bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fiber‐Based Mini Tissue with Morphology‐Controllable GelMA Microfibers
Authors: Shao Lei , Gao Qing , Zhao Haiming , Xie Chaoqi , Fu Jianzhong , Liu Zhenjie , Xiang Meixiang , He Yong
Published: September 2018

The use of microscale fibers could facilitate nutrient diffusion in fiber‐based tissue engineering and improve cell survival. However, in order to build a functional mini tissue such as muscle fibers, nerve conduits, and blood vessels, hydrogel microfibers should not only mimic the structural features of native tissues but also offer a cell‐favorable environment and sufficient strength for tissue functionalization. Therefore, an important goal is to fabricate morphology‐controllable microfibers with appropriate hydrogel materials to mimic the structural and functional complexity of native tissues. Here, gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) is used as the fiber material due to its excellent biological performance, and a novel coaxial bioprinting method is developed to fabricate morphology‐controllable GelMA microfibers encapsulated in calcium alginate. By adjusting the flow rates, GelMA microfibers with straight, wavy, and helical morphologies could be obtained. By varying the coaxial nozzle design, more complex GelMA microfibers such as Janus, multilayered, and double helix structures could be fabricated. Using these microfibers, mini tissues containing human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells are built, in which cells gradually migrate and connect to form lumen resembling blood vessels. The merits of cytocompatibility, structural diversity, and mechanical tunability of the versatile microfibers may open more avenues for further biomedical research.
Design Rules for Template‐Confined DNA‐Mediated Nanoparticle Assembly
Authors: Zhou Wenjie , Lin Qing‐Yuan , Mason Jarad A. , Dravid Vinayak P. , Mirkin Chad A.
Published: September 2018

Template‐based strategies are becoming increasingly important for controlling the position of nanoparticle‐based (NP‐based) structures on surfaces for a wide variety of encoding and device fabrication strategies. Thus, there is an increasing need to understand the behavior of NPs in confined spaces. Herein, a systematic investigation of the diffusion and adsorption properties of DNA‐modified NPs is presented in lithographically defined, high‐aspect‐ratio pores using a template‐confined, DNA‐mediated assembly. Leveraging the sequence‐specific binding affinity of DNA, it is discovered that although NP adsorption in deep polymer pores follows a traditional Langmuir adsorption model when under thermodynamic control, such NPs kinetically follow Fick's classical law of diffusion. Importantly, these observations allow one to establish design rules for template‐confined, DNA‐mediated NP assembly on substrates based on pore dimensions, NP size and shape, NP concentration, temperature, and time. As a proof‐of‐concept example, these design rules are used to engineer a vertical, four‐layer assembly consisting of individual octahedral NPs stacked on top of one another, with in‐plane positioning defined by pores generated by e‐beam lithography.
Responding to the tsunami of clinical negligence claims
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: September 2018

Annual spending on the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts has quadrupled in ten years, from £0.4 billion in 2006–2007 to £1.6 billion in 2016–2017. Here, Roger Kirby discusses what the recent tsunami of clinical negligence claims means for the medical profession.
Hormone management of trans men
Authors: Coxon Jonny , Seal Leighton
Published: September 2018

In this article the authors describe how hormonal treatments are used in trans men undergoing transition. The hormone regimens are explained and the vital role of primary care in managing ongoing prescribing and monitoring of treatment is also discussed.
Retzius‐sparing robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy
Authors: Eden Christopher
Published: September 2018

The Retzius‐sparing approach to robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy is a relatively new surgical technique that holds the promise of reduced postoperative complications. In this article the author weighs up its advantages and disadvantages and calls for experienced surgeons to explore its potential.
HPV vaccination for boys: how the case was won
Authors: Baker Peter
Published: September 2018

On 24 July 2018, public health minister Steve Brine took fewer than 30 seconds to inform the House of Commons that boys would now be covered by the national HPV vaccination programme. His short statement marked the culmination of a five‐year campaign led by HPV Action. Peter Baker describes how this hard‐fought battle was won.
Supporting urology in Zambia
Authors: Teichmann Dominic
Published: September 2018

Long distances, poor patients and lack of equipment make delivering urological services in Zambia a challenge. Dominic Teichmann describes his Urolink‐supported working visit to Lusaka.
Assessing agricultural damage by wild boar using drones
Authors: Rutten Anneleen , Casaer Jim , Vogels Marjolein F. A. , Addink Elisabeth A. , Vanden Borre Jeroen , Leirs Herwig
Published: September 2018

In Flanders (northern Belgium), wild boar (Sus scrofa) returned in 2006 after 50 years of absence and the population is increasing, both in abundance and geographic extent. In the absence of wild boar, Flanders’ landscape structure changed into a dense, mosaic‐like pattern of agricultural, natural, and urban areas. The return of the wild boar increasingly leads to human–wildlife conflicts, mainly linked to damage in agriculture. Hence, there is a growing need for a time‐efficient, standardized, and accurate method to assess crop damage. We present an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle‐based method, using Geographic Object‐Based Image Analysis and Random Forests to estimate the damaged area and associated yield losses, between 2015 and 2017, due to wild boar in individual fields in Flanders. Our approach resulted in an 84.50% overall accuracy in calculating damaged area for maize fields and 94.40% for grasslands. Damage levels ranged between 14.3% and 20.2% in maize fields and 16.5% to 25.4% in grasslands. Our method can provide objective base data for compensation schemes and guide management strategies based on damage assessments. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Categorisation and detection of dark matter candidates from string/M-theory hidden sectors
Authors: Acharya Bobby S. , Ellis Sebastian A. R. , Kane Gordon L. , Nelson Brent D. , Perry Malcolm
Published: September 2018

