bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro evidence of root colonization suggests ecological versatility in the genus Mycena
Authors: Thoen Ella , Harder Christoffer Bugge , Kauserud Håvard , Botnen Synnøve S. , Vik Unni , Taylor Andy F. S. , Menkis Audrius , Skrede Inger
Published: March 2020

The root‐associated habit has evolved on numerous occasions in different fungal lineages, suggesting a strong evolutionary pressure for saprotrophic fungi to switch to symbiotic associations with plants. Species within the ubiquitous, saprotrophic genus Mycena are frequently major components in molecular studies of root‐associated fungal communities, suggesting that an evaluation of their trophic status is warranted. Here, we report on interactions between a range of Mycena species and the plant Betula pendula.

In all, 17 Mycena species were inoculated onto B. pendula seedlings. Physical interactions between hyphae and fine roots were examined using differential staining and fluorescence microscopy. Physiological interactions were investigated using 14C and 32P to show potential transfer between symbionts.

All Mycena species associated closely with fine roots, showing hyphal penetration into the roots, which in some cases were intracellular. Seven species formed mantle‐like structures around root tips, but none formed a Hartig net. Mycena pura and Mycena galopus both enhanced seedling growth, with M. pura showing significant transfer of 32P to the seedlings.

Our results support the view that several Mycena species can associate closely with plant roots and some may potentially occupy a transitional state between saprotrophy and biotrophy.
Antibodies against human papillomavirus proteins in Barrett's dysplasia and intramucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Rajendra Shanmugarajah , Xuan Wei , Hufnagel Katrin , Sharma Prateek , Pavey Darren , Alhajjiri Noureddin , Rattan Arti , Wang Bin
Published: March 2020

High‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16/18 have been associated with Barrett's dysplasia (BD)/esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Nevertheless, no data exist in relation to serological analysis for HPV antibodies in BD/EAC with site‐specific viral DNA status. We prospectively examined antibodies to multiple HPV types in 438 patients representing hospital/reflux controls and Barrett's metaplasia (BM)/BD/intramucosal EAC. Antibody responses to HPV6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58 were analyzed using multiplex serology, including antibodies to E6/E7/E1/E2 and L1 antigens. Seropositivity for individual HPV proteins was infrequent in both cases and controls and was ≤10.2%. There was no difference in the seroprevalence of antibodies to any HPV antigen/antibody combination between reclassified cases (BD/EAC) and controls (hospital/reflux/BM) or between HPV16 or HPV18 DNA cases and controls, respectively. Among HPV16 DNA–positive BD/EAC cases, antibodies to HPV16 E7 were significantly more prevalent (3/26, 11.5%) than in hospital and reflux controls plus BM (5/328, 1.5%) (adjusted OR = 10.12, 95% CI: 1.61–63.73, P = 0.014). Among HPV18 DNA–positive cases, antibodies to HPV18 E1 were present in 3/6 (50%) cases versus 5/328 (1.5%) controls (adjusted OR = 44.28, 95% CI: 6.10–321.47, P = 0.0002). Although antibodies against HPV were generally uncommon in cases and controls, immune responses against two early proteins of HPV16/18 were significantly more frequent in viral DNA–positive BD/intramucosal EAC.
InvasiveChromolaena odorataspecies specifically affects growth of its co‐occurring weeds
Authors: Xu Qiu‐Yuan , Wang Dan , Quan Guo‐Ming , Xiang Hui‐Min , Zhang Jia‐En
Published: March 2020

Plant–plant interaction is essential to weed invasion success and is related to impacts on the environment. To understand interactions of the well‐known invasive plant siamweed (Chromolaena odorata) and its neighbors (exoticPraxelis clematideaand native cadillo) in South China, and their competitive mechanisms above‐ and belowground, a multicultivation experiment was conducted. Competitive indices, plant morphological traits, soil nutrient contents, enzyme activities, and microbial biomass were measured. Competitive balance index and morphological traits revealed balanced competition betweenP. clematideaand siamweed, and suppressive effect of siamweed on cadillo. In coculture of siamweed andP. clematidea, the branch length of siamweed slightly lengthened, while the branch number ofP. clematideaincreased compared with their respective monocultures accordingly. Overall impacts of the two invaders on soil properties were near averages of their single impacts. In coculture of siamweed and cadillo, siamweed was more competitive in both light and nutrient capture; soil urease activity and acid phosphatase activity were magnified and mitigated compared with the averages of those in their respective monocultures, respectively. The species‐specific results of siamweed competing with its co‐occurring weeds would contribute to a better understanding of mechanism in synergistic effect of siamweed with the other invasive plants.
First‐generation genome editing in potato using hairy root transformation
Authors: Butler Nathaniel M. , Jansky Shelley H. , Jiang Jiming
Published: March 2020

