bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PSVI-2 Effects of natural capsicum extract as a substitute for chlortetracycline on growth performance, nutrient utilization, antioxidant status, immune function, and meat quality in broilers
Authors: Liu Sujie , Wang Jian , He Tengfei , Liu Hansuo , Piao Xiangshu
Published: October 2021

A total of 168 one-day old broilers (average BW 46.4 ± 0.6 g) were selected to determine effects of natural capsaicin extract (NCE) as a substitute for chlortetracycline (CTC) on performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function and meat quality of broilers [Founded by NSFC (31772612)]. Broilers were randomly allotted into 3 dietary treatments (n = 7) including a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON), a basal diet + 75 mg/kg CTC (CTC), and a basal diet + 80 mg/kg NCE (NCE). The experiment contained phase 1 (day 1 to 21) and 2 (day 22 to 42). Compared with CON, broilers from NCE showed higher average daily gain at all stages (P < 0.05). On day 42, organic matter, crude protein and gross energy digestibilities of broilers from NCE were higher than those from the other two groups (P < 0.05). Higher percentage of bursa of Fabricius was observed in broilers fed NCE diets compared with CON (P < 0.05). Trypsin and lipase activities in the pancreas of broilers from NCE were higher than those from CON (P < 0.05). Breast muscle of broilers fed NCE diets showed lower L* values compared with CON (P < 0.05). Broilers from NCE also showed higher levels of serum total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, lower levels of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α compared with broilers offered CON diets (P < 0.05). Compared with CON, lower concentrations of serum urea-N, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol, higher growth hormone level were observed in broilers fed NCE diets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing 80 mg/kg of NCE to diets could improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant and immune function, and meat quality of broilers. Moreover, broilers fed NCE diets exhibited similar growth performance and health status to those offered chlortetracycline (CTC) diets.
PSVI-9 Effects of dietary boron supplementation on growth performance, fasting and postprandial serum insulin, and glucose concentration of pigs
Authors: Chevalier Tyler B , Lindemann Merlin D
Published: October 2021

A 49-d experiment evaluated the effects of supplemental boron (B) on growth, and serum insulin and glucose concentration of pigs. Crossbred pigs [n = 48; initial body weight (BW) 19.18 ± 0.29 kg] were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 diets based on BW and sex. Diets were corn-SBM-based, formulated to meet NRC (2012) nutrient requirement estimates, and were supplemented with 0, 25, 50, or 100 mg B/kg diet as sodium tetraborate decahydrate. On d 20 and 41, blood samples were collected. Fasting samples were collected following an overnight fast; then a postprandial sample was taken approximately 50 minutes after the pigs had 10 minutes of ad libitum access to feed. Samples were processed and serum analyzed for insulin and glucose concentration. Increasing B levels resulted in a linear decrease for overall ADG (0.87, 0.86, 0.85, and 0.82 kg, P = 0.02). On d 20, supplemental B resulted in a quadratic response on fasting serum glucose concentration (5.25, 4.80, 4.65, and 5.01, P = 0.03) and a linear decrease in postprandial serum insulin concentration (29.1, 25.5, 18.2, and 18.1 µU/mL, P = 0.02). Furthermore, there was a tendency for a linear decrease in fasting insulin:glucose ratio (0.85, 0.84, 0.42, and 0.59, P = 0.08), which became more noticeable during the postprandial state (3.96, 3.63, 2.63, and 2.73, P = 0.02). Again on d 41, there was a quadratic response on fasting serum glucose concentration (4.32, 4.07, 3.91, and 4.68, P = 0.01) with supplemental B. Results suggest that supplemental boron may impact serum insulin and glucose concentrations by reducing the amount of insulin needed to maintain glucose concentrations. However, higher levels of supplemental boron did result in suppressed growth performance. Thus, additional research is warranted to determine the optimum level of supplemental B.
PSVI-8 Effects of a mycotoxin deactivator on performance of gestating and lactating gilts fed diets containing added mycotoxins
Authors: Siqueira Sinthia , De Brito Hébert , Araújo Wagner , Neves Hélio , Benfato Mara , Canta Diego , Preveraud Damien , Gloria Eduardo , Jacob David V , Silva Bruno Alexander N , Ataíde Iara , Rebordoes Flavio Igor G , Gonçalves Mateus F
Published: October 2021

