bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical findings for dogs undergoing elective and nonelective cholecystectomies for gall bladder mucoceles
Authors: Friesen S. L. , Upchurch D. A. , Hollenbeck D. L. , Roush J. K.
Published: February 2021

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to describe elective and nonelective post‐cholecystectomy complications and mortality rates in dogs with a gall bladder mucocele. The secondary purpose was to report complications and mortality rates for different methods of common bile duct catheterisation.

Materials and Methods

A multi‐institutional retrospective case series was performed to identify dogs with a gall bladder mucocele between 2004 and 2018 that underwent a cholecystectomy. Dogs were classified into nonelective or elective based on the presence or absence, respectively, of gall bladder rupture, biliary duct distension, clinical signs or hyperbilirubinemia. Each cholecystectomy was classified into three groups: duodenotomy and retrograde catheterisation, normograde catheterisation or no catheterisation. Complications were divided into four grades based on increasing severity and mortality rates were assessed for each.

Results

The mortality rate was 2 (6%) out of 31 for dogs undergoing an elective cholecystectomy and 21 (23%) out of 90 for dogs undergoing a nonelective cholecystectomy. The complication rate was 52% for the elective cholecystectomy and 50% for nonelective cholecystectomy. The majority of the complications in the elective category were grade 1 (mild). Post‐operative hyperthermia developed in 35% of dogs that had a duodenotomy and retrograde common bile duct catheterisation, in 4% of dogs with a normograde common bile duct catheterisation and in 7% of dogs that did not have the common bile duct catheterised.

Clinical Significance

Elective cholecystectomy in dogs with a gall bladder mucocele in this study carried a low mortality rate and a relatively high frequency of minor complications.
Hepatitis C treatment in a co‐located mental health and alcohol and drug service using a nurse‐led model of care
Authors: Harney Brendan L. , Brereton Rebecca , Whitton Bradley , Pietrzak Danusia , Paige Emma , Roberts Stuart K. , Birks Susanne , Saraf Sudeep , Hellard Margaret E. , Doyle Joseph S.
Published: February 2021

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is more prevalent among people with experience of severe mental illness compared to the general population, due in part to higher levels of injecting drug use. Delivering HCV care through mental health services may reduce barriers to care and improve outcomes. A nurse‐led HCV program was established in a co‐located mental health and addiction service in Melbourne, Australia. People with a history of injecting drug use, including current use, were referred for HCV testing by nurses, with support provided on‐site from a general practitioner and remotely from infectious disease and hepatology specialists. A nurse practitioner, general practitioner or specialists were able to prescribe HCV treatment. One‐hundred and thirty people were referred to the nurse‐led service, among whom 112 (86%) were engaged in care. Of those 112, 84 (75%) were found to have detectable HCV RNA, 70 (83%) commenced treatment; 28 (40%) prescriptions were nurse initiated, 19 (27%) were general practitioner initiated and 20 (29%) were prescribed from hospital clinics or elsewhere. All people with an SVR result (48/70) achieved HCV cure (intention to treat SVR 69%, per‐protocol SVR 100%). Treatment commencement was highest among people prescribed opioid agonist therapy (28/29, 96%) compared to those who were not (18/26, 69%). In conclusion, a nurse‐led, HCV service for people with severe mental illness including pathways to specialist support when needed can achieve high treatment uptake and cure. Further implementation work is required to improve treatment uptake, particularly among people not prescribed opioid agonist therapy, and to improve follow‐up for SVR testing.
Analytical validation of hepatitis B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg) using dried blood spots (DBS)
Authors: Shimakawa Yusuke , Vernoux Laura , Gabassi Audrey , Mercier‐Delarue Séverine , Vincent Jeanne Perpétue , Simon François , Maylin Sarah
Published: February 2021

Limited access to nucleic acid testing (NAT) to quantify HBV DNA levels, an essential tool to determine anti‐HBV treatment eligibility, represents a significant barrier to scale up HBV diagnostic services in resource‐limited countries. Hepatitis B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg) has the potential to become an affordable alternative because of its low cost (US$ <15/assay) and strong correlation with HBV DNA levels in treatment‐naïve patients. However, the current assay requires plasma or serum. To further facilitate its application to decentralized settings, we developed and evaluated a standardized procedure to quantify HBcrAg using dried blood spots as a tool to diagnose HBV‐infected people with high viraemia. We evaluated the following elution method optimized to quantify HBcrAg: suspension of a punched blood‐soaked disc (11 mm) of Whatman 903 Protein Saver Card in 450 µL of PBS 0.05% Tween 20, followed by an incubation for 4 h at room temperature and a centrifugation at 10,000 g for 10 minutes. 150 µL of DBS eluate was used to quantify HBcrAg using chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (LUMIPULSE® G600II, Fujirebio). The limit of detection of dried blood spot HBcrAg in relation with HBV DNA levels was 19,115 IU/mL across the five major HBV genotypes (A/B/C/D/E). A strong linear correlation was confirmed between dried blood spot HBcrAg and HBV DNA levels (r = 0.94, p < 0.0001) in samples with high viral loads (range: 3.7–7.0 log IU/mL). The coefficient of variation ranged between 4.0–11.2% for repeatability and 3.9–12.2% for reproducibility. Analytical specificity was 100% (95% CI: 83.9–100%) in HBV‐negative samples. Using our elution method, it may be possible to identify HBV‐infected patients with high viraemia who need antiviral therapy using dried blood spot and HBcrAg. A large‐scale clinical validation is warranted in resource‐limited countries.
Clinical effects of NTCP‐inhibitor myrcludex B
Authors: Cheng Dongliang , Han Bing , Zhang Wei , Wu Wei
Published: February 2021