Abstract

We study well-motivated dark matter candidates arising from weakly-coupled hidden sectors in compactified string/M-theory. Imposing generic top-down constraints greatly restricts allowed candidates. By considering the possible mechanisms for achieving the correct dark matter relic density, we compile categories of viable dark matter candidates and annihilation mediators. We consider the case where supersymmetry breaking occurs via moduli stabilisation and is gravitationally mediated to the visible and other hidden sectors, without assuming sequestering of the sector in which supersymmetry is broken. We find that in this case, weakly-coupled hidden sectors only allow for fermionic dark matter. Additionally, most of the mechanisms for obtaining the full relic density only allow for a gauge boson mediator, such as a dark Z′. Given these considerations, we study the potential for discovering or constraining the allowed parameter space given current and future direct detection experiments, and direct production at the LHC. We also present a model of a hidden sector which would contain a satisfactory dark matter candidate.
Large D holography with metric deformations
Authors: Andrade Tomas , Pantelidou Christiana , Withers Benjamin
Published: September 2018

Abstract

We consider Einstein gravity in AdS in the presence of a deformed conformal boundary metric, in the limit of large spacetime dimension. At leading order we find a new set of effective near-horizon equations. These can be understood as covariant generalisations of the undeformed equations with new source terms due to the curvature. We show that these equations are given by the conservation of the exact second-order Landau-frame hydrodynamic stress tensor. No derivative expansions are invoked in this identification. We use the new equations to study CFTs with 2d lattice deformations, computing their quasi-normal mode spectra and thermal conductivities, both numerically and analytically to quartic order in small lattice amplitude. Many of our results also apply to asymptotically flat spacetimes.
Variation in Classification and Postoperative Management of Complex Appendicitis: A European Survey
Authors: de Wijkerslooth Elisabeth M. L. , van den Boom Anne Loes , Wijnhoven Bas P. L.
Published: September 2018

Background

Data on common practice in the management of patients with complex appendicitis are scarce, especially for the adult population. Variation in the definition of complex appendicitis, indications for and the type of prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis have not been well studied yet. The aim of this study was to document current practice of the classification and postoperative management of complex appendicitis on an international level.

Methods

An online survey was dispersed among practicing surgeons and surgical residents. Survey questions pertained to the definition of a complex appendicitis, indications for antibiotic prophylaxis after appendectomy, the duration, route of administration and antibiotic agents used.

Results

A total of 137 survey responses were eligible for analysis. Most respondents were from Northern or Western Europe and were specialized in gastrointestinal surgery. Opinion varied substantially regarding the management of appendicitis, in particular for phlegmonous appendicitis with localized pus, gangrenous appendicitis and iatrogenic rupture of appendicitis. The most common duration of postoperative antibiotics was evenly spread over <3, 3, 5 and 7 days. Whereas most respondents indicated a combined intravenous and oral route of administration was common practice, 28% answered a completely intravenous route of administration was standard practice.

Conclusion

Current practice patterns in the classification and postoperative management of complex appendicitis are highly variable.
Robotic Double Purse‐String Telescoped Pancreaticogastrostomy: How I Do It
Authors: Wakabayashi Taiga , Felli Emanuele , Pessaux Patrick
Published: September 2018

Introduction

Some articles have recently shown that robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is feasible and can be a safe method. On the other hand, pancreatic fistulas (PF) remain the most dreaded complication after PD, and a secured pancreaticoenteric reconstruction may be essential in this regard. Previous articles have highlighted the usefulness of telescoped pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) in open PD to reduce the risk of postoperative PF. Additionally, in 2016, Addeo et al. described a double purse‐string telescoped PG (DPS‐PG), simplified from previous techniques, with favorable short‐term results.

Materials and methods

The attached video reports our standardized technique for robotic DPS‐PG, which is based on Addeo’s approach. The main characteristic of this technique is an easy placement of two seromuscular purse‐string sutures without the need for gastric wall dissection or deep pancreatic parenchymal sutures. We modified and developed Addeo’s technique to suit the robotic PD. In our robotic DPS‐PG, there is no need to perform the opening of the distal gastric stump, the anterior gastrostomy, or the suture fixation of the pancreatic parenchyma to the stomach, as it could lead to a rupture of the pancreas, particularly when the parenchyma is soft.

Results

We consider that our technique of robotic DPS‐PG might be feasible and can be safely performed, just as a previously described technique in open surgery.

