bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Newborn Sequencing to Advance Understanding of the Natural History of Disease
Authors: Holm Ingrid A.
Published: August 2018

A significant portion of newborns cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit or other ICUs, such as the cardiac ICU, have a medical condition with a genetic component, including congenital malformations, the leading cause of death in the NICU. In many cases, however, it is not clear which condition the child has or what can be done to help him or her. Genomic sequencing of sick newborns has the potential to bypass the prolonged journey to a diagnosis, improving the medical care of individual infants. Sequencing also has the potential to benefit others beyond the child whose genome is sequenced and his or her immediate family. Sequence data from sick newborns will expand medicine's understanding of genetic diseases, leading to improvements in clinicians’ ability to counsel family and to provide even more targeted care. Not only will more frequent use of sequencing lead to discovery of new genes; it will also provide unique insights into the full spectrum of known Mendelian genetic diseases, so‐called phenotypic expansion, when a gene previously recognized as associated with a phenotype is found to be associated with an expanded set of clinical features. Genetic and environmental changes that modify the expression of a genetic disease may also be elucidated.
Long noncoding RNA DQ786243 interacts with miR‐506 and promotes progression of ovarian cancer through targeting cAMP responsive element binding protein 1
Authors: Yan Huan , Silva Maria A. , Li Hong , Zhu Linlin , Li Pengyun , Li Xia , Wang Xiaofang , Gao Junjun , Wang Ping , Zhang Zhan
Published: August 2018

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be abnormally expressed in several cancers and associated with the proliferation of cancer cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the role and the underlying mechanisms of DQ786243 in ovarian cancer. In the current study, DQ786243 was specifically upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of DQ786243 inhibited the ability of cell migration, invasion, proliferation, colony formation and wound healing, whereas promoted cell apoptosis and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arresting. By using online tools and mechanistic analysis, we demonstrated that DQ786243 could directly bind to microRNA‐506 (miR‐506) and downregulate its expression. Moreover, DQ786243 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR‐506 on the growth of ovarian cancer cells, which might be involved in the derepression of cAMP responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB1) expression. Further investigation into the mechanisms showed that knockdown of DQ786243 inhibited the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in ovarian cancer cells. Finally, xenograft experiments further confirmed that knockdown of DQ786243 notably suppressed the proliferation and EMT process in vivo. Taken together, our study showed for the first time that DQ786243 interacted with miR‐506 and promoted progression of ovarian cancer via targeting CREB1 in ovarian cancer. The results might help to probe the feasibility of lncRNA‐directed therapy for this deadly disease.
Influence of lag length on repetition priming in emotional stimuli:ERPevidence
Authors: Zhang Delin , Nie Aiqing , Wang Zhixuan , Li Mengsi
Published: August 2018

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated both behavioral and neural evidence for the potential mediations of lag length and pre‐existing memory representation on repetition priming. However, such mediations on emotional stimuli have not been described.

Methods

The current experiment intended to disentangle lag length from pre‐existing memory representation. A lexical decision task was performed, in which different emotional characters (either normal or transposed) were re‐presented either immediately or delayed.

Results

In immediate repetition, one early and two late (ie, N400 and late positive complex) repetition‐related event‐related potential (ERP) effects were elicited, but these were not sensitive to pre‐existing memory representation. The delayed repetition case merely observed the N400.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the repetition‐related priming effect is neutrally sensitive to lag length. Emotional information potentially exerts early and later influences in the processing underlying stimuli memory.
Relative abundances of novel cyclic prodelphinidins in wine depending on the grape variety
Authors: Longo Edoardo , Merkyte Vakare , Rossetti Fabrizio , Teissedre Pierre‐Louis , Jourdes Michael , Boselli Emanuele
Published: August 2018

The identification of cyclic B‐type procyanidins in grape and wine was recently disclosed. Some of these were also found in berries of totally different vegetal species (eg, Vaccinium sp.). However, presence of a wider class of these cyclic condensed tannin compounds with variably substituted monomers has never been addressed so far. Here, an extended list of oligomeric cyclic proanthocyanidins (PAC) bearing variable substitution patterns on the main flavan‐3‐ol unit has been searched in wines. Nearly 7600 theoretical structures were calculated and searched in red and white wine samples made from different grape varieties. Moreover, a hydrogen/deuterium exchange approach (already applied to a cyclic tetrameric procyanidin) coupled to high‐resolution mass spectrometry was applied to confirm their cyclic B‐type structure rather than a non cyclic A‐type structure, otherwise isomeric and undistinguishable by LC‐MS alone. The main group of novel cyclic PAC observed is shown to contain (epi)gallocatechin beside (epi)catechin as the constituent monomers.
Global pattern of human thermal adaptation and limit of thermal neutrality: Systematic analysis of outdoor neutral temperature
Authors: Cheung Pui Kwan , Jim Chi Yung
Published: August 2018

