bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kostenanalyse stationärer und ambulanter intravenöser Antibiotikatherapie periprothetischer Gelenkinfektionen
Authors: Boese Christoph Kolja , Lechler Philipp , Frink Michael , Hackl Michael , Eysel Peer , Ries Christian
Published: February 2020

Hintergrund

Die parenterale Antibiotikagabe im Rahmen der Therapie von periprothetischen Infektionen erfordert in der Regel eine stationäre Behandlung und geht mit hohen Kosten einher.

Fragestellung

Es wurden tatsächliche stationäre Behandlungskosten („inpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy“ [IPAT]) mit simulierten Kosten einer ambulanten Behandlung („outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy“ [OPAT]) von Patienten mit periprothetischen Gelenkinfektionen verglichen. Die Auswertung erfolgte aus Perspektive der Kostenträger (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung [GKV]) und Leistungserbringer (Krankenhäuser).

Material und Methoden

Die Analyse und Simulation erfolgten auf Grundlage einer ICD-10 (Internationale statistische Klassifikation der Krankheiten und verwandter Gesundheitsprobleme, 10. Revision) für das Behandlungsjahr 2015 mit der Diagnose T84.

Ergebnisse

Die simulierte Reduktion von 159 Bettentagen bei den in die Studie eingeschlossenen 12 Patienten erbrachte aus Sicht der Kostenträger eine Reduktion der Gesamtkosten um >18.000 €. Aus Perspektive der Leistungserbringer verbesserte sich der Reinerlös um >22.000 €. Die Gesamtkosten der OPAT für den Kostenträger beliefen sich auf >57.000 €. Für den Leistungserbringer zeigte sich in der Differenz von Poliklinikerlös und -kosten der OPAT ein Verlust von >1500 €.

Diskussion

Die OPAT ist für Leistungserbringer insgesamt finanziell vorteilhaft. Weitere Vorteile durch Opportunitätskosten erscheinen interessant. Für den Kostenträger ist die OPAT insbesondere durch die ambulanten Medikamentenkosten mit einem finanziellen Mehraufwand verbunden. Der niedergelassene Sektor sollte durch die anzunehmende Mehrbelastung ebenso wie der anzunehmende Patientenkomfort bedacht werden.
Intracellular osmoprotectant concentrations determine Propionibacterium freudenreichii survival during drying
Authors: Gaucher Floriane , Rabah Houem , Kponouglo Koffigan , Bonnassie Sylvie , Pottier Sandrine , Dolivet Anne , Marchand Pierre , Jeantet Romain , Blanc Philippe , Jan Gwénaël
Published: February 2020

Propionibacterium freudenreichii is a beneficial bacterium widely used in food as a probiotic and as a cheese-ripening starter. In these different applications, it is produced, dried, and stored before being used. Both freeze-drying and spray-drying were considered for this purpose. Freeze-drying is a discontinuous process that is energy-consuming but that allows high cell survival. Spray-drying is a continuous process that is more energy-efficient but that can lead to massive bacterial death related to heat, osmotic, and oxidative stresses. We have shown that P. freudenreichii cultivated in hyperconcentrated rich media can be spray-dried with limited bacterial death. However, the general stress tolerance conferred by this hyperosmotic constraint remained a black box. In this study, we modulated P. freudenreichii growth conditions and monitored both osmoprotectant accumulation and stress tolerance acquisition. Changing the ratio between the carbohydrates provided and non-protein nitrogen during growth under osmotic constraint modulated osmoprotectant accumulation. This, in turn, was correlated with P. freudenreichii tolerance towards different stresses, on the one hand, and towards freeze-drying and spray-drying, on the other. Surprisingly, trehalose accumulation correlated with spray-drying survival and glycine betaine accumulation with freeze-drying. This first report showing the ability to modulate the trehalose/GB ratio in osmoprotectants accumulated by a probiotic bacterium opens new perspectives for the optimization of probiotics production.
Oxytocin attenuates neural response to emotional faces in social drinkers: an fMRI study
Authors: Bach Patrick , Koopmann Anne , Bumb Jan Malte , Zimmermann Sina , Bühler Sina , Reinhard Iris , Witt Stephanie H. , Rietschel Marcella , Vollstädt-Klein Sabine , Kiefer Falk
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Oxytocin is a key mediator of emotional and social behavior that seems to be of relevance for the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors. We thus investigated the effect of oxytocin on neural response and behavior during a face-matching task in a sample of social drinkers.

Methods

Thirteen social drinkers underwent a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over functional magnetic resonance imaging face-matching task with and without prior intranasal application of 24 international units oxytocin. Effects of oxytocin and task condition (faces, shapes) on brain activation and individual task performance were assessed.

Results

Face-matching compared to shape-matching trials resulted in higher brain activation in the bilateral amygdala, hippocampus and parts of the occipital gyri. Oxytocin application vs. placebo reduced activation in bilateral amygdala, parts of the frontal gyri, and the parietal lobe. Region of interest analyses indicated that the oxytocin-induced attenuation of amygdala response was specific to face-stimuli and associated with lower subjective alcohol craving, and a lower percentage of heavy-drinking days (defined as ≥ 5 standard drinks/day).

