bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transitional organisations, affective atmospheres and new forms of being‐in‐common: Post‐disaster recovery in Christchurch, New Zealand
Authors: Cloke Paul , Conradson David
Published: May 2018

With reference to the post‐disaster urban landscape of Christchurch, New Zealand, this paper examines the emergence of particular forms of nongovernmental organisation after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, and the kinds of transitional activities in which they have been engaged. Two sets of conceptual apparatus are deployed. First, we suggest that the spaces and activities of transitional organisations have provoked particular “affective atmospheres” in Christchurch that are informing new senses of place, belonging, imagination and social encounter. Second, and drawing on ideas from poststructural geographies of ethics, we suggest that transitional organisations in Christchurch have assembled a capacity for new forms of “being‐in‐common”, and in so doing are facilitating new and more positive emotional performances in the city. The paper thereby contrasts the neoliberal affects inherent in top‐down plans for rebuilding the city centre in Christchurch with the affective atmospheres emerging from the activities of these transitional organisations. We also acknowledge the potential in these transitional activities for new forms of incommonness, arising from and at the same time contributing to the unfolding geographies of the post‐disaster city.
Everyday prefiguration: Youth social action in north India
Authors: Dyson Jane , Jeffrey Craig
Published: May 2018

There has been a recent resurgence of what is often termed “prefigurative politics”: activity in which people channel political effort into demonstrating in the present the types of social relations and practices sought at a future point in time. This paper engages with literature on prefigurative politics through reference to everyday forms of political and social action in the north Indian village of Bemni, Uttarakhand. We show that young people who migrated between urban centres and Bemni village played important roles as mentors, political activists and social helpers. They served as exemplars, seeking to alter the behaviour and attitudes of those around them at the everyday level. We make three key points on the geographies of this action. First, we diverge from most accounts of prefigurative politics in pointing to how such politics can be embedded in everyday life as well as unfolding within distinctive urban spaces, such as camps. Second, we highlight how migrants use their spatial knowledge and social skill to develop alliances, which, in turn, sustain prefigurative politics in the village, even as they move in and out of Bemni. Third, we demonstrate the significance among young people of a geographical narrative of “atmosphere” (mahaul) – and an associated notion that youth can change the mahaul through their practice. In making these points, we show that prefigurative politics can be a compelling conceptual touchstone, broad enough to address multiple geographical themes but focused enough on one idea – enacting goals in the process of struggle – to draw thinkers together and generate meaningful debate.
Can native grass species outcompete invasive goldenrods? Results of a replacement series experiment
Authors: Szymura M , Szymura T H , Wolski K , Świerszcz S
Published: May 2018

Invasion by alien species is a serious threat to the biodiversity and function of semi‐natural grasslands and may impede restoration efforts in degraded meadows due to high competitiveness. Goldenrods (Solidago and Euthamia species) are considered among the most injurious invaders of grasslands in Central Europe. We tested the hypothesis that native grass species are able to outcompete the invasive goldenrods. A replacement series experiment was established to determine levels of interference between native grass taxa and goldenrods. In the experiment, four alien goldenrod species (Solidago altissima, Solidago canadensis, Solidago gigantea and Euthamia graminifolia) and one native species (Solidago virgaurea) were studied. The native grasses were represented by Lolium perenne (forage and turf varieties) and Festuca pratensis (forage variety). Total biomass was higher in the mixture of species compared with that in monoculture. The higher total biomass was due to higher productivity of the goldenrod species, whereas that of the grasses was reduced. These results demonstrated the high competitiveness of alien goldenrods compared with native grass species.
Effects of ipsilateral and contralateral fatigue and muscle blood flow occlusion on the complexity of knee‐extensor torque output in humans
Authors: Pethick Jamie , Winter Samantha L. , Burnley Mark
Published: May 2018

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

We addressed the question “what role do central and peripheral fatigue mechanisms play in the fatigue‐induced loss of isometric torque complexity?”

What is the main finding and its importance?

When the contralateral limb is fatigued, the complexity of isometric torque output is unaffected even if the blood flow to the contralateral limb is occluded, which suggests that neither central fatigue nor afferent feedback from ischaemic muscle influences the complexity of torque output in an otherwise fresh muscle.

Neuromuscular fatigue reduces the temporal structure, or complexity, of torque output during muscular contractions. To determine whether the fatigue‐induced loss of torque complexity could be accounted for by central or peripheral factors, nine healthy participants performed four experimental trials involving intermittent isometric contractions of the knee extensors at 50% of the maximal voluntary contraction torque. These trials involved: (i) two bouts of contractions to failure using the right leg separated by 3 min recovery (IPS); (ii) the same protocol but with cuff occlusion during the 3 min recovery (IPS‐OCC); (iii) contractions of the left leg to failure, followed 1 min later by contractions of the right leg to failure (CONT); and (iv) the same protocol but with cuff occlusion applied to the left leg throughout both the recovery period and right leg contractions (CONT‐OCC). Supramaximal electrical stimulation during maximal voluntary contractions was used to determine the degree of central and peripheral fatigue, whilst complexity was determined using approximate entropy (ApEn) and detrended fluctuation analysis α exponent (DFA α). Neuromuscular fatigue was consistently associated with a loss of torque complexity in all conditions [e.g. IPS bout 1, ApEn from (mean ± SD) 0.46 ± 0.14 to 0.12 ± 0.06 (P < 0.001)]. In IPS‐OCC, occlusion abolished the recovery from fatigue, and torque complexity remained at the values observed at task failure in the preceding bout (IPS‐OCC bout 2, first minute 0.14 ± 0.03, P < 0.001). Prior contralateral contractions, with or without blood flow occlusion, had no effect on torque complexity.
Nerve ultrasound in emergency room: a case of traumatic ischiatic nerve neurotmesis
Authors: Romano Nicola , Zawaideh Jeries Paolo , Fischetti Aldo , Lapucci Caterina , Gennaro Sergio , Muda Alessandro
Published: May 2018

