三氟苯嘧啶不同种子处理方式对稻飞虱的控制效应

为探明三氟苯嘧啶不同种子处理方式对稻飞虱的田间防治效果、防治时长以及对稻田蜘蛛和水稻的安全性,为该药剂种子处理防治稻飞虱提供科学依据,本研究设置10％三氟苯嘧啶悬浮剂按不同浓度(0.375、0.75、1.125和1.5 g a.i./kg种子)对水稻种子分别以干种子拌种(干拌)、清水浸种后拌种(湿拌)和药剂浸种3种方式,清水处理作为空白对照.结果表明,3种处理方式下的水稻发芽率和出苗率均与空白对照间无显著差异,播种后100 d,各浓度对稻飞虱的防治效果均在90％以上;当药剂浓度相同时,干拌与湿拌防治时长要优于药剂浸种;不同浓度三氟苯嘧啶药剂处理在3种方式下稻田蜘蛛种群数量均略低于空白对照田蜘蛛数量.因此,水稻生产中使用三氟苯嘧啶0.375～1.5 g a.i./kg种子干拌或湿拌处理,可有效降低田间稻飞虱种群数量,对天敌蜘蛛影响较小,对水稻种子发芽、出苗安全,可在水稻生产中推广使用.     

The long-run heterogeneous effects of a cholera pandemic on stature: Evidence from industrializing Japan

The recent COVID-19 pandemic poses the general question on how infectious diseases can persistently affect human health. A growing body of literature has found a significant amount of evidence on the long-term adverse effects of infectious diseases, such as influenza, typhoid fever, and yellow fever. However, we must be careful about the fact that little is known about the long-term consequences of the acute diarrheal disease pandemic cholera – Vibrio cholerae bacillus – which still threatens the health of the population in many developing countries. To bridge this gap in the body of knowledge, we utilized unique census-based data on army height at age 20 in early 20th-century Japan, with a difference-in-differences estimation strategy using regional variation in the intensity of cholera pandemics. We found that early-life exposure to a cholera pandemic had heterogeneous stunting effects on the final height of men; the magnitude of the stunting effects increased as the intensity of exposure increased.     

基于新型冠状病毒S蛋白结构及入胞机制的抗体与药物研发

新型冠状病毒肺炎,世界卫生组织命名为“2019冠状病毒病”（corona virus disease 2019, COVID-19）,是一种由2019新型冠状病毒（2019 nCov）感染导致的肺炎。目前新冠肺炎在全球广泛流行,且疫情尚未得到全部控制。由于新型冠状病毒表面的刺突蛋白（spike protein,S）介导病毒与细胞膜受体结合并参与入胞过程,S蛋白在病毒的传播过程中发挥着重要作用。针对S蛋白的研究不仅可以解析病毒相关蛋白质结构与功能,阐释其入胞机制,同时也为新冠肺炎的预防、诊断与治疗提供相关信息,有着重要的应用价值。S蛋白与特异性受体--血管紧张素酶II（angiotensin converting enzyme II, ACE2）结合,相较于SARS病毒,新型冠状病毒S蛋白的RBD区域（receptor binding domain）与ACE2亲和力更高,但其S蛋白与ACE2结合能力整体上弱于SARS病毒。S蛋白结合ACE2受体 介导的新型冠状病毒入胞机制包括胞吞和非胞吞途径。丝氨酸蛋白酶2（transmembrane protease serine 2, TMPRSS2）、溶酶体组织蛋白酶（lysosomal cathepsin）和Furin蛋白酶可切割S蛋白S1和S2亚基间的酶切位点,促进病毒和靶膜的融合。基于S蛋白的结构,本文从抗体的结合位点、来源与类型等方面对靶向新型冠状病毒S蛋白的抗体进行了比较分析,对相关药物作用机制与进展进行了综述。虽然靶向冠状病毒S蛋白的抗体和药物特异性高,治疗效果较好,但部分试剂的作用机制、安全性、适用性和稳定性等性质仍未研究透彻,需要严格评估,因此其研发与应用也存在着一定挑战。     

Prediction of multi-criteria optimization (MCO) parameter efficiency in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment planning using machine learning (ML)