Neutral temperature is the temperature at which people feel neither cool nor warm. Previous regional studies have found that neutral temperature can change with season, which can be attributed to the psychological adaptation effect of people. However, few studies have examined whether the adaptation pattern can be observed across wide geographical and climatic regions. In some cases, outdoor comfort surveys cannot determine neutral temperatures because thermal sensation votes obtained do not reach neutrality. It reflects that thermal adaptation has a temperature limit, and thermal neutrality can hardly be achieved outside the limit. This study aims to establish linear models between neutral temperature and background temperature (survey‐period and climate normal) using neutral temperature data reported in international studies. The limit of thermal neutrality will also be determined in the best‐fit model. The neutral temperature data in 19 empirical outdoor thermal comfort studies published between 2009 and 2017 were used in the linear regression models. Survey‐period mean air temperature was found to be the best predictor of neutral temperature (R2 = 0.539, p = 0.007). The effect of long‐term acclimatization may be less important than it was previously thought because survey‐period temperature can explain over a half of the variability in neutral temperature. The temperature limit of thermal neutrality was defined by the lowest and the highest neutral temperatures in the best‐fit model; the limit was between 12.9 and 32.3 °C in air temperature. The findings indicate that the adaptation effect has a worldwide pattern as neutral temperature always lies closely to background air temperature.
Contribution of eastern North Pacific tropical cyclones and their remnants on flooding in the western United States
Authors: Barth Nancy A. , Villarini Gabriele , White Kathleen
Published: August 2018

Recent studies have focused on identifying the spatial coverage of heavy rainfall associated with tropical cyclones (TCs) and their remnants (TC‐events) throughout the southwestern United States from eastern North Pacific storms. Yet little is known about the larger spatial contribution of these storms among extreme floods over the western United States. This paper examines the spatial and fractional contribution of 103 TC‐events among annual maximum streamflow at 1,429 long‐term U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages with at least 30 years of daily discharge data over the 1958–2010 water years. The highest fractional contributions to annual daily maxima by these storms (~5–14%) are found in southern California, Arizona, southernmost Nevada and Utah, southern and western New Mexico, central Colorado, and Texas. While nearly 32% of the streamgages have at least one annual maximum that was generated by a TC‐event, TC‐events play a limited role in contributing to the upper tail of the flood peak distribution across the western United States.
Psychotropic medication use during pregnancy
Authors: Niethe Miranda , Whitfield Karen
Published: August 2018

Globally, mental health‐related issues are a growing concern. Pregnant women with mental health‐related illnesses present a unique challenge to health professionals. During pregnancy, the decision to withhold, modify or continue psychotropic medication requires consideration of both maternal and infant outcomes. Health professionals must be aware withdrawal of these medications during pregnancy can often lead to symptom relapse. Decisions around medication management during pregnancy can be challenging due to the lack of data and occasionally conflicting data regarding safety. It is essential that women do not receive conflicting information from health professionals because this can lead to confusion and both intentional and unintentional non‐adherence. Recently, it has been suggested that pharmacists may help optimise medication management and patient outcomes in perinatal care. This review outlines the use of psychotropic medications in pregnancy and discusses key considerations for those involved in providing clinical care to pregnant women with mental illness.
Influence of manganese dioxide and Ba2Co2Fe12O22‐additives on the magnetic power loss of Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 ferrites
Authors: Ni J.L. , Feng S.J. , Liu X.S.
Published: August 2018

Manganese dioxide and Ba2Co2Fe12O22 added Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 ferrites were prepared by solid state reaction process. The structure and magnetic properties of the ferrites were investigated by X‐ray diffractometer and magnetic flux density‐magnetic field analyzer. It was found that the magnetic loss shows increase‐decrease‐increase variation trend with the increase of manganese dioxide additive concentration, and the optimal concentration of manganese dioxide doping is about 1.2 wt.%. Compared with the sample without manganese dioxide doping, further investigation revealed that the hysteresis loss coefficient and eddy current loss coefficient decreased in 1.2 wt.% manganese dioxide doping nickel zinc ferrite, but the residual loss coefficient increased with manganese dioxide doping.
Conventional and in situ tensile test of friction stir welded steel – Optimization of processing parameters
Authors: Husain M.M. , Ghosh M. , Sarkar R. , Pal T.K. , Prabhu N.
Published: August 2018

In the present investigation, steel plates were joined at different tool traversing speed by friction stir welding keeping other parameters same. Microstructural characterization was carried out with optical and scanning electron microscopes. At weld nugget pearlite and bainite were present within ferrite matrix. Thermo‐mechanically and heat affected zones microstructure consisted of pearlite and ferrite. Second phase area fraction and matrix grain size at different regions were varied depending on welding parameters. Weld nugget exhibited substantial improvement in microhardness with respect to base metal. In this respect heat affected zone revealed minimum microhardness and was below base metal value. Tensile tests were carried out on standard and miniature specimens in scanning electron microscope. Highest joint efficiency to the tune of ∼82 % and ∼120 % of that of base metal obtained for standard and miniature specimens, respectively machined from weld fabricated at lowest welding speed. With increment in welding speed assembly strength was reduced for both types of specimens. Standard specimens failed from heat affected zone and miniature specimens failed through centre of weld nugget. Apart from matrix grain size and second phase area fraction, precipitation of microalloyed carbide / carbonitride was responsible for altering the joint strength.
The investigation of the tensile behaviors of single L‐joint type bonded with adhesive and rivet
Authors: Kurtkan Ü. , Adin H.
Published: August 2018