Conclusions

Further evaluation with clinical trials is required to validate its real benefits.
Trends in the Motherhood Wage Penalty and Fatherhood Wage Premium for Low, Middle, and High Earners
Authors: Glauber Rebecca
Published: September 2018

Many studies have shown that women pay a wage penalty for motherhood, whereas men earn a wage premium for fatherhood. A few recent studies have used quantile regression to explore differences in the penalties across the wage distribution. The current study builds on this research and explores trends in the parenthood penalties and premiums from 1980 to 2014 for those at the bottom, middle, and top of the wage distribution. Analyses of data from the Current Population Survey show that the motherhood wage penalty decreased, whereas the fatherhood wage premium increased. Unconditional quantile regression models reveal that low-, middle-, and high-earning women paid similar motherhood wage penalties in the 1980s. The motherhood wage penalty began to decrease in the 1990s, but more so for high-earning women than for low-earning women. By the early 2010s, the motherhood wage penalty for high-earning women was eliminated, whereas low-earning women continued to pay a penalty. The fatherhood wage premium began to increase in the late 1990s, although again, more so for high-earning men than for low-earning men. By the early 2010s, high-earning men received a much larger fatherhood wage premium than low- or middle-earning men.
Laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection with natural orifice specimen extraction: a prospective study
Authors: Metwally Islam H. , Kotb Sherif Z. , Hegazy Mohamed A.F. , Elnahas Waleed , Noguera José F.
Published: September 2018

Introduction Laparoscopic colorectal resection is more and more being employed in the daily oncology practice. Natural orifice techniques to obviate the need for a specimen extraction incision are evolving.

Materials and methods We studied transanal and transvaginal specimen extraction after laparoscopic colorectal resections prospectively in 16 patients.

Results The technique was successfully implemented in 75% of the cases. The site of the tumour and the patient age were the significant predictors of the technique success.

Conclusion The technique is reproducible and can be more widely adopted.
Distribution Patterns of Vasculature Around Cervical Nerve Roots
Authors: Park Donghwi , Ryu Ju Seok
Published: September 2018

Background

To the authors' knowledge, there has not been an ultrasound study of the vulnerable vessels in a C3‐7 cervical nerve root block (CNRB).

Objectives

To evaluate the prevalence of vulnerable vessels around the target of a CNRB at the cervical nerve root of C3‐7 levels in a clinical setting.

Design

Retrospective, cross‐sectional study.

Setting

General teaching hospital, rehabilitation unit.

Participants

A total of 104 patients complaining of neck or arm pain with no prior surgical history and who had undergone a CNRB at an outpatient clinic from May 2015 to December 2017 were included.

Main outcome measurements

The prevalence of vulnerable vessels as seen on a preprocedure ultrasound scan around the target of a CNRB at the cervical nerve root of C3‐7 levels.

Results

Out of 104 cases, the C3 level had 7 blood vessels (8.33%), the C4 level had 14 blood vessels (13.86%), the C5 level had 17 blood vessels (16.35%), the C6 level had 27 blood vessels (25.96%), and the C7 level had 31 blood vessels (29.81%) either at the targeted cervical nerve root or at the site of the imaginary needle's projected pathway to the targeted cervical nerve root.

Conclusion

There was a substantial prevalence of vulnerable vessels either at the targeted nerve root or at the site of the needle's projected pathway to the nerve root.
The Effects of Hydrotherapy on Balance, Functional Mobility, Motor Status, and Quality of Life in Patients with Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Pinto Camila , Salazar Ana Paula , Marchese Ritchele R , Stein Cinara , Pagnussat Aline S
Published: September 2018

Background

Individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) present balance and functional mobility disabilities that negatively affect the quality of life (QOL).

Objective

To systematically review the effects of hydrotherapy on balance, functional mobility, QOL, and motor status in patients with PD.

Design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Participants

A total of 484 participants were included. The mean age of participants ranged from 54 to 78 years. The average duration of PD ranged from 3 to 10 years.

Methods

MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, SCOPUS, Scielo, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Google Scholar were searched from inception to December 2017. Randomized controlled trials (RCT), non‐RCT, and pre‐post studies were included.

Main Outcome Measurements

Berg Balance Scale; Timed Up and Go test; Parkinson's disease quality of life and Short Form‐36 Health Survey; Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale‐Part III.

Results

A total of 19 studies were identified, including eight RCTs, three non‐RCTs, and eight pre‐post studies. Our meta‐analysis showed a moderate quality of evidence for positive effects of hydrotherapy combined or not with land‐based therapy on balance (133 patients; MD = 2.00 [95% CI, 0.56 to 3.43; I2 0%, P = .01]) and functional mobility (133 patients; MD = −1.08 [95% CI, −1.99 to −0.18; I2 8%, P = .02]). However, hydrotherapy combined or not with land‐based therapy did not improve QOL (76 patients; MD = −6.35 [95% CI, −13.04 to 0.33; I2 7%, P = .06]) and motor status (140 patients; MD = −1.11 [95% CI, −3.27 to 1.04; I2 0%, P = .31). The risk of bias across the included RCTs was low.

Conclusions

Hydrotherapy, combined or not with other therapies, may improve balance and functional mobility of patients with PD when compared to land‐based therapy alone or usual care.