Genome editing and cis‐gene breeding have rapidly accelerated crop improvement efforts, but their impacts are limited by the number of species capable of being genetically transformed. Many dicot species, including some vital potato relatives being used to accelerate breeding and genetics efforts, remain recalcitrant to standard Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐based transformation. Hairy root transformation using Agrobacterium rhizogenes (A. rhizogenes) provides an accelerated approach to generating transgenic material but has been limited to analysis of hairy root clones. In this study, strains of A. rhizogenes were tested in the wild diploid potato relative Solanum chacoense, which is recalcitrant to infection by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. One strain of A. rhizogenes MSU440 emerged as being capable of delivering a T‐DNA carrying the GUS marker and generating transgenic hairy root clones capable of GUS expression and regeneration to whole plants. CRISPR/Cas9 reagents targeting the potato PHYTOENE DESATURASE (StPDS) gene were expressed in hairy root clones and regenerated. We found that 64%–98% of transgenic hairy root clones expressing CRISPR/Cas9 reagents carried targeted mutations, while only 14%–30% of mutations were chimeric. The mutations were maintained in regenerated lines as stable mutations at rates averaging at 38% and were capable of germ‐line transmission to progeny. This novel approach broadens the numbers of genotypes amenable to Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation while reducing chimerism in primary events and accelerating the generation of edited materials.
Heart‐rate evaluation using fetal ultrasonic Doppler during neonatal resuscitation
Authors: Kayama Kazunori , Hosono Shigeharu , Yoshikawa Kayo , Kato Ryota , Seimiya Ayako , Fuwa Kazumasa , Hijikata Midori , Aoki Ryoji , Okahashi Aya , Nagano Nobuhiko , Morioka Ichiro
Published: March 2020

Background

The objective of the present study was to verify the speed and accuracy of fetal ultrasonic Doppler (fetal Doppler) in measuring heart rate of newborns at rest, including preterm, low‐birthweight infants, and its efficacy during neonatal resuscitation, including cases of neonatal asphyxia.

Methods

A three‐lead electrocardiogram and fetal Doppler were used to measure resting heart rates in 100 newborns, including 48 preterm, low‐birthweight infants, at 0 to 72 h after birth. Times to display heart rate were compared between electrocardiogram and fetal Doppler by the Bland–Altman analysis and Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. The time required for the fetal Doppler to measure heart rate during neonatal resuscitation was also assessed.

Results

In 100 newborns, the mean error of the resting heart rate in 1,293 measurement points was 0.07 beats/min. To display the heart rate, the fetal Doppler required a median time of 5 s, and electrocardiogram required a median time of 10 s (P < 0.001). During neonatal resuscitation, the heart rate was measured within 10 s in 18 of 21 cases (86%) and displayed with a median time of 5 s; this was measured in all neonatal asphyxia cases (9/9, 100%).

Conclusions

Fetal Doppler can measure heart rate in newborns accurately and rapidly and is useful for evaluating heart rate not only at rest but also during neonatal resuscitation, especially in asphyxia.
Echinococcus multilocularis vesicular fluid induces the expression of immune checkpoint proteins in vitro
Authors: Bellanger Anne‐Pauline , Courquet Sandra , Pallandre Jean‐René , Godet Yann , Millon Laurence
Published: March 2020

Aims

Alveolar echinococcosis is a severe chronic helminthic infection that mimics a tumour‐like disease. This study aimed at investigating in vitro interactions between Echinococcus multilocularis vesicular fluid (VF) and different immune checkpoints (PD‐1/PD‐L1, CTLA‐4, LAG‐3 and TIM‐3).

Methods and Results

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy blood donors were isolated by Ficoll. Natural killer (NK) cells were selected. Each type of cell was stimulated individually with E. multilocularis‐VF. Expression of the different immune checkpoints was measured by flow cytometry on day 3 and day 6; all supernatants were used for immunoassays. Cells and supernatants from 22 healthy donors were analysed. A significant increase of PD‐1, PD‐L1, LAG‐3 and TIM‐3 was observed upon E. multilocularis‐VF exposure for NK cells on day 3 (P < .05, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test). A significant increase of PD‐L1 and CTLA‐4 was observed upon E. multilocularis‐VF exposure for T cells on day 6 (P < .05, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test), which was associated with increased levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines P < .05, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test).

Conclusion

These preliminary data suggest that immune checkpoints could be a way for E. multilocularis to modulate the host immune response during alveolar echinococcosis.
Woodchip and biochar amendments differentially influence microbial responses, but do not enhance plant recovery in disturbed semiarid soils
Authors: Espinosa Noelle J. , Moore David J. P. , Rasmussen Craig , Fehmi Jeffrey S. , Gallery Rachel E.
Published: March 2020

Restoration presents a global challenge in drylands (arid and semiarid ecosystems) where uses can range from exclusive conservation to open‐pit mining and restoration practices are constrained by scarce, unpredictable precipitation, and high ambient temperatures. Adding woodchip amendments to soils is a common strategy for mitigating soil degradation as amendments may enhance soil carbon and increase plant cover. We assessed the effect of surface or incorporated woodchip addition and incorporated wood‐derived biochar on soil carbon dynamics and microbial activities as well as plant cover in semiarid soils that had been removed and replaced. We found that woodchips at the soil surface increased soil organic carbon (SOC), and both surface and incorporated woodchips increased the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. The incorporation of woodchips inhibited plant cover yet increased soil CO2 efflux and dissolved organic matter stoichiometry. Surface woodchips also significantly enhanced microbial activities but not plant cover. A significant amount of the soil efflux in response to incorporating woodchips was explained by plant cover and exoenzyme activities, but this was not the case for other amendment treatments. Biochar, thought to be more resistant to decomposition, neither stimulated nor reduced microbial activities or plant cover and did not influence SOC or DOC. Our findings demonstrate that the influence of woodchip amendments on microbial processes and soil carbon dynamics depends on the location of application and that coarse fast‐pyrolysis biochar has limited influence on soil processes over a 22‐month study in a water‐limited ecosystem.
Application of a Risk Analysis Tool to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) Outbreak in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Chen Xin , Chughtai Abrar A. , MacIntyre Chandini R.
Published: March 2020

