bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The use of portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to measure apparent total tract digestibility in beef cattle and sheep
Authors: Hoffmann Carly A , Sarturi Jhones O , Weindorf David C , Henry Darren D , Ramirez- Ramirez Hugo A , Jackson Samuel , Ballou Michael A , Sandes Michael D , Bouyi Legrand
Published: February 2020

The use of portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry to detect external markers on processed or unprocessed cattle and sheep fecal specimens to estimate apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) was evaluated. Exp. 1: ruminally cannulated Angus-crossbred steers (n = 7; BW = 520 ± 30 kg) were individually fed ad libitum for 21 d in a completely randomized design (CRD). Markers (Cr2O3 and TiO2) were placed inside the rumen twice daily (7.5 g of each marker). Fecal samples were collected twice daily from day 14 to 21. Exp. 2: crossbred wethers (n = 8; BW = 68 ± 3 kg) were individually fed ad libitum for 21 d in a CRD. During this period, 2 g of Cr2O3 and TiO2 were top-dressed onto the feed twice daily. Sheep were housed in metabolism crates for 5 d for total fecal collection. Concentration of markers was determined on diets, refusals, and fecal specimens (fresh, dry-only, and dried/ground) using atomic absorption to detect Cr and spectrophotometry for Ti. Concentration of both markers was also determined via the PXRF spectrometer. Delta between ATTD estimated by wet chemistry and PXRF was not different from zero (P ≥ 0.14) when using cattle fresh fecal specimens for both markers, whereas ATTD estimated by PXRF with dry-only and dried/ground fecal specimens were 3.6 and 1.1 percent units lower (P ≤ 0.04), respectively, than ATTD estimated by wet chemistry for Cr and Ti, respectively. Regardless of the fecal sample preparation method on cattle specimens, Ti concentration was similar (P = 0.39) among methodologies, while Cr was underestimated (P < 0.01) by 13% when PXRF was used in dry-only or dried/ground samples. The ATTD of sheep was underestimated (P < 0.01) by 2.4 percent units compared with control when Cr was measured by PXRF in dry-only samples. The Cr concentration in dry-only fecal specimens of sheep tended (P = 0.09) to be lower compared with wet chemistry analysis. Fresh and dry/ground sheep fecal samples assessed for Cr, and dry-only assessed for Ti were not (P ≥ 0.49) affected by detection method. The Cr fecal recovery tended (P = 0.10) to be the lowest for dry-only, the greatest for wet chemistry, intermediate for fresh and dry/ground sheep-fecal specimens; while not affected (P = 0.40) for Ti. The PXRF is an accurate technology to detect Cr and Ti in fresh cattle fecal samples to estimate ATTD. For fresh and dry/ground, the technology was effective for determining the concentration of Cr, or dry-only fecal specimens when detecting Ti in sheep specimens.
Progressive matching optimisation method for FWI
Authors: Moura Francisco A , Silva Suzane A , de Araújo João M , Lucena Liacir S
Published: February 2020

To eliminate the dependency on a good initial model of the traditional full waveform inversion (FWI) method, we propose an optimisation method combining a derivative free optimisation method of modified particle swarm with gradient descent search. We worked with the acoustic wave approximation, in two dimensions, with the synthetic Marmousi velocity model as the test case. We were able to obtain a high-precision inversion of this model, comparable to traditional FWI methods, with the distinct advantage of not using an initial model close to the global optimal, as would usually be required. For this result, we used a progressive inversion scheme by consecutive layers, and a modified particle swarm optimisation algorithm where we introduced the gradient of the misfit function as a local search guide, and other regularization terms.
Building Coalitions Out of Thin Air: Transferable Development Rights and “Constituency Effects” in Land Use Law
Authors: Hills Roderick M , Schleicher David
Published: February 2020

Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) were supposed to be a solution to the intractable problems of land use, a bit of institutional design magic that married the interests of development and preservation at no cost to taxpayers and with no legal risk. Under a TDR program, development is limited or barred on properties targeted for preservation or other regulatory goals, but owners of those lots are allowed to sell their unused development rights to other property owners. In theory, this allows the same amount of development to occur while preserving favored uses without tax subsidies or constitutional challenges. Reviewing their use over the past fifty years, this Article shows that the traditional justifications for TDRs do not work. In practice, TDRs are not necessary to avoid takings litigation, are not costless to taxpayers, and do not balance the interests of preservation and development. Instead, they serve as yet another growth control in metropolitan areas where such controls have caused housing crises and major harms to the national economy. Assessed as a technocratic tool for solving problems in land use, TDRs are a failure.

But this Article shows that there is a case for TDRs not as a technocratic but rather as a political tool. By giving valuable development rights to some popular or otherwise politically influential owners of regulated property, a city can build a coalition for re-zonings that might otherwise be politically impossible. The effect of TDRs on politics can be positive to the extent that TDRs strengthen constituencies or land use goals that local politics systematically undercounts, as we show through an analysis of New York City’s Special District Transfer TDR program. In particular, TDRs could help break Not In My Back Yard opposition to new housing by building a competing pro-growth coalition.

