bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Reproductive Health in Twentieth-Century China
Authors: Johnson Tina Phillips
Published: December 2020

Dr. Lin Qiaozhi (1901-83) was China’s foremost female physician whose career reflects the country’s reproductive health policies from the Republican era to the early People’s Republic. This article examines the interconnections of politics and reproductive health campaigns in China, from Republican reliance on foreign philanthropic support, through the early PRC alliance and subsequent break with the Soviet Union, to China’s reforms in the 1970s. Lin’s life illuminates the many central shifts and tensions across the twentieth century: as a Western-trained physician, Lin represents the role of biomedicine in a modernizing China and the importance of reproductive health in forming a robust body politic. As an establishment intellectual, Lin was a model propagandist supporting government policy while using her power as a platform to serve her own goals. As a lifelong single woman with no children, Lin’s life manifests the ongoing conflict between the traditional values of wife and mother versus a woman’s independence, liberation, and the pursuit of a challenging and fulfilling career. Lin’s legacy continues into the twenty-first century as she remains an icon for young women and a role model for members of the medical profession.
Punning on Running: Verbal Horseplay at Psalm 147:10
Authors: Shnider Steven , Zalcman Lawrence
Published: December 2020

Psalm 147:10 comprises an elaborate play on words, involving the parasonant pairs חפץ/קפץ and רצה/רוץ, in which the words of desire and approval חפץ and רצה call to mind, in auditory fashion, the very actions which are stated to be objects of Divine indifference.
Sinless, Sonless and Seal of Prophets: Muḥammad and Kor 33, 36-40, Revisited
Authors: Powers David Stephan
Published: December 2020

In his article, “Between History and Exegesis: the Origins and Transformation of the Story of Muḥammad and Zaynab bt Ǧaḥš,” published in Arabica, 65/1-2 (2018), p. 31-63, Andreas Görke argues that the reference in Kor 33, 37 to Muḥammad’s marriage to the former wife of a man named Zayd “seems to refer to an historical event” and that later exegetical expansions of the episode are based on an “historical kernel.” He adds that these exegetical expansions were modeled on the encounter between David and Bathsheba in II Samuel 11-12 and that the connection between the Islamic and biblical episodes stands at the beginning of the Muslim “preoccupation” with v. 37. Building upon Görke’s scholarship, I show how the early Muslim community created a plausible Sitz im Leben for the episode; establish with greater precision the starting point of the Muslim “preoccupation” with the connection between Muḥammad’s marriage to Zayd’s former wife and David’s marriage to the wife of Uriah the Hittite; and suggest that the qurʾānic treatment of the episode contains a seed of what would become the doctrine of ʿiṣma or the impeccability of prophets. Finally, I propose that the important question for historians is not the event to which the episode purportedly refers but rather the larger geo-political context for the emergence of the qurʾānic proclamation that Muḥammad is ḫātam al-nabiyyīn or the Seal of Prophets. To this end, I seek to shift the scholarly gaze from a domestic crisis in the household of Muḥammad in Medina ca
AH 5 to early Christian polemics against Islam and its Prophet and to Byzantine imperial ideology.
Coexistent but Uncoordinated: Asset Freezing Measures at the International Criminal Court and the UN Security Council
Authors: Birkett Daley J.
Published: December 2020

Both the International Criminal Court (icc) and the UN Security Council (unsc) are vested with the capacity to request States to freeze individuals’ assets. The two bodies are also bound to cooperate closely under the terms of their relationship agreement ‘with a view to facilitating the effective discharge of their respective responsibilities’. This article examines whether this obligation extends to the unsc coordinating its targeted sanctions regime to support the icc in respect of the enforcement powers with which the latter is equipped. It does so by analysing eight cases where unsc action (could) have coincided with icc operations, with a particular focus on the (non-)parallel implementation of the two bodies’ asset freezing procedures. The article demonstrates that, though the activities of the unsc and the icc in this sphere of their respective operations might have overlapped on a number of occasions, they have rarely been deliberately coordinated. This leads the author to conclude that close cooperation as envisaged in the relationship agreement between the two bodies is unlikely on this front.
A Note on Tree Worship in the Zaza Folk Beliefs
Authors: Arakelova Victoria
Published: December 2020

The article presents some historical evidence about the veneration of individual trees, primarily the juniper and the oak-trees, traditionally considered to be sacred in the Zaza culture, as well as generally groves and forests. Unfortunately, the once vast and rich forestal covering of the Zazas’ main habitat in Dersim (Tunceli), which was a proverbial phenomenon still in the beginning of the 20th century, has been almost totally exterminated as a result of the mistreatment by the Turkish government. The folk beliefs related to tree worship have also been considerably erased from the people’s memory, lingering on only among the elderly in the remote mountain villages as a dwindling echo of the past.
COVID-19: Threat and Response in Iran
Authors: Ebrahimi Mansoureh , Gassama Saikou Kawsu , Yusoff Kamaruzaman bin
Published: December 2020

