bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deal Initiation in Mergers and Acquisitions
Authors: Masulis Ronald W. , Simsir Serif Aziz
Published: November 2018

We investigate the effects of target initiation in M&As. We find target-initiated deals are common and that important motives for these deals are target economic weakness, financial constraints, and negative economy-wide shocks. We determine that average takeover premia, target abnormal returns around merger announcements, and deal value to EBITDA multiples are significantly lower in target-initiated deals. This gap is not explained by weak target financial conditions. Adjusting for self-selection, we conclude that target managers’ private information is a major driver of lower premia in target-initiated deals. This gap widens as information asymmetry between merger partners rises.
Innovative Exercise as an Intervention for Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Feasibility Study
Authors: Shellington Erin M. , Gill Dawn P. , Shigematsu Ryosuke , Petrella Robert J.
Published: November 2018

L’exercice peut diminuer la morbidité associée à l’arthrose du genou. Nous avons réalisé une étude auprès de 22 participants avec arthrose du genou (68 % de femmes) ayant en moyenne 69,5 ans (ÉT : 7,4). Les participants ont été aléatoirement assignés à un groupe d’exercice de marche carrée (square-stepping exercise; SSE; 2 fois/semaine pour 24 semaines) ou à un groupe contrôle. Nous avons évalué la faisabilité (recrutement et présence) du SSE et son efficacité en lien avec les symptômes (WOMAC), l’équilibre (Fullerton), la mobilité (test de la chaise de 30 secondes) et la vitesse de marche après 12 et 24 semaines. Le groupe SSE avait un taux de présence de 49,3% et sa performance au test de la chaise de 30 secondes tendait à s’améliorer après 12 semaines (F=1,8, p=0,12, ηp2=0,16) et 24 semaines (F=3,4, p=0,09, ηp2=0,18), tout comme sa vitesse de marche à 24 semaines (F=2,4, p=0,14, ηp2=0,14), comparativement au groupe contrôle, en contrôlant pour les données de base. Aucune différence n’a été observée sur le plan des symptômes ou de l’équilibre. Les taux de présence et de recrutement faibles indiquent une faisabilité limitée du SSE chez les personnes âgées avec arthrose du genou. Les tendances observées suggèrent que le SSE peut améliorer la fonction du membre inférieur et la vitesse de marche. Les études futures sur le programme SSE devraient se pencher sur son efficacité en lien avec les symptômes et l’équilibre, et viser l’amélioration de sa faisabilité.
Childhood infections and common carotid intima media thickness in adolescence
Authors: Prins-van Ginkel A. C. , Bruijning-Verhagen P. C. J. , Wijga A. H. , Bots M. L. , Gehring U. , van der Hoek W. , Koppelman G. H. , van Rossem L. , Uiterwaal C. S. P. M. , Smit H. A. , van der Sande M. A. B.
Published: November 2018

Atherosclerotic changes can be measured as changes in common carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). It is hypothesised that repeated infection-associated inflammatory responses in childhood contribute to the atherosclerotic process. We set out to determine whether the frequency of infectious diseases in childhood is associated with CIMT in adolescence. The study is part of the Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) population-based birth cohort. At age 16 years, common CIMT was measured. We collected general practitioner (GP) diagnosed infections and prescribed antibiotics. Parent-reported infections were retrieved from annual questionnaires. Linear regression analysis assessed the association between number of infections during the first 4 years of life and common CIMT. Common CIMT measurement, GP and questionnaire data were available for 221 participants. No association was observed between the infection measures and CIMT. In a subgroup analysis, significant positive associations with CIMT were observed in participants with low parental education for 2–3 or ⩾7 GP diagnosed infections (+26.4 µm, 95% CI 0.4–52.4 and +26.8 µm, 95% CI 3.6–49.9, respectively) and ⩾3 antibiotic prescriptions (+35.5 µm, 95%CI 15.8–55.3). Overall, early childhood infections were not associated with common CIMT in adolescence. However, a higher number of childhood infections might contribute to the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis in subgroups with low education, this needs to be confirmed in future studies.
Profiles of primary and secondary callous-unemotional features in youth: The role of emotion regulation
Authors: Craig Stephanie G. , Moretti Marlene M.
Published: November 2018

There is increasing evidence for multiple pathways in the development of callous-unemotional (CU) features, including primary and secondary profiles. Understanding affect regulation strategies among variants may provide further insight to the development and treatment of CU features. This study evaluated whether profiles of CU features could be identified within a clinical sample of youth using measures of affect dysregulation, affect suppression, anxiety, and maltreatment. We also examined whether these profiles were consistent across gender. Participants (N= 418; 56.7% female) ranged in age from 12 to 19 years (M= 15.04,SD= 1.85) and were drawn from a clinical sample. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted using five indicators, including affect regulation, suppression, anxiety, CU features, and maltreatment. The best fitting model, a four-profile solution, included a low (low CU/dysregulation), anxious (low CU/high dysregulation), primary CU (high CU/low dysregulation), and secondary CU profile (high CU/dysregulation/maltreatment). LPAs found the same four-profile model when conducted separately for males and females. This is the first study to examine gender and include affect regulation strategies in the examination of primary and secondary profiles of CU.
Following Up on Interdisciplinary Encounters: Benefits for Early Career Researchers
Authors: Bridle Helen
Published: November 2018