In this study, tensile behaviour of single “L” type joints was investigated experimentally and numerically. Aluminium pieces with 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm thicknesses were used as joint materials. Overlap lengths were chosen as 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm. Joints were executed with two different rivets as steel and aluminium and 3 M 2216 epoxy based adhesive. Experiments were carried out by means of Shimadzu universal testing machine with 5 kN load cell. While the numerical study was carried out, using ANSYS Workbench, finite element analysis program, models were formed with the same properties as experimental works. Results showed that the samples with 20 mm overlap length had the highest strength of all models. Models with steel rivet had higher strength than models with aluminium rivets for all overlap lengths.
Irrational decision making: Cultural influence on environmental nonprofit organizations' advocacy strategies
Authors: Liu Li‐Yin
Published: August 2018

The determinants of environmental nonprofit organizations' (ENPOs) advocacy strategies is particularly important in East Asian countries, such as Taiwan, in which the public values harmony and aggressive movements are often controversial because of the influence of Confucianism. What triggers ENPOs in Taiwan to initiate aggressive environmental protests is consequently a question worth investigating. Accordingly, this study sought answers to the unasked question: How do ENPOs' decision makers decide what types of advocacy activities to pursue? To answer this question, this study utilized cultural theory (CT) to develop hypotheses to test data collected through an online survey in Taiwan.

The evidence confirms what CT predicted. ENPOs' decision making on advocacy activities is neither affected by their organizational scale/resources nor the effectiveness and acceptance of environmental activities. Instead, ENPOs' organizational culture plays a crucial role, especially in explaining advocacy activities that are relatively controversial and less accepted by the Taiwanese public. ENPOs that have egalitarian and individualistic organizational cultures are more likely to initiate every type of environmental activity, especially protest‐based activities. Based on the results, organizational culture may be useful in explaining the bounded rationality behind decision making.

This result also indicates that ENPOs in Taiwan should plan more carefully before initiating activities. Actions without careful planning may result in resource waste and legitimacy challenges. The results of this study can be beneficial for ENPOs to reconsider their decision making regarding environmental advocacy.
Modafinil and the risk of cardiovascular events: Findings from three US claims databases
Authors: Kaplan Sigal , Goehring Earl L. , Melamed‐Gal Sigal , Nguyen‐Khoa Bao‐Anh , Knebel Helena , Jones Judith K.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This study examined the potential risk of cardiovascular (CV) events associated with modafinil and the consistency of the risk estimates across databases.

Methods

A retrospective, inception cohort design of patients who initiated treatment with modafinil between 2006 and 2008 was used in three US health care claims databases. Modafinil users were matched with nonusers. Patients were further divided into two cohorts of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and non‐OSA (NOSA) cohorts. Endpoints of interest, including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, CV hospitalizations, and all‐cause death, were assessed using incidence rates and Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted for potential confounding factors.

Results

The cohorts included a total of 175 524 patients in MarketScan CM; 77 266—in IMS LifeLink; and 8174—in MarketScan Medicaid. No increased risk for MI in the OSA and NOSA cohorts was observed across all three databases. The risks of CV hospitalization in the OSA and NOSA cohorts were not different between the modafinil users and nonusers, except for IMS LifeLink database where the HR was lower than one in the modafinil users compared with the nonusers (HR, 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 to 0.87). For OSA patients with prior stroke, an adjusted HR of 1.96 (95% CI, 1.02 to 3.76) was observed for stroke among modafinil users compared with nonusers. Among the NOSA, the HRs for all‐cause death in the OSA were inconsistent across databases.

Conclusions

Except for few CV outcomes, applying one common protocol generated consistent risk estimates of CV events following modafinil use across cohorts and databases.
Justification for estimating observation‐error covariances with the Desroziers diagnostic
Authors: Bathmann Kristen
Published: August 2018

The convergence properties of the iterative Desroziers method, which is commonly used to estimate observation error statistics and correlations based on analysis and background departures, is examined. In the derivation of the Desroziers diagnostic, it is assumed that the error statistics are correctly specified in the analysis. While this is not true in practice, it is possible to apply the diagnostic iteratively to obtain increasingly better estimates of the error statistics and correlations. It is proved here that these iterations converge to the truth only when the background error statistics are correct in the analysis. Bounds on the eigenvalues of the assumed background error covariance matrix determine when this matrix is over‐estimated. If the background covariance is not exact, but is not over‐estimated, it is shown that the iterations converge to a symmetric positive definite matrix that depends on the true and assumed error covariances, and diverge to a singular matrix otherwise. The use of the Desroziers method when background and observation errors are correlated with each other is also addressed, as well as the application of this method to unassimilated observations, with examples.
Organic Solar Cell Materials toward Commercialization
Authors: Xue Rongming , Zhang Jingwen , Li Yaowen , Li Yongfang
Published: August 2018