The present study aims to emphasize an empirical perspective on the global scope of the COVID-19 event. The focus is that of an investigator concerned with Iran’s security and specific services used to process civil interactions. Game Theory dynamics affect uncertainty, proxy wars and the complex geopolitics of the Middle East. This often requires key players to focus on security by any means at their disposal. The maintenance of Iran’s autonomy and political security all too often require opposition to circumstances and players even while under heavy sanctions. This study seeks to answer the following questions: 1. Was this event actually a threat from the west, specifically from the US? 2. Was there an internal criminal element operating in Iran? 3. What was the nature of Iran’s response politically and socially concerning the pandemic? These objectives initially concern scrutinizing the extent of terrorist or criminal violations identified by Western authorities regarding Iran’s hegemonic involvement, particularly in Iraq. Secondly, we examine impacts from the Coronavirus threat that changed Iran’s focus in response to the US politically, and on her ability to effectively manage the COVID-19 contagion internally. Thirdly, the epidemic’s effects on Iranians. The investigation draws on literature and facts to analyze these impacts. The pandemic threatened Iran’s social and political stability and served to further distance the government from its people. This is, therefore, treated as a serious condition with potentially exponential effects on national security.
The Problem with Sandra
Authors: Milford Stephen
Published: December 2020

The orangutan, Sandra, has been legally granted the status of ‘non-human person.’ Although, a great victory for those who promote animal rights, this has raised questions about the contemporary approaches to personhood. Recent relational ontological shifts, evident in both secular and theological anthropology, risks unfortunate consequences. Like a snake eating its own tail, without proper circumspection, relational ontology is in danger of postulating a problematic circularity of persons creating persons out of nothing. This article explores these recent shifts, the possible pitfalls of relational ontology, and proposes certain theological desiderata.
R2P and Prevention: The International Community and Its Role in the Determinants of Mass Atrocity
Authors: Bohm Alexandra , Brown Garrett Wallace
Published: December 2020

There has been increased focus on atrocity prevention and the preventative elements associated with Pillar ii of the Responsibility to Protect. Policymakers and academics have offered a range of short-term preventative measures available so that the international community can better fulfil its Pillar ii responsibilities. This article challenges this current R2P thinking by arguing that its short-termism insufficiently focuses on de-escalation of risk within already present cycles of violence while dealing superficially with long-term causes and the ways in which the international community is a contributing factor in underwriting systemic and structural determinants of violence which erode state resilience against mass atrocity. As an alternative, this article examines a number of ways in which key actors of the international community contribute to determinants of mass violence and further offer recommendations for how they could better discharge their long-term preventative responsibilities by first reforming their own practices.
75 Years of International Law-Making at the United Nations
Authors: de Serpa Soares Miguel
Published: December 2020

For the last 75 years, the UN has been placed at the centre of international law-making. The Organization can be considered both as a place where international law is discussed, made and interpreted by its Member States and as a proper actor, with its own international legal personality, voice and practice, engaged in the creation and implementation of international law.

This article considers the extraordinary position of the UN in providing a unique contribution to the development, codification and implementation of international law in branches ranging from the law of treaties to the legal principles governing the protection and preservation of the marine environment or the criminal accountability for graves violations of international humanitarian law.

On its 75th anniversary, the Organization has demonstrated its flexibility and adaptability to the changing priorities and concerns of the international community and facilitated the commitment of its Member States to multilateralism and the principles enshrined in the Charter signed on 26 June 1945 in San Francisco. Indeed, the outlook for the next 25 years of international law-making at the UN looks brighter than it may at first appear.
The Loshn Koydesh Component in Contemporary Hasidic Yiddish
Authors: Belk Zoë , Kahn Lily , Szendrői Kriszta Eszter
Published: December 2020

The loshn koydesh (Hebrew and Aramaic) component has historically influenced the development of Yiddish lexis and grammar. We examine its contemporary use among 26 native speakers of contemporary Hasidic Yiddish from Israel, New York, and London using a written questionnaire examining the gender of loshn koydesh nouns, periphrastic verbs with a Hebrew/Aramaic element, and adjectives derived from the loshn koydesh element of periphrastics. Our findings show that there are differences on both the geographical and gender axes, many of which are consistent with the speakers’ varied exposure to Modern Hebrew, English, and loshn koydesh. We also found that the loshn koydesh component has developed since the pre-War stage of the language in ways that seem to affect contemporary Hasidic Yiddish usage in all locations and for both genders. We take these developments to provide evidence for the existence of this newly emergent variety of Yiddish – Contemporary Hasidic Yiddish.
The identity of Rasbora neilgherriensis (Teleostei: Danionidae), with a re-description
Authors: THAMPY DENCIN RONS , KURIAN AGIN GEORGE , DEVI K. REMA , KUMAR RAHUL G.
Published: December 2020

Rasbora neilgherriensis Day, long considered a synonym of Rasbora daniconius or Rasbora dandia, is re-described and shown to be a valid species based on an examination of type and recently-acquired topotypical specimens from the Western Ghats of India. The species is characterised by a complete lateral line with 32–34 pored scales on body, ½5–6/1/2½ scales in transverse line on body, a mid-lateral stripe that is 2½ scales wide anterior to the pelvic fin and 1–1½ scales wide on the caudal peduncle, and a caudal fin that is emarginate to forked with broadly rounded lobes. The species was recorded from the Cauvery River Basin in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India, at elevations ranging from 710 m to 2015 m above sea level, in stream stretches with relatively denser riparian canopy cover.
Four new species of the genus Pseudosubhimalus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Indian subcontinent
Authors: NIRANJANA G.N. , MESHRAM NARESH M. , STUTI STUTI , SUNIL SUNIL , NIKOSHE AKASH PRAKASH
Published: December 2020

