bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First molecular identification of hydatid tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato G6/G7 in Ecuador
Authors: Ramos-Sarmiento D. , Chiluisa-Utreras V.
Published: November 2019

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic illness that can cause significant disabilities, and even death for sick people. The disease is caused by the larval stage of cestodes belonging to the Echinococcus genus. In this study, multiple hydatid cysts were excised from an infected porcine liver. The identification of the parasitic species was made by the morphometric assessment of rostellar hooks and molecular detection of ribosomal DNA extant in protoscoleces of the hydatid sand. Rostellar hooks presented an average length of 27.4 µm by optical microscopy. Parasite DNA were detected in samples of hydatid sediment and positive controls by polymerase chain reaction. In conclusion, Echinococcus granulosus was recognized in samples of porcine hydatid cysts by microscopic observation, and the E. granulosus sensu lato strain E. canadensis G6/G7 was identified by molecular assay.
Gastrointestinal parasites as a possible threat to an endangered autochthonous Portuguese sheep breed
Authors: Ruano Z.M. , Cortinhas A. , Carolino N. , Gomes J. , Costa M. , Mateus T.L.
Published: November 2019

Helminth and protozoan infections are responsible for important diseases in grazing sheep, which can be especially threatening in an autochthonous breed at risk of extinction like the Churra Galega Mirandesa Portuguese sheep breed. The aim of the present study was to determine the diversity, prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal parasites in these sheep and to assess the effects of deworming practices, cohabiting animals on the farm and feed management. Coprological qualitative and quantitative analysis (flotation, natural sedimentation and McMaster method) were used to identify and quantify gastrointestinal parasites and a questionnaire was designed and applied. A total of 512 faecal samples were collected from 49 flocks, and 49 replies to the questionnaire were received. Parasites were identified in 100% of the flocks, and in 97% of the samples. The genera or species that have been morphologically identified were: strongyle-type, Nematodirus spp., Skrjabinema spp., Moniezia expansa, Moniezia benedeni, Trichuris spp., Capillaria spp., Eimeria spp., Dicrocoelium spp. and Fasciola hepatica. This is the first report in Portugal of Skrjabinema spp. The burden of parasites’ oocysts and eggs per gram in faecal samples ranged, respectively, from 50 to 17,550 for Eimeria spp., and from 50 to 6250 for strongyle-type eggs. Factors affecting parasitic infections were evaluated using a multivariate logistic regression. Grazing time and a lack of anthelmintic treatment were positively associated with Nematodirus spp. infection. This study showed that there is a high prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in the Churra Galega Mirandesa sheep breed.
The effects of resection of the peripheral branches of the posterior nasal nerves in the inferior turbinate, with special focus on olfactory dysfunction
Authors: Suzuki M , Yokota M , Ozaki S , Murakami S
Published: November 2019

Objective

There are few detailed studies about peripheral branch resection of the posterior nasal nerves in the inferior turbinate; thus, this study aimed to investigate this.

Methods

Patients who underwent submucosal turbinoplasty with or without resection of the peripheral branches of posterior nasal nerves in the inferior turbinate were included.

Results

The resection of the posterior nasal nerves with turbinoplasty significantly reduced detection and recognition thresholds on olfactory testing. The rhinorrhoea severity, detection threshold and recognition threshold were significantly lower after resection of the posterior nasal nerves with turbinoplasty than after turbinoplasty alone, although there were no significant differences between the two groups before surgery.

Conclusion

This is the first study to show that the resection of the peripheral branches of the posterior nasal nerves in the inferior turbinate with turbinoplasty more effectively inhibits allergic symptoms compared with turbinoplasty alone. It also showed that the resection of the peripheral branches of the posterior nasal nerves can inhibit olfactory dysfunction.
Why rural Malian women want to be candidates for local office: changes in social and political life and the arrival of a gender quota
Authors: Johnson Cathryn Evangeline
Published: November 2019

Why would rural Malian women express interest in political participation? Mali implemented a gender quota during the 2016 local elections. In a rural village where I conducted immersive research, the majority of women I interviewed following the 2016 poll expressed interest in running for local office in the future. Scholars of women's political participation theorise that quotas bring women to elected office and increase women's political participation. These theoretical perspectives cannot fully explain why women in rural Mali would express enthusiastic interest in political participation. These women participate extensively in savings and credit associations. Drawing on data generated through engagement with women in their daily lives, I explore how economic advancement can shape women's participatory aspirations. Examining longer-term changes in the local political economy of this rural village provides a deeper understanding of why women responded positively to a new institutional opening for political participation.
Opegrapha multipunctaandSchismatomma quercicola(Arthoniomycetes) belong to the Lecanoromycetes
Authors: ERTZ Damien , SANDERSON Neil , COPPINS Brian J. , KLEPSLAND Jon T. , FRISCH Andreas
Published: November 2019

