bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Top‐down lignomic matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry analysis of lignin oligomers extracted from date palm wood
Authors: Albishi Tasahil , Mikhael Abanoub , Shahidi Fereidoon , Fridgen Travis D. , Delmas Michel , Banoub Joseph
Published: December 2018

Rationale

We report for the first time the top‐down lignomic analysis of the virgin released lignin (VRL) oligomers obtained from the Saudi date palm wood (SDPW), using a matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight/time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF/TOF) instrument. In addition, we are proposing new collision‐induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID‐MS/MS) fragmentation routes for this series of unreported VRL oligomers.

Methods

We have used direct MALDI‐TOF‐MS analysis of the mixture of lignin oligomers without any chromatographic pre‐separation. High‐energy CID‐MS/MS analyses were used to confirm the precursor ion structures.

Results

Six protonated lignin oligomer molecules were identified: [C19H24O8 + H]+ as H(8‐O‐4')G; [C50H52O19 + H]+ as H(8‐O‐4')H(8‐O‐4'')S(8‐O‐4''')S(8‐O‐4'''')G; [C58H54O18+ H]+ as H(8‐O‐4')H(8‐O‐4'')H(8‐O‐4''')G(8‐O‐4'''')S(8‐O‐4''''')G; [C58H54O19 + H]+ as H(8‐O‐4')H(8‐O‐4'')H(8‐O‐4''')S(8‐O‐4'''')S(8‐O‐4''''')G; [C61H68O25 + H]+ as H(8‐O‐4')G(8‐O‐4'')G(8‐O‐4''')S(8‐O‐4'''')S(8‐O‐4''''')G; and [C61H68O26 + H]+ as C(8‐O‐4')G(8‐O‐4'')G(8‐O‐4''')S(8‐O‐4'''')S(8‐O‐4''''')G units (H = coniferyl, S = sinapyl, and G = p‐coumaryl). Two distonic cations were identified as [C39H43O15 + H]+• and [C40H43O16 + H]+• deriving from two tetrameric lignin oligomers. The high‐energy MS/MS analyses allowed the confirmation of the proposed structures of this series of lignin oligomers.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first elucidation of the lignin structure of the Saudi seedling date palm wood that was accomplished using a top‐down lignomic strategy that has not previously been published. The complex high‐energy CID‐MS/MS fragmentations presented herein are novel and have never been described before.
Development and control of a military rescue robot for casualty extraction task
Authors: Choi Byunghun , Lee Wonsuk , Park Gyuhyun , Lee Youngwoo , Min Jihong , Hong Seongil
Published: December 2018

This paper presents the development and control methodology of a military rescue robot for a casualty extraction task. The new rescue robot (HURCULES) equipped with electric actuators for the casualty extraction task on the battle field is introduced. In this paper, mechanical designs of the HURCULES are described in detail. One of the noticeable features in the mechanical design is to use the worm gear in the joint to maintain the safety of the casualty even with power‐off and to reduce the energy through a selected operating mode. Moreover, unlike the upper body of a conventional humanoid robot, the chest plate is installed and used to properly distribute the casualty’s weight to the dual‐arm manipulator and the chest plate when carrying the wounded person. The HURCULES is valuable because the rescue robots for use on the battle field are very rare. And, the HURCULES is the first rescue robot for use on the battle field in South Korea. Primarily, a semiautonomous control strategy is applied to the HURCULES. The maneuvering stability of the HURCULES is needed when approaching and escaping a casualty while maneuvering on uneven terrain, and it maintains autonomously by the HURCULES. A variety of maneuvering experiments on various terrains were conducted, and satisfactory results for the casualty extraction task were obtained. In particular, the field experiments in this paper were performed at an accredited test site. Besides, additional experiments were conducted to enhance the field applicability.
An anonymous and privacy‐preserving scheme for efficient traffic movement analysis in intelligent transportation system
Authors: Ogundoyin Sunday O.
Published: December 2018

Intelligent transportation system (ITS) has gained popularity in recent times because it has the prospect to improve traffic efficiency, minimize traffic accident, provide convenience, and reduce air pollution. In this paper, we propose a secure, autonomous, anonymous, and privacy‐preserving traffic movement analysis scheme for ITS. In the proposed scheme, fine‐grained traffic information such as average speed can be obtained without compromising users' privacy. We employ modified Paillier cryptosystem and Chinese Remainder Theorem to aggregate data of heterogeneous roads for saving bandwidth and Boneh short signature for authentication. The proposed scheme is autonomous by allowing users to generate their private/public key pair on their own for communication. In addition, we show that the proposed scheme meets all the security and privacy requirements of ITS such as data confidentiality and integrity, anonymous authentication, conditional traceability, and attack resistance. The performance analysis shows that the proposed scheme is very efficient.
Effects of soluble copper and copper oxide nanoparticle exposure on the immune system of mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis
Authors: Torres‐Duarte Cristina , Hutton Sara , Vines Carol , Moore James , Cherr Gary N.
Published: December 2018