A 22 years-old-man was admitted to emergency after trauma. He suffered multiple deep cuts on his left leg. A lesion of the ischiatic nerve was suspected, and an ultrasound (US) evaluation was requested to confirm it. The study was conducted in the emergency room using a linear ultrasound transducer of 6-15 MHz and demonstrated the completely truncation of the ischiatic nerve (neurotmesis - Sunderland Grade V) with the proximal end retracted up to about 3cm from the edge of the wound. It was a very useful information for the neurosurgeon who after performed an end-to-end neurorrhaphy with suturation of perineurium. This short report underlines the importance of US, that thanks to its high spatial resolution and its time- and cost-effectiveness, can be considered a very important tool for the physician in emergency room to characterize peripheral nerve lesions.
Roughness influence on multibeam-subbottom-profiler specular echoes and roughness parameter inversion
Authors: Pinson Samuel , Holland Charles W. , Stéphan Yann
Published: May 2018

Integral solutions for wave scattering over slightly rough surfaces generally include the source and receiver directivity. In this paper, it is shown that integrating the point source, point receiver solution over the source and receiver apertures leads to solutions with a clear physical interpretation. The scintillation, time-of-arrival, and direction-of-arrival spatial covariances of the specular echo are derived for a multibeam-subbottom-profiler configuration and result in surface integrals that can be evaluated numerically. In addition, algebraic expressions are obtained for the variances when the roughness has a Gaussian autocorrelation function and the source and receiver arrays have Gaussian apodization functions. Variances obtained from a numerical evaluation of the surface integrals compare well with estimates from a realistic three-dimensional numerical experiment. A simple inversion scheme is used to extract the roughness parameters from the numerical experiment signals.
Arginine vasopressin in cerebrospinal fluid is a marker of sociality in nonhuman primates
Authors: Parker Karen J. , Garner Joseph P. , Oztan Ozge , Tarara Erna R. , Li Jiang , Sclafani Valentina , Del Rosso Laura A. , Chun Katie , Berquist Sean W. , Chez Michael G. , Partap Sonia , Hardan Antonio Y. , Sherr Elliott H. , Capitanio John P.
Published: May 2018

Low arginine vasopressin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid may reflect low sociality in primates.
Genome Sequences of Two Novel Papillomaviruses Isolated from Healthy Skin of
Pudu puda
and
Cervus elaphus
Deer
Authors: Mengual-Chuliá Beatriz , Wittstatt Ulrich , Olias Philipp , Bravo Ignacio G.
Published: May 2018

We report the complete genome sequences of
Pudu puda papillomavirus
1
(PpudPV1) and
Cervus elaphus papillomavirus
2
(CelaPV2), isolated from healthy skin hair follicles of a Southern pudu and a red deer, respectively. PpudPV1 is basal to the DyokappaPVs, whereas CelaPV2 is basal to the XiPVs (Beta-XiPV crown group).
Draft Genome Sequence of Loktanella maritima Strain YPC211, a Commensal Bacterium of the American Lobster (Homarus americanus)
Authors: Ranson Hilary J. , LaPorte Jason , Spinard Edward , Gomez-Chiarri Marta , Nelson David R. , Rowley David C.
Published: May 2018

Loktanella maritima
strain YPC211 was isolated from the American lobster (
Homarus americanus
). We report here the draft genome sequence for
L. maritima
YPC211 and identify genes of potential importance to its role within the microbial community.
First Complete Genome Sequence of Pepper mild mottle virus from Chili Pepper in the United States
Authors: Secrist Kathryn , Ali Akhtar
Published: May 2018

Pepper mild mottle virus
(PMMoV) was first reported as a latent strain in the United States and then later reported in other countries around the world. Here, we report the first complete genome sequence of a PMMoV isolate (BL14) that was collected from chili pepper during the 2014 growing season in Oklahoma.
Genome Sequences of Two Cyanobacterial Strains, Toxic Green
Microcystis aeruginosa
KW (KCTC 18162P) and Nontoxic Brown
Microcystis
sp. Strain MC19, under Xenic Culture Conditions
Authors: Jeong Haeyoung , Chun Seong-Jun , Srivastava Ankita , Cui Yingshun , Ko So-Ra , Oh Hee-Mock , Ahn Chi-Yong
Published: May 2018

Bloom-forming cyanobacteria pose concerns for the environment and the health of humans and animals by producing toxins and thus lowering water quality. Here, we report near-complete genome sequences of two
Microcystis
strains under xenic culture conditions, which were originally isolated from two separate freshwater reservoirs from the Republic of Korea.
Draft Genome Sequence of the First Documented Clinical Siccibacter turicensis Isolate in Austria
Authors: Lepuschitz Sarah , Pekard-Amenitsch Shiva , Haunold Renée , Schill Simone , Schriebl Agnes , Mach Robert , Allerberger Franz , Ruppitsch Werner , Forsythe Stephen J.
Published: May 2018

