bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract B26: Prorapeutic vaccination against shared antigens induced in future tumors
Authors: Garrido Greta , Schrand Brett , Levay Agata , Rabasa Ailem , Ferrantella Anthony , Da Silva Diane , D’Eramo Francesca , Marijt Koen , Daley-Bauer Lisa , Kwon Deukwoo , Kast Martin , Mocarski Ed , Dudeja Vikas , van Hall Thorbald , Gilboa Eli
Published: March 2020

Vaccination of patients against mostly patient-specific neoantigens expressed in concurrent and recurring tumors, or tumors developing in individuals at high risk of cancer, is posing major challenges in terms of which antigens to target and is limited to a subset of patients expressing neoantigens in their tumors. Here we describe a broadly applicable vaccination strategy against shared antigens that are experimentally induced in tumor cells by downregulation of the peptide transporter TAP. Presentation of the new epitopes in tumor cells is achieved using a siRNA to downregulate TAP mRNA, which is targeted to tumor cells in situ by conjugation to a broad-range nucleolin binding oligonucleotide aptamer ligand. An immune response against the TAP downregulation-induced antigens presented by the tumor cells is elicited by downregulation of TAP in resident dendritic cells via conjugation to a CpG oligonucleotide. Vaccination against experimentally induced antigens is particularly suitable for vaccination against tumors that recur after a long period of remission, or tumors that will develop in individuals at high risk of cancer, because it eliminates the uncertainties of which neoantigens are expressed in the future tumors. Vaccination against the TAP downregulation-induced antigens was more effective than vaccination against tumor-resident, mutation-generated, shared neoantigens, was devoid of measurable toxicity, and inhibited the growth of future tumors in models of recurrence and premalignant disease. Human CD8+ T cells stimulated with TAPlow dendritic cells elicited a polyclonal CD8+ T-cell response that recognized tumor cells with experimentally reduced TAP expression, as well as CMV and EBV infected cells that naturally downregulate TAP expression. Vaccination against TAP downregulation-induced antigens overcomes the main limitations of vaccinating against mostly unique tumor-resident neoantigens and could represent a common vaccination strategy for patients with concurrent, recurrent, and future tumors.

Citation Format: Greta Garrido, Brett Schrand, Agata Levay, Ailem Rabasa, Anthony Ferrantella, Diane Da Silva, Francesca D’Eramo, Koen Marijt, Lisa Daley-Bauer, Deukwoo Kwon, Martin Kast, Ed Mocarski, Vikas Dudeja, Thorbald van Hall, Eli Gilboa. Prorapeutic vaccination against shared antigens induced in future tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B26.
Abstract B41: Bis-indole derived NR4A1 antagonist induces PD-L1 degradation and enhances antitumor immunity
Authors: Karki Keshav , Wright Gus , Un-Ho Jin , Mohankumar Kumaravel , Zhang Xing , Safe Stephen
Published: March 2020

PD-L1 is expressed in tumor cells and interaction with PD-1 in immune cells plays an important role in evading immune surveillance, and this can be overcome by immunotherapy using antibodies against PD-L1 or PD-1. This study reports a novel approach for targeting PD-L1. Results of RNA interference, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and mutational analysis show that in MDA-MB-231 and other human breast cancer cells and 4T1 mouse mammary tumor cells the PD-L1 expression is regulated by the nuclear receptor 4A1/NR4A1/Sp1 complex bound to the proximal GC-rich region of the PD-L1 gene promoter. Treatment breast cancer cells with bis-indole derived NR4A1 antagonists including 1,1-bis(3´-indolyl)-1-(3-chloro-4-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)methane (ClOCH3) decreased expression of PD-L1 mRNA promoter-dependent luciferase activity and protein. In vivo studies using a syngeneic mouse model with Balb/c mice bearing orthotopically injected 4T1 cells showed that 2.5, 7.5, and 12.5 mg/kg/d of ClOCH3 decreased tumor growth and weight and inhibited lung metastasis. The NR4A1 antagonist ClOCH3 also decreased expression of CD+/CD4+/CD25+/FoxP3 regulatory T cells in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and increased Teff/Treg ratios. Thus, the potent anticancer activities of NR4A1 antagonists are also accompanied by enhanced antitumor immunity in breast cancer and represent a novel class of drugs that are immunotherapy mimics.

Note:This abstract was not presented at the conference.

Citation Format: Keshav Karki, Gus Wright, Jin Un-Ho, Kumaravel Mohankumar, Xing Zhang, Stephen Safe. Bis-indole derived NR4A1 antagonist induces PD-L1 degradation and enhances antitumor immunity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B41.
Abstract B67: Development of MyD88 L265P mutation-specific TCR gene therapy for treatment of B-cell lymphoma and leukemia
Authors: Çinar Özcan , Busse Antonia , Pezzutto Antonio
Published: March 2020

Lymphoproliferative malignancies form a major group of cancers and are responsible for nearly 10% of all cancer deaths in developed countries. Adoptive transfer of engineered T cells has been shown to be a promising treatment approach; hence, screening and evaluation of cellular antigens for T-cell therapy with higher specificity and efficacy is a rapidly progressing area of research. Cancer-specific antigens derived by somatic mutations acquired during tumor development, so called “neoantigens,” represent a very advantageous target repertoire. Here we aimed to develop T-cell receptors (TCRs) targeting recurrent neoantigens in lymphoma and leukemia, for a truly cancer-specific immunotherapy. With this purpose, we have generated T-cell lines from multiple healthy donors targeting one of the most common driver mutations found in B-cell lymphomas: a missense mutation on adaptor protein MyD88 changing leucine at position 265 to proline (L265P). T cell lines generated by autologous in vitro priming were reactive selectively against the predicted mutant epitope restricted to HLA-B7, but not against the corresponding wild-type peptide. TCR alpha and beta nucleotide sequences from these T-cell lines were successfully cloned into a retroviral vector and expressed on T cells of healthy donors for further characterization. All cloned TCRs have shown mutation-specific and HLA-restricted reactivity with varying functional avidity. TCR-transduced T cells were able to selectively recognize and kill engineered target cells expressing MYD88 mutation, proving that the mutant epitope can be naturally processed by human proteasome and presented on HLA-B7. In order to further evaluate the therapeutic potency, we tested TCR-transduced T cells with non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines naturally harboring MyD88 L265P, and again observed HLA-restricted and mutation-specific reactivity and cytotoxicity, accompanied by antigen-induced proliferation. Taken together, our data suggest that mutation-specific TCRs can be used to target cancer cells with MyD88 L265P, and hold promise for immunotherapy of B-cell malignancies. Therefore, an application to the European Patent Office for variable region sequences of the TCRs has been made (EP19152801.7) in collaboration with Charité Technology Transfer Office. Preclinical safety screening of the TCRs and in vivo efficacy assessment in mice are in progress.

Citation Format: Özcan Çinar, Antonia Busse, Antonio Pezzutto. Development of MyD88 L265P mutation-specific TCR gene therapy for treatment of B-cell lymphoma and leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B67.
Abstract B69: Assessment of CCR5/maraviroc immunotherapy in combination with PD1 and MR-guided radiotherapy for treatment of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Hughes Sophie , Lanfredini Simone , Thappa Asmita , Mukherjee Somnath , O’Neill Eric
Published: March 2020

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most prevalent form of pancreatic cancers with poor survival outcomes, due to late diagnosis, its propensity to metastasize, and lack of therapeutic efficacy under current chemotherapeutic regimens. Despite recent advancements in the field of immunotherapy, results from the clinic have demonstrated lack of efficacy when either radiotherapy (RT) or immunotherapy is used as a monotherapy in PDAC. However, recent publications revealed a synergistic effect on RT-induced immune modulation and reduced immune suppression when administered concurrently. Moreover, these reports demonstrate immune evasion in PDAC is dependent on the CCL5/CCR5 axis to recruit immunosuppressive T-regulatory cells (Tregs) into the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, targeting the migration of Tregs through modulation of CCL5/CCR5 can potentially inhibit tumor growth in pancreatic cancer.

Aim: This preclinical study evaluates the impact of fractionated MR-image guided radiotherapy (MR-IGRT) in combination CCR5 inhibitor and simultaneous inhibition of the immune checkpoint axis PD1/PD-L1 in PDAC.

Methods: For the purpose of this study we generated a syngeneic orthotopic pancreatic mouse model. Tumor cells derived from the Lox-Stop-Lox (LSL)-KrasG12D; LSL-Trp53R172H; Pdx1-cre (KPC) mouse model are injected in the tail of the pancreas. We are able to monitor tumor growth using a respiratory motion desensitized T2-weighted MRI imager, allowing the generation of high-resolution and high-contrast MRI data. Taking advantage of in-house developed technology, the MR-IGRT was delivered using the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP) in combination with MRI imaging to deliver MR-guided fractionated radiotherapy. Concurrently with the radiotherapy, CCR5 inhibitor (maraviroc) and PD1 inhibitor were administrated at specific time points. To investigate the immunologic microenvironment, we developed a 17-color flow cytometry (FC) panel to immune-phenotype cytotoxic T, T regulatory, NK, NK/T and B cells, M-MDSC, PMN-MDSC, M1 and M2 macrophages in the peripheral blood and tumor infiltrate.

Results/Conclusions: Using the established orthotopic mouse model and immune monitoring, we are investigating the therapeutic benefit of immunomodulation of the CCL5/CCR5 axis in combination with PD1/PDL1 and radiotherapy.

Citation Format: Sophie Hughes, Simone Lanfredini, Asmita Thappa, Somnath Mukherjee, Eric O’Neill. Assessment of CCR5/maraviroc immunotherapy in combination with PD1 and MR-guided radiotherapy for treatment of pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B69.
Abstract B84: In vitro and in vivo characterization of tumor-educated human monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells
Authors: Singh Latika , Stivers Peter , Palmieri Anthony , Zhang Mark , Joyce-Shaikh Barbara , Zhang-Hoover Jie , Qu Yujie , Byford Alan , Meehl Michael , Brandish Philip
Published: March 2020

