bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary Health Care Nurses’ Self-Perception of Theoretical Knowledges and Practical Skills in Life-Threatening Emergencies: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Cernuda Martínez José Antonio , Castro Delgado Rafael , Cuartas Álvarez Tatiana , Arcos González Pedro
Published: July 2019

Background:

Within out-of-hospital emergencies, primary health care (PHC) nurses must face life-threatening emergencies (LTEs), which are defined as “a situation associated with an imminent life risk that entails the start-up of resources and special means to resolve the situation.”

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were to know the training received for out-of-hospital LTEs by PHC nurses of Asturias, Spain and the perception they have about their theoretical knowledge and practical skills in a series of emergency procedures or techniques used in LTE emergencies; as well as to analyze the differences according to the geographical area of their work.

Design:

Cross-sectional, descriptive, and observational study was conducted in 2018 of a sample of PHC service nurses of Asturias, Spain.

Methods:

A total of 236 nurses from PHC service centers of Asturias, Spain, from among the total of 730 nurses who make up the staff of nurses of the PHC service of Asturias, between April and May 2018, were surveyed. The survey was designed ad hoc using the Doctrinal Body of Emergency Nursing (DBEN) proposed by the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES; Madrid, Spain), which indicates the theoretical and practical procedures that must be acquired by the PHC nurses. It is composed of 37 procedures or techniques employed in LTEs using an 11-point Likert scale rating to detect their self-perception about theoretical knowledge and practical skills from zero (“Minimum”) to ten (“Maximum”).

Results:

There were significant differences in the mean of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in many procedures or techniques studied, depending on the different areas of work.

Conclusions:

All PHC nurses must be perfectly trained to provide initial quality assistance to the LTE, with both theoretical and practical knowledge of the different techniques, so that it can continue to be attended by the corresponding Emergency Service.
The Impact of a Crisis on the Innovation Systems in Europe: Evidence from the CIS10 Innovation Survey
Authors: Toshevska-Trpchevska Katerina , Disoska Elena Makrevska , Tevdovski Dragan , Stojkoski Viktor
Published: July 2019

The varieties of the national innovation systems among European countries are reflected in the large differences, discrepancies and sometimes unexpected results in the innovation processes and their influence on labor productivity growth. The goal of this paper is to find the differences between the drivers of the innovation systems and their influence on growth of productivity between two groups of countries with different institutional settings in the period of the financial and economic crisis in Europe. The first group consists of a selection of CEE (Central and East European) countries. The second group consists of Germany, Norway, Spain and Portugal. In order to measure the role of innovation on productivity growth we use the CDM (Crépon, Duguet and Mairesse) model of simultaneous equations. The model directly links R&D engagement and intensity to innovation outcomes measured either as process or product innovation, and then estimates the effectiveness of the innovative effort leading to productivity gains. The company-level dataset is drawn from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS10). There is one common result for the two groups, that in general the probability for a typical firm to engage in innovation increases with its size. The other factors influencing the decision process differ. A firm’s productivity increases significantly with innovation output, but only with firms operating in Western Europe. The results for firms in Central and Eastern Europe indicate that these countries’ national innovation systems are vulnerable, and in periods of crises higher level of innovation output leads to lower labor productivity. Therefore, systemic faults in the national innovation systems result in their unsustainability, especially visible in periods of crises, as was the case in 2008–2010. When it comes to Western European countries, the financial and economic crisis did not have negative effects on their innovation systems as innovation activity resulted in higher levels of labor productivity. Regarding the CEE group of countries, the crisis influenced both the innovation process and labor productivity as a whole negatively.
Dosimetric comparison of volumetric modulated arc therapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy for anal cancer
Authors: Chiang Bing-Hao , Hibbitts Kerry , Ortega Heather , Herman Terence , Ahmad Salahuddin
Published: July 2019

Aim:

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), an extension of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), employs modifications in gantry rotation speed, machine dose rate and multi-leaf collimator motion to deliver a three-dimensional dose distribution. This study compared VMAT to IMRT for patients with anal carcinoma.

Materials and Methods:

Sixteen patients previously treated with IMRT were retrospectively selected. Each patient received a total dose of 57·6–63·0 Gy in 1·8 Gy fractions. A single- or double-isocenter multi-arc VMAT treatment plan was generated using Eclipse RapidArc system with the same computed tomography image sets and optimisation constraints used for IMRT. Dose–volume histograms (DVHs) for planning target volumes (PTVs) and organs at risk (OARs), and monitor units (MUs) and beam on times (BOTs) were used for comparison.

Results:

IMRT and VMAT plans showed insignificant differences in PTV homogeneity and conformity and sparing hips and bowel. VMAT required fewer mean MU and shorter BOT per plan (1,597 MU, 2·66 min) compared to IMRT (2,571 MU, 4·29 min) with p < 0·0001.