Opegrapha multipunctaandSchismatomma quercicolaare two sterile European lichens reproducing only vegetatively by means of soredia. RAxML and Bayesian analyses of newly generated sequence data from the mitochondrial ribosomal RNA small subunit provide clear evidence that these two species do not belong to the Arthoniomycetes, but to the Lecanoromycetes. In our phylogenetic analyses,O. multipunctais nested in the genusPorina(Porinaceae) as sister toP. austroatlantica, whileS. quercicolais nested in the genusSchizotrema(Graphidaceae) as sister toS. zebrinum. The following new combinations are introduced:Porina multipuncta(Coppins & P. James) Ertz, Coppins & Frisch andSchizotrema quercicola(Coppins & P. James) Ertz, Frisch & Sanderson.Schizotrema quercicolarepresents the first record of the genusSchizotremafor Europe and the first sorediate member in this genus. The species is newly recorded from Norway. The lichenicolous habit ofArthonia invadensis confirmed.
Arctoparmelia collatolica (Parmeliaceae), a new species from Siberia, Russia
Authors: CHESNOKOV Sergey V. , PROKOPIEV Ilya A. , FROLOV Ivan V. , KONOREVA Liudmila A. , EVDOKIMOV Gregory S. , SHAVARDA Alexey L.
Published: November 2019

Arctoparmelia collatolica is described as a species new to science based on morphological, chemical and molecular data. The species is similar to the usnic acid-deficient chemotype of A. centrifuga but differs in the grey-brown to brown upper surface in the central part of the thallus and ivory white to pale brown rhizines. The species contains collatolic acid and its derivatives. Seven secondary lichen substances are reported as new for the genus Arctoparmelia. A key to Arctoparmelia taxa is provided.
Studies onMicareain Australasia II. A synopsis of the genus in Tasmania, with the description of ten new species
Authors: KANTVILAS Gintaras , COPPINS Brian J.
Published: November 2019

Thirty-five species ofMicareaare recorded for Tasmania. Ten are described as new to science:M. ceraceaCoppins & Kantvilas (also known from Victoria and New South Wales), characterized by a thallus containing perlatolic and didymic acids, pallid apothecia and 3(–4)-septate ascospores, 10–21 × 3·5–6 µm;M. cinereopallidaCoppins & Kantvilas (also known from Chile), with a granular to coralloid, goniocyst-like thallus containing superlatolic acid, pallid to piebald apothecia and (0–)1-septate ascospores, 8–15 × 2·5–5 µm;M. micromelaenaKantvilas & Coppins, similar to the widespreadM. melaenabut with markedly smaller, 0–1-septate ascospores, 8–12·5 × 2·5–4 µm;M. oreinaKantvilas & Coppins, characterized by a thallus of globose areoles containing gyrophoric acid, black, subglobose apothecia, and 1-septate ascospores, 11–16·5 × 4·5–6·5 µm;M. pallidaCoppins & Kantvilas, similar toM. ceraceabut distinguished by the presence of porphyrilic acid and relatively small, 3-septate ascospores, 9·5–15 × 2·5–4 µm;M. prasinastraCoppins & Kantvilas (also known from New Zealand), a member of theM. prasinagroup with a finely granular-sorediose thallus containing gyrophoric acid, unpigmented apothecia and (0–)1-septate ascospores, 7–11·5 × 1·8–3·5 µm;M. rubiginosaCoppins & Kantvilas (also known from Chile), likewise allied toM. prasinabut with apothecia containing Rubella-orange pigment and ascospores 0–1-septate, 9·5–17 × 3·5–5·5 µm;M. sandyanaKantvilas, related toM. ternaria(Nyl.) Vĕzda but differing by smaller ascospores, 7–13·5 × 3·5–6 µm;M. saxicolaCoppins & Kantvilas, characterized by a relatively thick, grey-brown, areolate thallus, convex, black apothecia and 0(–1)-septate ascospores, 7–18 × 4·5–7 µm; andM. tubaeformisCoppins & Kantvilas, related toM. flagellisporaand with filiform ascospores, 45–100 × 1–2 µm, but differing by containing 2′-O-methylperlatolic acid and having funnel-shaped pycnidia. Ten species ofMicareaare reported for Tasmania for the first time:M. almborniiCoppins,M. argopsinosaP. M. McCarthy & Elix,M. byssacea(Th. Fr.) Czarnotaet al.,M. contextaHedl.,M. farinosaCoppins & Aptroot,M. humilisP. M. McCarthy & Elix,M. incrassataHedl.,M. myriocarpaV. Wirth & Vězda ex Coppins,M. nowakiiCzarnota & Coppins andM. pseudocoppinsiiBrandet al.Also recorded for the first time for Victoria areM. alabastrites(Nyl.) Coppins andM. cinerea(Schaer.) Hedl. A key toMicarea-like lichens in Tasmania, which includesMicareaitself as well asBrianaria,PsilolechiaandLeimonis, is presented.Leimonis erratica(Körb.) R. C. Harris & Lendemer andBrianaria tuberculata(Sommerf.) S. Ekman & M. Svensson are recorded for Tasmania for the first time.
Diet of longnose stingrayHypanus guttatus(Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) in tropical coastal waters of Brazil
Authors: Gianeti Michel Donato , Yokota Leandro , Lessa Rosangela Paula Teixeira , Dias June Ferraz
Published: November 2019