The nonpathogenic species
Siccibacter turicensis
is closely related to members of the food-associated pathogenic genus
Cronobacter
and has been detected in fruit powders, formula, spices, and herbs. Here, we report on the first clinical isolate of
S. turicensis
, recovered from the labial angle of a patient with angular cheilitis.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Streptococcus pyogenes Serotype M12 Scarlet Fever Outbreak Isolate from China, Compiled Using Oxford Nanopore and Illumina Sequencing
Authors: You Yuanhai , Kou Yongjun , Niu Longfei , Jia Qiong , Liu Yahui , Davies Mark R. , Walker Mark J. , Zhu Jiaqiang , Zhang Jianzhong
Published: May 2018

The incidence of scarlet fever cases remains high in China. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a
Streptococcus pyogenes
isolate of serotype M12, which has been confirmed as the predominant serotype in recent outbreaks. Genome sequencing was achieved by a combination of Oxford Nanopore MinION and Illumina methodologies.
Analgesic Effects of Electroacupuncture at St25 and Cv12 in a Rat Model of Postinflammatory Irritable Bowel Syndrome Visceral Pain
Authors: Zhu Xianwei , Liu Zhibin , Qin Yifei , Niu Wenmin , Wang Qiang , Li Lu , Zhou Jing
Published: May 2018

Background

Treatment with electroacupuncture (EA) at ST25 and CV12 has a significant analgesic effect on postinflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) visceral pain. Enterochromaffin (EC) cells and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) are important in the development of visceral hyperalgesia.

Objective

To investigate the analgesic effect and underlying mechanisms of EA at ST25 and CV12 on the treatment of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced PI-IBS visceral hyperalgesia in rats.

Methods

After EA at ST25 and CV12, changes in abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR), electromyography (EMG) recordings, colonic EC cell numbers, and expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) of TNBS-induced PI-IBS visceral hyperalgesia in rats were examined.

Results

The results of AWR tests and EMG recordings indicated a significant analgesic effect of EA stimulation at ST25 and CV12on PI-IBS visceral hyperalgesia (p<0.05). In addition, the increased EC cell numbers and colonic expression of TPH and 5-HT in rats with TNBS-induced PI-IBS visceral hyperalgesia were significantly reduced by EA (p<0.05).

Conclusions

EA stimulation at ST25 and CV12 can attenuate visceral hyperalgesia. This analgesic effect may be mediated via reduction of both colonic EC cell number and 5-HT concentration.
Immediate Effects of Acupuncture on the Mechanosensitivity of the Median Nerve: An Exploratory Randomised Trial
Authors: Morais Nuno , Greten Henry Johannes , Santos Maria João , Machado Jorge Pereira
Published: May 2018

Background

Acupuncture appears to reduce the mechanosensitivity of peripheral nerves in animal models; yet, this possibility has not been demonstrated in humans.

Objectives

The main objective of this exploratory trial was to evaluate the immediate effects of acupuncture on the mechanosensitivity of the median nerve, measured by the elbow extension range-of-motion (EE–ROM) at pain onset and maximum tolerance during the upper limb neurodynamic test 1 (ULNT1). Additional objectives were to test the effects of two different points in ULNT1 responses and critically appraise pre-/post-intervention changes for conducting future research.

Methods

Thirty-one asymptomatic individuals, randomly assigned to the PC group (n=14) or the LU group (n=17) by the coin flip procedure, underwent acupuncture (leopard spot needling) at PC5 or LU5”, respectively. Two-way mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) with time (pre-intervention vs post-intervention) as the within-subject factor and group (PC vs LU) as the between-subject factor, plus time×group interaction, were used to determine the effects of acupuncture therapy on EE–ROM at pain onset and maximum tolerance during ULNT1.

Results

At baseline there were no differences between groups (p>0.05). After acupuncture, mean EE–ROM increased 3.1° at pain onset (p=0.029, η2p=0.154) and 5.6° at maximum tolerance (p=0.002, η2p=0.277) with no differences between groups (p>0.05, η2p<0.01).

Conclusion

Immediately after acupuncture, the mechanosensitivity of the median nerve appears to be reduced as observed by an increase in EE–ROM during the ULNT1. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Trial Registration Number

NCT02150915; Post-results.
Comparison of qSOFA with current emergency department tools for screening of patients with sepsis for critical illness
Authors: Rodriguez Robert M , Greenwood John C , Nuckton Thomas J , Darger Bryan , Shofer Frances S , Troeger Dawn , Jung Soo Y , Speich Kelly G , Valencia Joel , Kilgannon J Hope , Fernandez Danny , Baumann Brigitte M
Published: May 2018

Objective

We sought to compare the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), severe sepsis criteria and lactate levels for their ability to identify ED patients with sepsis with critical illness.

Methods

We conducted this multicenter retrospective cohort study at five US hospitals, enrolling all adult patients admitted to these hospitals from their EDs with infectious disease-related illnesses from 1 January 2016 to 30 April 2016. We abstracted clinical variables for SIRS, severe sepsis and qSOFA scores, using values in the first 6 hours of ED stay. Our primary outcome was critical illness, defined as one or more of the composite outcomes of death, vasopressor use or intensive care unit (ICU) admission within 72 hours of presentation. We determined diagnostic test characteristics for qSOFA scores, SIRS, severe sepsis criteria and lactate level thresholds.

