Introduction This study aimed to analyze the impact of adding taxanes to anthracycline-based regimens on women diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods This retrospective study included 559 female breast cancer patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy at the University Hospital Center „Mother Teresa” in Tirana, Albania from 2005 to 2011. Three hundred fifty-nine patients received an anthracycline-based regimen, and 200 received anthracycline-plus-taxane regimens. Common anthracycline-based regimens consisted of 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m2, doxorubicin 60 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every three weeks for six cycles. Combined taxane-anthracycline regimens were anthracycline-based regimen in the first four cycles (doxorubicin 60 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2, docetaxel 80 mg/m2) followed by either weekly paclitaxel or thrice-weekly docetaxel for four cycles. Results Overall, after a 5-year follow-up, it was found that 148 women in the taxanes-based regimen group (74%) did not experience relapse compared with 264 women in the anthracycline-based regimen group (73.5%). The relapse status was affected by hormonal status (p less then 0.001) in the taxane-based regimen. In the anthracycline-based regimen patients, the relapse status was affected by hormone status and nodal involvement (p less then 0.001). Conclusion The taxanes-plus-anthracycline regimen was slightly more effective than the anthracycline-based regimen for breast cancer patients in terms of avoiding relapse, but the difference was not statistically significant. Therefore, adding taxanes to adjuvant chemotherapy for women diagnosed with breast cancer is not beneficial for every subgroup. Hence, the future of breast cancer therapy remains chemotherapy individualized for each patient for optimal outcomes. Copyright © 2020, Hilaj et al.Pelvic mobility is the cornerstone of an adequate birth canal for safe childbirth, and midwives invite pregnant women to assume loading positions to facilitate delivery. Biomechanics asserts that pelvic space changes in shifting positions from erect to the squat position. The current standard practice in obstetrics and osteopathy provides a qualitative observational assessment of the dimension of Michaelis sacral rhombus in shifting positions; a previous report presented a clinical method and instrument to estimate the pelvic range of motion through finger contact on bone landmarks. The present study aims to match the measurement of the diameters of the sacral area of Michaelis from skin marks with the amount from bone landmarks. Methods estimate the sacral area from 100 pregnant women in the late trimester, considering the dimension of the diameters, the range of motion, and the patterns of mobility. Differences resulted in the methods measuring the skin marks in shifting positions revealed a not significant difference between starting position and squat position. The measurements through the finger contact on the bone landmarks seem to be adequate to estimate pelvic mobility fulfilling the expectation from biomechanics literature. Copyright © 2020, Siccardi et al.Introduction This article is a retrospective analysis of the neurosurgical census at our institution to determine an optimal threshold for brain tissue oxygenation (PbtO2). The use of brain tissue oxygen monitoring has been in place for approximately three decades but data suggesting optimal thresholds to improve outcomes have been lacking. Though there are multiple modalities to monitor cerebral oxygenation, the monitoring of brain tissue oxygen tension has been deemed the gold standard. Still, it is not clear exactly how reductions in PbtO2 should be treated or what appropriate thresholds to treat might be. The aim of our study was to determine if our threshold of 28 mmHg for a good functional outcome could be correlated to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Methods A retrospective analysis of the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) Neurosurgery Census was performed. Patients from 2017-2019 who had placement of Licox® cerebral oxygen monitoring sensors (Integra® Lifesciences, brain tissue oxygenation allows yet another metric by which to optimize treatment in TBI patients. At our institution, a PbtO2 level of ≥ 28 mmHg is targeted in order to facilitate a good functional outcome in TBI patients. Keeping patients at this level improves GCS and GOS at discharge/end of medical treatment. Copyright © 2020, Patchana et al.Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of flaccid paralysis in affected patients. Here we present a case of GBS presenting with flaccid paralysis as well as hyponatremia. The association of hyponatremia in GBS is discussed, as well as other potential causes and risk factors. Copyright © 2020, Griffin et al.Pure red blood cell aplasia (PRCA) is one of the uncommon causes of anemia. Drug-induced PRCA is even more infrequent. Only a few drugs are implicated in PRCA. Isoniazid is a widely used drug for the treatment of tuberculosis all over the world. It is known to cause hepatotoxicity, but in rare instances, it can lead to PRCA.  A 72-year-old Caucasian male, who was started on isoniazid after the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis, presented two months later with episodes of syncope to primary care physician’s office. The initial blood work showed severe anemia. There were no signs of acute or chronic gastrointestinal blood loss, and the stool hemoccult test was negative. Iron, vitamin B12, folate, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, transaminases, and erythropoietin were within normal limits. Peripheral blood smear showed normochromic and normocytic anemia. A reticulocyte count was less than 1,000 per microliter. Thymoma, human immunodeficiency virus, and parvovirus B19 were ruled out. Further work-up with bone marrow biopsy confirmed pure red blood cell aplasia. A detailed review of recently started medications revealed isoniazid as the offending drug. Isoniazid was stopped. Reticulocyte count and bone marrow recovered a few days after stopping with eventual improvement in hemoglobin level, thus confirming the diagnosis of isoniazid induced red blood cell aplasia. Isoniazid is the first-line therapy for tuberculosis. Rarely, it can cause pure red blood cell suppression and severe anemia, an untoward