More generally, using TDRs as an example, the Article shows how land use law is the creator as well as creature of local politics. Existing property law helps cement anti-development coalitions, but savvy leaders could use moments in power to create stable pro-growth coalitions by enacting new laws that help mobilize new pro-growth constituencies. Understanding these “constituency effects” of land use law allows policymakers to redesign entitlements like TDRs to produce a healthier land use policies.
Characterization of Microbial Communities in Ixodes persulcatus (Ixodida: Ixodidae), a Veterinary and Medical Important Tick Species in Northeastern China
Authors: Li Lian-Feng , Wei Ran , Liu Hong-Bo , Jiang Bao-Gui , Cui Xiao-Ming , Wei Wei , Yuan Ting-Ting , Wang Qian , Zhao Lin , Xia Luo-Yuan , Li Jie , Jiang Jia-Fu , Jia Na , Hu Yan-Ling
Published: February 2020

The importance of ticks in veterinary and medical science has received much attention. The dominant tick species in northeastern China, Ixodes persulcatus tick can transmit various pathogens to humans and animals and there are some studies on the microbiome composition of this tick. Our study characterized the bacterial communities in I. persulcatus by 16S amplicon pyrosequencing and described the differences of microorganisms in male and female tick and assessed the variation of microorganisms in the development stages in northeastern China. We mainly found the following bacteria genera: Pseudomonas (Pseudomonadales: Pseudomonadaceae), Citrobacter (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae), and Rickettsia (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae). Rickettsia is common and harmful pathogen transmitted by ticks. Meanwhile, we found there were differences between male and female tick of microbiomes, and the diversity of microbiome increased from engorged female ticks to eggs, but decreased when the eggs were molting into larvae. Our data showed that male ticks exhibited greater microbial diversity than female I. persulcatus tick and larvae presented with a different bacterial community compared to engorged female tick and hatched eggs. These findings may be useful for further understanding the interaction between I. persulcatus and microbiome biology.
Influence of Substrate Age and Interspecific Colonization on Oviposition Behavior of a Generalist Feeder, Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), on Carrion
Authors: Kotzé Zanthé , Tomberlin Jeffery K
Published: February 2020

Variation in resource utilization plays a significant role in determining the success or failure of a species. Generalist species across numerous taxa have exhibited success in feeding strategies for a variety of reasons. This study investigated the colonization and oviposition habits of a generalist carrion-feeder, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), to varying conditions of carrion decay and colonization. Oviposition treatments consisted of combinations of variably aged decaying rats, both uncolonized and colonized with a heterospecific carrion-feeder. The black soldier fly exhibited a greater preference for oviposition on aged carrion, regardless of carcass colonization status. However, when presented with the option to colonize a plant-based diet, there was a significantly greater (40.4%) oviposition response to this diet. Results of this study highlight the ability of the black soldier fly to colonize fresh or aged carrion with or without a primary colonizer present, further supporting the recognition of this species as a generalist. These data demonstrate potential inaccuracies in the utility of H. illucens as time of colonization indicator species for legal investigations, and, in some regard, can be considered an exploitative niche-specialist (i.e., relying on plant–carrion interface for immature development) when found in association with carrion.
Theory underpinning multislice simulations with plasmon energy losses
Authors: Mendis B G
Published: February 2020

The theoretical conditions for small-angle inelastic scattering where the incident electron can effectively be treated as a particle moving in a uniform potential is examined. The motivation for this work is the recent development of a multislice method that combines plasmon energy losses with elastic scattering using Monte Carlo methods. Since plasmon excitation is delocalized, it was assumed that the Bloch wave nature of the incident electron in the crystal does not affect the scattering cross-section. It is shown here that for a delocalized excitation the mixed dynamic form factor term of the scattering cross-section is zero and the scattered intensities follow a Poisson distribution. These features are characteristic of particle-like scattering and validate the use of Monte Carlo methods to model plasmon losses in multislice simulations.
Duodenal neuroendocrine tumour in a young patient with von Recklinghausen disease
Authors: Leite Cláudia , Constantino Júlio , Melo Pinto Daniela , Pinto José Carlos , Sá Milene , Pereira Jorge , Casimiro Carlos
Published: February 2020

Von Recklinghausen disease (neurofibromatosis type 1—NFT1) is a genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, caused by mutation of a tumour suppressor gene. Its main features include multiple cutaneous café-au-lait spots and neurofibromas. It is associated with an increased risk of developing neuroendocrine tumours, for instance, in the duodenum. The authors present a case of a 23-year-old male patient admitted to the emergency department due to persistent vomiting. Imaging and biopsy studies revealed an obstructive and large duodenal neuroendocrine tumour; hence the patient underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy.
A bael (Aegle marmelos) in rectum presenting with bowel obstruction in an elderly man
Authors: Singh Mahendra Pratap , Brahmachari Swagata , Dawar Anil , Arya Neha
Published: February 2020

A case of bowel obstruction resulting from bael fruit (Aegle marmelos) in the rectum is described in an Indian Hindu elderly man. To our knowledge, this is probably the first reported case with such a presentation in available literature. Dilemma at unsuspecting clinical history and finding of clinical examination and imaging evaluation made the case more interesting and challenging to manage. The case also highlights the need for awareness, education about prevailing unregulated practice of traditional herbal medical therapy leading to disastrous consequences.
Preoperative Opioid Use and Clinical Outcomes in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yerneni Ketan , Nichols Noah , Abecassis Zachary A , Karras Constantine L , Tan Lee A
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Prescription opioid use and opioid-related deaths have become an epidemic in the United States, leading to devastating economic and health ramifications. Opioids are the most commonly prescribed drug class to treat low back pain, despite the limited body of evidence supporting their efficacy. Furthermore, preoperative opioid use prior to spine surgery has been reported to range from 20% to over 70%, with nearly 20% of this population being opioid dependent.