With extensive research on the pathogenesis and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections, the current treatment of interferon and nucleoside or nucleotide analogues provides reasonable control of viral replication in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, drug resistance may occur as a result of long‐term treatment, and continuous covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) can cause disease relapse after drug withdrawal. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safe and effective antiviral drugs or methods to treat HBV and HDV infections. Myrcludex B is the first entry inhibitor that can inactivate HBV and HDV receptors, compete with HBV for the sodium‐taurocholate co‐transporting polypeptide, which has been identified as the bona fide receptor for HBV and HDV, block HBV infection in hepatocytes, and participate in HBV transcriptional suppression. Myrcludex B plays an important role in the inhibition of HBV replication and is a potential drug for phase III clinical trials. In this article, we review the progress on the efficacy and clinical application of myrcludex B in recent years.
Reduction in hepatitis C‐related hospitalizations after the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Tackling Hepatitis C in the Spanish National Health System: regional level differences
Authors: Vegas Juan José , Flores‐Herrera Javier , Latasa Pello , Garrido‐Estepa Macarena
Published: February 2021

This work evaluates the potential impact at territorial level of the Strategic Plan for Tackling Hepatitis C in the Spanish National Health System on hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐associated hospitalizations. Chronic HCV‐related hospitalization discharges from 2014 to 2018 were obtained from the National Registry of Hospitalisations. A descriptive analysis of the hospitalizations was performed for all chronic, advanced liver disease and non‐advanced liver disease. Hospitalization rates were calculated at national and regional level. Year 2015 and period 2016–2018 hospitalization rates were compared to 2014 hospitalization rates using a Poisson model. Municipal standardized hospitalization rates ratios adjusted by age‐group were calculated for 2016–2018 period (2014 hospitalization rates as reference). From 2014 to 2018, there were 22,352 chronic HCV‐related hospitalizations. In‐hospital fatality rate was 4.3% for non‐advanced liver disease and 11.7% for advanced liver disease patients. National hospitalization rate decreased 22% (95% CI: 21%–22%), 16% (95% CI: 15%–17%) and 34% (95% CI: 33%–35%) in 2016–2018 compared to 2014 for all chronic, non‐advanced and advanced liver disease, respectively. During 2016–2018 period, 11/19 Spanish regions achieved >20% decrease in the hospitalization rates (p < .001) for non‐advanced liver disease and 19/19 (except Melilla, the rest with p < .001) for advanced liver disease. At municipal level, 84.8% and 90.2% municipalities had <20% of chronic HCV‐related hospitalization need compared to 2014 adjusted by age‐group. Based on the data analysed, a high impact on reducing chronic HCV‐associated hospitalizations have been achieved after the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Tackling Hepatitis C in the Spanish National Health System. However, small differences between regions and rural/urban areas were noticed.
Effectiveness of direct‐acting antivirals for chronic hepatitis C treatment in migrant and non‐migrant populations in France
Authors: Djaogol Tchadine , Fontaine Hélène , Baudoin Maël , Protopopescu Camelia , Marcellin Fabienne , Dorival Céline , Simony Mélanie , Petrov‐Sanchez Ventzislava , Bourlière Marc , Delarocque‐Astagneau Elisabeth , Pol Stanislas , Carrat Fabrice , Carrieri Patrizia ,   the ANRS CO22 Hepather study group
Published: February 2021

