bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Temperature Tolerance Quantitative Trait Loci in Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and Inferred Homologies in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Somorjai Ildiko M L , Danzmann Roy G , Ferguson Moira M
Published: April 2021

We searched for quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting upper temperature tolerance (UTT) in crosses between the Nauyuk Lake and Fraser River strains of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) using survival analysis. Two QTL were detected by using two microsatellite markers after correcting for experiment-wide error. A comparative mapping approach localized these two QTL to homologous linkage groups containing UTT QTL in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Additional marginal associations were detected in several families in regions homologous to those with QTL in rainbow trout. Thus, the genes underlying UTT QTL may antedate the divergence of these two species, which occurred by ∼16 MYA. The data also indicate that one pair of homeologs (ancestrally duplicated chromosomal segments) have contained QTL in Arctic charr since the evolution of salmonids from a tetraploid ancestor 25-100 MYA. This study represents one of the first examples of comparative QTL mapping in an animal polyploid group and illustrates the fate of QTL after genome duplication and reorganization.
The Contribution of Genetic Diversity to the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Livestock Populations
Authors: Springbett A J , MacKenzie K , Woolliams J A , Bishop S C
Published: April 2021

This article uses stochastic simulations with a compartmental epidemic model to quantify the impact of genetic diversity within animal populations on the transmission of infectious disease. Genetic diversity is defined by the number of distinct genotypes in the population conferring resistance to microparasitic (e.g., viral or bacterial) infections. Scenarios include homogeneous populations and populations composed of few (finite-locus model) or many (infinitesimal model) genotypes. Genetic heterogeneity has no impact upon the expected value of the basic reproductive ratio (the primary description of the transmission of infection) but affects the variability of this parameter. Consequently, increasing genetic heterogeneity is associated with an increased probability of minor epidemics and decreased probabilities of both major (catastrophic) epidemics and no epidemics. Additionally, heterogeneity per se is associated with a breakdown in the expected relationship between the basic reproductive ratio and epidemic severity, which has been developed for homogeneous populations, with increasing heterogeneity generally resulting in fewer infected animals than expected. Furthermore, increased heterogeneity is associated with decreased disease-dependent mortality in major epidemics and a complex trend toward decreased duration of these epidemics. In summary, more heterogeneous populations are not expected to suffer fewer epidemics on average, but are less likely to suffer catastrophic epidemics.
Detecting Population Growth, Selection and Inherited Fertility From Haplotypic Data in Humans
Authors: Austerlitz Frédéric , Kalaydjieva Luba , Heyer Evelyne
Published: April 2021

The frequency of a rare mutant allele and the level of allelic association between this allele and one or several closely linked markers are frequently measured in genetic epidemiology. Both quantities are related to the time elapsed since the appearance of the mutation in the population and the intrinsic growth rate of the mutation (which may be different from the average population growth rate). Here, we develop a method that uses these two kinds of genetic data to perform a joint estimation of the age of the mutation and the minimum growth rate that is compatible with its present frequency. In absence of demographic data, it provides a useful estimate of population growth rate. When such data are available, contrasts among estimates from several loci allow demographic processes, affecting all loci similarly, to be distinguished from selection, affecting loci differently. Testing these estimates on populations for which data are available for several disorders shows good congruence with demographic data in some cases whereas in others higher growth rates are obtained, which may be the result of selection or hidden demographic processes.
Genetics of P-Element Transposition Into Drosophila melanogaster Centric Heterochromatin
Authors: Konev Alexander Y , Yan Christopher M , Acevedo David , Kennedy Cameron , Ward Elaina , Lim Arlene , Tickoo Sanjay , Karpen Gary H
Published: April 2021

Heterochromatin is a major component of higher eukaryotic genomes, but progress in understanding the molecular structure and composition of heterochromatin has lagged behind the production of relatively complete euchromatic genome sequences. The introduction of single-copy molecular-genetic entry points can greatly facilitate structure and sequence analysis of heterochromatic regions that are rich in repeated DNA. In this study, we report the isolation of 502 new P-element insertions into Drosophila melanogaster centric heterochromatin, generated in nine different genetic screens that relied on mosaic silencing (position-effect variegation, or PEV) of the yellow gene present in the transposon. The highest frequencies of recovery of variegating insertions were observed when centric insertions were used as the source for mobilization. We propose that the increased recovery of variegating insertions from heterochromatic starting sites may result from the physical proximity of different heterochromatic regions in germline nuclei or from the association of mobilizing elements with heterochromatin proteins. High frequencies of variegating insertions were also recovered when a potent suppressor of PEV (an extra Y chromosome) was present in both the mobilization and selection generations, presumably due to the effects of chromatin structure on P-element mobilization, insertion, and phenotypic selection. Finally, fewer variegating insertions were recovered after mobilization in females, in comparison to males, which may reflect differences in heterochromatin structure in the female and male germlines. FISH localization of a subset of the insertions confirmed that 98% of the variegating lines contain heterochromatic insertions and that these schemes produce a broader distribution of insertion sites. The results of these schemes have identified the most efficient methods for generating centric heterochromatin P insertions. In addition, the large collection of insertions produced by these screens provides molecular-genetic entry points for mapping, sequencing, and functional analysis of Drosophila heterochromatin.
Selection and Drift in Subdivided Populations: A Straightforward Method for Deriving Diffusion Approximations and Applications Involving Dominance, Selfing and Local Extinctions
Authors: Roze Denis , Rousset François
Published: April 2021

