bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical behavior of hybrid glass Fiber-Jute reinforced with polymer composite for the wall of the Acehnese boat ‘Jalo Kayoh’
Authors: Akram A , Hasanuddin I , Nazaruddin N , Putra R , Noor MM
Published: July 2019

Hybrid fiber composites are widely used composites in engineering applications, especially for the frame and wall structure of Acehnese traditional boat Jalo Kayoh. The purpose of this study is to obtain a hybrid material which is a blend of natural jute fiber reinforced with the synthetic fibers E-glass and polyester as a matrix. The materials potential to become a material for the structure and walls in the traditional Acehnese boat Jalo Kayoh. The fabrication of the hybrid composites is carried out manually using an engineered press at a pressure of 25 kg/cm2 for 24 hours. The ratio of jute fiber and E-glass in the composites at each layer are (1:0), (1:1) and (2:1). Tensile testing of the hybrid composites refers to ASTM D 3039 - 00. The results show that the tensile strength of the hybrid composites tends to increase with the increase in the volume of the fiber, with the maximum tensile strength of 4.8 MPa. The increasing number of layers in the jute and E-glass is adding strength to the composites. This will be good to use in the initial material of the structure and walls in the traditional Acehnese boat Jalo Kayoh.
Mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polyester resin for use as the wall of the Acehnese boat ‘Thep-Thep’
Authors: Nazaruddin N , Akram A , Hasanuddin I , Iqbal M , Kurniawan R , Putra R
Published: July 2019

Fiber composites are very commonly used for engineering applications nowadays. The product has begun to enter the field of boat and ship manufacturing. An Acehnese traditional boat known as thep-thep, which has a capacity of 3 GT, is a means of transportation used in Aceh waters. This study focuses on the mechanical properties of the material used for the structure and walls of the thep-thep. Specimens are made from materials with E-glass fiber reinforced polyester resin. The hand lay-up method is used in the process of making the specimens, applied with a pressure of 25 kg/cm2 for 24 hours. This study aimed to obtain higher mechanical properties using composites of layers of chopped strand mat (CSM) fibers and woven roving mat (WRM) fibers with a ratio of 1:0, 1:1, and 2:1, respectively. Tensile testing is done using the ASTM D3039-00 standard. From the tensile test data obtained from several different composite ratios, the highest composite is found at around 49.2 MPa. An increase in the number of fiber layers makes the fiber composites more reliable to be the raw material in the making of the Acehnese boat thep-thep.
Study of temperature loss of Hot Mix Asphalt during transportation
Authors: Muhammad  , Syuhada A , Huzni S , Fuadi Z
Published: July 2019

This study was conducted to observe the phenomenon of the temperature loss on hot mix asphalt type Asphalt Concrete Binder Course (AC-BC), on the surface area of the truck wall during transport. The tests were conducted experimentally using thermometers and thermocouples with a 25-ton capacity truck at 153°C loading temperatures. Data retrieval is carried out over time, 20.40,60 to 420 minutes of transport, from the Asphalt Mixing Plant (AMP) plant to the job site with an average truck speed of 30 km/h. Data from the results of the study were analyzed using the descriptive method. The results indicate that the maximum transport distance that meets the technical specifications is at the furthest distance of 165 km, with a minimum temperature of 130,1°C, at a distance of 10 cm from the surface of the truck wall. Loss of average hot mix asphalt temperature to 6 (six) sides of the truck wall surface, floor surface and the top surface, for 420 minutes of transport is (45.2°C-65.7°C). From the phenomenon shows that the hot mix asphalt condition on the surface area of the truck wall is hardened (crusty).
The Great Bee Migration: Supply Analysis of Honey Bee Colony Shipments into California for Almond Pollination Services
Authors: Goodrich Brittney K. , Williams Jeffrey C. , Goodhue Rachael E.
Published: July 2019

Over the last two decades, the number of honey bee colonies performing pollination services for the California almond industry has grown steadily and now equals a substantial share of all colonies in the United States. Most US beekeeping operations have not expanded their colony numbers at the current levels of almond pollination fees. Thus, as almond acreage has increased, the marginal supplier of colonies has moved further away from California, increasing interstate shipments. We provide a conceptual representation of the supply and demand of U.S. colonies for almond pollination, and utilize the relatively inelastic demand for colonies to explore spatial elasticities of supply. We combine colony shipment data from 2007 to 2018 provided by the California Department of Food and Agriculture with projected prices from the California State Beekeeper's Association pollination fee survey. We use a geographically weighted regression to estimate supply elasticities for each state, and provide supporting regional estimates. The eastern United States, where beekeepers have hesitated to participate in almond pollination due to relatively high transportation costs and the potential for local honey production at the time of almond bloom, have some of the highest price elasticities of supply. This suggests that beekeepers in areas with low transportation and/or opportunity costs have supplied all available colonies, and increases in almond pollination fees have had little effect. We estimate that Florida, Georgia, and Texas had the largest number of colonies that did not participate in almond pollination in 2017, so further increases in supply are likely to come from those states.
Defining Death-Eligible Murder in China
Authors: Miao Michelle
Published: July 2019