Despite universal health coverage in France, migrants face specific socioeconomic barriers that increase the likelihood of a suboptimal cascade of care for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and impaired treatment effectiveness in this sub‐population. We selected data collected from 2012 to 2018 from the ANRS CO22 HEPATHER prospective cohort study for chronic HCV participants with available data on treatment failure (defined as the presence of a detectable HCV‐RNA load 12 weeks after their first DAA treatment ended). We performed multivariable Poisson regression models to test whether treatment failure rates differed significantly between HCV‐infected migrants and non‐migrants receiving DAA in France (cross‐sectional analysis), while taking into account the former's world region of birth and other potential social vulnerability factors. Among the study population's 7,879 patients, 5,829 (74%) were non‐migrants and 2,050 (26%) migrants. Median [interquartile range] age was 57 [51‐65] years, 4433 (56%) were men and 369 (5%) of the entire study population had treatment failure. After multivariable adjustment, only migrants from Central Asia were at higher risk of treatment failure than non‐migrants (aIRR = 2.83; 95% CI [1.72, 4.65]). Results from this large‐scale study performed in France suggest a higher risk of DAA treatment failure in migrants from Central Asia than in non‐migrants and confirm the overall low treatment failure rate in chronic HCV patients treated with DAA (whether migrants or not). Simplified models of care taking into account language and cultural barriers are needed to improve DAA effectiveness in migrants from Central Asia.
OrpR is a σ54‐dependent activator using an iron‐sulfur cluster for redox sensing in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough
Authors: Fiévet Anouchka , Merrouch Meriem , Brasseur Gaël , Eve Danaé , Biondi Emanuele G. , Valette Odile , Pauleta Sofia R. , Dolla Alain , Dermoun Zorah , Burlat Bénédicte , Aubert Corinne
Published: February 2021

Enhancer binding proteins (EBPs) are key players of σ54‐regulation that control transcription in response to environmental signals. In the anaerobic microorganism Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH), orp operons have been previously shown to be coregulated by σ54‐RNA polymerase, the integration host factor IHF and a cognate EBP, OrpR. In this study, ChIP‐seq experiments indicated that the OrpR regulon consists of only the two divergent orp operons. In vivo data revealed that (i) OrpR is absolutely required for orp operons transcription, (ii) under anaerobic conditions, OrpR binds on the two dedicated DNA binding sites and leads to high expression levels of the orp operons, (iii) increasing the redox potential of the medium leads to a drastic down‐regulation of the orp operons expression. Moreover, combining functional and biophysical studies on the anaerobically purified OrpR leads us to propose that OrpR senses redox potential variations via a redox‐sensitive [4Fe–4S]2+ cluster in the sensory PAS domain. Overall, the study herein presents the first characterization of a new Fe–S redox regulator belonging to the σ54‐dependent transcriptional regulator family probably advantageously selected by cells adapted to the anaerobic lifestyle to monitor redox stress conditions.
Nationalisation, banal nationalism and everyday nationhood in a dictatorship: The Franco regime in Spain
Authors: Hernández Burgos Claudio
Published: February 2021

This article explores the nature of the process of nationalisation and the construction of nationality in Franco's Spain. Despite that nationalism constituted the principle axis of the narratives and the policies of the Francoist State, there has been scant research into the reach, the channels, and the role of Spaniards in the process of nationalisation. From a starting point of a complex conception of the Francoist national project, this essay seeks to reframe its analysis in light of the theoretical contributions of ‘banal nationalism’ and ‘everyday nationalism’. As such, on the one hand, I intend to make clear the heterogeneity and the dynamism of Francoist nationalism and, on the other, to include individuals within the scene and further, and in particular, to take into account the role of daily experiences and the capacity for agency on the part of Spaniards on the ground, as participants and constructors of the national community.
Population structure of Rosa spinosissima L. on the Frisian Islands and introgression from cultivated material
Authors: Mayland‐Quellhorst Eike , Wissemann Volker
Published: February 2021

Rosa spinosissima L. is part of the highly dynamic coastal habitat of the Wadden Sea, between the coast of northwestern continental Europe and the Frisian Islands. Plants of this species grow clonally via root suckers to form large patches, which stabilize dunes and help to protect the islands and used for this purpose locally on the island Sylt. Rosa spinosissima plants are affected by both water and wind in their harsh environment, and are threatened by human impact via habitat destruction and introduction of foreign species. In these northern parts of its range R. spinosissima is categorized as endangered.

The population structure of R. spinosissima was investigated using ten microsatellite loci and 195 individuals of Frisian Island populations and European coastal continental samples. DAPC, Kmeans and Structure analyses were conducted to study the genetic composition and integrity of these natural populations relative to cultivated and nursery material mostly consisting of central continental genotypes.

The DAPC and Structure analyses differentiated populations of the Frisian Islands between each other and separated them from nursery samples, but some natural populations showing an impact of nursery and cultivated genotypes. In addition, some clonal patches of R. spinosissima were detected. Our results show that the natural Frisian Island populations of R. spinosissima are threatened by the introduction of nonadaptive genotypes into the gene pool.
Identification of QTL for seed yield and agronomic traits in 944 soybean (Glycine max) RILs from a diallel cross of early‐maturing varieties
Authors: Zhu Xintian , Leiser Willmar L. , Hahn Volker , Würschum Tobias
Published: February 2021