Population structure affects the relative influence of selection and drift on the change in allele frequencies. Several models have been proposed recently, using diffusion approximations to calculate fixation probabilities, fixation times, and equilibrium properties of subdivided populations. We propose here a simple method to construct diffusion approximations in structured populations; it relies on general expressions for the expectation and variance in allele frequency change over one generation, in terms of partial derivatives of a “fitness function” and probabilities of genetic identity evaluated in a neutral model. In the limit of a very large number of demes, these probabilities can be expressed as functions of average allele frequencies in the metapopulation, provided that coalescence occurs on two different timescales, which is the case in the island model. We then use the method to derive expressions for the probability of fixation of new mutations, as a function of their dominance coefficient, the rate of partial selfing, and the rate of deme extinction. We obtain more precise approximations than those derived by recent work, in particular (but not only) when deme sizes are small. Comparisons with simulations show that the method gives good results as long as migration is stronger than selection.
MLH1p and MLH3p Localize to Precociously Induced Chiasmata of Okadaic-Acid-Treated Mouse Spermatocytes
Authors: Marcon Edyta , Moens Peter
Published: April 2021

With the phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, we induce the precocious onset of the chiasmate stage and under those conditions show that the recombination nodules, MLH1 and MLH3 foci, are localized to the chiasmata. It is concluded that MLH1/3 foci are appropriate markers for the studies of crossovers/chiasmata development and distribution at late meiotic prophase.
Double-Stranded RNA Interference of a Rice PI/GLO Paralog, OsMADS2, Uncovers Its Second-Whorl-Specific Function in Floral Organ Patterning
Authors: Prasad Kalika , Vijayraghavan Usha
Published: April 2021

Unlike many eudicot species, grasses have duplicated PI/GLO-like genes. Functional analysis of one of the rice PI/GLO paralogs, OsMADS2, is reported here. Our data demonstrate its essential role in lodicule development and implicate the second PI/GLO paralog, OsMADS4, to suffice for stamen specification. We provide the first evidence for differential contributions of grass PI/GLO paralogs in patterning second- and third-whorl floral organs.
Identification of Genetic Networks
Authors: Xiong Momiao , Li Jun , Fang Xiangzhong
Published: April 2021

In this report, we propose the use of structural equations as a tool for identifying and modeling genetic networks and genetic algorithms for searching the most likely genetic networks that best fit the data. After genetic networks are identified, it is fundamental to identify those networks influencing cell phenotypes. To accomplish this task we extend the concept of differential expression of the genes, widely used in gene expression data analysis, to genetic networks. We propose a definition for the differential expression of a genetic network and use the generalized T  2 statistic to measure the ability of genetic networks to distinguish different phenotypes. However, describing the differential expression of genetic networks is not enough for understanding biological systems because differences in the expression of genetic networks do not directly reflect regulatory strength between gene activities. Therefore, in this report we also introduce the concept of differentially regulated genetic networks, which has the potential to assess changes of gene regulation in response to perturbation in the environment and may provide new insights into the mechanism of diseases and biological processes. We propose five novel statistics to measure the differences in regulation of genetic networks. To illustrate the concepts and methods for reconstruction of genetic networks and identification of association of genetic networks with function, we applied the proposed models and algorithms to three data sets.
Effect of Breeding Structure on Population Genetic Parameters in Drosophila
Authors: Gravot Emmanuelle , Huet Michèle , Veuille Michel
Published: April 2021

The breeding structure of populations has been neglected in studies of Drosophila, even though Wright and Dobzhansky’s pioneering work on the genetics of natural populations was an attempt to tackle what they regarded as an essential factor in evolution. We compared the breeding structure of sympatric populations of D. melanogaster and D. simulans, two sibling species that are widely used in evolutionary studies. We recorded changes in population density and microsatellite variation patterns for 3 years in a temperate environment of southwestern France. Results were distinctively different in the two species. Maximum population levels in summer and in autumn were similar and fluctuated greatly over years, each species being in turn the most abundant. However, genetic data showed that D. melanogaster made up a continuous breeding population in time and space of practically infinite effective size. D. simulans was fragmented into isolates with a local effective size of between 50 and 350 individuals. A consequence of this was that, while a local sample provided a reliable estimate of regional genetic variability in D. melanogaster, a sample from the same area provided an underestimate of this parameter in D. simulans. In practical terms, this means that variations in breeding structure should be accounted for in sampling schemes and in designing evolutionary genetic models. More generally, this suggests the existence of differential reactions to local environments that might contribute to several genomic differences observed between these species.
Transposition of the Tol2 Element, an Ac-Like Element From the Japanese Medaka Fish Oryzias latipes, in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Kawakami Koichi , Noda Tetsuo
Published: April 2021

