bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Swedish national survey on MR safety compared with CT: a false sense of security?
Authors: Hansson Boel , Olsrud Johan , Wilén Jonna , Owman Titti , Höglund Peter , Björkman-Burtscher Isabella M.
Published: December 2019

Objectives

The objectives were to survey MR safety incidents in Sweden during a 12-month period, to assess severity scores, and to evaluate the confidence of MR personnel in incident-reporting mechanisms.

Method

Data were collected within a web-based questionnaire on safety in clinical MR environments with CT for comparison. Data reported MR and CT safety incidents (human injury, material damage, and close calls), incident severity, and confidence of participants in incident-reporting systems.

Results

The study population consisted of 529 eligible participants. Participants reported 200 MR and 156 CT safety incidents. Among MR incidents, 16% were given the highest potential severity score. More MR workers (73%) than CT workers (50%) were confident in being aware of any incident occurring at their workplace. However, 69% MR workers (83% for CT) were not aware of reported incidents at their hospitals.

Conclusion

Safety incidents resulting in human injury, material damage, and close calls in clinical MR environments do occur. According to national risk assessment recommendations, risk level is high. Results indicated that MR personnel tend to a false sense of security, as a high proportion of staff members were sure that they would have been aware of any incident occurring in their own department, while in reality, incidents did occur without their knowledge. We conclude that false sense of security exists for MR.

Key Points

• Safety incidents in clinical MR environments still result in human injury and material damage.

• Severity level of MR incidents—assessed using Swedish national risk assessment recommendations—is high.

• Confidence of MR personnel in incident-reporting mechanisms is high, but reflects a false sense of security, as a high proportion of staff is unaware of reported incidents in the same workplace.
Unnoticed arrival of two dipteran species in Austria: the synanthropic moth fly Clogmia albipunctata (Williston, 1893) and the parasitic bird louse fly Ornithoica turdi (Olivier in Latreille, 1811)
Authors: Zittra Carina , Schoener Ellen R. , Wagner Rüdiger , Heddergott Mike , Duscher Georg G. , Fuehrer Hans-Peter
Published: December 2019

In the framework of a mosquito-monitoring program conducted from 2014 to 2018, non-culicid dipteran bycatch was identified to species-level with a focus on Diptera of medical and veterinary importance as part of a biodiversity initiative and barcoding project (“Austrian Barcode of Life”). Two species hitherto not known from Austria, the regularly sampled synanthropic moth flyClogmia albipunctata(Psychodidae) and a single specimen of the louse flyOrnithoica turdi(Hippoboscidae), were collected in Vienna and Lower Austria. We confirmed identification results using a barcoding approach and provide the first reference sequence forO.turdi.
Seismo-acoustic evidence for vent drying during shallow submarine eruptions at Bogoslof volcano, Alaska
Authors: Fee David , Lyons John , Haney Matthew , Wech Aaron , Waythomas Christopher , Diefenbach Angela K. , Lopez Taryn , Van Eaton Alexa , Schneider David
Published: December 2019

Characterizing the state of the volcanic vent is key for interpreting observational datasets and accurately assessing volcanic hazards. This is particularly true for remote, complex eruptions such as the 2016–2017 Bogoslof volcano, Alaska eruption sequence. Bogoslof’s eruptions in this period were either shallow submarine or subaerial, or some combination of both. Our results demonstrate how low-frequency sound waves (infrasound), integrated with seismic and satellite data, can provide unique insight into shallow vent processes, otherwise not available. We use simple metrics, such as the infrasound frequency index (FI), event duration, and acoustic-seismic amplitude ratio, to look at changes in the elastic energy radiation and infer changes in seawater access to the vent. Satellite imagery before and after selected eruptions is used to ground-truth inferences on vent conditions. High FI and gradual increases in infrasound frequency content at Bogoslof correspond with transitions from submarine to subaerial vent conditions and a diminished or absent role of water, likely resulting in a drying out of the vent region. Event durations generally correlate with high FI and the range of FI values for each event, suggesting long duration events were more effective at drying out the vent region. A trend from low to high acoustic-seismic amplitude ratios for some long duration events also suggests an increase in acoustic efficiency as the vent dried out. We demonstrate that infrasound can serve as a robust indicator of seawater involvement for Bogoslof and other shallow submarine eruptions that may not be inferable from other datasets, particularly in near-real-time.
Integrated care pathways on dementia in Italy: a survey testing the compliance with a national guidance
Authors: Gervasi Giuseppe , Bellomo Guido , Mayer Flavia , Zaccaria Valerio , Bacigalupo Ilaria , Lacorte Eleonora , Canevelli Marco , Corbo Massimo , Di Fiandra Teresa , Vanacore Nicola
Published: December 2019

