diseases in sheep occur in the periparturient period and involve inflammatory processes; therefore, determining markers, such as acute‐phase proteins (APPs), can allow an early diagnosis. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess changes in the plasma concentration of APPs and cortisol in clinically healthy ewes in the periparturient period for use in future studies. At the same time, haematological parameters were monitored. We showed that plasma APPs and cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in pregnant ewes than before insemination. A gradual increase in the SAA concentration was observed from the 14th day before to the day of parturition, while Hp was reduced from 2 weeks before up to 2 weeks after delivery. A significant increase in the Fb concentration was detected from the 14th day before to the 1st week after delivery. The cortisol concentration did not undergo significant changes in the periparturient period. We found an increase in the SAA and Fb concentrations and decrease in Hp in the periparturient period. The direction of the change in APPs of healthy ewes in the current study may be related to their distinct regulatory mechanisms during pregnancy. The APPs are usually altered during infection, inflammation, neoplasia, stress and trauma; therefore, knowing their reference values could help lead to an early diagnosis of subclinical forms of some diseases and pregnancy complications in ewes. The haematological analysis showed that ewes in late pregnancy and postpartum compared to dry period were under metabolic stress related to pregnancy and lactation.
Community‐level effects of herbicide‐based restoration treatments: structural benefits but at what cost?
Authors: Bennion Leland D. , Ferguson Jannette A. , New Leslie F. , Schultz Cheryl B.
Published: January 2020

Invasive species alter ecosystem structure, impact biodiversity, and have significant economic costs. In Oregon's Willamette Valley, invasive grasses Arrhenatherum elatius and Schedonorus arundinaceus alter the dynamics of the phenologically paired interaction between an endangered butterfly, Icaricia icarioides fenderi (Fender's blue), and its larval host plant, Lupinus oreganus (Kincaid's lupine). To test methods to restore this interaction, we established a 3‐year experiment where a post‐emergent grass‐specific herbicide, fluazifop‐p‐butyl, was applied to Fender's blue habitat. Plant community data were recorded throughout the growing season at eight paired plots for 1 year prior to treatment and 3 years during treatment. We asked whether annual application of herbicide could reduce the height of invasive grasses to levels at or beneath the height of Kincaid's lupine racemes throughout the Fender's blue flight season. We hypothesized that native forb species, which are critical nectar sources for Fender's blue, would increase in cover and frequency following the release from competitive dominance of invasive grasses. Grass‐specific herbicide reduced grass height during the flight season of Fender's blue, but with several costs. We found no change in nectar and a suppression of lupine growth in plots in response to experimental herbicide treatment. Each study site had multiple secondary invaders; the long‐term impact of these new invaders is unknown. We suggest that herbicide application results in a net negative effect in the context of Fender's blue habitat restoration. That is, the costs to primary resources for Fender's blue and the influx of secondary invaders may be as problematic as the primary invasion by non‐native grasses.
Nation and Vampiric Narration in Aleksey Tolstoy's “The Family of the Vourdalak”
Authors: ERMAN IRINA
Published: January 2020

In this article, I examine the narrative and intertextual complexity of A. K. Tolstoy's “The Family of the Vourdalak,” while taking note of Tolstoy's extensive historical references and thus situating Tolstoy's vampire story in its literary and historical context. I argue that Tolstoy's emphatic historical references point to the story's central focus on Russia's relationship with Western Europe and the concomitant Russian anxieties about national identity and literary imitation. By putting forward the concept of vampiric narration to explain Tolstoy's mode of undermining his West European narrator's control, this article demonstrates the way this story comments on, and ultimately subverts, the discourse about imitation and influence that infiltrated Russian letters from West European constructs about its East. Ultimately, Tolstoy's “The Family of the Vourdalak” offers a meditation on the power of parody and creative appropriation that anticipates important literary‐philosophical concepts that emerge in Russia in the second half of the nineteenth century.
An Odessan Nationality? Local Patriotism and Jewish Nationalism in the Case of Vladimir Jabotinsky
Authors: SHUMSKY DMITRY
Published: January 2020

