bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palliative ventriculoperitoneal shunting in dogs with obstructive hydrocephalus caused by tumors affecting the third ventricle
Authors: Orlandi Rocio , Vasilache Cornel G. , Mateo Isidro
Published: May 2020

Background

Hypertensive or obstructive hydrocephalus is a common complication in dogs with tumors affecting the third ventricle for which few therapeutic options are available.

Objectives

To describe signalment, neurological status, and pre‐ and postsurgical findings, complications and survival time in 4 dogs with obstructive hydrocephalus caused by third ventricle tumors that were palliatively treated using ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS).

Animals

Four client‐owned dogs with obstructive hydrocephalus caused by tumors affecting the third ventricle.

Methods

Medical records were reviewed for dogs diagnosed with third ventricular tumors. Inclusion criteria were complete medical record, advanced diagnostic imaging for review, and VPS as sole surgical treatment.

Results

At the time of diagnosis, all patients displayed acute onset and rapidly progressive diffuse intracranial clinical signs. On advanced imaging, all dogs had a homogeneously enhancing mass occupying or collapsing the third ventricle as well as obstructive hydrocephalus. All of the dogs underwent VPS of the most dilated lateral ventricle. In 2 of the patients, intracranial hypertension followed by normotension after VPS placement was confirmed intraoperatively by means of direct intracranial pressure monitoring. Excellent clinical improvement was observed in all dogs immediately after surgery. Three patients required a second VPS in the contralateral lateral ventricle 3, 7 and 11 months after the first surgery, all of them with renewed improvement in clinical signs.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Ventriculoperitoneal shunting is a rapid and effective treatment for patients with obstructive (hypertensive) hydrocephalus caused by tumors located within the third ventricle.
Effects of white‐tailed deer exclusion on the plant community composition of an upland tallgrass prairie ecosystem
Authors: Bloodworth Kathryn J. , Ritchie Mark E. , Komatsu Kimberly J.
Published: May 2020

Questions

Grasslands support ecosystem services, promote diversity, and assist in carbon sequestration. However, grasslands worldwide are diminishing in area, and understanding the drivers shaping the remaining grasslands is critical for their maintenance. The North American tallgrass prairie covers approximately 13% of its historical range and is shaped by fire and herbivory. Fire frequency negatively correlates with plant species richness, while bison (Bos bison) — the historical grazers — offset this effect. However, bison populations have declined, and large browsers are increasing in density. Few studies though have examined the role of large browsers — particularly white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) — and their interaction with fire frequency in tallgrass prairies. Here, we addressed two questions: (a) What are the impacts of deer on plant diversity, species identities, and relative abundances; and (b) is there an interactive effect between the pressures exerted by deer and the well‐documented effects of fire in driving plant community responses?

Location

This study took place at the Konza Prairie Biological Station in northeastern Kansas, USA.

Methods

Using a 22‐year deer exclosure experiment, we examined differences in plant species richness, evenness, and plant community composition between plots that were either accessible or inaccessible to deer, in areas burned annually or once every four years.

Results

We did not find significant effects of deer or interactive effects between deer and burning frequency on any metric of the plant community measured, including plant species richness, evenness, and plant community composition.

Conclusions

Contrary to the impact that deer have in other ecosystems (e.g. forests), our results indicate that deer do not affect the plant community of herbaceous‐dominated tallgrass prairies. These results indicate that while the loss of bison‐grazers has shifted tallgrass prairie plant communities to C4grass‐dominated systems, the shift to browsing‐dominated herbivore pressure from deer has a minimal effect on the plant community.
Inbreeding and disease avoidance in a free‐ranging koala population
Authors: Schultz Anthony J. , Cristescu Romane H. , Hanger Jon , Loader Jo , de Villiers Deidre , Frère Celine H.
Published: May 2020

Habitat destruction and fragmentation are increasing globally, forcing surviving species into small, isolated populations. Isolated populations typically experience heightened inbreeding risk and associated inbreeding depression and population decline; although individuals in these populations may mitigate these risks through inbreeding avoidance strategies. For koalas, as dietary specialists already under threat in the northern parts of their range, increased habitat fragmentation and associated inbreeding costs are of great conservation concern. Koalas are known to display passive inbreeding avoidance through sex‐biased dispersal, although population isolation will reduce dispersal pathways. We tested whether free‐ranging koalas display active inbreeding avoidance behaviours. We used VHF tracking data, parentage reconstruction, and veterinary examination results to test whether free‐ranging female koalas avoid mating with (a) more closely related males; and (b) males infected with sexually transmitted Chlamydia pecorum. We found no evidence that female koalas avoid mating with relatively more related available mates. In fact, as the relatedness of potential mates increases, so did inbreeding events. We also found no evidence that female koalas can avoid mating with males infected with C. pecorum. The absence of active inbreeding avoidance mechanisms in koalas is concerning from a conservation perspective, as small, isolated populations may be at even higher risk of inbreeding depression than expected. At risk koala populations may require urgent conservation interventions to augment gene flow and reduce inbreeding risks. Similarly, if koalas are not avoiding mating with individuals with chlamydial disease, populations may be at higher risk from disease than anticipated, further impacting population viability.
Network‐wide traffic speed forecasting: 3D convolutional neural network with ensemble empirical mode decomposition
Authors: Zhang Shuaichao , Zhou Lingxiao , Chen Xiqun (Michael) , Zhang Lei , Li Li , Li Meng
Published: May 2020

Accurate traffic speed forecasting is one of the most critical tasks in proactive traffic management and the deployment of advanced traveler information systems. This paper proposes a hybrid forecasting approach named DeepEnsemble by integrating the three‐dimensional convolutional neural network (3D CNN) with ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD). There are four steps in this hybrid approach. First, EEMD is adopted to decompose the complex traffic speed time series data with noise into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and a residue. Second, a three‐dimensional tensor is established and fed into 3D CNN for prediction. Third, the output of 3D CNN prediction is obtained by a linear combination of the results of all components. Finally, the 3D CNN prediction output, external features, and historical features are fused to predict the network‐wide traffic speed simultaneously. The proposed DeepEnsemble approach is tested on the three‐month traffic speed series data of a real‐world large‐scale urban expressway network with 308 traffic flow detectors in Beijing, China. The experimental results indicate that DeepEnsemble outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art network‐wide traffic speed forecasting models. 3D CNN learns temporal, spatial, and depth information better than 2D CNN. Moreover, forecasting accuracy can be improved by employing EEMD. DeepEnsemble is a promising model with scalability and portability for network‐wide traffic speed prediction and can be further extended to conduct traffic status monitoring and congestion mitigation strategies.
Landmark clinical observations and immunopathogenesis pathways linked to HIV and Cryptococcus fatal central nervous system co‐infection
Authors: Okurut Samuel , Boulware David R. , Olobo Joseph , Meya David B.
Published: May 2020

Cryptococcal meningitis remains one of the leading causes of death among HIV‐infected adults in the fourth decade of HIV era in sub‐Saharan Africa, contributing to 10%–20% of global HIV‐related deaths. Despite widespread use and early induction of ART among HIV‐infected adults, incidence of cryptococcosis remains significant in those with advanced HIV disease. Cryptococcus species that causes fatal infection follows systemic spread from initial environmental acquired infection in lungs to antigenaemia and fungaemia in circulation prior to establishment of often fatal disease, cryptococcal meningitis in the CNS. Cryptococcus person‐to‐person transmission is uncommon, and deaths related to blood infection without CNS involvement are rare. Keen to the persistent high mortality associated with HIV‐cryptococcal meningitis, seizures are common among a third of the patients, altered mental status is frequent, anaemia is prevalent with ensuing brain hypoxia and at autopsy, brain fibrosis and infarction are evident. In addition, fungal burden is 3‐to‐4‐fold higher in those with seizures. And high immune activation together with exacerbated inflammation and elevated PD‐1/PD‐L immune checkpoint expression is immunomodulated phenotypes elevated in CSF relative to blood. Lastly, though multiple Cryptococcus species cause disease in this setting, observations are mostly generalised to cryptococcal infection/meningitis or regional dominant species (C neoformans or gattii complex) that may limit our understanding of interspecies differences in infection, progression, treatment or recovery outcome. Together, these factors and underlying mechanisms are hypotheses generating for research to find targets to prevent infection or adequate therapy to prevent persistent high mortality with current optimal therapy.
Optimal leaf life strategies determine Vc,max dynamic during ontogeny
Authors: Detto Matteo , Xu Xiangtao
Published: May 2020

Leaf photosynthetic properties, for example the maximum carboxylation velocity or Vc,max, change with leaf age due to ontogenetic processes. This study introduces an optimal dynamic allocation scheme to model changes in leaf‐level photosynthetic capacity as a function of leaf biochemical constraints (costs of synthesis and defence), nitrogen availability and other environmental factors (e.g. light).

The model consists of a system of equations describing RuBisCO synthesis and degradation within chloroplasts, defence and ageing at leaf levels, nitrogen transfer and carbon budget at plant levels.

Model results show that optimal allocation principles explained RuBisCO dynamics with leaf age. An approximated analytical solution can reproduce the basic pattern of RuBisCO and Vc,max in rice and in two tropical tree species. The model also reveals leaf life complementarities that remained unexplained in previous approaches, as the interplay between Vc,max at maturation, life span and the decline in photosynthetic capacity with age. Furthermore, it explores the role of defence, which is not implemented in current models.

This framework covers some of the existing gaps in integrating multiple processes across plant organs (chloroplast, leaf and whole plant) and is a first‐step towards representing mechanistically leaf ontogenetic processes into physiological and ecosystem models.
ABI5 modulates seed germination via feedback regulation of the expression of the PYR/PYL/RCAR ABA receptor genes
Authors: Zhao Hongyun , Nie Kaili , Zhou Huapeng , Yan Xiaojing , Zhan Qidi , Zheng Yuan , Song Chun‐Peng
Published: May 2020

As abscisic acid (ABA) receptors, PYR1/PYL/RCAR (PYLs) play important roles in ABA‐mediated seed germination, but the regulation of PYLs in this process, especially at the transcriptional level, remains unclear.

In this study, we found that expression of 11 of 14 PYLs changes significantly during seed germination and is affected by exogenous ABA. Two PYLs, PYL11 and PYL12, both of which are expressed specifically in mature seeds, positively modulate ABA‐mediated seed germination.

However, ABI5 was found to modulate the PYL11‐ and PYL12‐mediated ABA response. In the abi5‐7 mutant, ABA hypersensitivity caused by PYL11 and PYL12 overexpression was totally or partially blocked. By contrast, ABI5 regulates the expression of PYL11 and PYL12 by directly binding to their promoters. Moreover, the expression of eight other PYLs is also affected during the germination of abi5 mutants. Promoter analysis revealed that an ABI5‐binding region is present next to the TATA box or initiator box.

Together, our data demonstrate the role of PYL11 and PYL12 in seed germination. In addition, the identification of PYLs as targets of ABI5 reveals a role of ABI5 in the feedback regulation of ABA‐mediated seed germination.
Molecular and functional diversity of organelle RNA editing mediated by RNA recognition motif‐containing protein ORRM4 in tomato
Authors: Yang Yongfang , Liu Xiuying , Wang Keru , Li Jinyan , Zhu Guoning , Ren Shuang , Deng Zhiping , Zhu Benzhong , Fu Daqi , Qu Guiqin , Luo Yunbo , Zhu Hongliang
Published: May 2020

Plant organellar RNA editing is a distinct type of post‐transcriptional RNA modification that is critical for plant development. We showed previously that the RNA editing factor SlORRM4 is required for mitochondrial function and fruit ripening in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). However, a comprehensive atlas of the RNA editing mediated by SlORRM4 is lacking.

We observed that SlORRM4 is targeted to both chloroplasts and mitochondria, and its knockout results in pale‐green leaves and delayed fruit ripening. Using high‐throughput sequencing, we identified 12 chloroplast editing sites and 336 mitochondrial editing sites controlled by SlORRM4, accounting for 23% of chloroplast sites in leaves and 61% of mitochondrial sites in fruits, respectively.

Analysis of native RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing revealed that SlORRM4 binds to 31 RNA targets; 19 of these targets contain SlORRM4‐dependent editing sites. Large‐scale analysis of putative SlORRM4‐interacting proteins identified SlRIP1b, a RIP/MORF protein. Moreover, functional characterization demonstrated that SlRIP1b is involved in tomato fruit ripening.

Our results indicate that SlORRM4 binds to RNA targets and interacts with SlRIP1b to broadly affect RNA editing in tomato organelles. These results provide insights into the molecular and functional diversity of RNA editing factors in higher plants.
Representative bureaucracy and impartial policing
Authors: Gilad Sharon , Dahan Momi
Published: May 2020

Representative bureaucracy theory expects minority bureaucrats to advance the interests of minority citizens. Yet, little attention has been given to the variation in the acceptability, incentives and risks of representation across bureaucratic domains. Analysis of over two million police vehicle stops from four different US departments reveals that African American police officers do not treat African Americans preferentially, yet they mitigate existing racial disparities in policing. Compared with White officers, African Americans seem less disposed to use their discretion. They are disinclined to search drivers, yet inclined to cite them, displaying comparatively low disparities across social groups. These findings extend to pure traffic violations, and are robust to entropy balancing reweighting. We provisionally attribute African American police officers' impartial policing style to their compelling need to display their performance, and avoid blame, amidst intra‐organizational pressures and risks ensuing from the political salience of the police's clash with minority communities.
Cross‐cultural adaptation of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool – Youth Thai version
Authors: Kadli Supannikar , Lekskulchai Raweewan , Jalayondeja Chutima , Hiller Claire E.
Published: May 2020

Background

This study aimed to translate the original version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAITY) into a Thai version by using cross‐cultural adaptation, and to examine the psychometric properties and cut‐off score of the CAITY – Thai version (CAITY‐T).

Methods

Six cross‐cultural adaptation steps were used to translate and validate the psychometric properties with 267 participants, 140 with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and 127 without CAI. Their mean age was 12.3 ± 2.42 years. Validation was carried out for internal consistency and concurrent validity against a visual analog scale for global perceived ankle instability, and for discriminant validity (receiver operating characteristic curve). The CAITY‐T was completed twice by 133 volunteer children (49.62%) for test‐retest reliability. The cut‐off score was determined using Youden’s index.

Results

The CAITY was successfully adapted for the Thai language. Validation showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.767) and concurrent validity (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.8 right ankle and 0.784 left ankle). The test‐retest reliability was substantial with an intraclass correlation coefficient (2,1) of 0.865 (95% Confidence Interval = 0.809–0.904). The receiver operating characteristic curve and Youden’s index showed the cut‐off score that discriminated between children with and without CAI on the CAITY‐T at ≤25. The CAITY‐T obtained 95.2% sensitivity, 97% specificity, 0.05 negative, and 32 positive likelihood ratios.

