bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traders in Colonial Brazil: Origins, Strategies, and Networks
Authors: de Souza George Felix Cabral
Published: June 2020

Mercantile groups of colonial Brazil have drawn renewed attention in recent decades as analyses of empirical data have outlined a more complex economic scenario for the Portuguese colonies in Brazil, bringing into sharper focus the range of activities undertaken by businessmen who established themselves in the conquered lands. Acting individually or through large mercantile networks, they were on the front lines of efforts to expand and maintain the colonized areas, as well providing links between the Old and New Worlds, including by trafficking in enslaved Africans. The 18th-century gold boom had a tremendous impact on colonial markets and brought both economic and social consequences for merchants. Although the model of social hierarchization continued to be set by the agrarian elite, large merchants’ access to liquidity, credit mechanisms, and reinvestment opportunities gave them ever greater political weight in the empire’s balance of power. Most merchants in colonial Brazil were natives of Portugal and had to overcome prejudices and resistance to integrate themselves into society. Commercial success was only the first step in a long path that relied on political and family strategies. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, merchants in colonial towns from the north to the south of Brazil had some features in common: they sought symbols of social distinction, they formed and carefully tended networks of family and clients, and they participated in local governance.
The Cabanagem in Pará, 1835–1840
Authors: Harris Mark
Published: June 2020

On January 7, 1835 a group of landowners, artisans, soldiers, and peasants stormed Belém, the capital of the Amazon region. Now known as the Cabanagem, this rebellion occurred during a time of social upheaval in not just Pará but also Brazil. On that first day a prominent landowner, Felix Malcher, was released from prison and declared the new president by popular proclamation. The administration in Rio refused to recognize him, despite his statement of allegiance to the Empire of Brazil. Soon factions erupted, aligned with differences between the local elites and their poorer allies; Malcher and a subsequent president were killed. After battles with imperial forces the third rebel president, Eduardo Angelim, was adopted by a victorious crowd in August 1835. The capital reverted to imperial hands on May 13, 1836; however, the rebellion had not been quelled as the rest of the region became embroiled in conflict. As it developed, ethnic and class alliances changed, and the battles continued for four more years. While rebels gradually lost towns and fortified rural encampments, they were never defeated militarily. Organized attacks continued until a general amnesty was granted to all rebels by Emperor Pedro II in July 1840. The Cabanagem, which involved indigenous people, was a broad and fragile alliance composed of different interests with an international dimension. Radical liberal ideas brought together those living in rural and urban districts and appealed to long-standing animosities against distant control by outsiders, the inconsistent use of the law to protect all people, and compulsory labor regimes that took people away from their families and lands. Yet the regency administration feared the break-up of the newly independent Brazil. The violent pacification of the region was justified by portraying the movement as a race war, dominated by “people of color” incapable of ruling themselves.
Digital Resources: Chile’s Centro de Investigación y Documentación (CIDOC) and Anti-Communism in the 1964 Elections
Authors: Botto Stuven Andrea
Published: June 2020

The Documentation Center of the Contemporary History of Chile (CIDOC), which belongs to the Universidad Finis Terrae (Santiago), has a digital archive that contains the posters and newspapers inserts of the anti-communist campaign against Salvador Allende’s presidential candidacy in 1964. These appeared in the main right-wing newspapers of Santiago, between January and September of 1964. Although the collection of posters in CIDOC is not complete, it is a resource of great value for those who want to research this historical juncture, considering that those elections were by far the most contested and conflicting in the history of Chile during the 20th Century, as it implicted the confrontation between two candidates defending two different conceptions about society, politics, and economics. On the one hand, Salvador Allende, the candidate of the Chilean left; on the other, Eduardo Frei, the candidate of the Christian Democracy, coupled with the traditional parties of the Right. While the technical elements of the programs of both candidates did not differ much from each other, the political campaign became the scenario for an authentic war between the “media” that stood up for one or the other candidate. Frei’s anticommunist campaign had the financial aid of the United States, and these funds were used to gather all possible resources to create a real “terror” in the population at the perspective of the Left coming to power. The Chilean Left labeled this strategy of using fear as the “Terror Campaign.”
Neoliberalism in Chile
Authors: Bruey Alison J.
Published: June 2020

Chile was one of the first countries in the world to undergo a transition to neoliberalism. Neoliberalism became official state policy in 1975, during the Pinochet dictatorship (1973–1990), during which time it generated two deep economic crises and historicall high unemployment. Since 1990, civilian administrations have continued to administer the neoliberal model, popularly referred to as el modelo, with selective reforms. Despite economic growth and reductions in poverty rates since 1990, el modelo has become ever more controversial. In the 21st century, public protest has increased as broad sectors of society negatively affected by the privatization of education, healthcare, and pension systems, among other ills, have organized collectively to express their discontent.
Changes in Land Use Influenced by Anthropogenic Activity
Authors: Wang Lang , Yang Zong-Liang
Published: June 2020

The terms “land cover” and “land use” are often used interchangeably, although they have different meanings. Land cover is the biophysical material at the surface of the Earth, whereas land use refers to how people use the land surface. Land use concerns the resources of the land, their products, and benefits, in addition to land management actions and activities. The history of changes in land use has passed through several major stages driven by developments in science and technology and demands for food, fiber, energy, and shelter.