Increasing soybean yield plays a key role in meeting the high demand for protein in Europe and other countries. The aim of this study was to dissect the genetic architecture underlying seed yield, plant height, protein yield and thousand‐seed weight in early‐maturing soybean. To this end, we performed QTL mapping based on 944 RILs derived from a half‐diallel crossing design of five parents. We identified five to eight QTL for each of the four agronomic traits and some explained a considerable proportion of the genotypic variance. The three major QTL showed pleiotropic effects on two or more traits. Fine characterization revealed the maturity genes E1 and E3, and the stem growth habit gene Dt2 as likely candidates underlying these QTL. In general, the allele increasing seed yield also resulted in taller plants, which needs to be considered during selection due to an increased risk of lodging. Collectively, our results underline the strong effect of some loci like the E1 gene on a range of traits including seed yield, making them attractive targets for a marker‐assisted selection.
Development of codominant SCAR markers to detect the Pto, Tm22, I3 and Sw5 genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Authors: Zhang Jianbo , Panthee Dilip R.
Published: February 2021

Marker‐assisted selection (MAS) can speed up the plant breeding process and reduce the labour and field costs. The sequence‐characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker allows the elimination of the restriction digestion step. Hence, it is more efficient and reliable than the cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker in gel‐based screening. But we still only have CAPS marker for many tomato disease resistance genes. By comparing the coding region and its flanking sequences of the disease‐resistant genes between the resistant and the susceptible varieties, we designed primers that can amplify fragments with different sizes from these varieties for the Pto, Tm22, Sw5 and I3 genes conferring resistance to bacterial speck (BS), Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Fusarium wilt (FW) race 3, respectively in tomato. We tested these new markers using our tomato breeding lines and hybrids. All the new SCAR markers worked as expected. The fragments' sizes were amplified from the resistant variety, and the susceptible variety is 1,512 and 450 bp for Pto, 885 and 583 bp for Tm22, 521 and 451 bp for Sw5 and 673 and 480 bp for I3 genes. All the new markers are tightly‐linked to the resistant genes; the markers of Pto, Tm22, Sw5 and I3 are 3,306, 4,888, 0 and 8,310 bp from their corresponding coding sequences, respectively. These new markers may be useful for MAS in tomato breeding.
Long‐term adaptation of Arabidopsis thaliana to far‐red light
Authors: Hu Chen , Nawrocki Wojciech J. , Croce Roberta
Published: February 2021

Vascular plants use carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b to harvest solar energy in the visible region (400–700 nm), but they make little use of the far‐red (FR) light. Instead, some cyanobacteria have developed the ability to use FR light by redesigning their photosynthetic apparatus and synthesizing red‐shifted chlorophylls. Implementing this strategy in plants is considered promising to increase crop yield. To prepare for this, a characterization of the FR light‐induced changes in plants is necessary. Here, we explore the behaviour of Arabidopsis thaliana upon exposure to FR light by following the changes in morphology, physiology and composition of the photosynthetic complexes. We found that after FR‐light treatment, the ratio between the photosystems and their antenna size drastically readjust in an attempt to rebalance the energy input to support electron transfer. Despite a large increase in PSBS accumulation, these adjustments result in strong photoinhibition when FR‐adapted plants are exposed to light again. Crucially, FR light‐induced changes in the photosynthetic membrane are not the result of senescence, but are a response to the excitation imbalance between the photosystems. This indicates that an increase in the FR absorption by the photosystems should be sufficient for boosting photosynthetic activity in FR light.
Induced pluripotent stem cells from urine of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients
Authors: Ghori Fareeha Faizan , Wahid Mohsin
Published: February 2021

Background

The most common muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), is a lethal, X‐linked disorder with no widespread cure. Worldwide, in vitro studies involving new, mutation‐specific cures and regenerative therapies are employing disease‐specific patient‐specific cells. However, these may not be completely relevant for Pakistani children because of the human genome diversities and geographic variation in mutation type and frequency. Therefore, this study aimed to generate DMD induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from the urine of Pakistani children with DMD, to serve as a precious source of differentiated cells, such as Pakistani DMD‐cardiomyocytes, for future disease‐modelling, drug testing, and gene therapy.

Methods

Urine‐derived cells (UDCs) isolated from mid‐stream urine underwent molecular characterization and cellular reprogramming towards iPSCs using the episomal vector system followed by molecular profiling of the iPSCs.

Results

Colonies of elongated and spindle‐shaped or rounded rice‐grain like UDCs were spotted 4–7 days after plating and expanded rapidly with a second passage at 2–3 weeks. Multicolor flow cytometry confirmed the expression of mesenchymal stem‐cell markers. The reprogramed iPSCs consisted of colonies of round, tightly‐packed cells with large nuclei that were positively fluorescent for the pluripotency markers octamer binding transcription factor‐4 (OCT‐4), tumour resistance antigen 1–60 (TRA‐1‐60), and stage specific embryonic 4 antigen (SSEA‐4), but not for the negative pluripotency marker SSEA‐1. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first time DMD‐iPSCs have been generated for Pakistani children.