The Tol2 transposable element of the Japanese medaka fish belongs to the hAT family of transposons including hobo of Drosophila, Ac of maize, and Tam3 of snapdragon. To date, Tol2 is the only natural transposon in vertebrates that has ever been shown to encode a fully functional transposase. It has not been known, however, whether Tol2 can transpose in vertebrates other than fish. We report here transposition of Tol2 in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. We constructed a transposon donor plasmid containing a nonautonomous Tol2 element with the neomycin resistance gene and a helper plasmid capable of expressing the transposase and introduced the donor plasmid with various amounts of the helper plasmid by electroporation into mouse ES cells. The number of G418-resistant ES colonies increased as the amount of helper plasmid was increased, in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that the transposase activity elevated the integration efficiency. These G418-resistant ES colonies were cloned and the structure of the junction of the integrated Tol2 element and the genomic DNA was analyzed by inverse PCR. In those clones, Tol2 was surrounded by mouse genomic sequences and an 8-bp direct repeat was created adjacent to both ends of Tol2, indicating that Tol2 was integrated in the genome through transposition. The Tol2 transposon system is thus active in mouse as well as in fish. We propose that it should be used as a genetic tool to develop novel gene transfer, transgenesis, and mutagenesis methods in mammals.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae SSD1-V Confers Longevity by a Sir2p-Independent Mechanism
Authors: Kaeberlein Matt , Andalis Alex A , Liszt Gregory B , Fink Gerald R , Guarente Leonard
Published: April 2021

The SSD1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a polymorphic locus that affects diverse cellular processes including cell integrity, cell cycle progression, and growth at high temperature. We show here that the SSD1-V allele is necessary for cells to achieve extremely long life span. Furthermore, addition of SSD1-V to cells can increase longevity independently of SIR2, although SIR2 is necessary for SSD1-V cells to attain maximal life span. Past studies of yeast aging have been performed in short-lived ssd1-d strain backgrounds. We propose that SSD1-V defines a previously undescribed pathway affecting cellular longevity and suggest that future studies on longevity-promoting genes should be carried out in long-lived SSD1-V strains.
The External Amino Acid Signaling Pathway Promotes Activation of Stp1 and Uga35/Dal81 Transcription Factors for Induction of the AGP1 Gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Abdel-Sater Fadi , Iraqui Ismaïl , Urrestarazu Antonio , André Bruno
Published: April 2021

Yeast cells respond to the presence of amino acids in their environment by inducing transcription of several amino acid permease genes including AGP1, BAP2, and BAP3. The signaling pathway responsible for this induction involves Ssy1, a permease-like sensor of external amino acids, and culminates with proteolytic cleavage and translocation to the nucleus of the zinc-finger proteins Stp1 and Stp2, the lack of which abolishes induction of BAP2 and BAP3. Here we show that Stp1—but not Stp2—plays an important role in AGP1 induction, although significant induction of AGP1 by amino acids persists in stp1 and stp1 stp2 mutants. This residual induction depends on the Uga35/Dal81 transcription factor, indicating that the external amino acid signaling pathway activates not only Stp1 and Stp2, but also another Uga35/Dal81-dependent transcriptional circuit. Analysis of the AGP1 gene’s upstream region revealed that Stp1 and Uga35/Dal81 act synergistically through a 21-bp cis-acting sequence similar to the UASAA element previously found in the BAP2 and BAP3 upstream regions. Although cells growing under poor nitrogen-supply conditions display much higher induction of AGP1 expression than cells growing under good nitrogen-supply conditions, the UASAA itself is totally insensitive to nitrogen availability. Nitrogen-source control of AGP1 induction is mediated by the GATA factor Gln3, likely acting through adjacent 5′-GATA-3′ sequences, to amplify the positive effect of UASAA. Our data indicate that Stp1 may act in combination with distinct sets of transcription factors, according to the gene context, to promote induction of transcription in response to external amino acids. The data also suggest that Uga35/Dal81 is yet another transcription factor under the control of the external amino acid sensing pathway. Finally, the data show that the TOR pathway mediating global nitrogen control of transcription does not interfere with the external amino acid signaling pathway.
Investigating Factors of Active Aging Among Chinese Older Adults: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Yu Jiao , Huang Wenxuan , Kahana Eva
Published: April 2021

Background and Objectives

With the extension of healthy life expectancy, promoting active aging has become a policy response to rapid population aging in China. Yet, it has been inconclusive about the relative importance of the determinants of active aging. By applying a machine learning approach, this study aims to identify the most important determinants of active aging in 3 domains, i.e., paid/unpaid work, caregiving, and social activities, among Chinese older adults.

Research Design and Methods

Data were drawn from the first wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, which surveys a nationally representative sample of adults aged 60 years and older (N = 7,503). We estimated Random Forest and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression models (LASSO) to determine the most important factors related to active aging.

Results

Health has a generic effect on all outcomes of active aging. Our findings also identified the domain-specific determinants of active aging. Urban/rural residency is among the most important factors determining the likelihood of engaging in paid/unpaid work. Living in a multigenerational household is especially important in predicting caregiving activities. Neighborhood infrastructure and facilities have the strongest influence on older adults’ participation in social activities.

Discussion and Implications

The application of feature selection models provides a fruitful first step in identifying the most important determinants of active aging among Chinese older adults. These results provide evidence-based recommendations for policies and practices promoting active aging.
Genetic meta-analysis of twin birth weight shows high genetic correlation with singleton birth weight
Authors: Beck Jeffrey J , Pool René , van de Weijer Margot , Chen Xu , Krapohl Eva , Gordon Scott D , Nygaard Marianne , Debrabant Birgit , Palviainen Teemu , van der Zee Matthijs D , Baselmans Bart , Finnicum Casey T , Yi Lu , Lundström Sebastian , van Beijsterveldt Toos , Christiansen Lene , Heikkilä Kauko , Kittelsrud Julie , Loukola Anu , Ollikainen Miina , Christensen Kaare , Martin Nicholas G , Plomin Robert , Nivard Michel , Bartels Meike , Dolan Conor , Willemsen Gonneke , de Geus Eco , Almqvist Catarina , Magnusson Patrik K E , Mbarek Hamdi , Ehli Erik A , Boomsma Dorret I , Hottenga Jouke-Jan
Published: April 2021

Birth weight (BW) is an important predictor of newborn survival and health and has associations with many adult health outcomes, including cardiometabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases and mental health. On average, twins have a lower BW than singletons as a result of a different pattern of fetal growth and shorter gestational duration. Therefore, investigations into the genetics of BW often exclude data from twins, leading to a reduction in sample size and remaining ambiguities concerning the genetic contribution to BW in twins. In this study, we carried out a genome-wide association meta-analysis of BW in 42 212 twin individuals and found a positive correlation of beta values (Pearson’s r = 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.47–0.77) with 150 previously reported genome-wide significant variants for singleton BW. We identified strong positive genetic correlations between BW in twins and numerous anthropometric traits, most notably with BW in singletons (genetic correlation [rg] = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.66–1.18). Genetic correlations of BW in twins with a series of health-related traits closely resembled those previously observed for BW in singletons. Polygenic scores constructed from a genome-wide association study on BW in the UK Biobank demonstrated strong predictive power in a target sample of Dutch twins and singletons. Together, our results indicate that a similar genetic architecture underlies BW in twins and singletons and that future genome-wide studies might benefit from including data from large twin registers.
Clinical and Host Biological Factors Predict Colectomy Risk in Children Newly Diagnosed With Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Hyams Jeffrey S , Brimacombe Michael , Haberman Yael , Walters Thomas , Gibson Greg , Mo Angela , Mack David , Griffiths Anne , Boyle Brendan , LeLeiko Neal , Markowitz James , Rosh Joel , Patel Ashish , Shah Sapana , Baldassano Robert , Pfefferkorn Marian , Sauer Cary , Dailey Joelynn , Venkateswaran Suresh , Kugathasan Subra , Denson Lee A
Published: April 2021

Background

Develop a clinical and biological predictive model for colectomy risk in children newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods

This was a multicenter inception cohort study of children (ages 4-17 years) newly diagnosed with UC treated with standardized initial regimens of mesalamine or corticosteroids (CS) depending upon initial disease severity. Therapy escalation to immunomodulators or infliximab was based on predetermined criteria. Patients were phenotyped by clinical activity per the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI), disease extent, endoscopic/histologic severity, and laboratory markers. In addition, RNA sequencing defined pretreatment rectal gene expression and high density DNA genotyping by the Affymetrix UK Biobank Axiom Array. Coprimary outcomes were colectomy over 3 years and time to colectomy. Generalized linear models, Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression modeling, and Kaplan-Meier plots were used.

Results

Four hundred twenty-eight patients (mean age 13 years) started initial theapy with mesalamine (n = 136), oral CS (n = 144), or intravenous CS (n = 148). Twenty-five (6%) underwent colectomy at ≤1 year, 33 (9%) at ≤2 years, and 35 (13%) at ≤3 years. Further, 32/35 patients who had colectomy failed infliximab. An initial PUCAI ≥ 65 was highly associated with colectomy (P = 0.0001). A logistic regression model predicting colectomy using the PUCAI, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate had a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.78 (95% confidence interval [0.73, 0.84]). Addition of a pretreatment rectal gene expression panel reflecting activation of the innate immune system and response to external stimuli and bacteria to the clinical model improved the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve to 0.87 (95% confidence interval [0.82, 0.91]).

Conclusions

A small group of children newly diagnosed with severe UC still require colectomy despite current therapies. Our gene signature observations suggest additional targets for management of those patients not responding to current medical therapies.
Combatting malfunction or optimizing democracy? Lessons from Germany for a comparative political process theory
Authors: Hailbronner Michaela
Published: April 2021

Ely’s representation-reinforcing theory of judicial review is little known in German public law. Where it is mentioned, it is most often to contest its relevance to German debates. Yet both German jurisprudence and scholarship have a long tradition of taking process-related issues seriously independently of Ely. This makes Germany an interesting place not only to examine the reception of Ely’s work but also to analyze how and where Elyian arguments surface and in what forms. In the context of the German Constitutional Court’s robust understanding of its own role and the character of the Basic Law as a set of substantive values or principles, such arguments often do not appear as part of a broader theory of relative trust and distrust, but rather serve standardly to justify judicial intervention. The German experience also speaks to the problem noted by Ely’s US critics of operationalizing the idea of malfunction, which lies at the heart of his argument and ensures not only its survival but its current popularity. It suggests that malfunction is often not something we can define in the abstract, but that Ely’s theory is nevertheless important for confronting us with the question of not only when distrust warrants intervention but also when the evidence for trust does not.
Shifting Patterns of Respiratory Virus Activity Following Social Distancing Measures for Coronavirus Disease 2019 in South Korea
Authors: Park Sangshin , Michelow Ian C , Choe Young June
Published: April 2021

Background

We hypothesized that nationwide social distancing and other preventive measures for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were associated with reduced detection of other respiratory viruses in South Korea.

Methods

We analyzed national surveillance data to compare incidence of respiratory viruses during 2016–2019 vs 2020. Results of multiplex reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays for 8 respiratory viruses were included: adenovirus (ADV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus (IFV), human coronavirus (HCoV; non–SARS-CoV-2), human rhinovirus (HRV), human bocavirus (HBoV), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

Results

During 2016–2019, rates of detection of respiratory viruses were relatively stable: ADV, 3.7%–9.2%; PIV, 1.4%–17.0%; RSV, 0.3%–15.3%; IFV, 0.4%–35.6%; HCoV, 1.5%–8.4%; HRV, 7.0%–25.1%; HBoV, 0.6%–6.3%; and HMPV, 0.7%–14.5%. Following implementation of social distancing in February 2020, rates of detection of enveloped viruses (HCoV, HMPV, IFV, PIV, and RSV) were significantly reduced by up to 100%. However, nonenveloped viruses (ADV, HRV, and HBoV) persisted throughout 2020, and HRV rates in hospitalized patients significantly increased.

Conclusions

After implementation of social distancing for SARS-CoV-2 in South Korea, rates of detection of enveloped respiratory viruses decreased significantly, whereas nonenveloped viruses persisted, suggesting that enhanced infection prevention strategies are required to mitigate spread of these viruses.
Discrepancy between patient-reported and clinician-documented symptoms for myocardial perfusion imaging: initial findings from a prospective registry
Authors: Schwartz Cody , Winchester David E
Published: April 2021

Background

Occasionally, the symptoms reported by patients disagree with those documented in the medical record. We designed the Patient Centered Assessment of Symptoms (PCAS) registry to measure discrepancies between patient-reported and clinician-documented symptoms.

Objective

Use patient-derived symptoms data to measure discrepancies with clinical documentation.

Methods

The PCAS registry captured data from a prospective cohort of patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and includes free response and structured questions to gauge symptoms. Clinician-documented symptoms were extracted from the patients’ medical records. The appropriateness of testing was determined twice: once using the patient-reported symptoms and once using the clinician-documented symptoms.

Results

A total of 90 subjects were enrolled, among whom diabetes (36.7%), prior coronary disease (28.9%), hypertension (80.0%) and hyperlipidemia (85.6%) were common. Percentage of patient-reported symptoms compared to clinician-documented symptoms and agreement were as follows: chest pain (patient 29.0%, clinician 36.6%, moderate [kappa = 0.54]), chest pressure (patient 18.3%, clinician 10.8%, fair [kappa = 0.27]), dyspnea (patient 41.0%, clinician 36.6%, fair [kappa = 0.28]), onset with exertion (patient 61.7%, clinician 59.6%, slight [kappa = 0.17]), symptoms same as prior coronary artery disease (patient 46.2%, clinician 15.3%, slight [kappa = 0.01]). As a result of these inconsistencies, appropriateness ratings were different for 13.3% (n = 12) subjects.