Modern changes in land use have been increasingly affected by anthropogenic activities at a scale and magnitude that have not been seen. These changes in land use are largely driven by population growth, urban expansion, increasing demands for energy and food, changes in diets and lifestyles, and changing socioeconomic conditions. About 70% of the Earth’s ice-free land surface has been altered by changes in land use, and these changes have had environmental impacts worldwide, ranging from effects on the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere and climate to the extensive modification of terrestrial ecosystems, habitats, and biodiversity. A number of different methods have been developed give a thorough understanding of these changes in land use and the multiple effects and feedbacks involved. Earth system observations and models are examples of two crucial technologies, although there are considerable uncertainties in both techniques. Cross-disciplinary collaborations are highly desirable in future studies of land use and management. The goals of mitigating climate change and maintaining sustainability should always be considered before implementing any new land management strategies.
A Review of Skin Banking Guidelines and Standards Worldwide: Towards the Harmonization of Guidelines for Skin Banking in Therapeutic Applications for the Regions under the Asia Pacific Burn Association (APBA)
Authors: Heng Wee Ling , Wang Qi Wei , Sornarajah Renuka , Tremblay Jacynthe , Putri Nandita Melati , Hamid Suzina Sheikh Ab , Pungrasmi Pornthep , Wang Hsian-Jenn , Kim Dong Chul , Saito Daizo , Nguyen Nhu Lam , Sulaiman Wan Azman Wan , Wardhana Aditya , Puri Vinita , Matsumura Hajime , Dai Niann-Tzyy , Ahuja Rajeev B , Luo Gaoxing , He Weifeng , Chong Si Jack , Chua Alvin Wen Choong
Published: June 2020

Currently, there are no harmonized guidelines which govern skin banking in the Asia Pacific region. Therefore, skin banks are either unregulated or rely on their nation’s legislation or international accreditation to uphold their quality standards. A new set of skin banking guidelines was developed through a comprehensive review and collation of best international practices for the Asia Pacific Burn Association (APBA) members, from donor screening and testing, to skin recovery, processing, storage and distribution, and quality assurance. National regulatory requirements reviewed include the European directives, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration and Singapore’s tissue banking standards. Further technical and quality management recommendations are referenced from the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), the United States Food and Drug Administration standards and guidance documents, various relevant European guides, Japanese Society of Tissue Transplantation guidelines and the Asia Pacific Association of Surgical Tissue Banking. Adapted mainly from the AATB standards, the new Asia Pacific Burn Association Guidelines for Skin Banking in Therapeutic Applications offer a comprehensive manual, addressing: governance and contracts; staff responsibilities; quality management; facilities, equipment and supplies management; donor consent and testing; and recommendations of good practices pertaining to skin recovery, processing, storage and distribution. Besides complementing current generic regulations, they provide technical specifications of major aspects unaddressed in most legislations. This inaugural set of new regional skin banking guidelines would be a start for regional members of the APBA to adopt, and will hopefully culminate in a set of standards so that, in the long run, skin allografts from this region can be of similar quality, which can simplify import process and facilitate the exchange of allografts between members.
Rapid Screening and Identification of Chemical Constituents From Ophiopogon japonicus by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Electrospray Ionization and Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Ling Yun , Tang Yihua , Xu Yuanyuan , Zhang Qing , Zhang Chao , Zhang Yinyu , Chen Youyan , Yang Chaoqing , Zeng Huayan , Guo Shufen , Li Li , Ding Li , Zhang Lei , Jiang Dengzhao , Zhao Jianguo , Luo Mingli
Published: June 2020

Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawl (Liliaceae), which is named as “Maidong” in China, is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating fever, cough, inflammation, epistaxis, constipation, respiratory disease and gastrointestinal disorders. However, the systematic analysis of chemical constituents of O. japonicus has not been well established because of the complexity and trace. In this paper, an effective and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was successfully developed to separate and identify the chemical constituents from O. japonicus. As a result, a total of 30 compounds including steroidal saponins, homoisoflavonoids, allylbenzene, cholest and cryptomeridiol were screened or tentatively identified. Of them, three new steroidal saponins were found and tentatively characterized in O. japonicus. This study provides a meaningful material basis for further quality control and pharmacological research.
The intraspinal arterial collateral network: a new anatomical basis for understanding and preventing paraplegia during aortic repair
Authors: Heber Ulrike M , Mayrhofer Marcel , Gottardi Roman , Kari Fabian A , Heber Stefan , Windisch Alfred , Weninger Wolfgang J , Hirtler Lena , Scheumann Johannes , Rylski Bartosz , Beyersdorf Friedhelm , Czerny Martin
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVES

The anatomical distribution pattern of epidural intraspinal arteries is not entirely understood but is likely to substantially impact maintaining perfusion during segmental artery sacrifice when treating acute and chronic thoraco-abdominal aortic diseases. We investigated the anatomical distribution pattern of intraspinal arteries.