Interdisciplinarity is often quoted as a means to solve the complex social challenges faced by humanity, and the future of research is thus seen as increasingly interdisciplinary. However, there are risks and challenges to embarking on interdisciplinary research, particularly for early-career researchers. Encounters – bringing together early-career researchers to cultivate their interdisciplinary skills or to develop new projects – have been proposed and trialled as a means to boost interdisciplinarity amongst early-career researchers and equip them with the necessary skills for successful project delivery. However, little follow-up evaluation has been undertaken, especially considering career impacts several years after encounter participation. This article focuses on two encounter types and evaluates the level of interdisciplinary interactions obtained and the benefits experienced by participants. In conclusion, encounters are found to be highly successful, resulting in many projects and skills/career development. As such, further funding should be allocated to this type of event.
Does ISO14001 raise firms' awareness of environmental protection? The case of Vietnam
Authors: Ni Bin , Tamechika Hanae , Otsuki Tsunehiro , Honda Keiichiro
Published: November 2018

Environmental protection is an issue that all developing countries must cope with when inviting foreign direct investment (FDI). However, the high correlation between FDI and pollution does not necessarily indicate that foreign firms are to blame. In this study, we apply firm-level panel data from Vietnam and unique information on waste discharge to demonstrate that foreign firms are actually more proactive in acquiring ISO14001 certification. ISO14001 is a voluntary environmental standard, the adoption of which improves a firm's performance in terms of waste control, and increases its welfare and productivity level. This study provides robust evidence that firms' efforts toward corporate social responsibility eventually benefit them as well.
High-risk environments for eating foods surplus to requirements: a multilevel analysis of adolescents’ non-core food intake in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS)
Authors: Toumpakari Zoi , Tilling Kate , Haase Anne M , Johnson Laura
Published: November 2018

Objective

Interventions to reduce adolescents’ non-core food intake (i.e. foods high in fat and sugar) could target specific people or specific environments, but the relative importance of environmental contexts v. individual characteristics is unknown.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Data from 4d food diaries in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2012 were analysed. NDNS food items were classified as ‘non-core’ based on fat and sugar cut-off points per 100g of food. Linear multilevel models investigated associations between ‘where’ (home, school, etc.) and ‘with whom’ (parents, friends, etc.) eating contexts and non-core food energy (kcal) per eating occasion (EO), adjusting for variables at the EO (e.g. time of day) and adolescent level (e.g. gender).

Participants

Adolescents (n 884) aged 11–18 years.

Results

Only 11 % of variation in non-core energy intake was attributed to differences between adolescents. In adjusted models, non-core food intake was 151 % higher (ratio; 95 % CI) in EO at ‘Eateries’ (2·51; 2·14, 2·95) and 88 % higher at ‘School’ (1·88; 1·65, 2·13) compared with ‘Home’. EO with ‘Friends’ (1·16; CI 1·03, 1·31) and ‘Family & friends’ (1·21; 1·07, 1·37) contained 16–21 % more non-core food compared with eating ‘Alone’. At the individual level, total energy intake and BMI, but not social class, gender or age, were weakly associated with more non-core energy intake.

Conclusions

Regardless of individual characteristics, adolescents’ non-core food consumption was higher outside the home, especially at eateries. Targeting specific eating contexts, not individuals, may contribute to more effective public health interventions.
Endovascular management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms and acute aortic dissections
Authors: Hofmeister Stephen , Thomas Matthew B. , Paulisin Joseph , Mouawad Nicolas J.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. The management of vascular emergencies is dependent on rapid identification and confirmation of the diagnosis with concurrent patient stabilization prior to immediate transfer to the operating suite. A variety of technological advances in diagnostic imaging as well as the advent of minimally invasive endovascular interventions have shifted the contemporary treatment algorithms of such pathologies. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on the current state and future trends in the management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms as well as acute aortic dissections.
Linear Multistep F10.7 Forecasting Based on Task Correlation and Heteroscedasticity
Authors: Wang Zhen , Hu Qinghua , Zhong Qiuzhen , Wang Yun
Published: November 2018

Solar 10.7‐cm radio flux (F10.7) is an important measure of solar radio emission activity. Accurate F10.7 forecasting plays a key role in both space weather and global environment forecasts. We discover that forecasting errors are heteroscedastic, something that is not often considered in previous models. In addition, task correlation between different forecasting steps is ignored in current multistep‐ahead forecast models. In this work, we propose a linear multistep forecasting model based on the correlation between different forecasting steps and the characteristic of heteroscedasticity. Further, we introduce a variational Bayesian procedure to optimize the model. The performance of the proposed model is tested on F10.7 historical data. The results show that the proposed model improves the performance of multistep F10.7 forecasting by considering correlation and heteroscedasticity.
The Onset and Rate of Holocene Neoglacial Cooling in the Arctic
Authors: McKay Nicholas P. , Kaufman Darrell S. , Routson Cody C. , Erb Michael P. , Zander Paul D.
Published: November 2018

The middle to late Holocene (8,200 years ago to present) in the Arctic is characterized by cooling temperatures and the regrowth and advance of glaciers. Whether this Neoglaciation was a threshold response to linear cooling, or was driven by a regional or Arctic‐wide acceleration of cooling, is unknown. Here we examine the largest‐yet‐compiled multiproxy database of Arctic Holocene temperature change, along with model simulations, to investigate regional and Arctic‐wide increases in cooling rate, the synchronicity of Neoglacial onset, and the observed and simulated rates of temperature change. We find little support for an Arctic‐wide onset of Neoglacial cooling but do find intervals when regions experienced rapid increases in long‐term cooling rate, both in the observations and in climate model simulations. In the model experiments, Neoglacial cooling is associated with indirectly forced millennial‐scale variability in meridional heat transport superposed on the long‐term decline of summer insolation.
Phosgene in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere: A Marker for Product Gas Injection Due to Chlorine‐Containing Very Short Lived Substances
Authors: Harrison Jeremy J. , Chipperfield Martyn P. , Hossaini Ryan , Boone Christopher D. , Dhomse Sandip , Feng Wuhu , Bernath Peter F.
Published: November 2018