Four new species of leafhoppers, Pseudosubhimalus asymmetricus sp. nov. (Himachal Pradesh: Katrain), P. dalangensis sp. nov. (Himachal Pradesh: Dalang), P. katraini sp. nov. (Himachal Pradesh: Katrain), P. lachungensis sp. nov. (Sikkim: Lachung), are described from the Indian subcontinent. A checklist and key to the species of Pseudosubhimalus are provided.
­­A new species and a key to 10 species of the genus Lemba Huang, 1983 (Orthoptera: Catantopidae) from China
Authors: YIN HAI-XIANG , SHEN WEI-XING , YIN ZHAN
Published: December 2020

A new species and a key to 10 species of the genus Lemba Huang, 1983, namely Lemba wushanensis sp. nov. is described in this paper from China. The new species is similar to L. sichuanensis Ma et al, 1994, but differs from the latter by the length of tegmen 2.7 times width in male, length of interspace of mesosternum 3.5 times width in male, posterior margin of epiproct straight; ancorae of epiphallus not inward tilt and vertical diameter 1.8 times subocular furrow in female. The type specimens are deposited in the Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China.
Effect of Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter Sampling Volume Size on Measurements of Turbulence
Authors: Kazemi Mohammad , Khorsandi Babak , Mydlarski Laurent
Published: December 2020

The relatively large sampling volume of acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADVs) is expected to influence their measurement of turbulence. To study this effect, a series of experiments using different sampling volume sizes was conducted in an axisymmetric turbulent jet. The results show that the mean velocities are not significantly affected by the size of the sampling volume. On the other hand, reducing the sampling volume size results in an increase in the variances of the u and υ velocities, while its effect on the variance of the w velocity is negligible. Application of a noise-reduction method to the data renders the velocity variances nearly independent of sampling volume size, suggesting that the difference was mainly due to Doppler noise. The principal conclusion of this work is, therefore, that—as long as the characteristic length of sampling volume is much smaller than the integral length scale of flow—increasing the sampling volume size (i.e., increasing spatial averaging over highly correlated scatterers) can reduce Doppler noise and result in more accurate measurements of the velocity variances. Application of noise-reduction methods to the data is found to be especially important when the sampling volume size is reduced to capture smaller scales, or for near-boundary measurements. Furthermore, noise due to mean velocity shear, even at the largest velocity gradient along the jet radial profile, is found to be negligible in the present work.
Quantitative expression of Ikaros, IRF4, and PSMD10 proteins predicts survival in VRD-treated patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Misiewicz-Krzeminska Irena , de Ramón Cristina , Corchete Luis A. , Krzeminski Patryk , Rojas Elizabeta A. , Isidro Isabel , García-Sanz Ramón , Martínez-López Joaquín , Oriol Albert , Bladé Joan , Lahuerta Juan-José , San Miguel Jesús , Rosiñol Laura , Mateos María-Victoria , Gutiérrez Norma C.
Published: December 2020

The search for biomarkers based on the mechanism of drug action has not been thoroughly addressed in the therapeutic approaches to multiple myeloma (MM), mainly because of the difficulty in analyzing proteins obtained from purified plasma cells. Here, we investigated the prognostic impact of the expression of 12 proteins involved in the mechanism of action of bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (VRD), quantified by capillary nanoimmunoassay, in CD138-purified samples from 174 patients with newly diagnosed MM treated according to the PETHEMA/GEM2012 study. A high level of expression of 3 out of 5 proteasome components tested (PSMD1, PSMD4, and PSMD10) negatively influenced survival. The 5 analyzed proteins involved in lenalidomide’s mode of action were associated with time to progression (TTP); low levels of cereblon and IRF4 protein and high levels of Ikaros, AGO2, and Aiolos were significantly associated with shorter TTP. Although the glucocorticoid receptor (GCR) level by itself had no significant impact on MM prognosis, a high XPO1 (exportin 1)/GCR ratio was associated with shorter TTP and progression-free survival (PFS). The multivariate Cox model identified high levels of PSMD10 (hazard ratio [HR] TTP, 3.49; P = .036; HR PFS, 5.33; P = .004) and Ikaros (HR TTP, 3.01, P = .014; HR PFS, 2.57; P = .028), and low levels of IRF4 protein expression (HR TTP, 0.33; P = .004; HR PFS, 0.35; P = .004) along with high-risk cytogenetics (HR TTP, 3.13; P < .001; HR PFS, 2.69; P = .002), as independently associated with shorter TTP and PFS. These results highlight the value of assessing proteins related to the mechanism of action of drugs used in MM for predicting treatment outcome.
NADPH oxidase correction by mRNA transfection of apheresis granulocytes in chronic granulomatous disease
Authors: De Ravin Suk See , Brault Julie , Meis Ronald J. , Li Linhong , Theobald Narda , Bonifacino Aylin C. , Lei Hong , Liu Taylor Q. , Koontz Sherry , Corsino Cristina , Zarakas Marissa A. , Desai Jigar V. , Clark Aaron B. , Choi Uimook , Metzger Mark E. , West Kamille , Highfill Steven L. , Kang Elizabeth , Kuhns Douglas B. , Lionakis Michail S. , Stroncek David F. , Dunbar Cynthia E. , Tisdale John F. , Donahue Robert E. , Dahl Gary A. , Malech Harry L.
Published: December 2020

Granulocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) have dysfunctional phagocyte reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase that fails to generate sufficient antimicrobial reactive oxidative species. CGD patients with severe persistent fungal or bacterial infection who do not respond to antibiotic therapy may be given apheresis-derived allogeneic granulocyte transfusions from healthy volunteers to improve clearance of intractable infections. Allogeneic granulocyte donors are not HLA matched, so patients who receive the donor granulocyte products may develop anti-HLA alloimmunity. This not only precludes future use of allogeneic granulocytes in an alloimmunized CGD recipient, but increases the risk of graft failure of those recipients who go on to need an allogeneic bone marrow transplant. Here, we provide the first demonstration of efficient functional restoration of CGD patient apheresis granulocytes by messenger RNA (mRNA) electroporation using a scalable, Good Manufacturing Practice–compliant system to restore protein expression and NADPH oxidase function. Dose-escalating clinical-scale in vivo studies in a nonhuman primate model verify the feasibility, safety, and persistence in peripheral blood of infusions of mRNA-transfected autologous granulocyte-enriched apheresis cells, supporting this novel therapeutic approach as a potential nonalloimmunizing adjunct treatment of intractable infections in CGD patients.
High progression-free survival after intermediate intensity double unit cord blood transplantation in adults
Authors: Barker Juliet N. , Devlin Sean M. , Naputo Kristine A. , Skinner Kelcey , Maloy Molly A. , Flynn Lisa , Anagnostou Theodora , Avecilla Scott T. , Scaradavou Andromachi , Cho Christina , Dahi Parastoo B. , Giralt Sergio A. , Gyurkocza Boglarka , Hanash Alan M. , Hsu Katharine , Jakubowski Ann A. , Papadopoulos Esperanza B. , Peled Jonathan U. , Perales Miguel-Angel , Sauter Craig S. , Shah Gunjan L. , Shaffer Brian C. , Tamari Roni , Young James W. , Roshal Mikhail , O’Reilly Richard J. , Ponce Doris M. , Politikos Ioannis
Published: December 2020

Cord blood transplantation (CBT) after high intensity or nonmyeloablative conditioning has limitations. We investigated cyclosporine-A/mycophenolate mofetil–based intermediate intensity (cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg, fludarabine 150 mg/m2, thiotepa 10 mg/kg, total body irradiation 400 cGy) unmanipulated double-unit CBT (dCBT) with prioritization of unit quality and CD34+ cell dose in graft selection. Ninety adults (median age, 47 years [range, 21-63]; median hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index, 2 [range, 0-8]; 61 [68%] acute leukemia) received double-unit grafts (median CD34+ cell dose, 1.3 × 105/kg per unit [range, 0.2-8.3]; median donor-recipient human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match, 5/8 [range 3-7/8]). The cumulative incidences of sustained CB engraftment, day 180 grade III-IV acute, and 3-year chronic graft-versus-host disease were 99%, 24%, and 7%, respectively. Three-year transplant-related mortality (TRM) and relapse incidences were 15% and 9%, respectively. Three-year overall survival (OS) is 82%, and progression-free survival (PFS) is 76%. Younger age and higher engrafting unit CD34+ cell dose both improved TRM and OS, although neither impacted PFS. Engrafting unit-recipient HLA match was not associated with any outcome with a 3-year PFS of 79% in 39 patients engrafting with 3-4/8 HLA-matched units. In 52 remission acute leukemia patients, there was no association between minimal residual disease (MRD) and 3-year PFS: MRD negative of 88% vs MRD positive of 77% (P = .375). Intermediate intensity dCBT is associated with high PFS. Use of highly HLA mismatched and unmanipulated grafts permits wide application of this therapy, and the low relapse rates support robust graft-versus-leukemia effects even in patients with MRD.
A Hyper-redundant Elephant’s Trunk Robot with an Open Structure: Design, Kinematics, Control and Prototype
Authors: Zhao Yongjie , Song Xiaogang , Zhang Xingwei , Lu Xinjian
Published: December 2020