Conclusion

In this prospective registry of patients undergoing MPI, we observed substantial disagreements between patient-reported and clinician-documented symptoms. Disagreement resulted in a considerable proportion of MPI appropriateness ratings also being incongruous.
Economic Decline, Social Identity, and Authoritarian Values in the United States
Authors: Ballard-Rosa Cameron , Jensen Amalie , Scheve Kenneth
Published: April 2021

Why does the contemporary backlash against globalization in the United States have such a substantial authoritarian character? We argue that sustained economic decline has a negative effect on the social identity of historically dominant groups. These losses lead individuals to be more likely to want to enforce social norm conformity—that is, adopt more authoritarian values—as a way to preserve social status and this effect is greater the larger the size of other groups in the population. Central to our account is the expectation of an interactive effect of local economic and demographic conditions in forging value responses to economic decline. The article evaluates this argument using an original 2017 representative survey in the United States. We find that individuals living in relatively diverse regions facing more intense competition from Chinese imports have more authoritarian values. We further find that the greater effect of globalization-induced labor market decline in more diverse areas is also evident for vote choice in the 2016 Presidential election.
Comparison of Arterial-Venous Balance and Tracer Incorporation Methods for Measuring Muscle Fractional Synthesis and Fractional Breakdown Rates
Authors: Hudson Joshua L , Cotter Matthew , Herndon David N , Wolfe Robert R , Børsheim Elisabet
Published: April 2021

Loss of muscle mass in response to injury or immobilization impairs functional capacity and metabolic health, thus hindering rehabilitation. Stable isotope techniques are powerful in determining skeletal muscle protein fluxes. Traditional tracer incorporation methods to measure muscle protein synthesis and breakdown are cumbersome and invasive to perform in vulnerable populations such as children. To circumvent these issues, a two-bolus stable isotope amino acid method has been developed; although, measured rates of protein synthesis and breakdown have not been validated simultaneously against an accepted technique such as the arterial-venous balance method. The purpose of the current analysis was to provide preliminary data from the simultaneous determination of the arteriovenous balance and two-bolus tracer incorporation methods on muscle fractional synthesis and breakdown rates in children with burns. Five were administered a primed-constant infusion of L-[15N]Threonine for 180 minutes (Prime: 8 µmol/kg; constant: 0.1 µmol·kg-1·minute-1). At 120 and 150 minutes, bolus injections of L-[ring-13C6]Phenylalanine and L-[15N]Phenylalanine (50 µmol/kg each) were administered, respectively. Blood and muscle tissue samples were collected to assess mixed muscle protein synthesis and breakdown rates. The preliminary results from this study indicate that there is no difference in either fractional synthesis rate (mean ± SD; arteriovenous balance: 0.19 ± 0.17 %/h; tracer incorporation: 0.14 ± 0.08 %/h; P = .42) or fractional breakdown rate (arteriovenous balance: 0.29 ± 0.22 %/h; tracer incorporation: 0.23 ± 0.14 %/h; P = .84) between methods. These data support the validity of both methods in quantifying muscle amino acid kinetics; however, the results are limited and adequately powered research is still required.
Variation in Soybean Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Biotypes Within Fields
Authors: Bhusal S J , Koch R L , Lorenz A J
Published: April 2021

Soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae)) has been a major pest of soybean in North America since its detection in this continent in 2000 and subsequent spread. Although several aphid resistance genes have been identified, at least four soybean aphid biotypes have been discovered, with three of them being virulent on soybean cultivars with certain soybean aphid resistance genes. These biotypes are known to vary across years and locations, but information on their variation within single fields is limited. An investigation was conducted to study the variation of soybean aphid biotypes within single townships and fields in Minnesota. Screening of 28 soybean aphid isolates collected from seven soybean fields (six soybean fields in Cairo and Wellington Townships of Renville County, MN and one field in Wilmar Township of Kandiyohi County, MN) revealed the existence of multiple known biotypes of soybean aphid within single fields of soybean. We found up to three biotypes of soybean aphid in a single field. Two biotypes were found in five fields while only one field had only a single biotype. Three isolates presented reactions on a panel of resistant and susceptible indicator lines that were different from known biotypes. These results highlight the importance of characterizing soybean aphid biotypes in small geographical areas and utilizing generated knowledge to develop soybean cultivars pyramided with multiple resistance genes. The outcome will be decreased use of insecticides, thereby improving economic and environmental sustainability of soybean production.
Choral-Preludes—Ancient and Modern
Authors: Macpherson Charles
Published: April 2021

Until within fairly recent times it was rather exceptional than otherwise to find choral-preludes figuring in an organ recital programme. Now, not only do they frequently appear, but it is possible to give a recital consisting entirely of works based on chorales, and this too without laying the performer open to the charge of sameness in his choice, even though he submit specimens by only a few composers,' so much variety of style is there in this species of composition.
A Crusader Duel at the Crystal Palace: The statues of Godfrey of Bouillon and Richard the Lionheart at the Great Exhibition
Authors: John Simon
Published: April 2021

This article examines the display of two sculptures of medieval figures at the Great Exhibition in 1851. Those sculptures – Carlo Marochetti’s Richard Coeur de Lion and Eugène Simonis’ Godefroid de Bouillon – both honoured figures remembered as crusaders, and are better known in their permanent bronze versions that stand today in London and Brussels respectively. However, it is often overlooked that both works appeared at the exhibition, with Marochetti displaying his work on behalf of England, and Simonis exhibiting his on behalf of Belgium. Their appearance in 1851 stimulated a multi-faceted national rivalry, evidently encompassing both the two sculptors and the respective heads of state, Victoria and Leopold I of the Belgians. Drawing from written evidence and visual culture, this article traces the shared history of the sculptures at the Great Exhibition, before exploring contemporary responses to their appearance there. Its findings contribute to scholarly debates over the status of the Great Exhibition as either a peace congress or the catalyst for international competition, as well as to discussions over the cultural impact of the medieval past in the nineteenth century.
Anti-Golgi Antibody as a Potential Indicator for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Zhai Jianzhao , Liao Jing , Wang Minjin , Huang Zhuochun , Hu Jing , Xu Huan , Xie Qibing , Ma Bin , Baan Carla C , Wu Yongkang
Published: April 2021

Objective

To reveal the relationship between anti-Golgi antibody (AGA) and clinical diseases through retrospective analysis.