The central purpose of this Article is to illuminate the process and politics of China’s sentencing regime for capital murder. Since 2007, China’s death penalty reform has resulted in a recalibration of the convicted murderer’s eligibility for execution. The reform heralded a substantial decline in the number of capital sentences, as well as a rise of an alternative to execution: the suspended death sentence. In the reform era, how do Chinese courts determine who should be spared from execution and who deserves the ultimate punishment of death? This Article uses a quantitative analysis of 369 capital murder cases, as well as elite interviews with forty judges—from China’s provincial-level Higher People’s Courts and the Supreme People’s Court—to analyze the political logic behind Chinese courts’ approach to defining the execution worthiness of convicted murderers. While there is a rich literature on capital sentencing in the United States, there is a dearth of comparative analysis of the challenges Chinese courts face in drawing the distinction between life and death sentences in the country’s unique social and political context. This Article seeks to make a contribution to this crucial topic.
HDX-Viewer: interactive 3D visualization of hydrogen–deuterium exchange data
Authors: Bouyssié David , Lesne Jean , Locard-Paulet Marie , Albigot Renaud , Burlet-Schiltz Odile , Marcoux Julien
Published: July 2019

With the advent of fully automated sample preparation robots for Hydrogen–Deuterium eXchange coupled to Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS), this method has become paramount for ligand binding or epitope mapping screening, both in academic research and biopharmaceutical industries. However, bridging the gap between commercial HDX-MS software (for raw data interpretation) and molecular viewers (to map experiment results onto a 3D structure for biological interpretation) remains laborious and requires simple but sometimes limiting coding skills. We solved this bottleneck by developing HDX-Viewer, an open-source web-based application that facilitates and quickens HDX-MS data analysis. This user-friendly application automatically incorporates HDX-MS data from a custom template or commercial HDX-MS software in PDB files, and uploads them to an online 3D molecular viewer, thereby facilitating their visualization and biological interpretation.

Availability and implementation

The HDX-Viewer web application is released under the CeCILL (http://www.cecill.info) and GNU LGPL licenses and can be found at https://masstools.ipbs.fr/hdx-viewer. The source code is available at https://github.com/david-bouyssie/hdx-viewer.
Chikungunya, a Risk Factor for Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Authors: Stegmann-Planchard Sophie , Gallian Pierre , Tressières Benoit , Leparc-Goffart Isabelle , Lannuzel Annie , Signaté Aissatou , Laouénan Cédric , Cabié André , Hoen Bruno
Published: July 2019

In a matched case-control study where 24 cases developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) during the 2014 chikungunya outbreak in the French West Indies and 72 controls were blood donors during the same period, chikungunya infection was a risk factor for GBS (odds ratio, 8.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.3–29.7; P = .001).
Predictors of Clostridioides difficile Infection Among Asymptomatic, Colonized Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Poirier Dominic , Gervais Philippe , Fuchs Margit , Roussy Jean-Francois , Paquet-Bolduc Bianka , Trottier Sylvie , Longtin Jean , Loo Vivian G , Longtin Yves
Published: July 2019

Background

Asymptomatic patients colonized with Clostridioides difficile are at risk of developing C. difficile infection (CDI), but the factors associated with disease onset are poorly understood. Our aims were to identify predictors of hospital-onset CDI (HO-CDI) among colonized patients and to explore the potential benefits of primary prophylaxis to prevent CDI.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary academic institution. Colonized patients were identified by detecting the tcdB gene by polymerase chain reaction on a rectal swab. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of HO-CDI.

Results

There were 19 112 patients screened, from which 960 (5%) colonized patients were identified: 513 met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 39 (7.6%) developed a HO-CDI, with a 30-day attributable mortality of 15%. An increasing length of stay (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per day, 1.03; P = .006), exposure to multiple classes of antibiotics (aOR per class, 1.45; P = .02), use of opioids (aOR, 2.78; P = .007), and cirrhosis (aOR 5.49; P = .008) were independently associated with increased risks of HO-CDI, whereas the use of laxatives was associated with a lower risk of CDI (aOR 0.36; P = .01). Among the antimicrobials, B-lactam with B-lactamase inhibitors (OR 3.65; P < .001), first-generation cephalosporins (OR 2.38; P = .03), and carbapenems (OR 2.44; P = .03) correlated with the greatest risk of HO-CDI. By contrast, patient age, the use of proton pump inhibitors, and the use of primary prophylaxis were not significant predictors of HO-CDI.

Conclusions

This study identifies several factors that are associated with CDI among colonized patients. Whether modifying these variables could decrease the risk of CDI should be investigated.
Physiological and transcriptional comparison of acetate catabolism between Acinetobacter schindleri ACE and Escherichia coli JM101
Authors: Sigala Juan-Carlos , Quiroz Lucy , Arteaga Eduardo , Olivares Roberto , Lara Alvaro R , Martinez Alfredo
Published: July 2019