effect, worth remembering. Copyright © 2020, Azhar et al.A bronchogenic cyst is a rare congenital malformation. It occurs due to the development of buds in any part of the tracheobronchial area. It can also lead to fatal complications, especially in the early stages of life. However, data on its diagnosis and treatment are scarce, owing to the rarity of the disease. This review article aimed at evaluating the literature on the manifestations of intramural bronchogenic cysts in the pediatric population. Medical databases were examined thoroughly to explore eligible articles for inclusion. Twenty-three articles appeared in the search result. The produced reports were evaluated against the predecided inclusion criteria. After reviewing the literature, eight articles were eligible for inclusion in this review. The included articles were published between 2000 and 2020. An intramural bronchogenic cyst is a rare condition that should not be neglected in a differential diagnosis. Surgical excision is currently the recommended management strategy. Further extensive studies about the management of the complications of intramural bronchogenic cysts are needed. Copyright © 2020, Almatrafi et al.Neurosurgical patients with titanium spinal implant hypersensitivity can be difficult to diagnosis due to its rarity. Suspicion for titanium allergy is generally localized to the hardware site and may initially be thought to be an infectious process. Patients who report anorexia and fatigue over a long duration after the initial post-operative period may be diagnosed with depression rather than a systemic response to spinal metallic instrumentation. To our knowledge, a systemic titanium hypersensitivity reaction to spinal fixation devices has not been reported in the literature. We offer this report to give spine surgeons additional insight into suspected systemic titanium hypersensitivity symptoms which, if remain unidentified, can severely impair patient outcomes. A 67-year-old female with an unreported nickel allergy developed severe debilitating anorexia and fatigue one month post operatively, secondary to minimally invasive thoracic spinal fixation for T11 burst fracture with disruption of posterior elements. Over a two year period, weight loss reached approximately 25 kilograms with loss of muscle mass and subcutaneous tissue surrounding the spinal implants. The screws and rods were removed to avoid skin erosion. Upon hardware removal, the patient had rapid weight gain, improved stamina and generalized sense of well-being. We recommend the removal of spinal hardware in patients with suspected systemic titanium hypersensitivity reaction. Copyright © 2020, Towers et al.BACKGROUND Nationally, 85% of general surgery graduates pursue fellowships reducing the incoming general surgical workforce with a predicted shortage of 41,000 general surgeons by 2025. In recent studies, the lack of confidence appears to be a major factor contributing to resident decision to pursue fellowship. The aim of the study was to determine if a hybrid academic/community program contributes to early autonomy and the decision to pursue fellowship in general surgery graduates. METHODS We evaluated the level of confidence, level of autonomy, and decision to pursue fellowship at a hybrid academic/community program that historically graduates 70% of their residents into general surgery practice through an anonymous survey. Participants responded using Likert scales along with simple polar questions. RESULTS Most current residents (90%) reported, upon graduation, that they feel very confident (45%) or fairly confident (45%) performing major cases independently. Most attendings (64%) reported that during their third year of residency, they began performing the majority (more than 75%) of their major cases as surgeon junior while current residents (55%) reported they were performing the majority as a second-year resident. Fifty-five percent of residents felt that confidence played a role in the decision to pursue fellowship. Thirty-three percent of our current chief residents and only 34% of the total general surgery residents plan to pursue fellowships.  Conclusions Our study showed that our residents appear to have earlier levels of autonomy than that experienced by our practicing surgeons when they were residents. Confidence continues to play a role in the decision to pursue fellowship and overall our residents are confident in technical skills at graduation. Our unique program continues to graduate the majority of our surgical residents into successful general surgery practice. Copyright © 2020, Quinn et al.Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer in men in the United States and is the second most common cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer in men. Despite all advances in the field of prostate cancer imaging and treatment, currently, it is sub-optimally responsive to all available treatment options. Radioimmunotherapy with a monoclonal antibody (mAb), J591, has shown promising results in the treatment of prostate cancer. J591 is a deimmunized mAb that targets the extracellular domain of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a surface-bound and internalizing glycoprotein that is upregulated in prostate cancer. Phase I/II clinical trials have shown accurate tumor targeting, biochemical and radiographic responses, and increased overall survival in patients with mCRPC with tolerable, predictable, and reversible myelotoxicity. Ongoing studies focus on improving the therapeutic index of radiolabeled J591. Herein, the literature on published clinical trials involving therapeutic J591 conjugated to b-emitter, lutetium-177 for mCRPC, is sequentially reviewed. Copyright © 2020, Niaz et al.Distal femur fractures account for 3% of femur fractures and require definitive fixation to allow for weight-bearing and return of functional capability. However, if these fractures must wait a period of time to be taken to theatre, skin traction is routinely applied in the pre-operative period to maximise pain management, prevent deformity and protect neurovascular status. Pre-made traction kits are usually widely available in emergency departments worldwide, allowing for the rapid application and stabilisation of the limb once analgesia in the form of a femoral block has been delivered.  Unfortunately, as in many aspects of healthcare, demand can sometimes outweigh supply. In high-volume-trauma centres or mass-casualty incidents, the pre-made kits designed for skin traction such as Sterotrac (Steroplast Healthcare, Manchester, UK) or Tensoplast (BSN medical GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) kits can be rapidly depleted, leaving emergency and orthopaedic physicians with no means of providing the traction required. Hence, we propose and describe a modified technique that provides a simple and inexpensive way to achieve and maintain skin traction using readily available hospital supplies, which can provide adequate support in a safe manner until definitive surgical fixation. This method not only provides sufficient traction but protects the bony pressure areas around the foot and ankle, thereby reducing the risk of iatrogenic pressure sores. Copyright © 2020, Mc Carthy et al.Sickle cell disease is one challenging blood disorder, affecting around 100,000 people in the United States alone. None of the currently approved drugs can modify the underlying pathology of the disease. Voxelotor, first of its kind, is an orally administered drug that can alter the underlying disease pathology (by increasing the affinity between Hb and oxygen) and inhibit sickling of red blood cells. Several clinical trials and case series have documented the benefits and safety of voxelotor therapy in sickle cell disease. Currently, the US FDA has approved the drug for treatment of sickle cell disease and also granted the status of orphan drug. Copyright © 2020, AlDallal et al.Introduction Recent studies on the use of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) to treat lumbar radicular pain have highlighted controversies pertaining to the choice of corticosteroid agent utilized in lumbosacral TFESI, in terms of both safety and efficacy. The primary objective was to characterize the radicular pain response after a first transforaminal injection with dexamethasone. The secondary objective was to document the response of those who failed to respond to a dexamethasone injection when particulate steroid was utilized for a second injection. Methods It was a retrospective study of 94 consecutive patients undergoing transforaminal injection for lumbosacral radicular pain. At two-week follow-up, patients rated their pain response on a clinically oriented five-point survey. First injection non-responders were given a second injection with particulate steroid and again completed the survey. Results Approximately one-third (N = 31/94) of patients received no meaningful relief from a single injection with dexamethasone. No patients achieved lasting and complete pain relief after a single injection. Of initial non-particulate steroid non-responders, approximately two-thirds (N = 19/28) demonstrated a notable or complete response to a second injection with particulate steroid. Conclusions We are now able to better inform patients with regard to their anticipated pain response to an initial dexamethasone injection. Only one-third of patients realized more significant and lasting relief after a single injection. Of those who did not demonstrate a more meaningful response, a second injection with particulate steroid resulted in more pronounced pain relief in two-thirds of patients. Copyright © 2020, Lipetz et al.Background Nutrient leaching from agricultural fields is one of the main causes of pollution and eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. The quantity of nitrogen (N) leached from a particular field can be very different from the amount of N leached from other fields in a given region or even within a single farm. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the quantity of N leached for each field separately. Methods An opinion poll has been conducted on 31 farms within the Puck Commune, which is approximately 3.6% of all farms located in this commune. Farmers provided data on the manner of fertilizing and cultivating crops on all their farms. For each field individually, on the basis of collected data, an estimated amount of the N leaching from the field has been determined. Results An interactive calculator to assist farmers in determining the quantity of N leaching from the agricultural field has been developed. The influence of factors shaping the amount of N leaching from a single field has been analyzed, and it has been determined that autumn plowing (specifically its absence) and the type of cultivated soil had the greatest average influence on this value in the studied sample. Discussion Due to the possible ways of reducing N leaching from agricultural fields, most of the studied fields were fertilized in an appropriate manner. However, in the studied sample there were fields for which the fertilization intensity significantly exceeded the recommended doses. In this context, a tool in the form of an interactive, easy-to-use N leaching calculator should help farmers to select appropriate doses and optimal fertilization practices. © 2020 Dybowski et al.Grazing and litter removal can alter understory structure and composition after afforestation, posing a serious threat to sustainable forest development. Enclosure is considered to be an effective measure to restore degraded forest restoration. However, little is known about the dynamics of soil nutrients and microbial communities during the forest restoration process. In the present study, the effects of Arachis hypogaea (AH), Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica (PSM) and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica with enclosure (PSME) on soil chemical properties and soil microbial communities were studied in Zhanggutai, Liaoning Province, China. The results showed that PSME could remarkably contribute to improve soil total C, total N and total P compared to PSM and AH. Additionally, PSM could clearly increase the soil bacterial community diversity and fungal Chao1 index and ACE index. Additionally, PSME could further increase soil Chao1 index and ACE index of soil bacteria. Soil total C, total N and available N were the main factors related to soil microbial diversity. Actinobacteria and Ascomycota were the predominant bacterial and fungal phyla, respectively. Specifically, PSME could increase the relative abundances of Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota and decreased the relative abundances of Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi and Basidiomycota than PSM. PSM and PSME could clearly change