PurposeTo predict the impact of optimization parameter changes on dosimetric plan quality criteria in multi-criteria optimized volumetric-modulated-arc therapy (VMAT) planning prior to optimization using machine learning (ML).MethodsA data base comprising a total of 21,266 VMAT treatment plans for 44 cranial and 18 spinal patient geometries was generated. The underlying optimization algorithm is governed by three highly composite parameters which model a combination of important aspects of the solution. Patient geometries were parametrized via volume- and shape properties of the voxel objects and overlap-volume histograms (OVH) of the planning-target-volume (PTV) and a relevant organ-at-risk (OAR). The impact of changes in one of the three optimization parameters on the maximally achievable value range of five dosimetric properties of the resulting dose distributions was studied. To predict the extent of this impact based on patient geometry, treatment site, and current parameter settings prior to optimization, three different ML-models were trained and tested. Precision-recall curves, as well as the area-under-curve (AUC) of the resulting receiver-operator-characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed for model assessment.ResultsSuccessful identification of parameter regions resulting in a high variability of dosimetric plan properties depended on the choice of geometry features, the treatment indication and the plan property under investigation. AUC values between 0.82 and 0.99 could be achieved. The best average-precision (AP) values obtained from the corresponding precision/recall curves ranged from 0.71 to 0.99.ConclusionsMachine learning models trained on a database of pre-optimized treatment plans can help finding relevant optimization parameter ranges prior to optimization.     

The prognostic value of CD3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for stage II colon cancer according to use of adjuvant chemotherapy: A large single-institution cohort study

BackgroundHigh tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) density was previously shown to be associated with favorable prognosis for patients with colon cancer (CC). However, the impact of TILs on overall survival (OS) of stage II CC patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (ADJ) or not (no-ADJ) is unknown. We assessed the prognostic value of CD3+ TILs in stage II CC patients according to whether they had ADJ or not.MethodsPatients treated with curative surgery for stage II CC (2002–2013) were selected from the Santa Maria alle Scotte Hospital registry. TILs at the invasive front, center of tumor, and stroma were determined by immunohistochemistry and manually quantified as the rate of TILs/total tissue areas. High TILs (H-TILs) was defined as >20%. Patients were categorized as high or low TILs (L-TILs) and ADJ or no-ADJ.ResultsOf the 678 patients included, 137 (20%) received ADJ and 541 (80%) did not. The distribution of the 4 groups were: 16% (L-TIL/ADJ), 64% (L-TIL/no-ADJ), 5% (H-TIL/ADJ), 15% (H-TIL/no-ADJ). Compared to H-TILs/no-ADJ, ADJ patients showed a significantly increased OS (P<.01) regardless of the TILs rate whereas L-TILs/no-ADJ had significantly decreased OS and higher risk of death (HR=1.41; 95% CI, 1.06–1.88; P<.0001). On multivariable analysis, the unfavorable prognostic value of L-TILs (vs. H-TILs) for no-ADJ patients was confirmed (HR=1.36; 95% CI 1.02, 1.82; P=.0373).ConclusionLow CD3+ TILs rate was associated with shorter OS in those with stage II colon cancer who did not receive adjuvant therapy. Low CD3+ TILs could be considered an additional risk factor for still ADJ-untreated stage II CC patients, which could facilitate clinical decision making.     

In silico molecular docking analysis for repurposing approved antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 main protease

Developing a safe and effective antiviral treatment takes a decade, however, when it comes to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), time is a sensitive matter to slow the spread of the pandemic. Screening approved antiviral drugs against COVID-19 would speed the process of finding therapeutic treatment. The current study examines commercially approved drugs to repurpose them against COVID-19 virus main protease using structure-based in-silico screening. The main protease of the coronavirus is essential in the viral replication and is involved in polyprotein cleavage and immune regulation, making it an effective target when developing the treatment. A Number of approved antiviral drugs were tested against COVID-19 virus using molecular docking analysis by calculating the free natural affinity of the binding ligand to the active site pocket and the catalytic residues without forcing the docking of the ligand to active site. COVID-19 virus protease solved structure (PDB ID: 6LU7) is targeted by repurposed drugs. The molecular docking analysis results have shown that the binding of Remdesivir and Mycophenolic acid acyl glucuronide with the protein drug target has optimal binding features supporting that Remdesivir and Mycophenolic acid acyl glucuronide can be used as potential anti-viral treatment against COVID-19 disease.     

Effects of Caregiver-Implemented Aggression Reduction Procedure on Problem Behavior of Dogs

Problem behavior of companion animals poses a threat to caregivers, other targets of problem behavior (e.g., strangers, other nonhuman animals), and those animals engaging in problem behavior. This study examined the effects of an aggression reduction procedure (ARP) on dog problem behavior. After a baseline condition showing caregivers were unsuccessful in reducing dog aggression and the behaviors preceding aggression, caregivers were trained to implement a procedure to address dog problem behavior in relatively simple contexts. Generalization programming then was used to target caregiver plan implementation and dog problem behavior in more complex contexts. The ARP effectively reduced dog aggression for all dogs. A slight reduction and increased variability in dog precursor behavior was observed when the ARP was implemented. In addition, caregivers and experts rated the goals, procedures, and effects as acceptable. Implications of these findings are discussed.