bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Canarium Nut Powder Formulations for Making Crispy Cookies
Authors: Tuhumury H C D , Souripet A , Maadara A
Published: February 2020

Almond has been used as basic ingredients in making of crispy cookies. However, almond nut is not native to Indonesia and usually grows in sub-tropical regions with the highest producer from USA. Therefore, other tree-nut species can be used to replace almond in bakery products especially crispy cookies. One alternative is canarium nut (Canarium indicum L). This research was aimed to determine the exact formulation of canarium nut powder in order to replace almond nut in the making of crispy cookies based on its chemical and sensory characteristics. A Completely Randomized Experimental Design with 5 levels of treatments, i.e: K0: Control (20% almond powder), K1: 10% canarium powder, K2: 20% canarium powder, K3: 30% canarium powder, K4 : 40% canarium powder. Results showed that canarium nut powder could be used as a replacement to almond powder for making crispy cookies. The canarium nut powder of 40% was the best treatment to replace almond powder in order to produce crispy cookies with desired characteristics of moisture, ash, protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrate content of 0.66%, 1.60%, 6.40%, 23.29%, 1.23%, and 67.82%, respectively. Crispy cookies with 40% canarium nut powder had sensory characteristics of colour, aroma, taste, crispiness, and overall likeness that were slightly better than the control of 20% almond powder.
Estimate the Primary Parameters of Extreme Earthquake on Banda Sea, Indonesia
Authors: Kelibulin J R , Andayany H
Published: February 2020

Extreme earthquake events always have an impact on human life, when the intensity of events becomes greater than a certain intensity it will cause disaster. The intensity of a small earthquake occurs at any time without significant side effects. Based on statistical analysis it was revealed that earthquakes with greater intensity occur more difficult than small intensities. In the discussion, earthquake data showed that there were fluctuations in earthquake events which indicated a different maximum earthquake. Thus, major disasters occur because a small portion of major events occurs. The Banda Sea Region is an active earthquake area that contains earthquake events above magnitude 5 Richter scale (Rs) each year with a total average of above 815 major earthquake news during 1970-2018. The results of seismic studies in the Banda Sea region show a return period of 7.5 Rs magnitude earthquake quake is around 48 years and a probability of around 0.020%. Magnitude 7.0 Rs earthquake has a repetition interval of around (12-17) years with a probability of around 0.061%. In this study the analysis of earthquake probabilities and earthquake magnitude in the span of 30 years. An earthquake measuring (5.5-6.5) Rs, for example, has a probability of 100%, but if an earthquake measuring 7.7 Rs is chosen, the probability drops to 46%.
Analysis the Main Parameters of Seismicity in the Seram Sea, Indonesia
Authors: Kelibulin J R , Andayany H , Loyme I R
Published: February 2020

The Seram Sea is one of several small seas in the Indonesian archipelago and part of the Pacific Ocean which has very active tectonic activity. In this research, the data used are the recorded data of the Seram Sea earthquake and its surroundings in the period (1968-2018) with the strength of the earthquake (magnitude) ≥ 4 Richter scale (Rs). Based on the results of the analysis carried out, the seismicity parameter has the lowest b-value in the Seram Sea Region 3, which is 0.7986 and a- value is 5.8256. This occurred because this area has a greater amount of earthquakes to occur with a large magnitude due to high-stress levels. The largest Seismicity Index in the Seram Sea Region 3 is 0.0232. Region 3 in the Seram Sea has a fractal dimension (D) close to 1 indicating that in this region the source distribution in 1D. The slip ratio is close to 0.6609 which means that approximately 66.09% of the total relative shifts (slips) occur in the primary fault.
Seismic Property and Its Effect on Abrasion in the West Leihitu Coastal region, Ambon Island
Authors: Lokollo R R , Kelibulin J R , Wattimena A Z
Published: February 2020

This research was carried out in the West Leihitu coastal region, Ambon Island. The purpose of this study is to study seismic properties and their effects on coastal abrasion based on seismic geological conditions as an indicator of abrasion rate. Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) values of each coastal area have a range (19,722-41,130) gal, with the highest value in the Negeri Liliboi at 41,130 gal. PGA values do not represent Ground Shear Strain (GGS) levels or have an impact on rock deformation in coastal areas. This can be seen from the GGS of the Negeri Liliboi coastal area which is higher (γ = 1.459 × 10-5) when compared to Negeri Alang coastal area (γ = 2,561 × 10-5) although the Peak Land Acceleration (PGA) value is large. Based on these results, Negeri Alang and Negeri Liliboy have high soil susceptibility resulting in soil structure cracking and soil degradation. This is the potential for abrasion in coastal areas. Geological conditions on the West Leihitu coastal region consist of land classification types II, III and IV namely gravel sand, alluvial rocks, and buff formations and alluvial rocks formed from sedimentation with a very thick layer thickness in general.
Mineral Analysis and Physical Characteristics of Beach Sands in
Latuhalat and Suli Village to Support the Beach Geotourism of the Maluku
Province
Authors: Sapulete S M , Souisa M , Salelatu T
Published: February 2020