This study investigated the diet of longnose stingrayHypanus guttatusin the tropical waters of north-eastern Brazil. Samples were obtained from monthly sampling of artisanal fisheries from August 2007 to July 2008. A total of 258 specimens were examined, 127 females and 131 males, and stomach contents analysis suggestedH. guttatusto be a generalist and opportunistic predator feeding on the most available prey in the environment. There was no significant difference in the diet composition of males and females, or between seasons. However, an ontogenetic dietary shift was observed with larger individuals having an increased proportion of molluscs in the diet, whilst smaller individuals predated primarily on small crustaceans.
Parasites shape community structure and dynamics in freshwater crustaceans
Authors: Friesen Olwyn C. , Goellner Sarah , Poulin Robert , Lagrue Clément
Published: November 2019

Parasites directly and indirectly influence the important interactions among hosts such as competition and predation through modifications of behaviour, reproduction and survival. Such impacts can affect local biodiversity, relative abundance of host species and structuring of communities and ecosystems. Despite having a firm theoretical basis for the potential effects of parasites on ecosystems, there is a scarcity of experimental data to validate these hypotheses, making our inferences about this topic more circumstantial. To quantitatively test parasites' role in structuring host communities, we set up a controlled, multigenerational mesocosm experiment involving four sympatric freshwater crustacean species that share up to four parasite species. Mesocosms were assigned to either of two different treatments, low or high parasite exposure. We found that the trematodeMaritrema poulinidifferentially influenced the population dynamics of these hosts. For example, survival and recruitment of the amphipodParacalliope fluviatiliswere dramatically reduced compared to other host species, suggesting that parasites may affect their long-term persistence in the community. Relative abundances of crustacean species were influenced by parasites, demonstrating their role in host community structure. As parasites are ubiquitous across all communities and ecosystems, we suggest that the asymmetrical effects we observed are likely widespread structuring forces.
The Idea of Accountable Office in Ancient Greece and Beyond
Authors: Lane Melissa
Published: November 2019

While leaders in many times and places from ancient Greece to today have been called to account, it has been claimed that leaders in ancient Athens were called to account more than any other group in history. This paper surveys the distinctive ways in which Athenian accountability procedures gave the democratic people as a whole a meaningful voice in defining, revealing, and judging the misuse of office, and in holding every single official regularly and personally accountable for their use of their powers. By then assessing a drastic case of unaccountability in a certain moment of Athenian history – the rule of the Thirty in 404–403 BCE – and how accountability was ultimately imposed on them, the paper concludes with thoughts about what might deepen and restore trust in the accountability of public officials today.
The Diversity and Causality of Pension Reform Pathways: A Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Authors: CARRERA LEANDRO N. , ANGELAKI MARINA
Published: November 2019

Pension reform is one of the top public policy priorities in advanced industrialized countries due to population ageing and the significant weight of pension spending in governments’ budgets. As a result of these concerns European countries have engaged in varying degrees of pension reforms over the last three decades. The extant literature on pension reform focuses on structural, institutional and blame avoidance theories to explain how pension reform take place. Yet, how do different conditions combine to lead to significant pension reform outcomes? To answer this question we analyze a set of 48 pension reform cases in eight European countries since the late 1980s up until 2014 by using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Our main finding is that institutional, structural or blame avoidance theories cannot account by themselves for instances of significant pension reform. Rather, we find three pathways that combine structural and institutional conditions to lead to significant pension reform.
Receiving Social Assistance in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Negating Shame or Producing Stigma?
Authors: ROELEN KEETIE
Published: November 2019

Despite the centrality of shame and stigma within research on welfare in high-income countries, these issues only exist within the periphery of rapidly expanding practice in and research on social assistance in low- and middle-income countries. This oversight undermines social assistance’s potential in breaking the poverty-shame cycle and ignores its role in the (re)production of shame and stigma. This article offers a critical exploration of the role of social assistance in alleviating or reinforcing shame and stigma in low- and middle-income countries. Findings indicate that positive and negative effects co-exist but that far too little evidence is available to judge whether social assistance receipt overwhelmingly negates or plays into shame and stigma, particularly in low-income countries. Greater awareness of the interface between social assistance, shame and stigma, explorations of policy options that minimise or counter stigmatisation, and critical engagement with ideological and political discourse underpinning design and delivery of interventions represent crucial steps to move towards ‘shame proofing’ social assistance in low- and middle-income countries.
SLIP-Based Control of Bipedal Walking Based on Two-Level Control Strategy
Authors: Dadashzadeh Behnam , Macnab C.J.B.
Published: November 2019

In this research, we propose a two-level control strategy for simultaneous gait generation and stable control of planar walking of the Assume The Robot Is A Sphere (ATRIAS) biped robot with unlocked torso, utilizing active spring-loaded inverted pendulum (ASLIP) as reference models. The upper level consists of an energy-regulating control calculated using the ASLIP model, producing reference ground reaction forces (GRFs) for the desired gait. In the lower level controller, PID force controllers for the motors ensure tracking of the reference GRFs for ATRIAS direct dynamics. Meanwhile, ATRIAS torso angle is controlled stably to make it able to follow a point mass template model. Advantages of the proposed control strategy include simplicity and efficiency. Simulation results using ATRIAS’s complete dynamic model show that the proposed two-level controller can reject initial condition disturbances while generating stable and steady walking motion.
Exploring the Appropriateness of Culturally Safe Dementia Information with Indigenous People in an Urban Northern Ontario Community
Authors: Webkamigad Sharlene , Cote-Meek Sheila , Pianosi Birgit , Jacklin Kristen
Published: November 2019

