bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Myosin5‐mediated actomyosin motility system is required for Verticillium pathogenesis of cotton
Authors: Feng Zhidi , Tian Juan , Han Libo , Geng Yuan , Sun Jie , Kong Zhaosheng
Published: March 2018

The vascular wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae is one of the most destructive pathogens of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and many other economically important dicot plants. Fungal pathogens require Myosin‐mediated actomyosin motility system for colonization of their host plants; however, the mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully characterized for V. dahliae. Here, in a knock‐out experiment, we characterized the role of VdMyo5, a member of the Myosin V family, before and during infection of cotton and Arabidopsis thaliana. The VdMyo5 deletion mutant (ΔVdmyo5) fungi showed obvious defects in the development of conidia and the polarized elongation of vegetative hyphae, but no inhibition of host root penetration. Overall, the ΔVdmyo5 fungi exhibited dramatically reduced virulence in cotton and Arabidopsis, with almost no colonization in sections of host vascular tissue. We found labelled Myosin5‐GFP to be specifically enriched at the hyphal tip, co‐localized with FM4‐64 labelled Spitzenkörper, which is the vesicle supply centre in filamentous fungi. Comparative secretome analysis revealed that proteins associated with cell wall modification and degradation of reactive oxygen species were significantly altered in mutant strains. Our results indicate that Myosin5 is required for vegetative growth and full virulence, possibly by regulating vesicle transport. The findings provide important insight into the cellular mechanisms of Verticillium pathogenesis.
Nosema ceranae in Apis mellifera: a 12 years postdetection perspective
Authors: Martín‐Hernández Raquel , Bartolomé Carolina , Chejanovsky Nor , Le Conte Yves , Dalmon Anne , Dussaubat Claudia , García‐Palencia Pilar , Meana Aranzazu , Pinto M. Alice , Soroker Victoria , Higes Mariano
Published: March 2018

Nosema ceranae is a hot topic in honey bee health as reflected by numerous papers published every year. This review presents an update of the knowledge generated in the last 12 years in the field of N. ceranae research, addressing the routes of transmission, population structure and genetic diversity. This includes description of how the infection modifies the honey bee's metabolism, the immune response and other vital functions. The effects on individual honey bees will have a direct impact on the colony by leading to losses in the adult's population. The absence of clear clinical signs could keep the infection unnoticed by the beekeeper for long periods. The influence of the environmental conditions, beekeeping practices, bee genetics and the interaction with pesticides and other pathogens will have a direct influence on the prognosis of the disease. This review is approached from the point of view of the Mediterranean countries where the professional beekeeping has a high representation and where this pathogen is reported as an important threat.
Comparison of closely related, uncultivated Coxiella tick endosymbiont population genomes reveals clues about the mechanisms of symbiosis
Authors: Tsementzi Despina , Castro Gordillo Juan , Mahagna Mustafa , Gottlieb Yuval , Konstantinidis Konstantinos T.
Published: March 2018

Understanding the symbiotic interaction between Coxiella‐like endosymbionts (CLE) and their tick hosts is challenging due to lack of isolates and difficulties in tick functional assays. Here we sequenced the metagenome of a CLE population from wild Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks (CRs) and compared it to the previously published genome of its close relative, CLE of R. turanicus (CRt). The tick hosts are closely related sympatric species, and their two endosymbiont genomes are highly similar with only minor differences in gene content. Both genomes encode numerous pseudogenes, consistent with an ongoing genome reduction process. In silico flux balance metabolic analysis (FBA) revealed the excess production of L‐proline for both genomes, indicating a possible proline transport from Coxiella to the tick. Additionally, both CR genomes encode multiple copies of the proline/betaine transporter, proP gene. Modelling additional Coxiellaceae members including other tick CLE, did not identify proline as an excreted metabolite. Although both CRs and CRt genomes encode intact B vitamin synthesis pathway genes, which are presumed to underlay the mechanism of CLE‐tick symbiosis, the FBA analysis indicated no changes for their products. Therefore, this study provides new testable hypotheses for the symbiosis mechanism and a better understanding of CLE genome evolution and diversity.
Environmental microbiology to the rescue of planet earth
Authors: de Lorenzo Víctor
Published: March 2018

Environmental Microbiology has undergone a dramatic transition from being a somewhat marginal branch of Life Sciences to becoming one of the most vibrant and visible areas of contemporary research. The homonymous journal has not only borne witness of the growing interest in environmental microbes that bloomed since the mid‐1980s but it has helped also to give visibility to the field and nucleate an active and influential community of authors and readers. During the past 20 years the focus has shifted from individual isolates to communities and microbiomes, from single genomes to metagenomes and from small/medium‐scale experimental systems to large/very large scenarios. New challenges that were somewhat marginal when the journal was founded have acquired an unanticipated relevance owing to their impact on the global Earth's homeostasis. They include the unacceptably high atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases, the worrying pollution of the oceans with very recalcitrant plastics and microplastics and the noxious effects of micropollutants on many ecosystems. Global problems ask for global solutions and the environmental microbiome – because of its dimension and its amazing activities – may end up being out best instrument to both counter the impact of industrial development and enable a new, sustainable partnership with Nature.
Reef invertebrate viromics: diversity, host specificity and functional capacity
Authors: Laffy Patrick W. , Wood‐Charlson Elisha M. , Turaev Dmitrij , Jutz Sabrina , Pascelli Cecilia , Botté Emmanuelle S. , Bell Sara C. , Peirce Tyler E. , Weynberg Karen D. , van Oppen Madeleine J. H. , Rattei Thomas , Webster Nicole S.
Published: March 2018