Phosgene in the atmosphere is produced via the degradation of carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, and a number of chlorine‐containing very short lived substances (VSLS). These VSLS are not regulated by the Montreal Protocol even though they contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion. While observations of VSLS can quantify direct stratospheric source gas injection, observations of phosgene in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere can be used as a marker of product gas injection of chlorine‐containing VSLS. In this work we report upper troposphere/lower stratosphere measurements of phosgene made by the ACE‐FTS (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer) instrument and compare with results from the TOMCAT/SLIMCAT three‐dimensional chemical transport model to constrain phosgene trends over the 2004–2016 period. The 13‐year ACE‐FTS time series provides the first observational evidence for an increase in chlorine product gas injection. In 2016, VSLS accounted for 27% of modeled stratospheric phosgene, up from 20% in the mid‐2000s.
Tomography of Southern California Via Bayesian Joint Inversion of Rayleigh Wave Ellipticity and Phase Velocity From Ambient Noise Cross‐Correlations
Authors: Berg E. M. , Lin F.‐C. , Allam A. , Qiu H. , Shen W. , Ben‐Zion Y.
Published: November 2018

A self‐consistent regional‐scale seismic velocity model with resolution from seismogenic depth to the surface is crucial for seismic hazard assessment. Though Southern California is the most seismically imaged region in the world, techniques with high near‐surface sensitivity have been applied only in disparate local areas and have not been incorporated into a unified model with deeper resolution. In the present work, we obtain isotropic values for Rayleigh wave phase velocity and ellipticity in Southern California by cross‐correlating daily time series from the year 2015 across 315 regional stations in period ranges 6 to 18 s. Leveraging the complementary sensitivity of the two Rayleigh wave data sets, we combine H/V and phase velocity measurements to determine a new 3‐D shear velocity model in a Bayesian joint inversion framework. The new model has greatly improved shallow resolution compared to the Southern California Earthquake Center CVMS4.26 reference model. Well‐known large‐scale features common to previous studies are resolved, including velocity contrasts across the San Andreas, San Jacinto, Garlock, and Elsinore faults, midcrustal high‐velocity structure beneath the Mojave Desert, and shallow Moho beneath the Salton Trough. Other prominent features that have previously only been imaged in focused local studies include the correct sedimentary thickness of the southern Central Valley, fold structure of the Ventura and Oak Ridge Anticlines, and velocity contrast across the Newport‐Inglewood fault. The new shallow structure will greatly impact simulation‐based studies of seismic hazard, especially in the near‐surface low‐velocity zones beneath densely populated areas like the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Ventura Basins.
Variability of Internal Wave‐Driven Mixing and Stratification in Canadian Arctic Shelf and Shelf‐Slope Waters
Authors: Chanona Melanie , Waterman Stephanie , Gratton Yves
Published: November 2018

Our understanding of ocean mixing is challenged by its patchy, episodic nature and a scarcity of direct measurements, especially in the Arctic Ocean. In this study, we exploit a historical record of nearly 3,000 conductivity‐temperature‐depth profiles collected in the shelf and shelf‐slope waters of the Canadian Arctic Ocean from 2002 to 2016 to characterize the variability of 28,872 internal wave‐driven turbulent dissipation and mixing rate estimates from a finescale parameterization. We find that these estimates of wave‐driven dissipation rates and associated diapycnal diffusivities are generally low, but exhibit wide variability, each spanning several orders of magnitude. We further find that stratification plays a significant role in modulating the mixing rate both vertically and regionally within the study domain. Dissipation rate and diffusivity estimates display a weak seasonal cycle, but no evidence of statistically significant interannual trends over this period. Exceptionally large localized temporal variability appears to dominate other potential underlying patterns. The presence of strong upper ocean stratification combined with predominately weak dissipation rate estimates implies that many regions in the Canadian Arctic Ocean are likely in a molecular or buoyancy‐controlled mixing regime. Even when the concept of a turbulent‐enhanced diffusivity is potentially relevant, most turbulent heat flux estimates out of the Atlantic Water thermocline are smaller than the average value required to close the standardly assumed Arctic Ocean heat budget. In contrast, we find evidence for isolated occurrences of anomalously large heat fluxes, which may disproportionately contribute to the liberation of Atlantic Water heat toward the surface sea ice pack.
Doped, conductive SiO2 nanoparticles for large microwave absorption
Authors: Green Michael , Liu Zhanqiang , Xiang Peng , Liu Yan , Zhou Minjie , Tan Xinyu , Huang Fuqiang , Liu Lei , Chen Xiaobo
Published: November 2018

Although many materials have been studied for the purpose of microwave absorption, SiO2 has never been reported as a good candidate. In this study, we present for the first time that doped, microwave conductive SiO2 nanoparticles can possess an excellent microwave absorbing performance. A large microwave reflection loss (RL) of −55.09 dB can be obtained. The large microwave absorption originates mainly from electrical relaxation rather than the magnetic relaxation of the incoming microwave field. The electrical relaxation is attributed to a large electrical conductivity that is enabled by the incorporation of heterogeneous (N, C and Cl) atoms. The removal of the magnetic susceptibility only results in a negligible influence of the microwave absorption. In contrast, the removal of the heterogeneous atoms leads to a large decrease in the electrical conductivity and microwave absorption performance. Meanwhile, the microwave absorption characteristics can be largely adjusted with a change of the thickness, which provides large flexibility for various microwave absorption applications.
Lenalidomide plus R-CHOP21 in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): long-term follow-up results from a combined analysis from two phase 2 trials
Authors: Castellino A. , Chiappella A. , LaPlant B. R. , Pederson L. D. , Gaidano G. , Macon W. R. , Inghirami G. , Reeder C. B. , Tucci A. , King R. L. , Congiu A. , Foran J. M. , Pavone V. , Rivera C. E. , Spina M. , Ansell S. M. , Cavallo F. , Molinari A. L. , Ciccone Giovannino , Habermann T. M. , Witzig T. E. , Vitolo U. , Nowakowski G. S.
Published: November 2018

Lenalidomide-RCHOP (R2-CHOP21) has been shown to be safe and effective in patients with untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The aim of this analysis is to report long-term outcome and toxicities in newly diagnosed DLBCL patients who received R2-CHOP21 in two independent phase 2 trials, conducted by Mayo Clinic (MC) and Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL). All patients received R-CHOP21 plus lenalidomide. Long-term progression-free survival (PFS), time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS) and late toxicities and second tumors were analyzed. Hundred and twelve patients (63 MC, 49 FIL) were included. Median age was 69 years, 88% were stage III–IV. At a median follow-up of 5.1 years, 5y-PFS was 63.5%, 5y-TTP 70.1% and 5y-OS 75.4%; according to cell of origin (COO): 5y-PFS 52.8% vs 64.5%, 5y-TTP 61.6% vs 69.6% and 5y-OS 68.6% vs 74.1% in germinal center (GCB) vs non-GCB respectively. Four patients experienced grade 4–5 late toxicities. Grade ≤ 3 toxicities were infections (N = 4), thrombosis (N = 1) and neuropathy (N = 3). Seven seconds tumors were observed. Long-term follow-up demonstrates that R2-CHOP21 efficacy was maintained with high rates of PFS, TTP, and OS. Lenalidomide appears to mitigate the negative prognosis of non-GCB phenotype. Incidence of therapy-related secondary malignancies and late toxicities were low.
Polythermal structure of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier revealed by borehole thermometry
Authors: Miles Katie E. , Hubbard Bryn , Quincey Duncan J. , Miles Evan S. , Sherpa Tenzing C. , Rowan Ann V. , Doyle Samuel H.
Published: November 2018

Runoff from high-elevation debris-covered glaciers represents a crucial water supply for millions of people in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region, where peak water has already passed in places. Knowledge of glacier thermal regime is essential for predicting dynamic and geometric responses to mass balance change and determining subsurface drainage pathways, which ultimately influence proglacial discharge and hence downstream water availability. Yet, deep internal ice temperatures of these glaciers are unknown, making projections of their future response to climate change highly uncertain. Here, we show that the lower part of the ablation area of Khumbu Glacier, a high-elevation debris-covered glacier in Nepal, may contain ~56% temperate ice, with much of the colder shallow ice near to the melting-point temperature (within 0.8 °C). From boreholes drilled in the glacier’s ablation area, we measured a minimum ice temperature of −3.3 °C, and even the coldest ice we measured was 2 °C warmer than the mean annual air temperature. Our results indicate that high-elevation Himalayan glaciers are vulnerable to even minor atmospheric warming.
Shape oscillations of single blood drops: applications to human blood and sickle cell disease
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Vahideh Ansari , Brugnara Carlo , Holt R. Glynn
Published: November 2018

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder associated with severe anemia, vessel occlusion, poor oxygen transport and organ failure. The presence of stiff and often sickle-shaped red blood cells is the hallmark of SCD and is believed to contribute to impaired blood rheology and organ damage. Most existing measurement techniques of blood and red blood cell physical properties require sample contact and/or large sample volume, which is problematic for pediatric patients. Acoustic levitation allows rheological measurements in a single drop of blood, simultaneously eliminating the need for both contact containment and manipulation of samples. The technique shows that the shape oscillation of blood drops is able to assess blood viscosity in normal and SCD blood and demonstrates an abnormally increased viscosity in SCD when compared with normal controls. Furthermore, the technique is sensitive enough to detect viscosity changes induced by hydroxyurea treatment, and their dependence on the total fetal hemoglobin content of the sample. Thus this technique may hold promise as a monitoring tool for assessing changes in blood rheology in sickle cell and other hematological diseases.
Simulated performances of pixelated CsI(Tl) scintillation screens with different micro-column shapes and array structures in X-ray imaging
Authors: Chen Hui , Gu Mu , Liu Xiaolin , Zhang Juannan , Liu Bo , Huang Shiming , Ni Chen
Published: November 2018