soil microbial communities compared with AH and PSME could remarkably shift soil fungal communities than PSM. What’s more, the soil microbial community structure were affected by multiple edaphic chemical parameters. It can be seen that afforestation combined with enclosed management potentially regulate microbial properties through shifting the soil properties. This study can provide new ideas for further understanding the impact of enclosure on PSM and provide theoretical support for the management of PSM. © 2020 Deng et al.Recent advancements in tomographic techniques allow for detailed morphological analysis of various organisms, which has proved difficult in the past. However, the time and cost required for the post-processing of highly resolved tomographic data are considerable. Cephalopods are an ideal group to study ontogeny using tomography as the entire life history is preserved within a conch. Although an increasing number of studies apply tomography to cephalopod conchs, the number of conch measurements needed to adequately characterize ontogeny remains unknown. Therefore, the effect of different ontogenetic sampling densities on the accuracy of the resultant growth trajectories needs to be investigated. Here, we reconstruct ontogenetic trajectories of a single conch of Nautilus pompilius using different numbers of ontogenetic points to assess the resulting accuracies. To this end, conch parameters were measured every 10°, 30°, 45°, 90°, and 180°. Results reveal that the overall patterns of reconstructed growth trajectories are nearly identical. Relatively large errors appear to occur where growth changes occur, such as the points of hatching and the onset of morphogenetic countdown before the attainment of maturity. In addition, a previously undocumented growth change before hatching was detected when measurements were taken every 10°, 30°, and 45°, though this growth change was obscured when fewer measurements were used (90° and 180°). The lower number of measurements also masks the subtle fluctuating patterns of conch parameters in middle ontogeny. We conclude that the measurements of a conch every 30° and 45° permit a reasonably precise description of conch ontogeny in nautilids. Since ammonoids were likely more responsive to external stimuli than to nautilids, a much denser sampling may be required for ammonoids. ©2020 Tajika and Klug.Objective To systematically review the publications on ecological momentary assessment (EMA) relating to physical activity (PA) behavior in order to classify the methodologies, and to identify the main mHealth technology-based tools and procedures that have been applied during the first 10 years since the emergence of smartphones. As a result of this review, we want to ask if there is enough evidence to propose the use of the term „mEMA” (mobile-based EMA). Design A systematic review according to PRISMA Statement (PROSPERO registration CRD42018088136). Method Four databases (PsycINFO, CINALH, Medline and Web of Science Core Collection) were searched electronically from 2008 to February 2018. Results A total of 76 studies from 297 potential articles on the use of EMA and PA were included in this review. It was found that 71% of studies specifically used „EMA” for assessing PA behaviors but the rest used other terminology that also adjusted to the inclusion criteria. Just over half (51.3%) of studies (39) used on the touch screen made in real time, all managed through smartphone apps. This methodology could be extended when EMA combined with mHealth are used to evaluate other lifestyle behaviors. © 2020 Zapata-Lamana et al.A generalist pollination system may be characterized through the interaction of a plant species with two or more functional groups of pollinators. The spatiotemporal variation of the most effective pollinator is the factor most frequently advocated to explain the emergence and maintenance of generalist pollination systems. There are few studies merging variation in floral visitor assemblages and the efficacy of pollination by different functional groups. Thus, there are gaps in our knowledge about the variation in time of pollinator efficacy and frequency of generalist species. In this study, we evaluated the pollination efficacy of the floral visitors of Edmundoa lindenii (Bromeliaceae) and their frequency of visits across four reproductive events. We analyzed the frequency of the three groups of floral visitors (large bees, small bees, and hummingbirds) through focal observations in the reproductive events of 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. We evaluated the pollination efficacy (fecundity after one visit) throummingbirds failed. Thus, we provide evidence that variable pollination environments may favor generalization, even under differential effectiveness of pollinator groups if secondary pollinators provide reproductive assurance. © 2020 Leal et al.Background Mastitis is one of the most common infectious diseases in dairy cattle and causes significant financial losses in the dairy industry worldwide. Antibiotic therapy has been used as the most effective strategy for clinical mastitis treatment. However, due to the extensive use of antibacterial agents, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered to be one of the reasons for low cure rates in bovine mastitis. In addition, biofilms could protect bacteria by restricting antibiotic access and shielding the bacterial pathogen from mammary gland immune defences. The functional mechanisms of quorum sensing E. coli regulators B an d C (QseBC) have been well studied in E. coli model strains; however, whether QseBC regulates antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm formation in clinical E. coli strain has not been reported. Methods In this study, we performed construction of the qseBC gene mutant, complementation of the qseBC mutant, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, antibacterial activity assays, biofilm formsociated genes. Further, biofilm-formation-associated genes were also regulated by QseBC TCS in E. coli ECDCM2. Hence, this study might provide new clues to the prevention and treatment of infections caused by the clinical E. coli strains. ©2020 Li et al.Three new species of Chrysogorgia were discovered from seamounts in the tropical Western Pacific Ocean. Chrysogorgia dendritica sp. nov. and Chrysogorgia fragilis sp. nov. were collected from the Kocebu Guyot of the