bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A primer on metabolic memory: why existing diabesity treatments fail
Authors: Copur Sidar , Rossing Peter , Afsar Baris , Sag Alan A , Siriopol Dimitrie , Kuwabara Masanari , Ortiz Alberto , Kanbay Mehmet
Published: June 2020

Despite massive government and private sector investments into prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and obesity, efforts have largely failed, and the burden of cost remains in the treatment of downstream morbidity and mortality, with overall stagnating outcomes. A new paradigm shift in the approach to these patients may explain why existing treatment strategies fail, and offer new treatment targets. This review aims to provide a clinician-centred primer on metabolic memory, defined as the sum of irreversible genetic, epigenetic, cellular and tissue-level alterations that occur with long-time exposure to metabolic derangements.
Reverse pseudohyperkalemia is more than leukocytosis: a retrospective study
Authors: El Shamy Osama , Rein Joshua L , Kattamanchi Siddhartha , Uribarri Jaime , Vassalotti Joseph A
Published: June 2020

Background

Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening electrolyte abnormality that often requires urgent treatment. Clinicians should distinguish true hyperkalemia from pseudohyperkalemia and reverse pseudohyperkalemia (RPK). RPK has exclusively been described in case reports of patients with hematologic malignancies (HMs) and extreme leukocytosis [white blood cell (WBC) count >200 × 103/mL].

Methods

This single-center retrospective study analyzed laboratory data from the Mount Sinai Data Warehouse between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2016 for plasma potassium and serum potassium samples drawn within 1 h of each other, with plasma potassium ≥1 mEq/L of the serum potassium. Only plasma potassium ≥5 mEq/L were included. Samples that were documented to be hemolyzed or contaminated were excluded. Clinical history and laboratory data were collected from the identified cases.

Results

After applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria to 485 potential cases, the final cohort included 45 cases from 41 patients. There were 24 men and 17 women with a mean age of 52 years. The median plasma potassium was 6.1 mEq/L and serum potassium was 4.4 mEq/L. The median WBC count was 9.35 × 103/mL (interquartile range 6.5–19.7 × 103/mL). Only 44% of the samples had leukocytosis, defined as WBC >11 × 103/mL.

Seven patients had a HM and comprised 11 of the cases (24%) with a median WBC of 181.8 × 103µL. There was no difference in their plasma and serum potassium levels when compared with the total cohort, despite a higher median WBC count. Thirty-eight percent of the cases required medical management.

Conclusions

The literature on RPK is limited to case reports and series associated with extreme leukocytosis. This is the first study characterizing RPK predominantly associated with normal leukocyte counts. Further investigation is required to more precisely characterize factors associated with RPK and to elucidate RPK mechanisms.
Socioeconomic inequalities in out-of-hours primary care use: an electronic health records linkage study
Authors: Jansen Tessa , Hek Karin , Schellevis François G , Kunst Anton E , Verheij Robert A
Published: June 2020

Background

Low socioeconomic position (SEP) is related to higher healthcare use in out-of-hours primary care services (OPCSs). We aimed to determine whether inequalities persist when taking the generally poorer health status of socioeconomically vulnerable individuals into account. To put OPCS use in perspective, this was compared with healthcare use in daytime general practice (DGP).

Methods

Electronic health record (EHR) data of 988 040 patients in 2017 (251 DGPs, 27 OPCSs) from Nivel Primary Care Database were linked to socio-demographic data (Statistics, The Netherlands). We analyzed associations of OPCS and DGP use with SEP (operationalized as patient household income) using multilevel logistic regression. We controlled for demographic characteristics and the presence of chronic diseases. We additionally stratified for chronic disease groups.

Results

An income gradient was observed for OPCS use, with higher probabilities within each lower income group [lowest income, reference highest income group: odds ratio (OR) = 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45–1.51]. Income inequalities in DGP use were considerably smaller (lowest income: OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.15–1.19). Inequalities in OPCS were more substantial among patients with chronic diseases (e.g. cardiovascular disease lowest income: OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.53–1.67). The inequalities in DGP use among patients with chronic diseases were similar to the inequalities in the total population.

Conclusions

Higher OPCS use suggests that chronically ill patients with lower income had additional healthcare needs that have not been met elsewhere. Our findings fuel the debate how to facilitate adequate primary healthcare in DGP and prevent vulnerable patients from OPCS use.
Revisiting Ceriantharian (Anthozoa) Mitochondrial Genomes: Casting Doubts about Their Structure and Size
Authors: Smith David Roy
Published: June 2020

