bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human and non‐human taphonomic effects on faunal remains from the Late Upper Paleolithic: A case study from the Stránská skála IV site, Czech Republic
Authors: Boriová Soňa , Sázelová Sandra , Novák Martin , Štelcl Jindřich , Svoboda Jiří
Published: November 2019

This paper focuses on two accumulations of horse bones at the Stránská skála IV site, dated from around the Last Glacial Maximum (Epigravettian). Osteological material was subjected to taxonomical and taphonomical analyses. The results confirmed the prevalence of horses, and quantitative analyses indicated a minimum of 10 individuals, which is the approximate size of a herd. The taphonomical analyses did not confirm any traces of human activities, but on the basis of skeletal part representation in combination with other site features, we interpret this site as a human opportunistic killing/hunting site. This interpretation was supplemented by approximate nutritional yield analysis, and the outcome was nearly 1,160 kg of meat. The absence of traces of human activity may be explained by the extensive activity of other taphonomic agents described. Their identification plays a key role in the interpretation process.
Gewindeformschrauben als Alternative zu metrischen Schrauben
Authors: Krüger Helmut , Ummenhofer Thomas
Published: November 2019

Gewindeformschrauben werden im Bauwesen nahezu ausschließlich im Bereich des Stahlleichtbaus zur Befestigung von dünnwandigen Profilen auf Unterkonstruktionen aus Stahl oder Aluminium verwendet. Die Nenndurchmesser variieren meist zwischen 4,2 mm und 6,3 mm. Gewindeformschrauben mit Nenndurchmessern von über 10 mm sind wenig bekannt und bergen ein bislang ungenutztes Potenzial als Alternative zu metrischen Schrauben M10 bis M14. Die Gewindeformschraube hat gegenüber der metrischen Schraube den großen Vorteil, dass die Verbindung nicht beidseitig zugänglich sein muss. Dadurch werden Verbindungen möglich, die bislang meist durch ein Verschweißen der Bauteile realisiert wurden. Eine Nachweisführung auf Grundlage des Eurocode 3 1‐8 existiert für Gewindeformschrauben bislang nicht. Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt die zu beachtenden Besonderheiten bei der Verwendung von Gewindeformschrauben als Alternative zu metrischen Schrauben. An der Versuchsanstalt für Stahl, Holz und Steine des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie KIT wurden zahlreiche Untersuchungen durchgeführt, um Lösungsansätze für die technischen Herausforderungen derartiger Verbindungen zu präsentieren.
Neuartige Kassettenprofile zur Verbesserung der Energieeffizienz im Industrie‐ und Gewerbebau
Authors: Kuhnhenne Markus , Pyschny Dominik
Published: November 2019

Ein neuartiger Ansatz, den Wärmebrückeneffekt von Kassettenwandkonstruktionen zu reduzieren, ist es, den Steg des Kassettenprofils mit Schlitzen zu versehen, um so den Wärmestrom durch den Kassettensteg zu vermindern. Diese Schlitzung führt zu einer deutlichen Reduktion des Wärmedurchgangskoeffizienten der Kassettenwandkonstruktion, hat jedoch gleichzeitig eine Verminderung der Tragfähigkeit des Kassettenprofils zur Folge.

Der vorliegende Beitrag beschäftigt sich zum einen mit der wärmeschutztechnischen Optimierung der notwendigen Schlitzgeometrie, um einen Wärmedurchgangskoeffizienten von U ≤ 0,25 W/(m2 · K) zu erreichen. Zum anderen werden die charakteristischen Tragfähigkeitswerte der neuartigen Kassettenprofile durch Bauteilversuche ermittelt.
Comparative Behavior of Wild Bluegill Captured Inside and Outside of a Long‐Standing Aquatic Protected Area
Authors: Moynes Emily N. , Lawrence Michael J. , Zolderdo Aaron J. , Prystay Tanya S. , Abrams Alice E.I. , Holder Peter , Cooke Steven J.
Published: November 2019

In recreational fisheries it is understood that individual fish that exhibit bolder personality traits have a tendency to be removed from the population (i.e., fishing mortality via harvest or catch‐and‐release mortality), while more timid individuals remain. The use of aquatic protected areas (APAs) has been promoted as a means of offsetting the negative consequences that are associated with fishing mortality by protecting the full suite of phenotypes. However, little work has investigated whetherAPAs are able to maintain heterogeneity in behavioral traits in wild fish. We attempted to address this question by using wild BluegillLepomis macrochirusfrom Lake Opinicon, a freshwater system consisting of both anAPAand heavily fished areas. The Bluegill were obtained via angling from three zones in the lake: the main lake area (i.e., fished), theAPA(which has been in place since the 1940s), and a transitional zone between these two areas. In the laboratory, the Bluegill were subjected to two behavioral assessments, a Z‐maze and a flight‐initiation‐distance (FID) test, to address differences in boldness and risk‐taking between these populations. No significant effects of capture zone were detected for any of the behavioral metrics that were assessed in the maze trial. However, individuals that originated from the main lake population had significantly higherFIDscores than the fish from the transitional zone and theAPAdid, indicating that they were more timid. Our results suggest that fisheries activities may only be acting only on specific traits, which may explain some of the null results that are presented here. Nevertheless, our study provides evidence thatAPAs are providing a reservoir of less timid individuals, which is consistent with an evolutionarily enlightened management strategy.
Absent ‘superimposed‐line’ sign: novel marker in early diagnosis of cleft of fetal secondary palate
Authors: Lakshmy S. R. , Rose N. , Masilamani P. , Umapathy S. , Ziyaulla T.
Published: November 2019

Objectives

To describe a novel sign, the ‘superimposed‐line’ sign, for early diagnosis of cleft of the fetal secondary palate on two‐dimensional imaging of the vomeromaxillary junction in the midsagittal view.

