bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation in recombination rate affects detection of outliers in genome scans under neutrality
Authors: Booker Tom R. , Yeaman Sam , Whitlock Michael C.
Published: June 2020

Genome scans can potentially identify genetic loci involved in evolutionary processes such as local adaptation and gene flow. Here, we show that recombination rate variation across a neutrally evolving genome gives rise to mixed sampling distributions of mean FST (), a common population genetic summary statistic. In particular, we show that in regions of low recombination the distribution of estimates has more variance and a longer tail than in more highly recombining regions. Determining outliers from the genome‐wide distribution without taking local recombination rate into consideration may therefore increase the frequency of false positives in low recombination regions and be overly conservative in more highly recombining ones. We perform genome scans on simulated and empirical Drosophila melanogaster data sets and, in both cases, find patterns consistent with this neutral model. Similar patterns are observed for other summary statistics used to capture variation in the coalescent process. Linked selection, particularly background selection, is often invoked to explain heterogeneity in across the genome, but here we point out that even under neutrality, statistical artefacts can arise due to variation in recombination rate. Our results highlight a flaw in the design of genome‐scan studies and suggest that without estimates of local recombination rate, interpreting the genomic landscape of any summary statistic that captures variation in the coalescent process will be very difficult.
Impact of cardiovascular events on mortality and progression of renal dysfunction in a Queensland CKD cohort
Authors: Jeyaruban Andrew , Hoy Wendy , Cameron Anne , Healy Helen , Wang Zaimin , Zhang Jianzhen , Mallett Andrew
Published: June 2020

Aim

Cardiovascular events (CVE) are common co‐morbidities amongst patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The impact of CVE on the subsequent pattern and rate of deterioration of kidney function is not well described.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of 1123 Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital patients enrolled in the CKD.QLD registry from May 2011 to August 2017 was undertaken. Participants CVE data and renal function (eGFR CKD‐EPI) were extracted from clinical records. Participants who ultimately started kidney replacement therapy (KRT) were imputed an eGFR of 8 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the date of the first KRT treatment. Annualized percentage delta eGFR was used to explore the association between CVE and rate of renal deterioration. Mortality was ascertained through electronic health records.

Results

There were 235 CVE events amongst 222 participants over a period of 6 years. One hundred and forty‐four participants experienced ischaemic heart disease (IHD), 51 participants had stroke, 40 participants had peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and 13 participants had more than one event. CVE were associated with significantly shorter time to death in participants who experienced one CVE compared with those without a CVE (1901.2 days vs 2259 days [P < .05]). However, there was no significant change in the absolute mean delta eGFR between participants with CVE and without CVE after adjustment for age (3.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs 3.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 [P = .9]). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the progression to KRT in participants with CVE compared with participants without CVE (1315 days and 1052 days (P = .46).

Conclusion

Cardiovascular events are associated with increased mortality in the CKD cohort. They were not associated with accelerated deterioration of kidney function.
Human milk oligosaccharide supplementation in irritable bowel syndrome patients: A parallel, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Iribarren Cristina , Törnblom Hans , Aziz Imran , Magnusson Maria K. , Sundin Johanna , Vigsnæs Louise K. , Amundsen Ingvild Dybdrodt , McConnell Bruce , Seitzberg Dorthe , Öhman Lena , Simrén Magnus
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Human milk oligosaccharides safely and beneficially impact bifidobacteria abundance in healthy adults, while their effects in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are unknown. Hence, we aimed to determine the dose of 4:1 mix of 2’‐O‐fucosyllactose and Lacto‐N‐neotetraose (2’FL/LNnT) that increases fecal bifidobacteria abundance without aggravating overall gastrointestinal symptoms in IBS patients in a randomized, double‐blind, controlled study. Additionally, the impact of 2’FL/LNnT on the fecal bacterial profile was assessed.

Methods

Irritable bowel syndrome patients diagnosed according to the Rome IV criteria received placebo (glucose), or 5 g or 10 g 2’FL/LNnT for 4 weeks followed by a four‐week follow‐up period. Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale‐IBS was used to assess gastrointestinal symptom severity; fecal microbiota composition was evaluated by GA‐map™ Dysbiosis Test.

Results

Of the included 60 patients, two (one placebo and one 10 g) discontinued prematurely. Fecal bifidobacteria abundance was increased at week 4, but not at week 8, in the 10 g group compared to the other groups. Severity of overall or individual gastrointestinal symptoms did not differ between the groups at week 4 or 8, and no symptom deterioration was seen in any of the groups. The 10 g dose influenced overall fecal microbiota composition, and responders—defined as bifidobacteria increase ≥50%—could be discriminated from non‐responders based on fecal microbiota modulation.