Recently, Stampar et al. (2019. Linear mitochondrial genome in Anthozoa (Cnidaria): a case study in. Sci Rep. 9(1):6094.) uncovered highly atypical mitochondrial genome structures in the cnidarian species Pachycerianthus magnus and Isarachnanthus nocturnus (Anthozoa, Ceriantharia). These two mitochondrial DNAs assembled as linear fragmented genomes, comprising eight and five chromosomes, respectively—architectures unlike any other anthozoan mitogenome described to date. What’s more, they have cumulative lengths of 77.8 (P. magnus) and 80.9 kb (I. nocturnus), making them the largest animal mitochondrial DNAs on record, a finding which garnered significant attention by various news media. Here, I take a closer look at the work of Stampar et al. and question their key results. I provide evidence that the currently available mitogenome sequences for I. nocturnus and P. magnus, including their structures, sizes, and chromosome numbers, should be treated with caution. More work must be done on these genomes before one can say with any certainty that they are linear, fragmented, or the largest animal mitogenomes observed to date.
Measuring fisheries management performance
Authors: Hilborn Ray
Published: June 2020

How do we assess the performance of national and international fisheries management organizations? Many organizations produce measures of the extent of overfishing, typically classifying individual stocks as overfished if they are below some biomass threshold. Most agencies then report their overall status (i.e. percentage overfished, fully exploited, etc.) by giving equal weight to all stocks, regardless of stock size or potential yield. We review the range of indices used to assess overfishing levels and apply them to the data from US fisheries to show how they depict very different performance of fisheries. Given that overfishing is a concept imbedded in the maximization of long-term harvest, we evaluate how well these indices reflect the extent to which fisheries have maximized sustainable yield. Indices that are weighted by the potential yield of the stock much better reflect the regional performance of fisheries but are still limited by the arbitrary use of a threshold abundance. For the United States, weighting by maximum sustainable yield or value suggests that the losses from overfishing are less than existing methods using equal weighting and that underfishing is much more common than overfishing.
Prosthetic valve thrombosis during extracorporeal life support for postcardiotomy shock
Authors: Melehy Andrew , Sanchez Joseph , Fried Justin A , Takeda Koji
Published: June 2020

Postcardiotomy shock is a complication after open-heart surgery that may be alleviated with extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Postcardiotomy shock patients on ECLS with prosthetic valves are at a high risk of valve thrombosis. We retrospectively reviewed patients supported with ECLS after the development of postcardiotomy shock at our centre, 90 of which had prosthetic valves. Nine patients developed prosthetic valve thrombosis, an incidence of 10%. Patients who developed prosthetic valve thrombosis were more often supported via central cannulation (78% vs 38%, P = 0.034) and had a higher median initial flow (4.4 vs 3.2 l/min, P = 0.018). Central cannulation was associated with valve thrombosis by multivariable logistic regression (odds ratio 7.56; 95% confidence interval 1.12–149.87). Central cannulation with high flow is thought to reduce intracardiac blood flow, thereby increasing the risk of stasis and thrombus formation. Patients with prosthetic valve thrombosis were treated with anticoagulation or surgical intervention and 4 patients (44%) survived to discharge.
Management of pneumothorax in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients: early experience
Authors: Hussain Azhar , Noorani Alia , Deshpande Ranjit , John Lindsay , Baghai Max , Wendler Olaf , Whitaker Donald , Khan Habib
Published: June 2020

A significant proportion of patients infected with the novel coronavirus, now termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), require intensive care admission and subsequent mechanical ventilation. Pneumothorax, a potential fatal complication of mechanical ventilation, can further complicate the management of COVID-19 patients, whilst chest drain insertion may increase the risk of transmission of attending staff. We present a case series and a suggested best-practice protocol for how to manage and treat pneumothoraces in COVID-19 patients in an intensive care unit setting.
Religious-service attendance and subsequent health and well-being throughout adulthood: evidence from three prospective cohorts
Authors: Chen Ying , Kim Eric S , VanderWeele Tyler J
Published: June 2020

Background

Religious-service attendance has been linked with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, suicide and depression. Yet, its associations with other health and well-being outcomes remain less clear.

Methods

Using longitudinal data from three large prospective cohorts in the USA, this study examined the association between religious-service attendance and a wide range of subsequent physical health, health behaviour, psychological distress and psychological well-being outcomes in separate cohorts of young, middle-aged and older adults. All analyses adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, prior health status and prior values of the outcome variables whenever data were available. Bonferroni correction was used to correct for multiple testing.

Results

Estimates combining data across cohorts suggest that, compared with those who never attended religious services, individuals who attended services at least once per week had a lower risk of all-cause mortality by 26% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65 to 0.84], heavy drinking by 34% (95% CI: 0.59 to 0.73) and current smoking by 29% (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.80). Service attendance was also inversely associated with a number of psychological-distress outcomes (i.e. depression, anxiety, hopelessness, loneliness) and was positively associated with psychosocial well-being outcomes (i.e. positive affect, life satisfaction, social integration, purpose in life), but was generally not associated with subsequent disease, such as hypertension, stroke, and heart disease.