From the aspect of the earth, the Maluku islands are a unique formation. Because
Maluku is at the confluence of four world plates (Indo-Australian plate, Pacific
plate, Philippine sea plate and Eurasian plate) so it has an interesting
geological structure. One of unique formation is having thousands of islands
with charming white sand beaches. White sand beaches are part of the geotourism
diversity in Maluku, so research is conducted at Latuhalat (Santai and Namalatu
beaches) and Suli (Natsepa beach) which aim to identify the shape and size of
beach sand, analyze mineral content using the X-RD and X-RF methods. The results
showed the shape of sand grains in the Santai and Namalatu beaches of Latuhalat
Village were identified as oval-shaped irregularly with an average size of
Santai sand grains of 0.12 mm and Namalatu sand of 0.21 mm. While the shape of
sand grains in Natsepa beach, Suli Village was identified as spherical with an
average grain size of 0.10 mm. Beaches in the three locations are classified as
types of sandy beaches (sand sediments) with sandstone rock types. Sand on the
Namalatu beach, Santai beach, and Natsepa beach has very fine to medium grain
size andcontains Aragonite (CaCO3) and Quartz (SiO2) minerals that are dominant.
The shape and size of the grains of sand and its constituent minerals are very
good to support the Namalatu and Santai beach geotourism in Latuhalat Village
and Natsepa beach in Suli Village.
Control System of Multitasking Interactions between Society 5.0 and
Industry 5.0: A Conceptual Introduction & Its Applications
Authors: Elim H I , Zhai G
Published: February 2020

The basic concept of control system of multitasking interactions between Society
5.0 and Industry 5.0 (MISI-5.5) is presented in order to have a critical
thinking or expert thinking for facing a current complex life of man on earth.
The integration of internet of things (IoT), big data (BD), and artificial
intelligence (AI) associated with living (L), mobility (M), and working (W) of a
person on earth was derived based on their unseparated links in the language of
a couple three differential equation particularly from the wisdom extracted
according to the knowledge and understanding of current sophisticated
nanotechnology system. Finally, the relationship between control system and its
feedback can be easily formulated in a matrix system so that the whole big
picture of such multitasking interactions is obviously understandable. The
impacts of this work are applicable to various actions and reactions in many
different fields such as herbal medicines, airplanes, robots, birds, animals, or
human being because of its fundamental contribution.
The distribution of sandpile groups of random regular graphs
Authors: Mészáros András
Published: February 2020

We study the distribution of the sandpile group of random

d
d

-regular graphs. For the directed model, we prove that it follows the Cohen-Lenstra heuristics, that is, the limiting probability that the

p
p

-Sylow subgroup of the sandpile group is a given

p
p

-group

P
P

, is proportional to

|

A
u
t

(
P
)

|

−
1

|\mathrm {Aut}(P)|^{-1}

. For finitely many primes, these events get independent in the limit. Similar results hold for undirected random regular graphs, where for odd primes the limiting distributions are the ones given by Clancy, Leake, and Payne.

This answers an open question of Frieze and Vu whether the adjacency matrix of a random regular graph is invertible with high probability. Note that for directed graphs this was recently proved by Huang. It also gives an alternate proof of a theorem of Backhausz and Szegedy.
Frequency of and risk factors for potentially inappropriate medication use in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Abraham Danielle S , Pham Nguyen Thanh Phuong , Hennessy Sean , Weintraub Daniel , Gray Shelly L , Xie Dawei , Willis Allison W
Published: February 2020

Background

impairments in neurotransmitter pathways put Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients at risk for drug–disease interactions and adverse medication events.

Objective

to determine the prevalence and risk factors for potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) prescriptions, as defined by the 2015 Beers List, in PD.

Methods

cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 2014 Medicare beneficiaries with PD who had parts A, B and D coverage. The prevalence of PIM prescriptions for older adults was determined overall, and specifically for medications that can exacerbate motor symptoms or cognitive impairment in PD. Logistic regression models were constructed to determine the association between age, sex, race, geography and poverty with PIM prescriptions.

Results

the final sample included 458,086 beneficiaries. In 2014, 35.8% of beneficiaries with PD filled a prescription for at least one PIM for older adults. In total, 8.7% of beneficiaries received a PIM that could exacerbate motor symptoms and 29.0% received a PIM that could worsen cognitive impairment. After adjustment, in all models, beneficiaries who were younger, female, white, urban-dwelling and eligible for Medicaid benefits were more likely to receive a PIM.

Conclusion

PIM prescriptions are not uncommon in PD, particularly for medications that can exacerbate cognitive impairment. Future research will examine underlying drivers of sex and other disparities in PIM prescribing. Additional studies are needed to understand the impact of PIMs on disease symptoms, healthcare utilisation and patient outcomes.
Revision, endorsement and the analysis of meaning
Authors: Podosky Paul-Mikhail Catapang , Tanter Kai
Published: February 2020

Recently there has been much philosophical interest in the analysis of concepts to determine whether they should be removed, revised, or replaced. Enquiry of this kind is referred to as conceptual engineering or conceptual ethics. We will call it revisionary conceptual analysis (RCA). It standardly involves describing the meaning of a concept, evaluating whether it serves its purposes, and prescribing what it should mean. However, this stands in tension with prescriptivism, a metasemantic view which holds that all meaning claims are prescriptions. If prescriptivism is correct, then one is faced with two options: either (1) give up on the possibility of RCA, or (2) come up with a version of RCA that is consistent with the idea that all meaning claims are prescriptive. In this paper we offer an argument for (2).
Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson Dementia Distinguished by Cognitive Marker
Authors: Kozlova Irina , Parra Mario A , Titova Nataliya , Gantman Maria , Sala Sergio Della
Published: February 2020

Background

Temporary memory binding (TMB) has been shown to be specifically affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) when it is assessed via free recall and titrating the task demands to equate baseline performance across patients.