Tumor-driven immune suppression can arise from the recruitment and activation of immunosuppressive cell populations, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). MDSCs are immature myeloid cells that accumulate in tumor microenvironment and dampen the antitumor immune response. However, the mechanisms of MDSC induction remain poorly understood. A greater understanding of their induction and characterization will enable the development of treatments with the potential to combat tumor-induced immune suppression. We characterized the phenotype and function of human tumor cell line (SKMEL5) educated monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSC) in vitro and in vivo. M-MDSCs were generated via coculture of human PBMCs with SKMEL5 tumor cells. The induced suppressive cells were assessed with respect to their cell surface phenotype, cytokine secretion profile, and T-cell suppression (measured by 3H-Thymidine proliferation assay and IFNy secretion). We further identified molecular markers that distinguish M-MDSCs from naive CD33 myeloid cells. In vivo, humanized mice bearing SKMEL5 tumors were characterized for infiltration of immune cells. Results from in vitro model indicated that tumor cell line educated M-MDSCs expressed low levels of HLA-DR and CD86, high levels of CD33, CD11b and suppressed both CD8+T-cell proliferation and IFNy secretion. Comparing M-MDSC and naive CD33 myeloid gene expression revealed upregulation of IL-10, PDL1/2, and VEGFR1 in M-MDSCs. Furthermore, M-MDSC expressed high levels of two new drug targets, immunoglobulin-like transcript 3 (ILT3, also known as LILRB4) and immunoglobulin-like transcript 4 (ILT4 also known as LILRB2). We investigated how ILT-targeting could modulate M-MDSC cell function. In addition, In vivo results from humanized mice bearing SKMEL5 tumors demonstrated expansion of multiple subtypes of tumor-associated myeloid cells with increased ILT3 and ILT4 expression. These human MDSC models provide a platform for building biologic understanding of emerging myeloid targets expressed in pembrolizumab nonresponders and tumors rich in myeloid-suppressive cells.

Citation Format: Latika Singh, Peter Stivers, Anthony Palmieri, Mark Zhang, Barbara Joyce-Shaikh, Jie Zhang-Hoover, Yujie Qu, Alan Byford, Michael Meehl, Philip Brandish. In vitro and in vivo characterization of tumor-educated human monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B84.
Abstract B88: GPNMB expression modulates the tumor immune microenvironment in mouse models of breast cancer
Authors: Annis Matthew G. , Rose April A.N. , Ahn Ryuhjin , Hsu Brian E. , Ursini-Siegel Josie , Siegel Peter M.
Published: March 2020

The role of glycoprotein-NMB (GPNMB) in the immune system is varied. GPNMB expression in macrophages and dendritic cells promotes innate immune responses, whereas GPNMB-expressing myeloid-derived suppressor (MDSC) cells suppress adaptive immune responses (T-cell function). While functional roles for GPNMB expressed within cells of the immune system are emerging, the influence of tumor-derived GPNMB expression on the immune landscape within mammary tumors has not been well characterized. To investigate this further, we have generated two GPNMB-deficient breast cancer cell populations (Lung Metastatic-4T1 [LM-4T1] and E0771 cells) to determine the influence of GPNMB on the tumor immune microenvironment (TME). While loss of GPNMB significantly impaired tumor growth of both these breast cancer models in syngeneic mice, this difference was not apparent with LM-4T1 injected in athymic nude mice. These observations suggest GPNMB may promote tumor growth by modulating the T-cell function. We have used traditional immunohistochemical analyses to broadly characterize the T cells present in the TME of E0771 and LM-4T1 breast tumors, which express or lack GPNMB. We have observed a significant increase in both CD8+ and CD4+ immune cells in GPNMB-deficient LM-4T1 and E0771 tumors compared to parental cells at an experimental endpoint of matched tumor volumes. To determine the temporal response of the immune system to LM-4T1 cells, we have isolated early developing lesions and stained for CD8, CD4, Fox3p, and granzyme B positive cells. We observed a significant increase in CD4+ and a trend for elevated granzyme B+ cells at early timepoints in GPNMB-deficient tumors compared to LM-4T1 parental cells. Taken together, these results suggest GPNMB suppresses an early recruitment of CD4+ cells where, in the absence of GPNMB, this would result in elevated CD8+ and CD4+ cells in these tumors. We are currently characterizing the contribution of CD4+ cells in the progression of these tumor models.

Citation Format: Matthew G. Annis, April A.N. Rose, Ryuhjin Ahn, Brian E. Hsu, Josie Ursini-Siegel, Peter M. Siegel. GPNMB expression modulates the tumor immune microenvironment in mouse models of breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B88.
Outcome of Pregnancy in the Era of Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a in Females with Essential Thrombocythemia: An Experience from Qatar
Authors: Abu-Tineh Mohammad , Kassem Nancy , Abdulla Mohammad Abdul-Jaber , Ismail Omar Mohammad , Ghasoub Rola , Aldapt Mahmood B. , Yassin Mohamed A.
Published: March 2020

Myeloproliferative neoplasms are a diversified group of diseases of the hematopoietic stem cell, such as essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera. They are mainly caused by mutations in the following genes: JAK2, CALR, and MPL. All carry an increased risk to transform into acute leukemia or chronic myelogenous leukemia along with thrombosis and hemorrhagic complications. Treatment of such disorders during pregnancy is a challenging footstep, given the high risk of complications for both the mother and the fetus. Here, we report about two pregnant females with ET that has been treated with pegylated interferon alpha with safe and effective outcome.
A new record of the hoverfly genus Dasysyrphus Enderlein, 1938 (Insecta: Diptera: Syrphidae) from India
Authors: Sengupta Jayita , Naskar Atanu , Maity Aniruddha , Parui Panchanan , Homchaudhuri Sumit , Banerjee Dhriti
Published: March 2020

One species of genus Dasysyrphus, Enderlein 1938, namely Dasysyrphus albostriatus (Fallen, 1817) is recorded for the first time from India.
Notes on Ptilomera agriodes (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) from Eastern Ghats, India
Authors: Deepa J. , Narahari A. , Karuthapandi M. , Jadhav S. , Shankar C. Shiva
Published: March 2020

The present study reports an aquatic hemipteran species Ptilomera agriodes (Schmidt, 1926) distributed in different streams and waterfalls of Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the first time.
First record of Banded Lineblue Prosotas aluta Druce, 1873 (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Bangladesh
Authors: Dey Rajib , Al Haidar Ibrahim Khalil , Rudra Sajib , Islam M. Rafiqul
Published: March 2020

An individual of Banded Lineblue Prosotas aluta was discovered in Bangladesh on 7 September 2018 from the Kaptai National Park, a mixed evergreen protected forest in the southeastern region of the country.  The discovered species was found in the hill stream named ‘Boro Chara’.  The photographic documentation confirms the certainty of the species.  The occupancy of P. aluta in Asia and distribution around Bangladesh in Cachar and Khasi Hills of India indicate its existence but confirmation was wanting till date.  Hence, we report the first confirmed record from Bangladesh.
Hazards of wind turbines on avifauna - a preliminary appraisal within the Indian context
Authors: Deb Himika , Sanyal Tanmay , Kaviraj Anilava , Saha Subrata
Published: March 2020

Wind farms are substantial sources of renewable energy in India; however, their spread across the country potentially present new hazards to local and migratory birds.  This study explored the risk of electrocution and collision of birds with wind turbines close to eco-sensitive zones in India, including Bakkhali, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Geographic information system and remote sensing technology were used.  The results indicate vulnerability of local bird species such as barn owl, Indian Scops Owl, Blue Rock Pigeon, Asian Koel, House Crow, Common Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Ruddy Shelduck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, and Pond Herons, as well as migratory species such as Bar-headed Goose, Red-crested Pochard, and American Black Duck.  Modification of wind turbine design and location were considered determinant factors to reduce risk of bird collisions.
Additional morphological notes on the male of Icius alboterminus (Caleb, 2014) (Aranei: Salticidae) with new distribution records from India
Authors: Prajapati Dhruv A. , Kamboj R.D.
Published: March 2020

This paper includes additional detailed characters and new distribution records of the male of Icius alboterminus (Caleb, 2014) from India.  A detailed morphological description based on scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images and illustrations of the reproductive organ are provided.
Do wildlife crimes against less charismatic species go unnoticed? A case study of Golden Jackal Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758 poaching and trade in India
Authors: Chawla Malaika Mathew , Srivathsa Arjun , Singh Priya , Majgaonkar Iravatee , Sharma Sushma , Punjabi Girish , Banerjee Aditya
Published: March 2020

Wildlife crimes pertaining to lesser-known species do not usually garner adequate focus or interest by enforcement and conservation agencies.  Additionally, illegal wildlife trade fuelled by religious beliefs in sorcery and superstition is an oft-neglected field of research.  To draw attention to these two broad issues, we provide a baseline analysis of open-source reports on Golden Jackal Canis aureus poaching and trade in India.  We highlight the pervasiveness of an active local and transnational ‘jackal horn’ trade, which is severely under-reported and insufficiently researched.  News reports and government seizure data reveal that, between 2013 and 2019, 126 skins, eight tails, more than 370 ‘jackal horns’, 16 skulls and two live jackals have been seized.  The demand for the illusionary ‘jackal horn’ appears to be driven by extensive online endorsement and unsubstantiated claims made by religious practitioners, targeted primarily at south Asian markets.  This preliminary study is an urgent call for concerted efforts to monitor the illegal trafficking and trade of this common species, with a particular focus on the demand and supply chains.
Thirty-Day Readmissions After Carotid Artery Stenting Versus Endarterectomy
Authors: Lima Fabio V. , Kolte Dhaval , Kennedy Kevin F. , Wang Lily J. , Abbott J. Dawn , Soukas Peter A. , Aronow Herbert D.
Published: March 2020

Background:

Contemporary, nationally representative 30-day readmissions data after carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are lacking.

Methods:

Patients undergoing CAS or CEA were identified from the 2013 to 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Databases. Propensity matching was used to balance baseline clinical characteristics. Thirty-day nonelective readmission rates, length of stay, and causes of readmission were compared.

Results:

Overall, 85 337 (national estimate of 194 332) patients were identified before propensity score matching, 11 490 (13.4%) of whom underwent CAS and 73 847 (86.6%) of whom underwent CEA. Crude 30-day readmission rates were higher for patients treated with CAS than CEA (8.3% versus 6.8%;
P
<0.001), but these differences were negated in the propensity-matched cohort (n=22 214; 8.4% versus 7.9%,
P
=0.20), and readmission length of stay was longer for CEA than CAS (2 versus 1 day, respectively;
P
=0.002). The most common reasons for readmission were neurological and cardiac events; readmission reasons varied by revascularization modality. Readmission due to a stroke or transient ischemic attack was more common among patients treated with CAS than CEA (1.2% versus 0.9%;
P
=0.042), while readmission for procedural or medical complications occurred more often following CEA than CAS (1.1% versus 0.5%;
P
<0.001); readmission rates for cardiac causes were similar between groups.

Conclusions:

Less than 8% of patients are readmitted within 30 days of a carotid revascularization procedure. After adjusting for baseline differences, readmission rates are similar for CAS and CEA although readmission length of stay is longer after the latter. Readmission for neurological causes was more common following CAS while readmission for procedural or medical complications occurred more often following CEA. Higher annual institutional CEA volumes were associated with lower risk for 30-day readmission; in contrast, institutional CAS volumes were not related to readmission risk. These data provide important insights into the short-term, outcomes of patients following carotid artery revascularization.
Typification of the names Michelia cathcartii and Magnolia gustavii (Magnoliaceae)

Authors: KUMAR ANAND , BHARATI KUMAR AVINASH
Published: March 2020

The genus Magnolia Linnaeus (1753: 398) is represented by ca. 219 species, distributed in Himalaya to Japan & West Malesia and north-eastern America to tropical America (Mabberley 2017). In India, it is represented by 25 species (Raju 1993, Kundu 2009, POWO 2019), out of which two species [M. punduana (Hooker & Thomson 1855: 81) Figlar (2000: 23) and M. pleiocarpa (Dandy 1933: 313) Figlar & Nooteboom (2004: 95)] are endemic to India (Singh et al. 2015).
Gifts as gains? The impact of volunteering on young people’s educational and occupational attainment in Australia
Authors: Sikora Joanna , Green Jennifer
Published: March 2020

Volunteering is perceived as benefiting youth by facilitating university entry and access to better employment. However, little empirical evidence exists to show whether such perceptions are justified. Therefore, this article presents data on volunteering and attainment from a representative sample of Australians who were born around 1990 and participated in the Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth between 2006 and 2016. Supplementing results of two-level hierarchical models involving person-year data with insights from several in-depth interviews, we argue that Bourdieu’s theory of social practice is a fruitful framework for understanding how volunteering affects university participation and occupational status of young people. Volunteering provides gains, but they are not large enough to view it as an instrumental means which young people use to advance their educational and employment prospects. Rather, volunteering can be considered as a form of cultural capital which is beneficial but enacted for reasons other than extrinsic rewards.
The Rise and Fall of the Neurotic Housewife: Patient Sex in Psychotropic Drug Advertising to Physicians 1946–1990
Authors: Lexchin Joel , Rasmussen Nicolas
Published: March 2020

Previous studies have demonstrated a sex bias when it comes to the portrayal of men and women in medical journal advertisements for prescription drugs for psychiatric conditions. However, these studies have typically looked at ads over a restricted time period and often for a single diagnosis. Here we focus on ads for 3 diagnoses – anxiety, depression, and a combination of anxiety and depression – and cover nearly half a century to examine how the portrayal of patients changed over that time period with respect to sex. We sampled ads for products treating anxiety, depression, and anxiety/depression published in the Journal of the American Medical Association between 1946 and 1990. Our findings confirm other studies showing a marked preponderance of female patient representation during the 1960s in psychotropic drug advertising. However, we also show that from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, the proportion of ads for drugs featuring depression and/or anxiety indications depicted male patients significantly more than prior years in which females predominated, demonstrating advertisers’ reaction to the critique of gender stereotyping.
Framing the Narrative: Female Fighters, External Audience Attitudes, and Transnational Support for Armed Rebellions
Authors: Manekin Devorah , Wood Reed M.
Published: March 2020

Female combatants play a central role in rebel efforts to cultivate and disseminate positive narratives regarding the movement and its political goals. Yet, the effectiveness of such strategies in shaping audience attitudes or generating tangible benefits for the group remains unclear. We propose and test a theory regarding the channels through which female fighters advance rebel goals. We argue that female fighters positively influence audience attitudes toward rebel groups by strengthening observers’ beliefs about their legitimacy and their decision to use armed tactics. We further contend that these effects directly help them secure support from transnational nonstate actors and indirectly promote state support. We assess our arguments by combining a novel survey experiment in two countries with analyses of new cross-national data on female combatants and information about transnational support for rebels. The empirical results support our arguments and demonstrate the impact of gender framing on rebel efforts to secure support.
Judiciaries’ modernisation through electronic lawsuits: Employees’ perceptions from the Brazil and Argentina federal justice services
Authors: Arias María Isabel , Maçada Antônio Carlos Gastaud
Published: March 2020

This paper assesses the perceptions of a group of employees from the federal judiciaries of Brazil and Argentina regarding the impact of electronic lawsuits on individual performance and public service quality. A model is proposed and tested with data collected from 14 interviews with public managers and employees. The results of this study suggest that court administrators should align task characteristics and individual characteristics to achieve better task-technology fit, individual performance and public service quality. These findings present important implications to understand the processes of the implementation of electronic lawsuits within courts and may provide guidance for future research about the judiciary.
Characteristics of CXCL2 expression in coronary atherosclerosis and negative regulation by microRNA-421
Authors: Yang Jun , Liu Hu , Cao Qian , Zhong Wei
Published: March 2020

Objective

The study investigated expression of microRNA (miR)-421 in plaques, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and serum from patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods

Thirty-three patients with coronary atherosclerosis and 29 healthy individuals were included. Plaque tissue and adjacent intimal tissue were collected from patients. Peripheral blood was collected from patients and healthy individuals. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine expression of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 ( CXCL2) mRNA and miR-421. Western blotting was used to measure expression of CXCL2 protein in plaques and PBMCs, and ELISA was used to detect serum levels of CXCL2. A dual luciferase reporter assay was carried out to test whether CXCL2 mRNA directly interacts with miR-421.

Results

Patients with coronary atherosclerosis had elevated expression of CXCL2 mRNA and protein in plaques, PBMCs, and serum compared with healthy controls but reduced expression of miR-421. The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-421 could bind with the 3′-untranslated seed region of CXCL2 mRNA to regulate its expression.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that elevated expression of CXCL2 in plaques, PBMCs, and serum of patients with coronary atherosclerosis was related to downregulation of miR-421 expression. miR-421 plays a role in the occurrence of coronary atherosclerosis, probably through CXCL2.
How Do Nursing Organizations Measure Up on Harm Reduction? An Environmental Scan
Authors: Gagnon Marilou , Hazlehurst Emily
Published: March 2020

Background

In the past five years, we have seen a rapid expansion of harm reduction approaches, programs, and policies in Canada. To keep up with the changing policy landscape, a number of Canadian researchers have undertaken projects that seek to analyze policy documents published by provincial and territorial governments. Building on this important body of work, we undertook a similar analysis using documents published by nursing organizations.

Purpose

To present key findings and propose ways that nursing organizations can strengthen their position on harm reduction.

Methods

We conducted an environmental scan with a two-part analysis. To complete the first part, we used the 17 quality indicators. To complete the second part, we analyzed the documents for specific harm reduction interventions.

Results

A total of 39 documents were collected across 76 nursing organizations. The majority of the documents were press or public statements (n = 22), and the most frequently mentioned intervention was supervised injection services (n = 31). On average, documents met 5.6 quality indicators. Documents scored highest on indicator 12 (discuss low-threshold approaches to service provision) and lowest on indicator 3 (acknowledge that not all substance use is problematic).

Conclusions

Six areas were identified to strengthen nursing organizations’ position on harm reduction.
Patients’ Perspectives and Advice on How to Discuss Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Sexual Health in Oncology Clinics
Authors: Cathcart-Rake Elizabeth , O’Connor Jennifer , Ridgeway Jennifer L. , Breitkopf Carmen Radecki , Kaur Judith S. , Mitchell Jessica , Leventakos Konstantinos , Jatoi Aminah
Published: March 2020

Objective:

This study sought to understand the patients’ perspective of what contributes to an absence of discussions of sexual orientation (SO), gender identity (GI), and sexual health in cancer care.

Methods:

Patients were recruited from oncology, gynecology, and a gender transition clinic to participate in semistructured interviews, which were analyzed with qualitative methods.

Results:

A total of 25 patients were interviewed, shedding light on 2 themes. The first was that these conversations are important but infrequent. One patient explained, “…. we know people who have had sex changes…[they] would have appreciated that question.” In response to whether sexual health was ever brought up, one patient responded, “No doctor ever has.” Patients described unaddressed issues: “There have been times, you know, we’ve wondered if it was okay to make love.” The second theme consisted of 4 pragmatic, patient-provided points to facilitate discussions: (1) implementation of a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being comfortable) to first gauge patients’ comfort in talking about SO, GI, and sexual health; (2) having the health-care provider explore the topic again over-time; (3) making sure the health-care provider is comfortable, as such comfort appears to enhance the patient’s comfort (“I have a doctor here, a female doctor, who just matter of fact will ask if I get erections and so on because of the medication she’s giving me);” and (4) eliminating euphemisms (one patient stated, “I don’t know what you mean by ‘sexual health’.”).

Conclusion:

Oncology health-care providers have a unique opportunity and responsibility to address SO, GI, and sexual health.
The discursive construction of the gamification of journalism
Authors: Vos Tim P , Perreault Gregory P
Published: March 2020

This study explores the discursive, normative construction of gamification within journalism. Rooted in a theory of discursive institutionalism and by analyzing a significant corpus of metajournalistic discourse from 2006 to 2019, the study demonstrates how journalists have negotiated gamification’s place within journalism’s boundaries. The discourse addresses criticism that gamified news is a move toward infotainment and makes the case for gamification as serious journalism anchored in norms of audience engagement. Thus, gamification does not constitute institutional change since it is construed as an extension of existing institutional norms and beliefs.
Using Therapeutic Beat Making and lyrics for empowerment
Authors: Travis Raphael , Gann Elliot , Crooke Alexander HD , Jenkins Susan M
Published: March 2020

Mental health remains a significant issue among young people in the US and elsewhere. Evidence of the beneficial role Hip Hop-based approaches can play in this space is growing. The value of such approaches centers on links to community, culture, and the therapeutic potential of practicing certain Hip Hop elements. Yet, while there has been a steady growth in Hip Hop-based approaches, little work has explored how they can overlap, complement, or reinforce each other. In response, this article explores the theoretical synergies between two established Hip Hop-based models – “Hip Hop and Empowerment” (HHE) and “Therapeutic Beat Making” (TBM) – to offer an integrated approach that draws on the complementarity between and uniqueness of each.

Findings

Authors identify an integrated HHE–TBM model for supporting youth mental health which forefronts sense of community, cultural relevance, social justice, and empowerment. Authors outline a practice model, which leverages the best of activities, reflections, and discussions, and indicate its potential in working adaptively with diverse communities of young people.

Applications

When engaging Hip Hop for therapeutic means, whether for health promotion or complex therapy, it is a dynamic, creative, culturally sensitive, regulating, and developmental means for finding common ground and creating rapport. It bridges creative and insight-oriented practices. It embraces the ability to generate emotional responses from creating and analyzing music, including esthetic emotions (i.e. appreciation (of qualities)), utilitarian emotions (i.e. functional, motivational, relevant to immediate well-being, goal-oriented), and epistemic emotions (i.e. gained knowledge or insight, awareness).
Cytotoxic Activity of Abietane-Type Diterpenes Isolated From Taxodium distichum Against Cancer Cells Adapted to Nutrient-Starved Conditions
Authors: Zaher Ahmed M. , Lin Jianyu , Arai Masayoshi
Published: March 2020

The mechanisms of cancer cell adaptation to tumor microenvironmental conditions, such as hypoxia and nutrient starvation, are currently receiving much attention as possible therapeutic targets. In an attempt to identify selectively cytotoxic substances against cancer cells adapted to nutrient starvation, 4 abietane-type diterpenes, sugiol (1), 6-α-hydroxysugiol (2), cryptojaponol (3), and 6-hydroxy-5,6-dehydrosugiol (4), were isolated from the bark of Taxodium distichum L. Rich var. distichum (bald cypress). Compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed potent cytotoxic activity against PANC-1 cells adapted to nutrient-starved conditions with half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 6.4-9.2 µM, whereas the EC50 values of these compounds against PANC-1 cells under general culture conditions were more than 100 µM. Alternatively, compound 3, which we report for the first time in the genus Taxodium, showed moderate cytotoxicity against PANC-1 cells under nutrient-starved conditions with an EC50 of 37.9 µM. The selective index (S.I.), which compared the activity under nutrient-starved conditions with that under general culture conditions, was low (7.9). Further investigation revealed that the selective cytotoxic activity of compound 2 might be affecting the mitochondria.
The rights of the Wayúu people and water in the context of mining in La Guajira, Colombia: demands of relational water justice
Authors: Ulloa Astrid
Published: March 2020

This article addresses how water is being represented and positioned by Wayúu people in order to claim and defend water’s territorial rights against the expansion of the Cerrejón coal mine, in La Guajira, Colombia. In a semidesertic region in Colombia, Cerrejón (the largest open-pit coal mine in Colombia and Latin America, and the 10th biggest in the world) has created environmental inequalities and control and infrastructure arrangements that transform local water dynamics, affecting Wayúu people in a differentiated way. Cerrejón has intervened the territory technically and environmentally, affecting the river Ranchería and its water streams, which has dispossessed and transformed Wayúu peoples’ cultural and daily relationships with water’s territories. In response, the organization Fuerza de Mujeres Wayúu (FMW) has not only proposed water defense strategies and resistance against mining, but also opened debates about water’s territories and water’s rights. For the FMW the defense of water’s territories (sacred places in which the spirits of water inhabit) implies that Wayúu territories and water are in an embedded relationship which is not possible to fragment or separate either by mining processes or by institutional policies. Their proposals allows us to rethink the notion of water justice, and access to water by humans and nonhumans.
Juvenile toxicity study of Gossence™ (galactooligosaccharides) in Sprague Dawley rats
Authors: Jain Manish , Kaur Moninder , Tiwari Deepika Pandey , Vishwanath Chandrashekara , Javaregowda Nataraju , Chandrayan Govind , Bhoite Prabhakar Y , Krishnappa Mohan , Dubey Ashok Kumar
Published: March 2020

Gossence™ (galactooligosaccharide; GOS) is a prebiotics and used as one of the major constituents in infant milk formulas that act as a functional food. Gossence is manufactured by Tata Chemicals Ltd, India, through a patented process of biotransformation of lactose. A toxicology study in juvenile rats was carried out to assess the safety profile of Gossence intended for pediatric population. The objective of this study is to assess the potential systemic toxicity of Gossence when administered through gavage at dose levels of 1000, 2000, or 5000/3000 mg/kg/day (equivalent to 1347, 2694, and 6735/4041 mg/kg/day of GOS, respectively) to juvenile Sprague Dawley rats from postnatal day (PND) 4 to PND 52 (i.e. total 49 days of dosing period). A separate group of animals were treated with vehicle (purified Milli Q water) for a similar duration. The following parameters were evaluated during the study period: morbidity/mortality check, clinical signs, body weights, body weight changes, food consumption, functional observational battery, motor activity, postnatal developmental observations, hematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, organ weight, gross pathology, and histopathology. During dosing phase, the high-dose group, 5000 mg/kg/day, was reduced to 3000 mg/kg/day (equivalent to 4041 mg/kg/day dose of GOS) from day 16 (PND 19) onward, due to clinical signs of watery feces and yellow color stains at urogenital region and mortality in two animals on day 15 (PND 18) of the study. Time-weighted average dose for 5000 mg/kg/day was equivalent to 3600 mg/kg/day. No further deaths or clinical signs were noticed in animals at 3000 mg/kg/day from day 18 (PND 21) of dosing phase to until terminal euthanization. At the terminal euthanization, there were no test item-related gross changes observed in all surviving rats except for, an increased cecum size in some of the rats at 5000/3000 mg/kg/day, which correlated with the increased weights of cecum with contents during organ weight recording, but this had no correlating light microscopic changes during histological examination. The cecal enlargement was completely recovered following the 14-day recovery period. The no-observedadverse-effect level is 3000 mg/kg/day for Gossence, which is equivalent to 4041 mg/kg/day of GOS in both sexes.
The natural history of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases
Authors: Brown Kevin K. , Martinez Fernando J. , Walsh Simon L.F. , Thannickal Victor J. , Prasse Antje , Schlenker-Herceg Rozsa , Goeldner Rainer-Georg , Clerisme-Beaty Emmanuelle , Tetzlaff Kay , Cottin Vincent , Wells Athol U.
Published: March 2020

We used data from the INBUILD and INPULSIS trials to investigate the natural history of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs).

Subjects in the two INPULSIS trials had a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) while subjects in the INBUILD trial had a progressive fibrosing ILD other than IPF and met protocol-defined criteria for ILD progression despite management. Using data from the placebo groups, we compared the rate of decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) (mL·year−1) and mortality over 52 weeks in the INBUILD trial with pooled data from the INPULSIS trials.

The adjusted mean annual rate of decline in FVC in the INBUILD trial (n=331) was similar to that observed in the INPULSIS trials (n=423) (−192.9 mL·year−1and −221.0 mL·year−1, respectively; nominal p-value=0.19). The proportion of subjects who had a relative decline in FVC >10% predicted at Week 52 was 48.9% in the INBUILD trial and 48.7% in the INPULSIS trials, and the proportion who died over 52 weeks was 5.1% in the INBUILD trial and 7.8% in the INPULSIS trials. A relative decline in FVC >10% predicted was associated with an increased risk of death in the INBUILD trial (hazard ratio 3.64) and the INPULSIS trials (hazard ratio 3.95).

These findings indicate that patients with fibrosing ILDs other than IPF, who are progressing despite management, have a subsequent clinical course similar to patients with untreated IPF, with a high risk of further ILD progression and early mortality.
Can the science of Prosocial be a part of evolution education?
Authors: Eirdosh Dustin , Hanisch Susan
Published: March 2020

We provide a brief overview of Prosocial: Using Evolutionary Science to Build Productive, Equitable, and Collaborative Groups by Paul Atkins, David Sloan Wilson, and Steven Hayes. The book offers a range of promising content for evolution education, and yet also highlights core conceptual challenges in modern evolution science discourse that educators and researchers aiming to improve evolution education may find beneficial to strategically engage with as a scientific community. We discuss these challenges and opportunities with a view towards implications for evolution education research and practice.
Quantitative proteomic, physiological and biochemical analysis of cotyledon, embryo, leaf and pod reveals the effects of high temperature and humidity stress on seed vigor formation in soybean
Authors: Wei Jiaping , Liu Xiaolin , Li Linzhi , Zhao Haihong , Liu Sushuang , Yu Xingwang , Shen Yingzi , Zhou Yali , Zhu Yajing , Shu Yingjie , Ma Hao
Published: March 2020

Background

Soybean developing seed is susceptible to high temperature and humidity (HTH) stress in the field, resulting in vigor reduction. Actually, the HTH in the field during soybean seed growth and development would also stress the whole plant, especially on leaf and pod, which in turn affect seed growth and development as well as vigor formation through nutrient supply and protection.

Results

In the present study, using a pair of pre-harvest seed deterioration-sensitive and -resistant cultivars Ningzhen No. 1 and Xiangdou No. 3, the comprehensive effects of HTH stress on seed vigor formation during physiological maturity were investigated by analyzing cotyledon, embryo, leaf, and pod at the levels of protein, ultrastructure, and physiology and biochemistry. There were 247, 179, and 517 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) identified in cotyledon, embryo, and leaf of cv. Xiangdou No. 3 under HTH stress, while 235, 366, and 479 DAPs were identified in cotyledon, embryo, and leaf of cv. Ningzhen No. 1. Moreover, 120, 144, and 438 DAPs between the two cultivars were identified in cotyledon, embryo, and leaf under HTH stress, respectively. Moreover, 120, 144, and 438 DAPs between the two cultivars were identified in cotyledon, embryo, and leaf under HTH stress, respectively. Most of the DAPs identified were found to be involved in major metabolic pathways and cellular processes, including signal transduction, tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid metabolism, photosynthesis, protein processing, folding and assembly, protein biosynthesis or degradation, plant-pathogen interaction, starch and sucrose metabolism, and oxidative stress response. The HTH stress had less negative effects on metabolic pathways, cell ultrastructure, and physiology and biochemistry in the four organs of Xiangdou No. 3 than in those of Ningzhen No. 1, leading to produce higher vigor seeds in the former.

Conclusion

High seed vigor formation is enhanced by increasing protein biosynthesis and nutrient storage in cotyledon, stronger stability and viability in embryo, more powerful photosynthetic capacity and nutrient supply in leaf, and stronger protection in pod under HTH stress. These results provide comprehensive characteristics of leaf, pod and seed (cotyledon and embryo) under HTH stress, and some of them can be used as selection index in high seed vigor breeding program in soybean.