bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unexpected finding of uniparental disomy mosaicism in term placentas: Is it a common feature in trisomic placentas?
Authors: Van Opstal Diane , Diderich Karin E.M. , Joosten Marieke , Govaerts Lutgarde C.P. , Polak Joke , Boter Marjan , Saris Jasper J. , Cheung Wai Yee , van Veen Stefanie , van de Helm Robert , Go Attie T.J.I. , Knapen Maarten F.C.M. , Papatsonis Dimitri N.M. , Dijkman Anneke , de Vries Femke , Galjaard Robert‐Jan H. , Hoefsloot Lies H. , Srebniak Malgorzata I.
Published: September 2018

Objective

Non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) detects placental chromosome aberrations. When amniocentesis reveals a normal karyotype, confined placental mosaicism (CPM) may be assumed. In order to confirm this, placental cytogenetic studies were performed.

Method

NIPT was conducted in the course of the Dutch TRIDENT study. Placentas of 10 cases with NIPT results indicating an autosomal trisomy and showing a normal (N = 9) or low mosaic karyotype (N = 1) in amniotic fluid (AF) were investigated. The cytotrophoblast as well as the mesenchymal core of two to four placental chorionic villi biopsies were studied with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Clinical outcome data were collected.

Results

In 10/10 cases, CPM was proven. In 3/10 cases trisomy/uniparental disomy (UPD)/biparental disomy (BPD) mosaicism was discovered. In 2/3 cases, all three cell lines were present in the placenta, whereas BPD was found in AF. In 1/3 cases trisomy 22/UPD22 was present in AF while trisomy 22/BPD22 mosaicism was found in the placenta. Five of 10 pregnancies were affected with pre‐eclampsia, low birth weight, preterm delivery, and/or congenital malformations.

Conclusion

The presence of trisomy/UPD/BPD mosaicism in 3/10 cases that we investigated proves that trisomic zygote rescue may involve multiple rescue events during early embryogenesis. UPD mosaicism, when present in crucial fetal tissues, may explain the abnormal phenotype in undiagnosed cases.
Placental volume at 11 to 14 gestational weeks in pregnancies complicated with fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia
Authors: Papastefanou Ioannis , Chrelias Charalambos , Siristatidis Charalambos , Kappou Dimitra , Eleftheriades Makarios , Kassanos Dimitrios
Published: September 2018

Objective

The study aims to evaluate the predictive value of first trimester placental volume in pregnancies destined to develop fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preeclampsia (PE).

Methods

Prospective observational study including placentas from 34 FGR, 12 PE, 15 GH (gestational hypertension) pregnancies, and 265 controls. Placental volume (PV) was obtained using VOCAL technique, and a z score was calculated (z‐PV). The association of PV with other first trimester variables and maternal characteristics was assessed with Spearman's correlation.

Results

PV increased exponentially with crown‐rump length (CRL) and was unrelated to maternal factors (weight, age, parity, and smoking status) as well as first trimester uterine artery Doppler, free β‐hCG, nuchal translucency, or fetal heart rate. However, PV was positively associated with maternal height, CRL, PAPP‐A, and birth weight. z‐PV was a strong predictor for FGR with abnormal fetal Dopplers (AUC = 0.9472, P < 0.001). z‐PV provided moderate prediction of FGR with normal fetal Dopplers (AUC = 0.8396, P < 0.001), PE (AUC = 0.8312, P < 0.001), and GH (AUC = 0.7640, P < 0.001). The addition of maternal weight, PAPP‐A, β‐hCG, and uterine artery Doppler improved our models.

Conclusion

At 11 to 14 weeks, PV is an independent predictor of pregnancy complications related to placental insufficiency, and the predictive ability is greater for FGR pregnancies with abnormal fetal Dopplers.
A novel PSMA/GCPII‐deficient mouse model shows enlarged seminal vesicles upon aging
Authors: Vorlová Barbora , Sedlák František , Kašpárek Petr , Šrámková Karolína , Malý Marek , Zámečník Josef , Šácha Pavel , Konvalinka Jan
Published: September 2018

Background

Prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA), also known as glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), is an important diagnostic and therapeutic target in prostate cancer. PSMA/GCPII is also expressed in many healthy tissues, but its function has only been established in the brain and small intestine. Several research groups have attempted to produce PSMA/GCPII‐deficient mice to study the physiological role of PSMA/GCPII in detail. The outcomes of these studies differ dramatically, ranging from embryonic lethality to production of viable PSMA/GCPII‐deficient mice without any obvious phenotype.

Methods

We produced PSMA/GCPII‐deficient mice (hereafter also referred as Folh1−/− mice) by TALEN‐mediated mutagenesis on a C57BL/6NCrl background. Using Western blot and an enzyme activity assay, we confirmed the absence of PSMA/GCPII in our Folh1−/− mice. We performed anatomical and histopathological examination of selected tissues with a focus on urogenital system. We also examined the PSMA/GCPII expression profile within the mouse urogenital system using an enzyme activity assay and confirmed the presence of PSMA/GCPII in selected tissues by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Our Folh1−/− mice are viable, breed normally, and do not show any obvious phenotype. Nevertheless, aged Folh1−/− mice of 69‐72 weeks exhibit seminal vesicle dilation, which is caused by accumulation of luminal fluid. This phenotype was also observed in Folh1+/− mice; the overall difference between our three cohorts (Folh1−/−, Folh1+/−, and Folh1+/+) was highly significant (P < 0.002). Of all studied tissues of the mouse urogenital system, only the epididymis appeared to have a physiologically relevant level of PSMA/GCPII expression. Additional experiments demonstrated that PSMA/GCPII is also present in the human epididymis.

