bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of hormone replacement therapy on arterial stiffness, endothelial function and myocardial deformation in women with Turner syndrome
Authors: Ikonomidis I , Pavlidis G , Mavroidi I , Varoudi M , Thymis J , Kostelli G , Bamias A , Iliodromitis E , Peppa M
Published: February 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background/Introduction: Turner syndrome (TS) is associated with congenital or acquired cardiovascular diseases.

Purpose

We investigated whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) affects arterial elastic properties, endothelial function and myocardial deformation in women with TS.

Methods

In 25 women with TS (age: 29 ± 9years) we measured  in the oestrogen phase of HRT cycle and 1 month after discontinuation of HRT: a)Pulse wave velocity (PWV-Complior), central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) and augmentation index (AI) of the aortic pulse wave, b)perfused boundary region (PBR) of the sublingual arterial microvessels, as a marker of endothelial glycocalyx thickness, c)carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), d)flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and percentage difference of FMD (FMD%), and e)global LV longitudinal strain (GLS) and left atrium (LA) strain using speckle tracking echocardiography. Ten healthy subjects of similar sex, age and BMI served as control group.

Results

Compared to controls, women with TS under HRT had higher PWV (9.1 ± 2.4 vs. 7.5 ± 0.5m/s), AI (18 [7 to 27] vs. 5.8 [-10 to 19]%), cSBP (130 ± 15 vs. 121 ± 6mmHg), cIMT (0.66 ± 0.06 vs. 0.55 ± 0.05mm), FMD (7.2 ± 4 vs. 10 ± 2.3%) and lower LA volume index (14.3 ± 4 vs. 24 ± 13 mL/m²) and GLS (-18.8 ± 2.7 vs. -21.9 ± 1.5) (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). PBR was negatively related with FMD% (r=-0.58, p = 0.022) in women with TS under HRT. One month after discontinuation of HRT, all women reduced PWV, AI, cSBP and increased FMD. There were no statistically significant changes in BMI, PBR, cIMT, LA volume index, LA strain and LV GLS (p > 0.05 for all comparisons) (Table). The percent decrease of cSBP was associated with the percent decrease of PWV (r = 0.54) and inversely related with the percent increase of FMD (r=-0.57) (p < 0.05 for all comparisons).

Conclusions

Hormone replacement treatment in women with TS deteriorates arterial stiffness and endothelial function probably due to increased central arterial blood pressure.

Women with Turner syndrome under HRT (n = 25) Women with Turner syndrome one month after discontinuation of HRT (n = 25) p-value PWV, m/s 9.1 ± 2.4 7.8 ± 1.7 0.028 Central SBP, mmHg 130 ± 15 123 ± 14 0.007 PBR, 5-25μm 2.11 ± 0.3 2.12 ± 0.2 0.983 cIMT, mm 0.66 ± 0.06 0.67 ± 0.06 0.947 FMD, % 7.2 ± 4 11.7 ± 6 0.042 LA strain, % 51 ± 12 54 ± 15 0.400 LV GLS, % -18.8 ± 2.7 -19.3 ± 2.3 0.594 Table
Assessment of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting ischemic stroke and death in patients with acute myocardial infarction without atrial fibrillation
Authors: Marques A , Briosa A , Pereira AR , Alegria S , Grade Santos J , Rangel I , Joao I , Pereira H
Published: February 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

onbehalf

on behalf of the investigators of the Portuguese Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes

Introduction

The CHA2DS2-VASc score is used in clinical practice to stratify the risk of stroke in patients (pts) with atrial fibrillation (AF). Its usefulness in the population of pts with acute myocardial infarction without AF is not well known.

Objectives

To investigate whether CHA2DS2-VASc predicts ischemic stroke and death during hospital stay in pts with acute myocardial infarction without known AF. To determine independent predictors of ischemic stroke in this population.

Methods

A multicentre, retrospective study was performed during 01/10/2010-04/09/2019 period, and included all pts admitted due to acute myocardial infarction. Pts with previous AF, AF rhythm in the electrocardiogram at admission or AF during hospital stay were excluded. Statistical analysis with Kaplan-Mayer and Cox regression was applied.

Results

Of 29851 pts admitted with acute myocardial infarction, were included in our study 19218 pts (74% male, mean age of 65 ± 14 years). 

During hospital stay, 78 (0.4%) pts had an ischemic stroke and 462 (2.4%) pts died. 

The event-free survival analysis showed significant differences according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score at admission (log rank test p = 0.015 for ischemic stroke; log rank test p < 0.001 for in-hospital mortality). (Figure) 

The CHA2DS2-VASc score demonstrated a good predictive accuracy for in-hospital mortality (area under the ROC curve 0.69; 95% CI 0.67-0.72; p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve indicates that the CHA2DS2-VASc score performed modestly for ischemic stroke (0.62; 95% CI 0.56-0.68; p < 0.001). 

In univariate analysis, the factors that were positively associated with ischemic stroke during hospital stay were CHA2DS2-VASc, absence of previous therapy with statin, time between cardiac symptoms and hospital admission, absence of chest pain, Killip-Kimball class, cardiorespiratory arrest, complete left ventricular block and left ventricle ejection fraction <50% (p < 0.05). 

After multivariate analysis, CHA2DS2-VASc≥3 (HR 2.25; 95% CI 1.37-3.71; p = 0.001), absence of chest pain (HR 3.17; CI 1.44-6.14, p < 0.001) and previous therapy with statin (HR 0.39; 95% CI 0.22-0.67; p = 0.001) were independent predictors of ischemic stroke.

Conclusion

 Among patients with acute myocardial infarction without known atrial fibrillation, the CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with risk of ischemic stroke and death during hospital stay. This score may be useful for estimating the risk of stroke and in-hospital mortality in these population without known atrial fibrillation.

Abstract Figure.
Community-based health workers implementing universal access to HIV testing and treatment: lessons from South Africa and Zambia—HPTN 071 (PopART)
Authors: Viljoen Lario , Mainga Tila , Casper Rozanne , Mubekapi-Musadaidzwa Constance , Wademan Dillon T , Bond Virginia A , Pliakas Triantafyllos , Bwalya Chiti , Stangl Anne , Phiri Mwelwa , Yang Blia , Shanaube Kwame , Bock Peter , Fidler Sarah , Hayes Richard , Ayles Helen , Hargreaves James R , Hoddinott Graeme , Seeley J , Donnell D , Floyd S , Mandla N , Bwalya J , Sabapathy K , Eshleman S H , Macleod D , Moore A , Vermund S H , Hauck K , Shanaube K
Published: February 2021

The global expansion of HIV testing, prevention and treatment services is necessary to achieve HIV epidemic control and promote individual and population health benefits for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. Community-based health workers (CHWs) could play a key role in supporting implementation at scale. In the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial in Zambia and South Africa, a cadre of 737 study-specific CHWs, working closely with government-employed CHW, were deployed to deliver a ‘universal’ door-to-door HIV prevention package, including an annual offer of HIV testing and referral services for all households in 14 study communities. We conducted a process evaluation using qualitative and quantitative data collected during the trial (2013–2018) to document the implementation of the CHW intervention in practice. We focused on the recruitment, retention, training and support of CHWs, as they delivered study-specific services. We then used these descriptions to: (i) analyse the fidelity to design of the delivery of the intervention package, and (ii) suggest key insights for the transferability of the intervention to other settings. The data included baseline quantitative data collected with the study-specific CHWs (2014–2018); and qualitative data from key informant interviews with study management (n = 91), observations of CHW training events (n = 12) and annual observations of and group discussions (GD) with intervention staff (n = 68). We show that it was feasible for newly recruited CHWs to implement the PopART intervention with good fidelity, supporting the interpretation of the trial outcome findings. This was despite some challenges in managing service quality and CHW retention in the early years of the programme. We suggest that by prioritizing the adoption of key elements of the in-home HIV services delivery intervention model—including training, emotional support to workers, monitoring and appropriate remuneration for CHWs—these services could be successfully transferred to new settings.
Antifungal activity of nikkomycin Z against Candida auris
Authors: Bentz Meghan L , Nunnally Natalie , Lockhart Shawn R , Sexton D Joseph , Berkow Elizabeth L
Published: February 2021

Background

Nikkomycin Z is a competitive inhibitor of chitin synthase—an enzyme needed for synthesis of the fungal cell wall. Nikkomycin Z shows promise as a treatment for coccidioidomycoses and mixed activity has been described against other fungi and yeast. To our knowledge, it has not previously been tested against the emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris.

Objectives

To determine the in vitro activity of nikkomycin Z against C. auris.

Methods

Nikkomycin Z was tested by broth microdilution against a panel of 100 isolates of genetically diverse C. auris from around the world.

Results

Nikkomycin Z showed mixed activity against the tested isolates, with an MIC range of 0.125 to >64 mg/L. The MIC50 and MIC90 were 2 and 32 mg/L, respectively.

Conclusions

These findings suggest nikkomycin Z has in vitro activity against some, but not all isolates of C. auris.
ReducedTrypanosoma cruzi-specific humoral response and enhanced T cell immunity after treatment interruption with benznidazole in chronic Chagas disease
Authors: Castro Eiro Melisa D , Natale María A , Alvarez María G , Shen Huifeng , Viotti Rodolfo , Lococo Bruno , Bua Jacqueline , Nuñez Myriam , Bertocchi Graciela L , Albareda María C , Cesar Gonzalo , Tarleton Rick L , Laucella Susana A
Published: February 2021

Background

Interruption of benznidazole therapy due to the appearance of adverse effects, which is presumed to lead to treatment failure, is a major drawback in the treatment of chronic Chagas disease.

Methods

Trypanosoma cruzi-specific humoral and T cell responses, T cell phenotype and parasite load were measured to compare the outcome in 33 subjects with chronic Chagas disease treated with an incomplete benznidazole regimen and 58 subjects treated with the complete regimen, during a median follow-up period of 48 months.

Results

Both treatment regimens induced a reduction in the T. cruzi-specific antibody levels and similar rates of treatment failure when evaluated using quantitative PCR. Regardless of the regimen, polyfunctional CD4+ T cells increased in the subjects, with successful treatment outcome defined as a decrease of T. cruzi-specific antibodies. Regardless of the serological outcome, naive and central memory T cells increased after both regimens. A decrease in CD4+ HLA-DR+ T cells was associated with successful treatment in both regimens. The cytokine profiles of subjects with successful treatment showed fewer inflammatory mediators than those of the untreated T. cruzi-infected subjects. High levels of T cells expressing IL-7 receptor and low levels of CD8+ T cells expressing the programmed cell death protein 1 at baseline were associated with successful treatment following benznidazole interruption.

Conclusions

These findings challenge the notion that treatment failure is the sole potential outcome of an incomplete benznidazole regimen and support the need for further assessment of the treatment protocols for chronic Chagas disease.
Factors affecting the home range of Dinaric-Pindos brown bears
Authors: De Angelis Daniele , Huber Djuro , Reljic Slaven , Ciucci Paolo , Kusak Josip
Published: February 2021

Studying how animals interact with their environment is fundamental to informing conservation and management efforts, especially when examining large, wide-ranging carnivores in human-dominated landscapes. We hypothesized that the home ranges of bears are configured to exploit supplemental food (corn) and avoid people. In 2004–2016, we tracked 10 brown bears from the Dinaric-Pindos population using GPS telemetry, then used Brownian bridge movement models to estimate their home ranges. We related seasonal home range size to circadian period and density of supplemental feeding sites using generalized linear mixed-effect models. We also used ecological-niche factor analysis to study habitat composition within home range core areas in study areas characterized by different levels of human encroachment. We found that home range size was inversely related to density of supplemental feeding sites, and bears had larger home ranges at night (x̅ = 103.3 ± 72.8 km2) than during the day (x̅ = 62.3 ± 16.6 km2). Our results also revealed that bears living in more human-influenced areas concentrated their use far from human settlements and agricultural lands but stayed close to supplemental feeding sites. Our data suggest that bears alter their space-use patterns at the home range level in response to anthropogenic land use and food availability.
Causes and Consequences of Bacteriophage Diversification via Genetic Exchanges across Lifestyles and Bacterial Taxa
Authors: Moura de Sousa Jorge A , Pfeifer Eugen , Touchon Marie , Rocha Eduardo P C
Published: February 2021

Bacteriophages (phages) evolve rapidly by acquiring genes from other phages. This results in mosaic genomes. Here, we identify numerous genetic transfers between distantly related phages and aim at understanding their frequency, consequences, and the conditions favoring them. Gene flow tends to occur between phages that are enriched for recombinases, transposases, and nonhomologous end joining, suggesting that both homologous and illegitimate recombination contribute to gene flow. Phage family and host phyla are strong barriers to gene exchange, but phage lifestyle is not. Even if we observe four times more recent transfers between temperate phages than between other pairs, there is extensive gene flow between temperate and virulent phages, and between the latter. These predominantly involve virulent phages with large genomes previously classed as low gene flux, and lead to the preferential transfer of genes encoding functions involved in cell energetics, nucleotide metabolism, DNA packaging and injection, and virion assembly. Such exchanges may contribute to the observed twice larger genomes of virulent phages. We used genetic transfers, which occur upon coinfection of a host, to compare phage host range. We found that virulent phages have broader host ranges and can mediate genetic exchanges between narrow host range temperate phages infecting distant bacterial hosts, thus contributing to gene flow between virulent phages, as well as between temperate phages. This gene flow drastically expands the gene repertoires available for phage and bacterial evolution, including the transfer of functional innovations across taxa.
Reducing Superfluous Opioid Prescribing Practices After Brain Surgery: It Is Time to Talk About Drugs
Authors: Asmaro Karam , Fadel Hassan A , Haider Sameah A , Pawloski Jacob , Telemi Edvin , Mansour Tarek R , Chandra Ankush , Bazydlo Michael , Robin Adam M , Lee Ian Y , Air Ellen L , Rock Jack P , Kalkanis Steven N , Schwalb Jason M
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

Opioids are prescribed routinely after cranial surgery despite a paucity of evidence regarding the optimal quantity needed. Overprescribing may adversely contribute to opioid abuse, chronic use, and diversion.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of a system-wide campaign to reduce opioid prescribing excess while maintaining adequate analgesia.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing a craniotomy for tumor resection with home disposition before and after a 2-mo educational intervention was completed. The educational initiative was composed of directed didactic seminars targeting senior staff, residents, and advanced practice providers. Opioid prescribing patterns were then assessed for patients discharged before and after the intervention period.

RESULTS

A total of 203 patients were discharged home following a craniotomy for tumor resection during the study period: 98 who underwent surgery prior to the educational interventions compared to 105 patients treated post-intervention. Following a 2-mo educational period, the quantity of opioids prescribed decreased by 52% (median morphine milligram equivalent per day [interquartile range], 32.1 [16.1, 64.3] vs 15.4 [0, 32.9], P < .001). Refill requests also decreased by 56% (17% vs 8%, P = .027) despite both groups having similar baseline characteristics. There was no increase in pain scores at outpatient follow-up (1.23 vs 0.85, P = .105).

