bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineering human ACE2 to optimize binding to the spike protein of SARS coronavirus 2
Authors: Chan Kui K. , Dorosky Danielle , Sharma Preeti , Abbasi Shawn A. , Dye John M. , Kranz David M. , Herbert Andrew S. , Procko Erik
Published: August 2020

A decoy receptor for SARS-CoV-2

For severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to enter human cells, the spike protein on the surface of the virus must bind to the host receptor protein, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). A soluble version of the receptor is being explored as a therapeutic. Chan
et al.
used deep mutagenesis to identify ACE2 mutants that bind more tightly to the spike protein and combined mutations to further increase binding affinity (see the Perspective by DeKosky). A promising variant was engineered to be a stable dimer that has a binding affinity for the spike protein; it is comparable with neutralizing antibodies and neutralized both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 in a cell-based assay. In addition, the similarity to the natural receptor may limit the possibility for viral escape.

Science
, this issue p.
1261
; see also p.
1167
Selective and cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes in unexposed humans
Authors: Mateus Jose , Grifoni Alba , Tarke Alison , Sidney John , Ramirez Sydney I. , Dan Jennifer M. , Burger Zoe C. , Rawlings Stephen A. , Smith Davey M. , Phillips Elizabeth , Mallal Simon , Lammers Marshall , Rubiro Paul , Quiambao Lorenzo , Sutherland Aaron , Yu Esther Dawen , da Silva Antunes Ricardo , Greenbaum Jason , Frazier April , Markmann Alena J. , Premkumar Lakshmanane , de Silva Aravinda , Peters Bjoern , Crotty Shane , Sette Alessandro , Weiskopf Daniela
Published: August 2020

Preexisting immune response to SARS-CoV-2

Robust T cell responses to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus occur in most individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several studies have reported that some people who have not been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 have preexisting reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 sequences. The immunological mechanisms underlying this preexisting reactivity are not clear, but previous exposure to widely circulating common cold coronaviruses might be involved. Mateus
et al.
found that the preexisting reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 comes from memory T cells and that cross-reactive T cells can specifically recognize a SARS-CoV-2 epitope as well as the homologous epitope from a common cold coronavirus. These findings underline the importance of determining the impacts of preexisting immune memory in COVID-19 disease severity.

Science
, this issue p.
89
Structural insights into the signal transduction mechanism of the K
+
-sensing two-component system KdpDE
Authors: Xie Mingquan , Wu Mengyuan , Han Aidong
Published: August 2020

The DNA binding domain contributes to the specific interaction between members of a two-component system.
Alterocin, an Antibiofilm Protein Secreted by
Pseudoalteromonas
sp. Strain 3J6
Authors: Jouault Albane , Gobet Angélique , Simon Marjolaine , Portier Emilie , Perennou Morgan , Corre Erwan , Gaillard Fanny , Vallenet David , Michel Gurvan , Fleury Yannick , Bazire Alexis , Dufour Alain
Published: August 2020

Biofilms are microbial communities that develop on solid surfaces or interfaces and are detrimental in a number of fields, including for example food industry, aquaculture, and medicine. In the latter, antibiotics are insufficient to clear biofilm infections, leading to chronic infections such as in the case of infection by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
of the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. Antibiofilm molecules are thus urgently needed to be used in conjunction with conventional antibiotics, as well as in other fields of application, especially if they are environmentally friendly molecules. Here, we describe alterocin, a novel antibiofilm protein secreted by a marine bacterium belonging to the
Pseudoalteromonas
genus, and its gene. Alterocin homologs were found in about 30% of
Pseudoalteromonas
strains, indicating that this new family of antibiofilm proteins likely plays an important albeit nonessential function in the biology of these bacteria. This study opens up the possibility of a variety of applications.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Structural Protein GP3 Regulates Claudin 4 To Facilitate the Early Stages of Infection
Authors: Ding Guofei , Liu Jiaqi , Shao Qingyuan , Wang Bin , Feng Jian , Li Yingchao , Li Li , Cao Shengliang , Cong Fangyuan , Zhao Yuzhong , Liu Sidang , Xiao Yihong
Published: August 2020

In the present study, the role of CLDN4 in PRRSV infection was studied. The results showed that CLDN4 blocked absorption into cells and restricted extracellular viral particles via the interaction between the CLDN4 small extracellular loop, ECL2, and the viral surface protein GP3. GP3 was found to downregulate CLDN4 through ubiquitination of the transcription factor SP1 to facilitate viral entry. The mechanism by which highly pathogenic PRRSV infects the epithelium is suggested. A novel function of GP3 in regulating gene transcription was discovered. Moreover, ECL2 could block PRRSV absorption and infection, as well as neutralizing the virus in the supernatant, which may lead to the development of novel therapeutic antiviral strategies.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Human Metapneumovirus Infections in Three-Dimensional Human Airway Tissues Expose an Interesting Dichotomy in Viral Replication, Spread, and Inhibition by Neutralizing Antibodies
Authors: Kinder J. Tyler , Moncman Carole L. , Barrett Chelsea , Jin Hong , Kallewaard Nicole , Dutch Rebecca Ellis
Published: August 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus are leading causes of respiratory illness worldwide, but limited treatment options are available. To better target these viruses, we examined key aspects of the viral life cycle in three-dimensional (3-D) human airway tissues. Both viruses establish efficient infection through the apical surface, but efficient spread and apical release were seen for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) but not human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Both viruses form inclusion bodies, minimally composed of nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), and viral RNA (vRNA), indicating that these structures are critical for replication in this more physiological model. HMPV formed significantly more long, filamentous actin-based extensions in human airway epithelial (HAE) tissues than RSV, suggesting HMPV may promote cell-to-cell spread via these extensions. Lastly, RSV entry and spread were fully inhibited by neutralizing antibodies palivizumab and the novel nirsevimab. In contrast, while HMPV entry was fully inhibited by 54G10, a neutralizing antibody, spread was only modestly reduced, further supporting a cell-to-cell spread mechanism.
Investigating Synthesis of the MalS Malic Enzyme during Bacillus subtilis Spore Germination and Outgrowth and the Influence of Spore Maturation and Sporulation Conditions
Authors: Swarge Bhagyashree , Nafid Chahida , Vischer Norbert , Kramer Gertjan , Setlow Peter , Brul Stanley
Published: August 2020

The spores formed by
Bacillus subtilis
remain in a quiescent state for extended periods due to their dormancy and resistance features. Dormancy is linked to a very low level of core water content and a phase-bright state of spores. The present report, focusing on proteins MalS and PdhD (pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit D) and complementary to our companion report published in this issue, aims to shed light on a major dilemma in the field, i.e., whether protein synthesis, in particular that of MalS, takes place in phase-bright spores. Clustered MalS-GFP in dormant spores diffuses throughout the spore as germination proceeds. However, fluorescence intensity measurements, supported by Western blot analysis and SILAC proteomics, confirm that there is no new MalS protein synthesis in bright-phase dormant spores.
Bacteria Modify
Candida albicans
Hypha Formation, Microcolony Properties, and Survival within Macrophages
Authors: Salvatori Ornella , Kumar Rohitashw , Metcalfe Sarah , Vickerman Margaret , Kay Jason G. , Edgerton Mira
Published: August 2020

Candida albicans
is the predominant fungus colonizing the oral cavity that can have both synergistic and antagonistic interactions with other bacteria. Interkingdom polymicrobial associations modify fungal pathogenicity and are believed to increase microbial resistance to innate immunity. However, it is not known how these interactions alter fungal survival during phagocytic killing. We demonstrated that secreted molecules of
S. gordonii
and
P. aeruginosa
alter
C. albicans
survival within the phagosome of macrophages and alter fungal pathogenic phenotypes, including filamentation and microcolony formation. Moreover, we provide evidence for a dual interaction between
S. gordonii
and
C. albicans
such that
S. gordonii
signaling peptides can promote
C. albicans
commensalism by decreasing microcolony attachment while increasing invasion in epithelial cells. Our results identify bacterial diffusible factors as an attractive target to modify virulence of
C. albicans
in polymicrobial infections.
A sialidosis type I cohort and a quantitative approach to multimodal ophthalmic imaging of the macular cherry-red spot
Authors: Daich Varela Malena , Zein Wadih M , Toro Camilo , Groden Catherine , Johnston Jean , Huryn Laryssa A , d’Azzo Alessandra , Tifft Cynthia J , FitzGibbon Edmond J
Published: August 2020

Aim

To describe the ophthalmologic findings on the largest cohort of patients with sialidosis type I due to deficiency of the lysosomal sialidase, neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) and to introduce a quantitative neuroretinal image analysis approach to the associated ‘macular cherry-red spot’.

Methods

Seven patients with sialidosis type I (mutations in NEU1) and one with galactosialidosis (mutations in CTSA) were included. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmological examinations. The reflectivity of macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) was measured using greyscale analysis (Fiji) and compared with age-matched healthy volunteers. Four patients were evaluated over a time of 1.5+0.5 years.

Results

The mean age of the patients at their first visit was 27.5+9.8 years. All patients had a macular cherry-red spot, clear corneas and visually non-significant lenticular opacities. The mean visual acuity was LogMar 0.4 (20/50)+0.4 (20/20 to 20/125). Six patients had good visual function. Optic atrophy was present in two individuals with reduced acuity. A significant increase in macular reflectivity was present in all patients compared to age-matched controls (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

Most of our patients (75%) have preserved visual acuity, even in adulthood. The presence of optic atrophy is associated with poor visual acuity. Increased macular reflectivity by OCT greyscale measurements is noted in all patients, although the underlying biological basis is unknown. These findings complement the current methods for examining and monitoring disease progression, especially in patients for whom visualisation of the cherry-red spot is not entirely clear.

