bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Find the Missing Millions: Malaysia’s experience with nationwide hepatitis C screening campaign in the general population
Authors: Md Said Rosaida , Mohd Zain Rozainanee , Chan Huan‐Keat , Soelar Shahrul Aiman , Rusli Norhayati , Nasir Nazrila Hairizan , Zakaria Rozita , Hassan Muhammad Radzi Abu
Published: January 2020

Approximately 2.5% of the Malaysian population is currently living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Yet, the public awareness of the disease is limited and under‐screening remains a major challenge. With the support of international non‐for‐profit organizations, the Ministry of Health in Malaysia recently launched a one‐week nationwide hepatitis C screening campaign in conjunction with the World Hepatitis Day. For the first time, the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for HCV screening was introduced in public health institutions. This campaign involved 49 hospitals and 38 health clinics across the country, targeting the adult general population with unknown HCV infection status. Of the 11 382 participants undergoing the RDT, 1.9% were found to be positive for hepatitis C antibody (anti‐HCV) and were referred to on‐site medical departments or nearby hospitals for confirmatory testing and treatment. Men, the Malay ethnic group, intranasal and injection drug users and ex‐prisoners were shown to have higher odds of being positive for anti‐HCV. In addition to serving as a model to educate the general population about the disease, this campaign demonstrates the feasibility of decentralizing HCV screening, particularly by promoting the use of RDT, and linking the HCV‐infected patients to care in Malaysia.
Hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment, impact on engagement and behaviour of people who inject drugs, a service evaluation, the hooked C project
Authors: Caven Madeleine , Robinson Emma M. , Eriksen Ann J. , Fletcher Emma H. , Dillon John F.
Published: January 2020

There is emerging evidence that Hepatitis C (HCV) treatment engagement is associated with change in drug behaviours and reduced drug‐related death rates among people who inject drugs (PWID). The project aims to investigate whether HCV diagnosis and treatment engagement reduces all‐cause mortality and drug‐related death, and whether any effect is dependent on treatment regimen and intensity of engagement with staff. Case‐control studies comparing: PWID with active HCV infection (PCR positive) to PWID HCV infected but spontaneously resolved (PCR negative); PCR‐positive patients who engaged with treatment services to nonengagers; and patients who received interferon vs direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) based treatment. No differences in risk of all‐cause mortality or drug‐related death between PCR‐negative controls and PCR‐positive cases were detected. The odds of all‐cause mortality was 12.2 times higher in nonengaging persons compared to treatment engaging cases (aOR 12.15, 95% CI 7.03‐20.99, P < .001). The odds of a drug‐related death were 5.5 times higher in nonengaging persons compared with treatment engaging cases (aOR 5.52, 95% CI 2.67‐ 11.44, P < .001). No differences in risk of all‐cause mortality or drug‐related death between interferon‐treated cases and DAA‐treated controls were detected. HCV treatment engagement is significantly protective against all‐cause mortality and drug‐related death. This engagement effect is independent of treatment regimen, with the introduction of DAA therapies not increasing risk of drug‐related death, suggesting intensity of HCV therapy provider interaction is not an important factor.
Modeling acute blood flow responses to a major arterial occlusion
Authors: Zhao Erin , Barber Jared , Burch Myson , Unthank Joseph , Arciero Julia
Published: January 2020

Objective

The development of earlier and less invasive treatments for peripheral arterial disease requires a more complete understanding of vascular responses following a major arterial occlusion. A mechanistic model of the vasculature of the rat hindlimb is developed to predict acute (immediate) changes in vessel diameters and smooth muscle tone following femoral arterial occlusion.

Methods

Vascular responses of collateral arteries and distal arterioles to changes in pressure, shear stress, and metabolism are assessed before and after occlusion. The effects of exercise are also simulated and compared with venous flow measurements from WKY rats.

Results

The model identifies collateral arteries as the primary contributors to flow compensation following occlusion. Increasing the number of capillaries has minimal effect on blood flow while increasing the number of collateral arteries significantly increases flow, since the primary site of resistance shifts upstream to the collateral arteries following occlusion. Despite significant collateral dilation, calf flow remains below pre‐occlusion levels and the deficit becomes more severe with increased activity.

Conclusions

Although unable to compensate fully for an occlusion, the model demonstrates the importance of the shear response in collateral arteries and the metabolic response in the distal microcirculation in acute adaptations to a major arterial occlusion.
Higher levels of daily physical activity are associated with better skin microvascular function in type 2 diabetes—The Maastricht Study
Authors: Sörensen Ben M. , van der Heide Frank C.T. , Houben Alfons J.H.M. , Koster Annemarie , T.J.M. Berendschot Tos , S.A.G. Schouten Jan , Kroon Abraham A. , van der Kallen Carla J.H. , Henry Ronald M.A. , van Dongen Martien C.J.M , J.P.M. Eussen Simone , H.C.M. Savelberg Hans. , van der Berg Julianne D. , Schaper Nicolaas C. , Schram Miranda T. , Stehouwer Coen D.A.
Published: January 2020

Objective

Physical activity may provide a means for the prevention of cardiovascular disease via improving microvascular function. Therefore, this study investigated whether physical activity is associated with skin and retinal microvascular function.