Conclusion

The CAITY‐T was valid and available for Thai children aged 8–16 years. It displayed positive reliability, good validity, and an acceptable cut‐off score. The cut‐off score for children had high sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios.
Trends in gastroesophageal reflux disease in Japanese children and adolescents
Authors: Kusakari Mai , Nakayama Yoshiko , Horiuchi Akira , Nakazawa Yozo
Published: May 2020

Background

Although the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been increasing in Japan, little is known about the prevalence and severity of GERD in pediatric patients. This study compared the prevalence and severity of endoscopically proven GERD in pediatric patients seen at an endoscopy center in Japan over a 15‐year period.

Methods

This was a retrospective chart review of Japanese children aged 5–18 years undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms or anemia between 2005 and 2019. The prevalence and severity of reflux esophagitis and endoscopic Barrett’s esophagus were compared between the periods 2005–2012 and 2013–2019.

Results

A total of 564 patients were evaluated: 315 from 2005 to 2012 (mean ± SD) age 13.8 ± 3.0 (range, 5‐18 years; 147 boys; and 249 from 2013 to 2019 (mean ± SD) 14.7 ± 2.8 (range, 5–18) years; 108 boys. Demographics and clinical features were similar between the two groups. The proportion with erosive esophagitis or endoscopic Barrett’s esophagus increased significantly between the two periods (9.8% to 18.1% for GERD, P = 0.0045 and 2.5% to 9.6% for Barrett’s esophagus, P = 0.0003). The proportion of GERD patients with endoscopic Barrett’s esophagus also significantly increased between the two periods (24/45 [53.3%]) vs (8/31 [25.8%]), P = 0.017].

Conclusion

The prevalence and severity of endoscopically proven GERDs has significantly increased over the past 15 years at an endoscopy center in Japan. Detailed population‐based studies are needed to assess whether this is occurring throughout Japan.
Distinguishing Activities in the Photodynamic Arsenals of the Pigmented Ciliates Blepharisma sinuosum Sawaya, 1940 and Blepharisma japonicum Suzuki, 1954 (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea)
Authors: Cavaleiro Jéssica , Oliveira Nathally B. , Ribeiro Talita A. , Guimarães Lohaine F. , Fernandes Noemi M. , da Silva‐Neto Inácio D. , Marszaukowski Flávia , Wohnrath Karen , Barreto Cleber B. , Schweikert Michael , Petroni Giulio , Ortenzi Claudio , Buonanno Federico , Picciani Paulo H. S. , Oliveira Osvaldo N. , Soares Carlos Augusto G.
Published: May 2020

Blepharismins are photodynamic hypericin‐like dianthrones produced as a variable pigment blend in Blepharisma ciliates and mostly studied in the Afro‐Asiatic Blepharisma japonicum. The present work describes the bioactivity of pigments from the Brazilian Blepharisma sinuosum. Comparative analyses showed that the pigments from both species can trigger photo‐induced modifications in phospholipids, but different redox properties and biological activities were assigned for each pigment blend. Stronger activities were detected for B. sinuosum pigments, with the lethal concentration LC50 10 × lower than B. japonicum pigments in light‐irradiated tests against Bacillus cereus and less than half for treatments on the human HeLa tumor cells. HPLC showed B. sinuosum producing a simpler pigment blend, mostly with the blepharismin‐C (~ 70%) and blepharismin‐E (~ 30%) types. Each blepharismin engaged a specific dose–response profile on sensitive cells. The blepharismin‐B and blepharismin‐C were the most toxic pigments, showing LC50 ~ 2.5–3.0 µm and ~ 100 µm on B. cereus and HeLa cells, respectively, after illumination. Similarity clustering analysis compiling the bioactivity data revealed two groups of blepharismins: the most active, B and C, and the less active, A, D and E. The B. sinuosum pigment blend includes one representative of each clade. Functional and medical implications are discussed.
Random dispersal of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) in Pinus densiflora branches
Authors: Togashi Katsumi , Matsunaga Koji , Arakawa Yoh , Miyamoto Naoto
Published: May 2020

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is the causative agent of pine wilt disease. These nematodes disperse in the cortical and wood resin canals of host tree branches in the early stage of infection. To determine whether the dispersal can be regarded as diffusion, we inoculated B. xylophilus into living or boiled Pinus densiflora branch sections and investigated the spatial distribution 24 hr later. Assuming that some nematodes disperse randomly in the axial direction of branch sections and the rest remain at the inoculation site, the coefficient of diffusion (D) by dispersers was estimated to be 23.7–40.7 and 109.4 cm2/day for the living and boiled branches, respectively. The proportion of nondispersers was estimated to be 0.46–0.79 and 0.52 for the living and boiled branches, respectively. When the nematodes were inoculated at the centre of upright living branch sections, they dispersed up and down at similar D values of 7.4 and 7.9 cm2/day, respectively.
Institutional Collective Action During COVID‐19: Lessons in Local Economic Development
Authors: Wilson Darrin H. E. , Johnson Brad A. M. , Stokan Eric , Overton Michael
Published: May 2020

At this point, little is known about local government responses to the economic crisis caused by COVID‐19. This crisis is happening on Main Streets around the nation. This article examines how some local governments are taking collective action in partnership with other governments as well as with organizations at the local and regional levels. What is unique is that collective action is rare as it relates to traditional economic development practices, yet it is occurring and leading to offerings of multi‐institutional grants and low‐interest loans. However, some newer supply‐ and demand‐side actions are the result of a lack of resources and need for expediency. Practitioners can learn about the collaborative economic development actions that governments are taking and how these partnerships can stabilize their local economies.
Disaster Resiliency of U.S. Local Governments: Insights to Strengthen Local Response and Recovery from the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Dzigbede Komla D. , Gehl Sarah Beth , Willoughby Katherine
Published: May 2020

This research presents implications of the global pandemic for local government resiliency in the United States. The authors explore insights from local government officials and managers on the front lines of response and recovery efforts to the biological natural disaster. Findings from the latest nationwide survey of U.S. local governments regarding their preparedness for weather‐related natural disasters also inform responses to the current crisis. Results indicate that local governments are innovating and taking strategic actions to fight the virus, even as COVID‐19 has exposed social inequities that are exacerbated as the virus spreads. Survey findings of disaster readiness of local governments to weather‐related disasters shows that small, resource‐poor governments will not be able to respond well and social inequities will grow. Policy strategies at all levels of government must recognize and account for these inequities as threat of this virus subsides, to support stronger, more effective readiness for the next biological catastrophe.
State Executive Orders: Nuance in Restrictions, Revealing Suspensions, and Decisions to Enforce
Authors: Curley Cali , Federman Peter Stanley
Published: May 2020

In the absence of a large‐scale federal response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, state and local elected officials have enacted executive orders that include restrictions on public liberties as well as the suspension of rules and regulations. While these restrictive policy actions have received extensive media attention, the suspensions, including regulatory rollbacks, waivers, and extensions, are lesser known. This Viewpoint essay offers insight from a working database that captures the nuance and variation across restrictions, suspensions, and enforcement mechanisms being utilized at the state level.
Crisis Decision‐Making on a Global Scale: Transition from Cognition to Collective Action under Threat of COVID‐19
Authors: Comfort Louise K. , Kapucu Naim , Ko Kilkon , Menoni Scira , Siciliano Michael
Published: May 2020

This essay examines basic functions of crisis decision‐making—cognition, communication, coordination, and control—in response to COVID‐19. This crisis decision‐making framework is applied to cases from South Korea, Italy, and the United States as public officials grapple with how to recognize, respond, and recover from this deadly, invisible threat. The authors acknowledge the harsh trade‐off between the compelling need to limit transmission of the virus to protect public health and the consequent economic losses of halting social interaction. They draw implications from this crisis for better decision‐making and investment in a global information infrastructure system to manage large‐scale, multidisciplinary threats to the health, economy, and sustainability of the world's community of nations. The essay concludes that collective cognition, amplified by timely, valid communication and supported by sound planning, trained personnel, appropriate technology, and bold leadership, enables coordinated action needed to bring a large‐scale global crisis under control.

Evidence for Practice

Invest in information technology to manage systematic data collection, analysis, and modeling.

Provide timely, informed updates on community status to constituents.

Maintain a knowledge base of resources, vulnerabilities, and plans.
Acceptance of aquaculture as compared with traditional fishing in the province of Cadiz (Spain): an empirical study from the standpoint of social carrying capacity
Authors: Ruiz‐Chico Jose , Biedma‐Ferrer José Maria , Peña‐Sánchez Antonio Rafael , Jiménez‐García Mercedes
Published: May 2020

This paper analyses the acceptance of aquaculture compared with fisheries in the province of Cadiz (Spain), in the context of social carrying capacity, the point at which its presence begins to be excessive and leads to significant problems for society. Researchers conducted 558 face‐to‐face surveys to study the societal acceptance of this sector in several dimensions (social, economy, quality, environment, etc.). We have also built an index to measure this acceptance, based on the variables studied to delve into this concept. For this purpose, we have followed a principal component analysis methodology with Varimax rotation, to which we have applied the Dalenius–Hodges stratification procedure. Analysis shows a high level of acceptance for aquaculture, indicating that it is far from its social saturation point. Rather, data indicate that even further development of this activity is advisable. In addition, respondents showed some indifference between socioeconomic and environmental objectives. We can conclude that the general perception of aquaculture is better among men than women, who have greater preferences for traditional fishing, and among higher‐income consumers. Informative campaigns should be organized to target the less convinced consumers, in the context of social carrying capacity. Production systems should be adjusted to improve the existing perception that aquaculture products are less natural; this perception arises from the misuse of chemicals and feeds, factors that are believed to have adverse effects on quality and flavour.
Mechanical induced wounds in fish – a review on models and healing mechanisms
Authors: Sveen Lene , Karlsen Christian , Ytteborg Elisabeth
Published: May 2020

Skin wounds and injuries are frequently occurring in farmed fish, particularly in more intensive production systems. Any disruptions of the skin, such as mucus removal, scale loss or deeper incisions, are negatively correlated with barrier functions and disease resistance. In this review, the current knowledge on mechanically induced wounds in fish is dedicated to five areas of focus: (i) The anatomy and functions of fish skin, (ii) Techniques to inflict mechanical skin damage in farmed and laboratory fish for experimental purposes, (iii) Healing mechanisms of deep wounds, (iv) In vitro models for wound healing studies and (v) Wound care, with focus on factors that may enhance or delay skin regenerative processes. The aim of the review was to presents key points for a better understanding of skin resilience and fish robustness, with focus on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in Norwegian coastal production environment.
Antioxidant response element activator, BTZO‐1, improves the developmental competence of bovine oocytes
Authors: Aboelenain Mansour , El_domany Wael B. , Eldoumani Haitham , Khalil Wael A.
Published: May 2020

Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation may disrupt the oocytes function and their competence. In this study, we introduced BTZO‐1, a new supplement that can regulate the oxidative stress. Addition of BTZO‐1 during IVM of bovine oocytes improved their developmental competence in the term of improvement of blastocyst rates. In addition, the quality of the produced embryos was improved by decreasing the apoptosis level by showing a decreased number of TUNNEL positive cells.
BMP‐15 activity on in vitro development of collared peccary (Pecari tajacu Linnaeus, 1758) preantral follicles
Authors: Gomes Henrique A. N. , Campos Lívia B. , Praxedes Érica C. G. , Oliveira Moacir F. , Pereira Alexsandra F. , Silva Alexandre R. , Saraiva Márcia V. A.
Published: May 2020

This study investigated the effects of BMP‐15 on the in vitro development of preantral follicles of collared peccaries. Ovarian fragments were cultured for 1 or 6 days in Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM199+) supplemented with BMP‐15 at rates of 0, 1, 25 or 50 ng/ml. The fragments were analysed histologically by evaluating follicular morphology, activation and growth as well as the potential for proliferation of granulosa cells. Our results show the addition of 25 ng/ml BMP‐15 in the medium provided the greatest percentage of normal follicles (79.67% ± 0.69) when compared to other treatments (p < .05); however, this result is similar to 1 ng/ml BMP‐15 (74.00% ± 1.90, p > .05). Moreover, 25 and 50 ng/ml of BMP‐15 promoted follicular activation. BMP‐15 supplements did not affect oocyte and follicular growth. All concentrations of BMP‐15 increased the number of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) after 1 day of culture when compared to fresh fragments or the control samples (p < .05). However, at the end of the experiment, the number of NORs in follicles cultured in all treatments was higher than that observed in the fresh control (sample taken prior to culturing) (p > .05). In summary, the addition of 25 ng/ml BMP‐15 to the culture medium of collared peccary preantral follicles maintained a high number of morphologically healthy follicles and stimulated the activation of primordial follicles after 6 days in culture.
Fulfilling the Information Need After an Earthquake: Statistical Modelling of Citizen Science Seismic Reports for Predicting Earthquake Parameters in Near Realtime
Authors: Finazzi Francesco
Published: May 2020

When an earthquake affects an inhabited area, a need for information immediately arises among the population. In general, this need is not immediately fulfilled by official channels which usually release expert-validated information with delays of many minutes. Seismology is among the research fields where citizen science projects succeeded in collecting useful scientific information. More recently, the ubiquity of smartphones is giving the opportunity to involve even more citizens. This paper focuses on seismic intensity reports collected through smartphone applications while an earthquake is occurring. The aim is to provide a framework for predicting and updating in near realtime earthquake parameters that are useful for assessing the effect of the earthquake. This is done by using a multivariate space–time model based on time-varying coefficients and a spatial latent variable. As a case-study, the model is applied to more than 200000 seismic reports globally collected over a period of around 4 years by the Earthquake Network citizen science project. It is shown how the time-varying coefficients are needed to adapt the model to an information content that changes with time, and how the spatial latent variable can capture the local seismicity and the heterogeneity in the people's response across the globe.
Applying Neo‐Endogenous Development Theory to Delivering Sustainable Local Nature Conservation
Authors: Marango Susan , Bosworth Gary , Curry Nigel
Published: May 2020

The environmental planning agenda is shaped by a range of top‐down policies and directives, both nationally and internationally. Simultaneously, several local, often community‐led, initiatives seek to enhance their local environments. This article seeks to understand both synergies and dissonance between top‐down and bottom‐up actions within the environmental conservation and management domain of sustainable development. Four case studies of local voluntary initiatives in Lincolnshire (UK) are used as the basis to examine how the activities and stated goals of the groups align with wider policy goals and engage with formal planning systems. The analysis draws from the neo‐endogenous development theory to offer recommendations about how to recognise and empower local initiatives within a multi‐level governance approach to delivering sustainable development. Conclusions also suggest that the principles of neo‐endogenous development can be applied more widely to capture greater value from community‐led activities.
The Politics of White Racial Identity and Vote Choice in the 2018 Midterm Elections
Authors: Knuckey Jonathan , Kim Myunghee
Published: May 2020

Objectives

This article examines the role of white racial identity or white racial group consciousness in the vote choice of whites for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections.

Methods

Data from the 2018 American National Election Study (ANES) Pilot Study are analyzed using a logistic regression model.

Results

White racial consciousness was a significant predictor of U.S. House vote choice in 2018, even after controlling for other relevant explanatory variables such as racial resentment, party identification, and ideology. The effects were especially evident for two quintessential swing groups: independents and moderates.