Conclusions

The 10 g dose of 2’FL/LNnT induced an increase in the beneficial Bifidobacterium spp. without aggravating gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with IBS. This approach may be worthwhile to modulate gut microbiota of IBS patients toward a healthier profile.
Open questions in understanding the adaptive significance of plant functional trait variation within a single lineage
Authors: Cavender‐Bares Jeannine , G. Fontes Clarissa , Pinto‐Ledezma Jesús
Published: June 2020

This article is a Commentary on Ramírez‐Valiente et al. (2020), 227: 794–809.
Seed mucilage evolution: Diverse molecular mechanisms generate versatile ecological functions for particular environments
Authors: Viudes Sébastien , Burlat Vincent , Dunand Christophe
Published: June 2020

Plant myxodiasporous species have the ability to release a polysaccharidic mucilage upon imbibition of the seed (myxospermy) or the fruit (myxocarpy). This is a widespread capacity in angiosperms providing multiple ecological functions including higher germination efficiency under environmental stresses. It is unclear whether myxodiaspory has one or multiple evolutionary origins and why it was supposedly lost in several species. Here, we summarize recent advances on three main aspects of myxodiaspory. (a) It represents a combination of highly diverse traits at different levels of observation, ranging from the dual tissular origin of mucilage secretory cells to diverse mucilage polysaccharidic composition and ultrastructural organization. (b) An asymmetrical selection pressure is exerted on myxospermy‐related genes that were first identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. The A. thaliana and the flax intra‐species mucilage variants show that myxospermy is a fast‐evolving trait due to high polymorphism in a few genes directly acting on mucilage establishment. In A. thaliana, these actors are downstream of a master regulatory complex and an original phylogenetic overview provided here illustrates that this complex has sequentially evolved after the common ancestor of seed plants and was fully established in the common ancestor of the rosid clade. (c) Newly identified myxodiaspory ecological functions indicate new perspectives such as soil microorganism control and plant establishment support.
Machine‐learning approach to predict on‐road driving ability in healthy older people
Authors: Yamamoto Yasuharu , Hirano Jinichi , Yoshitake Hiroshi , Negishi Kazuno , Mimura Masaru , Shino Motoki , Yamagata Bun
Published: June 2020

Aim

In Japan, fatal traffic accidents due to older drivers are on the rise. Considering that approximately half the older drivers who have caused fatal accidents are cognitively normal healthy people, it has been required to detect older drivers who are cognitively normal but at high risk of having fatal traffic accidents. However, a standardized method for assessing the driving ability of older drivers has not yet been established. We thus aimed to identify a new sensing method for the evaluation of the on‐road driving ability of healthy older people on the basis of vehicle behaviors.

Methods

We enrolled 33 healthy older individuals aged over 65 years and utilized a machine‐learning approach to dissociate unsafe drivers from safe drivers based on cognitive assessments and a functional visual acuity test.

Results

The linear support vector machine classifier successfully dissociated unsafe drivers from safe drivers with accuracy of 84.8% (sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 95.2%). Five clinical parameters, namely age, the first trial of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test immediate recall, the delayed recall of the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, the result of the free‐drawn Clock Drawing Test, and maximal visual acuity, were consistently selected as essential features for the best classification model.

Conclusion

Our findings improve our understanding of clinical risk factors leading to unsafe driving and may provide insight into a new intervention that prevents fatal traffic accidents caused by healthy older people.
Unbound bilirubin levels in phototherapy‐treated preterm infants receiving soy‐based lipid emulsion
Authors: Hegyi Thomas , Kleinfeld Alan , Huber Andrew , Weinberger Barry , Memon Naureen , Carayannopoulos Mary , Oh William
Published: June 2020

Background

Phototherapy is an effective treatment for neonatal jaundice. Treatment indication uses total serum bilirubin (TSB), although unbound bilirubin (Bf) more accurately predicts disability risk. The goals of this investigation were to examine the response of Bf and TSB to phototherapy in preterm infants, and we hypothesized that (i) TSB and Bf respond differently; (ii) the relationship between TSB and Bf is altered; and (iii) unexpected Bf elevations are found.

Methods

One hundred and seventeen preterm infants <2 kg at birth and receiving (IL) were enrolled; and measurements of TSB and Bf were obtained. TSB was measured by the diazo method and Bf with a fluorescent Bf sensor BL22P1B11‐Rh.

Results

Initial mean (± SD) TSB and Bf levels (41.4 ± 6.9 h) were 8.0 ± 9.0 mg/dL and 16.9 ± 12.4 nmol/L (P < 0.05). The rates of rise (ROR) were 0.21 ± 0.10 mg/dL/h for TSB and 0.38 ± 0.33 nmol/L/h for Bf. Phototherapy reduced TSB from 8.0 ± 9.0 to 5.8 ± 9.4 mg/dL (P = 0.068) but Bf did not change (16.9 ± 12.4 to 14.1 ± 9.4 nmol/L P = n.s.). Bf levels were >11 nmol/L in 64, >17 nmol/L in 18, and >22 nmol/L in 7 infants.