It is a commonplace that the effort to diffuse and disseminate a modern national identity in Europe and elsewhere in no way meant the complete abandonment of earlier local identities. Rather, the champions of the European national movements frequently integrated elements of a country‐based patriotism (Landespatriotismus), enlightened regionalism, and localism. When it comes, however, to the origins of European Zionism, the widespread wisdom is that in this case the component of localism and regionalism in the lands of origin of Diaspora Jews was “out of the question,” for there were no concrete geographical or historical ties between their places of residence in the Diaspora and Palestine. The present article aims to contribute to revisiting this opinion, focusing on the Russian‐Jewish author Vladimir Jabotinsky (1880–1940)–a prominent Zionist right‐wing leader, who at one and the same time publicly and forcefully expressed positions of local patriotism regarding his native city of Odessa. Based on hitherto unexplored texts written by Jabotinsky, the article shows that the local attachment to the city of Odessa and to the Southern Ukrainian region of Czarist Empire played in Jabotinsky's Zionism a role comparable to the functioning of the localism and the regionalism in the European nationalisms.
The Return of “Provokatsiia” in Putin‐Era Russia
Authors: PATYK LYNN E.
Published: January 2020

Vladimir Putin's tenure in office has seen a revival of what I will term “provocation discourse”–the reference to the action of provokatory and provokatsiia in Russian political discourse and in the media. The purpose of this article is three‐fold: to outline Western and Russian approaches to provocation/provokatsiia as an object of scholarly inquiry; to analyze the linguistic constituents and usage patterns that distinguish the Russian “provokatsiia” from the English “provocation” and therefore render it conceptually distinct; and to chart the resurgence of provocation discourse by identifying its most common domains of contemporary usage. Ultimately, I would argue that “provokatsiia” is more than an innocuous linguistic relic from the revolutionary period in Russia's history. The rise or “return” of provokatsiia during Putin's third term in office is linked to domestic political and international events and its almost unmatched versatility in serving the purposes of political spin (raskrutka) and information warfare. But its resurgence in the past decade demonstrates that despite its provenance as a cognate or loan word, it has attained the status of cultural keyword and heuristic device that Russian language‐users marshal in assigning agency, causality, and blame in the conditions of “neither peace nor war” that characterize the post‐Soviet information space.
Measuring vascularity of hypertrophic scars by dermoscopy: Construct validity and predictive ability of scar thickness change
Authors: Deng Huan , Li‐Tsang Cecilia W. P. , Li Jingbo
Published: January 2020

Background

Vascularity of hypertrophic scar is a key indicator of scar maturation and a vital parameter of evaluating effects of scar management interventions. This study aims to explore the construct validity of dermoscopy for measuring vascularity of hypertrophic scar and its predictive ability of scar thickness change.

Methods

Patients with hypertrophic scars were recruited for scar assessments at baseline and at one‐month follow‐up, which consisted of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, DermaLab Combo, ultrasound and dermoscopy.

Results

Forty hypertrophic scars in the active proliferation stage were included in this study. The dermoscopic measurements based on color significantly discriminated the hypertrophic scars from the healthy skin (P < .001). In addition, they showed moderate to strong correlations with the vascularity component of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (r = −.438, P < .01; r = −.461, P < .01; and r = −.437, P < .01) and the erythema value as measured by DermaLab Combo (r = −.474, P < .01; r = −.603, P < .01; and r = −.498, P < .01). Weak to moderate correlations of the micro‐vessel percentage were observed with the vascularity of Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (r = .385, P < .01) and the erythema of DermaLab Combo (r = .444, P < .01). For prediction of the scars with high risk of thickness change, the green value by dermoscopy was the strongest predictor (AUC = 0.738, P = .034, 95%CI = 0.570‐0.906).

Conclusion

Dermoscopy, which evaluates scar vascularity by measuring scar color and micro‐vessel percentage, could be used as an objective assessment tool to indicate scar maturation and identify scars with active proliferation.
The HLA‐A*31:154 allele identified in a volunteer donor for hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Authors: Baek In‐Cheol , Choi Eun‐Jeong , Shin Dong‐Hwan , Kim Hyoung‐Jae , Kim Tai‐Gyu
Published: January 2020

HLA‐A*31:154 differs from HLA‐A*31:01:02:01 in codon 115 in exon 3.
Retrospective outcome evaluation for dogs with surgically excised, solitary Kiupel high‐grade, cutaneous mast cell tumours
Authors: Moore Antony S. , Frimberger Angela E. , Taylor David , Sullivan Neill
Published: January 2020