METHODS

Twenty fresh, non-embalmed cadaveric human bodies were studied. Anatomical dissection and investigation of the epidural arterial network were performed according to a standardized protocol. We used a generalized mixed linear model to test whether the presence probability for certain vessels differed between vertebrae/segments.

RESULTS

There was craniocaudal continuity of all ipsilateral longitudinal connections from T1 to L5 by the anterior radicular artery. The mean [±standard deviation (SD)] number of transverse anastomoses was 9.7 ± 2.1. The presence probability of transverse anastomoses along the spine was different between vertebrae (P < 0.0001). There were 2 distribution peaks along the spine: 1 peak around T4–T6 and 1 around T11. The mean (±SD) number of thoracic and lumbar anterior radiculomedullary arteries (ARMAs) was 3.0 ± 1.1. The probability of the presence of ARMAs along the spine was different for each vertebral segment (P < 0.0001). Between ARMAs there were gaps of up to a maximum of 9 vertebrae. All Adamkiewicz arteries were located caudally to T7. The median segment of the Adamkiewicz presence was T10/11.

CONCLUSIONS

The epidural collateral network shows craniocaudal continuity. The number of transverse anastomoses is high. The number of ARMAs is low, and there is considerable variation in their distribution and offspring, which is highly likely to impact perfusion during segmental artery sacrifice when treating thoraco-abdominal aortic disease.
A generalised model for generalised transduction: the importance of co-evolution and stochasticity in phage mediated antimicrobial resistance transfer
Authors: Arya Sankalp , Todman Henry , Baker Michelle , Hooton Steven , Millard Andrew , Kreft Jan-Ulrich , Hobman Jon L , Stekel Dov J
Published: June 2020

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global challenge. Of particular concern are mobilizable elements that can transfer resistance genes between bacteria, leading to pathogens with new combinations of resistance. To date, mathematical models have largely focussed on transfer of resistance by plasmids, with fewer studies on transfer by bacteriophages. We aim to understand how best to model transfer of resistance by transduction by lytic phages. We show that models of lytic bacteriophage infection with empirically derived realistic phage parameters lead to low numbers of bacteria, which, in low population or localised environments, lead to extinction of bacteria and phage. Models that include antagonistic co-evolution of phage and bacteria produce more realistic results. Furthermore, because of these low numbers, stochastic dynamics are shown to be important, especially to spread of resistance. When resistance is introduced, resistance can sometimes be fixed, and at other times die out, with the probability of each outcome sensitive to bacterial and phage parameters. Specifically, that outcome most strongly depends on the baseline death rate of bacteria, with phage-mediated spread favoured in benign environments with low mortality over more hostile environments. We conclude that larger-scale models should consider spatial compartmentalisation and heterogeneous microenviroments, while encompassing stochasticity and co-evolution.
Aspirin, NSAIDs, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Exercise Physiology Perspective
Authors: Elia Jessica R
Published: June 2020

NSAID medication timing can impact intestinal injury and alter the microbiome. These mechanistic injuries may influence clinical outcomes. This brief letter aims to summarize a few key articles related to NSAID medication timing and intestinal injury.
Regulation strength and technology creep play key roles in global long-term projections of wild capture fisheries
Authors: Scherrer Kim , Galbraith Eric
Published: June 2020

Many studies have shown that the global fish catch can only be sustained with effective regulation that restrains overfishing. However, the persistence of weak or ineffective regulation in many parts of the world, coupled with changing technologies and additional stressors like climate change, renders the future of global catches uncertain. Here, we use a spatially resolved, bio-economic size-spectrum model to shed light on the interactive impacts of three globally important drivers over multidecadal timescales: imperfect regulation, technology-driven catchability increase, and climate change. We implement regulation as the adjustment of fishing towards a target level with some degree of effectiveness and project a range of possible trajectories for global fisheries. We find that if technological progress continues apace, increasingly effective regulation is required to prevent overfishing, akin to a Red Queen race. Climate change reduces the possible upper bound for global catches, but its economic impacts can be offset by strong regulation. Ominously, technological progress under weak regulation masks a progressive erosion of fish biomass by boosting profits and generating a temporary stabilization of global catches. Our study illustrates the large degree to which the long-term outlook of global fisheries can be improved by continually strengthening fisheries regulation, despite the negative impacts of climate change.
Personalized external aortic root support
Authors: Nemec Petr , Pepper John , Fila Petr
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVES

Implantation of a personalized external aortic root support (PEARS) can prevent dilatation of the aortic root and ascending aorta in patients with aortopathy of various aetiologies. Because PEARS is an emerging technology, all aspects concerning indications, surgical technique and safety should be elucidated. Our goal was to summarize all of these aspects so that physicians and patients would have sufficient information to evaluate this alternative approach.