The Grunow–Finke assessment tool (GFT) is an accepted scoring system for determining likelihood of an outbreak being unnatural in origin. Considering its high specificity but low sensitivity, a modified Grunow–Finke tool (mGFT) has been developed with improved sensitivity. The mGFT has been validated against some past disease outbreaks, but it has not been applied to ongoing outbreaks. This study is aimed to score the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) in Saudi Arabia using both the original GFT and mGFT. The publicly available data on human cases of MERS‐CoV infections reported in Saudi Arabia (2012–2018) were sourced from the FluTrackers, World Health Organization, Saudi Ministry of Health, and published literature associated with MERS outbreaks investigations. The risk assessment of MERS‐CoV in Saudi Arabia was analyzed using the original GFT and mGFT criteria, algorithms, and thresholds. The scoring points for each criterion were determined by three researchers to minimize the subjectivity. The results showed 40 points of total possible 54 points using the original GFT (likelihood: 74%), and 40 points of a total possible 60 points (likelihood: 67%) using the mGFT, both tools indicating a high likelihood that human MERS‐CoV in Saudi Arabia is unnatural in origin. The findings simply flag unusual patterns in this outbreak, but do not prove unnatural etiology. Proof of bioattacks can only be obtained by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. This study demonstrated the value and flexibility of the mGFT in assessing and predicting the risk for an ongoing outbreak with simple criteria.
Edinoverie, Russian Orthodoxy, and Ecclesiastical Authority at the End of the Imperial Regime
Authors: WHITE JAMES M.
Published: March 2020

In 1917/1918, a final effort was made to reform edinoverie, the branch of the Russian Orthodox Church which allowed the usage of the anathematised Old Believer ritual. Founded in 1800, edinoverie’s long 19th century had given rise to a series of problems intimately connected with issues of ritual, confessional identity, and ecclesiastical authority: increasingly, edinovertsy and churchmen sought reform in order to resolve these problems. In the first half of 1917, lay and clerical edinovertsy pushed forward with a radical plan “from below” to discipline edinoverie religious life, to renegotiate the place of edinoverie in the Church, and to restructure the nature of episcopal authority. This was most clearly manifested in the second national edinoverie congress of July 1917, whose main purpose was to propose a plan of reform to the Local Church Council. In this, edinoverie reflects the “church revolution” in mainstream Russian Orthodoxy, whereby parishioner and priestly groups took the initiative from the Holy Synod and episcopate to assert control over the Church. However, these plans were ultimately rejected by the Council in favour of a moderate settlement: the way in which the radical scheme challenged the authority of the Orthodox episcopate was looked at askance in the revolutionary context, where ecclesiastical authority was disintegrating across the Russian state and its previous dominions. In the case of edinoverie, therefore, the Council refused to legislate the consequences of the church revolution: however, its chosen solution ultimately collapsed under the pressure of Soviet persecutions.
The New Powers of the Pedsovet: Social Control during the Thaw and the Transformation of Disciplinary Practice in a Town School, 1953–68
Authors: MASLINSKY KIRILL
Published: March 2020

There has been a recent upsurge of interest to the Krushchev’s Thaw as not only the period of ideological liberalization, but also as a moment of broadening and deepening of social control. Yet the primary Soviet institution responsible for the social control of children and adolescents, the school, has been largely overlooked in this respect. In this paper I position the school disciplinary practices of the Thaw in the context of the high‐profile discursive and institutional trends of the epoch, including hooliganism, obshchestvennost’, and outsourcing of social control to vigilante brigades and comrades’ courts. The data come from a case study of documented disciplinary action in one rank‐and‐file school in the town of Toropetz in 1953–68. The part played by the school in the ensemble of formal and informal institutions that regulated adolescent behavior is analyzed by the systematic inquiry into the accusations worded, punishments meted out, and references to other institutions made in the disciplinary records. I argue that one of the effects of the broadening of horizontal supervision during the Thaw was a more pronounced in‐school disciplinary reaction to the out‐of‐school infringements. Seeing the school as the primary institution to exert peer pressure on the adolescent and his parents, as obshchestvennost’, the teachers felt the urge to duplicate the functions of the official penal system by their own quasi‐judicial disciplinary procedures.
Tips, Bonuses, or Bribes: The Immoral Economy of Service Work in the Soviet 1960s
Authors: KOENKER DIANE P. , BAMBERGER BENJAMIN
Published: March 2020

This article focuses on the role of the service sector in the planned economy during the 1960s, a period of transition in Soviet consumer culture. In February 1969, Literaturnaia gazeta published a widely read article on the utility of tipping service workers, arguing that such practices were not incompatible with communist morality. Readers strongly disagreed, and wrote hundreds of passionate letters in response to the editor of the newspaper. Utilizing these letters in combination with archival sources from service sector trade unions, we argue that the responses illustrate some of the fundamental tensions between a society that celebrated productive labor yet promised consumer satisfaction. Soviet citizens expected courteous and efficient service from waiters, taxi drivers, and salesclerks but refused to see such labor as equal to that of workers in factories, instead gendering the service sector as a place for women and thus innately inferior. The Soviet public continued to believe in the rightness of the socialist project, but was uncertain about the contradictions between personal consumption and collective values.
“What Is Our Life? A Game!”: What? Where? When? and the Capitalist Gamble of the Soviet Intelligentsia
Authors: KHAZANOV PAVEL
Published: March 2020