Published outcomes for dogs with specifically high‐grade mast cell tumours (MCTs), controlled for clinical stage, are few. Clinical outcomes for 49 dogs with Kiupel high‐grade, clinical stage I, cutaneous MCTs were evaluated. Median survival time (MST) was 1046 days; 1 and 2‐year survival rates were 79.3% and 72.9%, respectively. At study end 24 dogs had died, 23 dogs were alive (median follow‐up 980 days) and 2 dogs were lost to follow‐up. Death was considered MCT‐related in 14 of 20 dogs with a known cause of death. Local tumour recurrence developed in nine dogs (18.4%); regional lymph node metastasis occurred in six dogs (12.2%); and a new MCT developed in 15 dogs (30.1%). Tumour location, histologic margin size and use of chemotherapy did not affect MST; increasing mitotic count (P = .001) and increasing tumour diameter (P = .024) were independently negatively prognostic. Six dogs that developed lymph node metastasis after surgery had worse MST (451 days) than 42 dogs that did not develop metastasis (1645 days); (P < .001). Our study suggests that dogs with local surgical control of clinical stage I histologically high Kiupel grade cutaneous MCT may have a long survival time; especially those with smaller tumours and a lower mitotic count. Our results suggest that evaluation of staging information and mitotic count may be equally helpful as histologic grading when making a prognosis; and highlight the importance of not relying on histologic grade alone when predicting survival for dogs with MCT.
Multivesicular body and exosome pathway responses to acute exercise
Authors: Garner Ron T. , Solfest Jessica S. , Nie Yaohui , Kuang Shihuan , Stout Julianne , Gavin Timothy P.
Published: January 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What is the impact of acute aerobic and aerobic + resistance (concurrent) exercise on the regulation of multivesicular body formation in human skeletal muscle?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Gene expression for proteins associated with multivesicular body biogenesis was increased in response to concurrent exercise, and gene expression of microRNA processing (genetic information) was increased in response to aerobic and concurrent exercise. A greater understanding of the processing of multivesicular bodies in response to acute exercise may lead to novel treatments focused on intercellular communication pathways.

Regular aerobic exercise (AEx) and resistance exercise (REx) promote many beneficial adaptations. Skeletal muscle participates in intercellular communication in part through the release of myokines and extracellular vesicles including exosomes (EXOs), the latter containing mRNA, microRNA (miRNA), lipids and proteins. Exercise‐induced regulation of skeletal muscle multivesicular body (MVB) biogenesis leading to EXO formation and release is poorly understood. We hypothesized that acute exercise would increase skeletal muscle MVB biogenesis and EXO release pathways with a greater response to aerobic + resistance exercise (A+REx) than to AEx alone. Twelve sedentary, healthy male subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer for 45 min (AEx) followed by single leg, knee extensor, resistance exercise (A+REx). Vastus lateralis biopsies were obtained at rest and 1 h post‐exercise. Key components of the MVB biogenesis, EXO biogenesis and release, and miRNA processing pathways were analysed. Clathrin and Alix mRNA (MVB biogenesis) were increased by A+REx, while DICER and exportin mRNA (miRNA processing) were increased by AEx and A+REx. There were positive relationships between MVBs and miRNA processing genes following both AEx and A+REx consistent with coordinated regulation of these interrelated processes (Alix mRNA increased with Drosha, exportin and Dicer mRNA). Acute exercise increases the regulation of components of MVB and EXO pathways as well as miRNA processing components. A greater understanding of the production and packaging of skeletal muscle MVBs, EXOs and mature miRNA could lead to novel treatments focused on intercellular communication.
Frequency of Seeing People Walk and Aerobic Physical Activity Among Latino Adults
Authors: Murillo Rosenda , Agrawal Pooja , Berenji-Jalaei Sheila , Vasquez Elizabeth , Echeverria Sandra
Published: January 2020

Background: Little research has examined gender differences in the association of seeing others exercise, in the neighborhood context, with physical activity, particularly for diverse racial/ethnic groups. The authors examined the association between frequency of seeing people walk and aerobic activity by gender among Latinos. Methods: The authors used cross-sectional 2015 National Health Interview Survey data on Latino participants ≥18 years (n = 5147). Multinomial logistic regression models estimated the association between seeing people walk and level of aerobic physical activity. Results: Men reporting seeing people walk every 2 to 3 days and every day were more likely to meet the aerobic activity recommendation (odds ratio [OR] 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–3.89 and OR 1.96; 95% CI, 1.23–3.14, respectively). Among women, those seeing people walk every day and every 2 to 3 days were likely to engage in some aerobic activity (OR 1.88; 95% CI, 1.26–2.80 and OR 2.16; 95% CI, 1.23–3.18, respectively) and meet the recommendation (OR 1.73; 95% CI, 1.24–2.42 and OR 1.66; 95% CI, 1.03–2.67, respectively). Women seeing people walk about once a week were also likely to engage in some activity (OR 3.06; 95% CI, 1.59–5.89). Conclusions: Among Latino men and women, seeing people walk is associated with meeting the aerobic activity guideline. Results suggest that adoption of physical activity may in part be driven by neighborhood-level behavioral norms and by inference characteristics of the neighborhood that support walking.
Physical Activity in the Summer Heat: How Hot Weather Moderates the Relationship Between Built Environment Features and Outdoor Physical Activity of Adults
Authors: Lanza Kevin , Stone Brian , Chakalian Paul M. , Gronlund Carina J. , Hondula David M. , Larsen Larissa , Mallen Evan , Haardörfer Regine
Published: January 2020

