bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inter-annual variability of the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic drivers affecting West Nile virus vector Culex pipiens population dynamics in northeastern Italy
Authors: Fornasiero Diletta , Mazzucato Matteo , Barbujani Marco , Montarsi Fabrizio , Capelli Gioia , Mulatti Paolo
Published: May 2020

Background

Vector-borne infectious diseases (VBDs) represent a major public health concern worldwide. Among VBDs, West Nile virus (WNV) showed an increasingly wider spread in temperate regions of Europe, including Italy. During the last decade, WNV outbreaks have been recurrently reported in mosquitoes, horses, wild birds, and humans, showing great variability in the temporal and spatial distribution pattern. Due to the complexity of the environment–host–vector–pathogen interaction and the incomplete understanding of the epidemiological pattern of the disease, WNV occurrences can be difficult to predict. The analyses of ecological drivers responsible for the earlier WNV reactivation and transmission are pivotal; in particular, variations in the vector population dynamics may represent a key point of the recent success of WNV and, more in general, of the VBDs.

Methods

We investigated the variations ofCulex pipienspopulation abundance using environmental, climatic and trapping data obtained over nine years (2010 to 2018) through the WNV entomological surveillance programme implemented in northeastern Italy. An information theoretic approach (IT-AICc) and model-averaging algorithms were implemented to examine the relationship between the seasonal mosquito population growth rates and both intrinsic (e.g. intraspecific competition) and extrinsic (e.g. environmental and climatic variables) predictors, to identify the most significant combinations of variables outlining theCx. pipienspopulation dynamics.

Results

Population abundance (proxy for intraspecific competition) and length of daylight were the predominant factors regulating the mosquito population dynamics; however, other drivers encompassing environmental and climatic variables also had a significant impact, although sometimes counterintuitive and not univocal. The analyses of the single-year datasets, and the comparison with the results obtained from the overall model (all data available from 2010 to 2018), highlighted remarkable differences in coefficients magnitude, sign and significance. These outcomes indicate that different combinations of factors might have distinctive, and sometimes divergent, effects on mosquito population dynamics.

Conclusions

A more realistic acquaintance of the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of mosquito population fluctuations in relation to continuous changes in environmental and climatic conditions is paramount to properly reinforce VBDs risk-based surveillance activities, to plan targeted density control measures and to implement effective early detection programmes.
Neutrophil FcγRIIA availability is associated with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Bengtsson Anders A. , Tyden Helena , Lood Christian
Published: May 2020

Background

Immune complexes (ICs) are detectable in a variety of inflammatory diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), reflecting autoantibody binding to antigens. Though ICs are the main contributors to disease pathogenesis through FcγR-mediated inflammation and organ damage, IC levels are not part of the clinical assessment of SLE. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical utility of analyzing levels of ICs in SLE patients using a novel technology, IC-FLOW.

Methods

Paired serum samples, at the time point of high and low disease activity (n = 92), were analyzed using two assays: an IC ELISA from a commercial company and a novel in-house flow cytometry-based method, IC-FLOW. IC-FLOW measures FcγRIIA availability on the neutrophil cell surface by flow cytometry, whereas the commercial ELISA measures IC binding to C1q.

Results

Using IC-FLOW, 90% of SLE patients with active disease had elevated levels of circulating ICs (p < 0.0001). Using the commercial assay, only 17% of SLE patients had elevated levels of circulating ICs. For both assays, levels of ICs reflected active disease as determined by SLEDAI (r = 0.45, p < 0.0001) and were associated with type I IFN activity (r = 0.37, p = 0.001), and complement consumption (p = 0.0002). Levels of ICs measured with IC-FLOW, but not with the commercial ELISA, were associated with active lupus nephritis (p = 0.004).

Conclusions

This novel FcγRIIA-IC assay can detect levels of circulating ICs in patients with SLE. Analyzing IC levels may facilitate monitoring of disease activity, as well as identify patients at risk of lupus nephritis, allowing for early preventive interventions.
A novel 5-Plex qPCR-HRM assay detecting human diarrheal parasites
Authors: Lamien-Meda Aline , Schneider Renate , Walochnik Julia , Auer Herbert , Wiedermann Ursula , Leitsch David
Published: May 2020

Background

Intestinal parasitic diseases occur worldwide, and their diagnosis poses considerable challenges. Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia intestinalis, (and, arguably, Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis spp.) are among the most important and common parasitic protozoans causing diarrhea. Several multiplex real-time PCR assays have been developed for the synchronous detection of these parasites. However, most assays include the use of hydrolysis probes, increasing the cost of stool examination. In this study, we designed and evaluated a real-time PCR protocol, based on high-resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis, to simultaneously detect and differentiate five gastrointestinal parasites.

Results

Using a blinded panel of 143 clinical samples with laboratory diagnostic data to evaluate the method, we obtained a 95.8% concordance with conventional methods. Moreover, 4.2% of the samples were positive for D. fragilis and 2.8% additional Cryptosporidium infections were found with our multiplex assay. Our method is sensitive and specific for the selected parasites with the additional possibility of being run in single-plex as a backup control for mixed infections.