CONCLUSION

A dramatic reduction in opioids prescribed was achieved without affecting refill requests, patient satisfaction, or perceived analgesia. The use of targeted didactic education to safely improve opioid prescribing following intracranial surgery uniquely highlights the ability of simple, evidence-based interventions to impact clinical decision making, lessen potential patient harm, and address national public health concerns.
Correction of frameshift mutations in the atpB gene by translational recoding in chloroplasts of Oenothera and tobacco
Authors: Malinova Irina , Zupok Arkadiusz , Massouh Amid , Schöttler Mark Aurel , Meyer Etienne H , Yaneva-Roder Liliya , Szymanski Witold , Rößner Margit , Ruf Stephanie , Bock Ralph , Greiner Stephan
Published: February 2021

Translational recoding, also known as ribosomal frameshifting, is a process that causes ribosome slippage along the messenger RNA, thereby changing the amino acid sequence of the synthesized protein. Whether the chloroplast employs recoding is unknown. I-iota, a plastome mutant of Oenothera (evening primrose), carries a single adenine insertion in an oligoA stretch [11A] of the atpB coding region (encoding the β-subunit of the ATP synthase). The mutation is expected to cause synthesis of a truncated, nonfunctional protein. We report that a full-length AtpB protein is detectable in I-iota leaves, suggesting operation of a recoding mechanism. To characterize the phenomenon, we generated transplastomic tobacco lines in which the atpB reading frame was altered by insertions or deletions in the oligoA motif. We observed that insertion of two adenines was more efficiently corrected than insertion of a single adenine, or deletion of one or two adenines. We further show that homopolymeric composition of the oligoA stretch is essential for recoding, as an additional replacement of AAA lysine codon by AAG resulted in an albino phenotype. Our work provides evidence for the operation of translational recoding in chloroplasts. Recoding enables correction of frameshift mutations and can restore photoautotrophic growth in the presence of a mutation that otherwise would be lethal.
Evolutionary gain of oligosaccharide hydrolysis and sugar transport enhanced carbohydrate partitioning in sweet watermelon fruits
Authors: Ren Yi , Li Maoying , Guo Shaogui , Sun Honghe , Zhao Jianyu , Zhang Jie , Liu Guangmin , He Hongju , Tian Shouwei , Yu Yongtao , Gong Guoyi , Zhang Haiying , Zhang Xiaolan , Alseekh Saleh , Fernie Alisdair R , Scheller Henrik V , Xu Yong
Published: February 2021

How raffinose (Raf) family oligosaccharides, the major translocated sugars in the vascular bundle in cucurbits, are hydrolyzed and subsequently partitioned has not been fully elucidated. By performing reciprocal grafting of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruits to branch stems, we observed that Raf was hydrolyzed in the fruit of cultivar watermelons but was backlogged in the fruit of wild ancestor species. Through a genome-wide association study, the alkaline alpha-galactosidase ClAGA2 was identified as the key factor controlling stachyose and Raf hydrolysis, and it was determined to be specifically expressed in the vascular bundle. Analysis of transgenic plants confirmed that ClAGA2 controls fruit Raf hydrolysis and reduces sugar content in fruits. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the ClAGA2 promoter affect the recruitment of the transcription factor ClNF-YC2 (nuclear transcription factor Y subunit C) to regulate ClAGA2 expression. Moreover, this study demonstrates that C. lanatus Sugars Will Eventually Be Exported Transporter 3 (ClSWEET3) and Tonoplast Sugar Transporter (ClTST2) participate in plasma membrane sugar transport and sugar storage in fruit cell vacuoles, respectively. Knocking out ClAGA2, ClSWEET3, and ClTST2 affected fruit sugar accumulation. Genomic signatures indicate that the selection of ClAGA2, ClSWEET3, and ClTST2 for carbohydrate partitioning led to the derivation of modern sweet watermelon from non-sweet ancestors during domestication.
A clinical comparison of an endothelin receptor antagonist and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for treating digital ulcers of systemic sclerosis
Authors: Chang Sung Hae , Jun Jae Bum , Lee Yun Jong , Kang Tae Young , Moon Ki Won , Ju Ji Hyeon , Kang Seong Wook , Choi In Ah , Park Yong-Beom , Lee Seung Geun , Lee Shin-Seok , Heo Nam Hun , Lee Eun Bong
Published: February 2021

Objectives

To assess the efficacy of an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) and phosphodiesterase type5 inhibitors (PDE5is) for treating SSc-related digital ulcers (DUs).

Methods

This prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study recruited patients with active SSc-related DUs from 13 medical centres in South Korea. The primary outcome was time to cardinal ulcer (CU) healing. A secondary outcome was time to new DU occurrence. Patients were followed up 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after treatment initiation.