Methods

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) were subdivided into patients with and without cognitive impairment and compared with AD and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients on their performance on the TMB.

Results

The results show that only patients with AD dementia present with impaired TMB performance. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed that TMB holds high sensitivity and specificity for aMCI and AD relative to PD groups and healthy controls.

Conclusion

The TMB is sensitive to the neurodegenerative mechanisms leading to AD dementia but not to those underpinning PD dementia. As such, TMB task can aid the differential diagnosis of these common forms of dementia.
All in the numbers? Computational prediction of optimal anaesthetic weaning in status epilepticus
Authors: Rüegg Stephan , Sutter Raoul
Published: February 2020

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Electrographic predictors of successful weaning from anaesthetics in refractory status epilepticus’, by Rubin etal. (doi:10.1093/brain/awaa069).
Reward Timing and Its Expression by Inhibitory Interneurons in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex
Authors: Monk Kevin J , Allard Simon , Hussain Shuler Marshall G
Published: February 2020

The primary sensory cortex has historically been studied as a low-level feature detector, but has more recently been implicated in many higher-level cognitive functions. For instance, after an animal learns that a light predicts water at a fixed delay, neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) can produce “reward timing activity” (i.e., spike modulation of various forms that relate the interval between the visual stimulus and expected reward). Local manipulations to V1 implicate it as a site of learning reward timing activity (as opposed to simply reporting timing information from another region via feedback input). However, the manner by which V1 then produces these representations is unknown. Here, we combine behavior, in vivo electrophysiology, and optogenetics to investigate the characteristics of and circuit mechanisms underlying V1 reward timing in the head-fixed mouse. We find that reward timing activity is present in mouse V1, that inhibitory interneurons participate in reward timing, and that these representations are consistent with a theorized network architecture. Together, these results deepen our understanding of V1 reward timing and the manner by which it is produced.
Clinical and Immunologic Outcomes After Immediate or Deferred Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation During Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Sabes Randomized Clinical Study
Authors: Lama Javier R , Ignacio Rachel A Bender , Alfaro Ricardo , Rios Jessica , Cartagena Jorge Gallardo , Valdez Rogelio , Bain Carolyn , Barbarán Karin Sosa , Villaran Manuel V , Pilcher Christopher D , Gonzales Pedro , Sanchez Jorge , Duerr Ann
Published: February 2020

Background

In addition to demonstrated public health benefits on reducing transmission, it remains unclear how early antiretroviral therapy (ART) must be started after acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to maximize individual benefits.

Methods

We conducted an open-label randomized clinical study in Lima, Peru among adult men who have sex with men and transgender women with acute (HIV-antibody negative/HIV-1 RNA positive) or recent (confirmed negative HIV-antibody or RNA test within 3 months) HIV infection, who were randomized to start ART immediately versus defer by 24 weeks. We evaluated outcomes by treatment arm and immunologic markers by days since estimated date of detectible infection (EDDI).

Results

Of 216 participants, 105 were assigned to immediate arm and 111 to deferred arm (median age 26.8 years, 37% with acute HIV). The incidence of non-ART-related adverse events was lower in immediate versus deferred arm (83 vs 123/100 person-years, IRR 0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] .47, .95; P = .02), the difference dominated by fewer infections in those treated immediately. After 24 weeks of ART, between-group differences in CD4/CD8 cell ratio lessened (P = .09 overall), but differences between those initiating ART ≤ 30 days from EDDI (median 1.03, interquartile range [IQR] 0.84, 1.37), and those initiating > 90 days (0.88, IQR 0.61, 1.11) remained, P = .02. Principal components analysis of 20 immune biomarkers demonstrated distinct patterns between those starting ART > 90 days from EDDI versus those starting within 30 or 90 days (both P < .001).

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the only evaluation of randomized ART initiation during primary HIV and provides evidence to explicitly consider acute HIV in World Health Organization recommendations for universal ART.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT01815580.
Varicella Zoster Virus Encephalitis in Denmark From 2015 to 2019—A Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Herlin Laura Krogh , Hansen Kristoffer Skaalum , Bodilsen Jacob , Larsen Lykke , Brandt Christian , Andersen Christian Østergaard , Hansen Birgitte Rønde , Lüttichau Hans Rudolf , Helweg-Larsen Jannik , Wiese Lothar , Storgaard Merete , Nielsen Henrik , Mogensen Trine H
Published: February 2020

Background

Knowledge of the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of varicella zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis remains limited.

Methods

Nationwide prospective cohort study of adults treated for microbiologically confirmed VZV encephalitis at Danish departments of infectious diseases from 2015 to 2019. Modified Poisson regression analysis was used to compute adjusted relative risks (RRs) of unfavorable outcome.