Conclusions

The assay is a convenient and cost-effective method that could contribute to a quicker and accurate diagnosis as well as to more targeted therapies of parasite-derived diarrhea. Finally, this new multiplex PCR assay could also be instrumental in epidemiology studies on these parasites.
QSAR-derived affinity fingerprints (part 1): fingerprint construction and modeling performance for similarity searching, bioactivity classification and scaffold hopping
Authors: Škuta C. , Cortés-Ciriano I. , Dehaen W. , Kříž P. , van Westen G. J. P. , Tetko I. V. , Bender A. , Svozil D.
Published: May 2020

An affinity fingerprint is the vector consisting of compound’s affinity or potency against the reference panel of protein targets. Here, we present the QAFFP fingerprint, 440 elements long in silico QSAR-based affinity fingerprint, components of which are predicted by Random Forest regression models trained on bioactivity data from the ChEMBL database. Both real-valued (rv-QAFFP) and binary (b-QAFFP) versions of the QAFFP fingerprint were implemented and their performance in similarity searching, biological activity classification and scaffold hopping was assessed and compared to that of the 1024 bits long Morgan2 fingerprint (the RDKit implementation of the ECFP4 fingerprint). In both similarity searching and biological activity classification, the QAFFP fingerprint yields retrieval rates, measured by AUC (~ 0.65 and ~ 0.70 for similarity searching depending on data sets, and ~ 0.85 for classification) and EF5 (~ 4.67 and ~ 5.82 for similarity searching depending on data sets, and ~ 2.10 for classification), comparable to that of the Morgan2 fingerprint (similarity searching AUC of ~ 0.57 and ~ 0.66, and EF5 of ~ 4.09 and ~ 6.41, depending on data sets, classification AUC of ~ 0.87, and EF5 of ~ 2.16). However, the QAFFP fingerprint outperforms the Morgan2 fingerprint in scaffold hopping as it is able to retrieve 1146 out of existing 1749 scaffolds, while the Morgan2 fingerprint reveals only 864 scaffolds.
Experimental Coxiella burnetii infection in non-pregnant goats and the effect of breeding
Authors: Roest Hendrik I. J. , Dinkla Annemieke , Koets Ad P. , Post Jacob , van Keulen Lucien
Published: May 2020

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. In Europe, small ruminants are the main source of human Q fever. Small ruminant herds can be infectious during several lambing seasons. However, it is not clear how infection is maintained in a herd and what role non-pregnant animals play in the transmission of C. burnetii. We therefore inoculated nulliparous goats with C. burnetii, isolated from the outbreak of Q fever in the Netherlands, to gain a better understanding of the role of non-pregnant goats. Seroconversion and excretion of C. burnetii were monitored after inoculation. To study the effect of breeding on the excretion of C. burnetii, the goats were naturally bred and monitored during gestation and after lambing. Our results indicate that C. burnetii infection prior to breeding did not result in infection of the placenta nor did it affect the gestation length or the number of kids born. However, one of the ten does did excrete C. burnetii in the colostrum post-partum and the bacterium was detected in the mammary gland and associated lymph nodes at necropsy. This result indicates that non-pregnant goats might play a role in maintaining Q fever in a goat herd as persistent carriers of infection.
Prevalence, the antibiogram and the frequency of virulence genes of the most predominant bacterial pathogens incriminated in calf pneumonia
Authors: Algammal Abdelazeem M. , El-Sayed Mahmoud E. , Youssef Fatma M. , Saad Shefaa A. , Elhaig Mahmoud M. , Batiha Gaber E. , Hozzein Wael N. , Ghobashy Madeha O. I.
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, antibiotic resistance and certain virulence genes of the most predominant bacterial pathogens causing BRD. A total of 225 calves; 55 apparently healthy and 170 diseased; were sampled. Bacteriological examination, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and PCR based detection of some virulence genes were performed. In addition, the serotyping of E. coli was performed using the slide agglutination test. The most predominant bacterial pathogens retrieved from apparently healthy calves were E. coli (16.4%) and S. aureus (10.9%), and in pneumonic calves were E. coli (23.5%), P. vulgaris (12.4%) and S. aureus (11.8%). The most prevalent virulence gene in E. coli was the fimH gene (100%), followed by eaeA gene (24.5%) and hly gene (20.4%). All the examined S. aureus strains harbored spa and coa genes; likewise, all P. multocida strains harbored toxA gene. The majority of the isolated strains displayed remarkable sensitivity to norfloxacin and enrofloxacin; furthermore, the retrieved E. coli strains exhibited multidrug-resistance to gentamicin, erythromycin, streptomycin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, in addition, the isolated S. aureus and P. aeruginosa strains showed multidrug-resistance to amoxicillin, ampicillin and tetracycline. E. coli serogroups including O18, O143, O1, and O6 were retrieved from pneumonic calves as the first report in Egypt. In conclusion, the synergism between the conventional and genotypic analysis is an effective gadget for the characterization of bacterial pathogens causing BRD. Continuous surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility is essential to select the drug of choice due to the development of multidrug-resistant strains.
An improved urban cellular automata model by using the trend-adjusted neighborhood
Authors: Li Xuecao , Zhou Yuyu , Chen Wei
Published: May 2020

Background

Cellular automata (CA)-based models have been extensively used in urban sprawl modeling. Presently, most studies focused on the improvement of spatial representation in the modeling, with limited efforts for considering the temporal context of urban sprawl. In this paper, we developed a Logistic-Trend-CA model by proposing a trend-adjusted neighborhood as a weighting factor using the information of historical urban sprawl and integrating this factor in the commonly used Logistic-CA model. We applied the developed model in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region of China and analyzed the model performance to the start year, the suitability surface, and the neighborhood size.

