bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thoracic nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma: expanded pathological spectrum with expression of thyroid transcription factor‐1 and neuroendocrine markers
Authors: Hung Yin P , Chen Athena L , Taylor Martin S , Huynh Tiffany G , Kem Marina , Selig Martin K , Nielsen G Petur , Lennerz Jochen K , Azzoli Christopher G , Dagogo‐Jack Ibiayi , Kradin Richard L , Mino‐Kenudson Mari
Published: November 2020

Aims

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma, an aggressive tumour driven by NUTM1 rearrangements, often involves the lung/mediastinum and shows squamous differentiation. We encountered an index patient with a thoracic NUT carcinoma diagnosed by molecular testing, showing extensive pleural involvement and diffuse thyroid transcription factor‐1 (TTF‐1) expression, initially suggestive of lung adenocarcinoma with pseudomesotheliomatous growth. We thus gathered an institutional series of thoracic NUT carcinomas to examine their pathological spectrum.

Methods and results

We searched for thoracic NUT carcinomas in our surgical pathology files and in 2289 consecutive patients with primary thoracic tumours investigated with RNA‐based assays. We performed NUT immunohistochemistry on 425 additional lung adenocarcinomas. Collectively, we identified six patients (five men and one woman; age 31–80 years; four never‐smokers) with thoracic NUT carcinomas confirmed by molecular testing (including five with positive NUT immunohistochemistry). They died at 2.3–12.9 months (median, 2.8 months) after presentation. Two patients were diagnosed by histopathological assessment, and the remaining four (including the index patient) were diagnosed by molecular testing. Analysis of the index case revealed expression of multiple neuroendocrine markers and TTF‐1; no ultrastructural evidence of neuroendocrine differentiation was noted. No additional NUT‐positive cases were found by immunohistochemical screening.

Conclusions

Although NUT carcinoma classically shows squamous differentiation, it can rarely express TTF‐1 (even diffusely) and/or multiple neuroendocrine markers. This immunophenotypic spectrum may lead to diagnostic confusion with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumour, and others. To circumvent this pitfall, NUT immunohistochemistry and/or NUTM1 molecular testing should be considered in primitive‐appearing tumours, regardless of their immunophenotypic features.
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia PCR test on upper respiratory tract swab
Authors: Sivaraj V , Cliff P , Douthwaite S , Smith M , Kulasegaram R
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic fungal infection with high morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV. Upper respiratory tract (URT) swabs are routinely taken for testing viral and bacterial pathogens when patients present with respiratory symptoms in our hospital. We conducted a pilot service improvement project to explore the utility of URT swabs for PCP diagnosis using in‐house real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Methods

Ten URT swab samples obtained from HIV‐positive patients with PCP and a positive PCP PCR (AusDiagnostics) from lower respiratory tract (LRT) samples were retrospectively identified. Nine HIV‐positive patients with a negative PCR for PCP from LRT samples were identified. Stored aliquots of DNA extracted from these samples were retrieved and tested by an in‐house real‐time PCR for the presence of PCP DNA. Among PCP‐positive cases, URT swabs collected after PCP treatment initiation were excluded from the study.

Results

In all, 10 URT samples from PCP‐positive patients and nine URT samples from PCP‐negative patients were tested for PCP by real‐time PCR. Eighteen out of 19 URT sample had a concordant result with the LRT samples. The sensitivity and specificity for URT sample PCR were 90% [confidence interval (CI): 55.50–99.75%] and 100% (CI: 66.37–100%). The positive predictive value was 100% and the negative predictive value was 90.9% (CI: 60.90–98.47%).

Conclusions

Upper respiratory tract swab can reliably detect PCP DNA on real‐time PCR among people living with HIV with PCP.
Selection in the Finnhorse, a native all‐around horse breed
Authors: Kvist Laura , Honka Johanna , Niskanen Markku , Liedes Oona , Aspi Jouni
Published: November 2020

Selection by breeders modifies the morphology, behaviour and performance of domesticated species. Here, we examined signs of selection in Finnhorse, the only native horse breed in Finland. We first searched divergent genomic regions between Finnhorses and other breeds, as well as between different breeding sections of the Finnhorse with data from Illumina Equine SNP70 BeadChip, and then studied several of the detected regions in more detail. We found altogether 35 common outlier SNPs between Finnhorses and other breeds using two different selection tests. Many of the SNPs were located close to genes affecting coat colour, performance, size, sugar metabolism, immune response and olfaction. We selected genes affecting coat colour (KIT, MITF, PMEL), performance (MSTN) and locomotion (DMRT3) for a more detailed examination. In addition, we looked for, and found, associations with height at withers and SNPs located close to gene LCORL. Among the four breeding sections of Finnhorses (harness trotters, riding horses, draught horses and pony‐sized horses), a single SNP located close to the DMRT3 gene was significantly differentiated and only between harness trotters and pony‐sized horses.
Effects of low‐intensity ultrasound on the biomass and metabolite ofGanoderma lucidumin liquid fermentation
Authors: Sun Ling , Liu Liping , Yang Lei , Wang Yazhen , Dabbour Mokhtar , Mintah Benjamin Kumah , He Ronghai , Ma Haile
Published: November 2020