As for the complex operational tasks in the unstructured environment with narrow workspace and numerous obstacles, the traditional robots cannot accomplish these mentioned complex operational tasks and meet the dexterity demands. The hyper-redundant bionic robots can complete complex tasks in the unstructured environments by simulating the motion characteristics of the elephant’s trunk and octopus tentacles. Compared with traditional robots, the hyper-redundant bionic robots can accomplish complex tasks because of their flexible structure. A hyper-redundant elephant’s trunk robot (HRETR) with an open structure is developed in this paper. The content includes mechanical structure design, kinematic analysis, virtual prototype simulation, control system design, and prototype building. This design is inspired by the flexible motion of an elephant’s trunk, which is expansible and is composed of six unit modules, namely, 3UPS-PS parallel in series. First, the mechanical design of the HRETR is completed according to the motion characteristics of an elephant’s trunk and based on the principle of mechanical bionic design. After that, the backbone mode method is used to establish the kinematic model of the robot. The simulation software SolidWorks and ADAMS are combined to analyze the kinematic characteristics when the trajectory of the end moving platform of the robot is assigned. With the help of ANSYS, the static stiffness of each component and the whole robot is analyzed. On this basis, the materials of the weak parts of the mechanical structure and the hardware are selected reasonably. Next, the extensible structures of software and hardware control system are constructed according to the modular and hierarchical design criteria. Finally, the prototype is built and its performance is tested. The proposed research provides a method for the design and development for the hyper-redundant bionic robot.
Yolk sac tumor in intraabdominal undescended testis in a child with normal serum alpha-fetoprotein: a rare case report
Authors: Gupta Archika , Kureel Shiv Narain , Bhalla Shalini , Pandey Anand , Singh Gurmeet , Rai Rahul Kumar , Gupta Survesh Kumar
Published: December 2020

Background

Intraabdominal testicular tumors are rare in prepubertal children, and most of the cases reported are intraabdominal testicular teratoma. The present study reports the first case of intraabdominal testicular yolk sac tumor (YST) with normal preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein levels and diagnosis confirmed on histopathology and immunohistochemistry.

Case Presentation

A 2-year-old boy presented with bilateral nonpalpable undescended testes (UDT) and abdominal mass. Preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein was normal. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan of whole abdomen revealed a heterogeneous mildly enhancing space-occupying lesion in midline and left side of pelvis, left intraabdominal testis and nonvisualization of right testis. During surgery, the mass was found to involve right testis with one turn of torsion of its pedicle. Derotation of testis was performed, and right radical orchiectomy was performed. Left orchiopexy was also performed at the same time. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed diagnosis of intraabdominal testicular YST. There was no recurrence or distant metastasis at 12-month follow-up after surgery.

Conclusion

In a case of nonpalpable UDT and abdominal mass/pain, one should always consider possibility of intraabdominal testicular tumor and should investigate the case with serum tumor markers and ultrasound/CECT abdomen. Further, histology of tumor helps in guiding treatment of condition.
High-throughput analysis suggests differences in journal false discovery rate by subject area and impact factor but not open access status
Authors: Hall L. M. , Hendricks A. E.
Published: December 2020

Background

A low replication rate has been reported in some scientific areas motivating the creation of resource intensive collaborations to estimate the replication rate by repeating individual studies. The substantial resources required by these projects limits the number of studies that can be repeated and consequently the generalizability of the findings. We extend the use of a method from Jager and Leek to estimate the false discovery rate for 94 journals over a 5-year period usingpvalues from over 30,000 abstracts enabling the study of how the false discovery rate varies by journal characteristics.

Results

We find that the empirical false discovery rate is higher for cancer versus general medicine journals (p = 9.801E−07, 95% CI: 0.045, 0.097; adjusted mean false discovery rate cancer = 0.264 vs. general medicine = 0.194). We also find that false discovery rate is negatively associated with log journal impact factor. A two-fold decrease in journal impact factor is associated with an average increase of 0.020 in FDR (p = 2.545E−04). Conversely, we find no statistically significant evidence of a higher false discovery rate, on average, for Open Access versus closed access journals (p = 0.320, 95% CI − 0.015, 0.046, adjusted mean false discovery rate Open Access = 0.241 vs. closed access = 0.225).

Conclusions

Our results identify areas of research that may need additional scrutiny and support to facilitate replicable science. Given our publicly available R code and data, others can complete a broad assessment of the empirical false discovery rate across other subject areas and characteristics of published research.
Three functional mutation sites affect the immune response of pigs through altering the expression pattern and IgV domain of the CD4 protein
Authors: Zhang Weiya , Ni Juan , Zhang Jie , Zhang Lu , Zhou Huanhuan , Zhao Changzhi , Zhu Mengjin , Wang Haiyan , Han Jianlin , Li Xinyun , Zhao Shuhong
Published: December 2020

Background

The CD4 protein is an important surface marker of T lymphocytes, which can mediate the antigen presentation process by interacting with MHC II and TCR molecules in human and mouse.

Results

In this study, two haplotypes (A and B) of theCD4gene were found within Chinese indigenous and Western commercial pig breeds. These two haplotypes were defined by 22 fully linked SNPs in the CDS region of theCD4gene. The expression level and localization of the CD4 protein were significantly different between haplotypes A and B. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the immune response-related genes and signaling pathways were down-regulated in genotype AA. Finally, three linked functional SNPs were identified, which affected the expression level and membrane localization of the CD4 protein in pigs. These three SNPs led to the replacements of two amino acids in the IgV1 domain of the CD4 protein, and related to the function of the CD4 protein in the immune response.