Magellan Seamount chain with the water depth of 1,821 m and 1,279-1,321 m, respectively, and Chrysogorgia gracilis sp. nov. was collected from a seamount adjacent to the Mariana Trench with the water depth of 298 m. They all belong to the Chrysogorgia „group A, Spiculosae” with rods distributed in body wall and tentacles, and differ from all congeners except C. abludo Pante & Watling, 2012 by having a tree-shaped colony (vs. bottlebrush-shaped, planar or biflabellate). Chrysogorgia dendritica sp. nov. is unique in having a monopodial stem, the 1/3L branching sequence and the amoeba-shaped sclerites (sclerites branched toward to many directions) at the body bases of polyps. Chrysogorgia fragilis sp. nov. is most similar to C. abludo, but differs by the regular 1/3L branching sequence and elongate flat scales in coenenchyme. Chrysogorgia gracilis sp. nov. is easily separated from congeners by the 1/4L branching sequence, the absence of sclerites in the basal body wall, and the very sparse scales in coenenchyme. Based on the phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses of mtMutS gene, all the available Chrysogorgia species were separated into two main groups one includes C. binata, C. cf. stellata and C. chryseis, which have two or more fans emerging from a short main stem (bi- or multi-flabellate colony); the other one includes all the species with the branching patterns as a single ascending spiral (clockwise or counterclockwise, bottlebrush-shaped colony), a fan (planar colony) and a bush of branches perched on top of a long straight stem (tree-shaped colony). Additionally, the tree-shaped colony represents a new branching pattern in Chrysogorgia, and therefore we extend the generic diagnosis. ©2020 Xu et al.Futsal is a sport with increasing popularity and level of performance, both in male and female categories. Also, there are several injuries along a season, so it is needed to know how to reduce this burden. The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of technical staff on injury risk factors, risk testing and preventive measures, and the strategies used by them within professional male and female futsal teams. A cross-sectional study was designed during the 2017-2018 season. A total of 32 futsal teams involved in male and female Spanish national futsal leagues completed, through an online survey platform, a questionnaire about injury risk factors, risk testing and preventive measures. Findings showed that (a) most teams reported enough human resources, but insufficient material and time resources, (b) the main risk factors detected were previous injuries, strength deficits and dehydration, (c) functional movement patterns, flexibility tests and self-report questionnaires were the most applied tests for detecting injury risks in their players and (d) most of the main preventive measures used by technical staff matched with the best valued by them. Technical staff defined properly the main risk factors in futsal performance, as well as they applied preventive strategies with scientific support. The information provided in this research could be of interest for sport scientists and technical staff when designing more accurate and efficient injury prevention programs in futsal. © 2020 Lago-Fuentes et al.Background Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) is defined as obesity with less than two parameters of metabolic abnormalities. Some studies report that MHO individuals show similar risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO) individuals, but the results are conflicting. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) reflects the extent of coronary atherosclerosis and is a useful tool to predict future risk of CVD. The objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate whether MHO is associated with elevated risk of CAC. Method We searched Cochrane, PubMed, and Embase up to April 19, 2019. Prospective cohort and cross-sectional studies examining the association between MHO subjects and CAC were included with MHNO as the reference. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random-effect models. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were applied to define possible sources of heterogeneity. We conducted this research following a pre-established protnormality is present. ©2020 Hsueh et al.We investigated the variability of nitrogen stable isotope ratios 15N/14N (expressed as δ15N) on citrus orchards with different fertilization management practices (organic versus conventional) and its correlation with the δ15N values of the key citrus pest Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera Liviidae) feeding on such plant material. Tracing the origin of this pest in open field is crucial since the insect is a vector of the incurable and devastating citrus disease known as Huanglongbing. We hypothesized that the origin (natal tree) of the pest may be deduced by correlating the δ15N values obtained from the young citrus leaves and from adults of D. citri raised on them. First, laboratory experiments were performed to understand the acquisition and incorportation of the δ15N values by D. citri. Second, we confirmed the positive correlation between the δ15N values of the young citrus leaves and D. citri. Finally, field sampling was carried out in 21 citrus orchards from Southern California to study the variability on the δ15N values on organic and conventional commercial citrus orchards. Laboratory results suggest that the analyses of the δ15N values can be regarded as a useful method to trace the origin of the pest. However, the high variability in nitrogen resource used in both fertilization management practices (especially in organic orchards) by growers makes the application of this technique unfeasible to pinpoint the origin of D. citri in the citrus agroecosystem. ©2020 Gomez-Marco et al.Background Targeting negatively charged mitochondria is often achieved using triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cations. These cationic vehicles may possess biological activity, and a docking study indicates that TPP-moieties may act as modulators of signaling through the estrogen receptor α (ERα). Moreover, in vivo and in vitro experiments revealed the estrogen-like effects of TPP-based compounds. Here, we tested the hypothesis that TPP-based compounds regulate the activity of ERα. Methods We used ERa-positive and ERα-negative