Methods

In The Maastricht Study, a population‐based cohort study enriched with type 2 diabetes (n = 1298, 47.3% women, aged 60.2 ± 8.1 years, 29.5% type 2 diabetes), we studied whether accelerometer‐assessed physical activity and sedentary time associate with skin and retinal microvascular function. Associations were studied by linear regression and adjusted for major cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, we investigated whether associations were stronger in type 2 diabetes.

Results

In individuals with type 2 diabetes, total physical activity and higher‐intensity physical activity were independently associated with greater heat‐induced skin hyperemia (regression coefficients per hour), respectively, 10 (95% CI: 1; 18) and 36 perfusion units (14; 58). In individuals without type 2 diabetes, total physical activity and higher‐intensity physical activity were not associated with heat‐induced skin hyperemia. No associations with retinal arteriolar %‐dilation were identified.

Conclusion

Higher levels of total and higher‐intensity physical activity were associated with greater skin microvascular vasodilation in individuals with, but not in those without, type 2 diabetes.
Identification of the main glutamine and glutamate transporters in Staphylococcus aureus and their impact on c‐di‐AMP production
Authors: Zeden Merve S. , Kviatkovski Igor , Schuster Christopher F. , Thomas Vinai C. , Fey Paul D. , Gründling Angelika
Published: January 2020

A Staphylococcus aureus strain deleted for the c‐di‐AMP cyclase gene dacA is unable to survive in rich medium unless it acquires compensatory mutations. Previously identified mutations were in opuD, encoding the main glycine‐betaine transporter, and alsT, encoding a predicted amino acid transporter. Here, we show that inactivation of OpuD restores the cell size of a dacA mutant to near wild‐type (WT) size, while inactivation of AlsT does not. AlsT was identified as an efficient glutamine transporter, indicating that preventing glutamine uptake in rich medium rescues the growth of the S. aureus dacA mutant. In addition, GltS was identified as a glutamate transporter. By performing growth curves with WT, alsT and gltS mutant strains in defined medium supplemented with ammonium, glutamine or glutamate, we revealed that ammonium and glutamine, but not glutamate promote the growth of S. aureus. This suggests that besides ammonium also glutamine can serve as a nitrogen source under these conditions. Ammonium and uptake of glutamine via AlsT and hence likely a higher intracellular glutamine concentration inhibited c‐di‐AMP production, while glutamate uptake had no effect. These findings provide, besides the previously reported link between potassium and osmolyte uptake, a connection between nitrogen metabolism and c‐di‐AMP signalling in S. aureus.
Me and my veggies: The use of interactive, personalised picture books in healthy eating interventions
Authors: Dulay K. M. , Masento N. A. , Harvey K. , Messer D. J. , Houston‐Price C.
Published: January 2020

Increased fruit and vegetable consumption is important for children’s healthy eating. Although repeated taste exposures are effective in supporting children’s acceptance of healthy foods, more enjoyable interventions that increase children’s familiarity with foods through other sensory modalities can also be helpful. Picture book interventions, which draw on the principles of visual familiarity and social reinforcement, are effective in increasing pre‐schoolers’ acceptance of vegetables. With the rise of digital technologies, e‐books present a new tool for offering picture book interventions on a large scale and offer additional features that might potentially boost their effects. In this paper, we propose two specific mechanisms, interactive learning and personalisation, that could make e‐book eating interventions especially effective with young children and we outline new directions for research to elucidate their effects. We then briefly describe an ongoing study that explores the effectiveness of a vegetable e‐book intervention that incorporates the mechanisms described in this paper.
Insulin signaling as a therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s disease: Efficacy of apomorphine
Authors: Ohyagi Yasumasa , Takei Satoko I.
Published: January 2020

Alzheimer's disease has recently been characterized as “diabetes of the brain” or “type 3 diabetes.” Although recent clinical trials targeting amyloid β‐protein have been unsuccessful, glucose‐insulin metabolism in the brain may provide an alternative therapeutic target. In this review, we focus on three related topics: (a) how peripheral and brain insulin resistance interact with each other; (b) brain insulin resistance as a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease and anti‐diabetic drugs as potentially effective drugs; and (c) apomorphine as a novel drug that improves neuronal insulin signaling. Although apomorphine is a dopamine receptor agonist, studies in our laboratory revealed a novel effect, promoting intracellular amyloid β degradation and improving memory function in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Recently, we demonstrated that apomorphine treatment improved neuronal insulin resistance and activated insulin‐degrading enzyme, a major amyloid β‐degrading enzyme. In addition, we confirmed the efficacy of apomorphine for some Alzheimer's disease patients. In this context, combined treatment involving anti‐diabetic drugs and apomorphine may provide an effective therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease.
Role of inflammation and inflammasome activation in human bile cast nephropathy
Authors: Giuliani Kurt T. K. , Kassianos Andrew J. , Kildey Katrina , Grivei Anca , Wang Xiangju , Ungerer Jacobus , Francis Leo , Healy Helen , Gois Pedro F. H.
Published: January 2020