Around the time of the fall of the USSR, Vladimir Voroshilov’s popular seasonal high‐brow television quiz show underwent a lavish aristocratic makeover, involving a Catherinian gazebo, black tie attire, large stacks of cash, and prominent references to Alexander Pushkin’s “Queen of Spades” in the prologue to every game episode. This article analyzes the cultural logic through which the arrival of capitalism was rendered on What? Where? When? a process that culminated in the 1990s with the poignant Pushkinian metaphor. To understand this process, I examine the show from the standpoint of its implied subject–the collective of the intelligentsia, at the juncture of the late Soviet and the post‐Soviet eras. I argue that a Brezhnev‐era elitist disavowal of a previous “sixtier” (shestidesiatniki) imaginary of socialist intelligentsia subjectivity shaped late‐Soviet cultural products like What? Where? When? By tracking the show’s evolution from its inception in the Brezhnev years, through Perestroika, and into its 1990s makeover, I use Voroshilov’s game as a case study to analyze how the late Soviet intelligentsia shaped the course of 1980s‐1990s liberal capitalist reforms, while also displaying feelings of anxiety for placing its bet on the success of Yeltsin’s problematic regime.
The effects of exergames on anxiety levels: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Viana Ricardo Borges , Dankel Scott J. , Loenneke Jeremy P. , Gentil Paulo , Vieira Carlos Alexandre , Andrade Marília dos Santos , Vancini Rodrigo Luiz , de Lira Claudio Andre Barbosa
Published: March 2020

There are currently many different approaches to performing exergames and there is still no consensus as to whether exergames are able to reduce anxiety levels, as well as whether exergames provide greater reductions on anxiety levels when added to traditional forms of clinical interventions. Therefore, the aim of the present systematic review and meta‐analysis was to access data from studies that evaluated the effects of exergames on anxiety levels in humans. PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched up to 22 February 2019. Inclusion criteria were acute and chronic (short‐term and long‐term interventions) studies which evaluated the effects of exergames in anxiety levels as primary or secondary aim. Of the 1342 studies found, 17 and 10 were included in qualitative analyses and meta‐analyses, respectively. The within‐group analysis found that exergames (standardized mean difference [SMD]: −0.57 [95% Confidence interval (CI): −0.86 to −0.28], P < .001) and usual care (SMD: −0.21 [95% CI: −0.34 to −0.08], P = .002) resulted in significant improvements on anxiety levels. However, the between‐group meta‐analysis on the effects of control interventions vs exergames (SMD: 0.02 [95% CI: −0.55 to 0.60], P = .939) found no significant difference between groups in anxiety levels reductions. There was also no significant difference (SMD: −0.04 [95% CI: −0.32 to 0.25], P = .805) between usual care vs exergames plus usual care interventions in anxiety levels reductions. Although exergames demonstrated within‐group improvements in anxiety levels across different clinical populations, it was not greater than the effects from non‐exercise interventions. Also, given the paucity of studies, small sample sizes, different research designs, and different population investigated, the existing evidence is insufficient to support the advantages of usual care supplemented by exergame intervention over usual care standalone in anxiety levels reduction.
Quantifying farmland shelterbelt impacts on catchment soil erosion and sediment yield for the black soil region, northeastern China
Authors: Fang Haiyan
Published: March 2020

As one part of the ‘Three Norths’ forest protection system, dense farmland shelterbelt networks in northeastern China could greatly modify water and sediment flows. In this paper, catchment soil erosion rate and sediment yield (SY) that are impacted by farmland shelterbelts were estimated using WaTEM/SEDEM model. The shelterbelts reduced catchment soil erosion and SY to some extent. The mean soil erosion rate and specific sediment yield (SSY; defined as the ratio of SY to catchment area; t km−2 yr−1) of the 25 reservoir catchments decreased from 351.6 and 93.9 t km−2 yr−1 under the supposed scenario without shelterbelts to 331.1 t km−2 yr−1 and 86.3% t km−2 yr−1 under the current situation with shelterbelts. The sediment trap efficiencies (STEs) varied from 0.01% to 23.6% with an average value of 7.6%. The STEs were significantly correlated with shelterbelt density, catchment perimeter, topographic factors, RUSLEP‐factor and land use patterns including patch density (PD), patch cohesion index (COHESION), Shannon's diversity index (SHDI) and aggregation index (AI). The multiple regression equation involving factors of catchment's topography and morphology and land use pattern has a satisfactory performance, and mean slope gradient (MSG) and AI explained most of the variability of shelterbelts’ STE. This information can help land managers to better design shelterbelts and to reduce water‐derived soil loss at catchment scale.
The HLA‐A*24:480 allele identified in a volunteer donor for hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Authors: Baek In‐Cheol , Choi Eun‐Jeong , Shin Dong‐Hwan , Kim Hyung‐Jae , Kim Tai‐Gyu
Published: March 2020

HLA‐A*24:480 differs from HLA‐A*24:02:01:01 in codon 178 in exon 3.
Extending cytomegalovirus prophylaxis in high‐risk (D+/R−) lung transplant recipients from 6 to 9 months reduces cytomegalovirus disease: A retrospective study
Authors: Herrera Sabina , Khan Basha , Singer Lianne G. , Binnie Matthew , Chaparro Cecilia , Chow Chung‐Wai , Martinu Tereza , Tomlinson George , Keshavjee Shaf , Husain Shahid , Tikkanen Jussi M.
Published: March 2020

Rationale

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐seronegative recipients receiving a seropositive allograft (D+/R−) are at a high risk of developing CMV disease. Our program increased the duration of CMV prophylaxis from 6 to 9 months in May 2013. Here, we present the impact on the incidence of CMV infection, disease, side effects, rejection, and other factors.

Methods

Retrospective cohort of 241 CMV (D+/R−) patients transplanted between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2017. Blood CMV testing was done according to protocol. All patients received ganciclovir/valganciclovir as prophylaxis. We compared the incidence and timing of CMV infection and disease up to 6 months after cessation of prophylaxis between patients who received 9 months (May 2013 onwards) and a historical control group who received 6 months of prophylaxis (prior to May 2013). CMV infection was defined as detectable CMV viremia in the absence of symptoms. CMV disease was defined as CMV syndrome or tissue‐invasive disease. Side effects of prophylaxis and CMV resistance were recorded.

Results

A total of 116 patients were included in the 6‐month group and 125 in the 9‐month group. The extended 9‐month CMV prophylaxis delayed the onset of CMV infection (median time to CMV infection after lung transplantation 295 vs 353 days, P < .01) but did not significantly reduce the incidence of CMV infection (65% vs 64%, P = .06, log‐rank). The 9‐month prophylaxis delayed the onset and decreased the incidence of CMV disease from 50% in the 6‐month group to 42% (P = .02 log‐rank). There was no difference in the rate of adverse effects (leukopenia in 32% in both groups, P = .53) or development of CMV resistance between the two groups (4 cases in both groups, P = .92). There were no significant differences in overall survival or the rate of chronic lung allograft dysfunction between the groups.

Conclusions

Extending duration of CMV prophylaxis from 6 to 9 months resulted in a delayed and decreased incidence of CMV disease in our lung transplant population. The absolute risk reduction achieved by extended CMV prophylaxis was 8%. The incidence of CMV infection, and ganciclovir resistance and side effects were similar between the two groups. Our results suggest that extending CMV prophylaxis in the highest risk CMV D+/R− group is effective in reducing CMV disease.
Disseminated Mycobacterium massiliense infection in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Toyama Takaaki , Mori Takehiko , Kato Jun , Sugita Kayoko , Hasegawa Naoki , Nakata Noboru , Hoshino Yoshihiko , Okamoto Shinichiro
Published: March 2020

Nontuberculous mycobacteria are ubiquitous in water and soil, and the subset of rapidly growing mycobacteria species can cause severe infections in immunocompromised patients. Solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are known to be susceptible to infection by nontuberculous mycobacteria. The nontuberculous mycobacteria species Mycobacterium massiliense (M massiliense) has been classified as a rapidly growing mycobacteria and recognized as a pathogen causing lung and soft tissue infections in humans. However, there have been only a few reported cases of M massiliense infection after solid organ transplantation and HSCT. We herein report another case of M massiliense infection after allogeneic HSCT, which manifested as soft tissue infection, lung infection, and bacteremia.
Tuberculosis disease and infection among household contacts of bacteriologically confirmed and non‐confirmed tuberculosis patients
Authors: Warria Ken , Nyamthimba Peter , Chweya Alex , Agaya Janet , Achola Millicent , Reichler Mary , Cowden Jessica , Heilig Charles M. , Borgdorff Martien W. , Cain Kevin P. , Yuen Courtney M.
Published: March 2020

Objective

To compare the prevalence of tuberculosis infection and disease in household contacts of patients with bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis disease and contacts of non‐bacteriologically confirmed disease in western Kenya.

Methods

We enrolled newly diagnosed index patients and their household contacts from March 2014 to June 2016. All contacts were evaluated with a symptom questionnaire, tuberculin skin test (TST) and HIV test. Clinical evaluation and sputum testing were performed for those with symptoms, positive TST result or HIV infection.

Results

We enrolled 1155 contacts of 330 index patients with bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis and 192 contacts of 55 index patients with non‐bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis. 3.5% of contacts of patients with bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis were diagnosed with tuberculosis, whereas no contacts of index patients with non‐bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis were. Of those diagnosed with tuberculosis disease, 58.5% reported symptoms, 34.1% reported no symptoms but had positive TST results, and 7.3% had neither symptoms nor positive TST but were HIV‐positive. Among 872 contacts with a TST result, 50.9% of contacts of index patients with bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis and 41.0% of contacts of index patients with non‐bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis had a positive result (prevalence ratio = 1.16, 95% confidence interval 0.92–1.48).

Conclusion

In a high‐burden setting, tuberculosis disease was more prevalent among contacts of patients with bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis than contacts of patients with non‐bacteriologically confirmed disease. TST was feasible to perform and helped to detect cases that would have been missed had only symptomatic contacts been evaluated.
Chitosan‐triggered immunity to Fusarium in chickpea is associated with changes in the plant extracellular matrix architecture, stomatal closure and remodeling of the plant metabolome and proteome
Authors: Narula Kanika , Elagamey Eman , Abdellatef Magdi A. E. , Sinha Arunima , Ghosh Sudip , Chakraborty Niranjan , Chakraborty Subhra
Published: March 2020

