bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
76938 Does Decreased Adipose Tissue Eosinophil Content Impair Adipocyte Biology in Human Subjects with Obesity and Insulin Resistance?
Authors: De Filippis Eleanna , Hernandez James , Li Ting , Jacobsen Elizabeth A.
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT IMPACT: Extrapolating from mouse data we explored eosinophil content in human adipose tissue and its effect on adipocyte biology potentially leading to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for treatment of obesity and insulin resistance. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The interaction between immune cells and adipose tissue (AT) in obesity has not been fully elicited. Mouse models of diet-induced-obesity show AT resident eosinophils (EOS) help preserve insulin sensitivity (IS). As data in human obesity are lacking, here we explored AT-EOS content and their role in AT metabolism in subjects with and without obesity. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We recruited lean (L) subjects and patients with obesity (Ob) to undergo abdominal subcutaneous AT biopsy and evaluation of insulin resistance (IR) by determination of HOMA-IR. Circulating EOS were isolated from all participants under fasting conditions and exposed to high glucose (HG) or high lipids (HL) for 4 hrs. AT EOS number was assessed via FACS analysis. Circulating EOS and AT mRNA was assessed by qPCR for multiple genes involved in inflammation and cell migration. To evaluate the effect of EOS on primary human adipocytes, in vitro cultures were exposed for 4 days to either interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-13 (IL-13) or to human EOS. Adipocytes mRNA levels were evaluated for genes involved in adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: 16 lean, IS subjects (BMI 22.5+ 0.4kg/m2) and 22 age-matched IR patients with obesity (BMI: 38.9 + 1.0kg/m2) participated. We observed a ratio of 2:1 in AT EOS content of L vs Ob subjects (P<0.03). To assess the reduced AT-EOS content in obesity, we evaluated expression of Chemokine-C receptor 3 (CCR3) in circulating EOS. We show decreased CCR3 mRNA levels in Ob vs L subjects (P=0.006). We expect HL in vitro experiments on peripheral EOS of L subjects to affect CCR3 mRNA levels. In AT of Ob subjects, we found a significant decreased expression of Eotaxin 2, the main EOS chemokine binding CCR3 expressed on EOS. Preliminary data from in vitro primary adipocytes culture suggest for IL-4 and IL-13 to increase mRNA level of Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARG), the master regulator of adipogenesis. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Comparable to animal studies, we found a decrease of AT-EOS content in patients with obesity. Alterations in CCR3/Eotaxin 2 signaling may be involved. IL-4 &IL-13 are secreted predominantly by EOS and appear to directly regulate gene expression in human adipocytes. These data represent the first evidence for a novel role of EOS in human AT biology.
86057 High Screening Efficacy Using Wearable Seismocardiography to Identify Aortic Valve Disease Patients, Potential to Tailor MRI Exams to Patient Needs
Authors: Johnson Ethan M.I. , Barker Alex J. , Markl Michael
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT IMPACT: A single seismocardiography (SCG) parameter has been shown to accurately classify aortic valve disease (AVD) status in healthy controls and AVD patients. This could support development of SCG as a quick, inexpensive screening tool to better tailor MRI examination to patients’ needs. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: MRI is used commonly for monitoring of aortic valve disease (AVD), but it has high costs. We hypothesize that energy in seismocardiograms (SCG)’‘ signals from chest surface vibrations’‘ is different between healthy controls and AVD patients, and we evaluate potential efficacy of using SCG to recommend MRI only for patients with flow abnormalities. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: With IRB approval, 45 healthy control subjects (47 ±18years, 18 female) and 9 patients (63 ±16years, 2 female) with aortic valve disease history and known flow abnormalities were recruited. SCG signals were acquired supine, immediately prior to MRI of thoracic aortic blood flow at 1.5T with a time-resolved phase contrast (4D Flow) sequence.

The SCG was processed to calculate late-systole high-frequency (120-240Hz) RMS energy. MR velocity images were analyzed to measure peak velocity and trace pathlines of flow.