Bile cast nephropathy (BCN) is an underdiagnosed cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The precise pathogenesis of bilirubin tubular toxicity remains unknown. The aim of this study is to explore the cellular and molecular pathophysiology of human BCN. Paraffin‐embedded sections of renal biopsy tissue from a BCN patient were stained by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for oxidative stress (4‐hydroxynonenal), immune cell subpopulations, including dendritic cells (CD1c), macrophages (CD68) and T cells (CD3), and inflammasome activation by staining for active‐caspase‐1 and the inflammasome adaptor protein, ASC (apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain). Quantitative analyses of IHC staining were compared to healthy renal cortical tissue. We identified yellow to brown granular casts within the BCN case, consistent with the presence of bile pigment. The presence of bile pigment was associated with strong tubular 4‐hydroxynonenal staining intensity, a marker of oxidative stress. Diffuse tubulointerstitial inflammatory cell infiltrate was detected, with elevated CD1c, CD68 and CD3 staining. Foci of inflammasome activity were co‐localized with this intense immune cell infiltration, with increased active‐caspase‐1 and ASC staining. Our findings are the first to suggest that bile casts may lead to oxidative stress and trigger the inflammasome signalling cascade, leading to interstitial inflammation and driving AKI pathobiology.

SUMMARY AT A GLANCE

The report suggests that bile casts may lead to oxidative stress and trigger the inflammasome signalling cascade, leading to interstitial inflammation and driving bile cast nephropathy pathobiology.
Evaluation of the anticoagulant effect of low‐molecular‐weight heparins based on the anti‐Xa level during haemodialysis
Authors: Tao Mei , Zheng Danna , Liang Xudong , Ye Meiyu , Liu Yueming , Li Yiwen , Shen Huajuan , He Qiang
Published: January 2020

Aim

Evaluate the relationship between anti‐Xa activity and anticoagulant effect, and ascertain whether accumulation of low‐molecular‐weight heparins (LMWH) occurs during haemodialysis.

Methods

There was an observational, single‐centre study among participants who received the LMWH dalteparin, enoxaparin or nadroparin. A standard haemodialysis session lasted 4 hours. All included participants had anti‐Xa activity measures at 0.5 and 4 hours. Extracorporeal circuit (ECC) clotting was evaluated by visual inspection of the haemodialyser and bubble trap after each haemodialysis session. The same person was tested at three consecutive haemodialysis sessions.

Results

Overall, 90 participants were enrolled and 259 haemodialysis sessions assessed. There was no significant difference in the mean anti‐Xa activity at 0.5 and 4 hours for three consecutive sessions, so LMWH accumulation did not occur. There were 69 (26.6%) sessions in which, ECC clotting was visible. Compared with the group where circuit clotting did not occur, the LMWH dose and anti‐Xa activity in the group where circuit clotting occurred were significantly lower. At 0.5 hour, anti‐Xa <0.88 IU/mL had significantly higher odds of ECC clotting than that at ≥0.88 IU/mL. At 4 hours, anti‐Xa <0.35 IU/mL had significantly higher odds of ECC clotting than that at ≥0.35 IU/mL.

Conclusion

We found that over three haemodialysis sessions, no significant accumulation of LMWH was evident in subjects receiving a LMWH dose of between 2000 and 5000 IU for regular. Anti‐Xa activity measurement can be used to adjust the dosage of LMWH and predict the anticoagulant effect during haemodialysis.
Genome‐wide association of volatiles reveals candidate loci for blueberry flavor
Authors: Ferrão Luís Felipe V. , Johnson Timothy S. , Benevenuto Juliana , Edger Patrick P. , Colquhoun Thomas A. , Munoz Patricio R.
Published: January 2020

Plants produce a range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which are perceived by the human olfactory system, contributing to a myriad flavors. Despite the importance of flavor for consumer preference, most plant breeding programs have neglected it, mainly because of the costs of phenotyping and the complexity of disentangling the role of VOCs in human perception.

To develop molecular breeding tools aimed at improving fruit flavor, we carried out target genotyping of and VOC extraction from a blueberry population. Metabolite genome‐wide association analysis was used to elucidate the genetic architecture, while predictive models were tested to prove that VOCs can be accurately predicted using genomic information. A historical sensory panel was considered to assess how the volatiles influenced consumers.

By gathering genomics, metabolomics, and the sensory panel, we demonstrated that VOCs are controlled by a few major genomic regions, some of which harbor biosynthetic enzyme‐coding genes; can be accurately predicted using molecular markers; and can enhance or decrease consumers' overall liking.

Here we emphasized how the understanding of the genetic basis and the role of VOCs in consumer preference can assist breeders in developing more flavorful cultivars at a more inexpensive and accelerated pace.
Calcifying odontogenic cyst: A case report
Authors: Mulvihill C. , Ni Mhaolcatha S. , Brady P. , McKenna J. , Sleeman D. , Fitzgibbon J.
Published: January 2020

A calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) is a rare odontogenic lesion with a vast variety of clinical, radiological, histopathological features and biological behaviours. In this article, we illustrate a case of an 18‐year‐old male patient with a complaint of an 18‐month history of swelling in his right maxilla. The lesion was diagnosed as a COC associated with an impacted 18 using radiological, cytological and histopathological investigations. The present study examines and considers the case.
Feasibility of awake craniotomy in the pediatric population
Authors: Alcaraz García‐Tejedor Gabriela , Echániz Gastón , Strantzas Samuel , Jalloh Ibrahim , Rutka James , Drake James , Der Tara
Published: January 2020

Background

Awake craniotomy with direct cortical stimulation and mapping is the gold standard for resection of lesions near eloquent brain areas, as it can maximize the extent of resection while minimizing the risk of neurological damage. In contrast to the adult population, only small series of awake craniotomies have been reported in children.

Aims

The aim of our study is to establish the feasibility of awake craniotomy in the pediatric population.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational study of children undergoing a supratentorial awake craniotomy between January 2009 and April 2019 in a pediatric tertiary care center. Our primary outcome was feasibility of awake craniotomy, defined as the ability to complete the procedure without conversion to general anesthesia. Our secondary outcomes were the incidence of serious intraoperative complications and the mapping completion rate.

Results

Thirty procedures were performed in 28 children: 12 females and 16 males. The median age was 14 years (range 7‐17). The primary diagnosis was tumor (83.3%), epilepsy (13.3%), and arterio‐venous malformation (3.3%). The anesthetic techniques were asleep‐awake‐asleep (96.7%) and conscious sedation (3.3%), all cases supplemented with scalp block and pin‐site infiltration. Awake craniotomy was feasible in 29 cases (96.7%), one patient converted to general anesthesia due to agitation. Serious complications occurred in six patients: agitation (6.7%), seizures (3.3%), increased intracranial pressure (3.3%), respiratory depression (3.3%), and bradycardia (3.3%). All complications were quickly resolved and without major consequences. Cortical mapping was completed in 96.6% cases. New neurological deficits occurred in six patients (20%)—moderate in one case and mild in 5—being all absent at 6 months of follow‐up.

Conclusion

Awake craniotomy with intraoperative mapping can be successfully performed in children. Adequate patient selection and close cooperation between neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, neuropsychologists, and neurophysiologists is paramount. Further studies are needed to determine the best anesthetic technique in this population group.
Teat characteristics in relation to animal temperament during milking in buffaloes, and comparison of buffalo and cow teat morphology
Authors: Ozenc Erhan , Bozkurt Mehmet Fatih , Yazici Ebubekir , Seker Esra , Bayraktaroglu Alev Gurol , Ozcinar Umit , Dogan Nurhan
Published: January 2020

This study aimed to examine the teat characteristics in relation to the animal temperament during milking in the Anatolian buffaloes using ultrasonographic, histomorphological and immunohistochemical methods. The teat canal length (TCL), teat wall thickness (TWT), teat cisternal diameter (TCD), teat diameter (TD), teat length (TL), and teat circumference (TC) values in docile (n = 5) and nervous (n = 7) buffaloes were measured at the 0th, 3rd and 6th minute of stimulation. In additional experiments, comparative histomorphology and immunohistochemical examinations of buffalo (n = 7) and cow teats (n = 8) were performed. It was determined that post‐stimulation mean TCL values were significantly higher in nervous buffaloes than those of teats in docile buffaloes (p < .05). A significant positive correlation between TCD and TD, TL and TC in both docile and nervous buffaloes was noted (p < .05). Unlike nervous buffaloes where only 3/14 teat canals were open by 3rd minute of milking stimulation, almost all (9/10) teat canals were observed opened in docile buffaloes. There were fewer muscle but more collagen bundles in buffalo teats compared with cow teats. It seems that temperament of animal during milking effects the milking efficiency, and in nervous buffaloes, probably the stimulation alone may not be sufficient for opening of the teat canal and hence achieve complete milking.
Microbial inoculum production for biocrust restoration: testing the effects of a common substrate versus native soils on yield and community composition
Authors: Ayuso Sergio Velasco , Giraldo‐Silva Ana , Barger Nichole N. , Garcia‐Pichel Ferran
Published: January 2020

Human activities are causing unprecedented disturbances in terrestrial ecosystems across the globe. To reverse soil deterioration in drylands, a promising tool is the ex situ cultivation of biological soil crusts, topsoil geobiological assemblages that provide key ecosystem services. One approach is to transplant biocrusts cultivated in greenhouse nursery facilities into degraded sites to accelerate recovery. Lichen‐ and moss‐dominated biocrusts have been successfully grown using a common, sandy soil. We compared the use of a common, sandy soil versus native soils as a substrate for the cultivation of cyanobacteria‐dominated biocrusts. In greenhouse experiments, we inoculated natural biocrusts collected from three Southwestern USA dryland sites on to either a common, sandy soil or on their respective native soils. The common substrate resulted in a moderate enhancement of growth yield relative to native soils. While changes in bacterial phyla composition remained low in all cases, the use of a common substrate introduced larger shifts in cyanobacterial community composition than did using native soils. The shift increase attributable to the common, sandy soil was not catastrophic—and typical cyanobacteria of field biocrusts remained dominant—unless textural differences between the common substrate and native soils were marked. Because collecting native soils adds a significant effort to growing cyanobacterial biocrusts in greenhouses for restoration purposes, the use of a common, sandy substrate may be considered by land managers as a standard practice. But we recommend to regularly monitor the composition of the grown biomass.
Diagnostic delay in pulmonary arterial hypertension: Insights from the Australian and New Zealand pulmonary hypertension registry
Authors: Khou Victor , Anderson James J. , Strange Geoff , Corrigan Carolyn , Collins Nicholas , Celermajer David S. , Dwyer Nathan , Feenstra John , Horrigan Mark , Keating Dominic , Kotlyar Eugene , Lavender Melanie , McWilliams Tanya J. , Steele Peter , Weintraub Robert , Whitford Helen , Whyte Ken , Williams Trevor J. , Wrobel Jeremy P. , Keogh Anne , Lau Edmund M.
Published: January 2020

