bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cropland Carbon Uptake Delayed and Reduced by 2019 Midwest Floods
Authors: Yin Yi , Byrne Brendan , Liu Junjie , Wennberg Paul O. , Davis Kenneth J. , Magney Troy , Köhler Philipp , He Liyin , Jeyaram Rupesh , Humphrey Vincent , Gerken Tobias , Feng Sha , Digangi Joshua P. , Frankenberg Christian
Published: March 2020

While large‐scale floods directly impact human lives and infrastructures, they also profoundly impact agricultural productivity. New satellite observations of vegetation activity and atmospheric CO2 offer the opportunity to quantify the effects of such extreme events on cropland carbon sequestration. Widespread flooding during spring and early summer 2019 induced conditions that delayed crop planting across the U.S. Midwest. As a result, satellite observations of solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence from TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument and Orbiting Carbon Observatory reveal a 16‐day shift in the seasonal cycle of photosynthesis relative to 2018, along with a 15% lower peak value. We estimate a reduction of 0.21 PgC in cropland gross primary productivity in June and July, partially compensated in August and September (+0.14 PgC). The extension of the 2019 growing season into late September is likely to have benefited from increased water availability and late‐season temperature. Ultimately, this change is predicted to reduce the crop productivity in the Midwest Corn/Soy belt by ~15% compared to 2018. Using an atmospheric transport model, we show that a decline of ~0.1 PgC in the net carbon uptake during June and July is consistent with observed CO2 enhancements of up to 10 ppm in the midday boundary layer from Atmospheric Carbon and Transport‐America aircraft and over 3 ppm in column‐averaged dry‐air mole fractions from Orbiting Carbon Observatory. This study quantifies the impact of floods on cropland productivity and demonstrates the potential of combining solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence with atmospheric CO2 observations to monitor regional carbon flux anomalies.
Direct Observations of a Polar Cap Patch Formation Associated With Dayside Reconnection Driven Fast Flow
Authors: Ren Jiaen , Zou Shasha , Kendall Elizabeth , Coster Anthea , Sterne Kevin , Ruohoniemi Michael
Published: March 2020

Dayside solar‐produced concentrated F region plasma can be transported from the midlatitude region into the polar cap during geomagnetically disturbed period, creating plasma density irregularities like polar cap patches, which can cause scintillation and degrade performance of satellite communication and navigation at polar latitudes. In this paper, we observed and investigated a dynamic formation process of a polar cap patch during the 13 October 2016 intense geomagnetic storm. During the storm main phase, storm‐enhanced density (SED) was formed within an extended period of strong southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz condition. Total electron content (TEC) map shows that a polar cap patch was segmented from the SED plume. The Sondrestrom Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) was right underneath the segmentation region and captured the dynamic process. It shows that the patch segmentation was related with a sudden northeastward flow enhancement reaching ~2 km/s near the dayside cusp inflow region. The flow surge was observed along with abrupt E region electron temperature increase, F region ion temperature increase, and density decrease. The upstream solar wind and IMF observations suggest that the flow enhancement was associated with dayside magnetic reconnection triggered by a sudden and short period of IMF By negative excursion. Quantitative estimation suggests that plasma density loss due to enhanced frictional heating was insufficient for the patch segmentation because the elevated F region density peaking at ~500 km made dissociative recombination inefficient. Instead, the patch was segmented from the SED by low‐density plasma transported by the fast flow channel from earlier local time.
SIRT7: an influence factor in healthy aging and the development of age-dependent myeloid stem-cell disorders
Authors: Kaiser Alexander , Schmidt Martin , Huber Otmar , Frietsch Jochen J. , Scholl Sebastian , Heidel Florian H. , Hochhaus Andreas , Müller Jörg P. , Ernst Thomas
Published: March 2020

Molecular alterations within the hematopoietic system influence cellular longevity and development of age-related myeloid stem-cell disorders like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). A reduced SIRT7-expression in aged murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) resulted in reduced longevity and increased proliferation. In this study we investigated age-related changes of SIRT7-expression in healthy humans and relevant pathomechanisms in AML and CML. SIRT7-expression in leukocytes of healthy people decreased in an age-dependent manner. Low SIRT7 mRNA levels were also detected in AML and CML patients. With positive treatment response, SIRT7-expression increased, but showed reduction when patients progressed or relapsed. Pharmacologic inhibition of driver mutations in AML (FLT3-ITD) or CML (BCR-ABL) also restored SIRT7 levels in cell lines and patient samples. Furthermore, SIRT7-expression increased with time during PMA-mediated monocyte differentiation of THP-1 cells. SIRT7-overexpression in THP-1 cells resulted in increased expression of differentiation markers. BCR-ABL, FLT3-ITD, and differentiation-associated SIRT7-expression in general were positively regulated by C/EBPα, -β, and -ε binding to two different C/EBP-binding sites within the SIRT7 promoter. SIRT7 is important in human hematopoietic cell aging and longevity. It might act as tumor suppressor and could potentially serve as general biomarker for monitoring treatment response in myeloid stem-cell disorders.
Clinical activity of a htert (vx-001) cancer vaccine as post-chemotherapy maintenance immunotherapy in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer: final results of a randomised phase 2 clinical trial
Authors:   on behalf of the Vx-001-201 trial team, Gridelli Cesare , Ciuleanu Tudor , Domine Manuel , Szczesna Aleksandra , Bover Isabel , Cobo Manuel , Kentepozidis Nikolaos , Zarogoulidis Konstantinos , Kalofonos Charalabos , Kazarnowisz Andrzej , Korozan Magdalena , de las Penas Ramon , Majem Margarita , Chella Antonio , Griesinger Frank , Bournakis Evangelos , Sadjadian Parvis , Kotsakis Athanasios , Chinet Thierry , Syrigos Kostantinos N. , Correale Pierpaolo , Gallou Catherine , Jamet Jeanne- Menez , Vetsika Eleni- Kyriaki , Kosmatopoulos Kostas , Georgoulias Vassilis
Published: March 2020