Results

We identified 92 adults (49% female) with VZV encephalitis, yielding an incidence of 5.3/1 000 000 per year (95% CI, 4.2–6.6). Median age was 75 years (IQR, 67–83) and immunocompromising conditions were frequent (39%). Predominant symptoms were confusion (76%), headache (56%), nausea (45%), gait disturbance (42%), and personality changes (41%). Cranial imaging showed cerebral vasculitis (including infarction and hemorrhage) in 14 (16%) patients and encephalitic abnormalities in 11 (13%) with predilection for the brainstem and deep brain structures. Intravenous acyclovir treatment was initiated a median (IQR) of 13.4 hours (5.2–46.3) since admission, while cranial imaging and lumbar puncture were performed after 6.3 hours (2.5–31.0) and 18.5 hours (4.9–42.0). In-hospital, 1-month, and 3-month mortalities were 4%, 9%, and 11%, respectively. Unfavorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Score of 1–4) was found in 69% at discharge, with age (adjusted RR [aRR], 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01–1.03), vasculitis (aRR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.02–1.86), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <15 (aRR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.01–1.73) identified as independent risk factors.

Conclusions

VZV encephalitis occurs primarily in elderly or immunocompromised patients with a higher incidence than previously estimated. The diagnosis is often delayed; risk factors for unfavorable outcome are age, cerebral vasculitis, and GCS <15.
FerrDb: a manually curated resource for regulators and markers of ferroptosis and ferroptosis-disease associations
Authors: Zhou Nan , Bao Jinku
Published: February 2020

Ferroptosis is a mode of regulated cell death that depends on iron. Cells die from the toxic accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis is tightly linked to a variety of human diseases, such as cancers and degenerative diseases. The ferroptotic process is complicated and consists of a wide range of metabolites and biomolecules. Although great progress has been achieved, the mechanism of ferroptosis remains enigmatic. We have currently entered an era of extensive knowledge advancement, and thus, it is important to find ways to organize and utilize data efficiently. We have observed a high-quality knowledge base of ferroptosis research is lacking. In this study, we downloaded 784 ferroptosis articles from the PubMed database. Ferroptosis regulators and markers and associated diseases were extracted from these articles and annotated. In summary, 253 regulators (including 108 drivers, 69 suppressors, 35 inducers and 41 inhibitors), 111 markers and 95 ferroptosis-disease associations were found. We then developed FerrDb, the first manually curated database for regulators and markers of ferroptosis and ferroptosis-disease associations. The database has a user-friendly interface, and it will be updated every 6 months to offer long-term service. FerrDb is expected to help researchers acquire insights into ferroptosis.

Database URL: http://www.zhounan.org/ferrdb
Genetic Variability of Ceraeochrysa cincta, Ceraeochrysa claveri, and Ceraeochrysa cubana (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Populations in Agroecosystems of Southeast Brazil
Authors: Santos Amanda de Faria , Barbosa Nara C Chiarini Pena , Thomazini Thaís Coelho , Morales Adriana Coletto
Published: February 2020

The species of the genus Ceraeochrysa, known as green lacewings or trash-carriers, are widely distributed along the Americas and its islands. In Brazil, 28 species are found, including Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider), Ceraeochrysa claveri (Navás), and Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen). These species are recorded on many crops, where they are often used for biological control. For this use, knowledge of the genetic features of the species is extremely important because they are associated to the species’ ability to withstand different conditions in new environments, such as variations of temperature and presence of pathogens. However, little is known about the genetic features of Ceraeochrysa species. Here, we analyze and compare the distribution of the genetic variability of C. cincta, C. claveri, and C. cubana in agroecosystem populations of southeast Brazil. We found a high genetic diversity in each of the three species, and no strong genetic structure was detected, such that genetic diversity is broadly shared among the crops and localities analyzed. We can conclude that there was a high gene flow among the sampled Ceraeochrysa populations (natural or driven by anthropic action) since the exchange of seedlings among crops can lead to the distribution of the specimens.
Is the setting up aid mitigating the generational renewal problem in farming?
Authors: Nordin Martin , Lovén Ida
Published: February 2020

This study is the first to evaluate the setting up aid (SUA), in the Rural Development Programme. For Sweden, we investigate if the aid, firstly, speeds up the transition process to become manager of a farm and, secondly, affects income from farming and survival of the farm. The approach builds on a regression discontinuity design and explores an age 40–the eligibility requirement in the SUA. We find that the SUA has an impact on the transition to farm management, as well as it increases income from farming and farm survival. Consequently, the aid is likely to fulfil its aim of attracting young people into farming.
Left atrial appendage occlusion with the Amplatzer™ Amulet™ device: full results of the prospective global observational study
Authors: Hildick-Smith David , Landmesser Ulf , Camm A John , Diener Hans-Christoph , Paul Vince , Schmidt Boris , Settergren Magnus , Teiger Emmanuel , Nielsen-Kudsk Jens Erik , Tondo Claudio
Published: February 2020

Aims

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with the Amplatzer™ Amulet™ occluder.