Conclusions

Bf and TSB responded differently. While TSB and Bf correlated well before phototherapy, they did not correlate during phototherapy. TSB showed a trend toward a reduction with treatment, Bf did not. While TSB ROR information is not helpful, ROR Bf data can be utilized to anticipate treatment. Potentially high Bf levels existed before and after phototherapy and the mean Bf level at phototherapy termination remained elevated in a significant proportion of infants.
A comprehensive strategy in donor acceptance: Impact on pediatric waitlist and heart transplant outcomes
Authors: Baez Hernandez Nathanya , Kirk Richard , Davies Ryan , Bano Maria , Sutcliffe David , Pirolli Timothy , Jaquiss Robert , Daneman Susan , Butts Ryan J.
Published: June 2020

Significant inter‐ and intra‐center practice variability is present in pediatric donor heart acceptability. This may contribute to variation in the donor refusal rate and may impact waitlist time, morbidity, mortality, and transplant rates. In order to reduce practice variability, our center developed and implemented a comprehensive strategy regarding donor acceptance in September 2017. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this strategy on waitlist time and outcomes as well as early post‐transplant outcomes. We performed a single‐center, retrospective analysis of all pediatric (<18 years) patients listed for single‐organ heart transplant at our center from September 2015 to September 2018. Patients were divided into those listed before (Group 1) and after implementation of the comprehensive strategy (Group 2). The primary end‐point was waitlist time. Secondary end‐points included waitlist removal due to death or clinical deterioration, donor refusals per listed patient, early post‐transplant outcomes (graft failure, mechanical ventilation time, inotropic support, length of hospital stay) and 1‐year post‐transplant survival. Of 78 listed patients, 54 were transplanted (29 in Group 1), 9 were removed due to death or clinical deterioration (7 in Group 1) and 15 were removed due to clinical improvement (12 in Group 1). The waitlist time was significantly shorter in Group 2 (17 days, IQR 7‐53) vs Group 1 (90 days, IQR 14‐162); P = .006. The number of donor refusals was lower in Group 2 (1, IQR 0‐2.2) vs Group 1 (4, IQR 2‐19); P < .001. The percentage of refused donors with normal function (Left ventricular ejection fraction > 50%) was lower in Group 2 vs Group 1 (53% vs 84%; P < .001). Difference in removal from the waitlist for death or deterioration in Group 2 vs Group 1 (n = 2, 7% vs n = 7, 20%, P = .18) did not reach statistical significance. There was no difference in post‐transplant outcomes between groups. The waitlist time and donor refusals significantly decreased after implementation of a comprehensive donor acceptance strategy without impacting transplant outcomes. This analysis supports the need for a comprehensive approach to donor organ acceptance within a pediatric transplant center.
Kidney transplantation outcomes for adult recipients of pediatric donor kidneys
Authors: Arshad Adam , Hodson James , Chappelow Imogen , Nath Jay , Sharif Adnan
Published: June 2020

Despite a paucity of data assessing transplantation of deceased‐donor pediatric donor kidneys into adult recipients, utilization of pediatric organs is declining in the UK, likely due to concerns that such organs may have inferior outcomes. However, we hypothesized that these concerns may be unfounded. As such, the aim of the study was to compare kidney transplant outcomes between adult recipients of pediatric and adult deceased‐donor organs. Data were collected from the UK Transplant Registry for all adult (18+ years) deceased‐donor single‐kidney transplant recipients between January 2000 and January 2016. Univariable and multivariable analyses were undertaken, to compare a range of outcomes between recipients of kidneys from pediatric and adult donors. Transplants were stratified by the donor age (years) as follows: 0‐16 (n = 666), 17‐18 (n = 465), and 19‐44 (n = 7378). Recipients of pediatric donor kidneys were observed to have improved long‐term graft function, with a median creatinine at 1 year of 109 vs. 117 μmol/L for recipients of donors aged 0‐16 vs. 19‐44 years (P < .001). However, on multivariable analysis, this was not found to correspond to a significant difference in patient (P = .914) or graft survival (P = .190) between the donor age groups. Subgroup analysis within the younger donors found no significant differences in recipient outcomes between donors aged 0‐6, 7‐12, and 13‐16 years. In this population cohort study, we identified excellent outcomes among adult recipients of pediatric donor kidneys. Pediatric donors are a valuable source of organs for adult recipients in an era where organ demand is rising.
Do interest rate controls work? Evidence from Kenya
Authors: Alper Emre , Clements Benedict , Hobdari Niko , Moya Porcel Rafel
Published: June 2020

This paper reviews the impact of interest rate controls in Kenya, introduced in September 2016. The intent of the controls was to reduce the cost of borrowing, expand access to credit, and increase the return on savings. However, we find that the law on interest rate controls has had the opposite effect of what was intended. Specifically, it has led to a collapse of credit to micro‐, small‐, and medium‐sized enterprises; shrinking of the loan book of the small banks; and reduced financial intermediation. Because of their adverse effects on bank lending, we estimate that the interest rate controls have reduced economic growth by ¼–¾ percentage points on an annual basis. We also show that interest rate caps reduced the signaling effects of monetary policy. These suggest that (1) the adverse effects could largely be avoided if the ceiling was high enough to facilitate lending to higher‐risk borrowers and (2) alternative policies could be preferable to address concerns about the high cost of credit.
The gender wage gap among China’s rural–urban migrants
Authors: Wu Yan , Pieters Janneke , Heerink Nico
Published: June 2020

In this study, we present new empirical evidence on gender wage differences among rural–urban migrants in China. We use a data set that includes migrants residing in urban communities and those living at their workplaces—the latter were not included in the previous studies. We find that the gender wage gap among migrants is 16%–18% and does not differ between migrants living at workplaces and those living in urban communities. However, gender differences in industry sorting play a more important role for migrants living at their workplaces, whereas differences in education and experience are of importance for those living in urban communities. Overall, differences in the returns to characteristics are the main driver of the gender wage gap, especially for migrants living in urban communities.
The discovery of the first HLA‐DQB1*03:04:01 variant, DQB1*03:04:01:02, found in a Brazilian individual
Authors: Vianna Romulo , Secco Danielle , Santos Angela , Porto Luís Cristóvão
Published: June 2020

Identification of the first HLA‐DQB1*03:04:01 variant, called HLA‐DQB1*03:04:01:02.
Polymorphism clustering of the 21.5 kb DPA‐promoter‐DPB region reveals novel extended full‐length haplotypes
Authors: Truong Linh , Matern Ben M. , Groeneweg Mathijs , D'Orsogna Lloyd , Martinez Patricia , Tilanus Marcel G. J. , De Santis Dianne
Published: June 2020

DPB1 and DPA1 genes share the same promoter region. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the regulatory regions of DP have been reported. This study hypothesizes that by including the SNPs in the promoter region of DP, extended haplotypes are defined, and promoter polymorphism is more extensive than what is currently reported. To identify the SNPs in the region of interest, the DP region spanning 21.5 kb was amplified in three separate long‐ranged polymerase chain reactions. A DNA panel consisting of 100 samples was selected to represent a broad range of DPB1 alleles. The panel was amplified and sequenced using a dual sequencing strategy. Binary alignment map (BAM) alignments were generated and the mapped sequence alignments were analyzed using Integrative Genomics Viewer. A total of 76 SNPs were identified, and SNPs were clustered into 12 SNP‐linked haplotypes. Multiple sequence alignments of promoter sequences indicated four distinct lineages within the connective region (CR) between two genes. The relationship between DPA1, CR, DPB1, and amino acid motifs was found to be correlated with HV1 and HV6. Of the 12 promoter haplotypes, DPB1 alleles observed with ProDP‐4 were in complete linkage with HV1/2/5/6, the rs9277534G SNP, and the highly immunogenic T‐cell epitope group. Multiple extended haplotypes of different intronic subtypes of the same DPB1 alleles were also identified. This new view of the full DP haplotype shows the relation of polymorphism, genes, and alleles, and provides a basis for future functionality related nomenclature. The novel clustering of the DP‐extended haplotype warrants future investigations of DP haplotype matching in the outcome of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
The effect of adding lactic acid to canine whole blood on platelet aggregation as measured by impedance aggregometry
Authors: Lawson Cheryl A. , Spangler Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2020

Background

Acidemia in sick dogs often results from the accumulation of lactic acid. The resulting decrease in blood pH can have many physiologic effects, including alteration of platelet function.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the effect of hyperlactatemia and subsequent acidemia on platelet aggregation in canine blood using impedance aggregometry.

Methods

Platelet aggregation was measured in blood from 27 healthy dogs using the Multiplate analyzer at baseline and after in vitro addition of two different volumes of lactic acid to adjust the pH. The area under the curve (AUC), reported by the Multiplate analyzer, was used to assess the extent of platelet aggregation in each sample. A linear mixed effects model was used to test for the association between platelet aggregation and pH. The association of baseline platelet aggregation with HCTs, platelet counts, and WBC counts was assessed using Pearson's correlations.

Results

Acidemia was associated with a significant decrease in platelet aggregation. No significant correlations were detected between platelet aggregation and HCT, platelet count, or WBC count. Platelet aggregation measured using the Multiplate analyzer showed substantial individual variation.

Conclusions

Worsening acidemia due to the addition of lactic acid caused a mild but significant decrease in platelet aggregation in canine blood. The clinical significance of this change is uncertain but could be important when combined with other abnormalities of hemostasis associated with illness.
Sonographic findings of pinpoint hyperechoic foci in the small intestine, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes are indicative of canine Heterobilharzia americana infection
Authors: Moshnikova Valentina S. , Gilmour Lindsey J. , Cook Audrey K. , Fabiani Michelle
Published: June 2020

Canine schistosomiasis, caused by the trematode Heterobilharzia americana, can pose a diagnostic challenge due to nonspecific symptoms. The aim of this multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study was to compare the prevalence and extent of sonographic changes associated with schistosomiasis between affected and infection‐free dogs. Medical records of two referral centers were searched for dogs with confirmed schistosomiasis that had undergone an abdominal ultrasound. Fifty‐five cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and a contemporaneous control group was derived from dogs that tested negative for H. americana. Two blinded reviewers evaluated the images. The majority of Heterobilharzia‐infected (further termed H‐pos) dogs (82%) had ultrasonographic abnormalities in the small intestine ± liver. Abnormal layering of the small intestine was noted in 38 of 54 H‐pos dogs, compared to six of 54 control dogs (P < .0001). Pinpoint hyperechoic foci were noted in the small intestinal submucosa or muscularis layers in 25 of 54 H‐pos dogs, but only three controls (P < .0001). Heterogeneity of the hepatic parenchyma and pinpoint hyperechoic foci were more prevalent in H‐pos dogs (65% vs 40%; P = .0213 and 44% vs 18%; P = .0068, respectively). Pinpoint hyperechoic foci within mesenteric lymph nodes were noted in seven H‐pos dogs and none of the controls (P = .0128). The combination of heterogeneous small intestine wall layering and pinpoint hyperechoic foci in small intestine, liver, or mesenteric lymph nodes was the most reliable indication of infection (P = .0001; odds ratio = 36.87), with positive predictive value of 94%, yet modest sensitivity for the detection of infection (58%). Observing these sonographic features suggests schistosomiasis and should prompt further testing.
Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Que Jianyu , Shi Le , Deng Jiahui , Liu Jiajia , Zhang Li , Wu Suying , Gong Yimiao , Huang Weizhen , Yuan Kai , Yan Wei , Sun Yankun , Ran Maosheng , Bao Yanping , Lu Lin
Published: June 2020

Background

Healthcare workers fighting against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are under tremendous pressure, which puts them at an increased risk of developing psychological problems.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psychological problems in different healthcare workers (ie, physicians, medical residents, nurses, technicians and public health professionals) during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and explore factors that are associated with the onset of psychological problems in this population during this public health crisis.

Methods

A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted in February 2020 among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological problems were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire and Insomnia Severity Index. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the factors that were associated with psychological problems.

Results

The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression, insomnia and the overall psychological problems in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China was 46.04%, 44.37%, 28.75% and 56.59%, respectively. The prevalence of the overall psychological problems in physicians, medical residents, nurses, technicians and public health professionals was 60.35%, 50.82%, 62.02%, 57.54% and 62.40%, respectively. Compared with healthcare workers who did not participate in front-line work, front-line healthcare workers had a higher risk of anxiety, insomnia and overall psychological problems. In addition, attention to negative or neutral information about the pandemic, receiving negative feedback from families and friends who joined front-line work, and unwillingness to join front-line work if given a free choice were three major factors for these psychological problems.

Conclusions

Psychological problems are pervasive among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Receiving negative information and participating in front-line work appear to be important risk factors for psychological problems. The psychological health of different healthcare workers should be protected during the COVID-19 pandemic with timely interventions and proper information feedback.
Photopsia
Authors: Virdee Jasvir , Mollan Susan P
Published: June 2020

‘Photopsia’ describes the symptom of visual disturbances that are typically flash-like, sudden in onset and brief, and occurring without light entering the eye. Patients reporting photopsia often pose a diagnostic challenge, given the wide range of possible neurological and ophthalmological causes. We review the common causes of photopsia, discuss the assessment and workup of this symptom, and stress the importance of close interdisciplinary liaison to help with its diagnosis and management. We discuss a patient with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy to illustrate these points.
$$\bar{B}_s \rightarrow f_0(980)$$ form factors and the width effect from light-cone sum rules
Authors: Cheng Shan , Shen Jian-Ming
Published: June 2020

In this paper we calculate the $$\bar{B}_s \rightarrow f_0(980)$$B¯s→f0(980) form factors from light-cone sum rules with B meson DAs. With adopting the quark–antiquark configuration of light scalar mesons, the high twist two-particle and the three-particle contributions are found to be $$\sim 25\%$$∼25% individual, and totally they give about $$50\%$$50% correction to certain form factors in the considered energy regions. We further explore the light-cone sum rules approach to study the $$S-$$S-wave $$\bar{B}_s \rightarrow KK$$B¯s→KK form factors, the $$f_0+f'_0+f''_0$$f0+f0′+f0′′ resonance model is proposed and the result shows that the background effect from $$f'_0+f''_0$$f0′+f0′′ accounts $$\sim 5\%$$∼5%. As a by-product, we extract the strong coupling $$|g_{f_0 KK }| = 1.08^{+0.05}_{-0.14}$$|gf0KK|=1.08-0.14+0.05 GeV with taking the $$\bar{B}_s \rightarrow f_0(980)$$B¯s→f0(980) form factors calculated previous under the narrow width approximation.
Antia, a Natural Antioxidant Product, Attenuates Cognitive Dysfunction in Streptozotocin-Induced Mouse Model of Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease by Targeting the Amyloidogenic, Inflammatory, Autophagy, and Oxidative Stress Pathways
Authors: El Sayed Nesrine S. , Ghoneum Mamdooh H.
Published: June 2020

Background. Many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease are associated with oxidative stress. Therefore, antioxidant therapy has been suggested for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Objective. We investigated the ability of the antioxidant Antia to exert a protective effect against sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (SAD) induced in mice. Antia is a natural product that is extracted from the edible yamabushitake mushroom, the gotsukora and kothala himbutu plants, diosgenin (an extract from wild yam tubers), and amla (Indian gooseberry) after treatment with MRN-100. Methods. Single intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (3 mg/kg) was used for induction of SAD in mice. Antia was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) in 3 doses (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. Neurobehavioral tests were conducted within 24 h after the last day of injection. Afterwards, mice were sacrificed and their hippocampi were rapidly excised, weighed, and homogenized to be used for measuring biochemical parameters. Results. Treatment with Antia significantly improved mice performance in the Morris water maze. In addition, biochemical analysis showed that Antia exerted a protective effect for several compounds, including GSH, MDA, NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α, and amyloid β. Further studies with western blot showed the protective effect of Antia for the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Conclusions. Antia exerts a significant protection against cognitive dysfunction induced by ICV-STZ injection. This effect is achieved through targeting of the amyloidogenic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress pathways. The JAK2/STAT3 pathway plays a protective role for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases such as SAD.
Scattering of Incident P-Waves by a Semicylindrical Core-Shell Structure in an Elastically Constrained Half-Space at Nanoscale
Authors: Zhang R. , Lei D. X. , Ou Z. Y.
Published: June 2020

Under the premise of the theory of surface elasticity, the scattering of plane compressional waves (P-waves) in the surface of a semicylindrical core-shell structure within the nanoscale elastic confinement half-space is studied by using the method of eigen-function expansion. The generalized Y-L equation is used to give the nanoscale boundary conditions, and the dynamic stress concentration factor (DSCF) along the interface of core-shell structure induced by the plane elastic wave are derived and numerically evaluated. Under different incident wave frequencies, surface energy, and shear modulus, when the radius of the core-shell structure is reduced to the nanometer level, their influence on the DSCF is very significant. These have been confirmed by numerical calculations.
Chemotherapy-Induced IL8 Upregulates MDR1/ABCB1 in Tumor Blood Vessels and Results in Unfavorable Outcome
Authors: Kikuchi Hiroshi , Maishi Nako , Annan Dorcas A. , Alam Mohammad Towfik , Dawood Randa Ibrahim Hassan , Sato Masumi , Morimoto Masahiro , Takeda Ryo , Ishizuka Keita , Matsumoto Ryuji , Akino Tomoshige , Tsuchiya Kunihiko , Abe Takashige , Osawa Takahiro , Miyajima Naoto , Maruyama Satoru , Harabayashi Toru , Azuma Manabu , Yamashiro Katsushige , Ameda Kaname , Kashiwagi Akira , Matsuno Yoshihiro , Hida Yasuhiro , Shinohara Nobuo , Hida Kyoko
Published: June 2020

Tumor endothelial cells (TEC) lining tumor blood vessels actively contribute to tumor progression and metastasis. In addition to tumor cells, TEC may develop drug resistance during cancer treatment, allowing the tumor cells to survive chemotherapy and metastasize. We previously reported that TECs resist paclitaxel treatment via upregulation of ABCB1. However, whether TEC phenotypes are altered by anticancer drugs remains to be clarified. Here, we show that ABCB1 expression increases after chemotherapy in urothelial carcinoma cases. The ratio of ABCB1-positive TEC before and after first-line chemotherapy in urothelial carcinoma tissues (n = 66) was analyzed by ABCB1 and CD31 immunostaining. In 42 cases (64%), this ratio increased after first-line chemotherapy. Chemotherapy elevated ABCB1 expression in endothelial cells by increasing tumor IL8 secretion. In clinical cases, ABCB1 expression in TEC correlated with IL8 expression in tumor cells after first-line chemotherapy, leading to poor prognosis. In vivo, the ABCB1 inhibitor combined with paclitaxel reduced tumor growth and metastasis compared with paclitaxel alone. Chemotherapy is suggested to cause inflammatory changes in tumors, inducing ABCB1 expression in TEC and conferring drug resistance. Overall, these findings indicate that TEC can survive during chemotherapy and provide a gateway for cancer metastasis. Targeting ABCB1 in TEC represents a novel strategy to overcome cancer drug resistance.

Significance:

These findings show that inhibition of ABCB1 in tumor endothelial cells may improve clinical outcome, where ABCB1 expression contributes to drug resistance and metastasis following first-line chemotherapy.
Emerging Technologies for Pulmonary Vein Isolation
Authors: Ramirez F. Daniel , Reddy Vivek Y. , Viswanathan Raju , Hocini Mélèze , Jaïs Pierre
Published: June 2020

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Electrically isolating the pulmonary veins from the left atrium by catheter ablation is superior to antiarrhythmic drug therapy for maintaining sinus rhythm, but its success varies depending on multiple factors, including arrhythmic burden. Although procedural outcomes have improved over the years, further gains are limited by a seemingly zero-sum relationship between effectiveness and safety, which is largely a product of the available technologies. Current energies used to create contiguous, transmural, and durable atrial lesions can result in serious complications if they reach the esophagus or phrenic nerve, for instance—structures that can be adjacent to the atrial myocardium, often within millimeters of the energy source. Consequently, high rates of pulmonary vein-left atrium reconnections are consistently seen in clinical studies and in clinical practice as operators appropriately forgo ablation effectiveness to protect patients from harm. However, as ablative technologies evolve to circumvent this stalemate, safer, and more effective pulmonary vein isolation seems increasingly realistic. Furthermore, the innovative nature of these technologies raises the prospect of markedly improved procedural efficiency, which could increase patient comfort, reduce operator occupational injuries, and enhance the use of health resources—all of which are increasingly important considerations particularly as the demand for catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation continues to rise. We herein review 3 promising candidate ablation technologies with the potential to revolutionize the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: electroporation (pulsed-field ablation), expandable lattice-tip radiofrequency ablation/electroporation, and ultra-low temperature cryoablation.
Highly prestigious international academic awards and their impact on university rankings
Authors: Meho Lokman I.
Published: June 2020