Main results

Of 3743 enrolled patients, 512 (13.7%) had the primary composite outcome. The qSOFA scores were ≥1, >2 and 3 in 1839 (49.1%), 626 (16.7%) and 146 (3.9%) patients, respectively; 2202 (58.8%) met SIRS criteria and 1085 (29.0%) met severe sepsis criteria. qSOFA≥1 and SIRS had similarly high sensitivity [86.1% (95% CI 82.8% to 89.0%) vs 86.7% (95% CI 83.5% to 89.5%)], but qSOFA ≥1 had higher specificity [56.7% (95% CI 55.0% to 58.5%) vs 45.6% (43.9% to 47.3%); mean difference 11.1% (95% CI 8.7% to 13.6%)]. qSOFA≥2 had higher specificity than severe sepsis criteria [89.1% (88.0% to 90.2%) vs 77.5% (76.0% to 78.9%); mean difference 11.6% (9.8% to 13.4%)]. qSOFA≥1 had greater sensitivity than a lactate level ≥2 (mean difference 24.6% (19.2% to 29.9%)).

Conclusion

For patients admitted from the ED with infectious disease diagnoses, qSOFA criteria performed as well or better than SIRS criteria, severe sepsis criteria and lactate levels in predicting critical illness.
Evaluation of vertical effective stress and pile lateral capacities considering scour-hole dimensions
Authors: Lin Cheng , Wu Randall
Published: May 2018

Determination of vertical effective stress along piles is an essential part of calculation of both pile axial and lateral capacities under scour conditions. However, the current design manuals including those from the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and American Petroleum Institute (API) recommend different methods for calculating vertical effective stress. Moreover, they are effective only for restricted scour-hole dimensions. This study presents an improved closed-form solution that allows estimation of the vertical effective stress for a wide range of scour-hole dimensions including scour depth, width, and slope angle. Using the improved analytical solution for stress, API p–y curves for sand were modified to compute pile lateral capacity at different scour-hole conditions. Based on a series of parametric analyses for laterally loaded piles in sand, errors of calculation using the existing methods were quantified and a simplified method was proposed for practical applications. Effects of different scour-hole dimensions on both vertical effective stress and pile lateral capacity were also discussed.
Effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid supplementation during late gestation on colostrum yield, fatty acid composition, and IgG concentrations in primiparous sows
Authors: Liu H. , Wu F. , Bai L.L. , Chen Y.F. , Lai C.H. , Ren L.Q. , Wang F.L.
Published: May 2018

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation during late gestation on reproductive performance, colostrum yield, colostral fatty acid composition, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations in primiparous sows. Twenty-four primiparous Landrace × Large White pregnant sows were randomly selected and assigned to four dietary treatments: 0% (control), 0.75%, 1.50%, and 2.25% CLA supplementation from day 85 of gestation to parturition. During lactation, all sows were fed the same commercial diet. The preweaning mortality of suckling piglets born to dams fed supplemental CLA did decrease linearly (P = 0.01) during lactation. Administration of CLA during gestation increased linearly (P < 0.01) total saturated fatty acids and decreased linearly (P < 0.01) monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in colostrum. The concentrations of CLA isomers were higher (P < 0.01) in colostrum from primiparous sows fed CLA diets than in the control group. Feeding CLA increased (P < 0.05) colostral IgG concentrations, as well as that in the serum of neonatal piglets. In conclusion, 2.25% CLA supplementation in the diet of primiparous sows during late gestation could improve the passive immunity through colostral IgG and the survival of suckling piglets.
The Ferguson Lake deposit: an example of Ni–Cu–Co–PGE mineralization emplaced in a back-arc basin setting?
Authors: Acosta-Góngora P. , Pehrsson S.J. , Sandeman H. , Martel E. , Peterson T.
Published: May 2018

The world’s largest Ni–Cu–Platinum group element (PGE) deposits are dominantly hosted by ultramafic rocks within continental extensional settings (e.g., Raglan, Voisey’s Bay), resulting in a focus on exploration in similar geodynamic settings. Consequently, the economic potential of other extensional tectonic environments, such as ocean ridges and back-arc basins, may be underestimated. In the northeastern portion of the ca. 2.7 Ga Yathkyed greenstone belt of the Chesterfield block (western Churchill Province, Canada), the Ni–Cu–Co–PGE Ferguson Lake deposit is hosted by >2.6 Ga hornblenditic to gabbroic rocks of the Ferguson Lake Igneous Complex (FLIC), which is metamorphosed up to amphibolitic facies. The FLIC has a basaltic composition (Mg# = 31–72), flat to slightly negatively sloped normalized trace element patterns (La/YbPM= 0.7–3.5), and negative Zr, Ti, and Nb anomalies. The FLIC rocks are geochemically similar to the 2.7 Ga back-arc basin tholeiitic basalts from the adjacent Yathkyed and MacQuoid greenstone belts (Mg# = 30–67; La/YbPM= 0.3–3.0), but the Ferguson Lake intrusions appear to be more crustally contaminated. We interpret the FLIC to have formed in an equivalent back-arc basin setting. This geodynamic setting is rare for the formation of Ni–Cu–PGE occurrences, and only few examples of this tectonic environment (or variations of it, e.g., rifted back-arc) are found in other Proterozoic and Archean sequences (e.g., Lorraine deposit, Quebec). We suggest that back-arc basin-derived mafic rocks within the Yathkyed and other Neoarchean greenstone belts of the Chesterfield block (MacQuoid and Angikuni) could represent important targets for future mineral exploration.
Structural, phase transition, mechanical and thermodynamic properties of TMNs under external pressures: A first-principles study
Authors: Tan Xin , Dong Yinan , Ren Yuan , Li Xuan , Qi Hui , Sun Shiyang , Zhao Yulong
Published: May 2018