Conclusions:

Fewer MU and shorter BOT for VMAT may decrease the damage from secondary radiation and treatment delivery uncertainty due to intra-fraction tumour motion, leading to higher machine throughput and improving patient comfort, with less treatment time.
The burden of preventable hospitalizations before and after implementation of the health transformation plan in a hospital in west of Iran
Authors: Piroozi Bakhtiar , Amerzadeh Mohammad , Safari Hossein , Mohamadi-Bolbanabad Amjad , Afkhamzadeh Abdorrahim , Zarezadeh Yadolah , Mahmoudi Javad , Salavati Sedigheh
Published: July 2019

Background:

Increased number of preventable hospitalizations (PHs) for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) represents less efficiency and low access to outpatient and primary health care, leading to waste of health system resources.

Aim:

The purpose of this study is to assess the quality of outpatient and primary health care using the rate of PHs for ACSCs and to estimate the economic burden of ASCS before and after the implementation of the health transformation plan (HTP) in Iran.

Methods:

This research was a before–after quasi-experimental study. The study population included all patients hospitalized in the largest general hospital of Kurdistan province with five diseases such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2014 (before the implementation of the HTP) and 2015 (after the implementation of the HTP). Data were analyzed by SPSS v.20 using Chi-square test.

Findings:

Total number of hospitalizations before and after the implementation of the HTP was 1501 and 1405, respectively. Moreover, the proportion of PHs in all types of the hospital admissions before and after the implementation of the HTP was 47% and 49%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the number of PHs before and after the HTP. In total, PHs imposed 885 798 US$ and 9920 bed-days on health system before and after the implementation of the HTP.

Conclusion:

Despite the previous expectations of policy makers for improving quality, efficiency, and access to primary health care through implementation of the HTP, proportion of PHs is considerable and it imposes a lot of costs and bed-days on the health system both before and after the HTP.
Developing planetary sustainability: Legal challenges of Space 4.0
Authors: Bohlmann Ulrike M. , Petrovici Gina
Published: July 2019

Non-technical abstract

Sixty years of space activities have led to ongoing scientific and technological progress. Space 4.0 reflects the rapid changes of the space community. Growing interest in space activities leads to increasing participation of numerous new actors in this field. Governments, private actors and international organizations are eager to fill existing gaps in securing global society's needs. The European Space Agency's Space 4.0 concept is designed to host a new era of space activities, aiming to resolve global challenges and to serve society. Space 4.0 developments are highly important, but are taking place in an extremely complex net of legal, regulatory and political considerations. This paper focuses on the legal challenges raised by the new era of Space 4.0 in a sustainability context.
Adherence to Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-2010) is not associated with risk of stroke in Iranian adults: A case-control study
Authors: Mousavi Seyed Mohammad , Milajerdi Alireza , Pouraram Hamed , Saadatnia Mohammad , Shakeri Forough , Keshteli Ammar Hassanzadeh , Tan Shing Cheng , Esmaillzadeh Ahmad
Published: July 2019

Abstract. Background: Stroke is a major global health problem that contributes to a significant burden of morbidity and mortality. The association of several foods and nutrients with stroke has been well-established. However, the effect of the whole diet on stroke is poorly understood. In this work, we aimed to examine the association between the quality of whole diet, as measured using Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), and risk of stroke in Iranian adults. Methods: In this hospital-based case-control study, 193 stroke patients (diagnosed based on clinical and brain CT findings) and 193 controls with no history of cerebrovascular diseases or neurologic disorders were included. The participants’ dietary intakes were examined using a validated 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. AHEI-2010 was constructed based on earlier studies. Participants were classified according to tertiles of AHEI-2010 scores and multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between whole diet quality and risk of stroke. Results: Individuals with greater adherence to AHEI-2010 had a higher intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, whole grains and carbohydrate, and a lower intake of trans-fatty acids, sugar-sweetened beverages, total energy and fat (P < 0.05). After adjusting for potential confounders, adherence to AHEI-2010 was not significantly associated with a reduced risk of stroke (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.56–1.51). Conclusion: We found that adherence to AHEI-2010 was not associated with risk of stroke in Iranian adults. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate this finding and clarify the relationship between whole diet and stroke.
Numerical Representations of Marine Ice‐Nucleating Particles in Remote Marine Environments Evaluated Against Observations
Authors: McCluskey C. S. , DeMott P. J. , Ma P.‐L. , Burrows S. M.
Published: July 2019

The abundance and sources of ice‐nucleating particles, particles required for heterogeneous ice nucleation, are long‐standing sources of uncertainty in quantifying aerosol‐cloud interactions. In this study, we demonstrate near closure between immersion freezing ice‐nucleating particle number concentration (nINPs) observations and nINPs calculated from simulated sea spray aerosol and dust. The Community Atmospheric Model with constrained meteorology was used to simulate aerosol concentrations at the Mace Head Research Station (North Atlantic) and over the Southern Ocean to the south of Tasmania (Clouds, Aerosols, Precipitation, Radiation, and atmospherIc Composition Over the southeRN ocean campaign). Model‐predicted nINPs were within a factor of 10 of nINPs observed with an off‐line ice spectrometer at Mace Head Research Station and Clouds, Aerosols, Precipitation, Radiation, and atmospherIc Composition Over the southeRN ocean campaign, for 93% and 69% of observations, respectively. Simulated vertical profiles of nINPs reveal that transported dust may be critical to nINPs in remote regions and that sea spray aerosol may be the dominate contributor to primary ice nucleation in Southern Ocean low‐level mixed‐phase clouds.
Deformation of Ionospheric Potential Pattern by Ionospheric Hall Polarization
Authors: Nakamizo Aoi , Yoshikawa Akimasa
Published: July 2019