Results

Sixty-three patients were analysed. Their mean age was 49.9 years (s.d. 11.4) and 49 were female. Twenty-eight had limited SSc. Forty-nine patients received ERA, 11 received a PDE5i (9 sildenafil, 1 udenafil and 1 tadalafil) and 3 received other medication. The hazard ratio (HR) for time to CU healing in the ERA group vs the PDE5i group was 0.75 (95% CI 0.35, 1.64; P = 0.47) in an unadjusted model and 0.80 (95% CI 0.36, 1.78; P = 0.59) in a model adjusted for age, sex, use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs), total DU number and initial CU area. The HR for new DU development in the ERA group vs the PDE5i group was 0.39 (95% CI 0.16, 0.93; P = 0.03) in an unadjusted model and 0.32 (95% CI 0.13, 0.81; P = 0.02) in an adjusted model. No patients receiving CCBs developed new DUs at 24 weeks.

Conclusion

Time to CU healing is comparable for ERA and PDE5i. ERAs are more effective in reducing new DU occurrence than PDE5is. CCBs may be effective as a background medication.
The Role of the Rodent Lateral Orbitofrontal Cortex in Simple Pavlovian Cue-Outcome Learning Depends on Training Experience
Authors: Panayi Marios C , Killcross Simon
Published: February 2021

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a critical structure in the flexible control of value-based behaviors. OFC dysfunction is typically only detected when task or environmental contingencies change, against a backdrop of apparently intact initial acquisition and behavior. While intact acquisition following OFC lesions in simple Pavlovian cue-outcome conditioning is often predicted by models of OFC function, this predicted null effect has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we test the effects of lesions and temporary muscimol inactivation of the rodent lateral OFC on the acquisition of a simple single cue-outcome relationship. Surprisingly, pretraining lesions significantly enhanced acquisition after overtraining, whereas post-training lesions and inactivation significantly impaired acquisition. This impaired acquisition to the cue reflects a disruption of behavioral control and not learning since the cue could also act as an effective blocking stimulus in an associative blocking procedure. These findings suggest that even simple cue-outcome representations acquired in the absence of OFC function are impoverished. Therefore, while OFC function is often associated with flexible behavioral control in complex environments, it is also involved in very simple Pavlovian acquisition where complex cue-outcome relationships are irrelevant to task performance.
Activity of A Novel Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Fungicide Pydiflumetofen Against Fusarium fujikuroi causing Rice Bakanae Disease
Authors: Bai Yang , Gu Chun-Yan , Pan Rui , Abid Muhammad , Zang Hao-Yu , Yang Xue , Tan Gen-Jia , Chen Yu
Published: February 2021

New fungicides are tools to manage fungal diseases and overcome emerging resistance in fungal pathogens. In this study, a total of 121 Fusarium fujikuroi isolates were collected from various geographical regions of China and their sensitivity to a novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide ‘pydiflumetofen’ was evaluated. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) value of pydiflumetofen for mycelial growth suppression ranged from 0.0101 to 0.1012 μg/ml and for conidial germination inhibition ranged from 0.0051 to 0.1082 μg/ml. Pydiflumetofen-treated hyphae showed contortion and increased branching, cell membrane permeability, and glycerol content significantly. The result of electron microscope transmission indicated that pydiflumetofen damaged the mycelial cell wall and the cell membrane, and almost broke up the cells, which increased the intracellular plasma leakage. There was no cross-resistance between pydiflumetofen and the widely used fungicides such as carbendazim, prochloraz, and phenamacril. Pydiflumetofen was found safe to seeds and rice seedlings of four rice cultivars, used up to 400 μg/ml. Seed treatment significantly decreased the rate of diseased plants in the greenhouse as well as in field trials in 2017 and 2018. Pydiflumetofen showed superb results against the rice bakanae disease (RBD), when used at 10 or 20 g a.i./100 kg of treated seeds, providing over 90% control efficacy (the maximum control efficacy was up to 97%), which was significantly higher than that of 25% phenamacril (SC) at 10 g or carbendazim at 100 g. Pydiflumetofen is highly effective against F. fujikuroi growth and sporulation as well as RBD in the field.
Evaluation of Pruning Wound Protection Products for the Management of Almond Canker Diseases in California
Authors: Holland Leslie A. , Travadon Renaud , Lawrence Daniel P. , Nouri Mohamed T. , Trouillas Florent
Published: February 2021

Almond trunk and branch canker diseases constitute a major cause of tree mortality in California. Numerous fungal pathogens have been associated with these canker diseases and pruning wounds act as major infection courts. Before this study, there were no products registered in California for the management of these diseases. In this study, fungicidal products including synthetic chemistries, biocontrols, paint, and a sealant were evaluated for preventing fungal pathogen infection via pruning wounds. In four field trials conducted over two dormant seasons, 16 pruning wound treatments were tested using handheld spray applications against five almond canker pathogens, namely Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum parvum, Cytospora sorbicola, Ceratocystis destructans, and Eutypa lata. The fungicide thiophanate-methyl (Topsin M; United Phosphorus, Bandra West, Mumbai, India) provided 82% overall disease prevention against four fungal pathogens. The biological control agent, Trichoderma atroviride SC1 (Vintec; Bi-PA, Londerzeel, Belgium), tested at three application rates, resulted in 90 to 93% protection of pruning wounds in field trials, and for individual pathogens ranged from 81 to 100% protection for the three rates. At the time of this publication, Vintec is being considered for registration as a biological control product for the prevention of almond canker diseases, while Topsin M is recommended to growers for the prevention of almond canker diseases. This research indicates that effective protection of pruning wounds from infection by almond canker pathogens can be achieved with a one-time spray application of thiophanate-methyl or the biocontrol T. atroviride SC1 (recommended 2 g/liter) after pruning.
Cultivated and Wild Grapevines in Tennessee Possess Overlapping but Distinct Virus Populations
Authors: Hu Rongbin , Dias Naymã P. , Soltani Nourolah , Vargas-Asencio Jose , Hensley Darrell D. , Perry Keith. L. , Domier Leslie L. , Hajimorad M. R.
Published: February 2021