OBJECTIVE

To review the medical literature on the effect of preoperative opioid use in outcomes in spine surgery.

METHODS

We reviewed manuscripts published prior to February 1, 2019, exploring the effect of preoperative opioid use on outcomes in spine surgery. We identified 45 articles that analyzed independently the effect of preoperative opioid use on outcomes (n = 32 lumbar surgery, n = 19 cervical surgery, n = 7 spinal deformity, n = 5 “other”).

RESULTS

Preoperative opioid use is overwhelmingly associated with negative surgical and functional outcomes, including postoperative opioid use, hospitalization duration, healthcare costs, risk of surgical revision, and several other negative outcomes.

CONCLUSION

There is an urgent and unmet need to find and apply extensive perioperative solutions to combat opioid use, particularly in patients undergoing spine surgery. Further investigations are necessary to determine the optimal method to treat such patients and to develop opioid-combative strategies in patients undergoing spine surgery.
Life Expectancy of Insured People With and Without Hepatitis C Virus Infection, 2007–2017
Authors: Marcus Julia L , Hurley Leo B , Chamberland Scott , Champsi Jamila H , Korn Daniel G , Lai Jennifer B , Lam Jennifer O , Quesenberry Charles P , Ready Joanna , Saxena Varun , Seo Suk I , Witt David J , Silverberg Michael J
Published: February 2020

Among 25 291 and 4 921 830 people with and without hepatitis C, life expectancy at age 20 increased 1.8 years and 0.3 years from the interferon to interferon-free era, respectively. Increases were highest for racial and/or ethnic minority groups with hepatitis C.
What’s Hot in HIV in 2019—A Basic and Translational Science Summary for Clinicians From IDWeek 2019
Authors: Titanji Boghuma , Kelley Colleen F
Published: February 2020

The field of HIV research is constantly evolving, and every year brings advances that draw us closer to ending the HIV epidemic. Here, we present a nonexhaustive overview of select notable studies in HIV prevention, cure, and treatment, published in the last year as presented at IDWeek 2019: What’s Hot in HIV Basic Science. The past year brought interesting results on the use of broadly neutralizing antibodies for treatment and prevention, gene-editing approaches to HIV cure, and new ways to measure the HIV reservoir. We also saw encouraging results on novel HIV vaccine delivery strategies and how these may influence effective immune responses. Lastly, in the area of inflammation, some mechanistic insights were made into the contribution of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and potential new targets to reduce HIV-associated chronic inflammation. The future from where we stand is bright for HIV research, with much more to look forward to in 2020.
An update on the epidemiology of ANCA-associated vasculitis
Authors: Mohammad Aladdin J
Published: February 2020

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) includes granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Epidemiological studies in AAV are important in understanding possible aetiologic mechanisms and facilitating healthcare planning. However, epidemiological studies present a number of challenges including clear definition of cases differentiated from other clinical disorders, and identification of cases due to the rarity of AAV. The aim of this review is to summarize different aspects on the epidemiology of ANCA-associated vasculitis from different geographical areas throughout the world. During the past three decades, development of classification criteria worldwide, including the ACR classification of 1990, the Chapel Hill consensus definitions updated in 2012 and the EMA algorithm has facilitated epidemiology studies in AAV. The available epidemiological studies reported in AAV suggest that incidence and prevalence may have increased over the past 30 years. Possible explanations for this increase may be a genuine increase in incidence, the evolution of classification criteria and the definition, and availability and wider use of ANCA serology to aid diagnosis, and greater physician awareness through education. The age-specific incidence for the whole group of AAV showed a clear increase with age. However, there has been a clear shift in the peak age at onset towards a higher age during the last 20–30 years. In addition, variation in incidence of AAV between men and women has been clearly evident in a number of epidemiological studies.
INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THYROID LOCATION ON IODINE-131 S VALUES
Authors: Yeom Yeon Soo , Villoing Daphnée , Greenstein Natasha , Kitahara Cari M , Folio Les R , Kim Chan Hyeong , Lee Choonsik
Published: February 2020

