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Background Inflammation is a feature of coronary heart disease (CHD), but the role of proinflammatory microbial infection in CHD remains understudied. Methods and Results CHD was defined in the MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) as myocardial infarction (251 participants), resuscitated arrest (2 participants), and CHD death (80 participants). We analyzed sequencing reads from 4421 MESA participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Trans‐Omics for Precision Medicine program using the PathSeq workflow of the Genome Analysis Tool Kit and a 65‐gigabase microbial reference. Paired reads aligning to 840 microbes were detected in >1% of participants. The association of the presence of microbe reads with incident CHD (follow‐up, ~18 years) was examined. First, important variables were ascertained using a single regularized Cox proportional hazard model, examining change of risk as a function of presence of microbe with age, sex, education level, Life's Simple 7, and inflammation. For variables of importance, the hazard ratio (HR) was estimated in separate (unregularized) Cox proportional hazard models including the same covariates (significance threshold Bonferroni corrected P

Background and aimsWe aimed to determine the utility of coronary artery calcium (CAC) for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk stratification in women with and without early menopause (EM).MethodsTo examine the association between CAC and incident ASCVD, we performed Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling using data from 2,456 postmenopausal women in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) with or without EM, defined as occurring at 50% of middle-aged postmenopausal women with EM had CAC = 0, similar to those without EM. Among women with CAC = 0, those with EM had a low to borderline 10-year risk of ASCVD, but the 15-year risk was significantly higher for women with EM versus those without EM. When CAC ≥ 1, the incidence of ASCVD was similar for women with and without EM. These findings support the use of CAC to help improve ASCVD risk stratification in women with EM.Condensed abstractThis study investigated the association between coronary artery calcium (CAC) and incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in postmenopausal women with and without early menopause (EM). We found that >50% of women had CAC = 0 and an associated low-to-borderline 10-year cumulative incidence of ASCVD. However, the risk for ASCVD was significantly higher for women with EM after 15-years follow-up. Additional research is needed to better understand the differences in long-term ASCVD risk between women with and without EM who have CAC = 0.

The discipline of plant immunity has developed rapidly in the 21st century and is marked by substantial progress toward understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant immune recognition and the pathogenicity of microorganisms. Here, we highlight the recent advances in plant immunity studies made by Yule Liu and his team at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

Background Normalization of echocardiographic chamber measurements for body surface area may result in misclassification of individuals with obesity or sarcopenia. Normalization for alternative measures of body size may be preferable, but there remains a dearth of information on their normative values and association with cardiovascular function metrics. Methods and Results A total of 3032 individuals underwent comprehensive 2‐dimensional echocardiography at Exam 6 in MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). In the subgroup of 608 individuals free of cardiopulmonary disease (69.5±7.0 years, 46% male, 48% White, 17% Chinese, 15% Black, 21% Hispanic), normative values were derived for left and right cardiac chamber measurements across a variety of ratiometric (body surface area, body mass index, height) and allometric (height1.6, height2.7) scaling parameters. Normative upper and lower reference values were provided for each scaling parameter stratified across age groups, sex, and race or ethnicity. Among scaling parameters, body surface area and height were associated with the least variability across race and ethnicity categories and height2.7 was associated with the least variability across sex categories. Conclusions In this diverse cohort of community‐dwelling older adults, we provide normative values for common echocardiographic parameters across a variety of indexation methods.

BackgroundAortic arch calcium (AAC), which is frequently detected on ungated lung computed tomography (CT) due to a large field of view, can serve as a marker of subclinical atherosclerotic burden. Our study sought to validate novel cardiac screening metrics of subclinical atherosclerosis by evaluating the inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of AAC measurements with ungated lung CT.MethodsThe authors randomly selected 100 ungated lung CT scans from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort. A Bland-Altman plot analysis was used to test inter- and intra-reader reproducibility, after measuring the total arch calcium score and arch calcium volume.ResultsThe intra-reader reproducibility for the total arch calcium score and arch calcium volume in all subjects was excellent at 99% and 97%, respectively. The inter-reader reproducibility for the total arch calcium score and volume in all subjects was similarly excellent at 97% and 96%, respectively.ConclusionsThe high reproducibility of ungated lung CT suggests a potential new method of stratifying the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk among patients undergoing lung CT without requiring additional scanning. This methodology helps promote routine reporting of AAC and coronary artery calcium based on millions of ungated CT images acquired for lung screening purposes.

We investigated historical redlining, a government-sanctioned discriminatory policy, in relation to cardiovascular health (CVH) and whether associations were modified by present-day neighborhood physical and social environments. Data included 4,779 participants (mean age 62 y; SD = 10) from the baseline sample of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA; 2000 to 2002). Ideal CVH was a summary measure of ideal levels of seven CVH risk factors based on established criteria (blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol, body mass index, diet, physical activity, and smoking). We assigned MESA participants' neighborhoods to one of four grades (A: best, B: still desirable, C: declining, and D: hazardous) using the 1930s federal Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) maps, which guided decisions regarding mortgage financing. Two-level hierarchical linear and logistic models, with a random intercept to account for participants nested within neighborhoods (i.e., census tracts) were used to assess associations within racial/ethnic subgroups (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Chinese). We found that Black adults who lived in historically redlined areas had a 0.82 (95% CI -1.54, -0.10) lower CVH score compared to those residing in grade A (best) neighborhoods, in a given neighborhood and adjusting for confounders. We also found that as the current neighborhood social environment improved the association between HOLC score and ideal CVH weakened (P < 0.10). There were no associations between HOLC grade and CVH measures or effect modification by current neighborhood conditions for any other racial/ethnic group. Results suggest that historical redlining has an enduring impact on cardiovascular risk among Black adults in the United States.