Acinetobacter bacteria preferentially use gluconeogenic substrates instead of hexoses or pentoses. Accordingly, Acinetobacter schindleri ACE reaches a high growth rate on acetate but is unable to grow on glucose, xylose or arabinose. In this work, we compared the physiology of A. schindleri ACE and Escherichia coli JM101 growing on acetate as the carbon source. In contrast to JM101, ACE grew on acetate threefold faster, had a twofold higher biomass yield, and a 45% higher specific acetate consumption rate. Transcriptional analysis revealed that genes like ackA, pta, aceA, glcB, fumA, tktA and talA were overexpressed while acsA, sfcA, ppc and rpiA were underexpressed in ACE relative to JM101. This transcriptional profile together with carbon flux balance analysis indicated that ACE forms acetyl-CoA preferentially by the AckA-Pta (acetate kinase-phosphotransacetylase) pathway instead of Acs (acetyl-CoA synthetase) and that the glyoxylate shunt and tricarboxylic acid cycle are more active in ACE than in JM101. Moreover, in ACE, ribose 5-phosphate and erythrose 4-phosphate are formed from trioses, and NADPH is mainly produced by isocitrate dehydrogenase. This knowledge will contribute to an understanding of the carbon metabolism of Acinetobacter species of medical, biotechnological and microbiological relevance.
Epidemiology and risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae colonisation and infections: case-controlled study from an academic medical center in a southern area of China
Authors: Fang Lili , Lu Xiaohui , Xu Heping , Ma Xiaobo , Chen Yilan , Liu Yue , Hong Guolin , Liang Xianming
Published: July 2019

OBJECTIVE

While the emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and related infections pose serious threats to global public health, the epidemiology and associated risk factors remain poorly understood and vary by geography.

METHODS

In a case-controlled retrospective study, we examined the prevalence, patient background and risk factors for CRE colonisation and infections, and all patient-derived CRE from January 2015 to January 2017. Isolated carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae (CSE) from 2875 enrolled patients were randomly selected during the study.

RESULTS

CRE colonisation and infections detection rates were 47/2875 (1.6%). Respiratory tract specimens were most frequently seen in 20/47 (42.6%) cases. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the main isolate in 35/47 (74.5%) CRE. As for carbapenemase, KPC-2-producing bacteria was most frequently detected in 38/47 (80.9%) Enterobacteriaceae. No underlying conditions (P = 0.004), pulmonary diseases (P = 0.018) and no antibiotics used prior to culture within 30 days (P < 0.001) were statistically significant between the CRE and CSE groups.

CONCLUSION

Klebsiellapneumoniae was the main isolate of CRE. The blaKPC-2 was the predominant CRE gene. Underlying conditions especially pulmonary diseases and antibiotics used prior to culture within 30 days represented key risk factors for acquisition of CRE.
Established PABPN1 intranuclear inclusions in OPMD muscle can be efficiently reversed by AAV-mediated knockdown and replacement of mutant expanded PABPN1
Authors: Malerba Alberto , Klein Pierre , Lu-Nguyen Ngoc , Cappellari Ornella , Strings-Ufombah Vanessa , Harbaran Sonal , Roelvink Peter , Suhy David , Trollet Capucine , Dickson George
Published: July 2019

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare autosomal dominant late-onset muscular dystrophy affecting approximately 1:100 000 individuals in Europe. OPMD is mainly characterized by progressive eyelid drooping (ptosis) and dysphagia although muscles of the limbs can also be affected late in life. This muscle disease is due to a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the polyA-binding protein nuclear-1 gene. Patients express a protein with an 11–18 alanine tract that is misfolded and prone to form intranuclear inclusions, which are the hallmark of the disease. Other features of OPMD include muscle fibrosis and atrophy in affected muscles. Currently, no pharmacological treatments are available, and OPMD patients can only be referred to surgeons for cricopharyngeal myotomy or corrective surgery of extraocular muscles to ease ptosis. We recently tested a two-AAV `silence’ and `replace’ vector-based gene therapy treatment in a mouse model of OPMD. We demonstrate here that this gene therapy approach can revert already established insoluble aggregates and partially rescues the muscle from atrophy, which are both crucially important since in most cases OPMD patients already have an established disease when diagnosed. This strategy also prevents the formation of muscle fibrosis and stabilizes the muscle strength to the level of healthy muscles. Furthermore, we show here that similar results can be obtained using a single AAV vector incorporating both the `silence’ and `replace’ cassettes. These results further support the application of a gene therapy approach as a novel treatment for OPMD in humans.
Patterns of aortic remodelling after total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk for acute aortic dissection
Authors: Iida Yasunori , Fujii Susumu , Shimizu Hideyuki , Sawa Shigeharu
Published: July 2019

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the outcomes of total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk (FET) for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection and the patterns of postoperative aortic remodelling from computed tomographic (CT) findings.

METHODS

From April 2015 to November 2018, we performed total arch replacement with FET for Stanford type A aortic dissection in 30 patients. Postoperative contrast-enhanced CT showed the position of the FET distal end, the number and the site of communications between the lumina and the presence or absence of aortic remodelling.

RESULTS

Primary entry tear was found in the ascending aorta (n = 6), proximal arch (n = 6), aortic arch (n = 11) and distal arch (n = 7). The mean diameter and length of FET were 26 ± 2 and 84 ± 18 mm, respectively. Postoperative contrast-enhanced CT was performed in 26 patients. When the number of communications between the lumina was 0, complete aortic remodelling was achieved in all cases (n = 12). In the case of the most proximal tear in the descending aorta (n = 9), aortic remodelling was not recognized in 3 cases, and additional TEVAR was performed because of diameter enlargement. In the remaining 6 patients, neither aortic remodelling nor aortic diameter enlargement was recognized. When the most proximal tear was below the diaphragm (n = 5), aortic remodelling occurred up to the most proximal tear, but not in the periphery.

CONCLUSIONS

We investigated the patterns of aortic remodelling after total arch replacement with FET for Stanford type A aortic dissection from postoperative CT findings. Regardless of the position of the most proximal tear in the descending aorta, aortic remodelling did not occur as long as the most proximal tear was located in the descending aorta. When the most proximal tear occurred in the descending aorta, TEVAR as a pre-emptive treatment can be effective in preventing postoperative aortic adverse events.
Ischaemic heart disease and stroke mortality by specific coal type among non-smoking women with substantial indoor air pollution exposure in China
Authors: Bassig Bryan A , Dean Hosgood H , Shu Xiao-Ou , Vermeulen Roel , Chen Bingshu E , Katki Hormuzd A , Seow Wei Jie , Hu Wei , Portengen Lützen , Ji Bu-Tian , Wong Jason Y Y , Ning Bofu , Downward George S , Li Jihua , Yang Kaiyun , Yang Gong , Gao Yu-Tang , Xiang Yong-Bing , Nagaradona Teja , Zheng Wei , Silverman Debra T , Huang Yunchao , Lan Qing
Published: July 2019

Background

Lifetime use of bituminous (‘smoky’) coal is associated with nearly a 100-fold higher risk of lung cancer mortality compared with anthracite (‘smokeless’) coal use in rural Xuanwei, China, among women. Risk of mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke for these coal types has not been evaluated.

Methods

A cohort of 16 323 non-smoking women in Xuanwei, who were lifetime users of either smoky or smokeless coal, were followed up from 1976 to 2011. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to evaluate lifetime use of coal types and stoves in the home in relation to risk of IHD and stroke mortality.

Results

Among lifetime users of smokeless coal, higher average exposure intensity (≥4 tons/year vs <2.5 tons/year, HR = 7.9, 95% CI = 3.5–17.8; Ptrend =<0.0001) and cumulative exposure (>64 ton-years vs ≤28 ton-years, HR = 6.5, 95% CI = 1.5–28.3; Ptrend =0.003) during follow-up and over their lifetime was associated with increased IHD mortality, and ventilated stove use dramatically reduced this risk (HR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.5). Higher cumulative exposure to smoky coal during follow-up showed positive associations with IHD mortality, but the evidence for other metrics was less consistent compared with associations with smokeless coal use.

Conclusions

Higher use of smokeless coal, which is burned throughout China and is generally regarded to be a cleaner fuel type, is associated with IHD mortality. Use of cleaner fuels or stove interventions may be effective in reducing the increasing burden of IHD in developing regions that currently rely on smokeless coal for cooking and heating.
Delayed Administration of Recombinant Plasma Gelsolin Improves Survival in a Murine Model of Penicillin-Susceptible and Penicillin-Resistant Pneumococcal Pneumonia
Authors: Yang Zhiping , Bedugnis Alice , Levinson Susan , Dinubile Mark , Stossel Thomas , Lu Quan , Kobzik Lester
Published: July 2019

Therapy to enhance host immune defenses may improve outcomes in serious infections, especially for antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Recombinant human plasma gelsolin (rhu-pGSN), a normally circulating protein, has beneficial effects in diverse preclinical models of inflammation and injury. We evaluated delayed therapy (24–48 hours after challenge) with rhu-pGSN in a mouse model of pneumococcal pneumonia. rhu-pGSN without antibiotics increased survival and reduced morbidity and weight loss after infection with either penicillin-susceptible or penicillin-resistant pneumococci (serotypes 3 and 14, respectively). rhu-pGSN improves outcomes in a highly lethal pneumococcal pneumonia model when given after a clinically relevant delay, even in the setting of antimicrobial resistance.
Specific Vaginal Bacteria Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Trichomonas vaginalis Acquisition in Women
Authors: Jarrett Olamide D , Srinivasan Sujatha , Richardson Barbra A , Fiedler Tina , Wallis Jacqueline M , Kinuthia John , Jaoko Walter , Mandaliya Kishor , Fredricks David N , McClelland R Scott
Published: July 2019

Background

While bacterial vaginosis has been associated with an increased risk of Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) acquisition, it is unknown whether other characteristics of the vaginal microbiota, including the presence of key bacterial species, influence a woman’s risk of TV acquisition.

Methods

The vaginal microbiota before 25 unique episodes of TV infection involving 18 women was compared to that of 50 controls who remained uninfected. TV was detected by transcription-mediated amplification. Vaginal microbiota were quantified using broad-range polymerase chain reaction analysis and taxon-specific quantitative PCR of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene.

Results

TV acquisition was significantly associated with the presence of Prevotella amnii (risk ratio [RR], 2.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–4.38; P = .02) and Sneathia sanguinegens (RR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.00–6.62; P = .049). When adjusted for menstrual phase, the association between P. amnii and TV acquisition remained similar (adjusted RR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.03–4.33; P = .04), but the association between S. sanguinegens and TV acquisition was attenuated (adjusted RR, 2.31; 95% CI, .86–6.23; P = .10).