Dementias are chronic, degenerative neurological disorders with a complex management that require the cooperation of different healthcare professionals. The Italian Ministry of Health produced the document “Guidance on Integrated Care pathway for People with Dementia” (GICPD) with the specific objective of providing a standardized framework for the definition, development, and implementation of integrated care pathways (ICP) dedicated to people with dementia. We searched all available Italian territorial ICPs. Two raters assessed the retrieved ICPs with a 2-point scale on a 43-item checklist based on the GICPD. Only 5 out of 21 regions and 5 out of 101 local health authorities had an ICP, with most ICPs having a moderate compliance to the GICPD, in particular for the items referring to the development and implementation of the care pathways. A low to moderate inter-rater agreement was observed, mainly due to a lack of standardized models to describe ICPs for dementias. Results suggest that policy- and decision-makers should pay more attention to the GICPD when producing ICPs. The direct communication with clinicians, and the implementation of more precise and appropriate clinical outcomes, could increase the involvement of clinicians, whose participation is crucial to guarantee that ICPs meet needs of patients and their carers.
Hydropolitics and issue-linkage along the Orontes River Basin: an analysis of the Lebanon–Syria and Syria–Turkey hydropolitical relations
Authors: Conker Ahmet , Hussein Hussam
Published: December 2019

The Orontes River Basin is among the least researched transboundary water basins in the Middle East. The few studies on the Orontes have two main theoretical and empirical shortcomings. First, there is a lack of critical hydropolitics studies on this river. Second, those studies focus on either the Turkish–Syrian or Lebanese–Syria relations rather than analysing the case in a holistic way. Gathering both primary (international agreements, government documents, political statements and media outlets) and secondary sources, this paper seeks to answer how could Syria, as the basin hydro-hegemon, impose its control on the basin? This study argues that the lack of trilateral initiatives, which is also reflected in academic studies, is primarily due to asymmetrical power dynamics. Accordingly, Syria played a dual-game by excluding each riparian, Turkey and Lebanon, and it dealt with the issue at the bilateral interaction. Syria has used its political influence to maintain water control vis-à-vis Lebanon, while it has used non-cooperation with Turkey to exclude Turkey from decision-making processes. The paper also argues that the historical background and the political context have strongly informed Syria’s water policy. Finally, given the recent regional political developments, the paper finds that Syria’s power grip on the Orontes Basin slowly fades away because of the changes in the broader political context.
Definite descriptions of events: progressive interpretation in Ga (Kwa)
Authors: Renans Agata
Published: December 2019

This paper demonstrates that the progressive interpretation in Ga is an effect of the interaction between the imperfective aspect and a definite description of events. Crucially, the data from Ga point to the consequences of the view that definite descriptions of events encode the familiarity of the discourse referent and its uniqueness in bearing the property in question. Namely, they yield direct evidentiality and the necessary ongoingness of the event at the topic time. Thus, the paper identifies previously unattested variation in the semantics of the progressive in a cross-linguistic perspective and shows that not only lexical but also grammatical aspect exhibits striking parallelisms with the nominal domain.
A biomimetic platform for studying root-environment interaction
Authors: Kumari Pallavi , Ginzburg Neta , Sayas Tali , Saphier Sigal , Bucki Patricia , Miyara Sigal Brown , Caldwell Denise L. , Iyer-Pascuzzi Anjali S. , Kleiman Maya
Published: December 2019

Aims

Microstructure plays an important role in biological systems. Microstructural features are critical in the interaction between two biological organisms, for example, a microorganism and the surface of a plant. However, isolating the structural effect of the interaction from all other parameters is challenging when working directly with the natural system. Replicating microstructure of leaves was recently shown to be a powerful research tool for studying leaf-environment interaction. However, no such tool exists for roots. Roots present a special challenge because of their delicacy (specifically of root hairs) and their 3D structure. We aim at developing such a tool for roots.

Methods

Biomimetics use synthetic systems to mimic the structure of biological systems, enabling the isolation of structural function. Here we present a method which adapts tools from leaf microstructure replication to roots. We introduce new polymers for this replication.

Results

We find that Polyurethane methacrylate (PUMA) with fast UV curing gives a reliable replication of the tomato root surface microstructure. We show that our system is compatible with the pathogenic soilborne bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum.

Conclusions

This newly developed tool may be used to study the effect of microstructure, isolated from all other effects, on the interaction of roots with their environment.
Compositional dynamics of suspended sediment in the Rhine River: sources and controls
Authors: van der Perk Marcel , Vilches Alvaro Espinoza
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Information on the geochemical composition of suspended sediments in rivers is crucial to identify sediment source type or area. In large river basins, however, the relation between sediment composition and its controlling factors is often obscured. This study aims to assess and improve the conceptual understanding on the factors and mechanisms that control the composition of suspended sediments in the River Rhine, one of the large European rivers, and to identify the dominant source types of elements.

Materials and methods

We performed log-linear regression analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) on bi-weekly monitoring data of suspended sediment composition, supplemented with daily measurements of suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) and discharge at the Lobith monitoring station near the German-Dutch border for the period 2011–2016.

Results and discussion

The statistical analyses show a consistent grouping of elements that display contrasting temporal variation or different responses to increased discharge. The contrasting behaviour also becomes manifest in the results from the PCA. A first component that explains about the half of the total variance in the entire dataset reflects the variation in clay content in the suspended sediment. A second component reflects anthropogenic pollution and explains about a quarter of the total variance. A third component probably reflects variation in sediment provenance.

