bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Value of Improved Information about Environmental Protection Values: Toward a Benefit–Cost Analysis of Public-Good Valuation Studies
Authors: Strand Jon , Siddiqui Sauleh
Published: June 2020

What is the benefit from obtaining more precise values of environmental or other public goods through surveys or other information gathering? In the value of information (VOI) problem studied here, a buyer who wishes to preserve a resource sets a price to offer a seller without knowing precisely its protection value,B, nor its value to the seller,V.The VOI from more precise information aboutBis important for environmental and natural resource valuation, but is typically not quantified nor compared to valuation costs. More precise environmental values reduce the frequency of two types of mistakes (protecting the resource when it should not be; and not protecting it when it should), and increases ex ante welfare. We apply our analysis to Amazon rainforest protection, focusing on the “value of perfect information,” VOPI, which, we show through simulations, typically exceeds realistic valuation costs, justifying significant valuation expenditures. VOPI also depends on the nature of buyer–seller interactions, and takes its highest value when the buyer has full concern for the seller’s outcome. Our paper proposes and prepares the base for a new, needed, field in applied welfare economics, the “benefit–cost analysis of public-good valuation studies.”
Subsequent carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)–associated infections among hospitalized patients with CRE colonization: Impact of antibiotic use and other factors
Authors: Khawcharoenporn Thana , Laichuthai Wipada
Published: June 2020

We demonstrated a 20% rate of subsequent carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)–associated infections among hospitalized CRE carriers. Independent factors associated with the infections were number of colonization sites, central-line insertion, and receiving vancomycin before colonization. These findings underscore the importance of antibiotic stewardship and device-related infection control measures to prevent CRE infections.
The GLEAM 4-Jy (G4Jy) Sample: II. Host galaxy identification for individual sources
Authors: White Sarah V. , Franzen Thomas M. O. , Riseley Chris J. , Wong O. Ivy , Kapińska Anna D. , Hurley-Walker Natasha , Callingham Joseph R. , Thorat Kshitij , Wu Chen , Hancock Paul , Hunstead Richard W. , Seymour Nick , Swan Jesse , Wayth Randall , Morgan John , Chhetri Rajan , Jackson Carole , Weston Stuart , Bell Martin , Gaensler B. M. , Johnston–Hollitt Melanie , Offringa André , Staveley–Smith Lister
Published: June 2020

The entire southern sky (Declination,

$\delta< 30^{\circ}$

) has been observed using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), which provides radio imaging of

$\sim$

2 arcmin resolution at low frequencies (72–231 MHz). This is the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky MWA (GLEAM) Survey, and we have previously used a combination of visual inspection, cross-checks against the literature, and internal matching to identify the ‘brightest’ radio-sources (

$S_{\mathrm{151\,MHz}}>4$

Jy) in the extragalactic catalogue (Galactic latitude,

$|b| >10^{\circ}$

). We refer to these 1 863 sources as the GLEAM 4-Jy (G4Jy) Sample, and use radio images (of

${\leq}45$

arcsec resolution), and multi-wavelength information, to assess their morphology and identify the galaxy that is hosting the radio emission (where appropriate). Details of how to access all of the overlays used for this work are available at https://github.com/svw26/G4Jy. Alongside this we conduct further checks against the literature, which we document here for individual sources. Whilst the vast majority of the G4Jy Sample are active galactic nuclei with powerful radio-jets, we highlight that it also contains a nebula, two nearby, star-forming galaxies, a cluster relic, and a cluster halo. There are also three extended sources for which we are unable to infer the mechanism that gives rise to the low-frequency emission. In the G4Jy catalogue we provide mid-infrared identifications for 86% of the sources, and flag the remainder as: having an uncertain identification (129 sources), having a faint/uncharacterised mid-infrared host (126 sources), or it being inappropriate to specify a host (2 sources). For the subset of 129 sources, there is ambiguity concerning candidate host-galaxies, and this includes four sources (B0424–728, B0703–451, 3C 198, and 3C 403.1) where we question the existing identification.
A REFORMULATION OF THE DYNAMICAL MANIN–MUMFORD CONJECTURE
Authors: GHIOCA DRAGOS , TUCKER THOMAS J.
Published: June 2020

We advance a new conjecture in the spirit of the dynamical Manin–Mumford conjecture. We show that our conjecture holds for all polarisable endomorphisms of abelian varieties and for all polarisable endomorphisms of $(\mathbb{P}^{1})^{N}$. Furthermore, we show various examples which highlight the restrictions one would need to consider in formulating any general conclusion in the dynamical Manin–Mumford conjecture.
Dietary flavonoids among children and adolescents in the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study: intake, food sources and trends from 1985 until 2016
Authors: Rienks Johanna , Penczynski Katharina J. , Schmitting Sarah , Buyken Anette E. , Nöthlings Ute
Published: June 2020