The use of iodine-131 S values based on reference computational phantoms with fixed thyroid model may lead to significant dosimetric errors in patients who may have different thyroid location from the reference phantoms. In the present study, we investigated individual thyroid location variation by examining the computed tomography image sets of 40 adult male and female patients. Subsequently, the thyroid location of the adult male and female mesh-type reference phantoms of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) was adjusted to match each the highest, mean and the lowest locations of the thyroid observed in this dataset. The thyroid-adjusted phantoms were implemented into the Geant4 Monte Carlo code to calculate thyroid location-dependent iodine-131 S values (rT ← thyroid) for a total of 30 target regions. The maximum variation among the observed thyroid locations was 39 mm and 36 mm for male and female patients, respectively. The mean thyroid locations of both male and female patients showed a good agreement with the ICRP reference phantoms. The thyroid location-dependent Iodine-131 S values were significantly different from the reference phantoms for most target regions by up to a factor of 3. The use of thyroid location-dependent S values in dose reconstructions should help quantify the dosimetric uncertainty in epidemiologic investigations of patients receiving iodine-131 therapy for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer.
Biochemical and molecular aspects of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis: a review
Authors: Venkatachalam Karthikkumar , Vinayagam Ramachandran , Arokia Vijaya Anand Mariadoss , Isa Nurulfiza Mat , Ponnaiyan Rajasekar
Published: February 2020

1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) is a member in the class of hydrazines, strong DNA alkylating agent, naturally present in cycads. DMH is widely used as a carcinogen to induce colon cancer in animal models. Exploration of DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis in rodent models provides the knowledge to perceive the biochemical, molecular, and histological mechanisms of different stages of colon carcinogenesis. The procarcinogen DMH, after a series of metabolic reactions, finally reaches the colon, there produces the ultimate carcinogen and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which further alkylate the DNA and initiate the development of colon carcinogenesis. The preneolpastic lesions and histopathological observations of DMH-induced colon tumors may provide typical understanding about the disease in rodents and humans. In addition, this review discusses about the action of biotransformation and antioxidant enzymes involved in DMH intoxication. This understanding is essential to accurately identify and interpret alterations that occur in the colonic mucosa when evaluating natural or pharmacological compounds in DMH-induced animal colon carcinogenesis.
Hydromorphone Unit Dose Affects Intraoperative Dosing
Authors: Ershoff Brent D. , Grogan Tristan , Hong Joe C. , Chia Pamela A. , Gabel Eilon , Cannesson Maxime
Published: February 2020

Background

Although clinical factors related to intraoperative opioid administration have been described, there is little research evaluating whether administration is influenced by drug formulation and, specifically, the unit dose of the drug. The authors hypothesized that the unit dose of hydromorphone is an independent determinant of the quantity of hydromorphone administered to patients intraoperatively.

Methods

This observational cohort study included 15,010 patients who received intraoperative hydromorphone as part of an anesthetic at the University of California, Los Angeles hospitals from February 2016 to March 2018. Before July 2017, hydromorphone was available as a 2-mg unit dose. From July 1, 2017 to November 20, 2017, hydromorphone was only available in a 1-mg unit dose. On November 21, 2017, hydromorphone was reintroduced in the 2-mg unit dose. An interrupted time series analysis was performed using segmented Poisson regression with two change-points, the first representing the switch from a 2-mg to 1-mg unit dose, and the second representing the reintroduction of the 2-mg dose.

Results

The 2-mg to 1-mg unit dose change was associated with a 49% relative decrease in the probability of receiving a hydromorphone dose greater than 1 mg (risk ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.40–0.66; P < 0.0001). The reintroduction of a 2-mg unit dose was associated with a 48% relative increase in the probability of administering a dose greater than 1 mg (risk ratio, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11–1.98; P = 0.008).

Conclusions

This observational study using an interrupted time series analysis demonstrates that unit dose of hydromorphone (2 mg vs. 1 mg) is an independent determinant of the quantity of hydromorphone administered to patients in the intraoperative period.

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Highlights from the International Society of Hypertension's New Investigators Network during 2019
Authors: Kruger Ruan , Brunström Mattias , Burger Dylan , Charchar Fadi , Climie Rachel , Mirabito Colafella Katrina M. , Kempny Pablo , Korostovtseva Lyudmila , Marques Francine Z. , Picone Dean , Romero Cesar , Steckelings Ulrike M. , Velkoska Elena , Wainford Richard , Wynne Brandi M. , Zanuzzi Matias G.
Published: February 2020

The New Investigators Committee (NIC) of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) is a dynamic group of junior doctors and scientists, actively involved in various society activities. This report highlights the events (scientific meetings and summer schools) and activities (social media, mentorship and networking) during 2019 including May Measurement Month and collaborative efforts with the ISH Women in Hypertension Research Committee (WiHRC). The ISH NIC is proud to sponsor awards for outstanding work by junior and emerging researchers at hypertension conferences and also provides opportunities to showcase their work on our social media features such as ‘Our Fellows Work’ and the New Investigator Spotlight of the month. In 2020, the ISH NIC aims to promote women in leadership roles and to foster strong collaborations with and between society committees and other scientific organizations.
Diagnosing Glaucoma With Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Using Deep Learning Classifier
Authors: Lee Jinho , Kim Young Kook , Park Ki Ho , Jeoung Jin Wook
Published: February 2020

Précis:

A spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) based deep learning system detected glaucomatous structural change with high sensitivity and specificity. It outperformed the clinical diagnostic parameters in discriminating glaucomatous eyes from healthy eyes.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of a deep learning classifier for the detection of glaucomatous change based on SD-OCT.