Results

Our results indicate the proposed Logistic-Trend-CA model outperforms the traditional Logistic-CA model significantly, resulting in about 18% and 14% improvements in modeling urban sprawl at medium (1 km) and fine (30 m) resolutions, respectively. The proposed Logistic-Trend-CA model is more suitable for urban sprawl modeling over a long temporal interval than the traditional Logistic-CA model. In addition, this new model is not sensitive to the suitability surface calibrated from different periods and spaces, and its performance decreases with the increase of the neighborhood size.

Conclusion

The proposed model shows potential for modeling future urban sprawl spanning a long period at regional and global scales.
Correction to: Can routine perioperative haemodynamic parameters predict postoperative morbidity after major surgery?
Authors: Bonnet Jean-Francois , Buggy Eleanor , Cusack Barbara , Sherwin Aislinn , Wall Tom , Fitzgibbon Maria , Buggy Donal J.
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Psychological status and behavior changes of the public during the COVID-19 epidemic in China
Authors: Liu Xi , Luo Wen-Tao , Li Ying , Li Chun-Na , Hong Zhong-Si , Chen Hui-Li , Xiao Fei , Xia Jin-Yu
Published: May 2020

Background

A cluster of pneumonia cases were reported by Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, China in December 2019. A novel coronavirus was eventually identified, and became the COVID-19 epidemic that affected public health and life. We investigated the psychological status and behavior changes of the general public in China from January 30 to February 3, 2020.

Methods

Respondents were recruited via social media (WeChat) and completed an online questionnaire. We used the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Self-rating Depression Scale, and Symptom Checklist-90 to evaluate psychological status. We also investigated respondents’ behavior changes. Quantitative data were analyzed by t-tests or analysis of variance, and classified data were analyzed with chi-square tests.

Results

In total, 608 valid questionnaires were obtained. More respondents had state anxiety than trait anxiety (15.8% vs 4.0%). Depression was found among 27.1% of respondents and 7.7% had psychological abnormalities. About 10.1% of respondents suffered from phobia. Our analysis of the relationship between subgroup characteristics and psychological status showed that age, gender, knowledge about COVID-19, degree of worry about epidemiological infection, and confidence about overcoming the outbreak significantly influenced psychological status. Around 93.3% of respondents avoided going to public places and almost all respondents reduced Spring Festival-related activities. At least 70.9% of respondents chose to take three or more preventive measures to avoid infection. The three most commonly used prevention measures were making fewer trips outside and avoiding contact (98.0%), wearing a mask (83.7%), and hand hygiene (82.4%).

Conclusions

We need to pay more attention to public psychological stress, especially among young people, as they are likely to experience anxiety, depression, and psychological abnormalities. Different psychological interventions could be formulated according to the psychological characteristics of different gender and age groups. The majority of respondents followed specific behaviors required by the authorities, but it will take time to observe the effects of these behaviors on the epidemic.
Humanized tau antibodies promote tau uptake by human microglia without any increase of inflammation
Authors: Zilkova Monika , Nolle Anna , Kovacech Branislav , Kontsekova Eva , Weisova Petronela , Filipcik Peter , Skrabana Rostislav , Prcina Michal , Hromadka Tomas , Cehlar Ondrej , Rolkova Gabriela Paulikova , Maderova Denisa , Novak Michal , Zilka Norbert , Hoozemans Jeroen J. M.
Published: May 2020

Immunotherapies targeting pathological tau have recently emerged as a promising approach for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. We have previously showed that the mouse antibody DC8E8 discriminates between healthy and pathological tau, reduces tau pathology in murine tauopathy models and inhibits neuronal internalization of AD tau species in vitro.

Here we show, that DC8E8 and antibodies elicited against the first-in-man tau vaccine, AADvac1, which is based on the DC8E8 epitope peptide, both promote uptake of pathological tau by mouse primary microglia. IgG1 and IgG4 isotypes of AX004, the humanized versions of DC8E8, accelerate tau uptake by human primary microglia isolated from post-mortem aged and diseased brains. This promoting activity requires the presence of the Fc-domain of the antibodies.