Methods

This was a prospective evaluation of the superimposed‐line sign using two‐dimensional sonography (midsagittal view) in 9576 singleton fetuses referred for routine screening between 12 and 20 weeks of gestation. In this view, the vomer bone appears as a line superimposed on the distal two‐thirds of the maxillary line, as the vomer fuses with the secondary palate in the midline. If there is a midline cleft of the secondary palate, the line formed by the palate is absent and hence only the vomer bone is visualized, creating a single line instead of the normal superimposed double line. Multiplanar three‐dimensional (3D) views were assessed in cases in which the superimposed‐line sign was absent.

Results

The superimposed line was absent in 17 fetuses with a cleft of the secondary palate that was confirmed by 3D evaluation. Of these, 13 had defects involving the premaxilla and four had an isolated cleft of the secondary palate. Postnatal confirmation was available in all cases. The sign was useful in ruling out cleft of the fetal secondary palate in 32 high‐risk cases with a family history of cleft palate. The superimposed‐line sign had a sensitivity of 89.5% in detecting cleft of the secondary palate.

Conclusions

The superimposed‐line sign is a new sonographic marker for evaluation of cleft of the fetal secondary palate; documentation of this sign proves the presence of both the palate and vomer in the midline. This marker can be demonstrated clearly in the late first trimester, allowing early diagnosis of secondary palatine cleft. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Design structure matrix (DSM) method application to issue of modeling and analyzing the fault tree of a wind energy asset
Authors: Konstantinidis Emmanouil I. , Katsavounis Stefanos , Botsaris Pantelis N.
Published: November 2019

The perpetual energy production of a wind farm could be accomplished (under proper weather conditions) if no failures occurred. But even the best possible design, manufacturing, and maintenance of a system cannot eliminate the failure possibility. In order to understand and minimize the system failures, the most crucial components of the wind turbines, which are prone to failures, should be identified. Moreover, it is essential to determine and classify the criticality of the system failures according to the impact of these failure events on wind turbine safety. The present study is processing the failure data from a wind farm and uses the Fault Tree Analysis as a baseline for applying the Design Structure Matrix technique to reveal the failure and risk interactions between wind turbine subsystems. Based on the analysis performed and by introducing new importance measures, the “readiness to fail” of a subsystem in conjunction with the “failure riskiness” can determine the “failure criticality.” The value of the failure criticality can define the frame within which interventions could be done. The arising interventions could be applied either to the whole system or could be focused in specified pairs of wind turbine subsystems. In conclusion, the method analyzed in the present research can be effectively applied by the wind turbine manufacturers and the wind farm operators as an operation framework, which can lead to a limited (as possible) design‐out maintenance cost, failures' minimization, and safety maximization for the whole wind turbine system.
Transition in the etiology of liver cirrhosis in Japan: a nationwide survey
Authors:   Japan Etiology of Liver Cirrhosis Study Group in the 54th Annual Meeting of JSH, Enomoto Hirayuki , Ueno Yoshiyuki , Hiasa Yoichi , Nishikawa Hiroki , Hige Shuhei , Takikawa Yasuhiro , Taniai Makiko , Ishikawa Toru , Yasui Kohichiroh , Takaki Akinobu , Takaguchi Koichi , Ido Akio , Kurosaki Masayuki , Kanto Tatsuya , Nishiguchi Shuhei
Published: November 2019

Background

To assess the recent real-world changes in the etiologies of liver cirrhosis (LC) in Japan, we conducted a nationwide survey in the annual meeting of the Japan Society of Hepatology (JSH).

Methods

We investigated the etiologies of LC patients accumulated from 68 participants in 79 institutions (N = 48,621). We next assessed changing trends in the etiologies of LC by analyzing cases in which the year of diagnosis was available (N = 45,834). We further evaluated the transition in the real number of newly identified LC patients by assessing data from 36 hospitals with complete datasets for 2008–2016 (N = 18,358).

Results

In the overall data, HCV infection (48.2%) was the leading cause of LC in Japan, and HBV infection (11.5%) was the third-most common cause. Regarding the transition in the etiologies of LC, the contribution of viral hepatitis-related LC dropped from 73.4 to 49.7%. Among the non-viral etiologies, alcoholic-related disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related LC showed a notable increase (from 13.7 to 24.9% and from 2.0 to 9.1%, respectively). Regarding the real numbers of newly diagnosed patients from 2008 to 2016, the numbers of patients with viral hepatitis-related LC decreased, while the numbers of patients with non-viral LC increased.