Trial registration number

NCT00029965.
Can β2-agonists have an ergogenic effect on strength, sprint or power performance? Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
Authors: Riiser Amund , Stensrud Trine , Stang Julie , Andersen Lars Bo
Published: August 2020

Objectives

We aimed to examine the effect of β2-agonists on anaerobic performance in healthy non-asthmatic subjects.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eligibility criteria

We searched four databases (PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science) for randomised controlled trials, published until December 2019, examining the effect of β2-agonists on maximal physical performance lasting 1 min or shorter. Data are presented as standardised difference in mean (SDM) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results

34 studies were included in the present meta-analysis. The studies include 44 different randomised and placebo-controlled comparisons with β2-agonists comprising 323 participants in crossover trials, and 149 participants in parallel trials. In the overall analyses, β2-agonists improved anaerobic performance by 5% (SDM 0.29, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.42), but the effect was related to dose and administration route. In a stratified analysis, the SDM was 0.14 (95% CI 0.00 to 0.28) for approved β2-agonists and 0.46 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.68) for prohibited β2-agonists, respectively. Furthermore, SDM was 0.16 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.30) for inhaled administration and 0.51 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.77) for oral administration, respectively, and 0.20 (95% CI 0.07 to 0.33) for acute treatment and 0.50 (95% CI 0.20 to 0.80) for treatment for multiple weeks. Analyses stratified for the type of performance showed that strength (0.35, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.55) and sprint (0.17, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.29) performance were improved by β2-agonists.

Conclusion/implication

Our study shows that non-asthmatic subjects can improve sprint and strength performance by using β2-agonists. It is uncertain, however, whether World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-approved doses of β2-agonists improve performance. Our results support that the use of β2-agonists should be controlled and restricted to athletes with documented asthma.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42018109223.
Workplace social capital and refraining from seeking medical care in Japanese employees: a 1-year prospective cohort study
Authors: Inoue Akiomi , Tsutsumi Akizumi , Eguchi Hisashi , Kachi Yuko , Shimazu Akihito , Miyaki Koichi , Takahashi Masaya , Kurioka Sumiko , Enta Kazuhiko , Kosugi Yuki , Totsuzaki Takafumi , Kawakami Norito
Published: August 2020

Objectives

We examined the association of workplace social capital (WSC), including structural and cognitive dimensions, with refraining from seeking medical care (RSMC) among Japanese employees.

Design

One-year prospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

We surveyed 8770 employees (6881 men and 1889 women) aged 18–70 years from 12 firms in Japan using a self-administered questionnaire comprising the WSC scale and the items on potential confounders (ie, age, educational attainment and equivalent annual household income) at baseline (from April 2011 to March 2013).

Outcome measures

At a 1-year follow-up, we measured RSMC using a single-item question ‘In the past year, have you ever refrained from visiting a hospital, clinic, acupuncturist or dentist despite your sickness (including a slight cold or cavity) or injury?’

Results

The results of Cox regression with robust variance showed that, after adjusting for potential confounders, the low WSC group (ie, the lowest tertile group) had a significantly higher relative risk (RR) of RSMC compared with the high WSC group (ie, the highest tertile group) among both men and women (overall WSC: RR 1.09 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.17) and 1.20 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.37); structural dimension: RR 1.13 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.22) and 1.25 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.45); and cognitive dimension: RR 1.11 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.20) and 1.21 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.38), respectively). Trend analysis using a continuous score of the WSC scale also showed a significant association of low WSC with a higher risk of RSMC among both men and women.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the lack of social capital in the workplace is associated with RSMC among Japanese employees.
Protocol for economic evaluation alongside the SHINE (Supporting Healthy Image, Nutrition and Exercise) cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Brown Victoria , Williams Joanne , McGivern Lisa , Sawyer Susan , Orellana Liliana , Luo Wei , Hesketh Kylie D , Wilfley Denise E , Moodie Marj
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Limited evidence exists on the cost-effectiveness of interventions to prevent obesity and promote healthy body image in adolescents. The SHINE (Supporting Healthy Image, Nutrition and Exercise) study is a cluster randomised control trial (cRCT) aiming to deliver universal education about healthy nutrition and physical activity to adolescents, as well as targeted advice to young people with body image concerns who are at risk of developing disordered eating behaviours. This paper describes the methods for the economic evaluation of the SHINE cRCT, to determine whether the intervention is cost-effective as an obesity prevention measure.

Methods and analysis

A public payer perspective will be adopted, with intervention costs collected prospectively. Within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost-utility analysis (CUA) will quantify the incremental costs and health gains of the intervention as compared with usual practice (ie, teacher-delivered curriculum). CEA will present results as cost per body mass index unit saved. CUA will present results as cost per quality-adjusted life year gained. A modelled CUA will extend the target population, time horizon and decision context to provide valuable information to policymakers on the potential for incremental cost offsets attributable to disease prevention arising from intervention. Intervention costs and effects will be extrapolated to the population of Australian adolescents in Grade 7 of secondary school (approximate age 13 years) and modelled over the cohort’s lifetime. Modelled CUA results will be presented as health-adjusted life years saved and healthcare cost-savings of diseases averted. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios will be calculated as the difference in costs between the intervention and comparator divided by the difference in benefit. Semi-structured interviews with key intervention stakeholders will explore the potential impact of scalability on cost-effectiveness. These data will be thematically analysed to inform sensitivity analysis of the base case economic evaluation, such that cost-effectiveness evidence is reflective of the potential for scalability.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained from the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (#2017–269) and the Victorian Department of Education and Training (#2018_003630). Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed academic papers and participating schools will receive annual reports over the 3 years of data collection.

Trial registration number

ACTRN 12618000330246; Pre-results.
Meta-analysis of interventions to reduce door to needle times in acute ischaemic stroke patients
Authors: Siarkowski Michael , Lin Katie , Li Shari S , Al Sultan Abdulaziz , Ganshorn Heather , Kamal Noreen , Hill Michael , Lang Eddy
Published: August 2020

Background

Door-to-needle time (DTN) has an important impact on thrombolysis and reperfusion outcomes in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. This systematic review is a critical synthesis of studies evaluating DTN reduction strategies.

Method

Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, ProQuest dissertations and LILACS were used as bibliographic databases for primary literature. CIHI, Health Quality Council of Alberta, Health Quality Ontario and websites of heart and stroke associations in Canada, USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand were used as sources of grey literature. Searched reports were screened by title and abstract, and full texts were located for review. Articles quality was evaluated using National Institute of Health’s Study Quality Assessment tools. Methods for improving DTN were categorised under 13 DTN reduction strategies, primarily adapted from the Target: Stroke Phase II recommendations, and including two additional categories: Strategies not encompassed by any Target: Stroke recommendation, and Combinations of Interventions.

Results

96 studies (4 randomised control trials, 1 review, 91 observational pre/post studies) were included in the review. All strategies and interventions resulted in a reduction of DTN. Approaches using combinations of interventions were the most effective at reducing DTN (33.77% DTN reduction, standard mean difference=1.857, 95% CI=1.510–2.205), and were more effective than approaches using only a single strategy (p=0.040). DTN reduction was associated with the duration of the DTN reduction programme at each facility (p=0.006).

Interpretation

The greatest reductions in DTN were observed when implementing combinations of DTN reduction strategies, although there was no significant advantage to implementing more than two strategies simultaneously.

PROSPERO registration number

42016036215.
Understanding the problem of long-term treatment adherence: a phenomenological framework
Authors: Stutzin Donoso Francisca
Published: August 2020

In light of the large burden of chronic disease and the low rates of long-term treatment adherence contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide, this paper contributes to better understanding the particular kind of challenge that living with chronic illness and adhering to long-term treatment can imply. Both literature on the concept of chronic disease and the experience of illness suggest going outside specific diagnostic categories to better understand the problem of adherence. After introducing the distinction of a thin understanding of chronicity—merely as long duration—and a thick one—chronicity in a phenomenological sense, this paper analyses academic literature on the experience of illness and specifies it to the case of chronic diseases, introducing an original conceptual framework describing some main challenges arising from the experience of chronic disease. The framework is organised in three dimensions: failing to recover as a failure to belong, being at a loss and breaking-up with oneself. This work suggests a particular subjective state in which struggling to follow long-term treatment may seem understandable and reasonable, offering a phenomenological perspective that feeds into the ethical problems arising in chronic diseases, and shedding light on how to increase adherence without reproducing patterns of disadvantage.
Screening for asymptomatic STIs in HIV-infected men who have sex with men
Authors: Willekens Rein , Sánchez Irene , Miguel Lucía , Esperalba Juliana , Serra-Pladevall Judit , Martin Mario , Navarro Jordi , Falcó Vicenç , Burgos Joaquín , Ribera Esteban , Caballero Estrella , Curran Adrian
Published: August 2020

We aimed to study the prevalence, characteristics and risk factors of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study, including asymptomatic HIV-infected MSM attending regular visits between December 2014 and December 2017. Of the 301 patients included, 60 patients (19.9%) presented at least one STI. The most common STI was syphilis (33 of 69 STIs), followed by chlamydia (19 of 69), gonorrhoea (10 of 69), hepatitis C virus (4 of 69) and lymphogranuloma venereum (3 of 69). Illicit drug use during sex was the only variable significantly associated with the presence of an STI on multivariate analysis (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.17–3.89). We were unable to identify a subgroup of patients where we could potentially avoid STI screening. Our findings support current guidelines that recommend routine screening for all HIV-infected MSM regardless of their self-reported sexual history.
Assessment of hepatitis and fibrosis using Gd‐EOB‐DTPA MRI in dogs
Authors: Tanaka Toshiyuki , Nishida Hidetaka , Mie Keiichiro , Yamazaki Hiroki , Lin Lee‐Shuan , Akiyoshi Hideo
Published: August 2020

Background

Gadoxetate sodium (Gd‐EOB‐DTPA) is taken into hepatocytes and excreted into the bile. Hepatocytes with reduced function or dysfunction due to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatitis or hepatic fibrosis show impaired Gd‐EOB‐DTPA uptake. The purpose of the present retrospective case series was to assess the relationship between liver function and contrast enhancement using Gd‐EOB‐DTPA MRI.

Methods

Sixteen dogs with a histopathological diagnosis of liver disease, including six with HCC, three with nodular hyperplasia, two with hepatocellular adenoma, two with liver fibrosis and three with hepatitis were included in the study along with three dogs with suspected liver disease but no histopathological diagnosis of liver disease. Relative signal intensities (RSI) of the common bile duct and gall bladder were calculated, and their relationship with the following serum biochemical parameters was assessed: total bilirubin, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and albumin (Alb). To assess anatomical liver function, relative contrast enhancement indices (RCEI) of the liver were calculated, and differences were assessed between normal and diseased liver.