Bulk‐heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs) have received considerable attention with significant progress recently and offer a promising outlook for portable energy resources and building‐integrated photovoltaics in the future. Now, it is urgent to promote the research of OSCs toward their commercialization. For the commercial application of OSCs, it is of great importance to develop high performance, high stability, and low cost photovoltaic materials. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the fundamental requirements of photoactive layer materials and interface layer materials toward commercialization is provided, mainly focusing on high performance, green manufacturing, simplifying device fabrication processes, stability, and cost issues. Furthermore, the perspectives and opportunities for this emerging field of materials science and engineering are also discussed.
Intentions: The dynamic hierarchical model revisited
Authors: Mylopoulos Myrto , Pacherie Elisabeth
Published: August 2018

Ten years ago, one of us proposed a dynamic hierarchical model of intentions that brought together philosophical work on intentions and empirical work on motor representations and motor control (Pacherie, 2008). The model distinguished among Distal intentions, Proximal intentions, and Motor intentions operating at different levels of action control (hence the name DPM model). This model specified the representational and functional profiles of each type of intention, as well their local and global dynamics, and the ways in which they interact. A core insight of the model was that action control is the result of integrated, coordinated activity across these levels of intention. Since the proposal of the model, empirical and theoretical works in philosophy and cognitive science have emerged that would seem to support and expand on this central insight. In particular, an updated understanding of the nature of sensorimotor processing and motor representations, as well as of how the different levels of intention and control interface and interact, allows for the further specification and precisification of the original DPM model.

This article is categorized under:

Philosophy > Psychological Capacities

Psychology > Motor Skill and Performance

Philosophy > Action
Safety Culture and Perioperative Quality at the Volta River Authority Hospital in Akosombo, Ghana
Authors: Smiley Katherine , Ofori Love , Spangler Cindy , Acquaah‐Arhin Rebecca , Deh Deborah , Enos Juliana , Manortey Stephen , Baiden Frank , Finlayson Samuel , Price Raymond , McCrum Marta
Published: August 2018

Background

The Volta River Authority Hospital (VRAH) is a district hospital associated with a large public works project in Akosombo, Ghana, that has developed a reputation for high‐quality care. We hypothesized that this stems from a culture of safety and standardized processes typical of high‐risk engineering environments. To investigate this, we evaluated staff and patient perceptions of safety and quality, as well as perioperative process variability.

Materials and methods

The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys were used to evaluate staff and patient perceptions of safety. Perioperative general surgery and obstetrical procedure observations generated process maps, which were analyzed for variability and waste.

Results

Thirty‐one SAQs were administered. 83% of workers held a positive perception of teamwork, and 77.4% held a positive perception of safety culture. Fifteen HCAHPS surveys of surgical inpatients showed a median hospital rating of 10 [IQR 8.5–10] on a ten‐point scale. 90% gave maximal scores for pain management and 84.4% for nurse communication. Ten general surgery and obstetrical procedures were observed for which process map analysis was notable for no consistent waste steps and 100% adherence to the World Health Organization Safe Surgery Checklist.

Conclusions

Surveys suggest an institutional commitment to safety with strong teamwork culture and patient communication. Perioperative process mapping supports this culture, with low levels of variability and waste, and is useful for evaluating standardization of care. VRAH demonstrates the feasibility of delivering high standards of perioperative care in a low‐resource setting.
Assessing Shared Decision‐Making Clinical Behaviors Among Genetic Counsellors
Authors: Birch Patricia H. , Adam S. , Coe R. R. , Port A. V. , Vortel M. , Friedman J. M. , Légaré F.
Published: August 2018

Shared decision‐making (SDM) is a collaborative approach in which clinicians educate, support, and guide patients as they make informed, value‐congruent decisions. SDM improves patients' health‐related outcomes through increasing knowledge, reducing decisional conflict, and enhancing experience of care. We measured SDM in genetic counselling appointments with 27 pregnant women who were at increased risk to have a baby with a genetic abnormality. The eight experienced genetic counsellors who participated had no specific SDM training and were unaware that SDM was being assessed. Audio transcripts of appointments were scored using ‘Observing Patient Involvement in Decision Making' (OPTION12). Patients' anxiety and decisional conflict were also assessed. The genetic counsellors' mean OPTION12score was 42.4% (SD 9.0%; possible range 0–100%). Specific SDM behaviours that scored highest included introducing the concept of equipoise and listing all options with their pros and cons. Behaviours that scored lowest included eliciting patients' preferred approach to receiving information and desired degree of involvement in decision‐making. Patients' levels of anxiety and decisional conflict were unassociated with genetic counsellors' OPTION12scores. Some SDM behaviours were better demonstrated in this prenatal genetic counselling study than others. Formal training of genetic counsellors in SDM may enhance use of this approach in their professional practice.
Quantum changes in self‐efficacy and condom‐use intention among youth: A chained cusp catastrophe model
Authors: Yu Bin , Chen Xinguang , Stanton Bonita , Chen Ding‐Geng (Din) , Xu Yunan , Wang Yan
Published: August 2018

Introduction

The complex relationships among HIV knowledge, condom‐use skills, self‐efficacy, peer influence and intention to use condoms have been rigorously investigated. However, studies guided by a linear behavior change model often explain only a limited amount of variances. This study aims to advance our understanding of the relationships through a nonlinear quantum change paradigm.