Methods and results

Patients with atrial fibrillation eligible for LAAO were recruited to a prospective global study. Implant procedures were undertaken with echocardiographic guidance. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) was undertaken 1–3 months post-LAAO. Implant and follow-up TOEs were evaluated by a CoreLab. The primary endpoint was a composite of ischaemic stroke and cardiovascular death at 2 years. Serious adverse events were adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee. A total of 1088 patients were enrolled, aged 75.2 ± 8.5 years; 64.5% were male. CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were 4.2 ± 1.6 and 3.3 ± 1.1, respectively. A total of 71.7% had prior major bleeding, and 82.8% had contraindications to oral anticoagulants. Implant success was 99.1%. Major adverse events (≤7 days post-procedure) occurred in 4.0%, including death (0.3%), stroke (0.4%), major vascular (1.3%), and device embolization (0.2%). A total of 80.2% of patients were discharged on antiplatelet therapy alone. Peridevice flow was <3 mm in 98.4% at follow-up TOE. Device-related thrombus (DRT) was seen in 1.6% of cases. Cardiovascular death or ischaemic stroke occurred in 8.7% of patients at 2 years. The ischaemic stroke rate was 2.2%/year—a 67% reduction compared to the CHA2DS2-VASc predicted rate. Major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type ≥ 3) occurred at rates of 10.1%/year (year 1) and 4.0%/year (year 2).

Conclusion

Following LAAO with the Amplatzer Amulet device, the ischaemic stroke rate was reduced by 67% compared to the predicted risk. Closure was complete in 98.4% of cases and DRT seen in only 1.6%.
Satellite-based time series land cover and change information to map forest area consistent with national and international reporting requirements
Authors: Wulder Michael A , Hermosilla Txomin , Stinson Graham , Gougeon François A , White Joanne C , Hill David A , Smiley Byron P
Published: February 2020

Forests are dynamic ecosystems, subject to both natural and anthropogenic agents of change. Wildfire, harvesting and other human activities alter the tree-covered area present in forests. From national and international reporting perspectives, forests include areas currently treed, as well as those disturbed forest areas that are not currently treed but will be, given time for regeneration and the advancement of natural successional processes. As a consequence, forest area can be depicted at a particular point in time, informed by a retrospective temporal context. Using time series of Landsat imagery, annual land cover maps can be generated that are informed by knowledge of past disturbance history (such as wildfire and harvesting). In this research, we use over three decades of annual land cover data generated from Landsat time series to generate a spatially explicit estimate of the forest area of Canada in 2010. We demonstrate how land cover and disturbance information can be combined to map the area of ‘forest’, as defined by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), within Canada’s 650 Mha of forested ecozones. Following this approach, we estimated Canada’s total forest area in 2010 to be 354.5 Mha. This estimate includes 324.5 Mha of current forest cover in 2010, plus an additional 33.2 Mha (or 9.4 per cent) of temporally informed forest area where tree cover had been temporarily lost due to fire or harvest, less 3.3 Mha that were removed to meet a definitional minimum size (0.5 ha) for contiguous forest area. Using Canada’s National Forest Inventory (NFI) as an independent reference source, the spatial agreement between the two estimates of forest area was ~84 per cent overall. Aspatially, the total area of the Landsat-derived estimate of 2010 forest area and the NFI baseline estimates differed by only 3 per cent, with notable regional differences in the wetland-dominated Hudson Plains Ecozone. Satellite-derived time series land cover and change information enable spatially explicit depictions of forest area (distinct from representations of forest cover) in a robust and transparent fashion, producing information of value to science, management and reporting information needs.
Reflection on modern methods: planned missing data designs for epidemiological research
Authors: Rioux Charlie , Lewin Antoine , Odejimi Omolola A , Little Todd D
Published: February 2020

Taking advantage of the ability of modern missing data treatments in epidemiological research (e.g. multiple imputation) to recover power while avoiding bias in the presence of data that is missing completely at random, planned missing data designs allow researchers to deliberately incorporate missing data into a research design. A planned missing data design may be done by randomly assigning participants to have missing items in a questionnaire (multiform design) or missing occasions of measurement in a longitudinal study (wave-missing design), or by administering an expensive gold-standard measure to a random subset of participants while the whole sample is administered a cheaper measure (two-method design). Although not common in epidemiology, these designs have been recommended for decades by methodologists for their benefits—notably that data collection costs are minimized and participant burden is reduced, which can increase validity. This paper describes the multiform, wave-missing and two-method designs, including their benefits, their impact on bias and power, and other factors that must be taken into consideration when implementing them in an epidemiological study design.
A Roadmap for a Successful Breast Imaging Fellowship
Authors: Mehta Rashmi , Lourenco Ana , Phillips Jordana
Published: February 2020