Flavonoids are suggested to reduce disease risk. Since dietary habits are acquired during early life, describing age and time trends of flavonoid intake and major food sources are important for monitoring and disease prevention in later life. We aimed to describe total flavonoid intake and food sources and to investigate age and time trends of flavonoid intake in 3–18-year-olds, from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed study from 1985 to 2016. Intake was assessed annually using 3-d weighed food records (WFR). Flavonoid values were assigned using the United States Department of Agriculture database. Foods contributing to intake were determined. Age and time trends in total flavonoid and isoflavone density were analysed by sex with PROC MIXED. In total, 1312 children completed 10 758 WFR. Across all ages, daily mean total flavonoid density was lower in boys compared with girls (134 v. 146 mg/4184 kJ) and no difference in median isoflavone density (0·04 mg/4184 kJ per d) was found. The top five foods contributing to total flavonoid intake were apple with peel (15·0/17·1 %), strawberries (5·9/6·1 %), chocolate spread (3·9/3·5 %), orange juice (3·5/3·4 %) and pasta (3·5/3·4 %) for boys and girls, respectively. Overall, in boys, total flavonoid density decreased over the course of age and time. In girls, there was no association with age or time. In both sexes, isoflavone density followed a U-shaped age trend with no change over time. From a public health perspective, the overall observed downwards trend of flavonoid intake in boys deserves attention. Future initiatives should be tailored at maintaining a high flavonoid density as children age, specifically among boys.
Increased anxiety-like behaviour is an early symptom of vitamin E deficiency that is suppressed by adrenalectomy in rats
Authors: Terada Yuki , Ohashi Hiroya , Otani Yuki , Tokunaga Kanako , Takenaka Asako
Published: June 2020

We previously reported that dietary vitamin E deficiency increased anxiety-like behaviour in rats exposed to social isolation. Here, we performed a detailed investigation of this phenomenon and its underlying mechanism. First, we fed Wistar rats with a vitamin E-free diet for 3 d, 1 week or 2 weeks and found an increase in anxiety-like behaviour after 1 and 2 weeks of vitamin E deficiency based on behavioural indicators. Next, we examined the effect of a control diet (150 mg all-racemic α-tocopheryl acetate/kg) on anxiety-like behaviours in rats that received a 4-week vitamin E-free diet. We found that increased anxiety-like behaviour was reversed to control levels after refeeding vitamin E for 7 d but not for 1 or 3 d. Further, anxiety-like behaviour increased or decreased gradually based on the amount of vitamin E intake; however, it had a quicker progression than physical symptoms of vitamin E deficiency. Moreover, rats fed with excess vitamin E (500 mg all-racemic α-tocopherol/kg diet) showed less anxiety-like behaviour than control rats, indicating that vitamin E supplementation is effective for preventing anxiety increase under social isolation stress. Since plasma corticosterone levels were higher in vitamin E-deficient rats, we investigated the effect of adrenalectomy on anxiety-like behaviour and found that adrenal hormones played an essential role in the increased anxiety-like behaviour induced by vitamin E deficiency. In conclusion, increased anxiety-like behaviour is a symptom that emerges earlier than physical vitamin E deficiency and is caused by adrenal hormone-dependent mechanisms.
Establishment of baseline sensitivity ofRhizoctonia solanito thifluzamide in maize and its field application
Authors: Yao Xiangfeng , Shang Dianlong , Qiao Zhihua , Yu Haoyong , Sun Shiang , Li Xiangdong , Zhang Jiwang , Jiang Xingyin
Published: June 2020

In recent years, banded leaf sheath blight in maize (Zea maysL.) has become an important disease that seriously affects quality and yield. This paper aims to evaluate the sensitivity ofRhizoctonia solaniKuhn to thifluzamide on maize, to clarify the effect of seed coating using a thifluzamide suspension agent on safety and physiological indicators and to determine the effectiveness of control of banded leaf sheath blight in the field. In this study, the thifluzamide sensitivity of 102 strains ofR. solaniin maize from Shandong was determined using the mycelial growth rate method; the average half-maximal effective concentration value (EC50) was 0.086 ± 0.004 μg/ml and displayed a unimodal frequency distribution, indicating that thifluzamide had strong inhibitory activity on the mycelial growth ofR. solaniin maize. In an indoor pot test, the root activities under 24 g a.i./100 kg seed were found to increase by 78.01%, compared with the control. Similarly, chlorophyll content increased most significantly at this dose, by 32.3%. Thifluzamide (FS) could significantly increase the per-plot yield. Among the examined dosages, 48 g a.i./100 kg seed had the most significant treatment effect, with the yield rate increasing by 15.7% and 14.1%, respectively, in 2017 and 2018 compared with the control. The field effectiveness against banded leaf sheath blight in maize was highest at the dosage of 48 g a.i./100 kg seed for a seed dressing with thifluzamide (FS). These results indicate that thifluzamide has enormous potential for controlling banded leaf sheath blight in maize.
Combined use of chemical and biological compounds to control hookworm
Authors: Lima J.A.C. , Ferraz C.M. , Lima M.R.d.A. , Genier H.L.A. , Soares F.E.d.F. , Junior D.B.L. , Sobral S.A. , de Araújo J.V. , Tobias F.L. , Vilela V.L.R. , Braga F.R.
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined use of different chemical (albendazole, ivermectin, glycerine and Vaseline) and biological (Monacrosporium thaumasium) compounds in the control of Ancylostoma caninum. Infective larvae of A. caninum were obtained from coprocultures of positive faeces from naturally infected dogs. We used 1% ivermectin, 1% albendazole, 100% glycerine, 100% Vaseline and an isolate of the nematophagous fungus M. thaumasium (NF34), alone or in combinations. Next, an experimental test was set up with 16 groups in microtubes, with a 24-h interaction. The groups (G1 to G15) that contained any chemical or biological compound (NF34) and/or their combined use (chemical + biological) showed a difference in relation to the control group, except G5 – Vaseline 100% without combinations. It was concluded that, even on an experimental basis, the combined use of anthelmintic drugs with biological control was efficient; however, more studies must be carried out in order to elucidate the synergistic action between chemical and biological compounds to be used in the effective control of hookworms in the future.
International R&D formations and strategic environmental policy
Authors: Iida Takeshi
Published: June 2020

We examine relations between strategic environmental policy, international R&D cartels and research joint ventures (RJVs), using a third-country model with Cournot duopoly. We indicate that forming an R&D/RJV cartel reduces governments' incentives to extract rent from consumers in the third country. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we find that social welfare under R&D cartels with full information sharing, i.e., RJV cartels, cannot surpass that under R&D/RJV competition, whereas forming an R&D/RJV cartel works well for environmental investment. Among the policy implications, we show that governments can maximize global welfare by collectively determining whether to allow R&D/RJV cartels.
Current iodine nutrition status in Poland (2017): is the Polish model of obligatory iodine prophylaxis able to eliminate iodine deficiency in the population?
Authors: Trofimiuk-Müldner Małgorzata , Konopka Joanna , Sokołowski Grzegorz , Dubiel Agnieszka , Kieć-Klimczak Małgorzata , Kluczyński Łukasz , Motyka Marcin , Rzepka Ewelina , Walczyk Joanna , Sokołowska Małgorzata , Buziak-Bereza Monika , Tisończyk Joanna , Pach Dorota , Hubalewska-Dydejczyk Alicja
Published: June 2020

Objective:

The monitoring of the populations’ iodine status is an essential part of successful programmes of iodine deficiency elimination. The current study aimed at the evaluation of current iodine nutrition in school children, pregnant and lactating women as a marker of the effectiveness and sustainability of mandatory iodine prophylaxis in Poland.

Design:

The following iodine nutrition indicators were used: urinary iodine concentration (UIC) (all participants) and serum thyroglobulin (pregnant and lactating women).

Setting:

The study was conducted in 2017 within the National Health Programme in five regions of Poland.

Participants:

The research included 300 pregnant women, 100 lactating women and 1000 school children (aged 6–12 years).

Results:

In pregnant women, median UIC was 111·6 µg/l; there was no significant difference in median UIC according to the region of residence. In 8 % of pregnant women, thyroglobulin level was >40 ng/ml (median thyroglobulin 13·3 ng/ml). In lactating women, median UIC was 68·0 µg/l. A significant inter-regional difference was noted (P= 0·0143). In 18 % of breastfeeding women, thyroglobulin level was >40 ng/ml (median thyroglobulin 18·5 ng/ml). According to the WHO criteria, the investigated sample of pregnant and lactating women was iodine-deficient. Median UIC in school children was 119·8 µg/l (with significant inter-regional variation;P= 0·0000), which is consistent with iodine sufficiency. Ninety-four children (9·4 %) had UIC < 50 µg/l.

Conclusions:

Mandatory iodisation of household salt in Poland has led to a sustainable optimisation of iodine status in the general population. However, it has failed to assure adequate iodine nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
Socioeconomic determinants of excess weight and obesity among Indigenous women: findings from the First National Survey of Indigenous People’s Health and Nutrition in Brazil
Authors: Coimbra Carlos EA , Tavares Felipe G , Ferreira Aline A , Welch James R , Horta Bernardo L , Cardoso Andrey M , Santos Ricardo Ventura
Published: June 2020

Objective:

This article assesses the nutritional status of Indigenous women from 14 to 49 years of age in Brazil.

Design:

Sample size was calculated for each region considering a prevalence of 50 % for all disease outcomes, a relative error of 5 % and a CI of 95 %. In the initial data analysis, the prevalence of excess weight and obesity was calculated according to independent variables. Multivariate multilevel hierarchical analyses were conducted based on a theoretical model of two ranked blocks.

Setting:

The 2010 Indigenous population in Brazil was 896 000, with approximately 300 Indigenous ethnic groups, making Brazil one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the Americas and the world.

Participants:

Of the total target sample of 6722 women evaluated by the National Survey, thirty did not participate, 939 were not eligible for analyses due to pregnancy or unknown pregnancy status, and thirty-nine were excluded due to missing anthropometric data.

Results:

The evaluation of nutritional status was completed for 5714 non-pregnant women (99·3 % of eligible participants for this outcome). High prevalence rates were encountered for both excess weight (46·2 %) and obesity (15·8 %) among the sampled women. In the multivariate analyses, higher socioeconomic indicators, market-integrated living conditions and less reliance on local food production, as well as increased age and parity were associated with excess weight and obesity.

Conclusion:

Results point to distinct patterns of associations between socioeconomic indicators and the occurrence of excess weight and obesity among Indigenous women, which have potentially significant implications from a public policy perspective for Indigenous peoples in Brazil.
Analysis of Electron Transparent Beam-Sensitive Samples Using Scanning Electron Microscopy Coupled With Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy
Authors: Brostrøm Anders , Kling Kirsten Inga , Hougaard Karin Sørig , Mølhave Kristian
Published: June 2020

