bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perioperative Contamination of Orthopaedic Polyethylene Implants, Targeting Devices and Arthroscopes. Experts' Decision Tree and Literature Review
Authors: Vautrin Matthias , Moerenhout Kevin , Udin Gilles , Borens Olivier
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Introduction Sterility errors during orthopaedic procedures can be stressful for the surgeon or scrub nurse and lead to devastating infectious complications and liability issues. This paper aims to review orthopaedic surgeon practices and propose possible attitudes to adopt.Methods Out of 1023 questionnaires sent, 170 orthopaedic surgeons answered a Volunteer Feedback Template (multiple-choice test) by SurveyMonkey® (San Mateo, CA, USA) anonymously. The survey questioned surgeon's response to a sterility mistake during a standard total knee joint replacement, trauma surgery and arthroscopic procedure. Those “sterility mistake” situations occurred when there was contamination of 1) a sterile polyethylene (PE) 2) a sterile targeting device, and 3) an arthroscope.Results When the definitive PE is contaminated, and if a new definitive PE will only be available 2 hours later, 52% of surgeons would wait for the new definitive PE (p<0.001). In the same situation, if a new PE will only be available in 4 hours, the results showed a significant difference favoring two other options: ”putting a definitive PE one size smaller or bigger with balance adjustment” (31%); and “leaving the provisional PE in the joint, closing the wound and re-operating the patient in the coming days when the definitive PE arrives” (29%) (p<0.001). When the new PE is only available 24 hours later results were 34% and 31%, respectively (p<0.001). In the case of a surgical procedure for a classic intertrochanteric fracture, if the carbon fiber targeting device is contaminated, most surgeons (50%) chose to put the nail without the targeting device and finish the surgery (p<0.001). When the arthroscope is desterilized, 39% of participants would wait until the arthroscope has been sterilized again (approximately 2 hours), while 24% would use another procedure (p<0.001). Sixty-two percent of surgeons would adapt their strategy. No clear trend could be identified in terms of antibiotic treatment following a sterility error.Conclusions There are no established guidelines on how to deal with sterility breaches during surgery and on the antibiotic strategy following the prolonged surgical time resulting from the delay for a new implant. The most common course of action chosen by participating surgeons is detailed in our expert decision tree - if another sterile component is not available within 2 hours - : insertion of another PE size, rescheduling the operation, adapting the surgical technique (for trauma procedures), or soaking the arthroscope in disinfectant solution. As instances of contamination cannot be avoided, it is recommended to have a minimum of two copies of sterile PE implants, arthroscopes or targeting devices readily available before surgery begins-.
Sex, Seduction, and Care for the Other in Touristic Cuba *
Authors: Simoni Valerio
Published: February 2019

In continuity with stereotypes that can be traced back to colonial times, present-day tourism images of Cuba tend to emphasize the sensual nature of this Caribbean destination, highlighting the cheerfulness and amiability of its inhabitants as well as their alleged “hotness” and exuberant sexuality. Based on fifteen months of ethnographic fieldwork carried out in Cuba between 2005 and 2016, the article discusses Cuban men’s narratives and practices of seduction of foreign tourist women. The focus is on gendered processes of self-definition that reproduce a global image of Cuba as a place charged with sensuality and eroticism while highlighting these men’s sexual, loving, and caring abilities. By moving beyond reductive readings of sex tourism and sex work, the article highlights the broader range of competences, sensitivities, and moral attunements that these intimate relationships bring into play, and the way they inform Cuban men’s subjectivities, their seduction practices, and their hopes and possibilities to establish long-term relationships with their tourist partners.
Exotisation et érotisation d’un haut-lieu et bas-fond touristique : la Casbah d’Alger
Authors: Staszak Jean-François
Published: February 2019

L’article porte sur l’attraction érotique que la Casbah d’Alger a constitué pour les touristes, en particulier dans les années 1930. Exotisée en tant que haut-lieu de l’orientalisme, la Casbah est essentiellement érotisée à travers la mise en scène de deux figures indigènes : la femme recluse et la femme publique. La première est à entr’apercevoir sous son voile ou sur sa terrasse, et c’est son interdit qui fonde son charme ; la seconde se donne à voir dans la rue, et c’est sa disponibilité qui fait son attrait. La visite touristique de la Casbah, qui se fonde sur un droit de regard typiquement colonial, constitue une forme de slumming dont la Mauresque est le motif principal. Analysant des guides de voyage, des cartes postales et divers types de récits, cet article montre le processus d’exo-érotisation à l’œuvre, qui fait de la Casbah un lieu de phantasme et de voyeurisme. Ce processus, qui exerce une certaine violence sur les habitantes de la Casbah, fonctionne pour partie sur un mode performatif, l’imaginaire touristique tendant à modeler le monde qu’il est censé refléter.
Investissements par amour. Économies intimes de l’immobilier touristique au Brésil
Authors: Loloum Tristan
Published: February 2019