Background

The cancer vaccine Vx-001, which targets the universal tumour antigen TElomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT), can mount specific Vx-001/TERT572 CD8 + cytotoxic T cells; this immune response is associated with improved overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

A randomised, double blind, phase 2b trial, in HLA-A*201-positive patients with metastatic, TERT-expressing NSCLC, who did not progress after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy were randomised to receive either Vx-001 or placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial was OS.

Results

Two hundred and twenty-one patients were randomised and 190 (101 and 89 patients in the placebo and the Vx-001 arm, respectively) were analysed for efficacy. There was not treatment-related toxicity >grade 2. The study did not meet its primary endpoint (median OS 11.3 and 14.3 months for the placebo and the Vx-001, respectively; p = 0.86) whereas the median Time to Treatment Failure (TTF) was 3.5 and 3.6 months, respectively. Disease control for >6months was observed in 30 (33.7%) and 26 (25.7%) patients treated with Vx-001 and placebo, respectively. There was no documented objective CR or PR. Long lasting TERT-specific immune response was observed in 29.2% of vaccinated patients who experienced a significantly longer OS compared to non-responders (21.3 and 13.4 months, respectively; p = 0.004).

Conclusion

Vx-001 could induce specific CD8+ immune response but failed to meet its primary endpoint. Subsequent studies have to be focused on the identification and treatment of subgroups of patients able to mount an effective immunological response to Vx-001.

Clinical trial registration

NCT01935154
First-line exome sequencing in Palestinian and Israeli Arabs with neurological disorders is efficient and facilitates disease gene discovery
Authors: Hengel Holger , Buchert Rebecca , Sturm Marc , Haack Tobias B. , Schelling Yvonne , Mahajnah Muhammad , Sharkia Rajech , Azem Abdussalam , Balousha Ghassan , Ghanem Zaid , Falana Mohammed , Balousha Osama , Ayesh Suhail , Keimer Reinhard , Deigendesch Werner , Zaidan Jimmy , Marzouqa Hiyam , Bauer Peter , Schöls Ludger
Published: March 2020

A high rate of consanguinity leads to a high prevalence of autosomal recessive disorders in inbred populations. One example of inbred populations is the Arab communities in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In the Palestinian Authority in particular, due to limited access to specialized medical care, most patients do not receive a genetic diagnosis and can therefore neither receive genetic counseling nor possibly specific treatment. We used whole-exome sequencing as a first-line diagnostic tool in 83 Palestinian and Israeli Arab families with suspected neurogenetic disorders and were able to establish a probable genetic diagnosis in 51% of the families (42 families). Pathogenic, likely pathogenic or highly suggestive candidate variants were found in the following genes extending and refining the mutational and phenotypic spectrum of these rare disorders: ACO2, ADAT3, ALS2, AMPD2, APTX, B4GALNT1, CAPN1, CLCN1, CNTNAP1, DNAJC6, GAMT, GPT2, KCNQ2, KIF11, LCA5, MCOLN1, MECP2, MFN2, MTMR2, NT5C2, NTRK1, PEX1, POLR3A, PRICKLE1, PRKN, PRX, SCAPER, SEPSECS, SGCG, SLC25A15, SPG11, SYNJ1, TMCO1, and TSEN54. Further, this cohort has proven to be ideal for prioritization of new disease genes. Two separately published candidate genes (WWOX and PAX7) were identified in this study. Analyzing the runs of homozygosity (ROHs) derived from the Exome sequencing data as a marker for the rate of inbreeding, revealed significantly longer ROHs in the included families compared with a German control cohort. The total length of ROHs correlated with the detection rate of recessive disease-causing variants. Identification of the disease-causing gene led to new therapeutic options in four families.
A subset of SMN complex members have a specific role in tissue regeneration via ERBB pathway-mediated proliferation
Authors: Pei Wuhong , Xu Lisha , Chen Zelin , Slevin Claire C. , Pettie Kade P. , Wincovitch Stephen ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Barnabas Beatrice B. , Black Sean , Bouffard Gerard G. , Brooks Shelise Y. , Coleman Holly , Dekhtyar Lyudmila , Guan Xiaobin , Han Joel , Ho Shi-ling , Legaspi Richelle , Maduro Quino L. , Masiello Catherine A. , McDowell Jennifer C. , Montemayor Casandra , Mullikin James C. , Park Morgan , Riebow Nancy L. , Schandler Karen , Scharer Chanthra , Schmidt Brian , Sison Christina , Stantripop Sirintorn , Thomas James W. , Thomas Pamela J. , Vemulapalli Meghana , Young Alice C. , Burgess Shawn M.
Published: March 2020