Scanning electron microscopy, coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), is a powerful tool used in many scientific fields. It can provide nanoscale images, allowing size and morphology measurements, as well as provide information on the spatial distribution of elements in a sample. This study compares the capabilities of a traditional EDS detector with a recently developed annular EDS detector when analyzing electron transparent and beam-sensitive NaCl particles on a TEM grid. The optimal settings for single particle analysis are identified in order to minimize beam damage and optimize sample throughput via the choice of acceleration voltage, EDS acquisition time, and quantification model. Here, a linear combination of two models is used to bridge results for particle sizes, which are neither bulk nor sufficiently thin to assume electron transparent. Additionally, we show that the increased count rate obtainable with the annular detector enables mapping as a viable analysis strategy compared with feature detection methods, which only scan segmented regions. Finally, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of the two analysis strategies.
Open Data from Authoritarian Regimes: New Opportunities, New Challenges
Authors: Carlitz Ruth D. , McLellan Rachael
Published: June 2020

Data availability has long been a challenge for scholars of authoritarian politics. However, the promotion of open government data—through voluntary initiatives such as the Open Government Partnership and soft conditionalities tied to foreign aid—has motivated many of the world’s more closed regimes to produce and publish fine-grained data on public goods provision, taxation, and more. While this has been a boon to scholars of autocracies, we argue that the politics of data production and dissemination in these countries create new challenges. Systematically missing or biased data may jeopardize research integrity and lead to false inferences. We provide evidence of such risks from Tanzania. The example also shows how data manipulation fits into the broader set of strategies that authoritarian leaders use to legitimate and prolong their rule. Comparing data released to the public on local tax revenues with verified internal figures, we find that the public data appear to significantly underestimate opposition performance. This can bias studies on local government capacity and risk parroting the party line in data form. We conclude by providing a framework that researchers can use to anticipate and detect manipulation in newly available data.
Channel characterization of a dual-band dual-polarized SAR with digital beamforming
Authors: Arnieri Emilio , Boccia Luigi , Amendola Giandomenico , Glisic Srdjan , Mao Chun-Xu , Gao Steven (Shichang) , Rommel Tobias , Penkala Piotr , Krstic Milos , Yodprasit Uroschanit , Ho Anselm , Schrape Oliver , Younis Marwan
Published: June 2020

This paper presents the integration and channel characterization of a highly integrated dual-band digital beamforming space-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) receiver. The proposed SAR sensor is a low-cost, lightweight, low-power consumption, and dual-band (X/Ka) dual-polarized module ready for the next-generation space-borne SAR missions. In previous works, by the authors, the design and experimental characterization of each sub-system was already presented and discussed. This work expands upon the previous characterization by providing an exhaustive experimental assessment of the fully integrated system. As it will be shown, the proposed tests were used to validate all the instrument channels in a set-up where the SAR sensor was illuminated by an external source minim the ground reflected waves. Test results demonstrate how the system channels are properly operating allowing the reception of the input signals and their processing in the digital domain. The possibility to easily implement a calibration procedure has also been validated to equalize, in the digital domain, the unavoidable amplitude differences between the different channels.
Urdu Translation of Friendship Scale: Evidence for the Validity and Measurement Invariance Across Gender
Authors: Khan Anam , Adil Adnan
Published: June 2020

Social isolation is a state of nearly-absolute lack of interaction between an individual and society. The Friendship Scale (Hawthorne, 2006) is a measure of social isolation that needed to be translated in the Urdu language for its validation for the Pakistani population owing to its brevity and sound psychometric properties. For the Urdu translation, the standard back-translation procedure was adopted, and the cross-language validation of the translated version was undertaken on a purposive sample of (N= 60) older adults with a minimum age of 60 years. The test-retest reliability of one week for the Urdu-English and English-Urdu version was .95 and .97, respectively. In an independent purposive sample of older adults (N= 500; men = 263 and women = 237) from Lahore and Sargodha districts, the CFA of the Friendship Scale revealed a single factor solution with six indicators, which demonstrated configural, metric, and scalar invariance across both genders and comparable latent mean scores of men and women. The Friendship Scale demonstrated a significant positive relationship with depression and non-significant association with the assimilation, which provided evidence for the convergent and discriminant validities, respectively. Furthermore, evidence of the concurrent validity was established as the older adults whose spouses had died scored significantly higher on the Friendship scale as compared to their counterparts who were living with their spouses. These pieces of evidence suggest that the Urdu version of the Friendship scale is a reliable and valid measure of flourishing for both genders.
Genetic and epigenetic profiling of BRCA1/2 in ovarian tumors reveals additive diagnostic yield and evidence of a genomic BRCA1/2 DNA methylation signature
Authors: Aref-Eshghi Erfan , McGee Jacob D. , Pedro Victor P. , Kerkhof Jennifer , Stuart Alan , Ainsworth Peter J. , Lin Hanxin , Volodarsky Michael , McLachlin Catherine Meg , Sadikovic Bekim
Published: June 2020

Poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) treatment is indicated for advanced-stage ovarian tumors with BRCA1/2 deficiency. The “BRCAness” status is thought to be attributed to a tumor phenotype associated with a specific epigenomic DNA methylation profile. Here, we examined the diagnostic impact of combined BRCA1/2 sequence, copy number, and promoter DNA methylation analysis, and evaluated whether genomic DNA methylation patterns can predict the BRCAness in ovarian tumors. DNA sequencing of 172 human tissue samples of advanced-stage ovarian adenocarcinoma identified 36 samples with a clinically significant tier 1/2 sequence variants (point mutations and in/dels) and 9 samples with a CNV causing a loss of function in BRCA1/2. DNA methylation analysis of the promoter of BRCA1/2 identified promoter hypermethylation of BRCA1 in two mutation-negative samples. Computational modeling of genome-wide methylation markers, measured using Infinium EPIC arrays, resulted in a total accuracy of 0.75, sensitivity: 0.83, specificity: 0.64, positive predictive value: 0.76, negative predictive value: 0.74, and area under the receiver’s operating curve (AUC): 0.77, in classifying tumors harboring a BRCA1/2 defect from the rest. These findings indicate that the assessment of CNV and promoter DNA methylation in BRCA1/2 increases the cumulative diagnostic yield by 10%, compared with the 20% yield achieved by sequence variant analysis alone. Genomic DNA methylation data can partially predict BRCAness in ovarian tumors; however, further investigation in expanded BRCA1/2 cohorts is needed, and the effect of other double strand DNA repair gene defects in these tumors warrants further investigations.
SARS-CoV-2 infection and overactivation of Nlrp3 inflammasome as a trigger of cytokine “storm” and risk factor for damage of hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Ratajczak Mariusz Z. , Kucia Magda
Published: June 2020

The scientific community faces an unexpected and urgent challenge related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and is investigating the role of receptors involved in entry of this virus into cells as well as pathomechanisms leading to a cytokine “storm,” which in many cases ends in severe acute respiratory syndrome, fulminant myocarditis and kidney injury. An important question is if it may also damage hematopoietic stem progenitor cells?
MeCP2 facilitates breast cancer growth via promoting ubiquitination-mediated P53 degradation by inhibiting RPL5/RPL11 transcription
Authors: Tong DongDong , Zhang Jing , Wang XiaoFei , Li Qian , Liu Li Ying , Yang Juan , Guo Bo , Ni Lei , Zhao LingYu , Huang Chen
Published: June 2020

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) facilitates the carcinogenesis and progression of several types of cancer. However, its role in breast cancer and the relevant molecular mechanism remain largely unclear. In this study, analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data that MeCP2 expression was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues, and high MeCP2 expression was correlated with poor overall survival. Knockdown of MeCP2 inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation and G1–S cell cycle transition and migration as well as induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, MeCP2 knockdown suppressed cancer cell growth in vivo. Investigation of the molecular mechanism showed that MeCP2 repressed RPL11 and RPL5 transcription by binding to their promoter regions. TCGA data revealed significantly lower RPL11 and RPL5 expression in breast cancer tissues; additionally, overexpression of RPL11/RPL5 significantly suppressed breast cancer cell proliferation and G1–S cell cycle transition and induced apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, RPL11 and RPL5 suppressed ubiquitination-mediated P53 degradation through direct binding to MDM2. This study demonstrates that MeCP2 promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis through suppressing RPL11 and RPL5 transcription by binding to their promoter regions.
Potential utilization of terrestrially derived dissolved organic matter by aquatic microbial communities in saline lakes
Authors: Yang Jian , Jiang Hongchen , Liu Wen , Huang Liuqin , Huang Jianrong , Wang Beichen , Dong Hailiang , Chu Rosalie K , Tolic Nikola
Published: June 2020

Lakes receive large amounts of terrestrially derived dissolved organic matter (tDOM). However, little is known about how aquatic microbial communities interact with tDOM in lakes. Here, by performing microcosm experiments we investigated how microbial community responded to tDOM influx in six Tibetan lakes of different salinities (ranging from 1 to 358 g/l). In response to tDOM addition, microbial biomass increased while dissolved organic carbon (DOC) decreased. The amount of DOC decrease did not show any significant correlation with salinity. However, salinity influenced tDOM transformation, i.e., microbial communities from higher salinity lakes exhibited a stronger ability to utilize tDOM of high carbon numbers than those from lower salinity. Abundant taxa and copiotrophs were actively involved in tDOM transformation, suggesting their vital roles in lacustrine carbon cycle. Network analysis indicated that 66 operational taxonomic units (OTUs, affiliated with Alphaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidia, Bacilli, Gammaproteobacteria, Halobacteria, Planctomycetacia, Rhodothermia, and Verrucomicrobiae) were associated with degradation of CHO compounds, while four bacterial OTUs (affiliated with Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacteroidia and Gammaproteobacteria) were highly associated with the degradation of CHOS compounds. Network analysis further revealed that tDOM transformation may be a synergestic process, involving cooperation among multiple species. In summary, our study provides new insights into a microbial role in transforming tDOM in saline lakes and has important implications for understanding the carbon cycle in aquatic environments.
Exosomal miR-130b-3p targets SIK1 to inhibit medulloblastoma tumorigenesis
Authors: Huang Saihua , Xue Ping , Han Xiao , Zhang Caiyan , Yang Lan , Liu Lijuan , Wang Xiang , Li Hao , Fu Jinrong , Zhou Yufeng
Published: June 2020

Exosomes are an important carrier for cell communication. miRNAs in exosomes are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in different types of cancer. However, the role of exosomal miRNAs in medulloblastoma (MB) patients is largely unknown. In this study, we reported that there was a higher level of miR-130b-3p in exosomes derived from MB patient plasma compared with exosomes from healthy control plasma. Exosomes from MB patient plasma could transfer miR-130b-3p to an MB cell line and played suppressor roles for cell proliferation. miR-130b-3p suppressed MB tumorigenesis by targeting a previously unknown target, serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (SIK1), through the p53 signaling pathways. In addition, we found an unreported role of SIK1 in promoting MB tumor growth and an SIK1 inhibitor could inhibit MB cell proliferation. This research provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of MB and may provide a new therapeutic strategy for MB treatment.
Point-wise correlations between 10-2 Humphrey visual field and OCT data in open angle glaucoma
Authors: Cirafici Paola , Maiello Guido , Ancona Chiara , Masala Alessandro , Traverso Carlo Enrico , Iester Michele
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a powerful instrument for helping clinicians detect and monitor glaucoma. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed mapping of the relationships between visual field (VF) sensitivities and measures of retinal structure provided by a commercial Spectral Domain (SD)-OCT system (RTvue-100 Optovue).

Methods

Sixty-three eyes of open angle glaucoma patients (17 males, 16 females, and mean age 71 ± 7.5 years) were included in this retrospective, observational clinical study. Thickness values for superior and inferior retina, as well as average values, were recorded for the full retina, the outer retina, the ganglion cell complex, and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). RNFL thickness was further evaluated along eight separate sectors (temporal lower, temporal upper, superior temporal, superior nasal, nasal upper, nasal lower, inferior nasal, and inferior temporal). Point-wise correlations were then computed between each of these OCT measures and the visual sensitivities at all VF locations assessed via Humphrey 10-2 and 24-2 perimetry. Lastly, OCT data were fit to VF data to predict glaucoma stage.

Results

The relationship between retinal thickness and visual sensitivities reflects the known topography of the retina. Spatial correlation patterns between visual sensitivities and RNFL thickness along different sectors broadly agree with previously hypothesized structure–function maps, yet suggest that structure–function maps still require more precise characterizations. Given these relationships, we find that OCT data can predict glaucoma stage.

Conclusion

Ganglion cell complex and RNFL thickness measurements are highlighted as the most promising candidate metrics for glaucoma detection and monitoring.
The TSPO-NOX1 axis controls phagocyte-triggered pathological angiogenesis in the eye
Authors: Wolf Anne , Herb Marc , Schramm Michael , Langmann Thomas
Published: June 2020

Aberrant immune responses including reactive phagocytes are implicated in the etiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of blindness in the elderly. The translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) is described as a biomarker for reactive gliosis, but its biological functions in retinal diseases remain elusive. Here, we report that tamoxifen-induced conditional deletion of TSPO in resident microglia using Cx3cr1CreERT2:TSPOfl/fl mice or targeting the protein with the synthetic ligand XBD173 prevents reactivity of phagocytes in the laser-induced mouse model of neovascular AMD. Concomitantly, the subsequent neoangiogenesis and vascular leakage are prevented by TSPO knockout or XBD173 treatment. Using different NADPH oxidase-deficient mice, we show that TSPO is a key regulator of NOX1-dependent neurotoxic ROS production in the retina. These data define a distinct role for TSPO in retinal phagocyte reactivity and highlight the protein as a drug target for immunomodulatory and antioxidant therapies for AMD.
The central amygdala recruits mesocorticolimbic circuitry for pursuit of reward or pain
Authors: Warlow Shelley M. , Naffziger Erin E. , Berridge Kent C.
Published: June 2020

How do brain mechanisms create maladaptive attractions? Here intense maladaptive attractions are created in laboratory rats by pairing optogenetic channelrhodopsin (ChR2) stimulation of central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) in rats with encountering either sucrose, cocaine, or a painful shock-delivering object. We find that pairings make the respective rats pursue either sucrose exclusively, or cocaine exclusively, or repeatedly self-inflict shocks. CeA-induced maladaptive attractions, even to the painful shock-rod, recruit mesocorticolimbic incentive-related circuitry. Shock-associated cues also gain positive incentive value and are pursued. Yet the motivational effects of paired CeA stimulation can be reversed to negative valence in a Pavlovian fear learning situation, where CeA ChR2 pairing increases defensive reactions. Finally, CeA ChR2 valence can be switched to neutral by pairing with innocuous stimuli. These results reveal valence plasticity and multiple modes for motivation via mesocorticolimbic circuitry under the control of CeA activation.
Magnetic and electronic phase transitions probed by nanomechanical resonators
Authors: Šiškins Makars , Lee Martin , Mañas-Valero Samuel , Coronado Eugenio , Blanter Yaroslav M. , van der Zant Herre S. J. , Steeneken Peter G.
Published: June 2020

The reduced dimensionality of two-dimensional (2D) materials results in characteristic types of magnetically and electronically ordered phases. However, only few methods are available to study this order, in particular in ultrathin insulating antiferromagnets that couple weakly to magnetic and electronic probes. Here, we demonstrate that phase transitions in thin membranes of 2D antiferromagnetic FePS3, MnPS3 and NiPS3 can be probed mechanically via the temperature-dependent resonance frequency and quality factor. The observed relation between mechanical motion and antiferromagnetic order is shown to be mediated by the specific heat and reveals a strong dependence of the Néel temperature of FePS3 on electrostatically induced strain. The methodology is not restricted to magnetic order, as we demonstrate by probing an electronic charge-density-wave phase in 2H-TaS2. It thus offers the potential to characterize phase transitions in a wide variety of materials, including those that are antiferromagnetic, insulating or so thin that conventional bulk characterization methods become unsuitable.
Improving the safety of human pluripotent stem cell therapies using genome-edited orthogonal safeguards
Authors: Martin Renata M. , Fowler Jonas L. , Cromer M. Kyle , Lesch Benjamin J. , Ponce Ezequiel , Uchida Nobuko , Nishimura Toshinobu , Porteus Matthew H. , Loh Kyle M.
Published: June 2020

Despite their rapidly-expanding therapeutic potential, human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cell therapies continue to have serious safety risks. Transplantation of hPSC-derived cell populations into preclinical models has generated teratomas (tumors arising from undifferentiated hPSCs), unwanted tissues, and other types of adverse events. Mitigating these risks is important to increase the safety of such therapies. Here we use genome editing to engineer a general platform to improve the safety of future hPSC-derived cell transplantation therapies. Specifically, we develop hPSC lines bearing two drug-inducible safeguards, which have distinct functionalities and address separate safety concerns. In vitro administration of one small molecule depletes undifferentiated hPSCs >106-fold, thus preventing teratoma formation in vivo. Administration of a second small molecule kills all hPSC-derived cell-types, thus providing an option to eliminate the entire hPSC-derived cell product in vivo if adverse events arise. These orthogonal safety switches address major safety concerns with pluripotent cell-derived therapies.
Triggering typical nemaline myopathy with compound heterozygous nebulin mutations reveals myofilament structural changes as pathomechanism
Authors: Lindqvist Johan , Ma Weikang , Li Frank , Hernandez Yaeren , Kolb Justin , Kiss Balazs , Tonino Paola , van der Pijl Robbert , Karimi Esmat , Gong Henry , Strom Josh , Hourani Zaynab , Smith John E. , Ottenheijm Coen , Irving Thomas , Granzier Henk
Published: June 2020

Nebulin is a giant protein that winds around the actin filaments in the skeletal muscle sarcomere. Compound-heterozygous mutations in the nebulin gene (NEB) cause typical nemaline myopathy (NM), a muscle disorder characterized by muscle weakness with limited treatment options. We created a mouse model with a missense mutation p.Ser6366Ile and a deletion of NEB exon 55, the Compound-Het model that resembles typical NM. We show that Compound-Het mice are growth-retarded and have muscle weakness. Muscles have a reduced myofibrillar fractional-area and sarcomeres are disorganized, contain rod bodies, and have longer thin filaments. In contrast to nebulin-based severe NM where haplo-insufficiency is the disease driver, Compound-Het mice express normal amounts of nebulin. X-ray diffraction revealed that the actin filament is twisted with a larger radius, that tropomyosin and troponin behavior is altered, and that the myofilament spacing is increased. The unique disease mechanism of nebulin-based typical NM reveals novel therapeutic targets.
Controls on surface water carbonate chemistry along North American ocean margins
Authors: Cai Wei-Jun , Xu Yuan-Yuan , Feely Richard A. , Wanninkhof Rik , Jönsson Bror , Alin Simone R. , Barbero Leticia , Cross Jessica N. , Azetsu-Scott Kumiko , Fassbender Andrea J. , Carter Brendan R. , Jiang Li-Qing , Pepin Pierre , Chen Baoshan , Hussain Najid , Reimer Janet J. , Xue Liang , Salisbury Joseph E. , Hernández-Ayón José Martín , Langdon Chris , Li Qian , Sutton Adrienne J. , Chen Chen-Tung A. , Gledhill Dwight K.
Published: June 2020

Syntheses of carbonate chemistry spatial patterns are important for predicting ocean acidification impacts, but are lacking in coastal oceans. Here, we show that along the North American Atlantic and Gulf coasts the meridional distributions of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and carbonate mineral saturation state (Ω) are controlled by partial equilibrium with the atmosphere resulting in relatively low DIC and high Ω in warm southern waters and the opposite in cold northern waters. However, pH and the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) do not exhibit a simple spatial pattern and are controlled by local physical and net biological processes which impede equilibrium with the atmosphere. Along the Pacific coast, upwelling brings subsurface waters with low Ω and pH to the surface where net biological production works to raise their values. Different temperature sensitivities of carbonate properties and different timescales of influencing processes lead to contrasting property distributions within and among margins.
Machine learning uncovers cell identity regulator by histone code
Authors: Xia Bo , Zhao Dongyu , Wang Guangyu , Zhang Min , Lv Jie , Tomoiaga Alin S. , Li Yanqiang , Wang Xin , Meng Shu , Cooke John P. , Cao Qi , Zhang Lili , Chen Kaifu
Published: June 2020

Conversion between cell types, e.g., by induced expression of master transcription factors, holds great promise for cellular therapy. Our ability to manipulate cell identity is constrained by incomplete information on cell identity genes (CIGs) and their expression regulation. Here, we develop CEFCIG, an artificial intelligent framework to uncover CIGs and further define their master regulators. On the basis of machine learning, CEFCIG reveals unique histone codes for transcriptional regulation of reported CIGs, and utilizes these codes to predict CIGs and their master regulators with high accuracy. Applying CEFCIG to 1,005 epigenetic profiles, our analysis uncovers the landscape of regulation network for identity genes in individual cell or tissue types. Together, this work provides insights into cell identity regulation, and delivers a powerful technique to facilitate regenerative medicine.
Long noncoding RNA SAM promotes myoblast proliferation through stabilizing Sugt1 and facilitating kinetochore assembly
Authors: Li Yuying , Yuan Jie , Chen Fengyuan , Zhang Suyang , Zhao Yu , Chen Xiaona , Lu Leina , Zhou Liang , Chu Ching Yan , Sun Hao , Wang Huating
Published: June 2020

The functional study of lncRNAs in skeletal muscle satellite cells (SCs) remains at the infancy stage. Here we identifySAM(Sugt1 asssociated muscle) lncRNA that is enriched in the proliferating myoblasts. Global deletion ofSAMhas no overt effect on mice but impairs adult muscle regeneration following acute damage; it also exacerbates the chronic injury-induced dystrophic phenotype in mdx mice. Consistently, inducible deletion ofSAMin SCs leads to deficiency in muscle regeneration. Further examination reveals thatSAMloss results in a cell-autonomous defect in the proliferative expansion of myoblasts. Mechanistically, we findSAMinteracts and stabilizes Sugt1, a co-chaperon protein key to kinetochore assembly during cell division. Loss ofSAMor Sugt1 both disrupts kinetochore assembly in mitotic cells due to the mislocalization of two components: Dsn1 and Hec1. Altogether, our findings identifySAMas a regulator of SC proliferation through facilitating Sugt1 mediated kinetochore assembly during cell division.
Implanting Ni-O-VOx sites into Cu-doped Ni for low-overpotential alkaline hydrogen evolution
Authors: Li Yibing , Tan Xin , Hocking Rosalie K. , Bo Xin , Ren Hangjuan , Johannessen Bernt , Smith Sean C. , Zhao Chuan
Published: June 2020

Nickel-based catalysts are most commonly used in industrial alkaline water electrolysis. However, it remains a great challenge to address the sluggish reaction kinetics and severe deactivation problems of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, we show a Cu-doped Ni catalyst implanted with Ni-O-VOx sites (Ni(Cu)VOx) for alkaline HER. The optimal Ni(Cu)VOx electrode exhibits a near-zero onset overpotential and low overpotential of 21 mV to deliver –10 mA cm−2, which is comparable to benchmark Pt/C catalyst. Evidence for the formation of Ni-O-VOx sites in Ni(Cu)VOx is established by systematic X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies. The VOx can cause a substantial dampening of Ni lattice and create an enlarged electrochemically active surface area. First-principles calculations support that the Ni-O-VOx sites are superactive and can promote the charge redistribution from Ni to VOx, which greatly weakens the H-adsorption and H2release free energy over Ni. This endows the Ni(Cu)VOx electrode high HER activity and long-term durability.
A cyclic bis[2]catenane metallacage
Authors: Wang Yiliang , Zhang Yicheng , Zhou Zhixuan , Vanderlinden Ryan T. , Li Bin , Song Bo , Li Xiaopeng , Cui Lei , Li Jian , Jia Xueshun , Fang Jianhui , Li Chunju , Stang Peter J.
Published: June 2020

Catenated cages represent chemistry’s challenging synthetic targets because a three-dimensional assembly is necessary for their formation. Herein, a cyclic bis[2]catenane is constructed through the coordination-driven self-assembly of the interlocked bis-metallacage, by the 90° Pt(II) heteroligation of the endo-functionalized double-bridged tweezer bearing pyridyl moieties and the tetra-carboxylated linker. NMR spectrometry, X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry confirm the formation of a cyclic bis[2]catenane with “∞”-shaped topology via a 14-component self-assembly. Particularly, reversibly responsive transformation between the bis[2]catenane and the bis-metallacage can be realized by guest exchange, concentration effect and solvent effect. This work represents a novel example of a cyclic cage-based [2]catenane oligomer.
Dynamic active-site generation of atomic iridium stabilized on nanoporous metal phosphides for water oxidation
Authors: Jiang Kang , Luo Min , Peng Ming , Yu Yaqian , Lu Ying-Rui , Chan Ting-Shan , Liu Pan , de Groot Frank M. F. , Tan Yongwen
Published: June 2020

Designing efficient single-atom catalysts (SACs) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for water-splitting. However, the self-reconstruction of isolated active sites during OER not only influences the catalytic activity, but also limits the understanding of structure-property relationships. Here, we utilize a self-reconstruction strategy to prepare a SAC with isolated iridium anchored on oxyhydroxides, which exhibits high catalytic OER performance with low overpotential and small Tafel slope, superior to the IrO2. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies in combination with theory calculations indicate that the isolated iridium sites undergo a deprotonation process to form the multiple active sites during OER, promoting the O–O coupling. The isolated iridium sites are revealed to remain dispersed due to the support effect during OER. This work not only affords the rational design strategy of OER SACs at the atomic scale, but also provides the fundamental insights of the operando OER mechanism for highly active OER SACs.
Information can explain the dynamics of group order in animal collective behaviour
Authors: MacGregor Hannah E. A. , Herbert-Read James E. , Ioannou Christos C.
Published: June 2020

Animal groups vary in their collective order (or state), forming disordered swarms to highly polarized groups. One explanation for this variation is that individuals face differential benefits or costs depending on the group’s order, but empirical evidence for this is lacking. Here we show that in three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), fish that are first to respond to an ephemeral food source do so faster when shoals are in a disordered, swarm-like state. This is because individuals’ visual fields collectively cover more of their environment, meaning private information is more readily available in disordered groups. Once social information becomes available, however, the arrival times of subsequent group members to the food are faster in more ordered, polarized groups. Our data further suggest that first responding individuals (those that benefit from group disorder) maintain larger differences in heading angle to their nearest neighbours when shoaling, thereby explaining how conflict over whether private or social information is favoured can drive dynamic changes in collective behaviour.