Conclusion

In the first national election of the Trump era, white racial group consciousness became a relevant electoral cleavage and determinant of white vote choice at the subpresidential level. Given the rhetoric and action of Trump as president, the Republican Party has morphed into a white identity political party, not dissimilar to populist right‐wing parties in Europe. While this might reap electoral benefits for the Republican Party in jurisdictions with smaller minority populations, it is likely to cost the party support where there is greater racial diversity. In the long term, the politics of white identity is likely to be an impediment to the Republican Party's ability to expand its electoral base.
Focused Topics in Hungarian: Reconsidering the Pragmatic Relevance of the Structural Focus Position1
Authors: Gécseg Zsuzsanna
Published: May 2020

In this paper, a specific syntactic construction of Hungarian is investigated in which the preverbal constituent filling the structural Focus position functions as the topic of the sentence on the pragmatic level. Focused topic constructions are commonly used in Hungarian, especially in copular sentences. The core motivation of their use is the following: the placement of the topic into Focus position gives rise to the implicature that the topic referent is the only referent the predicate of the sentence holds for. This complex topicalization strategy can be accounted for by means of an alternative‐based concept of focus in the spirit of Rooth (1992), É. Kiss (1998) and Krifka (2008): the focusing of the aboutness topic indicates the presence of potential alternatives, and the referent of the topical expression placed into the structural Focus position functions as an exhaustive topic.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DPB1*1098:01N allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Cargou Marine , Elsermans Vincent , Top Isabelle , Guidicelli Gwendaline , Visentin Jonathan
Published: May 2020

HLA‐DPB1*1098:01N differs from HLA‐DPB1*03:01:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 128 in exon 3.
Mining sequential activity–travel patterns for individual‐level human activity prediction using Bayesian networks
Authors: Xu Li , Kwan Mei‐Po
Published: May 2020

In the past decade or so, advances in positioning technologies for capturing individual movement have given rise to a wide range of studies, including transportation, tourism, and public health. In particular, considerable effort has been made to characterize human activity–travel patterns from space–time trajectories. In contrast to visualization, geometric, or statistical methods, we propose an approach based on sequential pattern mining for analyzing human activity–travel patterns. To quantify the differences between individuals and population subgroups, we first develop a single sequential similarity measure for assessing the differences between two activity–travel patterns, then extend it to the group level with the capability to compute on two pattern sets. We also develop and implement three Bayesian network models with specially designed topology to predict the forthcoming activity at the individual level. The proposed method achieves similar or better prediction accuracy and is more robust for exploring imbalanced or sparse datasets when compared to other machine learning algorithms.
A randomized, controlled trial comparing the immunogenecity and safety of a 23‐valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination to a repeated dose 13‐valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Eriksson Mari , Käyhty Helena , Saha Heikki , Lahdenkari Mika , Koskinen Petri , Mäkisalo Heikki , Anttila Veli‐Jukka
Published: May 2020

Background

The risk of invasive pneumococcal disease is significant among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. The optimal pneumococcal vaccination strategy for SOT patients is not known.

Methods

The potential kidney transplant recipients in dialysis were randomized into two arms: to receive a 23‐valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) before transplantation or to receive a 13‐valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) before transplantation and a second dose of PCV13 six months after the transplantation. Serotype‐specific antibody concentrations and opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) were measured before and after the first vaccination (visits V1,V2) and six and seven months after the transplantation, for example, before and after the second PCV13 (visits V3,V4).

Results

Out of 133 participants, 48 (PCV13 arm) and 46 (PPV23 arm) received a kidney transplant, and 37 + 37 in both arms completed the study. After the first vaccination, the geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) in the PCV13 arm were significantly higher for 9/13 serotypes and the OPA geometric mean titers (GMTs) were significantly higher for 4/13 serotypes. At V3, the antibody levels had declined but OPA remained significantly higher for 7/13 (PCV13) vs 4/13 (PPV23) serotypes. At V4, the GMCs for 9/13 serotypes and the GMTs for 12/13 serotypes were significantly higher in the PCV13 arm. The GMCs but not GMTs were lower than at V2. There was no difference in adverse effects. No vaccine‐related allograft rejection was detected.

Conclusions

The immunogenicity of PCV13 was better in dialysis patients, and revaccination with PCV13 was immunogenic and safe.
Current advances in transfusion medicine: a 2019 review of selected topics from the AABB Clinical Transfusion Medicine Committee
Authors: Pagano Monica B. , Allen Elizabeth S. , Chou Stella T. , Dunbar Nancy M. , Gniadek Thomas , Goel Ruchika , Harm Sarah K. , Hopkins Courtney K. , Jacobson Jessica , Lokhandwala Parvez M. , Metcalf Ryan A. , Raval Jay S. , Schwartz Joseph , Shan Hua , Spinella Philip C. , Storch Emily , Cohn Claudia S.
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

The AABB Clinical Transfusion Medicine Committee (CTMC) compiles an annual synopsis of the published literature covering important developments in the field of transfusion medicine (TM) for the board of director's review. This synopsis is now made available as a manuscript published in TRANSFUSION.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

CTMC committee members review original manuscripts including TM‐related topics published in different journals between late 2018 and 2019. The selection of topics and manuscripts are discussed at committee meetings and are chosen based on relevance and originality. After the topics and manuscripts are selected, committee members work in pairs to create a synopsis of the topics, which is then reviewed by two committee members. The first and senior authors of this manuscript assembled the final manuscript. Although this synopsis is comprehensive, it is not exhaustive, and some papers may have been excluded or missed.