The plane-wave pseudo-potential method, which is based on density functional theory, is used to determine the structure, elastic constants and phase transition properties of transition metal nitride (TMN; TM = Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb and Ta) nanocomposite films under external pressures. Enthalpy–pressure and volume–energy relations of TMNs with different structures are calculated, and their relative stability is discussed. Mechanical stability of external pressure is calculated, and changes in elastic constants with external pressure are analyzed. The present study obtains influence of external pressure on the mechanical properties of material. By analyzing total energy–volume relation, enthalpy–pressure relation and mechanical stability, phase transition law of TMNs under external pressure is obtained.
The STAR Detector Upgrades and Electromagnetic Probes in Beam Energy Scan Phase II
Authors: Yang Chi
Published: May 2018

The Beam Energy Scan Phase II at RHIC, BES-II, is scheduled from year 2019 to 2020 and will explore the high baryon density region of the QCD phase diagram with high precision. The program will focus on the interesting energy region determined from the results of BES-I. Some of the key measurements anticipated are the chiral symmetry restoration and QGP thermal radiation in the dilepton and direct photon channels. The measurements will be possible with an order of magnitude better statistics provided by the electron cooling upgrade of RHIC and with the detector upgrades planned to extend STAR experimental reach. The upgrades are: the inner Time Projection Chamber sectors (iTPC), the Event Plane Detector (EPD), and the end-cap Time of Flight (eTOF). We present the BES-II program details and the physics opportunities in the dilepton and direct photon channels enabled by the upgrades.
Strangeness Production in pp, p–Pb and Pb–Pb Collisions at the LHC Energies Measured with ALICE
Authors: Colella D.
Published: May 2018

The main goal of heavy-ion physics is to study the properties of the deconfined state of matter known as the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) created in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. A systematic study of strangeness production is of fundamental importance for determining the thermal properties of the system created in such collisions. In the central barrel of the ALICE detector, K[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] can be identified reconstructing their weak decay topology. It will be shown that the relative production (to pions) of strange particles follows a continuous increasing trend from low multiplicity pp to peripheral Pb–Pb collisions, above which a saturation is visible for central Pb–Pb collisions. This increasing trend is similar for pp and p–Pb collisions. Moreover, comparison of strange particle production in pp collisions at two different energies ([Formula: see text] = 7 TeV and 13 TeV) will be used to demonstrate that the observed trend in multiplicity is also energy independent.
Search for Heavy Higgs Bosons in Fermionic Decay Channels with CMS
Authors: Chen Ye
Published: May 2018

Latest results of searches for heavy Higgs bosons in fermionic final states are presented using the CMS detector at the LHC. Results are based on pp collision data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 8 and 13 TeV which have been interpreted according to different extensions of the Standard Model such as MSSM, 2HDM, and NMSSM. These searches look for evidence of other scalar or pseudoscalar bosons, in addition to the observed SM-like 125 GeV Higgs boson, and set 95% confidence level upper limits in fermionic final states and benchmark models explored. The talk reviews briefly the major results obtained by the CMS Collaboration during Run I, and presents the most recent searches performed during Run II.
Study of the Lorentz Structure of the Charged Weak Interaction in Tau Decays at Belle
Authors: Sasaki Junya
Published: May 2018

To test the Lorentz structure of the charged weak interaction, we study leptonic decays of tau lepton in the Belle experiment. We perform this test through the measurement of Michel parameters which appear in the differential decay widths of leptonic tau decays. In this paper, we discuss the preliminary results of the measurement of Michel parameters at Belle.
A First Look at Certification Authority Authorization (CAA)
Authors: Scheitle Quirin , Chung Taejoong , Hiller Jens , Gasser Oliver , Naab Johannes , van Rijswijk-Deij Roland , Hohlfeld Oliver , Holz Ralph , Choffnes Dave , Mislove Alan , Carle Georg
Published: May 2018

Shaken by severe compromises, the Web’s Public Key Infrastructure has seen the addition of several security mechanisms over recent years. One such mechanism is the Certification Authority Authorization (CAA) DNS record, that gives domain name holders control over which Certification Authorities (CAs) may issue certificates for their domain. First defined in RFC 6844, adoption by the CA/B forum mandates that CAs validate CAA records as of September 8, 2017. The success of CAA hinges on the behavior of three actors: CAs, domain name holders, and DNS operators. We empirically study their behavior, and observe that CAs exhibit patchy adherence in issuance experiments, domain name holders configure CAA records in encouraging but error-prone ways, and only six of the 31 largest DNS operators enable customers to add CAA records. Furthermore, using historic CAA data, we uncover anomalies for already-issued certificates. We disseminated our results in the community. This has already led to specific improvements at several CAs and revocation of mis-issued certificates. Furthermore, in this work, we suggest ways to improve the security impact of CAA. To foster further improvements and to practice reproducible research, we share raw data and analysis tools.
Genetically Encoded Biosensors in Plants: Pathways to Discovery
Authors: Walia Ankit , Waadt Rainer , Jones Alexander M.
Published: May 2018

