bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Executive Overconfidence and Securities Class Actions
Authors: Banerjee Suman , Humphery-Jenner Mark , Nanda Vikram , Tham Mandy
Published: October 2018

Overconfident CEOs/senior executives tend to have excessively positive views of their own skills and their company’s future performance. We hypothesize that overconfident managers are more likely to engage in reckless or intentional actions/disclosures that give rise to securities class actions (SCAs). Empirical evidence is supportive: Overconfident CEOs/senior executives increase SCA likelihood, though litigation risk is ameliorated through improved governance, such as following the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002. Post-SCA, companies are less likely to hire an overconfident CEO. Following an SCA, overconfident CEOs appear to moderate behavior and to reduce their litigation risk.
Tone-induced cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials: comparing abnormalities in traumatic and non-traumatic vestibular disease
Authors: Longridge N S , Mallinson A I
Published: October 2018

Background

Otolithic function is poorly understood, but vestibular-evoked myogenic potential testing has allowed the documentation of pathology in patients who complain of imbalance.

Methods

Seventy-four patients with traumatic and non-traumatic vestibular disease were sequentially assessed at a tertiary referral neuro-otology unit in a teaching hospital. A detailed history of all patients was taken and standard vestibular assessment was conducted using the technique described in the companion paper. The results of both groups of patients were analysed and the rate of abnormalities was assessed.

Results

There was a high rate of abnormalities, including bilateral pathology, in a significant number of patients. Many patients in both groups inexplicably failed to recover.

Conclusion

Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials are helpful in documenting pathology, including bilateral pathology, which is outlined in the literature as being exceedingly difficult to compensate for.
ROVvstrawling approaches in the study of benthic communities: the case ofPennatula rubra(Cnidaria: Pennatulacea)
Authors: Chimienti Giovanni , Angeletti Lorenzo , Rizzo Lucia , Tursi Angelo , Mastrototaro Francesco
Published: October 2018

Megabenthic soft bottom communities of trawlable grounds have been studied since the first few decades of the last century, thanks to trawl fishing technologies. Despite providing an extensive amount of presence data, trawling cannot be considered reliable from a quantitative point of view, frequently giving only weak information about sessile species density, large and small-scale distribution and main habitat features. The recent development of visual technologies on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) can give a more accurate approach for the study of mega-epibenthic communities. The present study reports the application of both ROV imaging and trawling approaches for the study of a large aggregation (i.e. field) of the red sea penPennatula rubrain the Ionian Sea. Density, biomass and population structure were studied in the same population ofP. rubra. The density assessed by ROV was significantly higher than that estimated with a three-year series of trawling surveys. Trawling gear efficiency in the removal ofP. rubrawas low overall. Incidental mortality can be very high due to damage to those specimens that encounter the trawl net but are not directly captured. However, sampling of several colonies by trawling was necessary to establish biometric correlations to estimates of size and biomass from ROV imaging. Trawling catch abundance/biomass data could be useful to identify areas of higher concentration of sea pens, while ROV imaging can be used to monitor these fields in a non-destructive manner that would be consistent with protection measures.
Orthographic mapping instruction to facilitate reading and spelling in Brazilian emergent readers
Authors: SARGIANI RENAN DE ALMEIDA , EHRI LINNEA CARLSON , MALUF MARIA REGINA
Published: October 2018

An experiment and a follow-up study were conducted with Brazilian Portuguese-speaking kindergartners (N=90), mean age 53 months, to examine whether emergent readers benefit more from instruction in orthographic mapping (OM) of phonemes than OM of syllables at the outset of learning to read and write, and whether the addition of articulatory gestures in the OM training of phonemes enhances the benefit. In the experiment, children received instruction in small groups in one of four conditions: OM of phonemes with letters and articulation (OMP+A); OM of phonemes with letters but no articulation (OMP); OM of syllables and their spellings (OMS); and no OM control. Results showed that the OMP+A group outperformed the others in phonemic segmentation, reading, and spelling. On literacy assessments 1.5 years later, only the OMP+A group remembered how to segment words into phonemes. We conclude that despite the greater salience and accessibility of syllables than phonemes in spoken Portuguese, teaching phonemic OM better prepares emergent readers to move into reading and spelling than teaching syllabic OM. Moreover, instruction that includes articulation as well as letters to segment words is especially effective. Results support a graphophonemic connectionist theory of emergent reading and spelling.
Ethnicity and grandparental child care in the United Kingdom
Authors: Bordone Valeria , Evandrou Maria , Vlachantoni Athina
Published: October 2018