This study uses the checklist method, survey studies, and Highly Cited Researchers to identify 100 highly prestigious international academic awards. The study then examines the impact of using these awards on the Academic Ranking of World Universities (the Shanghai Ranking), the QS World University Rankings, and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Results show that awards considerably change the rankings and scores of top universities, especially those that receive a large number of awards and those that receive few or no awards. The rankings of all other universities with relatively similar numbers of awards remain intact. If given 20% weight, as was the case in this study, awards help ranking systems set universities further apart from each other, making it easier for users to detect differences in the levels of performance. Adding awards to ranking systems benefits United States universities the most as a result of winning 58% of 1,451 awards given in 2010–2019. Developers of ranking systems should consider adding awards as a variable in assessing the performance of universities. Users of university rankings should pay attention to both ranking positions and scores.
National policies as drivers of organizational change in universities: A string of reinforcing reforms
Authors: Stage Andreas Kjær , Aagaard Kaare
Published: June 2020

Since the turn of the millennium, the Danish university sector has been one of the most intensely reformed in Europe. In parallel, the staff composition of Danish Universities has also changed more than the corresponding compositions in other Western countries. But how direct is the link between the policy reforms and the staff changes? While we expect national policy reforms to have influence on organizational change in universities, we also know that the content and impact of policies are often shaped and modified by global trends as well as local path dependencies. To shed light on this question, this article examines the impact of four major reforms on the staff composition of Danish universities by interpreting long-term staff data at multiple levels. Contrary to the notions of change resistance and path dependency, the empirical analysis suggests that a consistent string of policy reforms has had a profound impact on the Danish universities. However, the analysis also shows that the links between national reforms and actual changes are seldom immediate and straightforward and that the local, national, and global levels interact. In doing so they often appear to reinforce the influence of each other.
Large-scale identification and characterization of scholars on Twitter
Authors: Costas Rodrigo , Mongeon Philippe , Ferreira Márcia R. , van Honk Jeroen , Franssen Thomas
Published: June 2020

This paper presents a new method for identifying scholars who have a Twitter account from bibliometric data from Web of Science (WoS) and Twitter data from Altmetric.com . The method reliably identifies matches between Twitter accounts and scholarly authors. It consists of a matching of elements such as author names, usernames, handles, and URLs, followed by a rule-based scoring system that weights the common occurrence of these elements related to the activities of Twitter users and scholars. The method proceeds by matching the Twitter accounts against a database of millions of disambiguated bibliographic profiles from WoS. This paper describes the implementation and validation of the matching method, and performs verification through precision-recall analysis. We also explore the geographical, disciplinary, and demographic variations in the distribution of scholars matched to a Twitter account. This approach represents a step forward in the development of more advanced forms of social media studies of science by opening up an important door for studying the interactions between science and social media in general, and for studying the activities of scholars on Twitter in particular.
The Musnad of al-Shāfiʿī
Authors: Melchert Christopher
Published: June 2020

A collection of hadith called Musnad al-Shāfiʿī is associated with the Nishapuran traditionist Abū al-ʿAbbās Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb al-Aṣamm (d. Nishapur, 346/957). It was apparently assembled by students from what al-Aṣamm had heard from al-Rabīʿ ibn Sulaymān al-Murādī (d. 270/884) in his youth. Around 40 percent of the hadith in the Umm of al-Shāfiʿī (d. 204/820) shows up also in the Musnad of al-Aṣamm. Comparisons between the Musnad and the Umm can tell us something of the state of the Umm as al-Rabīʿ dictated it near the end of his life. Books in the Musnad correspond only roughly to books in the Umm, so there was still some fluidity of organization. There are also many minor differences of wording, especially to isnāds. However, the order of hadith within books of the Musnad agrees well with their order in the Umm, confirming that the Umm as we have it is close to the state in which al-Rabīʿ left it.
Ottoman Attempts to Define the Rebels During the Greek War of Independence
Authors: Karabıçak Yusuf Ziya
Published: June 2020

This article uses tools developed by conceptual history to examine what it might have meant for Ottoman officials in Istanbul to use the term Rum milleti during the Greek War of Independence. The revolution that started in 1821 has been seen as the first successful national uprising in Europe. It has long been ascertained that the Ottomans did not understand the national undertones that was seen in the declarations of the leaders of the Greek Revolution. Moreover, the Ottoman response to the eruption of this revolution has generally been examined in the context of Istanbul, Morea and the Danubian Principalities.

The goal of this paper is to broaden our understanding of the intellectual and spatial limits of the Ottoman response to the Greek War of Independence. It starts with an examination of the Ottoman response to the French Revolution and to the Serbian revolt of 1804 to follow the trajectories of the term millet. It points out to the limitations of the Islamic understanding of the revolts of subject populations by testing some intellectual tools that were used to surpass such limitations.
For the Sake of the Infant Imām: the Development of the Errant Angel Traditions
Authors: El-Mouallem Dima Ahmad
Published: June 2020

This paper examines the development of what I call the errant angel traditions within Imāmī Shīʿism in all the possible venues of the traditions’ provenance as part of the nativity miracles of al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī. Whether called Fuṭrus, Dardāʾīl, Ṣalṣāʾīl, or Ṣarṣāʾīl, this angel, who disobeys God in some way, is always forgiven for the infant Imām’s sake. I consider these traditions in their context, pointing out the changes that the story undergoes over time in response to theological, ideological, and political changes. I argue that although the traditions seem to have extremist origins, they were subsumed into secondary Imāmī literature, reflecting the circumstances that shaped them and fulfilling certain needs of the community.
Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium on Trichoptera (Cover)
Authors: LAUDEE PONGSAK , MORSE JOHN C.
Published: June 2020

Cover
Larvae and adults of Vietnamese species of Drepanocentron and Hydromanicus (Trichoptera: Xiphocentronidae, Hydropsychidae)

Authors: GENCO MADELINE S. , MORSE JOHN C. , CATERINO MICHAEL S. , MURRAY-STOKER KELLY M. , PHAM THAI HONG
Published: June 2020

Genetic sequencing (with mtCOI) was used to associate larvae with two new Vietnamese caddisfly (Trichoptera) species from Bach Mã National Park, Hydromanicus calyx n. sp. (Hydropsychidae) and Drepanocentron dentatum n. sp. (Xiphocentronidae). Adult Drepanocentron dentatum n. sp. is distinguishable by the toothy dorsal margin of the male inferior appendages; the most similar species, D. vercaius, has teeth on the ventral, but not the dorsal margins of the inferior appendages. The larva of D. dentatum is fully described herein, the first larva to be described in the genus Drepanocentron; it can be separated from the other two known xiphocentronid larvae (Xiphocentron messapus and Cnodocentron yavapai) by the smooth, thin mesal margin of each mandible. Adult Hydromanicus calyx n. sp. is distinguishable by the cupped apices of the male harpagones; this character is absent in morphologically similar species (H. nieuwenhuisi, H. abiud, and H. serubabel). The larva of H. calyx is morphologically most similar to that of H. inferior, but can be distinguished by the presence of faint muscle scars interrupting the lateral margins of the stridulatory areas on the venter of the head.
Origin of the Trichoptera species in Iceland
Authors: GÍSLASON GÍSLI MÁR , PÁLSSON SNAEBJÖRN
Published: June 2020

This paper focuses on the origin of Trichoptera species in Iceland in light of the island biogeography of caddisflies in the North-Atlantic islands, i.e., Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Shetland, and Orkney, and adjacent larger regions, Norway and Britain. Three of the 12 recorded species have circumpolar distribution, the other nine are Palaearctic. The number of species declines with the distance from the mainland of Europe and is independent of the island sizes. However, the occurrence of species is stochastic, with only a few species common to the more remote islands—e.g., Iceland has 12 species and the Faroe Islands 20, but only 4 species are common to both islands. Studies on phylogeographic patterns of two species, Potamophylax cingulatus and Apatania zonella, show different history based on genetic markers. Potamophylax cingulatus in Iceland is from a western European lineage, distinct from two eastern and southern European lineages that may have diverged in southern refugia during the glacial periods of the latest Ice Age. The ancestors of the Icelandic population have migrated from the Iberian Peninsula up the west cost of Europe to the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The parthenogenetic A. zonella in Iceland originated near the Bering Strait, and has migrated along two routes, one westward through northern Eurasia and the other eastward through North America and Greenland to Iceland, where the two populations meet. Preliminary phylogeographic studies on two other circumpolar species, Limnephilus fenestratus and L. picturatus indicate possible interchanges between North America and Europe, but due to a low number of samples, it is difficult to state where the Icelandic population came from.
Trichoptera in the Faroe Islands
Authors: HANSEN LEIVUR JANUS , GÍSLASON GÍSLI MÁR
Published: June 2020

In this paper the literature on Trichoptera in the Faroe Islands is reviewed and occurrence of species in recent research on freshwater insects is added. The first record of Trichoptera dates from 1782, without any recognisable species. Today, 20 species are known from the islands, but their frequency of occurrence differs between the Northern Islands and the other islands. A difference in topography of the island groups has previously been hypothesized as an explanation, and data presented in this paper support this hypothesis.
Expected and unexpected areas of distribution of caddisflies (Trichoptera)

Authors: MALICKY HANS
Published: June 2020

The area of distribution of a species is the result of range expansions and regressions in the past. If the fauna of a region is reasonably well known (e.g., in Europe), certain patterns of distribution are easily recognised. New findings may readily be placed, but sometimes unexpected patterns may appear which are difficult to explain. Several examples are given.
A phylogenetic review of the species groups of Phylocentropus Banks (Trichoptera: Dipseudopsidae)

Authors: WEAVER JOHN S.
Published: June 2020

A phylogenetic review of the three species groups of the caddisfly genus Phylocentropus Banks, proposed by Ross (1965), is provided. The Phylocentropus auriceps Species Group contains 9 species: †P. antiquus, P. auriceps, †P. cretaceous, †P. gelhausi, †P. ligulatus, †P. simplex, †P. spiniger, †P. succinolebanensis, and †P. swolenskyi,; the P. placidus Species Group, 4 species: P. carolinus, P. harrisi, P. lucidus, and P. placidus; and the P. orientalis Species Group, 7 species: P. anas, P. narumonae, P. ngoclinh, P. orientalis, P. shigae, P. tohoku, and P. vietnamellus. A hypothetical phylogenetic tree of the genus is presented along with its historic biogeography.