The performances of the pixelated CsI(Tl) scintillation screens based on oxidized silicon micro-pore array templates with different CsI(Tl) micro-column shapes and array structures in X-ray imaging were simulated using the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation code. The shapes of the micro-columns include square, hexagonal and circular, and the array structures include square and hexagonal arrangements. The pitch size of the pixelated CsI(Tl) scintillation screens was set to 4 µm, and the incident X-ray energy was set to 20 keV. The ratios of the number of scintillation photons that propagate along the CsI(Tl) micro-columns to the total number of scintillation photons of the micro-columns gradually decrease with the increase in total reflection time on the lateral surfaces of the micro-columns. However, these ratios are closely related to the shapes of the micro-columns and the incident positions of X-ray on the cross-sections of the micro-columns, especially for the circular micro-column. The sequence of bottom light outputs stimulated by a uniform flood field of X-ray from high to low corresponds to the circular, square and hexagonal CsI(Tl) micro-columns with the same cross-section areas. In addition, all spatial resolutions in terms of modulation transfer functions (MTFs) for the pixelated CsI(Tl) scintillation screens with square and hexagonal array structures are over 100 lp/mm. However, the resolution for the pixelated screen with the hexagonal array structure is approximately 8.5% higher than that for the screen with the square array structure. Moreover, the former screen has a higher detective quantum efficiency (DQE) than the latter screen at the same thickness. The pixelated CsI(Tl) scintillation screen with circular micro-column and hexagonal array structure in X-ray imaging has superior performance compared to other pixelated screens in this work.
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of homologous genes in Chinese kale
Authors: Sun Bo , Zheng Aihong , Jiang Min , Xue Shengling , Yuan Qiao , Jiang Leiyu , Chen Qing , Li Mengyao , Wang Yan , Zhang Yong , Luo Ya , Wang Xiaorong , Zhang Fen , Tang Haoru
Published: November 2018

The clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system has developed into a powerful gene-editing tool that has been successfully applied to various plant species. However, studies on the application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to cultivated Brassica vegetables are limited. Here, we reported CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra) for the first time. A stretch of homologous genes, namely BaPDS1 and BaPDS2, was selected as the target site. Several stable transgenic lines with different types of mutations were generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, including BaPDS1 and BaPDS2 double mutations and BaPDS1 or BaPDS2 single mutations. The overall mutation rate reached 76.47%, and these mutations involved nucleotide changes of fewer than 10 bp. The clear albino phenotype was observed in all of the mutants, including one that harbored a mutation within an intron region, thereby indicating the importance of the intron. Cleavage in Chinese kale using CRISPR/Cas9 was biased towards AT-rich sequences. Furthermore, no off-target events were observed. Functional differences between BaPDS1 and BaPDS2 were also assessed in terms of the phenotypes of the respective mutants. In combination, these findings showed that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis can simultaneously and efficiently modify homologous gene copies of Chinese kale and provide a convenient approach for studying gene function and improving the yield and quality of cultivated Brassica vegetables.
Blocking nuclear export of HSPA8 after heat shock stress severely alters cell survival
Authors: Wang Fengjuan , Bonam Srinivasa Reddy , Schall Nicolas , Kuhn Lauriane , Hammann Philippe , Chaloin Olivier , Madinier Jean-Baptiste , Briand Jean-Paul , Page Nicolas , Muller Sylviane
Published: November 2018

The nuclear translocation of endogenous heat shock cognate protein HSPA8 is a requisite for cell survival during oxidative and heat shock stress. Upon these events, cytoplasmic HSPA8 is thought to concentrate within the nucleus and nucleolus. When the situation returns to normal, HSPA8 is released from its nuclear/nucleolar anchors and redistributes into the cytoplasm. By using different stress conditions and a 21-mer phosphopeptide tool called P140, which binds HSPA8 and hampers its chaperone properties, we deciphered the cellular and molecular effects arising during this vital cytoplasmic-nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling process. Using the non-metastatic fibroblastoid cell line MRL/N-1 derived from a MRL/MpTn-gld/gld lupus-prone mouse, we discovered that P140 treatment neutralized the egress of HSPA8 from nucleus to cytoplasm in the cell recovery phase. This lack of relocation of HSPA8 into the cytoplasm of heat-shocked MRL/N-1 cells altered the ability of these cells to survive when a second mild oxidative stress mimicking inflammatory conditions was applied. Crosslinking experiments followed by proteomics studies showed that P140 binds regions close to nuclear import and export signal sequences encompassed within the HSPA8 structure. These data are consistent with HSPA8 having a crucial cell protective role against reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by mitochondria during inflammatory conditions.
Microbiomes and chemical components of feed water and membrane-attached biofilm in reverse osmosis system to treat membrane bioreactor effluents
Authors: Inaba Tomohiro , Hori Tomoyuki , Aizawa Hidenobu , Sato Yuya , Ogata Atsushi , Habe Hiroshi
Published: November 2018

Reverse osmosis (RO) system at a stage after membrane bioreactor (MBR) is used for the wastewater treatment and reclamation. One of the most serious problems in this system is membrane fouling caused by biofilm formation. Here, microbiomes and chemical components of the feed water and membrane-attached biofilm of RO system to treat MBR effluents were investigated by non-destructive confocal reflection microscopy, excitation-emission fluorescence spectroscopy and high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. The microscopic visualization indicated that the biofilm contained large amounts of microbial cells (0.5 ± 0.3~3.9 ± 2.3 µm3/µm2) and the extracellular polysaccharides (3.3 ± 1.7~9.4 ± 5.1 µm3/µm2) and proteins (1.0 ± 0.2~1.3 ± 0.1 µm3/µm2). The spectroscopic analysis identified the humic and/or fulvic acid-like substances and protein-like substances as the main membrane foulants. High-throughput sequencing showed that Pseudomonas spp. and other heterotrophic bacteria dominated the feed water microbiomes. Meanwhile, the biofilm microbiomes were composed of diverse bacteria, among which operational taxonomic units related to the autotrophic Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava and Blastochloris viridis were abundant, accounting for up to 22.9 ± 4.1% and 3.1 ± 0.4% of the total, respectively. These results demonstrated that the minor autotrophic bacteria in the feed water played pivotal roles in the formation of polysaccharide- and protein-rich biofilm on RO membrane, thereby causing membrane fouling of RO system.
Anomalously high geothermal flux near the South Pole
Authors: Jordan T. A. , Martin C. , Ferraccioli F. , Matsuoka K. , Corr H. , Forsberg R. , Olesen A. , Siegert M.
Published: November 2018

Melting at the base of the Antarctic Ice Sheet influences ice dynamics and our ability to recover ancient climatic records from deep ice cores. Basal melt rates are affected by geothermal flux, one of the least constrained properties of the Antarctic continent. Estimates of Antarctic geothermal flux are typically regional in nature, derived from geological, magnetic or seismic data, or from sparse point measurements at ice core sites. We analyse ice-penetrating radar data upstream of South Pole revealing a ~100 km long and 50 km wide area where internal ice sheet layers converge with the bed. Ice sheet modelling shows that this englacial layer configuration requires basal melting of up to 6 ± 1 mm a−1 and a geothermal flux of 120 ± 20 mW m−2, more than double the values expected for this cratonic sector of East Antarctica. We suggest high heat producing Precambrian basement rocks and hydrothermal circulation along a major fault system cause this anomaly. We conclude that local geothermal flux anomalies could be more widespread in East Antarctica. Assessing their influence on subglacial hydrology and ice sheet dynamics requires new detailed geophysical observations, especially in candidate areas for deep ice core drilling and at the onset of major ice streams.
Geological evidence for AD 1008 tsunami along the Kachchh coast, Western India: Implications for hazard along the Makran Subduction Zone
Authors: Prizomwala S. P. , Gandhi Drasti , Bhatt Nilesh , Winkler Wilfried , Kumar M. Ravi , Makwana Nisarg , Bhatt Nishith
Published: November 2018

The 2004 Sumatra-Andaman tsunami emphasized the catastrophic nature of such disasters and exposed our knowledge gap of the historical and palaeo events. In the aftermath of this deadly event, the thrust in palaeotsunami studies was restricted to areas in the Indian Ocean, affected by this tsunami. The northern Arabian Sea, which hosts a similar tsunamigenic source i.e. the Makran Subduction Zone (MSZ), has so far remained ‘Terra-Incognita’. Here, for the first time, we report geological evidence of the 1008 AD tsunami, also mentioned as ‘an enigma’ in the historical reports, by identifying a >250 km long sand sheet with a landward extent of more than 250 m from the Indian coastline. Detailed sedimentology and geochemistry reveals an offshore origin of this sand sheet, from where it was eroded by a high energy wave and deposited in a supratidal environment. Optical and AMS 14C chronology constrains its age of deposition around 1000 AD. The shear size of the sand sheet, laterally and across the coast, along with grain size, a characteristically different provenance, are some of the major indicators, which can be useful in palaeotsunami/palaeostorm deposit distinction. Our report of the AD 1008 event from the Indian coastline, also supports the claim that the Western MSZ, albeit at longer intervals, has experienced major thrust earthquakes (Mw > 8) in the historical past. The proximity of this sand sheet to the shoreline does not discount the role of extremely unlikely, large storms as its causal mechanism.
Achieving acoustic topological valley-Hall states by modulating the subwavelength honeycomb lattice
Authors: Zhang Zhiwang , Cheng Ying , Liu Xiaojun
Published: November 2018

Topological valley-contrasting physics is attracting increasing attention because of its potentials as a promising information carrier in electrics and classical systems. In this work, we reveal the valley-Hall effect and the valley projected edge states in two-dimensional sonic crystals with modulated acoustic honeycomb lattice. The sonic crystals are arranged by soft-material rods and thereby in a sub-wavelength scale, of which the lattice constant is only 0.267 times the wavelength and can be modulated to almost 0.1 times the wavelength. The degenerated valley states are lifted by breaking the inversion symmetry through introducing the refractive-index difference to the rods. The unidirectional excitation of valley chiral bulk state and the non-diffracting Bessel beams are realized by sources carrying orbital angular momentum with proper chirality. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the sub-wavelength valley creation can also be achieved by embedding modulated rubber rods with the mingled steel in a water background, which has significant potential in hydroacoustics, such as underwater communications, sound trapping and directional radiation.
Sendai Virus Infection Induces Expression of Novel RNAs in Human Cells
Authors: Mandhana Roli , Horvath Curt M.
Published: November 2018