The use of ultrasound has the potential of improving the production of valuable substances inGanoderma lucidum(G. lucidum)—a well‐known fungus rich in bioactive compounds. The effect of different ultrasonic parameters on the fermentation ofG. lucidumwas studied. The results showed that under optimal ultrasonic conditions, the mycelium biomass and triterpenoids production increased by 26.99 and 33.62%, respectively (p< .05). Compared with the control, ultrasonication notably increased (p< .05) the content of intracellular and extracellular polysaccharides (by 18.48 and 35.90%) and flavonoids (by 30.27 and 12.00%) in mycelium. Ultrasonic treatment promoted growth, and increased metabolism ofG. lucidum. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that ultrasonic treatment caused moderate breakages in mycelium leading to leaked content at recovery time of 0.5 hr. When the recovery time lasted for 3 hr, the mycelium was recovered with increased branches and tighter winding. The findings of Fluo‐4/AM suggested that the intracellular calcium ion concentration of the mycelium improved after ultrasound treatment, demonstrating the altering‐influence of sonication on the cell membrane permeability of mycelium. These results suggest that ultrasound is an efficacious approach to produce more biomass and metabolites ofG. lucidumin liquid fermentation.

Practical Applications

Ultrasonic technology has been widely used in the field of food fermentation. By changing the ultrasonic time, power density or frequency or other conditions, the ultrasonic energy entering the cell suspension can be changed, thereby controlling the effect of ultrasound on microbial activity. The outcome of this work indicated that the use of ultrasonication in fermentation process ofG. lucidumpromoted its growth and metabolism. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of ultrasonication technology in the microbial fermentation industry.
Modeling of Listeria monocytogenes survival and quality attributes of sliced mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) subjected to pulsed UV light
Authors: Koçer Alaşalvar Gamze , Keklik Nene Meltem
Published: November 2020

Pulsed ultraviolet (PUV) light technology holds the potential for surface decontamination of foods. In this study, the survival of L. monocytogenes and some quality attributes (color, moisture, water activity, and antioxidant activity) of sliced mushrooms subjected to PUV light were modeled using data obtained from a previous study. Three mathematical models, log‐linear model, Weibull model, and log‐logistic model were used to describe the inactivation of L. monocytogenes with respect to fluence (J/cm2) at three treatment distances (5, 8, and 13 cm) from the quartz window of the PUV‐light system. Weibull model (R2adj: 0.8598–0.9820, root mean square error [RMSE]: 0.09–0.24) described the inactivation better compared to log‐linear model (R2adj: 0.7205–0.9072, RMSE: 0.22) and log‐logistic model (R2adj: 0.4871–0.7629, RMSE: 0.24–0.46). The survival curves of L. monocytogenes at all treatment distances showed upward concavity. These findings indicate that the survival of L. monocytogenes on sliced mushrooms subjected to PUV light follows a non‐linear trend, and the Weibull model may be a useful tool to predict the behavior of L. monocytogenes on mushroom surface subjected to PUV light. For the quality attributes, zero‐order kinetics (R2: 0.8500–0.9974, mean square error (MSE): 1.55*10−8–2.3124) described the changes slightly better compared to first‐order kinetics (R2: 0.8451–0.9974, MSE: 1.55*10−8–2.3867).

Practical Applications

Pulsed UV light is one of the most effective methods for the control of different pathogenic microorganisms on surfaces of food products. The parameters related to the kinetics of the inactivation of the pathogenic microorganisms in foods such as mushroom are of great importance to maintain food safety. Mathematical models provide practical information about not only tested variables but also untested ones. Process evaluation with mathematical models is useful to verify the effectiveness of the food safety applications. In this study, inactivation of L. monocytogenes on sliced mushroom surface was modeled using log‐linear, Weibull, and log‐logistic models. In addition, zero‐order and first‐order kinetics were applied to quality attributes of sliced mushroom in order to better understand the effect of pulsed UV light application.
Administrative Justice in Wales
Authors: NASON SARAH , PRITCHARD HUW
Published: November 2020

This article examines some of the synergies between Phil Thomas’ work and the authors’ research into administrative justice in Wales. Like him, they have examined the impact of new rights‐based legislation on access to justice, and also share with him an interest in connections between politics, social policy, and access to justice. The article argues that Wales is not yet taken seriously as ‘a site in which [administrative] justice is done’, and that there remains an ‘implementation gap’ when it comes to putting innovative social policy into practice. The limited development of an administrative justice culture can hamper the achievement of social and economic justice in Wales; such a culture could be fostered with leadership from the Welsh Government and the Senedd, alongside improved training for administrators, and the potential addition of ‘a just Wales’ to the well‐being goals contained in the Well‐being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
Sweet potato starch addition together with partial substitution of tilapia flesh effectively improved the golden pompano (Trachinotus blochii) surimi quality
Authors: Liu Zhongyuan , Yuan Yiqiong , Qin Yige , Feng Aiguo , He Yanfu , Zhou Dayong , Dong Xiuping , Shen Xuanri , Cao Jun , Li Chuan
Published: November 2020