ObjectiveThe Miami Heart Study (MiHeart) at Baptist Health South Florida is an ongoing, community-based, prospective cohort study aimed at characterizing the prevalence, characteristics, and prognostic value of diverse markers of early subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and of various potential demographic, psychosocial, and metabolic risk factors. We present the study objectives, detailed research methods, and preliminary baseline results of MiHeart.MethodsMiHeart enrolled 2,459 middle-aged male and female participants from the general population of the Greater Miami Area. Enrollment occurred between May 2015 and September 2018 and was restricted to participants aged 40-65 years free of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). The baseline examination included assessment of demographics, lifestyles, medical history, and a detailed evaluation of psychosocial characteristics; a comprehensive physical exam; measurement of multiple blood biomarkers including measures of inflammation, advanced lipid testing, and genomics; assessment of subclinical coronary atherosclerotic plaque and vascular function using coronary computed tomography angiography, the coronary artery calcium score, carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity, and peripheral arterial tonometry; and other tests including 12-lead electrocardiography and assessment of pulmonary function. Blood samples were biobanked to facilitate future ancillary research.ResultsMiHeart enrolled 1,261 men (51.3%) and 1,198 women (48.7%). Mean age was 53 years, 85.6% participants were White and 47.4% were of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. The study included 7% individuals with diabetes, 33% with hypertension, and 15% used statin therapy at baseline. Overweight or obese participants comprised 72% of the population and 3% were smokers. Median 10-year estimated atherosclerotic CVD risk using the Pooled Cohort Equations was 4%.ConclusionMiHeart will provide important, novel insights into the pathophysiology of early subclinical atherosclerosis and further our understanding of its role in the genesis of clinical CVD. The study findings will have important implications, further refining current cardiovascular prevention paradigms and risk assessment and management approaches moving forward.

Abstract As access to water is a right of all people, government agents are responsible to allocate water to guarantee its sustainable use for multiple users. However, deciding the best allocation strategy is not a straightforward task. In complex systems, which depend on a collection of individual decisions by people, water policies may have unpredictable impacts. Considering the water allocation in a water canal, we present an agent-based model that allocates water and incorporates an agents’ adaptability behaviour strategy of overriding the manager's decision when water right is denied. We compared scenarios of farmers' override susceptibility and of water availability on the Canal do Sertão in the state of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. In the scenario of reduced water capacity, agents with water rights in the last segments of the canal were unable to withdraw water due to agents who withdrew illegally. The sustainability of the system proved to be sensitive to the level of susceptibility of capturing water illegally, deserving attention and investments in the oversight sector. Besides this effect, the model can be applied to assess and compare advantages and impacts on the water levels for different water policies such as financial subsidies or different water allocation strategies.

The analysis here of 83obsidian bifaces (five were not obsidian or too burned/dirty to analyze) indicates an extremely diverse obsidian provenance assemblage with a mix of sources somewhat atypical for Classic contexts in the Middle Salt River Valley