Background: Research has not yet examined how hot weather moderates the relationship between the built environment and outdoor physical activity levels. The authors posited that hot days will increase the magnitude of the expected directional effect of built environment features on physical activity. Methods: This longitudinal study included 134 US adults from the Three city Heat and Electrical failure AdapTation study. Adults self-reported physical activity for multiple summer days (nstudy-days = 742) in 2016. Hot days were defined as ≥90th percentile of daily maximum heat index. Built environment features included density, safety, trees, hilliness, connectivity, access to parks, and access to shops + services. Separate growth curve models with interaction terms (ie, hot day × built environment feature) were run for daily minutes of outdoor physical activity (ie, any activity and recommended activity). Results: Neither hot days nor built environment features impacted outdoor physical activity significantly, and hot days did not moderate the relationship between built environment features and physical activity (P > .05). Conclusions: With adults failing to modify behavior on hot days, cities may be placing adults at increased risk of exertional heat illness. The authors recommend incorporating the risk of exertional heat illness in health impact assessments and deploying heat management strategies.
Thrombin contributes to cancer immune evasion via proteolysis of platelet-bound GARP to activate LTGF-β
Authors: Metelli Alessandra , Wu Bill X. , Riesenberg Brian , Guglietta Silvia , Huck John D. , Mills Catherine , Li Anqi , Rachidi Saleh , Krieg Carsten , Rubinstein Mark P. , Gewirth Daniel T. , Sun Shaoli , Lilly Michael B. , Wahlquist Amy H. , Carbone David P. , Yang Yiping , Liu Bei , Li Zihai
Published: January 2020

Proteolysis of platelet-bound GARP by thrombin liberates active TGF-β and contributes to cancer immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment.
Bystanders get in the game
Authors: Hickman Heather D.
Published: January 2020

Tissue-resident memory T cells respond in a nonspecific manner to reduce bacteria in the lungs of mice.
Microglial sex affects Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Neman Josh
Published: January 2020

Sex-specific microglial microRNAs impact tau pathogenesis.
Distinct Subpopulations of Intravalvular Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Variable Susceptibility to Daptomycin in Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis
Authors: Miller Christopher R. , Dey Somrita , Smolenski Paula D. , Kulkarni Pushkar S. , Monk Jonathan M. , Szubin Richard , Sakoulas George , Berti Andrew D.
Published: January 2020

We present a case of endocarditis wherein organisms cultured from different valve leaflets yielded different daptomycin susceptibilities from each other and from organisms obtained from peripheral blood culture. Genomic analyses showed mutations in
mprF, purR
, and
agrA
. Pharmacokinetic simulations showed consistent activity of daptomycin plus beta-lactam against all subpopulations.
Suppression of Staphylococcus aureus Superantigen-Independent Interferon Gamma Response by a Probiotic Polysaccharide
Authors: Paik Wonbeom , Alonzo Francis , Knight Katherine L.
Published: January 2020

Staphylococcus aureusis a Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen that causes a variety of diseases. Bloodstream infection is the most severe, with mortality rates reaching 20 to 50%. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) from the probioticBacillus subtilisreduces bacterial burden and inflammation duringS. aureusbloodstream infection in mice.
Two Routes for Extracellular Electron Transfer in Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Hederstedt Lars , Gorton Lo , Pankratova Galina
Published: January 2020