Genetically encoded biosensors that directly interact with a molecule of interest were first introduced more than 20 years ago with fusion proteins that served as fluorescent indicators for calcium ions. Since then, the technology has matured into a diverse array of biosensors that have been deployed to improve our spatiotemporal understanding of molecules whose dynamics have profound influence on plant physiology and development. In this review, we address several types of biosensors with a focus on genetically encoded calcium indicators, which are now the most diverse and advanced group of biosensors. We then consider the discoveries in plant biology made by using biosensors for calcium, pH, reactive oxygen species, redox conditions, primary metabolites, phytohormones, and nutrients. These discoveries were dependent on the engineering, characterization, and optimization required to develop a successful biosensor; they were also dependent on the methodological developments required to express, detect, and analyze the readout of such biosensors.
Paleobotany and Global Change: Important Lessons for Species to Biomes from Vegetation Responses to Past Global Change
Authors: McElwain Jennifer C.
Published: May 2018

Human carbon use during the next century will lead to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (pCO2) that have been unprecedented for the past 50–100+ million years according to fossil plant-based CO2estimates. The paleobotanical record of plants offers key insights into vegetation responses to past global change, including suitable analogs for Earth's climatic future. Past global warming events have resulted in transient poleward migration at rates that are equivalent to the lowest climate velocities required for current taxa to keep pace with climate change. Paleobiome reconstructions suggest that the current tundra biome is the biome most threatened by global warming. The common occurrence of paleoforests at high polar latitudes when pCO2was above 500 ppm suggests that the advance of woody shrub and tree taxa into tundra environments may be inevitable. Fossil pollen studies demonstrate the resilience of wet tropical forests to global change up to 700 ppm CO2, contrary to modeled predictions of the future. The paleobotanical record also demonstrates a high capacity for functional trait evolution as an additional strategy to migration and maintenance of a species’ climate envelope in response to global change.
One Hundred Ways to Invent the Sexes: Theoretical and Observed Paths to Dioecy in Plants
Authors: Henry Isabelle M. , Akagi Takashi , Tao Ryutaro , Comai Luca
Published: May 2018

Dioecy, the presence of male and female flowers on separate individuals, is both widespread and uncommon within flowering plants, with only a few percent of dioecious species spread across most major phylogenetic taxa. It is therefore safe to assume that dioecy evolved independently in these different groups, which allows us to ask questions regarding the molecular and developmental mechanisms underlying these independent transitions to dioecy. We start this review by examining the problem from the standpoint of a genetic engineer trying to develop dioecy, discuss various potential solutions, and compare them to models proposed in the past and based on genetic and evolutionary considerations. Next, we present recent information regarding candidate sex determinants in three species, acquired using newly established genomic approaches. Although such specific information is still scarce, it is slowly becoming apparent that various genes or pathways can be altered to evolve dioecy.
Mistargeting of a truncated Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in epithelial cells
Authors: Koumangoye Rainelli , Omer Salma , Delpire Eric
Published: May 2018

We recently reported the case of a young patient with multisystem failure carrying a de novo mutation in SLC12A2, the gene encoding the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter-1 (NKCC1). Heterologous expression studies in nonepithelial cells failed to demonstrate dominant-negative effects. In this study, we examined expression of the mutant cotransporter in epithelial cells. Using Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells grown on glass coverslips, permeabilized support, and Matrigel, we show that the fluorescently tagged mutant cotransporter is expressed in cytoplasm and at the apical membrane and affects epithelium integrity. Expression of the mutant transporter at the apical membrane also results in the mislocalization of some of the wild-type transporter to the apical membrane. This mistargeting is specific to NKCC1 as the Na+-K+-ATPase remains localized on the basolateral membrane. To assess transporter localization in vivo, we created a mouse model using CRISPR/cas9 that reproduces the 11 bp deletion in exon 22 of Slc12a2. Although the mice do not display an overt phenotype, we show that the colon and salivary gland expresses wild-type NKCC1 abundantly at the apical pole, confirming the data obtained in cultured epithelial cells. Enough cotransporter must remain, however, on the basolateral membrane to participate in saliva secretion, as no significant decrease in saliva production was observed in the mutant mice.
VEGF-A selectively inhibits FLT1 ectodomain shedding independent of receptor activation and receptor endocytosis
Authors: Raikwar Nandita S. , Shibuya Masabumi , Thomas Christie P.
Published: May 2018