Background and objective

Early diagnosis of PAH is clinically challenging. Patterns of diagnostic delay in Australian and New Zealand PAH populations have not been explored in large‐scale studies. We aimed to evaluate the magnitude, risk factors and survival impact of diagnostic delay in Australian and New Zealand PAH patients.

Methods

A cohort study of PAH patients from the PHSANZ Registry diagnosed from 2004 to 2017 was performed. Diagnostic interval was the time from symptom onset to diagnostic right heart catheterization as recorded in the registry. Factors associated with diagnostic delay were analysed in a multivariate logistic regression model. Survival rates were compared across patients based on the time to diagnosis using Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression.

Results

A total of 2044 patients were included in analysis. At diagnosis, median age was 58 years (IQR: 43–69), female‐to‐male ratio was 2.8:1 and majority of patients were in NYHA FC III–IV (82%). Median diagnostic interval was 1.2 years (IQR: 0.6–2.7). Age, CHD‐PAH, obstructive sleep apnoea and peripheral vascular disease were independently associated with diagnostic interval of ≥1 year. No improvement in diagnostic interval was seen during the study period. Longer diagnostic interval was associated with decreased 5‐year survival.

Conclusion

PAH patients experience significant diagnostic interval, which has not improved despite increased community awareness. Age, cardiovascular and respiratory comorbidities are significantly associated with longer time to diagnosis. Mortality rates appear higher in patients who experience longer diagnostic interval.
Anatomy and facies distribution of terminal lobes in ephemeral fluvial successions: Jurassic Tordillo Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina
Authors: Coronel Marina D. , Isla Manuel F. , Veiga Gonzalo D. , Mountney Nigel P. , Colombera Luca
Published: January 2020

In terminal fluvial‐fan systems, characteristic proximal to distal variations in sedimentary architectures are recognized to arise from progressive downstream loss of water discharge related to both infiltration and evaporation. This work aims to elucidate downstream trends in facies and architecture across the medial and distal zones of terminal‐fan systems, which record transitions from deposits of channel elements to lobe‐like and sheet‐like elements. This is achieved via a detailed characterization of ancient ephemeral fluvial deposits of the well‐exposed Kimmeridgian Tordillo Formation (Neuquén Basin, Argentina). The fine sand‐prone and silt‐prone succession associated with the medial to distal sectors of the system has been studied to understand relationships between depositional processes and resulting architectures. Facies and architectural‐element analyses, and quantification of resulting sedimentological data at multiple scales, have been undertaken to characterize sedimentary facies, facies transitions, bed types, architectural elements and larger‐scale architectural styles. Eight bed types with distinct internal facies transitions are defined and interpreted in terms of different types of flood events. Channelized and non‐channelized architectural elements are defined based on their constituent bed types and their external geometry. The most common elements are terminal lobes, which are composite bodies within which largely unconfined sandy deposits are stacked in a compensational manner; a hierarchical arrangement of internal components is recognized. Proximal feeder‐channel avulsion events likely controlled the evolution of terminal‐lobe elements and their spatiotemporal shifts. Stratigraphic relations between architectural elements record system‐wide trends, whereby a proximal sector dominated by channel elements passes downstream via a gradational transition to a medial sector dominated by sandy terminal‐lobe elements, which in turn passes further downstream to a distal sector dominated by silty terminal lobe‐margin and fringing deposits. This work enhances current understanding of the stratigraphic record of terminal fluvial systems at multiple scales, and provides insight that can be applied to predict the facies and architectural complexity of terminal fluvial successions.
Settler colonialism in Australia and the cashless debit card
Authors: Klein Elise
Published: January 2020

Settler colonialism continues in Australia today. One way this occurs is through processes of assimilation such as targeting First Nations subjectivities with behavioural conditions on their social security payments. In this paper, I draw on a 13‐month study examining one such programme; the Cashless Debit Card trial in the East Kimberley region in North West Australia. Through restricting cash and purchases to curb alcohol consumption, illegal drug use, and gambling, card aims to instil “responsible behaviour” such as getting a job in the capitalist economy, accumulating private property, and succeeding in English education. Through drawing on critical discourse analysis, I ask, what does the Cashless Debit Card tell us about the settler state's attempts of continued assimilation? The paper explores specific ways the state legitimising assimilation through provoking narratives of First Nations dysfunction, depoliticising poverty and colonisation, constructing evidence around success of policy, and constructing ideas of “community” in order to regulate who speaks and who is overlooked. Although assimilation attempts are made, there is resistance and pushback in the trial site. Attempts of assimilation, not actual assimilation, can only be observed.
Time, uncertainty and trade flows
Authors: Ansón José , Arvis Jean‐François , Boffa Mauro , Helble Matthias , Shepherd Ben
Published: January 2020

This paper quantifies the impact of international transport time on bilateral trade flows in goods using previously unexploited information drawn from a large data set on international parcel delivery times. In line with previous work, we find that an extra day spent in international transit reduces bilateral trade by just under 1% at the sample median. In addition, and for the first time in the literature, we examine the impact of time‐related uncertainty, which requires traders to hold costly inventories or build costly redundancies into supply chains. We find that a one day increase in international transport time uncertainty reduces bilateral trade flows by just over 1%. Splitting the sample into developing and developed countries shows that international transit time matters primarily for south–south trade, whereas uncertainty is relatively more important for north–north trade. Using new data on trade in intermediate versus final goods, we also find some evidence that time and uncertainty both matter more for movements of intermediates of the type that takes place within global value chains.
Tumour‐specific microRNA expression pattern in canine intestinal T‐cell‐lymphomas
Authors: Joos Diana , Leipig‐Rudolph Miriam , Weber Karin
Published: January 2020

Intestinal T‐cell lymphomas are common in dogs, but histopathological diagnosis remains challenging because of accompanying enteritis with lymphocyte involvement. Invasively taken full‐layer biopsies are still required for reliable differentiation. The detection of specific microRNA expression patterns in canine intestinal T‐cell lymphoma could provide new possibilities to differ intestinal lymphoma from benign inflammation and could lead to further understanding of lymphomagenesis. The objective of this study was to characterize microRNA expression in distinct groups of formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded samples from canine intestinal T‐cell lymphomas, lymphoplasmacellular enteritis and healthy intestinal tissue. In a preliminary test with two samples per group, total RNA was extracted (RNEasy FFPE Kit, Qiagen), reverse transcribed (miScript II RT Kit, Qiagen) and pre‐amplified (miScript PreAmp PCR Kit, Qiagen). We performed comparative quantitative PCR on microRNA PCR Array plates (Qiagen) with pre‐fabricated reactions for 183 different mature canine microRNAs. Subsequently, 12 microRNAs with conspicuous expression changes in the lymphoma group were selected and microRNA expression of all samples (n = 8) per group was analysed with individual microRNA assays (miScript Primer Assays, Qiagen) on the reverse transcribed RNA without pre‐amplification. Our results revealed lymphoma‐specific expression patterns, with down‐regulation of the tumour‐suppressing microRNAs miR‐194, miR‐192, miR‐141 and miR‐203, and up‐regulation of oncogenic microRNAs, including microRNAs from the miR‐106a~363 cluster. In addition, we detected only slight expression alterations between healthy intestinal tissue and lymphoplasmacellular enteritis cases. We conclude that microRNA expression patterns can be used to separate T‐cell lymphomas from healthy tissue and benign inflammatory disorders.
Minimally invasive spine surgery in dogs: Evaluation of the safety and feasibility of a thoracolumbar approach to the spinal cord
Authors: Guevar Julien , Zidan Natalia , Durand Alexane , Olby Natasha J.
Published: January 2020

Objective

To describe the safety and feasibility of a minimally invasive spine surgery technique to access the thoracolumbar vertebral canal in dogs.

Study design

Prospective study.

Animals

Six healthy research dogs.

Methods

Dogs were placed under anesthesia for MRI to evaluate vertebral column and spinal cord integrity. Minimally invasive surgery was performed at multiple sites. Access to the vertebral canal was achieved by means of foraminotomy, discectomy, and lateral minicorpectomy by using minimally invasive access and a surgical microscope. Sequential neurological examinations, pressure algometry pain quantification, and creatine kinase levels were evaluated before and after surgery for 7 days. Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and histopathology were performed on day 6 postoperatively after animals were humanely killed to evaluate the impact of surgery on spinal cord, muscles, and bone.

Results

The vertebral canal was successfully accessed, and the ventral aspect of the spinal cord was identified at all sites. No neurological deterioration was observed. Postoperative pain was not different compared with baseline except in one dog on the day after surgery.

Conclusion

Minimally invasive spine surgery was a safe and feasible technique to access the thoracolumbar vertebral canal and the ventral aspect of the spinal cord in dogs. Findings supported postoperative pain benefits.

Clinical significance

Minimally invasive spine surgery is a valid surgical technique to access the thoracolumbar vertebral canal at single or multiple sites in dogs.
Time-Resolved Flow Field Analysis of Effusion Cooling System With Representative Swirling Main Flow
Authors: Lenzi T. , Palanti L. , Picchi A. , Bacci T. , Mazzei L. , Andreini A. , Facchini B.
Published: January 2020

Film-cooling jets behavior in a combustor chamber is deeply affected by swirling flow interactions and unsteadiness; on the other hand, the jets behavior has a direct impact on different phenomena such as cooling capabilities and ignition. For these reasons, an in-depth characterization of the film-cooling flows in the presence of a swirling main flow and demands dedicated time-resolved analyses. The experimental setup consists of a nonreactive single-sector linear combustor simulator installed in an open-loop wind tunnel. It is equipped with a swirler and a multiperforated plate to simulate the effusion cooling system of the liner. The rig is scaled with respect to the engine configuration to increase spatial resolution and to reduce the characteristic frequencies of the unsteady phenomena. Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TRPIV) was exploited for the investigation testing different values of liner pressure drop. In addition, numerical investigations were carried out to gain a deeper insight of the behavior highlighted by the experiments and to assess the capability of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in predicting the flow physics. In this work, the stress-blended eddy simulation (SBES) approach implemented in ansys fluent was adopted. Oscillations of the jets and intermittent interactions of the mainstream with the wall of the liner and hence with the film development have been investigated in detail. The results demonstrate how an unsteady analysis of the flow structures that characterize the jets, the turbulent mixing of coolant flows, and the interaction between mainstream and cooling jets is strictly necessary to have a complete knowledge of the behavior of the coolant, which in turn affects combustor operability and life time.
Difficulties in diagnosing HIV-associated nephropathy in kidney transplanted patients. The role of ultrasound and CEUS.
Authors: Elec Florin Ioan , Moisoiu Tudor , Socaciu Mihai Adrian , Elec Alina Daciana , Muntean Adriana Milena , Iacob Gheorghiță , Badea Radu Ion
Published: January 2020

A 62-year-old woman who underwent kidney transplantation in 2014 was diagnosed with HIV infection in 2018. Grey scale and Doppler ultrasound evaluation revealed a normal aspect of the allograft. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound detected a quick cortical contrast uptake followed by a rapid cortical wash-out. This behavior was interpreted as a sign of inflammation. Ten months after ultrasound evaluation the graft presented severe disfunction and the patient was reintroduced into the hemodialysis program.
Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis of the hepatobiliary tract – the role of new imaging techniques for improved diagnosis
Authors: Dietrich Christoph F , Douira-Khomsi Wiem , Gharbi Hassen , Sharma Malay , Cui Xin Wu , Sparchez Zeno , Richter Joachim , Kabaalioğlu Adnan , Atkinson Nathan S S , Schreiber-Dietrich Dagmar , Yi Dong
Published: January 2020

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatidosis (hydatid cysts) is an infection with a wide spectrum of manifestations, from symptomatic infection to fatal disease. Ultrasound (US) allows screening, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment guidance and follow-up of CE under many circumstances. Hydatid cysts are predominantly observed in the liver. Herewith we present a review to demonstrate established and innovative imaging features of CE of the hepatobiliary tract.
On the uncertainty of measurement of dynamic stiffness of resilient materials
Authors: Larsson Krister
Published: January 2020

The apparent dynamic stiffness of resilient materials used for example under floating floors is measured according to the standard ISO 9052-1:1989 (EN 29052-1:1992). Basically, the material under test is loaded by a load plate corresponding to 200 kg/m2 and the resonance frequency of the first vertical mode of the mass-spring system formed by the load plate and the resilient material under test is determined. The resonance frequency then gives the dynamic stiffness. The standard allows for several excitation techniques such as swept sine, continuous noise, or impact excitation. Additionally, vibration excitation at the base as well as force excitation on the load plate is allowed. In this study, the uncertainty because of excitation of multiple vibration modes is investigated in detail. A model for the load plate on an elastic foundation representing the test setup is developed. The model is verified towards measurements and a parameter study is performed. The results show that additional modes may be excited depending on the excitation, which might lead to erroneous results. Suggestions for procedures to take the excitation of multiple modes into account and to improve the uncertainty of the method are given based on the findings.
Vertical Versus Horizontal Resisted Sprint Training Applied to Young Soccer Players: Effects on Physical Performance
Authors: Carlos-Vivas Jorge , Perez-Gomez Jorge , Eriksrud Ola , Freitas Tomás T. , Marín-Cascales Elena , Alcaraz Pedro E.
Published: January 2020

Purpose: To analyze and compare the effects of 4 different resisted sprint training (RST) modalities on youth soccer players’ performance after 8 weeks of training. Methods: Forty-eight youth soccer players were first randomly assigned to 4 groups and only then completed 8 weeks of RST: horizontal resisted sprint, vertical resisted sprint (VRS), combined resisted sprint, and unresisted sprint. Performance in horizontal and vertical jumps, sprint, and change of direction (COD) ability were assessed 1 week before and after the training intervention. Magnitude-based inference analysis was performed for calculating within-group pre–post differences. In addition, an analysis of covariance test was performed for between-group comparison, using the pretest values as covariates. After that, the analysis of covariance P values and the effect statistic were transformed to magnitude-based inference. Results: Within-group outcomes showed that all resisted training modalities experienced improvements in sprint (small to moderate) and COD (small to large) performance. Moreover, all groups, except unresisted sprint, enhanced the horizontal jump performance. However, only VRS improved on vertical jump. Between-group comparison outcomes revealed that only VRS improved the sprint time compared with horizontal resisted sprint (moderate) and COD performance compared with all groups (moderate to large). In addition, VRS enhanced the countermovement jump performance (small to large) compared with the other groups. Conclusions: Independent of the orientation of the resistance applied, RST is an effective training method for improving sprinting and COD performance. Nevertheless, VRS may promote greater improvements on sprint and COD ability and have a positive additional effect on countermovement jump performance and the reduction of COD deficit.
Preclinical efficacy of the GPER-selective agonist G-1 in mouse models of obesity and diabetes
Authors: Sharma Geetanjali , Hu Chelin , Staquicini Daniela I. , Brigman Jonathan L. , Liu Meilian , Mauvais-Jarvis Franck , Pasqualini Renata , Arap Wadih , Arterburn Jeffrey B. , Hathaway Helen J. , Prossnitz Eric R.
Published: January 2020

Human obesity has become a global health epidemic, with few safe and effective pharmacological therapies currently available. The systemic loss of ovarian estradiol (E2) in women after menopause greatly increases the risk of obesity and metabolic dysfunction, revealing the critical role of E2 in this setting. The salutary effects of E2 are traditionally attributed to the classical estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ, with the contribution of the G protein–coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) still largely unknown. Here, we used ovariectomy- and diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse models to evaluate the preclinical activity of GPER-selective small-molecule agonist G-1 (also called Tespria) against obesity and metabolic dysfunction. G-1 treatment of ovariectomized female mice (a model of postmenopausal obesity) reduced body weight and improved glucose homeostasis without changes in food intake, fuel source usage, or locomotor activity. G-1–treated female mice also exhibited increased energy expenditure, lower body fat content, and reduced fasting cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and inflammatory markers but did not display feminizing effects on the uterus (imbibition) or beneficial effects on bone health. G-1 treatment of DIO male mice did not elicit weight loss but prevented further weight gain and improved glucose tolerance, indicating that G-1 improved glucose homeostasis independently of its antiobesity effects. However, in ovariectomized DIO female mice, G-1 continued to elicit weight loss, reflecting possible sex differences in the mechanisms of G-1 action. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that GPER-selective agonism is a viable therapeutic approach against obesity, diabetes, and associated metabolic abnormalities in multiple preclinical male and female models.
Mixed chimerism and acceptance of kidney transplants after immunosuppressive drug withdrawal
Authors: Busque Stephan , Scandling John D. , Lowsky Robert , Shizuru Judith , Jensen Kent , Waters Jeffrey , Wu Hsin-Hsu , Sheehan Kevin , Shori Asha , Choi Okmi , Pham Thomas , Fernandez Vina Marcelo A. , Hoppe Richard , Tamaresis John , Lavori Philip , Engleman Edgar G. , Meyer Everett , Strober Samuel
Published: January 2020

Persistent mixed chimerism protects against rejection of HLA-matched and mismatched kidney transplants without graft-versus-host disease.
Unfolding the mystery of UPR in astrocytes
Authors: Gallardo Gilbert
Published: January 2020

Activation of the unfolded protein response in astrocytes leads to a distinct reactive state detrimental to neuronal health in prion disease.
Immunomodulation in the front, bone-binding in the back
Authors: Kerr Bethany A.
Published: January 2020

Zoledronic acid–tethered nanoparticles bind remodeling bone, polarize macrophages, and reduce osteoclasts to prevent breast cancer–induced osteolysis.
Provenance of Pennsylvanian–Permian sedimentary rocks associated with the Ancestral Rocky Mountains orogeny in southwestern Laurentia: Implications for continental-scale Laurentian sediment transport systems
Authors: Leary Ryan J. , Umhoefer Paul , Smith M. Elliot , Smith Tyson M. , Saylor Joel E. , Riggs Nancy , Burr Greg , Lodes Emma , Foley Daniel , Licht Alexis , Mueller Megan A. , Baird Chris
Published: January 2020

The Ancestral Rocky Mountains system consists of a series of basement-cored uplifts and associated sedimentary basins that formed in southwestern Laurentia during Early Pennsylvanian–middle Permian time. This system was originally recognized by aprons of coarse, arkosic sandstone and conglomerate within the Paradox, Eagle, and Denver Basins, which surround the Front Range and Uncompahgre basement uplifts. However, substantial portions of Ancestral Rocky Mountain–adjacent basins are filled with carbonate or fine-grained quartzose material that is distinct from proximal arkosic rocks, and detrital zircon data from basins adjacent to the Ancestral Rocky Mountains have been interpreted to indicate that a substantial proportion of their clastic sediment was sourced from the Appalachian and/or Arctic orogenic belts and transported over long distances across Laurentia into Ancestral Rocky Mountain basins. In this study, we present new U-Pb detrital zircon data from 72 samples from strata within the Denver Basin, Eagle Basin, Paradox Basin, northern Arizona shelf, Pedregosa Basin, and Keeler–Lone Pine Basin spanning ∼50 m.y. and compare these to published data from 241 samples from across Laurentia. Traditional visual comparison and inverse modeling methods map sediment transport pathways within the Ancestral Rocky Mountains system and indicate that proximal basins were filled with detritus eroded from nearby basement uplifts, whereas distal portions of these basins were filled with a mix of local sediment and sediment derived from marginal Laurentian sources including the Arctic Ellesmerian orogen and possibly the northern Appalachian orogen. This sediment was transported to southwestern Laurentia via a ca. 2,000-km-long longshore and aeolian system analogous to the modern Namibian coast. Deformation of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains slowed in Permian time, reducing basinal accommodation and allowing marginal clastic sources to overwhelm the system.