Innate antiviral immune responses are driven by virus-induced changes in host gene expression. While much research on antiviral effectors has focused on virus-inducible mRNAs, recent genome-wide analyses have identified hundreds of novel target sites for virus-inducible transcription factors and RNA polymerase. These sites are beyond the known antiviral gene repertoire and their contribution to innate immune responses is largely unknown. In this study, RNA-sequencing of mock-infected and Sendai virus-infected cells was performed to characterize the virus-inducible transcriptome and identify novel virus-inducible RNAs (nviRNAs). Virus-inducible transcription was observed throughout the genome resulting in expression of 1755 previously RefSeq-annotated RNAs and 1545 nviRNAs. The previously-annotated RNAs primarily consist of protein-coding mRNAs, including several well-known antiviral mRNAs that had low sequence conservation but were highly virus-inducible. The previously-unannotated nviRNAs were mostly noncoding RNAs with poor sequence conservation. Independent analyses of nviRNAs based on infection with Sendai virus, influenza virus, and herpes simplex virus 1, or direct stimulation with IFNα revealed a range of expression patterns in various human cell lines. These phylogenetic and expression analyses suggest that many of the nviRNAs share the high inducibility and low sequence conservation characteristic of well-known primary antiviral effectors and may represent dynamically evolving antiviral factors.
Terrestrial evaporation response to modes of climate variability
Authors: Martens Brecht , Waegeman Willem , Dorigo Wouter A. , Verhoest Niko E. C. , Miralles Diego G.
Published: November 2018

Large-scale modes of climate variability (or teleconnection patterns), such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation, affect local weather worldwide. However, the response of terrestrial water and energy fluxes to these modes of variability is still poorly understood. Here, we analyse the response of evaporation to 16 teleconnection patterns, using a simple supervised learning framework and global observation-based datasets of evaporation and its key climatic drivers. Our results show that the month-to-month variability in terrestrial evaporation is strongly affected by (coupled) oscillations in sea-surface temperature and air pressure: in specific hotspot regions, up to 40% of the evaporation dynamics can be explained by climate indices describing the fundamental modes of climate variability. While the El Niño Southern Oscillation affects the dynamics in land evaporation worldwide, other phenomena such as the East Pacific–North Pacific teleconnection pattern are more dominant at regional scales. Most modes of climate variability affect terrestrial evaporation by inducing changes in the atmospheric demand for water. However, anomalies in precipitation associated to particular teleconnections are crucial for the evaporation in water-limited regimes, as well as in forested regions where interception loss forms a substantial fraction of total evaporation. Our results highlight the need to consider the concurrent impact of these teleconnections to accurately predict the fate of the terrestrial branch of the hydrological cycle, and provide observational evidence to help improve the representation of surface fluxes in Earth system models.
Trapping intermediates in metal transfer reactions of the CusCBAF export pump of Escherichia coli
Authors: Chacón Kelly N. , Perkins Jonathan , Mathe Zachary , Alwan Katherine , Ho Ethan N. , Ucisik Melek N. , Merz Kenneth M. , Blackburn Ninian J.
Published: November 2018

Escherichia coli CusCBAF represents an important class of bacterial efflux pump exhibiting selectivity towards Cu(I) and Ag(I). The complex is comprised of three proteins: the CusA transmembrane pump, the CusB soluble adaptor protein, and the CusC outer-membrane pore, and additionally requires the periplasmic metallochaperone CusF. Here we used spectroscopic and kinetic tools to probe the mechanism of copper transfer between CusF and CusB using selenomethionine labeling of the metal-binding Met residues coupled to RFQ-XAS at the Se and Cu edges. The results indicate fast formation of a protein−protein complex followed by slower intra-complex metal transfer. An intermediate coordinated by ligands from each protein forms in 100 ms. Stopped-flow fluorescence of the capping CusF-W44 tryptophan that is quenched by metal transfer also supports this mechanism. The rate constants validate a process in which shared-ligand complex formation assists protein association, providing a driving force that raises the rate into the diffusion-limited regime.
IFNL4-ΔG is associated with prostate cancer among men at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections
Authors: Minas Tsion Zewdu , Tang Wei , Smith Cheryl J. , Onabajo Olusegun O. , Obajemu Adeola , Dorsey Tiffany H. , Jordan Symone V. , Obadi Obadi M. , Ryan Bríd M. , Prokunina-Olsson Ludmila , Loffredo Christopher A. , Ambs Stefan
Published: November 2018

Sexually transmitted infections can reach the prostate gland where their harmful effects are mediated by innate immunity, including interferons. Humans are polymorphic for the germline dinucleotide variant, rs368234815-TT/ΔG, in the IFNL4 gene encoding interferon λ4. Since the IFNL4-ΔG allele has been linked to impaired viral clearance, we hypothesized that potential exposure to sexually transmitted pathogens, as assessed by the number of lifetime sexual partners, may increase prostate cancer risk in an IFNL4-ΔG-dependent manner. Accordingly, we find that men with 10 or more sexual partners and at least one copy of IFNL4-ΔG have a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer while those with the same number of partners but lacking IFNL4-ΔG do not. Moreover, a test for effect modification shows a positive interaction between the number of lifetime partners and IFNL4-ΔG in the development of aggressive prostate cancer. Based on these findings, we conclude that a gene–environment interaction between IFNL4-ΔG and sexual activity may increase the risk of prostate cancer.
Topographical alterations render bacterial biofilms susceptible to chemical and mechanical stress
Authors: Falcón García Carolina , Stangl Felix , Götz Alexandra , Zhao Weining , Sieber Stephan A. , Opitz Madeleine , Lieleg Oliver
Published: November 2018

Treatment with concentrated ethanol, saline or glucose solutions smoothens biofilm surface topography and initially superhydrophobic/omniphobic biofilms are rendered hydrophilic.
Synthesis and electrochemical properties of Li1.3Nb0.3Cr0.4O2 as a high-capacity cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries
Authors: Wang Weiwen , Meng Jingke , Yue Xinyang , Wang Qinchao , Wang Xinxin , Zhou Yongning , Yang Xiaoqing , Shadike Zulipiya , Fu Zhengwen
Published: November 2018

A cation-disordered Li-excess material (Li1.3Cr0.4Nb0.3O2) delivers a high reversible capacity, originating from a Cr3+/Cr6+ three-electron redox reaction.
A fumed alumina induced gel-like electrolyte for great performance improvement of lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Lei Bin , Yang Jun , Xu Zhixin , Su Shasha , Wang Dong , Jiang Jinhua , Feng Jing
Published: November 2018

A fumed alumina induced gel-like electrolyte exhibits dendrite-free Li deposition, outstanding cycle stability and rate performance.
The interplay between single particle anisotropy and interparticle interactions in ensembles of magnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Muscas G. , Concas G. , Laureti S. , Testa A. M. , Mathieu R. , De Toro J. A. , Cannas C. , Musinu A. , Novak M. A. , Sangregorio C. , Lee Su Seong , Peddis D.
Published: November 2018

The complex interplay of individual particle anisotropy and interparticle interactions determines the overall magnetic behavior of dense nanoparticle ensembles.
Rovibrational quantum dynamics of the vinyl radical and its deuterated isotopologues
Authors: Šmydke Jan , Fábri Csaba , Sarka János , Császár Attila G.
Published: November 2018

Rotational–vibrational states up to 3200 cm−1, beyond the highest-lying stretching fundamental, are computed variationally for the vinyl radical (VR), H2CβCαH, and the following deuterated isotopologues of VR: CH2CD, CHDCH, and CD2CD.
Computer simulation study of the solvation of lithium ions in ternary mixed carbonate electrolytes: free energetics, dynamics, and ion transport
Authors: Shim Youngseon
Published: November 2018

A ternary mixed carbonate electrolyte composed of ethylmethyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, ethylene carbonate, and Li+PF6− salt.
A theoretical study of the photodynamics of salicylidene-2-anthrylamine in acetonitrile solution
Authors: Muriel Wilver A. , Botero-Cadavid Juan F. , Cárdenas Carlos , Rodríguez-Córdoba William
Published: November 2018

The ultrafast photoinduced processes of salicylidene-2-anthrylamine (2-AntSA) in acetonitrile solution have been investigated using DFT/TD-DFT static electronic structure calculations and excited state ab initio molecular dynamics simulations.
Insights into the kinetics of thermally induced crystallization of amorphous calcium phosphate
Authors: Uskoković Vuk , Marković Smilja , Veselinović Ljiljana , Škapin Srečo , Ignjatović Nenad , Uskoković Dragan P.
Published: November 2018

Transformations between amorphous and crystalline apatite mechanistically govern some of the most essential processes in bone metabolism, including biomineralization and bone remodeling.
Single-molecule magnet behaviour in a Dy(iii) pentagonal bipyramidal complex with a quasi-linear Cl–Dy–Cl sequence
Authors: Long Jérôme , Selikhov Alexander N. , Mamontova Ekaterina , Lyssenko Konstantin A. , Guari Yannick , Larionova Joulia , Trifonov Alexander A.
Published: November 2018

Slow relaxation of magnetization in a chloride pentagonal bipyramidal complex.
Selective synthesis of iridium(iii) end-capped polyynes by oxidative addition of 1-iodopolyynes to Vaska's complex
Authors: Pigulski Bartłomiej , Jarszak Agata , Szafert Sławomir
Published: November 2018

The reaction of bis(triphenylphosphine)iridium(i) carbonyl chloride (Vaska's complex) with a series of 1-iodopolyynes (1-CnI and2-CnI) gave σ-polyynyl iridium(iii) complexes with general formula R(CC)nIr(PPh3)2(Cl)(I)(CO).
Increasing the functionalities of 3D printed microchemical devices by single material, multimaterial, and print-pause-print 3D printing
Authors: Li Feng , Macdonald Niall P. , Guijt Rosanne M. , Breadmore Michael C.
Published: November 2018

3D printing has emerged as a valuable approach for the fabrication of fluidic devices and may replace soft-lithography as the method of choice for rapid prototyping.
Ice-recrystallization inhibiting polymers protect proteins against freeze-stress and enable glycerol-free cryostorage
Authors: Mitchell Daniel E. , Fayter Alice E. R. , Deller Robert C. , Hasan Muhammad , Gutierrez-Marcos Jose , Gibson Matthew I.
Published: November 2018

Antifreeze-protein mimic polymers are shown to enable solvent-free storage of important proteins for therapy and biotechnology by modulating ice growth.
A general strategy of 3D printing thermosets for diverse applications
Authors: Lei Dong , Yang Yang , Liu Zenghe , Chen Shuo , Song Benyan , Shen Ao , Yang Binqian , Li Sen , Yuan Zhize , Qi Quan , Sun Lijie , Guo Yifan , Zuo Han , Huang Shixing , Yang Qi , Mo Xiumei , He Chuanglong , Zhu Bo , Jeffries Eric M. , Qing Feng-Ling , Ye Xiaofeng , Zhao Qiang , You Zhengwei
Published: November 2018

Three-dimensional (3D) printing thermosets offers great potential to customize sophisticated constructs for a myriad of applications.
An efficient synthesis of versatile synthon 3-chlorooxindoles with NaCl/oxone
Authors: Lakshmi Reddy Vanammoole , Prathima Parvathaneni Sai , Rao Vaidya Jayathirtha , Bikshapathi Raktani
Published: November 2018

The present work describes an expedient approach for the direct conversion of indole-3-carboxaldehyde to 3-chlorooxindoles.