Ectodomain shedding and regulated intracellular proteolysis can determine the fate or function of cell surface proteins. Fms-related tyrosine kinase (FLT) or VEGF receptor 1 is a high-affinity cell surface VEGF-A receptor tyrosine kinase that is constitutively cleaved to release an NH2-terminal VEGF-A binding ectodomain that, once shed, can antagonize the effects of VEGF-A in the extracellular milieu. We evaluated the effect of VEGF-A on FLT1 cleavage in native cells and in transient and stable expression systems. We demonstrate that VEGF-A inhibits FLT1 ectodomain cleavage in a time- and dose-dependent manner, whereas VEGF-A knockdown in HEK293 cells increases ectodomain shedding. Although kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) or VEGF receptor 2, analogous to FLT1, is also subject to extracellular and intracellular cleavage, VEGF-A does not inhibit KDR cleavage. VEGF-A inhibition of FLT1 cleavage is not dependent on FLT1 tyrosine kinase activity or the intracellular FLT1 residues. N-acetylleucylleucylnorleucinal (ALLN), a proteasomal inhibitor; bafilomycin A, an inhibitor of endosomal acidification; and dynasore, a dynamin inhibitor, all increase the abundance of FLT1 and the shed ectodomain, indicating that FLT1 is subject to dynamin-mediated endocytosis and susceptible to proteasomal and lysosomal degradation. VEGF-A inhibition of cleavage is not reversed by ALLN, bafilomycin A, or dynasore. However, a 30 AA deletion in the extracellular immunoglobulin 7 domain leads to enhanced cleavage of Flt1 with a significant reduction of the VEGF inhibitory effect. Our results indicate that the inhibition of FLT1 ectodomain cleavage by VEGF-A is dependent neither on receptor activation nor on internalization nor a consequence of receptor degradation and likely represents a direct inhibitory effect on receptor cleavage.
Phagocytosis-mediated M1 activation by chitin but not by chitosan
Authors: Davis Spring , Cirone Aiko M. , Menzie Janet , Russell Floyd , Dorey C. Kathleen , Shibata Yoshimi , Wei Jianning , Nan Changlong
Published: May 2018

Chitin particles have been used to understand host response to chitin-containing pathogens and allergens and are known to induce a wide range of polarized macrophage activations, depending, at least in part, on particle size. Nonphagocytosable particles larger than a macrophage induce tissue repair M2 activation. In contrast, phagocytosable chitin microparticles (CMPs, 1–10 μm diameters) induce M1 macrophages that kill intracellular microbes and damage tissues. However, chitosan (deacetylated) microparticles (de-CMPs, 1–10 µm) induce poor M1 activation. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and associated coreceptors in macrophages appear to be required for the M1 activation. To understand the exact mechanism of phagocytosis-mediated M1 activation by chitin, we isolated macrophage proteins that bind to CMPs during early phagocytosis and determined that TLR1, TLR2, CD14, late endosomal/lysosomal adaptor MAPK and mechanistic target of rapamycin activator 1 (LAMTOR1), Lck/Yes novel tyrosine kinase (Lyn), and β-actin formed phagosomal CMP-TLR2 clusters. These proteins were also detected in TLR2 phagosomal clusters in macrophages phagocytosing de-CMPs, but at relatively lower levels than in the CMP-TLR2 clusters. Importantly, CMP-TLR2 clusters further recruited myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) and Toll-IL-1 receptor-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP) and phosphorylated Lyn, whereas neither the adaptors nor phosphorylated Lyn was detected in the de-CMP clusters. The results indicate that the acetyl group played an obligatory, phagocytosis-dependent role in the initiation of an integrated signal for TLR2-mediated M1 activation.
Effect of a melanocortin type 2 receptor (MC2R) antagonist on the corticosterone response to hypoxia and ACTH stimulation in the neonatal rat
Authors: Goldenberg Adam J. , Gehrand Ashley L. , Waples Emily , Jablonski Mack , Hoeynck Brian , Raff Hershel
Published: May 2018

The adrenal stress response in the neonatal rat shifts from ACTH-independent to ACTH-dependent between postnatal days 2 (PD2) and 8 (PD8). This may be due to an increase in an endogenous, bioactive, nonimmunoreactive ligand to the melanocortin type 2 receptor (MC2R). GPS1574 is a newly described MC2R antagonist that we have shown to be effective in vitro. Further experimentation with GPS1574 would allow better insight into this seemingly ACTH-independent steroidogenic response in neonates. We evaluated the acute corticosterone response to hypoxia or ACTH injection following pretreatment with GPS1574 (32 mg/kg) or vehicle for GPS1574 in PD2, PD8, and PD15 rat pups. Pretreatment with GPS1574 decreased baseline corticosterone in PD2 pups but increased baseline corticosterone in PD8 and PD15 pups. GPS1574 did not attenuate the corticosterone response to hypoxia in PD2 pups and augmented the corticosterone response in PD8 and PD15 pups. GPS1574 augmented the corticosterone response to ACTH in PD2 and PD15 pups but had no significant impact on the response in PD8 pups. Baseline adrenal Mrap and Star mRNA increased from PD2 to PD15, whereas Mrap2 mRNA expression was low and did not change with age. The data suggest that GPS1574 is not a pure MC2R antagonist, but rather acts as a biasing agonist/antagonist. Its ability to attenuate or augment the adrenal response may depend on the ambient plasma ACTH concentration and/or developmental changes in early transduction steroidogenic pathway genes.
Different effects of global osteopontin and macrophage osteopontin in glomerular injury
Authors: Trostel Jessica , Truong Luan D. , Roncal-Jimenez Carlos , Miyazaki Makoto , Miyazaki-Anzai Shinobu , Kuwabara Masanari , McMahan Rachel , Andres-Hernando Ana , Sato Yuka , Jensen Thomas , Lanaspa Miguel A. , Johnson Richard J. , Garcia Gabriela E.
Published: May 2018