human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, respectively). Cell proliferation was measured using a resazurin cell growth assay and a real-time cell analyzer assay. Cell cycle progression was analyzed using flow cytometry. Real-time PCR was used to assess mRNA expression of endogenous estrogen-responsive genes. Luciferase activity was measured to evaluate transcription driven by estrogen-responsive promoters in cells transfected with an estrogen response element (ERE)3-luciferase expression vector. Results The TPP-based molecules SkQ1 and C12TPP, as well as the rhodamine-based SkQR1, did not increase the proliferation or alter the cell cycle progression of MCF-7 cells. In contrast, 17β estradiol increased the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and the proportion of cells in the S/G2/M-phases of the cell cycle. TPP-based compounds did not affect the induction of transcription of an ERE-luciferase expression vector in vitro, and SkQ1 did not alter the levels of expression of estrogen-dependent genes encoding GREB1, TFF1, COX6, and IGFBP4. Conclusion TPP-based compounds do not possess properties typical of ERα agonists. ©2020 Zinovkina et al.Background The body of literature regarding the associations between physical activity and psychological problems lacks consensus. Moreover, the role of gender has been scarcely investigated. The present study sought to fill the gap in the data by examining the associations, if any, between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), psychological problems, and self-harm behaviors based on different biological genders (male-female). Methods A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure MVPA and multiple psychological problems, including depression and anxiety; general emotion, behavior, and social problems; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD); conduct problems; and self-harm behaviors. Participants were a nationally representative sample of Chinese high school students (N = 13, 349). A multiple logistic regression analysis of MVPA, stratified by gender, was conducted on the risk of psychological problems and self-harm behaviors in the total sample. Ry be more effective than PA interventions without these considerations. ©2020 Liu et al.Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common disease with high cost and mortality. Here, we studied the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from patients with CAD to explore the possible pathways and mechanisms through which EAT participates in the CAD pathological process. Methods Microarray data for EAT and SAT were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, including three separate expression datasets GSE24425, GSE64554 and GSE120774. The DEGs between EAT samples and SAT control samples were screened out using the limma package in the R language. Next, we conducted bioinformatic analysis of gene ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways to discover the enriched gene sets and pathways associated with DEGs. Simultaneously, gene set enrichment analysis was carried out to discover enriched gene functions and pathways from all expression data rather than DEGs. The PPI network was constructeess then 0.05). Conclusions Between EAT and SAT in CAD patients, a total of 89 DEGs, and 10 key genes, including HOXA5, HOXB5, HOXC6, HOXC8, HOXB7, COL1A1, CCND1, CCL2, HP and TWIST1, and miRNAs hsa-miR-196a-5p and hsa-miR-196b-5p were predicted to play essential roles in CAD pathogenesis. Pro-inflammatory and immunological pathways could act as key EAT regulators by participating in the CAD pathological process. © 2020 Tan et al.Agricultural intensification is one of the major drivers of biotic homogenization and has multiple levels ranging from within-field management intensity to landscape-scale simplification. The enhancement of invertebrate assemblages by establishing new, semi-natural habitats, such as set-aside fields can improve biological pest control in adjacent crops, and mitigate the adverse effect of biotic homogenization. In this study we aimed to examine the effects of ecological intensification in winter wheat fields in Hungary. We tested how pests and their natural enemies were affected at different spatial scales by landscape composition (proportion of semi-natural habitats in the surrounding matrix), configuration (presence of adjacent set-aside fields), and local field management practices, such as fertilizer (NPK) applications without applying insecticides. We demonstrated that at the local scale, decreased fertilizer usage had no direct effect either on pests or their natural enemies. Higher landscape complexity and adjacent semi-natural habitats seem to be the major drivers of decreasing aphid abundance, suggesting that these enhanced the predatory insect assemblages. Additionally, the high yield in plots with no adjacent set-aside fields suggests that intensive management can compensate for the lower yields on the extensive plots. Our results demonstrated that although complexity at the landscape scale was crucial for maintaining invertebrate assemblages, divergence in their response to pests and pathogens could also be explained by different dispersal abilities. Although the landscape attributes acted as dispersal filters in the organization of pest and pathogen assemblages in croplands, the presence of set-aside fields negatively influenced aphid abundance due to their between-field isolation effect. ©2020 Elek et al.Background Previous studies on the effects of mycotoxins have solely focused on their biochemical profiles or products in dairy ruminants. Changes in metabolism that occur after exposure to mycotoxins, as well as biochemical changes, have not been explored. Methods We measured the biochemical and metabolic changes in dairy cows after exposure to mycotoxins using biochemical analyses and nuclear magnetic resonance. Twenty-four dairy cows were randomly assigned to three different treatment groups. Control cows received diets with 2 kg uncontaminated cottonseed. Cows in the 50% replacement group received the same diet as the control group, but with 1 kg of uncontaminated cottonseed and 1 kg of cottonseed contaminated with mycotoxins. Cows in the 100% replacement group received the same diet as the control, but with 2 kg contaminated cottonseed. Results The results showed that serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and total antioxidant capacities were significantly affected by cottonseed contaminated with mycotoxins. There were also significant differences in isovalerate and NH3-N levels, and significant differences in the eight plasma metabolites among the three groups. These metabolites are mainly involved in amino acid metabolism pathways. Therefore, the results suggest that amino acid metabolism pathways may be affected by mycotoxins exposure. ©2020 Wang et al.Genetic variation in nine stocks of Meretrix petechialis collected from China was analyzed using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. Eight primer pairs produced 132 polymorphic loci with an average of 16.5 loci per primer pair. A population from Jiangsu had the highest percentage of polymorphic loci at 27.27%, suggesting that these resources had a rich genetic diversity. The Nei’s gene diversity of the nine populations ranged from 0.0647 to 0.0793; a population from Shandong was the lowest and a population from North Korea the highest. The Shannon’s information index was between 0.1023 and 0.1202, with the lowest in the Shandong population and the highest in the Jiangsu population. The Nei’s unbiased genetic distance between the nine populations was 0.0243-0.0570 and the genetic similarity was 0.9446-0.9760; the genetic distance between Guangxi and Shandong populations was the furthest (0.0570) and the genetic distance between Shandong and Jiangsu populations was the closest (0.0243). Nei’s gene diversity analysis indicated that the genetic variance was mainly found within individual geographical populations, and the analysis of molecular variance revealed low but significant genetic differentiation among local and regional populations. The limited gene flow (Nm = 0.555) was inferred as a major reason for the extent of genetic differentiation in M. petechialis. The results obtained here indicated that M. petechialis have high degree of genetic diversity and the potential of further breeding with excellent germplasm resources. This study provides a scientific basis for the protection of germplasm resources and the breeding of M. petechialis. © 2020 Xu et al.Background With the development of DNA sequencing technology, static omics profiling in microbial communities, such as taxonomic and functional gene composition determination, has become possible. Additionally, the recently proposed in situ growth rate estimation method allows the applicable range of current comparative metagenomics to be extended to dynamic profiling. However, with this method, the applicable target range is presently limited. Furthermore, the characteristics of coverage depth during replication have not been sufficiently investigated. Results We developed a probabilistic model that mimics coverage depth dynamics. This statistical model explains the bias that occurs in the coverage depth due to DNA replication and errors that arise from coverage depth observation. Although our method requires a complete genome sequence, it involves a stable to low coverage depth (>0.01×). We also evaluated the estimation using real whole-genome sequence datasets and reproduced the growth dynamics observed in previous studies. By utilizing a circular distribution in the model, our method facilitates the quantification of unmeasured coverage depth features, including peakedness, skewness, and degree of density, around the replication origin. When we applied the model to time-series culture samples, the skewness parameter, which indicates the asymmetry, was stable over time; however, the peakedness and degree of density parameters, which indicate the concentration level at the replication origin, changed dynamically. Furthermore, we demonstrated the activity measurement of multiple replication origins in a single chromosome. Conclusions We devised a novel framework for quantifying coverage depth dynamics. Our study is expected to serve as a basis for replication activity estimation from a broader perspective using the statistical model. ©2020 Suzuki and Yamada.Objectives The study aimed to explore the association of coping styles and social support with psychological distress among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as well as gender differences in these associations. Methods A cross-sectional study of 769 ESRD patients was conducted at 25 hospitals in Qiqihar City, China. All information was collected using structured questionnaires that were self-administered by the patients. Patients’ psychological health status, coping styles and perceived social support were measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Student’s t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and binary logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results A total of 72.3% of participants reported psychological distress, and the prevalence of distress was higher in females (77.0%) than in males (68.8%). The usage of the acceptance-resignation coping style was positively related to psychological distress (B = 0.459, P  less then  0.001). Social support level was negatively associated with psychological distress (B = -0.049, P  less then  0.001). The use of the confrontation style was negatively related to psychological distress in females (OR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.78-0.96]) but not in males (OR = 0.98, 95% CI [0.91-1.06]) (P for interaction term = 0.007). Conclusions Greater use of the acceptance-resignation style and lower social support are related to a higher risk of psychological distress. Greater use of the confrontation style is related to a lower risk of psychological distress in females but not in males. ©2020 Wang et al.The uplift of the Isthmus of Panama (IP) created a land bridge between Central and South America and caused the separation of the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans, resulting in profound changes in the environmental and oceanographic conditions. To evaluate how these changes have influenced speciation processes in octopods, fragments of two mitochondrial (Cytochrome oxidase subunit I, COI and 16S rDNA) and two nuclear (Rhodopsin and Elongation Factor-1α, EF-1α) genes were amplified from samples from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. One biogeographical and four fossil calibration priors were used within a relaxed Bayesian phylogenetic analysis framework to estimate divergence times among cladogenic events. Reconstruction of the ancestral states in phylogenies was used