The transfer of reducing power in the form of electrons, generated in the catabolism of nutrients, from a bacterium to an extracellular acceptor appears to be common in nature. The electron acceptor can be another cell or abiotic material. Such extracellular electron transfer contributes to syntrophic metabolism and is of wide environmental, industrial, and medical importance. Electron transfer between microorganisms and electrodes is fundamental in microbial fuel cells for energy production and for electricity-driven synthesis of chemical compounds in cells. In contrast to the much-studied extracellular electron transfer mediated by cell surface exposed cytochromes, little is known about components and mechanisms for such electron transfer in organisms without these cytochromes and in Gram-positive bacteria such as
E. faecalis
, which is a commensal gut lactic acid bacterium and opportunistic pathogen.
Human Cytomegalovirus Decreases Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II by Regulating Class II Transactivator Transcript Levels in a Myeloid Cell Line
Authors: Sandhu Praneet K. , Buchkovich Nicholas J.
Published: January 2020

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an opportunistic herpesvirus that is asymptomatic for healthy individuals but that can lead to severe pathology in patients with congenital infections and immunosuppressed patients. Thus, it is important to understand the modulation of the immune response by HCMV, which is understudied in the context of endogenous MHC class II regulation. Using Kasumi-3 cells as a myeloid progenitor cell model endogenously expressing MHC class II (HLA-DR), this study shows that HCMV decreases the expression of HLA-DR in infected cells by reducing the transcription of HLA-DR transcripts early during infection independently of the expression of previously implicated genes. This is an important finding, as it highlights a mechanism of immune evasion utilized by HCMV to decrease the expression of MHC class II in a relevant cell system that endogenously expresses the MHC class II complex.
Infectious conjunctivitis caused byPseudomonasaeruginosain infected and extrused scleral buckles
Authors: Meduri Alessandro , De Maria Antonio , Severo Alice Antonella , Aragona Pasquale
Published: January 2020

Extrusion of the scleral buckle is one of the complications patients may encounter undergoing the surgical treatment for retinal detachment. We present two cases of persistentPseudomonasaeruginosa-related conjunctivitis which infected the silicone explant after retinal surgery. One of them is a 73-year-old Caucasian female patient with hyperaemia, intense pain and mucopurulent discharge. After the conjunctival swabs detected aP. aeruginosainfection, she started both topical and systemic treatment without any results; for this reason we opted for the buckle removal always under systemic therapy. The second case is an 84-year-old Caucasian female patient with fever, periorbital oedema, chronic ocular pain, hyperaemia and purulent discharge.P. aeruginosahas also been detected in this case. No improvement with topical and systemic treatment, so this convinced us to remove patient's buckles and to continue systemic therapy. Both cases had the complete resolution after surgery. It is important to quickly recognise exposed scleral buckles because they can be a source of infections and a rare but threatening cause of endophthalmitis.
Coughing up clues: 16-year-old girl with acute haemoptysis
Authors: Cheng Daryl R , Silverman Earl D , Cho Romy
Published: January 2020

A 16-year-old previously well girl presented with bilateral painful lower leg swelling and non-pruritic blanching rash across her torso and upper and lower limbs. These symptoms started after commencing amoxicillin for presumed tonsillitis. She was diagnosed with serum sickness-like illness and started on non-steroidal agents. The rash and painful leg swelling improved over the next 48 hours. However, she subsequently developed fevers, cough and new-onset haemoptysis.

She continued to deteriorate with increasing amounts of haemoptysis, work of breathing and escalating respiratory support requirements. Serial chest radiographs showed worsening lung consolidation and enlarging pleural effusion. A CT chest revealed extensive bilateral lung consolidation, most likely pulmonary haemorrhage. Subsequent investigations showed positive classic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, confirming the diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Intramarrow injection needle: a new technique to treat patients with haematological and non-haematological malignancies by directly injecting therapeutic agents into the bone marrow cavity
Authors: Islam Anwarul
Published: January 2020

Aims

The purpose of this report is to describe a new instrument designed for the injection of therapeutic agents directly into the bone marrow cavity as well as to aspirate bone marrow specimens for the diagnostic purposes.

Methods

The instrument consists of three parts: the needle, stilette and an adjustable guard. The overall length of the needle is 76 mm and has uniform external diameter except for the distal penetrating segment, which is sharp but short and safe to use on the sternum. The proximal end of the needle is fitted with a plastic T-bar handle, which is ergonomically designed for firm grip and easy manoeuvrability.

Results

The instrument has been designed to obtain bone marrow aspirate specimens as well as to inject therapeutic agents into the posterior ilium.