Conclusion

This integration‐free, feeder‐free, efficient, and reproducible reprogramming method employed UDCs. Urine is a low‐cost, non‐invasive, painless, and repeatable source of rapidly expandable cells from children and morbid individuals for obtaining autologous cells for drug‐assays and disease‐modelling, suitable for DMD and other debilitating diseases.
Meanings of suicidal behavior from the perspective of primary care professionals
Authors: de Almeida Aline Siqueira , Silva Aline Conceição , Almeida de Moura André , Miasso Adriana Inocenti , Graziani Giacchero Vedana Kelly
Published: February 2021

Objective

To explore the meaning of suicidal behavior from the perspective of family health professionals.

Method

A qualitative study developed during 2017–2018 with 18 primary care professionals from a Brazilian municipality. Grounded theory was used as the methodological framework. Semi‐oriented interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed by open, axial, and selective coding.

Findings

The professionals perceived themselves as unprepared, emotionally affected, and fearful to work in suicide prevention, prioritizing the referral of people to specialized services regardless of the severity of the situation. Suicide was represented as both a choice and a condition of vulnerability, being more reprehensible when associated with individual choice.

Conclusion

We identified beliefs related to suicidal behavior that could affect the care of people at risk. Our findings reinforce the need for education and training in the prevention of suicidal behavior in primary care.
Restoring riparian forest in the Atlantic Forest: does planting seedlings make a difference?
Authors: Inhamuns Marília Cumaru , de Souza Rezende Renan , Coelho Geraldo Ceni
Published: February 2021

Planting seedlings remains the most popular method of forest restoration, but passive restoration may become a new promise to reduce costs, despite concerns about its efficacy. Here, we present a study of a riparian forest recovery program in the Southern Atlantic Forest, Brazil. The objective was to compare planting seedlings and passive restoration eight years since restoration started and assess the influence of cattle presence in the restoring areas. We analyzed the structure, diversity, and composition of the woody community in the upper (canopy) and lower strata (understory) versus six environmental variables, including edaphic, landscape and geographical variables, restoration method (planting seedlings versus passive restoration), presence of cattle inside the restoration areas, and presence of adjacent crop plantations. Passive restoration generated a more diverse woody community and a higher proportion of climax and zoochoric species in the lower stratum than active restoration. Cattle presence was significantly associated with lower species richness and density of plants, as well as a higher proportion of pioneer species and low proportion of zoochoric and climax species. The results suggest that cattle can delay forest succession, besides reducing diversity. Passive restoration should be considered suitable for the region, and the efficiency of cattle exclusion needs to be improved.
Comparison of nurse effect zones of shrubs versus trees for dryland rehabilitation in Northeast China
Authors: Miyasaka Takafumi , Miyamori Eriko , Okuro Toshiya , Zhao Xueyong , Takeuchi Kazuhiko
Published: February 2021

Nurse plants can form islands of fertility to rehabilitate degraded land. Areas outside plant canopies may not recover as much as areas under canopies, but the spatial extent of nurse plants' beneficial impacts is not fully understood. This study aimed to quantify the spatial and temporal aggregate nurse effects (zones of influence) of shrubs compared with trees planted for land rehabilitation in a desertified region of Inner Mongolia, China. We conducted vegetation surveys in pairs of replicate 20 × 20 m plots, each subdivided into 100 subplots (each 2 × 2 m), on four types of rehabilitation sites: shrub (Caragana microphylla) plantation sites managed for 6 or 24 years and tree (Populus simonii) plantation sites managed for 5 or 24 years. Surface soil physiochemical properties and litter amount were also measured inside and outside of nine canopies on each site. The aggregate nurse effects of improved understory vegetation and surface soil conditions extended beyond the canopies of individual plants in C. microphylla and P. simonii plantations. However, these effects were more concentrated under the canopies of C. microphylla, whereas the effects under P. simonii were spread evenly over the plantation site. This difference resulted in faster rehabilitation at the site scale in P. simonii plantations. A major factor contributing to the higher rehabilitation performance of P. simonii appeared to be larger plant height, which provides greater windbreak and shading effects compared to shrubs. Xerophytic native trees that require less water than P. simonii may be a better option for rehabilitation.
An Updated Economic Analysis of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Authors: Thompson Kimberly M. , Kalkowska Dominika A.
Published: February 2021

Despite a strong global commitment, polio eradication efforts continue now more than 30 years after the 1988 World Health Assembly resolution that established the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), and 20 years after the original target of the year 2000. Prior health economic analyses estimated incremental net benefits of the GPEI of 40–50 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars (US$2008, equivalent to 48–59 billion US$2019), assuming the achievement of polio eradication by 2012. Given the delays in achieving polio eradication and increased costs, we performed an updated economic analysis of the GPEI using an updated integrated global model, and considering the GPEI trajectory as of the beginning of 2020. Applying similar methods and assuming eradication achievement in 2023, we estimate incremental net benefits of the GPEI of 28 billion US$2019, which falls below the prior estimate. Delays in achieving polio eradication combined with the widescale introduction of relatively expensive inactivated poliovirus vaccine significantly increased the costs of the GPEI and make it less cost‐effective, although the GPEI continues to yield expected incremental net benefits at the global level when considered over the time horizon of 1988–2029. The overall health and financial benefits of the GPEI will depend on whether and when the GPEI can achieve its goals, when eradication occurs, the valuation method applied, and the path dependence of the actions taken. Reduced expected incremental net benefits of the GPEI and the substantial economic impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic pose large financial risks for the GPEI.
The Benefits and Costs of Cybersecurity Risk Reduction: A Dynamic Extension of the Gordon and Loeb Model
Authors: Krutilla Kerry , Alexeev Alexander , Jardine Eric , Good David
Published: February 2021