Methods:

Three hundred fifty image sets of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) SD-OCT for 86 glaucomatous eyes and 307 SD-OCT image sets of 196 healthy participants were recruited and split into training (197 eyes) and test (85 eyes) datasets based on a patient-wise split. The bottleneck features extracted from the GCIPL thickness map, GCIPL deviation map, RNFL thickness map, and RNFL deviation map were used as predictors for the deep learning classifier. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated and compared with those of conventional glaucoma diagnostic parameters including SD-OCT thickness profile and standard automated perimetry (SAP) to evaluate the accuracy of discrimination for each algorithm.

Results:

In the test dataset, this deep learning system achieved an AUC of 0.990 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.975-1.000] with a sensitivity of 94.7% and a specificity of 100.0%, which was significantly larger than the AUCs with all of the optical coherence tomography and SAP parameters: 0.949 (95% CI, 0.921-0.976) with average GCIPL thickness (P=0.006), 0.938 (95% CI, 0.905-0.971) with average RNFL thickness (P=0.003), and 0.889 (0.844-0.934) with mean deviation of SAP (P<0.001; DeLong test).

Conclusion:

An SD-OCT-based deep learning system can detect glaucomatous structural change with high sensitivity and specificity.
Modified CO2 Laser-assisted Sclerectomy Surgery in Chinese Patients With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma: A 2-Year Follow-up Study
Authors: Zhang Yang , Cheng Gangwei
Published: February 2020

Precis:

A modified CO2 laser-assisted sclerectomy surgery (CLASS) based on the characteristics of Chinese eyeball was carried out in Chinese patient and was confirmed to be effective and safe during long-term follow-up.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to study the long-term efficacy and safety of modified CLASS in Chinese patients with primary open-angle and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.

Methods:

We enrolled 25 medically uncontrolled primary open-angle and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma patients in this prospective, interventional case series. A combination of modified CLASS and preoperative laser iris management was administered to 29 eyes. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), slit-lamp examinations, visual field, and gonioscopy were carried out at baseline and until 24 months postoperatively. Ultrasound biomicroscopy examinations were repeated at 3, 12, and 24 months postsurgically.

Results:

Mean patient age was 53.92±12.08 years. Mean preoperative IOP was 30.66±10.41 mm Hg; and mean postoperative IOP was 8.17±3.76, and 13.25±2.73, 13.76±2.50, and 13.76±2.50 mm Hg at 1 day, and 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Proportional changes in IOP from baseline at 6, 12, and 24 months was 58.33%, 56.25%, and 58.97% (P<0.001), respectively. Complete postoperative success rates at 12 and 24 months were 62.07% and 48.28%. Qualified success rates at 12 and 24 months postoperatively were both 89.66%. Number of medications administered per patient reduced from 3 at baseline to 0 at 12 and 24 months (P<0.0001). Two patients demonstrated severe peripheral anterior synechiae (6.90%). Ultrasound biomicroscopy examination revealed a severe scleral lake diminution in 1 patient (3.40%) at 12 months and 2 patients (6.90%) at 24 months.

Conclusion:

Combination of modified CLASS and preventive laser iris management was effective and safe in the long-term treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma patients.
Can Cognitive Remediation in Groups Prevent Relapses?
Authors: Mueller Daniel R. , Khalesi Zahra , Roder Volker
Published: February 2020

International guidelines define relapse prevention for schizophrenia patients as a key therapeutic aim. However, approximately 80% to 90% of schizophrenia patients experience further symptom exacerbation after the first episode. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether group integrated neurocognitive therapy (INT), a cognitive remediation approach, reduces relapse rates in schizophrenia outpatients. INT was compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in a randomized controlled trial. Fifty-eight stabilized outpatients participated in the study with 32 allocated to the INT group and 26 to the TAU group. A test battery was used at baseline, posttreatment at 15 weeks, and a 1-year follow-up. Relapse rates were significantly lower in the INT condition compared with TAU during therapy as well as at follow-up. The relapse rate after therapy was associated with significant reductions in negative and general symptoms, improvements in functional outcome, and overall cognition. Out of these variables, negative symptoms were identified to show the strongest association with relapses after therapy. The primary outcome of this study suggests that INT can prevent relapses in schizophrenia outpatients.
Microbacterium protaetiae sp. nov., isolated from gut of larva of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis
Authors: Heo Jun , Cho Hayoung , Kim Mi Ae , Hamada Moriyuki , Tamura Tomohiko , Saitou Satomi , Kim Soo-Jin Kim , Kwon Soon-Wo
Published: February 2020

A Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, polar flagellated, short rod-shaped bacterium, designated DFW100M-13T, was isolated from gut of the larva of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis collected from Wanju-gun, South Korea. The growth range of NaCl concentration was 0–3 % (w/v) (optimally 0 % (w/v)), the temperature range for growth was 10–40 °C (optimally 28–30 °C), and the pH range for growth was pH 6.0–9.0 (optimally pH 7.0–8.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain DFW100M-13T had a high sequence similarity to members of the genus

