bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time series momentum trading in green stocks
Authors: Chakrabarti Gagari , Sen Chitrakalpa
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the inherent instability, if any, in the context of investment in stocks of environment friendly companies (or the “green” stocks) across the globe using the time series momentum (TSM) trading strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the monthly data for the Green Indexes from the USA, the Europe and the Asia-Pacific region over 2003-2019, the authors construct TSM trading strategies to examine the efficacy of regional Green Indexes as well as two diversified global green portfolios to offer abnormal return to attract investors, particularly speculators. The authors’ explore further whether such strategies could operate as hedging instrument. A comparison of results across different regions helps the authors establish a universal nature, if any, of investment in green stocks.

Findings

The study finds that regional Green Indexes are unable to outperform the market. The global green portfolios perform significantly better. The inefficacy of the relevant time series momentum trading strategies rules out the possibility of speculations. However, the number of profitable momentum strategies is significantly higher for the diversified portfolios in longer run. The portfolios perform significantly better in outperforming the buy-only strategies as well. The stable market, escalated demand and the resulting increment in valuation of green stocks make adoption of greener technologies a choice rather than a forced obligation. This offers a solution to the problem of Tragedy of Common.

Originality/value

Sustained increase in investment in green stocks is crucial from an environment perspective, as better valuation of their stocks would indubitably convince firms to reduce their carbon footprints. A continued enthusiasm however would require investors’ faith in it. Presence of momentum profit would invite speculators leading to irrational exuberance, dwindling confidence and consequent fragility. Literature on green investment is relatively sparse with the threat of its vulnerability issues left largely unnoticed. The authors’ study fills these gaps.
‘Democratic Socialism’ and the Concept of (Post)Capitalism
Authors: Bolton Matt
Published: March 2020

This article explores the ‘democratic socialism’ being proposed by new left movements on either side of the Atlantic, and evaluates its claim to be a form of anti‐ or postcapitalism. It argues that in the democratic socialist worldview, the line between capitalism and socialism rests on the balance of power between workers and capitalists in the economic sphere. While traditional social democracy seeks to redistribute wealth but leaves relations between workers and capitalists within firms untouched, democratic socialism seeks to abolish private property in the economic sphere. Production is controlled democratically by the workers themselves, in league with a workers’ state. The article critically appraises the claim that such a scenario constitutes a form of postcapitalism. Drawing on the work of critical Marxists such as Moishe Postone, it argues that capitalism is not primarily defined by private property relations in the economic sphere, but rather the peculiar social form of capitalist labour. Unlike in pre‐capitalist societies, for labour in capitalism to secure a continued basis on which to reproduce the means of subsistence, it must be socially validated as ‘value‐producing’. The criteria for value validation is not set in the workplace, or within a single nation state, but rather on the world market. The article concludes that, for all its merits, the democratisation of workplaces does not overcome the need for this social validation, but rather constitutes an alternative form of managing the process of production in this context. As such, democratic socialism, like social democracy, remains susceptible to the same imperatives and crises as other forms of capitalist production, and so cannot be said to constitute a form of ‘postcapitalism’.
Encapsulation of ellagic acid from pomegranate peels in microalgae optimized by response surface methodology and an investigation of its controlled released under simulated gastrointestinal studies
Authors: Yağmur Nuray , Şahin Saliha
Published: March 2020

Ellagic acid (EA), a naturally occurring bioactive phenolic compound largely found in pomegranate, exhibits significant health benefits due to its antioxidant, antimutagenic, and even anticancerogenic properties. The present work aimed to microencapsulate EA extracted from pomegranate peels. To improve the stability of EA, microencapsulation was applied with Spirulina as a coating material. For this purpose, ethanolic extracts obtained from pomegranate peels were used for microencapsulation. Response surface methodology combined with a three‐level, three‐variable Box‐Behnken design (BBD) was applied to obtain optimum microencapsulation. The microparticles obtained under the optimized encapsulation conditions were further characterized by FT‐IR and SEM. The results confirmed the encapsulation of EA in Spirulina cells. Then, the optimum microparticles were used in an in vitro release study. The results of the in vitro digestion with simulated gastrointestinal fluids could help to determine the content and biological activity of EA. In this study, the effect of encapsulation on the release properties of EA during simulated gastrointestinal digestion was also evaluated. HPLC‐DAD analysis and the Folin‐Ciocalteu and ABTS methods were helpful for characterization of EA in the simulated fluids. The release profile of EA indicated that in simulated intestinal fluid, the release was faster than that in gastric fluid.