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of a mycotoxin deactivator in diets containing added mycotoxins for gestating and lactating gilts on their performance. A total of 60 gilts (LD x LW) were used. After insemination the gilts were distributed among 3 dietary treatments according to a randomized block design: a negative control (CON); mycotoxin positive control (Myc); and a positive control added a mycotoxin deactivator (Myc+Deact 2 kg/ton; Unike®Plus, Adisseo). The total mycotoxins levels added to the diets 2 and 3 from d 75 of gestation until farrowing were: DON at 2.5 mg/kg, FBs at 10 mg/kg, and ZEA at 0.75mg/kg. Sows received the experimental diets from d 75 of gestation until weaning (i.e. 21 d). At farrowing, total number of piglets born, born alive, stillborn, and mummies were measured. Piglets were individually weighed 24-h post-farrowing, and at weaning to determine litter performance during lactation. The effects of diet composition, blocks and initial weight were tested according to a general linear procedure analysis of variance (GLM procedure of SAS). During gestation, treatments influenced (P = 0.022) sow mortality rate: CON had no mortality and Myc 15.8% and Myc+deact 10.5%. Same observation was made for the lactation period (P = 0.017): CON showed a lower mortality rate compared to the mycotoxin fed sows (5.0 vs. 31.2 vs. 11.8%, respectively for CON, Myc and Myc+deact). Sow milk production yield was greater (P = 0.021) in CON (11.66 vs. 9.53 vs. 9.67 kg/ d, respectively for CON, Myc and Myc+deact). As a consequence of that, treatments also influenced piglet (P = 0.047) and litter (P = 0.048) weight with a higher value for CON sows, followed by Myc+deact and Myc. Our findings showed that the use of the deactivator can mitigate the negative effects on performance when animals are subjected to diets contaminated by challenging levels of mycotoxins.
National elections, sub-national growth: the politics of Turkey’s provincial economic dynamics under AKP rule
Authors: Luca Davide
Published: October 2021

Despite a large body of work on the impacts of institutions on subnational growth and development, economic geographers have, in the last decades, frequently overlooked the role of politics and, in particular, that of national political economies. Drawing on the political science literature, the article argues that studying national political dynamics is still key to understand the cumulative process of uneven regional development. Using data from Turkey over the period 2004–2016, the article shows how national electoral politics and government actions have significantly affected provincial growth patterns. The impact is substantive and increases in election years. Results also suggest that the central government may have influenced sub-national growth trajectories in different ways, including boosting the construction sector and expanding public employment.
The Phenomenology of Healing: Eight Ways of Dealing With the Ill and Impaired Body
Authors: Leder Drew
Published: October 2021

Encounters with illness, impairment, and aging can disrupt one’s experiential relationship with self, body, others, and world. “Healing” takes place when the individual is able to re-integrate his or her world, even if the condition is not medically curable. Drawing on work in the phenomenology of the body, this article examines a series of eight “healing strategies” individuals employ, each representing a different way of orienting toward the painful or impaired body. One may lean into freeing oneself from the body, through strategies of “refusing,” “ignoring,” “objectifying,” or “transcending” its problems. Conversely, one may choose to embrace the body, through strategies such as “accepting,” “listening,” “befriending,” or “witnessing.” It can be beneficial to have a good number of such coping strategies at one’s disposal, enhancing flexible response to chronic challenges. They also are often used in synergistic or complementary combinations.
Validating the Factor Structure of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool Using Internet-Based Data
Authors: Enlow Paul T , Lewis Amanda M , Scialla Michele A , Hwang Wei-Ting , Kazak Anne E
Published: October 2021

Objective

The Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) is a well-validated, brief screener of family psychosocial risk. Since 2014 a web-based version of the PAT (WebPAT) has been available for use by clinicians and researchers, but the psychometric properties have not been examined. The objective of this article was to examine the factor structure and internal consistency of the WebPAT, which was administered to caregivers of youth with cancer.

Methods

The WebPAT was administered to 1,252 caregivers of youth with cancer across 29 institutions. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure of the WebPAT. Internal consistencies of the total and subscale scores were examined via the Kuder–Richardson 20 coefficient. The distribution of total PAT score across the three risk categories of the Pediatric Psychosocial Preventative Health Model (PPPHM) was also examined.

Results

The CFA supported the original seven-factor structure of the PAT (Family Structure, Social Support, Child Problems, Sibling Problems, Family Problems, Stress Reactions, and Family Beliefs). Internal consistencies were strong for the total PAT score and four subscales (Social Support, Child Problems, Sibling Problems, and Family Problems). The distribution of total PAT scores across PPPHM risk categories was consistent with prior research.

Conclusions

The WebPAT is a psychometrically sound screener of psychosocial risk in families of youth with cancer. Healthcare providers can use the WebPAT to assess families’ psychosocial risk and guide the provision of psychosocial care. Future research should evaluate the implementation of the PAT and identify barriers and facilitators to implementation.
Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing for Infectious Disease Diagnosis: A Review of the Literature With a Focus on Pediatrics
Authors: Edward Priya , Handel Andrew S
Published: October 2021

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a novel tool for identifying microbial DNA and/or RNA in blood and other clinical specimens. In the face of increasingly complex patients and an ever-growing list of known potential pathogens, mNGS has been proposed as a breakthrough tool for unbiased pathogen identification. Studies have begun to explore the clinical applicability of mNGS in a variety of settings, including endocarditis, pneumonia, febrile neutropenia, osteoarticular infections, and returning travelers. The real-world impact of mNGS has also been assessed through retrospective studies, documenting varying degrees of success and limitations. In this review, we will explore current highlights of the clinical mNGS literature, with a focus on pediatric data where available. We aim to provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of mNGS and to provide direction toward areas requiring further research.
Pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic correlation of optimized ibuprofen nanosuspensions having enhanced anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity
Authors: Bandarkar Farzana , Masocha Willias , Nada Aly
Published: October 2021

Objectives

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of ibuprofen (IB) nanoformulations which were developed in our previous study and showed enhanced in-vitro dissolution rate compared with the marketed formulation.

Methods

The in-vivo pharmacodynamic (PD) studies were performed in mice. The antinociceptive effect of the formulations was evaluated using the formalin test, whereas the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by measuring oedema caused by formalin test.

Key findings

The optimized formulation exhibited nanosized particles with rapid dissolution compared with IB in water and marketed product. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of IB was significantly improved in optimized nanosuspension compared with other formulations. A good correlation was observed between the pharmacokinetic and PD data: nanosuspension > freeze-dried nanoparticles > marketed product > unhomogenized formulation > IB suspension in water. There was a significantly good correlation between percentage inhibition of paw oedema with peak serum concentration (Cmax) and time at which the Cmax is observed (Tmax) but not area under the curve (AUC), whereas there was a good correlation between percentage inhibition of formalin-induced nociception in phase II, but not phase I, with AUC and Cmax but not Tmax.

Conclusions

The development of IB nanoformulation by ultra-homogenization technique improved its dissolution and PD properties.
Endovascular treatment of penetrating vascular injuries
Authors: Cheraghali Roozbeh , Salimi Javad , Omrani Zahra
Published: October 2021

Endovascular treatment of vascular injuries has resulted in reduced operating time, blood loss, hospital mortality and sepsis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the success and complication rate of the endovascular management of penetrating peripheral vascular injuries during 5 years. In this observational study, the clinical records and imaging features of 22 penetrating trauma injuries of 276 penetrating vascular trauma patients (8%), which were repaired using endovascular stent-grafts or coil embolization, between April 2013 and August 2018, included in the study. The median age of patients was 43 years (Range, 20–78 years). There were 17 stab wounds (77.3%), 2 shotgun war remnants (9.1%) and 2 iatrogenic post-surgical lesions. Eleven stent-grafts (50%) and nine coil embolizations (40.9%) were deployed. Endovascular interventions in the management of peripheral vascular injuries can be efficient in definitive repair, damage control and hemorrhage control in severely ill trauma patients.
Spontaneous gallbladder perforation in patient with COVID-19—a case report and review of literature
Authors: Basukala Sunil , Rijal Sabina , Karki Saurav , Basukala Bikram , Gautam Alok Raj
Published: October 2021

The Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) originated in Wuhan in China in December 2019 has evolved over the past year in terms of its pathophysiology, clinical presentation, imaging manifestations and management strategies. Though COVID-19 is predominantly a pulmonary illness, it is now established to show widespread extra pulmonary involvement. Gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 are also well known. COVID-19 infection presenting with the involvement of gallbladder is extremely rare in medical literature. Gallbladder perforation should be thought of in COVID-19 patients complaining of with acute abdomen in with acute cholecystitis.
Selfie-related deaths using web epidemiological intelligence tool (2008–2021): a cross-sectional study
Authors: Linares Manuel , Santos Laura , Santos Joaquín , Juesas Cristina , Górgolas Miguel , Ramos-Rincón José-Manuel
Published: October 2021

The quest for extreme selfies killed 379 people since 2008. One in three was a traveller. Falls from height, transport and drowning were the top three causes. Many selfie deaths are the result of tourists taking risks in unfamiliar terrain. Travel medicine practitioners should routinely counsel travellers on responsible self-photography.
Out of Africa: characterizing the natural variation in dynamic photosynthetic traits in a diverse population of African rice (Oryza glaberrima)
Authors: Cowling Sophie B , Treeintong Pracha , Ferguson John , Soltani Hamidreza , Swarup Ranjan , Mayes Sean , Murchie Erik H
Published: October 2021

African rice (Oryza glaberrima) has adapted to challenging environments and is a promising source of genetic variation. We analysed dynamics of photosynthesis and morphology in a reference set of 155 O. glaberrima accessions. Plants were grown in an agronomy glasshouse to late tillering stage. Photosynthesis induction from darkness and the decrease in low light was measured by gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence along with root and shoot biomass, stomatal density, and leaf area. Steady-state and kinetic responses were modelled. We describe extensive natural variation in O. glaberrima for steady-state, induction, and reduction responses of photosynthesis that has value for gene discovery and crop improvement. Principal component analyses indicated key clusters of plant biomass, kinetics of photosynthesis (CO2 assimilation, A), and photoprotection induction and reduction (measured by non-photochemical quenching, NPQ), consistent with diverse adaptation. Accessions also clustered according to countries with differing water availability, stomatal conductance (gs), A, and NPQ, indicating that dynamic photosynthesis has adaptive value in O. glaberrima. Kinetics of NPQ, A, and gs showed high correlation with biomass and leaf area. We conclude that dynamic photosynthetic traits and NPQ are important within O. glaberrima, and we highlight NPQ kinetics and NPQ under low light.
A statistical evaluation of ballistic backmapping for the slow solar wind: The interplay of solar wind acceleration and corotation
Authors: Macneil Allan R , Owens Mathew J , Finley Adam J , Matt Sean P
Published: October 2021

Mapping solar wind plasma back to its source is often achieved using the ‘two-step ballistic backmapping’ method. Solar wind observations are mapped through the heliosphere to the edge of a PFSS model, by assuming a constant speed, radial, plasma flow. Tracing field lines through the model gives the source location at 1 R⊙ The heliospheric mapping component hinges upon the argument that two known sources of error, stemming from solar wind acceleration and non-radial flow, effectively cancel. This assumption has not been tested statistically. In this study, we evaluate the heliospheric portion of two-step backmapping, in addition to mapping using models with explicit radial acceleration, and azimuthal velocity, vφ, derived from angular momentum conservation. We estimate longitudinal mapping offsets, Δφ, between 326 Earth-observed crossings of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS), and corresponding crossings at 2.5 R⊙ from PFSS models. While the detailed solar wind models can be optimised to produce Δφ in good average agreement with HCS crossing data, the ballistic mapping performs almost as well, although all residuals have a sizeable standard deviation σ ∼ 16○. We conclude that the proposed error cancellation likely contributes to the good performance of ballistic mapping. However, interplanetary acceleration and the height of effective solar wind corotation are both smaller than previously assumed. Our results further suggest that early Parker Solar Probe observations of large vφ around 36 R⊙ do not represent the overall solar wind, due to the requirement for it to be balanced by increased acceleration.
SN 2008iy circumstellar interaction: bright and lesser light effects
Authors: Chugai N N
Published: October 2021

Optical photometry and spectra of the luminous type IIn supernova SN 2008iy are analysed in detail with implications for cosmic ray acceleration and the radio emission. The light curve and expansion velocities indicate ejecta with the kinetic energy of 3 × 1051 erg to collide with the ∼10 M⊙ circumstellar envelope. The luminous  H α is explained as originated primarily from circumstellar clouds interacting with the forward shock. For the first time the fluorescent O i 8446 Å emission is used to demonstrate that the cloud fragmentation cascade spans a scale range >2.3 dex. The narrow circumstellar  H α permitted us to estimate the acceleration efficiency of cosmic rays. The found value is close to the efficiency inferred in the same way for other two SNe IIn, SN 1997eg and SN 2002ic. The efficiency of cosmic ray acceleration is utilized to reproduce the radio flux from SN 2008iy for the amplified magnetic field consistent with the saturated turbulent magnetic field in the diffusive shock acceleration mechanism.
Panpsychism and the Inner-Outer Gap Problem
Authors: Albahari Miri
Published: October 2021

Panpsychism is viewed by its advocates as resolving the main sticking points for materialism and dualism. While sympathetic to this approach, I locate two prevalent assumptions within modern panpsychism which I think are problematic: first, that fundamental consciousness belongs to a perspectival subject (whether microlevel or cosmic) and second, that the physical world, despite being backed by conscious subject(s), is observer-independent. I re-introduce an argument I’d made elsewhere against the first assumption: that it lies behind the well-known combination and decombination problems. I then propose a new argument against the second assumption: that it leads to an equally pernicious difficulty I call the “Inner-Outer Gap Problem.” The variant of panpsychism I continue to develop and defend, Perennial Idealism, avoids these assumptions and their problems, allowing real progress on the mind-body problem. Perennial Idealism is a type of panpsychist idealism rather than panpsychist materialism.
Cosmic Consciousness
Authors: Ganeri Jonardon
Published: October 2021

The phrase “cosmic consciousness” has a surprising and fascinating history. I will show how it first enters into circulation in the writings of the remarkable Englishman Edward Carpenter (1844–1929), a socialist, philosopher, and prescient activist for gay rights and prison reform. Carpenter made a trip to India and Sri Lanka in 1890, where he spent two months sitting at the feet of Ramaswami, an Indian sage and disciple of Tilleinathan Swami. Carpenter invents the phrase in order to paraphrase Ramaswami’s teaching, which was itself a commonplace among the Advaita-inspired sages of the period, that there is in human beings the possibility of an all-encompassing consciousness (the Sanskrit phrase jñāna-ākāśa would later be offered as a translation of Carpenter’s phrase). Later still, in the writings of William James and others, the phrase acquires a new and different meaning in the idea that the cosmos itself exhibits a form of consciousness. James, indeed, uses just this phrase in his early formulation of cosmopsychism.
Analytic Panpsychism and the Metaphysics of Rāmānuja’s Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta
Authors: Vaidya Anand Jayprakash
Published: October 2021

Analytic Panpsychism has been brought into contact with Indian philosophy primarily through an examination of the Advaita Vedānta tradition and the Yogācāra tradition. In this work I explore the relation between Rāmānuja, the 12th century father of the Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta tradition, and analytic panpsychism. I argue that Rāmānuja’s philosophy inspires a more world affirming form of cosmopsychism where there are different kinds of reality, rather than one fundamental reality of pure consciousness and an ordinary wrold that is illusory from the perspective of fundamental reality.
In vivo architecture of the telomerase RNA catalytic core in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Dey Abhishek , Monroy-Eklund Anais , Klotz Kaitlin , Saha Arpita , Davis Justin , Li Bibo , Laederach Alain , Chakrabarti Kausik
Published: October 2021

Telomerase is a unique ribonucleoprotein (RNP) reverse transcriptase that utilizes its cognate RNA molecule as a template for telomere DNA repeat synthesis. Telomerase contains the reverse transcriptase protein, TERT and the template RNA, TR, as its core components. The 5’-half of TR forms a highly conserved catalytic core comprising of the template region and adjacent domains necessary for telomere synthesis. However, how telomerase RNA folding takes place in vivo has not been fully understood due to low abundance of the native RNP. Here, using unicellular pathogen Trypanosoma brucei as a model, we reveal important regional folding information of the native telomerase RNA core domains, i.e. TR template, template boundary element, template proximal helix and Helix IV (eCR4-CR5) domain. For this purpose, we uniquely combined in-cell probing with targeted high-throughput RNA sequencing and mutational mapping under three conditions: in vivo (in WT and TERT−/− cells), in an immunopurified catalytically active telomerase RNP complex and ex vivo (deproteinized). We discover that TR forms at least two different conformers with distinct folding topologies in the insect and mammalian developmental stages of T. brucei. Also, TERT does not significantly affect the RNA folding in vivo, suggesting that the telomerase RNA in T. brucei exists in a conformationally preorganized stable structure. Our observed differences in RNA (TR) folding at two distinct developmental stages of T. brucei suggest that important conformational changes are a key component of T. brucei development.
The carbohydrate-active enzyme database: functions and literature
Authors: Drula Elodie , Garron Marie-Line , Dogan Suzan , Lombard Vincent , Henrissat Bernard , Terrapon Nicolas
Published: October 2021

Thirty years have elapsed since the emergence of the classification of carbohydrate-active enzymes in sequence-based families that became the CAZy database over 20 years ago, freely available for browsing and download at www.cazy.org. In the era of large scale sequencing and high-throughput Biology, it is important to examine the position of this specialist database that is deeply rooted in human curation. The three primary tasks of the CAZy curators are (i) to maintain and update the family classification of this class of enzymes, (ii) to classify sequences newly released by GenBank and the Protein Data Bank and (iii) to capture and present functional information for each family. The CAZy website is updated once a month. Here we briefly summarize the increase in novel families and the annotations conducted during the last 8 years. We present several important changes that facilitate taxonomic navigation, and allow to download the entirety of the annotations. Most importantly we highlight the considerable amount of work that accompanies the analysis and report of biochemical data from the literature.
BioSamples database: FAIRer samples metadata to accelerate research data management
Authors: Courtot Mélanie , Gupta Dipayan , Liyanage Isuru , Xu Fuqi , Burdett Tony
Published: October 2021

The BioSamples database at EMBL-EBI is the central institutional repository for sample metadata storage and connection to EMBL-EBI archives and other resources. The technical improvements to our infrastructure described in our last update have enabled us to scale and accommodate an increasing number of communities, resulting in a higher number of submissions and more heterogeneous data. The BioSamples database now has a valuable set of features and processes to improve data quality in BioSamples, and in particular enriching metadata content and following FAIR principles. In this manuscript, we describe how BioSamples in 2021 handles requirements from our community of users through exemplar use cases: increased findability of samples and improved data management practices support the goals of the ReSOLUTE project, how the plant community benefits from being able to link genotypic to phenotypic information, and we highlight how cumulatively those improvements contribute to more complex multi-omics data integration supporting COVID-19 research. Finally, we present underlying technical features used as pillars throughout those use cases and how they are reused for expanded engagement with communities such as FAIRplus and the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health. Availability: The BioSamples database is freely available at http://www.ebi.ac.uk/biosamples. Content is distributed under the EMBL-EBI Terms of Use available at https://www.ebi.ac.uk/about/terms-of-use. The BioSamples code is available at https://github.com/EBIBioSamples/biosamples-v4 and distributed under the Apache 2.0 license.
Nrd1p identifies aberrant and natural exosomal target messages during the nuclear mRNA surveillance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Singh Pragyan , Chaudhuri Anusha , Banerjea Mayukh , Marathe Neeraja , Das Biswadip
Published: October 2021

Nuclear degradation of aberrant mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is accomplished by the nuclear exosome and its cofactors TRAMP/CTEXT. Evidence from this investigation establishes a universal role of the Nrd1p-Nab3p-Sen1p (NNS) complex in the nuclear decay of all categories of aberrant mRNAs. In agreement with this, both nrd1-1 and nrd1-2 mutations impaired the decay of all classes of aberrant messages. This phenotype is similar to that displayed by GAL::RRP41 and rrp6-Δ mutant yeast strains. Remarkably, however, nrd1ΔCID mutation (lacking the C-terminal domain required for interaction of Nrd1p with RNAPII) only diminished the decay of aberrant messages with defects occurring during the early stage of mRNP biogenesis, without affecting other messages with defects generated later in the process. Co-transcriptional recruitment of Nrd1p on the aberrant mRNAs was vital for their concomitant decay. Strikingly, this recruitment on to mRNAs defective in the early phases of biogenesis is solely dependent upon RNAPII. In contrast, Nrd1p recruitment onto export-defective transcripts with defects occurring in the later stage of biogenesis is independent of RNAPII and dependent on the CF1A component, Pcf11p, which explains the observed characteristic phenotype of nrd1ΔCID mutation. Consistently, pcf11-2 mutation displayed a selective impairment in the degradation of only the export-defective messages.
Bayesian theories of consciousness: a review in search for a minimal unifying model
Authors: Rorot Wiktor
Published: October 2021

The goal of the paper is to review existing work on consciousness within the frameworks of Predictive Processing, Active Inference, and Free Energy Principle. The emphasis is put on the role played by the precision and complexity of the internal generative model. In the light of those proposals, these two properties appear to be the minimal necessary components for the emergence of conscious experience—a Minimal Unifying Model of consciousness.
Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural crest model unveils CD55 as a cancer stem cell regulator for therapeutic targeting inMYCN-amplified neuroblastoma
Authors: Weng Zhihui , Lin Jiacheng , He Jiaozi , Gao Lin , Lin Sien , Tsang Lai Ling , Zhang Hang , He Xiaoyan , Wang Guang , Yang Xuesong , Zhou Hu , Zhao Hui , Li Gang , Zou Lin , Jiang Xiaohua
Published: October 2021

Background

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common childhood malignant tumor of neural crest (NC) origin with remarkable heterogeneity in outcomes. Amplification of the oncogene MYCN is strongly associated with highly malignant behaviour and poor prognosis.

Methods

This study aims to use a human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived NC model to identify novel downstream effectors of MYCN that can be potentially used as prognostic marker and/or therapeutic target.

Results

We show that MYCN-driven NB derived from human neural crest cells (hNCCs) recapitulate the pathological and molecular features of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma (MNA-NB). By using this platform, we identify a group of 14 surface protein-encoding genes that are associated with MYCN expression level in MNA-NB. Among these genes, high CD55 expression is correlated with poor survival in MNA-NB but not in non-MNA-NB. Furthermore, CD55 promotes tumorigenesis, tumor growth, and cancer stemness in MNA-NB cell lines (MNA-NBL) through regulating the JNK pathway. Mechanistically, MYCN binds to both canonical and noncanonical E-boxes on the promoter of CD55 to regulate its transcriptional expression. Finally, neutralizing antibody targeting CD55 significantly attenuates cancer stemness, suppresses tumor growth, and improves survival exclusively in MNA-NBL-inoculated mice.

Conclusion

MYCN shapes CD55 into a cancer stem cell regulator which represents a prognostic marker and therapeutic target of MNA-NB. The hESC-derived NC model serves as a valuable platform for investigating NB initiation and progression and developing potential therapeutic targets.
New physics searches at the BESIII experiment
Authors: Chen Shenjian , Olsen Stephen Lars
Published: October 2021

The standard model (SM) of particle physics, comprised of the unified electroweak and quantum chromodynamic theories, accurately explains almost all experimental results related to the micro-world, and has made a number of predictions for previously unseen particles, most notably the Higgs scalar boson, that were subsequently discovered. As a result, the SM is currently universally accepted as the theory of the fundamental particles and their interactions. However, in spite of its numerous successes, the SM has a number of apparent shortcomings, including: many free parameters that must be supplied by experimental measurements; no mechanism to produce the dominance of matter over antimatter in the universe; and no explanations for gravity, the dark matter in the universe, neutrino masses, the number of particle generations, etc. Because of these shortcomings, there is considerable incentive to search for evidence for new, non-SM physics phenomena that might provide important clues about what a new, beyond the SM theory (BSM) might look like. Although the center-of-mass energies that BESIII can access are far below the energy frontier, searches for new, BSM physics are an important component of its research program. This report reviews some of the highlights from BESIII’s searches for signs of new, BSM physics by: measuring rates for processes that the SM predicts to be forbidden or very rare; searching for non-SM particles such as dark photons; performing precision tests of SM predictions; and looking for violations of the discrete symmetries C and CP in processes for which the SM expectations are immeasurably small.
Legislative Behaviour of MPs in the Czech Republic in Times of Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hájek Lukáš
Published: October 2021

The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has affected almost every aspect of our lives. While millions of people fought with the disease, economies, societies and institutions faced side-effects of government measures resisting the spread of the virus. This article describes the effects of the pandemic on the legislative behaviour of MPs in one of the worst-hit countries in the world, the Czech Republic. The results show that the number of bill proposals and roll calls substantially increased during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic times. Since the start of the outbreak, a third of roll calls and a half of bill proposals concerned the pandemic. Nonetheless, the outbreak did not substantially affect the voting unity of parliamentary party groups nor the opposition became more supportive of the cabinet. Still, while the liberal Pirates became more cooperative during the pandemic than the pre-pandemic period, the rightist antisystem party Freedom and Direct Democracy receded from the rest of the parties on the pandemic issues.
Optical spectroscopic observations of a symbiotic star MWC 560 in the mass accumulation phase
Authors: Ando Kazuko , Fukuda Naoya , Sato Bunei , Maehara Hiroyuki , Izumiura Hideyuki
Published: October 2021

There are about a dozen symbiotic stars known to produce high-velocity jets during outbursts. MWC 560 (V694 Mon) is a symbiotic star that seems to show a permanent jet. After showing an unexpected brightening in 2018 November, it has continued to brighten until 2021 and is currently in the brightest state ever. We have been conducting long-term high-dispersion spectroscopic monitoring of this object since 2016 March. An emission wing with vFWHM ≈ 700 km s−1 in the hydrogen Balmer line at an unexpected brightening event in 2018 was reported by Ando et al. (2021, PASJ, 73, L1). In subsequent continuous observations, this emission wing was no longer seen on 2019 February 6. The absorption lines seen in the hydrogen Balmer lines are gradually deepening and spreading to the slower side of the velocity, and the outflow velocity is becoming slower. The expanding component generated by the outburst was initially observed in the emission wing just after the 2018 outburst, got gradually cooler, and was observed in the absorption line after 2019.
Flavonoid deficiency disrupts redox homeostasis and terpenoid biosynthesis in glandular trichomes of tomato
Authors: Sugimoto Koichi , Zager Jordan J , Aubin Brian St , Lange Bernd Markus , Howe Gregg A
Published: October 2021

Glandular trichomes (GTs) are epidermal structures that provide the first line of chemical defense against arthropod herbivores and other biotic threats. The most conspicuous structure on leaves of cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the type-VI GT (tVI-GT), which accumulates both flavonoids and volatile terpenoids. Although these classes of specialized metabolites are derived from distinct metabolic pathways, previous studies with a chalcone isomerase 1 (CHI1)-deficient mutant called anthocyanin free (af) showed that flavonoids are required for terpenoid accumulation in tVI-GTs. Here, we combined global transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of isolated trichomes as a starting point to show that the lack of CHI1 is associated with reduced levels of terpenoid biosynthetic transcripts and enzymes. The flavonoid deficiency in af trichomes also resulted in the upregulation of abiotic stress-responsive genes associated with DNA damage and repair. Several lines of biochemical and genetic evidence indicate that the terpenoid defect in af mutants is specific for the tVI-GT and is associated with the absence of bulk flavonoids rather than loss of CHI1 per se. A newly developed genome-scale model of metabolism in tomato tVI-GTs helped identify metabolic imbalances caused by the loss of flavonoid production. We provide evidence that flavonoid deficiency in this cell type leads to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may impair terpenoid biosynthesis. Collectively, our findings support a role for flavonoids as ROS-scavenging antioxidants in GTs.
Spontaneous scalarization in scalar–tensor theories with conformal symmetry as an attractor
Authors: Chiba Takeshi
Published: October 2021

Motivated by constant-G theory, we introduce a one-parameter family of scalar–tensor theories as an extension of constant-G theory in which the conformal symmetry is a cosmological attractor. Since the model has the coupling function of negative curvature, we expect spontaneous scalarization to occur and that the parameter can be constrained by pulsar timing measurements. Modeling neutron stars with realistic equations of state, we study the structure of neutron stars and calculate the effective scalar coupling with the neutron star in these theories. We find that within the parameter region where the observational constraints are satisfied, the effective scalar coupling almost coincides with that derived using the quadratic model with the same curvature. This indicates that the constraints obtained by the quadratic model will be used to limit the curvature of the coupling function universally in the future.
High-risk fertility behaviours among women in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Seidu Abdul-Aziz , Ahinkorah Bright Opoku , Anjorin Seun Stephen , Tetteh Justice Kanor , Hagan John Elvis , Zegeye Betregiorgis , Adu-Gyamfi Addae Boateng , Yaya Sanni
Published: October 2021

Background

High-risk fertility behaviours such as too early or advanced age at delivery, shorter birth interval, birth order and a higher number of live births to a woman often lead to adverse maternal and child health outcomes. We assessed high-risk fertility behaviours and their associated factors among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods

Data on 200 716 women pooled from the demographic and health surveys of 27 countries conducted between 2010 and 2020 in SSA were analysed. High-risk fertility behaviour from four indicators, mother aged <18 years at the time of delivery; mother aged >34 years at the time of delivery; mother of a child born after a short birth interval (<24 months) and mother of high parity (>3 children), was derived. Multi-level multi-variable logistic regression analyses were carried out and the results were presented as adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence interval.

Results

Women who were in polygamous marriages had higher odds of single and multiple high-risk fertility behaviour compared with their counterparts who were in monogamous marriages. Women with middle or high maternal decision-making power had higher odds of single and multiple high-risk fertility behaviours compared with those with low decision-making power. Single and multiple high-risk fertility behaviours were lower among women with access to family planning, those with at least primary education and those whose partners had at least primary education compared with their counterparts who had no access to family planning, those with no formal education and those whose partners had no formal education.

Conclusion

Family structure, women’s decision-making power, access to family planning, women’s level of education and partners’ level of education were identified as predictors of high-risk fertility behaviours in SSA. These findings are crucial in addressing maternal health and fertility challenges. Policy makers, maternal health and fertility stakeholders in countries with high prevalence of high parity and short birth intervals should organize programs that will help to reduce the prevalence of these high-risk factors, taking into consideration the factors that predispose women to high-risk fertility behaviours.
The Costs of Employment Segregation: Evidence from the Federal Government Under Woodrow Wilson
Authors: Aneja Abhay , Xu Guo
Published: October 2021

We link newly digitized personnel records of the U.S. government for 1907–1921 to census data to study the segregation of the civil service by race under President Woodrow Wilson. Using a difference-in-differences design around Wilson’s inauguration, we find that the introduction of employment segregation increased the black-white earnings gap by 3.4–6.9 percentage points. This increasing gap is driven by a reallocation of existing black civil servants to lower-paid positions, lowering their returns to education. Importantly, the negative effects extend beyond Wilson’s presidency. Using census data for 1900–1940, we show that segregation caused a relative decline in the home ownership rate of black civil servants. Moreover, by comparing children of black and white civil servants in adulthood, we provide suggestive evidence that descendants of black civil servants who were exposed to Wilson’s presidency exhibit lower levels of education, earnings, and social mobility. Our combined results thus document significant short- and long-run costs borne by minorities during a unique episode of state-sanctioned discrimination.
The Real Effects of Secondary Market Trading Structure: Evidence from the Mortgage Market
Authors: Huh Yesol , Kim You Suk
Published: October 2021

By allowing different agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) to be traded based on limited characteristics, the to-be-announced (TBA) market generates liquidity and benefits the MBS market broadly. We quantify effects of the TBA structure on mortgage borrowers. Exploiting discontinuities in TBA eligibility, we estimate that TBA eligibility reduces mortgage rates by 7 to 28 basis points. The TBA eligibility benefit is larger for mortgages with higher expected prepayments. We also find that TBA eligibility affects refinancing, which has implications for monetary policy transmission. Our finding is relevant for housing policies, such as housing finance reforms and uniform MBS.

Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Assessing the role for nailfold videocapillaroscopy in interstitial lung disease classfication: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Umashankar Eshwar , Abdel-Shaheed Christina , Plit Marshall , Girgis Laila
Published: October 2021

Objectives

The nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) has been known to assist with interstitial lung disease (ILD) classification. However, evidence on its diagnostic efficacy is limited, particularly in some connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung diseases (CTD-ILD), and in interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF). This study aimed to address this limitation by conducting a meta-analysis on the efficacy of the NVC in ILD subgroups of CTD-ILD, IPAF and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL were screened from inception to December 2020 according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies that report prevalence of nailfold abnormalities (NVC+) in CTD-ILD, IPAF and IPF cohorts were included. Data were presented as prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% CI using a random-effects model. Quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE criteria.

Results

Twenty-one studies were eligible. Prevalence of NVC+ was highest in CTD-ILD; PR (95 CI%) 80.4% (74.3%, 85.3%), followed by IPAF; 27.4% (10.9%, 53.7%), and IPF; 13.8% (5.7%, 29.9%). Late scleroderma pattern was the most prevalent nailfold pattern; 40.4% (28.1%, 54.1%) in our CTD-ILD cohort. Quality of evidence was low for CTD-ILD, IPAF and IPF cohorts, moderate for the late scleroderma pattern cohort.

Conclusion

NVC can increase the diagnostic accuracy of ILD when used in a multi-disciplinary setting, and appears to have greatest utility in CTD-ILD, followed by IPAF and IPF. The Late Scleroderma Pattern was the most frequent nailfold capillary pattern in SSc-ILD. Future research will allow for greater understanding of the prognostic value of the NVC in ILD.
Divided by Faith (in Christian America): Christian Nationalism, Race, and Divergent Perceptions of Racial Injustice
Authors: Perry Samuel L , Cobb Ryon J , Whitehead Andrew L , Grubbs Joshua B
Published: October 2021

Sociologists have long identified a “perception gap” between Black and White Americans regarding racial injustice, often emphasizing either “epistemologies of ignorance” or “religio-cultural” mechanisms. Integrating and extending these insights, we theorize that conceptions of America’s religio-cultural heritage and identity are racially coded and grounded in White supremacy, but only for those atop the racial hierarchy. From this, we predict the perception gap is largely driven by Whites’ racialized idealization of their own religio-cultural preeminence in American civic life—what we call “White Christian nationalism.” Drawing on nationally representative data with currently relevant measures of Americans’ perceptions of racial injustice, we show the more Whites affirm seemingly race-neutral statements promoting Christianity’s preeminence in American life, the more they affirm White victimhood and deny anti-Black injustice. This association seems to drive the perception gap. Specifically, for Whites, Christian nationalism is powerfully associated with refusing to acknowledge anti-Black discrimination while affirming supposed anti-White discrimination; lower likelihood of attributing Ahmaud Arbery’s murder to racism or to even know about the incident; and greater likelihood of denying racial inequality in policing. For Black Americans, however, affirming the same measures of Christian nationalism produces no consistent change in their recognition of racial injustice. Thus, for Whites, appeals to America’s “Christian” heritage are racially coded and contribute to an ideological defense of White supremacy, including the denial of blatant anti-Black injustice and a commitment to White victimhood.