bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extent of neck dissection for patients with clinical N1 oral cancer
Authors: Kakei Yasumasa , Komatsu Hirokazu , Minamikawa Tsutomu , Hasegawa Takumi , Teshima Masanori , Shinomiya Hirotaka , Otsuki Naoki , Nibu Ken-ichi , Akashi Masaya
Published: March 2020

Background

No clear consensus has been reached on the indication of supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) for clinically positive lymph-node metastasis.

Patients

Consecutive 100 patients with previously untreated oral cancer treated at Kobe University Hospital were included in this study. All patients were clinically staged as anyTN1M0 and underwent radical dissection of the primary site and level I–V neck dissection as the initial treatment.

Results

None of the 100 patients had pathological lymph-node metastasis (pLN) to level V. pLN to level IV was observed in two patients with tongue cancer in whom clinical lymph-node metastasis was preoperatively observed at level II.

Conclusions

Level V may be excluded in the neck dissection for patients with N1 oral cancers. Level IV dissection should be considered in the patient with tongue cancer and clinical lymph-node metastasis at level II.
Fertility preservation and fulfillment of parenthood after treatment of hematological malignancies: results from the ‘Aftercare in Blood Cancer Survivors’ (ABC) study
Authors: Schmitz Christine , Baum Julia , Lax Hildegard , Lehmann Nils , Gromke Tanja , Beelen Dietrich W. , Jöckel K.-H. , Dührsen Ulrich
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Treatment of hematological malignancies carries the risk of lasting sterility. We aimed to identify fertility-related unmet needs.

Methods

The ‘Aftercare in Blood Cancer Survivors’ study is a cohort study of hematological patients who were in treatment-free remission for ≥ 3 years or stable under continuous oral medication. Female patients age 18–45 years and male patients age 18–65 years without a history of pre-treatment infertility were asked to answer a structured questionnaire including questions addressing fertility issues. Multivariable analyses were performed to detect risk factors.

Results

Of 1562 study participants, 1031 met the inclusion criteria for the fertility sub-study. A high proportion of patients (72.4%) received information about the risk of losing fertility, but only a minority (15%) took steps to preserve it. Female and older patients were less likely to be informed. A post-treatment wish for parenthood was expressed by 19.3% of patients. It was strongly associated with childlessness at time of diagnosis and could be fulfilled by 29.4%. Fulfillment of desired parenthood increased with increasing time from diagnosis and was low after allogeneic transplantation.

Conclusions

Female and older hematological patients are less likely to be informed about fertility-related issues than other patients. With societal changes towards first parenthood at higher age, the proportion of patients desiring a child after treatment is likely to increase. Fulfillment of desired parenthood remains challenging, especially after allogeneic transplantation.

Implications for cancer survivors

In patients likely to express a wish for post-treatment parenthood, fertility-related issues should routinely be addressed before gonadotoxic treatment is started.
Construction of a “nutrition supply–detoxification” coculture consortium for medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate production with a glucose–xylose mixture
Authors: Liu Yaru , Yang Songyuan , Jia Xiaoqiang
Published: March 2020

In this study, we constructed a coculture consortium comprising engineered Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and Escherichia coli MG1655. Provision of “related” carbon sources and synthesis of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs) were separately assigned to these strains via a modular construction strategy. To avoid growth competition, a preference for the use of a carbon source was constructed. Further, the main intermediate metabolite acetate played an important role in constructing the expected “nutrition supply–detoxification” relationship between these strains. The coculture consortium showed a remarkable increase in the mcl-PHA titer (0.541 g/L) with a glucose–xylose mixture (1:1). Subsequently, the titer of mcl-PHA produced by the coculture consortium when tested with actual lignocellulosic hydrolysate (0.434 g/L) was similar to that achieved with laboratory sugars’ mixture (0.469 g/L). These results indicate a competitive potential of the engineered E. coli–P. putida coculture consortium for mcl-PHA production with lignocellulosic hydrolysate.
A semidiscrete Galerkin scheme for a coupled two-scale elliptic–parabolic system: well-posedness and convergence approximation rates
Authors: Lind Martin , Muntean Adrian , Richardson Omar
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we study the numerical approximation of a coupled system of elliptic–parabolic equations posed on two separated spatial scales. The model equations describe the interplay between macroscopic and microscopic pressures in an unsaturated heterogeneous medium with distributed microstructures as they often arise in modeling reactive flow in cementitious-based materials. Besides ensuring the well-posedness of our two-scale model, we design two-scale convergent numerical approximations and prove a priori error estimates for the semidiscrete case. We complement our analysis with simulation results illustrating the expected behaviour of the system.
What Shall We Eat? An Ethical Framework for Well-Grounded Food Choices
Authors: Höglund Anna T.
Published: March 2020