Methods

Data (n = 1970, 40.61% male, mean age 16.94 ± 0.74) from a behavioral intervention program among high school students in the Bahamas were analyzed with a chained cusp catastrophe model in two steps. In the first step, self‐efficacy was analyzed as the outcome with HIV knowledge/condom‐use skills as asymmetry variables and peer influence as bifurcation variable. In the second step, condom‐use intention was analyzed as the outcome while self‐efficacy (outcome in the first step) was used as bifurcation variable allowing peer influence as bifurcation, and HIV knowledge/condom‐use skills were included as asymmetry. Cusp modeling analysis was conducted along with equivalent linear models.

Results

The cusp model performed better than the linear and logistic models. Cusp modeling analyses revealed that peer influence significantly bifurcated the relationships between HIV knowledge/condom‐use skills and self‐efficacy; while both self‐efficacy and peer influence significantly bifurcated the relationship between HIV knowledge/condom‐use skills and condom‐use intention.

Conclusion

Our findings support the central role of self‐efficacy and peer influence as two chains in bridging the complex quantum relationships between HIV knowledge/condom‐use skills and condom‐use intention among adolescents. The nonlinear cusp catastrophe modeling provided a new method to advance HIV behavioral research.
Interventions for involuntary psychiatric inpatients: A systematic review
Authors: Giacco Domenico , Conneely Maev , Masoud Tumseela , Burn Erin , Priebe Stefan
Published: August 2018

Background:

Observational research has found that involuntary treatment provides limited benefits in terms of long-term clinical outcomes. Our aim was to review literature on existing interventions in order to identify helpful approaches to improve outcomes of involuntary treatment.

Methods:

This systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. Seven databases (AMED, PsycINFO, Embase Classic, Embase 1974–2017, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and BNI) were searched and the results were analysed in a narrative synthesis.

Results:

Nineteen papers describing fourteen different interventions were included. Using narrative synthesis the interventions were summarised into three categories: a) structured patient-centred care planning; b) specialist therapeutic interventions; c) systemic changes to hospital practice. The methodologies used and outcomes assessed were heterogeneous. Most studies were of low quality, although five interventions were tested in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Preliminary evidence supports structured patient-centred care planning interventions have an effect on long-term outcomes (such as readmission), and that specialist therapeutic interventions and systemic changes to hospital practice have an effect on reducing the use of coercive measures on wards.

Conclusions:

This review shows that it is possible to conduct rigorous intervention-testing studies in involuntary patients, including RCTs. Yet, the overall evidence is limited. Structured patient-centred care planning interventions show promise for the improvement of long-term outcomes and should be further evaluated.
Blood‐brain barrier breakdown, neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline in older adults
Authors: Bowman Gene L. , Dayon Loïc , Kirkland Richard , Wojcik Jérôme , Peyratout Gwendoline , Severin India C. , Henry Hugues , Oikonomidi Aikaterini , Migliavacca Eugenia , Bacher Michael , Popp Julius
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Blood‐brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is observed in older versus younger adults and in late‐onset Alzheimer's disease versus age‐matched controls, but its causes and consequences in aging are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that BBB breakdown is associated with cognitive decline and inflammation in nondemented elders.

Methods

Cerebrospinal fluid and serum inflammatory markers were measured using sandwich immunoassays in 120 subjects. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator‐logistic regression selected cerebrospinal fluid and serum signatures that best classified BBB impairment defined by the cerebrospinal fluid albumin index ≥9. Linear regression examined changes in Clinical Dementia Rating sum of boxes as a function of BBB integrity at baseline.

Results

Mean age was 70 years, mean Mini–Mental State Examination was 27, and BBB impairment was recorded in 13.5%. BBB breakdown was associated with cognitive decline (P = .015). Cerebrospinal fluid intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin‐8, serum amyloid A, macrophage derived chemokine, and gender generated an area under the curve of 0.95 for BBB impairment, and serum IL‐16, VEGF‐D, IL‐15, and other variables generated an AUC of 0.92 for BBB impairment.