The IgG1 isotype of AX004 showed greater ability to promote tau uptake compared to the IgG4 isotype, while none of the antibody-tau complexes provoked increased pro-inflammatory activity of microglia. Our data suggest that IgG1 has better suitability for therapeutic development.
Fungal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of plant hormone by Pichia fermentans under submerged conditions
Authors: Giri Rajat , Sharma Rakesh Kumar
Published: May 2020

The study was designed to evaluate the production of auxin by eukaryotic unicellular organism Pichia fermentans. Different media formulations were used for the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) under broth and submerged conditions. Wheat straw-based production medium was formulated and optimized using statistical approach. The IAA production was significantly enhanced by nine folds, when the wheat straw was pretreated with Phanerochaete chrysosporium (150 µg/ml) as compared to untreated wheat straw (16.44 µg/ml). Partial purification of IAA was carried out by silica gel column chromatography and further confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Exogenous application of crude and partially purified IAA positively influenced the Vigna radiata seedling growth. The number of lateral roots in the growing seedlings was significantly higher as compared to the control seeds. Thus, the present findings point towards an efficient production of plant hormone by yeast and white rot fungus using abundantly available wheat straw, which may lead to the development of cost-effective production of such metabolites and their further use in agricultural field to reduce the negative impact of chemical fertilizers.
Eukaryotic expression, Co-IP and MS identify BMPR-1B protein–protein interaction network
Authors: Jia Jianlei , Jin Jipeng , Chen Qian , Yuan Zan , Li Haiqin , Bian Junhao , Gui Linsheng
Published: May 2020

Background

BMPR-1B is part of the transforming growth factor β super family and plays a pivotal role in ewe litter size. Functional loss of exon-8 mutations in the BMPR-1B gene (namely the FecB gene) can increase both the ewe ovulation rate and litter size.

Results

This study constructed a eukaryotic expression system, prepared a monoclonal antibody, and characterized BMPR-1B/FecB protein–protein interactions (PPIs). Using Co-immunoprecipitation coupled to mass spectrometry (Co-IP/MS), 23 proteins were identified that specifically interact with FecB in ovary extracts of ewes. Bioinformatics analysis of selected PPIs demonstrated that FecB associated with several other BMPs, primarily via signal transduction in the ovary. FecB and its associated interaction proteins enriched the reproduction process via BMP2 and BMP4 pathways. Signal transduction was identified via Smads proteins and TGF-beta signaling pathway by analyzing the biological processes and pathways. Moreover, other target proteins (GDF5, GDF9, RhoD, and HSP 10) that interact with FecB and that are related to ovulation and litter size in ewes were identified.

Conclusions

In summary, this research identified a novel pathway and insight to explore the PPi network of BMPR-1B.
EEG-based classification of epilepsy and PNES: EEG microstate and functional brain network features
Authors: Ahmadi Negar , Pei Yulong , Carrette Evelien , Aldenkamp Albert P. , Pechenizkiy Mykola
Published: May 2020

Epilepsy and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) often show over-lap in symptoms, especially at an early disease stage. During a PNES, the electrical activity of the brain remains normal but in case of an epileptic seizure the brain will show epileptiform discharges on the electroencephalogram (EEG). In many cases an accurate diagnosis can only be achieved after a long-term video monitoring combined with EEG recording which is quite expensive and time-consuming. In this paper using short-term EEG data, the classification of epilepsy and PNES subjects is analyzed based on signal, functional network and EEG microstate features. Our results showed that the beta-band is the most useful EEG frequency sub-band as it performs best for classifying subjects. Also the results depicted that when the coverage feature of the EEG microstate analysis is calculated in beta-band, the classification shows fairly high accuracy and precision. Hence, the beta-band and the coverage are the most important features for classification of epilepsy and PNES patients.
Toxicity and insect growth regulatory activities of medicinal plant, Withania somnifera, in flesh fly, Sarcophaga ruficornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)
Authors: Gaur Sandeep Kumar , Kumar Krishna
Published: May 2020

Background

The flesh flySarcophaga ruficornisis well known for its medical and veterinary importance in causing myiasis in humans and animals. The conventional use of chemical pesticides for controlling insect pests has resulted in environmental pollution besides posing serious hazards to non-target organisms and the development of pest resistance against these compounds. Considering the various harmful and adverse effects of chemical pesticides, an alternative and safe approach for the pest management has to be explored. The plant extracts derived from plants are eco-friendly in nature, easily biodegradable, and can be used as botanical pesticides.

Results

Extracts from root of the medicinal plantWithania somniferawere assessed for their toxicity and insect growth regulatory activity when administered to larvae ofS. ruficornis. Topical administration of root extracts ofW. somniferato 0–3-day-old third instar larvae ofS. ruficornisresulted into severe disruption of development, moulting, and metamorphosis producing several detrimental effects such as toxicity, prolongation of larval life, ecdysial stasis, abnormal pupariation, reduced normal pupariation and adult emergence, and development of pupal-adult mosaics and adultoids. The LC50values in topical application of root extracts ofW. somniferawere 28.19, 43.49, 47.48, and 48.16 g/μL againstS. ruficornisthird instar day 0, 1, 2, and 3 larvae, respectively.