Pathogen‐/microbe‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/MAMPs) initiate complex defense responses by reorganizing the biomolecular dynamics of the host cellular machinery. The extracellular matrix (ECM) acts as a physical scaffold that prevents recognition and entry of phytopathogens, while guard cells perceive and integrate signals metabolically. Although chitosan is a known MAMP implicated in plant defense, the precise mechanism of chitosan‐triggered immunity (CTI) remains unknown. Here, we show how chitosan imparts immunity against fungal disease. Morpho‐histological examination revealed stomatal closure accompanied by reductions in stomatal conductance and transpiration rate as early responses in chitosan‐treated seedlings upon vascular fusariosis. Electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy showed ECM fortification leading to oligosaccharide signaling, as documented by increased galactose, pectin and associated secondary metabolites. Multiomics approach using quantitative ECM proteomics and metabolomics identified 325 chitosan‐triggered immune‐responsive proteins (CTIRPs), notably novel ECM structural proteins, LYM2 and receptor‐like kinases, and 65 chitosan‐triggered immune‐responsive metabolites (CTIRMs), including sugars, sugar alcohols, fatty alcohols, organic and amino acids. Identified proteins and metabolites are linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, stomatal movement, root nodule development and root architecture coupled with oligosaccharide signaling that leads to Fusarium resistance. The cumulative data demonstrate that ROS, NO and eATP govern CTI, in addition to induction of PR proteins, CAZymes and PAL activities, besides accumulation of phenolic compounds downstream of CTI. The immune‐related correlation network identified functional hubs in the CTI pathway. Altogether, these shifts led to the discovery of chitosan‐responsive networks that cause significant ECM and guard cell remodeling, and translate ECM cues into cell fate decisions during fusariosis.
Super‐beacons: Open‐source probes with spontaneous tuneable blinking compatible with live‐cell super‐resolution microscopy
Authors: Pereira Pedro M. , Gustafsson Nils , Marsh Mark , Mhlanga Musa M. , Henriques Ricardo
Published: March 2020

Localization‐based super‐resolution microscopy relies on the detection of individual molecules cycling between fluorescent and non‐fluorescent states. These transitions are commonly regulated by high‐intensity illumination, imposing constrains to imaging hardware and producing sample photodamage. Here, we propose single‐molecule self‐quenching as a mechanism to generate spontaneous photoswitching. To demonstrate this principle, we developed a new class of DNA‐based open‐source super‐resolution probes named super‐beacons, with photoswitching kinetics that can be tuned structurally, thermally and chemically. The potential of these probes for live‐cell compatible super‐resolution microscopy without high‐illumination or toxic imaging buffers is revealed by imaging interferon inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) at sub‐100 nm resolutions.
Assessment of the medium‐ to long‐term radiographically confirmed outcome for juvenile dogs with hip dysplasia treated with double pelvic osteotomy
Authors: Jenkins Paul L. , James Daniel R. , White Joanna D. , Black Anthony P. , Fearnside Stephen M. , Marchevsky Andrew M. , Miller Amanda J. , Cashmore Ricky G.
Published: March 2020

Objective

To assess the medium‐ to long‐term radiographically confirmed outcomes in juvenile dogs with hip dysplasia (HD) that did and did not undergo double pelvic osteotomy (DPO).

Study design

Retrospective case‐controlled.

Animals

Twenty‐six dogs with HD that were candidates for DPO; 22 dogs underwent DPO (16 bilateral, six unilateral); four dogs did not.

Methods

Initial and follow‐up radiographs of DPO candidates (2011‐2017) that did and did not undergo surgery were reviewed, and the British Veterinary Association and Kennel Club Hip Dysplasia Scheme score (BVA‐HD), osteoarthritis score (OAS) and laxity index score (LI) were determined. Baseline and follow‐up BVA‐HD, OAS, and change in radiographically confirmed scores were compared by using analysis of variance for correlated samples.

Results

There was no significant difference in BVA‐HD or OAS between surgically treated and nonsurgically treated cohorts at baseline. Follow‐up radiographs (median, 49 months) revealed that most (34/38) hips had a BVA‐HD ≤10 after DPO, while four of eight hips from the nonsurgical cohort had BVA‐HD >10. Follow‐up BVA‐HD and OAS were lower in hips after surgery (BVA‐HD median 2.15, interquartile range [Q1‐Q3] 1.3‐4.1; OAS median 1.9, Q1‐Q3 1.1‐4.1) compared with the nonsurgically treated cohort (BVA‐HD median 11.4, Q1‐Q3 8.1‐17.5,P < .01; OAS median 7.0, Q1‐Q3 5.1‐13.4,P < .01). Seven hips with an LI >1 had no radiographically confirmed progression of osteoarthritis after DPO.

Conclusion

Double pelvic osteotomy prevented radiographically confirmed progression of osteoarthritis in the medium‐ to long‐term. Laxity index score > 1 was not a contraindication for DPO in this study.

Clinical significance

Double pelvic osteotomy prevents progression of radiographically confirmed features of osteoarthritis in juvenile dogs with HD.
Long‐term survival after treatment of idiopathic lung lobe torsion in 80 cases
Authors: Rossanese Matteo , Wustefeld‐Janssens Brandan , Price Cleo , Mielke Ben , Woods Samantha , Kulendra Nicola , Chanoit Guillaume
Published: March 2020

Objective

To report outcomes of dogs treated for lung lobe torsion (LLT) and to determine prognostic factors for survival.

Study design

Retrospective multicenter study from four veterinary teaching hospitals.

Animals

Dogs (n = 80) with LLT.

Methods

Medical records were reviewed for clinical and histopathological findings. Long‐term outcome was assessed with an owner questionnaire. Lung lobe torsion was classified as idiopathic or secondary on the basis of the etiology.

Results

The most represented breeds were pugs (47.5%) and sighthounds (16.2%). The cause of the LLT was considered primary in 77%, secondary in 21%, and unknown in 2% of dogs. Postoperative complications were recorded in 14% of dogs. Overall, 95% of dogs survived to discharge, and median follow‐up was 1095 days (range, 7‐3809). Owners assessed outcomes and quality of life as excellent in 93% and 89% of dogs, respectively. Primary LLT was associated with a longer survival (median not reached in the study) compared with secondary LLT (921 days; range, 7‐2073; P = .001).

Conclusion

Overall long‐term survival after lung lobectomy for LLT was excellent. Primary LLT was associated with longer survival compared with secondary LLT. Long‐term owner evaluation of clinical outcome for dogs undergoing lung lobectomy for LLT was considered excellent.

Clinical impact

Dogs with primary LLT undergoing lung lobectomy have a longer survival time compared with dogs with secondary LLT and have an excellent postoperative outcome.
Forearm vasodilatation to a β2‐adrenergic receptor agonist in premenopausal and postmenopausal women
Authors: Harvey Ronée E. , Ranadive Sushant M. , Limberg Jacqueline K. , Baker Sarah E. , Nicholson Wayne T. , Curry Timothy B. , Barnes Jill N. , Joyner Michael J.
Published: March 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What is the role of β2‐adrenergic receptor (β2AR) vasodilatation in older postmenopausal women as compared to premenopausal women and the role of nitric oxide (NO) in β2AR‐mediated vasodilatation in both groups of women?

What is the main finding and its importance?

β2AR responsiveness is blunted in postmenopausal women compared to young premenopausal women. Additionally, NO may contribute to β2AR‐mediated vasodilatation in young premenopausal women.

β2‐Adrenergic receptor (β2AR)‐mediated vasodilatation, which is partially dependent on nitric oxide (NO) formation, is blunted in men at risk for developing hypertension. However, the role of β2AR vasodilatation in hypertension pathophysiology in ageing postmenopausal women is unclear. Therefore, the goals of this study were to determine if forearm vasodilatation to the selective β2AR agonist terbutaline is blunted in older postmenopausal women (59 ± 4 years) compared to young premenopausal women (27 ± 3 years) and to assess NO contribution to β2AR‐mediated vasodilatation in both groups of women. Forearm blood flow (FBF) and forearm vascular conductance (FVC) were measured using venous occlusion plethysmography at baseline and during intra‐arterial infusions of terbutaline at 0.1–2.0 µg (100 ml tissue)−1 min−1 with and without the NO synthase inhibitor l‐NG‐monomethylarginine (l‐NMMA). Mean arterial pressure was significantly greater in postmenopausal women than in young women at baseline (P = 0.01). Baseline FBF and FVC did not differ between young and postmenopausal women (P > 0.05) and rose significantly within each group during terbutaline infusion (P < 0.05). There were significant group × dose interactions for FBF (P = 0.01) and FVC (P = 0.001), indicating vasodilator responses were lower in postmenopausal women. In young women, FVC response to the highest dose of terbutaline tended to be lower with l‐NMMA co‐infusion vs. without l‐NMMA (P = 0.05). There were no significant decreases in FBF or FVC responses to terbutaline in postmenopausal women with l‐NMMA co‐infusion (P > 0.05 for all). These data suggest that β2AR responsiveness is blunted in postmenopausal women compared to young premenopausal women, and that NO may contribute to β2AR‐mediated vasodilatation in young premenopausal women.
A new evaluation of the hadronic vacuum polarisation contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment and to $$\varvec{\alpha }({{\varvec{m}}}_{{\varvec{Z}}}^2)$$
Authors: Davier M. , Hoecker A. , Malaescu B. , Zhang Z.
Published: March 2020

We reevaluate the hadronic vacuum polarisation contributions to the muon magnetic anomaly and to the running of the electromagnetic coupling constant at the Z-boson mass. We include newest $$e^+e^- \rightarrow \mathrm{hadrons}$$e+e-→hadrons cross-section data together with a phenomenological fit of the threshold region in the evaluation of the dispersion integrals. The precision in the individual datasets cannot be fully exploited due to discrepancies that lead to additional systematic uncertainty in particular between BABAR and KLOE data in the dominant $$\pi ^+\pi ^-$$π+π- channel. For the muon $$(g-2)/2$$(g-2)/2, we find for the lowest-order hadronic contribution $$(694.0 \pm 4.0)\cdot 10^{-10}$$(694.0±4.0)·10-10. The full Standard Model prediction differs by $$3.3\sigma $$3.3σ from the experimental value. The five-quark hadronic contribution to $$\alpha (m_Z^2)$$α(mZ2) is evaluated to be $$(276.0\pm 1.0)\cdot 10^{-4}$$(276.0±1.0)·10-4.
Superbeams and neutrino factories — Two paths to intense accelerator-based neutrino beams
Authors: Shiltsev Vladimir
Published: March 2020

