bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Monseigneur and the grands seigneurs: Questions of Priority in Early Modern France
Authors: Sternberg G
Published: October 2019

This article investigates a series of epistolary contestations among the French high command in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in order to unlock their far-reaching military, political, cultural and social ramifications. Remarkably, disagreements over the use of the term Monseigneur and other epistolary status-markers took priority over military expediency, disrupting French armed operations in the midst of external war or internal rebellion. Such priority of traditional values over new ideals of royal service qualifies the thesis of a reconfiguration of noble Mentalités under the Bourbon monarchy. What is more, close analysis of these conflicts and tensions reveals their impact on everyday communication, sociability and friendship, and uncovers a rich spectrum of coping strategies, from open confrontation to subtler forms of evasion or accommodation. Drawing on new archival findings as well as on a reinterpretation of celebrated literary texts, this analysis also serves to recontextualise these writings as part of information networks that played an active role in the conflicts themselves. Finally, the underlying contestations over social priority newly illuminate the changing landscape of the French aristocracy during this period, revealing points of fissure, collective identities and moments of transformation. In particular, the article brings into relief the changing fortunes of those who remained part of the aristocratic system but did not obtain the positions that increasingly became emblematic of the highest rank. These contestations thus powerfully illustrate how epistolary ceremonial, and cultural practices more generally, can advance our understanding of social structures and dynamics.
Dental and craniofacial features associated with GNAS loss of function mutations
Authors: Le Norcy Elvire , Reggio-Paquet Camille , de Kerdanet Marc , Mignot Brigitte , Rothenbuhler Anya , Chaussain Catherine , Linglart Agnès
Published: October 2019

Background

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP, OMIM #103580) is a very rare disease (incidence 0.3–1/100,000). Heterozygous inactivating mutations involving the maternal GNAS exons 1–13 that encodes the alpha subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα) cause inactivating parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTHrP signalling disorder type 2 (iPPSD2 or PHP type 1A), which is characterized by Albright hereditary osteodystrophy and resistance to multiple hormones that act through the Gsα signalling pathway (including PTH, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone). To date, little information is available on craniofacial features in patients with PHP. The small number of patients studied in previous reports as well as the lack of molecular characterization of the patients may have precluded the detection of specific orofacial manifestations in the different PHP subtypes.

Materials/Methods

We conducted a systematic analysis of dental and craniofacial features in 19 patients with iPPSD2 and maternal GNAS inactivating mutations to assess the frequency and specificity of the anomalies.

Results

Facial examinations showed reduced vertical, sagittal, and transverse development of the mid-facial structures. Intraoral and radiographic examinations revealed that 89 per cent of the patients had at least one dental anomaly, including tooth submergence leading to severe infraocclusion in 83 per cent of cases. Craniofacial analysis of lateral cephalometric radiographs also showed a significant alteration in the development of the cranial base and maxillary and mandibular structures in these patients.

Conclusions

Patients with iPPSD2 and maternal GNAS mutations had specific craniofacial alterations and dental abnormalities. These specific defects should be assessed in order to provide appropriate dental and orthodontic care to these patients. (clinical trial registration: 1920371 v 0, French Nationale Data Processing and Liberties Commission - CNIL).
The ‘Plan de Paris’: who made this viol?
Authors: Mackey Shem
Published: October 2019

The ‘Plan de Paris’ viol, so called because of the map of Paris that comprises part of the incredible marquetry on the back, has long had a question mark over its origins. There are connections to one of France’s most famous luthiers, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, and other French musical notaries of the 17th and 18th centuries. The instrument has been attributed to the Füssen-born maker Gaspard Duiffoprugcar and was once thought to have been made in the 16th century. However, it is now widely and correctly considered to be a product of the late 17th century. The shape and construction details of this viol place it firmly in the second half of the 1600s and within the French/English style of making.

The instrument has undergone a number of substantial adjustments since its original incarnation and the identity of the original maker has consequently been obscured. These later adjustments and their origins are not the main subject of this article, but their nature and quality do make them deserving of study. Is it now possible to prove who really did make this viol? This article presents the evidence that reveals that this instrument displays many characteristics that are typical of the workmanship of the French maker Michel Collichon, who worked in Paris between c.1683 and 1693.
Systematic collection of patient-reported outcomes in atrial fibrillation: feasibility and initial results of the Utah mEVAL AF programme
Authors: Steinberg Benjamin A , Turner Jeffrey , Lyons Ann , Biber Joshua , Chelu Mihail G , Fang James C , Freedman Roger A , Han Frederick T , Hardisty Benjamin , Marrouche Nassir F , Ranjan Ravi , Shah Rashmee U , Spertus John A , Stehlik Josef , Zenger Brian , Piccini Jonathan P , Hess Rachel
Published: October 2019

Aims

Incorporating patient-reported outcomes (PROs) into routine care of atrial fibrillation (AF) enables direct integration of symptoms, function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) into practice. We report our initial experience with a system-wide PRO initiative among AF patients.