Conclusion

These effects are similar to those observed as a consequence of the administration of juvenile hormone analogs (juvenoids) and may be due to interference with the normal hormonal mechanism of moulting and metamorphosis. This clearly demonstrates that the root extracts ofW. somniferamay be used as an insect growth regulator for the control and management ofS. ruficornisalong with other bio-rational approaches in integrated pest management programs.
Biological control of cucumber powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) (Castagne) under greenhouse conditions
Authors: Sarhan Ehab A. D. , Abd-Elsyed Michael H. F. , Ebrahiem Azza M. Y.
Published: May 2020

Cucumber powdery mildew disease caused by Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & Shishkoff severe disease-causing yield losses worldwide. This research study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the tested bio-agents, Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride, Bacillus subtilis, Paenibacillus polymyxa, and Serratia marcescens, as well as the fungicide score (Difenoconazole), on cucumber infected with P. xanthii, in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. Results indicated that culture filtrate of the tested bio-agents and the fungicide (control) significantly reduced P. xanthii conidial germination in vitro; the reduction percentage ranged between 91.17 and 76.06%. Also, score recorded the highest reduction percentage (97.19%). All treatments significantly decreased the disease severity and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) post spraying the bio-agents on cucumber plants under greenhouse conditions. Score followed by B. subtilis significantly decreased disease severity percentage (67.33 and 65.38%, respectively) and AUDPC (322.84 and 342.06) than the untreated control (988.13 AUDPC). Additionally, treated cucumber plants showed a significant increase in plant growth parameters (plant height, total chlorophyll, fresh, and dry weight) and yield parameters (fruit number/plant and fruit weight/plant) as well the activity of defense-related enzymes, i.e., peroxidase (PO) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and total phenols content (TPC) compared to the untreated plants.
Traditional soapstone storage, serving, and cookware used in the Southern states of India and its culinary importance
Authors: Kora Aruna Jyothi
Published: May 2020

Background

The hand-carved, traditional, versatile kitchen utensils made up of soft soapstone are used and treasured since the rise of civilization in India, especially in the southern states: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. They are called as rathi chippa and kal chatti and employed for cooking, serving, and storing food for many generations.

Results

The soft soapstone is chemically characterized as steatite and mainly composed of talc. The cookware of varying colors, shapes, and sizes are hand made by the artisans from Tamil Nadu state and offered for sale in the shops located in temple premises and during annual temple festivals. The delicate cookware requires proper conditioning and care while cooking, handling, and cleaning. Such inert cookware has positive quality properties such as low dielectric, high temperature resistance, high density and high mechanical strength. These characteristics have been reflected on the cookware application in cooking foods that require longer cooking time over a gentle fire, and sour, acidic, tamarind containing dishes. They are extensively used for making liquid, gravy-based curries and semi-solid foods; storing and preserving milk, curd, buttermilk, rock salt, tamarind, extracts, pickles, etc.

Conclusions

Notably, the food cooked in soapstone cookware retains the natural, authentic, original aroma and taste. As an insulator, it acts as a casserole by keeping the food hot for longer durations. Being extremely dense and non-porous, it is impervious to bacterial penetration and prevents the bacterial growth on the surface as well as extends the shelf life of cooked foods. Fascinated by traditional importance, distinct taste and health benefits, and tired of factory-made things, the current generations are shifting toward these handmade, exclusive soapstone products.
From hoes to story-telling as “Weapons of the Weak”: farmers’ resistance to neoliberal 2007 Multi-Product Management Stabilization Plan in Japan
Authors: Miyake Yoshitaka , Kohsaka Ryo
Published: May 2020

While neoliberalism has promoted free trade, market rule, and productivist agriculture in the food production system, farmers and their unions in developed countries partially managed to shun the forces of neoliberalism. What are the underpinning strength and factors of such resilience? Discussions have concentrated at national policy and organizational level and tacit resistance at community and farm levels remain unexplored, inter alia from their historical embeddedness perspective. This study explores the way Japanese farmers frame their contemporary political situation with neoliberalism of the late 2000s with a grounded approach of face-to-face interview at a community level. The farmers resist it mobilizing Scott’s anthropological notion of “Weapons of the Weak” through story-telling instead of hoes in ancient time (Scott JC, Weapons of the weak: everyday forms of peasant resistance, 1985). In concrete, the farmers resisted a neoliberal policy of Hinmoku Ōdanteki Keiei Antei Taisaku, or the Multi-Product Management Stabilization Plan (MPP), in the early 2000s, which promoted larger scale farming to pursue the efficiency of scale merits. The policy was first introduced in 2005 as a concept and dominated the agricultural policy scenes from 2007 to 2009, and then its influence disappeared toward 2010. The rise and fall of the concept and policy provide us with rare opportunity to examine the historical embeddedness of the farmers and their resistance to such neoliberal globalization. We conducted interviews with the leaders of cooperative farms and stakeholders in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, Japan; the study found that farmers’ framing of neoliberalism was ambivalent causing partial adoption and resistance. The leaders of the cooperative farms could form the cooperative farms but thought further development difficult because members intended to keep their farming independent. Close frame and discourse analysis revealed that farmers in Japan could express their frustration on neoliberal discourse and policy through multiple tactics of “Weapons of the Weak” by complaining to the leaders, miscalculating the figures, or claiming family-based food sovereignty that “we produce what goes into our family mouths.” Such tactics procrastinated the process and eventually stopped the policy. The incident demonstrates how farmers in the network can slow the progress of neoliberal discourse and policy implementation. From the analysis, the notion of “Weapons of the Weak” can be applied as a part of the combination with farmers’ historical embeddedness, symbolism of foods, framing, and electoral resistance.
Prognostic value of microvascular occlusion MRI quantification in assessment of reperfused myocardial infarction
Authors: Khafagy Rana T. M. , El Mozy Wesam , Hamed Emad , ElKhalek Yasser Ibrahim Abd , Tantawy Wahid
Published: May 2020

Background

Reperfusion therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can salvage the myocardium; however, successful restoration of the coronary artery patency is not always associated with adequate perfusion at the level of microvasculature, known as the no-reflow or microvascular occlusion (MVO). The primary objective of our prospective study was to assess, by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), the prognostic value of MVO size, and its impact on left ventricular (LV) remodeling in cases of reperfused AMI.