In production and consumption of food, several ethical values are at stake for different affected parties and value conflicts in relation to food choices are frequent. The aim of this article was to present an ethical framework for well-grounded decisions on production and consumption of food, guided by the following questions: Which are the affected parties in relation to production and consumption of food? What ethical values are at stake for these parties? How can conflicts between the identified values be handled from different ethical perspectives? Four affected parties, relevant for both production and consumption of food, were identified, namelyanimals, nature, producersandconsumers.Working form a bottom-up perspective, several values for these parties were identified and discussed. For animals:welfare, not being exposed to painandnatural behavior; for nature:low negative impact on the environmentandsustainable climate; for producers:fair salariesandsafe working conditions; and for consumers:access to food, autonomy, healthandfood as part of a good life. As several of these values can come into conflict when choices of what to eat should be made, the article argues for the need of weighing values from four different perspectives in food ethics dilemmas, namelyduties, consequences, virtuesandcare.The suggested ethical framework can provide moral guidance to both producers of food and to consumers in a supermarket. Thereby, it can contribute to more well-grounded decisions concerning what to eat and make people feel a little bit more secure when reflecting over the question: What shall we eat?
Fock representations of ZF algebras and R-matrices
Authors: Lechner Gandalf , Scotford Charley
Published: March 2020

A variation of the Zamolodchikov–Faddeev algebra over a finite-dimensional Hilbert space$${\mathcal {H}}$$Hand an involutive unitaryR-MatrixSis studied. This algebra carries a natural vacuum state, and the corresponding Fock representation spaces$${\mathcal {F}}_S({\mathcal {H}})$$FS(H)are shown to satisfy$${\mathcal {F}}_{S\boxplus R}({{\mathcal {H}}}\oplus {{\mathcal {K}}}) \cong {\mathcal {F}}_S({{\mathcal {H}}})\otimes {\mathcal {F}}_R({{\mathcal {K}}})$$FS⊞R(H⊕K)≅FS(H)⊗FR(K), where$$S\boxplus R$$S⊞Ris the box-sum ofS(on$${{\mathcal {H}}}\otimes {{\mathcal {H}}}$$H⊗H) andR(on$${{\mathcal {K}}}\otimes {{\mathcal {K}}}$$K⊗K). This analysis generalises the well-known structure of Bose/Fermi Fock spaces and a recent result of Pennig. These representations are motivated from quantum field theory (short-distance scaling limits of integrable models).
Writing about women in ghost stories: subversive representations of ideal femininity in “Nie Xiaoqian” and “Luella Miller”
Authors: Zheng Yi
Published: March 2020

On the one hand, because of the double historical prejudices from literary criticism against ghost stories and women’s writing, little attention has been paid to investigate the ideals of femininity in women’s ghost stories in nineteenth-century America. This article examines “Luella Miller,” a short story by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, who indirectly but sharply criticized the ideal of femininity in her time by creating an exaggerated example of the cult of feminine fragility. On the other hand, although extensive research has been done on Chinese ghost stories, especially on the ghost heroines in Pu Songling’sStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio, there are few studies comparing the Chinese and the American ones. By comparing “Luella Miller” and Pu’s “Nie Xiaoqian,” this article does not primarily aim to list the similarities and differences between the Chinese and the American ideals of femininity, but to provide fresh insights into how both Freeman and Pu capitalized on the literary possibilities of the supernatural, because only in ghost stories they could write about women in ways impossible in “high literature.”
The positive maximum principle on symmetric spaces
Authors: Applebaum David , Le Ngan Trang
Published: March 2020

We investigate the Courrège theorem in the context of linear operators that satisfy the positive maximum principle on a space of continuous functions over a symmetric space. Applications are given to Feller–Markov processes. We also introduce Gangolli operators, which satisfy the positive maximum principle, and generalise the form associated with the generator of a Lévy process on a symmetric space. When the space is compact, we show that Gangolli operators are pseudo-differential operators having scalar symbols.
Long-term change in calcareous grassland vegetation and drivers over three time periods between 1970 and 2016
Authors: Ridding Lucy E. , Bullock James M. , Pescott Oliver L. , Hawes Peter , Walls Robin , Pereira M. Glória , Thacker Sarah A. , Keenan Patrick O. , Dragosits Ulrike , Pywell Richard F.
Published: March 2020

Analysis of long-term vegetation change is limited. Furthermore most studies evaluating change only examine two snapshots in time, which makes it difficult to define rates of change and accurately assess potential drivers. To assess long-term change in calcareous grassland over multiple time periods, we re-surveyed a transect study undertaken at Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve, Wiltshire, southern England in 1970 and 1990 by T. Wells. We examined differences in soil properties and species traits in each of the survey years to understand potential drivers of vegetation change, including nitrogen deposition and grazing management. There was a clear shift in species composition, combined with significant declines in species richness and diversity between 1970 and 2016, with the greater rate of change occurring between 1990 and 2016. A significant increase in soil total nitrogen was found, which was significantly associated with the decline in species diversity between 1970 and 1990. Significant changes in community-weighted mean traits were identified for plant height (increasing), specific leaf area (decreasing), grazing tolerance (decreasing) and Ellenberg N (decreasing) between 1970 and 2016. By using survey data from multiple time periods, we suggest that N deposition may have contributed towards community changes between 1970 and 1990, as indicated by the change in soil properties and the associated decline in species diversity. Vegetation change between 1990 and 2016 is likely to be largely attributable to a decline in grazing pressure, indicated by the increase in taller species and a decrease in grazing tolerance.
Negotiating Authority: Local Communities in the World Heritage Convention
Authors: Trelka Małgorzata
Published: March 2020

The Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention stipulate that local communities and indigenous peoples are an intrinsic part of the identification, nomination, management and protection of World Heritage sites (UNESCO 2019, art. 12). This paper explores the role of local communities in the World Heritage system by critically assessing the implementation of the Convention in a European context through the case study of the Ironbridge Gorge WHS. The case study is contextualised in the representation of indigenous peoples in World Heritage policies negotiating their intellectual and legal authority in the World Heritage process facilitated through heritage bureaucracy. This paper will address the internationally important issue of power relations when it comes to the inclusion of local communities and indigenous peoples in the World Heritage Convention and in heritage practice.
Long-term cultivation using ineffective MDM2 inhibitor concentrations alters the drug sensitivity profiles of PL21 leukaemia cells
Authors: Michaelis Martin , Rothweiler Florian , Schneider Constanze , Rothenburger Tamara , Mernberger Marco , Nist Andrea , Stiewe Thorsten , Cinatl Jindrich
Published: March 2020

Acquired MDM2 inhibitor resistance is commonly caused by loss-of-function TP53 mutations. In addition to the selection of TP53-mutant cells by MDM2 inhibitors, MDM2 inhibitor-induced DNA damage may promote the formation of TP53 mutations. Here, we cultivated 12 sublines of the intrinsically MDM2 inhibitor-resistant TP53 wild-type acute myeloid leukaemia cell line PL21 for 52 passages in the presence of ineffective concentrations of the MDM2 inhibitor nutlin-3 but did not observe loss-of-function TP53 mutations. This suggests that MDM2 inhibitors select TP53-mutant cells after mutations have occurred, but do not directly promote TP53 mutations. Unexpectedly, many sublines displayed increased sensitivity to the anti-cancer drugs cytarabine, doxorubicin, or gemcitabine. Consequently, therapies can affect the outcome of next-line treatments, even in the absence of a therapy response. This finding is conceptually novel. A better understanding of such processes will inform the design of improved therapy protocols in the future.
Escalating infection control response to the rapidly evolving epidemiology of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheng Vincent C. C. , Wong Shuk-Ching , Chen Jonathan H. K. , Yip Cyril C. Y. , Chuang Vivien W. M. , Tsang Owen T. Y. , Sridhar Siddharth , Chan Jasper F. W. , Ho Pak-Leung , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: March 2020

Objective:

To describe the infection control preparedness measures undertaken for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 (previously known as 2019 novel coronavirus) in the first 42 days after announcement of a cluster of pneumonia in China, on December 31, 2019 (day 1) in Hong Kong.

Methods:

A bundled approach of active and enhanced laboratory surveillance, early airborne infection isolation, rapid molecular diagnostic testing, and contact tracing for healthcare workers (HCWs) with unprotected exposure in the hospitals was implemented. Epidemiological characteristics of confirmed cases, environmental samples, and air samples were collected and analyzed.

Results:

From day 1 to day 42, 42 of 1,275 patients (3.3%) fulfilling active (n = 29) and enhanced laboratory surveillance (n = 13) were confirmed to have the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The number of locally acquired case significantly increased from 1 of 13 confirmed cases (7.7%, day 22 to day 32) to 27 of 29 confirmed cases (93.1%, day 33 to day 42; P < .001). Among them, 28 patients (66.6%) came from 8 family clusters. Of 413 HCWs caring for these confirmed cases, 11 (2.7%) had unprotected exposure requiring quarantine for 14 days. None of these was infected, and nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was not observed. Environmental surveillance was performed in the room of a patient with viral load of 3.3 × 106 copies/mL (pooled nasopharyngeal and throat swabs) and 5.9 × 106 copies/mL (saliva), respectively. SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 1 of 13 environmental samples (7.7%) but not in 8 air samples collected at a distance of 10 cm from the patient’s chin with or without wearing a surgical mask.

Conclusion:

Appropriate hospital infection control measures was able to prevent nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Ten-Cent Ideology: Donald Duck Comic Books and the U.S. Challenge to Modernization
Authors: Immerwahr Daniel
Published: March 2020

The comic-book artist Carl Barks was one of the most-read writers during the years after the Second World War. Millions of children took in his tales of the Disney characters Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge. Often set in the Global South, Barks's stories offered pointed reflections on foreign relations. Surprisingly, Barks presented a thoroughgoing critique of the main thrust of U.S. foreign policy making: the notion that the United States should intervene to improve “traditional” societies. In Barks's stories, the best that the inhabitants of rich societies can do is to leave poorer peoples alone. But Barks was not just popular; his work was also influential. High-profile baby boomers such as Steven Spielberg and George Lucas imbibed his comics as children. When they later produced their own creative works in the 1970s and 1980s, they drew from Barks's language as they too attacked the ideology of modernization.
Comparative Perspectives on the Urban Black Atlantic on the Eve of Abolition
Authors: Klooster Wim
Published: March 2020

By investigating the place of enslaved Africans and their descendants in the cities of the Atlantic world, this article explores many of the themes of this Special Issue across empires, with an emphasis on the Americas in the late eighteenth century, the eve of abolition. The article finds that, in nearly every manual occupation, slaves were integrated with free laborers and, not infrequently, slaves who had reached the level of journeyman or master directed the work of free apprentices. The limited number of slave insurrections in cities may be explained by the fact that they often worked semi-independently, earning money to supplement the livelihood provided by the master, or sometimes almost entirely on their own. To them, city life offered advantages that would have been inconceivable for their rural counterparts, especially the scope of autonomy they enjoyed and the possibilities to secure manumission.
Bernstein mode acceleration of electrons in a magnetic mirror
Authors: Jeet Ram , Kumar Asheel
Published: March 2020