Conclusions

The rationale for the intramedullary injection of therapeutic agents for the treatment of patients with leukaemia, lymphoma and other haematological and non-haematological malignant disorders is described. In an emergency when intravenous therapy becomes difficult due to collapsed veins, this instrument may be used for direct intramarrow infusion of blood and blood products.
Case series, contemporary review and imaging guided diagnostic and management approach of congenital pericardial defects
Authors: Khayata Mohamed , Alkharabsheh Saqer , Shah Nishant P , Verma Beni Rai , Gentry James L , Summers Mathew , Xu Bo , Asher Craig , Klein Allan L
Published: January 2020

Objective

Congenital pericardial defect (CPD) is a rare entity with an estimated frequency of 0.01%–0.04%. The recognition of this anomaly is important since it can be associated with serious complications. The aim of this study and review was to describe clinical and imaging features that help in establishing the diagnosis of this condition.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all adult patients at the Cleveland Clinic Health System with the diagnosis of CPD between the years 2000 and 2015. Baseline clinical characteristics, clinical manifestations, ECG, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), cardiac CT and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images were reviewed.

Results

Eight patients were included in the study. Sixty-three percent of patients were males with mean age at diagnosis of 48 years, 63% had a partial pericardial defect on the left side and right ventricular (RV) dilation on TTE. Three patients had CMR. Levocardia was present in all CMRs. One patient had greater than 60° clockwise rotation and none of the CMRs showed ballooning of the left ventricular apex. One patient required surgical pericardioplasty. The remaining seven patients had a median follow-up of 17.3 months (5–144.9 months) and all remained asymptomatic.

Conclusion

CPDs are more likely to be partial on the left side and patients often have RV dilation on the TTE and levocardia on CMR. Most patients remain stable and do not require surgical intervention. TTE and CMR play an important role in making the diagnosis of this anomaly.
Association of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundations’ social determinants of health and Medicare hospitalisations for ischaemic strokes: a cross-sectional data analysis
Authors: Wang Andrew , Kho Abel N , French Dustin D
Published: January 2020

Objective

Social determinants of health (SDH) have previously demonstrated to be important risk factors in determining health outcomes. To document whether the SDH are associated with hospitalisations for ischaemic stroke.

Methods

This cross-sectional study examines data from fiscal year 2015. Patients from the national Medicare 100% Inpatient Limited Dataset were linked with SDH measures from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) County Health Rankings. Medicare patients were included in the study group if they had either an admitting or primary diagnosis of ischaemic stroke. Counties without RWJF data were excluded from the study. Ischaemic strokes were compared with all other hospitalisations associated with characteristics of the SDH measures and benchmarked to above or below their respective national median. Estimates were performed with nested logistic regression.

Results

Approximately 256 766 Medicare patients had ischaemic stroke hospitalisations compared with all other Medicare patients (n=6 386 180) without ischaemic stroke hospitalisations while 30 853 patients were excluded due to residence in US territories. Significant factors included air pollution exceeding the national median (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.07), per cent of children in single parent households exceeding the national median, (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03), violent crime rates exceeding the national median, (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03) and per cent smoking exceeding the national median, (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03).

Conclusions

When cross-sectional SDH are benchmarked to national median for ischaemic stroke hospitalisations and compared with all-cause hospitalisations, the effects remain significant. Further research on the longitudinal effects of the SDH and cardiovascular health, particularly disease-specific outcomes, is needed.
Factors predicting first-time hepatitis C virus testing uptake among men who have sex with men in China: an observational prospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Zixin , Mo Phoenix K H , Fang Yuan , Ip Mary , Lau Joseph T F
Published: January 2020

Objectives

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study investigated predictors of first-time HCV testing uptake during a 6-month period among a sample of MSM in Hong Kong.

Methods

Participants were 351 Chinese-speaking MSM who had never received HCV testing. Participants completed two telephone surveys 6 months apart. At baseline, participants reported on sociodemographics, sexual behaviours, risk perception, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Illness representations, which refers to how people think about HCV, was measured by the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) at baseline. The BIPQ assessed identity (identifying symptoms of HCV), timeline (whether HCV is acute/chronic), consequences (severity of HCV), personal control and treatment control (whether HCV is under volitional control), concern, emotions (anger, guilt or shame) and coherence (overall comprehensibility of HCV). Six months later, participants reported on HCV testing uptake. Logistic regression was used to analyse the associations between baseline predictors and HCV testing uptake.