METHODS

Between April 2004 and March 2020, 317 patients underwent PEARS operations at 25 surgical centres in 9 countries.

RESULTS

The most common indication was Marfan syndrome (57%). The single perioperative death represented a mortality of 0.3%. The long-term experience comprises 871 patient/years with 1 patient living for 15 years and 19 patients living for more than 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

PEARS seems to be a promising method of treatment of dilatation of the aortic root and/or ascending aorta. Multicentre observational studies are needed to gain more experience because this operation is still uncommon and the number of operations per surgeon/centre is low.
The Market for Surprises: Selling Substitute Goods Through Lotteries
Authors: Balestrieri Filippo , Izmalkov Sergei , Leao Joao
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we solve the revenue maximization problem of a multi-product monopolist when the products are substitutes. We consider a Hotelling model with two horizontally differentiated goods located at the endpoints of the segment. Consumers are located uniformly on the segment; their valuations for each good are equal to the base consumption value minus distance costs. When the base consumption value is high, the seller maximizes her expected profit by offering a menu of base and opaque goods. In particular, a single half-half lottery over base goods is optimal under concave and linear costs. When base consumption value is low, only base goods are sold. Finally, when base consumption value is intermediate, the optimal mechanism may entail the offering of lotteries with the positive probability of no delivery. Our findings can explain the emergence of opaque goods sales (e.g., hotel bookings without a complete description of the hotel through hotwire.com or priceline.com) as the outcome of the industry’s search for the optimal selling scheme.
Covariance Matrix Estimation under Total Positivity for Portfolio Selection
Authors: Agrawal Raj , Roy Uma , Uhler Caroline
Published: June 2020

Selecting the optimal Markowitz portfolio depends on estimating the covariance matrix of the returns of N assets from T periods of historical data. Problematically, N is typically of the same order as T, which makes the sample covariance matrix estimator perform poorly, both empirically and theoretically. While various other general-purpose covariance matrix estimators have been introduced in the financial economics and statistics literature for dealing with the high dimensionality of this problem, we here propose an estimator that exploits the fact that assets are typically positively dependent. This is achieved by imposing that the joint distribution of returns be multivariate totally positive of order 2 (MTP2). This constraint on the covariance matrix not only enforces positive dependence among the assets but also regularizes the covariance matrix, leading to desirable statistical properties such as sparsity. Based on stock market data spanning 30 years, we show that estimating the covariance matrix under MTP2 outperforms previous state-of-the-art methods including shrinkage estimators and factor models.
Yoga for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Fall Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bao Ting , Zhi Iris , Baser Raymond , Hooper Madeline , Chen Connie , Piulson Lauren , Li Qing S , Galantino Mary Lou , Blinder Victoria , Robson Mark , Seidman Andrew , Panageas Katherine S , Mao Jun J
Published: June 2020

Background

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, debilitating side effect that worsens quality of life and increases the risk of falls in cancer survivors. Evidence of yoga’s safety and efficacy in treating CIPN is lacking.

Methods

In a randomized controlled study, we assigned breast and gynecological cancer survivors with persistent moderate-to-severe CIPN pain, numbness, or tingling with a score of 4 or greater (0-10 numeric rating scale [NRS]) for at least 3 months after chemotherapy to 8 weeks of usual care or yoga focused on breathwork and musculoskeletal conditioning. Primary endpoint was treatment arm differences for NRS, and secondary endpoints were Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity subscale (FACT/GOG-Ntx), and Functional Reach Test after week 8. We tested treatment arm differences for each outcome measure using linear mixed models with treatment-by-time interactions. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

We randomly assigned 41 participants into yoga (n = 21) or usual care (n = 20). At week 8, mean NRS pain decreased by 1.95 points (95% confidence interval [CI] = -3.20 to -0.70) in yoga vs 0.65 (95% CI = -1.81 to 0.51) in usual care (P = .14). FACT/GOG-Ntx improved by 4.25 (95% CI = 2.29 to 6.20) in yoga vs 1.36 (95% CI = -0.47 to 3.19) in usual care (P = .035). Functional reach, an objective functional measure predicting the risk of falls, improved by 7.14 cm (95% CI = 3.68 to 10.59) in yoga and decreased by 1.65 cm (95% CI = -5.00 to 1.72) in usual care (P = .001). Four grade 1 adverse events were observed in the yoga arm.