Conclusions

The majority of the temporal variation in suspended sediment composition can be attributed to variations in grain size (clay content), organic matter content, and anthropogenic pollution. Only a minority of the variation can be attributed to variations in the contributions from different upstream source areas. This variation represented by the third and higher components from the PCA can potentially be used for sediment provenance analysis.
Tooth Regeneration: Insights from Tooth Development and Spatial-Temporal Control of Bioactive Drug Release
Authors: Huang Delan , Ren Jianhan , Li Runze , Guan Chenyu , Feng Zhicai , Bao Baicheng , Wang Weicai , Zhou Chen
Published: December 2019

Tooth defect and tooth loss are common clinical diseases in stomatology. Compared with the traditional oral restoration treatment, tooth regeneration has unique advantages and is currently the focus of oral biomedical research. It is known that dozens of cytokines/growth factors and other bioactive factors are expressed in a spatial-temporal pattern during tooth development. On the other hand, the technology for spatial-temporal control of drug release has been intensively studied and well developed recently, making control release of these bioactive factors mimicking spatial-temporal pattern more feasible than ever for the purpose of tooth regeneration. This article reviews the research progress on the tooth development and discusses the future of tooth regeneration in the context of spatial-temporal release of developmental factors.
Dystrophin Dp71 and the Neuropathophysiology of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Naidoo Michael , Anthony Karen
Published: December 2019

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by frameshift mutations in theDMDgene that prevent the body-wide translation of its protein product, dystrophin. Besides a severe muscle phenotype, cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms are prevalent. Dystrophin protein 71 (Dp71) is the majorDMDgene product expressed in the brain and mutations affecting its expression are associated with the DMD neuropsychiatric syndrome. As with dystrophin in muscle, Dp71 localises to dystrophin-associated protein complexes in the brain. However, unlike in skeletal muscle; in the brain, Dp71 is alternatively spliced to produce many isoforms with differential subcellular localisations and diverse cellular functions. These include neuronal differentiation, adhesion, cell division and excitatory synapse organisation as well as nuclear functions such as nuclear scaffolding and DNA repair. In this review, we first describe brain involvement in DMD and the abnormalities observed in the DMD brain. We then review the gene expression, RNA processing and functions of Dp71. We review genotype-phenotype correlations and discuss emerging cellular/tissue evidence for the involvement of Dp71 in the neuropathophysiology of DMD. The literature suggests changes observed in the DMD brain are neurodevelopmental in origin and that their risk and severity is associated with a cumulative loss of distalDMDgene products such as Dp71. The high risk of neuropsychiatric syndromes in Duchenne patients warrants early intervention to achieve the best possible quality of life. Unravelling the function and pathophysiological significance of dystrophin in the brain has become a high research priority to inform the development of brain-targeting treatments for Duchenne.
External Kinematic Calibration of Hybrid Kinematics Machine Utilizing Lower-DOF Planar Parallel Kinematics Mechanisms
Authors: Rosyid Abdur , El-Khasawneh Bashar , Alazzam Anas
Published: December 2019

This paper presents the implementation of nonlinear least squares and iterative linear least squares algorithms for external kinematic calibration of a hybrid kinematics machine composed of two 3PRR planar parallel kinematics mechanisms by utilizing a laser tracker. First the hand-eye and robot-world transformations were obtained by a separable closed-form solution and refined by the nonlinear least squares. Subsequently, the geometric parameters of the machine’s mechanisms were estimated using the two algorithms. Due to the rank deficiency, we implemented the nonlinear least squares algorithm through a subset selection approach in which we performed the estimation in two steps. We iterated the closed-form solution of the linear least squares until the solution converges to the actual values. We have shown that the nonlinear least squares algorithm successfully refined the hand-eye and robot-world transformations and outperformed the iterative linear squares algorithm in the estimation of the geometric parameters of the mechanisms.
Social media in knowledge translation and education for physicians and trainees: a scoping review
Authors: Chan Teresa M. , Dzara Kristina , Dimeo Sara Paradise , Bhalerao Anuja , Maggio Lauren A.
Published: December 2019

Introduction The use of social media is rapidly changing how educational content is delivered and knowledge is translated for physicians and trainees. This scoping review aims to aggregate and report trends on how health professions educators harness the power of social media to engage physicians for the purposes of knowledge translation and education.
Methods A scoping review was conducted by searching four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and ERIC) for publications emerging between 1990 to March 2018. Articles about social media usage for teaching physicians or their trainees for the purposes of knowledge translation or education were included. Relevant themes and trends were extracted and mapped for visualization and reporting, primarily using the Cook, Bordage, and Schmidt framework for types of educational studies (Description, Justification, and Clarification).
Results There has been a steady increase in knowledge translation and education-related social media literature amongst physicians and their trainees since 1996. Prominent platforms include Twitter (n = 157), blogs (n = 104), Facebook (n = 103), and podcasts (n = 72). Dominant types of scholarship tended to be descriptive studies and innovation reports. Themes related to practice improvement, descriptions of the types of technology, and evidence-based practice were prominently featured.
Conclusions Social media is ubiquitously used for knowledge translation and education targeting physicians and physician trainees. Some best practices have emerged despite the transient nature of various social media platforms.
Schrödinger evolution of superoscillations with $$\delta $$- and $$\delta '$$-potentials
Authors: Aharonov Yakir , Behrndt Jussi , Colombo Fabrizio , Schlosser Peter
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we study the time persistence of superoscillations as the initial data of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation with $$\delta $$
δ
- and $$\delta '$$