The present study shows that the ionospheric Hall polarization can deform the high‐latitude ionospheric convection field, which is widely considered to be a manifestation of the convection field in the magnetosphere. We perform the Hall polarization field separation with a potential solver by changing the conductance distribution step by step from a uniform one to a more realistic one. We adopt dawn‐dusk and north‐south symmetric distributions of conductance and region 1 (R1) field‐aligned current (FAC). The pair of the primary field of the R1 system and each gradient of off‐diagonal component of conductance tensor (Hall conductance) generates the Hall polarization field and consequently causes potential deformations as follows. (a) The equatorward gradient causes clockwise rotation. (b) The gradient across the terminator, together with the effect of the equatorward gradient, causes the dawn‐dusk asymmetry. (c) The high conductance band in the auroral region causes kink‐type deformations. In particular, a nested structure at the equatorward edge of the band in the midnight sector well resembles the Harang Reversal. Result (a) can explain the clockwise bias inexplicable by the IMF‐By effect alone, the combination of (a) and (b) can explain the clearness and unclearness in the round or crescent shapes of the dawn‐dusk cells depending on the IMF‐By polarity, and (c) suggests that the ionosphere may not need the upward‐FAC for the formation of the Harang Reversal. We suggest that the final structure of the ionospheric potential is established by the combined effects of the magnetospheric requirements (external causes) and ionospheric polarization (internal effect).
Remotely Sensing Variation in Ecological Strategies and Plant Traits of Willows in Perialpine Floodplains
Authors: Milani G. , Kneubühler M. , Tonolla D. , Doering M. , Wiesenberg G. L. B. , Schaepman M. E.
Published: July 2019

Natural floodplains are characterized by a complex habitat mosaic. However, damming, water storage, and hydropower production affect many floodplains by altering their natural habitat diversity. Field sampling data and imaging spectroscopy are used in combination with statistical models to assess resource allocation strategies of willow stands in perialpine floodplains. Three contrasting floodplain reaches located along two rivers in Switzerland serve as test beds: The Sarine River is partitioned into an upstream and downstream segment under the influence of a dam and a hydropower plant, while the Sense River represents an undisturbed, natural floodplain. Airborne imaging spectrometer data allow mapping of spatially distributed Competitor/Stress tolerator/Ruderal (CSR) strategies using a partial least square modeling approach. Using cross validation, we demonstrate that a statistical modeling approach can reveal variations in CSR scores based on the StrateFy model. Such intraspecific variation of CSR scores cannot be captured by a strategy categorization based solely on the species. Results reveal that willows shifted toward more competition and less stress tolerance along hydrologically altered reaches compared to the willows strategy along the natural control. Moreover, the overall distribution of strategies indicates that stress factors (i.e., limiting growth factors), rather than disturbance (i.e., events leading to partial or total destruction), shape the plant traits of alluvial willow trees. Detailed assessments of resource allocation strategies contribute to a more complete understanding of the continuous and reciprocal shaping between flow regimes, landforms, and alluvial vegetation.
Rate of Slip From Multiple Quaternary Dating Methods and Paleoseismic Investigations Along the Talas‐Fergana Fault: Tectonic Implications for the Tien Shan Range
Authors: Rizza M. , Abdrakhmatov K. , Walker R. , Braucher R. , Guillou V. , Carr A. S. , Campbell G. , McKenzie D. , Jackson J. , Aumaître G. , Bourlès D. L. , Keddadouche K.
Published: July 2019

The ~400‐km‐long Talas‐Fergana Fault is one of a series of major right‐lateral strike‐slip faults that cross the Tien Shan Range. This fault has been recognized as active in the late Holocene and accommodates part of the deformation induced by the ongoing Indo‐Asian collision. The kinematics and the role of this strike‐slip fault are poorly understood with no large earthquakes reported in the instrumental or historical catalogs, and no well‐constrained geological slip‐rate estimates. Here we used high‐resolution satellite imagery to present a first detailed analysis of the fault segmentation. We identified nine geometric segments based on strike variations for the Talas‐Fergana Fault. Along the Kyldau segment, through morphological analyses of an offset alluvial fan and the application of multiple dating methods (10Be,26Al,36Cl, luminescence, and radiocarbon), we calculated a late Quaternary slip rate ranging from 2.2 to 6.3 mm/year. This rate is higher than the geodetic measurements, but the discrepancy can be partly explained if the Talas‐Fergana Fault accommodates shortening by counterclockwise rotation around a vertical axis. Paleoearthquakes identified by trenching indicate that at least two primary surface ruptures (and possibly a third) occurred in the past 3,800 years, and that no large earthquake has ruptured the Kyldau segment since at least 420 years B.P. (possibly within the last 2,700 years), making this fault segment a potential candidate to generate an earthquake withM> 7 in the near future.
South‐North Hemispheric Asymmetry of the FAE Distribution Around the Cusp Region: Cluster Observation
Authors: Shi Jiankui , Zhang Ziying , Torkar Klaus , Cheng Zhengwei , Escoubet Phillipe , Farzakeley Andrew , Dunlop Malcolm , Carr Chris
Published: July 2019

Cluster data from late July to early October were used to study the distribution of field‐aligned electron (FAE) events around the two cusps. An FAE event was defined as electron parallel flux >3 × 108 (cm2 s)−1. The total number of FAE events around the two cusps was basically identical, but downward FAE events prevailed in the south and upward FAE events in the north. In the southern cusp, the peak of the FAE events distribution versus altitude was about 1.3 RE higher and the peak of the FAE events distribution versus invariant latitude (ILAT) was about 4° ILAT lower. Only the downward FAEs around the southern cusp had a second ILAT peak, which was located about 11° higher than the main peak. The normalized number of FAEs showed nearly the same features as the unnormalized number of the FAEs events. These results indicated a north‐south asymmetry of the FAE distribution around the two cusps. Some causes for the asymmetry are discussed, the main ones being the asymmetry of the magnetospheric configuration resulting from geomagnetic dipolar tilt and solar wind flows, the interplanetary magnetic field asymmetry related to the magnetosphere, and the difference of ionospheric conductivity in the two hemispheres. Various solar wind‐magnetosphere interaction processes, such as quasi‐viscous interaction and reconnection, are responsible for the asymmetry, too. The second distribution peak (at higher ILAT) of the downward FAE events around the southern cusp corresponded to high solar wind speed and may be associated with the northward interplanetary magnetic field Bz field‐aligned current at low altitude. This requires further studies, however.
Sensitivity of Phytoplankton Primary Production Estimates to Available Irradiance Under Heterogeneous Sea Ice Conditions
Authors: Massicotte Philippe , Peeken Ilka , Katlein Christian , Flores Hauke , Huot Yannick , Castellani Giulia , Arndt Stefanie , Lange Benjamin A. , Tremblay Jean‐Éric , Babin Marcel
Published: July 2019

The Arctic ice scape is composed by a mosaic of ridges, hummocks, melt ponds, leads, and snow. Under such heterogeneous surfaces, drifting phytoplankton communities are experiencing a wide range of irradiance conditions and intensities that cannot be sampled representatively using single‐location measurements. Combining experimentally derived photosynthetic parameters with transmittance measurements acquired at spatial scales ranging from hundreds of meters (using a remotely operated vehicle, ROV) to thousands of meters (using a surface and underice trawl, SUIT), we assessed the sensitivity of water column primary production estimates to multiscale underice light measurements. Daily primary production calculated from transmittance from both the ROV and the SUIT ranged between 0.004 and 939 mgC·m−2·day−1. Upscaling these estimates at larger spatial scales using satellite‐derived sea ice concentration reduced the variability by 22% (0.004–731 mgC·m−2·day−1). The relative error in primary production estimates was two times lower when combining remote sensing and in situ data compared to ROV‐based estimates alone. These results suggest that spatially extensive in situ measurements must be combined with large‐footprint sea ice coverage sampling (e.g., remote sensing, aerial imagery) to accurately estimate primary production in ice‐covered waters. Also, the results indicated a decreasing error of primary production estimates with increasing sample size and the spatial scale at which in situ measurements are performed. Conversely, existing estimates of spatially integrated phytoplankton primary production in ice‐covered waters derived from single‐location light measurements may be associated with large statistical errors. Considering these implications is important for modeling scenarios and interpretation of existing measurements in a changing Arctic ecosystem.
Using Sea Surface Temperature Observations to Constrain Upper Ocean Properties in an Arctic Sea Ice‐Ocean Data Assimilation System
Authors: Liang Xi , Losch Martin , Nerger Lars , Mu Longjiang , Yang Qinghua , Liu Chengyan
Published: July 2019

Sea ice data assimilation can greatly improve forecasts of Arctic sea ice evolution. Many previous sea ice data assimilation studies were conducted without assimilating ocean state variables, even though the sea ice evolution is closely linked to the oceanic conditions, both dynamically and thermodynamically. Based on the method of a localized ensemble error subspace transform Kalman filter, satellite‐retrieved sea ice concentration and sea ice thickness are assimilated into an Arctic sea ice‐ocean model. As a new addition, sea surface temperature (SST) data are also assimilated. The additional assimilation of SST improves not only the simulated ocean temperature in the mixed layer of the ocean substantially but also the accuracy of sea ice edge position, sea ice extent, and sea ice thickness in the marginal sea ice zone. The improvement in the simulated potential temperature in the upper 1,000 m can be attributed to the enhanced vertical convection processes in the regions where the assimilated observational SST is colder than the simulated SST without assimilation. The improvements in the sea ice edge position and sea ice thickness simulations are primarily caused by the SST data assimilation reducing biases in the simulated SST and the associated coupled ocean‐sea ice processes. Our investigation suggests that, due to the complex interaction between the sea ice and ocean, assimilating ocean data should be an indispensable component of numerical polar sea ice forecasting systems.
Application of RADAR Imaging Analysis to SuperDARN Observations
Authors: Bristow W. A.
Published: July 2019