Conclusions

HCV has remained the main cause of LC in Japan; however, the contribution of viral hepatitis as an etiology of LC is suggested to have been decreasing. In addition, non-viral LC, such as ALD-related LC and NASH-related LC, is suggested to have increased as etiologies of LC in Japan.
Proximate mechanisms of drought resistance in Phytoseiulus persimilis eggs
Authors: Le Hesran Sophie , Groot Thomas , Knapp Markus , Nugroho Jovano Erris , Beretta Giuditta , Salomé-Abarca Luis Francisco , Choi Young Hae , Vancová Marie , Moreno-Rodenas Antonio M. , Dicke Marcel
Published: November 2019

Under drought stress,Phytoseiulus persimilisfemales are able to lay drought-resistant eggs through an adaptive maternal effect. The mechanisms making these eggs drought resistant still remain to be investigated. For this purpose, we studied the physiological differences between drought-resistant and drought-sensitive eggs. We compared the volume and the surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA:V) of the eggs, their sex ratio, their chemical composition (by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), their internal and external structure [by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images], and their developmental time. Our results show that drought-resistant and drought-sensitive eggs have a different chemical composition: drought-resistant eggs contain more compatible solutes (free amino acids and sugar alcohols) and saturated hydrocarbons than drought-sensitive eggs. This difference may contribute to reducing water loss in drought-resistant eggs. Moreover, drought-resistant eggs are on average 8.4% larger in volume, and have a 2.4% smaller SA:V than drought-sensitive eggs. This larger volume and smaller SA:V, probably the result of a higher water content, may make drought-resistant eggs less vulnerable to water loss. We did not find any difference in sex ratio, internal or external structure nor developmental time between drought-resistant and drought-sensitive eggs. These results mark the first step in the understanding of the strategies and the energetic costs involved in the production of drought-resistant eggs inP. persimilisfemales.
Effect of miR-27b-5p on apoptosis of human vascular endothelial cells induced by simulated microgravity
Authors: Pan Yi-Kai , Li Cheng-Fei , Gao Yuan , Wang Yong-Chun , Sun Xi-Qing
Published: November 2019

Weightlessness-induced cardiovascular dysfunction can lead to physiological and pathological consequences. It has been shown that spaceflight or simulated microgravity can alter expression profiles of some microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we attempt to identify the role of miRNAs in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) apoptosis under simulated microgravity. RNA-sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays were used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in HUVECs under simulated microgravity. Then we obtained the target genes of these miRNAs through target analysis software. Moreover, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed. The effects of these miRNAs on HUVECs apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry, Western blot and Hoechst staining. Furthermore, we obtained the target gene of miR-27b-5p by luciferase assay, qRT-PCR and Western blot. Finally, we investigated the relationship between this target gene and miR-27b-5p in HUVECs apoptosis under normal gravity or simulated microgravity. We found 29 differentially expressed miRNAs in HUVECs under simulated microgravity. Of them, the expressions of 3 miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. We demonstrated that miR-27b-5p affected HUVECs apoptosis by inhibiting zinc fingers and homeoboxes 1 (ZHX1). Our results reported here demonstrate for the first time that simulated microgravity can alter the expression of some miRNAs in HUVECs and miR-27b-5p may protect HUVECs from apoptosis under simulated microgravity by targeting ZHX1.
Correction to: Si cycling in transition zones: a study of Si isotopes and biogenic silica accumulation in the Chesapeake Bay through the Holocene
Authors: Nantke Carla K. M. , Frings Patrick J. , Stadmark Johanna , Czymzik Markus , Conley Daniel J.
Published: November 2019

In the initial online version of the article, the final term in the second equation in the "Materials and methods" section was incorrectly shown as 100 instead of 1000. The original article has been corrected.
Towards better informed adaptation strategies: co-designing climate change impact maps for Austrian regions
Authors: Becsi Benedikt , Hohenwallner-Ries Daniela , Grothmann Torsten , Prutsch Andrea , Huber Tobias , Formayer Herbert
Published: November 2019

To design effective adaptation measures to a heating climate, decision-makers need a state-of-the-art, regional and sector-specific knowledge about future climate impacts. Tailoring this information to the needs of policymakers requires collaboration between scientists and stakeholders. A lot of literature on design principles and comprehension of scientific visualisations exists. However, the links between objective comprehension, perceived usefulness for communication and aesthetics of climate change impact maps have rarely been analysed in empirical studies. In a co-design effort together with stakeholders in adaptation planning and climate change communication experts, regional climate change impact maps were developed and published as open-access dataset. The comprehension, aesthetics and perceived usefulness of different map design features were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated in a two-step survey. Designs with less information density were understood best, found most aesthetical and useful for communication practice. Uncertainties were deemed necessary by participants, but not understood well when combined with other variables on the same map sheet. Map understanding varied significantly with the cognitive difficulty of a task. This difference was robust over user groups. Co-designing maps at the science-policy interface have the potential to create more useful and comprehensible communication materials and thus supports adaptation planning with the best available information on future climate impacts.
A Formal Framework for Computer Simulations: Surveying the Historical Record and Finding Their Philosophical Roots
Authors: Durán Juan M.
Published: November 2019