Wind drift and evaporation loss (WDEL) of mid-elevation spray application (MESA) and low-elevation spray application (LESA) sprinklers on a center pivot and linear-move irrigation machines are measured and reported to be about 20% and 3%, respectively. It is important to estimate the fraction of WDEL that cools and humidifies the microclimate causing evapotranspiration (ET) suppression, mitigating the measured irrigation system losses. An experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 in a commercial spearmint field near Toppenish, Washington. The field was irrigated with an 8-span center pivot equipped with MESA but had three spans that were converted to LESA. All-in-one weather sensors (ATMOS-41) were installed just above the crop canopy in the middle of each MESA and LESA span and nearby but outside of the pivot field (control) to record meteorological parameters on 1 min intervals. The ASCE Penman–Monteith (ASCE-PM) standardized reference equations were used to calculate grass reference evapotranspiration (ETo) from this data on a one-minute basis. A comparison was made for the three phases of before, during, and after the irrigation system passed the in-field ATMOS-41 sensors. In addition, a small unmanned aerial system (UAS) was used to capture 5-band multispectral (ground sampling distance [GSD]: 7 cm/pixel) and thermal infrared images (GSD: 13 cm/pixel) while the center pivot irrigation system was irrigating the field. This imagery data was used to estimate crop evapotranspiration (ETc) using a UAS-METRIC energy balance model. The UAS-METRIC model showed that the estimated ETc under MESA was suppressed by 0.16 mm/day compared to the LESA. Calculating the ETo by the ASCE-PM method showed that the instantaneous ETo rate under the MESA was suppressed between 8% and 18% compared to the LESA. However, as the time of the ET suppression was short, the total amount of the estimated suppressed ET of the MESA was less than 0.5% of the total applied water. Overall, the total reduction in the ET due to the microclimate modifications from wind drift and evaporation losses were small compared to the reported 17% average differences in the irrigation application efficiency between the MESA and the LESA. Therefore, the irrigation application efficiency differences between these two technologies were very large even if the ET suppression by wind drift and evaporation losses was accounted for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional enhancement has been reported to effectively relieve infected symptoms of Huanglongbing, one of the most destructive diseases of citrus. However, few studies focused on the role of plant nutrition in citrus plant–vector (Asian citrus psyllid; Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) interactions, which is regarded as an important part to develop an effective management strategy. Method In the present study, a hydroponic culture was carried out to evaluate the effects of boron deficiency on psyllid feeding process to decode the molecular/biochemical basis of host–psyllid interaction. Results Boron deficiency was observed to play a major role in accelerating the release of volatile organic compounds, especially methyl salicylate, affecting the shikimic acid pathway through an elevated synthesis of shikimic acid, l -phenylalanine, 3-phenylpyruvic acid and salicylic acid. These changes made citrus leaf more attractive to psyllid adults. Meanwhile, boron deficiency evidently decreased the boron concentration of leaf cell wall fractions, thereby, weakened the structural stability by affecting pectin and cellulose formations. A significant decrease of cell wall mechanical strength was observed in boron-deficiency leaf, which could be the critical reasons to reduce piercing and to increase phloem ingestion during psyllid feeding. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that boron deficiency facilitated the feeding behavior of psyllid adults through elevated release of methyl salicylate, coupled with weakened mechanical properties of cell wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we employ two publicly available analysis tools to study four hydrogen (H)–stripped core–collapse supernovae (CCSNe), namely, SN 2009jf, iPTF13bvn, SN 2015ap and SN 2016bau. We use the modular open-source fitter for transients (MOSFiT) to model the multi-band light curves. MOSFiT analyses show ejecta masses ( log M ej ) of 0. 80 - 0.13 + 0.18 M ⊙ , 0. 15 - 0.09 + 0.13 M ⊙ , 0. 19 - 0.03 + 0.03 M ⊙ and 0. 19 + 0.02 - 0.01 M ⊙ for SN 2009jf, iPTF13vn, SN 2015ap and SN 2016au, respectively. Later, modules for experiments in stellar astrophysics (MESA), is used to construct models of stars from pre-main sequence upto core collapse, which serve as the possible progenitors of these H-stripped CCSNe. Based on literature, we model a 12 M ⊙ ZAMS star as the possible progenitor for iPTF13vn, SN 2015ap and SN 2016bau, while a 20 M ⊙ ZAMS star is modeled as the possible progenitor for SN 2009jf. Glimpses of stellar engineering and physical properties of models at various stages of their lifetime have been presented to demonstrate the usefulness of these analysis threads to understand the observed properties of several classes of transients in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-associated increase in aortic stiffness, measured as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), is an important effector of cardiac damage and heart failure (HF). Pulse wave velocity estimated from age and blood pressure (ePWV) is emerging as a useful proxy of vascular aging and subsequent cardiovascular disease risk. We examined the association of ePWV with incident HF and its subtypes in a large community sample of 6814 middle-aged and older adults from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Methods: Participants with an ejection fraction ≤40 % were classified as HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) while those with an ejection fraction ≥50 % were classified as HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Results: Over a mean follow-up period of 12.5 years, incident HF was diagnosed in 339 participants: 165 were classified as HFrEF and 138 as HFpEF. In fully adjusted models, the highest quartile of ePWV was significantly associated with an increased risk of overall HF (HR 4.79, 95 % CI 2.43–9.45) compared with the lowest quartile (reference). When exploring HF subtypes, the highest quartile of ePWV was associated with HFrEF (HR 8.37, 95 % CI 4.24–16.52) and HFpEF (HR 3.94, 95 % CI 1.39–11.17). Conclusions: Higher ePWV values were associated with higher rates of incident HF and its subtypes in a large, diverse cohort of men and women.

Abstract Background The complexity of physical activity (PA) and DNA methylation interaction in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rarely simultaneously investigated in one study. We examined the role of DNA methylation on the association between PA and CVD. Results The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort Exam 5 data with 1065 participants free of CVD were used for final analysis. The quartile categorical total PA variable was created by activity intensity (METs/week). During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 69 participants developed CVD. Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip was used to provide genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in purified human monocytes (CD14+). We identified 23 candidate DNA methylation loci to be associated with both PA and CVD. We used the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to test the complex relationships among multiple variables and the roles of mediators. Three of the 23 identified loci (corresponding to genes VPS13D, PIK3CD and VPS45) remained as significant mediators in the final SEM model along with other covariates. Bridged by the three genes, the 2nd PA quartile (β = − 0.959; 95%CI: − 1.554 to − 0.449) and the 3rd PA quartile (β = − 0.944; 95%CI: − 1.628 to − 0.413) showed the greatest inverse associations with CVD development, while the 4th PA quartile had a relatively weaker inverse association (β = − 0.355; 95%CI: − 0.713 to − 0.124). Conclusions The current study is among the first to simultaneously examine the relationships among PA, DNA methylation, and CVD in a large cohort with long-term exposure. We identified three DNA methylation loci bridged the association between PA and CVD. The function of the identified genes warrants further investigation in the pathogenesis of CVD.

Polarized growth is a defining property of filamentous fungi, which plays an important role in different aspects of their biology, including virulence. However, little information is available about the determinants of cell surface organization and their role in polarized growth. The fungal protein MesA was identified in a genetic screen in Aspergillus nidulans and is involved in the stabilization of the polarity axes, but it has no evident role in budding yeast. In this work, I present evidence that in the dimorphic fungal phytopathogen Ustilago maydis MesA/Mes1 is involved in cell wall stability and polarized growth. mes1 mutants were more sensitive to drugs provoking cell wall stress, and they displayed a temperature-sensitive phenotype. Actin cytoskeleton was disorganized in a mes1 mutant, suggesting that there is a connection between Mes1, the actin cytoskeleton and polarized morphogenesis. The septin ring was also absent from the bud tip, but not the bud neck. Deletion of mes1 provoked defects in endocytosis and vacuolar organization in the cells. Mes1 was essential for strong polarized growth in the hyphal form, but it was dispensable during low or moderate polarized growth in the yeast form in U. maydis at a permissive temperature. Consistently, mes1 mutants showed delayed mating and they were avirulent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammation is a feature of coronary heart disease (CHD), but the role of proinflammatory microbial infection in CHD remains understudied., Methods and Results: CHD was defined in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) as myocardial infarction (251 participants), resuscitated arrest (2 participants), and CHD death (80 participants). We analyzed sequencing reads from 4421 MESA participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program using the PathSeq workflow of the Genome Analysis Tool Kit and a 65-gigabase microbial reference. Paired reads aligning to 840 microbes were detected in >1% of participants. The association of the presence of microbe reads with incident CHD (follow-up, ~18 years) was examined. First, important variables were ascertained using a single regularized Cox proportional hazard model, examining change of risk as a function of presence of microbe with age, sex, education level, Life's Simple 7, and inflammation. For variables of importance, the hazard ratio (HR) was estimated in separate (unregularized) Cox proportional hazard models including the same covariates (significance threshold Bonferroni corrected P <6×10 -5 , 0.05/840). Reads from 2 microbes were significantly associated with CHD: Gemella morbillorum (HR, 3.14 [95% CI, 1.92-5.12]; P =4.86×10 -6 ) and Pseudomonas species NFACC19-2 (HR, 3.22 [95% CI, 2.03-5.41]; P =1.58×10 -6 )., Conclusions: Metagenomics of whole-genome sequence reads opens a possible frontier for detection of pathogens for chronic diseases. The association of G morbillorum and Pseudomonas species reads with CHD raises the possibilities that microbes may drive atherosclerotic inflammation and that treatments for specific pathogens may provide clinical utility for CHD reduction.

Wind drift and evaporation loss (WDEL) of mid-elevation spray application (MESA) and low-elevation spray application (LESA) sprinklers on a center pivot and linear-move irrigation machines are measured and reported to be about 20% and 3%, respectively. It is important to estimate the fraction of WDEL that cools and humidifies the microclimate causing evapotranspiration (ET) suppression, mitigating the measured irrigation system losses. An experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 in a commercial spearmint field near Toppenish, Washington. The field was irrigated with an 8-span center pivot equipped with MESA but had three spans that were converted to LESA. All-in-one weather sensors (ATMOS-41) were installed just above the crop canopy in the middle of each MESA and LESA span and nearby but outside of the pivot field (control) to record meteorological parameters on 1 min intervals. The ASCE Penman–Monteith (ASCE-PM) standardized reference equations were used to calculate grass reference evapotranspiration (ETo) from this data on a one-minute basis. A comparison was made for the three phases of before, during, and after the irrigation system passed the in-field ATMOS-41 sensors. In addition, a small unmanned aerial system (UAS) was used to capture 5-band multispectral (ground sampling distance [GSD]: 7 cm/pixel) and thermal infrared images (GSD: 13 cm/pixel) while the center pivot irrigation system was irrigating the field. This imagery data was used to estimate crop evapotranspiration (ETc) using a UAS-METRIC energy balance model. The UAS-METRIC model showed that the estimated ETc under MESA was suppressed by 0.16 mm/day compared to the LESA. Calculating the ETo by the ASCE-PM method showed that the instantaneous ETo rate under the MESA was suppressed between 8% and 18% compared to the LESA. However, as the time of the ET suppression was short, the total amount of the estimated suppressed ET of the MESA was less than 0.5% of the total applied water. Overall, the total reduction in the ET due to the microclimate modifications from wind drift and evaporation losses were small compared to the reported 17% average differences in the irrigation application efficiency between the MESA and the LESA. Therefore, the irrigation application efficiency differences between these two technologies were very large even if the ET suppression by wind drift and evaporation losses was accounted for.

In this work, we study the synthetic explosions of a massive star. We take a 100 M ⊙ zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) star and evolve it until the onset of core-collapse using MESA. Then, the resulting star model is exploded using the publicly available stellar explosion code, STELLA. The outputs of STELLA calculations provide the bolometric light curve and photospheric velocity evolution along with other physical properties of the underlying supernova. In this paper, the effects of having a large Hydrogen-envelope on the supernova light curve have been explored. We also explore the effects of the presence of different amounts of nickel mass and the variation of the explosion energy of the supernovae from such heavy progenitors, on the bolometric light curves and photospheric velocities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of surgical options exists for sperm retrieval in the setting of obstructive azoospermia (OA). With appropriate preparation, the majority of these techniques can safely be performed in the office with local anesthesia and with or without monitored anesthesia care (MAC). The available techniques include percutaneous options such as percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) and testicular sperm aspiration (TESA), as well as open techniques that include testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA). In addition to providing a step-by-step description of each available approach, we introduce and describe a new technique for sperm retrieval for OA called minimally invasive epididymal sperm aspiration (MIESA). The MIESA utilizes a tiny keyhole incision, and the epididymis is exposed without testicular delivery. Epididymal aspiration is performed in the style of MESA, except using loupe magnification rather than an operating microscope. MIESA is a safe, office-based procedure in which millions of motile sperm can be retrieved for cryopreservation. While we prefer the MIESA technique for OA, there remain distinct advantages of each open and percutaneous approach. In the current era of assisted reproductive technology, sperm retrieval rates for OA should approach 100% regardless of the technique. This reference provides a roadmap for both advanced and novice male reproductive surgeons to guide them through every stage of sperm retrieval for OA, including preoperative evaluation, patient selection, procedural techniques, and complications. With the incredible advances in in vitro fertilization (IVF), combined with innovative surgical treatment for male factor infertility in recent years, OA is no longer a barrier for men to become biologic fathers.

Background and aimsThis study investigated the associations of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) volume and density, and whether these relationships vary by race/ethnicity and/or sex, information that are limited in current literature.MethodsWe studied 1004 adults from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis to assess the relationship between NAFLD (liver-to-spleen ratio 0, using Poisson regression); change in volume score (increasing vs. no change, using Poisson regression); and morphology (volume and density score, where volume score >0, using linear regression); and interaction by race/ethnicity and sex.ResultsAmong Blacks, those with NAFLD had greater prevalence for AAC compared to Whites regardless of sex (Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 1.41, CI = 1.15-1.74, p-interaction = 0.02). Concurrent interaction by race/ethnicity and sex was found comparing Chinese and Blacks to Whites (p-interaction = 0.017 and 0.042, respectively) in the association between NAFLD and the prevalence of increasing AAC. Among women, this relationship was inverse among Chinese (PR = 0.59, CI = 0.28-1.27), and positive among Whites (PR = 1.34, CI = 1.02-1.76). This finding was reversed evaluating the men counterpart. Black men also had a positive association (PR = 1.86, CI = 1.29-2.70), which differed from the inverse relationship among White men, and was greater compared to Black women (PR = 1.45, CI = 1.09-1.94). NAFLD was unrelated to AAC morphology.ConclusionsNAFLD was related to the presence of AAC, however, limited to Blacks. Significant concurrent interaction by race/ethnicity (Chinese and Blacks vs. Whites) and sex was found in the relationship between NAFLD and increasing AAC. These findings suggest disparities in the pathophysiologic pathways in which atherosclerosis develops.

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El trabajo que presentamos analiza la elección o designación de la Presidencia del Parlamento en España desde las Cortes de Cádiz (1810) hasta la actualidad (2021). Se estudia esta elección o designación en ambas Cámaras del Parlamento, teniendo en cuenta las modificaciones que se producen en la regulación de este proceso. Para ello se consideran tres aspectos: quién elige al presidente de la Cámara (la Corona, el Gobierno o los propios parlamentarios), cómo se elige (por nombramiento del Poder Ejecutivo o por votación de los miembros de la Cámara) y cuál es el resultado de la elección si la hacen los parlamentarios (cuántos votan, si la elección es competida o consensuada). Con todo ello se define el modelo de elección de la Presidencia teniendo en cuenta los tres aspectos citados y se establece el papel del Ejecutivo en la misma y se muestra la influencia del Ejecutivo en este proceso con la finalidad de controlar la Cámara.

Citrus canker is a destructive disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri , which affects all commercial sweet orange (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck) cultivars. Salicylic acid (SA) and systemic-acquired resistance (SAR) have been demonstrated to have a crucial role in mediating plant defense responses against this phytopathogen. To induce SAR, SA is converted to methyl salicylate (MeSA) by an SA-dependent methyltransferase (SAMT) and translocated systemically to prime noninfected distal tissues. Here, we generated sweet orange transgenic plants (based on cvs. Hamlin and Valencia) overexpressing the SAMT gene from Citrus (CsSAMT) and evaluated their resistance to citrus canker. We obtained four independent transgenic lines and confirmed their significantly higher MeSA volatilization compared to wild-type controls. Plants overexpressing CsSAMT showed reduced symptoms of citrus canker and bacterial populations in all transgenic lines without compromising plant development. One representative transgenic line (V44SAMT) was used to evaluate resistance response in primary and secondary sites. Without inoculation, V44SAMT modulated CsSAMT , CsNPR1 , CsNPR3 , and CsWRKY22 expression, indicating that this plant is in a primed defense status. The results demonstrate that MeSA signaling prompts the plant to respond more efficiently to pathogen attacks and induces immune responses in transgenic plants at both primary and secondary infection sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was conducted in the Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre in G. B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant nagar, Uttarakhand, with an objective to elucidate the role of MeSA on antioxidant activity which is significantly corelated with increase in allelopathic and yield potential of rice genotypes. For the study two allelopathic (UPR 2962-6-2-1 and Govind) and another non-allelopathic (UPR 2992-17-3-1) rice genotypes were undertaken and thereafter dealt with MeSA solution at diverse amount (1 mM, 2 mM, and 3 mM). Exogenous treatment of rice (Oryza sativa L.) with MeSA improved its allelopathic probability and led to buildup of additional phenolics, and an increase in gene transcription of enzymatic activities (SOD) Increasing phenolic content and enzymes activities without compromising the yield of the crop plants is necessary for increasing the competitiveness of the genotypes. Antioxidant activity was measured at different growth stages. In the present investigation superoxide dismutase (SOD) was found to be 10-50% enhanced in the rice plants with the application of MeSA . Treatment with MeSA has resulted in increase in antioxidant activity which can be suggested to improve the competitive ability of the genotypes and amongst all the treatments 0.2 mM dose of MeSA has responded best. From our study it is highlighted that the resilient capacity and plasticity of these contrasting genotypes is different in response to MeSA treatments which can further be evaluated and moreover antioxidant activity can be presuppose to be applied as suitable trait in rice weed interaction for sustainable agriculture.

La Sala Primera del Tribunal Constitucional acuerda desestimar un recurso de amparo presentado por el portavoz de un grupo parlamentario de la Asamblea Regional de Murcia, al entender que no se vulnera el derecho al ejercicio de las funciones representativas del recurrente, al ser razonada la inadmisión por parte de la Mesa de dicho parlamento de una pregunta parlamentaria con respuesta oral en pleno dirigida al presidente del Consejo de Gobierno de la Región de Murcia que no versaba sobre la acción de su gobierno sino sobre la financiación del partido político al que pertenecía su presidente.

Citrus canker is a destructive disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, which affects all commercial sweet orange (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck) cultivars. Salicylic acid (SA) and systemic-acquired resistance (SAR) have been demonstrated to have a crucial role in mediating plant defense responses against this phytopathogen. To induce SAR, SA is converted to methyl salicylate (MeSA) by an SA-dependent methyltransferase (SAMT) and translocated systemically to prime noninfected distal tissues. Here, we generated sweet orange transgenic plants (based on cvs. Hamlin and Valencia) overexpressing the SAMT gene from Citrus (CsSAMT) and evaluated their resistance to citrus canker. We obtained four independent transgenic lines and confirmed their significantly higher MeSA volatilization compared to wild-type controls. Plants overexpressing CsSAMT showed reduced symptoms of citrus canker and bacterial populations in all transgenic lines without compromising plant development. One representative transgenic line (V44SAMT) was used to evaluate resistance response in primary and secondary sites. Without inoculation, V44SAMT modulated CsSAMT, CsNPR1, CsNPR3, and CsWRKY22 expression, indicating that this plant is in a primed defense status. The results demonstrate that MeSA signaling prompts the plant to respond more efficiently to pathogen attacks and induces immune responses in transgenic plants at both primary and secondary infection sites.

