bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anxiety, Depression and Quality of Life Improve After One Month and Three Months of Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Pilot Study in a Canadian Population
Authors: Pinto-Sanchez Maria Ines , Gadowsky Shannon , McKenzie Suzan , Raphael Michael J , Childs Anne , Thabane Marroon , Hansen Suzanne , Marshall John K , Armstrong David
Published: July 2018

Background

Patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN) have a reduced quality of life (QoL), but it is unknown if this is associated with psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety or depression.

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess anxiety, depression and QoL in patients transitioning from hospital to HPN.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study in adult patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) during transition from hospital to home. We assessed anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS), health-related quality of life (HRQoL; SF-36) and health status (EQ-5D) before discharge and again later at one and three months after HPN was started.

Results

Of the 29 patients, 15 had an underlying malignancy. At baseline, 93% of patients with malignancy had anxiety or depression (HADS A and/or HADS D >7) or both, while of the patients without malignancy, 60% had anxiety, and 40% had depression. Questionnaires were completed by 21 patients at one month and by 15 at three months. Anxiety and depression scores decreased significantly after one month of HPN (mean difference [MD] anxiety: 4.3; 95% CI, 1.2–7.5, P = 0.004; MD depression: 4.0; 95% CI, 1.5–6.5, P = 0.001), and the decrease persisted at three months (MD anxiety: 35; 95% CI, 0.35–6.6, P = 0.02; MD depression: 2.5; 95% CI, 0.06–5.0, P = 0.04). Overall, patients reported an improvement in HRQoL (SF-36) after one month of HPN, and this improvement was maintained at three months in those patients who survived.

Conclusion

Home parenteral nutrition is associated with improvements in anxiety, depression and HRQoL at one month and three months after discharge from hospital. The improvements in Qol, anxiety and depression seem greater in patients with underlying malignancy.
p53 upregulated by HIF-1α promotes hypoxia-induced G2/M arrest and renal fibrosis in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Liu Limin , Zhang Peng , Bai Ming , He Lijie , Zhang Lei , Liu Ting , Yang Zhen , Duan Menglu , Liu Minna , Liu Baojian , Du Rui , Qian Qi , Sun Shiren
Published: July 2018

Hypoxia plays an important role in the genesis and progression of renal fibrosis. The underlying mechanisms, however, have not been sufficiently elucidated. We examined the role of p53 in hypoxia-induced renal fibrosis in cell culture (human and rat renal tubular epithelial cells) and a mouse unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model. Cell cycle of tubular cells was determined by flow cytometry, and the expression of profibrogenic factors was determined by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter experiments were performed to explore the effect of HIF-1α on p53 expression. We showed that, in hypoxic tubular cells, p53 upregulation suppressed the expression of CDK1 and cyclins B1 and D1, leading to cell cycle (G2/M) arrest (or delay) and higher expression of TGF-β, CTGF, collagens, and fibronectin. p53 suppression by siRNA or by a specific p53 inhibitor (PIF-α) triggered opposite effects preventing the G2/M arrest and profibrotic changes. In vivo experiments in the UUO model revealed similar antifibrotic results following intraperitoneal administration of PIF-α (2.2 mg/kg). Using gain-of-function, loss-of-function, and luciferase assays, we further identified an HRE3 region on the p53 promoter as the HIF-1α-binding site. The HIF-1α–HRE3 binding resulted in a sharp transcriptional activation of p53. Collectively, we show the presence of a hypoxia-activated, p53-responsive profibrogenic pathway in the kidney. During hypoxia, p53 upregulation induced by HIF-1α suppresses cell cycle progression, leading to the accumulation of G2/M cells, and activates profibrotic TGF-β and CTGF-mediated signaling pathways, causing extracellular matrix production and renal fibrosis.
Heart Rate Variability and Cognitive Bias Feedback Interventions to Prevent Post-deployment PTSD: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Pyne Jeffrey M , Constans Joseph I , Nanney John T , Wiederhold Mark D , Gibson Douglas P , Kimbrell Timothy , Kramer Teresa L , Pitcock Jeffery A , Han Xiaotong , Williams D Keith , Chartrand Don , Gevirtz Richard N , Spira James , Wiederhold Brenda K , McCraty Rollin , McCune Thomas R
Published: July 2018

Introduction

There is a long history of pre-deployment PTSD prevention efforts in the military and effective pre-deployment strategies to prevent post-deployment PTSD are still needed.

Materials and Methods

This randomized controlled trial included three arms: heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB), cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I), and control. The hypothesis was that pre-deployment resilience training would result in lower post-deployment PTSD symptoms compared with control. Army National Guard soldiers (n = 342) were enrolled in the Warriors Achieving Resilience (WAR) study and analyzed. The outcome was PTSD symptom severity using the PTSD Checklist – Military version (PCL) measured at pre-deployment, 3- and 12-month post-deployment. Due to the repeated measures for each participant and cluster randomization at the company level, generalized linear mixed models were used for the analysis. This study was approved by the Army Human Research Protection Office, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Institutional Review Board (IRB), and Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System IRB.

Results

Overall, there was no significant intervention effect. However, there were significant intervention effects for subgroups of soldiers. For example, at 3-months post-deployment, the HRVB arm had significantly lower PCL scores than the control arm for soldiers with no previous combat zone exposure who were age 30 and older and for soldiers with previous combat zone exposure who were 45 and older (unadjusted effect size −0.97 and −1.03, respectively). A significant difference between the CBM-I and control arms was found for soldiers without previous combat zone exposure between ages 23 and 42 (unadjusted effect size −0.41). Similarly, at 12-months post-deployment, the HRVB arm had significantly lower PCL scores in older soldiers.

Conclusion

Pre-deployment resilience training was acceptable and feasible and resulted in lower post-deployment PTSD symptom scores in subgroups of older soldiers compared with controls. Strengths of the study included cluster randomization at the company level, use of iPod device to deliver the resilience intervention throughout the deployment cycle, and minimal disruption of pre-deployment training by using self-paced resilience training. Weaknesses included self-report app use, study personnel not able to contact soldiers during deployment, and in general a low level of PTSD symptom severity throughout the study. In future studies, it would important for the study team and/or military personnel implementing the resilience training to be in frequent contact with participants to ensure proper use of the resilience training apps.
The extended radio jet of an off-nuclear low-mass AGN in NGC 5252
Authors: Mezcua M , Kim M , Ho L C , Lonsdale C J
Published: July 2018

CXO J133815.6+043255 is an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) with ultraviolet, optical, and radio counterparts located 10 kpc away from the nucleus of the galaxy NGC 5252. Optical spectroscopic studies indicate that the ULX is kinematically associated with NGC 5252; yet, the compactness of its radio emission could not rule out the possibility that the ULX is a background blazar. We present follow-up VLBA radio observations that are able to resolve the compact radio emission of the ULX into two components, making the blazar scenario very unlikely. The east component is extended at 4.4 GHz and its detection also at 7.6 GHz reveals a steep spectral index. The west component is only detected at 4.4 GHz, is not firmly resolved, and has a flatter spectral index. Considering that the west component hosts the radio core, we constrain the black hole mass of the ULX to 103.5 < MBH ≲2 × 106 M⊙ and its Eddington ratio to ∼10−3. The ULX is thus most likely powered by an intermediate-mass black hole or low-mass AGN. Our results constitute the first discovery of a multicomponent radio jet in a ULX and possible intermediate-mass black hole.
Experiencing Organizational Change During an Era of Reform: Police Scotland, Narratives of Localism, and Perceptions from the ‘Frontline’
Authors: Fyfe Nicholas R , Anderson Simon , Bland Nick , Goulding Amy , Mitchell James , Reid Susan
Published: July 2018

In 2011, the Scottish Government took the decision to create a single, national police force, reconfiguring a structure of regional police forces, which had prevailed since the 19th century. Despite a strong narrative around localism in the legislation establishing Police Scotland, the new force that was established in 2013 quickly found itself at the centre of a debate around an emerging ‘crisis of localism’ as critics expressed concerns over the centralization of decision-making and a lack of sensitivity to local contexts. Drawing on qualitative research carried out in four communities across Scotland in 2016, the analysis presented in this article examines the experience of organizational change from the perspective of officers in local policing teams and from local stakeholders. The analysis is structured around the strategic aims of reform of improved local service delivery, more equal local access to specialist expertise, and enhanced connections with local communities. The article highlights the sense of exclusion from the decision-making surrounding the organizational changes associated with the implementation of reform experienced by local, rank-and-file officers.
Driving as an Under-acknowledged Risk in Rural Policing
Authors: Ricciardelli Rosemary , Spencer Dale C , Andres Elizabeth
Published: July 2018

One topic rarely discussed in the policing literature is driving-related accidents, injuries, and deaths, despite the fact that, for example, such deaths vastly outnumber gun-related fatalities for officers on active duty. There is even less literature on automobile-related incidents and deaths in relation to rural policing. Based on 14 focus groups with police officers (n = 49) across a primarily rural Canadian province, we probe the various driving-related risks faced by these officers. Drawing from the literature on automobility, we examine the various aspects of driving that place officers at risk of fatality. We highlight the driving-related occupational risks specific to rural policing and how such risks inhibit their ability to conduct their jobs safely and effectively. We conclude with policy implications and avenues for future research.
Sox4 is involved in osteoarthritic cartilage deterioration through induction of ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5
Authors: Takahata Yoshifumi , Nakamura Eriko , Hata Kenji , Wakabayashi Makoto , Murakami Tomohiko , Wakamori Kanta , Yoshikawa Hiroshi , Matsuda Akio , Fukui Naoshi , Nishimura Riko
Published: July 2018

Osteoarthritis is a common disease in joint cartilages. Because the molecular pathogenesis of osteoarthritis remains elusive, early diagnostic markers and effective therapeutic agents have not been developed. To understand the molecular mechanisms, we attempted to identify transcription factors involved in the onset of osteoarthritis. Microarray analysis of mouse articular cartilage cells indicated that retinoic acid, a destructive stimulus in articular cartilage, up‐regulated expression of sex‐determining region Y‐box (Sox)4, a SoxC family transcription factor, together with increases in Adamts4 and Adamts5, both of which are aggrecanases of articular cartilages. Overexpression of Sox4 induced a disintegrin‐like and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 4 and 5 motif (ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5, respectively) expression in chondrogenic cell lines C3H10T1/2 and SW1353. In addition, luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that Sox4 up‐regulated ADAMTS4 and Adamts5 gene promoter activities by binding to their gene promoters. Another SoxC family member, Sox11, evoked similar effects. To evaluate the roles of Sox4 and Sox11 in articular cartilage destruction, we performed organ culture experiments using mouse femoral head cartilages. Sox4 and Sox11 adenovirus infections caused destruction of articular cartilage associated with increased Adamts5 expression. Finally, SOX4 and SOX11 mRNA expression was increased in cartilage of patients with osteoarthritis compared with nonosteoarthritic subjects. Thus, Sox4, and presumably Sox11, are involved in osteoarthritis onset by up‐regulating ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5.—Takahata, Y., Nakamura, E., Hata, K., Wakabayashi, M., Murakami, T., Wakamori, K., Yoshikawa, H., Matsuda, A., Fukui, N., Nishimura, R. Sox4 is involved in osteoarthritic cartilage deterioration through induction of ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5. FASEB J. 33, 619–630 (2019). www.fasebj.org
Understanding the coupling between DNA damage detection and UvrA's ATPase using bulk and single molecule kinetics
Authors: Barnett Jamie T. , Kad Neil M.
Published: July 2018

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) protects cells against diverse types of DNA damage, principally UV irradiation. In Escherichia coli, damage is recognized by 2 key enzymes: UvrA and UvrB. Despite extensive investigation, the role of UvrA's 2 ATPase domains in NER remains elusive. Combining single‐molecule fluorescence microscopy and classic biochemical methods, we have investigated the role of nucleotide binding in UvrA's kinetic cycle. Measurement of UvrA's steady‐state ATPase activity shows it is stimulated upon binding DNA (kcat 0.71–1.07/s). Despite UvrA's ability to discriminate damage, we find UV‐damaged DNA does not alter the steady‐state ATPase. To understand how damage affects UvrA, we studied its binding to DNA under various nucleotide conditions at the single molecule level. We have found that both UV damage and nucleotide cofactors affect the attached lifetime of UvrA. In the presence of ATP and UV damage, the lifetime is significantly greater compared with undamaged DNA. To reconcile these observations, we suggest that UvrA uses negative cooperativity between its ATPase sites that is gated by damage recognition. Only in the presence of damage is the second site activated, most likely in a sequential manner.—Barnett, J. T., Kad, N. M. Understanding the coupling between DNA damage detection and UvrA's ATPase using bulk and single molecule kinetics. FASEB J. 33, 763–769 (2019). www.fasebj.org
Campbell de Morgan Spots (Cherry Angiomas) Show Endothelial Proliferation
Authors: Fernandez-Flores Angel , Colmenero Isabel
Published: July 2018

Campbell de Morgan spots (also known as adult hemangiomas, cherry angiomas, or senile angiomas) show clinical and histopathological features that make them distinct. Despite this, they are not included as benign vascular tumors in the current classification by the International Society for Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA). In the current study, we investigated the proliferation rate (Ki67) of the endothelia of 23 cases of Campbell de Morgan spots, as well as the immunoexpression of Wilms tumor protein 1 (WT1) by these vascular anomalies. The youngest patient was 24 years old (range: 24–80; mean: 52.61). Ten patients were women (43.48%). All cases showed intense cytoplasmic expression of WT1 by the endothelia in 80%–100% of the endothelial cells. Ki67 demonstrated proliferation by the endothelia of all vascular lesions. A mean of 1077.6 nuclei were evaluated per case. Eight cases showed a very low proliferation (less than 0.5% of the nuclei). In the other 15 cases, the proliferation ranged from 0.59% to 3.59% (mean: 1.89%).
Effect of Exercise on Risk Factors of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Authors: Liao Fuyuan , An Ruopeng , Pu Fang , Burns Stephanie , Shen Sa , Jan Yih-Kuen
Published: July 2018

The objectives of this study were to examine the effectiveness of different types of exercise on risk factors of diabetic foot ulcers, including glycated hemoglobin, peripheral arterial disease, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched from inception to January 2018 for relevant articles. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials that examined effects of exercise on the selected risk factors. Twenty randomized controlled trials with 1357 participants were included in the meta-analyses. The differences in postintervention values of glycated hemoglobin and ankle brachial index between exercise and control groups were synthesized, yielding mean differences of −0.45% (P < 0.00001) and 0.03 (P = 0.002), respectively; the differences in within-group changes in glycated hemoglobin were synthesized, yielding mean differences of −0.19% (P = 0.1), −0.25% (P = 0.0006), and −0.64% (P = 0.006) for aerobic versus resistance, combined versus aerobic, and combined versus resistance exercise, respectively. Exercise has a significant effect on reducing glycated hemoglobin, whereas combined exercise is more effective compared with aerobic or resistance exercise alone. Exercise also improves ankle brachial index. However, evidence regarding the association between exercise and peripheral neuropathy and risks of diabetic foot ulcers in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus remains insufficient.
Effectiveness of Bedside Lung Ultrasound for Clinical Follow-Up of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax Patients Treated With Tube Thoracostomy
Authors: Karagöz Arif , Ünlüer Erden Erol , Akçay Onur , Kadioğlu Emine
Published: July 2018

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a common cause of presentation to emergency departments and subsequent hospitalization. Patients with large PSP are treated with tube thoracostomy (TT) and followed up with x-rays. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of bedside ultrasound and compared it with x-ray imaging for the clinical follow-up of PSP patients treated with TT.

This is a prospective observational study. After ethical committee approval and written informed consent were obtained, patients who were treated with TT because of PSP were screened. In the follow-up of these patients, a bedside lung ultrasound (BLUS) was performed before every chest x-ray by an emergency physician experienced in performing BLUSs. The performance of BLUSs in detecting free air in the pleural cavity was compared statistically with that of x-rays.

Sixty-two patients were enrolled in the study. In total, 166 BLUSs and x-rays were compared. The sensitivity of BLUS was 95.65% (85.20–99.50), specificity was 100% (79.40–100.00), positive predictive value was 100% (92–100), negative predictive value was 88.90% (65.30–98.60), and the area under the curve was 0.99 (0.974–1.000; P = 0.001) for detecting air in the pleural cavity. These results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between BLUS and x-ray methods for detecting air in the pleural cavity.

Our study revealed that BLUS can be safely used for the follow-up of PSP patients treated with TT to determine if air is present in the pleural cavity. Further studies are needed.
A new insight into the evolution and functional divergence of
FRK
genes in
Pyrus bretschneideri
Authors: Cao Yunpeng , Li Shumei , Han Yahui , Meng Dandan , Jiao Chunyan , Abdullah Muhammad , Li Dahui , Jin Qing , Lin Yi , Cai Yongping
Published: July 2018

In plants, plant fructokinases (FRKs) are considered to be the main gateway of fructose metabolism as they can phosphorylate fructose to fructose-6-phosphate. Chinese white pears (
Pyrus bretschneideri
) are one of the popular fruits in the world market; sugar content is an important factor affecting the quality of the fruit. We identified 49
FRKs
from four Rosaceae species; 20 of these sequences were from Chinese white pear. Subsequently, phylogenic relationship, gene structure and micro-collinearity were analysed. Phylogenetic and exon–intron analysis classified these
FRK
s into 10 subfamilies, and it was aimed to further reveal the variation of the gene structure and the evolutionary relationship of this gene family. Remarkably, gene expression patterns in different tissues or different development stages of the pear fruit suggested functional redundancy for
PbFRKs
derived from segmental duplication or genome-wide duplication and sub-functionalization for some of them. Additionally,
PbFRK11
,
PbFRK13
and
PbFRK16
were found to play important roles in regulating the sugar content in the fruit. Overall, this study provided important insights into the evolution of the
FRK
gene family in four Rosaceae species, and highlighted its roles in both pear tissue and fruits. Results presented here provide the appropriate candidate of
PbFRK
s that might contribute to fructose efflux in the pear fruit.
NMR-based metabolomic profiling of
Peganum harmala
L. reveals dynamic variations between different growth stages
Authors: Li Yinping , He Qing , Geng Zhufeng , Du Shushan , Deng Zhiwei , Hasi Eerdun
Published: July 2018

Xerophytes play an active role in preventing soil denudation and desertification in arid and semi-arid areas.
Peganum harmala
L. (Zygophyllaceae family), a seasonally growing, poisonous and drought-tolerant plant, is widely distributed in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and used as a traditional herbal medicine as well as, in winter, a fodder source. Previous research has focused on the pharmacological activity of isolated compounds and stress responses to growth environments. However, the metabolic profile of
P. harmala
and variations in its metabolites, including medicinally active and stress resistance components, have not been illustrated during different growth stages. Here, we collected plant samples in May, August, October and December. We determined the metabolic composition of methanol extracts using NMR spectroscopy, and comparisons of four growth stages were accomplished by applying statistical analysis. The results showed that vasicine, choline and sucrose were significantly elevated in samples harvested in May. Significantly higher amounts of betaine, lysine, 4-hydroxyisoleucine and proline were found in samples collected in August than in samples collected in other months, and the concentrations of phosphorylcholine, glucose, acetic acid and vasicinone were highest in December. The relationships between differential biomarkers and plant physiological states affected by diverse growth environmental factors were discussed. Our result deepened the understanding of metabolic mechanisms in plant development and confirmed the advantage of using NMR-based metabolomic treatments in quality evaluation when
P. harmala
is used for different purposes.
Compilation and evaluation of gas phase diffusion coefficients of halogenated organic compounds
Authors: Gu Wenjun , Cheng Peng , Tang Mingjin
Published: July 2018

Organic halogens are of great environmental and climatic concern. In this work, we have compiled their gas phase diffusivities (pressure-normalized diffusion coefficients) in a variety of bath gases experimentally measured by previous studies. It is found that diffusivities estimated using Fuller's semi-empirical method agree very well with measured values for organic halogens. In addition, we find that at a given temperature and pressure, different molecules exhibit very similar mean free paths in the same bath gas, and then propose a method to estimate mean free paths in different bath gases. For example, the pressure-normalized mean free paths are estimated to be 90, 350, 90, 80, 120 nm atm in air (and N
2
/O
2
), He, argon, CO
2
and CH
4
, respectively, with estimated errors of around ±25%. A generic method, which requires less input parameter than Fuller's method, is proposed to calculate gas phase diffusivities. We find that gas phase diffusivities in He (and air as well) calculated using our method show fairly good agreement with those measured experimentally and estimated using Fuller's method. Our method is particularly useful for the estimation of gas phase diffusivities when the trace gas contains atoms whose diffusion volumes are not known.
First-principles calculations of structural, electronic, magnetic and elastic properties of Mo2FeB2under high pressure
Authors: Wang Bin , Ma Benyuan , Song Wei , Fu Zhe , Lu Zhansheng
Published: July 2018

The structural, electronic, magnetic and elastic properties of Mo2FeB2under high pressure have been investigated with first-principles calculations. Furthermore, the thermal dynamic properties of Mo2FeB2were also studied with the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The volume of Mo2FeB2decreases with the increase in pressure. Using the analysis of the density of the states, atom population and Mulliken overlap population, it is observed that as the pressure increases, the B–B bonds are strengthened and the B–Mo covalency decreases. Moreover, for all pressures, Mo2FeB2is detected in the anti-ferromagnetic phase and the magnetic moments decrease with the increase in pressure. The calculated bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and universal anisotropy index all increase with the increase in pressure. From thermal expansion coefficient analysis, it is found that Mo2FeB2shows good volume invariance under high pressure and temperature. The examination of the dependence of heat capacity on the temperature and pressure shows that heat capacity is more sensitive to temperature than to pressure.
The effect of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation during rapid eye-movement sleep on neutral and emotional memory
Authors: Johnson Jennifer M. , Durrant Simon J.
Published: July 2018

Sleep-dependent memory consolidation has been extensively studied. Neutral declarative memories and serial reaction time task (SRTT) performance can benefit from slow-wave activity, characterized by less than 1 Hz frequency cortical slow oscillations (SO). Emotional memories can benefit from theta activity, characterized by 4–8 Hz frequency cortical oscillations. Applying transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) during sleep entrains specific frequencies to alter sleep architecture. When applying cathodal tDCS (CtDCS), neural inhibition or excitation may depend on the waveform at the applied frequency. A double dissociation was predicted, with CtDCS at SO frequency improving neutral declarative memory and SRTT performance, and theta frequency CtDCS inhibiting negative emotional memory. Participants completed three CtDCS conditions (Theta: 5 Hz, SO: 0.75 Hz and control: sham) and completed an SRTT and word recognition task pre- and post-sleep, comprising emotional and neutral words to assess memory. In line with predictions, CtDCS improved neutral declarative memory when applied at SO frequency. When applied at theta frequency, no negative emotional word memory impairment was found but a positive association was found between post-stimulation theta power and emotional word recognition. SRTT performance was also not altered by either CtDCS frequency. Future studies should investigate overnight theta CtDCS and examine the effects of CtDCS during and after stimulation.
Safety assessment of petrochemical enterprise using the cloud model, PHA–LOPA and the bow-tie model
Authors: Xu Qingwei , Xu Kaili , Li Li , Yao Xiwen
Published: July 2018

Safe production is the foundation of the normal operations of petrochemical enterprises, and it helps maintain social stability. The main purpose of this study is to prevent petrochemical enterprise accidents by proposing a composite safety assessment approach based on the cloud model, preliminary hazard analysis–layer of protection analysis (PHA–LOPA) and the bow-tie model. First, the petrochemical enterprise and its relevant indicators were evaluated based on the cloud model. Second, the quantitative effect of the uncertainty transformation on the evaluation result of the cloud model was further analysed. This mainly includes the error analysis of the numerical characteristics under the conditions of few samples and small values. Third, the critical indicators such as shock and noise can be weakened and prevented by corresponding safety measures based on PHA–LOPA and the bow-tie model. After adopting two independent protection layers, the risk levels of shock and noise decrease from 3 to 2. Then, shock and noise were analysed in depth with the bow-tie model, and the causes and consequences were identified. Moreover, corresponding safety measures were taken to prevent accidents. The case study validated the validity and feasibility of the composite safety assessment approach proposed here.
On relativistic multipole moments of stationary space–times
Authors: Frutos-Alfaro Francisco , Soffel Michael
Published: July 2018

Among the known exact solutions of Einstein's vacuum field equations the Manko–Novikov and the Quevedo–Mashhoon metrics might be suitable ones for the description of the exterior gravitational field of some real non-collapsed body. A new proposal to represent such exterior field is the stationary
q
-metric. In this contribution, we computed by means of the Fodor–Hoenselaers–Perjés formalism the lowest 10 relativistic multipole moments of these metrics. Corresponding moments were derived for the static vacuum solutions of Gutsunayev–Manko and Hernández–Martín. A direct comparison between the multipole moments of these non-isometric space–times is given.
Shock waves in media with negative electromagnetic susceptibilities
Authors: Abdullah Rawand H. , Jaroszkiewicz George
Published: July 2018

The Fock–Kemmer theory of precursor shock wave speeds in classical field theory is extended to the case of media with negative electromagnetic susceptibilities.
Negative and positive stiffness in auxetic magneto-mechanical metamaterials
Authors: Dudek K. K. , Gatt R. , Dudek M. R. , Grima J. N.
Published: July 2018

This work discusses the concept of allowing the control of the stiffness of a particular class of re-entrant auxetic magneto-mechanical metamaterials through the introduction of magnets to the system. It is shown, through experimental testing backed up by a theoretical model, that the appropriate insertion of magnets in such a system will alter its stiffness, possibly even making it exhibit ‘negative stiffness’. This leads to a completely different behaviour of the structure in terms of stability. It is also reported that the investigated mechanical metamaterials may exhibit both negative stiffness and negative Poisson's ratio at the same time. Moreover, it is shown that the effect which magnets have on the stiffness of the system may be fine-tuned upon replacing magnets with electromagnets. Such systems have the potential to be used in a wide range of practical applications such as vibration damping devices where achieving a negative stiffness is of fundamental importance.
Shapes of river networks
Authors: Yi Robert S. , Arredondo Álvaro , Stansifer Eric , Seybold Hansjörg , Rothman Daniel H.
Published: July 2018

River network scaling laws describe how their shape varies with their size. However, the regional variation of this size-dependence remains poorly understood. Here we show that river network scaling laws vary systematically with the climatic aridity index. We find that arid basins do not change their proportions with size, while humid basins do. To explore why, we study an aspect ratioL⊥/L∥between basin widthL⊥and basin lengthL∥. We find that the aspect ratio exhibits a dependence on climate and argue that this can be understood as a structural consequence of the confluence angle. We then find that, in humid basins, the aspect ratio decreases with basin size, which we attribute to a common hydrogeological hierarchy. Our results offer an explanation of the variability in network scaling exponents and suggest that the absence of self-similarity in humid basins can be understood as a morphological expression of subsurface processes.
Bayesian inference of spreading processes on networks
Authors: Dutta Ritabrata , Mira Antonietta , Onnela Jukka-Pekka
Published: July 2018

Infectious diseases are studied to understand their spreading mechanisms, to evaluate control strategies and to predict the risk and course of future outbreaks. Because people only interact with few other individuals, and the structure of these interactions influence spreading processes, the pairwise relationships between individuals can be usefully represented by a network. Although the underlying transmission processes are different, the network approach can be used to study the spread of pathogens in a contact network or the spread of rumours in a social network. We study simulated simple and complex epidemics on synthetic networks and on two empirical networks, a social/contact network in an Indian village and an online social network. Our goal is to learn simultaneously the spreading process parameters and the first infected node, given a fixed network structure and the observed state of nodes at several time points. Our inference scheme is based on approximate Bayesian computation, a likelihood-free inference technique. Our method is agnostic about the network topology and the spreading process. It generally performs well and, somewhat counter-intuitively, the inference problem appears to be easier on more heterogeneous network topologies, which enhances its future applicability to real-world settings where few networks have homogeneous topologies.
Urbanization drives genetic differentiation in physiology and structures the evolution of pace-of-life syndromes in the water flea
Daphnia magna
Authors: Brans Kristien I. , Stoks Robby , De Meester Luc
Published: July 2018

Natural and human-induced stressors elicit changes in energy metabolism and stress physiology in populations of a wide array of species. Cities are stressful environments that may lead to differential selection on stress-coping mechanisms. Given that city ponds are exposed to the urban heat island effect and receive polluted run-off, organisms inhabiting these ecosystems might show genetic differentiation for physiological traits enabling them to better cope with higher overall stress levels. A common garden study with 62
Daphnia magna
genotypes from replicated urban and rural populations revealed that urban
Daphnia
have significantly higher concentrations of total body fat, proteins and sugars. Baseline activity levels of the antioxidant defence enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were higher in rural compared with city populations, yet urban animals were equally well protected against lipid peroxidation. Our results add to the recent evidence of urbanization-driven changes in stress physiology and energy metabolism in terrestrial organisms. Combining our results with data on urban life history evolution in
Daphnia
revealed that urban genotypes show a structured pace-of-life syndrome involving both life-history and physiological traits, whereas this is absent in rural populations.
More than the sum of the parts: annual partitioning within spatial guilds underpins community regulation
Authors: Magurran A. E. , Henderson P. A.
Published: July 2018

To withstand the pressures of a rapidly changing world, resilient ecosystems should exhibit compensatory dynamics, including uncorrelated temporal shifts in population sizes. The observation that diversity is maintained through time in many systems is evidence that communities are indeed regulated and stabilized, yet empirical observations suggest that positive covariance in species abundances is widespread. This paradox could be resolved if communities are composed of a number of ecologically relevant sub-units in which the members compete for resources, but whose abundances fluctuate independently. Such modular organization could explain community regulation, even when the community as a whole appears synchronized. To test this hypothesis, we quantified temporal synchronicity in annual population abundances within spatial guilds in an estuarine fish assemblage that has been monitored for 36 years. We detected independent fluctuations in annual abundances within guilds. By contrast, the assemblage as a whole exhibited temporal synchronicity—an outcome linked to the dynamics of guild dominants, which were synchronized with each other. These findings underline the importance of modularity in explaining community regulation and highlight the need to protect assemblage composition and structure as well as species richness.
Temperature is a poor proxy for synergistic climate forcing of plankton evolution
Authors: Brombacher Anieke , Wilson Paul A. , Bailey Ian , Ezard Thomas H. G.
Published: July 2018

Changes in biodiversity at all levels from molecules to ecosystems are often linked to climate change, which is widely represented univariately by temperature. A global environmental driving mechanism of biodiversity dynamics is thus implied by the strong correlation between temperature proxies and diversity patterns in a wide variety of fauna and flora. Yet climate consists of many interacting variables. Species probably respond to the entire climate system as opposed to its individual facets. Here, we examine ecological and morphological traits of 12 633 individuals of two species of planktonic foraminifera with similar ecologies but contrasting evolutionary outcomes. Our results show that morphological and ecological changes are correlated to the interactions between multiple environmental factors. Models including interactions between climate variables explain at least twice as much variation in size, shape and abundance changes as models assuming that climate parameters operate independently. No dominant climatic driver can be identified: temperature alone explains remarkably little variation through our highly resolved temporal sequences, implying that a multivariate approach is required to understand evolutionary response to abiotic forcing. Our results caution against the use of a ‘silver bullet’ environmental parameter to represent global climate while studying evolutionary responses to abiotic change, and show that more comprehensive reconstruction of palaeobiological dynamics requires multiple biotic and abiotic dimensions.
Gamete-mediated mate choice: towards a more inclusive view of sexual selection
Authors: Kekäläinen Jukka , Evans Jonathan P.
Published: July 2018

‘Sperm competition’—where ejaculates from two or more males compete for fertilization—and ‘cryptic female choice’—where females bias this contest to suit their reproductive interests—are now part of the everyday lexicon of sexual selection. Yet the physiological processes that underlie these post-ejaculatory episodes of sexual selection remain largely enigmatic. In this review, we focus on a range of post-ejaculatory cellular- and molecular-level processes, known to be fundamental for fertilization across most (if not all) sexually reproducing species, and point to their putative role in facilitating sexual selection at the level of the cells and gametes, called ‘gamete-mediated mate choice’ (GMMC). In this way, we collate accumulated evidence for GMMC across different mating systems, and emphasize the evolutionary significance of such non-random interactions among gametes. Our overall aim in this review is to build a more inclusive view of sexual selection by showing that mate choice often acts in more nuanced ways than has traditionally been assumed. We also aim to bridge the conceptual divide between proximal mechanisms of reproduction, and adaptive explanations for patterns of non-random sperm–egg interactions that are emerging across an increasingly diverse array of taxa.
The Palaeozoic colonization of the water column and the rise of global nekton
Authors: Whalen Christopher D. , Briggs Derek E. G.
Published: July 2018

The colonization of the water column is among the most important transformations in the evolution of animal life and global ecosystems. The Devonian nekton revolution has been identified as a major macroevolutionary event signifying the rapid occupation of the water column by independent radiations of swimming animals. Using new data, an expanded taxonomic coverage, sample standardization and increased ecological resolution, we analysed patterns of nektonization during the Palaeozoic. We find that nekton and eunekton were well established prior to the Devonian and did not diversify dramatically during any Palaeozoic interval. Relative nektic diversity and occurrences decreased rather than increased during the Devonian. Eunektic diversity and occurrences increased throughout the Palaeozoic, but this rise was protracted and cannot be attributed to any single interval. Our new data indicate that the metazoan colonization of the water column was considerably more complex and gradual than previously understood.
Genomic variation underlying complex life-history traits revealed by genome sequencing in Chinook salmon
Authors: Narum Shawn R. , Di Genova Alex , Micheletti Steven J. , Maass Alejandro
Published: July 2018

A broad portfolio of phenotypic diversity in natural organisms can buffer against exploitation and increase species persistence in disturbed ecosystems. The study of genomic variation that accounts for ecological and evolutionary adaptation can represent a powerful approach to extend understanding of phenotypic variation in nature. Here we present a chromosome-level reference genome assembly for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; 2.36 Gb) that enabled association mapping of life-history variation and phenotypic traits for this species. Whole-genome re-sequencing of populations with distinct life-history traits provided evidence that divergent selection was extensive throughout the genome within and among phylogenetic lineages, indicating that a broad portfolio of phenotypic diversity exists in this species that is related to local adaptation and life-history variation. Association mapping with millions of genome-wide SNPs revealed that a genomic region of major effect on chromosome 28 was associated with phenotypes forpremature and mature arrival to spawning groundsand was consistent across three distinct phylogenetic lineages. Our results demonstrate how genomic resources can enlighten the genetic basis of known phenotypes in exploited species and assist in clarifying phenotypic variation that may be difficult to observe in naturally occurring organisms.
Proteomic evidence of dietary sources in ancient dental calculus
Authors: Hendy Jessica , Warinner Christina , Bouwman Abigail , Collins Matthew J. , Fiddyment Sarah , Fischer Roman , Hagan Richard , Hofman Courtney A. , Holst Malin , Chaves Eros , Klaus Lauren , Larson Greger , Mackie Meaghan , McGrath Krista , Mundorff Amy Z. , Radini Anita , Rao Huiyun , Trachsel Christian , Velsko Irina M. , Speller Camilla F.
Published: July 2018

Archaeological dental calculus has emerged as a rich source of ancient biomolecules, including proteins. Previous analyses of proteins extracted from ancient dental calculus revealed the presence of the dietary milk protein β-lactoglobulin, providing direct evidence of dairy consumption in the archaeological record. However, the potential for calculus to preserve other food-related proteins has not yet been systematically explored. Here we analyse shotgun metaproteomic data from 100 archaeological dental calculus samples ranging from the Iron Age to the post-medieval period (eighth century BC to nineteenth century AD) in England, as well as 14 dental calculus samples from contemporary dental patients and recently deceased individuals, to characterize the range and extent of dietary proteins preserved in dental calculus. In addition to milk proteins, we detect proteomic evidence of foodstuffs such as cereals and plant products, as well as the digestive enzyme salivary amylase. We discuss the importance of optimized protein extraction methods, data analysis approaches and authentication strategies in the identification of dietary proteins from archaeological dental calculus. This study demonstrates that proteomic approaches can robustly identify foodstuffs in the archaeological record that are typically under-represented due to their poor macroscopic preservation.
Sustained effects of prior red light on pupil diameter and vigilance during subsequent darkness
Authors: van der Meijden Wisse P. , te Lindert Bart H. W. , Ramautar Jennifer R. , Wei Yishul , Coppens Joris E. , Kamermans Maarten , Cajochen Christian , Bourgin Patrice , Van Someren Eus J. W.
Published: July 2018

Environmental light can exert potent effects on physiology and behaviour, including pupil size, vigilance and sleep. Previous work showed that these non-image forming effects can last long beyond discontinuation of
short
-wavelength light exposure. The possible functional effects after switching off
long
-wavelength light, however, have been insufficiently characterized. In a series of controlled experiments in healthy adult volunteers, we evaluated the effects of five minutes of intense red light on physiology and performance during subsequent darkness. As compared to prior darkness, prior red light induced a subsequent sustained pupil dilation. Prior red light also increased subsequent heart rate and heart rate variability when subjects were asked to perform a sustained vigilance task during the dark exposure. While these changes suggest an increase in the mental effort required for the task, it could not prevent a post-red slowing of response speed. The suggestion that exposure to intense red light affects vigilance during subsequent darkness, was confirmed in a controlled polysomnographic study that indeed showed a post-red facilitation of sleep onset. Our findings suggest the possibility of using red light as a nightcap.
Contrasting the effects of natural selection, genetic drift and gene flow on urban evolution in white clover (Trifolium repens)
Authors: Johnson Marc T. J. , Prashad Cindy M. , Lavoignat Mélanie , Saini Hargurdeep S.
Published: July 2018

Urbanization is a global phenomenon with profound effects on the ecology and evolution of organisms. We examined the relative roles of natural selection, genetic drift and gene flow in influencing the evolution of white clover (Trifolium repens), which thrives in urban and rural areas.Trifolium repensexhibits a Mendelian polymorphism for the production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a potent antiherbivore defence. We quantified the relative frequency of HCN in 490 populations sampled along urban–rural transects in 20 cities. We also characterized genetic variation within 120 populations in eight cities using 16 microsatellite loci. HCN frequency increased by 0.6% for every kilometre from an urban centre, and the strength of this relationship did not significantly vary between cities. Populations did not exhibit changes in genetic diversity with increasing urbanization, indicating that genetic drift is unlikely to explain urban–rural clines in HCN frequency. Populations frequently exhibited isolation-by-distance and extensive gene flow along most urban–rural transects, with the exception of a single city that exhibited genetic differentiation between urban and rural populations. Our results show that urbanization repeatedly drives parallel evolution of an ecologically important trait across many cities that vary in size, and this evolution is best explained by urban–rural gradients in natural selection.