High-energy and high-beam power accelerators are extensively used for the neutrino physics research. At present, the leading operational facilities are the J-PARC facility in Japan, which recently approached 0.5 MW of the 30 GeV proton beam power, and the Fermilab Main Injector complex that delivers over 0.75 MW of 120 GeV protons on the neutrino target. Besides such type of neutrino superbeams, the concept of neutrino factories offers great promise for particle physics research. In this brief review we present the status and planned upgrades of the J-PARC and Fermilab accelerators and leading proposals for the next generation accelerator-based facilities of both types, their challenges and required and ongoing accelerator R&D programs aimed to address corresponding performance and cost risks.
Dark matter spin–spin interaction through the pseudo-scalar vacuum field
Authors: Nesterov Alexander I. , Berman Gennady P. , Tsifrinovich Vladimir I. , Wang Xidi , Merkli Marco
Published: March 2020

We suggest that the pseudo-scalar vacuum (PSV) field in the dark matter (DM) sector of the Universe may be as important as the electromagnetic vacuum field in the baryonic sector. In particular, the spin–spin interaction between the DM fermions, mediated by PSV, may represent the strongest interaction between the DM fermions due to the absence of the electric charge and the magnetic dipole moment. Based on this assumption, we consider the influence of the spin–spin interaction, mediated by PSV, on the spin precession of the DM fermions (e.g. neutralino). In the secular approximation, we obtain the exact expression describing the frequency of the precession and estimate the decoherence rate.
A charged perfect fluid solution
Authors: Estevez-Delgado Joaquin , Cabrera Jose Vega , Paulin-Fuentes Jorge Mauricio , Rodriguez Ceballos Joel Arturo , Duran Modesto Pineda
Published: March 2020

A static and spherically symmetric stellar model is described by a perfect charged fluid. Its construction is done using the solution of the Einstein–Maxwell equations for which we specify the temporal metric and the electric field which is a monotonic increasing function null in the center. The density, pressure and speed of sound turn out to be regular functions, positive and monotonic decreasing as function of the radial distance. Also, the speed of sound is lower than the speed of light, that is to say, it does not violate the condition of causality. The value of compactness [Formula: see text], so the model is useful to represent neutron stars of quark stars. In a complementary manner, we report the physical values when describing a star of mass [Formula: see text] and radius [Formula: see text], in such case [Formula: see text], and given the presence of the charge, the interval for the central density [Formula: see text].
Unitarily inequivalent vacua and long-range forces: Phenomenology with scalar boson mass-shift
Authors: Thien Quan Le , Krause Dennis E.
Published: March 2020

We explore the impact of a sudden shift in the mass of a scalar boson field on long-range forces mediated by this field under the framework of unitarily inequivalent vacua. Since the search for new long-range forces is an active experimental area probing physics beyond the Standard Model, the consequence of a non-trivial vacuum state of a scalar boson on these experiments is elucidated. We show that while the mass shift affects the one-boson exchange potential, the Casimir force remains only dependent on the vacuum state.
Effect of obliquely external magnetic field on the intense laser pulse propagating in plasma medium
Authors: Abedi-Varaki Mehdi
Published: March 2020

In this paper, self-focusing of intense laser pulse propagating along the obliquely external magnetic field on the collisional magnetoactive plasma by using the perturbation theory have been studied. The wave equation describing the interaction of intense laser pulse with collisional magnetoactive plasma is derived. In addition, employing source-dependent expansion (SDE) method, the analysis of the laser spot-size is discussed. It is shown that with increasing of the angle in obliquely external magnetic field, the spot-size of laser pulse decreases and as a result laser pulse becomes more focused. Furthermore, it is concluded that the self-focusing quality of the laser pulse has been enhanced due to the presence of obliquely external magnetic field in the collisional magnetoactive plasma. Besides, it is seen that with increasing of [Formula: see text], the laser spot-size reduces and subsequently the self-focusing of the laser pulse in plasma enhances. Moreover, it is found that changing the collision effect in the magnetoactive plasma leads to increases of self-focusing properties.
Suppressing decoherence of noisy environment through filtering operator
Authors: Huang Zhiming
Published: March 2020

Inevitable interaction between quantum system and environment will induce decoherence which would destroy the quantum coherence (QC) of quantum system. In this paper, we examine the QC behaviors for a single qubit locally coupled to the zero-temperature multiple bosonic reservoirs. Comparing the Markovian and non-Markovian QC behaviors, it is demonstrated that QC decays as decoherent time goes by, and non-Markovian QC exhibits obvious oscillating behaviors. The oscillatory frequency and amplitude increase with growing coupling strength and number of reservoirs. In addition, in non-Markovian regime, QC vanishes at some discrete critical time points. Finally, we reveal an effective method to suppress decoherence with filtering operation.
Kappa Regression: An Alternative to Logistic Regression
Authors: Dombi József , Jónás Tamás
Published: March 2020

In this study, a new regression method called Kappa regression is introduced to model conditional probabilities. The regression function is based on Dombi’s Kappa function, which is well known in fuzzy theory. Here, we discuss how the Kappa function relates to the Logistic function as well as how it can be used to approximate the Logistic function. We introduce the so-called Generalized Kappa Differential Equation and show that both the Kappa and the Logistic functions can be derived from it. Kappa regression, like binary Logistic regression, models the conditional probability of the event that a dichotomous random variable takes a particular value at a given value of an explanatory variable. This new regression method may be viewed as an alternative to binary Logistic regression, but while in binary Logistic regression the explanatory variable is defined over the entire Euclidean space, in the Kappa regression model the predictor variable is defined over a bounded subset of the Euclidean space. We will also show that asymptotic Kappa regression is Logistic regression. The advantages of this novel method are demonstrated by means of an example, and afterwards some implications are discussed.