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the most common genetic disease in children. SMA is generally caused by mutations in the gene SMN1. The survival of motor neurons (SMN) complex consists of SMN1, Gemins (2–8), and Strap/Unrip. We previously demonstrated smn1 and gemin5 inhibited tissue regeneration in zebrafish. Here we investigated each individual SMN complex member and identified gemin3 as another regeneration-essential gene. These three genes are likely pan-regenerative, since they affect the regeneration of hair cells, liver, and caudal fin. RNA-Seq analysis reveals that smn1, gemin3, and gemin5 are linked to a common set of genetic pathways, including the tp53 and ErbB pathways. Additional studies indicated all three genes facilitate regeneration by inhibiting the ErbB pathway, thereby allowing cell proliferation in the injured neuromasts. This study provides a new understanding of the SMN complex and a potential etiology for SMA and potentially other rare unidentified genetic diseases with similar symptoms.
Pregnancy has a minimal impact on the acute transcriptional signature to vaccination
Authors: Tregoning John S. , Weiner January , Cizmeci Deniz , Hake Danielle , Maertzdorf Jeroen , Kaufmann Stefan H. E. , Leroux-Roels Geert , Maes Cathy , Aerssens Annelies , Calvert Anna , Jones Christine E.
Published: March 2020

Vaccination in pregnancy is an effective tool to protect both the mother and infant; vaccines against influenza, pertussis and tetanus are currently recommended. A number of vaccines with a specific indication for use in pregnancy are in development, with the specific aim of providing passive humoral immunity to the newborn child against pathogens responsible for morbidity and mortality in young infants. However, the current understanding about the immune response to vaccination in pregnancy is incomplete. We analysed the effect of pregnancy on early transcriptional responses to vaccination. This type of systems vaccinology approach identifies genes and pathways that are altered in response to vaccination and can be used to understand both the acute inflammation in response to the vaccine and to predict immunogenicity. Pregnant women and mice were immunised with Boostrix-IPV, a multivalent vaccine, which contains three pertussis antigens. Blood was collected from women before and after vaccination and RNA extracted for analysis by microarray. While there were baseline differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women, vaccination induced characteristic patterns of gene expression, with upregulation in interferon response and innate immunity gene modules, independent of pregnancy. We saw similar patterns of responses in both women and mice, supporting the use of mice for preclinical screening of novel maternal vaccines. Using a systems vaccinology approach in pregnancy demonstrated that pregnancy does not affect the initial response to vaccination and that studies in non-pregnant women can provide information about vaccine immunogenicity and potentially safety.
Two-dimensional finite element analysis of elastic adhesive contact of a rough surface
Authors: Radhakrishnan Harish , Akarapu Sreekanth
Published: March 2020

Adhesive contact of a rigid flat surface with an elastic substrate having Weierstrass surface profile is numerically analyzed using the finite element method. In this work, we investigate the relationship between load and contact area spanning the limits of non-adhesive normal contact to adhesive contact for various substrate material properties, surface energy and roughness parameters. In the limit of non-adhesive normal contact, our results are consistent with published work. For the adhesive contact problem, we employ Lennard-Jones type local contact interaction model with numerical regularization to study the transition from partial to full contact including jump-to-contact instabilities as well as load-depth hysteresis. We have investigated evolution of bonded contact area and pull-off force for various surface roughness parameters, substrate material properties and surface energy. We have identified two non-dimensional parameters to adequately explain experimentally observed adhesion weakening and strengthening phenomena. A design chart of the relative pull-off force as function of non-dimensional parameters is also presented.
Disparate miRNA expression in serum and plasma of patients with acute myocardial infarction: a systematic and paired comparative analysis
Authors: Mompeón Ana , Ortega-Paz Luis , Vidal-Gómez Xavier , Costa Tiago Januario , Pérez-Cremades Daniel , Garcia-Blas Sergio , Brugaletta Salvatore , Sanchis Juan , Sabate Manel , Novella Susana , Dantas Ana Paula , Hermenegildo Carlos
Published: March 2020

Despite the promising value of miRNAs in the diagnostic and prognostic of cardiovascular disease (CVD), recent meta-analyses did not support their potential. Methodological variances in studies may interfere with miRNA profile and affect their results. This study determines if the blood starting material is a source of variance in miRNA profile by performing a paired comparison in plasma and serum of the expression of primary miRNAs associated with CVD. Circulating miRNA yield was similar in both plasma and serum, although a significant increase was observed in patients with Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) compared to control volunteers. When normalized by the expression of miR-484, different patterns of miRNA expression between serum and plasma. Although NSTEMI modified the expression of miR-1 and miR-208 in both serum and plasma, plasma displayed a higher variance than serum (Levene’s test p < 0.01). For miR-133a and miR-26a, differences were only detected in serum (p = 0.0240), and conversely, miR-499a showed differences only in plasma of NSTEMI (p = 0.001). Interestingly, miR-21 showed an opposite pattern of expression, being increased in serum (2−ΔΔCt: 5.7, p = 0.0221) and decreased in plasma (2−ΔΔCt: 0.5, p = 0.0107). Plasma and serum exhibit different patterns of circulating miRNA expression in NSTEMI and suggest that results from studies with different starting material could not be comparable.
Smoothed millennial-scale palaeoclimatic reference data as unconventional comparison targets: Application to European loess records
Authors: Zeeden Christian , Obreht Igor , Veres Daniel , Kaboth-Bahr Stefanie , Hošek Jan , Marković Slobodan B. , Bösken Janina , Lehmkuhl Frank , Rolf Christian , Hambach Ulrich
Published: March 2020