Ce projet en application de connaissances a exploré la pertinence d’une documentation en promotion de la santé élaborée pour une population autochtone nationale en vue de son utilisation dans une communauté autochtone urbaine du nord de l’Ontario. Une approche décolonisée et communautaire de recherche-action participative faisant appel à l’épistémologie tribale a été suivie pour former un groupe consultatif autochtone local et établir un partenariat avec le N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre. Deux groupes de discussion (n=8) composés d’adultes autochtones et cinq entrevues individuelles avec des aidants autochtones soignant une personne atteinte de démence ont alimenté l’analyse thématique qualitative. Quatre thèmes sont ressortis des données: (1) la nécessité d’une compréhension commune des cultures autochtones et occidentales dans le cadre des soins de santé; (2) l’amélioration de la communication interculturelle dans les discussions sur la santé; (3) l’ancrage du matériel de promotion de la santé dans la culture, et (4) les stratégies autochtones de littératie en matière de santé et la sensibilisation aux maladies neurodégénératives. Considérant que les prestataires de soins de santé cherchent des moyens efficaces pour communiquer avec les peuples autochtones, il est important de fournir de l’information pertinente localement et sur le plan culturel afin d’améliorer l’adoption et l’efficacité chez ces populations.
High expression levels of influenza virus receptors in airway of the HBV-transgenic mice
Authors: Yang Jiajun , Li Hao , Jia Liyuan , Lan Xianchun , Zhao Yuhui , Bian Huijie , Li Zheng
Published: November 2019

In the human population, influenza A viruses are associated with acute respiratory illness and are responsible for millions of deaths annually. Avian and human influenza viruses typically have a different α2-3- and α2-6-linked sialic acid (SA) binding preference. Only a few amino acid changes in the haemagglutinin on the surface of avian influenza viruses (AIV) can cause a switch from avian to human receptor specificity, and the individuals with pathognostic chronic diseases might be more susceptible to AIV due to the decreased expression level of terminal α2-3-linked SA in their saliva. Here, using lectin and virus histochemical staining, we observed the higher expression levels of α2-3/6-linked SA influenza virus receptors in the airway of HBV-transgenic mice compared with that of control mice due to the significant decrease in control mice during ageing, which imply that this is also a risk factor for individuals with pathognostic chronic diseases susceptible to influenza viruses. Our findings will help understand the impact on influenza virus pathogenesis and transmission.
Unlabelled Gibbs partitions
Authors: Stufler Benedikt
Published: November 2019

We study random composite structures considered up to symmetry that are sampled according to weights on the inner and outer structures. This model may be viewed as an unlabelled version of Gibbs partitions and encompasses multisets of weighted combinatorial objects. We describe a general setting characterized by the formation of a giant component. The collection of small fragments is shown to converge in total variation toward a limit object following a Pólya–Boltzmann distribution.
The string of diamonds is nearly tight for rumour spreading
Authors: Angel Omer , Mehrabian Abbas , Peres Yuval
Published: November 2019

Abstarct

For a rumour spreading protocol, the spread time is defined as the first time everyone learns the rumour. We compare the synchronous push&pull rumour spreading protocol with its asynchronous variant, and show that for any n-vertex graph and any starting vertex, the ratio between their expected spread times is bounded by $O({n^{1/3}}{\log ^{2/3}}n)$. This improves the $O(\sqrt n)$ upper bound of Giakkoupis, Nazari and Woelfel (2016). Our bound is tight up to a factor of O(log n), as illustrated by the string of diamonds graph. We also show that if, for a pair α, β of real numbers, there exist infinitely many graphs for which the two spread times are nα and nβ in expectation, then $0 \le \alpha \le 1$ and $\alpha \le \beta \le {1 \over 3} + {2 \over 3} \alpha $; and we show each such pair α, β is achievable.
Internal iliac artery thrombosis in a 2-month-old infant with incomplete Kawasaki disease
Authors: Musa Husna , Yubbu Putri , Koh Ghee Tiong
Published: November 2019

We report a case of a 2-month-old infant with incomplete Kawasaki disease with multiple coronary and systemic arteries aneurysms complicated with internal iliac arteries thrombosis. The atypical clinical presentations and severity of systemic vascular involvements discuss the importance of high index of suspicions in younger infants and treatment options in such cases.
The Role of Academies in Science-based Policy Advice: The Case of Biomedicine and the Life Sciences
Authors: Hacker Jörg , Artmann Stefan , Kumm Sandra
Published: November 2019

The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina is greatly honoured by receiving the Gold Medal of the Academia Europaea. On this occasion, it might be appropriate to talk about the role of academies in science-based policy advice. The authors would like to address the question: what general aims should the academies achieve – particularly in respect to biomedicine and the life sciences?
Clinical audit of rectal cancer patient referrals for Papillon contact brachytherapy
Authors: Baker A. , Buckley L. , Misra V. , Bridge P.
Published: November 2019

Background and purpose:

Papillon treatment is a form of contact X-ray brachytherapy (CXB) which is used as an alternative to surgery for rectal cancer. This study aimed to audit patients who were referred for and treated with CXB over a 6-year period against guidelines derived from a critical review of the evidence base.

Materials and methods:

Patient demographics, tumour characteristics and outcome data were gathered for 31 patients referred for CXB. A critical review of the evidence identified consensus referral criteria and outcome data against which to audit patients.

Results:

Referral criteria were derived from six published studies. These applied to patients unfit for surgery or stoma-averse. All referred patients had a visible tumour or scar with a tumour size under 3 cm and sited less than 12 cm from the anal verge. Nodal status varied from N0 to N2, but there was no metastatic disease present. The audited cohort demonstrated demographic equivalence, while the initial clinical complete response and recurrence rates were also comparable.

Conclusion:

This audit confirmed the validity of referral and treatment protocols and should guide future referrals until evidence from ongoing studies becomes available. These findings should contribute to the development of robust national guidelines.
European region of the WCPT statement on physiotherapy in primary care
Authors: Long Jill
Published: November 2019

This statement has been produced by the European Region of the World Confederation for Physiotherapy (ER-WCPT) to promote the role of the physiotherapy profession within primary care, to describe the health and economic benefits to health systems and populations of having a skilled, appropriately resourced and utilised physiotherapy workforce in primary care services, and to illustrate how different models of physiotherapy service delivery are contributing to these health and cost benefits.
What is the responsibility to respect human rights? Reconsidering the ‘respect, protect, and fulfill’ framework
Authors: Karp David Jason
Published: November 2019

The world's understanding of the action needed to advance human rights is deeply structured by the ‘respect, protect, and fulfill’ framework. But its potential is significantly undermined by a narrow conception of ‘respect’ for human rights. This paper systematically addresses these weaknesses and advances an original alternative. It first provides a historical account of the ‘do no harm’ conception of ‘respect’ in the political context of the late Cold War. It then analyzes this conception's empirical functioning today, using the example of unauthorized migration along the US–Mexico border. These points illustrate an overarching theoretical argument: the responsibility to respect human rights should be based on a responsibility not to dehumanize, rather than exclusively on a duty to do no harm. This involves the consideration of each person as a moral equal, the elevation of human rights practice as a basis for judgment inside of a moral agent's self, and the rejection of state-centrism as the basis for all political responsibility. This argument has implications traversing the theory and practice of human rights, including: the ability to translate and embed into practice the new meanings of ‘respect,’ ‘protect,’ and ‘fulfill’; and the need to re-consider the contemporary significance of 1980s liberalism.
A LEARNING-THEORETIC CHARACTERISATION OF MARTIN-LÖF RANDOMNESS AND SCHNORR RANDOMNESS
Authors: ZAFFORA BLANDO FRANCESCA
Published: November 2019

Numerous learning tasks can be described as the process of extrapolating patterns from observed data. One of the driving intuitions behind the theory of algorithmic randomness is that randomness amounts to the absence of any effectively detectable patterns: it is thus natural to regard randomness as antithetical to inductive learning. Osherson and Weinstein [11] draw upon the identification of randomness with unlearnability to introduce a learning-theoretic framework (in the spirit of formal learning theory) for modelling algorithmic randomness. They define two success criteria—specifying under what conditions a pattern may be said to have been detected by a computable learning function—and prove that the collections of data sequences on which these criteria cannot be satisfied correspond to the set of weak 1-randoms and the set of weak 2-randoms, respectively. This learning-theoretic approach affords an intuitive perspective on algorithmic randomness, and it invites the question of whether restricting attention to learning-theoretic success criteria comes at an expressivity cost. In other words, is the framework expressive enough to capture most core algorithmic randomness notions and, in particular, Martin-Löf randomness—arguably, the most prominent algorithmic randomness notion in the literature? In this article, we answer the latter question in the affirmative by providing a learning-theoretic characterisation of Martin-Löf randomness. We then show that Schnorr randomness, another central algorithmic randomness notion, also admits a learning-theoretic characterisation in this setting.
On the Hardness of the Photoelectron Energy Spectrum Near Mars
Authors: Wu X.‐S. , Cui J. , Cao Y.‐T. , Liu L.‐ J. , Zhou Z.‐J. , Huang Y.‐Y. , He F. , Wei Y.
Published: November 2019

Photoelectrons are an important population of the dayside Martian upper atmosphere that contributes substantially to the local ionization and heat balances. This study is focused on the broad shape of the photoelectron energy spectrum at 10–50 eV. Assuming a power law distribution, we derive the hardness of each photoelectron energy spectrum measured on the dayside of Mars by the Solar Wind Electron Analyzer on board the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution spacecraft. Our analysis reveals two distinctive features: (1) The hardness tends to increase with decreasing altitude down to 140 km and then decrease toward lower altitudes; (2) the hardness tends to decrease with increasing solar zenith angle. These variations are restricted to regions below 250 km whereas the hardness appears to be fairly constant at higher altitudes. In practice, the hardness is modulated by the ionization of atmospheric neutrals by solar Extreme Ultraviolet and X‐ray photons, inelastic collisions with atmospheric neutrals, Coulomb collisions with ionospheric thermal electrons, and photoelectron transport. While inelastic collisions tend to harden the photoelectron energy spectrum, both primary production and Coulomb collisions tend to soften it instead. We argue that the observed variations of the hardness can be understood in terms of the relative contributions of different processes. Our analysis also suggests the presence of appreciable temporal variability in hardness with a typical timescale of 10 min.
Stiffness and ATP recovery of stored red blood cells in serum
Authors: Xu Zhensong , Dou Wenkun , Wang Chen , Sun Yu
Published: November 2019

In transfusion medicine, there has been a decades-long debate about whether the age of stored red blood cells (RBCs) is a factor in transfusion efficacy. Existing clinical studies investigating whether older RBCs cause worse clinical outcomes have provided conflicting information: some have shown that older blood is less effective, while others have shown no such difference. The controversial results could have been biased by the vastly different conditions of the patients involved in the clinical studies; however, another source of inconsistency is a lack of understanding of how well and quickly stored RBCs can recover their key parameters, such as stiffness and ATP concentration, after transfusion. In this work, we quantitatively studied the stiffness and ATP recovery of stored RBCs in 37 °C human serum. The results showed that in 37 °C human serum, stored RBCs are able to recover their stiffness and ATP concentration to varying extents depending on how long they have been stored. Fresher RBCs (1–3 weeks old) were found to have a significantly higher capacity for stiffness and ATP recovery in human serum than older RBCs (4–6 weeks old). For instance, for 1-week-old RBCs, although the shear modulus before recovery was 1.6 times that of fresh RBCs, 97% of the cells recovered in human serum to have 1.1 times the shear modulus of fresh RBCs, and the ATP concentration of 1-week-old RBCs after recovery showed no difference from that of fresh RBCs. However, for 6-week-old RBCs, only ~70% of the RBCs showed stiffness recovery in human serum; their shear modulus after recovery was still 2.1 times that of fresh RBCs; and their ATP concentration after recovery was 25% lower than that of fresh RBCs. Our experiments also revealed that the processes of stiffness recovery and ATP recovery took place on the scale of tens of minutes. We hope that this study will trigger the next steps of comprehensively characterizing the recovery behaviors of stored RBCs (e.g., recovery of normal 2,3-DPG [2,3-Diphosphoglycerate]and SNO [S-nitrosation] levels) and quantifying the in vivo recovery of stored RBCs in transfusion medicine.
Chitosan oligosaccharide (GO2KA1) improves postprandial glycemic response in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose and in healthy subjects: a crossover, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jeong Sarang , Min Cho Jung , Kwon Young-In , Kim Seong-Chul , Yeob Shin Dong , Ho Lee Jong
Published: November 2019

Background

The antidiabetic and hypoglycemic effects of chitosan have been reported in previous studies. We have previously shown that chitosan oligosaccharide reduces postprandial blood glucose levels in vivo. We conducted a short-term crossover study to support the results of the previous study.

Methods

The study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover trial completed at one clinical research site. Subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose and healthy subjects were randomly assigned to consume one of two different experimental test capsules that differed in only the sample source (GO2KA1 vs placebo), and all subjects were instructed to consume the 75 g sucrose within 15 min. After a 7-day interval, the subjects consumed the other capsules that were not consumed on the first day. We assessed blood glucose levels using a 2-h oral sucrose tolerance test. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03650023).

Results

The test group showed significantly lower blood glucose levels at 60 min (p = 0.010) and postprandial blood glucose areas under the curve (p = 0.012). The change in blood glucose levels at 60 min was significantly lower in the test group than in the placebo group (p = 0.017).

Conclusions

Based on the results of this study, the consumption of chitosan oligosaccharide (GO2KA1) supplements with a meal can effectively reduce postprandial blood glucose levels, which is relevant to the prevention of diabetes.
Energy restriction in obese women suggest linear reduction of hepatic fat content and time-dependent metabolic improvements
Authors: Johansson Hans-Erik , Edholm David , Kullberg Joel , Rosqvist Fredrik , Rudling Mats , Straniero Sara , Karlsson F. Anders , Ahlström Håkan , Sundbom Magnus , Risérus Ulf
Published: November 2019

Energy restriction reduces liver fat, improves hepatic insulin resistance and lipid metabolism. However, temporal data in which these metabolic improvements occur and their interplay is incomplete. By performing repeated MRI scans and blood analysis at day 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 the temporal changes in liver fat and related metabolic factors were assessed at five times during a low-calorie diet (LCD, 800–1100 kcal/day) in ten obese non-diabetic women (BMI 41.7 ± 2.6 kg/m2) whereof 6 had NAFLD. Mean weight loss was 7.4 ± 1.2 kg (0.7 kg/day) and liver fat decreased by 51 ± 16%, resulting in only three subjects having NAFLD at day 28. Marked alteration of insulin, NEFA, ALT and 3-hydroxybuturate was evident 3 days after commencing LCD, whereas liver fat showed a moderate but a linear reduction across the 28 days. Other circulating-liver fat markers (e.g. triglycerides, adiponectin, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 index, fibroblast growth factor 21) demonstrated modest and variable changes. Marked elevations of NEFA, 3-hydroxybuturate and ALT concentrations occurred until day 14, likely reflecting increased tissue lipolysis, fat oxidation and upregulated hepatic fatty acid oxidation. In summary, these results suggest linear reduction in liver fat, time-specific changes in metabolic markers and insulin resistance in response to energy restriction.
Comparative proteomics of related symbiotic mussel species reveals high variability of host–symbiont interactions
Authors: Ponnudurai Ruby , Heiden Stefan E , Sayavedra Lizbeth , Hinzke Tjorven , Kleiner Manuel , Hentschker Christian , Felbeck Horst , Sievert Stefan M , Schlüter Rabea , Becher Dörte , Schweder Thomas , Markert Stephanie
Published: November 2019

Deep-sea Bathymodiolus mussels and their chemoautotrophic symbionts are well-studied representatives of mutualistic host–microbe associations. However, how host–symbiont interactions vary on the molecular level between related host and symbiont species remains unclear. Therefore, we compared the host and symbiont metaproteomes of Pacific B. thermophilus, hosting a thiotrophic symbiont, and Atlantic B. azoricus, containing two symbionts, a thiotroph and a methanotroph. We identified common strategies of metabolic support between hosts and symbionts, such as the oxidation of sulfide by the host, which provides a thiosulfate reservoir for the thiotrophic symbionts, and a cycling mechanism that could supply the host with symbiont-derived amino acids. However, expression levels of these processes differed substantially between both symbioses. Backed up by genomic comparisons, our results furthermore revealed an exceptionally large repertoire of attachment-related proteins in the B. thermophilus symbiont. These findings imply that host–microbe interactions can be quite variable, even between closely related systems.
A cryptic hydrophobic pocket in the polo-box domain of the polo-like kinase PLK1 regulates substrate recognition and mitotic chromosome segregation
Authors: Sharma Pooja , Mahen Robert , Rossmann Maxim , Stokes Jamie E. , Hardwick Bryn , Huggins David J. , Emery Amy , Kunciw Dominique L. , Hyvönen Marko , Spring David R. , McKenzie Grahame J. , Venkitaraman Ashok R.
Published: November 2019

The human polo-like kinase PLK1 coordinates mitotic chromosome segregation by phosphorylating multiple chromatin- and kinetochore-binding proteins. How PLK1 activity is directed to specific substrates via phosphopeptide recognition by its carboxyl-terminal polo-box domain (PBD) is poorly understood. Here, we combine molecular, structural and chemical biology to identify a determinant for PLK1 substrate recognition that is essential for proper chromosome segregation. We show that mutations ablating an evolutionarily conserved, Tyr-lined pocket in human PLK1 PBD trigger cellular anomalies in mitotic progression and timing. Tyr pocket mutations selectively impair PLK1 binding to the kinetochore phosphoprotein substrate PBIP1, but not to the centrosomal substrate NEDD1. Through a structure-guided approach, we develop a small-molecule inhibitor, Polotyrin, which occupies the Tyr pocket. Polotyrin recapitulates the mitotic defects caused by mutations in the Tyr pocket, further evidencing its essential function, and exemplifying a new approach for selective PLK1 inhibition. Thus, our findings support a model wherein substrate discrimination via the Tyr pocket in the human PLK1 PBD regulates mitotic chromosome segregation to preserve genome integrity.
Retraction Note: Theoretical Limits of Energy Density in Silicon-Carbon Composite Anode Based Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Dash Ranjan , Pannala Sreekanth
Published: November 2019

This article has been retracted.
Stiff Composite Cylinders for Extremely Expandable Structures
Authors: Schlothauer Arthur , Ermanni Paolo
Published: November 2019

The realization of concurrently largely expandable and selectively rigid structures poses a fundamental challenge in modern engineering and materials research. Radially expanding structures in particular are known to require a high degree of deformability to achieve considerable dimension change, which restrains achievable stiffness in the direction of expanding motion. Mechanically hinged or plastically deformable wire-mesh structures and pressurized soft materials are known to achieve large expansion ratios, however often lack stiffness and require complex actuation. Cardiovascular or drug delivery implants are one example which can benefit from a largely expandable architecture that is simple in geometry and intrinsically stiff. Continuous shell cylinders offer a solution with these properties. However, no designs exist that achieve large expansion ratios in such shells when utilizing materials which can provide considerable stiffness. We introduce a new design paradigm for expanding continuous shells that overcomes intrinsic limitations such as poor deformability, insufficient stiffness and brittle behaviour by exploiting purely elastic deformation for self-expandable and ultra-thin polymer composite cylinders. By utilizing shell-foldability coupled with exploitation of elastic instabilities, we create continuous cylinders that can change their diameter by more than 2.5 times, which are stiff enough to stretch a confining vessel with their elastic energy. Based on folding experiments and analytical models we predict feasible radial expansion ratios, currently unmatched by comparable cylindrical structures. To emphasize the potential as a future concept for novel simple and durable expanding implants, we demonstrate the functionality on a to-scale prototype in packaging and expansion and predict feasible constellations of deployment environments.
Intrinsic Functional Connectivity is Organized as Three Interdependent Gradients
Authors: Zhang Jiahe , Abiose Olamide , Katsumi Yuta , Touroutoglou Alexandra , Dickerson Bradford C. , Barrett Lisa Feldman
Published: November 2019

The intrinsic functional architecture of the brain supports moment-to-moment maintenance of an internal model of the world. We hypothesized and found three interdependent architectural gradients underlying the organization of intrinsic functional connectivity within the human cerebral cortex. We used resting state fMRI data from two samples of healthy young adults (N’s = 280 and 270) to generate functional connectivity maps of 109 seeds culled from published research, estimated their pairwise similarities, and multidimensionally scaled the resulting similarity matrix. We discovered an optimal three-dimensional solution, accounting for 98% of the variance within the similarity matrix. The three dimensions corresponded to three gradients, which spatially correlate with two functional features (external vs. internal sources of information; content representation vs. attentional modulation) and one structural feature (anatomically central vs. peripheral) of the brain. Remapping the three dimensions into coordinate space revealed that the connectivity maps were organized in a circumplex structure, indicating that the organization of intrinsic connectivity is jointly guided by graded changes along all three dimensions. Our findings emphasize coordination between multiple, continuous functional and anatomical gradients, and are consistent with the emerging predictive coding perspective.
The interactive effect of pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on the weight status in infancy
Authors: Sun Jiahong , Mei Hong , Xie Shuixian , Wu Lisha , Wang Yulong , Mei Wenhua , Zhang Jianduan
Published: November 2019

We aimed to assess whether hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) could modify the effect of pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity (OWO) on the risk of offspring high body mass index (BMI) in infancy. A total of 3,765 mother-child pairs were recruited from two Chinese birth cohorts. BMI ≥ 85th percentile, based on World Health Organization criteria, was defined as a high BMI for the risk of developing severe obesity in later life. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the combined effects and multiplicative interactions of pre-pregnancy OWO + HDP on offspring high BMI. Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) or attributable proportion (AP) was used to estimate additive interactions. RERI > 0 or AP > 0 indicates a significant additive interaction. Compared with the non-OWO and normal blood pressure group, the combination of OWO + HDP was positively associated with offspring high BMI at 12 months of age [OR 3.10 (95%CI 1.59, 6.04)], with 51% of the effects attributed to an additive interaction [AP 0.51 (95%CI 0.13, 0.89)]. An interactive effect was found between the pre-pregnancy OWO + HDP and offspring high BMI in infancy. Interventions to control pre-pregnancy OWO and HDP are important to prevent obesity and associated adverse outcomes in offspring.
Discovery of holoenzyme-disrupting chemicals as substrate-selective CK2 inhibitors
Authors: Kufareva Irina , Bestgen Benoit , Brear Paul , Prudent Renaud , Laudet Béatrice , Moucadel Virginie , Ettaoussi Mohamed , Sautel Celine F. , Krimm Isabelle , Engel Matthias , Filhol Odile , Borgne Marc Le , Lomberget Thierry , Cochet Claude , Abagyan Ruben
Published: November 2019

CK2 is a constitutively active protein kinase overexpressed in numerous malignancies. Interaction between CK2α and CK2β subunits is essential for substrate selectivity. The CK2α/CK2β interface has been previously targeted by peptides to achieve functional effects; however, no small molecules modulators were identified due to pocket flexibility and open shape. Here we generated numerous plausible conformations of the interface using the fumigation modeling protocol, and virtually screened a compound library to discover compound 1 that suppressed CK2α/CK2β interaction in vitro and inhibited CK2 in a substrate-selective manner. Orthogonal SPR, crystallography, and NMR experiments demonstrated that 4 and 6, improved analogs of 1, bind to CK2α as predicted. Both inhibitors alter CK2 activity in cells through inhibition of CK2 holoenzyme formation. Treatment with 6 suppressed MDA-MB231 triple negative breast cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis. Altogether, our findings exemplify an innovative computational-experimental approach and identify novel non-peptidic inhibitors of CK2 subunit interface disclosing substrate-selective functional effects.
Hyper-parallel nonlocal CNOT operation with hyperentanglement assisted by cross-Kerr nonlinearity
Authors: Zhou Ping , Lv Li
Published: November 2019

Implementing CNOT operation nonlocally is one of central tasks in distributed quantum computation. Most of previously protocols for implementation quantum CNOT operation only consider implement CNOT operation in one degree of freedom(DOF). In this paper, we present a scheme for nonlocal implementation of hyper-parallel CNOT operation in polarization and spatial-mode DOFs via hyperentanglement. The CNOT operations in polarization DOF and spatial-mode DOF can be remote implemented simultaneously with hyperentanglement assisited by cross-Kerr nonlinearity. Hyper-parallel nonlocal CNOT gate can enhance the quantum channel capacity for distributed quantum computation and long-distance quantum communication. We discuss the experiment feasibility for hyper-parallel nonlocal gate. It shows that the protocol for hyper-parallel nonlocal CNOT operation can be realized with current technology.
Acral malignant melanoma; emphasis on the primary metastasis and the usefulness of preoperative ultrasound for sentinel lymph node metastasis
Authors: Kwon Mi-ri , Choi Sang-Hee , Jang Kee-Taek , Kim Jung-Han , Mun Goo-Hyun , Lee Jeeyun , Lee Dong-Youn
Published: November 2019

This study aimed to evaluate the most common primary metastatic location of acral malignant melanoma and to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative ultrasound for sentinel lymph node metastasis. Ninety-eight Korean acral malignant melanoma patients were enrolled. Acral malignant melanoma was present in 76 lower limbs and in 22 upper limbs. The most common origin location was the sole (33.7%). The most common location of primary metastasis was loco-regional recurrence (22/34, 64.7%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of preoperative sentinel lymph node ultrasound was 29.1%, 94.6%, 63.6%, and 80.5%, respectively. We postulate the unusefulness of preoperative ultrasound for sentinel lymph node metastasis in acral malignant melanoma.