Recently, Universal Software Radio Peripherals were installed at the McMurdo, Antartica, and Kodiak, Alaska, Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) radars to replace existing synthesizer and receiver electronics. Each antenna in the radar arrays was connected to its own Universal Software Radio Peripherals input, which enables controlling the phase of the transmitted signal and sampling the received signals on each antenna. Received data are written to disk and simultaneously combined using beam forming to produce the standard SuperDARN data stream. The raw signal data from the individual antennas is retrieved from the radar sites and analyzed using an algorithm that fits a model signal based on the assumption of individual plane waves arriving from discrete angle bins in the field of view. With this analysis the target amplitudes and Doppler frequencies can be determined as a function of angle. In this paper, the theory behind the algorithm is developed, and synthetic test data are presented, as are real observations. Finally, the line‐of‐sight velocities determined from the data are used to estimate maps of the vector velocity field that produced them.
A triboelectric nanogenerator based on cosmetic fixing powder for mechanical energy harvesting
Authors: Xia Kequan , Chi Yue , Fu Jiangming , Zhu Zhiyuan , Zhang Hongze , Du Chaolin , Xu Zhiwei
Published: July 2019

In this work, we use commercial powder particulates (a cosmetic fixing powder) as triboelectric materials for constructing a triboelectric nanogenerator (CFP-TENG). Through finger pressing, the CFP-TENG generated approximate open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and maximum power density values of 1141 V, 521 µA, and 570.96 μW/cm2, respectively. Thirty-seven commercial blue LEDs can be easily lit up by the CFP-TENG. Moreover, this TENG, which was designed as a novel palette structure for harvesting mechanical energy from bicycle motion, serves as a self-powered bicycle speed sensor. In addition, the cosmetic fixing powder can be used as an effective material to enhance the triboelectric property of skin. This study provides an effective method for developing a cost-effective TENG without the use of complex surface micro-/nano-texturing.
The P-selectin and PSGL-1 axis accelerates atherosclerosis via activation of dendritic cells by the TLR4 signaling pathway
Authors: Ye Zhishuai , Zhong Lei , Zhu Shengnan , Wang Yinuo , Zheng Jie , Wang Shujing , Zhang Jianing , Huang Rongchong
Published: July 2019

P-selectin and dendritic cells (DCs) are associated with atherosclerosis. However, their interactions in this setting are undefined. Herein, we investigated the role of P-selectin and its receptor P-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL)-1 on atherosclerosis via activation of DCs. In the current study, a total of 34 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 34 healthy control subjects were enrolled. Serum concentration of P-selectin was higher and the myeloid DC/plasmacytoid DC (mDC/pDC) ratio was lower in STEMI patients than in normal individuals. Interestingly, in STEMI patients, P-selectin was decreased and the mDC/pDC ratio was increased at 5–7 days after successful percutaneous coronary intervention, as compared with values on admission. Serum P-selectin was inversely correlated with the mDC/pDC ratio. Moreover, ApoE−/−P−/− and ApoE−/−PSGL-1−/− mice developed small atherosclerotic plaques after feeding of a western diet for 12 weeks and DC infiltration was significantly reduced. P-selectin stimulation markedly induced phenotypic maturation, enhanced secretion of inflammatory cytokines, communication with T cells, and the adhesion and migration of DCs. In vivo, DC maturation was significantly attenuated in P-selectin and PSGL1 knockout mice under hypercholesterolemic and inflammatory conditions. These effects were associated with the activation of myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88)-dependent and MyD88-independent Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathways. Taken together, binding of P-selectin to PSGL-1 on DCs contributes to atherosclerosis progression via DC activation via the TLR4 signaling pathway.
IL-32γ suppresses lung cancer stem cell growth via inhibition of ITGAV-mediated STAT5 pathway
Authors: Lee Yong Sun , Kim Ki Cheon , Mongre Raj Kumar , Kim Ji Young , Kim Yu Ri , Choi Dong Young , Song Sukgil , Yun Jaesuk , Han Sang-Bae , Yoon Do Young , Hong Jin Tae
Published: July 2019

The cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be responsible for cancer initiation, recurrence, and metastasis via a multifactorial process. IL-32γ has been known to inhibit several tumor developments. However, the role of IL-32γ in CSCs is unknown. The role of IL-32γ on tumor development was assessed in IL-32γ transgenic (Tg) mice allograft and xenograft model. In the in vitro assay, we analyzed CSC growth and apoptosis in cells with IL-32γ overexpression by cell viability assay and tumor-sphere formation assay. In addition, expression of cell proliferation, apoptosis markers, and signaling molecules was determined by western blot analysis. IL-32γ suppressed CD133+ CSC-induced allograft model in IL-32γ Tg mice and xenograft model. Tumor-sphere formation and cell viability assay revealed a greater inhibition of CSC proliferation and antineoplastic activity of IL-32γ in CD133+ CSCs as compared with normal cancer cells. The inhibitory effects of IL-32γ on tumor development were associated with inhibition of the STAT5 pathway. In addition, inhibition of STAT5 increased cleavage of caspase-3, but suppressed CD133 expression and colony formation. Web-based gene network analysis showed that IL-32 is correlated with ITGAV, an integrin gene. Our result revealed that knockdown of ITGAV by siRNA inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT5. Moreover, we identified that ITGAV overexpression reversed the effect of IL-32γ on phosphorylation of STAT5 and the expression of CD133. Our results demonstrate that IL-32γ negatively regulates CD133+ CSC proliferation and tumor development and suggest that IL-32γ has great potential for use in the treatment of cancer progression.
Author Correction: A systems biology approach uncovers cell-specific gene regulatory effects of genetic associations in multiple sclerosis
Authors:   International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium, Madireddy Lohith , Patsopoulos Nikolaos A. , Cotsapas Chris , Bos Steffan D. , Beecham Ashley , McCauley Jacob , Kim Kicheol , Jia Xiaoming , Santaniello Adam , Caillier Stacy J. , Andlauer Till F. M. , Barcellos Lisa F. , Berge Tone , Bernardinelli Luisa , Martinelli-Boneschi Filippo , Booth David R. , Briggs Farren , Celius Elisabeth G. , Comabella Manuel , Comi Giancarlo , Cree Bruce A. C. , D’Alfonso Sandra , Dedham Katrina , Duquette Pierre , Dardiotis Efthimios , Esposito Federica , Fontaine Bertrand , Gasperi Christiane , Goris An , Dubois Bénédicte , Gourraud Pierre-Antoine , Hadjigeorgiou Georgios , Haines Jonathan , Hawkins Clive , Hemmer Bernhard , Hintzen Rogier , Horakova Dana , Isobe Noriko , Kalra Seema , Kira Jun-ichi , Khalil Michael , Kockum Ingrid , Lill Christina M. , Lincoln Matthew R. , Luessi Felix , Martin Roland , Oturai Annette , Palotie Aarno , Pericak-Vance Margaret A. , Henry Roland , Saarela Janna , Ivinson Adrian , Olsson Tomas , Taylor Bruce V. , Stewart Graeme J. , Harbo Hanne F. , Compston Alastair , Hauser Stephen L. , Hafler David A. , Zipp Frauke , De Jager Philip , Sawcer Stephen , Oksenberg Jorge R. , Baranzini Sergio E.
Published: July 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Gut microbiota phenotypes of obesity
Authors: Stanislawski Maggie A. , Dabelea Dana , Lange Leslie A. , Wagner Brandie D. , Lozupone Catherine A.
Published: July 2019

Obesity is a disease with a complex etiology and variable prevalence across different populations. While several studies have reported gut microbiota composition differences associated with obesity in humans, there has been a lack of consistency in the nature of the reported changes; it has been difficult to determine whether methodological differences between studies, underlying differences in the populations studied, or other factors are responsible for this discordance. Here we use 16 S rRNA data from previously published studies to explore how the gut microbiota-obesity relationship varies across heterogeneous Western populations, focusing mainly on the relationship between (1) alpha diversity and (2) Prevotella relative abundance with BMI. We provide evidence that the relationship between lower alpha diversity and higher BMI may be most consistent in non-Hispanic white (NHW) populations and/or those with high socioeconomic status, while the relationship between higher Prevotella relative abundance and BMI may be stronger among black and Hispanic populations. We further examine how diet may impact these relationships. This work suggests that gut microbiota phenotypes of obesity may differ with race/ethnicity or its correlates, such as dietary components or socioeconomic status. However, microbiome cohorts are often too small to study complex interaction effects and non-white individuals are greatly underrepresented, creating substantial challenges to understanding population-level patterns in the microbiome-obesity relationship. Further study of how population heterogeneity influences the relationship between the gut microbiota and obesity is warranted.
fMRI data of mixed gambles from the Neuroimaging Analysis Replication and Prediction Study
Authors: Botvinik-Nezer Rotem , Iwanir Roni , Holzmeister Felix , Huber Jürgen , Johannesson Magnus , Kirchler Michael , Dreber Anna , Camerer Colin F. , Poldrack Russell A. , Schonberg Tom
Published: July 2019

There is an ongoing debate about the replicability of neuroimaging research. It was suggested that one of the main reasons for the high rate of false positive results is the many degrees of freedom researchers have during data analysis. In the Neuroimaging Analysis Replication and Prediction Study (NARPS), we aim to provide the first scientific evidence on the variability of results across analysis teams in neuroscience. We collected fMRI data from 108 participants during two versions of the mixed gambles task, which is often used to study decision-making under risk. For each participant, the dataset includes an anatomical (T1 weighted) scan and fMRI as well as behavioral data from four runs of the task. The dataset is shared through OpenNeuro and is formatted according to the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) standard. Data pre-processed with fMRIprep and quality control reports are also publicly shared. This dataset can be used to study decision-making under risk and to test replicability and interpretability of previous results in the field.
A dataset of distribution and diversity of ticks in China
Authors: Zhang Guanshi , Zheng Duo , Tian Yuqin , Li Sen
Published: July 2019

While tick-borne zoonoses, such as Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis, present an increasing global concern, knowledge of their vectors’ distribution remains limited, especially for China. In this paper, we present the first comprehensive dataset of known tick species and their distributions in China, derived from peer-reviewed literature published between 1960 and 2017. We searched for journal articles, conference papers and degree thesis published in both English and Chinese, extracted geographic information associated with tick occurrence, and applied quality-control procedures to remove duplicates and ensure accuracy. The dataset contains 5731 records of geo-referenced occurrences for 123 tick species distributed over 1141 locations distinguished at four levels of scale i.e., provincial, prefectural, county, and township and finer. The most frequently reported tick species include Haemaphysalis longicornis, Dermacentor silvarum, Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis conicinna, Rhipicephalus microplus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. The geographical dataset provides an improved map of where ticks inhabit China and can be used for a variety of spatial analyses of ticks and the risk of zoonoses they transmit.
Author Correction: Three-Dimensional Printed Model-Assisted Screw Installation in Treating Posterior Atlantoaxial Internal Fixation
Authors: Yang Minyi , Zhang Nannan , Shi Haodong , Li Hui , Liu Shichang , Song Zongrang , Shan Lequn , Wu Qining , Hao Dingjun
Published: July 2019

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Radiomics based likelihood functions for cancer diagnosis
Authors: Shakir Hina , Deng Yiming , Rasheed Haroon , Khan Tariq Mairaj Rasool
Published: July 2019

Radiomic features based classifiers and neural networks have shown promising results in tumor classification. The classification performance can be further improved greatly by exploring and incorporating the discriminative features towards cancer into mathematical models. In this research work, we have developed two radiomics driven likelihood models in Computed Tomography(CT) images to classify lung, colon, head and neck cancer. Initially, two diagnostic radiomic signatures were derived by extracting 105 3-D features from 200 lung nodules and by selecting the features with higher average scores from several supervised as well as unsupervised feature ranking algorithms. The signatures obtained from both the ranking approaches were integrated into two mathematical likelihood functions for tumor classification. Validation of the likelihood functions was performed on 265 public data sets of lung, colon, head and neck cancer with high classification rate. The achieved results show robustness of the models and suggest that diagnostic mathematical functions using general tumor phenotype can be successfully developed for cancer diagnosis.
Relating ocean temperatures to frontal ablation rates at Svalbard tidewater glaciers: Insights from glacier proximal datasets
Authors: Holmes Felicity A. , Kirchner Nina , Kuttenkeuler Jakob , Krützfeldt Jari , Noormets Riko
Published: July 2019

Fjord-terminating glaciers in Svalbard lose mass through submarine melt and calving (collectively: frontal ablation), and surface melt. With the recently observed Atlantification of water masses in the Barents Sea, warmer waters enter these fjords and may reach glacier fronts, where their role in accelerating frontal ablation remains insufficiently understood. Here, the impact of ocean temperatures on frontal ablation at two glaciers is assessed using time series of water temperature at depth, analysed alongside meteorological and glaciological variables. Ocean temperatures at depth are harvested at distances of 1 km from the calving fronts of the glaciers Kronebreen and Tunabreen, western Svalbard, from 2016 to 2017. We find ocean temperature at depth to control c. 50% of frontal ablation, making it the most important factor. However, its absolute importance is considerably less than found by a 2013–2014 study, where temperatures were sampled much further away from the glaciers. In light of evidence that accelerating levels of global mass loss from marine terminating glaciers are being driven by frontal ablation, our findings illustrate the importance of sampling calving front proximal water masses.
Comparative proteomic analysis provides insights into the complex responses to Pseudoperonospora cubensis infection of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
Authors: Zhang Peng , Zhu Yuqiang , Luo Xiujun , Zhou Shengjun
Published: July 2019

Cucumber (Cucumis sativusL.) is an important crop distributed in many countries. Downy mildew (DM) caused by the obligate oomycetePseudoperonospora cubensisis especially destructive in cucumber production. So far, few studies on the changes in proteomes during theP.cubensisinfection have been performed. In the present study, the proteomes of DM-resistant variety ‘ZJ’ and DM-susceptible variety ‘SDG’ under theP.cubensisinfection were investigated. In total, 6400 peptides were identified, 5629 of which were quantified. KEGG analysis showed that a number of metabolic pathways were significantly altered underP.cubensisinfection, such as terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, and selenocompound metabolism in ZJ, and starch and sucrose metabolism in SDG. For terpenoid backbone synthesis, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase, 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase, 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl diphosphate synthase, and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase were significantly accumulated in ZJ rather than in SDG, suggesting that pathogen-induced terpenoids accumulation might play an important role in the resistance againstP.cubensisinfection. Furthermore, a number of pathogenesis-related proteins, such as endochitinases, peroxidases, PR proteins and heat shock proteins were identified as DAPs, suggesting that DM resistance was controlled by a complex network. Our data allowed us to identify and screen more potential proteins related to the DM resistance.
Cylindrical Fused Silica Resonators Driven by PZT Thin Film Electrodes with Q Factor Achieving 2.89 Million after Coating
Authors: Luo Yiming , Qu Tianliang , Cui Yan , Pan Yao , Yu Menglin , Luo Hui , Jia Yonglei , Tan Zhongqi , Liu Jianping , Zhang Bin
Published: July 2019