Practical Application

This study describes the microencapsulation of ethanolic extracts of pomegranate peel (PP) in Spirulina. This application has been performed to improve the stability and bioavailability of EA in the extracts. Optimum microencapsulation was obtained by response surface methodology with BBD. After the characterization of the obtained optimum Spirulina/EA mixture by FT‐IR and SEM, an in vitro release study was conducted for stability research. The results will guide other researchers working on the determination of the content and biological activity of EA and on optimizing the microencapsulation process.
Co‐cultivation of Thermoanaerobacter strains with a methanogenic partner enhances glycerol conversion
Authors: Magalhães Carla Pereira , Ribeiro Joaquim A. , Guedes Ana P. , Arantes Ana L. , Sousa Diana Z. , Stams Alfons J. M. , Alves Maria M. , Cavaleiro Ana Júlia
Published: March 2020

Glycerol‐rich waste streams produced by the biodiesel, bioethanol and oleochemical industries can be treated and valorized by anaerobic microbial communities to produce methane. As current knowledge of the microorganisms involved in thermophilic glycerol conversion to methane is scarce, thermophilic glycerol‐degrading methanogenic communities were enriched. A co‐culture of Thermoanaerobacter and Methanothermobacter species was obtained, pointing to a non‐obligately syntrophic glycerol degradation. This hypothesis was further studied by incubating Thermoanaerobacter brockii subsp. finnii and T. wiegelii with glycerol (10 mM) in pure culture and with different hydrogenotrophic methanogens. The presence of the methanogen accelerated glycerol fermentation by the two Thermoanaerobacter strains up to 3.3 mM day−1, corresponding to 12 times higher volumetric glycerol depletion rates in the methanogenic co‐cultures than in the pure bacterial cultures. The catabolic pathways of glycerol conversion were identified by genome analysis of the two Thermoanaerobacter strains. NADH and reduced ferredoxin formed in the pathway are linked to proton reduction, which becomes thermodynamically favourable when the hydrogen partial pressure is kept low by the hydrogenotrophic methanogenic partner.
A linked‐read approach to museomics: Higher quality de novo genome assemblies from degraded tissues
Authors: Colella Jocelyn P. , Tigano Anna , MacManes Matthew D.
Published: March 2020

High‐throughput sequencing technologies are a proposed solution for accessing the molecular data in historical specimens. However, degraded DNA combined with the computational demands of short‐read assemblies has posed significant laboratory and bioinformatics challenges for de novo genome assembly. Linked‐read or “synthetic long‐read” sequencing technologies, such as 10× Genomics, may provide a cost‐effective alternative solution to assemble higher quality de novo genomes from degraded tissue samples. Here, we compare assembly quality (e.g., genome contiguity and completeness, presence of orthogroups) between four new deer mouse (Peromyscus spp.) genomes assembled using linked‐read technology and four published genomes assembled from a single shotgun library. At a similar price‐point, these approaches produce vastly different assemblies, with linked‐read assemblies having overall higher contiguity and completeness, measured by larger N50 values and greater number of genes assembled, respectively. As a proof‐of‐concept, we used annotated genes from the four Peromyscus linked‐read assemblies and eight additional rodent taxa to generate a phylogeny, which reconstructed the expected relationships among species with 100% support. Although not without caveats, our results suggest that linked‐read sequencing approaches are a viable option to build de novo genomes from degraded tissues, which may prove particularly valuable for taxa that are extinct, rare or difficult to collect.
ANTP‐SmacN7 fusion peptide‐induced radiosensitization in A549 cells and its potential mechanisms
Authors: Zhang Rongxin , Sun Hao , Wang Hong , Zhang Wenxue , Geng Kai , Liu Qiang , Wang Ping
Published: March 2020

Background

Radioresistance in tumors limits the curative effect of the radiotherapy. Mimetic compounds of second mitochondria‐derived activator of caspase (Smac) are potential new tumor radiation‐sensitizing drugs because they can increase radiation‐induced tumor cell apoptosis. Here, we observed the radiosensitization effect of a new Smac mimetic Antennapedia protein (ANTP)‐SmacN7 fusion peptide in A549 cells and investigated the underlying mechanisms behind the effects of this protein on tumor cells.

Methods

The ANTP‐SmacN7 fusion peptide was synthesized and linked with fluorescein isothiocyanate to observe the protein's ability to penetrate cells. A549 cells were divided into the control, radiation‐only, ANTP‐SmacN7‐only and ANTP‐SmacN7 + radiation groups. The cells were exposed to 0, 2, 4 and 6 Gy, with 20 μmol/L of ANTP‐SmacN7. The radiation‐sensitizing effects of the ANTP‐SmacN7 fusion proteins were observed via clonogenic assay. Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. A comet assay was used to assess DNA damage. The levels and degrees of cytochrome‐c, PARP, H2AX, caspase‐8, caspase‐3, and caspase‐9 activation were detected via western blot assay. The radiation sensitization of the fusion peptide, expression of γ‐H2AX and C‐PARP were compared after adding the caspase inhibitor, Z‐VAD.

Results

ANTP‐SmacN7 fusion proteins entered the cells and promoted A549 cell radiosensitization. Treatment with ANTP‐SmacN7 + radiation significantly reduced the A549 cell clone‐forming rate, increased the cytochrome‐c, cleaved caspase‐8, cleaved caspase‐3 and cleaved caspase‐9 expression levels, promoted caspase activation, and increased the rate of radiation‐induced apoptosis. The ANTP‐SmacN7 fusion peptide significantly increased radiation‐induced double‐stranded DNA rupture in the A549 cells and increased DNA damage. Adding Z‐VAD reduced the fusion peptide's proapoptotic effect but not the level of double‐stranded DNA breakage.

Conclusions

The ANTP‐SmacN7 fusion peptide exerted a remarkable radiosensitization effect on A549 cells. This protein may reduce tumor cell radioresistance by inducing caspase activation and may be a potential new Smac mimetic that can be applied in radiosensitization therapy.
Appreciation of literature by the anaesthetist: A comparison of citations, downloads and Altmetric Attention Score
Authors: Kampman Jasper M. , Hermanides Jeroen , Boere Pascal R. Q. , Hollmann Markus W.
Published: March 2020

Background

Different metrics exist to evaluate the impact of a paper. Traditionally, scientific citations are leading, but nowadays new, internet‐based, metrics like downloads or Altmetric Attention Score receive increasing attention. We hypothesised a gap between these metrics, reflected by a divergence between scientific and clinical appreciation of anaesthesia literature.

Methods

We collected the top 100 most cited and the top 100 most downloaded articles in Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica (AAS) and Anesthesia & Analgesia (A&A) published between 2014 and 2018. We analysed the relationship between the average number of citations per year, downloads per year and Altmetric Attention Score.

Results

For both AAS and A&A, a significant correlation between the 100 most cited articles and their downloads (r = .573 and .603, respectively, P < .001) was found. However, only a poor correlation with Altmetric Attention Score was determined. For the 100 most downloaded articles, download frequency did not correlate with their number of citations (r = .035 and .139 respectively), but did correlate significantly with the Altmetric Attention Score (r = .458 and .354, P < .001).

Conclusion

Highly cited articles are downloaded more frequently. The most downloaded articles, however, did not receive more citations. In contrast to the most cited articles, more frequently downloaded papers had a higher Altmetric Attention Score. Thus, a ‘trending’ anaesthesia paper is not a prerequisite for scientific appreciation, reflecting a gap between clinical and scientific appreciation of literature.
Targeting the Glucocorticoid Receptor Reduces Binge‐Like Drinking in High Drinking in the Dark (HDID‐1) Mice
Authors: Savarese Antonia M. , Ozburn Angela R. , Metten Pamela , Schlumbohm Jason P. , Hack Wyatt R. , LeMoine Kathryn , Hunt Hazel , Hausch Felix , Bauder Michael , Crabbe John C.
Published: March 2020

Background

Chronic alcohol exposure can alter glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function in some brain areas that promotes escalated and compulsive‐like alcohol intake. GR antagonism can prevent dependence‐induced escalation in drinking, but very little is known about the role of GR in regulating high‐risk nondependent alcohol intake. Here, we investigate the role of GR in regulating binge‐like drinking and aversive responses to alcohol in the High Drinking in the Dark (HDID‐1) mice, which have been selectively bred for high blood ethanol (EtOH) concentrations (BECs) in the Drinking in the Dark (DID) test, and in their founder line, the HS/NPT.

Methods

In separate experiments, male and female HDID‐1 mice were administered one of several compounds that inhibited GR or its negative regulator, FKBP51 (mifepristone [12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg/kg], CORT113176 [20, 40, 80 mg/kg], and SAFit2 [10, 20, 40 mg/kg]) during a 2‐day DID task. EtOH consumption and BECs were measured. EtOH conditioned taste and place aversion (CTA and CPA, respectively) were measured in separate HDID‐1 mice after mifepristone administration to assess GR’s role in regulating the conditioned aversive effects of EtOH. Lastly, HS/NPT mice were administered CORT113176 during DID to assess whether dissimilar effects from those of HDID‐1 would be observed, which could suggest that selective breeding had altered sensitivity to the effects of GR antagonism on binge‐like drinking.

Results

GR antagonism (with both mifepristone and CORT113176) selectively reduced binge‐like EtOH intake and BECs in the HDID‐1 mice, while inhibition of FKBP51 did not alter intake or BECs. In contrast, GR antagonism had no effect on EtOH intake or BECs in the HS/NPT mice. Although HDID‐1 mice exhibit attenuated EtOH CTA, mifepristone administration did not enhance the aversive effects of EtOH in either a CTA or CPA task.

Conclusion

These data suggest that the selection process increased sensitivity to GR antagonism on EtOH intake in the HDID‐1 mice, and support a role for the GR as a genetic risk factor for high‐risk alcohol intake.
Effect of Single‐Dose, Oral Enzymatic Porcine Placental Extract on Pharmacokinetics of Alcohol and Liver Function in Rats
Authors: Kim Hyun‐Jin , Kim Semi , Seo Jin‐Sook , Bae Gun‐Won , Kim Keun‐Nam , Kang Ju‐Seop
Published: March 2020

Background

Human placenta extract (HPE) has been used to treat a number of liver diseases. Porcine placenta is relatively safe and has been reported to have similar immune effects to HPE and used as its alternative. This study evaluates the effect of enzymatic porcine placental extract (EPPE, Uni‐Placenta®) on alcohol pharmacokinetics in rat.

Methods

This study was designed to determine the effect of single‐dose EPPE on the pharmacokinetics of alcohol and liver function. Results were based on serum alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations and activities of hepatic and gastric ADH and ALDH in rats.

Results

The hepatic ADH in alcohol group was significantly increased and it may be enzyme‐induction by alcohol. The hepatic ALDH and gastric ADH were not changed, but gastric ALDH was significantly decreased only in the high‐dose EPPE group. In the alcohol pharmacokinetics parameters, the AUC was 44.5 mM∙h in the alcohol group. Otherwise, AUCs of low, middle, high, and silymarin groups were significantly decreased. Cmax was reached at 1 hour and then gradually decreased to 63% and 43% in the middle and high groups at 3 hours, respectively, and to 92% in the low groups. The pharmacokinetics and serum concentrations of acetaldehyde showed no differences between EPPE groups except the silymarin group. No histologic changes were seen in any group.

Conclusions

The single‐dose EPPE (0.5 to 2.5 g/kg) suppressed absorption of alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract. This may be useful in preventing hangover effects and toxicity after drinking alcohol and may also preserve liver health after alcohol ingestion.
Differential Activation of Unconventional T Cells, Including iNKT Cells, in Alcohol‐Related Liver Disease
Authors: Marrero Idania , Maricic Igor , Morgan Timothy R. , Stolz Andrew A. , Schnabl Bernd , Liu Zhang‐Xu , Tsukamoto Hidekazu , Kumar Vipin
Published: March 2020

Background

Liver is enriched in several innate‐like unconventional T cells, but their role in alcohol‐related liver disease (ALD) is not fully understood. Studies in several acute alcohol feeding models but not in chronic alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) model have shown that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells play a pathogenic role in ALD. Here, we investigated the activation of iNKT cells in an intragastric (iG) infusion model of chronic ASH as well as the frequency and cytokine phenotype of 3 different unconventional T cells: iNKT, mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT), and CD8+CD161hiVα7.2− cells in peripheral blood of ALD patients.

Methods

Hepatic iNKT cells were investigated using the iG model of chronic ASH that combines feeding of high‐cholesterol/high‐fat diet (HCFD) with intragastric feeding of ethanol diet (HCFD + iG Alc). Human iNKT, MAIT, and CD8+CD161hiVα7.2− cells were examined by flow cytometry in peripheral blood of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) and chronic alcoholics (ChA) and compared with healthy controls.

Results

In the iG model of chronic ASH, IFNγ+ iNKT cells accumulate in their livers compared with pair‐fed control mice and activated hepatic iNKT cells show high expression of Fas and FasL. Notably, IFNγ+ iNKT cells are also significantly increased in peripheral blood of ChA patients compared with SAH patients. MAIT cells are significantly reduced in all ALD patients, but CD8+CD161hiVα7.2− cells are increased in SAH patients. Although MAIT and CD8+CD161hiVα7.2− cells displayed a similar cytokine production profile, the production of IFNγ and TNFα is significantly increased in SAH patients, while significant IL‐17A production is found in ChA patients.

Conclusions

We found that the 3 unconventional T cells are activated in ALD patients showing interesting differences in their frequency and cytokine production profile between SAH and ChA patients. In the iG murine model of chronic ASH, iNKT cells are also activated secreting proinflammatory cytokines suggesting their involvement in liver disease.
Source of dopamine in gastric juice and luminal dopamine‐induced duodenal bicarbonate secretion via apical dopamine D2 receptors
Authors: Feng Xiao‐Yan , Yan Jing‐Ting , Li Guang‐Wen , Liu Jing‐Hua , Fan Rui‐Fang , Li Shi‐Chao , Zheng Li‐Fei , Zhang Yue , Zhu Jin‐Xia
Published: March 2020

Background and Purpose

Dopamine protects the duodenal mucosa. Here we have investigated the source of dopamine in gastric juice and the mechanism underlying the effects of luminal dopamine on duodenal bicarbonate secretion (DBS) in rodents.

Experimental Approach

Immunofluorescence, UPLC‐MS/MS, gastric incubation and perfusion were used to detect gastric‐derived dopamine. Immunofluorescence and RT‐PCR were used to examine the expression of dopamine receptors in the duodenal mucosa. Real‐time pH titration and pHi measurement were performed to investigate DBS.

Key Results

H+‐K+‐ATPase was co‐localized with tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporters in gastric parietal cells. Dopamine was increased in in vivo gastric perfusate after intravenous infusion of histamine and in gastric mucosa incubated, in vitro, with bethanechol chloride or tyrosine. D2 receptors were the most abundant dopamine receptors in rat duodenum, mainly distributed on the apical membrane of epithelial cells. Luminal dopamine increased DBS in a concentration‐dependent manner, an effect mimicked by a D2 receptor agonist quinpirole and inhibited by the D2 receptor antagonist L741,626, in vivo D2 receptor siRNA and in D2 receptor −/− mice. Dopamine and quinpirole raised the duodenal enterocyte pHi. Quinpirole‐evoked DBS and PI3K/Akt activity were inhibited by calcium chelator BAPTA‐AM or in D2 receptor−/− mice.

Conclusion and Implications

Dopamine in the gastric juice is derived from parietal cells and is secreted along with gastric acid. On arrival in the duodenal lumen, dopamine increased DBS via an apical D2 receptor‐ and calcium‐dependent pathway. Our data provide novel insights into the protective effects of dopamine on the duodenal mucosa.
Improved efficacy, tolerance, safety, and abuse liability profile of the combination of CR4056 and morphine over morphine alone in rodent models
Authors: Sala Emanuele , Ferrari Flora , Lanza Marco , Milia Chiara , Sabatini Chiara , Bonazzi Albino , Comi Eleonora , Borsi Franchini Miriam , Caselli Gianfranco , Rovati Lucio Claudio
Published: March 2020

Background and Purpose

Prolonged use of opioids causes analgesic tolerance and adverse effects including constipation and dependence. Compounds targeting imidazoline I2 receptors are known to potentiate opioid analgesia in rodents. We investigated whether combination with the I2 receptor ligand CR4056 could improve efficacy and safety of morphine and explored the mechanisms of the CR4056–opioid interaction.

Experimental Approach

We used the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) model in rats to study the effects of treatments on hyperalgesia, morphine tolerance and microglia activation as measured by immunofluorescence. Opioid‐induced adverse effects were assessed in rodent models of morphine‐induced constipation, sedation (open field, sedation rating scale, and rotarod), physical dependence (naloxone‐induced withdrawal), and abuse (conditioned place preference‐associated reward). Chemiluminescence assays tested CR4056 as allosteric modulator of μ‐opioid receptors.

Key Results

CR4056 (ED50 = 4.88 mg·kg−1) and morphine (ED50 = 2.07 mg·kg−1) synergized in reducing CFA‐induced hyperalgesia (ED50 = 0.52 mg·kg−1; 1:1 combination). Consistently, low doses of CR4056 (1 mg·kg−1) spared one third of the cumulative morphine dose administered during 4 days and prevented/reversed the development of tolerance to morphine anti‐hyperalgesia. These opioid‐sparing effects were associated with decreased activation of microglia, independent of CR4056 interactions on μ‐opioid receptors. Importantly, the low doses of CR4056 and morphine that synergize in analgesia did not induce constipation, sedation, physical dependence, or place preference.

Conclusion and Implications

We showed selective synergism between CR4056 and morphine as analgesics. Their combination showed an improved safety and abuse liability profile over morphine alone. CR4056 could be developed as an opioid‐sparing drug in multimodal analgesia.
The ecological importance of crocodylians: towards evidence‐based justification for their conservation
Authors: Somaweera Ruchira , Nifong James , Rosenblatt Adam , Brien Mathew L. , Combrink Xander , Elsey Ruth M. , Grigg Gordon , Magnusson William E. , Mazzotti Frank J. , Pearcy Ashley , Platt Steven G. , Shirley Matthew H. , Tellez Marisa , van der Ploeg Jan , Webb Grahame , Whitaker Rom , Webber Bruce L.
Published: March 2020

Large‐bodied predators are well represented among the world's threatened and endangered species. A significant body of literature shows that in terrestrial and marine ecosystems large predators can play important roles in ecosystem structure and functioning. By contrast, the ecological roles and importance of large predators within freshwater ecosystems are poorly understood, constraining the design and implementation of optimal conservation strategies for freshwater ecosystems. Conservationists and environmentalists frequently promulgate ecological roles that crocodylians are assumed to fulfil, but often with limited evidence supporting those claims.

Here, we review the available information on the ecological importance of crocodylians, a widely distributed group of predominantly freshwater‐dwelling, large‐bodied predators. We synthesise information regarding the role of crocodylians under five criteria within the context of modern ecological concepts: as indicators of ecological health, as ecosystem engineers, apex predators, keystone species, and as contributors to nutrient and energy translocation across ecosystems. Some crocodylians play a role as indicators of ecosystem health, but this is largely untested across the order Crocodylia. By contrast, the role of crocodylian activities in ecosystem engineering is largely anecdotal, and information supporting their assumed role as apex predators is currently limited to only a few species. Whether crocodylians contribute significantly to nutrient and energy translocation through cross‐ecosystem movements is unknown.

We conclude that most claims regarding the importance of crocodylians as apex predators, keystone species, ecosystem engineers, and as contributors to nutrient and energy translocation across ecosystems are mostly unsubstantiated speculation, drawn from anecdotal observations made during research carried out primarily for other purposes. There is a paucity of biological research targeted directly at: understanding population dynamics; trophic interactions within their ecological communities; and quantifying the short‐ and long‐term ecological impacts of crocodylian population declines, extirpations, and recoveries. Conservation practices ideally need evidence‐based planning, decision making and justification. Addressing the knowledge gaps identified here will be important for achieving effective conservation of crocodylians.
Welfare to work and subjective well‐being: Evidence from a randomized control trial
Authors: Riddell Chris
Published: March 2020

I examine the effect of transitioning from welfare to full‐time employment on a variety of measures of subjective well‐being for a sample of long‐term welfare recipients in British Columbia and New Brunswick who participated in the Self‐Sufficiency Project (SSP). Individuals randomly assigned to the treatment group could receive a generous time‐limited earnings supplement if they found full‐time work. I use random assignment to estimate the local average treatment effect of working full time on well‐being. For the complier subpopulation, I find large, positive effects on subjective well‐being that persist over the longer run for New Brunswick and through roughly three years for British Columbia. Policy changes made during the experiment may explain the provincial differences.
Circulating Epstein‐Barr virus microRNAs BART7‐3p and BART13‐3p as novel biomarkers in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Lu Tianzhu , Guo Qiaojuan , Lin Keyu , Chen Honglin , Chen Yixin , Xu Yuanji , Lin Cheng , Su Ying , Chen Yan , Chen Mengyuan , Zheng Yuhong , Ye Yunbin , Lin Shaojun , Zong Jingfeng , Pan Jianji
Published: March 2020

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) BamHI A rightward transcripts (BART) encoded microRNAs (EBV‐miR‐BARTs) are abnormally highly expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study aims to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic performance of miR‐BART7‐3p and miR‐BART13‐3p. Plasma levels of EBV DNA, miR‐BART7‐3p, and miR‐BART13‐3p were examined by quantitative PCR in 483 treatment‐naïve NPC patients and 243 controls without NPC. The prognostic performance was examined by comparing plasma levels with rates of distant metastasis during follow‐up. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for diagnosing NPC was 0.926 for EBV DNA, 0.964 for plasma miR‐BART7‐3p, 0.973 for miR‐BART13‐3p, and 0.997 for all three indices. Among 465 NPC patients without distant metastasis, the above‐median miR‐BART7‐3p and EBV DNA were independent risk for shorter distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.94, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44‐5.97, P = .003; HR = 2.27, 95% CI, 1.26‐4.10, P = .006) in multivariate Cox regression. Epstein‐Barr virus DNA, miR‐BART7‐3p, and miR‐BART13‐3p after radiotherapy were detectable in 28.6%, 17.6%, and 54.7% of patients, respectively. In multivariate Cox regression, detectable miR‐BART7‐3p and EBV DNA were independent risks for shorter DMFS (HR = 4.13, 95% CI, 1.89‐9.01, P < .001; HR = 2.14, 95% CI, 1.04‐4.42, P = .039). The 4‐year DMFS rate was 92.0% in subjects (n = 156) with neither detectable miR‐BART7‐3p nor EBV DNA, 80.0% in subjects (n = 65) with either detectable miR‐BART7‐3p or EBV DNA, and 52.9% in subjects (n = 24) with both detectable miR‐BART7‐3p and EBV DNA after radiotherapy (P < .001). Circulating levels of miR‐BART7‐3p and miR‐BART13‐3p show excellent diagnostic performance for NPC. The combination of plasma levels of miR‐BART7‐3p and EBV DNA at diagnosis and after radiotherapy could help stratify patients by risk of poor DMFS.
Serum immunoglobulin G antibody titer to Fusobacterium nucleatum is associated with unfavorable outcome after stroke
Authors: Nishi H , Hosomi N , Ohta K , Aoki S , Nakamori M , Nezu T , Shigeishi H , Shintani T , Obayashi T , Ishikawa K , Kinoshita N , Shiga Y , Sugiyama M , Ohge H , Maruyama H , Kawaguchi H , Kurihara H
Published: March 2020

Stroke can be a cause of death, while in non-fatal cases it is a common cause of various disabilities resulting from associated brain damage. However, whether a specific periodontal pathogen is associated with increased risk of unfavorable outcome after stroke remains unknown. We examined risk factors for unfavorable outcome following stroke occurrence, including serum antibody titers to periodontal pathogens. The enrolled cohort included 534 patients who had experienced an acute stroke, who were divided into favorable (n = 337) and unfavorable (n = 197) outcome groups according to modified ranking scale (mRS) score determined at 3 months after onset (favorable = score 0 or 1; unfavorable = score 2–6). The associations of risk factors with unfavorable outcome, including serum titers of IgG antibodies to 16 periodontal pathogens, were examined. Logistic regression analysis showed that the initial National Institutes of Health stroke scale score [odds ratio (OR) = 1·24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1·18–1·31, P < 0·001] and C-reactive protein (OR = 1·29, 95% CI = 1·10–1·51, P = 0·002) were independently associated with unfavorable outcome after stroke. Following adjustment with those, detection of the antibody for Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 10953 in serum remained an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome (OR = 3·12, 95% CI = 1·55–6·29, P = 0·002). Determination of the antibody titer to F. nucleatum ATCC 10953 in serum may be useful as a predictor of unfavorable outcome after stroke.
Lossless data transmission for Internet of things application over wireless multimedia sensor networks using enhanced and optimal path scheduling approach to maximizing the quality of service
Authors: Alqahtani Abdulrahman S.
Published: March 2020

The congestion of packet forwarding between a source and destination is challenging on downlink transmission in the entire file (ex. Audio and Video). Whenever file is been uploaded to the server, a user requests for file where server transmits it without knowledge of user's bandwidth, which is a major, cause of packet loss or time duration in the receiver end. To accumulate the better solution, Enhanced and Optimal Path Scheduling Approach (EOPSA) designs to find optimal path scheduling for multimedia data transmission in multimedia sensor network over cloud server using IoT devices. EOPSA studied the multisource video‐on‐demand streaming in multimedia sensor networks. The method introduced a heuristic distributed protocol to find optimal route for multimedia data transmissions. Efficient way to identify the bandwidth before the transmission ensures link establishment between sender and receiver. Here, the capture of bandwidth helps to check user's system capability to forward requested media data. Based on experiment evaluation, EOPSA improves 0.20 packet delivery ratio, 130 throughput, 0.20 second average delay and 14 communication overhead for 15, 25, 50, 75, and 100 nodes compared than conventional methods.
Global experience and perspective on anonymous nondirected live donation in living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Raza Muhammad H. , Aziz Hassan , Kaur Navpreet , Lo Mary , Sher Linda , Genyk Yuri , Emamaullee Juliet
Published: March 2020

Anonymous nondirected living liver donation (ANLLD), sometimes referred to as “altruistic” donation, occurs when a biologically unrelated person comes forward to donate a portion of his/her liver to a transplant candidate who is unknown to the donor. Here, we explore the current status of ANLLD with special consideration of published reports; US experience; impact on donor psychosocial outcomes; barriers to donation; and current global trends with respect to ethical considerations. Between 1998 and 2019, 105 anonymous nondirected living liver donor (ND‐LLD) transplants have been documented in the US Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Sixteen donors (15%) were reported to experience a postoperative complication. Currently, 89 donors remain alive (85%), 16 (15%) have unknown status, and none are confirmed deceased. Although there are only a handful of case series, these data suggest that ANLLD is a feasible option. While there are no liver‐specific data, studies involving anonymous nondirected kidney donors suggest that anonymous donation does not adversely impact psychosocial outcomes in donors or recipients. There are substantial financial burdens and ethical considerations related to ANLLD. Further studies are required to assess donor demographics, psychosocial motivations, long‐term health‐related quality of life, and financial impact of ANLLD.
Rapid and strong population genetic differentiation and genomic signatures of climatic adaptation in an invasive mealybug
Authors: Ma Ling , Cao Li‐Jun , Hoffmann Ary A. , Gong Ya‐Jun , Chen Jin‐Cui , Chen Hong‐Song , Wang Xu‐Bo , Zeng Ai‐Ping , Wei Shu‐Jun , Zhou Zhong‐Shi
Published: March 2020

Aim

A growing number of studies suggest that adaptation of invasive species plays key roles in their successful establishment in novel environments. However, adaptation of invasive species to climatic conditions remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to understand the population genetic structure produced by the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis invasion and to identify preliminary signals of selection during its range expansion.

Location

China.

Methods

We examined genetic structure of 11 populations across China using SNPs, microsatellites and a segment of mitochondrial cox1 gene. ADMIXTURE, STRUCTURE and DAPC were used to infer population genetic structure; the dispersal routes were reconstructed by the DIYABC; SNPs potentially related to climate adaptation were identified by using four populations differentiation methods and three environmental association methods.

Results

Strong genetic differentiation was found among populations with FST values ranging from 0.097 to 0.640 based on SNPs. Populations located at the northern expansion edge exhibited the highest genetic differentiation and the lowest genetic diversity. Demographic analyses indicated that all populations were introduced from a single source population with small effective size and low recent gene flow. RDA analysis showed that climatic variables explained a higher proportion of genetic variance (43%) compared to population structure variables (15%). The top climatic variables associated with genetic differentiation were precipitation of the mean temperature of warmest quarter, mean temperature of driest quarter and isothermality. Genes related to climate candidate SNPs were mainly enriched to pathways of development, energy and xenobiotic metabolisms.

Main conclusions

We found that extremely rapid and strong population genetic differentiation among populations appears to have developed after introduction in the cotton mealybug. Our study points to rapid neutral evolution and suggests possible climatic adaptation despite low genetic diversity in this invasive species.
First‐line therapy with bendamustine/prednisone/bortezomib—A GMMG trial for non‐transplant eligible symptomatic multiple myeloma patients
Authors: Knauf Wolfgang , Dingeldein Gerrit , Schlag Rudolf , Welslau Manfred , Moehler Thomas , Terzer Tobias , Walter Sarah , Habermehl Christina , Kunz Christina , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Raab Marc‐Steffen ,   the BPV trial group
Published: March 2020

Objectives

The German‐speaking Myeloma Multicenter Group (GMMG) conducted this trial to investigate efficacy and safety of the three‐drug combination bendamustine/prednisone/bortezomib (BPV) as first‐line therapy for elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods

Elderly MM patients requiring first‐line therapy and not eligible for intensive treatment were enrolled in this phase IIb multicenter study. Patients were treated with BPV regimen for a maximum of nine cycles.

Results

Forty‐six patients were included in the trial with a median age of 76 years. Nineteen patients had renal impairment at baseline. The ORR was 78.8% for patients treated with 3 and more BPV cycles and 71.1% for all evaluable patients. The median progression‐free survival was 25 months, and overall survival at 24 months was 83.3%. The clinical benefit rate including MR was 91.2%. In patients with renal impairment at baseline, a renal response was observed in 11 pts. with complete recovery of the renal function in six patients. The most frequent CTC grade 3/4 AEs experienced by patients were hematological (17.5%) and infectious (9.8%) complications. No new safety signals were observed for the study drugs under investigation.

Conclusions

Bendamustine/prednisone/bortezomib may serve as a first‐line regimen for transplant‐ineligible elderly MM patients in particular for patients with renal impairment requiring a fast and durable renal response.
Denitrification rates in tidal marsh soils: The roles of soil texture, salinity and nitrogen enrichment
Authors: Hu Minjie , Peñuelas Josep , Sardans Jordi , Huang Jiafang , Xu Kang , Tong Chuan
Published: March 2020

The denitrification rates of freshwater and oligohaline tidal marsh soils with different textures (loam and sandy soils) in a subtropical estuary, and their responses to nitrogen (N) loading, were investigated. In both marshes, the denitrification rates varied significantly with the season only in loam soil. The denitrification rates were highest in oligohaline marsh loam soil and lowest in freshwater marsh sandy soil. NH4NO3 addition significantly increased the denitrification rates of all the marsh soils. Our findings suggest that soil texture, soil organic matter (OM) content and low‐level increases in salinity all had large effects on denitrification, indicating that the dynamics of denitrification rates in estuarine marshes with low‐level salinity were controlled by the interaction of salinity and soil texture but mainly depended on OM content. We propose that denitrification in tidal marshes plays an important role in regulating current and future N loading into estuary and inshore coastal waters, especially for tidal freshwater marshes, which introduces great uncertainty into the N dynamics of estuaries under global changes.

Highlights

Denitrification rates were higher in loam than sandy soil, independent of salinity.

Denitrification rates were higher in oligohaline marsh loam than freshwater marsh loam.

Exogenous N input enhanced denitrification in estuarine marsh soil.

Loam with high N enhanced N removal, especially in freshwater environments.
ResNet‐Attention model for human authentication using ECG signals
Authors: Hammad Mohamed , Pławiak Paweł , Wang Kuanquan , Acharya Udyavara Rajendra
Published: March 2020

Authentication is the process of verifying the claimed identity of the user. Recently, traditional authentication methods such as passwords, tokens, and so on are no longer used for authentication as they are more prone to theft and different types of violations. Therefore, new authentication approaches based on biometric modalities such as heartbeat pattern obtained from electrocardiogram (ECG) signals are considered. Unlike other biometrics, ECG provides the assurance that the person is alive, and is considered as one of the most accurate recent methods for authentication. In this article, two end‐to‐end deep neural network models for ECG‐based authentication are proposed. In the first model, a convolutional neural network (CNN) is developed and in the second model, a residual convolutional neural network (ResNet) with attention mechanism called ResNet‐Attention is designed for human authentication. We have used 2‐s duration ECG signals obtained from two ECG databases (Physikalisch‐Technische Bundesanstalt [PTB] and Check Your Bio‐signals Here initiative [CYBHi]) for authentication. Our proposed ResNet‐Attention algorithm achieved an accuracy of 98.85 and 99.27% using PTB and CYBHi, respectively. The results obtained by our developed model show that the performance is better than existing algorithms and can be used in real‐time authentication systems after the validation with more diverse ECG data.
Numerical analysis of low cycle fatigue for welded joints considering welding residual stress and plastic damage under combined bending and local compressive loads
Authors: Wang Xiaojia , Meng Qingchun , Hu Weiping
Published: March 2020

The numerical analysis of low cycle fatigue of HTS‐A steel welded joints under combined bending and local compressive loads are implemented using the damage mechanics approach. First, a finite element numerical simulation of the welding process is employed to extract the welding residual stresses, which are then imported as initial stresses in the subsequent fatigue analysis. Second, a multiaxial fatigue damage model including damage coupled elasto‐plastic constitutive equations and plastic damage evolution formulation is applied to evaluate the mechanical degradation of the material under biaxial fatigue loads. Further, the fatigue lives of the HTS‐A steel welded joints are computed and compared with the experimental results from literature. A series of predicted load‐life curves clearly illustrates the variation of fatigue lives along with the combined loadings. Finally, the effects of local compression on accumulated plastic strain and fatigue damage are studied in detail. It is revealed that the local compression induces a damage competition between two critical zones.
Decoupling of impact factors reveals the response of German winter wheat yields to climatic changes
Authors: Bönecke Eric , Breitsameter Laura , Brüggemann Nicolas , Chen Tsu‐Wei , Feike Til , Kage Henning , Kersebaum Kurt‐Christian , Piepho Hans‐Peter , Stützel Hartmut
Published: March 2020

Yield development of agricultural crops over time is not merely the result of genetic and agronomic factors, but also the outcome of a complex interaction between climatic and site‐specific soil conditions. However, the influence of past climatic changes on yield trends remains unclear, particularly under consideration of different soil conditions. In this study, we determine the effects of single agrometeorological factors on the evolution of German winter wheat yields between 1958 and 2015 from 298 published nitrogen (N)‐fertilization experiments. For this purpose, we separate climatic from genetic and agronomic yield effects using linear mixed effect models and estimate the climatic influence based on a coefficient of determination for these models. We found earlier occurrence of wheat growth stages, and shortened development phases except for the phase of stem elongation. Agrometeorological factors are defined as climate covariates related to the growth of winter wheat. Our results indicate a general and strong effect of agroclimatic changes on yield development, in particular due to increasing mean temperatures and heat stress events during the grain‐filling period. Except for heat stress days with more than 31°C, yields at sites with higher yield potential were less prone to adverse weather effects than at sites with lower yield potential. Our data furthermore reveal that a potential yield levelling, as found for many West‐European countries, predominantly occurred at sites with relatively low yield potential and about one decade earlier (mid‐1980s) compared to averaged yield data for the whole of Germany. Interestingly, effects related to high precipitation events were less relevant than temperature‐related effects and became relevant particularly during the vegetative growth phase. Overall, this study emphasizes the sensitivity of yield productivity to past climatic conditions, under consideration of regional differences, and underlines the necessity of finding adaptation strategies for food production under ongoing and expected climate change.