Conclusions

Key vaginal bacterial species may contribute to the susceptibility to TV acquisition. Understanding how these bacterial species increase a woman’s risk of TV acquisition could help to guide the development of novel strategies to reduce women’s risk of TV infection.
Bacterial Meningitis Epidemiology in Five Countries in the Meningitis Belt of Sub-Saharan Africa, 2015–2017
Authors: Soeters Heidi M , Diallo Alpha Oumar , Bicaba Brice W , Kadadé Goumbi , Dembélé Assétou Y , Acyl Mahamat A , Nikiema Christelle , Sadji Adodo Yao , Poy Alain N , Lingani Clement , Tall Haoua , Sakandé Souleymane , Tarbangdo Félix , Aké Flavien , Mbaeyi Sarah A , Moïsi Jennifer , Paye Marietou F , Sanogo Yibayiri Osee , Vuong Jeni T , Wang Xin , Ronveaux Olivier , Novak; Ryan T ,   MenAfriNet Consortium
Published: July 2019

Background

The MenAfriNet Consortium supports strategic implementation of case-based meningitis surveillance in key high-risk countries of the African meningitis belt: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Togo. We describe bacterial meningitis epidemiology in these 5 countries in 2015–2017.

Methods

Case-based meningitis surveillance collects case-level demographic and clinical information and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) laboratory results. Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Haemophilus influenzae cases were confirmed and N. meningitidis/H. influenzae were serogrouped/serotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction, culture, or latex agglutination. We calculated annual incidence in participating districts in each country in cases/100 000 population.

Results

From 2015–2017, 18 262 suspected meningitis cases were reported; 92% had a CSF specimen available, of which 26% were confirmed as N. meningitidis (n = 2433; 56%), S. pneumoniae (n = 1758; 40%), or H. influenzae (n = 180; 4%). Average annual incidences for N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae, and H. influenzae, respectively, were 7.5, 2.5, and 0.3. N. meningitidis incidence was 1.5 in Burkina Faso, 2.7 in Chad, 0.4 in Mali, 14.7 in Niger, and 12.5 in Togo. Several outbreaks occurred: NmC in Niger in 2015–2017, NmC in Mali in 2016, and NmW in Togo in 2016–2017. Of N. meningitidis cases, 53% were NmC, 30% NmW, and 13% NmX. Five NmA cases were reported (Burkina Faso, 2015). NmX increased from 0.6% of N. meningitidis cases in 2015 to 27% in 2017.

Conclusions

Although bacterial meningitis epidemiology varied widely by country, NmC and NmW caused several outbreaks, NmX increased although was not associated with outbreaks, and overall NmA incidence remained low. An effective low-cost multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine could help further control meningococcal meningitis in the region.
Effect of Age on Relative Effectiveness of High-Dose Versus Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccines Among US Medicare Beneficiaries Aged ≥65 Years
Authors: Lu Yun , Chillarige Yoganand , Izurieta Hector S , Wei Yuqin , Xu Wenjie , Lu Michael , Sung Heng-Ming , Lindaas Arnstein , Wernecke Michael , Macurdy Thomas , Kelman Jeffrey , Forshee Richard A
Published: July 2019

Background

Studies have found that the high-dose influenza vaccine has a higher relative vaccine effectiveness (RVE) versus standard-dose vaccines in some seasons. We evaluated the effect of age on the RVE of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccines among Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods

A 6-season retrospective cohort study from 2012 to 2018 among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years was performed. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the effect of age on the RVE of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccines in preventing influenza-related hospitalizations.

Results

The study included >19 million vaccinated beneficiaries in a community pharmacy setting. The Poisson models indicated a slightly increasing trend in RVE with age in all seasons. The high-dose vaccine was more effective than standard-dose vaccines in preventing influenza-related hospital encounters (ie, influenza-related inpatient stays and emergency department visits) in the 2012–2013 (RVE, 23.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 17.6%–28.3%), 2013–2014 (RVE, 15.3%; 95% CI, 7.8%–22.3%), 2014–2015 (RVE, 8.9%; 95% CI, 5.6%–12.1%), and 2016–2017 (RVE, 12.6%; 95% CI, 6.3%–18.4%) seasons and was at least as effective in all other seasons. We also found that the high-dose vaccine was consistently more effective than standard-dose vaccines across all seasons for people aged ≥85 years. Similar trends were observed for influenza-related inpatient stays.

Conclusions

The RVE of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccines increases with age.
Glucocorticoids and “Stress” Are Not Synonymous
Authors: MacDougall-Shackleton S A , Bonier F , Romero L M , Moore I T
Published: July 2019

Synopsis

Reference to glucocorticoids as “stress hormones” has been growing in prevalence in the literature, including in comparative and environmental endocrinology. Although glucocorticoids are elevated in response to a variety of stressors in vertebrate animals, the primary functions of glucocorticoids are not responding to stressors and they are only one component of complex suite of physiological and behavioral responses to stressors. Thus, the use of the short-hand phrase “stress hormone” can be misleading. Further, simply measuring glucocorticoids is not equivalent to measuring a stress response, nor is manipulating glucocorticoids equivalent to exposing an animal to a stressor. In this commentary we highlight the problems with using functional names for hormones, and of treating cortisol or corticosterone as synonymous with stress. We provide recommendations to add clarity to the presentation of research on this topic, and to avoid conflation of glucocorticoids with stressors and the stress response in the design of experiments.
Separate Universe simulations with IllustrisTNG: baryonic effects on power spectrum responses and higher-order statistics
Authors: Barreira Alexandre , Nelson Dylan , Pillepich Annalisa , Springel Volker , Schmidt Fabian , Pakmor Ruediger , Hernquist Lars , Vogelsberger Mark
Published: July 2019

We measure power spectrum response functions in the presence of baryonic physical processes using separate universe simulations with the IllustrisTNG galaxy formation model. The response functions describe how the small-scale power spectrum reacts to long-wavelength perturbations and they can be efficiently measured with the separate universe technique by absorbing the effects of the long modes into a modified cosmology. Specifically, we focus on the total first-order matter power spectrum response to an isotropic density fluctuation R1(k, z), which is fully determined by the logarithmic derivative of the non-linear matter power spectrum dlnPm(k, z)/dlnk and the growth-only response function G1(k, z). We find that G1(k, z) is not affected by the baryonic physical processes in the simulations at redshifts z < 3 and on all scales probed (k ≲ 15 h Mpc−1; i.e. length scales $\gtrsim 0.4\, {\rm Mpc}\,h^{-1}$). In practice, this implies that the power spectrum fully specifies the baryonic dependence of its response function. Assuming an idealized lensing survey set-up, we evaluate numerically the baryonic impact on the squeezed-lensing bispectrum and the lensing supersample power spectrum covariance, which are given in terms of responses. Our results show that these higher-order lensing statistics can display varying levels of sensitivity to baryonic effects compared to the power spectrum, with the squeezed bispectrum being the least sensitive. We also show that ignoring baryonic effects on lensing covariances slightly overestimates the error budget (and is therefore conservative from the point of view of parameter error bars) and likely has negligible impact on parameter biases in inference analyses.
Extraction of globular clusters members with Gaia DR2 astrometry
Authors: Fierro Iván H Bustos , Calderón J H
Published: July 2019

In this work we present a method to identify possible members of globular clusters using data from Gaia DR2. The method consists of two stages: the first one based on a clustering algorithm, and the second one based on the analysis of the projected spatial distribution of stars with different proper motions. In order to confirm that the clusters members extracted by the method correspond to actual globular clusters, the spatial distribution, the vector point diagram of the proper motions and the colour-magnitude diagrams are analysed. We apply the developed method to eight clusters: NGC 1261, NGC 3201, NGC 6139, NGC 6205, NGC 6362, NGC 6397, NGC 6712 and Palomar 13; we show the number of members extracted, the mean proper motions derived from them and finally we compare our results with other authors. In order to analyse the efficiency of the extraction method we perform an estimation of the completeness and the degree of contamination of the extracted members.
Propagation of star formation at sub-kiloparsec scales
Authors: Gusev A S , Shimanovskaya E V
Published: July 2019

We study the propagation of star formation based on the investigation of the separation of young star clusters from H ii regions nearest to them. The relation between the separation and U − B colour index (or age) of a star cluster was found. The average age of star clusters increases with the separation as the 1.0–1.2 power in the separation range from 40 to 200 pc and as the 0.4–0.9 power in the range of 100–500 pc in the galaxies with symmetric morphology. The galaxies with distorted asymmetric disc structure show more complex and steeper (power >1.2 at separations from 40 to 500 pc) dependence between the age and the separation. Our results confirm the findings of previous studies on the dominant role of turbulence in propagation of the star formation process on spatial scales up to 500 pc and on time-scales up to 300 Myr. On a smaller scale (≤100 pc), other physical processes, such as stellar winds and supernova explosions, play an important role along with turbulence. On the scale of stellar associations (100–200 pc and smaller), the velocity of star formation propagation is almost constant and it has a typical value of a few km s−1.
Mechanism of allosteric activation of human mRNA cap methyltransferase (RNMT) by RAM: insights from accelerated molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Bueren-Calabuig Juan A , G. Bage Marcus , Cowling Victoria H , Pisliakov Andrei V
Published: July 2019

The RNA guanine-N7 methyltransferase (RNMT) in complex with RNMT-activating miniprotein (RAM) catalyses the formation of a N7-methylated guanosine cap structure on the 5′ end of nascent RNA polymerase II transcripts. The mRNA cap protects the primary transcript from exonucleases and recruits cap-binding complexes that mediate RNA processing, export and translation. By using microsecond standard and accelerated molecular dynamics simulations, we provide for the first time a detailed molecular mechanism of allosteric regulation of RNMT by RAM. We show that RAM selects the RNMT active site conformations that are optimal for binding of substrates (AdoMet and the cap), thus enhancing their affinity. Furthermore, our results strongly suggest the likely scenario in which the cap binding promotes the subsequent AdoMet binding, consistent with the previously suggested cooperative binding model. By employing the network community analyses, we revealed the underlying long-range allosteric networks and paths that are crucial for allosteric regulation by RAM. Our findings complement and explain previous experimental data on RNMT activity. Moreover, this study provides the most complete description of the cap and AdoMet binding poses and interactions within the enzyme’s active site. This information is critical for the drug discovery efforts that consider RNMT as a promising anti-cancer target.
Biomarkers and smart intracranial devices for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of high-grade gliomas: a review of the literature and future prospects
Authors: Hafeez Umbreen , Cher Lawrence M
Published: July 2019

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain neoplasm with median overall survival (OS) around 15 months. There is a dearth of effective monitoring strategies for patients with high-grade gliomas. Relying on magnetic resonance images of brain has its challenges, and repeated brain biopsies add significant morbidity. Hence, it is imperative to establish a less invasive way to diagnose, monitor, and guide management of patients with high-grade gliomas. Currently, multiple biomarkers are in various phases of development and include tissue, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and imaging biomarkers. Here we review and summarize the potential biomarkers found in blood and CSF, including extracellular macromolecules, extracellular vesicles, circulating tumor cells, immune cells, endothelial cells, and endothelial progenitor cells. The ability to detect tumor-specific biomarkers in blood and CSF will potentially not only reduce the need for repeated brain biopsies but also provide valuable information about the heterogeneity of tumor, response to current treatment, and identify disease resistance. This review also details the status and potential scope of brain tumor-related cranial devices and implants including Ommaya reservoir, microelectromechanical systems-based depot device, Alzet mini-osmotic pump, Metronomic Biofeedback Pump (MBP), ipsum G1 implant, ultra-thin needle implant, and putative devices. An ideal smart cranial implant will overcome the blood-brain barrier, deliver various drugs, provide access to brain tissue, and potentially measure and monitor levels of various biomarkers.
A Fatal Case of Disseminated Microsporidiosis Due to Anncaliia algerae in a Renal and Pancreas Allograft Recipient
Authors: Anderson Neil W , Muehlenbachs Atis , Arif Sana , Bruminhent Jackrapong , Deziel Paul J , Razonable Raymund R , Wilhelm Mark P , Metcalfe Maureen G , Qvarnstrom Yvonne , Pritt Bobbi S
Published: July 2019

Microsporidiosis is an emerging opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of fatal disseminated Anncaliia algerae infection in a profoundly immunosuppressed pancreas and kidney transplant recipient.
Sumoylation of BRI1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR 1 (BES1) by the SUMO E3 Ligase SIZ1 Negatively Regulates Brassinosteroids Signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhang Li’e , Han Qing , Xiong Jiawei , Zheng Ting , Han Jifu , Zhou Huanbin , Lin Honghui , Yin Yanhai , Zhang Dawei
Published: July 2019

Brassinosteroids (BRs), a group of plant steroid hormones, participate in the regulation of plant growth and developmental processes. BR functions through the BES1/BZR1 family of transcription factors, however, the regulation of the BES1 activity by post-translational modifications remains largely unknown. Here, we present evidence that the SUMO E3 ligase SIZ1 negatively regulates BR signaling pathway. T-DNA insertion mutant siz1-2 shows BL (Brassinolide, the most active BR) hypersensitivity and BRZ (Brassinazole, a BR biosynthesis inhibitor) insensitivity during hypocotyl elongation. In addition, expression of BES1-dependent BR-response genes is hyper-regulated in siz1-2 seedlings. The siz1-2bes1-D double mutant exhibits longer hypocotyl than bes1-D. Moreover, SIZ1 physically interacts with BES1 in vivo and in vitro and mediates the sumoylation of BES1. A K302R substitution in BES1 blocks its sumoylation mediated by SIZ1 in plants, indicating that K302 is the principal site for SUMO conjugation. Consistently, we find that sumoylation inhibits BES1 protein stability and activity. Taken together, our data show that the sumoylation of BES1 via SIZ1 negatively regulates the BR signaling pathway.
Identification and Characterization of Stress-Responsive TAS3-Derived TasiRNAs in Melon
Authors: Cervera-Seco Luis , Marques Marï¿½a Carmen , Sanz-Carbonell Alejandro , Marquez-Molins Joan , Carbonell Alberto , Darï¿½s Josï¿½-Antonio , Gomez Gustavo
Published: July 2019

Small interfering RNAs (siRNA) are key regulators of gene expression that play essential roles in diverse biological processes. Trans-acting siRNAs (tasiRNAs) are a class of plant-endogenous siRNAs that lead the cleavage of nonidentical transcripts. TasiRNAs are usually involved in fine-tuning development. However, increasing evidence supports that tasiRNAs may be involved in stress response. Melon is a crop of great economic importance extensively cultivated in semiarid regions frequently exposed to changing environmental conditions that limit its productivity. However, knowledge of the precise role of siRNAs in general, and of tasiRNAs in particular, in regulating the response to adverse environmental conditions is limited. Here, we provide the first comprehensive analysis of computationally inferred melon-tasiRNAs responsive to two biotic (viroid-infection) and abiotic (cold treatment) stress conditions. We identify two TAS3-loci encoding to length (TAS3-L) and short (TAS3-S) transcripts. The TAS candidates predicted from small RNA-sequencing data were characterized according to their chromosome localization and expression pattern in response to stress. The functional activity of cmTAS genes was validated by transcript quantification and degradome assays of the tasiRNA precursors and their predicted targets. Finally, the functionality of a representative cmTAS3-derived tasiRNA (TAS3-S) was confirmed by transient assays showing the cleavage of ARF target transcripts.
Evolving a lipase for hydrolysis of natural triglycerides along with enhanced tolerance towards a protease and surfactants
Authors: Alfaro-Chávez Ana L , Liu Jian-Wei , Stevenson Bradley J , Goldman Adrian , Ollis David L
Published: July 2019

In the accompanying paper, we described evolving a lipase to the point where variants were soluble, stable and capable of degrading C8 TAG and C8 esters. These variants were tested for their ability to survive in an environment that might be encountered in a washing machine. Unfortunately, they were inactivated both by treatment with a protease used in laundry detergents and by very low concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In addition, all the variants had very low levels of activity with triglycerides with long aliphatic chains and with naturally occurring oils, like olive oil. Directed evolution was used to select variants with enhanced properties. In the first 10 rounds of evolution, the primary screen was selected for variants capable of hydrolyzing olive oil whereas the secondary screen was selected for enhanced tolerance towards a protease and SDS. In the final six rounds of evolution, the primary and secondary screens identified variants that retained activity after treatment with SDS. Sixteen cycles of evolution gave variants with greatly enhanced lipolytic activity on substrates that had both long (C16 and C18) as well as short (C3 and C8) chains. We found variants that were stable for more than 3 hours in protease concentrations that rapidly degrade the wild-type enzyme. Enhanced tolerance towards SDS was found in variants that could break down naturally occurring lipid and resist protease attack. The amino acid changes that gave enhanced properties were concentrated in the cap domain responsible for substrate binding.
Financial Illiteracy and Pension Contributions: A Field Experiment on Compound Interest in China
Authors: Song Changcheng
Published: July 2019

I conduct a field experiment to study the relationship between peoples’ misunderstanding of compound interest and their pension contributions in rural China. I find that explaining the concept of compound interest to subjects increased pension contributions by roughly 40%. The treatment effect is larger for those who underestimate compound interest than for those who overestimate compound interest. Moreover, financial education enables households to partially correct their misunderstanding of compound interest. I structurally estimate the level of misunderstanding of compound interest and conduct a counterfactual welfare analysis: lifetime utility increases by about 10% if subjects’ misunderstanding of compound interest is eliminated.
Long-term efficacy and safety of phrenic nerve stimulation for the treatment of central sleep apnea
Authors: Fox Henrik , Oldenburg Olaf , Javaheri Shahrokh , Ponikowski Piotr , Augostini Ralph , Goldberg Lee R , Stellbrink Christoph , Mckane Scott , Meyer Timothy E , Abraham William T , Costanzo Maria Rosa
Published: July 2019

Study Objective

To evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) in patients with moderate-to-severe central sleep apnea (CSA) through 3 years of therapy.

Methods

Patients in the remedē System Pivotal Trial were observed every 3 months after implant until US Food and Drug Administration approval. At the time of approval and study closure, all patients completed 24 months of follow-up; 33 patients had not reached the 36-month visit. Sleep metrics (polysomnography) and echocardiographic parameters are reported at baseline, 12, 18, and 24 months, in addition to available 36-month sleep results from polygraphy. Safety was assessed through 36 months; however, analysis focused through 24 months and available 36-month results are provided.

Results

Patients were assessed at 24 (n = 109) and 36 (n = 60) months. Baseline characteristics included mean age 64 years, 91% male, and mean apnea–hypopnea index 47 events per hour. Sleep metrics (apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), central apnea index, arousal index, oxygen desaturation index, rapid eye movement sleep) remained improved through 24 and 36 months with continuous use of PNS therapy. At least 60% of patients in the treatment group achieved at least 50% reduction in AHI through 24 months. Serious adverse events (SAEs) related to the remedē System implant procedure, device, or therapy through 24 months were reported by 10% of patients, no unanticipated adverse device effects or deaths, and all events resolved. No additional related SAEs were reported between 24 and 36 months.

Conclusion

These data suggest beneficial effects of long-term PNS in patients with CSA appear to sustain through 36 months with no new safety concerns.

Trial Registration

NCT01816776.
Riboswitch identification using Ligase-Assisted Selection for the Enrichment of Responsive Ribozymes (LigASERR)
Authors: Haines Matthew C , Storch Marko , Oyarzún Diego A , Stan Guy-Bart , Baldwin Geoff S
Published: July 2019

In vitro selection of ligand-responsive ribozymes can identify rare, functional sequences from large libraries. While powerful, key caveats of this approach include lengthy and demanding experimental workflows; unpredictable experimental outcomes and unknown functionality of enriched sequences in vivo. To address the first of these limitations, we developed Ligase-Assisted Selection for the Enrichment of Responsive Ribozymes (LigASERR). LigASERR is scalable, amenable to automation and requires less time to implement compared to alternative methods. To improve the predictability of experiments, we modeled the underlying selection process, predicting experimental outcomes based on sequence and population parameters. We applied this new methodology and model to the enrichment of a known, in vitro-selected sequence from a bespoke library. Prior to implementing selection, conditions were optimized and target sequence dynamics accurately predicted for the majority of the experiment. In addition to enriching the target sequence, we identified two new, theophylline-activated ribozymes. Notably, all three sequences yielded riboswitches functional in Escherichia coli, suggesting LigASERR and similar in vitro selection methods can be utilized for generating functional riboswitches in this organism.