Results

Most participants were aged ≤30 years (55.0%) and had attained college education or above (85.2%). Among 242 participants (68.9%) who completed the month 6 follow-up, 12.4% had tested for HCV during the follow-up period. After adjustment for HIV testing and chemsex in the last year, participants who perceived more severe consequences of HCV reported higher HCV testing uptake (adjusted ORs (AOR): 2.22, 95% CI: 1.65 to 3.00). Belief that treatment can control HCV (AOR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.35 to 2.26) and having negative emotions related to HCV (AOR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.25 to 2.03) were also positively associated with HCV testing uptake.

Conclusions

Targeted health promotion efforts are needed to increase HCV testing among MSM in Hong Kong. Healthcare workers engaged in HCV-related programming should consider modifying the illness representations of HCV. Integrating HCV and HIV testing services may also be beneficial.
Small‐scale pig producers and disease surveillance: key threats
Authors: Williamson Susanna , Bidewell Cornelia , Pittalis Livio , Brena Camilla , Richey Moyna , Florea Laura , Wight Alan , Wilson Laura , Amato Benedetta
Published: January 2020

A series of meetings for small‐scale pig producers raised awareness of surveillance for pig diseases in Great Britain and highlighted different types of disease threat. This focus article summarises some key messages from those meetings and two of the threats discussed.
Variability of regional quadriceps echo intensity in active young men with and without subcutaneous fat correction
Authors: Oranchuk Dustin J. , Stock Matt S. , Nelson André R. , Storey Adam G. , Cronin John B.
Published: January 2020

Quantifying echo intensity (EI), a proposed measure of muscle quality, is becoming increasingly popular. Additionally, much attention has been paid to regional differences in other ultrasonically evaluated measures of muscle morphology and architecture. However, the variability of regional (proximal, middle, distal) EI of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and lateral and anterior vastus intermedius has yet to be determined. Twenty participants (40 limbs), were evaluated on 3 occasions, separated by 7 days. Intersession variability of EI with and without subcutaneous fat correction was quantified. Furthermore, the interchangeability of corrected EI across regions was evaluated. Variability of regional quadriceps EI was substantially lower with subcutaneous fat correction (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.81–0.98, coefficient of variation (CV) = 4.5%–16.8%, typical error of measure (TEM) = 0.13–0.49) versus raw values (ICC = 0.69–0.98, CV = 7.7%–42.7%, TEM = 0.14–0.68), especially when examining the vastus intermedius (ICC = 0.81–0.95, CV = 7.1%–16.8%, TEM = 0.23–0.49 vs. ICC = 0.69–0.92, CV = 22.9%–42.7%, TEM = 0.31–0.68). With the exception of the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius (p ≥ 0.143, effect size (ES) ≤ 0.18), corrected EI was greater for proximal and distal regions when compared with the midpoint (p ≤ 0.038, ES = 0.38–0.82). Researchers and practitioners should utilize subcutaneous fat thickness correction to confidently evaluate EI at all regions of the quadriceps. Regional EI cannot be used interchangeably for the vastus muscles, likely because of an increase in fibrous content towards the myotendinous junctions.

Novelty Regional quadriceps echo intensity was reliable with and without correction for subcutaneous fat thickness. Intersession variability of regional quadriceps echo intensity was substantially improved following subcutaneous fat correction. Quadriceps echo intensity increased towards myotendinous junctions in the vastus muscles.
Pipe–soil interaction on free-span shoulder subject to vortex-induced vibration
Authors: Zhang Zhishen , Leung Chun Fai , Chow Yean Khow
Published: January 2020

Free span refers to a subsea pipeline section that is suspended over the seabed. Such a pipe section is vulnerable to vortex-induced vibration leading to possible fatigue pipe damage. Existing studies on pipe–soil interaction on a free-span shoulder are limited and the methods provided in the commonly used design guidelines appear to rely on either plausible assumptions or simplified conditions that warrant further investigations. In this study, a centrifuge model study has been carried out to evaluate pipe–soil interaction of an embedded pipe subject to cyclic motions. Parametric studies involving effects of pipeline motion amplitude and initial embedment on pipe–soil interaction are conducted. The test results reveal that the degradation in soil stiffness can be correlated with pipeline motion cycle and amplitude. Simplified methods are then proposed for the preliminary evaluation of equivalent soil stiffness.
A one-pot method for the synthesis of 3-(hetero-)aryl-1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones
Authors: Hynes Toren , Hall David S. , Speed Alexander W.H. , Masuda Jason D. , Dahn J.R.
Published: January 2020

