bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic analysis of disease resilience in wean-to-finish pigs from a natural disease challenge model
Authors: Cheng Jian , Putz Austin M , Harding John C S , Dyck Michael K , Fortin Frederic , Plastow Graham S , Canada PigGen , Dekkers Jack C M
Published: July 2020

The objective was to estimate the genetic parameters of performance and resilience of growing pigs under disease. Data were from 3,139 Yorkshire × Landrace wean-to-finish pigs that were exposed to a natural polymicrobial disease challenge that was established by entering naturally infected animals into a nursery barn, targeting various viral and bacterial diseases. The challenge was maintained by entering batches of 60 or 75 healthy nursery pigs every 3 wk in a continuous flow system. Traits analyzed included average daily gain (ADG), feed intake (ADFI) and duration (ADFD); feed conversion ratio (FCR); residual feed intake (RFI); mortality (MOR); number of health treatments (TRT); health scores (HScore); carcass weight (CWT), back fat (CBF) and loin depth (CLD); dressing percentage (DRS); lean yield (LYLD); day-to-day variation in feed intake and duration (VARFI and VARDUR); and the proportion of off-feed days (OFFFI and OFFDUR). Analyses were performed by mixed linear models with genomic relationships. The resilience traits, such as TRT, MOR, and HScore, were lowly heritable (up to 0.15) but had high genetic correlations with each other. Performance traits, such as ADG, ADFI, ADFD, FCR, RFI, and carcass traits, were moderate to highly heritable (0.17 to 0.49). Heritabilities of resilience indicator traits such as OFF and VAR had low to moderate heritabilities (0.08 to 0.23) but were higher when based on duration vs. amount. ADFI had a low genetic correlation with ADFD (0.13). ADG in the challenge nursery had stronger negative genetic correlations with both TRT and MOR than ADG in the finisher (−0.37 to −0.74 vs. −0.15 to −0.56). ADFI and FCR had moderate negative (−0.21 to −0.39) and positive (0.34 to 0.49) genetic correlations, respectively, with TRT and MOR. ADFD and RFI had very low genetic correlations with TRT and MOR. CWT and DRS were moderately negatively correlated with TRT and MOR (−0.33 to −0.59). Resilience indicator traits based on feed intake or duration had moderate to high positive genetic correlations with TRT (0.18 to 0.81) and MOR (0.33 to 0.87). In conclusion, performance and resilience traits under a polymicrobial disease challenge are heritable and can be changed by selection. Phenotypes extracted from feed intake patterns can be used as genetic indicator traits for disease resilience. Most promising is day-to-day variation in intake duration, which had a sizeable heritability (0.23) and favorable genetic correlations with MOR (0.79) and treatment rate (0.20).
Improvements in fundamental performance of in-liquid frequency modulation atomic force microscopy
Authors: Fukuma Takeshi
Published: July 2020

In-liquid frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) has been used for visualizing subnanometer-scale surface structures of minerals, organic thin films and biological systems. In addition, three-dimensional atomic force microscopy (3D-AFM) has been developed by combining it with a three-dimensional (3D) tip scanning method. This method enabled the visualization of 3D distributions of water (i.e. hydration structures) and flexible molecular chains at subnanometer-scale resolution. While these applications highlighted the unique capabilities of FM-AFM, its force resolution, speed and stability are not necessarily at a satisfactory level for practical applications. Recently, there have been significant advancements in these fundamental performances. The force resolution was dramatically improved by using a small cantilever, which enabled the imaging of a 3D hydration structure even in pure water and made it possible to directly compare experimental results with simulated ones. In addition, the improved force resolution allowed the enhancement of imaging speed without compromising spatial resolution. To achieve this goal, efforts have been made for improving bandwidth, resonance frequency and/or latency of various components, including a high-speed phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit. With these improvements, now atomic-resolution in-liquid FM-AFM imaging can be performed at ∼1 s/frame. Furthermore, a Si-coating method was found to improve stability and reproducibility of atomic-resolution imaging owing to formation of a stable hydration structure on a tip apex. These improvements have opened up new possibilities of atomic-scale studies on solid-liquid interfacial phenomena by in-liquid FM-AFM.
Optimal temporal–spatial fluorescence techniques for phenotyping nitrogen status in oilseed rape
Authors: Sun Dawei , Xu Haixia , Weng Haiyong , Zhou Weijun , Liang Yan , Dong Xiaoya , He Yong , Cen Haiyan
Published: July 2020

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer maximizes the growth of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) by improving photosynthetic performance. Elucidating the dynamic relationship between fluorescence and plant N status could provide a non-destructive diagnosis of N status and the breeding of N-efficient cultivars. The aim of this study was to explore the impacts of different N treatments on photosynthesis at a spatial–temporal scale and to evaluate the performance of three fluorescence techniques for the diagnosis of N status. One-way ANOVA and linear discriminant analysis were applied to analyze fluorescence data acquired by a continuous excitation chlorophyll fluorimeter (OJIP transient analysis), pulse amplitude-modulated chlorophyll fluorescence (PAM-ChlF), and multicolor fluorescence (MCF) imaging. The results showed that the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and performance index for photosynthesis (PIABS) of bottom leaves were sensitive to N status at the bolting stage, whereas the red fluorescence/far-red fluorescence ratio of top leaves was sensitive at the early seedling stage. Although the classification of N treatments by the three techniques achieved comparable accuracies, MCF imaging showed the best potential for early diagnosis of N status in field phenotyping because it had the highest sensitivity in the top leaves, at the early seedling stage. The findings of this study could facilitate research on N management and the breeding of N-efficient cultivars.
UGT85A53 promotes flowering via mediating abscisic acid glucosylation andFLCtranscription inCamellia sinensis
Authors: Jing Tingting , Zhang Na , Gao Ting , Wu Yi , Zhao Mingyue , Jin Jieyang , Du Wenkai , Schwab Wilfried , Song Chuankui
Published: July 2020

Uridine diphosphate (UDP)-dependent glycosyltransferases catalyse the glycosylation of small molecules and play important roles in maintaining cell homeostasis and regulating plant development. Glycosyltransferases are widely distributed, but their detailed roles in regulating plant growth and development are largely unknown. In this study, we identified a UDP-glycosyltransferase, UGT85A53, from Camellia sinensis, the expression of which was strongly induced by various abiotic stress factors and its protein product was distributed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Ectopic overexpression of CsUGT85A53 in Arabidopsis resulted in an early-flowering phenotype under both long- and short-day conditions. The transcript accumulation of the flowering repressor genes FLC and ABI5, an activator of FLC in ABA-regulated flowering signaling, were both significantly decreased in transgenic Arabidopsis compared with wild-type plants. The decreased expression level of FLC might be associated with an increased level of DNA methylation that was observed in CsUGT85A53-overexpressing (OE) plants. Biochemical analyses showed that CsUGT85A53 could glucosylate ABA to form inactive ABA-glycoside in vitro and in planta. Overexpression of CsUGT85A53 in Arabidopsis resulted in a decreased concentration of free ABA and increased concentration of ABA-glucoside. The early-flowering phenotype in the CsUGT85A53-OE transgenic lines was restored by ABA application. Furthermore, CsUGT85A53-OE plants displayed an ABA-insensitive phenotype with higher germination rates compared with controls in the presence of low concentrations of exogenous ABA. Our findings are the first to identify a UGT in tea plants that catalyses ABA glucosylation and enhance flowering transition as a positive regulator.
A Local Authority v JB [2020] EWCA Civ 735 and A Local Authority v AW [2020] EWCOP 24: Rethinking Sexual Capacity?
Authors: Pritchard-Jones Laura
Published: July 2020

In A Local Authority v JB and A Local Authority v AW, the Court of Appeal and Court of Protection, respectively, had to consider questions regarding decision-making about sexual relationships. This case commentary suggests that both decisions are to be welcomed in many ways, not least in the primacy they give to the role of consent within sexual relationships. However, working through their implications also reveals a number of perplexing legal and practical binds that cannot easily be overcome, and that in fact stem from the way that the Mental Capacity Act 2005 itself works. In light of this, the commentary concludes by suggesting that it is likely that there will be continued dissatisfaction with this area of law and hints that the time may have come to rethink sexual capacity.
Welfare effect of international migration on the left-behind in Ghana: Evidence from machine learning
Authors: Martey Edward , Armah Ralph
Published: July 2020

This article examines the effect of international migration on household expenditure, labor outcomes, and poverty on the left-behind household members in Ghana using nationally representative data. The study contributes to the literature in terms of the methodology employed to reinforce the welfare effect of international migration in a developing country like Ghana. The results suggest that international migration increases household expenditures, which is largely driven by investments relative to expenditure on consumption goods. In addition, transfer of remittances to left-behind household members by migrants results in a reduction of their weekly working hours in the labor market and modestly reduces household poverty. The findings of the study suggest that the gains from international migration can be consolidated with favorable policy environment that ensures flexible conditions and terms of borrowing from banks to finance the initial expenditure related to migration. In addition, reduction in remittance transfer charges is likely to increase transfer through the formal systems, which can be captured and used for future planning.
Antifungal efficacy of atorvastatin-containing emulgel in the treatment of oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis
Authors: de Oliveira Neto Ari Soares , Souza Israel Lucas Antunes , Amorim Maria Eliza Samuel , de Freitas Souza Thalita , Rocha Vinicius Novaes , do Couto Rene Oliveira , Fabri Rodrigo Luiz , de Freitas Araújo Marcelo Gonzaga
Published: July 2020

Drug repositioning has been an important ally in the search for new antifungal drugs. Statins are drugs that act to prevent sterol synthesis in both humans and fungi and for this reason they are promissory candidates to be repositioned to treat mycoses. In this study we evaluated the antifungal activity of atorvastatin by in vitro tests to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration against azole resistant Candida albicans and its mechanisms of action. Moreover, the efficacy of both atorvastatin-loaded oral and vaginal emulgels (0.75%, 1.5% and 3% w/w) was evaluated by means of in vivo experimental models of oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis, respectively. The results showed that atorvastatin minimal inhibitory concentration against C. albicans was 31.25 μg/ml. In oral candidiasis experiments, the group treated with oral emulgel containing 3.0% atorvastatin showcased total reduction in fungal load after nine days of treatment. Intravaginal delivery atorvastatin emulgel showed considerable effectiveness at the concentration of 3% (65% of fungal burden reduction) after nine days of treatment. From these findings, it is possible to assert that atorvastatin may be promising for drug repositioning towards the treatment of these opportunistic mycoses.
A new way to constrain the densities of intragroup medium in groups of galaxies with convolutional neural networks
Authors: Shen A X , Bekki K
Published: July 2020

Ram pressure (RP) can influence the evolution of cold gas content and star formation rates of galaxies. One of the key parameters for the strength of RP is the density of intragroup medium (ρigm), which is difficult to estimate if the X-ray emission from it is too weak to be observed. We propose a new way to constrain ρigm through an application of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to simulated gas density and kinematic maps galaxies under strong RP. We train CNNs using 9 × 104 2D images of galaxies under various RP conditions, then validate performance with 104 new test images. This new method can be applied to real observational data from ongoing WALLABY and SKA surveys to quickly obtain estimates of ρigm. Simulated galaxy images have 1.0 kpc resolution, which is consistent with that expected from the future WALLABY survey. The trained CNN models predict the normalized IGM density, $\hat{\rho }_{\rm igm}$ where $0.0 \le \hat{\rho }_{\rm igm, n} \lt 10.0$, accurately with root mean squared error values of 0.72, 0.83, and 0.74 for the density, kinematic, and joined 2D maps, respectively. Trained models are unable to predict the relative velocity of galaxies with respect to the IGM (vrel) precisely, and struggle to generalize for different RP conditions. We apply our CNNs to the observed H i column density map of NGC 1566 in the Dorado group to estimate its IGM density.
Shape of solar cycles and mid-term solar activity oscillations
Authors: Sokoloff D D , Shibalova A S , Obridko V N , Pipin V V
Published: July 2020

The evolution of solar activity comprises, apart from the well-known 11-year cycle, various temporal scales ranging from months up to the secondary cycles known as mid-term oscillations. Its nature deserves a physical explanation. In this work, we have considered the 5–6 year oscillations as derived both from sunspots and solar magnetic dipole time series. Using a solar dynamo model, we have deduced that these variations may be a manifestation of dynamo non-linearities and the non-harmonic shape of the solar activity cycles. We have concluded that the observed mid-term oscillations are related to the non-linear saturation of dynamo processes in the solar interior.
Stochastic core spin-up in massive stars – implications of 3D simulations of oxygen shell burning
Authors: McNeill Lucy O , Müller Bernhard
Published: July 2020

It has been suggested based on analytic theory that even in non-rotating supernova progenitors stochastic spin-up by internal gravity waves (IGWs) during the late burning stages can impart enough angular momentum to the core to result in neutron star birth spin periods below $100\, \mathrm{ms}$, and a relatively firm upper limit of $500\, \mathrm{ms}$ for the spin period. We here investigate this process using a 3D simulation of oxygen shell burning in a 3 M⊙ He star. Our model indicates that stochastic spin-up by IGWs is less efficient than previously thought. We find that the stochastic angular momentum flux carried by waves excited at the shell boundary is significantly smaller for a given convective luminosity and turnover time than would be expected from simple dimensional analysis. This can be explained by noting that the waves launched by overshooting convective plumes contain modes of opposite angular wavenumber with similar amplitudes, so that the net angular momentum of excited wave packets almost cancels. We find that the wave-mediated angular momentum flux from the oxygen shell follows a random walk, but again dimensional analysis overestimates the random walk amplitudes since the correlation time is only a fraction of the convective turnover time. Extrapolating our findings over the entire lifetime of the last burning stages prior to collapse, we predict that the core angular momentum from stochastic spin-up would translate into long birth spin periods of several seconds for low-mass progenitors and no less than $100\, \mathrm{ms}$ even for high-mass progenitors.
The gravitational wave background signal from tidal disruption events
Authors: Toscani Martina , Rossi Elena M , Lodato Giuseppe
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we derive the gravitational wave stochastic background from tidal disruption events (TDEs). We focus on both the signal emitted by main-sequence stars disrupted by supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in galaxy nuclei and on that from disruptions of white dwarfs by intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) located in globular clusters. We show that the characteristic strain hc’s dependence on frequency is shaped by the pericenter distribution of events within the tidal radius and under standard assumptions hc∝f−1/2. This is because, the TDE signal is a burst of gravitational waves at the orbital frequency of the closest approach. In addition, we compare the background characteristic strains with the sensitivity curves of the upcoming generation of space-based gravitational wave interferometers: the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), TianQin, ALIA, the DECI-hertz inteferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (DECIGO), and the Big Bang Observer (BBO). We find that the background produced by main-sequence stars might be just detected by BBO in its lowest frequency coverage, but it is too weak for all the other instruments. On the other hand, the background signal from TDEs with white dwarfs will be within reach of ALIA, and especially of DECIGO and BBO, while it is below the LISA and TianQin sensitive curves. This background signal detection will not only provide evidence for the existence of IMBHs up to redshift z ∼ 3, but it will also inform us on the number of globular clusters per galaxy and on the occupation fraction of IMBHs in these environments.
Step-size effect in the time-transformed leapfrog integrator on elliptic and hyperbolic orbits
Authors: Wang Long , Nitadori Keigo
Published: July 2020

A drift-kick-drift (DKD) type leapfrog symplectic integrator applied for a time-transformed separable Hamiltonian (or time-transformed symplectic integrator; TSI) has been known to conserve the Kepler orbit exactly. We find that for an elliptic orbit, such feature appears for an arbitrary step size. But it is not the case for a hyperbolic orbit: When the half step size is larger than the conjugate momenta of the mean anomaly, a phase transition happens and the new position jumps to the non-physical counterpart of the hyperbolic trajectory. Once it happens, the energy conservation is broken. Instead, the kinetic energy minus the potential energy becomes a new conserved quantity. We provide a mathematical explanation for such phenomenon. Our result provides a deeper understanding of the TSI method, and a useful constraint of the step size when the TSI method is used to solve the hyperbolic encounters. This is particular important when an (Bulirsch–Stoer) extrapolation integrator is used together, which requires the convergence of integration errors.
The permanent ellipticity of the neutron star in PSR J1023+0038
Authors: Bhattacharyya Sudip
Published: July 2020

A millisecond pulsar having an ellipticity, which is an asymmetric mass distribution around its spin-axis, could emit continuous gravitational waves, which have not been detected so far. An indirect way to infer such waves is to estimate the contribution of the waves to the spin-down rate of the pulsar. The transitional pulsar PSR J1023+0038 is ideal and unique for this purpose because this is the only millisecond pulsar for which the spin-down rate has been measured in both accreting and non-accreting states. Here, we infer, from our formalism based on the complete torque budget equations and the pulsar magnetospheric origin of observed γ-rays in the two states, that PSR J1023+0038 should emit gravitational waves due to a permanent ellipticity of the pulsar. The formalism also explains some other main observational aspects of this source in a self-consistent way. As an example, our formalism naturally infers the accretion disc penetration into the pulsar magnetosphere, and explains the observed X-ray pulsations in the accreting state using the standard and well-accepted scenario. This, in turn, infers the larger pulsar spin-down power in the accreting state, which, in our formalism, explains the observed larger γ-ray emission in this state. Exploring wide ranges of parameter values of PSR J1023+0038, and not assuming an additional source of stellar ellipticity in the accreting state, we find the misaligned mass quadrupole moment of the pulsar in the range of (0.92–1.88) × 1036 g cm2, implying an ellipticity range of (0.48–0.93) × 10−9.
Resistome analysis of bloodstream infection bacterial genomes reveals a specific set of proteins involved in antibiotic resistance and drug efflux
Authors: Oliveira Willian K , Ferrarini Mariana , Morello Luis G , Faoro Helisson
Published: July 2020

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a global public health problem. Its association with bloodstream infections is even more severe and may easily evolve to sepsis. To improve our response to these bacteria, it is essential to gather thorough knowledge on the main pathogens along with the main mechanisms of resistance they carry. In this paper, we performed a large meta-analysis of 3872 bacterial genomes isolated from blood samples, from which we identified 71 745 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Taxonomic analysis showed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla, and the species Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were the most represented. Comparison of ARGs with the Resfams database showed that the main mechanism of antibiotic resistance is mediated by efflux pumps. Clustering analysis between resistome of blood and soil-isolated bacteria showed that there is low identity between transport and efflux proteins between bacteria from these environments. Furthermore, a correlation analysis among all features showed that K. pneumoniae and S. aureus formed two well-defined clusters related to the resistance mechanisms, proteins and antibiotics. A retrospective analysis has shown that the average number of ARGs per genome has gradually increased. The results demonstrate the importance of comprehensive studies to understand the antibiotic resistance phenomenon.
Immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for lymphoma: predictive biomarkers and clinical outcomes
Authors: Holtzman Noa G , Xie Hao , Bentzen Soren , Kesari Vivek , Bukhari Ali , El Chaer Firas , Lutfi Forat , Siglin Jonathan , Hutnick Elizabeth , Gahres Natalie , Ruehle Kathleen , Ahmad Haroon , Shanholtz Carl , Kocoglu Mehmet H , Badros Ashraf Z , Yared Jean A , Hardy Nancy M , Rapoport Aaron P , Dahiya Saurabh
Published: July 2020

Background

CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy (CAR-T) has emerged as effective for relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL). The neurologic toxicity seen with CAR-T, referred to as immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), is poorly understood. To better elucidate the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and correlative biomarkers of ICANS, we review here a single-center analysis of ICANS after CAR T-cell therapy in R/R LBCL.

Methods

Patients (n = 45) with R/R LBCL treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) were identified. Data regarding treatment course, clinical outcomes, and correlative studies were collected. Patients were monitored and graded for ICANS via CARTOX-10 scoring and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03 criteria, respectively.

Results

Twenty-five (56%) patients developed ICANS, 18 (72%) of whom had severe (CTCAE grades 3–4) ICANS. Median time to development of ICANS was 5 days (range, 3–11). Elevated pre-infusion (day 0 [D0]) fibrinogen (517 vs 403 mg/dL, upper limit of normal [ULN] 438 mg/dL, P = 0.01) and D0 lactate dehydrogenase (618 vs 506 units/L, ULN 618 units/L, P = 0.04) were associated with ICANS. A larger drop in fibrinogen was associated with ICANS (393 vs 200, P < 0.01). Development of ICANS of any grade had no effect on complete remission (CR), progression-free survival (PFS), or overall survival (OS). Duration and total dose of steroid treatment administered for ICANS did not influence CR, PFS, or OS.

Conclusions

ICANS after CAR-T with axi-cel for R/R LBCL was seen in about half of patients, the majority of which were high grade. Contrary to previous reports, neither development of ICANS nor its treatment were associated with inferior CR, PFS, or OS. The novel finding of high D0 fibrinogen level can identify patients at higher risk for ICANS.
Characterization of Magnetic Resonance Thermal Imaging Signal Artifact During Magnetic Resonance Guided Laser-Induced Thermal Therapy
Authors: Munier Sean M , Liang Allison S , Desai Akshay N , James Jose K , Danish Shabbar F
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) is a minimally invasive procedure that utilizes intraoperative magnetic resonance thermal imaging (MRTI) to generate a thermal damage estimate (TDE) of the ablative area. In select cases, the MRTI contains a signal artifact or defect that distorts the ablative region. No study has attempted to characterize this artifact.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize MRTI signal the artifact in select cases to better understand its potential relevance and impact on the ablation procedure.

METHODS

All ablations were performed using the Visualase magnetic resonance imaging-guided laser ablation system (Medtronic). Patients were included if the MRTI contained signal artifact that distorted the ablative region during the first thermal dose delivered. Ablation artifact was quantified using MATLAB version R2018a (Mathworks Inc, Natick, Massachusetts).

RESULTS

A total of 116 patients undergoing MRgLITT for various surgical indications were examined. MRTI artifact was observed in 37.0% of cases overall. Incidence of artifact was greater at higher powers (P < .001) and with longer ablation times (P = .024), though artifact size did not correlate with laser power or ablation duration.

CONCLUSION

MRTI signal artifact is common during LITT. Higher powers and longer ablation times result in greater incidence of ablation artifact, though artifact size is not correlated with power or duration. Future studies should aim to evaluate effects of artifact on postoperative imaging and, most notably, patient outcomes.
Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Capsulotomy for Treatment-Resistant Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Davidson Benjamin , Hamani Clement , Huang Yuexi , Jones Ryan M , Meng Ying , Giacobbe Peter , Lipsman Nir
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

Psychiatric surgery is an important domain of functional neurosurgery and involves deep brain stimulation (DBS) or lesional procedures performed for treatment-resistant psychiatric illness. It has recently become possible to use magnetic-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) to perform bilateral capsulotomy, a lesional technique commonly carried out with surgical radiofrequency ablation or stereotactic radiosurgery. MRgFUS offers several advantages, including improved safety and real-time imaging of the lesions.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and technical aspects of performing bilateral MRgFUS capsulotomy in patients with severe refractory depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

METHODS

We describe the clinical and technical considerations of performing MRgFUS capsulotomy. Topics discussed include patient selection, headframe application, targeting, sonication strategies, and follow-up procedures.

RESULTS

MRgFUS capsulotomy was performed in 16 patients without serious clinical or radiographic adverse events.

CONCLUSION

MRgFUS allows for a safe, less invasive technique for performing a well-studied psychiatric surgery procedure—the anterior capsulotomy.
Super-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging of Arabidopsis thaliana Transfer Cell Wall Ingrowths using Pseudo-Schiff Labelling Adapted for the Use of Different Dyes
Authors: Rae Angus E , Wei Xiaoyang , Flores-Rodriguez Neftali , McCurdy David W , Collings David A
Published: July 2020

To understand plant growth and development, it is often necessary to investigate the organization of plant cells and plant cell walls. Plant cell walls are often fluorescently labeled for confocal imaging with the dye propidium iodide using a pseudo-Schiff reaction. This reaction binds free amine groups on dye molecules to aldehyde groups on cellulose that result from oxidation with periodic acid. We tested a range of fluorescent dyes carrying free amine groups for their ability to act as pseudo-Schiff reagents. Using the low-pH solution historically used for the Schiff reaction, these alternative dyes failed to label cell walls of Arabidopsis cotyledon vascular tissue as strongly as propidium iodide but replacing the acidic solution with water greatly improved fluorescence labeling. Under these conditions, rhodamine-123 provided improved staining of plant cell walls compared to propidium iodide. We also developed protocols for pseudo-Schiff labeling with ATTO 647N-amine, a dye compatible for super-resolution Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) imaging. ATTO 647N-amine was used for super-resolution imaging of cell wall ingrowths that occur in phloem parenchyma transfer cells of Arabidopsis, structures whose small size is only slightly larger than the resolution limit of conventional confocal microscopy. Application of surface-rendering software demonstrated the increase in plasma membrane surface area as a consequence of wall ingrowth deposition and suggests that STED-based approaches will be useful for more detailed morphological analysis of wall ingrowth formation. These improvements in pseudo-Schiff labeling for conventional confocal microscopy and STED imaging will be broadly applicable for high-resolution imaging of plant cell walls.
Gibberellin Metabolism and Signaling: Targets for Improving Agronomic Performance of Crops
Authors: Gao Shaopei , Chu Chengcai
Published: July 2020

Gibberellins (GAs) are a class of tetracyclic diterpenoid phytohormones that regulate many aspects of plant development, including seed germination, stem elongation, leaf expansion, pollen maturation, and the development of flowers, fruits and seeds. During the past decades, the primary objective of crop breeding programs has been to increase productivity or yields. ‘Green Revolution’ genes that can produce semidwarf, high-yielding crops were identified as GA synthesis or response genes, confirming the value of research on GAs in improving crop productivity. The manipulation of GA status either by genetic alteration or by exogenous application of GA or GA biosynthesis inhibitors is often used to optimize plant growth and yields. In this review, we summarize the roles of GAs in major aspects of crop growth and development and present the possible targets for the fine-tuning of GA metabolism and signaling as a promising strategy for crop improvement.
Presidential Address. Far From Ordinary Questions: Task Difficulty, Motivation, and Measurement Practice
Authors: Schaeffer Nora Cate
Published: July 2020

As Howard Schuman noted in his presidential address in 1986, survey respondents expect to be asked “ordinary questions,” but our questions often make extraordinary demands. The impact of the difficult tasks we give to respondents on their motivation to provide complete and accurate information is an aspect of the infrastructure of measurement in surveys that has received little attention. When questions are particularly difficult for some groups in a target population, the comparability of measurement for all units in a population is reduced. For measurement to be comparable across all groups in a population, questions must be equally accessible—and equally motivating—to all. Some challenges to improving the practice of measurement in surveys arise because—under the constraints of limited time, budget, and staff—we borrow questions, give them authority based on their source, assert that we need to replicate them to make comparisons, and fail to fully examine claims that they have been validated. Although the constraints are real, these practices limit our ability to take full advantage of advances in research about instrument design to improve the quality of measurement in surveys.
Elastic Resistance Training Produces Benefits Similar to Conventional Resistance Training in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: de Lima Fabiano F , Cavalheri Vinicius , Silva Bruna S A , Grigoletto Isis , Uzeloto Juliana S , Ramos Dionei , Camillo Carlos A , Ramos Ercy M C
Published: July 2020

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of elastic resistance training on improving muscle strength, functional exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and dyspnea in people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

For this systematic review, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase (OVID), PEDro, SciELO, and CINAHL were searched from inception to November 2019. Included studies were randomized clinical trials in which people with stable COPD were allocated to (1) an experimental group that received lower-limb resistance training, upper-limb resistance training, or both using elastic resistance; or (2) a control group that received no or sham resistance training or conventional resistance training using weight machines. Data extraction was performed by 3 review authors. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro scale. Eight studies on 332 participants were included.

Results

Knee extensor strength was higher in the experimental group (standardized mean difference = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.09–0.95) compared with the non-exercise control group. Compared with the conventional exercise control, the experimental group presented similar effects for muscle strength, functional exercise capacity, HRQoL, and dyspnea (95% CI overlapped the line of no effect for all).

Conclusions

Elastic resistance training improves muscle strength in people with COPD. The current review suggests elastic resistance as a potential alternative to conventional resistance training using weight machines, as they show similar effects on muscle strength, functional exercise capacity, HRQoL, and dyspnea.

Impact

Due to its beneficial effects, including reduced risk of exacerbation-related hospitalizations, exercise training is viewed as the cornerstone of pulmonary rehabilitation in people with COPD. This study shows that elastic resistance training can be an effective, portable, practical, and low-cost alternative to conventional weight resistance training.

Lay Summary

Training with elastic resistance tubes or bands—which are easy to carry, easy to use, and relatively low cost—can be an effective way to improve strength for people with COPD and promote similar benefits to those achieved with weight machines.
Manual Therapy Versus Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: 4-Year Follow-Up From a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Arias-Buría José L , Cleland Joshua A , Pareja Juan A , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo , Ortega-Santiago Ricardo
Published: July 2020

Objective

No study to our knowledge has investigated the effects longer than 1 year of manual therapy in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of manual therapy versus surgery at 4-year follow-up and to compare the post-study surgery rate in CTS.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary public hospital and included 120 women with CTS who were randomly allocated to manual therapy or surgery. The participants received 3 sessions of physical therapy, including desensitization maneuvers of the central nervous system or carpal tunnel release combined with a tendon/nerve gliding exercise program at home. Primary outcome was pain intensity (mean and the worst pain). Secondary outcomes included functional status, symptom severity, and self-perceived improvement measured using a global rating of change scale. Outcomes for this analysis were assessed at baseline, 1 year, and 4 years. The rate of surgical intervention received by each group was assessed throughout the study.

Results

At 4 years, 97 (81%) women completed the study. Between-group changes for all outcomes were not significantly different at 1 year (mean pain: mean difference [MD] = −0.3, 95% CI = −0.9 to 0.3; worst pain: MD = −1.2, 95% CI = −3.6 to 1.2; function: MD = −0.1, 95% CI = −0.4 to 0.2; symptom severity: MD = −0.1, 95% CI = −0.3 to 0.1) and 4 years (mean pain: MD = 0.1, 95% CI = −0.2 to 0.4; worst pain: MD = 0.2, 95% CI = −0.8 to 1.2; function: MD = 0.1, 95% CI = −0.1 to 0.3; symptom severity: MD = 0.2, 95% CI = −0.2 to 0.6). Self-perceived improvement was also similar in both groups. No between-group differences (15% physical therapy vs 13% surgery) in surgery rate were observed during the 4 years.

Conclusions

In the long term, manual therapy, including desensitization maneuvers of the central nervous system, resulted in similar outcomes and similar surgery rates compared with surgery in women with CTS. Both interventions were combined with a tendon/nerve gliding exercise program at home.

Impact

This is the first study to our knowledge to report clinical outcomes and surgical rates during a 4-year follow-up and will inform decisions regarding surgical versus conservative management of CTS.

Lay summary

Women with CTS may receive similar benefit from a more conservative treatment—manual therapy—as they would from surgery.
Mortgage Securitization and Shadow Bank Lending
Authors: Gete Pedro , Reher Michael
Published: July 2020

We show how securitization affects the size of the nonbank lending sector through a novel price-based channel. We identify the channel using a regulatory spillover shock to the cross-section of mortgage-backed security prices: the U.S. liquidity coverage ratio. The shock increases secondary market prices for FHA-insured loans by granting them favorable regulatory status once securitized. Higher prices lower nonbanks’ funding costs, prompting them to loosen lending standards and originate more FHA-insured loans. This channel accounts for 22% of nonbanks’ growth in overall mortgage market share over 2013–2015. While the shock creates risks for financial stability, homeownership also increases.
Predicting treatment response to IL6R blockers in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Nouri Bako , Nair Nisha , Barton Anne
Published: July 2020

Patients with severe, active RA who have not responded to conventional therapy may receive biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). However, 40% of cases do not achieve complete disease control, resulting in a negative impact on patient quality of life and representing a waste of healthcare resources. Ongoing research seeks to establish biomarkers, which can be used to predict treatment response to biologics in RA to enable more targeted approaches to treatment. However, much of the work has focused on one class of biologic drug, the TNF inhibitors (TNFi). Here, we will review the current state of research to identify biomarkers predictive of response to the class of bDMARDs targeting the IL6R. While success has been limited thus far, serum drug and low ICAM1 levels have shown promise, with associations reported in independent studies. The challenges faced by researchers and lessons learned from studies of TNFi will be discussed.
Financialization and income generation in the 21st century: rise of the petit rentier class?
Authors: Goldstein Adam , Tian Ziyao
Published: July 2020

This article considers the consequences of asset-based accumulation for household income factors and social class structure in 29 countries from 1998 to 2016. Are financialization, asset-based welfare institutions, and rising real estate returns fueling a growing class of petit rentiers in capitalist economies? That is, households who accrue more than a trivial share of income from capital rather than labor or government transfers. The analysis draws on the Luxembourg Income Study data. Contrary to expectations, most countries saw declines in the share of households who accrue more than 10%, or 20% of income from assets. Estimates from correlated random effects models indicate that financialization is associated with between-country differences in the size of the petit rentier, but not within-country change over time. The decline of the petit rentier can be partly explained by declining interest rates, which reduces income from bank savings.
The Usual, Racialized, Suspects: The Consequence of Police Contacts with Black and White Youth on Adult Arrest
Authors: McGlynn-Wright Anne , Crutchfield Robert D , Skinner Martie L , Haggerty Kevin P
Published: July 2020

Research on race and policing indicates that Black Americans experience a greater frequency of police contacts, discretionary stops, and police harassment when stops occur. Yet, studies examining the long-term consequences of police contact with young people have not examined whether criminal justice consequences of police contact differ by race. We address this issue by examining whether police encounters with children and adolescents predict arrest in young adulthood and if these effects are the same for Black and White individuals. The paper uses longitudinal survey data from 331 Black and White respondents enrolled in the Seattle Public School District as eighth graders in 2001 and 2002. Our findings indicate that police encounters in childhood increase the risk of arrest in young adulthood for Black but not White respondents. Black respondents who experience contact with the police by the eighth grade have eleven times greater odds of being arrested when they are 20 years old than their White counterparts.
Chromium propionate supplementation alters animal growth performance, carcass characteristics, and skeletal muscle properties in feedlot steers
Authors: Baggerman Jessica O , Smith Zachary K , Thompson Alex J , Kim Jongkyoo , Hergenreder Jerilyn E , Rounds Whitney , Johnson Bradley J
Published: July 2020

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing concentrations of Cr propionate (CrP) on feedlot performance, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and skeletal muscle fiber properties in feedlot steers. Crossbred steers (n = 32; 367 ± 2.5 kg; 16 pens; 2 hd/pen) were blocked by body weight (BW), and treatment was randomly assigned to pen: (1) 0 mg added Cr/kg diet dry matter (DM) (control), (2) 0.15 mg added Cr/kg diet DM (CrP; KemTRACE Chromium 0.04%, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA), (3) 0.30 mg added Cr/kg diet DM, and (4) 0.45 mg added Cr/kg diet DM. Steers were fed ad libitum, and the treatment was top-dressed at the time of feeding. Body weights, blood samples, and longissimus biopsies were collected before feeding on days 0, 28, 56, 91, 119, and 147. Blood sera were harvested for analysis of glucose, insulin, sera urea nitrogen, and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations. Longissimus biopsies were collected for gene expression, protein expression, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. Pen was the experimental unit for live and carcass data, and steer was the experimental unit with day as a repeated measure for sera and IHC analyses. For the entire duration of the trial, a linear increase in average daily gain (ADG) (P = 0.01) and improvement in G:F was observed (P = 0.01) with no change in DMI (P = 0.11) with increasing CrP. A linear increase in hot carcass weight (HCW) (P ≤ 0.01) with no other changes in carcass composition were noted (P ≥ 0.38) as the level of dietary CrP increased. There was no effect of treatment on any sera parameters measured (P ≥ 0.10). No difference was detected for gene or protein expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) due to CrP supplementation (P ≥ 0.10). For skeletal muscle fiber distribution and cross-sectional area, there was no effect of treatment (P ≥ 0.10). Density of total GLUT4 did not change due to CrP (P ≥ 0.10). Internalization of GLUT4 was increased in the 0.30 and 0.45 mg/kg treatments (P < 0.01). For total nuclei density and myonuclei density, there were treatment × day interaction tendencies (P ≤ 0.08). Supplementation of CrP did not alter density of satellite cells (P ≥ 0.10). The number of transporters located in the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle fibers did decrease, implying fewer proteins were needed to transport extracellular glucose into the muscle fiber. Therefore, CrP may augment cellular function and growth via increased efficiency of GLUT4 function. These results indicated CrP increases BW, ADG, and HCW, without changes in circulating sera parameters or total GLUT4 expression.
What is the current significance of low birthweight pigs on commercial farms in Northern Ireland in terms of impaired growth and mortality?
Authors: Hawe Samuel J , Scollan Nigel , Gordon Alan , Magowan Elizabeth
Published: July 2020

There is little modern data addressing the differential lifetime growth of commercially reared low and average birthweight pigs born into large litters (>14 piglets). As such, the main aim of this study was to quantify the lifetime growth and mortality rate of low and average birthweight pigs on commercial farms in Northern Ireland. It was also aimed to analyze the level, stage and cause of mortality within each birthweight category. A total of 328 low birthweight (low BW; <1 kg) and 292 average birthweight (Av BW; 1.3 to 1.7 kg) pigs were individually identified across four commercial farms and one research farm. Animal growth and mortality were monitored on an individual basis from birth until slaughter age. Av BW pigs were heavier than low BW pigs throughout the trial (P < 0.001), with a weight advantage of 1.16 kg at weaning increasing to over 9 kg at slaughter age. Av BW pigs recorded a superior average daily gain (ADG) to low BW pigs throughout the trial (P < 0.05), with the greatest difference recorded immediately postweaning between weeks 4 and 8 and weeks 8 and 12 when a 77 and 85 g/d difference was recorded, respectively. AV BW pigs which were cross-fostered were significantly lighter than those remaining with their birth mother at weaning (0.9 kg), week 8 (1.7 kg), and week 12 (3.1 kg) (P < 0.05, respectively). The variance of weight was significantly greater for the AV BW pig population than the low BW pig population at week 4 (P < 0.001) and 8 (P < 0.05). Preweaning mortality of low BW pigs was over three times greater than that of Av BW pigs (21% vs. 6%; P < 0.001), with low BW deaths occurring earlier (9.2 d vs. 15.4 d; P < 0.001) and at a lighter weight (1.2 vs. 2.4 kg; P < 0.001) than Av BW pigs. There was a clear association between birthweight and cause of preweaning death (P < 0.05), with starvation (49%) and overlying (28%) accounting for the majority of low BW mortalities. Birthweight had no effect on rate, age, or weight of postweaning mortalities (P > 0.05). The alimentary tract (27%) and respiratory tract (27%) were the most commonly implicated body systems following postmortem examination of postweaning deaths. In conclusion, this study quantified the inferior weight, growth rate, and mortality of low BW pigs, identifying the lactation and immediate postweaning periods as having the greatest potential in reducing this birthweight associated growth differential.