Millennial-scale palaeoclimate variability has been documented in various terrestrial and marine palaeoclimate proxy records throughout the Northern Hemisphere for the last glacial cycle. Its clear expression and rapid shifts between different states of climate (Greenland Interstadials and Stadials) represents a correlation tool beyond the resolution of e.g. luminescence dating, especially relevant for terrestrial deposits. Usually, comparison of terrestrial proxy datasets and the Greenland ice cores indicates a complex expression of millennial-scale climate variability as recorded in terrestrial geoarchives including loess. Loess is the most widespread terrestrial geoarchive of the Quaternary and especially widespread over Eurasia. However, loess often records a smoothed representation of millennial-scale variability without all fidelity when compared to the Greenland data, this being a relevant limiting feature in integrating loess with other palaeoclimate records. To better understand the loess proxy-response to millennial-scale climate variability, we simulate a proxy signal smoothing by natural processes through application of low-pass filters of δ18O data from Greenland, a high-resolution palaeoclimate reference record, alongside speleothem isotope records from the Black Sea-Mediterranean region. We show that low-pass filters represent rather simple models for better constraining the expression of millennial-scale climate variability in low sedimentation environments, and in sediments where proxy-response signals are most likely affected by natural smoothing (by e.g. bioturbation). Interestingly, smoothed datasets from Greenland and the Black Sea-Mediterranean region are most similar in the last ~15 ka and between ~50–30 ka. Between ~30–15 ka, roughly corresponding to the Last Glacial Maximum and the deglaciation, the records show dissimilarities, challenging the construction of robust correlative time-scales in this age range. From our analysis it becomes apparent that patterns of palaeoclimate signals in loess-palaeosol sequences often might be better explained by smoothed Greenland reference data than the original high-resolution Greenland dataset, or other reference data. This opens the possibility to better assess the temporal resolution and palaeoclimate potential of loess-palaeosol sequences in recording supra-regional climate patterns, as well as to securely integrate loess with other chronologically better-resolved palaeoclimate records.
Upper Critical Field Based on a Width of ΔH = ΔB region in a Superconductor
Authors: Lee H. B. , Kim G. C. , Kim Byeong-Joo , Kim Y. C.
Published: March 2020

We studied a method of measuring upper critical field (Hc2) of a superconductor based on a width of ΔH = ΔB region, which appears in a superconductor that volume defects are many and dominant. Here we show basic concepts and details of the method. Although Hc2 of a superconductor is fixed according to a kind of superconductor, it is difficult to measure Hc2 experimentally. Thus, results are different depending on experimental conditions. Hc2 was otained by a theory on a width of ΔH = ΔB region, which is that pinned fluxes at volume defects are picked out and move into an inside of the superconductor when the distance between pinned fluxes is the same as that at Hc2 of the superconductor. Hc2 of MgB2 obtained by the method was 65.4 Tesla at 0 K, which is quite same as that of Ginzburg-Landau theory. The reason that Hc2 obtained by the method is closer to ultimate Hc2 is based on that Fpinning/Fpickout is more than 4 when pinned fluxes at volume defects of 163 nm radius are depinned, which means that the Hc2 is less sensitive to fluctuation. The method will help to find the ultimate Hc2 of volume defect-dominating superconductors.
Real-time Optical Dimensional Metrology via Diffractometry for Nanofabrication
Authors: Whitworth Guy L. , Francone Achille , Sotomayor-Torres Clivia M. , Kehagias Nikolaos
Published: March 2020

Surface patterning technologies represent a worldwide growing industry, creating smart surfaces and micro/nanoscale device. The advent of large-area, high-speed imprinting technologies has created an ever-growing need for rapid and non-destructive dimensional metrology techniques to keep pace with the speed of production. Here we present a new real-time optical scatterometry technique, applicable at the mesoscale when optical inspection produces multiple orders of diffraction. We validate this method by inspecting multiple silicon gratings with a variety of structural parameters. These measurements are cross-referenced with FIB, SEM and scanning stylus profilometry. Finally, we measure thermally imprinted structures as a function of imprinting temperature in order to demonstrate the method suitable for in-line quality control in nanoimprint lithography.
Isotopic systematics of zircon indicate an African affinity for the rocks of southernmost India
Authors: Clark Chris , Collins Alan S. , Taylor Richard J. M. , Hand Martin
Published: March 2020

Southern India lies in an area of Gondwana where multiple blocks are juxtaposed along Moho-penetrating structures, the significance of which are not well understood. Adequate geochronological data that can be used to differentiate the various blocks are also lacking. We present a newly acquired SIMS U–Pb, Lu–Hf, O isotopic and trace element geochemical dataset from zircon and garnet from the protoliths of the Nagercoil Block at the very tip of southern India. The data indicate that the magmatic protoliths of the rocks in this block formed at c. 2040 Ma with Lu–Hf, O-isotope and trace element data consistent with formation in a magmatic arc environment. The zircon data from Nagercoil Block are isotopically and temporally distinct from those in all the other blocks in southern India, but remarkably correspond to rocks in East Africa that are exposed on the southern margin of the Tanzania–Bangweulu Block. The new data suggest that the tip of southern India has an African affinity and a major suture zone must lie along its northern margin. All of these blocks were finally brought together during the Ediacaran-Cambrian amalgamation of Gondwana where they underwent high to ultrahigh temperature metamorphism.
Demonstration of stimulated emission depletion phenomenon in luminescence of solid-state scintillator excited by soft X-rays
Authors: Ejima Takeo , Wakayama Toshitaka , Shinozaki Natsumi , Shoji Misaki , Hatayama Genta , Higashiguchi Takeshi
Published: March 2020