3-R-1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones are a class of compounds that are increasingly finding diverse uses, including as regioselective amidation reagents and as electrolyte additives that enable long cycling lifetimes in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Conventional methods for their synthesis tend to be slow and time-consuming, requiring isolation and thorough drying of a hydroxamic acid intermediate, followed by a separate cyclization step with N,N′-carbonyldiimidazole. Furthermore, the cyclization is typically performed in dichloromethane, an environmentally harmful solvent. This work demonstrates a new one-pot method for the synthesis of these compounds that eliminates the need for isolation of the intermediate or the use of halogenated solvents. The reaction is mainly performed using environmentally benign ethyl acetate and a relatively small amount of N,N-dimethylformamide. The reaction proceeds readily at room temperature and requires no expensive metal catalysts to function.
FOUR DECADES OF POVERTY AND CONSUMPTION IN CHINA
Authors: WANG JINXIAN , WANG CHEN , ZHANG YAN
Published: January 2020

Since 2010, China’s miraculous growth has come to a halt and has shown steady deceleration. To re-accelerate economic growth, stimulating domestic consumption is a crucial way with fighting poverty as the key step. This paper attempts to explore the impact of poverty on resident consumption in China over the last four decades. Based on provincial data, we first simulate income distribution at the individual level and provide moderate poverty profiles at the provincial level. The empirical analyses are then conducted to gauge the poverty impacts using the estimated poverty index. Results show that (1) moderate poverty has decreased sharply in China, with the best achievement in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong; (2) moderate poverty exerts a significantly negative impact on resident consumption; and (3) when poverty increases, resident consumption on household equipment decreases the most, while resident consumption on food, transportation, and telecommunication decreases the least.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS, UPWARD AND DOWNWARD MOBILITY: AN AXIOMATIC FRAMEWORK AND INCOME MOBILITY IN CHINA FROM 1989–2011
Authors: LIU LEZHENG , QIAO BAOYUN , WU XIAOYU , XU YONGSHENG
Published: January 2020

A society is composed of different socio-economic groups. At a given time, individuals in the society can be classified into different such groups. With the change of time, individuals can move across different groups. Social mobility is viewed as an aggregation of such individual movements across different socio-economic groups. We develop a simple analytic framework to discuss the issue of social mobility, and derive a class of measures for social mobility. A prominent member of this class is the Bartholomew measure that has often been used in applied work. We apply our framework and the theoretical results to the Chinese society by investigating its income mobility for the period between 1989 and 2011. We find an increasing trend in income mobility in 1990s and a drop in the middle and the late of 2000s. By decomposing total mobility into subgroups and into movements, we find that the lowest income group and one/two-step moves make the largest contribution in total mobility.
Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on Unsaturated Piecewise Non-linear Bistable Stochastic Resonance under Trichotomous Noise
Authors: Zhang Gang , Hu Dayun , Zhang Tianqi
Published: January 2020

The classical bistable stochastic resonance (CBSR) has the disadvantage of output saturation, which limits the enhancement capability for weak signal detection. To break the limitation of output saturation, a novel unsaturated piecewise non-linear bistable stochastic resonance (PNBSR) method is proposed. Because the trichotomous noise exists in practical engineering, the PNBSR under trichotomous noise is explored in this paper. The performance of PNBSR is evaluated by the index, i.e., the mean of [Formula: see text] times signal-to-noise ratio increase (MSNRI). The double-peak phenomenon of SR is observed under trichotomous noise. Experiments reveal that the proposed PNBSR method performs best on extracting characteristic components from a strong noise background, compared with the CBSR method and the traditional digital filter. Then, the PNBSR is applied to the fault diagnosis of rolling element bearings. The paper focuses on solving practical engineering problems with mathematical methods.
Si-corrole-based fluoride fluorometric turn-on sensor
Authors: Jaworska Ewa , Caroleo Fabrizio , Di Natale Corrado , Maksymiuk Krzysztof , Paolesse Roberto , Michalska Agata
Published: January 2020

We present here a new type of fluoride ion optode, constituted by a highly lipophilic PVDF porous membrane modified with a liquid receptor layer containing the emission-active Si corrole F[Formula: see text] selective ionophore. For the optimized composition of the receptor layer, in acidic solutions an increase of Si-corrole emission was observed by increasing fluoride ion concentration, a behavior different from most porphyrinoid-based optical sensors. An observed linear dependence of the Si corrole emission intensity (read at 635 nm) was within the range 10[Formula: see text] to 10[Formula: see text] M of fluoride ions.