δ
′

-potentials. It is shown that the sequence of solutions converges uniformly on compact sets, whenever the initial data converge in the topology of the entire function space $$A_1(\mathbb {C})$$

A
1

(
C
)

. Convolution operators acting in this space are our main tool. In particular, a general result about the existence of such operators is proven. Moreover, we provide an explicit formula as well as the large time asymptotics for the time evolution of a plane wave under $$\delta $$
δ
- and $$\delta '$$

δ
′

-potentials.
Simulation of fracture propagation in fibre-reinforced concrete using FDEM: an application to tunnel linings
Authors: Farsi A. , Bedi A. , Latham J. P. , Bowers K.
Published: December 2019

The application of the combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) to simulate fracture propagation in fibre-reinforced-concrete (FRC)-lined tunnels has been investigated. This constitutes the first attempt of using FDEM for the simulation of fracture in FRC structures. The mathematical implementations of the new FDEM joint-element constitutive model are first introduced, and the numerical model is then validated comparing the results for plain and FRC beams with three-point bending experimental data. The code has also been applied to two practical tunnel design case studies, showing different behaviours depending on the type of concrete and shape of tunnel section. The FDEM simulations of the linings are also compared with results from a finite element code that is commonly used in the engineering design practise. These results show the capabilities of FDEM for better understanding of the fracture mechanics and crack propagation in FRC tunnels. A methodology for directly inferring the numerical parameters from three-point bending tests is also illustrated. The results of this research can be applied to any FRC structure.
Venous Pooling in Suspension Syndrome Assessed with Ultrasound
Authors: Rauch Simon , Schenk Kai , Gatterer Hannes , Erckert Martin , Oberhuber Lukas , Bliemsrieder Bernhard , Dal Cappello Tomas , Brugger Hermann , Paal Peter , Strapazzon Giacomo
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Suspension syndrome describes a potentially life-threatening event during passive suspension on a rope. The pathophysiological mechanism is not fully understood; however, the most widespread hypothesis assumes blood pools in the lower extremities, prompting a reduction in cardiac preload and cardiac output and leading to tissue hypoperfusion, loss of consciousness, and death. The aim of this study was to assess venous pooling by ultrasound in simulated suspension syndrome using human subjects.

Methods

In this trial, 20 healthy volunteers were suspended in a sit harness for a maximum of 60 min with and without preceding exercise. Venous pooling was assessed by measuring the diameter of the superficial femoral vein (SFV) with ultrasound at baseline in supine and standing positions as well as during and after suspension.

Results

SFV diameter increased and blood flow became progressively sluggish. In 30% of the tests, near syncope occurred. However, SFV diameter did not differ between subjects with and without near syncope.

Conclusions

Free hanging in a harness leads to rapid venous pooling in the lower limbs. The most important measure to prevent suspension syndrome might be constant movement of the legs.
All these Fantastic Cultures? Research History and Regionalization in the Late Palaeolithic Tanged Point Cultures of Eastern Europe
Authors: Ivanovaitė Livija , Serwatka Kamil , Hoggard Christian Steven , Sauer Florian , Riede Felix
Published: December 2019

The Late Glacial, that is the period from the first pronounced warming after the Last Glacial Maximum to the beginning of the Holocene (c. 16,000–11,700 calbp), is traditionally viewed as a time when northern Europe was being recolonized and Late Palaeolithic cultures diversified. These cultures are characterized by particular artefact types, or the co-occurrence or specific relative frequencies of these. In north-eastern Europe, numerous cultures have been proposed on the basis of supposedly different tanged points. This practice of naming new cultural units based on these perceived differences has been repeatedly critiqued, but robust alternatives have rarely been offered. Here, we review the taxonomic landscape of Late Palaeolithic large tanged point cultures in eastern Europe as currently envisaged, which leads us to be cautious about the epistemological validity of many of the constituent groups. This, in turn, motivates us to investigate the key artefact class, the large tanged point, using geometric morphometric methods. Using these methods, we show that distinct groups are difficult to recognize, with major implications for our understanding of patterns and processes of culture change in this period in north-eastern Europe and perhaps elsewhere.
Physical culture, the Royal Irish Constabulary and police masculinities in Ireland, 1900–14
Authors: Heffernan Conor
Published: December 2019

This article examines the importance of physical culture systems for Irishmen seeking to enter the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C), and those already operating within it, in the period 1900 to 1914. R.I.C. entrance requirements encouraged some men to alter their bodies physically to meet standardised body measurements for police officers. Simultaneously, a growing body of literature urged men to reflect upon their stature and, if found deficient, to undertake courses of physical culture. This situation, it is argued, led to a valorisation of muscularity and strength as foundational to an officer's physical presence and strength of character. To further demonstrate the relationship between physical culture and the R.I.C., the article also examines efforts by members within the force to associate strong bodies with broader masculine identities related to courage, integrity and bravery. The article begins with a brief discussion of the R.I.C., before examining the historiography of Irish masculinity and police masculinities more generally. Next, the article examines the importance of physical culture for those seeking entry into the constabulary, with reference to theIrish Times’sphysical culture column, before finally examining the efforts by existing members to strengthen the R.I.C.’s relationship with physical culture. In both instances, involving aspirant and actual members of the R.I.C., the article argues that conceptions of masculinity in the constabulary echoed broader social messages and came to equate strong physiques with wider assumptions about police integrity and character.
A Bayesian ice thickness estimation model for large-scale applications
Authors: Werder Mauro A. , Huss Matthias , Paul Frank , Dehecq Amaury , Farinotti Daniel
Published: December 2019

Accurate estimations of ice thickness and volume are indispensable for ice flow modelling, hydrological forecasts and sea-level rise projections. We present a new ice thickness estimation model based on a mass-conserving forward model and a Bayesian inversion scheme. The forward model calculates flux in an elevation-band flow-line model, and translates this into ice thickness and surface ice speed using a shallow ice formulation. Both ice thickness and speed are then extrapolated to the map plane. The model assimilates observations of ice thickness and speed using a Bayesian scheme implemented with a Markov chain Monte Carlo method, which calculates estimates of ice thickness and their error. We illustrate the model's capabilities by applying it to a mountain glacier, validate the model using 733 glaciers from four regions with ice thickness measurements, and demonstrate that the model can be used for large-scale studies by fitting it to over 30 000 glaciers from five regions. The results show that the model performs best when a few thickness observations are available; that the proposed scheme by which parameter-knowledge from a set of glaciers is transferred to others works but has room for improvements; and that the inferred regional ice volumes are consistent with recent estimates.
Science with the Murchison Widefield Array: Phase I results and Phase II opportunities
Authors: Beardsley A. P. , Johnston-Hollitt M. , Trott C. M. , Pober J. C. , Morgan J. , Oberoi D. , Kaplan D. L. , Lynch C. R. , Anderson G. E. , McCauley P. I. , Croft S. , James C. W. , Wong O. I. , Tremblay C. D. , Norris R. P. , Cairns I. H. , Lonsdale C. J. , Hancock P. J. , Gaensler B. M. , Bhat N. D. R. , Li W. , Hurley-Walker N. , Callingham J. R. , Seymour N. , Yoshiura S. , Joseph R. C. , Takahashi K. , Sokolowski M. , Miller-Jones J. C. A. , Chauhan J. V. , Bojičić I. , Filipović M. D. , Leahy D. , Su H. , Tian W. W. , McSweeney S. J. , Meyers B. W. , Kitaeff S. , Vernstrom T. , Gürkan G. , Heald G. , Xue M. , Riseley C. J. , Duchesne S. W. , Bowman J. D. , Jacobs D. C. , Crosse B. , Emrich D. , Franzen T. M. O. , Horsley L. , Kenney D. , Morales M. F. , Pallot D. , Steele K. , Tingay S. J. , Walker M. , Wayth R. B. , Williams A. , Wu C.
Published: December 2019

The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is an open access telescope dedicated to studying the low-frequency (80–300 MHz) southern sky. Since beginning operations in mid-2013, the MWA has opened a new observational window in the southern hemisphere enabling many science areas. The driving science objectives of the original design were to observe 21 cm radiation from the Epoch of Reionisation (EoR), explore the radio time domain, perform Galactic and extragalactic surveys, and monitor solar, heliospheric, and ionospheric phenomena. All together$60+$programs recorded 20 000 h producing 146 papers to date. In 2016, the telescope underwent a major upgrade resulting in alternating compact and extended configurations. Other upgrades, including digital back-ends and a rapid-response triggering system, have been developed since the original array was commissioned. In this paper, we review the major results from the prior operation of the MWA and then discuss the new science paths enabled by the improved capabilities. We group these science opportunities by the four original science themes but also include ideas for directions outside these categories.
Condensed tannins decreased the growth performance and impaired intestinal immune function in on-growing grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
Authors: Li Mei , Feng Lin , Jiang Wei-Dan , Wu Pei , Liu Yang , Jiang Jun , Kuang Sheng-Yao , Tang Ling , Zhou Xiao-Qiu
Published: December 2019

The present study investigated the effects of condensed tannins (CT) on intestinal immune function in on-growing grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). A total of 540 healthy grass carp were fed six diets containing different levels of CT (0, 10·00, 20·00, 30·00, 40·00 and 50·00 g/kg diet) for 70 d and then challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila for 14 d. The results showed that, compared with the control group, dietary CT (1) induced intestinal histopathological lesions and aggravated enteritis; (2) decreased lysozyme and acid phosphatase activities, complement 3 (C3), C4 and IgM contents and down-regulated the Hepcidin, liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide (LEAP)-2A, LEAP-2B, Mucin2 and β-defensin-1 mRNA levels in the proximal intestine (PI), mid intestine (MI) and distal intestine (DI) (P < 0·05); (3) down-regulated the mRNA levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, TGF-β2 (not in MI and DI), IL-4/13A (not IL-4/13B), IL-10 and IL-11 partly correlated with target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling; and (4) up-regulated the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 (not in PI), IL-12p35, IL-12p40, IL-15 and IL-17D partly related to NF-κB signalling in the intestine of on-growing grass carp. Overall, the results indicated that CT could impair the intestinal immune function, and its potential regulation mechanisms were partly associated with the TOR and NF-κB signalling pathways. Finally, based on the percentage weight gain and enteritis morbidity, the maximum allowable levels of CT for on-growing grass carp (232·22–890·11 g) were estimated to be 18·6 and 17·4 g/kg diet, respectively.
Party Institutionalization and Welfare State Development
Authors: Rasmussen Magnus B. , Knutsen Carl Henrik
Published: December 2019

This article argues that the extent to which political parties are institutionalized shapes welfare state development. Institutionalized parties allow politicians to overcome co-ordination problems, avoid capture by special interests and form stable linkages with broad social groups. These features both enable and incentivize politicians to pursue extensive welfare policies. The study employs measures of party institutionalization and welfare state features to study these proposed relationships. Even when accounting for country- and year-fixed effects and plausible confounders such as electoral system, unionization, regime type and state capacity, the authors find clear relationships between party institutionalization and more extensiveanduniversal welfare states. Focusing on universalism, they find that the relationship is more pronounced when constraints on executives are strong and in democracies, but that it also exists in autocracies. Further, when disaggregating party institutionalization and evaluating mechanisms, the linkages that institutionalized parties form with social groups constitute one important, but not the only relevant, factor.
CD14+monocytes are the main leucocytic sources of CXCL10 in response toPlasmodium falciparum
Authors: Ioannidis Lisa J. , Eriksson Emily , Hansen Diana S.
Published: December 2019

The CXCR3 chemokine CXCL10 or IFN-γinducible protein 10 (IP-10) has been identified as an important biomarker of cerebral malaria (CM) mortality in children. Studies in mouse malaria infection models have shown that CXCL10 blockade alleviates brain intravascular inflammation and protects infected mice from CM. Despite the key role that CXCL10 plays in the development of CM, the leucocytic sources of CXCL10 in response to human malaria are not known. Here we investigated CXCL10 responses toPlasmodium falciparumin peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We found that PBMCs from malaria-unexposed donors produce CXCL10 in response toP. falciparumand that this response is IFN-γ-dependent. Moreover, CD14+monocytes were identified as the main leucocytic sources of CXCL10 in peripheral blood, suggesting an important role for innate immune responses in the activation of this pathway involved in the development of symptomatic malaria.
An evidence-based framework for identifying technologies of no or low-added value (NLVT)
Authors: Esandi María Eugenia , Gutiérrez-Ibarluzea Iñaki , Ibargoyen-Roteta Nora , Godman Brian
Published: December 2019

Objective

To synthetize the state of the art of methods for identifying candidate technologies for disinvestment and propose an evidence-based framework for executing this task.

Methods

An interpretative review was conducted. A systematic literature search was performed to identify secondary or tertiary research related to disinvestment initiatives and/or any type of research that specifically described one or more methods for identifying potential candidates technologies, services, or practices for disinvestment. An iterative and critical analysis of the methods described alongside the disinvestment initiatives was performed.

Results

Seventeen systematic reviews on disinvestment or related terms (health technology reassessment or medical reversal) were retrieved and methods of 45 disinvestment initiatives were compared. On the basis of this evidence, we proposed a new framework for identifying these technologies based on the wide definition of evidence provided by Lomas et al. The framework comprises seven basic approaches, eleven triggers and thirteen methods for applying these triggers, which were grouped in embedded and ad hoc methods.

Conclusions

Although identification methods have been described in the literature and tested in different contexts, the proliferation of terms and concepts used to describe this process creates considerable confusion. The proposed framework is a rigorous and flexible tool that could guide the implementation of strategies for identifying potential candidates for disinvestment.
Characterisation of community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus causing skin and soft tissue infections in a children's hospital in Shanghai, China
Authors: Wang Xing , Shen Yanyun , Huang Weichun , Zhou Yun
Published: December 2019

Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen responsible for skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of community-acquired S. aureus isolates recovered from paediatric patients with SSTIs in Shanghai, China. Between January 2015 and January 2018, 91 community-acquired S. aureus isolates were characterised by antibiotic susceptibility, multilocus sequence typing (ST), staphylococcal protein A gene (spa) type and virulence genes. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains were also characterised by staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type. Forty-one (45.1%) S. aureus isolates were MRSA. ST59 (33.0%, 30/91) was the most common sequence type, and t437 (18.7%, 17/91) was the most common spa type. SCCmec IV and V accounted for 61.0% and 34.1% of all MRSA isolates, respectively. Each isolate carried at least six virulence genes. The positive rates of Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes among all S. aureus, MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates were 30.8% (28/91), 39.0% (16/41) and 24% (12/50), respectively. The prevalence of community-associated MRSA was surprisingly high among children with community-acquired SSTIs in Shanghai. ST59-t437 was the most prevalent community-acquired S. aureus clone causing SSTIs.
America First, Immigrants Last: American Xenophobia Then and Now
Authors: Lee Erika
Published: December 2019

Global mass migration was one of the most defining features of the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era. But so was intense xenophobia. This article offers a new definition of xenophobia and examines how xenophobia helped to drive some of the most defining features of the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era, including progressive reform, white supremacy, the expanded capacity and power of the nation-state, and the growth of U.S. global power and influence. It draws a connection to contemporary America, where, under the Trump administration, xenophobia is transforming a wide range of public policies, legitimizing racism and white supremacy, and impacting U.S. foreign relations.
The Roles of Mineral Dust as Cloud Condensation Nuclei and Ice Nuclei During the Evolution of a Hail Storm
Authors: Chen Qian , Yin Yan , Jiang Hui , Chu Zhigang , Xue Lulin , Shi Rulin , Zhang Xin , Chen Jinghua
Published: December 2019

Aerosols play important roles in the evolution of deep convective systems like hailstorms. In this study, the heterogeneous ice nucleation schemes have been improved in the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with a spectral bin microphysics (WRF‐SBM), which considered aerosols acting as ice nuclei (IN). A hail storm occurred around Tianshan mountains, northwestern China, was simulated with updated WRF‐SBM, and the results have been compared with satellite observations. Further, four sensitive simulation tests were conducted with different cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and IN concentrations to investigate their respective roles during the evolution of the hailstorm. The increase in CCN concentration resulted in larger cloud droplet concentration and cloud water content, as well as enhanced condensational growth, which released more latent heat and led to stronger updraft at lower levels. The increase in IN number almost did not affect warm processes but led to larger ice crystal concentration and enhanced Bergeron process. Larger CCN concentration led to larger supercooled liquid water content, which in turn contributed to the enhanced hail growth by more efficient drop‐ice collisions and led to larger size of hail particles, while larger IN number reduced the size of graupel and suppressed the growth of hailstones. An analysis of the mobility of hail indicated increased frequency of larger hail with stronger sedimentation induced by more CCN. A further three ensemble runs with random perturbations on initial temperature and humidity were performed for each aerosol scenario, and the results suggested the robustness of simulated CCN and IN effects.
The therapeutic effectiveness of 177Lu-lilotomab in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma involves modulation of G2/M cell cycle arrest
Authors: Pichard Alexandre , Marcatili Sara , Karam Jihad , Constanzo Julie , Ladjohounlou Riad , Courteau Alan , Jarlier Marta , Bonnefoy Nathalie , Patzke Sebastian , Stenberg Vilde , Coopman Peter , Cartron Guillaume , Navarro-Teulon Isabelle , Repetto-Llamazares Ada , Heyerdahl Helen , Dahle Jostein , Bardiès Manuel , Pouget Jean-Pierre
Published: December 2019

Some patients with B-cell non-Hodkin lymphoma Lymphoma (NHL) become refractory to rituximab (anti-CD20 antibody) therapy associated with chemotherapy. Here, the effect of the anti-CD37 antibody-radionuclide conjugate lutetium-177 (177Lu)-lilotomab (Betalutin®) was investigated in preclinical models of NHL. In SCID mice bearing DOHH2 (transformed follicular lymphoma, FL) cell xenografts,177Lu-lilotomab significantly delayed tumor growth, even at low activity (100 MBq/kg). In athymic mice bearing OCI-Ly8 (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, DLBCL) or Ramos (Burkitt’s lymphoma) cell xenografts,177Lu-lilotomab activity had to be increased to 500 MBq/kg to show a significant tumor growth delay. Clonogenic and proliferation assays showed that DOHH2 cells were highly sensitive to177Lu-lilotomab, while Ramos cells were the least sensitive, and U2932 (DLBCL), OCI-Ly8, and Rec-1 (mantle cell lymphoma) cells displayed intermediate sensitivity. The strong177Lu-lilotomab cytotoxicity observed in DOHH2 cells correlated with reduced G2/M cell cycle arrest, lower WEE-1- and MYT-1-mediated phosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinase-1 (CDK1), and higher apoptosis. In agreement,177Lu-lilotomab efficacy in vitro, in vivo, and in patient samples was increased when combined with G2/M cell cycle arrest inhibitors (MK-1775 and PD-166285). These results indicate that177Lu-lilotomab is particularly efficient in treating tumors with reduced inhibitory CDK1 phosphorylation, such as transformed FL.
Peptides encoded by noncoding genes: challenges and perspectives
Authors: Wang Shuo , Mao Chuanbin , Liu Shanrong
Published: December 2019

In recent years, noncoding gene (NCG) translation events have been frequently discovered. The resultant peptides, as novel findings in the life sciences, perform unexpected functions of increasingly recognized importance in many fundamental biological and pathological processes. The emergence of these novel peptides, in turn, has advanced the field of genomics while indispensably aiding living organisms. The peptides from NCGs serve as important links between extracellular stimuli and intracellular adjustment mechanisms. These peptides are also important entry points for further exploration of the mysteries of life that may trigger a new round of revolutionary biotechnological discoveries. Insights into NCG-derived peptides will assist in understanding the secrets of life and the causes of diseases, and will also open up new paths to the treatment of diseases such as cancer. Here, a critical review is presented on the action modes and biological functions of the peptides encoded by NCGs. The challenges and future trends in searching for and studying NCG peptides are also critically discussed.
NBS1 interacts with HP1 to ensure genome integrity
Authors: Bosso Giuseppe , Cipressa Francesca , Moroni Maria Lina , Pennisi Rosa , Albanesi Jacopo , Brandi Valentina , Cugusi Simona , Renda Fioranna , Ciapponi Laura , Polticelli Fabio , Antoccia Antonio , di Masi Alessandra , Cenci Giovanni
Published: December 2019

Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1) and the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex are conserved factors that play crucial role in genome stability and integrity. Despite their involvement in overlapping cellular functions, ranging from chromatin organization, telomere maintenance to DNA replication and repair, a tight functional relationship between HP1 and the MRN complex has never been elucidated. Here we show that the Drosophila HP1a protein binds to the MRN complex through its chromoshadow domain (CSD). In addition, loss of any of the MRN members reduces HP1a levels indicating that the MRN complex acts as regulator of HP1a stability. Moreover, overexpression of HP1a in nbs (but not in rad50 or mre11) mutant cells drastically reduces DNA damage associated with the loss of Nbs suggesting that HP1a and Nbs work in concert to maintain chromosome integrity in flies. We have also found that human HP1α and NBS1 interact with each other and that, similarly to Drosophila, siRNA-mediated inhibition of NBS1 reduces HP1α levels in human cultured cells. Surprisingly, fibroblasts from Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome (NBS) patients, carrying the 657del5 hypomorphic mutation in NBS1 and expressing the p26 and p70 NBS1 fragments, accumulate HP1α indicating that, differently from NBS1 knockout cells, the presence of truncated NBS1 extends HP1α turnover and/or promotes its stability. Remarkably, an siRNA-mediated reduction of HP1α in NBS fibroblasts decreases the hypersensitivity to irradiation, a characteristic of the NBS syndrome. Overall, our data provide an unanticipated evidence of a close interaction between HP1 and NBS1 that is essential for genome stability and point up HP1α as a potential target to counteract chromosome instability in NBS patient cells.
Extracellular vesicle (EV)-polyphenol nanoaggregates for microRNA-based cancer diagnosis
Authors: Jang Minjeong , Choi Giwoong , Choi Yoon Young , Lee Jae Eun , Jung Jik-Han , Oh Seung Won , Han Dai Hoon , Lee Haeshin , Park Ji-Ho , Cheong Jae-Ho , Kim Pilnam
Published: December 2019

Small extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, in body fluids have important applications in the noninvasive liquid biopsy-based diagnosis of cancer. Current EV-based diagnostic techniques still face practical challenges, such as inefficient EV isolation. Here, we report an efficient, resource-free pre-enrichment approach using (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenolic biomolecule, to isolate and detect exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in human blood plasma samples. Our system comprises three steps: (1) EGCG-mediated EV aggregation, (2) filter-based EV isolation, and (3) molecular beacon-based detection of target miRNA in EVs. Using blood samples from cancer patients with gastric cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma, we constructed an EGCG-assisted miRNA diagnostic system. For both cancers, the levels of target miRNAs (miR-21, -27a, and -375) in EVs were strongly correlated with those in the publicly available GEO database. Our approach, an easy-to-use method for efficient EV isolation and the detection of miRNA in clinical samples, is applicable for molecular diagnostics in precision medicine.
Comparative analysis of squamate brains unveils multi-level variation in cerebellar architecture associated with locomotor specialization
Authors: Macrì Simone , Savriama Yoland , Khan Imran , Di-Poï Nicolas
Published: December 2019

Ecomorphological studies evaluating the impact of environmental and biological factors on the brain have so far focused on morphology or size measurements, and the ecological relevance of potential multi-level variations in brain architecture remains unclear in vertebrates. Here, we exploit the extraordinary ecomorphological diversity of squamates to assess brain phenotypic diversification with respect to locomotor specialization, by integrating single-cell distribution and transcriptomic data along with geometric morphometric, phylogenetic, and volumetric analysis of high-definition 3D models. We reveal significant changes in cerebellar shape and size as well as alternative spatial layouts of cortical neurons and dynamic gene expression that all correlate with locomotor behaviours. These findings show that locomotor mode is a strong predictor of cerebellar structure and pattern, suggesting that major behavioural transitions in squamates are evolutionarily correlated with mosaic brain changes. Furthermore, our study amplifies the concept of ‘cerebrotype’, initially proposed for vertebrate brain proportions, towards additional shape characters.