Level of Evidence

Level I.
Equidistribution of divergent orbits of the diagonal group in the space of lattices
Authors: DAVID OFIR , SHAPIRA URI
Published: September 2018

We consider divergent orbits of the group of diagonal matrices in the space of lattices in Euclidean space. We define two natural numerical invariants of such orbits: the discriminant—an integer—and the type—an integer vector. We then study the question of the limit distributional behavior of these orbits as the discriminant goes to infinity. Using entropy methods we prove that, for divergent orbits of a specific type, virtually any sequence of orbits equidistributes as the discriminant goes to infinity. Using measure rigidity for higher-rank diagonal actions, we complement this result and show that, in dimension three or higher, only very few of these divergent orbits can spend all of their life-span in a given compact set before they diverge.
Rigidity, universality, and hyperbolicity of renormalization for critical circle maps with non-integer exponents
Authors: GORBOVICKIS IGORS , YAMPOLSKY MICHAEL
Published: September 2018

We construct a renormalization operator which acts on analytic circle maps whose critical exponent $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$ is not necessarily an odd integer $2n+1$, $n\in \mathbb{N}$. When $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}=2n+1$, our definition generalizes cylinder renormalization of analytic critical circle maps by Yampolsky [Hyperbolicity of renormalization of critical circle maps. Publ. Math. Inst. Hautes Études Sci.96 (2002), 1–41]. In the case when $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$ is close to an odd integer, we prove hyperbolicity of renormalization for maps of bounded type. We use it to prove universality and $C^{1+\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}}$-rigidity for such maps.
Hand hygiene opportunities on Canadian acute-care inpatient units: A multicenter observational study
Authors: Nayyar Dhruv , Moore Christine , McCreight Liz , Garvida Chiana , Xu Emily , Kiss Alex , Ricciuto Daniel R. , McGeer Allison , Leis Jerome A.
Published: September 2018

In this multicenter observational study, medical and surgical inpatient rooms were randomized to receive 1 hour of continuous direct observation to determine hand hygiene opportunities (HHOs). After multivariable adjustment, HHOs were similar across inpatient units and hospitals. This estimate could serve to calibrate electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems for Canadian medical and surgical units.
Rubin v. Islamic Republic of Iran (U.S. Sup. Ct.)
Authors: Goodwin Gabrielle
Published: September 2018

On February 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Seventh Circuit's decision in the case of Rubin v. Islamic Republic of Iran, concluding that 28 U.S.C. §1610(g) does not provide a freestanding basis for parties holding a §1605A judgment to attach and execute against the property of a foreign state. Instead, §1610(g) may be used to identify property that would be available for attachment and execution to satisfy a §1605A judgment, but a separate provision within §1610 must first apply to overcome execution immunity.
Menci & Garlsson Real Estate SA and Others v. Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (Consob) & Joined Cases Di Puma v. Consob and Consob v. Zecca (CJEU)
Authors: Clifford Anita
Published: September 2018

On March 20, 2018, the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered a trio of judgments that substantially clarify the application of the ne bis in idem principle where both criminal and administrative proceedings are pursued. Both the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter) and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) recognize the principle, but it will be more familiar to common law practitioners as the protection against double jeopardy. Increasingly, dual investigations are common in cases where the underlying activity is essentially financial crime, but tender areas continue to be information sharing and the risk of duplicate punishment where both investigations end in enforcement action. Concerning four cases, Case C-524/15 Menci, Case C-537/16 Garlsson Real Estate and Others, and joined Cases C-596/16 Di Puma and C-597/16 Zecca, each of the judgments addresses preliminary questions referred by the Italian courts; they are significant because they emphasize that ne bis in idem will not serve as a bar to a dual response. The interest in protecting the financial markets justifies limits to the principle but great care must be taken to coordinate the approaches and identify whether a further criminal sanction is masquerading as an administrative penalty.
R (on the application of Bancoult No 3) v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (U.K. Sup. Ct.)
Authors: Allen Stephen
Published: September 2018

On February 8, 2018, the U.K. Supreme Court delivered its judgment in R (Bancoult No 3) v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The case concerned a challenge to the validity of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) extending 250,000 square miles around the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT or Chagos Archipelago). Declared in 2010, the MPA was justified on the ground of environmental protection and resulted in a ban on all commercial fishing in this zone. The appellant alleged that the MPA had been established for an improper purpose—to prevent the Chagos Islanders from resettling the Archipelago. He claimed that this was evidenced by a diplomatic cable sent from the U.S. embassy in London. It recorded a 2009 meeting in which U.S. and British officials discussed the reasons behind the MPA. The cable was subsequently leaked via the WikiLeaks website and published in two national newspapers. Accordingly, as Lady Hale rightly observed, “[t]he crucial legal issue in this case is therefore the admissibility of the cable.”
Automatic delineation of debris-covered glaciers using InSAR coherence derived from X-, C- and L-band radar data: a case study of Yazgyl Glacier
Authors: LIPPL STEFAN , VIJAY SAURABH , BRAUN MATTHIAS
Published: September 2018