Discussion

BBB breakdown is associated with more rapid cognitive decline. Inflammatory mechanisms, including cell adhesion, neutrophil migration, lipid metabolism, and angiogenesis may be implicated.
Not your fairy-tale prince: the Nigerian business email compromise threat
Authors: Meyers Adam
Published: August 2018

Business email compromise (BEC) is a form of fraud by which a team of cyber-criminals convince victims to wire large amounts of funds or send valuable data to criminally controlled accounts. It is facilitated by victims' belief that they are being asked or instructed to do so by a trusted party.
Public and private sector nudgers can learn from each other
Authors: CALDWELL LEIGH
Published: August 2018

The application of behavioural insights to public policy has been a success story of recent years, in academia and in the civil service. Alongside this, a parallel group of practitioners has emerged, using the same underlying research to pursue commercial and marketing goals. Although the objectives are mostly different, many of the approaches are similar. This article contrasts public and private sector approaches and highlights lessons each group can learn from the other.
The epidemiological impact and significance of carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infections: a matched case–case-control analysis
Authors: Aviv Tzach , Lazarovitch Tsillia , Katz David , Zaidenstein Ronit , Dadon Mor , Daniel Chen , Tal-Jasper Ruthy , Kaye Keith S. , Marchaim Dror
Published: August 2018

A case–case-control investigation (N = 255 patients) explored the epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA). Recent exposure to carbapenems and a rapidly fatal condition should prompt practitioners to shorten delays in initiating appropriate therapy, which can adversely impact CRPA outcomes, as opposed to the isolated impact of the carbapenem resistance determinant.
CLIMATE CHANGE, THE PARIS AGREEMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Authors: Boyle Alan
Published: August 2018

The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change is relevant to human rights law, not for what it says about human rights— which is next to nothing—but for what it says about the need to address the risk of climate change taking global temperatures above 1.5 or 2 °C. The Agreement could work, or it could fail by a large margin, but those who want to influence the outcome can still do so. That includes the human rights community. Since climate change is plainly a threat to human rights, how should the UN human rights institutions respond? Should they use their existing powers of oversight to focus attention on how States parties implement (or fail to implement) commitments made in the Paris Agreement? Or should they recognize a right to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment? Either choice would represent a significant contribution to the debate on human rights and climate change, giving humanity as a whole a voice that at present is scarcely heard.
INFLATION TARGETING, CREDIT FLOWS, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY IN A REGIME CHANGE MODEL
Authors: Gross Marco , Semmler Willi
Published: August 2018

Recent papers point to the problem that inflation-targeting models do not as of yet consider financial market stability that can considerably derail inflation-targeting monetary policy, implying significant nonzero crisis probabilities that could come along with large negative output and employment gaps. Credit flows and the instability of credit appear to be at the root of the financial instability problem. On the other hand, some authors recently questioned whether a too early and too strong leaning against the wind policy by central banks might have higher costs than benefits in terms of output and employment losses. In our paper, we include in an inflation targeting model a financial stabilization goal. In contrast to infinite horizon and two-period models, we propose a finite horizon model. The model is solved by using a new global solution algorithm, called Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC), exploring stabilizing/destabilizing effects of price and nonprice (credit volume) drivers of the output gap, inflation, and credit flows. We substantiate the theoretical part of the paper by approaching the subject empirically, relying to that end on a regime-switching structural vector autoregressive (VAR) for the euro area. The empirical model contains standard macroeconomic variables along with credit flows and loan interest rates, the central bank policy rate, and European Central Bank (ECB) balance sheet variables. The regime-switching feature of the model is meant to capture the state-dependent relationship between the variables, with specific nonlinearities having direct counterparts in the theoretical model. Based on a sign restriction methodology, we explore conventional and unconventional monetary policy shocks, loan supply, and demand shocks, under different regime assumptions to reveal the state-dependent effects of both interest rate and volume-based policies. The empirical results are used as guidance for the calibration of the theoretical model variants.
The Fast and the Robust: Trade‐Offs Between Optimization Robustness and Cost in the Calibration of Environmental Models
Authors: Kavetski Dmitri , Qin Youwei , Kuczera George
Published: August 2018

Environmental modelers using optimization algorithms for model calibration face an ambivalent choice. Some algorithms, for example, Newton‐type methods, are fast but struggle to consistently find global parameter optima; other algorithms, for example, evolutionary methods, boast better global convergence but at much higher cost (e.g., requiring more objective function calls). Trade‐offs between accuracy/robustness versus cost are ubiquitous in numerical computation, yet environmental modeling studies have lacked a systematic framework for quantifying these trade‐offs. This study develops a framework for benchmarking stochastic optimization algorithms in the context of environmental model calibration, where multiple algorithm invocations are typically necessary. We define reliability as the probability of finding the desired (global or tolerable) optimum from random initial points and estimate the number of invocations to find the desired optimum with prescribed confidence (here 95%). A robust algorithm should achieve consistently high reliability across many problems. A characteristic efficiency metric for algorithm benchmarking is defined as the total cost (objective function calls over multiple invocations) to find the desired optimum with prescribed confidence. This approach avoids the pitfalls of existing approaches that compare costs without controlling the confidence in algorithm success. A case study illustrates the framework by benchmarking the Levenberg‐Marquardt and Shuffled Complex Evolution (SCE) algorithms over three catchments and four hydrological models. In 8 of 12 scenarios, Levenberg‐Marquardt is more efficient than SCE—by sacrificing some of its speed advantage to match SCE reliability through more invocations. The proposed framework is easy to apply and can help guide algorithm selection in environmental model calibration.
Bhutan Earthquake Opens Doors to Geophysical Studies
Authors: Het�nyi Gy�rgy , Cattin Rodolphe , Drukpa Dowchu
Published: August 2018