Recent metagenomic analyses have revealed a high diversity of viruses in the pelagic ocean and uncovered clear habitat‐specific viral distribution patterns. Conversely, similar insights into the composition, host specificity and function of viruses associated with marine organisms have been limited by challenges associated with sampling and computational analysis. Here, we performed targeted viromic analysis of six coral reef invertebrate species and their surrounding seawater to deliver taxonomic and functional profiles of viruses associated with reef organisms. Sponges and corals' host species‐specific viral assemblages with low sequence identity to known viral genomes. While core viral genes involved in capsid formation, tail structure and infection mechanisms were observed across all reef samples, auxiliary genes including those involved in herbicide resistance and viral pathogenesis pathways such as host immune suppression were differentially enriched in reef hosts. Utilising a novel OTU based assessment, we also show a prevalence of dsDNA viruses belonging to the Mimiviridae, Caudovirales and Phycodnaviridae in reef environments and further highlight the abundance of ssDNA viruses belonging to the Circoviridae, Parvoviridae, Bidnaviridae and Microviridae in reef invertebrates. These insights into coral reef viruses provide an important framework for future research into how viruses contribute to the health and evolution of reef organisms.
Short‐term gains, long‐term losses? A diary study on literacy practices in Ghana
Authors: Stoffelsma Lieke
Published: March 2018

Background

This study explores the English literacy practices of students in Ghana, in particular their time spent on reading, the availability of reading resources and their use in the curriculum, and the importance of reading from the perspectives of students and lecturers.

Methods

Student diaries (6,364 reported hours) and interviews (12 students/ 14 lecturers) were used for data collection.

Results

Students spend many hours on academic work, but little time on processing academic texts. Their low reading proficiency is maintained at university due to the following factors: little time spent on reading, the type of reading students engage in, institutional values and poor resources.

Conclusion

Universal mechanisms that determine literacy practices from the more affluent Western world are prevalent in Ghana. These mechanisms, in combination with contextual factors, especially poor resources and low reading levels, make the Ghana case distinct.
Entrepreneurship and Social Capital: Examining the Association in Deprived Urban Neighbourhoods
Authors: Williams Nick , Huggins Robert , Thompson Piers
Published: March 2018

Spatial approaches to examining entrepreneurship have increasingly built on theories of social capital. However, the nature and extent of local social capital in less successful deprived communities remains under researched and inadequately understood. This article examines the association between social capital and entrepreneurship in a deprived urban neighbourhood in the city of Leeds, UK as a means of contributing to an improved theoretical understanding of how space moderates this association. It is found that social capital has a strong association with patterns of entrepreneurship in deprived urban neighbourhoods, with the potential impacts being both positive and negative. The forms of social capital are found to differ from that found in more affluent localities, with a prevalence of bonding social capital as the key facilitator of entrepreneurship, which may help in the early stages of venture development, but which over time may become a constraint. Also, a lack of the bridging social capital associated with entrepreneurial success is found within the locality. From a policy perspective, it is recommended that policymakers responsible for entrepreneurship in deprived urban neighbourhoods should seek to enhance initiatives for developing social capital which incorporate local businesses, residents and local government agencies.
Urban Redevelopment Policies on the Move: Rethinking the Geographies of Comparison, Exchange and Learning
Authors: Ward Kevin
Published: March 2018

Recent years have seen the emergence of two interrelated strands of work in the field of English‐speaking urban studies. The first has centred on rethinking notions of place along relational lines. The second centres on rethinking what an attention to the city in the world might mean for understanding the arriving at and making up of urban policy. Taking its cue from the intersection of these two strands, this article explores the forging of Edinburgh's tax increment financing (TIF) policy. It highlights how those in the city drew upon experiences from elsewhere (both relatively close to home and further afield) in assembling the policy and the particular ‘local’ politics over its translation/adoption/failed introduction. The article argues for an approach to urban policy mobility studies which is sensitive both to the ephemeral, indeterminate and open‐ended ways in which policies are arrived at and made up, and the segmented and structured contexts that inform how policies appear and reappear in multiple locations.
Community resilience and flooding in UK guidance: A critical review of concepts, definitions, and their implications
Authors: Ntontis Evangelos , Drury John , Amlôt Richard , Rubin Gideon James , Williams Richard
Published: March 2018