Osteopontin (OPN) is a pro-and anti-inflammatory molecule that simultaneously attenuates oxidative stress. Both inflammation and oxidative stress play a role in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis and in the progression of kidney injury. Importantly, OPN is highly induced in nephritic kidneys. To characterize further the role of OPN in kidney injury we used OPN−/−mice in antiglomerular basement membrane reactive serum-induced immune (NTS) nephritis, an inflammatory and progressive model of kidney disease. Normal wild-type (WT) and OPN−/−mice did not show histological differences. However, nephritic kidneys from OPN−/−mice showed severe damage compared with WT mice. Glomerular proliferation, necrotizing lesions, crescent formation, and tubulointerstitial injury were significantly higher in OPN−/−mice. Macrophage infiltration was increased in the glomeruli and interstitium in OPN−/−mice, with higher expression of IL-6, CCL2, and chemokine CXCL1. In addition, collagen (Col) I, Col III, and Col IV deposition were increased in kidneys from OPN−/−mice. Elevated expression of the reactive oxygen species-generating enzyme Nox4 and blunted expression of Nrf2, a molecule that inhibits reactive oxygen species and inflammatory pathways, was observed in nephritic kidneys from OPN−/−mice. Notably, CD11b diphteria toxin receptor mice with NTS nephritis selectively depleted of macrophages and reconstituted with OPN−/−macrophages showed less kidney injury compared with mice receiving WT macrophages. These findings suggest that in global OPN−/−mice there is increased inflammation and redox imbalance that mediate kidney damage. However, absence of macrophage OPN is protective, indicating that macrophage OPN plays a role in the induction and progression of kidney injury in NTS nephritis.
Real-time visuomotor behavior and electrophysiology recording setup for use with humans and monkeys
Authors: de Haan Marcel Jan , Brochier Thomas , Grün Sonja , Riehle Alexa , Barthélemy Frédéric V.
Published: May 2018

Large-scale network dynamics in multiple visuomotor areas is of great interest in the study of eye-hand coordination in both human and monkey. To explore this, it is essential to develop a setup that allows for precise tracking of eye and hand movements. It is desirable that it is able to generate mechanical or visual perturbations of hand trajectories so that eye-hand coordination can be studied in a variety of conditions. There are simple solutions that satisfy these requirements for hand movements performed in the horizontal plane while visual stimuli and hand feedback are presented in the vertical plane. However, this spatial dissociation requires cognitive rules for eye-hand coordination different from eye-hand movements performed in the same space, as is the case in most natural conditions. Here we present an innovative solution for the precise tracking of eye and hand movements in a single reference frame. Importantly, our solution allows behavioral explorations under normal and perturbed conditions in both humans and monkeys. It is based on the integration of two noninvasive commercially available systems to achieve online control and synchronous recording of eye (EyeLink) and hand (KINARM) positions during interactive visuomotor tasks. We also present an eye calibration method compatible with different eye trackers that compensates for nonlinearities caused by the system's geometry. Our setup monitors the two effectors in real time with high spatial and temporal resolution and simultaneously outputs behavioral and neuronal data to an external data acquisition system using a common data format.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We developed a new setup for studying eye-hand coordination in humans and monkeys that monitors the two effectors in real time in a common reference frame. Our eye calibration method allows us to track gaze positions relative to visual stimuli presented in the horizontal workspace of the hand movements. This method compensates for nonlinearities caused by the system’s geometry and transforms kinematics signals from the eye tracker into the same coordinate system as hand and targets.
Describing complex cells in primary visual cortex: a comparison of context and multifilter LN models
Authors: Westö Johan , May Patrick J. C.
Published: May 2018

Receptive field (RF) models are an important tool for deciphering neural responses to sensory stimuli. The two currently popular RF models are multifilter linear-nonlinear (LN) models and context models. Models are, however, never correct, and they rely on assumptions to keep them simple enough to be interpretable. As a consequence, different models describe different stimulus-response mappings, which may or may not be good approximations of real neural behavior. In the current study, we take up two tasks: 1) we introduce new ways to estimate context models with realistic nonlinearities, that is, with logistic and exponential functions, and 2) we evaluate context models and multifilter LN models in terms of how well they describe recorded data from complex cells in cat primary visual cortex. Our results, based on single-spike information and correlation coefficients, indicate that context models outperform corresponding multifilter LN models of equal complexity (measured in terms of number of parameters), with the best increase in performance being achieved by the novel context models. Consequently, our results suggest that the multifilter LN-model framework is suboptimal for describing the behavior of complex cells: the context-model framework is clearly superior while still providing interpretable quantizations of neural behavior.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used data from complex cells in primary visual cortex to estimate a wide variety of receptive field models from two frameworks that have previously not been compared with each other. The models included traditionally used multifilter linear-nonlinear models and novel variants of context models. Using mutual information and correlation coefficients as performance measures, we showed that context models are superior for describing complex cells and that the novel context models performed the best.
Food Intake and Eating Behavior After Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Al-Najim Werd , Docherty Neil G. , le Roux Carel W.
Published: May 2018

Obesity is an escalating global chronic disease. Bariatric surgery is a very efficacious treatment for obesity and its comorbidities. Alterations to gastrointestinal anatomy during bariatric surgery result in neurological and physiological changes affecting hypothalamic signaling, gut hormones, bile acids, and gut microbiota, which coalesce to exert a profound influence on eating behavior. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying eating behavior is essential in the management of patients after bariatric surgery. Studies investigating candidate mechanisms have expanded dramatically in the last decade. Herein we review the proposed mechanisms governing changes in eating behavior, food intake, and body weight after bariatric surgery. Additive or synergistic effects of both conditioned and unconditioned factors likely account for the complete picture of changes in eating behavior. Considered application of strategies designed to support the underlying principles governing changes in eating behavior holds promise as a means of optimizing responses to surgery and long-term outcomes.