bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Small Forms’ and Large: the Russian Case at the Golden Mask, 2019
Authors: Shevtsova Maria
Published: July 2019

Every year at the Golden Mask National Theatre Award and Festival in Moscow, the Russian Case has its special characteristics, and 2019 clearly reflected the selection made by the many critics who travel far and wide across Russia to choose shows for the Festival. In this overview Maria Shevtsova gives some idea of the work in the category generally described as ‘small forms’, which dominated the Russian Case, and breaks the category down into the different genres gathered under its name. She also refers to several productions that are ‘large forms’, notably those directed by Konstantin Bogomolov and Yury Butusov, who are major directors in the field acclaimed nationally and internationally. Shevtsova's The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Directing (2014, co-authored) is a landmark in research on European directors and her Rediscovering Stanislavsky is forthcoming (2019). She is co-editor of New Theatre Quarterly.
Lexical and grammatical development in children at family risk of dyslexia from early childhood to school entry: a cross-lagged analysis
Authors: CAGLAR-RYENG Ømur , EKLUND Kenneth , NERGÅRD-NILSSEN Trude
Published: July 2019

The aim of this study was to examine (a) the development of vocabulary and grammar in children with family-risk (FR) of dyslexia and their peers with no such risk (NoFR) between ages 1;6 and 6;0, and (b) whether FR-status exerted an effect on the direction of temporal relationships between these two constructs. Groups were assessed at seven time-points using standardised tests and parental reports. Results indicated that although FR and NoFR children had a similar development in the earlier years, the FR group appeared to perform significantly more poorly on vocabulary at the end of the preschool period. Results showed no significant effect of FR status on the cross-lagged relations between lexical and grammatical skills, suggesting a similar developmental pattern of cross-domain relations in both groups. However, FR status seemed to have a significantly negative association with vocabulary and grammar scores at age 6;0, resulting in language outcomes in favour of NoFR children.
The Necessity, Promise and Challenge of Automated Biodiversity Surveys
Authors: Kitzes Justin , Schricker Lauren
Published: July 2019

We are in the midst of a transformation in the way that biodiversity is observed on the planet. The approach of direct human observation, combining efforts of both professional and citizen scientists, has recently generated unprecedented amounts of data on species distributions and populations. Within just a few years, however, we believe that these data will be swamped by indirect biodiversity observations that are generated by autonomous sensors and machine learning classification models. In this commentary, we discuss three important elements of this shift towards indirect, technology driven observations. First, we note that the biodiversity data sets available today cover a very small fraction of all places and times that could potentially be observed, which suggests the necessity of developing new approaches that can gather such data at even larger scales, with lower costs. Second, we highlight existing tools and efforts that are already available today to demonstrate the promise of automated methods to radically increase biodiversity data collection. Finally, we discuss one specific outstanding challenge in automated biodiversity survey methods, which is how to extract useful knowledge from observations that are uncertain in nature. Throughout, we focus on one particular type of biodiversity data - point occurrence records - that are frequently produced by citizen science projects, museum records and systematic biodiversity surveys. As indirect observation methods increase the spatiotemporal scope of these point occurrence records, ecologists and conservation biologists will be better able to predict shifting species distributions, track changes to populations over time and understand the drivers of biodiversity occurrence.
A Positive Relationship between Cognitive Reserve and Cognitive Function after Stroke: Dynamic Proxies Correlate Better than Static Proxies
Authors: Gil-Pagés Macarena , Sánchez-Carrión Rocío , Tormos Jose M. , Enseñat-Cantallops Antonia , García-Molina Alberto
Published: July 2019

Objectives: How brain damage after stroke is related to specific clinical manifestation and recovery is incompletely understood. We studied cognitive reserve (CR) in stroke patients by two types of measurements: (i) objectively verifiable static proxies (i.e., education, occupational attainment), and (ii) subjective, dynamic proxies based on patient testimony in response to a questionnaire. We hypothesized that one or both of these types of CR measurements might correlate positively with patient cognitive performance during the post-acute and chronic phases of recovery. Method: Thirty-four stroke patients underwent neuropsychological assessment at 2, 6 and 24 months after stroke onset. In chronic stage at 24+ months, self-rating assessments of cognitive performance in daily life and social integration were obtained. CR before and after stroke was estimated using static proxies and dynamic proxies were obtained using the Cognitive Reserve Scale (CRS-Pre-stroke, CRS-Post-stroke). Results: CRS-Pre-stroke and CRS-Post-stroke showed significant mean differences. Dynamic proxies showed positive correlation with self-assessment of attention, metacognition, and functional ability in chronic stage. In contrast, significant correlations between static proxies and cognitive recovery were not found. Conclusions: Dynamic proxies of CR were positively correlated with patients’ perception of their functional abilities in daily life. To best guide cognitive prognosis and treatment, we propose that dynamic proxies of CR should be included in neuropsychological assessments of patients with brain damage.
Computational approaches to word retrieval in bilinguals
Authors: ABUTALEBI JUBIN , CLAHSEN HARALD
Published: July 2019

The cognitive architecture of human language processing has been studied for decades, but using computational modeling for such studies is a relatively recent topic. Indeed, computational approaches to language processing have become increasingly popular in our field, mainly due to advances in computational modeling techniques and the availability of large collections of experimental data. Language learning, particularly child language learning, has been the subject of many computational models. By simulating the process of child language learning, computational models may indeed teach us which linguistic representations are learnable from the input that children have access to (and which are not), as well as which mechanisms yield the same patterns of behavior that are found in children's language performance.
SIMPLICITY AND CHAIN CONDITIONS FOR ULTRAGRAPH LEAVITT PATH ALGEBRAS VIA PARTIAL SKEW GROUP RING THEORY
Authors: GONÇALVES DANIEL , ROYER DANILO
Published: July 2019

We realize Leavitt ultragraph path algebras as partial skew group rings. Using this realization we characterize artinian ultragraph path algebras and give simplicity criteria for these algebras.
Impact of brachial plexus movement during radical radiotherapy for head and neck cancers: the case for a larger planning organ at risk volume margin
Authors: Sarwar Asma , English Shelly , Papastavrou Yanni , Thompson Anna
Published: July 2019

Introduction:

Treatment volumes for radical radiotherapy to head and neck cancers commonly extend into the lower neck, the territory of the brachial plexus (BP). There is a risk of radiation-induced brachial plexopathy, a non-reversible late toxicity experienced by a small number of patients. The BP was anatomically divided into superior and inferior divisions and analysed to establish if segmental inter-fractional BP movement should be considered when planning radiotherapy in this high-dose region.

Methods:

A retrospective single-centre analysis of 15 patients with head and neck cancers treated with radical bilateral neck irradiation was conducted. The extent of BP movement relative to the planning scan was assessed using weekly cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. The BP was contoured on the planning scan and the subsequent six weekly CBCTs; this was used to calculate the Jaccard Conformity Index (JCI) for the left, right, superior and inferior divisions of the BP.

Results:

The mean (±SD) JCI for right and left superior BP was 44·4±15·5%, whereas the mean (±SD) JCI for right and left inferior BP was 38·3±15·5%. There was a statistically significant difference between superior and inferior JCI, p=0·0002, 95% CI (−9·26 to −2·88). Bilateral superior BP JCI was higher, with better conformity than the corresponding inferior divisions.

Conclusions:

Inter-fractional BP movement occurs; the greatest movement is seen at the inferior division. This data suggest the need for re-evaluation of current BP margins and consideration of a larger inferior BP planning at risk volume (PRV) margin.
Norms, Mobilization and Conflict: The Merowe Dam as a Case Study
Authors: Ali Nada , Willis Reilly Dempsey , El Moghraby Asim , Hashim Mohammaed Jalal
Published: July 2019

This article investigates dynamics of mobilization over environmental and human rights norms in the context of undemocratic governments. We test the suggestion in norm diffusion theories that the success of domestic struggles in this context depends on the level of internalization of norms brought about by international pressure. We find that the internalization (or lack thereof) of global norms by the Government of Sudan does not explain its recognition of environmental justice claims in this case. Furthermore, the various litigation efforts pursued by affected people outside Sudan did not influence their campaign. However, a combination of the political climate in the country and a unique political interplay between the government and a distinct group of the affected people may have led to the singular success of their campaign. We use a combination of discourse analysis, legal analysis, norm mapping, and semi-structured interviews to reach conclusions.
The University of São Paulo Twin Panel: Current Status and Prospects for Brazilian Twin Studies in Behavioral Research
Authors: Otta Emma , de Souza Fernandes Eloisa , Bueno Jonas Arantes , dos Santos Keven Leandro , Segal Nancy L. , Lucci Tania Kiehl , Ferreira Isabella França , Cesar Gustavo Crivello , David Vinicius Frayze , Tatit David Pires , Short Paula Coeli Araújo , Fernandes Lucas Outeda , Crispim Ana Carla , Moretto Maria Livia Tourinho , Andrade Nara Cortes , Corte Sylvia , Tobo Patricia Renovato , Barrichello Carla Regina , de Sousa Regina Célia Gomes , Júnior Mauro Dias Silva , Bussab Vera Silvia , Ribeiro Fernando José Leite
Published: July 2019

The University of São Paulo Twin Panel (Painel USP de Gêmeos), based at the Institute of Psychology of the University of São Paulo, started formally in 2017. Our registry is new, but in only two years of formal existence, it comprises a volunteer sample of 4826 registered individuals (98% twins and 2% higher-order multiples), recruited at the University of São Paulo and by social media campaigns. Our main aim is to conduct and promote research with twins on psychological processes and behavior. The University of São Paulo is the largest higher education and research institution in South America, and the Painel USP de Gêmeos has great potential for fostering research on twin-related issues from a psychological perspective in Brazil and South America.
The Guinea-Bissau Twin Registry Update: A Platform for Studying Twin Mortality and Metabolic Disease
Authors: Bjerregaard-Andersen Morten , Gomes Gabriel Marciano , Hennild Ditte Egegaard , Jensen Dorte Møller , Christensen Kaare , Sodemann Morten , Beck-Nielsen Henning , Aaby Peter
Published: July 2019

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest natural twinning rate in the world. Unfortunately, due to lack of adequate care during pregnancy, labor and postnatally, twin mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa also remains very high. Thus, it has been estimated that one in five twins dies during the childhood years. In spite of this, surprisingly few twin studies have been conducted in the region, making additional epidemiological data much needed. In 2009, we established one of the first twin registries in Sub-Saharan Africa at the Bandim Health Project in Guinea-Bissau. The registry had two main objectives. First, we wanted to describe the twinning rate and mortality patterns among newborn twins, including mortality risk factors and hospitalization patterns. Such studies can help the local clinicians improve twin health by identifying the most vulnerable children. Second, and in light of the rapidly increasing diabetes rates in Africa, we wanted to use the registry to particularly focus on metabolic disorders. Twins are often born with low birth weight, which according to the ‘thrifty phenotype hypothesis’ could predispose them to metabolic disorders later in life. Yet, no such ‘fetal programming’ data have previously been available from African twins despite the fact that nutritional patterns and influences from other factors (e.g., infections) could be markedly different here compared to high-income settings. In this article, we summarize the findings and current status of the Guinea-Bissau twin registry.
Magnitudes and Drivers of Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Floodplain Ponds During Drawdown and Inundation by the Three Gorges Reservoir
Authors: Miller B. L. , Chen H. , He Y. , Yuan X. , Holtgrieve G. W.
Published: July 2019

Hydropower reservoirs are well‐known emitters of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. This is due in part to seasonal water level fluctuations that transfer terrestrial C and N from floodplains to reservoirs. Partial pressures and fluxes of the greenhouse gases CH4, CO2, and N2O are also a function of in situ biological C and N cycling and overall ecosystem metabolism, which varies on a diel basis within inland waters. Thus, greenhouse gas emissions in hydropower reservoirs likely vary over seasonal and diel time scales with local hydrology and ecosystem metabolism. China's Three Gorges Reservoir is among the largest and newest in the world, with a floodplain that encompasses approximately one third of the reservoir area. We measured diel partial pressures and fluxes of greenhouse gases in ponds on the Three Gorges Floodplain. We repeated these measurements on the submerged floodplain following inundation by the Three Gorges Reservoir. During reservoir drawdown, CH4 ebullition comprised 60–68% of emissions from floodplain ponds to the atmosphere. Using linear mixed effects modeling, we show that partial pressures of CH4 and CO2 and diffusive CO2 fluxes in floodplain ponds varied on a diel basis with in situ respiration. Floodplain inundation by the Three Gorges Reservoir significantly moderated areal CH4 diffusion and ebullition. Diel pCO2, pCH4, pN2O, and diffusive fluxes of CO2 on the submerged floodplain were also driven by in situ respiration. The drawdown/inundation cycle of the Three Gorges Reservoir therefore changes the magnitudes of aquatic greenhouse gas fluxes on its floodplain.
Spatiotemporal Variations of Riverine Discharge Within the Amazon Basin During the Late Holocene Coincide With Extratropical Temperature Anomalies
Authors: Bertassoli D. J. , Sawakuchi A. O. , Chiessi C. M. , Schefuß E. , Hartmann G. A. , Häggi C. , Cruz F. W. , Zabel M. , McGlue M. M. , Santos R. A. , Pupim F. N.
Published: July 2019

Late Holocene hydroclimate variations have been extensively recognized in Amazonia, but the effects of such changes on riverine discharge within the Amazon lowlands are still poorly understood. We investigated a sediment core covering circa 4,000 to 300 cal yr BP collected in the lower valley of the Xingu River (Xingu Ria) in an area under the influence of the Amazon River. Our results indicate a decrease in precipitation in the Amazon lowlands throughout the studied period and reduced input of coarser and potassium‐rich Amazon River sediments to the confluence from about 2,600 to 1,400 cal yr BP. We suggest that lower temperatures in the extratropical Southern Hemisphere weakened the South American Summer Monsoon and led to a decrease in the water discharge of the Amazon River during this period.
Along‐Slope Variability of Cross‐Slope Eddy Transport in East Antarctica
Authors: Foppert Annie , Rintoul Stephen R. , England Matthew H.
Published: July 2019

Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) transport across the Antarctic continental slope regulates the delivery of heat to the shelf and its availability to melt floating ice shelves. The cross‐slope density field, calculated from profiles collected by conductivity‐temperature‐depth‐tagged marine mammals on the East Antarctic slope (0–160°E, above 1,000‐ to 3,000‐m isobaths), indicates eddy‐driven overturning: onshore transport of CDW and offshore transport of shallower Antarctic Surface Water. Enhanced eddy activity, determined by a spice standard deviation threshold in the CDW layer, is present over about a third of the East Antarctic slope analyzed. Significantly stronger CDW transport in regions of elevated spice variability produces subsurface temperature anomalies of 0.2–0.25 °C relative to the East Antarctic average. Estimating eddy diffusivity from the hydrography yields about 0.8 m2/s of warm CDW transport to the shelf break in high‐variability regions. Variability of eddy‐induced CDW transport influences the reservoir of heat available for transport across the shelf break.
Glacially Induced Hydromechanical Coupling in Shale May Have Caused Underpressured Water in the Eastern Michigan Basin Despite the Possible Presence of Gas Phase Methane
Authors: Plampin Michelle R.
Published: July 2019

When glacial cycles occur above low‐permeability geologic formations, such as the shale and limestone units being considered for nuclear waste disposal in Canada, pressures may differ greatly from normal hydrostatic conditions. Although shale also often has the propensity to generate separate phase fluids like natural gas, it is largely uncertain how the processes that control this behavior might affect water pressure evolution during glacial loading cycles. Therefore, this study investigates the relationships among these system components via an example site that exhibits both a dramatic underpressure and potential evidence for gas phase methane in situ. A simple 1‐D representation of the site was constructed, and hydromechanical coupling during a glacial cycle was simulated with and without gas phase methane present. Results indicate that, while the presence of gas phase dampened the effects of the loading cycle due to its higher compressibility compared to water, it did not preclude underpressure development.
The Role of Intense Upper Hybrid Resonance Emissions in the Generation of Saturn Narrowband Emission
Authors: Menietti J. D. , Yoon P. H. , Pisa D. , Averkamp T. F. , Sulaiman A. H. , Kurth W. S. , Santolík O. , Arridge C. S.
Published: July 2019

Twenty high‐inclination ring‐grazing orbits occurred in the final period of the Cassini mission. These orbits intercepted a region of intense Z‐mode and narrowband (NB) emission (Ye et al., 2010, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JA015167) along with isolated, intense upper hybrid resonance (UHR) emissions that are often associated with NB source regions. We have singled out such UHR emission seen on earlier Cassini orbits that also lie near the region crossed by the ring‐grazing orbits. These previous orbits are important because Cassini electron phase‐space distributions are available and dispersion analysis can be performed to better understand the free energy source and instability of the UHR emission. We present an example of UHR emission on a previous orbit that is similar to that observed during the ring‐grazing orbits. Analysis of the observed plasma distribution of the previous orbit leads us to conclude that episodes of UHR emission and NB radiation observed during the ring‐grazing orbits are likely due to plasma distributions containing loss cones, temperature anisotropies, and strong density gradients near the ring plane. Z‐mode emissions associated with UHR and NB emission can be in Landau resonance with electrons to produce scattering or acceleration (Woodfield et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467‐018‐07549‐4).
Subseismic to Seismic Slip in Smectite Clay Nanofoliation
Authors: Aretusini S. , Plümper O. , Spagnuolo E. , Di Toro G.
Published: July 2019

Smectite clays are the main constituent of slipping zones found in subduction zone faults at shallow depth (e.g., <1‐km depth in the Japan Trench) and in the decollements of large landslides (e.g., 1963 landslide, Vajont, Italy). Therefore, deformation processes in smectite clays may control the mechanical behavior from slow creep to fast accelerations and slip during earthquakes and landslides. Here, we use (1) laboratory experiments to investigate the mechanical behavior of partly water‐saturated smectite‐rich gouges sheared from subseismic to seismic slip rates V and (2) nanoscale microscopy to study the gouge fabric. At all slip rates, deformation localizes in volumes of the gouge layer that contain a “nanofoliation” consisting of anastomosing smectite crystals. “Seismic” nanofoliations produced at V = 0.01, 0.1, and 1.3 m/s are similar to “subseismic” nanofoliations obtained at V = 10−5 m/s. This similarity suggests that frictional slip along water‐lubricated smectite grain boundaries and basal planes may occur from subseismic to seismic slip rates in natural smectite‐rich faults. Thus, if water is available along smectite grain boundaries and basal planes, nanofoliations can develop from slow to fast slip rates. Still, when nanofoliations are found highly localized in a volume, they can be diagnostic of slip that occurred at rates equal or larger than 0.01 m/s. In such a case, they could be markers of past seismic events when found in natural fault rocks.
Understanding Intermodel Diversity of CMIP5 Climate Models in Simulating East Asian Marginal Sea Surface Temperature in the Near Future (2020–2049)
Authors: Yi Dong‐Won , Yeh Sang‐Wook
Published: July 2019

Using 14 Coupled Model Intercomparison Projections Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate models, we examined the intermodel diversity when simulating East Asian Marginal Seas (EAMSs) sea surface temperature (SST) in the near future period (2020–2049) under four different Representative Concentration Pathway runs. We classified two groups for the CMIP5 climate models: for models that simulate SSTs in the EAMS that are higher (H_EAMS) and lower (L_EAMS) than the ensemble mean, respectively. Results show that compared to L_EAMS, H_EAMS tends to simulate weaker westerlies in the western‐to‐central North Pacific, together with a weaker Aleutian Low intensity, which causes higher EAMS SSTs through a reduction in latent heat flux. Furthermore, H_EAMS is characterized by cooler SST, less precipitation, and stronger trade winds in the central‐to‐eastern tropical Pacific than in L_EAMS. We argued that the intermodel diversity of simulated tropical Pacific SST is associated with the diversity of EAMS SST, which is related to atmospheric teleconnections from the tropics to the western‐to‐central North Pacific. It is also found that the bifurcation latitude of the North Equatorial Current is lower in H_EAMS than in L_EAMS, which is associated with the difference of tropical Pacific mean state between H_EAMS and L_EAMS. A lower bifurcation latitude transports more warm water into the EAMS, resulting in warmer SSTs in the H_EAMS than in the L_EAMS. These results show the importance of correctly simulating the tropical Pacific mean state to reduce the uncertainty in EAMS SST during the near‐future period.
Habitable Snowballs: Temperate Land Conditions, Liquid Water, and Implications for CO2 Weathering
Authors: Paradise Adiv , Menou Kristen , Valencia Diana , Lee Christopher
Published: July 2019

Habitable planets are commonly imagined to be temperate planets like Earth, with areas of open ocean and warm land. In contrast, planets in snowball states, where oceans are entirely ice covered, are believed to be inhospitable. However, we show using a general circulation model that terrestrial planets in the inner habitable zone are able to support large unfrozen areas of land while in a snowball state. Due to their lower albedo, these unfrozen regions reach summer temperatures in excess of 10 °C. Such conditions permit CO2 weathering, suggesting that continental weathering can provide a mechanism for trapping planets in stable snowball states. The presence of land areas with warm temperatures and liquid surface water motivates a more‐nuanced understanding of habitability during these snowball events.
Toward a Stochastic Relaxation for the Quasi‐Equilibrium Theory of Cumulus Parameterization: Multicloud Instability, Multiple Equilibria, and Chaotic Dynamics
Authors: Khouider Boualem , Leclerc Etienne
Published: July 2019

The representation of clouds and organized tropical convection remains one of the biggest sources of uncertainties in climate and long‐term weather prediction models. Some of the most common cumulus parameterization schemes, namely, mass‐flux schemes, rely on the quasi‐equilibrium (QE) closure, which assumes that convection consumes the large‐scale instability and restores large‐scale equilibrium instantaneously. However, the QE hypothesis has been challenged both conceptually and in practice. Subsequently, the QE assumption was relaxed, and instead, prognostic equations for the cloud work function (CWF) and the cumulus kinetic energy (CKE) were derived and used. It was shown that even if the CWF kernel serves to damp the CWF, the prognostic system exhibits damped oscillations on a timescale of a few hours, giving parameterized‐cumulus‐clouds enough memory to interact with each other, with the environment, and with stratiform anvils in particular. Herein, we show that when cloud‐cloud interactions are reintroduced into the CWF‐CKE equations, the coupled system becomes unstable. Moreover, we couple the CWF‐CKE prognostic equations to dynamical equations for the cloud area fractions, based on the mean field limit of a stochastic multicloud model. Qualitative analysis and numerical simulations show that the CKE‐CWF‐cloud area fraction equations exhibit interesting dynamics including multiple equilibria, limit cycles, and chaotic behavior both when the large‐scale forcing is held fixed and when it oscillates with various frequencies. This is representative of cumulus convection variability, and its capability to transition between various regimes of organization at multiple scales and regimes of scattered convection, in an intermittent and chaotic fashion.
A Latent Variable Approach to Multivariate Quantitative Trait Loci
Authors: O'Hara Bob , Komulainen Päivi , Savolainen Outi , Sillanpää Mikko
Published: July 2019

A novel approach based on latent variable modelling is presented for the analysis of multivariate quantitative and qualitative trait loci. The approach is general in the sense that it enables the joint analysis of many kinds of quantitative and qualitative traits (including count data and censored traits) in a single modelling framework. In the framework, the observations are modelled as functions of latent variables, which are then affected by quantitative trait loci. Separating the analysis in this way means that measurement errors in the phenotypic observations can be included easily in the model, providing robust inferences. The performance of the method is illustrated using two real multivariate datasets, from barley and Scots pine.
Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy as a Quantitative Tool Applied to Drug Delivery Model Systems
Authors: Jung Christoph , Polier Sigrun , Schoeffel Markus , Drechsler M , Jerome Valerie , Freitag Ruth
Published: July 2019

The delivery of drugs to cells is a very active area of research. Drugs are commonly believed to ameliorate illnesses. The targeted, controlled and/or enhanced uptake of the drug into cells is facilitated by loading the drug into carrier vehicles (nanoparticles, e.g.. micelles).The distribution of a drug over the nanoparticles used to deliver the drug to the targeted cells is of vital importance. It makes a difference, whether all nanoparticles carry the same amount of drug or whether a little amount of the nanoparticles carries a high proportion of the drug material and most nanoparticles carry no material. This depends on the method used to load the drugs into the carriers. Furthermore, the absolute amount of drug present in the nanoparticles and the absolute number of nanoparticles loaded with drug molecules is very important, because "dosis venum facit" [Paracelsus]. We present an approach to resolve these issues by optical means.If the drug is fluorescent or labeled with a fluorescent label, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) can be used to determine quantitative size distributions with a (confocal) microscope. In order to determine absolute concentrations the spatial dimensions of the confocal observation volume have to be known. These can be obtained from numerical simulations using vectorial diffraction theory. The theoretical results have been compared with experimental results from FCS using the calibration dye Rhodamine 6G. In a straightforward procedure the results were corrected for adsorption effects and excellent agreement to the theory was found
Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus, a new bipartite begomovirus species that belongs to distinct clade of Old World geminiviruses
Authors: Sharma Pradeep , Sakata J. , Shibuya Y. , Ikegami Masato
Published: July 2019

Begomoviruses are currently emerging as a major threat to vegetable production in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Pepper yellow leaf curl disease (PepYLCD) has been noticed in many Capsicum annum L. producing regions from East Asia especially from Indonesia and causes devastating damage to pepper crop production since 2000. In this study we have cloned and sequenced complete nucleotide of begomoviruses from pepper exhibiting leaf curling and bright yellowing symptoms. Besides, we also determined the occurrence of disease on tomato evoking leaf curl symptoms and ageratum with yellow vein type of symptoms. On the basis of genome organization and sequence homology, these viruses were designated as Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PeYLCIV)- new species followed by its two new starins i.e. PeYLCIV-Tomato and PeYLCIV-Ageratum. These viruses have bipartite genomes. Pepper virus DNAs from Indonesia (PepYLCIV, PepYLCIV-Tomato and PepYLCIV-Ageratum DNA-As) were noticeably distinct, forming a separate branch from the other viruses infecting pepper. A considerable divergence is observed in the common region (CR) of the genomic components of PeYLCIV (77%), PeYLCIV-Tomato (82%) and PeYLCIV-Ageratum (75%). A stem-loop forming region and Rep-binding motif are identical in CRs of three viruses. CR of PepYLCIV-Ageratum DNA-A is approximately 10 nucleotides longer than those of PepYLCIV DNA-A and PepYLCIV-Tomato DNA-A. Similar insertion is also found in the common region of PepYLCIV-Ageratum DNA-B. PeYLCIV DNA-A alone is infectious in pepper and N. benthamiana plants and association with DNA-B increases symptom severity.
Chronic hyperplastic anemia as an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic lesions: a lesson from thalassemia intermedia
Authors: Lai Maria Eliana , Vacquer Stefania , Carta Maria Paola , Spiga Alessandra , Cocco Pier Luigi , Angius Fabrizio , Mandas Antonella , Dessi Sandra
Published: July 2019

Introduction. Cardiovascular involvement represents a well-known complication and the primary cause of mortality, both in transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia major (β-TM) and in transfusion-independent beta thalassemia intermedia (β-TI). In β-TM, heart iron overload is considered the main cause of this complication. This is likely due to poor adherence to iron-chelating therapy, resulting in the inability of the body to efficiently remove iron excess derived from transfused red blood cell breakdown. Different clinical pictures may instead be evoked in cardiovascular involvement occurring in β-TI; however, until now, no factor has emerged as the major one responsible for these complications. Design and Methods. In the present study, iron status, and lipid profiles in serum, as well as lipid content in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated in 70 adult β-TM and in 22 adult β-TI patients. Ninety-two age-matched blood donors, free from any form of thalassemia, were utilized as controls. The mRNA levels of genes involved in the regulation of iron metabolism, such as interleukine 1 alfa (IL1α), tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNFα), as well as those involved in cholesterol homeostasis, such as acetyl-coenzymeA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT-1), neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase (nCEH), and ATP binding cassette-A (ABCA1), were also evaluated in PBMCs from the above subjects.

Results.

In β-TI patients, serum iron, transferrin saturation and erythropoietin levels were higher, while transferrin and hepcidin were lower, compared to both β-TM and controls. Hepcidin and ILα mRNA levels were found to be reduced in β-TI-PBMCs, while those of TNFα were increased. A reduction in total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC and HDL-C) in serum, and an accumulation of neutral lipids (NL), coupled with increased mRNA levels of ACAT-1 and decreased nCEH in PBMCs were also observed in β-TI.

Conclusions.

Since most of the parameters found to be altered in β-TI patients have a key role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, we suggest that cardiovascular complications in these patients may be, at least partially, dependent on the occurrence of premature atherosclerotic lesions.
A Universal Carrier Test for the Long Tail of Mendelian Disease
Authors: Srinivasan Balaji , Flannick Jason , Patterson A. Scott , Chang Christopher , Pham Tuan , Young Sharon , Kaushal Amit , Lee James , Patrizio Pasquale , Evans Eric
Published: July 2019

Background:

Mendelian disorders are individually rare but collectively common, forming a "long tail" of genetic disease. More than 20 million people worldwide suffer from a disease in this long tail before the age of 25, with minorities and developing countries at highest risk and with the number of carriers far in excess of this figure. Importantly, the Jewish community’s campaign for universal Tay-Sachs screening shows that these incurable diseases can nevertheless be prevented if carrier status is known before conception. A single highly-accurate assay for the long tail of Mendelian disease would allow us to scale this successful campaign up to the general population, thereby improving millions of lives, greatly benefiting minority health, and saving billions of dollars.*Methods and Findings:*We have addressed the need for such an assay by designing the Universal Genetic Test (UNIT), a non-invasive, saliva-based carrier test for more than 100 Mendelian diseases across all major population groups. We exhaustively validated the test with a median of 147 positive and 525 negative samples per variant. By combining probes for risk alleles with family history information, we show that we can achieve extremely high levels of accuracy (median 95% CI [0.99988, 0.999999]), precision (median 95% CI [0.99993, 0.99999]), sensitivity (median 95% CI [0.99988, 0.999999]), and specificity (median 95% CI [0.99643, 1]) at the level of individual mutations. In particular, through a combination of replicated probes and confirmatory testing, we are able to reliably detect rare alleles at q ≈ 1/1000 with positive predictive values above 0.995. To put this in context, this performance for a multiplex assay compares favorably with FDA-approved single-gene carrier tests.

Conclusions:

The UNIT represents a dramatic reduction in the cost and complexity of large scale population screening. With a single inexpensive assay for a substantial fraction of the global Mendelian disease burden, an end to many preventable genetic diseases is now in sight. Moreover, given that the assay requires only a saliva sample, it is for the first time feasible to contemplate an "at-home carrier test" as a successor to the at-home pregnancy test.*Authors' note:*_Nature Precedings is a preprint server used by scientists to communicate results in advance of the often lengthy publication process. This manuscript is a preprint and has not yet been accepted for publication by a peer-reviewed journal. It is currently undergoing expedited review at a peer-reviewed journal and is posted publicly to allow collegial feedback in advance of publication. Please address technical comments to balajis@stanford.edu_
Successful outdoor cultivation of a photosensitive wild strain of edible Pleurotus ostreatus (Fr.) Kummel (Oyster mushroom) from the Western Ghats region of Goa
Authors: Kamat Nandkumar , Desilva N. , Phadte K.
Published: July 2019

There is considerable interest in identifying wild tropical strains of oyster mushroomsuseful for cultivation, strain improvement and systematic breeding programme. Duringroutine surveys to identify such strains from Goa’s western ghats, an interesting wild form of Pleurotus ostreatus was found growing on logs of wild Mangifera indica L a novel habitat for the species reported for the first time. After obtaining and screening several pure isolates, a fertile strain BA-50/GUOMS was selected for cultivation under natural outdoor conditions. Spawn prepared on wheat grains was produced within 11 days and was used to ramify sterilized paddy straw as substrate using standard polybag technique. Spawn run was initially slow and took 52 days. Mushroom fruitbodies identical to the original wild type were produced in eight flushes at intervals of 8 to 13 days for each flush over a period of four months. These had pleasant odour, better shelf life, tougher texture, resistance to insects, fungi and bacteria, exhibited photosensitivity by producing brownish pigment in direct sunlight and responded well to outdoor conditions for fruit body initiation with ambient temperature ranging from 23-35° C.
Diamagnetic levitation enhances growth of liquid bacterial cultures by increasing oxygen availability
Authors: Dijkstra Camelia , Larkin Oliver , Anthony Paul , Davey Michael , Eaves Laurence , Rees Catherine , Hill Richard
Published: July 2019

Diamagnetic levitation is a technique that uses a strong, spatially-varying magnetic field to reproduce aspects of weightlessness, on the Earth. We used a superconducting magnet to levitate growing bacterial cultures for up to 18 hours, to determine the effect of diamagnetic levitation on all phases of the bacterial growth cycle. We find that diamagnetic levitation increases the rate of population growth in a liquid culture and reduces the sedimentation rate of the cells. Further experiments and microarray gene analysis show that the increase in growth rate is due to enhanced oxygen availability. We also demonstrate that the magnetic field that levitates the cells also induces convective stirring in the liquid. We present a simple theoretical model, showing how the paramagnetic force on dissolved oxygen can cause convection during the aerobic phases of bacterial growth. We propose that this convection enhances oxygen availability by transporting oxygen around the liquid culture. Since this process results from the strong magnetic field, it is not present in other weightless environments, e.g. in Earth orbit. Hence, these results are of significance and timeliness to researchers considering the use of diamagnetic levitation to explore effects of weightlessness on living organisms and on physical phenomena.
Clonal origin of Epstein-Barr virus-infected T/NK-cell subpopulations in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection
Authors: Ohga Shouichi , Ishimura Masataka , Toshimoto Goichi , Miyamoto Toshihiro , Takada Hidetoshi , Tanaka Tamami , Ohshima Koichi , Imadome Ken-Ichi , Abe Yasunobu , Akashi Koichi , Hara Toshiro
Published: July 2019

Clonal expansion of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infected B-cells occasionally occurs in immunocompromized subjects. EBV-infected T/natural killer (NK)-cells proliferate in patients with chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) that is a rare mononucleosis syndrome. It is classified into either T-cell type or NK-cell type according to the primary target of infection, while the pathogenesis remains unclear. To search the clonal origin of EBV-infected T/NK-cells, virus distribution and clonotype were assessed by using highly purified cell fractions obtained from 6 patients. Patient 1 had a monoclonal proliferation of EBV-infected T-cell receptor V&x03B4;2/V&x03B3;9-expressing cells, and carried lower copy number of EBV in &x03B1;&x03B2;T-cells. Patients 2 and 3 had a clonal expansion of EBV-infected CD4+T-cells, and lower EBV load in CD56+cells. Patients 4, 5 and 6 had an expansion of CD56+cells with higher EBV load than CD3+cells. EBV-terminal repeats were determined as clonal bands in the minor targeted populations of 5 patients. The size of terminal repeats indicated the same clonotype in minor subsets as in major subsets of 4 patients. However, EBV was not detected in bone marrow-derived lineage negative CD34+cells of patients. These results suggested that EBV could infect T/NK-cells at differentiation stage, but spared bone marrow CD34+hematopoietic stem cells in CAEBV patients.
Visual computation of surface lightness: Local contrast vs. frames of reference
Authors: Gilchrist Alan , Radonjic Ana
Published: July 2019

Seeing black, white and gray surfaces, called lightness perception, might seem simple because white surfaces reflect 90% of the light they receive while black surfaces reflect only 3%, and the human retina is composed of light sensitive cells. The problem is that, because illumination varies from time to time and from place to place, any amount of light can be reflected from any shade of gray. Thus the amount of light reflected by an object, called luminance, says nothing about its lightness. Experts agree that the lightness of a surface can be computed only by using the surrounding context, but they disagree about how the context is used. We have tested an image in which two major classes of theory, contrast theories and frame-of-reference theories, make very different predictions regarding what gray shades will be seen by human observers. We show that when frame-of-reference is varied while contrast is held constant, lightness varies strongly. But when contrast is varied but frame-of-reference is held constant, little or no variation is seen. These results suggest that efforts to discover the exact algorithm by which the human visual system segments the image received by the retina into frames of reference should be given high priority.
The Correlation between Sleep and Creativity
Authors: Drago Valeria , Aricò Debora , Heilman Kenneth , Foster Paul , Williamson John , Montagna Pasquale , Ferri Raffaele
Published: July 2019

Fredrich August von Kekule, a famous German chemist, was attempting to determine the shape of the benzene molecule, which was known to have six carbon atoms. In 1865, reflecting upon his discovery of the hexagonal-ring like structure, he asserted that the solution came to him in a dream1; however, it is not clear if he was in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep dreaming or if he was in non-REM (NREM) sleep imagery. It is possible to think of this type of discoveries as an expression of creativity, i.e. the ability to use existing pieces of information and combine them in novel patterns leading to greater understanding and new solutions. Preliminary support of the role of sleep in creative thinking comes from a recent study by Wagner et al.2; these authors asked normal participants to perform a cognitive task, the Number Reduction Task. In this task, participants are required to understand a set of stimulus-response sequences and supply a single representative numerical answer. Improvement in task performance may be gradual (i.e., by slowly increasing response speed), or abrupt (after insight into an abstract rule underlying all sequences). They found that 59% of the participants that were allowed to sleep were able to perform the task in a time that was 70% shorter than the other group that did not sleep and suggested that sleep may facilitate insight-related problem solving. Here we report the results of the first study showing a direct complex correlation between sleep architecture or microstructure and creativity in normal controls.
Stop-and-go kinetics in amyloid fibrillation
Authors: Ferkinghoff-Borg Jesper , Fonslet Jesper , Andersen Christian , Krishna Sandeep , Pigolotti Simone , Yagi Hisashi , Goto Yuji , Otzen Daniel Erik , Jensen Mogens
Published: July 2019

Many human diseases are associated with protein aggregation and fibrillation. Using glucagon as a model system for protein fibrillation we show that fibrils grow in an intermittent fashion, with periods of growth followed by long pauses. Remarkably, even if the intrinsic transition rates vary considerably in each experiment, the probability of being in the growing (stopping) state is very close to 1/4 (3/4), suggesting the presence of 4 independent conformations of the fibril tip. We discuss this possibility in terms of existing structural knowledge.
Words make people think, ... but pictures make people feel: The effect negative vs. positive images on charitable behavior
Authors: Perez Dueñas Carolina , Rivas Maria Fernanda , Oyediran Olusegun A. , Acosta Alberto , Brañas Garza Pablo
Published: July 2019

We ran an experiment where the subjects initially played a four-round dictator game, after which each subject was shown either a set of positive images or a set of negative images. Finally the subjects played another four-round dictator game.The effect of the sign of images shown is clear on the players’ behaviors: positive images have moderate effects on charitable behavior while negative images dramatically increase charity.We could therefore infer from our experimental results that showing negative images of the Haitian and Chilean catastrophes to the international public would have significant positive impacts on international donations to the victims and the rebuilding programs in both countries.
Altered copy gene function in plants following total intron replacement in precursor RNA
Authors: Schwartz Drew
Published: July 2019

Evidence is presented for two novel genetic mechanisms: total intron replacement in transcribedprecursor RNA by multiple short sequences and reverse transcription of the precursor RNA followedby incorporation into the genome as copy genes, some of which have acquired an altered function.
A Note on Measures of Single Timeseries Activity in Resting-State fMRI Studies
Authors: Zuo Xi-Nian
Published: July 2019

In statistics, signal processing and mathematical finance, a time series is a sequence of data points, measured typically at successive times spaced at uniform time intervals. Here, I only focus on the discrete time series. The motivation of writing this methodology note is to clarify the relationship between the measures to quantify activity of an observed timeseries. Particularly, focus one several measures used in recently emerged field of resting-state fMRI studies. Although all these measures have been extensively developed in EEG or other timeseries studies, many researchers focusing on various applications in or new comers to this new field need to know existed measures and the relationships among these measures.