Conclusions

Decisions on religious participation are generally not shaped principally by health. Nevertheless, for individuals who already hold religious beliefs, religious-service attendance may be a meaningful form of social integration that potentially relates to greater longevity, healthier behaviours, better mental health and greater psychosocial well-being.
COVID-19 healthcare demand and mortality in Sweden in response to non-pharmaceutical mitigation and suppression scenarios
Authors: Sjödin Henrik , Johansson Anders F , Brännström Åke , Farooq Zia , Kriit Hedi Katre , Wilder-Smith Annelies , Åström Christofer , Thunberg Johan , Söderquist Mårten , Rocklöv Joacim
Published: June 2020

Background

While the COVID-19 outbreak in China now appears suppressed, Europe and the USA have become the epicentres, both reporting many more deaths than China. Responding to the pandemic, Sweden has taken a different approach aiming to mitigate, not suppress, community transmission, by using physical distancing without lockdowns. Here we contrast the consequences of different responses to COVID-19 within Sweden, the resulting demand for care, intensive care, the death tolls and the associated direct healthcare related costs.

Methods

We used an age-stratified health-care demand extended SEIR (susceptible, exposed, infectious, recovered) compartmental model for all municipalities in Sweden, and a radiation model for describing inter-municipality mobility. The model was calibrated against data from municipalities in the Stockholm healthcare region.

Results

Our scenario with moderate to strong physical distancing describes well the observed health demand and deaths in Sweden up to the end of May 2020. In this scenario, the intensive care unit (ICU) demand reaches the pre-pandemic maximum capacity just above 500 beds. In the counterfactual scenario, the ICU demand is estimated to reach ∼20 times higher than the pre-pandemic ICU capacity. The different scenarios show quite different death tolls up to 1 September, ranging from 5000 to 41 000, excluding deaths potentially caused by ICU shortage. Additionally, our statistical analysis of all causes excess mortality indicates that the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 could be increased by 40% (95% confidence interval: 0.24, 0.57).

Conclusion

The results of this study highlight the impact of different combinations of non-pharmaceutical interventions, especially moderate physical distancing in combination with more effective isolation of infectious individuals, on reducing deaths, health demands and lowering healthcare costs. In less effective mitigation scenarios, the demand on ICU beds would rapidly exceed capacity, showing the tight interconnection between the healthcare demand and physical distancing in the society. These findings have relevance for Swedish policy and response to the COVID-19 pandemic and illustrate the importance of maintaining the level of physical distancing for a longer period beyond the study period to suppress or mitigate the impacts from the pandemic.
Severe Morbidity and Short- and Mid- to Long-term Mortality in Older Adults Hospitalized with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Authors: Tseng Hung Fu , Sy Lina S , Ackerson Bradley , Solano Zendi , Slezak Jeff , Luo Yi , Fischetti Christine A , Shinde Vivek
Published: June 2020

Background

We describe the clinical epidemiology and outcomes among a large cohort of older adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the United States.

Methods

Hospitalized adults aged ≥60 years who tested positive for RSV between 1 January 2011 and 30 June 2015 were identified from Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Patient-level demographics, comorbidities, clinical presentation, utilization, complications, and mortality were evaluated.

Results

There were 664 patients hospitalized with RSV (61% female, 64% aged ≥75 years). Baseline chronic diseases were prevalent (all >30%); 66% developed pneumonia, 80% of which were radiographically confirmed. Very severe tachypnea (≥26 breaths/minute) was common (56%); 21% required ventilator support and 18% were admitted to intensive care unit. Mortality during hospitalization was 5.6% overall (4.6% in 60–74 year olds and 6.1% in ≥75 year olds). Cumulative mortality within 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of admission was 8.6%, 12.3%, 17.2%, and 25.8%, respectively.

Conclusion

RSV infection in hospitalized older adults often manifested as severe, life-threatening lower respiratory tract illness with high rates of pneumonia, requirement for ventilatory support, and short- and long-term mortality. Increased recognition of the substantial RSV disease burden in adults will be important in evaluation and use of urgently needed interventions.
Tet DNA demethylase is required for plasma cell differentiation by controlling expression levels of IRF4
Authors: Fujii Kentaro , Tanaka Shinya , Hasegawa Takanori , Narazaki Masashi , Kumanogoh Atsushi , Koseki Haruhiko , Kurosaki Tomohiro , Ise Wataru
Published: June 2020

Antibodies produced by plasma cells are critical for protection from infection. It has been demonstrated that global epigenetic modification, such as changes in DNA methylation, occurs during differentiation of plasma cells from B cells. However, the precise mechanisms by which DNA methylation controls plasma cell differentiation are not fully understood. We examined the effect of deficiency of DNA demethylases, Tet2 and Tet3, on B-cell activation and plasma cell differentiation, by generating conditional Tet2/3 double-KO (Tet dKO) B cells. We found that Tet dKO B cells failed to differentiate into plasma cells upon immunization with antigens. Tet dKO B cells proliferated normally and were capable of generating cells with IRF4int, but not with IRF4hi, the majority of which were CD138+ plasma cells. IRF4 overexpression rescued the defect of Tet dKO B cells in plasma cell differentiation, suggesting that Tet2/3-dependent high IRF4 expression is required for plasma cell differentiation. We identified CpG sites in the Irf4 locus that were demethylated specifically in plasma cells and in a Tet2/3-dependent manner. Our results suggest that Tet2/3-dependent demethylation of these CpG sites is dispensable for initial IRF4 expression but is essential for high IRF4 expression which is prerequisite for plasma cell differentiation.
RNF8 induces autophagy and reduces inflammation by promoting AKT degradation via ubiquitination in ulcerative colitis mice
Authors: Zhu Yu , Shi Yan , Ke Xiquan , Xuan Lanlan , Ma Zhenzeng
Published: June 2020

RING finger protein 8 (RNF8) is an E3 ligase that is pivotal for DNA repair. However, the role of RNF8 in ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect and the mechanism of RNF8 on UC model induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in mice. Lentiviruses overexpressing RNF8 were injected into mice after the induction of UC. The histopathological changes in colon tissues were assessed by haematoxylin and eosin staining. The mRNA level of RNF8 was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein levels of RNF8, autophagy-related proteins (LC3 and P62) and AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling-related proteins were measured by Western blot. The pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β) were examined by immunohistochemical analysis. Immunoprecipitation was performed to analyse the interaction between RNF8 and AKT1. The TNBS-induced UC mice exhibited colonic damage and inflammation, accompanied by decreased RNF8 expression, impaired autophagy and increased phosphorylation levels of AKT and mTOR in the colon. However, these alterations were reversed by RNF8 overexpression. Furthermore, RNF8 bound to AKT1 and mediated its ubiquitination. Collectively, RNF8 overexpression protects against TNBS-induced UC, which might be due to its enhancement of autophagy by suppressing the AKT/mTOR signalling via AKT1 ubiquitination.
Upgrade Rate of Flat Epithelial Atypia Diagnosed at Stereotactic Core Needle Biopsy of Microcalcifications: Is Excisional Biopsy Indicated?
Authors: Gordon Paula B , Branch Emma
Published: June 2020

Objective

Whether the optimal management of pure flat epithelial atypia (FEA) found on core needle biopsy (CNB) specimens is surgical excision or imaging follow-up remains controversial. This study aimed to determine the upgrade rate to ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive carcinoma or a high-risk lesion (atypical ductal hyperplasia, atypical lobular hyperplasia, or lobular carcinoma in situ), and it explored the relationship between a family history of breast cancer and the risk of upgrade.

Methods

Cases with pure FEA found on stereotactic CNB of microcalcifications between March 2011 to December 2017 were followed by excisional biopsy or periodic imaging. The proportion of cases upgraded to a high-risk lesion and the odds of upgrade as related to a family history of breast cancer were determined with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

We identified 622 cases of pure FEA; 101 (16.2%) underwent surgical excision and 269 (43.2%) had imaging follow-up of ≥ 24 months. There were no upgrades to DCIS or invasive cancer in any of these 370 individuals (0%), and 4.6% (17/370; 95% CI: 2.9%–7.2%) were upgraded to a high-risk lesion. There was a nonstatistically significant trend between family history and upgrade to high-risk lesion (odds ratio 1.72 [95% CI: 0.65%–4.57%]).

Conclusion

In our study, the upgrade rate of pure FEA to malignancy was 0%. We suggest that regular imaging follow-up is an appropriate alternative to surgery. Because of potential differences in biopsy techniques and pathologist interpretation of the primary biopsy, individual institutions should audit their own results prior to altering their management of FEA.
Impact of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Feeding on Tart Cherry (Rosales: Rosaceae) Quality and Yield in Utah
Authors: Schumm Zachary R , Alston Diane G , Spears Lori R , Manlove Kezia
Published: June 2020

Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys Stål) is an invasive and economically important agricultural and ornamental insect pest now established in 46 U.S. states. It was first detected in Utah in 2012 and began causing agricultural damage in 2017. Tart cherry (Prunus cerasus Linnaeus) is a major processed agricultural commodity in Utah; yet, its susceptibility to brown marmorated stink bug is unstudied. Limb cages with six brown marmorated stink bug adults, nymphs, or no brown marmorated stink bug were established in a randomized complete block design in a tart cherry orchard to determine feeding impact on different fruit developmental stages. After 1 wk of feeding, half of the fruits in each cage were removed to assess feeding intensity, and the remainder left through maturity to assess marketability and quality. Feeding by adults and nymphs between petal fall and fruit pit hardening, even at feeding pressures as low as 1.7–4.0 feeding sites per fruit, caused 100% abscission of fruits, significantly reducing marketability when compared with the control treatment. For fruits that escaped abscission and matured, few quality differences were detected among treatments, indicating that brown marmorated stink bug feeding caused minimal detectable quality loss to this processed tree fruit crop. We conclude that tart cherries are at risk of abscission with short-term brown marmorated stink bug feeding between petal fall and pit hardening when overwintered adults or F1 nymphs are present in orchards, and suggest that longer-term feeding may be necessary to cause quality and yield reductions after pit hardening.
Regulating patient access to therapeutics in Denmark: a rhetorical analysis of welfare imaginaries in public controversy
Authors: Møllebæk Mathias
Published: June 2020

In this article, I argue that the social imaginaries that inform biomedical regulation circulate not only in technical spheres populated by experts but that they are equally articulated (and vehemently contested) in national public spheres in more popular forms of communication. I examine the relation between a national healthcare imaginary and the regulation of therapeutics through a public controversy about access to an innovative therapeutic indicated for spinal muscular atrophy. The establishment of the Danish Medicines Council, a new health technology assessment institution, and its decision to restrict access to an innovative therapeutic sparked controversy in 2017 involving political proponents, adversaries, and patients, among others. In a variety of ways, they rhetorically mobilized or contested the Danish universalist welfare imaginary which contains promises and prospects of solidarity, security, and absence of market forces in universal healthcare, including access to therapeutics. I use a combination of media content analysis and rhetorical close reading methods to analyze how the imaginary was drawn upon in arguments for and against the new regulatory institution.
COVID-19 vaccine: vaccinate the young to protect the old?
Authors: Giubilini Alberto , Savulescu Julian , Wilkinson Dominic
Published: June 2020

When we have a vaccine against COVID-19, who should be vaccinated first? The question is relevant because, initially, vaccine availability will likely be limited. After healthcare and some other essential workers, it might seem the most obvious candidates are the elderly and other groups that are more vulnerable to the virus. However, we argue that this is not necessarily the case. Protecting the most vulnerable might require prioritizing vaccinating children in order to maximize the benefits of indirect immunity for the elderly and the other vulnerable groups. Whether this will be the best strategy from a public health perspective will depend on characteristics of the vaccine and of the virus, which are currently unknown. Here, we assess this possibility from an ethical point of view, by drawing comparisons and analogies with the case of the flu vaccination and with other examples of health policies and practices. We conclude that there are strong ethical reasons to vaccinate the young to protect the old, provided that the risks imposed on children are reasonable, even if that implies using children as a means to protect the elderly and the vulnerable.
Species Composition of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) in Selected Forested Tourist Areas of Nigeria Endemic for Malaria
Authors: Oduwole O A , Oringanje C M , Oduola A O , Nwachuku N S , Meremikwu M M , Alaribe A A A
Published: June 2020

The study was carried out to determine relative abundance, species diversity, of Anopheles species (Diptera: Culicidae) in selected forested areas in Cross River State, Nigeria and the prevalence of malaria infection in the specimens. Mosquitoes were collected using pyrethrum spray catch and Centre for Disease Control light traps modified with yeast and sugar to generate carbon dioxide (CO2) and identified using morphological identification keys. We used a multiplex polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to simultaneously distinguish sibling species of the An. gambiae s.l, including separation of An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii (Diptera: Culicidae). The samples were also screened for Plasmodium infection using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. One hundred and four Anopheles specimens were collected during the study of which 97% was An. gambiae complex and 3% was An. rufipes (Diptera: Culicidae). Only 77% of the An. gambiae s.l. was identify to species level. The result shows that 41.6% was An. gambiae s.s. and 34.6% was An. coluzzii. No sporozoite of Plasmodium was detected in the Anopheles species. The study also found a hybrid form of An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii. These findings suggest the first documented evidence of hybrid forms of An. gambiae s.s./An. coluzzii in South Eastern Nigeria although its epidemiological implication is still not clear.
Magnetic flux density measurements from narrow grain boundaries produced in sintered permanent magnets
Authors: Cho Youngji , Lee Sujin , Murakami Yasukazu
Published: June 2020

This review examines methods of magnetic flux density measurements from the narrow grain boundary (GB) regions, the thickness of which is of the order of nanometers, produced in Nd–Fe–B-based sintered magnets. Despite of the complex crystallographic microstructure and the significant stray magnetic field of the sintered magnet, recent progress in electron holography allowed for the determination of the intrinsic magnetic flux density due to the GB which is embedded in the polycrystalline thin-foil. The methods appear to be useful as well for intensive studies about interface magnetism in a variety of systems.
Promoting Reforestation to Landowners: The Role of Advice-Giving through Information, Efficacy, Narratives, and Identification in Storytelling
Authors: Chung Jennifer H , Sarmiento Irene G , Van Swol Lyn M , Shaw Bret R , Koshollek Alanna , Ahn Paul Hangsan
Published: June 2020

AbstractCommunicating reforestation efforts is a challenge for foresters. There are many types of advice to offer, and it is unclear which type of advice is better suited to promote tree-planting behaviors. This study explored the effectiveness of three different types of advice (narrative, informational, and efficacy) for different groups of landowners. We recruited landowners (N = 317) from the Driftless Area of Wisconsin and segmented them into two groups based on their self-reported stage of behavior. They were randomly assigned to view one type of advice message in the form of an online video. Landowners in the early stage of tree-planting behaviors had higher intentions to take the advice with a narrative message. Those in the later stage of behavior were more influenced by informational and efficacy advice messages. We also found that with narrative messages, identification with the narrator was important for increasing intention to use advice.

Study Implications: Reforestation is a key component to preserving woodlands and maintaining ecosystems. Professional foresters are tasked with speaking to private woodland owners about this issue and encouraging tree-planting behaviors on their properties. However, not all advice is created equal, and the best type of advice may differ depending on the landowner. The results of this study show that it is important to (1) segment landowners into groups based on previous behaviors and (2) determine the best type of advice for each group. Our analyses found that landowners in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area could be segmented by differences in their current stages of behavior, and different groups responded more strongly to certain types of advice than others. This emphasizes the need for foresters to gain a better understanding of their intended audience rather than considering them as a homogeneous sample. Additionally, foresters can be more effective in advice-giving by creating individualized messages that target specific groups. This approach to advice-giving can be used by foresters to develop better communication strategies for their unique situation with woodland owners.
Understanding (in)tolerance between Hosts and Refugees in Lebanon
Authors: Kheireddine Bassem Jamil , Soares Ana Maria , Rodrigues Ricardo Gouveia
Published: June 2020

With the growth in political, ethnic, and religious conflicts across the globe, intolerance is manifested across different societies especially in the context of (forced) migration and refugees. The purpose of this study is to examine intolerance as a complex social problem. Specifically, this research seeks to explore the perceptions and conceptions of (in)tolerance between refugees from Syria and host communities in Lebanon identifying the degree and the different forms in which tolerance and intolerance materialize. This will allow different agents such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), policymakers, and relevant authorities to develop adequate interventions to tackle this phenomenon through a social marketing approach and improve (refugee) crisis response plans. The situation has emerged following the Syrian conflict (2011–present) and the arrival of 1.5 million refugees into Lebanon. This number thus constitutes a challenge to both the hosts and the refugees in Lebanon, a small country. A qualitative study was conducted based on semi-structured interviews to investigate the perceptions and conceptions of the target audiences, citizens, refugees, leaders, and NGO staff/volunteers. Results show the existence of a phenomenon of intolerance; its relevant aspects, namely discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes, racism, and scapegoating; and the rise of violence–tension and fear as emerging themes of intolerance manifestations in the context of the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon.
De novo adolescent gastric carcinoma: a first case report in Saskatchewan, Canada
Authors: Witt Lara , Pillay Yagan , Sabaratnam Rathi M , Bigsby Richard J
Published: June 2020

Adolescent gastric cancers are extremely rare with a reported incidence of 0.05–0.10% in North America. We present a de novo case of gastric carcinoma in a 17-year-old teenager with no concomitant family history or risk factors. His main clinical presentation included anaemia and melaena stools. Despite an extensive clinical workup that included a diagnostic laparoscopy, the tumour was deemed surgically irresectable, and he was started on a palliative chemotherapy protocol at the local paediatric oncology centre. He demised 7 months later. This is the first recorded case of an adolescent gastric cancer in Saskatchewan, Canada. This case highlights the need for an international tumour registry to document and investigate rare adolescent gastric malignancies and thereby potentiate a possible cure through the pooling of limited resources.
SDSS J124043.01+671034.68: the partially burned remnant of a low-mass white dwarf that underwent thermonuclear ignition?
Authors: Gänsicke Boris T , Koester Detlev , Raddi Roberto , Toloza Odette , Kepler S O
Published: June 2020

The white dwarf SDSS J124043.01+671034.68 (SDSS J1240+6710) was previously found to have an oxygen-dominated atmosphere with significant traces of neon, magnesium, and silicon. A possible origin via a violent late thermal pulse or binary interactions has been suggested to explain this very unusual photospheric composition. We report the additional detection of carbon, sodium, and aluminium in far-ultraviolet and optical follow-up spectroscopy. No iron-group elements are detected, with tight upper limits on titanium, iron, cobalt, and nickel, suggesting that the star underwent partial oxygen burning, but failed to ignite silicon burning. Modelling the spectral energy distribution and adopting the distance based on the Gaia parallax, we infer a low white dwarf mass, $M_\mathrm{wd}=0.41\pm 0.05\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$. The large space velocity of SDSS J1240+6710, computed from the Gaia proper motion and its radial velocity, is compatible with a Galactic rest-frame velocity of ≃ 250 km s−1 in the opposite direction with respect to the Galactic rotation, strongly supporting a binary origin of this star. We discuss the properties of SDSS J1240+6710 in the context of the recently identified survivors of thermonuclear supernovae, the D6 and LP 40−365 stars, and conclude that it is unlikely related to either of those two groups. We tentatively suggest that SDSS J1240+6710 is the partially burned remnant of a low-mass white dwarf that underwent a thermonuclear event.
Impact of dark matter models on the EoR 21-cm signal bispectrum
Authors: Saxena Anchal , Majumdar Suman , Kamran Mohd , Viel Matteo
Published: June 2020

The nature of dark matter sets the timeline for the formation of first collapsed haloes and thus affects the sources of reionization. Here, we consider two different models of dark matter: cold dark matter (CDM) and thermal warm dark matter (WDM), and study how they impact the epoch of reionization (EoR) and its 21-cm observables. Using a suite of simulations, we find that in WDM scenarios, the structure formation on small scales gets suppressed, resulting in a smaller number of low-mass dark matter haloes compared to the CDM scenario. Assuming that the efficiency of sources in producing ionizing photons remains the same, this leads to a lower number of total ionizing photons produced at any given cosmic time, thus causing a delay in the reionization process. We also find visual differences in the neutral hydrogen (H i) topology and in 21-cm maps in case of the WDM compared to the CDM. However, differences in the 21-cm power spectra, at the same neutral fraction, are found to be small. Thus, we focus on the non-Gaussianity in the EoR 21-cm signal, quantified through its bispectrum. We find that the 21-cm bispectra (driven by the H i topology) are significantly different in WDM models compared to the CDM, even for the same mass-averaged neutral fractions. This establishes that the 21-cm bispectrum is a unique and promising way to differentiate between dark matter models, and can be used to constrain the nature of the dark matter in the future EoR observations.
Hydrodynamical instability with noise in the Keplerian accretion discs: modified Landau equation
Authors: Ghosh Subham , Mukhopadhyay Banibrata
Published: June 2020

Origin of hydrodynamical instability and turbulence in the Keplerian accretion disc as well as similar laboratory shear flows, e.g. plane Couette flow, is a long-standing puzzle. These flows are linearly stable. Here we explore the evolution of perturbation in such flows in the presence of an additional force. Such a force, which is expected to be stochastic in nature hence behaving as noise, could be result of thermal fluctuations (however small be), Brownian ratchet, grain–fluid interactions, feedback from outflows in astrophysical discs, etc. We essentially establish the evolution of nonlinear perturbation in the presence of Coriolis and external forces, which is modified Landau equation. We show that even in the linear regime, under suitable forcing and Reynolds number, the otherwise least stable perturbation evolves to a very large saturated amplitude, leading to nonlinearity and plausible turbulence. Hence, forcing essentially leads a linear stable mode to unstable. We further show that nonlinear perturbation diverges at a shorter time-scale in the presence of force, leading to a fast transition to turbulence. Interestingly, emergence of nonlinearity depends only on the force but not on the initial amplitude of perturbation, unlike original Landau equation based solution.
Keeping M-Earths habitable in the face of atmospheric loss by sequestering water in the mantle
Authors: Moore Keavin , Cowan Nicolas B
Published: June 2020

Water cycling between Earth’s mantle and surface has previously been modelled and extrapolated to rocky exoplanets, but these studies neglected the host star. M-dwarf stars are more common than Sun-like stars and at least as likely to host temperate rocky planets (M-Earths). However, M dwarfs are active throughout their lifetimes; specifically, X-ray and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation during their early evolution can cause rapid atmospheric loss on orbiting planets. The increased bolometric flux reaching M-Earths leads to warmer, moister upper atmospheres, while XUV radiation can photodissociate water molecules and drive hydrogen and oxygen escape to space. Here, we present a coupled model of deep-water cycling and water loss to space on M-Earths to explore whether these planets can remain habitable despite their volatile evolution. We use a cycling parametrization accounting for the dependence of mantle degassing on seafloor pressure, the dependence of regassing on mantle temperature, and the effect of water on mantle viscosity and thermal evolution. We assume the M dwarf’s XUV radiation decreases exponentially with time, and energy-limited water loss with 30 per cent efficiency. We explore the effects of cycling and loss to space on planetary water inventories and water partitioning. Planet surfaces desiccated by loss can be rehydrated, provided there is sufficient water sequestered in the mantle to degas once loss rates diminish at later times. For a given water loss rate, the key parameter is the mantle overturn time-scale at early times: if the mantle overturn time-scale is longer than the loss time-scale, then the planet is likely to keep some of its water.
Looking for the underlying cause of black hole X-ray variability in GRMHD simulations
Authors: Bollimpalli D A , Mahmoud R , Done C , Fragile P C , Kluźniak W , Narayan R , White C J
Published: June 2020

Long-term observations have shown that black hole X-ray binaries exhibit strong, aperiodic variability on time-scales of a few milliseconds to seconds. The observed light curves display various characteristic features like a lognormal distribution of flux and a linear rms–flux relation, which indicate that the underlying variability process is stochastic in nature. It is also thought to be intrinsic to accretion. This variability has been modelled as inward propagating fluctuations of mass accretion rate, although the physical process driving the fluctuations remains puzzling. In this work, we analyse five exceptionally long-duration general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations of optically thin, geometrically thick, black hole accretion flows to look for hints of propagating fluctuations in the simulation data. We find that the accretion profiles from these simulations do show evidence for inward propagating fluctuations below the viscous frequency by featuring strong radial coherence and positive time lags when comparing smaller to larger radii, although these time lags are generally shorter than the viscous time-scale and are frequency-independent. Our simulations also support the notion that the fluctuations in $\dot{M}$ build up in a multiplicative manner, as the simulations exhibit linear rms–mass flux relations, as well as lognormal distributions of their mass fluxes. When combining the mass fluxes from the simulations with an assumed emissivity profile, we additionally find broad agreement with observed power spectra and time lags, including a recovery of the frequency dependency of the time lags.
NC2 complex is a key factor for the activation of catalase-3 transcription by regulating H2A.Z deposition
Authors: Cui Guofei , Dong Qing , Duan Jiabin , Zhang Chengcheng , Liu Xiao , He Qun
Published: June 2020

Negative cofactor 2 (NC2), including two subunits NC2α and NC2β, is a conserved positive/negative regulator of class II gene transcription in eukaryotes. It is known that NC2 functions by regulating the assembly of the transcription preinitiation complex. However, the exact role of NC2 in transcriptional regulation is still unclear. Here, we reveal that, in Neurospora crassa, NC2 activates catalase-3 (cat-3) gene transcription in the form of heterodimer mediated by histone fold (HF) domains of two subunits. Deletion of HF domain in either of two subunits disrupts the NC2α–NC2β interaction and the binding of intact NC2 heterodimer to cat-3 locus. Loss of NC2 dramatically increases histone variant H2A.Z deposition at cat-3 locus. Further studies show that NC2 recruits chromatin remodeling complex INO80C to remove H2A.Z from the nucleosomes around cat-3 locus, resulting in transcriptional activation of cat-3. Besides HF domains of two subunits, interestingly, C-terminal repression domain of NC2β is required not only for NC2 binding to cat-3 locus, but also for the recruitment of INO80C to cat-3 locus and removal of H2A.Z from the nucleosomes. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel mechanism of NC2 in transcription activation through recruiting INO80C to remove H2A.Z from special H2A.Z-containing nucleosomes.
DSS1 and ssDNA regulate oligomerization of BRCA2
Authors: Le Hang Phuong , Ma Xiaoyan , Vaquero Jorge , Brinkmeyer Megan , Guo Fei , Heyer Wolf-Dietrich , Liu Jie
Published: June 2020

The tumor suppressor BRCA2 plays a key role in initiating homologous recombination by facilitating RAD51 filament formation on single-stranded DNA. The small acidic protein DSS1 is a crucial partner to BRCA2 in this process. In vitro and in cells (1,2), BRCA2 associates into oligomeric complexes besides also existing as monomers. A dimeric structure was further characterized by electron microscopic analysis (3), but the functional significance of the different BRCA2 assemblies remains to be determined. Here, we used biochemistry and electron microscopic imaging to demonstrate that the multimerization of BRCA2 is counteracted by DSS1 and ssDNA. When validating the findings, we identified three self-interacting regions and two types of self-association, the N-to-C terminal and the N-to-N terminal interactions. The N-to-C terminal self-interaction of BRCA2 is sensitive to DSS1 and ssDNA. The N-to-N terminal self-interaction is modulated by ssDNA. Our results define a novel role of DSS1 to regulate BRCA2 in an RPA-independent fashion. Since DSS1 is required for BRCA2 function in recombination, we speculate that the monomeric and oligomeric forms of BRCA2 might be active for different cellular events in recombinational DNA repair and replication fork stabilization.
Effect of Anatomic Segment Involvement on Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Facial Nerve Schwannomas: An International Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors: Mehta Gautam U , Lekovic Gregory P , Slattery William H , Brackmann Derald E , Long Hao , Kano Hideyuki , Kondziolka Douglas , Mureb Monica , Bernstein Kenneth , Langlois Anne-Marie , Mathieu David , Nabeel Ahmed M , Reda Wael A , Tawadros Sameh R , Abdelkarim Khaled , El-Shehaby Amr M N , Emad Reem M , Mohammed Nasser , Urgosik Dusan , Liscak Roman , Lee Cheng-chia , Yang Huai-che , Montazeripouragha Amanallah , Kaufmann Anthony M , Joshi Krishna C , Barnett Gene H , Trifiletti Daniel M , Lunsford L Dade , Sheehan Jason P
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Facial nerve schwannomas are rare, challenging tumors to manage due to their nerve of origin. Functional outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are incompletely defined.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effect of facial nerve segment involvement on functional outcome for these tumors.

METHODS

Patients who underwent single-session SRS for facial nerve schwannomas with at least 3 mo follow-up at 11 participating centers were included. Preoperative and treatment variables were recorded. Outcome measures included radiological tumor response and neurological function.

RESULTS

A total of 63 patients (34 females) were included in the present study. In total, 75% had preoperative facial weakness. Mean tumor volume and margin dose were 2.0 ± 2.4 cm3 and 12.2 ± 0.54 Gy, respectively. Mean radiological follow-up was 45.5 ± 38.9 mo. Progression-free survival at 2, 5, and 10 yr was 98.1%, 87.2%, and 87.2%, respectively. The cumulative proportion of patients with regressing tumors at 2, 5, and 10 yr was 43.1%, 63.6%, and 63.6%, respectively. The number of involved facial nerve segments significantly predicted tumor progression (P = .04). Facial nerve function was stable or improved in 57 patients (90%). Patients with involvement of the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve were significantly more likely to have an improvement in facial nerve function after SRS (P = .03). Hearing worsened in at least 6% of patients. Otherwise, adverse radiation effects included facial twitching (3 patients), facial numbness (2 patients), and dizziness (2 patients).

CONCLUSION

SRS for facial nerve schwannomas is effective and spares facial nerve function in most patients. Some patients may have functional improvement after treatment, particularly if the labyrinthine segment is involved.