Results

RSI showed no significant differences between dogs without and with a histopathological diagnosis of liver disease (P=0.88) although they were significantly correlated with Alb (ρ =0.57, P=0.02) in dogs with a histopathological diagnosis of liver disease. RCEI was significantly higher in normal liver tissue than that in livers with hepatitis/fibrosis (P=0.048) and HCC (P=0.03) but not nodular hyperplasia/hepatocellular adenoma (P=0.51).

Conclusions

Gd‐EOB‐DTPA MRI may be potentially useful in the assessment of anatomical liver function in dogs with liver disease.
Effect of biochar amendment on the properties of growing media and growth of containerized Norway spruce, Scots pine, and silver birch seedlings
Authors: Köster Egle , Pumpanen Jukka , Palviainen Marjo , Zhou Xuan , Köster Kajar
Published: August 2020

Common practices and several studies have demonstrated the positive effect of biochar amendment on climate change mitigation, soil properties, and plant growth. We performed a greenhouse experiment to assess the potential of wood biochar to improve the properties of the growing media and the growth of seedlings in boreal tree species. We added willow biochar (0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) to raw peat and measured the growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings. In addition, the co-effect of biochar amendment with 0%, 50%, and 100% fertilization was estimated. We found that using up to 10% of biochar did not reduce the water retention capacity of the growing media significantly. Moreover, biochar amendment significantly increased carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus concentrations and had a significant liming effect on the growing media. The biochar amendment increased the aboveground growth of spruce seedlings and root biomass, as well as the root collar diameter, of birch seedlings. Biochar amendment did not affect the quality of seedlings, estimated by the Dickson’s quality index, for spruce and pine, while the quality of birch increased. Based on our results, biochar has potential in forest seedling production.
Relationships among root maggot (Delia spp., Diptera: Anthomyiidae) infestation, root injury, and seed yields of canola Brassica napus L. and Brassica rapa L.
Authors: Soroka J.J. , Weiss R.M. , Grenkow L.F. , Olfert O.O.
Published: August 2020

This study investigated the relationships between numbers of Delia species (Delia spp. Rob.-Desv., Diptera: Anthomyiidae) flies or eggs and root injury levels of Brassica napus L. and Brassica rapa L. (Brassicaceae) canola (oilseed rape), and between root injury levels and canola seed yields. Wild-collected Delia species adult flies or laboratory-obtained Delia radicum (L.) eggs were introduced into laboratory or field cages containing B. napus or B. rapa plants. The degree of root injury was strongly associated with infestation level using both flies and eggs. Linear response curves between numbers of Delia flies and root injury levels and quadrilinear response curves between numbers of D. radicum eggs and root injury levels showed that root damage increased with increasing levels of infestation; at high egg infestation levels, root damage levelled off in both Brassica species. Seed yield was not clearly related to fly or egg infestation rate, nor to ensuing root damage. No consistent yield relationship in B. napus ‘AC Excel’ was found with levels of root damage seen in the investigation. Conversely, B. rapa cultivar ‘AC Boreal’ seed yields tended to increase above uninfested controls when feeding damage was light but decreased with increased root injury. Despite procedures used to prevent infestation in Delia-free control cages, some root maggot damage was found in control cages in all 4 yr of the field study. Changes in climate, land use patterns, and cropping systems could influence the economic impact of this pest complex on canola in the future.
First observation of a tau neutrino charged current interaction with charm production in the OPERA experiment
Authors: Agafonova N. , Aleksandrov A. , Anokhina A. , Aoki S. , Ariga A. , Ariga T. , Bertolin A. , Bozza C. , Brugnera R. , Buonaura A. , Buontempo S. , Chernyavskiy M. , Chukanov A. , Consiglio L. , D’Ambrosio N. , De Lellis G. , De Serio M. , del Amo Sanchez P. , Di Crescenzo A. , Di Ferdinando D. , Di Marco N. , Dmitrievski S. , Dracos M. , Duchesneau D. , Dusini S. , Dzhatdoev T. , Ebert J. , Ereditato A. , Fini R. A. , Fornari F. , Fukuda T. , Galati G. , Garfagnini A. , Gentile V. , Goldberg J. , Gorbunov S. , Gornushkin Y. , Grella G. , Guler A. M. , Gustavino C. , Hagner C. , Hara T. , Hayakawa T. , Hollnagel A. , Ishiguro K. , Iuliano A. , Jakovcic K. , Jollet C. , Kamiscioglu C. , Kamiscioglu M. , Kim S. H. , Kitagawa N. , Klicek B. , Kodama K. , Komatsu M. , Kose U. , Kreslo I. , Laudisio F. , Lauria A. , Longhin A. , Loverre P. , Malgin A. , Malenica M. , Mandrioli G. , Matsuo T. , Matveev V. , Mauri N. , Medinaceli E. , Meregaglia A. , Mikado S. , Miyanishi M. , Mizutani F. , Monacelli P. , Montesi M. C. , Morishima K. , Muciaccia M. T. , Naganawa N. , Naka T. , Nakamura M. , Nakano T. , Niwa K. , Okateva N. , Ogawa S. , Ozaki K. , Paoloni A. , Paparella L. , Park B. D. , Pasqualini L. , Pastore A. , Patrizii L. , Pessard H. , Podgrudkov D. , Polukhina N. , Pozzato M. , Pupilli F. , Roda M. , Roganova T. , Rokujo H. , Rosa G. , Ryazhskaya O. , Sato O. , Schembri A. , Shakirianova I. , Shchedrina T. , Shibuya H. , Shibayama E. , Shiraishi T. , Simone S. , Sirignano C. , Sirri G. , Sotnikov A. , Spinetti M. , Stanco L. , Starkov N. , Stellacci S. M. , Stipcevic M. , Strolin P. , Takahashi S. , Tenti M. , Terranova F. , Tioukov V. , Vasina S. , Vilain P. , Voevodina E. , Votano L. , Vuilleumier J. L. , Wilquet G. , Yoon C. S.
Published: August 2020

An event topology with two secondary vertices compatible with the decay of short-lived particles was found in the analysis of neutrino interactions in the OPERA target. The observed topology is compatible with tau neutrino charged current (CC) interactions with charm production and neutrino neutral current (NC) interactions with $$c\overline{c}$$cc¯ pair production. However, other processes can mimic this topology. A dedicated analysis was implemented to identify the underlying process. A Monte Carlo simulation was developed and complementary procedures were introduced in the kinematic reconstruction. A multivariate analysis technique was used to achieve an optimal separation of signal from background. Most likely, this event is a $$\nu _{\tau }$$ντ CC interaction with charm production, the tau and charm particle decaying into 1 prong and 2 prongs, respectively. The significance of this observation is evaluated.
On 3-strand singular pure braid group
Authors: Bardakov Valeriy G. , Kozlovskaya Tatyana A.
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we study the singular pure braid group [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]. We find generators, defining relations and the algebraical structure of these groups. In particular, we prove that [Formula: see text] is a semi-direct product [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is an HNN-extension with base group [Formula: see text] and cyclic associated subgroups. We prove that the center [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is a direct factor in [Formula: see text].
Comparing Medical Care Costs using Bayesian Credible Intervals for the Ratio of Means of Delta-Lognormal Distributions
Authors: Maneerat Patcharee , Niwitpong Sa-Aat
Published: August 2020

When considering the medical care costs data with a high proportion of zero items of two inpatient groups, comparing them can be estimated using confidence intervals for the ratio of the means of two delta-lognormal distributions. The Bayesian credible interval-based uniform-beta prior (BCIh-UB) is proposed and compared with the generalized confidence interval (GCI), fiducial GCI (FGCI), the method of variance estimates recovery (MOVER), BCIh based on Jeffreys’ rule prior (BCIh-JR), and BCIh based on the normal-gamma prior (BCIh-NG). The coverage probability (CP), average length (AL), and lower and upper error rates were the performance measures applied for assessing the methods through a Monte Carlo simulation. A numerical evaluation showed that BCIh-UB had much better CP and AL than the others even with a large difference between the variances and with a high proportion of zero. Finally, to illustrate the efficacy of BCIh-UB, the methods were applied to two sets of medical care costs data.
On the macroscopic limit of Brownian particles with local interaction
Authors: Flandoli Franco , Leocata Marta , Ricci Cristiano
Published: August 2020

An interacting particle system made of diffusion processes with local interaction is considered and the macroscopic limit to a nonlinear PDE is investigated. Few rigorous results exists on this problem and in particular the explicit form of the nonlinearity is not known. This paper reviews this subject, some of the main ideas to get the limit nonlinear PDE and provides both heuristic and numerical informations on the precise form of the nonlinearity which are new with respect to the literature and coherent with the few known informations.
Human Feedback as Action Assignment in Interactive Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Raza Syed Ali , Williams Mary-Anne
Published: August 2020

Teaching by demonstrations and teaching by assigning rewards are two popular methods of knowledge transfer in humans. However, showing the right behaviour (by demonstration) may appear more natural to a human teacher than assessing the learner’s performance and assigning a reward or punishment to it. In the context of robot learning, the preference between these two approaches has not been studied extensively. In this article, we propose a method that replaces the traditional method of reward assignment with action assignment (which is similar to providing a demonstration) in interactive reinforcement learning. The main purpose of the suggested action is to compute a reward by seeing if the suggested action was followed by the self-acting agent or not. We compared action assignment with reward assignment via a user study conducted over the web using a two-dimensional maze game. The logs of interactions showed that action assignment significantly improved users’ ability to teach the right behaviour. The survey results showed that both action and reward assignment seemed highly natural and usable, reward assignment required more mental effort, repeatedly assigning rewards and seeing the agent disobey commands caused frustration in users, and many users desired to control the agent’s behaviour directly.
Granularity Decision of Microservice Splitting in View of Maintainability and Its Innovation Effect in Government Data Sharing
Authors: Li Yan , Wang Chun-Zi , Li Ying-chao , Su Jia
Published: August 2020

The reasonable sharing and effective integration of data is the premise of improving the comprehensive governance ability of society through data empowerment. It can be determined that the fine-grained splitting of microservice framework can promote the reasonable sharing and effective integration of data. However, how to determine the granularity of microservice splitting is a multiparameter and multiobjective decision-making problem, which is also a key basic problem to be solved urgently both in academic research and application. From the perspective of application, this paper puts forward the criteria and basic framework that can guide the microservice splitting, and for the first time, based on the perspective of maintainability, it gives the decision criteria and methods of microservice splitting granularity. After the theoretical research, this paper also takes the provincial microservice governance of food and drug regulation as an example: the example shows that the framework and methods proposed can effectively improve data sharing and system expandability. Through microservice governance, collaborative social governance featuring “one network to achieve management objectives, one network to realize comprehensive business processing, one network for comprehensive view of all information” can be achieved. It is an exemplary mode worth popularization.
Predictors of Adverse TB Treatment Outcome among TB/HIV Patients Compared with Non-HIV Patients in the Greater Accra Regional Hospital from 2008 to 2016
Authors: Hayibor Kenneth Mawuta , Bandoh Delia Akosua , Asante-Poku Adwoa , Kenu Ernest
Published: August 2020

Introduction. The convergence of TB and HIV dual epidemics is a major public health challenge in Ghana as well as many developing countries. Treatment outcome monitoring is a vital part of the surveillance needed to successfully eliminate TB. The impact of HIV status and demographic and treatment-related factors on adverse TB treatment outcome has not been studied in the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. This study determined factors associated with TB treatment outcome in patients with TB-HIV coinfection and TB-only infection in the hospital. Method. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. We reviewed TB treatment cards of patients who received treatment for tuberculosis in the hospital from 2008 to 2016. Data on treatment outcome and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were extracted on TB-only-infected and TB/HIV-coinfected patients. The chi-squared test and binary and multiple logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with adverse treatment outcome. Results. Out of the 758 patient records analyzed, 174 (22.9%) were TB-HIV-coinfected patients. Overall treatment success for all TB patients was 88.1% (668/758). About 11.9% (90/758) of the patients had an adverse treatment outcome, including treatment failure 0.9% (7/758), defaulting 0.9% (7/758), and death 10.0% (76/758). TB-HIV-coinfected patients’ treatment success was 78.1% (136/174). TB-only patients’ treatment success was 91.4% (532/582). Independent predictors of adverse treatment outcome were found to be as follows: being HIV positive (aOR: 3.85, 95% CI: 2.19-6.75; p<0.01); aged 65 and above (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.44-1.54; p=0.01); and previously failed TB treatment (aOR: 5.02, 95% CI: 2.09-28.87; p<0.01). Conclusion. Treatment outcome for TB-HIV-coinfected patients is below the WHO target. HIV status, age, and category of patient of the TB patients were associated with adverse treatment outcome. Strengthening the TB/HIV collaborative efforts by stakeholders is required for good treatment outcomes.
Independent Control of Temperature and Humidity in Air Conditioners by Using Fuzzy Sliding Mode Approach
Authors: Yang Lijian , Li Ziyang , Wu Zhengtian , Xie Mingyang , Jiang Baoping , Fu Baochuan
Published: August 2020

This paper proposes a sliding mode control (SMC) strategy to solve the problem of independent control of temperature and humidity in air conditioners; the complexity increases due to the need to make full use of the wind side for cooling. First, dynamics of indoor temperature and humidity are determined based on mathematical models. Second, in order to reduce the chattering effect of SMC and coordinate indoor conditions to satisfy people’s needs, the independent control of temperature and humidity is realized via a novel fuzzy sliding mode control strategy based on reaching laws. Finally, simulation results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Game Theoretic Analysis of After-Sales Service in Two-Echelon Supply Chain with Warranty Sensitive Demand
Authors: Qi Yuqing , Wu Jing , Zhao Tiandongjie , Sun Yuling , Wu Bin
Published: August 2020

After-sales service contract is widely popular in business. Although both the cases of manufacturer offering warranty and retailer offering warranty are common in market, the differences between them have been few studied. In this paper, we build a two-echelon supply chain in which a manufacturer produces limit quality products and sells them to a retailer. To promote sales, the manufacturer or retailer offers a free-replacement warranty to the customers. Customer’s demand is affected by the warranty length. We investigate the game relationships between the supply chain members. We find that the warranty length negatively relates to the product quality in both the manufacturer offering warranty case and the retailer offering warranty case. When retailer’s profit margin is not low, the retailer offers a longer warranty than the manufacturer and vice versa. Profit of the supply chain is also analyzed along with a numerical study.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Rheumatic Adverse Events Related to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Xiao Yan , Zeng Lin , Shen Qinglin , Zhou Zhiyong , Mao Zhifang , Wang Qin , Zhang Xiquan , Li Yingliang , Yao Weirong
Published: August 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have completely changed the treatment of cancer, and they also can cause multiple organ immune-related adverse reactions (irAEs). Among them, rheumatic irAE is less common, mainly including inflammatory arthritis, rheumatic myalgia/giant cell arteritis, inflammatory myopathy, and Sjogren’s syndrome. For oncologists, rheumatism is a relatively new field, and early diagnosis and treatment is very important, and we need to work closely with experienced rheumatologists. In this review, we focused on the incidence, clinical characteristics, and treatment strategies of rheumatic irAE.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Effects of Troxerutin and Cerebroprotein Hydrolysate Injection on Injured Spinal Cords in Rats
Authors: Wang Linbang , Wang Hucheng , Tang Ke , Zhong Weiyang , Chen Zhiyu , Quan Zhengxue
Published: August 2020

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition that results in disability and has a high morbidity rate; its treatment is very difficult. Although troxerutin and cerebroprotein hydrolysate (TCH) injections have been extensively used in clinics in China for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cerebral stroke, the potential efficacy of TCH injection in the treatment of SCI has never been revealed. In this study, the effects of administering TCH injections on neurological recovery in post‐SCI rats were first tested with regard to the behavior and histology; subsequently, the specific expression profile of mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) in their spinal cords were conducted using RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq). The LncRNA‐mRNA networks were also elucidated. After SCI, we found that TCH injection with the right dose is effective for the recovery of locomotion function and repairing of the damaged tissue in the spinal cord; TCH injection is also discovered to have a role in the regulation of 443 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 27 differentially expressed LncRNAs (DELs) that are identified to have multiple functions, including locomotion, blood vessel morphogenesis, thiamine metabolism, Hippo signaling pathway, and axon guidance, by applying the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. In addition, it is revealed that, after SCI, the highly expressed LncRNA AABR07071383.1 in the post‐SCI cis/trans‐regulates the expression of mRNA Acpp mRNA that encodes a key enzyme involved in the metabolic process of thiamine in the abirritation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), which implies that TCH injection may be more effective when administered with benfotiamine (a common treatment drug).
Long‐Term Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined with NA Antiviral Therapy on Cirrhosis Incidence in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients in the Real‐World Setting: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Hou Zhi-Jun , Zhang Jing-Hao , Zhang Xin , Ling Qi-Hua , Zheng Chao , Zhu Xiao-Jun , Zhou Zhen-Hua , Li Man , Kong Xiao-Ni , Sun Xue-Hua , Gao Yue-Qiu , Chen Jian-Jie
Published: August 2020

Objective. To evaluate the impact of long‐term Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation combined with antiviral therapy with Nucleos (t) ide analogues (NAs) on the incidence of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods. This retrospective cohort study included 521 patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent a treatment course of ≥3 years from 1998–2019. Of the 521 patients, 261 were defined as TCM users while 260 were TCM nonusers (control group). All the enrolled subjects were followed up until February 2019 to measure the incidence and hazard ratio (HR) of cirrhosis, and the Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the independent factors affecting the occurrence of cirrhosis. Results. The cumulative incidence of TCM users and nonusers was 6.9% and 13.5%, respectively (P = 0.013). Results of the Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that TCM users had a significantly lower cumulative incidence of cirrhosis than TCM nonusers (P = 0.011), and TCM users had a significantly lower liver cirrhosis risk than TCM nonusers (adjusted HR = 0.416, 95% CI, 0.231–0.749). The histological evaluation revealed improved fibrosis in 45.0% of TCM users and 11.1% of TCM nonusers (P = 0.033). The analysation of the prescriptions including total 119 single Chinese herbs medicinal demonstrated that “replenish qi and fortify the spleen,” “clear heat and dispel dampness,” and “soothe the liver and regulate qi” are the main treatment methods of TCM for CHB. Conclusions. Our study demonstrated that long‐term TCM use may attenuate liver cirrhosis risk in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
A Comprehensive Review on Thermal Coconversion of Biomass, Sludge, Coal, and Their Blends Using Thermogravimetric Analysis
Authors: Hameed Zeeshan , Naqvi Salman Raza , Naqvi Muhammad , Ali Imtiaz , Taqvi Syed Ali Ammar , Gao Ningbo , Hussain Syed Azfar , Hussain Sadiq
Published: August 2020

Lignocellulosic biomass is a vital resource for providing clean future energy with a sustainable environment. Besides lignocellulosic residues, nonlignocellulosic residues such as sewage sludge from industrial and municipal wastes are gained much attention due to its large quantities and ability to produce cheap and clean energy to potentially replace fossil fuels. These cheap and abundantly resources can reduce global warming owing to their less polluting nature. The low-quality biomass and high ash content of sewage sludge-based thermal conversion processes face several disadvantages towards its commercialization. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize these residues in combination with coal for improvement in energy conversion processes. As per author information, no concrete study is available to discuss the synergy and decomposition mechanism of residues blending. The objective of this study is to present the state-of-the-art review based on the thermal coconversion of biomass/sewage sludge, coal/biomass, and coal/sewage sludge blends through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to explore the synergistic effects of the composition, thermal conversion, and blending for bioenergy production. This paper will also contribute to detailing the operating conditions (heating rate, temperature, and residence time) of copyrolysis and cocombustion processes, properties, and chemical composition that may affect these processes and will provide a basis to improve the yield of biofuels from biomass/sewage sludge, coal/sewage sludge, and coal/biomass blends in thermal coconversion through thermogravimetric technique. Furthermore, the influencing factors and the possible decomposition mechanism are elaborated and discussed in detail. This study will provide recent development and future prospects for cothermal conversion of biomass, sewage, coal, and their blends.