Conclusion

Among breast and gynecological cancer survivors with moderate-to-severe CIPN, yoga was safe and showed promising efficacy in improving CIPN symptoms.
Keeping with the Times, Revisiting the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration
Authors: Dunna Gracious Timothy
Published: June 2020

From the original 1985 version to its amended 2006 version, and from the year-2006 to the present, critical remarks on the Model Law have never taken a pause. It is a constant subject of evaluation and evolution that reflects in the interpretations of national courts of various jurisdictions, which often reveal challenging flaws in the outworking of the Model Law. This article delves into such lurking challenges that leave a pervasive effect on Model Law’s outworking and are yet not very conspicuous.
An Event Study Analysis of the Impacts of the European Interchange Fee Regulation*
Authors: Veljan Alen , Roaidi Ali
Published: June 2020

One of the key success factors of the regulatory involvement by the European Commission (EC) in card payment markets across Europe is the reduction of merchant service charges for retailers and final prices for goods and services for consumers. In light of the EC’s scheduled review of the impacts of the policy intervention, this paper evaluates the usability of the event study analysis to determine the impacts of the interchange fee regulation. Findings show that 1 April 2009 is the single, statistically significant date in relation to the regulation. Contrary to common rationale, positive excess returns are recorded for issuers (9 percent-pts), pure issuers (9 percent-pts), and merchants (4.8 percent-pts), primarily driven by previous uncertainty of investors around a potential ban on interchange fees. As a consequence, total market capitalization for the retail industry increased by 11.2 billion Euro. This results in a partial pass-through rate of 46 percent from acquirers to merchants. The event study is deemed a suitable methodology to complement existing research techniques in this field. To determine ultimate pass-through to consumers, further investigation on the prevalent manifestation of issuer–acquirers needs to be conducted.
The Trieste model
Authors: Okin Robert
Published: June 2020

This chapter describes a collaboration between academics from Berkeley and leaders of the Trieste mental health system and of San Francisco General Hospital, to determine the feasibility of replicating the Trieste model of mental healthcare in San Francisco. The participants ultimately concluded that Basaglia has had no influence on the mental health system in the United States, and determined that the obstacles to replication of the Trieste model were, in whole or in part, insuperable at this time. Among these obstacles are the demographics of the population in San Francisco (e.g. large numbers of poor, disabled people competing for the same small resource base), the pervasiveness of substance abuse among the mentally ill population, the extent of homelessness and criminalization of the mentally ill, the dearth of affordable housing, the predominant use of the medical model, and the fee-for-service financing system which supports this model.
Low Yield of Hepatitis C Infection in an Outreach Screening Program in Harris County, Texas
Authors: Kim Hyun-seok , Guerrero Rosalia , Reader Shane W , Daheri Maria , Balakrishnan Maya , Troisi Catherine L , El-Serag Hashem B , Thrift Aaron P
Published: June 2020

A community outreach hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection screening program provided low yield of detecting HCV-infected patients, linking them to our hepatology clinic for treatment. Our data underscore that most of the yield was related to addiction centers and birth cohort; these groups should be targeted by future interventions.
Emergent Resistance to Dolutegravir Among INSTI-Naïve Patients on First-line or Second-line Antiretroviral Therapy: A Review of Published Cases
Authors: Cevik Muge , Orkin Chloe , Sax Paul E
Published: June 2020

None of the licensing studies of dolutegravir (DTG) reported any treatment-emergent resistance among DTG-treated individuals, though virological failure in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced, integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)–naïve individuals has been reported in clinical practice. While the spectrum of dolutegravir-selected mutations and their effects on clinical outcome have been described, the clinical characteristics of these rare but important virological failure cases are often overlooked. In this perspective piece, we focus on key clinical aspects of emergent resistance to DTG among treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced INSTI-naïve patients, with an aim to inform clinical decision-making. Poor adherence and HIV disease factors contribute to emergent drug resistance, even in regimens with high resistance barriers. Patients with severe immunosuppression or poor adherence are under-represented in licensing studies, and these patients may be at higher risk of treatment failure with DTG resistance, which requires close clinical and laboratory follow-up.
Adaptive targeted infectious disease testing
Authors: Kasy Maximilian , Teytelboym Alexander
Published: June 2020

We show how to efficiently use costly testing resources in an epidemic, when testing outcomes can be used to make quarantine decisions. If the costs of false quarantine and false release exceed the cost of testing, the optimal myopic testing policy targets individuals with an intermediate likelihood of being infected. A high cost of false release means that testing is optimal for individuals with a low probability of infection, and a high cost of false quarantine means that testing is optimal for individuals with a high probability of infection. If individuals arrive over time, the policy-maker faces a dynamic trade-off: using tests for individuals for whom testing yields the maximum immediate benefit vs spreading out testing capacity across the population to learn prevalence rates thereby benefiting later individuals. We describe a simple policy that is nearly optimal from a dynamic perspective. We briefly discuss practical aspects of implementing our proposed policy, including imperfect testing technology, appropriate choice of prior, and non-stationarity of the prevalence rate.
Predicting survival and longevity of sows using purebred and crossbred data1
Authors: Iversen Maja W , Nordbø Øyvind , Gjerlaug-Enger Eli , Grindflek Eli , Meuwissen Theodorus H E
Published: June 2020