Partant d’une enquête ethnographique menée entre 2009 et 2014, au lendemain de la crise économique de 2008, dans une région touristique brésilienne (la côte du Nordeste) en prise avec d’importants investissements immobiliers internationaux, cet article rend compte de l’expérience d’entrepreneurs et d’investisseurs européens dans la concrétisation de projets immobiliers et touristiques sur le continent latino-américain. Suivant une approche anthropologique soucieuse de replacer les comportements économiques dans leur contexte social et culturel, l’enquête montre comment les « migrations par amour », les projets conjugaux, les rapports de genre, les désirs et désillusions amoureuses, ainsi que les relations amicales et familiales des acteurs immobiliers peuvent influencer leurs décisions économiques. L’érotisation des imaginaires touristiques et le caractère international des relations de couple mixte dans lesquelles beaucoup de ces acteurs étaient engagés ajoutent une complexité supplémentaire à l’activité immobilièrestricto sensu. En s’appuyant sur le concept d’« économies intimes », invitant à questionner les frontières entre sphère de marché et sphère intime, l’objectif de l’article est de comprendre le rôle joué par les « expatriations amoureuses » dans la constitution de l’offre immobilière de destinations touristiques internationales.
Mitigasi bencana berbasis kearifan lokal di Desa Tieng, Kabupaten Wonosobo
Authors: Puspitasari Anisa Eka , Bima Dion Prabu Septa , Dewi Titis Puspita
Published: February 2019

Bencana merupakan hal yang lazim dialami oleh masyarakat di Indonesia dan menjadi problematika tersendiri.Masyarakat yang terbiasa menghadapi bencana akan memiliki pengetahuan lokal dalam melakukan mitigasi bencana. Pengetahuan lokal atau kearifan lokal tersebut merupakan hasil dari adaptasi serta pengalaman dari kejadian yang pernah terjadi di daerah tersebut. Penelitian ini mengambil lokasi di Desa Tieng, Kecamatan Kejajar, Kabupaten Wonosobo. Desa Tieng merupakan wilayah yang rawan longsor dan pernah dilanda banjir bandang pada tanggal 18 Desember 2011. Bencana banjir bandang tersebut menimbulkan korban jiwa serta kerugian harta benda yang tidak sedikit. Adapun metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif dengan pendekatan struktural fungsional terkait kesadaran kolektif masyarakat. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisa upaya mitigasiberbasis kearifan lokal yang dilakukan masyarakat di Desa Tieng, Kabupaten Wonosobo. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah masyarakat memiliki kesadaran bersama untuk melakukan mitigasi yang ditunjukan dengan kebiasaan untuk keluar rumah dan menuju tempat yang lebih aman dengan membawa surat berharga ketika terjadi hujan deras dengan intensitas tinggi lebih dari dua jam, sebulan sekali kerja bakti membersihkan sungai dan menanam pohon, sering diadakan sosialisasi tentang banjir dan longsor khususnya ketika musim hujan, serta masyarakat memiliki pemahaman bahwa mereka harus bersikap arif kepada alam.
Upper bound on the biological effects of 50/60 Hz magnetic fields mediated by radical pairs
Authors: Hore PJ
Published: February 2019

Prolonged exposure to weak (~1 μT) extremely-low-frequency (ELF, 50/60 Hz) magnetic fields has been associated with an increased risk of childhood leukaemia. One of the few biophysical mechanisms that might account for this link involves short-lived chemical reaction intermediates known as radical pairs. In this report, we use spin dynamics simulations to derive an upper bound of 10 parts per million on the effect of a 1 μT ELF magnetic field on the yield of a radical pair reaction. By comparing this figure with the corresponding effects of changes in the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field, we conclude that if exposure to such weak 50/60 Hz magnetic fields has any effect on human biology, and results from a radical pair mechanism, then the risk should be no greater than travelling a few kilometres towards or away from the geomagnetic north or south pole.
Design and Analysis of Nanoantenna Arrays for Imaging and Sensing Applications at Optical Frequencies
Authors: Ergul O. , Isiklar G. , Cetin I. C. , Algun M.
Published: February 2019

We present computational analysis of nanoantenna arrays for imaging and sensing applications at optical frequencies. Arrays of metallic nanoantennas are considered in an accurate simulation environment based on surface integral equations and the multilevel fast multipole algorithm developed for plasmonic structures. Near-zone responses of the designed arrays to nearby nanoparticles are investigated in detail to demonstrate the feasibility of detection. We show that both metallic and dielectric nanoparticles, even with subwavelength dimensions, can be detected.
Success of concrete and crab traps in facilitating Eastern oyster recruitment and reef development
Authors: Johnson Emma E. , Medina Miles D. , Bersoza Hernandez Ada C. , Kusel Gregory A. , Batzer Audrey N. , Angelini Christine
Published: February 2019

Background

Abundance of the commercially and ecologically important Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, has declined across the US Eastern and Gulf coasts in recent decades, spurring substantial efforts to restore oyster reefs. These efforts are widely constrained by the availability, cost, and suitability of substrates to support oyster settlement and reef establishment. In particular, oyster shell is often the preferred substrate but is relatively scarce and increasingly expensive. Thus, there is a need for alternative oyster restoration materials that are cost-effective, abundant, and durable.

Methods

We tested the viability of two low-cost substrates—concrete and recycled blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) traps—in facilitating oyster recovery in a replicated 22-month field experiment at historically productive but now degraded intertidal oyster grounds on northwestern Florida’s Nature Coast. Throughout the trial, we monitored areal oyster cover on each substrate; at the end of the trial, we measured the densities of oysters by size class (spat, juvenile, and market-size) and the biomass and volume of each reef.

Results

Oysters colonized the concrete structures more quickly than the crab traps, as evidenced by significantly higher oyster cover during the first year of the experiment. By the end of the experiment, the concrete structures hosted higher densities of spat and juveniles, while the density of market-size oysters was relatively low and similar between treatments. The open structure of the crab traps led to the development of larger-volume reefs, while oyster biomass per unit area was similar between treatments. In addition, substrates positioned at lower elevations (relative to mean sea level) supported higher oyster abundance, size, and biomass than those less frequently inundated at higher elevations.

Discussion

Together, these findings indicate that both concrete and crab traps are viable substrates for oyster reef restoration, especially when placed at lower intertidal elevations conducive to oyster settlement and reef development.
The Effect of Different Organic Nutrients on Some Quality Properties of Popcorn (Zea mays L. everta)
Authors: Cihangir Haktan , Oktem Abdullah
Published: February 2019

Aims: Organic nutrients such as animal manures, plant-derive compost, biosolids and bioliquids contain varying amounts of plant nutrients and can improve the biological, chemical, and physical properties of soils. They are used primarily for promoting growth of a plant or improving the quality of a crop. Study was aimed to find out the effect of conventional and fifteen different organic nutrients (peat, compost, cattle manure, chicken manure, horse manure, sheep manure, pigeon manure, vermicompost, seaweed + cattle manure, compost + humic acid, cattle manure + humic acid, chicken manure + humic acid, horse manure + humic acid, sheep manure + humic acid and peat + humic acid) on some quality properties of popcorn.

Study Design: Trial was designed in complete randomized block design with three replications. Ant-Cin-98 popcorn cultivar was used in the study. Each parcel comprised 4 lines. The planting was made into a depth of 5-6 cm along the lines 5 meters long with a row spacing of 70 cm and intra row of 20 cm.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Diyarbakır - Cermik conditions of Turkey between 2010 and 2011.

Methodology: The effect of conventional and fifteen different organic materials to some quality parameters of popcorn such as cob ratio, 1000-kernel weights, test weight, popping volume and number of unpopped kernel were evaluated in the study. Physical and chemical properties of the trial area were determined by taking soil sample from a depth of 0-30 cm on the trial area before planting.

Results: According to the investigated results, the highest and the lowest values were ranked between 19.98% (peat + humic acid) and 17.26% (vermicompost) for cob ratio, 138.65 g (seaweed + cattle manure) and 122.48 g (chicken manure) for 1000-kernel weight, 81.29 kg hl-1 (horse manure + humic acid) and 75.62 kg hl-1 (vermicompost) for test weight, 19.71 cm³ g-1 (peat) and 17.17 cm³ g-1 (sheep manure + humic acid), for popping volume 5.92% (peat) and 3.65% (horse manure + humic acid) for number of unpopped kernel.

Conclusion: Higher values were obtained from organic nutrient sources than conversional application in all tested quality parameters. The implementation of organic fertilizers together with humic acid in popcorn produced better results in comparison to alone implementation of organic fertilizers. Also it was determined that use of natural enemies of Trichogramma spp against corn borer can be possible without any chemicals.
A Study of Correlation of Anthropometric Data with Atherogenic Indices of Students of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Elekima Ibioku , Inokon Aniekan
Published: February 2019

Aim: The aim of the study was to correlate anthropometric data with atherogenic indices of students in Rivers State University, Port Harcourt as a means of assessing their cardiovascular health.

Study Design: A pilot study was carried out in Rivers State University, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was conducted within a period of 4 months (June – September, 2018). A total of 82 students were selected from the recruitment process after consenting to participate in the study. Atherogenic indices (after determination of lipid parameters values) and anthropometric measurements were done at the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Methodology: Five millitres (5mls) of fasting blood samples were collected into lithium heparin bottles and spun at 3500 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain plasma. Total cholesterol (TC) and Triglyceride (TG) were assayed based on enzymatic methods. High density lipoprotein (HDL) was assayed using precipitation and enzymatic method while low density lipoprotein (LDL) was calculated using Friedewald equation. After determination of lipid parameters, atherogenic indices were computed as ratios of these lipid parameters. Anthropometric measurements were collected using stadiometer, non-stretchable tape and weighing scale.

Results: Significant increases were seen in both atherogenic indices and anthropometric data of obese (OBS) and overweight (OVW) students compared to ideal weight (NOM) students. Correlation of anthropometric data with atherogenic indices in obese (OBS) students indicated significant positive correlation between WC with NHDL and CRI-2 as well as between WHR with NHDL, AC, CRI-1 and CRI-2.

