bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conservation of chicken male germline by orthotopic transplantation of primordial germ cells from genetically distant donors†
Authors: Mucksová Jitka , Reinišová Markéta , Kalina Jiří , Lejčková Barbora , Hejnar Jiří , Trefil Pavel
Published: April 2019

Successful derivation and cultivation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) opened the way to efficient transgenesis and genome editing in the chicken. Furthermore, implantation of male PGCs from non-chicken galliform species into the chicken embryos resulted in cross-species germline chimeras and viable offspring. We have recently improved the PGC technology by demonstrating that chicken male PGCs transplanted into the testes of adult cockerel recipients mature into functional sperms. However, the availability of this orthotopic transplantation for cross-species transfer remains to be explored. Here we tested the capacity of genetically distant male PGCs to mature in the microenvironment of adult testes. We derived PGCs from the Chinese black-bone Silkie and transplanted them into infertile White Leghorn cockerels. Within 15–18 weeks after transplantation, we observed restoration of spermatogenesis in recipient cockerels and production of healthy progeny derived from the transplanted PGCs. Our findings also indicate the possibility of cross-species orthotopic transplantation of PGCs. Thus, our results might contribute to the preservation of endangered avian species and maintaining the genetic variability of the domestic chicken.
How to Make a Weed: The Saga of the Slender False Brome Invasion in the North American West and Lessons for the Future
Authors: Cruzan Mitchell B
Published: April 2019

Historical herbarium collections and genetic analyses indicate that slender false brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) was first introduced in test gardens in Oregon in the early 1900 s as part of the USDA’s plant introduction program. A small number of naturalized populations were established, but it was not until several decades later that this alien species became an aggressive invader. The Oregon invasive strains of false brome were generated as a consequence of mating among genetically divergent lineages. The resulting hybrid populations contained high levels of genetic variation that fueled the evolution of specific adaptations to the Pacific Northwest climate and ultimately generated genetically superior lineages. Although the false brome invasion has caused significant ecological and economic harm and is expected to continue spreading across western North America, understanding the circumstances that have promoted its success may provide valuable lessons for the management of native plants under pressure from global climate change.
Effective treatment improves the body composition of patients with esophageal motility disorders
Authors: Abe Hirofumi , Tanaka Shinwa , Kawara Fumiaki , Toyonaga Takashi , Ariyoshi Ryusuke , Nakano Yoshiko , Sakaguchi Hiroya , Morita Yoshinori , Umegaki Eiji , Kodama Yuzo
Published: April 2019

Although treatment for esophageal motility disorder improves dysphagia and increases body weight, the effect of the treatment on body composition is unclear. This study aimed to assess the change in body composition between before and after treatment, the preoperative predictors of muscle increase, and the association between muscle increase and quality of life. Sixty-one patients (achalasia, n = 55; spastic esophageal disorder n = 6) who underwent per-oral endoscopic myotomy were analyzed in a single-arm prospective observational study. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was measured with dual X-ray absorptiometry before and 3 months after per-oral endoscopic myotomy. For subgroup analysis, patients with postoperative appendicular skeletal muscle mass increase were defined as the muscle-increase group and the rest as the non-muscle-increase group. Preoperative factors related to the muscle-increase group were clarified via multivariate analysis. Further, the improvement after per-oral endoscopic myotomy in health-related quality-of-life score (Short Form-36) was compared between the muscle-increase and non-muscle-increase groups. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass increased significantly 3 months after per-oral endoscopic myotomy (P = 0.0002). The patients who underwent effective treatment (postoperative Eckardt score < 3) showed a significant improvement in appendicular skeletal muscle mass compared to those who did not (P = 0.04). In the stepwise logistic regression analysis, the preoperative Eckardt score (odds ratio: 1.95, 95% confidence interval 1.30–3.26, P = 0.0005) and preoperative serum prealbumin (odds ratio: 0.83, 95% confidence interval 0.70–0.97, P = 0.02) were identified as independent factors related to postoperative muscle increase. The improvements in the Short Form-36 domains of General Health (P = 0.0007) and Vitality (P = 0.003) were significantly higher in the muscle-increase group. The findings show that effective treatment improved the body composition of patients with esophageal motility disorder and that the Eckardt score and serum prealbumin may aid the prediction of increased appendicular skeletal muscle mass after treatment, resulting in a better quality of life.
Development and validation of a prediction model for long-term unsuccess of early treatment of Class III malocclusion
Authors: Souki Bernardo Quiroga , Nieri Michele , Pavoni Chiara , Pavan Barros Helena Maria , Junqueira Pereira Tarcisio , Giuntini Veronica , Cozza Paola , Franchi Lorenzo
Published: April 2019

Aim

To develop and validate a prediction model to forecast long-term stability of early treatment with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and facemask (FM) in a large sample of Class III growing patients.

Methods

The Brazilian Group (BG) consisted of 73 consecutively treated Caucasian Class III patients (41 females and 32 males). Mean age at T0 (before treatment) was 7.1 ± 1.6 years, while mean age at T1 (long-term follow-up) was 21.8 ± 3.2 years. The Italian Group (IG, validation cohort) comprised 28 consecutively treated Caucasian Class III patients (14 females and 14 males, mean age at T0 9.0 ± 1.3 years and mean age at T1 18.2 ± 1.4 years). Cephalometric analysis was performed on lateral cephalograms at T0. Gender and cephalometric variables, chronologic age, and dentition phase at T0 were used as predictors for long-term unsuccessful treatment at T1. All predictors for unsuccessful treatment in the BG were subjected to bivariate logistic regression. Only those statistically significant predictors in the bivariate logistic regression entered mixed stepwise logistic regression with P = 0.05 to enter and to leave. The validity of the prediction model derived from the BG was then tested on the IG.

Results

The prediction model consisted of only one cephalometric variable: the angle between the Condylar Axis and the Mandibular Plane (CondAx–MP) (odds ratio: 1.52, 95% confidence interval: 1.25–1.85, P < 0.0001). Unsuccessful treatment at T1 was predicted for values of CondAx–MP at T0 greater than the cut-off value of 147.8 degrees. BG patients predicted incorrectly were 3 out of 22 for the unsuccessful cases and 1 out of 51 for the successful cases. Therefore, accuracy was 0.95, sensitivity 0.86, specificity 0.98, and positive and negative predictive values were 0.95 and 0.94. When the predictive model was applied on IG, all five unsuccessful cases were predicted correctly, while only 1 out of 23 successful patients was predicted incorrectly.

Conclusion

CondAx-ML was identified as a reliable predictor for long-term stability of early Class III treatment with RME and FM.
Greater Periaortic Fat Volume at Midlife Is Associated with Slower Gait Speed Later in Life in Women: The SWAN Cardiovascular Fat Ancillary Study
Authors: El Khoudary Samar R , Chen Xirun , Nasr Alexis , Shields Kelly , Barinas-Mitchell Emma , Janssen Imke , Everson-Rose Susan A , Powell Lynda , Matthews Karen
Published: April 2019

Background

Higher perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) contributes to adverse physiologic alterations in the vascular wall, and thus could potentially limit normal physical function later in life. We hypothesize that higher PVAT volume at midlife is prospectively associated with slower gait speed later in life, independent of overall adiposity and other risk factors.

Methods

Participants from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) cardiovascular fat ancillary study were included. PVAT volume around the descending aorta was quantified using existing computed tomography scans at midlife, while gait speed was measured after an average of 10.4 ± 0.7 years.

Results

Two hundred and seventy-six women (aged 51.3 ± 2.8 years at PVAT assessment) were included. Mean gait speed was 0.96 ± 0.21 m/s. Adjusting for study site, race, education level, menopausal status, and length of descending aorta at PVAT assessment, and age, body mass index, difficulty paying for basics, overall health and smoking status at gait speed assessment, a higher midlife PVAT volume was associated with a slower gait speed later in life (p = .03). With further adjustment for presence of any comorbid conditions by the time of gait speed assessment, the association persisted; every 1SD increase in log-PVAT was associated with 3.3% slower gait speed (95% confidence interval: 0.3–6.3%; p = .03).

Conclusion

Greater PVAT in midlife women may contribute to poorer physical function in older age supporting a potential role of midlife PVAT in multiple domains of healthy aging. Additional research is needed to fully elucidate the physiologic changes associated with PVAT that may underlie the observed associations.
What Is Meaningful Participation for Older People? An Analysis of Aging Policies
Authors: Dizon Lovely , Wiles Janine , Peiris-John Roshini
Published: April 2019

Background and Objectives

The language used to construct policy problems influences the solutions created. Recent aging policies emphasize participation as essential to aging well, encouraging independence and active involvement in all aspects of life. However, it is less clear whether participation in the creation of policies or in policy goals and aspirations is meaningful. This article addresses the question: “How is meaningful participation reflected and enabled in policy?”

Research Design and Methods

Eleven global, national, and local policies were purposively selected and analyzed using thematic and discourse analysis.

Results

Policies framed population aging as a challenge and active aging as a value as or part of the policy-making process, participation is enabled (or not) through the types of participation encouraged by policy makers and the kinds of participation used to engage with older people.

Discussion and Implications

Our analysis identifies a strong pattern of discourses regarding individual responsibility to age well; underlying tensions between productive and passive participation; and tensions inherent to the concept of consultation. Implications include the need for those in the consultative phase of policy making to engage with diverse older people and to use participatory methods to explore what meaningful participation means for older people themselves.
An efficient and robust laboratory workflow and tetrapod database for larger scale environmental DNA studies
Authors: Axtner Jan , Crampton-Platt Alex , Hörig Lisa A , Mohamed Azlan , Xu Charles C Y , Yu Douglas W , Wilting Andreas
Published: April 2019

Background

The use of environmental DNA for species detection via metabarcoding is growing rapidly. We present a co-designed lab workflow and bioinformatic pipeline to mitigate the 2 most important risks of environmental DNA use: sample contamination and taxonomic misassignment. These risks arise from the need for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to detect the trace amounts of DNA combined with the necessity of using short target regions due to DNA degradation.

Findings

Our high-throughput workflow minimizes these risks via a 4-step strategy: (i) technical replication with 2 PCR replicates and 2 extraction replicates; (ii) using multi-markers (12S,16S,CytB); (iii) a “twin-tagging,” 2-step PCR protocol; and (iv) use of the probabilistic taxonomic assignment method PROTAX, which can account for incomplete reference databases. Because annotation errors in the reference sequences can result in taxonomic misassignment, we supply a protocol for curating sequence datasets. For some taxonomic groups and some markers, curation resulted in >50% of sequences being deleted from public reference databases, owing to (i) limited overlap between our target amplicon and reference sequences, (ii) mislabelling of reference sequences, and (iii) redundancy. Finally, we provide a bioinformatic pipeline to process amplicons and conduct PROTAX assignment and tested it on an invertebrate-derived DNA dataset from 1,532 leeches from Sabah, Malaysia. Twin-tagging allowed us to detect and exclude sequences with non-matching tags. The smallest DNA fragment (16S) amplified most frequently for all samples but was less powerful for discriminating at species rank. Using a stringent and lax acceptance criterion we found 162 (stringent) and 190 (lax) vertebrate detections of 95 (stringent) and 109 (lax) leech samples.

Conclusions

Our metabarcoding workflow should help research groups increase the robustness of their results and therefore facilitate wider use of environmental and invertebrate-derived DNA, which is turning into a valuable source of ecological and conservation information on tetrapods.
Trade, Inclusive Development, and the Global Order
Authors: Draper Peter , Freytag Andreas , Dörffel Christoph , Schuhmann Sebastian
Published: April 2019

Economic globalization has increasingly affected countries across the world, through participation in global value chains (GVCs) and helping to lift over one billion human beings out of extreme poverty since 1990. However, there are still too many people living in poverty, even in rich countries, and so concerns over exclusion of certain groups from the gains of economic globalization are rising internationally. Using the concept of inclusiveness based on Amartya Sen’s capability approach, we find that G20 countries perform better than non-G20 countries. We then review how economic theory contributes to understanding the causes of (missing) inclusiveness by reviewing the literature pertaining to five drivers: growth, technology, structural change, trade, and political economy. Overall, domestic policies tailored to specific national circumstances are the main instruments for promoting inclusiveness. The danger is that in pursuing these domestic policies, states may undermine international arrangements constituting the liberal economic order. We argue that the liberal economic order generates insufficient global governance because there is always a fraction of countries opposing global policy coordination as they believe it harms them, and that this group of countries is increasing propelled by the surge of populism. This dynamic implies that global governance focus will increasingly shift to “coalitions of the willing”, rendering multilateralism an increasingly challenging, and a la carte, proposition.
Improving the Quality of Inpatient Ulcerative Colitis Management: Promoting Evidence-Based Practice and Reducing Care Variation With an Inpatient Protocol
Authors: Lewin Sara M , McConnell Ryan A , Patel Roshan , Sharpton Suzanne R , Velayos Fernando , Mahadevan Uma
Published: April 2019

Abstarct

Background

Hospitalization for ulcerative colitis is a high-risk period associated with increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection, thromboembolism, and opiate use. The study aim was to develop and implement a quality-improvement intervention for inpatient ulcerative colitis management that standardizes gastroenterology consultant recommendations and improves delivery of evidence-based care.

Methods

All adult patients hospitalized for ulcerative colitis between July 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017, who received intravenous corticosteroids were included. On July 1, 2016, the UCSF Inpatient Ulcerative Colitis Protocol was implemented, featuring standardized core recommendations and a daily checklist for gastroenterology consultant notes, a bundled IBD electronic order set, and an opiate awareness campaign. The composite primary outcome was adherence to all 3 evidence-based care metrics: C. difficile testing performed, pharmacologic venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis ordered, and opiates avoided.

Results

Ninety-three ulcerative colitis hospitalizations occurred, including 36 preintervention and 57 postintervention. Age, gender, disease duration, disease extent, and medication use were similar preintervention and postintervention. C. difficile testing was performed in 100% of hospitalizations. Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis was ordered on 84% of hospital days before intervention compared with 100% after intervention (P ≤ 0.001). Opiates were administered in 67% of preintervention hospitalizations, compared with 53% of postintervention hospitalizations (P = 0.18). The median daily dose of oral morphine equivalents decreased from 12.1 mg before intervention to 0.5 mg after intervention (P = 0.02). The composite outcome of adherence to all 3 metrics was higher after intervention (25% vs. 47%, P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Evidence-based inpatient ulcerative colitis management may be optimized with standardized algorithms that reinforce core principles, reduce care variation, and do not require IBD specialists to implement.
Tacrolimus Therapy in Steroid-Refractory Ulcerative Colitis: A Review
Authors: Wu Biyu , Tong Jinglu , Ran Zhihua
Published: April 2019

Inflammatory bowel diseases are known for a chronic inflammatory process of the gastrointestinal tract and include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Patients who are dependent on or resistant to corticosteroids account for about 20% of severe UC patients. Tacrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor that has recently been used in the treatment of steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis. Tacrolimus has been demonstrated to have remarkable therapeutic efficacy in UC patients, without increased risk of severe adverse effects such as induction of remission and maintenance therapy. This article reviews the mechanism of action, pharmacogenetics, efficacy, and safety of tacrolimus for patients with steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis.
Preterm birth and selection in utero among males following the November 2015 Paris attacks
Authors: Bruckner Tim A , Lebreton Élodie , Perrone Natalie , Mortensen Laust H , Blondel Béatrice
Published: April 2019

Background

On 13 November 2015, coordinated terrorist attacks swept through Paris. This large stressor, like earlier terrorist attacks in the USA, may have perturbed the health of pregnant women. We test whether the attacks preceded an increase in the risk of preterm parturition among live-born males as well as excess male loss in utero. We focused on males on the basis of previous findings of elevated male frailty following population stressors.

Methods

We examined live births in the Paris region (n = 1 049 057) over 70 months, from January 2011 to October 2016. Interrupted time-series methods identified and removed serial correlation in the monthly risk of preterm birth; these methods employed non-linear least-squares estimation. We also repeated analyses using month of conception, and performed sensitivity tests among females as well as among male births outside Paris.

Results

Males exhibited an elevated incidence of preterm birth in November 2015 and January 2016 [risk difference for November 2015 = 0.006, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0002—0.012; risk difference for January 2016 = 0.010, 95% CI: 0.004—0.016], which equates to an 11% increase in the count of preterm births. Females, as well as males born outside Paris, showed no change in preterm delivery. The sex ratio also fell below expected values in December 2015, January 2016 and February 2016.

Conclusions

Among males, more preterm births, but fewer live births, occurred after the November 2015 Paris attacks. Future examinations of perinatal health responses to unexpected stressors may benefit from sex-specific analyses.
Homogeneous or Heterogeneous? Insights into Signposts in Learners’ Dictionaries
Authors: Dziemianko Anna
Published: April 2019

The current study tests empirically whether linguistically homogeneous or heterogeneous signposts better serve dictionary users. It aims to determine which signposts, homogeneous or heterogeneous, are more beneficial to sense identification, language reception, and production as well as immediate and delayed retention of meaning. The paper also investigates whether the usefulness of the type of signposting is dependent on the grammatical category of headwords. The results indicate that entries with heterogeneous signposts are significantly more useful for sense identification and reception. In production, the results obtained after reference to entries with homogeneous and heterogeneous signposts were comparable. Immediate and delayed retention was significantly better when the subjects had consulted entries with homogeneous signposts. The influence of signpost type on the scores for any task was not dependent on the part of speech.
Sustainable applications of asphalt mixes with reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) materials: innovative and new building brick
Authors: Alwetaishi Mamdooh , Kamel Mostafa , Al-Bustami Nidal
Published: April 2019

This paper presents an experimental study to evaluate the effect of various percentages of RAP on the properties of asphalt mixtures. Moreover, the thermal characteristics of using asphalt mixes with RAP in asphalt concrete blocks for sustainable application in building construction was also studied. For this issue, four mixtures, which were the combination of different ratios of RAP materials viz, 0%, 30%, 60%, 90% and virgin aggregates, were studied in this research. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted to find out the highest ratio of RAP in asphalt mixes that retains an acceptable level of physical and mechanical properties. This revealed that 90% RAP has such an acceptable level. Finally, the thermal characteristics of asphalt concrete blocks for walls in building construction were analytically investigated using TAS EDSL. This software was initially validated by building a real model of walls with asphalt concrete blocks where temperature and humidity measurements were taken through data loggers for both the indoor and outdoor spaces. A comparative study was conducted to find out the energy efficient behaviour of this material in four different climate conditions. It was concluded that the asphalt concrete mixes with 90% RAP are beneficial materials for use as a thermal mass in building construction and it is suitable only for cold weathers.
G-Tutte Polynomials and Abelian Lie Group Arrangements
Authors: Liu Ye , Tran Tan Nhat , Yoshinaga Masahiko
Published: April 2019

For a list $\mathcal{A}$ of elements in a finitely generated abelian group $\Gamma $ and an abelian group $G$, we introduce and study an associated $G$-Tutte polynomial, defined by counting the number of homomorphisms from associated finite abelian groups to $G$. The $G$-Tutte polynomial is a common generalization of the (arithmetic) Tutte polynomial for realizable (arithmetic) matroids, the characteristic quasi-polynomial for integral arrangements, Brändén–Moci’s arithmetic version of the partition function of an abelian group-valued Potts model, and the modified Tutte–Krushkal–Renhardy polynomial for a finite CW complex. As in the classical case, $G$-Tutte polynomials carry topological and enumerative information (e.g., the Euler characteristic, point counting, and the Poincaré polynomial) of abelian Lie group arrangements. We also discuss differences between the arithmetic Tutte and the $G$-Tutte polynomials related to the axioms for arithmetic matroids and the (non-)positivity of coefficients.
Characterization of Pneumocystis murina Bgl2, an Endo-β-1,3-Glucanase and Glucanosyltransferase
Authors: Kutty Geetha , Davis A Sally , Schuck Kaitlynn , Masterson Mya , Wang Honghui , Liu Yueqin , Kovacs Joseph A
Published: April 2019

Glucan is the major cell wall component of Pneumocystis cysts. In the current study, we have characterized Pneumocystis Bgl2 (EC 3.2.1.58), an enzyme with glucanosyltransferase and β-1,3 endoglucanase activity in other fungi. Pneumocystis murina, Pneumocystis carinii, and Pneumocystis jirovecii bgl2 complementary DNA sequences encode proteins of 437, 447, and 408 amino acids, respectively. Recombinant P. murina Bgl2 expressed in COS-1 cells demonstrated β-glucanase activity, as shown by degradation of the cell wall of Pneumocystis cysts. It also cleaved reduced laminaripentaose and transferred oligosaccharides, resulting in polymers of 6 and 7 glucan residues, demonstrating glucanosyltransferase activity. Surprisingly, confocal immunofluorescence analysis of P. murina–infected mouse lung sections using an antibody against recombinant Bgl2 showed that the native protein is localized primarily to the trophic form of Pneumocystis in both untreated mice and mice treated with caspofungin, an antifungal drug that inhibits β-1,3-glucan synthase. Thus, like other fungi, Bgl2 of Pneumocystis has both endoglucanase and glucanosyltransferase activities. Given that it is expressed primarily in trophic forms, further studies are needed to better understand its role in the biology of Pneumocystis.
Fully Automated Determination of Phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 and 16:0/18:2 in Dried Blood Spots
Authors: Luginbühl Marc , Gaugler Stefan , Weinmann Wolfgang
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Direct alcohol markers are widely applied during abstinence monitoring, driving aptitude assessments and workplace drug testing. The most promising direct alcohol marker was found to be phosphatidylethanol (PEth). Compared to other markers it shows a long window of detection due to accumulation in blood. To facilitate and accelerate the determination of PEth in DBS, we developed a fully automated analysis approach.

Methods

The validated and novel online-SPE-LC-MS/MS method with automated sample preparation using a CAMAG DBS-MS 500 system reduces manual sample preparation to an absolute minimum, only requiring calibration and quality control DBS.

Results

During the validation process, the method showed a high extraction efficiency (>88%), linearity (correlation coefficient >0.9953), accuracy and precision (within ±15%) for the determination of PEth 16:0/18:1 and PEth 16:0/18:2. Within a run time of about 7 min, the two monitored analogs could be baseline separated. A method comparison in liquid whole blood of 28 authentic samples from alcohol use disorder patients showed a mean deviation of less than 2% and a correlation coefficient of >0.9759. The comparison with manual DBS extraction showed a mean deviation of less than 8% and a correlation coefficient of >0.9666.

Conclusions

The automated analysis of PEth in DBS can provide a fast and accurate solution for abstinence monitoring. In contrast to the manual extraction of PEth in DBS, no laborious sample preparation is required with this automated approach. Furthermore, the application of the internal standard by a spray module can compensate for extraction bias and matrix effects.
Joseph Schumpeter Lecture, EEA Annual Congress 2017: Do Tax Cuts Produce more Einsteins? The Impacts of Financial Incentives VerSus Exposure to Innovation on the Supply of Inventors
Authors: Bell Alex , Chetty Raj , Jaravel Xavier , Petkova Neviana , Van Reenen John
Published: April 2019

Many countries provide financial incentives to spur innovation, ranging from tax incentives to research and development grants. In this paper, we study how such financial incentives affect individuals’ decisions to pursue careers in innovation. We first present empirical evidence on inventors’ career trajectories and income distributions using deidentified data on 1.2 million inventors from patent records linked to tax records in the United States. We find that the private returns to innovation are extremely skewed—with the top 1% of inventors collecting more than 22% of total inventors’ income—and are highly correlated with their social impact, as measured by citations. Inventors tend to have their most impactful innovations around age 40 and their incomes rise rapidly just before they have high-impact patents. We then build a stylized model of inventor career choice that matches these facts as well as recent evidence that childhood exposure to innovation plays a critical role in determining whether individuals become inventors. The model predicts that financial incentives, such as top income tax reductions, have limited potential to increase aggregate innovation because they only affect individuals who are exposed to innovation and have essentially no impact on the decisions of star inventors, who matter most for aggregate innovation. Importantly, these results hold regardless of whether the private returns to innovation are fully known at the time of career choice or are fully stochastic. In contrast, increasing exposure to innovation (e.g., through mentorship programs) could have substantial impacts on innovation by drawing individuals who produce high-impact inventions into the innovation pipeline. Although we do not present direct evidence supporting these model-based predictions, our results call for a more careful assessment of the impacts of financial incentives and a greater focus on alternative policies to increase the supply of inventors.
Diagnostic Testing and Antibiotic Use in Young Children With Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the United States, 2008–2015
Authors: Florin Todd A , Byczkowski Terri , Gerber Jeffrey S , Ruddy Richard , Kuppermann Nathan
Published: April 2019

Diagnostic testing and antibiotics are not routinely recommended for young children with community-acquired pneumonia. In a national sample of >6 million outpatient 1- to 6-year-olds with community-acquired pneumonia between 2008 and 2015, a complete blood count was obtained for 8.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.1%–11.1%), radiography was performed for 43% (95% CI, 36%–50%), and antibiotics were given for 73.9% (95% CI, 67.1%–80.7%). There were no changes in testing or antibiotic use over time.
The Function of ’aṮmāhā in Genesis Rabbah
Authors: Fleck Einav
Published: April 2019

The meaning and use of the Jewish Palestinian Aramaic word (‘astonishment‘) have been discussed only briefly in scholarly literature. The present article examines its use and seeks to demonstrate that most of its occurrences mark two specific types of questions: (1) rhetorical questions and (2) conducive questions. In these functions it is similar to the Zawgā ‘elāyā in New Testament Peshitta manuscripts. We conclude that was not intended to be pronounced, nor did it function as a standard punctuation mark, but rather was a marker for a specific pragmatic feature, i.e. questions that are not requests for information. Additionally, it may have developed a secondary asseverative usage.
Auden, Auden’s Milton, and Songs for Virgins
Authors: Daniel Clay
Published: April 2019

Deep though unexplored currents of W.H. Auden’s incipient Christian theology in ‘Song for St Cecilia’s Day’ become clearer when we read the poem with an eye on John Milton’s madrigal ‘At a Solemn Music’ and his musical tribute to virginity, ‘A Masque’. Auden closely identified Milton with the religious dualism that impeded his acceptance of Christianity, as well with the divided consciousness of the Protestantism whose disintegration was a primary source for contemporary global chaos; and his examination of art, religion, and sexuality consistently uses Milton’s poems as counter-texts off which to ‘bounce’ his own vision of Christian flesh and Christian spirit.
Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope observations of dark gamma-ray bursts and their host galaxies
Authors: Chrimes A A , Levan A J , Stanway E R , Lyman J D , Fruchter A S , Jakobsson P , O’Brien P , Perley D A , Tanvir N R , Wheatley P J , Wiersema K
Published: April 2019

We present a study of 21 dark gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxies, predominantly using X-ray afterglows obtained with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO) to precisely locate the burst in deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging of the burst region. The host galaxies are well-detected in F160W in all but one case and in F606W imaging in 60 per cent of cases. We measure magnitudes and perform a morphological analysis of each galaxy. The asymmetry, concentration, and ellipticity of the dark burst hosts are compared against the host galaxies of optically bright GRBs. In agreement with other studies, we find that dark GRB hosts are redder and more luminous than the bulk of the GRB host population. The distribution of projected spatial offsets for dark GRBs from their host galaxy centroids is comparable to that of optically bright bursts. The dark GRB hosts are physically larger, more massive and redder, but are morphologically similar to the hosts of bright GRBs in terms of concentration and asymmetry. Our analysis constrains the fraction of high redshift (z > 5) GRBs in the sample to 14 per cent, implying an upper limit for the whole long-GRB population of ≤4.4 per cent. If dust is the primary cause of afterglow darkening amongst dark GRBs, the measured extinction may require a clumpy dust component in order to explain the observed offset and ellipticity distributions.
Active Site-Induced Evolutionary Constraints Follow Fold Polarity Principles in Soluble Globular Enzymes
Authors: Mayorov Alexander , Dal Peraro Matteo , Abriata Luciano A
Published: April 2019

A recent analysis of evolutionary rates in >500 globular soluble enzymes revealed pervasive conservation gradients toward catalytic residues. By looking at amino acid preference profiles rather than evolutionary rates in the same data set, we quantified the effects of active sites on site-specific constraints for physicochemical traits. We found that conservation gradients respond to constraints for polarity, hydrophobicity, flexibility, rigidity and structure in ways consistent with fold polarity principles; while sites far from active sites seem to experience no physicochemical constraint, rather being highly variable and favoring amino acids of low metabolic cost. Globally, our results highlight that amino acid variation contains finer information about protein structure than usually regarded in evolutionary models, and that this information is retrievable automatically with simple fits. We propose that analyses of the kind presented here incorporated into models of protein evolution should allow for better description of the physical chemistry that underlies molecular evolution.
The use of plasma donor-derived, cell-free DNA to monitor acute rejection after kidney transplantation
Authors: Gielis Els M , Ledeganck Kristien J , Dendooven Amélie , Meysman Pieter , Beirnaert Charlie , Laukens Kris , De Schrijver Joachim , Van Laecke Steven , Van Biesen Wim , Emonds Marie-Paule , De Winter Benedicte Y , Bosmans Jean-Louis , Del Favero Jurgen , Abramowicz Daniel
Published: April 2019

Background

After transplantation, cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) derived from the donor organ (ddcfDNA) can be detected in the recipient’s circulation. We aimed to investigate the role of plasma ddcfDNA as biomarker for acute kidney rejection.

Methods

From 107 kidney transplant recipients, plasma samples were collected longitudinally after transplantation (Day 1 to 3 months) within a multicentre set-up. Cell-free DNA from the donor was quantified in plasma as a fraction of the total cell-free DNA by next generation sequencing using a targeted, multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based method for the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Results

Increases of the ddcfDNA% above a threshold value of 0.88% were significantly associated with the occurrence of episodes of acute rejection (P = 0.017), acute tubular necrosis (P = 0.011) and acute pyelonephritis (P = 0.032). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an equal area under the curve of the ddcfDNA% and serum creatinine of 0.64 for the diagnosis of acute rejection.

Conclusions

Although increases in plasma ddcfDNA% are associated with graft injury, plasma ddcfDNA does not outperform the diagnostic capacity of the serum creatinine in the diagnosis of acute rejection.
Massive star formation in W51 A triggered by cloud–cloud collisions
Authors: Fujita Shinji , Torii Kazufumi , Kuno Nario , Nishimura Atsushi , Umemoto Tomofumi , Minamidani Tetsuhiro , Kohno Mikito , Yamagishi Mitsuyoshi , Tosaki Tomoka , Matsuo Mitsuhiro , Tsuda Yuya , Enokiya Rei , Tachihara Kengo , Ohama Akio , Sano Hidetoshi , Okawa Kazuki , Hayashi Katsuhiro , Yoshiike Satoshi , Tsutsumi Daichi , Fukui Yasuo
Published: April 2019

W$\, 51\,$A is one of the most active star-forming regions in the Milky Way, and includes copious amounts of molecular gas with a total mass of ${\sim }6\times 10^{5}\, M_{\odot }$. The molecular gas has multiple velocity components over ∼20 km s−1, and interactions between these components have been discussed as the mechanism that triggered the massive star formation in W$\, 51\,$A. In this paper, we report on an observational study of the molecular gas in W$\, 51\,$A using the new 12CO, 13CO, and C18O (J = 1–0) data covering a 1${^{\circ}_{.}}$4 × 1${^{\circ}_{.}}$0 area of W$\, 51\,$A obtained with the Nobeyama 45 m telescope at 20′ resolution. Our CO data resolved four discrete velocity clouds with sizes and masses of ∼30 pc and 1.0–$1.9\times 10^{5}\, M_{\odot }$ around radial velocities of 50, 56, 60, and 68 km s−1. Toward the central part of the Hii region complex G49.5−0.4 in W$\, 51\,$A, in which the bright stellar clusters IRS 1 and IRS 2 are located, we identified four C18O clumps having sizes of ∼1 pc and column densities of higher than 1023 cm−2, which are each embedded within the four velocity clouds. These four clumps are concentrated within a small area of 5 pc, but show a complementary distribution on the sky. In the position–velocity diagram, these clumps are connected with each other by bridge features having weak intensities. The high intensity ratios of 13CO (J = 3–2)$/$(J = 1–0) also indicate that these four clouds are associated with the Hii regions, including IRS 1 and IRS 2. We also reveal that, in the other bright Hii region complex G49.4−0.3, the 50, 60, and 68 km s−1 clouds show a complementary distribution, with two bridge features connecting between the 50 and 60 km s−1 clouds and the 60 and 68 km s−1 clouds. An isolated compact Hii region G49.57−0.27 located ∼15 pc north of G49.5−0.4 also shows a complementary distribution and a bridge feature. The complementary distribution on the sky and the broad bridge feature in the position–velocity diagram suggest collisional interactions among the four velocity clouds in W$\, 51\,$A. The timescales of the collisions can be estimated to be several 0.1 Myr as crossing times of the collisions, which are consistent with the ages of the Hii regions measured from the sizes of the Hii regions with the 21 cm continuum data. We discuss a scenario of cloud–cloud collisions and massive star formation in W$\, 51\,$A by comparing these with recent observational and theoretical studies of cloud–cloud collision.
The Plant Translatome Surveyed by Ribosome Profiling
Authors: Fujita Tomoya , Kurihara Yukio , Iwasaki Shintaro
Published: April 2019

Although transcriptome changes have long been recognized as a mechanism to induce tentative substitution of expressed genes in diverse biological processes in plants, the regulation of translation—the final step of the central dogma of molecular biology—emerged as an alternative and prominent layer in defining the output of genes. Despite these demands, the genome-wide analysis of protein synthesis has posed technical challenges, resulting in the plant translatome being poorly understood. The development of ribosome profiling promises to address the hidden aspects of translation, and its application to plants is revolutionizing our knowledge of the translatome. This review outlines the array of recent findings provided by ribosome profiling and illustrates the power of the versatile technique in green organisms.
Diversity patterns of planktonic microeukaryote communities in tropical floodplain lakes based on 18S rDNA gene sequences
Authors: Machado Karine Borges , Targueta Cíntia Pelegrineti , Antunes Adriana Maria , Soares Thannya Nascimento , Telles Mariana Pires de Campos , Logares Ramiro , Vieira Ludgero Cardoso Galli , Huszar Vera Lúcia de Moraes , Nabout JoÃo Carlos
Published: April 2019