Caring for one's grandchildren has become a more common experience for individuals partly as a result of a longer overlap between the lives of grandparents and their grandchildren. Existing research shows that around 50 per cent of grandparents engage in some grandparental child care in most European countries, however, this proportion is higher among older people with a migrant background, partly due to greater economic necessity among migrant families. Research has also highlighted ethnic differences in parents’ child-care selection, even after controlling for their socio-economic status. Building on these strands of work, this paper investigates the differences in the use of (grandparental) child care among parents from different Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups in the United Kingdom, using data from Understanding Society. The results show that parents from Other White, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and African communities are less likely to use child care than White British parents, while the opposite is true for Caribbean parents. However, among parents using child care, individuals from the Other White, Caribbean and African groups are less likely than the White British majority to be using grandparental child care as a supplement to other child-care types, or on its own. Ethnic differentials in the use of child careper seand grandparental child care in particular, have significant policy implications, and may mask other kinds of ethnic differences.
Spousal care-giving arrangements in Europe. The role of gender, socio-economic status and the welfare state
Authors: Bertogg Ariane , Strauss Susanne
Published: October 2018

Spouses (and partners) are the most important source of care in old age. Informal care for frail spouses is provided by both sexes and across all socio-economic backgrounds and welfare policy contexts. There are, however, interesting differences as to whether spouses care alone, receive informal support from other family members or formal support from professional helpers, or outsource the care of their spouse completely. The present article contributes to the literature by differentiating between solo spousal care-giving and shared or outsourced care-giving arrangements, as well as between formal and informal care support. Moreover, we show how care-giving arrangements vary with gender, socio-economic status and welfare policy. Adding to previous research, we compare 17 countries and their expenditures on two elder-care schemes: Cash-for-Care and Care-in-Kind. The empirical analyses draw on the most recent wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data from 2015. Our results show that men have a higher propensity to share care-giving than women, albeit only with informal supporters. As expected, welfare policy plays a role insofar as higher expenditure on Cash-for-Care schemes encourage informally outsourced care-giving arrangements, whereas Care-in-Kind reduce the likelihood for informally shared or outsourced care-giving arrangements. Moreover, the influence of these welfare policy measures differs between individuals of different socio-economic status but not between men and women.
How Theatre Encourages Well-being – and Can Engage a Wider Audience
Authors: Vandenbroucke Russell , Meeks Suzanne
Published: October 2018

A recent study of single-ticket buyers and subscribers at a major regional theatre – Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky – focused on measuring quantitatively the psychological benefits of engaging with theatre and gathering qualitatively observations by focus groups. Both confirmed the hypothesis that regular attendance promotes flourishing and meaningful social interaction, psychological stimulation, and positive emotions. The study also affirms that attending theatre contributes to a shared sense of community, this at a time when such community appears starkly diminished in the United States. In addition, focus groups wished that audiences better reflected the demographic diversity outside the auditorium. Evident disparities include urban vs. rural, prosperous vs. not, more education vs. less, black vs. white – reflecting those that splinter national politics. One microcosm of one theatre's audience provokes suggestions to foster a more democratic audience and plural istic culture that endeavours to cross rather than ignore the divides. Russell Vandenbroucke is Professor of Theatre at the University of Louisville and Director of its Peace, Justice & Con flict Transformation programme. He was previously Artistic Director of Chicago's Northlight Theatre. Suzanne Meeks is Professor and Chair of the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department, University of Louisville. Her research focuses on mental health in later life.
Preferences and Prudential Reasons
Authors: DORSEY DALE
Published: October 2018

Preference-based theories of prudential value seem to generate an absurd result when combined with commonplace platitudes about prudential rationality: it would seem that if the satisfaction of our preferences is the source (or even a source) of prudential value, then prudential rationality must be neutral (in, at least, a troubling range of cases) between taking steps to achieve the objects of one's preferences and merely engineering one's preferences to take as their object(s) that which obtains. Either way, one seems to conform to the prudential demand to promote one's well-being. But this is widely held to be counterintuitive. In this article, I argue that this verdict arises only given eminently controvertible interpretations of a preference-based axiology and of the constitution of prudential reasons.
Trauma and resilient functioning among Syrian refugee children
Authors: Yaylaci Fatima Tuba
Published: October 2018

Following the civil war in Syria, there has been a growing interest in the impact of war, violent conflict, and refuge on the development and mental health of refugee children in general and Syrian refugee children in particular. The objective of this paper is threefold: (a) to critically review the existing literature on the psychological functioning of Syrian refugee children, with a particular focus on those residing in the urban areas or camps in Turkey; (b) to identify the main theoretical and methodological problems of this emerging literature; and (c) to suggest guidelines for how to improve research and practice in this field. The reviewed literature predominantly focuses on psychological trauma, trauma-related symptomatology or other maladaptive functioning in children, and psychosocial interventions conducted toward alleviating these issues. This paper will summarize the research findings in the above-mentioned topics to discern what can be known from the existing literature on Syrian refugee children.
Tourniquet Training Program Assessed by a New Performance Score
Authors: Martinez Thibault , Duron Sandrine , Schaal Jean-Vivien , Baudoin Yoann , Barbier Olivier , Daban Jean-Louis , Boutonnet Mathieu , Ausset Sylvain , Pasquier Pierre
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Application of a tourniquet is the cornerstone in management of combat-related extremity hemorrhages. Continuous and appropriate training is required to use tourniquets correctly.

Hypothesis

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of a refresher training session, conducted directly in the theater of military operations, on the performance of tourniquet use.