A chronicled approach to the notion of computer simulations shows that there are two predominant interpretations in the specialized literature. According to the first interpretation, computer simulations are techniques for finding the set of solutions to a mathematical model. I call this first interpretation the problem-solving technique viewpoint (PST). In its second interpretation, computer simulations are considered to describe patterns of behavior of a target system. I call this second interpretation the description of patterns of behavior viewpoint of computer simulations (DPB). This article explores these two interpretations of computer simulations from three different angles. First, I collect a series of definitions of computer simulation from the historical record. I track back definitions to the early 1960s and show how each viewpoint shares similar interpretations of computer simulations—ultimately clustering into the two viewpoints aforementioned. This reconstruction also includes the most recent literature. Second, I unpack the philosophical assumptions behind each viewpoint, with a special emphasis on their differences. Third, I discuss the philosophical implications of each viewpoint in the context of the recent discussion on the logic of scientific explanation for computer simulations.
A numerical method with a control parameter for integro-differential delay equations with state-dependent bounds via generalized Mott polynomial
Authors: Kürkçü Ömür Kıvanç
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we introduce a numerical method to obtain an accurate approximate solution of the integro-differential delay equations with state-dependent bounds. The method is based basically on the generalized Mott polynomial with the parameter-$$\beta$$β, Chebyshev–Lobatto collocation points and matrix structures. These matrices are gathered under a unique matrix equation and then solved algebraically, which produce the desired solution. We discuss the behavior of the solutions, controlling their parameterized form via $$\beta$$β and so we monitor the effectiveness of the method. We improve the obtained solutions by employing the Mott-residual error estimation. In addition to comparing the results in tables, we also illustrate the solutions in figures, which are made up of the phase plane, logarithmic and standard scales. All results indicate that the present method is simple-structured, reliable and straightforward to write a computer program module on any mathematical software.
Bone tissue regeneration: biology, strategies and interface studies
Authors: Ansari Mojtaba
Published: November 2019

Nowadays, bone diseases and defects as a result of trauma, cancers, infections and degenerative and inflammatory conditions are increasing. Consequently, bone repair and replacement have been developed with improvement of orthopedic technologies and biomaterials of superior properties. This review paper is intended to sum up and discuss the most relevant studies performed in the field of bone biology and bone regeneration approaches. Therefore, the bone tissue regeneration was investigated by synthetic substitutes, scaffolds incorporating active molecules, nanomedicine, cell-based products, biomimetic fibrous and nonfibrous substitutes, biomaterial-based three-dimensional (3D) cell-printing substitutes, bioactive porous polymer/inorganic composites, magnetic field and nano-scaffolds with stem cells and bone–biomaterials interface studies.
A class of non-parametric statistical manifolds modelled on Sobolev space
Authors: Newton Nigel J.
Published: November 2019

We construct a family of non-parametric (infinite-dimensional) manifolds of finite measures on $${\mathbb {R}}^d$$Rd, each containing a smoothly embedded submanifold of probability measures. The manifolds are modelled on a variety of weighted Sobolev spaces, including Hilbert–Sobolev spaces and mixed-norm spaces, and support the Fisher–Rao metric as a weak Riemannian metric. Densities are expressed in terms of a deformed exponential function having linear growth. Unusually for the Sobolev context, and as a consequence of its linear growth, this “lifts” to a nonlinear superposition (Nemytskii) operator that acts continuously on a particular class of mixed-norm model spaces, and on the fixed norm space $$W^{2,1}$$W2,1; i.e. it maps each of these spaces continuously into itself. In contrast with non-parametric exponential manifolds, the density itself belongs to the model space, and the range of the chart is the whole of this space. Some of the results make essential use of a log-Sobolev embedding theorem, which also sharpens existing results concerning the regularity of statistical divergences on the manifolds. Applications to the stochastic partial differential equations of nonlinear filtering (and hence to the Fokker–Planck equation) are outlined.
A Retrospective Benefit-Cost Analysis on the Elwha River Restoration Project
Authors: Bellas Allen , Kosnik Lea
Published: November 2019

In 1992, Congress passed The Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act with the goal of “full restoration of The Elwha River Ecosystem and native anadromous fisheries.” As part of that act, the federal government was required to produce a benefit-cost analysis on dam removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams, which was published in 1994. This article revisits that initial 1994 benefit-cost analysis; background on its methods and assumptions is given, comparisons are made to current state-of-the-art techniques in benefit-cost analysis, and an ex post benefit-cost analysis of the project is conducted for comparison purposes. We find that the cost and scope of the project exceeded original expectations, the cost of the foregone electricity generation was less than expected, and that anticipated recreational and fisheries benefits were both delayed, and lower, than expected. Furthermore, issues such as the value of hatchery-spawned versus wild anadromous fish seem not to have been anticipated in the original analysis, highlighting the fact that in doing an ex ante analysis, researchers must expect that unexpected factors may influence the ex post results of any project.
CHARACTER GRAPHS WITH NONBIPARTITE HAMILTONIAN COMPLEMENT
Authors: EBRAHIMI MAHDI
Published: November 2019

For a finite group $G$, let $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E5}(G)$ denote the character graph built on the set of degrees of the irreducible complex characters of $G$. In this paper, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition which guarantees that the complement of the character graph $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E5}(G)$ of a finite group $G$ is a nonbipartite Hamiltonian graph.
Percutaneous rescue therapy in a child with blocked cavo-pulmonary shunt
Authors: Mukherji Aritra , Ghosh Sanjiban , Chattopadhyay Amitabha
Published: November 2019