Despite their importance for mass-balance estimates and the progress in techniques based on optical and thermal satellite imagery, the mapping of debris-covered glacier boundaries remains a challenging task. Manual corrections hamper regular updates. In this study, we present an automatic approach to delineate glacier outlines using interferometrically derived synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) coherence, slope and morphological operations. InSAR coherence detects the temporally decorrelated surface (e.g. glacial extent) irrespective of its surface type and separates it from the highly coherent surrounding areas. We tested the impact of different processing settings, for example resolution, coherence window size and topographic phase removal, on the quality of the generated outlines. We found minor influence of the topographic phase, but a combination of strong multi-looking during interferogram generation and additional averaging during coherence estimation strongly deteriorated the coherence at the glacier edges. We analysed the performance of X-, C- and L- band radar data. The C-band Sentinel-1 data outlined the glacier boundary with the least misclassifications and a type II error of 0.47% compared with Global Land Ice Measurements from Space inventory data. Our study shows the potential of the Sentinel-1 mission together with our automatic processing chain to provide regular updates for land-terminating glaciers on a large scale.
r-FREDHOLM THEORY IN BANACH ALGEBRAS
Authors: BENJAMIN RONALDA , LAUSTSEN NIELS JAKOB , MOUTON SONJA
Published: September 2018

Harte (1982, Math. Z. 179, 431–436) initiated the study of Fredholm theory relative to a unital homomorphism T: A → B between unital Banach algebras A and B based on the following notions: an element a ∈ A is called Fredholm if 0 is not in the spectrum of Ta, while a is Weyl (Browder) if there exist (commuting) elements b and c in A with a = b + c such that 0 is not in the spectrum of b and c is in the null space of T. We introduce and investigate the concepts of r-Fredholm, r-Weyl and r-Browder elements, where 0 in these definitions is replaced by the spectral radii of a and b, respectively.
Bank Lending and the European Sovereign Debt Crisis
Authors: De Marco Filippo
Published: September 2018

I investigate whether bank exposures to sovereign debt during the European debt crisis affected the real economy. I show that a shock to the marked-to-market (MTM) value of bank exposures to sovereign debt led to credit tightening in 2010–2011 that had negative real effects on small and young firms. Because banks do not usually mark their holdings of sovereign bonds to market, I explore the transmission channels of the unrealized losses on credit supply. I show that a shock to MTM exposures reduced short-term bank funding from U.S. money market funds rather than affecting equity or working through alternative channels.
Flannery O'Connor and religious epistemology
Authors: BAEHR JASON
Published: September 2018

What are the demands of religious inquiry? It can be tempting to think of these demands in strictly epistemic terms, e.g. as a function of the inquirer's background beliefs, cognitive faculties, natural cognitive ability, intellectual skills, and intellectual character. In this article, I extrapolate an alternative model of religious inquiry from three stories by the Southern Gothic writer Flannery O'Connor (1925–1964). According to the model, a person's fitness for religious inquiry also depends on whether she possesses a certain moral posture. In particular, I argue that something like moral humility functions as an epistemic virtue in the theistic domain.
What the argument from evil should, but cannot, be
Authors: COLLIN JAMES HENRY
Published: September 2018

Michael Tooley has developed a sophisticated evidential version of the argument from evil that aims to circumvent sceptical theist responses. Evidential arguments from evil depend on the plausibility of inductive inferences from premises about our inability to see morally sufficient reasons for God to permit evils to conclusions about there being no morally sufficient reasons for God to permit evils. Tooley's defence of this inductive step depends on the idea that the existence of unknown rightmaking properties is no more likely, a priori, than the existence of unknown wrongmaking properties. I argue that Tooley's argument begs the question against the theist, and, in doing so, commits an analogue of the base rate fallacy. I conclude with some reflections on what a successful argument from evil would have to establish.
Revisiting the form and function of conflict: Neurobiological, psychological, and cultural mechanisms for attack and defense within and between groups
Authors: De Dreu Carsten K. W. , Gross Jörg
Published: September 2018

Conflict can profoundly affect individuals and their groups. Oftentimes, conflict involves a clash between one side seeking change and increased gains through victory and the other side defending the status quo and protecting against loss and defeat. However, theory and empirical research largely neglected these conflicts between attackers and defenders, and the strategic, social, and psychological consequences of attack and defense remain poorly understood. To fill this void, we model (1) the clashing of attack and defense as games of strategy and reveal that (2) attack benefits from mismatching its target's level of defense, whereas defense benefits from matching the attacker's competitiveness. This suggests that (3) attack recruits neuroendocrine pathways underlying behavioral activation and overconfidence, whereas defense invokes neural networks for behavioral inhibition, vigilant scanning, and hostile attributions; and that (4) people invest less in attack than defense, and attack often fails. Finally, we propose that (5) in intergroup conflict, out-group attack needs institutional arrangements that motivate and coordinate collective action, whereas in-group defense benefits from endogenously emerging in-group identification. We discuss how games of attack and defense may have shaped human capacities for prosociality and aggression, and how third parties can regulate such conflicts and reduce their waste.
The HUGE presence of Lindley Murray
Authors: Fens–De Zeeuw Lyda
Published: September 2018