Conclusion: Obesity is a strong factor among students that induces atherogenic hyperlipoproteinaemia and thus, CVD risks. Also, WHR and WC correlates strongly with atherogenic indices such as NHDL, AC, CRI-1 and CRI-2 and therefore, were seen as better and sensitive anthropometric parameters for predicting cardiovascular risks compared to WHtR and BMI.
Retracted: Knockdown of lncRNA MNX1‐AS1 suppresses cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in prostate cancer
Authors: Li Zongwu , Wang Fangfei , Zhang Shibao
Published: February 2019

Altered expression of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been reported in many malignancies, including prostate cancer. However, the role of lncRNA MNX1‐AS1 in prostate cancer has not been reported. Here, we report that MNX1‐AS1 is expressed in prostate cancer tissues and cells and that siRNA‐mediated knockdown of MNX1‐AS1 inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer DU145 and PC3 cells. In addition, down‐regulation of MNX1‐AS1 decreased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PH‐3, N‐cadherin, and vimentin, but enhanced expression of E‐cadherin. In conclusion, this is the first report that knockdown of MNX1‐AS1 suppresses prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. We believe that MNX1‐AS1 may be a potential new therapeutic target for prostate cancer patients.
Characterizing seasonal dynamics of Amazonian wetlands for conservation and decision making
Authors: Reis Vanessa , Hermoso Virgilio , Hamilton Stephen K. , Bunn Stuart E. , Fluet‐Chouinard Etienne , Venables Bill , Linke Simon
Published: February 2019

In many wetlands the timing and duration of inundation determine ecological characteristics and the provision of ecosystem services; however, wetland conservation decisions often rely on static maps of wetland boundaries that do not capture their dynamic hydrological variability and connectivity.

The Amazon River basin contains some of the world's most extensive wetlands, many of which are floodplains where seasonal flood pulses result in a temporally varying inundation area and hydrological connectivity with river systems.

This study classified Amazon wetlands according to the timing and duration (months per year) of inundation detected by remote sensing, and also investigated the contribution of precipitation regimes in affecting wetland distribution and hydrological dynamics.

Permanently inundated wetlands account for the largest area and are mainly floodplains located in the lowlands of the catchment. Seasonally inundated wetlands varied greatly in the duration of inundation over the course of the year, ranging from 1 to 9 months. Distinct seasonal timing was detected among the large wetland complexes, reflecting rainfall regimes as well as time lags for drainage and drying. For example, inundation in the extensive Llanos de Moxos region of the southern Amazon was protracted and lasted well after the rainy season, compared with the Roraima region of the northern Amazon, where inundation was shorter and tracked the rainy season.

The integration of inundation dynamics into wetland classification captures regional differences in timing and duration of inundation in the major wetlands of the basin that should be considered for conservation planning and other ecological applications. This information can aid regional wetland management and planning, especially with regards to minimizing the effects of dam and waterway construction that can directly affect the natural wetland dynamics. The use of global remotely sensed inundation data makes this approach easily transferable to other large tropical wetlands.
Familial risk of autism alters subcortical and cerebellar brain anatomy in infants and predicts the emergence of repetitive behaviors in early childhood
Authors: Pote Inês , Wang Siying , Sethna Vaheshta , Blasi Anna , Daly Eileen , Kuklisova‐Murgasova Maria , Lloyd‐Fox Sarah , Mercure Evelyne , Busuulwa Paula , Stoencheva Vladimira , Charman Tony , Williams Steven C. R. , Johnson Mark H. , Murphy Declan G. M. , McAlonan Grainne M. ,   The BASIS Team
Published: February 2019

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition, and infant siblings of children with ASD are at a higher risk of developing autistic traits or an ASD diagnosis, when compared to those with typically developing siblings. Reports of differences in brain anatomy and function in high‐risk infants which predict later autistic behaviors are emerging, but although cerebellar and subcortical brain regions have been frequently implicated in ASD, no high‐risk study has examined these regions. Therefore, in this study, we compared regional MRI volumes across the whole brain in 4–6‐month‐old infants with (high‐risk, n = 24) and without (low‐risk, n = 26) a sibling with ASD. Within the high‐risk group, we also examined whether any regional differences observed were associated with autistic behaviors at 36 months. We found that high‐risk infants had significantly larger cerebellar and subcortical volumes at 4–6‐months of age, relative to low‐risk infants; and that larger volumes in high‐risk infants were linked to more repetitive behaviors at 36 months. Our preliminary observations require replication in longitudinal studies of larger samples. If correct, they suggest that the early subcortex and cerebellum volumes may be predictive biomarkers for childhood repetitive behaviors. Autism Res 2019, 12: 614–627. © 2019 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research published byWiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lay Summary

Individuals with a family history of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at risk of ASD and related developmental difficulties. This study revealed that 4–6‐month‐old infants at high‐risk of ASD have larger cerebellum and subcortical volumes than low‐risk infants, and that larger volumes in high‐risk infants are associated with more repetitive behaviors in childhood.
Statistical Foundations for Computerized Adaptive Testing with Response Revision
Authors: Wang Shiyu , Fellouris Georgios , Chang Hua-Hua
Published: February 2019

The compatibility of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) with response revision has been a topic of debate in psychometrics for many years. The problem is to provide test takers opportunities to change their answers during the test, while discouraging deceptive strategies from their side and preserving the statistical efficiency of the traditional CAT. The estimating approach proposed in Wang et al. (Stat Sin 27(4):1987–2010, 2017), based on the nominal response model, allows test takers to provide more than one answer to each item during the test, which they all contribute to the interim and final ability estimation. This approach is here reformulated, extended to incorporate a larger class of polytomous and dichotomous item response theory models, and investigated with simulation studies under different test-taking strategies.
Isolation of circulating tumor cells in non-small-cell-lung-cancer patients using a multi-flow microfluidic channel
Authors: Zhou Jian , Kulasinghe Arutha , Bogseth Amanda , O’Byrne Ken , Punyadeera Chamindie , Papautsky Ian
Published: February 2019

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) carry a wealth of information on primary and metastatic tumors critical for precise cancer detection, monitoring, and treatment. Numerous microfluidic platforms have been developed in the past few years to capture these rare cells in patient bloodstream for deciphering the critical information needed. However, the practical need for a high-quality method of CTC isolation remains to be met. Herein, we demonstrate a novel multi-flow microfluidic device that is able to sensitively provide high purity (>87%) of separation outcome without labeling. Our device is constructed and configured based on the phenomenal effect of size-dependent inertial migration. The recovery rate of >93% has been achieved using spiked cancer cells at clinically relevant concentrations (10 cells per 5 mL and above). We have also successfully detected CTCs from 6 out of 8 non-small-cell-lung-cancer (NSCLC) patients, while none for 5 healthy control subjects. With these results, we envision our approach is a promising alternative for reliable CTC capture, and thus for facilitating the progress of extracting information from CTCs to personalize treatment strategies for solid tumor patients.
Towards a versatile point-of-care system combining femtosecond laser generated microfluidic channels and direct laser written microneedle arrays
Authors: Trautmann Anika , Roth Gian-Luca , Nujiqi Benedikt , Walther Thomas , Hellmann Ralf
Published: February 2019

Microneedle-based microfluidic systems have a great potential to become well-accepted medical devices for simple, accurate, and painless drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip diagnostics. In this work, we report on a novel hybrid approach combining femtosecond direct laser written microneedles with femtosecond laser generated microfluidic channels providing an important step towards versatile medical point-of-care systems. Hollow microneedle arrays are fabricated by a laser system designed for two-photon polymerization applications. Compression tests of two different types of truncated cone-shaped microneedle arrays prepared from OrmoComp® give information about the microneedle mechanical strength, and the results are compared to skin insertion forces. Three-dimensional microchannels are directly created inside PMMA bulk material by an ultrashort pulse laser system with vertical channels having adjustable cross-sectional areas, which allow attaching of microneedles to the microfluidic system. A comprehensive parameter study varying pulse duration and repetition rate is performed on two-photon polymerization to identify an optimal laser power range for fabricating microneedles using the same pulse duration and repetition rate as for microchannels. This addresses the advantage of a single laser system process that overcomes complex fabrication methods. A proof of concept flow test with a rhodamine B dye solution in distilled water demonstrates that the combination of microneedles and microchannels qualifies for microfluidic injection and extraction applications.
Vegetarian diets and risk of hospitalisation or death with diabetes in British adults: results from the EPIC-Oxford study
Authors: Papier Keren , Appleby Paul N. , Fensom Georgina K. , Knuppel Anika , Perez-Cornago Aurora , Schmidt Julie A. , Tong Tammy Y. N. , Key Timothy J.
Published: February 2019

Background

The global prevalence of diabetes is high and rapidly increasing. Some previous studies have found that vegetarians might have a lower risk of diabetes than non-vegetarians.

Objective

We examined the association between vegetarianism and risk of hospitalisation or death with diabetes in a large, prospective cohort study of British adults.

Methods

The analysed cohort included participants from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Oxford study who were diabetes free at recruitment (1993–2001), with available dietary intake data at baseline, and linked hospital admissions and death data for diabetes over follow-up (n = 45,314). Participants were categorised as regular meat eaters (≥50 g per day: n = 15,181); low meat eaters (<50 g of meat per day: n = 7615); fish eaters (ate no meat but consumed fish: n = 7092); and vegetarians (ate no meat or fish, including vegans: n = 15,426). We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to assess associations between diet group and risk of diabetes.

Results

Over a mean of 17.6 years of follow-up, 1224 incident cases of diabetes were recorded. Compared with regular meat eaters, the low meat eaters, fish eaters, and vegetarians were less likely to develop diabetes (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54–0.75; HR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.38–0.59; and HR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.54–0.74, respectively). These associations were substantially attenuated after adjusting for body mass index (BMI) (low meat eaters: HR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.66–0.92; fish eaters: HR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.51–0.80; and vegetarians: HR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.76–1.05).

Conclusions

Low meat and non-meat eaters had a lower risk of diabetes, in part because of a lower BMI.
Genetic risk for schizophrenia and developmental delay is associated with shape and microstructure of midline white-matter structures
Authors: Drakesmith Mark , Parker Greg D. , Smith Jacqueline , Linden Stefanie C. , Rees Elliott , Williams Nigel , Owen Michael J. , van den Bree Marianne , Hall Jeremy , Jones Derek K. , Linden David E. J.
Published: February 2019

Genomic copy number variants (CNVs) are amongst the most highly penetrant genetic risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders. The scarcity of carriers of individual CNVs and their phenotypical heterogeneity limits investigations of the associated neural mechanisms and endophenotypes. We applied a novel design based on CNV penetrance for schizophrenia (Sz) and developmental delay (DD) that allows us to identify structural sequelae that are most relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders. Our focus on brain structural abnormalities was based on the hypothesis that convergent mechanisms contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders would likely manifest in the macro- and microstructure of white matter and cortical and subcortical grey matter. Twenty one adult participants carrying neuropsychiatric risk CNVs (including those located at 22q11.2, 15q11.2, 1q21.1, 16p11.2 and 17q12) and 15 age- and gender-matched controls underwent T1-weighted structural, diffusion and relaxometry MRI. The macro- and microstructural properties of the cingulum bundles were associated with penetrance for both developmental delay and schizophrenia, in particular curvature along the anterior-posterior axis (Sz:pcorr = 0.026; DD:pcorr = 0.035) and intracellular volume fraction (Sz:pcorr = 0.019; DD:pcorr = 0.064). Further principal component analysis showed alterations in the interrelationships between the volumes of several midline white-matter structures (Sz:pcorr = 0.055; DD:pcorr = 0.027). In particular, the ratio of volumes in the splenium and body of the corpus callosum was significantly associated with both penetrance scores (Sz:p = 0.037; DD;p = 0.006). Our results are consistent with the notion that a significant alteration in developmental trajectories of midline white-matter structures constitutes a common neurodevelopmental aberration contributing to risk for schizophrenia and intellectual disability.
Glycine decarboxylase induces autophagy and is downregulated by miRNA-30d-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhuang Hao , Wu Fei , Wei Wen , Dang Yamei , Yang Baicai , Ma Xuda , Han Feng , Li Yongmei
Published: February 2019

Abstracts

Glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) belongs to the glycine cleavage system and is involved in one-carbon metabolism. We previously reported that GLDC downregulation enhances hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and intrahepatic metastasis through decreasing ROS-mediated ubiquitination of cofilin. The role of autophagy in cancer metastasis is still controversial. Redox-dependent autophagy largely relies on the magnitude and the rate of ROS generation. Thus, we aimed to explore the role of GLDC in cellular autophagy during HCC progression. We showed that a high GLDC expression level is associated with better overall survival and is an independent factor for the favorable prognosis of HCC patients. GLDC overexpression significantly induced cell autophagy, whereas GLDC downregulation reduced cell autophagy. Of note, GLDC is the post-transcriptional target of miR-30d-5p. GLDC overexpression could rescue miR-30d-5p-mediated cell metastasis and increase autophagy. Furthermore, upregulation of GLDC could significantly decrease p62 expression and impair intrahepatic metastasis in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that GLDC may play an important role to increasing miR-30d-5p-reduced autophagy to suppress HCC progress.
Cellular TRIM33 restrains HIV-1 infection by targeting viral integrase for proteasomal degradation
Authors: Ali Hashim , Mano Miguel , Braga Luca , Naseem Asma , Marini Bruna , Vu Diem My , Collesi Chiara , Meroni Germana , Lusic Marina , Giacca Mauro
Published: February 2019

Productive HIV-1 replication requires viral integrase (IN), which catalyzes integration of the viral genome into the host cell DNA. IN, however, is short lived and is rapidly degraded by the host ubiquitin-proteasome system. To identify the cellular factors responsible for HIV-1 IN degradation, we performed a targeted RNAi screen using a library of siRNAs against all components of the ubiquitin-conjugation machinery using high-content microscopy. Here we report that the E3 RING ligase TRIM33 is a major determinant of HIV-1 IN stability. CD4-positive cells with TRIM33 knock down show increased HIV-1 replication and proviral DNA formation, while those overexpressing the factor display opposite effects. Knock down of TRIM33 reverts the phenotype of an HIV-1 molecular clone carrying substitution of IN serine 57 to alanine, a mutation known to impair viral DNA integration. Thus, TRIM33 acts as a cellular factor restricting HIV-1 infection by preventing provirus formation.
Dynamic network coding of working-memory domains and working-memory processes
Authors: Soreq Eyal , Leech Robert , Hampshire Adam
Published: February 2019

The classic mapping of distinct aspects of working memory (WM) to mutually exclusive brain areas is at odds with the distributed processing mechanisms proposed by contemporary network science theory. Here, we use machine-learning to determine how aspects of WM are dynamically coded in the human brain. Using cross-validation across independent fMRI studies, we demonstrate that stimulus domains (spatial, number and fractal) and WM processes (encode, maintain, probe) are classifiable with high accuracy from the patterns of network activity and connectivity that they evoke. This is the case even when focusing on ‘multiple demands’ brain regions, which are active across all WM conditions. Contrary to early neuropsychological perspectives, these aspects of WM do not map exclusively to brain areas or processing streams; however, the mappings from that literature form salient features within the corresponding multivariate connectivity patterns. Furthermore, connectivity patterns provide the most precise basis for classification and become fine-tuned as maintenance load increases. These results accord with a network-coding mechanism, where the same brain regions support diverse WM demands by adopting different connectivity states.
Reconstructing meaning from bits of information
Authors: Kivisaari Sasa L. , van Vliet Marijn , Hultén Annika , Lindh-Knuutila Tiina , Faisal Ali , Salmelin Riitta
Published: February 2019

Modern theories of semantics posit that the meaning of words can be decomposed into a unique combination of semantic features (e.g., “dog” would include “barks”). Here, we demonstrate using functional MRI (fMRI) that the brain combines bits of information into meaningful object representations. Participants receive clues of individual objects in form of three isolated semantic features, given as verbal descriptions. We use machine-learning-based neural decoding to learn a mapping between individual semantic features and BOLD activation patterns. The recorded brain patterns are best decoded using a combination of not only the three semantic features that were in fact presented as clues, but a far richer set of semantic features typically linked to the target object. We conclude that our experimental protocol allowed us to demonstrate that fragmented information is combined into a complete semantic representation of an object and to identify brain regions associated with object meaning.
Adaptive laboratory evolution of a genome-reduced Escherichia coli
Authors: Choe Donghui , Lee Jun Hyoung , Yoo Minseob , Hwang Soonkyu , Sung Bong Hyun , Cho Suhyung , Palsson Bernhard , Kim Sun Chang , Cho Byung-Kwan
Published: February 2019

Synthetic biology aims to design and construct bacterial genomes harboring the minimum number of genes required for self-replicable life. However, the genome-reduced bacteria often show impaired growth under laboratory conditions that cannot be understood based on the removed genes. The unexpected phenotypes highlight our limited understanding of bacterial genomes. Here, we deploy adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) to re-optimize growth performance of a genome-reduced strain. The basis for suboptimal growth is the imbalanced metabolism that is rewired during ALE. The metabolic rewiring is globally orchestrated by mutations in rpoD altering promoter binding of RNA polymerase. Lastly, the evolved strain has no translational buffering capacity, enabling effective translation of abundant mRNAs. Multi-omic analysis of the evolved strain reveals transcriptome- and translatome-wide remodeling that orchestrate metabolism and growth. These results reveal that failure of prediction may not be associated with understanding individual genes, but rather from insufficient understanding of the strain’s systems biology.
Assembly and functionality of the ribosome with tethered subunits
Authors: Aleksashin Nikolay A. , Leppik Margus , Hockenberry Adam J. , Klepacki Dorota , Vázquez-Laslop Nora , Jewett Michael C. , Remme Jaanus , Mankin Alexander S.
Published: February 2019

Ribo-T is an engineered ribosome whose small and large subunits are tethered together by linking 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA in a single molecule. Although Ribo-T can support cell proliferation in the absence of wild type ribosomes, Ribo-T cells grow slower than those with wild type ribosomes. Here, we show that cell growth defect is likely explained primarily by slow Ribo-T assembly rather than its imperfect functionality. Ribo-T maturation is stalled at a late assembly stage. Several post-transcriptional rRNA modifications and some ribosomal proteins are underrepresented in the accumulated assembly intermediates and rRNA ends are incompletely trimmed. Ribosome profiling of Ribo-T cells shows no defects in translation elongation but reveals somewhat higher occupancy by Ribo-T of the start codons and to a lesser extent stop codons, suggesting that subunit tethering mildly affects the initiation and termination stages of translation. Understanding limitations of Ribo-T system offers ways for its future development.
Author Correction: Growth hormone regulates neuroendocrine responses to weight loss via AgRP neurons
Authors: Furigo Isadora C. , Teixeira Pryscila D. S. , de Souza Gabriel O. , Couto Gisele C. L. , Romero Guadalupe García , Perelló Mario , Frazão Renata , Elias Lucila L. , Metzger Martin , List Edward O. , Kopchick John J. , Donato J.
Published: February 2019

The original version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of the author J. Donato Jr, which was incorrectly given as Donato J. Jr. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Superstrong coupling in circuit quantum electrodynamics
Authors: Kuzmin Roman , Mehta Nitish , Grabon Nicholas , Mencia Raymond , Manucharyan Vladimir E.
Published: February 2019

Vacuum fluctuations fundamentally affect an atom by inducing a finite excited state lifetime along with a Lamb shift of its transition frequency. Here we report the reverse effect: modification of vacuum modes by a single atom in circuit quantum electrodynamics. Our one-dimensional vacuum is a long section of a high wave impedance (comparable to resistance quantum) superconducting transmission line. It is directly wired to a transmon qubit circuit. Owing to the combination of high impedance and galvanic connection, the transmon’s spontaneous emission linewidth can greatly exceed the discrete transmission line modes spacing. This condition defines a previously unexplored superstrong coupling regime of quantum electrodynamics where many frequency-resolved vacuum modes hybridize with a single atom. We establish this regime by observing the spontaneous emission line of the transmon, revealed through the mode-by-mode measurement of the vacuum’s density of states. The linewidth as well as the atom-induced dispersive photon−photon interaction are accurately described by a physically transparent Caldeira−Leggett model, with the transmon’s quartic nonlinearity treated as a perturbation. Nonperturbative modification of vacuum, including inelastic scattering of single photons, can be enabled by the superstrong coupling regime upon replacing the transmon by more anharmonic qubits, with broad implications for simulating quantum impurity models of many-body physics.
Retail liver juices enhance the survivability of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli at low temperatures
Authors: Karki Anand B. , Wells Harrington , Fakhr Mohamed K.
Published: February 2019

The high prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in retail liver products was previously reported and has been linked to several outbreaks of campylobacteriosis. The main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of retail liver juices on the survivability of several strains of C. jejuni and C. coli, which were previously isolated from various retail meats at 4 °C. All tested Campylobacter strains showed higher survival in beef liver juice (BLJ) and chicken liver juice (CLJ) as compared to beef and chicken juices (BJ and CJ) or Mueller Hinton broth (MHB) at 4 °C. Overall, C. jejuni strains showed greater survival in retail liver and meat juices as compared to C. coli. CLJ enhanced biofilm formation of most C. coli strains and supported growth in favorable conditions. When diluted, retail liver and meat juices enhanced survival of Campylobacter strains at low temperatures and increased aerotolerance. In conclusion, beef and chicken liver juices enhanced the survival of C. jejuni and C. coli strains at low temperatures, which helps explain the high prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in retail liver products.
Validation of clinic-based cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay screening in HIV-infected adults in South Africa
Authors: Drain Paul K. , Hong Ting , Krows Meighan , Govere Sabina , Thulare Hilary , Wallis Carole L. , Gosnell Bernadett I. , Moosa Mahomed-Yunus , Bassett Ingrid V. , Celum Connie
Published: February 2019

Since rapid cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assays (CrAg LFA) may expedite treatment of HIV-associated cryptococcal infections, we sought to validate clinic-based CrAg LFA testing. Among newly-diagnosed HIV-infected adults in South Africa, a trained nurse performed clinic-based testing of urine, fingerprick capillary and venous whole blood with rapid CrAg LFA (Immy Diagnostics, Norman, USA). We performed matched laboratory-based serum cryptococcal antigen testing with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). We assessed diagnostic accuracy using EIA as the gold-standard, and performed additional validation testing on serum and among hospitalized adults with cryptococcal meningitis. Among 5,618 participants enrolled, 1,296 were HIV-infected and screened for cryptococcal antigenemia. Overall CrAg prevalence by serum EIA was 3.6% (95% CI 2.0–6.0%) for adults with CD4 < 200 cells/mm3, and 5.7% (95% CI 2.8–10.2%) for adults with CD4 < 100 cells/mm3. Using expanded screening guidelines (CD4 < 200 cells/mm3), CrAg LFA testing of venous whole blood, fingerprick capillary blood, and urine had diagnostic sensitivities of 46% (95% CI 19–75%), 38% (95% CI 14–68%), and 54% (95% CI 25–81%), and specificities of 97%, 97%, and 86%, respectively. When tested on serum samples, CrAg LFA had sensitivity of 93% (95% CI 66–100%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI 88–100%). All venous and fingerprick whole blood CrAg LFA tests were positive among 30 hospitalized adults with cryptococcal meningitis. Two independent readers had strong agreement for all LFA results (p < 0.0001). When performed at the point-of-care by trained nurses, CrAg LFA testing was feasible, had the highest accuracy on serum specimens, and may accelerate treatment of HIV-associated cryptococcal infections.
The effect of interventions on the transmission and spread of HIV in South Africa: a phylodynamic analysis
Authors: Wilkinson Eduan , Junqueira Dennis Maletich , Lessells Richard , Engelbrecht Susan , van Zyl Gert , de Oliveira Tulio , Salemi Marco
Published: February 2019

The epidemic in South Africa is characterized by high genetic diversity driven by multiple independent introductions. The bulk of these introductions occurred between 1985–2000 during which time HIV prevalence increased exponentially. Epidemic growth has stabilized in recent years with the implementation of several interventions. Here we identified distinct HIV clades from a large sequence dataset of southern African HIV sequences (n = 15,332). Each clade was characterized using phylodynamic and phylogeographic methods to infer their growth through time and space. The estimated date of origin for the 18 clades that were found, fell between 1979–1992 with strong growth during the 1990’s. Phylogeographic reconstruction revealed wide dispersal of clades throughout the country with the city of Johannesburg as the focal point of viral dispersal. We found clear signs of decreasing growth rate in four of the clades since the advent of interventions, while other clades have continued to growth and expand. Our results demonstrate that interventions do not affect the HIV epidemic universally with major difference between different clades over time and space. Here we demonstrate the utility and flexibility of molecular epidemiological methods and demonstrate how they can potentially be a powerful tool in HIV epidemic monitoring in South Africa.
Downregulation of M-channels in lateral habenula mediates hyperalgesia during alcohol withdrawal in rats
Authors: Kang Seungwoo , Li Jing , Zuo Wanhong , Chen Pei , Gregor Danielle , Fu Rao , Han Xiao , Bekker Alex , Ye Jiang-Hong
Published: February 2019

Hyperalgesia often occurs in alcoholics, especially during abstinence, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The lateral habenula (LHb) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of pain and alcohol use disorders. Suppression of m-type potassium channels (M-channels) has been found to contribute to the hyperactivity of LHb neurons of rats withdrawn from chronic alcohol administration. Here, we provided evidence that LHb M-channels may contribute to hyperalgesia. Compared to alcohol naïve counterparts, in male Long-Evans rats at 24-hours withdrawal from alcohol administration under the intermittent access paradigm for eight weeks, hyperalgesia was evident (as measured by paw withdrawal latencies in the Hargreaves Test), which was accompanied with higher basal activities of LHb neurons in brain slices, and lower M-channel protein expression. Inhibition of LHb neurons by chemogenetics, or pharmacological activation of M-channels, as well as overexpression of M-channels’ subunit KCNQ3, relieved hyperalgesia and decreased relapse-like alcohol consumption. In contrast, chemogenetic activation of LHb neurons induced hyperalgesia in alcohol-naive rats. These data reveal a central role for the LHb in hyperalgesia during alcohol withdrawal, which may be due in part to the suppression of M-channels and, thus, highlights M-channels in the LHb as a potential therapeutic target for hyperalgesia in alcoholics.