Although imaging techniques using soft X-rays (SXs) are being developed as the available photon flux increases because of the continuing development of synchrotron light sources, it will be necessary to downsize the pixel size of the SX camera to produce finer SX images. Application of the stimulated emission depletion (STED) method to a scintillator plate followed by use of this plate as a sensor is one promising method to reduce the pixel size of SX cameras. A STED phenomenon occurred in the luminescence of a Ce-doped Lu2SiO5 crystal (Ce:LSO) excited using ultraviolet (UV) light when the scintillator was irradiated with azimuthally polarized laser light in the photon energy range from 1.97 eV (630 nm) to 2.58 eV (480 nm). When the excitation light source changed to synchrotron radiation (SR) light with photon energy of 800 eV, the same STED phenomenon occurred. The spot size of the luminescence was reduced by the STED phenomenon and this spot size decreased as the STED laser’s photon energy increased. The energy dependence of the Ce:LSO luminescence levels can be used to explain the change in the spot size at the luminescence point.
Fully Automated Molecular Diagnostic System “Simprova” for Simultaneous Testing of Multiple Items
Authors: Yonekawa Toshihiro , Watanabe Hidetoshi , Hosaka Norimitsu , Semba Shohei , Shoji Atsushi , Sato Masaki , Hamasaki Masato , Yuki Shota , Sano Shiori , Segawa Yuji , Notomi Tsugunori
Published: March 2020

Nucleic acid amplification-based diagnostics is known as one of the molecular diagnostic systems that allows higher sensitive detection of pathogens than test methods such as immunoassay. However, it has not been widely used because it is complicated to use and takes a long time to generate results. On the other hand, development of fully automated molecular diagnostic systems has been growing around the world as demand for such systems from physicians and laboratory technicians has increased. To meet this demand, we have developed the “Simprova” fully automated molecular diagnostic system, which takes advantage of LAMP (Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification), a method Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd. invented. Simprova comprises a master unit that controls the entire system and a test unit that extracts and purifies nucleic acid from samples (pretreatment), and uses the LAMP method to detect and amplify nucleic acid. Users can obtain test results automatically by simply installing a pretreatment cartridge, a multi-well testing chip and the sample in the test unit. The multi-well testing chip has 25 reaction wells connected by channels and enables simultaneous testing of multiple targets with one sample. Turnaround time for one test is approximately 30 minutes. Since a conventional extraction and purification method using magnetic-bead separation is used for the pretreatment, nucleic acid can be extracted from serum, plasma, whole blood, urine, and sputum, for example. In addition, the system can perform random-access testing by connecting four test units to the master unit to realize near-the-patient testing. Simprova is therefore a robust and useful system for a wide variety of applications.
Reorganization of perineuronal nets in the medial Preoptic Area during the reproductive cycle in female rats
Authors: Uriarte Natalia , Ferreño Marcela , Méndez Diego , Nogueira Javier
Published: March 2020

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are aggregations of extracellular matrix associated with specific neuronal populations in the central nervous system, suggested to play key roles in neural development, synaptogenesis and experience-dependent synaptic plasticity. Pregnancy and lactation are characterized by a dramatic increase in neuroplasticity. However, dynamic changes in the extracellular matrix associated with maternal circuits have been mostly overlooked. We analyzed the structure of PNNs in an essential nucleus of the maternal circuit, the medial preoptic area (mPOA), during the reproductive cycle of rats, using the Wisteria floribunda (WFA) label. PNNs associated to neurons in the mPOA start to assemble halfway through gestation and become highly organized prior to parturition, fading through the postpartum period. This high expression of PNNs during pregnancy appears to be mediated by the influence of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, since a hormonal simulated-gestation treatment induced the expression of PNNs in ovariectomized females. We found that PNNs associated neurons in the mPOA express estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptors, supporting a putative role of reproductive hormones in the signaling mechanisms that trigger the assembly of PNNs in the mPOA. This is the first report of PNNs presence and remodeling in mPOA during adulthood induced by physiological variables.
Visfatin/eNampt induces endothelial dysfunction in vivo: a role for Toll-Like Receptor 4 and NLRP3 inflammasome
Authors: Romacho Tania , Valencia Inés , Ramos-González Mariella , Vallejo Susana , López-Esteban Miguel , Lorenzo Oscar , Cannata Pablo , Romero Alejandra , San Hipólito-Luengo Alvaro , Gómez-Cerezo Jorge F. , Peiró Concepción , Sánchez-Ferrer Carlos F.
Published: March 2020

Visfatin/extracellular-nicotinamide-phosphoribosyltranferase-(eNampt) is a multifaceted adipokine enhanced in type-2-diabetes and obesity. Visfatin/eNampt cause in vitro endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation, although whether the same effects are achieved in vivo is unknown. Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), a main surface pattern recognition receptor of innate immune system is a potential target for visfatin/eNampt. We studied its capacity to generate vascular dysfunction in vivo, focusing on TLR4 role and downstream activation of nod-like-receptor-protein-3 (NLRP3)-inflammasome. 4 month-old C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 7 days infusion of visfatin/eNampt, alone or together with FK 866 (Nampt enzymatic inhibitor), CLI 095 (TLR4 blocker), MCC 950 (NLRP3-inflammasome inhibitor), or anakinra (interleukin(IL)-1-receptor antagonist). Endothelial dysfunction was tested in isolated microvessels. In human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC), proteins related to the NLRP3-inflammasome phosphorylated p-65, NLRP3, caspase-1, pro-IL-1β, and mature IL-1β were determined by Western blot, while the inflammasome related apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC-specks) was studied by immunofluorescence. Impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations were observed in isolated mesenteric microvessels from visfatin/eNampt-infused mice. This effect was attenuated by co-treatment with FK 866 or CLI 095, supporting a role for Nampt enzymatic activity and TLR4 activation. Moreover, cultured HUVEC exposed to visfatin/eNampt showed higher expression and activation of NLRP3-inflammasome. Again, this effect relied on Nampt enzymatic activity and TLR4 activation, and it was abrogated by the inflammasome assembly blockade with MCC 950. The endothelial dysfunction evoked by visfatin/eNampt infusion in vivo was also sensitive to both MCC 950 and anakinra treatments, suggesting that the NLRP3-inflammasome-driven tissular release of IL-1β is the final mediator of endothelial damage. We conclude that Visfatin/eNampt produces in vivo vascular dysfunction in mice by a Nampt-dependent TLR4-mediated pathway, involving NLRP3-inflammasome and paracrine IL-1β. Thus, those targets may become therapeutic strategies for attenuating the adipokine-mediated vascular dysfunction associated to obesity and/or type-2-diabetes.
Perceptual Representation of Own Hand Size in Early Childhood and Adulthood
Authors: Giurgola Serena , Bolognini Nadia , Nava Elena
Published: March 2020

Hand size perceptual distortions characterize adult human cognition. Notwithstanding the importance of uncovering how hand size representation develops in humans, studies in this field are still at a preliminary stage. Indeed, it is yet to be understood whether hand size distortions are present and reliable in early childhood and whether they differ from adults’ distortions, offering a more in-depth insight into the emergence and development of such representations. We addressed this issue by comparing 4- to 6- year-old children and adults’ representation of their own hand size, as assessed with a 2-forced choice visual perceptual task. To test participants’ ability to estimate their own hand size, children and adults judged whether pictures of their own hand, resized to appear smaller or bigger than their own hand, matched or not its actual dimension. Results show that children aged 4 to 6 years tend to underestimate their own hand size, while adults underestimate their own hand more weakly. This evidence suggests that body-parts perceptual distortions are already in place in early childhood, and thus represent a characteristic of the human body representation.
Fabrication of γ-Fe2O3 Nanowires from Abundant and Low-cost Fe Plate for Highly Effective Electrocatalytic Water Splitting
Authors: Arumugam Sivaranjani , Toku Yuhki , Ju Yang
Published: March 2020

Water splitting is thermodynamically uphill reaction, hence it cannot occur easily, and also highly complicated and challenging reaction in chemistry. In electrocatalytic water splitting, the combination of oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions produces highly clean and sustainable hydrogen energy and which attracts research communities. Also, fabrication of highly active and low cost materials for water splitting is a major challenge. Therefore, in the present study, γ-Fe2O3 nanowires were fabricated from highly available and cost-effective iron plate without any chemical modifications/doping onto the surface of the working electrode with high current density. The fabricated nanowires achieved the current density of 10 mA/cm2 at 1.88 V vs. RHE with the scan rate of 50 mV/sec. Stability measurements of the fabricated Fe2O3 nanowires were monitored up to 3275 sec with the current density of 9.6 mA/cm2 at a constant potential of 1.7 V vs. RHE and scan rate of 50 mV/sec.
Rosuvastatin alters the genetic composition of the human gut microbiome
Authors: Kummen Martin , Solberg Ole Geir , Storm-Larsen Christopher , Holm Kristian , Ragnarsson Asgrimur , Trøseid Marius , Vestad Beate , Skårdal Rita , Yndestad Arne , Ueland Thor , Svardal Asbjørn , Berge Rolf K. , Seljeflot Ingebjørg , Gullestad Lars , Karlsen Tom H. , Aaberge Lars , Aukrust Pål , Hov Johannes R.
Published: March 2020

The gut microbiome contributes to the variation of blood lipid levels, and secondary bile acids are associated with the effect of statins. Yet, our knowledge of how statins, one of our most common drug groups, affect the human microbiome is scarce. We aimed to characterize the effect of rosuvastatin on gut microbiome composition and inferred genetic content in stool samples from a randomized controlled trial (n = 66). No taxa were significantly altered by rosuvastatin during the study. However, rosuvastatin-treated participants showed a reduction in the collective genetic potential to transport and metabolize precursors of the pro-atherogenic metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO, p < 0.01), and an increase of related metabolites betaine and γ-butyrobetaine in plasma (p < 0.01). Exploratory analyses in the rosuvastatin group showed that participants with the least favorable treatment response (defined as < median change in high-density/low-density lipoprotein (HDL/LDL) ratio) showed a marked increase in TMAO-levels compared to those with a more favorable response (p < 0.05). Our data suggest that while rosuvastatin has a limited effect on gut microbiome composition, it could exert broader collective effects on the microbiome relevant to their function, providing a rationale for further studies of the influence of statins on the gut microbiome.
Short-term effects of hypoxia are more important than effects of ocean acidification on grazing interactions with juvenile giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera)
Authors: Ng Crystal A. , Micheli Fiorenza
Published: March 2020

Species interactions are crucial for the persistence of ecosystems. Within vegetated habitats, early life stages of plants and algae must survive factors such as grazing to recover from disturbances. However, grazing impacts on early stages, especially under the context of a rapidly changing climate, are largely unknown. Here we examine interaction strengths between juvenile giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) and four common grazers under hypoxia and ocean acidification using short-term laboratory experiments and field data of grazer abundances to estimate population-level grazing impacts. We found that grazing is a significant source of mortality for juvenile kelp and, using field abundances, estimate grazers can remove on average 15.4% and a maximum of 73.9% of juveniles per m2 per day. Short-term exposure to low oxygen, not acidification, weakened interaction strengths across the four species and decreased estimated population-level impacts of grazing threefold, from 15.4% to 4.0% of juvenile kelp removed, on average, per m2 per day. This study highlights potentially high juvenile kelp mortality from grazing. We also show that the effects of hypoxia are stronger than the effects of acidification in weakening these grazing interactions over short timescales, with possible future consequences for the persistence of giant kelp and energy flow through these highly productive food webs.
Cuttlefish retrieve whether they smelt or saw a previously encountered item
Authors: Billard P. , Clayton N. S. , Jozet-Alves C.
Published: March 2020

According to the Source Monitoring Framework, the origin of a memory is remembered through the retrieval of specific features (e.g. perceptive, sensitive, affective signals). In two source discrimination tasks, we studied the ability of cuttlefish to remember the modality in which an item had been presented several hours ago. In Experiment 1, cuttlefish were able to retrieve the modality of presentation of a crab (visual vs olfactory) sensed before 1 h and 3 hrs delays. In Experiment 2, cuttlefish were trained to retrieve the modality of the presentation of fish, shrimp, and crabs. After training, cuttlefish performed the task with another item never encountered before (e.g. mussel). The cuttlefish successfully passed transfer tests with and without a delay of 3 hrs. This study is the first to show the ability to discriminate between two sensory modalities (i.e. see vs smell) in an animal. Taken together, these results suggest that cuttlefish can retrieve perceptual features of a previous event, namely whether they had seen or smelled an item.
Experimental study on seepage characteristics of microfracture with different aperture
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Qiao Weiguo , Wu Yue , Fan Zhenwang , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2020

Exploring the flow mechanism of fluid in rock mass is important in solving the water inrush problems during tunnel excavation. However, it is difficult to obtain an undisturbed rock mass from the actual site conditions and study the flow mechanism of fluid through a fracture network composed of multiple single fractures. Therefore, a solution to simulate rock seepage using rock-like samples with single microfracture was presented in this paper. Water flow through microfracture was tested and the deformation of microfracture was recorded by quasi-distributed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technology. Experimental data showed that Forchheimer’s law and Izbash’s law could well describe the nonlinear relationship between flow velocity and hydraulic gradient. The coefficientbin Forchheimer’s equation decreased with the increase of microfracture aperture. A critical value of E = 0.8 was proposed to classify the nonlinear flow regime: weak turbulence (E < 0.8) and fully developed turbulence (E > 0.8).
Recovery of Yam Soluble Protein from Yam Starch Processing Wastewater
Authors: Xue Heng-Yue , Zhao Yue , Liu Zi-Heng , Wang Xiao-Wen , Zhang Jun-Wei , Peng Xue , Tanokura Masaru , Xue You-Lin
Published: March 2020

Over the past two decades, many studies have shown that the yam storage protein dioscorin, which is abundant in the wastewater of starch processing, exhibits many biological activities both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, the acid-precipitation method was optimized using Box-Behnken design (BBD) combined with response surface methodology (RSM) for the recovery of yam soluble protein (YSP) from wastewater. The experimental yield of YSP reached 57.7%. According to relative quantitative proteomics (LC-MS/MS), the crude YSP was mainly composed of 15 dioscorin isoforms, which was further verified by anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. YSP was found to be rich in glutamic acid and aspartic acid, and the eight essential acids made up approximately 33.7% of the YSP. Moreover, the YSP demonstrated antioxidant activity, including scavenging DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals, and the possible structure-activity relationships were discussed. These results indicated that YSP produced by acid precipitation may be used as a protein source with antioxidant properties.
Subgrouping Poor Sleep Quality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Latent Class Analysis - The Yilan Study, Taiwan
Authors: Chen Hsi-Chung , Hsu Nai-Wei , Chou Pesus
Published: March 2020

The manifestation of older adults with poor sleep quality is heterogeneous. Using data-driven classifying methods, the study aims to subgroup community-dwelling older adults with poor sleep quality. Adults aged 65 and older participated in the Yilan study. Poor sleep quality was defined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Latent class analysis with the 7 subscores of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index as the indicators was used to generate empirical subgroups. Differences in comorbidity patterns between subgroups were compared. A total of 2622 individuals, of which 1011 (38.6%) had Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index -defined poor sleep quality, participated. Three groups for poor sleep quality were specified in the latent class analysis: High Insomnia (n = 191, 7.3%), Mild Insomnia (n = 574, 21.9%), and High Hypnotics (n = 246, 9.4%). The High Insomnia and Mild Insomnia groups shared similar profiles but different severities in the 7 domains of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. In contrast, the High Hypnotics group had the lowest Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total scores and insomnia severity but had similar mental and physical comorbid patterns as the High Insomnia group. This finding suggests that poor sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults had various feature-based subgroups. It also implicates the development of group-centered interventions.
Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, and normal aging distinguished by multi-modal parcellation and machine learning
Authors: Sheng Jinhua , Shao Meiling , Zhang Qiao , Zhou Rougang , Wang Luyun , Xin Yu
Published: March 2020

A 360-area surface-based cortical parcellation is extended to study mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from healthy control (HC) using the joint human connectome project multi-modal parcellation (JHCPMMP) proposed by us. We propose a novel classification method named as JMMP-LRR to accurately identify different stages toward AD by integrating the JHCPMMP with the logistic regression-recursive feature elimination (LR-RFE). In three-group classification, the average accuracy is 89.0% for HC, MCI, and AD compared to previous studies using other cortical separation with the best classification accuracy of 81.5%. By counting the number of brain regions whose feature is in the feature subset selected with JMMP-LRR, we find that five brain areas often appear in the selected features. The five core brain areas are Fusiform Face Complex (L-FFC), Area 10d (L-10d), Orbital Frontal Complex (R-OFC), Perirhinal Ectorhinal (L-PeEc) and Area TG dorsal (L-TGd, R-TGd). The features corresponding to the five core brain areas are used to form a new feature subset for three classifications with the average accuracy of 80.0%. Results demonstrate the importance of the five core brain regions in identifying different stages toward AD. Experiment results show that the proposed method has better accuracy for the classification of HC, MCI, AD, and it also proves that the division of brain regions using JHCPMMP is more scientific and effective than other methods.
Visual appearance of the virtual hand affects embodiment in the virtual hand illusion
Authors: Pyasik Maria , Tieri Gaetano , Pia Lorenzo
Published: March 2020

Body ownership (the feeling that one’s body belongs to oneself) is commonly studied with Rubber hand illusion (RHI) paradigm that allows inducing a temporary illusory feeling of ownership of a life-sized rubber hand. However, it remains unclear whether illusory ownership of the fake hand relies on the same mechanisms as ownership of one’s own real hand. Here, we directly compared ownership of the own hand (OH) and fake hand (FH) in the same set of conditions within immersive virtual reality. We obtained behavioral (proprioceptive drift) and subjective (questionnaire) measures of ownership and disownership for virtual OH, FH and object (Obj) that were located congruently or incongruently with the participant’s real hand and were stimulated synchronously or asynchronously with the real hand. Both OH and FH (but not Obj) were embodied after synchronous stimulation in both locations. Crucially, subjective ownership of the OH was stronger than of the FH in congruent location after synchronous stimulation. It was also present after asynchronous stimulation, being stronger when the virtual OH was subjectively more similar to the real hand. The results suggest that the detailed appearance of the body might act as an additional component in the construction of body ownership.
Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging Visualizes a Prognostic Extracellular Matrix-Related Signature in Breast Cancer
Authors: Tiwari Saumya , Triulzi Tiziana , Holton Sarah , Regondi Viola , Paolini Biagio , Tagliabue Elda , Bhargava Rohit
Published: March 2020

Molecular analysis techniques such as gene expression analysis and proteomics have contributed greatly to our understanding of cancer heterogeneity. In prior studies, gene expression analysis was shown to stratify patient outcome on the basis of tumor-microenvironment associated genes. A specific gene expression profile, referred to as ECM3 (Extracellular Matrix Cluster 3), indicated poorer survival in patients with grade III tumors. In this work, we aimed to visualize the downstream effects of this gene expression profile onto the tissue, thus providing a spatial context to altered gene expression profiles. Using infrared spectroscopic imaging, we identified spectral patterns specific to the ECM3 gene expression profile, achieving a high spectral classification performance of 0.87 as measured by the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve. On a patient level, we correctly identified 20 out of 22 ECM3 group patients and 19 out of 20 non-ECM3 group patients by using this spectroscopic imaging-based classifier. By comparing pixels that were identified as ECM3 or non-ECM3 with H&E and IHC images, we were also able to observe an association between tissue morphology and the gene expression clusters, showing the ability of our method to capture broad outcome associated features from infrared images.
Spatially resolved determination of the electronic density and temperature by a visible spectro-tomography diagnostic in a linear magnetized plasma
Authors: Gonzalez-Fernandez V.  , David P. , Baude R. , Escarguel A. , Camenen Y.
Published: March 2020

In this work, a non-intrusive, spatially resolved, spectro-tomographic optical diagnostic of the electronic density and temperature on the linear plasma column Mistral is presented. Coupling of spectroscopy and tomography technique gives access to the local plasma light emission at different wavelengths (visible and near IR) in an argon plasma. Taking advantage of the symmetry of the Mistral experiment, the diagnostic results are validated and the plasma is found to correspond to a corona equilibrium state. With the use of another spectrometer and a Langmuir probe, we propose a non-intrusive method to determine the electronic density and temperature of each pixel of the tomographic images of the plasma. The obtained results are in good agreement with the Langmuir probe ones.