Conclusions

In this study, we provide the first evidence characterizing the reproductive tissue phenotype of PSMA/GCPII‐deficient mice. These findings will help lay the groundwork for future studies to reveal PSMA/GCPII function in human reproduction.
Evaluating the effect of measurement errors on the performance of the variable sampling intervals Hotelling's T2 control charts
Authors: Sabahno Hamed , Amiri Amirhossein , Castagliola Philippe
Published: September 2018

The effect of measurement errors on the performance of multivariate adaptive control charts has not been considered yet. In this article, we investigate the effect of measurement errors on the performance of the variable sampling intervals (VSI) Hotelling's T2 control chart in the case of known parameters. A linearly covariate error model is used as the measurement error function. In order to measure the chart's performance, we use the average time to signal criterion, which is obtained by using a Markov Chain model. Through a numerical analysis, we evaluate the negative effect of measurement errors on the performance of the VSI Hotelling's T2 control chart, and we also investigate the effect of multiple measurements as well as the value of linearly covariate error model's parameters on the main properties of the VSI Hotelling's T2 control chart. At last, we present an illustrative example.
A novel framework for the reliability modelling of repairable multistate complex mechanical systems considering propagation relationships
Authors: Gao Xu , Wang Rongxi , Gao Jianmin , Gao Zhiyong , Deng Wei
Published: September 2018

Due to the propagation, amplification, and concatenation in a failure process, the reliabilities of repairable multistate complex mechanical systems (RMCMSs) may be affected by a significant fluctuation due to a small exception associated with a reliability indicator. Focused on the problems arising from the lack of propagation relationships among fault modes, functional components, and failure causes in conventional reliability models, a novel framework for reliability modelling is proposed to comprehensively analyse the reliabilities of RMCMSs. First, the reliability models are abstracted as weighted and directed networks with five layers. Second, an improved failure mode and effects analysis (IFMEA) method combined with the D‐number method and VIKOR approach is presented to determine the importance of reliability nodes. Third, a cut set of the reliability model is generated by any exception of a reliability indicator by considering the propagation relationships, and the reliability sensibility index is defined to characterize the fluctuations in system reliability. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is demonstrated in an actual reliability modelling application. As an intuitive method, the proposed framework inherits the advantages of conventional models but overcomes the drawbacks of these existing methods. Therefore, this method can be flexibly and efficiently used in the reliability modelling of RMCMSs. Moreover, the approach provides a foundation for comprehensive and dynamic reliability analysis and the failure mechanism mining of RMCMSs, and it can be used in other engineering applications.
Local structural analysis of In‐doped Bi2Se3 topological insulator using X‐ray fluorescence holography
Authors: Kimura Koji , Hayashi Koichi , Yashina Lada V. , Happo Naohisa , Nishioka Takumi , Yamamoto Yuta , Ebisu Yoshihiro , Ozaki Toru , Hosokawa Shinya , Matsushita Tomohiro , Tajiri Hiroo
Published: September 2018

We performed X‐ray fluorescence holography measurements on an In‐doped Bi2Se3 topological insulator and obtained an in‐plane atomic image in the vicinity of In. We found that atomic images at the positions of the first nearest neighbors (NNs) are very weak whereas those at the positions of the second and the third NNs are relatively strong. On the basis of the fact that In is half of the atomic number of Bi, we attributed the origin of this feature to the clustering of the In atoms in the Bi plane. We calculated the intensity of the atomic images and confirmed that the formation of In cluster results in a decrease by 30% in the first NN atomic image intensity. However, the decrease in the magnitude is not enough to explain the experimental results, suggesting another contribution such as the lattice distortions. The effect of the lattice distortion on the atomic image intensity is discussed on the basis of the simulation including the positional fluctuation of In atoms.
Use of a random effects meta‐analysis in the design and analysis of a new clinical trial
Authors: Jones Hayley E. , Ades A. E. , Sutton Alex J. , Welton Nicky J.
Published: September 2018

In designing a randomized controlled trial, it has been argued that trialists should consider existing evidence about the likely intervention effect. One approach is to form a prior distribution for the intervention effect based on a meta‐analysis of previous studies and then power the trial on its ability to affect the posterior distribution in a Bayesian analysis. Alternatively, methods have been proposed to calculate the power of the trial to influence the “pooled” estimate in an updated meta‐analysis. These two approaches can give very different results if the existing evidence is heterogeneous, summarised using a random effects meta‐analysis. We argue that the random effects mean will rarely represent the trialist's target parameter, and so, it will rarely be appropriate to power a trial based on its impact upon the random effects mean. Furthermore, the random effects mean will not generally provide an appropriate prior distribution. More appropriate alternatives include the predictive distribution and shrinkage estimate for the most similar study. Consideration of the impact of the trial on the entire random effects distribution might sometimes be appropriate. We describe how beliefs about likely sources of heterogeneity have implications for how the previous evidence should be used and can have a profound impact on the expected power of the new trial. We conclude that the likely causes of heterogeneity among existing studies need careful consideration. In the absence of explanations for heterogeneity, we suggest using the predictive distribution from the meta‐analysis as the basis for a prior distribution for the intervention effect.
A General Fluorescence Turn‐On Sulfotransferase Assay through the Detection of Free Phosphate Ions by Using A Calcein/Ce3+ System
Authors: Li Ya , Shen Haixia , Liu Chenghui
Published: September 2018

Biomolecule sulfation catalyzed by sulfotransferases (STases) plays a profound role in numerous biological processes. However, the exact biofunctions of the sulfation modifications still remain largely unknown partially because STases are difficult to assay. Most of the existing STase assays are targeted to discriminate the property changes of the sulfated substrate against the un‐sulfated ones, which typically suffer from several drawbacks due to the labile sulfated products, inhibitory effect of the 3'‐phosphoadenosine‐5'‐phosphate (PAP) by‐product as well as the lack of generality. To address such issues, herein, we have developed a versatile and general fluorescence turn‐on strategy for assaying STase activities. Unlike traditional STase assays, this work is targeted to measuring the phosphate ion (Pi) released from the enzymatic degradation of PAP by‐product during the sulfation reaction, which can lead to fluorescence enhancement of a calcein/Ce3+ system. Since PAP is the common by‐product of all kinds of STase reactions, this assay is universally applicable to the varying kinds of STases. In this regard, the intrinsic instability of the sulfated substrates will no longer influence the assay accuracy. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of PAP on the STase reaction, which is common in traditional STase assays, are effectively removed in this study, thereby allowing more accurate determination of the enzyme activity.
New Aryl‐Substituted 2,2′‐Bithiophenes: Synthesis, Optoelectronic Properties and DFT Studies
Authors: Swaroop Toreshettahally R. , Tabasi Zahra A. , Zhao Yuming , Georghiou Paris E.
Published: September 2018

Phenyl‐ and thien‐2‐yl‐[2, 2′‐bithiophen]‐5‐yl)(thiophen‐2‐yl)methanones were synthesized by the condensation of 2‐thienyldithioester with the corresponding methyl ketones followed by cyclization with 2‐bromoacetylthiophene. Also, condensation of 2‐thienyldithioester with methyl ketones followed by treatment with methyl iodide gave β‐thien‐2‐yl‐β‐methylthio‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones, which reacted with the Simmons‐Smith reagent to give corresponding 4‐phenyl‐ and thien‐2‐yl‐2,2′‐bithiophenes. The optoelectronic properties of these bithiophene derivatives were studied by UV‐Vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The lowest‐energy conformations of these new compounds in the ground and first excited states, the electronic origins of their UV‐Vis absorption and fluorescence emission bands, and related frontier molecular orbital (FMO) properties were elucidated by density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations. Furthermore, these aryl‐substituted bithiophenes were treated with anhydrous ferric chloride to undergo oxidative polymerization, and the fluorescence properties of the resulting polymeric products are also reported herein.
Synthesis of 2‐(2H‐Chromenyl)‐Oxazoles from 2H‐Chromene Hemiacetals by Using a Modified Passerini‐Type Reaction
Authors: Huang Deng‐Ming , Li Hui‐Jing , Wang Quanfu , Yan Peisheng , Wu Yan‐Chao
Published: September 2018

A modified Passerini‐type reaction has been developed for the facile synthesis of 2‐(2H‐chromenyl)‐oxazoles, in which 2H‐chromene hemiacetals instead of the usually used aldehydes were adopted as the key substrates. Derivation of a 2‐(2H‐chromenyl)‐oxazole to the respective 2H‐chromene peptide and 1‐(2H‐chromenyl)‐furan was further accomplished.
Formulation of process improvement knowledge: 7 components of a good PI story
Authors: Norimatsu So , Endo Kiyoshi , Usugi Makoto , Niwa Aiichiro , Tange Koichi
Published: September 2018

The authors have been working on establishment of a knowledge structure for process improvement (PI) at “Japan SPI Consortium”. Our objective is to store useful knowledge, to provide mechanisms for their usage, and to encourage creation of new knowledge. During our efforts to extract, categorize and consolidate knowledge from the presentation materials at our conferences, we saw problems with respect to the coverage of knowledge expressed in the experiences. To solve this issue, we devised a knowledge model that consists of seven information elements as a representation, and then introduced a standard template to be used when submitting a proposal to the conference. As a result, statistically significant change in the knowledge coverage was observed, and the amount of information has increased for items such as causal analysis, verification and validation of process improvement over the successive conferences. Positive feedback was obtained from proposal reviewers and conference participants for improved understandability. Percentage of successful stories has also increased among the presentations.
The inter‐rater and intra‐rater reliability of a recently developed equation to determine liver volume using three simple two‐dimensional ultrasound measurements
Authors: Childs Jessie , Lamb Kathryn
Published: September 2018

Introduction

A reliable way to measure the size of the adult liver is valuable for numerous reasons, including the diagnosis of disease and the tracking of disease or response to treatment or intervention over time. This study sought to determine the intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability of a recently developed equation to calculate liver volume using three simple two‐dimensional (2D) ultrasound measurements: A dome to tip measurement in the midclavicular line (A), an anterior to posterior measurement in the midclavicular line (B) and an anterior to posterior measurement in the midline (C), placed into the equation 343.71 + [0.84 × A × B × C]. While the three measures have been shown to be reliable, it is also important to determine the reliability of the equation as there is potential for error to be magnified by the multiplication process.

Methods

Two examiners acquired two ultrasound images of the liver of each participant, performed the three measurements and calculated the liver volume using the equation. One examiner repeated the images and measurements.

Results

All measurements demonstrated high intra‐rater reliability [intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICCs) 0.851–0.972] with the volume equation having an ICC of 0.954 and limits of agreement of 178.7 cm3. All measurements also demonstrated high inter‐rater reliability (ICCs 0.761–0.954) with the volume equation having an ICC value of 0.918 and limits of agreement of 246.4 cm3.

Conclusion

The liver volume equation can be reliably performed by both the same rater and different raters.
HeteroMeth: A Database of Cell-to-Cell Heterogeneity in DNA Methylation
Authors: Huan Qing , Zhang Yuliang , Wu Shaohuan , Qian Wenfeng
Published: September 2018

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark that plays a vital role in gene expression and cell differentiation. The average DNA methylation level among a group of cells has been extensively documented. However, the cell-to-cell heterogeneity in DNA methylation, which reflects the differentiation of epigenetic status among cells, remains less investigated. Here we established a gold standard of the cell-to-cell heterogeneity in DNA methylation based on single-cell bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) data. With that, we optimized a computational pipeline for estimating the heterogeneity in DNA methylation from bulk BS-seq data. We further built HeteroMeth, a database for searching, browsing, visualizing, and downloading the data for heterogeneity in DNA methylation for a total of 141 samples in humans, mice, Arabidopsis, and rice. Three genes are used as examples to illustrate the power of HeteroMeth in the identification of unique features in DNA methylation. The optimization of the computational strategy and the construction of the database in this study complement the recent experimental attempts on single-cell DNA methylomes and will facilitate the understanding of epigenetic mechanisms underlying cell differentiation and embryonic development. HeteroMeth is publicly available at http://qianlab.genetics.ac.cn/HeteroMeth.
Does the Machine Need a Ghost? Corporate Agents as Nonconscious Kantian Moral Agents
Authors: HESS KENDY M.
Published: September 2018

Does Kantian moral agency require phenomenal consciousness? More to the point, can firms (and other highly organized collectives) be Kantian moral agents—bound by Kantian obligations—in the absence of consciousness? After sketching the mechanics of my account of corporate agents, I consider three increasingly demanding accounts of Kantian moral agency, concluding that corporate agents can meet each successively higher threshold. They can (1) act on universalizable principles and treat humanity as an end in itself; (2) give such principlesto themselves,treattheir own‘humanity’ as an end itself, and act out of respect for the law; and (3) to the extent necessary, draw on empathically generated information and insights to inflect their performance, all in the absence of phenomenal consciousness. I close by rejecting two further arguments that phenomenal consciousness is nonetheless conceptually or practically necessary for Kantian moral agency.
A space–time integral minimisation method for the reconstruction of velocity fields from measured scalar fields
Authors: Gillissen Jurriaan J. J. , Vilquin Alexandre , Kellay Hamid , Bouffanais Roland , Yue Dick K. P.
Published: September 2018

Scalar image velocimetry (SIV) is the technique to extract velocity vectors from scalar field measurements. The usual technique involves minimising a cost functional, that penalises the deviation from the scalar conservation equation. This approach requires the measured scalar field to be sufficiently resolved and relatively noise free, such that space and time derivatives of the measured scalar field can be accurately evaluated. We quantify these requirements for a synthetic two-dimensional (2-D) turbulent flow field by evaluating the velocity reconstruction accuracy as a function of the temporal and spatial resolution and the noise level. We propose an improved SIV scheme, that reconstructs not only the velocity field but also the scalar field, which does not require approximating the space and time derivatives of the measured scalar field. Improved velocity reconstruction is demonstrated for the 2-D synthetic field. We furthermore apply the scheme to interferograms of the thickness field of a falling soap film, where 2-D turbulence is generated by an array of cylindrical obstacles. The statistics of the reconstructed velocity field are within 10 % of laser Doppler velocimetry measurements.
Unstable wake dynamics of rectangular flat-backed bluff bodies with inclination and ground proximity
Authors: Bonnavion Guillaume , Cadot Olivier
Published: September 2018

The paper investigates experimentally the global wake dynamics of a simplified three-dimensional ground vehicle at a Reynolds number of $Re\simeq 4.0\times 10^{5}$. The after-body has a blunt rectangular trailing edge leading to a massive flow separation. Both the inclination (yaw and pitch angles) and the distance to the ground (ground clearance) are accurately adjustable. Two different aspect ratios of the rectangular base are considered; wider than it is tall (minor axis perpendicular to the ground) and taller than it is wide (major axis perpendicular to the ground). Measurements of the spatial distribution of the pressure at the base and velocity fields in the wake are used as topological indicators of the flow. Sensitivity analyses of the base pressure gradient expressed in polar form (modulus and phase) varying ground clearance, yaw and pitch are performed. Above a critical ground clearance and whatever the inclination is, the modulus is always found to be large due to the permanent static symmetry-breaking instability, and slightly smaller when aligned with the minor axis of the base rather than when aligned with the major axis. The instability can be characterized with a unique wake mode, quantified by this modulus (asymmetry strength) and a phase (wake orientation) which is the key ingredient of the global wake dynamics. An additional deep rear cavity that suppresses the static instability allows a basic flow to be characterized. It is shown that both the inclination and the ground clearance constrain the phase dynamics of the unstable wake in such way that the component of the pressure gradient aligned with the minor axis of the rectangular base equals that of the basic flow. Meanwhile, the other component related to the major axis adjusts to preserve the large modulus imposed by the instability. In most cases, the dynamics explores only two possible opposite values of the component along the major axis. Their respective probability depends on the geometrical environment of the wake: base shape, body inclination, ground proximity and body supports. An expression for the lateral force coefficients taking into account the wake instability is proposed.
An Assembly + Ensemble x.y: Leung, Miller, Harrison, Finnissy. St John's Waterloo, London
Authors: Barry Robert
Published: September 2018

‘Gently rumbling without direction’, a programme note appended to the first part of Cassandra Miller's solo for piano Philip the Wanderer, might equally have stood in as descriptor for tonight's programme tout court. This is not meant as a criticism. Time's arrow, the vector of narratives real or implied, may well be the most burdensome yet most easily sloughed off (and perhaps least missed) item of nineteenth-century baggage to be jettisoned by composers over the last century or so. What tonight's collaboration between An Assembly and Ensemble x.y (led and programmed by the increasingly omnipresent wunderkind of British new music, Jack Sheen) offered up was a quite different approach, a different way through the passage of time. Less music as organised sound; more sound in itself a means for organising time.
Mark Andre, Wunderzaichen. Oper Stuttgart
Authors: Jones Stephanie
Published: September 2018

On the 13 May 2018, under the beautiful, celestial, fresco ceiling of the city's opera house, the highly acclaimed Oper Stuttgart produced a captivating revival of composer Mark Andre's Wunderzaichen (2008–2014; Wunder, ‘miracle’, and Zaichen, old German for ‘sign’). The protagonist, ‘Johannes’, is a ‘speech role’, and André Jung met the challenge with a modest, yet rigorous, intellect. Julia Bauer, as ‘Maria’, displayed a sensitive and virtuosic vocal ability. The orchestra, under the baton of Sylvain Cambreling, mastered the majestically complex signatures of Andre's soundworld with commendable accuracy and a fluid simplicity.
Processing foreign-accented speech in a second language: Evidence from ERPs during sentence comprehension in bilinguals
Authors: GREY SARAH , SCHUBEL LAURA C. , MCQUEEN JAMES M. , VAN HELL JANET G.
Published: September 2018

This study examined electrophysiological correlates of sentence comprehension of native-accented and foreign-accented speech in a second language (L2), for sentences produced in a foreign accent different from that associated with the listeners' L1. Bilingual speaker-listeners process different accents in their L2 conversations, but the effects on real-time L2 sentence comprehension are unknown. Dutch–English bilinguals listened to native American-English accented sentences and foreign (and for them unfamiliarly-accented) Chinese-English accented sentences while EEG was recorded. Behavioral sentence comprehension was highly accurate for both native-accented and foreign-accented sentences. ERPs showed different patterns for L2 grammar and semantic processing of native- and foreign-accented speech. For grammar, only native-accented speech elicited an Nref. For semantics, both native- and foreign-accented speech elicited an N400 effect, but with a delayed onset across both accent conditions. These findings suggest that the way listeners comprehend native- and foreign-accented sentences in their L2 depends on their familiarity with the accent.
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in a large Italian catchment area: a school-based population study within the ASDEU project
Authors: Narzisi A. , Posada M. , Barbieri F. , Chericoni N. , Ciuffolini D. , Pinzino M. , Romano R. , Scattoni M.L. , Tancredi R. , Calderoni S. , Muratori F.
Published: September 2018

Aims

This study aims to estimate Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) prevalence in school-aged children in the province of Pisa (Italy) using the strategy of the ASD in the European Union (ASDEU) project.

Methods

A multistage approach was used to identify cases in a community sample (N = 10 138) of 7–9-year-old children attending elementary schools in Pisa – Italy. First, the number of children with a disability certificate was collected from the Local Health Authority and an ASD diagnosis was verified by the ASDEU team. Second, a Teacher Nomination form (TN) to identify children at risk for ASD was filled in by teachers who joined the study and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) was filled in by the parents of children identified as positive by the TN; a comprehensive assessment, which included the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition, was performed for children with positive TN and SCQ⩾9.

Results

A total of 81 children who had a disability certificate also had ASD (prevalence: 0.79%, i.e. 1/126). Specifically, 66 children (57 males and nine females; 62% with intellectual disability –ID-) were certified with ASD, whereas another 15 (11 males and four females; 80% with ID) were recognised as having ASD among those certified with another neurodevelopmental disorder. Considering the population of 4417 (children belonging to schools which agreed to participate in the TN/SCQ procedure) and using only the number of children certified with ASD, the prevalence (38 in 4417) was 0.86%, i.e. one in 116. As far as this population is concerned, the prevalence rises to 1% if we consider the eight new cases (six males and two females; no subject had ID) identified among children with no pre-existing diagnoses and to 1.15%, i.e., one in 87, if probabilistic estimation is used.

Conclusions

This is the first population-based ASD prevalence study conducted in Italy so far and its results indicate a prevalence of ASD in children aged 7–9 years of about one in 87. This finding may help regional, national and international health planners to improve ASD policies for ASD children and their families in the public healthcare system.
Intake of Vitamins and Minerals from Voluntarily Fortified Foods in School Children in Central-Eastern Poland
Authors: Sicińska Ewa , Kałuża Joanna , Januszko Olga , Kurek Katarzyna , Rolf Katarzyna , Pietruszka Barbara
Published: September 2018

Abstract. Objective: To estimate vitamin and mineral intakes from voluntarily fortified foods (VFFs) in relation to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) in children aged 6 – 12. Methods: The study was conducted among 677 school children from Central-Eastern Poland. Data on VFFs consumption were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire containing 58 food items available on the Polish market; the content of nutrients in VFFs was estimated using the producers labelling declaration. The amounts of nutrients consumed from VFFs were compared to DRI and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs). The distribution of nutrient intakes according to the percentage of DRI categories (<20%, 20 – 39.9%, 40 – 59.9%, 60 – 79.9%, 80 – 99.9%, 100 – 119%, and >120%) was investigated. Results: In our study, 78.3% (n = 530) of children were classified as VFF-consumers. The most often consumed groups of VFFs were cereal products and juices/non-alcoholic beverages (92.5% and 76.6% of children, respectively). The amounts of vitamin D intake were negligible (92.5% of children did not exceed 20% of DRI from VFFs); vitamins A, E, B12 and calcium were small (>60% did not exceed 40% of DRI); vitamins B1, B2, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and iron were moderate (>25% consumed 80% of DRI or above); while vitamins C, B6 and biotin were high (>40% consumed 100% of DRI or above). Intake above ULs was observed for niacin and folic acid (2.6% and 1.1% of children, respectively). Conclusions: Substantial differences between the VFFs contribution of various micronutrients to the DRIs were observed. Consumption of VFFs may prevent inadequate intakes for the majority of nutrients.

Keywords: children, DRI, inadequate intake, minerals, fortified foods, vitamins
Longitudinal Development of Poleward Boundary Intensifications (PBIs) of Auroral Emission
Authors: Ohtani S. , Motoba T. , Gjerloev J. W. , Ruohoniemi J. M. , Donovan E. F. , Yoshikawa A.
Published: September 2018

We have investigated the longitudinal propagation and extension of the poleward boundary intensifications (PBIs) of auroral emission by examining four events, Events 1–4, which show different spatiotemporal structures. In Event 1 an auroral form extended both eastward and westward immediately following the arrival of a fast polar cap flow and became dynamic as the polar cap flow enhancement continued. The PBI extended 3 hr in local time in a few minutes, which questions the conventional idea that the PBIs are an ionospheric manifestation of distant reconnection. In Events 2 and 3, an auroral form was already dynamic and was collocated with an upward field‐aligned current (FAC), which, along with an adjacent downward FAC, formed a longitudinal flow channel confined near the poleward boundary of the auroral oval. Auroral structures propagated in the direction of this longitudinal convection flow. In Event 4, as a transient westward convection flow arrived, a new auroral form developed and extended also westward but noticeably faster than the convection flow, and it faded as it extended. These results suggest that the longitudinal ionospheric convection plays a critical role in the formation and development of the PBIs. They are consistent with a recently proposed idea that the PBIs are an effect of the ionospheric electrostatic polarization, which deflects the enhanced polar cap flow from equatorward to along the auroral oval at its poleward boundary. The contrast between Events 1 and 4 suggests that morphological differences of the PBIs reflect different durations and intensities of the polar cap flow enhancement.
Opposite Subduction Polarity in Adjacent Plate Segments
Authors: Peral Mireia , Király Ágnes , Zlotnik Sergio , Funiciello Francesca , Fernàndez Manel , Faccenna Claudio , Vergés Jaume
Published: September 2018

Active and fossil subduction systems consisting of two adjacent plates with opposite retreating directions occur in several areas on Earth, as the Mediterranean or Western Pacific. The goal of this work is to better understand the first‐order plate dynamics of these systems using the results of experimental models. The laboratory model is composed of two separate plates made of silicon putty representing the lithosphere, on top of a tank filled with glucose syrup representing the mantle. The set of experiments is designed to test the influence of the width of plates and the initial separation between them on the resulting trench velocities, deformation of plates, and mantle flow. Results show that the mantle flow induced by both plates is asymmetric relative to the axis of each plate causing a progressive merging of the toroidal cells that prevents a steady state phase of the subduction process and generates a net outward drag perpendicular to the plates. Trench velocities increase when trenches approach each other and decrease when they separate after their intersection. The trench curvature of both plates increases linearly with time during the entire evolution of the process regardless their width and initial separation. The interaction between the return flows associated with each retreating plate, particularly in the interplate region, is stronger for near plate configurations and correlates with variations of rollback velocities. We propose that the inferred first‐order dynamics of the presented analog models can provide relevant clues to understand natural complex subduction systems.
Reframing Future Risks of Extreme Heat in the United States
Authors: Wobus C. , Zarakas C. , Malek P. , Sanderson B. , Crimmins A. , Kolian M. , Sarofim M. , Weaver C. P.
Published: September 2018

The goal of this study is to reframe the analysis and discussion of extreme heat projections to improve communication of future extreme heat risks in the United States. We combine existing data from 31 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 models to examine future exposure to extreme heat for global average temperatures of 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 °C above a preindustrial baseline. We find that throughout the United States, historically rare extreme heat events become increasingly common in the future as global temperatures rise and that the depiction of exposure depends in large part on whether extreme heat is defined by absolute or relative metrics. For example, for a 4 °C global temperature rise, parts of the country may never see summertime temperatures in excess of 100 °F, but virtually all of the country is projected to experience more than 4 weeks per summer with temperatures exceeding their historical summertime maximum. All of the extreme temperature metrics we explored become more severe with increasing global average temperatures. However, a moderate climate scenario delays the impacts projected for a 3 °C world by almost a generation relative to the higher scenario and prevents the most extreme impacts projected for a 4 °C world.
Investigation of Unusual Solar Flare Effect on the Global Ionospheric Current System
Authors: Annadurai N. M. N. , Hamid N. S. A. , Yamazaki Y. , Yoshikawa A.
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we present our investigation of geomagnetic crochets observed following the X‐class solar flare events on 9 August 2011 (X6.9) and 24 September 2011 (X1.4). Both events occurred during geomagnetically quiet times (Kp ≤ 3). The analysis of the geomagnetic crochets near the magnetic equator revealed very different responses in the ionospheric currents between these two events. During the 9 August 2011 event, a reduction of the eastward equatorial electrojet was observed in all daytime stations studied, while the daytime eastward equatorial electrojet was observed to enhance during the 24 September 2011 event. A spherical harmonic analysis was applied to the observations from nearly 160 ground stations at middle and low latitudes to derive the equivalent ionospheric current system for the geomagnetic crochets as well as background solar‐quiet (Sq) variations for both events. The equivalent current system of the geomagnetic crochets for the 24 September 2011 event showed a similar pattern with the background Sq current system and thus can be attributed to the enhancement of Sq currents. However, the crochet current system for the 9 August 2011 event revealed a different pattern from the background Sq current system in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is suggested that unusual geomagnetic crochets during the 9 August 2011 event may be dominated by the ionospheric currents at D‐region altitudes.
Does the Peak Response of the Ionospheric F2 Region Plasma Lag the Peak of 27‐Day Solar Flux Variation by Multiple Days?
Authors: Ren Dexin , Lei Jiuhou , Wang Wenbin , Burns Alan , Luan Xiaoli , Dou Xiankang
Published: September 2018

In this study, the in situ electron density measurements from the Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) and solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation from the Solar Extreme Ultraviolet Experiment instrument on board the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetic and Dynamics satellite, both with a time resolution of 1.5 hr, are used to explore the peak response of the ionospheric F2 region plasma to the peak of 27‐day solar EUV flux variation. The time delays of in situ electron density changes obtained from the CHAMP satellite in response to 27‐day solar EUV flux changes vary from 0 to about 3 days. Meanwhile, the Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model simulations driven by the measured EUV flux and the actual geomagnetic activity show similar time delays as those observed in the CHAMP measurements. Further simulations reveal that the geomagnetic activity greatly affects the determination of the ionospheric time delay to the 27‐day solar EUV flux variations. Besides, the solar zenith angle change within the solar rotation interval can cause large latitudinal differences in the time delay. The ionospheric time delay to the pure 27‐day solar EUV flux variation is less than 1 day and slightly increases with latitude, when geomagnetic activity and seasonal variations are eliminated in the simulation. The simulation results further suggest that the ionospheric response time is associated with the photochemical, dynamic, and electrodynamic processes in the ionosphere‐thermosphere system.
Selective Attenuation of Lightning‐Generated Whistlers at Extralow Frequencies: DEMETER Spacecraft Observations
Authors: Záhlava J. , Němec F. , Santolík O. , Kolmašová I. , Parrot M. , Kouba D.
Published: September 2018

Frequency‐time spectrograms measured by the Detection of Electro‐Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions (DEMETER) spacecraft (2004–2010, altitude about 700 km) at frequencies below 20 kHz sometimes contain lightning‐generated whistlers whose intensity is significantly reduced at specific frequencies. The frequencies of the reduced intensity vary smoothly over the event duration, forming apparent curves in frequency‐time spectrograms. Events at frequencies higher than the Earth‐ionosphere waveguide cutoff frequency were explained by the interference of the first few waveguide modes of lightning‐generated spherics propagating therein (Záhlava et al., 2015, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA021607. Here we present an analysis of events observed at frequencies lower than about 1 kHz. Altogether, we analyze 263 events identified at the times when DEMETER operated in the burst mode. The vast majority of the events (95%) took place during the nighttime, and they occurred more frequently during spring/autumn than during winter/summer. We present an overview of event properties. Moreover, measurements of all six electromagnetic field components performed by DEMETER allow us to perform a detailed wave analysis. It is shown that the emissions propagate with high wave normal angles inclined toward the Earth. We suggest that the events might be due to the wave propagation in the ionospheric waveguide formed around the refractive index maximum at the altitude of about 105 km.
Timing of Okhotsk Sea Plate Collision With Eurasia Plate: Zircon U‐Pb Age Constraints From the Sakhalin Island, Russian Far East
Authors: Zhao Pan , Alexandrov Igor , Jahn Bor‐ming , Ivin Vitaly
Published: September 2018

The Late Mesozoic to Cenozoic evolution of Northeast Asia involves successive subduction of the Pacific oceanic crust and amalgamation of the Eurasia, North American, and Okhotsk Sea Plates. The timing of plate collision is essential for understanding the tectonic evolution of Northeast Asia. In this study, we focus on the Okhotsk Sea Plate collision with the Eurasia Plate along the Sakhalin Island, Russian Far East, which is a highly controversial problem, especially about the timing of collision. In order to determine exact timing for this collision, we report zircon U‐Pb data from both the East Sakhalin accretionary complex and postcollisional granitic plutons in the Sakhalin Island. Detrital zircon data from four metasedimentary rocks show that the Sikhote‐Alin orogenic belt is the main provenance for the East Sakhalin accretionary complex. Meanwhile, the youngest detrital zircon age constrains the maximum depositional age of East Sakhalin accretionary complex later than 49 Ma. Both Langeri and Val'za plutons are made of peraluminous S‐type granite. Four granitic samples yielded consistent ages at 36–38 Ma, indicating that both plutons were emplaced at the middle Eocene. Their generation is considered to have been derived through crustal anatexis of accretionary wedge in the lower crust shortly after tectonic thickening caused by the Okhotsk Sea Plate collision with the Eurasia Plate. Consequently, our age data constrain that the Okhotsk Sea Plate and Eurasia Plate collision occurred in the middle Eocene between 49 and 38 Ma. This age range is consistent with late Eocene uncomformity identified in the Sakhalin Island and Okhotsk Sea.
On the Nature of Higher‐Order Ambient Seismic Field Correlations
Authors: Sheng Yixiao , Nakata Nori , Beroza Gregory C.
Published: September 2018

We find that higher‐order ambient seismic field correlations, specifically C3 (correlation of the coda of correlations) of long‐duration data sets from Southern California are symmetric despite the fact that the background wavefield is strongly directional. We demonstrate that this symmetry arises primarily from the structure of the C3 time series analysis rather than the diffuse character of the coda. For that reason, the resulting ambient‐field Green's function symmetry may not be diagnostic of correlation quality. We propose an alternative prestack processing scheme that constructs C3 correlations from each C1 (cross correlation) coda time window, but stacks the results only at the final step of processing. Prestack C3 leads to faster convergence and extracts arrivals at higher frequencies than standard poststack processing.
Characteristics of Optically Thin Coastal Florida Cumuli Derived From Surface‐Based Lidar Measurements
Authors: Delgadillo Rodrigo , Voss Kenneth J. , Zuidema Paquita
Published: September 2018

The optical depths and sizes of optically thin passive shallow cumuli are characterized with a micropulse lidar. The measurements are from a coastal south Florida location spanning a 10‐week synoptically suppressed winter time period with almost no upper‐level clouds present. Clouds are distinguished from aerosol through visual comparison to zenith‐viewing time‐lapse camera images, establishing an instrument‐specific particle backscatter coefficient threshold. Sun photometers provide a continuous independent aerosol optical depth estimate applied within the lidar retrieval of cloud optical depth. The focus is on clouds that do not attenuate the lidar signal. Clouds with optical depths less than one constitute more than 13% of the sampled data set, with decreasing optical depths occurring more frequently. Most of the clouds are less than 60 m thick and are located below 1 km. The optically thin regions occur most frequently in individual 15‐s samples, corresponding to a horizontal width of less than 100 m, with occasional stratiform segments extending up to 2 km. Many segments border optically thicker regions, but some are self‐contained, reflecting small‐scale humidity variations near‐saturation. To our knowledge, this study is the first to apply micropulse lidar data toward characterizing these low, shallow, broken clouds, too small for robust characterization from space but whose ubiquitiousness renders them radiatively important.