A multinational research team discovered an underestimated earthquake hazard during their 7-year exploration of the unique geodynamics of the eastern Himalayas in Bhutan.
Autonomous Biogeochemical Floats Detect Significant Carbon Dioxide Outgassing in the High‐Latitude Southern Ocean
Authors: Gray Alison R. , Johnson Kenneth S. , Bushinsky Seth M. , Riser Stephen C. , Russell Joellen L. , Talley Lynne D. , Wanninkhof Rik , Williams Nancy L. , Sarmiento Jorge L.
Published: August 2018

Although the Southern Ocean is thought to account for a significant portion of the contemporary oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2), flux estimates in this region are based on sparse observations that are strongly biased toward summer. Here we present new estimates of Southern Ocean air‐sea CO2 fluxes calculated with measurements from biogeochemical profiling floats deployed by the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling project during 2014–2017. Compared to ship‐based CO2 flux estimates, the float‐based fluxes find significantly stronger outgassing in the zone around Antarctica where carbon‐rich deep waters upwell to the surface ocean. Although interannual variability contributes, this difference principally stems from the lack of autumn and winter ship‐based observations in this high‐latitude region. These results suggest that our current understanding of the distribution of oceanic CO2 sources and sinks may need revision and underscore the need for sustained year‐round biogeochemical observations in the Southern Ocean.
Observational Evidence of Subsurface Chlorophyll Response to Mesoscale Eddies in the North Pacific
Authors: Huang Jie , Xu Fanghua
Published: August 2018

Ocean eddies were widely reported to strongly impact near‐surface chlorophyll (CHL), but most of previous studies are confined to the ocean surface. Based on large‐scale historical cruise observations with ocean mesoscale eddies detected by altimeters in the North Pacific, we show that the depth‐integrated nitrate and chlorophyll anomalies in the euphotic layer of eddies are less than ±90% for nitrate and ±10% for chlorophyll. These eddy‐driven variations decline from ocean boundaries to the open ocean, due to a combination effect of eddy activity and subsurface nitrate distribution. In the oligotrophic Pacific, CHL anomalies in both cyclonic eddies and anticyclonic eddies negatively correlate with near sea surface temperature anomalies. In contrast, an opposite correlation occurs beneath the subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer (SCML). The integrated CHL results and CHL variability at each sampling depth suggest that the vertical displacement of SCML plays an important role in the near‐surface CHL response to eddies.
A Train‐Like Extreme Multiple Tropical Cyclogenesis Event in the Northwest Pacific in 2004
Authors: Hu Kaiming , Chan Johnny C. L. , Huang Gang , Chen Guanghua , Mei Wei
Published: August 2018

Using observed data sets, an unprecedented multiple tropical cyclogenesis event over the northwest Pacific is identified, with seven tropical cyclones forming in sequence from 6 August to 10 September 2004. In this event, the preexisting tropical cyclones (TCs) generated the alternating cyclonic and anticyclonic disturbances in their wake region by exciting Rossby waves. The cyclonic disturbances subsequently intensified into new TCs within the monsoon trough, which was likely enhanced by anomalous warming in the tropical central Pacific and cooling in the tropical Indian Ocean, so that it lasted long enough to allow seven TCs to develop consecutively. An analysis of the historical records during 1979–2014 substantiates such linkage of the occurrence of this extreme multiple tropical cyclogenesis event to the anomalous sea surface temperature pattern and the monsoon trough. This result has important implications regarding the prediction of the multiple cyclogenesis events.
Contrasting Fates of Petrogenic and Biospheric Carbon in the South China Sea
Authors: Blattmann T. M. , Zhang Y. , Zhao Y. , Wen K. , Lin S. , Li J. , Wacker L. , Haghipour N. , Plötze M. , Liu Z. , Eglinton T. I.
Published: August 2018

A synthesis of published and newly acquired stable and radiocarbon isotope data from soil, river, and marine particulate organic carbon (OC) from the South China Sea drainage and sedimentary basin reveals that OC derived from bedrock‐erosion (petrogenic OC) and marine productivity comprises the major contributors to bulk OC in particulate matter reaching abyssal depths, while soil‐derived OC appears negligible. Aluminum‐radiocarbon relationships of sediments suggest that soil OC initially associated with detrital terrestrial minerals is lost and replaced by marine OC during transport beyond the continental shelf. We estimate that petrogenic OC sinking to a ~30,000 km2 region of the deep northeastern South China Sea accounts for 0.6% of global petrogenic OC burial. The basin‐wide OC isotope patterns coupled with sediment trap observations highlight both the spatial variabilities of OC components as they propagate from source to sedimentary sink and the significance of petrogenic OC to deep ocean sediments.
Terrestriality and bacterial transfer: a comparative study of gut microbiomes in sympatric Malagasy mammals
Authors: Perofsky Amanda C , Lewis Rebecca J , Meyers Lauren Ancel
Published: August 2018