Thirty-three patients with AMI underwent cardiac MRI at 1.5-T scanner within 7 days (baseline) and 3 months (follow-up) after reperfusion. Patients with MVO were included where early gadolinium enhancement (EGE), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and cine sequences were acquired. The impact of MVO size on LV ejection fraction (EF%) and LV volumes was quantitively analyzed.

Results

There was a significant inverse correlation between the MVO size % of the LV mass (LVM) and the EF% values measured at follow-up with a P value of 0.000, while a significant positive correlation was encountered between the MVO% of LVM and both indexed end-systolic volume (ESVI) and indexed end-diastolic volume (EDVI) values measured at follow-up with P values of 0.438 and 0.389, respectively. MVO size was found to be a significant factor affecting the patient’s outcome (P = 0.000) where MVO size of > 10% of the total LVM can be a predictor of a worse outcome and reduced EF% at follow-up.

Conclusion

The prognostic value of MVO could be statistically determined with a cut off value to predict a possible good outcome using CMR.
Target-oriented model-based seismic footprint analysis and mitigation
Authors: Payson Todd C. , Simmons James , Tura Ali
Published: May 2020

Compensating for the effects of an acquisition footprint can be one of the most daunting problems when using seismic attributes for quantitative interpretation. This is especially true for unconventional plays because they are on land with accompanying irregular acquisition geometries. Additionally, in such plays, the physical property changes are often small, making the seismic amplitude fidelity critical. We have developed a methodology that integrates a 1D elastic prestack synthetic model with 3D acquisition geometry to accurately model the seismic footprint produced by irregular or insufficient sampling of primary reflectivity. The stacked amplitude response of the modeled survey is then used to mitigate the poststack footprint on the field seismic. Modeling and removing this element of the acquisition footprint quantitatively improve the interpretive value of the mapped seismic amplitudes. In our study area, correlation between seismic amplitudes and well control increased from an [Formula: see text] of 0.053 before correction to an [Formula: see text] of 0.629 after. Our approach is especially effective in situations in which the spatial frequency of the footprint overlaps that of the geologic signal.

Geological feature: Acquisition related seismic amplitude artifacts Seismic appearance: Smoothly varying amplitude changes Alternative interpretations: Bed thickness variation Features with similar appearance: Carbonate porosity Formation: Niobrara Formation, mixed chalks and marlstones Age: Upper Cretaceous Location: Wattenberg Field, Denver Basin, north central Colorado Seismic data: Joint acquisition between Anadarko Petroleum and Colorado School of Mines, Reservoir Characterization Project Analysis tools: Elastic prestack seismic modeling
Pembrolizumab or Placebo Plus Etoposide and Platinum as First-Line Therapy for Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase III KEYNOTE-604 Study
Authors: Rudin Charles M. , Awad Mark M. , Navarro Alejandro , Gottfried Maya , Peters Solange , Csőszi Tibor , Cheema Parneet K. , Rodriguez-Abreu Delvys , Wollner Mirjana , Yang James Chih-Hsin , Mazieres Julien , Orlandi Francisco J. , Luft Alexander , Gümüş Mahmut , Kato Terufumi , Kalemkerian Gregory P. , Luo Yiwen , Ebiana Victoria , Pietanza M. Catherine , Kim Hye Ryun ,   on behalf of the KEYNOTE-604 Investigators
Published: May 2020

PURPOSE

Pembrolizumab monotherapy has shown antitumor activity in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The randomized, double-blind, phase III KEYNOTE-604 study compared pembrolizumab plus etoposide and platinum (EP) with placebo plus EP for patients with previously untreated extensive-stage (ES) SCLC.

METHODS

Eligible patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to pembrolizumab 200 mg once every 3 weeks or saline placebo for up to 35 cycles plus 4 cycles of EP. Primary end points were progression-free survival (PFS; RECIST version 1.1, blinded central review) and overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat population. Objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response were secondary end points. Prespecified efficacy boundaries were one-sided P = .0048 for PFS and .0128 for OS.

RESULTS

Of the 453 participants, 228 were randomly assigned to pembrolizumab plus EP and 225 to placebo plus EP. Pembrolizumab plus EP significantly improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.91; P = .0023). Twelve-month PFS estimates were 13.6% with pembrolizumab plus EP and 3.1% with placebo plus EP. Although pembrolizumab plus EP prolonged OS, the significance threshold was not met (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.98; P = .0164). Twenty-four-month OS estimates were 22.5% and 11.2%, respectively. ORR was 70.6% in the pembrolizumab plus EP group and 61.8% in the placebo plus EP group; the estimated proportion of responders remaining in response at 12 months was 19.3% and 3.3%, respectively. In the pembrolizumab plus EP and placebo plus EP groups, respectively, any-cause adverse events were grade 3-4 in 76.7% and 74.9%, grade 5 in 6.3% and 5.4%, and led to discontinuation of any drug in 14.8% and 6.3%.

CONCLUSION

Pembrolizumab plus EP significantly improved PFS compared with placebo plus EP as first-line therapy for patients with ES-SCLC. No unexpected toxicities were seen with pembrolizumab plus EP. These data support the benefit of pembrolizumab in ES-SCLC.
Preoperative Frailty Predicts Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders After Total Hip Joint Replacement Surgery
Authors: Evered Lis A. , Vitug Sarah , Scott David A. , Silbert Brendan
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND:

Frailty is a reduced capacity to recover from a physiologically stressful event. It is well established that preoperative frailty is associated with poor postoperative outcomes, but it is unclear if this includes cognitive decline following anesthesia and surgery. This retrospective observational study was a secondary analysis of data from a previous study (the Anaesthesia, Cognition, Evaluation [ACE] study). We aimed to identify if preoperative frailty or prefrailty is associated with preoperative and postoperative neurocognitive disorders or postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

METHODS:

The ACE study enrolled 300 participants aged ≥60 scheduled for elective total hip joint replacement and who underwent a full neuropsychological assessment at baseline and 3 and 12 months postoperatively. We applied patient data to 2 frailty models; both were based on an accumulation of deficits score: the reported Edmonton frail scale (REFS) and the comprehensive geriatric assessment-frailty index (CGA-FI) based on the comprehensive geriatric assessment. We calculated these 2 scores using baseline data collected from the medical history, demographic and clinical data as well as self-reported questionnaires. Some items on the REFS (3 of 18 or 17%) and the CGA-FI (37 of 51 or 27%) did not have an equivalent item in the ACE data.

RESULTS:

The mean age (standard deviation [SD]) was 70.1 years (6.6) with more women (197 [66%]). Using the REFS model, 40 of 300 (13.3%) patients were classified as vulnerable, mild, or moderately frail. Using the CGA-FI model, 69 of 300 (23%) were classified as intermediate or high frailty. The REFS and the CGA-FI were strongly correlated (r = 0.75; P < .01) with 34 of 300 (11%) meeting criteria for frailty by both the REFS and the CGA-FI.

Frailty or prefrailty was associated with cognitive decline at 3 and 12 months using the REFS (odds ratio [OR], 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–2.23 and OR, 2.00, 95% CI, 1.26–3.17, respectively) after adjusting for baseline mini-mental state examination (MMSE), smoking, hypertension, diabetes, history of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and estimated intelligence quotient (IQ). Age did not modify this association. After adjusting for multiple comparisons, 3-month cognitive decline was no longer significantly associated with baseline frailty.

CONCLUSIONS:

This retrospective analysis demonstrates an association between baseline frailty and postoperative neurocognitive disorders, particularly using the more extensive REFS scoring method. This supports preoperative screening for frailty to risk-stratify patients, and identify and implement preventive strategies and to improve postoperative outcomes for older individuals.
Assisted reproductive technologies induce temporally specific placental defects and the preeclampsia risk marker sFLT1 in mouse
Authors: Vrooman Lisa A. , Rhon-Calderon Eric A. , Chao Olivia Y. , Nguyen Duy K. , Narapareddy Laren , Dahiya Asha K. , Putt Mary E. , Schultz Richard M. , Bartolomei Marisa S.
Published: May 2020

Although widely used, assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. To elucidate their underlying causes, we have conducted a longitudinal analysis of placental development and fetal growth using a mouse model to investigate the effects of individual ART procedures: hormone stimulation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo culture and embryo transfer. We demonstrate that transfer of blastocysts naturally conceived without hormone stimulation and developed in vivo prior to transfer can impair early placentation and fetal growth, but this effect normalizes by term. In contrast, embryos cultured in vitro before transfer do not exhibit this compensation but rather display placental overgrowth, reduced fetal weight, reduced placental DNA methylation and increased levels of sFLT1, an anti-angiogenic protein implicated in causing the maternal symptoms of preeclampsia in humans. Increases in sFLT1 observed in this study suggest that IVF procedures could increase the risk for preeclampsia. Moreover, our results indicate that embryo culture is the major factor contributing to most placental abnormalities and should therefore be targeted for optimization.
Sentinel interaction mapping – a generic approach for the functional analysis of human disease gene variants using yeast
Authors: Young Barry P. , Post Kathryn L. , Chao Jesse T. , Meili Fabian , Haas Kurt , Loewen Christopher
Published: May 2020

Advances in sequencing technology have led to an explosion in the number of known genetic variants of human genes. A major challenge is to now determine which of these variants contribute to diseases as a result of their effect on gene function. Here, we describe a generic approach using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to quickly develop gene-specific in vivo assays that can be used to quantify the level of function of a genetic variant. Using synthetic dosage lethality screening, ‘sentinel’ yeast strains are identified that are sensitive to overexpression of a human disease gene. Variants of the gene can then be functionalized in a high-throughput fashion through simple growth assays using solid or liquid media. Sentinel interaction mapping (SIM) has the potential to create functional assays for the large majority of human disease genes that do not have a yeast orthologue. Using the tumour suppressor gene PTEN as an example, we show that SIM assays can provide a fast and economical means to screen a large number of genetic variants.
Effect of an Innovative Mattress and Cryotherapy on Sleep after an Elite Rugby Match
Authors: ALOULOU ANIS , LEDUC CÉDRIC , DUFOREZ FRANÇOIS , PISCIONE JULIEN , CHERADAME JEREMY , BIEUZEN FRANÇOIS , THOMAS CLAIRE , CHENNAOUI MOUNIR , VAN BEERS PASCAL , NEDELEC MATHIEU
Published: May 2020

Introduction

This study aimed to explore the relationship between elite rugby union match and postmatch sleep architecture and to investigate the effects of a high-heat capacity mattress (MAT) and a whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) session on postmatch sleep architecture.

Methods

Nineteen elite male U23 rugby union players performed in three official matches, followed by three experimental conditions, in a randomized order: MAT, WBC, and no intervention (CONT). Match load was evaluated using GPS trackers and video analyses. Sleep architecture was assessed by polysomnography (PSG). Core body temperature (CBT) and mattress surface temperature were monitored during sleep. Linear mixed-effects models were conducted to assess the effects of each experimental condition on sleep, with match load variables as covariates.

Results

A lower wake after sleep onset (β = −10.5 min, P < 0.01) and higher rapid eye movement sleep proportion (β = +2.8%, P < 0.05) were reported for MAT compared with CONT. Moreover, lower mean CBT (β = −0.135°C, P < 0.001) and mean mattress surface temperature (β = −2.736°C, P < 0.001) during sleep were observed for MAT compared CONT. WBC did not affect nocturnal CBT nor interfere with sleep architecture. For every 100-m increase in high-speed running distance, a higher slow wave sleep (β = +1.1%, P = 0.05) and lower light sleep proportion (β = −1.2%, P < 0.05) proportion were observed. Conversely, for every 10 supplementary collisions, lower slow wave sleep (β = −1.9, P = 0.09) and higher light sleep (β = +2.9%, P < 0.001) proportion were observed.

Conclusion

MAT use had a positive effect on sleep architecture after an elite rugby union match, potentially through a more efficient nocturnal heat transfer.
Does Mandating Social Insurance Affect Entrepreneurial Activity?
Authors: Benzarti Youssef , Harju Jarkko , Matikka Tuomas
Published: May 2020

This paper estimates the effect of relaxing the social insurance mandate on entrepreneurial activity using rich administrative data from Finland. We find that relaxing the social insurance mandate leads entrepreneurs to reduce their contributions by 16 percent, which they channel instead into their firms. While young firms use the saved cash to increase their sales by 11 percent and labor costs by 6 percent, older firms use it to improve their net lending position by purchasing stocks. Our results imply that the impact of the social insurance mandate on business activity is heterogeneous and depends on the age of the firm. (JEL H55, J32, L26)
Designing Call Auction Institutions to Eliminate Price Bubbles: Is English Dutch the Best?
Authors: Deck Cary , Servátka Maroš , Tucker Steven
Published: May 2020

The bubble-and-burst pattern in asset markets is among the most replicable results in experimental economics. Using controlled laboratory experiments, we compare mispricing in markets organized by standard double auction rules with mispricing in markets organized by two alternative sets of clock auctions. The double Dutch auction, shown to be more efficient than the double auction in past commodity market experiments, does not eliminate bubbles. However, the English Dutch auction yields prices reflective of underlying fundamentals and succeeds in taming bubbles even with inexperienced traders in a declining fundamental value environment with an increasing cash-to-asset ratio. (JEL C91, D44, G12)
Chemical crosslinking enhances RNA immunoprecipitation for efficient identification of binding sites of proteins that photo-crosslink poorly with RNA
Authors: Patton Robert D. , Sanjeev Manu , Woodward Lauren A. , Mabin Justin W. , Bundschuh Ralf , Singh Guramrit
Published: May 2020

In eukaryotic cells, proteins that associate with RNA regulate its activity to control cellular function. To fully illuminate the basis of RNA function, it is essential to identify such RNA-associated proteins, their mode of action on RNA, and their preferred RNA targets and binding sites. By analyzing catalogs of human RNA-associated proteins defined by ultraviolet light (UV)-dependent and -independent approaches, we classify these proteins into two major groups: (i) the widely recognized RNA binding proteins (RBPs), which bind RNA directly and UV-crosslink efficiently to RNA, and (ii) a new group of RBP-associated factors (RAFs), which bind RNA indirectly via RBPs and UV-crosslink poorly to RNA. As the UV crosslinking and immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (CLIP-seq) approach will be unsuitable to identify binding sites of RAFs, we show that formaldehyde crosslinking stabilizes RAFs within ribonucleoproteins to allow for their immunoprecipitation under stringent conditions. Using an RBP (CASC3) and an RAF (RNPS1) within the exon junction complex (EJC) as examples, we show that formaldehyde crosslinking combined with RNA immunoprecipitation in tandem followed by sequencing (xRIPiT-seq) far exceeds CLIP-seq to identify binding sites of RNPS1. xRIPiT-seq reveals that RNPS1 occupancy is increased on exons immediately upstream of strong recursively spliced exons, which depend on the EJC for their inclusion.