to infer historical biogeography of the lineages and species dispersal routes. The results revealed three well-supported clades of transisthmian octopus sister species pair/complex (TSSP/TSSC) and two additional clades showing a low probability of species diversification, having been influenced by the IP. Divergence times estimated in the present study revealed that octopod TSSP/TSSC from the Atlantic and Pacific diverged between the Middle Miocene and Early Pliocene (mean range = 5-18 Ma). Given that oceanographic changes caused by the uplift of the IP were so strong as to affect the global climate, we suggest that octopod TSSP/TSSC diverged because of these physical and environmental barriers, even before the complete uplift of the IP 3 Ma, proposed by the Late Pliocene model. The results obtained in this phylogenetic reconstruction also indicate that the octopus species pairs in each ocean share a recent common ancestor from the Pacific Ocean. ©2020 Lima et al.Background Angelica sinensis seedlings are grown in alpine uncultivated meadow soil with rainfed agroecosystems to ensure the quality of A. sinensis after seedling transplantation. The aim was to investigate the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities during the growth stages of A. sinensis seedlings. Methods The bacterial and fungal communities were investigated by HiSeq sequencing of 16S and 18S rDNA, respectively. Results Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were bacterial dominant phyla throughout growth stages. Fungal dominant phyla varied with growth stages, dominant phyla Ascomycota and Chytridiomycota in AM5, dominant phyla Basidiomycota, Ascomycota and Zygomycota in BM5, and dominant phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota in CM5. There was no significant variation in the alpha-diversity of the bacterial and fungal communities, but significant variation was in the beta-diversity. We found that the variation of microbial community composition was accompanied by the changes in community function. The relative abundance of fungal pathogens increased with plant growth. We also identified the core microbes, significant-changing microbes, stage-specific microbes, and host-specific microbes. Plant weight, root length, root diameter, soil pH, rainfall, and climate temperature were the key divers to microbial community composition. Conclusions Our findings reported the variation and environmental drivers of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities during the growth of A. sinensis seedlings, which enhance the understanding of the rhizosphere microbial community in this habitat. © 2020 An et al.A recent multilocus molecular phylogeny of the large dragon lizards of the genus Smaug Stanley et al. (2011) recovered a south-eastern clade of two relatively lightly-armoured, geographically-proximate species (Smaug warreni (Boulenger, 1908) and S. barbertonensis (Van Dam, 1921)). Unexpectedly, S. barbertonensis was found to be paraphyletic, with individuals sampled from northern Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) being more closely related to S. warreni than to S. barbertonensis from the type locality of Barberton in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Examination of voucher specimens used for the molecular analysis, as well as most other available museum material of the three lineages, indicated that the 'Eswatini’ lineage-including populations in a small area on the northern Eswatini-Mpumalanga border, and northern KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa-was readily distinguishable from S. barbertonensis sensu stricto (and S. warreni) by its unique dorsal, lateral and ventral colour patterns. In order to furtherLebombo Mountain range of South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. We present a detailed distribution map for the three species, and a revised diagnostic key to the genus Smaug. © 2020 Bates and Stanley.Background During a preliminary study, effects of 0, 20, 40, and 60 mM NaCl salinity were assessed on germination rate in relation to electrolyte leakage (EL) in sweet pepper. Results explored significant rises in ethylene evolution from seeds having more EL. It was, therefore, hypothesized that excessive ethylene biosynthesis in plants due to salinity stress might be a root cause of low crop productivity. As salicylic acid is one of the potent ethylene inhibitors, thus SA was used to combat effects of ethylene produced under salinity stress of 60 mM NaCl on different physiological and morphological characteristics of sweet pepper. Methodology The effect of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 mM SA was evaluated on seed germination, growth and yield of sweet pepper cv. Yolo wonder at salinity stress on 60 mM NaCl. Seeds were primed with SA concentrations and incubated till 312 h in an incubator to study germination. Same SA concentrations were sprayed on foliage of plants grown in saline soil (60 mM NaCl). ated levels of TSS and SOD activity. Foliar application of SA upgraded SOD by lowering POD activity to improve NUE particularly K use efficiency at salinity stress of 60 mM NaCl. Application of 0.2 and 0.3 mM SA emerged as the most effective concentrations of SA for mitigating 60 mM NaCl stress on different physiological and morphological characteristics of sweet pepper. ©2020 Ahmed et al.There are many ways in which large carnivores and humans interact in shared spaces. In this study we provide insights into human-leopard relationships in an entirely modified, human-dominated landscape inhabited by dense populations of humans (266 per km2), their livestock (162 per km2) and relatively high densities of large predators (10 per 100 km2). No human deaths were recorded, and livestock losses to leopards numbered only 0.45 per km2per year (averaged over three years) despite the almost complete dependency of leopards on domestic animals as prey. Predation was not the major cause of livestock mortality as diseases and natural causes caused higher losses (80% of self-reported losses). We also found that ineffective night time livestock protection and the presence of domestic dogs increased the probability of a farmer facing leopard attacks on livestock. Resident farmers faced much lower livestock losses to leopard predation in contrast to the migratory shepherds who reported much higher losses, but rarely availed of the government compensation schemes.