Community resilience is one of the main strategies that UK governments employ to deal with the impact of floods. In this paper, we analyse how community resilience is used in 28 UK guidance documents that refer to floods and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of different conceptualizations. We show that some documents represent community resilience as the absence of illness, as the opposite of vulnerability, as a static and unchanging element, or in a circular way as both a cause and an outcome. By contrast, some documents avoid generalizations and focus more specifically on the concept's behavioural, relational, cognitive, and psychological aspects. We discuss the implications of different conceptualizations of community resilience for its operationalization by policymakers and practitioners.
An evaluation of fetal heart rate characteristics associated with neonatal encephalopathy: a case‐control study
Authors: Frey HA , Liu X , Lynch CD , Musindi W , Samuels P , Rood KM , Thung SF , Bakk JM , Cheng W , Landon MB
Published: March 2018

Objective

We sought to identify fetal heart rate (FHR) characteristics that are associated with neonatal encephalopathy (NE).

Design

Retrospective case‐control study.

Setting

A single medical centre in Shanghai, China, 2006–2015.

Sample

Women delivering a singleton, non‐anomalous infant at ≥36 weeks’ gestation diagnosed with NE (cases, n = 109) were compared with a group of women with unaffected infants (controls, n = 233).

Methods

Two physicians blinded to the outcome independently reviewed FHR tracings during the last 30 minutes of tracing prior to delivery. FHR characteristics were compared in the two groups and multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding.

Main outcome measures

Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the presence of specific FHR categories and characteristics.

Results

Category II FHR tracings were observed in 89% of women prior to delivery and were not independently associated with NE. Notably, a category III FHR was observed in 17.4% of women in the NE group compared with 0.9% of women in the control group (aOR 44.99, 95% CI 7.23–279.97). Bradycardia, minimal/absent variability, late decelerations and prolonged decelerations were independently associated with NE, whereas accelerations were protective. Similar findings were found when the cases were limited to NE with arterial cord pH <7.1 and in a subgroup analysis of women with category II tracings.

Conclusions

Category III tracings, while infrequent, are not uncommon prior to delivery among fetuses who develop NE. In contrast, most FHR tracings are category II prior to delivery; however, individual FHR characteristics within this category are associated with NE.

Funding

This research was supported by the Interdisciplinary Programme of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Tweetable abstract

Category III tracings are not uncommon prior to delivery among fetuses who develop neonatal encephalopathy.
Dispersing maleParnassius smintheusbutterflies are more strongly affected by forest matrix than are females
Authors: Goff Jennifer , Yerke Catherine , Keyghobadi Nusha , Matter Stephen F.
Published: March 2018

Dispersal is a central aspect of the ecology, evolution, and conservation of species. Predicting how species will respond to changing environmental conditions requires understanding factors that produce variation in dispersal. We explore one source of variation, differences between sexes within a spatial population network. Here, we compare the dispersal patterns of male and femaleParnassius smintheusamong 18 subpopulations over 8 years using the Virtual Migration Model. Estimated dispersal parameters differed between males and females, particularly with respect to movement through meadow and forest matrix habitat. The estimated dispersal distances of males through forest were much less than for females. Observations of female movement showed that, unlike males, females do not avoid forest nor does forest exert an edge effect. We explored whether further forest encroachment in this system would have different effects for males and females by fitting mean parameter estimates to the landscape configuration seen in 1993 and 2012. Despite differences in their dispersal due presumably to both habitat and physiological differences, males and females are predicted to respond in similar ways to reduced meadow area and increased forest isolation.
Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Randomized Study of Tidal Peritoneal Dialysis Versus Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: Al‐Hwiesh Abdullah , Abdul‐Rahman Ibrahiem , Finkelstein Fredric , Divino‐Filho Jose , Qutub Hatem , Al‐Audah Nadia , Abdelrahman Abdalla , El‐Fakhrany Nazeeh , Nasr El‐Din Mohammed , El‐Salamony Tamer , Noor Abdulsalam , Al‐Shahrani Mohammed , Al‐Otaibi Khalid
Published: March 2018

Few studies have discussed the role of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in managing acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients. The present study compares the outcome of AKI in intensive care unit (ICU) patients randomized to treatment with tidal PD (TPD) or continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). One hundred and twenty‐five ICU patients with AKI were randomly allotted to CVVHDF, (Group A, N = 62) or TPD, (group B, N = 63). Cause and severity of renal injury were assessed at the time of initiating dialysis. The primary outcome was hospital mortality at 28 days, and secondary outcomes were time to recovery of renal function, duration of stay in the ICU, metabolic and fluid control, and improvement of sensorial and hemodynamic parameters. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in regard to patients’ characteristics. The survival at 28 days was significantly better in the patients treated with TPD when compared to CVVHDF (69.8% vs. 46.8%, P < 0.01). Infectious complications were significantly less (P < 0.01) in the TPD group (9.5%) when compared to the CVVHDF group (17.7%). Recovery of kidney function (60.3% vs. 35.5%), median time to resolution of AKI and the median duration of ICU stay of 9 days (7–11) vs. 19 days (13–20) were all in favor of TPD (P < 0.01). This study suggests that there are better outcomes with TPD compared to CRRT in the treatment of critically ill patients with AKI.
DOES UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION INCREASE VIOLENT CRIME?*
Authors: LIGHT MICHAEL T. , MILLER TY
Published: March 2018

Despite substantial public, political, and scholarly attention to the issue of immigration and crime, we know little about the criminological consequences of undocumented immigration. As a result, fundamental questions about whether undocumented immigration increases violent crime remain unanswered. In an attempt to address this gap, we combine newly developed estimates of the unauthorized population with multiple data sources to capture the criminal, socioeconomic, and demographic context of all 50 states and Washington, DC, from 1990 to 2014 to provide the first longitudinal analysis of the macro‐level relationship between undocumented immigration and violence. The results from fixed‐effects regression models reveal that undocumented immigration does not increase violence. Rather, the relationship between undocumented immigration and violent crime is generally negative, although not significant in all specifications. Using supplemental models of victimization data and instrumental variable methods, we find little evidence that these results are due to decreased reporting or selective migration to avoid crime. We consider the theoretical and policy implications of these findings against the backdrop of the dramatic increase in immigration enforcement in recent decades.
RETRACTED: LYNCHINGS, RACIAL THREAT, AND WHITES’ PUNITIVE VIEWS TOWARD BLACKS
Authors: STEWART ERIC A. , MEARS DANIEL P. , WARREN PATRICIA Y. , BAUMER ERIC P. , ARNIO ASHLEY N.
Published: March 2018

Disparities in historical and contemporary punishment of Blacks have been well documented. Racial threat has been proffered as a theoretical explanation for this phenomenon. In an effort to understand the factors that influence punishment and racial divides in America, we draw on racial threat theory and prior scholarship to test three hypotheses. First, Black punitive sentiment among Whites will be greater among those who reside in areas where lynching was more common. Second, heightened Black punitive sentiment among Whites in areas with more pronounced legacies of lynching will be partially mediated by Whites’ perceptions of Blacks’ criminality and of Black‐on‐White violence in these areas. Third, the impact of lynching on Black punitive sentiment will be amplified by Whites’ perceptions of Blacks as criminals and as threatening more generally. We find partial support for these hypotheses. The results indicate that lynchings are associated with punitive sentiment toward Black offenders, and these relationships are partially mediated by perceptions of Blacks as criminals and as threats to Whites. In addition, the effects of lynchings on Black punitiveness are amplified among White respondents who view Blacks as a threat to Whites. These results highlight the salience of historical context for understanding contemporary views about punishment.
Efficacy of Maxforce and Avion gel baits containing fipronil, clothianidin, and indoxacarb against the German cockroach (Blattella germanica)
Authors: Davari Behroz , Kashani Susan , Nasirian Hassan , Nazari Mansour , Salehzadeh Aref
Published: March 2018

The present study evaluated the efficacy of Maxforce gel baits containing 0.01% fipronil (Maxforce), 0.05% fipronil (Maxforce Magnum), 1.0% clothianidin (Maxforce Impact), and 0.6% indoxacarb (Avion gel bait; all from Bayer Environmental Science, Clayton, CA, USA) against reference and wild strains (Mobasher, Andisheh, Tamin‐e Ejtemaei, and Maskoni) of German cockroach collected in 2016. Test design and bait placement were according to World Health Organization (WHO) procedures for efficacy achieving a 95% mortality rate. Although cockroaches fed on all gel baits, gel baits containing clothianidin and indoxacarb were eaten at higher rates than gel baits containing 0.01% and 0.05% fipronil. The cumulative mortality rates reached 100% for all cockroach strains at 32, 28, 28 and 40 h after eating baits containing 0.01% fipronil, 0.05% fipronil, clothianidin, and indoxacarb, respectively. Efficacy (a 95% mortality rate) after exposure (consumption) of gel baits containing 0.05% fipronil and clothianidin was seen after 28 h, compared with 32 h for 0.01% fipronil and 40 h for indoxacarb. In conclusion, commercial gel baits have improved and may be more effective than spray formulations against German cockroaches.
Migration Study of Butylated Hydroxytoluene and Irganox 1010 from Polypropylene Treated with Severe Processing Conditions
Authors: Kang Kyungmo , Chang Yoonjee , Choi Jae Chun , Park Se‐Jong , Han Jaejoon
Published: March 2018

Safety concerns have emerged over the increased use of polypropylene (PP) in food‐packaging markets. Some antioxidants in PP can migrate to foods and cause undesirable effects in humans. In this study, migration behaviors of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and Irganox 1010 (I‐1010) in PP sheets were determined according to the US FDA migration test conditions. In particular, we tested the effects of severe conditions of food processing and storage, such as autoclave heating (sterilization at about 121 °C), microwave radiation (700 W), and deep freezing (−30 °C) on migration of antioxidants. Migrant concentrations were higher in 95% ethanol as lipid food simulant, because of the hydrophobic nature of both PP and antioxidants. Autoclave heating treatment increased migrant concentrations compared with other processing conditions. Moreover, increased migrant concentrations by deep freezing condition were attributed to the brittleness of PP at freezing temperature. Regardless of processing conditions, BHT which has a lower molecular weight, migrated faster than I‐1010.

Practical Application

The antioxidants with hydrophobic nature such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and Irganox 1010 (I‐1010) in polypropylene sheets would be migrated to foods, which is an important issue for industrial production food packaging materials. Migration behavior was promoted by severe processing conditions such as autoclave heating, microwave radiation, freezing, and especially autoclave heating treatment led the highest migration among them. Therefore, control of chemical additive migration from polypropylene food packaging is needed for safe food processing.
Implications of Upstream Flow Availability for Watershed Surface Water Supply across the Conterminous United States
Authors: Duan Kai , Sun Ge , Caldwell Peter V. , McNulty Steven G. , Zhang Yang
Published: March 2018

Although it is well established that the availability of upstream flow (AUF) affects downstream water supply, its significance has not been rigorously categorized and quantified at fine resolutions. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a nationwide inventory of AUF and local water resource, and assessing their roles in securing water supply across the 2,099 8‐digit hydrologic unit code watersheds in the conterminous United States (CONUS). We investigated the effects of river hydraulic connectivity, climate variability, and water withdrawal, and consumption on water availability and water stress (ratio of demand to supply) in the past three decades (i.e., 1981–2010). The results show that 12% of the CONUS land relied on AUF for adequate freshwater supply, while local water alone was sufficient to meet the demand in another 74% of the area. The remaining 14% highly stressed area was mostly found in headwater areas or watersheds that were isolated from other basins, where stress levels were more sensitive to climate variability. Although the constantly changing water demand was the primary cause of escalating/diminishing stress, AUF variation could be an important driver in the arid south and southwest. This research contributes to better understanding of the significance of upstream–downstream water nexus in regional water availability, and this becomes more crucial under a changing climate and with intensified human activities.
Infundibulum of the common origin of fourth lumbar arteries and median sacral artery
Authors: Thomas Richard , Rosenthal Michael H , Ghouri Maaz , Steigner Michael L
Published: March 2018

We describe an infundibulum of a common origin of the fourth lumbar arteries and the median sacral artery. To the best of our knowledge there has been no such published case thus far and its natural course is unknown, in view of its novelty. Infundibular dilatations in intracranial arteries have been described to progress in size and potentially rupture. Therefore, we recommended follow‐up imaging, as part of the management, to ensure stability of the infundibulum.
Success and failure in replication of genotype–phenotype associations: How does replication help in understanding the genetic basis of phenotypic variation in outbred populations?
Authors: Schielzeth Holger , Rios Villamil Alejandro , Burri Reto
Published: March 2018

Recent developments in sequencing technologies have facilitated genomewide mapping of phenotypic variation in natural populations. Such mapping efforts face a number of challenges potentially leading to low reproducibility. However, reproducible research forms the basis of scientific progress. We here discuss the options for replication and the reasons for potential nonreproducibility. We then review the evidence for reproducible quantitative trait loci (QTL) with a focus on natural animal populations. Existing case studies of replication fall into three categories: (i) traits that have been mapped to major effect loci (including chromosomal inversion and supergenes) by independent research teams; (ii) QTL fine‐mapped in discovery populations; and (iii) attempts to replicate QTL across multiple populations. Major effect loci, in particular those associated with inversions, have been successfully replicated in several cases within and across populations. Beyond such major effect variants, replication has been more successful within than across populations, suggesting that QTL discovered in natural populations may often be population‐specific. This suggests that biological causes (differences in linkage patterns, allele frequencies or context‐dependencies of QTL) contribute to nonreproducibility. Evidence from other fields, notably animal breeding and QTL mapping in humans, suggests that a significant fraction of QTL is indeed reproducible in direction and magnitude at least within populations. However, there is also a large number of QTL that cannot be easily reproduced. We put forward that more studies should explicitly address the causes and context‐dependencies of QTL signals, in particular to disentangle linkage differences, allele frequency differences and gene‐by‐environment interactions as biological causes of nonreproducibility of QTL, especially between populations.
Contrasting P acquisition strategies of the bacterial communities associated with legume and grass in subtropical orchard soil
Authors: Zhou Yang , Zhu Honghui , Yao Qing
Published: March 2018

Phosphorus (P) cycling is a fundamental process driven by microorganisms, and plants can regulate P cycling directly or via their influence on the soil microbial community. However, the differential P cycling patterns associated with legumes and grass are largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the microbial community involved in P cycling in subtropical soil grown with stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis, legume) or bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum, grass) using metagenomic sequencing. P fractionation indicated that sparingly soluble inorganic P (Pi) accounted for approximately 75% of P pool. Bacteria involved in sparingly soluble Pi solubilization (pqq, gad, JEN) were more abundant in bahiagrass soil, with Candidatus Pelagibacter, Trichodesmium, Neorickettsia, Nitrobacter, Paraburkholderia, Candidatus Solibacter, Burkholderia as major contributors. In contrast, bacteria involved in organic P (Po) mineralization (php, glpQ, phn) were more abundant in stylo soil, consistent with phosphatase activity and Frankia, Kyrpidia, Thermobispora, Streptomyces, Rhodococcus were major contributors. Bacteria taking up low molecular‐weight Po were more abundant in stylo soil than in bahiagrass soil, while those taking up Pi were less abundant. These data suggest that bacterial communities associated with legumes and grass develop contrasting P acquisition strategies, highlighting the possibility of intercropping with legumes and grass for better P cycling.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 overexpression promotes lymph node micrometastasis in early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Yu Yang , Zhao Qian , He Xiao‐Peng , Wang Zhou , Liu Xiang‐Yan , Zhang Zhi‐Ping
Published: March 2018

Background

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is constitutively activated in several malignancies. Here, we define the correlation between STAT3 expression and lymph node micrometastasis of early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer. Then we highlight some possibilities associated with developing a way to detect tumor micrometastasis and an anticancer drug that might therapeutically inhibit the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Methods

The samples were collected from 50 patients with early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer and 50 patients with benign lung tumors. Mucin 1 mRNA expression was evaluated to determine lymph node micrometastasis status. STAT3 mRNA, STAT3 protein, and phosphorylated STAT3 protein expression were evaluated through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Measurement data was represented as mean ± standard deviation, and the t‐rest or F‐test were used. The χ2‐test was used in enumeration data. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the independent risk factors influencing lymph node micrometastasis.

Results

STAT3 mRNA and proteins expression were correlated with lymph node micrometastasis (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed STAT3 protein overexpression and the differentiation degree of tumors were independent risk factors for lymph node micrometastasis.

Conclusion

Overexpression of STAT3 might promote lymphatic micrometastasis of early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer and might be a clinical predictor of lymph node micrometastasis.
Adverse reactions of sorafenib, sunitinib, and imatinib in treating digestive system tumors
Authors: Fu Yali , Wei Xing , Lin Li , Xu Weiran , Liang Jun
Published: March 2018

Background

This study was conducted to assess the adverse reactions caused by multi‐target tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment of gastrointestinal tumors.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective study of drug‐related adverse reactions in 115 patients who were treated with sorafenib, sunitinib, and imatinib for primary hepatocellular carcinoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumors from October 2003 to March 2012 at the Peking University International Hospital.

Results

The total incidence of adverse reactions of sorafenib, sunitinib, and imatinib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors was > 80%. The main adverse reactions of sorafenib were hypertension in 38 patients (33.3%) and diarrhea in 28 patients (24.4%). Sunitinib was associated with higher incidence and greater grade 3–4 toxicity. The common toxicities were skin color changes in 105 patients (90.9%), hand‐foot skin reactions in 65 patients (54.6%), and leukopenia (63.6%), hypertension (22.7%), proteinuria (22.7%), liver function impairment (22.7%), and hypomagnesemia (27.3%). While imatinib was well tolerated, it was associated with the highest number of adverse reactions, including skin color change (55.6%) and edema (38.9%). Hypophosphatemia (4.4%) and hoarseness (2.2%) only occurred in the sorafenib treatment group.

Conclusions

The adverse reactions of multi‐target tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatments are generally mild to moderate, and most patients can tolerate these without the need for further intervention. Some serious adverse reactions may be alleviated by discontinuing the drugs or by administering symptomatic treatment.
Role of artemin in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Song Zuoqing , Yang Fan , Du Hui , Li Xin , Liu Jinghao , Dong Ming , Xu Xiaohong
Published: March 2018

Background

In this study, we investigated the role of artemin, a member of the glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor of ligands, in the malignant phenotype of lung cancer.

Methods

Artemin expression was examined in various types of lung cancer and normal lung tissues, as well as in lung cancer cell lines by immunohistochemistry and semi‐quantitative PCR. Functional studies were performed using artemin overexpression or knockdown vectors in lung cancer cell lines. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays were conducted to evaluate the contribution of artemin on tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Results

Artemin is broadly expressed in lung cancer tissues, and is associated with tumor staging. Overexpression of artemin in NL9980 large cell lung cancer cells increased proliferating cells and enhanced migrating capability in wound healing and transwell assays, as well as demonstrating enhanced invasion capability. Silencing artemin in LTEP‐α‐2 adenocarcinoma cell lines decreased cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities.