Methods and results

All patients with AF in our practice undergo PRO assessment with the Toronto AF Severity Scale (AFSS), and generic PROs, prior to electrophysiology clinic visits. We describe the implementation, feasibility, and results of clinic-based, electronic AF PRO collection, and compare AF-specific and generic HRQoL assessments. From October 2016 to February 2019, 1586 unique AF patients initiated 2379 PRO assessments, 2145 of which had all PRO measures completed (90%). The median completion time for all PRO measures per visit was 7.3 min (1st, 3rd quartiles: 6, 10). Overall, 38% of patients were female (n = 589), mean age was 68 (SD 12) years, and mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.8 (SD 2.0). The mean AFSS symptom score was 8.6 (SD 6.6, 1st, 3rd quartiles: 3, 13), and the full range of values was observed (0, 35). Generic PROs of physical function, general health, and depression were impacted at the most severe quartiles of AF symptom score (P < 0.0001 for each vs. AFSS quartile).

Conclusion

Routine clinic-based, PRO collection for AF is feasible in clinical practice and patient time investment was acceptable. Disease-specific AF PROs add value to generic HRQoL instruments. Further research into the relationship between PROs, heart rhythm, and AF burden, as well as PRO-guided management, is necessary to optimize PRO utilization.
Surviving onshore soil microbial communities differ among the Qing-Tibetan lakes with different salinity
Authors: Huang Jianrong , Yang Jian , Jiang Hongchen , Wu Geng , Xie Zhanling , Dong Hailiang
Published: October 2019

Little is known about the onshore microbial contribution to the microbial communities in nearby lakes and its response to salinity. In this study, transplanting experiments were established by caging onshore soils with dialysis bags followed by in situ 50-day incubation in nearby lakes with different salinity on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. At the end of the experiment, geochemical and microbial analyses were performed on the original soils, caged soils and lake waters and sediments at the incubation sites. The results showed that the salinity increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the caged soils and such salinity increases showed significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation with the salinity of the studied lakes. The microbial community composition and predicted functions in the caged soils were significantly (P < 0.05) changed in comparison with their corresponding original soils, and such variation could be mainly explained by the succession of members of the Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria from the original soils to their corresponding caged soils. The onshore microbial contribution appeared to be limited (up to 11.2% for sediment and negligible for water, respectively) to nearby lake microbial communities. Nevertheless, the survival of onshore soil microbial communities was mainly limited by the salinity of the receiving lakes.
Compound Dynamics and Combinatorial Patterns of Amino Acid Repeats Encode a System of Evolutionary and Developmental Markers
Authors: Pelassa Ilaria , Cibelli Marica , Villeri Veronica , Lilliu Elena , Vaglietti Serena , Olocco Federica , Ghirardi Mirella , Montarolo Pier Giorgio , Corà Davide , Fiumara Ferdinando
Published: October 2019

Homopolymeric amino acid repeats (AARs) like polyalanine (polyA) and polyglutamine (polyQ) in some developmental proteins (DPs) regulate certain aspects of organismal morphology and behavior, suggesting an evolutionary role for AARs as developmental “tuning knobs.” It is still unclear, however, whether these are occasional protein-specific phenomena or hints at the existence of a whole AAR-based regulatory system in DPs. Using novel approaches to trace their functional and evolutionary history, we find quantitative evidence supporting a generalized, combinatorial role of AARs in developmental processes with evolutionary implications. We observe nonrandom AAR distributions and combinations in HOX and other DPs, as well as in their interactomes, defining elements of a proteome-wide combinatorial functional code whereby different AARs and their combinations appear preferentially in proteins involved in the development of specific organs/systems. Such functional associations can be either static or display detectable evolutionary dynamics. These findings suggest that progressive changes in AAR occurrence/combination, by altering embryonic development, may have contributed to taxonomic divergence, leaving detectable traces in the evolutionary history of proteomes. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that the evolutionary trajectories of the 20 AARs in eukaryotic proteomes are highly interrelated and their individual or compound dynamics can sharply mark taxonomic boundaries, or display clock-like trends, carrying overall a strong phylogenetic signal. These findings provide quantitative evidence and an interpretive framework outlining a combinatorial system of AARs whose compound dynamics mark at the same time DP functions and evolutionary transitions.
The Social Relationship Context of Elder Mistreatment
Authors: Wong Jaclyn S , Breslau Hannah , McSorley V Eloesa , Wroblewski Kristen E , Howe Melissa J K , Waite Linda J
Published: October 2019

Background and Objectives

Elder mistreatment victims at risk of poor physical and psychological health may benefit from increased social support. This article identifies mistreatment victims among community-dwelling older Americans and maps their social networks to guide the design of social support interventions.

Research Design and Methods

Using nationally representative survey data from Wave 3 (2015–2016) of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 2,334) and descriptive, latent class, and regression analyses, we estimate the prevalence of mistreatment since age 60, identify the alleged perpetrators’ relationships to the victims, and examine victims’ social networks.

Results

Self-reported lifetime prevalence of elder mistreatment is as high as 21%, depending on the mistreatment behavior measured. Latent class analysis reveals two mistreatment classes: 12% of older adults experienced multiple types of mistreatment (polyvictimization), and 6% experienced primarily financial mistreatment. Although alleged perpetrators are unlikely to appear in older adults’ core social networks, the most commonly reported perpetrators are children and relatives. Regression analyses show that experiencing mistreatment since age 60 is associated with having less current social support, more social strain, and fewer kin in the core social network. Older adults reporting polyvictimization also have less-dense core networks.

Discussion and Implications

Increasing family support should be done cautiously because children and relatives are frequently named as mistreatment perpetrators. Increasing communication across polyvictimization victims’ network members may support their well-being. Providing outside assistance with financial management could benefit financial mistreatment victims.
Towards assessing the influence of sediment loading on Last Interglacial sea level
Authors: Pico T
Published: October 2019

Locally, the elevation of last interglacial (LIG; ∼122 ka) sea level markers is modulated by processes of vertical displacement, such as tectonic uplift or glacial isostatic adjustment, and these processes must be accounted for in deriving estimates of global ice volumes from geological sea level records. The impact of sediment loading on LIG sea level markers is generally not accounted for in these corrections, as it is assumed that the impact is negligible except in extremely high depositional settings, such as the world's largest river deltas. Here we perform a generalized test to assess the extent to which sediment loading may impact global variability in the present-day elevation of LIG sea level markers. We numerically simulate river sediment deposition using a diffusive model that incorporates a migrating shoreline to construct a global history of sedimentation over the last glacial cycle. We then calculate sea level changes due to this sediment loading using a gravitationally self-consistent model of glacial isostatic adjustment, and compare these predictions to a global compilation of LIG sea level data. We perform a statistical analysis, which accounts for spatial autocorrelation, across a global compilation of 1287 LIG sea level markers. Though limited by uncertainties in the LIG sea level database and the precise history of river deposition, this analysis suggests there is not a statistically significant global signal of sediment loading in LIG sea level markers. Nevertheless, at sites where LIG sea level markers have been measured, local sea level predicted using our simulated sediment loading history is perturbed up to 16 m. More generally, these predictions establish the relative sensitivity of different regions to sediment loading. Finally, we consider the implications of our results for estimates of tectonic uplift rates derived from LIG marine terraces; we predict that sediment loading causes 5–10 m of subsidence over the last glacial cycle at specific locations along active margin regions such as California and Barbados, where deriving long-term tectonic uplift rates from LIG shorelines is a common practice.
Ricci Iteration for Coupled Kähler–Einstein Metrics
Authors: Takahashi Ryosuke
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we introduce the “coupled Ricci iteration”, a dynamical system related to the Ricci operator and twisted Kähler–Einstein metrics as an approach to the study of coupled Kähler–Einstein (CKE) metrics. For negative 1st Chern class, we prove the smooth convergence of the iteration. For positive 1st Chern class, we also provide a notion of coercivity of the Ding functional and show its equivalence to the existence of CKE metrics. As an application, we prove the smooth convergence of the iteration on CKE Fano manifolds assuming that the automorphism group is discrete.
The Differences Between Consecutive Primes, V
Authors: Heath-Brown Roger
Published: October 2019

We show that $$\begin{equation*}\sum_{\substack{p_n\le x\\ p_{n+1}-p_n\ge\sqrt{p_n}}}(p_{n+1}-p_n) \ll_{\varepsilon} x^{3/5+\varepsilon}\end{equation*}$$or any fixed $\varepsilon>0$. This improves a result of Matomäki, in which the exponent was $2/3$.
Interleukin-36γ Is Elevated in Cervicovaginal Epithelial Cells in Women With Bacterial Vaginosis and In Vitro After Infection With Microbes Associated With Bacterial Vaginosis
Authors: Gardner Jameson K , Łaniewski Paweł , Knight Anna , Haddad Lisa B , Swaims-Kohlmeier Alison , Herbst-Kralovetz Melissa M
Published: October 2019

In recent studies, the interleukin (IL)-36 cytokines were shown to be elevated in women with non-Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiomes. In this study, we evaluated IL36G expression in clinical samples from women with and without bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a human 3-dimensional cervical epithelial cell model. IL36G expression was significantly elevated in cervicovaginal epithelial cells isolated from BV-positive women and corresponded with increased neutrophil counts relative to BV-negative women. In addition, specific BV-associated bacterial species as well as a polymicrobial cocktail significantly induced IL36G expression in vitro. These findings suggest that IL-36γ may exhibit an important function in the host response to BV and other sexually transmitted infections.
A Comparison of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Strategies for Persons Who Inject Drugs With Invasive Bacterial and Fungal Infections
Authors: Marks Laura R , Munigala Satish , Warren David K , Liss David B , Liang Stephen Y , Schwarz Evan S , Durkin Michael J
Published: October 2019

Background

Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) are frequently admitted for invasive infections. Medications for OUD (MOUD) may improve outcomes in hospitalized patients.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort of 220 admissions to a tertiary care center for invasive infections due to OUD, we compared 4 MOUD treatment strategies: methadone, buprenorphine, methadone taper for detoxification, and no medication to determine whether there were differences in parenteral antibiotic completion and readmission rates.

Results

The MOUDs were associated with increased completion of parenteral antimicrobial therapy (64.08% vs 46.15%; odds ratio [OR] = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.23–3.61). On multivariate analysis, use of MOUD maintenance with either buprenorphine (OR = 0.38; 95% CI, .17–.85) or methadone maintenance (OR = 0.43; 95% CI, .20–.94) and continuation of MOUD on discharge (OR = 0.35; 95% CI, .18–.67) was associated with lower 90-day readmissions. In contrast, use of methadone for detoxification followed by tapering of the medication without continuation on discharge was not associated with decreased readmissions (OR = 1.87; 95% CI, .62–5.10).

Conclusions

Long-term MOUDs, regardless of selection, are an integral component of care in patients hospitalized with OUD-related infections. Patients with OUD should have arrangements made for MOUDs to be continued after discharge, and MOUDs should not be discontinued before discharge.
Immune competence traits assessed during the stress of weaning are heritable and favorably genetically correlated with temperament traits in Angus cattle1
Authors: Hine Brad C , Bell Amy M , Niemeyer Dominic D O , Duff Christian J , Butcher Nick M , Dominik Sonja , Ingham Aaron B , Colditz Ian G
Published: October 2019

Selection for production traits with little or no emphasis on health-related traits has the potential to increase susceptibility to disease in food-producing animals. A possible genetic strategy to mitigate such effects is to include both production and health traits in the breeding objective when selecting animals. For this to occur, reliable methodologies are required to assess beneficial health traits, such as the immune capacity of animals. We describe here a methodology to assess the immune competence of beef cattle which is both practical to apply on farm and does not restrict the future sale of tested animals. The methodology also accommodates variation in prior vaccination history of cohorts of animals being tested. In the present study, the immune competence phenotype of 1,100 Angus calves was assessed during yard weaning. Genetic parameters associated with immune competence traits were estimated and associations between immune competence, temperament, and stress-coping ability traits were investigated. Results suggested that immune competence traits, related to an animal’s ability to mount both antibody and cell-mediated immune responses, are moderately heritable (h2 = 0.32 ± 0.09 and 0.27 ± 0.08, respectively) and favorably genetically correlated with the temperament trait, flight time (r = 0.63 ± 0.31 and 0.60 ± 0.29 with antibody and cell-mediated immune responses, respectively). Development of methodologies to assess the immune competence phenotype of beef cattle is a critical first step in the establishment of genetic selection strategies aimed at improving the general disease resistance of beef herds. Strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of disease in beef cattle are expected to significantly improve animal health and welfare, reduce reliance on the use of antibiotics to treat disease, and reduce disease-associated costs incurred by producers.
A targeted genotyping approach to enhance the identification of variants for lactation persistency in dairy cows
Authors: Do Duy Ngoc , Bissonnette Nathalie , Lacasse Pierre , Miglior Filippo , Zhao Xin , Ibeagha-Awemu Eveline M
Published: October 2019

Lactation persistency (LP), defined as the ability of a cow to maintain milk production at a high level after milk peak, is an important phenotype for the dairy industry. In this study, we used a targeted genotyping approach to scan for potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 57 potential candidate genes derived from our previous genome wide association study on LP and from the literature. A total of 175,490 SNPs were annotated within 10-kb flanking regions of the selected candidate genes. After applying several filtering steps, a total of 105 SNPs were retained for genotyping using target genotyping arrays. SNP association analyses were performed in 1,231 Holstein cows with 69 polymorphic SNPs using the univariate liner mixed model with polygenic effects using DMU package. Six SNPs including rs43770847, rs208794152, and rs208332214 in ADRM1; rs209443540 in C5orf34; rs378943586 in DDX11; and rs385640152 in GHR were suggestively significantly associated with LP based on additive effects and associations with 4 of them (rs43770847, rs208794152, rs208332214, and rs209443540) were based on dominance effects at P < 0.05. However, none of the associations remained significant at false discovery rate adjusted P (FDR) < 0.05. The additive variances explained by each suggestively significantly associated SNP ranged from 0.15% (rs43770847 in ADRM1) to 5.69% (rs209443540 in C5orf34), suggesting that these SNPs might be used in genetic selection for enhanced LP. The percentage of phenotypic variance explained by dominance effect ranged from 0.24% to 1.35% which suggests that genetic selection for enhanced LP might be more efficient by inclusion of dominance effects. Overall, this study identified several potentially functional variants that might be useful for selection programs for higher LP. Finally, a combination of identification of potentially functional variants followed by targeted genotyping and association analysis is a cost-effective approach for increasing the power of genetic association studies.
iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis of two transgenic soybean lines and the corresponding non-genetically modified isogenic variety
Authors: Liu Weixiao , Zhang Zhe , Liu Xuri , Jin Wujun
Published: October 2019

To investigate the unintended effects of genetically modified (GM) crops, an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based comparative proteomic analysis was performed with seed cotyledons of two GM soybean lines, MON87705 and MON87701×MON89788, and the corresponding non-transgenic isogenic variety A3525. Thirty-five differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were identified in MON87705/A3525, 27 of which were upregulated and 8 downregulated. Thirty-eight DAPs were identified from the MON87701×MON89788/A3525 sample, including 29 upregulated proteins and 9 downregulated proteins. Pathway analysis showed that most of these DAPs participate in protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and in metabolic pathways. Protein–protein interaction analysis of these DAPs demonstrated that the main interacting proteins are associated with post-translational modification, protein turnover, chaperones and signal transduction mechanisms. Nevertheless, these DAPs were not identified as new unintended toxins or allergens and only showed changes in abundance. All these results suggest that the seed cotyledon proteomic profiles of the two GM soybean lines studied were not dramatically altered compared with that of their natural isogenic control.
Designing the Organisational Structure of the UN Cyber Peacekeeping Team
Authors: Almutawa Ahmed
Published: October 2019

Neither the UN Charter nor other UN documents provide for the establishment of cyber peacekeeping missions. By largely ignoring the cyber dimension, the UN reduces the effectiveness of the modern peacekeeping operations which may, in many cases, require cyber intervention. Hence, there is a pressing social need for the establishment of a separate organisation of UN peacekeepers responsible for keeping the peace in cyberspace. The article aims to facilitate the establishment of a UN cyber-peacekeeping team by proposing its organisational structure and examining the qualifications of the cyber peacekeepers, their legal relationship with the UN, and the location of the cyber peacekeeping team. The organisational structure is important because it impacts how the organisation concerned learns, acts, and evolves. The proposed structure consists of two departments and four sub-departments. Each of them is responsible for specific peacekeeping responsibilities, ranging from assessment of cyber-security risks to facilitating the development of e-commerce in post-conflict countries. Although the proposed structure is currently merely theoretical, it can be empirically tested by creating prototype versions of the departments included in it and measuring their effectiveness on the basis of various criteria, such as reducing levels of violence between belligerent parties, protecting civilians from violence, and compliance with ceasefires.
Baseline of Susceptibility to the Cry1F Protein in Mexican Populations of Fall Armyworm
Authors: Rivero-Borja Maribel , Rodríguez-Maciel J C , Urzúa Gutiérrez J A , Silva-Aguayo G , Chandrasena Desmi I , Felix-Bermudez Ninfa C , Storer Nicholas P
Published: October 2019

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is currently the most important maize pest in Mexico. Its control is mainly based on the use of conventional insecticides. Additionally, Bt-maize expressing Cry1F protein represents an alternative to control this pest. We estimated the baseline susceptibility in Mexican populations of S. frugiperda to Cry1F protein. Twenty-eight geographical populations were field collected from Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Tamaulipas states. The F1 neonate larvae of each population were subjected to diet-overlay bioassay. After 7 d of Cry1F exposure, the percent mortality and the percent growth inhibition with respect to the untreated control were recorded (S-LAB). The LC50 ranged from 14.4 (6.3−24.0) (Cajeme 1, Sonora) to 161.8 ng/cm2 (92.0–320) (Ahumada 2, Chihuahua), while the LC95 was between 207.1 (145–363) (Obregón, Sonora) and 1,217 ng/cm2 (510.8–7,390.0) (Río Bravo 2, Tamaulipas). The sensitivity ratios at 50% mortality, (LC50 field/LC50 S-Lab) and 95% mortality were ≤6.45 and ≤5.05-fold, respectively. The 50% growth inhibition (GI50) ranged from 2.8 (0.008–9.3) (Obregón, Sonora) to 42.4 ng/cm2 (3.6–147.0) (Cajeme 1, Sonora). The GI95 was between 75.4 (San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora) to 1,198 ng/cm2 (Cajeme 1, Sonora). The relative inhibition at 50% of the growth, (RI50 = GI50 field /GI50 S-LAB) was ≤3.5 and at 95% (RI95) was ≤1.91-fold. These results indicated susceptibility to Cry1F protein in the evaluated populations of S. frugiperda.
Seasonal Migration Patterns of Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Across the Bohai Strait in Northern China
Authors: Shen Xiujing , Fu Xiaowei , Huang Yunxin , Guo Jianglong , Wu Qiulin , He Limei , Yang Xianming , Wu Kongming
Published: October 2019

The Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), is a notorious polyphagous insect pest in China and other regions of East Asia. The long-distance flight behavior of the ACB moths, however, is not well understood, especially in the field conditions. In this study, nightly monitoring data for multiple years (2003–2017) on the long-distance flight of adults crossing the Bohai Strait in northern China, showed that a large number of the adults frequently flew across the Bohai Strait from May to September with the peak migrations usually occurred, followed in order by September, June, July, and May, and the number of southward migrants was larger than that of northward migrants. From May to September in 2010, 2011, and 2017, a subsample of trapped ACB females was dissected (879 individuals in 2010, 197 individuals in 2011, and 247 individuals in 2017), and the results showed that the sex ratio of the trapped ACB moths was unbiased each month from May to September. While the proportion of mated females in northward populations (May to July = 92.85 ± 4.86%) was significantly higher than that in southward population (August and September = 74.53 ± 8.55%) . The seasonal pattern in the proportion of sexually mature females was similar to the above proportion of mated females. We conclude that the ACBs have a strong propensity and ability for long-distance migration, although local dispersal is generally considered to be the primary movement of the ACB. These findings may be helpful to improve the forecasting systems and the pest management schemes for the ACBs.
Abduction and comparative weighing of explanatory hypotheses: an argumentative approach
Authors: Olmos Paula
Published: October 2019

This paper makes use of the concepts and theoretical framework developed within the field of Argumentation Theory to account for the structure and characteristics of abduction and of the comparative processes of weighing explanatory hypothesis. It elaborates an analysis of abduction based on its consideration as a meta-explanatory argumentation scheme while elucidating its relations with abductive reasoning and inference. The conceptualization of comparative processes of weighing explanatory hypothesis as complex and varied argumentative structures is presented as an alternative to the idea of providing a formally rigid and supposedly universal account of ‘inference to the best explanation’.
Body size and diet–related morphological variation of bats over the past 65 years in China
Authors: Yue Xinke , Hughes Alice C , Tomlinson Kyle W , Xia Shangwen , Li Song , Chen Jin
Published: October 2019

We examined both historical (1960s) and recent (2017) specimens of an insectivorous bat species (Hipposideros armiger) and a phytophagous bat (Rousettus leschenaultii) from the same latitudinal range to explore phenotypic responses to environmental change in China over the past 65 years. Hipposideros armiger exhibited significant increases in forearm length and three diet-related cranial traits, as well as carbon and nitrogen stable isotope composition, suggesting that modern H. armiger must travel farther for food and may now use different food resources. In contrast, R. leschenaultii showed no change in forearm length but displayed significant increases in diet-related cranial traits. This study provides evidence for differential responses to recent environmental changes in bat species with different diets. The changes in diet-related traits of the two species and the forearm length change on the insectivorous bats suggest that recent phenotypic changes may be adaptions to land-use changes rather than to climate change.
A logic of hypothetical conjunction
Authors: Collinson Matthew
Published: October 2019

A binary connective that can be read as a matching conjunction for conditional connectives found in many conditional logics is considered. The most natural way to read this connective is often as a conjunction and yet, hypothetically, considered to hold of a state of affairs that could be obtained under the hypothesis. The connective can be given an intensional semantics extending a standard semantics of conditional logic that uses propositionally indexed families of binary relations on possible worlds. This semantics is determined by an adjoint relationship between the operations supporting the semantics of the conditional and the new conjunction. The semantics of the hypothetical conjunction connective subsumes the semantics, supported by a ternary relation semantics, of the fusion connective that arises in connection with substructural and relevant logics, and therefore subsumes a number of other forms of conjunction. A number of applications of the hypothetical conjunction connective are discussed, including generalized forms of resource reasoning used in computer science applications.
juliet: a versatile modelling tool for transiting and non-transiting exoplanetary systems
Authors: Espinoza Néstor , Kossakowski Diana , Brahm Rafael
Published: October 2019

Here we present juliet, a versatile tool for the analysis of transits, radial velocities, or both. juliet is built over many available tools for the modelling of transits, radial velocities, and stochastic processes (here modelled as Gaussian Processes; GPs) in order to deliver a tool/wrapper which can be used for the analysis of transit photometry and radial-velocity measurements from multiple instruments at the same time, using nested sampling algorithms which allows it to not only perform a thorough sampling of the parameter space, but also to perform model comparison via Bayesian evidences. In addition, juliet allows us to fit transiting and non-transiting multiplanetary systems, and to fit GPs which might share hyperparameters between the photometry and radial velocities simultaneously (e.g. stellar rotation periods), which might be useful for disentangling stellar activity in radial-velocity measurements. Nested Sampling, Importance Nested Sampling, and Dynamic Nested Sampling is performed with publicly available codes which in turn give juliet multithreading options, allowing it to scale the computing time of complicated multidimensional problems. We make juliet publicly available via GitHub.
The C-Band All-Sky Survey (C-BASS): Simulated parametric fitting in single pixels in total intensity and polarization
Authors: Jew Luke , Taylor Angela C , Jones Michael E , Barr A , Chiang H C , Dickinson C , Grumitt R D P , Harper S E , Heilgendorff H M , Hill-Valler J , Jonas J L , Leahy J P , Leech J , Pearson T J , Peel M W , Readhead A C S , Sievers J
Published: October 2019

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) B-mode signal is potentially weaker than the diffuse Galactic foregrounds over most of the sky at any frequency. A common method of separating the CMB from these foregrounds is via pixel-based parametric-model fitting. There are not currently enough all-sky maps to fit anything more than the most simple models of the sky. By simulating the emission in seven representative pixels, we demonstrate that the inclusion of a 5 GHz data point allows for more complex models of low-frequency foregrounds to be fitted than at present. It is shown that the inclusion of the C-BASS data will significantly reduce the uncertainties in a number of key parameters in the modelling of both the galactic foregrounds and the CMB. The extra data allow estimates of the synchrotron spectral index to be constrained much more strongly than is presently possible, with corresponding improvements in the accuracy of the recovery of the CMB amplitude. However, we show that to place good limits on models of the synchrotron spectral curvature will require additional low-frequency data.
Parallel Concerted Evolution of Ribosomal Protein Genes in Fungi and Its Adaptive Significance
Authors: Mullis Alison , Lu Zhaolian , Zhan Yu , Wang Tzi-Yuan , Rodriguez Judith , Rajeh Ahmad , Chatrath Ajay , Lin Zhenguo
Published: October 2019

Ribosomal protein (RP) genes encode structural components of ribosomes, the cellular machinery for protein synthesis. A single functional copy has been maintained in most of 78–80 RP families in animals due to evolutionary constraints imposed by gene dosage balance. Some fungal species have maintained duplicate copies in most RP families. The mechanisms by which the RP genes were duplicated and maintained and their functional significance are poorly understood. To address these questions, we identified all RP genes from 295 fungi and inferred the timing and nature of gene duplication events for all RP families. We found that massive duplications of RP genes have independently occurred by different mechanisms in three distantly related lineages: budding yeasts, fission yeasts, and Mucoromycota. The RP gene duplicates in budding yeasts and Mucoromycota were mainly created by whole genome duplication events. However, duplicate RP genes in fission yeasts were likely generated by retroposition, which is unexpected considering their dosage sensitivity. The sequences of most RP paralogs have been homogenized by repeated gene conversion in each species, demonstrating parallel concerted evolution, which might have facilitated the retention of their duplicates. Transcriptomic data suggest that the duplication and retention of RP genes increased their transcript abundance. Physiological data indicate that increased ribosome biogenesis allowed these organisms to rapidly consume sugars through fermentation while maintaining high growth rates, providing selective advantages to these species in sugar-rich environments.
Physical and functional interaction between SET1/COMPASS complex component CFP-1 and a Sin3S HDAC complex in C. elegans
Authors: Beurton Flore , Stempor Przemyslaw , Caron Matthieu , Appert Alex , Dong Yan , Chen Ron A-j , Cluet David , Couté Yohann , Herbette Marion , Huang Ni , Polveche Hélène , Spichty Martin , Bedet Cécile , Ahringer Julie , Palladino Francesca
Published: October 2019

The CFP1 CXXC zinc finger protein targets the SET1/COMPASS complex to non-methylated CpG rich promoters to implement tri-methylation of histone H3 Lys4 (H3K4me3). Although H3K4me3 is widely associated with gene expression, the effects of CFP1 loss vary, suggesting additional chromatin factors contribute to context dependent effects. Using a proteomics approach, we identified CFP1 associated proteins and an unexpected direct link between Caenorhabditis elegans CFP-1 and an Rpd3/Sin3 small (SIN3S) histone deacetylase complex. Supporting a functional connection, we find that mutants of COMPASS and SIN3 complex components genetically interact and have similar phenotypic defects including misregulation of common genes. CFP-1 directly binds SIN-3 through a region including the conserved PAH1 domain and recruits SIN-3 and the HDA-1/HDAC subunit to H3K4me3 enriched promoters. Our results reveal a novel role for CFP-1 in mediating interaction between SET1/COMPASS and a Sin3S HDAC complex at promoters.
ExonSkipDB: functional annotation of exon skipping event in human
Authors: Kim Pora , Yang Mengyuan , Yiya Ke , Zhao Weiling , Zhou Xiaobo
Published: October 2019

Exon skipping (ES) is reported to be the most common alternative splicing event due to loss of functional domains/sites or shifting of the open reading frame (ORF), leading to a variety of human diseases and considered therapeutic targets. To date, systematic and intensive annotations of ES events based on the skipped exon units in cancer and normal tissues are not available. Here, we built ExonSkipDB, the ES annotation database available at https://ccsm.uth.edu/ExonSkipDB/, aiming to provide a resource and reference for functional annotation of ES events in multiple cancer and tissues to identify therapeutically targetable genes in individual exon units. We collected 14 272 genes that have 90 616 and 89 845 ES events across 33 cancer types and 31 normal tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx). For the ES events, we performed multiple functional annotations. These include ORF assignment of exon skipped transcript, studies of lost protein functional features due to ES events, and studies of exon skipping events associated with mutations and methylations based on multi-omics evidence. ExonSkipDB will be a unique resource for cancer and drug research communities to identify therapeutically targetable exon skipping events.
E-Cigarette Health Harm Awareness and Discouragement: Implications for Health Communication
Authors: Rohde Jacob A , Noar Seth M , Mendel Jennifer R , Hall Marissa G , Baig Sabeeh A , Ribisl Kurt M , Brewer Noel T
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Evidence for the health harms of e-cigarettes is growing, yet little is known about which harms may be most impactful in health messaging. Our study sought to identify which harms tobacco product users were aware of and which most discouraged them from wanting to vape.

Methods

Participants were a convenience sample of 1,872 U.S. adult e-cigarette-only users, cigarette-only smokers, and dual users recruited in August 2018. In an online survey, participants evaluated 40 e-cigarette harms from seven categories: chemical exposures, device explosions, addiction, cardiovascular harm, respiratory harm, e-liquid toxicity, and other harms. Outcomes were awareness of the harms (“check all that apply”) and the extent to which the harms discouraged vaping (5-point scale; (1) “not at all” to (5) “very much”).

Results

Awareness of most e-cigarette harms was modest, being highest for harms in the device explosions category of harms (44%) and lowest for the e-liquid toxicity category (16%). The harms with the highest mean discouragement from wanting to vape were the respiratory harm (M = 3.82) and exposure to chemicals (M = 3.68) categories. Harms in the addiction category were the least discouraging (M = 2.83) compared with other harms (all p < .001). Findings were similar for e-cigarette-only users, cigarette-only smokers, and dual users.

Conclusions

Addiction was the least motivating e-cigarette harm, a notable finding given that the current FDA e-cigarette health warning communicates only about nicotine addiction. The next generation of e-cigarette health warnings and communication campaigns should highlight other harms, especially respiratory harms and the chemical exposures that may lead to health consequences.

Implications

E-cigarette health harms related to respiratory effects, chemical exposures, and other health areas most discouraged vaping among tobacco users. In contrast, health harms about addiction least discouraged use. Several countries have begun implementing e-cigarette health warnings, including the United States, and many others are considering adopting similar policies. To increase impact, future warnings and other health communication efforts should communicate about health harms beyond addiction, such as the effects of e-cigarette use on respiratory health. Such efforts should communicate that e-cigarette use is risky and may pose less overall risk to human health than smoking, according to current evidence.
Emerging science on benefits of whole grain oat and barley and their soluble dietary fibers for heart health, glycemic response, and gut microbiota
Authors: Tosh Susan M , Bordenave Nicolas
Published: October 2019

The aim of this work is to review the major mechanisms by which consumption of whole grain oats and barley, and β-glucans, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other noncommunicable chronic conditions. These effects have been predominantly explained by the role of soluble dietary fibers and smaller bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, in oats and barley. These help to reduce the level of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, decreasing postprandial blood glucose and modulating gut microbiota. In the present review, the role of viscosity development of the intestinal content by β-glucans in these mechanisms is discussed, as well as the impact of processing conditions altering the composition or the physicochemical characteristics of β-glucans.
Justifying the Expansion of Neonatal Screening: Two Cases
Authors: Juth Niklas
Published: October 2019

During the last two decades, neonatal screening in Europe and North America has expanded substantially. This article examines two recent suggestions for expanding neonatal screening: severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). With reference to well-established risk-benefit based rationales for screening, it is argued that the case for introducing SCID in neonatal screening is considerably stronger than for introducing X-ALD. For instance, the majority of those screened for X-ALD most likely have a negative risk-benefit ratio of screening: they develop milder symptoms or perhaps no symptoms at all, while still being monitored for a long time. This argument is used as a vehicle for making some general points regarding justified expansions of neonatal screening. First, when considering the expansion of neonatal screening, we should look at a condition specific case-by-case basis. Moreover, future expansions of neonatal screening should stick to the well-established rationales for screening while avoiding risk-benefit slippage. Otherwise, more strict procedures of informed consent are warranted in neonatal screening, procedures that, in the end, risk undermining the benefits of current neonatal screening programmes.
Comparative Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Self-Management within the Context of Voluntary Patient-Centered Prescription Opioid Tapering: The EMPOWER Study Protocol
Authors: Darnall Beth D , Mackey Sean C , Lorig Kate , Kao Ming-Chih , Mardian Aram , Stieg Richard , Porter Joel , DeBruyne Korina , Murphy Jennifer , Perez Luzmercy , Okvat Heather , Tian Lu , Flood Pamela , McGovern Mark , Colloca Luana , King Heather , Van Dorsten Brent , Pun Ting , Cheung Matthias
Published: October 2019

Objective. Evidence to date, while sparse, suggests that patients taking long-term opioids require special considerations and protections to prevent potential iatrogenic harms from opioid de-prescribing, such as increased pain or suffering. Following this study protocol, the EMPOWER study seeks to address multiple unmet needs of patients with chronic pain who desire to reduce long-term opioid therapy, and provide the clinical evidence on effective methodology. Methods. EMPOWER applies patient-centered methods for voluntary prescription opioid reduction conducted within a comprehensive, multi-state, 3-arm randomized controlled comparative effectiveness study of three study arms (1) group cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain; (2) group chronic pain self-management; and (3) usual care (taper only). Specialized electronic data capture systems collect patient reported symptoms and satisfaction data weekly and monthly during the taper, with real-time clinical alerts and electronic feedback loops informing, documenting, and steering needed care actions. Conclusion. The EMPOWER study seeks to provide granular evidence on patient response to voluntary opioid tapering, and will provide evidence to inform clinical systems changes, clinical care, patient satisfaction, and patient outcomes for opioid reduction.