Screening efficacy of the SCG energy metric was assessed, with hypothesis testing for differences in energy level distributions between controls and patients, and receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to calculate rates of correct/incorrect classification of disease. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Healthy subjects had coherent flow pathlines through the aortic arch and mid-ascending aorta peak velocities of 106 ±21cm/s (cohort mean ±standard deviation). All valve disease subjects had flow abnormalities, such as jetting flow near the valve or swirling through the arch, as visualized by pathlines. Patients’ peak mid-ascending aorta velocities were 167 ±69cm/s. The SCG energy for healthy controls was significantly different than that of valve patients (-5.6 ±0.3dBmm/s/s vs. -4.0 ±1.2dBmm/s/s respectively; p<0.001). Thresholding SCG energy to distinguish patients from controls correctly classifies subjects with a high true-positive rate and low false-positive rate. The ROC for this classification has area-under-curve 0.956. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: A high potential screening efficacy was observed using a single, linear SCG metric to identify AVD patients with flow abnormalities. If used to complement MRI surveillance protocols for AVD, this method has potential to serve as a quick, inexpensive tool for better tailoring MRI exams to patient needs.
47982 Reversing the resistance to chemotherapy in White and Black patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Authors: Gandhi Shipra , Khoury Thaer , Attwood Kristopher , Yao Song , Ambrosone Christine , Takabe Kazuaki , Kalinski Pawel
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT IMPACT: Reversing tumor microenvironment (TME) immunosuppression will help to increase the overall efficacy of treatment of chemo-resistant triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and mitigate racial disparities in treatment response. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: We have developed an ex-vivo whole tissue culture model to test the feasibility of reversing local immunosuppression in TME by chemokine modulatory (CKM) regimen. Our current objective is to analyze the molecular changes in CKM-treated chemoresistant TNBC from White and Black women and identify factors determining response to CKM. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Freshly resected residual TNBC from 20 White and 20 Black women ≥18 yrs old treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) will be procured. Tumor explants will be prepared & cultured in the absence and presence of CKM (Interferon-ð 〉1/4, TLR3 agonist rintatolimod and COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib). Chemokines implicated in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL)- & MDSC/ Treg attraction will be analyzed using Taqman & ELISA. We will have 80% power to detect a 0.7 standard deviation difference in chemokines between untreated & treated samples within and between cohorts using ANCOVA. Bulk RNA sequencing will be performed on both untreated & treated samples from CKM responding (highest aggregate increase in CTL- and highest decrease in Treg/MDSC-favoring chemokines in the top quartile) and non-responding (bottom quartile) tissues. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Our preliminary data show that Black patients (pts) with breast cancer (BC) have an immunosuppressive TME associated with poor outcomes. This is similar to other existing literature showing that Black pts with BC have less favorable and more unfavorable chemokines in the TME. We anticipate the chemokine changes with CKM treatment will be larger in the Black cohort given their ability to elicit a robust inflammatory response. Therefore, we expect that CKM treatment will result in favorable TME in both groups and improve outcomes in TNBC, which has the worst prognosis of all subtypes, eliminating a key area of disparity in BC. The proposed transcriptome analysis will help identify key gene networks involved in response to CKM treatment and guide modulating the targets for non-responsiveness to improve efficacy of CKM. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Pts with residual disease (RD) after NAC have a 3-yr overall survival 68% vs. 94% for pts with complete response. Blacks have a higher incidence of TNBC with more likelihood of RD & mortality. We anticipate that the existing TME differences can be abrogated by our current CKM regimen or via developing an alternative CKM regimen optimized for Black pts.
An Eclectic Political Scientist: A Tribute to Robert Elgie
Authors: Passarelli Gianluca
Published: March 2021

Robert Elgie's contribution to comparative politics is considerable. His work covers a range of subfields, including the study of political institutions, French politics, political leadership, presidentialism and semi-presidentialism. He became the leading scholar of semi-presidentialism and indeed defined much of the research agenda in this subfield.
Identifying high-impact invasive plants likely to shift into northern New England with climate change
Authors: Coville William , Griffin Bridget J. , Bradley Bethany A.
Published: March 2021

Invasive plants are expanding their ranges due to climate change, creating new challenges for invasive species management. Early detection and rapid response could address some nascent invasions, but limited resources make it impossible to monitor for every range-shifting species. Here, we aimed to create a more focused watch list by evaluating the impacts of 87 plant species projected to shift into northern New England (the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and/or Vermont). We used the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) protocol to evaluate all ecological impacts reported in the scientific literature, scoring ecological impacts from 1 (minimal concern) to 4 (major) depending on the level of reported impact. For each species, we also recorded any reported impacts on socioeconomic systems (agriculture, human health, or economics) as “present.” We found 24 range-shifting species with impacts on ecological communities, of which 22 have reported impacts in ecosystems common to northern New England. Almost all of these species also had impacts on socioeconomic systems and were available for purchase at ornamental plant retailers or online. Thus, these species can be considered high risk to northern New England with climate change based on their large negative impacts and potential to arrive quickly with deliberate human introduction. Our study demonstrates the use of impact assessments for creating targeted priority lists for invasive species monitoring and management.
Kinematics of the exceptionally-short surge cycles of Sít’ Kusá (Turner Glacier), Alaska, from 1983 to 2013
Authors: Nolan Andrew , Kochtitzky William , Enderlin Ellyn M. , McNabb Robert , Kreutz Karl J.
Published: March 2021

Glacier surges are periodic episodes of mass redistribution characterized by dramatic increases in ice flow velocity and, sometimes, terminus advance. We use optical satellite imagery to document five previously unexamined surge events of Sít’ Kusá (Turner Glacier) in the St. Elias Mountains of Alaska from 1983 to 2013. Surge events had an average recurrence interval of ~5 years, making it the shortest known regular recurrence interval in the world. Surge events appear to initiate in the winter, with speeds reaching up to ~25 m d−1. The surges propagate down-glacier over ~2 years, resulting in maximum thinning of ~100 m in the reservoir zone and comparable thickening at the terminus. Collectively, the rapid recurrence interval, winter initiation and down-glacier propagation suggest Sít’ Kusá's surges are driven by periodic changes in subglacial hydrology and glacier sliding. Elevation change observations from the northern tributary show a kinematic disconnect above and below an icefall located 23 km from the terminus. We suggest the kinematic disconnect inhibits drawdown from the accumulation zone above the icefall, which leads to a steady flux of ice into the reservoir zone, and contributes to the glacier's exceptionally short recurrence interval.
Sexually transmitted infections, their treatment and urban change in colonial Leopoldville, 1910–1960
Authors: Sousa João Dinis , Havik Philip J. , Vandamme Anne-Mieke
Published: March 2021

During the colonial period sexually transmitted infections (STIs) came to be recognised as a major public health problem in African cities. Thus, STI control and urban modernisation became deeply entangled as authorities redrew spatial and social boundaries to manage populations and their cross-cultural interaction. Public health measures, urban planning and policing were part of a coordinated effort to neutralise the potential impact of rapidly growing African urban migration on the Belgian Congo’s ‘model’ capital Leopoldville. While STI control was facilitated by new drugs (arsenicals, sulfonamides and antibiotics) to treat syphilis, chancroid, gonorrhoea and chlamydia (bacterial STIs), the effects of the 1929 economic crisis and urban social change illustrated the limits of colonial authority. Redesigning urban spaces and repressive measures to curb polygyny and prostitution operated in a parallel fashion with the expansion of health coverage, new treatments and awareness campaigns. To gain a better understanding of the evolution of STI incidence among African urban populations during the colonial period between 1910 and 1960, extensive archival records and secondary literature were consulted to assess the interplay between improved screening, diagnostic and therapeutic methods with demographic and social change. They show that STI rates, probably peaked during the pre-1929 period and apart from a short period in the early 1930s associated with mass screening, declined until becoming residual in the 1950s. Reflecting upon sanitary interventions and their broader dimensions, the article analyses the evolution of treatment regimes and their impact in the changing urban organisation and environment of the colony’s capital.
Consumption of phenolic-rich jabuticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba) powder ameliorates obesity-related disorders in mice
Authors: Trindade Patrícia Leticia , Soares Elaine dos Ramos , Inada Kim Ohanna Pimenta , Martins Fabiane Ferreira , Rudnicki Martina , Perrone Daniel , Monteiro Mariana , Souza-Mello Vanessa , Daleprane Julio Beltrame
Published: March 2021

Accumulating evidence indicates that dietary phenolic compounds can prevent obesity-related disorders. We investigated whether the consumption of polyphenol-rich jabuticaba peel and seed powder (JPSP) could ameliorate the progression of diet-induced obesity in mice. Male mice were fed a control diet or a high-fat (HF) diet for 9 weeks. After this period, mice were fed control, HF or HF diets supplemented with 5 % (HF-J5), 10 % (HF-J10) or 15 % (HF-J15) of JPSP, for 4 additional weeks. Supplementation with JPSP not only attenuated HF-induced weight gain and fat accumulation but also ameliorated the pro-inflammatory response associated with obesity, as evidenced by the absence of mast cells in the visceral depot accompanied by lower IL-6 and TNF-α at the tissue and circulating levels. JPSP-supplemented mice also exhibited smaller-sized adipocytes, reduced levels of leptin and higher levels of adiponectin, concomitant with improved glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. The magnitude of the observed effects was dependent on JPSP concentration with HF-J10- and HF-J15-fed mice showing metabolic profiles similar to control. This study reveals that the consumption of JPSP protects against the dysfunction of the adipose tissue and metabolic disturbances in obese mice. Thus, these findings indicate the therapeutic potential of the phenolic-rich JPSP in preventing obesity-related disorders.
Plasticity of nutrient accumulation patterns in diapausing fall webworm pupae
Authors: Zhao Lvquan , Wang Wei , Qiu Ying , Torson Alex S.
Published: March 2021

The accumulation of nutrients during diapause preparation is crucial because any lack of nutrition will reduce the likelihood of insects completing diapause, thereby decreasing their chances of survival and reproduction. The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, diapause as overwintering pupae and their diapause incidence and diapause intensity are regulated by the photoperiod. In this study, we test the hypothesis that photoperiod influences energy reserve accumulation during diapause preparation in fall webworm. We found that the body size and mass, lipid and carbohydrate content of pupae with a short photoperiod during the diapause induction phase were significantly greater than those of pupae with a relatively short photoperiod, and the efficiency of converting digested food and ingested food into body matter was greater in the short-photoperiod diapause-destined larvae than the relatively short-photoperiod diapause-destined larvae. We also observed higher lipase and amylase activities in short-photoperiod diapause-destined larvae relative to the counterparts. However, no obvious difference was found in protein and protease in the pupae with a short photoperiod during the diapause induction phase and short-photoperiod diapause-destined larvae compared with the counterparts. Therefore, we conclude that the energy reserve patterns of diapausing fall webworm pupae are plastic and that short-photoperiod diapause-destined larvae increase their energy reserves by improving their feeding efficiency and increase their lipid and carbohydrate stores by increasing the lipase and amylase activities in the midgut.
Early diagnosis of chyle fistula with SD LipidoCare after neck dissection
Authors: Lee D H , Kim H K , Lee J K , Lim S C
Published: March 2021

Objective

This study aimed to analyse the results of chyle fistula testing using the SD LipidoCare system in patients who had undergone neck dissections performed in our hospital in 2019.

Method

Sixty patients who underwent neck dissections from March 2019 to November 2019 were identified based on their medical records.

Results

Post-operative chyle fistulas were observed in 3 of 60 patients (5 per cent). All patients who developed chyle fistulas had undergone left-sided neck dissections. Within 3 minutes, the SD LipidoCare test had produced triglyceride results of 49, 56 and 207 mg/dl in the three patients. The remaining 57 patients measured ‘low’ for triglycerides on the SD LipidoCare test system.

Conclusion

The SD LipidoCare test quickly and accurately diagnosed chyle fistulas in patients who had undergone neck dissections. All patients improved with conservative treatment following the early diagnosis of chyle fistulas.
Long-term dynamics driven by resonant wave–particle interactions: from Hamiltonian resonance theory to phase space mapping
Authors: Artemyev Anton V. , Neishtadt Anatoly I. , Vasiliev Alexei. A. , Zhang Xiao-Jia , Mourenas Didier , Vainchtein Dmitri
Published: March 2021

In this study we consider the Hamiltonian approach for the construction of a map for a system with nonlinear resonant interaction, including phase trapping and phase bunching effects. We derive basic equations for a single resonant trajectory analysis and then generalize them into a map in the energy/pitch-angle space. The main advances of this approach are the possibility of considering effects of many resonances and to simulate the evolution of the resonant particle ensemble on long time ranges. For illustrative purposes we consider the system with resonant relativistic electrons and field-aligned whistler-mode waves. The simulation results show that the electron phase space density within the resonant region is flattened with reduction of gradients. This evolution is much faster than the predictions of quasi-linear theory. We discuss further applications of the proposed approach and possible ways for its generalization.
WALLS, GATES AND STORIES: DETECTING ROME'S RIVERSIDE DEFENCES
Authors: Wiseman T.P.
Published: March 2021

The construction date of the ‘Servian’ wall and its layout in the riverside area between the Aventine and the Capitol are the two main questions addressed in this article. The interlocking topographical problems were addressed in 1988 by Filippo Coarelli, whose interpretation has become the generally accepted orthodoxy. But not all the difficulties have been solved, and with Coarelli's recent return to the subject a fresh examination of the evidence may be helpful. Careful attention is given here to stories of early Rome that involve the walls and gates, as reported in Livy, Dionysius and Plutarch; they are not, of course, taken as authentic evidence for the time of the alleged events, but as indicating what was taken for granted when the stories were first composed. New suggestions are made about a revision of the line of the city wall in 212 BC and the consequent restructuring of two important gates, the Porta Carmentalis and the Porta Trigemina; the mysterious ‘Porta Triumphalis’ is discussed separately in an appendix.
Remembering sentences is not all about memory: Convergent and discriminant validity of syntactic knowledge and its relationship with reading comprehension
Authors: POULSEN Mads , NIELSEN Jessie Leigh , VANG CHRISTENSEN Rikke
Published: March 2021

Recent studies have found correlations between sentence-level tests and reading comprehension. However, the task demands of sentence-level tests are not well understood. The present study investigated syntactic knowledge as a construct by examining the convergent and discriminant validity of two sentence-level tasks, sentence comprehension and sentence repetition, designed to test syntactic knowledge and their relation with reading comprehension. Results from 86 Grade 6 students showed that the syntax tests were more highly correlated with each other than with tests of working memory and vocabulary. This suggests that the syntax measures tap into a set of skills that are at least partially separate from these other cognitive constructs. Furthermore, syntactic knowledge explained unique variance in reading comprehension beyond controls. The syntax tasks were working memory dependent, but working memory was not the primary reason why syntax tasks are correlated with reading comprehension.
Tree limits and limits of random trees
Authors: Janson Svante
Published: March 2021

We explore the tree limits recently defined by Elek and Tardos. In particular, we find tree limits for many classes of random trees. We give general theorems for three classes of conditional Galton–Watson trees and simply generated trees, for split trees and generalized split trees (as defined here), and for trees defined by a continuous-time branching process. These general results include, for example, random labelled trees, ordered trees, random recursive trees, preferential attachment trees, and binary search trees.
The Relationship of Psychiatric Symptoms with Performance-Based and Self-Reported Cognitive Function After Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Kliem Elisabeth , Gjestad Elise , Ryum Truls , Olsen Alexander , Thommessen Bente , Indredavik Bent , Bieliauskas Linas , Due-Tønnessen Paulina , Fladby Tormod , Grambaite Ramune
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Findings on the relationship of psychiatric symptoms with performance-based and self-reported cognitive function post-stroke are inconclusive. We aimed to (1) study the relation of depression and anxiety to performance-based cognitive function and (2) explore a broader spectrum of psychiatric symptoms and their association with performance-based versus self-reported cognitive function.

Method:

Individuals with supratentorial ischemic stroke performed neuropsychological examination 3 months after stroke. For primary analyses, composite scores for memory and attention/executive function were calculated based on selected neuropsychological tests, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used. Psychiatric symptoms and self-reported cognitive function for secondary aims were assessed using the Symptom-Checklist-90 – Revised (SCL-90-R).