RESULTS

The following topics are included: infectious risks to the blood supply, iron donor studies, pre‐transfusion testing interference and genotyping, cold agglutinin disease (CAD), HLA alloimmunization in platelet transfusions, patient blood management, updates to TACO and TRALI definitions, pediatric TM, and advances in apheresis medicine.

CONCLUSION

This synopsis provides easy access to relevant topics and may be useful as an educational tool.
The contribution of granular and fundamental comparative advantage to European Union countries' export specialisation
Authors: de Lucio Juan , Mínguez Raúl , Minondo Asier , Requena Francisco
Published: May 2020

This paper analyses the contribution of fundamental comparative advantage (a country‐specific component) and granular comparative advantage (a firm‐specific component) to European Union countries' export specialisation. We find that, on average, granular comparative advantage may explain export specialisation in 29% of industries, which account for 47% of total exports. We also show that 60% of the variation in export specialisation across countries and industries may be explained by granular comparative advantage. These results highlight that some outstanding firms may play a very important role in explaining European Union countries' export specialisation.
Resistin concentrations in serum and stifle synovial fluid from normal and cruciate deficient dogs with osteoarthritis
Authors: Kleine Stephanie A. , Gogal Robert M. , Krunkosky Thomas M. , Sanderson Sherry L. , George Clinton , Norton Megan , Budsberg Steven C.
Published: May 2020

Objective

To compare synovial fluid (SF) resistin concentrations in healthy dogs to dogs with osteoarthritis (OA) secondary to cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) injury and to correlate resistin concentrations with body condition score (BCS) and evaluate resistin release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and adipocytes.

Study design

Controlled, prospective, clinical study

Animals

Thirty‐nine client‐owned dogs, 13 healthy and 26 with secondary OA, were enrolled. Blood was collected from six healthy purpose‐bred dogs for PBMC culture. An additional six mixed‐breed dogs were used for adipocyte collection and culture.

Methods

Resistin concentrations were measured with a canine‐specific enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assay. Resistin was compared between healthy SF and OA SF with Student's t test. Correlation of resistin concentrations to BCS was performed. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and adipocytes were cultured under three conditions: negative control, lipopolysaccharide, and concanavalin A (Con A). A linear mixed model was used to determine differences in resistin concentrations among treatments.

Results

Resistin concentrations in OA SF were comparable to healthy SF. Neither serum nor SF resistin was correlated with BCS. Cultured PBMC stimulated with Con A released resistin, while adipocytes did not.

Conclusion

Neither serum nor SF resistin were altered in dogs with OA secondary to CrCL insufficiency. In addition, resistin was not correlated with canine body fat and did not appear to function as adipocytokine in the dog.

Clinical significance

Resistin may not be involved in the pathogenesis of OA. However, resistin may be important in inflammation because it is released from inflammatory cells.
Inhibition of nucleation and crystal growth of calcium carbonate in hard waters using Paronychia arabica in an arid desert region
Authors: Karar Amina , Henni Abdellah , Namoune Farid , Rosei Federico
Published: May 2020

The formation of CaCO3 of groundwater has important implications in the industry. Many conventional scale inhibitors are considered environmentally unfriendly. In this study, we investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Paronychia arabica (PA) as new green antiscalant agents on the precipitation of CaCO3 in an arid desert region. The antiscaling properties of these extracts towards CaCO3 formation were tested using chronoamperometry (CA), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Fast Controlled Precipitation methods. Electrochemical and chemical analysis of Mkhadma groundwater shows a high calcium concentration and the deposit is a pure calcite. The nucleation and formation time were identified. At 32°C, a complete scaling inhibition was obtained using a concentration of 150 mg/L of green extract. The scale inhibitor effect was analysed by an optical microscopic examination.
Application of microalgae cultivated on pine bark for the treatment of municipal wastewater in cylindrical photobioreactors
Authors: Garbowski Tomasz , Charazińska Sylwia , Pulikowski Krzysztof , Wiercik Paweł
Published: May 2020

The presented study concerns the efficiency of removing nutrients, organic compounds and metal cations from municipal sewage by a cylindrical photobioreactor (PBR) with the biomass of microalgae growing on pine bark. The study was conducted in two cylindrical PBRs fed with municipal wastewater for 42 days. PBRs were internally illuminated with red and blue light at night. The sewage was additionally enriched in CO2 and CaCO3. The concentration of NH4+, NO32−, PO43−, metal cations and organic carbon (TOC) was determined in the treated sewage. The results indicated that the development of algal‐bacterial biofilm contributed to the reduction of NH4+ (>99%), PO43− (96–99%) and TOC (71–77%) concentrations. Amongst the metal cations, the highest reduction of concentration was noted for Cu, K, Mn, Zn and Fe. Immobilisation of algae on pine bark is an effective method of wastewater treatment in PBR and supports the separation of proliferated biomass.