Viruses and viroids prevalent in a population of 42 wild grapevines (i.e., free-living, uncultivated grapevines; Vitis spp.) were compared with those in a population of 85 cultivated grapevines collected in Tennessee, United States by RNA sequencing analysis of pools of ribosomal RNA-depleted total RNA. The sequences of 10 viruses (grapevine fleck virus, grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2, grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus, grapevine Syrah virus 1, grapevine vein-clearing virus, grapevine virus B, grapevine virus E, tobacco ringspot virus, tomato ringspot virus, and a novel nano-like virus) and two viroids (hop stunt viroid and grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1) were detected in both grapevine populations. Sequences of four viruses (grapevine associated tymo-like virus, grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3, grapevine red blotch virus, and grapevine virus H) were identified only from cultivated grapevines. High, moderate, and low numbers of sequence reads were identified only from wild grapevines for a novel caulimovirus, an enamovirus, and alfalfa mosaic virus, respectively. The presence of most virus sequences and both viroids was verified independently in the original samples by reverse-transcription PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Comparison of viral sequences shared by both populations showed that cultivated and wild grapevines harbored distinct sequence variants, which suggests that there was limited virus movement between the two populations. Collectively, this study represents the first unbiased survey of viruses and viroids in both cultivated and wild grapevines within a defined geographic region.
Actinomyces marmotae sp. nov. and Actinomyces procaprae sp. nov. isolated from wild animals and reclassification of Actinomyces liubingyangii and Actinomyces tangfeifanii as Boudabousia liubingyangii comb. nov. and Boudabousia tangfeifanii comb. nov., respectively
Authors: Yang Caixin , Bai Yibo , Dong Kui , Yang Jing , Lai Xin-He , Lu Shan , Zhang Gui , Cheng Yanpeng , Jin Dong , Zhang Sihui , Lv Xianglian , Huang Ying , Xu Jianguo
Published: February 2021

Four Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strains (zg-325T, zg329, dk561T and dk752) were isolated from the respiratory tract of marmot (Marmota himalayana) and the faeces of Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picticaudata) from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of PR China. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analyses indicated that strains zg-325T and dk561T represent members of the genus

Actinomyces

, most similar to

Actinomyces denticolens

DSM 20671T and

Actinomyces ruminicola

B71T, respectively. The DNA G+C contents of strains zg-325T and dk561T were 71.6 and 69.3 mol%, respectively. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization values of strains zg-325T and dk561T with their most closely related species were below the 70 % threshold for species demarcation. The four strains grew best at 35 °C in air containing 5 % CO2 on brain heart infusion (BHI) agar with 5 % sheep blood. All four strains had C18:1ω9c and C16:0 as the major cellular fatty acids. MK-8 and MK-9 were the major menaquinones in zg-325T while MK-10 was predominant in dk561T. The major polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. On the basis of several lines of evidence from phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses, zg-325T and dk561T represent novel species of the genus

Actinomyces

, for which the name Actinomyces marmotae sp. nov. and Actinomyces procaprae sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are zg-325T (=GDMCC 1.1724T=JCM 34091T) and dk561T (=CGMCC 4.7566T=JCM 33484T). We also propose, on the basis of the phylogenetic results herein, the reclassification of

Actinomyces liubingyangii

and

Actinomyces tangfeifanii

as Boudabousia liubingyangii comb. nov. and Boudabousia tangfeifanii comb. nov., respectively.
High School Sports During the CoVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of Sport Participation on the Health of Adolescents
Authors: McGuine Timothy A. , Biese Kevin , Hetzel Scott J. , Schwarz Allison , Reardon Claudia L. , Bell David R. , Brooks M. Alison , Watson Andrew M.
Published: February 2021

Context

During the fall of 2020, some high schools across the US allowed their students to participate in interscholastic sports while others cancelled or postponed their sport programs due to concerns regarding CoVID19 transmission. It is unknown what effect this has had on the physical and mental health of student athletes.

Objective

Identify the impact of playing a sport during the CoVID19 pandemic on the health of student athletes.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Sample recruited via email.