Survival and longevity are very important traits in pig breeding. From an economic standpoint, it is favorable to keep the sows for another parity instead of replacing them and, from the animal’s perspective, better welfare is achieved if they do not experience health problems. It is challenging to record longevity in purebred (PB) nucleus herds because animals are more likely to be replaced based on breeding value and high replacement rates rather than inability to produce. Crossbred (CB) sows are, however, submitted to lower replacement rates and are more likely to be kept in the farm longer if they can produce large and robust litters. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of CB phenotypes could improve prediction accuracy of longevity for PBs. In addition, a new definition of survival was investigated. The analyzed data included phenotypes from two PB dam lines and their F1 cross. Three traits were evaluated: 1) whether or not the sow got inseminated for a second litter within 85 d of first farrowing (Longevity 1–2), 2) how many litters the sow can produce within 570 d of first farrowing [Longevity 1–5 (LGY15)], and 3) a repeatability trait that indicates whether or not the sow survived until the next parity (Survival). Traits were evaluated both as the same across breeds and as different between breeds. Results indicated that longevity is not the same trait in PB and CB animals (low genetic correlation). In addition, there were differences between the two PB lines in terms of which trait definition gave the greatest prediction accuracy. The repeatability trait (Survival) gave the greatest prediction accuracy for breed B, but LGY15 gave the greatest prediction accuracy for breed A. Prediction accuracy for CBs was generally poor. The Survival trait is recorded earlier in life than LGY15 and seemed to give a greater prediction accuracy for young animals than LGY15 (until own phenotype was available). Thus, for selection of young animals for breeding, Survival would be the preferred trait definition. In addition, results indicated that lots of data were needed to get accurate estimates of breeding values and that, if CB performance is the breeding goal, CB phenotypes should be used in the genetic evaluation.
Single-cell RNA-seq Analysis Reveals That Prenatal Arsenic Exposure Results in Long-term, Adverse Effects on Immune Gene Expression in Response to Influenza A Infection
Authors: Hsu Kevin S , Goodale Britton C , Ely Kenneth H , Hampton Thomas H , Stanton Bruce A , Enelow Richard I
Published: June 2020

Arsenic exposure via drinking water is a serious environmental health concern. Epidemiological studies suggest a strong association between prenatal arsenic exposure and subsequent childhood respiratory infections, as well as morbidity from respiratory diseases in adulthood, long after systemic clearance of arsenic. We investigated the impact of exclusive prenatal arsenic exposure on the inflammatory immune response and respiratory health after an adult influenza A virus (IAV) lung infection. C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 100 ppb sodium arsenite in utero, and subsequently infected with IAV (H1N1) after maturation to adulthood. Assessment of lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at various time points post-IAV infection reveals greater lung damage and inflammation in arsenic-exposed mice versus control mice. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of immune cells harvested from IAV-infected lungs suggests that the enhanced inflammatory response is mediated by dysregulation of innate immune function of monocyte-derived macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and alveolar macrophages. Our results suggest that prenatal arsenic exposure results in lasting effects on the adult host innate immune response to IAV infection, long after exposure to arsenic, leading to greater immunopathology. This study provides the first direct evidence that exclusive prenatal exposure to arsenic in drinking water causes predisposition to a hyperinflammatory response to IAV infection in adult mice, which is associated with significant lung damage.
The Relationship Between Internal and External Dose: Some General Results Based on a Generic Compartmental Model
Authors: Slob Wout , Zeilmaker Marco J , Hoogenveen Rudolf T
Published: June 2020

Statements on how the internal-to-external-dose (IED) relationship looks like are often based on qualitative toxicokinetic arguments. For example, the recently proposed kinetically derived maximum dose (KMD) states that the IED relationship must have an inflection point, due to saturation of underlying processes like metabolism or absorption. However, such statements lack a solid quantitative foundation. Therefore, we derived expressions for the IED relationship for a number of scenarios based on a generic compartmental model involving saturation. The scenarios included repeated or single dose, and saturable metabolism or saturable absorption. For some of these scenarios, an explicit expression for the IED relationship can be derived, for others only implicit expressions can be established, which need to be evaluated numerically. The results show that saturable processes will lead to an IED relationship that is nonlinear over the whole dose range, ie, it can be approximated by a linear relationship at the lower end, whereas the approximation will become gradually poorer with increasing doses. The finding that saturation does not lead to an inflection point in the IED relationship, as assumed in the KMD, implies that the KMD is not a valid approach for selecting the top dose in toxicological studies. An additional use of our results is that the derived explicit expressions of the IED relationship can be fitted to IED data, and, possibly, for extrapolation outside the observed dose range.
Parvovirus Infection in a Child Presenting with Erythema Multiforme and Vasculitis after a Yellow Jacket Bee Sting
Authors: Can Ceren , Yazicioglu Mehtap , Gokalp Selman , Ozkayin Nese
Published: June 2020

Parvovirus B19 has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Erythema multiforme and vasculitis are rarely reported with parvovirus B19 infections. Reactions to insect stings can range from local swelling to life-threatening systemic reactions. There have been rare reports of unusual reactions, such as vasculitis, occurring in a temporal relationship with insect stings. We report an 8-year-old patient having Parvovirus B-19-related erythema multiforme and vasculitis after a yellow jacket bee sting.
Maternal and Neonatal Complications of Fetal Macrosomia: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Beta J. , Khan N. , Khalil A. , Fiolna M. , Ramadan G. , Akolekar R.
Published: June 2020

(Abstracted from Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019;54:308–318)

Pregnancy involving fetal macrosomia (defined as birth weight >4000 g) has been associated with significant adverse outcomes to both mother and child. However, accurate estimates of these risks in the literature are limited, and guidelines are lacking from professional bodies.
Long-term Risk of Reoperation After Synthetic Mesh Midurethral Sling Surgery for Stress Urinary Incontinence
Authors: Berger Alexander A. , Tan-Kim Jasmine , Menefee Shawn A.
Published: June 2020

(Abstracted from Obstet Gynecol 2019;134:1047–1055)

One in 3 women is affected by stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in their lifetimes. The criterion standard for treating SUI is considered to be the midurethral sling.
Endometrial Microbiota in Infertile Women With and Without Chronic Endometritis as Diagnosed Using a Quantitative and Reference Range-Based Method
Authors: Liu Yingyu , Yee-Ling Ko Elaine , Ka-Wing Wong Karen , Chen Xiaoyan , Cheung Wing-Ching , Sze-Man Law Tracy , Pui-Wah Chung Jacqueline , Kwok-Wing Tsui Stephen , Li Tin-Chiu , Siu-Chung Chim Stephen
Published: June 2020

(Abstracted from Fertil Steril 2019;112:707–717)

Chronic endometriosis (CE), a state of chronic inflammation in the endometrial lining, has been associated with reproductive failure and is diagnosed based on the presence of CD138+ plasma cells. There is wide variance in CE among infertile women (ranging from 2.8% to 57%) and a lack of consensus on the diagnostic criteria.
Fracture characteristics predict suboptimal alignment in preschool femoral shaft fractures treated with spica casting: a retrospective chart review
Authors: Misaghi Amir , Mahmoud Mahmoud A. H. , Arkader Alexandre , Baldwin Keith D.
Published: June 2020

Background:

The authors aimed to identify the incidence of suboptimal alignment in preschool-aged children with diaphyseal femoral fractures treated with closed reduction and spica casting. We also sought to identify possible risk factors leading to suboptimal final alignment and the number of children initially treated by spica casting who needed revision surgery.

Methods:

This study retrospectively reviewed 132 cases of pediatric (age 3 to 6 yr) femoral shaft fractures treated with closed reduction and spica casting between January 2005 and October 2016. We evaluated whether age, weight, sex, mechanism of injury, fracture pattern, location, shortening, and angulation led to either acceptable or suboptimal fracture alignment at final radiographic follow-up.

Results:

Eighty-five patients (64.4%) healed in acceptable alignment, and 47 (35.6%) healed in unacceptable alignment. Higher energy injury patterns (transverse and comminuted) were more likely to result in suboptimal alignment at healing than lower energy patterns (oblique and spiral) (P=0.049). Proximal fractures trended towards more unfavorable results than other sites (P=0.068). Three independent risk factors for suboptimal alignment were identified including higher energy injury, initial coronal angulation greater than 8 degrees, and proximal fracture location. We determined a 99% chance of unacceptable alignment with three risk factors. We had a 9.8% (13 of 132 patients) return to operating room rate including 11patients for loss of reduction and two for cast soiling.

Conclusions:

Certain preschool-aged children with femoral fractures are at higher risk for suboptimal alignment after spica cast treatment. In higher risk cases, it may be reasonable to consider operative intervention and early mobilization instead of closed reduction and spica casting.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV.
Characterizing the role of intersecting stigmas and sustained inequities in driving HIV syndemics across low-to-middle-income settings
Authors: Viswasam Nikita , Schwartz Sheree , Baral Stefan
Published: June 2020

Purpose of review

In 2020, key populations around the world still have disproportionate risks for HIV acquisition and experiencing HIV-related syndemics. This review presents current data around HIV-related syndemics among key populations globally, and on the role of intersecting stigmas in producing these syndemics in low-to-middle-income settings.

Recent findings

Sex workers, sexual and gender minorities, prisoners, and people who use drugs experience high burdens of tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, viral hepatitis, and violence linked to heightened HIV-related risks or acquisition. Adverse sexual, reproductive, and mental health outcomes are also common and similarly amplify HIV acquisition and transmission risks, highlighting the need for psychosocial and reproductive health services for key populations.

Achieving the promise of biomedical interventions to support HIV care and prevention requires action towards addressing syndemics of HIV, and the stigmas that reproduce them, among those most marginalized globally.
Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: an overview
Authors: Pérez-López Faustino R. , Pilz Stefan , Chedraui Peter
Published: June 2020

Purpose of review

Examine recent evidence of randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses regarding the effect of maternal vitamin D status and supplementation over obstetrical and offspring outcomes.

Recent findings

Maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH)D] progressively declines during pregnancy because of fetal physiological demands and adjustments. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy in women with low vitamin D status may improve fetal growth and reduce the risks for small-for-gestational-age, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes. Mothers with sufficient vitamin D levels have offsprings with less enamel defects and less attention deficit and hyperactive disorders and autism. All pregnant women should be supplemented with 600 IU/day of vitamin D3. We discuss evidence indicating that higher vitamin D doses (1000–4000 IU/day) may be convenient to achieve better maternal and infant outcomes. Low maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy may be associated in infants with a higher risk for lower bone mineral content, enamel defects and attention deficit hyperactive disorder.

Recent evidence from vitamin D intervention studies and meta-analyses of a large number of studies support vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy to improve maternal, fetal and, immediate and later offspring health.
Oculoplastic considerations for refractive procedures
Authors: Denisova Ksenia , Barmettler Anne
Published: June 2020

Purpose of review

Refractive surgery is one of the most popular elective procedures performed in the world. Given that dry eye is a common complaint following keratorefractive surgery, evaluation, and treatment of periocular conditions that further predispose the patient to dry eye symptoms is an important part of the presurgical assessment. Periocular conditions and surgeries can also affect the ocular surface and keratometry, and should be addressed. For example, ptosis, orbital fat herniation, ectropion, and eyelid masses have been shown to induce corneal topography changes and astigmatism. The oculoplastic considerations for refractive surgery include both the contribution of eyelid position on dry eye, ocular surface damage, refractive error, and outcomes, as well as the timing of oculoplastic surgery in relation to the refractive surgery. In this review, the recently published literature on eyelid and orbital surgery in relation to keratorefractive surgery is reviewed to elucidate the relationship of periocular factors with refractive surgery outcomes and complications. To improve keratorefractive surgery outcomes, a literature review is presented, discussing evaluation, management, and timing of management of oculoplastics conditions.

Recent findings

Dry eye syndrome is a well known complication of keratorefractive procedures. This is exacerbated with concurrent eyelid or orbital disorders, such as ectropion, lagophthalmos, and thyroid eye disease. In addition to impacting dry eye and ocular surface damage, eyelid surgeries can also affect corneal topography and refraction. Studies have found that patients with ptosis have topographic corneal aberrations from the eyelid exerting pressure on the cornea, while ptosis repair and blepharoplasty patients may undergo an astigmatic change postoperatively. Finally, the corneal flap created in laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis may be at risk for displacement or damage postoperatively with this risk changing, depending on method of flap creation, and time elapsed since keratorefractive surgery.

Eyelid and orbital conditions that predispose to dry eye syndrome and refractive changes should be evaluated and optimized prior to keratorefractive surgery. Patients electing to have oculoplastic surgery, like ptosis repair, should be fully healed prior to any refractive surgery to allow both refractive changes and eyelid positions to stabilize prior to the refractive surgery.
Continuous versus intermittent feeding of the critically ill: have we made progress?
Authors: Pletschette Zoé , Preiser Jean-Charles
Published: June 2020

Purpose of review

Despite the lack of high-quality data for many years, the discussion on the best modality for enteral nutrition has been going on with little changes pertaining in recent guidelines. The present work aims to provide an overview on the different arguments in favour of either continuous or noncontinuous modes of enteral feed administration, emphasizing both clinical and pathophysiological aspects and comparing their relevance.

Recent findings

Different physiological effects deriving from enteral nutrition modes and that could impact on outcomes of care under critical illness settings are examined, such as glycaemic control and gastrointestinal motility. A further area of attention where recent efforts have been focusing is the issue of muscle and weakness under conditions of critical care.

A clinical equipoise continues to characterize the analysis that can be drawn from examining the most recent research work on the subject, allowing to infer that the most practical mode in terms of the interest of patient safety and comfort has to be privileged in day-to-day clinical care.
Vasopressor use in cardiogenic shock
Authors: Levy Bruno , Klein Thomas , Kimmoun Antoine
Published: June 2020

Purpose of review

Data and interventional trials on vasopressor use during cardiogenic shock are scarce. Their use is limited by their side-effects and the lack of solid evidence regarding their effectiveness in improving outcomes. In the present article, we review the current use of vasopressor therapy during cardiogenic shock.

Recent findings

Two recent Cochrane analyses concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that any one vasopressor was superior to others in terms of mortality. A recent RCT and a meta-analysis on individual data suggested that norepinephrine may be preferred over epinephrine in patients with cardiogenic shock, in particular, after myocardial infarction. In patients with right ventricular failure and pulmonary hypertension, the use of vasopressin may be advocated under advanced monitoring.

When blood pressure needs to be restored, norepinephrine is a reasonable first-line agent. Information regarding comparative effective outcomes is sparse and their use should be limited to a temporary measure as a bridge to recovery, mechanical circulatory support or heart transplantation.