bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retirement status and frailty: a cross-sectional study of the phenotype of manual workers aged 50–70 years
Authors: Norheim Kristoffer L , Bøggild Henrik , Andersen Johan Hviid , Omland Øyvind , Bønløkke Jakob H , Madeleine Pascal
Published: September 2020

Background

The frailty phenotype is predictive of mortality and has been identified in the working population. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of frailty and individual frailty symptoms among active and retired Danish manual workers and to delineate the relationship between frailty and lifestyle factors.

Methods

Manual workers aged 50–70 years answered questions relating to the Fried criteria for frailty (weight loss, exhaustion, slowness, weakness and inactivity). Only men were included in the analyses and respondents were stratified according to work status: active workers (n = 1555), early retirees (n = 289) and workers retired at or after normal pension age (n = 291). Associations between pre-frailty/frailty, work status and various lifestyle factors were estimated using binomial logistic regression.

Results

Overall, the prevalence of pre-frailty (one or two symptoms) and frailty (three or more symptoms) was 33.3% and 1.5%, respectively. Those who had retired early were more likely to be pre-frail/frail compared with active workers (odds ratio 2.20, 95% CI 1.61–3.01). Exhaustion was the most prominent symptom reported by 22.2% of active workers, 34.6% of early retirees and 16.5% of workers retired at normal retirement age. Lifestyle factors including obesity, physical inactivity and smoking but not alcohol intake were associated with pre-frailty/frailty.

Conclusion

Symptoms of frailty are identifiable and present among both active and retired manual workers. Data suggest discrepancies among Danish manual workers, with some having unhealthy lifestyles and being more prone to develop pre-frailty and frailty already in their sixth decade of life.
Bacterial cell proliferation: from molecules to cells
Authors: Meunier Alix , Cornet François , Campos Manuel
Published: September 2020

Bacterial cell proliferation is highly efficient, both because bacteria grow fast and multiply with a low failure rate. This efficiency is underpinned by the robustness of the cell cycle and its synchronization with cell growth and cytokinesis. Recent advances in bacterial cell biology brought about by single-cell physiology in microfluidic chambers suggest a series of simple phenomenological models at the cellular scale, coupling cell size and growth with the cell cycle. We contrast the apparent simplicity of these mechanisms based on the addition of a constant size between cell cycle events (e.g. two consecutive initiation of DNA replication or cell division) with the complexity of the underlying regulatory networks. Beyond the paradigm of cell cycle checkpoints, the coordination between the DNA and division cycles and cell growth is largely mediated by a wealth of other mechanisms. We propose our perspective on these mechanisms, through the prism of the known crosstalk between DNA replication and segregation, cell division and cell growth or size. We argue that the precise knowledge of these molecular mechanisms is critical to integrate the diverse layers of controls at different time and space scales into synthetic and verifiable models.
Organizational Factors Associated With Retention of Direct Care Workers: A Comparison of Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
Authors: Kennedy Katherine A , Applebaum Robert , Bowblis John R , Straker Jane K
Published: September 2020

Background and Objectives

Low retention of direct care workers (DCWs), either certified nursing assistants in nursing homes (NHs) or personal care assistants in assisted living (AL), continues to be an unresolved problem. While numerous studies have examined predictors of DCW retention in NHs, little attention has been paid to differences between settings of long-term care. This study compares the predictors of DCW retention rates across both settings.

Research Design and Methods

The 2017 Ohio Biennial Survey of Long-Term Care Facilities provides facility-level information from NHs and ALs (NHs = 739; ALs = 465). We compare the factors that predict retention rates of DCWs utilizing regression analysis. The factors are structural, financial, resident conditions, staffing, and management characteristics, as well as retention strategies.

Results

Average DCW retention rates were 66% and 61% in ALs and NHs, respectively. Not-for-profit status was significantly associated with higher retention rates across settings. While the percent of residents with dementia and less administrator turnover were associated with significantly higher DCW retention in NHs, these were not significant for ALs. However, in the AL context, a higher county unemployment rate and DCWs’ participation in resident care planning meetings were positively related to DCW retention after controlling for all other covariates, while DCW cross-training was negatively associated.

Discussion and Implications

Retention strategies for DCWs may need to differ by setting, as a result of differing working environments, resources, and regulations.
Learning about Politics from Mass Media and Social Media: Moderating Roles of Press Freedom and Public Service Broadcasting in 11 Countries
Authors: Park Chang Sup , Gil de Zúñiga Homero
Published: September 2020