Patients or Other Participants

559 Wisconsin high school athletes (age=15.7+1.2 yrs., female=44%) from 44 high schools completed an online survey in October 2020. A total of 171 (31%) athletes played (PLY) a fall sport, while 388 (69%) did not play (DNP).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Demographics included: sex, grade and sports played. Assessments included the General Anxiety Disorder-7 Item (GAD-7) for anxiety, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9) for depression, the Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (PFABS) for physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) for quality of life. Univariable comparisons between the two groups were made via t-tests or chi-square tests. Means for each continuous outcome measure were compared between the groups by ANOVA models that controlled for Age, Sex, Teaching method (Virtual, Hybrid, or In-person), and the % of students eligible for free lunch.

RESULTS

PLY group participants were less likely to report moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety (PLY=6.6%, DNP=44.1%, p<0.001) and depression (PLY=18.2%, DNP=40.4%, p<0.001). PLY athletes reported higher (better) PFABS scores (mean: [95%CI]), (PLY=23.2[22.0,24.5], DNP=16.4[15.0,17.8], p <0.001) and higher (better) PedsQL total scores (PLY=88.4[85.9,90.9], DNP=79.6[76.8,82.4], p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent athletes who played a sport during the CoVID19 pandemic reported fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as higher physical activity and quality of life scores compared to adolescent athletes who did not play a sport.

Key points

High school students who played a sport during the CoVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2020 were less likely to report anxiety and depression symptoms than athletes who did not play a sport.

High school students who played a sport during the CoVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2020 reported higher physical activity and quality of life scores compared to high school athletes who did not play a sport.

Participation in high school sports may have significant physical and mental health benefits for US adolescent athletes during the CoVID-19 pandemic.
epiLiver a novel tumor specific, high throughput and cost-effective blood test for specific detection of liver cancer (HCC)
Authors: Cheishvili David , Wong Chifat , Karim Mohammad Mahbubul , Kibria Mohammad Golam , Jahan Nusrat , Das Pappu Chandra , Yousuf Md. Abul Khair , Islam Md. Atikul , Das Dulal Chandra , Noor-E-Alam Sheikh Mohammad , Szyf Moshe , Khan Wasif A. , Mammun-Al-Mahtab
Published: February 2021

Robust cost effective and high-throughput tests for early detection of cancer in otherwise healthy people could potentially revolutionize public-health and the heavy personal and public burden of the morbidity and mortality from cancer. Several studies have delineated tumor specific DNA methylation profiles that could serve as biomarkers for early detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) as well as other cancers in liquid biopsies. Several published DNA methylation markers fail to distinguish HCC DNA from DNA from other tissues and other cancers that are potentially present in plasma. We describe a set of DNA methylation signatures in HCC that are “categorically” distinct from normal tissues and blood DNA methylation profiles. We develop a classifier combined of 4 CG sites that is sufficient to detect HCC in TCGA HCC data set at high accuracy. A single CG site at the F12 gene is sufficient to differentiate HCC samples from thousands of other blood samples, normal tissues and 31 tumors in the TCGA and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data repository (n=11,704). A “next generation sequencing”-targeted-multiplexed high-throughput assay was developed, which was used to examine in a clinical study plasma samples from HCC, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and healthy controls (n=398). The sensitivity for HCC detection was 84.5% at a specificity of 95% and AUC of 0.94. Applying this assay for routine follow up of people who are at high risk for developing HCC could have a significant impact on reducing the morbidity and mortality from HCC.
Impact of COVID-19 on the trade of goods and services in Spain
Authors: Minondo Asier
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the trade of goods and services in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses monthly trade data at the product, region and firm level.

Findings

The COVID-19 crisis has led to the sharpest collapse in the Spanish trade of goods and services in recent decades. The containment measures adopted to arrest the spread of the virus have caused an especially intense fall of trade in services. The large share of transport equipment, capital goods, products that are consumed outdoors (i.e., outdoor goods) and tourism in Spanish exports has made the COVID-19 trade crisis more intense in Spain than in the rest of the European Union.

Practical implications

The nature of the collapse suggests that trade in goods can recover swiftly when the health crisis ends. However, COVID-19 may have a long-term negative impact on the trade of services that rely on the movement of people.

Originality/value

It contributes to understand how COVID-19 has affected the trade in goods and services in Spain.
The relationship between university teachers' self-evaluation of online teaching and their background: based on the survey of 334 Chinese universities
Authors: Wu Wei , Yao Rui , Xie Zuoxu
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to take Chinese university teachers as the research objects to examine their self-evaluation of online teaching and analyze the main factors influencing their evaluation during COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the theory of educational ecology, the factors influencing teachers' self-evaluation of online teaching in this paper include university background, courses background and teachers' personal background from the macro- to micro-levels. Through exploratory factor analysis, independent sample T-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the self-evaluation of online teaching of 13,997 teachers from 334 universities and their relationship with teachers' background have been subject to data statistics and analysis.

Findings

Teachers' self-evaluation of online teaching mainly includes three dimensions: online teaching methods, online teacher–student interaction and online teaching techniques. There are significant differences in these three dimensions among teachers with different background characteristics, including regions, the types of universities, the nature of universities in macro background levels, the types and numbers of online courses in meso background levels, and the gender, years of teaching, professional titles and disciplines in micro background levels.

Practical implications

To improve teachers' self-evaluation of online teaching, it is suggested to build an online teaching self-evaluation system for teachers, strengthen university support and guarantee, strengthen online teaching training and improve the information accomplishments of teachers.

Originality/value

This large-scale empirical survey of online teaching evaluation of Chinese teachers can provide scholars with a deeper understanding of the implementation of online teaching in China and the self-evaluation of online teaching by teachers.
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder’s perception on parent-implemented home-based developmental, individual-difference and relationship (DIR)/Floortime® intervention
Authors: Shamsudin Iylia Dayana , Brown Ted , Yu Mong-Lin , Lentin Primrose
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The developmental, individual-difference and relationship (DIR)/Floortime® approach is a commonly used parent-implemented intervention with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Currently, no evidence is available about the intervention’s implementation and utility in Malaysia. The aim of this paper is to investigate the applicability and impact of implementing the parent-implemented home-based DIR/Floortime® intervention program for children with ASD and their parents in a Malaysian context from parents’ perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with eight mothers and four fathers of children with ASD was conducted. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Findings

Five themes were developed. Theme 1 described the implementation of DIR/Floortime® intervention; Theme 2 reported challenges parents faced when implementing the intervention; Theme 3 explored parents’ perspective on play; Theme 4 explained the improvements and changes in children with ASD and parents’ abilities and skills; and Theme 5 reported parents’ comments and suggestions about the intervention program.

Research limitations/implications

Involvement of a limited number of participants and an absence of baseline data limits the interpretation of the impacts of the DIR/Floortime® program’s implementation by parents with their children with ASD.

Originality/value

Utilization of DIR/Floortime® intervention is practical and appropriate in the Malaysian context. From the parents’ perspective, the DIR/Floortime® approach was beneficial for children with ASD and parents’ skill development and well-being. Further refinement to the program and involvement of participants from various cultural backgrounds are recommended. A greater emphasis for parents on child-led interaction style and play with children are also recommended.
Message framing's role in encouraging idle item recycling
Authors: Wu Zhengxiang , Guo Tingting , Li Baoku
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of framing idle item recycling appeals as gains or losses on influencing consumers' idle item recycling intention by assessing the mediating role of perceived impact and the moderating role of product attachment.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, three experiments were conducted to gather data. The assumed hypotheses were verified using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and bootstrap analysis.

Findings

Study 1 illustrated that loss-framed messages are more persuasive than gain-framed messages for less-involved consumers in idle item recycling, whereas message framing shows no significant difference in more-involved consumers' intention. Study 2 suggested that perceived impact tends to increase less-involved consumers' recycling intention when the message is framed as loss. Study 3 demonstrated that less-involved consumers would react to idle item recycling messages when they are strongly attached to a product. Further, gain-framed messages are more efficacious than loss-framed messages in influencing more-involved consumers' recycling intention when they are strongly attached to a product.

Originality/value

Previous research focuses on promoting waste recycling behavior initiated by local, city or national governments. This study provides some of the first evidence on the influence mechanism of message framing on consumers' idle item recycling intention and offers insights into companies to develop effective advertising strategies for idle item recycling management.
Independence and effectiveness of Shariah supervisory board of Islamic banks: evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Alam Md. Kausar , Miah Muhammad Shahin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The main objective of the study is to ascertain the level of independence and the effectiveness of the Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB) members of Islamic banks in Bangladesh. This is because only SSB members are empowered to oversee and certify the overall business functions of Islamic banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper implements qualitative case research approach to explore the research objective in the context of Bangladesh. We applied purposeful and snowball sampling tactics for selecting respondents. By using a semi-structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews, we collect data from SSB members, central bank executives and experts in Islamic banking and Shariah governance.

Findings

The study finds that majority Islamic banks' SSB's positions are similar to the Board of Directors (BOD) of the banks. Next, this study finds that in recruiting/selecting SSB members, some banks do not follow the guidelines of the central bank. This study finds mixed evidence regarding the independence of the members of the SSB. Most of the respondents opined that SSBs do not have power; in some cases, members of SSB are not independent and seeming powerless as BOD selects and recruits them. In contrast, they are dependent on management in respect of strategy implementation.

Research limitations/implications

The study significantly contributed to the national and global regulatory bodies by identifying an important governance determinant of Islamic banks that is the independence of SSB members, which is highly important for both Shariah functions, and to enhance the trust level of the stakeholders. This study makes a theoretical contribution by documenting the violation of stakeholder theory and agency theory in recruiting SSB members by BOD's choice. The lack of SSB members' independence has an impact on Shariah legitimacy of the Islamic banks which is contradictory with the notion of legitimacy theory. This study recommends the central bank to ensure the independence of the SSB and central bank should take initiatives to develop an environment for the Islamic banking sector.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature of corporate governance relating to Islamic banking and financial institutions. More specifically, this paper explores the necessity of independence of members of the monitoring body (here SSB), an important constituent of governance, to ensure high-quality governance and transparency in reporting to increase diverse stakeholders' trust/confidence. The absence of independence of SSB in performing their functions contradicts with the agency, stakeholder and legitimacy theory, which is inconsistent with global evidence, that demands further investigations.