The aquatic microbiota plays key roles in ecosystem processes; however, the mechanisms that influence their biogeographic patterns are not yet fully understood. Using high-throughput 18S rDNA gene sequencing, we investigated the composition of planktonic microeukaryotes (organisms sampled using a 68-μm plankton net) in 27 floodplain lakes of the Araguaia River, central Brazil and explored the influence of environmental and spatial factors for communities considering taxonomic and trophic groups. Of the 807 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) observed, Chlorophyta and Charophyta were the groups with greater abundance. Beta diversity was high, and the similarity of communities decreased as the geographic distance increased. We found a shared explanation between environmental and spatial predictors for total and autotrophic microbiota. Environmental variables influence only mixotrophic microbiota. These results suggest an OTU turnover along the floodplain and a spatially structured composition. This spatial pattern can be derived from the association with extrinsic factors, such as spatially structured environmental variables, that generate spatial dependence. However, the relationship between the composition of microbiota and environmental conditions is still unclear.
Association between the living environment and the risk of arterial hypertension and other components of metabolic syndrome
Authors: Braziene Agne , Tamsiunas Abdonas , Luksiene Dalia , Radisauskas Ricardas , Andrusaityte Sandra , Dedele Audrius , Vencloviene Jone
Published: April 2019

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by numerous metabolic risk factors. We investigated the associations between a long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and the residential distance to green spaces (GS) and major roads with the development of arterial hypertension (AH) and some components of MS. These associations were assessed among persons living in private and multi-story houses (MH).

Methods

We selected 1354 participants for the population study from MONICA (Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease Program). The exposures to PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 levels were assessed by using the LUR models for Kaunas City.

Results

In the participants who lived in MH, the residential distance to a major road closer than 200 m and the residential exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 levels above the median were associated with a higher risk of AH (the adjusted relative risks (RRs), respectively, were 1.41(1.10–1.81), 1.19(1.01–1.42) and 1.27(1.07–1.52)). In these participants, the residential exposure to a PM10 level above the median was associated with a higher risk of reduced high density lipoprotein (RHDL) (RR = 1.46(1.05–2.05)). A negative impact of the traffic air pollutants on the incidence of AH, RHDL cholesterol and high triglyceride levels was observed only in the participants who lived in MH.
Dietary fibre, functions by modulating the entero-hepatic circulation
Authors: Eastwood M A
Published: April 2019

Dietary Fibre (DF) is not an essential component of the diet but a modulator of the absorption and colonic metabolism of nutrients and xenobiotics along the small and large intestine. In the colon DF stimulates the bacterial flora, bacterial mass and metabolism, thereby influencing the entero-hepatic circulation (EHC) and faecal output. This modulation is dependent upon the amount and physical state of DF intake.
Priority Spreading of Corporate Debt
Authors: Badoer Dominique C , Dudley Evan , James Christopher M
Published: April 2019

Priority spreading refers to the practice of firms increasing their reliance on secured and subordinated debt and reducing their reliance on senior debt as their credit quality deteriorates. We argue that priority spreading occurs because security provides creditors with greater protection from dilution from other creditors than do covenants that prioritize payments. Consistent with this argument, we find that secured bank creditors are rarely diluted by junior creditors in distressed restructurings, whereas senior unsecured creditors are frequently diluted, exogenous increases in asset volatility result in greater priority spreading and yields on senior and subordinated bonds converge as asset volatility increases.

Received January 22, 2018; editorial decision January 27, 2019 by Editor David Denis. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Performance of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic literature review
Authors: Jones Alexis , Bray Timothy J P , Mandl Peter , Hall-Craggs Margaret A , Marzo-Ortega Helena , Machado Pedro M
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To summarize the evidence on the performance of MRI for the diagnosis of axial SpA.

Methods

This was a systematic literature review of all studies from January 2013 to March 2017 including adult patients with clinically suspected axial SpA undergoing MRI. Studies from a previously published systematic literature review up to January 2013 were also included.

Results

Thirty-one studies were included. Six studies demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity for SI joint (SIJ) bone marrow oedema (BMO). Specificity was increased by the presence of other structural lesions alongside BMO, particularly erosions or fat infiltration. Four studies addressed the utility of SIJ fat infiltration, finding good sensitivity but poor specificity. SIJ erosions showed good specificity in five studies. Studies addressing high T1 signal in the SIJ, fluid signal in the SIJ, ankylosis, sclerosis, capsulitis, backfill and vacuum phenomenon reported limited diagnostic value. In the spine, four studies reported moderate sensitivity and specificity for corner inflammatory lesions, and four reported poor sensitivity and specificity for spinal fat infiltration. Five studies evaluated the added value of spinal MRI over SIJ MRI alone, with variable results depending on the cohort. Six studies addressed the effect of acquisition parameters on diagnostic accuracy: fat-saturated T2-weighted imaging and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) imaging showed comparable utility in identifying BMO. Three studies showed that gadolinium was of minimal added value in the detection of BMO.

Conclusions

These results confirmed the diagnostic utility of MRI in axial SpA. Performance varied according to the characteristics of the cohort and the number and combination of MRI lesions considered.