This article develops a dynamic extension of the classic model of cybersecurity investment formulated by Gordon and Loeb. In this dynamic model, results are influenced by the rate at which cybersecurity assets depreciate and the rate of return on investment. Depreciation costs are lower in the dynamic model than is implicitly assumed in the classic model, while the rate‐of‐return threshold is higher. On balance, the user cost of cybersecurity assets is lower in the dynamic model than is implicitly assumed in the classic model. This difference increases the economically efficient size of the cybersecurity system in value terms, increasing the efficient level of risk reduction.
Does piped water improve adolescent health? Empirical evidence from rural China
Authors: Dong Jie , Zhang Kuan , Yin Xiguo , Li Houjian , Koondhar Mansoor Ahmed
Published: February 2021

The research on the protective effect of piped water on young children has been documented in developing countries. However, little is known about the effect of access to piped water (APW) on adolescent health. Based on China Education Panel Survey (CEPS) baseline data for 9,204 adolescents in rural China, we examine the causal effect of APW on adolescent health by employing a control function with ordered probit (CF‐oprobit) model. We find that the availability of piped water in rural households can significantly improve the adolescent health status and also that the effect of piped water on adolescent health is heterogeneous in different subgroups. The protective effect is more pronounced among minorities (rather than Han nationalities), the only‐child families, and left‐behind children during the preschool years. Consequently, piped water programs have irreplaceable significance in improving adolescent health in rural China. Furthermore, policy‐makers should pay more attention to households of ethnic minorities, left‐behind children, and other vulnerable groups in their implementation.
The Greenwood statistic, stochastic dominance, clustering and heavy tails
Authors: Arendarczyk Marek , Kozubowski Tomasz J. , Panorska Anna K.
Published: February 2021

The Greenwood statistic Tn and its functions, including sample coefficient of variation, often arise in testing exponentiality or detecting clustering or heterogeneity. We provide a general result describing stochastic behavior of Tn in response to stochastic behavior of the sample data. Our result provides a rigorous base for constructing tests and assuring that confidence regions are actually intervals for the tail parameter of many power‐tail distributions. We also present a result explaining the connection between clustering and heaviness of tail for several classes of distributions and its extension to general heavy tailed families. Our results provide theoretical justification for Tn being an effective and commonly used statistic discriminating between regularity/uniformity and clustering in presence of heavy tails in applied sciences. We also note that the use of Greenwood statistic as a measure of heterogeneity or clustering is limited to data with large outliers, as opposed to those close to zero.
Carbon dioxide emissions at local scale linked to soil heterotrophic activity from an experimentally simulated drained peatland in Western Patagonia (Tierra del Fuego, Chile)
Authors: Córdova Carolin , Garrido‐Ruiz Claudia , Machuca Ángela , Zagal Erick , Orrego Raúl , Finot Victor
Published: February 2021

Greenhouse gas emissions from managed peatlands have not been extensively studied in Western Patagonia. The objective of this study was to assess the annual CO2 emission from microbial carbon (C) mineralization in a peatland site under not saturated conditions at Tierra del Fuego. The annual CO2 emissions were measured from unsaturated soil samples (n = 41) under soil incubation at seasonal local temperatures to simulate CO2 emissions for a year, using a non‐dispersive infrared gas analyser. Spatial models for total soil C and CO2 were calculated using discrete and continuous variables. The annual mean of measured cumulative CO2 was 1,358 µg CO2 g soil−1, lower than Northern peatlands, and 82% of the C mineralization occurred in the warmer season. The modelled CO2 in the warmer season showed levels of CO2 as high as 4 mg CO2 g soil−1, but 66% of the area showed between 600–2000 µg CO2 g soil−1, which is 28%–92% and 9%–32% of CO2 values reported for crop rotations. Consequently, after a potential habilitation of the study area for agricultural use, the soil CO2 emissions from heterotrophic activity would become a C source to the global CO2 emissions. This ecosystem is highly exposed to the effects of the land‐use change, and global temperature increase.
Transport and transformation of microplastics and nanoplastics in the soil environment: A critical review
Authors: Liu Yuan , Shao Heng , Liu Jingnan , Cao Runzi , Shang Enxiang , Liu Shengdong , Li Yang
Published: February 2021

Soil pollution by microplastics (MPs, 0.1 μm ~ 5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs, ≤0.1 μm) has drawn much attention in recent years due to its potential ecological and human health risks; however, there are very limited studies and a general lack of consensus regarding the transport and transformation of MPs/NPs in soil environment. This review critically discusses the environmental behaviour of soil MPs/NPs, including the homo‐aggregation or hetero‐aggregation with other particles, sorption of pollutants and the photoaging process. The physicochemical property change of aggregated and aged MPs and its effect on the transport of other pollutants in soil has also been reviewed. Critical factors that affect the fate of MPs/NPs, including the physicochemical properties of MPs/NPs, physicochemical properties of soil and environmental factors, are reviewed to understand the latest progress in the environmental behaviour of soil MPs. Finally, we identify important research gaps, which include standard uniformity of quantification method, transformation mechanism elucidation and long‐term field studies. The review provides an overview of current findings for transport and transformation of MPs/NPs in natural soil environment and gives comments for future work.
Transcriptional and epigenetic analysis reveals that NAC transcription factors regulate fruit flavor ester biosynthesis
Authors: Cao Xiangmei , Wei Chunyan , Duan Wenyi , Gao Ying , Kuang Jianfei , Liu Mingchun , Chen Kunsong , Klee Harry , Zhang Bo
Published: February 2021

Flavor‐associated volatile chemicals make major contributions to consumers’ perception of fruits. Although great progress has been made in establishing the metabolic pathways associated with volatile synthesis, much less is known about the regulation of those pathways. Knowledge of how those pathways are regulated would greatly facilitate efforts to improve flavor. Volatile esters are major contributors to fruity flavor notes in many species, providing a good model to investigate the regulation of volatile synthesis pathways. Here we initiated a study of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) fruits, and identified that the alcohol acyltransferase PpAAT1 contributes to ester formation. We next identified the transcription factor (TF) PpNAC1 as an activator of PpAAT1 expression and ester production. These conclusions were based on in vivo and in vitro experiments and validated by correlation in a panel of 30 different peach cultivars. Based on homology between PpNAC1 and the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) TF NONRIPENING (NOR), we identified a parallel regulatory pathway in tomato. Overexpression of PpNAC1 enhances ripening in a nor mutant and restores synthesis of volatile esters in tomato fruits. Furthermore, in the NOR‐deficient mutant tomatoes generated by CRISPR/Cas9, lower transcript levels of SlAAT1 were detected. The apple (Malus domestica) homolog MdNAC5 also stimulates MdAAT1 expression via binding to this gene’s promoter. In addition to transcriptional control, epigenetic analysis showed that increased expression of NACs and AATs is associated with removal of the repressive mark H3K27me3 during fruit ripening. Our results support a conserved molecular mechanism in which NAC TFs activate ripening‐related AAT expression, which in turn catalyzes volatile ester formation in multiple fruit species.
Recurrent corneal hemangiosarcoma in a cat with subsequent extension into the orbit
Authors: Boo Gladys , Caruso Kelly A. , Whittaker Cameron J. G. , Smith Jeffrey S. , Lurie David , Nguyen Sandra
Published: February 2021

A 7‐year‐old neutered female Domestic Short‐haired cat was presented for evaluation of ulceration and severe vascularization of the left cornea. Ophthalmic examination revealed a large red irregular mass over the whole cornea in the left eye. A lamellar keratectomy was performed. Histopathology revealed a chronic lymphoplasmacytic, histocytic, neutrophilic ulcerative keratitis with fibrosis and vascularization. The tumor recurred within 3 months, and another lamellar keratectomy and sclerotomy were performed. The lesion was diagnosed histopathologically as a hemangiosarcoma with incomplete margins. The mass recurred locally 6 weeks later, and an enucleation was performed. Histopathology revealed infiltration of the limbus and connective tissue beyond the sclera. Seven weeks later, a fluctuant swelling was found in the left orbit. Computed tomography confirmed a soft tissue attenuating mass measuring 33 x 24 mm diameter in the orbit. There was no sign of metastasis. Clinical remission was achieved with combined chemotherapy with doxorubicin and radiation therapy. The patient remained in clinical remission 20 months post‐chemotherapy.
Game theory model for a virtual water strategy: Scenarios under rational and semirational game play
Authors: Zhi Yuan , Hamilton Paul B. , Wu Guoyong , Hong Ni , Sun Yuanyuan , Liang Longyue
Published: February 2021

The virtual water strategy (VWS) provides a theoretically feasible method to transport virtual water (VW) and balance regional differences in water resource endowments. However, the practical implementation of VWS faces selective resistance due to the lack of research in motivation analysis across potential executor regions. Game theory provides a new approach to study the decision‐making mechanism and behavioural motivation in the implementation of VWS. This study builds some semiquantitative game models to analyse the regions’ potential acceptance of VWS in decision‐making, especially concerning economic development, water sustainability, and trade patterns. The result shows the factors like external incentives and stability of game can affect the payoffs and strategy selections on VWS in rational and semirational games. To achieve a mutual benefit equilibrium towards an effective VWS framework, improvement efforts could include mechanisms for rewards or punishments, promoting long‐term cooperation, and promulgation and education.
Effect of treatment with carvacrol and aerobic training on cardiovascular function in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Costa Herikson Araujo , Dias Carlos José Moraes , Martins Vicenilma de Andrade , de Araujo Sandra Alves , da Silva Daiane Pereira , Mendes Vinícius S. , de Oliveira Mário Norberto Sevilio , Mostarda Cristiano Teixeira , Borges Antônio Carlos Romão , Ribeiro Rachel Melo , Filho Natalino Salgado
Published: February 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Can two non‐drug therapies, carvacrol and aerobic physical training, together have additive effects on the reduction of cardiovascular risks and control of arterial hypertension?

What is the main finding and its importance?

The oral use of carvacrol (20 mg/kg/day) can control sustained hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and when this use is associated with aerobic physical training, there is a more pronounced effect on the reduction of blood pressure values, making these therapies an adjunct option in the drug treatment of hypertension.

Systemic arterial hypertension is considered the foremost cardiovascular risk factor, and it is important to examine different therapies that help prevent and treat it, especially when associated with other cardiovascular risk factors. In this context, it is known that both carvacrol and aerobic physical training benefit the cardiovascular system. This study investigated the effects of treatment with carvacrol combined with aerobic exercise on hypertensive rats with cardiovascular risk parameters. We used an experimental design with six groups: normotensive control (Wistar rats); hypertensive control (spontaneously hypertensive rats, SHR); positive control rats treated with amlodipine (Aml‐20 mg); rats treated with carvacrol (Carv‐20 mg); rats trained with exercise (Exer); and rats treated with carvacrol and exercise (ExerCarv). The treatment lasted for 4 weeks, monitoring heart rate and systolic blood pressure (SBP). At the end of the treatment, vascular reactivity tests were performed in addition to biochemical measurements of urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, atherogenic indexes, relative heart weight and histopathological analysis of cardiac perivascular tissue. Significant reductions in SBP were observed after the training period, with the ExerCarv group showing a greater magnitude of reduction (∆SBP = 88 ± 10.0 mmHg, 42%). This group also experienced reductions in atherogenic indices and improvement in all analysed lipid parameters, with no differences observed in the Exer group. The findings indicated that the interaction between aerobic exercise and carvacrol offers a greater BP reduction. Exercise is particularly effective for controlling biochemical parameters of cardiovascular risk, regardless of carvacrol use.
The correspondence between EMG and EEG measures of changes in cortical excitability following transcranial magnetic stimulation
Authors: Biabani Mana , Fornito Alex , Coxon James P. , Fulcher Ben D. , Rogasch Nigel C.
Published: February 2021

Key points

TMS is commonly used to study excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission in cortical circuits.

Changes in cortical excitability following TMS are typically measured from hand (using EMG; limited to motor cortex) or scalp (using EEG); however, it is unclear whether these two measures represent the same activity when assessing motor cortex.

We found that TMS‐EMG and TMS‐EEG measures of motor cortex excitability are differentially affected by sensory confounds at different time points, masking any actual relationship between them in the time domain.

In the frequency domain, local high‐frequency oscillations in EEG recordings were minimally confounded by sensory artefacts and demonstrated strong correlations with EMG measures of cortical excitability across time, regardless of TMS intensity or waveform.

Therefore, despite the effects of sensory artefacts, the two measures of motor cortex excitability share a response component, suggesting that they index a similar cortical activity and perhaps the same neuronal population.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a powerful tool for investigating cortical circuits. Changes in cortical excitability following TMS are typically assessed by measuring changes in either conditioned motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) following paired‐pulse TMS over motor cortex or evoked potentials measured with electroencephalography following single‐pulse TMS (TEPs). However, it is unclear whether these two measures of cortical excitability index the same cortical response. Twenty‐four healthy participants received local and interhemispheric paired‐pulse TMS over motor cortex with eight inter‐pulse intervals, sub‐ and suprathreshold conditioning intensities, and two different pulse waveforms, while MEPs were recorded from a hand muscle. TEPs were also recorded in response to single‐pulse TMS using the conditioning pulse alone. The relationships between TEPs and conditioned‐MEPs were evaluated using metrics sensitive to both their magnitude at each time point and their overall shape across time. The impacts of undesired sensory potentials resulting from TMS pulse and muscle contractions were also assessed on both measures. Both conditioned‐MEPs and TEPs were sensitive to re‐afferent somatosensory activity following motor‐evoked responses, but over different post‐stimulus time points. Moreover, the amplitude of low‐frequency oscillations in TEPs was strongly correlated with the sensory potentials, whereas early and local high‐frequency responses showed minimal relationships. Accordingly, conditioned‐MEPs did not correlate with TEPs in the time domain but showed high shape similarity with the amplitude of high‐frequency oscillations in TEPs. Therefore, despite the effects of sensory confounds, the TEP and MEP measures share a response component, suggesting that they index a similar cortical response and perhaps the same neuronal populations.