bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Ambient air Pollution with risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jia Lu , Liu Qing , Hou Huiqing , Guo Guangli , Zhang Ting , Fan Songli , Wang Li
Published: November 2020

Background

Ambient air pollution is becoming a serious environmental problem in China. The results were inconsistent on that air pollution was a risk factor of preeclampsia in pregnancy.

Methods

Total 116,042 pregnant women were enrolled from 22 hospitals in 10 cities of Hebei Province, China from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. The parturients were divided into preeclampsia group (PE group) and non-preeclampsia group (non-PE group). The data of air pollutants, namely, particulate matter (PM)2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, O3 were collected from China Environmental Inspection Station.

Results

Among the 116,042 pregnant women, 2988 (2.57%) pregnant women were diagnosed with preeclampsia. The concentrations of exposed PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and O3 in the PE group were significantly higher than those in the non-PE group, and they were risk factors of the PE group in the first and second trimester of pregnancy respectively. The concentrations of exposed SO2 and CO in PE patients and non-PE women were not different, but high concentration of these air pollutants were risk factors to PE in the second trimester.

Conclusion

The exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3 were risk factors for preeclampsia in the first and second trimester of pregnancy, while only at high level, SO2 and CO were risk factors for preeclampsia in the second trimester of pregnancy.
circCUL2 regulates gastric cancer malignant transformation and cisplatin resistance by modulating autophagy activation via miR-142-3p/ROCK2
Authors: Peng Lei , Sang Huaiming , Wei Shuchun , Li Yuanyuan , Jin Duochen , Zhu Xudong , Li Xuan , Dang Yini , Zhang Guoxin
Published: November 2020

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and can modulate gene expression by binding to miRNAs; further, circRNAs have been shown to participate in several pathological processes. However, the expression and biological function of circCUL2 in gastric cancer (GC) remains largely unknown.

Methods

circRNA microarrays and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in GC tissues and cell lines. circCUL2 knockdown and overexpression were performed to indicate the functional role of circCUL2 in vitro and in vivo. The expression and regulation of circCUL2, miR-142-3p and ROCK2 were evaluated using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), dual-luciferase assays, RNA pull-down assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and rescue experiments. Furthermore, the regulation of cisplatin sensitivity and autophagy by circCUL2/miR-142-3p/ROCK2 was demonstrated by cellular apoptosis assays, western blot, immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy analyses.

Results

The level of circCUL2, which is stable and cytoplasmically localized, was significantly reduced in GC tissues and cells. Overexpressed circCUL2 inhibited malignant transformation in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. In the AGS and SGC-7901 cell lines, circCUL2 sponged miR-142-3p to regulate ROCK2, thus modulating tumor progression. Furthermore, in the AGS/DDP and SGC-7901/DDP cell lines, circCUL2 regulated cisplatin sensitivity through miR-142-3p/ROCK2-mediated autophagy activation.

Conclusion

circCUL2 may function as a tumor suppressor and regulator of cisplatin sensitivity through miR-142-3p/ROCK2-mediated autophagy activation, which could be a key mechanism and therapeutic target for GC.
The PVT1 lncRNA is a novel epigenetic enhancer of MYC, and a promising risk-stratification biomarker in colorectal cancer
Authors: Shigeyasu Kunitoshi , Toden Shusuke , Ozawa Tsuyoshi , Matsuyama Takatoshi , Nagasaka Takeshi , Ishikawa Toshiaki , Sahoo Debashis , Ghosh Pradipta , Uetake Hiroyuki , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi , Goel Ajay
Published: November 2020

Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulation of transcriptional enhancers plays a significant role in cancer pathogenesis. Herein, we performed a genome-wide discovery of enhancer elements in colorectal cancer (CRC). We identified PVT1 locus as a previously unrecognized transcriptional regulator in CRC with a significantly high enhancer activity, which ultimately was responsible for regulating the expression of MYC oncogene. High expression of the PVT1 long-non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcribed from the PVT1 locus was associated with poor survival among patients with stage II and III CRCs (p < 0.05). Aberrant methylation of the PVT1 locus inversely correlated with the reduced expression of the corresponding the PVT1 lncRNA, as well as MYC gene expression. Bioinformatic analyses of CRC-transcriptomes revealed that the PVT1 locus may also broadly impact the expression and function of other key genes within two key CRC-associated signaling pathways – the TGFβ/SMAD and Wnt/β-Catenin pathways. We conclude that the PVT1 is a novel oncogenic enhancer of MYC and its activity is controlled through epigenetic regulation mediated through aberrant methylation in CRC. Our findings also suggest that the PVT1 lncRNA expression is a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in CRC.
Functionally enhanced placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells inhibit adipogenesis in orbital fibroblasts with Graves’ ophthalmopathy
Authors: Kim Jae Yeon , Park Sohae , Lee Hyun-Jung , Lew Helen , Kim Gi Jin
Published: November 2020

Background

Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PD-MSCs) have unique immunomodulatory properties. Phosphatase of regenerating liver-1 (PRL-1) regulates the self-renewal ability of stem cells and promotes proliferation. Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the orbit and is characterized by increased orbital levels of adipose tissue. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic mechanism for regulation of adipogenesis by PRL-1-overexpressing PD-MSCs (PD-MSCsPRL-1, PRL-1+) in orbital fibroblast (OF) with GO patients.

Methods

PD-MSCs isolated from human placenta were transfected with the PRL-1 gene using nonviral transfection method. Primary OFs were isolated from orbital adipose tissue specimens from GO patients. After maturation as adipogenic differentiation, normal and GO-derived OFs were cocultured with naïve and PD-MSCsPRL-1. We analyzed the protein levels of adipogenesis markers and their signaling pathways in OFs from GO patients.

Results

The characteristics of PD-MSCsPRL-1 were similar to those of naïve cells. OFs from GO patients induced adipocyte differentiation and had significantly decreased a lipid accumulation after coculture with PD-MSCsPRL-1 compared to naïve cells. The mRNA and protein expression of adipogenic markers was decreased in PD-MSCsPRL-1. Insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) secreting PD-MSCsPRL-1 downregulated the phosphorylated PI3K/AKT/mTOR expression in OFs from GO patients. Interestingly, IGFBP2, − 4, − 6, and − 7 expression in PD-MSCsPRL-1, which was mediated by integrin alpha 4 (ITGA4) and beta 7 (ITGB7), was higher than that in naïve cells and upregulated phosphorylated FAK downstream factor.

Conclusion

In summary, IGFBPs secreting PD-MSCPRL-1 inhibit adipogenesis in OFs from GO patients by upregulating phosphorylated FAK and downregulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. The functional enhancement of PD-MSCs by nonviral gene modification provides a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of degenerative diseases.
Melphalan induces cardiotoxicity through oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Liu Rui , Li Dong , Sun Fangxu , Rampoldi Antonio , Maxwell Joshua T. , Wu Ronghu , Fischbach Peter , Castellino Sharon M. , Du Yuhong , Fu Haian , Mandawat Anant , Xu Chunhui
Published: November 2020

Background

Treatment-induced cardiotoxicity is a leading noncancer-related cause of acute and late onset morbidity and mortality in cancer patients on antineoplastic drugs such as melphalan—increasing clinical case reports have documented that it could induce cardiotoxicity including severe arrhythmias and heart failure. As the mechanism by which melphalan impairs cardiac cells remains poorly understood, here, we aimed to use cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of melphalan-induced cardiotoxicity.

Methods

hiPSC-CMs were generated and treated with clinically relevant doses of melphalan. To characterize melphalan-induced cardiotoxicity, cell viability and apoptosis were quantified at various treatment durations. Ca2+ transient and contractility analyses were used to examine the alterations of hiPSC-CM function. Proteomic analysis, reactive oxygen species detection, and RNA-Sequencing were conducted to investigate underlying mechanisms.

Results

Melphalan treatment of hiPSC-CMs induced oxidative stress, caused Ca2+ handling defects and dysfunctional contractility, altered global transcriptomic and proteomic profiles, and resulted in apoptosis and cell death. The antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine attenuated these genomic, cellular, and functional alterations. In addition, several other signaling pathways including the p53 and transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways were also implicated in melphalan-induced cardiotoxicity according to the proteomic and transcriptomic analyses.

Conclusions

Melphalan induces cardiotoxicity through the oxidative stress pathway. This study provides a unique resource of the global transcriptomic and proteomic datasets for melphalan-induced cardiotoxicity and can potentially open up new clinical mechanism-based targets to prevent and treat melphalan-induced cardiotoxicity.
Galectin-9 is required for endometrial regenerative cells to induce long-term cardiac allograft survival in mice
Authors: Zhao Yiming , Li Xiang , Yu Dingding , Hu Yonghao , Jin Wang , Qin Yafei , Kong Dejun , Wang Hongda , Li Guangming , Alessandrini Alessandro , Wang Hao
Published: November 2020

Background

Endometrial regenerative cells (ERCs), a novel type of mesenchymal-like stem cells, were identified as an attractive candidate for immunoregulation and induction of cardiac allograft tolerance. However, the underlying mechanisms of ERCs in immune regulation still remain largely unclear. The present study is designed to determine whether the expression of Galectin-9 (Gal-9), a soluble tandem-repeat member of the galectin family, is crucial for ERC-based immunomodulation.

Methods

In this study, we measured Gal-9 expression on ERCs and then co-cultured Gal-9-ERCs, ERCs, and ERCs+lactose (Gal-9 blocker) with activated C57BL/6-derived splenocytes. Furthermore, we performed mouse heart transplantation between BALB/c (H-2d) donor and C57BL/6 (H-2b) recipient. ERCs were administrated 24 h after the surgery, either alone or in combination with rapamycin.

Results

Our data demonstrate that ERCs express Gal-9, and this expression is increased by IFN-γ stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, both in vitro and in vivo results show that Gal-9-ERC-mediated therapy significantly suppressed Th1 and Th17 cell response, inhibited CD8+ T cell proliferation, abrogated B cell activation, decreased donor-specific antibody production, and enhanced the Treg population. The therapeutic effect of ERCs was further verified by their roles in prolonging cardiac allograft survival and alleviating graft pathological changes.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data indicate that Gal-9 is required for ERC-mediated immunomodulation and prevention of allograft rejection.
Human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells stimulate ovarian function via miR-145 and bone morphogenetic protein signaling in aged rats
Authors: Kim Kyeoung-Hwa , Kim Eun-Young , Kim Gi Jin , Ko Jung-Jae , Cha Kwang Yul , Koong Mi Kyung , Lee Kyung-Ah
Published: November 2020

Background

Aging has detrimental effects on the ovary, such as a progressive reduction in fertility and decreased hormone production, that greatly reduce the quality of life of women. Thus, the current study was undertaken to investigate whether human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hPD-MSC) treatment can restore the decreases in folliculogenesis and ovarian function that occur with aging.

Methods

Acclimatized 52-week-old female SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: single hPD-MSC (5 × 105) therapy, multiple (three times, 10-day intervals) hPD-MSC therapy, control (PBS), and non-treated groups. hPD-MSC therapy was conducted by tail vein injection into aged rats. The rats were sacrificed 1, 2, 3, and 5 weeks after the last injection. hPD-MSC tracking and follicle numbers were histologically confirmed. The serum levels of sex hormones and circulating miRNAs were detected by ELISA and qRT-PCR, respectively. TGF-β superfamily proteins and SMAD proteins in the ovary were detected by Western blot analysis.

Results

We observed that multiple transplantations of hPD-MSCs more effectively promoted primordial follicle activation and ovarian hormone (E2 and AMH) production than a single injection. After hPD-MSC therapy, the levels of miR-21-5p, miR-132-3p, and miR-212-3p, miRNAs associated with the ovarian reserve, were increased in the serum. Moreover, miRNAs (miR-16-5p, miR-34a-5p, and miR-191-5p) with known adverse effects on folliculogenesis were markedly suppressed. Importantly, the level of miR-145-5p was reduced after single- or multiple-injection hPD-MSC therapy, and we confirmed that miR-145-5p targets Bmpr2 but not Tgfbr2. Interestingly, downregulation of miR-145-5p led to an increase in BMPR2, and activation of SMAD signaling concurrently increased primordial follicle development and the number of primary and antral follicles.

Conclusions

Our study verified that multiple intravenous injections of hPD-MSCs led to improved ovarian function via miR-145-5p and BMP-SMAD signaling and proposed the future therapeutic potential of hPD-MSCs to promote ovarian function in women at advanced age to improve their quality of life during climacterium.
Application of Plackett-Burman and central composite designs for screening and optimization of factor influencing the chromatographic conditions of HPTLC method for quantification of efonidipine hydrochloride
Authors: Chaudhari Suraj R. , Shirkhedkar Atul A.
Published: November 2020

We report here an analytical method for expeditious estimation of efonidipine hydrochloride in tablet formulation with statistical screening and optimization designs using NP-HPTLC. TLC silica gel 60 F254 aluminum plates and ethyl acetate to dichloromethane to triethylamine (3:2:0.5 v/v) were chosen for chromatographic separation of efonidipine hydrochloride. The Rf value for efonidipine hydrochloride turned out to be 0.35 ± 0.25 and quantitative evaluation was done at 251 nm. Plackett-Burman and face-centered central composite design (CCD) were used to obtain the most peak area and well-resolved compact band with an adequate retention factor of efonidipine hydrochloride. Plackett-Burman design at two-level with six independent variables has been employed for screening of prominent factors that affect the responses. The prominent factors have been selected and are optimized through face-centered CCD. The results obtained from face-centered CCD showed that most peak area can be obtained with development distance 8.50 cm and chamber saturation 17 min. Furthermore, the current NP-HPTLC investigation has been validated according to the ICH guidelines for accuracy, precision, sensitivity, robustness, ruggedness, and specificity. The detection and quantification limit was found that 10.41 ng and 31.57 ng, suggesting that the analysis could be accurately and precisely detected the analyte up to nanogram quantity. The current NP-HPTLC investigation is rugged, accurate, and highly sensitive and could be used for routine analysis of efonidipine hydrochloride.
Approaching fashion design trend applications using text mining and semantic network analysis
Authors: An Hyosun , Park Minjung
Published: November 2020

This study aims to identify fashion trends with design features and provide a consumer-driven fashion design application in digital dynamics, by using text mining and semantic network analysis. We examined the current role and approach of fashion forecasting and developed a trend analysis process using consumer text data. This study focuses on analyzing blog posts regarding fashion collections. Specifically, we chose the jacket as our fashion item to produce practical results for our trend report, as it is an item used in multiple seasons and can be representative of fashion as a whole. We collected 29,436 blog posts from the past decade that included the keywords “jacket” and “fashion collection.” After the data collection, we established a list of fashion trend words for each design feature by classifying styles (e.g., retro), colors (e.g., black), fabrics (e.g., leather), and patterns (e.g., checkered). A time-series cluster analysis was used to categorize fashion trends into four clusters—increasing, decreasing, evergreen, and seasonal trends—and a semantic network analysis visualized the latest season’s dominant trends along with their corresponding design features. We concluded that these results are useful as they can reduce the time-consuming process of fashion trend analysis and offer consumer-driven fashion design guidelines.
In ®Entresto we trust
Authors: Camilli Massimiliano , Del Buono Marco Giuseppe , Menna Pierantonio , Minotti Giorgio
Published: November 2020

Sacubitril/Valsartan (S/V) is a novel and remarkably effective opportunity to treat heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, patients with HFrEF induced by cancer therapy were a priori excluded from the registration study. The value of S/V in this important subgroup of patients needs to be firmly established. In this issue of Cardio-Oncology, Gregorietti et al. report on the effects of S/V in a small group of cancer patients, primarily women with breast cancer treated with anthracyclines. The data are limited but seem to confirm the encouraging results of prior studies, paving the way to foster the use of S/V in cardio-oncology patients and hopefully, to design ad hoc prospective studies in this highly vulnerable population.
Standardization of 18F-FDG–PET/CT According to Deauville Criteria for Metabolic Complete Response Definition in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Zamagni Elena , Nanni Cristina , Dozza Luca , Carlier Thomas , Bailly Clément , Tacchetti Paola , Versari Annibale , Chauvie Stephane , Gallamini Andrea , Gamberi Barbara , Caillot Denis , Patriarca Francesca , Macro Margaret , Boccadoro Mario , Garderet Laurent , Barbato Simona , Fanti Stefano , Perrot Aurore , Gay Francesca , Sonneveld Peter , Karlin Lionel , Cavo Michele , Bodet-Milin Caroline , Moreau Philippe , Kraeber-Bodéré Françoise
Published: November 2020

PURPOSE

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is currently the standard technique to define minimal residual disease (MRD) status outside the bone marrow (BM) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). This study aimed to define criteria for PET complete metabolic response after therapy, jointly analyzing a subgroup of newly diagnosed transplantation-eligible patients with MM enrolled in two independent European randomized phase III trials (IFM/DFCI2009 and EMN02/HO95).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred twenty-eight patients were observed for a median of 62.9 months. By study design, PET/CT scans were performed at baseline and before starting maintenance (premaintenance [PM]). The five-point Deauville scale (DS) was applied to describe BM (BM score [BMS]) and focal lesion (FL; FL score [FS]) uptake and tested a posteriori in uni- and multivariable analyses for their impact on clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

At baseline, 78% of patients had FLs (11% extramedullary), 80% with an FS ≥ 4. All patients had BM diffuse uptake (35.5% with BMS ≥ 4). At PM, 31% of patients had visually detectable FLs (2% extramedullary), 24% and 67.7% of them with an FS of 3 and ≥ 4, respectively. At PM, 98% of patients retained residual BM diffuse uptake, which was significantly lower than at baseline (mainly between BMS 2 and 3, BMS was ≥ 4 in only 8.7% of patients). By both uni- and multivariable analysis, FS and BMS < 4 were associated with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) at PM (OS: hazard ratio [HR], 0.6 and 0.47, respectively; PFS: HR, 0.36 and 0.24, respectively)

CONCLUSION

FL and BM FDG uptake lower than the liver background after therapy was an independent predictor for improved PFS and OS and can be proposed as the standardized criterion of PET complete metabolic response, confirming the value of the DS for patients with MM.
Effects of a Tailored Exercise Intervention in Acutely Hospitalized Oldest Old Diabetic Adults: An Ancillary Analysis
Authors: Martínez-Velilla Nicolás , Valenzuela Pedro L , Sáez de Asteasu Mikel L , Zambom-Ferraresi Fabricio , Ramírez-Vélez Robinson , García-Hermoso Antonio , Librero-López Julian , Gorricho Javier , Pérez Federico Esparza , Lucia Alejandro , Izquierdo Mikel
Published: November 2020

Objective

To analyze the effects of a tailored exercise intervention in acutely hospitalized elderly diabetic patients.

Research Design and Methods

This is an ancillary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). A total of 103 acutely hospitalized elderly adults (mean age ~87 years) with type II diabetes were randomized to an intervention (exercise, n = 54) or control group (usual care, n = 49). The primary endpoint was change in functional status from baseline to hospital discharge as assessed with the Barthel Index and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Secondary endpoints comprised cognitive function and mood status, quality of life (QoL), incidence of delirium, and handgrip strength. Exercise-related side effects, length of hospital stay, and incidence of falls during hospitalization were also assessed, as well as transfer to nursing homes, hospital readmission, and mortality during a 3-month follow-up.

Results

The median length of stay was 8 days (interquartile range, 4) for both groups. The intervention was safe and provided significant benefits over usual care on SPPB (2.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8, 3.5]) and Barthel Index (8.5 [95% CI: 3.9, 13.1]), as well as on other secondary endpoints such as cognitive status, depression, QoL, and handgrip strength (all P < 0.05). No significant between-group differences were found for the remainder of secondary endpoints.

Conclusions

An in-hospital individualized multicomponent exercise intervention was safe and effective for the prevention of functional and cognitive decline in acutely hospitalized elderly diabetic patients, although it had no influence on other endpoints assessed during hospitalization or at the 3-month follow-up after discharge.
Murine Fetal Serum Phosphorus is Set Independent of FGF23 and PTH, Except in the Presence of Maternal Phosphate Loading
Authors: Sellars K Berit , Ryan Brittany A , Hartery Sarah A , Kirby Beth J , Kovacs Christopher S
Published: November 2020

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) appears to play no role until after birth, given unaltered phosphate and bone metabolism in Fgf23- and Klotho-null fetuses. However, in those studies maternal serum phosphorus was normal. We studied whether maternal phosphate loading alters fetal serum phosphorus and invokes a fetal FGF23 or parathyroid hormone (PTH) response.

C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) female mice received low (0.3%), normal (0.7%), or high (1.65%) phosphate diets beginning 1 week prior to mating to WT males. Fgf23+/- female mice received the normal or high-phosphate diets 1 week before mating to Fgf23+/- males. One day before expected birth, we harvested maternal and fetal blood, intact fetuses, placentas, and fetal kidneys.

Increasing phosphate intake in WT resulted in progressively higher maternal serum phosphorus and FGF23 during pregnancy, while PTH remained undetectable. Fetal serum phosphorus was independent of the maternal phosphorus and PTH remained low, but FGF23 showed a small nonsignificant increase with high maternal serum phosphorus. There were no differences in fetal ash weight and mineral content, or placental gene expression.

High phosphate intake in Fgf23+/- mice also increased maternal serum phosphorus and FGF23, but there was no change in PTH. WT fetuses remained unaffected by maternal high-phosphate intake, while Fgf23-null fetuses became hyperphosphatemic but had no change in PTH, skeletal ash weight or mineral content.

In conclusion, fetal phosphate metabolism is generally regulated independently of maternal serum phosphorus and fetal FGF23 or PTH. However, maternal phosphate loading reveals that fetal FGF23 can defend against the development of fetal hyperphosphatemia.
Profanating Gastro-Normativity
Authors: Pavoni Andrea
Published: November 2020

This article explores the making and tasting of wine through the anonymous processes of nonhuman consumption that participate in the production of its relational ontology (the terroir) and shape its visceral encounter with the human tongue (taste). First, the author defines a notion of consumption that is neither reduced to the human, the subjective, or the phenomenological nor dematerialized into sociocultural or politico-economic anthropic schemes. Second, he explores wine’s terroir as a prism through which to challenge the two main ideologies that frame the contemporary wine world: a normative territoriality premised on spatio-legal frameworks, and a consumer-oriented marketing approach. Third, the author introduces the natural wine movement, an umbrella term loosely gathering different wine makers who share a common reaction against those ideologies. In the constellation of thinking, making, and tasting that constitute the movement, he finds the lineament of a strategic materialism that aims to make visible and is open toward the agency of the nonhuman matter, and which does so by addressing simultaneously wine’s terroir and taste, by means of profanating their taken-for-granted normativity. The article concludes by suggesting that this strategy may hold promising insights for implementing radical food politics in the age of agro-industrial capitalism.
The Fat Imaginary in Trump's America
Authors: Forth Christopher E.
Published: November 2020

Materially as well as metaphorically, fat is seemingly ubiquitous in Donald Trump’s America. Rather than simply a rude comment to make about someone’s appearance or capacity for self-control, the word refers to a form of matter and style of metaphor that helps structure divisions between America and the world, as well as among Americans themselves. To support this claim, this article outlines a broad cultural imagination relating to fat—a fat imaginary—that structures common global perceptions of Americans and America, as well as assessments of Trump himself. With sources traceable to traditional agricultural motifs, metaphors relating to fat often connote processes of fattening that evoke ideas about consumption, as well as devouring and animality. To see how the fat imaginary informs contemporary political discourses, the article probes the “fat American” as a consuming figure on the world stage, as well as media representations of Trump as a devouring monster.
Hypothesis-driven quantitative fluorescence microscopy – the importance of reverse-thinking in experimental design
Authors: Wait Eric C. , Reiche Michael A. , Chew Teng-Leong
Published: November 2020

One of the challenges in modern fluorescence microscopy is to reconcile the conventional utilization of microscopes as exploratory instruments with their emerging and rapidly expanding role as a quantitative tools. The contribution of microscopy to observational biology will remain enormous owing to the improvements in acquisition speed, imaging depth, resolution and biocompatibility of modern imaging instruments. However, the use of fluorescence microscopy to facilitate the quantitative measurements necessary to challenge hypotheses is a relatively recent concept, made possible by advanced optics, functional imaging probes and rapidly increasing computational power. We argue here that to fully leverage the rapidly evolving application of microscopes in hypothesis-driven biology, we not only need to ensure that images are acquired quantitatively but must also re-evaluate how microscopy-based experiments are designed. In this Opinion, we present a reverse logic that guides the design of quantitative fluorescence microscopy experiments. This unique approach starts from identifying the results that would quantitatively inform the hypothesis and map the process backward to microscope selection. This ensures that the quantitative aspects of testing the hypothesis remain the central focus of the entire experimental design.
Welfare Analysis Meets Causal Inference
Authors: Finkelstein Amy , Hendren Nathaniel
Published: November 2020

We describe a frame work for empirical welfare analysis that uses the causal estimates of a policy’s impact on net government spending. This framework provides guidance for which causal effects are (and are not) needed for empirical welfare analysis of public policies. The key ingredient is the construction of each policy’s marginal value of public funds (MVPF). The MVPF is the ratio of beneficiaries’ willingness to pay for the policy to the net cost to the government. We discuss how the MVPF relates to “traditional” welfare analysis tools such as the marginal excess burden and marginal cost of public funds. We show how the MVPF can be used in practice by applying it to several canonical empirical applications from public finance, labor, development, trade, and industrial organization.
Business Incomes at the Top
Authors: Kopczuk Wojciech , Zwick Eric
Published: November 2020

Business income constitutes a large and increasing share of income and wealth at the top of the distribution. We discuss how tax policy treats and shapes how businesses are organized and how they distribute economic gains to owners, with the focus on closely held and pass-through firms. These considerations influence whether and how labor and capital income is observed in economic data and feed into research controversies regarding the measurement of inequality and the progressivity of the tax code. We discuss the importance of these issues in the United States and highlight that limited evidence from other countries suggests that they are likely to be important elsewhere.
An Economist’s Guide to Epidemiology Models of Infectious Disease
Authors: Avery Christopher , Bossert William , Clark Adam , Ellison Glenn , Ellison Sara Fisher
Published: November 2020

We describe the structure and use of epidemiology models of disease transmission, with an emphasis on the susceptible/infected/recovered (SIR) model. We discuss high-profile forecasts of cases and deaths that have been based on these models, what went wrong with the early forecasts, and how they have adapted to the current COVID pandemic. We also offer three distinct areas where economists would be well positioned to contribute to or inform this epidemiology literature: modeling heterogeneity of susceptible populations in various dimensions, accommodating endogeneity of the parameters governing disease spread, and helping to understand the importance of political economy issues in disease suppression.
Staff Employment As Actual Task in Business and Governance
Authors: Lobova L.
Published: November 2020

The article considers the need to assess, control and coordinate the processes of personnel involvement in business and public administration: provides analytical data, describes aspects that indicate the relationship between the level of involvement and the state of the socio-psychological climate in the team, focuses on the problems and difficulties that arise in the process of implementing mechanisms to increase staff involvement in government organizations, recommendations are given for their settlement. The involvement of personnel in the activities of the organization is a category more complex and deeper than the motivation of employees, interest in work. Assessing the involvement of staff, the leaders of large commercial structures identify the "weak links" of a single organizational system, to build and, most importantly, to preserve which is a priority in the competition for leadership at the present stage of economic development. The public administration sphere, the distinguishing feature of which is strict regulation of corporate norms and legal relations of work process participants operating within a limited range of official powers, requires a special approach in terms of staff involvement: the relevance and novelty of the problem of applying engagement management mechanisms in government organizations, the lack of competency the selected tools of its assessment provide an opportunity to explore this issue in the framework of identify, study and compare new ways to optimize managerial functions.
Using Appreciative Inquiry and Gallup Strengths® to Drive Organizational Change
Authors: Orlowski Deborah , Storey Kristen
Published: November 2020

The self-image and internal functioning of a university student-serving department with a twenty-year history of conflict was shifted using a combination of Appreciative Inquiry and Gallup Strengths.® The resultant higher functioning, more transparent leadership team combined with a more accurate understanding of how the department was viewed by stakeholders was transformative.
A corpus study of verbs in opinion articles of The Jakarta Post and the relation with text characteristics
Authors: Oktavianti Ikmi Nur , Adnan Asmad
Published: November 2020

As one of the text categories, opinion texts have distinctive characteristics compared to any other texts in newspapers, including the choice of verb usage. This study then aims at preliminarily examining the verbs used in opinion articles in The Jakarta Post to find out the relation between frequency and text characteristics. This study collected the opinion articles of The Jakarta Post comprising 47.143 words. This study was assisted by Lancsbox to store the corpus of opinion section texts, to identify the verb lemmas, and to count the frequency of verbs. The verbs found in this study were then classified based on Scheibman’s main verb classification (which is based on Halliday’s and Dixon’s verb types). The results of the study show that there are three most frequent verb types used in opinion texts in The Jakarta Post; they are material, verbal, and feeling verb types. Meanwhile, the lesser frequent ones are perception, possessive/relational, relational, and cognition verbs types. Meanwhile, the least frequent verb types are existential, corporeal and perception/relational verbs types. As opinion text conveys the argument of the writer, it is plausible to find feeling verb type belongs to the third most frequent types, along with material type to show concrete actions and verbal type to report the information. These frequencies exhibit that there is a firm relationship between text characteristics and the tendency of verb choice.
A case study on the impacts of advising on EFL teacher development
Authors: Esen Metin
Published: November 2020

Advising in language learning is one of the new ways of creating aware, reflective, and autonomous learners in the area of Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Some language learning institutions help their learners with their learning issues through advising in Self-access Centres practices by advisors and teacher-advisors. This case study aimed at exploring the presence of advising in teacher development frameworks assessing various teacher skills and behaviours. The research also asked 12 teacher-advisors form Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, School of Foreign Languages if they believed advising had an impact on their professional development. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from the participants through a 38-item questionnaire and a 10-question written interview. The analysis of the results suggested that teacher development frameworks directly or indirectly assessed some teacher behaviours that can also be attributed to a teacher, and teachers seemed to believe that the practice of advising had positive impact on their teaching skills.
Corticosteroid injection for coccydynia
Authors: Finsen Vilhjalmur , Kalstad Ante M. , Knobloch Rainer G.
Published: November 2020

Aims

We aimed to establish the short- and long-term efficacy of corticosteroid injection for coccydynia, and to determine if betamethasone or triamcinolone has the best effect.

Methods

During 2009 to 2016, we treated 277 patients with chronic coccydynia with either one 6 mg betamethasone or one 20 mg triamcinolone cortisone injection. A susequent injection was given to 62 (26%) of the patients. All were reviewed three to four months after injection, and 241 replied to a questionnaire a mean of 36 months (12 to 88) after the last injection. No pain at the early review was considered early success. When the patient had not been subsequently operated on, and indicated on the questionnaire that they were either well or much better, it was considered a long-term success.

Results

At the three- to four-month review, 22 (9%) reported that they had no pain. The long-term success of one injection was 15% and rose to 29% after a second injection. Logistic regression tests showed that both early success (odds ratio (OR) 5.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1 to 14.4; p = 0.001) and late success (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.7 to 8.3; p = 0.001) was greater with triamcinolone than with betamethasone. Late success was greater for patients with symptoms for less than 12 months (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.4 to 6.7; p = 0.006). We saw no complications of the injections.

Conclusion

We conclude that the effect of corticosteroid injection for coccygodynia is moderate, possibly because we used modest doses of the drugs. Even so, they seem worthwhile as they are easily and quickly performed, and complications are rare. If the choice is between injections of betamethasone or triamcinolone, the latter should be selected. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-11:709–714.
A Case of Athabaskan Brainstem Dysgenesis Syndrome and RSV Respiratory Failure
Authors:   Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona USA, Ellsworth Tanner , Hiermandi Nahid , Hu Diana , Grimaldi Lisa
Published: November 2020

Athabaskan Brainstem Dysgenesis Syndrome (ABDS) is a nonlethal, homozygous HOXA1 mutation typically marked by central hypoventilation, sensorineural deafness, horizontal gaze palsy, and developmental delay. In this report, we present a case of a 27-month-old Navajo female with a new diagnosis of ABDS after multiple failed attempts at extubation following anesthesia in the setting of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Her case is significant because she lacks sensorineural hearing loss, a defining feature of previously documented cases thereby underscoring the challenges of diagnosing this disease. This case expands the ever-growing spectrum of homozygous HOXA1 mutations and demonstrates unique junctions for diagnosis of ABDS in the critical care setting in patients lacking key features of the disease.
Hybrid-learning-assisted impairments abstraction framework for service planning and provisioning over multi-domain optical networks
Authors: Wang Rui , Nejabati Reza , Simeonidou Dimitra
Published: November 2020

This paper proposes and demonstrates a hybrid-learning-assisted impairments abstraction framework for planning and provisioning intra- and inter-domain services in a field-trial multi-domain optical network testbed. The proposed abstraction strategy consists of a parametric and a non-parametric machine learning technique to allow the control plane to implement impairments abstraction with different accessible data or monitoring technologies in the data plane. The hybrid-learning-assisted abstraction framework aims to abstract the property of segmental links along the lightpath and combine them for end-to-end performance evaluation. By deploying the proposed abstraction framework, network providers or operators are able to exchange the abstracted information for end-to-end impairments abstraction without revealing detailed information within each network. We experimentally demonstrate the proposed solution over a three-network field-trial testbed with real monitored data. The hybrid-learning-assisted impairments abstraction proves to be an accurate abstraction tool, with an average of 0.33 dB end-to-end signal-to-noise-ratio estimation error for services across the three networks.
Differential virulence of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense isolates does not influence the outcome of treatment with anti-trypanosomal drugs in the mouse model
Authors: Ndung’u Kariuki , Murilla Grace Adira , Thuita John Kibuthu , Ngae Geoffrey Njuguna , Auma Joanna Eseri , Gitonga Purity Kaari , Thungu Daniel Kahiga , Kurgat Richard Kiptum , Chemuliti Judith Kusimba , Mdachi Raymond Ellie
Published: November 2020

We assessed the virulence and anti-trypanosomal drug sensitivity patterns of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (Tbr) isolates in the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization-Biotechnology Research Institute (KALRO-BioRI) cryobank. Specifically, the study focused on Tbr clones originally isolated from the western Kenya/eastern Uganda focus of human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). Twelve (12) Tbr clones were assessed for virulence using groups(n = 10) of Swiss White Mice monitored for 60 days post infection (dpi). Based on survival time, four classes of virulence were identified: (a) very-acute: 0–15, (b) acute: 16–30, (c) sub-acute: 31–45 and (d) chronic: 46–60 dpi. Other virulence biomarkers identified included: pre-patent period (pp), parasitaemia progression, packed cell volume (PCV) and body weight changes. The test Tbr clones together with KALRO-BioRi reference drug-resistant and drug sensitive isolates were then tested for sensitivity to melarsoprol (mel B), pentamidine, diminazene aceturate and suramin, using mice groups (n = 5) treated with single doses of each drug at 24 hours post infection. Our results showed that the clones were distributed among four classes of virulence as follows: 3/12 (very-acute), 3/12 (acute), 2/12 (sub-acute) and 4/12 (chronic) isolates. Differences in survivorship, parasitaemia progression and PCV were significant (P<0.001) and correlated. The isolate considered to be drug resistant at KALRO-BioRI, KETRI 2538, was confirmed to be resistant to melarsoprol, pentamidine and diminazene aceturate but it was not resistant to suramin. A cure rate of at least 80% was achieved for all test isolates with melarsoprol (1mg/Kg and 20 mg/kg), pentamidine (5 and 20 mg/kg), diminazene aceturate (5 mg/kg) and suramin (5 mg/kg) indicating that the isolates were not resistant to any of the drugs despite the differences in virulence. This study provides evidence of variations in virulence of Tbr clones from a single HAT focus and confirms that this variations is not a significant determinant of isolate sensitivity to anti-trypanosomal drugs.
Hyperiid amphipods from the Gulf of Ulloa and offshore region, Baja California: The possible role of the gelatinous zooplankton as a transport vector into the coastal shelf waters
Authors: Lavaniegos Bertha E.
Published: November 2020

Hyperiid amphipod species from the Gulf of Ulloa, Baja California, and the adjacent region (from the shelf break to 200 km offshore) were analyzed to evaluate diversity and abundances. This productive area supports small-scale commercial fisheries, including sand bass (Paralabrax nebulifer), California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus), abalones, clams, and others. Strong coastal upwelling events were observed during summer seasons of the period 2002–2008 between Punta Eugenia and Punta Abreojos. The upwelling plumes at Punta Abreojos are transported southward in slope waters bordering the coastal shelf of the Gulf of Ulloa, contributing to the separation of coastal and oceanic regions, and explain differences in amphipod diversity and abundances between both regions. In the offshore region, the most abundant species wereVibilia armata,Lestrigonus schizogeneios,Primno brevidens, andEupronoe minuta, similar to previous findings in northern regions of Baja California and southern California. However, abundances of these species were lower (10–30 individuals/1000 m3), only reaching 20–50% of abundance levels reported off northern Baja California. In the coastal shelf of the Gulf of Ulloa, amphipods were virtually absent during 2002, 2003 and 2006. However, during 2004 and 2005, abundances ofP.brevidensincreased (54 and 20 ind/1000 m3, respectively). Moreover, during the late summer of 2007, abundances ofL.schizogeneios,P.brevidens,Lycaea nasuta,Lycaea pulex, andSimorhynchotus antennariusincreased considerably (261, 39, 31, 68, 416 ind/1000 m3, respectively), indicating occasional utilization of the coastal shelf by pelagic amphipods. Changes in gelatinous populations (medusae, siphonophores, ctenophores, doliolids, and salps) paralleled changes in hyperiid populations, with highest abundances in 2005–2008 in the coastal shelf. Significant correlations of 17 amphipod species with gelatinous taxa, which are often used as host organisms by hyperiid amphipods, suggest that gelatinous presence enhanced hyperiid abundance and promoted the progression of hyperiid amphipods onto the coastal shelf during parts of the 2002–2008 period.
Comprehensive treatment of microvascular angina in overweight women – a randomized controlled pilot trial
Authors: Bove Kira Bang , Nilsson Malin , Pedersen Lene Rørholm , Mikkelsen Nicolai , Suhrs Hannah Elena , Astrup Arne , Prescott Eva
Published: November 2020

Aims

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) carries a poor cardiovascular prognosis and may explain angina in women without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Currently, no evidence-based treatment for CMD exists. We investigated whether reducing cardiovascular risk factors improves symptoms and microvascular function in women with non-endothelial dependent CMD and no obstructive CAD.

Methods

We randomized 62 women aged 40–75, with body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2, angina ≥monthly, and coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) ≤2.5 to a 24-week intervention comprising low energy diet, exercise training, and optimized treatment of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes or to control. Patients were assessed before randomization and after 24 weeks. Primary outcomes were CFVR assessed by transthoracic Doppler stress-echocardiography and angina burden by Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ). Secondary outcomes were exercise capacity, body composition, glycemic control, myocardial function, and anxiety and depression symptoms.

Results

Fifty-six participants (90%) completed the study. Median (IQR) age was 65.2 (57.1;70.7) years, BMI was 30.1 (28.4;32.7) kg/m2. The intervention resulted in relevant improvement in angina symptoms (9-21-point increase on SAQ-scales (all p<0.01)) but had no effect on CFVR (p = 0.468). Mean (CI) weight loss was 9.6 (7.80;11.48) kg, (p<0.0001). There was a significant mean (CI) decrease in depression symptoms = 1.16 (0.22;2.12), triglycerides = 0.52 (0.25;0.78) mmol/L, total cholesterol = 0.55 (0.12;0.98) mmol/L, and HbA1c in diabetics = 27.1 (1.60;52.6) mmol/mol but no effect on other secondary outcomes.

Conclusion

A major weight loss and intensified risk factor control resulted in significantly improved angina burden but no improvement of coronary microvascular function among women with microvascular angina.