In order to improve the gel performance and edible quality of surimi for sustainable manufacture, the present study explored the feasibility of four kinds of starchs (potato, corn, sweet potato, and wheat) and fresh water fish tilapia as additives for golden pompano based surimi production. Sweet potato starch stood out as the most appropriate additive for golden pompano surimi due to the highest gel strength, lowest expressible moisture content and more compact microstructure. When the tilapia flesh substitution ratio reached 30%, best gel property of tilapia‐golden pompano compound surimi with best texture property and whiteness value was achieved. Moreover, addition of 5% sweet potato starch to the golden pompano‐tilapia (7:3) compound surimi comparatively obtained the optimal effect. Namely, it was observed that the texture parameters with hardness (3.62 N), gumminess (2.74 N), chewiness (17.35 mJ), cohesiveness (4.918), and springiness (0.872) being biggest values. On the other hand, the gel strength and expressible moisture content were 2,137.31 g. mm and 3.52%, respectively, which were overwhelming than other levels. Simultaneously, the whiteness of 5% addition group was 74.75, which was also a little higher than other groups. In summary, partial substitution of tilapia and proper addition of sweet potato starch effectively improved the gel performance and quality of golden pompano‐based surimi products, which has potential applications in the industry of surimi.
Methodology for analyzing the trade‐offs associated with multi‐objective optimization in transportation asset management under uncertainty
Authors: Bai Qiang , Miralinaghi Mohammad , Labi Samuel , Sinha Kumares C.
Published: November 2020

Trade‐off analysis, one of the key tenets of multi‐objective optimization for the project selection problem in Transportation Asset Management (TAM), can help decision‐makers quantify and comprehend the consequences of different resource allocations in terms of the multiple measures of system performance. In analyzing TAM trade‐offs, it is vital to account duly for the uncertainties associated with these system‐wide performance measures. In this paper, we present a methodology that integrates chance‐constraint programming, the Lindeberg Central Limit Theorem, and a hybrid NSGA II method, to address the performance uncertainties associated with the TAM multi‐objective optimization problem. Through analyzing the trade‐offs between expenditure and performance, and between different performance measures, we generate Pareto frontiers at different confidence levels using a hybrid NSGA II method. We demonstrate the proposed methodology using a case study involving real‐life assets and the expected cost and performance benefits of projects associated with these assets. Regarding the trade‐off between cost and performance, we determine the extent to which the strengths of these relationships vary across different confidence levels. We find that, generally, for a given network performance level, a higher expenditure is needed to achieve a high confidence level compared to the expenditure needed to achieve a low confidence level, and more importantly, measures these sensitivities. This is the “Price of Confidence” concept. Regarding the trade‐off between different pairs of performance measures under budgetary constraints, we show how these relationships vary with the confidence level specified for the analysis, and we measure the extent to which higher confidence level requirements translate into lower levels of overall system‐wide performance.
Convolutional neural network for automated classification of jointed plain concrete pavement conditions
Authors: Hsieh Yung‐An , Yang Zhongyu , James Tsai Yi‐Chang
Published: November 2020

The detailed monitoring of jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) slab condition is essential for cost‐effective JPCP maintenance and rehabilitation. However, existing visual inspection practices for detailed slab condition classification are time‐consuming and labor‐intensive. In this paper, we proposed an automated JPCP slab condition classification model based on convolutional neural networks (ConvNets), which is the first to perform multi‐label classification on the JPCP slab condition based on both crack types and severity levels. To handle the different scales between JPCP slab condition states, the model includes a novel global context block with atrous spatial pyramid pooling, denoted as a GC‐ASPP block. The block can be flexibly applied to any ConvNets to effectively model the global context of images with the extraction of multiscale image features. The proposed model was evaluated using real‐world 3D JPCP surface data. With the GC‐ASPP block, our best model achieved an average precision of 85.42% on multi‐label slab condition classification.
Paediatric nursing management of renal replacement therapy: Intensive care nursing or dialysis nursing?
Authors: Prendin Angela , Marinelli Elena , Marinetto Anna , Daicampi Chiara , Trevisan Nicola , Strini Veronica , de Barbieri Ilaria
Published: November 2020

Background

Children who develop Acute Kidney Injury may start renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Paediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care Units (hereafter PICU or NICU); RRT can be delivered either by paediatric dialysis nurses or by critical care nurses. In both case, nurses devoted to this task must have a high level of competence in providing care to children receiving haemodialytic treatment in a specific technological environment.

Aim

The objective of this research was to investigate which models have been adopted to organize nursing care in RRT management in different Italian PICU and NICU, and to explore the training of ICU nurses on the management of RRT.

Methods

A multi‐centre survey was conducted through an online questionnaire directed to the Italian PICU and NICU nurse coordinators.

Results

A total of 15 Intensive Care Units (12 PICU and 3 NICU) in 12 hospitals were involved. The mean nurse/patient ratio in these units is 1:3. In 72.7% of critical care units, dialysis treatment is delivered by critical care nurses belonging to the unit itself, while in 27.3% of units paediatric dialysis nurses are in charge of dialysis treatment in collaboration with critical care nurses. In 25% of surveyed units there is some structured form of collaboration between Paediatric Dialysis nurses and critical care nurses. However, 75% of units did not respond to this specific question. The different units adopt various forms of RRT training for nursing staff.