Copper and copper oxide nanomaterials (nCuO) can enter the marine environment negatively impacting mussels, an environmental and commercially relevant organism. We analyzed the effects on the immune system of adult mussels exposed to soluble copper (CuSO4, 20‐50 μg/L) or nCuO (100‐450 μg/L). CuSO4 caused significant copper accumulation in gills and cell‐free hemolymph, while nCuO caused cell damage to gills and significant copper accumulation in hemocytes, the most abundant cells in the hemolymph. Both sources of copper caused cellular toxicity in hemocytes by increasing reactive oxygen species production and lysosome abundance, and decreasing multi‐drug resistance transporter activity. Though hemocyte abundance was not affected, their in‐vitro phagocytic activity decreased, explaining the slight (but not statistically significant) increase in bacterial proliferation in mussels exposed to the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio tubiashii following copper exposure. Thus, exposure to non‐lethal concentrations of CuSO4 or nCuO can potentially increase mussel susceptibility to bacterial infections.
Increased compliance with tumor treating fields therapy is prognostic for improved survival in the treatment of glioblastoma: a subgroup analysis of the EF-14 phase III trial
Authors: Toms S. A. , Kim C. Y. , Nicholas G. , Ram Z.
Published: December 2018

Background

Tumor treating fields (TTFields) is a non-invasive, antimitotic therapy. In the EF-14 phase 3 trial in newly diagnosed glioblastoma, TTFields plus temozolomide (TTFields/TMZ) improved progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) versus TMZ alone. Previous data indicate a ≥ 75% daily compliance improves outcomes. We analyzed compliance data from TTFields/TMZ patients in the EF-14 study to correlate TTFields compliance with PFS and OS and identify potential lower boundary for compliance with improved clinical outcomes.

Methods

Compliance was assessed by usage data from the NovoTTF-100A device and calculated as percentage per month of TTFields delivery. TTFields/TMZ patients were segregated into subgroups by percent monthly compliance. A Cox proportional hazard model controlled for sex, extent of resection,MGMTmethylation status, age, region, and performance status was used to investigate the effect of compliance on PFS and OS.

Results

A threshold value of 50% compliance with TTFields/TMZ improved PFS (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.47–1.05) and OS (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.45–0.99) versus TMZ alone with improved outcome as compliance increased. At compliance > 90%, median survival was 24.9 months (28.7 months from diagnosis) and 5-year survival rate was 29.3%. Compliance was independent of gender, extent of resection,MGMTmethylation status, age, region and performance status (HR 0.78; p = 0.031; OS at compliance ≥ 75% vs. < 75%).

Conclusion

A compliance threshold of 50% with TTFields/TMZ correlated with significantly improved OS and PFS versus TMZ alone. Patients with compliance > 90% showed extended median and 5-year survival rates. Increased compliance with TTFields therapy is independently prognostic for improved survival in glioblastoma.
Sex and Gender Differences in Ischemic Heart Disease: Endocrine Vascular Disease Approach (EVA) Study Design
Authors:   On behalf of EVA Collaborators, Raparelli Valeria , Proietti Marco , Lenzi Andrea , Basili Stefania
Published: December 2018

Improvements in ischemic heart disease (IHD) management have been unbalanced between sexes, with coronary microvascular dysfunction considered the likely underlying reason. The Endocrine Vascular disease Approach (EVA) is an observational study (Clinicaltrial.gov NCT02737982) aiming to assess sex and gender interactions between coronary circulation, sexual hormones, and platelet function. Consecutive patients with IHD undergoing coronary angiography will be recruited: (1) to assess sex and gender differences in angiographic reperfusion indexes; (2) to evaluate the effects of estrogen/androgen on sex-related differences in myocardial ischemia; (3) to investigate the platelet biology differences between men and women with IHD; (4) to verify sex- and gender-driven interplay between response to percutaneous coronary intervention, platelets, sex hormones, and myocardial damage at baseline and its impact on 12-month outcomes. The integration of sex and gender in this translational project on IHD will contribute to the identification of new targets for further innovative clinical interventions.
Discriminating Tectonic and Magmatic Fabrics in the Remal Granite Gneiss: Implications for Terrane Amalgamation Processes in Southeastern Singhbhum, India
Authors: Dobe Ritabrata , Gupta Saibal
Published: December 2018

The Remal granite gneiss body in the southeastern part of the Singhbhum Craton, near its contact with the Rengali Province, preserves two orthogonal penetrative foliations. The subhorizontal foliation defines cross and trough bedding structures, and is characterized by (i) systematic grain-size variation between the layers, (ii) the presence of feldspar laths and (iii) graphic intergrowth textures, confirming that it is primary and of igneous origin (Sign). Sign has a non-planar geometry and shows a spread in orientations, while a later foliation of tectonic origin is defined by alternating biotite-rich and biotite poor bands that define a consistently oriented gneissic foliation (S1). S1 gneissic layering is associated with the alignment of biotite flakes and myrmekite formation, and operated under low grade metamorphic conditions. S1 shows a remarkable similarity in orientation with the shear fabric along the amalgamation front of the Rengali Province with the Eastern Ghats Province further to the south, indicating that strain related to this regional strike-slip event can be identified even in southeastern Singhbhum.
Seismic Cycles and Trend Predictions of Earthquakes in Sumatra – Andaman and Burmese Subduction Zones using Temporal b-value and Hurst Analysis
Authors: Sengupta Diptansu , Mukhopadhyay Basab , Mishra Om Prakash
Published: December 2018