The grammarian Lindley Murray (1745–1826), according to Monaghan (1996), was the author of the best selling English grammar book of all times, calledEnglish Grammarand first published in 1795. Not surprisingly, therefore, his work was subjected to severe criticism by later grammarians as well as by authors of usage guides, who may have thought that Murray's success might negatively influence the sales figures of their own books. As the publication history of the grammar in Alston (1965) suggests, Murray was also the most popular grammarian of the late 18thand perhaps the entire 19thcentury, and this is most clearly reflected in the way in which a wide range of 19th- and even some 20th-century literary authors, from both sides of the Atlantic, mentioned Lindley Murray in their novels. Examples are Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852), George Eliot (Middlemarch, 1871–2), Charles Dickens, in several of his novels (Sketches by Boz, 1836;Nicholas Nickleby, 1838–9;The Old Curiosity Shop1840–1;Dombey & Son, 1846–8); Oscar Wilde (Miner and Minor Poets, 1887) and James Joyce (Ulysses, 1918) (Fens–de Zeeuw, 2011: 170–2). Another example is Edgar Allen Poe, who according to Hayes (2000) grew up with Murray's textbooks and used his writings as a kind of linguistic touchstone, especially in his reviews. Many more writers could be mentioned, and not only literary ones, for in a recent paper in which Crystal (2018) analysed the presence of linguistic elements in issues ofPunchpublished during the 19thcentury, he discovered that ‘[w]heneverPunchdebates grammar, it refers to Lindley Murray’. Murray, according to Crystal, ‘is the only grammarian to receive any mention throughout the period, and his name turns up in 19 articles’ (Crystal, 2018: 86). Murray had become synonymous with grammar prescription, and even in the early 20thcentury, he was still referred to as ‘the father of English Grammar’ (Johnson, 1904: 365).
Bursting Bubbles? QALYs and Discrimination
Authors: DAVIES BEN
Published: September 2018

The use of Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) in healthcare allocation has been criticized as discriminatory against people with disabilities. This article considers a response to this criticism from Nick Beckstead and Toby Ord. They say that even if QALYs are discriminatory, attempting to avoid discrimination – when coupled with other central principles that an allocation system should favour – sometimes leads to irrationality in the form of cyclic preferences. I suggest that while Beckstead and Ord have identified a problem, it is a misdiagnosis to lay it at the feet of an anti-discrimination principle. The problem in fact comes from a basic tension between respecting reasonable patient preferences and other ways of ranking treatment options. As such, adopting a QALY system does not solve the problem they identify.
The invasive speciesCylindrodesmus hirsutusPocock (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Haplodesmidae) spreads to the northern Caribbean, with a compilation of published localities
Authors: Recuero Ernesto
Published: September 2018

Millipede diversity in tropical regions, and in Mexico in particular, is still mostly unknown. A modest but recurrent source of new Mexican species is the colonization of exotic species, due to human activity. The invasive speciesCylindrodesmus hirsutusPocock, 1889 has spread from its area of origin in Indonesia or Melanesia and become a virtually pantropical species. Although long known from South and Central America, reports from the Caribbean are sparse and limited to some eastern islands and southern Central America. On 9 March 2016, two adult specimens were found on Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo, in an area of medium semideciduous tropical forest. This paper comprises the first record of this species from Mexico and the northern Caribbean. Given the intense commercial activity in the region, the presence of more populations both in Cozumel Island and in the mainland coast is highly probable.
How Well Can the Webb Telescope Detect Signs of Exoplanet Life?
Authors: Joel Lucas
Published: September 2018

Recent research suggests that NASA’s next-generation space telescope will be good—but not the best—at finding life-sustaining levels of oxygen in an exoplanet’s atmosphere.
Temperature Trends and Anomalies in Modern Satellite Data: Infrared Sounding and GPS Radio Occultation
Authors: Leroy S. S. , Ao C. O. , Verkhoglyadova O. P.
Published: September 2018

Trends in monthly average, zonal average temperature in the stratosphere as retrieved from highly accurate modern satellite data are intercompared and compared with climate reanalyses from 2003 through 2014. The data sets used are those of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder and Global Positioning System (GPS) radio occultation, and the reanalyses are those of MERRA and ERA‐Interim. Trends produced by all data sets agree to within 0.02 K/year in the lower stratosphere and 0.05 K/year in the middle stratosphere. A number of retrieval errors are found that introduce incorrect trends and seasonal anomalies. Adding microwave data to the infrared retrieval changes trends by approximately 0.01 K/year, thus improving agreement with the other data sets. The signature of the quasi‐biennial oscillation in temperature and the annual cycle of temperature over Antarctica as retrieved from infrared data contain null‐space errors of more than 3 K due to erroneous priors used in retrieval. Nonuniformity in GPS radio occultation gives rise to errors because changes in received GPS signal strength alter the upper boundary initialization in radio occultation retrieval. Finally, an incorrect specification of atmospheric water vapor introduces an erroneous seasonal cycle of temperature as retrieved from GPS radio occultation data in the upper troposphere. All of these time‐dependent retrieval errors can be corrected with future research and improvements to spectral infrared and GPS radio occultation retrieval systems.
Estimation of Marine Versus Terrigenous Organic Carbon in Sediments Off Southwestern Taiwan Using the Bromine to Total Organic Carbon Ratio as a Proxy
Authors: Kandasamy Selvaraj , Lin Baozhi , Lou Jiann‐Yuh , Kao Shuh‐Ji , Chen Chen‐Tung Arthur , Mayer Lawrence M.
Published: September 2018

We measured bromine to total organic carbon (Br:TOC) ratios as an organic source indicator in terrestrial and marine settings of Taiwan, a tectonically active margin that differs from previously studied, passive margins. Terrestrial lake sediments, soils, and river bed and suspended sediments showed Br:TOC ratios ranging from 0.02 to 2.8 mg‐Br/g‐TOC. In ocean margin sediments, Br:TOC ratios ranged from terrigenous values up to 7.6 mg‐Br/g‐TOC. A two‐component Br:TOC mixing model for ocean margin sediments indicates roughly equal proportions of terrigenous and marine organic matter (FT and FM, respectively). Terrestrial δ13C values varied from −31.5 to −24.7‰, a range which is twice the difference between the isotopic terrigenous and marine end‐members used to calculate these proportions. FT and FM based on δ13C were similar to those using Br:TOC if averaged across all marine sediments but often differed at the level of individual samples. Depth profiles of amounts of these two forms of organic matter (OCterr and OCmar) using Br:TOC ratios show that OCmar burial is relatively constant while OCterr and hence TOC vary more strongly; this pattern suggests either episodic terrigenous carbon inputs or winnowing before burial. Variations in TOC:TN and δ13C are consistent with this control of TOC by terrigenous carbon. This study validates Br:TOC as a source indicator for terrigenous versus marine‐derived organic matter in sediments derived from mountainous areas in Oceania. As a single parameter source indicator it should have less error than δ13C due to less uncertainty of the terrestrial end‐member.
Arginase 1 promotes retinal neurovascular protection from ischemia through suppression of macrophage inflammatory responses
Authors: Fouda Abdelrahman Y. , Xu Zhimin , Shosha Esraa , Lemtalsi Tahira , Chen Jijun , Toque Haroldo A. , Tritz Rebekah , Cui Xuezhi , Stansfield Brian K. , Huo Yuqing , Rodriguez Paulo C. , Smith Sylvia B. , Caldwell R. William , Narayanan S. Priya , Caldwell Ruth B.
Published: September 2018

The lack of effective therapies to limit neurovascular injury in ischemic retinopathy is a major clinical problem. This study aimed to examine the role of ureohydrolase enzyme, arginase 1 (A1), in retinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. A1 competes with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) for their common substratel-arginine. A1-mediatedl-arginine depletion reduces nitric oxide (NO) formation by NOS leading to vascular dysfunction when endothelial NOS is involved but prevents inflammatory injury when inducible NOS is involved. Studies were performed using wild-type (WT) mice, global A1+/−knockout (KO), endothelial-specific A1 KO, and myeloid-specific A1 KO mice subjected to retinal IR injury. Global as well as myeloid-specific A1 KO mice showed worsened IR-induced neuronal loss and retinal thinning. Deletion of A1 in endothelial cells had no effect, while treatment with PEGylated (PEG) A1 improved neuronal survival in WT mice. In addition, A1+/−KO mice showed worsened vascular injury manifested by increased acellular capillaries. Western blotting analysis of retinal tissue showed increased inflammatory and necroptotic markers with A1 deletion. In vitro experiments showed that macrophages lacking A1 exhibit increased inflammatory response upon LPS stimulation. PEG-A1 treatment dampened this inflammatory response and decreased the LPS-induced metabolic reprogramming. Moreover, intravitreal injection of A1 KO macrophages or systemic macrophage depletion with clodronate liposomes increased neuronal loss after IR injury. These results demonstrate that A1 reduces IR injury-induced retinal neurovascular degeneration via dampening macrophage inflammatory responses. Increasing A1 offers a novel strategy for limiting neurovascular injury and promoting macrophage-mediated repair.
Autophagy and unfolded protein response (UPR) regulate mammary gland involution by restraining apoptosis-driven irreversible changes
Authors: Wärri Anni , Cook Katherine L. , Hu Rong , Jin Lu , Zwart Alan , Soto-Pantoja David R. , Liu Jie , Finkel Toren , Clarke Robert
Published: September 2018

The postnatal mammary gland undergoes repeated cycles of proliferation and cell death, most notably when the fully differentiated (lactating) gland dedifferentiates to a prelactation state. Accumulation of milk proteins in the secretory epithelium creates the stress signal that triggers this process (involution). How this stress is perceived, and the cellular processes that are subsequently activated, remain unclear. We now report that Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), autophagy, and apoptosis related genes cluster separately during lactation and involution in the mouse mammary gland. Time-course experiments in rodents show that autophagy and UPR signaling are tightly co-regulated at the transition from reversible to irreversible involution. Inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine or genetic deletion of one ATG7 allele enhanced progression of mammary involution into the irreversible phase, as characterized by an early/precocious induction of apoptosis. These are the first preclinical in vivo data in support of a clinical trial testing an autophagy inhibitor for prevention of intraductal breast malignancy progression to invasive breast cancer. In marked contrast, stimulation of autophagy by low dose tunicamycin treatment reduced apoptosis and extended the reversible phase of involution by sustaining the secretory epithelium. Autophagy stimulators could be used short-term to promote lactation in women experiencing difficulties or irregularities in nursing. Taken together, these data indicate that UPR and autophagy play a key role in regulating the balance between cell survival and apoptosis during normal mammary gland regression.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy disease results from disparate impairments of cardiac myosin function and auto-inhibition
Authors: Robert-Paganin Julien , Auguin Daniel , Houdusse Anne
Published: September 2018

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (HCM) result from distinct single-point mutations in sarcomeric proteins that lead to muscle hypercontractility. While different models account for a pathological increase in the power output, clear understanding of the molecular basis of dysfunction in HCM is the mandatory next step to improve current treatments. Here, we present an optimized quasi-atomic model of the sequestered state of cardiac myosin coupled to X-ray crystallography and in silico analysis of the mechanical compliance of the lever arm, allowing the systematic study of a large set of HCM mutations and the definition of different mutation classes based on their effects on lever arm compliance, sequestered state stability, and motor functions. The present work reconciles previous models and explains how distinct HCM mutations can have disparate effects on the motor mechano-chemical parameters and yet lead to the same disease. The framework presented here can guide future investigations aiming at finding HCM treatments.
Ebola viral dynamics in nonhuman primates provides insights into virus immuno-pathogenesis and antiviral strategies
Authors: Madelain Vincent , Baize Sylvain , Jacquot Frédéric , Reynard Stéphanie , Fizet Alexandra , Barron Stephane , Solas Caroline , Lacarelle Bruno , Carbonnelle Caroline , Mentré France , Raoul Hervé , de Lamballerie Xavier , Guedj Jérémie
Published: September 2018

Despite several clinical trials implemented, no antiviral drug could demonstrate efficacy against Ebola virus. In non-human primates, early initiation of polymerase inhibitors favipiravir and remdesivir improves survival, but whether they could be effective in patients is unknown. Here we analyze the impact of antiviral therapy by using a mathematical model that integrates virological and immunological data of 44 cynomolgus macaques, left untreated or treated with favipiravir. We estimate that favipiravir has a ~50% efficacy in blocking viral production, which results in reducing virus growth and cytokine storm while IFNα reduces cell susceptibility to infection. Simulating the effect of delayed initiations of treatment, our model predicts survival rates of 60% for favipiravir and 100% for remdesivir when treatment is initiated within 3 and 4 days post infection, respectively. These results improve the understanding of Ebola immuno-pathogenesis and can help optimize antiviral evaluation in future outbreaks.
Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with ligand engineered all-inorganic InP and InP/ZnS colloidal quantum dots
Authors: Yu Shan , Fan Xiang-Bing , Wang Xian , Li Jingguo , Zhang Qian , Xia Andong , Wei Shiqian , Wu Li-Zhu , Zhou Ying , Patzke Greta R.
Published: September 2018

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is a promising technique for the direct conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels. Colloidal quantum dots with tunable band gap and versatile surface properties remain among the most prominent targets in photocatalysis despite their frequent toxicity, which is detrimental for environmentally friendly technological implementations. In the present work, all-inorganic sulfide-capped InP and InP/ZnS quantum dots are introduced as competitive and far less toxic alternatives for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in aqueous solution, reaching turnover numbers up to 128,000 based on quantum dots with a maximum internal quantum yield of 31%. In addition to the favorable band gap of InP quantum dots, in-depth studies show that the high efficiency also arises from successful ligand engineering with sulfide ions. Due to their small size and outstanding hole capture properties, sulfide ions effectively extract holes from quantum dots for exciton separation and decrease the physical and electrical barriers for charge transfer.
Pastoralism may have delayed the end of the green Sahara
Authors: Brierley Chris , Manning Katie , Maslin Mark
Published: September 2018

The climate deterioration after the most recent African humid period (AHP) is a notable past example of desertification. Evidence points to a human population expansion in northern Africa prior to this, associated with the introduction of pastoralism. Here we consider the role, if any, of this population on the subsequent ecological collapse. Using a climate-vegetation model, we estimate the natural length of the most recent AHP. The model indicates that the system was most susceptible to collapse between 7 and 6 ka; at least 500 years before the observed collapse. This suggests that the inclusion of increasing elements of pastoralism was an effective adaptation to the regional environmental changes. Pastoralism also appears to have slowed the deterioration caused by orbitally-driven climate change. This supports the view that modern pastoralism is not only sustainable, but beneficial for the management of the world’s dryland environments.
Carrier density and disorder tuned superconductor-metal transition in a two-dimensional electron system
Authors: Chen Zhuoyu , Swartz Adrian G. , Yoon Hyeok , Inoue Hisashi , Merz Tyler A. , Lu Di , Xie Yanwu , Yuan Hongtao , Hikita Yasuyuki , Raghu Srinivas , Hwang Harold Y.
Published: September 2018

Quantum ground states that arise at atomically controlled oxide interfaces provide an opportunity to address key questions in condensed matter physics, including the nature of two-dimensional metallic behaviour often observed adjacent to superconductivity. At the superconducting LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface, a metallic ground state emerges upon the collapse of superconductivity with field-effect gating and is accompanied with a pseudogap. Here we utilize independent control of carrier density and disorder of the interfacial superconductor using dual electrostatic gates, which enables the comprehensive examination of the electronic phase diagram approaching zero temperature. We find that the pseudogap corresponds to precursor pairing, and the onset of long-range phase coherence forms a two-dimensional superconducting dome as a function of the dual-gate voltages. The gate-tuned superconductor–metal transitions are driven by macroscopic phase fluctuations of Josephson coupled superconducting puddles.