Conclusion

These three linked SNPs were the key functional mutation sites in theCD4gene, which played important roles in the immune response, and could be utilized as new molecular markers in breeding for disease resistance in pigs.
Yes, we can use it: a formal test on the accuracy of low-pass nanopore long-read sequencing for mitophylogenomics and barcoding research using the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus
Authors: Baeza J. Antonio
Published: December 2020

Background

Whole mitogenomes or short fragments (i.e., 300–700 bp of thecox1gene) are the markers of choice for revealing within- and among-species genealogies. Protocols for sequencing and assembling mitogenomes include ‘primer walking’ or ‘long PCR’ followed by Sanger sequencing or Illumina short-read low-coverage whole genome (LC-WGS) sequencing with or without prior enrichment of mitochondrial DNA. The aforementioned strategies assemble complete and accurate mitochondrial genomes but are time consuming and/or expensive. In this study, I first tested whether mitogenomes can be sequenced from long-read nanopore sequencing data exclusively. Second, I explored the accuracy of the long-read assembled genomes by comparing them to a ‘gold’ standard reference mitogenome retrieved from the same individual using Illumina sequencing. Third and lastly, I tested if the long-read assemblies are useful for mitophylogenomics and barcoding research. To accomplish these goals, I used the Caribbean spiny lobsterPanulirus argus, an ecologically relevant species in shallow water coral reefs and target of the most lucrative fishery in the greater Caribbean region.

Results

LC-WGS using a MinION ONT device and variousde-novoandreference-basedassembly pipelines retrieved a complete and highly accurate mitogenome for the Caribbean spiny lobsterPanulirus argus. Discordance between each of the long-read assemblies and the reference mitogenome was mostly due to indels at the flanks of homopolymer regions. Although not ‘perfect’, phylogenetic analyses using entire mitogenomes or a fragment of thecox1gene demonstrated that mitogenomes assembled using long reads reliably identify the sequenced specimen as belonging toP. argusand distinguish it from other related species in the same genus, family, and superorder.

Conclusions

This study serves as aproof-of-conceptfor the future implementation of in-situ surveillance protocols using the MinION to detect mislabeling inP. argusacross its supply chain. Mislabeling detection will improve fishery management in this overexploited lobster. This study will additionally aid in decreasing costs for exploring meta-population connectivity in the Caribbean spiny lobster and will aid with the transfer of genomics technology to low-income countries.
Under fire-simultaneous volatilome and transcriptome analysis unravels fine-scale responses of tansy chemotypes to dual herbivore attack
Authors: Clancy Mary V. , Haberer Georg , Jud Werner , Niederbacher Bishu , Niederbacher Simon , Senft Matthias , Zytynska Sharon E. , Weisser Wolfgang W. , Schnitzler Jörg-Peter
Published: December 2020

Background

Tansy plants (Tanacetum vulgare L.) are known for their high intraspecific chemical variation, especially of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the terpenoid compound group. These VOCs are closely involved in plant-insect interactions and, when profiled, can be used to classify plants into groups known as chemotypes. Tansy chemotypes have been shown to influence plant-aphid interactions, however, to date no information is available on the response of different tansy chemotypes to simultaneous herbivory by more than one insect species.

Results

Using a multi-cuvette system, we investigated the responses of five tansy chemotypes to feeding by sucking and/or chewing herbivores (aphids and caterpillars; Metopeurum fuscoviride Stroyan and Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval). Herbivory by caterpillars following aphid infestation led to a plant chemotype-specific change in the patterns of terpenoids stored in trichome hairs and in VOC emissions. The transcriptomic analysis of a plant chemotype represents the first de novo assembly of a transcriptome in tansy and demonstrates priming effects of aphids on a subsequent herbivory. Overall, we show that the five chemotypes do not react in the same way to the two herbivores. As expected, we found that caterpillar feeding increased VOC emissions, however, a priori aphid infestation only led to a further increase in VOC emissions for some chemotypes.

Conclusions

We were able to show that different chemotypes respond to the double herbivore attack in different ways, and that pre-treatment with aphids had a priming effect on plants when they were subsequently exposed to a chewing herbivore. If neighbouring chemotypes in a field population react differently to herbivory/dual herbivory, this could possibly have effects from the individual level to the group level. Individuals of some chemotypes may respond more efficiently to herbivory stress than others, and in a group environment these “louder” chemotypes may affect the local insect community, including the natural enemies of herbivores, and other neighbouring plants.
Novel stromal biomarker screening in pancreatic cancer patients using the in vitro cancer-stromal interaction model
Authors: Nishida Yasunori , Nagatsuma Akiko Kawano , Kojima Motohiro , Gotohda Naoto , Ochiai Atsushi
Published: December 2020

Background

Stromal fibroblasts associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) play an important role in tumor progression through interactions with cancer cells. Our proposed combination strategies of in vitro and in silico biomarker screening through a cancer-stromal interaction model were previously identified several actin-binding proteins in human colon cancer stroma. The main aim of the present study was to identify novel prognostic markers in human PDAC stroma using our strategies.

Methods

Five primary cultivated fibroblasts from human pancreas were stimulated by two types of pancreatic cancer-cell-conditioned medium (Capan-1 and MIA PaCa-2) followed by gene expression analysis to identify up-regulated genes. Publicly available microarray data set concomitant with overall survival was collected and prognostic marker candidates were selected among the genes that were found to be up-regulated. The mRNA expression levels of the selected genes were evaluated in 5 human fresh PDAC tissues. Finally, survival analysis was performed based on immunohistochemical results on tissue microarrays consisting of 216 surgically resected PDAC tissues.

Results

The microarray data of the cancer-stromal interaction model revealed that 188 probes were significantly regulated in pancreatic fibroblasts. Further, six genes were selected using publicly available microarray data set, and a single Diaphanous-related formin-3 (DIAPH3), actin-binding protein, was identified as a stromal biomarker in PDAC fibroblasts by RNA validation analysis. DIAPH3 exhibited strong immunohistochemical expression in stromal fibroblasts. The high stromal expression of DIAPH3 was associated with shorter survival times of PDAC patients.

Conclusions

DIAPH3 was identified as a prognostic marker in PDAC fibroblasts using our biomarker screening strategies through the cancer-stromal interaction model, indicating that stromal actin-binding proteins might have an important biological role in cancer progression. These strategies were also available in PDAC, and can be used for stromal biomarker screening in various cancers.
Antimicrobial resistance among GLASS pathogens in conflict and non-conflict affected settings in the Middle East: a systematic review
Authors: Truppa Claudia , Abo-Shehada Mahmoud N.
Published: December 2020

Background

In spite of the evident general negative effects of armed conflict on countries’ health systems and populations’ health outcomes, little is known about similar impacts of conflicts on the spread of antimicrobial resistances (AMR). This review was to address this evidence gap and describe:

Patterns of AMR in the Middle East (ME) and resistance profiles of pathogens included in the Global AMR Surveillance System (GLASS) supported by the World Health Organization;

Differences in proportions of AMR isolates between conflict and non-conflict countries.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and searching five electronic databases. Subject heading and free text were searched for “antimicrobial resistances” and “Middle East”, to identify observational studies on AMR published from January 2011 to June 2018. Data were extracted from included articles on a predefined set of variables. Percentages of AMR were analysed as median and interquartile ranges. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results

A total of 132 articles met the inclusion criteria. Included studies showed heterogeneity in study design, laboratory methods and standards for interpretation of results, and an overall high risk of bias. Main findings were the following:

High proportions of carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter spp. (median 74.2%), and both carbapenem resistance (median 8.1 and 15.4% for E. coli and K. pneumoniae respectively) and ESBL-production (median 32.3 and 27.9% for E. coli and K. pneumoniae respectively) amongst Enterobacteriaceae. S. aureus isolates showed a median methicillin resistance percentage of 45.1%, while vancomycin resistance was almost absent. A median of 50% of the strains of S. pneumoniae showed non-susceptibility to penicillin.

Similar trends were observed in conflict and non-conflict affected countries.

Conclusions

There is a lack of standardization in the methodological approach to AMR research in the Middle East. The proportion of antibiotic resistances among specific GLASS pathogens is high, particularly among Acinetobacter spp.
Pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage among Bhutanese children hospitalized with clinical pneumonia: serotypes and viral co-infection
Authors: Jullien Sophie , Sharma Ragunath , Lhamu Mynak Mimi , Henares Desiree , Muñoz-Almagro Carmen , Bassat Quique
Published: December 2020

Background

Pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization (PNC) generally precedes pneumococcal disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of PNC and to identify the pneumococcal serotypes circulating among Bhutanese children under five years of age admitted with clinical pneumonia, before the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in the country. We also aimed to contribute to the understanding of the interplay between PNC and viral co-infection among this population.

Methods

This was a prospective study conducted at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Bhutan over 12 consecutive months. Children aged 2 to 59 months admitted with WHO-defined clinical pneumonia were eligible for recruitment. We collected blood for bacterial culture and molecular identification of S. pneumoniae, and nasopharyngeal washing for screening of respiratory viruses, and for the detection and capsular typing of S. pneumoniae by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

Overall, 189 children were recruited, and PNC was tested in 121 of them (64.0%). PNC was found in 76/121 children (62.8%) and S. pneumoniae was identified in blood (both by culture and RT-PCR) in a single child. Respiratory viruses were detected in a similar proportion among children with (62/70; 88.6%) and without PNC (36/40; 90.0%; p = 1.000), but rhinovirus detection was less common among children with PNC (20/70; 28.6% versus 19/40; 47.5%; p = 0.046). Capsular typing identified 30 different serotypes. Thirty-nine children (51.3%) were colonised with two to five different serotypes. A third of the children presented with serotypes considered highly invasive. Over half of the children (44/76; 57.9%) were carrying at least one serotype included in PCV13.

Conclusions

This study provides baseline information on the status of PNC among Bhutanese children admitted with clinical pneumonia prior to the introduction of PCV13, which is valuable to monitor its potential impact. PCV13 could theoretically have averted up to 58% of the pneumococcal infections among the children in this study, suggesting a future role for the vaccine to significantly reduce the burden associated with S. pneumoniae in Bhutan.
Lactation challenges of resident physicians- results of a national survey
Authors: Peters Gabrielle W. , Kuczmarska-Haas Aleksandra , Holliday Emma B. , Puckett Lindsay
Published: December 2020

Background

There are unique challenges to parenting in residency and there is limited data to guide policy regarding lactation facilities and support for female physicians-in-training. We aimed to assess issues surrounding breast-feeding during graduate medical training for current residents or recent graduates from United States (US) residency programs.