Microbacterium

, having the highest similarity with

Microbacterium luticocti

DSM 19459T (97.7 %),

Microbacterium rhizosphaerae

CHO1T (97.1 %), and

Microbacterium immunditiarum

SK 18T (97.0 %), and formed a distinct lineage with

Microbacterium luticocti

DSM 19459T within the genus

Microbacterium

. A phylogenetic tree based on house-keeping genes also showed the result similar to the 16S rRNA gene-based tree. The main respiratory quinone (>10 %) was MK-11, MK-12 and MK-10, and the predominant cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipids were composed of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an inidentified glycolipid and an unidnetified lipid. The peptidoglycan type was supposed to be the B2ß with amino acids d-alanine, d-glutamic acid, glycine, l-homoserine and d-ornithine. The genomic DNA G+C content was 68.0 mol%. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, strain DFW100M-13T is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Microbacterium protaetiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DFW100M-13T (=KACC 19323T=NBRC 113120T).
RiboTag-Seq Reveals a Compensatory cAMP Responsive Gene Network in Striatal Microglia Induced by Morphine Withdrawal
Authors: Coffey Kevin R. , Lesiak Atom J. , Marx Russell G. , Vo Emily K. , Garden Gwenn A. , Neumaier John F.
Published: February 2020

Microglia have recently been implicated in dependence to opioids. To investigate this directly, we used RNA sequencing of ribosome associated RNAs from striatal microglia (RiboTag-Seq) after the induction of morphine tolerance and then the precipitation of withdrawal by naloxone. We detected large, inverse changes in RNA translation following opioid tolerance and withdrawal, and bioinformatics analysis revealed an intriguing upregulation of cAMP-associated genes that are involved in microglial motility, morphology, and interactions with neurons. Three-dimensional histological reconstruction of microglia revealed changes in process branching and termination following opioid tolerance that were rapidly reversed during withdrawal and were consistent with cAMP effects on microglia morphology. Direct activation of Gi-coupled DREADD receptors in microglia, rather than mimicking the effects of morphine, exacerbated opioid withdrawal. Together these indicate that microglial response to cAMP signaling can mitigate the rapid manifestations of opioid withdrawal.
Forest decline differentially affects trophic guilds of canopy-dwelling beetles
Authors: Sallé Aurélien , Parmain Guilhem , Nusillard Benoît , Pineau Xavier , Brousse Ravène , Fontaine-Guenel Tiphanie , Ledet Romain , Vincent-Barbaroux Cécile , Bouget Christophe
Published: February 2020

Context

Decline in a context of climate change is expected to induce considerable changes in forest structure, potentially affecting habitat opportunities and trophic resources for numerous species. Nonetheless, the consequences of decline on forest biodiversity have rarely been studied.

Aim

We aimed to characterize the impact of oak decline on different guilds of canopy-dwelling beetles.

Methods

Beetles were sampled for three consecutive years in oak stands exhibiting different levels of decline. Several guilds were considered: (i) Buprestidae, (ii) other saproxylic beetles split into wood-boring species and non-wood-boring species, (iii) seed-eating weevils, and (iv) specialist and generalist leaf-eating weevils.

Results

Overall, decline had positive effects on the abundance and biomass of beetles, though contrasting variations were observed at the species or guild levels. Xylophagous species, especially the main oak-associated buprestids, and other saproxylic species benefitted from decline conditions. However, at odds with the insect performance hypothesis, decline had a positive effect on generalist phyllophagous species, a negative effect on specialist phyllophagous species, and a null effect on seminiphagous species.

Conclusion

The increase in species richness for saproxylic and phyllophagous beetle communities suggests that decline might promote forest biodiversity. Our results call for further studies to thoroughly assess the functional outcomes of forest decline, and to suggest management strategies for conservation biologists.

Key message

Decline can affect the structure, resources and microclimates of the forest canopy, and potentially have cascading effects on canopy-dwelling species. Our survey shows that an oak decline can promote saproxylic beetles, especially xylophagous ones, and generalist phyllophagous weevils. However, it negatively affects specialist phyllophagous species and has no effect on seminiphagous weevils.
Cell Atlas of the Human Fovea and Peripheral Retina
Authors: Yan Wenjun , Peng Yi-Rong , van Zyl Tavé , Regev Aviv , Shekhar Karthik , Juric Dejan , Sanes Joshua R
Published: February 2020

Most irreversible blindness results from retinal disease. To advance our understanding of the etiology of blinding diseases, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze the transcriptomes of ∼85,000 cells from the fovea and peripheral retina of seven adult human donors. Utilizing computational methods, we identified 58 cell types within 6 classes: photoreceptor, horizontal, bipolar, amacrine, retinal ganglion and non-neuronal cells. Nearly all types are shared between the two retinal regions, but there are notable differences in gene expression and proportions between foveal and peripheral cohorts of shared types. We then used the human retinal atlas to map expression of 636 genes implicated as causes of or risk factors for blinding diseases. Many are expressed in striking cell class-, type-, or region-specific patterns. Finally, we compared gene expression signatures of cell types between human and the cynomolgus macaque monkey,Macaca fascicularis. We show that over 90% of human types correspond transcriptomically to those previously identified in macaque, and that expression of disease-related genes is largely conserved between the two species. These results validate the use of the macaque for modeling blinding disease, and provide a foundation for investigating molecular mechanisms underlying visual processing.
Statistics based predictions of coronavirus 2019-nCoV spreading in mainland China
Authors: Nesteruk Igor
Published: February 2020

Background

The epidemic outbreak cased by coronavirus 2019-nCoV is of great interest to researches because of the high rate of spread of the infection and the significant number of fatalities. A detailed scientific analysis of the phenomenon is yet to come, but the public is already interested in the questions of the duration of the epidemic, the expected number of patients and deaths. For long time predictions, the complicated mathematical models are necessary which need many efforts for unknown parameters identification and calculations. In this article, some preliminary estimates will be presented.

Objective

Since the reliable long time data are available only for mainland China, we will try to predict the epidemic characteristics only in this area. We will estimate some of the epidemic characteristics and present the most reliable dependences for victim numbers, infected and removed persons versus time.

Methods

In this study we use the known SIR model for the dynamics of an epidemic, the known exact solution of the linear equations and statistical approach developed before for investigation of the children disease, which occurred in Chernivtsi (Ukraine) in 1988-1989.

Results

The optimal values of the SIR model parameters were identified with the use of statistical approach. The numbers of infected, susceptible and removed persons versus time were predicted.

Conclusions

Simple mathematical model was used to predict the characteristics of the epidemic caused by coronavirus 2019-nCoV in mainland China. The further research should focus on updating the predictions with the use of fresh data and using more complicated mathematical models.
Distinct striatal subregions and corticostriatal connectivity for effort, action and reward
Authors: Suzuki Shosuke , Lawlor Victoria M. , Cooper Jessica A. , Arulpragasam Amanda R. , Treadway Michael T.
Published: February 2020

The ventral striatum is believed to encode the subjective value of cost/benefit options; however, this effect has strikingly been absent during choices that involve physical effort. Prior work in freely-moving animals has revealed opposing striatal signals, with greater response to increasing effort demands and reduced responses to rewards requiring effort. Yet, the relationship between these conflicting signals remains unknown. Using fMRI with a naturalistic, effort-based navigation paradigm, we identified functionally-segregated regions within ventral striatum that separately encoded action, effort, and discounting of rewards by effort. Strikingly, these sub-regions mirrored results from a large-sample connectivity-based parcellation of the striatum. Moreover, individual differences in striatal effort activation and effort discounting signals predicted striatal responses to effort-related choices during an independent fMRI task. Taken together, our results suggest that a dorsomedial region primarily associated with action may instead represent the effort cost of actions, and raises fundamental questions regarding the interpretation of striatal “reward” signals in the context of effort demands.
Human papillomavirus integration transforms chromatin to drive oncogenesis
Authors: Karimzadeh Mehran , Arlidge Christopher , Rostami Ariana , Lupien Mathieu , Bratman Scott V. , Hoffman Michael M.
Published: February 2020

Human papillomavirus (HPV) drives almost all cervical cancers and up to ∼70% of head and neck cancers. Frequent integration into the host genome occurs only for tumourigenic strains of HPV. We hypothesized that changes in the epigenome and transcriptome contribute to the tumourigenicity of HPV. We found that viral integration events often occurred along with changes in chromatin state and expression of genes near the integration site. We investigated whether introduction of new transcription factor binding sites due to HPV integration could invoke these changes. Some regions within the HPV genome, particularly the position of a conserved CTCF binding site, showed enriched chromatin accessibility signal. ChIP-seq revealed that the conserved CTCF binding site within the HPV genome bound CTCF in 4 HPV+cancer cell lines. Significant changes in CTCF binding pattern and increases in chromatin accessibility occurred exclusively within 100 kbp of HPV integration sites. The chromatin changes co-occurred with out-sized changes in transcription and alternative splicing of local genes. We analyzed the essentiality of genes upregulated around HPV integration sites of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HPV+tumours. HPV integration upregulated genes which had significantly higher essentiality scores compared to randomly selected upregulated genes from the same tumours. Our results suggest that introduction of a new CTCF binding site due to HPV integration reorganizes chromatin and upregulates genes essential for tumour viability in some HPV+tumours. These findings emphasize a newly recognized role of HPV integration in oncogenesis.
Structure and function of yeast Lso2 and human CCDC124 bound to hibernating ribosomes
Authors: Wells Jennifer N. , Buschauer Robert , Mackens-Kiani Timur , Best Katharina , Kratzat Hanna , Berninghausen Otto , Becker Thomas , Gilbert Wendy , Cheng Jingdong , Beckmann Roland
Published: February 2020

Cells adjust to nutrient deprivation by reversible translational shut down. This is accompanied by maintaining inactive ribosomes in a hibernation state, where they are bound by proteins with inhibitory and protective functions. In eukaryotes, such a function was attributed to Stm1 (SERBP1 in mammals), and recently Lso2 (CCDC124 in mammals) was found to be involved in translational recovery after starvation from stationary phase. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of translationally inactive yeast and human ribosomes. We found Lso2/CCDC124 accumulating on idle ribosomes in the non-unrotated state, in contrast to Stm1/SERBP1-bound ribosomes, which display a rotated state. Lso2/CCDC124 bridges the decoding sites of the small with the GTPase-activating center of the large subunit. This position allows accommodation of the Dom34-dependent ribosome recycling system, which splits Lso2-containing but not Stm1-containing ribosomes. We propose a model in which Lso2 facilitates rapid translation reactivation by stabilizing the recycling-competent state of inactive ribosomes.
Myosin 18Aα targets guanine nucleotide exchange factor β-Pix to dendritic spines of cerebellar Purkinje neurons to promote spine maturation
Authors: Alexander Christopher J. , Barzik Melanie , Fujiwara Ikuko , Remmert Kirsten , Wang Ya-Xian , Petralia Ronald S. , Friedman Thomas B. , Hammer John A.
Published: February 2020

Dendritic spines are signaling microcompartments that serve as the primary site of synapse formation in neurons. Actin assembly and myosin 2 contractility play major roles in the maturation of spines from filopodial precursors, as well as in the subsequent, activity-dependent changes in spine morphology that underly learning and memory. Myosin 18A is a myosin 2-like protein conserved from flies to man that lacks motor activity, is sub-stochiometric to myosin 2, and co-assembles with myosin 2 to make mixed filaments. Myosin 18A is alternatively spliced to create multiple isoforms that contain unique N- and C-terminal extensions harboring both recognizable and uncharacterized protein: protein interaction domains. These observations suggest that myosin 18A serves to recruit proteins to mixed filaments of myosin 2 and myosin 18A. One protein known to bind to myosin 18A is β-Pix, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rac1 and Cdc42. Notably, β-Pix has been shown to promote spine maturation by activating both Arp2/3 complex-dependent branched actin filament assembly and myosin 2 contractility within spines. Here we show that myosin 18Aα is expressed in cerebellar Purkinje neurons and concentrates in spines along with myosin 2 and F-actin. Myosin 18Aα is targeted to spines by co-assembling with myosin 2 and by an actin binding site present in its N-terminal extension. miRNA-mediated knockdown of myosin 18Aα results in a significant defect in spine maturation that is rescued by an RNAi-immune version of myosin 18Aα. Importantly, β-Pix co-localizes with myosin 18Aα in spines, and its spine localization is lost upon myosin 18Aα knockdown or when its myosin 18Aα binding site is deleted. Finally, we show that the spines of myosin 18Aα knockdown Purkinje neurons contain significantly less F-actin and myosin 2. Together, these data demonstrate that mixed filaments of myosin 2 and myosin 18Aα form a complex with β-Pix in Purkinje neuron spines that promotes spine maturation by enhancing the assembly of actin and myosin filaments downstream of β-Pix’s GEF activity.
DEG/ENaC/ASIC channels vary in their sensitivity to anti-hypertensive and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Authors: Fechner S. , D’Alessandro I. , Wang L. , Tower C. , Tao L. , Goodman M.B.
Published: February 2020

The degenerin channels, epithelial sodium channels, and acid-sensing ion channels (DEG/ENaC/ASICs) play important roles in sensing mechanical stimuli, regulating salt homeostasis, and responding to acidification in the nervous system. They have two transmembrane domains separated by a large extracellular domain and are believed to assemble as homomeric or heteromeric trimers. Based on studies of selected family members, these channels are assumed to form non-voltage gated and sodium-selective channels sensitive to the anti-hypertensive drug, amiloride. They are also emerging as a target of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).C. eleganshas more than two dozen genes encoding DEG/ENaC/ASIC subunits, providing an excellent opportunity to examine variations in drug sensitivity. Here, we analyze a subset of theC. elegansDEG/ENaC/ASIC proteins to test the hypothesis that individual family members vary not only in their ability to form homomeric channels, but also in their drug sensitivity. We selected fiveC. elegansDEG/ENaC/ASICs (DEGT-1, DEL-1, UNC-8, MEC-10 and MEC-4) that are co-expressed in mechanosensory neurons and expressed gain-of-function‘d’mutant isoforms inXenopus laevisoocytes. We found that only DEGT-1d, UNC-8d, and MEC-4d formed homomeric channels and that, unlike MEC-4d and UNC-8d, DEGT-1d channels were insensitive to amiloride and its analogs. As reported for rat ASIC1a, NSAIDs inhibit DEGT-1d and UNC-8d channels. Unexpectedly, MEC-4d was strongly potentiated by NSAIDs, an effect that was decreased by mutations in the putative NSAID binding site in the extracellular domain. Collectively, these findings reveal that not all DEG/ENaC/ASIC channels are amiloride-sensitive and that NSAIDs can both inhibit and potentiate these channels.

Animal physiology depends on degenerin, epithelial sodium, and acid-sensing ion channels (DEG/ENaC/ASICs). By measuring the sensitivity of threeC. elegansDEG/ENaC/ASICs to five amiloride analogs and five NSAIDs, we show that individual channels have distinct pharmacological footprints.