A 7-month-old infant presented with bilateral blocked cavo-pulmonary anastomosis within 2 months of surgery. Due to extreme haemodynamic instability, surgical options were abandoned and rescue intervention from left jugular line was planned. Acute thrombosis of the left-sided Glenn was noted with significant anastomotic narrowing. Successful rescue thrombolysis was done using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (Alteplase) along with balloon dilatation of the attenuated segments.
A review of predictive, prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for non-small-cell lung cancer: towards personalised and targeted cancer therapy
Authors: Osei Ernest , Lumini Julia , Gunasekara Dinindu , Osei Beverley , Asare Akua , Laflamme Raymond
Published: November 2019

Introduction:

Lung cancer has a high mortality rate mainly due to the lack of early detection or outward signs and symptoms, thereby often progressing to advanced stages (e.g., stage IV) before it is diagnosed. However, if lung cancers can be diagnosed at an early stage and also if clinicians can prospectively identify patients likely to respond to specific treatments, then there is a very high potential to increase patients’ survival. In recent years, several investigations have been conducted to identify cancer biomarkers for lung cancer risk assessment, early detection and diagnosis, the likelihood of identifying the group of patients who will benefit from a particular treatment and monitoring patient response to treatment.

Materials and Methods:

This paper reports on the review of 19 current clinical and emerging biomarkers used in risk assessment, screening for early detection and diagnosis and monitoring the response of treatment of non-small-cell lung cancers.

Conclusion:

The future holds promise for personalised and targeted medicine from prevention, diagnosis to treatment, which take into account individual patient’s variability, though it depends on the development of effective biomarkers interrogating the key aberrant pathways and potentially targetable with molecular targeted or immunologic therapies. Lung cancer biomarkers have the potential to guide clinical decision-making since they can potentially detect the disease early, measure the risk of developing the disease and the risk of progression, provide accurate information of patient response to a specific treatment and are capable of informing clinicians about the likely outcome of a cancer diagnosis independent of the treatment received. Moreover, lung cancer biomarkers are increasingly linked to specific molecular pathway deregulations and/or cancer pathogenesis and can be used to justify the application of certain therapeutic or interventional strategies.
Asthma, COPD oder Overlap? Symptomatik und Diagnostik
Authors: Kohlbrenner Dario , Thiel Sira , Clarenbach Christian F.
Published: November 2019

Zusammenfassung. Eine ausführliche Anamneseerhebung und die Spirometrie vor und nach Bronchodilatation stellen die wichtigsten initialen Bestandteile der Diagnostik dar und erlauben in den meisten Fällen die Unterscheidung von Asthma bronchiale und COPD (chronisch obstruktive Lungenerkrankung). Allerdings wird speziell bei älteren Patienten mit Rauchgewohnheit und einer Atopie in der Vorgeschichte die Unterscheidung nicht selten zu einer Herausforderung. Die geschilderten Symptome und die Resultate der Funktionsdiagnostik dienen als Basis für das therapeutische Management. Die Differenzierung der beiden Krankheitsbilder hat hohe Wichtigkeit, da das Vorgehen zur Behandlung unterschiedlich ist, zudem haben Patienten mit einem Asthma-COPD-Overlap oft einen höheren Behandlungsbedarf. Für Fälle, in welchen eine Differenzierung mithilfe der Basisdiagnostik nicht möglich ist, wird in diesem Übersichtsartikel zusätzlich auf weitere diagnostische Tests eingegangen.
The Atmospheric River Tracking Method Intercomparison Project (ARTMIP): Quantifying Uncertainties in Atmospheric River Climatology
Authors: Rutz Jonathan J. , Shields Christine A. , Lora Juan M. , Payne Ashley E. , Guan Bin , Ullrich Paul , O’Brien Travis , Leung L. Ruby , Ralph F. Martin , Wehner Michael , Brands Swen , Collow Allison , Goldenson Naomi , Gorodetskaya Irina , Griffith Helen , Kashinath Karthik , Kawzenuk Brian , Krishnan Harinarayan , Kurlin Vitaliy , Lavers David , Magnusdottir Gudrun , Mahoney Kelly , McClenny Elizabeth , Muszynski Grzegorz , Nguyen Phu Dinh , Prabhat Mr. , Qian Yun , Ramos Alexandre M. , Sarangi Chandan , Sellars Scott , Shulgina T. , Tome Ricardo , Waliser Duane , Walton Daniel , Wick Gary , Wilson Anna M. , Viale Maximiliano
Published: November 2019

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are now widely known for their association with high‐impact weather events and long‐term water supply in many regions. Researchers within the scientific community have developed numerous methods to identify and track of ARs—a necessary step for analyses on gridded data sets, and objective attribution of impacts to ARs. These different methods have been developed to answer specific research questions and hence use different criteria (e.g., geometry, threshold values of key variables, and time dependence). Furthermore, these methods are often employed using different reanalysis data sets, time periods, and regions of interest. The goal of the Atmospheric River Tracking Method Intercomparison Project (ARTMIP) is to understand and quantify uncertainties in AR science that arise due to differences in these methods. This paper presents results for key AR‐related metrics based on 20+ different AR identification and tracking methods applied to Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications Version 2 reanalysis data from January 1980 through June 2017. We show that AR frequency, duration, and seasonality exhibit a wide range of results, while the meridional distribution of these metrics along selected coastal (but not interior) transects are quite similar across methods. Furthermore, methods are grouped into criteria‐based clusters, within which the range of results is reduced. AR case studies and an evaluation of individual method deviation from an all‐method mean highlight advantages/disadvantages of certain approaches. For example, methods with less (more) restrictive criteria identify more (less) ARs and AR‐related impacts. Finally, this paper concludes with a discussion and recommendations for those conducting AR‐related research to consider.
Moisture Sources for Wintertime Intense Precipitation Events Over the Three Snowy Subregions of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Qiu Tianpei , Huang Wenyu , Wright Jonathon S. , Lin Yanluan , Lu Ping , He Xinsheng , Yang Zifan , Dong Wenhao , Lu Hui , Wang Bin
Published: November 2019