Methods

A national cross-sectional survey was sent to current and recently graduated (2017 and later) female residents in June 2020. This questionnaire was administered using the Qualtrics Survey tool and was open to each participating woman’s organization for 4 weeks. Summary statistics were used to describe characteristics of all respondents and free-text responses were reviewed to identify common themes regarding avenues for improvement.

Results

Three hundred twelve women responded to the survey, representing a 15.6% response rate. The median duration of providing breastmilk was 9 months (IQR 6–12). 21% of residents reported access to usable lactation rooms within their training hospital, in which 12% reported a computer was present. 60% of lactating residents reported not having a place to store breast milk. 73% reported residency limited their ability to lactate, and 37% stopped prior to their desired goal. 40% reported their faculty and/or co-residents made them feel guilty for their decision to breastfeed, and 56% reported their difficulties with breastfeeding during residency impacted their mental health.

Conclusion

Residents who become mothers during training face significant obstacles to meeting their breastfeeding/pumping needs and goals. With these barriers defined, informed policy change can be instituted to improve the lactation experience for physicians-in-training.
Trends and correlates of cesarean section rates over two decades in Nepal
Authors: Bhandari Aliza K. C. , Dhungel Bibha , Rahman Mahbubur
Published: December 2020

Background

Cesarean section (CS) is a major component of emergency obstetric care. There has been a substantial rise in the rate of CS in private institutions in Nepal which might reflect the successful implementation of delivery schemes introduced by the government extended to the private organizations alternatively, it may also reflect the need for more public health care facilities to provide maternal and child health care services. Hence, the objective of this study was to examine the trends in institutional-based CS rates in Nepal along with its correlates over time.

Methods

We used the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data collected every 5 years, from 1996 to 2016. The trend in CS rates based on five waves of NDHS data along with its correlates were examined using multivariable logistic regression models after adjusting for socio-demographics and pregnancy-related variables.

Results

We included 20,824 reproductive-aged women who had a history of delivery within the past 5 years. The population-based CS rate increased from 0.9% in 1996 [95% CI: (0.6–1.2) %] to 10.2% in 2016 [95% CI: (8.9–11.6) %, p < 0.01] whereas the institutional-based CS rate increased from 10.4% in 1996 [95% CI: (8.3–12.9) %] to 16.4% in 2016 [95% CI: (14.5–18.5) %, p < 0.01]. Private institutions had a nearly 3-fold increase in CS rate (8.9% in 1996 [95% CI: (4.8–16.0) %] vs. 26.3% in 2016[95% CI: (21.9–31.3) %]. This was also evident in the trend analysis where the odds of having CS was 3.58 times higher [95% CI: (1.83–7.00), p < 0.01] in 2016 than in 1996 in the private sectors, while there was no evidence of an increase in public hospitals (10.9% in 1996 to 12.9% in 2016; p for trend > 0.05). Education of women, residence, wealth index, parity and place of delivery were significantly associated with the CS rate.

Conclusion

Nepal has observed a substantial increase in cesarean delivery over the 20 years, which might indicate a successful implementation of the safe motherhood program in addressing the Millennium Development Goals and Universal Health Care agenda on maternal and child health. However, the Nepal government should examine existing disparities in accessibility of emergency obstetric care services, such as differences in CS between public and private sectors, and promote equity in maternal and child health care services accessibility and utilization.
Accelerated fetal growth in early pregnancy and risk of preterm birth: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Elenis Evangelia , Wikström Anna-Karin , Simic Marija
Published: December 2020

Background

Preterm birth (occurring before 37 completed weeks of gestation) affects 15 million infants annually, 7.5% of which die due to related complications. The detection and early diagnosis are therefore paramount in order to prevent the development of prematurity and its consequences. So far, focus has been laid on the association between reduced intrauterine fetal growth during late gestation and prematurity. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between accelerated fetal growth in early pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth.

Methods

This prospective cohort study included 69,617 singleton pregnancies without congenital malformations and with available biometric measurements during the first and second trimester. Estimation of fetal growth was based on measurements of biparietal diameter (BPD) at first and second trimester scan. We investigated the association between accelerated fetal growth and preterm birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation. The outcome was further stratified into very preterm birth (before 32 weeks of gestation) or moderate preterm birth (between 32 and 37 weeks of gestation) and medically induced or spontaneous preterm birth and was further explored.

Results

The odds of prematurity were increased among fetuses with accelerated BPD growth (> 90th centile) estimated between first and second ultrasound scan, even after adjustment for possible confounders (aOR 1.36; 95% CI 1.20–1.54). The findings remained significant what regards moderate preterm births but not very preterm births. Regarding medically induced preterm birth, the odds were found to be elevated in the group of fetuses with accelerated growth in early pregnancy (aOR 1.34; 95% CI 1.11–1.63). On the contrary, fetuses with delayed fetal growth exhibited lower odds for both overall and spontaneous preterm birth.

Conclusions

Fetuses with accelerated BPD growth in early pregnancy, detected by ultrasound examination during the second trimester, exhibited increased odds of being born preterm. The findings of the current study suggest that fetal growth in early pregnancy should be taken into account when assessing the risk for preterm birth.