The annual b-value fluctuation patterns in Burmese subduction zone and Andaman – Sumatra subduction zone are evaluated from earthquake data (January 1990 to June 2016; Mw ≥ 4.3) to identify seismic cycles with sequential dynamic phases as described in the ‘elastic failure model’ of Main et al. (1989). Two seismic cycles have been identified in Andaman – Sumatra subduction zone, one started in 1990 and ended on 2004 with occurrence of great Sumatra earthquake (Mw 9.0) and the other started in 2005 and continuing till date with the phase of crack coalescence and fluid diffusion (3A&B). Similarly, the subduction zone of Burma shows evidence of one incomplete seismic cycle within 1990-2016 and presently undergoing the crack coalescence and fluid diffusion (3A&B) phase. The analysis has prompted to subdivide the area into thirteen smaller seismic blocks (A to M) to analyse area specific seismic trend and vulnerability analysis employing Hurst Statistics. Hurst plots with the dynamic phases of ‘elastic failure model’ of earthquake generation is compared to assess the blocks with high seismic vulnerability. The analysis suggest that north Andaman zone (block G) and north Burma fold belt (block M) are seismically most vulnerable. Moreover, the seismic vulnerability of Tripura fold belt and Bangladesh plain (block K) is equally high.
Satellite-Derived Regional Apparent Thermal Inertia and Gravity for Mapping Different Rock Types in Parts of Banswara, Rajasthan
Authors: Rani (Pasricha) Komal , Guha Arindam , Pal Sanjit Kumar
Published: December 2018

In this study, utility of satellite derived Apparent Thermal Inertia (ATI) and residual gravity data have been analyzed for delineating the major rock types of Aravalli Supergroup. Density is a common contributing factor responsible for ATI and gravity variations of rock types. In addition to density, thermal inertia is also controlled by specific heat and thermal conductivity. In the present study, MODIS (Moderate resolution imaging spectrometer) day and consecutive night time land surface temperature (LST), albedo data have been processed to derive ATI image for the study area. On the other hand, Bouguer gravity generated from EIGEN6C4 gravity model data is processed to derive the residual gravity over the study area. It has been observed that ATI values of different rock types are influenced by the variations in weathering pattern and forest cover developed over the rock in addition to the thermophysical parameters of rocks. Forest cover and agricultural activity are responsible for shifting the ATI values to higher side for any rocks due to evapotranspiration; which is responsible for reducing day and night land surface temperature difference. ATI pixels(collected from large rock pavements) of different rocks can however, be used to discriminate them from each other. Conjugate analysis of residual gravity and ATI has been proved useful to discriminate different rock types of spatially well distributed rock exposures. It is found that ATI and gravity values are well correlated for the spatially large surface exposures of rocks. In regional scale, low frequency changes of ATI broadly matches with the changes observed on the corresponding spatial profiles of residual gravity with some localized variations. This is due to the fact that shallow surface gravity anomaly is cumulative effect of vertical and horizontal variations of density in contrast to ATI which is more sensitive to near surface density, conductivity and specific heat variations of rocks. Moreover, high frequency variations imprinted on regional ATI spatial profiles are due to the cumulative effect of complex thermophysical properties of surface elements (weathering residuum, surface moisture variations) density variation and intrinsic thermophysical properties of rocks measured at regional scale. High frequency changes of ATI do not correspond well with residual gravity variation.
Development of Earthquake Event Detection Technique Based on STA/LTA Algorithm for Seismic Alert System
Authors: Kumar Satish , Vig Renu , Kapur Pawan
Published: December 2018

Among natural disasters, earthquake is the most common calamity which result in a wide spectrum of destruction, loses of property and human life. In order to mitigate the damage impact, there is an urgent need to realize a technological solution for vital installations i.e. Seismic alert system (SAS). It is a solution to avert colossal loss as earthquake forecasting is not yet possible and is being devised for regional notification for a possible mitigation while it is in active mode. For designing SAS, a network of seismic sensing node (SSN) is to be configured to detect the seismic activity in the region of interest. SSN discriminates between local noise and seismic event in real time using inbuilt event detection technique. The true seismic event is declared on satisfying the field parameters programmed by the user i.e. short and long duration window, threshold ratio, stability factor, de-threshold ratio, number of threshold channels, sampling rate, pre-event and post-event duration, number of channel and packet size duration. This paper illustrates the design aspects related to the event detection technique incorporated in the seismic node of the alert system and configured around the seismic sensors, 24-bit high resolution digitizers, GPS modules, etc. The results are validated by varying the different field parameters on recorded signal.
Heliborne Time Domain Electromagnetic Data Aiding Delineation of Carbonaceous Shale in Southwestern Part of Bijawar Basin and its Implication on Basinal Stratigraphy
Authors: Pathak K. , Yalla Harsha , Singh R. P. , Chaturvedi A. K.
Published: December 2018

Geophysical methods are tools to unravel concealed geological features that enhance knowledge. Heliborne time domain electro-magnetic (TDEM) survey carried out over volcano-sedimentary sequence of Palaeoproterozoic Bijawar basin indicated presence of conductor in the western part of the basin. Subsequently boreholes drilled intercepted rhythmites made up of carbonaceous shale and dolomite within Bajno dolomite Formation. Measurement of conductivity on core samples established the high conductive carbonaceous shale as the contributor for TDEM response. TDEM signature indicate widespread presence of rhythmites in the western part of Bijawar basin reflecting different hydrodynamic condition from other parts of Bajno dolomite. Thus, Bajno dolomite Formation is classified into two members viz. Tigoda member and Sarwa member.
Geotechnical Facets of Active Sediments and its Bearing on Natural Hazards and Mitigation Measures: An Approach on Sediments of the Nubra Valley (Ladakh), Trans-Himalaya, India
Authors: Dubey R. K. , Dar J. A. , Satyam Gyan Prakash
Published: December 2018

The paper highlights the geotechnical attributes of Quaternary stratified sediments in Trans-Himalayan zone around the Nubra Valley (Ladakh), India for classifying the sediment’s sequences and characterizing their participation in natural hazards susceptibility and mitigation measures. The study is based on the experimental works performed on collected samples of sediments at different sites and depths (1.5 to 5.5 m) of sequences for determination of grain size sensitive parameters and geotechnical characteristics as per American Society for Testing and Materials standard and with help of empirical relationships. The results reveal that the majority of sediments are bimodal distributed with wide variation in uniformity coefficients (1.84-5.0), low variation in coefficient of curvatures (0.5-0.61) and sorting coefficient (1.12-1.69) exhibit wide range of shear strengths (25 kPa to 130 kPa), cohesions (0.02-0.13 kg/cm2) and angles of internal frictions (36°-45°) which may be due to distinct differences in their densities, void ratios, liquid and plastic limits. Based on geotechnical values, the sediments strata can be categorized as foot-hill debris zone, normal sediment (soil) zone and active sediment (soil) zone. The foot-hill debris zone is found more prone to mass-wasting due to influence of gravity and their low binding habits. The active sediment (soil) zone exhibits lower shear strengths and cohesions in comparison to normal sediments due to higher liquid and plastic limits of sediments exposed to freezing and thawing actions. This zone is found more susceptible to slope instabilities and differential settlements hazards, hence requires specific care during engineering establishments and mitigation measures in the valley.
The clinical impact of a urinary tract infection management bundle in a tertiary-care teaching hospital
Authors: MacLaggan Timothy D. , Le Christopher P. , Iverson Kristen A. , Ellis Chelsey L. , Allard Jacques , Wilcox-Carrier Tammie J. , Smyth Daniel J.
Published: December 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a urinary tract infection (UTI) management bundle to reduce the treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) and to improve the management of symptomatic UTIs.

Design

Before-and-after intervention study.

Settings

Tertiary-care hospital.

Patients

Consecutive sample of inpatients with positive single or mixed-predominant urine cultures collected and reported while admitted to the hospital.

Methods

The UTI management bundle consisted of nursing and prescriber education, modification of the reporting of positive urine cultures, and pharmacists’ prospective audit and feedback. A retrospective chart review of consecutive inpatients with positive urinary cultures was performed before and after implementation of the management bundle.

Results

Prior to the implementation of the management bundle, 276 patients were eligible criteria for chart review. Of these 276 patients, 165 (59·8%) were found to have AB; of these 165 patients with AB, 111 (67·3%) were treated with antimicrobials. Moreover, 268 patients met eligibility criteria for postintervention review. Of these 268, 133 patients (49·6%) were found to have AB; of these 133 with AB, 22 (16·5%) were treated with antimicrobials. Thus, a 75·5% reduction of AB treatment was achieved. Educational components of the bundle resulted in a substantial decrease in nonphysician-directed urine sample submission. Adherence to a UTI management algorithm improved substantially in the intervention period, with a notable decrease in fluoroquinolone prescription for empiric UTI treatment.

Conclusions

A UTI management bundle resulted in a dramatic improvement in the management of urinary tract infection, particularly a reduction in the treatment of AB and improved management of symptomatic UTI.
Association of Dietary Inflammatory Index with anthropometric indices in children and adolescents: the weight disorder survey of the Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and Prevention of Adult Non-communicable Disease (CASPIAN)-IV study
Authors: Aslani Zahra , Qorbani Mostafa , Hébert James R. , Shivappa Nitin , Motlagh Mohammad Esmaeil , Asayesh Hamid , Mahdavi-Gorabi Armita , Kelishadi Roya
Published: December 2018

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), a validated tool for evaluating diet-associated inflammation, and anthropometric indices in children and adolescents. This multicentre survey was conducted on 5427 school students selected via multistage cluster sampling from thirty provinces of Iran. This survey was conducted under the framework of the weight disorders survey, which is part of a national surveillance programme entitled Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and Prevention of Adult Non-communicable Diseases-IV. For calculating the DII scores, twenty-five dietary factors were obtained from a validated 168-item FFQ. Height, weight, wrist circumference, neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were measured. BMIz-score, waist circumference:hip circumference ratio (WHR), waist circumference:height ratio (WHtR) and parental BMI were computed. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the association of DII and anthropometric indices. Significant trends were observed across quartiles of DII score for all anthropometric indices in all participants (P<0·05), except for WHR and WHtR. After adjustment for potential confounders, the multiple linear regression analysis for each anthropometric index revealed that participants in the highest DII quartile had higher BMIz-score, WC, HC and parental BMI compared with those in the first (or lowest) quartile. In summary, we found that a pro-inflammatory diet was associated with higher BMIz-score, wrist circumference, NC, WC, HC and parental BMI. The large sample size of the present study may influence the statistical significance of observed associations. Hence, the findings should be clinically interpreted with caution.
Spaces which Invert Weak Homotopy Equivalences
Authors: Barmak Jonathan Ariel
Published: December 2018

It is well known that if X is a CW-complex, then for every weak homotopy equivalence f : A → B, the map f* : [X, A] → [X, B] induced in homotopy classes is a bijection. In fact, up to homotopy equivalence, only CW-complexes have that property. Now, for which spaces X is f* : [B, X] → [A, X] a bijection for every weak equivalence f? This question was considered by J. Strom and T. Goodwillie. In this note we prove that a non-empty space inverts weak equivalences if and only if it is contractible.
Association between spousal violence and the incidence of acute respiratory infection among children under five: random-effect modelling using data from Nigeria and Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Mian B. , Udo Ifeyinwa , Phillips James F.
Published: December 2018

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a major cause of mortality among children under the age of five in developing countries. This paper examines Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data on maternal recall of episodes of ARI in the contrasting settings of Bangladesh and Nigeria, where about 11.1% and 3.3% of under-5 children, respectively, are reported to have symptoms of ARI. The surveys found that about 25.6% of married Bangladeshi women and 15.4% of married Nigerian women reported experiencing spousal violence in the past year. To test the proposition that women’s experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with adversity in their children, the study examined the relationship between spousal violence in the past year and childhood ARI in the past 2 weeks among children under the age of five in Bangladesh and Nigeria. Data were taken from a nationally representative sample of mothers aged 15–49 years obtained from the 2007 Bangladesh DHS and 2008 Nigeria DHS. Random-effects multiple logistic regression models were estimated to assess the association of maternal exposure to IPV with the incidence of ARI in the past 2 weeks among under-5 children after controlling for the potentially confounding effects of maternal social and demographic characteristics. Results from Nigeria suggest that the odds of ARI incidence among children of mothers who were IPV victims were almost two times higher than among their counterparts whose mothers had not experienced IPV (OR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.45–2.19; p <0.001). Similarly, the odds for the children of Bangladeshi IPV victims were elevated one and half times (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.21–2.14; p <0.001). The findings suggest that under-5 children suffer indirect health consequences of gender-based violence.
Malnutrition in older adults: screening and determinants
Authors: Corish Clare A. , Bardon Laura A.
Published: December 2018

Older adults are at risk of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). PEM detrimentally impacts on health, cognitive and physical functioning and quality of life. Given these negative health outcomes in the context of an ageing global population, the Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life Joint Programming Initiative Malnutrition in the Elderly (MaNuEL) sought to create a knowledge hub on malnutrition in older adults. This review summarises the findings related to the screening and determinants of malnutrition. Based on a scoring system that incorporated validity, parameters used and practicability, recommendations on setting-specific screening tools for use with older adults were made. These are: DETERMINE your health checklist for the community, Nutritional Form for the Elderly for rehabilitation, Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire-Residential Care for residential care and Malnutrition Screening Tool or Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form for hospitals. A meta-analysis was conducted on six longitudinal studies from MaNuEL partner countries to identify the determinants of malnutrition. Increasing age, unmarried/separated/divorced status (vs.married but not widowed), difficulties walking 100 m or climbing stairs and hospitalisation in the year prior to baseline or during follow-up predicted malnutrition. The sex-specific predictors of malnutrition were explored within The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing dataset. For females, cognitive impairment or receiving social support predicted malnutrition. The predictors for males were falling in the previous 2 years, hospitalisation in the past year and self-reported difficulties in climbing stairs. Incorporation of these findings into public health policy and clinical practice would support the early identification and management of malnutrition.
A survey of large-scale reasoning on the Web of data
Authors: Antoniou Grigoris , Batsakis Sotiris , Mutharaju Raghava , Pan Jeff Z. , Qi Guilin , Tachmazidis Ilias , Urbani Jacopo , Zhou Zhangquan
Published: December 2018

As more and more data is being generated by sensor networks, social media and organizations, the Web interlinking this wealth of information becomes more complex. This is particularly true for the so-called Web of Data, in which data is semantically enriched and interlinked using ontologies. In this large and uncoordinated environment, reasoning can be used to check the consistency of the data and of associated ontologies, or to infer logical consequences which, in turn, can be used to obtain new insights from the data. However, reasoning approaches need to be scalable in order to enable reasoning over the entire Web of Data. To address this problem, several high-performance reasoning systems, which mainly implement distributed or parallel algorithms, have been proposed in the last few years. These systems differ significantly; for instance in terms of reasoning expressivity, computational properties such as completeness, or reasoning objectives. In order to provide a first complete overview of the field, this paper reports a systematic review of such scalable reasoning approaches over various ontological languages, reporting details about the methods and over the conducted experiments. We highlight the shortcomings of these approaches and discuss some of the open problems related to performing scalable reasoning.
An outbreak of norovirus infection caused by ice cubes and a leaking air ventilation valve
Authors: Jalava K. , Kauppinen A. , Al-Hello H. , Räsänen S.
Published: December 2018

A gastrointestinal outbreak was reported among 154 diners who attended a Christmas buffet on the 9 and 10 December 2016. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken. Faecal samples, water, ice and an air ventilation device were tested for indicators and routine pathogens. Altogether 26% (24/91) fulfilled the case definition of having typical viral gastrointestinal symptoms. Norovirus genogroup I was detected in faecal samples from three cases. One of these cases tested positive also for sapovirus and had a family member testing positive for both norovirus and sapovirus. A diner who drank water or drinks with ice cubes (risk ratios (RR) 6.5, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.5–113.0) or both (RR 8.2, 95% CI 1.7–145.5) had an increased risk in a dose-response manner. Ice cubes from three vending machines had high levels of heterotrophic bacteria. A faulty air ventilation valve in the space where the ice cube machine was located was considered a likely cause of this outbreak. Leaking air ventilation valves may represent a neglected route of transmission in viral gastrointestinal outbreaks.
Action Control Deficits in Patients With Essential Tremor
Authors: Hughes Shelby , Claassen Daniel O. , van den Wildenberg Wery P.M. , Phibbs Fenna T. , Bradley Elise B. , Wylie Scott A. , van Wouwe Nelleke C.
Published: December 2018

Objectives: Essential tremor (ET) is a movement disorder characterized by action tremor which impacts motor execution. Given the disrupted cerebellar-thalamo-cortical networks in ET, we hypothesized that ET could interfere with the control mechanisms involved in regulating motor performance. The ability to inhibit or stop actions is critical for navigating many daily life situations such as driving or social interactions. The current study investigated the speed of action initiation and two forms of action control, response stopping and proactive slowing in ET. Methods: Thirty-three ET patients and 25 healthy controls (HCs) completed a choice reaction task and a stop-signal task, and measures of going speed, proactive slowing and stop latencies were assessed. Results: Going speed was significantly slower in ET patients (649 ms) compared to HCs (526 ms; F(1,56) = 42.37; p <.001; η2 = .43), whereas proactive slowing did not differ between groups. ET patients exhibited slower stop signal reaction times (320 ms) compared to HCs (258 ms, F(1,56) = 15.3; p <.00; η2 = .22) and more severe motor symptoms of ET were associated with longer stopping latencies in a subset of patients (Spearman rho = .48; p <.05). Conclusions: In line with previous studies, ET patients showed slower action initiation. Additionally, inhibitory control was impaired whereas proactive slowing remained intact relative to HCs. More severe motor symptoms of ET were associated with slower stopping speed, and may reflect more progressive changes to the cerebellar-thalamo-cortical network. Future imaging studies should specify which structural and functional changes in ET can explain changes in inhibitory action control. (JINS, 2019, 25, 156–164)
Offspring from maternal nutrient restriction in mice show variations in adult glucose metabolism similar to human fetal growth restriction
Authors: Radford B. N. , Han V. K. M.
Published: December 2018

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a pregnancy condition in which fetal growth is suboptimal for gestation, and this population is at increased risk for type 2 diabetes as adults. In humans, maternal malnutrition and placental insufficiency are the most common causes of FGR, and both result in fetal undernutrition. We hypothesized that maternal nutrient restriction (MNR) in mice will cause FGR and alter glucose metabolism in adult offspring. Pregnant CD-1 mice were subjected to MNR (70% of average ad libitum) or control (ad libitum) from E6.5 to birth. Following birth, mice were fostered by mothers on ad libitum feeds. Weight, blood glucose, glucose tolerance and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity were assessed in male offspring. MNR resulted in reduced fetal sizes but caught up to controls by 3 days postnatal age. As adults, glucose intolerance was detected in 19% of male MNR offspring. At 6 months, liver size was reduced (P = 0.01), but pAkt-to-Akt ratios in response to insulin were increased 2.5-fold relative to controls (P = 0.004). These data suggest that MNR causes FGR and long-term glucose intolerance in a population of male offspring similar to human populations. This mouse model can be used to investigate the impacts of FGR on tissues of importance in glucose metabolism.
Tobin Receives 2018 Paul G. Silver Award
Authors:   AGU
Published: December 2018

Harold Tobin will receive the 2018 Paul G. Silver Award for Outstanding Scientific Service at AGU’s Fall Meeting 2018, to be held 10–14 December in Washington, D. C. The award is given annually to recognize a scientist who has made “outstanding contributions to the fields of geodesy, seismology, or tectonophysics through mentoring of junior colleagues, leadership of community research initiatives, or other forms of unselfish cooperation in research.”
Bruno Receives 2018 Space Weather and Nonlinear Waves and Processes Prize
Authors:   AGU
Published: December 2018

Roberto Bruno will receive the Space Weather and Nonlinear Waves and Processes Prize at AGU’s Fall Meeting 2018, to be held 10–14 December in Washington, D. C. The award recognizes “cutting-edge work in the fields of space weather and nonlinear waves and processes.”
Ocean Circulation Causes Strong Variability in the Mid‐Atlantic Bight Nitrogen Budget
Authors: Friedrichs Marjorie A. M. , St‐Laurent Pierre , Xiao Yongjin , Hofmann Eileen , Hyde Kimberly , Mannino Antonio , Najjar Raymond G. , Narváez Diego A. , Signorini Sergio R. , Tian Hanqin , Wilkin John , Yao Yuanzhi , Xue Jianhong
Published: December 2018

Understanding of nitrogen cycling on continental shelves, a critical component of global nutrient cycling, is hampered by limited observations compared to the strong variability on a wide range of time and space scales. Numerical models have the potential to partially alleviate this issue by filling spatiotemporal data gaps and hence resolving annual area‐integrated nutrient fluxes. In this study, a three‐dimensional biogeochemical‐circulation model was implemented to simulate the Mid‐Atlantic Bight (MAB) nitrogen budget. Model results demonstrate that, on average, MAB net community production (NCP) was positive (+0.27 Tg N/year), indicating net autotrophy. Interannual variability in NCP was strong, with annual values ranging between 0.19 and 0.41 Tg N/year. Along‐shelf and across‐shelf horizontal transport fluxes were the other dominant terms in the nitrogen budget and were primarily responsible for this NCP variability. The along‐shelf current transported nitrogen from the north (0.65 Tg N/year) into the MAB, supplementing the nitrogen entering from terrestrial inputs (0.27 Tg N/year). However, NCP was highest in the year when total water volume transport and inorganic nitrogen input was strongest across the continental slope in the southern MAB, rather than when terrestrial inputs were greatest. Interannual variability of NCP appears to be linked to changes in the positions of the Gulf Stream and Slope Water Gyre. Overall, the strong spatiotemporal variability of the nitrogen fluxes highlights the importance of observations throughout all seasons and multiple years in order to accurately resolve the current status and future changes of the MAB nitrogen budget.
The Role of Reactive Iron in the Preservation of Terrestrial Organic Carbon in Estuarine Sediments
Authors: Zhao B. , Yao P. , Bianchi T. S. , Shields M. R. , Cui X. Q. , Zhang X. W. , Huang X. Y. , Schröder C. , Zhao J. , Yu Z. G.
Published: December 2018

To better understand the role of reactive Fe (FeR) in the preservation of sedimentary organic carbon (SOC) in estuarine sediments, we examined specific surface area, grain size composition, total OC (TOC), lignin phenols, FeR, FeR‐associated OC (Fe‐OC) and lignin phenols (Fe‐lignin), and δ13C of FeR‐associated OC (δ13CFe‐OC) in surface sediments of the Changjiang Estuary and adjacent shelf. An estimated 7.4 ± 3.5% of the OC was directly bound with FeR in the Changjiang Estuary and adjacent shelf. Unusually low TOC/specific surface area loadings and Fe‐OC/Fe ratios in mobile muds suggest that frequent physical reworking may reduce FeR binding with OC, with selective loss of marine OC. More depleted 13CFe‐OC relative to 13C of TOC (13Cbulk) in deltaic regions and mobile muds showed that FeR was largely associated with terrestrial OC, derived from extensive riverine OC and Fe inputs. A higher proportion of hematite in the mobile muds compared to the offshore samples indicated that Fe oxides are likely subjected to selective sorting and/or become mature during long‐term sediment transport. When considering the percentage of Fe‐OC to SOC and SOC burial rates in different marine environments (e.g., nondeltaic shelf, anoxic basins, slope, and deep sea), our findings suggest that about 15.6 ± 6.5% of SOC is directly bound to FeR on a global scale, which is lower than the previous estimation (~21.5%). This work further supports the notion of a Rusty Sink where, in this case, FeR plays an important role in the preservation and potential transport of terrestrial OC in the marine environment.
Childhood adversity and DNA methylation in two population-based cohorts
Authors: Houtepen L. C. , Hardy R. , Maddock J. , Kuh D. , Anderson E. L. , Relton C. L. , Suderman M. J. , Howe L. D.
Published: December 2018

Childhood adversity affects later health, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Although there is some evidence from animal models and case-control studies of a role for DNA methylation, evidence from human population-based studies is limited. In two cohorts (mothers from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC,n = 780 and women from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, NSHD,n = 552), we assessed the association of seven adverse childhood experiences (ACEs: parental physical illness, parental mental illness, parental death, parental separation, suboptimal maternal bonding, childhood illness and child maltreatment) as well as their combination (ACE score) with genome-wide DNA methylation levels measured using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip in peripheral blood at mean age 47 years (ALSPAC) and in buccal cells at age 53 years (NSHD). CpG sites with a genome-wide false discovery rate (FDR) below 0.05 and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) with one-step Šidák correctionp-values below 0.05 in each cohort were examined in the other cohort. No individual CpG sites replicated across cohorts. However, nine DMRs replicated across cohorts respectively associated with the ACE score (one region), parental mental illness (two regions), parental physical illness (three regions) and parental death (three regions). These observations indicate that some adverse childhood experiences, notably those related to parental health, may leave imprints on peripheral DNA methylation that persist to mid-life.
Neural network analysis of sleep stages enables efficient diagnosis of narcolepsy
Authors: Stephansen Jens B. , Olesen Alexander N. , Olsen Mads , Ambati Aditya , Leary Eileen B. , Moore Hyatt E. , Carrillo Oscar , Lin Ling , Han Fang , Yan Han , Sun Yun L. , Dauvilliers Yves , Scholz Sabine , Barateau Lucie , Hogl Birgit , Stefani Ambra , Hong Seung Chul , Kim Tae Won , Pizza Fabio , Plazzi Giuseppe , Vandi Stefano , Antelmi Elena , Perrin Dimitri , Kuna Samuel T. , Schweitzer Paula K. , Kushida Clete , Peppard Paul E. , Sorensen Helge B. D. , Jennum Poul , Mignot Emmanuel
Published: December 2018

Analysis of sleep for the diagnosis of sleep disorders such as Type-1 Narcolepsy (T1N) currently requires visual inspection of polysomnography records by trained scoring technicians. Here, we used neural networks in approximately 3,000 normal and abnormal sleep recordings to automate sleep stage scoring, producing a hypnodensity graph—a probability distribution conveying more information than classical hypnograms. Accuracy of sleep stage scoring was validated in 70 subjects assessed by six scorers. The best model performed better than any individual scorer (87% versus consensus). It also reliably scores sleep down to 5 s instead of 30 s scoring epochs. A T1N marker based on unusual sleep stage overlaps achieved a specificity of 96% and a sensitivity of 91%, validated in independent datasets. Addition of HLA-DQB1*06:02 typing increased specificity to 99%. Our method can reduce time spent in sleep clinics and automates T1N diagnosis. It also opens the possibility of diagnosing T1N using home sleep studies.
Machine learning applied to enzyme turnover numbers reveals protein structural correlates and improves metabolic models
Authors: Heckmann David , Lloyd Colton J. , Mih Nathan , Ha Yuanchi , Zielinski Daniel C. , Haiman Zachary B. , Desouki Abdelmoneim Amer , Lercher Martin J. , Palsson Bernhard O.
Published: December 2018

Knowing the catalytic turnover numbers of enzymes is essential for understanding the growth rate, proteome composition, and physiology of organisms, but experimental data on enzyme turnover numbers is sparse and noisy. Here, we demonstrate that machine learning can successfully predict catalytic turnover numbers in Escherichia coli based on integrated data on enzyme biochemistry, protein structure, and network context. We identify a diverse set of features that are consistently predictive for both in vivo and in vitro enzyme turnover rates, revealing novel protein structural correlates of catalytic turnover. We use our predictions to parameterize two mechanistic genome-scale modelling frameworks for proteome-limited metabolism, leading to significantly higher accuracy in the prediction of quantitative proteome data than previous approaches. The presented machine learning models thus provide a valuable tool for understanding metabolism and the proteome at the genome scale, and elucidate structural, biochemical, and network properties that underlie enzyme kinetics.
Binding of HMGN proteins to cell specific enhancers stabilizes cell identity
Authors: He Bing , Deng Tao , Zhu Iris , Furusawa Takashi , Zhang Shaofei , Tang Wei , Postnikov Yuri , Ambs Stefan , Li Caiyi Cherry , Livak Ferenc , Landsman David , Bustin Michael
Published: December 2018

The dynamic nature of the chromatin epigenetic landscape plays a key role in the establishment and maintenance of cell identity, yet the factors that affect the dynamics of the epigenome are not fully known. Here we find that the ubiquitous nucleosome binding proteins HMGN1 and HMGN2 preferentially colocalize with epigenetic marks of active chromatin, and with cell-type specific enhancers. Loss of HMGNs enhances the rate of OSKM induced reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and the ASCL1 induced conversion of fibroblast into neurons. During transcription factor induced reprogramming to pluripotency, loss of HMGNs accelerates the erasure of the MEF-specific epigenetic landscape and the establishment of an iPSCs-specific chromatin landscape, without affecting the pluripotency potential and the differentiation potential of the reprogrammed cells. Thus, HMGN proteins modulate the plasticity of the chromatin epigenetic landscape thereby stabilizing, rather than determining cell identity.
Inhalation of the prodrug PI3K inhibitor CL27c improves lung function in asthma and fibrosis
Authors: Campa Carlo C. , Silva Rangel L. , Margaria Jean P. , Pirali Tracey , Mattos Matheus S. , Kraemer Lucas R. , Reis Diego C. , Grosa Giorgio , Copperi Francesca , Dalmarco Eduardo M. , Lima-Júnior Roberto C. P. , Aprile Silvio , Sala Valentina , Dal Bello Federica , Prado Douglas Silva , Alves-Filho Jose Carlos , Medana Claudio , Cassali Geovanni D. , Tron Gian Cesare , Teixeira Mauro M. , Ciraolo Elisa , Russo Remo C. , Hirsch Emilio
Published: December 2018

PI3K activation plays a central role in the development of pulmonary inflammation and tissue remodeling. PI3K inhibitors may thus offer an improved therapeutic opportunity to treat non-resolving lung inflammation but their action is limited by unwanted on-target systemic toxicity. Here we present CL27c, a prodrug pan-PI3K inhibitor designed for local therapy, and investigate whether inhaled CL27c is effective in asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. Mice inhaling CL27c show reduced insulin-evoked Akt phosphorylation in lungs, but no change in other tissues and no increase in blood glycaemia, in line with a local action. In murine models of acute or glucocorticoid-resistant neutrophilic asthma, inhaled CL27c reduces inflammation and improves lung function. Finally, inhaled CL27c administered in a therapeutic setting protects from bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, ultimately leading to significantly improved survival. Therefore, local delivery of a pan-PI3K inhibitor prodrug reduces systemic on-target side effects but effectively treats asthma and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis.