bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Major histocompatibility complexes are up‐regulated in glomerular endothelial cells via activation of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase in 5/6 nephrectomy mice
Authors: Zhu Dong , Tang Qunye , Yu Baixue , Meng Mei , Liu Wenjie , Li Jiawei , Zhu Tongyu , Vanhoutte Paul M. , Leung Susan W.S. , Zhang Yi , Shi Yi
Published: August 2020

Background and Purpose

This study aims to explore the mechanism underlying the up‐regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins in glomerular endothelial cells in 5/6 nephrectomy mice.

Experimental Approach

C57/BL6 mice were randomly allocated to sham‐operated (2K) and 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) groups. Mouse splenic lymphocytes, from either syngeneic or allogeneic background, were injected into 5/6Nx mice after total body irradiation. Human glomerular endothelial cells (HGECs) were cultured for experiments in vitro. Western blots, PCR, immunohistochemical and fluorescent staining were used, along with assays of tissue cytokines, lymphocyte migration and renal function.

Key Results

Four weeks after nephrectomy, expression of both mRNA and protein of MHC II, CD80, and CD86 were increased in 5/6Nx glomerular endothelial cells. After total body irradiation, 5/6Nx mice injected with lymphocytes from Balb/c mice, but not those from C57/BL6 mice, exhibited increased creatinine levels, indicating that allograft lymphocyte transfer impaired renal function. In HGECs, the protein levels of MHC and MHC Class II transactivator (CIITA) were increased by stimulation with TNF‐α or IFN‐γ, which promoted human lymphocytes movement. These increases were reduced by JNK inhibitors. In the 5/6Nx mice, JNK inhibition down‐regulated MHC II protein in glomerular endothelial cells, suggesting that JNK signalling participates in the regulation of MHC II protein.

Conclusion and Implications

Chronic inflammation in mice subjected to nephrectomy induces the up‐regulation of MHC molecules in glomerular endothelial cells. This up‐regulation is reduced by inhibition of JNK signalling.
Satisfaction and acceptability of paediatric weight management services amongst parents and carers: A mixed‐methods study
Authors: McMaster Caitlin M. , Cohen Jennifer , Alexander Shirley , Neal Renee , Gow Megan L. , Calleja Elizabeth , Signorelli Christina , Tan Eng Joo , Williams Kathryn , Sim Kyra , Leong Gary , Baur Louise A.
Published: August 2020

To optimize treatment for children and adolescents with obesity and minimize attrition, consideration of parents' engagement and satisfaction with paediatric weight management services is crucial. The aim of this study was to conduct a mixed‐methods evaluation of parental acceptability and satisfaction of available paediatric weight management services in New South Wale, Australia's most populous state. Parents/carers referred to one of six weight management services between March 2018 and July 2019 were invited to participate. The study involved: (a) surveys and one‐on‐one phone interviews to assess overall satisfaction, acceptability of service design and delivery, treatment expectations, and service accessibility, strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvement; (b) a survey to determine costs to families of attending the service; and (c) a survey assessing families' reasons for treatment non‐attendance. N = 146 participants completed the survey to assess service satisfaction and acceptability and 37 of these also participated in phone interviews. Ninety‐three per cent were satisfied with the overall care they received and patient weight loss/cessation of weight gain and improvement in the family's overall health were rated as the most valued changes. Content analysis of interviews highlighted participants' recognition of positive changes achieved during treatment and appreciation of the resources provided, and the encouraging/empathetic nature of staff. The most common reasons for treatment attrition were difficulty in accessing the weight management service and flexibility of appointment times. Findings from this study can be utilized in future planning and development of paediatric weight management services to facilitate integrated, responsive and effective care of children and adolescents with obesity.
FOREIGN BANKS AND THE BANK LENDING CHANNEL
Authors: Denderski Piotr , Paczos Wojtek
Published: August 2020

We provide new evidence on bank ownership and transmission of monetary policy using bank‐level data on 453 banks in Central and Eastern European economies between 1998 and 2012. Only domestic banks adjust loans to changes in monetary policy, while foreign banks do not. Conventional wisdom says that this is because foreign banks can rely on parent banks' funding to insulate against monetary policy shocks. In this paper we document an alternative explanation. Deposits in foreign banks do not react to monetary policy, hence the bank lending channel is only triggered in domestic banks. (JEL E50, F36, G21)
Oral hypofunction and its association with frailty in community‐dwelling older people
Authors: Shimazaki Yoshihiro , Nonoyama Toshiya , Tsushita Kazuyo , Arai Hidenori , Matsushita Kenji , Uchibori Noriyasu
Published: August 2020

Aim

This large epidemiological survey of older people examined oral hypofunction and the relationship between oral hypofunction and frailty.

Methods

Participants were community‐dwelling adults aged 65–85 years in Japan. The oral function evaluation included seven items (oral hygiene, oral dryness, occlusal force, tongue–lip motor function, tongue pressure, masticatory function and swallowing function), and oral hypofunction was defined as having abnormalities in at least three of these items. The frailty status was classified into three categories (robust, pre‐frail and frail) according to the total Kihon Checklist score. We analyzed 978 subjects with complete data. The relationship between oral function and frailty status was analyzed using multivariate multinomial logistic regression analyses.

Results

Approximately 60% of the older adults had oral hypofunction. The multivariate odds ratios (ORs) for a pre‐frail or frail status were significantly higher for older people with reduced occlusal force, reduced tongue–lip motor function and deteriorated swallowing function than in those without deterioration of those items. Of the oral function items, swallowing function was most strongly associated with the frailty status, and the ORs (95% confidence interval [CI]) for deteriorated swallowing function in pre‐frail and frail patients were 6.4 (3.9–10.8) and 10.2 (5.4–19.1), respectively. Those with oral hypofunction had significantly higher adjusted ORs for pre‐frail (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–2.0) and frail (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.5) statuses.

Conclusion

Many community‐dwelling older people have reduced oral function or oral hypofunction, which is significantly associated with frailty in older people. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 917–926.
Transnational governance in motion: Regional development banks, power politics, and the rise and fall of South America's infrastructure integration
Authors: Agostinis Giovanni , Palestini Stefano
Published: August 2020

Under what conditions does one transnational governance mode evolve into another? Under what conditions does a transnational governance initiative break down? The article addresses these questions through the analysis of the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA), showing how delegation, orchestration, and intergovernmental (direct) governance can be linked to one another, creating a chain of governance modes in motion. By reconstructing IIRSA's trajectory, we illuminate the orchestrating role of regional development banks, and explore the conditions leading to the breakdown of transnational governance. The article contributes to the indirect governance literature by complementing prevailing functionalist accounts with a power‐based perspective that underlines the impact of intergovernmental conflicts and power asymmetries on transnational governance. The article also bridges the gap between the international relation governance scholarship and comparative regionalism, providing new insights on the logics of transnational governance in world regions characterized by limited state capacities.
The comparative study of China's mega‐city regions: A perspective of competitiveness
Authors: Zhang Fan , Lou Xiyang , Ning Yuemin
Published: August 2020

Mega‐city regions (MCRs) have emerged as the main spatial form of China's new urbanization strategy and become the basic spatial units participating in global and regional competition. However, MCRs are not equally capable of boosting regional economic development due to their different levels of development. Therefore, this paper adopts the concept of competitiveness as both a theoretical framework and an empirical model to evaluate the development status of China's MCRs. Based on a review of the existing literature, this paper proposes a multi‐tier evaluation system to calculate the competitiveness of 13 MCRs. The chosen indicators come from the six perspectives of economic development, human resources, infrastructural accessibility, integration into the global economy, capacity for scientific and technological innovation, and sustainable development. The results show that there are great disparities and regional inequalities in competitiveness across different MCRs. The Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan MCRs are the first‐tier MCRs with the highest levels of development and have significant global influence as well. Chengdu–Chongqing, Shandong Peninsula, South‐central Liaoning, and Wuhan belong to the second‐tier of MCRs that show partial advantages and have significant regional influence. The remaining regions belong to the third‐ or fourth‐tier of MCRs that have relatively weak competitiveness. The competitiveness of MCRs largely depends on the concentration of core elements in core cities.
The differential impact of COVID‐19 on the work conditions of women and men academics during the lockdown
Authors: Yildirim T. Murat , Eslen‐Ziya Hande
Published: August 2020

That the COVID‐19 pandemic has affected the work conditions of large segments of society is in no doubt. A growing body of journalistic accounts raised the possibility that the lockdown caused by the pandemic has affected women and men in different ways, due mostly to the traditionally gendered division of labour in society. We attempt to test this oft‐cited argument by conducting an original survey with nearly 200 academics. Specifically, we explore the extent to which the effect of the lockdown on childcare, housework and home‐office environment varies across women and men. Our results show that a number of factors are associated with the effect of the lockdown on the work conditions of academics at home, including gender, having children, perceived threat from COVID‐19 and satisfaction with the work environment. We also show that having children disproportionately affects women in terms of the amount of housework during the lockdown.
EFFICIENCY OF WAGE BARGAINING WITH ON‐THE‐JOB SEARCH
Authors: Cai Xiaoming
Published: August 2020

This article studies efficiency in a general class of search models where both unemployed and employed workers search for better jobs and can meet multiple firms simultaneously. Employers can respond to outside offers and wages are a weighted average of the productivities of the current employer and a credible poaching firm. I derive a condition that balances firms' bargaining power and their meeting externality. This condition ensures efficiency of both worker turnover and firm entry. Finally, the efficiency condition unifies and extends many of the results on the efficiency of equilibrium search models.
The working alliance with people experiencing suicidal ideation: A qualitative study of nurses’ perspectives
Authors: Vandewalle Joeri , Deproost Eddy , Goossens Peter , Verfaillie Jan , Debyser Bart , Beeckman Dimitri , Van Hecke Ann , Verhaeghe Sofie
Published: August 2020

Aims

This study aimed to enhance the conceptual understanding of the working alliance in the context of nursing care for people experiencing suicidal ideation.