Methods

During their deployment (October 2015-April 2016) in the Central African Republic, a first simulation session evaluated soldiers from two combats platoons for the application of the SOFFT (Special Operation Forces Tactical Tourniquet; Tactical Medical Solutions; Anderson, South California USA) tourniquet. After randomization, a R (+) group underwent a refresher training session, while a R (−) group did not. Two months later, a second simulation session was conducted for both groups: R (+) and R (−). A dedicated score (one to seven points), including delay and effectiveness, evaluated the soldiers’ performance for tourniquet application.

Results

Twenty-six subjects were included in the R (+) group and 24 in the R (−) group. Between the two assessments, the score improved for 61.5% of subjects of the R (+) group and 37.5% subjects of the R (−) group (P=.09). More particularly, the performance score increased from 4.2 (SD=1.4) to 5.5 (SD=0.9; P=.002) in subjects of the R (+) group whose last training for tourniquet application was over six months prior.

Conclusion

A refresher tourniquet training session, conducted directly in a combat zone, is especially effective for soldiers whose last training session was over six months prior. A dedicated score can assess appropriately the performance of tourniquet training.

MartinezT,DuronS,SchaalJV,BaudoinY,BarbierO,DabanJL,BoutonnetM,AussetS,PasquierP.Tourniquet training program assessed by a new performance score.Prehosp Disaster Med.2018;33(5):519–525.
Parent-Reported Child Reactions to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attacks (New York USA) in Relation to Parent Post-Disaster Psychopathology Three Years After the Event
Authors: Pfefferbaum Betty , Simic Zorica , North Carol S.
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Parents are a primary support for children following disasters, even though they face numerous challenges in addressing the physical and social consequences of an event. Parents who are directly exposed to a disaster and those who develop psychiatric disorders post-event are likely to be especially challenged and may be limited in their ability to support their children. This Brief Report describes a pilot study of survivors of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center (New York USA) attacks who reported their own psychosocial consequences and the reactions of their children three years post-event.

Hypotheses

The primary hypothesis of the study was that children’s September 11th reactions would be associated with their parents’ psychiatric status. Secondary hypotheses were that the children’s disaster reactions would be associated with direct exposure to the disaster in children and/or their parents, parent-child separation due to the disaster, and disaster-related school absence.

Methods

Approximately three years after the 2001 World Trade Center attacks, 116 parents recruited from disaster-affected or disaster-related organizations were assessed using structured diagnostic interviews and queried about their children’s (188 youths, aged three to 17 years at the time of the attacks) posttraumatic stress symptoms and behavioral changes.

Results

Almost one-half of the parents had a post-disaster psychiatric disorder, including major depression in 27% and disaster-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 11%. More than three-fourths of the children had at least one disaster-related posttraumatic stress symptom, and more than one-half experienced at least one post-disaster behavior change. A minority of the children were reported to have increased school behavior problems or a decline in their grades. Key correlates of children’s disaster-related posttraumatic stress symptoms and post-disaster behavior changes were parent-child separation due to the disaster and parental post-disaster psychiatric disorders.

Conclusion

Because parents provide primary caretaking and support for children post-disaster, addressing the needs of parents is critical to their ability to assist their children. Reducing parents’ symptoms should increase their emotional availability and enhance their ability to address the needs of their children. Given the challenges in providing disaster interventions directly to children, especially when resources are limited, addressing parent psychopathology and distress (even in the absence of focusing on children’s symptoms) may benefit children.

PfefferbaumB, SimicZ, NorthCS. Parent-reported child reactions to the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks (New York USA) in relation to parent post-disaster psychopathology three years after the event. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(5):558–564.
Drug–drug interactions and clinical considerations with co-administration of antiretrovirals and psychotropic drugs
Authors: Goodlet Kellie J. , Zmarlicka Monika T. , Peckham Alyssa M.
Published: October 2018

Psychotropic medications are frequently co-prescribed with antiretroviral therapy (ART), owing to a high prevalence of psychiatric illness within the population living with HIV, as well as a 7-fold increased risk of HIV infection among patients with psychiatric illness. While ART has been notoriously associated with a multitude of pharmacokinetic drug interactions involving the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, the magnitude and clinical impact of these interactions with psychotropics may range from negligible effects on plasma concentrations to life-threatening torsades de pointes or respiratory depression. This comprehensive review summarizes the currently available information regarding drug–drug interactions between antiretrovirals and pharmacologic agents utilized in the treatment of psychiatric disorders—antidepressants, stimulants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, and treatments for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder—and provides recommendations for their management. Additionally, overlapping toxicities between antiretrovirals and the psychotropic classes are highlighted. Knowledge of the interaction and adverse effect potential of specific antiretrovirals and psychotropics will allow clinicians to make informed prescribing decisions to better promote the health and wellness of this high-risk population.
Architecture, cinema, and images of childhood in 1950s Britain
Authors: Ben Shoshan Liat Savin
Published: October 2018

In 1956, Independent Group member Eduardo Paolozzi, close friend and collaborator of Alison and Peter Smithson, starred in the film Together, directed by Lorenza Mazzetti, who had met him while a student at the Slade School of Fine Art. Strikingly, the imagery and setting of the film shares much in common with the images used by the Smithsons in their work, particularly those by Nigel Henderson, of children playing in the East End. Together is a 52-minute film screened in 1956, as part of Free Cinema programme. East London, with its narrow streets, riversides, docks, and multiple bomb sites, as well as the manner in which this location was shot, expressed the sense of disharmony – even chaos; a scenery patched together out of the remnants of prewar daily routines; a mix of dwellings, cranes, industry, and children running among the ruins. Looking more closely at Free Cinema's use of image and at the postwar concern with childhood allows us to better understand how and why children figured in the Smithsons’ work and how they came to inspire a new creative consciousness in New Brutalism more generally.
Hungarian Managed Care initiatives between 2000 and 2007: regional health outcomes of the Hungarian Care Organizations
Authors: Móczár Csaba , Rurik Imre
Published: October 2018

Background

In Hungary, since 1990, each government has tried to transform and rationalize the structure of health care. One of the reforms was the Care Managing Organization (CMO) programme introduced in 1999.

Objectives

The aim of this paper is to describe the regional, environmental, structural and preliminary health related outcomes of the CMO in Bács-Kiskun County (Central-Eastern Hungary).

Methods

First, cardiovascular screening programmes were organized for pre-screened and randomly selected populations of a total of 4462 persons. Seven years after completing the programmes, regional mortality data were analysed and compared. Second, nutritional and lifestyle counselling programmes with increased physical activity were organized for 2489 overweight or obese patients from the participating primary care practices. Anthropometric and laboratory data were examined after one and two years.

Results

First, for persons with higher cardiovascular risk, appropriate medical treatment was introduced, and after seven years, their mortality rates proved better than the regional and national data. Second, almost all measured anthropometric parameters improved (body mass index, body weight decrease) after the first year and this trend lasted till the end of the second year.

Conclusions

According to the data of the National Health Insurance Fund, the average savings rate for all CMOs for the fiscal years 1999–2007 was 4.94%. The highest rates of savings were realized in chronic and acute inpatient care and medical devices. In the end of 2008, by which time 14 CMOs had already covered 2.1million people, the programme was discontinued by the government, without a comprehensive evaluation of the experience and outcomes.
Primary care chaplaincy: an intervention for complex presentation
Authors: Macdonald Gordon W.
Published: October 2018

Aim

To determine the responsiveness of primary care chaplaincy (PCC) to the current variety of presenting symptoms seen in primary care. This was done with a focus on complex and undifferentiated illness.

Background

Current presentations to primary care are often complex, undifferentiated and display risk factors for social isolation and loneliness. These are frequently associated with loss of well-being and spiritual issues. PCC provides holistic care for such patients but its efficacy is unknown in presentations representative of such issues. There is therefore a need to assess the characteristics of those attending PCC. The effectiveness of PCC relative to the type and number of presenting symptoms should also be analysed whilst evaluating impact on GP workload.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study based on routinely collected data. In total, 164 patients attended PCC; 75 were co-prescribed antidepressants (AD) and 89 were not (No-AD). Pre- and post-PCC well-being was assessed by the Warwick–Edinburgh mental well-being score. Presenting issue(s) data were collected on a separate questionnaire. GP appointment utilisation was measured for three months pre- and post-PCC.

Findings

Those displaying undifferentiated illness and risk factors for social isolation and loneliness accessed PCC. PCC (No-AD) was associated with a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in well-being in all presenting issues. This effect was maintained in those with multiple presenting issues. PCC was associated with a reduction in GP appointment utilisation in those not co-prescribed AD.
Stability of non-proteinogenic amino acids to UV and gamma irradiation
Authors: Rowe Laura , Peller Julie , Mammoser Claire , Davidson Kelly , Gunter Amy , Brown Bayland , Dhar Shilpa
Published: October 2018

Almost all living organisms on Earth utilize the same 20 amino acids to build their millions of different proteins, even though there are hundreds of amino acids naturally occurring on Earth. Although it is likely that both the prebiotic and the current environment of Earth shaped the selection of these 20 proteinogenic amino acids, environmental conditions on extraterrestrial planets and moons are known to be quite different than those on Earth. In particular, the surfaces of planets and moons such as Mars, Europa and Enceladus have a much greater flux of UV and gamma radiation impacting their surface than that of Earth. Thus, if life were to have evolved extraterrestrially, a different lexicon of amino acids may have been selected due to different environmental pressures, such as higher radiation exposure. One fundamental property an amino acid must have in order to be of use to the evolution of life is relative stability. Therefore, we studied the stability of three different proteinogenic amino acids (tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan) as compared with 20 non-proteinogenic amino acids that were structurally similar to the aromatic proteinogenic amino acids, following ultraviolet (UV) light (254, 302, or 365 nm) and gamma-ray irradiation. The degree of degradation of the amino acids was quantified using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS). The result showed that many non-proteinogenic amino acids had either equal or increased stability to certain radiation wavelengths as compared with their proteinogenic counterparts, with fluorinated phenylalanine and tryptophan derivatives, in particular, exhibiting enhanced stability as compared with proteinogenic phenylalanine and tryptophan amino acids following gamma and select UV irradiation.
Circulating maternal and umbilical cord steroid hormone and insulin-like growth factor concentrations in twin and singleton pregnancies
Authors: Houghton L. C. , Lauria M. , Maas P. , Stanczyk F. Z. , Hoover R. N. , Troisi R.
Published: October 2018

In addition to being associated with a higher risk of complications during pregnancy, twinning may also be a proxy for altered hormonal exposure for mothers and twin offspring, with implications for their health later in life. We compared maternal and fetal steroid hormone and insulin-like growth factor concentrations between singleton (n=62) and twin (n=41) pregnancies. Maternal concentrations of androgens, estrogens, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-binding protein (BP)-3 and prolactin were quantified during the third trimester and at delivery, as well as in the fetal circulation at birth. Geometric means accounting for gestational age were calculated for hormone concentrations and compared between matched twin and singleton pregnancies. Most maternal hormone concentrations were modestly higher in twin than in singleton pregnancies in the third trimester (ranging from 8.3% for IGF-1 to 17.1% for estradiol) and at delivery (ranging from 11.1% for IGFBP-3 to 15.2% for estriol). Cord serum hormones were generally similar in twin and singleton pregnancies, except for IGFBP-3, which was 200% lower in twins. The modest differences in maternal hormones in late gestation seem unlikely to explain alterations in hormonally related disease risk in mothers of twins compared with singletons. The large deficit of IGFBP-3 in the fetal circulation of twins at birth may allow for sufficient concentrations of IGF-2 for growth and development in an environment of shared nutritional resources.
A Further Comment on ‘Large-Scale Cognitive GWAS Meta-Analysis Reveals Tissue-Specific Neural Expression and Potential Nootropic Drug Targets’ by Lam et al.
Authors: Hill W. D.
Published: October 2018

Lam et al. (2018) respond to a commentary of their paper entitled ‘Large-Scale Cognitive GWAS Meta-Analysis Reveals Tissue-Specific Neural Expression and Potential Nootropic Drug Targets’ Lam et al. (2017). While Lam et al. (2018) have now provided the recommended quality control metrics for their paper, problems remain. Specifically, Lam et al. (2018) do not dispute that the results of their multi-trait analysis of genome-wide association study (MTAG) analysis has produced a phenotype with a genetic correlation of one with three measures of education, but do claim the associations found are specific to the trait of cognitive ability. In this brief paper, it is empirically demonstrated that the phenotype derived by Lam et al. (2017) is more genetically similar to education than cognitive ability. In addition, it is shown that of the genome-wide significant loci identified by Lam et al. (2017) are loci that are associated with education rather than with cognitive ability.
Numerical Modeling of Injection‐Induced Earthquakes Using Laboratory‐Derived Friction Laws
Authors: Cueto‐Felgueroso Luis , Vila Cristina , Santillán David , Mosquera Juan Carlos
Published: October 2018

Modeling injection‐induced earthquakes requires coupling porous media flow, rock mechanics, and fault friction. Highly nonlinear laboratory‐derived constitutive laws for fault friction pose a major challenge for computational models that couple flow and geomechanics. We present a finite element formulation to simulate injection‐induced earthquake sequences in rate‐and‐state faults embedded in poroelastic media. We simulate all phases of the stick‐slip cycle: from fault reactivation as pressure accumulates near the fault, to earthquake nucleation phase, coseismic rupture propagation and interseismic periods. Our simulations are quasi‐dynamic: we neglect inertia, and adopt the so‐called radiation damping approximation. We perform validation and verification tests based on a simple spring‐block analog that allows straightforward comparison between our 2‐D finite element model and the single‐degree‐of‐freedom dynamics. We also verify our frictional contact algorithm by simulating injection‐induced earthquakes on a slip‐weakening strike‐slip fault. We finally study the impact of different rate‐and‐state laws (aging and slip laws), as well as the role of the degree of poroelastic coupling, by varying the Biot coefficient. We characterize the undrained pressure response triggered by the fast propagation of rupture fronts. Undrained pressure changes during rupture act as an additional coseismic weakening mechanism, controlling the propagation or arrest of the rupture fronts. We find that this feedback between pore pressure and slip propagation, which is absent in uncoupled simulations, leads to distinctively asymmetric rupture patterns in induced earthquakes in poroelastic media. Our results show that capturing the coupling between fault frictional processes and rock poroelastic behavior requires well‐resolved and fully coupled simulations.
MSCs inhibit tumor progression and enhance radiosensitivity of breast cancer cells by down-regulating Stat3 signaling pathway
Authors: He Ningning , Kong Yangyang , Lei Xudan , Liu Yang , Wang Jinhan , Xu Chang , Wang Yan , Du Liqing , Ji Kaihua , wang Qin , Li Zongjin , Liu Qiang
Published: October 2018

The acquisition of radioresistance by breast cancer cells during radiotherapy may lead to cancer recurrence and poor survival. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is activated in breast cancer cells and, therefore, may be an effective target for overcoming therapeutic resistance. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated for use in cancer treatment. Here, we investigated the potential of MSC conditioned medium (MSC-CM) in sensitizing breast cancer to radiotherapy. It was found that MSC-CM could inhibit the level of activated Stat3, suppress cancer growth, and exhibit synergetic effects with radiation treatment in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, MSC-CM reduced the ALDH-positive cancer stem cells (CSCs) population, modulated several potential stem cell markers, and decreased tumor migration, as well as metastasis. These results demonstrate that MSC-CM suppresses breast cancer cells growth and sensitizes cancer cells to radiotherapy through inhibition of the Stat3 signaling pathway, thus, providing a novel strategy for breast cancer therapy by overcoming radioresistance.
Cramming versus threading of long amphiphilic oligomers into a polyaromatic capsule
Authors: Yamashina Masahiro , Kusaba Shunsuke , Akita Munetaka , Kikuchi Takashi , Yoshizawa Michito
Published: October 2018

Oligo(ethylene oxide)s are known as widely useable yet not very interactive amphiphilic compounds. Here we report that the long amphiphilic oligomers are bound by a polyaromatic capsule in two different manners, depending on the chain length. For instance, the shorter pentamer is crammed into the isolated cavity of the capsule, whereas the longer decamer is threaded into the capsule to form a 1:1 host–guest complex in a pseudo-rotaxane fashion. These unusual bindings occur instantly, spontaneously, and quantitatively even in water at room temperature, with relatively high binding constants (Ka > 106 M–1). Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies reveal that enthalpic stabilization is a dominant driving force for both of the complexations through multiple host–guest CH-π and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Furthermore, long oligomers with an average molecular weight of 1000 Da (e.g., 22-mer) are also threaded into the capsules to give pseudo-rotaxane-shaped 2:1 host–guest complexes in water, selectively.
S-nitrosylation of the zinc finger protein SRG1 regulates plant immunity
Authors: Cui Beimi , Pan Qiaona , Clarke David , Villarreal Marisol Ochoa , Umbreen Saima , Yuan Bo , Shan Weixing , Jiang Jihong , Loake Gary J.
Published: October 2018

Nitric oxide (NO) orchestrates a plethora of incongruent plant immune responses, including the reprograming of global gene expression. However, the cognate molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we show a zinc finger transcription factor (ZF-TF), SRG1, is a central target of NO bioactivity during plant immunity, where it functions as a positive regulator. NO accumulation promotesSRG1expression and subsequently SRG1 occupies a repeated canonical sequence within target promoters. An EAR domain enables SRG1 to recruit the corepressor TOPLESS, suppressing target gene expression. Sustained NO synthesis drives SRG1S-nitrosylation predominantly at Cys87, relieving both SRG1 DNA binding and transcriptional repression activity. Accordingly, mutation of Cys87 compromises NO-mediated control of SRG1-dependent transcriptional suppression. Thus, the SRG1-SNO formation may contribute to a negative feedback loop that attenuates the plant immune response. SRG1 Cys87 is evolutionary conserved and thus may be a target for redox regulation of ZF-TF function across phylogenetic kingdoms.
Localizable entanglement as a necessary resource of controlled quantum teleportation
Authors: Barasiński Artur , Arkhipov Ievgen I. , Svozilík Jiří
Published: October 2018

We analyze the controlled teleportation protocol through three-qubit mixed states. In particular, we investigate the relation between the faithfulness of the controlled teleportation scheme and entanglement. While our knowledge concerning controlled teleportation and entanglement in pure states is well established, for mixed states it is considerably much harder task and very little has been done in this field. Here, we present counterintuitive results that provide a new light on controlled teleportation protocol. It is shown that even mixed biseparable states are useful for this protocol along with genuine entangled three-qubit states.
Bioactive Hydrogel Marbles
Authors: Leite Álvaro J. , Oliveira Nuno M. , Song Wenlong , Mano João F.
Published: October 2018

Liquid marbles represented a significant advance in the manipulation of fluids as they used particle films to confine liquid drops, creating a robust and durable soft solid. We exploit this technology to engineering a bioactive hydrogel marble (BHM). Specifically, pristine bioactive glass nanoparticles were chemically tuned to produce biocompatible hydrophobic bioactive glass nanoparticles (H-BGNPs) that shielded a gelatin-based bead. The designed BHM shell promoted the growth of a bone-like apatite layer upon immersion in a physiological environment. The fabrication process allowed the efficient incorporation of drugs and cells into the engineered structure. The BHM provided a simultaneously controlled release of distinct encapsulated therapeutic model molecules. Moreover, the BHM sustained cell encapsulation in a 3D environment as demonstrated by an excellent in vitro stability and cytocompatibility. The engineered structures also showed potential to regulate a pre-osteoblastic cell line into osteogenic commitment. Overall, these hierarchical nanostructured and functional marbles revealed a high potential for future applications in bone tissue engineering.
Author Correction: Accuracy and Precision of Tidal Wetland Soil Carbon Mapping in the Conterminous United States
Authors: Holmquist James R. , Windham-Myers Lisamarie , Bliss Norman , Crooks Stephen , Morris James T. , Megonigal J. Patrick , Troxler Tiffany , Weller Donald , Callaway John , Drexler Judith , Ferner Matthew C. , Gonneea Meagan E. , Kroeger Kevin D. , Schile-Beers Lisa , Woo Isa , Buffington Kevin , Breithaupt Joshua , Boyd Brandon M. , Brown Lauren N. , Dix Nicole , Hice Lyndie , Horton Benjamin P. , MacDonald Glen M. , Moyer Ryan P. , Reay William , Shaw Timothy , Smith Erik , Smoak Joseph M. , Sommerfield Christopher , Thorne Karen , Velinsky David , Watson Elizabeth , Grimes Kristin Wilson , Woodrey Mark
Published: October 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
A dimeric fluorescent protein yields a bright, red-shifted GEVI capable of population signals in brain slice
Authors: Yi Bumjun , Kang Bok Eum , Lee Sungmoo , Braubach Sophie , Baker Bradley J.
Published: October 2018

A bright, red-shifted Genetically Encoded Voltage Indicator (GEVI) was developed using a modified version of the fluorescent protein, tdTomato. Dimerization of the fluorescent domain for ArcLight-type GEVIs has been shown to affect the signal size of the voltage-dependent optical signal. For red-shifted GEVI development, tdTomato was split fusing a single dTomato chromophore to the voltage sensing domain. Optimization of the amino acid length and charge composition of the linker region between the voltage sensing domain and the fluorescent protein resulted in a probe that is an order of magnitude brighter than FlicR1 at a resting potential of −70 mV and exhibits a ten-fold larger change in fluorescence (ΔF) upon 100 mV depolarization of the plasma membrane in HEK 293 cells. Unlike ArcLight, the introduction of charged residues to the exterior of dTomato did not substantially improve the dynamic range of the optical signal. As a result, this new GEVI, Ilmol, yields a 3-fold improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio compared to FlicR1 despite a smaller fractional change in fluorescence of 4% per 100 mV depolarization of the plasma membrane. Ilmol expresses well in neurons resolving action potentials in neuronal cultures and reporting population signals in mouse hippocampal acute brain slice recordings. Ilmol is the brightest red-shifted GEVI to date enabling imaging with 160-fold less light than Archon1 for primary neuron recordings (50 mW/cm2 versus 8 W/cm2) and 600-fold less light than QuasAr2 for mouse brain slice recordings (500 mW/cm2 versus 300 W/cm2). This new GEVI uses a distinct mechanism from other approaches, opening an alternate engineering path to improve sensitivity and speed.
Farnesol-induced hyperbranched morphology with short hyphae and bulbous tips of Coriolus versicolor
Authors: Wang Ke-Feng , Guo Chen , Ju Fang , Samak Nadia A. , Zhuang Guo-Qiang , Liu Chun-Zhao
Published: October 2018

As the first fungal quorum sensing molecule, farnesol-induced morphological transition is usually studied in dimorphic fungi, but in basidiomycetes the morphological changes regulated by farnesol are rarely investigated. In this study, we found that farnesol made the basidiomyceteCoriolus versicolordevelop into a hyperbranched morphology with short hyphae and bulbous tips. Farnesol treatment resulted in a significant increase of intracellular oxidative stress level, which influenced the expression of several morphogenesis-related genes, and thereby led to the morphological changes. High oxidative stress level significantly stimulated the expression of laccase genes for improving intracellular laccase biosynthesis. The resulted hyperbranched morphology further accelerated the secretion of intracellular laccase into culture medium. As a result, extracellular laccase production reached a maximum of 2189.2 ± 54.7 U/L in farnesol-induced cultures, which was 6.8-fold greater than that of control cultures. SDS-PAGE and native-PAGE showed that farnesol increased laccase production by promoting the biosynthesis of three laccase isoforms. Together these results provide new opportunities in not only understanding the farnesol-regulated mycelial morphology in basidiomycetes, but also developing novel strategies for enhancing the production of secreted enzymes of biotechnological interest.
Cytopathological Study of the Circulating Tumor Cells filtered from the Cancer Patients’ Blood using Hydrogel-based Cell Block Formation
Authors: Kang Yoon-Tae , Kim Young Jun , Lee Tae Hee , Cho Young-Ho , Chang Hee Jin , Lee Hyun-Moo
Published: October 2018

Circulating tumor cells have emerged as biomarkers for estimating the tumor burden and metastatic potential of cancer patients. However, to date, most of studies and applications of circulating tumor cells have been conducted and applied to epithelial cancers such as breast, colorectal, and prostate tumor. The only FDA-cleared method, CellSearch, makes use of antibody against epithelial surface protein expressed on CTCs, thus obstructing wide application for various cancers with non-epithelial and semi-epithelial characteristics including renal cell carcinoma. Due to rarity and ambiguity of CTCs, designed experiment including non-biased CTC isolation and subsequent cytopathological study for finding applicable immunomarkers are urgently needed for clinical use of CTCs for less-studied cancers. Here, in order to construct the fundamental step for CTC diagnosis without limitation of its epithelial characteristics, we present the simple and novel method which incorporate both label-free CTC isolation and pathological study using hydrogel-based cell block formation. Six cell lines from lung, ovarian, kidney cancers were used to make cell block and analyzed by conventional immunocytochemical staining method to find the candidate markers for CTC. Especially for renal cancer, the physically isolated CTCs were further immunocytochemically examined with the screened candidate markers by cell block construction, and verified their clinical utility using blood samples from patients with renal cell carcinoma. This comprehensive study demonstrates that the present approach can be used to find the potential markers for any type of cancers regardless of their epithelial characteristics and isolate the specific type of CTCs in label-free manners.
Inferring ancestral range reconstruction based on trilobite records: a study-case on Metacryphaeus (Phacopida, Calmoniidae)
Authors: Carbonaro Fábio Augusto , Langer Max Cardoso , Nihei Silvio Shigueo , de Souza Ferreira Gabriel , Ghilardi Renato Pirani
Published: October 2018

Metacryphaeus is a calmoniid trilobite genus from the Devonian Malvinokaffric Realm, exclusive to the Gondwanan regions. It includes eleven species, which are for the first time included here in a single phylogenetic analysis. The resulting hypotheses establish relations among the Metacryphaeus species with few ambiguities, also suggesting the inclusion of both Plesiomalvinella pujravii and P. boulei within the genus, as originally considered. The results of palaeobiogeographic analyses employing the Dispersal-Extinction-Cladogenesis (DEC) model reinforce the hypothesis that Bolivia and Peru form the ancestral home of Metacryphaeus. The radiation of the genus to other Gondwanan areas took place during transgressive eustatic episodes during the Lochkovian–Pragian. The Lochkovian dispersal occurred from Bolivia and Peru to Brazil (Paraná and Parnaíba basins) and the Falklands, and Pragian dispersal occurred towards South Africa. Dispersal events from Bolivia and Peru to the Parnaíba Basin (Brazil) were identified during the Lochkovian–Pragian, suggesting the presence of marine connections between those areas earlier than previously thought.
Integration of color and intensity increases time signal stability for the human circadian system when sunlight is obscured by clouds
Authors: Woelders T. , Wams E. J. , Gordijn M. C. M. , Beersma D. G. M. , Hut R. A.
Published: October 2018

The mammalian circadian system encodes both absolute levels of light intensity and color to phase-lock (entrain) its rhythm to the 24-h solar cycle. The evolutionary benefits of circadian color-coding over intensity-coding per se are yet far from understood. A detailed characterization of sunlight is crucial in understanding how and why circadian photoreception integrates color and intensity information. To this end, we continuously measured 100 days of sunlight spectra over the course of a year. Our analyses suggest that circadian color-coding may have evolved to cope with cloud-induced variation in light intensity. We proceed to show how an integration of intensity and spectral composition reduces day-to-day variability in the synchronizing signal (Zeitgeber). As a consequence, entrained phase angle of the circadian clock will be more stable, which will be beneficial for the organism. The presented characterization of sunlight dynamics may become important in designing lighting solutions aimed at minimizing the detrimental effects of light at night in modern societies.
Voltage-Controlled Magnetoresistance in Silicon Nanowire Transistors
Authors: Zhang Yawen , Fan Jiewen , Huang Qianqian , Zhu Jiadi , Zhao Yang , Li Ming , Wu Yanqing , Huang Ru
Published: October 2018

Magneto-electronic logic is an innovative approach to performing high-efficiency computations. Additionally, the ultra-large scale integration requirement for computation strongly suggests exploiting magnetoresistance effects in non-magnetic semiconductor materials. Here, we demonstrate the magnetoresistance effect in a silicon nanowire field effect transistor (SNWT) fabricated by complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible technology. Our experimental results show that the sign and the magnitude of the magnetoresistance in SNWTs can be effectively controlled by the drain-source voltage and the gate-source voltage, respectively, playing the role of a multi-terminal tunable magnetoresistance device. Various current models are established and in good agreement with the experimental results that describe the impact of electrical voltage and magnetic field on magnetoresistance, which provides design feasibility for the high-density magneto-electronic circuit. Such findings will further pave the way for nanoscale silicon-based magneto-electronics logic devices and show a possible path beyond the developmental limits of CMOS logic.
Unexpected concerted two-proton transfer for amination of formic acid to formamide catalysed by Mn bipyridinol complexes
Authors: Yan Xiuli , Ge Hongyu , Yang Xinzheng
Published: October 2018

DFT calculations reveal a concerted two-proton transfer mechanism for the activation of diethylamine and formic acid, as well as the formation of formamide and water catalysed by Mn bipyridinol complexes.
Mechanistic study of the ceria supported, re-catalyzed deoxydehydration of vicinal OH groups
Authors: Xi Yongjie , Yang Wenqiang , Ammal Salai Cheettu , Lauterbach Jochen , Pagan-Torres Yomaira , Heyden Andreas
Published: October 2018

Deoxydehydration (DODH) is an emerging biomass deoxygenation process whereby vicinal OH groups are removed.