Cylindrical shell fused silica resonators coated with 8 axisymmetric Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 (PZT) thin film electrodes (thickness ~2 μm) were reported. The resonators were firstly designed and fabricated, then annealed and processed by chemical etching to increase mechanical quality factor (Q factor) of resonators, which achieved as high as 2.89 million for n = 2 wineglass modes after being coated with PZT thin film electrodes. The n = 2 wineglass modes of the resonators were driven by PZT thin film electrodes in experiment and simulation with fine vibratory shape, which demonstrated the feasibility of the cylindrical fused silica resonator driven by PZT thin film electrodes. The application of PZT thin film electrodes to drive and detect cylindrical shell fused silica resonator can significantly improve Q factor of resonators and improve the sensitivity of Coriolis Vibratory Gyroscope (CVG).
Classical biological control of the African citrus psyllid Trioza erytreae, a major threat to the European citrus industry
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez J. , Krüger K. , Pérez-Hedo M. , Ruíz-Rivero O. , Urbaneja A. , Tena A.
Published: July 2019

Citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB) is the main threat to the European citrus industry since one of its vectors, the African citrus psyllid, Trioza erytreae, has recently become established in mainland Europe. In this context, classical biological control programmes should be implemented to reduce the spread of the psyllid. The aims of this study were to: i) disentangle the parasitoid complex of T. erytreae combining morphological and molecular characterization; and ii) to study the biology of its main parasitoids in its area of origin in South Africa for their future importation into Europe. The main citrus producing areas of South Africa were surveyed during 2017. In contrast to previous studies, the parasitoid complex of T. erytreae included three species of primary parasitoids: Tamarixia dryi, Psyllaephagus pulvinatus and another parasitoid of the genus Tamarixia. Molecular analysis showed that it is a new species closely related to T. dryi. Tamarixia dryi was the most abundant parasitoid but its relative abundance varied among sampling sites. The sex ratio (males/females) of T. dryi and Tamarixia sp. decreased with T. erytreae size and became female biased when psyllid nymphs were larger than 0.6 and 1.2 mm2, respectively. These parasitoids were attacked by three species of hyperparasitoids, Aphidencyrtus cassatus, Marietta javensis and a species of the genus Aphanogmus. Aphidencyrtus cassatus, the most abundant hyperparasitoid, tended to emerge from large nymphs, and adult females lived as long as those of T. dryi. The implications of these results are discussed within the framework of the introduction of T. dryi into Europe.
BIN1 favors the spreading of Tau via extracellular vesicles
Authors: Crotti Andrea , Sait Hameetha Rajamohamend , McAvoy Kathleen M. , Estrada Karol , Ergun Ayla , Szak Suzanne , Marsh Galina , Jandreski Luke , Peterson Michael , Reynolds Taylor L. , Dalkilic-Liddle Isin , Cameron Andrew , Cahir-McFarland Ellen , Ransohoff Richard M.
Published: July 2019

Despite Bridging INtegrator 1 (BIN1) being the second most statistically-significant locus associated to Late Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, its role in disease pathogenesis remains to be clarified. As reports suggest a link between BIN1, Tau and extracellular vesicles, we investigated whether BIN1 could affect Tau spreading via exosomes secretion. We observed that BIN1-associated Tau-containing extracellular vesicles purified from cerebrospinal fluid of AD-affected individuals are seeding-competent. We showed that BIN1 over-expression promotes the release of Tau via extracellular vesicles in vitro as well as exacerbation of Tau pathology in vivo in PS19 mice. Genetic deletion of Bin1 from microglia resulted in reduction of Tau secretion via extracellular vesicles in vitro, and in decrease of Tau spreading in vivo in male, but not female, mice, in the context of PS19 background. Interestingly, ablation of Bin1 in microglia of male mice resulted in significant reduction in the expression of heat-shock proteins, previously implicated in Tau proteostasis. These observations suggest that BIN1 could contribute to the progression of AD-related Tau pathology by altering Tau clearance and promoting release of Tau-enriched extracellular vesicles by microglia.
Layer- and subregion-specific electrophysiological and morphological changes of the medial prefrontal cortex in a mouse model of neuropathic pain
Authors: Mitrić Miodrag , Seewald Anna , Moschetti Giorgia , Sacerdote Paola , Ferraguti Francesco , Kummer Kai K. , Kress Michaela
Published: July 2019

Chronic neuropathic pain constitutes a serious public health problem, but the disease mechanisms are only partially understood. The involvement of different brain regions like the medial prefrontal cortex has already been established, but the comparison of the role of different subregions and layers is still inconclusive. In the current study, we performed patch-clamp recordings followed by anatomical reconstruction of pyramidal cells from different layers of the prelimbic and infralimbic subregions of the medial prefrontal cortex in neuropathic (spared nerve injury, SNI) and control mice. We found that in the prelimbic cortex, layer 2/3 pyramidal cells from SNI mice exhibited increased excitability compared to sham controls, whereas prelimbic layer 5 pyramidal neurons showed reduced excitability. Pyramidal cells in both layer 2/3 and layer 5 of the infralimbic subregion did not change their excitability, but layer 2/3 pyramidal cells displayed increased dendritic length and branching. Our findings support the view that chronic pain is associated with subregion- and layer-specific changes in the medial prefrontal cortex. They therefore provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the chronification of pain.