Results:

In a sample of 86 patients [mean (M) age: 64.6 ± 9.2; Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), 3–7 days post-stroke: M = 28.4 ± 1.7; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) after 3 months: M = 0.7 ± 1.6] depressive symptoms (HADS) were associated with poorer memory performance after controlling for age, sex, and education (p ≤ .01). In a subsample (n = 41; Age: M = 65.7 ± 8.1; MMSE: M = 28.4 ± 1.8; NIHSS: M = 1.0 ± 1.9), symptoms of phobic anxiety (SCL-90-R) were associated with poorer performance-based memory and attention/executive function, and symptoms of anxiety (SCL-90-R) with lower attention/executive function. Higher levels of self-reported cognitive difficulties were associated with higher scores in all psychiatric domains (p ≤ .05).

Conclusion:

Even in relatively well-functioning stroke patients, depressive symptoms are associated with poorer memory. The results also suggest that various psychiatric symptoms are more related to self-reported rather than to performance-based cognitive function. Screening for self-reported cognitive difficulties may not only help to identify patients with cognitive impairment, but also those who need psychological treatment.
The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003: a Mere Coming of Age or Trusted Guardian of the Nation's Treasures?
Authors: Marshall Kieran Lee , Faulkner Kate
Published: March 2021

The UK's legal deposit libraries play a crucial role in ensuring the country's intellectual and literary output is systematically captured for the use and enjoyment of readers, listeners, and researchers, now and in the future. This article, by Kieran Lee Marshall and Kate Faulkner, summarily examines the legislation that underpins that scheme – the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 and Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations 2013. Over three parts, it explores the historical development of legal deposit in the UK; its operation in the context of the modern deposit library – using a university library as its primary paradigm; and considers ways in which the current law and policy may be developed to better support deposit libraries, the information professionals that run them, and the library and archive users who greatly depend upon barrier-free access to deposited resources. It concludes by outlining three areas on which prospective reform may focus.
The Mysterious Affair at Squire: Using Code-Breaking Games to Deliver Law Library Skills
Authors: Edwards-Waller Lizz
Published: March 2021

The Squire Law Library has designed and run a series of popular escape room-style events, aimed at masters and undergraduate law students. Intended to prompt students to explore the full range of legal resources available to them, the games typically challenge participants to open a locked safe: relying on legal databases, the library catalogue and print materials to decipher a six-digit combination. This article, based on Lizz Edwards-Waller's presentation at the BIALL (virtual) conference 2020, reflects on the practicalities of running and promoting code-breaking events within the library and considers the benefits of this style of event in addition to, or instead of, more traditional law library orientation tours.
A high efficiency 10W MMIC PA for K-b and satellite communications
Authors: Colantonio Paolo , Giofrè Rocco , Vitobello Fabio , Lòpez Mariano , Cabrìa Lorena
Published: March 2021

This paper discusses the design steps and experimental characterization of a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) power amplifier developed for the next generation of K-band 17.3–20.2 GHz very high throughput satellites. The technology used is a commercially available 100-nm gate length gallium nitride on silicon process. The chip was developed taking into account the demanding constraints of the spacecraft and, in particular, carefully considering the thermal constraints of such technology, in order to keep the junction temperature in all devices below 160°C in the worst-case condition (i.e., maximum environmental temperature of 85°C). The realized MMIC, based on a three-stage architecture, was first characterized on-wafer in pulsed regime and, subsequently, mounted in a test-jig and characterized under continuous wave operating conditions. In 17.3–20.2 GHz operating bandwidth, the built amplifier provides an output power >40 dBm with a power added efficiency close to 30% (peak >40%) and 22 dB of power gain.
Emergence patterns of winter and summer annual weeds in Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) cropping system
Authors: Tiwari Ruby , Reinhardt Piskackova Theresa A. , Devkota Pratap , Mulvaney Michael J. , Ferrell Jason A. , Leon Ramon G.
Published: March 2021

Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) is a biofuel crop recently introduced in the southeastern United States. For this crop to be successful, integrated weed management strategies that complement its rotation with summer cash crops must be developed. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of previous season summer crops on winter weed emergence patterns during Ethiopian mustard growing season and to assess the impact of planting Ethiopian mustard on the emergence patterns of summer weed species. Gompertz models were fit to winter and summer weed emergence patterns. All models represented more than 80% of the variation, with root mean-square error values less than 0.20. The emergence pattern for winter weed species was best described using growing degree-day accumulation, and this model can be utilized for implementing weed control strategies at the critical Ethiopian mustard growth stages. The results also showed that summer weeds can emerge during the winter in northern Florida but do not survive frost damage, which might create off-season seedbank reductions before the summer crop growing season.
Toward Automated Early Detection of Risks for a CO2 Plume Containment From Permanent Seismic Monitoring Data
Authors: Glubokovskikh Stanislav , Wang Rui , Ricard Ludovic , Bagheri Mohammad , Gurevich Boris , Pevzner Roman
Published: March 2021

Permanent reservoir surveillance is an invaluable monitoring tool for CO2 storage projects, because it tracks spatial‐temporal evolution of the injected plume. The frequent images of CO2 plumes will facilitate history‐matching of the reservoir simulations and increase confidence of early leakage detection. However, continuous data acquisition and real‐time interpretation require a new approach to data analysis. Here, we propose a data‐driven approach to forecasting future time‐lapse seismic images based on the observed past images and test this approach on the Otway Stage 2C data. The core component of the predictor is a convolutional neural network, which considers subsequent plume maps as color layers, similar to standard red‐green‐blue blending. Based on the extent of the past plumes, we may predict the future contour of the seismically resolvable portion of the plume. The neural networks reproduce the dynamics of CO2 migration after training on reservoir simulations for a wide range of injection scenarios and subsurface models. Extensive testing shows that realistic plumes for Stage 2C are too complicated and the neural network should be pretrained on simpler reservoir simulations that include only one or two geological features, such as: faults, spill‐points, etc. Such staged training can be seen as a gradual descent of the neural network optimization to a global minimum. The approach is practical, because each CO2 storage project requires extensive preinjection reservoir simulations. Once the predictor has been trained, it can forecast plume evolution near real‐time and adapt efficiently to changing dynamics of CO2 migration.
Podcast: What Tree Rings Can Tell Us About the U.S. Civil War
Authors: Hanlon Shane
Published: March 2021

Climate change–induced drought may have had an influence on the Civil War.
Gender associates with both susceptibility to infection and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian hamster
Authors: Yuan Lunzhi , Zhu Huachen , Zhou Ming , Ma Jian , Chen Rirong , Chen Yao , Chen Liqiang , Wu Kun , Cai Minping , Hong Junping , Li Lifeng , Liu Che , Yu Huan , Zhang Yali , Wang Jia , Zhang Tianying , Ge Shengxiang , Zhang Jun , Yuan Quan , Chen Yixin , Tang Qiyi , Chen Honglin , Cheng Tong , Guan Yi , Xia Ningshao
Published: March 2021

Epidemiological studies of the COVID-19 patients have suggested the male bias in outcomes of lung illness. To experimentally demonstrate the epidemiological results, we performed animal studies to infect male and female Syrian hamsters with SARS-CoV-2. Remarkably, high viral titer in nasal washings was detectable in male hamsters who presented symptoms of weight loss, weakness, piloerection, hunched back and abdominal respiration, as well as severe pneumonia, pulmonary edema, consolidation, and fibrosis. In contrast with the males, the female hamsters showed much lower shedding viral titers, moderate symptoms, and relatively mild lung pathogenesis. The obvious differences in the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and severity of lung pathogenesis between male and female hamsters provided experimental evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity of COVID-19 are associated with gender.
A suite of rare microbes interacts with a dominant, heritable, fungal endophyte to influence plant trait expression
Authors: Harrison Joshua G , Beltran Lyra P , Buerkle C Alex , Cook Daniel , Gardner Dale R , Parchman Thomas L , Poulson Simon R , Forister Matthew L
Published: March 2021

Endophytes are microbes that live, for at least a portion of their life history, within plant tissues. Endophyte assemblages are often composed of a few abundant taxa and many infrequently observed, low-biomass taxa that are, in a word, rare. The ways in which most endophytes affect host phenotype are unknown; however, certain dominant endophytes can influence plants in ecologically meaningful ways—including by affecting growth and immune system functioning. In contrast, the effects of rare endophytes on their hosts have been unexplored, including how rare endophytes might interact with abundant endophytes to shape plant phenotype. Here, we manipulate both the suite of rare foliar endophytes (including both fungi and bacteria) and Alternaria fulva–a vertically transmitted and usually abundant fungus–within the fabaceous forb Astragalus lentiginosus. We report that rare, low-biomass endophytes affected host size and foliar %N, but only when the heritable fungal endophyte (A. fulva) was not present. A. fulva also reduced plant size and %N, but these deleterious effects on the host could be offset by a negative association we observed between this heritable fungus and a foliar pathogen. These results demonstrate how interactions among endophytic taxa determine the net effects on host plants and suggest that the myriad rare endophytes within plant leaves may be more than a collection of uninfluential, commensal organisms, but instead have meaningful ecological roles.
Cut-off values of serum IgG4 among three reagents, including a novel IgG4 reagent: a multicenter study
Authors: Usami Yoko , Sugano Mitsutoshi , Uehara Takeshi , Koinuma Masayoshi , Ishimine Nau , Kawasaki Kenji , Yamauchi Kazuyoshi , Hamano Hideaki , Honda Takayuki
Published: March 2021

Elevated serum IgG4 is a useful marker of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) activity. However, there is no uniformity in the cut-off values of IgG4 among the various reagents. The aim of this study was to compare the measured and cut-off values of IgG4 assessed using three different reagents. This study enrolled 466 IgG4-RD and non-IgG4-RD patients who required measurement of serum IgG4 levels to diagnose or treat IgG4-RD. Serum IgG4 was measured using three reagents: N-assay LA IgG4 Nittobo (Nittobo), BS-NIA IgG4 (TBS), and N Latex IgG4 (Siemens). The values obtained using the three reagents were compared, and cut-off values were calculated for each. Although there was good correlation among the results with the three reagents, the measured and cut-off values were all different. The Nittobo values were 1.4 times the TBS values and the TBS values were almost half those of the Siemens values. ROC curve analysis showed cut-off values for the Nittobo, TBS, and Siemens reagents of 1.42, 1.31, and 2.38 g/L, respectively. The measured and cut-off values of serum IgG4 vary depending on the reagents used for the assay, although there is good correlation among the values measured by the three reagents.
ATF5 deficiency causes abnormal cortical development
Authors: Umemura Mariko , Kaneko Yasuyuki , Tanabe Ryoko , Takahashi Yuji
Published: March 2021

Activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) is a member of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)/ATF family of basic leucine zipper transcription factors. We previously reported that ATF5-deficient (ATF5−/−) mice exhibited behavioural abnormalities, including abnormal social interactions, reduced behavioural flexibility, increased anxiety-like behaviours, and hyperactivity in novel environments. ATF5−/− mice may therefore be a useful animal model for psychiatric disorders. ATF5 is highly expressed in the ventricular zone and subventricular zone during cortical development, but its physiological role in higher-order brain structures remains unknown. To investigate the cause of abnormal behaviours exhibited by ATF5−/− mice, we analysed the embryonic cerebral cortex of ATF5−/− mice. The ATF5−/− embryonic cerebral cortex was slightly thinner and had reduced numbers of radial glial cells and neural progenitor cells, compared to a wild-type cerebral cortex. ATF5 deficiency also affected the basal processes of radial glial cells, which serve as a scaffold for radial migration during cortical development. Further, the radial migration of cortical upper layer neurons was impaired in ATF5−/− mice. These results suggest that ATF5 deficiency affects cortical development and radial migration, which may partly contribute to the observed abnormal behaviours.
Garcinia mangostana extract and curcumin ameliorate oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia in high fat diet-induced obese Wistar albino rats
Authors: Labban Ranyah Shaker M. , Alfawaz Hanan A. , Almnaizel Ahmed T. , Al-Muammar May N. , Bhat Ramesa Shafi , El-Ansary Afaf
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) and Curcuma longa independently and synergistically in modulating oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia commonly observed in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rodent models. Male albino Wistar rats were divided into eight experimental groups, fed on a normal diet or high-fat diet (HFD), then given mangosteen extract (400 mg /kg /day) and/or curcumin (80 mg/kg /day) for 6 weeks. Oxidative stress markers, glucose, and lipid fractions were measured in the sera. Mangosteen pericarp extract (MPE) induced a remarkable decrease in BMI (from 0.86 to 0.81 gm/cm2), while curcuma either alone or in combination was more effective, as treated rats recorded BMIs of 0.78 and 0.79 gm/cm2, respectively. Regarding the antioxidant effects, MPE induced a significant increase of GSH in obese rats (123.86 ± 15.53 μg/ml vs 288.72 ± 121.37 μg/ml). As anti-atherogenic agents MPE demonstrate significant effect recorded higher level of HDL-C in treated animals, but ineefective as anti-dyslipidemic agent. Curcumin was more effective in reducing LDL-C levels in obese rats. Both extracts effectively reduced blood glucose. The present study demonstrated that MPE and curcumin were independently and synergistically effective in treating obesity-induced atherogenesis.
Observational evidence of stratification control of upwelling and pelagic fishery in the eastern Arabian Sea
Authors: Narvekar Jayu , Roy Chowdhury Riyanka , Gaonkar Diksha , Kumar P. K. Dinesh , Prasanna Kumar S.
Published: March 2021

Upwelling is a physical phenomenon that occurs globally along the eastern boundary of the ocean and supports pelagic fishery which is an important source of protein for the coastal population. Though upwelling and associated small pelagic fishery along the eastern Arabian Sea (EAS) is known to exist at least for the past six decades, our understanding of the factors controlling them are still elusive. Based on observation and data analysis we hypothesize that upwelling in the EAS during 2017 was modulated by freshwater-induced stratification. To validate this hypothesis, we examined 17 years of data from 2001 and show that inter-annual variability of freshwater influx indeed controls the upwelling in the EAS through stratification, a mechanism hitherto unexplored. The upper ocean stratification in turn is regulated by the fresh water influx through a combination of precipitation and river runoff. We further show that the oil sardine which is one of the dominant fish of the small pelagic fishery of the EAS varied inversely with stratification. Our study for the first time underscored the role of freshwater influx in regulating the coastal upwelling and upper ocean stratification controlling the regional pelagic fishery of the EAS.
Persimmon-derived tannin ameliorates the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis in a murine model through inhibition of the inflammatory response and alteration of microbiota
Authors: Kitabatake Masahiro , Matsumura Yoko , Ouji-Sageshima Noriko , Nishioka Tatsuki , Hara Atsushi , Kayano Shin-ichi , Ito Toshihiro
Published: March 2021

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) induced by dysregulation of the immune response in the intestinal mucosa. Although the underlying mechanisms of UC development are not fully understood, disruption of gut microbiota, “dysbiosis”, is thought to lead to the development of IBD. Persimmon (Ebenaceae Diospyros kaki Thunb.)-derived tannin, which is a condensed polymeric tannin consisting of catechin groups, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. In this study, we assessed the effect of persimmon-derived tannin on a murine model of UC established by dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in female mice. Dietary supplementation of tannin significantly decreased disease activity and colon inflammation. A hydrolysate of tannin directly suppressed expression of inflammatory genes in macrophages in vitro. In faecal microbiota, the relative abundance of Bacteroides was increased significantly by tannin supplementation. Alpha-diversity indices in colitis-induced mice were significantly higher in the tannin diet group compared with the control diet group. Additionally, expansion of Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus, which is associated with disease progression of IBD, was remarkably suppressed in the tannin diet group. These results suggest that persimmon-derived tannin ameliorates colon inflammation in UC through alteration of the microbiota composition and immune response, which may be a promising candidate for IBD therapy.
The role of the size in thyroid cancer risk stratification
Authors: Vianello Federica , Censi Simona , Watutantrige-Fernando Sara , Barollo Susi , Zhu Yi Hang , Albiger Nora , Bertazza Loris , Manso Jacopo , Carducci Sofia , Benna Clara , Iacobone Maurizio , Galuppini Francesca , Pennelli Gianmaria , Mian Caterina
Published: March 2021

Only a minority of cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) have a poor clinical outcome. Clinical outcomes and molecular aspects were assessed in: 144 DTC ≤ 40 mm without distant metastases (group 1); 50 DTC > 40 mm without distant metastases (group 2); and 46 DTC with distant metastases (group 3). Group 3 had a worse outcome than the other two groups: during the follow-up, patients more frequently had persistent disease, died, or underwent further treatment. The outcomes did not differ between groups 1 and 2. Group 3 had a higher prevalence of TERT promoter mutations than group 2 (32.6% vs 14%). Group 1 had a higher frequency of BRAF mutations than groups 2 or 3 (61.1% vs 16.0% and 26.1%, respectively), while RAS mutations were more common in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3 (16.0% vs 2.1% and 6.5%, respectively). Groups 1 and 2 shared the same outcome, but were genetically distinct. Only lymph node involvement, distant metastases, older age and (among the molecular markers) TERT promoter mutations were independent predictors of a worse outcome. Metastatic DTC had the worst outcome, while the outcome was identical for large and small non-metastatic DTC, although they showed different molecular patterns. TERT promoter mutations emerged as an independent factor pointing to a poor prognosis.
A novel proteomics approach to epigenetic profiling of circulating nucleosomes
Authors: Van den Ackerveken Priscilla , Lobbens Alison , Turatsinze Jean-Valery , Solis-Mezarino Victor , Völker-Albert Moritz , Imhof Axel , Herzog Marielle
Published: March 2021

Alteration of epigenetic modifications plays an important role in human cancer. Notably, the dysregulation of histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) has been associated with several cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the signature of histone PTMs on circulating nucleosomes is still not well described. We have developed a fast and robust enrichment method to isolate circulating nucleosomes from plasma for further downstream proteomic analysis. This method enabled us to quantify the global alterations of histone PTMs from 9 CRC patients and 9 healthy donors. Among 54 histone proteoforms identified and quantified in plasma samples, 13 histone PTMs were distinctive in CRC. Notably, methylation of histone H3K9 and H3K27, acetylation of histone H3 and citrullination of histone H2A1R3 were upregulated in plasma of CRC patients. A comparative analysis of paired samples identified 3 common histone PTMs in plasma and tumor tissue including the methylation and acetylation state of lysine 27 of histone H3. Moreover, we highlight for the first time that histone H2A1R3 citrulline is a modification upregulated in CRC patients. This new method presented herein allows the detection and quantification of histone variants and histone PTMs from circulating nucleosomes in plasma samples and could be used for biomarker discovery of cancer.
Self-ordered nanospike porous alumina fabricated under a new regime by an anodizing process in alkaline media
Authors: Iwai Mana , Kikuchi Tatsuya , Suzuki Ryosuke O.
Published: March 2021

High-aspect ratio ordered nanomaterial arrays exhibit several unique physicochemical and optical properties. Porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) is one of the most typical ordered porous structures and can be easily fabricated by applying an electrochemical anodizing process to Al. However, the dimensional and structural controllability of conventional porous AAOs is limited to a narrow range because there are only a few electrolytes that work in this process. Here, we provide a novel anodizing method using an alkaline electrolyte, sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7), for the fabrication of a high-aspect ratio, self-ordered nanospike porous AAO structure. This self-ordered porous AAO structure possesses a wide range of the interpore distance under a new anodizing regime, and highly ordered porous AAO structures can be fabricated using pre-nanotexturing of Al. The vertical pore walls of porous AAOs have unique nanospikes measuring several tens of nanometers in periodicity, and we demonstrate that AAO can be used as a template for the fabrication of nanomaterials with a large surface area. We also reveal that stable anodizing without the occurrence of oxide burning and the subsequent formation of uniform self-ordered AAO structures can be achieved on complicated three-dimensional substrates.