Wintertime intense precipitation events often lead to severe snow disasters. In this study, a Lagrangian approach is employed to examine the evaporative moisture sources for wintertime intense precipitation events over the three snowy subregions of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) during 1979–2016, including the western TP (WTP), south central TP (SCTP), and southeastern TP (SETP). More than 80.0% of the moisture for intense precipitation over each subregion originates from terrestrial areas. Although prevailing westerly winds dominate above the TP and its surrounding areas during winter, half of the precipitation over the three subregions is supplied by evaporation from the south (i.e., the Indian Peninsula). Specifically, evaporation from the Indian Peninsula contributes 68.0%, 65.0%, and 45.0% of the moisture for intense precipitation over the WTP, SCTP, and SETP, respectively. The two primary oceanic moisture source regions for intense precipitation are the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, playing complementary roles in supplying moisture. The relative contributions of the Arabian Sea to intense precipitation over the WTP, SCTP, and SETP are 9.2%, 6.9%, and 1.1%, while those of the Bay of Bengal are 1.1%, 12.1%, and 8.6%. Southerly winds downstream of a cyclonic anomaly over the Indian Peninsula are crucial for the low‐level moisture transport from the south to the Himalayan foothills. Under the combined effects of orographic lifting and favorable large‐scale circulation patterns, moisture ascends further into the three subregions. Changes in the position and intensity of the cyclonic anomaly are particularly crucial to facilitating moisture contributions from the key source regions.
Long noncoding RNA LINC01111 suppresses pancreatic cancer aggressiveness by regulating DUSP1 expression via microRNA-3924
Authors: Pan Shutao , Shen Ming , Zhou Min , Shi Xiuhui , He Ruizhi , Yin Taoyuan , Wang Min , Guo Xingjun , Qin Renyi
Published: November 2019

Dysfunction in long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is reported to participate in the initiation and progression of human cancer; however, the biological functions and molecular mechanisms through which lncRNAs affect pancreatic cancer (PC) are largely unknown. Here, we report a novel lncRNA, LINC01111, that is clearly downregulated in PC tissues and plasma of PC patients and acts as a tumor suppressor. We found that the LINC01111 level was negatively correlated with the TNM stage but positively correlated with the survival of PC patients. The overexpression of LINC01111 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, the cell cycle, and cell invasion and migration in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. Conversely, the knockdown of LINC01111 enhanced cell proliferation, the cell cycle, and cell invasion and migration in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, we found that high expression levels of LINC01111 upregulated DUSP1 levels by sequestering miR-3924, resulting in the blockage of SAPK phosphorylation and the inactivation of the SAPK/JNK signaling pathway in PC cells and thus inhibiting PC aggressiveness. Overall, these data reveal that LINC01111 is a potential diagnostic biomarker for PC patients, and the newly identified LINC01111/miR-3924/DUSP1 axis can modulate PC initiation and development.
Characterizing large-scale quantum computers via cycle benchmarking
Authors: Erhard Alexander , Wallman Joel J. , Postler Lukas , Meth Michael , Stricker Roman , Martinez Esteban A. , Schindler Philipp , Monz Thomas , Emerson Joseph , Blatt Rainer
Published: November 2019

Quantum computers promise to solve certain problems more efficiently than their digital counterparts. A major challenge towards practically useful quantum computing is characterizing and reducing the various errors that accumulate during an algorithm running on large-scale processors. Current characterization techniques are unable to adequately account for the exponentially large set of potential errors, including cross-talk and other correlated noise sources. Here we develop cycle benchmarking, a rigorous and practically scalable protocol for characterizing local and global errors across multi-qubit quantum processors. We experimentally demonstrate its practicality by quantifying such errors in non-entangling and entangling operations on an ion-trap quantum computer with up to 10 qubits, and total process fidelities for multi-qubit entangling gates ranging from $$99.6(1)\%$$99.6(1)% for 2 qubits to $$86(2)\%$$86(2)% for 10 qubits. Furthermore, cycle benchmarking data validates that the error rate per single-qubit gate and per two-qubit coupling does not increase with increasing system size.
Oxidation of difluorocarbene and subsequent trifluoromethoxylation
Authors: Yu Jiao , Lin Jin-Hong , Yu Donghai , Du Ruobing , Xiao Ji-Chang
Published: November 2019

As a versatile intermediate, difluorocarbene is an electron-deficient transient species, meaning that its oxidation would be challenging. Herein we show that the oxidation of difluorocarbene could occur smoothly to generate carbonyl fluoride. The oxidation process is confirmed by successful trifluoromethoxylation,18O-trifluoromethoxylation, the observation of AgOCF3species, and DFT calculations.
Expression of the BAD pathway is a marker of triple-negative status and poor outcome
Authors: Boac Bernadette M. , Abbasi Forough , Ismail-Khan Roohi , Xiong Yin , Siddique Atif , Park Hannah , Han Mingda , Saeed-Vafa Daryoush , Soliman Hatem , Henry Brendon , Pena M. Juliana , McClung E. Clair , Robertson Sharon E. , Todd Sarah L. , Lopez Alex , Sun Weihong , Apuri Susmitha , Lancaster Johnathan M. , Berglund Anders E. , Magliocco Anthony M. , Marchion Douglas C.
Published: November 2019

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has few therapeutic targets, making nonspecific chemotherapy the main treatment. Therapies enhancing cancer cell sensitivity to cytotoxic agents could significantly improve patient outcomes. A BCL2-associated agonist of cell death (BAD) pathway gene expression signature (BPGES) was derived using principal component analysis (PCA) and evaluated for associations with the TNBC phenotype and clinical outcomes. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the relative expression levels of phospho-BAD isoforms in tumour samples. Cell survival assays evaluated the effects of BAD pathway inhibition on chemo-sensitivity. BPGES score was associated with TNBC status and overall survival (OS) in breast cancer samples of the Moffitt Total Cancer Care dataset and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). TNBC tumours were enriched for the expression of phospho-BAD isoforms. Further, the BPGES was associated with TNBC status in breast cancer cell lines of the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). Targeted inhibition of kinases known to phosphorylate BAD protein resulted in increased sensitivity to platinum agents in TNBC cell lines compared to non-TNBC cell lines. The BAD pathway is associated with triple-negative status and OS. TNBC tumours were enriched for the expression of phosphorylated BAD protein compared to non-TNBC tumours. These findings suggest that the BAD pathway it is an important determinant of TNBC clinical outcomes.
Unconstrained Vital Sign Monitoring System Using an Aortic Pulse Wave Sensor
Authors: Hagiyama Naoki , Hirano Harutoyo , Mito Akihisa , Soh Zu , Fujita Etsunori , Ogura Yumi , Kaneko Shigehiko , Nakamura Ryuji , Saeki Noboru , Kawamoto Masashi , Yoshizumi Masao , Tsuji Toshio
Published: November 2019

This paper proposes a novel unconstrained monitoring system that measures heart and respiratory rates and evaluates autonomic nervous activity based on heart rate variability. The proposed system measures the aortic pulse waves (APWs) of a patient via an APW sensor that comprises a single microphone integrated into a mattress. Vital signs (i.e., heart rate, respiratory rate) and autonomic nervous activity were analyzed using the measured APWs. In an experiment with supine and seated participants, vital signs calculated by the proposed system were compared with vital signs measured with commercial devices, and we obtained the correlations of r > 0.8 for the heart rates, r > 0.7 for the respiratory rates, and r > 0.8 for the heart rate variability indices. These results indicate that the proposed system can produce accurate vital sign measurements. In addition, we performed the experiment of image stimulus presentation and explored the relationships between the self-reported psychological states evoked by the stimulus and the measured vital signs. The results indicated that vital signs reflect psychological states. In conclusion, the proposed system demonstrated its ability to monitor health conditions by actions as simple as sitting or lying on the APW sensor.
Kisspeptin-Activated Autophagy Independently Suppresses Non-Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion from Pancreatic β-Cells
Authors: Huang Chien , Wang Hao-Yi , Wang Mu-En , Hsu Meng-Chieh , Wu Yi-Hsieng Samuel , Jiang Yi-Fan , Wu Leang-Shin , Jong De-Shien , Chiu Chih-Hsien
Published: November 2019

Previous studies have demonstrated the important role of kisspeptin in impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). In addition, it was reported that the activation of autophagy in pancreatic β-cells decreases insulin secretion by selectively degrading insulin granules. However, it is currently unknown whether kisspeptin suppresses GSIS in β-cells by activating autophagy. To investigate the involvement of autophagy in kisspeptin–regulated insulin secretion, we overexpressed Kiss1 in NIT-1 cells to mimic the long-term exposure of pancreatic β-cells to kisspeptin during type 2 diabetes (T2D). Interestingly, our data showed that although kisspeptin potently decreases the intracellular proinsulin and insulin ((pro)insulin) content and insulin secretion of NIT-1 cells, autophagy inhibition using bafilomycin A1 and Atg5 siRNAs only rescues basal insulin secretion, not kisspeptin-impaired GSIS. We also generated a novel in vivo model to investigate the long-term exposure of kisspeptin by osmotic pump. The in vivo data demonstrated that kisspeptin lowers GSIS and (pro)insulin levels and also activated pancreatic autophagy in mice. Collectively, our data demonstrated that kisspeptin suppresses both GSIS and non-glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of pancreatic β-cells, but only non-glucose-stimulated insulin secretion depends on activated autophagic degradation of (pro)insulin. Our study provides novel insights for the development of impaired insulin secretion during T2D progression.
Altered processing enhances the efficacy of small-diameter silk fibroin vascular grafts
Authors: Chan Alex H. P. , Filipe Elysse C. , Tan Richard P. , Santos Miguel , Yang Nianji , Hung Juichien , Feng Jieyao , Nazir Sidra , Benn Alexander J. , Ng Martin K. C. , Rnjak-Kovacina Jelena , Wise Steven G.
Published: November 2019

Current synthetic vascular grafts are not suitable for use in low-diameter applications. Silk fibroin is a promising natural graft material which may be an effective alternative. In this study, we compared two electrospun silk grafts with different manufacturing processes, using either water or hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as solvent. This resulted in markedly different Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength and burst pressure, with HFIP spun grafts observed to have thicker fibres, and greater stiffness and strength relative to water spun. Assessment in a rat abdominal aorta grafting model showed significantly faster endothelialisation of the HFIP spun graft relative to water spun. Neointimal hyperplasia in the HFIP graft also stabilised significantly earlier, correlated with an earlier SMC phenotype switch from synthetic to contractile, increasing extracellular matrix protein density. An initial examination of the macrophage response showed that HFIP spun conduits promoted an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype at early timepoints while reducing the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype relative to water spun grafts. These observations demonstrate the important role of the manufacturing process and physical graft properties in determining the physiological response. Our study is the first to comprehensively study these differences for silk in a long-term rodent model.
Persistence of single species of symbionts across multiple closely-related host species
Authors: Doña Jorge , Osuna-Mascaró Carolina , Johnson Kevin P. , Serrano David , Aymí Raül , Jovani Roger
Published: November 2019

Some symbiont species are highly host-specific, inhabiting only one or a very few host species, and typically have limited dispersal abilities. When they do occur on multiple host species, populations of such symbionts are expected to become genetically structured across these different host species, and this may eventually lead to new symbiont species over evolutionary timescales. However, a low number of dispersal events of symbionts between host species across time might be enough to prevent population structure and species divergence. Overall, processes of evolutionary divergence and the species status of most putative multi-host symbiont systems are yet to be investigated. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding data of 6,023 feather mites (a total of 2,225 OTU representative sequences) from 147 infracommunities (i.e., the assemblage consisting of all mites of different species collected from the same bird host individual) to investigate patterns of population genetic structure and species status of three different putative multi-host feather mite speciesProctophyllodes macedoVitzthum, 1922,Proctophyllodes motacillaeGaud, 1953, andTrouessartia jedliczkai(Zimmerman, 1894), each of which inhabits a variable number of different closely related wagtail host species (genusMotacilla). We show that mite populations from different host species represent a single species. This pattern was found in all the mite species, suggesting that each of these species is a multi-host species in which dispersal of mites among host species prevents species divergence. Also, we found evidence of limited evolutionary divergence manifested by a low but significant level of population genetic structure among symbiont populations inhabiting different host species. Our study agrees with previous studies showing a higher than expected colonization opportunities in host-specific symbionts. Indeed, our results support that these dispersal events would allow the persistence of multi-host species even in symbionts with limited dispersal capabilities, though additional factors such as the geographical structure of some bird populations may also play a role.
Ancient mitogenomics clarifies radiation of extinct Mascarene giant tortoises (Cylindraspis spp.)
Authors: Kehlmaier Christian , Graciá Eva , Campbell Patrick D. , Hofmeyr Margaretha D. , Schweiger Silke , Martínez-Silvestre Albert , Joyce Walter , Fritz Uwe
Published: November 2019

The five extinct giant tortoises of the genus Cylindraspis belong to the most iconic species of the enigmatic fauna of the Mascarene Islands that went largely extinct after the discovery of the islands. To resolve the phylogeny and biogeography of Cylindraspis, we analysed a data set of 45 mitogenomes that includes all lineages of extant tortoises and eight near-complete sequences of all Mascarene species extracted from historic and subfossil material. Cylindraspis is an ancient lineage that diverged as early as the late Eocene. Diversification of Cylindraspis commenced in the mid-Oligocene, long before the formation of the Mascarene Islands. This rejects any notion suggesting that the group either arrived from nearby or distant continents over the course of the last millions of years or had even been translocated to the islands by humans. Instead, Cylindraspis likely originated on now submerged islands of the Réunion Hotspot and utilized these to island hop to reach the Mascarenes. The final diversification took place both before and after the arrival on the Mascarenes. With Cylindraspis a deeply divergent clade of tortoises became extinct that evolved long before the dodo or the Rodrigues solitaire, two other charismatic species of the lost Mascarene fauna.
Antimicrobial activity of Titanium dioxide and Zinc oxide nanoparticles supported in 4A zeolite and evaluation the morphological characteristic
Authors: Azizi-Lalabadi Maryam , Ehsani Ali , Divband Baharak , Alizadeh-Sani Mahmood
Published: November 2019

In this study, the antimicrobial activity of titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), and TiO2/ZnO nanoparticles supported into 4A zeolite (4A z) was assessed. Based on antimicrobial experiments, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) and disc diffusion test were determined after 24 h of contact with the prepared nanocomposites. These results are in agreements with the results of disc diffusion test. During the experiments, the numbers of viable bacterial cells of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 decreased significantly. The crystallinity and morphology of nanoparticles were investigated by X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), elemental mapping at the microstructural level by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As a result, it was demonstrated that TiO2/ZnO nanoparticles supported in 4A zeolite could lead to an optimum activity as antimicrobial agents.