Design

A qualitative study based on grounded theory was conducted.

Methods

Two authors conducted individual semi‐structured interviews from September 2017–January 2019. Twenty‐eight nurses in 13 wards of four psychiatric hospitals participated. The Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven was used to support constant data comparisons and the cyclic processes of data collection and data analysis.

Findings

The nurses’ perspectives revealed that the working alliance can be understood as an interpersonal and collaborative relational process. This relational process highlighted the core variable ‘seeking connectedness and attunement with the person at risk of suicide’. The core variable underpinned three clusters: investing in the foundations of the working alliance, nourishing the clinical dimension of the working alliance and realizing an impact with the working alliance.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance for nurses to assess, evaluate and respond to persons’ suicidal ideation in harmony with a commitment to connect with them and attune to their perspective.

Impact

The relational process uncovered through this study offers valuable insights to support advanced nursing practice, where nurses meaningfully integrate relational elements of care with their contributions to suicide prevention and treatment.
Mapping publication status and exploring hotspots in a research field: Rheumatoid arthritis with depression
Authors: Wang Xia , Zhang Ziyun , He Xifei , Meng Heng , Zhang Li , Zhang Lijuan , Lou Xuejiao , Fang Pengjian
Published: August 2020

Aim

To make a bibliometric analysis of the current research status and hot spots in the field of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ‐related depression.

Design

Systematic review.

Methods

Based on the Web of Science database, studies in the past 5 years from 1 January 2015–5 November 2019 have been included. Data were analysed from annual number of published papers, main research institutions, core authors, core teams and research topics by using bibliometric approaches.

Results

Related papers (N = 1,073) were obtained. The field of RA‐related depression is in a stable development stage, forming core authors and core teams. The epidemiological characteristics, influencing factors, prediction effect and the intervention of RA‐related depression are common research directions and themes. The common role of auto‐antibodies and inflammatory factors in the development of RA and depression, the risk of cardiovascular events and disease burden caused by RA‐related depression are newly emerging research topics.

Conclusion

The RA‐related depression has been widely concerned by scholars and the research field is gradually mature. However, the research on the prevention and intervention of RA‐related depression is still wanting, which needs to be strengthened.

Where and on whom will the research have an impact?

The research revealed the most popular institutions, authors, research teams, emerging issues and ‘hot topics’ in the RA‐related depression field, which might suggest avenues for future research in this field.
Press, swipe and read: Do interactive features facilitate engagement and learning with e‐Books?
Authors: Xu Ying , Yau Joanna C. , Reich Stephanie M.
Published: August 2020

Young children are introduced to mobile technology at an early age, with many using touchscreens daily. One appeal of touchscreen technology is that it seems to be intuitive for very young children. As a result, many children's e‐books are designed for tablets rather than for e‐readers or computers. E‐books often contain hotspots—interactive areas children can press to receive immediate auditory or visual feedback. This study assessed whether children's (N = 76, aged 3–5 years) interactions with hotspots increased their engagement with reading when using an e‐book independently and how such interactions were related to their learning from the story. Our results suggested that interacting with hotspots enhanced children's emotional engagement and sustained visual attention but not verbal engagement. Interacting with hotspots also benefited children's recall of story elements relevant to the hotspot but not their overall comprehension of the story. These findings inform the design and use of touchscreen media in early childhood.
Review and synthesis of the experience of patients following total hip or knee arthroplasty in the era of rapidly decreasing hospital length of stay
Authors: Makimoto Kiyoko , Fujita Kimie , Konno Rie
Published: August 2020

Aim

The hospital length of stay for orthopedic surgery has been decreasing during the last couple of decades. Therefore, this study was performed to explore the postoperative experiences of adult/older patients (age ≥20 years) with osteoarthritis who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty, focusing on the first 6 weeks following discharge.

Methods

A systematic literature search on qualitative studies was conducted using six databases, such as Medline, CINAHL and Mednar. Verbatim interview data and themes or subthemes related to the patients' experience after discharge were extracted. Content analysis was used to code interview data. Codes similar in meaning were grouped, and subcategories were formed. These subcategories were then grouped into categories.

Results

Sixteen qualitative studies with 253 participants were analyzed. In total, 136 codes were generated and formed 29 subcategories. Six categories were generated: (a) postoperative pain and medication; (b) difficulty in performing activities of daily living; (c) appreciation for support and difficulties associated with receiving support; (d) variability in recovery process and information‐seeking; (e) lack of patient‐centered care; and (f) transportation problems and social isolation.

Conclusion

Our review suggests that prospective patients and their caregivers need individually tailored presurgical education and advanced planning for postsurgical reduced mobility.
Endometrial stromal sarcoma: A review of rare mesenchymal uterine neoplasm
Authors: Capozzi V.A. , Monfardini L. , Ceni V. , Cianciolo A. , Butera D. , Gaiano M. , Berretta R.
Published: August 2020

Objective

This review aims to analyze the pathological aspects, diagnosis and treatment of rare mesenchymal uterine tumors.

Methods

On August 2019, a systematic review of the literature was done on Pubmed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar search engines. The systematic review was carried out in agreement with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyzes statement (PRISMA). The following words and key phrases have been searched: “endometrial stromal sarcoma”, “low‐grade endometrial stromal sarcoma”, “high‐grade endometrial stromal sarcoma”, “uterine sarcoma”, “mesenchymal uterine tumors” and “uterine stromal sarcoma”. Across these platforms and research studies, five main aspects were analyzed: the biological characteristics of the neoplasms, the number of cases, the different therapeutic approaches used, the follow‐up and the oncological outcomes.

Results

Of the 94 studies initially identified, 55 were chosen selecting articles focusing on endometrial stromal sarcoma. Of these fifty‐five studies, 46 were retrospective in design, 7 were reviews and 2 randomized phases III trials.

Conclusion

Endometrial stromal sarcomas are rare mesenchymal uterine neoplasms and surgery represents the standard treatment. For uterus‐limited disease, the remove en bloc with an intact resection of the tumor (without the use of morcellation) is strongly recommended. For advanced‐stage disease, the standard surgical treatment is adequate cytoreduction with metastatectomy. Pelvic and para‐aortic lymphadenectomy is not recommended in patients with Low‐grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (ESS), while is not clear whether cytoreduction of advanced tumors improves patient survival in High‐grade ESS. Administration of adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy is not routinely used and its role is still debated.
Effects of pretreatment radiological and pathological lymph node statuses on prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer who underwent interval debulking surgery with lymphadenectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Komatsu Hiroaki , Iida Yuki , Osaku Daiken , Shimogai Ruri , Chikumi Jun , Sato Shinya , Oishi Tetsuro , Harada Tasuku
Published: August 2020

Aim

To analyze whether radiological and pathological lymph node statuses affected prognosis in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery.

Methods

In total, 82 patients undergoing interval debulking surgery, including systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, were eligible for this study. We retrospectively analyzed the association among radiological diagnosed retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy by computed tomographic scan before (rLN) and after (yrLN) neoadjuvant chemotherapy, pathological lymph node metastasis (pLN) and prognosis. Patient survival distribution was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

There were 36 rLN+ cases (44%); there were no significant differences between rLN+ and rLN− with respect to progression‐free survival and overall survival. Progression‐free survival and overall survival did not differ between yrLN+ cases and yrLN− cases. Thirty‐nine cases (47.5%) were pLN+, and both progression‐free survival and overall survival were significantly shorter in pLN+ cases than in pLN− cases (P < 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). In univariate analysis, FIGO stage, pLN and surgical completion were prognostic factors for overall survival. Moreover, in multivariate analysis, pLN+ was the independent prognostic factor for progression‐free survival (P = 0.001, 95% confidence interval: 1.911–15.69), and pLN and surgical completion were the only independent prognostic factors for overall survival (P = 0.046, P = 0.012).

Conclusion

Radiological lymph node status may not be a prognostic factor in patients with ovarian cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery. Pathological lymph node metastasis affects progression‐free survival and overall survival.
Tax and Expenditure Limitations, Salary Reductions, and Public Employee Turnover
Authors: Hayes Michael S.
Published: August 2020

This study examines the relationship between salary and employee turnover behavior by analyzing a natural experiment created by the New Jersey Superintendent Salary Cap (NJSSC), which caused salary reductions for 25 percent of NJ superintendents in the initial year. I find that an additional $10,000 reduction in base salary due to the NJSSC corresponds to a 16 percent increase in the likelihood of superintendent turnover. This suggests salary expenditures are important public policy levers to retain employees. This study also contributes to prior research on tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) by documenting one of the first TELs placed directly on public employees.
Cerebrovascular function in hypertension: Does high blood pressure make you old?
Authors: Jennings J. Richard , Muldoon Matthew F. , Allen Ben , Ginty Annie T. , Gianaros Peter J.
Published: August 2020

The majority of individuals over an age of 60 have hypertension. Elevated blood pressure and older age are associated with very similar changes in brain structure and function. We review the parallel brain changes associated with increasing age and blood pressure. This review focuses on joint associations of aging and elevated blood pressure with neuropsychological function, regional cerebral blood flow responses to cognitive and metabolic challenges, white matter disruptions, grey matter volume, cortical thinning, and neurovascular coupling. Treatment of hypertension ameliorates many of these changes but fails to reverse them. Treatment of hypertension itself appears more successful with better initial brain function. We show evidence that sympathetic and renal influences known to increase blood pressure also impact brain integrity. Possible central mechanisms contributing to the course of hypertension and aging are then suggested. An emphasis is placed on psychologically relevant factors: stress, cardiovascular reactions to stress, and diet/obesity. The contribution of some of these factors to biological aging remains unclear and may provide a starting point for defining the independent and interacting effects of aging and increasing blood pressure on the brain.
Mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle of fukutin‐deficient mice is resistant to exercise‐ and 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide ribonucleotide‐induced rescue
Authors: Southern W. Michael , Nichenko Anna S. , Qualls Anita E. , Portman Kensey , Gidon Ariel , Beedle Aaron M. , Call Jarrod A.
Published: August 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Does fukutin deficiency in skeletal muscle cause mitochondrial dysfunction, and if so, can AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) stimulation via 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide ribonucleotide attenuate this through regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with fukutin deficiency and AMPK stimulation may benefit muscle contractility to a greater extent than mitochondrial function.

Disruptions in the dystrophin–glycoprotein complex (DGC) are clearly the primary basis underlying various forms of muscular dystrophies and dystroglycanopathies, but the cellular consequences of DGC disruption are still being investigated. Mitochondrial abnormalities are becoming an apparent consequence and contributor to dystrophy disease pathology. Herein, we demonstrate that muscle‐specific deletion of the fukutin gene (Myf5/fktn‐KO mice (Fktn KO)), a model of secondary dystroglycanopathy, results in ∼30% lower muscle strength (P < 0.001) and 16% lower mitochondrial respiratory function (P = 0.002) compared to healthy littermate controls (LM). We also observed ∼80% lower expression of the gene for peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ coactivator 1α (PGC‐1α) (P = 0.004), a primary transcription factor for mitochondrial biogenesis, in Fktn KO mice that likely contributes to the mitochondrial defects. PGC‐1α is post‐translationally regulated via phosphorylation by AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK). Treatment with the AMPK agonist 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) failed to rescue mitochondrial deficits in Fktn KO mice (P = 0.458) but did have beneficial (∼30% greater) effects on recovery of muscle contractility following injury in both LM and Fktn KO mice compared to saline treatment (P = 0.006). The beneficial effects of AMPK stimulation via AICAR on muscle contractile function may be partially explained by AMPK's other role of regulating skeletal muscle autophagy, a cellular process critical for clearance of damaged and/or dysfunctional organelles. Two primary conclusions can be drawn from this data: (1) fukutin deletion produces intrinsic muscular metabolic defects that likely contribute to dystroglycanopathy disease pathology, and (2) AICAR treatment accelerates recovery of muscle contractile function following injury suggesting AMPK signalling as a possible target for therapeutic strategies.
Loss Analysis of Unsteady Turbomachinery Flows Based on the Mechanical Work Potential
Authors: Leggett John , Richardson Edward , Priebe Stephan , Shabbir Aamir , Michelassi Vittorio , Sandberg Richard
Published: August 2020

Loss analysis is a valuable technique for improving the thermodynamic performance of turbomachines. Analyzing loss in terms of the “mechanical work potential” (Miller, R.J., ASME Turbo Expo 2013, GT2013-95488) provides an instantaneous and local account of the thermal and aerodynamic mechanisms contributing to the loss of thermodynamic performance. This study develops the practical application of mechanical work potential loss analysis, providing the mathematical formulations necessary to perform loss analysis using practical Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) or large eddy simulations (LES). The analysis approach is demonstrated using RANS and LES of a linear compressor cascade, both with and without incoming wakes. Spatial segmentation is used to attribute loss contributions to specific regions of the flow, and phase-averaging is performed in order to associate the variation of different loss contributions with the periodic passage of wakes through the cascade. For this un-cooled linear cascade, viscous dissipation is the dominant source of loss. The analysis shows that the contribution of the viscous reheat effect depends on the operating pressure of the compressor stage relative to the ambient “dead state” pressure—implying that the optimal blade profile for a low-pressure compressor stage may be different from the optimal profile for a high-pressure compressor stage in the same engine, even if the operating conditions for both stages are dynamically similar.
Polydopamine-modified interface improves the immobilization of natural bioactive-dye onto textile and enhances antifungal activity
Authors: Gargoubi Sondes , Saghrouni Fatma , Chevallier Pascale , Tolouei Ranna , Boudokhane Chedly , Ladhari Neji , Mantovani Diego
Published: August 2020

Dermatomycosis, such as candidiasis and mycosis among others, has emerged recently as the most frequent fungal infection worldwide. This disease is due to the skin's exposure to microorganisms that are able to pass through skin barrier defects. Therefore, textiles in direct contact with skin can serve as a source of contamination and fungus spread. In the current study, a sustainable and eco-friendly method for antifungal cotton finishing using Curcuma longa L extracted from rhizomes was investigated. To enhance the natural bioactive dye uptake and attachment, cellulosic cotton fibers were chemically modified using dopamine, a biocompatible molecule, leading to the deposition of a hydrophilic layer of polydopamine. The efficiency of the polydopamine coating on the cotton surface has been assessed by x-ray photoemission spectroscopy analyses, with the detection of nitrogen, and by water contact angle for the wettability enhancement. Furthermore, characterization of the modified samples confirms that the modification did not affect either the cellulosic fiber morphology or the mechanical properties. The dyeability and bioactive dye immobilization were then assessed by colorimetry. Finally, the effectiveness of the finished fabrics against Trichophyton (rubrum/mentagrophytes) and Candida albicans strains was evaluated and was shown to induce growth inhibition mainly on Candida albicans strains.
An experimental link between fast noseleaf deformations and biosonar pulse dynamics in hipposiderid bats
Authors: Zhang Liujun , Yang Luhui , Zhang Ru , Müller Rolf
Published: August 2020

Old-World leaf-nosed bats (Hipposideridae) are echolocating bats with peculiar emission-side dynamics where beamforming baffles (“noseleaves”) that surround the points of ultrasound emission (nostrils) change shape while diffracting the outgoing biosonar pulses. While prior work with numerical and robotic models has suggested that these noseleaf deformations could have an impact on the output characteristics of the bat's biosonar system, testing the hypothesis that this is the case in bats remains a critical step to be taken. The work presented here has tested the hypothesis that the noseleaf dynamics in a species of hipposiderid bat (Pratt's roundleaf bat, H. pratti) leads to time-variant acoustical properties on the output side of the bats' biosonar emission system. The time-variant effects of the noseleaf motion could be detected even in the presence of other sources of variability by comparing the distribution of pulse energy over the angle at different points in time. Furthermore, a convolutional neural network was able to classify the noseleaf motion state based on microphone array recordings with 85.3% accuracy. These results hence demonstrate that these nose-emitting bats have access to a substrate for behavioral flexibility on the emission-side of their biosonar systems.
Wave speed and attenuation profiles in a stratified marine sediment: Geo-acoustic modeling of seabed layering using the viscous grain shearing theory
Authors: Buckingham Michael J.
Published: August 2020

In the viscous grain shearing (VGS) theory of wave propagation in an unconsolidated sediment, the dispersion formulas for the phase speed and attenuation of the compressional and shear wave involve two parameters, the compressional modulus, γp, and the shear modulus, γs, which depend on the radius of the circle of contact between contiguous grains in the granular medium. The radius of contact itself depends on the overburden pressure, and hence depth, in the sediment. Based on these observations, the VGS theory is extended to create a geo-acoustic model of a horizontally stratified sediment in which each layer has a uniform porosity, bulk density, and mean grain size, all of which are assumed known from geological survey data. In a given layer, the overburden pressure consists of the contributions from all the higher layers. From the overburden pressure, the compressional and shear moduli are expressed as functions of depth throughout the layer, thereby allowing the frequency dependent phase speed and attenuation profiles of both types of wave to be computed from the VGS dispersion formulas. To illustrate the VGS geo-acoustic modeling technique, two examples are discussed, one of which represents the mud overlying sand sediment at the New England Mud Patch.
On the influence of imaging parameters on lung ultrasound B-line artifacts, in vitro study
Authors: Mento Federico , Demi Libertario
Published: August 2020

The clinical relevance of lung ultrasonography (LUS) has been rapidly growing since the 1990s. However, LUS is mainly based on the evaluation of visual artifacts (also called B-lines), leading to subjective and qualitative diagnoses. The formation of B-lines remains unknown and, hence, researchers need to study their origin to allow clinicians to quantitatively evaluate the state of lungs. This paper investigates an ambiguity about the formation of B-lines, leading to the formulation of two main hypotheses. The first hypothesis states that the visualization of these artifacts is linked only to the dimension of the emitted beam, whereas the second associates their appearance to specific resonance phenomena. To verify these hypotheses, the frequency spectrum of B-lines was studied by using dedicated lung-phantoms. A research programmable platform connected to an LA533 linear array probe was exploited both to implement a multifrequency approach and to acquire raw radio frequency data. The strength of each artifact was measured as a function of frequency, focal point, and transmitting aperture by means of the artifact total intensity. The results show that the main parameter that influences the visualization of B-lines is the frequency rather than the focal point or the number of transmitting elements.
Just a Fantasy? Examining Fantasy Sport in a Time Without Sport
Authors: Ruihley Brody J. , Chamberlin Jacob
Published: August 2020

The fantasy sport industry has seen tremendous growth over the past three decades. Estimated at 500,000 participants in 1988, the industry has had positive growth every step of the way to a current estimate of 59.3 million North American participants. Touting this incredible rise in participation, nothing has obstructed the growth of this sport media and communication phenomenon until now. The sport landscape and fantasy sport industry find themselves in a situation with complete absence of live sport. The Coronavirus crisis has impacted the fantasy sport community and thousands of professionals in many ways. This research commentary, supplemented with primary interview data, questions the stoppage of fantasy sport and explores conversations, planning, and reaction from the fantasy sport community.
Professional Tennis’s Constellational Response to COVID-19
Authors: King Kyle R.
Published: August 2020

Tennis’s dispersed power relations have made its semiorganized response to COVID-19 “constellational” rather than hierarchical. The author uses the term “constellational” in two senses. First, what might appear to be a disorganized set of stars in the night sky can, with a bit of orientation, be tracked into discernible and more meaningful patterns. In tennis, constellations are clusters of tour events that are linked through geography, court surface, governing bodies, key sponsors, and other forms of patronage. Second, the author invoked the language of “constellations” to draw upon the popular connotation of “stars”: iconic figures on- and off-court who speak and act in ways that carry outsize importance to the game’s audience. This constellational set of power relations has led to conflicted messaging—only sometimes valuing public health. Both prestigious tournaments and star players have emerged as important stakeholders, as tennis assesses its future—and organizational structure—postpandemic.
Solving the Athleisure Myth: A Means-End Chain Analysis of Female Activewear Consumption
Authors: Zhou Xiaochen , Funk Daniel C. , Lu Lu , Kunkel Thilo
Published: August 2020

The athleisure phenomenon has initiated a fast-paced evolution in the activewear industry and challenged brands to design and market activewear that fulfills consumer needs. Existing sport consumer behavior research has neglected to understand the structural relationships that connect attributes of sport products with values of sport consumers to inform values-based product design and marketing strategies. The current research utilizes the means-end chain theory and its corresponding soft laddering method to investigate the activewear consumption experience of female consumers. Findings revealed means-end chain structural relationships connecting five product attributes to three end-state values through four consequences associated with activewear consumption. Findings extend the sport management literature by understanding how sport product attributes fit into abstract consumer values and drive practical implications to enlighten activewear design and marketing.
Sport Experience Design: Wearable Fitness Technology in the Health and Fitness Industry
Authors: Pizzo Anthony D. , Baker Bradley J. , Jones Gareth J. , Funk Daniel C.
Published: August 2020

Emerging technologies not only pose challenges for how sport organizations are managed but also create opportunities for sport organizations to become more competitive by enhancing consumers’ service experience. The integration of wearable fitness technology (WFT) by health and fitness clubs provides an opportunity to examine the influence of WFT on the service experience. Although existing research on technology innovations typically examines either the individual or the organizational perspective in isolation, we use the sport experience design framework to comprehensively examine the influence of WFT on the management and perceptions of service experiences. Participants (N = 37) who took part in the qualitative study included fitness club owners (n = 13), fitness club instructors (n = 7), and fitness club members (n = 17). Findings indicate that integrating WFT enhances the service experience via increased social interaction, gamification, and accountability. However, findings also suggest that technology innovations must be integrated carefully to avoid misalignment between providers’ and users’ perceptions. Despite the potential for misalignment, emerging technologies can enhance and expand the service experience beyond the physical environment, presenting sport organizations with technology-mediated opportunities to engage consumers.
Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals cell lineage specification in temporal-spatial patterns in human cortical development
Authors: Fan Xiaoying , Fu Yuanyuan , Zhou Xin , Sun Le , Yang Ming , Wang Mengdi , Chen Ruiguo , Wu Qian , Yong Jun , Dong Ji , Wen Lu , Qiao Jie , Wang Xiaoqun , Tang Fuchou
Published: August 2020

A single-cell survey of developing human CC was performed with comprehensive temporal and spatial information.
Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum Kelch 13 (
PfK13
) and Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 1 (
pfubp1
) Gene Polymorphisms in Returning Travelers from Africa Reported in Eastern China
Authors: Yan He , Kong Xiangli , Zhang Tao , Xiao Huihui , Feng Xinyu , Tu Hong , Feng Jun
Published: August 2020

Delayed clearance of
Plasmodium falciparum
by artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) has already been observed for African isolates. Here, we aimed to investigate the prevalence, among travelers returning from African countries, of polymorphisms in two genes correlated with delayed parasite clearance (encoding
P. falciparum
Kelch 13 [
PfK13
] and ubiquitin-specific protease 1 [
pfubp1
]) reported in eastern China and to provide baseline data for antimalarial drug resistance (ART) surveillance and evaluation.
Neutralizing Antibodies Correlate with Protection from SARS-CoV-2 in Humans during a Fishery Vessel Outbreak with a High Attack Rate
Authors: Addetia Amin , Crawford Katharine H. D. , Dingens Adam , Zhu Haiying , Roychoudhury Pavitra , Huang Meei-Li , Jerome Keith R. , Bloom Jesse D. , Greninger Alexander L.
Published: August 2020

The development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 would be greatly facilitated by the identification of immunological correlates of protection in humans. However, to date, studies on protective immunity have been performed only in animal models and correlates of protection have not been established in humans. Here, we describe an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 on a fishing vessel associated with a high attack rate. Predeparture serological and viral reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) testing along with repeat testing after return to shore was available for 120 of the 122 persons on board over a median follow-up of 32.
Selective Interferon Responses of Intestinal Epithelial Cells Minimize Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Cytotoxicity
Authors: Van Winkle Jacob A. , Constant David A. , Li Lena , Nice Timothy J.
Published: August 2020

Enteric viral infections are a major cause of gastroenteritis worldwide and have the potential to trigger or exacerbate intestinal inflammatory diseases. Prior studies have identified specialized innate immune responses that are active in the intestinal epithelium following viral infection, but our understanding of the benefits of such an epithelium-specific response is incomplete. Here, we show that the intestinal epithelial antiviral response is programmed to enable protection while minimizing epithelial cytotoxicity that can often accompany an inflammatory response. Our findings offer new insight into the benefits of a tailored innate immune response at the intestinal barrier and suggest how dysregulation of this response could promote inflammatory disease.
Zika Virus Replication in Myeloid Cells during Acute Infection Is Vital to Viral Dissemination and Pathogenesis in a Mouse Model
Authors: McDonald Erin M. , Anderson John , Wilusz Jeff , Ebel Gregory D. , Brault Aaron C.
Published: August 2020

Myeloid cells, including monocytes, play a crucial role in immune responses to pathogens. Monocytes have also been implicated as “Trojan horses” during viral infections, carrying infectious virus particles to immune privileged sites and/or to sites protected by physical blood-tissue barriers, such as the blood-testis barrier and the blood-brain barrier. In this study, we found that myeloid cells are crucial to Zika virus (ZIKV) pathogenesis. By engineering ZIKV clones to encode myeloid-specific microRNA target sequences, viral replication was inhibited in myeloid cells by harnessing the RNA interference pathway. Severely immunodeficient mice inoculated with myeloid-restricted ZIKV did not demonstrate clinical signs of disease and survived infection. Furthermore, viral dissemination to peripheral organs was not observed in these mice. Lastly, we identified Ly6C
mid/hi
murine monocytes as the major myeloid cell population that disseminates ZIKV.
Structural Determinants within the Adenovirus Early Region 1A Protein Spacer Region Necessary for Tumorigenesis
Authors: Molloy David P. , Grand Roger J.
Published: August 2020

This research analyzed small peptides equivalent to a region within the human adenovirus early region 1A protein that confers, in part, tumor-inducing properties to various degrees on several viral strains in rats and mice. The oncogenic spacer region is α-helical, which contrasts with previous suggestions that this region is unstructured. The helix is characterized by a stretch of amino acids rich in alanine residues that are organized into a hydrophobic, or “water-hating,” surface that is considered to form a major site of interaction with cellular protein targets that mediate tumor formation. The extent of α-helix in E1A from other adenovirus species can be correlated to a limited degree to the tumorigenicity of that virus. Some serotypes show significant differences in predicted structural propensity, suggesting that the amino acid type and physicochemical properties are also of importance.
A Genome-Based Model to Predict the Virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates
Authors: Pincus Nathan B. , Ozer Egon A. , Allen Jonathan P. , Nguyen Marcus , Davis James J. , Winter Deborah R. , Chuang Chih-Hsien , Chiu Cheng-Hsun , Zamorano Laura , Oliver Antonio , Hauser Alan R.
Published: August 2020

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a clinically important Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen.
P. aeruginosa
shows a large degree of genomic heterogeneity both through variation in sequences found throughout the species (core genome) and through the presence or absence of sequences in different isolates (accessory genome).
P. aeruginosa
isolates also differ markedly in their ability to cause disease. In this study, we used machine learning to predict the virulence level of
P. aeruginosa
isolates in a mouse bacteremia model based on genomic content. We show that both the accessory and core genomes are predictive of virulence. This study provides a machine learning framework to investigate relationships between bacterial genomes and complex phenotypes such as virulence.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0991c Is a Redox-Regulated Molecular Chaperone
Authors: Becker Samuel H. , Ulrich Kathrin , Dhabaria Avantika , Ueberheide Beatrix , Beavers William , Skaar Eric P. , Iyer Lakshminarayan M. , Aravind L. , Jakob Ursula , Darwin K. Heran
Published: August 2020

M. tuberculosis
infections are responsible for more than 1 million deaths per year. Developing effective strategies to combat this disease requires a greater understanding of
M. tuberculosis
biology. As in all cells, protein quality control is essential for the viability of
M. tuberculosis
, which likely faces proteotoxic stress within a host. Here, we identify an
M. tuberculosis
protein, Ruc, that gains chaperone activity upon oxidation. Ruc represents a previously unrecognized family of redox-regulated chaperones found throughout the bacterial superkingdom. Additionally, we found that oxidized Ruc promotes the protein-folding activity of the essential
M. tuberculosis
Hsp70 chaperone system. This work contributes to a growing body of evidence that oxidative stress provides a particular strain on cellular protein stability.