Methods

The clinical data of 584 cases testing positive for AGA in the past 11 years were collected and retrospectively analyzed.

Results

AGA pattern accounted for .2% of positive ANA results. In total, 35.0% of diagnosed patients had autoimmune diseases (AID), mainly rheumatoid arthritis (RA). High-titer AGA (≧1:1000) was common in AID. In nondiagnosed patients with clinical symptoms, joint pain/muscle pain was the most common.

Conclusions

Positive AGA with high titer was closely related to RA. Joint pain/muscle pain was the most common symptom in patients who tested AGA positive. Therefore, AGA may be a key indicator of RA in the Chinese population.
On the weak-lensing masses of a new sample of galaxy groups
Authors: Gonzalez Elizabeth J , Rodriguez Facundo , Merchán Manuel , García Lambas Diego , Makler Martín , Chalela Martín , Pereira Maria E S , Moraes Bruno , Shan HuanYuan
Published: April 2021

Galaxy group masses are important to relate these systems with the dark matter halo hosts. However, deriving accurate mass estimates is particularly challenging for low-mass galaxy groups. Moreover, calibration of observational mass-proxies using weak-lensing estimates have been mainly focused on massive clusters. We present here a study of halo masses for a sample of galaxy groups identified according to a spectroscopic catalogue, spanning a wide mass range. The main motivation of our analysis is to assess mass estimates provided by the galaxy group catalogue derived through an abundance matching luminosity technique. We derive total halo mass estimates according to a stacking weak-lensing analysis. Our study allows to test the accuracy of mass estimates based on this technique as a proxy for the halo masses of large group samples. Lensing profiles are computed combining the groups in different bins of abundance matching mass, richness, and redshift. Fitted lensing masses correlate with the masses obtained from abundance matching. However, when considering groups in the low- and intermediate-mass ranges, masses computed according to the characteristic group luminosity tend to predict higher values than the determined by the weak-lensing analysis. The agreement improves for the low-mass range if the groups selected have a central early-type galaxy. Presented results validate the use of mass estimates based on abundance matching techniques, which provide good proxies to the halo host mass in a wide mass range.
Investigating lack of accretion disc eccentricity growth in a global 3D MHD simulation of a superhump system
Authors: Oyang Bryance , Jiang (姜燕飞) Yan-Fei , Blaes Omer
Published: April 2021

We present the results of a 3D global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of an AM CVn system that was aimed at exploring eccentricity growth in the accretion disc self-consistently from a first principles treatment of the MHD turbulence. No significant eccentricity growth occurs in the simulation. In order to investigate the reasons why, we ran 2D alpha disc simulations with alpha values of 0.01, 0.1, and 0.2, and found that only the latter two exhibit significant eccentricity growth. We present an equation expressing global eccentricity evolution in terms of contributing forces and use it to analyse the simulations. As expected, we find that the dominant term contributing to the growth of eccentricity is the tidal gravity of the companion star. In the 2D simulations, the alpha viscosity directly contributes to eccentricity growth. In contrast, the overall magnetic forces in the 3D simulation damp eccentricity. We also analysed the mode-coupling mechanism of Lubow, and confirmed that the spiral wave excited by the 3:1 resonance was the dominant contributor to eccentricity growth in the 2D α = 0.1 simulations, but other waves also contribute significantly. We found that the α = 0.1 and 0.2 simulations had more relative mass at larger radii compared to the α = 0.01 and 3D MHD simulation, which also had an effective α of 0.01. This suggests that in 3D MHD simulations without sufficient poloidal magnetic flux, MRI turbulence does not saturate at a high enough α to spread the disc to large enough radii to reproduce the superhumps observed in real systems.
The morpho-kinematical structure and chemical abundances of the complex planetary nebula NGC 1514
Authors: Aller A , Vázquez R , Olguín L , Miranda L F , Ressler M E
Published: April 2021

We present high-resolution, long-slit optical spectra and images of the planetary nebula NGC 1514. The position velocity maps of the [O iii] emission line reveal complex kinematics with multiple structures. A morpho-kinematical analysis suggests an inner shell, originally spherical and now distorted by several bubbles, and an attached outer shell. The two well-defined, mid-infrared rings of NGC 1514 are not detected in our high-resolution, long-slit spectra, which prevented us from doing a kinematical analysis of them. Based exclusively on their morphology, we propose a barrel-like structure to explain the rings. Several ejection processes have been possibly involved in the formation of the nebula, although a time sequence is difficult to establish with the current data. We also analyse intermediate-resolution, long-slit spectra with the goal of studying the physical parameters and chemical abundances of NGC 1514. The nebular spectra reveal a moderate-excitation nebula with weak emission lines of [Ar iii], [Ne iii], He i, and He ii. Neither [N ii] nor other low-excitation emission lines are detected. We found an electron temperature around 14 000 K in the gas and an electron density in the range of 2000–4000 cm−3.
The X-ray evolution and geometry of the 2018 outburst of XTE J1810−197
Authors: Borghese A , Rea N , Turolla R , Rigoselli M , Alford J A J , Gotthelf E V , Burgay M , Possenti A , Zane S , Coti Zelati F , Perna R , Esposito P , Mereghetti S , Viganò D , Tiengo A , Götz D , Ibrahim A , Israel G L , Pons J , Sathyaprakash R
Published: April 2021

After 15 yr, in late 2018, the magnetar XTE J1810−197 underwent a second recorded X-ray outburst event and reactivated as a radio pulsar. We initiated an X-ray monitoring campaign to follow the timing and spectral evolution of the magnetar as its flux decays using Swift, XMM–Newton, NuSTAR, and NICER observations. During the year-long campaign, the magnetar reproduced similar behaviour to that found for the first outburst, with a factor of 2 change in its spin-down rate from ∼7.2 × 10−12 to ∼1.5 × 10−11 s s−1 after two months. Unique to this outburst, we confirm the peculiar energy-dependent phase shift of the pulse profile. Following the initial outburst, the spectrum of XTE J1810−197 is well modelled by multiple blackbody components corresponding to a pair of non-concentric, hot thermal caps surrounded by a cooler one, superposed to the colder star surface. We model the energy-dependent pulse profile to constrain the viewing and surface emission geometry and find that the overall geometry of XTE J1810−197 has likely evolved relative to that found for the 2003 event.
Trace elements in dried blood spots as potential discriminating features for metabolic disorder diagnosis in newborns
Authors: Moreda-Piñeiro Jorge , Cocho José A , Couce María Luz , Moreda-Piñeiro Antonio , Bermejo-Barrera Pilar
Published: April 2021

Trace elements in dried blood spots (DBSs) from newborns were determined by laser ablation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and data were subjected to chemometric evaluation in an attempt to classify healthy newborns and newborns suffering from metabolic disorders. Unsupervised [principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA)] and supervised [linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and soft independent modeling by class analogy (SIMCA)] pattern recognition techniques were used as classification techniques. PCA and CA have shown a clear tendency to form two groups (healthy newborns and newborns suffering from metabolic disorders). LDA and SIMCA have predicted that 90.5% and 83.9% of originally grouped healthy newborn cases were correctly classified by LDA and SIMCA, respectively. In addition, these percentages were 97.6% (LDA) and 80.6% (SIMCA) for DBSs from newborns suffering from metabolic disorders. However, SIMCA has only detected one misclassified DBS from the healthy group, and the lower percentage is attributed to four DBSs from the healthy newborn group and five DBSs from newborns with disorders that were found as belonging to both categories (healthy newborns and newborns with disorders) in the training set. LDA also gave a percentage of grouped maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) cases correctly classified of 100%, although the percentage fells to 66.7% when classifying phenylketonuria (PKU) cases. Finally, essential elements such as Fe, K, Rb, and Zn were found to be matched (correlated) with the concentration of amino acids such as phenylalanine, valine, and leucine, biomarkers linked with MSUD and PKU diseases.
The physiology and evolution of microbial selenium metabolism
Authors: Wells Michael , Basu Partha , Stolz John F
Published: April 2021

Selenium is an essential trace element whose compounds are widely metabolized by organisms from all three domains of life. Moreover, phylogenetic evidence indicates that selenium species, along with iron, molybdenum, tungsten, and nickel, were metabolized by the last universal common ancestor of all cellular lineages, primarily for the synthesis of the 21st amino acid selenocysteine. Thus, selenium metabolism is both environmentally ubiquitous and a physiological adaptation of primordial life. Selenium metabolic reactions comprise reductive transformations both for assimilation into macromolecules and dissimilatory reduction of selenium oxyanions and elemental selenium during anaerobic respiration. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the physiology and evolution of both assimilatory and dissimilatory selenium metabolism in bacteria and archaea, highlighting mechanisms of selenium respiration. This includes a thorough discussion of our current knowledge of the physiology of selenocysteine synthesis and incorporation into proteins in bacteria obtained from structural biology. Additionally, this is the first comprehensive discussion in a review of the incorporation of selenium into the tRNA nucleoside 5-methylaminomethyl-2-selenouridine and as an inorganic cofactor in certain molybdenum hydroxylase enzymes. Throughout, conserved mechanisms and derived features of selenium metabolism in both domains are emphasized and discussed within the context of the global selenium biogeochemical cycle.