Conclusion

For the first time, we could show that a larger oxytocin-induced attenuation of amygdala response to fearful faces is associated with lower subjective craving for alcohol and percentage of heavy drinking days in social drinkers. Modulation of amygdala activation, induced by emotional stimuli, might represent a neurobiological substrate of oxytocin’s protective effects on drug seeking behavior.
Factors affecting admixed pedunculate oak growth under heavy browsing by deer: benefits from inter- and intraspecific neighbourhoods
Authors: Dobrowolska Dorota , Załuski Dariusz , Dąbrowski Wojciech , Banul Rafał , Borkowski Jakub
Published: February 2020

One of the most important ecosystem processes, especially in temperate and boreal forests, is herbivore browsing. In this study, we tested five hypotheses: (H1) oak tree density would positively affect their height; (H2) despite severe browsing pressure, the height of oaks would increase with the age after planting; (H3) oaks growing among the planted pines would be taller than those among the sown ones; (H4) the growth of single oak saplings or of oak nests would be positively affected by the height of the pines growing in the immediate neighbourhood of the oaks; and (H5) the oak height would be affected by the location within a nest and oaks growing in the central zone would be taller than the others. The study was conducted in the Piska Forest in the north-eastern part of Poland. We established three variants of experiment. In the first variant, oaks were planted individually. In the second and third variants, oaks were planted in small nests. The second and third variants differed in the spacing of the nests: 8 × 8 m and 6 × 6 m, respectively. The division into the sub-variants referred to type of pine regeneration. In the first sub-variant, Scots pine was planted. In the second, pine was sown. In general, oaks growing within nests were significantly taller than those planted individually in the Scots pine rows. Despite heavy browsing, oak height consistently increased during the course of the study. Oak height also depended on the type of pine regeneration, and the mean height of oaks surrounded by planted pines was significantly higher than that of oaks surrounded by sown pines (which, in average, was shorter). That was because the planted pines were taller than the sown ones. We found that Spearman’s correlation coefficients were positive and significant between pine and oak heights in variants 2 and 3. Growth of oaks did not depend on their location within a nest. The results of the regeneration method of oak (single vs nest and few vs many nests) are modified by browsing. The best method found in the heavy browsing circumstances was planting oaks in many nests within successful pine regeneration (providing the oaks with protection against the browsing). The pine will provide the most efficient protection if regenerated a few years before the oaks.
Conditional non-expected utility preferences induced by mixture of lotteries: a note on the normative invalidity of expected utility theory
Authors: Geiger Gebhard
Published: February 2020

This research note is concerned with static choices between alternative mixtures of lotteries with one common mixture component and identical mixture weights. It is shown that the common component induces a conditional preference relation on the underlying lottery space with given (unconditional) preference structure. Induced preferences of this type arise in the comparisons with which the independence axiom of expected utility theory is specifically concerned. Given a few obvious properties of the induced preferences, two basic results are obtained: first, the conditionalisation operation is an order-preserving isomorphism, and, secondly, if the conditional preferences satisfy stochastic dominance preference, they necessarily violate the independence axiom. Together, the two results preclude any possibility of postulating independence consistently for static decision making under risk. The independence axiom is thus generally invalid as a normative principle of rational risky choice.
Compulsive Buying in Poland. An Empirical Study of People Married or in a Stable Relationship
Authors: Adamczyk G. , Capetillo-Ponce J. , Szczygielski D.
Published: February 2020

The present study examines the phenomenon of compensative and compulsive buying in a developing consumer society such as Poland. Firstly, the obtained empirical data make it possible to estimate the prevalence of compensative and compulsive buying among Poles married or in stable relationships. Secondly, the conducted analysis shows to what extent the prevalence is differentiated by individual (self-esteem), cultural (materialism), and sociodemographic conditions (gender, age). The findings come from a survey conducted in 2017 based on a nationwide statistically representative sample of 1,121 Poles married or in a stable relationship aged 18 years old and over. Drawing on this survey based on the German Compulsive Buying Indicator (GCBI), the prevalence of compulsive buying is observed at about 3%. Like in other countries, it turns out that gender, age, self-esteem, and materialism differentiate the extent of susceptibility to compensative and compulsive buying in Poland, too. The direction of the correlations is coherent with the findings in other countries.
Molecular characterization of the gibberellin-stimulated transcript of GASA4 in Citrus
Authors: Wu Tianli , Cheng Chunzhen , Zhong Yun , Lv Yuanda , Ma Yanyan , Zhong Guangyan
Published: February 2020

ACitrus clementinagene,CcGASA4, which is involved in the responses of citrus to stress, was characterized. The gene was induced byCitrus tristeza virusinfection, wounding and gibberellic, salicylic and abscisic acid treatments. A qRT-PCR analysis showed thatCcGASA4had a very high basal expression in flowers yet was still able to be further induced independently in giberellic, salicylic and abscisic acid-treated flowers. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that the CcGASA4 protein localized to the cell membrane and nucleus. A yeast two-hybrid analysis and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays showed that CcGASA4 interacted with two proteins, the large proline-rich protein bag6-A (PRPBAG6-A) and the general negative regulator of transcription subunit 3 (CNOT3). PRPBAG6 has been reported to be involved in disease resistance. Replacing some of CcGASA4's conserved cysteines with alanines (Cys → Ala) abolished the protein’s interaction with CNOT3 but did not show any effect on the protein’s interaction with PRPBAG6-A. Thus,CcGASA4appears to play multiple roles inCitrus, probably by interacting with different proteins and/or by localizing to different subcellular compartments.
In the beginning was violence: Emmanuel Levinas on religion and violence
Authors: Welten Ruud
Published: February 2020

It is the aim of this contribution to question the two conceptions of violence in the later Levinas. One of the face, the other the violence that must be overcome by the face. The article argues that this cannot be understood fully without taking into account Levinas’ Talmudic philosophy. By focusing on the notion of trauma in the later work of Levinas, it is argued that Levinas’ idea of the human subject is understood as radical vulnerability. This idea is evaluated on the basis of short comparisons with the thinking of Lacan, Žižek and Camus. The claim is made that to Levinas, violence is not a phenomenon to be eliminated by rational ethics, but one that forms the very notion of humanity itself. This is elaborated by showing how the Bible takes on a central role in Levinas’ thought.
Time-resolved fluorescence study of excitation energy transfer in the cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120
Authors: Akhtar Parveen , Biswas Avratanu , Petrova Nia , Zakar Tomas , van Stokkum Ivo H. M. , Lambrev Petar H.
Published: February 2020

Excitation energy transfer (EET) and trapping in Anabaena variabilis (PCC 7120) intact cells, isolated phycobilisomes (PBS) and photosystem I (PSI) complexes have been studied by picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy at room temperature. Global analysis of the time-resolved fluorescence kinetics revealed two lifetimes of spectral equilibration in the isolated PBS, 30–35 ps and 110–130 ps, assigned primarily to energy transfer within the rods and between the rods and the allophycocyanin core, respectively. An additional intrinsic kinetic component with a lifetime of 500–700 ps was found, representing non-radiative decay or energy transfer in the core. Isolated tetrameric PSI complexes exhibited biexponential fluorescence decay kinetics with lifetimes of about 10 ps and 40 ps, representing equilibration between the bulk antenna chlorophylls with low-energy “red” states and trapping of the equilibrated excitations, respectively. The cascade of EET in the PBS and in PSI could be resolved in intact filaments as well. Virtually all energy absorbed by the PBS was transferred to the photosystems on a timescale of 180–190 ps.
Modelling excitation energy transfer and trapping in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis PCC 7120
Authors: Biswas Avratanu , Huang Xinpeng , Lambrev Petar H. , van Stokkum Ivo H. M.
Published: February 2020

The phycobilisome (PBS) serves as the major light-harvesting system, funnelling excitation energy to both photosystems (PS) in cyanobacteria and red algae. The picosecond kinetics involving the excitation energy transfer has been studied within the isolated systems and intact filaments of the cyanobacteriumAnabaena variabilisPCC 7120. A target model is proposed which resolves the dynamics of the different chromophore groups. The energy transfer rate of 8.5 ± 1.0/ns from the rod to the core is the rate-limiting step, both in vivo and in vitro. The PBS-PSI-PSII supercomplex reveals efficient excitation energy migration from the low-energy allophycocyanin, which is the terminal emitter, in the PBS core to the chlorophyllain the photosystems. The terminal emitter of the phycobilisome transfers energy to both PSI and PSII with a rate of 50 ± 10/ns, equally distributing the solar energy to both photosystems. Finally, the excitation energy is trapped by charge separation in the photosystems with trapping rates estimated to be 56 ± 6/ns in PSI and 14 ± 2/ns in PSII.
School principal self-efficacy for instructional leadership: relations with engagement, emotional exhaustion and motivation to quit
Authors: Skaalvik Cecilie
Published: February 2020

The current study explored relations between principal self-efficacy for instructional leadership, emotional exhaustion, engagement, and motivation to quit the work as a principal. Participants in the study were 340 principals in elementary school and high school in five randomly selected counties in Norway. The theoretical frameworks for the study were self-efficacy theory and theoretical perspectives on instructional leadership. A new 15-item “Norwegian self-efficacy for instructional leadership scale” consisting of five subscales was developed and tested by means of confirmatory factor analyses. Both a model defining five correlated primary factors (Model 1) and a model defining a single second order factor (Model 2) had good fit to the data. SEM analysis revealed that self-efficacy for instructional leadership was negatively related to emotional exhaustion and positively related to engagement, indicating good criterion validity of the scale. Self-efficacy was also negatively related to motivation to quit. This relation was indirect and mediated through both emotional exhaustion and engagement. The dimension of self-efficacy for instructional leadership that was most strongly associated with emotional exhaustion and engagement was self-efficacy for motivating teachers. The dimension that was most weakly related to these variables was self-efficacy for creating a positive and safe learning environment for the students.
A reformulation of Murashige and Skoog medium (WPBS medium) improves embryogenesis, morphogenesis and transformation efficiency in temperate and tropical grasses and cereals
Authors: Dalton S. J.
Published: February 2020

Slow callus growth is a barrier to efficient genetic transformation in some gramineous species. A reformulation of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, with additional magnesium sulphate, potassium phosphate, copper sulphate, proline and glutamine, termed WPBS medium, has been developed which improves all aspects of in vitro culture when compared with MS based media. Embryogenic callus could be produced more rapidly from responsive genotypes of sixteen cereal, forage, model and energy grass species, whether using embryos, shoot tips or proliferated meristems as explants. Three species were not transformed due to contamination or unsuitable explant, but thirteen species were transformed using an identical Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, selection and regeneration protocol, including Avena sativa and Oryza sativa. Readily transformable species such as Lolium perenne, Brachypodium distachyon and Festuca arundinacea and recalcitrant species such as Lolium temulentum and Miscanthus sinensis were reliably transformed, while two new species Phalaris arundinacea and viviparous Deschampsia cespitosa were transformed at the first attempt. It is hoped that the use of WPBS media and this general transformation protocol may help to improve the efficiency of grass and cereal transformation.
Experimental Validation of the Sensitivity-Based Virtual Fields for Identification of Anisotropic Plasticity Models
Authors: Marek A. , Davis F. M. , Kim J.-H. , Pierron F.
Published: February 2020

In this work, the sensitivity-based virtual fields have been applied to identify two anisotropic plasticity models (Hill48, Yld2000-2D) using a deep-notched tensile test performed on flat samples of cold-rolled sheet of DC04 steel. The material was characterised using the standard protocol to obtain the reference sets of parameters. Deformation data was obtained during deep-notched tests using stereo digital image correlation and the virtual fields method was employed to identify material parameters. It was found that the sensitivity-based virtual fields outperform the standard user-defined virtual fields in terms of accuracy.
The role and mechanism of lncRNA NEAT1 in the fibrosis of pulmonary epithelial cell
Authors: Xu Hui , Chen YanBo , Zhuang Jinqiang , Zhu Shun , Xu Bing , Hong Jiang
Published: February 2020

Background

Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious clinical fatal disease. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lncRNA NEAT1 have been implied in its development and progression.

Objective

To study the role of lncRNA NEAT1 in the progression of fibrosis in human pulmonary epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Specifically, BEAS-2B was transfected with NEAT1 and miR-29c, EMT and cell proliferation were measured and the expression level of relevant genes was determined by Western blot.

Result

Results showed that NEAT1 promotes fibrosis and proliferation of BEAS-2B cells via the up-regulation of α-SMA, Vimentin, Snail and proliferation-related genes including Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E; miR-29c is a target gene of NEAT1 and through which NEAT1 regulates EMT and expression of proliferation-related genes.

Conclusion

This study investigated the mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis progression by elucidating the role of NEAT1/miR-29c in the fibrosis and proliferation of BEAS-2B cells, thus providing a basis for the new therapeutic targets of pulmonary fibrosis.
Reducing risk with end-to-end application security automation
Authors: Blake Cindy
Published: February 2020

No one wants to be ‘that guy’ – the one that got the company hacked. The one who made a simple but stupid mistake when developing a new software application, such as including a password in the code.

No one wants to be ‘the person who got the company hacked’ – the one who made a simple mistake when developing software, such as including a password in the code.

The best way to reduce this kind of risk is through automation, argues Cindy Blake of GitLab. By automating application security scanning, vulnerability remediation and monitoring the application's infrastructure, human error is removed and consistency is applied. And the best way to reduce the risk of non-compliance with regulatory controls is by automating them and having traceability along the way to capture who changed what, when and why.
Rapid growth of a long-seed KDP crystal
Authors: Chen Duanyang , Wang Bin , Wang Hu , Zhu Xiangyu , Xu Ziyuan , Zhao Yuanan , Wang Shenghao , Ni Kaizao , Zheng Lili , Zhang Hui , Qi Hongji , Shao Jianda
Published: February 2020

To reduce the seed length while maintaining the advantages of the cuboid KDP-type crystal, a long-seed KDP crystal with size

$471~\text{mm}\times 480~\text{mm}\times 400~\text{mm}$

is rapidly grown. With almost the same high cutting efficiency to obtain third harmonic generation oriented samples, this long-seed KDP-type crystal can be grown with a shorter seed than that of the cuboid KDP-type crystal. The full width at half maximum of the high-resolution X-ray diffraction of the (200) crystalline face is 28.8 arc seconds, indicating that the long-seed KDP crystal has good crystalline quality. In the wavelength range of 377–1022 nm, the transmittance of the long-seed KDP crystal is higher than 90%. The fluence for the 50% probability of laser-induced damage (LID) is

$18.5~\text{J}/\text{cm}^{2}$

(3 ns, 355 nm). Several test points survive when the laser fluence exceeds

$30~\text{J}/\text{cm}^{2}$

(3 ns, 355 nm), indicating the good LID performance of the long-seed KDP crystal. At present, the growth of a long-seed DKDP crystal is under way.
Inheritance and mapping of drought tolerance in soybean at seedling stage using bulked segregant analysis
Authors: Sreenivasa V. , Lal S. K. , Kiran Babu P. , Mahadeva Swamy H. K. , Yadav Raju R. , Talukdar A. , Rathod Darasing R.
Published: February 2020

Occurrence of drought under rainfed conditions is the foremost factor responsible for yield reduction in soybean. Developing soybean cultivars with an inherent ability to withstand drought would immensely benefit the soybean production in rainfed areas. In the present study, F2 derived mapping populations were developed by crossing drought tolerant (PK 1180, SL 46) and susceptible (UPSL 298, PK 1169) genotypes to investigate the inheritance of seedling survival drought mechanisms and to identify simple-sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with them, using bulked segregant analysis. Parents as well as a F2 derived mapping population were screened for drought tolerance based on seedling survivability under controlled conditions. Segregation analysis of F2 population derived from a cross between PK 1180 × UPSL 298 was previously shown to have a 3:1 tolerant to susceptible ratio and a probability of 0.61 at a χ2(3:1) value of 0.258. This was confirmed in another F2 population derived from a cross between PK 1169 × SL 46 with a χ2(3:1) value of 0.145 obtained at a probability of 0.70. One SSR marker Satt277 showed polymorphism between contracting bulks (tolerant and susceptible) out of 50 polymorphic markers identified during parental polymorphism. Single marker analysis suggested that the marker, Satt277 is linked to seedling survival drought tolerance and is located on chromosome linkage group C2 (chr 6) with a map distance of 3.40 cM. The tolerant genotypes identified could be used as a donor in soybean improvement programs. The marker identified can be used in marker-assisted selection while screening large collection of germplasm.
Assessing potential locations for flood-based farming using satellite imagery: a case study of Afar region, Ethiopia
Authors: Gumma Murali Krishna , Amede Tilahun , Getnet Mezegebu , Pinjarla Bhavani , Panjala Pranay , Legesse Gizachew , Tilahun Gebeyaw , Van den Akker Elisabeth , Berdel Wolf , Keller Christina , Siambi Moses , Whitbread Anthony M.
Published: February 2020

The dry lowlands of Ethiopia are seasonally affected by long periods of low rainfall and, coinciding with rainfall in the Amhara highlands, flood waters which flow onto the lowlands resulting in damage to landscapes and settlements. In an attempt to convert water from storm generated floods into productive use, this study proposes a methodology using remote sensing data and geographical information system tools to identify potential sites where flood spreading weirs may be installed and farming systems developed which produce food and fodder for poor rural communities. First, land use land cover maps for the study area were developed using Landsat-8 and MODIS temporal data. Sentinel-1 data at 10 and 20 m resolution on a 12-day basis were then used to determine flood prone areas. Slope and drainage maps were derived from Shuttle RADAR Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model at 90 m spatial resolution. Accuracy assessment using ground survey data showed that overall accuracies (correctness) of the land use/land cover classes were 86% with kappa 0.82. Coinciding with rainfall in the uplands, March and April are the months with flood events in the short growing season (belg) and June, July and August have flood events during the major (meher) season. In the Afar region, there is potentially >0.55 m ha land available for development using seasonal flood waters from belg or meher seasons. During the 4 years of monitoring (2015–2018), a minimum of 142,000 and 172,000 ha of land were flooded in the belg and meher seasons, respectively. The dominant flooded areas were found in slope classes of <2% with spatial coverage varying across the districts. We concluded that Afar has a huge potential for flood-based technology implementation and recommend further investigation into the investments needed to support new socio-economic opportunities and implications for the local agro-pastoral communities.
Improving Predictions of High‐Latitude Coronal Mass Ejections Throughout the Heliosphere
Authors: Scolini C. , Chané E. , Pomoell J. , Rodriguez L. , Poedts S.
Published: February 2020

Predictions of the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the heliosphere mostly rely on cone CME models, whose performances are optimized for locations in the ecliptic plane and at 1 AU (e.g., at Earth). Progresses in the exploration of the inner heliosphere, however, advocate the need to assess their performances at both higher latitudes and smaller heliocentric distances. In this work, we perform 3‐D magnetohydrodynamics simulations of artificial cone CMEs using the EUropean Heliospheric FORecasting Information Asset (EUHFORIA), investigating the performances of cone models in the case of CMEs launched at high latitudes. We compare results obtained initializing CMEs using a commonly applied approximated (Euclidean) distance relation and using a proper (great circle) distance relation. Results show that initializing high‐latitude CMEs using the Euclidean approximation results in a teardrop‐shaped CME cross section at the model inner boundary that fails in reproducing the initial shape of high‐latitude cone CMEs as a circular cross section. Modeling errors arising from the use of an inappropriate distance relation at the inner boundary eventually propagate to the heliospheric domain. Errors are most prominent in simulations of high‐latitude CMEs and at the location of spacecraft at high latitudes and/or small distances from the Sun, with locations impacted by the CME flanks being the most error sensitive. This work shows that the low‐latitude approximations commonly employed in cone models, if not corrected, may significantly affect CME predictions at various locations compatible with the orbit of space missions such as Parker Solar Probe, Ulysses, and Solar Orbiter.
A short guide to histone deacetylases including recent progress on class II enzymes
Authors: Park Suk-Youl , Kim Jeong-Sun
Published: February 2020

The interaction between histones and DNA is important for eukaryotic gene expression. A loose interaction caused, for example, by the neutralization of a positive charge on the histone surface by acetylation, induces a less compact chromatin structure, resulting in feasible accessibility of RNA polymerase and increased gene expression. In contrast, the formation of a tight chromatin structure due to the deacetylation of histone lysine residues on the surface by histone deacetylases enforces the interaction between the histones and DNA, which minimizes the chance of RNA polymerases contacting DNA, resulting in decreased gene expression. Therefore, the balance of the acetylation of histones mediated by histone acetylases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) is an issue of transcription that has long been studied in relation to posttranslational modification. In this review, current knowledge of HDACs is briefly described with an emphasis on recent progress in research on HDACs, especially on class IIa HDACs.
Outcome of older (≥70 years) APL patients frontline treated with or without arsenic trioxide—an International Collaborative Study
Authors: Kayser Sabine , Rahmé Ramy , Martínez-Cuadrón David , Ghiaur Gabriel , Thomas Xavier , Sobas Marta , Guerci-Bresler Agnes , Garrido Ana , Pigneux Arnaud , Gil Cristina , Raffoux Emmanuel , Tormo Mar , Vey Norbert , de la Serna Javier , Salamero Olga , Lengfelder Eva , Levis Mark J. , Fenaux Pierre , Sanz Miguel A. , Platzbecker Uwe , Schlenk Richard F. , Adès Lionel , Montesinos Pau
Published: February 2020

Data on outcome in older (≥70 years) patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia after treatment with arsenic trioxide (ATO) compared with standard chemotherapy (CTX) is scarce. We evaluated 433 patients (median age, 73.4 years) treated either with ATO+ all-trans retinoic acid (ATO/ATRA;n = 26), CTX/ATRA + ATO during consolidation (CTX/ATRA/ATO;n = 148), or with CTX/ATRA (n = 259). Median follow-up for overall survival (OS) was 4.8 years. Complete remissions (CR) were achieved in 92% with ATO/ATRA and 82% with CTX/ATRA; induction death rates were 8% and 18%, respectively. For analysis of postremission outcomes we combined the ATO/ATRA and CTX/ATRA/ATO groups (ATO/ATRA ± CTX). Cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was significantly lower after ATO/ATRA ± CTX compared with CTX/ATRA (P < 0.001). The same held true when restricting the analysis according to the treatment period after the year 2000. OS of patients in CR1 was not different between ATO/ATRA ± CTX compared with CTX/ATRA (P = 0.20). High (>10 × 109/l) white blood cell (WBC) counts at diagnosis were associated with higher CIR (P < 0.001) compared with lower WBC in the CTX/ATRA group, but not in the ATO/ATRA ± CTX group (P = 0.48). ATO, when added to ATRA or CTX/ATRA is feasible and effective in elderly patients for remission induction and consolidation, particularly in patients with high WBC at diagnosis.
Genome-wide DNA methylation meta-analysis in the brains of suicide completers
Authors: Policicchio Stefania , Washer Sam , Viana Joana , Iatrou Artemis , Burrage Joe , Hannon Eilis , Turecki Gustavo , Kaminsky Zachary , Mill Jonathan , Dempster Emma L. , Murphy Therese M.
Published: February 2020

Suicide is the second leading cause of death globally among young people representing a significant global health burden. Although the molecular correlates of suicide remains poorly understood, it has been hypothesised that epigenomic processes may play a role. The objective of this study was to identify suicide-associated DNA methylation changes in the human brain by utilising previously published and unpublished methylomic datasets. We analysed prefrontal cortex (PFC, n = 211) and cerebellum (CER, n = 114) DNA methylation profiles from suicide completers and non-psychiatric, sudden-death controls, meta-analysing data from independent cohorts for each brain region separately. We report evidence for altered DNA methylation at several genetic loci in suicide cases compared to controls in both brain regions with suicide-associated differentially methylated positions enriched among functional pathways relevant to psychiatric phenotypes and suicidality, including nervous system development (PFC) and regulation of long-term synaptic depression (CER). In addition, we examined the functional consequences of variable DNA methylation within a PFC suicide-associated differentially methylated region (PSORS1C3 DMR) using a dual luciferase assay and examined expression of nearby genes. DNA methylation within this region was associated with decreased expression of firefly luciferase but was not associated with expression of nearby genes, PSORS1C3 and POU5F1. Our data suggest that suicide is associated with DNA methylation, offering novel insights into the molecular pathology associated with suicidality.
Osteoclasts are not a source of SLIT3
Authors: Li Na , Inoue Kazuki , Sun Jun , Niu Yingzhen , Lalani Sarfaraz , Yallowitz Alisha , Yang Xu , Zhang Chao , Shen Rong , Zhao Baohong , Xu Ren , Greenblatt Matthew B.
Published: February 2020

The axon guidance cue SLIT3 was identified as an osteoanabolic agent in two recent reports. However, these reports conflict in their nomination of osteoblasts versus osteoclasts as the key producers of skeletal SLIT3 and additionally offer conflicting data on the effects of SLIT3 on osteoclastogenesis. Here, aiming to address this discrepancy, we found no observable SLIT3 expression during human or mouse osteoclastogenesis and the only modest SLIT3-mediated effects on osteoclast differentiation. Conditional deletion of SLIT3 in cathepsin K (CTSK)-positive cells, including osteoclasts, had no effect on the number of osteoclast progenitors, in vitro osteoclast differentiation, overall bone mass, or bone resorption/formation parameters. Similar results were observed with the deletion of SLIT3 in LysM-positive cells, including osteoclast lineage cells. Consistent with this finding, bone marrow chimeras made from Slit3−/− donors that lacked SLIT3 expression at all stages of osteoclast development displayed normal bone mass relative to controls. Taken in context, multiple lines of evidence were unable to identify the physiologic function of osteoclast-derived SLIT3, indicating that osteoblasts are the major source of skeletal SLIT3.
High-efficiency direct methane conversion to oxygenates on a cerium dioxide nanowires supported rhodium single-atom catalyst
Authors: Bai Shuxing , Liu Fangfang , Huang Bolong , Li Fan , Lin Haiping , Wu Tong , Sun Mingzi , Wu Jianbo , Shao Qi , Xu Yong , Huang Xiaoqing
Published: February 2020

Direct methane conversion (DMC) to high value-added products is of significant importance for the effective utilization of CH4 to combat the energy crisis. However, there are ongoing challenges in DMC associated with the selective C−H activation of CH4. The quest for high-efficiency catalysts for this process is limited by the current drawbacks including poor activity and low selectivity. Here we show a cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanowires supported rhodium (Rh) single-atom (SAs Rh-CeO2 NWs) that can serve as a high-efficiency catalyst for DMC to oxygenates (i.e., CH3OH and CH3OOH) under mild conditions. Compared to Rh/CeO2 nanowires (Rh clusters) prepared by a conventional wet-impregnation method, CeO2 nanowires supported Rh single-atom exhibits 6.5 times higher of the oxygenates yield (1231.7 vs. 189.4 mmol gRh−1 h−1), which largely outperforms that of the reported catalysts in the same class. This work demonstrates a highly efficient DMC process and promotes the research on Rh single-atom catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis.
Creating zero-field skyrmions in exchange-biased multilayers through X-ray illumination
Authors: Guang Yao , Bykova Iuliia , Liu Yizhou , Yu Guoqiang , Goering Eberhard , Weigand Markus , Gräfe Joachim , Kim Se Kwon , Zhang Junwei , Zhang Hong , Yan Zhengren , Wan Caihua , Feng Jiafeng , Wang Xiao , Guo Chenyang , Wei Hongxiang , Peng Yong , Tserkovnyak Yaroslav , Han Xiufeng , Schütz Gisela
Published: February 2020

Skyrmions, magnetic textures with topological stability, hold promises for high-density and energy-efficient information storage devices owing to their small size and low driving-current density. Precise creation of a single nanoscale skyrmion is a prerequisite to further understand the skyrmion physics and tailor skyrmion-based applications. Here, we demonstrate the creation of individual skyrmions at zero-field in an exchange-biased magnetic multilayer with exposure to soft X-rays. In particular, a single skyrmion with 100-nm size can be created at the desired position using a focused X-ray spot of sub-50-nm size. This single skyrmion creation is driven by the X-ray-induced modification of the antiferromagnetic order and the corresponding exchange bias. Furthermore, artificial skyrmion lattices with various arrangements can be patterned using X-ray. These results demonstrate the potential of accurate optical control of single skyrmion at sub-100 nm scale. We envision that X-ray could serve as a versatile tool for local manipulation of magnetic orders.
Light-regulated growth from dynamic swollen substrates for making rough surfaces
Authors: Xue Lulu , Xiong Xinhong , Krishnan Baiju P. , Puza Fatih , Wang Sheng , Zheng Yijun , Cui Jiaxi
Published: February 2020

Natural organic structures form via a growth mode in which nutrients are absorbed, transported, and integrated. In contrast, synthetic architectures are constructed through fundamentally different methods, such as assembling, molding, cutting, and printing. Here, we report a photoinduced strategy for regulating the localized growth of microstructures from the surface of a swollen dynamic substrate, by coupling photolysis, photopolymerization, and transesterification together. Photolysis is used to generate dissociable ionic groups to enhance the swelling ability that drives nutrient solutions containing polymerizable components into the irradiated region, photopolymerization converts polymerizable components into polymers, and transesterification incorporates newly formed polymers into the original network structure. Such light-regulated growth is spatially controllable and dose-dependent and allows fine modulation of the size, composition, and mechanical properties of the grown structures. We also demonstrate the application of this process in the preparation of microstructures on a surface and the restoration of large-scale surface damage.
Publisher Correction: Regulation of protein kinase Cδ Nuclear Import and Apoptosis by Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex-1
Authors: Layoun Antonio , Goldberg Alexander A. , Baig Ayesha , Eng Mikaela , Attias Ortal , Nelson Kristoff , Carella Alexandra , Amberber Nahomi , Fielhaber Jill A. , Joung Kwang-Bo , Schmeing T. Martin , Han Yingshan , Downey Jeffrey , Divangahi Maziar , Roux Philippe P. , Kristof Arnold S.
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
No Significant Effect of Coulomb Stress on the Gutenberg-Richter Law after the Landers Earthquake
Authors: Navas-Portella Víctor , Jiménez Abigail , Corral Álvaro
Published: February 2020

Coulomb-stress theory has been used for years in seismology to understand how earthquakes trigger each other. Whenever an earthquake occurs, the stress field changes, and places with positive increases are brought closer to failure. Earthquake models that relate earthquake rates and Coulomb stress after a main event, such as the rate-and-state model, assume that the magnitude distribution of earthquakes is not affected by the change in the Coulomb stress. By using different slip models, we calculate the change in Coulomb stress in the fault plane for every aftershock after the Landers event (California, USA, 1992, moment magnitude 7.3). Applying several statistical analyses to test whether the distribution of magnitudes is sensitive to the sign of the Coulomb-stress increase, we are not able to find any significant effect. Further, whereas the events with a positive increase of the stress are characterized by a much larger proportion of strike-slip events in comparison with the seismicity previous to the mainshock, the events happening despite a decrease in Coulomb stress show no relevant differences in focal-mechanism distribution with respect to previous seismicity.
Deducing signaling pathways from parallel actions of arsenite and antimonite in human epidermal keratinocytes
Authors: Phillips Marjorie A. , Cánovas Angela , Rea Miguel A. , Islas-Trejo Alma , Medrano Juan F. , Durbin-Johnson Blythe , Rocke David M. , Rice Robert H.
Published: February 2020

Inorganic arsenic oxides have been identified as carcinogens in several human tissues, including epidermis. Due to the chemical similarity between trivalent inorganic arsenic (arsenite) and antimony (antimonite), we hypothesized that common intracellular targets lead to similarities in cellular responses. Indeed, transcriptional and proteomic profiling revealed remarkable similarities in differentially expressed genes and proteins resulting from exposure of cultured human epidermal keratinocytes to arsenite and antimonite in contrast to comparisons of arsenite with other metal compounds. These data were analyzed to predict upstream regulators and affected signaling pathways following arsenite and antimonite treatments. A majority of the top findings in each category were identical after treatment with either compound. Inspection of the predicted upstream regulators led to previously unsuspected roles for oncostatin M, corticosteroids and ephrins in mediating cellular response. The influence of these predicted mediators was then experimentally verified. Together with predictions of transcription factor effects more generally, the analysis has led to model signaling networks largely accounting for arsenite and antimonite action. The striking parallels between responses to arsenite and antimonite indicate the skin carcinogenic risk of exposure to antimonite merits close scrutiny.
Pool walking may improve renal function by suppressing the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in healthy pregnant women
Authors: Yoshihara Tatsuya , Zaitsu Masayoshi , Kubota Shiro , Arima Hisatomi , Sasaguri Toshiyuki
Published: February 2020

This study aimed to examine the effect of pool walking on renal function in pregnant women. Fifteen pregnant women (mean gestational age, 37.8 weeks) walked in a pool (depth 1.3 m) for 1 h. A few days later, they walked on a street for 1 h. Within each activity, the starting and ending levels of plasma renin activity were measured. The total urine volume, creatinine clearance, and change in plasma renin activity levels between each activity were compared by Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone level was suppressed during pool walking: the mean starting and ending values of plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone were 6.8 vs. 5.5 ng/mL/h (p = 0.002) and 654 vs. 473 pg/mL (p = 0.01), respectively. The decreases in plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone levels were more evident in pool walking than in land walking (plasma renin activity, −1.27 vs. 0.81 ng/mL/h, p = 0.002; serum aldosterone, −180.9 vs. 3.1 ng/mL/h, p = 0.03), resulting in higher total urine volume (299 vs. 80 mL, p < 0.001) and creatinine clearance (161.4 vs. 123.4 mL/min, p = 0.03) in pool walking. Pool walking may improve renal function in pregnant women partly through the suppressed renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
Automated Quantitative Extraction and Analysis of 4D flow Patterns in the Ascending Aorta: An intraindividual comparison at 1.5 T and 3 T
Authors: Ebel Sebastian , Dufke Josefin , Köhler Benjamin , Preim Bernhard , Behrendt Benjamin , Riekena Boris , Jung Bernd , Stehning Christian , Kropf Siegfried , Grothoff Matthias , Gutberlet Matthias
Published: February 2020

4D flow MRI enables quantitative assessment of helical flow. Current methods are susceptible to noise. To evaluate helical flow patterns in healthy volunteers and patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) at 1.5 T and 3 T using pressure-based helix-extraction in 4D flow MRI. Two intraindividual 4D flow MRI examinations were performed at 1.5 T and 3 T in ten healthy volunteers (5 females, 32 ± 3 years) and 2 patients with BAV using different acceleration techniques (kt-GRAPPA and centra). Several new quantitative parameters for the evaluation of volumes [ml], lengths [mm] as well as temporal parameters [ms] of helical flow were introduced and analyzed using the software tool Bloodline. We found good correlations between measurements in volunteers at 1.5 T and 3 T regarding helical flow volumes (R = 0.98) and temporal existence (R = 0.99) of helices in the ascending aorta. Furthermore, we found significantly larger (11.7 vs. 77.6 ml) and longer lasting (317 vs. 769 ms) helices in patients with BAV than in volunteers. The assessed parameters do not depend on the magnetic field strength used for the acquisition. The technique of pressure-based extraction of 4D flow MRI pattern is suitable for differentiation of normal and pathological flow.
Adsorptive removal of tetracycline by sustainable ceramsite substrate from bentonite/red mud/pine sawdust
Authors: Wang Yanting , Gong Shengying , Li Yazhuo , Li Zhang , Fu Jie
Published: February 2020

In this study, a novel, sustainable and efficient ceramsite substrate of constructed wetlands (CWs) were prepared for tetracycline (TC) removal by employing bentonite (Ben) and red mud (Rm) as the main materials and pine sawdust (Ps) as the additive. The optimal parameters for Ben/Rm/Ps ceramsite preparation were obtained via orthogonal and one-factor experimental designs, and the optimal parameters were presented as follows: mass ratio of Ben: Rm: Ps = 4:1:0.9, preheating temperature = 240 °C, preheating time = 20 min, calcining temperature = 1150 °C, and calcining time = 14 min. The properties of Ben/Rm/Ps-op ceramsite (obtained at the optimal condition) were first analyzed, including XRD and SEM, and demonstrated a microporous structure with some crystal strength components. Neutral condition and higher temperature were indicated conducive to improve the TC removal efficiency, while coexisting ions (Na+ or Ca2+) showed adverse effect for TC adsorption by Ben/Rm/Ps-op. In addition, adsorption kinetics and isotherm could be well described by the second-order kinetics and linear isothermal model, respectively, which suggested chemisorption and multilayer adsorption thickness increased infinitely. The theoretical maximum TC adsorption capacity of Ben/Rm/Ps-op at 20 °C reached up to 2.5602 mg/g. In addition, Ben/Rm/Ps-op could effectively remove TC as the CWs substrate under a dynamic flow condition. Further, Ben/Rm/Ps-op exhibited high reusability capability and stability for TC removal, and the adsorption amount still remained for 2.13 mg/g (C0 = 80 mg/L) after three consecutive cycles.