Breast imaging is an important field within radiology, having made significant strides in helping reduce morbidity and mortality from breast cancer. Historically, breast imaging radiologists learned mammography and ultrasound skills on the job as a part of general radiology training. However, breast imaging as a subspecialty has grown over time with the emergence of breast imaging fellowships across the country. Despite this growth, breast imaging fellowships remain nonaccredited through the American College of Graduate Medical Education, and as a result, there are significant variations in training programs throughout the country. In this article, we will provide guidelines on organizing a breast imaging fellowship to help standardize the experience of fellows entering the breast imaging community. This will include guidelines regarding providing adequate clinical exposure, developing a fund of knowledge, fostering extra-clinical interests, and providing constructive feedback for ongoing improvement.
A26 PEDIATRIC-ONSET INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE INCREASES THE RISK OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM: A CANGIEC POPULATION-BASED STUDY
Authors: Kuenzig E , Singh H , Bitton A , Kaplan G G , Carroll M W , Otley A , Stukel T A , Spruin S , Nugent Z , Tanyingoh D , Cui Y , Filliter C , Coward S , Griffiths A , Mack D , Jacobson K , Nguyen G C , Targownik L , El-Matary W , Benchimol E I
Published: February 2020

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients of all ages but the risk of VTE among Canadian children with IBD has not previously been investigated.

Aims

Report the incidence of VTE and subtypes pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in children with and without IBD.

Methods

Children diagnosed with IBD <16y were identified from health administrative data in Ontario (2002–2014), Alberta (2007–2015), and Nova Scotia (2002–2012) using validated algorithms and matched by age and sex to children without IBD (1:5 ratio). Validated ICD-10 codes identified hospitalizations for incident VTE (DVT, PE, and sinovenous thrombosis). Province-specific 5-year cumulative incidence per 1000 person-years (PY) of VTEs were pooled using fixed-effects generalized linear mixed models with a Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) within 5 years of diagnosis were pooled using fixed-effects generalized linear mixed models to compare children with and without IBD, and children with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Results

3127 children with IBD (1826 CD; 1045 UC) were matched to 15,635 children without IBD. The cumulative incidence of VTE within 5 years of IBD diagnosis was 2.8 (95% CI 2.1–3.8) per 1000 PYs compared to 0.13 (95% CI 0.07–0.24) per 1000 PYs in children without IBD (Table). The 5-year cumulative incidences of VTE, DVT, and PE were significantly higher in children with IBD than in children without IBD (VTE: IRR 21.44, 95% CI 10.73–42.82; DVT: IRR 25.15, 95% CI 11.12–56.89; PE: IRR 4.01, 95% CI 1.22–13.18). Compared to UC patients, children with CD were at lower risk of VTE (IRR 0.53, 95% CI 0.29–0.96) and numerically, but not statistically, lower risk of DVT (IRR 0.59, 95% CI 0.30–1.14).

Conclusions

Although VTEs are relatively rare among children with IBD, these children are at much greater risk than children without IBD. Gastroenterologists caring for these patients should be cognizant of VTE risk and provide appropriate prophylaxis to those at high risk of VTE.

Funding Agencies

CCC
A219 PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF AKKERMANSIA MUCINIPHILA ON INTESTINAL BARRIER FUNCTION AND INFLAMMATION
Authors: Grondin J , Wang H , Haq S , Kwon E Y , Surette M , Khan W I
Published: February 2020

Background

Akkermansia muciniphila, an anaerobic gram-negative bacteria, accounts for ~3% of human gut microbiota. Despite its mucolytic nature, A. muciniphila has been shown to stimulate mucin production, enhance anti-inflammatory regulatory T cell proliferation and improve gut barrier integrity. Interestingly, an inverse relationship has been established between A. muciniphila and several disease states including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suggesting it may have protective and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the precise role and mechanism of A. muciniphila in the pathogenesis of colitis remains unknown. Thus, we hypothesize that A. muciniphila may induce protective effects on intestinal inflammation by influencing host immune response and epithelial barrier integrity.

Aims

(1) To investigate the protective role of A. muciniphila in intestinal inflammation in a chemically induced model of IBD and (2) to investigate the protective role of A. muciniphila in intestinal inflammation and host defense in a model of enteric parasitic infection.

Methods

Colitis was induced in germ-free C57BL/6 mice with 2.5% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) after treatment with either C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) cecal contents or WT cecal contents supplemented with A. muciniphila. Colitis severity was assessed by disease activity index (DAI), macroscopic and histological scores, myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay and cytokine expression. In addition, colitis was induced by Trichuris muris, an intestinal nematode, following treatment with A. muciniphila. Post-infection, the severity of intestinal inflammation was assessed by worm burden, goblet cell staining, cytokines analysis, MPO activity and Muc2 expression. Microbial composition was assessed by 16s rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

In preliminary studies, mice treated with A. muciniphila and administered DSS for 5 days yielded a significant decrease in DAI, macroscopic scoring, and MPO values compared with controls. IL-10 was also elevated in mice receiving A. muciniphila. Groups receiving A. muciniphila in the T. muris model trended toward decreased worm burden, IL-4, IL-13, as well as increased levels of IL-10, goblet cell expression, and Muc2 and Muc5ac expression. A significant decrease in MPO activity was also observed in the group receiving the A. muciniphila-supplemented gavage. Microbial analysis indicated that 3 weeks post-gavage Akkermansia levels were significantly elevated in groups receiving the A. muciniphila-supplemented WT cecal contents versus WT alone. This significance was maintained post-T. muris infection.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that A. muciniphila may have a protective role in the context of intestinal inflammation. This research has the potential to fuel the development of novel treatments by utilizing this protective role in IBD.

Funding Agencies

CIHR
Bee Visitation and Fruit Quality in Berries Under Protected Cropping Vary Along the Length of Polytunnels
Authors: Hall Mark A , Jones Jeremy , Rocchetti Maurizio , Wright Derek , Rader Romina
Published: February 2020

Wild and managed bees provide effective crop pollination services worldwide. Protected cropping conditions are thought to alter the ambient environmental conditions in which pollinators forage for flowers, yet few studies have compared conditions at the edges and center of growing tunnels. We measured environmental variables (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, white light, and UV light) and surveyed activity of the managed honey bee, Apis mellifera L.; wild stingless bee, Tetragonula carbonaria Smith; and wild sweat bee, Homalictus urbanus Smith, along the length of 32 multiple open-ended polyethylene growing tunnels. These were spaced across 12 blocks at two commercial berry farms, in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales and Walkamin, North Queensland, Australia. Berry yield, fresh weight, and other quality metrics were recorded at discrete increments along the length of the tunnels. We found a higher abundance and greater number of flower visits by stingless bees and honey bees at the end of tunnels, and less frequent visits to flowers toward the middle of tunnels. The center of tunnels experienced higher temperatures and reduced wind speed. In raspberry, fruit shape was improved with greater pollinator abundance and was susceptible to higher temperatures. In blueberry, per plant yield and mean berry weight were positively associated with pollinator abundance and were lower at the center of tunnels than at the edge. Fruit quality (crumbliness) in raspberries was improved with a greater number of visits by sweat bees, who were not as susceptible to climatic conditions within tunnels. Understanding bee foraging behavior and changes to yield under protected cropping conditions is critical to inform the appropriate design of polytunnels, aid pollinator management within them, and increase economic gains in commercial berry crops.
Presence of the Oriental Rat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Infesting an Endemic Mammal and Confirmed Plague Circulation in a Forest Area of Madagascar
Authors: Harimalala Mireille , Rahelinirina Soanandrasana , Girod Romain
Published: February 2020

The Oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild 1903), is a cosmopolitan flea usually found infesting domestic rats. This flea is a well-known major human plague vector in Madagascar. As part of field sampling, fleas and small mammals were collected in the village of South Andranofeno and the natural reserve of Sohisika, two sites of the district of Ankazobe, located in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. Rats inside houses and forest small mammals were trapped using Besancon Technical Services and pitfall traps, respectively. Their fleas were collected and preserved for laboratory works. Collected fleas from the village and forest belonged to five species, which were X. cheopis, Synopsyllus fonquerniei (Wagner and Roubaud 1932) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), Echidnophaga gallinacea (Westwood 1875) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), Ctenocephalides felisstrongylus (Jordan 1925) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), Pulex irritans (Linnaeus 1758) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). After sampling in the forest zone, one specimen of X. cheopis was unexpectedly collected while infesting an endemic tenrec Setifer setosus (Schreber 1777) (Afrosoricida: Tenrecidae). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnosis on all collected fleas allowed detecting plague bacterium Yersinia pestis (Lehmann and Neumann 1896) (Enterobacterales: Yersiniaceae) on nine specimens of the endemic flea S. fonquerniei collected inside forest. The presence of the oriental rat flea in forest highlights the connection between human and wild environments due to animal movements and the fact that the rat flea can infest various hosts. As only one specimen of X. cheopis was collected on S. setosus, we hypothesize that flea was carried from the village to forest. Yersinia pestis infection of forest fleas outlines plague circulation in this sylvatic area.
New Records of Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) From the Western Brazilian Amazon and the Description of the Female of Pintomyia fiocruzi
Authors: Costa Glaucilene da Silva , Júnior Antonio Marques Pereira , Arley Costa Pessoa Felipe , Shimabukuro Paloma Helena Fernandes , Medeiros Jansen Fernandes
Published: February 2020

An entomological survey was conducted in several localities of Rondônia State, and new records were obtained for seven sand fly species: Evandromyia apurinan Shimabukuro, Figueira & Silva, 2013, Evandromyia carmelinoi (Ryan, Fraiha, Lainson & Shaw, 1986), Micropygomyia echinatopharynx Andrade-Filho, Galati, Andrade & Falcão, 2004, Nyssomyia urbinattii Galati & Galvis, 2012, Pintomyia duckei Oliveira, Alencar & Freitas, 2018, Psathyromyia pradobarrientosi (Le Pont, Matias, Martinez & Dujardin, 2004), and Sciopemyia vattierae (Le Pont & Desjeux, 1992). Herein, we also describe the female of Pintomyia fiocruzi Pereira Júnior, Pessoa, Marivalva & Medeiros, 2019. The female has spermathecae with a detached apical ring similar to the spermathecae of Pintomyia serrana (Damasceno & Arouck, 1949), Pintomyia odax (Fairchild & Hertig, 1961), Pintomyia ottolinai (Ortiz & Scorza, 1963), and Pintomyia robusta (Galati, Cáceres & Le Pont, 1995). Here, we provide characters to separate Pi. fiocruzi from Pi. serrana and Pi. odax. Pintomyia ottolinai has a trans-Andean distribution and Pi. robusta has not been found in Brazil and in our studies, we associated the females found in this study with Pi. fiocruzi males found at the same collection sites. Our findings highlight the importance of entomological fauna surveys and demonstrate the need for taxonomists to study species diversity in Rondônia. This study increases the number of sand fly species recorded in Rondônia to 143.
Effects of Formic Acid on Amblyomma americanum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Larvae and Nymphs
Authors: Showler Allan T , Dorsey Bailee N , Caesar Ryan M
Published: February 2020