The gut microbiomes of mammals appear to mirror their hosts’ phylogeny, suggesting host-driven microbial community assembly. Yet, much of this evidence stems from comparative studies of distinct wild or captive populations that lack data for disentangling the relative influences of shared phylogeny and environment. Here, we present phylogenetic and multivariate analyses of gut microbiomes from six sympatric (i.e., co-occurring) mammal species inhabiting a 1-km2 area in western Madagascar—three lemur and three non-primate species—that consider genetic, dietary, and ecological predictors of microbiome functionality and composition. Host evolutionary history, indeed, appears to shape gut microbial patterns among both closely and distantly related species. However, we also find that diet—reliance on leaves versus fruit—is the best predictor of microbiome similarity among closely related lemur species, and that host substrate use—ground versus tree—constrains horizontal transmission via incidental contact with feces, with arboreal species harboring far more distinct communities than those of their terrestrial and semi-terrestrial counterparts.
Predicting soil thickness on soil mantled hillslopes
Authors: Patton Nicholas R. , Lohse Kathleen A. , Godsey Sarah E. , Crosby Benjamin T. , Seyfried Mark S.
Published: August 2018

Soil thickness is a fundamental variable in many earth science disciplines due to its critical role in many hydrological and ecological processes, but it is difficult to predict. Here we show a strong linear relationship (r2 = 0.87, RMSE = 0.19 m) between soil thickness and hillslope curvature across both convergent and divergent parts of the landscape at a field site in Idaho. We find similar linear relationships across diverse landscapes (n = 6) with the slopes of these relationships varying as a function of the standard deviation in catchment curvatures. This soil thickness-curvature approach is significantly more efficient and just as accurate as kriging-based methods, but requires only high-resolution elevation data and as few as one soil profile. Efficiently attained, spatially continuous soil thickness datasets enable improved models for soil carbon, hydrology, weathering, and landscape evolution.
Monolayer surface chemistry enables 2-colour single molecule localisation microscopy of adhesive ligands and adhesion proteins
Authors: Lu Xun , Nicovich Philip R. , Zhao Manchen , Nieves Daniel J. , Mollazade Mahdie , Vivekchand S. R. C. , Gaus Katharina , Gooding J. Justin
Published: August 2018

Nanofabricated and nanopatterned surfaces have revealed the sensitivity of cell adhesion to nanoscale variations in the spacing of adhesive ligands such as the tripeptide arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD). To date, surface characterisation and cell adhesion are often examined in two separate experiments so that the localisation of ligands and adhesion proteins cannot be combined in the same image. Here we developed self-assembled monolayer chemistry for indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces for single molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM). Cell adhesion and spreading were sensitive to average RGD spacing. At low average RGD spacing, a threshold exists of 0.8 RGD peptides per µm2that tether cells to the substratum but this does not enable formation of focal adhesions. These findings suggest that cells can sense and engage single adhesive ligands but ligand clustering is required for cell spreading. Thus, our data reveal subtle differences in adhesion biology that may be obscured in ensemble measurements.
A chemical, crystallographic and magnetic characterisation of individual iron-oxide grains in Hawaiian lavas
Authors: ter Maat Geertje W. , Pennock Gillian M. , de Groot Lennart V.
Published: August 2018

Our knowledge on the behaviour of the geomagnetic field through time critically depends on how information of the past state of the field is recorded by, and stored in iron-bearing minerals such as magnetite. For small, single domain grains these processes are described by classical Néel theory, but the magnetic behaviour of larger, pseudo-single domain or multidomain grains, still is enigmatic. Here we present a chemical, crystallographic and magnetic characterisation of three to six individual, large (~3–10 μm) iron-oxide grains from eleven different flows sampled on the Big Island of Hawai’i. These grains were all subjected to a Magnetic Force Microscopy study to characterise their magnetic domain structure; a Microprobe analyses to assess their chemical composition; and a Scanning Electron Microscopy study to identify phases and crystallographic orientations. This comprehensive dataset enables systematic analyses of their magnetic behaviour as function of chemistry and forms the basis for future micromagnetic modelling studies eventually contributing to the development of a fundamental theory of magnetic behaviour in large iron-oxide grains.
Gold-nanostar-based SERS substrates for studying protein aggregation processes
Authors: Schwenk Natalie , Mizaikoff Boris , Cárdenas Soledad , López-Lorente Ángela I.
Published: August 2018

A gold-nanostar-based SERS substrate has been developed and applied to the investigation of aggregation processes of proteins induced via temperature and solvent.
Rapid and sensitive on-site detection of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables using screen-printed paper-based SERS swabs
Authors: Ma Yadan , Wang Yuhong , Luo Yong , Duan Huazhen , Li Dan , Xu Hu , Fodjo Essy Kouadio
Published: August 2018

Ag NPs/GO based SERS swabs can be used for on-site detection of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables.