bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Anti-inflammatory Immune Regulation Induced by Butyrate Is Impaired in Inflamed Intestinal Mucosa from Patients with Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Magnusson Maria K. , Isaksson Stefan , Öhman Lena
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Altered gut microbiota composition and reduced levels of short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, have been identified as key components of ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to determine and compare effects of butyrate on the intestinal immune profile of UC patients with active disease and non-inflamed controls. Biopsies were cultivated during 6 h with or without butyrate. Cytokines were measured in supernatants and mRNA gene expression was analyzed in biopsies using Qiagen RT2 Profiler PCR Arrays. The intestinal immune profile of cultured biopsies, as determined by mRNA gene expression and secreted cytokines, differed between inflamed UC samples and controls. Principal component analysis revealed that addition of butyrate differently regulated mRNA expression in inflamed biopsies from UC and non-inflamed biopsies from controls. Highly discriminant and predictive orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analyses identified 29 genes for UC (R2 = 0.94, Q2 = 0.86) and 23 genes for controls (R2 = 0.90, Q2 = 0.71) that were most regulated by butyrate. UC displayed more up-regulation of genes as compared with controls, and controls displayed the most prominent down-regulations. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified a down regulation of the Neuroinflammation Signaling pathway and predicted inhibition of the categories Inflammatory response, cellular movement, and cellular development as top diseases and functions, respectively, for controls but not for UC. In conclusion, butyrate has a different effect on gene regulation and more potently down-regulates gene expression of inflammatory pathways in non-inflamed controls than in inflamed tissue of UC patients. These discrepancies may at least partly explain why anticipated anti-inflammatory effects of local butyrate induction or supplementation are not always obtained.
Multicenter comparison of three intraoperative hemoglobin trend monitoring methods
Authors: Applegate II Richard L. , Applegate Patricia M. , Cannesson Maxime , Peiris Prith , Ladlie Beth L. , Torp Klaus
Published: December 2019

Transfusion decisions are guided by clinical factors and measured hemoglobin (Hb). Time required for blood sampling and analysis may cause Hb measurement to lag clinical conditions, thus continuous intraoperative Hb trend monitoring may provide useful information. This multicenter study was designed to compare three methods of determining intraoperative Hb changes (trend accuracy) to laboratory determined Hb changes. Adult surgical patients with planned arterial catheterization were studied. With each blood gas analysis performed, pulse cooximetry hemoglobin (SpHb) was recorded, and arterial blood Hb was measured by hematology (tHb), arterial blood gas cooximetry (ABGHb), and point of care (aHQHb) analyzers. Hb change was calculated and trend accuracy assessed by modified Bland–Altman analysis. Secondary measures included Hb measurement change direction agreement. Trend accuracy mean bias (95% limits of agreement; g/dl) for SpHb was 0.10 (− 1.14 to 1.35); for ABGHb was − 0.02 (− 1.06 to 1.02); and for aHQHb was 0.003 (− 0.95 to 0.95). Changes more than ± 0.5 g/dl agreed with tHb changes more than ± 0.25 g/dl in 94.2% (88.9–97.0%) SpHb changes, 98.9% (96.1–99.7%) ABGHb changes and 99.0% (96.4–99.7%) aHQHb changes. Sequential changes in SpHb, ABGHb and aHQHb exceeding ± 0.5 g/dl have similar agreement to the direction but not necessarily the magnitude of sequential tHb change. While Hb blood tests should continue to be used to inform transfusion decisions, intraoperative continuous noninvasive SpHb decreases more than − 0.5 g/dl could be a good indicator of the need to measure tHb.
The Impact of Mandatory Reporting Laws on Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: Intersectionality, Help-Seeking and the Need for Change
Authors: Lippy Carrie , Jumarali Selima N. , Nnawulezi Nkiru A. , Williams Emma Peyton , Burk Connie
Published: December 2019

Research illustrates the importance of help-seeking for intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors. However, mandatory reporting (MR) laws can affect help-seeking by requiring some sources of support to report survivors to formal systems. This convergent mixed methods study of 2462 survivors surveyed through the National Domestic Violence Hotline explores how MR laws impact survivors’ help-seeking, the outcomes of their help-seeking, and whether their race, gender, and/or sexual orientation influenced their experiences. Findings indicated that MR laws reduce help-seeking for over a third of survivors, provider warnings about MR often reduce survivors’ ability to receive the support they seek, and reports when triggered make the situation worse for most survivors. Significant differences emerged by gender identity and race/ethnicity, emphasizing unique contexts for trans and gender non-conforming survivors and survivors of color. We provide policy and practice implications given these unintended harms of MR laws for IPV survivors.
A posteriori necessities in one dimension
Authors: Johannesson Eric
Published: December 2019

Arguably, the proposition that Mark Twain is Samuel Clemens and the proposition that water is H2O are both a posteriori. Nevertheless, they both seem to be necessary. Ever since Davies and Humberstone (Philos Stud 38(1):1–31, 1980), it has been known that two-dimensional semantics can account for this fact. But two-dimensionalism isn’t the only theory on the market that purports to do so. In this paper, I will look at two alternatives, one by Scott Soames and one by Kathrin Glüer-Pagin and Peter Pagin, and argue that both of them fail. Regarding the former, I argue that the conceptually possible but metaphysically impossible worlds one is required to postulate are hard to conceive of on closer inspection. As for the latter, the proposal doesn’t work for certain modal sentences, and I show that it cannot be easily amended.
Forecasting bus ridership using a “Blended Approach”
Authors: Lawson Catherine T. , Muro Alex , Krans Eric
Published: December 2019

As sources of “Big Data” continue to grow, transportation planners and researchers seek to utilize these new resources. Given the current dependency on traditional transportation data sources and conventional tools (e.g., spreadsheets and propriety models), how can these new resources be used? This research examines a “blended data” approach, using a web-based, open source platform to assist transit agencies to forecast bus ridership. The platform is capable of incorporating new Big Data sources and traditional data sources, using modern processing techniques and tools, particularly Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). This research demonstrates the use of APIs in a transit demand methodology that yields a robust model for bus ridership. The approach uses the Census Transportation Planning Products data, modified with American Community Survey data, to generate origin–destination tables for bus trips in a designated market area. Microsimulation models us a transit scheduling specification (General Transit Feed Specification) and an open source routing engine (OpenTripPlanner). Local farebox data validates the microsimulation models. Analyses of model output and farebox data for the Atlantic City transit market area, and a scenario analysis of service reduction in the Princeton/Trenton transit market area, illustrate the use a “blended approach” for bus ridership forecasting.
Using an Online Sample to Estimate the Size of an Offline Population
Authors: Feehan Dennis M. , Cobb Curtiss
Published: December 2019

Online data sources offer tremendous promise to demography and other social sciences, but researchers worry that the group of people who are represented in online data sets can be different from the general population. We show that by sampling and anonymously interviewing people who are online, researchers can learn about both people who are online and people who are offline. Our approach is based on the insight that people everywhere are connected through in-person social networks, such as kin, friendship, and contact networks. We illustrate how this insight can be used to derive an estimator for tracking the digital divide in access to the Internet, an increasingly important dimension of population inequality in the modern world. We conducted a large-scale empirical test of our approach, using an online sample to estimate Internet adoption in five countries (n ≈ 15,000). Our test embedded a randomized experiment whose results can help design future studies. Our approach could be adapted to many other settings, offering one way to overcome some of the major challenges facing demographers in the information age.
Effects of organic amendment on some soil physicochemical characteristics and vegetative properties of Zea mays in wetland soils of the Niger Delta impacted with crude oil
Authors: Egobueze Francis E. , Ayotamuno Josiah M. , Iwegbue Chukwujindu M. A. , Eze Chibogwu , Okparanma Reuben N.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This study sought to investigate the effects of organic amendments on the degradation of hydrocarbons and vegetative properties of Zea mays grown in crude oil-contaminated wetland soils of the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Methods

Two soil types were investigated, namely, fadama soil (oxisol) and swamp forest soil (utisol). For each soil type, 48 treatment cells and 1 control containing 1 kg of soil each were spiked with crude oil at concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 g kg−1, representing 5–20% (m/m) contamination levels, respectively. Then, 5 days after the contamination, the soils were amended with cow dung (CD), poultry waste (PW), and palm oil waste (POW). The ratios of soil to organic amendments used were 1:1 and 2:1. The soils were tilled and irrigated regularly, and monitored for a total period of 112 days. The same conditions were used to investigate the vegetative properties of Z. mays in these oil-contaminated soils with organic amendments.

Results

The total organic carbon (TOC) and pH increased significantly within the first 2 weeks after crude oil contamination; thereafter, the pH of the soil decreased significantly over incubation time, while there was steady increase in TOC with incubation time. The percentage nitrogen and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) decreased significantly. The utisol soil showed better plant performance, despite the lower hydrocarbon degradation rate.

Conclusion

The organic amendments showed a TPH degradation trend that followed the order: PW > CD > POW. They also improved the seed emergence of Zea mays.
Public Accountability and Parliamentary Scrutiny in Finance
Authors: BARRETT Sean , CORBET Shaen , LARKIN Charles
Published: December 2019

The purpose of parliament is to present a discussion of policy in a fashion that will bring about a consensus that results in collective action. Such a collective action serves the common good of the state, although second-order effects and Pareto optimality is difficult – if not impossible – to obtain. Parliament attempts to address the second-best world in a socially optimal fashion. As such, accountability and scrutiny are the key tools through which such a body can address the challenges faced by a financial sector confronted with profound difficulties. Such accountability is of paramount importance to provide sustainable public trust in parliament.
Fredholm Toeplitz operators with VMO symbols and the duality of generalized Fock spaces with small exponents
Authors: Hu Zhangjian , Virtanen Jani A.
Published: December 2019

We characterize Fredholmness of Toeplitz operators acting on generalized Fock spaces of the n-dimensional complex space for symbols in the space of vanishing mean oscillation VMO. Our results extend the recent characterizations for Toeplitz operators on standard weighted Fock spaces to the setting of generalized weight functions and also allow for unbounded symbols in VMO for the first time. Another novelty is the treatment of small exponents 0 < p < 1, which to our knowledge has not been seen previously in the study of the Fredholm properties of Toeplitz operators on any function spaces. We accomplish this by describing the dual of the generalized Fock spaces with small exponents.
Reading the 'Gold Coast Symphony' in Thea Astley's 'The Acolyte'
Authors: Bartlett Alison
Published: December 2019

Thea Astley is a figure who is strongly associated with music, both in her life interests and in her writing rhythms and allusions; this article investigates the uses of music in her 1972 novel The Acolyte. Drawing on a recent genre of critical musicology that understands music to be a social practice, The Acolyte is read in relation to mid-twentieth-century cultural debates around the development of a distinctive Australian classical music. Centring on the blind pianist turned composer Jack Holberg, The Acolyte is grounded in the Gold Coast hinterland as an inspiring and generative landscape, in contrast with the desolate outback favoured in national mythologies. Holberg’s ‘Gold Coast Symphony’, arguably the turning point of the novel, imaginatively writes this coastal fringe of urban debauchery into the vernacular of classical music through its performance in conservative 1960s Brisbane. In this article, I read The Acolyte as a novel positioned within an Australian musicological history that intersects with the poetics of place, the politics of gender and sexuality, and ongoing national formations through cultural production.
Does Independent Advice to the Board Affect CEO Compensation?
Authors: Bakke Tor-Erik , Mahmudi Hamed
Published: December 2019

This article investigates the role external advice plays in the board’s determination of chief executive officer (CEO) compensation. We show that CEO incentive pay increases with the degree of compensation consultant independence using a quasi-natural experiment provided by the creation of an independent consultant after separation from an affiliated consultant. Specifically, switching to an independent consultant significantly increases the pay–performance sensitivity and relative performance evaluation of CEO contracts. Despite the benefits of independent advice, independent consultants may not be hired due to the influence of powerful CEOs or because boards already possess adequate expertise.
A mathematical modelling approach for treatment and control of Echinococcus multilocularis
Authors: Khan Aisha , Ahmed Haroon , Sohail Ayesha , Alam Fatima , Simsek Sami
Published: December 2019

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a zoonotic parasitic diseases caused by a cestode parasite known as Echinococcus multilocularis. The parasite has a wildlife cycle with definitive hosts (foxes) and small mammals as intermediate hosts (rodents) while humans are the accidental hosts. Parasite infection pressure relation to time of the year and age dependent infection pressure for parasite abundance also depend on the urbanization. The aim of current work is forecasting the thresholds via the computational analysis of the disease spread which is a useful approach since it can help to design the experimental settings with better planning and efficiency. Network analysis when interlinked with the computational techniques provides better insight into the spatial and temporal heterogeneities. In the present study, a mathematical framework that describes the transmission dynamics and control measures of E. multilocularis in foxes is documented. We used treatment of foxes with baits for the prevention of the E. multilocularis infection. A novel approach of networking, called Petri net (PN), based on density dependent differential equations, is utilized during this research. The accurate description of the transmission of the parasite and the effect of drug on it is provided to the readers in this article. The transitions, which are difficult to analyse theoretically, are presented with the aid of the discrete approach of networking. A discrete mathematical framework can prove to be an accurate and robust tool to analyse and control the parasite dynamics.
Synaptotagmin 1 regulates cortical granule exocytosis during mouse oocyte activation
Authors: Zhu Xiu-Lan , Li Shi-Fen , Zhang Xi-Qian , Xu Hong , Luo Yan-Qun , Yi Yan-Hong , Lv Li-Juan , Zhang Chun-Hui , Wang Zhen-Bo , Ouyang Ying-Chun , Hou Yi , Schatten Heide , Liu Feng-Hua
Published: December 2019

Synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) is an abundant and important presynaptic vesicle protein that binds Ca2+ for the regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Our previous study reported its localization and function on spindle assembly in mouse oocyte meiotic maturation. The present study was designed to investigate the function of Syt1 during mouse oocyte activation and subsequent cortical granule exocytosis (CGE) using confocal microscopy, morpholinol-based knockdown and time-lapse live cell imaging. By employing live cell imaging, we first studied the dynamic process of CGE and calculated the time interval between [Ca2+]i rise and CGE after oocyte activation. We further showed that Syt1 was co-localized to cortical granules (CGs) at the oocyte cortex. After oocyte activation with SrCl2, the Syt1 distribution pattern was altered significantly, similar to the changes seen for the CGs. Knockdown of Syt1 inhibited [Ca2+]i oscillations, disrupted the F-actin distribution pattern and delayed the time of cortical reaction. In summary, as a synaptic vesicle protein and calcium sensor for exocytosis, Syt1 acts as an essential regulator in mouse oocyte activation events including the generation of Ca2+ signals and CGE.
THE CONDITIONAL INS AND OUTS OF FRENCH UNEMPLOYMENT
Authors: Fontaine Idriss
Published: December 2019

In this paper, I investigate the conditional contributions of the ins and outs of unemployment from both empirical and theoretical perspectives. Based on a New Keynesian Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) theoretical framework, I estimate a sign restriction Vector Auto Regressive (VAR) model using French data. To identify the origins of unemployment dynamics in terms of worker transition rates, I simulate two shocks: one on the supply side (technology) and the other on the demand side (monetary). The VAR model reveals that the contributions of transition rates in explaining unemployment differ across shocks. After a technology shock, unemployment fluctuations are mainly explained by the job finding process, while the contributions of the two margins are more balanced for the monetary shock. The theoretical model is not able to reproduce the underlying mechanisms inducing unemployment. In particular, the conditional contributions of the job separation margin are overestimated each time. For instance, after a technology shock, 60% of unemployment changes are generated by this margin, while the data suggest a contribution of 28%. This paper strongly indicates that, in its standard formulation, a search and matching DSGE model featuring endogenous job separations is not able to replicate the dominating influence of the outflow process.
Constructing an identity scale to analyze changes in One China identity: evidence from Taiwanese student delegations visiting Mainland China
Authors: Wang Chia-Chou
Published: December 2019

It is both academically and practically valuable to construct a multi-dimensional scale to assess the effectiveness of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) policy toward Taiwan. The author constructed a One China identity scale based on national identity theory and the CPC's political advocacy and actions toward Taiwan. Using panel data from 271 members of Taiwanese student delegations to Mainland China from 2016 to 2017, this study explored the changes in their sense of a One China identity. The results showed a significant increase (0.11, 5.19%) in the average ratings of the investigated students' One China identity. The regression equation constructed by the current study was able to explain 10.94% of the total variance of the One China identity scale, and all three hypotheses were supported. Following the exchange program, Taiwanese students appeared to have a greater sense of a One China identity. Their impression of Mainland China had improved, their acceptance of the CPC's regime had increased, and their preference for authoritarianism had increased.
FinnTwin16: A Longitudinal Study from Age 16 of a Population-Based Finnish Twin Cohort
Authors: Kaidesoja Milla , Aaltonen Sari , Bogl Leonie H. , Heikkilä Kauko , Kaartinen Sara , Kujala Urho M. , Kärkkäinen Ulla , Masip Guiomar , Mustelin Linda , Palviainen Teemu , Pietiläinen Kirsi H. , Rottensteiner Mirva , Sipilä Pyry N. , Rose Richard J. , Keski-Rahkonen Anna , Kaprio Jaakko
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed and updated description of the FinnTwin16 (FT16) study and its future directions. The Finnish Twin Cohort comprises three different cohorts: the Older Twin Cohort established in the 1970s and the FinnTwin12 and FT16 initiated in the 1990s. FT16 was initiated in 1991 to identify the genetic and environmental precursors of alcoholism, but later the scope of the project expanded to studying the determinants of various health-related behaviors and diseases in different stages of life. The main areas addressed are alcohol use and its consequences, smoking, physical activity, overall physical health, eating behaviors and eating disorders, weight development, obesity, life satisfaction and personality. To date, five waves of data collection have been completed and the sixth is now planned. Data from the FT16 cohort have contributed to several hundred studies and many substudies, with more detailed phenotyping and collection of omics data completed or underway. FT16 has also contributed to many national and international collaborations.
Drug–drug–gene interactions and adverse drug reactions
Authors: Malki Mustafa Adnan , Pearson Ewan Robert
Published: December 2019

The economic and health burden caused by adverse drug reactions has increased dramatically in the last few years. This is likely to be mediated by increasing polypharmacy, which increases the likelihood for drug–drug interactions. Tools utilized by healthcare practitioners to flag potential adverse drug reactions secondary to drug–drug interactions ignore individual genetic variation, which has the potential to markedly alter the severity of these interactions. To date there have been limited published studies on impact of genetic variation on drug–drug interactions. In this review, we establish a detailed classification for pharmacokinetic drug–drug–gene interactions, and give examples from the literature that support this approach. The increasing availability of real-world drug outcome data linked to genetic bioresources is likely to enable the discovery of previously unrecognized, clinically important drug–drug–gene interactions.
Transmembrane signaling on a protocell: Creation of receptor-enzyme chimeras for immunodetection of specific antibodies and antigens
Authors: Su Jiulong , Kitaguchi Tetsuya , Ohmuro-Matsuyama Yuki , Seah Theresa , Ghadessy Farid J. , Hoon Shawn , Ueda Hiroshi
Published: December 2019

It is known that digital counting of fluorescent signals generated in many small compartments can significantly improve the detection sensitivity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, the reported digital ELISA systems need extensive washing steps to remove background signal, which hampers their performance. To tackle this problem, we developed a vesicle (Protocell) array wherein binding of an external protein analyte is coupled to signal amplification and intra-vesicular fluorescence readout. We chose β-glucuronidase (GUS) as a reporter enzyme as its function requires assembly of four subunits through dimerization of a pair of dimers that can be inhibited by a set of interface mutations. Using a thermostabilized GUS mutant IV-5, we screened out an interface mutant (M516K, F517W) to create IV5m- a mutant with high thermostability and activity conditional on induced dimerization. After tethering a short N-terminal tag and transmembrane (TM) sequences, the fusion protein was expressed by cell-free protein synthesis inside protocells. When a corresponding tag-specific antibody was applied outside of the protocells, a clear increase in GUS activity was observed inside vesicles by adding fluorescent substrate, probably due to spontaneous integration of the tagged TM protein into the vesicles and dimerization by the antibody bound to the displayed tag. Furthermore, using flow cytometry, quantitative digital read out was obtained by counting fluorescent protocells exposed to varying concentrations of external antibodies that included Trastuzumab. Additionally, through use of an anti-caffeine VHH-SpyCatcher fusion protein, caffeine could be detected using SpyTag-fused TM-IV5mprotein expressed in protocells, suggesting utility of this platform for detection of diverse antigen types.
Classification and Visualization of Alzheimer’s Disease using Volumetric Convolutional Neural Network and Transfer Learning
Authors: Oh Kanghan , Chung Young-Chul , Kim Ko Woon , Kim Woo-Sung , Oh Il-Seok
Published: December 2019

Recently, deep-learning-based approaches have been proposed for the classification of neuroimaging data related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and significant progress has been made. However, end-to-end learning that is capable of maximizing the impact of deep learning has yet to receive much attention due to the endemic challenge of neuroimaging caused by the scarcity of data. Thus, this study presents an approach meant to encourage the end-to-end learning of a volumetric convolutional neural network (CNN) model for four binary classification tasks (AD vs. normal control (NC), progressive mild cognitive impairment (pMCI) vs. NC, stable mild cognitive impairment (sMCI) vs. NC and pMCI vs. sMCI) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and visualizes its outcomes in terms of the decision of the CNNs without any human intervention. In the proposed approach, we use convolutional autoencoder (CAE)-based unsupervised learning for the AD vs. NC classification task, and supervised transfer learning is applied to solve the pMCI vs. sMCI classification task. To detect the most important biomarkers related to AD and pMCI, a gradient-based visualization method that approximates the spatial influence of the CNN model’s decision was applied. To validate the contributions of this study, we conducted experiments on the ADNI database, and the results demonstrated that the proposed approach achieved the accuracies of 86.60% and 73.95% for the AD and pMCI classification tasks respectively, outperforming other network models. In the visualization results, the temporal and parietal lobes were identified as key regions for classification.
FOXO3a regulates rhinovirus-induced innate immune responses in airway epithelial cells
Authors: Gimenes-Junior Joao , Owuar Nicole , Vari Hymavathi Reddy , Li Wuyan , Xander Nathaniel , Kotnala Sudhir , Sajjan Uma S.
Published: December 2019

Forkhead transcription factor class O (FOXO)3a, which plays a critical role in a wide variety of cellular processes, was also found to regulate cell-type-specific antiviral responses. Airway epithelial cells express FOXO3a and play an important role in clearing rhinovirus (RV) by mounting antiviral type I and type III interferon (IFN) responses. To elucidate the role of FOXO3a in regulating antiviral responses, we generated airway epithelial cell-specific Foxo3a knockout (Scga1b1-Foxo3a−/−) mice and a stable FOXO3a knockout human airway epithelial cell line. Compared to wild-type, Scga1b1-Foxo3a−/− mice show reduced IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-λ2/3 in response to challenge with RV or double-stranded (ds)RNA mimic, Poly Inosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) indicating defective dsRNA receptor signaling. RV-infected Scga1b1-Foxo3a−/− mice also show viral persistence, enhanced lung inflammation and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. FOXO3a K/O airway epithelial cells show attenuated IFN responses to RV infection and this was associated with conformational change in mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) but not with a reduction in the expression of dsRNA receptors under unstimulated conditions. Pretreatment with MitoTEMPO, a mitochondrial-specific antioxidant corrects MAVS conformation and restores antiviral IFN responses to subsequent RV infection in FOXO3a K/O cells. Inhibition of oxidative stress also reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine responses to RV in FOXO3a K/O cells. Together, our results indicate that FOXO3a plays a critical role in regulating antiviral responses as well as limiting pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Based on these results, we conclude that FOXO3a contributes to optimal viral clearance and prevents excessive lung inflammation following RV infection.
Supporting the European Food Industry to Meet Nutrient Labelling Regulations
Authors: Macháčková Marie , Roe Mark , Ranic Marija , Finglas Paul
Published: December 2019

In the European Union (EU), mandatory nutrition labelling is regulated by Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Food business operators must undertake measures to implement mandatory and voluntary particulars of nutrient labelling in order to comply with the legislation. Information supporting the European food industry, large and small, in implementation and understanding of nutrition labelling is therefore essential, and a summary of formats and approaches in the EU, and at some national levels, is presented.
Air- and moisture-stable Xantphos-ligated palladium dialkyl complex as a precatalyst for cross-coupling reactions
Authors: Takahashi Rina , Kubota Koji , Ito Hajime
Published: December 2019

A Xantphos-ligated palladium dialkyl complex can serve as a high performance precatalyst for various cross-coupling reactions, thus providing a convenient alternative to previously developed classes of precatalysts.
A simple cobalt-based catalyst system for the controlled dehydropolymerisation of H3B·NMeH2 on the gram-scale
Authors: Boyd Timothy M. , Andrea Kori A. , Baston Katherine , Johnson Alice , Ryan David E. , Weller Andrew S.
Published: December 2019

A simple Co-based catalyst system promotes the efficient and controlled dehydropolymerisation of amine–boranes on scale.
Possible pre-phase transition of the α-HMX crystal observed by the variation of hydrogen-bonding network under high pressures
Authors: Zhao Xiao , Zhu Weihua
Published: December 2019

The variation of non-covalent interactions in the HMX crystal under high pressures was investigated through disassembling the hydrogen-bonding network.
Structure and reactivity of a water-covered anatase TiO2(001) surface
Authors: Lang Xiufeng , Liang Yanhong , Zhang Jing , Li Lei , Cao Liqin , Zhang Hongsheng
Published: December 2019

We systematically studied water adsorption and oxidation on the unreconstructed TiO2(001) surface using first-principles calculations.
Interface-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Co2FeAl/NiFe2O4 superlattice: first-principles study
Authors: Li Fangfang , Yang Baishun , Zhang Jianmin , Han Xiufeng , Yan Yu
Published: December 2019

A large PMA of up to 1.07 mJ m−2 can be obtained at the interface between Co-terminated Co2FeAl and NiO-terminated NiFe2O4.
Quantitative proteomics discloses monacolin K-induced alterations in triple-negative breast cancer cell proteomes and phosphoproteomes
Authors: del Gaudio Federica , Guerrera Ida Chiara , Riccio Raffaele , Monti Maria Chiara
Published: December 2019

A positive prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer can be considered as one of the major challenges in clinical studies; accordingly, scientific research has the mission to find out novel chemotherapeutics to make it curable.
A novel ternary MoS2/MoO3/TiO2 composite for fast photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation
Authors: Li Zhenyu , Cao Fa , Wang Lei , Chen Zhiwu , Ji Xiaohong
Published: December 2019

In this article, novel ternary MoS2/MoO3/TiO2 composite catalysts were developed.
A safe propylene carbonate/water hybrid electrolyte for supercapacitors
Authors: Dong Chenhao , Kang Wei , An Cuihua
Published: December 2019

A novel mixed electrolyte of LiTFSI–PC/H2O has been designed and fabricated, which can provided a broad stable potential window of 2.8 V.
Correction: High-performance UV detectors based on room-temperature deposited amorphous Ga2O3 thin films by RF magnetron sputtering
Authors: Han Shun , Huang Xiaoling , Fang Mingzhi , Zhao Weiguo , Xu Shijie , Zhu Deliang , Xu Wangying , Fang Ming , Liu Wenjun , Cao Peijiang , Lu Youming
Published: December 2019

Correction for ‘High-performance UV detectors based on room-temperature deposited amorphous Ga2O3 thin films by RF magnetron sputtering’ by Shun Han et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2019, 7, 11834–11844.
Characterization of glycerophosphodiesterase 4-interacting molecules Gαq/11 and Gβ, which mediate cellular lysophospholipase D activity
Authors: Aoyama Chieko , Horibata Yasuhiro , Ando Hiromi , Mitsuhashi Satomi , Arai Maki , Sugimoto Hiroyuki
Published: December 2019

We previously purified lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD), which hydrolyzes lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), from rat brain and identified the heterotrimeric G protein subunits Gαq and Gβ1 in the lysoPLD active fractions. Tag-affinity purified Gαq exhibits lysoPLD activity but a mutant that affected cellular localization or interaction with the Gβ subunit reduced lysoPLD activity. Size exclusion chromatography revealed that active lysoPLD is a much higher molecular mass complex than is heterotrimeric G protein, suggesting the presence of other components. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry of lysoPLD purified from rat brain identified glycerophosphodiesterase 4 (GDE4), recently reported as lysoPLD, in the same fraction as G proteins. The overexpressed and tag-purified Gαq fractions, which exhibit lysoPLD activity, contained GDE4. Exogenously expressed GDE4 was co-immunoprecipitated with endogenous Gαq and Gβ and exhibited high lysoPLD activity. The results of confocal microscopy and cell fractionation experiments indicated that exogenously expressed GDE4 in cells mainly localized at the endoplasmic reticulum and partially co-localized with Gαq protein at the plasma membrane. Proteinase K protection assay results suggested that the catalytic domain of GDE4 faces the lumen/extracellular space. Mutations at the conserved amino acids in the C-terminus cytoplasmic regions amongst GDE1, 4 and 7, dramatically suppressed GDE4 enzyme activities. When both the Gαq and Gα11 genes in Neuro2A cells were disrupted using the CRISPR–Cas9 system, endogenous lysoPLD activity was partially reduced but rescued by overexpression of Gαq. These results suggest that GDE4 is a new effector of G protein signaling that produces bioactive phospholipid LPA and/or modulates membrane homeostasis.
The dynamically young outflow of the Class 0 protostar Cha-MMS1
Authors: Busch L. A. , Belloche A. , Cabrit S. , Hennebelle P. , Commerçon B.
Published: December 2019

Context. On the basis of its low luminosity, its chemical composition, and the absence of a large-scale outflow, the dense core Cha-MMS1 located in the Chamaeleon I molecular cloud, was proposed a decade ago as a candidate for a first hydrostatic core (FHSC).

Aims. Our goal is to test this hypothesis by searching for a slow, compact outflow driven by Cha-MMS1 that would match the predictions of magnetohydrodynamic simulations for this short phase of star formation.

Methods. We used the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array to map Cha-MMS1 at high angular resolution in CO 3–2 and 13CO 3–2 as well as in continuum emission.

Results. We report the detection of a bipolar outflow emanating from the central core, along a (projected) direction roughly parallel to the filament in which Cha-MMS1 is embedded and perpendicular to the large-scale magnetic field. The morphology of the outflow indicates that its axis lies close to the plane of the sky. We measure velocities corrected for inclination of more than 90 km s−1, which is clearly incompatible with the expected properties of an FHSC outflow. Several properties of the outflow are determined and compared to previous studies of Class 0 and Class I protostars. The outflow of Cha-MMS1 has a much smaller momentum force than the outflows of other Class 0 protostars. In addition, we find a dynamical age of 200–3000 yr indicating that Cha-MMS1 might be one of the youngest ever observed Class 0 protostars. While the existence of the outflow suggests the presence of a disk, no disk is detected in continuum emission and we derive an upper limit of 55 au to its radius.

Conclusions. We conclude that Cha-MMS1 has already gone through the FHSC phase and is a young Class 0 protostar, but it has not yet brought its outflow to full power.
Nichts für Schönwetterkapitäne: CAR-T-Zellen – Immunonkologie trifft Intensivmedizin
Authors: Borrega Jorge Garcia , von Bergwelt-Baildon Michael , Böll Boris
Published: December 2019

Was ist neu?

CRS und ICANS als Nebenwirkung von CAR-T-Zellen Das Cytokine-Release-Syndrome (CRS) ist die häufigste Nebenwirkung einer CAR-T-Zell-Therapie und kann von leichtem Fieber bis zu einem Multiorganversagen führen. Pathophysiologisch kommt es beim CRS zu einem Zytokinsturm und trotz einer Therapie mit Tocilizumab sind refraktäre und tödliche Verläufe beschrieben. Die Symptome des Immune-Effector-Cell-associated-Neurotoxicity-Syndrome (ICANS) variieren von leichter Desorientiertheit bis zum lebensbedrohlichen Hirnödem. Die Pathophysiologie und Therapie des ICANS sind noch nicht ausreichend erforscht. Die Differenzialdiagnosen von CRS und ICANS sind komplex und umfassen neben Infektionen und Sepsis unter anderem auch eine Toxizität der vorhergehenden Therapie, ein Tumorlysesyndrom und nicht zuletzt einen Progress der Grunderkrankung. Ein klinischer oder laborchemischer Parameter zum sicheren Beweis oder Ausschluss eines CRS oder ICANS gibt es zum heutigen Zeitpunkt nicht.

Intensivmedizinische Relevanz und potenzielle Entwicklungen der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie Erste Auswertungen von Real-world-Daten deuten auf eine höhere Rate an schweren Nebenwirkungen im Rahmen der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie als in den Zulassungsstudien hin. Für die Indikation r/r-DLBCL könnten schätzungsweise bis zu maximal 300 Patienten pro Jahr in Deutschland eine intensivmedizinische Betreuung im Rahmen der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie benötigen. Studien mit wesentlich häufigeren soliden Tumoren könnten die Patientenzahl drastisch erhöhen.

Therapieziel bei CAR-T-Zell-Patienten und Entscheidungen bei Therapiezieländerung Aufgrund des neuen Therapiekonzepts kann ein Konflikt zwischen bislang palliativem Patientenkollektiv und nun möglicherweise langfristigen Remissionen entstehen. Eine frühzeitige Aufklärung über potenziell lebensbedrohliche Nebenwirkungen im Rahmen der Therapie und eine interdisziplinäre Besprechung der Therapieziele mit den Patienten ist entscheidend.
Angeborene und idiopathische Deformitäten: Immer ein Arthroserisiko?
Authors: Toporowski Gregor , Rödl Robert , Gosheger Georg , Vogt Björn
Published: December 2019

Arthrotische Gelenkveränderungen weisen eine Vielzahl an Ursachen auf. Ist eine eindeutige Zuordnung nicht möglich, spricht man von primären Arthrosen, hingegen kann die Entwicklung sekundärer Arthrosen auf konkrete Risikofaktoren zurückgeführt werden. Einen Großteil davon bilden angeborene und idiopathische Fehlstellungen, die auch als präarthrotische Deformitäten bezeichnet werden. Eine sekundäre Arthrose manifestiert sich in der Regel bereits in deutlich jüngerem Lebensalter als ein primärer Gelenkverschleiß, gerade deshalb ist die rechtzeitige Diagnosestellung von entscheidender Bedeutung. Angeborene und idiopathische Deformitäten bleiben meist lange asymptomatisch, was die Diagnostik deutlich erschwert. In den letzten Jahren hat die Früherkennung häufiger Deformitäten jedoch stark an Bedeutung gewonnen, wie man am Beispiel der Sonografie zur Beurteilung der Hüftreifung im Rahmen der kindlichen Vorsorgeuntersuchung erkennen kann. Je nach Art der Deformität ist sowohl eine konservative, als auch eine operative Therapie möglich. Dabei spielt der richtige Zeitpunkt für den Therapiebeginn eine wichtige Rolle, denn sowohl ein Abwarten des Spontanverlaufs wie bei auffälligen frontalen Beinachsen, aber auch eine sofortige Behandlung wie bei der Hüftdysplasie können lege artis sein. Zu den häufigsten operativen Maßnahmen zählen die Wachstumslenkung und die Umstellungsosteotomie. Ziel der Therapie ist die Reduktion des Arthroserisikos auf das der Durchschnittsbevölkerung durch Wiederherstellung anatomisch und biomechanisch korrekter Stellungsverhältnisse. Folglich handelt es sich bei der Behandlung von präarthrotischen Deformitäten um präventive, gelenkerhaltende Maßnahmen, die in der Regel schonender und komplikationsärmer sind, als ein späterer endoprothetischer Gelenkersatz. Die Gefahr eines verspäteten Behandlungsbeginns ist die Notwendigkeit (aufwendigerer) operativer Interventionen.
Direct numerical simulation of effects of a micro-ramp on a hypersonic shock wave/boundary layer interaction
Authors: Sun Dong , Guo Qilong , Li Chen , Liu Pengxin
Published: December 2019

A direct numerical simulation study is performed on the hypersonic shock wave/boundary layer interaction controlled by using a microramp vortex generator (MVG). The mean structures around the microramp generator are obtained and the comparison on the shock structures and surface flow patterns is made between cases with and without the MVG. The evolution of the vortical structures in the wake of the MVG is described and the evolution process is found to be similar to that in a supersonic flow. The detailed three-dimensional voritcal structures are presented. Furthermore, the effects of the MVG on the shock wave/boundary layer interaction are investigated. The results show that the heat flux and friction after the interaction have been reduced apparently by the MVG. Such reduction is mainly caused by the flow pattern near the reattachment and the alteration of the vortical structures after the interaction.
Development of FPGA-based multi-sensor excitation low voltage (MSELV) chassis at Jefferson Lab
Authors: Ghoshal P. K. , Bachimanchi R. , Bonneau P. , Campero Rojas P. , Eng B. J. , Fair R. J. , Lemon T. , Sandoval N. R.
Published: December 2019

The design and development of the sensor excitation and read back chassis was driven by the requirements for the monitoring and control of two conduction-cooled superconducting magnets in Hall B for the 12 GeV accelerator upgrade. The torus and solenoid superconducting magnets require extensive instrumentation. Sensor selection was accomplished by applying Jefferson Lab’s (JLab) risk mitigation process, which employed a failure modes and effects analysis approach. The goal was to accommodate all sensor types for monitoring and control and to develop a generic multisensor excitation low voltage chassis that would be used across both magnet systems with a reduced set of functions. The chassis has been deployed in experimental Hall B at JLab and has been performing successfully since July 2016.
Unbiased fuzzy global optimization of Lennard-Jones clusters for N ≤ 1000
Authors: Yu Kailiang , Wang Xubo , Chen Liping , Wang Linjun
Published: December 2019

We propose a fuzzy global optimization (FGO) algorithm to identify the lowest-energy structure of nanoclusters. In contrast to traditional methods implemented in the real space, FGO utilizes mostly the discrete space in a fuzzy search framework. Starting from random initial configurations, we carry out directed Monte Carlo and surface Monte Carlo in the discrete space to obtain low-energy candidate clusters and make real-space local optimizations finally to get the real global minimum structure. The performance of FGO is demonstrated in a large set of standard Lennard-Jones (LJ) clusters with up to 1000 atoms. All the putative global minima reported in the literature are successfully obtained with a low scaling of CPU time with cluster size, and new global minimum structures for LJ clusters with 894, 974, and 991 atoms are identified. Due to the unbiased nature, FGO can potentially deal with the global optimization of other nanomaterials with high efficiency and reliability.
Alcohol shifts gut microbial networks and ameliorates a murine model of neuroinflammation in a sex-specific pattern
Authors: Caslin Blaine , Maguire Cole , Karmakar Aditi , Mohler Kailey , Wylie Dennis , Melamed Esther
Published: December 2019

Alcohol is a widely consumed dietary component by patients with autoimmune neuroinflammatory diseases, but current evidence on the effects of alcohol in these conditions is confounding. Epidemiological studies suggest moderate consumption of alcohol may be protective in some autoimmune diseases; however, this correlation has not been directly investigated. Here, we characterize the effects of moderate-dose alcohol in a model system of autoimmune neuroinflammation, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Male and female C57BL/6J mice were fed a 2.6% alcohol or isocaloric diet for 3 wk prior to MOG
35–55
EAE induction. Surprisingly, alcohol-fed males experienced significantly greater disease remission compared to alcohol-fed females and control-fed counterparts. We observed a male-specific decrease in microglial density in alcohol-consuming animals in cervical and thoracic spinal cord in late-stage disease. In the gut, alcohol diet resulted in several sex-specific alterations in key microbiota known for their regulatory immune roles, including
Turicibacter
,
Akkermansia
,
Prevotella
, and
Clostridium
. Using a correlation network modeling approach, we identified unique bacterial modules that are significantly enriched in response to treatment and sex, composed of Clostridial taxa and several Firmicutes known to be protective in EAE. Together, these data demonstrate the potential of alcohol to significantly alter the course of autoimmunity differentially in males and females via effects on gut bacterial networks and support further need to evaluate dose and sex-specific alcohol effects in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune neuroinflammatory conditions.
Tracking emissions in the US electricity system
Authors: de Chalendar Jacques A. , Taggart John , Benson Sally M.
Published: December 2019

Understanding electricity consumption and production patterns is a necessary first step toward reducing the health and climate impacts of associated emissions. In this work, the economic input–output model is adapted to track emissions flows through electric grids and quantify the pollution embodied in electricity production, exchanges, and, ultimately, consumption for the 66 continental US Balancing Authorities (BAs). The hourly and BA-level dataset we generate and release leverages multiple publicly available datasets for the year 2016. Our analysis demonstrates the importance of considering location and temporal effects as well as electricity exchanges in estimating emissions footprints. While increasing electricity exchanges makes the integration of renewable electricity easier, importing electricity may also run counter to climate-change goals, and citizens in regions exporting electricity from high-emission-generating sources bear a disproportionate air-pollution burden. For example, 40% of the carbon emissions related to electricity consumption in California’s main BA were produced in a different region. From 30 to 50% of the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released in some of the coal-heavy Rocky Mountain regions were related to electricity produced that was then exported. Whether for policymakers designing energy efficiency and renewable programs, regulators enforcing emissions standards, or large electricity consumers greening their supply, greater resolution is needed for electric-sector emissions indices to evaluate progress against current and future goals.