Ixodids are blood-feeding ectoparasitic vectors of many disease agents that infect humans, livestock, and wild animals. As ixodid resistance to conventional synthetic acaricides becomes increasingly problematic, natural products are receiving greater attention as possible alternative control tactics. Formic acid, produced by ants, is a commercially available product for fumigating varroa mites, Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman, infesting honey bee, Apis mellifera L., hives, and it has been reported to repel ixodids. Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), larvae and nymphs were used as a model ixodid to investigate deterrent, repellent, and lethal effects of formic acid as a fumigant and contact toxin in vitro in the laboratory. Although formic acid failed to deter or repel A. americanum, it was highly toxic as a fumigant to larvae at a 1% concentration even when exposure was limited to 5 min. Contact by crawling on wet, moist, and dry treated substrates under ventilated conditions causes >90% mortality to larvae in 5% formic acid concentration treatments within 30–120 min, and temporary immersion killed ≈60% of the larvae by 24 h after they were removed from the 5% formic acid treatment solution. Substantial nymphal mortality occurred after 1–1.5 h following exposure to substrate treated with the 10% concentration and immersion killed ≈45% of the nymphs. It appears that formic acid volatiles are more lethal to A. americanum immatures than direct contact with the external integument.
Anti-HMGCR Antibody-Positive Myopathy Shows Bcl-2-Positive Inflammation and Lymphocytic Accumulations
Authors: Kurashige Takashi , Murao Tomomi , Mine Naoko , Sugiura Tomohito , Inazuka Yukiko , Kuraoka Kazuya , Takahashi Tetsuya , Maruyama Hirofumi , Torii Tsuyoshi
Published: February 2020

Anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and antisignal recognition particle (SRP) antibodies are frequently associated with immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM). However, the difference in clinical manifestations between anti-HMGCR and anti-SRP antibodies is unclear. HMGCR is an essential enzyme for cholesterol biosynthesis and is inhibited by statins that regulate apoptosis of Bcl-2-positive and beta chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4)-positive lymphoma cells. In this study, we aimed to clarify Bcl-2 and CCR4 expressions of lymphocytes in anti-HMGCR antibody-positive IMNM and explore the difference between anti-HMGCR antibody-positive myopathy and other inflammatory myopathies. We retrospectively examined Bcl-2- and CCR4-positive lymphocyte infiltrations in muscle and skin biopsy specimens from 19 anti-HMGCR antibody-positive patients and 75 other idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) patients. A higher incidence of Bcl-2- and CCR4-positive lymphocytes was detected in the muscle and skin of anti-HMGCR antibody-positive IMNM patients (p < 0.001). In 5 patients with anti-HMGCR antibodies, Bcl-2-positive lymphocytes formed lymphocytic accumulations, which were not observed in other IIMs. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were not increased except for patients with Bcl-2-positive lymphocytic accumulations (p = 0.010). Bcl-2 and CCR4 lymphocyte infiltrations could be a pathological characteristic of anti-HMGCR antibody-positive IMNM.
Inhibition of light-induced stomatal opening by allyl isothiocyanate does not require guard cell cytosolic Ca2+ signaling
Authors: Ye Wenxiu , Ando Eigo , Rhaman Mohammad Saidur , Tahjib-Ul-Arif Md , Okuma Eiji , Nakamura Yoshimasa , Kinoshita Toshinori , Murata Yoshiyuki
Published: February 2020

The glucosinolate–myrosinase system is a well-known defense system that has been shown to induce stomatal closure in Brassicales. Isothiocyanates are highly reactive hydrolysates of glucosinolates, and an isothiocyanate, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), induces stomatal closure accompanied by elevation of free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) in Arabidopsis. It remains unknown whether AITC inhibits light-induced stomatal opening. This study investigated the role of Ca2+ in AITC-induced stomatal closure and inhibition of light-induced stomatal opening. AITC induced stomatal closure and inhibited light-induced stomatal opening in a dose-dependent manner. A Ca2+ channel inhibitor, La3+, a Ca2+chelator, EGTA, and an inhibitor of Ca2+ release from internal stores, nicotinamide, inhibited AITC-induced [Ca2+]cyt elevation and stomatal closure, but did not affect inhibition of light-induced stomatal opening. AITC activated non-selective Ca2+-permeable cation channels and inhibited inward-rectifying K+ (K+in) channels in a Ca2+-independent manner. AITC also inhibited stomatal opening induced by fusicoccin, a plasma membrane H+-ATPase activator, but had no significant effect on fusicoccin-induced phosphorylation of the penultimate threonine of H+-ATPase. Taken together, these results suggest that AITC induces Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ release to elevate [Ca2+]cyt, which is essential for AITC-induced stomatal closure but not for inhibition of K+in channels and light-induced stomatal opening.