Electron dynamics in an axially localized large amplitude electron Bernstein mode in a magnetic mirror is studied. The mode is localized due to plasma density and magnetic field profiles and could be driven by an electron cyclotron wave, launched from outside, via linear mode conversion. Energetic electrons of finite gyro-radius resonantly interact with the mode and gain primarily transverse energy favoring stronger mirror confinement. At Bernstein wave normalized amplitude of A00 = 0.01 and for other normalized parameters Zn0 = 40, k⊥c/ω = 10, ${L}^{\prime}_m = 215$, ωc0/ω = 0.9, ψn0 = 3π/2, the electrons can gain energy in the hundreds of keV range.
Bidirectional coronary venous return in the partial unroofed coronary sinus syndrome complicated by coronary sinus orifice atresia
Authors: Asada Dai , Ito Hisato
Published: March 2020

Unroofed coronary sinus syndrome complicated by coronary sinus orifice atresia is a rare congenital anomaly. There are two alternate exits for coronary venous return: unroofed coronary sinus and persistent left superior caval vein. The coronary venous direction could be bidirectional depending on the pressure balance between the left atrium and the systemic vein. This anomaly has the risk of heart failure, paradoxical embolism, and cyanosis.
General Practitioner House Call Network (SOS Médecins): An Essential Tool for Syndromic Surveillance – Bordeaux, France
Authors: Meurice Laure , Chapon Thierry , Chemin Frédéric , Gourinchas Laurence , Sauvagnac Stéphane , Uijttewaal Sébastien , Vandentorren Stéphanie
Published: March 2020

Introduction:

In the French mainland administrative region Nouvelle-Aquitaine, syndromic surveillance is based on hospital emergency data, mortality data, and data from associations belonging to the SOS Médecins network. The aim of the present article is to describe the functioning of this network and to illustrate its use for syndromic surveillance in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Method:

The SOS Médecins network participates in the syndromic surveillance system SurSaUD, developed by Santé publique France (SpF; the French National Public Health Agency; Saint-Maurice, Paris, France). Near real-time data are automatically transmitted daily to a data server and analyzed by SpF’s Nouvelle Aquitaine’s regional unit to identify, monitor, and evaluate the impact of expected and unexpected health events in the region.

Results:

The SOS Médecins network has five local associations spread across the region with 146 participating physicians. Data have been recorded for more than 10 years and represented nearly 481,000 visits in 2017. The resulting database has helped to identify and monitor seasonal epidemics and unexpected events, as well as measure the health impact of these events.

Conclusion:

The data from the SOS Médecins network are an essential source in syndromic surveillance. They complement surveillance data from other sources. More specifically, mortality and emergency unit traffic reflect the most severe cases, while SOS Médecins data help early detection of epidemics and health events in the general population. The network has shown its responsiveness and its reliability, not only for the surveillance of seasonal epidemics, but also for the detection of unusual signals. It therefore constitutes an essential link in syndromic surveillance in France, and specifically in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Metabolic profiling of glyphosate-resistant sourgrass (Digitaria insularis)
Authors: Gazola Tiago , Bianchi Leandro , Dias Márcio Furriela , Carbonari Caio A. , Velini Edivaldo D.
Published: March 2020

Putative glyphosate-resistant sourgrass was collected to determine its resistance level and to evaluate its metabolic profile after resistance. Although accumulation of shikimic acid is known to occur in glyphosate-susceptible populations, differences in the ability of resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes to accumulate quinic acid, salicylic acid, and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) have been studied to a lesser extent. Our objective was to confirm glyphosate resistance in sourgrass and to understand the metabolic profile of these plants in response to the herbicide. Greenhouse experiments were carried out from January 2016 to June 2018. There were no significant differences in glyphosate translocation in the plants. No metabolism of glyphosate to AMPA was observed; therefore, metabolism of glyphosate to AMPA is not a mechanism in R biotypes. S biotypes showed higher concentrations of shikimic acid and quinic acid before glyphosate and accumulated less of both secondary acids in treated leaves 72 h after glyphosate application. Resistant biotypes showed higher concentrations of salicylic acid before glyphosate application.
Associations of accelerometer-measured physical activity and physical activity-related cancer incidence in older women: results from the WHI OPACH Study
Authors: Parada Humberto , McDonald Emily , Bellettiere John , Evenson Kelly R. , LaMonte Michael J. , LaCroix Andrea Z.
Published: March 2020

Background

We examined the associations between accelerometry-measured physical activity (PA) and incidence of 13 cancers among a cohort of postmenopausal women.

Methods

In this prospective study, 6382 women wore ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers at the hip for up to 7 days during 2012–2013, and were followed over a median of 4.7 years for diagnosis of 13 invasive cancers. Calibrated intensity cut points were used to define minutes per day of total, light and moderate-to-vigorous PA. We used multivariable Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for tertiles, and one-standard deviation (SD) unit increments of PA exposures in relation to cancer incidence. We examined effect measure modification by age, race/ethnicity, body mass index and smoking history.

Results

The highest (vs. lowest) tertiles of total, light and moderate-to-vigorous PA were associated with covariate-adjusted HRs of 0.72 (95% CI = 0.53–0.97), 0.81 (95% CI = 0.60–1.09) and 0.66 (95% CI = 0.48–0.91), respectively. In age-stratified analyses, HRs for total PA were lower among women <80 years (HRper one-SD = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.63–0.90) than among women ≥80 years (HRper one-SD = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.82–1.18) (PInteraction = 0.03). Race/ethnicity, BMI and smoking did not strongly modify these associations.

Conclusions

Engaging in physical activity may play a beneficial role in the prevention of certain cancers in older women.
MIRAGE syndrome caused by a novel missense variant (p.Ala1479Ser) in the SAMD9 gene
Authors: Onuma Shinsuke , Wada Tamaki , Araki Ryosuke , Wada Kazuko , Tanase-Nakao Kanako , Narumi Satoshi , Fukui Miho , Shoji Yasuko , Etani Yuri , Ida Shinobu , Kawai Masanobu
Published: March 2020

MIRAGE syndrome is a recently identified disorder characterized by myelodysplasia, infection, restriction of growth, adrenal hypoplasia, genital phenotypes, and enteropathy. It is caused by a gain-of-function variant in the SAMD9 gene, but there is limited knowledge regarding the genotype–phenotype correlation. We herein report a Japanese patient with MIRAGE syndrome carrying a novel de novo heterozygous missense variant in the SAMD9 gene (c.4435 G > T; p.Ala1479Ser).
Exploring the role of the Ser9Gly (rs6280) Dopamine D3 receptor polymorphism in nicotine reinforcement and cue-elicited craving
Authors: Chukwueke Chidera C. , Kowalczyk William J. , Di Ciano Patricia , Gendy Marie , Taylor Richard , Heishman Stephen J. , Le Foll Bernard
Published: March 2020

Preclinical studies show that the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) is involved in the reinstatement of drug seeking and motivation for drugs of abuse. A D3R gene variant, Ser9Gly (rs6280) has been linked to nicotine dependence, yet the mechanisms underlying its involvement in nicotine dependence is unclear. This study investigated the relationship between the Ser9Gly variant and measures of both nicotine reinforcement and cue-elicited craving. Phenotypes of smoking behaviors were assessed in genetically grouped (Glycine vs. No Glycine carriers) current smokers (n = 104, ≥ 10 cigarettes per day). Laboratory measures included a forced choice session (to measure reinforcement of nicotine containing vs. denicotinized cigarettes), and a cue-reactivity session (to measure smoking cues vs. neutral cues elicited craving). The forced choice procedure revealed that subjective ratings were significantly higher in response to nicotinized compared to denicotinized cigarettes; however the Ser9Gly variant did not influence this effect. By comparison, smoking cues elicited greater craving over time compared to neutral cues, and Glycine carriers of the Ser9Gly D3R variant seem to experience a significant blunted cue-elicited craving effect. Results support D3R involvement in nicotine cue reactivity. However, more research is needed to reveal how this gene variant modulates various aspects of nicotine dependence.
Author Correction: Drug-induced PD-L1 expression and cell stress response in breast cancer cells can be balanced by drug combination
Authors: Gilad Yosi , Eliaz Yossi , Yu Yang , Han Sang Jun , O’Malley Bert W. , Lonard David M.
Published: March 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Temporal changes in the gene expression heterogeneity during brain development and aging
Authors: Işıldak Ulaş , Somel Mehmet , Thornton Janet M. , Dönertaş Handan Melike
Published: March 2020

Cells in largely non-mitotic tissues such as the brain are prone to stochastic (epi-)genetic alterations that may cause increased variability between cells and individuals over time. Although increased inter-individual heterogeneity in gene expression was previously reported, whether this process starts during development or if it is restricted to the aging period has not yet been studied. The regulatory dynamics and functional significance of putative aging-related heterogeneity are also unknown. Here we address these by a meta-analysis of 19 transcriptome datasets from three independent studies, covering diverse human brain regions. We observed a significant increase in inter-individual heterogeneity during aging (20 + years) compared to postnatal development (0 to 20 years). Increased heterogeneity during aging was consistent among different brain regions at the gene level and associated with lifespan regulation and neuronal functions. Overall, our results show that increased expression heterogeneity is a characteristic of aging human brain, and may influence aging-related changes in brain functions.
Forecasting Air Quality in Taiwan by Using Machine Learning
Authors: Lee Mike , Lin Larry , Chen Chih-Yuan , Tsao Yu , Yao Ting-Hsuan , Fei Min-Han , Fang Shih-Hau
Published: March 2020

This study proposes a gradient-boosting-based machine learning approach for predicting the PM2.5 concentration in Taiwan. The proposed mechanism is evaluated on a large-scale database built by the Environmental Protection Administration, and Central Weather Bureau, Taiwan, which includes data from 77 air monitoring stations and 580 weather stations performing hourly measurements over 1 year. By learning from past records of PM2.5 and neighboring weather stations’ climatic information, the forecasting model works well for 24-h prediction at most air stations. This study also investigates the geographical and meteorological divergence for the forecasting results of seven regional monitoring areas. We also compare the prediction performance between Taiwan, Taipei, and London; analyze the impact of industrial pollution; and propose an enhanced version of the prediction model to improve the prediction accuracy. The results indicate that Taipei and London have similar prediction results because these two cities have similar topography (basin) and are financial centers without domestic pollution sources. The results also suggest that after considering industrial impacts by incorporating additional features from the Taichung and Thong-Siau power plants, the proposed method achieves significant improvement in the coefficient of determination (R2) from 0.58 to 0.71. Moreover, for Taichung City the root-mean-square error decreases from 8.56 for the conventional approach to 7.06 for the proposed method.
Long-term follow-up of osteomyelitis caused by Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination in immunocompetent children
Authors: Tsai Yen-Lin , Chen Yen-Ju , Lai Yu-Cheng
Published: March 2020

No standard treatment for Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG)-associated osteomyelitis, a rare but serious complication of the BCG vaccine, has been established. This study explored the short- and long-term outcomes of surgical intervention for BCG-associated osteomyelitis. Four patients with BCG osteomyelitis aged 9–21 months when diagnosed and treated at the Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, between January 2001 and April 2019 were analysed. Radiography revealed osteolytic lesions of the involved sites. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed physeal involvement in three patients. Debridement was performed for all four patients. One patient then underwent additional arthroscopy because of suspect intra-articular involvement. Specimens obtained intraoperatively were sent for pathology, culture, and to the national reference mycobacterial laboratory for BCG detection using polymerase chain reaction. All four patients had positive results for Mycobacterium bovis and satisfactory short-term results. Functional monitoring using QuickDASH or the Lower Extremity Functional Scale revealed excellent long-term outcomes despite tiny limb length discrepancy observed during follow-up in two patients. Prompt diagnosis plus proper intervention is required to prevent further major complications of BCG osteomyelitis. Minimally invasive debridement led to positive clinical outcomes and is therefore recommended.
BrainSpace: a toolbox for the analysis of macroscale gradients in neuroimaging and connectomics datasets
Authors: Vos de Wael Reinder , Benkarim Oualid , Paquola Casey , Lariviere Sara , Royer Jessica , Tavakol Shahin , Xu Ting , Hong Seok-Jun , Langs Georg , Valk Sofie , Misic Bratislav , Milham Michael , Margulies Daniel , Smallwood Jonathan , Bernhardt Boris C.
Published: March 2020

Understanding how cognitive functions emerge from brain structure depends on quantifying how discrete regions are integrated within the broader cortical landscape. Recent work established that macroscale brain organization and function can be described in a compact manner with multivariate machine learning approaches that identify manifolds often described as cortical gradients. By quantifying topographic principles of macroscale organization, cortical gradients lend an analytical framework to study structural and functional brain organization across species, throughout development and aging, and its perturbations in disease. Here, we present BrainSpace, a Python/Matlab toolbox for (i) the identification of gradients, (ii) their alignment, and (iii) their visualization. Our toolbox furthermore allows for controlled association studies between gradients with other brain-level features, adjusted with respect to null models that account for spatial autocorrelation. Validation experiments demonstrate the usage and consistency of our tools for the analysis of functional and microstructural gradients across different spatial scales.
Artificial light during the polar night disrupts Arctic fish and zooplankton behaviour down to 200 m depth
Authors: Berge Jørgen , Geoffroy Maxime , Daase Malin , Cottier Finlo , Priou Pierre , Cohen Jonathan H. , Johnsen Geir , McKee David , Kostakis Ina , Renaud Paul E. , Vogedes Daniel , Anderson Philip , Last Kim S. , Gauthier Stephane
Published: March 2020

For organisms that remain active in one of the last undisturbed and pristine dark environments on the planet—the Arctic Polar Night—the moon, stars and aurora borealis may provide important cues to guide distribution and behaviours, including predator-prey interactions. With a changing climate and increased human activities in the Arctic, such natural light sources will in many places be masked by the much stronger illumination from artificial light. Here we show that normal working-light from a ship may disrupt fish and zooplankton behaviour down to at least 200 m depth across an area of >0.125 km2 around the ship. Both the quantitative and qualitative nature of the disturbance differed between the examined regions. We conclude that biological surveys in the dark from illuminated ships may introduce biases on biological sampling, bioacoustic surveys, and possibly stock assessments of commercial and non-commercial species.
Development of a CRISPR/Cas9n-based tool for metabolic engineering of Pseudomonas putida for ferulic acid-to-polyhydroxyalkanoate bioconversion
Authors: Zhou Yueyue , Lin Lu , Wang Heng , Zhang Zhichao , Zhou Jizhong , Jiao Nianzhi
Published: March 2020

Ferulic acid is a ubiquitous phenolic compound in lignocellulose, which is recognized for its role in the microbial carbon catabolism and industrial value. However, its recalcitrance and toxicity poses a challenge for ferulic acid-to-bioproducts bioconversion. Here, we develop a genome editing strategy for Pseudomonas putida KT2440 using an integrated CRISPR/Cas9n-λ-Red system with pyrF as a selection marker, which maintains cell viability and genetic stability, increases mutation efficiency, and simplifies genetic manipulation. Via this method, four functional modules, comprised of nine genes involved in ferulic acid catabolism and polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis, were integrated into the genome, generating the KTc9n20 strain. After metabolic engineering and optimization of C/N ratio, polyhydroxyalkanoate production was increased to ~270 mg/L, coupled with ~20 mM ferulic acid consumption. This study not only establishes a simple and efficient genome editing strategy, but also offers an encouraging example of how to apply this method to improve microbial aromatic compound bioconversion.
Dissecting the properties of neutron star–black hole mergers originating in dense star clusters
Authors: Arca Sedda Manuel
Published: March 2020

The detection of gravitational waves emitted during a neutron star–black hole merger and the associated electromagnetic counterpart will provide a wealth of information about stellar evolution nuclear matter, and general relativity. While the theoretical framework about neutron star–black hole binaries formed in isolation is well established, the picture is loosely constrained for those forming via dynamical interactions. Here, we use N-body simulations to show that mergers forming in globular and nuclear clusters could display distinctive marks compared to isolated mergers, namely larger masses, heavier black holes, and the tendency to have no associated electromagnetic counterpart. These features could represent a useful tool to interpreting forthcoming observations. In the local Universe, gravitational waves emitted from dynamical mergers could be unraveled by detectors sensitive in the decihertz frequency band, while those occurring at the distance range of Andromeda and the Virgo Cluster could be accessible to lower-frequency detectors like LISA.
Visualization of materials using the confocal laser scanning microscopy technique
Authors: Teng Xu , Li Feng , Lu Chao
Published: March 2020

This review summarizes the recent applications of confocal laser scanning microscopy in materials science.
Evaluation for regional difference of skin-gas ethanol and sweat rate using alcohol dehydrogenase-mediated fluorometric gas-imaging system (sniff-cam)
Authors: Iitani Kenta , Naisierding Munire , Toma Koji , Arakawa Takahiro , Mitsubayashi Kohji
Published: March 2020

Skin gas that contains volatile metabolites (volatilome) is emanated continuously and is thus expected to be suitable for non-invasive monitoring of metabolism and disease screening.
Biomimic strategies for modulating the interaction between particle adjuvants and antigen-presenting cells
Authors: Wu Jie , Ma Guanghui
Published: March 2020

The design strategies of particle adjuvants by mimicking natural pathogens to strengthen their interaction with antigen-presenting cells.
Weak-field ligands enable inert early transition metal oxides to convert methane to methanol: the case of ZrO
Authors: Jackson Benjamin A. , Miliordos Evangelos
Published: March 2020

We perform multireference calculations on the ZrO + CH4reaction for ground and excited electronic states. Weak-field ligands are shown to stabilize the high spin states of ZrO with oxyl character, which facilitate the reactionviaa radical mechanism.
Inorganic reaction mechanisms. A personal journey
Authors: Hubbard Colin D. , Chatterjee Debabrata , Oszajca Maria , Polaczek Justyna , Impert Olga , Chrzanowska Marta , Katafias Anna , Puchta Ralph , van Eldik Rudi
Published: March 2020

This review describes a personal journey over the past two decades highlighting experimental and computational mechanistic studies in inorganic chemistry performed with numerous PhD students, post-docs, visiting scientists and colleagues from abroad.
The occurrence and distribution of nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates in different species of fish
Authors: Ruczyńska Wiesława , Szlinder-Richert Joanna , Nermer Tomasz
Published: March 2020

The aim of this study was to analyze the accumulation of nonylphenols (NPs) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) in the muscles, liver, and bile of flounder (Platichthys flesus), cod (Gadus morhua), and eels (Anguilla anguilla).
HNF4a transcription is a target of trichloroethylene toxicity in the embryonic mouse heart
Authors: Chen Sheri , Lencinas Alejandro , Nunez Martha , Selmin Ornella I. , Runyan Raymond B.
Published: March 2020

In exploration of congenital heart defects produced by TCE, Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 alpha (HNF4a) transcriptional activity was identified as a central component.
Materials science based on synthetic polysaccharides
Authors: Delbianco Martina , Seeberger Peter H.
Published: March 2020

Automated Glycan Assembly produces well-defined oligosaccharides for detailed structural characterization. These glycans can assemble into supramolecular materials with different morphologies.
Green hydrogen from anion exchange membrane water electrolysis: a review of recent developments in critical materials and operating conditions
Authors: Miller Hamish Andrew , Bouzek Karel , Hnat Jaromir , Loos Stefan , Bernäcker Christian Immanuel , Weißgärber Thomas , Röntzsch Lars , Meier-Haack Jochen
Published: March 2020

Hydrogen production using water electrolysers equipped with an anion exchange membrane, a pure water feed and cheap components (catalysts and bipolar plates) can challenge proton exchange membrane electrolysis systems as the state of the art.
Multi-scale microporous silica microcapsules from gas-in water-in oil emulsions
Authors: Toprakcioglu Zenon , Hakala Tuuli A. , Levin Aviad , Becker Christian F. W. , Bernandes Gonçalo G. L. , Knowles Tuomas P. J.
Published: March 2020

Controlling surface area and pore size of microcapsules are key parameters for modulating their activity in various applications. Here we describe a microfluidics-based approach for the formation of monodisperse silica-coated micron-scale porous capsules of controllable sizes.
Systematic comparison of racemic and enantiopure multicomponent crystals of phenylsuccinic acid—the role of chirality
Authors: Odounga Odounga Jean-Eudes , Báthori Nikoletta B.
Published: March 2020

Comparison of binary cocrystals of chiral and racemic carboxylic acids showed that the introduction of chiral building blocks may lead to the formation of subclasses of multicomponent crystals with unique Z′′/Zr values combined with complex protonation stages of the molecules.
Unwanted effects of X-rays in surface grafted copper(ii) organometallics and copper exchanged zeolites, how they manifest, and what can be done about them
Authors: Newton Mark A. , Knorpp Amy J. , Meyet Jordan , Stoian Dragos , Nachtegaal Maarten , Clark Adam H. , Safonova Olga V. , Emerich Hermann , van Beek Wouter , Sushkevich Vitaly L. , van Bokhoven Jeroen A.
Published: March 2020

Commonly applied powder densities at modern X-ray spectroscopy resources have the capacity to affect, in a deleterious manner, the results obtained from a measurement on copper(ii) containing materials.
Effects of crystal size on methanol to hydrocarbon conversion over single crystals of ZSM-5 studied by synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy
Authors: Minova Ivalina B. , Matam Santhosh K. , Greenaway Alex , Catlow C. Richard A. , Frogley Mark D. , Cinque Gianfelice , Wright Paul A. , Howe Russell F.
Published: March 2020

The induction period for alkene formation from methanol in single crystals of HZSM-5 decreases with decreasing crystal size and increasing temperature and hydrocarbon pool species are formed almost instantaneously at higher temperatures.
Bis(pentafluorophenyl)phenothiazylborane – an intramolecular frustrated Lewis pair catalyst for stannane dehydrocoupling
Authors: Bentley Jordan N. , Pradhan Ekadashi , Zeng Tao , Caputo Christopher B.
Published: March 2020

A Lewis acidic aminoborane (1) was shown to catalytically dehydrocouple stannanes through an unexpected heterolytic frustrated Lewis pair mechanism rather than a homolytic process.
Concise synthesis of α-amino cyclic boronates via multicomponent coupling of salicylaldehydes, amines, and B2(OH)4
Authors: Ming Wenbo , Liu Xiaocui , Friedrich Alexandra , Krebs Johannes , Budiman Yudha P. , Huang Mingming , Marder Todd B.
Published: March 2020

α-Amino cyclic boronates were synthesized from readily available salicylaldehydes, amines, and B2(OH)4. The process can be run at room temperature in ethanol, does not require catalysts or additives, and scale up and purification are easy.
Thermally assisted delayed fluorescence (TADF): fluorescence delayed is fluorescence denied
Authors: Ravinson Daniel Sylvinson Muthiah , Thompson Mark E.
Published: March 2020

Thermally assisted delayed fluorescence (TADF) allows for efficient collection of both singlet and triplet excitons with both emitting through the singlet channel.  TADF opens the door to photo- and electroluminescence efficiencies close to 100%.
Clearance of single-wall carbon nanotubes from the mouse lung: a quantitative evaluation
Authors: Zhang Minfang , Xu Ying , Yang Mei , Yudasaka Masako , Okazaki Toshiya
Published: March 2020

A quantitative method using near infrared absorption is used to study the biodistribution of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the liver, lungs and spleen after intravenous injection into mice. It is found that the CNTs could be removed almost completely from the lungs when their accumulation is low.
Zinc triflate catalyzed 1,3-indolylation of cyclohexanones: tandem condensation, dehydrogenation and aromatization sequence
Authors: Singh Himanshu , Tiwari Rajat , Sharma Poonam , Kumar Pramod , Jain Nidhi
Published: March 2020

1,3-Bis(1-alkyl-1H-indol-3-yl)benzene derivatives have been synthesized through a Zn(OTf)2 catalyzed reaction between cyclohexanones and indoles.
Room temperature nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl-boronic acids with thiophenols: synthesis of diarylsulfides
Authors: Bhowmik Amit , Yadav Mahesh , Fernandes Rodney A.
Published: March 2020

A mild and easy to operate NiCl2/2,2′-bipyridine-catalyzed cross-coupling of thiophenols with arylboronic acids has been developed for the synthesis of symmetric and unsymmetric diarylsulfides at room temperature and in air.
Synthesis and characterization of hydroxyl-terminated butadiene-end-capped polyisobutylene and its use as a diol for polyurethane preparation
Authors: Wu Kangda , Wu Yibo , Huang Shan , Chen Zhifei , Wang Hao , Shang Yuwei , Li Shuxin
Published: March 2020

We synthesised hydroxyl-terminated PIB through living cationic polymerisation. Then the hydroxyl-terminated PIB was subsequently used as a diol to produce a PIB-based polyurethane.
Accelerating the electrical response of solvent-dispersed imogolite nanotubes through structural organisation
Authors: Shikinaka K.
Published: March 2020

Structural organisation of solvent-dispersed imogolite nanotubes accelerated their electrical response, resulting in birefringence variations analogous to a liquid crystal system.
Catalytic activation of a non-noble intermetallic surface through nanostructuration under hydrogenation conditions revealed by atomistic thermodynamics
Authors: Gaudry É. , Chatelier C. , Loffreda D. , Kandaskalov D. , Coati A. , Piccolo L.
Published: March 2020

On the basis of DFT, we predict nanostructuration and subsequent catalytic activation of Al13Co4(100) under reaction conditions, while Al13Fe4(010) remains nanostructured.
Efficient co-delivery of microRNA 21 inhibitor and doxorubicin to cancer cells using core–shell tecto dendrimers formed via supramolecular host–guest assembly
Authors: Song Cong , Xiao Yunchao , Ouyang Zhijun , Shen Mingwu , Shi Xiangyang
Published: March 2020

Core–shell tecto dendrimers formed via supramolecular assembly enable co-delivery of microRNA 21 inhibitor and doxorubicin for enhanced anticancer therapy applications.