To examine whether mass media and social media relate to political knowledge, the study draws upon an original survey of adults from 11 countries, the 2014 CESifo DICE Report on public service broadcasting, and the 2015 Press Freedom Index by Freedom House. Findings reveal that news use via television, newspapers, online news sites, and social media is positively associated with political knowledge. Furthermore, press freedom and strong public broadcasting strengthen the association between news use (via both mass and social media) and political knowledge. The findings suggest that the media system plays a crucial role in creating a political learning environment even in this social media age.
Upregulation of circ_0000142 promotes multiple myeloma progression by adsorbing miR-610 and upregulating AKT3 expression
Authors: Liu Fang , Wang Yan-Li , Wei Jie-Mei , Huang Zhao-Dong
Published: September 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important regulatory role in a variety of malignancies. Nevertheless, the role of circ_0000142 in multiple myeloma (MM) and its regulatory mechanism remains largely unknown. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect the expressions of circ_0000142 and miR-610 in MM tissues and cell lines. The expression of AKT3 and apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax) in MM cells was detected by western blot. The correlation between the expression level of circ_0000142 and the clinicopathological parameters of MM patients was analysed. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were monitored by Cell Counting Kit 8 assay, flow cytometry analysis and Transwell assay, respectively. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were employed to verify the targeting relationship between circ_0000142 and miR-610. In this study, it was demonstrated that, circ_0000142 was highly expressed in MM patients, and its high expression level was significantly associated with increased International Staging System and Durie–Salmon stage. Overexpression of circ_0000142 enhanced MM cell proliferation, migration, invasion and suppressed cell apoptosis, while knocking down circ_0000142 had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, circ_0000142 functioned as a competitive endogenous RNA, directly targeting miR-610 and positively regulating AKT3 expression. In brief, circ_0000142 enhances the proliferation and metastasis of MM cells by modulating the miR-610/AKT3 axis.
Comparison of ameliorative effects ofTaraxacum syriacumand N-acetylcysteine against acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress in rat liver and kidney
Authors: Eshrati Reza , Jafari Mahvash , Gudarzi Saeed , Nazari Afshen , Samizadeh Esmaeil , Ghafourian Hesami Maria
Published: September 2020

Taraxacum syriacum (TS) with natural antioxidant and pharmacological activities may be considered for treatment of oxidative stress induced by acetaminophen (APAP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the ameliorative effects of the ethanol extract of TS root against hepatorenal toxicity induced by APAP in comparison to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a standard drug. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Control group; APAP (1 g/kg) group; APAP–NAC (160 mg/kg) group and APAP-TS100 and APAP-TS200 groups: APAP plus 100 and 200 mg/kg of TS extract, respectively. After 7 days treatment, serum and liver and kidney tissues were prepared and evaluated. TS extract ameliorated the increased lipid peroxidation level and decreased antioxidant enzymes activities and glutathione level in liver and kidney of APAP-treated rats. Moreover, treatment with the TS extract caused significant reduction in the histopathological damages and high levels of serum biochemical markers of hepatic and renal functions after APAP treatment. This study suggests that the extract of TS roots has dose-dependent ameliorative effect against APAP-induced oxidative damage in liver and kidney due to its free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties. The overall efficacy of the extract at 200 mg/kg dose is comparable with NAC.
Effects of Carnosine, Ankaferd, and Silver Sulfadiazine on an Experimental Burn Model: Roles of Irisin and HSP70
Authors: Kocaman Nevin , Altun Serdar , Bal Ali , Ozcan Erhan Cahit , Sarac Mehmet , Artas Gokhan , Demir Betul , Aydin Suleyman , Kuloglu Tuncay
Published: September 2020

In this study, the effects of carnosine, ankaferd, and 1% silver sulfadiazine applied topically on second-degree burns were investigated and the roles of irisin and Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in this healing process were evaluated. Ninety male albino rats were used and divided into five groups. The groups were classified as control, burn, burn + carnosine (CAR), burn + ankaferd (ABS), and burn + silver sulfadiazine (SS). It was found that level of irisin increased in the first week and decreased in the second week in the burn and CAR groups. In the ABS and SS groups, the level of irisin was determined that started to increase in the first week and continued to increase in the second week. The level of HSP70 was found to increased in the first week in burn and CAR groups and decreased in the second week, but started to increase in the second week in ABS and SS groups. Both levels of irisin and HSP70 were observed to decreased in all treatment groups in the third week. In this study, it was shown that ankaferd and silver sülfadiazine treatments cause an increase in the irisin levels in the early period and a gradually increase in HSP70 levels in the later period in burns. The inflammatory response was observed to be limited in the early period in the ankaferd and sulfadiazin groups. It was concluded that these findings were effective in early wound healing in burns.
A Longitudinal Assessment of Parenting Stress in Parents of Children with New-Onset Epilepsy
Authors: Bakula Dana M , Wetter Sara E , Peugh James L , Modi Avani C
Published: September 2020

Objective

Parents of children with newly diagnosed epilepsy may experience elevated parenting stress. The present study examined trajectories of parenting stress over time and identified modifiable predictors of these trajectories.

Methods

Parents of youth with epilepsy (N = 102; 2–12 years old) completed questionnaires 1, 4, 13, 19, and 25-months post-diagnosis, including measures of parenting stress, family functioning, child psychosocial functioning, sociodemographics, and perceived stigma. Latent growth curve models (LGCM) were used to examine domains of parenting stress over time.

Results

At baseline, 25–48% of parents reported elevated parenting stress. LGCMs revealed that the parent and child domains of parenting stress were generally stable across time. However, life stress was more variable across time, and parents with higher initial life stress had a greater reduction in life stress over time. Socioeconomic status was identified as a non-modifiable predictor of life stress. Family functioning was associated with greater parenting stress in the parent domain. Child psychosocial functioning was associated with greater parenting stress in the parent and child domains.

Conclusions

Parenting stress was elevated for a subset of families and appeared to be relatively stable over time, with the exception of life stress, which was more variable. With early screening, child factors and parent appraisals of epilepsy may be valuable targets for clinical intervention with families of children with epilepsy.
An evolutionary population structure model reveals pleiotropic effects ofGmPDATfor traits related to seed size and oil content in soybean
Authors: Liu Jin-Yang , Zhang Ya-Wen , Han Xu , Zuo Jian-Fang , Zhang Zhibin , Shang Haihong , Song Qijian , Zhang Yuan-Ming
Published: September 2020

Seed oil traits in soybean that are of benefit to human nutrition and health have been selected for during crop domestication. However, these domesticated traits have significant differences across various evolutionary types. In this study, we found that the integration of evolutionary population structure (evolutionary types) with genome-wide association studies increased the power of gene detection, and it identified one locus for traits related to seed size and oil content on chromosome 13. This domestication locus, together with another one in a 200-kb region, was confirmed by the GEMMA and EMMAX software. The candidate gene, GmPDAT, had higher expressional levels in high-oil and large-seed accessions than in low-oil and small-seed accessions. Overexpression lines had increased seed size and oil content, whereas RNAi lines had decreased seed size and oil content. The molecular mechanism of GmPDAT was deduced based on results from linkage analysis for triacylglycerols and on histocytological comparisons of transgenic soybean seeds. Our results illustrate a new approach for identifying domestication genes with pleiotropic effects.
Trimester-Specific Reference Intervals of Serum Urea, Creatinine, and Uric Acid Among Healthy Pregnant Women in Zhengzhou, China
Authors: Gao Yuhua , Jia Jia , Liu Xianan , Guo Shuren , Ming Liang
Published: September 2020

Objective

To verify the differences in serum levels of urea, creatinine, and uric acid (UA) between pregnant and nonpregnant women and establish specific reference intervals of serum urea, creatinine, and UA for pregnant women, and thus help for the detection of kidney disease in pregnancy.

Methods

Based on the selection criteria, 1312 apparently healthy pregnant women and 1301 nonpregnant women were enrolled in this study. The levels of serum urea, creatinine, and UA were compared between the pregnant and nonpregnant women. The differences in the 3 indicators among different age groups and trimesters in pregnant women were studied. Finally, reference intervals were established by nonparametric methods according to the recommendation of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guideline C28-A3.

Results

Compared with nonpregnant women, pregnant women had a significantly lower level of serum urea, creatinine, and UA (all P <.01), and no significant age-related differences in the 3 indicators were observed among the pregnant women (P >.05). However, the levels of these indicators were significantly different among the 3 trimesters (all P <.01 or P =.01). Accordingly, trimester-specific reference intervals of serum urea (1.6–4.4 mmol/L; 1.6–4.2 mmol/L; 1.6–4.4 mmol/L), creatinine (36–68 μmol/L; 34–66 μmol/L; 36–68 μmol/L), and UA (122–297 μmol/L; 129–327 μmol/L; 147–376 μmol/L) for trimesters 1, 2, and 3, respectively, were established.

Conclusion

These newly established reference intervals will be valuable for the detection and monitoring of kidney disease in pregnancy.
Migration and ‘pull factor’ traps
Authors: Garelli Glenda , Tazzioli Martina
Published: September 2020

This article engages with the centrality that the push–pull theory regained in the context of border deaths in the Mediterranean Sea and particularly as part of the debate against the criminalization of nongovernment organizations (NGOs’) rescue missions at sea. The article opens by illustrating the context in which the push–pull theory re-emerged—after having been part of migration studies’ history books for over a decade—as part of an effort to defend non-state actors engaged in rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea against an aggressive campaign of illegalilzation conducted by European states. We then take a step back to trace the history of the push–pull theory and its role as a foil for critical migration studies in the past 20 years. Building on this history, the article then turns to interrogating the epistemic and political outcomes that result from bringing evidence against the NGOs’ role as pull factors for migrants. The article closes by advocating for a transformative, rather than evidencing, role of critical knowledge in the current political context where migrants and actors who fight against border deaths are increasingly criminalized.
A novel approach to visibility-space modelling of interferometric gravitational lens observations at high angular resolution
Authors: Powell Devon , Vegetti Simona , McKean John P , Spingola Cristiana , Rizzo Francesca , Stacey Hannah R
Published: September 2020

We present a new gravitational lens modelling technique designed to model high-resolution interferometric observations with large numbers of visibilities without the need to pre-average the data in time or frequency. We demonstrate the accuracy of the method using validation tests on mock observations. Using small data sets with ∼103 visibilities, we first compare our approach with the more traditional direct Fourier transform (DFT) implementation and direct linear solver. Our tests indicate that our source inversion is indistinguishable from that of the DFT. Our method also infers lens parameters to within 1 to 2 per cent of both the ground truth and DFT, given sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). When the SNR is as low as 5, both approaches lead to errors of several tens of per cent in the lens parameters and a severely disrupted source structure, indicating that this is related to the SNR and choice of priors rather than the modelling technique itself. We then analyse a large data set with ∼108 visibilities and a SNR matching real global Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations of the gravitational lens system MG J0751+2716. The size of the data is such that it cannot be modelled with traditional implementations. Using our novel technique, we find that we can infer the lens parameters and the source brightness distribution, respectively, with an RMS error of 0.25 and 0.97 per cent relative to the ground truth.
Dioecy Is Associated with High Genetic Diversity and Adaptation Rates in the Plant GenusSilene
Authors: Muyle Aline , Martin Hélène , Zemp Niklaus , Mollion Maéva , Gallina Sophie , Tavares Raquel , Silva Alexandre , Bataillon Thomas , Widmer Alex , Glémin Sylvain , Touzet Pascal , Marais Gabriel A B
Published: September 2020

About 15,000 angiosperm species (∼6%) have separate sexes, a phenomenon known as dioecy. Why dioecious taxa are so rare is still an open question. Early work reported lower species richness in dioecious compared with nondioecious sister clades, raising the hypothesis that dioecy may be an evolutionary dead-end. This hypothesis has been recently challenged by macroevolutionary analyses that detected no or even positive effect of dioecy on diversification. However, the possible genetic consequences of dioecy at the population level, which could drive the long-term fate of dioecious lineages, have not been tested so far. Here, we used a population genomics approach in the Silene genus to look for possible effects of dioecy, especially for potential evidence of evolutionary handicaps of dioecy underlying the dead-end hypothesis. We collected individual-based RNA-seq data from several populations in 13 closely related species with different sexual systems: seven dioecious, three hermaphroditic, and three gynodioecious species. We show that dioecy is associated with increased genetic diversity, as well as higher selection efficacy both against deleterious mutations and for beneficial mutations. The results hold after controlling for phylogenetic inertia, differences in species census population sizes and geographic ranges. We conclude that dioecious Silene species neither show signs of increased mutational load nor genetic evidence for extinction risk. We discuss these observations in the light of the possible demographic differences between dioecious and self-compatible hermaphroditic species and how this could be related to alternatives to the dead-end hypothesis to explain the rarity of dioecy.
Short-term in vitro glutamine restriction differentially impacts the chromosomal stability of transformed and non-transformed cells
Authors: Yan Ling , Zhao Ziru , Wang Xiaoran , Lyu Ting , Li Jianfei , Qi Yanmei , Wang Xu , Guo Xihan
Published: September 2020

Glutamine (Gln) is a non-essential amino acid central for generating building blocks and cellular energy in tumours and rapidly proliferating non-transformed cells. However, the influence of Gln on regulating chromosomal stability of transformed and non-transformed cells remain poorly understand. We hypothesised that Gln is required for maintaining a homeostatic level of chromosomal stability. To this end, transformed cells HeLa and A375 and non-transformed cells NCM460 and HUVEC cells were intervened with varying concentrations of Gln (10, 1, 0.1 and 0.01 mM), with or without cisplatin (0.1 µg/ml), for 24 h. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (MN) assay was used to determine chromosomal instability (CIN), the extent of which is reflected by the frequency of MN, nucleoplasmic bridge (NPB) and nuclear bud (NB). We demonstrated an unexpected decrease in the spontaneous rate of MN, but not NPB and NB, after Gln restriction in HeLa and A375 cells. Gln restriction reduced cisplatin-induced MN, but not NPB and NB, in HeLa and A375 cells. We further revealed that Gln restriction suppressed the proliferation of HeLa cells with high CIN induced by nocodazole, partially explaining why Gln restriction decreased the frequency of spontaneous and cisplatin-induced MN in transformed cells. In contrast, Gln restriction increased MN and NB, but not NPB, in NCM460 cells. In HUVEC cells, Gln restriction increased MN, NPB and NB. Meanwhile, Gln restriction sensitised NCM460 cells to cisplatin-induced genotoxicity. A similar but more pronounced pattern was observed in HUVEC cells. Collectively, these results suggest that the in vitro influences of Gln metabolism on CIN depend on cellular contexts: Transformed cells require high Gln to fine tune their CIN in an optimal rate to maximise genomic heterogeneity and fitness, whereas non-transformed cells need high Gln to prevent CIN.
An H3K4me3 reader, BAP18 as an adaptor of COMPASS-like core subunits co-activates ERα action and associates with the sensitivity of antiestrogen in breast cancer
Authors: Sun Ge , Wang Chunyu , Wang Shengli , Sun Hongmiao , Zeng Kai , Zou Renlong , Lin Lin , Liu Wei , Sun Ning , Song Huijuan , Liu Wensu , Zhou Tingting , Jin Feng , Shan Zhongyan , Zhao Yue
Published: September 2020

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) signaling pathway is essential for ERα-positive breast cancer progression and endocrine therapy resistance. Bromodomain PHD Finger Transcription Factor (BPTF) associated protein of 18kDa (BAP18) has been recognized as a crucial H3K4me3 reader. However, the whole genomic occupation of BAP18 and its biological function in breast cancer is still elusive. Here, we found that higher expression of BAP18 in ERα-positive breast cancer is positively correlated with poor prognosis. ChIP-seq analysis further demonstrated that the half estrogen response elements (EREs) and the CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) binding sites are the significant enrichment sites found in estrogen-induced BAP18 binding sites. Also, we provide the evidence to demonstrate that BAP18 as a novel co-activator of ERα is required for the recruitment of COMPASS-like core subunits to the cis-regulatory element of ERα target genes in breast cancer cells. BAP18 is recruited to the promoter regions of estrogen-induced genes, accompanied with the enrichment of the lysine 4-trimethylated histone H3 tail (H3K4me3) in the presence of E2. Furthermore, BAP18 promotes cell growth and associates the sensitivity of antiestrogen in ERα-positive breast cancer. Our data suggest that BAP18 facilitates the association between ERα and COMPASS-like core subunits, which might be an essential epigenetic therapeutic target for breast cancer.
The impact of chronic kidney disease Stages 3–5 on pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Wiles Kate , Webster Philip , Seed Paul T , Bennett-Richards Katy , Bramham Kate , Brunskill Nigel , Carr Sue , Hall Matt , Khan Rehan , Nelson-Piercy Catherine , Webster Louise M , Chappell Lucy C , Lightstone Liz
Published: September 2020

Background

Contemporaneous data are required for women with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stages 3–5 to inform pre-pregnancy counselling and institute appropriate antenatal surveillance.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study in women with CKD Stages 3–5 after 20 weeks’ gestation was undertaken in six UK tertiary renal centres in the UK between 2003 and 2017. Factors predicting adverse outcomes and the impact of pregnancy in accelerating the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) were assessed.

Results

There were 178 pregnancies in 159 women, including 43 women with renal transplants. The live birth rate was 98%, but 56% of babies were born preterm (before 37 weeks’ gestation). Chronic hypertension was the strongest predictor of delivery before 34 weeks’ gestation. Of 121 women with known pre-pregnancy hypertension status, the incidence of delivery before 34 weeks was 32% (31/96) in women with confirmed chronic hypertension compared with 0% (0/25) in normotensive women. The risk of delivery before 34 weeks doubled in women with chronic hypertension from 20% [95% confidence interval (CI) 9–36%] to 40% (95% CI 26–56%) if the gestational fall in serum creatinine was <10% of pre-pregnancy concentrations. Women with a urinary protein:creatinine ratio >100 mg/mmol prior to pregnancy or before 20 weeks’ gestation had an increased risk for birthweight below the 10th centile (odds ratio 2.57, 95% CI 1.20–5.53). There was a measurable drop in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between pre-pregnancy and post-partum values (4.5 mL/min/1.73 m2), which was greater than the annual decline in eGFR prior to pregnancy (1.8 mL/min/1.73 m2/year). The effect of pregnancy was, therefore, equivalent to 1.7, 2.1 and 4.9 years of pre-pregnancy renal disease in CKD Stages 3a, 3b and 4–5, respectively. The pregnancy-associated decline in renal function was greater in women with chronic hypertension and in those with a gestational fall in serum creatinine of <10% of pre-pregnancy concentrations. At 1 year post-partum, 46% (58/126) of women had lost ≥25% of their pre-pregnancy eGFR or required RRT. Most women with renal transplants had CKD Stage 3 and more stable renal function prior to pregnancy. Renal transplantation was not independently associated with adverse obstetric or renal outcomes.

Conclusions

Contemporary pregnancies in women with CKD Stages 3–5 are complicated by preterm delivery, low birthweight and loss of maternal renal function. Chronic hypertension, pre- or early pregnancy proteinuria and a gestational fall in serum creatinine of <10% of pre-pregnancy values are more important predictors of adverse obstetric and renal outcome than CKD Stages 3–5. Pregnancy in women with CKD Stages 3–5 advances the need for dialysis or transplantation by 2.5 years.
COVID-19 and the Cross-Section of Equity Returns: Impact and Transmission
Authors: Bretscher Lorenzo , Hsu Alex , Simasek Peter , Tamoni Andrea
Published: September 2020

Using the first reported case of COVID-19 in a given U.S. county as the event day, we find that firms headquartered in an affected county experience, on average, a 27-bps lower return in the 10-day post-event window. This negative effect nearly doubles in magnitude for firms in counties with a higher infection rate (−50 bps). We test a number of transmission channels. Firms belonging to labor-intensive industries and those located in counties with a large mobility decline have worse stock performance. Firms sensitive to COVID-19-induced uncertainty also exhibit more negative returns. Finally, more negative stock returns are associated with downward revisions in earnings forecasts.
EVALUATION OF SPECIFIC ABSORPTION RATE IN THE FAR-FIELD, NEAR-TO-FAR FIELD AND NEAR-FIELD REGIONS FOR INTEGRATIVE RADIOFREQUENCY EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT
Authors: Liorni Ilaria , Capstick Myles , van Wel Luuk , Wiart Joe , Joseph Wout , Cardis Elisabeth , Guxens Mònica , Vermeulen Roel , Thielens Arno
Published: September 2020

The specific absorption rate (SAR) induced by wireless radiofrequency (RF) systems depends on different parameters. Previously, SAR was mainly assessed under conditions of a single frequency and technology and for a limited number of localized RF sources. The current and emerging mobile systems involve a wider range of usage scenarios and are frequently used simultaneously, leading to combined exposures for which almost no exposure evaluation exists. The aim and novelty of this study is to close this gap of knowledge by developing new methods to rapidly evaluate the SAR induced by RF systems in such scenarios at frequencies from 50 MHz to 5.5 GHz. To this aim, analytical methods for SAR estimation in several usage scenarios were derived through a large-scale numerical study. These include subject-specific characteristics, properties of the RF systems and provide an estimation of the SAR in the whole body, tissues and organs, and different brain regions.
Fundamental Rights and Democratic Sovereignty in the EU: The Role of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (CFREU) in Regulating the European Social Market Economy
Authors: Gerstenberg Oliver
Published: September 2020

The EU, in its present configuration, has often been accused of a persistent and deep structural bias in favour of economic integration to the detriment of the democratic and social values of its Member States. In response to that accusation, can the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (CFREU) come to the rescue and be mobilized, ultimately before a judicially-activist Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU), as a vehicle of social justice, in an effort to correct bias and to counter-balance the expansive economic liberties of the European single market?

Exploring this question is a timely topic given a clearly discernable new constitutional turn in the jurisprudence of the CJEU’s Grand Chamber, especially now under the current presidency of Koen Lenaerts. The ‘Lenaerts-Court’, as this article will argue, has embarked on a new EU fundamental-rights jurisprudence, visibly aimed at strengthening the dignitarian-social dimension of EU integration and at adding flesh to the bones of the commitment to a European social market economy in Article 3(3) of the Treaty of European Union (TEU).

Yet proposals in support of greater reliance on the substantive, but open-textured, provisions of the CFREU, in the pursuit of a ‘fair balance’ between the EU’s economic and dignitarian-social dimensions, immediately run into democratic-minded concerns about sovereignty passing from the Member States to the courts, and ultimately to the CJEU itself. The persistent worry is that democratic sovereignty over constitutionally sensitive—but morally and politically divisive—choices is being turned into a ‘sovereignty of law’—in ways that not only risk foreclosure of democratic debate over yet unsettled key societal matters but gives up democratic legitimation as a central element of modern constitutionalism (‘over-constitutionalisation’, Dieter Grimm). Thus, the CJEU is being simultaneously criticized for its alleged economic bias and for its efforts to overcome that bias.

In an effort to address—and disarm—this democratic-minded concern, this article argues that judicial emphasis on the CFREU’s dignitarian-social values need not per se lead to the consequence of over-constitutionalisation. Rather, this article proposes to look at the Grand Chamber’s new fundamental-rights jurisprudence in the single-market context as creating a framework for plural and inclusive democratic deliberation on key societal choices and values. To that end, the article proposes a new reading of the Grand Chamber’s jurisprudence on the efficacy of fundamental rights in the economic sphere and, in particular, on the horizontal direct effect of CFREU rights.
Identification and Chemical and Biological Management of Phytopythium vexans, the Causal Agent of Phytopythium Root and Crown Rot of Woody Ornamentals
Authors: Panth Milan , Baysal-Gurel Fulya , Avin Farhat A. , Simmons Terri
Published: September 2020

Soilborne diseases caused by pathogens such as Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Verticillium, and Pythium species are the most important diseases of woody ornamentals. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) and red maple (Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’) plants grown in containers and fields in Tennessee showed root and crown rot symptoms with dark brown to black lesions in 2017 and 2018. The objective of this research was to isolate and identify pathogens affecting ginkgo and red maple plants in Tennessee nurseries and to develop fungicide/biofungicide management recommendations for nursery producers. Isolations were made from the infected roots. Several Phytophthora-like colonies with spherical zoospores, filamentous to globose oogoni, and whitish mycelium were isolated on V8-PARPH medium. To confirm identity, total genomic DNA was extracted, followed by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions, large subunit of nuclear rRNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II of mitochondrial DNA. Based on morphological and molecular analysis, Phytopythium vexans was described as a causal agent of crown and root rot from the infected ginkgo and red maple plants. To complete Koch’s postulates, a pathogenicity test was performed by drenching 100 ml of V8 agar medium slurry of Phytopythium vexans inoculum on 1-year-old potted ginkgo plant root systems as well as red maple October Glory. Necrotic lesion development was observed in the root system 45 days after inoculation and Phytopythium vexans was reisolated from the roots of both ginkgo and red maple. All control ginkgo and red maple plants remained disease free and no pathogen was reisolated. In addition, the efficacy of fungicides, biofungicides, fertilizer, and host plant defense inducers (traditionally recommended for management of oomycete diseases) for control of Phytopythium crown and root rot was evaluated on ginkgo and red maple October Glory seedlings in greenhouse and field trials. Fungicides such as Empress Intrinsic, Pageant Intrinsic, Segovis, and Subdue MAXX were effective in both greenhouse and field trials, and the biofungicide Stargus reduced disease severity caused by pathogen Phytopythium vexans on ginkgo and red maple plants in greenhouse trials. These results will help nursery producers make proper management decisions for newly reported Phytopythium crown and root rot disease of ginkgo and red maple plants.
Effects of Temperature and Moisture on Conidia Germination, Infection, and Acervulus Formation of the Apple Marssonina Leaf Blotch Pathogen (Diplocarpon mali) in China
Authors: Lian Sen , Dong Xiang-li , Li Ping-liang , Wang Cai-xia , Zhou Shan-yue , Li Bao-hua
Published: September 2020

Apple Marssonina leaf blotch (AMLB; Diplocarpon mali) is a severe disease of apple that mainly causes premature leaf defoliation in many apple growing areas worldwide. AMLB epidemic development is closely related to temperature and rainfall. In this study, the effects of temperature and moisture on conidium germination, infection on leaves, and acervulus production were investigated under controlled environments. The temperature required for conidium germination and infection ranged from 5 to 30°C, with the optimum at approximately 23°C. The temperature required for acervulus formation was slightly higher, with the optimum at 24.6°C. Wetness was needed in order for conidia to germinate and infect; only a few conidia germinated at 100% RH. However, lesions can produce acervuli in dry conditions. The minimum duration of leaf wetness required for conidia to complete the entire infection process was 14, 8, 4, and 6 h at 10, 15, 20, and 25°C, respectively. A model describing the effect of temperature and leaf wetness duration was built. The model estimated that the optimum temperature for conidial infection was 22.6°C and the minimum wetness duration required was 4.8 h. This model can be used to forecast D. mali conidial infection to assist in disease management in commercial apple production.
Development and Application of a LAMP Assay for the Detection of the Latent Apple Tree Pathogen Valsa mali
Authors: Xu Liangsheng , Wang Yibo , Zhu Shan , Li Jianyu , Chang Yali , Huang Lili
Published: September 2020

Valsa mali, the causal agent of apple Valsa canker, produces cankers, resulting in the death of infected tissues and eventually the entire tree. Because of the long latent period of the disease, it is necessary to develop a rapid, sensitive, and reliable field-based assay to effectively diagnose apple Valsa canker when the plant is still symptomless. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel detection method that synthesizes a large amount of DNA and produces the visible byproduct (magnesium pyrophosphate) without conventional thermal cycling. Six LAMP primers were designed to target a species-specific region of the elongation factor-1α sequence, which can be completed at 61°C in 60 min. A positive result is indicated by color change after the intercalating dye SYBR Green I is added. The specificity of the LAMP was validated with DNA from 45 representative isolates of V. mali and closely related species V. malicola, V. leucostoma, and V. sordida. The sensitivity of the LAMP was determined to be 1 ng of DNA or as few as 10 spores. Because the assay does not require expensive equipment or specialized techniques, the LAMP-based diagnostic method can be applied under field conditions to more precisely and efficiently access disease pressure in apple orchards.
Pathogenic Specialization of Venturia nashicola, Causal Agent of Asian Pear Scab, and Resistance of Pear Cultivars Kinchaku and Xiangli
Authors: Ishii Hideo , Nishimura Kumiko , Tanabe Kenji , Yamaoka Yuichi
Published: September 2020

Scab caused by Venturia nashicola is one of the most serious diseases of Asian pears, including Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta) and Chinese pears (P. bretschneideri and P. ussuriensis). Breeding scab-resistant pear cultivars is essential to minimize fungicide use and development of fungicide resistance. A survey of pathogenic specialization in V. nashicola is needed to ensure durable scab resistance in cultivated pears. V. nashicola race 1, 2, and 3 isolates, each differing in pathogenicity to Japanese pear cultivar Kousui and Asian pear strain Mamenashi 12, have been reported in Japan. In this study, isolates collected from scabbed pears in China and Taiwan were classified as V. nashicola based on conidial size and mating ability. However, various isolates had pathogenicity distinct from races 1, 2, and 3 according to tests on seven differential host genotypes of pear cultivars from Japan (Kousui and strain Mamenashi 12), China (Jingbaili, Yali, Linyuli, and Nanguoli), and Taiwan (Hengshanli). These new races were designated as races 4 to 7. Progenies characteristic of race 3 isolates were produced using a cross between race 1 and race 2 isolates, suggesting the possible role of sexual recombination in the emergence of novel races. Japanese pear cultivar Kinchaku and Chinese P. sinkiangensis ‘Xiangli’ (a Korla fragrant pear grown in China) did not show visible symptoms after inoculation with any of the seven races. Broad scab resistance in Kinchaku and Xiangli makes them a promising genetic resource for resistance breeding programs.
The efficacy of microsurgical varicocelectomy as a salvage option for grade 1 varicocele: a retrospective study
Authors: Kuroda Shinnosuke , Usui Kimitsugu , Mori Kohei , Sanjo Hiroyuki , Takeshima Teppei , Kawahara Takashi , Uemura Hiroji , Yumura Yasushi
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Varicocele is an abnormal dilation and tortuosity of the pampiniform venous plexus within the spermatic cord. Although varicocele repair is recommended for male infertile patients with palpable varicocele, it is controversial whether varicocele repair should be performed in patients with low-grade varicocele. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of varicocelectomy as a salvage option for patients with grade 1 varicocele.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed data of 38 male infertility patients with grade 1 varicocele who visited the Reproduction Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center, between April 2013 and July 2017 and could be followed up for more than 6 months after treatment. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those treated with an oral antioxidant and traditional herbal medicine alone and those who additionally underwent microsurgical varicocelectomy. Patients’ characteristics and pretreatment and posttreatment semen parameters were compared between the groups using unpaired t and χ2 tests.

Results:

Twenty-four patients were treated with oral medication alone, and 14 underwent surgery in addition to receiving medication. Six months after the start of treatment, motile sperm concentrations were 4.939±6.257×106/mL and 9.853±16.8×106/mL in the medication and surgery groups, respectively (P=0.26). The amount of change in the motile sperm concentration was significantly higher in the surgery group than in the medication group (−0.94±5.82×106/mL vs. 4.33±5.46×106/mL, P=0.029).

Conclusions:

Motile sperm concentration significantly improved in patients who additionally underwent surgery. Microsurgical varicocelectomy is an effective salvage option for patients with grade 1 varicocele.
Low back pain and the social determinants of health: a systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Karran Emma L. , Grant Ashley R. , Moseley G. Lorimer
Published: September 2020

The social determinants of health (SDH) are known to differentially impact outcomes from many noncommunicable diseases; however, their potential role in low back pain (LBP) is poorly defined. This review endeavours to comprehensively inform the field of their relevance. Our research question was: “How do the broad range of SDH and chronic LBP (CLBP) relate?” The primary aim of this review was to synthesise evidence of relationships between SDH and the frequency or severity of CLBP. Secondary aims were to identify relationships between SDH and LBP-related disability, work absenteeism, and opioid prescription. We included studies involving adult participants that evaluated relationships between one or more of the SDH and CLBP frequency or LBP outcomes (beyond 3 months). Two reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We synthesized the results narratively and applied PROGRESS to organise our findings. Database searches identified 7018 records. Forty-one studies were included, containing data from 2,161,617 adults from 17 countries. Twenty-four percent and 19% of the relationships included were classified as having a high risk of bias due to confounding and missing data, respectively. We reported 166 relationships representing the majority of the PROGRESS domains. An array of independent and interdependent relationships between the SDH and CLBP were identified with the strongest evidence for associations related to educational attainment and socioeconomic status. Our findings suggest that greater recognition of the contribution of SDH to disparities in LBP outcomes is warranted and this has the potential to usefully inform strategies to impact burden.
Characterization of gut microbiota in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma received immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: LI Lili , Ye Jiajian
Published: September 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common neoplasms encountered, and its incidence is increasing worldwide. In this study, we explored the characteristics of gut microbiota in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma in advanced stage who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) based on a large population with hepatitis B virus infection. An initial cohort of 65 patients with metastatic melanoma were included in this study. All patients were treated with ICIs at Fujian provincial geriatric hospital between August 2016 and June 2018. The 16S rDNA V4 region was amplified by Polymerase chain reaction and sequenced on the MiSeq platform. We found that the diversities of the gut microbiota in HCC who received ICIs were obviously increased. Negative feedback, which is controlled by interplay between microbial metabolic activities and host pathways, is thought to promote high bacterial diversity. We focused on the Faecalibacterium genus in response group, and Bacteroidales order in non-response group, and stratified patients into high versus low categories based on the median relative abundance of these taxa in the gut microbiome. Patients with high Faecalibacterium abundance had a significantly prolonged PFS versus those with a low abundance. Conversely, patients with a high abundance of Bacteroidales had a shortened progressive free survival compared to those with a low abundance. In summary, the present study examined the oral and gut microbiome of HCC patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitors immunotherapy. Significant differences were observed in the diversity and composition of the patient gut microbiome of responders versus non-responders.