Conclusion

The scenario resulting from this analysis showed how in our sample of Italian hospitals there is no standard practice for RRT nursing management. In addition, although various forms of training for nursing staff exist, a proper educational programme and/or a standardized specific training about RRT management for nursing staff is not in place in the surveyed hospitals.

Relevance to clinical practice

The lack of standardized protocols or guidelines for RRT delivery to critically ill children can compromise their safety. The structuring of these protocols and the production of best clinical practice guidelines would allow standardization of the nursing management of the RRT and of the corresponding training. This may help to provide the proper care and to guarantee the patients' safety.
Mature conifers assimilate nitrate as efficiently as ammonium from soils in four forest plantations
Authors: Zhou Xulun , Wang Ang , Hobbie Erik A. , Zhu Feifei , Qu Yuying , Dai Luming , Li Dejun , Liu Xueyan , Zhu Weixing , Koba Keisuke , Li Yinghua , Fang Yunting
Published: November 2020

Conifers are considered to prefer to take up ammonium (NH4+) over nitrate (NO3−). However, this conclusion is mainly based on hydroponic experiments that separate roots from soils. It remains unclear to what extent mature conifers can use nitrate compared to ammonium under field conditions where both roots and soil microbes compete for nitrogen (N).

We conducted an in situ whole mature tree nitrogen‐15 (15N) labeling experiment (15NH4+ vs 15NO3−) over 15 d to quantify ammonium and nitrate uptake and assimilation rates in four 40‐yr‐old monoculture coniferous plantations (Pinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestris, Picea koraiensis and Larix olgensis, respectively).

For the whole tree, 15NO3− contributed 39% to 90% to total 15N tracer uptake among four plantations during the study period. At day 3, the 15NO3− accounted for 77%, 64%, 62% and 59% by Larix olgensis, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestris and Picea koraiensis, respectively.

Our study indicates that mature coniferous trees assimilated nitrate as efficiently as ammonium from soils even at low soil nitrate concentration, in contrast to the results from hydroponic experiments showing that ammonium uptake dominated over nitrate. This implies that mature conifers can adapt to increasing availability of nitrate in soil, for example, under the context of globalization of N deposition and global warming.
Rethinking temperature effects on leaf growth, gene expression and metabolism: Diel variation matters
Authors: Kronenberg Lukas , Yates Steven , Ghiasi Shiva , Roth Lukas , Friedli Michael , Ruckle Michael E. , Werner Roland A. , Tschurr Flavian , Binggeli Melanie , Buchmann Nina , Studer Bruno , Walter Achim
Published: November 2020

Plants have evolved to grow under prominently fluctuating environmental conditions. In experiments under controlled conditions, temperature is often set to artificial, binary regimes with constant values at day and at night. This study investigated how such a diel (24 hr) temperature regime affects leaf growth, carbohydrate metabolism and gene expression, compared to a temperature regime with a field‐like gradual increase and decline throughout 24 hr. Soybean (Glycine max) was grown under two contrasting diel temperature treatments. Leaf growth was measured in high temporal resolution. Periodical measurements were performed of carbohydrate concentrations, carbon isotopes as well as the transcriptome by RNA sequencing. Leaf growth activity peaked at different times under the two treatments, which cannot be explained intuitively. Under field‐like temperature conditions, leaf growth followed temperature and peaked in the afternoon, whereas in the binary temperature regime, growth increased at night and decreased during daytime. Differential gene expression data suggest that a synchronization of cell division activity seems to be evoked in the binary temperature regime. Overall, the results show that the coordination of a wide range of metabolic processes is markedly affected by the diel variation of temperature, which emphasizes the importance of realistic environmental settings in controlled condition experiments.
Perceiving couples as discrete units: The existence of couple‐level identities
Authors: Wang Amanda Meiyi , Chen Serena , Aron Arthur
Published: November 2020

The present studies examined the often‐implicit notion that people think about couples as discrete entities, distinct from the individuals therein—a concept we refer to as couple‐level identities. Findings suggest that people perceive both their own and other couples as distinct units (Study 1) that can possess dyadic qualities unique from those of either couple member. Exploring the implications of these identities, Studies 2 and 3 examined how couple‐level identities (beyond the identities of the individuals) influence social judgment (e.g., cognitive biases). Finally, Study 4's findings suggest that perceptions of discrete couple‐level identities are natural parts of everyday social cognition. Together, results suggest the need to consider couple‐level identities in research on the self, social perception, and close relationships.
Samson, Antigone, and the charismatic agonistes: From a “pro‐power” to a “pro‐existence” political engagement
Authors: Untea Ionut
Published: November 2020

In this essay, I argue that the agonistic approach toward political engagement places too much emphasis on the task of winning the social game and overlooks the dimension of what has been called ever since Greek Antiquity by the name charis. Charis is the quality of life, denoting ideals of reciprocal invitations to feel joy and satisfaction. Under the influence of the Weberian model of charismatic leadership, collective charisma has faded away from the attention of political theorists. This essay offers arguments for the integration of the collective charis into agonistic political theory but calls for several revisions of this theory. Counterbalancing the overemphasis on winning involves listening and witnessing in the sense of transforming the miracle of charis into the plain words of the logos and the sounds of the phonê that everybody can perceive.
Mother‐reported pain experience between ages 7 and 10: A prospective study in a population‐based birth cohort
Authors: Lucas Raquel , Talih Makram , Monjardino Teresa , Guimarães Susana , Barros Henrique
Published: November 2020

Background

Trajectory studies suggest considerable stability of persistent or recurrent pain in adolescence. This points to the first decade of life as an important aetiologic window for shaping future pain, where the potential for prevention may be optimised.

Objectives

We aimed to quantify changes in mother‐reported pain experience in children between ages 7 and 10 and describe clusters of different pain experiences defined by complementary pain features.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study using data from 4036 Generation XXI birth cohort participants recruited in 2005‐06. Pain history was reported by mothers at ages 7 and 10 using the Luebeck pain screening questionnaire. We tracked changes in six pain features over time using relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Clusters were obtained using the k‐medoids algorithm.

Results

The risk of severe pain at age 10 increased with increasing severity at age 7, with RRs ranging from 2.18 (95% CI 1.90, 2.50) for multisite to 4.43 (95% CI 3.19, 6.15) for high frequency pain at age 7. A majority of children (59.4%) had transient or no pain but two clusters included children with stable recurrent pain (n = 404, 10.2% of the sample). One of those (n = 177) was characterised by higher probabilities of multisite pain (74.6% and 66.7% at ages 7 and 10, respectively), with psychosocial triggers/contexts (59.3% and 61.0%) and daily‐living restrictions (72.2% and 84.6%). Most children in that cluster (58.3%) also self‐reported recent pain at age 10 and had more frequent family history of chronic pain (60.5%).

Conclusions

All pain features assessed tracked with a positive gradient between ages 7 and 10, arguing for the significance of the first decade of life in the escalation of the pain experience. Multisite pain and psychosocial attributions appeared to be early markers of more adverse pain experiences.
Metaproteome and metabolome of oral microbial communities
Authors: Bostanci Nagihan , Grant Melissa , Bao Kai , Silbereisen Angelika , Hetrodt Franziska , Manoil Daniel , Belibasakis Georgios N.
Published: November 2020

The emergence of high‐throughput technologies for the comprehensive measurement of biomolecules, also referred to as “omics” technologies, has helped us gather “big data” and characterize microbial communities. In this article, we focus on metaproteomic and metabolomic approaches that support hypothesis‐driven investigations on various oral biologic samples. Proteomics reveals the working units of the oral milieu and metabolomics unveils the reactions taking place; and so these complementary techniques can unravel the functionality and underlying regulatory processes within various oral microbial communities. Current knowledge of the proteomic interplay and metabolic interactions of microorganisms within oral biofilm and salivary microbiome communities is presented and discussed, from both clinical and basic research perspectives. Communities indicative of, or from, health, caries, periodontal diseases, and endodontic lesions are represented. Challenges, future prospects, and examples of best practice are given.
Rostral middle frontal gyrus thickness mediates the relationship between genetic risk and neuroticism trait
Authors: Song Li , Zhou Zheyi , Meng Jie , Zhu Xingxing , Wang Kangcheng , Wei Dongtao , Qiu Jiang
Published: November 2020

Neuroticism is a robust personality trait associated with multiple mental disorders. Heretofore, research on the relationship among genes, brain, and behavior to explore individual differences in neuroticism is scarce. Hence, in this study (N = 630), genetic data, self‐reported neuroticism, and brain structural data were combined to explore whether the cortical thickness (CT) of brain regions mediated the relationship between the polygenic risk score (PRS) of neuroticism and NEO neuroticism (NEO‐N), and the enrichment analysis was performed to reveal the underlying mechanism of their relationship. Results showed that the PRSs were significantly associated with NEO‐N scores (p < .05). The CT of left rostral middle frontal gyrus was negatively related to the best PRS in PRSice (PRSbest) or the PRS at 0.05 threshold (PRS0.05) (corrected p < .05), which was also found to mediate the association between the PRS and NEO‐N (PRSbest: ab = .012, p < .05; PRS0.05: ab = .012, p < .05). Enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were mainly involved in biological adhesion, cell adhesion, neuron part, and synapse part, which were associated with the abnormal thickness of frontal cortex. By integrating genetic, brain imaging, and behavioral data, our research initially revealed the neurogenetic underpinnings of neuroticism, which is helpful for understanding individual differences in neuroticism.
Small Area Estimation with Linked Data
Authors: Salvati N. , Fabrizi E. , Ranalli M. G. , Chambers R. L.
Published: November 2020

Data linkage can be used to combine values of the variable of interest from a national survey with values of auxiliary variables obtained from another source, such as a population register, for use in small area estimation. However, linkage errors can induce bias when fitting regression models; moreover, they can create non-representative outliers in the linked data in addition to the presence of potential representative outliers. In this paper, we adopt a secondary analyst’s point of view, assuming that limited information is available on the linkage process, and develop small area estimators based on linear mixed models and M-quantile models to accommodate linked data containing a mix of both types of outliers. We illustrate the properties of these small area estimators, as well as estimators of their mean squared error, by means of model-based and design-based simulation experiments. We further illustrate the proposed methodology by applying it to linked data from the European Survey on Income and Living Conditions and the Italian integrated archive of economic and demographic micro data in order to obtain estimates of the average equivalised income for labour market areas in central Italy.
Therapeutic plasma exchange for COVID‐19‐associated hyperviscosity
Authors: Truong Alexander D. , Auld Sara C. , Barker Nicholas A. , Friend Sarah , Wynn A. Thanushi , Cobb Jason , Sniecinski Roman M. , Tanksley Christin‐Lauren , Polly Derek M. , Gaddh Manila , Connor Michael , Nakahara Hirotomo , Sullivan H. Clifford , Kempton Christine , Guarner Jeannette , Duncan Alexander , Josephson Cassandra D. , Roback John D. , Stowell Sean R. , Maier Cheryl L.
Published: November 2020

Background

Recent data suggests an association between blood hyperviscosity and both propensity for thrombosis and disease severity in patients with COVID‐19. This raises the possibility that increased viscosity may contribute to endothelial damage and multiorgan failure in COVID‐19, and that therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to decrease viscosity may improve patient outcomes.

Here we sought to share our experience using TPE in the first 6 patients treated for COVID‐19‐associated hyperviscosity.

Study Design and Methods

Six critically ill COVID‐19 patients with plasma viscosity levels ranging from 2.6 to 4.2 centipoise (cP; normal range, 1.4‐1.8 cP) underwent daily TPE for 2‐3 treatments.

Results

TPE decreased plasma viscosity in all six patients (Pre‐TPE median 3.75 cP, range 2.6‐4.2 cP; Post‐TPE median 1.6 cP, range 1.5‐1.9 cP). TPE also decreased fibrinogen levels in all five patients for whom results were available (Pre‐TPE median 739 mg/dL, range 601‐1188 mg/dL; Post‐TPE median 359 mg/dL, range 235‐461 mg/dL); D‐dimer levels in all six patients (Pre‐TPE median 5921 ng/mL, range 1134‐60 000 ng/mL; Post‐TPE median 4893 ng/mL, range 620‐7518 ng/mL); and CRP levels in five of six patients (Pre‐TPE median 292 mg/L, range 136‐329 mg/L; Post‐TPE median 84 mg/L, range 31‐211 mg/L). While the two sickest patients died, significant improvement in clinical status was observed in four of six patients shortly after TPE.

Conclusions

This series demonstrates the utility of TPE to rapidly correct increased blood viscosity in patients with COVID‐19‐associated hyperviscosity. Large randomized trials are needed to determine whether TPE may improve clinical outcomes for patients with COVID‐19.
Notes on three periods of rabies focus in the Middle East: From progress during the cradle of civilization to neglected current history
Authors: Bannazadeh Baghi Hossein , Rupprecht Charles E.
Published: November 2020

Rabies is a historical scourge as well as one of the most neglected infectious diseases. While the developed world has rolled back dog‐mediated human rabies, thanks to social interventions and modern rabies vaccines, African and Asian countries still struggle with a significant burden due to this viral zoonosis. The Middle East, which includes both Asian and African countries, still has localities in which dog‐mediated rabies remains endemic although it is the region that first documented rabies historically. The oldest putative record of this fatal encephalitis may date back at least 4,000 years and is believed to originate from ancient Mesopotamia. In this historical review, we describe rabies through three major time periods (ancient, the Islamic Golden Age and more recent history) of the Middle East. Inarguably, the Middle East experienced great medical development during the Islamic Golden Age. Proof of early rabies prevention, control and proposed treatment strategies existed which we only perceive anew via modern science. Such rabies strategies were neglected severely due in no small part to the influence of Middle Eastern rulers, who steered scholars away from this field to a broader toxicological focus, because they feared assassination from poisoning. Such setbacks are coupled with constant social and political unrest and continuous wars in the Middle East to modern times. This situation leads to an inconstancy in rabies surveillance and reporting of data, neglect of prevention and control strategies, and subsequently a devolvement of rabies management strategies in this unstable region of the world.
Integrative taxonomy reveals hidden cestode diversity in Pimelodus catfishes in the Neotropics
Authors: Alves Philippe V. , de Chambrier Alain , Luque José L. , Scholz Tomáš
Published: November 2020

Proteocephalid tapeworms are the dominant group of endoparasites in siluriform catfishes in South America, but their interrelationships and actual diversity remain poorly understood. Molecular prospecting of proteocephalids found in pimelodid and other catfishes, especially in Pimelodus spp., along with thorough morphological evaluation, revealed high species diversity of these parasites. Using newly obtained sequences of the partial large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA (lsrDNA) and complete mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), phylogenetic relationships of the cestodes of Pimelodus catfishes were assessed and a new genus, Pseudoendorchis gen. n., proposed to accommodate P. auchenipteri comb. n. (type species; formerly Endorchis auchenipteri), P. cristata sp. n. from Pimelodella cristata (Heptapteridae), P. felipei sp. n. from Pimelodus fur, P. souzalimae sp. n. from Pimelodus maculatus and another three putative new species. Members of the new genus can be readily distinguished from all known Neotropical proteocephalids by having a large Mehlis’ gland, representing at least 18% of proglottid width, and the vagina always anterior to the cirrus‐sac. Moreover, all phylogenetic, species discovery and validation analyses support validity of Pseudoendorchis. Combining the lsrDNA + COI sequence data appeared to provide the best resolution in phylogenetic analyses, which may be useful to reduce the uncertainty of the interrelationships among Neotropical proteocephalids.
STUDY ON MECHANICAL AND DURABILITY PROPERTIES OF MIXTURES WITH FLY ASH FROM HONGSA POWER PLANT
Authors: Banchong Nilankham , Saengsoy Warangkana , Tangtermsirikul Somnuk
Published: November 2020

The use of fly ash in concrete improves several characteristics of conventional cement-based pastes, mortars, and concrete such as reduces heat of hydration, increases strength in long-term and enhances durability. However, types and volume of fly ash affect behavior of resulting pastes, mortars and concrete. In this study, the characteristics of pastes, mortars, and concrete with 20% and 30% binder replacement with a Hongsa fly ash from Laos (FAH3) and two fly ashes from Thailand (FAM and FAB) were studied. Further, mechanical and durability properties of Hongsa fly ash mortars and concrete are investigated through specific gravity, Blaine fineness, normal consistency, setting times, water requirement, strength index, slump and slump retention, compressive strength of concrete with a fixed slump, compressive strength of concrete with a fixed w/b of 0.5, semi-adiabatic temperature, total shrinkage, carbonation depth, H2SO4 acid resistance, rapid chloride penetration (RCP) and chloride distribution. The experimental results show that the Hongsa fly ash contains large amount of non-spherical particles with coarse cavities, leading to high surface area and high Blaine fineness value. Accordingly, Hongsa fly ash was found to have high water requirement. In comparison to the ordinary Portland cement type I (OPC) and Mae Moh fly ash (FAM), the Hongsa fly ash was found to generate lower heat. As a result, the Hongsa fly ash shows its potential in the application of mass concrete. Similarly, the Hongsa fly ash mortar exhibited the lowest carbonation depth when compared to the FAM and FAB mortars. In term of RCPT and chloride distribution test, the Hongsa fly ash concrete shows the lowest Cl⁻ penetrability when compared with Portland cement type I (OPC) concrete, FAM and FAB concretes. Based on the experimental results, the Hongsa fly ash was found to be applicable in concrete works.
PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF MACERATED ALPINIA GALANGA STEMS AND LEAVES
Authors: Nadzir Masrina Mohd , Idris Farhana Nazira , Yi Chin Jing
Published: November 2020

Alpinia galanga (A. galanga) is a popular culinary ingredient as well as medicinal herb commonly found in Southeast Asia. Compared to the rhizome of A. galanga, the leaves and stems are always being discarded as waste. In this research, active compounds from the stem and leaves of this plant were extracted using maceration technique with ethanol as solvent at a liquid-solid ratio of 20 ml/g. The influence of maceration time and maceration temperature on total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities of extract were studied using Folin-Ciocalteu assay and DPPH radical scavenging assay, respectively. The maceration time was from 1 to 5 hr and the maceration temperature was examined from 40 ºC to 70 ºC. Crude extract yield for stems and leaves obtained for all parameters of the maceration process was ˃11%. The highest TPC for leaves was obtained at 1 hr (0.038± 0.02 mg GAE/mg DW) and stems at 4 hr (0.024 ± 0.01 mg GAE/mg DW). Similar trend was also observed for antioxidant activity where the highest antioxidant activity obtained for leaves was at 1 hr (IC50=0.136 ± 0.01 mg/ml) and for stems was at 4 hr (IC50=0.320 ± 0.07 mg/ml). Maceration time however, has no significant influence on TPC (p>0.09) and antioxidant activity (p>0.16) of A. galanga. In terms of temperature, the highest TPC was recorded at 70 ºC for both leaves (0.034 ± 0.003 mg GAE/mg DW) and stems (0.019 ± 0.005 mg GAE/mg DW), while the highest antioxidant activity was from sample extracted at 40 ºC for both leaves (IC50 = 0.076 ± 0.05 mg/ml) and stems (IC50 = 0.454 ± 0.16 mg/ml). The best maceration conditions, considering from the antioxidant activity, for both leaves and stems of A. galanga were concluded at 1 hr and 40 ºC in the viewpoint of both extract quality, energy and cost efficiency.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CALCITE NANO-PARTICLE DERIVED FROM COCKLE SHELL FOR CLINICAL APPLICATION
Authors: Tram Nguyen Xuan Thanh
Published: November 2020

Calcite nano-particle is suggested as an extremely effective material in the biomedical due to their shape, non-toxic properties and being easily metabolized by cells. In clinical application, calcite nano- particle has to be useful for recovering the surface of tooth. The surface of tooth was often damaged due to wrong tooth care treatment, dental caries and periodontal disease. Because of tooth surface destruction, it could lead to dental hypersensitivity. It is desirable to find a suitable source for supplying calcium to fill in dentinal tubules and later regenerate the tooth surface. This study demonstrated the synthesis and characterization of calcite nano-particle for its application in dental hypersensitivity treatment. Cockleshell was found to be a suitable source to synthesize calcite. Using cockleshell as raw materials to produce calcite nanoparticle is meaningful for both environmental protection and biomedical application. Therefore, in this study, calcite nano-particle was synthesized using cockleshell as a reproducibility source of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and chitosan as a size-reducing agent. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize phase composition of raw materials, as-prepared powder and calcined powder. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to evaluate the size and morphology of powder. Results indicated that calcite nano-particle with size about 50-100 nm could be obtained. It would be expected to consider for further studies in clinical application.
Piezo1 channels mediate trabecular meshwork mechanotransduction and promote aqueous fluid outflow
Authors: Yarishkin Oleg , Phuong Tam T. T. , Baumann Jackson M. , De Ieso Michael L. , Vazquez‐Chona Felix , Rudzitis Christopher N. , Sundberg Chad , Lakk Monika , Stamer W. Daniel , Križaj David
Published: November 2020

Key points

Trabecular meshwork (TM) is a highly mechanosensitive tissue in the eye that regulates intraocular pressure through the control of aqueous humour drainage.

Its dysfunction underlies the progression of glaucoma but neither the mechanisms through which TM cells sense pressure nor their role in aqueous humour outflow are understood at the molecular level.

We identified the Piezo1 channel as a key TM transducer of tensile stretch, shear flow and pressure.

Its activation resulted in intracellular signals that altered organization of the cytoskeleton and cell‐extracellular matrix contacts and modulated the trabecular component of aqueous outflow whereas another channel, TRPV4, mediated a delayed mechanoresponse.

This study helps elucidate basic mechanotransduction properties that may contribute to intraocular pressure regulation in the vertebrate eye.

Chronic elevations in intraocular pressure (IOP) can cause blindness by compromising the function of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells in the anterior eye, but how these cells sense and transduce pressure stimuli is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate functional expression of two mechanically activated channels in human TM cells. Pressure‐induced cell stretch evoked a rapid increase in transmembrane current that was inhibited by antagonists of the mechanogated channel Piezo1, Ruthenium Red and GsMTx4, and attenuated in Piezo1‐deficient cells. The majority of TM cells exhibited a delayed stretch‐activated current that was mediated independently of Piezo1 by TRPV4 (transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 4) channels. Piezo1 functions as the principal TM transducer of physiological levels of shear stress, with both shear and the Piezo1 agonist Yoda1 increasing the number of focal cell‐matrix contacts. Analysis of TM‐dependent fluid drainage from the anterior eye showed significant inhibition by GsMTx4. Collectively, these results suggest that TM mechanosensitivity utilizes kinetically, regulatory and functionally distinct pressure transducers to inform the cells about force‐sensing contexts. Piezo1‐dependent control of shear flow sensing, calcium homeostasis, cytoskeletal dynamics and pressure‐dependent outflow suggests potential for a novel therapeutic target in treating glaucoma.
Automated extraction of dolphin whistles—A sequential Monte Carlo probability hypothesis density approach
Authors: Gruden Pina , White Paul R.
Published: November 2020

The need for automated methods to detect and extract marine mammal vocalizations from acoustic data has increased in the last few decades due to the increased availability of long-term recording systems. Automated dolphin whistle extraction represents a challenging problem due to the time-varying number of overlapping whistles present in, potentially, noisy recordings. Typical methods utilize image processing techniques or single target tracking, but often result in fragmentation of whistle contours and/or partial whistle detection. This study casts the problem into a more general statistical multi-target tracking framework and uses the probability hypothesis density filter as a practical approximation to the optimal Bayesian multi-target filter. In particular, a particle version, referred to as a sequential Monte Carlo probability hypothesis density (SMC-PHD) filter, is adapted for frequency tracking and specific models are developed for this application. Based on these models, two versions of the SMC-PHD filter are proposed and the performance of these versions is investigated on an extensive real-world dataset of dolphin acoustic recordings. The proposed filters are shown to be efficient tools for automated extraction of whistles, suitable for real-time implementation.
Transmission heterogeneities, kinetics, and controllability of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Sun Kaiyuan , Wang Wei , Gao Lidong , Wang Yan , Luo Kaiwei , Ren Lingshuang , Zhan Zhifei , Chen Xinghui , Zhao Shanlu , Huang Yiwei , Sun Qianlai , Liu Ziyan , Litvinova Maria , Vespignani Alessandro , Ajelli Marco , Viboud Cécile , Yu Hongjie
Published: November 2020

Time and intimacy drive transmission

A minority of people infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmit most infections. How does this happen? Sun
et al.
reconstructed transmission in Hunan, China, up to April 2020. Such detailed data can be used to separate out the relative contribution of transmission control measures aimed at isolating individuals relative to population-level distancing measures. The authors found that most of the secondary transmissions could be traced back to a minority of infected individuals, and well over half of transmission occurred in the presymptomatic phase. Furthermore, the duration of exposure to an infected person combined with closeness and number of household contacts constituted the greatest risks for transmission, particularly when lockdown conditions prevailed. These findings could help in the design of infection control policies that have the potential to minimize both virus transmission and economic strain.

Science
, this issue p.
eabe2424
The Future of Antifungal Drug Therapy: Novel Compounds and Targets
Authors: Mota Fernandes Caroline , Dasilva Deveney , Haranahalli Krupanandan , McCarthy J. Brian , Mallamo John , Ojima Iwao , Del Poeta Maurizio
Published: November 2020

Fungal infections are a universal problem and are routinely associated with high morbidity and mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. Existing therapies comprise five different classes of antifungal agents, four of which target the synthesis of ergosterol and cell wall glucans.