Conclusion

Artemin could promote the proliferation and invasiveness of lung cancer cells in vitro and therefore could be a new potential target to combat lung cancer.
PIK3CA mutations and their response to neoadjuvant treatment in early breast cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Fan Hongwei , Li Chao , Xiang Qian , Xu Ling , Zhang Zhuo , Liu Qianxin , Zhang Tonttong , Zhou Ying , Zhao Xia , Cui Yimin
Published: March 2018

Background

PIK3CA mutations frequently occur in breast cancer patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between PIK3CA mutations and neoadjuvant treatment response and to analyze the clinical implications.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database were searched for relevant studies in September 2017. The pooled risk ratio (RR) was estimated using fixed effects or random effects models according to heterogeneity among studies.

Results

This meta‐analysis included 20 studies with 4392 patients. The pooled RR showed that PIK3CA mutation is correlated to lower pathological complete response (pCR) in unselected HER2+ patients (RR = 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–0.81), thus the predictive value of PIK3CA status may be stronger in HER2+/HR+ patients (RR = 0.50; 95% CI 0.27–0.93) and those administered dual‐targeting treatment (RR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.39–0.78). In contrast with wild type, either exon 9 (RR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.39–0.78) or exon 20 (RR = 0.71; 95% CI 0.58–0.89) mutations were significantly associated with lower pCR. The predictive value of exon 9 mutations was not significantly greater than exon 20 mutations (RR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.51–1.13).

Conclusion

In early breast cancer, PIK3CA mutations seem to identify HER2+ patients who are less likely to reach pCR. The clinical implications of PIK3CA mutations tend to vary between exon 9 and exon 20. This mechanism should be explored in further studies.
Combination therapy of apatinib with icotinib for primary acquired icotinib resistance in patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutation
Authors: Xia Pinghui , Cao Jinlin , Lv Xiayi , Wang Luming , Lv Wang , Hu Jian
Published: March 2018

Multi‐targeted agents represent the next generation of targeted therapies for solid tumors, and patients with acquired resistance to EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may also benefit from their combination with TKI therapy. Third‐generation targeted drugs, such as osimertinib, are very expensive, thus a more economical solution is required. The aim of this study was to explore the use of apatinib combined with icotinib therapy for primary acquired resistance to icotinib in three patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations. We achieved favorable oncologic outcomes in all three patients, with progression‐free survival of four to six months. Unfortunately, the patients ultimately had to cease combination therapy because of intolerable adverse effects of hand and foot syndrome and oral ulcers. Combination therapy of apatinib with icotinib for primary acquired resistance to icotinib may be an option for patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations, but physicians must also be aware of the side effects caused by such therapy.
Endostar (rh‐endostatin) versus placebo in combination with vinorelbine plus cisplatin chemotherapy regimen in treatment of advanced non‐small cell lung cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: An Jihong , Lv Weiling
Published: March 2018

Background

This meta‐analysis was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of Endostar (rh‐endostatin) versus a placebo in combination with a vinorelbine plus cisplatin (NP) chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Two reviewers independently searched Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, ASCO, ESMO, the Web of Science, and CNKI databases to locate relevant controlled clinical trials. The treatment efficacy and drug‐related toxicity of NP + Endostar (NPE) and NP groups were pooled through meta‐analysis according to random or fixed effect models.

Results

Fifteen prospective clinical studies were included in this meta‐analysis. The pooled risk ratio (RR) for objective response rate was 1.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43–2.11); the objective response rate in the NPE group was significantly higher than in the NP group (P < 0.05). Nine publications evaluated the incidence of leucopenia between Endostar versus a placebo in combination with an NP chemotherapy regimen. The pooled results showed no statistically significant difference between NPE and NP chemotherapy regimens for leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and nausea/vomiting risk (P > 0.05). The one‐year survival rate in the NPE group was higher than in the NP group, with a statistically significant difference (RR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.07–2.89; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Endostar combined with an NP chemotherapy regimen can improve the prognosis of patients with advanced NSCLC without increasing the risk of toxicity.
Analysis of the activity and safety of weekly low‐dose bevacizumab‐based regimens in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Zhai Xiaoyu , Hong Ruoxi , Fan Ying , Yuan Peng , Wang Jiayu , Sang Die , Chen Junlin , Zhao Chunying , Ou Kaiping , Ma Fei , Xu Binghe
Published: March 2018

Background

Currently, there are no standard regimens for metastatic breast cancer patients (MBC) who have failed ≥ 3 chemotherapy treatments. The aim of this study was to assess whether weekly low‐dose bevacizumab‐based regimens were well tolerated and would improve efficacy in MBC patients who had failed numerous therapies.

Methods

Seventeen patients with MBC who were heavily pretreated with a median of five regimens of therapy (range 1–10) between 2012 and 2016 were included in the analysis. Bevacizumab was administered at a dose of 100 mg intravenously once a week combined with one or two types of chemotherapeutic drugs until confirmed disease progression or an intolerable adverse event was observed. Patient characteristics, objective response rate, clinical benefit rate, progression‐free survival, and toxicity were assessed.

Results

All 17 patients had been pretreated with taxane‐based and anthracycline‐based chemotherapy. Weekly low‐dose bevacizumab combined with one or two types of chemotherapeutic drugs, which had usually not been previously used (e.g. etoposide, irinotecan, pemetrexed, methotrexate, and nab‐paclitaxel), was administered. Three patients achieved a partial response, while one had stable disease for > 24 weeks, and the clinical benefit rate was 23.5%. Median progression‐free survival was 3.4 months (95% confidence interval 2.0–4.8). The most common hematological adverse events were neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Bevacizumab‐related adverse events included grade 1 bleeding (17.6%) and grade 2 hypertension (5.9%).

Conclusions

Weekly low‐dose bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy shows a relatively favorable clinical response and tolerable toxicity, providing a feasible option for heavily pretreated MBC patients.
Integrating auxiliary data in optimal spatial design for species distribution modelling
Authors: Reich Brian J. , Pacifici Krishna , Stallings Jonathan W.
Published: March 2018

Traditional surveys used to create species distribution maps and estimate ecological relationships are expensive and time consuming. Citizen science offers a way to collect a massive amount of data at negligible cost and has been shown to be a useful supplement to traditional analyses. However, there remains a need to conduct formal surveys to firmly establish ecological relationships and trends.

In this paper, we investigate the use of auxiliary (e.g. citizen science) data as a guide to designing more efficient ecological surveys. Our aim is to explore the use of opportunistic data to inform spatial survey design through a novel objective function that minimizes misclassificaton rate (i.e. false positives and false negatives) of the estimated occupancy maps. We use an initial occupancy estimate from auxiliary data as the prior in a Bayesian spatial occupancy model, and an efficient posterior approximation that accounts for spatial dependence, covariate effects, and imperfect detection in an exchange algorithm to search for the optimal set of sampling locations to minimize misclassification rate.

We examine the optimal design as a function of the detection rate and quality of the citizen‐science data, and compare this optimal design with several common ad hoc designs via an extensive simulation study. We then apply our method to eBird data for the brown‐headed nuthatch in the Southeast US.

We argue that planning a survey with the use of auxiliary data improves estimation accuracy and may significantly reduce the costs of sampling.
Cerebrovascular autoregulation monitoring and patient‐centred outcomes after cardiac surgery: a systematic review
Authors: Chan B. , Butler E. , Frost S. A. , Chuan A. , Aneman A.
Published: March 2018

Background

Impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation (CVAR) is observed in up to 20% of cardiac surgical patients. This systematic review aims to evaluate the association between impaired CVAR, measured by current monitoring techniques, and patient‐centred outcomes in adults following cardiac surgery.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, MEDLINE In‐Process and Cochrane Library were systematically searched through 8 December 2017. Studies were included if they assessed associations between CVAR and patient‐centred outcomes in the adult cardiac surgical population. The primary outcome of this systematic review was mortality. Secondary outcomes were stroke, delirium and acute kidney injury. Risk of bias was systematically assessed, and the GRADE methodology was used to evaluate the quality of evidence across outcomes.

Results

Eleven observational studies and no randomised controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Due to methodological heterogeneity, meta‐analysis was not possible. There was a high risk of bias within individual studies and low quality of evidence across outcomes. Of the included studies, one assessed mortality, five assessed stroke, four assessed delirium, and three assessed acute kidney injury. No reliable conclusions can be drawn from the one study assessing mortality. Interpretation of studies investigating CVAR and stroke, delirium and acute kidney injury was complicated by the lack of standardisation of monitoring techniques as well as varying definitions of impaired CVAR.

Conclusions

There is a paucity of high quality evidence for CVAR monitoring and its associations with outcome measures in post‐cardiac surgical patients, highlighting the need for future studies.
The effects of graded caloric restriction: XII. Comparison of mouse to human impact on cellular senescence in the colon
Authors: Fontana Luigi , Mitchell Sharon E. , Wang Boshi , Tosti Valeria , van Vliet Thijmen , Veronese Nicola , Bertozzi Beatrice , Early Dayna S. , Maissan Parcival , Speakman John R. , Demaria Marco
Published: March 2018

Calorie restriction (CR) is an effective strategy to delay the onset and progression of aging phenotypes in a variety of organisms. Several molecular players are involved in the anti‐aging effects of CR, but mechanisms of regulation are poorly understood. Cellular senescence—a cellular state of irreversible growth arrest—is considered a basic mechanism of aging. Senescent cells accumulate with age and promote a number of age‐related pathologies. Whether environmental conditions such as diet affect the accumulation of cellular senescence with age is still unclear. Here, we show that a number of classical transcriptomic markers of senescent cells are reduced in adult but relatively young mice under CR. Moreover, we demonstrate that such senescence markers are not induced in the colon of middle‐age human volunteers under CR in comparison with age‐matched volunteers consuming normal Western diets. Our data support the idea that the improvement in health span observed in different organisms under CR might be partly due to a reduction in the number of senescent cells.