Background: The complexity of physical activity (PA) and DNA methylation interaction in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rarely simultaneously investigated in one study. We examined the role of DNA methylation on the association between PA and CVD. Results: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort Exam 5 data with 1065 participants free of CVD were used for final analysis. The quartile categorical total PA variable was created by activity intensity (METs/week). During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 69 participants developed CVD. Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip was used to provide genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in purified human monocytes (CD14+). We identified 23 candidate DNA methylation loci to be associated with both PA and CVD. We used the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to test the complex relationships among multiple variables and the roles of mediators. Three of the 23 identified loci (corresponding to genes VPS13D, PIK3CD and VPS45) remained as significant mediators in the final SEM model along with other covariates. Bridged by the three genes, the 2nd PA quartile (β = − 0.959; 95%CI: − 1.554 to − 0.449) and the 3rd PA quartile (β = − 0.944; 95%CI: − 1.628 to − 0.413) showed the greatest inverse associations with CVD development, while the 4th PA quartile had a relatively weaker inverse association (β = − 0.355; 95%CI: − 0.713 to − 0.124). Conclusions: The current study is among the first to simultaneously examine the relationships among PA, DNA methylation, and CVD in a large cohort with long-term exposure. We identified three DNA methylation loci bridged the association between PA and CVD. The function of the identified genes warrants further investigation in the pathogenesis of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El Pleno del Tribunal Constitucional acuerda desestimar un recurso de amparo frente a los acuerdos de la Mesa del Congreso de los Diputados que rechazaron la tramitación por el procedimiento de lectura única de una proposición de ley. El Tribunal Constitucional, por un lado, establece que la Mesa no queda vinculada a la solicitud, y que puede no proponer al Pleno, dentro del margen de actuación que le da el art. 150 RCD, y, por otro lado, confirma que, no cabiendo aplicar la doctrina de los usos parlamentarios, la Mesa no pierde una competencia que le es propia por el mero hecho de no ejercitarla, y que el Pleno no tiene una potestad para decidir, sin mediar acuerdo de la Mesa.

El procedimiento legislativo abreviado en lectura única es una técnica utilizada muy frecuentemente por el legislador, que le permite prescindir de la fase de estudio y debate de las iniciativas legislativas por la Comisión correspondiente. Pese al notable impacto que para el correcto ejercicio del ius in officium de los parlamentarios puede tener la opción por este tipo de trámite legislativo y a la enorme relevancia de las decisiones legislativas que se han adoptado a través de la aplicación del mismo, son todavía escasas las aportaciones doctrinales y jurisprudenciales de las que disponemos para poder categorizar correctamente los elementos nucleares de esta variante procedimental. Este trabajo pretende aportar, en apretada síntesis, las claves fundamentales a las que el operador jurídico, particularmente los órganos de gobierno de las Cámaras, debe atender a la hora de adoptar la decisión de tramitar un proyecto o proposición de ley en lectura única.

Background: A coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of zero confers a low but nonzero risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events (CVD) in asymptomatic patient populations, and additional risk stratification is needed to guide preventive interventions. Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR-1 and sTNFR-2) are shed in the context of TNF-alpha signaling and systemic inflammation, which play a role in atherosclerosis and plaque instability. We hypothesized that serum sTNFR-1 concentrations may aid in cardiovascular risk stratification among asymptomatic patients with a CAC score of zero. Methods: We included all participants with CAC=0 and baseline sTNFR-1 measurements from the prospective cohort Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). The primary outcome was a composite CVD event (myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, cardiovascular death). Results: The study included 1471 participants (mean age 57.6 years, 64% female), with measured baseline sTNFR-1 ranging from 603 pg/mL to 5544 pg/mL (mean 1294 pg/mL ±378.8 pg/mL). Over a median follow-up of 8.5 years, 37 participants (2.5%) experienced a CVD event. In multivariable analyses adjusted for Framingham Score, doubling of sTNFR-1 was associated with a 3-fold increase in the hazards of CVD (HR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.48- 6.09, P = 0.002), which remained significant after adjusting for traditional CVD risk factors individually (HR 2.29; 95% CI: 1.04-5.06, P=0.04). Doubling of sTNFR-1 was also associated with progression of CAC >100, adjusted for age (OR 2.84, 95% CI: 1.33-6.03, P=0.007). Conclusions: sTNFR-1 concentrations are associated with more CVD events in participants with a CAC score of zero. Utilizing sTNFR-1 measurements may improve cardiovascular risk stratification and guide primary prevention in otherwise low-risk individuals.

Background & aimsLevels of circulating of sex hormones are associated with glucose metabolism and adiposity, but little is known about their association with ectopic fat. We aimed to characterize the association between circulating sex hormones and liver fat.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis by using data from the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis to assess the association of the circulating levels of bioavailable testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) with fatty liver. Fatty liver was defined as a reduction of ≤40 Hounsfield units, measured by computed tomography, in 2835 postmenopausal women and 2899 men (45-84 years old; white, black, Hispanic, or Chinese) at 6 centers in the United States.ResultsWomen in the highest tertile of bioavailable testosterone were significantly more likely to have fatty liver than women in the lowest tertile (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.92). We found an even greater difference for level of estradiol (odds ratio, 2.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-4.39) after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, waist-to-hip ratio, hypertension, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, insulin sensitivity, and hormone replacement therapy use. Men in the highest tertile of estradiol level were significantly more likely to have fatty liver than men in the lowest tertile (odds ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence level, 1.29-3.40). Men in the highest tertile of SHBG were less likely to have fatty liver than those in the lowest tertile (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.77). Other associations between hormone levels and fatty liver were not statistically significant.ConclusionsOn the basis of a cross-sectional study, postmenopausal women with high levels of bioavailable testosterone are at greater risk for fatty liver. In men, higher levels of SHBG are associated with reduced risk for fatty liver. Higher levels of estradiol are associated with fatty liver in both sexes. This pattern is consistent with the sex-specific associations of sex hormones with other cardiometabolic risk factors.

ObjectivesTo determine the association of HIV, immunologic, and inflammatory factors on coronary artery calcium (CAC), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis.MethodsCross-sectional study comparing baseline data of males from Hawaii Aging with HIV - Cardiovascular Study (HAHCS) with the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort. The cohorts were pooled to determine effects of HIV on CAC and explore immunologic and inflammatory factors that may explain development of CAC in HIV. Multivariable regression models compared CAC prevalence in HAHCS with MESA adjusting for coronary heart disease (CHD) risk profiles.ResultsWe studied 100 men from HAHCS and 2733 men from MESA. Positive CAC was seen in 58% HAHCS participants and 57% MESA participants. Mean CAC was 260.8 in HAHCS and 306.5 in MESA. Using relative risk (RR) regression, HAHCS participants had a greater risk (RR = 1.20, P

Polarized growth is a defining property of filamentous fungi, which plays an important role in different aspects of their biology, including virulence. However, little information is available about the determinants of cell surface organization and their role in polarized growth. The fungal protein MesA was identified in a genetic screen in Aspergillus nidulans and is involved in the stabilization of the polarity axes, but it has no evident role in budding yeast. In this work, I present evidence that in the dimorphic fungal phytopathogen Ustilago maydis MesA/Mes1 is involved in cell wall stability and polarized growth. mes1 mutants were more sensitive to drugs provoking cell wall stress, and they displayed a temperature-sensitive phenotype. Actin cytoskeleton was disorganized in a mes1 mutant, suggesting that there is a connection between Mes1, the actin cytoskeleton and polarized morphogenesis. The septin ring was also absent from the bud tip, but not the bud neck. Deletion of mes1 provoked defects in endocytosis and vacuolar organization in the cells. Mes1 was essential for strong polarized growth in the hyphal form, but it was dispensable during low or moderate polarized growth in the yeast form in U. maydis at a permissive temperature. Consistently, mes1 mutants showed delayed mating and they were avirulent.

In this brief, a high-performance quasi-vertical GaN Schottky barrier diode (SBD) on sapphire substrate with post-mesa nitridation process is reported, featuring a low damaged sidewall with extremely low leakage current. The fabricated SBD with a drift layer of 1 μm has achieved a very high ON/ OFF current ratio (ION/IOFF) of 1012 with a low leakage current of ~ 10−9 A/cm2@-10 V, high forward current density of 5.2 kA/cm2 at 3 V in dc, a low differential specific ON-resistance (RON,sp) of 0.3 mΩ ⋅ cm2, and ideality factor of 1.04. In addition, a transmission-line-pulse (TLP) I – V test was carried out and 53 kA/cm2 at 30 V in pulsed measurement was obtained without device failure, exhibiting a great potential for high power applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundObesity is associated with higher end-stage renal disease incidence, but associations with earlier forms of kidney disease remain incompletely characterized.MethodsWe studied the association of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) with rapid kidney function decline and incident chronic kidney disease in 4573 non-diabetic adults with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73m2 at baseline from longitudinal Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort. Kidney function was estimated by creatinine and cystatin C. Multivariate analysis was adjusted for age, race, baseline eGFR, and hypertension.ResultsMean age was 60 years old, BMI 28 kg/m2, baseline eGFRCr 82 and eGFRCys 95 ml/min/1.73m2. Over 5 years of follow up, 25% experienced rapid decline in renal function by eGFRCr and 22% by eGFRCys. Incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) developed in 3.3% by eGFRCys, 11% by eGFRCr, and 2.4% by both makers. Compared to persons with BMI < 25, overweight (BMI 25 - 30) persons had the lowest risk of rapid decline by eGFRCr (0.84, 0.71 - 0.99). In contrast, higher BMI categories were associated with stepwise higher odds of rapid decline by eGFRCys, but remained significant only when BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 (1.87, 1.41 - 2.48). Associations of BMI with incident CKD were insignificant after adjustment. Large WC and WHR were associated with increased risk of rapid decline only by eGFRCys, and of incident CKD only when defined by both filtration markers.ConclusionsObesity may be a risk factor for kidney function decline, but associations vary by filtration marker used.

Background: Normalization of echocardiographic chamber measurements for body surface area may result in misclassification of individuals with obesity or sarcopenia. Normalization for alternative measures of body size may be preferable, but there remains a dearth of information on their normative values and association with cardiovascular function metrics., Methods and Results: A total of 3032 individuals underwent comprehensive 2-dimensional echocardiography at Exam 6 in MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). In the subgroup of 608 individuals free of cardiopulmonary disease (69.5±7.0 years, 46% male, 48% White, 17% Chinese, 15% Black, 21% Hispanic), normative values were derived for left and right cardiac chamber measurements across a variety of ratiometric (body surface area, body mass index, height) and allometric (height 1.6 , height 2.7 ) scaling parameters. Normative upper and lower reference values were provided for each scaling parameter stratified across age groups, sex, and race or ethnicity. Among scaling parameters, body surface area and height were associated with the least variability across race and ethnicity categories and height 2.7 was associated with the least variability across sex categories., Conclusions: In this diverse cohort of community-dwelling older adults, we provide normative values for common echocardiographic parameters across a variety of indexation methods.

DOI: 10.17014/ijog.5.1.13-21The seismic activity of Raung Volcano was raised on 11 November 2014. As many as 1709 tremors were recorded followed by continuous tremors appearing in late November 2014. Quasi-harmonic and gliding tremors appeared in a spectrogram on 12 November 2014. The quasi-harmonic tremors refer to tremors that have no fully harmonic form in spectrum. The gliding harmonic tremors refer to harmonic tremors that have frequency jumps with either positive or negative increment. After signal restitution processing, the Maximum Entropy Spectral Analysis (MESA) method was applied in Raung recordings resulting the spectrum and the spectrogram of tremors. The quasi-harmonic tremors have the monotonic spectrum in its head and centre segment, and the harmonic one in its tails. There are twenty-four spectrums that show frequency changes between the monotonic and harmonic. The similarity between the fundamental frequency range of the monotonic and harmonic ones suggests that both signals are excited from a common resonator. The alternating of monotonic and harmonic respectively over this period is qualitatively similar with Julian’s synthetic time series about the nonlinear oscillator model. It is suggested that Raung Volcano magma pressure is sizeable to make a chaotic vibration. A pressure increasing in Raung magmatic conduit causes the increasing of P-wave velocity and makes a positive gliding frequency.

Asphaltene deposition is a major problem in petroleum industry causing slow production or even operational shutdown for removal of deposits. This research was conducted to obtain the best formulation of asphaltene dissolver to dissolve asphaltene deposits with the use of an palm oil anionic surfactant and to obtain performance information of asphaltene dissolver formula. The tested formulation were methyl ester sulfonate acid (MESA) and methyl ester sulfonate (MES), each with concentrations of 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% in toluene mixed at a temperature of 40°C for 30 minutes. The best asphaltene dissolver produced was MESA 1% in toluene with the lowest interfacial tension (IFT) value of 3.95E-03 dyne/cm and solubility degree of 69.58%. Asphaltene dissolver produced showed a good performance in changing the wettability of rocks with an increase on contact angle of 48,6o to 80,89o , and increase wettability on metal surface with asphaltene release of 99.32% as well as showed good performance on dispersion, desorption and filtration.

Design: Video presentation. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): A 53-year-old male presents with a history of a vasectomy performed 7 years prior. His wife is 36 years-old and requests sperm extraction for in-vitro fertilization. On examination, his testicles were 20 cc bilaterally with a serum follicle-stimulating hormone of 5.3. Intervention(s): Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) and Microscopic Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA) Main outcome measure(s): Intraoperative technique highlighting the main steps for performing PESA and MESA, complications, and sperm retrieval outcomes. Result(s): This video highlights the technique for performing both PESA and MESA. We demonstrate complications and outcomes associated with both procedures. Both PESA and MESA are viable options for sperm retrieval with varying complications and sperm quality outcomes. Conclusion(s): We demonstrate how to perform both PESA and MESA. Both are effective means for obtaining sperm for in-vitro fertilization with differences in technique, equipment required, complications and sperm quality outcomes.

In order to design and development efficient III-nitride based optoelectronic devices, technological processes require a major effort. We propose here a detailed review focussing on the etching procedure as a key step for enabling high date rate performances. In our reported research activity, dry etching of an InGaN/GaN heterogeneous structure was investigated by using an inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-RIE). We considered different combinations of etch mask (Ni, SiO2, resist), focussing on the optimization of the deep etching process. A GaN mesa process with an etching depth up to 6 µm was performed in Cl2/Ar-based plasmas using ICP reactors for LEDs dimen sions ranging from 5 to 150 µm². Our strategy was directed toward the mesa formation for vertical-type diode applications, where etch depths are relatively large. Etch characteristics were studied as a function of ICP parameters (RF power, chamber pressure, fixed total flow rate). Surface morphology, etch rates and sidewall profiles observed into InGaN/GaN structures were compared under different types of etching masks. For deep etching up to few microns into the GaN template, we state that a Ni or SiO2 mask is more suitable to obtain a good selectivity and vertical etch profiles. The optimized etch rate was about 200nm/min under moderate ICP conditions. We applied these conditions for the fabrication of micro/nano LEDs dedicated to LiFi applications.

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease or citrus greening is caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) and is the most devastating disease in the global citrus industry. Salicylic acid (SA) plays a central role in regulating plant defenses against pathogenic attack. SA methyltransferase (SAMT) modulates SA homeostasis by converting SA to methyl salicylate (MeSA). Here, we report on the functions of the citrus SAMT (CsSAMT1) gene from HLB-susceptible Wanjincheng orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) in plant defenses against Las infection. The CsSAMT1 cDNA was expressed in yeast. Using in vitro enzyme assays, yeast expressing CsSAMT1 was confirmed to specifically catalyze the formation of MeSA using SA as a substrate. Transgenic Wanjincheng orange plants overexpressing CsSAMT1 had significantly increased levels of SA and MeSA compared to wild-type controls. HLB resistance was evaluated for two years and showed that transgenic plants displayed significantly alleviated symptoms including a lack of chlorosis, low bacterial counts, reduced hyperplasia of the phloem cells, and lower levels of starch and callose compared to wild-type plants. These data confirmed that CsSAMT1 overexpression confers an enhanced tolerance to Las in citrus fruits. RNA-seq analysis revealed that CsSAMT1 overexpression significantly upregulated the citrus defense response by enhancing the transcription of disease resistance genes. This study provides insight for improving host resistance to HLB by manipulation of SA signaling in citrus fruits.